May 06, 2024 City Council Work Session

[1. CALL TO ORDER ]

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>>> THAT EVENING EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. IT IS MONDAY, MAY 6, 2024. AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION , SECTION 551.071, THIS MEETING MAY BE CONVENED IN THE CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING COMPETENT LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ON ANY AGENDA ITEM HERE IN. THE CITY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RECONVENE, RECESSED OR REALIGNED THE WORK SESSION OR CALLED EXECUTIVE SESSION OR

[2. CITIZENS INPUT ]

>> I AM CINDY. I AM A RESIDENT OF CITY OF ROWLETT. FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE ALL ENVISION A CITY THAT IS SAFE AND PROSPEROUS. ALSO SUSTAINABLE, HEALTHY, AND VIBRANT. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST -- IT IS LITERALLY ABOUT OUR CITY'S ENVIRONMENT. I WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO A FEW INITIATIVES REGARDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER.

GROWING UP IN A SMALL TOWN SURROUNDED BY RAIN FORESTS AND CLEAR RIVERS, I EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A DEEP CONNECTION WITH NATURE. CLEAN AIR. FRESH FOOD. AND A PEACE THAT ONLY NATURE CAN BRING. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS SERVED AS A GLOBAL WAKE-UP CALL, REMINDING US OF THE CRITICAL NEED BETWEEN NATURE, HEALTH, BIODIVERSITY. GLOBAL LEADERS RISKED OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY. OUR ECONOMY, AND SOCIAL PROGRESS. THE DRELC WILL EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN HARMONY IN NATURE. THEREBY, IMAGINE OUR PARTS NOT JUST FOR RHE CREATION BUT ALSO PRODUCE FRESH AIR, CONSERVE WATER, AND REDUCE THE NECESSITY OF PESTICIDES, THEREFORE LEADING TO COST SAVINGS FOR OUR CITY.

THE DRELC WILL BE A PLACE FOR RESIDENTS TO ENJOY AND SERVE AS A HUB FOR EDUCATION, INSPIRATION, HOLDING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES. I REQUEST OUR CITY COUNCIL TO RELEASE THE REMAINING $200,000 FUNDING OF THE FUND RELATED TO THE DRELC. THE FUNDING IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE NEXT PHASE.

WE SEEK YOUR ACTIVE COOPERATION TO INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY TO CHERISH AND PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES . TOGETHER LET'S UP -- MAKE OUR CITY A MODEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

AND TURN OUR VISION INTO A HEALTHIER, SAFER AND MORE PROSPEROUS IMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

>>

YOU KNOW THE DRILL. >> YES.

>> DAVE HALL, MY PRIOR HALF WAS AN ACCOUNTANT. I DISLIKE ACCOUNTING BECAUSE THE WAY FUNDS CAN BE MOVED AROUND.

SPEAK ABOUT THIS WITH DRELC, CLEANING OUT BALANCES THAT MEAN WE SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THEIR ORIGINAL INTENT FOR THE RESIDENTS. I KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT FUNDING AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING AFTER DESIGNING ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS FOR THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA FOR THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION. WE NEEDED TO DESIGN WHAT THE STATE REQUIRED. ALSO PROVIDE THE DEANS OF THE COLLEGES WHAT THEY NEEDED TO MANAGE THEIR SCHOOLS.

SO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THE FUNDING AND

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IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS NOT AT THIS POINT. NOW WE HAVE IS A POORLY MAINTAINED PROJECT WHERE WE ONLY APPLY BAND-AIDS TO IT, WHICH IS WHAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT CHANGES DO YOU HAVE PLANS OF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE? KIDS KINGDOM, SAME APPLIES FOR THE MAINTENANCE. ONCE WE GET THIS UP WITH A BAND-AID OR TWO, WHAT IS THE PLAN SO IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN? ABOUT A YEAR AGO I STARTED WORKING WITH STAFF ON A CO-OP WITH TEXAS WILDLIFE, WE PROVIDED AN ALTERNATIVE FOR MANY OF THE DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE AT SWIMMING ILLEGALLY, JUMPING FROM THE BRIDGE, THIS WAS A $5000 GRANT. THAT WAS A PRETTY SMALL AMOUNT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE IN THE CITY. I BELIEVE IN THE PAST SEVERAL TIMES THE CITY APPLIED FOR THE GRANDSON HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. I GRABBED A FRIEND IN BROWNSVILLE WHO PUT AGAIN TOGETHER A SIMILAR GRANT SUCCESSFULLY. HE VOLUNTEERED TO HELP US, THE CITY AND STAFF TO PUT THE GRANT TOGETHER AND HOW TO GET IT AWARDED. I BELIEVE IN THE CITY PUT THE AWARD TOGETHER THEY DID NOT CONTACT THIS PERSON. IT WAS POORLY WRITTEN AND WE DID NOT GET IT. THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS HAD WE HAD THIS GRANT AVAILABLE, WE WOULD HAVE KAYAKING EVENTS WITH GREAT MENTORS, CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS OUT THERE, TEACHERS TEACHING KIDS. WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE NOW THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN UP KIDS KINGDOM OR WET ZONE. WE HAVE MATCHING FUNDING FOR IT. THIS WOULD HAVE MADE ROWLETT LOOKING GOOD, TAKING DIVERSITY AND TURNING IT INTO A PROGRAM. I WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT AND HOPE YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR THE

FUTURE. THANK YOU. >>

>> NEXT SPEAKER, PAMELA BELL. STATE YOUR NAME AND RESIDENCE.

THREE MINUTES. >> PAMELA BELL. I CAME TO TALK ABOUT THE YOUR RESEARCH THERE WAS A BOND ISSUE. YOU NEED TO MOVE MONEY FROM ONE ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY. BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNATED FOR THE THE DEANNE ROBERTS' CENTER. NOT THE DON'T BE TAKING THE MONEY FROM THEM. THAT IS IT. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT MONEY COULD BE MOVED FROM ONE ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS GARNISHED. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. AND I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE DOING ABOUT IT. OKAY? ALSO, I AM NOT SURE IF YOU REALLY REALIZE HOW MUCH THE CENTER IS GOING TO BE AN ASSET, INSTEAD OF A-, IT WILL BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE INTO THE CITY. JUST THINK, THEY HAVE TO EAT, HAVE A PLACE TO STAY, ALL OF THAT.

THEY ARE BRINGING IN MONEY. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE THINKING OF. THINK OF THE -- HOUSE. WILL BRING IN THAT MUCH MONEY? IF YOU BRING YOUR KIDS , I WON'T. WE KNOW HOW KIDS ARE.

GRANDKIDS, I WON'T. WE KNOW HOW THEY GET. AND I GUESS THAT IS ABOUT ALL. BUT I AM REALLY, I WAS FOR IT THEN AND I AM FOR IT NOW. WE NEED THIS CENTER. WE NEED IT. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW WHAT SHE SAID, I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT ANYTHING, WE DON'T HAVE

THAT MUCH TIME. THANK YOU. >>

>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, BETTY -- YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. NAME AND STATE OF RESIDENCE.

>> HELLO, I AM BETTY FROM ROWLETT. I AM A KRB BOARD MEMBER. FOR SEVEN MEMBERS I BEEN ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND ALSO AS THE CHAIRMAN. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN AS WELL AS ADULTS. WHO WILL GAIN THINGS FROM HAVING THE DRELC. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT ME AND WHY I SEE THE VALUE OF THE EDUCATIONAL PART AND LEARNING CENTER. I WAS RAISED ON A FARM IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN. I LEARNED GROWING UP FROM MY FATHER, WHO WAS IN AGRICULTURALISTS, A.K.A.

FARMER, HOW TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THE LAND BY

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MY DAD HAD NO BOYS, WE WERE HIS BOYS. SHE PUT IN A MASSIVE VEGETABLE GARDEN. WE HAD AN ORCHARD WITH APPLE TREES, CHERRY TREES, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE PRESERVED ALL THAT FOOD. WE WORKED IN THOSE GARDENS AS 4-H MEMBERS. I SHOWED CATTLE FOR MY DAD. WE ATE FROM HOST, GROUND, ENTRY.

HOW MANY CHILDREN GET THIS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE TODAY? OR EVEN UNDERSTAND WHERE THE FOOD IN THE GROCERY STORE COMES FROM. THE DRELC WILL PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND NATURE, TO HAVE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES OF SEEING DIFFERENT FLORA AND FAUNA. LATER IN MY YEARS I WAS AN EDUCATOR AS AN ELEMENTARY LEARNING CENTER LIBRARIAN FOR 25+ YEARS, AS WELL IS A CHILDREN'S PUBLIC LIBRARY AND FOR 7+ YEARS. MY MOST IMPORTANT JOB WAS BEING A MOM. WITH THIS EXPERIENCE GROWING UP ON A FARM, BEING AN EDUCATOR, RAISING CHILDREN, BEING IN NATURE, TEACHING UNITS ON NATURAL SCIENCE, IT HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON HOW I VIEW ON WHAT IS NECESSARY IN THE WORLD TODAY. KIDS SPEND TOO MUCH TIME IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER'S. THEY DO NOT GET OUTDOORS. WE NEED A PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO GET OUT AND ENJOY. THE EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS OF THE DRELC WILL NOT ONLY PUT FAMILIES TOGETHER AND ENJOYED THE VARIOUS PLANTINGS AND THAT, THEY WILL REALIZE HOW TO APPRECIATE THE EARTH. I HAVE GOT LOTS OF RESEARCH ON HOW IT BENEFITS CHILDREN BEING OUTDOORS. WE NEED THAT TODAY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>>

>> YES I DID MARRY A FARM GIRL. AND I HAVE LEARNED A LOT MORE.

MY NAME IS MARK. I LIVE AT 8610 CID HILL LANE, PRESIDENT FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL 'S GOAL IS TO MAKE THE DRELC AND EDUCATIONAL CITY PARK FOR ALL AGES TO ENJOY. EVERY YEAR KRB'S ANNUAL STRATEGIC BOARD MEETING, IN FEBRUARY, WE HAVE ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS TO DISCUSS OUR IDEAS OF THE PLANNING OF THE PARK. WHAT IS THE SHORT-TERM REALISTIC GOAL? WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL WORKING WITH OTHER BUSINESSES AND EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATORS? WE ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF OBTAINING THE LAND FOR DALLAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND GARLAND ISD. WE ACHIEVE THE GOAL WITHIN THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER, WITH PUBLIC INPUT. WE ACHIEVE THE PUBLIC APPROVAL FOR THE BOND REFERENDUM TO HAVE MONEY FOR THE DRELC. WE ACHIEVE CITY APPROVAL FROM PAST MEMBERS AND PARKS AND RECREATION. WE ACHIEVE MAKING THE FIRST PAYMENT TO LAKE -- WE ACHIEVE GETTING THE LAND SURVEY AND WORKING WITH LENDING AND ZONING TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASK. WHILE WE DID NOT PLAN FOR WAS THE NATIONAL WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC WITH COVID-19. HIGHER INFLATION COSTS. HIGHER INTEREST RATES. RISING MATERIAL COSTS.

SHORTAGES AND FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

WE ARE NOW ON TRACK AGAIN TO BEGIN OUR JOURNEY TO INAUDIBLE ] WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH LARGE CORPORATIONS. WE WANT TO ACHIEVE OUR FIRST STAGES OF PLANNING AND RAISING MONEY. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT NOW IS THE NEW MAYOR, CITY MANAGER AND COUNCILS IDEAS TO TAKE AWAY THE MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT. WE PAY KRB AND WE WERE NOT EVEN NOTIFIED THAT THIS CONCEPT WAS GOING TO OCCUR. OR ONE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CALLED TO LET ME KNOW WHAT THEY HAD VOTED ON IN THE WORK SESSION. THE COYLE HOUSE HAS BEEN SLOWLY DETERIORATING OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS DUE TO LACK OF YEARLY MAINTENANCE. SOME MINOR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS I HAVE WORKED WITH DIFFERENT PARK SUPERINTENDENTS TO SUGGEST IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HOUSE. IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT'S WE

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>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS SETH -- STATE YOUR NAME AND

CITY OF RESIDENCE. >> SETH , COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME AND THE RESIDENTS TO SPEAK ON DAN ROBERTS ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER THIS EVENING. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT ASKING THAT YOU PROVIDE THE BOND MONEY FOR THIS PIECE OF LAND. THE REMAINING $200,000 OF MONEY, NEEDED TO KRB TO BUILD FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROPERTY. YOU MAY ASK WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THE PROPERTY? AS A NEIGHBOR LIVING DIRECTLY ACROSS, I WANTED TO WONDER THE SAME THING UNTIL I MET THE GREAT PEOPLE OF KRB. THIS IS AN EDUCATION CENTER, A CENTER FOR THE STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE OUTDOORS, PLANTS, ANIMALS, BUGS, AND HOW TO PLANT AND GROW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. THIS IS LOCATED RIGHT ACROSS FROM A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY, AS YOU KNOW. STUDENTS CAN WALK TO THIS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM IT WITH NO PROBLEM. IT IS ONLY A FIVE MINUTE DRIVE FROM HEALY AND PIERCE ENTRIES AS WELL. AFTER BEING LOCKED INDOORS FOR THE 2019-2020 PANDEMIC, WE REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ACTIVE. INTERACTING WITH NATURE. THIS PIECE OF LAND WILL BE DISCUSSED WITH YOU MORE THIS EVENING. I HOPE YOU WILL HELP US SUPPORT KRB AND THE BOARD TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT. WITH YOUR INITIAL BOND SUPPORT MANY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WILL FOLLOW, LIKE MYSELF. THAT IS I AM PERSONALLY PLEDGING $5000 TO KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL FOR SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT, ONLY IF THE BOND IS SUPPORTING THIS

PROJECT AS WELL. THANK YOU. >>

[3A. Presentation from Rockwall County Commissioner Dana Macalik on the Rockwall County Strategic Plan 2050. (30 Minutes)]

>> THANK YOU >> OKAY, I HAVE NO MORE SPEAKER CARDS IN FRONT. ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE FIRST ITEM, ITEM 3 A. PRESENTATION FROM ROCKWALL COUNTY COMMISSIONER DANA MACALIK. WE DO NOT HAVE DANA HERE WITH US TODAY BUT SHE IS CALLING US. WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION, THE SAME THING AS WELL.

>> YES, SAME EXACT THING. >> ARE A WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JIM BARTO. DANA MACALIK WAS UNAVAILABLE TONIGHT, ACTUALLY OUT OF THE STATE WITH GRANDCHILDREN AND OTHER FUN STUFF. SHE SENT ME INSTEAD.

WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY TONIGHT, I WILL NOT TAKE THAT FULL 30 MINUTES FROM THE AGENDA. IT WAS THE ROCKWALL COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN 2050. OKAY. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE PARTS OF ROWLETT THAT ARE IN THE COUNTY. AND THAT IS THE FOCUS OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. THE PEOPLE NOT ONLY OF THAT AREA OF ROWLETT BUT JUST ROWLETT IN GENERAL. AS OBVIOUSLY WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COUNTY HAS AN EFFECT ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT. SO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS LOOK OUT TO 2050 FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE DIRECTION THE COUNTY IS GOING AND THE CITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY. AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO NOT ONLY CONTINUE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE COUNTY, ROCKWALL COUNTY, BUT ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC VITALITY, PURPOSEFUL DESIGN AND CIVIC RICHNESS OF THE COUNTY. AND WHAT WE PLAN ON DOING IS NOT ONLY PLAN ON WORKING WITH THE COMMISSIONER BOARD BUT ALL THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM ARE ON WHAT WE CALLED THE CSC, OR THE COUNTY STRATEGIC COMMITTEE. THEY HAVE BEEN ATTENDING MEETINGS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR HELP WITH WHAT IS GOING ON. AS YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE, AGAIN, WHAT WE ARE

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IF ANYBODY WANTS TO ASK YOU ABOUT THEM THEY DO WANT THEM TO AT LEAST ATTEND FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THEY ARE BROKEN INTO, THEY FALL BETWEEN 5:00 AND 7:00. THEY WILL BE TAKING PLACE IN THE BIG COURTHOUSE ON YELLOWJACKET. AND THEY ARE COME AND GO SESSIONS, AT 5:00 YOU CAN COME AND THERE WILL BE A BRIEF PRESENTATION. KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WILL BE COVERED IN THAT PARTICULAR FORM. FOR EXAMPLE MAY 14TH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THEN EVERYBODY WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO BREAK OFF INTO SMALL GROUPS AND GIVE THEIR INPUT. OF COURSE THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER TO ANYTHING. WE ARE LOOKING FOR INPUT, NOTHING BAD, I AM SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY. I AM SURE IT IS DEPENDING ON WHAT IS ON SOMEBODY'S MIND FOR THOSE SESSIONS. AND THEN AGAIN THAT IS KIND OF WHAT WE COVERED, LIKE ON THAT OTHER HALF. AGAIN, JUST BRIEFLY , CONSULTANTS, BANKER TILLY, AGAIN IF YOU DO RUN INTO CITIZENS AROUND ROWLETT THAT LIVE IN ROCKWALL COUNTY AND AGAIN CANNOT MAKE IT TO ANY WORKSHOPS WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO TO THE WEBSITE. THE QR CODE ON THE OTHER PAGE WILL SEND THEM DIRECTLY TO THE WEBSITE.

AGAIN ON THE WEBSITE ARE A COUPLE OF AREAS WHERE THEY CAN GIVE THEIR INPUT WITH DIFFERENT SURVEYS. THERE IS OTHER INFORMATION INCLUDING YOUR CITY'S DEVELOPMENTAL PLAN AS WELL FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. IT HAS THE OTHER CITIES AS WELL IN ROCKWALL COUNTY. THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THAT SITE THAT WILL ONLY BE THERE FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. IT IS BASICALLY THERE TO COLLECT DATA AND THEN WE PUT THE DATA TOGETHER. THEN HOPEFULLY BY APRIL OF NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE APPROVED IN APRIL. AND THEN WE WILL LOOK AT IMPLEMENTING AN IMPLEMENTATION THEREAFTER. AND OF COURSE WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING IN ROCKWALL COUNTY, AND FOR THE CITIZENS OF ROWLETT THAT LIVE IN ROCKWALL COUNTY.

ANY QUESTIONS, I AM HERE. >> THANK YOU FOR THE

[00:25:01]

I THINK FOR OTHERS AS WELL. SO ROWLETT IS A CITY AND AS A RESULT WHAT EXACTLY IS THE COUNTY PROPOSING TO DO WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS? OR IS THIS JUST GETTING OUR PLANS FROM US AND INTEGRATING THOSE PLANS, THOSE ROWLETT APPROVED PLANS INTO THE COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN.

>> ANY PLANS YOU HAVE DEVELOPED THAT ARE COMING OUT OBVIOUSLY, THE BEST YOU CAN TO PLAN AHEAD BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS NEW CHALLENGES. AGAIN WE ARE HAPPY TO LOOK WITH THE CSC, SO WE CAN SEE THAT INPUT AND WHAT YOU HAVE GOING FORWARD AS WELL.

MOST OF THOSE PLANS FOR THE CITIES, A LOT OF THEM HAVE -- WHEN YOU REVISIT ANYTHING AFTER FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS CONTINUING IN THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO, AGAIN WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO GATHER ALL THAT WE CAN.

ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE THAT IS NEW, PERTINENT TO WHAT IS GOING ON, EVERYTHING WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING ON THIS COMMITTEE. DAN HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF LEADING IT .

AT OUR MEETINGS WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF BRAINSTORMING TYPE EXERCISES WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS AND THAT HAS BEEN REALLY PRODUCTIVE, I THINK. WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 9000 PEOPLE IN ROWLETT THAT LIVE IN ROCKWALL COUNTY. BUT THOSE THAT HAVE AT TIMES FELT A LITTLE LEFT OUT OVER THERE, WE HAVE BEEN MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT IS A COUNCIL TO THINK OF THOSE CITIZENS. ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE DO IS GET NEW VOTING LOCATIONS FOR OUR CITIZENS. I WANT TO POINT OUT, I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THIS BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE DOES, IT IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A COUNTY TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN. CITIES, THAT IS A STANDARD THING THAT CITIES DO, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE VERY FEW COUNTIES WHERE THIS IS MAYBE EVEN THE FIRST.

>> WE ARE THE SMALLEST. THERE ARE ONLY 13 IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. OUT OF 254. AND THEY ARE BIGGER COUNTIES. DALLAS, HOUSTON, THAT SORT OF THING. SO WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER THIS ENDEAVOR, SHE BASICALLY HAD A LOOK AT THEM AND THEN OKAY, WHO ARE THEIR NEIGHBORS? WHAT IS IT THAT THEY ARE DOING? KIND OF WORKING OFF OF THAT. BUT WE ARE KIND OF IN SOME UNCHARTED TERRITORY. AGAIN, THAT IS WHY WE ARE

SEEKING EVERYBODY'S HELP. >> IT IS REALLY EXCITING TO BE

A PART OF IT. >> THANK YOU.

>> COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? >> ALL RIGHT, AGAIN I AM THE NEW PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE COUNTY. SOMETHING BRAND-NEW THEY HAVE NOT HAD BEFORE. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME. I AM IN THE OPEN COURTHOUSE. RIGHT

DOWNTOWN. >> THANK YOU.

[3B. Annual Presentation of Activity from the Library Advisory Board. (20 minutes) ]

>> NEXT ITEM, ANNUAL PRESENTATION OF ACTIVITY FROM THE LIBRARY

ADVISORY BOARD. THAT EVENING. >> HELLO. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT WHO ARE LIBRARY SUPPORTERS. WE HAVE THE LIBRARY ADVISORY MEMBERS. WE ALSO HAVE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY MEMBERS. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE VIRGINIA AND KATHY AS WELL . PRESENTING IS THE CHAIR OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD. SHE IS ALSO A

MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS. >> HELLO. HOW ARE Y'ALL?

>> LET'S GO! >> OKAY, FIRST OF ALL, LET'S START OUT WITH JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT OUR MEMBERSHIP LOOKED LIKE FOR THE ADVISORY BOARD IN 2023. AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAD , I WAS THE CHAIR LAST YEAR AS WELL, KATIE WAS THE VICE CHAIR, DEBRA, SHE WAS THE RECORDING SECRETARY. AND SHANNON WAS WITH US BRIEFLY AND THEN DROPPED OUT. AND THEN ERIN, ERIC, LEO, AND LINDA, THEY WERE THE ALTERNATES. AND DON APRIL 20, 2024, AGAIN KATIE IS THE VICE CHAIR, DEBRA

[00:30:04]

OUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS -- >> WE RECEIVE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR THE 19TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD THE LIBRARY MUST DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE UNDERSERVED, PROVIDING INNOVATIVE AND INVENTIVE MARKETING, COLLABORATING WITH NEW ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDING ENHANCED SERVICES, AS WELL AS LITERACY SUPPORT FOR ALL AGES, DIGITAL INCLUSION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND TRAINING STAFF ON ALL LEVELS. ON THE 554 LIBRARY SYSTEMS IN TEXAS, OURS IS ONLY 1 OF 84 WHO HAVE EARNED THIS AWARD. WITH THIS HONOR WE ARE IN THE TOP 15% OF ALL PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE STATE.

>> ATTRACTIONS OF COURSE IS STORYTIME'S. WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR STORY TIMES, EACH WEEK, OFFERED FOR DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS. TWICE ON WEDNESDAY, TWICE ON THURSDAY, AND THEY WERE ATTENDED IN 2023 BY ALMOST 2600 CHILDREN AND ALMOST 1900 ADULTS. SO YOU CAN SEE BY THE RECENT HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT OCCURRENCES OF THE STORY TIME WITH CHILDREN. THEY ARE ALWAYS SUCH A GOOD TURNOUT. THE KIDS LOVE IT. IT CONTINUES TO BE THE LIBRARY'S MOST POPULAR PROGRAM. IT IS SO POPULAR THAT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE TICKETS TO THE ADMISSION FOR STORY TIMES BECAUSE IT IS OVERCROWDED. THIS ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO SAFELY MOVE AROUND AND DANCE AND PLAY AND DO , AND DUE TO THE SPACE CONSTRAINTS, WE HAVE TO TURN SOME DOWN EVEN WITH THE FOUR OCCURRENCES. FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR WE HAD A LEGO ROBOTICS TEAM. THEY WERE VERY EXCITED. THEY SENT A COMPETITIVE TEAM TO THE FIRST LEGO LEAGUE ROBOTICS COMPETITION. MANY OF THE COMPETING TEAMS ARE FROM SCHOOLS WHERE THEY PRACTICE IN CLASS. THE ROWLETT LIBRARY TEAM IS ESPECIALLY IMPRESSIVE BECAUSE THESE KIDS PRACTICE AND REFINE THEIR SKILLS FOR MANY WEEKS AFTER SCHOOL, AFTER LONG DAYS OF SCHOOL. THEY FINISHED 10TH OUT OF 20 TEAMS, I THINK THAT IS OUTSTANDING FOR THEIR FIRST TIME OUT. ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER OR SEVERAL THAT WE OFFER FOR THE ADULTS IS NOT ONLY A GREAT SOCIAL OUTLET BUT THE CREATIVE PROCESS ALSO PROVIDES A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND HELPS RELIEVE STRESS FOR OUR PARENTS AND FOR ANY ADULTS. ADULTS IN THE ROWLETT COMMUNITY HAVE ENJOYED CREATING ITEMS ON THE 3-D PRINTERS, PAINTING, WOODBURNING, AND BUILDING SMALLWOOD PROJECTS. WITH THE HELP OF NANCY , WHO IS ON STAFF WITH LAURA. SHE IS FABULOUS BY THE WAY. THE LIBRARY HAS FINALLY BEEN ABLE TO OFFER QUALITY PROGRAMS GEARED TOWARDS ADULTS BY EXPANDIG A PART-TIME POSITION TO FULL-TIME STATUS. OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM IS A REALLY BUSY TIME FOR THE STAFF. SUMMER IS THE BUSIEST TIME

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ANIMALS, AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. LET'S TALK A LITTLE STATISTICS ABOUT THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM. 2093 PROGRAM REGISTERED IN 2023. THAT WAS A 20.7 INCREASE FROM THE YEAR BEFORE. IT IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER EVER EXPERIENCED FOR THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM. THE SECOND HIGHEST WAS IN 2014 WITH 1876 REGISTRATIONS. WITH SO MANY EXTRA PEOPLE, VISITING THE LIBRARY WE HAVE TO GET CREATIVE. IF YOU LOOK UP THERE, THERE WILL BE SOME FOLLOWING PAGES WHERE YOU WILL SEE PICTURES OF FOLKS THAT HAVE COME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM. WE HAVE HAD TO PUSH OPEN THE GLASS WALLS. IF YOU HAVE VISITED THE LIBRARY'S YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. YOU HAVE TO PUSH OPEN THE WALLS AND MOVE THE BOOKSHELF TO OPEN UP ENOUGH ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO GET IN THERE. THE DRAWBACK WITH MOVING THE SHELVES IS THAT THE BOOKS ON THOSE SHELVES ARE INACCESSIBLE UNTIL THE PROGRAM IS FINISHED EACH TIME. AND THE LIBRARY HAS TO BE RECONFIGURED.

IN THE PAST THE LIBRARY ATTEMPTED TO HOLD LARGER PROGRAMS AT THE REC CENTER BUT THAT DID NOT INCENTIVIZE PARTICIPANTS TO CHECK OUT THE LIBRARY BOOKS OR EVEN VISIT THE LIBRARY. IT IS BETTER IF YOU HAVE IT ON-SITE. THAN THEY HAVE ACCESS RIGHT THERE TO THE BOOKS AND GET EXCITED. THEY WANT TO CHECK SOME OUT. THIS SUMMER WE ARE HOSTING MANY OF OUR LARGER PROGRAMS OUTSIDE ON THE BIG LAWN ACROSS FROM THE LIBRARY TO AVOID CROWDING PATRONS AND CAUSING PEOPLE TO RUSH THROUGH A CRAMPED ACTIVITY. IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE PICTURES, LAURA

CAN EXPLAIN SOME ACTIVITIES. >> SO THE TOP LEFT ONE, THAT IS WHEN THE MUSEUM VISITED US. I AM SORRY, THEY ARE DECORATING COOKIES. WE HAD A CULINARY CAMP. IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER THAT WAS THE SUMMER READING REGISTRATION. AND THEN THE BOTTOM LEFT WAS WHEN GARLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CAME OUT FOR THEIR KIDS NOTES. THEY EXPLAINED SYMPHONY BEHAVIOR AND THEN THEY HAVE A STORYBOOK ABOUT MUSIC, AND THEN THEY HAVE A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO WHERE THE KIDS CAN PLAY A TINY LITTLE VIOLIN, A DRUM, AND OTHER MUSIC INSTRUMENTS. AND THEN THE OTHER PICTURE WE HAVE KIDS ENJOYING OUR SUMMER

READING COOKOFF. >> IS YOU CAN SEE IT IS NOT JUST READING, IT IS OTHER ACTIVITIES ROLLED INTO THE PROGRAM. SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF STUFF TO DO, DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THEY DO TOGETHER. 3945 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE PROGRAMS ALL IN THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. THAT WAS A 23.55% INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR. NOW IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES, LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE IN THOSE PICTURES. IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED. DURING THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM AND ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ROLL INTO THAT, A 33% INCREASE. SOME OF THE REASONS FOR THE INCREASE WERE THE GRAND PRIZE DRAWINGS AT THE END. THEY HAD A BIG POSTER OF THE GRAND PRIZE IS ON DISPLAY SO KIDS CAN GET EXCITED AND PICK OUT AND WORK TOWARD

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PROGRAM, WHICH I BELIEVE -- >> WE DO NOT HAVE EVENTS. THIS IS JUST LITTLE READING CHALLENGES.

>> 523 PEOPLE SIGNED UP, 3335 -- 335 LAST YEAR, YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASE THERE. 336 COMPLETED THE ENTIRE GAMEBOARD.

WHICH YOU SEE UP THERE ON THE SLIDE. 2387 HOURS OF READING.

2605 GRAND PRIZE ENTRY TICKETS. THAT WAS A WELL DONE WINTER READING PROGRAM. DURING THE WINTER BREAK THE LIBRARY HOSTS THE WINTER READING PROGRAM WHERE PARTICIPANTS ARE REWARDED FOR THEIR READING. THIS IS THE GAMEBOARD FOR THE WINNER PARTICIPANT. EACH SQUARE REPRESENTS 30 MINUTES OF READING. WHEN THE PARTICIPANT READS AND REACHES THE SQUARES WITH THE STARS, GET A PRIZE. WHEN THEY REACH THE SQUARES WITH TICKETS, THEY GET A PRIZE OF TICKETS TO THE GRAND PRIZE DRAWING. THE SUCCESS IS LARGELY DUE TO STAFFING ENCOURAGING FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORTHWHILE EVENT. WHAT WE BROUGHT YOU, A LITTLE SHOW AND TELL. YOU WILL LIKE OUR SHOW AND TELL. THIS IS THE NEW FOX BOOKS THE LIBRARY AND HAS PUT

TOGETHER. >> YOU MAY REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE KIDS, YOU HAD A RECORD THAT READ TO YOU. AND YOU KIND OF GOT TO TURN THE PAGE WHEN IT MADE A LITTLE NOISE AND EVERYTHING. WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE THAT ARE CDS BUT CDS ARE BECOMING KIND OF OBSOLETE. SO WE NOW HAVE GOT A COLLECTION OF ABOUT 20 OF THESE TO REPLACE THE CD ONCE. SO THE KIDS CAN PLUG IN HEADPHONES OR READ ON THEIR OWN. THEY CAN READ THESE WITH A PARENT OR A CAREGIVER. WE RECENTLY SUBMITTED A GRANT FOR 50 MORE OF THESE SO HOPEFULLY IN AUGUST WE WILL GET GOOD NEWS THAT WE CAN GET MORE. WE PUT THESE OUT THIS AFTERNOON AND IMMEDIATELY HAD MANY OF THEM ALREADY CHECKED OUT. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER MORE FUNDINGS FOR THE

KIDS TO READ. >> THE NICE THING IS THEY DO NOT REQUIRE BATTERIES. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A CD PLAYER.

THEY ARE RECHARGEABLE. >> IT IS JUST A USB CORD LIKE A

PHONE CHARGE PORT. >> YOUR KIDS LOVE THEM. OKAY.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BARN PART, THE STATISTICS.

LAUGHTER ] OKAY. HERE IS A LISTING OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WERE HONORED. AND AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, 2023 VERSES 2022, YOU WILL NOTICE AND SAY WAIT A MINUTE, THAT DOES NOT TRACK. FOR INSTANCE, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS OFFERED 185 IN 2023. VERSUS 222 IN 2022.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? THE STAFF DECIDED TO TAKE A MORE STRATEGIC APPROACH BY FOCUSING ON THE QUALITY RATHER THAN THE QUANTITY. ALTHOUGH THEY OFFERED 453 FEWER PROGRAMS, THEY ONLY ENCOUNTERED 160 FEWER ATTENDEES. SO THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD WAY TO FIGURE OUT WHO LIKES WHAT. BY ELIMINATING THE POORLY ATTENDED BABY STORYTIME, THEY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS BY OVER 1000 PEOPLE. BY OFFERING FEWER PROGRAMS THAT ARE MORE POPULAR,

[00:45:03]

SORRY. AND THE APPROACH IS HELPING TO INCREASE NUMBERS CIRCULATE, AS WELL AS THE A NUMBER -- EARLY CHILDHOOD IS 0 THROUGH 4, AND STUDENT AGES 5 THROUGH 12. ALL AGES PROGRAMS ARE TYPICALLY FAMILY ORIENTED ACTIVITIES THAT CAN EASILY BE ENJOYED BY PARENTS AND CHILDREN. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE INITIATED IS MORE COLLABORATION BETWEEN US AND THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY. WE HAVE BEEN TO DINNER, WE PLANNED ON DOING THIS ONGOING. WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE DINNERS WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD. WE GET TOGETHER AND WE SOCIALIZE. WE COMPARE AND WE HAVE REALLY BEEFED UP OUR INNER WORKINGS WITH EACH OTHER. I MEAN THEY ATTEND OUR MEETINGS AND WE ATTEND THEIR MEETINGS. WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE ACTIVITIES AND IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN THIS PAST YEAR. SOME ACTIVITIES THAT WE ALL WORKED ON WAS SCARECROWS ON MAIN, CHRISTMAS ON MAIN, THE ROWLETT EXPERIENCE. TRUNK OR TREAT, ASSISTING WITH A LOT OF LIBRARY PROGRAMS. AND OF COURSE WE HAD THE LIBRARY CARD SIGN UP MONTH PROCLAMATION. AND WE ALSO HAD BOOK SALES. THE BOOK SALES WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE HAVE HAD TWO OF THEM. WE PLAN TO

CONTINUE THAT PUBLICLY -- >> IN THE FALL WE WILL HAVE OUR

NEXT ONE. >> WE WILL HAVE ONE IN THE FALL. Y'ALL SHOULD COME OUT. THIS PAST TIME WE MORNING MADE MORE MONEY THAN WE DID THE YEAR BEFORE. AND WE GAVE OUT ALL THE

AUDIOBOOKS ARE FREE. >> WHEN WE DID REPORTS TOTE LOOK AT WHAT AUDIOBOOKS ON CD HAD NOT BEEN CHECKED OUT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, IT WAS AN INSANE NUMBER OF AUDIOBOOKS.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT CHECKOUT AUDIOBOOKS ARE COMMUTERS AND COMING TO US AND SAYING I DO NOT HAVE A CD PLAYER IN MY CAR ANYMORE. SO THEN WE SAY ARE YOU CONNECTED WITH OUR ELECTRONIC AUDIOBOOKS? AND THEN WE HOOK THEM UP WITH LIBBY, HOOPLA, AND NOW LIVE LIBRARY.

>> AND I USE THOSE WHEN I DRIVE. DOWNLOAD THEM TO YOUR PHONE OR CAR. WHATEVER. OKAY, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO IS VISITING OTHER LIBRARIES. WE MADE A TRIP TO THE MCKINNEY LIBRARY THIS PAST YEAR, TO THE JOHN AND JUDY GAVE PUBLIC LIBRARY. WE FREQUENTLY VISIT NEIGHBORING LIBRARIES TO STAY ABREAST OF TRENDS AND PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF ROWLETT DEVELOPING A STANDALONE LIBRARY THAT IS NOT WITHIN THE VILLAGE. THE APARTMENT BUILDING. THE JOHN AND JUDY APARTMENT BUILDING IS 24,000 SQUARE FEET.

IT IS ONE OF TWO IN MCKINNEY, WHICH HAS A POPULATION OF 202,000. THE LIBRARY HAS A MEETING ROOM THAT SEATS APPROXIMATELY 91 PEOPLE. AND THREE STUDY ROOMS THAT SEAT FOUR PEOPLE IN EACH. MCKINNEY'S OTHER LIBRARY IS THE ROY AND HALLA HALL LIBRARY. THEY HAVE A SCHEDULED PLAN TO REIMAGINE THE SPACE IN THE FALL, DUE TO SIZE CONSTRAINTS.

THAT LIBRARY IS 34,000 SQUARE FEET WITH A MEETING ROOM SEATING 75 PEOPLE AND CONFERENCE ROOM SEATING EIGHT PEOPLE AND THREE STUDY ROOMS EACH SEATING UP TO FOUR PEOPLE.

SO Y'ALL SHOULD COME IN AND LOOK AT OUR LIBRARY AND MEETING FACILITIES. YOU REALLY SHOULD. OKAY. WHEN WE WENT TO THE LIBRARY, ONE OF THEM, WHEN YOU FIRST WALK IN THE DOOR, ONE OF THAT IS COOL THINGS YOU SEE IS THE AUTOMATED RETURN SYSTEM THAT CHECKS IN THE BOOKS AS THEY ENTER. THE PEOPLE BRING THEM BACK. EITHER THEY DROP THEM OFF IN THE SHOOT OUTSIDE

[00:50:03]

SO YOU SEE IN THE PICTURES, LOOKING THROUGH FROM THE LIBRARY SIDE, LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOWS, YOU CAN SEE THE OPERATION IN THE TOP, IN THE MIDDLE. IT IS SORT OF A TRACK SYSTEM WHERE THE BOOKS TRAVEL, ALONG THAT TRACK. THEY TRAVEL DOWN ALL ACROSS THAT ROOM, THEY COME DOWN, THEY DROP THEM DOWN INTO A SORTER. IT READS THE RFID TAG AND DETERMINES WHAT THE BOOK IS. AND IT DROPS IT INTO THE SHOOT WHERE IT BELONGS. AND THEN FROM THERE IT IS ALL PRESORTED. THEN IT IS EASIER TO PUT THE LIBRARY BOOKS BACK WHERE THEY BELONG, TO RE-SHELF THEM. RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING IT BY HAND. THEY ALSO, WHICH IS, THIS IS THE REASON WE REALLY WANTED TO GO SEE IT, THEY HAVE LITTLE ROBOT'S WHICH ARE JUST TOO CUTE. HAVE A COUPLE ROBOTS AND THEY JUST KIND OF RUN AROUND. YOU TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT AND IT IS LIKE YOU SAY TAKE ME TO THE HISTORY SECTION. YOU FOLLOW IT AND IT TAKES YOU TO THE HISTORY SECTION. IT IS PRETTY COOL. AND I AM SURE THE KIDS LOVE IT. AND THEN THE CHILDREN'S AREA HERE IS MARKED WITH FUN FURNITURE, IT IS VERY BRIGHT, THEY HAVE A READING MILK FOR THE KIDS. THEY HAVE A GIANT LIGHT BRIGHT. THEY HAVE A DOOR OPENING TO THE OUTSIDE AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE SLIDE. AND THEN THE LOWER PICTURE IS THE OUTSIDE COURTYARD AREA THAT IT LEADS TO. IT FOLDS UP LIKE A GARAGE DOOR. IT IS PRETTY COOL. SIZE CONSTRAINTS .

>> OKAY. ALTHOUGH THE CURRENT LIBRARY IS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL, IT IS NOT THE RIGHT SIZE FOR THE EXPANDING COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION PUBLISHES STATISTICS OF ALL LIBRARIES IN THE STATE.

IF WE LOOK AT A LIST OF LIBRARIES WITH A POPULATION BETWEEN 50 AND 70,000, AND DON'T HAVE BRANCHES AND THEN WE SORT THEM ACCORDING TO THEIR SIZE, THE ROWLETT LIBRARY IS INAUDIBLE ] SO THERE WE ARE. THERE IS THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN -- AND THAT WHEN THEY ARE ACTUALLY WORKING ON PLANS TO GET A NEW LARGER LIBRARY. LITTLE ELM IS DOING THE SAME.

SO THERE ARE THE NUMBERS, KIND OF SHOWING WE ARE A SMALLER SIZE AND SOME OF THE DRAWBACKS OF OUR SMALL LOCATION. WE HAVE ONE STUDY ROOM AND IT IS ALWAYS IN HIGH DEMAND. CROWDING IN THE ESL CLASSES, STUDY TIMES. AND WE DO NOT HAVE A DEDICATED QUIET AREA. AND THEN THERE IS INSUFFICIENT STORAGE FOR STAFF, SO WE HAVE OFF-SITE STORAGE AS WELL.

>> I WILL TAKE THIS ONE TOO. WHILE BENCHMARKING FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, STAFF FOUND THAT MOST WITH DISABILITIES LIKE ROWLETT ARE NO LONGER CHARGING FINDS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE LIBRARY BOARD ABOUT DISCONTINUING FINES, TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO JUST TURN IN OVERDUE BOOKS. THE BOARD WAS IN SUPPORT OF THIS IDEA. THE IDEA BEHIND THIS WOULD BE IF YOU HAVE OVERDUE MATERIALS, YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CHECK OUT ANY ADDITIONAL MATERIALS UNTIL YOU BROUGHT BACK YOUR STUFF. BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE CHARGED FINDS. WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS PEOPLE WILL COME IN AND SAY THEY HAVE THREE BOOKS CHECKED OUT AND THEY FORGOTTEN THAT THEY HAD BOOKS. THE FINES ARE $.20 PER DAY PER ITEM. THEY MAX OUT AT $10 EACH. SO IF YOU HAVE THREE BOOKS CHECKED OUT AND IT MAXES OUT AT $30, WE WILL TALK TO PATRONS ABOUT THIS. SOMETIMES THEIR DECISION AS WELL, I JUST WON'T USE THE LIBRARY ANYMORE. RATHER THAN GIVE US BACK THE BOOKS. SO IN FISCAL 23, WE COLLECTED EIGHT THOUSAND $660

[00:55:02]

>> HOW MANY BOOKS WERE NOT RETURNED?

>> $11,000 IN FINES. OUR THINKING IS IF YOU DON'T CHARGE THE FINES BUT JUST GIVE US BACK THESE MATERIALS AND YOU CAN CONTINUE TO USE THE LIBRARY SERVICES, WITHOUT BEING PENALIZED, WE WOULD GET BACK CITY PROPERTY WITHOUT MAKING PEOPLE PAY FINES. IT WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAMILIES, IT WOULD ENCOURAGE SENIOR CITIZENS WHO MAY BE ARE ON A LIMITED BUDGET, FAMILIES ON A LIMITED BUDGET, TO RETURN THE MATERIALS. I AM COMING BACK ON JUNE 6TH TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS WITH ALL OF YOU. TO, YOU KNOW, TO HEAR ANY CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE OVER THIS, GET APPROVAL FOR THIS. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A GROWING TREND AMONG OTHER LIBRARIES.

AND YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST THREE YEARS WHEN YOU HAVE RUN A REPORT OVER ITEMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, IT IS OVER, OVER 1800 ITEMS, AND $28,000 IN MATERIALS. OUR THOUGHT IS, WHILE WE WOULD NOT GET THOSE DAILY FINES OF $.20 PER ITEM PER DAY, WE WOULD GET BACK THE MATERIALS WHICH ARE CITY PROPERTY, WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR AND PROCESSED.

AND THEN IT WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO USE THE LIBRARY, CONTINUE TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO THE LIBRARY.

INSTEAD OF JUST NOT USING THE LIBRARY ANYMORE AND KEEPING

CITY PROPERTY. >> NOW I ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE WHO TOLD ME, CITIZENS WITHIN THE CITY, THEY SAID WELL I DON'T USE THE LIBRARY BECAUSE I HAVE A LIBRARY BOOK THAT IS OVERDUE AND I JUST HAVE NOT BEEN. JUST TO PAY THE FINE. I HAVE JUST HAD IT SO LONG I CANNOT AFFORD THE FINE. SO THEY JUST DON'T COME. AND WE DO NOT GET THE MATERIALS BACK.

>> WE WILL DISCUSS THAT MORE IN JUNE.

>> FUTURE GOALS FOR US, FOR THE THE ADVISORY BOARD, TO CONTINUE TO VISIT OUR AREA LIBRARY, LIBRARIES. TO GIVE US A LOT OF INSIGHT REGARDING TRENDS, IDEAS FOR NEW ACTIVITIES FOR OUR KIDS AND ADULTS THAT ARE OUR PATRONS. AND PROVIDE INPUT IF A FUTURE LIBRARY FACILITY IS DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED. WE WANT TO PROVIDE INSIGHT FOR ANY NECESSARY LIBRARY POLICY UPDATES WHICH WE DO WITH THE STAFF. AND WE ASSIST THE STAFF WITH ANY OF THEIR PROGRAMS FOR THEIR PATRONS, OUR PATRONS. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ROWLETT FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY. AND ALL OF THEIR ACTIVITIES. DO YOU

HAVE QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL,

QUESTIONS? >> JUST REAL QUICK, SO, YOU SHOWED IF THERE WERE ACTIVE BORROWERS. IS THAT SORT OF WHAT YOU CONSIDER YOUR CORE? YOU HAVE A LOT OF NUMBERS BUT SOME OF THOSE WILL BE THE SAME PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING. SO YOU CONSIDER THIS 13,000 PEOPLE THE CORE OF ALL THOSE OTHER

NUMBERS? >> THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN COME IN TODAY AND CHECK OUT A BOOK WITHOUT HAVING TO RENEW THEIR ACCOUNT, WITHOUT HAVING TO DO ANYTHING. THEY HAVE THE ACCOUNT. IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE RENEWED BECAUSE WE ASKED THAT THE CARDS GET RENEWED EVERY TWO YEARS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION IN CASE YOU NEED TO CONTACT, LIKE IF YOUR MATERIALS ARE OVERDUE, YOU HAVE A MATERIAL READY FOR YOU.

THAT IS OUR CORE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

>> THANKS. >> ARE THE READING PROGRAMS AND

OTHER ACTIVITIES -- >> YES, AND YOU DO NOT NEED A LIBRARY CARD EVEN TO PARTICIPATE.

>> RESIDENTS VERSUS NON-RESIDENTS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THESE

PROGRAMS? >> WE ALSO OFFER NON-RESIDENTS LIBRARY CARDS, BECAUSE G.I. SD, WE HAVE GOT THE KIDS FROM SEXY, GARLAND, FROM ALL OVER. AND WHEN WE LAST LOOKED, IT WAS UNDER 30% OF NONRESIDENTS. IT IS STILL A VERY LOW NUMBER OF NONRESIDENTS UTILIZING THE LIBRARY.

>> SO ON THE WEEKLY STORY TIMES, SINCE WE SEEM TO HAVE MAYBE MORE PEOPLE THAN WE HAVE SPOTS, IS THERE ANY THOUGHT TO ADDING ANOTHER DAY, DO WE HAVE THE VOLUNTEE STAFF TO

[01:00:03]

>> ACTUALLY IN THE SUMMER WE ARE OFFERING THREE DAYS INSTEAD OF JUST TWO DAYS. MY, YOU KNOW , THE THOUGHT INITIALLY IS JUST OFFER STORYTIME EVERY SINGLE DAY. AT THE STORYTIME LIBRARY AND ALSO HAS OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES. SO WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PULL THINGS OFF OF HER PLATE TO MAKE ARE ABLE TO DO MORE STORY TIMES. AND THE STORY TIMES, SOME PEOPLE A LOT OF TIMES, WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS AND THEIR DESIRE IS I JUST WANT TO READ STORIES TO KIDS. IT IS MORE THAN JUST A STORY BEING READ. THERE IS THE LITERACY TIPS THAT ARE PROVIDED AND OTHER THINGS INVOLVED ALONG WITH THAT. SO WE ARE TRYING, SINCE STORYTIME IS THE MOST POPULAR, WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE STORYTIME LIBRARY AND, GET THAT WITH OTHER STAFF MEMBERS. OR YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE VOLUNTEERS THAT CAN CONSISTENTLY DO THAT AND BE IN CONTROL OF A HUGE ROOM OF TODDLERS AND STUFF, WE ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT MORE. BECAUSE WE DON'T EVEN REALLY HAVE TO ADVERTISE IT . PEOPLE COME IN AND IT IS I HEARD ABOUT THIS AT MY CHURCH, MY NEIGHBOR, MY AUNT. JUST EVERYBODY THAT THAT IS THE MOST POPULAR THING. THAT IS USUALLY WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY THINK ABOU PROGRAMS AT THE LIBRARY. STORY TIMES FOR THE LITTLE ONES. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO GET THEM ENGAGED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT IS ALSO WHY WE HAVE THE 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. WHERE IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT TO GET YOUR KID READING 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN. BUT AS SOME OF YOU PARENTS KNOW THE KIDS ARE, READ IT AGAIN, READ IT AGAIN! EACH OF THOSE COUNTS AS ONE OF YOUR 1000 TIMES. THAT REPETITION HELPS THEM RECOGNIZE THE WORD PATTERNS AND THOSE STORIES.

THAT IS ANOTHER POPULAR THING THAT WE HAVE TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EARLY LITERACY GOALS ARE MET. SO WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO STORYTIME AND CLONE MRS. LAUREN AND DO WHATEVER WE CAN SO WE ARE NOT HAVING TO TURN AWAY FAMILIES. THAT IS HEARTBREAKING WHEN YOU HAVE TO SAY, SORRY, STORYTIME IS AWFUL. YOU KNOW? A LOT OF TIMES THOUGH, YOU KNOW, JUST PLAYING WITH THE PUPPETS AND STUFF. WERE JUST READING TO THEIR KIDS THERE. BUT JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY FOR THAT AND WE CAN ACCOMMODATE

EVERYBODY. >> HOW IS THE RELATIONSHIP WORKING BETWEEN THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND THE LIBRARY

ADVISORY BOARD? >> I THINK IT IS BUILDING A LOT. WE ALWAYS HAVE HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM BUT I THINK THERE IS A LOT MORE INTERACTION IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF OR TWO YEARS THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD BEFORE.

>> AND WHEN WE THINK OF TRADITIONALLY OF LIBRARIES, BIG AND DUSTY BUILDINGS. BUT THIS IS NOT. THERE IS A LOT OF INNOVATIONS HAPPENING. HOW MUCH OF THAT IS DRIVEN BY LIBRARY STAFF VERSUS LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD OR FRIENDS OF THE

LIBRARY? >> ONE REASON WE DO THE TOURERS OF THE LIBRARY, THIS IS USUALLY ATTENDED BY THE ADVISORY BOARD AND THE FRIENDS, THEY WILL ALSO START ATTENDING MORE, I THINK, WITH THE VISITS, WHEN THEY CAN. AND WE TRY TO WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT EACH OTHER DOES. AND WE CAN HELP CONTRIBUTE TO LAUREN'S STAFF. THAT IS HOW WE FIND OUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT MAYBE WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THAT OTHER LIBRARIES HAVE FOR THEIR KIDS, EVEN FOR THEIR ADULTS.

AND MAYBE HELP ENHANCE HER STAFF. THEY ARE BUSY PEOPLE.

>> AND FINDING OUT THINGS LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A NEW BOOK CLUB, SECOND SATURDAY BOOK CLUB. INITIALLY IT WAS TWO PEOPLE ATTENDING THE BOOK CLUB. SO TALKING TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD AND GETTING IDEAS FROM THEM ON HOW WE MAKE THIS MORE POPULAR, MARKET THIS BETTER. NOW WE ARE UP TO I THINK SIX. WHICH IS NOT A LOT BUT IT IS SLOWLY GROWING. AND WE HAVE DONE ALSO THINGS LIKE PULLING RESIDENTS ON THE BEST TIME FOR THE BOOK CLUB, DOING VOTING SELECTIONS ON WHAT BOOKS TO READ AT THAT. AND ALSO JUST HAVING THAT PARTNERSHIP. IT ENABLES TO BE ADVOCATES FOR OUR LIBRARY, AND TELLING PEOPLE IN

[01:05:08]

THEIR CIRCLE WHAT WE HAVE. >> I HEARD TWO ASKS, I THINK.

ONE IS MORE SPACE. THE OTHER IS TO RECONSIDER -- STRUCTURE, POTENTIALLY DOING AWAY WITH THOSE. WHAT ELSE ARE WE MISSING AS A CITY OR COMMUNITY WITH OUR LIBRARY?

>> IT IS NOT JUST THAT WE NEED MORE SPACE, WE NEED MORE SPACE SO WE CAN INCORPORATE MORE ACTIVITIES. BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE COMING FOR THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM, IT IS SO CROWDED AND THERE. THERE ARE SO MANY EVENTS THAT Y'ALL ARE NOT AWARE OF. BUT WE HAVE THINGS LIKE BUILDING WHAT

ARE THEY CALLED? >> GINGERBREAD HOUSES.

>> THANK YOU. AND THERE WERE SO MANY KIDS THERE. IT WAS SO CROWDED. WE HAD PARENTS SITTING ON THE FLOOR. WITH THEIR KIDS.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLACE TO SIT. WE HAD THE DOORS OPEN. IN THE BOOKCASES WERE PUSHED OUT. AND LAUREN'S STAFFERS WERE JUST RUNNING FROM TABLE TO TABLE, PERSON-TO-PERSON, TRYING TO KEEP UP. AND WE ARE VOLUNTEERING FOR THE SAME THING. IT IS THE SAME THING WHEN WE HAVE THE, WHICH IS A GREAT IDEA, I THOUGHT A GREAT IDEA, THE BOOK SALE. WE HAD A GOOD TURNOUT. TO SUPPORT LAUREN'S STAFF . TO HELP THEM SELL THE BOOKS, PACK THEM UP, ANSWER QUESTIONS. AND WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO, THE FRIENDS ARE ABLE TO PULL BOOKS FOR THEIR ENDEAVORS, -- GIVE ME AN IDEA WHERE YOU GET THE BOOKS?

>> BLOCK MESSAGE. DRELC. I HAVE BEEN PULLING ENVIRONMENTAL

BOOKS . >> THEY COME IN AND DO THEIR PART TOO. I MEAN A POLL FOR OTHER GROUPS. IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL THING. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THE BUSINESS , VISITS TO THE OTHER LIBRARIES. I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HELP LAUREN WHEN WE CAN. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INVOLVEMENT AS WE GO ALONG. BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF EVENTS THAT SHE WOULD PROBABLY APPRECIATE MORE HELP WITH. SO ANY VOLUNTEERS THAT SHE CAN GET. SHE IS EXCITED ABOUT.

>> I WILL CLOSE AT MY QUESTION BUT I WANTED TO GIVE THREE SPECIAL THANKS. ONE TO THE FRIENDS FOR THE WORK THEY DO.

JUST LAST SUMMER THEY HAD THAT IN AND OUT TRUCK OUT THERE AND THEY WERE VOLUNTEERING AND DID THE SUMMER READING KICKOFF AND IT WAS FANTASTIC. OBVIOUSLY FOR YOU AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING, ONE LESS SHUT OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CALLED WHAT YOU ARE SAYING DURING THAT PRESENTATION, THIS GUY DESIGNED A PIECE OF SOFTWARE SPECIFICALLY TO TRACK 2000 AND SOMETHING SUMMER READING PEOPLE. ADULTS AND KIDS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. HE DID IT IN HOUSE. FANTASTIC. INCREDIBLE.

>> AND SAVED THE LIBRARY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

>> INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU. >>

>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I CERTAINLY HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. IT HAS BEEN ANOTHER GREAT YEAR. YOU

GUYS DO AMAZING THINGS. >> THANK YOU.

>> COUNCIL? >> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 3C. ANNUAL UPDATE FROM KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL AND DAN ROBERTS ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER , DRELC AND SITE PLAN. HELLO. GOOD EVENING.

>> HELLO.

>> OKAY,

[3C. Annual Update from Keep Rowlett Beautiful (KRB) and Dan Roberts’ Environmental Learning Center (DRELC) Design and Site Plan. (25 minutes) ]

[01:10:12]

>> ALL RIGHT EVERYBODY WE WILL RECONVENE AT 7:15 P.M. AGAIN WE ARE ON ITEM 3C, KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL , AND DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER DESIGN AND SITE PLAN STATUS.

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MICHELLE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF ROWLETT. RIGHT BY THE LAKE. AND NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL FOR THE 2024 TERM. I AM GLAD TO BE HERE ALONG WITH THE KRB BOARD. WE HAVE DEBRA SMITH, SECRETARY. CINDY, WHO PRESENTED. MARK, PAST PRESIDENT. BARBARA BAILEY, THE TREASURER. JERRED HICKMAN, RICH ARTHUR, BETTY -- AND MYSELF ARE ON THE BOARD. AND ABSENT TONIGHT, WORKING, TONY SCHMIDT, LISA -- AND ONE OTHER PERSON. KATHY HARRIS. WHO IS OUR VICE PRESIDENT.

>> AND WE HAVE MARTHA BROWN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHO ALSO HAS A LOT OF HISTORY. THANK YOU.

>> AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE COME OUT AND SPOKEN AND ARE SUPPORTING. STAND-IN FOR JUNIOR, DAVE, PAM, AND THE ADVISOR RICHARD IS HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GET STARTED I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW AHEAD OF TIME WHAT THE GOALS ARE. I KNOW WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT PAST AND FUTURE FOR THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER BUT FOR 2024 WE WANTED TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND OUR EXISTING SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE. AND TO CONTINUE TO BUILD COMMUNITY, SPONSORSHIP, AND CITY PRESENCE OF SUPPORT. IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADVENTURE OVER THE LAST YEAR BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY NEW PEOPLE ALL AROUND IN SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS. BUT I THINK WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB ALONG WITH THE CITY AND FINDING OUT WHAT THOSE ARE. WE ALSO WANT TO EXPAND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AND TO STEP OUT WITH THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER DEVELOPMENT. TONIGHT SPECIFICALLY WE WILL BE DISCUSSING DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER AND I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE COUNCIL RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION TO REALLOCATE FUNDING INTENDED FOR THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER TO ANOTHER PROJECT, IN YOUR WORK SESSION FROM APRIL 1ST, 2024.

>> HELLO. I WILL GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION AND I WILL ADVANCE THE SLIDE. THIS IS THE IMPACT REPORT. I BELIEVE WE HAD THIS OUT ON THE WEBSITE. THAT I JUST WANT TO GO OVER IT VERY QUICKLY WITH YOU. SOME OF THE PROJECT THEN PROGRAMS THAT CAN 26 DOES HISTORICALLY. WE BROUGHT SOME -- DOLLARS TOTAL IN THE GOVERNOR'S ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS TO ROWLETT. CURRENTLY WE HAVE $270,000 ON THE MOST RECENT AWARD THAT WE APPLIED FOR AND WON FIRST PLACE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. AND THIS IS FOR A BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT, WITH TXDOT. OUR CITY STAFF HAS WORKED WITH KRB WITH THAT PROJECT, FOR THE LAKEVIEW PARKWAY. THE 2.1 MILLION GREEN RIVER PROJECT FUND THAT WAS USED TO BEAUTIFY ALL SIX MILES OF LAKEVIEW PARKWAY AND KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL WAS VERY INSTRUMENTALLY INVOLVED IN BRINGING THAT TO ROWLETT. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND HERE FOR A WHILE PROUDER TO THAT, -- PRIOR TO THAT, IT WAS JUST GRASS, WEEDS, AND CONCRETE, A FEW MONUMENTS ALONG 66. WITH IT BEING OUR MAIN BUSINESS CORRIDOR, WE THOUGHT IT TO BE IMPORTANT TO BRING SOME QUALITY-OF-LIFE ELEMENTS INTO THE HEART OF OUR CITY. SO KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFU WAS VERY MENTAL IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN. WE ARE LONG TIME KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL PRESIDENT AWARD. THAT IS THE HIGHEST AWARD YOU CAN GET WITH KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL, I BELIEVE ALMOST

[01:15:04]

[01:20:05]

EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE GREATER RESPONSE ABILITY FOR ENHANCING THEIR ROWLETT COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT.

>> THANK YOU. AS WE MOVE ONTO THE NEXT SECTION WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMS AND FOR MORE THAN JUST CLEANING UP THE CITY, IT IS MORE THAN JUST CLEANING UP PROGRAMS. WE HAVE OVER 15 PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED ACROSS THE BOARD. OUR TIMING IS PRETTY SHORT TONIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON FOUR PARTICULAR PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. WE CAN GO INTO MORE DEPTH AND SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS IF YOU WANT TO LATER. THE FIRST PROGRAM I WOULD LIKE TO IDENTIFY IS , WE ALREADY TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT THE EARTH DAY EVENT. I AM SAYING WE HAVE HAD THREE SUCCESSFUL EVENTS. WE MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE 2000 TO 3000 PEOPLE THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY, BUT WITHIN FOUR DAYS, FOUR MONTHS OF PLANNING THAT WE WERE DOING AND WORKING WITH THE CITY, GETTING TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT , BETHANY, SHE WAS OUTSTANDING. SHE TOOK US TO THE NEXT LEVEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND LEARNING WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND HOW TO BETTER WORK WITH THE CITY. IT WAS VERY GOOD. AND I THANK MAYOR PRO TEM AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET FOR STEPPING IN AT THE LAST MINUTE. I KNOW IT WAS A BUSY DAY AND A RAINY DAY. THERE WERE DELUGE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WE HAD 70 HAPPY KIDS AND PARENTS AND EXHIBITORS THERE AT FREEDOM PLACED CHURCH. WE LOOKED ALL OVER THE CITY. WE COULD NOT FIND AN EVENT PLACED A HOLD IT. WE HAD 48 HOURS TO TURN FROM AN OUTSIDE EVENT TO AN INSIDE EVENT. AND I WISH TO GO ON RECORD THINKING THE CHURCH FOR OFFERING THEIR SANCTUARY TO US. THE NEXT THING I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS AGAIN STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF ROWLETT AS A BEE CITY AND TREE CITY. A PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE CITY, PARKS AND REC, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE HAD A FIRE DEPARTMENT HELPING US WITH THE FORMS WE HAD TO FILL OUT IN ORDER TO --

>> THE PERMIT! >> THE PERMIT! YEAH! AND EVERYTHING IN LINE. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR SUPPORTING US IN ALL ASPECTS. AND THEN THE BEE SPONSORED THE SEMINARS AND COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE ADOPTION OF THE CLUBHOUSE. WHICH I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN MORE DETAIL LATER. BUT ALL OF THIS HAS INCREASED ACTIVITIES AND RESULTED IN VALUABLE AREA CONTACTS BEING PROVIDED AND PROVIDING HUNDREDS OF HOURS AND GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST, GARDENERS, AND NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY GARDENERS OF TEXAS. LET ME EMPHASIZE THIS, IN 2020 THE EXTENSIVE CONTACTS THAT WE GOT NOW, THEY WERE NOT IN EXISTENCE. SO I THINK WE WERE COMING AT A VERY GOOD TIME. I WANTED TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HOUSE. WE HAVE ADOPTED IT. THE ENTIRE

[01:25:09]

WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GET AND WE EVEN HAD IT DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS AND PEOPLE CAME INTO CHRISTMAS PICTURES THERE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WE FULLY SUPPORT THE CITY'S INTENDED PLAN TO REMODEL AND REPAIR. I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING THAT INTERACTS VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER IS THE LAKE AND WATER ASPECTS OF IT. AND I AM GLAD -- IS HERE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE TONIGHT . AND THERE IS SO MUCH EDUCATION THAT WILL NEED TO GO INTO WHAT ARE CONSERVATION AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH LAKE CLEANUP. THAT WILL CONTINUE ON IN THE EDUCATION WILL GO WITH THAT. OKAY? SO WHERE ARE WE? OKAY, IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD. THE LEGACY GOES BACK, WAY BACK TO THE WHAT DAN ROBERTS ON THE FRONT PAGE SAID.

THE MISSION IS TO TEACH THE CHILDREN ABOUT CONSERVATION SO THEY CAN TEACH BOTH THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE. WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS SUNDAY A WEEK AGO THERE WAS A ROWLETT, TEXAS FACEBOOK POSTING THAT SAID, DOES ANYBODY KNOW THE HISTORY BEHIND THE MYSTERY LAND THAT IS NEXT TO SCHRADER MIDDLE SCHOOL? I AM ASSUMING IT WAS A NEW HOME DEVELOPMENT. IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD THERE WERE 65 COMMENTS AND 155 EMOJIS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE INTERESTED. PEOPLE WANTING AN EDUCATION CENTER, WANTING TO EMPHASIZE THAT. WE HAVE CITIZEN INTEREST TO MOVE FORWARD. AS YOU HEARD EVEN TONIGHT. WE HAVE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS THAT ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD AND 27 IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD. WHAT IS NEXT? WELL, I REALIZE THAT THE DRAWING IN THE PRESENTATION IS A LITTLE SMALL.

WE ENLARGED IT A LITTLE BIT. IT IS THERE. IF YOU WANT TO PASS IT AROUND DOOR I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, THERE ARE TWO THINGS THERE. AND THERE WAS A DECEMBER 15TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH THE LAKE AND

>> NAY. SEVEN WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF IT. THEY PUT A CONCEPT DRAWING TOGETHER, WITH A PLAN. AT THAT POINT IT WAS $90.8 MILLION. -- 9.8 AND CHANGE. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CONSTRUCTION COST AND IN TODAY'S DOLLARS AT THE END OF 2020, THAT SAME CONCEPT WOULD BE A LITTLE OVER $13 MILLION. AND THAT IS QUITE A CHUNK OF CHANGE FOR US TO CONSIDER. AND WITH THINGS GOING FORWARD. SO AT THE END OF LAST YEAR WE ENCOURAGED AND WE WORKED WITH THE CITY TO GET SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE GOT A LAND SURVEY. BUT WHAT DOES THE EXISTING PROPERTY LOOK AT, LOOK LIKE? AND EXHIBIT B WILL , ALSO A CHART COMING AROUND, WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE LAY OF THE LAND WAS RIGHT NOW. AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO DO? SO WE HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. AND SO MANY THINGS GOING FORWARD. AND SO WHAT WE PROPOSE IS A PROJECT WITH ATTAINABLE FUNDS TO TAKE A CONCEPT AND SITE PLAN TO ACHIEVABLE PHASING. ONE OF THE THINGS NEEDED FOR THAT IS WE NEED RELEASE OF APPROXIMATELY THE $200,000 THAT WAS APPROVED BY CITY PEOPLE. THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY. IN ORDER TO PUT AN ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING , MORE PAPER IN PLACE. IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT TO PEOPLE AND SAY WE NEED FUNDS. AND. THIS POINT WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN RAISE FUNDS BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THE PAPER, MORE THAN A CONCEPT

[01:30:08]

DRAWING. >> I WILL MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THAT. I KNOW YOU GUYS JUST PASSED A BOND ON SOME THINGS AND I AM SURE YOU HAD TO LOOK AT SOME ESTIMATES. PART OF THE ESTIMATES THAT YOU GET IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE ARCHITECTURAL PLANS. AND YOU SET ASIDE A CERTAIN AMOUNT, 10 TO 15% TYPICALLY FOR THAT. WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY BEFORE YOU CAN GO FORWARD WITH ANY RECONSTRUCTION. OR EVEN BID DOCUMENTS, REALLY. SO THAT 200,000 BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT FOR THAT PHASE OF MAKING THIS A REALITY. WE HAVE FUNDERS THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN TO, AND CONSULTANTS, THAT ARE READY TO HELP US RAISE THIS MONEY. BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN TO DO THAT WITH. ONE THING BEAUTIFUL, THERE ARE NOT MANY FOUNDATIONS OR CORPORATIONS THAT ARE WILLING TO INVEST IN PAPER. ALTHOUGH IT IS NECESSARY AND YOU GUYS KNOW IT IS NECESSARY, YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE IT BEFORE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, BUT THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH A SHOVEL GOING INTO THE DIRT. YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO SEE DIRT MOVING, SOMETHING COME UP OUT OF THE GROUND. MOST GRANTS HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON THEM. THEY WANT TO SEE THE CERTAIN PHASING OF A PROJECT COMPLETED WITHIN A CERTAIN TIMELINE. SO IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE FUNDING TO GET THE PAPER SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE PROJECT A REALITY, SO WE CAN RAISE FUNDS . WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE THE PAPER, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE PLANS TO DO THAT. IT IS ONE REASON WHY KRB WENT ON AND FUNDED THIS TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. WE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT WITH THAT SITE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ON IT FOR MANY YEARS. IT HAS GOT A FENCE AROUND IT WITH SOME STONES, SOME WOOD, OUR GAIT, AND THAT WAS DONE WITH FUNDS THAT DAN ROBERTS RAISED. BUT AS FAR AS THE LAND ITSELF, NOTHING HAS REALLY BEEN DONE WITH IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO YOU GUYS, THIS LAND IS DESIGNATED AS A CITY PARK. LET'S MAKE IT A PARK. COME ON, HELP US MAKE IT A PARK. SO TO MAKE IT A PARK, WE HAVE TO HAVE FUNDING TO PUT THE PLANS TOGETHER FOR HOW WE WILL PHASE THIS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE FUNDS WILL COME IN FAST, COMMON SLOW, BUT WE CAN STILL AT LEAST MAKE IT A PARK TO BEGIN WITH.

WE HAVE GRASS, TRAILS. PEOPLE CAN WALK AROUND. PEOPLE WILL THEN KNOW IT IS A PARK AND WILL NOT THINK IT IS A HOUSING SUBDIVISION THAT NEVER HAPPENED. THIS IS THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER AND HAS BEEN DESIGNATED THAT FOR MANY YEARS. WE ARE READY TO PULL THE

TRIGGER AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. >> WE HAD THAT INITIAL $200,000, WE CANNOT RAISE THAT FROM FOUNDATIONS. WE CANNOT RAISE THAT FROM CORPORATIONS. THEY DO NOT INVEST IN PAPER. IT

IS JUST NOT THAT SIMPLE. >> AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES IN REFERENCE TO CORPORATIONS, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONE OF OUR BIG SUPPORTERS IN THE PAST, THEY HAVE BEEN THE GARLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE THAT PAPER IN ORDER IN ORDER TO GO FORWARD WITH THEM. AND THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY BEHIND US AS A CITY PROJECT I THINK WILL HELP EVEN AS WE GO FORWARD.

>> IT IS REALLY ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT AS FAR AS CITY FUNDING GOES, WHEN WE TALK TO OUR FUNDRAISING CONSULTANTS, THE FIRST THING THEY TOLD US WAS FIRST OF ALL WE COULD NOT START RAISING FUNDS BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS MOVED TO HEALTHCARE DURING TOBIT. SO WE JUST HAD TO PUT EVERYTHING ON HOLD BECAUSE OUR CONSULTANTS TOLD US TO. THEY KNOW HOW TO RAISE MILLIONS, WE DON'T. BUT WE ARE USING CONSULTANTS TO HAVE A PATH FORWARD FOR THAT.

ONE THINGS THAT THEY TOLD US INITIALLY, IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE LOCAL SUPPORT. WE CANNOT GO TO A CORPORATION OR FOUNDATION AND ASK THEM TO INVEST MONEY WHEN THE CITY IS

[01:35:01]

PROJECT. >> OKAY. SO THAT BRINGS US THEN TO, WHAT IS THE ASK? THE ASK IS TO RELEASE THE FUNDING. AND ALSO BEAM MATCHING BOND FUND REQUIREMENT. WE ARE ASKING THIS SO WE CAN IMMEDIATELY UTILIZE ALL THE 200,000 IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET THE PAPER AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE NEED IN ORDER TO GO FORWARD. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS CRUCIAL FOR LAYING THE FOUNDATIONAL WORK THAT IS NEEDED TO BRING THIS MISSION TO LIFE. WITHOUT THAT FUNDING IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. IT WILL BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I WILL NOT SAY IT WON'T HAPPEN BUT IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND WE, THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. BUT AS MARTHA INDICATED IT IS A COLLABORATIVE INPUT WITH THE CITY. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITY. WHEN WE HAVE OUR BOARD MEETING WITH A FEW OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS , ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS WAS THERE AS WELL, AND WE ARE STILL IN LINE WITH WHAT THE MEETINGS WERE HELD, WHEN THE CITY AND

>> NAY. SIX PUT THIS PROJECT TOGETHER. TO BE A PLACE FOR EDUCATION AND A PLACE TO WALK, A SAFE AND USABLE PARK. AND A COUPLE OTHER THINGS AS WELL. WE ARE STILL RIGHT ON TRACK THERE.

AND WE NEED THE PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER AND SAY THIS IS NOT KRB'S PARK. THIS IS THE CITY'S PARK. AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP MOVE THE PARK FORWARD.

AND ONE THING I NOTED IN CLOSING, AS MANY OF YOU MAY REMEMBER , I AM PART OF LEADERSHIP ROWLETT. I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH IMPRESSED ME WAS THAT IT WAS NOT JUST FOR GISD, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE GO THERE FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE. FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. IT WAS AN OLYMPIC CALIBER LOCATION. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER BE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN PARTNER WITH GISD AND OTHERS.

>> SO I DO BELIEVE IT DOES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A REGIONAL DRAW. WHICH IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT IS ALSO A DRIVER FOR OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN, THEY WILL VISIT OTHER PLACES, WHETHER IT IS RESTAURANTS, MAYBE THEY WILL VISIT TO SEE THE EMPHASIS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEN WANT TO MOVE TO ROWLETT BECAUSE IT IS A PLACE WE CARE ABOUT WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR CITY. SO JUST IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT YOU GUYS, I HAVE SPENT SIX YEARS ON COUNCIL MYSELF. I UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO BALANCE ALL THE NEEDS WITHIN THE CITY. WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT COYLE HOUSE, NOT ONLY WITH GRANTS BUT WITH SWEAT EQUITY. WE ARE OUT THERE. I CAN HONESTLY SAY WE ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY THAT VOLUNTEERS AT THE COYLE HOUSE, TO BEAUTIFY IT AND MAKE IT WHAT IT IS TODAY. WHAT WE HAVE DONE THERE IS ACTUALLY DRAWN MUCH IN THE COYLE HOUSE. WE WANT TO DO THE SAME THING FOR THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER. AND I WILL SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, HAD WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ON APRIL 1ST TO SEE A POSTING THAT THE FUNDING THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER WAS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED, HAD WE SEEN IT ON THE AGENDA, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE ON APRIL 1ST. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS NOT FOR WHATEVER REASON. I DO NOT WANT TO SECOND-GUESS THE REASONS FOR THAT. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU GUYS HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE BACKGROUND, THE INTEREST, THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN PUT INTO IT

[01:40:02]

HAD I BEEN YOU GUYS WITH THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE, WHICH IS NONE, I PROBABLY WOULD'VE MADE THE SAME DECISION. I SAT ON THE COUNCIL FOR SIX YEARS AND MADE THE TOUGH DECISIONS, TRYING TO FIND FUNDING FOR OUR PARKS. AND LIKE I SAID WE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE COAL HOUSE. WE BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE FULLY FUNDED, EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS ENVISIONED IT TO BE. BUT THIS ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER HAS HAD MUCH WORK AND MONEY PUT INTO IT. THE CITY HAS PUT $50,000 INTO DESIGN. KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL HAS PUT OUR OWN MONEY INTO THIS DESIGN. AND IN ADDITION WE FUNDED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, THIS SURVEY. SO WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THAT TO PROVIDE THAT AS A TOOL FOR THE CITY GOING FORWARD. SO I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MONEY FOR THE COYLE HOUSE. WE WON'T BE COYLE HOUSE TO BE WELL AND WRITE TOO.

THAT WE DO NOT WANT THE FUNDING TAKING FROM THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER TO ACCOMPLISHED THAT. I WAS LOOKING AT THE FIRST REPORT OF REVENUES REPORT FOR THE CITY. I SAW THAT OUR REVENUE WAS EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS BY SEVERAL PERCENTAGE POINTS. I WOULD ASK YOU, PLEASE GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND LOOK AT THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE YOU HAVE COMING INTO THE CITY AND FIND A WAY TO FUND THE COYLE HOUSE WITHOUT TAKING IT FROM THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS WE ARE GLAD TO ANSWER.

>> ALL RIGHT. IS THAT IT FOR THE PRESENTATION? OKAY, FIRST I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS SOMETHING REALLY QUICK. THERE WAS AN ACCUSATION THAT THE MOVEMENT OF FUNDS BY THE COUNCIL WAS ILLEGAL. I WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE CLARIFIED. I THINK THAT IS AN INAPPROPRIATE ACCUSATION. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS NOT KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL'S MONEY, THIS IS TAX FUNDING THAT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED BY CITIZENS TO MOVE IN THE BOND. AND IT IS NOT GOING TO A NON-PARK PROJECT BUT STAYING AS A PARK PROJECT. THE CITY ATTORNEY OR MANAGER, COULD

EITHER OF YOU ADDRESS THAT? >> MAYOR, IF I COULD, LET ME START BY DOING ONE THING FIRST. AND I AM PROBABLY GOING TO SAY A LOT OF THINGS THAT -- WILL NOT LIKE AND I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING SINCERELY. AN APOLOGY. WE COULD'VE DONE A BETTER JOB COMMUNICATING WITH YOU. I HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE, IT IS OUR RUSH. THE COUNCIL PRIORITY ARTICULATED TO ME IS COYLE HOUSE. I AM WELL AWARE THAT CHRISTOPH HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH YOU. I AM THE ONE THAT ASSIGNED HIM TO SPEAK WITH YOU. I AM AWARE THAT YOU SPOKE WITH HIM THAT WEEKEND HE WAS AWARE OF EVERYTHING GOING ON. BUT WE, I, THE CITY, COULD AND SHOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB COMMUNICATING WITH YOU ON THE AGENDA. THERE WAS NOTHING CLANDESTINE ABOUT IT. IT WAS PUBLIC NOTICE, PUBLIC FORM. THE THING MISSING WAS THAT WE SHOULD'VE REACHED OUT TO YOU AND BEEN VERY EXPLICIT ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM ON THE RECORD AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF OFFERING YOU AND APOLOGIES SINCERELY. THERE WAS NO DEFENSE MET. KRB IS A GROUP OF VERY PASSIONATE, DEDICATED WORKERS. THE CITY IS BLESSED WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS IN WHICH THIS GROUP IS KEY. SO, WITH RESPECT TO THAT I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF HURT FEELINGS THAT WE DID NOT REACH OUT. THAT IS AN OVERSIGHT BASED ON SO MANY THINGS GOING ON IN THE

[01:45:01]

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> THAT IS SINCERE. THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS OFFEND A GROUP OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS THAT I'VE BEEN SERVING THE CITY IN THE WAY YOU HAVE. UNINTENTIONAL OR OTHERWISE, WE HAVE DONE THAT. I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR THAT.

>> APOLOGY ACCEPTED. ABSOLUTELY!

>> SO I WANT TO MOVE AND TRANSITION NOW TO THE BUSINESS ASPECT IF I COULD. BUT I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT. THAT I SAY THIS ON THE RECORD. NOW IN THE BUSINESS ASPECT OF THIS, FOR ME, THERE IS ONE WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF MOVEMENT OF UNDS. THERE IS NO QUESTION OF THAT. CHRISTOPH RESEARCH THE ISSUE EXTENSIVELY WITH BOND COUNCIL AND OTHERS. THERE IS NO QUESTION THE CITY HAS A RIGHT TO RE-APPROPRIATE. IT IS NOT EVEN RE-APPROPRIATING. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT BOND LANGUAGE ISSUES THESE FUNDS TO PARKS PROJECTS AND THIS CERTAINLY, COYLE HOUSE QUALIFIES. I THINK WHAT HAPPENS, IT HAPPENS NOT JUST IN ROWLETT BUT IN OTHER CITIES, THE CITY WILL ADVERTISE A REPRESENTATIVE PROJECT.

CERTAINLY I AM NOT QUESTIONING THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TIME THAT THEY WANTED THAT FUNDING TO GO THERE. AT THE QUESTION OF THE LEGALITY, THAT IS NOT DEBATABLE AND IS UNEQUIVOCAL. IT IS COMPLETELY LEGAL AND NEEDS TO BE STATED ON THE RECORD BECAUSE THERE IS NO QUESTION AND WE SHOULD NOT CREATE THIS ERROR UNINTENTIONALLY OR OTHERWISE THAT THE CITY IS SOMEHOW DOING SOMETHING BACK CHANNEL, BACK DOOR THAT IS ILLEGAL. THERE IS NO QUESTION IT IS LEGAL. NOW WE CAN DEBATE, SHOULD THEY. BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THE LEGALITY. WHEN WE GOT TO LOOKING AT THIS, AND WHEN I SAY WE THAT IS AND MINISTRY TO FLEE. THAT IS WHO I SPEAK FOR, NOT THE COUNCIL. CHRISTOPH BEGAN TALKING AND THE REQUEST WAS MADE, COULD THE CITY RELEASE THE MONEY? WE DON'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY. HAS THROUGH ALL OF OUR RESEARCH THIS WAS AGAIN INTENDED TO BE A MATCHING GRANT. PART OF THE CHALLENGE FOR US WAS WE COULD NOT FIND ANY PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENTS, WE WERE NOT CLEAR. I APPRECIATE SOMETHING YOU SAID AT THE END OF YOUR PRESENTATION, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A BIT NEBULOUS. WHOSE PROJECT WAS THIS, FOR US? AND THIS WAS ASKING EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO WERE TENURED BEFORE THEIR DEPARTURE FROM THE CITY AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE US A GREAT DEAL OF CLARITY. WHOSE PROJECT? I'VE BEEN HERE A YEAR NEXT MONTH AND I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE. I ASKED IS IT A CITY PROJECT? NO ONE CAN GIVE ME A CLEAR ANSWER. SO I ASKED CHRISTOPH, YOU KNOW HE HAS GOT A LEGAL BACKGROUND, DO SOME RESEARCH. FIND OUT FOR US.

IF YOU ARE IN POSSESSION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WE WOULD WELCOME SEEING IT. WE DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE A RECORD OF SUCH.

SO YOU CLARIFIED SOMETHING AT THE END, CITY PROJECT. IF IT IS A CITY PROJECT AND I FEEL THAT THE CITY USURPED ITS RESPONSIBLY. WE SHOULD NOT ASK KRB TO LEAD A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PROJECT . I WOULDN'T ASK ANY OTHER VOLUNTEER GROUP TO DO IT SO WHY WOULD I ASK YOU? IF THAT IS SOMETHING THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO DO THE NOT SHOULD FALL ON OUR SHOULDERS AS ADMINISTRATORS AND WE SHOULD THEN BE TASKED WITH ALL THE HARD WORK. NOW SAYING THAT, THE PARTNERSHIP THAT EXISTS WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HELP RAISE FUNDS AND DEFRAY COSTS. AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS OTHER CITIES DO. THAT IN TERMS OF SEEING THE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROJECT, MOVEMENT, THAT IS BACKWARDS OR NOT, FORWARDS OR NOT, THAT SHOULD BE ON THE CITY STAFF IF THAT IS WHAT THE CITY IS DOING AND THIS IS A CITY

PROJECT. >> MAY I SAY SOMETHING?

>> PLEASE! >> THE ONE DOCUMENT THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND, I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH BECAUSE MARTHA KNOWS MYSELF, WOULD BE THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE 12/15/2020 WORKING SESSION WHERE THIS THING WAS DISCUSSED.

AND I THINK, I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME, BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING STATED IN THERE THAT KRB WAS THEN RELEASED TO BEGIN FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. AND, BUT, ALL WAS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN

[01:50:06]

>> I MAY BE ABLE TO FILL IN A LITTLE.

>> LET ME HELP, JUST ADDRESS IT AS I COULD. WE HAD THE MEETING OF THE MIND BETWEEN THE PARTIES THAT BOTH SPELLS OUT SPUDS ABILITIES, DUTIES, AS WELL AS PROTECTIONS FOR THE PARTIES. I FOUND ON THE THAT. WITH RESPECT TO THE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED, YOU ATTENDED SEVERAL TIMES. I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT. THE CHANGES THAT HAPPEN DID NOT STALL THE PROJECT. I NEED TO BE ON RECORD. I HAVE BEEN HERE A YEAR AND THAT IS WHEN THE PROJECT BEGAN. AGAIN, BY PUTTING THE GUY WITH THE LEGAL BACKGROUND, HAVING HIM HELP YOU, GETTING BETHANY'S HELP, WE HAVEN'T IGNORED THIS PROJECT NOR EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ANY WAY. WE ARE HERE AND ACCESSIBLE. I THINK THE REALITY IS FROM EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION WE COULD GATHER, THIS HAS BEEN A LOW PROJECT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS PASS PAUSE. AS ADMINISTRATORS WE WANT TO UNRAVEL THIS AND FIGURE OUT WHOSE PROJECT IS IT. IS A CITY PROJECT? IF IT IS A CITY PROJECT AND THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO DECIDE. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF PARKS PROJECTS SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE. THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT BEING A PARK AND THEN MAYBE IN SOME WAY, IN THAT CASE IT IS, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO DEVELOP NOT A PARKS MASTER PLAN BUT A DEVELOPMENT FOR FUNDING, AND THAT SHOULD'VE HAPPENED YEARS AGO. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUSIVE BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY THERE IS NO WAY IN ANY REALISTIC SENSE OF TIME, UNLESS GOD BLESSES US WITH A MAGNIFICENT DONOR, THAT YOU WILL GET $13MILLION. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BONDS AND THAT COULD HAVE VERY WELL BEEN ON THIS BOND CYCLE RIGHT HERE. BUT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO. SO PART OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, ADMINISTRATIVE IS SIMPLY TRYING TO UNRAVEL ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE LEARNING CENTER. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT IN ANY WAY ADMINISTRATIVE OPPOSITION TO THE KRB FOR SURE. NOR THIS PROJECT. IT IS THAT YOU TEST ME TO MAKE SOUND BUSINESS DECISIONS AND RIGHT NOW WHEN I BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU THE QUESTION OF HOW WE FUND THE COYLE HOUSE, WHICH WAS NOT AN IDENTIFIED PRIORITY, BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE ASSET WOULD CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE BECAUSE OF INATTENTION PAID TO IT, THE WAY TO ARREST IT IS TO FUND IT. I SAW STABLED FUNDS THAT HAD NOT BEEN ACTIVATED AND HAD A MATCHING COMPONENT THAT I DON'T THINK WE HAD AT THE TIME. THAT IS WHY I BROUGHT IT TO THE COUNCIL AND CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE, I WILL REITERATE THAT 1 MILLION TIMES, SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEARER WITH COMMUNICATION FOR YOU. BUT ON THE BUSINESS SIDE I HOPE I AM CLEAR WITH THE RATIONALE OF HOW WE ARRIVED AT THE DECISION AND WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT. NONE OF THIS IS IN OPPOSITION TO THE KRB OR CERTAINLY THIS PROJECT.

IF YOU ASKED MY BUSINESS INPUT ON A PROJECT, YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES IT FALL INTO THE COUNCIL? QUITE FRANKLY WE DO NOT EVEN HAVE 100% INTEREST FOR THE TITLE OF THE LAND RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I WOULD SAY IS YOUR LEAD ADMINISTRATOR, PUMP THE BRAKES AND HOLD ON BALLS, THIS MAY NOT BE A SOUND BUSINESS DECISION. WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MISSION BUT EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH TEST AS MY LAW, GIVING YOU SOUND AS THIS ADVICE. I WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD THAT THIS IS NOT ANTI-, CANNOT SAY THAT ENOUGH BUT FROM THE BUSINESS ASPECT, THE TASK, TO BEGIN WITH COYLE HOUSE, AND EDIFY VIABLE AND LEGAL FUNDINGS, WHICH WE DID. AND TRY TO ACTIVATE THAT PROJECT. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY A FEW THINGS. MOST IMPORTANT. I HOPE I AM ABLE TO PROVIDE A LITTLE INFORMATION FOR HOW WE ARRIVED. THANK YOU.

>> I WILL THROW A WRENCH IN THIS. SO THE DRELC HAS BEEN ENVISIONED FOR A WHILE TO BE AT THE PAST THERE WAS A CHANGE FROM SCENIC POINT TO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LOCATION. I HAVE HAD SOME THOUGHTS RECENTLY ABOUT UTILIZATION OF THE COYLE HOUSE HOUSE AND THE COYLE HOUSE ITSELF. AS THE POTENTIAL DAN

[01:55:03]

AS WELL AS THE OTHER EXTERIOR AREAS. MY THOUGHTS ARE IT MAY BE EASIER TO DEVELOP THAT AND HAVE A MORE REALISTIC GOAL APPROACH TO THAT SITE AND YOU WOULD AT THIS UNDEVELOPED OR UNIMPROVED PLAN. WHAT ARE YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> YOU KNOW I CAN SPEAK A LITTLE JUST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WITH THAT. THAT EVENTUALLY, WE HAD ENVISIONED SOME CLASSROOM SPACE. I THINK YOU WOULD BE VERY LIMITED WITH COYLE HOUSE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR INTENDED USES FOR THE COYLE HOUSE. IF YOU HAVE PLANS FOR THAT, I SEE THAT AS SOMETHING OF A DRAWBACK. BECAUSE I THINK ENVISIONED FOR THE UNIMPROVED PROPERTY FOR THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER SPACE, TO HAVE THE OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER LEARNING CENTER TYPE AREA. WHICH WOULD BE FAIRLY EASY TO ACCOMPLISH AND SHADE. TALKING ABOUT DOING STUFF IN PHASES, I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT THE MAYOR ADDRESSED AND ELABORATED ON. WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED THE LEGALITY OF MOVING FUNDS AS A BOARD. THAT WAS NEVER A QUESTION IN MY MIND. LIKE I SAID I SPENT SIX YEARS ON COUNCIL AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS LEGAL TO MOVE THE FUNDS. AGAIN, TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, IS IT A GOOD IDEA? IS IT ADVISABLE? AND GIVING THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAD TO MAKE A DECISION, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE MADE THE SAME DECISION. WE HAVE SOME FUNDS THAT COULD BE MOVED TO A VIABLE PROJECT. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS GIVEN THE LAST LACK OF INFORMATION YOU HAD. AND YOU MAY STILL MAKE THAT SAME DECISION. BUT AT LEAST IT WILL BE MUCH MORE INFORMED AS TO WHERE WE ARE AT ON IT. NOW, AS FAR AS ANY PROPERTY, I WORK FOR TWO YEARS WITH DAVID BERMAN AND ALSO ANGIE SMITH, WHO IS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND PARKS DIRECTOR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS HERE IN ROWLETT. I PERSONALLY WORKED WITH THEM AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO GET GISD AND DALLAS COUNTY TO SIGN OFF ON THEIR INTEREST IN THAT PROPERTY, THE STAKEHOLDERS. THEIR SIGN OFF ON IT, SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE BUILT ON THAT PROPERTY. WE THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY DOABLE. AS FAR AS I KNOW THAT IS THE ONLY CONDITION. IT IS CONNECTED TO THAT PROPERTY. THE REASON IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US, TO GET THAT CLEARED UP, THE CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS PLANNED FOR THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, CONSTRUCTION WAS HALTED BECAUSE OF THE ENCUMBRANCE WITH THE DEED. THEY COULD NOT GET IT CLEARED UP. IT SAT. AND MONEY HAD TO BE RETURNED. IT WAS EARMARKED FOR THAT PROJECT. BECAUSE THEIR TIMELINE EXPIRED. THEY DIDN'T EVER WANT TO GIVE MONEY BACK ONCE SOMEONE GAVE IT TO US FOR THAT PROJECT. AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEED WAS CLEAR. AND I WASN'T REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THE CONDITION HONESTLY. THAT GISD PUT ON IT. BUT I UNDERSTOOD AT THE SAME TIME. BECAUSE THEY WERE SIGNING OVER THEIR INTEREST AND WANTED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE INVESTMENT. THAT THEY WERE MAKING IN THAT PROPERTY. THEY WANTED TO SEE THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE ACCOMPLISHED. I DID UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I BELIEVE THAT MARK'S QUESTION WAS JUST THAT, NOT AN ACCUSATION. IT WAS A QUESTION. IS THIS EVEN LEGAL? BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW. HAD WE DISCUSSED IT AT OUR BOARD MEETING, THE QUESTION WOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED BEFORE IT WAS BROUGHT UP TONIGHT. BUT IT DOES BRING US BACK TO THAT THERE WERE NEVER ANY OFFICIAL AGREEMENTS. THERE MUST BE TO

[02:00:05]

THERE HAS BEEN A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THESE CONCEPT DRAWINGS. FOR WHAT WE COULD DO. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, COVID-19 HIT, THIS WAS AT THE END OF 2020. AND SO WE JUST COULD NOT GO FORWARD WITH ANY FUND RATING -- FUNDRAISING.

ALSO EMPHASIS FROM THE CITY. WE DID OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS VIRTUALLY FOR A YEAR. AND SO IT TOOK US TIME TO PICK IT BACK UP. AND START WORKING ON THIS. WE DO REALIZE THAT $13 MILLION IS PRETTY UNREALISTIC. I THINK THAT WAS HAS ON THAT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES TIME TO GET THESE SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL PROJECTS DONE. WHICH IS WHY WE CAME BACK WITH THE REALISTIC GOAL OF $1 MILLION THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD RAISE. FROM OUR FUNDRAISING GOALS THAT WE SET.

AND IT WOULD HALF TO BE PHASED. BUT I FELT LIKE BECAUSE IT IS CITY PROPERTY, IT IS CITY PROPERTY AND DESIGNATED AS A CITY PARK, FUNDING HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CITIZENS OF ROWLETT. YOU CAN MOVE THINGS AROUND AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN THAT MAKE THESE PROJECTS NONVIABLE. BUT WE DID BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS A VIABLE PROJECT. THERE IS STRONG INTEREST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS CLOSE BY. THERE IS STRONG INTEREST FROM GISD TO MAKE THIS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT DURING -- ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER THAT THEY CAN USE FOR THEIR STUDENTS. AND IT HAS BEEN STRONG FOR THE COMMUNITY. IT IS A CITY PARK. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HA OTHER PLANS OR EVEN TALKED ABOUT IT BUT IT HAS BEEN SITTING DORMANT. WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN HELP THE CITY MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF THIS PARKLAND THAT IS DESIGNATED AS THAT. AND EVEN IF INITIALLY WE JUST PUT SOME GRASSES IN THERE AND HELP START A TRAIL, INCLUDE SOME OF THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE IN THAT ORIGINAL CONCEPT PLAN, THEN KRB AND THE CITY HAS INVESTED $78,000 INTO IT. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD. INCREMENTALLY. BUT WE WANT TO SEE SOMETHING DONE OVER THERE. LEAVE WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF IT. IT IS OUR GIFT BACK TO THE CITY, IF YOU WILL. WE ARE WILLING TO PUT THE TIME AND EFFORT INTO DOING THAT. I THINK MARK HAS SOMETHING HE WANTS TO ADD.

>> I HAVE DONE ALL MY HISTORY ON THE COYLE HOUSE. AND YOU KNOW, IN 2009 WHEN IT WAS MOVED OVER THERE, THERE WAS ALWAYS, CAN WE RAISE THE MONEY? THEY RAISED $150,000 TO FIX UP THE EXTERIOR. UNFORTUNATELY THE CITY, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU, THIS IS THE PAST. THE PAST CITY COUNCIL. I THINK THE FIRST YEAR THEY PUT IN $20,000. BUT IT SEEMED LIKE YEAR AFTER YEAR NOTHING HAS GONE INTO FIXING UP THE COYLE HOUSE. AND I LIKE YOUR IDEA OF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, CAN KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL WORK WITH YOU WHERE DRELC OR THE CITY PARK GETS.

BUT THE COYLE HOUSE IS IN BAD CONDITION. EVEN AT THAT TIME THEY WERE ESTIMATING A COST $900,000-$1 MILLION, IF YOU'RE GOING TO START REDOING THE SECOND FLOOR. BUT WE WANT TO TRY TO AT LEAST BRING LIFE BACK TO IT. AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. BECAUSE YOU KNOW I SAID IT TO A LOT OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS. I LIKE THE PIECE OF PROPERTY. I TALK ABOUT

[02:05:04]

WE ARE HERE TO WORK WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. YES, IT IS TOUGH TO RAISE MONEY. BUT WE WANTED TO REALLY GET GOING AND AT LEAST TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING WITH THE DRELC PROPERTY. AND I AM VERY OPEN TO WHAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS PROPOSED. WE DO WORK TOGETHER. YOU KNOW WE WANT TO WORK TO TRY TO RAISE FUNDS.

IT MAY TAKE 10 YEARS BUT IF WE GET $1 MILLION AND THEN WE KEEP

ADDING TO IT. >> AS I MENTIONED OVER MY PRESENTATION. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS WHERE IT SEEMED LIKE NOTHING WAS HAPPENING, WE HAVE BEEN RAISING THE ORGANIZATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL INTERNALLY. WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH POTENTIAL SPONSORS, POTENTIAL DONORS, THINGS LIKE THIS. IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW? I CANNOT PROMISE THAT. BUT WE ARE COMMITTED. IF THE CITY IS WILLING TO COME IN AND WORK WITH US.

>> COUNCIL, QUESTIONS? >> I THINK A QUESTION I HAD COMING IN TONIGHT WAS WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG? I UNDERSTAND.

BEING FOCUSED ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS DURING THE COVID-19 YEARS. AND ALSO WHEN YOU MET ON THE FIRST, I WAS PRETTY NEUTRAL ON THIS. I KNEW I WANTED TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE COYLE HOUSE. I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT THING. BUT I WAS BASICALLY IGNORANT ON THE DRELC. AND MY STATEMENT ISN'T HEY, I AM FOR THE DRELC OR I AM AGAINST THE DRELC. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THAT WAS BOND MONEY. 2018?

WAS THE LANGUAGE SPECIFIC TO >> -- YES.

>> IT WAS NOT IN THE PROPOSITION. NO, SIR.

>> AND ALL THE ADVERTISEMENT. >> LIKE I SAID EARLIER THE ADVERTISEMENTS ARE ONE THING. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BOND ISSUE, THE MODELING DID NOT SPECIFY.

>> I WAS MY QUESTION. IF IT WAS THEN WE HAVE A TRUST PROBLEM IN THE CITY IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHAT THE CITIZENS HAVE APPROVED. SO WE WILL SEE HOW THE REST OF THE COUNCIL

THINGS ON THAT. >> I WILL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. OBVIOUSLY BOND LANGUAGE IS SOMEWHAT AMBIGUOUS. SO THESE THINGS CAN BE DONE. BUT WHEN ALL OF YOUR PRESENTATIONS TO THE CITY SAY WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, WE WILL DO SOMETHING WITH THE COYLE HOUSE. I AM ASHAMED WITH THE WAY THE COYLE HOUSE LOOKS.

AND WE WILL MAKE IT BETTER. AND THEN YOU PASS A BOND BASED ON ALL THE THINGS YOU SAID TO THE CITY, I DO BELIEVE IT GOES TO A TRUST ISSUE. IS COUNCIL ACTUALLY GOING TO DO WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO? IN ALL OF THEIR ADVERTISING, THEIR PHONE CALLS, THEIR MAIL OUTS, ALL OF THEIR DISCUSSIONS. ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU ARE GOING TO DO WITH THAT MONEY? I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD JUST THROW A BIG BUCKET OF MONEY AT COUNCIL AND SAY YELL DO WHAT YOU WANT TO WITH

IT. WE TRUST YOU. >> I THINK TRUST ISSUES HAVE BEGUN WITH THE FACT THAT WITH COUNCIL'S PERSPECTIVE THEY HAVE BEEN AN IN ACTION WITH THIS PROJECT. AND SO I THINK THAT HAS BEEN, WE TALK ABOUT TRUST ISSUES, THAT MAYBE WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST TRUST ISSUE. THERE HAS BEEN AN ACTION. HOW CAN THE COUNCIL ACTIVATE THIS FUNDING? AND THAT WAS, HOW CAN WE ACTIVATE IT IN A WAY THAT IS BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY AND IN

[02:10:01]

JUST THINK ABOUT IT. >> SURE. AND WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. AND WE LOVE THE COYLE HOUSE. WE ADOPTED THE COYLE HOUSE. WE PUT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS AND OVER THERE. WE HAVE GOTTEN THREE DIFFERENT GRANTS FOR THE COYLE HOUSE. WE ARE ALL ABOUT THE COYLE HOUSE. I THINK THAT IS AN INTERESTING PROPOSITION. YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT. I DO NOT KNOW THAT IT IS ONE THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN ANSWER FOR TONIGHT OR TOMORROW. OR A WEEK FROM NOW. IT IS CERTAINLY INTERESTING. AND SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE CAN TALK ABOUT AND EXPLORE AT THE END OF THE DAY. YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT IS ACROSS FROM THE COYLE HOUSE, THIS IS A CITY ASPECT. SO TO YOUR POINT A COULD SOLVE A LOT OF THE LEGALITIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN GETTING INTO AND THE WEEDS. YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THIS OTHER THING HAPPEN. BUT WE ARE WILLING TO SUPPORT AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER IN OUR CITY. WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR KIDS, WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TO HAVE THAT. IN THIS THREAD SHE SPOKE ABOUT ON FACEBOOK, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING A COMMUNITY GARDEN. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS A SPACE FOR THAT OVER THERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. YOU KNOW.

>> I AM NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT WITHIN THE FENCED SIDE OF COYLE HOUSE. BUT YOU HAVE THE ROAD, THERE IS THE EXPANSION

OPPORTUNITY WITH THAT. >> THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT SPACE. I AGREE WITH THAT. YOU KNOW.

IDEA. BUT YOU DO HAVE AN UNDEVELOPED PARK THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER.

I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT EVERY PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THE CITY HAS THAT IS DESIGNATED AS A PARK SHOULD FUNCTION AS A PARK.

AND RIGHT NOW, QUITE HONESTLY IT IS NOT SAFE TO WALK OVER THERE. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SITE WORK. AND SO THAT WAS OUR NEXT STEP. TO HAVE SOME SITE WORK DONE ON THAT PROPERTY. AND SOME KIND OF TRAIL. SAID THEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD COULD ACTUALLY ENJOY THE PARKLAND THAT HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO BE PARK LAND

THAT IS NOT A USABLE SPACE. >> ALSO NEED TO COORDINATE WITH GISD AND THEIR INTEREST THAT THEY HAVE BEEN UTILIZING A PROPERTY FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. WHICH, IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE IT AT THE COYLE HOUSE. BUT THE ACCESSIBILITY , THE GOAL IS RIGHT THERE. AS A START.

>> I AM JUST LOOKING AT FEASIBILITY, $13 MILLION VERSUS MAYBE 1 MILLION OR A COUPLE MILLION, FOUR COYLE HOUSE. I AM

JUST COMPARING THOSE. >> ABSOLUTELY. THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS. BIG CONCERNS. AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY AND THERE MIGHT BE SOME THINGS IF

[02:15:07]

OUTSIDE. >> COUNCIL?

>> SO ONE OF MY BIG THINGS IS ONE THAT SAID WE CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THE COYLE HOUSE, HOW MUCH IS A COST TO TEAR DOWN? I JUST BELIEVE WE MUST MAINTAIN THE THINGS THAT WE OWN FIRST. SO I AM GOING TO GIVE THAT AS A BASELINE. I DON'T EVEN REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING FOR THE THE PROJECT. I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW WOULD THE DRELC WORK? RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT HAVING MOORPARK PEOPLE AS WE ADD AMENITIES. HOW, I DON'T THINK IT THIS POINT, MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, WE WOULD HAVE CAPACITY TO HAVE PEOPLE COME AND TAKE CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER.

BUT IF YOU HAVE BUILDINGS THERE THEN YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO SWEEP THE FLOOR AND SOMEBODY TO PICK UP THE BATHROOM AND SOMEBODY TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE , YOU HAVE TO DO IT. SO MY QUESTION AND MY NEXT ASK OF YOU WOULD BE WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE ELC? I TOTALLY PREFER WITH THE IDEA OF MAYOR MARGOLIS, BRINGING IT OVER HERE TO COYLE HOUSE AND THE PARK. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE AT COYLE HOUSE, CERTAINLY BUT THERE IS AT RCC. I THINK THERE ARE MANY WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF THE COMMUNITY THAT , AT THE COYLE HOUSE. OTHERWISE, I WILL ALWAYS BE HAPPY TO LISTEN TO WHAT EVER YOU GUYS HAVE IS A. BUT THE NEXT THING I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IS , IF THIS IS DONE, HOW WILL IT BE MAINTAINED, WHO WILL DO IT, HIS RESPONSIBILITY IS IT? IF WE ARE SAYING THIS IS A CITY PARK AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMMING AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, I DON'T THINK WE ARE AT CAPACITY RIGHT NOW AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A STRETCH TO BE AT CAPACITY IN THE FUTURE. I SECOND COMMENT IS THAT THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MATCHING FUND. I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE ASKING TO HAVE THAT MATCHING PORTION REMOVED. BUT THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE INTENT. AND MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO KEEP IT

A MATCHING FUND. >> CAN YOU ADDRESS THE MAINTENANCE THING? THIS IS A CITY PARK, I ASSUMED THE CITY WOULD MANAGE THE MAINTENANCE PORTION AND THE OPERATION. ARE WE MANAGING THE OPERATIONS AS WELL?

>> I SO AGREE WITH YOU ON TAKING IN WHAT WE HAVE, MAINTAINING IT. AND IF WE BUILD WE SHOULD NEVER BUILD IF WE CANNOT MAINTAIN IT'S. I AGREE 100%. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, AND BECAUSE EXECUTIVE SESSIONDOES NOT HAVE THE CONSISTENT REVENUE STREAM THAT WOULD MAKE TENDING TO OR EVEN STAFF FOR THAT MATTER, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY VOCAL FROM THE MOMENT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND PUTTING IT ON A BOND. WOULD MAKE THIS A REALITY. WE ARE HANDING THE KEYS TO THE CITY. THIS IS OUR GIFT TO THE CITY. WE WILL BE THE VEHICLE TO RAISE FUNDS OR PASS-THROUGH FOR ANYBODY ELSE THAT NEEDED THAT. WE HAVE NEVER, FROM DAY ONE, PRESENTED OURSELVES AS EQUAL. AND I

[02:20:07]

IT WAS NOT TO RESTRICT THE PROJECT GOING FORWARD. AND HAS TURNED INTO A RESTRICTION BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE THE PAPER TO GO FORWARD IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT. SO THAT IS WHY WE PUT THE REQUEST THERE TO REMOVE THE DISCUSSION. POSSIBLY PUTTING FUNDING TOWARDS PLANS, SHOULD COUNCIL DECIDE TO GO FORWARD WITH IT. AND SO THAT IS STILL A CONSIDERATION FOR OUR BOARD. THAT WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO TALK TO COUNCIL, SHOULD YOU GUYS DECIDE TO REMOVE THE ALLEGATION THAT YOU DID TOWARDS COYLE HOUSE. BUT WE ARE OPEN TO TALKING ABOUT IT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

WE NOTE THAT THE KIDS IN ROWLETT NEED THAT. WE BELIEVE THEY NEED THAT. SO WE ARE WILLING TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND PUT OUR SWEAT EQUITY INTO IT AS WELL. WE HAVE TALKED TO LOTS OF TRADES THAT ARE WILLING TO DO IT TOO. WE HAVE DEFINITELY BUILT BUT WE WOULD ENTERTAIN THE SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE MADE TONIGHT. AND JUST

>> I THINK YOU KNOW. I THINK ALL NOSE THAT I AM YOUR BIGGEST FAN. I REALLY AM. AND I AM SO FOOD DELIGHTED WITH ALL OF THE EDUCATION, AND I HOPE THAT YOU DON'T CONSTRUE THIS AS ME BEING NONSUPPORTIVE. BUT I REALLY BELIEVE IN YOUR MISSION.

I BELIEVE IT IS CRITICAL. OUR KIDS NEED TO KNOW WHERE OUR FOOD COMES FROM. SO I SUPPORT YOUR MISSION 100%.

>> THANK YOU. THIS IS BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE. I CAME IN HERE AND NOT SURE IF THIS WAS A CITY PROJECT ARE WHAT EXACTLY.

AND IT WAS THE SAME QUESTION THAT ALISHA HAD, HOW WOULD IT OPERATE, HOW WOULD IT BE MAINTAINED? AND THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT ADDRESSED OR ANSWERED, I THINK. BUT I AM NOT PERSONALLY AT A POINT RIGHT NOW WHERE I WOULD WANT TO COMMIT TO ANY PARTICULAR DIRECTION. BECAUSE ALL THESE NEW IDEAS OF IT BEING A CITY PARK, ABOUT IT -- I THINK WE NEED TO RESEARCH MORE, TALK MORE ABOUT, WHAT WITH THE COST OF OPERATIONS BE?

[02:25:04]

WHAT WITH THE COST OF MAINTENANCE BE? ONE THING I HEAR SO OFTEN FROM CITIZENS IS, WE CANNOT MAINTAIN THE PARKS WE ALREADY HAVE. YOU KNOW? LOOK AT SPRINGFIELD, LOOK AT THIS AND THAT PARK. AND I JUST HATE TO COMMIT TO A BIG DEVELOPMENT OF ANOTHER PARK THAT I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE THE FUNDING TO MAINTAIN AT THIS TIME. I LIKE THE IDEA, I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL IDEA.

I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD DO IT QUICKLY. SO I LEAN TOWARDS THAT. BUT I AM NOT LEANING IN

EITHER DIRECTION RIGHT NOW. >> I WILL ASK A FEW QUESTIONS.

AND THEY ARE FROM POSITION OF THE STEWARDSHIP. THE INITIAL DESIGN FUNDING OF THE BOND ADVERTISEMENT THAT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT SEVERAL TIMES, THAT THAT IS A $50,000 MATCH TO KRB.

YET KRB SPENT LESS THAN THE CITY. CAN YOU CLARIFY?

>> SURE. SO WE HAD $50,000 FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER. THE CITY, IN THE $250,000 THAT WAS EARMARKED FOR THE PLC, $50,000 WAS TO BE FOR THE DESIGN. AND THEN 200 THOUSAND WAS TO MATCH. WE TOLD THE CITY THAT WE WERE READY TO SPEND OUR $50,000 ON THE DAN ROBERTS' ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER. AND WE HAD THAT READY TO PULL THE TRIGGER.

THE CITY WAS READY TO SPEND THEIR 50,000. SO WHEN WE ENGAGED THE LAKE TO DO THEIR DESIGN AND THAT WAS OUR FEE THAT THE CITY PUT OUT AND WE PUT OUT A PROCESS WITH THE RE-VISION SESSIONS, WITH CITIZENS AND COUNCIL, TO COME UP WITH A PLAN. SO THAT WAS A CITY DECISION. THEY SENT A REQUEST TO US FOR 28,000. TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PLANS. THEY SPENT THEIR 50,000 THAT THEY EARMARKED FOR PLANS. WE JUST HAD 50,000 ENCUMBERED FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER.

WE DID NOT KNOW EVERYTHING WE WOULD SPEND IT ON. MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY PLANS. WE MIGHT USE IT FOR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS.

WE JUST SPENT SEVERAL THOUSAND OF IT FOR A TOPICAL SURVEY. AND SO THE CITY ASKS US FOR 28,000 TO APPLY TOWARDS THE TOTAL BILL

OF 78,000. >> YOU FUNDED THE 20,000 AND WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FUNDED IN RELATION TO THIS PROJECT?

>> WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 12,000 OR MAYBE A LITTLE LESS.

WHATEVER IS LEFT OF THE 50,000.

>> BESIDE FROM THAT HAS ANY OTHER FUNDING BEEN RAISED? HAS

THERE BEEN ANY OTHER FUNDING? >> KNOW. WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER FUNDERS. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT IT THAT I HAVE SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IS I DON'T EVER WANT TO HAVE TO GIVE MONEY BACK. BECAUSE WE STARTED SOMETHING WE COULDN'T FINISH. AND SO THAT IS WHY WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN CHECKS FROM PEOPLE THAT WERE EARMARKED FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER. WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT THE FIRST GET THE FUNDS RELEASED FROM THE CITY, WHICH WERE MATCHED. AND ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE PLANS TO DO ANY REALISTIC FUNDRAISING. WE JUST CAN'T DO IT ON A CONCEPT DRAWING. WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THIS THING WILL COST SO WE KNOW HOW TO PHASE IT, SO WE KNOW HOW TO BEGIN TO BUILD OUT HOW WE WILL ACTUALLY RAISE THE FUNDS. SO YOU CAN BLAME ME A LITTLE BIT

[02:30:04]

I DON'T EVER WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN. I DON'T WANT ANYTHING THAT WE STARTED TO BE STOPPED OVER TECHNICALITIES WITH A DEED. WE WORKED TWO YEARS WITH THAT WITH THE CITY STAFF AND CITY ATTORNEY. IF WE ARE GOING TO DO IT THEN LET'S DO IT .

AND I WANT TO DO AT LEAST THE FIRST PHASE, TO GET IT DONE. OR I DON'T WANT TO ASK PEOPLE FOR MONEY, BUT I HAVE TO GET BACK TO THEM. SO THAT WAS REALLY MY STRATEGY AND THAT. TEND NOT BEGIN TO RAISE FUNDS UNTIL WE HAD SOMETHING TO RAISE FUNDS

WITH. >> I KNOW MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER -- IS KRB WANTING TO MAINTAIN SOME LEVEL OF OWNERSHIP? ARE YOU JUST WANTING TO BE THE FUNDRAISING ARM OR DO YOU WANT TO BE DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN THE DEVELOPMENT?

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED. AS A COLLABORATOR. A PARTNER. A TRUE PARTNER. WHICH ACCORDING TO YOU WE SHOULD REALLY GET IT WRITTEN UP ACCORDINGLY SO WE KNOW WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE. IT IS CLEAR GOING FORWARD REGARDLESS

OF USING COUNCIL . >> I WASN'T SO CLEAR ON THAT.

WHEN THEY SAID GIFTING IT TO THE CITY.

>> IN THE INTERIM WHO OWNS THIS PROJECT, WHO IS DRIVING IT

CUTE, WHO IS DRIVING IT? >> IF THE CITY OF ROWLETT OWNS THE LAND AND FUNDS THE PROJECT AND IT SHOULD BE A CITY OF ROWLETT PROJECT. THESE CAN BE KEY STAKEHOLDERS, BE IT THROUGH AN INFORMAL ADVISORY PROCESS, OR SOME CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP . BUT I DO NOT THINK ANY LONGER THERE IS ANY QUESTION WHOSE BUILDINGS, LAND, WHOSE THIS WOULD BE? IF IT IS HOURS THEN WE SHOULD HAVE YEARS AND YEARS AGO TAKEN THE LEAD AS PROJECT MANAGERS. SHOULD HAVE SETTLED UP WITH OUR PARTNERS AND MOVED ON DOWN THE ROAD. AND TO MAKE GOOD ON YOUR POINT, THE FUNDRAISING ARM AND WE CAN PROJECT MANAGED THIS. AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE A YEAR FROM NOW THE CITY DECIDES TO GO FORWARD, IT SHOULD BE CITY OF ROWLETT IN CONJUNCION WITH ,

NOT THE INVERSE. >> YES, SIR. THAT WAS THE INTENT ALL ALONG. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. WE ARE NOT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS BY ANY MEANS. WE JUST WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO RAISE FUNDS FOR IT. MAYBE NOT ALL. WE NEED SOME PARTNERSHIP ON THAT. BUT WE NEVER ATTEMPTED TO PROJECT MANAGE THIS. ALL OF THE CONTRACTS FOR ANY WORK TO BE DONE ON IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE THROUGH THE CITY. EVEN WITH A SURVEY THAT WE DID, WE UNDERSTAND AND HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS CITY PROPERTY, IT WOULD BE A CITY-OWNED PROJECT. WHATEVER FORM IT TAKES. THE CITY OWNS THIS. WE ARE JUST, WHEN I SAY IT IS A GIFT, AND WE HAND OVER THE KEYS, I AM JUST SAYING THAT FIGURATIVELY. NOW THIS WOULD BE A GIVE. TO THE CITY. TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT THAT BELONGS TO THE CITY 100%.

>> IF I COULD OFFER THIS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM YOU MENTIONED, I THINK WE NEED TO SAY THIS ON THE RECORD SO NO ONE CALLS YOU OUT ON IT LATER. WHAT YOU ARE REFERENCING OUR BOND, YOU DID TOO AS WELL MS. BROWN, BOND AND THE LANGUAGE SAYS WE ARE REFERENCING IN AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE, DESIGNED AND FUNDING MATCH, $250. $250,000 MATCH WITH KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL . PERIOD. I SAY THAT TO SAY TO YOU AND TO YOU INTO THE PUBLIC, THE QUESTION MAYBE RIGHT NOW'S LIABILITY. NOT LEGALITY. I THINK THAT IS WELL-ESTABLISHED.

[02:35:05]

>> QUESTION BACK AT YOU, HAS THE STATE LOOKED AT ALTERNATIVE FUNDING FOR COYLE HOUSE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE YELL SEE MONEY TO REVERT BACK TO AN ELC ACCOUNT.

>> NOT SPECIFICALLY. ARE THERE OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES? SURE, YOU COULD GO TO YOUR GENERAL FUND AND DO THAT. YOU CAN PAY FOR THE COYLE HOUSE IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT WE DO WITH THIS MONEY? LETTING IT SIT? YOU ARE STILL PAYING INTEREST. THOSE ARE QUESTIONS FOR YOU BECAUSE THEY

ARE FOR YOU AND NOT ME. >> THAT IS WHERE I THINK I LAND. WE HAVE AN ASSET TODAY THAT NEEDS ATTENTION TODAY. AND WHAT WE ARE TALKING IS POTENTIALLY A FUTURE ASPECT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET ATTENTION TO TODAY. AND WHEN THIS PROJECT STARTED I HAD THREE KIDS. TWO ARE NOW IN HIGH SCHOOL. THAT IS HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE THIS HAS MADE ANY HEADWAY. SO IT IS INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE I SAT THROUGH AND ATTENDED ONE OF THOSE STRATEGY SESSIONS, LISTENING STRATEGIST. THROUGH ZOOM. IT WAS COVID-19 TIME. I LISTENED THROUGH ONE OF THOSE AND I WAS EXCITED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS SO COOL. I HAVE GOT ANOTHER KID GOING TO INAUDIBLE ] AND WHAT THAT ADDS TO THE GISD COMMUNITY IS TREMENDOUS. INTO THE CITY MANAGER'S POINT, I DO NOT KNOW THAT WE ARE IN A POSITION TODAY , NOTHING NEXT YEAR, THREE YEARS FROM NOW, TODAY, WHERE IT IS VIABLE, GIVEN , SO MANY NEEDS AND COYLE HOUSE IS SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIST. WE HAVE ONES THAT ARE WAY MORE IMPORTANT ONES ARE LESS IMPORTANT. WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE. NO ONE AT THIS TABLE IN MY OWN OPINION DISLIKES OR DISAGREES WITH THE CONCEPT OF THE ELC. IT IS MORE ABOUT USING WHAT WAS STALE FUNDING AND IDENTIFY IT AND TO PROGRESS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY MUCH IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR.

TO GET IT WHERE IT CAN BE USED AGAIN AT THE COMMUNITY AT

LARGE. >> ONE THING YOU DO HAVE TO ALSO CONSIDER IS , THE TEN-YEAR PERIOD, OR SOMETHING HAS TO BE

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A LOT EVEN. WE HAD THE DISCUSSION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT . THEY SAID THAT. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A LOT. THEY JUST WANT TO SEE SOME GOOD FAITH THAT THE CITY IS ACTUALLY GOING TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT PROPERTY.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT STALE? THAT PROPERTY HAS BEEN STANDING THERE UNIMPROVED. AND IT IS A CITY PARK. I BELIEVE THE CITY HAS A CONTRACT FOR THAT NOW. THERE ARE SOME BIG POTHOLES ON THAT PROPERTY. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS SAFE TO EVEN WALK ON. BUT IT IS A CITY PARK AND IT IS A CITY PROPERTY. AND SO IT WAS INTENDED FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER. I UNDERSTAND THINGS CHANGE AND THAT IS WHY IT IS LEGAL TO MOVE THAT MONEY AROUND. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT. THE CITY

[02:40:01]

YOU KNOW, I WOULD THINK TYPICALLY THAT BONDS ARE NOT SOLD UNTIL YOU ARE PULLING THE TRIGGER ON THE PROJECT. BUT IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY, YOU SAID ABOUT ONE PAYING INTEREST ON IT. APPARENTLY THOSE BONDS HAD NOT BEEN SOLD. AND AND SO I HOPE IT IS IN AN INTEREST-BEARING ACCOUNT THAT OFFSET SOME OF THAT. BUT I KNOW IT WILL NOT OFFICE AT ALL OF IT. BUT I UNDERSTAND IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

>> I THINK FROM THAT POINT, THE CITY, I'M NOT DEFENDING THEM AND THAT WAY. I THINK THEY DID HOLD UP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN , MAKING IT AVAILABLE FOR A MATCH. THE CONCEPT WAS

ABLE -- >> SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF. IS THAT A PARK. A DESIGNATED PARK?

>> I DON'T KNOW. WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION AND NOBODY KNOWS THE ANSWER, IS THAT A DESIGNATED PARK? THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE ON CITY MAPS THAT ARE DESIGNATED ON THE MAP THAT IS A PARK. BUT THEY ARE NOT LEGITIMATE PARKLAND. WE WILL RESEARCH IT AND OF COURSE WE WILL DISTRIBUTE THE ANSWER. WE DO NOT HAVE THE DEFINITIVE

ANSWER FOR THAT. >> BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF

UNDERDEVELOPED PARKS. >> YES, MA'AM.

>>

ANYTHING. >> WAIT, WAIT, SORRY, THIS IS FOR COUNCIL AND KRB'S INPUT. I WANT ONE PERSON TO TALK THE TIME. THERE'S A LOT OF TALKING OVER. WHERE ARE WE.

>> I WAS ANSWERING THEM MAYOR PRO TEM'S QUESTION. THE QUESTION WAS IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEDICATED AND DESIGNATED? DESIGNATED AS WE WRITE IN THAT IT IS A PARK.

IT NEEDS TO BE DEDICATED. AND I AM NOT AWARE THAT THIS HAS BEEN

DEDICATED. >> I HAVE BEEN REALLY SURPRISED IF IT HAS BEEN DEDICATED. BECAUSE GISD HOLDS THE TITLE. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD DEDICATE. I WOULD THINK THE DEDICATION, I WOULD THINK THE PLAN WAS FOR THE DEDICATION TO

BE SOMEDAY. >> I WOULD SUSPECT.

>> THAT WAS MY THING, I THINK THE LEGALITY OF IT BEING DESIGNATED, EVEN IF IT WAS DESIGNATED, ACTUALLY REMAINS QUESTIONABLE IF IT IS LEGAL TO BE DESIGNATED, GIVEN THAT CLAUSE TO BE DEDICATED. AND I QUESTION IF THAT IS A LEGITIMATE DEDICATION. THIS IS WHY I GO BACK TO THE VIABILITY OF THE LOCATION. THE ALTERNATIVE LOCATION. AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS BODY, LET'S START OVER AND DETERMINE THE CITY'S ROLE IN THIS.

APPARENTLY THAT IS BEEN KIND OF FOGGY. LET'S DEFINE THE ROLES FOR BOTH OF US. AND THEN COME BACK TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT ONE, WHAT IS THE BEST LOCATION? IS THIS THE VIABLE LOCATION? I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I AM NOT AGAINST THE ELC OR AGAINST PARTIAL FUNDING FOR THE ELC. BUT I WANT TO DO IT IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY AND ONE THAT IS VIABLE. WHEN THEY CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. THIS CITY, OVER THEIR HISTORY, THEY HAVE COME UP WITH 70 PIE IN THE SKY PLANS THAT DON'T COME TO FRUITION. I WANT TO DO SOMETHING WE CAN ACTUALLY ACHIEVE, A WINNING STRATEGY. I THINK IF WE COME BACK, TAKE A STEP BACK, LET'S START ONE, DEFINED THE CITY AND THE KRB'S ROLE TOGETHER.

LET'S COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AS A GROUP AND FIGURE OUT , FINDING $200,000 IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT. DON'T TAKE THAT THE

WRONG WAY. >>

>> FINDING $200,000 IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT. ALTHOUGH IF IT IS A RECESSION YEAR, GOOD LUCK. AS YOU SAID WE DO HAVE SOME SAVINGS AND WE ARE TRYING TO BRIDGE THE GAP WITH THE FUTURE WITH THAT SAVINGS. BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO ACHIEVE. SO I JUST SAY THAT AS KIND OF LIKE LET'S REEVALUATE THINGS. BOTH AS A CITY AND TOGETHER. AND LET'S GO FROM

[02:45:05]

THERE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THE WORDING, BUT TO SAY WHAT IS ON MY MIND, HOW

WOULD THAT NEXTEP BE? >> IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO SIT ON FOR A YEAR. WE WANT THERE TO BE PROGRESS. SO I WILL DEFER THIS TO MORE OF AN OPERATIONAL ISSUE.

>> YES I KNOW. YOU GUYS HAVE TASKED ME WITH A BUNCH OF

TASKS. >> I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF

CLARIFYING THAT. >> I WILL DO WHAT MY BOSS IS A.

RIGHT? YOU TOLD ME TO GO WORK ON COYLE HOUSE AND HAVE GIVEN ME MONEY AND WE WILL START MOVING ON THAT. I WILL BE GLAD TO BRING THIS GROUP INTO THOSE CONVERSATIONS. IN THAT CONVERSATION WE CAN STILL LOOK AT THE VIABILITY OF THE OTHER SITE. YOU KNOW WE STARTED, A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ALREADY.

SO IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO INTEGRATE THEM INTO THIS. BUT HERE IS MY CAVEAT. IF YOU ASK OUR OPINION IT WILL -- NOW IF YOU TALK TO ME IT IS NOT VIABLE. I DON'T NEED ANOTHER MOMENT TO TELL YOU THAT. THERE'S NOT ANOTHER MOMENT I NEED TO TELL YOU THAT TO GO OUT AND CONSTRUCT A $13 MILLION FACILITY IS NOT VIABLE. JUST LOOK AT CITY HALL.

>> AND LOOK AT THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

>> IT IS NOT VIABLE. IF YOU ASK ME THE QUESTIONS I CAN TELL YOU FINANCIALLY IT IS NOT VIABLE. AND I WILL SAY TO AT NAUSEA AND. NONE OF US, NOT THAT MY VOICE MATTERS ONE BIT, ARE OPPOSED TO THE MISSION. THE POINT WAS MADE ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION WHICH I TRIED TO BRING ALL THE TIME.

MULTIPLE WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH MUCH OF THE SAME GOAL. THAT IS WHY I WOULD SAY I WOULD GLADLY, WHEN WE ARE PLANNING, WHICH IS SOON FOR THE COYLE HOUSE. ONCE WE GET PAST THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND ALL THAT THAT ENTAILS, WE WILL GLADLY INTEGRATE KRB TO THE CONVERSATION AND SEE IF THEY -- BUT ULTIMATELY THE LEARNING CENTER OBJECTIVE HAS TO BE WHAT YOU DEFINE. IF IT IS A CITY PROJECT. WE WILL COME BACK. ALL OF THAT TO SAY AND PROBABLY A COUPLE MONTHS WE WILL SIT DOWN WITH THIS GROUP, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AGAIN TO INTEGRATE THEM TO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO DOING. AND HAPPILY COME BACK AND REPORT. ALL OF THAT WILL HAPPEN ONCE WE GET PAST KIDS KINGDOM AND WET ZONE. THAT IS EATING OUR LUNCH.

>> WITH THE PROJECT BE VIABLE AT PHASE ONE, $1 MILLION, BASIC

ART. >> I WOULD SAY NO AND I WILL TELL YOU WHY. YOU SAID THIS EARLIER, AS I LOOK THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THE CITY, OH MY GOSH, WE DON'T EVEN DO ROAD PROJECTS THE RIGHT WAY. I DO NOT MEAN TO CAST DISPERSIONS BUT WE WILL FUND THE DESIGN AND THREE YEARS LATER COME BACK AND -- PEOPLE FUND ENTIRE PROJECTS ARE YOU CANNOT BE CAUGHT UNDER INFLATIONARY PRESSURES AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OTHER THINGS. WE DO NOT HAVE A HISTORY OF DOING THAT. SO MY ANSWER WOULD BE, YOU DO IT ALL, WITH A LEGITIMATE PLAN OF ACTION. OR YOU WAIT AND FIND A VIABLE SOLUTION. I THINK THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFICULT. IF WE SCALED-DOWN THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER AS TO SOMETHING WE CAN CHEW ON, WHY WOULD YOU PUT IT THERE? YOU SCALED IT SO MUCH, SO VERY DIFFERENT THAN THAT BEAUTIFUL RENDERING. THEN MAYBE IT DOES FIT BETTER FOR COYLE HOUSE. YOU TEST ME WITH SOLUTIONS. I DON'T KNOW AT THIS STAGE WITH MY RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE VIABILITY FINANCIALLY AND OPERATIONALLY. OF THAT LOCATION WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY PLANNED. AND THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT ISN'T. I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. I HAVE SEEN

NO INDICATORS THAT IT IS. >> THIS IS WHERE I GO BACK.

AGAIN I KNOW YOU ARE NOT ADVOCATING FOR THE COYLE HOUSE AND YOUR POSITION IS WHAT THE COUNCIL WANTS. THE COYLE HOUSE ALREADY HAS TO HAVE MAINTENANCE BY STAFF. HAS TO BE CLEANED.

AND WE ARE ABOUT TO DO A FULL RENOVATION. THE YARD HAS TO BE MOWED AND MAINTAINED. Y'ALL ARE A BIG PLAYER IN THAT AS WELL, THE EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE. SO THERE IS ALREADY THE BONES, FOUNDATION IS THEY ARE, FOR THE ACHIEVABLE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER. I AM CAMPAIGNING FOR THAT. I WANT TO

[02:50:03]

HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES. >> JUST A COUPLE FINANCIAL QUESTIONS. GISD, DID THEY SPECIFY SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNTS THEY WERE WILLING TO PUT INTO?

>> NO, THEY ARE INTERESTED AND THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL. I HAVE OPENED UP TO AT LEAST ONE BOARD MEMBER, AND HE SAID BRING ME YOUR PLAN FORWARD. AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO WITH A PLAN FORWARD BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE CITY. YOU KNOW , IT IS A CATCH 22 KIND OF SCENARIO.

>> THE OTHER ONE, MAYBE IT IS ALSO A CATCH 22, BUT DID YOUR CONSULTANTS GIVE YOU A BENCHMARK ON HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU TO RAISE MONEY? AND WHAT DO THE BENCHMARKS LOOK LIKE?

>> I THINK WE WERE IN AN ENVIRONMENT AT THAT TIME WERE IT WAS PRESENTED, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC. WE DO NOT HAVE A TIMELINE. AND IT IS CONDITIONED ON A LOT OF THINGS.

YOU KNOW? FOR ONE THING, WHETHER WE CAN GET CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS SO WE CAN TAKE IT TO THE GISD AND TAKE IT TO SOME OF OUR OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES AND SAY HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO PUT INTO THIS? THIS IS HOW MUCH IT WILL COST FOR PHASE ONE. WE DID NOT JUST THROW A DART AT A WALL TO FIGURE OUT THE MILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG. WE HAD A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT ON THE BOARD THAT PULLED SOME NUMBERS FOR THIS.

SO YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVED THAT THE $1 MILLION PRICE RANGE IS ACHIEVABLE. WITH THE 200,000 FROM THE CITY. BUT YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS TO CONSIDER AS FAR AS TRYING TO COME UP WITH A TIMELINE. OUR CONSULTANTS AT THAT TIME DID

NOT HAVE -- >> SORRY.

>> NO, GO AHEAD. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT WITHIN THE LAST WEEK, WE HAVE A ONE MILLION-DOLLAR FIRST PHASE. BUT WE WERE VERY EMPHATIC ABOUT SAYING THE INITIAL SITE WORK AD TO BE DONE AND COULD BE OVERLAPPED THEN WITH THE NEXT PHASE. SO IT WAS, IT WAS LOOKING AT A TOTAL WITHOUT GETTING THE TOTAL DOLLARS UPFRONT. SO THAT WE COULD MAYBE EVENTUALLY PUT IN A BUILDING, MAYBE THE NEXT PHASE WOULD BE PUTTING IN A BUILDING THAT COULD HAVE A CLASSROOM THAT CAN BE SPLIT INTO TWO. SO YOU COULD HAVE 30, 60 STUDENTS OR SOMETHING.

>> I THINK WHAT SHE IS TRYING TO SAY IS THAT ANY PHASE THAT WE WOULD DO ON IT WOULD BE WITH THE COMPLETED PROJECT IN MIND.

IN OTHER WORDS WE WOULD NOT PUT THINGS IN THERE THAT HAVE TO BE TORN OUT OR REDONE WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE FINISHED PRODUCT. SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DID CONSIDER.

>> JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS. Y'ALL KNOW THAT I AM ONE OF YOU. RIGHT? WE ALL GET THAT. OKAY. KEEP THAT IN MIND AS I GO. SO I JUST WANTED, THE THING I FOCUSED ON IS THAT THIS IS ABOUT THE MISSION. RIGHT? THE MISSION IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION. THIS IS ONE WAY TO DO IT. I ACTUALLY WENT OUT THERE TODAY AND I DROVE AROUND THERE THREE TIMES.

THEN I WENT AND I SAT ON THAT CULVERT IN THE MUD IN THE WATER. IT IS NOT SAFE. AND I HAD SEEN THE DRAWINGS. I HAD SEEN SOME OF THE ITERATIONS, SOME OF THE DRAWINGS. AND I LOOK AT IT KIND OF LIKE A CITY MANAGER. OKAY HERE, IS THIS, I SIT HERE AND LOOK AND I KNOW WHAT THE PICTURES ARE, BUT I START REALLY LOOKING. RIGHT? AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I'M GOING MAYBE I'M SORT OF THAT A TYPE AND DON'T GET THE VISION.

UNLESS YOU DO A DRIVE THROUGH WITH BUSES, I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T SEE PEOPLE COMING IN TO ARK? THERE IS NO PLACE TO PARK. IT IS OPERATIONALLY, I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE, AND A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED. I SAY THAT JUST TO SORT OF SAY I AM ABOUT THE MISSION. I AM NOT SURE THAT I

[02:55:02]

I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THE TRAIL BUT THAT IS NOT A GOOD

IDEA. >> IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT HERE WE NEED SOME ACTIVITY AND PEOPLE TO SEE THINGS. WET ZONE IS NOT GOING TO BE OPEN, KIDS KINGDOM INAUDIBLE ] AND IT GOES ON AND ON. WE HAVE A FACILITY HERE THAT I THINK, I THINK IT IS IDEAL. WE ALREADY STARTED IT.

YOU KNOW, SOMEONE ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS. IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR BUT THAT BECOMES THE KRB HEADQUARTER, THE EDUCATIONAL AREA, ESSENTIALLY WHATEVER IT LOOKS LIKE, IT JUST SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GIVE TO THE CITIZENS AND WE CAN DELIVER OUR MISSION AND WE CAN DO IT IN TWO YEARS AND NOT 10 YEARS. 15 YEARS. EVERYBODY ASKS WHAT IT IS. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS AN ABANDONED GRAVEYARD.

>> IT COULD BE. YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL THEY START DIGGING.

>> THOSE ARE JUST KIND OF MY COMMENTS. AGAIN MY FOCUS IS ON THE MISSION AND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CHOOSE THE MISSION WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS, PARAMETERS, THE REALITIES. I GUESS THAT IS WHERE I CONNECT. LOOK AT THE REALITIES OF WHAT WE'VE GOT, WHAT WE CAN DO. I JUST THINK THAT I WOULD RATHER PERSONALLY AT 200,000, GOING TO COYLE HOUSE AND THEN SEED MONEY FOR THE OTHER THINGS THAT COME AFTER. IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN 200,000 THERE. IF I HEARD COUNCIL CORRECTLY, I THINK INAUDIBLE ] TO DO THAT IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT KR BE WOULD.

WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR ANYSORT OF BUY-IN RIGHT NOW BUT FOR A LOT OF REASONS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE. I AM

SORRY. >> HAS ANYBODY, DOES ANYBODY WANT TO SPEAK AGAIN ON THIS OR HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I

WANT TO TRY TO LAND THE PLANE. >> I AM VERY INTERESTED ALSO IN THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND. IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER.

>> OKAY. I AM GOING TO TRY TO GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OBJECTIVE IS NOW. SO WHAT I SEEM TO HEAR IS THAT THERE IS AN APPETITE TO REVIVE THE LOCATION OF THE ELC.

POTENTIALLY COYLE HOUSE. WE WANT TO ALLOW Y'ALL TIME TO CONSIDER THAT AS A BOARD. AND COME BACK TO US. EMAIL OR IN PERSON, MEETING WITH US INDIVIDUALLY, WHATEVER THAT IS.

AND THEN FOR YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER, TO COORDINATE WHAT ONE, THE CITY'S INVOLVEMENT WITH THIS IS GOING FORWARD. AND WORK WITH KRB ON COMING BACK TO US IN THE FUTURE ON WHATEVER HAS BEEN DECIDED OR NOT DECIDED, RECOMMENDED. NOW THAT

[03:00:02]

THAT IS WHERE WE ARE. >> I WOULD ADD THAT THE CURRENT $200,000 IS GOING TO GO TO COYLE HOUSE.

>> THAT IS ALREADY -- >> I JUST WANTED THAT SAID.

>> IF THE COUNCIL IDEA WAS TO REALLOCATE THAT MONEY, I WILL WOULD NOT WANT TO REALLOCATE THAT MONEY. WE NEED TO DO THE

COYLE HOUSE. SORRY, SIR. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS CLEAR.

>> GOOD. >> I THINK EVENTUALLY THE VOICES STARTED TO HARMONIZE A LITTLE BIT. AND THE SHORT ANSWER FOR ME IS UNLESS YOU TELL ME THIS IS PARTY NUMBER ONE, IT WILL FIT IN RIGHT AS WE MOVE WITH COYLE HOUSE OR WE REACH OUT AND BEGIN THOSE EVALUATIONS.

>> I WOULD LEAVE PRIORITY NUMBER ONE IS --

>> AND WE WILL NATURALLY INTEGRATE INTO THAT PROCESS.

WHEN WE BEGIN TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT WE WILL REACH OUT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH KRB AND BEGIN THE EVALUATION PROCESS.

AND HOPEFULLY INTEGRATE THE STAKEHOLDERS.

>> THAT GIVES YOU TIME TO REALLY RECONSIDER THE ELC

LOCATION AS A BOARD. >> IS THE BOARD MAINTAINING THE

ELC PROPERTY? >> I DON'T KNOW. I WILL FIND

OUT. I DON'T KNOW. >>

>> SOMEWHAT. >>

>> I WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS BUT I DO NOT KNOW.

>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY GOOD?

>> SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, VERY MUCH, FOR JUST GIVING US SOME TIME. AND THE CONSIDERATION THAT YOU HAVE DONE. IT IS A CHALLENGING SITE. WE HAVE KNOWN THAT. OR IT WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE. SO WE ARE TRYING TO WORK OUT A SOLUTION AND WE ARE WILLING TO PUT SWEAT EQUITY IN IT. SKIN IN THE GAME. WE HAVE ALREADY GOT MONEY THAT HAS BEEN ENCUMBERED.

WE HAVE THAT MONEY. THAT MONEY TO DELEGATE MORE FUNDS. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE BOARD BUT I CAN SAY WE ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATIVE OF THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US TONIGHT. THE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND HANDS-ON FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE HAVE ALL GOT A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.

>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YELL. COUNCIL,

[3D. Wet Zone and Kids Kingdom Update. (30 minutes)]

>>> OKAY, IT IS 9:16 P.M. AND WE HAVE COME BACK TOGETHER AS COUNCIL TO DISCUSS ITEM 3D, WET ZONE AND KIDS KINGDOM UPDATES.

BRITNEY. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BRITTANY, THE DIRECTOR OF COUNTY ENGAGEMENT. I WILL BREEZE THROUGH THE 94 SLIDES I HAVE FOR YOU IN HOPES OF GETTING OUT OF HERE BY MIDNIGHT. I KID, IT IS FOUR SLIDES. I AM REALLY HERE JUST TO ANSWER QUESTION MORE THAN ANYTHING. THERE WE GO. TOO FAR. TECHNOLOGY. SEE? THE THE END.

SO WE CAME BACK TO THIS BODY IN APRIL TO TALK ABOUT THE TWO MOST FROM YOUR PARKS, WET ZONE AND KIDS KINGDOM. WE PRESENTED TO YOU THE NUMEROUS ISSUES THAT NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION WITH BOTH PARKS IN REGARDS TO SAFETY, FUNCTIONALITY, AND OVERALL AESTHETIC APPEAL. THE BODY AUTHORIZE STAFF TO BEGIN WORKING IMMEDIATELY BY APPROVING A VARIETY OF FUNDS FROM DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES AT $2.5 MILLION. SO EVERYONE KNOWS THE BOND PASSED SO THAT MONEY IS REALLY SECURED. TODAY IS THE UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE PROGRESS OF BOTH PARKS SO FAR. I WILL START WITH KIDS KINGDOM, THIS ONE IS RELATIVELY QUICK AND SIMPLE. WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH MULTIPLE VENDORS TO EXPLORE SERVICING SOLUTIONS. THE SERVICE OF KIDS KINGDOM IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST PRICE TAG OF EVERYTHING WE WILL DO WHEN IT COMES TO THIS. THE SERVICING THAT WE PUT IN WILL AFFECT EVERY OTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WILL BE IMPROVED THERE.

THING WE ARE LOOKING AT IS THE TURF THAT IS REALLY POPULAR RIGHT NOW TOO. WE ARE GETTING QUOTES ON TURF AND THE TILES.

COMING IN AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS. WE WILL MAKE THE DETERMINATION ON WHAT IS THE BEST FIT FOR KIDS

[03:05:04]

WE ALSO ENGAGE THE VENDORS TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE PLAY FEATURES AT KIDS KINGDOM AS WELL AS VARIOUS OTHER REPAIRS, CRACKS, PAINT, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE HAVE GIVEN ALL VENDORS WE HAVE SPOKEN TO A DEADLINE OF MAY 10TH FOR THEIR FINAL QUOTE FOR DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS. WE WILL THEN HAVE STAFF EVALUATE THEM AND MAKE THE DETERMINATION ON THE BEST

FIT. >> BRITNEY?

>> MA'AM? >> WHEN YOU SAY TURF IS THAT

ARTIFICIAL? >> ARTIFICIAL TURF. IS INTERESTING, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS 10 GENTLY OUT THERE.

AND HAS WE SPOKE TO MORE PARKS, THERE ARE EIGHT OR NINE PARKS THAT WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION UPDATES THIS SUMMER AND GISD IS USING ARTIFICIAL TURF. WE ARE TALKING TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CITIES TO SEE WHAT WE CAN USE AND THE BEST QUALITY TO LAST. MAYBE A HYBRID, JUST DEPENDING ON DIFFERENT PLAY FEATURES. THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL EVALUATE AS "BACK.

>> THANK YOU. >> MY SECOND UPDATE IS IN REGARDS TO WHAT ZONE. YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE NEED OVER 100 REPAIRS AND WE SPLIT THOSE UP INTO MINOR REPAIRS THAT COULD BE DONE THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING AND REACHING OUT TO VENDORS TO BRING THEM BACK TO DO LARGER REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS. THE WATER FEATURES IN THE TURTLE COVE, THE RESURFACING OF THE POOL, THE REPAIR WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO THE SLIDES. THOSE ARE BIGGER ITEMS. FILTRATION SYSTEMS, THE PUMP. THAT IS A BIGGER ITEM THAT WOULD NEED TO GO OUT TO VENDORS TO TAKE A LOOK AT. IT IS BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. BUT I WILL SAY CHRIS PATTERSON AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE A BANG UP JOB AND ANTICIPATE ALL THEIR ITEMS TO BE DONE THIS WEEK WITH REGARDS TO THINGS THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CAN DO IN-HOUSE. WE ARE A LITTLE LATE TO THE GAME. WITH MEMORIAL DAY AROUND THE CORNER AND ALMOST ALL OF THE LARGE AND REPUTABLE VENDORS THAT WOULD DO THE REPAIRS WE ARE LOOKING TO DO AT THE WET ZONE ARE BOOKED UP FOR THE SUMMER. SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LEADTIMES OF EQUIPMENT ANYWHERE RANGING FROM 8 TO 14 WEEKS. THAT DOES NOT EVEN COUNT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND GETTING" WITH THE VENDORS. ONCE WE ARE IN THE QUEUE AND GET THE EQUIPMENT ORDERED WE ARE LOOKING AT A COUPLE WEEKS AT MINIMUM TO INSTALL AND REPAIR THE PROJECTS. MY THUNDER WAS STOLEN AND THAT IS FINE.

BECAUSE OF THE LARGE SCALE NATURE OF THE REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED AT WET ZONE AND QUITE HONESTLY NOT REALLY SURE THAT IT SHOULD HAVE OPENED LAST YEAR BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE DID NOT HAVE ANY INSTANCES OF INJURY OR DAMAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY, THE WET ZONE WILL NOT BE OPENING FOR THE 2024 SEASON.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TAKEN LIGHTLY. WE HAVE COME TO THE DECISION THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO UTILIZE AND LOVE WET ZONE, TO REALLY GIVE THEM A PRODUCT THAT THEY FEEL SAFE IN. THAT IS DESERVING OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND FOR THAT WE WILL NOT OPEN THE SEASON. BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GRAND REOPENING, WHICH EVERYONE WILL BE INVITED TO. THERE WILL BE RIBBONS AND GIANT SCISSORS IN

THE 2025 SUMMER. >> HOW IS THAT COMMUNICATED? I HEAR PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP THERE ON MEMORIAL DAY.

>> OUR FIRST METHOD WAS TO NOTIFY YOUTH COUNCIL. YOU SHOULD NEVER HEAR FROM PUBLIC BUT YOU SHOULD HEAR FROM STAFF FIRST. WE ARE SOCIALIZING SOCIAL MEDIA, WE WILL PUT A BANNER ON THE WEBSITE, ONE THING THAT IS GREAT ABOUT COMMUNICATION WITH PARKS AND REC IS THAT I HAVE SAY OVER THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT. SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE A FOCUS ON. WE RECOGNIZE THE DISRUPTION IT WILL CAUSE THE RESIDENTS OF ROWLETT WITH THE BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE UPLAND. AND WE WILL DO, JUST LIKE WE DID FOR THE BOND ELECTION, TELL THEM AND TELL THEM AGAIN AND THEN THREE TIMES AND THEN FIVE MORE TIMES. WE OF COURSE WILL ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE THAT DID NOT KNOW AND WE WILL BOB AND WE FOR THAT.

BUT WE WILL ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF ROWLETT THAT THIS FACILITY WILL BE CLOSED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT THEY KNOW WHY. THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHY.

>> ARE THOSE YOUR SLIDES? >> OKAY. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM CLEAR THAT THOSE COMMENTS I AM GOING TO MAKE ARE NOT DIRECTED AT YOU. YOU ARE NEW TO THE CITY AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE. ADDRESSING THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES AND YOU HAVE TAKEN OVER A LOT OF MESSES. I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND

[03:10:02]

$30,000 A YEAR IS UNSUSTAINABLE, ESPECIALLY FOR A LARGE ASSET. NOW WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT WE FOCUS ON IMPROVING AND GETTING THESE TWO ASSETS IN TIP TOP SHAPE AND NOW THAT WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE ALL SUMMER, FALL, AND WINTER TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING AND REPAIRING THE WET ZONE, I FULLY EXPECT TO DO A BIG GRAND REOPENING OF THE WET ZONE NEXT YEAR SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO ENTERING THE PARK AROUND. INTO ONE OF THE NICEST AMENITIES THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. COUNCIL, PLEASE, COMMENT, QUESTION, GO FOR IT.

>> HAVE WE ALREADY SOLD ANY TICKETS FOR THE SEASON, SEASON

PASSES, RESERVATIONS? >> NO SIR, WE SHUT DOWN ALL RESERVATIONS AS SOON AS ALL SIGNS REPORTING TO AT LEAST A DELAYED OPENING. HAVE WE HAD TO CANCEL ANYTHING?

>> WE OPENED REGISTRATION ON APRIL 1ST SO WE HAD SOME PARTICIPANTS REGISTER, BUT SEASON PASSES, I BELIEE THERE WAS ONLY A HANDFUL. AND THE RESERVATIONS, THERE WAS THREE AND I CONTACTED THEM WITH THE INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> AND WERE ANY SEASON PASSES GIVEN AWAY AS PRIZES? AT ANY EVENTS WITHIN THE PAST SIX MONTHS? THAT IS OFTEN A GIVEAWAY AT THE SWEETHEART DANCE. JUST SO YOU KNOW.

>> WE CAN DOUBLE CHECK, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, BUT WE WILL

DOUBLE CHECK FOR SURE. >> I THINK THAT QUESTION GOES TO, OF COURSE WE WILL REIMBURSE EVERY PENNY.

>> AND IF NOT THEN MAKE IT VALID FOR NEXT YEAR. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SOLUTIONS, WE WILL MAKE IT RIGHT WITH THE

RESIDENTS OF ROWLETT. >> THIS IS FOR DAVID, THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE DURING THE CITIZEN INPUT PORTION OF THE MEETING ABOUT PERHAPS THE WET ZONE COULD OR SHOULD BE OPERATING AS AN ENTERPRISING FUND. AND IT DOES NOT. CAN YOU

CLARIFY WHY THAT IS? >> FIRSTLY, THE STATEMENT IS INCORRECT. IT DOES NOT, NOT A TRUE ENTERPRISE FUND, BUT

[03:15:03]

[03:20:43]

>>> YES, ITEM 4. DISCUSSED CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR MAY 7,

2024, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. >> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO PULL IT BUT I HAVE A CORRECTION TO THE MINUTES. SIX A AND B SAY TABLE, IT SHOULD BE POSTPONED. YOU CAN ONLY TABLE 2.

>> I DON'T REMEMBER. >> THAT IS WHAT I REMEMBER

HEARING. >> SURE. I DON'T KNOW. IF THAT IS WHAT I SAID THEN IT IS THE MINUTES.

>> AND I WILL BE BACK TO MAKE SURE.

>> EXACTLY. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE Y'ALL? ALL RIGHT. IT IS 9:35 P.M. WE ARE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.