[5B. Presentation of proclamation recognizing the month of June as National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month and request to light the water tower on June 27th in observance of PTSD Awareness Day.]

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>> ALL RIGHT. THANKS Y'ALL. OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 5 B, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION IN RECOGNITION OF PTSD AWARENESS DAY AND OF LIGHTING THE TOWER IN RECOGNITION OF PTSD AWARENESS MONTH. PRESENTING IS MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> ANOTHER SHORT PERSON WAS HERE BEFORE ME. I DON'T HAVE TO ADJUST IT.

I AM SO HAPPY AND HONORED TO ONCE AGAIN BE PRESENTING THIS PARTICULAR PROCLAMATION.

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS IS COMING THAT MANY ASSOCIATE ONLY WITH COMBAT VETERANS BUT IT AFFECTS MANY PEOPLE FROM MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

COME ON UP NOW. WE'RE COMING UP NOW APPARENTLY. THAT'S COOL.

IT CAN OCCUR AFTER ANY KIND OF FRIGHTENING, SHOCKING OR DANGEROUS EVENT, DISASTERS, SEXUAL ABUSE AND MORE. IT VARIES IN INTENSITY FROM MILD TO EXTREMELY SEVERE.

WHEN THE SYMPTOMS CONTINUE FOR MONTHS OR YEARS OR INTERFERE WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIPS, JOB AND ABILITY TO LIVE NORMAL LIFE, YOU MAYBE DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD OR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS ORDER.

SOME END UP TAKING THEIR OWNS RATHER THAN HAVING DISTURBING THOUGHTS AND PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THES STRESS OF THEIR BODIES AND MINDS.

SEVERAL YEARS BACK, ONE OF MY FELLOW POLICE OFFICERS WHO WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE DID TAKE HIS LIFE AND THAT WAS WHEN I THINK THE REALITY OF PTSD REALLY HIT HOME WITH ME.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR PTSD. A PROGRAM OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS, ABOUT 6 OUT OF EVERY 100 PEOPLE WILL CELEBRATE PTSD.

BIOLOGICAL AND GENETIC FACTORS MAY MAKE IT LIKELY TO DEVELOP PTSD.

PTSD VICTIMS MAY FEEL THUMB OR LETHARGIC OR ON EDGE. THEY MY FIND IT HARD TO CONCENTRATE OR BEING ANXIOUS. THEY MAY AVOID PEOPLE THAT REMIND THEM OF THE TRAUMATIC EVENT. THAT MAY CAUSE THEM TO WITHDRAW FROM NORMAL ACTIVITIES.

BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THEIR JOBS, MILITARY VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS ESPECIALLY PRONE TO POST TRAUMATIC STRESS. MANY PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS ARE ALSO MILITARY OFFICERS MAKING THEIR RISK ESPECIALLILY GREAT. LUCKILY ROWLETT CITIES AFFECTED WITH PTSD ARE NOT ALONE.

OUR CITY HAS GREAT GROUPS DEDICATED TO HELPS VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO SUFFER FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS AND THE SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE LAST THAT BATTLE.

I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SAMANTHA. I WILL ASK EACH ONE OF THEM TO SAY A FEW WORDS. WHEREAS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, PTSD IS A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER SOME INVOLVES EXPERIENCE AFTER COMBAT, EXTREME PERSONAL DISASTER OR SEXUAL ABUSE. HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING AND TRYING TO AVOID THINGS THAT REMIND THEM OF THE TRAUMA, AND WHEREAS MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE PTSD ALSO EXPERIENCE OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS SUCH AS DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, EXACTLY AND DRUG ABUSE AND THOUGHTS OF HARMING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS. WHEREAS THERE ARE SEVERAL TREATMENTS AVAILABLE TO HELP COPE WITH AND OVER COME PTSD. NOW MATTER THE TRAUMA AND HOW LONG YOU LIVED WITH IT.

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IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO BE TREATED. AND WHEREAS THIS MONTH IS TO BRING AWARENESS OF PTSD AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH PTSD AND THEIR FAMILIES AND ASSURE THEM THERE ARE TREATMENTS AVAILABLE AND TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE RESEARCH AND TREATMENT.

NOW THEREFORE I ON BEHALF OF BLAKE MARGOLIS, THE MAYOR OF ROWLETT AND THE MEMBERS COUNCIL DO PROCLAIM JUNE AS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH AND DEDICATE THE WATERTOWN BE LIT JUNE 27TH FOR PTSD AWARENESS DAY TO HELP SPOTLIGHT THE SUPPORT AVAILABLE AND THOSE WHO SUFFER THEM BECAUSE PTSD AS WELL. THE COLOR IS IN TEAL IN HONOR OF

THAT. >> OKAY. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER AND MAYOR MARGOLIS AND THE ENTIRE COUNCIL FOR DOING THIS AGAIN THIS YEAR. SINCE WE STARTED THIS ORGANIZATION CALLED THE BADGE OF HONOR IN 2019, WITH MY PARTNERS RIGHT HERE AFTER BEING PART OF A MOVEMENT THAT SAW MORE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDER BROTHERS AND SISTERS TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES BY SUICIDE.

AND WE COULDN'T SIT ON THE SIDE LINES ANY MORE. WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH THAT WE DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER AND WE KNEW RIGHT THERE WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

SO, OUR ORGANIZATION WAS BORN RIGHT HERE IN ROWLETT. IT REMAINS HOUSED HERE IN ROWLETT. WE TRAVEL FROM ROWLETT AND NOW ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND ACTUALLY THE NATION DOING WHAT WE KNOW HOW TO DO IS TELL OUR STORIES IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL COME IN HANDY WHEN SOMEBODY IS THINKING ABOUT TAKING THEIR OWN LIFE.

THEY WILL REMAIN JOHN'S STORY OR JEFF'S STORY OR THE OTHER JOHN'S STORY OR MY STORY.

AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY BE INVOLVED IN RECOGNITION BECAUSE WHAT WE STARTED WITH IS US TELLING OUR STORIES. IT WAS A SIMPLE FOUR HOUR PRESENTATION TO REALLY ANYBODY THAT WANTED TO LISTEN. AND NOW IT'S BECOME A NATION WIDE MOVEMENT WHERE WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO TALK TO FIRST RESPONDERS ACROSS THE NATION.

WE HAVE INCLUDED NOW OUR FAMILIES IN A FAMILY INITIATIVE ALL AROUND WELLNESS AND RESILIENCY AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A WELL FAMILY IN SUPPORT OF SOMEBODY THAT MAYBE SUFFERING FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS. THAT INCLUDES THE CHILDREN AS WELL AND WE RECENTLY BROUGHT UNDER THE UMBRELLA THE WALK THE BRIDGE MOVEMENT WHICH STARTED IN 2018 BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT COMMUNITY, AND IT IS ABOUT WRAPPING OUR ARMS AROUND ANYBODY THAT HAS TO BE AFFECTED WITH OR HAS TO DEAL WITH POST TRAUMATC STRESS. AND IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN COME OUT WHERE WE CAN ALL BE TOGETHER. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE STRUGGLES AND THE THINGS THAT FRANKLY PISS US OFF BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW TO GET BETTER. AND SO, WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING OUT, THANK YOU AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR BRIDGE CAPTAIN, BRIAN WILBORN.

[APPLAUSE] >> YOU WOULD THINK WE REHEARSED THAT OR SOMETHING.

#WALK THE BRIDGE STARTED IN SOMEBODY'S BACKYARD SAYING HOW COME SO MANY FIRST RESPONDERS TAKE THEIR LIFE AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? THAT WAS AUGUST 2018.

WE CREATED THE #WALK THE BRIDGE MOVEMENT. SO EVERYONE IS CLEAR, THE CREDIT FOR NAMING IT THAT BELONGS TO MY PARTNER SIDE SHOW. WE WALKED THE FIRST TIME OCTOBER 2018. WE HAD 11 PEOPLE. STARTED WITH 11 AND GOT DOWN TO AS LOW AS TWO DUE TO COVID AND KEPT WALKING. WE WERE OUT THERE, RAIN OR SHINE. OUR BR HE IS AT BACK HERE IS ONE OF ROWLETT'S VETS. HE RUCHED UP HERE FROM GARLAND WALKING HIS NATIVE AMERICAN

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BROTHERS. JEFFREY GRAY, SAME THING EVERY DAY.

OUT ON HERO'S MEMORIAL BRIDGE WALKING. THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE AND WE WERE SERIOUS ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH WE CREATED IT IN THE BACKYARD OVER ADULT BEVERAGES, WE PROMISE THAT WE WOULD STICK TO THE MIG BECAUSE IT AFFECTS US ALL FIRST RESPONDERS, ALL VETERANS IN SOME FORM OR FASHION. WE WERE DETERMINED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IT WAS REALLY BROUGHT HOME TO US HERE WITH THE PASSING OF SER SERGEANT. SUSIE COMES OUT AND SUPPORTS US.

IT HAPPENED NEXT DOOR WITH LIEUTENANT CHRIS CARPER AND IT'S HAPPENING ALL AROUND US.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL. THESE PEOPLE ALL SERVE HAVE EXEMPLARY SERVICE RECORDS AND YET THE DEMONS THAT AFFECT OUR VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS GOT THE BETTER OF THEM.

AND AGAIN WE DETERMINE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THIS MOVEMENT HAS SPREAD. FIRST SPREAD OVER TO FORT WORTH.

SIDE SHOW LIVES OVER ON THAT SIDE OF THE METROPLEX AND STARTED OVER THERE.

THEY JUST CELEBRATED THEIR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY. NOW IT'S GOING ON IN WACO.

PEOPLE AT A GRASS ROOTS LEVEL. WE DON'T TAKE MONEY FOR THIS. WE DO THIS BECAUSE OF THIS.

OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED AND IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU HAVE HEARD GABRIEL'S STORY IS SOMETHING WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY AND ARE COMMITTED TO IT. STARTED TO GROW.

WE HAVE FOUR LOCATIONS NOW OVER IN THE UK. JUST KICKED OFF A BRAND-NEW ONE PAST SUNDAY IN LONDON. OTHER WALKS HAVE HAPPENED. WE HAVE STEVEN.

LIVER POOL, MANCHESTER AND THE CITY OF LONDON. INDEPENDENT WALKS HAVE ALSO HAPPENED. BUDAPEST. VENICE, ITALY.

OSTROVO CZECH REPUBLIC AND A TOWN IN POLAND I CANNOT PRONOUNCE.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, BILLING, MONTANA AND JUST LIKE ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO SAID ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. A FEW YEARS AGO, EVERYBODY PROBABLY KNOWS THERE'S A FAMOUS LINE THAT SAYS 22 VETERANS A DAY TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE. THAT IS NOT TRUE.

IT'S WAY MORE THAN THAT. IT'S IN THE 40S. SAM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COUNT ON FIRST RESPONDERS IS BUT IT'S JUST AN AMAZING HIGH NUMBER. IF IT WAS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS OR THE MEMBERS OF THE ROWLETT CITY COUNCIL OR THE DALLAS COUNCILMEMBERS THAT WERE DOING THAT, PEOPLE WOULD SAY, MAN THIS IS A TRAGEDY. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT.

SO, THAT'S THE GAP THAT WE FILL. WE'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WE HAVE RECRUITED FOLKS AMONG THE LAW ENFORCEMENT MOTORCYCLE GENRE, YOUNG MEN'S SERVICE LEAGUE OF ROCKWALL, MISS JO LEAN WHO BAKES. HER, SHE HAS LITTLE CHILDREN THAT SHE TAKES CARE OF THAT COME OUT AND THEY CLEAN THE BRIDGE SO PEOPLE CAN WALK DOWN A CLEAN BRIDGE.

THIS REALLY IS A COMMUNITY OF DIVERSE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN ONE THING.

RAISING AWARENESS, PROVIDING PEER SUPPORT WHICH A BADGE OF HONOR DOES.

PROVIDE ACCESS TO COUNSELING AND PEER SUPPORT. LIKE WITH FOLKS LIKE JOHN EDMONSON HERE AND OTHERS WHO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE DAY OR NIGHT.

PHONE RINGS, HEY I HAVE SOMEBODY. WE HAVE SOMEONE ON THE BRIDGE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED SITUATIONS WITH PTS AND THEY WILL CALL. I COULD TELL STORY AFTER STORY WHERE SIDE SHOW AND OTHERS STANDING BEHIND ME HAVE TAKEN CALLS SAYING I'M ON MY LAST THREAD. I CANNOT TAKE IT ANYMORE. I NEED HELP.

PEOPLE JUMP UP RIGHT AWAY. WHAT CAN I DO? HOW CAN I RESPOND TO THE

SITUATION >> I TELL YOU WHAT, THESE FOLKS DESERVE A HAND BECAUSE OF THE TOLL IT TAKES ON THEM. IF I DON'T THINK IT DOES, YOU HAVE ANOTHER THING COMING.

WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S AT THE END OF THE LINE, IT'S REALLY HARD.

AND IT AFFECTS THE FAMILIES. TRUST ME I KNOW BECAUSE WE TALK TO THEM ALL THE TIME.

SO WE TAKE THIS REALLY SERIOUS. WE PUSH IT VERY HARD. I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE DEB THAT YOU HAVE DONE THIS. MAYBE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS.

IT IS A BIG DEAL FOR THE #WALK THE BRIDGE MOVEMENT THAT STARTED RIGHT HERE IN ROWLETT.

IT WAS ALWAYS A ROWLETT INITIATIVE AND NOW SPREADING AROUND THE WORLD.

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WE HAVE I GUESS YOU CALL THEM DISCIPLES PUSHING THE MESSAGE THAT ORIGINATED HERE AROUND THE WORLD AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THAT. WE APPRECIATE IT.

HELPS TAKE THE MISSION A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT.

[5C. Presentation of Proclamation recognizing the month of June as Pride month and request to light the downtown water tower in PRIDE colors on Wednesday, June 28.]

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 5 C. PROLAMATION OF JUNE PROVIDE MONTH. A MEMBER OF THE LBGTQ COMMUNITY MAY COME FORWARD.

>> ALSO, ANY ALLIES WHO WANTS TO STAND WITH US MAY COME FORWARD AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. SO PRIDE MONTH IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS. IMPACT AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LBGTQ + COMMUNITY.

THE MONTH LONG CELEBRATION BEGAN OUT OF ACTIVIST AND ONE NOTABLE EVENT WAS THE SIX DAY PROTEST KNOWN AS THE STONE WALL MOVE AM. THE SIP IN CALLED THE ATTENTION TO THE LBGTQ + COMMUNITY AND WHAT THEY ARE FACING. THE PRIDE MONTH WAS CELEBRATED INDIVIDUALLY BY SMALL AND LARGE CITIES. IT WASN'T UNTIL 1999 AND 2000 THAT BILL CLINTON RECOGNIZED THIS MONTH. THE COMMISSION HAS REQUESTED THAT THIS PROCLAMATION BE PRESENTED IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL TO RECOGNIZE AND PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JUNE AS LBGTQ + MONTH AND REQUESTING THE DOWNTOWN WATER TOWER IS LIT WITH THE PRIDE COLORS AND STONE WALL DAY. NOW FOR THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS ON JUNE 28TH, 1969, A SERIES OF SPONTANEOUS DEMONSTRATIONS ERUPTED AGAINST A RAID OF POLICE THAT OCCURRED IN THE STONE WALL HOTEL. AND WHEREAS WE RECOGNIZE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT THAT BEGAN IN JUNE OF 1969 AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY COMBATING PAST AND FUTURE DISCRIMINATORY LAWS, STANDING UP AGAINST HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE AND BEING A PART OF LEADERSHIP TO SHOW LOVE THAT HAS NO LABELS AND WHEREAS WE ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S MUCH STILL WORK TO DO TO EXPEND EQUALITY REGARDLESS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION IDENTITY AND REPEAT THE WORDS OF OBAMA WE REFLECT ON HOW FAR WE HAVE COME AND YET HOW FAR WE HAVE TO GO. LET US PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US AND LET US RE-DEDICATE OURSELVES TO A PAST THAT IS UNENDING THE PURSUIT OF A NATION THAT IS EQUAL AND THEREFORE I BLAKE MARGOLIS, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND ON HALF OF THE DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF LBGTQ + COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZE THE ON GOING EFFORTS TO ERADICATE DISCRIMINATION.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THE WATER TOWER WILL BE LIT IN RED, ORANGE, GREEN, BLUE AND PURPLE ON JUNE 28TH AS COMMITMENT TO ROWLETT TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR CITIZENS WHO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN MAKING ROWLETT A PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. MAYOR MARGOLIS.

[00:30:07]

I AM SUSAN. THE VICE CHAIR OF THE ROWLETT DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION DIVISION. SHE SAID BEING A PARENT MAKES YOUR LIFE IMPORTANT.

THOSE ARE A FEW SIMPLE WORDS BUT THEY HAVE A LOT DEEPER MEANING TO ME.

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE TWO GREAT CHILDREN AND THEY SHOWED US EVERY DAY WHY OUR ROLES AS A PARENT IS IMPORTANT. THEN WHEN OUR SON WAS 12 YEARS OLD, HE LET US KNOW HE WAS GAY.

WE REALIZED OUR ROLE AS PARENTS WAS GOING TO BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THESE KIDS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER RISK OF SO MANY THINGS LIKE PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL, DRUG ADDITION AND SUICIDE. THESE THINGS ARE VERY SCARY FOR US. WE SOUGHT ADVICE FROM EXPERTS AND IT WAS A GREAT RELIEF TO US TO LEARN THAT THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR OUR SON IS JUST A HOME WHERE HE IS SAFED AND LOVED. THAT CAME NATURALLY FOR US. THAT PART WAS EASY.

THE HARD PART WAS WHAT HE FACED ODD OUR HOME. HE IS NOW 23.

HE IS THRIVING LIVING IN DC. ABOUT TO HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM AMERICAN UNIVERSITY.

YES, THAT'S A SHAMELESS MOM BRAG. BUT WE ARE REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF HIM. AND I AM REALLY PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY AND THANK THE THIRD PROCLAMATION OF THIS KIND. AND I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW MAYOR MARGOLIS THIS PROCLAMATION MAKES YOUR WORK AND SERVICE IMPORTANT. AND I WANT TO LET ALL THE EYES KNOW THAT YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT MAKES YOUR LIFE IMPORTANT. I WANT TO LET OUR LBGTQ CITIZENS KNOW WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS WHAT MAKES ROWLETT IMPORTANT TO YOU. AND WE'RE HAPPY THAT THIS IS FOR ALL THE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY. THANK YOU.

>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY, FIRST, THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND LIGHTING OF THE TOWER. OF COURSE THIS PARTICULAR PROCLAMATION HITS CLOSE TO HOME FOR ME. MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED HERE APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO TO MAKE ROWLETT OUR HOME. WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY. WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PEOPLE AND OUR NEIGHBORS AND WANT TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING GREAT SUCH AS THE CITY OF ROWLETT.

I JOINED THE COMMISSION BECAUSE I WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND SO THE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER WHAT A GREAT CITY THIS TRULY IS. WELCOMING ALL PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. I AM OFTEN ASKED WHAT DEFINES ME AS A PERSON.

BEING GAY DOES NOT DEFINE ME AS A PERSON. WHAT DEFINES ME AS A PERSON IS BEING A GOOD CHRISTIAN, BEING A GREAT AMERICAN, AND A PROUD CITIZEN OF ROWLETT.

BEING GAY JUST HAPPENS TO BE PART OF ME LIKE THE COLOR OF MY SKIN OR THE COLOR OF MY EYES BUT IT DOES NOT DEFINE ME. UNFORTUNATELY, WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE THAT ONE SMALL ASPECT OF MY LIFE. A PERSON EVEN BEFORE THEY GET TO KNOW ME HATE ME OR WANT TO HARM ME. BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT IS A REASON WHY WE HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION AND LIGHT THE TOWER. NOT TO FORCE A CERTAIN VIEWPOINT OR SOMEONE TO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING THEY DON'T WANT TO SHOW, BUT TO PROVE TO COMMUNITIES THAT ROWLETT WILL NOT ACCEPT HATE, BIGOTRY OR FEAR TOWARD ITS CITIZENS.

THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF HUMANITY AND WELCOMING OF ALL PEOPLE.

I HOPE THAT ONE DAY WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A PROCLAMATION OR LIGHT THE TOWER TO SHOW WE DO NOT HAVE THESE HATEFUL THINGS. FOR NOW WE DO. EVERY ONE IN THIS ROOM WANTS THE EXACT SAME THING, WHETHER YOU WANT TO SAY IT OR NOT. EVERYONE WANTS TO BE LOVED.

EVERYONE WANTS TO BE HAPPY, EVERYONEMENTS TO BE RESPECTED. AND EVERYONE WANTS TO BE HEARD.

DON'T LET ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT MAKE US DIFFERENT DICTATE KNOWING THAT THERE ARE 98 OTHER THINGS THAT MAKE US COMMON. IT'S OKAY TO ARGUE. IT'S OKAY TO DISAGREE.

BUT IN THE END, LET'S COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR

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COMMUNITY FOR THE COMPUTER OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] . LET'S DO A PICTURE REAL QUICK THEN. HI, MY NAME IS KAITLYN MITCHELL. I MOVED HERE A YEAR AGO TO BE WITH MY PARTNER. I WANT TO SAY I LOVE THIS CITY. ONE THING I LOVE IS HEARING ABOUT THE LIGHTING OF THE TOWER. I CAME FROM A VERY SMALL TOWER AND THE CITY I CAME FROM DID NOT SUPPORT PRIDE. THERE WERE THOSE OF US WHO DIDN'T BELIEVE THEY WERE SEEN OR HEARD. THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME WAS THE COMMUNITY AND ASPECT.

PRIOR TO MOVING TO ROWLETT, I WAS VERY INVOLVED IN A MINISTRY IN A CHURCH THAT I LOVED FOR SEVEN YEARS AND I GREW WITH THEM, LOVED THEM DEEPLY AND WHEN I CAME OUT, AS A LESBIAN, THAT CHURCH REMOVED ME. AND I WAS EX-COMMUNICATED FROM THE COMMUNITY I LIVED AND THE PEOPLE I LOVED AND THE PLACE I SERVED. SO HERE TONIGHT IT'S BETTER FOR ME TO SHARE THAT BIT OF STORY BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO SPEAK AT ALL.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SHARE THAT BIT OF MY STORY, I CAN COME TO A PLACE THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING AND GIVES ME A PLACE OF SAFETY AND OF HOPE. TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY AND IN THAT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD HAS NOT CHANGED. I VERY MUCH BELIEVE THAT HE LOVES ME AND I STILL LOVE HIM. AND HE HAS BROUGHT ME THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE, MY PARTNER, MY FRIENDS, PEOPLE THAT I LOVE AND A SAFE PLACE TO BE WHO I AM. IN THAT, I EXPERIENCED WHEN I WAS REMOVED REJECTION AND LONELINESS AND ABANDONMENT FOR WHO I WAS AS A PERSON.

AND BEING A MEMBER OF THE LBGTQ COMMUNITY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT NO ONE WHO IS LIKE ME WOULD EXPERIENCE THAT EVER AGAIN. THAT WE COULD BE A COMMUNITY THAT CAN COME TOGETHER AND FEEL LOVED AND FEEL WELCOMED AND NOT FEEL REJECTED FOR WHO THEY ARE. SO THANK YOU AGAIN EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR ROWLETT AND CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING THOSE MOMENTS OF BEING INCLUSIVE AND AFFIRMING AND WELCOMING. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

[5D. Presentation of the GO TEXAN “Partner” Certificate by Regional Representative of GO TEXAN, Darrell Dean.]

ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS ITEM 5 D, PRESENTATION OF THE GO TEXAN PARTNERSHIP PARTNER CERTIFICATE BY DARRELL DEAN. COME ON UP.

>> GOOD EVENING. APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

I AM WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, GO TEXAN. FOR MARKETING, PRODUCTS GROWN OR MANUFACTURED IN TEXAS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY THAT IS SUPPORT THAT INITIATIVE.

HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MELINDA A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE PROGRAM IS ABOUT AND SAW ROWLETT WAS A GOOD FIT FOR THE PROGRAM. WE WANT TO GET OUT AND WORK WITH THE BUSINESSES HERE. THAT ARE PRODUCING A PRODUCT. FOR THEM TO BE A PART OF.

WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOUR FARMER'S MARKETS AND OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT GROW.

ANY BUSINESSES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT PRODUCE THAT AND WE'RE ON BOARD.

THE CITY IS ON BOARD FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND QUICKNESS THAT IT TOOK FOR Y'ALL TO JOIN AND FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE HERE, IT'S A BRANDED GO TEXAN LOGO.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE SHAPE OF TEXAN BRANDED. YOU WILL SEE THAT ON A LOT OF FOOD PRODUCTS IN THE STORE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK FOR THAT.

WE LIKE TO SEE GO LOCAL, GO TEXAN. BY SUPPORTING LOCAL, YOU ARE SUPPORTING TEXAS. WE SEE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY AND HOPE THE CITY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE

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OF THAT BRAND RECOGNITION AND ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT BECOMES AVAILABLE TO SEE THE CITY GROW AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. I HAVE A CERTIFICATE TONIGHT. OF YOUR PARTNERSHIP OF GO TEXAN PROGRAM. AND WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THAT ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [APPLAUSE] COME ON.

>> WELL, I WANTED TO SHOW SOME APPRECIATION TOWARD OUR NEW DOWNTOWN MANAGER, MELINDA, SHE HAS BEEN EXCELLENT. SHE HAS BEEN MAKING SURE WE HAVE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR DOWNTOWN DISTRICT. BRINGING IT TO LIFE. SHE'S GOING TO HELP US DO THAT.

THIS IS JUST ONE WAY TO DO THAT. BY BECOMING A GO TEXAN MEMBER, IT ALLOWS TO PARTICIPATE AND SOME GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, FARMER'S MARKET ASSISTANCE AND THAT CAN RANGE BETWEEN $5,000 TO $20,000. SO, THAT'S ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT REASON FOR BECOMING A GO TEXAN PARTNER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR AGENCY.

APPRECIATE IT. >> ALL RIGHT. THANKS Y'ALL.

[5E. Update from the City Council and Management: Financial Position, Major Projects, Operational Issues, Upcoming Dates of Interest and Items of Community Interest.]

OUR TIME ITEM AND PRESENTATION SIZE UPDATE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL POSITION, PROJECTS AND ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST. FIRST PRESENTING IS

COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS. >> ONLY TWO MORE CHANCES TO CATCH THE FARMER'S AND CRAFT MARKET. VISIT WITH LOCAL VENDORS AND SEVERAL FOOD TRUCKS EVERY THURSDAY AT THE DOWNTOWN GREEN FROM 5:30 TO 8:30 THROUGH JUNE 29TH.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY? WE ARE LOOKING FOR COMMITTED RESIDENTS WILLING TO SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE, THEIR TIME AND THEIR EXPERIENCE AND INSIGHT VOLUNTEERING TO SERVE ON A BOARD OR COMMISSION. THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS AUGUST 14TH AND I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY FOR ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN. COME ON OUT TO PADDLE POINT PARK FOR PADDLING WITH THE PARK BOARD. MEET THE MEMBERS WHO WERE JUST ALL UP HERE WHILE HAVING FUN KAYAKING ON LAKE RAY HUBBARD. RENTAL AND SET UP IS AT SEVEN:30 A.M.

CALL 214-629-4794. FOR INFORMATION ON ALL THE GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN OUR CITY.

CALL THE ACTION CENTER 412-6100. >> THANK YOU AND NOW DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM HAS AN

ANNOUNCEMENT. >> OKAY. THIS IS TONIGHT'S FEED FROM OUR ANIMAL SHELTER. THIS BEAUTIFUL FACE LOOK FAMILIAR, IT'S BECAUSE WE INTRODUCED HER IN AN APRIL MEETING. LACEY WAS SO SCARED WHEN SHE FIRST ARRIVED AT THE SHELTER. SHE'S A VERY HAPPY GIRL NOW. SHE WOULD BE PERFECT WITH AN ACTIVE FAMILY. ONE WHO WILL TAKE HER ON ADVENTURES AND HELP HER GET OUT.

LACEY WOULD LOVE TO GO ON WALKS AND RUNNING WITH YOU. SHE ALSO LOVES CAR RIDES.

REMEMBER ALL OF THE ADOPTIONS INCLUDE SPLAY, NEUTER AND UP-TO-DATE VACCINATIONS, CONTACT 972-412-6219 OR COME BY 42 INDUSTRIAL STREET. THIS BY NOW.Y TIRED OF HEARING - OUR ANIMAL SHELTER IS STILL IN CODE RED. THIS MEANS ALL THE KENNELS ARE FULL. IF YOU HAVE BEEN TOSSING AROUND IT IS IDEA OF ADOPTION OR FOSTERING, NOW WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. EVEN JUST SPREADING A WORD ABOUT OUR ANIMAL SHELTER AND THE AVAILABLE ANIMALS WOULD HELP OUT A GREAT DEAL.

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ANYONE WHO STEPPED OUTSIDE THESE PAST DAYS KNOWS WE'RE HAVING A HEAT WAVE.

THE RECORD TEMPERATURES AREN'T JUST UNCOMFORABLE, THEY CAN ALSO BE DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE AND PETS. KNOW THE SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE IN DOGS.

PANTING, EXPRESSIVE DROOLING OR 31ST. LETHARGY, ELEVATED HEART RATE.

DOGSES AT RISK ARE THOSE SMASHED FACE, THE PUGS AND JAPANESE CHINS AND PEKINGESE, LONG HAIRED DOGS SUCH AS AFGHAN HOUNDS AND THE YOUNG PUPPIES. REMEMBER TO NEVER, EVER LEAVE YOUR DOG IN A PARKED CAR EVEN FOR A FEW MINUTES. THAT IS DOUBLE IN THE SUMMER.

ALSO IT'S STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE NEXT CERT CLASS AND COST ONLY $25.

IT'S WELL WORTH OF THE COST AND TIME. YOU'RE NOT OBLIGATED TO JOIN CERT AFTERWARD. WHETHER OR NOT YOU DO, YOU WILL BE FAR BETTER PREPARED FOR DISASTER EMERGENCY. GO TO ROWLETTCITIZENCORE.ORG. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? ALL RIGHTY.

[6. CITIZENS’ INPUT]

HEARING NONE. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO CITIZENS INPUT.

AT THIS TIME, COMMENTS WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE AUDIENCE ON ANY TOPIC.

NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN BY THE CITY COUNCIL DURING CITIZENS INPUT.

YOU CAN GO AND FILL OUT A CARD. LA LAURA DO WE HAVE COMMENTS?

>> THE FIRST SPEAKER IS RUSSELL LEONARD AND IF JOHN PERIGI COULD PLEASE COME UP.

>> THANK YOU, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE FOR THE

RECORD. >> YEAH, YOU CAN MOVE THAT MIC. >> STATE MY NAME AND CITY.

>> STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE. I DON'T GIVE YOUR ACTUAL

ADDRESS. THEN YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> NAME IS RUSSELL LEONARD.

I LIVE IN ROWLETT. I AM HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A NATION THAT IS IN A REALITY CRISIS. WE LIVE IN A NATION THAT CAN'T DEFINE WHAT A WOMAN IS.

YOU GUYS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THAT DOCUMENTARY, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

AS WE CELEBRATE TONIGHT LIGHTING OUR WATER TOWER IN CELEBRATION OF PRIDE MONTH, I WANT TO READ TO YOU WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY AND FIRST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW I'M A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE.

I AM NOT BETTER THAN ANYONE. IT'S BY THE MERCY OF GOD I CAN STAND HERE TODAY.

ROMANS 1:18 FOR THE RATH OF GOD IS REVEALED BEFORE HEAVEN. BECAUSE THAT IS WHICH GOD SINCE THE CREATION OF WORTH AS ETERNAL WORLD AND DIVINE NATURE HAS BEEN SEEN.

SO THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW GOD, THEY DID NOT GLORIFY HIM OR GIVE THANKS BUT THEY BECAME FUTILE IN OUR THOUGHTS. PROFESSING TO BE WISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS AND EXCHANGED THE GLORY OF INCORRUPITABLE GOD. FOR THEY EXCHANGED THE TRUTH OF THE GOD FOR A LIE AND WORSHIPED AND SERVED THE CREATOR RATHER THAN THE CREATOR.

I'M SORRY, WORRIED AND SERVED THE CREATURE RATHER THAN THE CREATOR WHO IS BLESSED FOREVER.

AMEN. GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO THIS HONOR PASSION.

AND IN THE SAME WAY, ALSO THE MALES ABANDONED THE NATURAL FUNCTION OF THE FEMALE AND BURNED IN THEIR DESIRE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER. MALES WITH MALES COMMITTING INDESCENT ACTS AND RECEIVING THEIR OWN PERSONS THE DUE PENALTY OF THEIR ERROR AND JUST AS THEY DID NOT SEE FIT TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A UNFIT MIND TO DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT PROPER. FILLED WITH WICKEDNESS, DECEIT AND MALICE.

THEY ARE HATERS OF GOD. WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING UNTRUSTWORTHY, UNLOVINGS AND ALTHOUGH THEY KNOW THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF GOD AND THOSE WHO PRACTICE SUCH THINGS ARE WORTHY OF DEATH, THEY NOT ONLY DO THE SAME BUT ALSO GIVE HEARTY APPROVAL TO THOSE THAT PRACTICE

[00:50:01]

THEM. THAT'S THE STATE OF OUR NATIONA A WE CONTINUE TO GIVE OVER TO THE DEPRAVITY. NOT JUST HOMOSEXUAL, ALL FORMS OF SIN.

SO I ENCOURAGE THIS COUNCIL TO -- >> THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN PERIGI, AFTER THAT JONATHAN REEVES. THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

FOR ENTERTAINING MY CONVERSATION WITH Y'ALL TONIGHT. >> YOUR NAME IS CITY OF

RESIDENCE PLEASE. >> I'M SORRY. MY NAME IS JOHN PERIGI.

CITY OF RESIDENT, I LIVE IN ROWLETT BUT ROCKWALL ADDRESS. ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE ON THE LAKE THAT HAVE THAT GOING ON. THE SUBJECT IS TO BE FAIR, JUSTICE, ACCOUNTABLE AND STEWARDS OF THE ACCESS GIVEN TO US. WE ALL HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED TO DO RIGHT THING. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH THIS GENTLEMEN WAS JUST BIBLE.

THE PLACE IS TO LOOK TO THE BIBLE TO LOOK FOR GOD'S TRUTH. HE TELLS US TO DISCERN THINGS IN OUR DAILY LIVES. SO THAT WE KNOW THAT THINGS WE SHOULD DO AND WHERE WE SHOULD TURN AND WHAT WE SHOULD LOOK FOR. WEBSTER DICTIONARY DEFINES THE WORD DISCERN AS TO SEE OR UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE. TO MAKE DISTINCTION AS TO DISCERN BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. THAT IS ABOUT AS CLEAR AS WE CAN MAKE IT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL THAT JUDGMENT ALSO. THERE'S SOME TERMINOLOGY SWITCHING IN THERE WITH DISCERNMENT AND JUDGMENT. IT'S NOT JUDGMENT AS IN JUDGING SOMEBODY. FOR THAT'S ONLY FOR GOD. WHAT WE DO HERE AS A CITY IS SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS TO HAVE POLICE AND OTHER THINGS THAT WILL BE THERE, WE HAVE A LOT OF POLICE HERE TONIGHT. WE'RE HAVING FOR CONCERNS OF THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T BE A CONCERN. WE'RE ALL ONE. WE'RE ALL PART OF THE SAME FAMILY. SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS ON AN IRRELEVANT EVENT.

THAT'S DISCERN WHAT RELEVANT MATTERS ARE. GOD PUT YOU IN A POSITION TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF ROWLETT AND PROTECT THEIR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS.

WE HAVE CITIZENS GOING HUNGRY WHO HAVE NO HEALTHCARE. WHO HAVE NO SHELTER.

HOW ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND THEELDERLY.

THE VETERANS AND THE SINGLE PARENTS AND DISABLED? THE SPECIAL NEEDS.

SPENDING ONE PENNY OF TAX DOLLARS GIVEN YOU TO FOR AN UNNECESSARY EVENT WHEN SO MANY OF OUR TRUE NEEDS EXIST IS APPALLING. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED.

IF WE SPEND THAT MONEY TO DO THOSE THINGS. GOD SAYS IN HIS WORD THAT RULERS TEACHERS AND THOSE WHO ARE GIVEN MUCH, MUCH IS HELD, MUCH WILL BE HELD MORE ACCOUNTABLE.

FOR THE LACK OF APPROPRIATE STEWARDSHIP. WHAT IS GIVEN UNTO THEM? YOU EACH HAVE BEEN GIVEN MUCH. OR YOU WOULDN'T BE IN THE POSITIONS YOU'RE IN.

YOU SERVED A LOT OF PEOPLE. I HAVE HEARD THERE'S RUMORS OF CONFLICTS AND PROTEST AND HARM TO THOSE ON BOTH SIDES. THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT IN ROWLETT.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE MATTER, I HAVE ON THE BACK OF MY SHIRT. >> THANK YOU.

>> NO. YOU'RE OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCIL. YOU HAVE TO FACE COUNCIL. >> IF YOU COULD PLEASE STATE

YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE. >> YES, MA'AM, I AM JONATHAN REEVES.

I LIVE IN ROWLETT. GO. I LOVE THE GAYS.

I LOVE THE STRAIGHTS. I LOVE THE LESBIANS. I LIVE THE BISEXUALS AND ALL THE PLUSES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN INVENTED YET BECAUSE I LOVE ALL PEOPLE.

LIKE THE GENTLEMEN SAID BEFORE, I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT FOR THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. NOW, I ALSO BELIEVE WE NEED EQUALITY.

AND WHAT WE TALK ABOUT INCLUSION I FEEL LIKE IS BECOMING VERY EXCLUSIVE.

IT LEAVES OUT ONE PORTION AND NOT REPRESENTING ALL. I'M ALL FOR EVERYONE HAVING A PARADES AND ALL THAT STUFF, WHEN THE CITY IS PAYING FOR ONE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION IT'S NOT EQUAL REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL. I WOULD SUBMITTED THAT WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE FLIES YOUR FLAG AND

[00:55:07]

EVERY MAJOR CORPORATION IN THE UNITED STATES CHANGES THE COLORS OF THEIR LOGO, YOU ARE NOT A DISCRIMINATED CLASS BUT A POMOTED CLASS. I'M NOT COMING AGAINST YOU.

FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, IT DOES FEEL LIKE I'M BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

>> WE WON'T HAVE OUT BURSTS FROM CROWD. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD ALL HAVE EQUALITY AND GET PAST THE FLAG STUFF, ULTIMATELY THAT DOESN' MATTER.

WE ARE ALL AMERICANS AND LIVE IN ROWLETT AND WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE A HAPPY COMMUNITY.

NOW I WILL SAY THIS, Y'ALL ARE GIVING ME A STERN LOOK. WHEN ONE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION IS RAISED UP AGAINST SIMPLY FOR THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, IF FEELS LIKE SEXUAL HARASSMENT. IF I WAS A COLLEAGUE AND SAID AND I DID WITH MY WIFE, YOU WOULD GO TO HUMAN RESOURCES. FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT BOY -- IF IT'S MY GAVE, I STILL HAVE TO PAY MY TAXES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> NO CLAPPING PLEASE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAUREN FRANKS.

AFTER THAT IS BRIAN HYATT. HI, MY NAME IS LAUREN FRANKS FROM ROWLETT, AND I CAME HERE TODAY STRAIGHT FROM THE HOSPITAL SO I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GO HOME AND GET MY HOW TO BE A GOOD PERSON BOOK. BUT, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT NOW I'M FORGETTING MY WHOLE SPEECH. BECAUSE I GOT A LITTLE WORKED UP.

THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE I CAN'T CALL MYSELF AN ALLY IF I ONLY SHOW UP WHEN IT'S EASY. AN ALLY HAS TO SHOW UP WHEN IT'S HARD AND RIGHT NOW IN THIS COUNTRY IS VERY HARD. LATELY ON FACEBOOK, ONLINE, IN STORES, IT'S VERY HARD.

SO I FOUND MYSELF A LOT OF TIME OVER THE PAST MONTH FEELING DEFEATED, EXHAUSTED, SAD.

TRYING TO BE AN ALLY BUT THE TRUTH IS MY MINOR INCONVENIENCE OF BEING AN ALLY IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY GOING THROUGH EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THEIR LIVES JUST TRYING TO GET RESPECT, ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE. AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE CITY FOR HAVING THIS TONIGHT AND RECOGNIZING PRIDE AND THOSE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ALSO SUPPORT THIS TO PASTOR ANN FOR THE INVOCATION BECAUSE TONIGHT INSTEAD OF GOING HOME FEELING DEFEATED OR EXHAUSTED OR SAD, I CAN GO HOME HOPEFUL AND CHEERFUL WE MAY MAKE PROGRESS AND DO ANY VETERANS OR FIRST RESPONDERS STILL HERE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL. THANK YOU AGAIN. >> THANK YOU.

NEXT COMMENT. NEXT IS BRIAN HYATT. AFTER THAT IS DAVE HOLE.

>> STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE. >> BRIAN HYATT.

ROWLETT, TEXAS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I'M HERE TO PUBLICLY IN THE STRONGEST WORDS I CAN COME UP TO DISAGREE TO SUPPORT PRIDE MONTH. YOU'RE USING MY TAX DOLLARS TO PAY FOR SOMETHING I DON'T BELIEVE IN OR SUPPORT. GREATER THAN THAT IS YOUR

[01:00:06]

PROMOTING THINGS THAT MY GOD DISAGREES WITH. THAT'S WHO I REPRESENT ABOVE ALL. I HAVE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS SERVING THIS COMMUNITY.

WORKING WITH ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE NEVER TURNED ANYONE AWAY AND NEVER WOULD.

I'M NOT ANGRY OR HATE ANYBODY. I HAVE A HIGHER CALLING I MUST ANSWER TO AS WE ALL DO.

FOUR YEARS AGO, I WAS PRIVILEGED TO PRESENT BIBLES TO THE COUNCIL.

THE MAN I GAVE THE BIBLE TO IS NOW OUR MAYOR. IT WAS PRAYED OVER AND I GOT TO HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN SCRIPTURES IN LEADERSHIP I KNEW WERE VALUABLE. AND ONE OF THOSE IS THIS, IT'S ABOUT A PROVERBS 4:23. THE WISEST MAN OUTSIDE OF JESUS SAID THIS, GUARD YOUR HEART.

OUT OF IT FLOWS THE LIFE. IT WORKS FOR MY FAMILY AND WIFE AND SON AND DAUGHTER IN LAW.

IT WORKS FOR MY CHURCH AND COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO GUARD THE HEART OF ROWLETT. YOU HAVE NOT DONE A VERY GOOD JOB IN THIS AREA. THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU CAN EVEN THINK ABOUT OR DREAM ABOUT. I AM ASKING YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT PRINCIPLE.

AND BEGIN TO GUARD THE HEART OF ROWLETT AND ITS PEOPLE IN THIS AREA.

GOD, I KNOW TONIGHT THEY WILL SAY, I HAVE BEEN TOLD I HATE PEOPLE.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO AFFIRM PEOPLE. MY STANDARD OF LIVING IS THE GOD'S WORD THAT THE GENTLEMEN READ AND I DON'T KNOW HIM. AS A CHRISTIAN TELLS ME TWO THINGS I CANNOT DO. I CAN NEVER HATE ANYONE. BUT I CAN NEVER AFFIRM SIN.

AND I CANNOT REWRITE THE BIBLE TO MAKE EVERYONE FIT IN. JESUS LOVES US ENOUGH TO GIVE US BOUNDARIES IN OUR LIFE. GO AND SIN NOT. AS HE MINISTERED TO THEM AND AS LEADERS IN OUR CITY, AS I CLOSE, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO DO THAT.

GUARD THE HEART OF THE CITY. AND THE ONE THING WE CAN DO IF YOU DON'T PICK UP THAT MANTEL IS, THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS VOTE. AND I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR POSITIONS WHO FOLLOW THAT AND GUARD THE HEART

OF THE CITY. THANK YOU GUYS. >> THANK YOU.

>> AND LADIES. >> NEXT IS DAVE HOLE. AFTER THAT IS MICHAEL BERRY.

>> DAVE HOLE, ROWLETT. JUNE 6, 2023, FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO START ANGIE SMITH AND I DISCUSSED THE OPENING OF THE NEW RESTROOM AT LAKE SIDE SOUTH PARK.

I MENTIONED ANGIE IT WAS TIME TO REMOVE THE PORTO JOHNS SINCE THE LAKE SIDE WAS READY.

THEY CREATE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC AND CONFUSION WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DIRECTED AND MOVED TO THE LESSER USED PART OF THE PARK. ANGIE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THE RESIDENTS AROUND PADDLE PARK ASKED FOR THE PORT-O-JOHN BE ASKED TO REMAIN. SO ONE PORT-O-JOHN WILL REMAIN IN PADDLE PARK. THERE ARE NO RESIDENT THAT IS LIVE BY PADDLE POINT PARK BUT THEY DO LIVE NEAR LAKE SIDE PARK. I SPEND MORE TIME THAN ANYONE ELSE AT LAKE SIDE PARK AND PADDLE PARK. IT WOULD SEEM THAT ANGIE AND AARON ARE MISTAKENLY LEAVING THE PORTO JOHNS. THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER AND PARK SAID SHORE LINE FISHING WOULD BE DIRECTED TO LAKE SIDE PARK AND OF MILLER AND THE LAKE.ST SIDE - ALL OTHER PARK ACTIVITIES WOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE LAKE SIDE PARK.

FAST FORWARD EIGHT YEARS AND THE PECAN GROVE PARK IS FIVE YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE, AND IT'S COST IS MATERIALLY OVER BUDGET. THE LAKE SIDE PARK RESTROOM IS COMPLETED AND OPEN.

[01:05:07]

THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. HOME RULE MAKE IT EASY FOR ROWLETT TO IGNORE THE RIGHTS OF THE RESIDENTS AND DECLARE VICTORY.

EVERY TIME ROWLETT DOES THIS, IT LOSES CREDIBILITY WITH THE COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL ORGANIZATIONS. THIS IS WHY ROWLETT RESIDENTS ARE ASKED TO PAY FOR AND BOND OUR LAKE FRONT PARKS WHICH DO NOT MEET THE BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS.

THANK >> THANK YOU. NEXT COMMENT.

>> NEXT COMMENT IS MICHAEL BARRY AND AFTER THAT IS CASSER HUDDLESTON.

>> I AM MICHAEL BERRY. I AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN OVER PRIDE MONTH.

I'M A RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT FROM ILLINOIS WHO MOVED HERE IN ROWLETT IN 2008 AND STARTED A SECOND CAREER AS A TEACHER AT LAKE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL. AS THE SUPERINTENDENT, I AM WELL FAMILIAR WITH THE INFRINGEMENT. GOVERNMENT CAN HAVE ON US. AND AS A TEACHER, ROWLETT I WITNESSED THAT AS WELL. I WENT THROUGH ALL THE INCLUSION AND EQUITY DIVERSITY TRAINING THERE FOR YEARS, AND UP UNTIL THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT GOT TO THE POINT IT STARTED INFRINGING UPON MY BELIEFS TO THE POINT I WAS ENCOURAGED HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO PUT A SAFE ZONE SIGN ON MY CLASSROOM DOOR. MY CLASSROOMS ARE ALWAYS SAFE. I DON'T HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO PROMOTE IT. THAT WAS AGAINST MY WILL. THAT PRETTY MUCH ENDED MY CAREER AS A TEACHER AT LAKE VIEW CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL WHEN THE GOVERNMENT STARTED GOING AGAINST WHAT I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THEN IT WAS TIME TO GO. AND I FEEL LIKE THIS COUNCIL YOU NEED TO REALLY RETHINK ON YOUR BELIEFS HERE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE CITY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS CASSEN HUDDLESTON.

AFTER THAT IS ART MUELLER. >> GOOD EVENING. CASSEN HUDDLESTON.

PASTOR AT FREEDOM CHURCH. I AM HERE FOR THE THE THIRD YEAR.

BEEN HERE SINCE THE MAYOR AND PREVIOUS COUNCIL MADE THE CITY TO PROMOTE PRIDE MONTH.

I WANT TO FIRST OFF BEGIN SAYING I TRULY BELIEVE THAT EVERY SINGLE BEFORE NO MATTER HOW THEY IDENTIFY OR BEHAVIOR THEY ENGAGE IS IS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF THE LORD.

THEREFORE THEIR INNATE WORTH IS EQUAL TO MINE AND ANYONE ELSE'S. THIS IS REALLY WHAT I BELIEVE.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ALL HUMAN BEINGS HAVE THE BASIC AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND THOSE RIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE INHIBITED NOR PROHIBITED BECAUSE OF HOW A PERSON IDENTIFIED.

I BELIEVE EQUALITY UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION THAT ALL MEN AND WOMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND ENDOWED BY OUR CREATOR WITH LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

LET ME ALSO STATE SPECIFIC TO YOU MAYOR AND WHOSE RIGHTS SIT ON THE DEI COMMITTEE.

I ALONG WITH THE ELDERS AND LEADERS STAND IN COMPLETE OPPOSITION AGAIN THIS YEAR THIRD YEAR IN A ROW TO THE MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION MAKING JUNE PRIDE MONTH IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT AS WELL AS THE USE OF CITY FUNDS AND CITY PROPERTY IN THE CELEBRATION OF PRIDE MONTH INCLUDING THE LIGHTING OF THE WATER TOWER AND NOW A CITY-SPONSORED GAY PRIDE PARADE.

MAYOR, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE ALL CITIZENS HAVE ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE.

OUR BUDGET IS BALANCED. MONEY IS COMING IN MORE THAN GOING OUT.

EACH CITIZEN IS ENSURED SAFE, PROTECTED. THAT IS YOUR ELECTED CHARGE.

IT IS NOT THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO VALIDATE OR AFFIRM ANY PERSON'S SEXUAL IDENTITY.

COUNCIL I ASK YOU TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF SPONSORING GAY PRIDE EVENTS.

THIS HAS PLACED OUR CITIZENS ON A DISHEARTENING SHAPE. I REALLY LIKE WHAT MY MINISTER FRIEND SAID, SHANE PRUITT. CONTRARY TO THE WORLD, YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH SOMEONE AND STILL

[01:10:02]

NOT HATE THEM. YOU CAN SPEAK UP AND STILL NOT BE JUDGMENTAL.

YOU CAN SAY SOMETHING WRONG AND STILL NOT HAVE A PHOBIA AND STAND FOR TRUTH AND STILL BE LOVING. ONE OF OUR FOUNDING FURTHERS, SAID RIGHT IS RIGHT EVEN IN EVERYONE IS AGAINST IT. WRONG IT WRONG EVEN IF EVERYONE IS FOR IT.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL, DO THE RIGHT THING. CHANGE THIS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ART MUELLER.

>> SIR, COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE. THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS ART MILLER. I LIVE IN GARLAND. QUITE FRANKLY, ALL THE BULLET POINTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID TONIGHT. I AM NOT FOR THE PRIDE EVENT.

I WAS GOING TO READ ROMANS 18-32 AND THAT WAS DONE THE VERY FIRST PERSON THAT CAME UP.

SO, TO YOU COUNCIL, I SAY, Y'ALL ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND HAVING THIS TYPE OF EVENT BASICALLY YOU FOLLOW THE WORD OF GOD, YOU'RE BLESSED, AND YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE WORD OF GOD AND YOUR CURSED. SO, THAT'S ONE THING I WANT TO SAY.

I'M REALLY GOING TO CHANGE MY DIRECTION TO THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME.

I AM REALLY A NOBODY. I WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT SOMEBODY THAT LOVES THEM.

AND THAT'S JESUS CHRIST. I AM A MEMBER OF CROSSROADS ROWLETT CHURCH.

FOR THOSE THAT YOU KNOW BELIEVE IN THE PRIDE DIRECTION, GENDER IDENTITY, TRANSWHATEVER.

I INVITE THOSE TO MY CHURCH FOR THEY WILL BE LOVED. AND GET THE NEEDED HELP THAT

THEY NEED. SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT SPEAKER IS PAUL LINE DEDRIC. AFTER THAT IS BRAD MCCLAIN.

THANK YOU JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE. >> OKAY.

MY NAME IS PAULINE DEDRIC. I AM A RESIDENT OF ROWLETT, TEXAS.

I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 22 YEARS. I LOVE THIS CITY AND I'M PROUD OF THIS CITY.

AND I AM GOING TO RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE SWEET, SWEET TASTE OF PRIDE EVENT COMING UP.

I THINK WE HAVE A CONSTITUTION THAT PROTECTS EVERYONE. NO ONE SPECIAL GROUP IS ENTITLED TO SPECIAL RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES LIBERTIES OR FREEDOMS. WE ARE ALL THE SAME IN THE EYES OF THE LORD AND THE LAWS OF THIS LAND. AND LET ME SAY THIS FIRST TOO BEFORE I GO FURTHER. I DON'T HATE ANYBODY IN CASE MY FACE COMES UP ON YOUTUBE OR MY SPACE. THE ONLY THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS THE CHARACTER.

ARE THEY A GOOD PERSON OR BAD PERSON? THAT'S THE ONLY THING THIS CONCERNS ME. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S VERY DIVISIVE.

SOMETHING THAT'S VERY MATURE. SOMETHING THAT'S VERY PRIVATE. SOMETHING THAT'S DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. AND SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY AS CAST A NET OVER ME AND I'M STRUGGLING TO GET OUT OF THE NET. IT'S LIKE I'M BEING DRUG ALONG.

I'M BEING PULLED ALONG BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

I JUST HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH THE STATUS QUO. BUT WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE? OF THIS KIND OF THING AND YOU HEARD PEOPLE SAY IT WAS COSTING US MONEY. BUT HOW IS IT HELPING EVERYBODY? BEING HOMOSEXUAL, YOU CAN SAY IT'S AN ATTRIBUTE, IT'S A WEAK ONE. BUT IT'S NOT AN ACHIEVEMENT.

IT'S NOT AN ACHIEVEMENT. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS IT'S A WILD ACHIEVEMENT WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING. IT'S JUST SEX. THAT'S ALL IT IS.

[01:15:02]

JUST SEX. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE PULL THIS OFF AGAIN, MAYBE WE NEED TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. AND LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT THIS TO HAPPEN. WHETHER THEY WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE BEFORE I SIT DOWN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEA CELEBRATION OF THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY. MAYBE YOU HAVE DONE THAT.

THERE ARE MAMMAS AND POPPAS WORKING EVERY DAY FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THEIR PAYING THEIR TAXES AND THEIR PAYING YOUR SALARIES. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME

TO SPEAK AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. >> NEXT IS BRAD MCCLAIN.

AFTER THAT CAROLYN BERRY. >> THANK YOU JUST COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF

RESIDENCE. >> HELLO BRAD MCCLAIN. ALLEN, TEXAS.

I GROUP UP IN ROCKWALL, I CAN REMEMBER BEING ON RIDGE ROAD WITH A REALTOR IN '72.

PLAYED BASEBALL ON THE FIELDS IN ROWLETT. I'M REAL CONCERNED WITH THE DIRECTION ROWLETT IS GOING. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE GAY BUSINESS.

THE GAY PRIDE DAY. PROVERBS TALKS ABOUT THERE IS A WAY TO SEEMS RIGHT TO A MAN BUT DEATH IS THE END RESULT. I THINK THAT MONEY COULD BE USED FOR BETTER RESOURCES.

YOU HEARD THE VETERANS GROUP HERE. I'M ALSO FORMER MARINE.

22 MEN KILLING THEMSELVES EVERY DAY TO SUICIDE AND SO WE HAVE A GROUP HERE THAT'S WILLING TO STEP UP AND HELP THOSE FOLKS. SO, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MAYBE THOSE RESOURCES THAT GO TO THE POLICE FUND TO HAVE TO SET UP THE ROADBLOCKS AND MAYBE THOSE RESOURCES COULD GO THERE.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. >> NEXT IS CAROLYN BARY.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CAROLYN BERRY. I LIVE HERE IN ROWLETT, TEXAS.

I WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION OF ALLOWING GAY PRIDE DAY IN ROWLETT, TEXAS.

I'M A CHRIST FOLLOWER AND THE BIBLE IS MY COMPASS. ALL OF THE BIBLE IS MY COMPASS AND I'M GOT TO GO TAKE ANY OUT IF IT DOESN'T ALIGN WITH MY VALUES.

GAY PRIDE AT IT'S VERY CORE IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF SEXUAL PREFERENCE.

IT'S A PERSONAL ISSUE AND NOT ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE CELEBRATED PUBLICLY.

AND IT IS NOT ONE THAT WE AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS SHOULD BE FORCED TO EXPLAIN TO OUR CHILDREN WHEN WE DRIVE THROUGH THE CITY AND SEE THE WATER TOWER LIT UP.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESEARCH AND Y'ALL CAN DO YOUR RESEARCH, GENDER DYSPHORIA IS CHARACTERIZED AS A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER.

IT'S NOT COMPASSIONATE TO AFFIRM IT. IT'S ACTUALLY CRUEL AND PRIDE DAY IS ONLY PROMOTING THIS. SO BY PROMOTING PRIDE DAY, GAY PRIDE DAY UNDER THE FALSE ILLUSION OF INCLUSION AND DIVE DIVERSITY.

IT'S CAUSING MORE SEPARATION. WE DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A DAY TO CELEBRATE PEOPLE'S SEXUAL

PREFERENCE. THANK >> THANK YOU.

NEXT COMMENT. >> NEXT IS KAITLYN MITCHELL. AFTER THAT IS AN DOTSON.

>> HI YOU GUYS MET ME EARLIER. I'M IN ROWLETT. I JUST HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS TO SAY OUTSIDE OF WHAT I SPOKE EARLIER. FROM HEARING THE COMMENTS PUT IT MY PEOPLE BEHIND ME, I AM A TAX PAYING CITIZEN HERE. MY PARTNER IS A BUSINESS OWNER.

HAS OWNED HER BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT FOR NINE YEARS NOW.

ALSO A TAX PAYING CITIZEN. I'M HEARING ABOUT TAX DOLLARS TOWARD THE PRIDE EVENT.

THOSE WOULD BE MY DOLLARS. THANK YOU NEAR FOR INCLUDING MY DOLLARS FOR WHAT WE STAND AND BELIEVE IN. I WAS AN ORDAINED PASTOR BEFORE BEING REMOVED FROM THE CHURCH.

I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE PASSAGES AND THEY ARE USED CALLED CLOBBER PASSAGES AND USED TO HURT AND SHAME THOSE WHO ARE WITHIN MY COMMUNITY. AND THE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE.

AT WHICH HAS BEEN WILDLY TRANSLATED AND I WILL SAY THAT AND I WON'T SAY ANYTHING FURTHER OUTSIDE OF THAT BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE. HOWEVER, IF WE'RE TALKING IN TERMS OF PROTECTION, AND THAT GOD LOVES EVERYONE, WHEN WE SAY THAT HE LOVES EVERYONE, HE MEANS IT. LOVES EVERYONE. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING THE CITIZENS OF ROWLETT, I'M ONE OF THOSE CITIZENS.

MY PARTNER IS ONE OF THOSE CITIZENS. THE CLIENTELE SHE HAS ARE CITIZENS. BECAUSE OF ONE DAY WE'RE NOT ALLOWED IN THAT SAME PROTECTION,

[01:20:04]

AND TO ME THAT SEEMS SILLY. SO, AGAIN I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE WHERE I CAME FROM WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE WHO INCLUDED US. WE FELT SEPARATED. WE GET TWO DAYS OF JUNE PRIDE MONTH. FOR A WATER TOWER AND WE GET ONE DAY FOR AN EVENT THAT JUST SAYS YOU'RE WELCOME HERE. TO ME IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT, FOR JUST ONE DAY.

BUT IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME AND MY HEART AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE.

I AM A CHILD OF GOD. HE WILL NEVER TURN HIS FACE FROM ME AND HE WILL STAND IN PROTECTION FOR ME. AND I CAN'T SEE HOW WE CAN USE CLOBBER PASSAGES TO I LOVE THE GAYS. I LOVE THE STRAIGHTS. I LOVE THE TRANS, BUT.

IT'S NOT A BUTT AND. IF WE'RE INCLUSIVE AND TOGETHER, YOU CAN'T SAY YOU LOVE US AND PUT A ABOUT BEHIND IT. THANK YOU CITY AGAIN FOR PROTECTING US AGAIN AS PEOPLE AND GIVING US JUST ONE DAY. EVEN IF IT'S JUST ONE DAY. THAT ONE DAY MEANS SO MUCH TO US. THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME TO YOUR CITY AGAIN.

I APPRECIATE IT. >> NEXT COMMENT. >> NEXT IS ANN DOTSON.

AFTER THAT IS MIRANDA CONGI. >> MY NAME IS REVEREND ANN DOTSON.

I AM A CITIZEN OF GARLAND AND HAVE BEEN A PASTOR FOR 23 YEARS. MY DENOMINATION IS THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH DISCIPLES OF CHURCH. IN THAT DENOMINATION THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE LIVING WORD OF GOD. THAT THE LIVING WORD OF GOD MOVES WITH US.

GOES WITH US. THAT IT MEETS US ON OUR JOURNEY AND TAKES US WHERE WE NEED TO GO. OPENS OUR HEARTS. OPENS OUR MINDS AND THAT ALL PEOPLE IN OUR DENOMINATION ARE CAPABLE OF INTERPRETING THE WORD OF GOD WHERE WE ARE IN OUR JOURNEY. CAPABLE OF LIVING OUT THEIR LIFE.

SO AS A PASTOR OF THAT CHURCH WITH THOSE TENANTS. I HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT SPEAK ON EVERY MEMBER OF FIRST CHRISTIAN ROWLETT BECAUSE THEY ARE DIVERSE AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT UDERSTANDINGS OF WHAT SCRIPTURE SPEAKS. THEY ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AND INCLUSIVE IN THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST ALL MEANS ALL. THEY WELCOME ALL.

THEY INCLUDE ALL PEOPLE. I DO HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION OF THE INTERPRETATION OF THE SCRIPTURE THAN SOME OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. AND THAT'S OKAY.

BECAUSE WE AGREE TO DISAGREE IN LIFE. THAT'S ONE OF OTHER TENANTS OF OUR FAITH. AS A PASTOR TO ME, DIVISIVENESS AND JUDGMENT AND YOU CAN CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT, BUT IT IS JUDGING THAT IF YOU DON'T INTERPRET SCRIPTURE THE WAY I INTERPRET SCRIPTURE YOU'RE WRONG AND OUTSIDE THE CONFINES OF GOD. FOR ME, THE DIVISION AND JUDGMENT IS ALSO NOT AT ALL CHRISTLIKE. I AM, I LOVE GOD AND I WISH THAT EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE WORLD BELIEVES IN JESUS CHRIST. THAT'S MY JOB.

BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THE REALITY OF THE WORLD AND IT'S NOT THE REALITY OF THIS CITY. SO I PRAY AND ASK FOR GOD'S GRACE AND GOD'S LOVE TO SHOWER OVER EVERYONE AND THAT ALL PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PLACES IN ROWLETT THAT WHERE THEY ARE HEARD AND RESPECTED AND WELCOMED AND INCLUDED. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT COMMENT. >> NEXT IS MIRANDA CONGI.

I, IS JENNA CARPENTER >> MIRANDA CONGI, ROWLETT, TEXAS.

I WANTED TO SPEAK OF A QUOTE I RESONATED WITH AND FEEL ANYBODY THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE WORDS SAID TONIGHT MY RESONATE WITH. AFTER I CANNOT SPELL MY NAME WITH THE LETTERS OF LBGTQIA AND

[01:25:02]

MAYBE THAT IS WHY THEY ADDED THE PLUS. TO PULL UP A CHAIR TO THE TABLE.

I LEARNED TO SPEAK MY NAME. YOU TELL ME THERE'S NO NEED TO SHOVE MY IDENTITY DOWN YOUR THROAT. I'M SORRY, I WASN'T TRYING TO SHOVE MY IDENTITY DOWN YOUR THROAT, I WAS TRYING TO PULL IT OUT OF MINE TO SPEAK ABOUT IT. THE PROBLEM WITH LOVE THE SINNER AND HATE THE SIN. THE SECOND PART ALWAYS GETS IN THE WAY OF THE FIRST PART.

THE SECOND PART GRANTS US LICENSE TO JUDGE OTHERS TO HOLD SOMEBODY AGAINST SOMEONE ELSE.

WHEN I SAY, I'M SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT YOU BLOCKS MY ABILITY TO LOVE YOU AS GOD LOVES YOU.

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU MARKS AS UNDESERVING AND NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR MY UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

I WILL LOVE YOU ONLY WITH SO FAR AND SOME CONDITIONS. THERE ARE LIMITS.

I'M UNABLE TO SEE BEYOND WHAT YOU CONSIDER YOUR FAULTS. I'M UNWILLING TO SEE YOU AS ANYTHING MORE THAN WHAT I DO NOT LIKE ABOUT YOU. I WILL NOT LOVE YOU AS GOD LOVES YOU NOR EVEN AS GOD LOVES ME. WITH THAT, JOHN 13:34, A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE TO YOU.

YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. YOU ALL LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

THANK >> THANK YOU. NEXT COMMENT.

>> NEXT IS JENNA CARPENTER. AFTER THAT IS ASHLEY SANDERS. >> THANK YOU.

JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE. >> HI.

I'M GINA. TECHNICALLY I LIVE IN ROCKWALL ALTHOUGH MY CHILDREN LIVE IN ROWLETT. MY KIDS AND I HAVE GONE TO SCHOOL HERE.

I AM 38 YEARS OLD NOW. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THIS COMMUNITY ALSO REFLECTS MY AS A PERSON AND MY FAMILY TOO. I WANT TO SAY FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.

I RECOGNIZE YOUR COUNCIL IS PROBABLY NOT A CHRISTIAN-BASED COUNCIL.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO REMAIN SECULAR IN ORDER TO ENSURE YOU ENCOMPASS ALL DIFFERENT GROUPS IN YOUR SEASON. I RECOGNIZE AND THAT APPRECIATE THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY I REALLY LOVED THE PTSD GROUP THAT WAS HERE TODAY AND SPOKE TO MY HEART. I AM A SUICIDE SURVIVOR. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE SURVIVOR.

WHEN MY PASTORS FAILED ME. WHEN EVERYBODY IN MY CHURCH COMPLETELY ALIENATED ME FROM MY ONLY EVERY MEMBER OF MY OWN FAMILY WHETHER IT BE BLOOD OR IN THE CHURCH WHICH I DID CONSIDER GROWING UP. I PUT A GUN TO MY HEAD. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE FACT THAT A COMMUNITY MEMBER CALLED ME AT THE RIGHT TIME, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.

MY KID THANK THAT PERSON NOW. MY SON JUST GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

MY 16-YEAR OLD CAME OUT WHETHER HE WAS IN THE SEVENTH GRADE AND MY DAUGHTER IS ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO SHE GETS TO HAVE TWO MOMS NOW INSTEAD OF NONE. I LOVE HOW PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE BEDROOMS OF THE LBGTQ MEMBERS. I WANT TO SAY TWO WORDS.

THAT'S GROSS. NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THAT. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PUSH THAT ON ANYBODY. IF YOU SEE A RAINBOW FLAG, AND THAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU SHOULD REALLY THINK INWARDLY ABOUT WHY THAT'S SOMETHING COMING TO YOUR MIND.

THE REASON WHY WE'RE DOING THIS IS SO THAT WE CAN WALK HAND AND HAND WITH OUR SPOUSES, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE FAMILIES AND GO TO DINNER AND NOT GET STARED AT. MY WIFE CAN GO TO WAL-MART AND NOT GET CALLED A [BLEEP]. WE JUST WANT TO EXIST. I WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE PRIDE OR A MARCH. I WISH THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE PASTORS SITTING UP HERE PREACHING HOW THEY DON'T HATE ANYBODY BUT USING BIBLE VERSES TO CONDEMN US.

ONE THING WE HAVE AN OLD TESTAMENT AND A NEW COVENANT IN JESUS CHRIST.

THAT IS WHAT I STICK TO MY GUT ON. GOD SENT HIS SON TO DIE FOR US.

YOU DON'T GET TO USE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY I'M A BAD PERSON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT ASHLEY SANDERS. >> THANK YOU. STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF

RESIDENCE. >> HEY GUYS. I'M ASHLEY SANDERS.

I LIVE AT 3406 LILLY LANE. I AM A GAY BUSINESS OWNER IN ROWLETT, TEXAS.

10 YEARS OWNERSHIP TO BE EXACT. HI EVERYONE. I HAVE GROOMED COUNCILMEMBER

[01:30:07]

DOGS ON YOUR TABLE. I GROOMED SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE CROWD'S DOGS.

I RAISE MY 3 DOGS IN THE CITY. AT 3460 LANE. FIRST OF ALL, I'M SUPER NERVOUS.

SECOND OF ALL, DON'T FORGET THAT THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IS REAL.

I DO WANT TO SAY AS AN LBGTQ BUSINESS OWNER THAT I DO 571 CLIENTS HERE IN ROWLETT, TEXAS.

AND EVERYBODY BIT OF THOSE TAX DOLLARS GOES TO THOSE LIGHTS. I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS TO RUN THOSE LIGHTS FOR THAT SINGLE ONE DAY BECAUSE IF IT'S POSSIBLE, I THINK THE LBGTQ COMMUNITY CAN START DONATING TO THAT IF IT'S THAT BIG OF A DEAL.

SO, THAT TOO AND I JUST WANTED TO READ A SCRIPTURE FROM EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE BOOK.

IS IT IT IS, WHOEVER CLAIMS, HOLD ON, JOHN 4:20. FOR WHENSOEVER DOES NOT LOVE THEIR BROTHER AND SISTER WHO THEY HAVE SEEN CANNOT LOVE GOD WHO THEY HAVE NOT SEEN AND HE HAS GIVEN THIS COMMAND ANYONE WHO LOVES GOD MUST ALSO LOVE THEIR BROTHER AND SISTER.

SO. HATE ON US BUT I LOVE YOU ANYWAYS.

GOOD BYE. >> THANK YOU. NEXT COMMENT.

>> NEXT IS KELLY MCKEE. >> GETTING OLD, I NEED MY GLASSES NOW.

>> KELLY MCGEE. ROWLETT, TEXAS. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNSEL. TO PEOPLE THAT CAME TO SPEAK AGAINST THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE PRIDE EVENT. I HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS. FIRST YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE EVERY CITY EVENT. THAT'S OKAY. IT'S ALSO OKAY TO DISLIKE IT QUIETLY. YOU CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A SEAT. SECOND, YES IT IS A APPROPRIATE FOR THE CITY TO SPONSOR A PRIDE EVENT IN CELEBRATION OF ALL THE LBGTQ COMMUNITY HAS ACCOMPLISHED AND IN REMEMBRANCE OF ALL THE STRUGGLES TO GET HERE. THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES TO SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED BY THEIR LOCAL GOVT. JUST AS MUCH AS ANYBODY ELSE.

THEIR RIGHT TO EXIST AND BE SEEN IS NOT UP FOR DEBATE TODAY. PLEASE RETHINK THE COMMENTS YOU PLAN TO MAKE, PLEASE DON'T COME UP HERE AND TELL ME HOW MUCH YOU HATE THE SIN BUT LOVE THE SINNER. THAT'S NOT WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE. PLEASE DON'T TELL ME YOU RESPECT ME BUT YOU JUST DON'T AGREE WITH APPLY LIFESTYLE. YOUR APPROVAL IS NOT REQUESTED NOR IS IT REQUIRED. PLEASE DO NOT TALK TO ME ABOUT THE HARM THAT YOU BELIEVE PRIDE DOES TO CHILDREN. THE TREVOR PROJECT ESTIMATES THAT MORE THAN 1.8 MILLION LBGTQ YOUTH CONSIDER SUICIDE EACH YEAR IN THE U.S. MILLION.

AT LEAST ONE YOUNG PERSON ATTEMPTS SUICIDE EVERY 45 SECONDS.

THAT'S ABOUT FOUR SINCE I STARTED TALKING. ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASON IS REJECTION, LACK OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND CONVERSION ATTEMPTS BY PARENTS AND CHURCHES.

THOSE KID HAVE 12 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE. THOSE TOWER LIGHTS WILL NOT HURT YOUR CHILDREN. WHAT YOU SAY IN HERE TODAY AND WHAT YOU SAY NEXT SUNDAY COULD.

IF YOU CAN'T BE OUT WARDLY AFFIRMING. THAT'S OKAY.

YOU CAN SIMPLY CHOOSE TO BE QUIET. THAT IS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT COMMENT. THAT'S ALL OUR SPEAKERS.

[7. CONSENT AGENDA]

CONSENT AGENDA. THE FOLLOWING MAYBE ACTED ON IN ONE MOTION.

A COUNCILMEMBER MAY ASK FOR AN ITEM TO BE REMOVED. WE CHOSE TO NOT PULL ANYBODY FROM CONSENT. DOES ANYBODY FROM THE AUDIENCE WISH TO DO SO?

>> PLEASE READ THE ITEMS INTO RECORD. CONSIDERING ACTION APPROVING THE MINUTES. 7 B, CONSIDER ACTION APPROVING A TREE REMOVAL PERMIT PLAN.

7 C, CONSIDER ACTION APPROVING A UNIFORM TELECOMMUNICATIONS LICENSE AGREEMENT.

7 D, CONSIDER ACTION APPROVING A CONTRACT FOR THE RENOVATION OF 6202 DALROCK ROAD.

[01:35:07]

>> 7 E, ACCEPTING GRAND FUNDING IN AWARDED. >> 7 F.

TRANSFER MONEY TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM MEMBER. >> COUNCIL, ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR SHINDER. >> I MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS READ

INTO THE RECORD. >> >> SECOND THAT MOTION.

SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS READ INTO THE RECORD.

>> CALL THE VOTE. >> THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THE SYSTEM.

FOR AND REASON IT WAS SHOWING COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP AS BEING ABSENT.

CORRECT, BUT I'M SAYING IT WAS SHOWING SCHUPP AS ABSENT WHEN HE'S HERE.

>> SHOWS HE PUSHED THE BUTTON EARLY. SO FOR THE RECORD, YESES ALL

VOTES CAST. >> WHERE IS HE? DID YOU VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE?

[8A. Conduct the second of two public hearings and consider approval of an ordinance adopting administrative amendments to Appendix “D” (Past Commission and Committees) and Appendix “E” (Endnotes) of the City of Rowlett Home Rule Charter.]

ALL RIGHT. INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ITEM 8 A.

CONDUCT THE SECOND OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS IN CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS TO, APPENDIX E AND D OF THE HOME RULE CHARTER.

>> PRESENTING IS LAURA HALL MARK. >> GOOD EVENING.

PER THE CITY CHARTER AND THE PROPOSITION APPROVED IN THE 2013 AMENDMENT ELECTION, WE'RE ABLE TO ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS TO CHARTER. THESE WERE DETERMINED AFTER THE SIX AMENDMENTS WERE PASSED IN TO DO MAY SIX ELECTION, NOTING THE END NOTES REFERENCED FOR ITEMS NEEDED TO BE UPDATED AND ALSO ALONG WITH THOSE END NOTE UPDATES, IS A CONSTRUCTION TO THE PAST COMMISSION AND COMMITTEES. THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS REQUIRES TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE FIRST OF WHICH WAS HELD AT THE JUNE 6TH MEETING.

AFTER THIS PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE THE VOTE TO APPROVE THE CHANGES, ONCE THOSE ARE INCORPORATED THAT ALONG WITH THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE THAT ACCEPTED THE AMENDMENTS WERE APPROVED AT THE ELECTION WILL BE SENT TO THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE. SO IT WILL BE NOTED AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT OUR HOME RULE CHARTER WAS UPDATED AND ALSO BE UPDATED ON THE WEBSITE AND CODE OF ORDINANCES. THAT'S IT. COUNCIL.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET. >> LAURA, YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK UP. I HAD A RESIDENT REACH OUT TO ME THIS WEEK ASKING ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE CHANGES. CAN YOU JUST CONFIRM THAT THERE ARE NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO CHARTER. THE CHANGES MADE BY THE VOTERS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND THOSE ARE STAND SEPARATELY FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE CLERICAL TYPE CHANGES WE ARE CONSIDERS HERE

THIS EVENING. >> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. THE SIX CHARTER AMENDMENTS THAT WERE APPROVED BY VOTERS HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED. IN MAKING THE UPDATES TO THE DOCUMENT, SOME OF THE REFERENCES THAT WERE REQUIRED FOR THEM, THE END NOTES THAT REFERENCE SPECIFIC STATE LEGISLATIVE SECTIONS OR CHAPTERS, THOSE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE UPDATING AND THAT ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENT ALLOWS THOSE CHANGES.

AS WELL AS APPENDIX D, PAST COMMISSION AND COMMITTEES, IT'S REALLY NOT ANYTHING THAT IT'S NOT SUBSTANTIVE BUT IT'S NOT ANYTHING MORE THAN TYPO GRAPHIC CAL CORRECTION.

BECAUSE WE WERE GOING AHEAD AND AMENDING THE END NOTES, WE INCORPORATED THAT AS WELL.

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. SEEING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> SORRY. SORRY. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM MAY COME FORWARD.

DOES ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND WE DO NOT NEED TO TAKE ACTION.

WE DO. SORRY. DEALING WITH OTHER STUFF GOING ON. I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION. YES, I MOVE WE APPROVE ITEM 8 A

AS READ INTO THE RECORD. DEPP MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER. >> SECOND.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM, SORRY, MOTION BY WINGET. CALL THE VOTE.

[01:40:01]

IT'S SHOWING SCHUPP AS ABSENT ON THE SCREEN. >> OKAY.

SO, I WILL CLARIFY AGAIN. COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP DID YOU VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE?

[8B. Consider action to approve a resolution approving a contract with Gallup, Inc., to conduct a culture assessment of City employees for Fiscal Years FY2023-2024, FY2024-2025, and FY2025-2026 for a three-year total contract amount of $57,975 ($23,325 for FY2023 and $17,325 for each subsequent year) and authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.]

>> YES. >> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ITEM 8 B. CONSIDERING ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONTRACT TO CONDUCT A CULTURE ASSESSMENT OF CITY EMPLOYEES FOR F Y 23, 24, FOR THREE YEAR, $57,975 AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS.

STAND BY FOR A SECOND. MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET. CAN I REQUEST AFTER CITIZEN

COMMENT TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS AND CATCH OUR BREATH. >> DO YOU HAVE A MINUTE? WE WILL NOW CALL A RECESS. WE WILL RECONVENE AT 9:25. ALL RIGHT.

IT'S 9:25. WE ARE OUT OF RECESS. WE HAD FUN IN THE PLAY GROUND AND WE'RE DONE NOW. WE WILL GO BACK TO ITEM 8 B. RICHARD JONES, WE INTERRUPTED

YOU. APOLOGIZE. >> WE HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION ON GALLUP. SINCE 2014, THE CITY OF ROWLETT HAS CONDUCTED WHAT WE CALL AN INTERNAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT. TO TIMES CONSECUTIVELY EVERY THREE YEARS, SO FOR ME, 2016, 2017 AND THEN 2017 AND 2018 AND 2020 AND 2021. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR YEAR TO DO THAT INTERNAL ASSESSMENT. THE PURPOSE OF THE ITEM TODAY IS TO APPROVE A CONTRACT TO USE AN OUTSIDE SERVICE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE INTERNALLY TO HAVE A BENCH MARK FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES THAT COULD HELP US PERHAPS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE EMPLOYEES ACTUALLY THINK OF THE CITY. SO, THIS THREE YEAR CULTURE ASSESSMENT OF THE EMPLOYEE POPULATION GOES DIRECTLY TO ONE OF THE COUNCIL'S 11 GOALS FOR THE YEAR, TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR MANAGING ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE, THE WORD WAS TO GET AND RETAIN BEST EMPLOYEES BUT I CHANGED IT TO ATTRACT BECAUSE I JUST FELT LIKE THAT WAS A BETTER WORD.

THAT'S MY WORD SO I DIDN'T CHANGE IT. FOUR ORGANIZATIONS WERE IDENTIFIED AFTER I REACHED OUT TO MY PEERS IN STATE OF TEXAS. GALLUP, POCO, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WHO MEASURE ENGAGEMENT FROM YOUR EMPLOYEES AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

PROPOSALS WERE REVIEWED AND GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE CITY TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND CREATION OF WHAT OUR CULTURE IS.

IN OTHER WORDS TO GIVE US THAT ANSWER BECAUSE WE MAY THINK WE KNOW WHAT THAT ANSWER IS.

BUT JUST LIKE WHAT YOU HEARD FROM THE POLICE EARLIER, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO REACH DEEP. I'M AFRAID IF WE DID AN ASSESSMENT FOR OURSELVES LIKE WE HAVE DONE SIX PREVIOUS TIMES, WE MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY GET THE TRUTH BECAUSE WE'RE NOT EXPERTS NECESSARILY IN DOING THE ASSESSMENTS. THE ORIGINAL ONE, THE CLIMATE ASSESSMENT WAS CREATED WITH A CONSULTANT GOING BACK THROUGH TIME AND ONLY MEASURED OURSELVES AGAINST OURSELVES. I THINK WE NEED A BENCH MARK THAT ACTUALLY HAS ENOUGH ANALYTICS THAT TELLS US HOW WE RATE AGAINST SIMILAR PEERS, OTHER CITIES, OTHER CITIES OF SAME SIZE, PERHAPS OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

GALLUP WOULD HAVE THAT ABILITY. AFTER TALKING WITH EVERYONE, I RECOMMEND WE USE GALLUP TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE. THE CITY OF ROWLETT HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CONTRACT WITH GALLUP. WE WANT A THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT TO MEASURE OVER THE THREE YEARS JUST HOW WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AND HOW WE CREATE A PLAN THAT CAN HOPEFULLY GET EMPLOYEES ENGAGED BECAUSE WE DELIVER THE RIGHT EMPLOYER THE RIGHT PLACE TO WORK FOR THEM. SO THE FIRST YEAR GALLUP WILL SET A BASELINE FOR THE STUDY AND THERE'S A LITTLE EXTRA IN TO DO FIRST YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND SET

[01:45:03]

THE STAGE FOR HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD TO ACTUALLY CHANGE WHAT THE CULTURE, TO MAKE THE CULTURE WHAT WE THINK IT SHOULD BE. AND THAT'S NOT SO EASY BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS SO YOU REALLY DO HAVE TO START AT THE SUPERVISOR TEAM LEADER LEVEL AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE SUPERVISING. THEY'RE GOING TO HELP US GET TO THAT END.

COST, FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. COUNCIL, ALLOCATED $25,000 TO THE PROJECT IN THE STRATEGY MEETING ON APRIL 26TH AND THAT'S WHAT THE DOLLARS ARE THERE. OF COURSE GOING FORWARD, WE WOULD NEED AND COMMITMENT FOR THE OTHER DOLLARS IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS WHICH WOULD BE '24 AND '25. SO, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT WITH GALLUP. SO WE CAN CONDUCT THIS STUDY AND IT MAY MEAN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AT SOME POINT, TO ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT AND GO WAY DEEP INTO THIS JUST LIKE YOU WOULD HAVE, JUST LIKE THE POLICE JUST DID IN THEIR CULTURE ASSESSMENT WHERE SOMEBODY CAME IN AND FACILITATED THIS. I'M NOT AN EXPERT TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

I KNOW WE NEED TO MEASURE WHAT PEOPLE THINK FIRST SO WE CAN DECIDE IF THIS IS WHAT THEY THINK, WHAT IS IT WE WANT THEM TO THINK? WHAT IS IT WE WANT THEM TO FEEL? HOW DO WE WANT THEM TO GO HOME AND SAY, I WORK FOR ROWLETT AND THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO BE.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY DON'T. MAYBE WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO MEASURE.

I WOULD ASK FOR APPROVAL SO WE CAN DO THIS OVER THE NEXT >> COUNCIL.

>> QUESTIONS. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER.

>> RICHARD, I THINK THE INTENT OF THIS IS GOOD. HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED TO APPROVE THIS TONIGHT RATHER THAN DISCUSSING THIS WHEN WE DISCUSS THE BUDGET ITEMS. IT SAYS HERE THAT ACTUAL BUDGET WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL BUDGET AMENDMENTS ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL IN JULY. I'M WONDERING WHY THIS IS HERE NOW INSTEAD OF ON THE

RESCHEDULED BUDGET MEETING AGENDA. >> SO I WOULD BE OKAY WITH THAT.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO PROCEED FORWARD WITH GETTING APPROVAL SO THAT I CAN ENGAGE GALLUP TO START THE PROCESS. BUT AT WHATEVER POINT YOU DECIDE THAT'S THE CASE --

>> IS THERE AND TIME SENSITIVE? >> NOT NECESSARILY. WOULD BE NICE TO GET THE FIRST ASSESSMENT DONE BEFORE WE FINISH THE FISCAL YEAR. WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO YOU KNOW SEPTEMBER 30TH. AND IT WOULD BE JUST NICE TO HAVE THE FIRST MEASURE NOW BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE NOW. I JUST HAD IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BECAUSE I FINALLY GOT THE AGREEMENT WORKED OUT BETWEEN GALLUP AND THE CITY.

WITH DAVID'S HELP GETTING ALL THE WORDS RIGHT. IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET THE WORDS RIGHT. THIS WAS THE TIME TO APPROVE IT. NO, THERE'S NO URGENCY OTHER THAN TO TRY TO GET THAT ANSWER BEFORE WE GET TO PERHAPS THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

>> WE DON'T THINK THE PRICE WOULD GO UP? >> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING

TO CHANGE THE COST. THAT'S RIGHT. >> OKAY.

NOT AT ALL. WE JUST PUT IT OFF A LITTLE BIT AND BECAUSE YOU FIGURE SIX WEEKS FROM START TO FINISH TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND ACTUALLY GET THE RESPONSES BACK AND DO

THE SURVEY WITH ALL THE EMPLOYEES. >> IT'S SOMETHING THAT I AGREE WOULD BE GOOD TO DO. I THINK AS WE'RE REASSESSING ALL OF THE BUDGET ITEMS TOGETHER.

THAT WOULD BE A BETTER TIME TO CONSIDER. >> COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON.

>> I WILL AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER SHINDER ON THIS ONE.

IF WE WERE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT, I'M LOOKING AT THE OVERALL BUDGET DISCUSSION PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH AND LOOKING AT NEEDS VERSUS WANTS.

I'M HAVING A TOUGH TIME CLASSIFYING THIS AS A NEED AND MORE OF A WANT.

I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO MAYBE DO A DEEPER DIVE DURING OUR DISCUSSIONS.

JUST TO SEE, I'M NOT SAYING THIS DOESN'T HAVE MERIT ON FACE VALUE.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING. I'M TENDING TOWARDS THAT AREA RIGHT NOW WHERE IF IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD NEED, I'M GOING TO PROBABLY NOT VOTE FOR IT.

>> AND HENCE IT'S -- UP TO YOU TODAY. THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT ON

INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. >> CITY MANAGER HALL. >> COUNCILMEMBERS, IF I COULD ADD CONTEXT AND WHERE IT'S BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING. YOU ACTUALLY APPROVED THIS IN

[01:50:02]

YOUR MID YEAR APPROPRIATIONS. AT SUBSEQUENT BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.

YOU ASKED US TO HOLD THING OFF. TWO THINGS, NUMBER ONE BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTANDING HOW THE EMPLOYEES FEEL, AND TWO, WITH THE RELATIVELY SMALL PRICE TAG, WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO AT LEAST BRING IT BACK AND GIVE YOU ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO GO FORWARD WITH IT. THAT'S WHY IT'S BACK IN FRONT OF YOU NOW. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY OUT OF SEQUENCE.

YOU APPROVED IT BEFORE AND YOU WANTED TO BRING IT BACK TO SEE IF YOU WOULD ALLOW US TO

CONTINUE IT. >> COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS. >> I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON AND SHINDER. I WOULD PREFER TO WAIT AND TALK

ABOUT IT AT MID YEAR. AT OUR MID YEAR DISCUSSION. >> BUDGET DISCUSSION.

>> THERE YOU GO. COUNCIL ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

I WILL JUST MY COLLEAGUES MAKE A GOOD POINT. WE DID MAKE THIS STRATEGY DECISION TO PAUSE EXPENDITURES OUT OF THE BUDGET DUE TO THE INFORMATION WE LEARNED THAT WOKE US UP A BIT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PRIORITIES IN THERE AS WELL, SOME OF WHICH ARE CRITICAL NEEDS. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PLAN.

I HAVE NO DOUBT IT WILL BE VALUE FOR THE ORGANIZATION. BUT DUE TO COUNCIL'S DECISION TO TAKE A STRATEGIC PAUSE ON THESE EXPENDITURES, I FEEL LIKE I PROBABLY NEED TO ASK THAT WE DELAY THIS UNTIL THE BUDGET DISCUSSION. I DON'T KNOW THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE FORM OF A VOTE. IT COULD BE JUST BE ASKING YOU IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO DO. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE A VOTE OF COUNCIL TO BASICALLY

DENY THIS ITEM MOVING FORWARD. RATHER JUST -- >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT

WAS OUT HERE NOW. >> YEAH. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD CONSIDERATION JUST TO ALLOW US TO DISCUSS THE ITEM FURTHER. BUT I THINK GIVEN WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY GOING INTO FUTURE FISCAL YEARS, THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHY COUNCIL CHOSE TO TAKE A STRATEGIC PAUSE. THOSE OF WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN SPENT OR OBLIGATED AT THIS

POINT. >> COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. >> COUNCIL, DO Y'ALL WISH TO CONTINUE WITH A VOTE OR WOULD YOU SUGGEST THAT WE ALLOW STAFF TO JUST BRING IT BACK TO US IN THE BUDGET. I JUST DON'T LIKE THE APPEARANCE OF VOTING AGAINST SOMETHING THAT

WE KNOW IS A VALUABLE ASSET. MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET. >> THE RIGHT APPROACH IS TO LAY IT ON THE TABLE AND NOT GIVE IT CONSIDERATION AND MOVE ON IT THE AGENDA.

>> I ALSO AGREE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP SAY THAT AGAIN.

>> I ALSO AGREE. >> SO I THINK -- BERMAN, HIT YOUR BUTTON.

>> HIT YOUR BUTTON. >> >> IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

TAKE IT OFFER THE AGENDA. >> OKAY. RICHARD --

>> THANK YOU. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.

>> OF COURSE, I WILL BE THERE ON THE 13TH AND 14TH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM. ITEM 8 C, SORRY, ITEM 8 C,

[8C. Consider action to approve a resolution accepting the bid of and awarding a contract to Native Construction in the amount of $74,681.50 for the rebuild and refinish of the porch at Coyle House, and for additional work at Coyle House to include repair and replace rotted wood and paint all structures on the property utilizing BuyBoard Contract #638-21.]

CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE BID OF AND AWARDING A CONTRACT TO NATIVE CONSTRUCTION IN $74,681.50 FOR THE REBUILD AND REFINISH OF THE PORCH AT COYLE HOUSE TO REPAIR ROTTED WOOD BY CONTRACT 638-21. MIKE GLASS BEE.

>> MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, GOOD EVENING. YOU HAVE KIND OF READ WHAT THE, UP FOR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT. THE COYLE HOUSE WAS BUILT BY THE FIRST CITY COUNCIL OF CITY OF ROWLETT. NORTH TEXAS TOLL WAY AUTHORITY MOVED THE HOUSE AND SPENT $738,000 TO RELOCATE IT. THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE IS A WOOD FRAMED HOUSE AND HAS EXPERIENCED DETERIORATION OVER THE YEARS. THE WOOD PAINT AND PORCH SPECIFICALLY ARE SHOWING THEIR AGE. DUE TO MANY YEARS OF EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS.

WHICH IS WEAK AND UNSTABLE. THE WOOD IS ROTTED FROM EXPOSURE AND THE BUILDING ENVELOPE NEEDS

[01:55:04]

REPAIRED TO SEAL IT. AND PREVENT THE ELEMENTS FROM GETTING INSIDE.

THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF STRUCTURE IS SUCH THAT ANY FURTHER DELAY OF THE REPAIR WILL COST THE CITY MORE IN THE LONG RUN AND THE COYLE HOUSE IS IN DESPERATE NEED TO SEAL THE BUILDING AND THE ACCESSORY BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY. IT HAS DAMAGED SIDING, SOFFITS AND TRIM. SHOWING SIGNS OF WATER DAMAGE. NATIVE'S BID WILL REPLACE THE SIDING AND SAND AND PAINT ALL STRUCTURES TO THE PROPERTY. ADDITIONALLY, THE COYLE HOUSE IS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL BY THE PUBLIC AND AS SUCH, THE CITY HAS A DUTY TO ENSURE THAT OCCUPANT SAFETY AND TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE THE VIABILITY OF THE VENUE.

ADDITIONALLY, THE VENUE IS A REVENUE GENERATING ASSET AND SHOULD BE MAINTAINED TO ENSURE THE REVENUE STREAM. AGAIN NATIVE IS PROVIDING A PROPOSAL UNDER BY-BOARD CONTRACT. THE CONTRACT WILL INCLUDE PAINTING, REMOVING AND REPLACE ALL THE ROTTEN WINDOW TRIM. SIDING, BASE COLUMNS. TWO BY 12 SUPPORT BEAMS AND SOFFITS AND SCRAPE THE PAINT AND PREPARE FOR REPAINTING. DO THE SAME FOR THE GARAGE, STORAGE SHED, HORSE BARN AND THE PORCH SPECIFICALLY IS A CURRENT. IT'S EXTREMELY WEAK.

I GUESS I GOT TO MOVE THAT FORWARD. EXTREMELY WEAK AND NEEDS SUPPORT FROM THE UNDERNEATH AS WELL AS THE PREP AND PAINTING. WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE PORCH HERE. AS WELL AS AND OF THE OTHER SURFACES THAT ARE DETERIORATING SIGNIFICANTLY. REALLY DO NEED SOME REPAIR. THE EXTERIOR ON AND OF THE ACCESSORY BUILDINGS ARE IN DIRE NEED OF SANDING AND PAINTING. THE WOOD IS ROTTED HERE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY. AGAIN APRIL 26TH BUDGET MEETING.

$75,000 WAS ALLOCATED FOR PROJECT. THE BID IS $74,681.50.

WE ARE GIVEN DIRECTION TO GET THE BID TO DO THIS SO WE ARE BRINGING IT FORWARD TODAY FOR

CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

SO, I KNOW THAT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN WE MOVE THE HOUSE WE HAD TO RECONSTRUCT THE PATIO. NOW IT'S BEEN QUITE A BIT SINCE THAT HOUSE HAS BEEN MOVED.

I THINK IT WAS 2011 OR SOMETHING. I THINK IT WAS IN THE PACKET.

HAS THERE BEEN CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING THAT WOOD DECKING WITH SOME OTHER PRODUCT LIKE I THINK

IT'S THE FIBER BOARD. TO ENSURE LONGEVITY? >> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE QUOTE. I THINK THEY ARE REPLACING WITH SIMILAR MATERIALS.

IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE IT ABOVE THE $75,000 ALLOCATED. >> I AM WONDERING IF THERE'S BEEN CONSIDERATION FOR THAT. ARE THERE ANY IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY NEEDS TO RESTORE THIS

HOUSE AT THIS VERY STAGE? >> >> THE VIABILITY AS A RENTAL

VENUE IS NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. >> OKAY.

IS IT CURRENTLY BEING RENTED OUT OR HAS -- NO. DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT STOPPED

BEING RENTED OUT? >> I DON'T KNOW THAT BUT AARON IS HERE.

>> DO WE HAVE A ROUGH ESTIMATE AS TO WHEN WE STOPPED RENTING OUT THIS PROPERTY?

>> OKAY AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S DUE TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE PROPERTY.

I AM GOING TO GO WITH YES, SIR. >> IN CASE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE NOT AWARE OF IT, WE'RE ARE

CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST SOMEONE AT THE PROPERTY. >> OKAY.

SO I THINK FOLLOWING IN LINE AND BEING CONSISTENT, I THINK THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE ISSUE AGAIN THIS WAS ALLOCATED THROUGH THE MID YEAR BUDGET ALLOCATION. I THINK AGAIN, TAKE A STRATEGIC PAUSE LIKE WE SAID. I THINK OBVIOUSLY IT WILL BE SOMEBODY THAT COUNCIL CHOOSING TO MOVE FORWARD ON. IN ORDER TO YOU KNOW BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS GOING INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THIS INTO REGULAR BUDGET APPROXIMATE DISCUSSION IN ORDER

[02:00:02]

TO BE CONSISTENT. THESE THINGS ARE NOT AN EMERGENCY NEED AS LONG AS THERE IS NO OCCUPANCY. HAVE WE ENSURED THAT THE AREAS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS

HAVE BEEN >> YES. >> OKAY.

I THINK GIVEN THAT, THEN THE EMERGENT NEED IS TO FIX THE ISSUES BUT THERE'S NOT A HEALTH SAFETY RISK BECAUSE WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY FROM OCCUPATION.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DELAY THIS DISCUSSION UNTIL THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS GOING INTO THE

COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP. >> >> YEAH.

AS PART OF THE PARKS BOARD, WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS FOR A COUPLE YEARS.

A LOT OF MONEY HAS BEEN PUT INTO IT ALREADY. I AGREE WITH THE REASON FOR DELAYING IT. IF IT COMES INTO THE BUDGET PROJECT AND WE LOOK AT $75,000.

WHERE DOES THAT PUT US? DOES THAT CLEAN IT UP? ARE WE DONE? DO WE OPEN THE DOORS? WE HAVE BEEN DOING BITS AND PIECES AND THIS AND THAT.

EVERY TIME WE TURN OVER ANOTHER BOARD IT'S ROTTEN AND THERE'S A SNAKE.

DOES THIS GET US THERE? >> GETS US CLOSER. I WON'T SAY IT WILL FIX EVERYTHING. WE HAVE DONE WORK SPECIFICALLY ON THE FOUNDATION.

THIS SHOULD ADDRESS THE BUILDING ENVELOPE ON MOST OF THE COYLE HOUSE ITSELF AND THE ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND SHOULD BRING IT UP WHERE IT'S AT LEAST AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL.

>> IT WOULD BE FUNCTIONAL AT THIS POINT IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THIS MONEY.

>> YES. >> WE CAN CHECK THE BOX AND CLOSE IT OUT.

>> NOT FOREVER. >> I UNDERSTAND. >> WE'RE IN TEXAS.

I UNDERSTAND IT'S 120-YEAR OLD HOUSE. AT LEAST AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, WE CAN RENT IT OUT OR THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSIONS WHAT WE MIGHT DO WITH IT.

IT PUTS US THERE. >> THANK YOU. >> FOLLOWING YOU MENTION THERE HAVE BEEN FOUNDATION WORK. I RECALL WE ALLOCATED FOUNDATION.

JUST THE FOUNDATION OF THE BUILDING. THE PORCH IS SEPARATE.

IT'S KIND OF ADDED ON. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY DID WORK. EVEN IF THE FOUNDATION WORK WERE

COMPLETED, THE WOOD IS ROTTEN. >> RIGHT. THE BEAMS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY

THE FOUNDATION ARE NOT SUCH THEY CAN TAKE THE WEIGHT. >> UNDERSTAND THAT.

JUST WONDERING WHETHER WE DID THE FOUNDATION WORK DID WE SECURE THE PORCH?

IF NOT, WHY NOT? >> I'M NOT SURE. I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK

AT THAT. >> I AM GOING TO SAVE THOSE QUESTIONS FOR LATER.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER. >> I WAS WONDERING, HOW MUCH REVENUE WOULD WE PROJECT WE

WOULD GET FROM THIS? >> DO WE HAVE HISTORICAL FIGURES ON THAT, AARON?

>> YEAH. >> WELL SURE. >> JUST, I'M SORRY.

I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT. >> JUST YOU KNOW IF YOU KNOW HOW MUCH DOES IT RENT FOR? APPROXIMATELY HOW OFTEN DID IT RENT BEFORE COVID? THAT KIND OF THING.

>> ROUGHLY F$5,000 PER PACIFIC YEAR. MOST RECENTLY A LOT OF WEDDINGS

AND A LOT OF SHOWERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. >> SO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE MORE THAN THAT IF WE FIX IT UP. OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS. >> WHAT WOULD THERE BE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IF WE PUT

IT OFF FOR A >> NO. >> OKAY.

>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DON'T THINK THE BID WOULD EXPIRE IN A MONTH.

>> COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. >> MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET.

>> A COMMENT. I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH ONE MAINLY IF THIS IS WORK COUNCIL INTENDS TO DO. DUE TO THE WATER FINDING ITS WAY INTO THE BUILDING THROUGH ROTTED WINDOW SILLS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER DAMAGES BEYOND WHAT WE ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT REPLACING THE FLOOR IF WATER WERE TO GET IN THERE. I PUT THAT FOR CONSIDERATION.

I'M NOT ADVOCATING WE TABLE THE ITEM. IF THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO CONSIDER THE ITEM, AND LIKELY APPROVE THE ITEM NO MATTER WHAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT DELAYING IS OF

[02:05:03]

THE BEST BENEFIT FOR THE PROPERTY AND FOR MAINTAINING ITS CONDITION LONG-TERM.

>> CITY MANAGER, WHEN WERE THE NEXT BUDGET DISCUSSIONS SCHEDULED?

SOME TIME IN JULY? DO WE HAVE EARLY PART, MID PART >> FIRMING UP THE DATES.

WE ARE MOVING MOST LIKELY TO THE 13TH AND 14 OF JULY. FULL DAY 13TH.

HALF DAY 14TH. YOU SHOULD BE GETTING AN OFFICIAL NOTICE.

AT THAT POINT, I THINK THAT'S WHEN WE APPROACH THESE DISCUSSIONS.

REGARDING THE MID YEAR ALLOCATIONS IF THAT IS POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE AS PART OF THE

JUNE 13TH AND 14TH DISCUSSION. SIR. >> YES, SIR WE CAN.

SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, CAN WE WAIT FOR THAT? OKAY.

COUNCIL. SIR, I DON'T WANT TO VOTE THIS ITEM.

I ASK WE BRING IT BACK TO THE JULY 13TH AND 14TH DISCUSSION. MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET.

>> TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET A SECOND QUOTE ON USING ARTIFICIAL MAN-MADE DECKING FOR LONGEVITY. MIGHT BE A GOOD INVESTMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[8D. Consider action to approve a resolution appointing a Mayor Pro Tem as prescribed in the City Charter.]

OUR NEXT ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION IS ITEM 8 D. CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE

APPOINTING A MAYOR PRO TEM. >> COUNCIL, GIVE ME A SECOND. HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR. ACCEPT NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION IN THE ORDER IT WAS RECEIVED. I WILL ASK THE MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED IF THEY ACCEPT AND HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE WITH COUNCIL AND IF NO ONE HAS ANYTHING ELSE TO SHARE.

I WILL ASK COUNCIL CONDUCT A HAND VOTE BEGINNING WITH THE COUNCILMEMBER NOMINATED FOR THE

POSITION IN THE ORDER IN WHICH IT WAS RECEIVED. >> SO, I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR AND ACCEPT NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF MAYOR PRO TEM AS PRESCRIBED IN THE CITY CHARTER.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET. >> NOT SURE IF I NEED TO HIT THE MOVE BUTTON.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO AT THIS TIME. I HAVE PROUDLY SPENT THE LAST YEAR REPRESENTING THE CITY OF ROWLETT AS MAYOR PRO TEM AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR.

THIS IS NOT A ROLE I TOOK LIGHTLY. I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED THE EFFORT PUT FORTH BY DEPUTY PRO TEM SHINDER. SHE POSITIONED HERSELF AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL. I NOMINATE DEB SHINDER FOR THE

ROLE OF MAYOR PRO TEM. >> WE HAVE THE FIRST NOMINATION. DEB SHINDER.

ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? >> COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON. >> WE DO NOT NEED A SECOND FOR THIS. JUST NOMINATIONS. I DO KNOW YOU WOULD HAVE SECONDED IT. ANY, I WILL ACCEPT ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF

MAYOR PRO TEM. >> OKAY. SEEING NONE.

I AM GOING TO ASK MS. SHINDER IF YOU ACCEPT THE NOMINATION. >> YES, I WOULD BE HONORED TO ACCEPT THE NOMINATION. IT HAS BEEN MY HONOR TO SERVE AS DEPUTY PRO TEM.

I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAYBE HAVE SOME MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHAT THESE POSITIONS ARE REALLY ABOUT. IT'S NOT A POPULARITY CONTEST. THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND THE DEPUTY PRO TEM DON'T HAVE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OR EXTRA CREDIBILITY BEYOND THAT OF ANY COUNCILMEMBER. WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK BECAUSE THE MAIN PART OF THE MAIN CRITERIA FOR THERE JOB IS TO BE ABLE TO STEP IN FOR THE MAYOR AT ANY TIME HE MIGHT BE UNABLE TO PERFORM HIS OPPORTUNITIES TEMPORARILY OR GOD FORBID PERMANENTLY TO ILLNESS OR BEING OUT OF TOWN. I THINK THAT I AM, I FEEL THAT I'M QUALIFIED TO DO THAT BECAUSE I HAVE THE TIME TO DEVOTE TO IT. I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN WHO ARE LIVE ANYWHERE NEAR.

I DON'T HAVE GRANDCHILDREN. I DON'T HAVE A PAYING JOB NOW. I TOTALLY AM ABLE TO DEDICATE MY TIME TO THE CITY. I THINK THE MAYOR CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN HE IS CALLED I HAVE DROPPED EVERYTHING AND COME. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. IF THE COUNCIL ELECTS ME

[02:10:01]

TONIGHT, I WILL PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL PERFORM THOSE DUTIES AND CONTINUE TO PERFORM WITH

DEDICATION, DETERMINATION AND DECORUM. >> WE WILL DO A HAND VOTE.

IF YOU ARE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

[8E. Consider action to approve a resolution appointing a Deputy Mayor Pro Tem as prescribed in the City Charter.]

>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 8 E, CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION APPOINTING A DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. FOLLOW THE SAME PRACTICE. I WILL ACCEPT NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION. I WILL ASK THE MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED IF THEY ACCEPT IN THE ORDER IT WAS RECEIVED. IF NO ONE ELSE HAS ANY NOMINATION, I WILL ASK FOR A HAND VOTE. I WILL OPEN NOMINATIONS. FIRST IS COUNCILMEMBER, MAYOR

PRO TEM SHINDER. >> I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE JEFF WINGET.

>> OKAY. AND COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP. I WILL LIKE TO NOMINATE COUNCILMEMBER GALUARDI. . SO WE HAVE TWO NOMINATIONS ON THE FLOOR? ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS. I WILL ASK JEFF WINGET IF YOU

ACCEPT THE NOMINATION. >> SERVING AS MAYOR PRO TEM TRULY HAS BEEN AN HONOR.

IT'S BEEN AGAIN NOT SOMETHING I HAVE TAKEN LIGHTLY. ATTENDING AND REPRESENTING ROWLETT IN DIFFERENT EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION HAS TRULY BEEN SPECIAL.

I WILL SAY THAT ONE THING THAT I HEARD TIME AND AGAIN AT THE EVENTS THAT I ATTENDED IS ROWLETT NEVER COMES TO THIS STUFF. THAT'S EXTREMELY DISCONCERTING BECAUSE ONE OF OUR ROLES AS COUNCILMEMBERS IN MY OPINION IS TO FORM THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE AREA AND FORM THE BONDS THAT CAN HOPEFULLY GIVE US CREDIT WHEN WHEY NEED A LITTLE HELP AT HOME. SO I THINK THAT CONTINUING TO SERVE IN THE POSITION OR SERVING IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING I WOULD ENJOY DOING IF GIVEN THE

OPPORTUNITY. >> SINCE YOU WERE THE FIRST TO BE NOMINATED.

I WILL THEN ASK FOR A HAND VOTE IF THE AFFIRMATIVE OF JEFF WINGET BEING MAYOR PRO TEM.

RAISE YOUR HAND IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. >> OKAY.

THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY OF THOSE MEMBERS PRESENT. CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE DEPUTY

[9. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REQUEST TOPICS TO BE PLACED ON AN AGENDA FOR A SUBSEQUENT MEETING. ANY DELIBERATION OR DECISION SHALL BE LIMITED TO A PROPOSAL TO PLACE TOPIC ON THE AGENDA FOR A SUBSEQUENT MEETING. TAKE ANY NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE ACTION ON CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS]

MAYOR PRO TEM. WITH THAT OUR LAST ITEM FOR THE NIGHT ON THIS AGENDA IS ITEM 9.

MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REQUEST TOPICS TO BE PLACED ON AN AGENDA FOR A SUBSEQUENT MEETING. ANYTHING TO PUT ON A FUTURE AGENDA.

SEEING NONE, WE DO NOT HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THIS. WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AND STAY. DON'T GO NORMAL. -- NOWHERE.

OKAY. SO WE ADJOURN THAT MEETING. AND NOW I AM CALLING ANOTHER MEETING INTO ORDER. IT IS TUESDAY JUNE 20, 2023. AT 9:57 CORRECTION, YOU PULLED UP THE WRONG PACKET. GIVE ME JUST A SECOND. OKAY.

I GOT IT. IT IS TUESDAY JUNE 20, 2023, AT 9:58 P.M.

THIS MEETING MAYBE CONVENED IN A CLOSED SESSION TO GAIN LEGAL ADVICE.

PROCESS FOR PUBLIC INPUT. IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON, YOU MAY COMPLETE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE UNTIL A DAY PRIOR. OUR FIRST ITEM FOR THIS AGENDA IS ITEM 2, EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY AND TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE PERSONNEL, TO SEEK ADVICE FROM THE CITY

[02:15:07]

ATTORNEY REGARDING THE ROWLETT HOUSING AUTHORITY AND TO DELIBERATE THE COMPOSITION APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF MEMBERS TO THE FINANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

WE WILL START THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM.

BEFOREHAND DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY WISH TO SPEAK ON AUDIENCE RELATED TO THIS ITEM?

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