Sep 03, 2024 City Council Meetings

[1. CALL TO ORDER FOR WORK SESSION]

[00:00:12]

>> OKAY. GOOD EVENING. IT IS 7:00 P.M. THIS IS TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2024. THE CONFERENCE ROOM IN CITY HALL.

AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551.271 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THIS MEETING MAY BE CONVENIENT TO CLOSING DATE OF SESSION AND THE CITY OF ROWLETT RESERVES RIGHT TO RECONVENE, RECESS, OR REALIGNED THE REGULAR SESSION OR CALLED EXECUTIVE SESSION ORDER THIS AT ANY TIME. COMMONS OR REQUEST TO SPEAK FORMS CAN BE FOUND INSIDE THE DOOR OF THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS ARE OUT HERE IN THE HALL. SO DO WE HAVE ANY

[3A. Direction regarding the inclusion of the Library in the City’s Municipal Complex. (30 minutes)]

MUNICIPAL COMPLEX. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITIZENS. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. SO WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS A PROBLEM THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SOLVE. OUR CURRENT LIBRARY LOCATION IS IN A LEASED SPACE. IT IS FUNDED AND THE GENERAL FUND BY THE TAX RATE. WE DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE LIBRARY POSTURE VIA SIZE. WE ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR LEASE RATE INCREASES. AND WE MADE THE DESIGN WITH THE IDEA OF THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX BEING CREATED. WE THOUGHT, WELL, IS THERE AN OPTION TO MOVE THE LIBRARY TO THE NEW MUNICIPAL COMPLEX OR ANOTHER CITY-OWNED PROPERTY? SO, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY AS A THIRD SPACE. THE LIBRARY IS MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO OBTAIN READING MATERIALS. THE ROWLETT PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVES AS A THIRD SPACE FOR RESIDENTS. IT IS NOT HOME OR WORK, BUT INSTEAD A PLACE WHERE CITIZENS CAN FORM A COMMUNITY PROGRAM THE LIBRARY SERVES AS A MEETING PLACE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND WHERE THEY CAN PLAY CHESS. SENIOR CITIZENS CAN GET BOOKS AND CONVERSATIONS SO THEY DO NOT FEEL SO LONELY. IT IS ONE OF THE LAST PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND JUST EXISTS. SO ON THIRD SPACE, OUR LIBRARY IS A LITTLE SMALL. OR WE ARE ENCOUNTERING SOME SIZE ISSUES WITH IT. THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH FROM OUR SUMMER READING FESTIVAL AT THE END OF OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM LAST YEAR.

OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM BRINGS IN A LOT OF KIDS, ADULTS. KIDS ARE NOT ABLE TO USE THE SCHOOL LIBRARY SO WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY BOLD PROGRAMS THIS YEAR AND SURVEYS OF PARTICIPANTS FROM THIS YEAR, THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM, REVEALED THAT MANY TIMES THAT THE PROGRAMS, THEY FELT CROWDED. HERE IS ANOTHER SHOT OF ONE OF OUR REALLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. IT WAS A BUILD A BUDDY PROGRAM, IF ANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP .

>> AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BUILD-A-BEAR?

>> IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BUILD-A-BEAR. BUT KIDS GOT TO MAKE A READING BUDDY. THEY GOT TO HAVE THE TOY. THEY GOT TO STUFF IT. THEY GOT TO GET A T-SHIRT FOR IT. THEY ALSO GOT TO NAME IT AND GET A LITTLE ADOPTION CERTIFICATE. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE GOT OUR ACTIVITY ROOM FULL AND THEN THERE IS A LINE OF PATRONS WAITING ALL DOWN THE AISLES.

AND THE LINE SNAKED. AND IT SNAKED ALL OVER TO OUR CIRCULATION DESK. SO WE ARE ENCOUNTERING SOME FULL PROGRAMS. WE ARE PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR HOW TO ACCOMMODATE THINGS BETTER. BUT THEN THERE ARE THINGS WE REALLY CAN'T ACCOMMODATE FOR REQUESTS TO UTILIZE LIBRARIES -- TO UTILIZE THE LIBRARY FOR MEETINGS OF SCOUT TROOPS, OR SCHOOL GROUPS ARE REGULARLY TURNED AWAY. WHEN SCHOOL SHUT DOWN EARLY IN MAY BECAUSE OF, WE HAD A BIG STORM, POWER ISSUES, AND SO THE SCHOOL

[00:05:02]

THERE WERE PARENTS ALL OVER THE SHELVES. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT, BUT IT WAS REALLY, REALLY CROWDED. AND PARENTS HAD THIS EXPECTATION THAT THE LIBRARY WOULD BE BIG ENOUGH FOR THEIR THING AND IT REALLY WASN'T. SO THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE ARE DOING A LEGO ROBOTICS TEAM THAT WE COMPETE AT. THIS IS THE GAME BOARD FOR OUR ROBOTICS TEAM. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS VERY LARGE. SO THEY START BUILDING THEIR GAMEBOARD AND ALL OF THEIR LITTLE LEGO ROBOTIC COMPONENTS. THEY START BUILDING THAT IN THE FALL AND THEN THEIR GAMEBOARD SITS IN THE CORNER OF THE ACTIVITY ROOM UNTIL ABOUT JANUARY WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR COMPETITION. SO EVEN PROGRAMS ASIDE, JUST THE STUFF WE ARE LOSING IS TAKING UP A LOT OF SPACE. SO LIBRARIES ACTUALLY HAVE STANDARD -- JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL LIBRARIES REGARDLESS OF THEIR BUDGET OR THEIR TOWN SIZE, THAT THERE IS STANDARD FOR WHAT MAKES A LIBRARY AND WHAT -- HOW MANY SEATS THEY SHOULD HAVE. HOW BIG THEY SHOULD BE. AND SO THE TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HAS THREE LEVELS OF STANDARDS.

THERE IS THE REGULAR STANDARD, EXCELLENT, AND EXEMPLARY. THEY HAVE A RECOMMENDATION BASED ON POPULATION FOR HOW BIG YOUR LIBRARY SHOULD BE. AND THE BASELINE THAT THEY RECOMMEND WITH POPULATION IS 1030 70 SQUARE FEET. IF YOU LOOK AT -- AND WE ARE GOING TO GO RIGHT BACK. IF YOU LOOK AT THE TABLE ON THE RIGHT, THAT IS TEXAS LIBRARIES WITH A POPULATION BETWEEN 45,000 AND 70,000. WE RANKED THOSE ACCORDING TO THE SIZE OF THEIR LIBRARY. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ROWLETT IS THIRD.

IN PREPARATION FOR THE FACILITIES STUDY, IN 2019 THE LIBRARY, WE DID SOME SURVEYS OF PATRONS AND THEN WE ALSO DID A COUPLE OF FOCUS GROUPS WITH AN ARCHITECT FROM THE 720 DESIGN FIRM. WHEN WE DID SURVEYS, THE THREE ELEMENTS THAT CITIZENS SAID THEY WANTED IN A NEW FACILITY FOR THE LIBRARY WAS COMFORTABLE SEATING, DRIVE-UP MATERIALS RETURNED, AND POWER CONNECTIONS FOR EVERYONE'S DEVICES. WHEN WE ASKED THEM, WHAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM USING THE LIBRARY, THEY SAID THE BARRIERS WERE INSUFFICIENT PARKING, A LIMITED COLLECTION, AND NO PLACES TO SIT. WHEN WE HAD FOCUS GROUPS AND WE ASKED THEM TO PICK OUT PRIORITIES THAT THEY THINK THE NEW LIBRARY -- A NEW LIBRARY SHOULD HAVE, MULTIPURPOSE SPACES, TECH CLASSROOMS, READING NOTES, INDIVIDUAL STUDY AREAS, AND DEDICATED ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES OR THINGS THAT THEY CHOSE. AND THIS JUST HIGHLIGHTS THE CONCERN THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW FOR THE MONTHLY RENT THAT WE ARE PAYING. THAT RENT IS SCHEDULED TO INCREASE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. SO THOSE -- THE SPACE ISSUES AND THE INCREASING RENT -- LED US TO ASK SHOULD THE LIBRARY BE INCLUDED IN MUNICIPAL COMPLEX DEVELOPMENT?

>> WE HAVE GOT FIVE OPTIONS. ONE IS OF COURSE TO ALWAYS DO NOTHING. NO NEED FOR TRADITIONAL BUDGET. OF COURSE, THE CHALLENGES WITH LEASING SPACE. THEN YOU HAVE THE EXISTING SORT OF PEACE OF THE ARRANGEMENT. WE LUCKED OUT IF YOU WERE TO DO NOTHING, BUT THEN WHY SHOULD WE PLAN FOR? NO

[00:10:02]

DOUBLED THE SIZE OF THE CURRENT LIBRARY. CITY HALL, SAME TIME FRAME. THE CHALLENGE HERE IS THE 1.2 CENTS. IF WE WERE TO TRY TO MEET THAT SORT OF BASIC STANDARD FOR THE CURRENT POPULATION AT 40,000 SQUARE FEET, THEN WE HAVE GOT OUR $10 MILLION SO YOUR CHALLENGE MOVED TO 2.1 CENT INCREASE IN THE TAX RATES. SO THAT GIVES US THAT STANDARD SIZED LIBRARY, GANG CO-LOCATED WITH A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR TAX RATES. COULD MODERATE WITH VALUES GO UP, BUT THAT IS OUR CURRENT ESTIMATE.

OPTION 5. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT ORIGINALLY IN OUR ORIGINAL PLAN IS TO LEAVE THE COURTS AND THE POTENTIAL FACILITIES IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING. WE HAD RESERVED SOME FUNDING TO SUPPORT THAT, BUT IT IS NOW BECOMING CLEAR THAT THE TWO PROPERTIES, THAT THEY BECOME INCORPORATED IN THE COMPLEX. SO WE ARE MOVING THEM OUT. AND NOW WE HAVE A BUILDING THAT IS GOING TO BE VACANT SOMETIME IN '27. THERE IS SOME OUTGOING ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE WE USE FOR STORAGE AND STUFF LIKE THAT PLUS PARKING IN THAT AREA.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW OF COURSE IS WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST TO CLEAR THAT BUILDING OUT. THAT BUILDING HAS BEEN CHOPPED UP PRETTY DRAMATICALLY. IT HAS THE ELEVATORS SO THAT IS A+. BUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO GO DOWN THERE AND GOT IT AND START OVER. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT YOU HAVE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE. BUT WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE IS A BIG QUESTION MARK. SO THERE IS CERTAINLY A COST FUNDING UNCERTAINTY AND THE FACT WE ARE REALLY NOT LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT WE COULD FIND THAT FUNDING IN 27, 28 TIMEFRAME, PROBABLY UNTIL '28-29. IT WOULD ALLOW US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXISTING BUILDING THAT WE ARE GOING TO DEDICATE AS THE COMPLEX. THOSE WERE THE FIVE OPTIONS TOGETHER. I CAN NOW ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE OR CHASE DOWN OTHER

OPTIONS IF YOU LIKE. >> WELL, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE STAFF RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AND LOOKING AT ALL THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE. I KNOW THAT THERE, THERE WAS A DREAM TO HAVE THE LIBRARY HERE ONE DAY, BUT WE WOULD RUN INTO ALL THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE HAVE NOW WHICH IS SPACE, PLUS THE COST OF REDOING THIS BUILDING AND RE-ENGINEERING WOULD BE VERY SUBSTANTIAL. SO I THINK AT LEAST FOR ME THE OPTION SEEMS TO BE PRETTY CLEAR TOWARD 5. I'M CURIOUS WHAT MY COLLEAGUES

HAVE TO SAY. >> OPTION 5 IS THE SMARTEST WAY TO GO PERSONALLY. THE BUDGET CAN GO FASTER THAN FILLING OUT THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX. AND PARKING WOULD BE GREAT. YEAH. I

[00:15:05]

>> ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH OPTION 5 IS THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE COST. DO WE HAVE ANY KIND OF WILD ESTIMATE AS TO WHAT --

>> IT IS GOING TO BE CHEAPER THAN ANY OF THE OTHERS.

>> WELL, THAT IS GOOD. >> I AM NOT SAYING THAT TO BE COY. TO TELL YOU SOMETHING NOW WOULD REALLY JUST BE A WILD GUESS. BUT THERE ARE TWO THINGS YOU KNOW. YOU HAVE GOT ABOUT $5 MILLION IN DEBT CAPACITY. AND IF YOU HAD TO FIND ADDITIONAL GAP MONEY, IT IS STILL GOING TO BE MORE THAN LIKELY SIGNIFICANTLY LESS. SO CAN WE GIVE YOU A NUMBER NOW? NO. AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT UNTIL WE START GETTING TO THAT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT. THE ONLY REASON I CAN GIVE YOU NUMBERS ON THE OTHERS IS BECAUSE OF COURSE THERE ARE CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATES FOR THE OTHER OPTIONS, BUT IT SHOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THOSE OTHER OPTIONS.

>> OKAY. BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE LONGER -- AND IN TERMS OF ADDING IT TO THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX, I THINK IDEALLY, SURE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. BUT IN TERMS OF FUNDING THAT AND ALSO YOU ARE TAKING UP MORE OF THAT PARK SPACE THAT WE PROMISED WOULD BE A PART OF THIS MUNICIPAL COMPLEX. SO I REALLY DON'T -- THAT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A REALLY VIABLE OPTION TO ME. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT. I THINK HAVING A LIBRARY DOWNTOWN WOULD BE NICE, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND THIS IS PRIME PROPERTY. YOU KNOW? WHEN WE MOVE OUT OF THIS BUILDING, THIS IS A PRIME LOCATION. IT IS A PRIME LOCATION FOR SOMETHING ELSE THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE MORE, MORE OF A FIT FOR DOWNTOWN. SO THAT LEAVES OPTION 5. I THINK I HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. THAT TO ME LOOKS

LIKE THE BEST. >> I WOULD TEND TO AGREE WITH OPTION 5. BUT, LIKE YOU SAID, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION. CERTAINLY, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST. THE OTHER OPTIONS I THINK WOULD BE GREAT. THE MUNICIPAL. BUT THE COST AND THE KNOWN FACT THAT WE WOULD HAVE

TO INCREASE TAXES. >> IT SEEMS LIKE THE DECISION POINT TODAY IS LESS ABOUT OPTION 1 VERSUS 5 BECAUSE OPTION 1 AND 5 TODAY ARE EFFECTIVELY THE SAME . WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY. OPTIONS 2, 3, AND 4 IN THE VISIBLE COMPLEX, NOW THERE ARE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN. SEE MORE CANDIDATES AND FIGURE IT OUT. TO ME, THERE'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE TODAY BETWEEN OPTION 1 AND OPTION 5.

I AM NOT A TREMENDOUS FAN OF OPTION 5, BUT PHYSICALLY IT IS THE THING TO DO. SIZE WISE, IT DOES NOT GET US WHERE WE NEED TO BE. STILLEY 20,000 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING. WE ARE GOING TO START REMODELING THIS BUILDING AND START MOVING THINGS. IT WAS A NEW LIBRARY OPEN IN FISCAL YEAR 30? BY THEN THE CITY POPULATION PROBABLY EDGING OUT CLOSE TO 75,000.

NOW, YOU'RE AT A 42,000 TO 45,000 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING.

>> A POPULATION OF 60,000. >> RIGHT. SO, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SO A 20,000 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING IS STILL HALF OF WHAT YOU NEED AT THAT POINT AND THAT IS THE UNFORTUNATE PART. HOW MANY -- DO WE KNOW HOW MANY PARKING SPACES ARE AT THE

PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING TODAY? >> YOU HAVE GOT TO BE ACCURATE.

>> THERE IS NOT A LOT UP FRONT.

>> I AM ASKING BECAUSE I AM ASKING IF THERE IS ROOM FOR GROWTH UP FRONT TO CONSTRUCT A NEW BUILDING IN THE FUTURE. AND THIS IS PROBABLY YEARS AND YEARS AHEAD, BUT IS THERE A FUTURE POSSIBILITY FOR GROWTH TO ALLOW THINGS OF THAT NATURE OR ARE WE ESSENTIALLY BOXING HERSELF IN AND SING OUR LIBRARY WILL BE 20,000 SQUARE FEET FOR NOW AND APPROXIMATELY THE NEXT

20,000 YEARS. >> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE FIRST PART OF THAT IN THE SECOND PART IS TO SOME DEGREE.

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS. THE REALITY IS -- AND I WANT TO GO BACK AND CORRECT SOMETHING KRISTOF SAID THAT IS NOT ACCURATE. I CONSULTED WITH THE

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HE FELT THEY COULD OPERATE JUST FINE WITHOUT IT. SO I DO NOT WANT TO BE SAYING THIS IS DRIVEN BY AN OPERATIONAL IMPERATIVE THAT WE JUST DISCOVERED BECAUSE THAT IS NOT TRUE. HOWEVER, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT NOW HAVING THIS ISSUE WE HAVE A LIBRARY THAT IS 12,000 SQUARE FEET. WE WILL ESCALATE OUR RENT PLUS MORE THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AND PAY $200,000 A YEAR. YOU DO NOT OWN ANYTHING. YOU ARE OCCUPYING PRIME RETAIL SPACE. BY THE WAY, EVEN IF WE WERE TO HAVE LEFT THE JAIL AND THE COURT THERE, THEY ARE NOT EVEN GOING TO PICK UP THE SECOND STORY. SO WE HAVE A HALF OCCUPIED BUILDING.

NOTWITHSTANDING WHAT YOU DO AT THE LIBRARY, YOU MOVE THEM OVER TO THE MISCIBLE COMPLEX AND YOU VACATE THAT BUILDING. NOW YOU REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM. A TWO-STORY BUILDING ON ONE OF YOUR PRIME STRIPS THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SELL.

RIGHT? AS AN OFFICE BUILDING? OR DOES THAT TURN US INTO THE LEASING BUSINESS WHICH IS NOT IDEAL FOR OUR CITY.

OPERATIONALLY THEN, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT BUILDING? AND IN OUR PORTFOLIO OF REAL ESTATE, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE ONE OF IF NOT THE MOST DIFFICULT BUILDING TO SELL AND DIVEST FROM. SO WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU HAVE TO ACTIVATE THAT BUILDING SO THAT THAT BUILDING DOES NOT FALL AND THE GRADE.

WELL, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SPACE. MAYBE WE CAN SOLVE THAT.

IS THIS A FOREVER-SOLUTION? MAYBE NOT. I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT SUGGEST THAT. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT CAMPAIGN OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE HUGE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF BUILDING A 60,000 SQUARE FOOT LIBRARY. SO THE POINT IS KRISTOF AND I WENT INTO THIS THINKING THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT. WE WILL GET MORE OUT OF THERE. YOU TALK ABOUT BEING DUMBFOUNDED. IT WAS PROBABLY JUST OUR IGNORANCE. I DON'T KNOW HOW -- HE IS FAIRLY ASTUTE AND I AM FAIRLY ASTUTE IN THIS MATTER BUT WE COMPLETELY MISSED THE MARK ON CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR LIBRARIES. AND YOU SAW WE CANNOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO AFFORDING IT. SO ALL OF THAT TO SAY, DOES THIS LOCK THE CITY IN FOR SOME APPRECIABLE PERIOD OF TIME? SURE. BUT THAT IS A POLICY QUESTION. THAT IS HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES YOU TO DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO FUND A $50 MILLION LIBRARY. IT IS ONLY MONEY, BUT THERE ARE THE IMPLICATIONS THAT COME FROM IT.

I AM NOT SAYING FLIP IT. THAT IS THE REALLY BIG ISSUE HERE.

HOW'D WE MAXIMIZE COMPETING THINGS OR ISSUES? THE NEED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL SPACE. SO CERTAINLY $40,000 IS WHERE WE MIGHT WANT TO BE TODAY, BUT IF WE CAN DOUBLE OUR SPACE, THAT IS STILL GOING TO BE A BIG IMPROVEMENT OVER WHERE WE ARE.

WHEN YOU BALANCE THAT AGAINST THE COST TO GET IN -- THE CAPITAL DOLLAR TO GET INTO THAT -- IT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS BECAUSE YOU HAVE GOT EXISTING STRUCTURE. THE STEEL.

THE BONES. YOU ARE GOING TO GOT THAT THING. I SUSPECT IN KNOW IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN BUILDING NEW. YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THE BUILDING DOING UNDERUTILIZED OR NOT UTILIZED AT ALL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. POTENTIALLY EITHER BEING A HUGE STRAIN ON OUR RESOURCES FOR MAINTENANCE ARE FALLING INTO DISREPAIR AND THAT IS NOT THE LOOK YOU WANT ON YOUR MAIN STRIP. SO IS IT A PERFECT SOLUTION? OF COURSE NOT. DOES IT BALANCE, AND IN MY OPINION, AND I HOPE YOU GUYS AGREE, TO SOME WAY BALANCE ALL THE COMPETING INTERESTS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. WE THOUGHT SO. BUT DOESN'T LOCK US IN? THAT IS AS LONG AS THE COUNCIL DECIDES IT WANTS TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND

GET THAT KIND OF MONEY. >> QUESTION IF I MADE. MOST OF WHAT YOU SHOWED IS ACTIVITY SPACE. IS THERE A SHORTAGE OF MATERIALS IN THE LIBRARY OR ARE YOU PRIMARILY LOOKING FOR

ACTIVITY SPACE? >> AS FAR AS WHERE TO STORE

MATERIALS? >> LIKE, JUST ADDITIONAL MATERIALS. RIGHT. ARE YOU PLANNING ON, THIS IS TWO THIRDS BIGGER THAN WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY. 20,000 FEET VERSUS 12.

ARE YOU PLANNING ON A CHUNK OF THAT BEING MATERIALS OR WOULD IT EFFECTIVELY ALL BE ACTIVITY SPACE?

>> IF WE GOT EXTRA SPACE, STUDY ROOMS.

>> STUDY ROOMS. OKAY. >> THAT IS PLACES TO SIT AND

STUDY. >> WE DO NOT REALLY HAVE A

QUIET SPACE IN THE LIBRARY. >> WE DO NOT HAVE A QUIET SPACE AT ALL. BEING ABLE TO CARVE OUT A QUIET SPACE, THEY HAVE ROOMS WHERE YOU DO NOT TALK IN THAT ROOM. SO WE WOULD CARVE OUT A

[00:25:01]

>> THANK YOU. >> SO JUST BRIEFLY IF THAT IS OKAY. I WANT TO ALSO ADDRESS THE POINT THAT BY THE TIME THAT WE, AROUND TO UNDERSTANDING THE COST TO RENOVATE THIS BUILDING, WE WOULD HAVE ALREADY HAD SEVERAL YEARS OF EXPIRING DEBT.

AND THAT ALLOWS SOME ADDITIONAL DEBT CAPACITY TO BE ISSUED WITHOUT TAX INCREASE. WHILE WE KNOW FOR NOW WE HAVE $5 MILLION TODAY, WHAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT IN THE FUTURE IS SOME MORE DEBT CAPACITY ISSUE WITHOUT A INCREASE TO RENOVATE THAT BUILDING AND NOT HAVING TO WORRY AGAIN ABOUT NOT HAVING THE RESOURCES. SO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE BUILDING MAY NOT BE $5 MILLION TO RENOVATE. IT MAY BE $8 MILLION. IT MAY BE $10 MILLION. THE GOOD NEWS IS BY GOING WITH THIS PLAN, BY THE TIME WE TURN AROUND AND IT IS TIME TO TURN AROUND AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND COST OF CONSTRUCTION, WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE SIT FINANCIALLY SPEAKING. AND, CITY MANAGER, IS THAT SEEMINGLY

INCORRECT POINT I AM MAKING? >> IT IS AND TO THE POINT ABOUT TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE DO THIS. WE HAVE $5 MILLION IN CAPACITY BASED ON OUR PAYMENT. THE REALITY IS THIS. IS THIS GOING TO BE $20 MILLION? NO. IF WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION, TOMORROW WILL GIVE US FUTURE CAPACITY. WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO DO IS ABOUT RECRUITING DEBT. AND I CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO, OH, GOSH, WE DO NOT WANT TO GET TO THAT POINT AND NOT HAVE FUNDING. SHORT OF YOU TELLING US, IT WILL NOT INCLUDE A TAX RATE INCREASE. LIKE ANYTHING HOWEVER, IT MAY INCLUDE CHOICES

THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE. >> AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE POINT, I GET IT. THERE IS -- THIS IS NOT THE DREAM PLAN. RIGHT? BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE RESOURCE LIMITED.

AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT. AND THERE ARE PLANS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE NATIONAL FIRE ASSOCIATION SAYS MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE FIVE FIREFIGHTERS PER 1000 PEOPLE. WELL, THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. SORRY. YOU DO HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS A LITTLE BIT AND TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT IT CITY SPECIFICALLY.

BECAUSE SOME CITIES LIKE FRISCO WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD A 150,000 SQUARE-FOOT LIBRARY NO PROBLEM. THEY ARE COOL. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS WOULD ALMOST DOUBLE OUR CURRENT. WE WILL GIVE LAURA AND HER TEAM A GOOD AMOUNT OF SPACE TO WORK WITH. I THINK THIS IS AN EXCITING PROPOSAL, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE $5 MILLION IS SOMETHING THAT WORKS AND IS LOCKED IN, TOO, AND THAT IS ALL IT IS. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEND MORE BASED ON TARGETED

DEBT. >> YEAH. I THINK OPTION 5, WHILE IT IS A PERFECT PLAN, I THINK THAT AT LEAST FOR THE FORESEEABLE , IT IS PROBABLY THE MOST LOGICAL PLAN. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS I DO HAVE. ONE IS, OKAY, WE HAVE GOT TWO STORIES.

TWO FLOORS. THAT IS BASICALLY IT. IS IT 10,000, 10,000. IS

[00:30:04]

AGAIN, IT IS NOT A PERFECT SOLUTION BUT IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE A VIABLE SOLUTION AND I THINK IT LOGICALLY MAKES SENSE

AND IT FISCALLY MAKES SENSE. >> IF I CAN ADD JUST FOR THE RECORD, SEEMS TO INDICATE 22,007 42 SQUARE FEET FOR THE BUILDING. 22,742. PLUS AND OUTBUILDING OF 2040 SQUARE FEET PER CAR THAT IS WHY I KEEP SAYING 23,000.

>> I THINK THAT IS GOOD. >> DID YOU CONSULT WITH THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD AT ALL ON THIS SUBJECT AND GET ANY

FEEDBACK IF SO? >> LET ME ADDRESS THAT. WE NEEDED TO GET AN ANSWER ASAP, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY AS WE ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE SCHEDULE WE NEED TO KNOW IS THE

JAIL COMING. IS IT NOT. >> I ONLY ASK BECAUSE WE APPOINT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO THE MATTERS.

>> UNDERSTOOD. THIS IS A TIMING ISSUE WITH COMPETING INTERESTS.

BALANCING ALL THESE COMPETING INTERESTS THAT CAN WAIT ANOTHER MONTH AND THEN YOUR DEADLINE OF APRIL 2025 FOR GROUNDBREAKING IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. CERTAINLY NO DISRESPECT TO THAT PORT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. THAT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE A HUGE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, BUT THIS WE NEED TO HAVE SOME

DISCUSSION. >> THERE IS ONE THING I WOULD NOT BE REMISS. I WAS ASKED IF THIS LIBRARY IS NEW. I DID WANT TO QUICKLY JUST ADDRESS THE HISTORY AND HOW WE GOT HERE BRIEFLY. BAD DEALS MADE IN THE PAST LED US DOWN THIS ROAD. WE MOVED THE LIBRARY HOW MANY TIMES? THREE TIMES NOW? TWICE.

FROM THERE TO THERE. OKAY. SO -- AND WE BOUGHT ANOTHER BUILDING FOR THIS LIBRARY. YOU KNOW? OBVIOUSLY, IT CANNOT CHANGE THE PAST. IT IS WHAT IT IS. BUT YOU CAN GO BACK TO PREVIOUS MEETINGS FROM AROUND 2016-2017 TIME FRAME. AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE MINUTES THAT ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE BACK THEN. OTHERWISE IF WE CONTINUE TO STAY WITH THE SPACE, WE WILL CONTINUE RENTING IT FOREVER AND ON AND THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. IT IS WHAT IT IS BASICALLY. AND

WE WERE DEALT A TOUGH HAND. >> NOT TO MENTION THE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH BEING GINNY'S SQUARE SPACE. THEY HAVE HAD SEWAGE IN THE SPACE. THEY HAVE HAD LEAKS FROM ABOVE, PARTICULARLY DURING THE ICE STORM AND THINGS LIKE THAT WITH A LOCATION SO CLOSE TO COIL. IT HAS BEEN SOME FRUSTRATION. SO JUST A NUMBER OF COMPLICATIONS WITH BEING IN THAT LOCATION

[00:35:01]

TODAY, AS WELL. >> SO JUST TO ADDRESS IN TERMS OF LOCKING OURSELVES INTO THIS SPACE, THERE IS NOTHING TO SAY THAT IN THE FUTURE AS WE HAVE, IF WE HAVE MORE MONEY TO DO THINGS WITH, THAT WE DO CONSIDER HAVING MORE THAN ONE LIBRARY. BECAUSE THIS IS WAY DOWN IN THE SOUTH PART OF TOWN.

WE MAY WANT TO HAVE A SECOND LIBRARY IN THE NORTH PART OF TOWN. WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE SCHOOLS AND FIRE STATIONS AND STUFF. SO EVEN THOUGH THAT SITE ITSELF MAY NOT BE EXPANDABLE, THERE MAY STILL BE A WAY TO EXPAND THE LIBRARY.

>> ALL RIGHT. IS THAT IT? WE ARE KIND OF OVERTIME HERE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? YOU GOT WHAT YOU NEEDED?

>> WE ARE CLAIRE. >> SO, COUNSEL, LET'S -- OH.

DO YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING INDIVIDUALLY? GRAB QUESTIONS.

8B. >> YOU SAID B? B AND D FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND ANYONE ELSE?

[5. CALL TO ORDER FOR REGULAR SESSION]

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A CORE PRESIDENT INSIDE THE CITY CHAMBERS. WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH THE MEETING. BEFORE WE DO CONTINUE, WE DO HAVE AN INVOCATION AND TONIGHT WILL BE PROVIDED BY PASTOR JOHN SALAS WITH THE CHURCH AND THE CITY. YOU MAY JOIN IF YOU WISH TO AND AFTER THAT WE HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH. TRULY, IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU ALL. AND IT IS GOOD THAT WE PUT THE LORD FIRST BEFORE WE START THIS MEETING. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE BOW OUR HEARTS BEFORE YOU. WE HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE YOU, LORD, GOD, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO US IN YOUR WORD BECAUSE IF WE WOULD HUMBLE OURSELVES AND TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS WE WOULD HEAR FROM YOU FROM HEAVEN AND YOU WOULD ALSO HEAL OUR LAND.

GOD, WE NEED HEALING IN OUR LAND. WE NEED, FATHER, YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS TO PREVAIL IN OUR LAND. WE NEED TO SEE YOUR HAND IN OUR LIVES. GOD, IN EVERY FACET OF THIS CITY AND EVERY AREA AND EVERY FAMILY AND EVERY HOME, FATHER, WE JUST WANT TO SEE YOUR HAND OF MERCY , FATHER, GOD. WE LOOK TO YOUR HAND TO GUIDE US AND WE LOOK TO YOU FOR WISDOM. WE THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING. WE THANK YOU FOR INSIGHT. WE THINK YOU FATHER GOD FIGURE SPIRIT. WE TRUST IN YOU WITH ALL OF OUR HEART. BIG DOLLARS YOU AND ALL OF OUR WAYS, LORD, GOD, AND WE THANK YOU THAT YOU GUIDE OUR PATHS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSING UPON US. WE THANK YOU, LORD, AS THE PRIEST WOULD SAY, THAT YOU BLESS US AND YOU PLACE YOUR PEACE UPON US AND YOUR ACCOUNT IS UPON US TONIGHT, LORD, GOD, AND SO WE JUST THANK YOU, LORD, FOR YOUR PRESENCE IN EVERY FACET OF THIS MEETING.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR DIVINE ORDER IN THIS PLACE. WE THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU WILL SEE TO IT THAT EVERY NEED IS MET AND THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND LET IT CONTINUE TO GROW UNDER YOUR MIGHTY HAND. WE THANK YOU THAT YOU KEEP THIS CITY SAFE, FROM THE NORTH, THE SOUTH, THE EAST, AND THE WEST IN CHRIST' S NAME.

>> OKAY. NOW FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> AND TEXAS FLAG. >> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE

AND INDIVISIBLE. >> THANK YOU. YOU MAY NOW BE SEATED. IT IS ON. I ASK FOR SOME PATIENTS TONIGHT. THIS IS COUNSEL'S FIRST TIME WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE

[6A. Presentation of proclamation recognizing the month of September as National Service Dog Month.]

[00:40:05]

>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. IS KAREN GLADTY AND HER GROUP HERE? IS THERE ANY OF THE FOLKS FROM THE SERVICE DOG -- NO? OKAY. WE WILL GO SOLO HERE. TODAY'S PROCLAMATION IS RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH. THROUGHOUT THE PAST DECADE, HUMAN BEINGS HAVE SUFFERED FROM DIFFERENT MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT MAY INTERFERE WITH THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. SOME INCLUDE BLINDNESS, AUTISM, HEARING AND MENTAL DISORDERS. SOME OPT FOR HUMANS TO REQUIRE PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE, BUT AS THE WORLD PROGRESSES RESEARCHERS REALIZE THAT AN AILMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO AFFECT ONE'S QUALITY-OF-LIFE NOR DOES IT MAKE A HUMAN BEING DEPENDENT ON OTHERS. ALL THEY NEED IS A WELL-TRAINED SERVICE DOG THAT WILL NOT ONLY BE THEIR BEST FRIEND BUT ALSO THEIR BIGGEST SUPPORT. THE PURPOSE OF SERVICE DOGS IS TO PROVIDE COMPANIONSHIP AND SERVE THEIR HUMANS. NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2008 TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF SERVICE DOGS AND THE POSITIVE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED EVERY SEPTEMBER WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY'S PARTICIPATING IN EVENTS TO HONOR SERVICE DOGS AND THEIR HANDLERS. THE MONTH SERVE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE VITAL ROLE OF -- THE VITAL ROLE THAT SERVICE DOGS PLAY, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF SERVICE DOG USERS, AND SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRAIN AND PROVIDE THESE INCREDIBLE ANIMALS. NOW I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS SERVICE DOGS HAVE PROVIDED IMMEASURABLE ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES HELPING THEM LEAD INDEPENDENT AND FULFILLING LIVES, AND WHEREAS THESE LOYAL AND DEDICATED ANIMALS ARE TRAINED TO PERFORM TASKS THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH PSYCHIATRIC, SENSORY, OR OTHER DISABILITIES, AND WHEREAS SERVICE DOGS ACT AS COMPANIONS AND PROTECTORS GETTING INDIVIDUAL THROUGH DAILY CHALLENGES AND PROVIDING A CENTRAL SENSE OF SECURITY AND SUPPORT AND WHEREAS THE BOND BETWEEN A SERVICE DOG AND THEIR HANDLER IS A PROFOUND PARTNERSHIP BUILT ON MUTUAL RESPECT, TRUST, AND LOVE, AND WERE AS NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THESE INCREDIBLE ANIMALS AND THE ORGANIZATION THAT TRAINS AND PLACES THEM WITH THOSE IN NEED AND WHEREAS WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRAINERS, CAREGIVERS, AND ALL WHO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF WELL BEING OF SERVICE DOGS, AND, NOW, THEREFORE, I ON BEHALF OF BLAKE MARGOLIS, THERE ON THE BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT DO PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH AND I URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING AND RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SERVICE DOGS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO -- PRETTY . YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE. ANYONE WHO LIKES DOGS, COME UP HERE AND WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE.

[6B. Proclamation recognizing September as Library Card Sign-Up Month.]

>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS ITEM 6B WHICH IS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER AS THE LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH. AND CALM ON UP LIBRARY ADVISER STAFF IN PRESENTING HIS COUNCIL MEMBER BOWERS.

>> COME ON DOWN. WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

>> FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY? >> YES. FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY OF COURSE. COME ON DOWN. ALL RIGHT. SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 1987, LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH HAS BECOME A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF LIBRARY CARDS TO A CHILD'S EDUCATION AND TO COMBAT ILLITERACY. LIBRARIES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN.

STUDIES SHOW THAT CHILDREN WHO ARE READ TO IN THE HOME AND WHO STUDY -- I AM SORRY. AND WHO USE THE LIBRARY PERFORM BETTER IN SCHOOL AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO USE THE LIBRARY AS A SOURCE OF LIFETIME LEARNING. I AM CERTAINLY AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. TODAY'S LIBRARIES ARE VIBRANT COMMUNITY CENTERS OFFERING MUCH MORE THAN JUST BOOKS. THEY AT THE ROLLA PUBLIC LIBRARY, YOU WILL FIND DIVERSE PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES.

JOB-SEARCH APPLICATIONS. HOMEWORK HELP. BOOK CLUBS. GED AND ESL CLASSES STORYTIME. STEAM KITS. AND MORE. WE ARE INVITING EVERYBODY TO DISCOVER THE INCREDIBLE RESOURCES AND

[00:45:01]

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING?

>> THANK YOU. UP HERE I HAVE KIMBERLY HARTWELL, OUR CIRCULATION SERVICES SUPERVISOR, PHIL BARRETT, OUR LIBRARY SERVICES MEMBER, COLTON LIONEL, OUR LIBRARY CATALOGER, LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR VIC EAST STOCKACOSI AND LIBRARY TREASURER STANLEY POLLARD. THANK YOU TO FRIENDS AND THE LIBRARY BOARD FOR ALL OF THEIR SUPPORT. JUST TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH, SOME STATISTICS FROM THE NATIONAL LITERACY INSTITUTE. IN 2024, 21% OF ADULTS IN THE U.S. ARE ILLITERATE. 54% OF ADULTS HAVE A LITERACY RATE BELOW A SIXTH GRADE LEVEL. AND ACCORDING TO THE CORRECTIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION, THE ILLITERACY RATE FOR INMATES IN PRISON ARE AT 75%. THIS IS WHY WE DO THIS.

THIS IS WHY. WE NEED YOUR HELP . PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL PARENTS OUT THERE KNOW TO GIVE THEIR KIDS A LIBRARY CARD AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A LIBRARY. THANK YOU.

>> YES. YOUR LIBRARY CARDS. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD JOB. >> THINK YOU ALL.

[6C. Receive Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Update from President & CEO Nadine Lee.]

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM IS 6C, RECEIVE DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT D.A.R.T. UPDATE FROM PRESIDENT AND CEO

NADINE LEE. >> OKAY. IS THIS OKAY? YOU CAN HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT. I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE. I AM NADINE LEE, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF D.A.R.T. HAPPY LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH. I CANNOT THINK OF A MORE IMPORTANT THING THAN THE LIBRARY. SO I WANTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT. I THINK THAT ROWLETT IS A GREAT STORY FOR D.A.R.T. RIGHT NOW. SO I WANTED TO KIND OF RUN TO THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS FOR D.A.R.T. HERE IN ROWLETT AND ALSO WHERE WE ARE AND ALSO WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO GO. SO KEY TRENDS. TOP LINE. THE BLUE LINE RIDERSHIP NOW EXCEEDS PRE-COVID RIDERSHIP. SO PRE-PANDEMIC RIDERSHIP. AND SPECIFICALLY IT IS UP 3% HERE IN DOWNTOWN ROWLETT, WHICH IS REALLY TERRIFIC. YOU ALL ARE PROBABLY QUITE AWARE THAT THE TRADITIONAL COMMUTE PATTERNS HAVE REALLY CHANGED SINCE THE PANDEMIC AND WE ARE NOT SEEING THE SAME KIND OF RIDERSHIP DURING THE PEAK PERIOD THAT WE DID BY FOUR. THERE'S A LOT

[00:50:01]

PREVIOUSLY, IT HAD JUST BEEN DURING THE WEEKDAY AND ONLY FROM THE HOURS OF LIKE 8:00 TO 5:00. NOW, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE SAME HOURS SO PEOPLE CAN RIDE UNTIL ABOUT MIDNIGHT ON GOLINK AND ON WEEKENDS, SO THAT DRAMATICALLY CHANGED PEOPLE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE D.A.R.T. INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DRIVE THEIR OWN CAR. YOU CAN SEE THAT RIDERSHIP ACROSS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS STILL AT ABOUT 76% OF PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, LIGHT RAIL BEING 80%. TRE, THE TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS, ARE STILL SEEING A BIT OF A LAG BECAUSE BOTH OF THOSE SERVICES TENDED TO BE HEAVILY COMMUTE-BASED SERVICES WERE AS EVERYTHING ELSE WAS MUCH MORE AVAILABLE AND USED FOR OTHER TRIPS BESIDES JUST THE WORK TRIP. IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES, I THINK THIS WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE RECEIVED. YOU CAN SEE HERE WHAT THE SUBSIDY PER RIDER IS THAT ARE AVAILABLE HERE IN ROWLETT. I WILL SAY THAT FOR ROWLETT, THE SUBSIDY IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE SUBSIDY ON GOLINK, THE SUBSIDY IS ABOUT $10.27 AS OPPOSED TO $17.43 ACROSS THE SYSTEM. THAT DOES

[00:55:01]

[01:00:04]

AND, SO, IT HAS BEEN AROUND NOW FOR OVER 10 YEARS. I THINK THAT HAS PROVIDED A LOT OF ACCESS TO ROWLETT RESIDENCE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE -- OTHER PARTS OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE YOU TALK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS ACTUALLY WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS. WE ARE NOT THINKING THE PEOPLE IN ROWLETT NOW HAVE ACCESS TO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND THEY CAN GO ANYWHERE IN THE SYSTEM ON RAIL WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THE D.A.R.T. BOARD VOTED TO GIVE MONEY TO THE CITY AS PART OF OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT FUND . ROWLETT RECEIVES $5.3 MILLION OF THE SURPLUS TAX SALES REVENUE. IT HAS BEEN 100% COMMITTED TO APPROVED PROJECTS, AND WE HAVE CURRENTLY DISPERSED ABOUT 11 1/2% TO THE CITY SO WE ARE WAITING ON THE CITY TO BE READY TO DRAW DOWN ON THE REST OF THAT MONEY, BUT IT IS THERE AND READY TO HELP FUND THE PROJECTS THAT YOU ALL PROPOSED TO DO WITH THOSE DOLLARS. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF THE BEFORE AND AFTER THE BLUE LINE EXTENSION. AND I WILL JUST POINT HERE THAT I HAVE PUT THESE YELLOW DOTS HERE. BACK IN 2007, SOME OF THESE OPEN SPACES, THESE GREENFIELD THAT ARE HERE, IF YOU LOOK IN 2024, WE HAVE DONE SOME INFILL WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT WITH THE VILLAGE BEING RIGHT NEXT TO CITY HALL. AND OF COURSE 190 MAIN. SOME OF THE CATALYSTS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR ROWLETT. AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY EXCITING. IF WE JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT THE VALUE IS AND WE DID A QUICK SEARCH ON THE TAXABLE VALUES FOR THE CITY, BUT THE VILLAGE OF ROWLETT HAS RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE. THE TAXABLE VALUE OF THAT FOR THE CITY WAS $25 MILLION BACK IN 2018. NOW, IT

[01:05:04]

BACK IN 2021, IS WORTH $50 MILLION IN TERMS OF TAXABLE VALUE. NOW, IT IS WORTH $52 MILLION IN TAXABLE VALUE. THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE MEASURES THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE PICKED BUT IS A EXAMPLE OF THE CHANGE IN VALUE OVER TIME. 190 MAIN IS JUST COMING ONLINE THIS YEAR. I THINK IT IS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN THERE. BUT HAVING THIS ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS, I THINK, 80% OF THE -- I AM SORRY. 166 UNITS OF THE 325 ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO SERVE THOSE EARNING 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE IN A NICE, MORE URBANIZED AREA TO HAVE ACCESS TO A MORE WALKABLE ENVIRONMENT HERE IN DOWNTOWN ROWLETT. SO I CANNOT GO WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THAT SIX OF THE 13 CITIES HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS SUPPORTING CAPPING OR REDUCING D.A.R.T. SALES TAX REVENUES INCLUDING ROWLETT. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACTS OF A 25% RATE REDUCTION WOULD BE. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A LOT OF DEBT COVENANTS IN PLACE. THOSE ARE COVENANTS THAT WE NEED TO FULFILL. THEY WERE PLEDGED ON THE FULL PENNY THAT D.A.R.T.

COLLECTS. SO THOSE WILL BE PAID OFF I THINK AROUND THE 2030 -- GO TO SAY THE WRONG GEAR -- BUT THE 2027-2028 TIME FRAME. I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STATEMENTS ABOUT WANTING TO REDUCE SALES TAX WITHOUT SERVICE BUT A 25% TAX RATE REDUCTION WOULD IMPACT SERVICE. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITIES ARE TELLING US SOMETHING. THEY WANT TO WORK WITH US. WE WANT TO WORK WITH THEM. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROVIDE THE VALUE SO YOU WILL NOT BE QUESTIONING THE VALUE OF D.A.R.T. IN YOUR CITY.

THERE ARE TWO STUDIES UNDERWAY. ONE IS LOOKING AT COST ALLOCATION AMONG THE SERVICE AREA CITIES, AND THAT IS FOR D.A.R.T. CITIES. AND THEN FUTURE GOVERNANCE OF TRANSIT IN THE WHOLE METROPLEX, NOT JUST IN THE D.A.R.T. AREA, ALTHOUGH VERY FOCUSED ON D.A.R.T., AND THE REGIONAL TRANSIT 2.0 STUDY IS ALSO LOOKING AT STUDIES GOING INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SECTION AS WELL AS OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCES THAT MAY HELP US IMPROVE THE CURRENT SITUATION, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT CITIES HAVE BEEN CAPPED BY THE STATE. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. BUT IT IS YOUR PROBLEM. WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE CITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT MAYBE WE CAN TAKE SOME OF THE BURDEN OFF OF YOUR PLATE AS IT RESULTS IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS. THAT IS WHY D.A.R.T. IS VERY INTERESTED IN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITIES. YEAH. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN GOING TO AUSTIN BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITIES ARE TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING AND WE ARE TOTALLY WILLING TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS. AS FAR AS FUTURE PLANS GO, D.A.R.T. HAS JUST APPROVED A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN IN JUNE. IT IS CALLED POINT B.

THE PURPOSE OF RIDE POINT B IS TO LEVERAGE FOR ALL OF THE CITIES. I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO USE AND LOVE D.A.R.T. WE HAVE A NEW VISION AND MISSION.

WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE CONNECT AND FLOURISH. THAT IS A PRETTY BASIC THING THAT WE THINK EVERYONE SHOULD STRIVE AND ASPIRE TO BE. WE HAVE SIX STRATEGIC GOALS FOCUSED ON THREE MAIN AUDIENCE. THE FIRST BEING OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR ORGANIZATION. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE LEVERAGE OUR RESOURCES TO DELIVER ON THE POTENTIAL OF D.A.R.T. FOR ALL OF OUR CITIES. ALSO, SOME CUSTOMER FOCUS GOALS TO ADDRESS WHAT THE WRITER'S NEEDS ARE AND ALSO THE THIRD BUCKET IS COMMUNITY FOCUSED SCHOOLS WHICH ARE ADDRESSING IN THE COMMUNITY AND CITY CONCERNS OF PARTNERSHIPS AND ALSO THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF VALUE. AS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS, OUR CONSULTANT AND I CAME AND VISITED WITH MR. HALL AS WAYS MAYOR MARGOLIS AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE CITY'S OBJECTIVES ARE IN THE FUTURE. AND A LOT OF WHAT WE HEARD WAS ABOUT CREATING A FANTASTIC GATEWAY EXPERIENCE INTO DOWNTOWN ROWLETT. WE TALKED ABOUT REVITALIZING AND REPURCHASING THE INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR AREAS TO INTEGRATE BETTER INTO THE URBAN DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE. AND OF COURSE REINFORCING THE ROWLETT BRAND MAKING ROWLETT A DESTINATION WITH AN ENGAGING NEW LOOK AND FEEL. SO THAT IS KIND OF THE BACKDROP FOR THE WORK WE WILL BE DOING WITH ROWLETT GOING FORWARD. AND THEN STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS IS PART

[01:10:09]

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT MEANS THAT WE WANT TO CREATE SOME MOBILITY HUBS TO INTEGRATE OUR FIRST AND LAST MILE OPTIONS AND GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE, AGAIN, TO NOT HAVE TO DRIVE TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION. WE ARE TRYING TO INCREASE CONNECTIONS TO THESE MOBILITY HUBS AS WELL AS INCREASED MOBILITY. FOR THE FUTURE, A VERY EXCITING SECURITY STRATEGY WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER IS MULTIFACETED. IT IS NOT FOCUSED ONLY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE IN THE SYSTEM BUT HELPS US TO MOVE TOWARDS A CULTURE OF PRIDE, SELF-MANAGEMENT, AND REALLY TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AND CREATE A CULTURE OF SELF-MANAGEMENT ON OUR SYSTEM. WE HAVE A SYSTEM MODERNIZATION PROGRAM UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW. YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT OUR LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM SPECIFICALLY IS NEARING 30 YEARS OLD AND SO YOU CAN SEE THE SIGNS OF AGE IN OUR VEHICLES. IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE COSTLY TO MAINTAIN THEM AND KEEP THEM RUNNING. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROVIDE THE QUALITY OF SERVICE AND THE QUALITY OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO I KNOW THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR NEED FOR FUTURE FUNDING AND I THINK THE FUTURE FUNDING IS REALLY GOING TO BE CENTERED AROUND CAPITAL REPLACEMENT AND REHABILITATION WHICH I THINK IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE WHEN THE SYSTEM GETS TO BE 30 YEARS OLD THINGS DO NOT WORK THE WAY THEY USED TWO. SO OUR POINT B STRATEGIC PLAN CAPTURES A LOT OF WHAT I HAVE MENTIONED TODAY IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE OUR FUTURE PLANS. AS I MENTIONED, THIS WAS APPROVED BY OUR BOARD IN JUNE THIS YEAR AND WE ARE CURRENTLY GETTING GREAT TO SEND OUT HARD COPIES OF IT, AND IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE LINK ON YOUR SCREEN. AND WE ALSO HAVE A FEW UPCOMING MEETINGS. I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE HAVE THE THURSDAY MEETING ON THE GREAT PROGRESS UPDATE. AND THEN ALSO ON THURSDAY WE HAVE OUR DISCUSSION OF OUR PROPOSED FY 25 BUDGET FINANCIAL PLAN. THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY MANAGERS AND OUR CFOS TO GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT OR ASK QUESTIONS OR GIVE US ANY CLARIFICATION. AND THIS FALL WE WILL BE LOOKING AT ANY SERVICE CHANGES FOR FY 25. THAT WILL BE WHEN WE START TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC. WE JUST FINISHED A PUBLIC HEARING ON OUR NEW STRUCTURE. AND THE BOARD WILL BE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT THAT IN OCTOBER. SO AS WE CLOSE OUT, IT IS GOING TO BE INCREASINGLY MORE IMPORTANT FOR US TO TRY TO THE CAPACITY OF OUR SYSTEM TO MOVE PEOPLE MORE EFFICIENTLY. AND SO WE ARE REALLY WORKING TO LEVERAGE D.A.R.T. IS A TRUE ECONOMIC MOBILITY ASSET FOR ALL OF OUR CITIES. SO THERE ARE A TON OF WAYS WE CAN COLLABORATE WITH ALL OF OUR CITIES INCLUDING ROWLETT. SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU FOR THAT FUTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT IS OKAY.

[01:15:01]

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO ROWLETT TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION. FIRST QUESTION THAT I HAVE AND THEN I WILL PASS IT ON TO MY COLLEAGUES.

FIRST QUESTION IS REGARDING THE RIDERSHIP NUMBERS. AS YOU STATED PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, RIDERSHIP HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT PARKING CHALLENGES AT THE DOWNTOWN HAMLET STATION TO THE POINT THAT ROWLETT WAS IN CONVERSATIONS WITH D.A.R.T.

AT THE TIME ABOUT CONSTRUCTING OR CONSIDERING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PARKING STRUCTURE. THAT IS HOW SIGNIFICANT OUR CHALLENGES WERE AT THAT TIME. MEASURES WERE ESTABLISHED TO ADDRESS THE PARKING ISSUES INCLUDING, AS YOU KNOW, THE DIGITAL PARKING LOT INDICATOR SHOWING WHAT SPACES WERE AVAILABLE AND PRIORITIZING CERTAIN LOTS FOR ROWLETT RESIDENTS. THIS PARKING PROBLEM WAS CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE WEEK . TODAY, THE PARKING PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THAT HALF OF THE ENTIRE LOT REMAINS HALF-FULL THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT RIDERSHIP IS UP OR ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, DOES THAT MEAN THAT RIDERSHIP IS UP ACROSS ALL FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION OFFERED BY D.A.R.T. AND ROWLETT OR IS THAT ASSOCIATED WITH LIGHT RAIL USAGE?

>> LET ME GO TO -- SO RIDERSHIP IS FOR SURE UP ON GOLINK. AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT THE KIND OF LIGHT BLUE IS THE LIGHT RAIL LEADERSHIP. RIDERSHIP ON LIGHT RAIL IS NOT QUITE UP TO PRE-PANDEMIC, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY GETTING UP THERE. THE TOTAL RIDERSHIP COMBINED WITH GOLINK IS WHAT IS ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC FOR THE TOWN OF ROULETTE.

>> THANK YOU. AND THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT GOLINK HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS ASSET FOR ALL THE COMMUNITIES THAT BENEFIT FROM IT INCLUDING ROWLETT, SO THAT IS A SUCCESS STORY. THE CONCERN IS THAT WE HAVE, OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU HAVE SEEN FROM OUR PRIOR MEETINGS, THE VALUE THAT WE GET AND UNDERSTAND. TECHNOLOGY. AS I TOLD YOU ALL, WE HAVE GOT NEW STUFF HERE SO I AM TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. OKAY. COLLEAGUES. DEPUTY MAYOR DEBRA

SHINDER? >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THAT WAS A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION. MY MAIN CONCERN PROBABLY BECAUSE I AM A FORMER POLICE OFFICER IS WITH SECURITY. AND HE MENTIONED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE 200 SWORN OFFICERS, YOU HAVE 100 SECURITY OFFICERS. YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESPONSE TEAMS. ARE THOSE RESPONSE TEAM MEMBERS MEMBERS OF ONE OF THOSE? EITHER ARE THEY SWORN OFFICERS OR SECURITY PERSONNEL? OR IS IT A WHOLE DIFFERENT

GROUP OF PEOPLE? >> CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? SO THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESPONSE TEAMS DO INCLUDE ONE -- I SHOULD NOT SAY ONE SWORN OFFICER. ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER JOINING THAT GROUP. IT IS USUALLY A TEAM OF THREE. WE HAVE FOUR TEAMS OF THREE OUT IN THE FIELD RIGHT NOW. THE OTHERS ARE ONE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND ONE PARAMEDIC.

AND SO THEY KIND OF WORK TOGETHER IN THESE TEAMS.

>> YOUR MIKE FOR SOME REASON TURNED OFF. YEP. GO AHEAD.

>> OKAY. AND ALSO YOU MENTIONED THAT YOUR SECURITY PLAN IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF NUMBER OF OFFICERS, BUT ALSO OTHER FACTORS INCLUDING TECHNOLOGY. CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT SOME OF THOSE TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS WOULD BE?

>> THE OBVIOUS ONES ARE THINGS LIKE CAMERAS ON THE SYSTEM BUT I THINK THE OTHER TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS ARE, AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF, AND I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO THINK WE ARE DOING THIS AT THIS POINT BUT IT IS THINGS LIKE A.I. AND BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY, YOU KNOW, NOT PEOPLE BUT IF THERE IS SOME ARMS ON THE SYSTEM AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO BEING ABLE TO DETECT AND LOOK AT BEHAVIORS. THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IT'S REALLY EXCITING THAT WE OFTEN DON'T TALK ABOUT IS HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR WRITERS. ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND TO BE REALLY INTERESTING IS JUST THIS BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE., YOU KNOW, LIKE IF YOU THINK ABOUT GOING ON A TRAIN OR A BUS, MOST OF THE MESSAGES YOU GET WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SIGNAGE IS ALL ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG. BUT HOW OFTEN DO WE ACTUALLY TALK TO PEOPLE BY THANKING THEM FOR PAYING THEIR FAIR OR THANKING THEM FOR FOLLOWING THE CODE OF CONDUCT WHICH IS PROBABLY 99% OF THE RIDERS ANYWAY. SO PART OF IT IS

[01:20:05]

SYSTEM. >> GOING BACK TO THE MDRTS -- GOING BACK TO THE MDRTS, ARE THEY WORKING PROACTIVELY? ARE THEY ON CERTAIN TRAIN LINES? DO THEY RESPOND? AND IF SO, THAT THEY RESPOND TO CERTAIN INCIDENTS, DO PEOPLE HAVE TO CALL IN? YOU HAVE AN APP WHERE PEOPLE LET YOU KNOW SOMETHING

IS WRONG A PARTICULAR TRAIN? >> WE DO HAVE THE SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING TRAIN WHERE PEOPLE CAN QUIETLY MESSAGE US IF THEY SAW SOMETHING ON THE SYSTEM THAT IS BOTHERING THEM. THESE TEAMS DO PROACTIVE INTERVENTIONS AS WELL

AS RESPONSE. >> OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK

YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER REAVES?

>> THANK YOU. I HAVE LEARNED SOME THINGS AND AS I WAS PREPPING I HAD A WHOLE LOT OF QUESTIONS AND WHEN I GOT A COPY OF YOUR PRESENTATION I WAS LIKE, MAN, YOU ALREADY ANSWERED A LOT OF THEM. YOU MENTIONED THE PRIORITY ONE TIME BEING LESS THAN EIGHT MINUTES. WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PRIORITY ONE

CALL? >> I WILL ASK MY CHIEF OF POLICE TO COMMENT ACTUALLY EXPLAINED THAT TO YOU BECAUSE I AM CERTAIN DEFY ACTUALLY EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT THAT IS I WILL BE WRONG. CHIEF CHARLES KATO.

>> CHIEF CHARLES KATO. HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? WE USE THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION WHICH IS A SHOOTING, STABBING, ANY ASSAULT IN PROGRESS, AND IN PROGRESS CRIME OR A PERSON IS PUT AT RISK. THAT IS A PRIORITY ONE CALL. UNLIKE A BURGLARY IN PROGRESS OR THEFT IN PROGRESS WERE NO ONE IS AT RISK OF BEING AT RISK.

>> AND YOU WIN YOUR RESPONSE TIME TO BE LESS THAN EIGHT MINUTES. WHAT IS THE AVERAGE YOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST 12

MONTHS? >> THE STANDARD IS EIGHT MINUTES. THAT IS A NATIONWIDE STANDARD. SO WE HAVE BEEN UNDER FOUR MINUTES. RIGHT AT FOUR MINUTES OR BELOW FOR THE LAST YEAR. THIS QUARTER, WHICH INCLUDED APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE, APRIL 1ST THROUGH JUNE 30TH, IT WAS 3:08.

>> ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I AM HEARING OF DOLLARS SET ASIDE FOR AVAILABLE TRANSIT PROJECTS FOR THE CITY. $5.3 MILLION. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD SOME DISPERSED THROUGH THE CITY. CAN YOU GIVE US A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF WHAT AN APPROVED PROJECT WOULD LOOK LIKE?

>> I CAN GET YOU THE ACTUAL LIST OF PROJECTS THAT ROWLETT HAS APPROVED, BUT LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES. IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, HELPING SUPPLEMENTS AND SHUTTLE SERVICES TO PROVIDING SOME SIGNAL PRIORITY FOR BUSES TO, YOU KNOW, DURING SOME IMPROVEMENT AT BUS STOPS. IT HAS TO HAVE A TRANSPORTATION USE BECAUSE THE DOLLARS ARE FLOWING THROUGH D.A.R.T., AND WE ARE REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO SPEND THEM ON TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS WAS THE PRE-A 2022 ITEM. CANCEL ALLOCATED IT TO INDUSTRIAL STREET RECONSTRUCTION WHICH IS THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE ROWLETT DOWNTOWN STATION. AND THAT IS, I THINK, ALMOST FINISHED IN DESIGN. SOMEWHERE.

WE ARE GETTING THERE. >> WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT STUDY THAT IS COMING OUT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING A WIN-WIN SITUATION WITH D.A.R.T., SO

THANK YOU. >> AND I THINK I FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE STUDY COMES OUT ON SEPTEMBER 10TH IN ADDITION TO THE D.A.R.T. BOARD .

>> COUNCIL, OTHER QUESTIONS? ÚCOUNCIL MEMBER SCHUPP?

[01:25:02]

>> YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND THANK YOU. YOU KNOW? THE VOTE FOR THE '25 REDUCTION, THAT WAS A MESSAGE AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU GOT THE MESSAGE AND YOU CAME HERE AND THAT MEANS A LOT SO THANK YOU. ONE QUESTION I HAVE, AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN REAL CLEAR ON IT AND MAYBE YOU HAVE KIND OF ANSWERED IT. SO WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY 300 OFFICERS, SECURITY-TYPE PEOPLE. IS THE GOAL TO HAVE ONE PERSON OR HAVE A SECURITY OFFICER ON EVERY TRAIN EVERY TIME? IS THAT AN

INTERNAL GOAL OR NOT? >> I AM GOING TO ASK CHIEF KATO. I DO NOT WANT TO GET INTO THE APPOINTMENT STRATEGY NECESSARILY BUT I WILL LET HIM TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YES, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUPP. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A D.A.R.T. UNIFORM REPRESENTATIVE. BETWEEN OUR TRANSIT SECURITY OFFICER WHICH IS THE ARMED SECURITY AND ARE POLICE OFFICERS, IT IS TO HAVE A PERSON WITH A RADIO COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY ON EVERY TRAIN. THE CHALLENGE IS SOME OF THE TRAINS CAN BE TWO CARS OR THREE CARS. IT IS NOT GOING TO BE A POLICE OFFICER ON EVERY SINGLE CAR. BUT THAT IS OUR GOAL. YES.

>> SO THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A D.A.R.T. REPRESENTATIVE AT THE VERY LEAST ANDY SECURITY OFFICER AT BEST ON EVERY TRAIN.

>> YES. >> LET ME SEE. I THINK MOST OF YOUR QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. ONE I THINK WAS PART OF THE 2024 PLAN. AND THIS MAY BE WAY, WAY, WAY PREMATURE. IT DID KIND OF PEAK MY INTEREST. YOU TALKED ABOUT ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY. THE WAY WE ARE SET UP, IT IS SORT OF A BARRIER BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND THE D.A.R.T., AND THERE IS CLOSE PROXIMITY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROXIMITY, I WOULD SAY IT COULD MAYBE BE IMPROVED. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH CITY STAFF? IS THAT A GOAL GOING FORWARD? OR IS THAT ACTUALLY IN SOME SORT OF CONCRETE DEVELOPMENT?

>> SO I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY WITH YOUR STAFF, BUT IF THEY ARE LIKE ALL THE OTHER CITY STAFF THAT I KNOW IN OTHER CITIES, EVERYONE IS INTERESTED IN CREATING BETTER PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY AND WE ARE, TOO, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY IF WE CAN PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, A GOOD ENVIRONMENT, A FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT FOR SOME IT TO ACCESS THE D.A.R.T. STATION OR REALLY EVEN DOWNTOWN ROWLETT ON FOOT THAT WOULD BE A REALLY FANTASTIC THING. BIKE IS GOOD, TOO. I UNDERSTAND IT IS REALLY HOT HERE IN RUSK, TEXAS. BUT THE WHOLE POINT IS WE JUST DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF ROOM TO PROVIDE MORE AND MORE LIENS ON OUR STREETS. SO IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE MOVING -- IT IS ABOUT PEOPLE MOVEMENT MORE SO THAN VEHICLE. IF WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE MOVING FOR EXAMPLE INTO YOUR DOWNTOWN AREA THEN YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PARK THEM AND I THINK WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THE GOAL. SO PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS, 100%, WE ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH YOU

ALL TO FIGURE THAT OUT. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> MAYOR MARGOLIS. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THAT WAS INFORMATIVE AND FAIRLY IN-DEPTH GIVEN HOW MUCH MATERIAL YOU HAVE TO COVER. SO I THINK I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS AROUND THE RIDER COUNTS.

YOU'RE BASING THE SUBSIDY ON THE RIDER COUNT THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED AND I'M CURIOUS WHETHER THOSE LETTER ACCOUNTS ARE ACCURATE AND IF SO HOW THOSE ARE BEING OBTAINED AND WHAT SORT OF DATA CLEANING IS HAPPENING PRIOR TO THOSE BEING ESTABLISHED BECAUSE IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CURRENTLY THE COUNTS ARE BASED ON PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH THE DOORWAY OF A TRAIN. IS THAT FAIRLY ACCURATE?

>> SO THAT IS FAIRLY ACCURATE AT LEAST ON THE TRAIN. THEY ARE CALLED AUTOMATIC PASSENGER COUNTERS OR APCS. THEY HAVE TO BE APPROVED BEFORE WE USE THEM. WE INSTALLED APPROVED PASSENGER UNDER COUNTERS. SO WE DO SOME VALIDATION OF THAT. BECAUSE OF COURSE WE HAVE TAPS OR FAIR PAYMENT AS WELL. SO WE CAN KIND OF CHECK AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL AND WE DO NOT GET 100% ACCURACY ON EVERYTHING. BUT THE RIDERSHIP, THE RIDERSHIP IS A LITTLE BIT OF A MISNOMER REALLY. IT IS REALLY BOARDINGS OR UNLINKED TRIPS THAT WE COUNT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE WAY THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ASKS US TO ACCOUNT FOR THE RIDERS. THROUGH BOARDINGS. SO WHEN WE REPORT TO THE NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE, WE ARE ACTUALLY REPORTING BOARDINGS. SO WHEN WE SAY RIDERSHIP, IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A MISNOMER. BUT VERY MUCH LIKE TRAFFIC, IF YOU HAVE A CAR THAT GOES ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT STREETS, THE TRAFFIC COUNT THAT

[01:30:01]

>> SO FINANCIALLY, AT THE RIDERSHIP NUMBERS ARE NOT ACTUALLY NECESSARILY RIDERS, HOW DO YOU TURN THAT INTO A NUMBER AND SAY WE ARE SUBSIDIZING THIS MUCH PER LIGHT

RAIL TRAIN RIDER? >> SO IT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE ACCURATE FOR US TO SAY THE SUBSIDY PER TRIP. RIGHT? OR PER -- YEAH. PER UNLINKED TRIP. SO, YEAH, IT IS STILL A TRIP. EVEN IF IT IS A TWO LEGGED CHIPPER A THREE-LEGGED TRIP, WE STILL COUNT EACH OF THOSE LEGS BECAUSE WE -- IT COSTS US A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PROVIDE THAT LEG OF THE TRIP. I

HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE. >> IT DOES. THAT IS HELPFUL.

THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BECAUSE WHEN YOU START TO DO THE MULTIPLICATION ON WHAT IS THAT SUBSIDY FOR A THREE-LEGGED TRIP VERSUS A ONE LEGGED TRIP IT IS A FAR DIFFERENT NUMBER. 300% GREATER.

>> I AM SORRY. SAY THAT AGAIN.

>> SO THE SUBSIDY IS MULTIPLIED BY THREE FOR A THREE-LEGGED

TRIP? >> I AM NOT SURE I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION THAT WAY. I AM NOT SURE THAT WOULD BE ACCURATE. IT MAY STILL BE ONE FAIR. YEAH. I WOULD HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE THINKING ON THAT. YOU ASKED ME A REAL

ZINGER. >> I DO THINK THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION TO HAVE. THAT TO ME IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THIS DISCUSSION. SECOND QUESTION IS THERE ENFORCEMENT OUTCOMES. SO WHEN YOU'RE FAIR ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS STOPS SOMEONE ON A TRAIN AND ASKED TO SEE THE TICKET, THEY DO NOT HAVE A TICKET. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME IS THAT PERSON ISSUED A CITATION OR ESCORTED OFF THE TRAIN AND AT WHAT POINT ARE THEY COMPLETELY IGNORED?

>> WE CAN ALSO SEND YOU THE INFORMATION.

>> YES. OUR GOAL OF THERE ENFORCEMENT IS JUST TO GET COMPLAINTS. SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR ENCOUNTERS RESULT IN SOMEONE BOARDING THE TRAIN AND EITHER PURCHASING THE FARE OR SO THEY CAN GET BACK ON THE TRAIN LEGITIMATELY OR GET REMOVED FROM THE TRAIN. WE REMOVE ABOUT A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE WITHOUT A CITATION. A CITATION IS A LAST RESORT. THAT THEY REFUSED TO GET OFF THE TRAIN AT RESULTS IN A CITATION.

AND A LOT OF TIMES ARE FARE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE UNIFORMED OFFICERS , BUT THEY DO NOT CARRY FIREARMS, THEY HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE OR A TRANSIT SECURITY OFFICER TO COME ASSIST IN PHYSICALLY REMOVING SOMEBODY FROM THE TRAIN. SO WE, I BELIEVE SO FAR HERE, HAVE ISSUED 18,000 ENFORCEMENT CITATIONS. YOU KNOW? THERE ENFORCEMENT CITATIONS. WE HAD 18,000 REMOVALS FROM THE SYSTEM. SO IT

IS ABOUT AN EVEN BREAKDOWN. >> SO A FAIR AMOUNT OF THE TIME PEOPLE ARE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXIT THE TRAIN, PURCHASE THE TICKET, AND REBOARD?

>> YES, SIR. >> SO CITATION IS THE LAST

RESORT ? >> YES, SIR.

>> IF I CAN RIDE THE TRAIN WITHOUT A TICKET AND NOT CHANCE I GET STOPPED AND I HAVE TO BUY A TICKET IS THAT ACCOMPLISHING THE GOAL YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH?

>> WELL, THE GOAL IS NOT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE CHECKED.

THAT THEY PURCHASE A TICKET, EVEN IF THEY GET OFF THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET ON THE SAME TRAIN. THEY HAVE BEEN INCONVENIENCED ENOUGH THAT MY DESIRES THAT THEY WILL BUY A TICKET NEXT TIME WITHOUT HAVING TO BE CONFRONTED BY SOMEONE BUT KNOWING WE ARE GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION. EVERY SINGLE VEHICLE THAT A FARE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IS ON , WE ARE GOING TO CHECK

EVERYONE IN THAT VEHICLE. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE PERSPECTIVE. WHAT ALL OF THIS REVOLVES AROUND AS A RIDER EXPERIENCE, AND YOU ALL HAVE ADDRESSED A FARE AMOUNT OF THAT

[01:35:05]

EXPERIENCE? >> I'M GOING TO ASK ONE OF MY STAFF TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL TIME. BUT I WILL COME IN AND TELL YOU THE ACTUAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES WE WILL BE LOOKING AT IS THE DOWNTIME OR THE AVAILABILITY OF VERTICAL CIRCULATION BECAUSE THAT IS AN IMPORTANT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE METRIC. SO WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS.

WE HAVE INITIATIVES IN CARROLLTON TO LOOK AT SPEEDING UP THE ELEVATORS AS WELL. SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS, YES, ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT. THAT IS ALL UNDER THE QUALITY SERVICE PIECE OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WILL WE BE USING OUR FUTURE RESOURCES, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE WILL BE DOING BUT LET ME INTRODUCE JAMES JOYCE WAS WITH OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM.

>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. YOU ARE OFF THE HOOK FOR A MOMENT.

>> GOOD EVENING. WE DID HAVE SOME CHALLENGES WITH THE ESCALATORS THERE. THERE OUTSIDE. MOST ESCALATORS ARE INSIGHT. BUT THE ELEVATOR TENANT HAS A LIMITED ALMOST ALL OF THE ELEVATOR PROBLEMS WE HAVE THERE. SO THEY ARE REPLACING TWO ESCALATORS AS THEY SPEAK.

>> THAT IS GREAT. >> SO MY WIFE HAS NOT TAKEN THE D.A.R.T. TO MOCKINGBIRD STATION SINCE PRE-PANDEMIC. SHE IS ONE OF THE STATISTICS THAT HAVE NOT COME BACK TO WRITING THE TRAIN.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS, THAT BEING ONE OF THEM, BUT THERE WAS ALWAYS AN INCONVENIENCE. YOU ARE STILL WORKING ON THE ESCALATOR AND IT IS 2024. SHE IS NOT RIDDEN SINCE 2019. THAT TELLS ME AND HAS BEEN A PERPETUAL PROBLEM.

>> THAT IS HELPFUL. THANK YOU. SO TO ME THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. THE RIDER EXPERIENCE. AND WHEN WE HAVE RESIDENTS HERE WHO TALK TO US WHO ARE FRUSTRATED AND COMPLAINING AND DISAPPOINTED IN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE, WE ARE THE FIRST ONE TO HEAR ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE ARE THE FRONT-LINE REPRESENTATIVES RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT IT. THAT IS WHAT HAS TO BE IMPROVED. THE RIDER EXPERIENCE HAS TO BE BETTER SO PEOPLE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WRITING A TRAIN.

>> I 100% DEGREE. IS NO ONE WHO WANTS TO IMPROVE THE RIDER EXPERIENCE MORE THAN ME. I WILL ALSO SAY ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED THAT JAMES MENTIONED AS WE DO NOT HAVE THE REDUNDANCY IN OUR ELEVATORS AT OUR STATIONS. AND I UNDERSTAND AND I AM NOT CRITICIZING MY PREDECESSORS BUT CERTAINLY ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO DO WITH OUR SYSTEM MODERNIZATION PROGRAM IS A LOOK AT ALL OF OUR FACILITIES AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE RIDER EXPERIENCE WHILE WE ARE DOING OUR REHABILITATION WORK. BECAUSE IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE THAT REDUNDANCY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE TRY TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO OUR BUDGETS. IT MAY TAKE US LONGER TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE BUT WE WANT TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR FACILITIES AND STATIONS AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU JUST SAID AND IMPROVE THE RIDER EXPERIENCE.

>> COUNSEL, OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I CONTINUE? OKAY. I HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THE GOING SERVICE AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE SUCCESSES FOR D.A.R.T. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE REASON YOU DECIDE TO FUND GOLINK WITH CASH INSTEAD OF THE GENERAL FUND GENERALLY? THAT SEEMS TO PUT A EXPIRATION DATE

ON THE PROGRAM. >> YEAH. LET ME TALK ABOUT HOW THAT IS FUNDED. WE HAVE A FUND THAT BASICALLY IS SALES TAX REVENUE THAT WE COLLECT OVER AND ABOVE WHAT WE BUDGETED. SO DURING THE PANDEMIC YEARS, YOU KNOW, WITH SALE TAX GROWTH, IS ACTUALLY QUITE SIGNIFICANT AND I DO NOT HAVE THAT GRAPH HERE BUT IF I WERE TO SHOW YOU THE GRAPH, YOU SEE THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC YEARS THE LINES BETWEEN WHAT WAS BUDGETED AND ACTUALLY WIDELY DIFFERENT, BUT I DO NOT THINK ANYONE ACTUALLY PREDICTED THAT. SO ANY SALES TAX THAT WE COLLECTED THOSE OVER AND ABOVE BUDGET WENT INTO THIS ASSISTANCE AND INNOVATION FUND AND IT REQUIRES A TWO THIRDS VOTE OF OUR BOARD TO USE THAT MONEY FOR ANYTHING. SO LAST YEAR WHAT WE DID IS WE ACTUALLY HAD TO DIP INTO THAT FUND. ABOUT $100 MILLION I THINK IT WAS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO SUPPLEMENT OUR

[01:40:04]

SERVICE THAT WE HAVE TODAY. >> SO BASICALLY THAT $110 MILLION WAS ONE TIME FUNDING TECHNICALLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT A REOCCURRING FUND. IT WAS BASED ON OVER BUDGETED DOLLARS.

CORRECT? >> YES. IT WAS ONE-TIME FUNDING THAT WENT INTO THE FINANCIAL PLAN. YEAH. THE OPERATING FUND TO FUND 20 YEARS OF GOLINK IF THAT MAKES SENSE. WHERE WE GO TO SPEND THE WHOLE $110 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR? NO. IT WAS RATIONED OUT LIKE $5 MILLION A YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OVER THE LIFE OF THE FINANCIAL PLAN. SO, AGAIN, WE HAVE THAT PARTICULAR AMOUNT OF SERVICE FUNDED IN OUR FINANCIAL PLAN AND BETWEEN NOW AND THE 20 YEARS FROM NOW WE WILL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

>> YOU ARE MOVING FUNDING THAT YOU NEED FROM THAT YEAR FROM

WHAT YOU SAID? >> MAIF.

>> EVERY YEAR JUST TO -- BECAUSE YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE $110 MILLION SITTING IN YOUR OPERATING FUND.

>> RIGHT. IT IS IN A RESERVE IF THAT MAKES SENSE. IS PROBABLY NOT ACCURATE TO SAY THAT IT IS IN THE OPERATING FUND EXACTLY.

FOR US TO DRAW DOWN OVER THE LIFE OF THE 20 YEARS. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REFERENCES TO PARATRANSIT. IS IT SEPARATE?

>> THEY ARE PART OF THE SAME CONTRACT AND SAME OPERATOR. WE HAVE A NEW CONTRACTOR COMING ON BOARD ON OCTOBER 1. THEY WILL BE TAKING OVER OUR MOBILITY MANAGEMENT SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE GOLINK AS WELL AS PARATRANSIT. SO IN THAT TIME THEY WILL PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICES. BUT THEY ARE

SEPARATE. >> OKAY. AND ROWLETT ROAD CROSSING. WAS AT THIS AFTERNOON THE CROSSING ARMS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN? IT IS ABOUT A ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK OCCURRENCE IN MOST CASES. I ALWAYS SAY ANYTIME THAT A SINGLE DROP OF RAIN FALLS, GO AHEAD AND GET SOME OFFICERS OUT THERE BECAUSE IT

IS GOING TO FAIL. . >> SURE. WE WILL GO INTO GREATER DEPTH ON THURSDAY BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE DG&O ON THAT. THE CROSSING GATES ARE MAINTAINED BY US BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE A TRACT THERE. IF THERE IS AN ISSUE, OUR TEAM GOES OUT THERE FIRST. THEN THEY CALL THEM AND AN UNRESPONSIVE SOMETIMES RESPONSE TIME WAS NOT ALL THAT GREAT BUT WE DID HAVE A FEW ISSUES THERE. WE HAVE UPDATED OUR EQUIPMENT AND THEY HAVE UPDATED SOME OF THEIR COMMON AS WELL. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS IN THE PAST WEEK BUT I WILL KNOW BY

THURSDAY. >> YEAH. ANY TIME A DROP OF RAIN HITS IT IS PRETTY MUCH STRIPPING. I DO NOT GET HOW THAT HAPPENS BUT IT IS PRETTY MUCH 99% OF THE TIME THAT HAPPENS AND IT IS A SIGNIFICANT FRUSTRATION FOR OUR CITIZENS AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET THROUGH CALLS. AND JUST FOR SOME HISTORY, THIS IS NOT IN IT YOU ALL'S FAULT. BACK IN 2012 OR PRIOR WHEN WE WERE GOING TO THE PROCESS FOR EXTENDING THE BLUE LINES ROWLETT, IT WAS IN THE PLAN TO ACTUALLY HAVE A BRIDGE OVER ROWLETT ROAD AND THEY DECIDE TO NOT LET YOU DO THAT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM OR CONSIDER DOING A BRIDGE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED ACROSS THE D.A.R.T. TRANSIT SYSTEM. A PRECEDENT HAS BEEN SET TO BUILD BRIDGES OVER ROADWAYS. SO CAN YOU ADDRESS

THAT? >> SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS THIS

[01:45:01]

WE ARE AT THAT POINT. >> THANK YOU. TO BE SIGNIFICANT IF ONE DAY WE CAN BRIDGE OVER ROWLETT ROAD. CANCEL, OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I CONTINUE? NO? OKAY. THERE WAS DISCUSSION , AT LEAST ON THE PRESENTATION THAT I SAW AND I THINK IT WAS THE EXACT SAME PRESENTATION YOU PRESENTED BUT SOMETHING ABOUT D.A.R.T. BEING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENGINE. I THINK THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY THE CASE AND IT STILL CAN BE THE YOU KNOW? THE TREND WE HAVE SEEN IN THE REGION CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF JOBS AND PLACES LIKE COLLIN COUNTY WHERE WE DO NOT SEE TRANSIT SERVICES. AND SO I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT HAS TO DO WITH D.A.R.T. NOT BEING THE ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT IT ONCE WAS AND STILL CAN BE BUT IN THIS DISCUSSION LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID, I THINK, AGAIN, THE POINT FOR THIS PRESSURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING ON YOU ALL IS FIRST AND FOREMOST TO GET YOU ALL'S ATTENTION AND YOU ARE HERE SO THAT WORKED.

BUT THEN TO DISCUSS REAL STEPS TO ADDRESS YOUR RIDER'S CONCERNS, OUR CONSTITUENT'S CONCERNS, AND OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF RIDERSHIP AND WHAT D.A.R.T. CAN DO FOR EACH CITY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE D.A.R.T. HAS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT ONCE HAD TO BE THAT ECONOMIC ENGINE BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW MOST CITIES -- ALMOST ALL CITIES -- DO NOT HAVE TRANSIT ALLOCATING THAT ONE THAT 1% TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO WE ARE OUTNUMBERED HERE. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT ABILITY TO SPEND THAT FUNDING TOWARDS ATTRACTING DEVELOPMENT AND DESTINATIONS TO OUR CITY. SO WE REALLY WANT D.A.R.T. TO HELP US IN THAT EFFORT. AND, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE NOT GETTING THAT. AND I THINK IN SOME CASES IT HAS HAMPERED US. SO, AGAIN, THIS IS WHY WE ARE SET ON SEEING THROUGH. WE WANT TO BEGIN TO GET WHAT WE PAY FOR. AT THE PRESSURE CAMPAIGN RESULTING SAFE AND CLEAN TRAINS, THEN THAT IS A SUCCESS FOR EVERYONE. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE DO NOT BEGIN TO SEE SOME REAL IMPROVEMENTS TO RIDERSHIP QUALITY AND TRANSIT IN THE REGION I FEEL LIKE WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE THE PRESSURE. IT WILL PERSIST AND SO YOU HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE TO CLIMB. I REALLY GENUINELY HOPE THAT YOU SUCCEED AND I HOPE THAT D.A.R.T. SUCCEEDS IN THE ENDEAVOR OF INCREASING QUALITY FOR OUR RIDERS,OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR CITY. AND SO THAT D.A.R.T. CAN BE THAT ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT IT ONCE WAS. SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE D.A.R.T. STAFF FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.

CHIEF KATO AND I AM SORRY BUT I FORGET YOUR NAME, SIR.

>> JAMES JOYCE. >> AND I THINK I WILL SEE YOU ON THURSDAY. COUNSEL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. SO NEXT ITEM IS

[6D. Update from the City Council and Management: Financial Position, Major Projects, Operational Issues, Upcoming Dates of Interest and Items of Community Interest.]

COMMUNITY INTEREST. >> ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? IF SO WE HAVE A SPOT FOR YOU.

[01:50:02]

YOU MAY PICK UP A REGISTRATION CARD AT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. FROM OUR ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM, THE FIVE GROUPS CONCERT SERIES KICKS OFF THIS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH WITH THE BUFFETT BEACH BAND. JOIN US EACH FRIDAY ON 7:00 P.M. FOR MUSIC, FOOD, AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AGES. AND THE WEATHER SEEMS LIKE IT MAY COOPERATE. KERRY TO INDULGE IN ALL THE DELICIOUS FLAVORS OF FALL FOR UNIQUE HANDCRAFTED ITEMS ON THE FORMER COMING. JOIN US EVERY THURSDAY STARTING SEPTEMBER 19TH UNTIL NOVEMBER 14TH EXCLUDING HALLOWEEN FROM 5:30 TO 8:30 P.M.. THE COMPETITION CLOSES TOMORROW ON SEPTEMBER 4TH AT NOON. IF YOU ARE A NEIGHBOR HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY YARD AND THE PARK ADVISORY BOARD WILL TAKE PLACE AT 8:00 A.M. AT ROWLETT SPRINGFIELD PARK. FROM OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THE ROWLETT FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE CONDUCTING A 9/11 MEMORIAL CEREMONY ON SEPTEMBER 11TH AT 8:30 A.M.

JOIN US AS WE HONOR THE HEROS FROM 9/11. SEPTEMBER IS LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH. GET THE MOST IMPORTANT SCHOOL SUPPLY A LIBRARY CARD. PATRONS WILL BE ENTERED INTO GIFT CARD PRIZE A DRAWINGS WHEN THEY SIGN UP OR WHEN THEY REFER FRIENDS OR FAM THROW GET A CARD. THE LIBRARY ALSO RESUMES ITS STORY TIME AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THIS IS MONTH. VISIT ROWLETT.COM/LIBRAR Y TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER, VIEW THEIR CALENDAR, OR SIGN UP FOR THE ROBOTICS TEAM FOR AGES 9 TO 14.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY PLANNING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, WHICH I'M SURE WE ARE ALL EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE IN. THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 1ST. IF YOU ARE PART OF A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, OR A CRIME WATCH GROUP, YOU CAN SIGN UP ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE TO HAVE A VISIT FROM SOMEONE IN THE CITY. FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, GET READY FOR YOUR FIRST TRASH DAY WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES. OCTOBER 1, 2024, WE ARE TRANSITIONING TRASH AND RECYCLING. REPUBLIC WILL DELIVER NEW CARTS FOR TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND -- STARTING SEPTEMBER 23RD, THEY WILL FINISH UP WITH FRIDAY AND MONDAY ROUT CARTS. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A DOOR HANGER ATTACHED TO YOUR NEW CART WITH INFORMERS YOU'LL NEED, INCLUDING HOW TO REACH PUBLIC SERVICES WITH ANY QUESTIONS. AFTER YOUR LAST COLLECTION IN SEPTEMBER, LEAVE YOUR FCC CARTS AT THE COLLECTION POINT. A FEW KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER, PLACEMENT OF YOUR CARTS. YOU MUST PLACE YOUR TRASH AND RECYCLING CARTS AT THE CURB ON YOUR COLLECTION DAY, REMEMBER TO MAINTAIN A THREE-FOOT DISTANCE BETWEEN CARTS AND ANY OTHER OBJECTS. CAN WE CONFIRM THAT'S AT THE CURRENT PLACEMENT LOCATION? SOME PLACE THEM IN THE ALLEY. NOT NECESSARILY YOUR CURB, MIGHT BE YOUR ALLEY AS WELL. LID COLORS, TRASH GOES IN THE CART WITH THE BLACK LID, AND RECYCLING GOES IN THE CART WITH THE LIGHT BLUE LID. YOU CAN FIND A COUPLE OUT IN THE LOBBY. FOR SCHEDULING, ROLL YOUR CARTS OUT AFTER 4:00 P.M. ON THE DAY BEFORE YOUR SERVICE, JUST MAKE SURE TO BRING THEM IN BY 12:00 P.M. ON THE DAY AFTER YOUR SERVICE HAPPENS. AND THAT IS ALL THE

ANNOUNCEMENTS I HAVE, MAYOR. >> ALL RIGHT, DEPUTY MAYOR

PRO-TEM? >> YES, I HAVE TWO UPDATES.

ONE, LAST THURSDAY I ATTENDED THE BEAUTIFUL POLLINATOR GROUP MEETINGS AS DID COUNCILMEMBER SCHOOP. AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO CINDY LING AND ALL OF THOSE IN THE GROUP CREATING HABITATS TO NURTURE OUR BEES, BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER CREATURES IMPORTANT TO OUR FOOD SUPPLY. THE MAYOR AND I ARE MEMBERS OF THE ROCKWALL COUNTY STEERING COMMITTEE. THAT WORK BEGAN IN FEBRUARY. OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, I'VE ATTENDED ALL BUT ONE OF THE ROUGHLY TWICE A MONTH MEETINGS, THE PUBLIC FORUMS, AND THE VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS. I SERVED AS AN EDITOR ON AUGUST THE 27TH AND SPOKE AT THAT MEETING AND ATTENDED THE COURT'S WORK SESSION WHERE THE VISION MISSION, VALUES, AND GOALS THAT WE HAD COME UP WITH IN THIS GROUP WERE DISCUSSED, TWEAKED, AND FORMALLY APPROVED BY THE COURT. THAT PROCESS ISN'T OVER YET, BUT THIS WAS A BIG MILESTONE TO GET THE COURT'S APPROVAL. ROCKWALL COUNTY NOW

[01:55:04]

AND THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT IN MANY WAYS. ROWLETT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ROCKWALL COUNTY IN THE PAST HAS BEEN SORT OF LIKE A FACEBOOK RELATIONSHIP. IT'S COMPLICATED. COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT LESS THAN 15% OF OUR POPULATION RESIDES ON THE ROCKWALL COUNTY SIDE OF TOWN, YET THAT 15% EQUALS OVER 9,000 PEOPLE, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE ENTIRE CITY OF MCCLENDON CHISHOLM AND NOT FAR BEHIND HEATH IN SOME WAYS, THE LAKE IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL AS WELL AS A PHYSICAL BARRIER. ROCKWALL HASN'T BEEN AS INVOLVED AS MOST OF THE CITIES ON THE EAST SIDE. I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR CERTAINLY BEGAN THE EFFORT AND I HAVE TRIED TO PARTICIPATE AS MUCH AS I CAN IN THE EFFORT TO CHANGE THAT. AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE HAD A PART IN CHANGING THAT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER REAVES?

>> YES, THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. MEET PICKLES. THERE HE IS. ADORABLE. LOOK AT THAT GUY. ADORABLE. HE WAS FOUND AS A STRAY IN JULY AND IS NOW ON THE HUNT FOR HIS FOREVER HOME. PICKLES IS A SWEET AND SMART PUP WHO KNOWS BASIC COMMANDS IS AND IS ALWAYS EGOTER LEARN MORE. HE LOVES MEETING NEW PEOPLE. HIS FAVORITE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FETCH AND SPLASHING AROUND IN THE POOL. IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO ADD JOY AND WAGGING TAILS TO YOUR LIFE, MEET PICKLES TODAY.

HIS EXCITEMENT AND CUDDLES ARE WAITING JUST FOR YOU.

972-412-6219 OR COME BY THE SHELTER AT 440 # INDUSTRIAL STREET FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. TUESDAY TO SATURDAY. ALL ADOPTIONS ARE CURRENTLY FREE. THE ROWLETT ANIMAL SHELTER IS CURRENTLY CODE RED. WE ARE OUT OF SPACE. WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP, SO OUR FURRY FRIENDS ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF BEING RECLAIMED, ADOPTED, OR FOSTERED. CONSIDER GIVING THESE PRECIOUS ANIMALS A SECOND CHANCE AT A HAPPY LIFE.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC INPUT? CITIZEN'S INPUT -- I

[7. CITIZENS’ INPUT]

I WAS GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF THERE. NOW WE GO TO CITIZEN'S INPUT. AT THIS TIME, COMMENTS WILL BE TAKEN FROM AUDIENCE ON A TOPIC AND NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL. STACEY

CHADWICK, WHAT DO WE GOT? >>

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT YOUR MIC'S ON. OH, IT'S ON? OH, IT'S LOW. OKAY, WHAT WAS THE FIRST NAME? NATE. JUST -- YEP, COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE. YOU WILL

HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> MY NAME IS NATE. I LIVE IN DALLAS AT 8600, THEHA IN DALLAS. I RAN FOR U.S. CONGRESS IN CONGRESSIONAL '24 AND SPOKE OUT ABOUT HOUSING ISSUES. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS. WHEY WANT TO DO IS COME HERE BEFORE YOU AND FULLY SUPPORT YOUR RESOLUTION AND REGARDING TO CURTAILING INSTITUTIONAL INVESTING IN HOMES. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF HOMES CREATED BY THE SINGLE-FAMILY RENTAL INDUSTRY. OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION THIS INDUSTRY HAS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE HOUSING MARKET FOR THE WORST. THESE COMPANIES OR FIRMS USUALLY OWNING MORE THAN 30 HOMES BESIDES THE MOM AND POPS HAVE -- ESSENTIALLY HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY AND ON AN INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL BOUGHT UP HOMES AND CONVERTED THEM INTO RENTAL, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH GROSS CITIES LIKE DALLAS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS ACTIVITY HAS SUPPRESSED THE HOUSING MARKET, DRIVING UP PRICES WITHOUT ANY REAL BENEFIT TO THE TRADITIONAL HOME BUYER AND THE COMMUNITY.

FRANKLY, THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE HARMED THE PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS IN THE HOUSING MARKET. THAT IS THE TRADITIONAL BUYER AND THE TAXPAYER. OFTEN USED IN GOVERNMENT FUNDS AND BONDS AND MUNICIPAL PENSIONS TO FUND THEIR INVESTMENTS. THE CONSEQUENCES OF INSTITUTIONAL INVESTING MANY HOMES IS INCREASED HOME PRICES, INCREASED PROPERTY TAX, DECREASE IN HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, UNFAIR COMPETITION BETWEEN BUYERS. AND THIS INCLUDES -- CONFIRMS THE MARKET CAP THAT ARE OFTENTIMES A BILLION OR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT YOU'RE COMPETING WITH TRYING TO BUY A HOME. DECREASE IN UPKEEP AND REPAIR OF HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS, INCREASE IN CODE VIOLATION, INCREASE IN EVICTIONS, MORE TRANSIENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND INCREASE IN

[02:00:04]

I'VE GONE THROUGH AND LOOKED AT THE INCREASE AND EVALUATION OF OVER 50 NEIGHBORHOODS AND 50 HOMES WITHIN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS BASED ON EVALUATIONS ALONE. IN THE LAST SEVEN TO EIGHT YEARS WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE LEVEL OF INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS COMING IN, THOSE EVALUATIONS HAVE RISEN 100% TO 200% OVER THE LAST SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS. I APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR RESOLUTION IN GETTING ON THIS ISSUE. WE NEED TO BE MORE. I WILL FOREGO MY REMARKS. I HAVE A LITTLE MORE THANKS HERE, AND I WILL COME BACK AND PRESENT THE REST OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY, BUT I APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR RESOLUTION. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO --

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. APPRECIATE YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT

SPEAKER? >>

>> CITY OF RESIDENCE, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

>> WAIT, WHAT? >> JUST YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. YOU DON'T HAVE

TO SHARE YOUR ACTUAL ADDRESS. >> MY NAME IS -- WAIT --

>> YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> ALL RIGHTY. ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS ANDREW FLANAGAN, AND I AM A ROWLETT CITIZEN, BEEN SO EVER SINCE I WAS A YOUNG CHILD. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON THE RESOLUTION ABOUT THE BUDGET, ABOUT Y'ALL'S REZ ELUSION ABOUT THE BUDGET CUTS OR WHATEVER.

D.A.R.T. HAS A CLEANING TEAM SET TO CLEAN THE TRAINS AND BUSES EVERY NIGHT AND RECENTLY HAS REPLACED FABRIC SEATS WITH VINYL SEATS, AS Y'ALL ALREADY KNOW, TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO CLEAN. WHICH ALSO HELPS WITH THE COST TO CLEAN THEM.

THEY HAVE CONTRACTED 100 NEW SECURITY OFFICERS FOR THEIR TRAINS, WHICH I THINK THE CEO ALREADY TALKED ABOUT. BUT IF -- BUT IF D.A.R.T.'S FUNDING GETS CUT THERE WILL BE LESS POLICE OFFICERS IN THEIR BUDGET. THERE WILL ALSO BE MORE SERVICE CUTS, AND THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE AMOUNT OF SERVICE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE NEEDED FOR A LOT OF ROWLETT CITIZENS.

WITH LESS MONEY MEANS LESS SERVICE. I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE THE ROWLETT GO ONLY ZONE GO AWAY BECAUSE D.A.R.T. LITERALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP IT RUNNING. IF IT GETS REDUCED OR GETS -- OR SEES LONGER WAIT TIMES, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET A JOB, WHICH I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR BECAUSE OF THE GO LINK ZONE. D.A.R.T. IS EMPOWERING ME TO START A LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AS AN ADULT. BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION, GO LINK HAS BECOME APPEALING TO ME. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET

A JOB AS I WAS HOPING. >> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.

>> YOU DOUBLE CHECK YOUR MIC? BECAUSE MINE SOMETIMES SHOWS THAT IT'S ON AND IT'S REALLY NOT ON. IT'S ON? IT'S ON BUT IT'S NOT ON. OKAY. WE'LL HAVE TO LET I.T. KNOW ABOUT THAT.

>> DAVE HALL, ROWLETT. HERE ARE EXHIBIT ONE THROUGH FOUR SHOWING THE PADDLE SPORTS LAUNCH SPORTS AREA AT PADDLE POINT PARK. THE SUN SHADES BLOCK THE ACCESS OF USERS TO THE BENEFIT OF A FEW FAMILIES. THE BIZARRE INFLATABLE ORANGE SUN SHELTER WAS USED BY TWO PEOPLE TO SIT AND READ A BOOK DURING TWO WEEKENDS IN A ROW. PLEASE NOTICE THE GUIDELINES AND HOW ABOUT THIS? A SOLAR PANEL APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET BY TWO FEET. THIS SETUP CERTAINLY BLOCKED ACCESS IN HUGHES FOR MANY TO THE BENEFIT OF ONLY TWO. PLEASE SEE EXHIBIT FOUR WHERE THE SOLAR PANEL WAS ON THE GROUND AND THE RECTANGULAR BURN INTO THE GRASS. OTHERS DON'T ALLOW THIS BUT WE DO, QUESTION MARK, WHY? EXHIBIT FIVE IS A PICTURE OF A CITY RIGHT OF WAY IN FRONT OF MY 6917 KAYAK CROSSING OUTPUT STORE. THE GRASS AND WEEDS HAVE STILL NOT BEEN MOWED. PLEASE NOTE THE ROD IRON FENCE IS FOUR FEET TALL SO THE WEEDS ARE SIX-FEET TALL. THE FIRE HYDRANT FOR WHICH I PAID AND INSTALLED NOW IS COVERED WITH POISON IVY. THE DEAD ARMADILLO IS STILL IN THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY NEXT TO MY BUILDING. THE LAKE LEVEL HAS NOW DROPPED SEVERAL FEET. AS A RESULT, THE ALUMINUM ADA RAMP IS TOO STEEP AND NO LONGER MEETS ADA STANDARDS. NO ONE USES THE STRUCTURE FOR ADA USE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT WORK FOR

[02:05:01]

REMEMBER, THE LAKE IS LOWER, MAKING A NECK INJURY MORE LIKELY BY DIVING INTO A SHALLOW LAKE WHERE THE BOTTOM CANNOT BE SEEN. THIS INCREASES THE CHANCE OF A YOUNG CHILD WILL BECOME A QUADRIPLEGIC ON YOUR WATCH. NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS, WE ARE FINISHING UP ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON. OUR STAFF HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OUTSTANDING. MOST HAVE, ARE, OR WILL ATTEND COLLEGE.

THIS YEAR ONE OF OUR MEN LEFT EARLY TO REPORT FOR TRAINING TO PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL. ONE OF OUR WOMEN HAS RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL AT COLLEGE. A COUPLE OF OUR STAFF ARE NOW IN MED SCHOOL WORKING ON MD AND PH.D. AGREES.

MOST ARE ATTENDING A GREAT UNIVERSITY LIKE TCU AND SMU.

MANY GO ON AND EARN GRADUATE OR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES IN ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE DISCIPLINES. AS A RESULT OF MY PROGRAM'S SUCCESS, I GENERATE A GREAT AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE AND CREATE WEALTH. FOR EXAMPLE, FEDERAL TAX, BOTH INCOME AND TARIFF, PROPERTY TAXES AND SALES TAX, IF THE OTHER 69,999 ROWLETT RESIDENTS GENERATED TAX REVENUES LIKE I DO, COUNCIL WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SPEND IT AS FAST AS IT WOULD COME IN.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS COUNCIL AND

RESIDENTS. >> THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. AND NEXT -- I CAN TAKE OVER THE CARDS IF YOU NEED ME TO. OH, THAT WAS IT, OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? ALL RIGHTY, THEN -- OH, I'M SORRY. DID Y'ALL WANT TO -- WERE Y'ALL

[8. CONSENT AGENDA]

COUNCIL DID PULL ITEM 8B AND 8D FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

ANYBODY FROM THE AUDIENCE WAS TO PULL ANY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? ALL RIGHT, THEN CITY SECRETARY, ARE YOU ABLE TO -- IF --

>> I'LL SPEAK LOUDER. >> NO, I'LL DO, JUST SO THAT IT'S CLEAR ON THE RECORD. YOU KNOW WHAT, I CAN DO IT. I CAN

DO IT. DO YOU HAVE A MIC? >> NO.

>> WANT ME TO DO IT? >> I'LL DO IT.

>> GO FOR IT, YEAH. >> ALL RIGHT, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM 8A, CONSIDER ACTION APPROVING THE ITEMS. ITEM 8C, THE ROWLETT YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL.

>> GOSH, THAT WAS SO COMPLICATED. ALL RIGHT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER REAVES? OKAY, IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER REAVES, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO-TEM SHINDER, ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CALL THE VOTE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO-TEM AND COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON. ALL RIGHT. AND YOU CONSENT AGENDA

[8B. Consider action approving an Interlocal Agreement with TMLIRP for Cyber Liability and Data Breach Response. Consider action to approve a resolution approving an Interlocal Agreement with the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (“TMLIRP”) for cyber liability and data breach response.]

RESPONSE. >>

>> SO WE HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL.

THEY HAVE PROVIDED FOR US THIS COVERAGE GOING BACK TO APPROXIMATELY 2020. PRIOR TO THAT, WE HAD COVERAGE THROUGH A DIFFERENT BROKER CONSULTANT AND PRIOR TO THAT THERE WAS NO COVERAGE. SO AROUND 2018 WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD CYBERCOVERAGE. WE MOVED TO THE TEXAS INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL AT A TIME WHEN TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION WAS COMING INTO PLAY. IT WASN'T IN PLACE YET HERE, AND SO TO GET THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS COST WE ENDED UP WITH TML AND HAVE STAYED THERE EVER SINCE. SO OUR COVERAGE ENDS ON SEPTEMBER 30TH. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE WITH TML WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS PARTICULAR AGREEMENT IN PLACE. THEIR REASONING OR THEIR LOGIC TO ME WAS THEY NEEDED SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC TO THIS COVERAGE BECAUSE IT'S BECOMING DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO PROVIDE, BASICALLY IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. THEY HAVE GONE OUT ACTUALLY TO THE THIRD PARTY MARKET, SO I HAVE NOT PRESENTED THIS TO THE CITY MANAGER YET, BUTLY. AND THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS OTHER THAN JUST TML, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE GOING TO BE PASS THROUGH. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME OTHER INSURERS THAT WOULD BE PROVIDING COVERAGE AT A GREATER THRESHOLD THAN TML

[02:10:01]

STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS. AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU

HAVE. >> COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS?

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO-TEM? >> THANK YOU, RICHARD. I WAS THE ONE WHO ASKED TO PULL THIS, AND THE REASON WAS BECAUSE I HAD SOME QUESTIONS WHICH YOU ANSWERED. MY QUESTIONS WERE WHAT WERE WE DOING FOR THIS COVERAGE PREVIOUSLY AND WHAT THE COST WOULD BE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE RISK POOL, AND YOU ANSWERED BOTH OF THEM. SO THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S ALL? NO OTHER QUESTIONS, OKAY, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. AND A SECOND. OKAY. MOTION MADE BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO-TEM, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CALL THE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER -- THERE WE GO.

[8D. Consider action to approving a task authorization for professional land surveying services. Consider action to approve a resolution approving a task authorization for Surveying and Mapping, LLC (SAM), in the amount of $53,500.00, for professional land surveying services in conjunction with the new Municipal Complex Project.]

>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU BRIEFLY ABOUT THIS. I KNOW THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS. ILL DO A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE $53,500. THAT INCLUDES A BOUNDARY SURVEY OF THE 25 ACRES THAT THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON. ALSO A TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY OF $39,500. THE SAM LLC ANTICIPATES STARTING THIS PROJECT WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF RECEIVING THE NOTICE TO PROCEED. IF YOU SO APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, WE WILL BE SENDING THAT THIS WEEK. AND THEN THEY INITIALLY PLAN TO DELIVER THIS DOCUMENT TO US WITHIN THREE TO FOUR WEEKS UPON FINAL COMPLETION OF ALL OF THEIR FIELD DATA AND RESEARCH THAT THEY HAVE TO PERFORM. THE FORMAT OF BOTH OF THESE SURVEYS WILL BE IN PDF AND AUTO ECAB FORMAT. AND THE SCOPE OF SERVICES, AS I MENTIONED S THE BOUNDARY AND TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY. THE OVERALL LUMP SUM FEE COVERS A COMBINATION OF NOT ONLY THE HOURLY RATE PER INDIVIDUAL TASK MEMBER WITH THE WORK THAT THEY'RE PERFORMING, IT ALSO COVERS MILEAGE OR ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE EXHIBIT A OF THE OVERALL SCOPE OF SERVICES. SO IT'S CONCLUSIVE OF THAT ENTIRE $53,500 LUMP SUM. AND I'LL STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT

YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS?

THERE WE GO. >> AND I ALSO WAS THE ONE WHO ASKED TO PULL THIS, AND BECKY HAS ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS, WHICH WERE WHETHER THAT LUMP SUM DID INCLUDE THOSE THINGS THAT WERE BROKEN OUT ON PAGE 52 LIKE THE MILEAGE AND THE PER DIEM AND THAT KIND OF THING. SO THAT IS THE TOTAL, THE REAL TOTAL, AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.

>> YES MA'AM. >> COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTION ES? ALL RIGHT, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO-TEM, A SECOND BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO-TEM. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CALL THE VOTE. ALL RIGHT, AND THAT ITEM CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND

[9A. Consider action approving a resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule for rate and fee changes to the following sections: Miscellaneous, Solid Waste, and Utilities.]

>> YES. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES YOU SOME INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THREE SECTIONS OF OUR MASTER FEE SCHEDULED TO SUPPORT THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS INCLUDED IN YOUR FISCAL YEAR '25 CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET. THE FIRST PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SOLID WASTE FEES THAT SUPPORT THE REVENUES OF THE REFUSE FUND. AS A RESULT OF THE NEW SOLID WASTE CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES, THE RESIDENTIAL RATE FOR THE FIRST POLY CART AS WELL AS EACH ADDITIONAL POLY CART IS

PROPOSED TO DECREASE BY 1%. >> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT

THAT. >> AS A RESULT OF THE NEW CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES, THE AMOUNT -- THE COST FOR RESIDENTIAL RATE FOR THE FIRST POLY CART AS WELL AS

[02:15:01]

>> THANK YOU FOR REPEATING THAT.

>> THE SECOND PROPOSED CHANGE IS TO THE WATER AND SEWER FEES TO SUPPORT OUR UTILITY FUND. AT THE JULY 15TH WORK SESSION, SEVERAL OPTIONS WERE PROVIDED TO THE CITY'S -- BY THE CITY'S COUNCIL -- TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY OUR RATE CONSULTANT.

AND THEY WERE TO MITIGATE THE 6% INCREASE WATER COST FROM THE NORTH TEXAS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE 3% INCREASE IN THE SEWER TREATMENT COST FROM THE CITY OF GARLAND.

TONIGHT'S PROPOSAL REFLECTS COUNCIL'S CONSENSUS THAT NIGHT AT THAT WORK SESSION. THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT METER TIER ADJUSTMENTS BEING PROPOSED, BUT IN GENERAL FOR WATER RATES THERE IS NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE RESIDENTIAL BASE RATE AND A 3.5 PROSECUTE INCREASE TO THE VOLUME. THE AVERAGE NONRESIDENTIAL INCREASE IS 4 .5%. SO AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE CHART, THE BOTTOM CHART THERE, USING THESE PROPOSED RATES, A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER USING THE AVERAGE GALLONS OF WATER PER MONTH WILL SEE ABOUT AN INCREASE IN THEIR BILL. AND FINALLY, THE THIRD PROPOSED CHANGE IS TO OUR MISCELLANEOUS FEES. EACH YEAR DEPARTMENTS REVIEW THEIR FEES THAT FALL WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THEY COVER THE COST OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE AND THAT WE REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH NEIGHBORING CITIES. AS A RESULT OF THIS YEAR'S REVIEW DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE LIBRARY IS PROPOSING TO ELIMINATE OVERDUE MATERIAL FEES. INSTEAD WE PROPOSE TO SUSPEND THE CHECKOUT OF ADDITIONAL MATERIALS UNTIL OVERDUE ITEMS ARE RETURNED BACK TO THE LIBRARY. THIS CHANGE IS AIMED TO ENCOURAGE THE RETURN OF LONG OVERDUE MATERIALS TO THE LIBRARY AS WELL AS PROMOTE GREATER OVERALL LIBRARY USAGE.

AND THIS COMPLETES TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AND AGAIN, THESE FEES WOULD BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST WITH THE FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET.

>> SO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? >> IT WAS A FISCAL CHANGE THAT WAS REQUESTED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. I THINK THE MICS ON THE SIDES AREN'T WORKING. CITY MANAGER, ARE YOU ABLE TO DO IT?

GO AHEAD. >> THANKS. MAYOR, COUNCIL, THERE WAS A RK MENDATION FROM ONE OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS TO ELIMINATION A FEE. IT'S A PERMIT FEE THAT EXISTS FOR THE BLOCK PARTY PERMIT. IT'S A $35 FEE. AGAIN WE WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE WE MENTION THAT IT DIDN'T -- THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE FEE WAS FOR THE PERMIT OR THE RENTAL OF THE TRAILER APPARATUS. IT ACTUALLY IS INCLUSIVE OF BOTH. AND SO WE'D LIKE TO AMEND THIS TO INCLUDE THAT. ACTUALLY, IT WAS IN THERE. I KNOW IT'S BEEN IN A REPORT. IT'S IN A RESOLUTION. WE WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR -- IT'S IN A RESOLUTION, IT'S IN THE ATTACHMENT, BUT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT HERE IN THE PRESENTATION, BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION AS TO THE APPLICABILITY OF THAT PARTICULAR FEE. IT'S A $35 FEE FOR THE REMOVAL, A PERMIT FEE.

>> I'M LOST. CAN YOU MAKE IT IN ENGLISH.

>> THERE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD PERMIT OR BLOCK PARTY FEE, PERMIT FEE. IT'S $35. IT'S IN THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER. WENDY DIDN'T PRESENT IT TONIGHT. IT'S NOT --

>> OKAY. >> IT'S NOT IN THE --

>> NO. >> THE ATTACHMENT OR THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT WERE PRESENTED TONIGHT.

>> OKAY, SO WE'LL GO BACK ORIGINALLY, AS I WAS SAYING. WE WANT TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION ON THE FLOOR TO INCLUDE THIS $35 BLOCK PARTY PERMIT FEE. IT'S CURRENTLY A FEE THAT WE CHARGE WHENEVER ONE WISHES TO TAKE OUT A PERMIT FOR A BLOCK PARTY.

PART OF THAT FEE INCLUDES THE USAGE -- I THINK YOU ALL HAVE SEEN OUR BLOCK PARTY TRAILER. AND SO THAT IS BEING PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER TO ELIMINATE THAT FEE. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE THAT. HAVE I PROVIDED A BIT MORE CLARITY NOW? SORRY FOR IT BEING A BIT CONVOLUTED. NO, YES?

>> OKAY, SO IS THE -- I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE LOST HERE. IS THE -- OKAY, SO IS THE FEE ALREADY -- WE ALREADY CHARGE THAT,

RIGHT? >> THE FEE IS BEING CHARGED, IT'S JUST NOT INCLUDED IN THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

SO I'M OFFERING THAT INFORMATION UP SO THAT IF YOU SUPPORT REMOVAL OF THAT FEE, YOU CAN AMEND THE RESOLUTION. I CAN'T, THANKFULLY, MAKE MOTIONS. YOU CAN AMEND THE

[02:20:01]

RESOLUTION ON THE FLOOR FOR US. >> BUT IF WE DON'T AMEND IT,

IT STANDS. >> IT STANDS AS AN EXISTING

FEE, $35. >> I THOUGHT YOU WERE WANTING US TO ADD IT BACK AS THOUGH IT WERE REMOVED.

>> I'M SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION.

>> UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OH. OH GOODNESS GRACIOUS, ALL RIGHT. MAYOR PRO-TEM?

>> ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S STICK WITH THE TOPIC AT HAND, WHICH IS THE BLOCK PARTY PERMIT. I WANT TO KEEP THE DISCUSSION WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE AGENDA ITEM, BUT IT'S AROUND HOW DO WE ENSURE THIS BLOCK PARTY TRAILER AND A BLOCK PARTY PERMIT, IF AT NO FEE WOULD BE USED FOR BLOCK PARTIES AND NOT, SAY, SOMEONE'S OUTSIDE BARBECUE. THAT MAY BE OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THE DISCUSSION TODAY, BUT I THINK THE FEE ITSELF ESTABLISHES A BARRIER TO ENTRY TO USING THE CITY'S RESOURCES. I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE PURPOSE OF HAVING THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND A FEE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

>> WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. ARE YOU ASKING HOW DO WE ENSURE IF WE ELIMBNATE THIS FEE AND THE PERMIT FEE THAT THE TRAILER IN THIS USAGE IS THEN BEING USED FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE. I DON'T KNOW. THE REALITY IS WE WOULD STILL HAVE A PERMIT REQUIREMENT AS A REGISTRATION.

BUT OSTENSIBLY THAT'S WHAT IT IS. YOU'D DO AN APPLICATION.

YOU'D STATE AND AFFIRM THESE THINGS. BUT IT REALLY BECOMES PERFUNCTORY. YOU'RE JUST FILLING IT OUT. SO TO YOUR POINT ABOUT A BARRIER TO ENTRY, THAT WOULDN'T EXIST ANY LONGER. I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS, YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO THIS. I DON'T WANT TO DO IT ANY INJUSTICE.

>> GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DOES ANYBODY UP HERE ON THE DAIS EVER PUT TOGETHER A BLOCK PARTY?

>> MM-HMM. >> IT'S A LOT OF WORK. USUALLY THE SPONSOR OF THE BLOCK PARTY PUTS IN A LOT OF THEIR OWN MONEY AND A LOT OF THEIR SWEAT, EQUITY. IT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE TO NOT ADD AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF A $35 FEE.

IT IS IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST, CERTAINLY, I THINK THAT CHIEF DENNING WOULD AGREE THAT HAVING STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS -- NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, NEIGHBORS THAT KNOW EACH OTHER REALLY DOES ENHANCE OUR SAFETY IN THE CITY.

SO I THINK THAT HAVING GREAT BLOCK PARTIES IS A HUGE ASSET TO OUR CITY. AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CHARGE THEM.

>> COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS, JUST A QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION. DO YOU KNOW OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE A SIMILAR PROGRAM AND WHETHER THEY CHARGE OR NOT FOR

REPRESENTING IT? >> I DON'T RECALL. CERTAINLY THERE ARE MANY CITIES THAT HAVE BLOCK PARTY TRAILERS AND BLOCK PARTY PERMITS. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY CHARGE OR NOT. I

DON'T BELIEVE THEY DO. >> WE CAN -- COUNCIL CAN AMEND THIS AT ANY TIME THAT WE SEE FIT, CORRECT? YEAH. I MEAN, PERSONALLY, JUST MAYBE WANT TO DO SOME RESEARCH BEFORE I MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER WE CHARGE OR NOT, BUT THAT'S JUST MY

OPINION. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO-TEM? >> YES, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE THIS INFORMATION, BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW MUCH OUR ANNUAL REVENUE FROM THESE PERMITS WOULD BE.

>> I DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION, BUT I CAN PROVIDE

IT TOMORROW. >> THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE WE WANT TO FIND OUT AND BRING BACK.

>> YEAH, THERE MAY BE SOME INFORMATION HERE WE'D LIKE TO GET BEFORE WE -- ANYWAYS -- Y'ALL GET IT. MAYOR PRO-TEM?

>> SHIFTING GEARS FOR A MOMENT, WENDY, WITH REGARD TO THE SOLID WASTE SERVICES, REPUBLIC CONTRACT HAS BUILT INTO IT A SENIOR DISCOUNT. AND I NOTICE THAT IS NOT PART OF WHAT'S BEING CONSIDERED THIS EVENING AS FAR AS THE FEE SCHEDULE CHANGES. SORRY, HAD MY WORDS MIXED UP. I'M CURIOUS HOW THE CITY PLANS TO ADMINISTER THAT DISCOUNT AND APPLY IT TO RESIDENTS IF IT'S NOT BUILT INTO THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE.

>> SURE. BECAUSE THAT $1 DISCOUNT PER MONTH FOR SENIORS IS ACTUALLY A REPUBLIC DISCOUNT. IT'S NOT A CITY RATE DISCOUNT. IT'S A PASS THROUGH THAT WE ARE PROVIDING TO OUR CUSTOMERS FROM REPUBLIC. SO WE'RE NOT CHANGING OUR RATES, WE'RE ADOPTING OUR RATES AS OUR COST FOR PROVIDING THE SERVICE AND THEN REPUBLIC IS REIMBURSING THE CITY FOR PROVIDING THAT DISCOUNT TO OUR SENIORS.

>> SO RATHER THAN ON THEIR BILL HAVING A SEPARATE RATE AS A SENIOR, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A RATE AND AN ASSOCIATED

[02:25:01]

DISCOUNT BENEATH THE DEDUCTING. >> IT'S NOT MIXED IN WITH THE RATE SO THEY CAN CLEARLY SEE THEY'RE GETTING THE DISCOUNT

EVERY MONTH. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

>> GREAT. OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTION, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. OKAY, THERE'S -- IS THERE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON.

>> CAN I SPEAK? >> I'M SORRY, I'M TRYING TO FIND RTS HERE. THERE YOU ARE. I WAS LOOKING AT THE WRONG

SCREEN. >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE THE ITEM AS PRESENTED EXCLUDING THE FEE ELIMINATION FOR THE BLOCK PARTY TRAILER. SO THE FEE WOULD REMAIN FOR THE BLOCK PARTY TRAILER AS IT IS TODAY.

>> I DID HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON PRIOR TO YOUR MOTION BEING MADE, SO COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU. YOU MAY -- I HAVE A MOTION FROM

YOU. >> YEAH. I MADE THE MOTION BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO TABLE THAT AND MY MOTION WOULD HAVE BEEN TO APPROVE AS IS WITHOUT THE -- TAKING OUT THE BLOCK FEE UNTIL WE HAD A CHANCE TO DISCUSS THAT LATER.

>> OKAY, SO -- >> SO I THINK IT -- I THINK WE

AGREE. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT. AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER, DO YOU SECOND THAT?

>> YES. >> ANY DISCUSSION? SORRY, MAYOR

PRO-TEM? >> A QUESTION FOR STAFF, WHEN COULD WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT PARTICULAR ITEM? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WAS COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS INTENT. I WOULD LIKE TO FIGURE OUT WHEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE THAT INFORMATION.

>> MY GOODNESS. >> I CERTAINLY WOULD EXPECT AT

THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. >> SORRY. THE SCREEN BEING TOUCHY TODAY. OKAY. THEN ARE THERE ANY OTHER -- IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, THEN CALL THE VOTE. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT ITEM CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT, MEMBER ES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REQUEST TOPICS TO BE PLACED ON AGENDA AND ANY DELIBERATION OR DECISIONS MAY BE LIMITED TO PROPOSAL TO PLACE THE TOPIC ON THE AGENDA FOR THE SUBSEQUENT MEETING.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO PLACE ON A WORK SESSION AT THE SECOND OCTOBER MEETING. THE DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSAL FOR THE TRAILS.

>> OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? RTS. OH, SORRY. I KEEP ON LOOKING AT THE WRONG SCREEN. GO AHEAD.

>> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> SO -- AND YOU SAID AT THE WHAT MEETING, I'M SORRY? SECOND MEETING IN OCTOBER. THE CITY MANAGER HAS THAT. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, THEN

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.