[1. Call To Order]
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>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THIS IS TAMMY DANA BASTIAN, MAYOR AND WE ARE CONTACTING OUR FIRST WHOLLY TELEPHONIC MEETING.
AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551-751. THIS MAY BE CONVENED TO CLOSED SESSION FOR SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ON ANY AGENDA ITEM.
THE CITY OF ROWLETT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RECONVENE OR CALL TO EXECUTIVE SESSION OR ORDER OF BUSINESS AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT. CITY COUNSEL MAY RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TO PROVIDE COMMENT FOR THE MEETING PLEASE SEND AN E-MAIL TO CITIZEN INPUT@ROWLETT.COM BY 3:30 THE DAY OF MEETING. STATE WHETHER YOUR COMMENT IS REGARDING A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM. IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AND MUST BE WITHIN A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT AND THERE WILL BE NO COMMENTS TAKEN DURING THE MEETING. THAT'S A SPECIAL PROVISION PUT IN AS A RESULT OF THE DISASTER DECLARATIONS WE ARE UNDER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. TO VIEW THIS MEETING LIVE PLEASE TUNE INTO RTN 16 OR TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT, THERE'S A WHOLE LONG ADDRESS.
YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE AND GO TO RTN 16. TO LISTEN, 853-5247 AND ENTER MEETING NUMBER, 322554554. IF YOU'RE VIEWING US OR LISTENING ON THE WEBSITE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT OUR RESIDENTS STAY INFORMED SO WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE JOINING US.
[Additional Item 1]
I'M GOING TO START THE MEETING WITH OUR CITIZEN INPUT AND PLEASE REMEMBER AND REGARDS TO CITIZEN INPUT, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COMMENT ON THE ITEMS DURING A REGULAR MEETING.I WILL TELL YOU THAT CITY STAFF IS OR ALREADY HAS REACHED OUT TO THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT SENT IN THESE QUESTIONS AND HAS SENT THEM AN E-MAIL BACK WITH THE ANSWERS OR WILL BE SHORTLY.
OUR FIRST CITIZEN INPUT IS FROM SHERYL BROWN, IT SAYS PLEASE NOTIFY ME WHEN THE MEETING WILL BE TO FURTHER DISCUSS THE MEETING AT CYPRUS HILL APARTMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND TO SEE HOW THIS WILL IMPACT. >> THE SECOND IS FROM BENITA HEARTHA. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHERE SHE LIVES.
OUR STREET WAS FINISHED IN 2019, WE STILL HAVE NO STREET LIGHTS. IT'S VERY DARK AND WITH CRIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE. THAT SHORTLY WILL BE ANSWERED.
THE THIRD ONE IS KATHY LYLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S A CITY-LED OR COMMUNITY-LED PLANS TO SUGGEST SOME KIND OF ACTION OR ACTIONS OF SOLIDARITY FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS LOCAL HOSPITAL AND CITY STAFF AND VERY IMPORTANTLY FOR EACH OTHER AS WELL.
NEW YORK CITY HAS HAD BLINKING LIGHTS. ITALY HAD THEIR NATIONAL ANTHEM AS HAVE PARTS OF ENGLAND. WE LIVE SEPARATELY. WHAT COULD OUR COMMUNITY SYMBOL BE? THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING MY QUESTION.
IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO ANSWER THAT. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING DEVELOPED. I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS TOO AS I HAVE SEEN THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES DO THIS. I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF SOMEONE FROM THE COMMUNITY WOULD FEEL SO INCLINED TO LEAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS, A CITIZEN-LED CHARGE ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO SHOW SHOW MANY PEOPLE WORKING SO HARD APPRECIATION WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT IDEA. HANG ON A SECOND. I'M GETTING UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION I WILL SHARE HERE IN A MINUTE. MICHAEL GALLOP SAYS THE CHAMBER
[Additional Item 2]
IS WORKING ON THAT. THE NEXT ITEM I'M GOING TO GO TO IS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. EXCUSE ME. IS IT WITH TREMENDOUS SADNESS[00:05:08]
THAT I SHARE THE PASSING OF DREW HOWARD ONE OF ROWLETT'S MOST ACTIVE CITIZENS.DREW WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT ADVANCING OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
A TRUE COMMUNITY LEADER WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VERY FABRIC OF ROWLETT ARE IMMEASURABLE.
THESE INCLUDE HIS SERVICE ON THE CITY OF ROWLETT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND ALL A 29-YEAR MEMBER OF THE ROWLETT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FROM 2006 TO 2009 ON THE BOARD AND FROM 2012-2015. DREW WAS A GRADUATE OF ROWLETT LEADERSHIP CLASS 9. CHAIR OF ALUMNI FOR MANY YEARS AND RECEIVED THE 2012 ROWLETT ALUMNI AWARD. DREW WAS A PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE AS WELL AS MANY ON THIS COUNCIL. AND WITH THE CITY AND HIS PASSING IS A TREMENDOUS LOSS FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
WE WISH DREW'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY PEACE AND BLESSINGS IN THEIR TIME OF SORROW.
WE ALL SHARE MANY MEMORIES OF OUR TIME WITH DREW AND HIS IMPACT ON OUR LIVES WILL SERVE AS A LASTING LEGACY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO RECOGNIZE THIS MAN THAT MEANT SO
[2. Discuss the COVID-19 event and take any necessary action.]
MUCH TO SO MANY. THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS ITEM 2, DISCUSS THE COVID-19 EVENT AND TAKE ANY NECESSARY ACTION. SO, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS TRY TO GO THROUGH THIS PIECE BY PIECE AND PAUSE AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSION. BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH ALL THIS INFORMATION. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE. BEFORE I START WITH THE DETAILED ANNOUNCEMENTS, I WANT TO MAKE A PERSONAL PLEA TO OUR RESIDENTS. WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO COMMUNICATE CURRENT INFORMATION AS SOON AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. AND IT CHANGES VERY QUICKLY.AT THIS TIME DURING THIS DISASTER DECLARATION, IT IS EVERY HOUSEHOLD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE CURRENT INFORMATION. THE INFORMATION CHANGES RAPIDLY AND MOST OF THE TIME THE CHANGES WILL IMPACT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY PERSONALLY.
WE CAN'T HAVE SITUATIONS IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT TOLD OR THEY WERE NOT TOLD WITH SUFFICIENT NOTICE. THAT'S JUST WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW FOLKS. WE NEED YOU TO BE PROACTIVELY REACHING OUT FOR THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE PROVIDING IN GREAT DETAIL. ALSO WE REALLY NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE RAPIDLY CHANGING RULES ARE JUST THE SITUATION WE'RE FACED WITH RIGHT NOW. I HOPE WITH EVERY CHANGE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS WILL HAVE A MIND SET OF GRATITUDE FOR FINDING MORE WAYS TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND YOUR FAMILY AND THEN THAT OUR RESIDENTS WILL ALSO THINK ABOUT OTHER WAYS IN WHICH THEY CAN HELP US GET PAST THIS SITUATION. FOLKS, WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
AND WE HAVE GOT TO ADHERE TO THE SHELTER IN PLACE NOT ONLY THE LETTER OF THE LAW BUT THE SPIRIT OF THE LAWS. I IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE.
AS A GREAT MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WITH A VIRUS SHOW EITHER MILD OR NO SYMPTOMS YOU NEED TO EXPECT THIS VIRUS IS EVERYWHERE AND THAT YOU ARE AT RISK ANY TIME YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME.
CONFIRMED TEST RESULTS ARE NOT TELLING THE WHOLE STORY. IF YOU MUST GO OUT FOR ESSENTIAL BUSINESS OR ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES, YOU MUST MAINTAIN YOUR SIX-FOOT SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES. ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES DO NOT INCLUDE MANY OF THE THINGS WE SAW THIS PAST WEEKEND. AND WE SAW MANY GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS GROUPED TOGETHER IN NON-ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES. AND WE HAVE ALL HEARD A LOT ABOUT STORIES ABOUT STORES, I'M SORRY, NOT ENFORCING THE RULES WHICH PUTS THEIR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS AT RISK.
PLEASE KNOW WE ARE WORKING HARD WITH THESE STORES TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND HOW THEY SHOULD HELP TO ENSURE THAT IN SOCIAL DISTANCING IS MAINTAINED. BUT IT IS EVER PERSON'S
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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING. BEFORE I MOVE ON TO DATA AND INFORMATION, I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK ALL THOSE THAT ARE WORKING HARD THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY TO KEEP ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND ACTIVITIES AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE COMPLYING WITH THE RULES AND GUIDELINES. YOU ARE SAVING LIVES WITH EVERY DECISION YOU'RE MAKING. SO THOSE ARE MY GENERAL COMMENTS.I'M NOW GOING TO MOVE TO AN UPDATE OF THE CASE COUNTS AS OF 1 O'CLOCK TODAY.
DALLAS COUNTY HAD 549 CASES, AND 11 DEATHS. ROCKWALL FIVE CASES AND ZERO DEATHS. CITY OF GARLAND HAD 35 CASES AND SIX DEATHS.
AND CITY OF ROWLETT HAS 11 CASES AND ONE DEATH. AND JUST BREAKING NEWS, I JUST GOT FROM ED OLIVERAS. FOUR POSSIBLE CASES HAVE BEEN LISTED AS RECOVERED.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE NEWS. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN THAT THESE CASE COUNTS ARE JUST THE CONFIRMED CASES. THERE ARE MANY OTHER CASES OUT THERE IN DALLAS COUNTY, ROCKWALL COUNTY, OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND THE CITY OF ROWLETT THAT HAVE THE VIRUS BUT THEY'RE NOT COUNTED IN THESE NUMBERS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TESTED.
OF OUR 11 ROWLETT CASES, THIS AFFECTS ALL ACROSS THE BOARD. WE HAVE SEVEN WOMEN AND FOUR MEN. THEY RANGE IN AGE FROM LATE TEENS TO MID 70S.
THREE OF THEM ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 40. THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 60. THE POINT HERE, THIS IS NOT A VIRUS THAT JUST AFFECTS THE ELDERLY. WE ARE SEEING THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND THROUGHOUT OUR REGION THAT HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE NOT JUST LIMITED TO THE ELDERLY. AND DEATHS ARE NOT JUST LIMITED TO THE ELDERLY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN IF YOU HAVE A MILD CASE OR EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO SYMPTOMS AND YOU'RE NOT MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING, YOU COULD BE AFFECTING SOMEONE ELSE THAT HAS HIGH RISK FACTORS OR MAY END UP IN ONE OF THESE BAD SITUATIONS. IN DALLAS COUNTY, ALMOST 75% OF THE CASES ARE INDIVIDUALS 18-60 YEARS OLD. THIS IS DALLAS COUNTY NOW. 30% REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION AND OF THOSE 30% THAT REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION, ABOUT TWO-THIRDS ARE IN THE HIGH-RISK CATEGORIES. THAT MEANS ONE-THIRD ARE NOT. HOSPITALIZATIONS FROM COVID-19 ARE INCREASING WITH 36%, THIS IS DALLAS COUNTY STILL. 36% OF ALL HOSPITALIZATIONS REQUIRING ADMISSION TO INTENSIVE CARE UNITS. I WANT TO GO OVER A LITTLE BIT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE A POSITIVE CASE AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS.
YOU CAN'T DISCUSS IT TOO MUCH. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE INFORMED ON THIS.
FOR POSITIVE CASES THAT HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT. TESTED AND COME BACK POSITIVE.
QUARANTINE ORDER AND CONTACT ORDER AND TRACING PROCESS TO DETERMINE WHO NEEDS TO BE GIVEN A QUARANTINE DIRECTIVE. ALL HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS ARE REQUIRED TO QUARANTINE AND MONITOR SYSTEMS AND THEY WILL NOT BE RELEASED FROM A QUARANTINE DIRECTIVE FROM AT LEAST 14 DAYS AFTER THE LAST POSITIVE CASE IN THE HOUSEHOLD HAS BEEN WITHOUT FEVER FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS. THESE HOUSEHOLDS ARE PROVIDED WITH CONTACT INFORMATION TO REACH OUT TO THE ROWLETT OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANCE WHILE REMAINING IN QUARANTINE. I SAID EARLIER THAT WE HAVE 11 CONFIRMED CASES AND WE JUST GOT NEWS OF HOW MANY HAD RECOVERED. BUT THERE'S A TOTAL OF 30 PEOPLE IN ROWLETT THAT ARE UNDER THE QUARANTINE PROVISIONS AND INCLUDING THE 11 CASES AND ABOUT HALF OF THOSE ARE IN TWO HOUSEHOLDS. NINE HOUSEHOLDS IN ROWLETT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER QUARANTINE.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER HOUSEHOLDS OUT THERE WHERE PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY EITHER HAVE OR SUSPECT THEY MIGHT HAVE COVID THAT ARE QUARANTINED THEMSELVES AND THEIR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS ARE QUARANTINING THEMSELVES. WE CAN'T STRESS HOW THANKFUL WE ARE YOU'RE DOING THAT.
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ACCORDING TO DATA AVAILABLE FROM TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OF THE REPORTED CASES IN TEXAS, APPROXIMATELY 8% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TESTED COME BACK POSITIVE.BUT IN DALLAS COUNTY, THAT NUMBER JUMPS TO 12.5 %. HARRIS COUNTY AND DALLAS COUNTY LEAD THE WAY WITH POSITIVE CASES IN OUR STATE BOTH HAVE WELL OVER DOUBLED THAT OF ANY OTHER COUNTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. OF COURSE, ALL THIS DATA IS BASED ON DATA WE HAVE AND DON'T HAVE DATA FROM ALL TESTING SITES. I'M GOING TO PAUSE THERE.
CHIEF HOWARD OR ED, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD THERE? >> MAYOR, I WILL START BY STATING THAT ROUGHLY 36,000 TESTS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED IN TEXAS, AT LEAST THOSE REPORTED TO THE STATE. 90% THROUGH PRIVATE LABS. WE ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO IS SYMPTOMATIC TO GO THROUGH THEIR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN TO RECEIVE A TEST.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO OTHER OPTION, WE HAVE 2 DOUBLE DRIVE THROUGH SITES IN DALLAS.
ONE AT THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER AND THE ELLIS HOUSE. SHORTNESS OF BREATH, COUGH AND TEMPERATURE MINIMUM OVER 99 DEGREES. THEY WILL HAVE HOURS 8:00 A.M.
TO 5:00 P.M. AS LONG AS THEY HAVEN'T EXHAUSTED THAT SPECIFIC DAY'S TESTING
>> YES. >> THANK YOU. >> I ALSO WANT LIKE TO TELL OUR CITIZENS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE HEARD ABOUT OUR TELEMEDIC PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE VIRTUAL CONVERSATION WITH A LIFE PARAMEDIC TO WALK THEM THROUGH IF THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS.
PLEASE REACH OUT TO US IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS. >> THAT WAS CHIEF HOWARD, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF HOWARD. SO THE TELEMEDIC UNIT IS A UNIT WE PUT IN PLACE LATE LAST WEEK WITH ACTIVITY OVER THE WEEKEND AND I'M SURE TODAY ALSO. IT'S BEEN PROVEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL TO SAFELY BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEED SOME SUPPORT AND HELP ASSISTANCE AND YOUR PARTA METTICS CAN ASSESS THEIR CONDITION AND FIGURE OUT THE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION. HOPEFULLY, I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING
INCORRECT. >> WE PRODUCED A VIDEO TODAY THAT SHOULD BE OUT TOMORROW OR WEDNESDAY AT THE LATEST FOR OUR CITIZENS THAT WILL BE, HAVE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYBODY TO VIEW.
EXPLAINS THE PROGRAM. BETTER THAN I EXPLAINED IT. >> BETTER THAN I EXPLAINED IT
TO. >> THE BOTTOM LINE IS TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR TELEMEDIC IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE COVID-19, CALL 911 FOR THE INITIAL CONNECTION POINT, IS THAT
CORRECT? >> YES, MA'AM, THAT IS CORRECT. >> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS SOMETHING ELSE. YESTERDAY GOVERNOR ABBOTT ISSUED THREE ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS. THE FIRST IS DETENTION AND COUNTY MUNICIPAL JAILS.
IN BROAD TERMS, THE ORDER STATE THAT IS NO AUTHORITY SHOULD RELEASE ON PERSONAL BOND ANY PERSON PREVIOUSLY CONVICT OF A CRIME WITH PHYSICAL VIOLENCE OR THREAT OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE OR ANY PERSON ARRESTED FOR SUCH CRIME SUPPORTED BY PROBABLE CAUSE IN REGARDS TO TRYING TO RELEASE PEOPLE FROM OUR JAILS BECAUSE OF COVID-19. HIS SECOND ORDER APPLIES TO AIR TRAVEL. AND THAT IS EVERY PERSON WHO ENTERS THE STATE FROM NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY OR CALIFORNIA WILL HAVE A SELF QUARANTINE. ANYONE INTERESTING FROM ROADWAYS FROM LOUISIANA HAS TO SELF QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO PEOPLE TRAVELLING IN CONNECTION WITH COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY, MILITARY SERVICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE OR CRITICAL RESPONSE INFRASTRUCTURES. ALL OF THESE CASES WHEN I GIVE DETAILS ABOUT ORDERS COMING THROUGH, IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I'M JUST GIVING SOME HIGH-LEVEL SUMMARIES. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU GO OUT THERE AND UNDERSTAND THE SPECIFICS OF EVERY ONE OF THESE AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING A REALLY
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GOOD JOB FOR THE CITY. I CAN'T THANK DENISE AND DREW AND YVETTE ENOUGH FOR ALL THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE BEEN PUSHING OUT TO THE PUBLIC, AND WE'RE SPENDING LOTS OF TIME ANSWERING PEOPLE'S QUESTIONS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING AND WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT. THEN WE HAVE OUR HELP DESK ALSO ANSWERING QUESTIONS.AND LAURA, CAN YOU TALK AND PROVIDE THOSE E-MAIL AND THE PHONE NUMBERS FOR THAT?
>> YES. MAYOR. THE ACTION CENTER TELL 97 IS 972-412-6100. AND THE E-MAIL FOR THE ACTION CENTER IS CAC@ROWLETT.COM.
CAT APPLE CAT. CAC@ROWLETT.COM. >> OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT IS IN THE PUBLIC TRYING TO EDUCATE OUR BUSINESSES OF WHAT EXACTLY THEY ARE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT BE DOING. OUR POLICE ARE DOING THE SAME THING.
THERE'S LOTS OF RESOURCES OUT THERE TRYING TO HELP NOT ONLY OUR RESIDENTS BUT ALSO OUR BUSINESSES UNDERSTAND WHAT IS ALLOWED AND NOT ALLOWED. THE NEXT SUBJECT I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO IS DALLAS COUNTY ISSUED A SET OF ORDERS YESTERDAY THAT WENT INTO AFFECT AT 11:59 P.M.
LAST NIGHT. AND JUST AS WE HAVE DONE HISTORICALLY, THE CITY OF ROWLETT WILL AMEND OUR CITY ORDERS TO MIRROR THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDER.
AND WE WILL BE DOING THAT AMENDMENT OF THE CITY ORDER TODAY AND THE CITY ORDER AMENDMENT WILL BE AFFECTIVAD 11:59 P.M. TONIGHT. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS GIVE A HIGH-LEVEL OVER VIEW OF WHAT THOSE NEW ORDERS ARE THAT ARE IN THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDER.
THAT IS ALREADY ON OUR WEBSITE AND THEN WHAT WILL BE IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT ORDER THAT WILL BE SIGNED AFTER THIS MEETING. IN ADDITION TO THE ORDERS IN PLACE, THIS NEW ORDER SETS SOME VERY SPECIFIC RULES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THOSE IN DETAIL ON THIS PHONE CALL. IF YOU'RE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST MAJOR CONTRACTORS, I'M TALKING ABOUT SUB CONTRACTORS, I'M ALSO TALKING ABOUT MOM AND POP SHOPS THAT DO HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU GO OUT AND FIND THAT INFORMATION ON WHAT IS AND IS NOT ALLOWED FROM THE CONSTRUCTION STANDPOINT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. IT ALSO PROVIDES NEW DIRECTIVES FOR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO IF NOT MORE, I HAVEN'T KEPT UP LATE.
THERE'S BEEN TWO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IN COUNTY DALLAS COUNTY THAT HAVE COMMUNICATE SPREAD. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN WE HAVE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WITH COMMUNITY SPREAD. SO, THE DALLAS COUNTY AND SOON TO BE CITY OF ROWLETT ORDER WILL GIVE VERY SPECIFIC ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED BY LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. AND THEN I'M JUST GOING TO GO OVER A FEW OF THE CHANGES FOR THE OTHER PROVISIONS THAT WERE CHANGED. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO OUR RESTAURANTS AND TO OUR RESIDENTS UTILIZING OUR TAKE OUT SERVICES. YOU NO LONGER WILL BE ALLOWED TO PICK UP FOOD INSIDE THE RESTAURANT AT THE COUNTER. ALL TAKE OUT FOOD MUST BE BROUGHT OUTSIDE TO THE CUSTOMERS. THAT'S ALREADY IN AFFECT BECAUSE OF THE DALLAS COUNTY AMENDMENT YESTERDAY. GAS STATION AND CONVENIENCE STORES ARE PROHIBITED FROM SELLING SELF SERVICE FOOD ITEMS. RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS ALREADY HAD A LIMIT FOR IN-PERSON STAFF TO 10 OR LESS AT ONE TIME. BUT THERE'S A NEW PROVISION THAT ONLY 25 PEOPLE OR LESS TOTAL PER DAY CAN BE IN THEIR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION TO HELP PREPARE WITH CONDUCTING VIDEO OR TELECONFERENCE SERVICES AND ADDED BASIC MINIMUM PROVISIONS SUCH AS ALLOWABLE ACTIVITY INCLUDING MINIMUM NECESSARY ACTIVITIES TO MAINTAIN THE VALUE OF BUSINESS INVENTORY, PROCESS PAYROLL OR PROCESS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
THIS IS A REALLY GOOD ADD. NOW IT'S IN THE ORDER THAT IF YOU HAVE A BIG INVENTORY LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PLANTS OR SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO, YOU CAN GO DO THE MINIMUM AMOUNT TO
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MAINTAIN THE VALUE OF YOUR INVENTORY. AND YOU CAN DO THE MINIMUM AMOUNT TO PROCESS PAYROLL AND BENEFITS. LASTLY, THERE WAS PRICE GOUGING ISSUES PUT IN. YOU CAN VIEW ALL OUT ROWLETT POINT COM/COVID-19.I WANT TO HAVE A INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE ORDER.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, IF YOU WOULD ELECTRONICALLY RAISE YOUR HAND.
I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS >> HOLD ON. >> YES.
SO, CAN YOU CLARIFY AGAIN PART OF THE NEW ORDER. I KNEW ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROVISIONS BUT THE PART ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO ENTER A RESTAURANT TO TAKE OUT FOOD,
THAT WAS A PART OF THIS ORDER IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT.
RESTAURANT CONSIST STILL DO TAKE OUT. DRIVE-THROUGHS CAN DO DRIVE THROUGH. THE RESIDENTS CAN NO LONGER GO IN THE RESTAURANT AND PICK UP FOOD. THE RESTAURANT MUST BRING THE FOOD OUT TO THE RESIDENT.
>> OKAY. I ASSUME, GO AHEAD. >> I ASSUME WE HAVE MASS
E-MAILED OUR RESTAURANT COMMUNITY. >> SO, I KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING SO EXTREMELY HARD TO COMMUNICATE ALL THESE NEW PROVISIONS.
I DON'T KNOW BRIAN, IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT OR ANYBODY ELSE?
>> MAYOR THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO SAY, DALLAS COUNTY'S ORDER IS THE ONLY ONE THAT EXISTS AT THIS POINT UNTIL THE MAYOR AMENDS HER ORDERS. WHEN THE MAYOR AMENDS, WE WILL
PUT THAT OUT THERE EVERYBODY >> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> BUT REGARDLESS, THE RESTAURANTS IN THE DALLAS COUNTY SIDE OF ROWLETT SHOULD BE, ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RULE. EVERYBODY IS TRYING REALLY HARD TO COMPLY THE MOMENT THESE THINGS BECOME IN EFFECT. BUT WE ALSO, I THINK OUR CHIEF OF POLICE SAID IT VERY WELL WHEN HE SAID, WE ARE ENFORCING THESE THINGS WITH A GREAT DEAL OF GRACE AND UNDERSTANDING.
WE WANT OUR BUSINESSES TO COMPLY AND WE'RE TRYING VERY HARD TO COMMUNICATE AS SOON AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WAS IN THE ORDER THAT I DIDN'T MENTION WAS YOU ARE NOW ALLOWED LEGALLY TO WALK UP TO A DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW.
WHICH IS A GOOD ADD ALSO. HISTORICALLY, YOU WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT.
MARTHA, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? >> I DO.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THE 25 TOTAL PEOPLE PER DAY FOR THE CHURCHES.
SO THAT, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS RIGHT, THAT MEANS THAT ONLY 25 PEOPLE CAN ENTER THE BUSINESS WITHIN A DAY INCLUDING THE 10 MAXIMUM FOR STAFF OR DOING ANY KIND OF
>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> OKAY. >> IT DOESN'T MEAN 25 AT ONE TIME. IT MEANS 10 AT ONE TIME AND NO MORE THAN 25 IN ONE
>> MARTHA, YOU CAN LOWER YOUR HAND. ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL, WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. I HAVEN'T SIGNED THIS BECAUSE I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS SUBJECT. THAT'S THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT DATES PRIOR TO THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND AT THE BEGINNING IT WAS PRETTY CONFUSING TO INDIVIDUALS.
IT'S GETTING LESS CONFUSING TO INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THEY'RE HEARING IT FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES. THIS ORDER WILL BE THE SIXTH AMENDED ORDER FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT. THE 5TH AMENDED ORDER FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT EXPIRES FRIDAY, THIS FRIDAY APRIL 3RD. AND THE REASON WE DID THAT IF YOU REMEMBER IS THAT COINCIDED WITH THE EXPIRATION OF THE SHELTER IN PLACE FOR DALLAS COUNTY ORDER.
SINCE THEN, THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TODAY, I THINK YESTERDAY OR TODAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP EXTENDED THE 15-DAY TO APRIL 30TH. EXPECTING DISTANCING IN PLACE THROUGH APRIL 30TH. I KNOW THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS THEIR SHELTER IN PLAY THROUGH APRIL 29TH. WHAT I DON'T WANT IS A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE AMENDING ORDERS JUST
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TO CHANGE A DATE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO AMEND ORDERS WHEN THE RULES CHANGED.THE DATES BECOME LESS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WE CAN AMEND THE SHELTER IN PLACE AND MAKE IT LESS RESTRICTIVE AT ANY POINT IN TIME OR MORE RESTRICTIVE. WE CAN MAKE THE DISASTER DECLARATION GO AWAY IF WE HAVE A MAJOR BREAK THROUGH IF THIS CHANGES ITS COURSE OF ACTION.
I WOULD PROPOSE THAT THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THIS ORDER, WHICH WILL BE THE SIXTH AMENDED ORDER, DEFINITELY A SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER NOW READS, EXPIRATION OF APRIL 30TH AT 11:00 A.M. TO COINCIDE WITH THE EXPIRATION OF OUR DISASTER DECLARATION KNOWING FULL WELL WE CAN PULL THIS OR CHANGE THIS AT ANY TIME. I WOULD LIKE YOUR COMMENTS
I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK THAT'S THE BEST CALL TO MAKE RIGHT NOW.
I SAID IT BEFORE. I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO GO AWAY WITHIN APRIL.
I THINK THIS IS THE BEST RIGHT >> BROWNIE.
>> YES. I JUST WANT TO BASICALLY CONCUR WITH YOU.
I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT OUR DATES AND THE PRESIDENT'S DATES AND CLAY JENKINS DATES ALL AGREE. BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S VERY CONFUSING IF THEY DON'T AGREE.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THEY AGREE. >> I WILL COMMENT ON THAT.
DALLAS COUNTY, CLAY JENKINS, WE DON'T KNOW HIS DATES UNTIL THE DALLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S MEETING, WHICH IS FRIDAY THIS WEEK. SO, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MADE THE APRIL 30TH DECISION. THEY WILL MEET BY FRIDAY AND EXTEND THE APRIL 3RD DATE, THERE'S NO DOUBT. JUDGE JENKINS IS MAKING THESE ORDERS MORE RESTRICTIVE NOT LESS RESTRICTIVE. SO, WE WON'T KNOW THAT DATE UNTIL FRIDAY.
>> I AGREE BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE STAY WITH >> MATT.
>> YEAH. I AGREE. GOING AND MAKING IT FOR APRIL 30TH TO COINCIDE WITH OUR DISASTER DECLARATION WITH THE CAVEAT FOR AND REASON, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT COMES BACK ON FRIDAY AND HAS A DATE SOONER THAN THAT, WE REVISIT
AMENDING OUR DATE. >> I TOTALLY AGREE >> PAM.
>> I AGREE. THAT ALL OF THE DATES SHOULD BE THE SAME.
BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE GETTING MIXED UP. THEY WILL DO WHATEVER.
SO JUST KEEP EVERYTHING THE SAME. SO THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.
AND BUT WE CAN ALWAYS AMEND IT. WHAT THE JUDGE SAYS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WHITNEY. >> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO ADD TO THIS DISCUSSION.
I WILL SAY I AGREE AND THAT CONSISTENCY IS KEY WHEN WE NEED OUR FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THESE AND BY EXTENDING THE DATE THROUGH APRIL 30TH, WE'RE PROVIDING THAT
UNDERSTANDING. >> YEAH. AND I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE WE HAVE MADE THE RIGHT DECISIONS UP TO THIS POINT IN TIME BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES CONTINUE TO CHANGE. SO. MARTHA, YOU STILL HAVE YOUR HAND
RAISED ELECTRONICALLY. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? >> I WAS GOING TO ADD MY
AGREEMENT WITH THE APRIL 30TH AT 11:00 A.M. DATE AND TIME. >> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S OKAY. I LOST TRACK I HAVEN'T TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT.
DAVID BERMAN CITY ATTORNEY, WE'RE GOING TO, I THINK IT'S 11:00 A.M. IS OUR DISASTER DECLARATION EXPIRATION ON APRIL 30TH. THIS ORDER WE WILL REVISE TODAY WILL HAVE THE SAME TIME AND DATE. ALL RIGHT.
BEFORE I MOVE ON, ANYTHING ELSE ON REVISED ORDERS BY THE GOVERNOR OR DALLAS COUNTY OR
ROWLETT? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING BRIAN? >> THANK YOU MAYOR.
I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WHAT YOU SAID WAS ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE REGARDING THE RESTAURANTS.
BUT, STAFF DID TEXT ME TO REMIND ME THAT CUSTOMERS MAY ORDER AND PAY INSIDE, THE FOOD JUST HAS TO COME OUTSIDE. AND IF YOU ORDER IT ONLINE, THEY WILL BRING IT OUT TO YOU TYPICALLY ANYWAY. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE DID KNOW THEY CAN GO INSIDE TO ORDER
AND THAT IS STILL LEGAL. >> THEY CAN GO INSIDE TO ORDER AND PAY, JUST CAN'T CONGREGATE
[00:35:02]
OUTSIDE. THEY HAVE TO GO BACK OUT TO THEIR CAR AND PICK UP THEIRFOOD. >> THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
THE PROBLEM IS BLAKE, PEOPLE ARE CONGREGATING INSIDE THE RESTAURANT.
THAT'S THE REASON. AND KEEP IN MIND, DALLAS COUNTY IS A BIG COUNTY AND WE'RE ONE VERY IMPORTANT SMALLER CITY WITHIN THE COUNTY. SO WHAT THEY'RE SEEING DOESN'T NECESSARILY EQUATE TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR CITY. BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PREVENT, PEOPLE SITTING DOWN AT THE TABLES, WAITING FOR THEIR FOOD TO COME TO THEM.
TOUCHING THE TABLES. GETTING A DRINK OF WATER WAITING FOR THEIR FOOD.
THEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRYING TO MAKE THAT SANITARY ET CETERA.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PREVENT. OKAY.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THE ORDERS? ALL RIGHT. SO JUST A COUPLE OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS. I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE PRETTY QUICK BECAUSE THESE ARE THE SAME AS BEFORE. REMINDER THAT WE HAVE MOVED OUR GENERAL ELECTION TO OUR MAY SECOND, OR LOCAL ELECTION TO NOVEMBER 3RD. THE BALLOT IS FROZEN AND WILL NOT CHANGE. THIS IS A NEW ONE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
YOU KNOW WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES AND TALKED ABOUT RESTAURANTS STILL PROVIDING FOOD AND STORES PROVIDING NECESSARY SUPPLIES. AND FOOD AND WE TALKED ABOUT POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AND TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF CITY EMPLOYEES, ONE THING WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IS DAY CARE. AND YOU KNOW THE DAY CARE IS STILL AN ALLOWABLE ACTIVITY.
THE REASON IT IS, IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO KEEP OUR ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES GOING. SO I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES RISKING THEIR HEALTH TO PERFORM THEIR JOBS THAT ARE SO ESSENTIAL TO KEEP OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES GOING. AND I JUST WANT TO ASK THAT OUR PUBLIC MAKE SURE THEY'RE USING DAY CARE IN THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE USED AND THEN THEY'RE KEEPING THEIR CHILDREN HOME IN THE SITUATIONS WHERE MAYBE THEY HAVE USED DAY CARE IN THE PAST AND DON'T NEED TO ANYMORE. AT THIS TIME IN THIS PART OF OUR SITUATION, YOU KNOW KEEP THEM AT HOME SO IT HELPS KEEP OUR DAY CARE WORKERS MORE SAFE AND OUR CHILDREN MORE SAFE AND OUR FAMILIES MORE SAFE. SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT.
THESE ARE ALL REMINDERS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. PUBLIC ACCESS TO CITY BUILDINGS FOR THE MOST PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. IF YOU NEED, YOU CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE. MOST OF THE CITY SERVICES CAN BE DONE ONLINE THROUGH ROWLETT.COM.
THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS ON ROWLETT.COM TO DO. YOU CAN WATCH CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS LIKE WE ARE NOW. SUBMIT PERMIT REQUESTS. PAY YOUR UTILITY BILL ONLINE.
PAY YOUR TRAFFIC TICKET. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR CONNECT ROWLETT AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES. OUR REVERSE 911 SYSTEM TO SEND OUT SHORT, SUCCINCT MESSAGES TO EVERYONE SIGNED UP FOR THAT TO NOTIFY THEM OF SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
BY THE WAY, MOST OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.
REMINDER THAT WE HAVE SUSPENDED UTILITY WATER DISCONNECTS FOR NONPAYMENT.
WE CANNOT HAVE A SITUATION WHERE OUR CITIZENS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO WATER.
LATE FEES DURING THAT DISASTER DECLARATION ARE SUSPENDED. NOT BEFORE BUT DURING IT.
CODE ENFORCEMENT IS STILL OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY KEEPING US SAFE AND THEY WILL BE PROVIDING NOTICES BUT THEY WON'T BE ISSUING CITATIONS DURING THIS PERIOD.
SO IF YOU GET A NOTICE, WAVE AT THEM FRIENDLY AND TELL THEM THANK YOU FOR HELPING KEEP OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES SAFE. LIBRARY FINES ARE SUSPENDED AND ACCOUNT BLOCKS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. OKAY.
GARAGE. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE NEW PROCEDURES AND TO KEEP UP WITH INFORMATION IN CASE THESE PROCEDURES CHANGE IN THE FUTURE. YOU MUST BAG EVERYTHING IN YOUR GARAGE AND PUT THAT BAG IN THE POLYCART AND CLOSE THAT BAG UP. YOU CANNOT HAVE LOOSE ITEMS IN YOUR POLYCART.
IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. OUR TRASH COLLECTION PROVIDER AND ITS EMPLOYEES NEED TO BE ABLE TO JUST PICK UP THAT POLYCART AND DUMP IT AND NOT HAVE TO TOUCH THAT STUFF IN THE
[00:40:05]
TRASH. SO THAT'S WHY THAT PROVISION HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE.IN REGARDS TO RECYCLING. DON'T BAG RECYCLING. THAT COULD CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.
DON'T BAG RECYCLING. JUST BAG YOUR GARAGE. IF YOU DON'T, THAT POLYCART WILL PROBABLY NOT BE SERVICED. AND THEN JUST A REMINDER, PLEASE IF YOU COULD REFRAIN FROM PUTTING BULK ITEMS AND TREE TRIMMINGS RIGHT NOW AT THE CURB SIDE OR IN THE ALLY CURB SIDE BECAUSE WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THE SERVICES THAT ARE GARAGE PROVIDER IS PROVIDING FOR US.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP OUR CITY SERVICED FROM A GARAGE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING COLLECTION STANDPOINT. TOILET PAPER REMINDER. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THIS IS HAPPENING FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE AREA. YOU CAN'T FLUSH THE WIPES.
EVEN IF IT SAYS THE WIPES ARE FLUSHABLE. IT'S GOING TO CLOG UP YOUR PIPES AND IT'S USUALLY YOUR INDIVIDUAL PIPES AT YOUR INDIVIDUAL HOME. IT'S USUALLY NOT THE CITY PIPES.
IT WILL CAUSE YOU A PERSONAL PROBLEM AND DOES CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR THE WHOLE CITY ALSO.
PLEASE DO NOT PLUSH ANYTHING BUT TOILET PAPER. DISD IS STILL PROVIDING CURB SIDE BREAKFAST FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 9:00 A.M. AND LUNCH FROM NOON TO 1:00 AT DESIGNATED CAMPUSES THOSE INCLUDE BALCH. DORSEY AND LIBERTY GROVE AND QUAIL MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND THEN RISD IS OFFERING CURB SIDE LUNCH FROM 11:00 TO 1:00 AT DOBS AND ROCHELLEA ELEMENTARY.
PLEASE KEEP SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPEN. DO IT SAFELY.
PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. GET TAKE OUT SERVICES FROM OUR RESTAURANTS THAT ARE STILL OPEN.
FOR BUSINESSES THAT NEED HELP, THE ROWLETT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE ROWLETT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PROVIDE ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE.
AND JUST A REMINDER TO FILL OUT YOUR CENSUS IF YOU HAVEN'T YET. AND THEN A REMINDER THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS STILL OUR PRIORITY. CALL 911 IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING AN EMERGENCY AND THEN LASTLY, UNTIL I OPEN IT UP FOR OTHER COMMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO GET A COED UPDATE FROM WHITNEY
MAYOR. ROWLETT READY IS HERE TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS DURING THIS HEALTH CRISIS. TO DATE THE COMMITTEE HAS ASSISTED THREE FAMILIES WITH NEEDS. NEW THIS WEEK, IS THE ROWLETT READY FACEBOOK PAGE AT FACEBOOK.COM/ROWLETT READY. IT PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO LOOK AT THAT PAGE. WE HAVE A WEBSITE AT ROWLETTREADY@ROWLETT.COM. SENIORS NEEDING ASSISTANCE CALL 972-412-6100 AND THE COED BOARD MEETING EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM NOW ON AT 5:30 P.M. AGENDAS ARE POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND ONLINE. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE GOOD WORK OUR PEOPLE ARE DOING WITH THAT COED. VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. THAT'S THE END OF MY ANNOUNCEMENTS. I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR ANY COVID-19 DISCUSSION BY ANYBODY.
>> PAM, ARE YOU SAYING? >> I SAID I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. EVERYBODY JUST BE CAREFUL.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? BRIAN? ANYBODY?
ED? >> OKAY. I THINK WE COVERED IT ALL.
ALL RIGHT. THEN WE WILL MOVE AND OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE OUR REGULARLY-SCHEDULED MEETING NEXT TUESDAY. AND OBVIOUSLY WE WILL POST THE AGENDA PRIOR TO THAT AND WE WILL OBVIOUSLY HAVE AN INDEPTH COVID-19 DISCUSSION AT THAT
[3. Consider action to approve a resolution supporting the sales tax rule change being proposed by the Texas Comptroller.]
TIME. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM THREE.THE CHANGE TO THE PROPOSED TAX CHARGE PROPOSED BY THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER.
[00:45:02]
>> THAT'S MARK MCAVOY. MARK. >> MAYOR, THANKS.
YEAH. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT HAS COME UP OVER THE PAST ROUGHLY MONTH AND A HALF. WHEN YOU LOOK AT ATTACHMENT TO THE STAFF REPORT THAT DETAILS CHANGES THAT WOULD BE ENCOMPASSED BY THE RULE CHANGE THERE ARE A LOT OF WORDS CHANGING. THE ESSENCE IS THE DEFINITION OF INTERNET SALE VERSUS IN-PERSON SALE AND BOILS DOWN TO THE CURRENT, UNDER THE CURRENT RULE, WHEN SOMEONE MAKES A PURCHASE, A TEXAS RESIDENT MAKES A PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A RETAILER IN TEXAS, THE SALES TAX IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY IN WHICH THE SELLER RESIDES. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE PROPOSED RULE CHANGE, THAT WOULD CHANGE AND BECOME THE SALES TAX WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY IN WHICH THE BUYER RESIDES. AND SO, THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF COUNCIL AT THIS POINT IS TO SUPPORT THE RULE CHANGE THAT THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER HAS PROPOSED, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS OPEN THROUGH APRIL 3RD. WHICH IS THE END OF THIS WEEK. AND SO, THE PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION IS TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THIS AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT
THAT RULE CHANGE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MARK. SO I'LL OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL WITH QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. I WILL START WITH MATT. HANG ON A SECOND, MATT.
BRIAN, DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? >> MAYOR, THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT THE, IF THIS RULE CHANGE IS APPROVED, THERE WILL BE A GRADUATED CHANGE OVER ALMOST THREE YEARS, 27 MONTHS ACTUALLY. WE ARE COLLECTING SALES TAX UNDER THE NEW RULES WHEN WE, WHEN SALES ARE DONE NATIONALLY. SO, THIS IS KIND OF FOLLOWING THE SAME LOGIC WHEN THE PURCHASE IS MADE INSIDE TEXAS. SO, THIS WON'T BE IMMEDIATE BUT OVER TIME, THIS CHANGE BECOME EFFECTIVE. WE WILL SEE THE INCOME YOU KNOW, RUN AWAY BUT THE FULL IMPACT WOULD STILL TAKE UP TO ALMOST THREE YEARS.
THANK YOU. BRIAN. >> IF I COULD ADD TO THAT AND CLARIFY THE REASON WE EXPECT THAT TO BE GRADUATED IS THERE'S A PROVISION IN THE CHANGE THAT WOULD GRANDFATHER THOSE COMMUNITIES, THOSE CITIES THAT HAVE EXISTING AGREEMENTS THAT ARE BASED ON SALES TAX DEFERMENT TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THOSE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, 2022. THAT'S WHY THE GRADUATED INCREASE WOULD BE EXPECTED.
>> THANK YOU. MARK. I GALLON TO MATT.
WILL -- I WILL GO TO MATT. I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T READ THE WHOLE THING.
CLARIFICATION, IS IT WHERE YOU LIVE? AND YOU MAKE THAT ORDER OR WHERE
YOU ARE WHEN YOU MAKE THAT ORDER? >> THE RULE CHANGE WOULD BE THE BUYER'S LOCATION. SO IF I'M A BUYER AND I'M MAKING A PURCHASE ON THE INTERNET FROM
MY HOME THEN THAT'S WHAT IS COUNTED AS THE BUYER'S LOCATION. >> IF I'M IN A LOCATION AND IT'S TYPICALLY GOING TO BE DEFINED AS THE DELIVERY LOCATION. WHERE I TAKE RECEIPT OF THAT
GOOD WHATEVER IT IS. >> SHIPPED-TO LOCATION. >> GOT YOU.
OKAY. THAT MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE AND A LOT EASIER TO TRACK.
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. >> YOU BET. >> THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT
THROUGH ALEXA. >> THAT'S A GOOD ONE. YOU GOT TO
SO, TO ADD SOME CLARIFICATION. I THOUGHT ALREADY THIS INTERNET SALES TAX PROVISION WAS IMPLEMENTED. SO WHAT PORTION OF THIS IS NEW? IS THIS SIMPLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STATE ADDING THIS PROVISION VERSUS THE FEDERALLY? OR CAN WE GET SOME CLARIFICATION
THERE? >> SURE. THIS RULE CHANGE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS BEING PROPOSED BY THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER AND IMPACT SALES THAT TAKE PLACE WITH THE
[00:50:05]
BUYER AND SELLER RESIDE IN TEXT. THE PREVIOUS RULE CHANGE IN EFFECT WAS THE RESULT OF A SUPREME COURT DECISION YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF WAYFAIR VERSUS SOUTH DAKOTA.IF I LIVE IN TEXAS AND BUY FROM AN OUT OF STATE RETAILER. THAT SALES TAX IS ALSO BEING DISTRIBUTED TO THE STATE IN A FORMULAIC WAY AND WE HAVE STARTED TO SEE PROCEEDS FROM THAT HIT OUR BOOKS. THIS RULE CHANGE IS EXCLUSIVELY POINTED OR AIMED AT PURCHASES THAT ARE INTERNET PURCHASES WHERE THE BUYER AND SELLER RESIDE INSIDE TEXAS.
>> GOOD QUESTION, BLAKE. >> YOURS WAS A GOOD QUESTION TOO, MATT.
MARTHA. >> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. JUST A COMMENT.
I SUPPORT THIS RULE CHANGE. I THINK IT WILL BE GOOD FOR ROWLETT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSUMERS IN ROWLETT. MUCH MORE THAN RETAIL LOCATIONS.
AND SO I SEE IT AS A GOOD THING FOR ROWLETT. >> I DO TOO MARTHA.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO, MATT, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT?
>> JUST ANOTHER FULL UP QUESTION BASED ON THAT IN THE TEXAS PIECE OF IT.
SO THAT'S JUST IF THEY COUNT THAT AS HEADQUARTERS? ESSENTIALLY WHERE THE HEADQUARTERS IS OR SHIPPING LOCATION OF WHERE THAT ITEM IS COMING FROM?
VERSUS OUT OF STATE? >> IT'S WHEREVER NEXUS IS IF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT TERM.
>> WHEREVER IT ORIGINATED FROM? >> ESSENTIALLY THE FULFILLMENT LOCATION.
IF THERE'S A DISTRIBUTION CENTER, THAT, IT'S ULTIMATELY WHERE THE PRODUCT IS FULFILLED.
WHETHER THAT'S A SHIPPING LOCATION OR A DISTRIBUTION CENTER, THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO
BE DEFINED AS SELLER'S LOCATION. >> PERFECT. IF IT'S WAL-MART OR AMAZON ORDER AND THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER IS IN TEXAS, THEN THIS WOULD APPLY TO US VERSUS A DISTRIBUTION
CENTER FROM OUTSIDE OF TEXAS. >> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, DAVID.
ANY CLARIFICATION THERE? >> IF YOU ORDER SOMETHING ON AMAZON AND IT'S SENT TO YOUR HOME FROM THE FULFILLMENT CITY OF COPPELL, AND SHIPS TO ROWLETT.
COPPELL WOULD RECEIVE IT. >> SO ONE OF REASONS THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF ROWLETT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS HERE, BUT, THERE'S SEVERAL LOCALS FIGHTING THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PRESENTING OUR POSITION SO THAT OUR VOICE IS HEARD WHEN THE DECISION IS MADE.
SO, I AM NOT SEEING ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM AS READ. >> DO I HAVE
>> SECOND. SECOND. >> I GOT A MOTION FROM MARGOLIS
AND SECOND >> THAT IS SEVEN AYES AND VERY NAYS, LAURA.
-- ZERO NAYS. LAURA. >> THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING
FOR TONIGHT. I JUST, DID YOU WANT >> NO.
>> OKAY. I JUST WANT TO CONCLUDE THIS WITH JUST A SINCERE THANKS TO EVERYBODY WORKING SO HARD. THERE'S A LOT OF PRIORITIES GOING OF COMMUNITY WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ADHERENCE TO THE EVER-CHANGING SITUATION AND YOUR PATIENCE AND PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. GO TO OUR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE.
STAY INFORMED. STAY SAFE. STAY KIND AND STAY HOME.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING. ONE MORE THING. THANK YOU IT FOR PUTTING THIS
MEETING TOGETHER. IT WORKED REALLY, REALLY WELL. >> THANK
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.