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[CALL TO ORDER]
CALL THIS MEETING OF THE RICHARDSON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.IT IS 6:00 PM GO TO ITEM A ON OUR AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND ON AGENDA ITEMS AT VISITORS FORUM.
UH, WE DID RECEIVE TWO CARDS IN ADVANCE OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.
UM, ONE FROM MR. AHMED OLI AND ONE FROM MS. UH, KELLY MCGARRY.
THEY INDICATED THEY WISH TO SPEAK, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE EITHER IS HERE.
SO OTHER THAN THAT, MAYOR, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO A TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE IS IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND THERE'S NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE.
[B. REVIEW AND DISCUSS CULTURAL ARTS INITIATIVE GRANT PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS]
ITEM B, REVIEW AND DISCUSS CULTURAL ARTS INITIATIVE, GRANT PROGRAM.UH, WE ARE THANKFUL TO HAVE, UH, ELIZABETH GONZALEZ, WHO IS THE VICE CHAIR OF YOUR CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION WITH US TONIGHT.
UM, ELIZABETH AND THE COMMISSION HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD, UM, TO, UM, LOOK AT THE, UH, ANNUAL, UH, CULTURAL ARTS GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE REMAINDER OF THE LARGER PROGRAM THAT'S IDENTIFIED FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS.
UH, SO SHE'S HERE TONIGHT TO GIVE YOU THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSION AND THEN TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
ELIZABETH, THANKS FOR ALL THE, THAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMISSION AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
I THINK I KNOW PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE.
UM, AND I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS AND ROLLED INTO THE VICE CHAIR.
AND SANDY PAL IS OUR CHAIRMAN, AND SHE'S ON A NICE TRIP TO AUSTRALIA, SO THAT'S WHY YOU GET ME TODAY.
UM, WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT, OH, UM, ON OUR SPECIAL ARTS GRANT, UM, ARTS INITIATIVE GRANT THAT WE, UM, HAD LEFTOVER FUNDS FROM OUR FALL CYCLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS GRANT IS ALL ABOUT.
SO THIS FALLS UNDER THE, UM, YOUR CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC GOAL TO, UM, HAVE ALL RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS CHOOSE RICHARDSON, SORRY, UM, AS THE BEST PLACE TO LOCATE, UH, CONTRIBUTE AND ENGAGE.
UM, AND PEOPLE WANNA LIVE HERE BECAUSE OF ALL OF OUR GREAT OFFERINGS.
THIS IS JUST A SLIDE OF ALL OF OUR CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION.
WE, UM, HAVE A NEW PERSON, CYNTHIA ROAN, UH, WHO JOINED PROBABLY TWO MONTHS AGO.
UM, CURTIS DO IS OUR LIAISON, AND WE HAVE, UM, MIKAYLA DOLLER AND, UM, KIMBERLY COURT IS OUR, UM, STA OR THE CULTURAL ARTS COORDINATOR.
SO THAT'S KIND OF A NEW POSITION.
WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE HER.
SO WE SERVE AS AN ADVISORY BOARD, UM, TO PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH THE, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, AND PROMOTING THE ARTS IN RICHARDSON.
UM, WE PROVIDE A, UH, BIENNIAL STATE OF THE ARTS PRESENTATION, WHICH ACTUALLY THIS IS THE YEAR FOR THAT, AND THAT WILL BE IN MAY.
WE MAKE, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHERE, UM, WHERE YOU SHOULD SPEND YOUR MONEY ON THE ARTS AND, UM, IN PROMOTING AND SUSTAINING THE ARTS IN THE CITY.
AND, UM, WE REVIEW ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS IN THE FALL CYCLE STARTING IN AUGUST, UM, AND THEN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS IN, UM, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
AND THAT MONEY COMES FROM THE TAX MOTEL AND, UM, HOTEL MOTEL TAX FUND.
AND WE'LL BE HEARING ABOUT THAT SOON.
SO THIS ARTS INITIATIVE GRANT IS FUNDED FROM RESERVES THAT WE HAD LEFT OVER FROM, UM, LAST FALL 2023.
AND THAT AMOUNT IS $26,500, WHICH IS, UM, KIND OF AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT.
UM, SO WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER THE, UH, PREREQUISITES OR, OR WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IN THIS GRANT, WE WANTED TO HAVE A NEW OR UNIQUE, UM, OPPORTUNITY THAT ISN'T PART OF AN ORGANIZATION'S NORMAL PROGRAMMING, UM, AND THE REGULAR SEASON.
AND WE WANTED TO GIVE, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE, SPECIAL, UM, I GUESS MENTION TO PEOPLE THAT HAD A VERY UNIQUE, UM, ARTISTIC OFFERING, UM, SOMETHING THAT WOULD INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY AND, AND OR INTERACTIVE COMPONENTS.
SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN NEW OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
UM, ALSO FOCUSING ON A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN,
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UM, OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN RICHARDSON OR JUST COLLABORATING WITH OTHER, UH, RICHARDSON, UM, INSTITUTIONS THEMSELVES.AND THEN, UM, ALSO JUST GIVING, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, OUTREACH TO, UM, PROVIDE ENHANCEMENT TO RICHARDSON RESIDENTS AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN USE THAT, UH, TO OUR DISCRETION.
UM, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WOULD BE IF AN ORGANIZATION NEEDED EQUIPMENT THAT THEY DIDN'T, UM, FUND FOR, OR THEY DIDN'T ALLOW FOR IN THE FIRST ARTS GRANT CYCLE, UM, WE, WE GAVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF, UM, IMPORTANCE TO THAT.
UM, ALL OF THE PERFORMANCE MUST TAKE PLACE IN RICHARDSON, AND THEN THE REQUEST SHOULD NOT EXCEED 50% OF THAT, UM, SUBMITTED BUDGET, THEIR PROJECT BUDGET JUST FOR THAT, UM, UH, EVENT.
SO WE STARTED THIS IN NOVEMBER WHEN WE KNEW WE HAD FINISHED THE, UH, PREVIOUS CYCLE.
AND, UM, SO IN NOVEMBER WE PUT TOGETHER OUR GUIDELINES FOR THE APPLICATION, AND WE FINALIZED THAT IN JANUARY OF 2024.
AND THEN IN MAR, OH, THAT WAS SENT PUT OUT ON THE WEBSITE AND SENT TO THE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAD, UM, IN OUR DATABASE IN MARCH, UM, MARCH 22ND, THE, THAT WAS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE.
AND BETWEEN MARCH 22ND AND APRIL 3RD, UM, FIRST THE STAFF REVIEWS THAT MCKAYLA AND KIMBERLY, PROBABLY THE FINANCIAL TEAM AS WELL.
UH, THEN THE APPLICATIONS WERE REVIEWED BY OUR CHAIR, SANDY AND MYSELF, AND WE SELECTED THE FINALISTS FOR THE INTERVIEWS.
AND BASED ON THE, THE PREREQUISITES WE HAD IN IN THE EARLIER TWO SLIDES AGO, UM, WE KIND OF NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE, THE FOUR THAT WE THOUGHT, UM, FIT THOSE QUALIFICATIONS.
THEN ONCE WE PICKED THOSE FOUR, UH, THE FINALISTS, THOSE APPLICATIONS WERE REVIEWED BY THE ENTIRE COMMISSION.
AND ON APRIL 4TH, WHICH SEEMS LIKE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, UH, WE ACTUALLY CONDUCTED THOSE ARTS ORGANIZATION INTERVIEWS.
AND THEN, UM, THAT SAME NIGHT WE DECIDED AS A COMMISSION, UM, HOW WE WERE GONNA ALLOCATE THE FUNDS.
SO THESE WERE THE INITIAL APPLICATIONS.
UM, THE GRANT REQUESTS, YOU CAN SEE WE HAD 10, UM, AND THEIR REQUESTS TOTALED 90,300.
SO WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY, SO WE HAD TO NARROW IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN WE CAME TO THE FOUR THAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT REAL QUICK.
SO ONE OF THE FIRST ONES, UH, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, UH, WAS THE CHAMBERLAIN BALLET.
AND THEY HAVE A, A SPECIAL OFFERING THAT WAS NOT IN THEIR ORIGINAL PLAN LAST YEAR, AND IT'S A, IT'S A PERFORMANCE CALLED THEY SING, THEY DANCE AND, UM, PROPOSE TO BE AN OCTOBER OF 2024.
AND IT WOULD BE A COLLABORATION BETWEEN, UM, NOT ONLY THEIR BALLET, BUT THE PLANO CIVIC CHORUS AND THE RICHARDSON SYMPHONY, AS WELL AS RISD HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR.
AND THEN THIS WOULD BE AT THE EISMAN.
AND THEN PART OF THEIR APPLICATION INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BE GIVING 200 TICKETS TO, UM, RICHARDSON ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IN THE UNDERSERVED COMMITTEE OR, UH, COMMUNITY.
THEIR REQUEST WAS 12,000 AND, UH, OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS, UH, 7,000.
NEXT WE HAVE THE DALLAS CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THEIR, UH, PRESENTATION, OR THEIR ACTIVITY IS A MOTHER'S DAY ANA WORKSHOP WITH AN ART EXHIBIT AND AWARD CEREMONY.
AND THAT WOULD BE IN MAY AND AROUND MOTHER'S DAY, OBVIOUSLY.
AND PART OF THAT WOULD BE AN ARTS COMPETITION, ART EXHIBITION.
AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE A FLOWER ARRANGEMENT WORKSHOP AND EXHIBITION, AND THEY'RE HOPING TO GET A LOT MORE YOUNGER ARTISTS INVOLVED AND WITH THE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR MOTHERS AND, UM, WORKING ON THE FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS TOGETHER.
UM, AND THIS WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE IN THE REGULAR PROGRAMMING.
UH, THEY REQUESTED $3,000, AND OUR RECOMMENDATION IS 2,500.
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PROBABLY A LOT OF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF.IT'S AN ORGANIZATION CALLED OUT LOUD.
AND THEIR CONCEPT IS A SEE ME INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCE, AN EXHIBITION AT THE EISMAN CENTER.
AND THIS WOULD BE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER OF 2024.
AND THEY WERE NOT PART OF OUR INITIAL, UH, FALL ARTS CYCLE, UM, ARTS GRANT CYCLE.
SO IT WAS NEAT TO SEE THEM, UM, THEIR CONCEPT OR THEIR PERFORMANCE.
JUST READING JUST FROM THE SLIDE, IS A GROUNDBREAKING PERFORMANCE, AN EXHIBITION THAT MERGES THEATER, ART, AND TECHNOLOGY TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF YOUTH IN NORTH TEXAS.
AND I KNOW WE ALL SAT AND LISTENED, AND WE'RE STILL KIND OF, CAN'T VISUALIZE WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE, BUT IT WILL HAVE, UM, HOLOGRAMS AND PROJECTIONS AND TECHNOLOGY AND LIVE PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS RECORDINGS THAT THEY'RE PLANNING TO, UH, GATHER, UM, IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS BEFORE THIS.
UM, AND GETTING SOME VOICES OF THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS KIND OF A GROUP THAT WE DON'T TOUCH ON A LOT.
AND, UM, IT'S AIMS TO SPEAK, SPARK MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS AND INSPIRE EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING.
SO, UM, A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THERE.
THEY REQUESTED 25,000 AND OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS 10,000.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE THE RICHARDSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, AND THEIR CONCEPT IS A COMMUNITY POPS CONCERT AT UT DALLAS.
AND, UM, BACK IN THE DAY, SOME OF YOU LIVED HERE.
THEN, UM, THE SYMPHONY DID HAVE SOME SIM UH, PERFORMANCES AT UT DALLAS.
AND, UM, SO THEY'RE KIND OF BRINGING THAT CONCEPT BACK.
AND IT WOULD BE A COLLABORATION WITH THE SYMPHONY AND UT DALLAS AND THE CONCERT WOULD BE OUTDOORS IN OCTOBER IN A, A NEWLY REMO KIND OF REMODELED, RENOVATED SPACE, UM, BY THE SCIENCE BUILDING, I BELIEVE.
AND, UM, SO KIND OF A NICE OUTDOOR THING TO HAVE IN THE FALL WHEN IT'S COOL.
AND THEIR, UH, AMOUNT OF FUNDING REQUESTED WAS 15,000, AND OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS 7,000.
SO THIS SLIDE GIVES YOU THE BREAKDOWN OF, UH, THE TOTAL OF THE FOUR AND OUR TOTAL EQUALING 26 500.
AND THAT IS OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATION.
AND THEN THIS ITEM, I GUESS, WILL BE ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR APPROVAL NEXT MONDAY.
IF I COULD, UH, COUNCILMAN DORIAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS AS OUR LIAISON? YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I, YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY, THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE, UH, INCENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR THE, UH, CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION.
AND IT'S, UH, IT ALLOWS OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO STEP UP AND SHINE AND SHOW SOME DIFFERENT TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY AND PERFORMANCES, UM, THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY WILL OPEN THE DOOR AND, YOU KNOW, UH, EDUCATE AND, AND JUST CREATE SOME, UM, A DIVERSIFIED APPROACH IN RICHARDSON, YOU KNOW, AND SERVING ON THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION MYSELF FOR EIGHT YEARS, I UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT IT TAKES TO GO THROUGH THE APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEW AND, AND IT'S A HARD DECISION TO MAKE ON HOW YOU'RE GONNA ALLOCATE FUNDS.
AND, BUT I THINK YOU DID, Y'ALL DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN TWO APPLICANTS THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED.
SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THESE GROUPS DO.
UM, I'M ESPECIALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUT LOUD ONLY WAS ONE, THEY'RE NEW AND IT'S SORT OF A SPINOFF FROM THE EISMAN, UM, EVENT THAT WE HAD, UM, A FEW MONTHS BACK.
AND, UM, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE GENTLEMAN THAT IS INVOLVED WITH OUT LOUD, BUT LIVES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
I THINK IT CERTAINLY EXPANDS OUR, UH, OUR TECHNOLOGY EFFORTS IN THE ARTS.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE AND ESPECIALLY, UM, THE LIAISON, MCKAYLA AND KIMBERLY COURT FOR, UM, HELPING JUST KEEP ALL THIS PULLED TOGETHER.
AND Y'ALL HAVE DONE JUST A REALLY GOOD JOB.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, CURTIS, MS. JUSTICE.
I JUST WANNA ADD THAT I LIKE THE RESERVE MODEL.
I THINK IT'S GREAT BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW SORT
[00:15:01]
OF WHEN AN ORGANIZATION IS GONNA HAVE AN EVENT LIKE THIS.AND SO I KNOW THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS DO THAT, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ENCOURAGE THAT.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT, UM, A WAY TO, TO SORT OF KEEP THE ARTS MOVING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, NOT JUST IN THE FALL WHEN WE DO THE GRANT.
I DEFINITELY CONCUR WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JUSTICE'S OPINION.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S NEAT TO SEE THE ABILITY TO FUND THESE PROJECTS, UM, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR AND TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE HABIT OF, OF APPLYING, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T FALL OUT OF PRACTICE ON.
UM, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT OF WORK YOU GUYS PUT INTO, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT ALMOST DOUBLES YOUR WORKLOAD IN SOME WAYS, RIGHT? AS A COMMISSION AND, AND APPRECIATING THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN THERE.
I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.
AND I, I CONCUR WITH ALL THE DECISIONS.
I'M EXCITED WITH ALL THE PRODUCTS, BUT JUST I FEEL LIKE, UH, IN THE TIMES THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PRESENTED THESE ON THE MAIN, I GUESS THE MAIN OFFERING MM-HMM.
OR THE MAIN ALLOCATION, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLY GET SOME SORT OF AWARD.
AND THEN I NOTICED ON THIS ONE IT WAS, IT WAS DIFFERENT.
IT WAS LARGER GRANTS, BUT FOR A SMALLER AMOUNT OF THE APPLICANTS WHO APPLIED.
AND SO I'M JUST, AND AND HEARING COUNCIL MEMBER DORIAN'S COMMENTS THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT MORE THAN TWO APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN AWARDED.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE REASONING IS? SURE, THERE, WE, WELL, GOING BACK TO, UM, UH, LET ME SEE THE SLIDE.
MCKAYLA MIGHT HAVE TO HELP ME
WE, WE WANTED THESE TO BE DIFFERENT.
SO WE WANTED IT TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT THEY ARE, THEY WERE REALLY GOING TO, UM, LOOK AT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET FUNDING OR SOMETHING NEW, SO NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY HAD ALREADY PUT IN THEIR CALENDAR, OR THEY'RE GONNA PUT IN THE CALENDAR COMING UP FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, THE FALL OF 2024.
SO WE WANTED IT TO BE MORE UNIQUE.
WE WANTED THAT TECHNOLOGY PIECE THAT, UM, ISN'T NECESSARILY IN OUR, UH, REGULAR GRANT CYCLE.
AND THEN WE ALSO, UH, WANTED THE, THE COLLABORATION PART OF IT, AND SO THAT, UM, THEY COULD REACH OUT AND WORK WITH SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE, WELL, YOU'RE GONNA GET FUNDING AND YOU'RE GONNA GET FUNDING, AND IT'S JUST, THEY COULD WORK TOGETHER.
SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE, WE GAUGE THIS, UM, CYCLE ITSELF.
AND THAT'S WHY WE NARROWED DOWN FROM THE 10 TO THE FOUR, BECAUSE THOSE OTHERS THAT WE DIDN'T CHOOSE THIS TIME, MM-HMM,
AND THE OTHER PART OF IT IS THAT THE CYCLE WILL START, YOU KNOW, IN AUGUST, AND THEN THEY'RE MOST OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, SEPTEMBER THROUGH, UM, MAY THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE DIDN'T MAYBE SELECT AT THIS TIME CAN PUT THAT IN THE REGULAR GRANT APPLICATION.
WE KNEW WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO FUND EVERYBODY.
SO DOES THAT HELP? YEAH, I MEAN, THERE WAS A BIG DISPARITY IN THE AMOUNT THAT WAS ASKED FOR VERSUS THE AMOUNT THAT COULD BE AWARDED, SO EXACTLY.
AND I MEAN, I ALL GO, I GUESS IT, THOSE, THOSE FOUR BULLETS ON SLIDE FIVE REALLY DID HELP NARROW IT DOWN.
MR. CHU, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND THANK YOU JE FOR YOU'RE WELCOME.
YOU KNOW, DOING ALL THIS THING, THAT TEAM HAS DONE REALLY GREAT JOB, ESPECIALLY WITH LIMITED BUDGET.
UH, THE QUESTION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE ORGANIZATION, THEY RECEIVED THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING NEW THAT WAS NOT REALLY PLANNED HARDLY BEFORE.
AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM ARE REQUESTED MUCH MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM.
UH, AND SOME OF THEM GOT MUCH LESS THAN 50% OF THEIR BUDGET.
UH, DO YOU KNOW IF THEY CAN MEET, UH, THEIR GOAL, IF THEY CAN DELIVER WHAT THEIR PROMISE IS? YES.
THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ASK.
TYPICALLY IN OUR INTERVIEW PROCESS, WE, WE SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS, UM, IN CASE WE CAN'T FUND YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT.
AND MOST OF THE ORGANIZATIONS DO HAVE PLAN B, C, WHATEVER.
AND, UM, THE, SO THAT'S ONE PART OF IT.
THE OTHER PART IS THAT THEY CAN, UM, ALSO GO INTO THE REGULAR CALENDAR CYCLE AND THEN APPLY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF, NOT, NOT THESE FOUR GROUPS, BUT THE OTHER GROUPS THAT, UM, DIDN'T GET THEIR FUNDING, THEY COULD PUT THAT IN THEIR GRANT REQUEST FOR THE
[00:20:01]
NEXT CYCLE.BUT MOST PEOPLE HAD A, OR MOST PEOPLE, MOST OF THOSE FOUR ORGANIZATIONS DID HAVE, UM, OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING AND, UM, A PLAN FOR THAT.
I MEAN, I WISH WE COULD GIVE EVERYONE ANYTHING.
I KNOW,
BUT YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T PRINT THAT THING HERE.
SO THANK YOU, MR. HUTCHER RUDDER.
UM, HAVING BEEN THE LIAISON PRIOR TO CURTIS, UM, JUST AM SO PROUD OF THIS COMMITTEE AND THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO.
I'M ALSO VERY PROUD OF THE CITY, UM, FOR PROVIDING THIS FUNDING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE ARTS AT THE LEVEL THAT WE ARE.
UM, REALLY THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS NO NUTCRACKER,
AND WE, WE ALL THOUGHT OF YOU, KEN.
THAT, THAT, THAT WAS, THAT WAS MY, YOU SAID IT'S NOT A NUTCRACKER, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.
NO, I SERIOUSLY THOUGH, I, I JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I KNOW THE HARD WORK THAT Y'ALL DO, UM, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S, IT'S, UM, A HUNDRED PERCENT VOLUNTEER AND JUST APPRECIATE THAT, THAT THERE ARE, THAT Y'ALL COME TOGETHER AS A COMMITTEE, UM, VOLUNTEER, TAKE UP YOUR OWN PERSONAL TIME TO SUPPORT THE ARTS.
AND SO I JUST WANNA SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR COMMITTEE, THAT'S FOR SURE.
[C. REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE 2024 WILDFLOWER! ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL OVERVIEW]
MOVE ON TO ITEM C REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE 2024 WILDFLOWER ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL AS THEY GIVE US AN OVERVIEW.UH, DIANE LAWRENCE, OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF COMMUNITY EVENTS IS GONNA MAKE OUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND IVONNE AUGU, OUR DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECORD HERE.
UM, THESE FOLKS ARE ABOUT TO BE EXTREMELY BUSY, EVEN MORE SO THAN THEY NORMALLY ARE.
UM, BUT IT IS, UH, ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING TIMES, UH, IN, IN, IN, UH, FOR RICHARDSON.
AND, AND REALLY ALL OF NORTH TEXAS'S WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL CONTINUES TO JUST BE THE PREMIER OUTDOOR FESTIVAL FOR OUR REGION.
AND DIANE'S A BIG REASON FOR THAT.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HER AND LET HER TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU MAYOR DEY AND COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME TONIGHT AND SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE PREVIEW ABOUT OUR 2024 WILDFIRE ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL.
UM, AS ALWAYS, OUR EVENTS ALWAYS STRIVE TO ALIGN WITH THE CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC GOAL OF TO HAVE RESIDENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS CHOOSE RICHARDSON AS THE BEST PLACE TO LOCATE, CONTRIBUTE, AND ENGAGE.
AND TONIGHT I'M HERE TO REALLY PRESENT JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE UPCOMING FESTIVAL THAT WE HOST HERE AT GALLATIN PARK.
UH, SOME OF THE DETAILS WE'LL GO OVER THIS EVENING ARE JUST THE DETAILS OF THE FESTIVAL ITSELF A LITTLE BIT AT OUR PLAZA STAGE, OUR ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE, PERFORMANCE ROW, OUR WILDFLOWER KIDS AREA, SOME OF OUR CONTESTS THAT WE HOST, SUCH AS OUR BATTLE, THE BANDS SONGWRITER CONTESTS, BUDDING TALENT, VOCAL COMPETITION, UM, A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU CAN FIND ON SITE AT THE FESTIVAL, SUCH AS OUR EATS AND DRINKS PROGRAM, OUR CARAVAN THAT WE DO LEADING UP TO THE FESTIVAL, AND SO MUCH MORE BEYOND THAT.
AS ALWAYS, WILDFLOWER IS HELD THE THIRD WEEKEND OF MAY.
THE DATES THIS YEAR ARE MAY 17TH THROUGH THE 19TH.
IT'S HELD RIGHT HERE AT GALLATIN PARK URBAN CENTER.
WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 32ND ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR WE'LL FEATURE OVER 110 PERFORMERS ON SIX DIFFERENT STAGES.
IT TAKES ABOUT A HUNDRED PLUS STAFF MEMBERS TO EXECUTE THE ENTIRE EVENT, ABOUT 817 VOLUNTEERS.
UM, AND WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH 14 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY PARTNERS TO ACTUALLY HOST THE FESTIVAL IN A PARTNERSHIP ON PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROPERTY.
THIS IS OUR MAP THIS YEAR FOR THE FESTIVAL.
UM, SOME THINGS YOU'LL NOTICE IS THIS YEAR WE ARE FEATURING SIX STAGES.
SO WE DO HAVE THE RETURN OF THE PLAZA STAGE BACK TO THE FESTIVAL.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME WONDERFUL SPONSORS THAT HAVE COME IN TO SUPPORT US AND HAVE THE NAMING RIGHTS TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, SUCH AS OVATION AT GALLATIN PARK, GATEWAY TOYOTA GATEWAY, OUR CUPCAKE VINEYARDS GATEWAY.
UM, YOU'LL NOTICE THE FESTIVAL SITE ITSELF IS THE SAME GREAT FESTIVAL SITE THAT YOU'VE SEEN IN YEARS PAST.
WE JUST TRY TO TWEAK IT AND MAKE IT EVEN BETTER OF AN EXPERIENCE EACH YEAR.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, OUR PLAZA STAGE DOES RETURN THIS YEAR.
IT IS A SLIGHTLY SMALLER STAGE DUE TO THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THE OVATION AT GALLATIN PARK APARTMENTS, WHICH ARE ADJACENT TO THE THE PLAZA AREA ITSELF.
WE DO HAVE A MAJOR HEADLINER SPONSOR ON THAT STAGE, WHICH IS TEXANS CREDIT UNION.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO PROGRAM THAT AS A NEAREST PAST WITH NATIONAL HEADLINERS AS OUR HEADLINERS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT.
WE'RE BRINGING BACK OUR GREAT TRIBUTE BANDS ON SUNDAY.
AND THEN WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE THAT FOUNTAIN OPERATIONAL AGAIN ON THE PLAZA, OUR ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP FOR THE WEEKEND.
ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WE'RE MIXING IT UP A LITTLE BIT AND BRINGING IN
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TEXAS COUNTRY.SO WE WILL HAVE RANDY ROGERS BAND GROUP, LOVE ST.
MOTEL, WILLIAM CLARK GREEN LARE WILL BE BACK.
ON OUR, OUR OUR SIDE STAGE THERE ON PLAZA, DAVID WILCOX, BEMAN AND HALPIN SEWING JAR, JUSTIN FERRIN, AND SO MANY MORE.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT SOME OF THE BANDS ARE ASTERISK HERE ON THE SLIDE.
THOSE ARE GONNA BE OUR GROUPS THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED INSIDE OF OUR EISMAN CENTER.
AND ONE THING I DID WANNA NOTE IS IN, UM, SORRY, EXCUSE ME.
IN OUR HILL HALL INSIDE THE EISMAN CENTER, THIS YEAR, WE HAVE CHANGED UP OUR PROGRAMMING SLIGHTLY TRADITIONALLY IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD ONE TRIBUTE BAND THAT WE'VE RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE EISMAN CENTER, WHO ARE PROGRAMMING OUT THAT STAGE THIS YEAR WITH NATIONALLY KNOWN BLUEGRASS ARTISTS.
AND SO BECKMAN AND HALPIN IS OUR BLUEGRASS ARTISTS WILL HAVE ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AND THEY WILL PLAY TWO DIFFERENT SETS ON FRIDAY EVENING.
SATURDAY IS DEFINITELY GONNA BE THE NIGHT FOR EVERYONE TO COME AND GET UP AND DANCE.
UM, GOING CLASSIC WITH NOW ROGERS AND CHIC ON OUR AMPHITHEATER, OUR METHODIST STAGE AWOL NATION WILL PLAY ON OUR PLAZA STAGE, CASEY AND THE SUNSHINE BAND, THE STRUTS MARK FARNER AMERICAN BAND.
UM, WE DO HAVE A TEJANO ARTIST THIS YEAR, MONICA SALVADOR, WHICH WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT.
RODNEY FOSTER, MICHAEL CLEVELAND, AND FLAMEKEEPER, AND NEVER COME DOWN, WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED INSIDE OUR EISEN CENTER, RAISED RIGHT MEN AND SO MANY MORE.
AND THEN ON SUNDAY, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING SISTER LEDGE BACK.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO PERFORM IN 2020 WHEN UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD TO CANCEL.
THE DEPECHE MODE EXPERIENCE WILL OPEN FOR THEM.
ELENA JAMES AND FRIENDS, THE GIBSON BROTHERS WILL BE FEATURED INSIDE THE EMAN AS WELL AS THE ZEPPELIN PROJECT, DANIEL MARKHAM, AND SO MANY MORE.
AS ALWAYS, OUR PERFORMING, UM, ROW, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY PATTERSON AND ASSOCIATES, REALLY RECOGNIZES THOSE WONDERFUL VISUAL ARTS GROUPS THAT WE LOVE TO BRING IN THAT ARE LOCAL TO RICHARDSON AND, AND ADJACENT COMMUNITIES.
SOME OF THOSE GROUPS THIS YEAR WILL INCLUDE THE JAIL SPORTS ASSOCIATION, SO OUR DRAGON LION DANCERS, BALI RHYTHMS, DANCE ACADEMY BAND, DAN CHO, AFRICAN DRUM AND DANCE ENSEMBLE, MARIACHI ARGO, I PROBABLY SAID THAT WRONG.
THE AMERICA, UM, NER RAMBLERS.
EVERY TIME WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH OUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE GROUPS, WE LOVE TO BRING THEM INTO BE A PART OF PERFORMANCE ROW.
UM, THE REPRESENTA FOUNDATION, GRACE HULA DANCE COMPANY, PANDA STEEL BAND, AND THEN OUR LAKE HIGHLANDS FOR LGO GROUP.
THIS YEAR IS OUR SECOND YEAR TO PARTNER WITH EISEN CENTER PRESENTS.
LAST YEAR, IF YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD BANDALOOP, OUR WONDERFUL ACROBATS THAT FLEW OVER THE SIDE OF THE EISEN CENTER.
THIS YEAR, EISMAN CENTER PRESENTS WILL BE, HAVE SPONSORED SWAYS BLOOM, WHICH IS A COLORFUL SPIRITED AERIAL SPECTACLE, PERFORMED ATOP 15 FOOT SWAY POLES.
SO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A PERFORMANCE WHERE INDIVIDUALS DRESS UP AS WILD FLOWERS.
THEY GET UP TOP THESE APPARATUSES AND THEY SWAY OVER THE CROWD THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.
THEY WILL PERFORM AT THE CORNER OF THE EISMAN CENTER AND THE PATTERSON AND ASSOCIATES PERFORMANCE ROW TWO PERFORMANCES ON SATURDAY, THREE ON SUNDAY, AND TWO ON SUNDAY.
OUR WILDFLOWER KIDS AREA WILL BE PROGRAMMED FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND WITH GREAT INTERACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS.
IN ATTENDANCE, WE'LL HAVE OUR ROCK CLIMBING WALL, OUR HANDS ON ARTS AND CRAFTS, WHICH IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RICHARDSON PUBLIC LIBRARY SOAP GRILL SELFIE STATION.
SO YOU CAN COME AND TAKE YOUR SELFIE AND SHARE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
INTERACTIVE DINOSAURS, AGAIN IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DINOSAUR COMPANY, AS WELL AS DAILY PERFORMANCES ON OUR KIDS CENTRIC STAGE THAT WE HAVE SET UP IN THAT AREA.
ONE OF OUR MAJOR HEADLINERS THIS YEAR IS DAVID CHICKEN.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE RICHARDSON PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL HAVE SOME PERFORMANCES, STRING VARIETY.
AND THEN THE NORTH TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS GROUP, EXCUSE ME, TWO OF OUR COMPETITIONS THAT WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HOSTING LEADING UP TO THE FESTIVAL IS OUR BATTLE OF THE BAND'S COMPETITION.
THIS IS WHERE ANY BANDS 21 YEARS AND UNDER CAN APPLY TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM.
WE ACTUALLY HOST A QUALIFIER ROUND.
IT WILL ACTUALLY BE THIS SATURDAY.
UM, AND AT TAPI HIPPIE BREWING COMPANY, TOP TWO THREE TOP BANDS FROM THAT QUALIFYING ROUND.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO PERFORM IN THE FINALS AT THE FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY MORNING.
ON THE METHODIST STAGE, OUR BUDDING TALENT, VOCAL COMPETITION HONORS AND RECOGNIZES THOSE VOCAL ARTISTS, UH, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE.
WE HELD AUDITIONS FOR THAT APRIL 7TH AT THE SENIOR CENTER.
AND THEN THOSE FINALS ARE ACTUALLY AT THE FESTIVAL ITSELF ON SUNDAY.
INSIDE THE EISMAN CENTER, OUR NATIONALLY KNOWN AWARD-WINNING AL JOHNSON PERFORMING SONGWRITER CONTEST AND WORKSHOP IS GOING ON.
ITS 21ST YEAR OF THE, THE PROGRAM ITSELF.
WE SELECT UP TO 10 NATIONAL FINALISTS, UM, THAT COME INTO THE FESTIVAL THAT WEEKEND.
WE HOST THEM FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.
THEY EACH PERFORM LIVE IN THE FINALS ON SATURDAY, UH, FOR GRAND PRIZES.
AND THEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, WE HOST A SONGWRITER WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY, UM, I'M
[00:30:01]
SORRY, ON FRIDAY OF THE FESTIVAL AT OUR PARTNER LOCATION.THE MARRIOTT AND OUR INSTRUCTORS THIS YEAR ARE TERRY HENDRICKS AND LLOYD NAMES.
OUR PROSPERITY BANK MARKETPLACE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL VENDORS WHO COME IN AND SET UP AND SELL THEIR GOODS.
WE REALLY IS YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL ARTISAN.
UM, IT'S LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR.
WE ARE ACCEPTING ABOUT 65 VENDORS, AND WE SAW ABOUT A 25% INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS FROM LAST YEAR.
ONCE AGAIN, WE'LL HOST OUR CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT, AND THIS IS PART IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CORPORATE CHALLENGE ON SATURDAY, MAY 18TH, AT THE TOP OF THE AMPHITHEATER AREA THAT HAPPENS FROM 12 TO FIVE O'CLOCK.
WE ACCEPT UP TO 32 TEAMS AND A PART OF THE REGISTRATION FEE.
THEY GET TICKETS TO COME INTO THE FESTIVAL SO THEY CAN COME AND ENJOY, PLAY CORNHOLE, AND THEN HANG OUT, ENJOY THE REST OF THE EVENT.
THE ARC GUITAR AUCTION, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY THE ZOO THIS YEAR, IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST COVETED PROGRAMS. WE GET TO RAISE SOME MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR NETWORK OF COMMUNITY MINISTRIES, AS WELL AS THE RASD, UM, CREATIVE ARTS PROGRAM.
THAT AUCTION IS HOSTED COMPLETELY ONLINE, BUT WE DO SET UP THE GUITARS IN PERSON INSIDE THE EISEN CENTER THAT ANYONE CAN DO THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.
THE AUCTION WILL CLOSE AT THREE O'CLOCK.
AND LAST YEAR WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO RAISE OVER $11,000 FOR NETWORK.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THAT UP EVEN MORE THIS YEAR.
OUR WILDFLOWER EATS AND DRINKS PROGRAM REALLY RECOGNIZES THE LOCAL CUISINE THAT EVERYONE LOVES TO HAVE WHEN THEY COME OUT TO THE FESTIVAL.
WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH SOME AMAZING SPONSORS IN THAT, THOSE AREAS TOO, SUCH AS OUR CHLOE WINE GARDEN.
WE HAVE A LARGE CRAFT BEER GARDEN, WHICH OFFERS OVER 20 BEERS ON TAP.
WE DO HAVE OUR DAIQUIRI TENTS AND THEN OVATION AT GALLATIN PARK SPONSORED OUR FOOD COURT THIS YEAR THAT WILL HAVE ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT FOOD VENDORS ON SITE.
OUR WILDFLOWER CARAVAN PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM WHERE WE LITERALLY TAKE WILDFLOWER OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND GET TO SHARE THAT WITH DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND SPONSORS.
ON APRIL 18TH, WE WILL BE VISITING THE EL DORADO RETIREMENT HOME.
APRIL 25TH, WE WILL BE VISITING THE WELLINGTON RETIREMENT HOME.
WE BRING TATTOOS AND BOOZE TO THEM.
SO WE HAVE A AIRBRUSH TATTOO ARTISTS, AND WE HAVE A SPONSOR THAT PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF HAPPY HOUR REFRESHMENTS FOR THEM LIVE ENTERTAINMENT.
AND WE ALSO PROVIDE HANDS-ON CRAFTS.
AND THEN ON APRIL 26TH, WE GET TO GO TO HEROES, WHICH IS A FACILITY THAT WORKS WITH ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.
AND SO WE GET TO BRING A LITTLE BIT OF WILDFLOWER TO THEM WITH LIVE PERFORMANCES, ARTS AND CRAFTS.
AND THIS YEAR, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GONNA BE PLANTING THEIR OWN WILDFLOWER SEEDS.
OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR FESTIVAL.
WE TRULY COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT THEM.
AS I SHARED EARLIER, WE HAVE ABOUT 817 INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS, SORRY, EXCUSE ME.
THEY COVER ABOUT 1700 POSITIONS.
OVER 6,038 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK GOES INTO THAT.
ABOUT 58% OF OUR TOTAL VOLUNTEER NEEDS ARE MET BY 50 DIFFERENT CORPORATE AND CIVIC GROUPS THROUGHOUT RICHARDSON.
OUR REMAINING VOLUNTEER POSITIONS INCLUDE RICHARDSON RESIDENTS AND THOSE THAT LIVE IN SURROUNDING AREAS.
AND OUR LAST FACT, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE, IS OVER 40% OF OUR VOLUNTEER BASE HAS BEEN WITH US FOR 10 PLUS YEARS.
SO DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT WHAT WILDFLOWER HAS TO OFFER.
WE ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH A WONDERFUL GROUP OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, WHICH IS CALLED OUR EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE.
THEIR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE, PROMOTE, IMPROVE, ENHANCE, AND STRENGTHEN THE WILDFLOWER ARTS MUSIC FESTIVAL THROUGH A VOLUNTEER SUPPORT ORGANIZATION.
WE LIKE TO CALL 'EM OUR RIGHT ARM OF OUR STAFF.
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IS THEY GO OUT AND THEY PRO CURATE AND MANAGE THE PROGRAM, SUCH AS OUR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, OUR OUR GUITAR AUCTION, BUDDING TALENT, VOCAL COMPETITION, BATTLE OF THE BANDS, OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH, OUR CARE CARAVAN PROGRAM, AND ANY PRE FESTIVAL SUPPORT THAT WE NEED.
WE HAVE SOME AMAZING RICHARDSON BASED SPONSORS, AS WELL AS OTHER SPONSORS WHO THIS YEAR AS A PART OF THE FESTIVAL, SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE METHODIST, RICHARDSON MEDICAL CENTER, TEXANS CREDIT UNION, CUPCAKE VINEYARDS, RENAISSANCE TOYOTA OF RICHARDSON, DART, THE ZOO, HILTON COLEMAN, ALLIED OVATION AT GALLATIN PARK.
AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR TICKET PRICES THIS YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN ON SALE WITH OUR TICKETS SINCE JANUARY 1ST.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE HAVE MOVED TO A TIER PROGRAM SYSTEM THIS YEAR.
SO OUR TICKETS STARTED OUT AT $25 A PIECE.
AND THEN AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE FESTIVAL, THEY DO INCREASE IN PRICE.
WE DO STILL OFFER OUR THREE DAY PACKAGE, WHICH INCLUDES A TICKET TO FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY, WHICH CURRENTLY IS AT $65.
AND THEN NEW THIS YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER OUR RESIDENT DISCOUNT TICKET FOR ONLINE SO INDIVIDUALS COULD GO AND PURCHASE THEIR TICKETS ONLINE RATHER THAN HAVE TO GO TO A CITY FACILITY TO GET THOSE.
WE DID OFFER A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR THAT, UM, TO TRY TO INCREASE AND INCENTIVIZE THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO DO THAT ONLINE, UH, OPTION.
[00:35:01]
COURSE, WE STILL HAVE OUR VIP FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL PACKAGE TOO AVAILABLE ONE NEW IMPLEMENTATION THIS YEAR.OUR NEW POLICY IS WHAT WE ARE CALLING OUR NO CHAIR POLICY.
AND WORKING WITH OUR CITY STAFF, POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE REALLY SAW A NEED TO ADDRESS THAT SEATING AREA RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF OUR METHODIST RICHARDSON STAGE.
IT BECAME A HAZARDOUS AREA THE CLOSER WE GOT INTO THE NIGHT, CLOSER TO OUR HEADLINERS.
AND SO THIS YEAR WE'VE ELECTED TO HAVE A NO CHAIR SEATING ZONE RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE STAGE.
INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ALLOWED TO BRING THEIR CHAIRS, PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE CHAIRS INTO THE FESTIVAL GROUNDS.
HOWEVER, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO SET UP THEIR CHAIRS IN THAT AREA ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ALL DAY.
WE WILL HAVE, UM, INCREASED SECURITY AND FENCING AND SIGNAGE ON SITE, AS WELL AS COMMUNICATED THIS INFORMATION IN ADVANCE TO THE FESTIVAL FOR PEOPLE ATTENDING.
WE ALSO HAVE A DESIGNATED BICYCLE PARKING AND RACKS THAT WE ARE PROVIDING OUTSIDE OF THE CUP CUR VINEYARDS GATEWAY, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS GATEWAY D, WHERE OUR BOX BOX OFFICE AND WILL CALL IS.
AND THEN, LIKE I'VE SHARED BEFORE, WE DO HAVE SOME NEW PROGRAMMING IN THE HILL HALL INSIDE THE EISEN CENTER.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WILDFLOWER.
AND I COULDN'T GO WITHOUT SHARING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COTTONWOOD ART FESTIVAL, THAT LITTLE EVENT WE HAD TWO WEEKS BEFORE WILDFLOWER.
UM, JUST AS A REMINDER, THAT IS HELD MAY 4TH THROUGH THE FIFTH.
IT IS OUR 55TH ANNIVERSARY, AND WE HOLD THAT EVERY MAY AND OCTOBER THE FIRST WEEKEND.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE ABOUT 200 EXHIBITING ARTISTS IN 15 DIFFERENT MEDIUMS. AND OUR FEATURED ARTIST IS A CERAMICS ARTIST, GREGORY STORY, WHO COMES TO US FROM CHICAGO.
AND HE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN A COTTONWOOD ARTIST SINCE 2007.
UM, WHO'S OUR, JOE, YOU'RE OUR LIAISON TO THE PARKS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO START THIS CONVERSATION? YEAH, I'D LOVE TO.
UH, I MEAN, YOU'VE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY INTO GETTING THIS, UH, HYPED UP AND I MEAN, I JUST LOVE ALL THE PR THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE.
UM, AFTER, SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I HAD THIS EXACT SAME PRESENTATION ON TUESDAY LAST WEEK.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD GRAPHICS FOR ALL OF US TO GO ONLINE ON CITY COUNCIL AND SHARE TO HELP CONTRIBUTE IN, YOU KNOW, HYPING THE FESTIVAL UP AND GETTING THE WORD OUT THERE.
BUT I MEAN, YOU DO AN AMAZING JOB EVERY YEAR.
AND WHAT'S, I THINK WHAT'S REALLY SUBSTANTIAL THIS TIME, REALLY SIGNIFICANT IS HOW MUCH THE GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED.
AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW IT GOES THIS YEAR AND ALL THE COOL NEW PROGRAMS AND HOW YOU'VE SHAKEN IT UP AND, UM, AND JUST WELL DONE.
I MEAN, JUST WILDFLOWERS IS ONE OF THOSE SIGNATURE EVENTS WE AS THE CITY HAVE, SO IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR A LOT OF EXCITEMENT, UM, HEARING THE PLANS.
ONE, UM, THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF IT TAKES.
UH, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED MORE ABOUT IS FROM BEING ON THE COUNCIL IS ONE, THE AMOUNT OF DEPARTMENTS THAT GO INTO IT.
OBVIOUSLY YOU GUYS, UM, HANDLE A LOT OF THE, THE PLANNING SIDE, BUT EVERYTHING FROM THE POLICE TO, UH, SOLID WASTE TO, TO, UM, BASIC TRAFFIC.
ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
UM, AND THE AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEERS, I MEAN, YOU MENTIONED, I THINK IT WAS 40% BEEN VOLUNTEERING FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
I KNOW, I FORGET THE LADY'S NAME.
JENNIFER PROBABLY KNOWS HER NAME.
THE, THE, THE, THERE'S A YOUNG LADY WHO VOLUNTEERS OVER IN THE VIP AREA WHO'S BEEN THERE FOREVER.
AND, UM, PROBABLY MISS SARAH
YEAH, SARAH, EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
SHE IS, SHE'S LOOKING AT EVERY BENCH.
AND IT'S, IT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE ALL THAT.
THE ONE QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION, OH, ONE THING I WANNA MENTION, WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE GROUP THAT PERFORMED LAST YEAR THAT ON THE SIDE OF THE EMAN, UH, BANDALOOP.
THEY WERE IN DALLAS THIS WEEKEND, AND I SAW THAT ON FACEBOOK.
UM, THAT WHERE THE BIKE RACKS ARE GONNA BE.
SO IS THAT, HELP ME REMEMBER WHERE THAT ENTRANCE IS.
IS THAT THE EAST ONE BY THE BIG STAGE? IT IS, YES.
SO THAT'S, WE TRADITIONALLY CALL THAT GATEWAY D OKAY.
UM, IT'S IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, IT'S BECOME OUR PRIMARY, WE'LL CALL 'EM BOX OFFICE LOCATION.
AND SO WE ARE PLACING BIKE RACKS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE GATEWAY ITSELF.
SO ANYONE THAT CHOOSES TO BIKE TO THE FESTIVAL WILL HAVE A LOCATION WHERE THEY
[00:40:01]
CAN PARK AND CHAIN THEIR BIKES.UM, BUT IT'S LOCATED RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE GATEWAY.
JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE HOW, UM, NOT JUST WILDFLOWER, BUT THE CITY AND YOU GUYS JUST TAKING, UH, RESIDENT FEEDBACK AND CONTINUING TO JUST STEP IT UP A NOTCH, UH, EVERY YEAR.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THIS.
THANK YOU, MR. HUTCHER RUNNER.
UM, LIKE, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, I'M ALREADY EXCITED.
I'M ALREADY READY FOR WILDFLOWER.
UM, ONE THING IS, I, I THINK THE IDEA OF THE NO CHAIR ZONE IS OUTSTANDING.
UM, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT, I MEAN, I'M ALREADY STARTING TO SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT Y'ALL ARE POSTING THINGS ABOUT WILDFLOWER.
AND SO I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT WE GET THAT OUT NOW.
'CAUSE AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE YOU POSTED TODAY DOESN'T MEAN SOMEBODY'S GONNA SEE IT TODAY.
UM, SO I THINK THE MORE WE CAN PRE-ANNOUNCE THAT, THEN WE'LL HAVE LESS HARD FEELINGS, IF YOU WILL, THAT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, LOG IN THEIR YEAH.
THEIR OVER THE SHOULDER CHAIR AND, AND COME IN.
UM, BUT OTHER, OTHER THAN THAT FANTASTIC JOB.
I THINK IT'S GREAT IF YOU HAVE A DEMO TAPE OF CASEY IN THE SUNSHINE BAND, IF YOU COULD GET IT TO JOE.
HE'S NOT QUITE SURE WHO THAT GROUP IS.
AND HE WAS LIKE, HE ASKED ME, DOES DID HE PLAY ON LAWRENCE WELK? I, I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S, I MEAN, THAT, THAT WAS THE DIG HE WAS GIVING BACK AT ME.
WHO'S LAWRENCE? WELL, THANK YOU, JOE.
ONCE YOU HEAR IT, YOU'LL GO, OH, I KNOW THAT.
YEAH, THEY HE'LL KNOW, HE'LL KNOW THE SONGS.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SING A COUPLE BARS, KEN, IF YOU LIKE
ALL RIGHT, MR. SHAUL, THANK, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS, UH, AGAIN, GREAT PRESENTATION.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS, UH, EVENT.
UH, NOW I HAVE FEW QUESTION, AN OBSERVATION.
YOU SAY 8 1 7, THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS? YES.
WHY NOT 9 7 2? IT'S, IT'S A JUST, I DON'T KNOW, JUST OBSERVATION, BUT YOU COULD SPEED THAT 4, 6 9 AND 2 1 4.
YEAH, IT'S TOO, I KNOW, BUT THIS IS, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE THERE.
BUT, UH, NOW, NOW THE QUESTION IS THAT YOU HAVE LIKE $15 FOR RESIDENTIAL DISCOUNTED TICKET.
SO IS THERE ANY REGION FOR SIX MAX? OR THIS IS LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT? YEAH, YEAH.
WE FEEL LIKE THE DISCOUNT FOR THE RICHARDSON RESIDENTS IS A, IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF BENEFIT.
IS, IS A SUBSTANTIAL BENEFIT FOR THEM AS RESIDENTS AND KIND OF GIVING BACK FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE OF THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE FESTIVAL OVERALL.
WE DO LIMIT THAT, UM, TO JUST SIX TICKETS PER HOUSEHOLD JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RECOUP SOME OF THAT REVENUE AS WE CAN OUTSIDE OF THAT.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE AMPLE ENOUGH TIME TO PURCHASE THOSE TICKETS.
THOSE WENT ON SALE ABOUT FEBRUARY, I'M SORRY, FEBRUARY 16TH WHEN WE WENT ON SALE WITH ALL OF OUR OTHER TICKETS.
UM, SO WE FEEL THAT SIX WAS A GOOD AMOUNT THAT GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND STILL ENJOY THE FESTIVAL THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND WITH THAT DISCOUNTED PRICE.
THAT'S, THAT'S WONDERFUL FOR THE EXPLANATION.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THAT BI-CYCLE DIRECT THIS TIME.
UH, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION AND, UH, I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAVE ALL OBSERVED THAT FEEDBACK AND DID THAT.
UH, THIS WILL MAKE MANY PEOPLE HAPPY.
UH, AND UH, THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A GREAT LINEUP.
MY CHILDREN, THEY'RE ALREADY EXCITED, BUT, UH, BUT I DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, MY SON-IN-LAW IS GRADUATING THAT SAME WEEK, SO I'M TALKING TO THE, OR I NEED TO TALK TO THE UNIVERSITY SO THEY CAN DELAY THE MOVE IT THEY NEED TO MAKE GRADUATION.
SO, AND ALSO I'M REMINDING MYSELF AND OTHERS BRING A LIGHT JACKET.
SO THEY DON'T SELL THE LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT THERE.
SO UNLESS SOMEBODY DECIDE TO SELL THIS TIME LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRTS, UH, AND THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, AND GREAT PRESENTATION AND ONE OF THOSE 817 VOLUNTEERS, KEY PERSON DANIEL BURETTES IN THE AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, DANIEL.
AND IF THERE'S ANY OTHER VOLUNTEERS IN THE AUDIENCE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING A BIG PART IN COMING TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT TONIGHT.
SO WE'LL CALL IT QUITS WITH THAT ONE.
[D. REPORT ON ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST ]
THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM D REPORT ON ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.LAST WEEK WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AS THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS COMMITTEE TO HAVE A REPORT BY, UM, UM, CUSHMAN AND WAKEFIELD.
UM, A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF ZACH BEAN, UH, PRESENTED TO US
[00:45:01]
REGIONAL OFFICE, UH, REAL ESTATE TRENDS, AS WELL AS SPECIFIC MARKET INSIGHTS FOR HERE IN RICHARDSON.AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL TO HELP US UNDERSTAND AS FAR AS REINVESTMENT AND RE REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, SO WE CAN REALLY CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OUR OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR CITY.
UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ADDITIONAL BRIEFINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I KNOW, AT LEAST FOR MYSELF AND I, I THINK FOR OUR OTHER, UH, THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHICH IS MAYOR PRO TIMM SHACHO AND COUNCILWOMAN JUSTICE, I THINK IT WAS VERY, VERY ENLIGHTENING AND VERY HELPFUL.
SO I JUST WANNA LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE DID THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING OR MAYOR PRO TIMM IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT.
BUT, UM, I THOUGHT OVERALL IT WAS VERY GOOD.
AND SO A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR CITY MANAGER FOR ARRANGING THAT AND MAKING THAT HAPPEN FOR US.
UH, ON SATURDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE CROWLEY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL.
EVERYTHING FROM, UH, BRITISH TRI TO SAMOAS TO THAI CHICKEN SAUTE.
IT WAS, UH, IN KNOW THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON.
AND I, I WAS SUPPOSED TO EAT DINNER BEFORE WE WENT TO THE MURDER MYSTERY, AND IT DIDN'T REALLY NEED TO BECAUSE
AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HAD A FULL MEAL.
SO, UH, IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT AND THANK YOU TO THEM FOR THE INVITATION AND FOR PUTTING IT ON.
UM, LIKE I HAD MENTIONED JUST A MOMENT AGO, THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MET ON TUESDAY, AND WHAT'S REALLY, IN ADDITION TO THE, THE WONDERFUL PRESENTATIONS MULTIPLE THAT WE RECEIVED, UM, THE, THE OTHER THING THAT THAT MEETING DID WAS FINALIZE THE RECOMMENDATION LETTER TO COUNCIL.
AND SO IT, YOU KNOW, WE CALL IT THE, THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION LETTER, BUT IT HAS A REALLY GREAT SUMMARY OF, UH, A LOT OF THE GREAT PARKS PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED RECENTLY.
UM, IT HAS A LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF, AND THEN OF COURSE IT DOES HAVE, UM, THE 2024 STRATEGIES AND PRIORITIES, WHICH REALLY IS JUST THEIR RECOMMENDATION ON WHERE WE SHOULD FOCUS OUR ENERGY AND, AND OUR TIME WHEN IT PERTAINS TO THE UPCOMING BUDGET ON DIFFERENT PARKS AND RECREATION.
EITHER VERY SPECIFIC THINGS OR SORT OF LIKE LONG-TERM GOALS.
UM, SO I'D ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ON COUNCIL TO, TO READ THROUGH THAT AND JUST, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK THAT THE COMMITTEE PUT IN TO MAKING IT HAPPEN AND, AND PUTTING ALL THAT STUFF TOGETHER.
UH, TODAY IS BANGALI IN NEW YEAR.
IT'S A BIG CELEBRATION OF, FOR PEOPLE IN BANGLADESH AND SOME PART OF INDIA AND SOME PART OF NEPAL.
SO THEY, THEY'RE CELEBRATING A LOT, UH, LAST 24 HOURS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M ENJOYING BY LOOKING AT THE PICTURES,
SO JUST WANTED TO SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR IN BANGLADESH AND IN BANGALI.
I WOULD JUST ADD ONE THING, TWO THINGS HERE.
UM, SHOUT OUT TO THE RICHARDSON ADULT LITERACY GROUP.
I GOT TO, UH, PREMIER IT AS AN ACTOR ON SATURDAY NIGHT, AND IT WAS, UH, QUITE THE EVENT.
I WILL SAY THAT, UH, I'M SURE I WON'T BE ASKED TO COME BACK AS AN ACTOR, BUT I WILL DEFINITELY ENJOYED IT.
AND, UM, ANYTHING I CAN DO TO DONATE MY TIME TO ASSIST WITH A PROGRAM WITHIN THE CITY OF RICHARDSON, I'LL DO MY BEST TO BE THERE.
AND SO WE, THEY RAISED A LOT OF MONEY.
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO IN THE NAME OF LITERACY AND REACHING OUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THAT VOID IN THEIR LIFE THAT NEED THAT ASSISTANCE.
SO, I'LL ENCOURAGE ANYONE, THEY'LL, THEY'RE STILL TAKING MONEY.
IF YOU WANNA SEND A CHECK, AND IF YOU SAW MY PICTURES, SEND A CHECK AND SAY, THIS IS ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR.
AND THEN THE MAY IS MOTORCYCLE, MOTORCYCLE SAFETY MONTH.
AND WE DID A PROCLAMATION TODAY, MR. BARRIOS AND MR. CHU ASSISTED, AND WE DID A PROCLAMATION ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.
SO YOU, WE SEE IT ON THE BILLBOARDS AND ON THE HIGHWAYS IT SAYS, DRIVE SAFE, BE COGNITIVE OF THE MOTORCYCLES.
WELL, I'LL ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO THERE.
UH, IT IS A, UH, A VOID IN THE SAFETY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE THROUGH WITH ITEM AND D NOW WE HAVE VISITOR FORUM CONTINUED, BUT NO ONE SHOWED UP.
SO MS. EMER, IF WE HA HAVE EITHER OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT SIGNED UP, WE WOULD GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR FIVE MINUTES IF THEY ARE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE OR NOT, BUT YES, MAYOR, I, I NOTED THAT KELLY MCGARRY
[00:50:01]
IS, IS HERE TO SPEAK.WELL, WE'D BE HONORED TO HAVE HER COME UP THEN.
AND MY APOLOGIES, UM, I WAS LATE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU GUYS.
UM, I DO HAVE SOME VISUALS 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THAT'S, UM, SOMETHING THAT KIND OF LEAVES AN IMPRESSION WITH YOU.
KELLY, PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS KELLY PRITCHARD MCGARRY AND I LIVE, UM, AT 1911 NORTH WATERVIEW DRIVE.
UM, I'LL JUST PUT THESE UP HERE.
UM, I'M A PR GIRL, MAYBE I WON'T STACK HIM LIKE THAT.
UM, AND HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH NOLAN RYAN EARLY IN MY CAREER.
AND, UM, DID SOME FUN THINGS FOR, UH, THE ATLANTA HUMANE SOCIETY, WHICH I BROUGHT AS WELL TO SHOW SOME OF THE COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT I KNOW, UM, ARE INTERESTED IN THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND I ACTUALLY WORKED WITH, UM, AN ORGANIZATION HERE IN DALLAS, UM, THAT ODDLY 20 PLUS YEARS LATER, UM, I'M BACK IN DALLAS AFTER, UH, WORKING WITH THEM.
I HAVE A VISUAL HERE THAT I ACTUALLY SHARED WITH MY COUNCIL PERSON, UH, DISTRICT COUNCIL PERSON, MR. BARRIOS, UM, BEFORE ARRIVING TODAY, BUT I'M NOT SURE THEY GOT TO SEE THE EMAIL IN ADVANCE.
SO I'M GONNA SEE IF I CAN PUT THIS UP REAL QUICKLY, UM, AND KIND OF SHARE WITH YOU THIS IDEA THAT I HAVE, UM, THAT I HAVE APPROACHED A FEW PEOPLE ABOUT, UM, HERE, UH, ACTUALLY IN THIS BUILDING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THANKS TO MR. MAGNER THERE.
UM, AS WELL AS JUST A FEW, BLESS YOU AS WELL AS A FEW PEOPLE AT RICHARDSON, ISD, UM, AS A PARENT AND A, UM, PTA MOM, THAT KIND OF THING.
UM, I'VE GOTTEN TO SEE KIND OF FIRSTHAND, UM, HOW AS A COMMUNITY SPORTS IN PARTICULAR PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN OUR, UM, COMMUNITY AND WITH OUR NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR WHO HAS A WONDERFUL BACKGROUND IN SPORTS.
AND, UM, AS I RECALL, UH, CAMPAIGNED PRIMARILY A LOT ON, I SHOULD SAY, TEAMWORK AND CONSENSUS.
UM, I THINK THIS IDEA MIGHT, MIGHT WORK FOR US AS A CITY, UM, AND AS A COMMUNITY KIND OF KNOWN FOR ITS FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATION OF PROVIDING A SOLID EDUCATION.
UM, IT'S OF WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVE HERE IN ADDITION TO THESE WONDERFUL EVENTS THAT WERE DESCRIBED TONIGHT, UM, THAT ARE VERY FAMILY ORIENTED, UM, AND, UM, JUST OBVIOUSLY VERY COMMUNITY DRIVEN.
SO MY APOLOGIES, I'M KIND OF A VISUAL PERSON MYSELF, AND THIS IS NOT NEARLY AS IS PROFESSIONAL AS A, UH, PDF PRESENTATION, BUT, UM, TO, WELL, I DIDN'T BRING MY GLASSES UP HERE.
UM, MARGARET MEAD, IF Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH HER, UM, SAID SOMETHING THAT I HAVE KIND OF ALWAYS PLO ON TO AS A, I DON'T KNOW, AMBASSADOR, ACTIVIST, PR GIRL, WHATEVER.
NEVER DOUBT THAT A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL, COMMITTED CITIZENS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT EVER HAS.
I'M REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF OUR CITY COUNCIL AND THE THINGS THAT Y'ALL HAVE STARTED DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY TONIGHT WAS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW MUCH TIME YOU GUYS DEDICATE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND HOW MUCH, UM, COMMITTED COMMITMENT YOU HAVE YOU SERVE, HAVE BEEN SERVING THE CITY FOR DECADES, IT SOUNDS LIKE.
AND, UM, I REALLY, I'M JUST TRULY IMPRESSED.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE RINGER, UM, IN A LOT OF WAYS IN THE PAST, I DON'T KNOW, A COUPLE OF YEARS I WOULD SAY.
AND SO, UM, YOUR, YOUR TEAMWORK, YOUR, YOUR APPROACH TO CONSENSUS IS, IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
AND I'M, I'M, I'M PSYCHED THAT YOU'RE OUR MAYOR.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M PITCHING THIS IDEA TO YOU BECAUSE I THINK YOU
[00:55:01]
ARE A KEY FACTOR TO IT.AND THE IDEA IS KIND OF LIKE THAT, UM, THREE-PRONGED APPROACH OR THREE LEGGED STEPS, UH, THREE LEGGED STOOL.
YOU KNOW, YOU KINDA HAVE TO HAVE THREE PILLARS TO, TO HOLD THE, THE, THE STOOL UPRIGHT.
IT'S USUALLY ABOUT MONEY, TIME.
WELL, THE THREE LEGS HERE ARE PLATFORM SPONSOR AND FOUNDATION.
THE PLATFORM IS SOMETHING I TALKED TO MR. CHALET ABOUT.
YOU ARE THE SPONSOR AND THE FOUNDATION IS RICHARDSON, ISD.
AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO QUIT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, APPRECI, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MORE OF THAT, PLEASE SEND IT ON TO US.
I'M SORRY YOU'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.
APPRECIATE IT, MS. EMER ANYMORE? NO MORE CARDS, MA'AM.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
GONNA GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 5 51 0.07272 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE COUNSEL WILL CONVENE INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY, PROPERTY CONSIDERATION IN THE US 75 MAIN STREET AREA, THE ACTUAL TIME THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, 6:56 PM THANK YOU.