May 26, 2026 City Council on 2026-05-26 5:30 PM

THAT REALLY DOES. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AT LEAST THAT'S COVERED.

WITH ROOMS LIKE THIS, ARE THERE ANY WEEKENDS FOR, LOOKING OUT FOR YOU, SIR.

APPRECIATE IT. ITEM C IS A PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS' REQUESTS.

THANK YOU, LAUREN.

JESSICA.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAS THIS CHANGED SOME... NICE.

WELL, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING. TONIGHT I AM PRESENTING THE LIST OF APPLICANTS FOR THE CITY'S ANNUAL SPECIAL FUNDING PROCESS FOR SERVICE AND ART ORGANIZATIONS. AS YOU KNOW, THESE GRANTS SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES, PROMOTE ARTS AND CULTURE, AND OFFER PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT COPPELL RESIDENTS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS THREEFOLD. FIRST, WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUBMITTED FISCAL YEAR '27 FUNDING APPLICATIONS.

SECONDLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO IDENTIFY WHICH ORGANIZATIONS MEET THE CRITERIA TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO YOU AT THE JULY WORKSHOP. AND THIS IS ALL BASED ON YOUR COUNCIL GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED ON AUGUST 30TH, 2016 THAT WERE UPDATED ON APRIL 23RD, 2024.

AND THIRD, TO RECEIVE YOUR DIRECTION ON WHETHER TO ADD OR REMOVE ANY ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE RECOMMENDED PRESENTERS LIST.

THIS YEAR'S APPLICATION PERIOD WAS OPEN FROM APRIL 1ST THROUGH APRIL 28TH, AND WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 23 APPLICATIONS. 15 ORGANIZATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING UNDER THE GENERAL FUND MAYOR AND COUNCIL BUDGET, AND 8 ORGANIZATIONS QUALIFY UNDER THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX OR HOT FUND. IN FRONT OF YOU ARE TWO SPREADSHEETS.

THE FIRST SPREADSHEET IS ARE, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ELIGIBLE UNDER HOP FUNDING, AND THE SECOND SPREADSHEET WILL BE THE ONES ELIGIBLE FOR THE GENERAL FUNDING. THE SPREADSHEETS INCLUDE THE ORGANIZATION NAME, REQUESTED FUNDING AMOUNT, PERCENTAGE CHANGE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR REQUEST, AND NOTES IDENTIFYING WHEN THE ORGANIZATION LAST PRESENTED PRIOR YEAR FUNDING COMPARISONS AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION.

BASED ON YOUR APPROVED CRITERIA, 5 ORGANIZATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED TO MAKE A PRESENTATION AT THE JULY WORKSHOP. UNDER THE APRIL 2024 GUIDELINES, PRESENTATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR NEW APPLICANTS AND ALSO ORGANIZATIONS REQUESTING MORE THAN $20,000 WITH AN INCREASE OF GREATER THAN 50% FROM THE PRIOR YEAR ALLOCATION.

THE 5 ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMENDED TO PRESENT INCLUDE 4 NEW APPLICANTS. WE DO HAVE THE COPPELL COMMUNITY GARDEN CORPORATION, THE COPPELL FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION, COPPELL HUMANE SOCIETY, AND THE COPPELL ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AS WELL AS ONE ORGANIZATION, THE COPPELL COMMUNITY CORRAL, WHICH IS REQUESTING MORE THAN $20,000 WITH AN INCREASE EXCEEDING 50% FROM THE PRIOR YEAR ALLOCATION.

THE REMAINING ORGANIZATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING CONSIDERATION, BUT THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE A PRESENTATION UNDER THE SAME CRITERIA.

AT THIS TIME, STAFF IS SEEKING COUNCIL DIRECTION ON WHETHER TO PROCEED WITH THE RECOMMENDED LIST OF PRESENTERS OR MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS. AND THEN I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION.

BRIANNA. QUICK QUESTION. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS, AND THIS IS HELPFUL AND EASY TO SEE SO COPPELL ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION, EVEN THE FARMERS MARKET, HAVE THEY NEVER MADE A REQUEST OR IS IT ONLY WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF YEARS? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THEY, HAVE THEY NOT BEEN HERE BEFORE? THEY HAVE NEVER MADE A REQUEST THROUGH THE SERVICE OR APPLICATION PROCESS. THEY HAVE,

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ALTHOUGH RECEIVED FUNDING, TWO OF THE ORGANIZATIONS LISTED, THE COPPELL HILL FARMERS MARKET AND THE GARDEN, THE COMMUNITY GARDEN, HAS RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH, BUT IT WASN'T REQUESTED.

BUT NOT REQUESTED.

OKAY, GOTCHA. OKAY, THANK YOU.

THAT'S HELPFUL. YEAH.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS. I AGREE, IT'S VERY HELPFUL. SO, DO WE KNOW IF THE COMMUNITY GARDEN AND THE FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION ARE REQUESTING THIS IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THEIR SPLIT UP INTO TWO SEPARATE ORGANIZATIONS? AND A PART OF THE, WHAT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US WAS THEY HAD, WERE ONE ENTITY AND THEY WERE SPLIT INTO TWO ENTITIES. AND, PART PART OF THAT, I BELIEVE THAT'S PART OF, DUE TO THAT, THAT THEY WILL BE HERE IF YOU DECIDE TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION AT THE JULY WORKSHOP.

SO WE'RE JUST DECIDING IF, IF THE COLOR-CODED ONES ARE THE ONES WE WANT TO HEAR FROM, OR IF THERE'S ANY OTHERS.

CORRECT.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DON, I AM IN FAVOR OF THE ONES YOU HAVE MARKED HERE HEARING FROM THEM, BECAUSE PROBABLY TO YOUR POINT A LITTLE BIT, THESE 4 ON THE NON-HOT PAGE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S 200 $25,000 INCREASE. SO, IT'S A MATERIAL INCREASE AND EVERYTHING. SO, I CERTAINLY THINK WE SHOULD HEAR FROM THESE NEW ONES THAT HAVE NOT PRESENTED BEFORE. SO, I'M IN FAVOR OF THE LIST THAT THEY HAVE PRESENTED. THAT'S THE SUM OF IT.

YOU ACTUALLY ANSWERED THE QUESTION SHE WAS ASKING.

I'LL TRY TO DO THAT.

I AGREE WITH WHAT, EX-MAYOR PRO TEM, CARROLL SAID.

I'M STILL COUNCILMAN.

WOW.

MAYOR PRO TEM.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM.

THAT'S $135,000, AND AT LEAST FOR MY BENEFIT, I WANT TO REFRESH WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THAT, AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THEM ON ANY GRANTS THAT THEY HAVE TRY TO APPLY FOR.

SO YES, WE CAN INCORPORATE THEM INTO THE LIST.

YEAH, MIKE, DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATE FROM THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY? I KNOW THE LAST ONE I GAVE YOU WAS WHAT, 2 MONTHS AGO, 2 OR 3 MONTHS AGO? OKAY, THAT'S IT OTHER THAN THEIR APPLICATION.

OKAY I'M IN FAVOR OF, THE 5 THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED, AND I'M ACTUALLY GIVING RAMESH 2 ON I KNOW WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MUSEUM ABOUT THEIR DESIRE TO BE INDEPENDENT BY, BY BEING GRANT FUNDED AND STUFF, SO THAT, THAT UPDATE MAKES SENSE TO ME, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A, ONLY A 4% INCREASE IN THEIR ASK.

THEY STILL, IT'S STILL A BIG ASK OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR HERE. WE'RE, WE'RE BEING ASKED TO FUND $676,000, $876,000, I'M SORRY.

CORRECT, ABOUT COMBINING BOTH THE HOT AND NORMAL LUNCH.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS NUMBER WASN'T SOMEWHERE HIDDEN IN HERE, AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS BRIANNA? UM, SO I'M, I'M GOOD WITH, I'LL SECOND WHATEVER KEVIN NEVELS SAID.

I SECONDED HIS.

OKAY, WELL, I'LL THIRD IT. I, I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT TOO.

BUT HERE'S A, REMIND ME OF THE PROCESS BECAUSE WE GO THROUGH THIS EVERY YEAR AND I FORGET THE OTHERS THAT HAVE INCREASES, THEY DON'T MEET THE THRESHOLD, SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME BEFORE US, BUT WE'LL STILL SEE THE APPLICATION AND WE STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IT. IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC.

YES, MA'AM, WE WILL HAVE THE APPLICATION AND THE SUPPORTING MATERIAL AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO REVIEW, AND WE'LL DROP IT INTO THE COUNCIL SHAREPOINT SO YOU CAN LOOK AT IT, AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE IF WE'RE, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH EACH ONE AND SAY YAY.

WE WON'T, WE WON'T GO THROUGH EACH APPLICATION NO, BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE WE SAY YES, WE APPROVE THEM ALL. WE CAN SAY, OH, WE'RE NOT OKAY WITH THE, YOU KNOW, $10,000 INCREASE FOR X.

AND I WILL ADD SOME ADVANCE WARNING. IT'D BE NICE SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

OKAY, THE CONVERSATION READY TO GO. BUT YES, ABSOLUTELY.

OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE SOMEWHERE IN THERE I HADN'T MISSED THAT THIS WAS LIKE AN AUTOMATIC, THEY GET A YES, THUMBS UP, BECAUSE THEN WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIKE, IF I'M UNDER THE THRESHOLD, I CAN JUST KEEP INCREASING EACH YEAR, RIGHT? SO I WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT TOO.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

YEAH, MICHAEL, FOLLOW UP. I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR EMAIL FROM 2 MONTHS AGO. THAT WAS A FINANCIAL INFORMATION, THAT WAS THE INFORMATION THAT THE COUNCIL HAD TO ASK FOR, RIGHT? RIGHT. SO, THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE, WE WERE DISCUSSING ABOUT IF THE CITY DOESN'T FUND IT THE MUSEUM, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH

[00:15:02]

RESOURCES OR INCOME COMING IN TO OPERATE IT. AND THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE, CITY MAY HAVE TO TAKE OVER.

AND YEAH, WE HAVEN'T HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS SINCE LAST YEAR.

THAT'S CORRECT. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH, CHRIS.

THIS IS MORE ON THE LOGISTICS OF THIS EVENING THAT WE ARE GOING TO, BE PRIVILEGED TO HEAR ALL THESE DISCUSSIONS.

ARE THEY, WHAT'S OUR, WHAT DO WE TELL THEM? WERE THEY LIMITED TO 10-MINUTE PRESENTATION OR WHAT? I GUESS I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER. IF WE HAVE 6 OF THEM NOW TO TALK ABOUT, ARE THEY 10 MINUTES EACH OR WHAT? WHAT'S, WHAT DO YOU RECALL WHAT THE PARAMETERS ARE? YES, AND THE PRESENTATIONS WILL ACTUALLY WOULD BE MADE YOU AT THE JULY WORKSHOP. OKAY, SO THAT WILL BE JULY 13TH TENTATIVELY. AND THE CRITERIA TYPICALLY WE GIVE THEM IN THE PAST HAS BEEN ABOUT 5 MINUTES. HOWEVER, THAT'S OKAY.

SO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THAT TIME, WE CAN DO THAT BUT TYPICALLY IN THE PAST WE'VE GIVEN THEM ABOUT 5 MINUTES. OKAY. AND THEN 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

YOU WANT 20 MINUTES? NO, I WOULD JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT'S VERY SUCCINCT.

ABOUT 10.

YEAH, WE'VE TRIED TO LIMIT IT.

WE'VE TRIED TO LIMIT IT TO 10 MINUTES PER APPLICATION DEPENDING ON QUESTIONS FROM THIS ESTEEMED GROUP.

YES, AND THAT'S STILL AN HOUR AT MINIMUM.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, WE JUST HAVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW ONES IN HERE, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL.

THIS IS THE MOST NEW ONES I'VE EVER SEEN, RIGHT? SO YES, AND THERE'S SOME BIG ONES TOO.

SO VERY BIG.

I'M GOOD.

IS EVERYBODY OKAY WITH THIS? WE'LL ASK FOR THE 6 THAT ARE LISTED PLUS THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ITEM D IS A PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PROPOSED OLD TOWN SPECIAL DISTRICT.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TONIGHT'S ITEM IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN INFORMATIONAL OVERVIEW OF A POTENTIAL OLD TOWN SPECIAL DISTRICT FRAMEWORK AND INTRODUCE THREE FUTURE DECISION AREAS: BOARD COMPOSITION, NAMING CONVENTION, AND GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES.

THESE DECISION AREAS WILL INFORM FUTURE LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING AND END STAKEHOLDER DISCUSSIONS. NO ACTION OR DIRECTION IS REQUESTED THIS EVENING. STAFF WILL RETURN DURING THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING WORK SESSION FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AND COUNCIL DIRECTION AS WE CONTINUE EVALUATING OPTIONS WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANTS. THE FIRST FOUNDATIONAL CONSIDERATION IS CREATING A SPECIAL DIST, IN CREATING A SPECIAL DISTRICT IS THE BOARD COMPOSITION. WHICH INCLUDES GOVERNANCE STYLE, BOARD SIZE, AND TERM LENGTH. THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE SPECIFICALLY IS WHO WOULD OVERSEE THE DISTRICT FRAMEWORK. AS PART OF STAFF REVIEW OF SIMILARLY STRUCTURED SPECIAL DISTRICTS, THERE ARE GENERALLY THREE GOVERNANCE APPROACHES THAT EMERGE. THE FIRST IS A COUNCIL-LED BOARD, WHERE GOVERNANCE IS COMPOSED OF THE CITY COUNCIL ITSELF.

THE SECOND IS A COUNCIL-APPOINTED BOARD, WHERE COUNCIL APPOINTS COMMUNITY, BUSINESS, OR STAKEHOLDER REPRESENTATIVES.

THE THIRD IS A HYBRID MODEL, WHICH COMBINES ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH APPOINTED STAKEHOLDERS, OFTEN TO BALANCE MUNICIPAL OVERSIGHT WITH COMMUNITY OR BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES.

ADDITIONALLY, SOME EXISTING SPECIAL DISTRICT LEGISLATION INCLUDES STAFF SERVING IN EX OFFICIO ROLES TO SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION. TONIGHT, THIS IS INTENDED ONLY AS AN OVERVIEW OF COMMON GOVERNANCE APPROACHES.

THE NEXT CONSIDERATION FOR BOARD COMPOSITION IS BOARD SIZE. THROUGH A REVIEW OF TEXAS SPECIAL DISTRICTS, GOVERNANCE BOARDS VARY IN SIZE DEPENDING ON PURPOSE AND COMPLEXITY.

SMALL BOARDS WITH 3 DIRECTORS CAN SIMPLIFY GOVERNANCE FOR A NARROWLY FOCUSED DISTRICT.

5-MEMBER BOARDS ARE A COMMON STRUCTURE AND TEND TO BALANCE MANAGEABILITY WITH STAKEHOLDER REPRESENTATION.

7-MEMBER BOARDS ALLOW FOR BROADER STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION AND ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATION. AGAIN, THE INTENT IS SIMPLY TO INTRODUCE THE COMMON GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES USED IN SPECIAL DISTRICTS. THE FINAL CONSIDERATION RELATED TO BOARD COMPOSITION IS BOARD TERM STRUCTURE. SHORTER TERMS, SUCH AS 2 YEARS, ARE MORE COMMON IN SOME APPOINTED AUTHORITIES AND ALLOW FOR MORE FREQUENT TURNOVER.

LONGER STAGGERED TERMS, OFTEN 4 YEARS, APPEAR MORE FREQUENTLY IN SPECIAL DISTRICT GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES AND ARE INTENDED TO SUPPORT CONTINUITY AND LONG-TERM DISTRICT STEWARDSHIP.

STAFF ALSO INCLUDED A 3-YEAR STAGGERED TERM OPTION. WHILE THAT IS NOT COMMON STRUCTURE IN SPECIAL DISTRICT LEGISLATION, IT COULD BE CONSIDERED IF COUNCIL WISHED

[00:20:02]

TO ALIGN APPOINTED BOARD TERMS WITH EXISTING COUNCIL TERMS. BOARD TERM STRUCTURE BECOMES AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION BECAUSE IT BALANCES CONTINUITY, INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND BOARD REFRESH OVER TIME. BECAUSE OF THIS DISTRICT, BECAUSE THIS DISTRICT FRAMEWORK WOULD BE ESTABLISHED THROUGH SPECIAL LEGISLATION, COUNCIL HAS SIGNIFICANT DISCRETION WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING PROCESS.

THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE IS ESTABLISHED IN THE ENABLING LEGISLATION AND IS NOT FIXED TO ANY SINGLE STATUTORY TEMPLATE.

THE SECOND FOUNDATIONAL CONSIDERATION IS THE NAMING CONVENTION OF THE SPECIAL DISTRICT. IN REVIEWING EXISTING SPECIAL DISTRICTS WHOSE LEGISLATION REFERENCES ENTERTAINMENT, TOURISM, RECREATION, AND/OR THE ARTS AS PART OF THE DISTRICT PURPOSE, DISTRICT NAMES COMMONLY REFLECT BOTH A PLACE AND A FUNCTION.

IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS GENERALLY EMPHASIZE PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS, MAINTENANCE, OR ENHANCEMENT OF A PLACE.

MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS ARE MORE COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH GOVERNANCE, COORDINATION, DISTRICT STEWARDSHIP, AND ECONOMIC ACTIVATION.

ENTERTAINMENT-RELATED LANGUAGE MAY BE INCORPORATED WHEN DESTINATION ACTIVITY OR VISITOR-SERVING USES ARE PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

THE INTENT TONIGHT IS TO FAMILIARIZE, FAMILIARIZE COUNCIL WITH NAMING APPROACHES THAT ALREADY EXIST IN THE TEXAS SPECIAL DISTRICT LEGISLATION. AND THE FINAL CONSIDERATION IS DISTRICT GEOGRAPHY AND BOUNDARIES.

UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS GOVERNANCE AND NAMING DISCUSSION ITEMS, THIS GRAPHIC REFLECTS PRIOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING THE GENERAL OLD TOWN GEOGRAPHY AND FUTURE GROWTH CONSIDERATIONS. THE AREAS SHOWN IN BLUE REFLECT PRIOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION REGARDING THE GENERAL OLD TOWN BOUNDARY FRAMEWORK. THE AREAS SHOWN IN RED ILLUSTRATE A POTENTIAL GEOGRAPHIC ADDITION FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION AS PART OF EVALUATING HOW A SPECIAL DISTRICT COULD ACCOMMODATE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES AND GROWTH CONSIDERATIONS IDENTIFIED BY COUNCIL. AS STAFF BEGAN EVALUATING A POTENTIAL DISTRICT FRAMEWORK, THESE GEOGRAPHIC CONSIDERATIONS BECOME IMPORTANT BECAUSE DISTRICT LEGISLATION ESTABLISHES THE BOUNDARIES OF THE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK AND INFLUENCES THE TYPE OF USES CONTEMPLATED WITHIN IT. THIS MAP IS INTENDED TO SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR A FUTURE COUNCIL DISCUSSION REGARDING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS MAY ALSO BE DISCUSSED IN INCLUDING WHETHER RESIDENTIALLY DEVELOPED PROPERTY SHOULD BE INCLUDED OR CARVED OUT OF THE DISTRICT GEOGRAPHY. THE INTENT TONIGHT IS TO PROVIDE CONTEXT REGARDING HOW PRIOR COUNCIL DIRECTION MAY INFORM A FUTURE, FUTURE SPECIAL DISTRICT BOUNDARY FRAMEWORK. TO RECAP, TONIGHT I INTRODUCED 3 FUTURE DECISION AREAS ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENTIAL SPECIAL DISTRICT FRAMEWORK. FIRST, BOARD COMPOSITION INCLUDING GOVERNANCE STYLE, BOARD SIZE, AND TERM STRUCTURE. SECOND, THE NAMING CONVENTION, INCLUDING HOW TEXAS SPECIAL DISTRICTS COMMONLY REFLECT BOTH PLACE AND FUNCTION IN DISTRICT TITLES. THIRD, GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES, WHICH BUILDS UPON PRIOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION REGARDING OLD TOWN GEOGRAPHY AND FUTURE GROWTH CONSIDERATIONS. TONIGHT WAS INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN INFORMATIONAL OVERVIEW OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS IN ADVANCE OF A FUTURE COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

FINALLY, I WANT TO PROVIDE A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE NEXT STEPS.

THIS IS THE SAME INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED DURING THE PREVIOUS RETREAT.

HOWEVER, I'VE ADDED TODAY'S DATE AND THEN THE NEXT WORK SESSION. PHASE 1 FOCUSES ON DISTRICT FRAMEWORK DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, NAMING CONVENTION, AND DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

TONIGHT'S WORK SESSION IS INTENDED TO INTRODUCE THESE CONSIDERATIONS, WITH THE NEXT WORK SESSION FOCUSED ON DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION.

FOLLOWING COUNCIL DISCUSSION, STAFF WOULD CONTINUE REFINING LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANTS IN PREPARATION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

PHASE 2 WOULD INCLUDE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS ITSELF, INCLUDING DRAFTING, FILING, COMMITTEE REVIEW, AND LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT. IF ULTIMATELY PURSUED AND APPROVED, PHASE 3 WOULD FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTATION, INCLUDING GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND DISTRICT OVERSIGHT. THIS CONCLUDES TONIGHT'S INFORMATIONAL OVERVIEW. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATION, NAMING CONVENTIONS, OR GEOGRAPHIC CONCEPTS INTRODUCED.

THANK YOU. SO, WITH RESPECT TO THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, YOU'RE SAYING WE WOULD PUT THAT IN THE ENABLING LEGISLATION.

SO, IF WE OPTED, LIKE, IF WE WANTED TO HAVE COUNCIL BE THE BOARD FOR THE FIRST YEAR JUST TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEN SWITCH TO AN APPOINTED BOARD, AS AN EXAMPLE, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO DO THAT ONCE THE LEGISLATION IS WRITTEN AND APPROVED? YES.

SO THE ACTUAL LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE PROPOSING WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE CONSIDERATIONS OF THE ONES THAT I HAVE REVIEWED, I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT OPTION, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD COUNCIL DECIDE YOU WANT TO INCLUDE THAT,

[00:25:01]

YOU ARE ABLE TO. THAT'S PART OF WHAT FALLS UNDER THE COUNCIL DISCRETION.

OKAY, OKAY, THANK YOU.

RAMESH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. A GREAT PRESENTATION, KELLY. AND MAYOR, I'M ASSUMING THAT THE NEXT WORK SESSION WE WOULD ACTUALLY GO INTO THE DETAILS, SO I APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN SHARE A COPY OF THIS SO WE'LL COME PREPARED FOR THE NEXT SESSION.

QUESTION ON THE BOUNDARIES.

DID I HEAR YOU IMPLY, MAYBE SUBJECTIVELY, THAT IT'S BETTER TO GO BIGGER THAN SMALLER SINCE IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE? SO BACK TO THIS ONE. SO, THIS REFLECTS SOME OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS HAD EITHER JANUARY, FEBRUARY'S RETREAT IN TERMS OF WHAT TO INCLUDE IT'S REALLY GETTING UP TO COUNCIL DISCRETION, JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT SHOULD THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES WANT TO BE AMENDED LATER ON, IT WOULD NEED TO GO BACK THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS FOR THAT AMENDMENT.

OKAY, THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY. AND IT DOESN'T MEAN JUST BECAUSE YOU DESIGNATE IT THAT WAY THAT IT WILL BE USED THAT WAY? CORRECT.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO GO BACK TO THE CALENDAR, CALLIE. SO, WE'LL HEAR THIS IN 2 WEEKS, OR THE DISCUSSION OF IT AND DIRECTIONS. HOW ARE YOU SEEING PHASE 2 KICK OFF OR BEGIN, OR HOW DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING IN PHASE 2? SO ONCE I RECEIVE DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION, AND I'LL WORK WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO BEGIN DRAFTING THE LEGISLATION, WHICH IS WHERE WE PUT ALL THIS CONSIDERATION INTO THE ACTUAL WRITTEN TERMS, AS WELL AS THE OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED IN THERE, SUCH AS DISSOLUTION OF THE DISTRICT AND OTHER THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THEN ONCE A DRAFT REGISTRATION LEGISLATION IS, IS READY, THEN IT WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL IN A MEETING FOR FINAL APPROVAL BEFORE ANY MOVEMENT. AND THEN AFTER THAT IS WHEN WE WOULD SUBMIT TO OUR LEGISLATORS.

SO WOULD THIS, WHO WOULD BE THE CHAMPION OF THIS IN THE, IN THE LEGISLATURE? WOULD IT BE THROUGH THE HOUSE OR THROUGH THE SENATE? UM, THAT IS A STRATEGY THAT WE JUST HAVE NOT DISCUSSED YET WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANTS, CONSIDERING THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE ELECTION IS STILL UP. YEAH, THAT WILL HAPPEN UNTIL NOVEMBER.

I KEEP FORGETTING ABOUT THOSE COMMON LITTLE ELECTION THINGS.

AND SO THAT WILL ALSO COME JUST POST-ELECTION WITH THE MAKEUP OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SO THAT WILL IMPACT THE OUTCOME, OR COULD IT? YEAH, IT COULD. SO, THE REPRESENTATIVES ARE UP FOR REELECTION IN NOVEMBER, OUR SENATOR IS NOT, BUT JUST DEPENDING ON STATEWIDE HOW THE ELECTIONS TURN OUT, THERE WILL BE A LEGISLATURE SHIFT OKAY, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA IN LAST 5 YEARS HOW MANY CITIES REQUESTED THIS TYPE OF REQUEST TO THE LEGISLATORS? I CAN, I CAN RESEARCH THAT. IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. THE DATABASES WHERE ALL THIS INFORMATION IS HELD DO NOT SYNC WITH ONE ANOTHER, SO THERE'S A SPECIAL DATABASE OR SPECIAL DISTRICT DATABASE AND CONTROLLER'S OFFICE, AND THEN THE ASSOCIATED BILL NUMBERS ARE HOUSED IN A COMPLETE DIFFERENT DATABASE. SO, JUST MATCHING THOSE UP WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT.

SO, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS SUCCESS RATE. HOW MANY CITIES REQUESTED? HOW MANY BEEN APPROVED? ARE WE REALLY SPENDING OUR TIME AND THE MONEY? ARE WE GOING TO GET SOMETHING IN RETURN? SO, FINDING SUCCESS RATE IS REALLY DIFFICULT. SO, THE DATABASES BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY DON'T MATCH UP WITH ONE ANOTHER, SO THE DISTRICT NAME MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE BILL NAME. SO, IT'S A MATTER OF GOING BACK AND FINDING ALL THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS THAT PASSED IN A CERTAIN YEAR, RESEARCHING BACK AND FINDING AN ASSOCIATED BILL NAME WITH HOWEVER MANY LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS IT WAS, AND THEN GOING FROM THERE.

SO, IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE, IT WILL JUST TAKE SOME TIME.

I MIGHT GET HELP WITH THAT.

GENERALLY, IT'S PRETTY LOCAL IN NATURE, THE LEGISLATION WON'T HAVE MANY OBJECTIONS TO IT. ORDINARILY WE'LL USE THE STATE REP WHO WILL RUN IT THROUGH FOR US. IF IT'S PURELY LOCAL IN NATURE, THE LEGISLATIVE DISLIKE FOR CITIES IN GENERAL GENERALLY DOESN'T SPILL OVER INTO LOCAL BILLS. SO, THE SUCCESS RATE IS USUALLY PRETTY GOOD. NO GUARANTEES, MIND YOU, BUT IT'S USUALLY PRETTY GOOD.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO USE LOBBYISTS FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW THE ONES THAT DIDN'T PASS. BECAUSE THERE IS NO BILL AND IT'S NOT REGISTERED AT THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

SO, THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO KNOW WHEN SOMETHING DIDN'T GET APPROVED. SO, THE NEGATIVE OF THAT IS THERE'S NO WAY TO SHOW THAT INFORMATION CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE 3 THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THE COUNCIL? OKAY.

UM, ON THE BOARD COMPOSITION,

[00:30:03]

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, WHAT DO YOU NEED SO YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DECISION? I'M GOING TO ASK THAT FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE BECAUSE TODAY IS THE DAY TO LET US KNOW WHAT THIS INFORMATION YOU NEED. SO, ON GOVERNANCE, JIM HAS ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT, HEY, DOES THIS GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT? THAT GIVES US INSIGHT TO SAY, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT, RIGHT? AND WE LIKE THE LEGISLATION.

I JUST KIND OF WONDERED ABOUT OUR OPTIONS, RIGHT? YEAH, START OUT ONE WAY AND TRANSFORM TO ANOTHER.

RIGHT.

FOR ME, I BELIEVE IT WAS, THAT WAS LIKE WITH THE HYBRID AT THE BOTTOM, AND IT WAS APPOINTED, AND THEN IT'S COUNCIL BASICALLY I LIKE THE IDEA OF EVENTUALLY GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM STAKEHOLDERS IN THE, IN THE DISTRICT ON THAT. SO, MAYBE KIND OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT, ANY SPECIFIC STRUCTURES, LIKE, IS THAT MADE UP OF, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE DOWN THERE? BUT I MEAN, LIKE, UNDERSTANDING WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE, THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THAT COMP, THAT HYBRID YEAH, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF KIND OF WHERE JIM WAS GOING, LIKE, MAYBE THE COUNCIL IS THE FIRST ITERATION SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SET UP AND THEN WE CAN TAKE OUR HAND OFF THE PROVERBIAL WHEEL A LITTLE BIT AND MAKE SURE THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT HAVING THAT INPUT FROM THOSE STAKEHOLDERS DOWN THERE IS IMPORTANT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME ALIGNMENT ON VISION. I THINK THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE ON THAT.

SO, KEEP IN MIND WE ACTUALLY HAVE ALL THREE DIFFERENT COMPOSITIONS THAT WE CURRENTLY OPERATE EXACTLY. WE HAVE ALL THREE I HAD DON FIRST AND THEN BIJOU AND THEN RAMESH.

I'D BE CURIOUS ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THE BOARD WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. WHAT WOULD ALL THE DUTIES BE? WHAT, YOU KNOW, OVERSEEING THIS DISTRICT OR WHATEVER, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY ENTAIL ON AN ONGOING BASIS? SO, BECAUSE I'M NOT REAL CLEAR WHAT THAT WOULD BE. IS THERE A BUDGET, OR IS IT JUST, WELL, I DON'T KNOW, MANAGEMENT GENERIC MANAGEMENT OF THE DISTRICT OR WHAT.

SO, YEAH, SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THIS DISTRICT, RIGHT? NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND THE BOARD.

NOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, THE SIZE OF THE BOARD. NOW, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT GOVERNANCE IN GENERAL, RIGHT? SO IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE A COPY OF ANOTHER DISTRICT, HOW MANY BOARD MEMBERS THEY HAVE. WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES THEY INHERITED, OR THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, WROTE IT DOWN, OKAY, AND BUDGETS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. IT WOULD BE EASY TO UNDERSTAND, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT ANOTHER DISTRICT DID, SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST HAVE INTELLIGENT QUESTIONS TO ASK, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE BENEFIT OF HAVING 7 VERSUS 5 OVERALL.

I'M ACTUALLY FALLING ALONG THE LINE OF QUESTIONS. I THOUGHT TODAY WE HAVE CRDC. IS THAT A SPECIAL DISTRICT? AND I'M TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN JUST, IT'S NOT A SPECIAL DISTRICT, OKAY, THE TAXING ENTITY.

OKAY, THIS IS DIFFERENT.

REMEMBER, WE ARE NOT PUTTING A PROPERTY TAX OR DOING ANY KIND OF TAXATION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. THIS DISTRICT WITH CERTAIN BOUNDARIES.

GOT IT.

SO, IT'S DIFFERENT.

BUT IS THAT PART OF YOUR COVENANTS? OKAY, LET'S RAISE THE LEVEL.

SO, THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF THE CRDC IS WHAT THE MAYOR WAS TALKING ABOUT. THAT'S ONE LEVEL. CCPD, THAT'S ANOTHER LEVEL. CITY COUNCIL, THAT'S A THIRD LEVEL.

YOU HAVE DIFFERENT GOVERNANCE MODELS. OKAY, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO. HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE GOVERNED? OKAY.

AND TO THE POINT OF UNDERSTANDING, WE'LL GET YOU THE LINKS TO THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE YOU APPARENTLY WANT TO SEE SOME DIFFERENT ONES.

THE REASON I SAY LENGTH IS BECAUSE THEY'RE USUALLY FAIRLY LONG, AND JUST REMEMBER THAT COMES AFTER YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW YOU WANT TO GOVERN AS FAR AS THE BOARD IS CONCERNED.

THE DETAILS, THAT COMES IN A LITTLE BIT LATER. YES, YOU GIVE US DIRECTION, BUT JUST UNDERSTAND THERE'S KIND OF A STEP DOWN AS YOU START TO DIG INTO IT. SO, OKAY, WE HEAR WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

THE NAMING CONVENTION, YOU HEARD THE 3 OPTIONS ON THAT. IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY JUST ABOUT A PREFERENCE OF REVIEW AROUND THIS TABLE. I'M NOT SO SURE OTHER THAN JUST COMING UP WITH CONSENSUS AND SAYING, OKAY, IT'S A MANAGEMENT DISTRICT OR IT'S AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

BUT THAT'S, IS THERE ANYTHING MORE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ON THE NAMING CONVENTION? YEAH, NO, I MEAN, MY THING IS THE INITIAL INTRODUCTION THAT YOU GAVE TO THIS WHOLE TOPIC, THAT KIND OF TELLS US HOW WE ARE GOING, THAT'S THE GOAL OF THIS WHOLE SPECIAL DISTRICT, AND THAT GOAL WILL DRIVE THE GOVERNANCE. SO, TO ME, THERE

[00:35:02]

MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE DISCUSSION ON GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES. SO, I'D LIKE TO SEE AN OPTION WHERE WE COVER MORE AREA. UH, THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION, TO THE WEST.

BECAUSE Y'ALL DID TALK ABOUT THAT. IF I GO AHEAD AND GO FORWARD, IF YOU PULL UP THE MAP, BASED ON Y'ALL'S PREVIOUS DISCUSSION, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS GOING TO ASK IS, DO YOU WANT TO SEE A MAP THAT ACTUALLY HAS A LITTLE BIT LARGER, ENCOMPASSES A LITTLE BIT LARGER AREA? BECAUSE WE RECALL Y'ALL ARE DISCUSSING ACROSS FREEPORT AND ACROSS BETHEL AT ONE POINT IN TIME. GRANTED, THIS IS WHAT SETTLED ON A WHILE BACK, KNOWING THAT THIS DISTRICT CAN BE SOMETHING LARGER.

TO YOUR POINT, DOESN'T MEAN IT HASN'T NECESSARILY A, YOU DO SOMETHING WITH IT, BUT IT DOES KIND OF SET IT UP. SO, I'M THINKING THAT WE WANT TO BRING YOU A MAP THAT ISN'T HIGHLIGHTING ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU HAD THERE, BUT IT'S AT LEAST GETTING YOU SO YOU CAN SEE IT A LITTLE CLEANER THAN WHAT YOU SEE RIGHT NOW TO THE CALL IT TO THE WEST, RIGHT? JUST BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT.

I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT TO THE SOUTH BECAUSE THE RAILROAD TRACKS ARE THE NATURAL BOUNDARY, YOU KNOW, TO IT.

SO, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA THAT WE CAN BE PROVIDING YOU THAT'S MORE HELPFUL? OKAY, NOW ACTUALLY, JOHN WAS FIRST.

HE GOT ME. HE GOT ME. I DIDN'T KNOW HE EVEN THOUGHT.

WELL, PLEASE PUSH HIS CAMERA. I CAN SEE IT.

UM, SO WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE DISTRICT IF THERE'S NO TAXING AUTHORITY? WHAT, I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE ENVISIONING? WHAT AUTHORITY WOULD THEY HAVE? SO THAT IS ALSO UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNCIL IT, THE SPECIAL DISTRICT LEGISLATION ALREADY EXISTS THEY ACT AS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESSENTIALLY SO IF YOU GO BACK TO YOU SEE TO THE UNDER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS AND GOVERNANCE COORDINATION ACTIVATION PROGRAMMING SPECIFICALLY WHERE THAT, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. SAY WITH THE FORMATION OF THE SPECIAL DISTRICT, WE KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ALCOHOL ISSUE, RIGHT? SO THAT GETS INTO GETTING IT CREATED SO THAT ALCOHOL CAN BE SERVED AND EVERYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

COUNCIL HAS TALKED ABOUT ACTIVATION OF, THIS PARTICULAR AREA, AND SO WE'VE BEEN SETTING ASIDE FUNDS EACH YEAR FOR SOME ACTIVATION. WELL, NOW THAT YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROGRAMMING AND EVERYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES, YOU COULD FUNNEL THOSE FUNDS OVER TO THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS. IT'S A WAY, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF LIKE YOU DO WITH HOTEL TAX OR GENERAL FUND, AND THAT WAY THEY HAVE FUNDING IN PLACE WITHOUT THE TAXATION DIRECT TAXATION ON PROPERTY TAX, RIGHT? ANOTHER THING IS ON SALES TAX, ANY SALES TAX THAT'S GENERATED IN THERE, AGAIN, AND THIS GOES TO THE WAY YOU SET IT UP, YOU COULD ACTUALLY SET IT UP SO THAT WHATEVER SALES TAX IS GENERATED IN THERE IS THEN A PORTION OF IT COULD BE FUNDING THE PROGRAMMING ACTIVATION AND, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF SIMILAR TO WHAT SOME OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.

THE TIF DISTRICT, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WHEN WE TOOK THE TOUR OF RICHLAND HILLS.

AGAIN, THE SPECIAL DISTRICT WHATEVER YOU PUT IN THIS SPECIAL DISTRICT, THE MORE FLEXIBILITY YOU GIVE IT, THE MORE OPPORTUNITY.

AGAIN, YOU DON'T, YOU CAN BE EXPLICIT, WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHARGE A PROPERTY TAX, BUT YOU CAN ALSO SET UP PARAMETERS WHERE IT BECOMES A SELF-FUNDED DISTRICT, POSSIBLY, RIGHT? FOR MARKETING.

YEAH, I MEAN, IF WE'RE, I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS UP.

LET'S JUST SAY THAT WE'RE, WE'RE FUNDING $100,000 TO $150,000 A YEAR FOR THINGS DOWN IN THAT TOWN, WHETHER THERE'S THE CELEBRATIONS OR THE MUSIC AND ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF. WELL, WE COULD CALCULATE AND ESTIMATE WHAT THE SALES TAX IS THAT'S GENERATED DOWN THERE, AND WE COULD SAY A PORTION OF THE SALES TAX, WHICH EQUALS THAT $150,000 OR WHATEVER, STAYS IN THE DISTRICT, RIGHT? IT'S STILL THE SAME SALES TAX, BUT IT'S RIGHT, AND IT'S STILL GOING TO THE SAME PURPOSE, BUT IT'S IDENTIFIED FOR THAT PARTICULAR DISTRICT.

THAT MAKES SENSE? SURE. YEAH, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN WRITE IN THE LEGISLATION.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE GOVERNANCE COMES IN, RIGHT? RIGHT. YEAH, I WOULD UNDER THOSE DIRECTIONS FOR SURE. OKAY, THANKS, MIKE.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

LET'S SEE HERE.

WITH, ACCORDING TO THE BOUNDARIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT,

[00:40:01]

I REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY WE TALKED ABOUT THAT NORTHWEST CORNER, IS BRINGING THAT OVER TO, COULD YOU MOVE THE MAP OVER PLEASE, CAL? YEAH THE IDENTIFIED AS NUMBER 04, BRINGING THAT ALL THE WAY OVER TO FREEPORT. I REMEMBER WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION, SO DEFINITELY WOULD WANT TO SEE THAT EXPAND MORE. AND THEN I AGREE WITH YOUR, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND KIND OF THAT, SOUTHWEST CORNER, MAKING SURE THAT'S ALL INCLUDED IN THAT AS WELL I DON'T NECESSARILY, I DON'T KNOW IF I REMEMBER JUMPING ACROSS FREEPORT. YEAH, I MEAN, I, I WOULD, I WOULD DEFINITELY LEAN MORE TOWARDS LET'S MAKE IT BIGGER THAN WE THINK WE NEED IT. SO, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE THAT MAP EXPAND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF COVERAGE FOR POTENTIALLY, POTENTIAL FUTURE USE IN TERMS OF THE, THE BOARD MAKEUP, WOULD THAT, I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT WOULD LINE UP WITH MINDY'S DEPARTMENT AND STUFF, CONSIDERING THAT SHE'S, THERE'S ALREADY PROGRAMMING AND STUFF THAT KIND OF COMES THROUGH HER.

IT'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES.

SO, OKAY, SO THERE WOULD BE OKAY, THERE'D BE COORDINATION THERE.

I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR IN THE WEEDS. I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT MAKES SENSE TO JUST KIND OF UNDERSTANDING WHO, WHAT DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT.

SO, KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS.

ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT, WE GOT BIJOU AND THEN JOHN.

YEAH, THANK YOU. SO, THE ASK FOR THE LEGISLATURE IS CREATING, IS APPROVING A SPECIAL DISTRICT, AND THE SECOND ASK IS ALCOHOL USAGE WITHIN THE THAT'S THE PART THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DEFER TO CALLIE BECAUSE THE WAY THE SPECIAL DISTRICT LANGUAGE IS BEING SUGGESTED, IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN WE CREATE IT WE HAVE TO SAY, YEAH, CORRECT.

SO, WE WOULD INCLUDE THAT LANGUAGE IN THE SPECIAL DISTRICT AND THEN THAT WOULD CREATE A STATUTE WHICH THEN OVERRIDES THE TABC RULE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER THINGS WE ARE REQUESTING IN ADDITION TO ALCOHOL? THAT WOULD BE UP TO COUNCIL'S DISCRETION. SO, IF THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT AND SOME OF THEM ARE ORDINANCES, SO WE CAN REGULATE THAT ON OUR OWN LEVEL.

THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT COME AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE DISTRICT.

WHAT ARE THOSE? THE ABILITY TO WELL, THE TAX TAXING IS PART OF THAT. THAT WOULD BE PART OF IT. THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNCIL ONCE YOU HAVE THE DISTRICT DONE THE ABILITY TO, MY QUESTION, I HAD A QUESTION RELATED TO THAT. PART OF THE FUNCTION OF THE, OF THE BOARD, WOULD THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SET HOURS OF OPERATION? THAT, THAT COULD BE ONE THING THAT WOULD COME IN.

YOU MEAN 24/7? WELL, NO, MAYBE PAST 9 PM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MAYBE UNTIL 10 OR 10:30 OR 11, OR A BAR THAT WANTED TO STAY OPEN UNTIL 2, THAT KIND OF STUFF, RIGHT? THE ABILITY TO SHUT DOWN A ROADWAY FOR A MAJOR EVENT, THAT COULD BE WITHIN THE DISTRICT, NOT THE CITY. SO, IT GIVES YOU A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TO MANAGING THAT AREA.

YEAH, THE REASON I ASKED, THERE ARE RESTAURANTS IN IRVING OPEN UNTIL 5 AM.

WELL, THAT, THIS BOARD WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY NO TO THAT. I DON'T THINK WE, I DON'T THINK 5 AM WOULD BE TOO POPULAR.

CAN I SUGGEST THE CREATIVITY OF THE COUNCIL IS ON THE TABLE, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN 2 WEEKS. IT'S LIKE, WHAT DO YOU, IF YOU WERE TO DREAM OF WHATEVER THIS COULD BE KNOWING WHAT OUR CITIZENS HAVE TOLD US THROUGH ALL THE SURVEYS, THROUGH ALL THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, THROUGH ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COVERING THAT IN THE CREATION OF THAT DISTRICT. AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

LET ME ALSO JUST SAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE HEARING IS THAT THERE ARE SOME LEGISLATURES, NOT OUR TWO IN PARTICULAR, BUT THERE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE TRYING TO LIMIT THE CREATION OF SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND/OR MAKE THEM GO AWAY. NOW, THEIR SPECIFIC ISSUE IS THE MUDS, THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTS, BECAUSE THE PROLIFERATION OF THOSE OVER THE LAST PROBABLY 10 YEARS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T, GUESS WHAT? WE GAVE THE DEVELOPER THE RIGHT TO CREATE THE MUD. WE DIDN'T SET UP ANY STATUTORY LANGUAGE THAT LIMITS THE MUD ON THE TAXATION. SO, WHEN THE PROPERTY OWNER MOVES INTO XYZ COMMUNITY, THEY'RE PAYING A CITY TAX, A MUD TAX, COUNTY TAX, RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIAL DISTRICTS. AND AGAIN, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE NOT USING PROPERTY TAX IN THEM, IN THE MUNICIPAL, IN OUR SPECIAL DISTRICT. I SAY ALL

[00:45:01]

THAT BECAUSE TO BIJOU'S QUESTION ABOUT SUCCESS, IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT. AND THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU GO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO GET THINGS DONE. IT JUST IS.

IT'S JUST, IT GETS TO DAVID'S POINT THOUGH. YES, IT'S A LOCAL BILL, BUT LET'S JUST SAY THERE'S A CHAIRMAN WHO'S UPSET WITH YOUR COUNTY, WITH YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE. GUESS WHAT DOESN'T MOVE? YOUR BILL.

SO, SO HIRING A CONSULTANT OR LOBBYIST WILL HELP US. THAT'S WHAT HE MENTIONED, RIGHT? OH, WE ALREADY HAD THAT ON BOARD, RIGHT? YEAH, THEY'RE ALREADY ENGAGED WITH US, NOT JUST FOR THIS, BUT THEY'VE HELPED, RIGHT? I KNOW.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. LOOK OUT, THIS IS THE THIRD SESSION WE'VE GONE THROUGH ON THE STREET SALES AND USE TAX, AND WE GOT IT THROUGH TO CALENDARS, AND IT DIDN'T GET OUT BECAUSE IT RAN OUT OF TIME.

BUT THAT'S THE FIRST TIME IN THREE SESSIONS THAT IT FINALLY GOT TO CALENDARS. YEAH, SO IT'S PERSONALITIES. BUT WE HAVE, WE BELIEVE WITH SENATOR PARKER AND SENATOR, CASSANDRA FERNANDEZ GARCIA.

GARCIA. REPRESENTATIVE GARCIA. THEY BOTH HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

THAT'S VERY HOPEFUL.

JIM, I THINK I HAD YOU DOWN NEXT.

YEAH, JUST A REAL QUICK POINT.

SO, WHATEVER GEOGRAPHICAL FOOTPRINT WE DECIDE WILL COMBINE WITH WHATEVER, LIKE, DEDICATED TAX OR SALES TAX, WHATEVER WE DECIDE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S IN THE FOOTPRINT.

SO, IF WE, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT PEELING OFF SOME SMALL PART OR PUTTING BACK IN SOME SMART SOME SMALL PART OF SALES TAX GENERATED WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHICAL FOOTPRINT, THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE WAREHOUSES.

IT COULD, RIGHT? AS LONG AS THEY'RE WITHIN THE DISTRICT BOUNDARY, THAT'S ULTIMATELY DECIDED.

THAT WE CAN'T SAY, WELL, THIS IS LIKE 5 YEARS OUT AND, NO. OKAY, IT'S GOING TO STAY WITHIN IT, AND THAT'S PART OF THE BEAUTY OF WORKING WITH IT. AND IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT.

YEAH, BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU THE FLEXIBILITY. YOU SET UP THE PARAMETERS, THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE SAYS, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS PORTION OF IT, AND LET'S SAY 2 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THAT PORTION. YOUR GOVERNANCE GROUP CAN CHANGE THAT PORTION. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE TO DO IT, RIGHT? IT'S JUST YOU'RE WRITING THE LANGUAGE LOOSE ENOUGH TO GIVE YOU THE FLEXIBILITY SO THAT YOU CAN DO THINGS THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN WE COULD DO SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE.

YEAH, OKAY.

SO, JIM, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT DIVIDING OUR SALES TAX AGAIN? I MEAN, WE ALREADY ARE DIVIDING INTO 4 PORTIONS.

NO, NO, DEDICATED SALES TAX.

IT WAS, I WAS JUST CURIOUS THAT IF WE, IF WE'RE SAYING, OKAY, OF ALL THE SALES TAX GENERATED WITHIN THE DISTRICT, WE'RE GOING TO PUT SOME AMOUNT IN SO IT'S SELF-FINANCING.

THEN I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTOOD THAT, THAT ANY BUSINESS WITHIN THE DESIGNATED FOOTPRINT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE, ANY SALES TAX THEY'RE GENERATING OUT OF THOSE WAREHOUSES, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD BE INCLUDED IN CALCULATING THAT AMOUNT THAT WE'RE GOING TO, TO USE TO FINANCE THE DISTRICT. SO, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, A HONKY-TONK OR RESTAURANT OR SOMETHING THAT ONE WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, OR TILT-WALL LIGHT INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSES, ANY SALES TAX THEY GENERATE WOULD STILL BE INCLUDED WITHIN THAT CALCULUS. THAT'S WHAT I WAS, I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I NEED TO THANK CALLIE FOR ALL THE WORK SHE'S DONE.

YES, I THINK IT'S VERY CONVOLUTED.

YES, THERE ARE 2,300 DISTRICTS THAT I HAVE LOOKED, HOW MANY? 02,300 TOTAL ABOUT 400 THAT ARE SIMILAR TO OURS.

WOW, WELL, THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S A GREAT SAMPLING.

I KNOW.

LOTS. I GET CROSS-EYED SOMETIMES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, THAT IS THE END OF REGULAR SESSION. THE TIME IS 06:55. WORK SESSION.

I'M SORRY, THAT'S THE FASTEST WE'VE EVER HAD.

THAT WAS NOT AN UNINTENDED, COMMISSION THERE.

THE TIME IS 6:55, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE RECESSED FROM OUR, WE'RE ADJOURNED FROM WORK SESSION. WE'LL MOVE INTO THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AT 7:30.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

THE TIME IS 7.31 P.M.

[00:50:01]

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE COPPELL CITY COUNCIL.

JUST AS A REMINDER, ANY PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK DURING OUR CITIZENS' APPEARANCE MUST SIGN THE APPROPRIATE REGISTER LOCATED OUTSIDE THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND LIST YOUR

[4. Invocation 7:30 p.m.]

ADDRESS.

WE WERE SCHEDULED TO HAVE DR. REVEREND DANIELLE KIM OF THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TO SAY OUR INVOCATION, WHICH IS A SHAME SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE AS THIS IS HER LAST.

MONTH TO BE ASSIGNED TO COPPELL.

SHE WILL BE REASSIGNED TO CARROLLTON, TEXAS FROM NOW ON.

SO AS A VERY QUICK FALLBACK, WE'D LIKE TO THANK FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM DON CARROLL TO GIVE OUR INVOCATION TONIGHT.

WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? LET'S PRAY.

FATHER, WE COME TO YOU THIS EVENING THANKING YOU FOR ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER DAY THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED US ON THIS EARTH.

WE THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMUNITY THAT YOU HAVE BUILT.

WE KNOW IT IS NOT BY CHANCE AND BY COINCIDENCE THAT ALL OF US ARE IN THIS PLACE AT THIS TIME TO BUILD COMMUNITY HERE.

WE ASK THAT YOU WILL BE WITH THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND WE ASK THAT YOU WILL BE WITH THOSE OF US MAKING DECISIONS THAT WE WILL HAVE MUCH WISDOM AND MUCH DISCERNMENT IN THE DECISIONS WE MAKE.

WE ASK THAT THIS WILL BE A PEACEFUL PLACE AND THAT DISCUSSIONS WILL BE CIVIL.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS LOVING US AND ALWAYS TAKING CARE OF US.

WE LOVE YOU.

WE ASK THIS ALL THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

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

ITEM NUMBER SIX ARE PROCLAMATIONS, AND THE FIRST ONE IS A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MAY AS MUNICIPAL CLERKS APPRECIATION WEEK.

PLEASE BE SEATED.

[6. Proclamations]

AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR VERY OWN MS. THODEN TO COME DOWN FORWARD WITH ME.

I'LL GIVE YOU TWO MINUTES TO REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO SAY SOMETHING AT THE END OF THIS, ALL RIGHT? ALL RIGHT.

WHEREAS THE PROFESSION OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN TEXAS, ENSURING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES.

AND WHEREAS, THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK IS THE OLDEST AMONG PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS HAVE PLEDGED TO BE EVER MINDFUL OF THEIR NEUTRALITY AND IMPARTIALITY WHILE SERVING THE PROFESSIONAL LINK, BETWEEN THE CITIZENS, THE LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES, AND AGENCIES OF GOVERNMENT AT OTHER LEVELS. AND WHEREAS, TEXAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS SERVE AS THE OFFICIAL RECORD KEEPERS, MANAGING VITAL DOCUMENTS, CONDUCTING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, AND PROVIDING LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT AND ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN CITIES ACROSS TEXAS. AND WHEREAS, MUNICIPAL CLERKS DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND INTEGRITY IN THEIR WORK, OFTEN GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES, FACILITATE THE EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

AND WHEREAS, THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS MORE THAN 1,100 MUNICIPAL CLERKS WHO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE SUCCESS AND EFFICIENCY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WHEREAS, MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE INVALUABLE WORK OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS, ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF OUR CITIES.

AND WHEREAS, IT IS FITTING THAT THE CITY OF COPPELL TAKE THIS HONOR AND OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR CITY SECRETARY, LAUREN THODEN, FOR HER ONGOING DEDICATION, KNOWLEDGE, AND TIRELESS SERVICE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WES MAYS, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF MAY 3RD THROUGH 9TH, 2026, AS MUNICIPAL CLERK'S APPRECIATION WEEK, AND IN WITNESS THEREOF, I'VE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF COPPELL TO BE AFFIXED THIS WEEK.

26TH DAY OF MAY, 2026.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I MUST SAY THAT WORKING WITH YOU VERY CLOSELY, IT IS HARD TO ESTIMATE HOW MUCH YOU'RE HAVING TO DO BEHIND THE SCENES TO HELP ME, AND I KNOW THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MUST FEEL THE SAME WAY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[00:55:15]

AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DID YOU HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY? I THINK WE WERE BEING PHOTOBOMBED BEHIND US THERE.

MAYOR, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY IT HAS BEEN MY HONOR AND MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

YOU, THE COUNCIL, YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL.

I APPRECIATE YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY.

OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM, AND HONESTLY THE TEAM HERE IN THE CITY, IT HAS BEEN A FABULOUS EXPERIENCE.

I JUST HIT EIGHT MONTHS HERE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS.

SO THANK YOU.

ITEM B IS A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING MAY 17TH THROUGH 23RD AS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK.

I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. GARZA AND SOME OF HIS COMPATRIOTS TO COME FORWARD.

WHEREAS PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES DESIGN, CONSTRUCT, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT THAT ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, AND HIGH QUALITY OF THE LIFE OF CITIZENS OF COPPELL. AND WHEREAS, THESE INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT COULD NOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT THE DEDICATED SERVICE, TEAMWORK, AND INNOVATION OF PUBLIC WORK EMPLOYEES.

AND WHEREAS, IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS, CIVIC LEADERS, AND BUSINESS LEADERS, TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF AND MAINTAIN AN INTEREST IN PUBLIC WORKS. AND WHEREAS, THE YEAR 2026 MARKS THE 66TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION. NOW THEREFORE, I, WEST MAY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF COPPELL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF MAY SEVENTEENTH THROUGH TWENTY THIRD AS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK AND I ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY OF COPPELL IN SUPPORT OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES AND TO RECOGNIZE THE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE WHILE PROVIDING AND PROTECTING OUR HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I'VE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF COPPELL TO BE AFFIXED THIS 26TH DAY OF MAY, 2026.

I NOTICED THE CAMERA WAS NOT FOCUSED ON US ON THAT LAST ONE, SO JUST KEEP THAT.

DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM.

THESE PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT KEEP THE CITY QUIETLY RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND, MAINTAINING 400 LANE MILES OF PAVEMENT, 250 MILES OF SIDEWALK.

200 MILES OF WATER AND SEWER, 41 SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS, OVER 55 FACILITIES AND STRUCTURES, OVER 250 VEHICLES AND PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.

SO THESE FOLKS ARE THE ONES THAT COME IN DAY IN AND DAY OUT, OVERNIGHT, UNCLOG YOUR STOPPED-UP TOILETS, DO THE THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO, AND THEY DO IT ON A CONSISTENT, REGULAR BASIS TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.

SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO.

YOU KNOW, WE SAY IT'S A GOOD DAY IN COPPELL IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

WHEN WE, OUR PHONES AREN'T RINGING, THAT MEANS YOUR TOILETS ARE FLUSHING, YOU CAN SHOWER, YOU CAN DRIVE TO YOUR DESTINATION EACH DAY WITHOUT TOO MANY RED LIGHT STOPS.

BUT WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM DOES, AND WE THANK COUNCIL AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, AND THANKS TO THE CITIZENS OF COPPELL.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARROLL.

MR. GARZA, YOU SUMMED UP SORT OF WHAT YOUR WHOLE TEAM DOES, AND I WILL JUST REITERATE WHAT A FABULOUS JOB.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU LOOK AT

[01:00:02]

CITIES AND YOU THINK IT'S A LOT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMENITIES THAT MAKE A CITY GREAT AND ALL THAT STUFF, BUT THE FOUNDATIONAL PART IS WHAT PUBLIC WORKS DOES.

BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT, THAT IS SUCH A FUNDAMENTAL PIECE OF A CITY.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE THE CITY.

AND SO I REALLY DO THINK.

YOUR WHOLE TEAM FOR WHAT THEY DO AND THE WAY YOU DO IT THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU DO IT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS SOMETIMES TO PROBLEMS THAT ARE EXTREMELY COMPLICATED OR DON'T HAVE AN EASY ANSWER BUT THE ATTITUDE THAT YOUR THAT YOUR TEAM APPROACHES ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH I THINK IS SECOND TO NONE AND YOU ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO FIND THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THE FOR THE RESIDENT AND EVERYTHING SO I JUST THANK YOU AND THE TEAM FOR JUST A FABULOUS JOB YOU DO AND FOR FOR MAKING COPPELL GREAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT FOUNDATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER HINOJOSA-SMITH.

NO, MR. GARZA AND TO YOUR WHOLE TEAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU STOLE MY WORDS.

YOU GUYS DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.

AND I WAS GOING TO ADD, I MEAN, YOU LISTED EVERYTHING, BUT YOU ALL DO IT WITH A GREAT ATTITUDE.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES OUR CITY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

AND WE CONSTANTLY RECEIVE TONS OF ACCOLADES Y'ALL COMING OUT AND AGAIN SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT CITIZENS MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE.

ATTITUDE IN A TIMELY FASHION AND SAY LET ME FIGURE THIS OUT, LET ME HELP YOU, AND IF I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

ALL THAT TO SAY IS TRULY APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

COUNCIL MEMBER NEVELS.

SO TO THE ENTIRE TEAM, JUST...

WHAT A FANTASTIC JOB THAT YOU GUYS DO.

I HAD THE HONOR TO SPEAK AT A, THERE WAS A TITLE COMPANY IN TOWN THAT HOSTED SEVERAL REALTORS, AND THEY WERE KIND OF GETTING LIKE A JUST AN UPDATE ON COPPELL, AND I HAD THE HONOR TO BE INVITED TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE CITY.

AND I MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ENTER INTO COPPELL BECAUSE THE ROADS ARE SMOOTH AND SO AND YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE ALL THE REALTORS LIKE, LIKE BECAUSE THEY KNOW, KIND OF, YOU KNOW THAT.

NOT ALL THE COMMUNITIES AROUND US HAVE THAT AMAZING INFRASTRUCTURE.

I MEAN, AND ROADS ALONE, RIGHT, I THINK COULD SEPARATE US.

BUT THE OTHER ADDITIONAL THINGS, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE SERVICE CENTER AND THE RENOVATION THAT WE'RE DOING THERE AND STUFF BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU GUYS SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO BE ABLE TO DO YOUR WORK OUT OF.

SO JUST ALL THAT STUFF JUST GOES TO SAY THAT WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF US.

SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER PREMKUMAR.

I GUESS I LEFT MY NOTES OPEN AND MR. CARROLL SPOKE FROM IT.

THEY KIND OF COVERED EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY.

I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR DOING A GREAT JOB.

THE WONDERFUL JOB THAT YOU DO MAKES OUR LIFE EASY.

YOU DON'T GET COMPLAINTS BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALREADY SOLVED IT.

THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.

WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE SERVICE THAT YOU GIVE THE CITY OF COPPELL, SO THANK YOU.

MAYOR, JUST TO ADD ONE MORE THING, THIS IS HEDGIE THE HEDGEHOG.

SO HEDGIE HAS AN OFFICIAL NAME, BOB THE BUILDER THE HEDGEHOG.

THIS IS HEDGIE THE HEDGEHOG.

THIS IS THE DEBUT OF HEDGIE THE HEDGEHOG.

AND FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, BETWEEN ALL OF OUR MASCOTS THAT WE HAVE IN PD AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, THERE WILL BE A MASCOT RACE ONE DAY.

YEAH, NOT IN THIS CHAMBER THOUGH, BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY STEPS, BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

SINCE WE'RE STILL ON NUMBER SIX, WE DO HAVE A REQUEST TO REVISIT ITEM A.

SO, COUNCIL MEMBER HINOJOSA-SMITH.

LAUREN, WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GIVE COMMENTS, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, LIKE, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR EIGHT MONTHS, AND IT PROBABLY FEELS LIKE FOREVER.

WE'RE NOT EASY, AND YOU HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB OF REALLY JUST JUMPING IN SOLVING PROBLEMS, ACCOMMODATING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, PARTICULAR, SPECIFIC, QUIRKY NEEDS, AND HAVE REALLY TAKEN THE TIME TO LISTEN AND TO SAY THANK YOU.

[01:05:01]

YOU'VE BEEN A PHENOMENAL ADDITION TO OUR TEAM, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SO MANY MORE.

WE ARE.

YOU KNOW, WE WILL CONTINUE HERE TO HELP YOU AND CONTINUE TO JUST MAKE COPPELL HOME FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

SO, WELCOME.

COUNCIL MEMBER PREMKUMAR.

SECRETARY THORNTON, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, SPECIFICALLY THE POSITIVE ENERGY THAT YOU BRING.

IT'S FANTASTIC.

AND WE WILL TRY TO LISTEN MORE TO OUR EL PRESIDENTE CITY MANAGER, MIKE.

HE'S BEEN TELLING US THAT IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, YOU HAVE TO MANAGE EIGHT CATS, AND HURTING US HAS BECOME DIFFICULT, SO WE'LL TRY TO DO BETTER.

AND THERE'S ONLY SEVEN CATS.

THAT'S NOT FAIR.

YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.

[7. Citizens’ Appearance]

I'M THE HEDGEHOG.

IT IS OUR CITIZENS' APPEARANCE, AND PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK MUST SIGN THE REGISTER AND LIST YOUR ADDRESS.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

PRESENTATIONS BY INDIVIDUALS SHALL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES EACH, DURING WHICH TIME SPEAKERS MUST REMAIN AT THE PODIUM FACE FORWARD AND ADDRESS ONLY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

PERSONS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER THAT THEY SIGNED UP.

IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AN ORDERLY AND RESPECTFUL MEETING ENVIRONMENT AND TO CONDUCT THE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND BUSINESS, SPEAKERS WILL ADHERE TO THE STANDARDS OUTLINED IN ORDINANCE 2025-1633.

THERE WILL BE NO COMMENTS OR DELIBERATIONS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL DUE TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

WE DO HAVE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, AND THE FIRST ONE ON THE LIST IS MS. ANN DRAGON.

NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS ANN DRAGON.

I OWN THE HOME AT 626 STRATFORD LANE.

IT IS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM 631 STRATFORD LANE, WHICH IS ON YOUR AGENDA THIS EVENING FOR DEMOLITION APPROVAL FOR CONTRACTOR.

I STRONGLY AGREE WITH THE CITY STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR DEMOLITION.

AT THIS POINT, I PERSONALLY WITNESSED THREE ADULT ARMADILLOS COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE FOUNDATION FRIDAY AT 1 O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, WHICH IS A TIME THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE SEEING THOSE TYPES OF ANIMALS.

AND SO I WANT TO BE WITH YOU SINCE THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY DURING THE AGENDA TO SUPPORT THE STAFF.

OUR SECOND SPEAKER IS JOHN RAMSEY, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

HELLO.

MY NAME IS JASON RAMEY.

SO HERE TO SUPPORT US PASSING IT ALL OUT AT SEVERAL OCCASIONS, OUR KIDS AND THE FAMILY.

GAS COMING FROM THAT PROPERTY HAD TO CALL.

IT'S BEEN ABANDONED AND REPRESENTS A FIRE HAZARD, WE BELIEVE, AS WELL.

NOT TO MENTION THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT WE'VE HAD TO HAVE THE CITY COME OUT.

LONG TIME COMING.

TRUSTED THE PROCESS.

WE'VE TRUSTED THE COUNCIL TO HELP US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT.

OUR THIRD AND LAST SPEAKER IS ROB NICKEL.

GOOD EVENING, ROBERT NICKEL.

I LIVE AT 634 STRATFORD LANE, ALSO ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HOUSE IN QUESTION TONIGHT, 631.

STRATFORD LANE, ACTUALLY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS TO THE RAMEYS AND THEN ONE DOOR OVER FROM THAT.

DRAGON, SO WE'RE ALL THREE KIND OF EQUALLY ACROSS THE STREET AND HAVE WITNESSED KIND OF THE ONGOING DEBACLE THERE WITH THE HOUSE.

I WOULD SAY JUST TO ADD TO THE COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS AS A FAMILY AND AS A NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I'M ALSO ON THE HOA FOR STRATFORD MANOR, I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THAT, ONE OF THE THREE HOA MEMBERS.

WE'VE MET ABOUT THIS

[01:10:02]

FOR YEARS.

IT'S NOT ONLY LIKE A MAINTENANCE ISSUE.

IT'S NOT ONLY A DEVALUING, I FEEL LIKE, OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUE, BUT IT'S ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE.

AND WE'RE SEEING INCREASED ACTIVITY, NOT ONLY FROM THE RODENTS OF THE CITY OF COPPELL AND ALL THE ANIMALS, WE'VE SEEN COYOTES, WE'VE SEEN ARMADILLOS, WE'VE SEEN ALL NUMBER OF ANIMALS COMING IN AND OUT OF THE YARD.

BUT ALSO, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, CHILDREN, MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND MAYBE HIGH SCHOOLERS, AND NOT ONLY.

DURING THE DAY OR COMING BY WITH A CURIOSITY AND ALSO LOOKING INTO THE HOUSE, TRYING TO GET INTO THE HOUSE, AND WE'VE HAD TO CALL OUT POLICE FOR THAT REASON.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN PEOPLE GET DROPPED OFF BY CAR THERE IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING, 1 A.M., 2 A.M., 3 A.M., BECAUSE OF DOORBELL CAMERAS.

AND SO IT'S JUST A REAL PROBLEM.

AND THIS NEIGHBOR HAS CONSISTENTLY RESISTED ANY EFFORTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND AS LIED REPEATEDLY ABOUT THE PROPERTY TO THIS COUNCIL AND TO THE COURT WHICH WE'VE BEEN TO A HEARING WITH THEM AT THE COURT PREVIOUSLY AS WELL A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND IT'S CLEAR TO US THEY'RE JUST STALLING AND WE'RE JUST TIRED OF IT BUT I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE STAFF AND THE COUNCIL ON MAKING A DECISION THANK YOU THANK YOU

[8. Consent Agenda]

VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT MOVING ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT CONSENT AGENDA THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ROUTINE IN NATURE AND IS GENERALLY AN THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THROUGH THE BUDGET OR PAST COUNCIL ACTIONS.

ANY ITEM MAY BE PULLED AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.

FULL DESCRIPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE SCREEN.

WE ARE GOING TO PULL ITEM NUMBER F, WHICH IS THE PROPERTY JUST SPOKEN ABOUT.

WE WILL CONSIDER IT AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT, COUNCIL, ITEMS 8A THROUGH 8E.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCILMEMBER NEVELS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I MOVE TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS A THROUGH E.

SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HINOJOSA-SMITH.

ALL IN FAVOR? WALKER, HINOJOSA-SMITH, CARROLL, NEVELS, PREMKUMAR, MATHEW.

[F. 2026-0228 Consider approval of a demolition contract with Garrett Demolition for a City initiated demolition of the substandard residential structure at 631 Stratford Lane in accordance with the Building and Standards Commission Order in the amount of $63,760; and authorize the City Manager to sign.]

NONE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 8F. I'D LIKE TO ASK LOUIE RAHEL TO COME FORWARD FOR APPROVAL OF A DEMO.

DEMOLITION CONTRACT WITH GARRETT DEMOLITION FOR A CITY-INITIATED DEMOLITION OF A SUBSTANDARD RESIDENCE STRUCTURE AT 631 STRATFORD LANE IN ACCORDANCE WITH $58,108 AND ALSO NOTE THAT THE AGENDA ITEM SAID $63,760.

THERE WAS A REVISED $58,100.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

TONIGHT, STAFF IS BRINGING FORWARD THE 631 STRATFORD LANE CASE AND REQUESTING APPROVAL OF DEMOLITION CONTRACT TO CARRY OUT THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION ORDER FOR CITY-INITIATED DEMOLITION OF THE SUBSTANDARD RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE.

BEFORE I WALK THROUGH THE TIMELINE, I WANT TO FIRST PROVIDE THE CONTEXT OF THIS CODE CASE.

THE 631 STRATFORD LANE CODE CASE BEGAN WITH A STORM-RELATED DAMAGE FROM THE 2021 WINTER STORM.

LIKE MANY OTHER HOMES IN COPPELL IN THE WINTER STORM, THIS PROPERTY EXPERIENCED FIRST VIBES.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THIS, THE HOME WAS NEVER REPAIRED.

OVER TIME, WHAT BEGAN AS A PRIVATE PROPERTY DAMAGE BECAME A LONG-TERM CODE COMPLIANCE CASE, NEIGHBORHOOD AND PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY CLEARLY, THE ISSUE IS NOT ONLY IMPACTING THE PROPERTY OWNER, IT'S ALSO IMPACTING THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.

IN FACT, STAFF HAS HEARD MORE FROM NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS THAN FROM THE HOMEOWNERS THEMSELVES.

THE HOMEOWNERS OF THIS PROPERTY DID NOT RESPOND TO MOST OF STAFF COMMUNICATION ATTEMPTS UNTIL LAST WEEK, WHICH I WILL DISCUSS LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION.

TONIGHT, I WILL BRIEFLY WALK THROUGH THE PROPERTY BACKGROUND.

THE CONDITION OBSERVED, THE DUE PROCESS PROVIDED, AND THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION'S ORDER, AND THE ACTION STAFF.

IS REQUESTING.

TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ITEM BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT, IT HELPS TO FIRST LOOK AT THE PROPERTY ITSELF AND HOW THE ISSUE BEGAN.

THE PROPERTY AT 631 STRATFORD LANE IS A TWO-STORY, APPROXIMATELY 5,800 SQUARE FOOT, SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.

THE HOME WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 2001, AND THE CURRENT OWNER PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN 2003.

[01:15:02]

DURING 2021 WINTER STORM, THE HOME SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM THE FIRST PIPES.

AFTER THE DAMAGE OCCURRED, THE FIRST FLOOR WAS LARGELY GUTTED WITHOUT THE REQUIRED PERMITS.

NO REPAIRS HAVE TAKEN PLACE AT THE PROPERTY SINCE THEN.

BECAUSE DAMAGE WAS NEVER CORRECTED, THE PROPERTY MOVED FROM A STORM DAMAGE ISSUE TO LONG-TERM UNSAFE STRUCTURE AND CODE COMPLIANCE ISSUE.

ONCE THE STORM DAMAGE REMAINED UNREPAIRED, THE NEXT...

QUESTION IS HOW STAFF BECAME AWARE OF THE FULL EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM.

AFTER THE HOME REMAINED VACANT AND UNREPAIRED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, STAFF BEGAN RECEIVING COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY.

THERE ARE TWO REASONS WHY WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROPERTY BEFORE THAT TIME.

FROM THE STREET, THE FULL EXTENT OF THE INTERIOR DAMAGE WAS NOT VISIBLE.

A PERSON DRIVING BY COULD SEE THE DAMAGE, BUT THE PROPERTY WAS NOT VISIBLE.

SEE SOME EXTERIOR CONCERNS, BUT THEY COULD NOT SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING INSIDE THE STRUCTURE.

SECOND, THE OWNER DID NOT OBTAIN THE REQUIRED PERMITS FOR THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE INSIDE THE HOME.

BECAUSE NO PERMITS WERE PULLED, THE INTERIOR CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY DID NOT COME THROUGH THE CITY NORMAL PERMITTING AND INSPECTION PROCESS.

SO THIS BECAME A CODE COMPLIANCE MATTER AFTER NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS BROUGHT CONCERN TOWARDS...

CITY ATTENTION.

ONCE THOSE CONCERNS WERE RECEIVED, STAFF REQUESTED VOLUNTARY ACCESS TO INSPECT THE PROPERTY.

THE OWNER PROMISED US MULTIPLE TIMES TO MEET US AT THE PROPERTY, BUT HE NEVER SHOWED UP.

BECAUSE VOLUNTARY ACCESS WAS NOT PROVIDED, CITY STAFF FOLLOWED THE PROPER LEGAL PROCESS AND OBTAINED AN ADMINISTRATIVE INSPECTION WARRANT.

WHEN WE DID THE INSPECTION, THE FINDING AS YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN.

STAFF OBSERVED GUTTED FIRST FLOOR, EXPOSED ELECTRIC WIRING, OPEN SEWER LINES, FOUNDATION CONCERNS, RODENT ACTIVITY, BROKEN WINDOWS, BROKEN FENCE, AN UNSAFE, UNACCENTED CONDITION INSIDE THE PROPERTY.

BASED ON THOSE FINDINGS, THE STRUCTURES WERE DETERMINED TO BE UNSAFE, UNFIT FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY, AND IN NEED OF FORMAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

DID THIS LED STAFF INTO MORE MEASURED DUE PROCESS PATH.

THIS TIMELINE HIGHLIGHTS THE MAJOR ACTION AND COMMUNICATION POINTS IN THIS CASE.

THE FULL CODE COMPLIANCE REPORT IS ALMOST 80 PAGES, SO I WILL NOT WALK THROUGH EVERY NOTICE, INSPECTION NOTE, PHOTO, EMAIL, OR PHONE CALL TONIGHT.

INSTEAD, I WANT TO FOCUS ON SIX IMPORTANT EVENTS THAT SHOW HOW THIS CASE MOVED FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLAINT FOR TONIGHT REQUESTED ACTION.

THE CITY OPENED THE CASE IN FEBRUARY 2024 AFTER RECEIVING NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLAINTS.

FINAL NOTICE OF REPAIR WAS ISSUED IN DECEMBER 2024.

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN, ACTUALLY NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE OWNER EITHER.

AFTER VOLUNTARY ACCESS WAS NOT PROVIDED, WE OBTAINED A WARRANT TO INSPECT THE PROPERTY AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT IN MARCH.

2025.

THE INSPECTIONS OF THE FINDING I SHARED EARLIER IN THE SCREEN, THE SCREEN BEFORE.

AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE CASE PROCEEDED TO THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION FOR TWO SEPARATE HEARINGS.

I WILL DISCUSS THOSE HEARINGS IN MORE DETAIL IN THE NEXT TWO SLIDES.

THE KEY POINT IS THIS.

THE CASE DID NOT MOVE DIRECTLY FROM A COMPLAINT TO DEMOLITION.

IT FOLLOWED A LONG PROCESS OF NOTICES, COMMUNICATIONS, LEGAL STEPS.

INSPECTIONS, HEARINGS, AND OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLY.

SO ON OCTOBER 2, 2025, THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING AND DETERMINED THE STRUCTURE WAS SUBSTANDARD.

THE OWNER DID NOT APPEAR AT THAT HEARING.

HOWEVER, THE COMMISSION DID NOT IMMEDIATELY ORDER DEMOLITION.

INSTEAD, THE COMMISSION GAVE THE OWNER A CLEAR PATH TO REPAIR THE HOUSE.

THE ORDER REQUIRED THERE'S A PAYMENT, STRUCTURAL ENGINEER REPORT, A BUILDING PERMIT, AND A COMPLETION OF ALL REQUIRED REPAIRS BY DECEMBER 8, 2025.

THE OWNER DID NOT COMPLY WITH THAT ORDER.

NO PERMIT WAS OBTAINED, NO ENGINEERING REPORT WAS SUBMITTED, AND NO REPAIR WAS INITIATED.

BECAUSE THAT REPAIR OPPORTUNITY WAS NOT ACTED ON, THE CASE RETURNED TO THE BOARD.

COMMISSION AGAIN.

[01:20:02]

THE REPAIR DEADLINE PASSED AGAIN WITHOUT COMPLIANCE, SO THE CASE RETURNED TO THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 5, 2026.

AT THAT HEARING, THE COMMISSION REVIEWED THE CONTINUED LACK OF PROCESS, DETERMINED THE STRUCTURE WAS REMAINED SUBSTANDARD, UNSAFE, UNFIT FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY.

AT THAT POINT, THE COMMISSION ISSUED AN ORDER REQUIRING THE OWNER, THE LIEN HOLDER THE MORTGAGEE TO DEMOLISH AND REMOVE THE STRUCTURE BY APRIL 07, 2026.

THAT DEADLINE ALSO PASSED.

THE STAFF HAVE CONFIRMED AS OF YESTERDAY THAT THERE HAS STILL BEEN NO PERMIT APPLICATION, NO APPROVED REPAIR PLAN, NO STRUCTURAL ENGINEER REPORT, AND NO DEMOLITION ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE.

THE ORDER ALSO IMPOSED CIVIL PENALTIES OF $100 PER DAY AFTER THE DEADLINE UNTIL COMPLIANCE IS ACHIEVED.

SO AGAIN, THE DEMOLITION ORDER WAS NOT THE FIRST STEP.

IT FOLLOWED A MIS-REPAIRED DEADLINE, CONTINUED NON-COMPLIANCE, AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS THAT REMAINED UNRESOLVED.

WHILE THE BUILDING STANDARDS AND COMMISSION PROCESS WAS MOVING FORWARD, THE CITY ALSO USED THE MUNICIPAL COURT AS ANOTHER ENFORCEMENT TOOL.

THE OWNER RECEIVED FOUR CODE ENFORCEMENT CITATIONS, AND THE STATE FILED ONE FAILURE TO APPEAR CASE.

THE OWNER PAID CLOSE TO $3,000 TO THE COURT.

AND THE COURT CASES ARE NOW CLOSED.

HOWEVER, BAY AND COURT FINES DID NOT CORRECT UNSAFE CONDITIONS.

FROM COURT STANDPOINT, THOSE CASES ARE CLOSED, BUT FROM A CODE COMPLIANCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, THE STRUCTURE REMAINS VACANT, REMAINS UNREPAIRED, UNSAFE, AND UNFIT FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY.

THE MUNICIPAL COURT PROCESS ALSO REFLECTS SOME CHALLENGES.

STAFF EXPERIENCED THROUGHOUT THE CASE DIFFICULTY OBTAINING TIMELY RESPONSE AND COOPERATION FROM THE OWNER.

EVEN THE COURT HAD A HARD TIME GETTING HOLD OF THE OWNER.

THE PURPOSE OF COURT COMPLIANCE IS NOT SIMPLY TO ISSUE CITATIONS OR COLLECT FINES.

THE PURPOSE IS TO OBTAIN COMPLIANCE AND CORRECT UNSAFE CONDITIONS.

THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED IN THIS CASE.

SO, WITH THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS STILL UNRESOLVED, STAFF IS BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT WITH A REQUESTED...

ACTION THAT I WILL SHARE WITH YOU SOON.

BEFORE I STATE THE ACTION REQUESTED, I WANT TO UPDATE COUNCIL ON RECENT COMMUNICATION WITH THE OWNER.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, STAFF ATTEMPTED TO SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH THE HOMEOWNER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT OR RESOLUTION WAS POSSIBLE.

THE OWNER INITIALLY STATED THAT HE WILL BE OUT OF TOWN FOR THAT MEETING, SO HE CANNOT ATTEND.

HOWEVER, ON MAY 21ST, HE CAME TO OUR OFFICE ABOUT 5 O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, MET WITH MINDY, I, AND COREY POWELL.

DURING THAT MEETING, THE OWNER REQUESTED AN EXTENSION AND ASKED TO REMOVE THIS ITEM OFF THE AGENDA TONIGHT.

WE EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT WE COULD NOT DO THAT AND GRANT HIM AN EXTENSION BECAUSE THIS CASE HAS BEEN ACTIVE FOR LONGER THAN TWO YEARS.

AND THE OWNER HAS NOT COMPLIED WITH ONE CITY TIMELINE OR A BUILDING STANDARD COMMISSION ORDERS.

WE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE OWNER HAS THE RIGHT TO ADDRESS COUNSEL DIRECTLY, EITHER IN PERSON DURING CITIZEN APPEARANCE OR BY SUBMITTING WRITTEN COMMENTS.

THE OWNER INDICATED HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND.

STAFF ALSO ASKED WHETHER HE COULD SEND A LEGAL COUNSEL.

HILAIRE CONTACTED STAFF TO TELL US HE COULD NOT SECURE AN ATTORNEY IN TIME.

STAFF ALSO ATTEMPTED AS OF YESTERDAY TO COORDINATE A ZOOM APPEARANCE, BUT THE OWNER STATED HE COULD NOT ATTEND THE ZOOM APPEARANCE EITHER.

AT THIS POINT, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,128 AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN IT.

THIS ACTION WOULD CARRY OUT THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION ORDER FOR DEMOLITION AND RESOLVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS REMAINED UNCORRECTED FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

IF COUNCILS APPROVE THE DEMOLITION CONTRACT, THE DEMOLITION COSTS WILL BE ASSESSED AS A LIEN.

AGAINST THE PROPERTY, DCAT RECORDS CONFIRM THE LAND VALUE SUFFICIENT TO RECOVER THE FULL AMOUNT UPON A FUTURE SALE OR TRANSFER.

THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF PRESENTATION, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

CAN I ASK A QUESTION OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY? I AM NOT.

COUNCIL MEMBER NEVELS.

NO.

I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THE PURPOSE OF THE QUESTION OR WHAT'S BEING ASKED OF THE COUNCIL TONIGHT.

NO, NOT AT ALL.

[01:25:01]

IT'S ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION PROCESS, RIGHT? SO WE'RE NOT BEING ASKED FOR THE DEMOLITION.

WE ARE JUST BEING ASKED TO FUND THE CONTRACT.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, THIS IS NOT AN APPEAL OF THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION.

YOU'RE SIMPLY BEING ASKED TO DO NOTHING BUT APPROVE THE CONTRACT.

OR APPROVED FUNDING FOR THE CONTRACT.

THERE HAS BEEN NO APPEAL OF THE BOARD'S ORDER, AND EVEN IF THERE WERE, IT WOULD NOT BE TO THIS BOARD.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I AND THE ENTIRE COUNCIL UNDERSTOOD THE CHARGE THAT IS BEING ASKED OF US TODAY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SIMPLY ASKING TO FUND SOMETHING.

COUNCIL MEMBER MATHEW.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

QUESTION FOR YOU.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE BY THE STAFF, MANY YEARS, A LOT OF HOURS.

STAFF WOULD DECIDE TO TAKE CARE OF ONE ISSUE.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION, TWO QUESTIONS.

NUMBER ONE IS THE NEW MEMO.

ON PAGE THREE TO FOUR, IT SAYS, THE OWNER PAID THE OUTSTANDING COURT WINDOW FINE.

HOW MUCH WAS THAT? ALTOGETHER, IT'S ABOUT $2,900.

$2,900 PAID TO COURT.

AND WHAT IS THAT? WE FINED HIM FOR DIFFERENT COURT COMPLIANCE ISSUES.

THE CITY HAD, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, HAD TO GET AN ABATEMENT WARRANT.

TO REMOVE A BROKEN FENCE IN THE BACK, ANOTHER ONE TO CUT THE GRASS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

WE ALSO HIRED A PERSON TO DO PEST CONTROL IN THE PROPERTY BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET ANY VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE FROM THE HOMEOWNER.

SO EVERY TIME HE FAILED TO DO SOMETHING, WE CITED HIM AND WE PROCEEDED TO ABATE THE PROBLEM.

SO THE CITY WENT AND CUT THE GRASS? WE GOT A COURT ORDER TO ABATE THE PROBLEM, YES SIR.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

MY SECOND QUESTION IS, YOU MENTIONED YOU HAD A MEETING WITH THE OWNER ON MAY 21ST.

CORRECT, SIR.

AND HE REQUESTED AN EXTENSION FOR THE DEMOLITION, RIGHT? WHAT HE REALLY REQUESTED IS TO PULL THE ITEM OFF THE COUNCIL AGENDA.

BUT AT THAT POINT WHEN HE CAME TO US, THE AGENDA WAS ALREADY PUBLISHED.

DID HE OFFER ANY RESOLUTION OR SETTLEMENT? THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S COMING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE DEMOLITION.

SO I'M ASKING, DID THEY OFFER ANY SETTLEMENT OR ANY TYPE OF WILLINGNESS TO FIX ANY OF THE ISSUE? SO, WE'RE NOT COMING HERE FOR DEMOLITION TONIGHT.

WE'RE ONLY ASKING FOR THE FUNDING OF THE CONTRACT.

IT WAS TWICE, CAME TWICE TO THE BOARD AND COMMISSION, SUBSTANDARD COMMISSION.

ON TWO MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, OCTOBER AND FEBRUARY.

SO ON THERE WE TALKED ABOUT DEMOLITION.

TONIGHT WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE FUNDING.

HE DID NOT PROVIDE US ANY EVIDENCE THAT'S GOING TO FIX IT ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE PROMISES HE MADE US THREE YEARS AGO.

SO IT WAS THE EXACT SAME PROMISE.

HE SAID, I HAVE THE MONEY FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY, HAVEN'T CASHED THAT CHECK, I SUED THEM, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT.

AND I MIGHT TAKE A LOAN, AND I THINK HE SENT THE SAME NOTE TO YOU GUYS, WHAT HE TOLD US.

BUT IT'S THE SAME THING WE'VE HEARD FROM HIM FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

EXCUSE ME, FINAL QUESTION.

YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE CITY TO SPEND $58,000 FOR THE DEMOLITION AND HOPING THAT WE'LL RECOVER THAT MONEY WHEN WE PUT THE LIEN ON THE PROPERTY AND WHEN THE OWNER SELLS THAT PROPERTY, WE WILL COLLECT THAT MONEY, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

AND DO YOU KNOW, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY ADDITIONAL LIENS ON THE PROPERTY THAT WOULD PRECEDE US OR RANKED BEFORE US? I'M NOT IN A SITUATION TODAY WHERE I COULD RANK THOSE LIENS.

I'M ONLY HERE TO ASK FOR THE $58,000 AND WE WOULD PLACE A LIEN.

WHICH ONE COMES BEFORE THE OTHER, I CANNOT CONFIRM WHICH ONE COMES BEFORE THE OTHER.

COUNCILMAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER HINOJOSA-SMITH.

QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW FOR YOU OR THE ATTORNEY.

I WOULD RATHER YOU ASK HIM.

JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON UNDERSTANDING NEXT STEPS AND TIMING.

SO WE'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE THE $58,000, SO MANY HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE DEMOLITION.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? AND WHAT'S THE TIMING ON THAT? IF THIS WERE TO PROCEED? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE HOMEOWNER, BUT WOULD, AND I THINK SOMETHING'S BEEN PROPOSED, IMPOSE A SERIES OF, I'M JUST GOING TO CALL THEM DROP-DEAD DEADLINES, DEADLINES

[01:30:02]

WITHIN WHICH A PERMIT MUST BE APPLIED FOR, DEADLINES WITHIN WHICH WORK MUST COMMENCE, AND A DEADLINE WITHIN WHICH WORK MUST BE COMPLETED.

ABSENT AUTHORIZATION TO SPEND THE MONEY FROM THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO MEANS OF COMPELLING HIM TO LIVE UP TO THAT KIND OF AN AGREEMENT.

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, AND LOUIE, YOU NEED TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE HOMEOWNER.

BUT NOW, IF THE HOMEOWNER CONTINUES TO MAKE PROMISES AND NOT FULFILL THEM, THEN WE WILL PROCEED WITH DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURE.

WE WILL FILE A LIEN.

WE'RE REQUIRED BY LAW TO DO THAT.

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I CAN'T VERIFY THIS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES, BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS, IN FACT, AN OUTSTANDING LIEN OWNED BY THE CITY OF DALLAS ON THE PROPERTY.

MY PARTNER HAS REACHED OUT TO DALLAS, AND DALLAS HAS NO CLUE WHY THEY HAVE A LIEN OR WHAT IT'S FOR.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT OUR LIEN WOULD PRIME THE DALLAS LIEN OR DALLAS WOULD PRIME OURS.

MY GUESS IS GOING TO BE THAT THEIRS WAS FIRST FILED, SO THEIRS WOULD PROBABLY TAKE...

PRIORITY, HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, THEIRS IS $100,000.

OURS WOULD BE $58,000, GIVE OR TAKE.

THE PROPERTY IS WORTH MORE THAN $150,000.

AND IF IT'S SOLD, THEN DALLAS WOULD TAKE PROCEEDS FIRST FROM THE PROCEEDS OF SALE.

WE WOULD TAKE SECOND, ASSUMING THAT THEIR LIEN PRIME IS OURS.

THE BALANCE WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.

WE WOULDN'T SIMPLY FILE THE LIEN AND THEN WAIT FOR THE PROPERTY TO SELL, MIND YOU.

WE ALSO WOULD HAVE...

THE AUTHORITY WITH COUNCIL APPROVAL DOWN THE ROAD TO FILE OUR OWN LAWSUITS TO FORECLOSE THAT LIEN AND MOVE THAT PROCESS ALONE AND RECOVER OUR FUNDS.

SO, SO, IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW.

NO, NO, I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS HELPFUL TOO, BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND TIMING, RIGHT, BECAUSE WE CAN APPROVE THIS AND IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS AND I CONSIDER PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR...

NEIGHBORS TO BE AN UTMOST PRIORITY AND IT'S HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS AND WHAT I'M SEEING AND I KNOW THAT STAFF HAS SPENT NUMEROUS HOURS ON THIS HOME, SO I'D LOVE TO KNOW ALSO WHAT'S NEXT. COUNCILMEMBER HINOJOSA-SMITH MAY I PROPOSE A QUESTION TO LOUIE? I WHAT WHAT YEAH TELL ME THE TIMING AND PROCESS FOR NEXT STEPS. SO AGAIN, SOUNDS RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL DEMOLITION CONTRACT TONIGHT.

APPROVAL ALLOWS US TO GET THE CONTRACT SIGNED AND BE READY TO CARRY OUT THE BSC ORDER.

HOWEVER, DEMOLITION WOULD NOT OCCUR IMMEDIATELY.

WE STILL NEED TIME FOR ANY PERSONAL PROPERTY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PROPERTY.

SO WE NEED TO GIVE THEM 30 DAYS TO REMOVE ANY PERSONAL BELONGINGS FROM THE PROPERTY.

WE ALSO NEED TIME TO CONTACT THE UTILITIES TO GET THEM DISCONNECTED, IF IT'S THE GAS, ELECTRICITY, OR ANY OTHER UTILITIES THAT ARE DISCONNECTED.

AND WE NEED TO PREPARE THE SITE.

SO WE NEED ABOUT 30 DAYS TO GET THAT DONE.

IF THE OWNER IS ABLE TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE BEFORE THE EXECUTION DATE, STAFF CAN WORK WITH HIM THROUGH A SIGNED AGREEMENT REQUIRING CLEAR DELIVERABLES AND COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.

BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT HIM TO PULL A PERMIT AND PROLONG THE PROJECT FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS.

IF HE'S ABLE TO WORK WITH US THROUGH A SIGNED AGREEMENT REQUIRING CLEAR DELIVERABLE AND COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT, WE WOULD WORK WITH HIM.

BUT WITHOUT THE SIGNED AGREEMENT AND REAL COMPLIANCE STEPS, STAFF RECOMMENDS WE CANNOT HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

SO WE NEED ABOUT 30 DAYS.

COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TEM WALKER, I'M SORRY.

THANKS, MAYOR.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY FOR...

I LOVE YOU, MAN.

YOU HAD MENTIONED...

OH YEAH.

SO IT'S A FINAL ORDER? IT IS FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE AND EXECUTABLE.

HENCE THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW.

COUNCILMEMBER PREM KUMAR.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

ADANI BOWMAN.

I'M SORRY.

I THINK YOU SHOULD STAND.

THIS MIGHT BE MY ONLY QUESTION FOR YOU.

I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY THE DALLAS COUNTY LIEN IS ABOUT $100,000.

THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

I COULD BE WRONG, BUT THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

AND I BELIEVE THE LAND VALUE IS APPROXIMATELY $250,000, OR DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, SIR? I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND WHAT THAT IS.

YEAH, WE'VE GOT RECORDS THAT WILL INDICATE WHAT DALLAS, WHAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT SAYS THAT IT IS.

I LOOKED IT UP TODAY, AND IT WAS $250,000 EVEN.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A RATHER CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

QUICK QUESTION FOR EITHER ONE OF YOU.

DO WE KNOW IF THERE IS A MORTGAGE LIEN FROM A BANK OR

[01:35:01]

ANY OTHER LENDER? I THINK THE TITLE IS CLEAR EXCEPT FOR THE DALLAS LIEN.

THE TITLE IS CLEAR.

A QUESTION FOR THE HOA.

I HAD SENT AN EMAIL RATHER LATE TODAY, AROUND 2 P.M.

IS THERE AN HOA? SO, I'M VERY EMPATHETIC TO WHAT THE NEIGHBORS ARE GOING THROUGH, AND I THINK THEY HAVE SUFFERED A LOT.

I'M INCLINED TO DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS DECISION, AND I THINK THE STAFF HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN ADDRESSING THIS SITUATION.

SO I HAVE NOTHING BUT POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY TO THE STAFF.

THE ONE CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS...

YOU KNOW, THE PROPERTY VALUE IS ABOUT $250,000.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME COST IN GOING AFTER AND FORCING THE OWNER TO SELL IT, AND THEN WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

TO YOU KNOW THIS COUNTY TAKING THEIR PIECE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BEING THE FIDUCIARY FOR FOR THE TAXPAYERS THAT WE DO RECOVER THAT 58,000 PLUS AND ANY OTHER DUES THAT THE CITY HAS FROM THE HOMEOWNER IF WE GO FORWARD WITH FORECLOSURE I MEAN IT'S FIRST FIRST THINGS FIRST WE'VE GOT TO GET THE DEMOLITION IN PLACE ONCE THE DEMOLITION IS DONE WE FILE THE LIEN THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE IF THE PROPERTY DOESN'T SELL OUT BY ITSELF OR THE OWNER DOESN'T SELL IT, IF WE CHOSE TO FORECLOSE THAT LIEN, WE WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL SEEKING PERMISSION.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME, YOU'D HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY, YES, MOVE FORWARD.

WE'D THEN FILE THE LAWSUIT AND THEN PROCEED WITH JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE AND AN ORDER OF SALE AS SOON AS WE COULD.

BUT YOU'D GET ANOTHER NOTICE.

WE'D COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND ASK.

AND WILL THERE BE A COST FOR THAT FORECLOSURE? YEAH, THERE WOULD.

THERE WOULD BE CORE COSTS.

THOSE COURT COSTS WOULD BE FACTORED INTO THE FORECLOSURE SALE THAT WE WOULD REPRESENT.

SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT WE WILL RECOVER ALL THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE PUT IN.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN GIVE ME 100% CERTAINTY THAT WE WILL RECOVER THE COST THAT WE PUT IN.

THERE'S NEVER 100% CERTAINTY.

I MEAN, WE'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND HUMAN BEINGS.

THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL LIKELIHOOD OF FULL RECOVERY.

MY GUESS IS GOING TO BE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A FEW DOLLARS HERE AND THERE.

THEY GET CRUMBS THAT GET DROPPED OFF ON THE SIDE.

BUT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL LIKELIHOOD OF FULL RECOVERY, YES.

AND, MR. BERMAN AND LOUIE, I THINK FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, IF WE APPROVE THIS PROCESS TODAY, THERE IS STILL AN OPTION WHERE YOU WILL LOOK AT THE PROPERTY OWNER'S ACTIONS AND DECIDE IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEMOLITION, CORRECT? THE THE PURPOSE OF EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE FROM DAY ONE UNTIL TODAY IS TO CORRECT UNSAFE CONDITIONS.

THE OWNER DID NOT COMPLY WITH ANYTHING HE EVER TOLD, BUT HOWEVER HE DECIDED TO COMPLY, WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH HIM.

AS LONG AS HE SIGNS AN AGREEMENT WITH US WITH SOME GOOD MILESTONES THAT GUARANTEE TO THE NEIGHBORS THAT THE PROPERTY WILL BE FIXED WITHIN 90 DAYS OR LESS.

SO WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH HIM IF HE'S WILLING TO WORK WITH US.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

MAYOR, GIVEN WHAT I'M HEARING, AND GIVEN THAT THE HOMEOWNER HAS SENT US AN EMAIL TELLING US THAT HE'S READY TO SPEND $325,000, NOW THAT MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO FIX ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE DEFER THIS DECISION TO THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

AND AGAIN, I WANT THE NEIGHBORS TO UNDERSTAND THAT I'M COMPLETELY IN SUPPORT OF DEMOLITION.

HOWEVER, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS DECISION IS COMING TO US, AND I WANT TO BE FAIR AND GIVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH SIDES.

YES, I'M MAKING A MOTION, SIR, THAT WE MOVE MAKING A DECISION ON DEMOLITION, PAYING FOR THE DEMOLITION, TO THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I'D LIKE TO REPHRASE YOUR MOTION.

OF JUNE.

YES, SIR.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? THE MOTION FAILS.

COUNCIL MEMBER NEVELS, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 8F WITH THE DEMOLITION CONTRACT WITH GARRETT DEMOLITION.

[01:40:02]

FOR A CITY INITIATED DEMOLITION OF A SUBSTANDARD RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE AT 631 STRAPPER LANE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,128 AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN.

SECOND BY...

MAYOR PRO TEM, TO YOU, PAL.

IT'S AN ONGOING...

SO I GUESS I SEE OUR FIDUCIARY DUTY A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LARGER ISSUE.

AS OUR HOUSING STOCK AGES IN TOWN, WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN COMPLIANCE ISSUES.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT WE OWE IT TO ALL OF OUR HOMEOWNERS.

AFTER FIVE YEARS OF NEGLECT AND AFTER RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

ENVIRONMENT AND ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THAT THESE FOLKS HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH FOR FIVE YEARS.

I THINK WE ACTUALLY OWE THEM A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO DEMOLISH THIS HOUSE AND TO APPROVE THAT.

I ALSO THINK THAT WE OWE EVERY OTHER HOMEOWNER IN TOWN A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THIS WAS HAPPENING ACROSS FROM THEIR HOME, THAT WE WOULD TAKE THE SAME POSITION.

BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT UNDERSTOOD THAT AFTER FIVE YEARS OF NEGLECT AND JUST PUTRID CONDITIONS, THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

THEN I THINK WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE A WHOLE LOT MORE OF THIS.

AND THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME GREATLY.

YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN VOLUNTEERING IN ANY POSITION AT ALL IN THE CITY, THE ONE THING ABOUT OUR COMPLIANCE GROUP IS THEY ARE ALMOST TOO FORGIVING.

THEY'RE VERY COLLABORATIVE.

THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO WORK WITH A HOMEOWNER TO TRY TO RESOLVE A PROBLEM.

WITHOUT GOING TO THIS STEP.

SO WHEN I SEE OUR COMPLIANCE FOLKS STEPPING UP AND SAYING THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT, IT REALLY IMPRESSES ME BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT WHAT THEY WANTED.

ALL THEY WANTED WAS THIS GUY TO SHOW UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE HOME THAT HE OWNS.

AND IF IT'S OF SUCH LITTLE IMPORTANCE TO HIM THAT HE'S WILLING TO PAY $2,900 IN COURT COSTS, BUT HE'S NOT WILLING TO SHOW UP TO THE COURT.

HE'S WILLING.

TO DO THAT, BUT HE'S NOT WILLING TO RESPOND TO ANY OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS, AND YET WE'RE SUPPOSED TO RESPECT AN EMAIL FROM HIM REQUESTING FOR AN EXTENSION AGAIN? I THINK THIS HAS GONE WAY BEYOND GIVING HIM ANY MORE DEFERENCE OR TOLERANCE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO GIVE SOME DEFERENCE AND SOME TOLERANCE TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH THIS FOR FIVE YEARS.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO SEND A MESSAGE ACROSS TOWN THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE THIS KIND OF CONDITION.

OR THIS KIND OF NEGLECT BY ANY HOMEOWNER IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT HAS SUCH A NEGATIVE, DETERIORATIVE EFFECT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF EVERYBODY LIVING AROUND IT.

SO I'M TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THIS CONTRACT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S WILLING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE LARGER, HOLISTIC VIEW OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES AND THE QUALITY OF OUR HOMES AND WHAT WE EXPECT OF EACH OTHER AS NEIGHBORS.

I THINK IT'S WORTH INVESTING $58,000 AND DEMOLISHING THIS HOUSE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE THIS KIND OF NEGLECT.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE THIS KIND OF ABUSE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

SO THAT'S WHERE I STAND ON IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR PRO TEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER NEVELS.

I GOT TO SAY, JIM, I THINK YOU SAID THAT.

I'M SORRY, MAYOR PRO TEM.

I APOLOGIZE, I DON'T WANT TO GET YELLED AT.

MAYOR PRO TEM, I THINK, SAID THAT INCREDIBLY WELL.

THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THIS THAT I LIKE.

I HATE THAT THERE IS A PROPERTY OWNER THAT WENT THROUGH THIS STORM AND THE DAMAGE.

I ABSOLUTELY HATE THAT.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST SPEAKING FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, I HAD A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY THAT WAS DAMAGED IN THE EXACT SAME STORM.

AND...

I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE HARDSHIPS OF DEALING WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND TRYING TO GET MY BUSINESS TO RUN AT THE SAME TIME AND GET REPAIRS DONE.

AND IT WAS AWFUL, BUT WE DID IT.

AND I HAD THE SAME DRIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT MY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WAS UP TO THE STANDARDS THAT MEET CITY CODE AND ARE HONESTLY UP TO THE LEVEL THAT WE EXPECT HERE IN COPPELL.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE I DON'T HAVE EMPATHY FOR THE HOMEOWNER.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH.

AND I ABSOLUTELY HATE THAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THAT.

BUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE HERE

[01:45:01]

OVER FIVE YEARS LATER, RIGHT, WITH THREE OF THOSE YEARS, IT WASN'T EVEN ON THE CITY'S RADAR, AND THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIX IT AT THAT TIME.

I MEAN, WATCHING TESTIMONY THAT THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN GET THEIR FIRST CONTRACTOR BID UNTIL 18 MONTHS LATER.

WELL, I HAVE EMPATHY FOR THAT, RIGHT? THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.

BUT THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THIS REPAIRED.

I WILL SAY.

I APPRECIATE THE PROPERTY, THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE SHOWN UP TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

OUR COMMUNITY IS BUILT AROUND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS CONTINUING TO SHOW UP AND SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I HATE THAT IT'S COME TO THIS, BUT I MEAN, FOR ALL THE REASONS WHY MAYOR PRO TEM STATED.

WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

IT'S NOT THE COPPELL WAY.

IT'S NOT THE STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE STRONG COMMUNITIES, SAFE COMMUNITIES, AND THIS JUST DOES NOT MATCH WITH THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE TO SUPPORT THIS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT, BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT.

WE'VE GOT COUNCILMEMBER MATHEW, THEN CARROLL, THEN PREMKUMAR.

I WANT TO GIVE CREDITS TO OUR STAFF FOR FOLLOWING UP FOR THIS MANY YEARS.

THEY SPENT A LOT OF HOURS ON THIS.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE NEIGHBORS.

I KNOW IT'S HORRIBLE LIVING NEXT TO A HOUSE DETERIORATED THE WAY IT IS.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION PROPOSED HERE, GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OWNER TO FIX EVERYTHING STAFF ASKED IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS.

AND IF THAT DOESN'T FOLLOW THROUGH, I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF DEMOLISHING THIS HOUSE, BUT I WANT TO GIVE THEM AN ORDER FROM THE COUNCIL.

YOU HAVE 30 MORE DAYS TO FIX THIS.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY AMENDMENT.

TO THIS MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

I NEED TO ASK FOR A...

MAYOR, TO BE CLEAR.

TO BE CLEAR, MAYOR, YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO MOVE INTO A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING THIS AGENDA ITEM AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551.0712.

YES, MA'AM, THAT ONE.

OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVICE FROM YOUR CITY ATTORNEY.

THE TIME IS NOW 8:28 P.M.

I WAS GOING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID.

THE TIME IS 8:36.

WE HAVE RECESS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY.

COUNCIL MEMBER MATHEW, I BELIEVE YOU HAD A MOTION.

YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I MADE THE MOTION.

FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY, AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, DO WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO EXTEND THE DEMOLITION FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS? TO REQUIRE STAFF TO REFRAIN, THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION TECHNICALLY IS NO, YOU DON'T.

THE BILLING STANDARDS COMMISSION HAS THE AUTHORITY TO RENDER ITS ORDERS.

IT'S ALREADY DONE THAT.

THE ORDER IS FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE.

THE ASK OF THE COUNCIL TONIGHT AND THE AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING THIS EVENING, IS SIMPLY TO FUND THE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURE.

IT'S BEYOND THE SCOPE OF NOT JUST THE AGENDA, BUT I THINK COUNCIL AUTHORITY TO BE ISSUING OPERATIONAL MANDATES.

THEREFORE, I'M GOING TO WITHDRAW MY MOTION FROM THE FLOOR.

ALL RIGHT.

LOST TRACK OF WHO WAS SPEAKING.

WE HAD COUNCIL MEMBER CARROLL, PREMKUMAR AND KENOSHA SMITH.

SO COUNCILMEMBER CARROLL.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT IN ANY CASE WHERE THERE WAS PUBLIC SAFETY ENDANGERED, WHETHER IT BE FROM A STORM DAMAGE OR FROM, YOU KNOW, UTILITY EXPLOSION, ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, WE WOULD NOT THINK TWICE ABOUT FUNDING $58,000 TO BRING THINGS INTO A MANNER OF BEING SAFE.

AND FURTHERMORE, THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT UNDER THE PURVIEW OF COUNCIL AT ALL ANYWAY, IT IS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF ANOTHER.

I THINK IT IS CERTAINLY APPROPRIATE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, WITH FUNDING THIS CONTRACT AS WRITTEN.

I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE NEIGHBORS ONE MORE TIME.

I HOPE YOU HEARD ME SAY THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M IN SUPPORT OF.

FINDING A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO NEIGHBORS, I MEAN, FOR ME THAT WAS THE FIRST AND FOREMOST,

[01:50:01]

YOUR SAFETY AND COMFORT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE DIVERSITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL IS THAT WE LOOK AT THINGS FROM MULTIPLE SIDES.

AND SO THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO SEE IF WE CAN WAIT TWO MORE WEEKS.

BUT I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS AND SUPPORTING THIS MOTION TO DEMOLISH.

AND HOPEFULLY YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I WAS COMING FROM.

AND I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM WALKER SAID IT ELOQUENTLY, AND THAT IS THAT OUR STAFF DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB OF GIVING MORE AND GIVING TIME FOR COMPLIANCE.

I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF.

JUNCTURE THEN I FEEL CONFIDENT MORE THAN CONFIDENT THAT EVERYTHING COULD IN THIS IN THIS SITUATION SO AGAIN SAFETY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE THANK YOU TO THE NEIGHBOR FOR COMING AND SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH US THANK YOU STAFF FOR YOUR TIME AND I TOO WILL BE THANK YOU VERY MUCH SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION, WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM F IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,128.

ALL IN FAVOR? WALKER, HINOJOSA-SMITH, CARROLL, NEVELS, PREMKUMAR, MATHEW.

NONE OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES.

[9. 2026-0233 Consider award of City of Coppell Request for Proposal (RFP) #220 and approval of a contract to Innocity Partners LLC., for the Smart Cities Master Plan in the amount of $115,000.00 as provided for in the General Fund budget; and authorizing the City Manager to sign any necessary documents.]