[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16 AT 6:00 PM AND WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT. AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION SECTION 551.071, THE MEETING MAY CONVENED IN THE CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ON ANY AGENDA ITEM HEREIN. THE CITY OF ROWLETT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CAN -- RECONVENE, RECESS OR REALIGN THE SPECIAL SESSION . FOR IN-PERSON COMMENTS, REGISTRATION FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE INSIDE THE DOOR OF THE CITY HALL CHAMBERS . DID WE RECEIVE , CITY SECRETARY, ONLINE PUBLIC INPUT?
[2. CITIZENS INPUT]
>> NO ONLINE PUBLIC INPUT. >> CITIZENS INPUT ?
>> SAY YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE AND YOU HAVE 3
MINUTES. >> DAVE HALL, ROWLETT .
PLEASE REMEMBER LAST WEDNESDAY EVENING WHEN I MENTIONED POORLY DESIGNED CAPITAL PROJECTS, PROJECTS WHICH CREATE UNWANTED CONGESTION . PROJECTS WHICH FALL INTO THE LATE PROJECTS WHICH CREATE UNSAFE CONDITIONS. WE ARE LEVERING UP OUR BALANCE SHEET AND USING AGGRESSIVE STRATEGIES TO ISSUE AS MUCH AS WE CAN. USING DEBT TO FULFILL CAPITAL PROJECTS WHICH ARE THE OPPOSITE OF THE 4 TYPES THAT I MENTIONED ABOVE ARE GOOD USES OF THE RESIDENCE ' ASSETS. WE HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER AND MOST DIRECTORS ARE NEW AND THEY NEED TIME TO GET UP TO SPEED AND DEVELOP CAPABILITIES TO EFFICIENTLY MANAGE ALL THE CAPITAL PROJECTS. THE NEW STAFF SEEM BUSY GETTING UP TO SPEED AN LIKE TIME TO RESPOND TO THE RESIDENCE OR AT LEAST BY EMAILS AND CALLS. WHY ARE WE RUSHING THESE PROJECTS WHICH ARE MOSTLY HOLDOVERS FROM OLD STAFF ? THEY ARE NO LONGER HERE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. WHY NOT DELAY AND GET THE NEW STAFF A CHANCE TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE RESIDENCE AND DEVELOP A LIST OF PROJECTS WHICH BEST MEET THE NEEDS AND MAY NOT NEED TO RELY ON SUCH AGGRESSIVE FINANCING STRATEGIES ? DURING WED'S MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT ABRASION AND ALLOCATED $1 MILLION OR SO FOR IT. LAST FALL I BROUGHT TP WT TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL WILDLIFE HABITAT AND EROSION CONTROL BY THE LAKE WATERFRONT SO IF I VENTED SOME OF YOU BY STEPPING ON YOUR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY , WHICH YOU ALL WERE INVITED AND SOME ATTENDED, TP WT RECOMMENDED NOT MOWING THREE FEET FROM THE SHORELINE EDGE AND PLANTING WILLOW , PARTICULARLY WEED AND ANY TYPE OF BULRUSH OR SPIKE RUSH SO WE HAVE A COUPLE CHOICES , ISSUE $1 MILLION OR SO ABOUNDS TO MITIGATE A RATION OR FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH DOES NOT COST US ANY MONEY AND ALLOW PARKS AND RECS TO TELL THEM HOURS TO MOW LESS AND PLEASE REDUCE THE MOWING INVOICE. MAYBE WE SHOULD DO BOTH, EXPENSIVE UNFUNDED AND INEXPENSIVE . HOWEVER STAFF IS NOT REPLIED TO MY EMAILS ON THE SUBJECT. LET'S GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME AND CERTAINLY WITH THE LARGE AMOUNT OF DEBT BEING
PROPOSED. THANK YOU. >> IS THERE OTHER COMMENTS?
[3A. Consider action to approve an ordinance calling a special bond election to be held on May 4, 2024, and establishing the ballot language for the propositions therein.]
>> NO, SIR. >> KNOW WE MOVE ON TO INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION AND THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DELIBERATE ON ITEM 3 A , CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE CALLING A SPECIAL BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 4 2024 AND ESTABLISHING THE BALLOT LANGUAGE FURTHER PREPOSITIONS THEY RAN. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ORIGINATED FROM OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TASK FORCE, A VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS . THIS WAS NOT DONE BY HOLDOVER STAFF. THESE PROJECTS ARE VERY RELEVANT TO THE CITY'S NEEDS AND WOULD NOT GO AWAY JUST BY IGNORING THEM. WITH THAT, THEY CAN START.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO BRING TO YOU A CONSIDERATION OF AN ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE CALLING A SPECIAL BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 4, 2024 IN ESTABLISHING THE LANGUAGE FOR THE PROPOSITION. THE JOURNEY EGAN WITH THE COUNCIL ON JANUARY 25 OF THIS YEAR WITH CI PTF PRESENTING RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALSO TASK FORCE CONSIDERATIONS AND ON FEBRUARY 5 THE COUNCIL HAD A DISCUSSION AND WORK SESSION ON THE PROJECT LIST . ON FEBRUARY 14 THE COUNCIL MET FOR ANOTHER WORK SESSION AND PROVIDE A CONSENSUS ON THE FINAL PROJECT LIST AND THE BALLOT LANGUAGE. AND TONIGHT WE ARE HERE TO CALL THE SPECIAL MOTION ON THE
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ELECTION ORDINANCE AS TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO CALL THE SPECIAL ELECTION. WHICH WILL BE HELD ON MAY 4 ON ELECTION DAY.I FOR TONIGHT'S ORDINANCE ARE FOUR PROPOSITIONS.
PROPOSITION A IS THE BOND FOR THE PURPOSE OF DESIGNING, CONSTRUCTING AND IMPROVING, EXPANDING AND UP GRADING STREETS, ROADS, SIDEWALKS AND THOROUGH FOURS -- THOROUGHFARES. RELATED DRAINAGE, UTILITY RELOCATION, CIVILIZATION, LANDSCAPING , LIGHTING AND SIGNAGE IN THE PROCEDURES OF LAND AND ANY RIGHT-OF-WAY AND OTHER STREET AND BROADWAY PROJECTS. PROPOSITION B IS 9.5 MILLION A BRONZE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DESIGNING, CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING AND EQUIPPING PARKS AND REC RACIAL FACILITIES . THE ISSUANCE OF 4.7 MILLION ABOUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DESIGNING, CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING AND EQUIPPING PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES INCLUDING FIRE FACILITIES AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROPOSITION D , 3.15 MILLION ABOUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSTALLING STREETLIGHTING FOR LAKEVIEW PARKWAY WITH ANY SURPLUS PROCEEDS REMAINING AFTER COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT TO BE USED FOR STREETLIGHTING FOR OTHER MAJOR THOROUGHFARES IN THE CITY AND LEVYING A TAX EFFICIENT TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST OF THE PROPOSITIONS. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT WAS POSED BY A COUNCILMEMBER TODAY OR TO THE CITY MAYOR'S OFFICE AND I WILL TURN THAT OVER.
>> PROPOSITION B IS ACTUALLY 8.5 MILLION PROPOSED. THAT WAS DUE TO A CHANGE OF REMOVED EROSION CONTROL FROM THE PROPOSAL ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THAT IS ACTUALLY ONLY A .5 MILLION AND IT IS REFLECTED ACCURATELY IN THE DOCUMENT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT. THE OTHER ISSUE I WANTED TO ADDRESS IS THE ORDINANCE HAS AN ESTIMATE AND THIS IS THE WORD THAT WAS USED, MAXIMUM ANNUAL INCREASE OF THE AMOUNT OF TAXES BASED ON THE PROPOSITIONS . THAT IS A WORST-CASE SCENARIO ESTIMATE. WITHOUT INCLUDING ALL OF THIS ABOUT HOW WE MANAGE OUR DEBT OVER TIME AND THAT WOULD BE IF THE DEBT WAS IN ISSUED IMMEDIATELY AND THAT IS NOT THE PROPOSAL AND RECOMMENDATION. WE RECOMMEND ISSUING IT OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, IF APPROVED BY VOTERS. DOING THAT IN A WAY AND STRUCTURING IT APPROPRIATELY TO MEET THE COUNCIL'S TARGET.
WHILE WE HAVE DISCLOSED THE MAXIMUM POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT OR COST, THAT IS NOT THE EXPECTED OUTCOME BASED ON THE DECK PLANNING WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU ON OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF NIGHTS. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT
WE WILL ANSWER THEM. >> ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING
THAT? OKAY. WAS THAT IT? >> ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE TO A MOTION? AND REMEMBER THAT WE CAN HAVE COMMENTS AFTER EMOTION AND THE SECOND . I'M SURE SOME OF YOU WILL WANT TO SAY WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM
WINGET? >> I NOTICED ON YOUR PRESENTATION THE SLIDE INDICATES DESIGNING, CONSTRUCTING AND IMPROVING AND EQUIPPING PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND WHO INTENTIONALLY OMITTED THAT LANGUAGE OR IT IS OMITTED IN THE PACKET AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT BOND POPULARIZATION -- PROPOSITION IN PARTICULAR IS NOT ADDING TRAILS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS? THEN I WILL
ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> ANYBODY GOING TO MAKE A MOTION? DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET?
>> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AN ORDINANCE CALLING FOR SPECIAL BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 4, 2023 AND ESTABLISHING BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR THE PROPOSITIONS THEREIN .
>> I SECOND. >> DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION? OKAY. MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER ?
>> I WANT TO SAY THAT I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS FOR RESTRUCTURING THE PROPOSITIONS FROM 3 TO 4 TO PUT THE STREETLIGHTS IN A SEPARATE PROPOSITION SO THAT THE CITIZENS COULD VOTE ON THAT INDIVIDUALLY SINCE THAT WAS A
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NEED THAT THE COUNCIL WAS DIVIDED ON. I THINK THAT WAS A GOOD SOLUTION TO THAT. I THINK THAT WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB HERE OF CREATING THESE PROPOSITIONS IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE. THANK YOU TO DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET FOR POINTING OUT THAT WE DID TAKE THE TRAILS OUT OF PROPOSITION B . THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT SOME LENGTH BEFORE. I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE . I THINK THAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IN THESE TYPES OF REALLY LARGE COME A LONG TERM DEBTS IS TO LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE AND I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE DOING ITTHAT WAY. >> COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP?
>> AS MUCH AS I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, CIPTF WORKED REALLY HARD AND I WENT TO A FEW OF THEIR MEETINGS AND MISSED MOST OF THEM BUT THEY PUT A LOT OF TIME IN THIS . I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THAT THIS WAS A LIST PUT TOGETHER BY THE CITIZENS OF ROWLETT. THE COUNCIL DID NOT PUT IT TOGETHER, CITY MANAGERS OFFICE DIDN'T BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND SO I REALLY DO WANT TO THANK THEM AND FOR THE HOURS THEY SPENT AND THANKED CITY STAFF FOR WORKING HARD ON THIS ALSO.
SOMEWHAT GOING THROUGH A TRANSFORMATIONAL TIME AND IT IS EXCITING AND I WILL BE VOTING FOR IT. THE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN IT OR I CAN UNDERSTAND SO YES, I WILL BE VOTING FOR IT AND ACTIVELY HOPING THAT IT WILL PASS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER REAVES? >> I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP'S COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID AND THE CITY STAFF, A LOT OF EFFORT WENT INTO THIS AND IT'S NO SMALL TASK. GETTING HER HANDS AROUND ALL THE NEEDS OF THE CITY OF WHICH WE HAVE MANY. THERE ARE A LOT OF MEANS. AND BEING FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AND LOOKING AT THIS AND THINKING ABOUT DEBTS , THE LONG-TERM FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE THING IN MY OPINION, IS TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE CARE OF THESE PROJECTS SO I WILL BE IN FAVOR.
LONG-TERM IT IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE CITY AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT BY NOT DOING THINGS TODAY AND ELAINE THE COST AND THE OVERALL IMPACT WOULD BE MUCH GREATER THAN IF WE GO AHEAD AND TAKE CARE OF THESE THINGS NOW.
>> THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP USED A GREAT WORD THAT I LIVE AND IT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL. IT'S A TRANSFORMATIONAL TIME FOR OUR CITY AND I WANT TO APPLAUD THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF FOR BEING CREATIVE WITH THE DIFFERENT FUNDING OPTIONS .
IT'S A TRANSFORMATION IN A WAY WE'VE BEEN THINKING ALL ALONG AND IT HAS ENABLED US AND OPEN THE DOOR FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE. AS THE MAYOR HAS STATED, THERE IS OVER $200 MILLION IN CAPITAL NEEDS WITHIN THE CITY AND THAT IS NO SMALL FEAT. THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD IN BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS MANY OF THOSE NEEDS. I'M VERY CONFIDENT IN THE ABILITY OF OUR CITY STAFF TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE. THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HAS BEEN A GREAT ADDITION AND HAVE PUSHED A LOT OF THINGS FORWARD AND I'M SEEING A LOT OF PROGRESS THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN IN THE PAST. AGAIN, I GO BACK TO WE ARE IN A TRANSFORMATIONAL TIME AND AS A CITY I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT CALL AT
THIS TIME. >> I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID. THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR PROGRESS FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT. BETWEEN ISSUING THE PROPOSED BONDS , THIS WILL BE ONE OF IF NOT THE LARGEST ALLOCATION OF FUNDING TO CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE CITY'S HISTORY WITHOUT A TAX RATE INCREASE THE -- THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN VOTER APPROVED PREVIOUSLY. WE UNDERSTAND THE STATE OF THE COMMUNITY'S AGING INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN INCREASING AND WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS TOO AND WE DRIVE THE SAME ROADS AND GO TO THE SAME GROCERY STORES. WE GO TO THE SAME PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTER AND SO ON . APPROVING THE ORDINANCE AND CALLING FOR A BOND ELECTION IS A TESTAMENT TO HER DEDICATION FOR PROGRESS AND WHILE $80 MILLION DOES NOT SOLVE ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS, IT DOES GET US ALONG THE WAY. ADDITIONALLY AS HAS BEEN STATED, I WANT TO THANK THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TASK FORCE FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK AND DUE DILIGENCE FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE AND I ALSO WANT TO THINK CITY STAFF FOR WHILE GOING THROUGH A TRANSFORMATION PERIOD , BRINGING THESE PROJECTS FORWARD , LOOKING AT THEM AND WORKING
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WITH CIPTF TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TONIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS? LOT OF TIME BUT I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE. AND I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY SAID. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE, I RODE THE BUS AROUND WITH YOU GUYS AND WE HAD A GREAT, A GOOD CIPTF TEAM AND THERE WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO ITSO THANKS A LOT. >> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS THEN WE CAN CALL THE VOTE. AND THAT ITEM CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. A GREAT NIGHT FOR THE CITY FOR PROGRESS. AND WITH THAT IT IS 6:16 PM IN WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.