Feb 03, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting

[1. Call to Order]

[00:00:04]

WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

UH, THIS FEBRUARY 3RD EVENING.

WE'LL START WITH, UH, THE INVOCATION IF WE COULD.

UM, BRUCE ZIMMERMAN, IF YOU WOULD STAND, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

JUST READ ONE VERSE OF SCRIPTURE.

DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES.

SPEAKS OF HUMILITY, FEAR OF THE LORD, WHICH SPEAKS OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

TURN AWAY FROM EVIL, SPEAKS OF INTEGRITY.

GOD, THIS WISDOM THAT IS GIVEN FROM, UH, SOLOMON TO HIS SON IS APPROPRIATE FOR EVERY ONE OF US.

LORD, AS WE CONSIDER THE AFFAIRS OF THIS CITY AND THE AFFAIRS OF OUR OWN LIVES, LORD, MAY WE SEEK YOU AND HONOR YOU IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

LORD, I PRAY AND THANK YOU FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL AND THE STAFF THAT IS REPRESENTED HERE.

MAY THEIR EARS BE ATTUNED TO THE NEEDS OF THIS CITY, AND THEY SEE WHAT, UH, ONLY THEY CAN SEE AND UNDERSTAND.

AND LORD, IT MAY THEY, UH, HEAR THE, UH, NEEDS OF THIS, UH, THE CITIZENS WHO ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY.

LORD, THANK YOU THAT WE CAN COUNT UPON YOU AT ALL TIMES AND TRUST IN YOU THAT YOU WILL GUIDE US AND LEAD US WHEN WE SEEK AFTER YOU.

SO BLESS THIS TIME AND BLESS THIS MEETING.

IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.

AMEN.

THANK YOU.

AND FOR THE PLEDGE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE, FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR, TEXAS WIDE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

THANK YOU.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

UH, WE ARE WITHOUT, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, TRACE ATKINS TONIGHT.

UM, HE'S HAD A MEDICAL PROCEDURE AND HE'LL BE BACK WITH US SOON.

UH, SO HE'LL BE MISSED TONIGHT.

AND, AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING THAT'S NOT, THAT'S WHY HE'S NOT WITH US.

ALRIGHT, WE'LL

[4. Public Comments]

PERSONS MAY ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY ISSUES.

THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON ANY CONCERN WHETHER ON THIS AGENDA OR NOT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

THE COUNCIL MAY NOT COMMENT OR DELIBERATE SUCH STATEMENTS DURING THIS PERIOD, EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 5 5 1 0 4 2 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK.

UM, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE CITY SECRETARY, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I'M JOHNA WALLACE.

I LIVE AT 33 0 5 SANGER CREEK, WAY IN WAXAHATCHEE, UM, LIFETIME RESIDENT.

I'VE BEEN HERE 62 YEARS, .

UM, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE ANIMALS IN, UH, THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE TONIGHT AND, AND, AND REALLY COUNTYWIDE.

BUT, UM, I, I JUST, I'M CONCERNED NOT ONLY FOR THE ANIMALS, I'M CONCERNED FOR OUR FELLOW CITIZENS AND FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, UM, STRAY ROAMING.

UM, HOMELESS DOGS ARE NOT, UM, THEY'RE, THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS AND, UM, CARRY DISEASES.

AND I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, POINT OUT, I KNOW Y'ALL ALL KNOW THIS , BUT, UM, IT, IT'S REALLY TIME THAT WE NEED TO STEP UP AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE CITIZENS AND THE ANIMALS OF, OF THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE.

UM, I JUST A A COUPLE OF THINGS TODAY, UM, WHILE SITTING IN MY YARD, I HAD MY PHONE AND WAS SCROLLING THROUGH FACEBOOK AND I COUNTED JUST IN THE LAST TWO DAYS, 15 DOGS ROAMING AT LARGE IN THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE.

AND THAT WAS JUST FOR 15 MINUTES THAT I DID IT.

I DIDN'T EVEN HIT ALL THE DIFFERENT SITES.

I DIDN'T, UM, I DIDN'T WANNA TAKE TOO LONG.

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU, AND AND YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW THE VOLUME OF THE PROBLEM, BUT AS WE GROW, IT GETS WORSE AND WORSE.

AND IN MY RECOLLECTION, AND I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, WE HAVE NOT DONE ANY SORT OF, UM,

[00:05:01]

UM, IN THE MEANTIME, WAXAHATCHEE HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY AND CONTINUES TO GROW.

SO IT, IT'S REALLY KIND OF COME TO, UM, A POINT WHERE ALL THE CITIZENS NEED TO GET ON BOARD AND, AND STAND BEHIND Y'ALL TO, UH, MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL AND MAKE THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE MORE SUCCESSFUL.

UH, LET'S SEE.

I WILL JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP AND, UH, HELP YOU GUYS PASS SOMETHING.

UM, TO, TO GET THIS STARTED, I WOULD SAY I AM IN A HUGE FAVOR OF, UM, JOINING WITH OTHER CITIES IN ELLIS COUNTY TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF A, A, A JOINT EFFORT.

UM, I'M SPEAKING BOTH FROM, UM, A WELFARE STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO FINANCIALLY.

UM, IT IS AN INCREDIBLE FINANCIAL DECISION TO, UM, BUILD AND IMPLEMENT A NEW SHELTER.

AND IF WE COULD SPLIT THAT THREE WAYS, FOUR WAYS, HOWEVER IT COMES OUT, IT WOULD BE VERY WELCOME.

I, I THINK, TO THE CITIZENS.

UM, SO I'M HERE TO HELP.

I'M HERE TO DO WHATEVER I CAN DO.

UM, I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE AS WELL IN THAT CAPACITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAD TO SAY.

THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE OVER HERE? HI, MR. BRUCE.

HEY TO SEE YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I'M DARLENE MILLER, TWO 40 PARK SCHOOLHOUSE ROAD, APARTMENT ONE 14, WAXAHATCHEE, TEXAS, THE WONDERFUL CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE, TEXAS.

UM, I WANNA SAY HELLO TO EVERYBODY.

HI, MAYOR.

HI COUNCILMAN, AND GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

UH, I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN WRIGHT.

UH, HE'S BEEN TO SEVERAL OF OUR MEETINGS, UH, OVER THE PAST WEEK.

HE CAME TO OUR TRI-CITY TOUR FOR THE PET COALITION OF ELLIS COUNTY.

AND SO IT WAS OUR THIRD TOUR WITH SOME, UH, CITY OFFICIALS AND WITH, UH, JUDGE TODD LITTLE.

AND, UM, I THINK IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD TOUR.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAME OUT WITH A LOT OF THINGS.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ORGANIZE A TASK FORCE, UH, TO TRY TO GET KEY PEOPLE TOGETHER TO TALK SOME MORE ABOUT MAYBE SOME, UH, COLLABORATION.

SO ANYWAY, UM, THANK YOU CHRIS WRIGHT.

AND, UH, LET'S SEE.

UM, I KNOW TOMORROW YOU GUYS HAVE A WORKSHOP AND, UH, A FEW OF US FROM THE PET COALITION WILL BE THERE.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT, UM, IT'S OUR HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WONDERFUL PRESENTATION THAT, UH, CHIEF WISER DID LAST APRIL MAY POSSIBLY GO ON A BOND.

UM, I'M HOPING THAT Y'ALL ARE LOOKING AT MAYBE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S PRIME TIME WITH THE SVCA PULLING OUT OF THE COUNTY.

I DO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT A LOT OF THE ANIMALS FROM THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE WENT INTO THE SVCA OF TEXAS, AND, UH, BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME MANY OF US COULD NEVER GET THEM INTO THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS FULL.

WE HAVE SO FEW KENNELS THERE AND, UM, ANYWAY, UH, SO I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE IN MORE OF A CRISIS MODE NOW, AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, YOU'LL SEE MORE CITIZENS BE ABLE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE TO, TO WANNA PASS SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND I HOPE THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT EVEN IF YOU GO ON A POND JUST BY YOURSELF, THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE, THAT MAYBE, UH, OTHER CITIES MAY BE ABLE TO JOIN IN AT SOME POINT THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW IT WORKS, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE WILL MOVE TO

[5. Consent Agenda]

ALL MATTERS LISTED UNDER ITEM FIVE CONSENT AGENDA, CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION.

THERE WILL NOT BE SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL MATTERS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT EACH ITEM.

ANY ITEM MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION BY ANY MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

COUNCIL, MADAM MAYOR, EXCUSE ME.

I MOVE TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER AND OR MAYOR TO EXECUTE ALL ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS AS NECESSARY.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[00:10:01]

[6. Introduce Honorary Council Member]

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO BRING IN INTO COUNCIL AND, UH, DESIGNATE OUR HONORARY MAYOR, I MEAN, HONORARY MAYOR.

WELL, THANK YOU, .

I APPRECIATE THAT.

HE HE TRIED TO GET ME TO DO THAT.

OH, WELL, THANK YOU.

WALLY , OUR HONORARY COUNCIL PERSON, WALLY MENDEZ, UH, WHO IS OUR DOWNTOWN RESOURCE COORDINATOR.

AND, UM, I WAS TELLING PEOPLE WHEN I, WHEN I, UH, I BROUGHT UP WALLY'S NAME, I, I THINK THAT HE'S MORE THAN JUST OUR DOWNTOWN RESOURCE COORDINATOR.

HE IS REALLY OUR AMBASSADOR FOR DOWNTOWN, UM, FROM SHOP OWNERS TO THE CITY, TO CITIZENS VISITING, VISITING US.

I'VE SEEN, UH, WALLY ALWAYS HAVE A SMILE ON HIS FACE AND TRYING TO HELP OUT HOWEVER HE CAN.

UM, WE LOSE A LOT IF WALLY WASN'T AROUND AND THAT HE'S VERY IMPORTANT.

SO LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WALLY IF YOU DON'T KNOW HIM.

UH, HE'S DEDICATED OVER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE CONTRIBUTING TO THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.

HE STARTED HIS CAREER IN THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IN 2007, WHILE HE TOOK ON THE ROLE OF A NEWLY CREATED POSITION AIMED AT REVITALIZING AND SUPPORTING THE HEART OF WAXAHATCHEE DOWNTOWN AREA.

OVER THE YEARS, WALLY HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN ORGANIZING NUMEROUS DOWNTOWN EVENTS, INCLUDING THE TEXAS COUNTRY REPORTER FESTIVAL AND THE CLE DE MAYO CELEBRATION FOR WHICH HE IS A FOUNDING COMMITTEE MEMBER.

HIS EFFORTS HAVE BEEN INTEGRAL IN BRINGING THESE VIBRANT EVENTS TO LIFE, HELPING TO FOSTER A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PRIDE IN THE CITY.

WALLY WAS HONORED WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP WAXAHATCHEE AWARD IN 2016 AND RECEIVED THE EXEMPLARY SERVICE AWARD FROM THE WAXAHATCHEE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2022.

OUTSIDE OF HIS WORK WITH THE CITY, WALLY ENJOYS SPENDING TIME WITH HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

HE'S AN AVID GOLFER, ENJOYS TRAVELING AND LOVES WATCHING SPORTS.

A FAITHFUL THREE GENERATION DOW DALLAS COWBOY FAN.

I RAN INTO HIM LAST YEAR AND HE WAS WEARING A JERSEY, AND I JUST SHOOK MY HEAD AND WALKED OFF .

UM, 'CAUSE THE COWBOYS HAD PLAYED THAT DAY.

UM, WHILE HE'S DEDICATION TO HIS FAMILY, IS WORK IN THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE, HAVE MADE HIM A RESPECTED AND CHERISHED MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.

I GIVE YOU WALLY MENDEZ AS OUR HONORARY COUNCIL MEMBER.

GOOD JOB, WALLY.

THANK YOU, HONOR.

GOOD JOB ON SUPPORTING THOSE COWBOYS, .

NEXT

[7. Present Proclamation recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the Waxahachie Lions Club]

AND THAT WILL BE READ BY MAYOR PRO TEM CHRIS WRIGHT.

WHEREAS THE INTERNA, EXCUSE ME, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIONS CLUBS WAS ORGANIZED BY BUSINESSMAN MELVIN JONES ON JUNE 7TH, 1917 IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST ACTIVE SERVICE CLUB ORGANIZATION WITH APPROXIMATELY 1.7 MILLION MEMBERS IN 162 COUNTRIES.

AND WHEREAS THE LIONS CLUB MEMBERS ARE BONDED TOGETHER BY THEIR COMMON SPIRIT OF SUPPORT AND DEDICATION TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, AS SHOWN BY THE MOTTO OF EVERY LION WE SERVE.

AND WHEREAS LEO CLUBS REPRESENTING LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AND OPPORTUNITY WAS STARTED IN 1957 BY BASEBALL COACH JIM GARVER AND THE LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL ADOPTED THE LEO CLUB PROGRAM IN OCTOBER, 1967.

AND WHEREAS THE LEO CLUB PROGRAM HAS OVER 6,500 CLUBS IN OVER 140 COUNTRIES.

AND WHEREAS LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL ENDED THE BAN ON WOMEN IN 19, IN 1987.

AND WHEREAS THE LIONS CLUB IS FOCUSED ON GLOBAL CAUSES SUCH AS VISION, DIABETES, HUNGER ENVIRONMENT, AND CHILDHOOD CANCER, AND OFFERS VARIOUS GRANTS FOR THOSE IN NEED.

AND WHEREAS TEXAS HAS HAD FOUR INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENTS FROM OUR GREAT STATE, HC PETRI JR 1950 TO 51, DAVID A. EVANS, 19 68, 69, EVERETT J GRINDSTAFF, 1982 TO 1983, AND JIMMY R JIMMY M ROSS, 2006, 2007.

AND WHEREAS THE LIONS CLUB HAS HAD THREE DISTRICT GOVERNORS, ONE, MD TWO COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS, 1941 TO 1942 LEWIS MM STICKNEY, 1950 TO 51 JAMES H HARBIN, 2011 TO 2012, JOHN D LANDRUM JR.

2018 TO 2019,

[00:15:01]

AND WHEREAS THE WAXAHATCHEE LION CLUB WAS ORGANIZED ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 1925, AND CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL MOBILE VISION CLINIC FOR WAXAHATCHEE, ISD STUDENTS THAT NEED EYEGLASSES HOSTS THE HATCHIE 50 ULTRA MARATHON, ATTRACTING HUNDREDS OF RUNNERS FROM AROUND THE NATION, BUILDS BEDS FOR SLEEP AND HEAVENLY PEACE CONTRIBUTES PROCEEDS TO OVER 15 LOCAL CHARITIES AND MORE.

NOW, THEREFORE, MAYOR BILLY WALLACE, ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025 AS LIONS CLUB DAY AND CONGRATULATE THE WAXAHATCHEE LIONS CLUB ON THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING.

AND THAT ALL THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLUB WILL BE EXTENDED SINCERE BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS PROCLAIM THIS THIRD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025.

VERY GOOD.

Y'ALL WANNA COME UP FOR A, A PHOTOGRAPH? YEAH, THIS IS GONNA BE TOUGH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, BUT I THINK IT'S GONNA BE GOOD.

HEY, HOW YOU DOING SIR? YOU LOOKING GOOD? WELL, THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS TO Y'ALL QUITE A BIT.

ANTHONY DAVIS DOES TOO.

YOU KNOW, HE DOES.

HE PLAYED A LOT MORE LAST YEAR.

PLAYED MORE THIS YEAR THAN HE HAD, THAN HE HAD LAST YEAR.

SO, UM, BUT I THINK PJ WASHINGTON TAKING ON A NEW ROLE, I IT'S JUST, I JUST, I JUST LIKE, HE JUST WAS A GREAT GUY, BUT I THINK THEY'RE TRYING WELL, I THINK, I THINK SO TOO.

I GUESS NEWSPAPER CAME OUT.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE ENVIOUS OF OUR VEST, YOU TWO CAN JOIN US.

WE MEET ON TUESDAYS AT NOON AT DAYMARK LIVING, SO COME ON DOWN.

YEAH.

A NEW OWNER MISS A MEETING.

YOU KNOW THAT MICHAEL.

I KNOW, MY GOSH.

VERY GOOD.

GOOD SHOWING AND HONORED TO PRESENT THAT PROCLAMATION.

NEXT IS A PUBLIC HEARING

[8. Public Hearing on reauthorizing the guidelines and criteria (policy) for governing Economic Development]

UM, AS I SAID, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, UH, G**O IS THAT WHO'S PRESENTING? OKAY.

THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

SO THIS POLICY THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE, YOU MUST BE AUTHOR REAUTHORIZED EVERY TWO YEARS, UH, THROUGH A RESOLUTION AS PART OF CHAPTER THREE 12 OF THE LOCAL

[00:20:01]

SO, WHICH GOVERNS, UH, UH, TAX ABATEMENTS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE POLICY OUTLINES ALL THE GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA THAT WE USE.

AND IT STILL REMAINS SUBJECT TO STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.

BUT THE CITY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOVE WHAT WE HAVE IN THE POLICY AS LONG ASS ALLOWABLE BY LAW.

UH, ONLY SOME MINOR GRAMMATICAL CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE POLICY THAT YOU SEE IN YOUR PACKET.

SO, UH, THIS WAS ACTUALLY PRESENTED TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ON JANUARY 22ND FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.

THEY, THEY UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE POLICY.

AND SO, AND I'LL ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT WE'VE BEEN USING THIS POLICY FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS PRETTY EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT ANY ISSUE.

AND SO, UH, AT THIS TIME, WE RECOMMEND A REAUTHORIZATION OF THE POLICY AS WELL.

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

UH, ANYBODY WANNA SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.

SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

[9. Consider proposed Resolution reauthorizing the guidelines and criteria (policy) for governing Economic Development]

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

[10. Consider service contract with Andale Construction, Inc. for concrete resurfacing product]

JUSTIN? THANK YOU MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PRODUCT.

UM, THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF, UH, TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR OUR PAVEMENT PRESERVATION, UH, PROGRAM.

UH, THIS FIRST ONE IS AN OX CON.

UH, ONE OF THE BIG DOWNSIDES FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENT IS TRADITIONALLY BEEN, IT'S JUST REALLY DIFFICULT TO, TO MAINTAIN IT AND TO, TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS WITH IT OVER TIME AS IT DETERIORATES.

WE FOUND THIS PRODUCT CALLED OXON, UM, AND WE'VE INVESTIGATED IT HEAVILY.

UH, DALLAS IS USING IT QUITE EXTENSIVELY, AND TPO STARTED USING IT AS A WAY TO REHABILITATE CONCRETE ROADS.

UM, THEY LAY DOWN KINDA A, A FIBERGLASS MESH, AND THEN THEY USE A, A CEMENT POLYMER COMPOUND TO REALLY, UH, REHABILITATE CONCRETE ROADS.

AND SO, UH, THIS IS THE, THE FIRST CON, THE FIRST CONTRACT THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO YOU IS WITH ANDEL CONSTRUCTION.

IT'S A SOLE SOURCE PRODUCT, UM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $290,634 FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? THIS WAS, WE, WE DISCUSSED THIS IN A WORKSHOP PREVIOUSLY.

MM-HMM .

WERE WE GONNA TEST IT FIRST IN INDIAN HILLS AND THEN SEE HOW IT WORKED? OR, OR IS THIS THE TEST RUN? THIS IS THE TEST.

OKAY.

WE'RE DOING, WE'RE GONNA DO IT ON GINGERBREAD LANE.

UH, IT'S THE WORST CONCRETE ROAD WE HAVE.

AWESOME.

WELL, NOT, NOT AUSTIN, NOT THAT ROAD IS THE WORST ONE WE HAVE, BUT NOT, THIS IS, THERE'S A LOT REALLY BAD ALLEYS.

YEAH.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE, THAT WE WERE GOING TO TEST.

YES, SIR.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE AVERAGE, UH, LIFE IS ONCE YOU PUT IT DOWN? UM, THE ANDALE CONSTRUCTION GUARANTEES 15 YEARS ON IT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HOLDING UP REALLY, REALLY WELL.

AND A LOT OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN DALLAS.

UM, AND, AND IT'S KIND OF EXCITING TO SEE TO PICK UP THAT AS WELL.

MM-HMM .

SO IT MUST, I MUST HAVE PASSED THE MUSTER WITH THEM.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

IF NOTHING ELSE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I MOVE TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT WITH ANNA DALE'S CONSTRUCTION, INC.

FOR THE APPLICATION OF A CONCRETE RESURFACING PRODUCT IN THE AMOUNT, NOT TAKE, EXCEED $276,794 PLUS A CONTINGENCY OF $13,840.

AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

[11. Consider service contract with Donelson Construction Company, LLC for asphalt pavement preservation]

JUSTIN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS IS THE SECOND ITEM OF OUR PAVEMENT PRESERVATION CONTRACTS WE'RE PRESENTING THIS EVENING.

UH, THIS ONE IS FOR ASPHALT REHABILITATION.

UH, THIS IS A PRODUCT CALLED PRESSURE PAVE, WHICH HAS BEEN PRESENTED BEFORE, UM, IN A WORKSHOP.

UM, IT'S A MUCH MORE ADVANCED VERSION OF THE CHIP SEAL THAT, UH, HAS BEEN

[00:25:01]

UH, THIS ONE ACTUALLY BLASTS OUT THE, THE PART OF THE PRESSURE PAVE.

THEY BLAST OUT ALL OF THE WEAK SPOTS AND THE, THE DIRT AND THE VEGETATION THAT GROWS IN THE CRACKS.

AND, AND THEN THEY INJECT, UM, THEY INJECT THOSE CRACKS WITH A PRODUCT THAT HELPS RE REINFORCE THE, THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ROADS AND THEN GIVES A REALLY SMOOTH DRIVING SURFACE.

UH, WE USED THIS ON SEVERAL ROADS THIS LAST YEAR, UM, PARTICULARLY SO, UM, SOLAN NORTH OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS, UM, COLLEGE, UM, EAST, I'M SORRY, WEST JEFFERSON.

UM, AND IT HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED.

AND SO, UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO APPLY THIS TO SEVERAL ADDITIONAL STREETS.

THOSE STREETS ARE, ARE LOCATED IN YOUR PACKET AND WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO MAINTAIN OUR ASPHALT ROADS.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, JUSTIN.

COUNCIL YOU ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I MOVE TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT WITH DONALDSON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LLC, FOR THE APPLICATION OF AN ASPHALT PRESERVATION PRODUCT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $750,000 AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

NEXT ITEM IS ITEM

[12. Consider proposed Ordinance ordering an election to be held for the purpose of electing At-Large Council Members Places 4 and 5, providing for the filing of applications for official ballots for said elections; designating the Elections Judge and providing for clerical personnel for said elections; designating the time and place of said elections; designating the polling location(s) for said election; and providing for a run-off election, if needed; and providing for an effective date]

CONSIDER PROPOSED ORDINANCE ORDERING AN ELECTION TO BE HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLACES FOUR AND FIVE, PROVIDING FOR THE FILING OF APPLICATIONS FOR OFFICIAL BALLOTS FOR SET ELECTIONS, DESIGNATING THE ELECTIONS JUDGE, AND PROVIDING FOR CLERICAL PERSONNEL FOR SAID ELECTIONS, DESIGNATING THE TIME AND PLACE OF SAID ELECTIONS, DESIGNATING THE POLLING LOCATIONS FOR SAID ELECTION, AND PROVIDING FOR A RUNOFF ELECTION IF NEEDED, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

AMBER, UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THIS IS OUR, UM, ANNUAL ORDINANCE TO CALL THE ELECTION FOR THE MAY 3RD GENERAL ELECTION FOR PLACES FOUR AND FIVE AGAIN, THIS YEAR WE'LL BE DOING A JOINT ELECTION WITH THE COUNTY TO UTILIZE THE MULTIPLE, UH, VOTE CENTERS AND A CONTRACT WILL BE FORTHCOMING ONCE ALL THE FILING DEADLINES HAVE PASSED.

AND WE KNOW WHICH ENTITIES EXACTLY WILL BE, UH, CONDUCTING AN ELECTION IN MAY.

UM, SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE JUST REQUESTING APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE TO ORDER THE ELECTION.

THANK YOU, AMBER.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

COUNSEL, Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, MADAM MAYOR, SINCE IT'S YOU AND I AND WE BOTH ALREADY FILED, I GUESS WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND PASS THIS THING.

RIGHT.

UM, MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ORDERING THE MAY 3RD, 2025 GENERAL ELECTION AS PRESENTED.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

AND

[13. Hear update of activities at Sims Library ]

JEN, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, I HAVE TWO OF OUR TEAM HERE WITH US.

SARAH IS OUR PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH, UH, STAFF MEMBER.

AND THEN ELIAS IS OUR ADULT SERVICES LIBRARIAN.

SO WE'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE.

FEBRUARY'S LOVE YOUR LIBRARY MONTH, SO IT'S PERFECT TIMING TO COME GIVE AN UPDATE.

UM, AND WE HAD, UH, HAD AMAZING, WE HAD AN AMAZING YEAR, UH, LAST YEAR.

SO JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.

THE PATRONS, UH, L CITY AND NON, UH, CITY SAVED $8,630,978 FOR CHECKING OUT PHYSICAL ITEMS AT THE LIBRARY.

THAT'S NOT USING OUR COMPUTERS OR ANYTHING ELSE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD'VE PAID FOR BOOKS HAD THEY HAD TAKEN AND WENT AND PURCHASED THEM.

ONE THING WE NOTICED WAS OUR WIFI USAGE WAS UP 138%.

AND S IS GONNA TOUCH ON THAT HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.

UH, SOME OF THE TRENDS WE'RE SEEING, UH, WE PURCHASED A NEW CODING DATABASE CALLED PIERO CODE, AND IT'S IN, IT IS JUST IN LIBRARIES, BUT, UH, EVERY QUARTER THEY DO A NATIONWIDE CONTEST.

SO THEY THROW THIS OUT THERE.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT OUR PATRONS CAN PARTICIPATE.

AND WE HAD A THIRD PLACE WINNER AND A SECOND PLACE WINNER THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

AND SO THEY WON RO UH, CODING ROBOTS, UH, THAT THEY GET SENT TO 'EM.

SO, UH, WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF THEM AND THAT THEY'RE UTILIZING THAT AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY OUT THERE WINNING, WINNING COMPETITIONS.

WE DID HIRE A DEDICATED BOOKMOBILE STAFF THIS YEAR, WHICH INCREASED OUR FOOT TRAFFIC BY 142% ON THE BOOKMOBILE.

SO WE HAVE TWO OUTSTANDING GIRLS THAT TAKE THAT OUT.

AND THEY'RE PROGRAMMING, THEY'RE GETTING INTO MORE BUSINESSES, MORE DAYCARES, MORE, UH, LIKE ASSISTED LIVINGS AND JUST GETTING OUR RESOURCES TO

[00:30:01]

UH, OUR SCHOOL AGE PROGRAM IS SOMETHING WE REALLY FOCUSED ON LAST YEAR.

AND MELISSA, OUR YOUTH SERVICE LIBRARIAN INCREASED THAT AGE GROUP THAT'S SIX TO 12, UH, BY 1600 KIDS.

SO THERE WAS A 90% INCREASE IN THAT PROGRAMMING.

UH, AND FINALLY SOMETHING WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF IS, UH, JAKE ELSIE, OUR SENATOR, UH, NOMINATED SIMS LIBRARY FOR THE NATIONAL MEDAL FOR MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES.

THIS IS THE HIGHEST HONOR THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS. SO WE HAD TO WRITE A LETTER AND WE HAD TO GET THREE LETTERS OF SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND JUST PUTTING THAT TOGETHER AND JUST REALIZING EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR THE COMMUNITY JUST REALLY KIND OF REINFORCED THAT.

UH, BUT TO BE NOMINATED BY HIM, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKES US SO SOME FOOT TRAFFIC.

UH, OUR VISITOR COUNT WAS UP FOR TO 83,000, UH, 97.

AND OUR BORROWERS, SO PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTIVELY USING THEIR LIBRARY CARD TO CHECK OUT MATERIALS, NOT JUST COME TO PROGRAMS, UH, WAS ABOUT A THOUSAND, UH, INDIVIDUALS AS WELL.

SO WE KEEP MOVING ON.

WE'RE THE LAST THING I KNOW, STANDING BETWEEN YOU AND GOING HOME.

SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA, WE WHIP THROUGH THIS THING.

SO, UH, SOME CIRCULATION AND BORROWING TRENDS.

UH, WE CIRCULATED 180,000 ITEMS, ALMOST 181.

UH, OUR CIRCULATION WAS UP BY 9,000 ITEMS, 5.5%.

UH, BOOKS ON C WAS DOWN 6.9%.

UH, BUT OUR E AUDIO WAS UP 9.8%.

AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STREAMING.

THEY'RE NOT, UH, THEY DON'T HAVE CD PLAYERS IN THEIR CARS ANYMORE, YOU KNOW, AND NOT MANY AT HOME.

BUT WE DID, UH, PURCHASE SOME, UM, PORTABLE CD PLAYERS THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO YOUR CAR AND IT'LL GO IN THROUGH YOUR RADIO FREQUENCY OR BLUETOOTH OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN STILL UTILIZE OUR COLLECTION.

'CAUSE WE HAVE A VERY HEALTHY BOOKS ON C .

YEAH, I THINK THEY DO NOT LIKE THE ONES WE HAD BACK IN THE DAY.

UM, BUT THE CIRCULATION AND BORROWING TRENDS, THE LITTLE PIE GRAPH YOU SEE THERE, OUT OF THE 181,000 ITEMS, THAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF HOW IT BROKE DOWN.

SO PEOPLE ARE STILL CHECKING OUT BOOKS.

THEY STILL WANNA HOLD THE PHYSICAL BOOK IN THEIR HAND.

UH, OUR E EBOOKS WAS THE ONLY 8%.

UH, SO THEY'RE STILL COMING IN TO GET, TO GET THE PHYSICAL BOOKS.

SO I'M GONNA LEAVE THIS SLIDE UP TO SARAH.

LIKE JEN SAID, I AM THE, UM, PROGRAM AND OUTREACH.

UM, I DO PROGRAMS FOR ZERO TO FIVE, BUT OVERALL, UM, OUR ATTENDANCE HAS SKYROCKETED.

WE HAVE, IN FACT, YOU CAN SEE OUR NUMBERS OF PROGRAMS THAT WE DID 761 PROGRAMS LAST YEAR.

AND WE HAVE BEEN ADDING MORE AND MORE PROGRAMS. THEY ARE WELL ATTENDED.

UM, IT'S SO, IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE COME INTO THE LIBRARY AND JUST UTILIZE THE PROGRAMS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CARD, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING.

AND SO WHEN THAT'S A FREE SERVICE THAT WE CAN OFFER AND IT IS JUST SO HIGHLY LOVED, UGH.

IT JUST MAKES MY HEART SO HAPPY.

UM, AND THEN ALSO, SO YOU CAN SEE OUR BOOK BILL ATTENDANCE HAS GONE UP.

UM, WE, WE REALLY, JEN AND I STARTED THAT IN 2022.

OH MY GOODNESS.

YEAH, AND WHILE WE WERE DOING OUR OTHER JOBS.

AND SO, LIKE SHE SAID, THE DEDICATED STAFF THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT, IT, IT'S JUST BEEN GREAT FOR US.

UM, BUT YES, OUR PROGRAMS, UM, I WAS JUST TALKING TO JEN RECENTLY, I THINK WHEN I STARTED AT THE LIBRARY ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, WE WERE DOING ROUGHLY EIGHT PROGRAMS A WEEK.

AND NOW WE ARE AT OVER 20 PROGRAMS A WEEK, UM, TO HIT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WANNA COME IN FOR THAT.

VERY GOOD.

AND THEN I'LL, UH, GET TO DO THE COOL STUFF, THE DIGITAL AND ONLINE STUFF.

UM, SO YOU SEE COMPUTER USERS IS ACTUALLY DOWN 11%.

I'LL CIRCLE BACK TO THAT HERE AT THE END.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF, UM, GROWING DEMAND, 34% INCREASE IN STUDY AREAS.

AND THAT'S, UH, COLLEGE AND UH, SCHOOL AGE KIDS COMING IN TO DO HOMEWORK AND STUDYING AND A LOT OF MEETINGS AS WELL.

UM, THAT BIG NUMBER IS THE WIFI USAGE UP 138%.

UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE BRINGING THEIR OWN DEVICES SO THAT, WHETHER THAT BE YOUR SMARTPHONE, TABLET, LAPTOP, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, UM, THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR OWN, BUT CONNECTING TO OUR INTERNET, UM, THE DATABASE IS, UH, BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT IS ONLINE.

UM, ANCESTRY, UM, OUR NEWSPAPERS AT NEWS BANK, UM, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT THEY CAN RESEARCH FROM HOME OR IN THE LIBRARY.

UM, OUR WEBSITE VISITS HAVE INCREASED 4.5%.

FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS UP 26%.

UH, WE HAVE A DEDICATED SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONNEL THAT, UH, HANDLES AND HAS STREAMLINED THAT A LOT.

UH, AND THEN REFERENCE QUESTIONS, UH, WHICH IS A BIG, MY DEPARTMENT IS BIG IN THAT, UH, IN REFERENCE.

AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF INCREASE OF QUESTIONS OF PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR THINGS OR ASKING FOR INSTRUCTION ON THINGS.

UM, AND NOT SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, ENCYCLOPEDIA SORT OF INFORMATION, BUT, UM, ON THE NEGATIVE 11% ON COMPUTER USERS THAT ACTUALLY PERTAINS TO COMPUTERS.

OUR COMPUTER LAB THAT WE HAVE SET UP FOR THE PUBLIC.

SO NOT AS MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING IN TO USE OUR COMPUTERS.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN, UM, AND ARE BRINGING THEM IN.

UM, AND JUST BASICALLY USING OUR INTERNET.

[00:35:01]

SO THAT'S A EXCITING NEW THING WE'RE DOING.

VERY GOOD.

WHAT ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

JUST TO WRAP IT UP, THESE ARE SOME OF THE NEW INITIATIVES.

SO, UH, I THINK MOST OF, YOU KNOW, IN OCTOBER, UH, I TOOK OVER AS DIRECTOR AT THE LIBRARY.

SO THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I KIND OF WANTED TO FOCUS ON THIS YEAR AT THE LIBRARY.

UH, AND SARAH HAD BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION PREVIOUSLY THAT THERE IS A, UH, A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE NEED TO SERVE A LITTLE BETTER.

AND SO WE STARTED DOING ADAPTIVE STORY TIMES, AND THOSE ARE STORY TIMES FOR ANYONE THAT'S LIKE NEURODIVERGENT.

UH, SO ON THE SPECTRUM, UH, ANY SENSORY, UH, CHALLENGES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE DO HAVE A LADY THAT WE HIRED, UH, AS A, A PROGRAMMER AND SHE WAS A SPECIAL ED TEACHER.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER THOSE PROGRAMS NOW TO HAVE A SAFE SPACE FOR THOSE KIDS TO COME AND ENJOY THE LIBRARY WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE FELT COMFORTABLE IN SARAH'S STORY TIME, WHICH IS SUPER LOUD.

SO , UH, THE STREAMLINING THE SOCIAL MEDIA, LIKE ELLIOT SAID, WE DO HAVE A GIRL THAT'S ON OUR CIRC DESK THAT IS VERY TALENTED, UM, WITH BEING CREATIVE ONLINE.

AND SO SHE'S TAKEN THAT ROLE AND KIND OF STREAMLINING THAT SO WE CAN GET OUR MESSAGE ACROSS TO MORE PEOPLE.

AND WE'RE NOT STEPPING ON EACH OTHER'S TOES WITH OUR POSTS.

AND OUR POSTS ARE, UM, VERY LIKE PURPOSELY DRIVEN.

SO, UM, AND FINALLY STAFF DEVELOPMENT.

I KNOW WHEN I GO TO TRAINING AND GO TO TLA AND A LA AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT I COME BACK READY TO GO AND I'M JUST READY TO DO NEW THINGS.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY, OPPORTUNITY TO, TO THE REST OF OUR STAFF.

SO ANY OF THE AVAILABLE TRAININGS THAT ARE, UH, IN OUR AREA, OTHER LIBRARIES PUT ON, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SEND THEM TO, UH, AS MANY AS POSSIBLE JUST SO WHEN THEY COME BACK, THEY'RE MOTIVATED AND THEY HAVE THAT BUY-IN STILL.

UM, AND IT JUST REMINDS 'EM OF, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE DOING IT.

UM, AND THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH, PRETTY MUCH IT.

SO, LIKE I SAID, SHORT AND SWEET, BUT WE'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN AND WE'RE JUST THANKFUL FOR THE CITY AND THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH YOU.

I KNOW WE WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE.

THERE WERE SOME HARD TIMES IN OUR PAST.

UH, SO WE'RE JUST VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL THIS SUPPORT WE GET THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU.

WE'RE REALLY, UH, THANKFUL TO SEE THE, THE LIBRARY ACTIVE, UM, AND THRIVING, UM, AND, UH, LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS, UH, TO SERVE OUR KIDS AND OUR FAMILIES, UH, ALL OF THEM.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION AND YOUR DEDICATION.

THANK Y'ALL.

YEAH, TO ECHO THAT, I, I DO HAVE A QUESTION, BUT SURE.

UM, WHICH Y'ALL ARE DOING OVER THE PAST YEAR TO 18 MONTHS HAS BEEN FANTASTIC WITH LIKE THE BOOK MOBILE AND SOCIAL MEDIA, I, I NOW SEE THE LIBRARY UPDATES AND EVERYTHING .

IT'S, UM, IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.

UM, YOU, YOU KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT, BUT JUST, JUST TO, JUST FOR MY OWN KNOWLEDGE ON THE BOOKMOBILE AND THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY, WE KNOW OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE UNDERFUNDED.

UM, SHOUT OUT TO REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN HARRISON WHO WON'T FUND THEM.

UM, BUT, UM, ARE Y'ALL PARTNERING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE BOOKMOBILE AND THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY TO KIND OF HELP PROVIDE SOMETHING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY FROM TIME TO TIME TO, I GUESS, I GUESS TO BE A, A, A GOOD PARTNER AND TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE SHORTCOMINGS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE? UM, NOT SPECIFICALLY AS FAR AS LIKE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, UH, WE DO PARTNER WITH THE YMCA AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, SO OUR BOOKMOBILE IS AT A SCHOOL PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY, UH, AFTER SCHOOL.

BUT THAT'S A, A GREAT POINT THAT YOU MAKE AND, AND SOMETHING I'LL TAKE BACK TO KAYLA, WE DO PARTNER WITH, YOU KNOW, DAYMARK IS ONE OF OUR BIG PARTNERS, BUT TO GET INTO THAT SPECIAL, UH, EDUCATION FOR THE SCHOOL WOULD BE A, A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO.

I MEAN, Y'ALL ARE ALREADY DOING INCREDIBLE WORK, SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANNA HEAR.

THAT'S, NO, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE, WE NEED FEEDBACK AND WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE MIGHT THINK SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN, BUT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WE CAN SERVE BETTER AND, AND ANYTHING THAT CAN BE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION IS WONDERFUL.

SO, WELL, IF YOU NEED SOMETHING FROM US TO HELP IN THAT AREA, DON'T WAIT TILL THE BUDGET CYCLE STARTS.

YOU CAN COME ANYTIME AND THANK YOU.

UM, IF IT'S SOMETHING TO HELP OUR, OUR YOUTH, I HAVE A GOOD FEELING THAT OUR COUNCIL MIGHT GET BEHIND IT PRETTY QUICK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, TRAVIS.

THANK Y'ALL.

ALRIGHT, THANKS.

ALRIGHT.

AND NOW

[14. Comments by Mayor, City Council, City Attorney and City Manager ]

START TO MY LEFT DOWN THERE.

CITY STAFF.

Y'ALL HAVE ANYTHING? NO, MA'AM.

ALBERT,

[00:40:01]

SO, AS YOU KNOW, DALE SIGLER WAS ON LOAN TO US FOR THE PAST YEAR, UH, THE ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF, UH, IN THE CITY HALL.

AND HE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND A GREAT JOB AND, UH, HELPED US OUT A LOT AND TOOK ON A LOT OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, AND GAINED A LOT OF GREAT EXPERIENCE THAT HE WAS HOPING TO GET.

UH, BUT NOW THAT, THAT, UH, ASSIGNMENT HAS, I GUESS, TERMINATED AND HE'S GONE BACK OVER TO THE PD AND HE'S BACK OVER THERE NOW.

BUT WE DID, UH, UH, HAVE DUSTIN DEAL, UH, IN THE AUDIENCE OUT HERE.

HE'S OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

SO HE TOOK DALE'S SPOT, RICHARD SPOT, WHICHEVER SPOT YOU WANNA WANT TO CALL IT.

BUT HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB FOR US SO FAR.

UM, LAST COUNCIL MEETING WAS ACTUALLY HIS FIRST DAY HERE, SO HE'S BEEN HERE NOW FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND, UH, HE'S TAKEN ON THOSE, THOSE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND HE'S REALLY JUMPED IN FEET FIRST AND STARTED GETTING UP TO SPEED ON THINGS AND DOING A GREAT JOB.

HE COMES TO US FROM THE CITY OF WEATHERFORD, WHERE HE WAS THERE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS ACTUALLY, AND HAS A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCES FROM IT TO ANIMAL SERVICES TO, I MEAN, YOU NAME IT, HE'S PRETTY MUCH DONE IT.

SO HE'S GONNA BE A GREAT ASSET TO US AND, UH, WE WELCOME HIM ABOARD.

VERY GOOD.

WELCOME DUSTIN.

COUNCILMAN SMITH.

YEAH, I'LL JUST BE QUICK, UM, TO THE FELLOW LINES THAT ARE, THAT ARE HERE STILL AND THAT, UM, WE'RE HERE FOR THE MEETING.

UH, 100 YEARS IS A BIG, THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

UM, SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR CONTINUING TO SERVE.

UM, 'CAUSE IT, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT IF YOU'VE NEVER, IF YOU'VE NEVER EVEN JUST KIND OF SEEN WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE VISION CLINIC AND YOU JUST WANT TO JUST BE AN OBSERVER OF, OF HOW SPECIAL THAT DAY IS FOR THOSE KIDS, UM, IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE.

I MEAN, THERE'S, WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BUS, THERE ARE, THERE ARE KIDS THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T SEE AND THEN THEY GET IN THERE AND THAT GLASS COMES IN FRONT AND IT'S LIKE, OH, NOW I CAN READ THAT SIGN.

IT'S, UM, PRETTY SPECIAL.

UM, SO I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO JOIN OR TO AT LEAST COME BY ON TUESDAYS.

I NEED TO BE BETTER ABOUT IT, BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY .

UM, OTHER THAN THAT, UM, TO OUR LIBRARY STAFF, I, I MEAN IT WOULD, WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING IS INCREDIBLE AND I WILL STAND BY THAT AS AN ISD GOES, AS THE YOUTH INVOLVEMENT GOES, SO DOES A COMMUNITY.

SO WHAT Y'ALL DO TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED AND EDUCATED AND APPRECIATED, UM, IS HUGE.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

CITY ATTORNEY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO, MADAM MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

COUNCILMAN SUITOR? YES, MA'AM.

UM, QUICKLY, FIRST OFF, WALLY, AGAIN, THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

UM, YOU'RE INCREDIBLE RESOURCE HERE.

AND, UM, JUST PRIOR TO THE MEETING, THIS TELLS YOU WHAT TYPE OF PERSON WALLY IS, IS THAT HE TOLD ME TO GO, YO, THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR, BUT WE ALL, EVERYBODY IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT EARNS THIS.

AND HE'S THINKING OF HIS FELLOW COWORKERS.

AND, AND, AND I CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, ON TOP OF THAT, UM, JUST OUR CITY STAFF, IT, IT, IT, UH, IT DOESN'T AMAZE ME.

I'M JUST SO PROUD THAT WHEN I SEE STAFF JUMP IN AND HELP PEOPLE OUT AND I HEAR PEOPLE SAY, I CALLED THE CITY HALL AND I GOT THIS OR THAT.

UM, WE GOT SPECIAL PEOPLE WORKING FOR US.

AND W AND WALLY JUST EXEMPLIFIES THAT.

UM, AGAIN, THE LIBRARY, I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE LIBRARY AND IT'S AMAZING HOW THE PARKING LOT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS JUST BEEN FOLDED.

AND THEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, THINGS OUT ON THE LAWN AND YOU KNOW, YOU GO OVER THERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S AMAZING.

I AGREE WITH WHAT COUNCILMAN SMITH SAID ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT ARE WHAT MAKES A, A COMMUNITY, UM, TALK QUICKLY ABOUT THE ANIMAL SITUATION.

AND I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO SPOKE AND WHO KEEP COMING UP HERE.

AND, UM, SOMEBODY TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY, WELL, WHY DON'T WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY ON, ON, ON ANIMALS IF THEY'RE RUNNING LOOSE? AND IT'S NOT JUST, I MEAN, JUST THE COMPASSION THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEART FOR SOMETHING THAT GIVES YOU UNDYING LOVE.

UM, IT'S, IT'S THE FACT THAT IT IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN.

AND I'LL GO BACK TO ABOUT 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO, THE CITY OF DALLAS, UM, HAD A MAJOR

[00:45:01]

AND IT WAS, UM, UH, UH, PEOPLE GETTING BITTEN, RUNNING, UH, THE ANIMALS RUNNING OUT IN FRONT OF CARS, CAUSING WRECKS, JUST EVERYTHING.

UM, THIS IS SOMETHING NOW THAT THE SPCA IS IS PULLING OUT, UM, AS OF APRIL 15TH, FOLKS, WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE.

AND, AND I'M SO PROUD OF THESE LADIES AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO CONTINUE TO COME UP.

I TOLD THEM, I SAID, KEEP COMING UP, KEEP COMING UP.

AND THEY DO.

AND THERE'S A LARGE GROUP OF 'EM OUT THERE.

SO I MEAN, THIS IS NOT JUST A, A PLACE TO, TO, TO SHELTER AN ANIMAL.

IT REALLY IS A PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

SO LADIES, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

MAYOR PRO TIM WRIGHT.

SORRY, I'M ALWAYS LONG-WINDED.

.

FIRST I WANNA THANK THE GUYS IN THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IF THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CALLED IN THEIR PLACE, BUT I GO TO OMAS EVERY SATURDAY MORNING FOR BREAKFAST AND THESE GUYS WERE OUT IN FRONT OF OMAS REPLACING THE SEWER LINE OR ATTACHING A SEWER LINE AT MIDNIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE.

AND I SENT A TEXT OUT TO ALL THE GUYS.

I ATE BREAKFAST WITH THEM.

BOY, I HOPE THEY FINISH.

'CAUSE I MEAN THEY WERE OUT THERE AND IT WAS COLD AND IT WAS MUDDY AND THEY COULDN'T FIND THE SEWER LINE WAS THERE TO THE BUILDING THAT HAD BEEN THERE FOR 75 YEARS.

I'M THINKING, WHERE'D ALL THIS SEWAGE GO? BUT THOSE GUYS WERE OUT THERE DIGGING AND, AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO TO A UTILITY OR A WATER THING OR, OR ATLAS AND YOU SEE FIVE GUYS STANDING AROUND AND ONE GUY WORKING.

WELL, THESE GUYS WERE ALL WORKING.

I MEAN THEY HAD TWO OR THREE DUMP TRUCKS COMING ALONG.

LARRY MOSIE WAS OUT THERE.

SHE WAS OUT THERE 'CAUSE HER HUSBAND WAS DOING THE PLUMBING ON THE BUILDING THAT WAS CONNECTING TO IT.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T THINK WE SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH TO THOSE GUYS BECAUSE THEY DO IT NO MATTER WHAT.

THEY DO IT WHEN IT'S POURING DOWN RAIN.

THEY DO IT ONCE 20 BELOW ZERO OUTSIDE AND THEY'RE OUT THERE DIGGING AND DOING ALL THAT.

SO I REALLY WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THOSE GUYS.

THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND YEAH, THERE'S A BIG POTHOLE THERE NOW, BUT THEY'RE DOING WATER STREET FROM THE OTHER END DOWN, SO IT WILL GET FIXED COMPLETELY WHEN THEY GET DOWN TO IT.

AND YOU GOT YOUR BREAKFAST AND I GOT MY BREAKFAST .

YEAH.

THEN THE PET COALITION, I DID GO TO THE PET COALITION MEETING THAT THEY HAD THE OTHER DAY.

AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THEY'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH DIFFERENT ANIMAL GROUPS AND ALL THAT, BUT I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THEY HAD AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THERE HAD TO HAVE BEEN 50 OR 75 PEOPLE THERE.

AT LEAST THEY WERE OVERFLOWING OUT OF THE BOARDROOM INTO THE HALLWAY.

AND SO THEY'VE, THEY'VE ACTUALLY GROWN AND AND CREATED ONE GROUP THAT'S GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY ACTIVE INTO IT.