Jun 27, 2023 SPIN Town Hall Forum

[00:00:01]

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SCOTT COX AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

[1. Call to Order: Video Introduction of SPIN Program by Southlake Mayor John Huffman]

SPIN IS AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING AND NO VOTES ARE TAKEN.

SPIN IS STREAMED LIVE THROUGH SOUTHLAKE TV ON THE CITY'S MAIN WEBSITE.

CITY OF SOUTHLAKE.COM.

AFTER APPLICANT PRESENTATIONS, THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WITH QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CAN USE THE MICROPHONE IN THE AISLE FOR THE Q&A PORTION OF THE MEETING.

NEXT, WE WILL SHOW A BRIEF VIDEO INTRODUCTION OF THE SPIN PROGRAM BY SOUTHLAKE MAYOR JOHN HUFFMAN.

[VIDEO] GOOD EVENING. I'M SOUTHLAKE MAYOR JOHN HUFFMAN.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S SPIN TOWN HALL FORUM.

THE ITEMS PRESENTED AT SPIN REPRESENT IDEAS OFTEN IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT.

NOW, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS CONVERSATION STARTS HERE FIRST WITH THE PRESENTATION AND THEN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FOR THE DEVELOPER.

THERE ARE NO VOTES TAKEN AT SPIN AND NO DECISIONS ARE MADE.

SPIN IS SIMPLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE.

AND ONCE THE MEETING IS OVER, BOTH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY'S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ARE PROVIDED WITH A SPIN MEETING REPORT THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE DISCUSSION FROM TONIGHT. WE TAKE YOUR IMPRESSIONS AND QUESTIONS INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CONSIDERING ANY ITEM THAT COMES BEFORE US FURTHER ALONG IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TONIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO HELPING MAKE SOUTHLAKE A BETTER PLACE.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

WE DEVELOPED AN ONLINE SPIN FORUM FOR RESIDENTS TO SUBMIT THEIR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND.

I WILL READ THROUGH THESE SUBMISSIONS AFTER THE RESIDENTS IN ATTENDANTS WHO HAVE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK.

WITH THAT, LET US GET TO OUR APPLICANT PRESENTATIONS.

[2. SPIN2023-12 - An applicant is requesting a specific use permit to host Diwalifest in Southlake Town Square generally located between E. Southlake Blvd., State St., Main St., and Grand Ave., within SPIN Neighborhood #8]

AN APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO HOST DIWALI FEST IN SOUTHLAKE TOWN SQUARE, GENERALLY LOCATED BETWEEN EAST SOUTHLAKE BOULEVARD, STATE STREET, MAIN STREET AND GRAND AVENUE.

SO I NEED TO UNMUTE. [INAUDIBLE] HI.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS FROM SALTLAKE FOUNDATION.

I HAVE [INAUDIBLE] WITH ME HERE.

SO I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DIWALI FEST THAT'S COMING UP PRETTY SOON IN NOVEMBER.

[INAUDIBLE] SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, SOUTH LAKE FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, AND IT'S FOCUSED ON HELPING OR SERVING SOUTH LAKE AND A FEW NEIGHBORING CITIES. UM, WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED OR GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE LLS THIS YEAR.

THE LEUKEMIA SERVICES AND.

SO WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE VISIONARIES OF TARRANT COUNTY FOR.

SO A FEW OF THE CAMPAIGNS THAT SALTLAKE FOUNDATION DO ARE LIKE THE DIWALI FEST THAT'S COMING UP IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR.

AND EARLIER THIS YEAR WE HAVE DONE UNITED WE RUN, WE DO CAMPAIGN FORUMS. AND SO OUR CANDIDATE FORUMS AND WE WE DISTRIBUTE LUNCHES FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND SHAKERS AND MOVERS OF SALTLAKE.

AND WE PROVIDE DONUTS ONCE IN A WHILE, NOT ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT MAYBE TWICE OR THRICE A YEAR TO THE TEACHING AND NON-TEACHING STAFF OF [INAUDIBLE].

AND ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS DO SOME VOLUNTEERING AT THE GRAPEVINE.

LAST YEAR, WE STARTED AN INITIATIVE WHERE WE HAVE A CAREER CONNECTION DAY WHERE MULTIPLE COMPANIES OR ORGANIZATIONS COME AND REPRESENT

[00:05:05]

SO COMING TO WHAT IS DIWALI, RIGHT? IT'S THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS.

IT'S CELEBRATED ALL OVER THE INDIA AND IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST FESTIVALS WHERE ALL THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS INDIA COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE.

SO IF YOU HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2022, IT'S OUR FIFTH TIME WE HAVE DONE IT LAST YEAR.

UM, WE HAD A GREAT SUPPORT FROM FROM THE CITY AND OTHER CITIES SURROUNDING SALT LAKE.

WE HAD A HEAVY, HIGH FOOTPRINT, APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 15,000 PEOPLE, I GUESS, LAST YEAR.

AND WE HAVE MANY VOLUNTEERS AND MANY PEOPLE PERFORM FOR SOME PROGRAMS AND WE HAD MANY BOOTHS AND STALLS INSTALLED THERE AND PEOPLE GOT TO ENJOY DIFFERENT KINDS OF CUISINES AND ALL.

SO THESE ARE A FEW PICTURES FROM LAST YEAR.

SO IN 2023, RIGHT.

THIS IS OUR SIXTH YEAR DOING IT.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE SAME AS LAST YEAR.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE OF THIS YEAR WE ARE REQUESTING CITY TO GIVE US A COUPLE MORE STREETS BECAUSE OF THE FOOTPRINT WE HAD LAST YEAR, JUST FOR THE SAFETY REASONS WE WANTED TWO ADJACENT STREETS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE, MORE ROOM FOR WALKING AND ALL.

[INAUDIBLE] AND AGAIN, IT'S ON THE 4TH OF NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

NO, THANK YOU.

THIS ITEM IS NOW OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.

WE ASK THOSE WITH QUESTIONS.

PLEASE USE THE MICROPHONES IN THE AISLE SO THOSE WATCHING FROM HOME CAN HEAR.

EXCUSE ME. OKAY.

AND I'M GOING TO READ SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT CAME IN ONLINE OFF THE PORTAL.

FIRST NAME. SARAH.

LAST NAME PHILLIPS. COMMENT.

PLEASE LIMIT THE SOUND DECIBEL LEVEL OF THE MUSIC FOR THIS EVENT.

THEY TURN THE MUSIC UP SO LOUD THAT MY HOUSE A QUARTER MILE AWAY SHAKES.

THIS IS THE ONLY EVENT IN TOWN SQUARE THAT IS SO LOUD THAT IT SHAKES THE HOUSE.

THERE'S NO REASON THAT THEY NEED THE MUSIC THAT LOUD.

IT IS ALSO THE LATEST EVENT, AND THE COMBINATION IS NOT GOOD.

IF THEY WANT TO BLAST THE MUSIC SO LOUD THAT IT LIKELY CAUSES EAR DAMAGE TO THOSE PARTICIPATING, THEY SHOULD END THE EVENT AT 8 P.M..

THANKS. NUMBER TWO LORDS RON.

THE DIWALI FEST WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THE STREETS WERE NOT CLOSED OFF LIKE WE DO WITH OTHER FESTIVALS LIKE ART IN THE SQUARE AND OKTOBERFEST.

I FELT IT WAS QUITE DANGEROUS HAVING THOSE STREETS OPEN WITH SO MANY PEOPLE AT THIS AMAZING FESTIVAL, PLEASE CONSIDER CLOSING OFF THOSE STREETS.

THANK YOU. SCOTT STEWART NUMBER THREE.

FIRST OFF, I WANT TO BE CLEAR.

I TOTALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE DURING THE DIWALI FEST VIA PERSONAL ATTENDANCE.

MY COMPLAINT CONCERN HAS TO DO WITH THE DECIBEL LEVEL OF THE MUSIC AND THE CUT OFF HOUR.

LAST YEAR, THE MUSIC LASTED PAST 10:30 P.M.

AND EVEN THOUGH MY RESIDENCE IS A QUARTER MILE AWAY AND BLOCKED BY THE HILL OF SUMMIT PARK, MY BEDROOM WINDOW IS LITERALLY RATTLED DUE TO THE DECIBEL LEVEL OF THE BASE. PLEASE CONSIDER PLACING A NOISE LEVEL LIMIT AND EARLIER TIME LIMIT FOR ALL FESTIVALS AND EVENTS FOR CONSIDERATION TO THE REASONABLE AND PEACEFUL TRANQUILITY OF THE TOWN SQUARE AREA AND BROWNSTONE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

SCOTT STEWART AND I THINK THAT'S IT.

YEAH. AND NOW YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THOSE THREE COMMENTS.

OKAY. CAN WE GET A COPY OF THOSE COMMENTS?

[00:10:01]

I THINK A COUPLE OF THE COMMENTS ARE WITH RESPECT TO THE NOISE LEVELS.

RIGHT. WE WILL TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION.

WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THIS FEEDBACK BEFORE, I GUESS.

SO WE'LL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION TALK TO THE CITY.

YEAH, WE WILL WORK WITH THE CITY.

AND THEN WHEN WE GET THE NOISE PERMIT, NORMALLY WE WILL APPLY FOR THE NOISE PERMIT TO GET THESE LOUD SOUNDS.

SO WE WILL WORK WITH THE CITY WHEN WE GET THE PERMIT FOR THE NOISE, LOUD NOISE PERMIT FROM THE CITY.

WE WILL MAKE SURE.

WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD LIKE SAYING WHAT IS THE MAX ALLOWED? WE CAN GO. AND IF I BELIEVE LAST TIME, I THINK WE SHUT IT DOWN AT 10:00.

BUT IF CITY SAYS WE HAVE TO SHUT IT DOWN BEFORE WE WILL FOLLOW WHATEVER THE CITY SAYS AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY DOESN'T CAUSE INCONVENIENCE TO ANY OF THE PEOPLE AROUND.

THE REASON WE ARE DOING IT IS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY TO COME TOGETHER IN THIS PROCESS.

WE DON'T WANT TO GET ANYBODY FEELING LIKE SOMETHING IS DISTURBING TO THEM.

AND I THINK THE SECOND THING WAS THE BLOCKING THE ROAD.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING NOW TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WE BLOCK TOWARDS THE MAIN STREET IN THE BACK OF THIS TOWN HALL.

I MEAN, LIKE THE LAST TIME WE DIDN'T BLOCK IT.

I THINK CITY ALSO RECOMMENDED US SAYING LIKE, HEY, BLOCK THOSE THINGS IN THAT WAY IT'S GOING TO BE SAFE FOR EVERYBODY COMING TO THE EVENT.

WE WILL FOLLOW THAT THIS YEAR, TOO.

YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE.

CAN WE SHOW THE MAP HERE? I DON'T KNOW. YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE HAVE THE MAP, BUT I KNOW I HAVE THE MAP.

[INAUDIBLE] YEAH.

HERE. SO THIS IS THE PROPOSED PLAN THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS YEAR.

SO WE WANT TO BLOCK THE STATE STREET AND GRAND AVENUE.

SO THAT WE'LL HAVE MORE ROOM TO LAST TIME WE DIDN'T WE DIDN'T BLOCK ANY OF THOSE.

SO. SO LAST TIME IT WAS LIKE, IF YOU SEE, IT WAS ONLY THIS PART.

THIS GREEN PART WAS WHAT WAS PROVIDED TO US.

AND THESE ROADS WERE DONE. NOW, ACTUALLY, WE BLOCKED ONLY THIS PART, RIGHT? SO NOW WE ARE TRYING TO GO BACK TO THIS.

BEHIND THE LIBRARY TO OUR TOWN HALL AND THEN MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO COME IN CAN.

AND THEN WE HAVE THIS CART, I MEAN, LIKE A GOLF CART, GETTING THE PEOPLE TO WALK THROUGH THE EVENT ALL THE WAY FROM THIS SIDE SINCE WE ARE BLOCKING THIS.

SO WE WILL MAKE.

AND THEN WE HAVE WATER BUCKETS THIS TIME SO THAT PEOPLE EVEN WHEN WHEN WHEN YOU GET A LARGE CROWD, THOSE DON'T MOVE.

AND WE WILL HAVE VOLUNTEERS AT EVERY INTERSECTION.

TO MAKE SURE THEY GUIDE THE PEOPLE TO WALK WITHOUT CAUSING ANY TROUBLE TO OTHER THINGS HAPPENING IN THE TOWN HALL LIKE TOWN SQUARE.

I THINK THOSE THINGS COVER WHATEVER WE WERE ASKED OR DID WE MISS ANYTHING? I THINK I THINK THAT'S.

SOUNDS GOOD. YEAH.

OKAY. THANK YOU TO ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN SPIN.

REMEMBER, SPIN REPRESENTS THE FIRST STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

A SPIN MEETING REPORT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AFTER THE MEETING TAKES PLACE.

WE WILL INCLUDE THE SUBMITTED SPIN QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS IN THE MEETING REPORTS.

THESE REPORTS ARE GENERAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE FORUM.

THEY ARE NOT VERBATIM.

INTERESTED PARTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW THE CASE THROUGH THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

AND LASTLY, MEETINGS ARE RECORDED AND WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS AFTER THE MEETING TAKES PLACE.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.