[2024 Bond Election Public Meeting on April 23, 2024.]
[00:00:10]
TWO TOWN HALLS. WE ARE GLAD YOU ALL JOINED US, AND ARE WILLING TO BE ENGAGED AND INFORMED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE FOUR DIFFERENT PROPOSITIONS FOR THE BOND. I WANT TO ASK YOU ALL, HAVE YOU ALREADY SEEN THE "STAR WARS" THEMED VIDEO WE PUT TOGETHER? NO? DO YOU WANT TO SEE IT OR DO YOU WANT TO GO, LET'S GET TO THE POINT? WE WANT TO GET TO THE POINT? LET'S GET TO THE POINT. I LIKE THAT. I'M GOOD, I'M DOWN. LET ME PULL UP THE RIGHT PRESENTATION.
OKAY. THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TASK FORCE, A GROUP OF CITIZENS APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, EVALUATED NUMEROUS PROJECTS. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 200+ MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE WAITING FOR FUNDING, SO THIS TASK FORCE HAD A REALLY BIG JOB TO DO IN PRIORITIZING THOSE PROJECTS, BASED ON SEVERAL FACTORS. YOU CAN SEE THOSE WHO WERE THE APPOINTED, MYSELF AND COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS LIAISONS WITH THAT GROUP TO HELP THEM IN THE PROCESS. FOUR PROPOSITIONS , PROPOSITION A, $35 MILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION, $4.7 MILLION IN PUBLIC SAFETY, AND $3.15 MILLION . SO, WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT A TAX RATE INCREASE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACTORS THAT ALLOWED US TO ACCOMPLISH THAT AND WE HAVE A TOTAL OF $80 MILLION IN BONDING CAPACITY. $51 MILLION OF THAT WOULD BE ISSUED THROUGH GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IF THIS PROP PASSED. THE OTHER AMOUNT WOULD BE ISSUED THROUGH CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION BONDS, WHICH DON'T REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL AND FOCUS ON THE DAY-TO-DAY NEEDS THAT WE FUND CURRENTLY OUT OF THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS BUDGET , THINGS LIKE FIRE TRUCKS, STRIKE EQUIPMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT, CERTAIN STREETS , AND ALLEYS.
SO, MULTIPLE REASONS, WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE $80 MILLION WITHOUT A TAX RATE INCREASE. ONE IS GROWTH OVER SEVERAL YEARS. WE ARE PROJECTING IN 2025, TO HAVE AN 8% GROUP , WITH APPRAISAL VALUES AND IN 2026 AND IN 2027, 2% GROWTH WHICH IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE , WHICH IS WHY WE GET THE AT LEAST $80 MILLION FIGURE. PREVIOUS DEBT HAS RETIRED , SO THE CITY TRADITIONALLY ISSUED TWENTY-YEAR BONDS, MANY OF WHICH ARE TIRED , FREEING UP THE CAPACITY, AND WE HAVE RESTRUCTURED OUR DEBT PORTFOLIO IN A WAY THAT CREATES MORE ROOM AND ALLOWS US TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE IN OUR ISSUANCE OF BONDS. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT , I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER HOME -- MORE INTO DETAIL ON THIS SLIDE. THIS WILL BE $35 MILLION FOR
STREET AND ALLEY PROJECTS. >> PROPOSITION A, TRANSPORTATION , STREET AND ALLEY PROJECTS.
>> IS ALREADY HERE, SO I WILL SPEAK FROM IT. $35 MILLION.
THIS CONSISTS OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS, A LOT ARE OPERATING ON FLOPPY DISK , SO YOU KNOW HOW OLD THAT IS, I DON'T.
OKAY, I WILL SIT DOWN, YOU TAKE IT. NO, THEN WE HAVE TRAFFIC
[00:05:03]
SIGNAL INSTALLATION PROPOSED AT THE INTERSECTION OF LIBERTY GROVE AND GEORGE WEST TURNPIKE. THAT IS A FOUR-WAY STOP, BOESKY SIDE -- BOTH SIDES. THEN WE HAVE THE MERRITT ROAD INTRA-CONNECTOR FROM PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH SERVICE ROAD TO LIBERTY GROVE . TOLER BUSINESS PARK, PHASE TWO. IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD, IT'S PRETTY HORRID . THEN WE HAVE COUNTRY AIR STATE SPACE TWO, A NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT.PHASE ONE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MOVE INTO PHASE TWO, QUICKLY. THEN WE HAVE LIBERTY GROVE ROAD, RECONSTRUCTION. THIS IS FROM BROADMOOR LANE, OR REALLY, WATERVIEW PARKWAY . AS FAR EAST AS WE CAN TAKE THAT, $7.5 MILLION. WE HAVE STREET AND ALLEY RECONSTRUCTION.
PROPOSITION B IS PARKS AND RECREATION PROJECTS, WHICH YOU WILL SEE WHEN YOU GO VOTE. PARKS AND RECREATION, PROPOSED PROJECTS, $8.5 MILLION. WE HAVE WHAT SOME WATERPARK REPAIR AND ENHANCEMENTS. THAT WATERPARK IS CURRENTLY, IT'S IN A PRETTY START -- SHOCKING STATE, ACTUALLY. WE HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AT IT, OURSELVES, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS GOT SOME SERIOUS ISSUES. WE HAVE CURRENTLY ALLOCATED GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO DO SOME EMERGENCY REPAIRS, AND WE WILL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT SHORTLY ON THE STATUS , AND WHETHER WE WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN OR NOT. IF KIDS KINGDOM RENOVATIONS, COMMUNITY PARK RENOVATIONS, ENHANCEMENTS, PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS AT THREE LOCATIONS, AND KAYAK DOCS AND LAUNCHES , INSTALLATIONS, AND IMPROVEMENTS AT LAKESIDE PARK SOUTH , SUNSET PARK, AND COLUMBIA PARK. PROPOSITION C , THIS IS THE BALLOT LANGUAGE YOU WILL FIND. $4.7 MILLION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, MODERNIZATION OF REPAIR TO FIRE STATIONS ONE, THREE, AND FOUR. THEY HAVE HAD NO RENOVATION WORK SINCE THEY WERE BUILT. STATION ONE WAS BUILT IN 2008, STATION THREE WAS BUILT IN 1996 , STATION FOUR WAS BUILT IN 2004. YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS IS A CONSTANTLY LIVED IN QUARTERS AND IT HAS EXTENSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. PROPOSITION D, $3.15 MILLION .
AS YOU UNDERSTAND, THERE IS CURRENTLY NO STREETLIGHTING BOND. ONE OF THE LARGEST THOROUGHFARES IN ROWLETT, TEXAS, IF PASSED, WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO INSTALL STREETLIGHT, THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF LAKEVIEW PARKWAY, ALL THE WAY FROM THE BORDER OF GARLAND TO THE OTHER SIDE .
ADDITIONALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IF THERE ARE ANY PROJECT SAVINGS, THIS PROJECT SAVING COSTS WILL GO TO OTHER ENHANCEMENTS ON OTHER THOROUGHFARES. SO, VOTING, ELECTION DAY IS MAY 4TH , AND YOU ARE AT ONE OF THESE TOWN HALLS, NOW. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OKAY. LET'S GET INTO QUESTIONS. YOU ALL CAN SIT UP FRONT , THANK YOU. I HAVE MY COLLEAGUES HERE, WHO ARE GOING TO HELP ME ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS. THERE IS A MICROPHONE THAT YOU CAN COME UP TO , AND ASK AWAY. WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
>> CITY COUNCIL, MR. MAYOR. I HAVE A FEW CONCERNS. MOSTLY, THE STREETLIGHTING , AGAIN, WITH PUBLIC SAFETY. THE STREETLIGHTING , I AM WORRIED THAT IF IT DOES PASS , THE TYPES OF LIGHTING THAT YOU WILL PICK, AND THE, I'M GOING TO CALL IT LIGHT FUSION, THAT WILL GO BEYOND 66 , OKAY? I LIVE OFF 56 AND THE LAST THING WE WANT IS THAT WHOLE AREA TO BE LIT UP AND GLOW ALL NIGHT LONG. THAT, I AM NOT INTERESTED IN. IF I SEE A GLOW OFF OF THAT, I THINK IT'S A WASTE OF TIME, MONEY, AND EFFORT BY THE CITY. THAT IS LIGHT POLLUTION. RIGHT NOW, OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE BEEN THERE 25 YEARS. I HAVE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE IT IS EXPAND AND GROW. THE LIGHT POLLUTION OUT THERE IS HORRENDOUS. THE LAST THING I WANT TO SEE IS LIGHT POLLUTION ON 66. SO, IF IT DOES PASS, WHOEVER GETS ENGINEERING, THE REALLY NEED TO
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LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF EXTRANEOUS LIGHT IS GOING TO COME OFF WHAT IS BEING USED TO LIGHT UP THE STREETS. TO ME, IT'SUNACCEPTABLE. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE INPUT. WHEN THESE PROJECTS OCCUR , THE STREETLIGHTING PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY ONE AS BIG AS THIS ONE, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING , IT DOES NOT MEAN IT WILL HAPPEN IN THIS CASE, THAT IS FOR STAFF TO DETERMINE, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN MANY CASES, WHEN THESE COMPANIES DESIGN THESE PROJECTS, THAT A LOT OF ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE OUTPUT AND THE LENGTH AND WIDTH OF THE STREET, SO THAT WAY THERE IS NOT LIGHT POLLUTION. ADDITIONALLY, ALL OF THESE LIGHT MANUFACTURERS CREATE LIGHTS THAT ARE DARK SKY CERTIFIED , SO THOSE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE FACTORS IN THE CURRENT L.E.D. STREETLIGHTS THAT ARE MADE TODAY, THAT YOU DID NOT SEE PREVIOUSLY WITH THE SODIUM AND MERCURY BULBS. THEY ARE ABLE TO DO A LOT MORE WITH THE L.E.D. OUTPUT , THEN THEY
WERE, WITH THE OLDER MODEL. >> CAN YOU GUARANTEE THAT THOSE WOULDN'T BE DESIGNED? OR WOULD BE?
>> I'M SORRY? WHAT CAN YOU GUARANTEE THOSE LIGHTS WOULD BE
USED? >> THE DARK SKY CERTIFIED? AT THIS PRELIMINARY, I CANNOT GUARANTEE ANYTHING. THIS IS REALLY FOR STAFF TO GO AND , YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD? PLEASE.
>> I THINK, AGAIN, ALL OF THESE CONCERNS ARE VALID. I THINK STAFF IS AWARE OF THEM, THE CONCERNS WITH LIGHT POLLUTION IT TO SAY THAT WE CAN GUARANTEE A CERTAIN TYPE OF LIGHT, OR STANDARD AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE PRETTY MUCH --
>> THAT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN SHOOT FOR.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT'S THE GOAL.
>> WHATEVER WE PICK, WE SHOULD NOT BE POLLUTING LIGHT OUT. WE DO HAVE NEIGHBORS IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA THAT DON'T WANT THAT. THEY DON'T WANT LIGHT POLLUTION. IT'S
ANNOYING. >> YOUR POINT IS WELL MADE.
>> OKAY, GREAT, THANK YOU. >> TRANSPORTATION STREETS, ALLEY PROJECTS, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. OFF MY PARTICULAR SIDE ROAD, HERITAGE PARKWAY, WHEN I MOVED IN, IT WAS A GREAT ROAD. THE HOSPITAL DID AN UPGRADE , ADDING 100 BEDS . TWO YEARS OF SEMI TRUCKS DESTROYED IT. THAT HAS BEEN QUITE A WHILE AGO. I HAVE ASKED THE CITY OVER YEARS, TO FIX POTHOLES. THEY DON'T DO IT. THEY ACTUALLY, FINALLY, GOT FIXED TO THE OTHER DAY AND I THINK YOU ALL KNOW WHY. THEY ARE CHEAP PATCHES, BLACKTOP. THEY DON'T REALLY HOLD UP. I MEAN, I'M GREAT WITH A BOND, FIX OUR STREETS, BUT ARE WE REALLY GOING TO FIX STREETS OR JUST USE THEM FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY? ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO
SPREAD THAT MONEY OUT? >> LET ME ADDRESS THAT IN TWO PARTS. YOU MIGHT SEE IT AS A TEMPORARY SNATCH -- A TEMPORARY PATCH, BUT THE CITY STOOD BEHIND SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT DONE POINT WE ADDED SEVEN POSITION SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONCRETE AND HAD TO PULL THEM OFF THE ROAD PROJECT THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN THEM ON BRALETTE ROAD. THAT IS SOMETHING WE DID TO MAXIMIZE THE DOLLARS THAT WERE SPENT.
THE CITY WOULD ALLOCATE ABOUT $2 MILLION TOWARD A PANEL REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. IT DOESN'T GO FAR WITH A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR, SO YOU WON'T SEE AS IMMEDIATE A BENEFIT, BUT THOSE THINGS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY BY 45%.
IF YOU SEE BLACKTOP REPAIR, THAT IS MITIGATING IT FOR THE SHORT-TERM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, TALKING ABOUT HOW THE MONEY WILL BE ALLOCATED, IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT ANY OF THE PRESENTATIONS, IT WILL BE A SYSTEM WHERE WE LOOK AT A PCI RATING, RIGHT? ALONG WITH SOME OF THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR STAFF, BUT ULTIMATELY, THIS WON'T MEAN ANYTHING IN TERMS OF STAFF, YOUR CITY COUNCIL MAKES THE FINAL DETERMINATION WITH RESPECT TO WHICH OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED AND WHICH
ARE NOT. >> LET'S SAY THAT GOES FORWARD AND IT PASSES, HOW CAN I ADD MY INPUT , MAYBE IT GOT
OVERLOOKED? >> YOU CAN SEND IT TO US, FOR SURE. ANYTIME AN APPROVAL WILL TAKE PLACE, IT WILL HAPPEN, HERE, IN A PUBLIC MEETING AND THERE WILL BE PROPER NOTICE FOR
>> MORE TO THAT POINT, THE CONCERNS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE TEMPORARY REPAIR, THE PATCHING, RIGHT? SOME OF THE STUFF IN THESE BONDS ARE SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT ADDRESSING THAT. ONE OF THE OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES IS THAT THERE IS AN ALLOCATION
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FOR UP TO $6 MILLION FOR CONCRETE PANEL REPLACEMENT.SO, ADDING ON TO WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SAID, WEHAVE OUR OWN CONCRETE PANEL REPLACEMENT GROUP, AND THIS FUNDING WILL GO A LONG WAYS TOWARD ADDRESSING THE PREVIOUS BOND, 2021 BOND, WE ALLOCATED $3 MILLION TOWARD CONCRETE PANEL PLACEMENT.
INFLATION HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON EVERYBODY, AND $3 MILLION DOES NOT GO AS FAR AS IT DID BEFORE. ADDING THESE EFFICIENCIES IN PLACE , PLUS THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, ASKS US TO DO MORE.
>> I HAVE TALKED TO CITY STAFF ABOUT THESE CONDITIONS. THEY SAY THEY CALL BACK AND WE NEVER HERE.
>> ARE THOSE PEOPLE STILL HERE? >> HERE TODAY? NO.
>> THERE YOU GO. >> AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT WAS ONLY A FEW WEEKS AGO. I'M GOING TO ASSUME YES, BUT I
DON'T KNOW. >> YOU AND I HAVE DEALT BEFORE AND YOU ARE FREE TO CONTACT ME AND I WILL VISIT YOUR HOUSE AS I HAVE BEFORE. YOU CAN REACH ME, YOU CAN SEND ME A CALL, GIVE ME A CALL, EMAIL, TEXT, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO AND I
WILL GIVE YOU A CARD AFTER. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
BEEN HERE AS A RESIDENT FOR 32 YEARS AND I REMEMBER WHEN THE PARKWAY WAS TWO LANE , BUT I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT TAX RATE INCREASE. ON MY BALLOT, IT SAYS THERE WILL BE A TAX LEVY , AND I AM A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.
SO, IT IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THAT FOR ME, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT, AND , ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR RESTAURANTS ON THE EASTSIDE? YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO PUT THIS MEETING OUT OF MIND.
OLIVE GARDEN, YOU KNOW. THAT IS ONE THING . IT WOULD BE GREAT
>> OKAY, AND YOU CAN DO CITIZEN INPUT?
>> NOT ONLINE. I GET YOUR POINT. SO, I'M SORRY, DID YOU HAVE MORE? IF YOU DON'T MIND STAYING UP HERE, THE QUESTION YOU HAD WAS TO ADDRESS THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT STATES THAT THERE IS A LEVY, A TAX LEVY. THAT STATE-MANDATED LANGUAGE, THAT WE HAVE TO PUT ON OUR BALLOT , DID YOU WANT TO
SPEAK MORE ON THIS, AS WELL? >> IT IS A FANCY WAY OF SAYING WE ARE GOING TO CHARGE YOU TAXES AND DOES NOT INDICATE AN INCREASE. THE LEVY IS THE TAX, IF YOU WILL.
>> WE ALREADY LEVY TAXES . WE HAVE A TAX RATE . WE ALREADY LEVY TAXES. IT IS STATE-MANDATED LANGUAGE . I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THE INTENT THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAD INPUTTING THAT THERE. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
THERE IS NO TAX RATE INCREASE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BOND, AND I CAN GO , EVEN INTO DEEPER DETAIL, IF YOU WANT.
>> JUST POSTED ON THE WEBSITE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT EXPLANATION OF EVERYTHING BEING DONE . I THOUGHT IT WAS PRESENTED VERY WELL, I JUST GOT CONFUSED.
>> IT DOES CREATE CONFUSION, AND WE DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT LANGUAGE. THE STATE IS NOT TOO FRIENDLY WITH CITIES, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS OF MAKING IT HARD TO DO OUR JOB, TO COMMUNICATE WITH CORRECT INFORMATION. I WILL LEAVE THAT THERE. THANK YOU.
>> I SPENT MY CAREER IN FINANCE, HAVING TO DO A LOT OF ANALYSIS , GRAPHIC PRESENTATIONS . I KIND OF WONDER IF YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF GRAPHIC PRESENTATION THAT EXPLAINS HOW YOU GET TO KNOW TAX RATE INCREASE . I AM GREAT WITH NUMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IT.
>> WE DO, AND I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT WE HAD APPROXIMATELY FOUR MEETINGS ACROSS JANUARY THROUGH FEBRUARY, AND WE DON'T HAVE IT NOW, BUT THOSE VIDEOS ARE ALL UPLOADED TO THE INTERNET AND YOU CAN GO AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE, WE CAN EMAIL STUFF TO YOU, IF YOU COULD TAKE HIS INFORMATION, WE DON'T
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HAVE IT IN THIS PRESENTATION BUT THERE ARE FOUR FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WHERE WE SHOW GRAPHICS AND DATA AND A BUNCH OF OTHER CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WELCOME YOU TO LOOK AT , SO WEWILL GET YOU INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU, YES. ANYONE ELSE? COME ON UP.
GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING. SO, I HAVE TWO AREAS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ABOUT AND SIMPLY, ADDING THE CLARITY WILL PROBABLY ANSWER MY QUESTION. ONE DEALS WITH THE MERRITT ROAD EXTENSION. IF YOU WILL REMIND ME, THE COST BEHIND ALL OF THAT, IF WE GET PAST THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUFF, PLUS I THINK, THAT FIRST ONE WE DID? WHERE WE HAD THE EXTRA MONEY, I THINK IT WAS FROM D.A.R.T., DID WE ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM THAT OR DID WE CHANGE IT?
>> WE CHANGED IT. >> OKAY, I JUST WANTED CLARITY.
NOW THE PART THAT THIS PROJECT COVERS, GOING THROUGH THERE, I GUESS IF YOU TAKE THAT OUT, YOU GET INTO THE OVERALL COST, WHAT IS THAT SPLIT , AFTER THE ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL.
>> A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE RECEIVED A $14 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT STATE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT AS PART OF THAT NAME SAYING THIS FOR ANYONE LISTENING . $14 MILLION WAS ALLOCATED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT . AS A RESULT, THEY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL IN-DEPTH STUDIES , ENVIRONMENTAL, HISTORICAL IMPACT , WHICH HAS EXTENDED THE TIMELINE. WE HAVE A NUMBER, TO 2018 AND 2021, ALLOCATED TO THAT PROJECT FOR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING. THE PROPOSED ALLOCATION IN THIS BOND IS TO FILL THAT GAP. THERE IS A FUNDING GAP OF OVER $3 MILLION AND ONCE THAT GAP IS FILLED, THE PROJECT IS THEN FULLY FUNDED AND ONCE THE STUDIES HAVE COMPLETED AND THE DESIGN IS FULLY COMPLETED, THE FUNDING IS THERE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. WAS THAT YOUR QUESTION ?
>> IN PART. SO, THIS COVERS HOW MUCH , WHAT IS THE OVERALL PROJECT COST? I DON'T REMEMBER HEARING FROM BEFORE.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE ? AND, HOW MUCH ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE FOR? YOU TAKE 14, YOU TAKE SEVEN --
>> THEY ARE DOING 20% TO 30% . I DON'T RECALL THE PRICE , THE COST FOR IT. WE CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION AND THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS SOMETHING I DON'T HAVE ON HAND. DO ANY OF YOU REMEMBER THIS? I DON'T REMEMBER, I'M SORRY.
>> THE COMPONENT WITH MILLER ROAD, WE HAD TO FRONT SO MUCH MONEY , TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WE WERE DOING . IS THAT PART OF
THAT? >> 2.5+ MILLION DOLLARS TO MATCH THE GRANT FOR THE MILLER ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT .
>> I COULD NOT REMEMBER IF THAT WAS ON THERE. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE TOTAL COST WOULD BE, FOR THAT , WITH THE $21 MILLION , PLUS. THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE DEALS WITH THE SAME BOND . IT IT DEALS IN TRAFFIC LIGHTS , THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE INSTALLING. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE REIMBURSED BACK FROM TXDOT OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE? ARE WE FULLY FUNDING, SO ROW LET WILL FUND THOSE TRAFFIC LIGHTS?
LIBERTY GROVE AND -- >> IT'S ON THE SAME BOND.
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE TRAFFIC SIGNALS . OKAY, YEAH.
>> AND THIS IS CLARITY, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY ON THE JACKSON SHOT RESPONSIBILITY, WERE THEY
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RESPONSIBLE BEFORE? >> IT'S RECOGNIZED TO THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AS A WHEN THERE IS ENOUGH FUNDING TO FUND THAT PROJECT , THE TIME WILL COME. OBVIOUSLY, IT HAS NOT TAKEN OFF YET SO THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FUNDING TO COME CLOSE TO PAYING FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL , SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COULD
BE REIMBURSED FOR . >> RIGHT, SEVERAL YEARS FROM
>> I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, TXDOT HAD A PIECE OF THAT AND I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE DEAL WAS BUT ALL RIGHT. THOSE ARE MY CLARIFICATIONS.
>> APPRECIATE IT. COME ON. WE ARE HERE FOR THESE QUESTIONS.
ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL . IS THAT, WE DON'T GET PART OF
THAT WITH THIS? >> YES, THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT OPPORTUNITY CERTAINLY MAY COME, AND WE HAVE, AND YOU CAN SPEAK MORE TO THIS IF YOU WANT TO, FROM THE MILLER ROAD BRIDGE STANDPOINT, THAT IS SOMETHING I LOOKED CLOSELY AT, WHETHER WE CAN APPLY FOR SOME KIND OF FUNDING TO THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT TYPICALLY THOSE FEDERAL FUNDINGS GO TO PROJECTS THAT ARE CLOSE TO SHOVEL READY AND WE ARE NOT EVEN NEAR SHOVEL READY. THERE MAY BE OTHER PROJECTS THAT COME ALONG, WHERE WE COULD REACH OUT AND WORK WITH THEM , BUT WE ARE WORKING OUT THE MILLER ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT ON SOME OTHER CREATIVE FUNDING MECHANISMS.
>> THANK YOU. >> QUESTIONS? COUNCIL, INTERRUPT ME, PLEASE IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD. OKAY.
>> I WANTED TO KNOW, SKYLINE AND MILLER , ARE THERE PLANS IN THE FUTURE TO PUT A STOP LIGHT THERE?
>> THERE HAS BEEN NO DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
>> I KNOW THAT LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE, THEY PUT THE LITTLE DIVIDING LINE AND YOU COULD TURN RIGHT OR TURN LEFT .
IT WAS STILL RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. THERE ARE TIRES SQUEALING ALL THE TIME FROM THAT INTERSECTION, AND THERE HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS, SEVERAL TIMES. I AM CURIOUS .
>> THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY DISCUSSION AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT AND DO A FUTURE TRAFFIC STUDY FOR THAT INTERSECTION. I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERATION FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD OF PUTTING IN THE FLASHING PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK, OKAY. THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT , COMING UP SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, POTENTIALLY OUT OF THE FUTURE BUDGET. WITH REGARDS TO A SIGNAL , AT SKYLAND, THERE HAS BEEN NO CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
>> I KNOW THAT THIS WASN'T THE STOPLIGHT PART OF IT, BUT ON SKYLINE, FOR SPEED ? IT DISAPPEARED.
>> I HAD THE SAME QUESTION. >> AND THEN AS SOON AS YOU GET
OFF -- >> THEY WERE NOT PLACED IN THE RIGHT SPOT. ONE DISAPPEARED. IF YOU DON'T MIND RIDING THAT DOWN, ON SKYLINE, ONE OF THE DIGITAL SPEED SIGNS DISAPPEARED, AND THE OTHER ONE FOR NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC IS , WE MAY BE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PLACEMENT OF IT. I AGREE, YES.
>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? COME ON.
>> I BELIEVE I GOT MY TIMING RIGHT, SINCE THE LAST BOND MEETING WE HAD, I HEARD ABOUT THE FAILURE TO OPEN UP A KIDS KINGDOM IN THE WET ZONE. THE TIMING IS LIKE, DEJA VU. THE LAST NORTH-CENTRAL TEXAS GOVERNMENT COUNCIL TASK FORCE ON THE TRINITY HAD A PRESENTATION BY CARROLLTON
[00:30:04]
PARKS AND RECREATION, WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY HAD A CITY THAT WAS OLD INFRASTRUCTURE, THE CITY WAS OLD, THEY GRADED ALL THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE. I HEARD THAT ROWLETT, WE SHOULD DO THAT, GIVE IT TO THE BOARD MEMBER , AND I FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THIS ON TOP OF ONE OF THE PARKS BOARD MEMBERS AND THEY SAID YES, THAT IS WHY I RESIGNED FROM THE BOARD BECAUSE I PUT A NICE REPORT TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING, THERE WAS THE CRITICAL'S ERASED SO ONLY THE GOOD THINGS WENT THROUGH. THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE AT KIDS KINGDOM IN THE WET ZONE MAY BE A RESULT OF POLICIES LIKE THAT.I WOULD SUGGEST , AND I MEAN, THIS PERSON IS NO LONGER HERE AND I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN OUR CITY MANAGER , MOVING FORWARD. I MENTION THIS BECAUSE CARROLLTON HAD AN OUTSTANDING SYSTEM THAT WORKED AND INVOLVED THE RESIDENCE, STAFF, AND WHEN SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, IT WAS EASY TO TAKE TO CITY COUNCIL TO GET THE MONEY APPROVED FOR IT AND I THINK THAT IT DID A GOOD JOB OF MAXIMIZING THE BENEFIT FOR RESIDENTS. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NO ANSWER NEEDED.
>> CAN I ADDRESS IT? WE ARE IN A TRANSITION PHASE IN THIS CITY GOVERNMENT. WE ARE OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW AND PROGRESSING FORWARD AND STAFF IS WORKING DILIGENTLY EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BE BETTER THAN WE WERE. I DON'T WANT TO DWELL ON THE PAST ISSUES , IF WE CAN, AND FOCUS ON HOW WE CAN BE BETTER AND THROUGH THESE SUGGESTIONS, THAT'S GREAT, BECAUSE THAT IS THAT THIS COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGEMENT CAN TAKE BACK AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE EVEN MORE.
WE ARE WORKING ON THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY, TIRELESSLY, FIXING THE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME FROM THE PAST, HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THOSE GOING FORWARD, AND BE BETTER AS A CITY, SO I WANTED
TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. >> I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE. I THINK WE ALL SEE THAT AS A POSITIVE. PARKING LOTS, IN THE BONDS PACKAGE FOR A COUPLE PARKS, TITLE POINT PARK. I CANNOT IMAGINE ANY PARKING LOT IN THE CITY THAT NEEDS MORE WORK , SPACING, PLANNING, OR SOMETHING DONE THEN PADDLE POINT PARK ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY AFTERNOON. I SEE A FEW OF YOU OUT HERE , BUT ALL OF YOU NEED TO COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND SEE HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING THE PRIORITIES . YOU ARE HANDLING THE CAPITAL ALLOCATION FOR THE CITY FOR THE PARKING LOT. SECONDLY, EXCUSE ME, THE THIRD ONE, I HAVE QUESTIONS ON CO BONDS. I MAY NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING WITH IT , OR EVERYTHING, BUT I BELIEVE SEVERAL YEARS OR A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THE VOTERS VOTED A BOND PACKAGE FOR THE PECAN PARK PARK , AND IT DID GET BUILT. WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON CONSULTANTS WHO GAVE US PLANS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN GOOD PLANS, BUT THEY WERE NOT ACTED ON. WE ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE NEAR ENOUGH MONEY TO GO THROUGH
WITH IT AND -- >> CAN YOU CLARIFY THE PARK?
>> TO GO THROUGH WITH COMPLETING THE PECAN PARK PLAN , THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY THE BONDHOLDERS IN WHATEVER YEAR IT
WAS . >> I DON'T, DO YOU ALL RECALL, I'M SORRY, I DON'T REMEMBER THAT. THE PECAN GROVE PARK ?
>> PECAN GROVE, YES. >> I DON'T KNOW OF ANY PLANS , SO I WILL BE CURIOUS, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS WITH ME, BUT I RAN THIS BY AARON, WHEN HE WAS HERE. WE ARE AT THE STAGE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO THE BONDHOLDERS FOR SEVERAL KAYAK LAUNCHES AND THESE ARE GOING THROUGH GEO BONDS, GENERAL OBLIGATION , AND WHAT I'VE HEARD , I HAVE NOT GONE TO EVERY SINGLE MEETING, BUT I HAVE GONE TO ENOUGH WHERE I SHOULD HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING. I HEARD WE WILL USE CO BONDS TO FINISH UP PECAN GROVE, AND WHAT I'M LOOKING AT, WITH WHAT I'VE SEEN, IS THE VOTERS VOTED FOR PECAN GROVE . IT DID NOT GET BUILT, AND WE SORT OF SQUANDERED THE MONEY.
>> YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT LAKEFRONT AT PECAN GROVE? DO YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT? OKAY. NOW I UNDERSTAND. OKAY.
>> OKAY. THE ISSUE I'VE GOT ON DISCLOSURE IS I THINK THE VOTERS VOTED FOR THIS PARK A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THE MONEY YET, SO WE WILL USE CO BONDS AND THAT IS WHERE THE VOTERS DON'T HAVE A SAY. I BELIEVE IT GOES
[00:35:06]
TO CITY COUNCIL, AND YOU HAVE YOUR PLATE SO FULL, I THINK THAT IF I SEE THIS, WE VOTED FOR IT, IT DID NOT GET BUILT.WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK AND BUILD IT BECAUSE WE NEEDED WERE WE ARE GOING TO USE CO BONDS . ANY CLARIFICATION WOULD BE
GOOD, FOR ME. >> IF YOU DON'T MIND , IF YOU WANT TO ADD INTO THIS, I WAS ON THE COUNCIL, WHEN WE PUT FORTH ON THE PROPOSITION . I THINK IT WAS THE 2018 BOND, TO FUND A PORTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION FOR PECAN GROVE , NOT ALL THE PHASES, BUT PHASE ONE. I DO NOT RECALL WITH THE INITIAL BOND PROPOSAL AMOUNT WAS AND IT DID PASS, YOU ARE RIGHT. WE HAVE STRUGGLED COME IN THIS CITY, TO DELIVER CAPITAL PROJECTS IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT MANNER. WE RECOGNIZE THAT. WE ARE GOING THROUGH TRANSITION PHASES ACROSS THE CITY AND THAT IS ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO CORRECT THAT, GOING FORWARD, SO THAT WE DELIVER PROJECTS TIMELY. TIME IS MONEY . THIS IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS WHERE IT JUST , IT WAS NOT DELIVERED IN A TIMELY FASHION. AS A RESULT, PRICES WENT UP AND THE PROJECT GOT TOO COSTLY FOR US TO DO. AS A RESULT, IN THE PROPOSAL FOR THE ISSUANCE OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION BONDS IN AUGUST, $400,000 TO COMPLETE THE PHASE ONE ENHANCEMENT SCOPE WHICH INCLUDES IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SURFACE MATERIAL FOR PARKING AND THE DRIVE TO THE PARK AND POTENTIAL FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A KAYAK LAUNCH AND POSSIBLY A TRAIL SYSTEM. ADDITIONALLY, THE SOCCER FIELD WAS TURNED INTO JUST A NICE, OPEN GREEN SPACE. I DON'T BLAME YOU FOR HAVING CONCERNS ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS A FAILURE. THE GOAL IS TO GET IT DONE. BECAUSE THE VOTERS DID APPROVE IT AND SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR IT, AND THE PREVIOUS BOND ELECTION, WE FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT WE DELIVER THAT PROJECT THAT WE SAID WE WOULD DELIVER.
>> THANK YOU. >> DID YOU WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING? GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> SO, DAVE, ONE POINT. THE ORIGINAL BOND WAS $400,000 AND FROM THE NOTES , THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT CHANGED AFTER IT STARTED AND THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON. THE ADDITION OF THE PARKING LOT MADE $400,000 OBSOLETE. IT DOESN'T GO FAR, IN ADDITION TO THE AMENITIES , SO WHEN THAT HAPPENED, STAFF STEPPED BACK AND SAID WE HAVE TO THE SCOPE THIS. THE BID THAT WAS RECEIVED IN AUGUST OF 2022 , THE LOW BID WAS $694,000, SO THAT INDICATED IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT WITH THE REVISED SCOPE .
>> TAKE NOTE OF THOSE DATES. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT TO BID IN 2022, WE SHOULD HAVE GONE OUT TO BID IN 2019 OR
2020. >> COVID ME THE CONCRETE MARKET GO INSANE , INFLATIONARY, NO AMOUNT OF INFLATIONARY PREDICTIONS COULD HAVE PREDICTED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE EARLY 2020S IN TERMS OF CONCRETE PRICES.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU CAN ASK A QUESTION AGAIN DID NOT YOU, DAVE, STAY RIGHT THERE. NO ONE? YOU HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL HERE, Y'ALL, NO QUESTIONS? SORRY, GOT YOU ON THAT ONE.
IT'S WORTH A SHOT , I GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR TRYING. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? ANY COMMENTS? NO? COME ON.
>> I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING, DAVE KIND OF BROUGHT IT UP , AND WE DO NOT WANT TO DWELL ON THE PAST AND STUFF, BUT I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS, LOOKING AT THE PAST, THERE WERE THINGS THAT HAD BEEN PASSED AS BONDS, FOR VARIOUS REASONS. I KNOW AS A CITIZEN, I HAD THE FEELING THAT IT KIND OF WENT INTO THIS POOL AND WAS PULLED OUT , RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, I'M JUST SAYING. I KNOW GOING INTO THIS PARTICULAR BOND CYCLE , THAT THERE WAS A LOT, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE POWER POINTS, IT'S PRETTY DETAILED . TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, THERE'S A
[00:40:08]
REAL STRONG FEELING, THAT WE NEED TO PERFORM THESE PROJECTS, THE NEED TO COME IN , THE MONEY NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED. JUST SO THERE IS CLARITY. FOR ME, PERSONALLY, WE NEVER QUITE FELT LIKE WE WERE GETTING CLARITY ON THAT AND WHERE THAT BOND MONEY WAS GOING SO HOPEFULLY, THE NEW APPROACH AND THE NEW MANAGEMENT IN THE CITY, WE CANSEE THAT GET BETTER. >> I WILL JUST SAY, YOU ARE PART OF AN ELITE GROUP, BECAUSE YOU SHOWED UP AND ASKED QUESTIONS AND THAT'S IMPORTANT AND INCREDIBLY VALUABLE. I'M A TREMENDOUS ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE HAVING THEIR VOICES HEARD THROUGH VOTING. IT'S ONE OF OUR COUNTRY'S GREATEST PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE HERE TODAY TO LEARN ABOUT THESE PROPOSITIONS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE TO US AND OUR CITY. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND CHURCHGOERS AND WHATEVER ELSE, TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE AWARE THAT WE ARE HAVING A BOND ELECTION BECAUSE YOU WOULD NOT KNOW IT, LOOKING AT THE CROWD.
, THAT WE ALL OWE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE PEOPLE , SOME OF WHOM ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, WHO PUT IN SO MANY LONG HOURS OF WORK , EVALUATING THE NEED AND TRYING TO WHITTLE THEM DOWN TO WHAT WAS REASONABLE TO ASK THE VOTERS FOR. BOTH THAT BOARD AND CITY STAFF, WHO PUT IN LOTS OF WORK IN THE COUNCIL LIAISONS , THAT DESERVES A LOT OF APPRECIATION.
>> THE GRATITUDE WILL JUST COME ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TABLE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CITY MANAGEMENT . THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF APPROACHING FINANCES OF THE CITY AND THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT IN A MORE SOPHISTICATED MANNER THAN HAD BEEN IN THE PAST. MY PERSONAL INTERACTIONS, I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE THAT THE DELIVERY OF THESE THINGS WILL HAPPEN, AND AM VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE ELEVATION OF ROWLETT, FOR ALL OF US . IT'S GOING TO BE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE CHANGES MADE IN THE LAST YEAR, SO THANK YOU TO CITY MANAGEMENT . YOU
GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. >> THANK YOU. LAST CHANCE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU . APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WE WILL STILL BE HERE, SO IF YOU DID NOT WANT TO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.