Mar 25, 2024 City Council

THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

IN GAZA, AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THE RICHARDSON CITY COUNCIL MUST TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.

I REGRET THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS, HOWEVER, MY DETERMINATION AND ANGUISH HAVE NOT WANED.

I CONTINUE TO BE DEEPLY TROUBLED BY THE ONGOING CRISIS

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THE LOSS OF LIVES AND THE FAMINE CRISIS THAT IS IN UNFOLDING AT THIS TIME MAKE IT CRUCIAL FOR THE COUNCIL TO ISSUE A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS.

SOME MAY STILL QUESTION WHY THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD INTERVENE IN EVENTS OUTSIDE OUR COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER, AS OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS, I FEEL YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DENOUNCING INJUSTICE AND FOSTERING PEACE WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

WE CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE SUFFERING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS.

THEREFORE, I URGE A CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE A STAND.

WE MUST ADVOCATE FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.

SOME ON THE COUNCIL MAY THINK A RESOLUTION WILL NOT AFFECT THE HOSTILITIES.

THE STUDENT BODY COUNCIL AT UTD JUST UP THE ROAD PASSED A SEA CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION OVER THIS VERY SAME OBJECTION JUST LAST WEEK.

AS A JEWISH PERSON, I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT I WOULD'VE FELT FACING EXTERMINATION BY THE NAZIS IN THE 1940S ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION OR CIVIC BODY, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT BELIEVED IT WAS NOT WITHIN THEIR MORAL OBLIGATION TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE HORRIFIC ACTS THREATENING OUR LIVES.

THE QUESTION SHOULD NOT BE WHETHER IS IT IS WITHIN OUR POWERS TO AFFECT A SITUATION DIRECTLY, BUT ABOUT HAVING THE RESOLVE AND FORTITUDE TO ADD OUR VOICES TO OTHERS.

CALLING FOR AN END TO THE DESTRUCTION TAKING PLACE BEFORE OUR EYES.

LET'S LOOK AT WHAT SOME GREAT LEADERS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN DIGNITY AND JUSTICE IN OUR RECENT PAST HAD TO SAY ABOUT SPEAKING OUT IN HIS LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL, MARTIN LUTHER KING ARGUES THAT SILENCE IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE IS AKIN TO COMPLICITY.

HE ALSO SAID INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.

AND SOMETHING HE SAID THAT WE MUST REMEMBER EVERY DAY OF OUR EXISTENCE.

OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER.

NELSON MANDELA CALLED FOR OPPOSITION TO APARTHEID BY ALL THE MEANS THAT ARE HU, THAT HUMANITY HAS AT ITS DISPOSAL, SUGGESTING EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY.

MANDELA CHALLENGED PEOPLE TO CHOOSE SIDES TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE OR REMAIN SILENT.

SILENCE IMPLIES ACCEPTANCE.

SILENCE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AN OPTION IN GANDHI'S FIGHT AGAINST OPPRESSION.

HE BELIEVED SPEAKING OUT, RAISED AWARENESS.

A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE IN HIS PHILOSOPHY WAS THAT INJUSTICE THRIVES IN SECRECY.

AND SPEAKING OUT BRINGS TRUTH TO LIGHT.

LET ME BE CLEAR.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO PASS A A CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE BECAUSE IT WILL BRING ABOUT A CEASEFIRE.

I AM CALLING FOR THIS ACTION BECAUSE IT IS MORALLY RIGHT NOW.

SUPPOSE THE COUNCIL WILL NOT PASS THIS REQUEST BECAUSE IT CONCERNS AN ISSUE OUTSIDE OUR CITY BOUNDARIES.

IN THAT CASE, I IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO ENACT A BINDING RULING PROHIBITING PROHIBITING ANY FUTURE RESOLUTION CONCERNING EVENTS OUTSIDE OUR CITY BOUNDARIES.

THIS RULING SHOULD BE FOR ALL FUTURE STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS.

BUT INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN THIS PATH, LET US USE OUR POSITION TO CHAMPION JUSTICE, PEACE, AND RESPECT FOR ALL HUMAN LIFE BY CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE.

IN CLOSING, I ASK PERMISSION TO SUBMIT TO THE CITY COUNCIL TWO OF THE MORE THAN 70 CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE PASSED BY CITY COUNCILS, LARGE AND SMALL THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY FOR YOUR USE AS MODELS FOR SUCH A RESOLUTION.

DRIVE SINCE 1985 IN RICHARDSON, TEXAS, A CITY I LOVE.

THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

MY NAME IS CHARLES NEWTON.

I LIVE AT 2106 GOLDENROD

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IN 2007, I ATTENDED A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND I TOLD MY WIFE, I'M GOING TO WATCH THE CIRCUS.

THE MEDIA HAD REPORTED THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL WAS SETTING UP A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS ZONE, WHICH WAS TOTALLY FALSE, BUT THE MEDIA REPORTED IT ALL ACROSS DFW AND THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY CAME UNGLUED.

AND THE MAYOR AT THAT TIME, GARY SLAGEL, CALLED A CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE CITY TO COME AND ADDRESS AND SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL.

AND I WENT TO THAT MEETING LIKE I TOLD MY WIFE TO WATCH THE CIRCUS.

AND AS I WATCHED THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND SAY, WITH SUCH RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION, WE WANT THIS SIN.

WE WANT THIS GARBAGE OUT OF OUR CITY.

WE DON'T CARE WHAT IT TAKES.

I'M SITTING THERE QUIETLY JUST CHEERING, WOW, THESE CITIZENS ARE SOMETHING SPECIAL.

AND THEN I HEARD A LITTLE VOICE SAID, WE NEED TO PRAY.

AND I HEARD THAT VOICE THREE TIMES AND I KNEW IT WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT.

SO I WENT TO THE MICROPHONE AND I TOLD THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL, WE NEED TO PRAY.

I LEFT THAT MEETING TWO WEEKS LATER.

I LOVE THIS.

I WAS ON LAKE FORK FISHING AND MY OFFICE CALLED AND SAID THE CITY WANTED TO SPEAK WITH ME.

I SAID, TELL THE CITY I'LL CALL 'EM BACK BECAUSE RECEPTION ON LAKE FORK IS NOT THAT GOOD.

I CALLED THAT MONDAY MORNING AND THE CITY SAID, CHARLIE, WE THINK IT'D BE GOOD YOU PRAY.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER PRAYING OUT BY THE FOUNTAIN IN FRONT OF CITY HALL CIVIC CENTER? BECAUSE I HAD REQUESTED TO PRAY AT THE CIVIC CENTER IN CITY HALL WHERE IT WOULD BE NON-DENOMINATIONAL.

AND ANYONE, ANY CITIZEN OF RICHARDSON COULD COME PRAY.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TELL YOU THERE HAVE BEEN FEW SATURDAY MORNINGS SINCE 2007 THAT A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE HAVE NOT MET AND PRAYED FOR THIS CITY.

AND JUST LIKE THE GENTLEMAN THAT JUST SPOKE, THIS CITY IS SIGNIFICANT.

AND I'M FEELING IT MORE AND MORE.

EVERY PRAYER MEETING WE COME TOGETHER.

WE PRAY FOR EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS CITY, THE COMMERCE, THE GOVERNMENT, THE SCHOOLS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THE SANITATION WORKERS.

WE PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS CITY.

AND THE MORE AND MORE WE MEET, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART, THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE TO ME IN 2007 BECAUSE GOD WANTS TO USE RICHARDSON AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A CITY OF LOVE, HUGS, AND THE LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST CAN BE FOR A NATION THAT IS HURTING DESPERATELY.

I HAVE TALKED TO SO MANY PEOPLE AND JUST IN TALKING, THEY SAY POLITICIANS AREN'T GONNA FIX OUR PROBLEM.

IT'S A GOD PROBLEM.

WE'VE PUSHED GOD OUT.

OUR CONSTITUTION IS WRITTEN ON BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY IT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME LONGER THAN ANY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD.

SO I'M HERE TONIGHT ON THIS SPECIAL WEEK TO OFFER YOU A PRAYER AND ALSO OFFER YOU AN INVITATION TO ATTEND PRAY.

RICHARDSON, WE'VE HAD TO MOVE BECAUSE OF COURSE, CAN'T MEET AT THE FOUNTAIN ANYMORE, AND WE'RE NOW MEETING ON THE STEPS OF THE ICEMAN CENTER.

SO ON A COLD MORNING, DRESS PROPERLY, BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR ANY MORNING AND COME PRAY.

I GAVE AMY OUR CITY SECRETARY A PRAY RICHARDSON CARD THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU SHOULD GET AND READ.

AND I'M GONNA CLOSE WITH A PRAYER.

FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR THIS CITY.

I THANK YOU FOR OUR MAYOR, OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR CITY MANAGER, AND ALL THOSE THAT SUPPORT HIM.

LORD, I JUST ASK THAT YOU BRING US TOGETHER, UNITE THIS CITY IN A SPIRITUAL WAY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.

FATHER, I GIVE YOU PRAISE AND HONOR AND GLORY FOR YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST, WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR EACH ONE OF US.

AND LORD, I JUST ASK

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THAT YOU MOVE IN A MIGHTY WAY IN OUR CITY AND USE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO MAKE THIS NOT ONLY A BETTER CITY, BUT A BETTER STATE AND A BETTER NATION.

IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY.

THANK YOU, CHARLIE.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS ASHLEY MOLINA.

I LIVE AT 1 1 3 1 2 PARK CENTRAL PLACE IN DALLAS, AND I WORK IN RICHARDSON.

I'M CALLING AGAIN FOR THE CITY OF RICHARDSON TO DRAFT AND PUT FORTH A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA TO PUT IT TO A VOTE WHERE RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN SEE WHERE THE CITY STANDS ON THE GENOCIDE HAPPENING IN THIS MOMENT WHILE I SPEAK IN PALESTINE, AND I DO WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I'M CALLING FOR PERMANENT CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION ABOUT THE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE, I HAVE SEEN IN PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES, EXCUSE ME, IN PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES, A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION REFERRED TO AS A CEASEFIRE OVER THE ISRAEL GAZA WAR.

AND THAT IS MISLEADING AND INACCURATE TO WHAT I AM CALLING FOR, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT I NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR.

SO PLEASE ALLOW ME TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY.

THE TERMINOLOGY OF AN ISRAEL GAZA WAR DOES NOT MAKE SENSE BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA, AS WELL AS ATROCITIES OCCURRING IN THE WEST BANK RIGHT NOW IS NOT A WAR.

THERE IS NO PALESTINIAN ARMY.

THEY HAVE NO NAVY NOR MARINE OR AIR FORCE OR GUARD TO PROTECT THEM.

THIS IS NOT A WAR BETWEEN TWO OPPOSING MILITARY UNITS.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IS AN ETHNIC CLEANSING DISPLACING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES, THEN DISPLACING THEM AGAIN FROM HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, MOSQUES, CHURCHES, PLACES OF REFUGE, AND DISPLACING THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN.

UNTIL 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE ARE SQUISHED AND SQUEEZED INTO A PIECE OF A PIECE OF A REGION OF THEIR HOMELAND.

AND THAT TINY PIECE OF LAND, RAFA ENCOMPASSES A TOTAL LAND AREA OF AROUND 25 SQUARE MILES, WHICH IS JUST A LITTLE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF THE CITY OF RICHARDSON.

FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW, THE POPULATION OF RICHARDSON IS AROUND ONLY 120,000 PEOPLE.

THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT.

1.4 MILLION PEOPLE, MOSTLY INTENSE, FORCED INTO A PLACE WITHOUT PROPER FOOD, WATER, POWER, AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IN A PLACE THE SIZE, THE CITY OF RICHARDSON.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA IS A GENOCIDE, A SLAUGHTER OF CIVILIANS WAITING IN LINE FOR BREAD, WAITING IN LINE FOR WATER, A GENOCIDE THAT INCLUDES THE CAPTURE, TORTURING, AND MURDER OF PHYSICIANS, NURSES, AND PHARMACISTS.

A GENOCIDE THAT INCLUDES THE BOMBING OF AMBULANCE WORKERS AND CIVIL DEFENSE CREWS ON THEIR WAY TO RESCUE CHILDREN SURROUNDED BY TANKS TO RESCUE FAMILIES BURIED UNDER A MOUNTAIN OF RUBBLE THAT WAS ONCE THEIR HOMES, A GENOCIDE THAT INCLUDES THE TARGETED KILLINGS OF JOURNALISTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, A GENOCIDE THAT INCLUDES THE SYSTEMATIC TARGETING OF PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR UNBORN BABIES.

A GENOCIDE THAT AT EVERY LEVEL ATTEMPTS TO WIPE PALESTINIANS OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

THIS IS NOT WAR.

AND WHAT I COME TO SPEAK ABOUT EVERY OTHER WEEK OR SO IS NOT A WAR.

I COME TO BEG FOR THE HUMANITY AND COURAGE OF THIS CITY COUNCIL TO CALL FOR AN END TO A GENOCIDE.

AND THE CITY OF RICHARDSON WOULD BY NO MEANS BE THE FIRST AMERICAN CITY TO DO SO.

YOU WOULD FIND COMPANY WITH OVER 100 OTHER AMERICAN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED THEIR HUMANITY AND PASSED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE OF THE GENOCIDE OCCURRING IN PALESTINE.

JUST TODAY, THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL PASSED A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.

I MUST MAKE MYSELF BELIEVE THAT THE REASON THIS CITY AND OTHER NORTH TEXAS CITIES HAVE NOT ACTED IN EVEN THE SIMPLEST OF WAYS TO CALL FOR AN END TO THIS GENOCIDE IS BECAUSE THE INFORMATION ON WHAT IS TRULY HAPPENING ON THE GROUND IN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK MUST NOT BE GETTING TO YOU.

SO I WILL USE WHAT REMAINS OF MY TIME TO TELL YOU AS MUCH AS I CAN FIT, WHICH WILL NOT BE MUCH OF THE EVENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK SINCE THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

MAYBE HEARING THE ATROCITIES AND HORRORS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS IN ONLY THREE WEEKS, ONLY 21 DAYS OF THIS SIEGE AND CLEANSING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ALMOST HALF A YEAR AS PART OF AN OCCUPATION THAT HAS LASTED OVER 75 YEARS, WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO SPEAK UP ON.

I HAVE PAGES, DON'T WORRY, I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM, BUT JUST SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE THAT HAPPENED.

ON MARCH 6TH, ISAD ISRAEL APPROVED A PLAN FOR 3,400 NEW HOMES IN ILLEGAL WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS.

THIS GOES AGAINST INTERNATIONAL AND UN LAW.

ON MARCH 18TH, THE YES, ISRAELI FORCES ENTERED THE ALFA MEDICAL HOSPITAL IN THE NORTH OF GAZA.

DRONES RANDOMLY FIRED ON CIVILIANS IN THE HOSPITAL, ISRAELI TANKS AND WARPLANES CIRCLED THE COMPLEX FIRING INDISCRIMINATELY AND TERRORIZING THE PEOPLE THERE.

THEY, UM, BOMBED THE HOSPITAL WITH CIVILIANS INSIDE CAUSING A FIRE TO BREAK OUT.

UM, I'M SORRY, I'M GONNA HAVE TO COVER SOME HARD INFORMATION HERE.

THEY RAPED WOMEN, INCLUDING

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PREGNANT WOMEN IN FRONT OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEN KILLED THEM.

THEY SHOT DOCTORS, UM, ONE OF WHOM DIED IN FRONT OF HIS PATIENTS FOR REFUSING TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL.

THEY SHOT ANOTHER DOCTOR IN HIS HAND AS HE WAS LEAVING THE ISRAELI FORCES ADMITTED TO KILLING 90 PEOPLE.

AND, UM, KIDNAPPING 300 OF THEM OVER THE AGE OF 15.

THEY KIDNAPPED A 94-YEAR-OLD WOMAN AND BROUGHT HER TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION ON MARCH 23RD.

THEY HAD ANOTHER MASSACRE ON THE EL KUWAIT ROUNDABOUT.

UM, AND MY FINAL THING THAT I JUST WANNA MENTION THAT'S IMPORTANT, THE UNAH COMMISSIONER GENERAL SAID THE ISRAELI AUTHORITIES INFORMED THE UN THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER APPROVE ANY UNAH FOOD CONVOYS TO THE NORTH THIS OUT.

THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND MAKES IT INTENTIONAL TO OBSTRUCT LIFESAVING ASSISTANCE DURING A MANMADE FAMINE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU ASHLEY.

ANYMORE, MS. EMER? NO FURTHER CARDS.

MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS TIME WE'LL

[5. REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT (ACFR) FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023, AUDITOR PRESENTATION]

GO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

WE'LL REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023 WITH OUR AUDIT AUDITOR'S PRESENTATION.

MR. MAGNER, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, UH, KEVIN SMITH, THE AUDIT PARTNER, IS GONNA MAKE HIS WAY TO THE PODIUM FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME MICHELLE BUSS, WHO'S THE AUDIT MANAGER.

AND, UH, BEFORE KEVIN STARTS, I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, ANITA CORAN, UH, HERMAN CHAVEZ, UH, AND REALLY OUR WHOLE FINANCE TEAM, INCLUDING KEN FOWLER, CFO, FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE, UH, TO GET US THIS TO, UH, THIS POINT TONIGHT.

AND SO KEVIN, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND I'LL, UH, TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR FURTHER BRIEFING.

UH, WE MADE THE RECOMMENDATION FOR MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE TRAINING AS WELL AS IMPLEMENT A FEW NEW PROCEDURES TO REALLY ALERT DEPARTMENT HEADS WITHIN THE CITY THAT WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER KIND OF IN ALL THREE INFREQUENT UNUSUAL AND MATERIAL ITEMS, TO REALLY CONSULT WITH THE ACCOUNTING AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT UPFRONT TO UNDERSTAND THE UNDERLYING BOOKS AND RE OR THE UNDERLYING TRANSACTION AND HOW THEY WOULD BE RECORDED WITHIN THE CITY'S GENERAL LEDGER.

AND THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

UM, YOU DID A TREMENDOUS JOB THANKING THESE WONDERFUL PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS PLENTY OTHERS.

UM, AND THE AUDIT IS NOT A FUN PROCESS, AT LEAST FOR THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE.

I GUESS AS AUDITORS, WE KIND OF ENJOY IT, BUT IT IS A VERY ITERATIVE PROCESS.

LOTS OF REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION, LOTS OF DATA PROVIDED, UM, AND IT, AND IT CAN EXTEND FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

UH, COUPLE KEY THINGS THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT TO THE COUNCIL.

SO WE MEET PERIODICALLY, BOTH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ENGAGEMENT AS WELL AS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE AUDIT SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

I CAN CONFIRM TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE THAT THIS COMMITTEE PERFORMS THEIR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, IN A TIMELY, THOUGHTFUL MANNER.

UM, SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS ARE ASKED, PROBING QUESTIONS, UM, AND ALL INQUIRIES THAT I WOULD EXPECT TO BE MADE BY A COMMITTEE OF, OF SUCH NATURE ALLOWS ME TO KIND OF KEEP THIS PRESENTATION AT A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

AS IT RELATES TO THE CONDUCT OF THE AUDIT, WE HAVE TWO PRIMARY FOCUSES WITHIN OUR AUDIT.

ONE IS THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PREPARED BY MANAGEMENT.

WE HAVE ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

IT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT A PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM CAN PROVIDE, AND IT MEANS THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, AS WELL AS SUPPORTED BY THE UNDERLYING BOOKS AND RECORDS OF THE CITY.

THE SECOND FOCAL POINT IS THE COMPLIANCE AUDIT OR THE AUDIT OF FEDERAL AWARDS.

WE TEST BOTH INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE AS WELL AS ACTUAL COMPLIANCE.

AGAIN, WE ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION AND DID NOT NOTE ANY INSTANCES OF LACK OF INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER COMPLIANCE OR ANY NON-COMPLIANCE.

AS A BYPRODUCT OF OUR AUDIT, WE ALSO DENOTE ANY MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OR SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES IN INTERNAL CONTROL.

IF YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR, WE HAD PRESENTED A, A COUPLE MATERIAL WEAKNESSES AND WE ANTICIPATED THAT WE WOULD SEE THEM AGAIN IN THE CURRENT YEAR.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT LAST YEAR, THE ENGAGEMENT GOT DELAYED, PRIMARY TO THREE PRIMARY REASONS.

ONE, THE INTEGRATION OF A NEW SYSTEM, A FIRE AT CITY HALL, AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT TURNOVER WITHIN STAFF.

WE ISSUED OUR OPINION LAST YEAR IN JULY.

SO REALLY THERE WERE ONLY TWO REMAINING MONTHS WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR.

THAT'S WHY WE SAID CONFIDENTLY THAT ANY FINDINGS THAT EXISTED AT THAT POINT IN TIME HAD EXISTED DURING THE 12 MONTH ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.

I SAY THAT TO TO SAY THAT WE DID IDENTIFY THE MATERIAL WEAKNESSES.

HOWEVER, THE POSITIVE NEWS IS, IS THAT MANAGEMENT HAD BEEN WORKING ON THOSE SINCE JULY, AND WE BELIEVE THAT AS OF DECEMBER, 2023, ALL OF THOSE ITEMS HAD BEEN CORRECTED AS IT RELATES TO THE CASH RECONCILIATIONS.

HOWEVER, THOUGH, BECAUSE IT DID EXIST DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, WE DID NOTE THAT IN OUR, UM, IN OUR LETTER TO YOU, THE SECOND ITEM THAT WE NOTED IN THE CURRENT YEAR RELATED TO SOME INFREQUENT AND UNUSUAL TRANSACTIONS.

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AGAIN, MANAGEMENT DID A TREMENDOUS JOB IN RESPONDING TO ALL OF OUR REQUESTS.

UH, I DID NOTE WE ISSUED LAST YEAR IN JULY.

WE'RE HERE TODAY, THE END OF MARCH.

THAT IS WITHIN ALL RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES OF BOTH THE STATE OF TEXAS AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

SO IT'S REALLY, UH, YEOMAN'S EFFORT BY MANAGEMENT TO GET BACK ON TRACK IN THE CURRENT YEAR.

AND WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS IT RELATES TO THE AUDIT.

KEVIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SMITH? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE WHILE YOU'RE STILL THERE, KEVIN, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CHAIRMAN, MR. JOE CORCORAN TO, UH, SHARE WITH US THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, ANY, UM, OTHER COMMENTS, THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR RUNNING THAT AUDIT COMMITTEE.

HAVING BEEN THE PAST CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT INTAKE AND YOUR EXPERTISE AND WHICH YOU'VE PROVIDED TO THAT CO UH, TO THAT PARTICULAR, UM, GROUP IS, IS VERY APPRECIATED.

SO WE'LL LET YOU HAVE IT, TELL US ABOUT IT.

WELL, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I HOPE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU LEFT IT IN GOOD HANDS.

SO, , THE COMMITTEE IS SHINING.

GO RIGHT AHEAD.

APPRECIATE IT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I I DO THINK SOME ADDITIONAL BROADER CONTEXT, RIGHT? IN A TIME WHERE OUR CITY DID HAVE MORE ELEVATED RISK FOR MISSTATEMENTS, RIGHT? UM, BIG PROJECTS GOING ON.

WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW SYSTEMS THAT ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED.

OUR CITY HALL FIRE, OBVIOUSLY OPERATIONAL PROCESS CHANGES.

UM, SOME THINGS THAT REALLY STAND OUT TO ME FROM THE, THE WORK Y'ALL DID AND THE WORK THAT OUR CITY STAFF DID, RIGHT? THERE'S NO FRAUD.

OUR REPORTS AND STATEMENTS ARE PUBLISHED WITHIN THE LEGALLY REQUIRED TIMEFRAME.

DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN WITH OTHER CITIES.

UH, OUR MANAGEMENT, IN YOUR OPINION, EXERCISES SOUND JUDGMENT IN THEIR ESTIMATES AND THEIR ASSUMPTIONS.

UM, THAT'S REALLY GREAT TO HEAR.

AND, UH, AS INDICATED BY THE LETTER IN, IN OUR, UH, CER HERE, EVERYTHING RECONCILES APPROPRIATELY, RIGHT? THAT'S, UM, THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO SEE ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.

UM, IT MAKES FOR A VERY QUICK MEETING , RIGHT? USUALLY.

UM, THERE, I I DO WANNA SPEAK ON THE TWO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES THAT YOU GUYS IDENTIFIED.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE ISSUE NUMBER ONE, UM, WE KNEW THAT THAT BANK RECONCILIATION WOULD BE AN, AN ISSUE GOING INTO THIS FOR THE REASONS THAT YOU STATED.

UH, AND IN MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, UM, I DO THIS ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE FOR, FOR A LIVING.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE, RIGHT? THAT AN ISSUE IS, HAS TO BE CALLED OUT IN A REPORT, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING CALLED OUT HAVE ALREADY FIXED THE ISSUE IN ITS ENTIRETY.

AND, UM, THAT'S WHAT THIS REPORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE SAYS, ISSUE NUMBER TWO.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY A, A TIMING ISSUE, A MISCATEGORIZING ON COMP, SOME COMPLEX TRANSACTIONS THAT WE HAVE AND, AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE BOOKED.

BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK, FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW IS THAT THAT DIDN'T AFFECT CASH FLOW.

IT DIDN'T AFFECT OPERATIONS, ET CETERA, RIGHT? EVERYTHING, IT, IT REALLY WAS A MISCATEGORIZING.

UM, BUT THAT SAID, RIGHT MATERIAL IS STILL MATERIAL.

THAT'S SOMETHING I SAID IN THE AUDIT MEETING.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, UH, DOES TAKE THESE ISSUES SERIOUSLY.

AND, UM, LIKE WE DID FOR THE, UH, THIS PAST YEAR, WE MET AND WE, WE MADE A COLLECTIVE DECISION TO SCHEDULE ADDITIONAL, UH, TIME WITH MANAGEMENT TO HEAR UPDATES ON THEIR CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN FOR THE ISSUES THAT YOU IDENTIFIED IN CROWE.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, THE OTHER ASPECT OF THAT IS DURING THAT MEETING WE MET AND WE ARE PLEASED WITH MANAGEMENT'S CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN.

WE FEEL LIKE IT'S A ROBUST CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN.

UH, AND FROM THAT END, UM, I, I REALLY, AS CHAIRMAN, I REALLY FEEL CONFIDENT GOING FORWARD THAT EVERYTHING YOU IDENTIFIED HERE, UM, IS GONNA BE CORRECTED AND THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING SOME GREAT NEW CONTROLS TO, TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO NOW IS, IS OPEN IT UP TO EITHER OF MY FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER BARRIOS OR DORIAN, UM, TO GIVE ANY ADDITIONAL OPINIONS OR THOUGHTS THEY HAVE.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, UH, MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO JUST TOSS IT OVER TO CITY STAFF TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY ELABORATIONS ON THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY THINK THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE OF.

THANK YOU, JOE.

WELL DONE.

THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE YOU MR. BARRIOS.

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I HAVE NOTHING ADDITIONAL TO ADD ABOUT WHAT COUNCILMAN CORCORAN SAID.

UM, GREAT JOB TO EVERYBODY ALL AROUND.

AND, UH, I THINK HE SAID IT PRECISELY SUCCINCTLY, SO THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ON THE COMMITTEE, MR. DORIAN.

I, I, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

Y'ALL HAVE DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB AND, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND, UM, HELPING US, UH, AND GUIDING US THROUGH THIS PROCEDURE.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I, I THINK WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, WE WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT OR COULD YOU MAKE A COMMENT ON THE TWO ADDITIONAL, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE POSSIBLY GONNA BE, ARE GOING TO BE JOINING OUR, OUR STAFF AND I, I'LL LET MANAGEMENT GO INTO GREATER DEPTH.

SURE.

UH, YEAH.

UH, COUNCILMAN, UM, CORCORAN, IF, IF THE COMMITTEE'S FINISHED, UM, I JUST WANTED, UM, SHARE OUR APPRECIATION TO THE COUNCIL.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, AFTER THE AUDIT, UH, CONCLUDED LAST YEAR AND WAS PRESENTED, UH, DURING OUR BUDGET, UH, DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, UH, WE REQUESTED, UH, TWO NEW POSITIONS FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

UM, WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO, UH, TELL YOU THAT WITH ANITA JOINING THE TEAM, UH, SHE WAS ABLE TO BRING ON A NEW PAYROLL SPECIALIST AS WELL AS A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT.

AND, UH, IT'S REALLY THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL, UM, THAT IS ALLOWING US TO, UH, SO AGGRESSIVELY IMPLEMENT, UH, THE, UH, RESPONSES THAT YOU'VE, UH, YOU'VE DETAILED.

AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, REGARDING THOSE, UM, COUNCIL THEY'RE IN, IN THE, UM, THE, UH, PACKET AS WELL.

UM, BUT, UH, IT'S, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UH, YOU, WE TOOK IT, UH, AS YOU, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE COMMITTEE DID.

STAFF TOOK IT, UH, VERY SERIOUSLY LAST YEAR.

WE, UH, DEVISED A PLAN THAT WE FELT WOULD BE RESPONSIVE AND THAT WOULD ALLOW US, UH, TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH THE BANK RECONCILIATION.

AND, AND WE WOULD BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT IN A VERY TIMELY WAY DUE TO YOUR SUPPORT.

SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S EXCITING TO HAVE, UH, ANITA ON BOARD AND TO HAVE HER BUILD HER TEAM.

AND, UH, WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT, UH, WITHOUT THE ADDITIONAL, UH, POSITIONS.

THANK YOU, DAWN.

THANK YOU, MS. JUSTICE.

UM, I WAS JUST GONNA PIGGYBACK ON WHAT DAWN SAID.

I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, ANITA, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

YOU CAME IN AT A TIME WHEN WE JUST HAD THIS, UH, AUDIT THAT, THAT HAD, THAT NOTED THESE, UH, ISSUES.

AND YOU, YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN GREAT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN HELPING, UM, SORT OF RESHAPE THE DEPARTMENT AND GET US WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. JUSTICE.

MR. HUSCHER.

RUTER, ANY COMMENTS, SIR? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD ON AS WELL.

I, I WANNA THANK THE ENTIRE FINANCE STAFF.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GO THROUGH ONE OF THESE AUDITS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP, UH, ENSURE THAT OUR FINANCES ARE IN GOOD STEAD.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

I'LL MAKE ONE LAST LITTLE COMMENT HERE.

I WANNA THANK KEVIN AND MICHELLE FOR YOUR FIRM CROW, THAT Y'ALL ARE AMAZING AND YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND UNWAVERING ATTENTION TO DETAILS IS VERY APPRECIATIVE.

AND I, AND I WILL SAY THIS BECAUSE I'VE RECEIVED IN THE PAST SOME PHONE CALLS, VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, WANTING TO KNOW, OKAY, WHAT'S THE STAFF LIKE? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? DO YOU TRUST THEM? ALL THOSE THINGS, UH, THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO KNOW.

AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL UNEQUIVOCALLY SUPPORTS THE STAFF AND WE HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND I THINK THIS SAYS THAT AS WELL.

AND YOUR AUDIT REPORT AND WHAT YOUR FINDINGS ARE, WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

AND JUST RECENTLY, I WILL ADD THIS, IT, UH, STANDARD OF POOR AND MOODY'S BOTH ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AUDIT AS BEING TOP SHELF.

IT'S VERY, VERY GOOD.

YES, WE HAVE A FEW THINGS WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

NO ONE'S PERFECT, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU HELPED US FIND A WAY.

AND STAFF HAS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE.

SO COUNSEL AND STAFF, Y'ALL ARE AMAZING.

AND THANKS TO CROW, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.

ITEM NUMBER SIX, PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION, ADOPTIONS OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 4, 4, 8, 7, ADOPTING STANDARDS OF CARE FOR EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE RICHARDSON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA GO TO

[6. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 4487, ADOPTING STANDARDS OF CARE FOR EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE RICHARDSON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.]

MR. MAGNER, UH, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

UM, AND ACTUALLY, UM, AS HEIDI MAKES HER WAY TO THE, TO THE PODIUM, UM, MAYOR, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND IF YOU COULD READ ITEM NUMBER SIX AS WELL.

WE'RE GONNA TREAT THIS AS ONE BRIEFING AS WE CUSTOMARILY DO, AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO HOLD ONE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, AS WELL.

I APOLOGIZE, WE DIDN'T MAKE THAT NOTE, BUT, UM, AMY IS THAT DID UNDERSTAND.

DO JUST READ ITEM NUMBER SIX? THAT'S, THAT'S FINE.

WE CAN DO THAT.

I'M SORRY.

UH, ITEM NUMBER SIX AND, AND SEVEN.

[7. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 4488, ADOPTING STANDARDS OF CARE FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE RICHARDSON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.]

NUMBER SEVEN, COMPLIMENTS NUMBER SIX.

AND IT SAYS, PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 4, 4, 8, 8,

[00:35:01]

ADOPTING STANDARDS OF CARE FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE RICHARDSON PARKS RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION.

THAT IS ITEM NUMBER SIX AND SEVEN.

WE'LL HOLD, UH, UM, ONE BRIEFING AND THEN HOLD ONE PUBLIC HEARING AS WE CUSTOMARILY DO, UH, FOR, UH, BOTH OF THE ITEMS. UM, HEIDI, UH, ALIA IS OUR RECREATION CENTER MANAGER.

SHE'S JOINED BY SPENCER DOYLE AND YVONNE AUGU, OUR, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.

MAYOR, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ANNUAL, UM, UM, UH, PUBLIC HEARING.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE AN EXEMPTION FOR THE CITY, UH, TO HOLD WHAT, UH, MANY WOULD SAY ARE PROBABLY THE BEST, UH, TO, UH, CAMP OFFERINGS THAT YOU'LL FIND IN NORTH TEXAS.

AND SO, UH, HEIDI'S HERE TO, UM, PROVIDE YOU WITH A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THOSE, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR, UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.

HEIDI, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS HEIDI SKAI AND MANAGER OF HEIGHTS RECREATION CENTER.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO DELIVER OUR ANNUAL PRESENTATION OF STANDARDS OF CARE, RICHARDSON DAY CAMP AND EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF, OF THE PRESENTATION WILL BE, UM, CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC GOAL, PURPOSE, CITY OF RICHARDSON, STANDARDS OF CARE, CITY OF RICHARDSON DAY, CAMP PROGRAMS, EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, STATE DAYCARE REGULATIONS, AND MAINTAINING EXEMPTION STATUS.

AND THEN WE'LL WRAP UP WITH A BRIEF SUMMARY.

LET'S BEGIN WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC GOAL.

IT IS TO IMPROVE ACCESS, USABILITY, AND USER EXPERIENCE WITH POLICIES, PROCESSES, AND PROCEDURES.

THIS, THE STANDARDS OF CARE IS A FULFILLMENT OF THIS GOAL PURPOSE, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN EXEMPTION STATUS FROM THE DE FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, ALSO KNOWN AS DFPS, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE, OF THE MUNICIPALITY MUST ANNUALLY ADOPT STANDARDS OF CARE BY ORDINANCE AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING.

AND THEN OUR CITY OF RICHARDSON STANDARDS OF CARE.

IT IS A SET OF GUIDELINES FOR OUR PROGRAMS TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A STANDARD OF QUALITY FOR THE RECREATION AND SAFETY OF OUR CAMPERS, AS WELL AS OUR STAFF.

ALRIGHT, SO LET'S BEGIN WITH, UM, OUR CORE DAY CAMP PROGRAMS. WE HAVE FOUR SUMMER CAMPS, WHICH SERVICE? THE RICHARDSON COMMUNITY IS KINDER PLAYGROUND ELEMENTARY AND TEEN CAMP.

WE WELCOME AGES FIVE TO 15 THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS CAMPS.

THREE OF THESE CAMPS ARE HOUSED AT, AT AND RISD SCHOOL, WHICH THIS YEAR IS AT APOLLO JUNIOR HIGH.

AND PLAYGROUND CAMP IS AT HEIGHTS RECREATION CENTER, KINDER CAMP, AGES FIVE TO SIX.

WE HAVE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AND IT BEGINS AT 7:30 AM AND ENDS AT 6:00 PM AND I WILL NOTE THAT ALL OF OUR CAMPS BEGIN AT 7:30 AM AND 6:00 PM I MEAN, END AT 6:00 PM FOR KINDER CAMP.

UM, DAILY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE GAMES, CENTERS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, MUSIC AND MOVEMENT, ALONG WITH SWIMMING AND ENJOYING SPECIAL GUESTS.

PLAYGROUND CAMP, IT'S TWO, ONE OF OUR TWO BIGGEST CAMPS FOR AGES SEVEN TO 11.

IT'S LOCATED AT HEIGHTS PARK AND RECREATION CENTER.

SOME ACTIVITIES ARE OUTDOOR AND GYM GAMES, SWIMMING, AND THEY GO ON ONE FIELD TRIP PER WEEK.

ELEMENTARY CAMP IS OUR OTHER BIG CAMP FOR AGES SEVEN TO 11.

IT IS AT ONE OF THE, IT IS AT APOLLO JUNIOR HIGH.

IT IS OUR INDOOR CAMP.

AND WHILE MOST ACTIVITIES ARE INSIDE, CAMPERS DO ENJOY SWIMMING, SCIENCE PROJECTS, PLAYGROUND TIME, AND GYM GAMES.

THEY ALSO ENJOY TWO FIELD TRIPS PER WEEK.

TEEN CAMP, AS I LIKE TO REFER, REFER AS OUR CAMP ON THE GO.

IT SERVICES AGES 12 TO 15.

IT IS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

HAS THREE, THREE FIELD TRIPS PER WEEK.

AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, GYM

[00:40:01]

GAMES, SWIMMING AND ARCADE TOURNAMENTS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

LAST YEAR FOR THE SUMMER CAMP OF 2023, WE SAW A TOTAL REGISTRATIONS OF 1,456 WHEN BROKEN DOWN KINDER CAMP HAD 175 REGISTRATIONS.

PLAYGROUND CAMP HAD 468 REGISTRATIONS.

ELEMENTARY CAMP HAD 538 REGISTRATIONS.

OH, WE FORGOT TEAM CAMP.

SO, AND THEN TEEN CAMP HAD OVER TWO, HAD HAD OVER 200 RE REGISTRATIONS, SO, AND WE HAD 23 SEASONAL STAFF MEMBERS.

REGISTRATION OPENS UP NEXT MONDAY, APRIL 1ST EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

THIS IS ALSO KNOWN AS MY MORNING PRESCHOOL.

IT IS A SCHOOL PREP PROGRAM FOR AGES THREE TO FIVE YEARS OLD.

CHILDREN LEARN VARIOUS TOPICS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.

IT FOLLOWS THE RISD CALENDAR AND HAS MODIFIED OFFERINGS DURING THE SUMMER.

SO OUR STATE DAYCARE REGULATIONS, THIS IS THE POLICY THAT GOVERNS ALL CHILD CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

NO PERSON MAY OPERATE A CHILDCARE FACILITY OR CHILD PLACING AGENCY WITHOUT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING.

A LICENSE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, A CERTIFICATE TO OPERATE ACCREDITATION UNDER ACCREDITATION BY THE DFPS AND EXEMPTION OUTLINED IN THE SECTION 42.04 B 14 TO MAINTAIN AN EXEMPTION STATUS.

AND EARLY MEN, AN ELEMENTARY AGE RECREATION PROGRAM OPERATED BY A MUNICIPALITY IS EXEMPT, PROVIDED THAT THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE MET.

COMPLETE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION FORM GOVERNING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY ANNUAL ANNUALLY ADOPTS STANDARDS OF CARE BY ORDINANCE AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING.

ORDINANCE INCLUDES AT A MINIMUM STAFFING RATIO, STAFFING, QUALIFICATIONS, FACILITY HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS, AND MECHANISMS FOR MONITORING AND ENFORCING THE ADOPTED LOCAL STANDARDS.

STANDARDS OF CARE ARE PROVIDED TO THE PARENTS OF EACH PROGRAM.

PARTICIPANT AND PARENTS MUST BE INFORMED THAT THE PROGRAM IS NOT LICENSED PROGRAM IS NOT ADVERTISED AS A CHILDCARE FACILITY.

YES.

SO IN SUMMARY, AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, DURING TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING, CITY STAFF REQUEST THE ADOPTION OF STANDARDS OF CARE OUTLINED IN TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AS CITY AS A CITY ORDINANCE.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

HEIDI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GREAT PRESENTATION.

COUNSEL.

ANY QUESTIONS? MR. HUTCHIN? RIDER? ANY QUESTION? NO, SIR.

LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

ALRIGHT.

SEEING NO QUESTION, DO WE HAVE, UH, WE'LL OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? MS. ER? I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY CARDS.

MAYOR, ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, COULD I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING, MS. JUSTICE, MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? GOT A MOTION MR. SHA? WE GOT A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR.

CLOSING PUBLIC HEARING PASSES UNANIMOUSLY AGAIN, ARE YOU IN ON THAT MOTION TO CLOSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'RE UNANIMOUS.

OKAY, SO WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE, MS. JUSTICE, MOVE TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AS 4 4 8 7 AND 4 4 8 8 AS PRESENTED.

MR. ORPHAN ONE, SECONDED.

ALRIGHT, GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? SHOW OF HANDS, PLEASE PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHTY.

[8. VARIANCE NO. 24-01, A REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE TO APPENDIX A (COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE) OF THE CITY OF RICHARDSON’S CODE OF ORDINANCES: ARTICLE XXII-D, SEC. 1(h)(1)(l)(2) TO ALLOW A 31-SPACE PARKING REDUCTION TO ACCOMMODATE AN 11,647-SQUARE FOOT RETAIL USE WITHIN AN APPROXIMATELY 63,000-SQUARE FOOT BUILDING. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 1300 E. BELT LINE ROAD, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BELT LINE ROAD, WEST OF PLANO ROAD.]

THIS IS A VARIANCE TO NUMBER 24 DASH OH ONE A REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE TO APPENDIX A, A COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RICHARDSON, CODE OF ORDINANCE ARTICLE 22 DASH D, SECTION ONE

[00:45:01]

H ONE I TWO, TO ALLOW A 31 SPACE PARKING REDUCTION TO ACCOMMODATE AN 11,647 SQUARE FOOT RETAIL USE WITHIN AN APPROXIMATELY 63,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING.

THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 1300 EAST BELTLINE ROAD ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BELTLINE ROAD, WEST OF PLANO ROAD.

MR. MAGNER, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, UH, SHA SAM CHAVEZ IS GOING TO, UH, PRESENT, PARDON ME, A, UH, A A BRIEF, UH, OVERVIEW, AND THEN I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, AS WELL.

SAM, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR BRIEF.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

YEAH, THIS IS VARIANCE, UH, NUMBER 24 DASH ZERO ONE.

IT'S A REQUEST FOR PARKING VARIANCE FOR THE RICHLAND VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER.

THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT THE, IT'S LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF EAST BELTLINE ROAD AND SOUTH, UM, PLANO ROAD.

THE CURRENT ZONING ON THE PROPERTY IS CM, WHICH IS, UH, A COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT.

AND IT, AND IT DOES ENJOY TWO SPECIAL PERMITS, ONE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS AND ACCESSORY SALES, WHICH IS THE O'REILLY'S, UH, AUTO PARTS, UH, CENTER, AND A, AND A BARBER SHOP, WHICH IS THE MODERN IMAGE.

UH, SCHOOL.

UH, THERE ARE TWO PARKING VARIANCES CURRENTLY ON THE SITE.

THE FIRST BEING A RE REDUCED PARKING FOR PLANET FITNESS.

AND THE SECOND ONE, AND THE CURRENT ONE IS THE, UH, IS A, IS A PARKING VARIANCE FOR PET SUPPLIES AND GROOMING SALES, UH, WHICH WERE, UH, TO BE APPLIED TO, UH, PET SUPPLIES.

PLUS THE SITE, UH, WOULD REQUIRE BASED ON THE CURRENT, UH, PARKING RATIOS, A TOTAL OF 337 PARKING SPACES.

UH, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE ANY PROPOSED ADDITIONAL RETAIL FOR THE, UH, 11,000 SQUARE FOOT, UH, UN, UN, UH, UNOCCUPIED LEASE SPACE.

HOWEVER, THE SITE ONLY HAS 306 PARKING SPACES, THEREFORE IT CREATES A 31 PARKING SPACE EFFICIENCY.

UH, THE REQUEST OF COURSE IS FOR APPROVAL OF A 31 SPACE REDUCTION TO, TO, TO ACCOMMODATE ANY RETAIL USE THAT WOULD OCCUPY THE REMAINING 11,647 SQUARE FEET OF LEASE SPACE.

AS PART OF THE REQUEST, THE APPLICANT DID SUBMIT A PARKING COUNT STUDY, UH, SHOWING THE OFF THE ONSITE PEAK, UH, COUNTS OCCURRING MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

AND, AND, AND ON A FRIDAY AT 6:30 PM THE MAXIMUM, UH, NUMBER OF OCCUPIED PARKING SPACES WAS, WAS 134 PARKING SPACES, LEAVING 172 PARKING SPACES.

UNOCCUPIED.

THE APPLICANT TOOK ONE ADDITIONAL STEP AND HE WENT OUT AND DID A, UH, A PARKING COUNT STUDY OF A SIMILAR TYPE OF RETAIL, BUT MORE INTENSE IN USE AND ALSO A LARGER SQUARE FOOTAGE.

AND THAT WAS AN, AN ALDI'S GROCER.

AND THAT WAS A 16,657 SQUARE FOOT, UH, BUSINESS AT, UH, AT ITS PEAK TIME, UH, THERE WERE 46, UH, PARKING SPACES OCCUPIED ON SITE WHEN YOU COMBINE THE ONSITE PEAK TIME AND THE OFFSITE, UH, GROCER SITE.

UH, BASED ON ON THOSE NUMBERS, IT APPEARS THAT THERE'S 126, UH, AVAILABLE PARKING SPACES ON SITE.

SO IT KIND OF COMBINED BOTH EXISTING AND A, A FUTURE HIGHER INTENSITY RETAIL SITE STAFF ALSO WENT OUT AND OBSERVED, UH, SIMILAR FINDINGS.

THERE IS ONE ITEM IN YOUR PACKET, UH, A LETTER OF CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER, UH, ADJACENT TO, UH, THE SITE ON THE SOUTH END.

AND HE IS IN SUPPORT OF THE, UH, OF THE REQUEST.

UH, THE CITY PLAN COMMISSION DID OR HAS VOTED ON ON THIS REQUEST, THEY VOTED FIVE ZERO TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST AS PRESENTED.

UH, YOUR ACTION TONIGHT, UH, YOU COULD REQUEST, UH, APPROVAL OR YOU COULD, UH, FIND APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST AS PRESENTED, APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS OR AMENDED CONDITION, OR DENY THE REQUEST.

I KNOW THE APPLICANT IS HERE TONIGHT, UH, TO, UH, SEEK YOUR APPROVAL AS WELL.

WHAT INCLUDES TODAY ARE THE CURRENT TENANTS PLUS THE, UH, THE, UH, THE, UH, PLANET FITNESS SITE, BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PET SUPPLY PLUS SINCE THAT, THAT THAT PROJECT NEVER CAME TO FRUITION ON THIS SITE.

OKAY, SAM, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

YES, SIR.

AND MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW IF THE REST COUNSEL HAS ONE.

THIS IS THE SAME PROPERTY THAT WE HAD A REQUEST TO, I GUESS NOT HAVE AS MANY PARKING SPACES ONCE BEFORE.

CORRECT.

WHEN PLANT HOLLYWOOD WENT IN, UH, THAT WAS, UH, PLANET FITNESS.

PLANET FITNESS, YES.

RIGHT.

AND, AND THE MOST RECENTLY IN 2023 WAS FOR PET SUPPLIES AND GROOMING FOR, UH, PETS PLUS.

SO THE NEW NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN CALCULATED THROUGH THIS PARKING, UM, SCENARIO, THEY INCLUDE THOSE TWO THAT ARE ALREADY THERE.

NOW THERE'S A CURRENT, THE ONLY ONE THAT CURRENT COW, CORRECT? RIGHT.

[00:50:01]

THAT HELPS WITH ME, MS. JUSTICE.

MY QUESTION IS SORT OF ALONG THE LINES OF YOURS.

LAST TIME WE HEARD THIS CASE, IT WAS TIED TO THAT PARTICULAR TENANT, RIGHT? IT WAS TIED TO A VERY SPECIFIC USE, NOT A USER.

SO IT WAS A PET SUPPLY STORE OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES? YES, MA'AM.

THAT IS CORRECT.

SO I, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, DEPENDING ON WHAT GOES IN HERE, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT IS THAT WOULD REQUIRE ALL THESE PARKING SPACES, UM, AND THAT WE WOULD SORT OF LATER REGRET NOT HAVING THESE 31.

BUT I, I AM SORT OF CURIOUS THAT WE'RE SORT OF OPENING IT UP TO ANYTHING AND, AND WHAT IS OUR, OUR RECOURSE, I GUESS IF FOR SOME REASON THE PARKING IS NOT ADEQUATE AND WE'VE GRANTED THIS VARIANCE, DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY AS A COUNCIL TO COME BACK AND, YOU KNOW, AT A LATER DATE, OR ARE WE SORT OF TYING OURSELVES TO THIS AND DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN ABOUT DOING THAT? THE REASON THE APPLICANT WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT A HIGHER INTENSITY RETAIL USE, WHICH IS TYPICALLY A RETAIL A, A GROCER MM-HMM.

BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT GOES IN AND OUT AND, AND VERY SPECIFIC TIMEFRAMES.

SO WHAT THEY DID IS THEY TOOK, UH, TR UH, PARKING COUNTS AT AN ALDI'S, WHICH IS, UH, CATTY-CORNERED THIS SITE, UH, SEEING THAT IT WAS A STANDALONE, UH, FACILITY, THAT THEY COULD EASILY COUNT THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES BECAUSE IT IS A STANDALONE FACILITY AS OPPOSED TO A MULTI-TENANT, WHICH WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DO.

UH, THOSE, AND THEN COUPLED WITH THE EXISTING PARKING COUNTS FOR THIS SUBJECT SITE, IT GAVE THEM A GOOD IDEA THAT THE SITE, ALTHOUGH UNDER PARKED PER CODE, IT WAS OVER PARKED FOR DEMAND.

RIGHT.

UH, IF WE DO RUN INTO AN ISSUE, I, I'M SURE THE APPLICANT WILL, THE, UH, THE APPLICANT, THE PROPERTY OWNER WILL FIND OUT VERY SHORTLY, AND, UH, THEY WOULD COME BACK TO US AND ASK FOR A VARIANCE OR EITHER GO THROUGH A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, UH, PROCESS AND LOCK IN THE NUMBER OF REQUIRED PARKING SPACES, UM, BASED ON THIS.

BUT WHAT WE'RE TYPICALLY FINDING WITH EXISTING SHOPPING CENTERS IS THAT THEY'RE OVER PARKED BASED ON DEMAND.

YEAH.

I GUESS MY CONCERN IS I WAS JUST GONNA, I, I'M, I'M SORRY.

UH, UH, SAM, COULD YOU CLARIFY, UH, I THINK TAKE A SPECIAL PERMIT, FOR INSTANCE, THE COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO CALL A SPECIAL PERMIT BACK UP IF THE, UH, OPERATIONS AREN'T WORKING JUST LIKE THEY ANTICIPATED.

IS THAT, DO THEY HAVE THE SAME LATITUDE, UH, WITH A VARIANCE? YES, THEY DO.

OH, OKAY.

SO, SO THAT, THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION.

IF YOU, IF YOU, IF YOU APPROVE THIS AND IN REALITY OR IN PRACTICE, IT'S NOT OPERATING LIKE THE STUDY, UM, THEN, AND WE WERE, WE HAD PROBLEMS. WE COULD, WE COULD, UH, YOU COULD RECONSIDER THOSE.

THAT RESULTS MY CONCERN.

DAY FOR ANOTHER, SOMETHING FOR ANOTHER DAY TO DISCUSS.

YEAH, THANK YOU MS. JUSTICE.

MR. SHA.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UH, WELL THIS IS THAT IT'S ONLY ASKING FOR 31 PARKING SPACE REDUCTION.

SO I'VE BEEN TO THAT AREA SO MANY TIMES.

UH, IT'S PRETTY WIDE OPEN ALL THE TIME.

UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE TRICKY PART, YOU KNOW, RUNNING THE MODEL WITH MULTIPLE DIFFERENT KIND OF BUSINESS.

AND IF YOU ALLOW EVERYTHING IS LIKE PICK TIME, PICK TIME, ADD ALL THOSE, IT GOES REALLY HIGH.

UH, SO TO ME, I THINK THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CALIBRATE THE MODEL IN THE FUTURE.

SEE HOW CAN, HOW WE CAN APPROACH, UH, TO THE BUSINESS.

UH, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IF WE APPROACH, IT'S GONNA BE RETAIN ON THE STONE, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK BACK.

BUT I THINK THIS IS GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU, MR. BARRIOS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR SAM.

UM, I HAVE NO, NO PROBLEMS WITH ANY OF THIS, UM, OR CONCERNS.

I, I KNOW WE'VE SEEN A FEW OF THESE IN THE YEAR I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL, TO BE HONEST, I, I THINK WE'RE, OUR PARKING MINIMUMS, MINIMUMS ARE QUITE HIGH, UH, AS A CITY.

AND WE SEE A LOT OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS.

I GUESS I'M KIND OF THINKING OUT LOUD HERE WHEN I ASK AND DO NOT FEEL THE NEED TO ANSWER AT THIS TIME.

MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE THINK ABOUT, BUT, UH, MAYBE A BETTER WAY OF DOING THIS.

'CAUSE IT SEEMS THAT, IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKING SPACE AND PARKING SPACE IS, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, THEY DON'T CREATE AS MUCH REVENUE AS IF SOMETHING ELSE WERE THERE.

UM, IS THERE A BETTER WAY OF DOING THIS, I GUESS AS THERE THAN EVERY TIME ONE OF THESE, UH, SMALL REDUCTIONS COME UP? UH, IT COME IN BEFORE US.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.

UM, IT, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'VE SEEN A FEW OF THESE AND IT, IT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STREAMLINE SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME TO US EVERY TIME.

I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE THAT'S A

[00:55:01]

BUT, UH, I HAVE NO PROBLEM.

THANK YOU, SAM, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, MR. CORCORAN.

OH, UM, MR. MAYOR, YOU CAN LET CITY CITY STAFF CAN RESPOND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S COMMENTS.

UM, FIRST IF THEY'D LIKE.

WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, IN TERMS OF, I THINK, I THINK, UH, EVERYTHING FROM OUR COMP PLAN TO THE S REDEVELOPMENT AREAS, PARKING IS GOING TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF, OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

AND SO, UH, COUNCILMAN BARRIOS, I AGREE.

I THINK, UM, THAT, UM, WE CAN NOT ONLY THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES SENSE FROM A, A PARKING STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO PROCESS WISE, UM, IF, IF, IF, UH, THE COUNCIL WOULD BE, FOR INSTANCE, UM, UH, OPEN TO CITY STAFF MAKING CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE CALLS ON DECISIONS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN CERTAINLY TRY TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO SOME OF THE, UH, THE, UH, THE FUTURE ZONING WORK THAT WE'LL DO, UM, AS A RESULT OF, UM, OF THE COMP PLAN AND SOME OF THE SPECIAL REDEVELOPMENT AREA STUDIES.

MM-HMM.

, UH, MR. MAYOR, THE ONLY ADDITION I WAS GONNA MAKE WAS THAT THE, THERE IS LIKE A LOT OF, THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR DOING SORT OF A MASS REDUCTION IN THE LAW.

'CAUSE IT HAPPENED IN THE IQ.

UH, SO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS UNTIL, UNTIL THAT TIME, RIGHT, IF THERE'S, AND AN ALTERNATIVE THING I THOUGHT WAS MAYBE IF, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN BARRIOS, IF WE GET A TARGETED AREA LIKE THIS WITH A LOT OF MODIFICATIONS, MAYBE WE CAN THINK OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT, RIGHT? YEAH.

AND THIS IS ONE OF OUR SPECIAL REDEVELOPMENT AREAS THAT WE'LL BE STUDYING.

SO, ABSOLUTELY.

UH, COUNCILMAN CRAN, I AGREE, UH, WITH YOU AND COUNCILMAN BARRIOS, THAT, UM, THAT SHOULD BE PART OF, UH, NOT ONLY THE VISIONING WORK FOR WHAT, WHAT DO WE WANT IT TO BE, BUT HOW DO WE WANNA MANAGE IT? UM, THE AREA MOVING FORWARD CAN BE ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS AS WELL.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR.

ONE QUICK QUESTION IF I CAN.

PLEASE, PLEASE, KEN.

THANK, THANK YOU.

UM, SAM OR DON, AND IN FOLLOW UP TO COUNCILMAN JUSTICE'S QUESTION, I, I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD EVER COME UP, BUT JUST WHAT IS THE PROCESS THAT WE WOULD, WE, AS A COUNCIL WOULD TAKE? WHAT'S THE ACTUAL PROCESS? IS THIS ONE WHERE IT WOULD TAKE THE TWO COUNCIL PEOPLE TO, TO ASK FOR IT TO BE PUT ON AGENDA? WHAT WOULD BE THE PRACTICAL ASPECT OF CALLING THIS BACK INTO QUESTION? IF FOR SOME REASON PARKING BECAME AN ISSUE HERE, WHICH I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WILL HAPPEN, WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PROCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE.

I THINK MORE THAN LIKELY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS THAT WE AS STAFF WOULD IDENTIFY THAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE ON A SITE AND WE WOULD BRING THAT FORWARD TO YOU AS A REQUEST TO, TO RECONSIDER OR REVISIT THE VARIANCE THAT WAS GRANTED FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR A SPECIFIC SITE.

AND AT THAT POINT, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR POLICY WOULD TAKE HOLD.

WHICH, WHICH POLICY ARE YOU REFERENCING, SAM? JUST TO BE CLEAR.

THE, UH, THE POLICY ABOUT GETTING, UH, ABOUT RECEIVING, UH, SUPPORT, UH, FROM TWO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ON, ON ANY ITEM THAT BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA.

I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN HIT.

I THINK, UM, THAT, THAT'D BE PROBABLY TOO LIKELY ROUTES.

THE, THE, THE, THE MOST LIKELY WOULD BE, UH, STAFF WOULD RECEIVE CONCERNS OR COUNCIL WOULD RECEIVE CONCERNS AND PASS THOSE ON TO STAFF.

WE WOULD GO OUT AND WE WOULD ASSESS THE SITUATION.

AND IF WE FELT IT WAS NOT PERFORMING, UM, LIKE THE STUDY AND, AND WAS CREATING CO UH, CREATING ISSUES, THEN WE WOULD BRING THAT PROACTIVELY BRING BACK THAT, UH, THE, UH, THE CASE TO THE COUNCIL FOR RECONSIDERATION.

ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IF NOT, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION IS JUSTICE MOVE TO APPROVE VARIANCE 24 0 1 AS PRESENTED.

ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN SHAEL.

SECONDED.

AND MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? SHOW OF HANDS, PLEASE.

THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

WE GO TO

[9. CONSENT AGENDA]

I'M GONNA CALL FOR A MOTION IF I COULD GET ONE MRS. JUSTICE MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION.

MR. CORCORAN.

SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? SHOW OF HANDS.

PROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALRIGHT, IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THAT

[10. REPORT ON ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST ]

BRINGS US TO ITEM NUMBER 10.

CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REPORT ON ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.

WE'VE BEEN OFF FOR SEVERAL WEEKS HERE.

WE OUGHT TO HAVE SOME VERY INTERESTING THINGS HERE.

ANYONE? ALRIGHT, MR. HUTCHIN? RIDER, YOU GOT ANYTHING TO SHARE ABOUT AGGIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? YEAH, GREAT.

GREAT GAME LAST NIGHT.

JUST TWO THINGS REAL QUICK.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UM, RICHARDSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON AN OUTSTANDING ANNUAL MEETING.

UM, SENT

[01:00:01]

MARSHALL WITH THE DALLAS MAVERICKS.

JUST, UH, AN AMAZING PRESENTATION.

UM, AND A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO GERALD BRIGHT, OUR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR.

UM, AND LASTLY, I ALSO A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE CITY STAFF AND ALL OF Y'ALL FOR ACCOMMODATING ME FROM CHICAGO.

UM, Y'ALL ARE HAVING MUCH BETTER WEATHER THAN WE'RE HAVING HERE.

IT'S MUCH COLDER HERE.

BUT I DO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, UH, I GUESS BE THE, UH, FIRST, UH, TEST DUMMY TO TEST OUT THIS NEW SYSTEM.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, IT WORKS FLAWLESSLY.

SO HUGE.

AND, UH, HUGE KUDOS TO ALL OF THE STAFF.

ON, UH, MARCH 6TH, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE DIALOGUE INSTITUTE'S, UH, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, UM, MENTORSHIP MEETING.

UH, IT WAS, UH, LOVELY TO BE INVITED AND, UH, REALLY GREAT PANELISTS, INCLUDING OUR OWN, UH, KIM QUIRK THERE FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, MENTORSHIP.

UH, AND THEN JUST A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, ALLIE, A GREAT, UH, PROGRAM.

JACKIE WAS PRESENTED AT THE EMAN ON MARCH 9TH, AND IT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC.

UM, I WAS, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK OF THE ONE WOMAN PLAY GOING IN AND, UM, COULDN'T RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY ENOUGH.

IT WAS REALLY, REALLY FANTASTIC.

SO, UH, SHOUT OUT TO, TO ALLIE AND HER GREAT WORK IN THE PROGRAMMING THERE.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU MR. CORCORAN.

UH, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY THE, ON THE, UH, 19TH OF MARCH THE PARKS COMMISSION MET, UM, I WAS NOT IN ATTENDANCE 'CAUSE I WAS AT THE INT RAMADAN DINNER FOR, UH, THEIR, THEIR BIG COMMUNITY RAMADAN CELEBRATION.

BUT, UH, I DID HAVE A, A CALL WITH THE CHAIRWOMAN, UH, NANCY CROW AFTER, AND SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING.

AND, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR LETTER, UH, COMING WITH ALL THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OUR BUDGET SEASON.

UM, AND ON THAT NOTE AS WELL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE, THE INT, UH, THE, UM, MOSQUE FOR, FOR HOSTING US FOR ANOTHER WONDERFUL COMMUNITY CELEBRATION.

THOSE, THOSE EVENTS ARE ALWAYS VERY IMPORTANT, UM, FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU MR. BARRIOS.

THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING.

EXCUSE ME.

YEAH, OVER THIS PAST COUPLE WEEKS WE'VE ATTENDED SEVERAL IFTAR DINNERS, UH, THE DIALOGUE INSTITUTE ON THE 12TH, AND I KNOW INT WAS IN THERE AS WELL.

UM, THE MUSLIM AMERICAN SOCIETY AND THE, THERE WERE THIS PAST WEEKEND, SORRY, THERE WAS A LOT, AS YOU SAID, THERE WAS SO MUCH BETWEEN THE 13 AND 15TH, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE CONFERENCE, DOWN MIDYEAR CONFERENCE DOWN IN SAN MARCOS, UH, WHERE, UH, I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR HOURS, UM, TRAINED LAST YEAR.

UH, SO THAT WAS AN HONOR TO, UH, REPRESENT RICHARDSON IN THAT AS WELL.

UM, ON THIS PAST WEEKEND, THERE WERE SEVERAL EVENTS, AND THIS IS KIND OF AN ONGOING THING, BUT THE DIALOGUE INSTITUTE AND THE RAINDROP SOCIETY LOCATED OVER OFF PLANO ROAD EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT, UH, FROM NOW TO THE END OF RAMADAN ARE HOLDING A NIGHT MARKET.

AND, UH, MY SON AND I ATTENDED LAST FRIDAY NIGHT.

UH, LOTS OF GREAT FOOD, UM, GREAT CONVERSATION, HAD LEARNED A LOT, UH, GOT TO MEET MEMBERS OF THE LEADERS OF THE TURKISH COMMUNITY HERE IN TOWN.

UH, IT WAS, IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING YESTERDAY I HAD THE HONOR, UH, WITH MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, SHEEL TO ATTEND THE WELL COMMUNITY CHURCH.

UM, THEY ARE NEW TO RICHARDSON.

YESTERDAY WAS THEIR FIRST, UM, CHURCH SERVICE AND WE ATTENDED, AND THEY, UM, IT'S NOT, IT'S A BRANCH OF A LARGER CHURCH THAT THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT BRANCHES AND I KNOW, UM, THEY'VE GOT SOME GREAT PROGRAMS AND THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN SERVING THE COMMUNITY, GREAT PASSIONATE GROUP.

AND IT, IT WAS GREAT TO MEET THE PASTOR AFTER HIS SERVICE AS WELL.

UM, LOOKING FORWARD, I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY, FOR THOSE OF US, UH, CHRISTIANS, WE CELEBRATE HOLY WEEK THIS WEEK.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, WISH EVERYBODY WHO OBSERVES, UH, GREAT HOLY WEEK AND MAY YOU HAVE A GOOD, GOOD FRIDAY AND A HAPPY EASTER.

UH, IT'S NEXT SUNDAY.

SO HOPE, UH, EVERYBODY GETS TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY, UH, TO THOSE WHO OBSERVE AND I KNOW MY FAMILY AND I WILL BE OBSERVING.

SO, UM, HAPPY EASTER TO WALL LOOKING FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MR. DORIAN.

NORTH TEXAS AND WE WENT TO, UH, JOHN BUNKER SANDS WETLAND.

UH, YES, WE DID.

WE HAD QUITE A FEW EVENTS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE, UM, ONE STATEMENT.

I, LAST FRIDAY ON THE 22ND, I ATTENDED, UM, LEADERSHIP

[01:05:01]

UH, WE HAD A TOUR AND UH, A PRESENTATION THERE.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT.

UM, I ACTUALLY, IT'S HARD TO ABSORB ALL OF IT BECAUSE IT'S A LOT, BUT, UH, WISH WE HAD MORE TIME, BUT IT WAS, UH, IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND I WAS JUST HAPPY TO SEE THE SUSTAINABILITY AND HOW THE PROCESS WORKS AND, AND HOW WE'RE UTILIZING THIS, THIS, UH, TECHNOLOGY TO, UH, SUSTAIN SOME OF OUR, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY, UM, HAPPY EASTER AS WELL.

I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

THANK YOU, MR. CHU.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

WE HAVE REALLY, REALLY LOTS OF THINGS HAPPENED LAST FEW WEEKS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE, UH, WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT THING, SPRING BREAK.

UH, MARCH 13TH WE HAD, UH, EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

UH, WE HAD, UH, PHOTO OPS FOR FIRE STATION FIVE AND ANIMAL SHELTER.

GROUNDBREAKING.

WELL, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PHOTO OP THINGS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT, UH, LET YOU KNOW THAT THESE TWO PROJECTS ARE, LOOKS LIKE ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.

SO THAT'S THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT.

UH, IT'S COMING ALONG REALLY GOOD.

THANK YOU CITY STAFF AND, UH, INCLUDING THE CONTRACTORS, HOPEFULLY MAKING STAFF'S LIVES EASIER OR BETTER ON THIS PROJECT.

UH, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK EVERYONE AND, UH, OF COURSE HAPPY EASTER AND HAPPY RAMADAN.

THANK YOU, MR. HUSCHER.

RIDER.

ANY COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? NO SIR.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

THAT ENDS OUR, UH, ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST AT THIS TIME.

MS. NEER, DO WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS THAT NEED, THAT HAVE SIGNED UP THAT WANNA SPEAK? NO FURTHER CARDS, MAYOR.

ALL RIGHTY.

WITH

[EXECUTIVE SESSION ]

THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COUNSEL WILL NOW CONVENE IN A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 5 51 0.0711, AND TWO OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING 4 25 NORTH CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY, RICHARDSON, TEXAS.

AND THE TIME IS OFFICIALLY 7 0 7.

LET'S START UP, SAY AT SEVEN 15 AND WE'LL BE BACK.