[3A. Receive input from the Rowlett Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission regarding a proposed name change by members of the City Council Boards & Commissions Review Subcommittee. (30 minutes)]

THERE IS AN OPPOSITION TO THAT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. IF THERE IS AN OPPOSITION TO THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT. IN THAT

CASE, CHAIR OF THE RDIC. >> I'M CHAIR OF THE RDIC.

THE FIRST THING I NEED TO DO IS WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT SO I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS MEETING OF THE RDIC AT 6:56 PM. I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU TONIGHT. I'M REALLY GLAD THAT SO MANY MEMBERS OF MY COMMISSION COULD BE HERE AND SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. SINCE THE VERY FIRST I HEARD OF THIS ENTIRE PROPOSAL, THIS WAS WHAT I HAVE WANTED AND WHAT I HAVE WORKED FOR. WAS OPENNESS , TRANSPARENCY AND A CHANCE FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS A STAKE IN THIS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE INPUT ON IT. A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE HEARING TONIGHT SINCE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MOST PEOPLE TAKE A SIDE ON, SO TO SPEAK, SOME OF IT IS DIFFICULT BUT IT IS ALL IMPORTANCE, NO MATTER WHO IT COMES FROM. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR US HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. AND I WOULD SAY THOUGH AT -- IS FIRST EMAILS GOES, THE RESPONSE ON THAT WAS IN THE BEGINNING, THE VERY FIRST TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND THE COMMISSION WAS THAT THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF CITIZEN INPUT PRIOR TO THIS . NOT JUST WHAT HAS BEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WHEN HUNDRED ONE BUT I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOW MUCH INPUT THERE HAD BEEN LEADING TO THE NEED FOR EQUITY TO BE LOOKED AT. I DID PREPARE FOR THIS BY DOING SOME RESEARCH AND LOOKING AT WHERE DIFFERENT POINTS OF CONTENTION COME IN. ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WAS I LOOKED AT THE TOPIC OF BUSINESS. I DID A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND LOOKED AT SOME OF THE BIGGEST BUSINESSES IN ROWLETT WHERE PEOPLE WORK AND SPEND THEIR MONEY, INCLUDING WALGREENS , CVS -- CBS , TARGET, WALMART, BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE , EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM ON THEIR WEBSITE IF YOU DO A QUICK SEARCH AND ASSESS HOW THEY SUPPORT DEI, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL FIND. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT GOOGLE , THOSE ARE NOT BUSINESSES HERE IN ROWLETT .

I'M LOOKING AT OUR CITY AT THE LARGEST BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY AND THEY HAVE NOT MOVED AWAY FROM SUPPORTING DEI. ANOTHER THING I DID AND SOME OF IT CAME UP TONIGHT, I DID LOOK AT WHAT IS AND I HEARD A LOT ABOUT EQUITY, IT MEANS SOMETHING BAD.

WHAT IS THIS? I DID HEAR SOME TONIGHT AND I SAW THINGS ABOUT IT BEING LEADING TO MARXISM AND SOCIALISM. I'M JUST WONDERING IF ANY OF YOU CAN TELL ME IF THAT IS WHAT YOUR CONCERN IS? ANYONE HAVE A CONCERN THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE ROWLETT A SOCIALIST OR MARXIST CITY? OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE ON THAT I ABOUT THAT AND I DO WANT TO ENSURE EVERYONE THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT TRYING TO MAKE

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ROWLETT MARXIST OR SOCIALIST. I WOULD THEN BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT IS -- THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT I HEARD AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS IF IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT THEN WHAT IS THE CONCERN SO MUCH WITH THE WORD EQUITY? I HAD A THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IT'S BECAUSE WHAT IT MEANS TO PEOPLE AND DRIVING INTO ROWLETT I SEE A SIGN THIS IS ROWLETT, SUPERIOR WATER SYSTEM AND I THOUGHT WHAT IF THERE WERE PEOPLE IN ROWLETT THAT THEY DECIDED SUPERIOR DOES NOT MEAN A GOOD THING, SUPERIOR MEANS BAD SUPERIOR WATER IS NOT GOOD TO DRINK AND THAT STARTED BEING SOMETHING THAT THEY CONTACTED THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT SUPERIOR MEANS SOMETHING BAD TO ME , THAT'S JUST WHAT IT MEANS AND WE NEED TO TURN THE WATER OFF BECAUSE SUPERIOR MEANS POISON? WITH THE CITY COUNCIL LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, THESE PEOPLE HAVE A MISCONCEPTION . THEY ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WATER SYSTEM REALLY IS. WE NEED TO EDUCATE THEM. OR WHAT THEY SAY, YEAH, LET'S TURN THE WATER OFF. I THINK THAT IS THE SAME THING THAT'S GOING ON WITH EQUITY. IT DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING NEGATIVE AND EVERYBODY SEEMS TO SAY WHEN I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE AND THEY SEEM TO AGREE THAT THE ACTUAL MEANING AND OXFORD DICTIONARY, MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY ABOUT WHAT EQUITY MEANS IS NOT BAD. BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT SOME PEOPLE THINK IT MEANS.

JUST LIKE WE WOULD REEDUCATE IF SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT SUPERIOR WATER MEANT IT WAS NOT FIT TO DRINK THEN WHY ARE WE FOCUSING ON EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT EQUITY MEANS? WE HAVE HAD COMMENT SAYING THEY THINK THE ROWLETT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMISSION IS INVOLVED WITH HIRING PRACTICES FOR THE CITY. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE AND YOU ALL KNOW IT AS WELL AS I DO. SO WHY AREN'T WE WORKING ON INSTEAD OF TAKING EQUITY OUT, WHY ARE WE WORKING ON FIRST EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO INSTEAD OF ACTING ON A MISPERCEPTION AND TRYING TO TAKE SOMETHING AWAY THAT MEANS A LOT TO SOME VERY DESERVING PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHO NEED REPRESENTATION? I AM GOING TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR LISTENING TO ME AND ALSO FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. WE VERY MUCH, AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I KNOW THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE TO COME FROM OTHER MEMBERS.

>> THANK YOU. >> HELLO, EVERYBODY. I'M GOING A LITTLE SLUGGISH TODAY, MY ENERGY LEVEL MAY NOT BE AS HIGH BUT STILL WE WILL GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS. THIS TIME I WROTE IT DOWN SO I CAN MAKE SURE I HIT MY POINTS. IN THE

PREVIOUS WORK SESSION -- >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE

PROPERLY INTRODUCED. >> I AM THE COCHAIR FOR THE

RDE ICY . >> AT THE WORK SESSION IT WAS ACTIVE US WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT IS IMPORTAN ABOUT A NAME AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AND TO ME A NAME SHOULD REPRESENT WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO SO WE DELIVER ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, EQUITY MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MENTIONED THAT IT COULD BE ETHNICITY, SEXUALITY, IS A -- IT IS A LOT OF THINGS, INCLUSION THE ACTIVE STATE OF INCLUDED ARE BEING INCLUDED IN THE GROUP WERE STRUCTURE AND THAT IS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT ALL OF OUR CITIZENS WANT TO FEEL INCLUDED AND THAT OUR TOPICS ARE NOT GEARED TOWARD ONE PARTICULAR MINDSET. AND EQUITY, THE QUALITY OF BEING FAIR AND IMPARTIAL. AND THAT WORD IS THE ONE THAT I WANTED TO REFLECT ON THE MOST BECAUSE I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT IT IS DIVISIVE BUT THAT ONE IS THE ONE, THAT WORD IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE SAME RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND NO ONE IS PROUD OF A HANDOUT.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE INCLUDED. PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN WHERE THEY BELIEVE, ALWAYS BELIEVE THE WORD IS DIVISIVE. HOWEVER IT IS BOTH THE CITY COUNCIL AND RDEIC RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE. WE HAVE NO DOUBT TO SUPPORT THE MAJORITY OF ROWLETT CITIZENS LEAVE EQUITY IS DIVISIVE AND AS REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL ROWLETT CITIZENS, WE SHOULD NOT MAKE A DETERMINATION ON OUR SMALL SOCIAL CIRCLE. I ATTENDED THE EASTER EVENT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND HAVE LIVED IN ROWLETT FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS BUT I ATTENDED EASTER FOR THE FIRST

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TIME ON SATURDAY AND I WOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT IF THEY DID NOT NEED SOME SUPPORT FOR THE SENSORY TENT . I WILL SAY THAT THE SENSORY TENT IS THE BIGGEST AND THE ONE THAT I WOULD BE MOST PROUD OF WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY. WE HAVE PARENTS WHO WE KNOW THAT THE EVENT WAS FOR EVERYBODY SO FOR A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND WE KNOW IT WAS INCLUSIVE . HOWEVER, THE EQUITY PART HAS ALWAYS BEEN MISSING. I DON'T HAVE A CHILD WITH AUTISM WHICH I AM GLAD ABOUT , COUNCILMEMBER TAUGHT ME A LOT JUST ON SATURDAY AND WE HAVE PARENTS THAT WALKED UP TO US AND SAID IF THEY DID NOT SEE THE SENSORY TENT WAS GOING TO BE THERE THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE SHOWN UP. WE CAN PROVIDE AS MANY EASTER EGG HUNT AS WE WOULD LIKE FOR THE KIDS BUT IF WE HAVE KIDS THAT HAVE OTHER ISSUES THAN THEIR PARENTS ARE NOT GOING TO COME BUT BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE SENSORY TENT WAS THERE AND IF THEIR CHILDREN NEEDED A MOMENT TO REFOCUS SO THAT THEY COULD ENJOY LIKE OTHER LITTLE CHILDREN AND THAT IS THE ONLY REASON WHY THEY CAME AND IF NOTHING ELSE, BEING PART OF THE BOARD WHERE THIS IS GOING ON MY SECOND YEAR, I LEARNED ABOUT IT WITH A LOT OF DETAIL AND I HOPE THAT EACH ONE OF YOU AS COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE TAKEN TIME TO GO LOOK AT IT AND FIND OUT ABOUT IT THAT THAT WOULD BE THE ONE THAT IF WE WALK AWAY TODAY THAT I WOULD BE MOST PROUD OF. AT THE END OF THE DAY THE ADULTS CAN MAKE THEIR DECISIONS THAT WHEN WE HOLD CHILDREN UP FROM BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND THAT DEFINITELY SENDS A MESSAGE. AND I WAS THERE AND ALL OF MY CO-COUNCILMEMBER AS SHE WAS EXPLAINING TO THE PARENTS AND AS SHE GOT INTO THE TENT AND SAID, DO YOU NEED THE MUSIC DOWN LOWER? WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED? WE COULD PUT ON HIS MANY EVENTS AS WE WANT TO AND IF WE DON'T MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ENJOY THEN IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER AND THAT IS WHERE THE EQUITY PART COMES IN. I SAID HERE AND LISTEN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THEIR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE COMMISSION BEING DIVISIVE AND ABOUT LOVING THE COUNTRY THAT WE LIVE IN. TWO OF OUR FOUR ITEMS THAT WE HOST OUR FEDERAL HOLIDAYS AND IF YOU CAN DISMISS THE FEDERAL HOLIDAY, YOU EITHER CAN LOVE ALL OF YOUR COUNTRY , YOU CANNOT PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT IS IMPORTANT. TWO OF OUR FOUR EVENTS THAT WE HOST OUR FEDERAL HOLIDAYS . IF WE CAN'T SUPPORT ALL OF THE HOLIDAYS AND IF WE WANT TO COME THE FOURTH OF JULY, IF WE WENT

TO >> WANT TO COME TO JUNETEENTH, EMMA K , ALL OF THOSE ARE FEDERAL HOLIDAYS AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SELECT BREAK THEM ALL. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DIVISIVE MESS THAT IS BEING ADDRESSED. I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE YOU ALL AND EVERYBODY REGARDLESS IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO NEEDS A SENSORY TENT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF THE BOARD IS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE WANT TO DO FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, THAT EVERYBODY IF YOU NEEDED OR NOT TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND LEARN

MORE ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TO REPRESENT A COMMISSION THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME IN THIS CITY. MY NAME IS CHANCE. AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES, GIVING FACTS AND STATISTICS OF HOW IMPORTANT OUR CITY IS AND HOW IMPORTANT DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION ARE FROM ASPECTS OF BRINGING GOOD JOBS AND BUSINESSES TO OUR CITY, I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS THE FACE OF DEI AND WHAT ACTUALLY IS DEI FROM A HUMAN STANDPOINT? I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. WHEN YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE WENT TO A JOB. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE WENT TO A PLACE OF WORSHIP. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE WENT TO CITY EVENT OR EVEN A HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS OR TALKED TO SOME OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. WHEN YOU GO TO THESE PLACES , YOUR JOB OR PLACE OF WORSHIP, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WHEN

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YOU GO THERE? I WOULD SAY THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO BE RESPECTED. YOU WOULD WANT TO BE A PART OF , HEARD AND TO FEEL INCLUDED. YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED FAIRLY AND EQUAL.

WOULD YOU NOT SAY THAT IS WHAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US PERSONALLY WANT AS AN INDIVIDUAL, EVERY SINGLE DAY? AND THAT IS WHAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM WANTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THESE ARE THE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS OF WHAT DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION MEAN. I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE ARE ALL THE FACE OF DEI. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM . WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING TO BE TREATED FAIRLY AS EQUAL AS CITIZENS.

REGARDLESS IF WE ARE YOUNG OR OLD, FEMALE OR MALE , BLACK, WHITE, ASIAN OR HISPANIC , HAVE A DISABILIY OR NOT HAVE A DISABILITY. AND NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS MAKE OUT EQUITY OR DIVERSITY OR INCLUSION TO MEAN, DEI DOES NOT MEAN ANYONE IS BETTER THAN TH NEXT PERSON. AGAIN, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT ANYONE IS BETTER THAN THE NEXT PERSON. WHAT IT DOES IS BRING -- EQUITY BRINGS EVERYONE TO THE PLAINFIELD ON THE SAME LEVEL AND THEN ONCE YOU'RE ON THAT PLAINFIELD THEN YES, YOU WILL USE YOUR MERITS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO GET ON THE TEAM. BUT THAT IS WHAT EQUITY IS. IT IS JUST SAYING, ARE ALL WELCOME TO THE FIELD AND ONCE YOU GET TO THE FIELD YOU SHOW YOUR STRENGTHS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO GET WHAT IT IS YOU'RE GETTING. WHEN I MOVED TO ROWLETT THREE YEARS AGO AND WE INTRODUCED OURSELVES TO OUR NEIGHBORS, I DISCOVERED IN THE HOME IN FRONT OF ME WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY AND TO THE RIGHT OF ME WAS AN OLDER WHITE COUPLE. TO THE LEFT WAS A HISPANIC COUPLE. BEHIND ME WAS AN ASIAN FAMILY. A FEW HOUSES DOWN , A TRAINED CHILD IN A FEW STREETS OVER A CHILD WITH AUTISM. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING TO LIVE IN A DIVERSE AND UNIQUE COMMUNITY. THIS TRULY IS WHAT AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT IN THE CITY THAT I CALL HOME. IT DOES NOT MEAN WE CANNOT HAVE OUR DISAGREEMENTS. IT DOESN'T EVEN SAY WE HAVE TO BELIEVE IN THE SAME THING. WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS. FLAWED AND NOT PERFECT. BUT THE GOAL IS TO STRIVE TO BE BETTER. TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND TO HAVE EMPATHY FOR EACH OTHER. TO WORK TOWARD THE BETTERMENT OF HUMANITY THAT WE WANT FOR OUR CITY AND COMMUNITY. OUR COMMISSION HIGHLIGHTS THE UNIQUENESS IS AS A CITY AND SHOWS THE RICHNESS OF EVERY ONE. THAT IS WHAT OUR GREAT CITY OF ROWLETT IS. I WILL WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BRING A SENSE OF HOPE AND TOGETHERNESS TO THE TABLE. SO IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO REMOVE AS FAR AS THE WORD OR WORDS, LET'S REMOVE THE WORD POLITICS FROM THE EQUATION. WHEN WE WALK THROUGH THESE DOORS OF THIS CHAMBER, LET'S LEAVE POLITICS OUTSIDE AND WORK FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR GREAT CITY OF ROWLETT. I WILL CLOSE WITH THIS. I'M OFTEN ASKED, WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THE COMMISSION OR THE BOARD THAT CONSTANTLY SEEMS TO BE WITH HEY THROWN ADDED HER EVERY TIME WE TAKE A STEP FORWARD, IT SEEMS WE HAVE TO TAKE TWO STEPS BACK? AND I SAY IN MY LIFE THAT I'VE BEEN SPIT ON , I'VE BEEN CALLED FAG AND HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DIE BECAUSE OF WHO I LOVE. BUT I WAS RAISED IN A SMALL RURAL FAMILY IN ARKANSAS. WHERE MY FAMILY TAUGHT ME, YOU DO WHAT'S RIGHT , EVERY SINGLE DAY. NOT JUST SOME OF THE TIME AND NOT WHEN IT'S EASY AND

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CONVENIENT. AND THAT YOU HELP YOUR FELLOW NEIGHBOR WHEN THEY ARE IN TROUBLE EVEN IF YOU DON'T GET ALONG. AND I WAS TAUGHT IN THE OLD BAPTIST CHURCH MADE OF WHITE CINDERBLOCKS WHERE WE WERE LIKE A WE HAD A CARBURETION OF 30 OR 40 THAT WE ARE ALL GOD'S CHILDREN. SO I WILL WAKE UP EVERY SINGLE MORNING TO REPRESENT THIS CITY AND THIS BOARD THAT I'M ON. TO REPRESENT THAT KID IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHO HAS AUTISM WHO MAY NOT BE QUITE UNDERSTOOD BUT I WILL DO MY PART TO MAKE SURE HE IS UNDERSTOOD A LITTLE BETTER INTO THAT YOUNG ADULT WHO IS TRANSGENDER WHO IS AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY WILL BE BULLIED AND I WILL SAY IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER. INTO THAT OLD WHITE COUPLE WHO FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO OFFER THE CITY BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE. I WILL SAY, YOU HAVE A LOT TO OFFER. AND TO THAT BLACK, HISPANIC AND ASIAN FAMILY WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THE CITY EVENT BUT MAYBE A LITTLE HESITANT OF HOW THEY WOULD BE JUDGED BASED ON THEIR DIFFERENCES , I WILL SAY TAKE MY HAND AND WE WILL GO TOGETHER. SO LET'S WORK ON THE REAL ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING THEIR CITIZENS. AND PUT THIS PETTINESS ASIDE. AND WORK FOR A DIVERSE AND EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE CITY . THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA MANNING AND I AM ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS WITH THE RDEIC . I AM ACTUALLY THE SUB COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH. I AM TASKED WITH HELPING TO PUT ON THOSE EVENTS AND MY GOAL IS TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN GET AS MANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND ATTEND THOSE EVENTS AS POSSIBLE. SO A PART OF WHAT CHANCE WAS SAYING WAS THE EQUITY PART OF THE NAME WHICH THE NAME AS THE COMMISSION STANDS IS CORRECT. BECAUSE THERE IS AN EQUITY PIECE THAT IS IN PLACE AND THAT SHOULD BE THERE. BECAUSE THERE IS EQUITY. THERE IS A PORTION OF IT THAT SHOULD BE TO LEVEL THE FIELD. AND THE PROBLEM WITH LEVEL IN THE FIELDS IS THAT THERE IS A LEVEL OF FEAR WHEN WE ATTEMPT TO LEVEL THE FIELD. THERE ALWAYS HAS BEEN. AND THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE UNTIL PEOPLE BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH STANDING ON THEIR OWN MERITS BUT THIS COMMISSION SHOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ATTEMPT TO WORK OUT OUR OWN PERSONAL ISSUES. THIS IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OF ROWLETT THAT WE INTEND TO SERVE AND I WANT TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT THIS COMMISSION IS NOT ABOUT DIVIDING PEOPLE. OUR ENTIRE GOAL IS TO BRING THE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENCES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT SERVES US.

OUR DIFFERENCES BRING US TOGETHER. THAT IS WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE. THE FACT THAT I AM NOT LIKE EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU IS A GREAT THING. WE ALL BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE TABLE. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS. I DON'T HAVE TO LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU . I DON'T HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU. I DON'T HAVE TO LIKE WHO YOU LOVE. I DON'T HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN YOUR PERSONAL HOME AND I DON'T HAVE TO KNOW WHO YOU'RE SLEEPING WITH. I DON'T NEED ANY OF THAT INFORMATION TO TREAT YOU WITH RESPECT AND KINDNESS AND TENDERNESS AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU AS A HUMAN BEING DESERVE RESPECT. JUST LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY EVERYDAY LIFE. BUT I CAN CELEBRATE YOU AND I CAN CELEBRATE WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE AND WE CAN HOST EVENTS WHERE WE CAN ALL

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COME TOGETHER AND I CAN ENJOY FOOD FROM A DIFFERENT CULTURE AND CELEBRATE THAT AND WE CAN CELEBRATE A DIFFERENT HERITAGE AND SAY, THIS IS SOMETHING I WAS NOT AWARE OF. THIS IS A DIFFERENT CULTURAL EVENT THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE. THIS IS SOMETHING NEW AND I CAN INTRODUCE MY CHILDREN TO THIS.

THIS IS NOT DIVISIVE IN THIS. THIS IS BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. LET'S STOP BRINGING ALL THE HATE SPEECH INTO IT.

THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS. WE WORK VERY HARD TO TRY TO REACH THE COMMUNITY AND TRY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. THESE PEOPLE ARE COMMITTED TO TRYING TO BRING THINGS TOGETHER. WE ARE NOT TRYING TO EXCLUDE ANYONE. COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT EVERYONE BRINGS TO THE TABLE HELP. THIS IS ONLY GOING TO BE WORSE. LET'S DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT ONE INDIVIDUAL AND ONE PERSON.

THIS IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. WE NEED TO STOP THE RHETORIC. WE DON'T HAVE TO FEED INTO THE POLITICAL SYSTEM BUT WE CAN DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR ROWLETT. THAT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL. WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ROWLETT, NOT WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ME OR YOU WERE THIS PERSON. IT IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. LET'S

KEEP THAT NAME. >> NEXT SPEAKER.

>> HELLO. I AM RANDA ON THE RDEIC. TONIGHT WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS THE NAME OF THE RDEIC AND HOW IT CAME TO BE. I WAS NOT ON THE BOARD REGARDING THE NAME CHANGE -- I WAS NOT ON THE BOARD WHEN THE NAME CHANGE CAME ABOUT AND I UNDERSTAND THE WANT TO WRITE THE WRONG AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE PROGRESS WITH INCLUDING THE WORD EQUITY IN THE NAME. IT TOOK ME A MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO TIE SOME THINGS TOGETHER AND PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE WORD MEANS AND EQUATES TO SO THAT EVERYONE CAN LISTEN AND GET PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THE WORD EQUITY MEANS. EQUITY AND EQUALITY ARE NOT THE SAME THING. YOU CANNOT HAVE EQUALITY WITHOUT EQUITY. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES, MANY BELIEVE THAT EQUITY IS THE DEFINITION OF EQUALITY WHICH IS THE STATE OF BEING EQUAL OR THE SAME. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT EQUITY IS.

SOME OF YOU UNDERSTAND EQUITY IN THE BUSINESS ASPECT AS SOME OF YOU UNDERSTAND EQUITY IN THE SOCIAL ASPECT. THE TYPE OF EQUITY I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT REVOLVES ON SOCIAL DEFINITION IN REGARDS TO DISABILITIES AND A FEW OTHERS. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THIS PERSPECIVE THAT EQUITY REVOLVES STRICTLY AROUND HOT TOPIC ISSUES BUT IT DOESN'T AND I KNOW THAT DISABILITIES IS NOT A HOT TOPIC IF YOU -- ISSUE. IN BUSINESS, EQUITY IS THE VALUE OF YOUR BUSINESS AFTER DEDUCTING LIABILITIES FROM YOUR ASSETS. YOU WANT LIMITED LIABILITY SO YOUR EQUITY CAN BE INCREASED. I WANT AS MUCH EQUITY IN MY HOME SO WHEN I POTENTIALLY SELL IT THAT I HAVE A GOOD RETURN ON MY INVESTMENT. AND THE SOCIAL ASPECT, EQUITY IS THE VALUE OF PEOPLE AFTER DARK DUCTING HINDRANCES FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE AND SOCIETY WE SHOULD WANT LIMITED HINDRANCES SO THAT PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE AND INVOLVEMENT CAN BE INCREASED. I WANT THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND SOCIETY IN GENERAL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN AND MOVE AROUND THE CITY LIKE NONDISABLED PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE A COMMUNITY SATISFACTION RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE. ONE REASON IMPROVEMENT REPORTED ON CITY EVENTS IS THE SENSORY TENT AND THANK YOU JACQUELINE FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT. SINCE SENSORY TENT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED, I HAVE YET TO SEE COUNCILMEMBERS COME BY AND SEE IT. COME BY AND SEE WHAT OUR KIDDOS ARE EXPERIENCING.

ARE SENSORY TENT ALLOWS FOR NARRATIVE URGING KIDS AND ADULTS TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE CITY EVENTS AND HAVE A SPACE HELD FOR THEM FOR WHEN THEY NEED IT. THIS PAST EVENT AT THE EXTRAVAGANZA WE HAVE THREE FAMILIES COME TO THE EVENT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LIVING HERE BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE TENT WAS GOING TO BE THERE AND THEY KNEW WE WOULD HOLD SPACE FOR THEIR CHILD WHEN THEY NEEDED IT. EACH EVENT WE

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ATTEND, THE FEEDBACK IS OVERWHELMING WITH SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE SIMPLE EXISTENCE OF HOLDING A SPACE.

THE SENSORY TENT IS EQUITY. MY GRANDMOTHER AND I WE OFTEN GO SHOPPING AND WE WANT TO ENTER A STORES ENTRANCE AT THE SAME TIME . I PARK IN THE BACK BECAUSE IT'S A BUSY SHOPPING DAY. SHE PARKS IN THE HANDICAP PARKING SPOT USING HER PLACARD AND WE LEAVE OUR CARS AT THE SAME TIME AND MEET AT THE ENTRANCE AT THE SAME TIME. EQUITY IS YOUR HANDICAP PLACARD AND THE HANDICAP SPOT ALLOWING HER LESS TRAVEL TIME BECAUSE SHE CANNOT PHYSICALLY WALK FROM THE BACK OF THE PARKING LOT TO THE ENTRANCE AS FAST AS I CAN. I HAVE AN AUTISTIC CHILD WHO TURNED SIX IN APRIL. MENTALLY HE IS THREE AND EMOTIONALLY HE IS 2 1/2 AND DEVELOPMENTALLY HE IS FOUR . HIS SIX-YEAR-OLD PEERS IN SCHOOL ARE MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY DEVELOPMENTALLY SIX YEARS OLD . EQUITY IS CHILDREN LIKE MINE RECEIVING FULL-TIME SPEECH, I REGIONAL, EATING, HEARING, COGNITIVE AND MANY OTHER THERAPIES SO THEY CAN HOPEFULLY PERFORM AT THE LEVEL OF THEIR PEERS WHEN THEY ENTER THE SCHOOL SETTING.

WITHOUT THESE THERAPIES TRY TO HELP THEM TO SUCCEED, THEY BECOME STAGNANT WITH THEIR DISABILITY. EQUITY AS THE 504 PLANS, IEP AND SPECIAL EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SETTING. AND ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING, 4.6 MILLION ADULTS USE HEARING AIDS. EQUITY IS THE HEARING AIDS BEEN WORN BY THOSE ADULTS , ALLOWING THEM TO HEAR AS CLOSE TO SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T NEED HEARING SUPPORTS. ONE OF THESE DAYS, MANY OF US WILL END UP NEEDING ASSISTANCE WALKING AND GETTING AROUND AND EQUITY IS THE WHEELCHAIRS AND MOBILITY DEVICES THAT WILL ALLOW US TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY ALONG WITH NONDISABLED PEOPLE. RETURNING BACK TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING, 17 MILLION OLDER ADULTS ARE ECONOMICALLY INSECURE MEANING THEY MAKE LESS THAN 200% BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. EQUITY IS A SENIOR CITIZENS DISCOUNT FOR TEXAS, RESTAURANTS AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS AND EXPERIENCES THAT ALLOW THE SENIOR CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE INCOME TO THE SENSORY SHOW THAT SOMEONE MY AGE WOULDN'T HAVE.

IN SPORTS TERMS TIM MAKE SURE I'M CAPTURING EVERYBODY, THE EQUITY IS THE NFL DRAFT THAT NOT DO WELL THE SEASON BEFORE TO BE ABLE TO GET FIRST PICK AND EQUITY AND GOLF IS THE GOLF HANDICAP THAT HELPS LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AND ALLOWS PLAYERS OF DIFFERENT SKILL LEVELS TO COMPETEFAIRLY AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. YOU SEE, EQUITY AND EQUALITY ARE NOT THE SAME. A PERSON WITH HEARING LOSS CANNOT BE EQUAL TO A PERSON -- A HEARING PERSON UNLESS THEY HAVE HEARING AIDS AND A MENTALLY DISABLED STUDENT CANNOT BE EQUAL TO THEIR PEERS UNLESS THEY HAVE HELP GETTING THERE. A PARALYZED CITIZEN CANNOT ATTEND A STORE OR A CITY EVENT LIKE A NONDISABLED CITIZEN IF THERE IS NO HANDICAPPED PARKING AND A WHEELCHAIR TO GET AROUND IT. SOME SENIOR CITIZENS CANNOT AFFORD OR ENJOY A GYM MEMBERSHIP WITHOUT A DISCOUNT.

EQUITY IS VITAL TO SOCIETY AND WE ALL BENEFIT FROM EQUITY IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS THAT JUST SIMPLY HAVING THIS COMMISSION WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO PEOPLE MEETING THEIR FAMILIES AND BUSINESS HERE. WHEN I MOVED MY FAMILY HERE FROM A TWO-YEAR ROTATION IN ORLANDO, THE RDEIC WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I LANDED HERE. IT MEANT THAT THIS IS A CITY WHO UNDERSTANDS THE TRUE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION , NOT JUST THE TALKING POINTS THAT THEY SEE ON TV AND FOR THE MILLIONS OF FAMILIES LIKE MINE , THIS CITY HAS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT EQUITY IS VITAL WHEN IT COMES TO DISABILITIES . IDENTIFYING CHALLENGES WITHIN OUR CITY AND PROVIDING ADVICE AND INPUT ON HOW TO BETTER THE EQUITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY IS ONE OF THE MANY FUNCTIONS THAT RDEIC AIMS TO ACT ON . I AM ON THE GOVERNMENT SUBCOMMITTEE AND WE HAVE A WORKING GOAL FOR 2024 AND BEYOND TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF IMPROVEMENTS AND AREAS IN WHICH THE CITY EXCEEDS REQUIREMENTS AND IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL. AS FAR AS HOW THE CITY IS PRESENTED WITH ADA. EACH TIME I'M OUT AND ABOUT IN CITY EVENTS OR DID MY BUSINESS IN ROWLETT, I TAKE NOTES WHERE THE CITY CAN IMPROVE TO MAKE ACCESS EASIER FOR CITIZENS. EQUITY IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF THE RDEIC THAT AFFECTS OR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT ALL CITIZENS WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY . SO THAT ROWLETT CAN REMAIN AND CONTINUE TO BE THE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY FOR ALL. I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS

[01:30:01]

ONE LAST THING. OPEN MINDS CREATE A GROWTH MINDSET . A GROWTH MINDSET CREATES PROGRESS . IF YOU'RE NOT OPEN TO THE PROGRESS OF THIS CITY THEN WHY ARE YOU UP THERE. THANK YOU.

CITY STAFF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I AM A MEMBER OF THE RDI SEE -- RDEIC I AM ONE OF THE EDUCATORS ON THE COMMISSIONAND I AM FIVE FEET 2 INCHES. MY HUSBAND IS SIX FEET. EQUALITY IS HIM BEING ABLE TO REACH THE SHELVES AND SOMEBODY GIVING US BOTH A BOX TO REACH THE SHELVES. HE CAN ALREADY REACH THEM. I NEED A BIGGER BOX AND EQUITY IS GIVING ME THE BOX TO REACH THE SHELVES BECAUSE HE ALREADY CAN. THAT MIRIAM WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY DEFINES EQUITABLE AS DEALING FAIRLY AND EQUALLY WITH ALL CONCERNED. EQUITY IS TECHNICALLY NOT THE SAME AS EQUALITY. IN EDUCATION AND SOCIAL CONSTRUCT, EQUITY REFERS TO THE FACT THAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE VARYING NEEDS OF SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE AND THOSE EXIST TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS BASED ON THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.

THE GOAL OF EQUITY IS SET UP ACHIEVE FAIRNESS, TREATMENTS AND OUTCOMES. IT IS THE WAY IN WHICH EQUALITY IS ACHIEVED.

WITHOUT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES FROM WHICH SOIS BECAUSE EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS INHERENTLY DIFFERENT AND WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT . WHEN IT COMES TO FAIRNESS AND SETTING UP COMMUNITIES FOR SUCCESS , THE VARYING NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL AND DIVERSITY OF THE CITY NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AND AS FAR AS THE NAME CHANGE, I PROPOSE STAYS THE SAME . IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY COMMISSION AND GIVE US AN ADVISORY BOARD THEN DO THAT BUT EQUITY NEEDS TO STAY BECAUSE EQUITY IS THE IDEA OF I CYNTHIA SAID, LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD AND WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEN COMFORTABLE TOPIC THAT THE FIELD DOES NEED TO BE LEVELED SO THAT FAIRNESS HAPPENS ALONG THE PATH TO OUR SUCCESS AS AN ENTIRE CITY. EQUALITY DOES TREAT PEOPLE THE SAME BUT IT DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE NATURAL DIFFERENCES OF ALL OF US. AS AN EDUCATOR WHICH I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE CHILDREN OR YOUR CHILDREN ARE ADULTS. I KNOW EVERYONE LEARNS DIFFERENTLY AND I LECTURE BUT I ALSO GIVE NOTES AND POWERPOINT SO THAT ALL OF MY STUDENTS CAN LEARN IN THEIR WAY AND IF I ONLY TAUGHT ONE WAY WHICH IS JUST A LECTURE WITHOUT GIVING THE NOTES AND THE POWER POINTS , THEN THOSE STUDENTS THAT CAN HEAR OR LEARN ONLY BY HEARING ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL IN MY CLASS. WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BECAUSE AS A DEI PROGRAM, WE PROMOTE EQUITY WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM EQUALITY . EQUALITY IS DESCRIBED AS WE HAVE ALREADY PUT, IT IS JUST PROVIDING EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BUT IT DOES NOT GIVE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES. NO ONE IS ASKING ANYONE FOR A HANDOUT AND THE EVENTS THAT WE PUT ON AS A MEMBER OF THAT COMMUNITY OUTREACH , THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND THE EVENTS WE PUT ON OUR EQUITABLE TO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS OF ROWLETT. RDEIC IS MEANT TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY BY MAKING SURE NO ONE IS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST OR DENIED ACCESS TO RESOURCES. IS AN UNCOMFORTABLE AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE WORD DIVERSITY, YES IT IS THAT WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY PROMOTES DIVERSITY AND EMBRACES EQUITY AND FOSTERS AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOMED AND ARE CITIZENS OF ROWLETT FEEL WELCOMED BECAUSE WE ARE A PART OF IT AS THE RDEIC. I PROPOSE WITH COUNSEL ACTION THAT WE DO LEAVE THE NAME AS ROWLETT, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JAMES SPENCER. I AM ON THE

[01:35:14]

COMMISSION AND HIM A PILLAR OF ROWLETT . I WAS BORN HERE AND RAISED HERE. WHEN I HEARD THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD SUCH A COMMISSION, I JUMPED TO JOIN . NOW I HEAR THIS DISTURBING NEWS THAT WE WANT TO GO BACK. WHEN I SAY GO BACK, I HAVE BEEN THERE. FOR PROBABLY AND MANY OF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE RAILROAD TRACK WAS IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT, YEARS AGO. I DO BECAUSE BLACKS STATE ON ONE SIDE AND EVERYBODY ELSE STAYED ON THE OTHER SIDE. NOW WE WANT TO GO BACK. SOMEONE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S YOU OR YOUR COLLEAGUES OR WHOMEVER THAT'S GOT A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THOSE WORDS. DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. ONE OF THEM YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH. A GROUP IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT HAS A PROBLEM WITH IT. WHEN YOU TAKE OUT ONE THEN THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE THAT'S NEXT. ONE THING THAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS COMMISSION IS , WE ACCEPT PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE. I DON'T HAVE TO LIKE EVERYBODY BUT I HAVE TO TREAT EVERYBODY FAIR BECAUSE THAT IS THE THING TO DO. GRANTED, JUST BECAUSE I LIKE THEM DOESN'T MEAN I AGREE WITH WHATEVER LIFESTYLE OR WHATEVER COLOR THEY ARE . IT'S ABOUT TREATING PEOPLE RIGHT AND TREATING PEOPLE FAIR. THAT IS WHAT THIS COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF OF SHOWING PEOPLE, YOU CAN'T, YOU MATTER , YOU'RE DIFFERENT BUT YOU COUNT AND YOU MATTER AND WE CARE FOR YOU. THAT'S WHAT THE CITY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO RING ABOUT EQUITY AND BRINGING DIFFERENT CULTURES INTO THE CITY. BUT WHAT I'M HEARING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS WE ARE TRYING TO GO BACK AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE CANNOT GO BACK. FIRST OF ALL, SOCIETY WILL NOT LET US GO BACK. THERE IS A GROUP THAT IS VOICING THEIR OPINION AND IF NOT WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. AND IT BOILS DOWN TO POLITICS. YOU TAKE POLITICS OUT OF THE GAME . IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICS BUT ABOUT PEOPLE , GETTING ALONG WITH PEOPLE, UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE AND THAT IS ONE THING THAT MY PART ON THE COMMISSION IS COMMUNICATION. VERY DIFFICULT. VERY DIFFICULT. I JUST FINISHED READING A BOOK ENTITLED, DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS. AND IT SAYS HOW TO DISCUSS WHAT MATTERS MOST.

IT'S WRITTEN BY THREE PEOPLE, DOUGLAS STONE, BRUCE PATTON AND SHEILA HINTON. VERY INTERESTING AND IT MAKES YOU CHECK YOURSELF TO THE STANDPOINT OF ASKING YOURSELF INTERNALLY , WHY DO I NOT LIKE THIS PERSON OR WHY DID I TREAT THIS PERSON THIS WAY. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE BEEN RAISED THAT WAY UNTIL YOU KNOW DIFFERENT BUT I HAVE BEEN AROUND ALL KINDS OF CULTURES OF PEOPLE AND HAVE BEEN CALLED THE INWARD BEFORE, GROWING UP. MY FATHER WOULD SAY BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY. BECAUSE IT WAS THROWN AROUND LIKE IT WAS NOTHING.

WHEN I HEAR WE ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN IN ROWLETT MY WHOLE LIFE AND I HAVE SEEN IT GO FROM HERE TO HERE. WE CANNOT GO BACK. WE MADE TOO MUCH PROGRESS TO GO BACK. AGAIN, THESE FOLKS , WHY DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT? WHY? MAYBE IF YOU CAN SELL ME ON THE WHY BUT UNTIL YOU CAN SELL ME ON THE WHY, I CAN GO FOR IT. THE COMMISSION, NO BIG DEAL BUT THE OTHER THREE WORDS, IT'S ABOUT THAT IN EACH ONE OF THOSE WORDS MEANS SOMETHING IN IT MEAN SOMETHING TO EACH ONE OF THESE PERSONS ON THE COMMISSION AND IT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME AND IT OUGHT TO MEAN SOMETHING TO EACH OF YOU. I SAY MEAN SOMETHING IN THE SENSE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE

>> THAT'S WHAT THIS COMMISSION IS ABOUT, TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE 'S LIVES BETTER SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN FEAR.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANYBODY SPEAKING THEIR MIND.

YOU'RE NOT HURTING MY FEELINGS BY SPEAKING YOUR MIND AND AS A MATTER FACT I WOULD HEAR WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO SAY. YOU DON'T LIKE ME FOR MY SKIN COLOR, THAT'S FINE BECAUSE I WILL ASK YOU WHY? LIKE ME FOR SOMETHING I DID TO MYSELF, MY CHARACTER,

[01:40:05]

DISLIKE ME FOR THAT BUT DON'T DISLIKE ME BECAUSE OF THE WAY I LOOK, THE WHERE ACT. BECAUSE WE ALL ACT DIFFERENT AND WE ALL LOOK DIFFERENT. IT'S THAT GROUP THAT WANTS THINGS TO GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE AND WE'VE COME TOO FOR TO GO BACK.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DISTURB THE CITY , TRY GOING BACKWARDS AND HE WILL SEE THE CHAOS. THIS COMMISSION IS DESIGNED TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE , THE ONES THAT ARE UP HERE AND THE ONES THAT ARE DOWN THERE WHO ARE TRYING TO PUT EVERYBODY TO SHAME SO I CAN SEE YOU AND YOU CAN SEE ME.

IF WE PUT ON THE BLINDERS AND SEE ONLY WHAT WE WANT TO SEE THEN THAT IS AN INJUSTICE TO THE CITY OF ROWLETT. I HAVE SEEN OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE GOT THIS COMMISSION AND THEY STAND UP AND I THINK IT'S BETTER. PEOPLE ARE FLIPPING THE SCRIPT.

ONE THING THAT I HAVE LEARNED IS GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE. OPEN THEIR EYES. I PART OF THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE. THEY ARE SET IN THEIR WAYS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT. THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO MOVE BUT THOSE ARE WHAT I CALL SELFISH PEOPLE. THERE ONLY IN IT FOR THEMSELVES. IF IT'S GOING TO UPSET THE STATUS QUOTE THEN WE AIN'T PART OF IT. WE ARE BIGGER THAN THAT. I DON'T HAVE PREJUDICE FRIENDS AND IF I DID I WOULD CALL THEM ON IT. WHAT PROBLEM DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS PERSON OR THAT PERSON. WHAT PROBLEM DO YOU HAVE BECAUSE NOBODY IS PERFECT BY ANY MEANS. IF YOU THINK YOU ARE THEN YOU'RE ON THE WRONG PLANET. WE HAVE TO ACCEPT PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM HELP THEM GET TO WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO GO. A YOUNG MAN WAS TALKING ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. OKAY. I LOVE JESUS CHRIST BUT I KNOW SOME FOLKS DON'T. THAT'S HIS OWN PREROGATIVE DON'T PUT THAT ON ME. DON'T PUT THIS ON THIS COMMISSION . IF YOU WANT TO BE DIFFERENT THAN YOU BE DIFFERENT SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT YOUR DIFFERENCE DOESN'T HAVE A PLACE HERE BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO PUT THE BLINDERS BACK ON. I HAVE THREE BOYS AND THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY WERE DIFFERENT THAN WHITE BOYS. THEY DID NOT KNOW. BECAUSE I DID NOT TEACH THE MANY DIFFERENT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO THINK DIFFERENTLY UNTIL ONE DAY A WHITE BOY LET MY SON KNOW THAT HE WAS DIFFERENT. BUT HE NEVER CHANGED THE WAY I TAUGHT HIM.

HE NEVER CHANGED. HE RECOGNIZED HE WAS DIFFERENT AND CHANGE HIS APPROACH ONCE HE REALIZED, I'M DIFFERENT. I THOUGHT I WAS THE SAME . BECAUSE HE DIDN'T SEE COLOR.

AND FOR HIM TO SEE COLOR IT WAS A LITTLE SETBACK BUT AFTER A WHILE HE UNDERSTOOD . I TAUGHT HIM ALSO THAT EVERYBODY IS NOT LIKE THAT. YOU DON'T JUDGE ONE BOOK BY ONE PERSON.

EVERYBODY IS NOT LIKE THAT SO DON'T YOU BE LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEN HE WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT. I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS BOARD WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. WHEN YOU'VE GOT PRESSURE , SOMETIMES IT'S TOUGH TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION BUT WHEN IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, YOU'RE STANDING ON THE SIDE OF RIGHT AND YOU'RE NOT ON THE SIDE OF WRONG. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING. I ALSO AM A COMMISSIONER FOR DIC AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE REBRANDING. IS A SELF ADVOCATE WITH DISABILITIES, WORDS HAVE MEANING. ROWLETT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMISSION OR THE RDEIC IS NOT JUST A NAME. IT IS A UNIQUE PLATFORM THAT NOT ONLY EMBRACES BUT CELEBRATES PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGES, RACES , ETHNICITIES AND ABILITIES,

[01:45:02]

GENDERS, RELIGION, CULTURE AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION. THIS COMMISSION IS A HAVEN FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE NOT JUST PASSIONATE BUT THE LEAK COMMITTED TO ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE EXCLUDED OR MARGINALIZED. AT THE

>> AS A DISABILITY ADVOCATE I RECOGNIZE, RESPECT AND VALUE THE DIFFERENCES AND BRING THAT PERSPECTIVE TO THIS TABLE. DEI AND ADVOCATES HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY, COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION AWARENESS. THE CURBSIDE VOTING DRIVE-BY REVIEW PROJECT IS PERFECTLY EXEMPLIFY AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EQUALITY VERSUS EQUITY AND THE CURBSIDE VOTING PROVIDES AN EQUITABLE SOLUTION FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND PROBLEMS IF A VOTER IS PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO ENTER A POLLING LOCATION AND I DID SUBMIT A LETTER IN REFERENCE TO THIS CURBSIDE VOTING PROJECT. FOR YOUR REVIEW BECAUSE I CANNOT FIND THE BUTTON THAT SAID, I NEED ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SPEECH BECAUSE IT WOULD'VE TAKEN ME SO LONG TO READ IT AND IN CONCLUSION I WANT TO REITERATE MY STRONG OPPOSITION I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT CITIZEN INPUT IS VALUABLE DEIC IS A POSITIVE REFLECTION FOR THE DIVERSE, EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY AND OTHER CITIES HAVE ADMIRED INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE DEIC AND I THINK THAT IS WHY AND THAT IS WHY YOU WANTED TO COMPARE . ROWLETT IS NOT JUST A PARTICIPANT BUT A PROUD LEADER.

AND WE SHOULD BE PROUD, EACH ONE OF YOU AND US SHOULD BE PROUD OF IT. THERE 61 MILLION AMERICANS THAT ARE LIVING WITH A DISABILITY. DISABILITIES ARE VAST AND UNIQUE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL. ACCESSIBILITY IS LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD AND REMEMBER THAT DISABILITY IT KNOWS NO AGE, NO GENDER , NO ETHNICITY OR NO RELIGION. THIS COMMISSION IS FOR THINKING WITH A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT ACCESSIBILITY LOOKS LIKE IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT, SITTING AND LISTENING TO SEVERAL PEOPLE FOR AND OPPOSED TO THE NAME CHANGE AND ONE LADY MADE ME THINK, SHE SAID YOU'RE BRINGING AS A DEI COMMISSIONER YOU'RE BRINGING YOUR SOCIAL NORMS OR CLUBS TO THE CITY COUNCIL. FOR HER , I WOULD SAY, YES. MY DISABILITY IS A CLUB AND IT TAKES ANYONE AT ANY TIME . AND WHEN IT DOES, I'M THERE WITH WELCOME AND OPEN ARMS AND I HOPE THAT ROWLETT AND THEIR COMMUNITY IS THERE TO HELP ME GREET THE NEXT PERSON WITH A DISABILITY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MICHELLE AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE DEIC AND HAVE BEEN A MEMBER SINCE 2020. I'M SURE FROM THE TIME I STARTED SPEAKING HE REALIZED, SHE SOUNDS DIFFERENT AND THAT IS BECAUSE I AM NOT ORIGINALLY FROM TEXAS. I KNOW THAT'S A BIG SURPRISE TO YOU. BUT I MOVED HERE FROM NEW YORK AND I GREW UP IN TRINIDAD. SO I HAVE QUITE A VARIED BACKGROUND. PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY THEY LIKE THE WAY I SOUND AND I SAID DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I SOUND LIKE ANYMORE. WHEN I MOVED HERE FROM NEW YORK, THE QUESTION THAT I GOT WHEN I TOLD PEOPLE I WAS MOVING HERE WAS WHY DO YOU WANT TO MOVE TO TEXAS. AND I SAID, I HAVE VISITED TEXAS AND IT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT PLACE, THERE'S A LOT OF SPACE AND THE COST OF

[01:50:06]

LIVING IS AWESOME AND MY HUSBAND IS FROM DALLAS. WENT I GOT HERE AND I SAID I WAS LIVING IN ROWLETT, PEOPLE SAID WHY DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN ROWLETT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SEE ALL THE TIME IS WHEN I GO HOME TO ROWLETT, I GO HOME. A LOT OF PEOPLE I WORK WITH, THEY SAY THEY WANT TO LIVE CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORK AND WHY DO YOU WANT TO LIVE SO FAR AWAY? IT IS THE FEELING THAT I GET WHEN I CROSS THAT BRIDGE AND I COME TO ROWLETT AND I FEEL A SENSE OF PEACE AND I FEEL A SENSE OF CALM AND I FEEL A SENSE OF INCLUSION AND I FEEL LIKE I BELONG HERE. THAT IS WHAT THIS COMMISSION IS ALL ABOUT. I THINK THE TRUE MEANING OF THIS COMMISSION CAME TO ME IN 2020 AND I'M SURE EVERYBODY HERE WAS AROUND. I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY DOESN'T KNOW, THAT WAS WHEN COVEN -- COVID HAPPENED. PEOPLE FELT ALONE AND THEY FELT LIKE THEY DID NOT BELONG TO ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE SINGLE PERSON LIVING AT HOME AND YOU FELT ALONE.

THAT'S WHAT I FOUND AND IT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND AS SOON AS I HEARD ABOUT IT, I WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT BECAUSE THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT MADE EVERYONE FEEL INCLUDED.

IT MADE EVERYONE FEEL WANTED. IT MADE EVERYONE FEEL CARED ABOUT , REGARDLESS. NO ONE KNEW THAT YOU WERE HOME ALONE. NO ONE KNEW WHAT YOU LOOKED LIKE AND NO ONE KNEW WHAT YOUR ETHNICITY WAS OR YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEF, NO ONE KNEW AND NO ONE CARED BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND THAT IS WHY THIS COMMISSION IS SO IMPORTANT . I BELIEVE TO EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION AND A LOT OF IDEAS, THOUGHTS, BELIEFS ABOUT WHAT THIS COMMISSION IS BUT JUST BEING HERE TODAY WITH MY ESTEEMED COUNCILMEMBERS AND I'M SO PROUD TO STAND WITH ALL OF YOU BECAUSE YOU I BELIEVE HAVE TRULY REPRESENTED THIS COMMISSION FOR SO LONG . WE HAVE WANTED TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE FULLEST OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE HAD TO TELL YOU ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE. WE HAVE DONE OUTREACH EVENTS, EVENTS AND HELPED CREATE POLICIES IN TERMS OF BRINGING IT TO THE BOARD ARE BRINGING IT TO AWARENESS. ABOUT WHAT WE NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY, THINGS ABOUT SENSORY, PROGRAMS FOR KIDS AND NOT EVEN TO MENTION JUST ACCESS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS . PEOPLE HAVE COME HERE FROM ALL DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. I DON'T KNOW IF WE REALIZE WHAT A GEM WE HAVE HERE IN ROWLETT. SOME OF THE THINGS, THE PAST AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO COME HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THEY COME HERE BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY'VE READ, THEY'VE SEEN ABOUT ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THIS SMALL TOWN IN MIDDLE AMERICA AND WE HAVE MADE HUGE STRIDES AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING TO TAKE FOR GRANTED AND SOMETHING WE SHOULD CELEBRATE AND WANT TO MAKE AND WANT TO MAKE KNOWN.

NOT JUST IN TEXAS OR DALLAS BUT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT AND IT'S WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE REPRESENT.

I LOOK AT YOU ALL HERE AND I SEE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGES, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND NO ONE HERE IS THE SAME AND I WHEN HERE IS ALIKE. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMISSION REPRESENTS. REPRESENTS PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER FROM ALL OVER WHO WANT TO BE IN EACH OTHER'S SPACE AND WHO WANT TO FEEL INCLUDED AND YOU WANT TO FEEL EQUAL. BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT THEY BRING TO THE CITY AND ALL OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, NONE OF US WOULD BE HERE AND THIS CITY COUNCIL WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE'S VOTES. YOU'RE NOT JUST SITTING HERE REPRESENTING YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY WHO BELIEVES IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU AND VOTED FOR YOU FOR A REASON, TO REPRESENT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. SO AS MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS STATED EARLIER, PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE

[01:55:01]

THE NAME OF THIS COMMISSION. YOU CAN TAKE COMMISSION AWAY , THAT IS TOTALLY FINE AT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS WHO WE ARE AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE AND WHY PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO CAME ALL THE WAY FROM THE CARIBBEAN ENDED UP IN SMALL TOWN ROWLETT, TEXAS AND THAT IS WHY A AND -- WHY I AM HERE YOU WOULD NOT SIT HERE IF YOU DID NOT FEEL LIKE WHAT YOU DO MAKES A DIFFERENCE. WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND ON YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND PEOPLE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE ARE HERE FOR A REASON. ALL OF US VOLUNTEER AND NONE OF US ARE PAID FOR THIS. NONE OF US ARE PAID TO BE HERE THAT WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND I THINK EVEN PEOPLE WHO DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, IT HAS AN IMPACT ON THEM AND THEY JUST NEED TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT WHAT IT IS.

ONCE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS AND ONCE WE GET SOME IN EDUCATION ABOUT WHAT WE DO, HOPEFULLY WE WILL CHANGE THE MINDS. I'M ASKING YOU TONIGHT TO CONSIDER THAT AND TO ENSURE THAT WE LEAVE SOME KIND OF LEGACY BEHIND FOR THOSE WHO COME AFTER ASK -- AFTER US . THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION WANT TO SPEAK? IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR AND HAVE BEEN WITH THE COMMISSION FROM THE BARRY -- VERY BEGINNING AND I DID DISCUSS THIS IN THE SEVERE WORK SESSION THAT I WANT TO REITERATE THE HISTORY OF THE NAME. THERE HAS BEEN A MISSTEP IN GETTING THE NAME CODIFIED. BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THE COMMISSION BELIEVED WE WERE ACTING IN GOOD FAITH AND ASKED IF WE WERE ALLOWED TO ADDRESS THE ITEM AND WERE TOLD BY OUR COUNCIL LIAISON WHO WAS THE MAYOR AT THE TIME, HER STAFF LIAISON WAS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS IN HER PURVIEW AND WE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THERE WAS ANOTHER STEP IN IF WE HAD WE WOULD'VE COME TO THE COUNCIL . OUR MAIN REQUEST IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THOSE CHANGES RATIFIED.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SPEAK TO IS THE PROCESS. HOW THIS WENT DOWN. YOU SPOKE THAT THIS CAME ABOUT AS BEING A NAME CHANGE AND CORRECTING A MISSTEP BUT I THINK ALL OF THIS OTHER INPUT CAME ALONG WITH CONCERN OF WHERE THIS WAS LEAVING AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF HOW THE ITEM WAS APPROACHED.

AND I'M HAPPY THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WE ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF FEAR THAT THAT WAS NOT THE WAY IT WAS. WE WERE INFORMED. SO WHILE I CANNOT SPEAK TO WHAT THE COUNCIL INTENT WAS, GAVE THE PROCESSION THAT IF COUNSEL DOES NOT WANT TO COME AND SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE GROUP WHO IS SPECIFICALLY TASKED WITH ADVISING ON THE ISSUES ABOUT SOMETHING AS FUNDAMENTAL AS A CHANGE IN THE NAME THEN WHAT VALUE DOES THE COUNCIL SEAT FOR THIS COMMISSION AS A WHOLE AND THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE ALL OF THIS OTHER STUFF COME INTO PLAY FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT FEARS OF THE COMMISSION GOING AWAY AS A WHOLE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T VALUE OUR THOUGHTS ON THE NAME THEN HOW DO YOU VALUE ANYTHING WE ARE DOING. I WOULD URGE COUNSEL TO IN FUTURE WHEN THINGS COME UP THAT INVOLVE THE COMMISSION THAT YOU REACH OUT TO US AS A FIRST STEP. WE COULD BE MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE AND WORK TOGETHER MUCH BETTER IF WE START FROM THERE INSTEAD OF DOING THIS BACKWARDS HOW WE DID AT THIS TIME. I'M REALLY HAPPY THIS IS WHERE WE ENDED UP. I THINK THIS IS WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN BUT I HOPE WE CAN AVOID ALL OF THIS IN THE FUTURE BY STARTING WITH THE CONVERSATION. AS WAS POINTED OUT, ROWLETT IS CONSIDERED A LEADER IN THIS SPACE AND I'VE HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT THIS IS A TIME OF TRANSPORTATION -- TRANSFORMATION IN ROWLETT AND WE ARE PART OF THAT TRANSFORMATION. WE ARE LOOKED TO AS LEADERS. I HAVE BEEN REACHED OUT TO BY MANY OTHER LEADERS IN NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES WANTING TO BRING THIS TO THEIR COMMUNITY. THIS

[02:00:01]

IS A POSITIVE BRAND IDENTITY FOR ROWLETT AND I HOPE YOU TAKE

THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. >> DOES ANOTHER MEMBER WISH TO SPEAK? TO SPREAD MY WINGS, I WOULD NOT BE IN THE COMMISSION AND I REALLY AM HAPPY THAT I TOOK THE STEPS FORWARD. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANOTHER MEMBER WISH TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT. THEN, COUNCIL, NOW OPEN IT UP TO YOU ALL IF YOU WISH TO RESPOND OR JUST TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND WHEN IT COMES TIME TO MAKE A DECISION AND IN THE FUTURE MEETING. IT'S UP TO YOU ALL.

COUNCIL MEMBER. >> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING FORWARD FROM BOTH SIDES AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE RESPECT. I THINK SOME OF US ON COUNCIL WERE CONCERNED WE MAY HAVE EXCITEMENT. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THE PURPOSE OF US BEING HERE TODAY WAS TO HEAR EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS. HEAR EVERYBODY'S SIDE AND MAKE SURE WE HAD TIME TO REALLY THINK ON WHAT YOU SAID, AND WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAID AND WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN AND TENT TO US AS COMMENTS. AND REALLY CONSIDER THOSE DEEPLY.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE DIDN'T WANT TO TRY TO MAKE ANY ACTION TODAY OR MOVE FORWARD WAS THIS WAS A LISTENING SESSION IS WHAT THE DEI GROUP ASKED FOR. I THEY WE RESPECTED THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND THE CITIZEN COMMENTS. SO, AGAIN, I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO SAY OPINIONS ON ANYTHING OR ANYTHING ELSE BUT I THINK EVERYBODY ACQUITTED THEMSELVES WELL AND I WANT TO

SAY THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BRITTON.

>> I WILL EXO THE COMMENTS AND APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S INPUT TONIGHT. WETHER YOU ARE FOR IT OR WHETHER YOU ARE AGAINST THAT IS HOW OUR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY WORKS. I READ ALL 100 PLUS EMAILS AS I AM SURE MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE DONE, AND, IT IS KIND OF SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE REALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR AND AGAINST AND THAT'S FINE TOO. THAT'S HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS. IT'S NOT SURPRISE TO QUITE A FEW IN THE CHAMBER TONIGHT THAT I DO OPPOSE DEI, AND I WILL RESERVE THOSE COMMENTS TO THE NEXT MEETING. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO

[02:05:01]

SAY, THOUGH, IS WHETHER I OPPOSE IT OR NOT, WHETHER I HAVE KITS AGREEMENTS TONIGHT AND I HEARD THE WORD HATE AND I WANT US ALL TO PAUSE AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD HATE OR SOMEONE DISAGREEING OR YOU HAVE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT, THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS EQUAL HATE. I DON'T HATE ANYBODY. I JUST HAVE MY PARTICULAR VIEWS THAT I AM PROUD TO EXPRESS THOSE VIEWS AND THOSE ARE MY VIEWS, AND I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO COME TO MY SIDE, BUT THAT'S JUST HOW THIS COUNTRY WORKS. I APPRECIATE

THAT. >> THANK YOU, ANYONE ELSE?

DEPUTY MAYORWINGET. >> I WILL ECHO COMMENTS OF THANKING YOU TO BE HERE AND I WROTE DOWN THELESS OF EMAILS THAT WE GOT AND COUNCILMANBRITTON IS RIGHT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE EVENING THE MOST RECENT EMAIL WAS RECEIVED BEFORE 7:00 P.M. AND WE RECEIVED 50 EMAILS THAT SEEM TO BE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE REDIC IN THE CURRENT FORM AND 54 THAT SEEMS SEEM TO BE SOMEWHAT OPPOSED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION. AND THERE'S A BIT OF A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THAT OPPOSITION LOOKS LIKE. AND SO, I WANT TO RUN THIS BY YOU ALL BECAUSE I AM CURIOUS OF YOUR FEEDBACK ON OPPOSITION. THAT'S 48 IN FAVOR OF THE RDEIC AS IT STANDS AND WE ARE NOT TAKING A VOTE BUT I THINK IT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF HOW THE COMMUNITY IS SPLIT ON THE SUBJECT OF THIS. BUT THE OTHER TOPICS THAT HAVE COME UP ARE YOU MAY HAVE OTHERS COMPLETELY ABOLISHING THE COMMISSION WE HEARD THAT A COUPLE TIMES FROM COMMENDS COMMENTS MADE. YOU HAVE HEARD RENAMING THE COMMISSION OR TAKING IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL NAMING CONADVANTAGES WHICH WAS THE DIVERSITY COMMISSION OR SOME VARIATION THERE OFF. AND I WOULD SAY THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10 AND 15 RESPONSES OF EACH OF THOSE DIFFERENT TYPES THAT WERE IN THE OPPOSITION CATEGORY. BUT MANY PEOPLE WROTE IN AND JUST EITHER DIDN'T PROVIDE -- THEY SEEMED TO BE AGAINST THE CONCEPT OF DEI BUT NOT SPEAKING TO THE COMMISSION AND ROLE THE COMMISSION HAS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE FUNDAMENTAL DISCONNECT IS BETWEEN WHAT THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN TASKED WITH AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS SEEING THE COMMISSION DO OR PERHAPS NOT SEEING THE COMMISSION DO. AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF OUR ISSUE. I WANTED TO BE ASSURE TO ADDRESS THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC BECAUSE IT CAME UP IN THE COMMENTS, AND THAT'S THE WAY DEI IS INTEGRATED IN OUR HIRING PROCESS AND SIMPLY PUT, IT'S NOT. PERIOD. THERE WERE A FEW EMAILS WE RECEIVED THAT SEEM TO INDICATE THAT DEI WAS USED TO MAKE HIRING DECISION OR GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO DIFFERENT PROPEREES OR MEET QUOTAS APRIL WANT TO BE CLEAR AND I REACHED OUT TO THE HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR FROM THE CITY IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EMAILS BECAUSE THAT'S ALARMING. I WORK IN THE ACCOUNT AND FINANCE FIELD AND I DABBLE IN HR AS PART OF THAT ROLE AND THAT'S VERY ALARMING WHEN YOU HEAR THAT PERHAPS YOU ARE GIVING PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO SOMEONE BASED ON SKIN COLOR OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. AND I WILL QUOTE THE EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM RICHARD JONES WHO IS THE HR DIRECTOR AND OUR CITY MANAGER RECEIVED IT PAUSE I COPIED HIM ON THE EMAIL WHEN I SENT IT. "THERE ARE NOT ANY POLITICIAN THAT PROVIDE FOR PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT OF APPLICANTS. APPLICATIONS ARE EVALUATED FROM MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PAST PASS THROUGH TO THE HIRING DEPARTMENT FOR CONSIDERATION OR NOT PASSED THROUGH. AND HE THINK THAT'S WHAT WE RUN INTO AS FAR AS AN ISSUE GOES. WHEN YOU HAVE A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT MAYBE BELIEVES THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING AS A COMMUNITY, THERE'S AN EDUCATION GAP AND SUSAN YOU MENTIONED THIS IN THE COMMENTS.

AND I GOT TO CALL YOU OUT ON A LITTLE BIT AND WONDER WHY HAVEN'T WE FOCUSED ON EDUCATING PEOPLE ON THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. THOSE DISCONNECTS THAT WE HAVE. YOU SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED YOU ASKED THE QUESTION WHAT IS EQUITY MEAN AND YOU IDENTIFIED THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT PEOPLE THINK EQUITY MEANS OR PERHAPS WHAT THE POLITICAL DEFINITION OF EQUITY IS, AND WHAT THE DEFINITION OF EQUITY IS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AS A COMMISSION. AND HAVE WE MADE EFFORTS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE OR TALK TO PEOPLE OR HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS OR ARE WE COMFORTABLE WITH THE GAP OF YOU KNOW PEOPLE BEING ON ONE SIDE AND THE OTHER SIDE AND THERE

NOT BEING CONVERSATION? >> NO, I COMPLETELY AGREE, AND AS JAMES SAID, THE CHAIR ARE OF OUR COMMUNIATIONS COMMITTEE, THIS IS -- IT'S A STRUGGLE WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS I AM SURE. TO GET WORD OUT INTO THE

[02:10:01]

COMMUNITY AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT EVENTS THAT SORT OF THING. I CAN PROMISE YOU WE ARE ALL AMBASSADORS EVERYONE ON THIS COMMISSION FOR SHARING WHAT DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS ABOUT. THAT'S WHY I ASKED MY QUESTION OF ALL OF YOU. WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE NAME RATHER THAN LET'S EDUCATE PEOPLE ON WHAT THE DEI IS ABOUT. WHY WOULDN'T THAT BE A FIRST STEP TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT WE DO, ABOUT WHAT WE DON'T DO SUCH AS ANYTHING RELATED TO HIRING. AND WE HAD PEOPLE THINK WE ARE PAID. I IN YOU ALL KNOW NONE OF US ARE PAID. AND WE ALL VOLUNTEER OUR TIME AND DO THIS OUT OF OUR LOVE FOR THE CITY. SO, ANY HELP WE CAN GET, WE DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE AT OUR EVENTS. I HAVE GONE TO THE 4TH OF JULY AND PASSED OUT LITTLE FLYERS I MADE TO TELL PEOPLE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO. BUT, IT'S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, FUNDS ARE TIGHT ET CETERA, AND WE DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE. BUT WE WOULD ASK ALL OF YOU HELP US. HELP US TO EXPLAIN AS THE FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HERE, I KNEW I DIDN'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHAT EQUITY IS BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT AND DO AN AWESOME JOB. AND I THINK HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU HAVE LEARNED AND HEARD SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT OUR COMMISSION AS A WHOLE AND ESPECIALLY ABOUT EQUITY. SO PLEASE, HELP US.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER.

>> CAN I ADD SOMETHING WITH MY COMMENT YOU KNOW, OF COMING TO US WHEN ISSUES ARISE WHEN YOU ARE GETTING FEEDBACK LET US KNOW. WE WANT TO ADDRESS THE THINGS BUT IF YOU DON'T TELL US OR COME TO US, WE CAN'T HELP YOU WITH IT, RIGHT. BUT WE ARE HERE TO HELP SO IF IT'S AN EDUCATION PROBLEM AND YOU WILL ARE GETTING EMAIL OR FOP CALLS REACH OUT TO US WE ARE HAPPY TO

HELP. >> ADMITTEDLY AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, PRIOR TO THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, THE BOARD AND COMMISSIONS REVIEW HANDBOOK REVIEW, EXCUSE ME, WE REALLY, I HADN'T SEEN PERSONALLY, MANY EMAILS WITH REGARDS TO CONCERN ABOUT EITHER THE DEI AND HIRING PRACTICES AND USE OF EQUITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. I HAD NOT SEEN HARDLY ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. IN PARTICULAR, ALL OF THIS WAS SPURRED BY THE REVIEW OF THE HANDBOOK WHICH IS RESULTED IN THIS FEEDBACK THAT NOW WE ARE GETTING IN DROVES A TONIGHT IF YOU WILL.

>> OKAY, SO I THINK A PORTION OF WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THE FEAR THAT IS BEING BOURN OUT OF AND DEI IS TAKING A BIG HIT. I BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE ASSOCIATED DEI WITH AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, AND ARE BELIEVE THAT BASED ON DEI, AND OUR ATTACHMENT TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, AND OUR THINKING THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND THAT THEY ARE POSSIBLY NOT GETTING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON THOSE AND THEY ARE TYING THE TWO TOGETHER. WHICH IS NOT ACTUALLY CORRECT. THEY ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ONE ANOTHER. THEY ARE NOT A PART OF EACH OTHER. AND IT IS AN IRRATIONAL FEAR THAT IS JUST CREEPING IN THAT IS TIED TO A BASIS IN REVERSE RACISM. SO, I THINK THAT'S PART OF ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT DEI IS ACTUALLY BEING SEEN AS WHY THERE'S SUCH A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION TO SOME OF IT. I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE TIE-IN TO EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE NOTHING REGARDING EMPLOYMENT OR HIRING

PRACTICES AS FAR AS WE HAVE -- >> SO I THINK THAT'S BOURN OUT OF AN AGENDA ITEM IN MAY OF 2023 IF NOT MISTAKEN THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSIONER THERE WAS AN AGENDA ITEM DISCUSSED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE HR DIRECTOR TO HIRE A DIVERSITY COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY IF I AM NOT AGAIN IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN AND MAYBE YOU'VE BEEN

THERE FOR. >> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WAS NOT ABOUT HIRING RIGHT. IT WAS A POSITION FOCUSED ON EMPLOYEE CULTURE, RIGHT. AIMED AT ATTRACTION AND RETENTION. BUT IT WAS NOT RELATED TO HIRING.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. JUST ONE LAST KIND OF TIDBIT OF INFORMATION. I SAT ON CITY COUNCIL FOR A COUPLE YEARS, AND I SAT THROUGH A LOT OF WORK SESSIONS JOINT SECTION WAS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND I'VE BEEN ON THAT SIDE AS WELL WHERE I'VE BEEN A COMMISSIONER MAKING A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL. AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE SITTING HERE HAVING A CONVERSATION. AND I KNOW YO ALL HAVE DONE A LOT OF TALKING AT US, AND A COUPLE OF OUR

[02:15:04]

MEMBERS HAVE DONE A LOT OF TALKING AT YOU ALL. BUT I HOPE SOME OF THE THINGS I WILL SAY HERE IN A MOMENT WILL INTRODUCE TOPICS OF CONVERSATION AND MAYBE WE CAN KIND OF HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A CONVERSATION AND DIVE INTO SOME OF THE THINGS A LITTLE MORE DEEPLY. SO, I BELIEVE AND I DON'T WANT TO EXTEND THE MEETING TOO LONG. I APOLOGIZE THAT'S NOT MY INTENT. THE GOALS AND MISSION OF THE COMMISSION SHOULD BE THE FOUNDATION THAT WE START WITH WHEN WE BUILD OUT ANY PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE. AS A COMMISSION RIGHT? AND, THEN AROUND THOSE PRIORITIES WE WOULD ESTABLISH LIKE OKAYTIVES AND TASKS AND THINGS WE WILL DO TO GET THOSE PRIORITIES ADDRESSED AND TO WORK TOWARDS ACCOMPLISHING THE MISSION. SO, IF WE WERE TO START ALL OVER FROM THE BEGINNING, AND SAY, WHAT ARE OUR OBJECTIVES AND -- WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES GOING TO BE AND THE INITIAL MISSION AND WHAT ARE WE OUTLINING WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH GIVEN EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE PAST SIX YEARS WORTH OF WORK THAT'S HAPPENED. WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? WHAT ARE THOSE GOALS AND WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES. WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE COMMISSION BECAUSE ALL THE FORMATIVE WORK THAT WAS DONE IN 2018 BEFORE THE COMMISSION WAS ESTABLISHED, BY SCOTT AND BY LENA, THOSE THINGS ARE A MATTER OF RECORD RIGHT? THEY ARE IN OUR RECORDINGS, AND WATCHED THAT TODAY AND I HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SCOTT MADE IN THE PRESENTATION. I THINK IT'S VALUABLE. AND HE MENTIONED THAT WITH THE INFLUX OF GROWTH WHICH CONTINUES TO THIS DAY, RELICS WILL REFLECT FREQUENT DIVERSITY EXPERIENCED AND THE GROWTH IS GOING TO REFLECT THAT DIVERSITY EXPERIENCED THROUGHOUT THE DALLAS AREA ROWLET ROWLETT WILL RENEGE THAT. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COPY WHAT OTHER CITIES DID AND DIDN'T WANT A MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND THE DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT THEY HAD I THINK WAS FAIRLY KNOLL. I AM NOT SURE,000 CLOSELY THIS ALINES WITH OURS, BUT THE ROWLETT WE RESPECT EVERYONE'S DESIRE TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY AND WELCOMES THEM A SUPPORTS THEM AND WE CONNECT PEOPLE AND GROUPS TO CREATING A STRONGER MORE VIBRANT CULTURE IN ROWLETT THAT WAS THE MISSION STATION WHEN THEY PITCHED THE IDEA BEFORE THE COUNCIL. THE OBJECTIVES THEY HAD WERE TO CREATE A SPIRIT OF INCLUSION TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH CITY LEADERSHIP, TO ENHANCE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE CITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. AND TO ENSHEER SUPERINTENDENT FOR DIVERSE GROUPS TO SERVE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSION WITHIN THE CITY. THEY WANTED THE COMMISSION TO BE A TWO-WAY CONVERSATION BETWEEN COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSION. AND THEY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF SELECTING PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION SO WE DON'T HAVE GROUP THINK, WE DON'T HAVE ECHO CHAMBER OF PEOPLE HAVING A CONVERSATION AND CONSTANTLY AGREEING ON THINGS. FINALLY, THINK ONE THING THAT COUNCIL MEMBERBOBBET MENTIONED WHEN SHE WAS SERVING WAS WITH REGARD TO WHAT THIS COMMISSION COULD BE AND WHAT IT SHOULDN'T BE. AND IT WAS I THINK ROOTED IN VERY MUCH A CONCERN OF WHERE WE SIT TODAY. LIKE THERE'S A CONCERN AMONGST MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMISSION DOES. AND WE SEEM TO BE IN THE POSITION WHERE FEELS LIKE CERTAIN GROUPS ARE GETTING HIGHLIGHTED AND THAT'S THE FRUSTRATION BY A LOT OF PEOPLE. RIGHT. AND THE THING THAT SCOTT SAID WAS DIVERSITY IS HERE WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT. OUR JOB IS TO FOSTER THAT. IT'S TO ENSURE AND LOOK AFTER IT AND ENSURE IT IS CULTIVATED. THOSE ARE HIS WORDS AND THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MY VISION FOR THE REDIC IS TO FOSTER DIVERSITY IN THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL AND LET US KNOW WHEN WE ARE MAKING MISSTEPS AND NOT MAKING FULLY INFORMED DECISION ABOUT CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION.

WITH THAT, THINK I WILL END MY COMMENTS AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL INSPIRE DISCUSSION AMONG THE GROUP. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILMANBOWERS. >> I WILL WELCOME EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING AND LETTING ME HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS. I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF KEEPING THE COMMISSION ACTUALLY I PREFER TO KEEP IT A COMMISSION THAT ROWLETT DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMISSION. JUST BECAUSE I REALLY DO BELIEVE IN YOUR MISSION AND MISSION STATEMENT THAT WE CREATED THROUGHOUT THE TIME THAT I WAS WITH THE BOARD. SO, WHETHER YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ME, I STILL APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT AND SPEAKING. BUT THAT IS MY POSITION. I WANT YOU TO KNOW SOME OF YOUR STORIES REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART. I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAD TO

[02:20:04]

SAY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ORKING WITH YOU AGAIN IN THE

FUTURE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER REEVES.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONIES.

APPRECIATE IT. WENT TO BASKETBALL GAME YESTERDAY AND THE CROWD WAS GOING CRAZY. AND NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS, PEOPLE WERE CHEERING ON THE TEAMS, BUT I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, IF ONLY PEOPLE CARED AS MUCH ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT AS THEY DO ABOUT THE BASKETBALL GAME, WE WOULD BE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE. SO I WANT YOU TO EACH PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE APATHETIC CROWD. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE TODAY. AND I APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU. YOU KNOW, THINK NO ONE WANTS TO GO BACKWARDS. NO ONE WANTS TO MAKE ANYONE FEEL EXCLUDED. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY HAS HUMAN BEING WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH ME DON'T AGREE WITH ME LOOK LIKE ME DON'T LOOK LIKE ME, BELIEVE LIKE ME DOVE LIVE LEER ME ACT LIKE ME IT DOESN'T MATTER. AVALUE I VALUE AS HUMAN BEING I BELIEVE INCLUSION AND EQUITY AND DIVERSION IS A HEART ISSUE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, AND I THINK THE CAMPING ENG FOR ME IS WHAT'S GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN THAT BECAUSE IT TRULY IS A HEART ISSUE. FOR INDIVIDUALS.

AND YOU KNOW, THINK SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT JUST FRANKLY THAT THE RDEIC HAS IS THE NAMING BECAUSE IT NATIONALLY I AM NOT SAY ROWLETT OR YOU GUYS, BUT NATIONALLY, IT DOES HAVE A STIGMA OF BEING A PARTISAN SIDE THAT I THINK THAT IS WHY THERE'S ISSUES HERE ON THE NAMING OF IT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GET POLITICS OUT BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE NOT HAVING THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT HERE. THE VAST MAJORITY OF 70,000 RESIDENTS IN ROWLETT REGARDLESS IF YOU WANT IT TO HAVE THE STIGMA THERE'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE WITH THAT.

AND THAT'S JUST MAYBE ME BEING HONEST. AND I THINK THAT AGAIN, THE MAIN QUESTION I HAVE IS WHAT'S GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN ALL OF THIS. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD DES AGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT YOU SAID. SO, I HAPPY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, THOUGH.

>> WELL, I JUST WANTED TO MAYBE HELP ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE ACTUALLY HEARD SOME PEOPLE COMMENTING SPEAK ABOUT GOVERNMENT'S ROLE SHOULD BE SAFETY AND EDUCATION AND I THINK WE ARE A PART OF BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. RIGHT? WE PROVIDE EDUCATION THROUGHURE PROCLAMATIONS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT DIFFERENT STRUGGLES DIFFERENT PEOPLE FACE RIGHT. WE PROVIDE SAFETY BY MAKING SURE EVERYONE FEELS COMFORTABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. RIGHT IF YOU DON'T FEEL WELCOMED YOU WON'T FEEL SAFE THAT'S IMPORTANT. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE BRING, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR EVENTS SAYING HEY, YOU ARE WELCOMED HERE. RIGHT. IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT FOR CIVIC PARTICIPATION BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOUR GOVERNMENT VALUES YOU WHY WOULD YOU EVEN SHOW UP TO PAR TASE PAY THE BECAUSE YOU THINK YOUR VOICE DOESN'T MATTER. THINK WE PROVIDE ALL OF THOSE THINGS AS PART OF A GOVERNMENT FUNCTION.

>> AND IN RESPONSE TO WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE STIGMA ET CETERA, AND I WOULD ASK YOU ARE YOU WILLING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE THOSE MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND STIGMA? IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE, LIKE I SAID, WILL YOU HELP US EDUCATE ABOUT WHAT WE REALLY ARE ABOUT? THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. IF WE REALLY DO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING AND YOU ALL SAY BRITTON YOU ARE HONEST, THANK YOU MOST OF YOU AGREE WITH WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, HELP US EDUCATE THEN IF IT'S A STIGMA IF IT'S MISUNDERSTANDING, OR GO AHEAD AND LET US KNOW LIKE BRITTON DID DID YOU NOT AGREE WITH WHEN WE ARE DOING.

>> THE QUESTION IS NOT AGREE WITH WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. I THINK THERE'S MAYBE A DISAGREEMENTS IN HOW YOU GO

ABOUT IT. >> SO IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE ARE

DOING. >> POE LOOKSLY YEAH.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY. >> YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT SAID GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE A ROLE IN SOCIAL ISSUES. IF GOVERNMENT DIDN'T HAVE A SMALL ROLE IN SOCIAL ISSUES, WE STILL HAVE

[02:25:01]

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN CHAINS. IF GOVERNMENT DIDN'T PLAY A SOCIAL ISSUE, THESE WOMEN RIGHT HERE WOULDN'T BE UP HERE ON THE STAGE AND WOULDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. AGAIN, IT'S COMING DOWN TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT NOT WHEN IT'S JUST SOME OF THE TIME, BUT ALL OF THE TIME. SO, I DON'T TAKE THAT CONCEPT THAT SOME SOCIAL ISSUES AS HUMAN, WE CAN'T SIT BY AND LET AN INJUSTICE HAPPEN. THERE HAS TO BE A TIME WHERE WE STAND UP THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON THIS UNION WAS FOUNDED. FROM PERSECUTION OR THEY COULDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT OF THEIR OWN RELIGION AND CAME HERE. THAT WAS A SOCIAL ISSUE. BUT IT FORMED THE COUNTRY. SO, I DO FEEL LIKE THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG, THAT GOVERNMENT HAS A

PLACE. >> THANK YOU.

>> MAYORPROTEMAN SHINDER. >> I SAID THANK YOU AGAIN AND I WILL SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ENGAGING IN THIS DISCUSSION.

AND AS I SAID BEFORE I AM NOT GOING TO GO INTO ANY OF MY OPINIONS BECAUSE THERE'S ALL THE THOUGHTS ARE STILL SWIRLING AROUND IN MY HEAD, AND I DON'T AT THIS POINT IN TIME HAVE ANY FINAL OPINIONS. BUT I DO WANT TO ADDRESS JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CAME UP. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THERE WAS MISUNDERSTANDING WHAT I WAS SAYING ABOUT THE PRIOR EMAILS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ONES RECEIVED PRIOR TO THIS, BUT MY POINT WAS JUST THAT NOT ALL INPUT IS THROUGH EMAIL. NOT ALL INPUT IS WRITTEN. A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THINGS COME UP IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS. SO, THE IMPLICATION OF THERE WAS ONLY ONE EMAIL WAS THAT ONLY ONE PERSON HAD COMPLAINED OR ONLY ONE PERSON HAD EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE WORD EQUITY.

AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAD EXPRESSED THOSE CONCERNS TO ME NOT IN EMAILS, BUT IN IN PERSON CONVERSATIONS. THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE HIRING PRACTICES I THINK THAT THE MISCONCEPTION OR THE DISCONNECT THERE MAY BE I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE THOUGHT THAT OUR HR DEPARTMENT WAS BEING INFLUENCED BY THE DEI.

BUT I HAVE A QUESTION. DOES A D, I MEMBER SIT ON THE BOARD THAT INTERVIEWS POLICE CANDIDATES?

>> SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS AN INTERVIEW BOARD THAT HAS ALWAYS CONSISTED AND A CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVE THAT SITS IN AND OBSERVES THE INTERVIEW. WE HAVE BEEN HELPING TO FILL THAT ROLE AS AN OBSERVER WE DO NOT MAKE ANY DECISIONS.

>> DO YOU GIVE INPUT? >> IF ASKED FOR IT.

>> AND. >> THIS IS LED BY -- THIS WAS NOT INITIATED BY OUR COMMISSION. WE WERE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> AND IS ANY OTHER BOARD REPRESENTED ON THAT?

>> OR DO YOU KNOW? >> I DO NOT KNOW. THEY SEND A REQUEST TO US HEY WE HAVE AN INTERVIEW WOULD YOU HAVE SOMEONE AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPATE, AND IF WE DO, WE

COME. >> I THINK THAT MAY BE WHERE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DEI BEING INVOLVED IN A HIRING

PRACTICES MAY HAVE COME FROM. >> AND THEN ONE OTHER THING, YOU KNOW, DEPUTY MAYOR TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENT ABOUT WHERE OUR WORK ITEMS COME FROM, IF YOU NOTICE IN OUR PLAN OF WORK, EVERY WORK ITEM WE HAVE IS DIRECTION LED TIED TO ELEMENTS IN THE CITY STRATEGIC PLANS SO WE ALWAYS TIE WORK ITEMS TO THE CITY STRATEGIC PLAN.

RIGHT. WE APPRECIATE EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS. THIS IS WHAT WE WANTED. WE WANTED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SHARE WHAT YOU BELIEVE BEFORE ANY DECISION OF THE COUNCIL IS RENDERED. WHICH WILL BE COMING UP IN A FUTURE MEETING. AND WE WILL ASK FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION THERE AS WELL. ALSO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONED IN AUDIENCE WHO SPOKE NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE ISSUE YOU ARE ON. APPRECIATE THE PARTICIPATION IN YOUR LOCAL DEMOCRACY. SO, IF THAT, AGAIN, NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ON THIS ITEM. WE ARE GOING INTO A 15-MINUTE RECESS AND THEN WE WILL RECONVENE IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM FOR OTHER ITEMS AT 8:45 P.M. THANK YOU.

[Items 3B & 3C]

[02:30:10]

AND I WILL READ TWO ITEMS INTO THE REPORT ITEM 3B TO DISCUSS FUNDING OPTION AND WET ZONE AND ATTEMPT 3C DIRECTION FROM CITY COUNCIL REGARDING FUNDING FOR REPAIR FOR THE HOUSE LOCATED AT

ROWLETT COMMUNITY CENTER. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> THIS PRESENTATION IS TO KIND OF GET YOUR DREX DIRECTION ON FUNDING OPTIONS WITH RESPECT TO TRYING TO FUND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ON KIDS KINGDOM AND WET ZONE AMENITIES THIS IS AS MUCH PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THE PUBLIC AS FOR YOU. I HAVE TAKEN ALMOST ALL OF YOU OVER TO SEE A TOUR OF THE FACILITIES IN PERSON. A LITTLE BACKGROUND THERE YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN THOSE KIDS KINGDOM WAS OPEN IN 2016 AND THE WET ZONE IN 2001. REALITY IS THAT BOTH FACILITIES HAVE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION, AND DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND INVESTMENT.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY DUE TO LACK OF STAFF EXPERTISE, OR CARE. REALITY IS THAT WE FUND APPROXIMATELY 35,000 DOLLARS IN OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION BUDGET FOR THE WET ZONE WE HAD 34,000 VISITORS AND THAT'S NOT A GREAT DEAL OF ALLOCATION FOR THE MAINTENANCE. THAT'S THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE ALLOCATION FOR THE WET ZONE AND YOU SEE THE TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH THERE. SAME ACCOUNT KIDS KINGDOM TREMENDOUS TRAFFIC. THERE HAS NOT BEEN SIGNIFICANT CONTINUOUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN THE ASSETS AND LIKE ANY ASSETS WILL DETERIORATE OVER TIME WITH RESPECT TO THE LACK OF MAINTENANCE. AND THESE ARE GOING TO BE PHOTOGRAPHS OF SOME OF THE AREAS I WILL GO THROUGH THEM FOR THE SAKE OF TIME. OF IF QUESTIONS STOP MOW AS I GO THROUGH FOR THE MOST PART SELF-EXPLAN STORY. THIS IS A LIST ALSO IN YOUR PACT WORKING THROUGH THE COSTS THE LARGEST DRIVER OF THE COST WITH RESPECT TO KIDS KINGDOM IS SURFACE. AND THE CURRENT ESTIMATES WE RECEIVED LOWEST HAVE BEEN $750,000. OTHER SURFACE TYPES ONE NOT FEASIBLE SUCH AS TURF TILES MAY OR MAY NOT BE AS FEASIBLE AS WE WOULD LIKE SO WE MAY BE FORCED IN QUOTES TO GO BACK TO THE PLAY SYSTEM THAT MAY BE THE OPTION WITH RESPECT TO FALL ZONES AND HALLU FALL HEIGHTS AND THOSE THINGS.

AGAIN, SO WE ARE ESTIMATING COST RIGHT REPAIR ABOUT $1 MILLION. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE KIDS KINGDOM?

>> I WILL MAKE A POINT THAT THERE WILL BE SHOP LET'S GO BACK IF THEY FAILED ALREADY. TO THAT, I WILL SAY THAT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE SURFACE THAT EXIST TODAY WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY. WHICH IS LED TO THE RAPID DEGRADATION AND IT WAS NOT SEALED AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED. ET CETERA.

>> THAT'S TRUE AND ALSO KEEPING IN MIND WITH THAT SURFACE YOU ARE LIFE EXPECTANCY IS 9 TO 12 TO 13 YEARS. AS IT IS RIGHT. I MEAN, THIS IS NOT A SURFACE THAT'S INTENDED TO LAST YOU 20 YEARS. IT'S NOT. LIKE ANYTHING THAT COST BENEFIT IS YOU GOT ONE OF THE SAFEST SURFACES WITH RESPECT TO FALLS, IT IS ADA COMPLIANT GENERALLY, SO, THAT'S THE BENEFIT. RIGHT.

THE DISADVANTAGES THAT YOUR LIFE SPAN IS NOT 20 YEARS. SO, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE WOULD GO BACK WITH THAT POTENTIALLY. WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SURFACE TYPES, BUT THAT'S THE LEADING CONTENDER AND MAJOR DRIVER FOR THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE KIDS KINGDOM.

>> DAVID, ONE OF THE AREAS THAT'S OUT THERE THAT IS GOOD AND BAD IS THE SAND AREA THAT'S IN THE BACK. AND IT END UP GETTING SAND LIKE LITERALLY EVERY WHERE.

>> YEAH. >> SO, IS THIS -- IS THERE GOING TO BE IMPROVEMENTS TO HELP CONTAIN SOME OF THAT?

>> SO, AGAIN, BEING CLEAR THIS IS KIND OF BEEN AN EMERGENCY.

RIGHT. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT AS SETS WERE IN THIS CONDITION WHEN I MADE A VISIT BASED ON COMPLAINTS AND REALIZED WE HAD TO HERRY UP AND ARREST THE DEGRADATION OF THE ASSETS. TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND WANT TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT TO KIND OF REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TRACKING THAT GOES ON. IT'S A SEPARATION OF PHYSICAL SEPARATION OR BARRIER.

WE ARE NOT SURE BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE SEEK TO ADDRESS.

>> DOES THIS TOTAL INCLUDE RESTORING ALL THE ASSETS EITHER CLOSED OR BARRICADED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

>> IT DOES AND REMEMBER, THIS IS AN ESTIMATE BECAUSE AGAIN, BASE EXAMINED ON HOW QUICKLY THIS IS COMING ABOUT, I CAN'T GIVE YOU SPECIFIC NUMBERS YET. I MAY COME BACK HERE AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY. I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT TO, BUT AS WE REALLY FROM WHAT THE NUMBERS MOST LIKELY HERE IT WILL BE CLOSE TO

[02:35:01]

$1 MILLION AND WE MAY HAVE A SAVINGS IN WET ZONE THIS ESTIMATE INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE ITEMS.

>> THANK YOU. >> REPLACE AND REPLACEMENT AND

REFURBISHMENT. >> DOES IT INCLUDE ADDING ANY

SHADE? >> NO NOT RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, I HAVE TO BE CLEAR THIS IS A MOVING SCOPE TARGET. THE FIRST THING IS FOR ME TO PRESENT THE TO YOU AND TO GET YOUR PERMISSION RESPECT TO THE FUNDING. THIS IS STILL GOING TO TAKE US TIME. I MEAN, WE JUST STARTED IS ON THIS TWO WEEKS AGO. SO, IF THERE'S MONEY AVAILABLE, CERTAINLY. IF IT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE RECOGNIZE WE CAN TRY TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY AS WE GO THROUGH AND COME BACK AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE SCOPE AND THINGS INCLUDED THEREIN.

>> I WOULD ALSO HAVE YOU KNOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SURFACING. I WOULD QUESTION IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SURFACES THAT WOULD TAKE THE SUN ANY BETTER. I MEAN, THIS -- I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF ANY

SURFACING. >> WE ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SURFACE TYPES. FLOOR TILES, THERE ARE ALL GOING TO BE BEAT UP AND AGAIN, THE COUNTER BALANCES YOU GOT FALL HEIGHT, I THINK OURS IS 12 FEET. SO, MAYBE SOME -- AGAIN I AM NO SURFACE EXPERT. WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE IT.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> THERE ARE AND DON'T GET ME SPEAKING OUT OF MY TERMS SO KERRY WILL HAVE TO COME UP HERE

IF YOU WANT TO GET NO THAT. >> I NEVER HEARD IT ROOF.

>> THE SURFACES HAVE TO GIVE THE MORE TECHNICAL ANSWER.

>> I WILL TRY TO BE MORE ELOQUENT.

>> A KID FALLING OFF DOESN'T GET HARMED.

>> THERE'S DIFFERENT FALL HEIGHTS YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER WITH PLAYGROUNDS AND FOR FALL ZONES SO DEPENDING HOW TALL YOUR HIGHEST PLATFORM IS, THE MATERIAL HAS TO BE SO THICK DEPENDING ON WHAT MATERIAL IT IS. SO, MATERIALS ARE DIFFERENT AND HAS DIFFERENT PADDING THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THOSE AND HAVE A SAFETY AUDIT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING THAT FALLS FROM A CERTAIN HEIGHT IS IMPACTED THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET

IN CERTAIN AREAS. >> THIS UNDER REGULATING BODY?

IS IT -- >> IT'S NOT A TDR, NO.

>> CPSC DIFFERENT GUIDELINES OF PLAYGROUND FALL ZONES AND EVEN WORK ANYTHING THAT HAS A PLATFORM THAT SOMEBODY CAN PLAY ON AND FALL FROM, THERE'S A STANDARD YOU HAVE TO MAKE.

>> THERE ARE SURFACES THAT I MAY BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE FALL HEIGHT BUT NOT ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS UNDER TDOR.

>> I AM JUST THINKING HERE IF THERE IS A REGULATORY REQUIREMENT TO CONSIDERATION FOR EXAMPLE DOES CITY REQUIRE THIS OF PLAYGROUNDS THAT ARE BUILT FOR HOAS OR OTHER FACILITIES IN THE CITY DO WE REQUIRE THIS FALL HEIGHT TO BE CONSIDERED IN THAT CONSTRUCTION AND IF SO, I WOULD SAY OBVIOUSLY, IT'S IMPERATIVE WE FOLLOW THE SAME RULES THAT WE

APPLY. >> I DON'T HAVE A ANSWER. I WONDER IF WE HAD THE STANDARDS IN PLACE WHEN WE REPLACED THE ORIGINAL SURFACE. THE REALITY IS IT'S A GREAT SURFACE AND THERE'S REASON IT'S PROM INEPT AND MORE WIDELY USED. THE CITY WAS CUTTING EDGES AT THE TIME.

>> I WAS SEEK SOME. NO PROBLEM I KNOW IT WILL COME BACK.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO ASK THE QUESTIONS BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO GET FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE THING FORWARD. THE REALITY IS ASSUME WE ARE GOING BACK TO WHAT'S THERE FOR NOW BECAUSE WE ARE EXPLORING OTHER TYPES BUT THIS IS THE BEST OPTION AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

WE ARE LOOKING INTO THEM BUT THAT'S WHY I AM SAY YOU ASSUME WE ARE GOING BACK TO WHAT'S IN PLACE. EVER YES SYSTEM YOU SUGGEST IS GOING TO HAVE A ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.

>> UNDERSTOOD. >> SO, THE CITY ERRED ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY BECAUSE THOSE ARE

STRONG FACTORS. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE KIDS KINGDOM IN TERMS OF -- STAY RIGHT HERE. I AM JUST HELPING ON THIS, REALLY. SO WE WILL MOVE INTO THE WET ZONE AND YOU HAVE TOURED THAT FACILITY AND I WILL RUN THROUGH THE PICTURES AND THE SLIDES AND YOU TELL ME TO PAUSE IF YOU WISH. BUT I THINK THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES WITH RESPECT TO THE DEGRADATION OF THE FACILITY.

>> CAN YOU GO BACK ONE, I AM SORRY. SO, THOSE ARE THE NEWER SLIDES THAT WERE-STALLED PROBABLY AROUND 2018 OR 19 IS THAT CORRECT AND SO THEY WERE REACHED THE POINT WHERE THEY NEED TO REFURBISHMENT IS THAT RIGHT.

[02:40:02]

>> TYPICALLY THE INTERIOR OF THE SLIDES YOU NEED TO ADDRESS EVERY COUPLE YEARS. THE SEAMS AND RIDE PATH.

>> OKAY. >> THEY WEAR FROM THE WATER AND USAGE BUT FER OF IF THEY ARE NOT ADDRESSED THEY KEEP DETERIORATING FASTER AND FATTER.

>> WATER AND LEAGUAGE AND POSSIBLE CUTS, RIGHT? GOING

THROUGH. >> RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU. >> QUESTIONS? WHATEVER YOU

WANT. >> YEAH, OKAY, SO WE GOT PAVILION FOR KIDS KINGDOM IS THE NUMBER I SEE HERE ON.

>> WHAT ARE YOU SEEING. >> $630,000.

>> YOU ARE ON WET ZONE? THAT ENOUGH IS A ROUGH ESTIMATE. I

WILL RUN THROUGH THIS. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS 1.5.

>> IF YOU DON'T MIND I WILL FIN INITIAL AND WE WILL COME

BACK. >> OKAY.

>> OKAY THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION ONE I INTO YOU WOULD ASK. SO YOU WILL SEE HERE, AGAIN, JUST FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSE, THEY ARE APPROXIMATELY 100 ITEMS WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS BEING DEFICIENT IN THE WET ZONE. SO SOME OF THESE WE HAVE NOT FINISHED GETTING THE ESTIMATES AND THAT'S WHY.

>> I GOT YOU. >> WE ARE ESTIMATE BEING 1.5.

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

DISCREPANCIES. >> MAYBE THIS IS WITH A WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND I LOOKED AT WHERE YOU WOULD GET FUNDING AND CREATIVE AND FOUND, YOU KNOW, LOOKS LIKE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO DO THIS. HOWEVER, DOESN'T THIS ALSO SIT ON THE BOND PACKAGE

ESSENTIAL. >> IT DOES.

>> THE SEAM ITEMS WITH THE SAME NUMBERS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> IS YOUR PLAN TO PREEMPTIVELY START THIS BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET THEM DONE AND DOES IT JUST

PAY BACK -- >> SEE THAT'S RIGHT. THIS IS PROJECT IS SUCH THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO PULL FOLKS OFF OTHER JOBS AND THINGS THIS WAS NOT IN MY WORK PLAN. DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS NECESSARY SO THIS IS AN EMERGENCY FOR ASSET DEPENDING ON WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE ASSET. IF HE WE WANT TO USE IT AND MAINTAIN IT, HAVE IT FUNCTIONAL, THE REALITY IS RIGHT NOW, IF YOU DON'T AUTHORIZE ME TO DO THIS MONEY, I AM IN GOOD CONSCIOUS WILL NOT ON THE KIDS KINGDOM SHORT OF YOU VOTING FOR ME TO DO SO AND I WILL FULFILL MY OBLIGATION.

>> WET ZONE. >> WET ZONE AND I WILL PROBABLY CLOSE KID KINGS DOM UNTIL WE MAKE REPAIRS BECAUSE SOME OF THE SOMEONE COULD TRIP AND BREAK AN ANKLE WALKING INTO THE

PARK. >> THAT'S AN ON THE I WAS GOING TO MAKE. KIDS WILL PLAY ON ANYTHING AND THAT'S GREAT,.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> IF IT IS BROKEN THEY WILL

PLAY ON IT BUT THEY WILL. >> HERE'S OTHER PART IN THIS PHOTO IT'S GREAT BECAUSE STAFF PUT OUT THE ORANGE CONE AND I CALLED THEM BACK BECAUSE PEOPLE MOVED THE CONES. SO AT SOME POINT, I AM GOING TO HAVE TO CLOSE THE FACILITIES. AND THAT POINT IS COMING SHALL I WOULDN'T OPEN THE WET ZONE

RIGHT NOW. >> CLOSE TO THE SEASON THAT'S

WHY YOU GOT TO DID IT NOW. >> EVEN IF YOU AUTHORIZE ME I WON'T MAKE MAY. WE ARE TRYING TO BUT I CAN'T EVEN GIVE YOU A DATE RIGHT NOW. WE WILL COME BACK AND UPDATE YOU AS WE, AGAIN, HONE IN ON THE PROJECT, BUT RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THIS IS MOVING SO QUICKLY SO FAST, SO UNEXPECTEDLY, I AM NOT AT AN ON THE TO PROMISE YOU A DATE. AND I KNOW THAT'S A QUESTION THAT'S GOING TO BE ASKED AND I CAN'T GIVE YOU AND HOLD ME TO IT. WE ARE NOT THERE YET. BUT I CAN TELL YOU WE CAN'T OPEN THE WET ZONE IF YOU DON'T PERMIT ME TO GO FORWARD.

>> THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO ADDRESS DEFICIENCY. SO I AM ASSUMING YOU ARE GOING TO COME BACK IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AND TALK ABOUT YOUR REOCCURRING LANGUAGE.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT TO YOUR POINT WE HAVE TO.

>> WE SAW THE SLUDGE IN THE LAZY RIVER AND JUST LIKE THERE'S NO MONEY TO ADDRESS THAT, AND TO ME, IT JUST FURTHER DEGRADATION THE SURFACE AND LEAVE THAT SLEDGE.

>> THE HOPE IS IF AUTHORIZED TO SPEND THE MONEY IT'S LIKE THE CITY LOANING ITSELF MONEY IF THE BOND PASS YOU WOULD BE PERMITTED TO REIMBURSE THE CITY.

[02:45:01]

>> PERFECT. >> WHAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THIS, AND IT'S NOT ON YOU BUT PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, I WAS ASSURED MANY TIMES THAT THE WET ZONE IS SELF-SUSTAINING AND IT BRINGS IN ENOUGH REVENUE TO PROVIDE FOR MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS JUST OPERATIONS. HOW MUCH REVENUE-- DO WE HAVE ENOUGH REVENUE TO PROVIDE AT LEAST FOR ONGOING OPERATIONS AFTER WE DO

THIS? >> I WOULD SAY NO BASED ON WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US. WE HAVEN'T DO ANY ANALYSIS. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY JUST YET.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME REALLY LOOKING INTO THE OPERATION. TO THIS DEGREE. SO I COULDN'T ANSWER THAT BUT I WOULD SAY MOST LIKELY NOT JUST BASED ON THE FACT THAT IF WE WERE ALLEGEDLY SELF-SUSTAIN SOMETHING AND WE ARE NOT AN ENTERPRISE SO I WANT TO KIND OF-- I AM GLAD YOU BRING IT UP.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND WE TREATED -- THIS IS NOT AN ENTERPRISE FUND. IT'S A PRODUCT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

AND NO DIFFERENT THAN POLICE, FIRE, AND COMPONENTS OF PUBLIC WORKS. THIS IS IN THE GENERAL FUND AND WHILE YOU LIKE THE RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT LIKE THE RCC AND OTHER PARTS OF THE OPERATION, IT'S A MATTER OF HOW MUCH WE ALLOCATE WITH RESPECT TO MAINTENANCE AND BALANCING THAT AGAINST OTHER

NEEDS IN THE GENERAL FUND. >> SURE I UNDERSTAND AND THAT'S WHY WHEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS SELF-SUSTAINING NO ONE COULD EVER SHOW ME THE NUMBERS BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT A SEPARATE

FUND AND A SEPARATE REVENUE. >> AND WE CAN TRACK THOSE THINGS, WE CAN TRACK IT. I DON'T WANT TO IMPLY WE CAN'T TRACK THE EXPENSE AND REVENUE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TREAT IT

LIKE IT'S ENTERPRISE FUND. >> SURE I WANT HONESTY.

>> AND I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER. >> ARE TAXPAYERS FUNDING THIS

OR AREN'T THEY. >> I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE AS YOU SEE THE CONDITION AND AMOUNT OF ALLOCATION OF

MAINTENANCE OF $35,000. >> I CAN'T RURAL IF IT WAS A FINANCE COMMITTEE BUT I RURAL NUMBERS PRESENTED THAT INDICATED THAT FROM A MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION PERSPECTIVE, THE WET ZONE MADE MONEY LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE CAPITAL EXPENSES WHICH IS MORE WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE. WE ARE BEYOND MAINTENANCE.

>> YEAH. >> MAINTENANCE IS THROWING A NEW COAT OF PAINT ON SOMETHING. WE ARE WELL BEYOND THAT.

>> IT MAKES ENOUGH BUT DOESN'T COMPENSATE FOR PERIODIC MAINTENANCE DURING THE OFF SEASON. I AM ASSUMING THAT COVERS THE COST DURING THE TIMES THAT THE WET ZONE IS OPENED BUT WHEN IT CLOSE THE FOR THE SEASON, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO ALLOCATE TO KEEP THAT THING GOING IT

WOULDN'T GET IN A CONDITION. >> IN THE PROPER MUSIC YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN IT AS YOU GO ALONG. IT WILL

COST MORE. >> YEAH.

>> AND IT IS CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN SAY WE ARE GOING TO RAISE THE PRICES BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST WATER PARK IN TOWN IT IS FALLING APART. SO WE COULD GET TO THAT POINT IF IT WERE IMPROVED. BUT NOT TODAY.

>> CAN YOU USE YOUR -- [INAUDIBLE] YOUR 66 [INAUDIBLE]

>> EXACTLY. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION WHICH MAY BE PREMATURE BECAUSE YOU ARE FIND FACT-FINDING BECAUSE THE WET ZONE IS A TIMELINE ON IT, AND SOME OF THESE ARE COMPLEX AND SOME OF THE THINGS, DO YOU FEEL PEOPLE YOU ARE TALKING TO CAN MOBILIZE WITHIN A PERIOD OF TIME WE CAN MAYBE MEET UP AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S PREMATURE, BUT JUST IN GENERAL CONVERSATIONS I MEAN ARE WE JUST -- IS IT A PIE IN THE SKY DREAM THAT WE CAN GET IT DONE BEFORE JULY 4TH OR.

>> TRY TO. I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER NOW AS I SAID. CERTAINLY TRYING TO. TRYING TO LONG BEFORE JULY 4TH.

>> OKAY. >> BUT I DON'T HAVE A ANSWER.

>> AND YOU WANT PROBABLY FOR A WHILE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE COULD GO THROUGH AND SEE THAT THE PUMPS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THEN WHAT IS THE ORDER BACKLOG FOR PUMPS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> THAT COULD RENDER -- THAT ALONE COULD DECIDE THE FATE OF WHETHER THIS PARK OPENS OR NOT

FOR THE SUMMER. >> SO THOSE ARE THINGS I DON'T

KNOW NOT YET. >> FAIR ENOUGH.

>> IT'S A RECREATIONAL FACILITY FOR THE WEEKEND AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WHAT ELSE DOES IT DO? I KNOW IT HAS THE ONE WITH THE DOGS. WHICH I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME OF RIGHT NOW. POOCH PLUNGE. SWIM LESSONS.

>> SWIM TEAM WATER'S ROBICS, GENERAL ADMISSION. THAT COVERS MOST OF IT ALL FLICK AND FLOATS AND RENTALS, RESERVATIONS.

>> THIS IS MORE THAN JUST -- DAN DO THOSE THINGS START IN MAY THEY START EARLY ON IN THE SEASON THIS IS IMPACTING MORE THAN JUST THE GENERAL OPERATION OF WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE

WEEKEND NUT SUN. >> YEAH, AND AGAIN, LAST YEAR, 34,000 VISITORS FOR WET ZONE. THAT'S A PRETTY BIG NUMBER.

SO. >> WHEN DID WE OPEN LAST YEAR?

>> WE TYPICALLY OPEN THE WEEKEND BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY. A

[02:50:01]

SOFT OPENING FOR THE SEASON. >> SO WE ARE ASKING FOR A CONSENSUS TO SPEND THIS $2.5 MILLION. WOULD THAT BE COMING BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR A VOTE OR WOULD THE EXPENDITURES, I SEE ONE THAT IS 80,000 BUT I DON'T SEE ANYMORE THAT WOULD

BE OVER THE 50,000? >> THE ACTUAL EXPEND TOUR FOLLOWING THE PURCHASING REQUIRING COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION WOULD COME BEFORE COUNCIL. WHAT I AM SEEKING IS TO YOUR POINT THESE ARE THE PLACES WHERE WE WILL TAKE THIS MONEY. PLANNING TO AND I KIND OF WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THESE. MOST OF THESE THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THIS IS BOND PREMIUM LEFT THAT WE DIDN'T EXPEND AND PROJECT MONEY THAT'S LEFT OVER. AND THE PARK IMPROVEMENT FEE IS A PER CAPITA FEE CHARGE ON DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING PARKS AND THAT'S CASH CIP MONEY WHEN YOU SEE PK218 AND 219. THAT'S GENERAL FUND MONEY. SEE INTEREST EARNINGS ON SOME GO BONDS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXPENTURE AND LAST ONE, WHAT WAS CALLED PROJECT OVERRETURNS I PUT IN QUOTES AND DON'T WANT TO REFER IT TO THAT BUT YOU MAY KNOW IT AS THAT GENERAL FUND MONEY ALLOCATED AND CONTINGENCY PROPER TO JOKES ALLOCATE AND I USE THAT MONEY AS WELL AND THAT WOULD TALLY 2.5 MILLION DOLLARS.

>> SORRY GO AHEAD. >> IN REGARD TO THE PARKING --

PARK IMPACT FEE. >> IT'S NOT AN IMPACT FEE. SO I AM GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP. THERE'S A SLIGHT DELICIOUS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND THE PACKTH BECAUSE I TWEAKED IT IT'S NOT IMPACT FEE. SO THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

>> PER RATA FEE. >> HOW MUCH IS IN THAT FUND BECAUSE WE HAVE $2825 HERE AND ANOTHER 2.

>> IT'S ALMOST 500 PLUS,000. >> 565.

>> YEAH. SO TOTAL ABOUT $500,000.

>> THAT'S HOW MUCH. >> YES. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER. YEAH. AND WE ARE SHOWING TWO PLACES SO ABOUT $500 PLUS,000. THIS WOULD EAT UP MOST IF WE USE IT IN TWO

LOCATIONS, BUT THAT'S -- >> IS THAT A PROBLEM TO EAT UP

MOST OF IT. >> WE WON'T USE IT ALL. IF WE GET TO THE OTHER ONE I HAVE TAKEN IT OUT. I AM NOT GOING TO USE IT ALL. GREAT QUESTION. I AM GOING TO USE HALF. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO EAT IT ALL UP AND I HAD TO MAKE CHANGES.

>> 565. >> 5 SOMETHING.

>> I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DEPLETEING THAT.

>> WE ARE NOT. >> AND THIS ALSO SHOWS THE ELC PORTION AND THE OTHER -- NOT THIS?

>> WELL,. >> IS THAT IN THIS?

>> NOT IN THIS PRESENTATION NO SIR.

>> THANK YOU. >> I WANTED TO.

>> I THOUGHT YOU WOULD READ THEM BOTH INTO THE RECORD.

>> I DID. >> I AM SLOW. CAN HE WE.

>> TWO QUESTIONS. FINANCIAL LOGISTICS YOU MENTIONED THAT WHEN OR IF THE BOND WERE TO PASS, WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY REIMBURSE THE SIT GRIST COST OF THE REPAIRS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> DO THOSE DOLLARS FLOW BACK INTO THE ACCOUNTS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK.

>> SOME INSTANCES YES. AND MOST INSTANCES, YES. AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS IS GENERAL FUND. SO, WE HAVE SOME OPTIONS BUT

GENERALLY, YES. >> AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION IS THAT WHAT HAPPENS SHOULD THE BOND NOT PASS.

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO, THOUGH. THE BOND DOESN'T PASS YOU PAY THE MONEY. YOU PAY YOURSELF THE MONEY. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS YOU DON'T GET THE MONEY BACK. AND SO WHERE THE FUND COULD HAVE BEEN USED IN OTHER PLACES, YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPTION ANYMORE.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT EVEN IF YOU VOTERS APPROVE THAT BOND INITIATIVE IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT THE COUNCIL ISSUE THE BONDS. IT MEANS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO

ISSUE THE BONDS. >> RIGHT.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, IF OF WE GET DOWN THE ROAD AND WE FIND I AM GOING TO DISCONTINUE FROM SAYING ANYTHING FURTHER.

>> I WITH WANT YOU TO ISSUE BUT THAT'S.

>> IT'S A GOOD BUSINESS DECISION.

>> THESE ARE MONEY WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT UTILIZING IN OTHER AREAS SO TO THE POINT WE ARE LOANING OURSELVES THE

MONEY, PETER PAY PAUL. >> YEAH.

>> OKAY. READY TO GET INTO THAT CONVERSATION.

>> I AM GOING TO -- I AM HERE FOR MORAL SUPPORT ON THIS ONE.

WE CAN GO -- >> THAT'S ALL YOU NEED MORAL

SUPPORT. >> WELL, WE ARE GOING -- I AM TAKING THIS AS A LUMP SUM OF CONVERSATION ONE LARGER CONVERSATION BECAUSE THESE ARE PARTS RECREATION FACILITIES AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR FUNDING. AND SCOPING CONVERSATIONS SO.

BEFORE WE CONVENE I WANT TO SEE NODS IF THERE ARE ANY.

>> GOOD EVENING. WE WILL TALK ABOUT COIL HOUSE NOW. CITY MANAGER BROUGHT THE TOPIC BEFORE YOU GUYS BACK IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR. AND WE ARE BRINGING IT BACK JUST TO

[02:55:04]

SEEK DIRECTION ON THE FUNDING LEVELS THE REPAIRS THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED AND PUT TOGETHER FOR YOU. IT'S CLEAR FROM COUNCIL THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT COIL HOUSE REMAINED A PUBLIC USE FACILITY. AND SO, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE OPTIONS I WANTED TO JUST TAKE A BRIEF PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR OF THE COIL HOUSE. JUST SHOW THE CURRENT CONDITIONS. AND DETERIORATION THAT IT SUFFERS FROM. SO, YOU CAN SEE THIS IS THE EXTERIOR.

THERE'S WOOD ROT ON THE COLUMNS. AND PARTS OF IT WHERE IT IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CEILING. AND THIS IS AROUND THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR. SO, AROUND THE WINDOWS, PORCH, AND ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AREAS WHERE YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE BUILDING EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND NOT PROTECTED SO IT KEEPS DETERIORATING FASTER AND FASTER. ALSO CREATING WAYS FOR CRITTERS TO COME UP AND TAKE RESIDENT IN THE HOUSE. MOVING INSIDE, THIS IS THE BATHROOM. AND IT'S ALSO IN NEED OF REPAIR AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FUNCTIONAL, OPERATIONAL. AND SIMILAR WITH THE KITCHEN. YOU CAN SEE THERE I MATERIAL THAT'S PULLING AWAY FROM THE WALLS, WE HAVE CRACKS IN DOORS AND CABINETS. AND THEN THE BREAKFAST NOOK AS HE LIKE TO CALL IT, THE CEILING LOOKS UNFINISHED AND LOOKS UNSAFE.

WHETHER IT'S UNSAFE OR NOT IT'S THE APPEARANCE AND WHAT MATTERS AND IF WE WANT TO WELCOME PEOPLE IT NEED TO BE REPAIRED AND SHORED UP. THESE ARE PICTURES OF THE SECOND FLOOR. AND SECOND FLOOR COIL HOUSE HAS NEVER BEEN OPENED FOR PUBLIC USE. LARGELY USED FOR STORM AND ODDS AND ENDS AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY WHICH WE WILL COVER IN THE OPTIONS. AS WE MOVE INTO THAT, WE HAVE COME WITH UP FOUR OPTIONS. FIRST BASE LEVEL REPAIRS. AND THIS WOULD GIVE REPAIRS TO THE PORCH SIDING, AND EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING AND ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND ALLOWS COYLE HOUSE TO FUNCTION IN THE CURRENT STATE WHICH IS KIND OF A PUBLIC MEETING SPACE, AND VERY BASIC PROGRAMMING.

ASSOCIATED COST OF THIS REPAIR IS BETWEEN 75,000 AND 100,000 DOLLARS. IF WE MOVE UP TO AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OF REPAIR, YOU WILL GET THE BASE LEVEL OF REPAIRS BUT WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE KITCHEN AND THE BATHROOM AND WE SEE THIS AS EXPANDING PROGRAMMING BEING MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO WANT TO HOST PARTIES THERE BABY SHOWERS, BIRTHDAYS, AND EVEN OUR OWN PROGRAMMING WE COULD EXPAND UPON THAT. ASSOCIATED COST THAT IS UP TO $150,000. LAST OPTION THIS IS THE EXPANDED LEVEL HALF REPAIR. IT WOULD INCORPORATE OPTIONS 1 AND 2 BUT ALSO REALLY MAKES SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS INTO THE SECOND LEVEL. SO WE COULD OPEN THAT UP FOR YOU, WITH THIS WE COULD REALLY HOST MAJOR EVENTS SUCH AS WEDDINGS, AND WE ARE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL THAT LIKE AN AIRBNB. EVERYBODY LOVES HISTORIC HOMES. YOU NEVER KNOW.

SO THE ASSOCIATED COST. >> PRESENTING OPTIONS.

>> 250,000 POSSIBLY MORE. AND THEN LASTLY, OPTION 4 DEMOLITION. AND THIS WOULD BE REMOVAL OF THE COYLE HOUSE PROTENSION FUTURE SAVINGS ON OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE. AND ASSOCIATED COST OF $10,000 WOULD HANDLE IN-HOUSE.

>> WHAT IS IS THE COST OF OPERATIONS IN THE ESTIMATE?

>> RIGHT NOW, I WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO ESTIMATE A COST ON THAT. IT'S I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING IDENTIFIED JUST FOR COYLE HOUSE TO INVEST IN THAT.

>> JUST GOT TO DO STUFF AS NEEDED.

>> BASIC CUSTODIAL. >> ARE THE REPAIRS NONE OF THIS INCLUDES OUTBUILDINGS AND OTHER -- THERE'S A CARRIAGE HOUSE AND OTHER STUFF DOES IT INCLUDE.

>> THAT WOULD INCLUDE. >> IT DOESES.

>> REPAIRING PAINTING AND MAKING SURE THAT.

>> SO THE RUMOR I WAS TOLD IS THAT THE REASON THE SECOND FLOOR WAS NEVER OPENED WAS BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE TRIGGERED THE REQUIREMENT FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION, IS THAT -- HAS THAT BEEN A CONSIDERATION YET OR IS THAT NOT A REQUIREMENT

ACTUALLY? >> I HEARD THAT AS WELL. I PROBABLY WOULD BE REQUIREMENT BUT WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT AD, A FACTSORS MAKING SURE IT'S ACCESSIBLE.

>> GOT YOU. >> WHAT WAS THE LAST TIME IT

WAS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC? >>

>> A YEAR AND HALF TWO YEARS AGO.

>> PROBABLY 2019, BEFORE COVID. >> IT'S BEEN THAT LONG.

>> WAS IT USED QUITE OFTEN FOR EVENTS?

>> WE WOULD HOST BABY SHOWERS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES THERE, AND WE WOULD HAVE CITY MEETINGS IN THERE AS WELL. SO, SOME OF THE WELLNESS TESTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE WERE IN A MORE REGULARLY YOU KNOW NOW IT'S NOT OPEN FOR PUBLIC USE AND

[03:00:05]

IT'S BASIC CUSS CUSTODIAL. >> I APPRECIATE THE OPTION BUT I WILL SAY YOU KICK THE HORNET'S NEST BY PUTTING THE

DEMOLITION OPTION IN THERE. >> OUR JOB IS TO GIVE YOU THE

OPTIONS. >> I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT I SAW THE AIRBNB THAT'S A HOT TOPIC.

>> IT IS. >> ALL THOSE ARE OPTIONS

THAT'S ALL THEY ARE. >> I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IN THE PAST, WE HAVE COMPLAINED WE DON'T GET ENOUGH OPTIONS. WE HAVE COMPLAINED WE ONLY GET -- IN THE PAST WE WOULD HAVE GOT 250,000 OR 0 OPTION.

>> THAT'S IT. >> SO I AM SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE AND YES, THAT WAS A HORNET'S NEST BUT I AM GLAD WE HAVE THE

OPTIONS. >> IT WAS NOT A CRITICISM.

IT'S INFORMATIONAL. >> SO, JUST A LITTLE FYI. AND I ACTUALLY ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO THE DEMOLISH IT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY IS GOING TO KNOW SHE CARES MAINTENANCE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I CARE ABOUT. AND IF WE DON'T CARE ENOUGH ABOUT IT TO TAKE CARE OF IT, THAN WE NEED TO TAKE IT OFF OUR PLATE AND NOT MESS WITH IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE HAVE TO SAY NO WE CAN'T -- I CAN'T DO THIS. I HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE PATH I AM ON SO I CAN'T DO THIS. I AM A HUGE ADVOCATE OF THE COYLE HOUSE. IT WAS MY HEART AND I AM HAPPY TO GO THERE EVERY TIME A HELPED START THE GARDEN. I WANTED IT TO BE A JEWEL IN THE CONGROVE PARK. AND JUST BE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN GATHER. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SOMEWHERE TO HOUSE OUR HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. WE HAVE SOMEWHERE TO HOUSE OUR HISTORICAL PHOTOS. AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SOME OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT OUR HISTORY. WHEN I WAS 25, I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MUCH ABOUT HISTORY. I THOUGHT I KNEW EVERYTHING AND I COULD JUST, GO IT ON MY OWN. NOW I AM 62 AND FOUND MAN I COULD HAVE LISTENED TO SOME OF MY ELDERS. AND MAYBE IF I HAD HAD A PLACE TO GO, THAT HAD -- THAT DID OFFER LIKE OKAY, HOW DID MRS. COYLE DO THIS? I THINK THAT IS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE ASSET. SO, I ONLY ASK FOR THE DEMOLITION BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE DECIDE IS THIS SOMETHING AS A COMMUNITY. THIS IS NOT JUST A CITY FUNCTION.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY FUNCTION. AND SO, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO CALL AND YELL AT ME, THAT'S FINE. BUT IF YOU WANT TO CALL AND VOLUNTEER I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT TOO.

>> LET ME SAY THIS. FROM COUNCILMAN BOWERS STATION THE REASON IT'S ON THERE IS BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE IT'S A VIABLE OPTION AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO AREN'T IT TO

YOU. SO. >> I APPRECIATE THAT I THINK IT HAS SUCH HISTORICAL VALUE THERE. BUT DON'T WANT TO JUST THROW A FEW DOLLARS IN. IF WE ARE GOING TO DO IT, LET'S DO

IT RIGHT. >> YEAH. I WITH LIKE TO SPEAK I THINK I COME FROM THE SAME PLACE. I FEEL EXTREMELY STRONGLY ABOUT THE HISTORIC VALUE OF IT. AS A CITY WE HAVE SO LITTLE OF IT THAT ANYTHING WE HAVE GOT IS ALMOST PRECIOUS.

AND NOT JUST FOR US, BUT THIS IS A TYPE OF THING THAT CONTINUES ON AND DOES -- YOU KNOW IF WE PUT A HISTORIC I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE STILL FINDING OUR IDENTITY AND WORK ON THE DOWNTOWN. IT ALL FITS WITH THAT. SO I AM SUPPORTIVE OF IT. I REMODELED A LOT OF HOUSES AND FOUND OUT IS YOU START TEARING STUFF DOWN TEAR IT ALL DOWN. JUST DO IT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, JUST DO IT.

THIS AND NEXT YEAR THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS NEEDS. ALMOST TO ELISE'S POINT I DON'T WANT TO SAY DO IT ALL OR DON'T DO IT AT ALL. BUT I FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE REALLY SHOULD PUT THE INVESTMENT IN IT LIKE IT'S AN OLD HOUSE AND MONEY PIT. AND IT'S GOING TO BE A MONEY PIT AND I GUESS IT'S JUST DOES THE HISTORICAL VALUE OF IT IS THAT PROPORTIONATE TO THE VALUE OF

[03:05:01]

IT. >> THE IF YOU DO IT RIGHT AND PUT THE PROPER MONEY IN THERE, DO YOU SLOW DOWN THE DEGRADATION AND IT'S NOT AS FREQUENT AS YOU WOULD YOU DON'T THROW A FEW DOLLARS AND PAINT ON IT. OR LET'S RIP UP THIS BOARD AND ROT IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE AN REGULAR BASIS.

>> NOT ONLY THAT BUT USING THAT ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS IS PEOPLE ARE IN THERE SEEING THE ISSUES INSTEAD OF MONTHS LATER.

QUESTION, I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE LEVEL OF REPAIRS YOU HAD. I KNOW IT'S A HOME IS THERE A FOUNDATION LEVEL THAT INCLUDED IN THIS OR HAS THAT BEEN ASSESSED? ARE THERE STICKING DOORS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT MIGHT GIVE AN INDICATION

THAT A HOUSE IS. >> WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT. THEY DID ADDRESS THE FOUNDATION AND SOME OF THE RECENT FUNDING THAT WAS ALLOCATED A FEW YEARS BACK OF SHORING UP THAT SO I THINK THEY DID THAT PROBABLY IN THE PAST YEAR OR TWO.

>> THEY DID. >> WELL -- WELL.

>> I KNOW THERE WAS ALSO INDICATIONS OF MOLD WHEN WE

WERE IN THERE. >> IT STRUGGLED WITH THAT. AND WILL THAT BE ADDRESSED IN THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK AIRFLOW WAS ADDRESSED BEFORE, BUT I THINK BECAUSE THERE WAS NO AIRFLOW IN THE HOUSE AND IT WAS CLOSED UP, THERE WAS SEPARATION IN THE PAINT WHICH CAUSED IT TO LOOK LIKE THE

WALLS WERE. >> IT'S ROUGH.

>> IT'S PRETTY ROUGH. >> SECOND QUESTION YOU TALK ABOUT USING IT FOR THE MORE EXPANSIVE EVENTS LIKE WEDDINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, ARE WE BECOMING INVOLVED IN THE HOSTING OF THE WEDDINGS OR MORE OF JUST YOU ARE LEASING THE SPACE AND IT'S ENTIRELY UP TO YOU AND YOUR WEDDING PLANNER TO

FIGURE OUT FROM THERE? >> I THINK WE HAVE TO.

>> FIGURE THAT OUT. >> LOOK INTO THAT AND FIGURE

THAT OUT MORE. >> I WOULD SUGGEST NO UNLESS WE FIND A REVENUE MODEL BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE

BUSINESS SENSE. >> I AGREE WITH THAT. THINK ONE THING WE WOULD NEED TO FOCUS ON, AND I AGREE WITH OPTION 3.

I THINK WE THINK OF THE MARKETING ASPECT AND GLAD RESTRUCTURING OF PARTS AND ENGAGE MINUTE TO PROPERLY MARKET IT BUT IT NEED TO BE IF WE PUT THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY IT

NEEDS TO BE USED. >> LET ME INTERJECT YOU SAID SOMETHING I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT I SAY THIS. THIS IS NOT GOING TO GENERATE YOU MONEY. IT WILL GIVE YOU SOME REVENUE YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS. I AM NOT GOING TO IT WILL YOU ANY ARGUE MEANT TO BE COMPELLING BUSINESS ARGUMENT. I DOUBT THAT IT CAN MAKE SENSE BUSINESS SENSE. THIS HAS TO BE

A CULTURAL DECISION. >> NOT TRYING TO MAKE IT MAKE

SENSE. >> WE WILL MAKE MONEY WHATEVER WE MAKE, BUT IF YOU SAY YOU GOT TO GET X AMOUNT OF RETURN ON

INVESTMENT. I WANT MAKE SURE. >> THE --

>> AGAIN IF YOU PUT THE WEIGHT OF THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEMATIC REQUIREMENT ON US THEN I AM TAKING AWAY FROM SOMETHING ELSE. A BECAUSE BEFORE, REMEMBER, THINK OF IT AS THE WEIGHT OF SOMETHING. CERTAIN LEVEL OF SERVICE WAS BEING GIVEN. IF YOU INCREASE THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED STAFF, NOT WITH STACK THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT CAPITAL VERSUS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, I AM JUST CAUTIONING CERTAINLY WE CAN DO BETTER. THERE'S NO QUESTION.

BUT IF WE ARE THINKING WE ARE ABOUT TO PUT A BLITZ ON AND IF THIS BECOMES A HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM, THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SOME REMOVAL OF SOMEONE FROM SOME OTHER EXISTING TASK BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SPECIFICALLY ASSIGNED OR DID WE EVER AT COYLE HOUSE MY CAUTION BECAUSE I HAVE TO. WE WILL GIVE

THE BEST EFFORT BUT. >> THAT'S ALL I AM ASKING I AM NOT ASKING FOR EXTREME BLITZ OR ANYTHING.

>> UNDERSTOOD. >> IT'S BEEN UNOCCUPIED FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AND HASN'T BEEN ESSENTIALLY USED. PEOPLE PROBABLY HAVE FORGOTTEN ASIDE FROM THAT IT EXIST.

>> I BET WE CAN DO A GRAND REOPENING AND OTHER STUFF. I AM SURE WE CAN, I AM TALKING ABOUT ON THE REGULAR PROGRAMMATIC AND WHO KNOWS IF THE DEMAND IS DRIVEN SO HIGH THAT'S A

DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. >> THANK YOU.

>> I WILL SAY YOU KNOW TONIGHT, IT APPEARS TO BE REALLY TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS, AND THESE THREE ASSETS KIDS KINGDOM AND WET ZONE AND COYLE HOUSE ARE NOT AND WERE NOT BUILT TO BE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT TO THE CITY FINANCIALLY SPEAKING BUT RATHER A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR CITIZENS QUALITY OF LIFE. AND SO, WHILE IT'S VERY EASY TO BE A CITY THAT IS JUST FOCUSED ON THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES INCLUDING POLICE, FIRE AND PUBLIC WORKS, WE WOULD NOT BE A GOOD CITY IF WE DIDN'T PRIORITIZE QUALITY OF LIFE PROGRAMS AND ASSETS AND THESE THREE ASSETS ARE SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL ASSETS IN THE COMMUNITY. KID KINGDOM REGIONALLY KNOWN IS IN A SAD CONDITION AND IS LOSING VISITORS BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION TO UNDERCITIES LIKE

[03:10:01]

ROCKWALL. WET ZONE LOSING VISITORS TO ROCKWALL IS NOT A WELL LOVED ASSETS SET IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS WHERE I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS A REALLY CRUCIAL AND DECISION AND ONE I AM HONORED TO BE A PART OF WHERE WE GET TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND INVEST IN THE REALLY CRITICAL ASSETS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CITIZENS. CITIZENS IN OUR CITY PAY A PREMIUM TAX RATE IN THE REGION. AND I AM PERSONALLY EMBARRASSED AND ASHAMED THAT THEY GET IN RETURN ASSETS THAT DO NOT LOOK LIKE WHAT THEY PAY FOR. THAT IS NO MORE. I DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THE COUNCIL PART OF THE CITY THAT DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF ALL OF ITS ASSETS EQUALLY. AND SO, I AM EXCITED TO MAKE THIS DECISION TO FUND AT THE OPTION THREE FOR COYLE HOUSE AND THE 2.5 MILLION DOLLARS FOR WET ZONE AND KINGS KINGDOM. PUT OUR PONY WHERE AROMAS MOUTH IS AND SHOW PEOPLE WHAT THEY PAID FOR AND GIVE THEM QUALITY ASSETS THEY DESERVE. TO ENJOY, SO, AND I WILL LEAVE IT THERE. BEFORE WE MOVE ON I WANT TO DISCUSS THE ELC ALLOCATION. WE WILL GO INTO THAT RIGHT NOW. I AM GLAD TO SEE BY THE WAY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED THIS IS NOT THE SAME THAT WAS IN THE PACKET. THERE'S BEEN ADJUSTMENTS MADE AND I AGREE WITH THESE ADJUSTMENTS TO PUT THE ELC ALLOCATION TO THE COYLE HOUSE AND THINK THAT'S A BETTER FIT FOR THAT FUNDING. YOU KNOW, AS YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE, THE ELC HAS NOT MOVED ANYWHERE SINCE 2019, AND SO, THIS IS MOVING STAGNANT FUNDING TO SOMETHING THAT TO AND ASSET THAT WILL NOT BE STAGNANT ANYMORE. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD ALLOCATION MOVING THAT FUNDING THERE. DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR

OPPOSITION TO THAT? >> PERSONALLY, IT'S -- I DON'T HAVE ANY OPPOSITION. IT'S DISAPPOINTING BUT WHAT'S DISAPPOINT SOMETHING NOTHING EVER COME OF THE ELC. MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS, I DON'T KNOW REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS 2017, 2018 SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I SAT ON A LISTENING SESSION HELD BY PARKS AND IT WAS A ZOOM THING MAYBE IT WAS 2020 SIPS WAS ZOOM. LISTENING SESSION FOR ELC TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT THIS TO BE. YOU KNOW TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAMMING ASPECTS OF IT. AND I MEAN IT WAS PRETTY COOL. YOU KNOW, I -- WE HAVE HAD KIDS AT STEADHAM FOR NINE YEARS NOW, AND WE HAD A KID TRAINING NOW AND SO TO KNOW THAT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY THOSE TWO SCHOOLS COULD USE BUT SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT GISD WAS REALLY COOL. YOU KNOW A GREAT CONCEPT AND A GREAT PROGRAM. I AM MORE DISAPPOINTED THAT NOTHING EVER HAPPENED WITH IT. I DON'T -- DISH CAN'T PIN THAT ON ANY ONE GROUP OR ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ANYONE COUNCIL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT JUST NEVER CAME TO FRUITION AND IT'S REALLY SAD TO SEE. BUT LETTING DOLLARS SIT IN A FUND DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHEN THEY CAN BE USED TO SOLVE AN IMMEDIATE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

>> AND, ALSO, A POINT TO ADD TO THAT IS FUNDING FOR ELC IS NOT GOING TO COME ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WHAT THE ACTUAL COST WILL BE TO DEVELOP SOMETHING LIKE THE ELC. YOU ARE TALKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THIS DOESN'T EVEN SCRATCH THAT SURFACE.

MEANWHILE, WE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE URGENT NEED THAT NEEDS FUNDING TODAY. AND THIS IS A GOOD USE OF THAT FUNDING IN MY OPINION.

>> I THINK IT'S WISE TO USE THAT MONEY. I WHETHER AS A CITY DO LESS THINGS AND WHAT WE DO DO DO IT EXCELLENTLY AND THINK THAT'S A DECISION FROM HERE. I AGREE.

>> I WOULD LIKE WE DIDN'T MAKE IT AROUND THE HORN ON COYLE HOUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE COUNCIL MEMBER SHINDER.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU MICHAEL ABOUT AND ELISE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY, AND IT HAS BEEN AMAZING TO ME THAT THERE'S NOWHERE IN CITY HALL AND NOWHERE ON THE CITY WEBSITE YOU CAN GO BACK AND FIND OUT WHO WERE THE PAST MAYORS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THAT JUST DISAPPEARS INTO THIN AIR. AND WE NEED A PLACE, I THINK, WHERE THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE CITY'S HISTORY. AND YOU KNOW, THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND OTHER THINGS THAT GO ON IN THE CITY. AND I AM ALL IN FAVOR OF CERTAINLY DOING MORE THAN JUST THE BASE LEVEL REPAIRS THAT THE COYLE HOUSE. IF IT WERE FOR THIS, I WOULD PROBABLY BE IN FAVOR OF OPTION 2 BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE MOST

[03:15:01]

BALANCED YOU KNOW BANG FOR YOUR BUCK KIND OF THING AND BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THAT MONEY, FROM THE ELC THAT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING, AND THAT REALLY PAYS FOR MOST OF THAT 250,000. SO, BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, I TOTALLY CAN SUPPORT OPTION 3.

>> FOR ME IT'S A BINARY DECISION ONE EXTREME OR THE OTHERP. AND IT'S TEAR IT DOWN OR MACK IT THE BEST AND I DON'T THINK TEARING IT DOWN IS A WISE OPTION SO I THINK WE DO

A GO ALL THE WAY WITH IT. >> ONE OTHER QUESTION ON ELC I AM SORRY TO GO BACK TO THAT. I UNDERSTOOD THAT WAS A MATCHING

GRANT FOR TR? >> KRB AND IS THERE ANY CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENT TOEN THIS THEM TO MAINTAIN MATCHING

FUNDING. >> JOEO BOND? HOW THIS FUNDING WAS RECEIVED FOR THE CITY. SO, I I AM NOT AWARE OF A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP AND NEVER SEEN A CONTRACT.

>> THERE'S NOTHING THAT WOULD LEGAL BIND THE CITY.

>> I NEVER SEEN ANYTHING. >> REQUIRING TO MATCH.

>> I WANT TO BE SURE. >> I DON'T AGREEING TO WHAT WOULD REALLY BE A RADICAL AND UNACCEPTABLE CONTRACT.

>> OKAY. >> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AND NOW IS THE NOT TIME TO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM ABOUT THE CENTER. I AM NOT A FAN. I LOOK AT THE DRAWINGS AND I AM NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ON IT I MEAN, EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT, TALKS ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE AN EVER SEEN A REALLY.

>> YOU KNOW IT'S NOT A CITY DIRECT PROJECT BUT TO THAT POINT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATION WAS KRB. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL WANT TO BUT WE WERE PLANNING TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM A JOINT COUNCIL MEETING SOMETIME IN

MAYISH. >> IS THAT THE PROCESS HOW IT

GOES. >> WELL, I MEAN THAT'S WHEN WE WERE GOING TO DO. THIS IS NOT A CITY PROJECT DIRECTLY. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL WANT TO HAVE IT IF YOU REALLOCATE THE MONEY.

WE WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TALKING TO THE COUNCIL

ABOUT. >> $200,000 I DON'T KNOW.

>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEM OR ATTEMPT TO. TO SAY TO YOU IT'S NOT A CITY PROJECT BUT WE WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEM COMING BEFORE YOU HAVING A JOINT MEETING, TALKING TO YOU ABOUT FUNDING, ET CETERA. SO, IF THEY STILL WANT THAT WE

STILL INTEND TO DO IT NOT IF. >> IF COUNCIL THINKS THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. I AM THROWING IT OUT THERE.

>> I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THAT.

>> WHEN YOU ALLOCATE THIS MONEY I AM GOING TO TAKE IT LIKE PACK PACMAN AND IT'S HOURS AND THE WORST YOU IT WILL ME HOURS TO

DAY AND WHEN YOU MEET WITH KRB. >> I AM CLARIFYING THAT, THOUGH IS YOUR DESIRE TO BEFORE MAYBING THIS DECISION. TO MEET

WITH THE KRB FIRST. >> NO.

>> NO NOT AT ALL. >> SO, SO, I UNDERSTAND IT AS NO THEY WANT THEIR -- CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG. GO AHEAD WITH THIS, AND THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE ON ELC.

>> >> BECAUSE I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT HOURS AND HOURS THAT KRB PUT IN ON BEHALF OF THE CITY FOR LIKE THE TRASH PICKUP AND ALL OF THE -- THEY DO GREAT THINGS IN OUR CITY AND THEY ARE A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR WHATEVER THEY DO. THEY HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS AT COYLE HOUSE. SO, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO HAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT I DON'T DID -- I AM NOT LIKE THEIR BIGGEST FAN BECAUSE I AM.

>> NO. >> AND AS TO YOUR POINT KRB HAS DONE A LOT AT COYLE HOUSE AND PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND THAT'S WHY I SAID I THINK THIS IS THE REALLY APPROPRIATE REALLOCATION

OF THE FUNDING. >> I THINK SO.

>> FROM THE ELC AND COYLE HOUSE WHERE THEY ALLOCATED TIME AND EFFORT AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT TIME AND EFFORT THEY HAVE GIVEN

TO AN ASSET. >> ABSOLUTELY. THEY DID IT UP FOR CHRISTMAS TWO YEARS AGO AND IT WAS GORGEOUS.

>> OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> ANYTHING ELSE ON ANY OF THE ITEM 3B OR C? OKAY. THAN I UNDERSTAND CONSENSUS AS APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE $2.5 MILLION FOR KIDS KINGDOM AND WET ZONE AND TO

[4. DISCUSS CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR APRIL 2, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. TAKE ANY NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE ACTION ON CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS]

MOVE FORWARD WITH OPTION THREE FOR THE COYLE HOUSE. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT WE WILL GO TO ITEM 4 DISCUSS ITEMS FOR APRIL 2ND 2024 COUNCIL MEETING TO YOU WISH TO PULL ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? SEEING NONE THEN IT IS THE:35 P.M.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. CITIZENS INPUT

4. DISCUSS CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR APRIL 2, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. TAKE ANY NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE ACTION ON CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS

Apr 01, 2024 City Council Work Session

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. CITIZENS INPUT

4. DISCUSS CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR APRIL 2, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. TAKE ANY NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE ACTION ON CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS

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