Oct 07, 2024 Special City Council

[1. CALL TO ORDER FOR WORK SESSION]

[00:00:04]

>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AT OUR COUNCIL MEETING.

[3A. Discuss and review the draft Downtown Strategic Plan with the consultant group, Olsson Studio.]

THE COUNCIL HAS A QUORUM, AS THE TEXAS GENERAL CODE THIS MEETING MAY BEING CONVENED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE CITY OF ROWLETT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CALL THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO ORDER AT BUSINESS AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT.

AND FOR IN PERSON COMMENTS REGISTRATIONS FORCE ARE AVAILABLE INSIDE THE DOOR OF THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS RIGHT THERE TO YOUR BACK LEFT AND WE DO HAVE A FEW ITEMS ON OUR WORK SESSION, AND BOTH OF OUR REQUESTS TO SPEAK FORMS ARE REGARDING ITEM 3A. AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SHELBY COLMAN. JUST COME ON UP STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

>> HEY I'M SHELBY, ROWLETT. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOU DO AND ACKNOWLEDGE I UNDERSTAND THE DEMAND ON YOUR POSITION.

AS YOU KNOW I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT DOWNTOWN.

I LOVE THAT THIS PLAN THAT WAS MADE WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY DESIGNED TO GUIDE DOWNTOWN ROWLETT'S FUTURE, THE VISION OF DOWNTOWN BECOMING A VIBRANT FAMILY FRIENDLY DESTINATION THAT KEEPS OUR SMALL TOWN CHARM IS EXACTLY WHAT OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES. IT IS TRULY TIME FOR A SHIFT.

WITH THIS PLAN IN MIND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN THAT I'VE OFFEND WITH EFFORTS, WAY FINDING PLAN IN 2017, AND THE TEXAS DOWNTOWN PLAN IN 2022. THAT WERE NOT EXECUTED AT ALL.

MANY OF OLSSON GROUPS'S COMMENTS WERE MENTIONED IN THESE PRIOR DISCUSSIONS. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING ATTRACTIVE SPACE FOR RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS.

IT'S ABOUT SHIFTING OUR ECONOMIES SO THAT THE LAST TAX RATE INCREASE CAN BE OUR LAST. MAIN STREET DISTRICTS CAN GENERATE MORE SALES TAX REVENUE OR MORE TAX REVENUE PER ACRE THAN SUBURBAN SHOPPING CENTERS WITH ONE CITY SHOWING TRADITIONAL DOWNTOWNS PRODUCING TEN TIMES THE TAX REVENUE.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ORGANIC INTEREST IN DEVELOPING DOWNTOWN. IF PROPERLY NURTURED COULD TRANSPORT DOWNTOWN WITHOUT MAJOR BONDS OR INTEREST.

BUT THAT OPPORTUNITY COULD SLIP AWAY.

I BELIEVE THE THREE STEPS ARE FIRST I URGE COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH A DOWNTOWN BOARD THIS THIS BOARD ENSURES THAT THE QUOWTS VOICE THAT PLANS DON'T GET SHELVED, WHICH IS I BELIEVE ONE OF THE BIGGEST TROUBLES OF OUR PROGRESS.

MAINTAIN MOMENTUM AND SUPPORT THE CITY'S DECISION MAKING.

SOAK I REQUEST THAT WE DEFINE METRICS FOR THIS PLAN.

WE NEED CLEAR MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES LIKE BUILDING STAKEHOLDER EVENTS, IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY.

THESE NEED TO BE WRITTEN WITH A TIME FRAME ATTACHED.

THIRD I ASK TO HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS THE TORS 3.

DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OWNERS PAY INTO THIS FUND AND IT SHOULD BENEFIT THEM. I'VE RECEIVED ANSWERS HOW WE SHOULD ENGAGE THIS VALUABLE TOOL, ONE MADE IT USELESS FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS, WHILE THE NEXT $8 MILLION TO ACCUMULATE WILL GO TOWARDS PARKING WHICH YOU ALL KNOW WE DESPERATELY NEED. IN THE PROMOTE IN JUNE YOU'LL SEE DATA SHOWING WHY THESE REQUESTS LEAD TO SUCCESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE OLSSON GROUP PLAN.

I CREATED THIS PROPOSAL TO MAKE THE LIGHTER FOR YOU TO SEE A HUGE SHIFT IN THE DOWNTOWN. LET'S USE THIS TO START THE DELAYS IN MAKING AN AMAZING DOWNTOWN.

I REALLY THINK THE OLSSON GROUP IS GOING TO BE AMAZING.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, YOU TIMED THAT PERFECTLY. ALL RIGHTY.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CHERYL SMITH.

COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF DRONES AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. -- CITY OF RESIDENCE ANSWER YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND YOU

WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> YOU'RE GOOD TAKE YOUR TIME.

. >> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. I'M CHERYL SMITH.

LIVE AT 7502 CANRAN IN ROWLETT. AND I'M JUST -- THIS IS, YOU

[00:05:03]

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS IN DOWNTOWN ROWLETT SIMILAR TO DOWNTOWN ROCKWELL AND DOWNTOWN GARLAND AND OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES. THESE STIRS HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHY NOT ROWLETT? WE WANT THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO GROW AND SO FAR THAT HAS NOT BEEN HAPPENING AS MUCH AS WE LIKE. I WOULD RATHER SPEND MY MONEY IN ROWLETT BUT SPEND IT IN THE SURROUNDING AREA BUT SO FAR THAT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE. I HOPE OUR CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL WOULD CONSIDER WHAT THE CITIZENS WOULD LIKE AND WORK TO HELP TO MAKE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

DOES ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? ON ANY OF THE WORK SESSION ITEMS? ALL RIGHT. THEN WE WILL MOVE TO OUR FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM 3A. DISCUSS AND REVIEW THE DRAFT DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN WITH THE CONSULTANT GROUP, OLSSON STUDIO AND WE HAVE BRITTANY FARR KICK US OFF.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS, BRITTANY FARR.

I'LL INTRODUCE OUR CONSULTANT TEAM TO COME AND PRESENT TO YOU THE DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN. SO THIS SLIDE IS USE AN OVERVIEW OF HIGHWAY WE GOT HERE.

IT TALKS ABOUT THE NEED. IT TALKS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND THEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE PLAN ITSELF.

SO BACK IN OCTOBER THIS BODY WENT THROUGH A SELECTION PROCESS WHERE WE PUT OUT AN RFP TO BRING IN A CONSULTANT TO DO AN EVALUATION AND EVENTUALLY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON AN OVERHAUL FOR OUR DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THROUGH THIS PROCESS THIS COUNCIL SELECTED OLSSON WHO START OWED THEIR WORK THEREAFTER. WE IMMEDIATELY PUT TOGETHER TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS, A STAKEHOLDER GROUP WHICH WAS COMPRISED OF PROPERTY OWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, FOLKS WHO HAD A VESTED INTEREST IN THE DOWNTOWN AS WELL AS A STEERING COMMITTEES WHICH WAS BASICALLY A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

IT CONSISTED OF MEMBERS REFUSE STAFF.

IT ACTIVITIED OF REPRESENTS FROM DART, THE DALLAS COLLEGE AND WE EMBARKED ON A ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

WE DEVELOPED 21 QUESTION ONLINE SURVEY WHICH WENT OUT TO THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF ROWLETT OVER A TWO MONTH PERIOD.

WE SOLICITED A LITTLE OVER 800 DIFFERENT RESPONSES IN THAT SURVEY. WE CONDUCTED A TWO DAY DESIGN OWN VISIONING CHARRETTE, WHICH ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN TWO PUBLIC, ALLOWED THE MILK TO COME IN AND -- PUBLIC TO COULD IN AND SEE THE ITERATIVE PROCESS.

I'M NOT GOING TO TALK AT LENGTH ABOUT THE PLAN.

I'LL LET THE PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS TO DO THAT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE AND WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO VIVIAN FUNG AND KEN BOONE WHO WILL PRESENT THE DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN FOR YOUR

CONSIDERATION. >> WELL, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, MY NAME IS KEN BOONE. IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY ON THIS PLAN.

AND SO I MAY WANT TO TOUCH THE HIGH POINTS.

BUT AGAIN THE FEEDBACK, THE AMOUNT OF ENGAGEMENT, HAS REALLY BONE IMPRESSIVE. SO IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT.

>> AND THEN MY NAME IS VIVIAN FUNG, I'M SENIOR PLANNER AND PROJECT MANAGER. JUST ECHOING WHAT KEN SAID IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY, THEY'VE BEEN IVOLVED AND PASSIONATE WHICH IS AN EXCITING PLACE TO START AND WE'RE EXCITED TO PROPONENT TO YOU OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> OKAY, SO HERE'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO THIS EVENING.

WE KNOW YOU HAVE A STACKED AGENDA.

SO WE WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THAT BUT WE ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS REALLY AMAZING PLAN THAT YOUR COMMUNITY HAS HELPED US PUT TOGETHER. ARE OKAY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO ASK US THEN. BUT WE'RE ALSO OKAY YOU THE WANT TO HOLD THOSE QUESTIONS AND WE CAN ANSWER THEM AT THE END. IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU.

THIS SHOULD BE INTERACTIVE. IT IS A WORK SESSION AFTER ALL.

SO WE WANT TO PRESENT THE PLAN. THE HIGH POINTS OF THE PLAN.

YOU ALL HAVE THE PLAN IN FRONT OF YOU.

IT'S GOT A VERY ROBUST -- THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T LOOK AT THE ABRIDGED VERSION, IT'S GOT A LOT IN THE APPENDIX IN THE BCK. IT'S GOT THE FULL MARKET STUDY.

[00:10:01]

BUT WE HOPE THAT WITH THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND THE PLAN SHIFLT IT IS A VERY USABLE DOCUMENT.

YOU CAN USE IT FOR DECISION MAKING, AS A TOOL WHICH IS REALLY THE INTENT OF ALL OF IT. AS WE GO THROUGH.

SO AND KNOWN WE'LL WORK THROUGH YOUR QUESTIONS AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS VERY QUICKLY NEXT STEPS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> OKAY, SO TO START US OFF WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH HOW WE GOT HERE. OUR PLANNING PROCESS, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.

BUT JUST KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT TOOK PLACE.

FIRST STEP HERE WAS OUR DISCOVERY PROCESS.

THIS IS WHERE WE ESSENTIALLY DO OUR HOMEWORK.

AS THE CONSULTANT WE CATCH UP ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN ROWLETT, THAT INCLUDES AN EXISTING CONDITIONS ANALYSIS.

FOLD THAT ANALYSIS AND MAPPING DEMOGRAPHICS, WE TOOK MULTIPLE SITE VISITS, CONDUCTED AN INVENTORY OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT, POLICY REVIEW, EXISTING PLANS REVIEW SO CATCHING UP ON WHAT'S ALREADY TAKEN PLACE, WHAT HAVE YOU ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON, AND A THOROUGH ECONOMIC AND MARKET STUDY. THE MAJORITY OF THIS IF NOT ALL OF THIS IS IN THOSE APPENDICES SO THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF THE HOME WORK, ALL OF THE BACKING FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT TOOK PLACE. SECOND PHASE HERE WAS ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS. THIS WAS OUR OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND REALLY WHERE WE HEARD FROM YOU ALL, WHERE WE HEARD FROM OUR ADVISING BODIES.

SO WE WORKED WITH AN ADVISOR GROUP WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED WITH OVER 50 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE WORKED WITH CITY STAFF TO GET THAT DEVELOPED AND THOSE FOLKS WERE OUR ADVISING BODY, ALL THE WAY THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS.

WE ALSO HAD A STEERING COMMITTEE.

THOSE ARE OUR MORE TECHNICAL FOLKS.

SO FOLKS FROM DART, YOUR CITY STAFF, YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOLKS, OUR CITY MANAGER ALL OF THOSE FOLKS WERE INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS REALLY FROM THE TECHNICAL ANGLE. SO WE'RE GETTING THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. WE'RE GETTING THE TECHNICAL FEEDBACK. AND THEN WE'RE GETTING THE PUBLIC'S FEEDBACK AS WELL. SO WE DID HAVE A NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS AND SESSIONS AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS WAS AN ITERATIVE PROCESS. WHAT THAT IS WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY, THROWING THINGS ON THE WALLS, GETTING TO THE OPTIMAL SOLUTION WHICH IS THE FINAL PLAN. WE HAD OVER 17,000 TOTAL COMMENTS OR RESPONSES FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES SO THAT INCLUDES OUR PUBLIC SURVEY. IT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, OUR IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT, FOLKS WITH STICKY NOTES JUST ALL OF IT COMBINED, QUITE A BIT OF FEEDBACK THERE AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE KIND OF OUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH THE CITY TOOK OWNERSHIP WITH.

WE DID PROMOTIONS, MARKETING PRESENTATIONS, ALL OF THAT TO BUILD AWARENESS, AS WELL AS TO INVITE PEOPLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE PROCESS AND BE A PART OF IT.

THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF MOMENTUM THAT WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH THIS PROCESS WHICH RESULTED IN ULTIMATELY A CONSENSUS-BUILT PLAN. TAWZ THERE HERE IS IDEA GENERATION, PLANNING AND REFINING.

THIS IS WHERE WE TAKE ALL OF THAT INPUT THERE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ANGLES, THAT INCLUDES INPUT FROM OUR MARKET STUDY, INPUT FROM OUR DATA ANALYSTS, INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

ALL OF THE INFORMATION WE ARE SHAPING THROUGH THOSE IDEAS COMING UP WITH REPRESENTATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE ARE DEVELOPING A DEVELOPMENT STATEMENT, A MISSION STATEMENT AND OUR VALUES FOR DOWNTOWN. ALL OF THOSE ARE IN THE MEAT OF THE DOCUMENT AS WELL AS PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOSE ARE DIVIDED INTO CATEGORIES. GEEL THROUGH THESE HERE IN A MINUTE. WE ARE ALSO DEVELOPING MAPS AND GRAPHICS AND ILLUSTRATIONS AND VISUALS TO GO WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS, REALLY WORKING THROUGH IDEAS AND REFINING THOSE IDEAS. SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF QUALITY CONTROL MEASURES THAT WE WENT THROUGH BOTH INTERNALLY AND WITH ALL OF OUR ADVISING BODIES, RIGHT, SO THOSE GROUPS ARE SEEING WHAT WE'RE PRODUCING AS THEY GO, THEY'RE SEEING IT KIND OF MID FORM AND ULTIMATELY TO FRUITION.

AND THEN FINALLY OUR LAST KIND OF PHASE OF THE PLANNING PROCESS IS POSITIONING YOU ALL FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

TO WE HAVE DEVELOPED A -- SO WE HAVE DEVELOPED A FULL ACTION PLAN. YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE ON THE RIGHT. THE ACTION PLAN IS PAIRED WITH AN ACTION TYPE. SO SOME OF THEM ARE PROJECTS, SOME OF THEM ARE POLICIES, SOME OF THEM ARE PROGRAMS ORE PARTNERSHIPS, THEY ALL START WITH P AND WE EVER KIND OF COMBINING THOSE WITH A TIME FRAME RELATIVE COST AND WHERE YOU GO NEXT. SO THAT IS OUR ACTION PLAN.

KIND OF AN ICE BEING ON THE CAKE, WE ALSO DEVELOPED A HOT LST. A HOT LIST IS THE TOP EIGHT

[00:15:04]

SO AT THE TOP OF THE HOT LIST IT SAYS WHERE DO WE START? THOSE ARE EIGHT ACTIONS YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND JUMP INTO TO BRING THIS PLAN TO LIFE. BECAUSE THE ACTION PLAN IS VERY THOROUGH. IT HAS QUITE A BUILT OF ACTION STEPS, THE HOT LIST IS WHERE YOU START WITH FIRST? THOSE ARE IN IN NO SPECIFIC ORDER.

JUST KIND OF ONE FROM EACH OF THE TABLES.

ALSO AS PART OF POSITIONING YOU FOR IMPLEMENTATION, THE PLAN PROVIDES A FUNDING PLAY BOOK. THAT'S A NUMBER OF FUNDING RESOURCES THAT YOU ALL CAN LOOK INTO.

AND PU STRATEGICKICLY. AND FINALLY AS THE LAST T STEPS OF THE PLANNING PROCESS, CITY PLANNING AND THE SECOND TO THE LAST BULLET CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION.

AFTER CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION WILL OF COURSE ARE ADOPTION.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HIGHWAY WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE? YOU ALL HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE PROCESS.

>> I DON'T HAVE TO -- IT'S ON DISCUSSION MODE SO -- OKAY

THANK YOU. >> OKAY.

>> OKAY SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE SECTIONS AND THE PIECES OF THE PLAN. IT'S A VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW. YOU WANT TO DRILL IN, LET ME KNOW. WE'LL DRILL IN.

WE'VE GOT THE ENTIRE PLAN UP AND READY TO ASK QUESTIONS.

AS WE GO. SO WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO. I WOULD LIKE TO TELL ALL OF YOU, ALL OF YOUR FACES I'VE SEEN.

NOT IN THIS ROOM, BUT PARTICIPATING.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU YOU DID THIS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT TODAY IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF THIS THAT YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THIS THAT YOU UNDERSTAND ALREADY SORT OF PROCESS-WISE WHAT WE WERE DOING.

PROCESS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE WE THINK IT -- THE RIGHT PROCESS BUILDS A GOOD PLAN.

SO THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROCESS.

AS WE WENT. I WANT TO TALK VERY QUICKLY ABOUT THIS CASCADE. THIS CASCADE IS ABOUT THE PYRAMID THAT IS ASPIRATION AND WE UNDERSTAND THE TOP OF THAT PYRAMID IS WHAT DO WE WANT TO BE? WHAT DO WE WANT TO BECOME? IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS, IT'S VERY HARD TO BUILD STRATEGIES UNDERNEATH THAT, RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS. THE MISSION IS WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO, AND THEN IT BUILDS FROM THERE, RIGHT? SO WE IDENTIFY KEY ISSUES, WE DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. ISSUES CAN BE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT THEY CAN ALSO BE CONSTRAINTS, RIGHT, SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS BOTH. AND THEN FINALLY AS VIVIAN MENTIONED IN SECTIO TOWER IT REALLY IS ABOUT -- 4 IT REALLY IS ABOUT ACTION FOR US IT REALLY IS HIGHWAY DO WE DEBT TO CONCRETE ACTION TO REALIZE THE VISION.

AND SO THE ENTIRE PLAN IS BUILT ON: LET'S CREATE SOME BIG IDEAS, LET'S UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME OF THE DROWPP GROUND GAMED THEN HOW DO WE CREATE A SET OF ACTIONS TO REALLY APPLY THOSE THINGS, AND MAKE ULTIMATELY THE VISION HAPPEN.

OKAY? AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE CASCADE IS TO US. IT'S A WAY TO GET TO ACTION.

OKAY. SO YOU'VE ALL SEEN THIS.

--SE HAVE BEEN THE MISSION -- EXCUSE ME THE MISSION AND THE VISION WERE VETTED IN OUR SESSIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE ABOUT ALL THE RULES YOU HAVE ABOUT A VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT AND ALL OF THAT WE WANTED TO BE SURE THAT IT RESONATE OWED WITH THE COMMUNITY.

ULTIMATELY THE COMMUNITY HAS TO CARRY THIS FORWARD.

IT IS NOT JUST ON YOU BUT IT IS ON THEM AS WELL.

WE WENT THROUGH A LOT OF WORDSMITHING LIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD GET TO THE VISION STATEMENT AND THE MISSION STATEMENT THAT WE THOUGHT WAS REFLECTIVE OF WHAT PEOPLE WERE TELLING US THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAD THE VALUES AND THE GOALS.

AND SO THE VALUES ARE THE THINGS THAT YOUR COMMUNITY TOLD US THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM. THAT WHEN WE LOOK THROUGH THIS LENS, THIS COL C CO-LIED SCOPE- COLLIDE SCOPE IS, FORESIGHT LOCAL BUSINESS OWES WE WANT ALL NATIONALS, RIGHT? AND SO WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY HAS SAID VERY STRONGLY IS LOCAL

[00:20:05]

YOU LOOK HERE AND YOU SAY DOES THIS MATCH WHAT THEY HAVE TOLD US? THEY SAID IS IMPORTANT TO OUR DOWNTOWN. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST CHECK BOXES, IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE THIS AS A POLICY DOCUMENT AS A DECISION MAKING TOOLING HERE IS ONE OF THOSE STOPS IN WHICH YOU CAN SAY YES, THIS FITS.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR GOALS, RIGHT? SO WE ARE WORKING OUR WAY DOWN THE CASCADE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT VERY CONCRETE SORTS OF THINGS AS WE LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT DOWNTOWN IS AND THOSE PIECES AND PARTS AND HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER.

AGAIN WE BUILT ALL OF THESE THINGS BASED ON WHAT WE SAW, WHAT THE MARKET TOLD US, BUT ALSO WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY HAS TOLD US AS WELL. OKAY SO SHIFTING GEARS.

NOW WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO THE GROUND.

90 WE'RE GETTING TO THE STRATEGIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND SO WE HAVE THIS VERY LOANING NAME FOR THIS PLAN.

-- LONG NAME FOR THIS PLAN. RIGHT? IT'S THIS DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC VISION PLAN AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A VISION PLAN THAT IT'S HIGH LEVEL.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME FUZZY LINE IN THERE.

BUT WE WANTED TO ADDRESS EVERY SINGLE THING WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF THE PLAN. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CAPTURED WHAT THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY TOLD US WERE WITHIN THAT BOUNDARY AND ALSO THE THINGS THAT THEY WANTED TO STAY THE WAY IT IS.

THAT IS REFLECTED ON THIS PLAN. SO WHEN YOU DRILL INTO THE DOCUMENT, EACH ONE OF THESE COLORED AREAS IS REALLY A DEVELOPMENT AREA. IT'S A DEVELOPMENT THOUGHT.

IS THIS ANG AREA FOR REDEVELOPMENT, IS IT AN AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT, IS IT AN AREA FOR INFILL, SHOULD IT STAY THE WAY IT IS NOW AND WE SHOULD PROTECT AND PRESERVE IT.

HAVETHIN THE DOCUMENT WE EVERY ONE OF THESE 64 AREAS DEFINED AS A PARAGRAPH, AS TO WHAT WE SAW THE OPPORTUNITY OR EVEN THE CHALLENGES WITH THAT AREA.

BUT THAT IF YOU WERE TO DO THIS YOU COULD CONTINUE TO BUILD ON SUCCESS AND THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SAID WERE IMPORTANT TO THEM. THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO DO EVERY ONE OF THESE THINGS, RIGHT? THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES. THINK OF THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY MAP. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK FOR SOME OF THESE TO HAPPEN.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE PARTNERSHIPS.

IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE IDENTIFIED FUNDING SOURCES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS BUT THIS IS THE BIG IDEA SHEET AS WE PUT ALL THOSE PIECES TOGETHER. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE ALL IN CONTEXT. OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE -- BEFORE WE MOVE ON ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SORT OF THE FIRST PART OF WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT 90? BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DRILL INTO SOME OF THE MAPS AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

WE GOOD? YEAH, OKAY.

GREATLY. OH GO AHEAD.

>> QUESTION SORRY. >> YEAH YEAH.

>> SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES OUR DOWNTOWN SPACE. WHAT IS THE CORE OF THE SPACE? WOULD YOU DISAGREE THAT THIS ENTIRE -- WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THIS ENTIRE AREA IS THE DOWNTOWN SPACE OR IS IT MORE NARROW AND DEFINED OR TO WHAT EXTENT?

>> I WOULD ASK A QUESTION BACK, HOW ARE YOU DEFINING WHAT DOWNTOWN SPACE IS? THAT'S THE DIFFICULT PART OF THIS. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT MOST PEOPLE SAY A TRADITIONAL DOWNTOWN IS, IT'S ONE TO TWO, MAYBE THREE BLOCKS, WHAT A TRADITIONAL DOWNTOWN LOOKS LIKE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WHAT OUR DOWNTOWN IS.

RIGHT? BECAUSE HEALTHY DOWNTOWNS ARE ALSO ABOUT HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SURROUND THEM, RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHY WE REALLY LIKE THIS SORT OF WIDER THING THAT IT'S NOTE JUST A THREE BLOCK SQUARE, THAT IT REALLY DOES LOOK AT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, THESE CIVIC USES AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE A PART OF THE FABRIC OF WHAT A TRUE DOWNTOWN IS, WHICH IS A BIGGER IDEA. NOW, I WOULD TELL YOU IF I HAD TO REDUCE THE FOOTPRINT. I WOULD CONSIDER REDUCING THE FOOTPRINT OF THE TRADITIONAL COMMERCIAL THAT SITS UP OWN THE 66, RIGHT? -- ON THE 66, RIGHT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DRIVE A LOT OF PEOPLE INTO DOWNTOWN.

[00:25:01]

IT IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT IT TURNS ITS BACK ON DOWNTOWN. AND SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THERE THE IMPORTANT THING IS, IS THAT IF WE GET PEOPLE THERE, HIGHWAY DO WE CREATE A WAY TO GET THEM TO EXPLORE A LITTLE BIT MORE SOUTH AND FIND A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAN WHAT THEY'RE

GETTING THERE RIGHT? >> I THINK PAGE 64 HERE REALLY GOES TO ADDRESSING THAT SPECIFICALLY AND REALLY MARKING

OUT THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. >> YEP.

>> AND I THINK BY THE LOOK OF IT, MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME HOW Y'ALL SEPARATED THOSE $FROM EACH OTHER.

SO IF YOU GO TO PAGE 64 THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO WHAT YOU'RE

SAYING. >> I'M GOING TO SHIFT TO VIVIAN BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO GET EXACTLY THERE.

>> OKAY SO AS KEN MENTIONED THAT IS KIND OF THE UMBRELLA THAT WE'RE GOING TO DIG DOWN INTO THE TOPIC HERE.

FIRST IS FUTURE LAND USE, FUTURE LAND USE FOR YOU.

YOU CAN SEE CONCENTRATIONS OF LAND USE INCLUDING COMMERCIAL ALONG GEORGE BUSH AND ALONG 66 ON THE NORTH SIDE.

BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, THE DOWNTOWN CORE, THERE IS A SPECIFIC LAND USE FOR DOWNTOWN CORE.

EACH OF THESE LAND USES PROPOSED HAVE FULL DEFINITIONS IN THE PLAN DOCUMENT AND WE CAN DRILL INTO WHAT THOSE MEAN AND WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE BUT IT DOES KIND OF SPEAK TO HOW THE LAND IS USED OF COURSE. WE'VE GOT CIVIC USES THERE SOME OF THEM ESTABLISHED, WE'VE GOT THE INDUSTRIAL, LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ON THE NORTH SIDE, STILL KEEPING THE RESIDENTIAL ON THE SOUTH SIDE. AND LIKE I SAID, THOSE DEFINITIONS SPEAK TO WHAT THAT REALLY LOOKS LIKE.

SKIPPING AHEAD JUST A LITTLE BIT NO, WE HAVE ALSO GOT DOESN'T DISTRICTS AND THIS IS SORT OF JUMPING IN, IT'S A WORK SHOWN BUT WORKING THROUGH WHAT DOES THE CHARACTER OF DOWNTOWN LOOK LIKE IN DIFFERENT AREAS MORE THAN JUST WHAT LAND USE LOOKS LIKE BUT WHAT DO THOSE CHARACTER AREAS LOOK LIKE.

SO WE HAVE THE DOWNTOWN CORE, WHICH MAYBE IS THE TRUE CHARACTER, TRADITIONAL CHARACTER OF DOWNTOWN.

WE'VE GOT THE CIVIC HEART WHICH IS REALLY THE HOME OF OUR NEW MUNICIPAL CORE, AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT COME WITH THAT, THE CIVIC AMENITIES, HERVERTH THE WHOLE DEAL.

THE RETAIL WHICH GOES AROUND THE NEW AND INCOMING COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT NORTH END EAST SIDE AND THE COLT AN DISTRICT WHICH IS KIND OF THAT HOMEY TOWN HOMES AND HOMEYER RETAIL.

AND THEN THE MAKERS DISTRICT IS KIND OF OUR T OAMPLETD, OUR LITTLE NONTRADITIONAL COMMERCIAL AREA.

SO WE GET INTO IN THE PLAN WHAT THE CHARACTER OF DOWNTOWN LOOKS LIKE IN DIFFERENT POCKETS. AND THIS IS BASED ON WHAT THERE IS DEMAND FOR IN THE MARKET. IT'S ALSO BASED ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS OR WHAT THERE IS TODAY, WHAT WE CAN BUILD OFF OF, WHAT MOMENTUM ALREADY EXISTS.

THAT'S WHAT THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS DO IN REALLY CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE IN EACH OF THOSE AREAS.

AND THAT, LIKE I SAID, TIES INTO THE LAND USES.

THESE DEFINITIONS FOR EACH, TWO LAND USE DEFINITIONS I WANT TO FLAG THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO DOWNTOWN IS THE DOWNTOWN CORE LAND USE. THAT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED THROUGH DEFINITION TO SUPPORT DINING, NIGHT LIFE, ENTERTAINMENT, RETAIL, BOUTIQUE HOTELS, DESTINATIONS, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. PUBLIC SPACES BEING VIBRANT AND ACTIVE, ALL OF THAT BEING THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN.

AND THEN DOWNTOWN TRANSIT OD.ENTED DEVELOPMENT OR T THAT IS ANOTHER TYPE OF ANCHOR DEVELOPMENT, MIXED USE WHICH SUPPORTS EXISTING TRANSIT STATIONS, HOW DO WE USE THAT AS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THROUGH MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT EITHER VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL THAT CREATES DOWNTOWN DENSITY TO SUPPORT TRANSIT USAGE.

SO LAND USE KIND OF AS ITS ONE ELEMENT AND THEN THE DISTRICTS AS THEIR OWN. AND I TALKED THROUGH THOSE.

>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? >> SO --

>> YES, SIR. >> I'M SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO DISCUSSION MORE ON THE ZONING ASPECT OF THINGS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE ACTION ITEMS IS TO GO AHEAD AND LOOK AT A REZONING OVERT. THE THING THAT COMES TO MY HEAD IS AN OVERLAY ZONE INTEGRATING THAT FUTURE LAND USE PLAN INTO THAT. AND Y'ALL HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE

IN THAT AREA. >> YES.

>> OKAY. >> AND THE GREAT THING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE OVERLAY ALLOWS YOU TO DO IS ALSO INCLUDE

CHARACTER. >> YES THAT'S --

>> QUALITY OF LIFE AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS THAT ARE REALLY

IMPORTANT. >> THAT'S WHY IT CAME TO MY HEAD FIRST WAS NOT NECESSARILY DOING AN INDIVIDUAL PARCEL

[00:30:03]

>> 100% AGREE WITH YOU. THE EMPHASIS HERE ON THESE TWO, SELF EXPLANATORY, RIGHT? IT'S WHAT EVERYBODY EXCTS AND WANTS AND -- EX EXPECTS AND WAS AND DESIRES THEIR COMMUNITY TO BE. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH VERY, VERY INITIAL CONFIDENCES WITH DART AND WHAT DART IS DOING IN OTHER PLACES, THEY RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF WHAT THEY HAVE -- WHAT THEY HAVE, REALLY LENDS ITSELF IN INCORPORATING TOD TO THOSE STOPS IN A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY I THINK.

SO WE REALLY THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE NORTH OF THE TRACKS FOR US TO INCORPORATE THAT USE TO INCORPORATE MORE PEOPLE THAT CAN ACTIVATE OUR STORES, THAT CAN ACTIVATE OUR RESTAURANTS AND REALLY LEAD TO GREATER FINANCIAL SUCCESS, BECAUSE THE MAKERS DISTRICT THERE IS NOW MORE ACTIVATED THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW, WITH PEOPLE AND ULTIMATELY OPPORTUNITY. SO THAT'S WHY THOSE TWO CERTAINLY BUBBLE TO THE TOP. OKAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE VERY EARLY ON CHARGE WE DIDN'T USE THE THREAD WAS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TORE DOWNTOWN. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

WE -- IT IS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PLAN, THERE ARE MAJOR SECTIONS THAT ARE TOWKSED ON THIS EXACTLY.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR THINGS.

YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOWNTOWN, THAT THERE'S AN IDENTIFIED BRAND FOR WHAT THAT IS. WHO ARE WE? WHAT IS OUR OUTWARD FACE TO THOSE WE WANT TO INVITE IN.

WE WANT THEM TO RING OUR CASH REGISTERS, WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO RING OUR CASH REGISTERS TOO BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT THOSE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW LEAVING TO STAY AND DRAW SOME OTHER PEOPLE IN. AND THAT BRAND HELPS IDENTIY WHAT THAT IS. TO MAKE SURE OUR MESSAGING AND MARKETING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IN ALIGNMENT, THAT IS A CRITICAL THING AS WELL. AGAIN OPERATING IN CONCERT SO THE MESSAGE WE PUT OUT IS -- IT CAN BE TOWKSED AND THEN -- FOCUSED AND THEN RECEIVED. THAT WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE PARTNERSHIPS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT LEVERAGE FOR ME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THAING WE HAVE IN A PROAJT LIKE THIS -- THING THAT WE HAVE IN A PROJECT LIKE THIS.

WHATEVER WE DO TO SPEND PUBLIC DOLLARS SHOULD LEVERAGE AND CREATE A MULTIPLIER FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT.

INITIALLY WHEN WE DO PROJECTS LIKE THIS WE INITIALLY LOOK AT CAN WE GET TO SIX? SO TORE EVERY DOLLAR WE PUT IN CAN WE GET $6 OF PRIVATELY INVESTMENT FOR THAT INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO? WE'VE REACHED 11 OF THAT AND 12. IT WAS AMAZING, SOMETIMES YOU'RE AT 4, RIGHT? BUT WE CANNOT LOSE THE THREAD THAT WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH PUBLIC DOLLARS TO GO INTO OUR DOWNTOWN. AND SO EVERYTHING WE DO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IS ADVANCING THE BALL, WHATEVER THE GOALS, THE ASPIRATIONS, WHATEVER THAT IS, THAT IS FOR LEVERAGE, RIGHT? THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT MAXIM H HERE FOR FUTURE SUCCES. DEFINING DOESN'T'S MARKET NICHE. I WANT OWED TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE ERIC LANDER, IT WAS MENTION OWED WHERE DO WE SIT IN THE MARKET? WHAT DO PEOPLE KNOW US FOR? AFTER HE DID HIS ANALYSIS AND HIS STUDY AND TALKED TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE ONE.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW. THERE IS NOTHING OUT THERE THAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT OR SPECIAL OR ANY OF THAT STUFF THAT THE MARKET RECOGNIZES. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DON'T RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE REALLY GREAT THINGS YOU'RE DOING DOWNTOWN.

BUT THE OVERALL MARKET DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'RE KNOWN FOR ANYTHING. AND SO WE DON'T HAVE THINKING AT A SAYS THIS IS YOUR FUTURE MARKET NICHE.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THERE NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPMENT, REDEVELOPMENT, INFILL AND A FOCUSES ON WHAT YOU WANT TO BE.

AND THEN YOU CAN BEGIN TO DEVELOP THAT NICHE.

SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE AGAIN ALL IN FOR WE'RE GOING TO BE BREWERIES AND DIS DISTILLERIESD OPEN GAME SPACE AND THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN BE THE FOCUS OF.

RIGHT NOW IT JUST DOESN'T EXIST.

IT'S VERY LOCAL. THAT'S A KEY PART OF WHEN YOU START MESSAGING, DOING BRAND ALL THOSE THINGS, PUTTING IT IDENTITY IN THE WORLD, WHO YOU ARE AND WHO YOU WANT TO BE IS

[00:35:02]

SO ALL OF THAT HAS TO GO TOGETHER.

AND AGAIN I THINK THIS LAST BULLET, THIS BALANCE OF LIVING AND WORKING AND PLAYING, DOING ALL THOSE THINGS IN DOWNTOWN, THAT'S WHAT AN ALIVE DOWNTOWN IS AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT. AND SO WE'RE BACK TO THE -- WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRST TWO, ACTUALLY ALL THREE OF THESE RIGHT? WE'VE GOT THE DOESN'T CORE, AND THERE ARE DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OPPORTUNITIES THERE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE MIXED USE TOD, STUFF ON THE NORTH SIDE, AGAIN DRIVING PEOPLE TAKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT, AND THEN THE CIVIC COMPLEXITY AND THE RECREATIONAL AMENITIES.

TAKING A BIGGER LOOK IT ALLOWS US TO PUT THESE THREE MAJOR PIECES TOGETHER TO REALLY BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THIS THE END.

>> ALL RIGHT, SHIFTING GEARS A LITTLE BIT, WE ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, MOBILITY AND COACTIVITY AS A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN DOESN'T. AS DEVELOPMENT TAKES PLACE, THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR EMPHASIS OWN WALKABILITY.

GREAT DOWNTOWNS ARE WALKABLE, EASY TO NAVIGATE ON FOOT.

EASY TO MAKE MULTIPLE STOPS, MULTIPLE TRIPS.

SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING SIDEWALK ENHANCEMENTS, YOU CAN SEE KIND OF THE SPATIAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE LEGEND, SPECIFICALLY WHERE THESE ARE MEANT TO TAKE PLACE.

THE INTEGRATION OF A COUPLE OF FESTIVAL SPACE, TO FACILITY PROGRAMMING, WALKABILITY, IF YOU HAVE A FARMERS MARKET, TURNING THAT INTO A BIGGER EVENT, ALL OF THOSE GOOD THINGS AS WELL AS INTERSECTION ENHANCEMENT.

SAFETY IS A COMMON THREAD HERE, WALKABILITY AND SAFETY GOING HAND IN HAND. MAKING IT EASY TO NAVE GATE DOWNTOWN, ON MULTIPLE MODES BESIDES PERSONAL VEHICLES.

SO THIS DOES MEAN ALL OF THOSE KIND OF MULTIMODAL ENHANCEMENTS THAT MAKES DOWNTOWN EASY TO NAVIGATE AS WELL AS ENJOYABLE.

BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE COME THEY HAVE A GOOD TIME, IT'S EASY, IT'S NAVIGABLE, YOU'VE GOT WAY FINDING.

PEOPE WILL COME BACK SO THAT'S KIND OF THE EMPHASIS HERE.

GATEWAY ROADWAYS, MAKING IT VERY VISIBLE THAT YOU ARE IN DOWNTOWN ROWLETT, MAKING IT MEMO RABBLE, SAFE, EFFICIENT, ALL OF THOSE GOOD THINGS. GO HAND IN HAND WITH THOSE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS. INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS LIKE I'VE MENTIONED, ALL THROI THE CORE OF DOWNTOWN.

RECREATION AMENITIES, SMALL THINGS YOU CAN ADD IN TO MAKE DOWNTOWN MORE OF A RECREATION DESTINATION AND LEVERAGING DART FOR MOBILITY. SO DART IS A MAJOR RESOURCE NOT ONLY USING IT FOR ITS POTENTIAL AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE BUT ALSO ITS POTENTIAL AS A MOBILITY RESOURCE.

AND THEN A FINAL THEME HERE OF JUST CREATING THAT 'NOTHER-SOUTH CONNECTIVITY. YOU HAVE GOT THE MAJOR MENTAL HURDLE OF THE TRACKS. MAKING IT SIMPLER AND EASIER AND SAFER TO CROSS THE TRACKS. AND UNLOCK THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL WITH THE TOD.

THOSE ARE THE MAJOR THEMES FOR MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY.

ALSO HERE, WE'VE GOT PLACE MAKING AND PUBLIC SPACES RECOMMENDATIONS. YOU CAN SEE ON HERE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WAY FINDING AND SIGNAGE.

SO KIND OF GOING HAND IN HAND WITH THE BRANDING DIALOGUE HERE. MAKING IT EASY TO NAVIGATE TO DOWNTOWN. TO FIND THOSE MAJOR ANCHORS ONCE THEY ARE CREATED. AS WELL AS ESTABLISH PUBLIC ART AND BRANDING. GETTING THOSE THOROUGHLY INTEGRATED INTO THE FABRIC OF DOWNTOWN AS SOMETHING THAT DOWNTOWN IS REMEMBERED BY. AND BROFG THE PUBLIC SPACES AND PUBLIC REALM. AS WELL AS IF YOU ARE PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ARTISTS, THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THE FOLKS YOU HAVE THAT ARE ALREADY PASSIONATE ABOUT DOWNTOWN. LANDSCAPE AND STREETSCAPE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE'VE GOT ENHANCEMENTS IN THE DOCUMENT FOR STREET TREES, PLANTERS, WATER TEACHES, NATIVE PLANTS, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE DOWNTOWN FEEL WALKABLE, MAKE IT FEEL SAFE, ALSO RELIEVE HEAT, ALL OF THOSE GOOD THINGS. WE'VE GOT LIGHTING RECOMMENDATIONS ON HERE AS WELL, AND FOCUSES AREAS WHERE THOSE ARE MOST NEED OWED WITH YOUR CURRENT DEVELOPMENT.

THAT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, THE NECESSITIES, OUTDOORS

[00:40:08]

SO AND THEN PROGRAMMING AND PUBLIC SPACES AS WELL, WE ALWAYS WANT TO ENCOURAGE INTENTIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT ENHANCES PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT, BUILDS VISIBILITY THAT IS EFFECTIVE. SO THOSE ARE THE FRAMEWORK RECOMMENDATIONS, ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE BEFORE WE MOVE INTO --

>> YES, COULD WE GO BACK TO THE MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY

SLIDE? >> WOO SURE CAN.

>> WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? >> SAME THING.

>> WHAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF AN INTERSECTION ENHANCEMENT?

>> SO TRAFFIC LIGHTS WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE.

REPAINTING CROSSWALKS WHEN NECESSARY, H --

>> BICYCLE ARE SAFETY TOWKSED? >> LARGELY SAFETY.

ALTHOUGH YOU'LL SEE, THE PLACE MAKING TRIM WORK WITH MOBILITY FRAMEWORK, FOCUS FOR PUBLIC ARTS, LANDSCAPING AND ALL THAT

GOOD STUFF THAT OVERLAPS. >> IT CAN ALSO INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, INTERSECTION ENHANCEMENT ON THE WAY OF ART.

AND SO YOU DON'T JUST HAVE TO DO A REGULAR BAR FOR A CROSSWALK, YOU CAN INCLUDE COLOR, YOU CAN INCLUDE ART, YOU CAN ALSO DO IT IN THE CENTER, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY RESOURCE ALLOCATION. WHERE DO WE FEEL PEOPLE ARE SAFE, RIGHT, THAT'S NUMBER 1. AND KNOWN WHERE CAN WE CREATE ENHANCEMENT THAT WHEN WE GO OR WE PASS BY OR WE'RE A PART OF THAT, IT JUST FEELS BETTER. THERE IS THOUGH OTHER WAY TO SAY THAT THAN IT JUST FEELS GOOD TO BE THERE, RIGHT? AND SO A LOT OF THIS ENHANCEMENT STUFF IS ABOUT THAT. THE INCORPORATION OF ART WITHIN THESE -- IN THE PUBLIC REALM JUST DOES THAT.

IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE VALUE AS A COMMUNITY. AND SO THOSE SORTS OF THINGS REALLY START TO ADD UP, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ASK PEOPLE TO

COME -- >> THAT'S WHY I ASK.

BECAUSE IMPROVEMENT TO ME SOUNDED MORE LIKE THE SAFETY THINGS. AND ENHANCEMENT SOUNDED MORE

CREATIVE. >> FOR SURE.

>> YES, CAN I ASK A QUESTION THERE? AND KIND OF THE SAME TOPIC, BUT IF I RECALL ON THE PLAN YOU'RE ACTUALLY HAVING AN ARCH GO -- WELL FIRST LET'S JUST SAY THE TRACKS ARE JUST A HARD STOP BETWEEN -- I MEAN I DON'T WANT SO SAY IT'S AN INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEM BUT THAT IS NOT A SMALL PROBLEM. AND SO I TALKED WITH OTHER PEOPLE HERE IN TOWN. THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY FROM THE NORTH SIDE, IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING -- IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING KIND OF SPECIAL TOO. I THINK IN YOUR PLAN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A BRIDGE KIND OF GOING OVER IT.

WHICH MAY BE THE ONLY PRACTICAL SOLUTION.

I DON'T KNOW. BUT ARE THERE -- BECAUSE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE IS THERE WAYS TO DO IT AT GROUND LEVEL THAT MAKES IT A WELCOMING TO DOWNTOWN? I MEAN THIS IS AN OVERPASS BRIDGE ALMOST ENHANCING THE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW YOUR FEELING ON THAT. I THINK IT'S A CRITICAL JUNCTION AND I JUST DON'T HAVE A GOOD FEEL WITH WHAT WE NEED

TO DO THAT. >> I THINK YOU CAN DO BOTH.

I THINK YOU CAN DO IMPROVEMENTS AT THE GROUND LEVEL BUT I THINK YOU CAN ALSO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO DON'T FEEL SAFE OR THEY JUST WANT A DIFFERENT CLOSER WAY TO GO ACROSS THAT THEY CAN COME UP AND OVER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A LASER ON THIS.

IS THERE A LASER ON THIS? OOPS, NOPE.

THE LOCATION FOR WHERE WE HAVE IT 90 TO GO OVER IS NOT AT THE CROSSING. IT IS TO THE WEST.

NOW TO GO OVER IS NOTE AT THE CROSSING.

IT IS TO THE WEST. MAYBE A LITTLE EASIER TO SEE HERE. THE IDEA THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE SOME ADDITIONAL DENSITY AND YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE SOME ADDITIONAL PARK SPACE, WE WANT THE -- THE TOAKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THE TOD AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY LIVING THERE SO TO HAVE ANNAL EASY WAY TO COME ACROSS SO THEY CAN COME AND SPOAND THEIR DOLLARS IN DOWNTOWN.

AND SO WE THINK THAT HAVING IT ON THE WEST, OR WESTERN THIRD, WILL ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN. AT THE EXISTING MARTIN CROSSING, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO WAY BETTER THAN WE'RE DOING

[00:45:04]

IT'S SAFE TO CROSS THERE. AND TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A LANDING AREA THAT IS WELCOMING AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE.

SO WE DO THAT WITH LANDSCAPE. WE DO THAT WITH PAVEMENT CHANGES. WE DO THAT WITH ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THREE KNOW THAT WE WANT THEM TO CROSS THERE AND IT IS SAFE TO CROSS THERE.

AND SO IF WE DO THOSE THINGS, I AGREE WITH YOU.

GETTING BACK AND FORTH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND IT'S KEY TO ACTIVATING BOTH SIDES, I THINK, ULTIMATELY.

>> YEAH, AND THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS AND I NO IN LOOKING THROUGH YOUR PLAN -- AND I NOTICE LOOKING THROUGH YOUR PLAN, IT DIDN'T GET A LOT OF NO, THAT'S FINE.

THAT DOWNTOWN PARKING LOT -- >> IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THAT HAVING A BRIDGE TWOAPPED YARDS TO THE WEST I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SHORT TERM NECESSARILY THE BEST IDEA.

BUT I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO LOOK AT THAT AS DOWNTOWNS PARKING. AND NETWORK NOT SO MUCH LONG

TERM WITH THE TOD FOR EXAMPLE. >> I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON THE APPROACH OR AT LEAST THE GROUND LEVEL CROSSING KIND OF NEXT TO THE COTTON GIN WHERE IT CROSSES ON MARTIN, KIND OF INVESTING IN THAT IS PROBABLY THE MORE REALISTIC APPROACH IN TERMS OF FUNDING, RIGHT? BECAUSE BUILDING A BRIDGE IS JUST NOT IN OUR CARDS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. BUT CERTAINLY, IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT CROSSING THERE ON MARTIN, WHETHER IT BE -- I KNOW THE LIGHT HOLES ARE VERY TALL, WITH WHETHER PUTTING SOME REALLY NICE EDISON BULBS OR PAINTING TO MACK IT LOOK DIFFERENT OR SOME ART, THERE IS CERTAIN THINGS WE CAN DO THAT ARE WITHIN THE BUDGET REALM, MORE SO, FAR MORE SO THAN THE CROSSING OVER THE TRACKS, THAT'S GOING TO BE -- THAT'S GOING TO BE QUITE A MINUTE BEFORE WE CAN TORQUE

THAT MONEY OVER FOR THAT. >> I THINK THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF DESIGN STUFF YOU CAN DO TO INDICATE THAT THIS IS A SAFE PEDESTRIAN AREA. WE CAN CHANGE THE MATERIAL, THE ROAD, INTO PAVERS, AND WE SUGGEST THAT IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. BUT WE ALSO SUGGEST WHAT WE CALL A FESTIVAL STREET IN BETWEEN ON MARTIN IN BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES OF THE PARK 90 RIGHT? AND SO YOU COULD CARRY THAT UP AND OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CROSSING. SO THAT IT FEELS, OH, THIS IS DIFFERENT, RIGHT? THIS IS SOMEPLACE THAT THEY WANT US TO BE INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A DANGEROUS PLACE. SO I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF WAYS TO ADDRESS IT IN THE SHORT TERM AND THEN IF WE CAN POSITION OURSELF TO WORK ON SOME OTHER CONNECTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW? ARE WE HERE OR ARE WE NEXT? OH I DID WANT TO SAY ONE THING.

SURPRISING, AND A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY I THINK THAT WE CAN CAPITALIZE ON THAT WE DON'T THOUSAND.

NOBODY THINKS OF MARTIN -- NOW. NOBODY THINKS OF MARTIN AS AN ENTRY INTO DOWNTOWN. THOB.

AND WE ARE MISSING THE BOAT. AND IT GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN. WHEN WE'RE ON 66 THERE IS ZERO INDICATION THAT THIS IS SOMEPLACE THAT LEADS SOMEWHERE.

AND SO THE REASON YOU SEE THAT HEX UP THERE OWN 66 IS, WE NEEO ANNOUNCE IT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO ANNOUNCE IT ON THE TWO CORNERS RIGHT, WE ARE NOTE GOING TO ANNOYANCE IT ON ROWLETT OR ON THETRON TAJ ROAD.

BUT HERE IS OUR CHANNEL -- THE FRONTAGE ROAD.

WE ARE DIAGNOSE TO DROP YOU INTO THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE SHOULD BE CAPITALIZING ON IS MARTIN AND IT'S A NICE WALK, RIGHT? IT CAN BE IMPROVED AND WE SHOULD. BUT MAN WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVEN'T YET SORT OF REALIZED.

>> YES, IT'S VERY EASY TO THROW UP THOSE WAY FINDING SIGNS.

THAT SAY DOWNTOWN TO THE RIGHT ORE THE LEFT OR WHEREVER IT IS.

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY AREA WE'RE MISSING THERE. BACK WHEN WE PUT UP THE SIGNALS, I'VE TRIED TO GET THE CITY TO PUT THAT ON OUR STREET SIGNS THAT, YOU KNOW, DOWNTOWN ROWLETT, YOU KNOW THAT DIRECTION AND IT DIDN'T COME TO PASS.

[00:50:03]

>> AND IT FEEDS SOME OF THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO DO AND WE THINK ARE OPPORTUNITIES. OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE WALKED THROUGH THE PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS AT A HIGH LEVEL.

AND LIKE WE SAID, WE'RE HAPPY TO DIG INTO THOSE A LITTLE DEEPER BUT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION AS WELL.

SO WE KNOW THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS PLAN WILL HOPEFULLY GO THROUGH ADOPTION, IT WILL BE YOURS TO CARRY THROUGH. WE HAVE PROVIDED A DETAILED PLAY BOOK BY WHICH YOU CAN IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN, THAT IS THE ACTION PLAN AND IT'S PROVIDED IN THE KIND OF TAIL END OF THE DOCUMENT BEFORE YOU START THE APPENDICES.

SO EACH OF THE ACTIONS PROVIDED ARE PAIRED WITH THE OWNERS AND PARTNERS OF THAT ACTION. THOSE ENTITIES OR INDIVIDUALS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO CARRY THAT ACTION THROUGH, SO WE'VE GONE AHEAD AND JUST WALKED THROUGH WHO WE THINK THAT -- WHO WE THINK THOSE PEOPLE ARE AS WELL AS THE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE TYPE OF ACTION. SO LIKE I'VE MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, SOME OF THEM ARE POLICIES, SOME ARE PROGRAMS, SOME ARE PROJECTS. WE'VE ALSO TALKED THROUGH TIME TRAIMS. FRAMES MANY, SO WE HAVE TIERED THROUGH WHETHER ACTIONS ARE IMMEDIATE, LET'S GET THEM THIS YEAR, GET THE BALL ROLLING, WHETHER THEY ARE SHORT TERM MID TERM OR LONG TERM. AND THIS IS TO HELP YOU ALL PRIORITIZE, NOT JUST FUNDING, BUT POLICY AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE IN THE CASCADE TO GET THIS STUFF DONE. WE'VE ALSO PROVIDED COST, RELATIVE COST IMPACTS AND EACH OF THESE THINGS WILL TAKE MORE STUDY TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT. SO SETTING THE STAGE THERE WITH WHAT THE ACTION PLAN IS: WE HAVE ALSO DEVELOPED THE HOAT LIST. AS I MENTIONED THE HOT LIST IS THE TOP EIGHT ACTIONS FROM THE ACTION PLAN.

WE HAVE TAKEN THE NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THOSE ACTIONS AND PLUGGED IT INTO THIS LIST FOR YOU KIND OF LIKE A KEY SO YOU CAN FIND OUT THE DETAILS OF THEM.

THESE ARE IN NO SPECIFIC ORDER ASIDE THERE THEY ARE ALL IMMEDIATE ACTIONS, MEANING LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE GET THESE THINGS DONE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO TO GET THE BALL ROLLING FOR DOWNTOWN. YOU CAN READ THROUGH THEM.

THERE IS EIGHT OF THEM HERE. HOPEFULLY YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO READ, WHERE DO WE GO FROM, ONE OF THEM IS EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY. LET'S MAKE THIS PLAN WELL PHONE. LET'S USE IT AS A DECISIONIC PA MAKING DOCUMENT. LET'S MAKE DECISION MAKERS AWARE OF WHAT OUR GOAL IS FOR DOWNTOWN SO WE CAN GET THE BALL ROLLING. WE ALSO HAVE LIKE YOU MENTIONED THE ZONING CODE AMENDMENTS TO ALIGN WITH THE LAND USE MAPS AND THE DISTRICTING. THE ACTION OF ESTABLISHING ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATIONS, MARKETING AND PROMOTION, ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS THAT REALLY TIE TOGETHER PRETTY CLOSELY, IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF KIND OF WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THEM HAPPEN AT ONCE BUT THIS IS THE HOT HOT LIST.

THIS IS WHERE WE START. ONCE YOU GET THE ACTION ROLLING, THE ACTION KIND OF SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AS TO WHERE YOU GO NEXT. ADD TO THAT.

>> LET ME ADD ONE THING AND IT'S JUST KIND OF A MAXIM THAT WE FOCUS ON. AND I THINK I -- SOCIAL IN THE ADVISORY GROUP AND OTHERS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

THIS IDEA OF EARLY VISIBLE WINS.

THIS ISN'T LOW HANGING FRUIT. EASY.

LOW HANGING FRUIT MEANS YOU JUST REACH UP AND GRAB IT AND WHY DIDN'T YOU GRAP IT BEFORE. -- GRAB IT BEFORE.

EARLY VISIBLE MEANS IT'S GOING TO TAKE EFFORT BUT WHEN PEOPLE SEE YOU WORKING ON THAT IT'S ATTAINABLE AND YOU CAN SHOW MOIMENT, YOU CAN SEE PROGRESS AND YOU CAN SHOW HOW THESE THINGS START BUILDING. IN ORDER FOR DOWNTOWNS TO MOVE FORWARD YOU HAVE TO TAKE ACTION AND YOU HAVE TO BUILD MOMENTUM.

AND THOSE EARLY VISIBLE WINS THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE CHANGE, THEY CAN SEE INVESTMENT, THEY CAN SEE ALL OF THOSE THINGS, THAT IS WHAT STARTS TO MAKE SOME OF THE BIGGER THINGS HAPPEN. IF WE SAY THERE WAS A BIG SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT OR A BIG WATER LINE EXTENSION THAT NEEDED TO GO THROUGH, AND WE SAID THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO FIRST, IF THAT'S WHAT WE DID FIRST, WE KNOW HOW LONG THAT IS GOING TO TAKE, WE KNOW HOW DISRUPTIVE THAT'S GOING TO BE, AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN IT'S DONE, NOBODY REALLY KNOWS IT EXCEPT FOR THOSE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY IT.

NOT SAYING WE DON'T NEED TO DO THOSE.

I'M SAYING IF WE CREATE SOME MOMENTUM THROUGH EARLY VISIBLE WINS LIKE SOME OF THESE THINGS HERE THEN WE CAN DO THOSE

[00:55:04]

OKAY. >> QUESTIONS.

>> YEAH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT PORTION? THE ACTION PLAN IS PRETTY DETAILED.

IT'S GOT THE ACTION AND THEN IT'S GOT A BUNCH OF STEPS TO GO WITH THE ACTION. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT LET US KNOW CERTAINLY, YEAH.

>> I MEAN THIS IS -- THANK YOU FOR THE LIST.

IT IS -- WHEN YOU READ IT, IT'S ALMOST OBVIOUS, RIGHT? THESE ARE THE SHORTCOMINGS WE HAVE THAT ARE THE MOST PREF PREVALENT, THE MOST PRESENT. MY QUESTION IS WHEN IT COMES TO ADOPTING A PLAN LIKE THIS AND I DON'T MEAN ADOPTING, THE FORMAL MEANING OF ADOPTING IT, STICKING IT AS A CITY, IN CITIES YOU'VE DONE THIS FOR, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OPERATIONALLY, IS IT HAVING ONE CHAMPION WITHIN THE CITY WHO IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN? IS IT SOME SORT OF A BOARD OR A COALITION OF INDIVIDUALS THAT KIND OF MAKE IT HAPPEN? WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE APPROACH?

>> IT CAN HAPPEN MULTIPLE WAYS. WIWE'VE HAD IT -- IF IT'S GOING TO BE WITHIN THE CITY YOU NEED SOMEONE WHOSE JOB WHEN THEY ROLL OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING AND THEY COME TO WORK, THEIR JOB IS TO CREATE SUCCESS IN DOWNTOWN.

THAT IS THEIR FOCUS. THAT IS THEIR JOB.

AND WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF TIMES WHERE A LOT OF GROUPS WHO HAVE INTEREST IN DOWNTOWN SORT OF, THEY TRY TO DO IT ALL TOGETHER.

BUT SOME ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON MARKETING AND SOME ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON THROWIG FESTIVALS AND SOME ARE FOCUSED ON OTHER THINGS, AND THAT MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO DO THE HARD THINGS YOU NEED TO DO, RIGHT? NECESSARILY BIL ABOUT DOING THE THINGS, IT IS ABOUT TALKING TO DEVELOPERS AND CONNECTING TO THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE AND EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY IS FOCUSED ON SUCCESS IN DOWNTOWN. IN ALL ITS SHADES.

YOU NEED TO HAVE PARTNERS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO IT. AND WE'VE SEEN REALLY GREAT SUCCESS BUT IT TAKES MONEY AND DEDICATION AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PERSON WHO UNDERSTANDS IT AND KNOWS HOW TO DO IT.

RIGHT? SO YOU YOU GOT TO MAKE A CALL OUT FOR SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS HOW TO DO DOWNTOWN PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION AND RUNNING THAT THING.

YOU OFTENTIMES THEY HAVE BOARDS.

OFTENTIMES THEY HAVE BOARDS THAT ARE PARTNERSHIP BOARDS THAT WORK WITH THE CITY. SO THAT THEY CAN AGAIN -- IT'S ALL ABOUT WHO CAN HAVE FOCUS EVERY SINGLE DAY ON CREATING SUCCESS IN DOWNTOWN. THE CHALLENGE WITH BOARDS IS OFTEN, HOW OFTEN DO THEY MEET? IT'S TYPICALLY IT'S LAY PEOPLE.

IT'S DO YOU HAVE TECHNICAL ADVISORS TO THAT BOARD, ET CETERA. AND IN THE END, DO THEY HAVE RESOURCES OR FUNDING FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS, RIGHT? SO THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES WITH DOING IT IN THE BOARD, HAVING AN EXECUTIVE BOARD. WE HAVE, IN SOME CASES, CREATED A 501 C 3 REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT ALLOWS US TO CREATE PROPERTY AND HAVE THE BOARD AND DO THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE STATUTORY POWER TO DO SO. SO AGAIN, IT'S A MYRIAD OF THINGS, A MYRIAD OF ACTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT YOU ALWAYS NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS, WITHIN THE CITY, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS HOW TO WORK WITH A GROUP, IF IT'S NOT INTERNAL.

BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, THIS HAND DOESN'T KNOW THIS HAND AND THE CITY UNDERSTANDS FUNDING AND THEY UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE REVENUE AND THEY UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN ACQUIRE THIS AND THAT. AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SO REGARDLESS, THE CITY IS INVOLVED, REGARDLESS WHETHER IT'S A BOARD FORMAT OR IT'S AN INTERNAL FORMAT.

>> THE FIRST OPTION, SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE THE CHAMPION FOR THAT ONE BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE, SOMEONE AT A VERY ACTING STRATEGICALLY, NOT TACTICALLY, THEY ARE NOT DELIVERING ON EVENT, THEY ARE ORCHESTRATING THE ENTIRE PLAN, THE PLAN IS THEIR BIBLE, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LIVING AND BREATHING BUT THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. SO AM I CORRECT IN ASSUMING THAT THAT SEEMS TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE APPROACH?

[01:00:01]

>> NOT NECESSARILY. OR NO.

THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY IS TO HAVE A FUNDING MECHANISM THAT FUNDS DOWNTOWN, AND THOSE DOLLARS GO DIRECTLY TO DOWNTOWN. AND THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO YOU OR WHOEVER, FOR HOW THOSE RESOURCES GET ALLOCATED.

BASED ON THE PLAN, BASED ON WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. AGAIN YOU STILL HAVE TO, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU DO, YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE A LIAISON WITHIN THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE BOARD, AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE WHY, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS, WHY ARE WE MAKING THESE DECISIONS.

BUT WE HAVE USED A LOT OF CIDS AND TIFS AND TURS AND A LOT OF MECHANISMS TO FUND THOSE GROUPS.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE RESOURCES YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING, RIGHT? I MEAN IT'S JUST A BOARD IN THE END. AND YOU -- I ASSUME IF YOU WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU WANT TO GET SOLID RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND ENDLESS HOURS GETTING TO THAT RECOMMENDATION AND THAT RESOURCE ALLOCATION.

THAT'S WHY YOU WOULD DO THE BOARD.

SO FOR ME, MOST EFFECTIVE WAY IS A BOARD THAT'S WELL FUNDED, THAT HAS LIAISON FROM THE CITY, THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO MOOCH FORWARD AND HAVE -- MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE STATUTORY

RIGHT TO DO IT. >> THANK YOU, THAT'S VERY

HELPFUL. >> YOU BET.

BUT I LIKE THE FIRST ONE A LOT. IF YOU CAN FUND IT AND YOU CAN

GET SOMEBODY, GREAT. >> I'VE GOT ONE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU THEN. SO THIS -- THE PLAN THAT WE'RE RECEIVING, THIS IS YOUR RECEIVABLE, THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT YOU WERE HIRED TO DO, WHAT'S NEXT WITH YOU AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY? ARE YOU AVAILABLE AS CONSULTANT? I MEAN WHAT IS THE GO FORWARD

FROM HERE RELATIVE TO Y'ALL? >> YOU BET.

JUST GO TO THE NEXT STEPS SLIDE.

OH I GUESS I CAN, SORRY. YEAH, THANKS FOR THE SETUP.

WE WOULD BE ECSTATIC AND EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE IMPLEMENTATION PART OF THIS. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OT OF WORK TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE THINGS IN THE PLAN.

SOME ARE EASIER THAN OTHERS. WE AVAILABLE.

WE ARE INTERESTED AND WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE IN HELPING DO THAT. CERTAINLY ON THE DESIGN LEVEL WE CAN -- WE HAVE AN ENTIRE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE GROUP WHO IS ENTIRE JOB IS TO CREATE LACES.

THEY WERE HERE AT THE CHEARTS, CHARRETTES, IF WE DON'T DEAL WITH THE POLICY PART IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.

WE DON'T WANT A PLAN OR A PLAN THAT SITS ON THE SHELF.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND CERTAINLY WE WOULD BE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE RELATIONSHIP AND SEE SUCCESS, ADDITIONAL SUCCESS IN DOWNTOWN.

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY (INAUDIBLE) I MUST BE HUMBLE AND I MUST SAY I WAS WRONG, WHEN I VOTED AGAINST HIRING Y'ALL AND SPENDING THE MONEY FOR THIS.

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE GOTTEN A GREAT RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT. I THINK THE PLAN IS VERY GOOD, IS VERY DETAILED. THOSE APPENDICES ARE AMAZING AND I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO -- THE DOWNTOWN HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF ME REAL PASSIONS AND I'M REALLY LOOKING TOWARD TO SEEING THIS COME -- I THINK OUR HISTORY IS IMPORTANT, I THINK A SENSE OF PLACE, IN WHO WE WERE, WHO WE WANT TO BE, IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO I -- I'M SORRY, I WAS WRONG.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. >> I HAVE A COMMENT AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE BOOK.

YOU GUYS ARE AUTHORS, IT WAS 3 HUNDRED SOMETHING PAGES.

A LOT OF WORK. I HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS, FOR TIME I'M GOING TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT AND MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT. PAGE 277 SAYS WE NEED MORE SPACE. NUMBER 2, THE RETAIL PULL FACTOR. AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL HAD A HUNCH ON. BUT THEY PUT THE DATA SET TO IT. SO IF YOU HAVE AN EVEN STEPHEN

[01:05:03]

WE HAVE PEOPLE LEAVING ROWLETT TO DOUGH BUSINESS ELSEWHERE.

THE ONUS IS ON US ON THE DAIS, WE NEED TO TILL THE SOIL AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET DOWNTOWN GOING.

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT GROWTH IN POPULATION, AND WITH THE RETAIL LEAKAGE THAT WE'RE LOSING MONEY ON THAT.

LOCATIONS IN DOWNTOWN, BANK HEAD BROJAGA AND BROCCO.

WE NEED TO GET MORE OF THEM, THEY NEED TO START WITH A B IF THEY COME TO DOWNTOWN ROWLETT. BUT I THINK THAT'S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY. ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD JUST PROPOSE TO THIS BODY RIGHT NOW IS, YOU KNOW, LET'S GET IN RADIO WORK SESSION VERY SOON AND TALK ABOUT THE DESIGNING SO THAT WE CAN TILL THAT SOIL, SO THAT THINGS CAN GET MOVING FAST AND IT'S GREAT TIMING WITH THAT BOND MONEY THAT WE HAVE FOR DOWNTOWN. SO I THINK WE TO LEAD TO MAKE ACTION PLANS NOW AND THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU. THOSE WERE GREAT COMMENTS, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. I THINK THAT THERE AS Y'ALL POINTED OUT, THERE ARE SOME QUICK THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

THE FIRST ONE AS ALLUDED TO BY OUR COUNCILMEMBER OVER HERE IS TO LOOK AT THE ZONING, FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET THIS IN A RIGHT PACKAGE FOR ANNAL OVERLAY ZONE.

-- AN OVERLAY ZONE. AND THEN TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING BECAUSE WHERE WE ARE KIND OF TIE OWED UP BEFORE IS IN THIS RIDICULOUS TURS THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE PASSED AS WRITTEN BUT HERE WE ARE, YOU CAN'T GO BACK IN TIME AND REVOKE THAT.

BUT TO LOOK AT OTHER FUNDING MECHANISM, I CAN'T SPEAK, THE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE ALLOCATE TO DOWNTOWN OUT OF THE LAST BOND IS JUST ENOUGH TO DO SOME THINGS.

BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO SUSTAIN US TO REALLY SEEING THIS PLAN OUT. SO HIGHWAY DO WE IDENTIFY -- SO HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THAT CONTINUOUS FUNDING SOURCE THAT CAN SPECIFICALLY FUND DOWNTOWN AND HELP IT GROW? THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR CHALLENGE AND THAT COULD CAUSE -- TAKE SOME SACRIFICE FROM THE AREAS IN DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY I THINK TO CREATE A CONTINUOUS FUNDING MECHANISM UNLESS WE DIG INTO OUR GENERAL FUND ANNUALLY, WHICH I DON'T KNOW WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA, AND CERTAINLY WOULDN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH FUNDING, IS TO CONSIDER A PID.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS REALLY, LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE GO AND HAVE THIS WORK SESSION TOO ON THAT, THINK ABOUT THAT, TALK TO SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT YOU KNOW. BECAUSE A PID WILL IMPACT THEM.

YOU KNOW, THEY MAY HAVE TO PAY MORE AND THAT WILL -- ARE THEY GOING TO BE WILLING TO DO THAT FOR THE GREATER GOOD WHICH IS THE RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT LOIG THE CITY TO REALLY INVEST IN -- ALLOWING THE CITY TO REALLY INVEST IN DOWNTOWN.

BUT YES, COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS, THERE IS A LOT TO THINK ABOUT HERE BUT APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL

PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU.

>> YES. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALSO. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STRUCK ME THAT YOU SAID IS SOMETHING THAT ECHOS SOMETHING THAT SOME OF US UP HERE HAVE SAID, TIME AFTER TIME, AND THAT IS THAT WE NEED AN IDENTITY FOR DOWNTOWN.

WE HAVEN'T AS A CITY FIGURED OUT WHAT WE WANT TO BE WHEN WE GROW UP. AND AS DOWNTOWN WE DEFINITELY HAVE NOT FIGURED THAT OUT. AND I THINK THAT HAS TO BE REALLY ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS, OF COURSE WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE FUNDING. OF COURSE WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS.

BUT FIRST, BEFORE WE CAN DO IT, WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT OUR IDENTITY IS DIAGNOSE TONE. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT OUT. THAT'S GREAT.

>> COUNCILLING IN ELSE? THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

>> APPRECIATE IT. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

>> ALL RIGHT. HAVE TO GO TO THIS.

WHAT TIME IS IT? OKAY WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PROBABLY GET THROUGH ITEM 3B AND KNOWN WE'LL REEVALUATE IF

[3B. Update the City Council on the Boards and Commissions training as described in the Boards and Commissions Handbook update of 2024.]

OF 2024. >> MAKE SURE YOUR MIC IS ON.

>> MAYOR I DID NOT MAKE A PRESENTATION.

I JUST WANT OWED TO ALERT THE COUNCIL THAT I HAVE IN FACT

[01:10:03]

I'M ALSO LOOKING FOR INPUT FOR WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THE TRAINING. WE HAD TALKED ABOUT SOME DIFFERENT IDEAS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CRUR INPUT FOR -- YOUR INPUT FOR HIGHWAY YOU WOULD LIKE THE TRAINING -- FOR HOW YOU WOULD LIKE THE TRAINING TO GO.

I HAVE INVITED CITY STAFF ALREADY.

OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS INFORMED. SO I'M LOOKING FOR INPUT FOR HOW WE WOULD LIKE THIS TO GO AND ADDITIONALLY I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LET YOUR RESPECTIVE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS KNOW

THAT THE ST DATE HAS BEEN SET. >> OKAY, I MEAN I THINK YOU COVERED THE BASIS WHICH IS MAKING SURE THE CITY ATTORNEY IS THERE TO PROVIDE HER UPDATE AND THEN STAFF, I WOULD ASSUME WOULD BE CITY MANAGEMENT POSSIBLY.

>> YES, AND THE LIAISONS. >> STAFF LIAISONS.

GREAT. COUNCIL.

>> WHAT TIME ON THAT DATE? >> I HAVE NOT PUT THAT IN STONE YET. I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS WE WOULD

LIKE TO TALK THAT OVER. >> OKAY.

NOW? >> WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT NOW.

I HAD THOUGHT MAYBE WE WOULD START WITH A CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST AT 8:30 AND GO 9 TO 11.

>> SO DO WE FEEL LIKE THREE HOURS IS ENOUGH TO ACCOMPLISH EVERYTHING? I THINK WREEZ WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO -- WE WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING ON THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT. I THINK PROBABLY TO MAYBE -- YOU KNOW, THEY ALL TAKE THE ONLINE COURSE.

BUT I'VE FOUND THAT THOSE COURSES OFTEN GENERATE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS. SO MAYBE AN INFORMAL KIND OF Q&A IN REGARD TO THOSE THINGS. AND ALSO, ROBERT'S RULES, I KNOW YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHAIRS. SO YEAH, I THINK THOSE ARE ALL GREAT IDEAS, MAYBE WANT TO DO SOMETHING, A GENERAL Q&A WITH SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS, WHO HAVE BEEN ON BOARDS AND WHO AS COUNCILMEMBERS OF COURSE HAVE TO ALSO ABIDE BY ALL OF THESE RULES. MAYBE LIKE A PANEL?

>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY. YES.

I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT CERTAINLY ALL OF COUNCIL IS INVITED, AND I WOULD ENJOY EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL, SO YEAH, I JUST -- IT WAS BASICALLY A HEADS-UP.

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ANY -- IF WE NEED TO FORM A SUBCOMMITTEE TO DO IT, THAT'S FINE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS RESERVED, THAT OUR STAFF KNEW, COMMISSIONSRDS AND COMMISSION

KNEW WITH ADEQUATE NO. >> I WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY SUGGEST A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE PLANNING SIDE OF IT MAKING SURE THAT IT'S GOT ALL THE DUCKS IN A ROW.

OBVIOUSLY IF WE WANT TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE I THINK GIVEN NATURAL FIRST SELECTION YOU'VE HAD SOME FEEDBACK.

SO -- >> YEAH, MAYBE THE SAME SUBCOMMITTEE THAT DID THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

HANDBOOK. >> THAT WOULD BE 70THING.

>> DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO BE ON THIS?

>> I WILL. >> NEEDS TO BE THREE THOUGH

RIGHT? >> YES, JUST THREE.

>> SO I THINK YOU'RE SUGGESTING WITH THE ORIGINAL, IF THEY WANT TO DO IT, THE ONES THAT WENT THROUGH THE HANDBOOK TO ME

WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE THING. >> I MEAN SCHUPP DIDN'T LOOK ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT. SO I WAS TRYING TO GIVE HIM A BREAK BY -- ANYONE ELSE, YOU KNOW?

>> I MEAN QUITE HONESTLY I'M PROBABLY NOT THE ONE TO BE TEACHING A CLASS ON ROBERT'S RULES SO --

>> I THINK -- >> YES, I'LL DO IT, THAT WILL

BE FINE. >> I DON'T WANT TO MAKE YOU DO IT. I MEAN --

>> I'M NOT BEING MADE TO DO IT. >> THAT WAS JUST A SUGGESTION.

>> DOES SOMEBODY HAVE THE THING IN THEIR HEART DESIRE TO --

>> AND HONESTLY I CERTAINLY HAVE PRODUCED MANY EVENTS.

I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN. I'M ASKING FOR INPUT, WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE. I CAN TAKE CARE OF THE COOKIES AND THE COFFEE AND THE AGENDA, I'M HAPPY TO DO IT ON MY OWN.

BUT I WOULD LIKE YOUR INPUT FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO

SEE. >> OKAY.

>> YES, PERSONALLY I DON'T THINK THIS NECESSARILY RISES TO 9THE LEVEL OF A SUBCOMMITTEE. I THINK IT'S MORE JUST SOMEWHAT OF A F FOR MALLITY. THE BIGGEST THING WE'RE TALKING

[01:15:02]

LING IT OWN HER OWN. >> I'M GOOD, SUBMIT OUR IDEAS

TO YOU. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

I WOULD PLAN TO BRING AN AGENDA BACK TO YOU, END OF NOVEMBER, FIRST MEETING IN DECEMBER, JUST FOR IT TO BE APPROVED.

>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THAT WAS EASY. LET'S SEE, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR -- OH YEAH, I CAN COVER THIS IN TAKEN MINUTES.

[3C. Discuss and review the proposed 2024-25 Rowlett Legislative Agenda.]

>> PAGE 486. >> DANG IT, I'M TRYING TO FIND THAT. OH, THERE IT IS.

3D. I GOT IT.

SO OVER YEAR, OR EVERY I GUESS YOU'D SAY TWO YEARS, BEFORE WE -- BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS AND THE TEXAS CAPITAL, THE CITY GETS TOGETHER THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND DISCUSSES WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE GOING INTO THAT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO WE, THE COMMITTEE WHICH IS MADE UP OF DEPUTY MAYOR SHINDER AND MYSELF, 'NOTHER TEXAS WATER DISTRICT AND DART AND KNOWN WE GOT INTO SOME OTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OTHER CONCERNS ORE ITEMS OF SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE. ONE OF THOSE IS IN ADDITION TO THE TWO THAT I'VE JUST MENTION OWED IS THE LIMITATION OF INSTITUTIONAL HOME PURCHASES, AND THEN Y'ALL KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE HAD A RESOLUTIONS ON THAT.

AND THEN GOING INTO AN INTERESTING ONE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAMP REBATE. THIS IS ONE THAT TML IS ACTUALLY ALSO SPONSORING AND AMENDING THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX STATUTE TO EXPAND THE USE OF REVENUE FOR THE EXPENDITURES OF REVENUE AND TO OFFSET THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPACTS OF SHORT TERM RENTALS. SO THE HOT TAX IS A RESTRICTED FUND. OBVIOUSLY, THAT COMES FROM THE HOTELS THAT WE HAVE. WE EXPECT SOME MORE HOTELS IN THE FUTURE. SO THAT FUND IS GOING TO GROW.

A LOT OF CITIES HAVE BEEN PUSHING THE LEGISLATURE NOT JUST FOR THE UPCOMING SESSION BUT IN PREVIOUS SESSIONS, ABOUT ALLOWING CITIES TO USE IT FOR MORE THAN JUST THE CURRENT RESTRICTION THAT IT'S UNDER. ALSO, AN INTERESTING ONE IS TO ALLOW CITIES TO USE THE FUND TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF SHORT TERM RENTALS. SO DEB, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK

MORE INTO THAT? >> SURE.

AND THE TML LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, IT WAS ONLY THE SHORT TERM RENTAL IMPACTS THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.

SO THIS FIRST PART WAS OURS, THAT WE'RE PROPOSING ON THE PROMOTING TOURISM. BUT THE IDEA REALLY IS THAT THE SHORTER TERM RENTALS BASICALLY ARE HOTELS.

THE WAY THAT THEY OPERATE AND SUCH.

AND THAT THEY CREATE EXTRA BURDENS ON THE CITY IN TERMS OF POLICE RESPONSE, CODE ENFORCEMENT, WE ALL KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR BIGGEST CODE ENFORCEMENT COMPLAINTS ARE AGAINST THE SHORT TERM RENTALS. SO THAT REQUIRES CITY RESOURCES, THAT COST THE CITY MONEY.

SO IT MAKES SEN THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE -- SENSE THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE COSTS BY USING THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF CITIES, ESPECIALLY, CITIES THAT HAVE A LOT OF TOURISM, IN GALVESTON IS ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THIS INITIATIVE WITH TML AND SHE AND I HAVE ALREADY MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO TALK ABOUT IT AT THE TML ANNUAL CONFERENCE THIS WEEK.

SO YEAH, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT, IS TO BE ABLE TO LOGICALLY CONNECT THE IMPACT ON THE CITY, THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE CITY, TO BE ABLE TO REIMBURSE THAT BASICALLY OR TO OFFSET THAT WITH THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES.

[01:20:02]

TAXES ON RIGHT NOW. >> AND THEN LIMITING HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION'S AUTHORITY, THIS IS TO CLARIFY THAT THE AUTHORITY OF HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION'S REMOVING PROPERTIES FROM A MUNICIPALITY'S TAX ROLES WITHOUT THE MUNICIPALITY'S CONSENT.

WE HAVE SOME DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.

SO NEED I SAY LESS. SO THIS IS JUST TO ENSURE THAT ANY HFC WHO WISHES TO TAKE, REMOVE PROPERTIES FROM THE TAX ROLES, HAVE TO SEEK APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THAT CITY. AND THEN Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR, WE'VE HAD RADIO RESOLUTION ON THIS, THIS IS BEING SPONSORED AT TML, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY.

I WON'T READ THAT UNLESS Y'ALL WANT ME TO.

AND THEN WE GO TO THE OPPOSED, THESE ARE PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY, RECOMMENDATION OF SHORT TERM RENTAL REGULATION, THE STATE HAS CONTINUALLY PREEMPTED LOCAL MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY ON REGULATING SHORT TERM RENTALS.

SO CITIES HAVE HAD TO BE VERY CREATIVE ON HOW THEY REGULATE SHORT TERM RENTALS. AND THEN EASE ROADING LOCAL PROPERTY TAX DECISION MAKING, THAT'S A STANDARD ALMOST CUT-PASTE, ALMOST EVERY CITY IS GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS ON THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IF THEY HAVE ONE.

POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION DECLARATIONS.

THAT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED IN A COUPLE OF PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS BY SOME OFFICIALS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE, WHICH IS TO REQUIRE THAT LOCAL ELECT OWED OFFICIALS SUCH AS OURSELVES MUST DECLARE THEIR PARTY ON THE BALLOT.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME ISSUES WITH THAT.

IT'S CRITICAL THAT THESE LOCAL SEATS REMAIN NONPARTISAN.

AND THEN RESTRICTIONS ON ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION, WHICH IS TO OPPOSE ANY ATTEMPT TO PROHIBIT CITY FOIBLES TO HELP COMMUNICATE WITH MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND ALSO PREVENTING JOINING ASSOCIATIONS THAT ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS ALWAYS IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY SESSION I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL WHICH THERE'S BEEN PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE NOW, THAT THEY ATTEMPT TO PROHIBIT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM CONTRACTING WITH THESE GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONALS AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TML. TML WHICH PROVIDES A LOT OF VALUE TO LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR OWN JOBS TO DO HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY THE TIME TO READ THROUGH THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF BILLS THAT ARE FILED IN THE SETTINGS. AND THAT'S WHY YOU HIRE PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICES ARE BEING REPRESENTED IN AUSTRALIAN. AUSTIN.

SO THEY ATTEMPT EVERY SESSION TO TAKE AWAY THAT AUTHORITY.

I QUESTION THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF IT.

IF THEY PASS OWED IT, I THINK IT WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY CHALLENGED IN COURT BUT OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT TO DOUGH THAT AT ALL. SO.

ANY QUESTIONS? ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT WE WANTED TO KEEP IT BRIEF, SIMPLE AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

OBVIOUSLY OUR LEGISLATORS DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.

AND SO WHEN WE GOAT IN THEIR FACE -- GET IN THEIR FACE, WHEN WE MEET WITH THEM IN AUSTIN WE WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE RESPECTFUL OF THEIR TIME AND KEEP IT SIMPLE.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? ANY IDEAS OR THOUGHTS THAT WE

HAVEN'T CONSIDERED? >> NOT A QUESTION BUT A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. IN TERMS OF TESTIFYING IN AUSTIN, BE AWARE THAT YOU ALL CAN GO DOWN AND TESTIFY AT THE SENATE AND HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS.

ON ANY OF THESE BILLS. OR ANY OTHER BILLS.

YOU'RE NOT LIMITED TO JUST THESE.

AND THAT HAS A LOT OF INFLUENCE WITH OUR LEGISLATORS.

AND EVEN IN SOME CASES MORE SO THAN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS TESTIFYING, IS WHEN CITIZENS COME DOWN AND TESTIFY.

THAT MEANS A LOT TO THEM. SO ANYBODY CAN DO THIS.

IT'S A FAIRLY EASY PROCESS. YOU CAN SPEAK FOR, AGAINST, OR QUOTE UNQUOTE, ON A PARTICULAR BILL.

AND ON JUST MEANS THAT YOU DISCUSS IT BUT YOU DON'T TAKE A FORMAL, FOR OR AGAINST, POSITION.

THE HOUSE YOU CAN REGISTER ELECTRONICALLY, EITHER AT THE KIOSKS THERE AT THE CAPITAL, OR YOU CAN DO IT ONLINE BEFOREHAND. AT THE SENATE YOU DO HAVE TO FILL OUT A PAPER REGISTRATION THING SORT OF LIKE OUR LITTLE

[01:25:01]

IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. IT'S LIKE SPEAKING HERE TO THE COUNCIL. YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE, THE FIRST TIME YOU DO IT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S KIND OF SCARY BUT AFTER YOU'VE DONE IT A FEW TIMES IT'S NOT SO SCARY AT ALL.

BE SURE IF YOU DO DECIDE TO DO THAT, DO YOUR RESEARCH, KNOW YOUR TOPIC, KNOW OUR CITY'S ORDINANCES PERTAINING TO THAT TOPIC. YOU CAN CREATE A PUBLIC PROFILE IN ADVANCE PRIERG TO GOING DOWN THERE -- PRIOR TO GOING DOWN THERE. AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT LIMITED TO THESE PARTICULAR THINGS. AND THERE MAY BE UNEXPECTED BILLS THAT ARE FILED. SO KEEP UP WITH TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE. YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL THE BILLS THAT ARE FILED THERE AND, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, THERE ARE LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF THEM. AND THAT'S WHY WE GET TOGETHER IN THESE GROUPS LIKE TML SO THAT WE CAN COLLECTIVELY HAVE PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN ADVISE US OF THESE THINGS AND WHO CAN SPEAK ON OUR BEHALF. BUT IT CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT WHEN WE SPEAK AS WELL. SO.

COME ON DOWN TO AUSTIN WITH US. I'LL BE GOING DOWN THERE A FEW TIMES I THINK, WE'RE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A TIME FOR ALL OF US TO GO DOWN AND THEN I'LL BE GOING DOWN WITH ROCKWELL COUNTY AS WELL. BECAUSE ROWLETT IS PART OF ROCKWELL COUNTY, AS A LIAISON THEY ARE INVOLVED WITH THE OTHER CITY LEADERS DOWN THERE AROUND THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO PUT DOWN A ROCKWELL COUNTY DAY SO WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL DAYS.

I THINK THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILL BE GOING DOWN AT ONE POINT TOO. SO GO DOWN AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN.

NOT THAT BAD OF A DRIVE. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SOME DIFFERENCE AND GET SOME THINGS DONE IN AUSTIN.

>> YES, THANK YOU, I'M STILL WORKING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER AND SCHEDULING A ROWLETT TRIP BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A COUPLE OF BILLS HERE THAT WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH AND SO I KNOW I'LL BE GOING TO THOSE, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL KNOWS WHEN THOSE ARE HAPPENING SO YOU HAVE A OPPORTUNITY TO TAG ALONG. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS? OKAY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU KNOW WHAT SO WE'RE OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT DOING THIS ONE IN THREE MINUTES. SO COUNCIL LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A BREAK, LET'S TAKE A BREAK FOR TEN MINUTES.

WE'LL RECONVENE BACK HERE AT ABOUT 7:38 OR 7:40 OR WHATEVER AND KNOWN WE'LL START OUR REGULAR SESSION AND THEN AFTER THAT WE'LL COME BACK INTO WORK SESSION FOR ITEM PAY. HAVE YOU HIT RECORD? I SAID THAT ALL WHEN WE WERE ON.

[6. CALL TO ORDER FOR REGULAR SESSION]

YOU MAY STAND IF YOU WISH TO JOIN.

>> OH DEAR LORD WE THANK YOU NOR TONIGHT.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE LEVEL OF OUR MEAL.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE LEVEL OF THE MEAN THE COUNCIL MANAGER, AND EVERYBODY WORKING IN THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD THE JEEBD AND THE BUSINESS OF THIS CITY. WE THANK YOU FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, GREAT MEN, WOMEN WHO ARE WORKING SERIOUSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LIVE IN PEACE.

LAST DEAR LORD WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH THEM AND THEIR FAMILIS AND YOU GIVE THEM IN PEACE IN ALL ASPECTS OF TEAR LIVE.

LORD, WE COMMIT TONIGHT EVEN TO YOUR HANDS, THE EVERY DELIBERATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS OF TONIGHT WILL BE A SUCCESS, THAT YOU GIVE WISDOM TO OUR LEADERS, YOU LET YOUR PEACE BE WITH THE RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS OF ROWLETT, PROSPER BUSINESSES, GIVE US NEW IDEAS, GREAT DIRECTIONS, THAT WILL TURN AROUND THE FORTUNE OF THIS CITY.

AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE, WE PRAY FOR SUCCESS, WE PRAY FOR DIRECTION, WE PRAY FOR YOUR GUIDE, L LOFTY IDEAS, LORD WE THANK YOU. TOMORROW, CONFER, WE RAY PER SAFETY, WE PRAY THAT THIS PROGRAM OF THE CONFERENCE THAT THE CITY IS ABOUT TO GO, WILL TURN OUT TO BE A SUCCESS.

THAT WILL BRING GLORY TO YOUR NAME.

OH FATHER WE THANK YOU. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

[01:30:05]

>> THANK YOU. AND 90 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 NOW THE TEXAS FLAGS.

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

>> ALL RIGHT, YOU MAY NOW BE SEATED.

[7A. Presentation of Proclamation recognizing National Code Compliance Month.]

OUR FIRST PRESENCE OF THE TONIGHT IS ITEM SOAFNA, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL CODE COMPLIANCE MONTH. AND PRESENTING THIS WILL BE MAIRPT WIJT. MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET.

>> JOINING ME AT THE FRONT IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DIRECTOR JAN OATH TUCKER AND OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, CORY RUMI. ALL RIGHT.

SO WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL CODE COMPLIANCE MONTH. NATIONAL CODE COMPLIANCE MONTH RECOGNIZES AND EXPRESSIONS APPRECIATION FOR THE DEAD CAIGHTS AND SERVICE OF THOSE THAT SERVE AS CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND PROFESSIONALS. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DIVISION, RECEIVES OTHER THAN 1800 COMPLAINTS AND PROACTIVELY IDENTIFIES 70% OF ALL CODE CASES. ROWLETT'S PROFESSIONALS ARE HIGHLY VISIBLE, COMMITTED TO PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY, WHILE FOSTERING MEANING L MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY. HELP THE CODE TEAM RAISE AWARENESS. THEY HELP CONNECT RESIDENTS IN NEED WITH VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS THAT, ASSIST WITH MOWING PAINTING OR CUTTING VOAJ TAKINGS.

THROUGH EDUCATION, ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE OVER 90% OF ROWLETT CODE CASES RESULT IN VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE WHICH IS FRANKLY AMAZING. THAT MEANS THAT LESS THAN 10% OF ROWLETT CODE CASES RESULT IN MUNICIPAL COAT CASES OR ABATEMENTS WHICH REDUCES THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE CITIZEN. WITH AN EVER CHANGING, QUALITY OF LIFE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING ROWLETT A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WITH THAT I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION. AND IT SAYS, WHEREAS, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PROVIDE FOR SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF ROWLETT, THROUGH THE ENFORCEMENT OF LOCAL CODES OR ORDINANCES FACING VARIOUS ISSUES OF BUILDING HOUSING ANIMAL CONTROL, SAFETY, AND WHEREAS THE OFFICERS OFTEN HAVE A CHALLENGING ROLE AND OFTEN DO NOT RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR THE JOB THEY DO IN IMPROVING WORKING CONDITIONS FOR BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHEREAS THEY ARE DEDICATE OWED QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS WHO SHARE THE GOALS OF PREVENTING NEIGHBORHOOD DETERIORATION, APPLICATION OF HOUSING ZONING AND NUISANCE CODES AND ORDINANCES AND WHEREAS CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OFTEN HAVE A HIGHLY INDIVIDUALSIBLE AND INTERACTIVITY ROLES IN THE COMMUNITIES, RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND WHEREAS THE CITY H CITY OF ROWLETT WANTS TO RECOGNIZE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND PROFESSIONALS AND BRING AWARENESS OF THE H OF CODE ENFORCEMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL DO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2024 AS NATIONAL CODE COMPLIANCE MONTH IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND ASK THAT YOU JOIN ME IN ACKNOWLEDGING AND EXPRESSING OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE DEDICATION AND SERVICE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE AS CODE ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS.

[APPLAUSE] >> YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? OKAY, ALL RIGHT. JANET WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU

VERY MUCH SO. >> WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE.

THREE TWO ONE, LOOKING GOOD, THANK YOU.

[7B. Presentation of Proclamation recognizing October 20-26, 2024 as National Friends of Libraries Week.]

PRESENTING. >> THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

WE HAVE AN AWESOME GROUP MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

[01:35:01]

WHEREAS TRENDS OF THE ROWLETT PUBLIC LIBRARY PROVIDE ADVOCACY FOR OUR LIBRARY AND RAISE MONEY MOVE FROM DID TO GREAT.

PROVIDING THE RESOURCES FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING, MUCH NEEDED EQUIPMENT, SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN'S SUMMER READING AND SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, THE WORK AT THE FRIENDS HIGHLIGHTS ON AN ONGOING BASIS THAT OUR LIBRARY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE COMMUNITY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO ENGAGE IN THE JOY OF LIFELONG LEARNING AND COACT WITH THE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS OF OTHERS FROM AGES PAST TO PRESENT.

WHEREAS, THE FRIENDS GIFT OF THEIR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO THE LIBRARY SETS AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL IN HOW VOLUNTEERISM LEADS TO THE POSITIVE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND THE BETTERMENT OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. NOW THEREFORE I ELISE BOWERS OPEN BEHALF OF BLAKE MARGOLIS, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 20TH THROUGH THE 26TH, 2024, AS TRENDS OF THE LIBRARY WEEK IN ROWLETT, TOAX, AND URGE EVERYONE TO JOIN THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND THANK THEM FOR ALL THEY DO TO MAKE OUR LIBRARY AND OUR COMMUNITY SO MUCH BETTER.

SO I WILL BE GIVING YOU MY DONATION OOR MY MEMBERSHIP TONIGHT, OR SHORTLY, I'LL GET IT TO LAURA, BUT REALLY, EVERYTHING YOU DO IS SO APPRECIATED.

YOU HAVE TOUCHED THE LIVES OF SO MANY CHILDREN.

AND ALL OF SO MANY RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT ROWLETT SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS.

WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT AND WE ENJOY DOING EVERYTHING WE DO FOR THE CITY. SO.

>> DO YOU WANT TO SAY JOIN US? >> OH YES! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN US.

WE NEED YOU. WE NEED SOME YOUNG PEOPLE TOO.

WE REALLY NEED YOUNG PEOPLE. >> WE'RE PUTTING SCARECROWS UP

TOMORROW AT 1. >> GOOD!

>> OKAY LET'S GET REAL QUICK. >> ALL RIGHT, WE APPRECIATE THE

[7C. Presentation of Proclamation of remembrance for the victims of the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.]

>> I DON'T THINK THIS MICROPHONE IS GOING TO WORK FOR BOTH OF US. OKAY THAT WAS MEANT TO BE FUNNY BUT AT A IS ACTUALLY A VERY SOMBER OCCASION FINDING ONE WHO IS IMPACTED BY THE ATTACKS OWN ISRAEL THAT OCCURRED ONE YEAR AGO TODAY ON OCTOBER THE 7TH, 2023.

I'D LIKE TO INVITE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO JOIN US IN THIS PROCLAMATION COMMEMORATION TO COME ON UP HERE AND ANYONE IN THE COUNCIL -- ON THE COUNCIL AS WELL. DESPITE THE ONGOING TENSION THIS THE REGION THE NEWS OF THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACKS CAME AS A SHOCK TO ALL OF US. IT BEGAN WITH THE LAUNCHING OF A BARRAGE OF OVER 4,000 ROCKETS FROM GAZA AND INCURRING OF HAMAS, RESULTED ON THE DEATH OF 1200 VICTIMS MOST OF WHOM WERE CIVILIANS, RAIRNGD IN AGE FROM A NEWBORN BABY TO A NOIR-YEAR-OLD WOMAN. 250 PEOPLE, MANY WHO WERE ATTENDEES AT A MUSIC FESTIVAL JUST OUT FOR THE NIGHT OF FUN,

[01:40:02]

AS OF TODAY, 63 HOSE TADGES REPORTEDLY REMAIN IN CAPTIVITY AND 34 HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD.

THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACKS INITIATED AN ONGOING ATTACK FROM ISRAEL TO HAMAS AND RESULTED IN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DEATHS AND DISPLACEMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.

THE WAR HAS IMPACTED THOSE IN THE MIDDLE EAST BUT PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT HAS BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE THAT DIVIDES THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTRY.

ANTISEMITISM HAS RISEN SHARPLY. TARGETED WITH GRAFFITI, THREATS AND AATTACKED. 99% OF JEWISH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAVE REPORTED TO BE UNSAFE, FANS OF PHYSICAL ASSAULTS AND MORE THAN 8,000 INCIDENTS OF VERBAL OR WRITTEN HARASSMENT TARGETING JEWS HAVING PEN RECORDED IN THE YEAR SINCE -- BEEN RECORDED IN THE YEAR SINCE THE ATTACK, RESULTED IN OVER A TWOAND% INCREASE OVER THE PAST YEAR.

ANTISEMITIC GRAFFITI AND, DEMONSTRATORS WAVED NAZI FLAGS, OUTSIDE OF TEMPLE EMANUEL IN NORTH DALLAS, LAST NOVEMBER, MAYOR MARGOLIS AND I ATTENDED A CONFERENCE DEPENDENCE ANTISEMITISM IN NORTH FLORIDA.% THE SHOCK AND PAIN OF THE EQUITY 7TH ATTACKS WERE STILL VERY RAW, HEARD THE STORIES OF SOME WHO WERE ACTUALLY THERE INCLUDING A YOUNG LEAD WHO WAS AT THE NOVA FESTIVAL AND EXPERIENCE OWED THE TERROR UP CLOSE AND PERM. LAST MONTH, COUNCILMEMBER REAVES AND I ATTENDED AN EVENT SPONSORED BY GROUPS WHO STAND WITH ISRAEL IN COMMEMORATION OF EQUITY THE 7TH.

GROVE ABBOTT HAS ISSUED A PROCLAMATION CALLING FOR A STATEWIDE MOMENT OF SILENCE THIS MORNING AT 7 A.M. AND A STATE WIRED PLACEMENT OF THE FLAGS AT HALF STAFF TODAY.

PROCLAMATIONADING OF THE I'D LIKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

AND FOY COUNCILMEMBER REAVES WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION.

>> COMMEMORATING THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE OCTOBER 7TH, 2023 ATTACK BY HAMAS ON ISRAEL.

WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 7TH, 2023, HAMAS LAUNCHED AN UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK ON ISRAEL, RESULTING IN TRAIN 00 LIVES LOST, CAUSING DEEP AND LASTING PAIN FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS WE SOLEMNLY REMEMBER THE VICTIMS OF THIS HORRIFIC ACT AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEIR LOVED ONES. WHILE ALSO RECOGNIZING THE CONTINUED SUFFERING OFS THIS HOSTAGES AND WHOSE FAMILIES AWAIT THEIR SAFE RETURN. AND WHEREAS IN THE ENSUING CONFLICT, 3,000 INNOCENT CITIZENS, INCLUDING WIMS AND CHILDREN, AND WHEREAS IT IS CRUCIAL TO AFFIRM THAT THE KILLING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS, PARTICULARLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN IS UNCONSCIONABLE AND HAS NO PLACE IN OUR WORLD, SUCH ACTIONS VIOLATE THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF HUMIDITY AND MUST BE CONDOMED BY ALL. AND WHEREAS AS WE COMMEMORATE THIS SOMBER ANNIVERSARY, WE ALSO, PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIFE AND CALL FOR AN END TO THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE THAT HAS CLAIMED FAR TOO MANY LIVES. NOW THEREFORE I JONATHAN REAVES ON BEHALF OF BLAKE MARGOLIS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, PROCLAIM OCTOBER 7TH, 2024 AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, WE HONOR THE INNOCENTS LOST, CALL FOR THE RETURN OF THE PEOPLE STILL HELD BY HAMAS AND CALL FOR THE

END OF VIOLENCE, THANK YOU. >> MOVE OPEN TO 7D WHICH IS

[7D. Update from the City Council and Management: Financial Position, Major Projects, Operational Issues, Upcoming Dates of Interest and Items of Community Interest.]

[01:45:12]

BECAUSE IT IS TWO PAGES WE'VE SPLIT IT UP.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO I GAVE THE FIRST PAGE TO.

COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP. GO AHEAD.

>> YES, I HAVE A PAGE HERE. FROM THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, ROWLETT CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH SERVICE ON VARIOUS BOARDS, CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE SOAPPED THROUGH NOVEMBER 14TH, APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE, AT WWW.ROWLETTTX.GOV.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, OUR TEST TRAPS HAVE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL POSITIVE RESULTS FOR WEST NILE VIRUS WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SPRAYING WITHIN THE AFFECTED ZONES.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE A NO SPRAY LIST FOR RESIDENTS WITH HEALTH CONCERNS. ANY RESIDENT CAN SEND AN E-MAIL TO HEALTH SERVICES@ROWLETT.COM TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST.

AND FROM ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, JOIN US SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12TH FROM 94 TO 7 P.M. FOR CELEBRATE DIVERSITY.

THIS FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT TAKES PLACE ON THE DOWNTOWN ROWLETT GREEN CELEBRATING HERITAGE CULTURES WITH FOOD MUSIC AND DANCE. THE FALL MARKET ON MAINNTINUESY THROUGH NOVEMBER 14. EXCLUDING OCTOBER 31ST FROM 5:30 TO 8:30 AT THE DOWNTOWN GREEN.

EXPLORE UNIQUE HAND CRAFTED GOODS, UNIQUE VENDORS, AND GREAT FOOD WHILE GOING A VIBE BRANT ATMOSPHERE.% CONTINUES EVERY MONDAY IN OCTOBER FROM 11 A.M. TO 2 P.M.

ON THE DOWNTOWN ROWLETT GREEN. ENJOY FOOD TRUCKS AND THE EELGDLY COOLER FALL TOAMPLES. THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD, SENIOR HEALTH SEMINAR IS TOMORROW, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8TH, 1 P.M, JOIN US IN LEARNING ABOUT BRAIN HEALTH AND THE RISK OF SLIERNLS. OCTOBER WELLNESS HIKE THIS SATURDAY OCTOBER TWOAMENT AT TWIN STAR PARK.

TRUNK OR TREAT WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH FROM 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M. AT PECAN GROVE PARK.

GET READY FOR AN EVENING OF SPOOKY FUN SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY TO ENJOY. ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DRESS UP IN THEIR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES.

IN ADDITION TO THE ARE YOU TRUCKS THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF FOOD TRUCKS AND BOUNCE HOUSES FOR THE KIDDOS, VISIT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PAGE ON ROWLETT.COM.

>> ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER REAVES.

>> YES, IN FROM THE LIBRARY, LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON.

PROVIDING ASSISTANCE FOR LEGAL MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL DECISIONS AS A SENIOR CITIZEN. A DYSLEXIA WORK SHOWN IS AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12TH AT 1.

CERTIFIED DIAGNOSTICIAN EMPOWERS PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND DYSLEXIA. LEGO LEAGUE ROBOTICS TEAM COMPETES IN JANUARY. KIDS THERE 9 TO THAN CAN ENGAGE IN RESEARCH, PROBLEM SOLVING, CODING AND ENGINEERING.

VISIT ROWLETT.COM FORWARD SLASH LIBRARY FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE AT OUR LOVE GOLD LIBRARY. THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION, IS SEEKING TROMBONE PLAYERS.

VISIT ROWLETT.COM/TROMBONE, THAT ACTUALLY SOUNDS LIKE LOTS OF FUN. POLICE WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY ON OCTOBER 26TH FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AT FIRE STATION 1 WHICH IS LOCATED AT 3900 MILLER RODE. THE NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY AIMS TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND CONVENIENT WAY TO TAKE BACK PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. TRASH VENDSOR HAS TAKEN OVER TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTION IN ROWLETT.

PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR TRASH DATE REMAINS THE SAME.

BE SURE TO USE YOUR NEW REPUBLIC CARTS FOR ALL SERVICES. IF YOUR OLD FCC CART HAS NOT BEEN COLLECTED YET PLEASE LEAVE IT AT ITS REGULAR PICKUP LOCATION UNTIL IT IS RETRIEVED. IT WILL BE RETRIEVED.

PUBLIC WORKS DAN THE ASPHALT REHABILITATION ON CHISA ROAD ON SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2024. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BIR EQUITY 25TH, 2024.

[01:50:01]

SHE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CAPTURE YOUR HEART WITH HER MAD SNUGGLING SKILLS. SHE HAS AH APRIL AFFINITY FOR DOGS CATS AND KIDS. YES SHE IS THE REAL DEAL.

PLEASE CONTACT ANIMAL SERVICES AT 972-412-6219, OR COME BY THE SHELTER AT INDUSTRIAL STREET, ALL ADOPTIONS ARE CURRENTLY FREE, THE ROWLETT ANIMAL SHELTER IS CURRENTLY CODE RED WHICH MEANS WE ARE OUT OF SPACE AND WE URGENTLY NEED THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH. OUR FUFERY FRIENDS ARE DESPERATELY IN NEED OF BECOMING ADOPTED OR FOSTERED.

PLEASE GIVE THEM A SECOND CHANCE AT A HAPPY LIFE.

>> ALL RIGHT. IT WAS THERE FOR A SECOND.

COLEMAN BRITTON. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL, LAST SATURDAY'S TRICITY CLEANUPS, A LOT OF ESPECIALLY THOSE PARKS WHO HAVE SHORE LINE AND GOT GOOD CLEANUP, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STEPS THAT CAME OUT AND PARTICIPATED IN THAT VERY VALUABLE SERVICE THAT THEY ERRONEOUS DER TO OUR CITY, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM

SHINDER. >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE. TOMORROW OCTOBER 8 FOR THOSE ROWLETT CITIZENS WHO ARE ALSO ROCKWELL COUNTY CITIZENS, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL BE HOLDING A WORK SESSION TO HAVE THE PRESENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN OPERATING INITIATIVES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING OWN FOR A WHILE THERE.

IT WILL BEGIN AT 1:30 AND GO THROUGH 4:30, I WILL BE THERE, WHICH IS WHY I WILL BE GOING LATE TO HOUSTON FOR TML.

ANOTHER THING FOR ANIMAL LOVERS FRIENDS OF RESCUE ANIMALS IS HOLDING A FREE COMMUNITY CAT SPAY AND NEUTER EENT ON THIS THURSDAY OCTOBER 10TH. CHECK IN AT 7 A.M. AND FIRST 100 SPAYS OR NOOUT ORES ARE FREE.

IT WILL BE AT THE GARLAND ANIMAL CENTER AT BOTH GARLAND AND ROWLETT RESIDENTS WILL GET IT FREE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE PROOF OF RESIDENCY THOUGH. SPIN ACKER POINT NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY THINK A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN THE REST OF US, THEY WILL BE HOLDING THEIR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT OCTOBER THE 15TH THERE 6 TO 8. UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS ALSO A COUNCIL MEETING NIGHT BUT THEY SAID THEY WILL GOAT STARTED A LITTLE BIT EARLY, 5:30 TO 5:DRIVE.

IF ANYBODY WANTS TO STOP BY BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING.

I THINK I WILL DO. >> I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT STARTING OUR MEETING A LITTLE BIT LATER.

ANYBODY HAVE AN UPDATE? THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO CITIZENS INPUT. ITEM 8, COMMENTS WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE AUDIENCE ON ANY TOPIC, NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL DURING CITIZENS INPUT. WE DID RECEIVE ONE ONLINE PUBLIC INPUT FORM AND I DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS SO -- AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYBODY WANTS TO SPEAK SO WE'LL MOVE FROM

[9. CONSENT AGENDA]

THE FOLLOWING MAY BE ACT OATD ON ONE EMOTION.

A STOIB OR CITIZEN MAY REQUEST ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE SEND AGENDA. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER.

>> I'D LIKE TO REMOVE THE MINUTES.

>> FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

ANYONE ELSE COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC? OKAY WITH THAT, CITY SECRETARY CAN YOU READ -- OKAY.

CONTINUE TO HIT YOUR -- SORRY. THERE YOU GO.

>> OKAY, ON 9D THERE WAS AN ITEM AT THE DAIS, INCREASING

THE CONTRACTUAL AMOUNT. >> YEAH, AS THE GOING TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. OKAY SORRY FORGOT ABOUT THAT.

ITEM 9D. YES, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION DUE TO A PRICE CHANGE. OKAY IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THEN WITH THAT YOU CAN READ THE AGENDA ITEMS INTO THE RECORD.

[01:55:03]

>> ITEM 9B, CONSIDERING ACTION APPROVING A PURCHASE ORDER FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DETECTION EQUIPMENT AND ITEM 9C, CONSIDER ACTION APPROVING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR MOSQUITO SPRAYING.

>> ALL RIGHT, WITH THOSE ITEMS READ INTO THE RECORD I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

>> MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA

ITEMS AS PRESENTED. >> IS THERE A SECOND? SORRY, I'M LOOKING AT THE OLD SYSTEM.

SORRY. SO MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER SHINDER, CONSENT ITEMS PASS

[9A. Consider action approving the minutes.]

ALL RIGHT, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER.

>> THIS IS IN REGARD TO THE SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024 COUNCIL WORK SESSION. AND THAT WAS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, GENERALLY, AT THE CLOSE OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE SAY THAT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN, WE DIDN'T SAY THAT IN THE MINUTES AND I CONSULTED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY WHO SAID WE DO NEED TO ADD THAT. SO I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH THE ADDITION AS NOTED OF NO ACTION TAKEN ON

WORK SESSION.EPTEMBER 24TH- >> OKAY THERE IS A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'M SORRY.

IT'S NOT PULLING UP ON MY END. SO ANYBODY HIT THEIR MIC TO -- OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER REAVES I HAVE AS A SECOND.

SO MOTION MADE BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER REEVES. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE CALL THE VOTE. ALL RIGHT AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU FOR THAT CATCH.

WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 9D WHICH IS CONSIDER ACTION TO

[9D. Consider action approving a contract for a sea wall and bank stabilization installation.]

>> THAT'S IT UNLESS COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS.

>> COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY AND THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE THE ITEM AS -- GO AHEAD AND SAY IT IDENTITY LOUD TOO JUST FOR THE RECORD. Y'ALL MAY HAVE THIS IN FRONT OF YOU. DO Y'ALL HAVE THIS IN FRONT OF YOU? OKAY, IF ANY ONE OF Y'ALL CAN READ THAT TITLE PART AS THE MOTION.

COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON. YOU HAVE TO HIT YOUR RTS SO

THEY CAN HEAR IT IDENTITY LOUD. >> THANK YOU MAYOR.

I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE ACTION FOR THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE IS A FIRE LAND DEVELOPMENT LLC, FOR SEAWALL AND BANK STABILIZATION INSTALLATION RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE STATION NUMBER 5 IS A SAPPHIRE BAY.

>> ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CALL THE VOTE.

ALL RIGHT AND THAT CEERS UNANIMOUSLY.

[10A. Consider action to approve a resolution supporting the Rowlett Housing Finance Corporation’s Application for Reservation with the Texas Bond Review Board for a private activity bond volume cap reservation of up to $4,000,000 of qualified mortgage revenue bonds and assign those bonds to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.]

>> 10A. CONSIDER AN ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ROWLETT HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION'S APPLICATION FOR RESERVATION WITH THE TEXAS BOND REVIEW BOARD FOR A PRIVATE ACTIVITY BOND VOLUME CAP RESERVATION FOR UP TO $4 MILLION FOR QUALIFIED MORTGAGE

REVENUE BONDS. >> THANK YOU MAYOR.

THIS IS A PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, THE DEMAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR LOW AND MODERATE HOME OWNERSHIP HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT AND REMAINS VERY STRONG ACTUALLY, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF VERY, VERY HIGH INTEREST RATES.

THE VOLATILITY OF THE MARKET. FOR PEOPLE TO ATTAIN HOME OWNERSHIP. THIS ACTUALLY GIVES THEM THE

[02:00:03]

WE GET A SMALL TEE BY THE ORIGINATORS FOR THAT.

THERE IS 14 AGENCIES THAT PARTICIPATE IN THIS.

FAESE WERE ALL TRADITIONAL HHA LOANS.

NO RISK TO THE CITY, NO RISK TO THE HFC, NO FINANCIAL OBLIGATION FROM ANY ENTITY AT ALL.

ANY QUESTIONS? >> ALL RIGHT, SEEING HEAD NODES OVER HERE SO FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.

COUNCILMEMBER REAVES. >> AM I ON? THANK YOU FOR THAT. JUST A QUICK QUESTION AND JUST TO AGAIN REITERATE, SAYS IN THE PACKAGE, YOU JUST SAID IT, NO FINANCIAL OBLIGATION TO THE CITY, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT. >> JUST A QUICK QUESTION IN MY OWN MIND JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR.

IS THIS ESSENTIALLY GRANT MONEY THAT HFC WORKS AS A PASS

THROUGH -- >> WE DON'T EVEN PASS THROUGH.

IT IS THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS THAT HAS THAT PROGRAM. WE DON'T HAVE TO DO -- WE'LL WORK WITH THE ORIGINAL QUALIFIER, IF THEY QUALIFY AND MAKE THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS, WE JUST HAVE TO APPROVE THAT, SO THE STATE KNOWS WE WILL PARTICIPATE IN PARTNER WITH

THEM. >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME HOME. >> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM

SHINDER. >> SO MY QUESTION WAS SORT OF RELATED TO COUNCILMEMBER REAVES, IN THAT I GUESS IT'S NOTE CLEAR WHAT OUR PART IF WE HAVE NO OBLIGATION FINANCIALLY, IN REGARD TO THIS, WHY ARE WE DOING IT INSTEAD OF TDHCA JUST

DOING IT DIRECTLY? >> WELL, THEY CAN GO DIRECTLY TO TDHC IF A HOME BUYER WANT TO DO THAT OR THE CITY OF ROWLETT HAS THIS $4 MILLION APPROVED TO ACTUALLY DO THAT.

>> IT IS THE CONVENIENCE OF THE CITIZENS IN ROWLETT WHO WANT TO

DO IT DIRECTORIALLY? >> CORRECT.

>> OKAY. >> COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP.

>> THANK YOU PETER FOR BEING HERE.

THIS IS A GOOD PROGRAM, BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING THE RFC HAS MADE THE COMMITMENT AND FIRST AND FOREMOST WE ARE ABOUT SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERSHIP. BASICALLY WE'RE A FACILITATOR IN THIS. THE $4 MILLION, THERE IS A BIG KITTY OF MONEY WITHIN THE TDHCA.

THE $4 MILLION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE JUST BASICALLY BLOCKING THAT OUT. IT'S SAYING OKAY ROWLETT HFC YOU HAVE $4 MILLION, AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, WHATEVER WE DON'T USE GOES BACK IN THE KITTY AND THEN IT'S REALLOCATED.

SO THAT'S REALLY KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, IF THAT -- I MEAN IF Y'ALL WANT TO FACT CHECK ME BUT I THINK THAT'S SORT OF GENERALLY WHAT'S GOING OWN.

>> AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR IT IS SINGLE FAMILY MORTGAGE, NOT MULTIFAMILY. SINGLE FAMILY MOARNLG.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET. >> THE REASON THIS IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR NUTRITION AS IT GOES TO THE THCA REQUIRES THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR OR THE GOVERNING BODY. TO BE FRANK THE MAYOR COULD APPROVE IT ON HIS OWN BUT WE BRING IT TO THE ENTIRE GOVERNING BODY TO MAKE THAT APPROVAL.

THANK YOU. >> AND ARE THERE REALTORS OR IS

IT OPEN FOR ANYBODY? >> IT IS OPEN TO ANYBODY.

A LOT OF REALTORS AS YOU MAY KNOW THIS HAVE THEIR PREFERRED LENDERS THAT THOUGH GO TO. THE IDEA IS TO GET IN FRONT OF AS MANY AS POSSIBLE BUT THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS.

THERE ARE INCOME REQUIREMENTS AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT COME WITH THIS. BUT IT IS A GOOD PROGRAM.

ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ACTUALLY USES THIS PROGRAM, ONE OF OUR PREFERRED LENDERS USES THIS AND SHOW SPOKE VERY HIGH ON IT AND IS VERY POSITIVE ABOUT IT.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER.

>> THEY PAY US A SMALL FEES? >> VERY SMALL FEE.

$S$600 SOME ODD FOR EACH. I HAVE QUARTERLY REPORTS THAT

[02:05:08]

>> ALL RIGHT COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION. LET'S SEE, COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS. YOU MAKE A MOTION TORE APPROVAL OF THE ITEM. OKAY -- FOR APPROVAL OF THE ITEM. AND I SEIZE A SECOND HERE BY COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, THEN CALL THE VOTE. ALL RIGHT, 10A CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REQUEST TOPICS TO BE PLACED ON AN AGENDA FOR A SUBSEQUENT MEETING AND ANY DELIBERATION OR DECISION SHALL BE LIMITED TO A PROPOSAL TO PLACE THE TOPIC ON THE AGENDA FOR THE SUBSEQUENT MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP, OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON? GOOD THANK YOU MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO ADD TO A FUTURE WORK SESSION THE POTENTIAL OR TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF ESTABLISHING A AND AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND KEEP ROWLETT BEAUTIFUL.

>> DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR TIME LINE THERE?

>> AT THE NEXT CONVENIENT TIME. >> OKAY, AND SECOND, DID YOU

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? >> I DO ONLY IN --

>> HOLD ON, HIT THE BUT TONE. NO.

IT'S THE OLD WAY. YES.

GO AHEAD. >> I JUST WANT TO BE ON RECORD SO YOU KNOW COUNCILMEMBER BECAUSE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THIS. WE HAVE SOUGHT TO ENGAGE THEM IN THAT VERY TASK AND THAT VERY TOPIC AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN REENGAGE THEM AFTER THIS LATEST EVENT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE AWARE THAT WE'VE MULTIPLE TIMES MADE ATTEMPTS OR YOU ARE SEEKING TO BRING THEM TO A TABLE AND BROKER A DEAL, I'M NOT SURE BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE ACTUALLY SOUGHT AND ENGAGED AND HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM OWN. SO IT'S NOT -- YOU OF COURSE CAN PUT THIS ON AN AGENDA. WE'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING BUT IT ISN'T FOR LACK OF US AS STAFF TO TRY TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE TO SEE IF WE CAN IN FACT FIND AN MOU OF SOME

SORT. >> I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT.

I JUST WANTED IT BROUGHT IN FRONT OF THE FULL COUNCIL SO WE

CAN DISCUSS IT. >> WE CAN BUT AGAIN WE DON'T -- YES. WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AND THAT CAN COME AS QUICKLY AS YOU LIKE.

BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING AND HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

SO. I WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE BECAUSE BASED ON THE ITEM BEING PRESENTED HERE, EITHER A YOU DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE DOING IT OR B THERE IS SOMETHING PARTICULAR

THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. >> I'M JUST LOOKING FOR THE COUNCIL TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF AN AGREEMENT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE HAD IN TERMS OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.

I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT. I WANTED TO BRING IT IN FRONT OF THE FULL COUNCIL. OKAY.

IS THERE A SECOND COUNCILMEMBER?

COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS? >> I SECOND THAT.

>> SO THERE'S TWO COUNCILMEMBERS AND WE'LL BRING IT TO A FUTURE AGENDA. OKAY, GREAT.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

AND NO, THIS IS NOT ADJOURNMENT.

BEE ARE GOING BACK TO THE -- WE ARE GOING TO THE REGULAR WORK SESSION. WE FINISHED THE COUNCIL MEETING

[3D. Discuss and deliberate on adoption of policies governing use of social media platforms by city councilmembers and council-appointed board and commission members.]

SHINDER BROUGHT THIS UP. >> YOU SHOULD HAVE THE COPY OF THE PROPOSED SOCIAL MEDIA POLICIES, THESE WERE DONE AS PRAT POLICIES BECAUSE THE FIRST, THE TICKET POLICY IT COVERS A FEW THINGS BESIDES TIKTOK, BUT THERE'S A TIME SENSITIVITY ONE ATTACHED TO THAT ONE DUE TO A PHILOSOPHY 30TH DEADLINE BY THE STATE. THIS WAS A -- NOVEMBER 30TH DEAD LINE. THE CITY DID CREATE THIS SPOAL, IT IS CALLED COVERED UP APPLICATIONS AND PROHIBITED TECHNOLOGY POLICY. SO WE CAN PASS THIS ONE MORE QUICKLY, I THINK, AND THEN WE REFER BACK TO IT IN THE OVERALL

[02:10:04]

ON THE SECOND PAGE, OR DEPENDS ON HIGHWAY IT PRINTED.

ON MY PRINTED PAGE, I BELIEVE IN THE DIGITAL COPY IT'S ON THE THIRD PAGE AND THE FOURTH PAGE. BUT BASICALLY, HOW THIS CAME ABOUT, IS I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA EVERY SINCE I GOT ON THE COUNCIL REALLY.

BECAUSE WE WOULD GET SOME DIFFERING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TOMORRO TOMORROW -- FORMERY ATTORNEY, HE TALKED TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, I ALSO TALKED WITH HIM PRIVATELY, SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT WAS -- THERE WASN'T CLARITY ON WHAT RESTRICTIONS ARE ON OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND SO WHEN OUR PRESENT CITY ATTORNEY CAME ON BOARD I TALKED WITH HER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WORKED OUT THIS PROPOSED POLICY BASED ON HER RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THE INTENT OF THIS IS TO KEEP THE CITY, TO KEEP THE COUNCILMEMBERS AS INDIVIDUALS AND BOARD MEMBERS AS ALSO APPLY TO BOARD MEMBERS SAFE, WITHOUT STIFLING OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH BUT PUTTING THAT FREE SPEECH IN THE CORRECT VENUE. SO THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING AS PRIVATE CITIZENS, THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE GLOW BY THERE TO SPEAK. WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING IN OUR OFFICIAL CAPACITIES THAT'S WHEN IT CAN GET STICKY AND THAT'S WHETHER WE CAN PUT OURSELVES AT RISK OF LIABILITY AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. SO CAME UP WITH THIS.

IT'S BEEN REVIEWED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS I SAID THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF CHANGES THAT WERE MADE JUST AT THE LAST MINUTE THERE BUT THEY WERE VERY SMALL CHANGES.

AND BASICALLY, WE'RE JUST ADDING A REQUIREMENT THAT ON YOUR CITY OFFICIAL PAGE YOU PUT A DISCLAIMER THERE AND PUTTING ONE WORD FROM PROFESSIONAL TO OFFICIAL IN TERMS OF THE TYPES OF ACCOUNTS THAT WERE DISCUSSED.

I KNOW WE ALL HAVE THIS SO I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY REASON TO GO THROUGH IT. I DIDN'T PREPARE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS TO THE COUNCIL TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE THINK.

THERE ARE COMPLICATIONS, UNINTEND OED CONSEQUENCES OF POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT TIMES SOMETIMES WHEN IT APPEARS TO THE CITIZENS THAT A COUNCILMEMBER IS SPEAKING IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY AND REPRESENTING THE VIEWS OF THE CITY OR ROAPGHT THE VIEWS OF THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE WON'T OVER HERE.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW LEGAL DOCUMENTS ARE.

SO IN OTHER WORDS TO KIND OF ACCOMPLISH THOSE SIMPLE THINGS.

>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION.

READING AND I APPRECIATE CRUR TIME AND OVERT ON THIS BY THE WAY. READING PART OF THIS, IT GOES INTO ISSUES ABOUT POSTING ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE GROUPS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT POSITION, AND THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE

WITH THAT? >> SURE.

ONE OF THE -- WELL, THERE ARE MULTIPLE CONCERNS AND ONE OF THOSE CONCERNS IS, WHEN A COUNCIL LIKE I SAID WHEN A COUNCILMEMBER POSTS ON A GROUP, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, AND POSTS IN THEIR CITY OFFICIAL CAPACITY. BECAUSE WE SHOULD HAVE SEPARATE ACCOUNTS, AND THAT'S ALSO RECOMMENDED IN HERE, THAT YOU HAVE A PERSONAL ACCOUNT AND THAT YOU HAVE AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. YOU HAVE A LOT MORE LEEWAY AS TO WHAT YOU SAY ON YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT.

BUT EVERYBODY IN THE CITY KNOWS WHO THE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE.

AND EVEN WHEN YOU'RE POSTING ON YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT THERE IS STILL THAT RISK, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SEEN AS SPEAKING IN OFFICIAL CAPACITY. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE CONCERNS. ANOTHER CONCERN IS A WALKING QUORUM ISSUE AND I'D LIKE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO EXPLAIN THAT.

BECAUSE THAT TURNED OUT TO BE EVEN MORE TRICKY THAN I HAD THOUGHT UNTIL I TALKED TO HER. SO I'D LIKE FOR HER TO TAKE

[02:15:02]

OVER. >> IS THIS SPECIFIC TO THE GROUPS? BECAUSE I WAS ASKING ABOUT THAT SPECIFICALLY, ABOUT THE FACEBOOK GROUPS.

BECAUSE THAT IS A BIG PLATFORM FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH CERTAIN MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL.

IT IS -- >> THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

IT'S CERTAIN MEMBERS. BUT IF AS YOU KNOW IF THREE MEMBERS COMMUNICATE THERE, THEN THE REST OF THE MEMBERS ARE EFFECTIVELY BARRED FROM POSTING THERE.

AND I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S NOTE FAIR TO ALL

COUNCILMEMBERS. >> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY?

OH YOU DOUGH HAVE -- >> I DID.

JUST THAT THE WALKING QUORUM CONCERN ISN'T PARTICULAR FOR THAT. IT'S REALLY ACROSS THE BOARD

FOR ANY SOCIAL MEDIA. >> RIGHT.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE GROUP THING, THAT'S WHERE I'M REALLY HELD UP ON. BECAUSE THAT IS LIKE THE PUBLIC SQUARE SO TO SPEAK FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.

I MEAN, DO I SOMETIMES WISH IT DIDN'T EXIST? HECK YEAH. BUT IT IS THERE, IT DOES EXIST AND IT IS A PLAT FORMER THAT A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS GO TOTO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEIR COUNCILMEMBERS.

AND SO YOU KNOW THIS ASSUMES THAT I THINK THE INTERPRETATION CAN BE THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND TOMA OR NOT UNDERSTAND THE WALKING QUORUM ISSUE. I THINK THAT'S UP TO THE PERM COUNCILMEMBER. IF THROW MEMBERS ARE PROPONENT ON THIS ONE GROUP COMMENT THINGS, AUTHENTIC THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE TO KNOW THE LIMITATIONS OF TOMA RIGHT? IT IS OUR DUTY TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND SO THEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T ALSO JUMP IN THERE.

AND THAT'S JUST -- THAT'S JUST KIND OF IS WHAT IT IS.

SO I MEAN THAT'S CREDIT I'M GETTING A LITTLE STUCK.

THIS IS -- THE THIS PASSES AS IT'S WRITTEN WHICH BASICALLY SAYS THAT COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE ENGAGING ON THE GROUPS, THAT'S REALLY GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON I THINK OUR CONSTITUENTS AND A SPECIFIC GROUP WHERE IT'S VERY PREDOMINANT THERE AND

COMMUNICATING WITH OUR PUBLIC. >> THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE THAT IS ACTUALLY LAID OUT IN THE STATUTE, THAT THE CITY CAN SET UP A WHAT DO THEY COMMENT, THE CITY SPONSORED FORUM? I THINK, YES, FORUM. AND THAT IS LIKE AN EXCEPTION THAT THE STATUTES MAKE, SO THAT THEN EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE AND THEY THEN ARE BARD FROM BEING ABLE TO SPEAK JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE GOT THERE FIRST.

>> WELL, UNDERSTOOD. I FEEL LIKE CITY ATTORNEY THIS PLAY BE INFRINGING ON MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO GO ON A GROUP FOIRM WHERE MY CONSTITUENTS ARE PROPONENT AND BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.

I FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD OVERLY, IS OVERLY RESTRICTIVE TO NOT ONLY MY RIGHTS AS AN ELECTED OFFICIALS BUT ALSO JUST MY INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? >> REALLY, REALLY, THE MAIN RESTRAINT ACCOUNT L IS THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

>> WE ALL KNOW IT EXISTS. >> AND SO YOU KNOW THE OVERRIDING, OVER-ARCHING PRINCIPLE IS THAT DISCUSSIONS OF CITY BUSINESS NEEDS TO BE IN PUBLIC MEETINGS WHERE ALL THE PUBLIC IS PRESENT, NOT A SPECIFIC PRIVATE GROUP.

9NOT WHOEVER IS ON FACEBOOK THAT DAY.

>> BUT THAT'S ONLY IF THERE'S A QUORUM.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. THAT IS IF IT IS A MEETING, A PUBLIC MEETING. SO I THINK THAT'S THE INTENT BEHIND THE POLICY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THOSE DISCUSSIONS OCCUR IN OPEN MEETINGS.

>> BUT I COULD ARGUE THOUGH THAT THAT'S INFRINGING ON MY RIGHTS NOT ONLY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL BUT AS AN INDIVIDUAL BEING ABLE TO SPEAK WITH MY CONSTITUENTS, RIGHT? I'M NOT GOING IN AND COMMENTING ON A POST WHERE THERE IS NOT A QUORUM. WE KNOW NOTE TO CREATE A QUORUM ON THOSE POSTS SO TELLING ME I CAN'T RESPOND AT ALL I FEEL IS REALLY AN OVERREACH OF GOVERNMENT.

>> BUT TOMA DOES INFRINGE ON OUR CONSTITUTIONAL FREE SPEECH RIGHTS. I MEAN IT JUST DOES.

AND IF COUNCILMEMBER, ONE COUNCILMEMBER 2 AND COUNCILMEMBER 3 GET THERE AND COMMENT FIRST KNOWN COUNCILMEMBER TOWER'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN INFRINGED BUT IT'S OKAY TO INFRINGE ON COUNCILMEMBER TOWER'S NOT ON 1, 2 AND 3. THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

>> SO HERE'S THE THING RIGHT? THIS TAKES IT FURTHER BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHAT EVEN THOUGH TOMA EXISTS WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO PREVENT FROM YOU SPEAKING AT AURAL THERE YOUR CONSTITUENTS ON GROUPS. AND THAT IS SOMETHING I COULD SAY YOU KNOW WHAT I'M CHALLENGING THAT BECAUSE I

[02:20:03]

AND SO THIS WOULD BE A PRETTY RESTRICTIVE POLICY IF PASSED.

IT BASICALLY SAYS COUNCIL YOU NO LONGER CAN ENGAGE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS OUR PUBLIC TOWN SQUARE.

I THINK THAT IS PRETTY STRICT AND THAT IS WHERE I'M HUNG UP ON WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD TENETS HERE BUT THAT IS THE ONE WHERE I AM JUST VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO.

>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION BECAUSE I NEED SOME CLARITY HERE.

IS THIS BEING PROPONENTED AS GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE STATUTORY? YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING. I MEAN -- WHAT LEVEL IS THIS RISING TO? GOOD I WISH WE WOULD FOLLOW IT.

>> HMM? BUT NO, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M

ASKING. >> NO I UNDERSTAND.

SO IT'S NOT, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE STATUTORY.

I THINK THIS WOULD BE IN RESOLUTION FORMAT.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, WHY PASS A RESOLUTION THAT CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OPENLY AND KNOWINGLY BECAME OF SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOLLOW IT. WHAT'S THE POINT? WHY CAN'T WE CREATE A DOMINANT THAT WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND OUR BOUNDS AND LIMITATIONS BUT NOT GOOD TO AN EXTREME OF REALLY SUPPRESSING -- GO TO AN EXTREME OF REALLY SUPPRESSING OUR VOICE AS OUR OWN LOCATE OWED OFFICIALS?

>> QUICK QUESTION. AND I THINK IT'S MORE JUST LEGAL, I DON'T KNOW, BREAKING TOMA, I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT, YOU THE SEE THREE OTHERS, HAVE SELF RESTRAINT, TWO QUESTIONS ON THAT, WHAT IF IT'S A POST WITH HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS AND YOU DON'T SEE EVERY COMMENT, JUST BY DOESN'T YOU POST ON SOMETHING, THEREFORE -- GOOD YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITH INTENT.

THEN THAT'S THE CHALLENGE OF -- >> WELL OKAY BUT WHO'S TO SAY THERE WAS NO INTENT, OKAY, BECAUSE THAT COULD ALSO BE A LEGAL FALL BACK, I DIDN'T SEE IT, IT'S KIND OF THE DRUNK DIAL, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CALL YOU, THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT THE OTHER THING WOULD BE WHAT IF THERE'S ON THE SAME GROUP THERE'S A THREAD WHERE THERE WAS SEVERAL -- TWO COUNCILMEMBERS OVER HERE COMMENT ON THIS THREAD AND THEN THREE DAYS LATER ANOTHER THREAD WAS STARTED ON THE SAME TOPIC AND THEN OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS STARTED TALKING ON THAT.

WOULD THAT ALSO CONSTITUTE A WALKING QUORUM AND BREAKING OF TOMA? SO I UNDERSTAND THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND I THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE AND THAT'S -- I MEAN THAT'S PART OF THE CONSTITUTION, WE NEED TO KEEP THAT. BUT HOUSE DO WE DO THAT IN A WAY SO -- WOULD THAT BE THAT IN A WAY WE DON'T USE OUR PUBLIC TAXICABS OR PUBLIC SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT AND WE USE OUR PRIVATE, THAT WOULD BASICALLY DEFEND THAT?

>> NO, THAT'S WHY IT'S GRAY AND THAT'S WHERE TOMA IS JUST A -- IN MY OPINION, KIND OF AWFUL. AND STIFLING --

>> T OAMPLETMA IS STIEXG. >> WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE DOWN ON TOMA AND MAKE IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

>> IT'S JUST CHANGING THE WAY THAT YOU DO -- YOU CAN ALWAYS COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE RECOMMENDED LEGAL WAY TO DO THAT IS TO DO IT ON YOUR CITY OFFICIAL TAXICABS PAGE. AND YOU CAN STILL ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP IN THE GROUP BUT JUST TAKE THOSE QUESTIONS TO YOUR PAGE. THAT'S THE WAY TO DO IT.

>> WELL, THAT'S THE WAY THAT YOU BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE DONE.

BUT THAT I THINK -- I THINK IT'S ILLEGAL.

I THINK THAT THAT IS RESTRICTIVE, OVERLY RESTRICTIVE AND I THINK IT COULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THAT'S JUST MY VIEW OF IT. I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT COULD BE MISCONSTRUED AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

TOMA EXISTS. THAT IS OUR LAW THAT WE MUST FOLLOW. WHAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO HERE IS DOUBLE DOWN AND MAKE IT EVEN HARD ORE FOR US TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS NOT RECENTING YOU FROM COMMUNICATING WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS.

BUT IT IS CERTAINLY PUTTING A ROADBLOCK IN THE WAY FROM DOING THAT. OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE GOTTEN USED TO, AGAIN WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOTE, HAVE GOTTEN USED TO A CERTAIN WAY OF COMMUNICATING WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

THIS WOULD BLOKE THAT. AND I QUESTION THE LEGALITY OF

THAT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY --

>> THAT'S WHY I TOOK IT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY FIRST.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I -- IF IT'S THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS DONE BUT IT COULD POTENTIALLY CREATE LEGAL PROBLEMS FOR US,

[02:25:02]

AND JUST BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS DONE THAT WAY DOESN'T MEAN THE WAY IT HAS TO GO, GOING FORWARD.

AND THERE IS A WAY TO SAY HEE I'LL ANSWER THIS QUESTION ON MY PAGE. HERE IS A LINK TO MY PAGE TO TAKE IT OFF THERE SO THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT.

BUT JUDGES GOING TO THE LOCAL -- JUST GOING TO THE LEGAL PART, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S

FEELING IS. >> I HERE THE MAYOR'S POINT.

I APPROVED THE POLICY DRAFT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN THE POLICY DRAFT THAT VIOLATES TOMA.

AND IT DOES ADD A LAYER OF PROTECTION TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T -- THAT NOBODY VIOLATES TOMA.

IS IT NECESSARY, DOES TOMA REQUIRE THIS? NO K TOMA DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT YOU JUST ABSOLUTELY DON'T COMMUNICATE IN A FACEBOOK GROUP.

BUT AS A BEST PRACTICE, THAT'S THE POLICY THAT WAS PUT IN FRONT OF ME AND IT DOESN'T VIOLATE TOMA TO DO THAT.

WHETHER IT VIOLATES SOMEBODY'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, I HAVEN'T ROAMPED THAT. I'D HAVE -- -- RESEARCHED THAT.

I'D HAVE A HARD TIME SAYING THAT IT DOES.

BECAUSE I THINK TO A FAIR DEGREE WHEN YOU ARE BECOMING AN LOCATED OFFICIAL YOU AGREE TO ABIDE BY TOMA AND YOU GIVE UP

SOME OF THOSE RIGHTS. >> ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S WHY TOMA EXISTS, THAT'S WHY WE ALL FALL UNDER T OAMPLETMA.

MY WHOLE ARGUMENT IS WHY CREATE A RESTRICTIVE VERSION OF TOMA? AGAIN THERE ARE GOOD THINGS IN HERE, THERE ARE THINGS THAT I LIKE. THIS IS THE ONE THAT I THINK IS PROBABLY MY BIGGEST HURDLE AND I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT WE HAD A HEALTH CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, HEALTHY DEBATE BIT AND I THINK WE ARE HAVING A HEALTHY DEBATE. I LET OTHER PEOPLE SPEAK BUT I THINK I'VE MADE MY POSITION CLEAR.

>> JUST FOR CLARITY SO I CAN JUST READ EXACTLY -- WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? YOU OBVIOUSLY READ THIS THROUGH

BUT I WANT TO REREAD -- >> I THINK IT'S TOWER 98 OF 577. -- IT'S 498 OF 577.

>> THANK YOU. >> CAN I CLARIFY ALSO? THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT JUST ADDING A COMMENT SAYING IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THIS, YOU KNOW, PLEASE GO TO MY FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND I THINK THE COMMENT MAY HAVE BEEN MY POTENTIAL FACEBOOK PAGE. BUT -- MISPERSONAL FACEBOOK PAGE BUT THAT SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO YOUR OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE. EVEN IF IT'S YURTS POTENTIALLY IT SHOULD BE NOT JURY INDIVIDUAL FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> OKAY, IF WE'RE READY FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO SPEAK FOR A

MOMENT. >> YES.

>> I AM TRARCHGLY A BIT BAFFLED THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AT ALL. I'M A BIT BAFFLED THAT THIS DISCUSSION AND THIS PRESENTATION IS SOMEHOW COMPLETELY IGNORED THE PLACE THAT IN 2020 THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WAS IN PLACE PASSED A COMMUNICATION POLICY WHICH INCLUDED A VERY ROBUST SOCIAL MEDIA PIECE.

I HAVE A COPY THAT I'LL PASS AROUND AND A COPY FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL. IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE THAT WAS -- I'M NOT SURE I WON'T SPECULATE.

THERE IS A CRYSTAL CLEAR SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE ABIDING BY THAT ALREADY EXISTS AND IT COVERS MANY OF THE TOPICS WHICH WE HAVE DISCUSSED TODAY, IT MAY NOT EXPLICITLY COVER FACEBOOK GROUPS BUT IT DOES INCLUDE CAMPAIGN ACCOUNTS AND MANY OF THE PIECES AND PARTS THAT ARE COVERED WITHIN THE POLICY THAT IS BEING PROPOSED.

SO WHILE I VERY MUCH AGREE WITH THE TIKTOK POLICY AND THINK IT'S WORTH ADOPTING AT OUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE THIS OTHER DRAFT SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY IF ANYTHING WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING POLICY AND NOT A COMPLETELY NEW POLICY AS ONE ALREADY EXISTS. THANK YOU.

>> EVERY TIME I'VE ASKED ABOUT A SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY I'VE BEEN TOLD THERE'S NOT ONE AND IF THERE'S ONE THAT PASSED BUT IT HAD DISAPPEARED SO THANK YOU FOR FINDING IT.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO POSTPONE THIS TO A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM TO GIVE US TIME TO READ THE NEW APPEARING ALREADY EXISTING POLICY AND FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO LOOK OVER THAT. BECAUSE I DON'T THINK SHE HAS TIME TO DO THAT ON HER OWN TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU AND I AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT ALSO ALLOWS SOME OTHER TIME TO RECONSIDER THE GROUP THING. BUT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS -- THE ONE THAT MAYOR PRO TEM WINGET JUST PASSED OUT, THE PLACE WHERE IT GIVES ALL OF THE I'M NOT GOING TO SAY

[02:30:05]

WE'RE ALL ADULTS, I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF LIKE KINDERGARTEN STUFF YOU KNOW. SO BOWERS DID YOU HAVE

SOMETHING? >> YES, I AGREES WITH THAT.

I FEEL LIKE I'M AN ADULT. I DON'T NEED TO BE TOLD THOUGHT TO DO SOME OF THESE THINGS. AND IF WE ARE -- IF WE ARE APPOINTING PEOPLE TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, THAT WOULD DO SOME OF THESE THINGS, THAT'S ON US. SO I FEEL LIKE TO QUORUM AND ETHICS IS A LITTLE -- I BELIEVE IT'S UNNECESSARY.

POSTPONE THIS TO A TOOUCH DATE. >> YES.

>> IT'S NOTE AN ACTION ITEM SO WE'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND PLAN ON DOING THAT. ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION, Y'ALL, GOOD WAY TO END THE MEETING.

IT'S 8:44 P.M. THERE'S NOTHING E

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.