[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. IT IS TUESDAY, JANUARY 7TH, 2025. 7:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL HAS A QUORUM INSIDE OF THE CITY CHAMBERS. AS AUTHORIZED OF BY SECTION 551.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THIS MEETING MAY BE CONVENED INTO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ON ANY AGENDA ITEMS HEREIN. THE CITY OF ROWLETT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO COMING RECESS, OR OTHER REAL LINE THE REGULAR SESSION OR CALLED EXECUTIVE SESSION, OR ORDER OF BUSINESS AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT. BEFORE WE CONTINUE, WE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION. YOU MAY JOIN IF YOU WISH TO. PROVIDING THE UNIFICATION TONIGHT IS PASTOR JOHN SALAS WITH CHURCH IN THE CITY. STAND, IF YOU WISH. I DO NOT SEE HIM, NOT HERE? ALL RIGHT . ONE OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS? OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER JONATHAN REEVES .
ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD. >>> DEAR FATHER GOD, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEAR LORD FOR THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY IN THIS COUNTRY. WE GIVE YOU GLORY, HONOR , LORD, WE PRAY YOU WILL BLESS THIS CITY, I PRAY FOR THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF ROWLETT, FOR TEXAS, THE UNITED STATES, LORD BLESS EACH HOUSEHOLD REPRESENTED IN THIS CITY. MAY YOUR GRACE AND YOUR LOVE FLOW THROUGH THE CITY. PLEASE GIVE THIS BODY UP HERE WISDOM AS WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY. WE THANK YOU, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
>> THANK YOU, BE JOINT 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 FLAG.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND
[4A. Presentation of Rowlett Veterans Recognition Program certificate to Retired Master Sergeant Mike Britton - U.S. Marine Corps. ]
INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU, YOU MAY NOT BE SEATED. >>> OUR NEXT ITEM IS UNDER PRESENTATIONS, IT IS ITEM NUMBER 4A, PRESENTATION OF ROWLETT VETERANS RECOGNITION PROGRAM CERTIFICATE TO RETIRE MASTER SERGEANT MIKE BRITTON WITH THE U.S. MARINE CORPS. ALL RIGH, TONIGHT IS THE LAST TIME I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF RECOGNIZING A VETERAN AS MAYOR.
I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD TO DO THIS WITH ONE OF MY OWN COLLEAGUES. THE TRADITION OF HONORING ROWLETT'S VETERANS WAS IN 2017 AND THE VETERANS RECOGNITION PROGRAM IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR GRATITUDE AND COMMITMENT TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION . WE ARE REAFFIRMING OUR PLANT AS A COMMUNITY TO REMEMBER, HONOR, AND SUPPORT OUR VETERANS , NOT JUST IN WORDS, BUT INACTION THAT ECHOED THE DIGNITY, RESPECT, AND GRATITUDE THEY SO RICHLY DESERVE. IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR THAT WE RECOGNIZE OUR 37TH VETERAN, RETIRED MASTER SERGEANT , AND ALSO COUNCILMEMBER MIKE BRITTON, WHO SERVED IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS . HIS SERVICE, LIKE THOSE BEFORE HIM, EXEMPLIFIES COURAGE, SACRIFICE, AND PATRIOTISM IN THE HIGHEST ORDER . I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO CHRIS WITH THE VETERANS RESOURCE AND OUTREACH CENTER, WHO WILL PROVIDE DETAILS ABOUT COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON'S SERVICE TO OUR NATION . COME ON UP.
SEGMENT GOOD EVENING . AS ALWAYS, IT IS GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY. TONIGHT, WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE OUR 37TH ROWLETT THAT VET . I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO ADD, IT IS KIND OF ONE OF THE ONLY TIMES I GET TO SAY SOMETING THAT IS ALL ABOUT MIKE. AS A REMINDER FOR THOSE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE VETERAN CENTER, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE COLD WEATHER. WE ALL KNOW IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. YESTERDAY AT 5:00, THE VETERANS RESOURCE NETWORK CENTER OPENED UP FROM A PERIOD OF 5:00 P.M. MONDAY EVENING UNTIL 8:00 A.M.
SATURDAY MORNING . WE WILL BE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY WITH STAFF TO BE A PART OF ANY NEEDS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR ANYBODY , NOT REGARDLESS OF BEING A VETERAN OR NOT. THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO PUT A LITTLE SOMBER BEFORE WE PUT A LITTLE EXCITEMENT . WE WANT TO BE SURE
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AND RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR OWN FIRM VETERAN CENTER . WE LOST HIM ON THE 16TH . FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW , WES MASSEY, ONE OF OUR REPS , UNFORTUNATELY PERISHED DECEMBER 16TH IN A CAR ACCIDENT. SO, WE HONORED HIM ON SATURDAY, AND WE BURIED HIM YESTERDAY AT THE ARLINGTON CEMETERY . WE ARE VERY SAD ABOUT THAT, BUT I WANTED TO BE SURE TO RECOGNIZE HIM FOR HIS SERVICES THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE WILL MISS HIM VERY MUCH. THAT BEING SAID, TONIGHT, LIKE LAST TIME, I HAD A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT PIECE GOING ON AND I WANTED TO ASK MY GRANDDAUGHTER WANTS TO COME UP HERE AGAIN . SHE'S JUST A GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT. I FIRST SPOKE WITH MIKE ABOUT THE IDEA, HE SAID, HE WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF IT, SO-- THAT IS NOT WHAT HE SAID AT ALL. ANYWAY, WE WILL LET HER READ HIS BIO . WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE MR. BRITTON, I LOOK AT HIM AS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE. WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT MIKE AND ALL HE HAS DONE FOR THE CITY, HE HAS PROVEN TO BE A VERY HONORABLE MAN. THIS IS MY GRANDDAUGHTER, ALEXIS . SHE IS ALWAYS EXCITED TO BE A PART OF STUFF WE ARE INVOLVED IN AT THE VETERAN CENTER , SO WE WANT TO GIVE HER A CHANCE, EVERY CHANCE WE CAN ME TO GET IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.ARE YOU GOOD? STATEMENT YEP . >> ALL RIGHT. IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING. THERE YOU GO .
>> THANK YOU. >> MIKE WANTED ME TO DO THIS INSTEAD OF MY GRANDFATHER, THANK YOU, MIKE , I APPRECIATE IT. WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE OUR NEXT ROWLETT .
MIKE TRANSIT NINE WAS RAISED IN A WEST FARM TOWN COMMUNITY. IT WAS THERE WHERE HE LEARNED MANY OF THE VALUES AND BELIEFS THAT STILL RING TRUE FOR HIM TODAY. VALUES SUCH AS HONESTY, INTEGRITY, AND A DEEP, ENDURING LOVE FOR THIS COUNTRY. LOVE OF THE COUNTRY OPTED HIM AT AN EARLY AGE TO WANT TO BE A U.S. MARINE . THOSE THOUGHTS BEGAN AS EARLY AS THE EIGHTH GRADE.
HE WAS PARTLY INFLUENCED BY THE FACT THAT NO ONE ELSE IN HIS FAMILY HAD EVER SERVED AS A MARINE, AS WELL AS THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF A RETIRED MARINE SERGEANT MAJOR FROM HIS HOMETOWN. SOON AFTER HIS GRADUATION, WHEN HE TURNED 18, MIKE ENLISTED. HE BEGAN HIS JOURNEY AUGUST 10TH, 1970 AT MARINE CORPS RECRUIT-- THANK YOU, JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW , DEPPE, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA . STANDING ON THE INFAMOUS, YELLOW FOOTPRINTS ON THE EVENING OF AUGUST 10TH, WHILE BEING YELLED AT AND SHOVED ABOUT LIKE AN IRATE DRONE MARINE INSTRUCTOR, MIKE BEGAN TO QUESTION WHETHER HE HAD MADE THE RIGHT DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT HE HAD THE COMMITMENT TO ACTUALLY BECOME A MARINE. INCREDIBLY, AFTER ENDURING THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ANGUISH OF 13 WEEKS OF BOOT CAMP, MIKE GRADUATED AND EARNED THE COVETED MARINE GLOBE AND ANCHOR IN BLOOM. FEW, IF ANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE EVER MET FOR THE PRIDE AND FEELING OF BEING CALLED A U.S. MARINE. AFTER BOOT CAMP , MIKE REMAINED AT SAN DIEGO, AWAITING THE START OF FIELD OPERATOR SCHOOL . SINCE THE CLASS DID NOT START FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS, MIKE WAS TEMPORARILY ASSIGNED TO BARRIER DETAIL. EVERY DAY FOR THESE FOUR MONTHS, HE SERVED AS A POLAR BURIAL FOR AT LEAST ONE BURIAL, IF NOT TWO PER DAY. IT WAS SOMBER TO HAVING WITNESSED THE GRIEVING FAMILIES OF THEIR FALLEN MARINE. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME, HE BEGAN RECEIVING LETTERS FROM A YOUNG, UNKNOWN GIRL BACK HOME. HE EVENTUALLY STARTED HIS FIELD OPERATOR COURSE, WHERE UPON GRADUATION HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SECOND BATTALION SEVENTH MARINES AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA? OKAY. AS A COMPANY FIELD RADIO OPERATOR. PRIOR TO THIS ASSIGNMENT, MIKE WAS ABLE TO GO HOME ON LEAVE, WHERE HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MEET THE UNKNOWN GIRL. THAT MEETING BEGAN AN LONG-DISTANCE DATING PERIOD VIA THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. A SHORT YEAR LATER , HE WAS REASSIGNED TO SECURITY DETAIL AT THE NAVAL WEAPONS STATION IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE HE SERVED FOR 2 YEARS AS A MILITARY POLICE OFFICER. IT SOUNDED MORE GLAMOROUS THAN IT WAS. IT WAS TWO LONG YEARS OF DRIVING A PATROL VEHICLE ISSUING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, WHILE FREQUENTLY HAVING TO STAY LONG HOURS AT THE FRONT GATE IN FULL DRESS BLUES . THE ONLY EXCITEMENT CAME FROM THE OCCASIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS AT THE FRONT GATE PROTESTING AT THE VIETNAM WAR. BY THE WAY, THE LONG-DISTANCE DATING CULMINATED AN ENGAGEMENT AND MARRIAGE TO THAT YOUNG GIRL LETTER WRITER. FROM CONCORDE, CALIFORNIA, MIKE WAS REASSIGNED TO RECRUITING DUTY IN AMARILLO, TEXAS. AS A NEWLYWED, BRENDA SERGEANT , NOT TO MENTION BEING THE JUNIOR MEMBER OF RECRUITING
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TEAM, HE WAS ASSIGNED THE MOST DESOLATE PART OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE, WHERE HE WOULD DRIVE COUNTLESS MILES TRYING TO CONVINCE YOUNG MEN TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS. AFTER HIS TIME WAS UP AS A RECRUITER , MIKE WAS ASSIGNED TO HIS FIRST OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT IN OKINAWA , I PRACTICED THAT FOREVER AND STILL CANNOT GET IT, JAPAN . DURING HIS ASSIGNMENT, HE SERVED AS THE BATTALION RADIO CHIEF FOR THE THIRD AND PREVIOUS TRACTOR BATTALION .SINCE IT IS NOT THE MARINE CORPS WAY TO LET YOU TAKE YOUR FAMILY WITH YOU, THIS WAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY YOUNG ASSIGNMENT AS HE HAD TO LEAVE HIS YOUNG WIFE AND YOUNG HOME SON AT HOME IN TEXAS. MIKE RETURNED TO CAMP PENDLETON, WHERE HE SERVED AS RIFT BATTALION RADIO CHIEF FOR 1ST BATTALION SEVENTH MARINES AFTER SERVING TWO YEARS IN THIS CAPACITY . MIKE APPLIED FOR AND WAS ACCEPTED TO THE MARINE SECURITY BATTALION. THIS WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HIS CAREER, WHERE HE SERVED AS A MARINE DETACHMENT COMMANDER AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSIES IN JAKARTA, INDONESIA, AND LATER AT WELLINGTON, INDONESIA. HERE, HE PROVIDED LEADERSHIP IN TRYING TO MARINES WHOSE TASKS IT WAS TO PROVIDE SECURITY SERVICES AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY. THIS INCLUDED PROVIDING SECURITY SUPPORT FOR HIGH-LEVEL CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS AND TWO U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE VISITS. UPON RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES, MIKE WAS ASSIGNED BACK TO CAMP PENDLETON, WHERE HE SERVED AS FIRST MARINE COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO TWENTYNINE PALMS CALIFORNIA WHERE HE SERVED AS A INSTRUCTOR. IN CALIFORNIA, MIKE WAS ASSIGNED A SERVICE SYSTEMS ASSIGNMENT IN STUTTGART, GERMANY -- SO SORRY, GERMANY, WHERE HE INITIALLY SERVED AS A SATELLITE COMMISSIONS CONTROLLER BEFORE BEING PROMPTED TO -- BEFORE BEING PROMOTED -- I'M SO SORRY, GUYS, BEAR WITH ME , TO THE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER . THIS WAS A KEY ASSIGNMENT THAT SUPPORTED MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE MID-EUROPEAN EASTERN LEADERS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING KEY SUPPORT FOR WHITE HOUSE CAN MITIGATION PERSONNEL DURING PRESIDENTIAL VISITS . AT THE END OF THIS FOUR YEAR SERVICE, MIKE WAS AWARDED A DEFENSE MERITOR SERVICE MEDAL . MIKE CONCLUDED HIS 20 YEARS OF SERVICE AT EIGHT COMMUNICATIONS BATTALION AND CAMP LEJEUNE -- OKAY, NORTH CAROLINA . HERE, HE SERVED IN SEVERAL CAPACITIES AS A COMPANY FIRST SERGEANT, BATTALION OPERATIONS CHIEF IN THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT OF TECHNICAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS. MIKE RETIRED AS A MASTER SERGEANT AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE AND REMAINS HAPPILY MARRIED TO THAT YOUNG GIRL WHO HE BEGAN WRITING AT BOOT CAMP. IN FACT, HE COULD NEVER ACHIEVE WHAT HE HAD WITHOUT HER LOVE AND SUPPORT.
MIKE HAS TWO ADULT CHILDREN AND NINE GRANDCHILDREN. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> OKAY, JUST VERY QUICKLY, CAN WE GET RACHEL HERE ? I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PUT IN OF COURSE, ON THE SIDE OF ALL OF THAT MILITARY STUFF, MIKE HAS COMMITTED HIS SPARE TIME ANNOUNCING HIS CIVIC DUTIES AND HE HAS HUNG OUT HERE , BEING ON OUR ROWLETT CITY COUNCIL FOR 3 YEARS. I'M HOPING, AND ASSUMING THAT MAYBE HE WILL RUN AGAIN IN MAY . IF HE DOES, HE WILL HAVE, AS MY FRIEND, MY UNWAVERING SUPPORT . HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB . I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND THANK HIM FOR THOSE SERVICES AS WELL. DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> I WILL MAKE IT VERY QUICK . IN LIGHT OF 36 VETERANS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THIS AWARD , I DON'T KNOW THEM ALL, I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW SOME OF THEM THAT WE PRESENTED WHILE I WAS ON COUNCIL , AND I CONSIDER IT AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THAT GROUP , IN SOME WAYS FEELING WHERE THE, KNOWING THAT SOME OF THEM , KNOWING WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH , BUT AGAIN IT IS PRIVILEGED, AN OWNER FOR THE CITY, FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO RECOGNIZE ME . THANKS FOR RECKONING RECOMMENDING ME, MS. BELL . I INCLUDED MY WIFE IN THAT, BECAUSE I COULD HAVE NEVER MADE IT THROUGH 20 YEARS IN THE MARINE CORPS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF RACHEL. SHE GOT DRUG
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ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND MANY TIMES , SHE WOULD PACK UP AT A MOMENTS NOTICE , TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS AND NEVER COMPLAINED. I APPRECIATE IT . THAT IS WHY I STAYED WITH YOU ALL THESE YEARS.>> ALL RIGHT, SO HERE, I HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FROM THE CITY OF ROWLETT . IT SAYS QUOTE, THE FREEDOM AND SECURITY THAT CITIZENS OF UNITED STATES ENJOY TODAY ARE DIRECT RESULT OF THE BLOODSHED AND CONTINUED VIGILANCE GIVEN BY THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES OVER THE HISTORY OF OUR GREAT NATION, DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTION, PROTECTING THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY, AND PAYING THE PRICE OF FREEDOM FOR US ALL. WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THOSE THAT HAVE SEEN THE HORRORS OF WAR AND THE WORST IN SOCIETY, YET CONTINUE TO SERVE AND SO THE BEST OF WHAT HUMANITY CAN BE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ALSO TO OUR CITY. AND YOUNG MAY BE SEATED FOR NOW . WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER -- HOLD ON . YES, COME
ON UP . YES, YES! >> HELLO . GOOD EVENING ON THIS CHILLY , TEXAS EVENING . MIKE, HOW COOL? HOW COOL ? I HAVE GOTTEN TO BE IN YOUR PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HERE AT COUNCIL , SO IT IS NEAT TO NOW GET TO AWARD YOU . THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN HERE FOR ONE OF MY PRESENTATIONS IN THE PAST, MY NAME IS LORI ALBERTS COLTS, A VOLUNTEER FOR THE CULTS OF VALOR ORGANIZATION, AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES QUILTS OF COMFORT AND HEALING TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY POOR. LET THAT SINK IN FOR A SECOND. I CAN'T SAY I HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY WAR. I DON'T HAVE ANY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT FIT INTO THAT CATEGORY. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WOULD BE CLOSEST TO THAT AND I ORDERED A CLOAK OF VALOR TO HIM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. A QUICK STORY, IT WAS STARTED BY A MOTHER WHOSE SON WAS SERVING IN IRAQ AT THE TIME, ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. ONE NIGHT, SHE HAD THIS DREAM, AND IN THIS DREAM, A PICTURE THAT SHE PICKED UP WAS A YOUNG MAN IN A COMBAT AREA , BUT IN HIS TENT AT NIGHT, SITTING ON THE EDGE OF HIS BED, VERY DISTRAUGHT . IMAGINE THAT. YOU KNOW HOW DREAMS GO, YOU KIND OF CATCH A PICTURE, AND WHATEVER YOU ARE ALREADY SLEEPING, NOT SAYING YOU ARE DOZING OFF, YOU PICK UP THOSE BITS AND PIECES OF A DREAM, THE NEXT PART SHE REMEMBERED OF THAT DREAM IS THAT THIS YOUNG MAN HAD A QUILT WRAPPED AROUND HIM, AND HE WAS MUCH MORE AT EASE, RELATIVELY. MS. ROBERTS IS A QUILTER, SHE TOOK THAT AS HER MESSAGE, HER MISSION . THERE WAS A MEANING BEHIND THAT DREAM SHE HAD, SO SHE EMBARKED TO START HIS FOUNDATION CALLED QUILTS OF VALOR. I DID NOT CHECK THIS PAST WEEK ME BUT THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, THE ORGANIZATION HAD AWARDED SOMEWHERE AROUND 280,000 QUILTS OF VALOR IN ITS 20 YEARS AND IT IS ALL DONE BY VOLUNTEERS . IT IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, VOLUNTEER QUILTERS , VOLUNTEER LONG ARMORS , I CAN TELL YOU ALL THE BITS AND PIECES ABOUT THE STORY, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS, IT IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT ALLOWS FOLKS LIKE ME TO DO JUST A LITTLE TEENY TINY THING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE A THANK YOU MESSAGE TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY WAR. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT IS ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION , AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MIKE COME UP AND SHOW OFF THIS QUILT OF VALOR WE ARE AWARDING TO HIM.
LET'S SEE, I WANT TO PUT IT THIS WAY. SO, HERE WE GO . THIS QUILT IS ONE OF THE MOST , I GUESS AUTHENTIC IN ITS NATURE, IN THAT IT WAS TOUCHED BY MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO GET IT MADE. IT ACTUALLY TRAVELED THROUGH OF STATES WHERE SOMEONE , WHO'S NEXT TO ME PUT IT IN THE MAIL, I THINK IT WENT TO ALABAMA, PENNSYLVANIA, COLORADO, AND FINISHED UP HERE IN TEXAS. IT WAS ACTUALLY A FACEBOOK GROUP THAT IS CALLED QUILTS OF VALOR STARS. A FUN, EXTRA STORY WITH THAT. THERE IS A LABEL ON THE BACK OF IT AND I HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR YOU. I LIKE THIS ONE FABRIC ON THE BACK. IT HAS GOT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ON IT. PRETTY COOL.
THE LABOR LABEL BACK HERE SAYS, WHAT IT TO SERGEANT MIKE BRITTON, 17, CITY COUNCIL ,
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THAT QUILT TOP WAS MADE BY Q OF E STARS , SO I WOULD LIKE TO GRAB THIS AND MAYBE HAVE YOUR WIFE HELP. IS THAT OKAY? THERE WE GO . THERE IS HERE AS WELL. MADE BY THE QUILT OF VALOR STARS GROUP, QUOTED. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE HONOR AND COMFORT UPON YOU THROUGH THE AWARD OF THIS QUILT OF VALOR. ALTHOUGH WE MAY NEVER KNOW THE DEPTH OF YOUR SACRIFICE TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS A GESTURE OF GRATITUDE FROM A GRATEFUL NATION, WE AWARD YOU THIS QUILT OF VALOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE. VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT>> THAT QUILT WILL COME IN HANDY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. I AM REMISS IN SAYING BEING HERE. I CERTAINLY YOU - APPRECIATE THE LARGE GROUP THAT HAS COME. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, THANK YOU.
[4B. Present a budget update based on the Comprehensive Monthly Financial Report (CMFR) for the period ending September 30, 2024. ]
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 4B, TO PRESENT AN UPDATE BASED ON THE COMPREHENSIVE MONTHLY FINANCIL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. TONIGHT'S FINANCIAL REPORT PRESENTATION IS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, WHICH IS THE FOURTH AND FINAL QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR . PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION, THIS REPORT WAS REVIEWED AND MORE EXTENSIVE DETAIL WITH THE CITY'S FINANCE COMMITTEE. THE CITY EARNED OR RECEIVED $153 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR '24. THIS AMOUNT IS 12% HIGHER THAN THE REVISED OPERATING BUDGET OF THE $136 MILLION. EXPENSES TOTALED $142 MILLION FOR THE YEAR, $6 MILLION, OR 4% MORE THAN THE REVISED BUDGET OF $136 MILLION. THE SURPLUS THIS YEAR WAS DRIVEN BY THE WATER AND SEWER FUND, AND EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS FUND. PROPERTY TAXES REPRESENT 60% OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE BUDGET AND SERVE AS THE PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT . THE CITY COLLECTED $39 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THIS YEAR, EXCEEDING THE BUDGET BY $461,000, OR 1%. THIS IS ATTRIBUTED TO INCREASED POVERTY TAX VALUES FROM THE JULY CERTIFICATION, DO DUE TO PROTEST BEING SETTLED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND A HIGH BUDGET COLLECTION RATE. SALES TAXES ARE COLLECTED BY THE STATE COMPTROLLER , AND THEY REPRESENT 15% OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE BUDGET . THE CITY COLLECTED $9.8 MILLION IN REVENUE THIS YEAR, EXCEEDING THE BUDGET BY ABOUT 4%. OVERALL , GENERAL FUND REVENUES EXCEEDED BUDGET BY 4.6 MILLION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. AS PURPOSELY NOTED, PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AMOUNTS TO $461,000 OF THIS IN TAX REVENUE ACCOUNTS FOR $409,000. OTHER TOP CONTRIBUTORS WITH INTEREST EARNINGS AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTMENT MARKET, BUILDING PERMITS DUE TO THE TIMING OF LARGE DEVELOPMENTS COMING ON TIME THIS YEAR, AND GAS FRANCHISE FEES AS A RESULT OF INCREASED USAGE IN THE 2023 WINTER STORM. GENERAL FUND EXPENSES WERE $2.2 MILLION BELOW BUDGET, WITH ALMOST 45% A MINUTE TO VACANCIES. PRIMARILY REDUCED FIRE SERVICES, CONTRACT MANEUVERS, SEASONAL MOWING COSTS, AND RECREATIONAL COSTS AND CLOSURE OF THE WHITE ZONE. THIS ALSO REFLECTS $550,000 OF SAVINGS FOR THE YEAR AS A RESULT OF LAMENTING THE NEW STRATEGY APPROVED BY COUNCIL, DURING FISCAL YEAR TO FUND MULTIPLE PIECES OF FIRE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT THROUGH THE IRS DEBT RATE FOR GENERAL FUND. OVERALL, ABOUT $900,00 OF THE OVERALL SAVINGS OF THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO BE ROLLED OVER, IS BEING ROLLED OVER INTO THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET AND ASSIGNED FOR PAYMENT OF BUDGET OF FISCAL YEAR '24 INVOICES THAT WERE NOT RECEIVED UNTIL
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AFTER THE YEAR WAS CLOSED. MOVING ON TO THE UTILITY FUND, WATER REVENUES REPRESENT ALMOST 60% OF THE UTILITY FUND REVENUE BUDGET AND COVER THE COST OF RECOGNITION FROM THE NORTH TEXAS MISCIBLE WATER DISTRICT . AS OF YEAR-END, WATER REVENUES ARE RECORDED AT 258,000, OR 1% BELOW BUDGET. SEWER REVENUES REPRESENT 40% OF THE UTILITY FUND REVENUE BUDGET AND COVER TREATMENT, PAY TO THE CITY OF GARLAND . AS OF YEAR-END, THE SEWER REVENUES ARE RECORDED AT $387,000, OR ABOUT 3%, BELOW BUDGET. OVERALL, UTILITY REVENUES ARE BELOW BUDGET BY $173,000 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, REPRESENTING WATER AND SEWER REVENUES THAT WERE JUST MENTIONED. ABOUT BUDGET BY $456,000. EXPENSES ARE $892,000 BELOW BUDGET. THIS WAS DRIVEN BY PERSONAL VACANCIES AND A HIGHER-THAN-EXPECTED VARIABLE COST RATE FROM THE NORTH TEXAS MUNICIPAL DISTRICT. THESE THINGS WERE OFFSET BY AN INFLOW AND INFILTRATION ISSUE AFFECTING OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT COST WITH THE CITY OF GARLAND. ABOUT $250,000 OF THE OVERALL SAVINGS FUND IS ROLLED OVER INTO FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET AND ASSIGNED FOR PAYMENT OF FISCAL YEAR '24 INVOICES, NOT RECEIVED UNTIL AFTER FISCAL YEAR '24 WAS CLOSED. TO FINISH OUT THE NIGHT'S PRESENTATION AND OTHER KEY FISCAL YEAR '24 FUND, THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND IF IT'S FUND, ALL MET OR EXCEEDED BUDGET REVENUES. THE DRAINAGE FUND DID NOT HIT BUDGET REVENUES THIS YEAR DUE TO A DELAY IN THE COMMERCIAL DRAINAGE RATES , BUT IT WAS BELOW BUDGETED EXPENSES, SO IT OFFSET THAT REDUCTION IN REVENUE FOR THE YEAR. THE DEBT SERVICE, EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS FUND ALL EXCEEDED THE BUDGET EXPENSES. HOWEVER, ALL OF THESE HAVE CORRESPONDED OPERATIONAL REVENUES TO OFFSET OVERAGES FOR THE YEAR. A YEAR AND BUDGET AMENDMENT IS INCLUDED IN TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA TO RECOGNIZE ADDITIONAL REVENUES AND APPROPRIATE THE INCREASING EXPENSES FOR EACH OF THESE FUNDS. THAT IS THE CONCLUSION OF TONIGHT'S REPORT . IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER FOR YOU. >> COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OKAY, JUST SAY, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MET EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON TO GO OVER THIS IN GREATER DETAIL. AS YOU SO HERE, WE CONTINUE TO BE IN A VERY GOOD FINANCIAL
[4C. Update from the City Council and Management: Financial Position, Major Projects, Operational Issues, Upcoming Dates of Interest and Items of Community Interest. ]
POSITION. KUDOS TO OUR TEAM. ALL RIGHT, I THINK THAT IS IT, THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 4C, UPDATE FROM CITY COUNCIL AND MANAGEMENT , FINANCIAL POSITION, MAJOR PROJECTS, OPERATIONAL ISSUES, UPCOMING DATES OF INTEREST AND ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY . THESE WERE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS WEEK. FROM THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTION WILL BE HELD MAY 3RD . THE FILING PERIOD FOR ALL CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS PLACES 2, 4, AND 6 , ENDS FEBRUARY 14TH. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN RUNNING, YOU MAY REQUEST A CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE PACKET FROM THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. FOR ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, JOIN A SUNDAY, JANUARY 19TH, FROM 1:00 TO 4:00 P.M. AT THE ROWLETT COMMUNITY CENTER FOR A MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY CELEBRATION AND SERVICE FAIR. AS WE BRING TOGETHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, ENGAGING PROGRAMMING, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO HONOR DR. KING'S LEGACY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL OF OUR UPCOMING HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES, VISIT ROWLETT.COM, OR FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA . FROM THE LIBRARY , JOIN THE LIBRARY'S YACK AND YARN CROCHET CLUB ON SATURDAY , JANUARY 25TH AT 11:00 A.M.. WHETHER YOU ARE A BEGINNER, LEARNING THE BASICS, OR EXPERIENCED CRAFTER, LOOKING TO REDEFINE YOUR TECHNIQUES, KIDS AGES 5 TO 8, CAN ENJOY SEA S.T.E.A.M. RELATED TECHNIQUES THAT BRING TOGETHER INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY AT THE LIBRARY'S ELEMENTAL PROGRAMS ON WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 P.M.
APPLICATIONS FOR CULTURAL ARTS GRANTS AND EDUCATION GRANTS FROM THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION ARE DUE ON JANUARY 17TH. IT IS ONCE AGAIN TIME FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION ANNUAL WRITING CONTEST WITH CATEGORIES FOR USE AN ADULT ALONG WITH CASH PRIZES. ENTRIES ARE DUE FEBRUARY 28. VISIT ROWLETT.COM /ARTS FOR ENTRY FORMS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE GRANT AND WRITING CONTESTS. FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE ANNUAL CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY WILL BE STARTING JANUARY 23RD, ENDING MARCH 13TH, 2025 . CLASSES WILL BE HELD EACH THURSDAY FROM 6:30 TO 8:30 P.M. AT THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE ACADEMY
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ALSO INCLUDES ONE SATURDAY WITH PARTICIPANTS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE A SQUAD CAR THROUGH AN OBSTACLE COURSE AND FIRE THE SAME GUNS THAT OUR OFFICERS CARRY ON THEIR GUN RANGE. PLEASE EMAIL OFFICER ME A MITCHELL , OR VISIT THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY PAGE ON THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION.SPACE IS LIMITED ALSO APPLY NOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT IS COUNCILMEMBER REAVES. >> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. HERE IS OUR FEATURED PET OF THE WEEK. MEET BOYD , HE LOVES BEING AROUND KIDS AND OTHER DOGS. HE MIGHT EVEN GET ALONG WITH CATS TOO. AT JUST 10 TO 11 MONTHS OLD COME AWAY 40 POUNDS, HE IS THE PERFECT LOW-ENERGY COMPANION FOR SOMEONE WHO LOVES COZY CUDDLES , PERFECT FOR A COLD DAY. BOYD STARTED HIS JOURNEY AS A STRAY, BUT HE IS FULL OF LOVE AND READY TO SHARE IT WITH HIS NEW FAMILY. HE IS ALREADY A FAVORITE AMONGST STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. PLEASE COME OUT AND MEET HIM AND START CREATING WONDERFUL MEMORIES TOGETHER. TO MEET BOYD OR ONE OF HIS COMPANIONS , PLEASE CONTACT ANIMAL SERVICES AT 972-412-6219, OR COME BY THE SHELTER AT 42 INDUSTRIAL STREET FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M.
TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. AND GUESS WHAT, WE ARE STILL CODE RED , WHICH MEANS WE NEED PEOPLE TO OPEN THEIR HOMES AND HEARTS UP TO ANIMALS . ADOPTION FEES ARE ONLY $25. THAT
INCLUDES STERILIZATION, MICROCHIPS, AND VACCINES. >> THANK YOU. NOW, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SCHUPP. I AM SORRY THAT ADOPTABLE KANGAROO WAS NOT THERE. I WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE 89TH SECTION SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATION AGAINST NEXT SATURDAY AND RUNS UNTIL JUNE 2ND . THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE SPECIAL SESSIONS TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC ISSUES. ALMOST 2500 BILLS HAVE BEEN PREFILED ALREADY . OVER 1000 ON THE VERY FIRST DAY. ALMOST 12,000 BILLS WERE FILED IN THE A.D.A. SESSION IN '23 , AND MORE THAN THAT ARE EXPECTED THIS TIME. AS A MEMBER OF OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, THE TML POLICY SUMMIT , AND OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE RELATED TO THIS, I HAVE BEEN CLOSELY MONITORING THESE BILLS DIRECTLY IMPACTING CITY GOVERNMENT, BEYOND THIS, THOSE IMPACTING OUR CITIZENS . BY BEING HERE IN THIS ROOM, YOU DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN WHAT GOES ON IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. YOU CAN ALSO BE INVOLVED AT STATE LEVEL WHERE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE LEGISLATORS, IN MANY CASES EITHER TIED THE HANDS OF CITY OFFICIALS , OR ENABLE US TO HELP MAKE ROWLETT BETTER . IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT WHAT SOME OF THOSE BILLS ARE , IF YOU'RE INTERESTED TO GO TO AUSTIN TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES ON SOME OF THEM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, AND I WILL PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH THE CORRECT PEOPLE,
[5. CITIZENS’ INPUT]
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO CITIZENS INPUT . AT THIS TIME, COMMENTS WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE AUDIENCE AND NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN DURING CITIZENS INPUT. WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN INPUT CARD. I SEE DAVE HALL , COME ON UP, STATE YOUR NAME, CITY, AND RESIDENTS. HE WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES . ANYONE ELSE REQUESTING TO SPEAK, THERE IS A REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM IN THE. BACK.
>> DAVE HALL, ROWLETT. NOW THAT THE PHASE 2 MILLER ROAD WIDENING HAS BEEN CONCLUDED, WHEN THE CONTRACTORS LEFT, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF HOW THIS PROJECT HAS IMPACTED MY PROPERTY. THE STORM WATER RUNOFF DID NOT FLOOD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR MY PROPERTY AT 6921 MILLER . THERE WAS A LARGE, GRADED INLET STREET UPSTREAM FROM THE 29 MILLER DRIVE. THIS TOOK THE STORM WATER DOWN TO THE INLET ABOVE MY DRIVE, AND AVERTED IT UNDER MILLER TO THE SOUTH SIDE. THIS LARGE INLET WAS REMOVED WHEN THE NEW PHASE 2 STORM WATER SEWER PIPE WAS BURIED UNDER THIS INLET AND WAS NOT REPLACED WITH AN INLET WHICH WORKED, AND WAS INADEQUATE FOR THE REMAINING STORM WATER RUNOFF. EXHIBIT 1, TAKEN NINE -23-2024, SHOWS DOWNSTREAM ROCKS ON THE NEWLY LOCATED DRIVE TO MY PROPERTY, WHICH IS NOT CARRYING STORMWATER RUNOFF AWAY. EXHIBIT 2, TAKEN ON 10-4-2024, A CLOSE UP OF THIS WHOLE FIELD WITH
[00:35:02]
ROCKS. EXHIBIT THREE , TAKEN ON 12-24 , SHOWS THE WHOLE FIELD WITH ROCKS, INUNDATED WITH STORMWATER RUNOFF , AND WATER FLOWING DOWNSTREAM ACROSS MY NEWLY RELOCATED DRIVE ON THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF THE WHOLE. EXHIBIT FOUR, TAKEN ON 12-26-2024, TWO DAYS LATER, SHOWS STANDING WATER UNDER THE HOLE. I ASKED WERE ENGINEERING DOCUMENTS SHOWING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND STORM WATER SEWER SYSTEM BEFORE THE PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN FRONT OF 6921 , WHEN THERE WAS NO FLOODING . I HAVE ALSO ASKED FOR ENGINEERING DOCUMENTS , SHOWING WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT IN FRONT OF 6921 , AND THE AS BUILT DOCUMENTS SHOWING WHAT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT . EXHIBIT 5 IS THE ONLY SOMEWHAT RELEVANT DOCUMENT OF WHAT WAS RECEIVED, SHOWS THE INLET APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE OLD GRADED INLET WAS, THIS WAS AN INLET WHICH WOULD BE INSTALLED IN THE CONCRETE ROAD. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THE ROAD HAS NOT BEEN BUILT. THAT PARK , THAT IS A PART OF THE FUTURE PHASE 3. YOUR DOCUMENT ALSO SHOWS THE REMOVABLE STORM WATER DRAINS IN FRONT OF MY PROPERTY . SO, WHAT WE HAVE IS AN INTERIM SET OF CONDITIONS, WAITING FOR THE PHASE 3 MILLER ROAD WIDENING, MAYBE THREE, 5, 10, OR 20 YEARS AWAY. YOU FORGOT TO PUT THE STORM WATER SEWER IN FRONT OF MY PROPERTY. SINCE WHEN DO YOU BUILD A ROAD OR PROJECT BY TAKING OUT THE EXISTING FUNCTIONING SEWER AND CALL YOUR PROJECT FINISHED AND LEAVE WITH THE STORM WATER RUNOFF LEFT UNADDRESSED? THANK YOU FOR THEOPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND RESIDENTS. >> THANK YOU, NOBODY ELSE WISH
[6. CONSENT AGENDA]
TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, THEN WE WILL GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. THE FOLLOWING MAY BE ACTED UPON IN ONE MOTION. A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OR A CITIZEN MAY REQUEST ITEMS HE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. COUNCIL? ANYBODY FROM THE AUDIENCE ? OKAY, CITYSECRETARY, PLEASE READ THOSE ITEMS INTO THE RECORD. >> ITEM 6A, CONSIDER ACTION IMPROVING MINUTES, ITEM 6B, CONSIDER ACTION RECEIVING THE INVESTMENT REPORT. ITEM 6C, CONSIDER ACTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 ADOPTED BUDGET. AND CAPITAL SIX 2 6D, CONSIDER ACTION APPROVING A CONTRACT FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
>> SEEN A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER REAVES, A DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CALL IT UP. AND CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. WE ARE
[7A. Discuss and consider action to approve an amendment to Chapter 22, Article VIII of the Code of Ordinances regarding allowed parking surfaces for vehicles on residential properties. ]
GOING TO MOVE ON TO INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, WHICH 7A IS OUR FIRST ITEM, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 22, CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING ALLOWEDPARKING SERVICES FOR VEHICLES ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. >> THIS IS A TEST OF A COUPLE OF ITEMS I HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. THIS ITEM IS AN AMENDMENT TO OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATED TO PARKING SERVICES, WHICH WE BROUGHT TO YOU ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. TO RUN THROUGH THE BACKGROUND A LITTLE BIT, EARLIER THIS YEAR, STAFF WERE ASKED TO LOOK INTO WHAT SORT OF ALTERNATIVES THAT WILL BE SOMETHING WE WILL CONSIDER TO THE CURRENT REQUIREMENT OF PARKING ONLY BEING ALLOWING ON CONCRETE . WE HAD A WORK SESSION JUNE 3RD, WITH A SUB COMMITTEE WAS CREATED BY THE COUNCIL. WE HAD A FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE , WHERE WE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECTION, AND NARROWED THE SCOPE A LITTLE TOO THESE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES , AND WE WORKED ON A DRAFT ORDINANCE , WHICH CAME BEFORE YOU IN NOVEMBER. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS BASED ON THE CHANGES AND FEEDBACK RECEIVED AT THAT NOVEMBER MEETING. THIS WILL FORMALIZE THAT INTO ORDINANCE.
AS I MENTIONED , CURRENTLY, OUR REQUIREMENT IS FOR PARKING SERVICES ON RESIDENTIAL LOTS ARE ALL REQUIRED TO BE CONCRETE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT IS LOCATED ON THE LOT .
THERE IS A SMALL EXCEPTION FOR THAT FOR ONLY HAULING TRAILERS TO BE ALLOWED IN A BACKYARD ON A GRAVEL SURFACE WITH SPECIFIC CONDITIONS IN PLACE. WE ARE IN THIS ORDINANCE NOT CHANGING THAT FOR ANY PARKING THAT WOULD BE IN THE FRONT YARD, OR AN UNSCREENED SIDE. ANYTHING YOU WOULD SEE ALONG THE STREET IN THE FRONT YARD WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO BE CONCRETE.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT THAT ANY APPROACH TO A CITY STREET OR CITY ALLEYWAY BE MADE FROM CONCRETE AS WELL . IF YOU HAVE A DRIVEWAY THAT COMES OFF THE ALLEY TO THE BACK OF YOUR HOUSE, THE APPROACHED PORTION AT LEAST WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO BE CONCRETE AND THEN IT CAN CHANGE TO ANOTHER SURFACE BEYOND THAT APPROACH.
[00:40:01]
WE HAVE MADE ADJUSTMETS TO ALLOW FOR ALTERNATIVES WE DISCUSSED NERVOUSLY, EITHER IN THE REAR YARD, OR SIDE YARD FOR SCREENING TO ALLOW FOR DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES, ONE BEING CONCRETE PAVERS, 80 MILLIMETERS THICK OR GREATER THIS WOULD NOT BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD GO AND GRAB FROM A HARDWARE STORE, TYPICALLY, BECAUSE THOSE WOULD NOT BE RATED FOR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. OUR CITY STANDARDS WOULD REQUIRE THIS COMPLY WITH MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS, SPECIFICALLY ONLY FOR TRAFFIC THAT WOULD NOT BE AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF PAPER. THERE ARE SOME ALLOWANCES , BUT THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE IT IS EFFICIENT ENOUGH TO HOLD VEHICLE TRAFFIC. ALSO, BASED ON THE FEEDBACK FROM NOVEMBER, WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT LANGUAGE TO ALLOW FOR GREED PAVING TYPE OF PRODUCT, WHERE THERE IS OPENINGS, THE PAVEMENT BLOCKED TOGETHER ON A CERTAIN PATTERN. WE DID REQUIRE THAT NOT EXCEED 25% IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE . THAT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD SUFFICIENT, PAVED SURFACE , AND WOULD NOT HAVE SOMEBODY REALLY TRYING TO DO STRIPS OF PAPER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AS WELL AS THAT THE EDGING IN ANY OF THOSE PARKING AREAS WITH NEED TO BE ENCLOSED FULLY IN THE PAVERS. WE ADDED ASPHALT, AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONCRETE. THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED IN SPECIFIC AREAS IN THE REAR YARD, OR SPECIFIC SIDE YARD. AND WE ADDED ANOTHER OPTION OF GRANITE MATERIAL: , ONLY IF IT IS IN PLACE WITH THE MATERIAL. THE PLACES WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE PIECES RUNNING INTO THE ALLEYWAY OR THE STREET. THIS IS TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A FEW TYPES OF SCENARIOS WHERE WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY PROPOSE AN ADDTIONAL PARKING STRUCTURE . EACH OF THESE THREE HOUSES IS FACING TOWARD THE CITY STREET AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN, WITH THE ALLEY BACK BEHIND. IN THE FIRST SCENARIO, WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO PLACE AN ADDITIONAL PARKING AREA ADJACENT TO THEIR DRIVEWAY, ENTIRELY IN THE SIDEWALL, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN THE FRONT AND BACK HOME BUILDING LINES . IN THAT CASE, THIS WOULD BE ALLOWED AS CONCRETE ONLY, UNLESS THEY PROPOSE PUTTING A SCREENING WHILE IN PLACE . IF IT IS COMPLETELY SCREENED BY THE WALL , WE WOULD ALLOW THAT TO BE AN ALTERNATE SURFACE. IN THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE, THIS IS COMPLETELY BEHIND THE REAR OF THE HOME TO THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY LINE, WHICH WOULD BE CONSIDERED THE REAR YARD. THAT WOULD NOT NEED TO BE SCREENED, BECAUSE IT IS IN THE REAR YARD AND WE WOULD ALLOW ALTERNATIVE PARKING SERVICES. ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN IS WHERE WE HAVE IT IN THE REAR YARD, BUT IT DOES EXTEND BEYOND THE SIDE OF THE HOME . AS LONG AS THE ENTIRETY OF THE PAINTING IS BEHIND BACK LINE OF THE BUILDING, THAT WOULD BE ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW THE ALTERNATIVE PARKING SERVICES . NEXT STEPS, FOR THIS TO BE APPROVED TONIGHT, THIS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE PEOPLE ASKING ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE. OUR BUILDING TEAM IS READY TO HANDLE PERMITS TO MAKE THE CHANGES TO THE WEBSITE NECESSARY AND PROCESS THESE APPLICATIONS IMMEDIATELY, SHOULD YOU SEE FIT TO APPROVE IT TONIGHT. WE ALSO WILL I GUESS REASSURE EVERYBODY WE WILL STILL BE CONDUCTING PERMITS ON THESE, THE SAME WAY WE WOULD WITH A CONCRETE DRIVEWAY. OUR TEAM WOULD MAKE SURE SPECIFICATIONS ARE NOT ONLY CEMENTED WITH THE PERMIT APPLICATION PACKET, BUT ALSO IMPLEMENTED CORRECTLY ON SITE. THAT IS THE CONCLUSION OF MYPRESENTATION. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER. YOU NOTED APPROACH OFF OF THE ALLEY WOULD BE REQUIRED-- HOW IS APPROACH
DEFINED? HOW FAR CONSTITUTES THE APPROACH? >> I AM NOT EXACTLY ENTIRELY SURE WHAT THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE FOR THE APPROACH . THE FULL -- ANY PORTION THAT TOUCHES THE ALLEY WOULD HAVE TO BE CONCRETE . I THINK OUR CONCERN IS WE DON'T WANT ASPHALT TO BLEED OVER INTO THE CONCRETE OR ANYTHING ATTACHED THAT MAY JEOPARDIZE THE STRUCTURE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OF OUR ASSET WITH THE ALLEY. I CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND GET BACK TO YOU .
>> SURE, I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE WITH THE INTENT, I THINK WE NEED TO DEFINE APPROACH IF WE SAY, THE APPROACH MUST BE CONCRETE. ALSO, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE LITTLE DIAGRAMS ON THE THIRD ONE ? THIS IS BEHIND THE BUILDING LINE . YOU SAID, ANYTHING BEHIND THE BUILDING LINE, THE ALTERNATE WOULD BE ALLOWED. DOES THAT INCLUDE EVEN IF THERE IS NOT A FENCED THERE?
>> YES. SORRY, THAT LINE IS JUST TO SHOW THE BUILDING LINE. NO FENCING WOULD BE REQUIRED .
>> PREVIOUSLY, YOU SAID, IF IT IS VIEWABLE FROM THE STREET . >> I HAVE HAD THAT CONVERSATION INTERNALLY ABOUT THE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS, VISIBLE FROM THE STREET. WE HAVE SOME HOUSES
[00:45:02]
WHERE THE REAR YARD, FOR EXAMPLE, ON A CORNER LOT, THE REAR LOT MAY BE ADJACENT TO THE STREET . WE DID NOT TAKE THAT LANGUAGE OUT, BUT THE INTENT , I THINK THAT IS WHY I WANTED TO SHOW THE PICTURE OF THIS IS WHAT THE INTENT WAS, THIS IS HOW WE UNDERSTOOD IT AND WHATWE WOULD BE INTERPRETING INTERNALLY. >> BEHIND THE BUILDING LINE SORT OF TRUMPS THE VISIBLE FROM THE STREET PART. GOT YOU, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT , IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MAYOR
PRO TEM WINGET. >> SORRY, MAYOR, GETTING A JUMP ON MAKING MOTIONS, TO MAYOR PRO TEM'S POINT, COULD NEW CONSTRUCTION HAVE AN APPROACH THAT LEADS INTO AN ASPHALT
DRIVEWAY? >> IS NOTHING IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT WOULD PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING . I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD SPEAK TO WHAT A BUILDER MIGHT SUBMIT IF THEY WERE TO SUBMIT A NEW PLAN WHERE THEY HAVE CONCRETE ALLEYS AND A NEW APPROACH, FURTHER UP THEIR DRIVEWAY IS ONE OF THE APPROVED MATERIALS IN THE REAR OR SIDE YARD, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WOULD PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING THAT DIFFERENTIATES IT FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION,
VERSUS EXISTING RESIDENCES . >> I THINK I HAVE A CONCERN WITH AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING, WHERE A BUILDER MIGHT COME IN AND LOOKING TO CUT CORNERS, MIGHT USE ASPHALT INSTEAD OF CONCRETE, IF THAT IS NOT DISALLOWED BY THE
ORDINANCE, THAT IS A CONCERN. >> CITY MANAGER , WANT TO ADDRESS THIS? SEGMENT I THINK WE BROUGHT THIS ITEM FORTH. KIND OF IN FULFILLMENT , REQUEST TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS . A PART OF WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO HEAR IS ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK YOU HAVE GIVEN US. I THINK IT IF IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU , I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM. THIS IS A STAFF INITIATED ITEM. WITH US GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, TIGHTENING UP DEFINITIONS, CLARIFYING ANYTHING THAT MAY EXIST BETWEEN VISIBLE FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND BEHIND THE BUILDING LINE, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH THAT , WE CAN TABLE THIS TO A DATE UNCERTAIN, OR WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS, AND COME BACK WITH A SLIGHTLY TWEAKED ORDINANCE ,
IF THAT IS ACCEPTABLE . >> HOLD ON. COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS ?
>> I HAVE HAD THIS IN FRONT OF STAFF FOR OVER A YEAR . IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE MUST DO , I WILL GO FORWARD WITH IT . I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE WRAPPED UP, CERTAINLY BY THE NEXT MEETING.
I THOUGHT THAT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE APPROACH WITH THE ASPHALT THAT WAS TAKEN CARE
OF , IN WHICH WHAT YOU SAID , IT HAD TO BE CONCRETE PIERS >> THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN, IT HAS TO BE CONCRETE. A CITY STREET OR CITY ALLEY, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A DRIVEWAY ENTIRELY OF ASPHALT, BUT THE ENCROACHED PORTION WOULD HAVE TO BE CONCRETE . WE WOULD HAVE TO DEFINE IF YOU WANT TO LIMIT THAT BEYOND THE APPROACH TO HOW MUCH CONCRETE
YOU WILL REQUIRE . >> I KNOW IT HAS BEEN DELAYED , BUT I THINK WE WANT RESULTS, RATHER THAN OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS . WE WILL BE BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THE THREE ISSUES, WANTED TO DEFINE WHAT AN APPROACH IS . IT CAN'T BE THE PRIMARY DRIVE . AND IT ALSO MUST BE SCREENED FROM ALL STREETS , OR JUST THE PRIMARY STREET? IF IT IS A CORNER LOT , DOES IT HAVE TO BE SCREENED FROM ALL STREETS , OR JUST THE FRONTAGE STREET? HAVE ANY INTEREST THERE? SEGMENT THE WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING NOW?
>> TO SIMPLIFY LANGUAGE, VISIBLE FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, OR NOT VISIBLE,
AND TO WHAT DEGREE DEGREE? >> I WAS JUST GOING TO ANSWER CHRISTOPH'S QUESTION FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, WHICH IS , THERE IS A CONFLICT , BECAUSE WE SAID, IT HAS TO BE NOT VISIBLE, BUT THEN WE ALSO SAID, IF IT IS BEHIND THE BUILDING LINE, IT IS OKAY. HOW DO YOU RESOLVE THAT? I DON'T HAVE A REAL DOG IN THAT FIGHT . I JUST THINK WE NEED TO SAY ONE OR THE OTHER.
>> ALL RIGHT . I SEE A MOTION ALREADY UP HERE. COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP ?
[00:50:08]
>> WE ARE GOING TO TABLE THIS, CORRECT? >> THAT IS THE INTENTION, DO
YOU WANT A MOTION TO TABLE IT? >> I MOVE WE POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO BE APPROVED , TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
>> I SEE A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS, IS THAT THE CASE? GO AHEAD .
>> SO WE CAN'T JUST MAKE AMENDMENTS NOW? STAFF NEEDS MORE TIME? I WILL AGREE WITH
THAT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. ANY DISCUSSION ? SEE NONE , CALLED THE VOTE . THAT MOTION CARRIES
[7B. Discuss and consider action to approve an amendment to Chapter 10, Businesses, Article XI, Rental Housing related to violations and revocation of permits for short-term rentals.]
UNANIMOUSLY . WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7B, DISCUSSION CONSIDER ACTION TO MOVE AMENDMENT CHAPTER 10, RINSING HOW THIS RELATED TO VIOLATIONS FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS. HELLO AGAIN. >> THIS ITEM IS ALSO SOMETHING I'VE DISCUSSED WITH YOU AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS . WE ARE DISCUSSING AN AMENDMENT TO OUR ORDINANCES RELATED TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS . IN OCTOBER, WE HAD A WORK SESSION WHERE THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT ORDINANCES , THE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE, AND CHANGES YOU MIGHT LIKE TO SEE COMING FORWARD . WE CAME BACK WITH THE FIRST STEP TO THAT SHORTLY THEREAFTER WITH A FEE SCHEDULE AMENDMENT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE RECOUPING THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING THE PROGRAM . WE ALSO HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT POTENTIALLY IMPLEMENTING A DISCUSSION APPROACH TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS , WHICH I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW IS ONGOING, WE ARE DOING RESEARCH AND HAVE REACHED OUT TO OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED SIMILAR TYPE REGULATIONS AND WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT. THIS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT IS MUCH MORE LIMITED IN SCOPE AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE WHERE WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO DO A LITTLE CLEANUP AND CLARIFICATIONS WITH REGARD TO OUR PROPERTIES, WHERE THERE ARE CONTINUOUS VIOLATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS. OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW INDICATES THAT A REVOCATION OF A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT CAN OCCUR FOLLOWING THE THIRD REPEAT VIOLATION OF OUR 12 MONTH PERIOD. AND WE ARE PROPOSING THE LANGUAGE BE CHANGED SO THAT IT WILL FOLLOW THREE SEPARATE INSTANCES OF VIOLATIONS. THIS IS AS TRYING TO DO A LITTLE CLEANUP , MAKING SURE THERE IS NO CONCERN WITH HOW OTHER PEOPLE MAY INTERPRET THAT, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE THE SAME VIOLATION, VERSUS THREE VIOLATIONS OF ANY TYPE. THE SECOND PIECE TO THE CHANGE OPPOSED TONIGHT IS , WE REALLY BE CLEAR ON WHAT THE WAITING PERIOD WOULD BE, IF YOU WILL, FOR A PRIMATE THAT IS REVOKED .
RIGHT NOW, ALL OF OUR PERMITS EXPIRE JANUARY 31ST . THERE IS NOT ANYTHING SPELLED OUT. THERE IS AMBIGUITY REGARDING HOW LONG SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AFTER A PERMIT IS REVOKED , AND WE DON'T WANT ANYONE THINKING THEY CAN COME BACK A MONTH OR TWO LATER TO REAPPLY NEXT YEAR.
WE HAVE CHANGED THE LANGUAGE TO SHOW A PERMIT WOULD BE DENIED IF IT WERE TO BE SUBMITTED WITHIN A ONE-YEAR PERIOD OF THE TIMING OF THE REVOKED ON THAT PROPERTY. NO MAJOR CHANGES OR ANYTHING, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO DO A LITTLE CLEANUP ON THAT. NEXT STEP, IF THIS WAS APPROVED, IT WOULD BE LIMITED IMMEDIATELY, AND WE WENT WOULD MAKE CHANGES IN THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS INFORMED OF THE NEW REGULATION. THE PRESENTATION ON THAT ONE IS A VERY MINOR ORDINANCE CHANGE, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?
>> COUNCIL, QUESTIONS? WOW. OKAY. WELL , THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION .
COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON , GO AHEAD AND HIT RTS WITH YOUR MOTION, GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR
MOTION. >> I BELIEVE THAT WE APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 10 BUSINESS ARTICLE 11 , RELATED TO PERMITS, RESEARCH , AND RENTALS AS RED .
>> AND I SEE A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER REAVES. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MAYOR PRO TEM
WINGET ? >> BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ON THIS QUERY, CAN I GET SOME CLARITY ON A SECTION INCLUDED WITH THE PACKET? I MAY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD , I THINK I DID MISUNDERSTAND . TO BE CLEAR, WITH REGARD TO THE THREE VIOLATIONS, THREE REPEAT VIOLATIONS , OKAY, THE LANGUAGE IS THREE REPEAT VIOLATIONS, OR T OVER ANY 12 MONTH PERIOD?
[00:55:11]
>> THE CURRENT LANGUAGE READS, THE THIRD REPEAT VIOLATION OVER ANY PERIOD OF A CONSECUTIVE 12 MONTHS, AND WHAT THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE IS IS A CURRENT OF THREE INSTANCES OF VIOLATIONS OVER A PERIOD OF ANY CONSECUTIVE 12 MONTH PERIOD WHAT THE INTENT IS, IF WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE CODE COME OUT AND GIVE VIOLATION NOTICES, EVEN IF ONE IS FOR VEHICLES PARKED ON THE STREET , AND THE NEXT ONE IS FOR AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT VIOLATION, THOSE ALL ACCRUE TOGETHER AND ALLOW FOR FLEXIBILITY OF EVOKING A PERMIT , RATHER THAN HAVING THREE OBSERVED INSTANCES OF THE SAME TYPE. I DON'T THINK THAT WAS NECESSARILY THE INTENT OF THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN ORIGINALLY , WE ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS CLEAR SO THERE IS NO OPENNESS FOR INTERPRETATION ON THAT. THAT DEFINITELY CLEARS IT UP. I WAS UNDER THE MISTAKEN IMPRESSION THAT THERE WAS NO TIME LENGTH PROVIDED , BUT IT
IS WITHIN A CONSECUTIVE 12 MONTH PERIOD. THANK YOU. >> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM
SHINDER? >> I WANTED TO CLARIFY, I THINK IT IS, BUT TO BE SURE, WHETHER PREVIOUS VIOLATIONS WOULD STILL COUNT ? THIS WOULD NOT RESET THE VIOLATION PERIOD, OR WOULD
IT? >> I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY REASON TO RESET THE
VIOLATIONS AFTER THEY ARE HAVE OCCURRED. >> I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS FIRST STEP . IT IS A GOOD FIRST STEP, BUT WE STILL NEED TO DO A LOT MORE.
I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING ON THAT. I HOPE WE CAN GO THE REST OF THE WAY FAIRLY SOON, THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE ON THIS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THEN, THERE IS A MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER REAVES TO APPROVE THE ITEM . WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL IT. AND ITEM 7B CARRIES
[7C. Discuss and consider action to remove Mayor Blake Margolis from office for violation of Section 3.09(2), of the Rowlett City Charter.]
UNANIMOUSLY . WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE LAST ITEM . ITEM 7C , TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION TO REMOVE MAYOR LAKE MARGOLIS FROM OFFICE FOR VIOLATION OF SECTION 3.09 OF THE ROWLETT CITY CHARTER . ALL RIGHT . SO, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS , THE PREVIOUS FOUR MAYORS, MAYOR JOHNSON, MAYOR HARPER, AND MAYOR BASSON RESIGNED THEIR POSITIONS BEFORE THEIR SUCCESSORS WERE QUALIFIED. THIS PATTERN OF EARLY DEPARTURE ACTUALLY HAVING TO VIOLATE THE WHOLE PROVISION OUTLINED IN ARTICLE 16, SECTION 17 OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION, WHICH MANDATES ALL OFFICERS, WHETHER ELECTED OR APPOINTED, MUST CONTINUE PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES OF OFFICE UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE PROPERLY QUALIFIED. WHAT THIS ACTION DOES TONIGHT ENSURES THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION, AND OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE . SO, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING . WITH THAT , I WILL GO AHEAD AND ASK FOR A MOTION .I SEE A MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS , HIT RTS AND STATE YOUR MOTION.
>> IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 3.092 OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT HOMELAND CHARTER, I MOVE THAT WE REMOVE MAYOR BLAKE MARGOLIS FROM CITY MAYOR AND THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR BE DECLARED
VACANT. >> THANK YOU, AND I SEE A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP.
ANY DISCUSSION? I DON'T KNOW WHO I CLICKED, THERE WERE NAMES THAT POPPED UP AND WENT AWAY. I
THINK RECOGNIZE RIGHT NOW IS COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. I WANT TO PREFACE MY COMMENTS BY SAYING, I REALLY WISH YOU ALL THE BEST . I KNOW YOU LOVE THIS CITY , AND I KNOW YOU WILL DO WELL IN YOUR ENDEAVORS , HOWEVER, I BELIEVE WE ARE NOT USING THE LANGUAGE IN THE CHARTER AS IT IS INTENDED . THAT DOES NOT MEAN I WILL NOT VOTE FOR IT. I DID CONSULT WITH CITY ATTORNEY, AND SHE GAVE ME GOOD ADVICE. DO NOT TELL ME HOW TO VOTE , BUT SHE GAVE ME WHAT THE STATUTORY RULES WERE . I KNOW WE ARE FOLLOWING STATE LAW ON THIS, BUT, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE CHARTER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE OF THE CHARTER, THE LANGUAGE TO ME IS MORE PUNITIVE . SO, WHAT WE ARE DOING, I BELIEVE , IS KIND OF COUNTER TO WHAT THE INTENT WAS OF THE CHARTER. AGAIN, PERSONALLY, I DID NOT WANT TO HOLD THAT AGAINST YOU , BUT I JUST FELT LIKE , SINCE I REALLY AM COMPELLED, BECAUSE IT IS A
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STATUTORY RULE TO VOTE FOR THE LANGUAGE SAYS, THE COUNCIL SHALL, I WILL VOTE YES .HOWEVER, I AM OPPOSED TO USING THE CHARTER IN SUCH A FASHION . THANK YOU.
>> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SHINDER. >> I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER SHINDER. THIS IS A LOOPHOLE , THIS IS TO CIRCUMVENT THE STATE CONSTITUTION, THE PROVISION OF STATE CONSTITUTION. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER AN OFFICER WHO IS REMOVED IS STILL SUBJECT TO HOLDOVER PROVISION. THE CAT COURT CASES, INCLUDING WILLMAN VERSUS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, HELD THAT THE RULE THAT WHEN A PERSON IS REMOVED FROM OFFICE, HE DOES NOT CONTINUE TO SERVE UNDER ARTICLE 16, SECTION 17 OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION. WHEN I SAY, IT IS A LEGAL LOOPHOLE , I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, IT IS LEGAL . I HAVE HAD A LOT OF LOW BACK FROM CITIZENS WHO HAVE CALLED ME AND SAID, HOW IS THIS LEGAL? IT IS LEGAL AND IT IS A LOOPHOLE. I ALSO CONSULTED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND GOT THE SAME ADVICE, OUR CHARTER SAYS , WHEN AN OFFICER, OR MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL FAILS TO ATTEND THREE CONSECUTIVE MEETINGS OF CITY COUNCIL WITH A REGULAR MEETING OR SPECIAL WITHOUT BEING EXCUSED BY CITY COUNCIL, THAT PERSON SHALL BE REMOVED, OR THEIR OFFICE SHALL BE VACATED BY MAJORITY VOTE OF ALL REMAINING MEMBERS. SO, I WILL VOTE YES, BECAUSE I AM COMPELLED TO VOTE YES BY THE LAW . THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LAKE . I THINK BLAKE WILL BE GOOD AT THIS JOB , BUT I ALSO DON'T LIKE USING LOOPHOLES THIS WAY. I KNOW THAT MANY CITIES DO HAVE PROVISIONS THAT PREVENT A CITY COUNCILMEMBER FROM BEING EMPLOYED BY THE CITY FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS, WHATEVER. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT. TO ALL THOSE OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE , OR WATCHING THIS TO FEEL LIKE WE ARE DOING SOMETHING UNTOWARD UP HERE, WE ARE NOT . WE ARE DOING WHAT WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO DO. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP. >> YEAH, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBER BRITTON, AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM -- WHAT I WANT TO DO IS REALLY TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK BLAKE FOR HIS SERVICE, FOR ALL THEIR YEARS HE HAS DONE WITH THE CITY. YOU CAN'T TALK TO ANYBODY IN THE CITY THAT DOESN'T APPRECIATE WHAT BLAKE HAS DONE FOR A LOT OF YEARS. I ALWAYS SORT OF LAUGHED ABOUT IT, BEING SUCH A YOUNG GUY TO HAVE THE RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND DUTY , AND SERVICE TO THE CITY IS SOMETHING TO REALLY BE PROUD OF. I THINK CITIZENS OF ROWLETT SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHAT MAYOR MARGOLIS HAS ACCOMPLISHED IN ALL OF HIS TIME OF SERVICE WITH THE CITY. I WILL BE VOTING YES, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE PUBLICLY THAT I SPOKE OUT AND THANKED THE MAYOR FOR SERVICE AND EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE FOR THE CITY AND WISH HIM-- I THINK THE CITY OF ROWLETT IS ABSOLUTELY THE WINNER IN ALL OF THIS IN HAVING SOMEBODY WITH BLAKE'S KNOWLEDGE, HIS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE CITY, AND HIS EDUCATIONAL, AND ALL OF THE THINGS HE HAS DONE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO BE THE PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION. I UNDERSTAND THE LEGALITIES OF IT AND SOME OF THE OPTICS OF IT, I AM NOT UNAWARE OF THOSE. THIS JUST SEEMS TO ME TO TRUMP IT . WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM. I THINK WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS IN A MEETING , MY COMMENT WAS, IF YOU DID NOT KNOW WHO HE WAS AND YOU ARE HIRING FOR THIS POSITION AND HIS RESUME CAME ACROSS YOUR DESK YOU WOULD THROW ALL THE OTHER RESUMES IN THE WASTEBASKET AND SAY, THIS IS OUR GUY. THANK YOU , MAYOR MARGOLIS, FOR ALL OF YOUR SERVICE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
THE CONTINUED SERVICE WITH THE CITY. >> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER REAVES? >> YES, I JUST HAVE A PERSONAL COMMENT AS WELL FOR 2 PEOPLE, CITY MANAGER PAUL , AND FOR YOU, OUTGOING MAYOR MARGOLIS , I TRUST -- I THINK MAYOR CALL
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IS A PRO AND HAS A GOOD JUDGMENT. ONE OF THE RARITIES WE HAVE WHEN WE ARE PLAYERS IS, HIRING IS USUALLY GUESSING, FIRING IS ALWAYS KNOWING , BUT HIRING IS A GUEST . BASED ON HIS JUDGMENT AND PAST EXPERIENCE HE HAS HAD, HE HAS HAD WORKING KNOWLEDGE AND KNOWS YOU CAN DO THIS JOB . I WANT TO WISH YOU WELL AND IT IS NOT TOO OFTEN EMPLOYERS CAN HIRE SOMEONE WITH INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE FROM DAY ONE. FOR THAT, I THINK YOU WILL DO VERYWELL IN THIS JOB AND I JUST WANT TO WISH YOU WELL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I APPRECIATE THAT. ANYONE ELSE ? THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER BOWERS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SCHUPP TO APPROVE THE ITEM. IF THERE IS NO MORE DISCUSSION , WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL A VOTE. ALL RIGHT, AND THAT ITEM CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY .
I AM NO LONGER THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ROWLETT. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ACTING MAYOR .
>> SO, BLAKE , BEFORE YOU GO, THERE IS ONE MORE ITEM ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, THE PRESENTATION OF A PLAQUE, AND THERE WILL BE A RECEPTION FOLLOWING THIS PRESENTATION .
WE INVITE EVERYONE TO STICK AROUND, HAVE SOME SNACKS WITH US AND CELEBRATE BLAKE.
>> SO, FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING, IT IS A GENTLEMAN . TONIGHT, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, WE ARE PAUSING TO RECOMMEND RECOGNIZE NOW FORMER MAYOR MARGOLIS FOR HIS MANY YEARS TO THE CITY OF ROWLETT. MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD THE STORY AND SEE THE PHOTO OF A VERY YOUNG BLAKE, STANDING IN FRONT OF THE MAP OF THE CITY, ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME. THAT IMAGE WAS JUST BEGINNING OF A PATTERN OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP. FROM THERE, BLAKE BEGAN THE ROWLETT SCANNER PAGE, WHICH SERVED TO INFORM RESIDENTS OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN KEEPING RESIDENTS INFORMED DURING THE 2015 TORNADO. IN 2017, BLAKE CAME THE YOUNGEST MEMBER EVER ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WHERE HE SERVED FIVE YEARS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY RAN FOR MAYOR AND WAS ELECTED TO BE THE YOUNGEST MAYOR IN ROWLETT'S OVER SEVEN YEAR HISTORY SINCE ITS INCORPORATION . TO THAT END, LIKE WE RECOGNIZE YOU, NOT ONLY AS TIME SPENT AS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF HOURS YOU HAVE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE OF ROWLETT. WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO JOIN ME UP HERE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND PASSION FOR THE PEOPLE OF ROWLETT. YOU ARE WELCOME TO READ IT. THERE IS A LOT OF WORDS ON THERE BECAUSE IT IS MANY OF THE TITLES YOU HAVE HELD OVER THE YEARS. AGAIN, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU. I WOULD INVITE-- I KNOW WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ALREADY, BUT IF THERE IS ANY OTHERS, I WOULD INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO SUPPORT MAYOR MARGOLIS AND HIS LEGACY OF SERVICE HE HAS PROVIDED TO THE CITY, AND I WOULD ALSO ASK , IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS AS WELL. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? SORRY, YOU SNUCK UP ON ME. PLEASE .
>> I JUST HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND. I JUST WANT TO THANK BLAKE VERY MUCH . I GOT TO KNOW BLAKE WHEN WE WERE THE REBUILDING KIDS PLAYGROUND . I WAS PARKED EMPLOYEE . HE CAME AND HELPED ME WITH THE SOCIAL MEDIA TO HELP PEOPLE COME AND BUILD KIDS KINGDOM . I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT INSPIRATION AND A GREAT LEADER FOR THIS COUNSEL AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.
>> ALL RIGHT, AS I STAND HERE TONIGHT , FOR MY FINAL COUNCIL MEETING AS MAYOR, I CAN'T HELP BUT REFLECT ON THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY THAT HAS BROUGHT ME HERE. I HAVE TOLD THIS STORY BEFORE , MY JOURNEY BEGAN AT AROUND EIGHT YEARS OLD , RELATING TO MAYERS PARK . THIS PARK IS LOCATED NORTH OF PRINCETON ROAD . I GREW UP IN THIS AREA, NEXT TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS AN EMPTY FIELD WITH A BIG SIGN THAT READ FUTURE PARK. THIS SIGN HAD BEEN
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UP SINCE I WAS AROUND 3 YEARS OLD, AND IT WAS STARTING TO FADE AND LEAN . ONE DAY, AS WE WERE ON A DRIVE FROM THE BACK SEAT OF A PICKUP TRUCK, I ASKED MY PARENTS WHAT A TOWN HALL MEETING WAS? THERE WAS A SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION THAT SAID THIS, AND MY PARENTS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD GO AND ASK THE OFFICIALS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CITY . I IMMEDIATELY KNEW I WAS GOING TO THIS TOWN HALL MEETING TO ASK ABOUT MAYERS PARK . I PRACTICED MY SPEECH OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN FRONT OF MY PARENTS, USING A WATER BOTTLE AS A MICROPHONE, AND OF COURSE , MY PARENTS WERE VERY PROUD THAT I WAS TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY . MY DAD EVEN RECORDED ME PRACTICING MY SPEECH. I HAVE NEVER, NEVER SHOWED ANYONE THIS VIDEO , OKAY? MY MOM JUST SAW IT FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY. SO, NOW YOU GET TO WATCH IT.>> MY NAME IS BLAKE MARGOLIS , AND I LIVE AT FIELD , NEXT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD , AND I WAS SO EXCITED THAT WE DID NOT HAVE TO DRIVE , I COULD WALK THERE AND WALKED BACK.
>> SO, I CONTINUE TO PRACTICE MY SPEECH UNTIL THE NIGHT OF THE TOWN HALL AT OUR COMMUNITY CENTER, AND I TOLD MY PARENTS, I WANTED TO WEAR A SUIT AND TIE TO THE TOWNHALL MEETING. THE FIRST PERSON I MET AT THIS TOWNHALL WAS DREW BREES WRIST, AND YES, HE IS OUR CREATIVE SERVICES PRODUCER, ANDREW, IF YOU-- HE IS HERE . HE IS ACTUALLY OFFICIALLY THE PERSON I HAVE KNOWN FROM THE CITY LONGER THAN ANYONE ELSE . ANYWAYS , ONCE THAT TIME CAME FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO ASK MY QUESTION, I STOOD UP AND READ MY SPEECH TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND THE MAYOR ASKED ME TO COME UP ON THE MAP AND SHOW HIM WHERE THE PARK WAS , SO THE AUDIENCE COULD COME UP AND SHOW ON THE MAP WHERE MARS PARK WAS. THE MAYOR PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT WE WERE NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO AFFORD THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE PARK. AND I UNDERSTOOD . I WAS DISAPPOINTED , EVEN AT A YOUNG AGE, I UNDERSTOOD THERE WERE OTHER HIGHER PRIORITIES , BUT THAT BEING SAID , GOING TO THIS TOWNHALL IS WHAT LED ME HERE TODAY. I SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE THAT MY CALLING WAS TO SERVE . I WANTED TO DO WHAT THE COUNCIL DID , I WANTED TO HAVE AN IMPACT IN MY COMMUNITY. FAST-FORWARD TO WHEN I WAS 14 YEARS OLD , A FRIEND OF MINE THAT I MET THAT DURING THE TOWNHALL, MR. WAYNE BAXTER , GAVE ME A CALL AND ASKED IF I WOULD SERVE ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AS A JUNIOR ALTERNATE MEMBER . I JUMPED ON THAT OPPORTUNITY AND WAS SOON APPOINTED BY THE CITY THESE FORMATIVE YEARS I LEARNED- TO UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT . THIS EVENTUALLY GREW MY PASSION FOR SERVICE . SEVERAL OPENINGS OCCURRED ON THE CITY COUNCIL IN LATE 2017 . AFTER DISCUSSING THIS OPPORTUNITY AT LENGTH WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, I DECIDED THAT THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN IS IF I TRIED AND I LOST. WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AT JUST 18 YEARS OLD , I DID SO WITH A SIMPLE VISION, TO GIVE BACK TO
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THE COMMUNITY THAT RAISED ME, TO REPRESENT THE CITY I HAVE CALLED HOME MY ENTIRE LIFE. I AM PROUD TO SAY I WAS THE VERY FIRST PERSON THAT I EVER VOTED FOR. LITTLE DID I KNOW WHAT I WAS IN FOR ME THOUGH. IT IS THESE YEARS THAT I GOT TO DEVELOP VERY THICK SKIN , AS YOU CAN SEE HERE TONIGHT. AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT POLITICS CAN SUCK , BUT WHAT KEPT ME GOING WAS MY PASSION TO DRIVE CHANGE THAT OUR CITY DESERVED THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY PRIMARY FOCUS , FORGET ALL THE NOISE . WHEN I BEGAN MY SERVICE ON CITY COUNCIL, I SOON REALIZED THAT ROWLETT WAS A CITY IN NEED OF SIGNIFICANT TRANSFORMATION . FOR TOO LONG, OUR OPERATIONS HAD BEEN STUCK IN A VACUUM , GUIDED BY UPDATED PRACTICES , AND WHAT I COULD ONLY DESCRIBE AS THE GOOD OLD BOY GOVERNANCE . OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS BORROWING EQUIPMENT FROM NEIGHBORING CITIES, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PERPETUALLY UNDERSTAFFED, AND OUR 911 DISPATCH CENTER WAS RELYING ON OFF DUTY PERSONNEL JUST TO FUNCTION. OFF-DUTY POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS , NOT DISPATCHERS. PARKS WEREN'T BEING MAINTAINED, PUBLIC WORKS WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. FRANKLY, THERE WERE MOMENTS I HAD TO ASK MYSELF EARLY ON, AND OTHERS, IF THIS WAS EVEN NORMAL OR ACCEPTABLE. IT WAS NOT.THERE WERE MANY TIMES THAT I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING GHASTLY INTO BELIEVING THAT MEDIOCRITY WAS ALL ROWLETT GOVERNMENT TO ACHIEVE. DEEP DOWN, I KNEW OUR CITY DESERVED BETTER . IN 2021, I RECOGNIZED THAT IF NO ONE ELSE WAS WILLING TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE, I HAD TO BE THE ONE TO STICK MY NECK OUT. THAT REALIZATION LED ME TO RUN FOR MAYOR IN 2022, AND IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY EVER SINCE. I AM PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL TO THIS COMMUNITY FOR TRUSTING ME ENOUGH TO SERVE AS YOUR MAYOR OVER THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS, I HAVE WORKED WITH MISSION AND PURPOSE TO FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORM HOW ROWLETT OPERATES . THIS TRANSFORMATION WAS NOT EASY . IT REQUIRED TOUGH DECISIONS AND HARD WORK , NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FROM THIS ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL . TODAY, I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE NO LONGER THE CITY THAT WE WANT ONCE WERE. WE HAVE EMBRACED CHANGE . WHILE CHANGE IS NEVER EASY, IT IS ABSOLUTELY BEEN FOR THE BETTER. WE NOW HAVE LEADERSHIP THAT UNDERSTANDS THEIR CORE RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE THE PUBLIC WITH THEIR BEST EFFORT AND BEST ATTITUDE . THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF THIS TEAM , ROWLETT IS THRIVING AND ON TRACK TO EVEN GREATER THINGS . WE HAVE ACHIEVED OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES, SAVED TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY ACROSS THE BOARD. WE'VE BUILT A SAFER, STRONGER, AND MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY. FOR THOSE THAT REMAIN SKEPTICAL, I SIMPLY ASK FOR OBJECTIVITY . THIS IS JUST SOME OF THE, SOME OF WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, OR IS IN NEW PROGRESS UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP SO FAR. FIRST , THE COMBINATION OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PART MAINTENANCE TEAMS, ALLOWING FOR GREATER EFFICIENCIES IN OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF ASSETS . TWO, ESTABLISHMENT OF AN IN-HOUSE, CONCRETE CREW , WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONCRETE COUNTER REPLACEMENT ON MAJOR RESIDENTIAL STREETS, SIDEWALKS, ET CETERA.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS CREW HAS THE CAPABILITY OF DOING ENTIRE STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
STAY TUNED FOR THAT . THREE, ESTABLISHMENT OF AN IN-HOUSE ASPHALT REHABILITATION CREW.
THIS CREW HAS SAVED THE CITY , IN ONE PROJECT ALONE, AROUND $200,000, A SINGLE STREET , CASTLE DRIVE, THIS WAS COMPARED TO PREVIOUS QUOTES FROM PRIVATE CONTRACTORS, WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE FULL DEPTH RECLAMATION , AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT ON OUR OWN, CAN, SAVING $200,000 JUST ONE PROJECT. CREATION OF THE IN-HOUSE FOAM INJECTION CREW , INSTEAD OF DOING FOAM INJECTION ON A FEW THOROUGHFARES A YEAR, WE NOW HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF CONDUCTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FOAM INJECTION PROJECTS FOR STREETS THAT ARE THINKING, WHICH ALSO CREATE STANDING WATER AND FLOOD ISSUES. ROWLETT POLICE IS NOW ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAYING POLICE AGENCIES IN NORTH TEXAS , THANKS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR UNDERSTANDING
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THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING COMPETITIVE IN THIS MARKET. IN THE THREE-YEAR PRIOR PERIOD , WE LOST AROUND 40 EXPERIENCED PATROL OFFICERS . SAYING THIS WAS UNSUSTAINABLE WAS AN UNDERSTATEMENT , AND THEREFORE, I KNEW WE HAD TO DOUBLE DOWN IN OUR COMPETITIVENESS IN A NORTH TEXAS MARKET. ROWLETT PATROL STARTING PAVEMENT FROM $59,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, TO AROUND $82,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 . WITH OUR STEP PLAN GOING FROM 12 STEPS , TO JUST EIGHT STEPS . AS OF TODAY, WE CONTINUE TO REMAIN ABOVE MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS , RESULTING IN DECREASED RESPONSE TIMES TO PRIORITY ONE CALLS , AND A NEARLY 30% DECREASE IN VIOLENT CRIMES OVER THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE . THANK YOU TO OUR CHIEF OF POLICE AND TEAM FOR MAKING OUR CITY MORE SAFE . FOR DECADES , WE HAVE BEEN LIMITED TO CITIES ASSIGNED TO ROWLETT POPULATION OF 20,000 . TO PUT IT SIMPLY, WE ARE BEYOND OUR SPACE . ADDITIONALLY, OUR OLD FACILITIES CONTINUED TO COST MORE AND MORE EACH YEAR TO MAINTAIN. ROWLETT DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS. THIS COUNCIL DID SOMETHING THAT NO PRIOR COUNCIL WAS WILLING TO DO .THIS COUNCIL TOOK POLITICAL RISKS BY GIVING OUR CONSTITUENTS THE ABILITY TO VOTE ON BONDS THAT ALLOWED US TO BREAK GROUND ON OUR NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT , FIRE ADMINISTRATION, ANIMAL SHELTER, PARK , AND MUNICIPAL COMPLEX IN APRIL OF 2025. AND THERE IS SO , SO MUCH MORE, BUT IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE ANYBODY BROUGHT THEIR SLEEPING BAGS , SO I WILL MOVE ON. AS I CLOSE I MOVED TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST REGRET . THE CITY COUNCIL, OUR INCREDIBLE CITY STAFF, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY PARENTS , YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE TO GIVE MY ALL TO THE CITY FOR MANY YEARS . I LEAVE THE POSITION OF MAYOR WITH MY CORE GOALS ACCOMPLISHED , AND THAT FEELS INCREDIBLE. WHAT FEELS EVEN BETTER IS KNOWING THAT MY SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY IS NOT ENDING, IT IS JUST EVOLVING. SOON, I WILL STEP INTO A NEW ROLE AS ROWLETT COMMUNITY COORDINATE MANAGER , A POSITION I CAN FULLY UTILIZE THE SKILLS I HAVE GAINED FROM MY DEGREE IN NATIONAL SECURITY, AND HANDLING EXPERIENCE, SERVING THE CITY THROUGH NUMEROUS SIGNIFICANT EVENTS . EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN MY OTHER PASSION FOR MANY YEARS EVEN SINCE RUNNING THE ROWLETT SCANNER PAGE . GOING INTO THIS FIELD WAS MICHAEL AFTER FINISHED SERVING ON CITY COUNCIL. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE MY SERVICE TO THE CITY I CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT . FINALLY, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY BEST WISHES TO CITY COUNCIL AND ACTING MAYOR. I KNOW THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WELL, KEEPING PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD, ENSURING THAT ROWLETT REMAINS A FIT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE AND THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ROWLETT AND IN ME . TOGETHER, WE HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BE A PART OF IT.
>> ONCE AGAIN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING FOR TONIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING. AT THIS TIME, 8:24 P.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.