Mar 07, 2023 City Council

[00:00:02]

IF EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE QUIET, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START.

[1. Call to order]

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING DOWN TO SOUTHLAKE CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT.

AND I'M GUESSING I KNOW WHICH ONE OF OUR HONORED GUESTS YOU GUYS ARE ALL HERE FOR.

AND IT MIGHT BE THAT FOUR LEGGED FRIEND IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

WELL, TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO START, AS WE DO EVERY NIGHT WITH OUR INVOCATION FROM OUR CITY CHAPLAIN AND PASTOR REED AND THEN WE'LL DO OUR PLEDGE.

SO YOU GUYS, PLEASE RISE WITH US.

LET'S PRAY. DEAR LORD, WE GIVE THANKS FOR OUR TIME TOGETHER TONIGHT AND TONIGHT WE GIVE SPECIAL THANKS FOR DUCO AND FOR NATE'S CARE OF DUCO.

THROUGH THE YEARS WE PRAY BLESSING UPON NATE AS HE TRANSITIONS TO A NEW DOG.

AND I ALSO JUST PRAY BLESSING UPON DUCO.

WE GIVE THANKS FOR ALL OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR SERVICE AND OUR CITY.

WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD KEEP THEM SAFE TONIGHT, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEIR FAMILIES CONFIDENCE TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING YOUR GOOD WILL IN OUR CITY.

I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THIS MEETING, BE WITH OUR MAYOR AND THE TEAM AS THEY LEAD IT.

I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM FOR DECISIONS, AND I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT OUR CITY.

IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN. THANK YOU.

JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

. THANK YOU. PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE ARE GOING TO HONOR ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING AND CERTAINLY THE CUTEST MEMBER OF OUR POLICE

[3. Retirement of Police K-9 Duco]

I CAN HEAR THE HEAVY BREATHING FROM BEHIND ME.

HE'S NERVOUS. HE KNOWS HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE A SPEECH.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO TAKE A MOMENT TONIGHT AND COME TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT K-9 DUCO AND HIS IMPENDING RETIREMENT.

FOR CLARIFICATION, ALTHOUGH DUCO IS RETIRING SOON, OFFICER ANDERSON IS NOT.

AND HE WILL BE RECEIVING A NEW K-9 THAT YOU GUYS WILL PROBABLY MEET HERE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

SO FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, DUCO IS A DUTCH SHEPHERD THAT CAME TO US FROM THE NETHERLANDS IN 2015 AND HAS BEEN OFFICER ANDERSON'S PARTNER SINCE THEN.

AND WHEN I KNEW I WAS GOING TO DO THIS TONIGHT, I STARTED THINKING ABOUT HOW TO ENCAPSULATE THAT CAREER AND HOW TO ILLUSTRATE FOR YOU ALL IN A NUTSHELL, THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DUCO AND OF OFFICER ANDERSON.

AND THE THING THAT EASILY COMES TO MIND ARE STATS.

I CAN STAND UP HERE AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT AMOUNTS OF DRUGS AND ABOUT A NUMBER OF APPREHENSIONS.

THINK ABOUT COLLIERVILLE TWO WEEKS AGO.

THERE'S A RECENT ONE. WE COULD TALK ABOUT LOTS OF THOSE THINGS, BUT THE MORE THOUGHT THAT I GAVE TO IT, WHAT I REALIZED IS THAT REALLY WHAT SUMMARIZES HIS CAREER IS THE AMOUNT OF TRUST THAT THIS CITY AND THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS IN HIM BECAUSE OF HIS UNIQUE TALENTS AND EFFECTIVENESS.

AS A POLICE CHIEF.

CANINES, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, ARE A HIGH RISK PROGRAM.

ALTHOUGH THAT'S A VERY HANDSOME, NICE LOOKING DOG IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

THAT IS A FOUR LEGGED USE OF FORCE.

SO POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE A MISMANAGED CANINE PROGRAM CAN GET THEMSELVES INTO A GREAT DEAL OF TROUBLE AND LOSE COMMUNITY TRUST.

WHEN OFFICER ANDERSON SELECTED DUCO, HE FOUND A PARTNER THAT IS AN EXCELLENT INTERPRETER OF AGGRESSION, INTENT, BODY LANGUAGE AND ENERGY.

IN A NUTSHELL, IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS, HE'S FRIENDLY.

IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE BAD GUYS, WELL, I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU.

DUCO IS TRUSTED TO INTERPRET THESE INTENTIONS AND REACT APPROPRIATELY IN ANY SITUATION, EVEN WITHOUT BEING TOLD TO.

FOR PERSPECTIVE, I HAVE SEEN SOME TOP TIER CANINES IN MY CAREER, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE THAT IS AS GOOD AS DUCO.

IN BETWEEN HIS WORK ABILITIES AND HIS PERSONALITY TO JUST BE AROUND PEOPLE WHENEVER I'M TOLD THAT WE ARE DEPLOYING DUCO AND OFFICER ANDERSON, WHETHER IT'S IN SOUTHLAKE OR WHETHER IT'S IN ONE OF OUR SURROUNDING CITIES FOR A CRITICAL SITUATION, WHICH IS ALMOST ALWAYS WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO.

I DON'T FEEL ANY KIND OF APPREHENSION.

I FEEL CALM AND I FEEL CONFIDENT BECAUSE I KNOW THE QUALITY OF DOG THAT HE IS.

I KNOW THE QUALITY OF PARTNER THAT HE IS FOR OFFICER ANDERSON AND I KNOW ABOUT THE QUALITY OF WORK THAT HE DOES.

WHEN HE SHOWS UP FOR AN APPREHENSION OR FOR A SWAT SITUATION.

OFFICER ANDERSON NOT ONLY HAS TO HANDLE DUCO, BUT HE HAS TO HANDLE EVERYONE AROUND HIM AS WELL.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE TO TALKING ABOUT DUCO IS CERTAINLY GREAT, BUT I CANNOT STAND UP HERE AND SPEAK ABOUT THIS WITHOUT TELLING YOU ABOUT OFFICER NATE

[00:05:01]

OFFICER ANDERSON BUILT THAT PROGRAM, WASN'T THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE BUILT IT. HE RUNS IT.

AND WE TRUST HIM TO DO SO.

AND HE DOES A FANTASTIC JOB AT IT.

OFFICER ANDERSON'S LEADERSHIP IN THESE SITUATIONS IN WHICH HE'S DIRECTING DUCO IN A CRISIS AND THE OTHER OFFICERS AROUND HIM SO THEY CAN INTERACT WITH BOTH THE BAD GUY AND DUCO IS JUST UNPARALLELED.

WE HAVE HIM TO THANK FOR A K-9 PROGRAM THAT KEEPS OUR CITIZENS AND OUR OFFICERS SAFE.

THEY ARE TRULY BOTH REALLY A GREAT PAIR.

AND I KNOW THAT NATE'S NEXT PARTNER HAS QUITE A BIT TO LIVE UP TO.

SO DUCO, ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL CITY AND POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION SERVICE AND FOR ALWAYS HAVING YOUR PARTNER'S BACK.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT, NATE.

WILL YOU COME DOWN? SO, COUNCIL, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE OR WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS.

YEAH, SURE. WELL, OFFICER ANDERSON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DUCO AT ALL OR YOU DON'T HAVE TO? I THINK WE'VE COVERED IT ALL.

YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

WELL, LET ME SAY TO YOU, OFFICER ANDERSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK.

YOU ARE A MAINSTAY AT WHAT WE DO AROUND HERE, NOT ONLY IN YOUR OPERATIONAL CAPACITIES, BUT WE ALWAYS SEE YOU OUT AT THE FESTIVALS AND PUTTING IN TIME AROUND CROWDS AND THE ABILITY, YOUR ABILITY TO HANDLE DUCO AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

AND I MEAN, THESE PICTURES OF YOU AND THE KIDS, PETTING DUCO, I MEAN, IT'S JUST CREDIT TO YOU.

I MEAN, YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB AND DUCO IS JUST SO WONDERFUL.

AND THE WAY I MEAN, THE WAY YOU'VE INTEGRATED HIM INTO THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY SPECIAL.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING HONOR TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THANK YOU FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH DUCO.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL.

I SECOND THAT.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WE MOVED HERE IN 14 AND 15.

I WENT THROUGH CITIZEN'S ACADEMY AND I MET NATE AND DUCO.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS THAT NEW AT THE TIME, BUT I HAVE PICTURES OF A PUP DUCO.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT I WAS GOING THROUGH IMAGES THIS MORNING, AND THAT'S REALLY COOL.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO.

AND THANK YOU, DUCO.

IS HE GOING TO GO BACK WITH YOU OR WHAT HAPPENS FROM HERE? HE IS GOING TO WHAT I HOPE TURNS OUT TO BE A PRETTY GOOD FAMILY THAT I HOPE.

THEY'RE GOOD GUYS WITH OFFICER ANDERSON.

I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO TRAIN A POLICE DOG? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IS THAT A IF THAT'S A TOO LONG OF AN ANSWER, THAT'S OKAY.

I WAS JUST KIND OF CURIOUS. I THINK HE WOULD PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT HE HASN'T FINISHED YET.

[INAUDIBLE] . SO, FOR INSTANCE, NATE'S NEXT DOG, I DON'T REMEMBER HIS EXACT AGE, BUT TYPICALLY THERE ARE ABOUT 20 TO 24 MONTHS OLD WHEN WE GET THEM AND THEN THE HANDLER WILL GO DOWN.

AND ONCE HE'S SELECTED THE DOG AND GOES THROUGH ABOUT SIX WEEKS OF TRAINING TO PAIR THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER, AND FOR ALL THE CERTIFICATIONS THAT THE DOG NEEDS TO FUNCTION ACTUALLY ON THE STREET IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY.

AND THEN THEY'LL COME BACK AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL THINK, HEY, GREAT, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THEM ON DUTY.

AND THEN THE CANINE HANDLER WILL TELL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, NO, WE'RE NOT READY FOR THAT YET.

I NEED ANOTHER X AMOUNT OF WEEKS TO FIX SOME LITTLE STUFF.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, HE'LL GO ON DUTY AND THEN REGULAR TRAINING AFTER THAT.

SO THINK OF IT LIKE YOUR KIDS.

YOU DON'T JUST TELL THEM SOMETHING ONCE AND THEN IT STICKS, RIGHT? IT'S OVER AND OVER AND IT'S REINFORCING ALL OF OUR KIDS.

RIGHT? IT'S THE SAME WAY WITH THEM.

WE REMEMBER COMING OUT TO THE SWAT TRAINING AND WORKING WITH WATCHING YOU GUYS WORK AND LETTING DUCO CHEW ON ME FOR A LITTLE BIT.

AND THAT WAS I SAW THAT PICTURE, BY THE WAY, YOU WERE SMILING REALLY BIG IN THAT PICTURE, OFFICER.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO BECOME THE MAYOR, [INAUDIBLE].

WELL. IT WAS AMAZING BECAUSE, I MEAN, IN THAT MOMENT RIGHT THERE WAS NO DOUBT WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THAT INTERACTION.

AND IT WAS NOT ME.

DUCO WAS SO POWERFUL, BUT ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS I REMEMBER YOU GUYS SAYING IS WHEN YOU DEPLOY DUCO OR A CANINE UNIT AND THEN TELL LIKE IF A SUSPECT IS HIDDEN SOMEWHERE AND YOU TELL THEM YOU'VE GOT A CANINE, THE INEXPERIENCED GUYS WILL STAY STUBBORN AND MAYBE LIKE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FORCE YOUR HAND AND FORCE THE CANINE, THE EXPERIENCE GUYS WILL COME RIGHT OUT BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT'S COMING.

AND, YOU KNOW, QUITE A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF THESE FINE OFFICERS.

SO, YEAH, EVEN WHEN WE TRACK ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HE DOES, ALL THE APPREHENSIONS AND THE DRUGS, THE THING THAT IS DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY IN THERE, IT'S KIND OF FOR POLICE WORK AS A WHOLE BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR HIM ARE HOW MANY SITUATIONS ARE PEACEFULLY RESOLVED JUST BECAUSE HE'S STANDING THERE? YEAH. AND JUST BECAUSE HE'S PRESENT AND JUST BECAUSE THE BAD GUY HEARS HIM BARKING, EAGER TO GET INTO THAT SITUATION.

[00:10:06]

AWESOME. WELL, CAN WE COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU? ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.

[INAUDIBLE].

ALL RIGHT. SPOILER ALERT.

THAT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE MEETING.

OKAY. SO THANK YOU, GUYS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY. MOVING ON TO WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

[4. Southlake Business Spotlight - Trophy Blooms]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE BERNARD, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST.

AND I'M HIGHLIGHTING TROPHY BLOOMS THIS MONTH.

IT WAS A REALLY FUN SHOOT.

SUPER COLORFUL. I HOPE YOU ENJOY.

SHANE. HI, MY NAME IS MADELINE AND I AM THE OWNER OF TROPHY BLOOMS FLORAL COUTURE, AND WE ARE LOCATED AT 335 NORTH CARROLL AVENUE IN SOUTHLAKE TOWN SQUARE, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE GOOD OLD NOTHING BUNDT CAKE STORE.

SO HERE AT TROPHY BLOOMS, WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF FLORAL SERVICES.

WE DO YOUR CLASSIC FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS, YOUR GRAB AND GOES WHERE YOU JUST COME INTO THE STORE.

WE HAVE ARRANGEMENTS ON DISPLAY AND THEY'RE JUST READY TO GO.

AND THEN WE ALSO DO WEDDINGS AND EVENTS.

WE DO PLANTS, WE DO WORKSHOPS, WHICH YOU CAN HAVE YOUR WHOLE GROUP OF FRIENDS COME AND YOU CAN GATHER AROUND, YOU CAN BRING YOUR OWN SNACKS, BRING YOUR OWN DRINKS, ALL THAT KIND OF THING. AND YOU CAN HOST A GIRLS NIGHT OUT.

YOU CAN HOST A GIRL SCOUT TROOP GATHERING.

WE HAVE DONE REALLY ALL OF IT, EVEN FOR COMPANIES THAT HAVE WORK PARTIES, IT'S A FUN WAY TO GET YOUR COMPANY TO BOND.

SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO.

BUT WE DO BIRTHDAY PARTIES.

WE DELIVER FLORALS TO ALL THE RESTAURANTS IN THE SQUARE AND ALL OVER SOUTHLAKE.

AND THAT'S A REALLY SPECIAL MOMENT FOR ANNIVERSARIES OR BIRTHDAYS.

SO REALLY, ANYTHING FLORAL WE DO CUSTOM DESIGNS, WE CAN DO ANYTHING FOR YOU HERE AT TROPHY BLOOMS. SO I'VE BEEN REALLY BLESSED TO BE A PART OF THE SOUTHLAKE COMMUNITY.

I AM A MEMBER OF THE SOUTHLAKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THEY ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND LOVING AND THEY LOVE TO UPLIFT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT AND I AM HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT.

AND SOUTHLAKE STYLE, WE WERE THE BEST FLORIST OF 2022, HOPING TO GO AGAIN FOR 2023.

AND THEN I WAS ALSO HONORED TO BE ON THE COVER OF 76092, WHICH IS A LOCAL SOUTHLAKE MAGAZINE AS WELL.

SO I HAVE BEEN SHOWN SO MUCH LOVE BY THIS COMMUNITY.

I FEEL SO GRATEFUL AND BLESSED TO BE A PART OF SOUTHLAKE AND WE'D ALWAYS LOVE TO HAVE YOU GUYS COME AND STOP BY AND SAY HI TO US IN OUR LITTLE SHOP DOG YOSHI AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FOR DAILY DEALS UPDATES JUST TO SEE WHAT WE'RE UP TO IN THE SHOP.

IT'S GOING TO BE AT TROPHY BLOOMS ON INSTAGRAM AND SAME THING.

WE JUST HAVE A TROPHY BLOOMS PAGE ON FACEBOOK AND YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG FOR ALL OF OUR FUN ADVENTURES AND STOP IN TO MEET YOSHI.

AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.

DOES YOSHI KNOW WE'RE HIRING IN THE CANINE UNIT? I MEAN, HE WAS HIS CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS SECOND TO NONE.

GREETED ME AS SOON AS I WALKED IN THE DOOR, SO DEFINITELY WORTH GIVING HIM A VISIT.

EXCELLENT. WELL, CERTAINLY, MARK TROPHY BLOOMS DOWN.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY THEY HAD SUCH A WIDE VARIETY OF OFFERINGS.

SHE IS A REALLY IMPRESSIVE YOUNG LADY.

SHE WAS TALKING TO ME ALL ABOUT HOW SHE SOURCES HER PEONIES FROM ECUADOR.

AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW YOU FIND A PEONY CONTACT IN ECUADOR.

SO IT WAS A LOT OF FUN WORKING WITH HER AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE THEM IN SOUTHLAKE AWESOME.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT VIDEO TOGETHER.

REALLY NICE LOOKING. YEAH, GREAT PACKAGE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT.

[5. Discuss all items on tonight's agenda. No action will be taken and each item will be considered during the Regular Session]

[00:15:05]

APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 21ST, 2023 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM FOUR B EXCUSE.

THE ABSENCE OF MAYOR PRO TEM RANDY WILLIAMSON FOR THE MARCH 7TH, 2023, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM FOUR C APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF SOFTWARE SUPPORT SERVICES AND ANNUAL MAINTENANCE FROM TYLER TECHNOLOGIES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $229,000.

ITEM FOUR D APPROVE THE PURCHASES OF CISCO SMART NET FROM PRESIDIO IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $60,200.

ITEM FOUR E APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 1270 FIRST READING CHANGING THE STREET NAME OF A PORTION OF PARKWOOD DRIVE TO OLIVIA COURT EXTENDING FROM THE INTERSECTION OF EAST SOUTHLAKE BOULEVARD TO THE TERMINUS AT 400 PARKWOOD DRIVE.

ITEM FOUR F APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 23-005 CERTIFYING UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES FOR THE MAY 6TH, 2023 GENERAL ELECTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER TALLEY. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M VERY EXCITED AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR RANDY AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT SITTING HERE NOW THAN THREE YEARS AGO OR RUNNING FOR OFFICE THREE YEARS AGO AND NOT KNOWING WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT, WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

A LITTLE NERVE WRACKING WAITING OUT THE 30 DAYS, THE FILING PERIOD.

BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU UP HERE FOR YOUR SUPPORT, EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

AND LIKE I SAID, I'M GOING TO GET A LITTLE CHOKED UP, BUT I KNOW I SPEAK FOR RANDY AS WELL.

WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU INSTILL YOUR TRUST IN US, IN ALL OF US, TO HELP OUR CITY STAFF TAKE CARE OF THIS GREAT CITY THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH.

AND IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE AND I LIVE THAT EVERY DAY.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THREE MORE YEARS.

WELL, WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY WHEN SWEARING IN COMES AROUND.

BUT LET ME JUST SAY FOR NOW, WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO CANCEL THIS ELECTION AND WELCOME YOU GUYS BACK FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS AND YOU ARE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB AND IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH YOU.

YOU SET SUCH AN INCREDIBLY HIGH BAR WITH YOUR HOURS OUTSIDE OF THIS CHAMBER.

WHAT DID YOU TELL ME TODAY, YOUR LIAISON? I MEAN, YOU'RE THE OFFICIAL COUNCIL LIAISON TO LIKE TWO THIRDS OF THE COMMITTEES IN THE CITY.

I JUST HAD A SISTER.

CITIES. SISTER CITIES. YEAH.

SO, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION YOU ARE NOT A LIAISON FOR, BUT YOU REALLY DO SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON THIS.

AND WE APPRECIATE IT AND WE LOVE IT.

SO THANK YOU. IT'S A PLEASURE TO CANCEL THIS ELECTION, WHICH IS ITEM 4G, APPROVE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 23-006, CANCELING THE MAY 6TH, 2023 GENERAL ELECTION AND ITEM FOUR H APPROVE TO TABLE SV 23- 002 SIGN VARIANTS FOR SHAKE SHACK LOCATED AT 125 CENTRAL AVENUE AND I COUNCIL.

I WOULD ASK IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE TO PUT ON CONSENT, BUT THAT'S LITERALLY THE ENTIRE AGENDA.

SO IT'S ALL ON CONSENT.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, WITH THAT, I'LL CALL THE REGULAR SESSION TO ORDER.

[1. Call to order.]

SO AS MAYOR, I HEREBY ADVISE YOU THAT WE ARE GOING INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.071 TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE FROM OUR CITY

[2. A. Executive Session]

6:45 6:50 TONIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS REGULAR SESSION BACK TO ORDER.

IS ANY ACTION NEEDED OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION? NO. MAYOR, THANK YOU.

AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE A, WHICH IS MAYOR'S REPORT, NOTHING SCHEDULED.

AND SO THAT TAKES US TO ITEM THREE B CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

[3.B. City Manager's Report]

AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO DO A QUICK PRESENTATION ABOUT THEIR DEPARTMENTS HIGHLIGHTS.

ALL RIGHT. TAKE IT AWAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SHANA.

WELL, GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE BERNARD, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST WITH THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE.

AND TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES AND GOOD WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS PAST YEAR IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.

SO TO START OFF, I'D JUST LIKE TO SHARE OUR MISSION, WHICH DRIVES OUR WORK IN THE DEPARTMENT.

OUR MISSION IS TO SUSTAIN AND GROW SOUTHLAKE VIBRANT ECONOMY AND OUTSTANDING QUALITY OF LIFE BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP RESOURCES AND A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR THE CREATION, EXPANSION AND RETENTION OF BUSINESSES AS WELL AS VISITORS.

WITH THE RECENT GROW OF OUR DEPARTMENT IN 2021, WITH THE ADDITION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST MYSELF, WE HAVE REINVIGORATED FOCUS ON BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT IN SOUTHLAKE. MY GOAL IS TO SERVE AS A KNOWN RESOURCE FOR EXISTING, EXPANDING AND POTENTIAL BUSINESSES IN SOUTHLAKE AND TO MAINTAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOUTHLAKE AND REGIONAL ECONOMY TO IDENTIFY EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF PRESSURE, POINTS OR PAIN THAT BUSINESSES MAY EXPERIENCE SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY THOSE AND HELP TO MITIGATE THOSE THROUGH

[00:20:04]

I SERVE AS THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND I SPENT MORE THAN 50 HOURS THIS PAST YEAR AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENTS, INCLUDING LUNCHEONS, RIBBON CUTTINGS, BUSINESS EXCHANGE AS WELL AS BOARD MEETING.

WE ALSO HAVE AN ANNUAL BUSINESS CLIMATE SURVEY WHICH IS REALLY BENEFICIAL FOR US IN LETTING US KNOW WHAT IS REALLY HURTING OUR BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW.

SOME EXAMPLES OF PAST ITEMS THAT WE'VE SEEN ARE WORKFORCE PROBLEMS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE DO IT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS SO THAT WE CAN TRACK THOSE ANSWERS THAT OUR BUSINESSES PROVIDE US AND JUST MONITOR HOW WELL WE'RE DOING AS A DEPARTMENT ON SUPPORTING OUR BUSINESSES AND BRINGING NEW BUSINESSES INTO THE COMMUNITY.

FINALLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE REFOCUSING AND RELAUNCHING OUR BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS TO GET SOME BOOTS ON THE GROUND EFFORT AND GET SOME HELP WITH.

AND GET SOME HELP WITH OUR BUSINESS CLIMATE SURVEY SO THAT WE CAN GET AS MANY ANSWERS AS POSSIBLE AND AS COMPREHENSIVE OF A SURVEY AS IT CAN BE.

I ALSO INTERNALLY PRODUCE WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS THAT ARE USED AS A RESOURCE FOR NOT ONLY ATTRACTING BUSINESSES BUT ONCE A BUSINESS IS ESTABLISHES HERE IN SOUTHLAKE.

ONE EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE FOR YOU IS MY NEW BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE, WHICH IS PRINTED IN FRONT OF YOU, AND THAT'S A BOOKLET THAT WE PROVIDE TO BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY HAVE JUST A NICE LITTLE WELCOME AND A PACKET OF CONTACTS THAT THEY MAY NEED, SUCH AS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, PRINTING COMPANIES AND UTILITY COMPANIES AND THE LIKE.

RECENTLY. TWO WEEKS AGO, WE WERE RECOGNIZED AS A CITY FOR ECONOMIC EXCELLENCE BY THE TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

WE WERE ONE OF 54 CITIES IN 2022 THAT WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THIS.

AND TDC IDENTIFIES THESE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES SUCH AS CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS. WE'RE ALSO CURRENTLY AN APPLICATION FOR RECOGNITION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR 2022, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HIGHLIGHTING OUR SELECT SOUTHLAKE WEBSITE, WHICH WE UTILIZE AS A TOOL FOR NOT ONLY ANNOUNCING NEW BUSINESSES WITH THE NEW BUSINESS IN SOUTHLAKE, BUT WE HAVE PROPERTY PROFILES ON THERE THAT BUSINESSES CAN UTILIZE TO FIND LAND OR A BUILDING SLASH SUITE THAT THEY CAN ESTABLISH THEIR BUILDING IN SOUTHLAKE AND ALSO OUR CLASS A OFFICE RECRUITMENT VIDEO WHICH WE HAVE NOT YET TO PREMIERE, BUT IT'S COMING OUT THIS MONTH AFTER THE TASK FORCE VIEWS IT AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I THINK IT WAS A GREAT PROJECT.

FINALLY, FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT MY BRAND SELECT SOUTHLAKE SO I HAVE A PRESENCE ON BOTH FACEBOOK AND LINKEDIN AND FACEBOOK.

I'M JUST UNDER 1500 FOLLOWERS RIGHT NOW AND I'VE GROWN THAT BY 12% IN THE PAST YEAR, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT.

IT'S NOT AS BIG AS VISIT AS YOU WILL HEAR, BUT IT IS STRONG.

AND IN LINKEDIN AS WELL, I'VE GROWN THAT BY 20% AND I'M JUST UNDER 300 FOLLOWERS ON LINKEDIN.

BUT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO REALLY TAG BUSINESSES, REALLY TAG THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND OUR REACH AS FAR AS POSSIBLE AND GROW BUSINESSES AND HAVE A GOOD ECONOMY IN SOUTHLAKE. SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO HILARY FOR THE TOURISM SIDE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

SO AGAIN, MY NAME IS HILARY CROMER.

I'M THE TOURISM MARKETING MANAGER IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM DEPARTMENT.

AND THIS EVENING I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THREE DIFFERENT TOURISM INITIATIVES.

BUT FIRST, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK GLANCE AT HOW WE'RE DOING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO CURRENTLY ON VISIT SOUTHLAKE.

INSTAGRAM WE HAVE 5032 FOLLOWERS AND WE GAINED 1280 OF THOSE IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.

AND ON FACEBOOK WE HAVE 8000 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM.

YES. HOLY COW.

YEAH, WE JUST HIT 5000 ABOUT A WEEK AGO.

SO 5032.

STEPHANIE, YOU GOT A WAYS TO GO.

COME ON, GO. COME ON. YOU GOT IT, THOUGH.

YOU GOT IT. THAT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN ON FACEBOOK, WE HAVE 8302 FOLLOWERS AND WE GAINED ABOUT 861 OF THOSE FOLLOWERS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.

IN ADDITION, WE'VE SEEN 197% INCREASE OF PROFILE VISITS ON OUR INSTAGRAM IN THE LAST YEAR.

AND WE'VE HAD WE'VE SEEN A 484% INCREASE OF VISITS TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.

WHAT HAS CAUSED THE INCREASE IN PROFILE VISITS? I THINK IT'S A COUPLE OF THINGS, SO I'VE STARTED DOING A LOT MORE REELS.

VIDEO IS STILL KING, SHARING A LOT MORE STORIES REGULARLY, SO KEEPING THOSE STORIES UP ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, CONSTANTLY TAGGING MORE EFFECTIVELY AND BY INTERACTING MORE OFTEN WITH OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

SO COMMENTING ON THE THINGS THEY POST AND THE COOL THINGS THAT THEY ARE DOING IN TOWN.

ANOTHER WAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN IMPROVING OUR MARKETING IS BY ENGAGING WITH INFLUENCERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO WE STARTED WORKING WITH A COMPANY CALLED TRAVEL MINDSET.

THEY SPECIALIZE IN INFLUENCER MARKETING BY SELECTING QUALITY INFLUENCERS TO MARKET SPECIFIC DESTINATION ORGANIZATIONS LIKE VISIT SOUTHLAKE.

[00:25:04]

THE TWO INFLUENCERS WERE EXPLORE WITH WESLEY AND TEXAS ADVENTURES.

THEY PUBLISHED A TOTAL OF 20 STORIES OVER USING REELS, POSTS ON TIKTOK AND INSTAGRAM, AND THE TOTAL REACH FOR THEIR CAMPAIGN WAS HUGE, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO WHAT WE PUBLISH OURSELVES.

SO THEY ACTUALLY REACHED 40,000 PEOPLE.

SO THAT MEANS 40,000 INDIVIDUALS SAW THIS POST, STOPPED AND LOOKED AT IT.

IMPRESSIONS WERE ACTUALLY SUPER HIGH AND AT 813,000.

SO THAT'S HOW MANY TIMES THE CONTENT ITSELF WAS DISPLAYED, NOT NECESSARILY LOOKED AT, BUT IT WAS DISPLAYED FOR PEOPLE TO VIEW.

SO THE NEXT CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO LAUNCH THE WEEKEND LEADING UP TO STARS AND STRIPES, WHICH IS HAPPENING ON JULY 3RD.

AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED.

WE HAVEN'T SELECTED QUITE YET WITH TRAVEL MINDSET, THE INFLUENCER FOR THAT CAMPAIGN, BUT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.

SO DEFINITELY KEEP AN EYE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.

OH, AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE MORE THING.

SO IF YOU LOOK UP AT AT THE PICTURE HERE, YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THAT'S A POST THAT WE PUBLISHED AND WE WERE REALLY PROUD OF OUR 2500 VIEWS.

BUT WHEN WE WORK WITH THOSE INFLUENCERS, WE GET WAY MORE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE TWO ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE AT 13.5 THOUSAND VIEWS PER VIDEO.

ANOTHER INITIATIVE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE HOTEL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

SO OUR DEPARTMENT RECENTLY REVAMPED THIS PROGRAM AND ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH OUR SOUTHLAKE HOTELS.

THE INTENT OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ASSIST OUR HOTELS WITH YEAR TO YEAR INITIATIVES.

THESE INITIATIVES WILL CHANGE EACH YEAR WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WHAT THE HOTELS NEED FROM US MAY CHANGE FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.

THE PROGRAM THAT WAS SELECTED THIS YEAR WAS OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING.

SO YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE THE TRAINING GOING ON THE RIGHT SIDE THERE.

AND ON THE LEFT SIDE YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT ALL STARTED.

SO WE INVITED ALL OF OUR HOTELS TO MUCHACHOS HERE IN THE TOWN SQUARE FOR A LUNCH.

AND WE ASKED THEM, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION, WHAT COULD WE DO TO HELP THE HOTELS THIS YEAR, THIS COMING YEAR? SO THIS WAS BACK IN JULY OF 2022.

THE HOTELS BROUGHT A FEW IDEAS.

ONE OF THE HOTEL'S GENERAL MANAGERS, THE ONE FROM THE CAMBRIA, BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF THE FISH PHILOSOPHY, CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING.

AND WE REALLY LIKED THIS IDEA BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALREADY WORKING HARD TO MARKET OUR DESTINATION AS A PLACE TO VISIT, BUT HOW DO WE KEEP PEOPLE COMING OVER AND OVER AGAIN? WE OFFER THE BEST WORLD CLASS CUSTOMER SERVICE.

SO THIS IS A REALLY COOL PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN STARTED.

THE FIRST TRAINING CLASS WAS LAST WEEK AND THE RATING FOR THE CLASSES BY THE ATTENDEES WAS AN AVERAGE OF 4.8.

SO I THINK THEY REALLY LIKED IT.

ALL RIGHT. SO THE NEXT INITIATIVE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR MASTERWORKS CONCERT SERIES.

SO. THE REASON I WANT TO BRING THIS UP TODAY IS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING FOOD, MUSIC AND FOOD TO THE SOUTHLAKE TOWN SQUARE WITH THIS SERIES THIS YEAR.

AND THERE'S A FEW ENHANCEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.

SO THE CONCERTS WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 17TH.

THAT'S COMING UP HERE SOON.

AND THEY'LL END ON MAY 27TH, 26TH.

THE CONCERTS WILL HAPPEN NEARLY EVERY FRIDAY, NOT QUITE EVERY FRIDAY BETWEEN THOSE DATES.

OUR MAIN FOOD VENDORS ARE GOING TO BE 1956 PIZZA, A LOCAL FOOD TRUCK VENDOR, AND THEY WILL BEGIN TAKING ORDERS AT 6 P.M.

AND THEN THE BAND WILL BEGIN AT 7 P.M.

THAT WAY EVERYONE HAS TIME TO GET THEIR FOOD.

AND LAST YEAR ONE OF THE REQUESTS WAS FROM OUR ATTENDEES WAS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE FOOD AS AN OPTION.

SO NEW THIS YEAR, THIS IS THE REALLY COOL THING.

WE WILL FEATURE GUEST CHEFS ON THE PIZZA TRUCK.

SO THESE GUEST CHEFS ARE GOING TO COME OUT AT EACH OF THE EVENTS EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST AND LAST ONE.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A SPECIALTY PIZZA.

AND THAT SPECIALTY PIZZA WILL BE PEOPLE CAN ALSO GET REGULAR CHEESE OR PEPPERONI.

BUT THE SPECIALTY PIZZA, THE SALES FOR THAT, THE PROCEEDS FOR THAT WILL GO TO A NONPROFIT, A CHARITY OF THEIR CHOOSING.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, JOSE SOTO, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE CHEF AT SKY CREEK KITCHEN AND BAR, HE IS GOING TO COME OUT, I THINK IT'S ON THE THIRD ONE.

LET'S SEE HERE.

YES. AND HE HAS CHOSEN RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AS THE CHARITY THAT RECEIVES THOSE PROCEEDS.

SO WE ALSO SEE THIS AS A WAY TO MARKET IT FROM MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL THE SURPRISE, BUT IF YOU COME TO THE CONCERT ON MAY 5TH, YOU MAY GET TO TRY A MAYORAL SPECIALTY PIZZA, BECAUSE OUR GUEST CHEF THAT DAY WILL BE THE MAYOR HIMSELF.

[00:30:02]

I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE.

I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT.

SO TO SEE THE CONCERT SCHEDULE, JUST GO TO VISIT SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS.COM AND CHECK OUT OUR CALENDAR OF EVENTS.

WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ON THERE AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE THESE EVENTS.

AND WITH THAT, STEPHANIE AND I ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS COUNCIL.

LET ME TELL YOU THAT BOTH OF YOU ARE MAKING A PHENOMENAL NAME FOR YOURSELVES IN THE COMMUNITY.

STEPHANIE PEOPLE KNOW YOU AROUND THE CHAMBER AND PEOPLE SEE YOU AND YOU'RE I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THIS CHAMBER SO RELATIONAL DRIVEN AND PEOPLE ARE RECOGNIZING THAT YOU'VE DUG IN.

SO ALL THOSE HOURS ARE PAYING OFF.

YOU'RE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.

AND HILLARY EVERYBODY WHO YOU INTERACT WITH ON THESE BIG EVENTS AND HAS NOTHING BUT GREAT THINGS TO SAY, YOU'RE SO HELPFUL AND YOU'RE SO POSITIVE, SO YOU GUYS ARE DOING ARE JUST KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK.

REALLY, TRULY. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING SUCH A GOOD FACE ON THE CITY.

THANK YOU. YEAH. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS CONCERT SERIES.

I'VE KIND OF LONG BEEN SAYING WE NEED SOMETHING IN THIS CITY TO BRING FOLKS TOGETHER.

SURROUNDING FOOD TRUCKS, MUSIC, CAMARADERIE, THESE FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK.

WE JUST GOT TO GET SOME TRACTION AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SHARING AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE INVITING THE COMMUNITY OUT AND I THINK OUR REACH CAN GO WELL BEYOND SOUTHLAKE AND BRING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER. AND I THINK IT COULD JUST BE HUGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED AND I WILL BE IN LINE TO TRADE THE MAYORAL.

I ALSO SAW ON THE SCHEDULE THAT OUR FIRST LADY IS ONE OF THE GUEST CHEFS, SO THAT'S EXCITING.

REALLY PRETTY FUN.

GREAT IDEA AND REALLY COOL IDEA.

WELL SAID. ARE ALL THE ARTISTS ALREADY CHOSEN AND EVERYTHING FOR EACH WEEK OR IS IT STILL IS THAT PUBLISHED AND EVERYTHING OR THE.

YES. SO WE DO HAVE THE ENTIRE SCHEDULE PUBLISHED WITH WHICH BANDS.

SO THE FIRST BAND WILL BE A BAND ESCAPE AND THEY ARE A JOURNEY TRIBUTE BAND.

VERY GOOD.

I MEAN, MY ONLY AND MAYBE I'M WRONG ON THIS, MY ONLY CONCERN IS IF YOU GET A BIG CROWD, IS ONE FOOD TRUCK GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO SERVE THAT CROWD? I MEAN, BECAUSE HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAYBE NOT.

I MEAN, DO WE HAVE A PLAN TO INCREASE THAT OFFERING? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT THING TO MENTION.

THANK YOU. WE WE WILL DEFINITELY KEEP AN EYE ON IT TO SEE IF WE NEED TO BRING IN MORE FOOD TRUCKS AT THE OTHER EVENTS.

WE'RE REALLY CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THIS FIRST ONE GOES.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE PROMOTING PICKUP ORDERS FROM THE RESTAURANTS IN TOWN SQUARE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL BE DOING TO HELP.

HELP WITH THAT IS, HEY, GRAB YOUR FOOD FROM THIS LOCAL RESTAURANT TO GO AND BRING IT OUT TO THE PARK.

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. THAT'S GREAT.

YEAH, WONDERFUL.

WELL, THANK YOU, GUYS.

THANK YOU.

I THINK WE NEED TO ALSO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THEIR FEARLESS LEADER, DANIEL CORTEZ.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM TEAM IS SMALL BUT MIGHTY SMALL BUT MIGHTY, VERY ENTHUSIASTIC.

WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENT IN THAT TEAM.

GREAT JOB, GUYS. Y'ALL KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

HOW FUN. OKAY, WELL, THAT ON THAT VERY HIGH NOTE, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

THERE'S NOTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA TO PUT ON CONSENT.

SO IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

YES, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOUR A THROUGH FOUR H, NOTING THAT WITH RESPECT.

ITEM 4F WE'RE APPROVING RESOLUTION NUMBER 23-005 CERTIFYING UNOPPOSED.

CANDIDATES KATHY TALLEY FOR PLACE ONE AND RANDY WILLIAMSON FOR PLACE SIX FOR THE MAY 6TH, 2023 GENERAL ELECTION.

ALSO NOTING FOR ITEM FOUR G, WE'RE APPROVING RESOLUTION NUMBER 23006, CANCELING THE MAY 6TH, 2023 GENERAL ELECTION AND ALSO NOTING FOR ITEM FOUR H, WE'RE APPROVING THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST TO TABLE A CASE NUMBER SB 23-0002 SIGN VARIANTS FOR SHAKE SHACK LOCATED AT 125 CENTRAL AVENUE IN SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, AND PURSUANT TO THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, WERE TABLING THIS ITEM TO THE MARCH 21ST, 2023, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. CONSENT AGENDA PASSES.

SIX ZERO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS OUR PUBLIC FORUM.

[5. Public Forum. (The Public Forum will not begin prior to 7:00p.m. This is the public's opportunity to address the City Council about non-agenda items. During this proceeding, the City Council will not discuss, consider, or take action on any item presented. We respectfully ask that anyone stepping forward to speak during Public Forum to please limit remarks to three minutes or less.)]

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS, SO I'LL CALL YOU GUYS IN ORDER.

JUST A COUPLE OF GROUND RULES. REMEMBER, WE HAVE A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

THE LIGHTS WILL HELP YOU KEEP TRACK OF YOUR TIME.

SO WHEN IT GOES TO YELLOW, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT AND THEN WHEN IT STARTS FLASHING RED, TIME'S UP.

IF THERE IS, YOU HAVE TO START.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

AND YEAH, PRETTY SIMPLE.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL CALL COLLEEN GOLDSTAN AT 708 BRYSON WAY.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS COLLEEN GOLDSTEIN.

708 BRYSON WAY.

I'M A 22 YEAR RESIDENT OF SOUTHLAKE AND A 70 YEAR RESIDENT OF TEXAS.

[00:35:07]

BUT I CAN'T REALLY ENJOY SOUTHLAKE AS LONG AS THIS TONE EXISTS.

ONE OF THEM SAYS CLEAR MESSAGE TO WANT TO BE SOCIAL ENGINEERS LIVING IN OR MOVING TO SOUTHLAKE TEXAS CAPITAL AL ALL CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE NOW CONSERVATIVE.

EXCLAMATION. THE LAST TWO RADICALS AT CISD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SENT PACKING TOXIC IDEAS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY INCLUSION, CRT SOUNDLY REJECTED.

THAT'S ONE.

I'M JUST GOING TO SHARE ONE OTHER, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S MANY.

AGAIN, IT WAS IN SOMEONE'S ACCOUNT.

IT WASN'T THEIR TWEET, BUT IT WAS ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA.

THESE HAVE QUESTION MARKS AFTER THEM.

IT SAYS RIGHT WING EXTREMIST QUESTION MARK BECAUSE WE AS WE CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THAT HOMOSEXUALITY IS UNGODLY, UNNATURAL, IMMORAL AND PERVERTED.

THE REASON THIS IS DISTURBING TO ME IS BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE ON COUNCIL APPOINTED BOARDS AND COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY, AND THEY DO THIS FREQUENTLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE ONE THAT INCLUDED THAT HOMOSEXUALITY AND I RESPECT FREEDOM OF RELIGION.

AND I'M FROM A SOUTHERN BAPTIST BACKGROUND MYSELF.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE A TRUSTEE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND YOU'RE CALLING THE STUDENTS IMMORAL AND PERVERTED, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

A BIG PROBLEM.

AND THIS GOES ON A LOT.

ANYWAY, AFTER SPRING BREAK, I HOPE TO MEET WITH SOME OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO TALK MORE ABOUT THESE CONCERNS AS WELL AS OTHER THREATS AND INTIMIDATION THAT WERE WITNESSED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND AT LEAST ONE WAS RECORDED AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

EVERY TAXPAYING RESIDENT OF SOUTHLAKE NEEDS TO BE WELCOME AND SAFE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT COMMENTER IS MISS KIMBERLY BEST FROM 1601 TUSCAN RIDGE CIRCLE, MISS BEST.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS KIMBERLY BEST.

I RESIDE AT 601 TUSCAN RIDGE CIRCLE.

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF SOUTHLAKE FOR 16 YEARS.

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL HOME OWNERS AND HAD OUR HOME CUSTOM BUILT.

IT'S BEEN 245 DAYS SINCE MY FAMILY'S LIFE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

A DRILLING ACCIDENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR FLOODING MY POOL, BACKYARD AND ENTIRE FIRST FLOOR OF OUR HOME.

WE HAVE LOST FULL USE OF OUR HOME AND MANY VALUABLE POSSESSIONS BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME NEGLIGENCE OF MULTIPLE PARTIES.

MY FAMILY AND I DIDN'T CAUSE THE ACCIDENT, BUT ARE BEING PENALIZED AND VICTIMIZED FOR SOMETHING THAT'S COMPLETELY OUT OF OUR CONTROL AND HAD ZERO WRONGDOING.

CITY COUNCIL.

YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT.

I'M REFERENCING TO REMIND YOU THE DRILLING ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JULY 5TH AT THE CORNER OF MORGAN ROAD AND RANDALL MILL ROAD WHEN A CONTRACTOR EMPLOYED BY THE CITY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DRILL AND HIT A MAIN WATER LINE.

WITHIN 20 MINUTES, OUR POOL IN THE BACKYARD WERE COMPLETELY FLOODED.

WITHIN TWO HOURS, THE ENTIRE FIRST FLOOR WAS FLOODED.

CITY OFFICIALS ARRIVED, BUT THE WATER WASN'T TURNED OFF FOR 2 TO 3 HOURS.

FOR FIVE MONTHS, I RENTED 30 INDUSTRIAL FANS AND KEPT THEM RUNNING 24 OVER SEVEN TO KEEP HELP CONTAIN MOLD.

EVEN WITH THAT, WE STILL HAD MOLD AND PAID FOR THE REMOVAL AND REMEDIATION IN FEAR OF OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY AND DAMAGING OUR HOUSE FURTHER.

INITIALLY, THE CITY IN THE FORM OF CITY CFO SHARON JACKSON, CITY ATTORNEY ALAN TAYLOR AND MAYOR JOHN HUFFMAN WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND PROMISED MY HUSBAND AND I THE CITY WOULD HELP MAKE US WHOLE. WE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS AND FOLLOWED THEIR ADVICE AND GRATEFUL FOR THEIR MINIMAL SUPPORT FROM THE CITY HAS PROVIDED.

HOWEVER, THE CITY'S INSURANCE COMPANY DENIED OUR CLAIM.

THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT IS NOT COVERED BY OUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE.

WE'VE ASKED FOR HELP, GUIDANCE, SUPPORT AND ULTIMATELY A SOLUTION.

IN 245 DAYS.

WE ARE NO STEP CLOSER TO ANY OF OUR ASKS SINCE DAY ONE.

I MIGHT AS WELL BE RELIVING THE FLOOD EVERY DAY BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD NOTHING FROM THE CITY.

WE'VE BEEN BEYOND PATIENT.

SO 245 DAYS LATER, HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

IT'S CLEARLY NOT THE BEST FAMILY FAULT.

THE CONTRACTOR SAYS IT'S THE CITY'S FAULT.

THE CITY SAYS IT'S THE CONTRACTOR'S FAULT.

MY HUSBAND AND I, WE'VE PAID TO REMOVE THE DAMAGED WALLS, MOLD TESTING, MOLD REMEDIATION AND DAMAGED FURNITURE.

MY HUSBAND AND I PAID OUR POOL TO BE REPAIRED, WHICH WAS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD.

MY HUSBAND AND I PAID FOR THE FIVE MONTH INDUSTRIAL 30 FAN.

RENTAL DAMAGES CONTINUE TO CLIMB.

UNDENIABLY, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN DISPLACED AND FORGOTTEN ABOUT CITY COUNCIL.

I LEAVE YOU WITH THESE FINAL QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS.

[00:40:01]

HOWEVER, I STAND IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY AS A FRUSTRATED, ANGRY, SAD, DISAPPOINTED AND EMBARRASSED SOUTHLAKE RESIDENT DUE TO THE LACK OF LEGAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

MY ONCE JOYFUL HOME THAT WE SHARED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IS NO LONGER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BEST.

AND NO, WE CAN'T SUBSTANTIVELY RESPOND AS A COUNCIL, BUT I WILL SAY WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO HELP MAKE YOU GUYS WHOLE.

YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU'VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH.

I'VE INSTRUCTED CFO SHARON JACKSON AND ALAN TAYLOR TO GET WITH YOU GUYS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP YOU GUYS.

SO ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT SEEING NONE.

WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THAT IS THE FINAL ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

SO WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.