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WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT. IN THE CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM. 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 PROCESS FOR PUBLIC INPUT, IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON, YOU MAY COMPLETE THE FORM ON THE WEBSITE BY 3:30 P.M. ON THE DAY OF THE MEETING.
ALL FORMS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. REGISTRATION FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR OF THE CITY
[2A. Annual Presentation from the Rowlett Chamber of Commerce.]
HALL CONFERENCE ROOM. OUR FIRST ITEM IS ITEM 2-A.TO RECEIVE AN ANNUAL PRESENTATION FROM THE ROWLETT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. DOES ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO PROVIDE CITIZEN'S INPUT ON THIS ITEM BEFORE WE HEAR? ALL RIGHT. THEN THE CHAMBER REPRESENTATIVES CAN COME ON UP. OH.
EVENING, I GUESS NOW. THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I'M JOINED BY A CONTINGENT FROM THE ROWLETT AREA CHAMBER AND CONVENTION CENTER.
WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION BY THE CHAIR-ELECT.
AND LAWYER ARE KEYSLEY. AND LAURA KEZLEY.
>> GOOD EVENING TO YOU, TOO. >> I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO START, IF IT IS OKAY, BY QUICKLY INTRODUCING EVERYBODY FROM THE BOARD HERE. AND THE STAFF.
JONATHAN CHANCE HERE WHO IS ON OUR BOARD.
BARBARA BAILEY-- WHAT IS YOUR TITLE?
>> MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR. WITH THE CHAMBER.
AMY CARTER ALSO ON THE BOARD. STEPHANIE BARRETT, HANDLES THE FINANCES WITH THE CHAMBER. MARK HALL IS THE OUTGOING CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD. AND LAURA.
>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE, Y'ALL. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS. OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY AT THE MOMENT WITH OUR C.E.O. HAVING MOVED ON AND ALSO OUR CHAIR WHO WOULD BE DOING THIS RIGHT NOW HAD SOME SURGERY.
SHE IS OUT AT THE MOMENT. I'M STEPPING IN, FILLING IN FOR TORY. AS I GO THROUGH THIS, I'LL READ OFF A FEW OF THE POINTS. READ ALONG.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, STOP, ASK ME.
IF I CAN'T ANSWER THEM, ANY ONE OF US HERE SHOULD BE ABLE TO.
I INTRODUCED EVERYONE. I WILL MOVE ON FROM THAT.
OKAY. THE FIRST THING WE LIKE TO DO.
AT EVERY BOARD MEETING, WE START OFF READING THE MISSION.
WE ALWAYS READ OUR MISSION WHICH IS TO REPRESENT AND PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND OUR VISION IS TO BE THE LEADING CATALYST FOR BUSINESS, TOURISM, AND LEISURE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL FIND IN MANY CHAMBERS IS THEY SAY THEY LIKE TO BE THE CATALYST FOR BUSINESS GROWTH, THE CONVENER FOR INFLEUNERS AND LEADERS. AND A CHAMPION OF THE COMMUNITY.
THAT FITS WELL WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT.
WE ARE A CATALYST FOR BUSINESS GROWTH.
WE REPRESENT THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY BY BEING A CONVENER OF THE LEADERS AND INFLUENCERS.
BY DOING THOSE TWO THINGS, WE BELIEVE WE ARE A MUCH STRONGER CHAMPION FOR A STRONGER COMMUNITY.
THIS IS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. WE HAVE SIX STRATEGIC GOALS.
SOME OF THEM ARE INWARD-FOCUSED. SOME OF THEM ARE FOCUSED OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. THE FIRST OF THE GOALS IS OUR VOICE OF BUSINESS. A FEW OF THESE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH ON. WE ARE AN ADVOCATE FOR BUSINESSES WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY PLANNING, PLANNING & ZONING, AND CITY COUNCIL.
AS WELL AS ADVOCATING FOR BUSINESSES WITH STATE LEGISLATORS. ANOTHER THING WE DID IN 2023, WE HOSTED THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE TRIP TO AUSTIN.
SOMETHING MARK ATTENDED BACK HERE.
I BELIEVE SEVERAL OF THE CITY PARTICIPATED IN THAT AS WELL.
>> EXTENDED STAY. >> WEATHER-RELATED?
>> YES, IT WAS. >> SORRY I MISSED OUT ON THAT TRIP. (LAUGHTER) WE ALSO HELD THE
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FIRST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT.I PARTICIPATED AND JOINED THAT. I REALLY ENJOYED IT AND GOT A LOT OUT OF IT. THAT IS SOMETHING WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. MOVING ON.
THIS IS AN INWARD-FOCUSED GOAL. TO GROW THE MEMBERSHIP.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE TO MAKE A BIG STEP TOWARDS THIS IS WE HAVE HIRED BARBARA BAILEY WHO HANDLES ALL OF THE MEMBERSHIP GROWTH. SHE HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB.
SHE SETS HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR HERSELF AND THE CHAMBER.
SHE IS CONSTANTLY CHECKING OFF THOSE BOXES.
SHE HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB. SHE HAS BEEN A GREAT GET FOR THE CHAMBER. PROMOTING MEMBERS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL, AND WORD OF MOUTH. SUCCESSFULLY HELD, THE FIRST BEST OF ROWLETT COMPETITION. WE ARE DOING THAT AGAIN THIS
YEAR. >> YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, MANY CITIES HAVE THEM. IT ALLOWS VARIOUS INDUSTRIES TO COMPETE AMONGST EACH OTHER IN THE CHAMBER.
WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT AND JOINED THE CHAMBER AS A RESULT OF IT. AND CAME OUT TO THAT-- I BELIEVE
IT WAS THE HOMETOWN HEROES. >> IT WAS OUR ANNUAL BANQUET.
>> THAT WAS A REALLY COOL THING THAT WE DID.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
WE ALSO REGULARLY CONNECT MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS WITH OTHER MEMBERS FOR SERVICES, SALES, AND RELATIONSHIPS.
I MEAN, THAT IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST THINGS THAT THE CHAMBER DOES. WE GET CALLS EVERY SINGLE DAY ABOUT WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN ROWLETT AND WHO TO CONTACT FOR VARIOUS THINGS. THE CHAMBER IS REALLY GOOD AT PUTTING THOSE PEOPLE TOGETHER. EXPANDING THE CHAMBER TO INCLUDE TOURISM IS OUR THIRD GOAL. THE FIRST ONE THERE YOU WILL NOTICE IS FOCUSED ON WHAT THE C.E.O., THE PREVIOUS C.E.O. WAS ABLE TO DO. WHAT I WANTED TO COMMENT ON THAT, EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT HERE ANYMORE, THE BOARD, IN GENERAL, IS VERY, VERY FOCUSED ON CONTINUING EDUCATION.
SO THAT, INCLUDING THE STAFF, THE STAFF IS GOING OFF TO SEMINARS AND GETTING EDUCATED, AND THE FUTURE C.E.O. WILL AS WELL. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON GROWING OUR STAFF.
WE ALSO PURCHASED THE DOMAIN AND DEVELOPED THE WEBSITE FOR VISITROWLETT.COM. I RECOMMEND IT.
IT IS A REALLY COOL WEBSITE. WE CONTINUE TO HOST THE VISITOR'S CENTER FOR ROWLETT. THE ROWLETT VISITOR'S CENTER INSIDE THE CHAMBER. AND HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE CVB IN ROWLETT.
CONVENTION AND VISITOR'S BUREAU. WORKFORCE, TALENT, AND DEVELOPMENT. THE FIRST ONE THERE, WE DEVELOPED THE ROWLETT STUDENTS WORK PROGRAM.
ONE THING I WANTED TO MENTION ON THAT.
WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE A $5,000 GRANT THIS YEAR.
THAT WILL BE PUT TOWARDS THAT PROGRAM.
>> WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT? >> $5,000.
>> OH, WOW. >> WE ARE CONTINUING TO APPLY FOR MORE GRANTS. GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.
WE ALSO HELD A SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESS OWNER'S SERIES.
THAT WAS REALLY NEAT. THE CHAMBER HELD SIX DIFFERENT COURSES. THOSE COURSES WERE LED BY VARIOUS BUSINESS LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS RUNS A MARKETING COMPANY. HE TAUGHT A CLASS ON SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
THAT WAS A REALLY NEAT THING TO DO AS WELL.
IMPROVE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS.
WE RECENTLY DEVELOPED AND RELEASED A BRAND NEW CHAMBER WEBSITE. WE HAVE INCORPORATED-- WE ARE ACTIVE ON FOUR DIFFERENT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. WE HAVE INCORPORATED MORE CONTENT, INTERACTIVE CONTENT VIDEOS, AND I THINK WE HAVE GROWN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA QUITE A BIT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE HAVE APPROVED AN ENHANCED LEADERSHIP ROWLETT PROGRAM. I'M AN ALUMNI OF THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. MOST OF US HERE ARE BEHIND ME.
I FOUND IT TO BE AN INCREDIBLY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE.
I RECENTLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHAPERON THE CURRENT CLASS.
THEY ARE A GREAT GROUP. WE JUST LOVE THAT PROGRAM.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT. A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THE LIST.
WE ARE SENDING OUT EMAILS REGULARLY TO OUR MEMBERS.
EVERY EVENT THAT WE DO INCLUDES CHAMBER UPDATES, EVENTS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING.
WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL ON THAT ONE.
COMMUNITY SYNERGY. THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF HERE.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH IT ALL.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I THINK THE POINT IS TO ILLUSTRATE THAT WE AREN'T JUST A CHAMBER THAT FOCUSES ON PARTIES AND EVENTS.
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WE ARE A CHAMBER THAT MEETS WITH AND SINNER JIEZS WITH LEADERS ALL OVER THE AREA. BY DOING THAT, WE CAN BEST SERVE OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND OFFER COURSES WHEN NEEDED.IN MY BUSINESS, WHEN COVID HIT, OUR PROPERTY TAXES WERE DOUBLED AT THE SAME TIME THAT OUR SALES WERE HALVED.
AND WE FELT HOW HARD THAT WAS ON US.
I WROTE A LETTER AND POSTED IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE CHAMBER TOOK THAT LETTER AND WAS ABLE TO DELIVER IT TO THE DESK OF IMPORTANT PEOPLE ALL OVER THE AREA.
I GOT A CALL FROM SOMEONE THE NEXT DAY.
I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY HOW VALUABLE THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE THAT THE CHAMBER HAS, THAT THEY CAN DISTRIBUTE OUT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. AND FINALLY, HERE IS SOME OF OUR EVENTS. PICTURES.
LAURA? >> OH, THEY ARE FROM-- DOWN IN THE LEFT-HAND CORNER. THE BEST OF ROWLETT.
ONE OF THE WINNERS. OUR GOLF TOURNAMENT.
WE WERE WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BRING BUSINESSES TOGETHER TO NETWORK AND JUST TO HAVE A GREAT DAY ON THE GOLF COURSE. AND INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO OUR GOLF COURSE. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WE HAVE A GREAT GOLF COURSE IN ROWLETT.
WE DID RIBBON-CUTTINGS FOR THE CITY AND ALL THE BUSINESSES IN THE AREA. OUR HOMETOWN HEROES, WE LIKE TO FOCUS ON ALL HEROES HERE IN ROWLETT.
AND THIS IS OUR FIFTH YEAR WITH HOMETOWN HEROES.
IT WAS OUR FIFTH YEAR. AND THEN THERE IS ANOTHER GROUP OF PICTURES. OF THE BEST OF ROWLETT.
THE BEST OF ROWLETT WINNERS WERE NOT JUST CHAMBER MEMBERS.
THEY WENT OUT TO EVERY BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT.
WE GOT A LOT OF PHONE CALLS THAT SAID "I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS HERE IN ROWLETT.
THIS IS FANTASTIC." WE REALLY OPENED UP WHAT ROWLETT HAS TO OFFER TO OUR CITIZENS. THEY DON'T DRIVE AROUND ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT BUSINESSES ARE HERE.
>> THANK YOU. A FEW EVENTS THAT WE HAVE, WE DO THE ANNUAL BANQUET. HOMETOWN HEROES.
THE ONLY 5-K HOSTED IN ROWLETT. THE GOLF TOURNAMENT AND TASTE AND TRADE. SOME OF THE PROGRAMS, LEADERSHIP ROWLETT. ROWLETT PROFESSIONAL WOMEN.
AND ROWLETT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. MAKING THE CONNECTION.
THAT IS OUR NETWORKING GROUP THAT WE DO.
A COUPLE OF OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE INCLUDE THE LUNCHEON AMBASSADORS. AND MAXIMIZE MEMBERSHIP.
ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. I KNOW WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER AND SENT OUT OUR LINE AND VALUE ON INVESTMENT.
AND FINALLY, THANK YOU. (LAUGHTER).
>> ALL RIGHT. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY I ASKED TORY WHO COULDN'T BE HERE, IF THERE IS ANYTHING SHE WANTED ME TO EXPRESS TO YOU ALL. SHE SAID THAT TO HER, THE MOST VALUABLE THING IS THE RELATIONSHIPS AND WE JUST WANT TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE CITY AND SAY HOW THANKFUL, HOW GLAD THAT WE ARE THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M MOST PROUD OF. ONE OF THE REASONS I JOINED THE BOARD IN THE FIRST PLACE. I SAW THAT RELATIONSHIP.
I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE IT GROW.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, BOARD FOR BEING HERE.
AND COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WOW. YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.
(LAUGHTER) REALLY GOOD JOB THERE, SIR.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND OUR NEXT CONVERSATION WILL BE ABOUT OUR CONTRACTOR.
>> FEEL FREE TO HANG AROUND. >> OR NOT.
>> OR NOT. (LAUGHTER) ALL RIGHTY.
[2B. Consider an action to approve a resolution entering into a three-year Cooperation Agreement with the Rowlett Chamber of Commerce effective November 21, 2023. (20 minutes)]
OUR NEXT ITEM IN THAT CASE, IS ITEM 2-B.CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ENTERING INTO A THREE-YEAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH THE ROWLETT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 21, 2023.
AND TO BE CLEAR, I DON'T THINK THE ITEM WAS STATED AS IT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THIS IS TO DISCUSS THE
>> NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION TODAY. THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER MEETING.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC PROGRAMS FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT. I'M GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH SOME HIGH-LEVEL CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN OUR PROPOSED AGREEMENT WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WE WILL BRING THAT ITEM BACK TO COUNCIL TOMORROW FOR APPROVAL, PENDING ACTION.
THE COUNCIL REPORT OUTLINES IN DETAIL, ALL OF THE SPECIFIC CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE CHAMBER SINCE WE LAST REVIEWED THE AGREEMENT. LY COVER THE HIGH-LEVEL ONES.THO
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ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.SO BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, WE HAVE HAD THE COOPERATIVE FUNDING AGREEMENT IN PLACE WITH THE ROWLETT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SINCE 2014. THE FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT AND THE RENEWAL OPTIONS EXPIRED ON SEPTEMBER 30 OF THIS YEAR AT THE CLOSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THERE WERE SOME ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES ON THE CHAMBER SIDE. ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES ON THE CITY SIDE. WE HAVE BROUGHT BACK THE AGREEMENT A LITTLE BIT LATE. BUT TO GO INTO EFFECT UPON APPROVAL, SHOULD THIS COUNCIL WISH TO APPROVE IT TOMORROW.
THERE IS A SEPARATE LEASE AGREEMENT IN PLACE FOR THE CHAMBER OFFICES DOWN THE STREET. AND THAT WILL TIE INTO THE CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THERE IS A SEPARATE LEASE AGREEMENT. THAT IS CURRENTLY SLATED TO EXPIRE ON MARCH 16 OF 2026. SO WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING TODAY IS AN UPDATED AGREEMENT FOR THE CHAMBER FUNDING AGREEMENT AS WELL AS BRINGING THAT SEPARATE LEASE AGREEMENT IN LINE WITH THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT. BOTH OF THOSE AGREEMENTS WILL EXPIRE AT THE SAME TIME. I DO WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THE LEASE AGREEMENT DOES HAVE AN OPTION FOR RENEWAL TO IT.
THAT FIRST FIVE-YEAR PERIOD AS OF RIGHT NOW, WILL EXPYRE ON MARCH 16, 2026, PENDING ACTION. HIGH LEVEL.
I'LL START WITH THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE MAKING ON THE CITY SIDE.
PREVIOUSLY, THE CITY AUTHORIZED A $50,000 GRANT TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN FOUR SEPARATE PAYMENTS.
WE ALSO HAD THE UNLIMITED USE OF RCC FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE CHAMBER EVENTS. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTED A VIEWSRY BOARD WAS COMPRISED OF THREE VOTING MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE CHAMBER AND AN EX OFFICIO SEAT FOR THE C.E.O. AS WELL AS THE CHAMBER FOUNDATION CHAIR. IT WAIVES ANY KINDS OF PERMITTING FEES FOR RUNS, MARATHONS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS REDUCING THAT ANNUAL PAYMENT TO THE CHAMBER BY $1,500.
DOWN TO $48,500. STILL IN FOUR DIFFERENT PAYMENTS. WE ARE REMOVING THE USE OF-- SPECIFYING THE USE OF LUNCHEONS. IN ADDITION TO TWO THURSDAY EVENING EVENTS WITH LIMITED HOURS OF USE.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY UNLIMITED. ANOTHER PROVISION THAT WE HAVE AFDED INTO THE AGREEMENT THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST AS FAR AS MAJOR BUT WORTH NOTING. WE HAVE ADDED A PROVISION IN THERE. THE CHAMBER IS SUPPOSED TO HOLD A CANDIDATE FORUM FOR CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.
WE DID ADD A PROVISION THAT THE FORUM WOULD BE HELD AT A MUTUALLY AGREED UPON LOCATION BY THE CHAMBER OR THE CITY.
THERE WOULD BE DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE CHAMBER AND THE CITY FOR WHERE THAT FORUM WOULD BE HELD.
THE CHAMBER C.E.O. WILL RETAIN THEIR EX OFFICIO MEMBERSHIP.
WE ARE REMOVING THE PROVISION FOR WAIVING EVENT FEES.
THAT IS IN CONSIDERATION AT THE AMOUNT OF STAFF TIME AND EFFORT THAT GOES INTO PLANNING. BARRICADES THAT NEED TO GO UP.
THINGS OF THAT NATURE. MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING COMPENSATED FOR THE WORK THAT WE PUT IN FOR THESE TYPE OF EVENTS.
NO DIFFERENT FOR WHAT WE DO-- THAN WHAT WE DO FOR ANY OTHER NON-CITY SANCTIONED EVENT. CURRENTLY, THE CHAMBER PROVIDES US ONE EX OFFICIO POSITION ON THE CHAMBER-- I'M SO SORRY.
ONE POSITION ON THE CHAMBER BOARD.
THAT IS FESS SPIED FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP LUN LUNCHEONED. 15 FEE-WAIVED GUESTS FOR CITY COUNCIL STAFF TO ATTEND ANY CHAMBER EVENTS UNDER $50 AND PROVIDES ONE COMPLIMENTARY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THAT WAS SPOKEN ABOUT IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.
THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING WOULD REVISE THE REFERENCE TO THE EX OFFICIO POSITION AND SPECIFY THE EX OFFICIO POSITION BE THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE AS WELL AS ADDING IN TWO NEW VOTING MEMBERS THAT THE CITY MANAGER WILL DESIGNATE TO SERVE ON THE CHAMBER BOARD.
WE WILL HAVE AN EX OFFICIO POSITION AND THE CITY MANAGER OR THE DESIGNEE. THEN TWO VOTING MEMBERS ON THE BOARD. THAT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF EVENT REGISTRATIONS FROM THE CITY FROM 10 TO $15 TO 10.
TO BE HONEST, WE WEREN'T HITTING 15.
IT IS A GOOD COST-SAVING MEASURE ON BOTH ENDS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES FUND-RAISERS AS PART OF THE EVENTS THAT CITY STAFF AND CITY COUNCIL CAN ATTEND.
WE ARE ALSO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF COMPENSATED LEADERSHIP ROWLETT REGISTRATIONS FROM ONE TO THREE.
IT IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET CITY STAFF INVOLVED AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHAMBER AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS AND SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES FOR THE CITY. THOSE ARE THE HIGH-LEVEL CHANGES. AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC, WE CAN CERTAINLY GET INTO THEM.
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I WANTED TO TOUCH REALLY QUICKLY ON THE LEASE EXPIRATION.AS WE MENTIONED, IT IS CURRENTLY SLATED TO EXPIRE ON MARCH 16 OF 2026. SO WHAT OUR PROPOSED AGREEMENT DOES IS MODIFY THE END OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT TO COINCIDE WITH THE END OF THIS AGREEMENT WHICH WOULD EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IN 2026. THAT WAY WE HAVE TWO CLEAN AGREEMENTS THAT COULD BE FOLDED INTO ONE INSTEAD OF GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS, DIFFERENT DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE. IT GETS US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
SO AS MENTIONED, THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM.
THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM. WE WILL BRING THIS FOR ACTION TOMORROW. WE WILL BE REQUESTING THAT THIS COUNCIL APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A THREE-YEAR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT UNDERSTANDING THE TIMING DOESN'T EXACTLY WORK BUT EXPIRING IN THAT FISCAL YEAR OF 2026.
WITH THE ROWLETT AREA CHAMBER AND VISITOR'S CENTER AND THE NEW NEGOTIATED AMOUNT OF $48,500. AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. >> ALL RIGHT.
COUNCIL, QUESTIONS? >> HOW MANY MEMBERS ARE ON THE
CHAMBER BOARD? >> OH, CURRENTLY?
>> 15. >> WE JUST DID A MODIFICATION TO
THE BYLAWS. >> WE WILL HAVE 17 MEMBERS ON THE BOARD. AS SOON AS OUR BYLAWS ARE
SO THOSE ADDITIONAL TWO MEMBERS THAT WE ADDED, ARE THOSE
>> OKAY. AND CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE-- LIKE, THE FIRST PAGE. THAT ONE.
>> YES. >> SPECIFIES USE OF THE RCC TO 11 MONTHLY LUNCHEONS AND TWO THURSDAY EVENING EVENTS.
I ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE-- I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE FOUR THURSDAY EVENING EVENTS. BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD NOT-- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, LIKE, ANY ELECTION CANDIDATE FORUMS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AT THE NEUTRAL FACILITY, WHICH I THINK IS THE RCC. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY SHOULD
HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT. >> WELL, THAT IS A SEPARATE ITEM COVERED. THROUGH THE AMENDED AGREEMENT.
THE LOCATION OF CANDIDATE FORUMS WOULD BE MUTUALLY AGREED UPON.
>> MUTUALLY AGREED UPON LOCATION.
>> YES. >> I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I THINK IT IS IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST. SO I WOULD NOT WANT TO CHARGE THEM FOR THESE-- FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> SO THE SUGGESTION, THEN, IS TO AMEND THIS TO BASICALLY SAY THAT THE CANDIDATE FORUM WOULD BE-- IF IT WERE TO BE HELD AT THE CITY FACILITY, IT WOULD NOT CHARGE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THAT. I AGREE WITH THAT.
THAT IS FAIR. >> WE CAN MAKE THAT CHANGE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> NO. >> CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT PAGE? LET'S SEE. OKAY.
SO I ASSUME THAT REMOVING THE REFERENCE TO THE $50 PARTICIPANT FEE MEANS THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE FEE-WAIVED GUESTS FOR NO
IT HAS TO BE UNDER $50. AND INCLUDES ANY CHAMBER EVENT, REGARDLESS OF THE REGISTRATION PRICE.
>> AND HOW DID WE COME UP WITH THE $48,500 FROM THAT $50,000?
>> THIS PREDATES ME A LITTLE BIT.
>> I CAN EXPLAIN IT VERY EASILY. >> OKAY.
>> PART OF THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENT STIPULATED THAT THE CHAMBER WOULD MAKE A DONATION TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER OR SOME OTHER CHARITY OF ITS CHOICE FOR $1,500.
WELL, THAT ALMOST SEEMED TO MAKE NO SENSE.
THAT IS HOW WE ARRIVED AT THAT. (LAUGHTER).
>> OKAY. >> I HAVE A QUESTION.
AND MAYBE IT IS JUST FOLDED INTO THIS LARGER-- BUT THE GOLF
TOURNAMENT? >> THE GOLF TOURNAMENT STILL
>> YEAH. I ONLY HAD ITEM CHANGES.
IF IT IS NOT HIGHLIGHTED, IT HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED.
>> OKAY. >> COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, ARE WE GOOD WITH THAT ONE MINOR CHANGE TO WAIVING THE FEE AS LONG AS IT IS HELD-- IF
IT IS HELD AT A CITY FACILITY? >> YES.
>> WE WILL GET THAT CHANGED. >> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
[2C. Seek direction from the City Council regarding the use of the Coyle House located at the Rowlett Community Centre. (20 minutes)]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> NEXT ITEM.
ITEM 2-C. SEEK DIRECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE USE OF THE COYLE HOUSE.
DOES ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?
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SURE. PLEASE.I WANT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS BEFORE WE CONTEMPLATE-- IT IS ABOUT BASICALLY INVESTING THE $75,000.
ALSO DECIDING THE USE. WHETHER IT REMAIN TO BE USED AS AN EVENT CENTER OR AS COUNCIL CO-WORKING SPACE.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. YOU HAVE TO STATE YOUR NAME AND AFTER YOU ARE DONE SPEAKING, THERE IS A REGISTRATION FORM.
>> THEN I WILL BE CROSS EXA EXAMINED.
KEEP THAT IN MIND. >> THEN YOU HAVE TO STAY.
>> MY NAME IS MARK ANG. I LIVE IN ROWLETT.
I'M PRESIDENT OF KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL.
I WILL GIVE YOU A QUICK BACKGROUND ON THE COYLE HOUSE.
I BECAME ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH IT ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO WITH ELISE. WE STARTED GOING THROUGH THE HOUSE, AND IT ALWAYS HAD BEEN ADVERTISED AS A RENTAL.
ONCE YOU GOT INSIDE THE HOUSE, THERE WAS A LOT OF MOLD ISSUES.
A LOT OF THINGS HAD TO BE CORRECTED.
IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IT HAD BEEN SITTING THERE AND SITTING THERE.
AND NO ADDITIONAL MONEY HAD BEEN PUT INTO REPAIR WORK TO GET IT DONE. BUT WE CAME-- WE BECAME INV INVOLVED. IT HAS BEEN A SLOW PROCESS TRYING TO GET ANYTHING DONE AT THE HOUSE.
WE DON'T HAVE VERY MANY OLDER HOMES LEFT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
CERTAINLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THAT PRESERVED.
WE CAME INVOLVED WITH PUTTING IN A POLLINATOR GARDEN.
WE STARTED OUT WITH, LIKE, 25 PLANTS THAT WERE THREE INCHES TALL. NOW THEY HAVE TURNED THAT INTO THREE FEET WIDE. ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. I GET A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS.
I SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT THE COYLE HOUSE EVERY WEEK WORKING IN THE GARDEN THERE. YEAH.
I GUESS OUR DREAM IS ALWAYS TO SEE IT BECOME MORE OF A USEFUL PART OF THE PARK DISTRICT. OR IT BEING AS A RENTAL USE.
WE WANTED TO, THROUGH KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL, KEEP THE GROUNDS BEAUTIFUL. WE RECENTLY RECEIVED A $650 GRANT TO PUT IN SOME NEW FLOWERS AROUND THE HOUSE.
WE ARE GOING TO APPLY FOR ANOTHER $2,000 IN THE SPRINGTIME. BUT IT JUST HAS BEEN A SLOW PROCESS TO GET ANY WORK DONE OVER THERE.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT YOU SUPPORT THE $75,000.
NOT ONLY FOR THE HOUSE, BUT ALSO FOR I CALL IT THE OUTHOUSES.
AND EVENTUALLY, IT COULD BE U USES-- USED AS A HISTORICAL AREA. WHERE WE CAN GO AROUND AND TALK ABOUT WHAT TIMES WERE LIKE BACK IN THE EARLY 1900S.
YOU KNOW, IT IS GREAT FOR TEA PARTIES, SMALL RENTAL UNITS, PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME IN AND HAVE SMALL THINGS THERE, TOO.
ONE THING THE CITY DOES NOT H HAVE, AND IT IS GROWING, WHEN WE MOVED HERE 7 YEARS AGO, MAYBE WE WERE 56,000.
NOW WE ARE UP TO, LIKE, 72,000. WE DO NOT HAVE A HISTORICAL SOCIETY. IT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE IF WE COULD USE SOME OF THOSE ROOMS FOR MISOR THE CALL PICTURES, THINGS FROM THE PAST. THERE ARE SOME HISTORICAL PICTURES IN THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW. I KNOW I HAVE PUT SOME OF THEM UP. THERE IS MORE UP IN THE ATTIC.
A LOT OF THE OLD PLAYER PIANOS ARE IN THE BUILDING.
IT WAS NICE. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD A NEW PARK SUPERVISOR. HE IS NOT WITH US ANYMORE.
HE WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE. HE TOOK OUT THE CARPETING.
WENT DOWN TO THE OLD WOODEN FLOORS.
IT LOOKED REALLY NICE. AND ELIMINATED THE MOLD.
BUT YEAH, THERE IS MAINTENANCE. NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE PRIOR TO THIS TIME. YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHY I KEPT PUSHING AND PUSHING. TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO
PRESERVE THE BUILDING. >> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CITY MANAGER.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. WE WILL TRY TO MAKE THIS QUICK.
THIS IS A CONVERSATION BEFORE YOU TO GET SOME DIRECTION.
IN SHORT, IT IS A QUICK REMINDER, JUNE 20, THE COUNCIL BASICALLY KIND OF-- WE ASKED TO PUT A HOLD ON $75,000 ALLOCATED FOR REPAIRS. AT THE TIME, THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO PROCUREMENT AND SOME OTHER THINGS WITH RESPECT TO THE SCOPE.
SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNCIL. TRYING TO DETERMINE WHERE WE WERE GOING TO HEAD WITH THIS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE BUILDING HAS SOME STRUCTURAL CONCERNS WITH RESPECT TO THE FRONT PORCH, THE WRAP-AROUND PORCH HAS DETERIORATED.
IT NEEDS PAINT. SOME OF THE ACCESSORY STRUCTURES ARE IN NEED OF REHABILITATION AS WELL.
JUST A QUICK IMAGE. A COUPLE OF IMAGES HERE.
[00:30:03]
THEY DON'T DO JUSTICE TO THE DEGREE OF DETERIORATION.IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
I HERE? WHY AM I HERE? AGAIN, I NEED SOME DIRECTION. FROM THE COUNCIL.
AND THERE ARE KIND OF THREE AREAS WE CAN TALK ABOUT.
YOU CAN CONTINUE TO USE THE FACILITY AS IT IS TODAY.
NOT IN ITS CURRENT STATE OF-- BUT AS RENTAL FACILITY FOR WEDDINGS, PARTIES, WHATEVER. I DON'T BELIEVE $75,000 IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO BRING IT BACK INTO A RESPECTABLE STATE.
WE WILL GO BACK, IF THAT IS THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL.
I WILL TRY TO FIND SOME MONEY. I THINK I CAN SUCCEED.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH. PART OF THAT WILL DEPEND ON HOW FAR WE INTEND TO GO. GENERALLY SPEAKING, IS THAT THE WILL OF THE TP COUNCIL? TO RESTORE THIS BACK? THERE IS OFFICE SPACE HERE FOR THE TP COUNCIL.
YOU DO NOT HAVE DESIGNATED OFFICE SPACE CURRENTLY.
WE COULD POTENTIALLY TURN THE COYLE HOUSE INTO A COUNCIL WORK SPACE. OFFICES, CONFERENCE ROOMS, ET CETERA. THRE IS A CONCEPT OF MAKING IT A JOINT SPACE. THAT IS MORE DIFFICULT IN A SENSE BUT DOABLE, I'M SURE. THAT IS TO TRY TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN AREAS AS THE COUNCIL WORK SPACE.
THEN OPENING UP PART OF IT FOR PUBLIC USE.
AND SO REALLY, I'M HERE TO RECEIVE YOUR FEEDBACK ON DIRECTION. YOU MAY NEED MORE INFORMATION.
IF YOU GIVE ME MORE DIRECTION, WE WILL TURN BACK TO YOU WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. I NEED SOME SENSE OF DIRECTION.
WE CAN TALK IN GENERALITIES, OF COURSE.
I'M REALLY HERE TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON WHAT YOU WANT TO
HAPPEN WITH THE STRUCTURE. >> COUNCIL?
>> IDEALLY, I WOULD LIKE THE SEE THIS RESTORED.
THERE IS ALWAYS A BUT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THAT COST IS GOING TO BE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
YOU SAID $75,000. LOOKING AT THOSE PICTURES, JUST AT THOSE PICTURES, YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT.
WHAT DOES FULLY RESTORED MEAN IN TERMS OF DOLLARS?
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS. IS THERE A THRESHHOLD? A MAXIMUM WHERE YOU WOULD SAY I'M NOT A BUYER ANYMORE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD WANT TO PUT MORE THAN $150,000,
>> YEAH. I MEAN, IF THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE FACILITY? I THINK IN SOME CAPACITY, IT NEEDS TO STAY A PUBLIC FACILITY. WHETHER THAT IS FOR REMEMBER TALL USE-- RENTAL USE OR WHATEVER.
IT IS A HISTORIC LANDMARK. THAT IS WHAT HISTORIC LANDMARKS ARE PRESERVED TO BE. A PLACE THAT CAN BE APPRECIATED BY THE PUBLIC. THERE IS DEFINITELY A SHORTAGE OF OFFICE SPACE. AS YOU HAVE SAID.
IF THERE IS A WAY TO MAKE IT MODULAR AND MAKE SOME SPACE WORK, THEN FINE. IF THERE IS NOT, I WOULD RATHER HAVE IT BE AN EVENT SPACE THAN A COUNCIL SWORK PACE-- WORK SPACE.
I WAS THINKING, WHEN YOU WERE TALK, PROBABLY MORE LIKE MAYBE A QUARTER OF MILLION. WE SPENT $780,000 TO GET IT WHERE IT IS. AND IT IS JUST KIND OF LEFT SINCE THEN WITH BASICALLY NO ATTENTION GIVEN TO IT.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH A HOME. ESPECIALLY ALL THE STUFF THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT. CRITTERS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WE DEFINITELY WILL NEED TO INVEST. IF THAT IS THE LIMIT.
$150,000. I WOULD LOVE TO GET IT BACK TO FULL OPERATING CAPACITY AND HAVE IT BE A SPACE THAT COULD BE
APPRECIATED BY THE PUBLIC. >> SO TWO THINGS.
I TALKED BRIEFLY TO SOME OF YOU. WE MAY BE ABLE TO CREATE-- YOU AUTHORIZED $80,000 TO RENOVATE THE ANNEX BACK THERE.
OBVIOUSLY, STAFF IS BASICALLY SITTING ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER HERE. THE MOVEMENT FREES UP SPACE THERE. THAT HAS THOSE EFFECTS.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY I CAN CREATE A SHARED WORK SPACE FOR YOU IN ONE OF THESE OFFICES HERE.
IF NOT ONE OR TWO. DEPENDING ON STAFFING LEVELS.
BUT CERTAINLY, AT LEAST ONE OF THEM CAN BE CONVERTED INTO A SHARED SPACE. OR PERHAPS TWO AT ONE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU LIKE THAT IDEA.
IF YOU ARE AMENABLE OF THAT. IN LIEU OF CONVERTING THE COYLE HOUSE INTO A CONFERENCE SPACE. THAT IS AN OPTION THAT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU THAT I'M SURE I CAN MAKE HAPPEN.
IN TERMS OF THE FUNDS, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE AVAILABLE. I'M GOING TO GO LOOK.
BUT MAYBE A PHASED PROJECT. RIGHT? PHASE ONE IS THIS. AND PHASE TWO IS SOMETHING ELSE.
IF WE GET DIRECTION TONIGHT, WE WILL GO BACK WITH STAFF AND COME
[00:35:01]
BACK WITH A PLAN FOR YOU. >> I GIVE MY TWO CENTS.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANY MORE. >> WHEN ONE OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS BROUGHT US THE IDEA OF CREATING A WORK SPACE.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. THAT I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD IDEA. OF COURSE, WE WENT OVER THERE AND LOOKED AT IT. AND YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SPACES THAT I THINK WOULD WORK WELL FOR THAT.
MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT WE HAVE A WORK SPACE SOMEWHERE.
AND THERE ARE ADVANTAGES TO BEING IN THE ANNEX, TOO.
CLOSE TO CITY HALL RATHER THAN BY THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
THERE ARE ADVANTAGES TO BEING AWAY FROM CITY HALL AS WELL.
LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT COMMITTED TO FIGHTING FOR-- HAVING COUNCIL WORK SPACES AT THE COYLE HOUSE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO SOMETHING WITH IT. BECAUSE IT IS JUST SITTING THERE. BASICALLY, DOING NOTHING.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. ON THE OTHER HAND, LIKE MIKE SAID, I DON'T WANT TO POUR A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO IT THAT WE DON'T HAVE OR THAT COULD BE BETTER SPENT ON OTHER THINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PRIORITIES HERE.
I WOULD TEND TO AGREE WITH MIKE ABOUT THE $150,000 $175,000.
THAT KIND OF RANGE. AND I'M NOT SAYING ABSOLUTELY, BUT THAT IS WHERE MY THINKING IS GOING.
IF WE CAN ALSO GET WORK SPACES FOR THE COUNCIL SOMEWHERE.
>> WELL, AGAIN, I WANT TO TEMPER EXPECTATIONS.
WORK SPACE BEING A SHARED OFFICE HERE WHERE WE CAN CREATE MODULAR SPACE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY-- WILL ACCOMMODATE TWO COUNCIL
MEMBERS AT A TIME. >> I HAVE SEEN THE HOUSE AREA.
I WANT TO SEE THAT AREA TO SEE WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR WITH THE COUNCIL.
WHEN I SAY I CAN CREATE A SPACE HERE, IT IS AN OFFICE THAT IS A SHARED SPACE HERE. NOTHING IS.
AS EXTENSIVE AS CONVERTING THE CLUB HOUSE.
>> I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT THING IN TOTALITY BE FOR THE PUBLIC USE. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY INTEREST
IN WORK SPACE THERE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS HERE. ONE, I TRULY BELIEVE, A, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE A PUBLIC SPACE. AND ONCE WE DETERMINE HOW MUCH-- YOU KNOW, MAYBE SAY HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT IT COSTS, THERE NEEDS TO BE ENOUGH REVENUE GENERATED.
IT IS AN OLD HOUSE. IT IS JUST AN OLD HOUSE.
IF YOU OWN AN OLD HOUSE, IT IS GOING TO COST YOU WHATEVER IT IS GOING TO COST YOU A YEAR. GENERATE-- YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT MAKING IT A FOR-PROFIT ITEM. PUBLIC USE AND RENTAL-- PUBLIC RENTAL, ACCESSIBILITY, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE.
THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I KIND OF-- THOSE ARE DRIVING ME.
YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT A PHASED APPROACH.
I THINK WE HAVE BEEN PHASING FOR FOUR YEARS NOW.
I THINK WE NEED TO QUIT PHASING AND START HAMMERING.
THAT IS NOT YOU. BUT YOU KNOW, IF WE DECIDE, LET'S GO. I KNOW THIS IS A TERRIBLE WAY TO LOOK AT STUFF. AT SOME POINT, YOU GET SO INTO IT. YOU KIND OF HAVE TO GET TO THE END OF IT. THAT IS SORT OF WHAT I FEEL LIKE. IT IS JUST GET AFTER IT.
GET IT DONE. THE FASTER YOU GET IT DONE, THE FASTER YOU CAN START DOING SOMETHING MEANINGFUL WITH IT.
>> I AGREE WITH YOUR POINT. I AGREE WITH THE POINT ALSO THAT IT IS GOING TO BE A PROJECT. IT IS AN OLD HOUSE.
IT WILL REQUIR WORK EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
MY THOUGHT ON IT IS HOWEVER MUCH MONEY IT TAKES.
AS LONG AS IT IS NOT ABSOLUTELY ABSURD.
I DON'T THINK WE ARE SPENDING MONEY THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD.
WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET IT TO A POINT THAT IT COULD BE USED.
TO OFFSET FUTURE COSTS. IF IT COSTS $150,000, IF IT COSTS $200,000, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CERTAINLY FIND THAT.
SOMEWHERE. AND IF IT HAS TO BE PHASED, FINE. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AS A COUNCIL, WE WILL BE ALLOCATING FUNDING TO THIS PROBABLY EVERY YEAR. OR EVERY OTHER YEAR.
IT IS AN OLD HOUSE. THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
SAME THING WE HAVE TO DO WITH THIS BUILDING AND OTHER FACILITIES. WE HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON OUR FACILITIES EVERY SINGLE YEAR BECAUSE THEY ARE OLD, RUN-DOWN.
THIS HOUSE WILL ALWAYS COST US MONEY.
WE HAVE TO BE OKAY WITH THAT. THE ALTERNATIVE IS WE DON'T SPEND ANY MONEY ON IT, AND IT ROTS AWAY.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS THAT.
[00:40:01]
I DON'T HAVE ANY REALLY-- PERSONALLY, I WOULD PREFER TO SEE IT STAY A PUBLIC FACILITY. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME WHO WANT TO SEE WORKING SPACE. I UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY SOME MEMBERS WOULD APPRECIATE HAVING THE PRIVATE SPACE TO WORK IN.I THINK IF WE HAVE THE NECESSARY SPACE IN THIS BUILDING OR ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS HERE, FOR COUNCIL CO-WORKING SPACE, I
THINK THAT IS SUFFICIENT. >> I WANT TO TEMPER.
IT IS AN OFFICE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE-- YOU KNOW.
TEMPER THE EXPECTATION. >> YOU KNOW, CO-WORKING SPACE.
RIGHT? I MEAN, IT IS GOING TO BE PRETTY RARE THAT TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD BE THERE TOGETHER.
THOSE ARE MY TWO CENTS. >> PROBABLY EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT I'M PRETTY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.
BECAUSE IT IS A COMMUNITY SPACE. I FEEL LIKE IT-- YOU KNOW, IT IS OUR HISTORY. IF WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE OUR HISTORY, WE ARE IN TROUBLE. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE CAME FROM. TO ME, IT IS LIKE THE HEART OF THE CITY. I WOULD PERSONALLY ENJOY HAVING OFFICE SPACE THERE. FOR TWO REASONS.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M USED TO GOING TO WORK.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE-- YOU KNOW, THEY WORK FROM HOME.
THEY ARE USED TO DOING THAT. I CAME WITH MY BRIEFCASE.
I WORKED IN AN OFFICE. AND SO I WOULD ENJOY HAVING OFFICE SPACE. AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD ENJOY THAT AS WELL. THE OTHER REASON, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE SOME SORT OF OFFICE SPACE IN THERE, I BELIEVE THE HOUSE NEEDS TO HAVE PEOPLE IN IT EVERY DAY.
I BELIEVE THAT HAVING SOMEBODY THERE WOULD-- ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS, ANY WHATEVER-- IF SOMEBODY IS THERE, THEY ARE GOING TO KNOW. JUST BY VIRTUE OF PEOPLE BEING IN IT, IT WILL BE MORE WELCOMING.
IT WILL BE MORE-- IT WILL COME TO LIFE AGAIN.
I AGREE WITH MARK ABOUT THE HISTORICAL ASPECT.
I THINK THAT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR, YOU KNOW, OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO AND SEE-- WOW, YOU HAD GOATS.
I MEAN, JUST THE IDEA OF THE HISTORICAL-- I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY COME UP. I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
IT IS A COMMUNITY SPACE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT REALLY BECOME MORE EXCITING. MORE INTERESTING.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE PERENNIAL GARDENS.
THAT KIND OF STUFF. I REALLY FEEL LIKE WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH KRB, I THINK THAT IT CAN BE THAT.
>> WELL, ELISE MAKES A GOOD POINT.
ABOUT SOMEONE BEING THERE. YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE SERVING THE COMMUNITY ALSO AS A COUNCIL WORK SPACE.
MY CONSTITUENTS SAY, WHERE CAN I MEET WITH YOU? YOU KNOW, CAN I MEET YOU AT YOUR OFFICE AT CITY HALL.
WELL, I DON'T HAVE AN OFFICE AT SCP P CITY HALL.
IT WOULD ADD MORE PROFESSIONALISM.
TO OUR INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND ALSO I AGREE ABOUT THE HISTORICAL VALUE THERE.
THAT REALLY KIND OF TIES IN WITH COUNCIL WORKSPACES.
YOU KNOW? AND ALL THE-- MAYBE WE COULD HAVE THE PORTRAITS OF THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THINGS LIKE
I WILL SAY I WOULD WANT IT TO BE AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL.
I TOURED IT AGAIN TODAY. I WENT IN TODAY AND LOOKED IT A IT. YOU COULD EASILY PUT OFFICES ON THE WEST SIDE. TWO ROOMS. THE BACK AND MIDDLE ROOM. AND KEEP THE FRONT PART-- THE FRONT PARLOR. THE TWO ROOMS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE KITCHEN AVAILABLE FOR WHATEVER.
AND YOU HAVE THE BEAUTIFUL WRAP-AROUND PORCH.
THE GARDEN SPACE. BOTH ON THE EAST AND THE WEST.
I THINK IT COULD BE AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL EVENT AREA. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM TO LOCK DOORS FOR HAVING THE COUNCIL SPACE.
CLOSED OFF. I FEEL LIKE THERE IS ROOM FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. ADDITIONALLY, YOU KNOW, IT IS A TWO-STORY BUILDING. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON ON THE SECOND FLOOR. I CAN UNDERSTAND-- I WOULD SAY, GOSH, WHY CAN'T BSH WHY COULDN'T PEOPLE RENT AN OFFICE UPSTAIRS?
[00:45:01]
I MEAN, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THOSE PARAMETERS WOULD BE. CERTAINLY, THAT IS SOMETHING YOUCOULD LOOK AT. >> I CAN SAY THAT I WOULD SUPPORT PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO IT IF IT WERE THE COMBINATION OF THE SHARED SPACE AND COMMUNITY SPACE.
>> SO AGAIN, IF THERE IS CONCERN FOR AN OFFICE, I CAN CREATE YOU AN OFFICE PRETTY QUICKLY. YOU CAN MEET WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS. IT MAY NOT BE AS NICE.
IT WILL BE AN OFFICE IN OUR CITY HALL.
I DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THIS HUNT. I DO WANT TO-- I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS THERE. SEEMS TO BE A CLEAR DESIRE TO RETURN IT TO PUBLIC USE. AND SO I THINK FOR ME, UNLESS THERE IS OTHER COMMENTS, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST DIRECTION I HEAD IN. I THINK AS WE GO DOWN THAT PATH, IT WILL ALLOW US TO SEE MORE CLEARLY HOW THE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST TO THEN MAYBE CO-LOCATE SPACE FOR TP COUNCIL OFFICES AND OTHER THINGS. THE FIRST THING IS I WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A CLEAR CONSENSUS OF RETURNING IT TO A PUBLIC SPACE. I THINK THAT THERE IS.
IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME, I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK WITH STAFF NOW.
AND BEGIN TO DO THAT ANALYSIS. AND REALLY GET A SENSE OF-- GET OUR HANDS AROUND THE COST. RIGHT? IT MAY NOT BE NEAR AS MUCH AS WE THINK.
IT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY ALLOCATED. WHEN I GET THAT INFORMATION, COME BACK TO YOU AND HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION WITH MORE DATA FOR YOU TO KIND OF MAKE SOME FINAL DECISIONS.
THEN WE GET DOWN THE ROAD. HOW DOES THAT SOUND? THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION TONIGHT.
I THINK THERE IS A CLEAR CONSENSUS TO SOME DEGREE OR ANOTHER, THERE IS A DESIRE FOR IT TO BE A PUBLIC SPACE.
WHETHER WE RENT OUT ROOMS IN TERMS OF OFFICE OR MEETING SPACE. THAT CAN BE DECIDED MUCH LATER ON. THE FIRST AND THE STRONGEST PUSH SEEMS TO BE TO RETURN IT TO A FUNCTIONAL, USABLE PUBLIC SPACE.
>> YUP. >> THAT IS WHAT WE WILL GET.
[2D. Discuss the potential location of the Public Safety, Animal Services and Municipal Complex buildings. (30 minutes)]
DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL LOCATIONSN FOR ANIMAL SERVICES AND COMPLEX.
DOES ANYBODY FROM THE AUDIENCE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?
ALL RIGHTY. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL AGAIN. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS ITEM.
SOME BACKGROUND. ALMOST EVERYONE IS AWARE.
THE VOTERS APPROVED THE BONDS IN 2023 FOR A PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY. THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
AND A PORTION FOR A PARK. GRAND TOTAL.
$76.4 MILLION. NOW, INITIALLY, IT WAS PRESUMED THAT THE LOCATION OF THE FACILITIES WAS GOING TO BE THE CITY-OWNED LAND ADJACENT TO PGBT SOUTH OF ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL.
RIGHT? AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE REPPEDDERING HERE, THE-- THE RENDERING HERE, THIS WAS KIND OF A RENDERING DEPICTION THAT ALSO SHOWED SOME FUTURE CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDINGS ON THAT LAND. PRIMARILY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS DISCUSSION, THIS IS WHERE PUBLIC SAFETY WAS GOING TO BE LOCATED AS WELL AS THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
WHEN I ARRIVED, I STARTED ANALYZING IT.
THE COUNCIL WAS PUSHING THAT WE NEED TO MOVE THESE PROJECTS FORWARD. I BEGAN HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMAND STAFF. THAT DOESN'T REALLY SEAL TO BE THE PREFERRED LOCATION-- SEEM TO BE THE PREFERRED LOCATION.
THERE IS SOME SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC AND ROUTING ISSUES THERE WITH RESPECT TO OPERATIONS. IT IS ALSO NOT A PREFERRED LOCATION FOR THE ANIMAL T SHELT. YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE HOLD THE FOURTH OF JULY EVENT. IT MAY BE ONE DAY A YEAR.
YOU THINK ABOUT, IT IS NOT REALLY CONDUCIVE TO THAT.
THERE WAS ANOTHER DRIVER FOR ME TO BRING THIS ITEM TO YOU AND TALK ABOUT SITE LOCATIONS. THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST OR MAXIMIZE THIS INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY IS ABOUT TO MAKE. THIS WILL MOST LIKELY BE THE LARGEST INVESTMENT THE CITY WILL MAKE.
IF NOT IN NEAR HISTORY, PROBABLY QUITE FOR SOME TIME.
I STARTED LOOKING AT WAYS WE COULD LEVERAGE THESE DOLLARS.
WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THE $76 MILLION? NOT JUST FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ANIMAL SHELTER.
IS THERE AN AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THIS MONEY.
WAYS TO CREATE EFFICIENCIES AND EFFECTIVENESS.
UTILIZING THE SAME DOLLARS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, I LOOKED AROUND. I LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS. SOME CITY-OWNED PROPERTY.
SOME NOT. PLUS AND MINUSES TO ALL OF THAT.
TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT WHAT WAS BEST.
ULTIMATELY, WE LANDED IN TERMS OF SUGGESTION TO YOU.
WHAT WE BELIEVE MAY BE THE MOST FAVORABLE LOCATION.
IT LEVERAGES CITY-OWNED LAND. THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL ACQUISITION COSTS. ENHANCING THE MUNICIPAL OPERATION. AND RECREATIONAL.
[00:50:02]
SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT I'M OFFERING TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. AND SOME MAY SAY, WELL, GOSH, IT IS HEREFORD PARK. YOU MAY BE AWARE THERE IS A STRONG MOVEMENT TOWARDS THE INTEGRATION OF RECREATIONAL SPACES AND CIVIC SPACES. THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT YOU CREATE A GREATER SENSE OF ACTIVITY.CIVIC SPACES CAN BE STALE AT TIMES.
TO SOME DEGREE, A COMMUNITY ASSET, UNDERUTILIZED.
WHAT CITIES HAVE DONE AND RECOGNIZED, IS THAT YOU CAN CREATE ENERGY AND ACTIVITY AND BRING AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT DYNAMIC TO YOUR CIVIC SPACE. THAT IS HOW WE KIND OF ARRIVED AT HEREFORD PARK. YOU MAY RECALL AND I BRING UP THE FORMER MASTER PLAN RENDERING.
THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK PUT INTO THIS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS DESIGN.
I WANT TO POINT OUT SOME THINGS THAT I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS DESIGN. IT IS INCONGRUENT AND INCOMPATIBLE WITH TP COUNCIL'S STATED DESIRE TO ACTIVATE THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR. PROBABLY 80% OF THAT LAND AREA IS A GREAT LAWN. WHICH IN PREMISE, SOUNDS REALLY NICE. AS I RESEARCHED THIS, THE PURPOSE WAS TO HOLD ALL CITY EVENTS THERE.
WELL, WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU HAVE EFFECTIVELY EVISCERATED DOWNTOWN. YOU HAVE KILLED ANY ENERGY OR ACTIVITIES THAT YOU WOULD HAVE HERE.% SO THIS CONCEPT OF HIRING A DOWNTOWN MANAGER, DOING A DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN. IT IS ALL FOR NOT IF YOU DEVELOP. THIS.
>> BE CLEAR. WHAT IS DOWNTOWN? BECAUSE THAT IS CONSIDERED IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT?
>> IT IS ABOUT ROUTE-- ABSOLUTELY PART OF THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR. YES, SIR.
IT IS. IF YOU WERE TO SAY IT IS NOT WITHIN THOSE DISTINCT BOUNDARIES OF WHAT WE SAID IS DOWNTOWN HER-
>> WHAT WE THINK IN OUR HEAD. >> IT IS IRREFUTABLE.
THE ENERGY YOU WOULD DRAW FROM THIS GREEN SPACE WHERE YOU GO OUTSIDE AND YOU SEE ALL THE ACTIVITIES THERE HAPPENING, BUSINESSES ALONG THIS CORRIDOR WOULD SUFFER SIGNIFICANTLY.
WE LOOKED AT. THIS AND WE WANTED TO RECALIBRATE. HOW CAN WE TAKE SOME OF THE BEST EEMENTS OF THIS PLAN, WHICH IN OUR OPINION, SEEMED TO REALLY BE THE ACTIVE SPACES FROM THE PICKLEBALL, BASKETBALL, TENNIS COURTS. THE OTHER ACTIVE SPACES THERE.
KEEPING SOME OF THE SMALLER PASSIVE SPACES.
RIGHT? INTEGRATING IT INTO A MUNICIPAL COMPLEX. OKAY.
AT THE BOTTOM. AND WORK MY WAY UP.
THIS IS FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.
WE ASKED STAFF TO BLOCK THE SPACE.
TO SAY ON SCALE, COULD WE FIT 100,000-SQUARE-FOOT SAFETY
BUILDING, 100,000. >> SQUARE-FOOT CITY HALL, A LIBRARY, AN AND ANIMAL SHELTER, THE TENNIS COURTS, BACK COURTS, PICKLEBALL. THE ACTIVE AREA.
WOULD THEY FIT? AS WELL AS ENSURING THAT WE HAD MULTIPLE ACCESS POINTS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND THEY DO. NOW, YOU DON'T NEED TO DECONSTRUCT THIS OR ANYTHING ELSE.
BY NO MEANS WILL THIS BE THE LAYOUT IF WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS SITE. THIS IS REALLY TO JUST SHOW COULD IT FIT, WOULD IT WORK? AGAIN, WE HAVE GIVEN A DIFFERENT ITERATION OF THIS JUST TO SAY OKAY, IF WE RECONFIGURE THINGS, IT STILL WORKS. IT STILL FITS.
SO I'M GOING TO B BE BACK TO THT IF YOU WANT.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME.
LIKE YOU SAID, THE RENDERINGS ARE LITERALLY RENDERINGS.
THEY WILL NEVER BECOME REALITY. >> YES, SIR.
THIS WILL NEVER-- ONE OTHER POINT I WANT TO MAKE.
OKAY? LET ME GO INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT. YOU MAY SAY, CITY HALL.
WELL, THAT WASN'T BONDED. RIGHT? NO, IT WASN'T. AS I BEGAN GOING BACK TO MY PREVIOUS SLIDE, LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE THIS $76 MILLION, IT BECAME VERY CLEAR AS WE PUT THE FEELERS OUT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, THAT WAS OVERLEVERAGED.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I COULD ADD $3 MILLION TO $4 MILLION TO THIS AND AGAIN, MAXIMIZE THE MOBILIZATION COST AND OTHER THINGS. TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A CITY HALL WITHOUT A, TAKING ANY ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL MONEY AND B, CREATING ANY ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS.
HOW AM I GOING TO DO THIS? WELL, I HAD TO FIND SEVERAL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON BUDGET. I DID.
WE CAN THANK THESE HIGH INFLATIONARY RATES.
WE HAVE ACCRUED SEVERAL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN UNBUDGETED, UNALL UNALLOCATED, EARNED INTEREST FROM OUR BONDS. AND SO RIGHT NOW, I HAVE ALREADY EARMARKED OR IDENTIFIED RATHER, AT LEAST $3 MILLION WITH PROBABLY MORE CAPACITY. AND SO THE ADDITION OF A CITY HALL WOULD COST ZERO ADDITIONAL BOND MONEY, DEBT OR ADDITIONAL
[00:55:01]
OPERATIONAL FUNDS. SO WITH THAT, WITH THAT REALLY-- SO RIGHT? THIS IS ONE OF THESE DECISIONS WHERE LEGALLY, THE CITY MANAGER COULD HAVE BROUGHT FORTH THE CONTRACT AND SAID, WE ARE MOVING TO HEREFORD PARK.AND THREE DAYS LATER, I WOULD BE UNEMPLOYED.
I NEED YOUR PERMISSION AND YOUR DIRECTION TO SAY THAT THIS SITE WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE. FROM THERE, WE WILL GO FORTH.
AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT BY PERHAPS, MID-JANUARY, AT THE LATEST, WE HAVE AN RFQ READY FOR DESIGN SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO SAY A FEW COMMENTS REALLY. I'M GLAD THAT THE VISION OR THE PROPOSED VISION FOR HEARTFORD PARK HAS CHANGED IN A WAY THAT REALLY SOLVED-- SOLVES MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH ONE SOLUTION.
YOU KNOW, MY PROBLEM WITH HEARTFORD PARK FROM THE BEGINNING OR MY STATED CONCERN OR WORRY WAS ABOUT THE-- YOU KNOW, TAKING FROM THE TRULY DOWNTOWN.
I THINK IN MY MIND, I THINK IN MOST PEOPLE'S MINDS, DOWNTOWN IS NOT THE PARK. DOWNTOWN IS ACROSS FROM P CITY HALL. AND THIS CORRIDOR.
AND THE RISK OF MOVING THE EVENTS THERE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU STATED, COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN DOWNTOWN. AND OUR TOURISM ARRIVES HERE IN DOWNTOWN. ANOTHER ISSUE, AS YOU STATED, WAS THE CONCERN WITH THE LOCATION AT MILLER HEIGHTS.
WITH REGARD TO ACCESS. YOU KNOW, IN THAT MOMENT, THE FOCUS WAS THAT THIS WAS-- THIS LAND THAT WE HAD ALREADY OWNED AND WE WEREN'T NECESSARILY INTERESTED IN PURCHASING PRIVATE LAND, TO BUILD A CAMPUS. AND ALSO, ANOTHER THING TO KEEP IN CONSIDERATION, AT THAT POINT, THE ONLY THING THAT WE WERE AWARE THAT WE WOULD BE BUILDING WAS THE POLICE, FIRE ADMINISTRATION, AND AND ANIMAL SHELTER.
AS A RESULT-- WELL, I GUESS AS A REGARDS TO CHANGING THE LOCATION, THIS PROVIDES REALLY A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION FOR OUR MUNICIPAL CAMPUS, CITY HALL. THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
AND FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE ADMINISTRATION, ANIMAL SHELTER. ALL CAN CO-LOCATE ON ONE SITE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARILY POSSIBLE AT THE PREVIOUS SITE. AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE THE RESTRICTIONS WITH ACCESS. SO I THINK THIS LOCATION SOLVES MULTIPLE PROBLEMS AT ONCE. AND YOU KNOW, I WISH WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KNOW THAT, THAT PREVIOUS-- IT WAS EITHER STAFF OR A CONTRACT Y. WHOEVER IT WAS.
WAY OVERESTIMATED THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE POLICE, FIRE, AND ANIMAL SHELTER FACILITIES.
THAT BEING SAID, THIS PROVIDES US WITH A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY. THIS BUILD-- BUILDING A NEW CITY HALL WAS NOT SOMETHING I THOUGHT WE WOULD EVER GET TO AT LEAST IN THE NEAR DECADE. JUST BECAUSE WE WERE AT CAPACITY. AND SO TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO REALLY PURSUE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THRENCH DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE ALLOCATED TO BUILD A NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT, A FIRE ADMINISTRATION, ANIMAL SHELTER, AND A CITY HALL, IT IS TRANSFORMATIVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. S IF A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY THAT I'M SUPER, SUPER EXCITED TO BE A PART OF.
I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. COUNCIL IN.
>> I AM SIMILARLY EXCITED. I WAS NEVER CRAZY ABOUT THE MILLER HEIGHTS LOCATION. PARTICULARLY, FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER. I THINK THAT THAT NOT JUST ON FOURTH OF JULY, BUT ALSO YOU KNOW, THE SIRENS FROM THE PO POLICE. IT WAS JUST A-- IT WOULD BE A
NIGHTMARE FOR THE ANIMALS. >> I AGREE THAT WHEN I THINK OF DOWNTOWN, I THINK OF DOWNTOWN STARTING AT THE ROUND-ABOUT.
NOT EAST OF THAT. BUT THIS PUTS OUR CIVIC CENTER VERY CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN. VERY CONVENIENT TO DOWNTOWN.
ON MAIN STREET. WHERE IN MY OPINION, IT BELONGS.
IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE IT THERE. I DO THINK THAT IF YOU HAD GONE WITH THE ORIGINAL PLAN, AND YOU HAD THE CITY EVENTS THERE AT THE PARK ON THE GREAT LAWN, THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE-- NOW WHEN
[01:00:02]
PEOPLE GO TO THESE EVENTS, THEY WILL WALK DOWN MAIN STREET TO THE RESTAURANTS AND THAT WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING.BUT IT IS FOR MOST PEOPLE. AND THERE IS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIER, TOO. THAT YOU ARE LEAVING THIS AREA AND GOING, YOU KNOW, TO THE OTHER END OF TOWN.
YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THOSE REASONS AND BLAKE HAS ALREADY SAID MOST OF THEM. THERE IS NO NEED TO REPEAT IT.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT BLAKE SAID.
AND WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID, DAVID.
I THINK THIS IS-- TO BE ABLE TO GET A NEW CITY HALL ALSO FOR THAT SAME COST, I THINK WE WOULD BE FOOLISH TO NOT TAKE THAT
OPPORTUNITY. >> SO YEAH, I KNOW THIS IS FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. I WILL BE HONEST.
I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD. WHAT HAPPENS TO HEREFORD SNARK.
>> THE CITIZENS VOTED FOR HOW EVER HOWEVER MILLIONS OF DOLLAR-
>> THE IDEA IS THAT ALL THE AMENITIES W WILL REMAIN.
>> WHAT REALLY GOES AWAY IS THE CREATION OF THE GREAT LAWN.
ALL OF THE OTHER ACTIVE SPACES STAY.
IT IS REALLY A MUNICIPAL COMPLEX INTEGRATED WITH THE PARK.
>> IS THE PARK INTERLACED WITH ALL THE FACILITIES?
>> YES, SIR. LET ME TRY TO SEE.
HERE WE ARE. THIS IS THE DOG PARK.
THAT WAS PART OF THE HEREFORD PARK DESIGN.
PICKLEBALL, TENNIS COURTS HERE. THEY CALL IT THE ACTIVE-- OH, GOSH. I FORGET THE NAME.
>> THANK YOU. >> YOU HAVE BASKETBALL COURTS HERE AND HERE. AGAIN, SPLASH-PAD HERE.
LOCATION ASIDE, WE KEPT ALL OF THE ACTIVE-- IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE THEM FIT HERE. I THINK THE CONCERN-- WHAT GOES AWAY IS THE GREAT LAWN. THE PARK REMAINS INTEGRATED INTO
THIS COMPLEX. >> THE ONLY REASON I ASK THAT IS BECAUSE CITIZENS WILL SAY BACK THE IN MAY, WE VOTED FOR THAT.
IT IS NOT WHAT WE VOTED FOR. >> BUT IT IS STILL THERE.
>> IT IS STILL THERE. >> IT IS STILL THERE.
>> AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THE DESIGN.
WHERE WOULD THE FACILITIES BE? >> SO THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
PUBLIC SAFETY. AGAIN, PUBLIC SAFETY.
ANIMAL SHELTER. >> THAT IS JUST FOR AREA.
>> AGAIN, THIS IS ILLUSTRATION. >> IT AIN'T GOING TO LOOK LIKE THIS. GOD FORBID IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.
>> NO, NO, NO. IT WAS ABOUT SPACING AND BLOCKING TO ENSURE THAT THEY FIT.
>> IT WILL, YOU KNOW -- >> THEY CAN RECONFIGURE THEM
WHATEVER WAY THEY DECIDE. >> THE PEOPLE THAT TALKED TO ME ABOUT THE PARK, VOTING FOR THE PARK WERE NOT-- THEY NEVER TALKED ABOUT THE GREAT LAWN BEING WHAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR.
THEY WANTED THOSE-- THAT DOG >> THE GOLF COURSE.
>> THE PICKLEBALL COURTS. >> ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE KEPT. I THINK THAT IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE
WERE VOTING FOR. >> IT SEEMED TO ME, AGAIN, NOT BEING HERE AT THE TIME, THE PEOPLE WANTED AN ACTIVE CIVIC SPACE. WE ARE NOT ONLY CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN. THAT WE ARE ENHANCING THAT
ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS ABOUT THE PTBT LOCATION WAS, GOSH, WE ARE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE. WATER, SEWER, ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF. THAT STUFF IS-- ISN'T REALLY LIKE A LOT OF FUN. LIKE, SO TO ME, I REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS REALLY DOES ENHANCE. THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS.
ALL THE UTILITIES ARE ALREADY THERE.
THE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES. I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA.
I REALLY LIKE IT. >> THE INTENT IS TO DO IT AS FAST AS YOU CAN? OR ARE THERE PHASES TO THIS? IS THERE A CERTAIN STRATEGIC ORDER?
>> ONE LARGE PROJECT. >> OH, DID YOU STATE-- ORE WHAT
IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? >> YES.
IN JANUARY, WE WILL ISSUE THE RFQ FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES.
TO YOUR POINT, THIS WOULDN'T B BE-- PHASE ONE IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS THE PROJECT.
>> OKAY. SO WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS. AS YOU MENTIONED.
WWE HAVE TALKED TO TP COUNCIL ABOUT THIS.
DIFFERENT CONCEPTS. I HAVE PROBABLY BEEN THE MOST VOCAL. AT LEAST IN OUR GROUP MEETING.
ABOUT ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE OUTDOOR PUBLIC SPACES ACTIVATED.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS THOSE TYPES OF SPACES.
[01:05:07]
I LIKE IT. I REALLY LIKE THE CONCEPT.I'M FRANKLY SURPRISED YOU CAN MAKE IT ALL FIT.
I'LL BE REALLY FRANK. THAT IS A LOT OF BUILDINGS IN WHAT I DON'T FEEL IS A LOT OF LAND.
I'M IMPRESSED THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK.
I LIKE THE-- I KNOW THIS ISN'T A FINAL RENDERING.
I LIKE THE AMOUNT OF GREEN I SEE ON THERE.
BECAUSE THAT IS STILL-- THAT LENDS ITSELF TO NOT HAVING JUST A SPLASH-PAD BUTTED UP TO A TEN ANY COURT OR BASKETBALL COURT.
THERE IS SPACE IN BETWEEN. SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO-- YOU KNOW, IF THEY ARE AT A SPLASH-PAD, THROW OUT A BLANKET AND WATCH THEIR KIDS PLAY. OR AAL AT THE BASKETBALL COURT, PUT THEIR STUFF DOWN OR THEIR GYM BAG, WHATEVER.
IT IS AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT TO SEE ALL THE GREEN ON THERE.
I'M EXCITED. I REALLY LIKE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A PARK THAT NOW THERE WILL BE A PERCEPTION THAT IT WAS JUST BUILT FOR THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. BECAUSE THAT IS, I THINK, THE PERCEPTION THAT SOME PEOPLE HAD BEFORE.
THIS WAS THE APARTMENT COMPLEX'S SPECIAL PARK THAT THEY GOT ALL
BY THEMSELVES. >> IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN.
>> AND THIS COMPLETELY CHANGES THAT.
THAT MESSAGING. NOW THIS IS TRULY A CIVIC SPACE.
THAT EVERYBODY GETS TO USE. IT IS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.
WE HAVE KEPT THOSE ACTIVATED SPACES IN THERE.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AFDED ARE SOME SCULPTURES
>> WELL, THAT MAY BE POSSIBLE. >> WE CAN GET THERE.
WE CAN GET THERE. >> THERE WILL BE TRAILS AND TREES AND ALL THOSE THINGS THROUGHOUT.
>> THE OTHER THING TO YOUR POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAXIMIZING THE LOCATION. THE SPACE THAT IS THERE.
I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT WHEN I FIRST THOUGHT ABOUT THIS LOCATION, AND THEN TOOK A SITE VISIT OUT THERE AND REALLY STOOD IN THE MIDDLE. THEN YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH SPACE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE DEMOLITION OF THE FIELD, YOU REALIZE HOW ACTUALLY LARGE THIS PROPERTY IS. REMEMBER, IT IS 25 ACRES.
IT IS NOT SMALL. AND SO I THINK WHEN YOU STAND THERE, YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE VISION.
SOME PEOPLE, I THINK, WILL HAVE THE SAME THING OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS GOING TO FIT.
WHAT I ASK IS TAKE A TRIP OUT THERE.
YOU WILL SEE IT. >> STAND IN THE MIDDLE.
>> STAND IN THE MIDDLE. YOU WILL SEE IT.
>> IT WILL HELP A LOT. WHEN YOU HAVE A RENDERING OF THE
>> THAT WILL HELP COALESCE IT A LOT BETTER.
>> LY JUST COMMENT. I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M A PARKS GUY.
I HAVE REALLY BEEN PUSHING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEREFORD PARK. I WILL EVEN WHEN I WAS REALLY CHAMPIONING THAT CAUSE, THERE WAS SORT OF IN THE BACKGROUND, THIS IDEA THAT WE WILL HAVE THIS LARGE, LARGE GREEN SPACE THAT IS LARGELY UNUSED. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEN IT IS GOING TO PULL AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN.
AND SO WHAT DOES THAT REALLY LOOK LIKE? DOES IT BECOME A SECURITY PROBLEM? DOES IT-- DO PEOPLE START THINKING ABOUT THE RECREATION FOR THE APARTMENTS, WHATEVER? THIS KIND OF MAKES A WHOLE NEW USE FOR IT. THAT TO MY EYE, YOU KNOW, IT IS BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY. AND THERE IS JUST REALLY NOB NOBODY'S LOSING, I DON'T THINK. YEAH.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. WHEN I GOT THE FIRST INITIAL IDEA OF WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THIS, I SAID YEAH, THAT IS A GREAT PLACE TO PUT IT. YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY SUPPORTIVE
>> VERY CREATIVE. GREAT JOB ON IT.
>> SO A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE ISSUED A ROUND OF BOND FUNDING.
AND IN THAT, WE MADE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE WAY THAT THE FUNDING WAS GOING HAPPEN IN TERMS OF MORE OF IT WAS WEIGHTED TOWARD THE PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY AND THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
LESS WAS WEIGHTED TOWARD HEREFORD PARK.
DOES THAT IMPACT THE TIMING OR SCHEDULE OF ANY OF THIS?
>> NO. THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY TO GET US
TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE. >> EXIEM EXCITED TO SEE THE RFQ COME OUT. IN JANUARY.
ALL RIGHTY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU. >> I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. WHAT'S NEXT? NOTHING IS NEXT. ALL RIGHT.
[3. DISCUSS CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR NOVEMBER 28, 2023 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING.]
COUNCIL. WE WILL DISCUSS THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NOVEMBER 28, 2023 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING. ONE ITEM WAS REQUESTED TO BE PULLED. THAT WAS SOMETHING.ITEM 5-D. REGARDING THE TREE REMOVAL PERMIT ON A PROPERTY LOCATED AT MAIN STREET AND PGBT.
[01:10:01]
ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE ITEMS? ALL RIGHT.THERE WAS ONE ITEM PULLED OFF. THAT WAS THE --
>> WE WOULD LIKE FOR THE ITEM TO BE REMOVED.
>> IT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. >> IT DOES.
>> REGARDING THE PURCHASE OF THE TRUCK.
>> 5-B. >> YOU CAN TABLE IT AT THE MEETING. ANY WAY YOU WANT TO DO IT.
WE CAN TAKE SOMETHING OFF THE AGENDA.
WE CAN'T PUT SOMETHING ON IT. ANY WAY YOU WANT TO DO IT.
>> BY WAY OF EXPLANATION, IT IS REALLY ONLY A BENEFIT TO THE CITY. WE'VE GOT MORE THAN ENOUGH TRUCKS. UNDERMAINTAINED PERHAPS.
AND IMPROPERLY UTILIZED. THEY REALIZED WE WILL BUY A SMALLER ONE TO DO SOME WORK BEING DONE WITH THE OTHER ONE.
PROBABLY WILL SAVE US ABOUT $350,000 TO $4 HUNDRED,000.
ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT? (LAUGHTER).
IN THAT CASE, THEN IF THERE IS NO OTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 7:11.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.