May 05, 2025 City Council Work Session

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:09]

>>> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TODAY IS MONDAY, MAY 5TH, 2025, CINCO DE MAYO. AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551. THIS MEETING MAY BE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY AGENDA ITEM HEREIN, RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RECONVENE, RECESS OR CALL EXECUTIVE SESSION OR ORDER OF

[3. CITIZENS INPUT]

OUR FIRST SPEAKER THIS EVENING WILL BE PAT.

AND STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME TO. SURE.

I'M GOING TO ALLOW PAT FIVE MINUTES.

SHE HAS SOME EXTENDED REMARKS TO MAKE, AND SHE DID BRING A PRESENTATION. UNLESS THERE'S ANY OBJECTION, WE'LL ALLOW HER FIVE MINUTES TO DELIVER HER REMARKS.

>> FIRST I'LL SAY, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK ICHLT ATTENDED --

>> PAT ROWLETT, TEXAS.

>> THANK YOU. I LEFT THEIR BLOOD BOILING BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE THE ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP WERE NOT REALLY ADDRESSED BUT THEY WERE KIND OF POSTPONED. THERE WAS TALK OF DOING A SURVEY. THERE WAS BASICALLY SORT OF A WAIT AND DO NOT MUCH OF ANYTHING PLAN AT THAT POINT, OTHER THAN MAYBE BY JUNE OR JULY, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE A PRICE FROM A SURVEY COMPANY THAT COULD DO A PROPER SURVEY BECAUSE THE LAST ONE ONLY GOT 300 RESPONSES, AND SO I DID NOT KNOW THAT ON MAY 1ST, YOU GUYS HAD ANOTHER MEETING WHERE REPUBLIC CAME BACK AND DID SOME OTHER PROPOSALS.

WHAT I DID READ IS ON TOMORROW NIGHT'S AGENDA THAT THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO GO TO TWICE A MONTH, EXCUSE ME, TO GO BACK TO ONCE A WEEK BUT REDUCE THE VOLUME FROM EIGHT CUBIC YARDS TO TWO CUBIC YARDS. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, THAT WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IF YOU DRIVE DOWN MY STREET RIGHT NOW, WESTWOOD CIRCLE IS MADE UP OF 12 HOUSES. WE EACH HAVE OVER AN ACRE, VERY LARGE, MATURE TREES. THE BIG REASON THAT TWO CUBIC YARDS DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE IS BECAUSE OF THOSE TREES. I CALL IT THE LEAFING ANDAND LATE, WELL, EARLY SPRING, WHENEVER THE NEW LEAVES COME IN AND IT PUSHES THE OLD ONES OUT, AND THEN IN LATE FALL, EARLY DECEMBER, YOU KNOW, IN THAT TIME FRAME, WE HAVE A FIRST FREEZE AND WE DROP THE LEAVES.

WE CAN GET 30 TO 60 BAGS OF LEAVES ON MY YARD ALONE.

IT'S NOT JUST MY YARD. I HAVE A RETIRED SOMEONE WITH TREES BIGGER THAN MINE, THEY DO NOT PICK THEM UP.

THEY BLOW AROUND AND LAND WHERE THEY LAND.

ONE COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE LAST MEETING COMMENTED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER USED, YOU KNOW, BULK PICKUP, NEVER USED ANYTHING FOR LEAF CLIPPINGS OR WHATEVER, ANDST AND THAT'S ALL GREAT.

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND THE CITY RANDOMLY, AND WATCHING YARD SERVICES AND WATCHING THEM BLOW THEIR CRAP TO THE STREETS TO GO INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM TO BE DEALT WITH THAT WAY, INSTEAD OF RAKING AND BAGGING AND HAVE IT PICKED UP.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY ON MY STREET.

IT'S AN OUTDATED STREET. IT HAS THE HUMPED STREET, WITH THESE WEIRD, LIKE A DITCH SORT OF SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF BLOWING MY LEAVES AND MY TWO NEIGHBORS' LEAVES OUT INTO THE STREET BECAUSE THEY WILL BLOW AROUND AND END UP IN MY YARD. WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO PICK THIS UP. DURING STORMS AND WIND, JUST THE SHEER VOLUME.

I BET MY NEIGHBOR NEXT TO ME HAS 35, 40 TREES, SHE HAS A GROVE OF PECAN TREES. THAT'S ONE OF THE YARDS.

ANOTHER HAS A GROVE OF OAK TREES, 20 TO 30 TREES, AND JUST RIGHT NOW WITH THE PROPOSED TWO CUBIC YARD VOLUME, EVERY PERSON ON OUR STREET RIGHT NOW THAT HAS STUFF PUT OUT EXCEEDS THAT. EVERY SINGLE ONE. THERE ARE FOUR OR FIVE HOUSES THAT EXCEED THAT TWO YARDS. I'M LOOKING AT NOT JUST THE SHORT-TERM BUT THE LONG-TERM.

I ASK THAT YOU TAKE THE TIME TO READ ALL THE, THERE'S A LOT OF RANDOM THINGS TO CONSIDER.

OWNER OCCUPANT VERSUS TENANT TAKES A LOT BETTER CARE OF THEIR YARD LIKE WE DO TO TRY AND KEEP OUR PROPERTY VALUES UP. I'M NOT COMPLAINING BECAUSE I HAVE A BIG YARD AND ALL OF THAT.

I LOVE MY YARD. BUT I SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED BECAUSE OF THAT. I GET THAT WE HAVE 29,000 HOMES, AND THERE'S NOT MANY OF THEM THAT HAVE THE SAME

[00:05:01]

IT IS WAY TOO MUCH TO CHARGE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM PAYING MY FAIR SHARE, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING THAT MARCH, APRIL TIME FRAME, AND THAT NOVEMBER, DECEMBER TIME FRAME, I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION TO ALLOW FOR THOSE TIMES WHEN WEHAVE THE INCREASED VOLUME, AND THE REST OF THE TIME, SURE, 2 YARDS IS FINE. I SEE MY TIME IS UP.

SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PAT.

>> ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TIM, IF YOU WILL STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE.

GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES.

>> TIM, ROWLETT, TEXAS. LIKE MY WIFE SAID, JUST ONE NEIGHBOR ALONE HAS MORE THAN TWO CUBIC YARDS, SHE HAS SIX BAGS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, PULLED OUT OF HER YARD YESTERDAY.

ANOTHER NEIGHBOR PULLED OUT OF HIS YARD, 10 BAGS OUT THERE.

HE'S PROBABLY PUSHING CLOSE TO THE FOUR TO FIVE, I MEAN, I'D ACTUALLY HAVE TO TAKE A MEASUREMENT, BUT LIKE IKZ, IT'S QUITE A FEW TRASH BAGS.

IF I WERE TO GO OUT FRONT AND JUST DO A LITTLE BIT OF TRIMMING ON MY TREES, JUST TRY TO CLEAN THEM UP TO REDO THE CANOPY RIGHT NOW, I WOULD EASILY SEE THE TWO CUBIC YARDS IS A THING. THERE'S A LOT OF HOUSES THAT HAVE THAT SITUATION. IT'S NOT JUST OUR BLOCK.

YOU CAN GO TO OTHER AREAS WHERE THEY HAVE QUITE A FEW TREES, IF YOU GO JUST DOWN BLOCK FROM US, I THINK IT'S CALLED UNIVERSITY, BACK IN THAT AREA, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S THE HOUSES WITH THE OLDER MATURE TREES, NOT THE NEWER HOUSES WITH LITTLE BITTY TREES. IT'S WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF TREES. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE HAVE A STORM COMING THROUGH, AND WE HAVE THAT DEBRIS TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

YOU KNOW, WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WHEN THE STORMS CAME THROUGH AT MEMORIAL DAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, POOR FCC GOT WAY BEHIND.

IT TOOK THEM EIGHT WEEKS TO GET TO MY STREET TO PICK UP THE STUFF WE HAD. THE REAL QUESTION BECOMES WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO STORE THIS STUFF? PEOPLE WITH SMALLER YARDS DON'T HAVE THE SPACE TO STORE IT. YOU HAVE TO HAUL IT OUT, HUL AUL IT BACK. PUT IT IN ONE SPOT AND LEAVE IT. THAT'S WHAT THE QUESTION TO ME IS, HOW DO WE SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, WHERE YOU WANT PEOPLE TO STORE IT IN A CERTAIN LOCATION.

WHAT IS THAT LOCATION, TOO? SO THAT'S MY TWO CENTS WORTH.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR.

APPRECIATE YOU.

[4A. Presentation of Annual Report from the Library Advisory Board.]

CITY COUNCIL WILL DELIBERATE ON AND RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON 4A, REPORT FROM THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD.

DO WE HAVE THE MEMBERS FROM THE LIBRARY BOARD AND DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY SERVICES HERE.

>> HELLO, I'M ERIN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD, DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY, AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS AND MORE SPECIFICALLY ASK US TO SPEAK TO AND THEN JUST SOME COMINGS AND GOINGS OF THE LIBRARY.

SO FIRST UP, INTRODUCTION OF THE BOARD, LAST YEAR OUR MEMBERS, WE HAD VICKY, KATIE, DEBRA, A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ARE ALSO FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.

OUR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE. ERIC, MYSELF, HEATHER, MARGARET, AND THIS YEAR, CHAIR A LOT OF THE SAME NAMES, LINDA, DEBRA, VICKY, ME, RACHEL, HEATHER, MARGARET, AND ELISE THIS YEAR. SO 2024/2025.

LAURA IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO THE PAST

FISCAL YEAR. >> THIS YEAR THE LIBRARY RECEIVED THE ACHIEVEMENT OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FOR THE 20TH YEAR.

A LIBRARY MUST DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE UNDER SERVED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDING INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE MARKETING, COLLABOATING WITH COMMUNITY GANIZATIONS, LITERACY SUPPORT FOR ALL AGES, PROVIDING CULTURAL, TOPICAL, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PROVIDING STAFF TRAINING ON ALL LEVELS. THE NUMBER OF PHYSICAL ITEMS THAT WE CHECKED OUT IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, SO IN '24, WE HAD LET'S SEE -- SORRY

[00:10:06]

THE LIBRARY STORY TIMES CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS AND A LITTLE SECRET ABOUT OUR STORY TIMES, THEY AREN'T JUST ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE KIDS.

STORY TYPES ARE LITTLE CLASSES TO SHOW PARENTS AND CARE GIVERS HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF READING AND GET CHILDREN TO RECOGNIZE LETTERS, WORDS AND CONCEPTS. BEYOND STORY TIME, THE LIBRARY ALSO HAS A 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN CHALLENGE OR A # 1KBK THE READING CHALLENGE PROVIDES PRIZES EVERY 200 BOOKS, LIKE A READING BUDDY, AND IT ENCOURAGES LITERACY AND PARENT/CHILD BONDING, AND THE CONCEPT IS IF YOU CAN GET YOUR KID TO READ A THOUSAND BOOKS OR HAVE A THOUSAND BOOKS READ TO THEM BEFORE KINDERGARTEN, THEY ARE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. WE HAVE A THRIVING PROGRAM FOR KIDS AFTER SCHOOL. WE HAVE S.T.E.A.M. SQUAD FOR THE OLDER KIDS, 9 TO 13-YEAR- OLDS AND THAT GROUP HAD A LEGO ROBOTICS TOURNAMENT EARLIER ON THIS YEAR, AND IN THESE PROGRAMS, KIDS EXPLORE MATH, SCIENCE AND ART CONCEPTS.

WE ALSO HAVE THE ELEMENTALS PROGRAM FOR AGES 5 TO 8.

FOR THE ELEMENTALS AND THE S.T.E.A.M. SQUAD, WE SEE A LOT OF KIDS WHO HAVE GROWN UP IN THE LIBRARY, GOING TO STORY TIMES, THEN ADVANCING THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS AND STUFF.

SO JUST LIKE THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE TRAINING GROUNDS FOR FUTURE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS ARE TRAINING GROUNDS FOR FUTURE ACTIVE CITIZENS.

THE LIBRARY PROGRAMS AREN'T JUST FOR KIDS.

WE'VE ALSO ADDED A COMPONENT TO OUR ESL AND GED PROGRAMS FOR JOB START CLASSES. WE HAVE TINKER TUESDAYS WHICH ARE KIND OF CRAFT PROGRAMS FOR THE ADULTS. DND GAME NIGHT, D AND D FOR SOME REASON HAS MADE THIS RESURGENCE.

WE'VE ALSO GOT BOOK CLUBS, A SENIOR BOOK CLUB, AND A SECOND SATURDAY BOOK CLUB. GED AND ESL CLASSES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE SOCIAL HOUR WHERE PEOPLE LEARNING ENGLISH HAVE A CHANCE TO PRACTICE THOSE SKILLS. WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO COMES OUT AND GIVES MEDICARE CLASSES SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THE LATEST WITH ALL OF THOSE PARTS, A, B, C, D, AND THEN WE JUST STARTED A YAK AND YARN, WHERE THERE'S KNITTING AND CROCHETING.

SUMMER READING, IT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROGRAMS. IT'S ALL ABOUT KEEPING THE KIDS AND GROWNUPS READING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

THIS PAST YEAR'S PROGRAM ENCOURAGED PARTICIPANTS TO EARN COINS BY READING. WE ALSO GOT A LITTLE BIT OF FINAL LITERACY IN THERE. THE MORE KIDS READ, THE MORE COINS THEY COULD EARN, AND THEY COULD TRADE THOSE COINS IN FOR PRIZES.

WE STARTED OUT STRONG WITH OUR KICKOFF PARTY.

950 PEOPLE CAME IN TO REGISTER, PICK UP THEIR SUMMER READING MATERIALS AND PLAY GAMES.

OUR ALL AGES PROGRAMS ON TUESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WERE THE MOST POPULAR. THE FAVORITE SUMMER READING PROGRAM ATTENDED WAS THE BUILD A BUDDY CRAFT. WE HAVE 170 KIDS AND 98 ADULTS ATTEND THIS PROGRAM. ALL TOLD ACROSS SUMMER READING, LIBRARY STAFF PUT ON 79 PROGRAMS WITH A TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF 4,730 PEOPLE.

THE PROGRAMS ALSO PROVIDE EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS. DURING THE SUPERHEROES FIRE AND POLICE GOT IN ON THE FUN, PLAYING WATER GAMES WITH KIDS ON THE GREEN SPACE ACROSS FROM THE LIBRARY, AND HAVING OUTDOOR PROGRAMS ALLOWS THE LIBRARY TO ACCOMMODATE THE MANY FAMILIES WHO ATTEND THE PROGRAMS. OUR SUPERHERO SUPER WAR PROGRAM WAS ATTENDED BY 71 KIDS AND 48 ADULTS. WE ALSO HAVE A LASER TAG PROGRAM, A MONSTER SOCCER PROGRAM, A DALLAS AQUARIUM AND ALL ABOUT ANIMALS PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. KIDS MADE FOOSBALL TABLES AND FAIRY HOUSES, SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PUT ON A WONDERFUL PROGRAM, CALLED ORCHESTRAS ARE INSTRUMENTAL. A FEW MORE PHOTOS FROM THE END OF SUMMER PARTY, INCLUDING GRAND PRIZE WINNERS.

SO WE HAD A TOTAL OF 2,059 PARTICIPANTS IN THE READING CHALLENGE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

6,930 SUMMER READING LOGS WERE TURNED IN, WHICH TRANSLATES TO ABOUT 16,215 HOURS OF READING.

[00:15:04]

OUR STORY TIME LIBRARIAN HAD THESE BOX, AND IT WAS A, WELL, WHY DON'T WE JUST KEEP THEM IN THE BACK FOR OURSELVES, WE NEED TO SHARE THESE WITH THE PUBLIC, SO WE BOUGHT A LITTLE BOOK SHELF FROM IKEA, CATALOGED THEM, AND NOW KIDS GET TO CHECK OUT REALLY BIG VERSIONS OF SOME STORY TIME BOOKS. WE STARTED THE YAK' N YARN KNITTING KNIT CLUB. WE ARE STILL LEARNING HOW FINE FREE HAS AFFECTED OUR CITIZENS AND CHECKOUTS AND LIBRARY VISITS. A FEW OF OUR STATISTICS, SHOWING YOU HOW MANY PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED FROM FISCAL '23 TO '24.

PHYSICAL CIRCULATION, AS YOU CAN SEE, HAS INCREASED, SO HAS DIGITAL CIRCULATION AND OUR VISITS.

NEW CARDS, THE NUMBER OF NEW CARDS WE HAVE ISSUED WAS SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

OUR ACTIVE BORROWERS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN COME IN RIGHT NOW AND CHECK OUT A LIBRARY CARD. THAT INCREASED.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE OVER 14,000, SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE LEVEL THAT WE WERE AT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING KIND OF SLID DOWN, SO NOW WE'RE BACK TO PRE- PANDEMIC NUMBERS.

SO NOW I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS BACK OVER TO OUR ADVISORY BOARD

CHAIR. >> ALL RIGHT.

SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE WORK WITH THE FRIENDS OF LIBRARY. THEY ARE AT OUR MEETINGS AND THEN WE CONTINUE THAT ENGAGEMENT IN CONVERSATION IN INSTANCES LIKE GOING TO LUNCH OR DINNER AND DISCUSSING FURTHER. THIS WAS AT BRICK AND BONES, AND IT WAS A DELIGHTFUL EVENING.

OTHER WAYS THAT THE BOARD INTERACTS WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE TREES ON MAIN STREET, WE ORCHESTRATED WITH THE HELP OF THE LIBRARY AND LIBRARIANS. THE HARRY POTTER TREE, WE HAVE ATTENDED THINGS LIKE THE LIBRARY CARD SIGN- UP MONTH, AND WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO VOLUNTEER AT THE GINGER BREAD MAKING, WHAT WAS THAT CALLED?

>> IT WAS THE GINGER BREAD HOUSE MAKING PROGRAM, AND HERE WE HAVE ONE OF OUR MEMBERS HELPING WITH SUMMER READING KICKOFF WHEN WE HAD OUR CARNIVAL DAYS.

>> YES. SO OPPORTUNITIES TO VOLUNTEER AND INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THEN ANOTHER THING WE AS A BOARD DO, WE VISIT OTHER LIBRARIES AROUND US. THIS ONE THE BOARD SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO SPEAK TO.

THIS IS THE FRISCO LIBRARY. IT IS HUGE, 158,000 SQUARE FEET.

BY COMPARISON, OUR LIBRARY IS 9,000 SQUARE FEET.

>> 12.

>> 12,000 SQUARE FEET.

>> A LITTLE SMALLER.

>> JUST A LITTLE. SO THE BOARD REALLY ENJOYED GOING TO THIS ONE. I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THIS ONE. AND THIS IS A REALLY IMPRESSIVE LIBRARY, AS YOU CAN SEE. LOTS OF STUFF GOING ON.

THIS IS BUILT IN AN OLD WAREHOUSE. THEY CONVERTED IT. AND IT WAS COMPLETED IN 2023, SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAD CALLED OUT WERE THE WAY THAT THEY LOGGED THE BOOKS.

>> THEY'VE GOT SELF- CHECKOUT, HOLOGRAPHIC COMPUTERS, THEY'VE GOT DRIVE- THROUGH SERVICE.

THEY'VE ALSO GOT THEIR 22 FOOT TALL, 42 FOOT LONG T-REX MODEL NAMED REXY.

>> AND I THINK ONE OF THE TAKEAWAYS WHEN I WAS HERE, MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WENT ON THIS TRIP, WHEN WE WERE HERE, ALL WE COULD THINK ABOUT IS IF WE WERE COLLEGE STUDENTS, THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE WE WANT TO BE TO DO ALL OF OUR STUDYING IN OUR WORKING HOURS. THEY HAD LITTLE PODS WHERE YOU COULD GO IN AND STUDY, FULL ROOMS SET UP THAT YOU AS A BUSINESS PERSON COULD GO IN AND CHECK OUT THESE ROOMS AND HAVE YOUR WHOLE MEETING THERE, WHICH IS PRETTY COOL.

THEY ALSO HAD A WHOLE SECTION SET UP FOR THE KIDS, AND SO WHILE WE WERE THERE, WE DID SEE A LOT OF FAMILIES IN THIS SECTION BRINGING THEIR KIDS SPECIFICALLY TO COME INTO THE AREA AND PLAY. I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT LAURA LEARNED TO CALL OUT WAS THAT THE NOISE, BECAUSE THIS WAS SO HUGE, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD THINK THE NOISE IS AN ISSUE, BUT THE WAY THEY COUNTER ACTED THAT WAS THROUGH SECTIONS, LIKE YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IT IN THE PICTURE.

THERE'S A WHOLE UPSTAIRS LEVEL DEVOTED TO VOICE SUPPRESSION. LAURA, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS LIBRARY?

>> SO THEY'VE GOT 16 STUDY ROOMS, AND FOUR CONFERENCE ROOMS THAT PEOPLE CAN CHECK OUT. ON THE SECOND FLOOR, THERE IS AN

[00:20:03]

THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY, THERE ARE THOSE LITTLE PODS THAT YOU SEE OVER ON THE RIGHT, AND THEY PROVIDE POWER FOR YOUR PHONES, COMPUTERS, AND ONCE YOU'RE IN THEM, THEY'RE NOT SOUNDPROOF, BUT IT REALLY DOES ABSORB THE SOUND FROM THE CONVERSATION OF THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO, AND YOU DON'T REALLY HEAR THE SOUND OUTSIDE IN THE LIBRARY. WHEN YOU FIRST WALK INTO THE BUILDING, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S REALLY TALL, IT IS KIND OF NOISY WHEN YOU FIRST WALK IN, AND MY INITIAL THOUGHT WAS, THIS IS A LIBRARY? BUT THEN ONCE YOU GET FURTHER INTO THE LIBRARY, IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY QUIET AND THERE ARE PLACES THAT IT'S SILENT. LET'S SEE.

SO THE BOARD JUST WANTED TO REMIND COUNCIL OF, OH, THERE'S BEEN RESEARCH IN THE PAST REGARDING FUTURE LIBRARY FACILITES. THE BOARD WANTED TO REMIND COUNCIL OF THAT DISCUSSION, AND I'M GOING TO JUST REFRESH EVERYBODY'S MEMORY ON THAT.

IN 2020, THE CITY CONDUCTED OR THEY CONDUCTED A PROCESS OF EVALUATING ITS FACILITIES.

AS PART OF THE PROCESS, ARCHITECT MAUREEN OF 720 DESIGNS WORKED THE LIBRARY STAFF TO DETERMINE THE NEEDS FOR A FUTURE LIBRARY FACILITY.

WHEN SHE INITIALLY WENT TO COUNCIL, IT WAS TO PROPOSE A LIBRARY FACILITY BASED ON FULL BUILD OUT OF ROWLETT, SHE PROPOSED BASED ON STAFF INTERVIEWS, SURVEYS, BENCHMARKS AND STANDARDS A FACILITY THAT WAS OVER 90,000 SQUARE FOOT. THAT CAME WITH A VERY LARGE PRICE TAG THAT COUNCIL WASN'T QUITE COMFORTABLE WITH, SO THEY ASKED HER TO PLEASE GO BACK, REASSESS, AND COULD SHE MAYBE DO ANOTHER PRESENTATION, MAYBE IN PHASES, MAYBE THERE'S A PHASE ONE WITH PLANS LATER TO HAVE A PHASE TWO. AND THEY WANTED IT TO BE BASED ON CURRENT ROWLETT POPULATION.

SO SHE CAME BACK WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF STANDARDS FOR AA LIBRARY THAT WAS 40,000 SQUARE FOOT, SO YOU CAN SEE KIND OF WHAT ELSE WAS RECOMMENDED IN THERE AS FAR AS STUDY ROOMS, AND SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO STUDY ROOMS OR TO SEATING OR WHATEVER. THERE'S ALSO SOME INFORMATION THE BOARD WANTED ME TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT THE TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION STANDARDS FOR WHAT THEY RECOMMEND ON LIBRARIES, AND THEN EACH YEAR, LIBRARIES TO GET ACCREDITED THEY HAVE TO PRODUCE A REPORT. AND PART OF THAT REPORT IS SQUARE FOOTAGE OR POPULATION. SO WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THE LIBRARIES THAT SUBMIT THESE REPORTS IN TEXAS, JUST STAND ALONE LIBRARIES, NOT BRANCHES AND STUFF, AND WE LOOKED AT THE ONES THAT WERE ROUGHLY, YOU KNOW, A CLOSE POPULATION TO OURS, AND THEN WE RANKED THEM ACCORDING TO SIZE SOME OF THEM ARE, OF COURSE, LARGER, 75,000 SQUARE FEET. BUT THEN YOU CAN SEE ROWLETT IS THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM WITH 12,000 SQUARE FEET, SO THAT'S WHERE WE STAND IN RANKING ACCORDING TO OUR POPULATION WITH OTHER LIBRARIES.

AND THE BOARD JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL WAS AWARE OF THAT.

>> THAT TAKES US TO THE FUTURE GOALS FOR THE BOARD.

SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO JUST CONTINUE DOING IS GOING AROUND IN THE COMMUNITIES, THE NEIGHBORING OMMUNITIES AND COMPARING LIBRARIES, GATHERING INFORMATION, TAKING NOTES, WHAT'S GOING ON BESIDE US. WE ALSO WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INSIGHT FOR THE LIBRARY POLICY UPDATES AS NEEDED. WE ALSO AS A BOARD, THIS IS KIND OF SOMETHING MORE RECENT ON OUR AGENDA. WE REALLY WANT TO EXPLORE WHAT THE BRAND IS AT THE LIBRARY, AND WHAT THAT MEANS, AND HOW WE GROW AWARENESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN LAURA WAS GOING THROUGH ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT THE LIBRARY DOES, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AT A FEW OF THESE EVENTS AND I HAVE NOW BEEN ON THE BOARD A COUPLE OF YEARS.

OUTSIDE OF MY IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORS, THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST WAY TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT'S A HUGE FUNCTION OF WHAT THE LIBRARY DOES IS ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY, AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO AS A BOARD IS REALLY EXAMINE HOW ARE WE TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY, IS THE COMMUNITY AWARE THAT WE'RE HERE, THAT ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS EXIST FOR THEM. SO ON AND SO FORTH.

[00:25:02]

THE BOARD WANTS TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE DO WANT TO BE A PART AS WE ARE EXPLORING HOW THIS NEW LIBRARY COMES TO BE. WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT, AND HAVE INPUT REGARDING THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THAT FACILITY, AND TO THAT END, WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER TO DISCUSS THAT FURTHER.

>> AND THE BOARD CHOSE SEPTEMBER BECAUSE IT'S LIBRARY SIGN-UP MONTH. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT TIME TO TALK MORE ABOUT LIBRARIES. SO THAT IS -- THAT IS THE PRESENTATION. DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> THANK YOU GUYS, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD

HERE TODAY? >> NANCY BURNS.

OH, WOW. WE ALSO HAVE MARGARET BIEL, LINDA MORGAN, AND VICKY STALKA.

NANCY IS PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS GROUP AS

WELL. >> THAT'S GREAT.

WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS A SHOUT OUT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU'RE HERE.

COUNCIL, WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE.

>> SO FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY HAD THE THINGS THAT YOU COULD CHECK

OUT. >> THEY DO. THERE'S A LOT OF LIBRARIES IN THE METRO PLEX GOING MORE TOWARDS THE LIBRARY OF THINGS, AND FRISCO IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE CAKE PANS, YOU KNOW, THE SPECIALTY CAKE PANS, YOUR KID LIKE HELLO KITTY ONE YEAR, YOU WANT TO MAKE A HELLO KITTY CAKE, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO NEED THAT CAKE PAN AGAIN, YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT FROM THE LIBRARY.

THEY HAVE BOOK CLUB KITS, CHECK OUT A WHOLE KIT, YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS CAN DO A BOOK CLUB, AND YOU HAVE ALL THE BOOKS THERE. I'M DRAWING A BLANK AS TO ALL KINDS OF THINGS, MORE THAN JUST BOOKS. MORE THAN JUST DVDS OR BOOKS.

THERE ARE LIBRARIES CHECKING OUT TOOLS, WHETHER IT'S GARDEN TOOLS OR POWER TOOLS OR SEWING MACHINES. THE MCKINNEY LIBRARY CHECKS OUT 3D PRINTERS SO THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN JUST BOOKS GETTING CHECKED OUT AT THESE AREAS LIBRARIES. AND CURRENTLY, THE LIBRARY OF THINGS, WE HAVE OUR WI- FI HOT SPOTS AND OUR S.T.E.A.M.

KITS FOR KIDS, WHICH ARE LITTLE KIDS, WHICH HAVE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, MATH, AND IT'S GAMES IN THERE ALONG WITH BOOKS TO KIND OF HIT HOME THE CONCEPTS THAT ARE IN THE BOOKS.

>> I THINK THAT'S SUCH A FANTASTIC IDEA.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DOING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FRIENDS OF THE ROWLETT LIBRARY. THEY JUST CELEBRATED THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF BEING AN ORGANIZATION.

SO THEY ACTUALLY WILL CELEBRATE 75 YEARS AS A CITY IN '27.

BUT WE HAVE A LIBRARY BEFORE WE HAVE A CITY, OR WE HAD FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.

>> THERE WAS A -- IT STARTED OUT AS A WOMEN'S GROUP.

THEY DECIDED THAT THE ROWLETT UNDER COUNTY JURISDICTION NEEDED A LIBRARY. THEY GOT A FRIENDS GROUP TOGETHER TO PETITION TO DALLAS COUNTY TO GET A LIBRARY HERE.

YEAH, THE LIBRARY CAME BEFORE THE

CITY. >> WOW.

THAT'S NEWS TO ME. THAT'S COOL.

>> THERE'S 7% INCREASE IN FOOT TRAFFIC, 14% INCREASE IN DIGITAL CHECKOUTS. WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO? THAT SEEMS PRETTY BIG INCREASE.

>> THE DIGITAL STUFF, I THINK IT IS PEOPLE ARE GOING AWAY SOMEWHAT FROM BOOKS. WE ALSO ADDED AN ADDITIONAL E- BOOK SERVICE, CLOUD LIBRARY. I THINK THAT HELPED PUSH SOME OF THE STUFF UP. AND JUST THE POPULARITY.

I'M SEEING MORE AND MORE SENIOR CITIZENS COME IN AND EMBRACE E-BOOKS. AND WHAT I SEE AT THE LIBRARY, THERE'S KIND OF TWO PARTS, YOU KNOW, WHEN KIDS ARE GROWING UP REALLY YOUNG, THEY COME IN THE LIBRARY.

WE DON'T SEE PEOPLE FOR A WHILE, WHEN THEY'RE BUSY, RAISING THEIR KIDS, OR, YOU KNOW, DONE RAISING THEIR KIDS, AND LIVING, AND WE SEE PEOPLE AGAIN WHEN THEY'RE RETIRED SKPRK WE'RE RETIRED, AND WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO YOU WOULD THINK WOULD SHY AWAY FROM E- BOOKS, YEAH, EMBRACE THEM. WE OFFER ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT WHERE YOU CAN COME IN WITH YOUR TABLET OR DEVICE, AND WE'LL GET YOU ALL SET UP WITH THAT, SHOW YOU HOW TO USE IT, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FINDING, A, THE AUDIO BOOKS THAT YOU LISTEN TO,

[00:30:01]

>> COOL. ANY BUSINESS WOULD BE DELIGHTED WITH THE 7% GROWTH OVER LAST YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS, THOSE ARE FANTASTIC

NUMBERS. >> THANK YOU.

>> ONE THING THAT REALLY STRUCK ME, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT YEAR, BUT WHAT REALLY STRUCK ME IN ALL THE PICTURES IS YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY PACKED.

I MEAN, I SEE IT. I'VE BEEN OVER THERE DURING SOME OF THESE EVENTS, AND IT'S JUST, I MEAN, IT IS PHYSICALLY, YOU CAN'T GET ANOTHER PERSON IN THERE. DO YOU RIGHT NOW TO DEAL WITH THIS, ARE WE LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN SIGN UP FOR A PROGRAM OR IS IT PRETTY MUCH YOU'LL TAKE EVERYBOY YOU CAN BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF

PEOPLE? >> THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO LIMIT, AND WE TRY TO DO TRAFFIC CONTROL ON THINGS. STORY TIMES, SINCE STORY TIMES HAVE THE LITTLE LITTLES, YOU KNOW, AND YOU DON'T WANT A REALLY TINY CHILD TO GET STEPPED ON OR ANYTHING, WE HAVE A TICKETING SYSTEM FOR OUR STORY TIMES. SO WE'VE GOT TWO STORY TIMES ON WEDNESDAYS, TWO STORY TIMES ON THURSDAYS, AND SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE TO TURN AWAY A FEW PARENTS AND THEY TYPICALLY WILL COME TO THE NEXT STORY TIME OR SOMETHING.

WE DO SOMETIMES HAVE TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY JUST BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO LIMIT THAT. WE TRY TO ALSO LOOK AT WHEN WE CAN OFFER ADDITIONAL STORY TIMES OR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS. SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, IT WAS MORE OR LESS A TICKETING SYSTEM OR WE WOULD HAVE PEOPLE IN WAVES. THIS WAVE CAN COME IN AND WORK ON THIS. NOW, THIS WAVE CAN COME IN AND WORK ON THIS. BUT WE DID HAVE SOME PEOPLE LIKE THE BUILD A BUDDY EVENT.

THERE WERE SOME PARENTS WHO WALKED IN AND IMMEDIATELY WENT NOPE, WE'RE NOT DOING THIS. AND THEY JUST, THEY LEFT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST TOO MANY PEOPLE, TOO MUCH GOING ON.

>> WELL, SORT OF THE, I GUESS, FOLLOW UP QUESTION ON THAT, I KNOW THIS IS WAY PREMATURE.

DON'T ANYBODY THROW ROCKS AT ME.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY RE- PURPOSING THE CURRENT POLICE STATION, COURT BUILDING FOR LIBRARY. I MEAN, THAT'S AT LEAST A DISCUSSION BEING HAD.

I BELIEVE IS THAT '22, '24. IT'S JUST RIGHT A LITTLE MORE THAN DOUBLE. I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY NOT RIGHT NOW. IT'S NOT 150,000 SQUARE FEET WITH THE DINOSAUR, BUT, YOU KNOW, IS, I MEAN, JUST I DON'T KNOW, I THINK THE QUESTION I'M TRYING TO ASK IS IF THAT IS WHAT COUNCIL COMES UP WITH, AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE BEST OPTION THAT WE HAVE AT THIS TIME AS A BOARD, AS HEAD LIBRARIAN, DOES THAT GET US, I DON'T WANT TO SAY BUY US TIME, BUT MAYBE THAT IS KIND OF WHAT I'M ASKING.

>> SO WE WOULD HAVE TO KIND OF LOOK AT, I GUESS, LET'S SEE --

>> I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR LIST, AND OVER 20,000 KIND OF PUTS US IN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER UP THAT

LIST. >> SORRY.

I WENT THE WRONG DIRECTION. BACKWARDS.

SO WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO KIND OF PULL APART ON THAT TO SEE WHAT PARTS OF IT WE COULD KIND OF COBBLE TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WITHOUT THE 45,000 WE WOULDN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DIRECT, TO HAVE AS MUCH SPACE DEVOTED TO CERTAIN THINGS. WE WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE, YOU KNOW, WHICH OX GETS GORED, YOU KNOW, SO TO SPEAK.

BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A STRATEGIC LIKE, OKAY, WE CAN DO THIS BUT WE CAN'T DO THIS.

AND IT WOULD JUST BE A MATTER OF WORKING WITH, I THINK, THE PUBLIC, THE ARCHITECT, THE ADVISORY BOARD ON HOW ALL OF THAT WORKS BEST, AND STAFF, YOU KNOW. AND IT WOULD JUST BE A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, WHICH DO WE THINK IS MORE IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, MEETING ROOMS, PLACES TO

SIT. >> YEAH, AND I KNOW, IT IS A, I MEAN, 45,000 SQUARE FEET DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A WHOLE LOT OF SPACE IN THE LIBRARY, SO I TOTALLY BUY THAT.

IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MEASURE THAT AGAINST THE REALITIES OF WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW SHORT OF WHAT I HOPEHOPE SOMEDAY HAPPENS WHERE WE BUILD A NICE, NEW LIBRARY. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S AT LEAST FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, NOT IN THE NEXT FIVE, SIX YEARS ANYWAY.

>> ONE OTHER CHALLENGE WITH A TWO-STORY BUILDING IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING LAID OUT LIKE THIS, YOU CAN LAY IT OUT HOWEVER YOU WANT.

WITH THE TWO STORIES, IT GETS A

[00:35:04]

>> PEOPLE ON BOTH LEVELS.

>> EXACTLY. BEING SUPERVISED AND

STUFF. >> YOU DID SAY ON THE MCKINNEY OR FRISCO LIBRARY, THAT WAS TWO

STORIES. >> IT IS TWO-STORY.

>> AND I DON'T KNOW, JUST NOT BEING A LIBRARIAN, IT WOULD SEEM LIKE MORE OF YOUR ACTIVITY-CENTERED TYPE OF THINGS, UPSTAIRS, THE NOISIER EVENTS UPSTAIRS SEPARATED FROM BELOW.

>> THEY HAVE IT OPPOSITE. THE FIRST FLOOR IS THE NOISY FLOOR. IT'S GOT THE KIDS STUFF.

IT'S GOT PEOPLE INTERACTING WITH THE CIRCULATION DESK AND EVERYTHING. BUT ONCE YOU GO UPSTAIRS, AND THE UPSTAIRS IS KIND OF LIKE AROUND THE PERIMETER.

THERE'S THE BIG OPEN SPACE IN THE MIDDLE, SO ONCE YOU GO UPSTAIRS, YOU KIND OF LEAVE THAT BEHIND. THERE'S THE ONE SECTION THAT'S JUST THE DEEP, QUIET STUDY, AND THEN THERE'S THE LITTLE PAWNS AND MORE STUDY ROOMS AND STUFF, SO IT SEEMS TO ME THE -- IT'S QUIETER ON THE SECOND FLOOR, AND THEY KIND OF SET IT UP TO WHERE THE SECOND FLOOR IS MORE ADULT ORIENTED.

>> OKAY. THEY ALSO HAVE A READING PORCH.

THEY HAD SOME CHAIRS THAT WERE -- THEY HAD A LOT OF MOVEMENT TO THEM, AND THEY QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THAT WAS A BAD IDEA BECAUSE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WAS ALL THE KIDS WENT TO THAT LITTLE READING PORCH AND PLAYED AROUND WITH THE CHAIRS WITH MOVEMENT, AND SUDDENLY IT WASN'T SO ADULT AND QUIET.

SO THEN THEY HAD TO RELOCATE THOSE CHAIRS TO MAKE IT MORE ADULT-LIKE.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> ERIN, WHAT DO WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LIBRARY TO HELP MAKE IT THE BEST THAT WE CAN MAKE IT?

>> PROBABLY FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE BOARD WOULD ANSWER THE SPACING, THE SIZE OF THE LIBRARY.

>> PROGRAMMATICALLY, YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE?

>> I THINK SO. I THINK THE PICTURES ARE A TESTAMENT TO HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY ARE, AND MORE SPACE. BRING MORE PEOPLE IN.

>> DO YOU THINK HOSTING MORE FREQUENT EVENTS OF WHAT WE DO TODAY WOULD HELP WITH THE SPACE ISSUE? IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE HAD SAY AN ADDITIONAL STORY TIME WHERE YOU COULD ACCOMMODATE MORE PEOPLE OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK INSTEAD OF MAYBE JUST DOING IT ONCE?

>> COULD THE STAFF SUPPORT THAT?

>> THAT WOULD BE THE QUESTION, I GUESS.

>> THERE WOULD BE STAFF SUPPORT, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER PROGRAM IN THE ROOM BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A JUGGLING ACT.

>> THAT'S THE ISSUE IS THERE'S ONLY SO MANY ACTIVITY ROOMS. YOU HAVE ONE LARGE ACTIVITY ROOM, A STUDY ROOM, AND THEN A SMALLER, LIKE, MEETING ROOM YOU CALL IT.

>> CONFERENCE ROOM. >> RIGHT. RIGHT. OKAY.

SECOND QUESTION TO THE BOARD, WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK WE CAN DO TO INCREASE THE USAGE OF THE LIBRARY, AND MAYBE IT'S THE SAME

ANSWER. >> I THINK COMMUNICATION.

YEAH, I DON'T THINK ENOUGH PEOPLE PERHAPS UNDERSTAND I DON'T WANT TO SAY THE VALUE OF THE LIBRARY BUT PERHAPS LIKE THE POTENTIAL OF THE LIBRARY AND THAT'S A COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE.

>> OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST COMMENT, MORE OF A COMMENT THAN ANYTHING IS YOUR REQUEST FOR SEPTEMBER TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON KIND OF FUTURE LIBRARY PLANS MIGHT BE A LITTLE PREMATURE.

>> DECEMBER.

>> DECEMBER? I KNOW IT'S NOT LIBRARY CARD SIGN- UP MONTH.

>> YOU SAID DECEMBER, DIDN'T

YOU? >> CORRECTED TO SEPTEMBER.

SORRY. >> OKAY.

SO WE'RE NOT PROPOSING DECEMBER. OKAY.

>> NOW WHY IS SEPTEMBER PREMATURE?

>> I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE AT THAT POINT YET BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MUNICIPAL COMPLEX, AND TRANSFER EVERYTHING.

>> WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU TODAY. % WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVOLVE -- WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVOLVE LIBRARY BOARD IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS WAS MENTIONED ABOUT INVOLVING MULTIPLE STAKE HOLDERS, BUT YOU ALL NEED TO BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION SO THAT WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONES THAT ARE VISITING THESE OTHER SITES, RIGHT, YOU'RE VISITING OTHER LIBRARIES AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY OFFER.

OR OBVIOUSLY IS IN THEIRTHEIR DAY-TO-DAY, AND AS A STAFF, UNDERSTANDS WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR AND REQUESTING, SO WE WANT EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

I JUST -- I DON'T WANT TO SET

[00:40:01]

REASONABLE. >> IS IT FAIR TO SAY, LAURA, THE BOARD WANTED TO THING BR BRING THIS UP AS AN ISSUE AND MAKE SURE IT WASN'T

FORGOTTEN. >> TOTALLY.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUPP WAS ON THAT.

WHICH WAS HELPFUL.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THEY WERE ANTSY ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE THE TIME LINE ON THIS IS KIND OF EXTENDED. THIS FACILITY THAT WE'RE AT, WE WERE ORIGINALLY PLANNING ON JUST FIVE YEARS.

AND THAT WAS 2018 THAT WE MOVED IN SO I THINK THEY WERE JUST A LITTLE LEERY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST KIND OF GOING TO BE PUT OFF AND PUT OFF AND PUT OFF, AND NOT GIVEN AS MUCH FOCUS AS THE BOARD WANTED IT TO HAVE.

>> I CERTAINLY DON'T SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY AROUND THIS TABLE, BUT I THINK I CAN ALMOST SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY WHEN I SAY WE DON'T WANT TO BE LEASING OUR LIBRARY IN PERPETUITY. WE WANT TO HAVE OUR OWN BUILDING THAT WE OCCUPY AND OWN AND IT BELONGS TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT CAN BE USED IN THAT WAY.

>> I ALSO THINK A LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE WAS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE POLICE STATION BEING THE LIBRARY, THAT WAS NEVER ANYTHING THAT I HAD REALLY HEARD ABOUT. I MEAN, I READ ABOUT IT IN THE AGENDA FOR THAT DAY. BUT I THINK THAT THE LIBRARY BOARD MAY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT OFF GUARD ABOUT, WELL, THE POLICE STATION, I'VE NEVER EVEN SEEN THE POLICE STATION. I DO THINK THAT THAT WAS -- THAT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TOO.

THEY HAVE TALKED AND ASKED, WELL, CAN WE TOUR THE POLICE STATION SO WE CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND MAYBE GET AN IDEA ABOUT THAT KIND OF STUFF.

BUT WE'LL --

>> THAT'S TOTALLY FAIR.

>> LET ME ADDRESS THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND NONE OF US ADMINISTRATIVELY HAVE EVER SET THAT IN STONE. I GET IT.

IF THEY WERE TAKEN OFF GUARD, THAT WAS REALLY GIVEN AS A SUGGESTION IN THE MIDST OF A CONVERSATION AND IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GAINED A LIFE OF ITS OWN, THAT CERTAINLY WHEN WE PRESENTED THAT IN THE CONVERSATION IN THE CONTEXT OF DISCUSSING MUNICIPAL COMPLEX, IT WAS HEY, WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE LIBRARY, IN FACT, AT ONE POINT, THE CONVERSATION WAS IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THE LIBRARY INTO THE COMPLEX. OKAY, WELL, WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY ENGAGED THE ARCHITECT AND WERE BLOWN AWAY.

THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BY THE NEW CONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT MADE IT COMPLETELY UNFEASIBLE.

TO DO THAT, WE SAID, HEY, HERE'S COUNCIL IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. IT WASN'T A MATTER OF SKIPPING OVER THE LIBRARY BOARD, SIMPLY, LET'S THROW AN IDEA OUT HERE, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THE NEED.

TWO IN THE FUTURE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE TO RESOLVE THIS LARGER ISSUE NOW. WE COME BACK TO THIS AND MAYBE THIS IDEA WORKS. MAYBE IT DOESN'T.

IT WASN'T A MATTER OF, OKAY, LET'S DO THIS AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

IT WAS SIMPLY AN IDEA SO THAT ALL OF THE STAKE HOLDERS WOULD KNOW, WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THE LIBRARY SPACE NEEDS THAT HAVE LONG SINCE OBVIOUSLY BEEN

IGNORED. >> I REMEMBER THIS AS A HIGH LEVEL ITEM.

>> IT WAS.

>> ECONOMICALLY IT MADE A LOT OF SENSUOUS FOR LAURA AND EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD, WHAT I DO RECOGNIZE IS IT'S SMALL.

I MEAN, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DOUBLING WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, THE QUESTION AT SOME POINT IS GOING TO BECOME IS THAT, YOU KNOW, OH, WE JUST BARELY POSTPONING.

THOSE ARE QUESTIONS, SO -- BUT IT IS, THE FACT THAT WE OWN THE BUILDING, THE FACT THAT IF NOBODY OCCUPIES IT, WE STILL OWN THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S A LOT OF THAT THAT GOES ON TO IT. SO, YEAH, BUT, AGAIN, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE LIBRARY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MUCH NICER LIBRARY AND A STAND ALONE LIBRARY, AND A DINOSAUR IN THE LOBBY.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHEN WE TALKED TO THE BOARD NEXT, WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE PLANNING AND TIME LINE COMES INTO PLAY WITH THE

NEW BUILDING. >> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION ON JUST SPACE USAGE, KIND OF GOING FORWARD, ONCE WE GET A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD WITH A MUNICIPAL COMPLEX. AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE A TIME LINE ON THAT. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION

ABOUT. >> THERE'S NO TIME LINE ON THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX?

>> THERE IS A TIME LINE. WE'RE CONFLATING ISSUES.

THERE'S THE LARGER COMPLEX THAT NEVER CONTEMPLATED THE LIBRARY.

WE OPENED THAT CONVERSATION UP. I DON'T WANT THIS TO GET LOST IN THE DIALOGUE. WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED. IF WE JUMP THE LINE, SO TO SPEAK, AND FORCE THIS CONVERSATION, YOU'RE GOING TO THROW A KINK IN IT. HERE'S WHAT I MEAN.

SO COMING BACK, WE ARE IN A PLACE WITH THE MUNICIPAL

[00:45:01]

WE'RE ALMOST AT WHAT'S CALLED DESIGN DOCUMENT. SO WE'RE NEGOTIATING SQUARE FOOTAGES, DESIGN ELEMENTS, AND ALL OF OSE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO BRING TO COUNCIL IN WE HOPE NO MORE THAN A MONTH. WE'RE REFINING A LOT OF STUFF TO BRING TO COUNCIL REFINING DETAILS. THE ENTIRETY OF THE REMAINDER OF THE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED. WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT MOVING, AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE MONTHS BEFORE WE START TO TRY TO BITE THE LARGER CONVERSATION, AND WHEREVER THAT DUST SETTLES, I DON'T KNOW. AND THEN COME BACK AT SOME POINT WHEN THAT PROJECT HAS GAINED MOMENTUM, WHERE IT'S SELF- PROPET WAITING, WE CAN COME BACK NOW, THERE'S LARGER RECREATIONAL NEEDS THAT HAVE TO BE ENGAGED IN THE SAME CONVERSATION OF THESE OTHER NEEDS. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT FACILITY NEEDS. THAT CONVERATION IS SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR AWAY. AND THAT'S THE REALITY.

YOU KNOW, TO DO JUSTICE TO IT, ANYWAY.

>> UNDERSTOOD.

>> DOES THAT HELP?

>> IT DOES.

>> OKAY. AND AGAIN, TOTALLY WANT TO HAVE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD BE A PART OF THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M ASKING BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY POLICY DRIVEN QUESTIONS.

WHAT DO WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO DO TO MAKE THE LIBRARY BETTER. IF IT'S A SPACE ISSUE, THAT'S WHERE THE BUSINESS NEEDS TO BE, HOW DO WE INCREASE USAGE COMMUNICATION, FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, WE CAN HELP GUIDE SOME OF THAT.

WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB AROUND THIS TABLE OF SHARING OUR CIRCLES OF INFLUENCE TOO, THINGS GOING ON AT THE LIBRARY, SHOWING UP, PARTICIPATING, RIGHT.

THAT'S PART OF IT. ANY MORE QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALSO TO STICK AROUND. OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS

[4B. Discuss update on the Executive Order affecting the Institute of Museum and Library Services.]

>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO 4 B, DISCUSS UPDATE AFFECTING THE INSTITUTE OF LIBRARY SERVICES AND LAURA YOU'RE PROVIDING THIS

UPDATE. >> IT'S ME.

I DON'T HAVE A SLIDE PRESENTATION BECAUSE A LOT OF THE STUFF WAS VERY FLUID, AND SO I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE SLIDES OUTDATED OR INACCURATE INFORMATION. SO WHAT HAPPENED ON MARCH 14TH.

AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS ISSUED DECLARING THAT CERTAIN GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES SHALL BE ELIMINATED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT. AND THAT THE FEDERAL BUDGET AGENCY SHALL REJECT ANY BUDGET REQUESTS FROM THESE ENTITIES. THE MUSEUM, THE INSTITUTE FOR MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SCIENCE OR SERVICES.

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS IMLS WAS ONE OF THE SEVEN ENTITIES NAMED IN THIS REDUCTION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RESULTED IN IMLS STAFF BEING PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.

THE GRANTS THAT THEY ISSUE BEING TERMINATED AND THE IMLS BOARD MEMBERS BEING DISMISSED. SO YOU'RE PROBABLY THINK, LAURA, WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS, WE DON'T GET FEDERAL FUNDING. OH, BUT YES WE DO.

SO THERE'S THE FEDERAL IMLS AND THEN THERE'STHERE'S STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS TISLAT. THEY RECEIVE NEARLY $11 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS ANNUALLY. THEY DISTRIBUTE THESE FUNDS TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES. ACADEMIC LIBRARIES, AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES. WE RECEIVE MONEY FROM THEM IN FOUR DIFFERENT WAYS, THROUGH GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, THROUGH OUR INTERLIBRARY LOAN PROGRAM, OUR TECH SHARE DATABASES AND SUMMER READING PROGRAM MATERIALS. WE ARE CURRENTLY SPENDING DOWN TWO GRANTS, AND A SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANT FOR $24,000 CREATING A NEW JUMP START PROGRAM TO CONNECT PATRONS AND ESPECIALLY OUR GED AND ESL STUDENTS WITH SKILLS TO SEARCH FOR JOBS, FIND THE JOB, INTERVIEW THE JOBS. WHEN THIS INITIALLY HAPPENED, TISLAT TOLD US, HEY, WE KNOW YOU HAVE CONTRACTS WITH US, BUT STOP SPENDING. STOP SPENDING ANYTHING ON THESE GRANTS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN REIMBURSE YOU.

SO WE HAVEN'T QUITE STARTED WITH THE SUMMER READING. WE'RE SCHEDULING THE PERFORMERS. THE SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANT, WE HAD PURCHASED $20,000 IN LAPTOPS. PHIL AND I WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO COVER THAT IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET. LAST WEEK, WE GOT GOOD NEWS FROM THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO HONOR OUR TWO GRANTS THAT WE HAVE.

WE ARE VERY GLAD TO SAY THAT OUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR IS GOOD. THEY'RE NOT SHORTING US ON THINGS BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT THERE ARE FUTURE THINGS WE'RE NOT SURE ABOUT. OUR INTERLIBRARY LOAN PROGRAM, THAT IS ONE OF THE STATE'S MOST POPULAR BORROWING PROGRAMS

[00:50:01]

WE BORROW MATERIALS FROM OTHER LIBRARIES AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED TO THE ROWLETT LIBRARIES.

IT'S GREAT FOR HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS.

PEOPLE MAY BE WANTING TO RESEARCH A DISEASE THAT SOMEONE IN THEIR FAMILY HAS.

WE'RE A POPULAR MATERIALS LIBRARY.

SO WE HAVE THE LATEST, THE GREATEST, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE REALLY IN- DEPTH THINGS ON SCHOLARLY THINGS. YOU HAVE WRITERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. THEY BORROW THINGS, CRAZY SUBJECTS OF THINGS, AND THEY WRITE ARTICLES, BOOKS ON THOSE SUBJECTS. YOUR SENIORS AND STUFF. A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THE INTERLIBRARY LOAN PROGRAM SO THE SOFTWARE FOR THAT IS PROVIDED BY THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY. PATRON STAFF ENTER IN. WE'RE LOOKING FOR THIS BOOK.

AND THEN IT GOES OUT, A LIBRARY WHO HAS THAT BOOK SAYS, YES, I WILL SUPPLY THAT BOOK.

IT GETS SHIPPED TO US THROUGH A COURIER SERVICE.

THE COURIER SERVICE IS SUBSIDIZED BY THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY. WE USE THE POST OFFICE SERVICE, WE DON'T ALWAYS GET RELIABLE RESULTS. WE CAN'T TRACK THINGS LIKE WE CAN WITH THE COURIER SERVICE, AND WITH THE COURIER SERVICE, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SHIPPING MATERIALS.

THEY PROVIDE US BAGS, PUT THE BOOKS AND MATERIAL IN THE BAG, IT GOES TO THE RIGHT LIBRARY. TECH SHARE DATABASES. SO WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, LEARNING TO PREP FOR LICENSING TESTS, STAR TESTS, HERITAGE QUESTS, PROVIDES GENEALOGY RESEARCH.

THERE'S LEGAL FORMS IN THE TECH SHARE DATABASE.

SUMMER READING MATERIALS, THE STATE PROVIDES READING LOGS, POSTERS, AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS FOR THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM.

SO THERE IS A BIT OF HOPE. WE RECEIVED WORD ON MAY 2ND THAT A NARROW TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER WAS ISSUED. A U.S. DISTRICT COURT WAS BLOCKING THE DISMANTLING OF THIS.

A JUDGE STOPPED SHORT OF PROVIDING ALL RELIEF SOUGHT BY PLAINTIFFS, AND HE ORDERED PLAINTIFFS AND DEFENDANTS TO SUBMIT A JOINT STAFF REPORT BY MAY 6TH SO THE CASE CAN PROCEED. SO WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE.

IMLS, NOBODY IS SURE IF WE WILL GET FUTURE FUNDING.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT GOING NOW WILL BE FUNDED AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, OUR COURIER SERVICE.

WE'RE ABLE TO DO THE INNERINNER LOANS.

WE CAN FINISH OUT OUR GRANTS, BUT IF THE IMLS IS NOT FUND IN THE FUTURE TO PASS GRANTS AND FUNDING THROUGH THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OFFER THE DATABASES OR THE INTERLIBRARY LOAN SERVICES AND WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR GRANTS AND DO KIND OF INNOVATIVETIVE INNOVATIVE THINGS. SO THESE GRANTS KIND OF ENABLE US TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIMENTAL STUFF WITHOUT EXPERIMENTING WITH CITY FUNDS. SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE AS ROBUST OF A SUMMER READING PROGRAM.

SO WE'RE HOPING FOR THE BEST, AND WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED AS TO WHAT ELSE HAPPENS.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THIS?

>> QUESTIONS?

>> YEAH, OF COURSE. ACTUAL CASH GRANTS, YOU'RE GETTING 10 AND 25. THAT'S 35,000 ACTUAL CASH GRANTS. THE OTHER ONES ARE MORE EXPENSES BEING PICKED UP. I MEAN, LIKE THE CURRENT STUFF, YOU BASICALLY PUT IN A BAG AND IT DISAPPEARS AND SOMEBODY ELSE PAYS FOR IT.

>> THE COURIER SERVICE, WE GET IT AT A DISCOUNT, AND WE ALSO GET A REIMBURSEMENT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE LEND OUT.

SO IF THE MONEY WASN'T THERE, WE WOULDN'T GET THE REIMBURSEMENT AND WE MAY NOT --

>> WHAT KIND OF MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE REIMBURSEMENT ALMOST COMPLETELY COVERS -- IT'S ABOUT ALMOST $2,000 FOR THE COURIER SERVICE AND THE REIMBURSEMENT IS ABOUT $1,800. IT ALMOST COMPLETELY COVERS THE COURIER SERVICE TO WHERE WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO FUND IT IN OUR BUDGET, AND IT COMPLETELY FUNDS THE SOFTWARE.

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LOG INTO THE

SOFTWARE. >> THAT $1,800 COVERS KIND OF ALL OF THOSE ANCILLARY SERVICES.

>> IT COVERS THE COURIER. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE INNER LIBRARY LOAN SOFTWARE IS BECAUSE THAT'S JUST

[00:55:02]

>> KIND OF WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON JUST GENERALLY IS IF THIS ALL DISAPPEARS, WHAT IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE ASK OR AT LEAST WHAT'S THE STARTING POINT. RIGHT NOW, BASICALLY BE 25 AND 2. WE'D BE LOOKING AT $27,000 OR ADD A LITTLE BIT.

CALL 30 GRAND FOR THOSE SERVICES IF WE HAD TO TAKE THEM IN- HOUSE AND PAY FOR THEM.

>> WITHOUT THE LENDING PROGRAM, THERE IS NO COURIER SERVICE NEEDED,

RIGHT. >> THOSE TWO GRANTS.

>> OKAY. WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY, JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET THOSE GRANTS, IT WOULDN'T MEAN THE NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR 35,000 EXTRA.

>> OKAY. WE JUST MAYBE WOULDN'T, LIKE THE 24,000 FOR THE JOB START PROGRAM, WE JUST WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OFFER SOMETHING NEAT

LIKE THAT. >> OKAY.

>> THE SUMMER READING, WE MIGHT ASK FOR MORE NEXT BUDGET.

>> WHAT SORT OF ASK CAN WE EXPECT, $25,000 IS A WHOLE LOT LESS THAN $100,000. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET SORT OF A SCALE OF MAGNITUDE.

>> I WOULD SAY FOR THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM, IF WE DID A BUDGET ASK INSTEAD OF GRANT FUNDS, IT WOULD BE ABOUT $10,000

MORE. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE INTERLIBRARY LOAN, WITHOUT HAVING A PROGRAM STATEWIDE I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WOULD WORK. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME LIBRARIES TALKING ABOUT MAKING THEIR OWN CONSORTIUMS AND STUFF, BUT THEY WOULD ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT A VALUABLE STATEWIDE RESOURCE.

>> OKAY.

>> HOW MANY BOOKS WITHIN THE JOB START PROGRAM, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA.

>> HOW MANY BOOKS IN THE JOB

START PROGRAM? >> IT'S VERY NEW.

I DON'T HAVE THE STATS IN FRONT OF ME.

I WANT TO SAY IT'S AROUND 20 PEOPLE SO FAR.

NOT AS MANY AS WE HAD HOPED. ONE OF THE THINGS AND WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF FIND THE WAY AROUND THIS.

YOU KNOW, WE GIVE A PROGRAM ON COME IN AND WE'LL HELP YOU BUILD YOUR ROUM, ESUME, AND WE GET A SMATTERING OF PEOPLE. OUT AT THE PUBLIC COMPUTERS, WE HAVE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME WORKING ON THEIR RESUMES, AND WE TRY TO GUIDE THEM TO THESE PROGRAMS, IT'S MORE OR LESS, I HAVE TO SUBMIT THIS TODAY.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR A PROGRAM. SO THERE'S A BIT OF TIMING THERE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE WORD OUT AND GET ADVERTISING ON. OKAY.

WELL, YOUR NEXT RESUME THAT YOU SUBMIT, COME TO OUR PROGRAM

FIRST. >> YEAH.

>> I IMAGINE THE PROGRAMS TAKE OVER TIME.

BUILDS ON ITS, IT MAKES SENSE.

>> THAT PROGRAM STARTED

RECENTLY. >> YES, JANUARY.

>> JANUARY. FIVE MINUTES A DAY, 20 PEOPLE.

>> AWESOME.

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD THAT GRANT, THAT $25,000 SUPPORT, HOW FAR WOULD THAT GO IN TERMS OF THAT?

>> WE PLAN ON CONTINUING THE JOB START PROGRAM AS LONG AS WE CAN BECAUSE THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE GETTING LIKE THE LAPTOPS AND THE RESUME GUIDE BOOKS AND STUFF, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO JUST BE DURING THE GRANT PROGRAM.

>> I SEE.

>>. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT UNTIL THOSE LAPTOPS ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL.

>> GOT IT.

GOT IT. >> AND WE'RE LL ALSO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE FOR OTHER THINGS. THEY'RE NOT JUST DEVOTED TO THE JOB START PROGRAM, WE CAN LET THE KIDS WHO DO THE LEGO ROBOTICS, THEY CAN ALSO UTILIZE THOSE.

>> COUNCIL, OTHER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU,

. >> SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY WHO ALWAYS CONTRIBUTES FAIR AMOUNT TO

[4C. Discuss Wet Zone Fees.]

BUT IT'S A GOOD CONTRIBUTION. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 4C, DISCUSS WET ZONE FEES. SHORT AND SWEET AGENDA ITEM.

BRITTNEY FAR.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

SO THIS IS A DISCUSSION IF WE DECIDE WE WANT TO MOVE IT FORWARD, WE CAN BRING IT BACK. CURRENTLY NO CHARGE TO BRING IN COOLERS TO WATER PARK. JUST POINT OF REFERENCE, THERE ARE NO ANTICIPATED ADMISSION OR RENTAL FEE INCREASES FOR WET ZONE THIS SEASON. BUT IF WE DO CREATE ANY TYPE OF

[01:00:03]

SO AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE WET ZONE HAS A CONCESSION STAND.

WE OFFER A VARIETY OF ITEMS, HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS, SODAS, SNACKS, THOSE ARE PROCURED BY A COUPLE VENDORS, PRIMARILY PEPSICO, BENNY KEITH, AND DIPPIN DOTS. AS WE STARTED WORK ON THE CONCESSION STAND, AND PUBLIC WORKS TOOK OVER, SUBSTANTIAL WORK NEEDED TO GO INTO THE CONCESSION STAND.

THIS IS A SMALL LIST OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE OVER THE LAST WEEKS.

PUTTING IN FOOD GRADE CEILING TILES.

ELECTRICAL OUTLETS TO GET THE FACILITY UP TO CODE.

SCRAPING AT A MINIMUM OF AN INCH OF GREASE OFF THE FACILITIES. I HAVE PICTURES WHICH WILL PROBABLY DO BETTER JUSTICE. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE WHEN WE TOOK OVER, THE INSIDE OF IT.

LUCKILY YOU CAN'T SMELL THIS PICTURE.

THIS IS THE FLOOR. YOU'LL NOTE THE GREEN AMOEBAS, GROWING IN THE FLOOR FROM THE STANDING WATER. THIS WAS THE SINK.

THAT HAS ALL BEEN REPLACED. THESE ARE PUBLIC WORKS GUYS HARD AT WORK. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY.

>> WOW. >> A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THIS.

A LOT OF WORK. A LOT OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS.

MOSTLY ON MY PART, AND QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.

>> HOPEFULLY NOT A LOT OF BLOOD.

>> NO, NO. NOT IN MY OPEN TOED SHOES, SIR.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. IT LOOKS LIKE A REAL CONCESSION STAND NOW. AND I BRING THIS ALL TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE EVEN BEFORE WE INVESTED THIS AMOUNT OF TIME, EFFORT AND ENERGY INTO THE CONCESSION STAND, IT WAS HEMORRHAGING MONEY. EACH YEAR WE SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN $40,000 ON THOSE VENDORS, BENNY KEITH, PEPSICO, DIPPIN DOTS TO PROCURE WHAT WE NEED TO SELL IN THE CONCESSION STAND. IN FY 22, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR COSTS, BY THE WAY, THIS IS WHAT WE SPEND ON PRODUCT. IN 2022, WE LOST OVER $4,000.

IN 2023, WE DID A BETTER YEAR, CAME BACK AT ABOUT $3,000. AND AS WE STARTED LOOKING AT WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING, WE CAME UP WITH TWO THINGS, ONE, THE MAINTENANCE AND OVERALL OPERATION COSTS PROVIDING THE FOODS THAT WE DO, AND TWO, SHOOTING OURSELVES IN OUR FOOT BY ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BRING IN THEIR OWN COOLERS FREE OF CHARGE. WE PROVIDE ALL OF THESE CONCESSIONS AND WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO BRING IN THEIR FOOD FOR FREE, SO THEY'RE GOING TO PREDOMINANTLY DO THAT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ENHANCING CONCESSION REVENUES BY INCREASING OPERATIONS. IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT ONE OF THE WINDOWS AT THE CONCESSION STAND USED TO OPERATE, WHICH WOULD CAUSE LONG LINES, LONG LEAD TIMES TO GET FOOD ITEMS. WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE BOTH CONCESSION WINDOWS THIS YEAR.

THAT REQUIRES SOME TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS, AN ADDITIONAL POINT OF SALE. WE DON'T HAVE KITCHEN PRINTERS.

THEY WOULD CALL BACK THE ORDERS TO PEOPLE.

IF YOU HAVE EVER WORKED IN A RESTAURANT, THAT'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO EXPEDITE FOOD, AND WE HAVE TO RELOCATE THE SECURITY CAMERA TO MAKE SURE THEY FOCUS ON BOTH OF THOSE POINT OF SALES FOR SECURITY REASONS.

SO SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL THINGS WE'RE LOOKING TO ENHANCE REVENUES, BUT I WANTED TO BRING BEFORE YOU A DISCUSSION ON PASSING A COOLER PASS POLICY. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSALING ING IS A FEE OF $10 PER COOLER PER DAY WITH A 48 QUART MAXIMUM. NO GLASS OR ALCOHOL, NO GRILLED OR RESTAURANT- PREPARED FOOD.

THE COOLER MUST BE ABLE TO CLOSE COMPLETELY, WHEN YOU PACK YOUR CARRY ON TO A FLIGHT, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ZIP THAT BAD BOY CLOSED AND YOU CAN ONLY BRING THE COOLER IN ONCE PER DAY. SO WHY COOLER FEE, IT SUPPORTS THE CONCESSION SUSTAINABILITY.

IT OFFSETS THE LACK OF REVENUE THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING BY PEOPLE BRINGING IN THEIR OWN FOOD.

IT HELPS RECOVER THE MINIMUM $15,000 INVESTMENT THAT WE JUST PUT IN TO UPGRADING THAT FACILITY.

IMPROVES OPERATIONAL FACILITIES. WE DON'T HAVE TO POLICE AS MUCH. REGIONAL STANDARDS, I HAVE A CHART ON THE NEXT PAGE. I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE DOING, BUT IT ALSO BALANCES GUEST AFFORDABILITY. $10 IS NOT OUTSIDE THE REALM OF FEASIBLE. WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS IT'S LESS THAN -- THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE METRO PLEX.

THESE ARE CITY- RUN, MUNICIPAL WATER PARKS OR AQUATIC FACILITIES. THE ONLY ONE I FOUND THAT DID NOT ALLOW COOLERS AT ALL WOULD BE EPIC WATERS IN

[01:05:01]

THEY'RE CLOSED FOR A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY COME BACK WITH. MOST OF THESE ARE FACILITIES THAT HAVE SIMILAR CONCESSION STANDS TO US. YOU CAN SEE THEY RANGE FROM $5 TO FREE. WHITE SETTLEMENT IS 39.99 PER COOLER. IT'S IN THE BALLPARK OF WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING, AND A WAY TO RECOUP MINIMALLY COSTS WE PUT INTO BRINGING THAT FACILITY UP TO STANDARD. JUST WANTED TO START THE CONVERSATION, AGAIN, THE DECISION WILL ULTIMATELY BE MADE BY COUNCIL BY A RESOLUTION, BUT WANTED TO GET THAT ON YOUR RADAR AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT I COULD FOR YOU.

WHILE I THINK ABOUT IT.

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. HAVING GONE MANY TIMES WITH MY FAMILY, WE OFTEN TAKE A COOLER, GIRL SCOUT PARTIES AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF. IT'S EXPECTED.

THAT'S WHAT YOU PAY. YOU BRING IN, YOU KNOW, A COOLER FULL OF DRINKS, AND JUICE BOXES AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF, AND DON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM THE PARK WHEN YOU DO THAT, SO I THINK TO HELP US KIND OF OFFSET THOSE COSTS, IT MAKES SENSE TO DO THAT. THE ONLY CAVEAT IS WE WOULD NOT WANT TO LIMIT THE ABILITY TO BRING IN CUPCAKES, CAKES, BIRTHDAY STUFF FOR PEOPLE HOSTING THOSE SORTS OF PARTIES THERE THAT THE CONCESSION DOESN'T OFFER.

>> WE PROVIDE THE CAKE FOR THE BIRTHDAY

PARTIES. >> EVEN BETER. THERE WE GO. THAT'S

PERFECT. >> I TAKE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT STANCE. I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE OVER SIZE. I HATE TO FORCE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG FAMILIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LOT TO HAVE TO GO BUY THEIR FOOD AT THE CONCESSION.

I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BRING IN SNACKS OR WHATEVER, SO.

>> TO YOUR POINT, THERE COULD BE A DIFFERENT ON SIZE, LITTLE ZIP BAG VERSUS A COOLER. I HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT QUESTION, ON THE SAME THING, JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

DO WE HAVE DATA ON THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS VERSUS NONRESIDENTS THAT VISIT THE PARK? WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT IDS.

>> WE DO ACTUALLY CHARGE RESIDENTS VERSUS NONRESIDENT, BUT --

>> DO WE HAVE THE DATA? I WAS THINKING THIS IS AN AMENITY FOR OUR CITY. IT'S TAXPAYER FUNDED TO A LARGE EXTENT.

SO I WOULD BE FINE WITH CHARGING A COOLER BUT MAYBE IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT, YOU HAVE A CHEAPER COOLER FEE THAN A NONRESIDENT. IF IT'S $10, MAYBE IT'S $15 OR NONRESIDENTS OR 5 FOR RESIDENTS, 10 FOR NONRESIDENTS. IT'S FOR US.

THE COMMUNITY CAN BE INVOLVED BUT IT WOULD BE A BENEFIT FOR OTHER RESIDENTS TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT CHEAPER FEE.

>> NOW IS THE WET ZONE STILL REQUIRED TO -- REQUIRED, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S THE 100% CORRECT WORD. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE 100% SUSTAINABLE WITH THEIR USING THE FEES.

>> THE ENTERPRISE WAS GOING TO

BE A -- >> IT'S NOT A TRUE ENTERPRISE FUND.

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IT'S NOT A LEGITIMATELY TRUE ENTERPRISE FUND. THAT WAS -- I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER TRACKED BACK A RESOLUTION.

IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DEVELOPED AS AN INTERNAL PREFERENCE AND JUST TOOK ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN TO BECOMING, WELL, WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANY SUCH COUNCIL RESOLUTION SO MAYBE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF SAID IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE SOME DEGREE OR ESTABLISH SOME DEGREE OF RECOUPING COSTS.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON. I DON'T THINK IT'S REMOTELY REALISTIC TO EXPECT 100% RECOVERY.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH MAINTENANCE COSTS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> MAINTENANCE AND IF YOU WERE DOING TRUE RECOVERY, YOU WOULD PUT IN CAPITAL COSTS MUCH LIKE WE DO WITHWITH THINGS WE INVEST IN. AGAIN, I CERTAINLY HAVEN'T ESTABLISHED THAT. THERE'S NO COUNCIL ACTION ESTABLISHING THAT. WE WANT TO RUN A GOOD BUSINESS AND WE'LL SEE WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE AND RECOVERY COST MODELS AFTER THAT.

>> AND THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. BECAUSE IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT WAS -- IT WAS YOU SHALL DO THIS.

AND IT'S GOOD TO NOTE THAT THERE IS NO FORCE OF ORDINANCE BEHIND THAT.

>> PART OF THIS CONVERSATION IS REALLY TO BRING IT TO ALL OF YOU BECAUSE ULTIMATELY YOU'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH THE DIRECTION WE

[01:10:01]

NONE OF THE 15,000 INCLUDES THE LABOR.

THIS WON'T RECOVER THE COST. IT'S ABOUT SAYING WHAT LEVEL OF CONCESSIONS DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE, RIGHT? WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION WE'RE GOING TO SET? IF WE'RE LOSING SO MUCH MONEY, WE CAN'T HIRE A LARGE ENOUGH STAFF OR THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO SUB SUBSIDIZE THAT STAFF, THAT'S THE POLICY- LEVEL QUESTIONS THAT THIS IS COMING FOR, YOU'LL ANSWER THAT FOR US AND WE'LL ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.

>> ARE WE INSPECTING BAGS AND/OR COOLERS AT THE GATE.

>> WE WOULD HAVE A STAFF MEMBER AS PART OF THE

ENTRY. >> I DON'T REMEMBER THAT BEING THE CASE IN THE PAST. SO THAT WOULD HELP SUPPLEMENT THAT COST AS WELL AND PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF SECURITY.

>> THAT'S MY POINT. WHAT LEVELS WILL WE OPERATE AT?

>> AND TO YOUR POINT, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO A COOLER FEE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FEE FOR RESIDENTS. THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO VALIDATE.

>> THEY DO THAT EVEN WHEN THEY PAY.

WE HAVE A RESIDENT AND NONRESIDENT

DAILY. >> WHAT ARE THE CURRENT FEES? I MEAN, IF YOU'RE ONE PARENT, TWO KIDS.

>> I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO ASK THAT.

I WROTE IT DOWN BEFORE I SAT DOWN.

WE ACTUALLY DO IT BY HEIGHT. SO IF YOU'RE OVER 48 INCHES A DAY PASS IS A $10, $12 IF YOU'RE A NONRESIDENT.

UNDER 48 INCHES, $9 IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT AND $11 IF YOU'RE A NONRESIDENT. IF YOU'RE A SENIOR, 60 OR OLDER, 8 FOR A RESIDENT, 10 FOR A NONRESIDENT. CHILDREN UNDER 2 ARE FREE.

AND THEN WE ALSO OFFER SEASON PASSES.

>> WHAT WOULD IT COST COUNCIL

MEMBER EACH. >> ACTUALLY DOUBLED IT.

MEETS THE SLIDE STANDARDS. SO AND THEN SEASON PASSES, 48 INCHES AND ABOVE IS 50 AND THEN 60, BETWEEN RESIDENT AND NONRESIDENT. UNDER 48 IS 40 ACROSS THE BOARD.

2 AND UNDER ARE FREE. AND YOU CAN DO A FOUR-PERSON SEASON PASS AT 45 BUCKS A PERSON.

>> ANY DATA, JUST BEST GUESS, HAND GRENADE NUMBER OF WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE USER WOULD HAVE SEASON PASSES?

>> THEY'RE ABYSMALLY LOW. THAT'S

ONE OF THE THINGS. >> HOW MANY USER PASSES, WE HAD THAT NUMBER.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO PULL IT OFF MY HEAD.

>> HOW MANY, NOT NECESSARILY

PERCENT. >> SO PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE BACKGROUND OF ALL OF THIS IS LIKE THIS IS ONE WAY TO INCREASE REVENUE BUT ULTIMATELY WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING FOOD.

WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING AN AWESOME WATER PARK. WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO INCREASE SEASON PASSES BY PROVIDING GREAT AMENITIES. THE NEW FEATURES, ALL THE KIND OF THINGS, EXTENDING THE HOURS OF THE PARK.

IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN THROUGH LABOR DAY ON THE WEEKENDS NOW.

MAKING SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF SO OUR RIDES ARE OPEN, AND WE'RE NOT CLOSED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH LIFE GUARDS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BRING PEOPLE BACK TO THE PARK, AND SAY IT'S ACTUALLY IN MY BEST INTEREST. I HAVE BEEN HERE FOUR TIMES THIS WEEK. I MIGHT AS WELL BUY A SEASON PASS. THAT'S WHAT OUR GOAL IS TO GET THOSE NUMBERS UP. THIS IS A WAY TO HELP RECOUP SOME OF WHAT WE SPENT.

>> IT'S A DIFFERENT BUSINESS

UNIT. >> IF YOU ARE GOING DOWN TO THE SEASON PASS ROAD, WHICH I AGREE, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE IDEAL. AND I THINK I SAW SOME -- YEAH, UP THERE, YEAH. YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU GET BOTH COOLER ENTRY AND ADMISSION ON YOUR SEASON PASS.

I LIKE THAT IDEA ALSO.

>> SO IN FAIRNESS TO US, WE NEED A SENSE OF DIRECTION, WHERE YOU WANT US TO GO WITH THIS, IF YOU WANT US TO TO GO ANYWHERE WITH IT. IF YOU DO, IF YOU THINK THERE'S A BUSINESS REASON TO GO FORWARD, IS THIS -- I THINK THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME GENERAL SENSE OF CONSENSUS, A DIFFERENT FEE BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND NONRESIDENTS, IS THAT FAIR. AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 10 FOR NONRESIDENTS, 5 FOR RESIDENTS, OR 15 FOR NONRESIDENTS, 10 FOR RESIDENTS. WHAT'S KIND OF OUR FEELING

THERE. >> LET'S DO 5 AND 10.

>> I LIKE 5 AND 10.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT AS

LOW AS POSSIBLE. >> 5 FOR RESIDENT, 10 FOR NONRESIDENTS. IS THAT --

>> DO YOU HAVE PROJECTIONS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHATWHAT DOLLARS TRYING TO RECOUP, IS THERE A NUMBER YOU'RE SORT OF TRYING TO HIT?

>> WE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE

SHARING. >> YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF LOOKING AT WHAT THE MARKET IS DOING, AND I SAID THIS IS A

[01:15:06]

MAYBE WE'RE HITTING THE MARK, MISSING IT, MAYBE IT'S TOO HIGH, TOO LOW.

WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT.

>> THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE WAY THE PARK WAS RAN.

THERE'S NO GOOD DATA. NO DATA ON HOW MANY COOLERS CAME IN.

NO CONSISTENT DATA ON HOW MANY VISITORS WE HAD, WHAT WE SOLD IN CONCESSIONS. ALL OF THAT IS A COMPLETELY WASH. WE NEED TO HIT THE RESET AND COLLECT DATA FROM TODAY BASED ON WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE AND ADJUST NEXT YEAR.

IF WE DETERMINE THE FEE IS INSUFFICIENT OR DOESN'T NEED TO HAPPEN AT ALL, WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AND GO THAT ROUTE.

ONE THING THIS DOESN'T TALK ABOUT IS IF ANY OF THESE PLACES HAVE A FEE TO PARK, WHICH IS ANOTHER FEE ON TOP OF THINGS TOO. I KNOW THAT THESE ARE ALL MUNICIPAL PARKS, AND MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE A COST THERE ANDAND WOULDN'T PROPOSE THAT WE HAVE A COST.

THE FACT THAT WE DON'T CHARGE A FEE

TO PARK. >> LOCKERS ARE FREE TOO.

THAT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE BASED ON WHAT THE

NUMBERS COME BACK. >> THESE ARE THINGS THAT MAKE THE ADMISSION PRICE THAT MUCH MORE PERSUASIVE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL OF THESE NICKEL AND DIME THINGS.

IT'S NOT CHEAP TO GO TO A WATER PARK, AND THEY HAVE MULTIPLE CONCESSION STANDS THAT YOU CAN GO TO THAT OFFER EVERYTHING FROM ALCOHOL TO CHURROS TO YOUR TYPICAL CONCESSION STAND FOOD. THEY ALSO HAVE A RETAIL COMPONENT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING, I WAS TALKING TO DAVID EARLIER, OFFERING THINGS FOR SALE LIKE POUCHES AROUND YOUR NECK OR A BOTTLE OF SUNSCREEN, OR BEACH TOWELS, ALL OF THAT STUFF WOULD BE FUN OR INTERESTING TO HAVE, AND IT'S PROBABLY NOT FOR TODAY.

>> WE HOPE TO DO IT MAYBE MID SEASON, YOU KNOW, TO THE POINT THAT YOU MADE. GOOD STUFF.

WE HAD SOME STOCK. A LOT OF IT WAS DAMAGED IN JUST BEING LEFT OUT LIKE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WHEN THE CLOSING HAPPENED. THERE WERE NO CLOSING PROCEDURES.

WE HAD HOT DOGS SITTING IN THE MACHINES, ET CETERA.

SO THAT KIND OF WAS THE LOWER PRIORITY FOR US. WE HOPE TO COME BACK MID SEASON AND REV UP THE RETAIL COMPONENT. ONE OTHER THING I'LL ASK OF YOU TO MAKE SURE WE GET CLEAR DIRECTION. THERE WAS A CONCEPT OF SEASON PASS. A COMPANION PASS FOR THE COOLERS. IS THAT KIND OF AN APPETITE FOR THAT.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT.

>> IF WE WERE TO PUT A PRICE ON THAT, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY 20 BUCKS, 30 BUCKS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF IN LINE WITH WE CHARGE --

>> THEY'RE CHARGING 60 FOR A SEASON, AND THEY'RE AT 5 A DAY FOR RESIDENTS, AND SO IF WE'RE TRACKING 5 FOR RESIDENTS, TOO, A SEASON PASS WOULD BE MAYBE IN LINE WITH WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY CHARGE FOR A DAY PASS VERSUS A SEASON PASS, IT'S 4 1/2 TO FIVE VISITS. IF YOU FIGURE YOU'RE GOING TO DO RESIDENTS AT $5, MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE $25. SO 5 VISITS AND THEN NONRESIDENT, $50 OR 45 OR SOMETHING ALONG THERE. FOUR TO FIVE VISITS TO MAKE APPLES TO APPLES. THAT'S ABOUT WHAT THE PATH BOILS DOWN TO. 4 1/2 TO FIVE VISITS.

>> JUST A QUESTION THAT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

SO I WILL SET THE BAR AND SAY I HAVE NOT BEEN TO A WATER PARK IN MANY YEARS.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A COOLER PASS.

WHY NO RESTAURANT FOOD?

>> YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IT'S COMMON THROUGHOUT A LOT OF COOLER PLACES. I GUESS BECAUSE IT'S A COMPETING INTEREST, WHY BRING IN A MCDONALD'S BURGER WHEN YOU CAN GET A CHEESE BURGER VALUE MEAL AT THE WET ZONE.

>> JUST CURIOUS.

>> HOW IS THAT ACTIVELY ENFORCED THOUGH? PEOPLE WALKING AROUND, SAYING, HEY, WE CAN'T EAT THAT.

>> WE HAVE SOMEONE CHECK THE COOLERS WHEN THEY COME IN.

IT'S NOT JUST RESTAURANT FOOD. MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAVE ALCOHOL OR GLASS OR THINGS LIKE

THAT. >> ONE THING I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINE IS WHAT A COOLER IS.

IF SOMEONE COMES IN WITH A BAG AND A ZIPLOC THING OF CARROTS AND PEAS, YOU KNOW.

>> IF OUR MINDS, ANYTHING YOU'RE BRINGING IN THAT CONTAINS FOOD IS A COOLER. THIS IS INTENDED FOR YOU TO OFFSET NOT PURCHASING FOOD IN YOUR CONCESSION STAND.

[01:20:02]

IF YOU'VE GOT A CROSS BODY BAG. THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO BE A COOLER.

>> THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE

QUESTION. >> MAYBE WE SEE WHAT THE OTHERS ARE DOING RESPECT TO THAT.

>> EVERY WATER PARK IS GOINGGOING TO HAVE AN FAQ.

BABY FOOD AND BABY SNACKS, THAT'S TOTALLY ALLOWED. ALL OF THAT STUFF IS GOOD.

YOU TALK ABOUT YOU DON'T WANT THEM BRINGING IN COATS, HAMBURGERS, SANDWICHES, CHIPS, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF STUFF. I THINK WE CAN ALL THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT LINE IS, AND IT'S JUST DEVELOPING THAT FAQ PAGE.

>> WE'LL SEE HOW THEY DEFINED

IT. >> NO KNIVES, NO WEAPONS.

NO ALCOHOL, NO GLASS BOTTLES. ALREADY SAID THAT.

IT'S THAT KIND OF STUFF THAT YOU DON'T WANT IN A WATER PARK.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> GIVE YOU GUYS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GO AHEAD?

[4D. Discuss a Right-Of-Way Easement Encroachment and Hold Harmless Agreement with 6917 Residence, LLC (David Holl) relating to the commercial property located at 6917 Miller.]

>> AWESOME. SEE YOU IN A SECOND.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT WE MOVE ON TO 4D, DISCUSS A RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT ENCROACHMENT AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT WITH 6917 RESIDENCE LLC DAVID HOLL RELATING TO THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 6917 MILLER.

MR. HOLL ASKING TO PULL THIS ITEM. WE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERING THAT ITEM THIS EVENING.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE, YOU CAN ASK THEM, I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE MR. HOLL HERE OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE CAN

[4E. Discuss and consider revision of Parks Rules in general and at specified parks.]

THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL BY DEPUTY SHINDER AND COUNCIL BOWERS. SHINDER COULDN'T MAKE IT THIS EVENING. SHE WASN'T FEELING WELL.

SHE ASKED THIS ITEM TO BE MOVED TO A FUTURE AGENDA,

[5. DISCUSS CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR MAY 6, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.]

>> YES.

>> PERFECT. ANY QUESTIONS ON 4 E BEFORE WE CONCLUDE. MOVE ON TO ITEM 5, DISCUSS CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE MAY 6TH, 2025, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

COUNCIL, ANY ITEMS THAT YOU WISH TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? I WILL SAY WE NEED TO PULLPULL 6G, WHICH IS THE COMPANION ITEM TO ITEM 4D THIS EVENING, 6917 MILLER ITEM. WE'LL PULL THAT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, BECAUSE WE CAN'T FOR THE CONSENT

AGENDA. >> I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT 6F. IT'S SIMPLY APPROVING A PURCHASE. JUST MAYBE A BRIEF THING ON THAT.

>> WE'LL PULL 6F FOR A PRESENTATION.

ITEM 6G, ESSENTIALLY TO POSTPONE IT OR WHATEVER.

>> OKAY. ANY OTHER CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS TO PULL? SEEING NONE, WE WILL ADJOURN TONIGHT'S MEETING AT 7:23 P.M.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.