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GOOD EVENING.[CALL TO ORDER]
I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE RICHARDSON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER AT 6:00 PM FIRST ON OUR AGENDA WOULD BE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS AND VISITORS FORUM.UH, MAYOR, WE'RE NOT IN RECEIPT OF ANY, UH, CARDS IN ADVANCE OF THE 5:00 PM DEADLINE.
AND, UH, DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS TONIGHT EITHER.
WE'LL GO TO ITEM B RECOGNITION
[B. RECOGNITION FOR THE WINNERS OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ESSAY CONTEST AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH ART CONTEST ]
FOR THE WINNERS OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.ESSAY CONTEST AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH ART CONTEST.
WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED TONIGHT TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR GUESTS IN THE AUDIENCE, BOTH THE, UH, WINNERS OF THE CONTEST THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO JOIN US.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE JUDGES, UH, THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT TO HELP CELEBRATE, UH, THESE, UH, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO, UH, GET TO THIS POINT.
UM, LET ME, UH, TURN IT OVER TO GREG SOL FOR, UH, A BRIEFING.
AND MAYOR, WHAT WE'LL DO IS, AFTER GREG RUNS THROUGH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM, WE'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO JOIN GREG UP AT THE PODIUM, UM, TO HAND EACH OF THE WINNERS, THEIR, UM, THEIR CERTIFICATE, UH, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEIR CHECK.
UM, AND, UH, AND THEN MAYOR WILL HAVE A ASK THE COUNCIL TO, UH, COME UP AT THE CONCLUSION TO TAKE A JOINT PICTURE.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST, UH, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE GREG SOWELL SINCE, UH, 2021 WHEN THIS PROGRAM KICKED OFF.
GREG HAS, UH, SPEARHEADED THIS EFFORT EVERY YEAR.
IT IS QUITE THE UNDERTAKING AND, UH, A LOT OF COORDINATION, UH, WITH THE APPLICANTS, WITH THE JUDGES, UH, A LOT OF READING.
AND SO, GREG, WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE CARE THAT YOU GIVE THIS, UH, THIS PROGRAM 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY MEANINGFUL TO EVERYBODY OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
UM, SO, UH, THANKS FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR FURTHER BRIEFING.
AND YES, I WAS JUST EXPLAINING, UH, A MOMENT AGO THAT THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PRESENTATIONS OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE WHEN YOU CALL SOME OF THE PARENTS AND YOU SAY, HEY, GUESS WHAT? YOUR SON, DAUGHTER JUST WON.
IT'S, IT'S THE RESPONSE THAT YOU GET IS JUST, UH, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU GET TO REMEMBER.
SO IT'S A GREAT PART OF THIS, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND TO PRESENT THIS YEAR'S WINNERS FOR THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
ESSAY AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH ART CONTEST.
THIS, OF COURSE, ALL TIES INTO YOUR STRATEGIC GOALS, AND IN PARTICULAR, THIS ONE IS TO HAVE RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, UH, CHOOSE RICHARDSON AS THE BEST PLACE TO LOCATE, CONTRIBUTE, AND ENGAGE.
AND TACTICS WISE, WE THINK WE, UH, IDENTIFY THIS AS ONE OF YOUR ONGOING TACTICS.
UH, SEVERAL TACTICS, OF COURSE, ARE NOT DONE IN JUST ONE TERM, AND SO THEY, THEY CONTINUE.
AND AS, UH, DON HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2021.
AND SO GETTING INTO THAT HISTORY, UM, IT WAS, IT WAS LAUNCHED TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO WHEN WE STARTED TO PUT THIS TOGETHER, WE NEEDED TO IDENTIFY, WE STARTED TO REALIZE TO REALLY GET IT UP AND, AND RUNNING OFF THE GROUND, UM, WE NEEDED TO FIND SOME PARTNERS AND SOME REALLY EASY JUST, UH, ONES THAT WERE OBVIOUS PARTNERS TO HAVE WOULD BE THE RICHARDSON AND THE PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
UH, AND SO WE REACHED OUT TO THEM TO HELP US WITH THIS PROCESS.
AND I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT HERE IN A MOMENT.
WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO UT DALLAS, UH, AND THEY PROVIDE SOME HELP, WHICH I'LL EXPLAIN AS WELL.
WE ALSO HAD THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION AS A, UH, COMMISSION THAT WE HAVE ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO HELP WITH THIS PROCESS.
AND THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HAD THE COMMUNITY INCLUSION AND ENGAGEMENT COMMISSION INVOLVED, AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT IN A MOMENT.
IF YOU ARE IN THE GRADES OF ONE THROUGH 12, AND YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OF RICHARDSON, OR YOU GO TO SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF RICHARDSON, THEN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO, UH, SEND IN, SEND IN YOUR ESSAY OR YOUR ARTWORK TO WIN AN AWARD.
AND SO THAT COVERS, YOU KNOW, OUR PARTNER DISTRICTS, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE, THE PLANO INDEPENDENT, OR SORRY, THE RICHON AND PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY PART OF THAT, BUT IT IS OPEN TO ANYBODY.
YOU CAN GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOL, YOU CAN GO, YOU CAN LIVE HERE AND GO TO A SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, UH, AND BE, AND STILL BE ABLE TO WIN.
OR YOU CAN LIVE IN DALLAS, GARLAND, PLANO OR COME TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL HERE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE, IN THE AREA AND BE ABLE TO WIN TOO.
UM, OR YOU COULD BE HOMESCHOOLED AS WELL.
SO A LOT OF THIS REALLY DOES HAVE TO DO WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
UH, WHEN WE LOOK TO, WITH OUR PARTNER AGENCIES, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY DEPEND ON THEM IS TO HELP GET THIS INTO THE HANDS OF THE EDUCATORS, OF WHICH I'M, I, UH, JUST MET A FEW, AND I'LL INTRODUCE YOU GUYS TO HERE IN A MOMENT.
UM, BUT OUR HOPE IS WE, WE, IN OCTOBER, WE SEND THIS INFORMATION TO THE, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEY SHARE IT WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR TEACHERS.
AND THE HOPE IS THAT THEY, THEY WILL EITHER MAKE IT MAYBE EXTRA CREDIT, UH, OR THEY'LL MAKE IT PART OF A CLASS PROGRAM, UH, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR, OUR MOST IMPORTANT WAYS TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT.
BUT OF COURSE, WE ALSO UTILIZE OUR OWN COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS, RICHARDSON, TODAY IT'S POSTED IN, UH, UH, WE, WE ADVERTISE IN THAT AS WELL, AS WELL AS OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.
UH, ALSO OUR NEWSLETTERS, ANY WAY WE CAN TO LET
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PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE, UH, THE, THE PROGRAM OR THE, THE CONTEST, UH, SO THAT THEY COULD FIND OUT.UM, WE HAVE TWO ROUNDS OF JUDGING.
THERE'S A PRELIMINARY JUDGING ROUND, AND THEN THERE'S THE FINALIST ROUND.
AND THIS IS REALLY WHERE OUR PARTNERS COME IN.
AND, AND THAT PARTNERSHIP ACTUALLY STARTS WITH OUR INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS.
UM, WE HAVE OUR, UH, LIBRARY DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT HELP US WITH OUR PRELIMINARY JUDGING.
YOU COULD PROBABLY GUESS WHICH ONE GETS WHICH.
THE ESSAY CONTEST GOES TO THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY EVENTS DOES COTTONWOOD, DOES WILDFLOWER, ALL THOSE KINDS OF EVENTS.
THEY HELP US WITH THE ARTWORK, AND SO THEY GO THROUGH ALL OF THE ENTRIES, GET THAT DOWN TO OUR FINALISTS, AND THEN THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE, UH, OUR PARTNERSHIP AGENCIES HELP US AS WELL.
SO THERE ARE, THERE ARE 10 JUDGES, TOTAL FIVE FOR EACH OF OUR CONTESTS, UH, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A TIE, ESSENTIALLY.
AND SO THEY ARE MADE UP OF R-I-I-S-D-P-I-S-D, UT DALLAS, THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION.
AND AS I HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, THE, THE CULTURAL INCLUSION AND ENGAGEMENT COMMISSION, IT WAS PRIOR TO THAT, THE MAYOR HAD ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WOULD APPOINT TWO PEOPLE TO SERVE IN THAT ROLE.
AND WITH THE, THE CREATION OF THE, THE CIEC, IT JUST MADE SENSE THAT THOSE TWO POSITIONS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY ROLL INTO THAT GROUP.
AND SO WE HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR JUDGES HERE WITH US, AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OTHERS MAY HAVE WALKED IN, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM AND, UH, AND, AND PUT THEM OUT BY NAME, BECAUSE THIS REALLY DOES TAKE A LOT OF THEIR PERSONAL TIME.
WE HAVE THIS TWO PHASE, UH, APPROACH BECAUSE THE FIRST YEAR WE DID THIS, IT WAS SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME,
BUT EVEN WITH OUR FINALISTS, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE FINALIST ESSAYS THAT ARE LEFT AND ALL THE ARTWORK THAT'S LEFT.
UH, AND THAT TAKES, THAT TAKES A LOT FROM THEM.
SO WHEN JUDGES, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND UP, AND ONCE I, ONCE WE HAVE ALL THE JUDGES STANDING AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SUPPORT, UH, WITH THEM TOO, UM, WE'D LIKE TO JUST BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU OUR, OUR, UM, OUR APPRECIATION FOR YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE A PART OF THIS, OF THIS CONTEST.
SO WITH RISD, WE HAVE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, DEBBIE RENTER, AND CHRIS PETITE WAS GOING TO BE HERE.
UM, BUT THOSE WERE OUR TWO JUDGES FROM RISD.
THEN WE HAD NOW TABITHA, SUPERINTENDENT TABITHA BRAND WAS GOING TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
SHE ACTUALLY GOT CALLED OFF, SHE HAD TO GO.
SO THE, THE PIERCE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS GOLF TEAM IS GOING TO STATE COMPETITION, SO SHE LEFT TO GO BE WITH THEM.
BUT FROM HER EXECUTIVE TEAM, SHE HAS, UH, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, DR.
MATTHEW GIBBONS, WHO'S OVER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDES FINE ARTS AND ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF STRATEGY AND ENGAGEMENT.
MELISSA HELLER ARE HERE FROM HER EXECUTIVE TEAM.
UH, WHERE DID THEY GO? OR THERE WAS THERE.
SECOND, UH, WE ALSO HAVE FROM PISD, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, ZOAB HASSAN LEE, AND FROM UT DALLAS GRADUATE TEACHING FELLOW JANELLE GRAY, AND FROM THE SCHOOL OF ARTS TECHNOLOGY AND EMERGING COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ANDREW SCOTT.
UH, ANY OF THEM HERE THAT JANELLE FROM THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION.
UM, LAYLA SHOOK, I THOUGHT SHE MIGHT BE HERE, BUT I KNOW SHE HAD, AND SHE'S NOT STILL, BUT CYNTHIA ROAN IS HERE.
AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION AND ENGAGEMENT COMMISSION MEMBERS, KRISTEN SHICK AND JESSICA REVERA LUCAS ARE, HERES.
SO, AGAIN, WANTED TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR JUDGES, BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.
AND IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF THEIR TIME.
SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME FOR THAT.
SO NOW WE GET INTO THE CONTEST AND HOW ALL THIS WORKS.
UM, AND HERE'S THE ENTRY INFORMATION FOR THE ESSAY CONTEST.
THIS IS OPEN FOR STUDENTS FROM GRADES FOUR THROUGH 12, AND THE SUBMISSION TIME PERIOD IS FOR ONE MONTH.
SO IT'S BASICALLY FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
AND, UH, THEY CAN WORK ON THEIR SUBMISSIONS.
THEY SEND THEM IN ON AN ELECTRONIC PLATFORM, AND WE PROVIDE A PROMPT FOR THEM TO GO BY, UH, TO HELP THEM CENTER THEIR, THEIR THOUGHTS.
AND SO THIS YEAR WE HAD CREATING A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
DREAMED OF A WORLD WHERE ALL PEOPLE COULD LIVE TOGETHER WITH MUTUAL RESPECT AND ACCEPTANCE.
REFLECT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUSIVITY IN TODAY'S SOCIETY.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRULY BE INCLUSIVE, AND WHY IS IT ESSENTIAL? AND SO THAT WAS THE PROMPT.
AND, UH, FOR THE ESSAY CONTEST THIS YEAR, HERE ARE THE RULES.
THERE'S ONE ESSAY PER STUDENT'S ALLOWED, MUST NOT EXCEED.
500 WORDS MUST BE SUBMITTED AS A PDF DOCUMENT.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRONIC FORMAT THAT WE USE.
ESSAYS MUST BE TYPED, DOUBLE SPACED,
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SUITABLE FOR PUBLICATION.NO IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF THE AUTHOR CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE BODY OF THE ESSAY.
CONTENT MUST BE ORIGINAL AND NOT INCLUDE CONTENT THAT IS AI GENERATED, LICENSED COPYRIGHTED OR TRADEMARK.
AND EACH PARTICIPANT MUST GRANT THE CITY OF RICHARDSON PERMISSION TO USE HIS OR HER NAME AND ESSAY FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE CON CONTEST, AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT MAY BE PRODUCED.
IF PARTICIPANTS, IF THE PARTICIPANT IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18, THE ENTRY MUST BE SUBMITTED BY A PARENT OR A GUARDIAN.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE TAKE ALL OF OUR WINNERS AND YOU WILL SEE, UH, EACH OF THE PIECES OF ART AND EACH OF THE ESSAYS THAT ARE DONE IN THE JUNE EDITION OF RICHARDSON TODAY.
AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WILL, UH, REAPPEAR.
WE ALSO TALK ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND, UH, TALK TO THEM PERSONALLY ABOUT THEIR WORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, THE JUDGING, UH, GOES BY THIS CRITERIA, AND SO IT'S A REFLECTION ON THE TOPIC, GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE, CREATIVITY, CONTENT, VOICE, AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ESSAY.
WE HAVE THREE CATEGORIES FOR AWARDS.
UH, FOR THIS GROUP, IT'S FOUR THROUGH SIX GRADES SEVEN THROUGH NINE, AND GRADES 10 THROUGH 12
AND THAT'S OVERVIEW OF THE ESSAY CONTEST.
SO FOR THE ART CONTEST, THIS IS OPEN FOR STUDENTS FROM ONE, UH, TO 12TH GRADE.
IT'S OPEN FOR TWO MONTHS OUTTA THE YEAR FROM JANUARY THROUGH FEBRUARY.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT OUR PARTNERSHIPS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD ASKED, UH, OR THAT WAS RECOMMENDED TO US, IS, OKAY, IF WE GET THIS INTO THE HANDS OF OUR ART TEACHERS, THEY MAY NEED, AND IF THEY'RE GOING TO INCORPORATE IT INTO THEIR CURRICULUM SOMEHOW, THEN WE MAY NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.
AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A TWO MONTH PERIOD FOR THE ART CONTEST AS A, AS A AS AS COMPARED TO ONE MONTH FOR THE ESSAY.
UM, THE PROMPT THAT WE'VE GIVEN FOR THE ART CONTEST WAS TO CREATE AN ORIGINAL ARTWORK THAT EXPLORES THE ROLE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN PLAY IN SHAPING THE FUTURE AND CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF APPRECIATION FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY.
THE RULES FOR THIS CONTEST, AGAIN, IS ONE ENTRY PER STUDENT.
WE DO TAKE MORE THAN JUST DRAWINGS THOUGH.
SO WE HAVE TWO AND THREE DIMENSIONAL ART.
IN FACT, A THREE DIMENSIONAL ART PIECE HAS, UH, ONE IN THE PAST.
UM, NO IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AGAIN, OF THE ARTIST CAN BE INCLUDED.
ENTRIES MUST NOT BE OFFENSIVE, PORNOGRAPHIC, OVERLY GRAPHIC, OBSCENE, ET CETERA.
IT MUST BE AN ORIGINAL WORK, NO AI GENERATED OR LICENSED COPYRIGHTED OR TRADEMARKED MATERIAL INCLUDED IN THE WORK.
AND MUST GRANT THE CITY, AGAIN, PERMISSION TO USE THE NAME IMAGE FOR PURPOSES OF THE CONTEST.
THE JUDGING ON THIS IS BASED ON ORIGINALITY, ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND REFLECTION OF THE THEME.
AND THEN AGAIN, WE HAVE FOUR CATEGORIES FOR THIS GROUP.
IT'S ONE THROUGH THREE, FOUR THROUGH SIX, SEVEN THROUGH NINE, AND 10 THROUGH 12.
SO NOW IT IS TIME FOR OUR WINNERS TO START COMING UP, UH, FOR YOU TO MEET OUR WINNERS AND TO RECEIVE THEIR CERTIFICATES.
SO MAYOR, IF I CAN INVITE YOU TO COME UP AND YOU HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES RIGHT ON YOUR DESK.
AND WINNERS, WHENEVER I CALL YOUR NAME, YOU'LL STAND UP.
YOU'LL COME AROUND HERE AND YOU'LL GET TO GO THROUGH THE SECRET GATE
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR WILL GIVE YOU YOUR CERTIFICATE.
AND, UH, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL HAVE THE GROUP GO UP AND WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO AT THE VERY END.
SO, UH, SIR, IF YOU ARE READY, WE WILL START WITH OUR FIRST AND PRIL DOCKER FROM STINSON ELEMENTARY IS OUR FIRST WINNER FOR TONIGHT.
THIS IS, THIS IS HIS WORK CALLED ROOTS AND HERITAGE.
GO RIGHT UP THERE, YOU'RE GOOD ROOTS AND HERITAGE.
UH, AN INTERESTING NOTE ON THIS IS, UM, WHILE THIS IS HIS FIRST TIME WINNING, HIS BROTHER NEIL WON IN OUR ART INAUGURAL ART CONTEST BACK IN 2021.
SO HE'S, HE'S ACTUALLY BACK HERE, RIGHT THERE IN THE RED SHIRT.
SO OUR NEXT WINNER IS FOR THE FOURTH THROUGH SIXTH GRADE CATEGORY, AND THAT IS COHEN HUGHES.
COHEN COHEN IS A STUDENT AT ARAPAHOE CLASSICAL MAGNET, AND THIS IS COHEN'S WORK CALLED FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE.
AND COHEN ACTUALLY HAS A FEW TEACHERS HERE.
ACTUALLY, I'LL MENTION THEM, UH, HERE IN A MOMENT AS WELL.
UM, THERE'S A FEW TEACHERS IN OUR AUDIENCE TONIGHT THAT ARE SUPPORTING SOME OF OUR WINNERS.
SO I'LL I'LL MENTION THEM HERE IN A MOMENT.
ALL RIGHT, SO FOR OUR NEXT GROUP, WE HAVE SEVENTH THROUGH NINTH GRADE CATEGORY, AND OUR WINNER IS AMAL RAJ, AN KUMAR AMAL, COME ON UP.
AMAL GOES TO RICHARDSON, WEST JUNIOR HIGH ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY MAGNET.
THIS IS HIS WORK, UH, TITLED THE THREADS THAT TIE US TOGETHER.
FIRST, THIS IS AM MALL'S, THIRD YEAR IN A ROW TO WIN BE THE SELECTED ART CONTEST WINNER, WOOHOO FOR HIS CATEGORY.
IN ADDITION, AMAL SISTER AND USRI WAS
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THE WINNER IN LAST YEAR'S ESSAY CONTEST.AND THERE'S ONE MORE THING WITH THIS ONE.
THIS IS NOT GONNA BE THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ALL'S NAME TONIGHT.
SO
IT'S AYANA WOOTEN, MARIANA, SHE IS A STUDENT AT RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THIS IS HER WORK HOPE THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE GO TO OUR ESSAY CONTEST, ACTUALLY, UH, THESE ARE ALL THE, ALL THE WINNING ART.
SO NOW WE GO TO OUR ESSAY CONTEST.
UH, OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER FOR THE FOURTH THROUGH SIXTH GRADE IS LUCY MANN.
LUCY IS ALSO A STUDENT AT ARAPAHOE CLASSICAL MAGNET.
AND THIS IS HER WORK CALLED THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING INCLUSIVE.
AND WITH HER, AND, UH, THERE'S SOME SHARED TEACHERS WITH, UH, COHEN, ONE OF OUR PAST WINNERS.
WE HAVE BRANDY JACKSON, ADVANCED LEARNING TEACHER, AS WELL AS MEREDITH GROSS, A MATH, UH, MATH TEACHER.
AND ALLISON BENTLEY READING TEACHERS HERE TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.
YOU WANNA STAND UP REAL QUICK, YOU GUYS? SO AGAIN, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE COULD HAVE IS HAVING THE TEACHERS HELP TO PROMOTE THIS WITHIN THE SCHOOLS.
AND SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HELPING WITH THAT TOO.
UH, AND SHOWING YOUR BEING HERE TONIGHT TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE SEVENTH THROUGH THROUGH NINTH GRADE CATEGORY, WE HAVE, AGAIN, AMAL RAJ, A**L KUMAR FROM RICHARDSON, WEST JUNIOR HIGH ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY MAGNET.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD A SINGLE STUDENT WIN IN TWO CA TWO, BOTH ART AND ESSAY IN THE SAME YEAR, IN ONE YEAR.
AND FINALLY, FOR THE 10TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE, WE HAVE ASHLYN YARBOROUGH, ASHLYN, COME ON FORWARD.
ASHLYN IS A STUDENT AT PIERCE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THIS IS HER WORK TITLED BEYOND THE OUTSKIRTS.
AND DON'T WORRY, I KNOW IT'S A LOT TO READ, BUT AGAIN, THESE WILL ALL BE SHOWING UP IN THE JUNE EDITION OF RICHARDSON.
TODAY, BOTH THE ESSAY AND EACH OF THE ARTWORKS WILL BE A FULL PRE A FULL PAGE SPREAD THAT WE'LL HAVE ALL THAT.
AND PARENTS, I KNOW YOU GUYS MIGHT WANT TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU NEED EXTRA COPIES, GIMME A CALL.
I CAN GET THAT, GET THAT OVER FOR YOU.
UM, SO THOSE ARE YOUR ESSAY WINNERS, AND THAT IS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND TAKE A PHOTO AND, AND PARENTS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, IF YOU WANNA COME OVER HERE.
I, ALRIGHT, SO HERE, HERE'S HOW WE'LL DO THIS.
LET'S HAVE OUR ESSAY WINNERS OVER HERE.
YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN 'EM ALL.
AND OUR, OUR WINNERS RIGHT OVER HERE FOR THERE.
HAVE YOU STAND, UH, COME ON FORWARD.
SO WHO ALL OVER HERE? OUR ART AND ESSAY.
WHERE'S ARMS? RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WANT.
ALRIGHT, SO JOE, GET YOUR SHOULDERS.
WHAT DO WE ALL SAY? SHE, THERE
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WE GO.[C. REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE 2025 WILDFLOWER! ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL ]
THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM C ON THE AGENDA.REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE 2025 WILDFLOWER ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL.
MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, DIANA LAWRENCE, UH, IS, UH, JOINING US TONIGHT ALONG WITH, UH, VON AUGU AND SPENCER DOYLE.
UM, IF THEY, UH, LOOK A LITTLE SUNBURNED AND A LITTLE TIRED, IT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB, UH, UM, NOT ONLY, UH, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT, UH, COTTONWOOD ART FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND, BUT, UH, ACTUALLY IN THE 72 HOURS LEADING UP TO THAT, UM, JUST AN AMAZING JOB KEEPING, UH, COTTONWOOD PARK AND, AND JUST EXCELLENT CONDITION AND, UM, PREPARING IT, UH, UH, FRIDAY AND, AND SOME PRETTY HEAVY RAINS, UH, SO THAT EVERYONE COULD ENJOY IT ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
IT WAS AN AMAZING WEEK AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK PAID OFF, UH, IN TERMS OF THE WEATHER FOR SURE ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
AND SO, UH, DIANA'S HERE TONIGHT TO, UH, PROVIDE YOU WITH A UPDATE ON WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL.
REALLY EXCITED TOWARDS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
SHE HAS SEVERAL NEW THINGS THAT SHE'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT'S NEW, UH, THIS YEAR AT WILDFLOWER.
AND, UH, SO WE'D LIKE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THAT.
SO DIANE, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED TO, UM, BE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO GIVE YOU KIND OF A PREVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF THIS YEAR'S WILDFLOWER ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL.
AND I PROMISE I WON'T FALL ASLEEP WHILE I'M UP HERE.
TONIGHT, WE WILL GO OVER SOME OF THE FESTIVAL DETAILS, SOME SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMMING.
UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE FESTIVAL SITE ARE WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS THAT WE HAVE A PART OF THE FESTIVAL, SOME NEW FEATURES THIS YEAR.
UH, OUR EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE, OUR SPONSORS THAT SUPPORT OUR FESTIVAL EACH YEAR, AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR TICKET PRICING FOR THIS YEAR.
OUR, WHILE THERE ARE THE DETAILS, UM, OUR DATES AND HOURS.
AS YOU WILL NOTICE THIS YEAR WE HAVE CHANGED OUR FESTIVAL HOURS.
SO WE ARE OPEN FRIDAY, MAY 16TH FROM 6:00 PM TO 11:30 PM SATURDAY MAY 17TH FROM 12 TO 1130, SUNDAY, MAY 18TH FROM 12 OR NOON TO 6:00 PM UM, IT IS LOCATED AT GALLATIN PARK URBAN CENTER.
IT IS OUR 33RD ANNIVERSARY FOR THE FESTIVAL.
IT TAKES OVER A HUNDRED AND OR 110 PERFORMERS ON SIX DIFFERENT STAGES, OVER A HUNDRED PLUS STAFF MEMBERS, 817 VOLUNTEERS, AS WELL AS 14 PROPERTY PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH TO HOST THE FESTIVAL ON THAT SITE.
THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE FESTIVAL OUTLAY AND THE MAP.
AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED AS FAR AS THE SITE ITSELF.
WE HAVE THE SAME STAGES THAT WE'VE WELCOMED BACK THIS YEAR.
OUR METHODIST, UM, RICHARDSON CENTER, SAGE, OUR TEXANS CREDIT UNION, SAGE, CARBAUGH, GLOVE STREET SAGE, UM, AS WELL AS PERFORMANCES INSIDE OF OUR EISMAN CENTER.
AND OUR SPONSORS ARE RETURNING IN A LOT OF OUR, OUR GATEWAYS.
ALSO, OUR ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE EVENT ON FRIDAY, MAY 16TH, WE WELCOME YOUNG, THE GIANT NEED TO BREATHE, PARLY MOON, TAXI MAX STALLING, WE THEM GRACES.
WE ALSO HAVE A WEEKEND PERFORMANCE OF EVIL WOMAN, THE AMERICAN ELIO, FEATURING THE RICHARDSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, AND THAT IS ON THE HILL HALL INSIDE THE EISMAN CENTER.
SO VERY EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH THEM.
AND THAT IS PRESENTED BY THE EISMAN CENTER, UM, SAN FRANCISCO, JUSTIN FARON, AND MANY MORE.
ON SATURDAY, WE WELCOME THE REVIVALISTS COLD WAR KIDS SUGAR RAY SPIN.
DOCTORS EVIL WOMAN WILL PERFORM AGAIN, DREW KENNEDY AND MANY OTHERS.
AND THEN ON SUNDAY, MAY 18TH, WE WILL WELCOME BLACK JILL LEWIS AND THE HONEY BEARS THE SPAZMATICS, THE TEXAS GENTLEMAN, MARSHA BALL, TWO BIT SWING BAND EVIL WOMAN WILL PERFORM AGAIN AS WELL AS THE ELTON JOHNS AND MANY MORE PERFORMERS.
OUR WOW WILDFLOWER ON WHEELS IS A PROGRAM THAT YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, BUT THIS YEAR IT HAS A NEW BRANDING.
IT USED TO BE CALLED OUR CARAVAN PROGRAM.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE WILDFLOWER ON WHEELS OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE VISIT SEVERAL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR LEADING UP TO THE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR, ON MARCH 28TH, WE WENT TO THE HEROES PROGRAM WHERE WE PROVIDED HANDS-ON CRAFTS, INCLUDING PLANTING WILDFLOWERS, FACE PAINTING IN A BALLOON
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ARTIST.ON APRIL 29TH, OUR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, WE BROUGHT HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND CRAFTS AND ENGAGED THEM IN CREATING A LIVE PODCAST.
AND THEN WE ARE, WE WILL BE VISITING OUR EL DORADO RETIREMENT HOME AND BRINGING A HAPPY HOUR SPONSORED BY WILDFLOWER TO THEM.
UH, WONDERFUL CONTEST THAT WE HOST LEADING UP TO THE FESTIVAL, AS WELL AS ON SITE IS OUR AL JOHNSON PERFORMING SONGWRITER CONTEST AND WORKSHOP.
THIS CONTEST ITSELF IS OVER 25 YEARS OLD.
UM, IT IS HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 17TH AT 1230 ON THE SINGER SONGWRITER STAGE.
UP TO THIS 10 FINALISTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED FROM OVER 300 ENTRIES THAT COME TO US FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN CASH PRIZES, AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, WE ALSO HOST A SONGWRITER WORKSHOP ON FRIDAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COURTYARD MARRIOTT.
AND OUR INSTRUCTOR THIS YEAR IS GRETCHEN PETERS.
WE ALSO HOST THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS AND BUDDING TALENT VOCAL COMPETITION.
OUR BATTLE OF THE BAND'S COMPETITION IS FOR BANDS THAT ARE 21 YEARS AND YOUNGER.
WE HOSTED A QUALIFIER ON APRIL 13TH, WHICH NARROWED US DOWN TO THREE FINALISTS WHO WILL PERFORM ON SUNDAY, MAY 18TH ON THE METHODIST STAGE.
THE PROGRAM IS PRESENTED BY THE ZOO AND IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROCK STARS OF TOMORROW.
ALSO, OUR BUDDING TALENT VOCAL COMPETITION IS A VOCAL COMPETITION HELD FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE AUDITIONS WERE HELD ON APRIL 6TH, WHERE 11 FINALISTS WERE SELECTED TO PERFORM AT THE FINALS ON SUNDAY THE 18TH.
INSIDE THE EISMAN CENTER, WE ALSO WILL HAVE OUR PATTERSON AND ASSOCIATES PERFORMANCE ROW.
SO OUR LIVE VISUAL ARTISTS WILL PERFORM RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE ICEMAN CENTER.
SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE OUR BALI RHYTHMS DANCE ACADEMY, OUR DALLAS MAVERICKS, DRUMLINE MANIACS, AND D TOWN CREW.
OUR RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL EAGLETS, OUR LAKE HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL FORK LCO.
WE DO FLIPS THE NER HIGH SCHOOL RAMBLERS, RAMINI AND BELLY DANCING BY RENA.
WE ALSO HAVE AN AMAZING KIDS PROGRAM THAT WE, UM, PROVIDE, UM, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND ARTS AND CRAFTS AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RICHARDSON LIBRARY.
WE DO ROCKSTAR HAIRDOS FACE PAINTING AND ALSO DAILY PERFORMANCES THAT ARE GEARED TOWARDS OUR KIDDOS THAT VISIT US.
WE HOST A CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CORPORATE CHALLENGE PROGRAM ON SATURDAY MAY 17TH FROM TWO TO 4:00 PM UP TO 32 TEAMS CAN, UH, COMPETE IN IT.
IT'S A SINGLE ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT AND OUR WINNING TEAM RECEIVES A PRIZE PACKAGE SPONSORED BY SHIELDS.
OUR, OUR GUITAR AUCTION IS ONE OF OUR LONGSTANDING FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE FESTIVAL.
WE INVITE FESTIVAL SPONSORS AND LOCAL ARTISTS TO RECREATE AND REIMAGINE INSTRUMENTS, GUITARS, UKS, UH, DRUM SETS.
THEY'RE VISIBLE INSIDE THE EISMAN CENTER.
AND OUR AUCTION CLOSES ON SUNDAY AT 3:00 PM THE AUCTION BENEFITS ARE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY MINISTRIES IN THE RISD FINE ARTS PROGRAM.
AND IN 2024, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE MOST EVER, WE RAISED OVER $15,000.
OUR PROSPERITY BANK MARKETPLACE IS OUR ONE-STOP SHOP THAT HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL ARTISAN AND CRAFTSMEN IN THE AREA.
IT'S LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE FESTIVAL AND WE HAVE ABOUT 72 VENDORS THAT ARE ACCEPTED OUT OF ABOUT 151 APPLICATIONS THAT WE RECEIVE.
OUR WILDFLOWER EATS AND DRINKS IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO FOR A BEVERAGE OR SOME CUISINE THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.
WE HAVE SOME GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH CHLOE AS FAR AS, UH, SPONSORING A WINE GARDEN.
WE HAVE A LARGE CRAFT BEER GARDEN, DAIQUIRI TENTS, AND OVATION AT GALLATIN PARK IS OUR SPONSOR FOR OUR FOOD COURT VAR, UH, FEATURING A VARIETY OF TASTES, OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS THAT WE BRING IN.
EACH AND EVERY WILDFLOWER IS SO IMPRESSIVE.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 817 INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS WHO FULFILL OVER 1700 POSITIONS.
THEY WORK A COLLECTION OF OVER 6,038 HOURS.
58% OF OUR TOTAL VOLUNTEER NEEDS ARE MET BY 50 DIFFERENT CORPORATE AND CIVIC GROUPS.
OUR REMAINING VOLUNTEERS INCLUDE RICHARDSON RESIDENTS AND THOSE FROM SURROUNDING AREAS THAT ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED.
AND THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE, BUT 40% OF OUR VOLUNTEER BASE HAVE VOLUNTEERED FOR 10 PLUS YEARS, WHICH IS WONDERFUL AND WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE THAT.
OUR EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE IS OUR STANDING VOLUNTEERS AND THAT COME TOGETHER EACH YEAR.
UM, THEY ARE THERE TO HELP US AND ASSIST TO EDUCATE, PROMOTE, IMPROVE, ENHANCE, AND STRENGTHEN THE WILDFLOWER ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL THROUGH A VOLUNTEER SUPPORT ORGANIZATION.
MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HELP US PUT TOGETHER AND MANAGE OUR PROGRAMS SUCH AS THEIR AMBASSADORS PROGRAM THAT WORK WITH OUR SPONSORS, OUR AUCTION, OUR BUDDING TALENT, VOCAL COMPETITION BATTLE, THE BANDS COMMUNITY OUTREACH, OUR WILD PROGRAM AND PRE FESTIVAL SUPPORT.
AND THEY ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY OUR WILDLIFES WHO ARE RETIRED ESC MEMBERS WHO COME BACK AND HELP SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL AND VOLUNTEER THROUGHOUT WHAT'S NEW TO WILDFLOWER YOU ASK.
UM, THIS YEAR WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH THE EISEN CENTER TO PRESENT LOS TROPOS ON THE FESTIVAL SITE.
UM, IT'S AN INTERACTIVE INSTALLATION FEATURING LARGER THAN LIFE, THREE
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DIMENSIONAL SPINNING TOPS IN A VARIETY OF COLORS AND SHAPES.EACH SCULPTURE ACTS AS A PIECE OF ART AND IS A GATHERING PLACE FOR INDIVIDUALS.
AND IT WILL BE LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF THE EISEN CENTER AND PLAZA DRIVE.
AND THERE WILL BE FIVE SEPARATE PIECES THAT WILL BE THERE.
WE ALSO ARE VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT OUR WILDFLOWER WONDER WALL COMMUNITY MURAL PROJECT.
UM, IT'S A COLLABORATIVE MURAL CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF WILDFLOWER IN THE CITY OF RICHARDSON.
IT WILL BE A COMPLETELY FREE INTERACTIVE PROJECT THAT ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE.
OVER 800 INDIVIDUAL PIECES HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR PEOPLE TO SIT AND PAINT AND CREATE, WHICH WILL COME TOGETHER TO CREATE AN OVER 30 FOOT MURAL THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE COME TOGETHER OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND.
WE ALSO ARE PARTNERING WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE THE BEAT GOES ON COMMUNITY CPR TRAINING.
THIS IS A FREE HANDS-ON COMMUNITY TRAINING INSIDE THE HILL HALL AND THE ICELAND CENTER CENTER ON SATURDAY, MAY 17TH AT 1:00 PM IT'S GONNA BE A VERY QUICK INTERACTIVE SESSION THAT WILL TEACH YOU THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS TO RESPOND IN AN EMERGENCY AND EACH OF THE ATTENDEES THAT ATTEND THAT WILL GET A COMPLIMENT TICKET TO COME BACK TO THE FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY.
WE ALSO HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REALLY ENHANCE OUR TRAFFIC BARRIER SYSTEM.
UM, WE HAVE OUR NEW MVB THREE X MODULAR VEHI VEHICLE BARRIER SYSTEM, UM, WHICH WAS RECENT, RECENTLY OBTAINED BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THESE BAR, THIS BARRICADE SYSTEM HERE THAT YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO WILL BE LOCATED AT THE SOUTH OF PERFORMANCE DRIVE AND THE NORTH, THE NORTH SIDE OF PERFORMANCE DRIVE.
WE ARE ALSO, UM, AND THIS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO STOP A VEHICLE BASICALLY WITHIN 35 FEET OF IMPACT.
UM, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING TO INSTALL ADDITIONAL CONCRETE BARRICADES AT THOSE TWO LOCATIONS ALSO.
AND THEN WE'RE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UM, PLANO, UM, POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BRING IN SOME MERIDIAN STYLE BARRICADES THAT WILL BE PLACED AT THE TEXANS CREDIT UNION GATEWAY, WHICH IS RIGHT BY THE RENAISSANCE.
SO VERY, UM, HEIGHTENED SECURITY AND, AND NEW SECURITY PROCEDURES THAT WILL BE IN PLACE THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED.
UM, WE HAD THESE BARRIER SYSTEM OUT AT COTTONWOOD THIS PAST WEEKEND AND HAD INCREDIBLE FEEDBACK FROM OUR PUBLIC, UM, WHO ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT ON SITE.
OF COURSE, EACH YEAR WE HAVE THE GREAT SUPPORT OF ALL OF OUR SPONSORS HERE LOCATED IN RICHARDSON AND BEYOND.
AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO SAY THE MAJORITY OF OUR SPONSORS ARE RETURNING FOR THE 2025 WILDFLOWER.
SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE OUR METHODIST RICHARDSON MEDICAL CENTER, TEXANS CREDIT UNION, UH, CUPCAKE, CHLOE RENAISSANCE HOTEL.
WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH DART TOYOTA OF RICHARDSON, THE ZOO RADIO OVATION AT GALLATIN PARK CITY LINE.
MANY, MANY OF OUR LOCAL RICHARDSON, UM, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR TICKETING PRICES THIS YEAR.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, ONCE AGAIN, WE DID OUR TIER TICKETING SYSTEM THIS YEAR, STARTING IN FEBRUARY, UM, 11TH WHEN OUR TICKETS WENT ON SALE.
AS YOU GET CLOSER TO THE FESTIVAL, YOUR TICKET PRICES WILL INCREASE.
UM, ON SALE THIS YEAR, WE HAD INDIVIDUAL TICKETS FOR FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY, AS WELL AS A THREE DAY PACKAGE.
THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR ALSO THAT WE INTRODUCED SINGLE DAY VIP PASSES.
SO SINGLE DAY FOR FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY, AS WELL AS YOUR TRADITIONAL THREE DAY.
UM, WE ARE CURRENTLY COMPLETELY SOLD OUT A FRIDAY AND SATURDAY VIP PASS AS WELL AS OUR THREE DAY.
UM, THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE WENT COMPLETELY ONLINE WITH OUR RESIDENTIAL TICKETS.
UM, SO IT'S VERY EASY FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO GO ONLINE AND BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THOSE DISCOUNTED TICKETS AT THE SAME PRICE, UM, WITH THE EASE OF NOT HAVING TO GO TO A PHYSICAL LOCATION THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A RECAP OR PREVIEW ABOUT OUR 2025 WILDFLOWER ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL.
YVONNE, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT
[D. REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE EISEMANN CENTER PRESENTS 2025-2026 SEASON ]
THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM, ITEM D, REVIEW AND DISCUSS.THE EISMAN CENTER PRESENTS 20 25, 20 26 SEASON.
UH, VERY EXCITED TO HAVE A, A, UH, ALI HAYNES HAMLIN HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, UH, THE, UH, UPCOMING EISMAN CENTER PRESENTS.
NOT TOO MUCH THOUGH, 'CAUSE WE HAVE A VERY EXCITING EVENT ON THURSDAY.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO JUST, UH, THANK YALI, UM, AND, UH, APPRECIATE VERY MUCH SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT, UM, WE PROVIDED AS SHE CONTINUES TO REFINE THE EISMAN AND REALLY, UH, UH, LOOK FOR NEW WAYS TO HIGHLIGHT IT.
UM, REALLY, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET THE EISMAN CENTER IS CALLED EISMAN CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS AND CORPORATE PRESENTATIONS.
AND SO I'M REALLY PLEASED, UH, WITH THE, UH, WORK THAT ALI'S DONE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THAT SECOND
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COMPONENT OF THE EISMAN CENTER.AND I'M HAPPY FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO SHARE TONIGHT, UH, WITH YOU THE BROCHURE AND SOME OF THE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS THAT SHE HAS AROUND, UH, UM, UM, ADDING AND ENHANCING THE PROGRAM IN THAT REALM.
SO ALLIE, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE TO GET US TO THIS POINT TONIGHT, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE, UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE IN STORE FOR NEXT SEASON.
UM, THE EISMAN CENTER REALLY ALIGNS OURSELVES TO THE CITY COUNCIL GOAL OF HAVING RESIDENTS AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS CHOOSE RICHARDSON AS THE BEST PLACE TO LOCATE, CONTRIBUTE, AND ENGAGE.
UH, WE USE THE CITY COUNCIL'S STRATEGY TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN RESIDENTS IN ALL STAKEHOLDERS.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I GET ASKED A LOT IS, HOW DO WE CHOOSE THE PERFORMANCES FOR THE EISMAN CENTER PRESENTS SEASON? UM, AND THE ANSWER IS NOT A VERY SIMPLE ONE.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT GO INTO IT, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE START WITH PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE.
WE WANNA BRING THE BEST ARTISTS THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY FIND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE WORLD RIGHT HERE TO THE EISMAN CENTER TO PERFORM FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN RICHARDSON AND NORTH TEXAS.
SO WE START WITH THAT PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE.
WE ALSO LOOK FOR ARTISTS THAT RESONATE WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, SO A LOT OF THE CULTURAL PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE DONE HAS REALLY BEEN IN RESPONSE TO WHAT ARE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY OF RICHARDSON, WHAT ARE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF NORTH TEXAS? UM, WHAT ARE THE PARTICULAR HOTSPOTS THAT EXIST ONLY IN RICHARDSON THAT WE CAN REALLY LEAN INTO AND REFLECT THAT BACK WITH OUR PROGRAMMING? THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS DOING WITH EISMAN CENTER PRESENTS ARTISTS, AS WE CONSIDER THEM, IS REALLY HAVING DEEP CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ARTISTS AND WITH THEIR MANAGERS ABOUT WHO IS WILLING AND ABLE AND EXCELS AT GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVING THAT EXTRA ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHETHER IT'S GOING INTO A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR GOING INTO A HOUSE OF WORSHIP, OR JUST GOING OUT TO A PARK AND HAVING A POPUP CONCERT OR A POPUP CONCERT AT THE STUDENT UNION AT UTD, WHO OF AMONGST THE ARTISTS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING ARE REALLY GOING TO ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF WHAT WE CAN DO THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE EISMAN CENTER.
SO SOME OF OUR SEASON HIGHLIGHTS FOR, UM, THIS PAST SEASON, WHICH WAS JUST ABOUT WRAPPED UP, WE INTRODUCED MORE MULTICULTURAL OFFERINGS TO OUR, UM, EISMAN CENTER LINEUP IN PARTICULAR, WE BROUGHT, UH, THE INDIAN SINGER ANUSHKA SHANKAR, UM, AS WELL AS MUSLIM DANCER, AMIRA SACKETT AND HER BEATBOXING PARTNER, UM, MR. MIKE.
WE ALSO WERE REALLY PLEASED FOR A LOCAL PROFILE TO NAME THE EISMAN CENTER AS THE BEST VENUE FOR LIVE MUSIC IN NORTH TEXAS.
THAT WAS, UM, A BIG SURPRISE AND ONE THAT WE WERE REALLY THRILLED ABOUT.
UM, WE ALSO RECENTLY WERE HONORED BY THE RICHARDSON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM HAS DONE TO BRING ARTISTS TO THE, UM, RICHARDSON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND, UM, ALL OF THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'VE DONE, IF YOU CAME TO, UM, SOME OF OUR PERFORMANCES THIS YEAR, YOU MAY VERY LIKELY HAVE SEEN A STUDENT PERFORM ON STAGE WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING THAT IT WAS A STUDENT PERFORMING RIGHT NEXT TO A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST.
SO WE GIVE A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS THESE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE PRACTICING, UM, AND REALLY LEAN INTO THE ARTWORK THAT THEY LOVE.
WE ALSO REALLY, UM, HAVE BEEN LEANING INTO OUR JAZZ PROGRAMMING.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT RICHARDSON HAS A HUGE JAZZ AUDIENCE THAT REALLY, REALLY LOVES COMING TO SEE THE JAZZ THAT WE'RE DOING AND ALSO SUPPORTING JAZZ THROUGHOUT THE MARKET.
IT'S NOT JUST THE JAZZ THAT WE'RE PRESENTING, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER, UM, MANY OF OUR CLIENTS WHO ARE PRESENTING JAZZ AS WELL.
AND WE'RE SEEING THAT THE AUDIENCES ARE COMING IN MORE AND MORE FOR THAT, WE, UM, STARTED BRANDING THE EISMAN CENTER CABARET IN THE BANK OF AMERICAN THEATER.
SO IF YOU CAME TO ANY OF OUR CABARET PERFORMANCES THIS YEAR, YOU NOTICE THAT WE'VE GOT A NICE NEW, UH, BRAND MARK FOR THE EISMAN CENTER CABARET.
WE ARE USING A BEAUTIFUL AUSTRIAN DRAPE.
WE HAVE A BAR LOCATED INSIDE THE VENUE FOR EACH OF THOSE, AND WE OFFER TABLE SERVICE IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO SNAG A TABLE.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU, THOSE TABLES SELL FASTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE ON THE SEASON.
UM, AND OUR EMAN EDUCATES REALLY KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK THIS YEAR.
WE HAD FOUR DIFFERENT ARTISTS ENGAGED IN FULL WEEK RESIDENCIES WITH ARTISTS IN SCHOOLS AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO HELD THREE NEAR CAPACITY SCHOOL SHOWS.
AND WE HAD, UM, OVER TOTAL, OVER THE COURSE OF THE ENTIRE YEAR, WE SERVED OVER 3000 STUDENTS, UM, BETWEEN OUR ENGAGEMENT AND THE SCHOOL SHOWS AND, UM, GOING OUT INTO
[00:40:01]
THE COMMUNITY.AND WE WERE JUST INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THAT.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE POINT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH EMAN EDUCATES AND, UM, ELEVATING ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS TO FOCUS FULL TIME ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE'RE ALSO REALLY THRILLED TO BE COLLABORATING WITH THE RICHARDSON SYMPHONY AND THE WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL TO FEATURE SEVERAL WI RICHARDSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MEMBERS, UM, PERFORMING IN CONCERT WITH THE, UM, UH, EVIL WOMAN, THE ELO ORCHESTRA EXPERIENCE.
SO I HOPE YOU COME AND CHECK THEM OUT 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE A REALLY SPECIAL EXPERIENCE.
AND AS WITH EVERY SEASON THAT I'VE HAD SO FAR SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, UM, THERE WERE SOME LESSONS LEARNED THAT WE'RE HAPPY TO APPLY TO NEXT SEASON.
UM, YOU'LL NOTICE WHEN WE UNVEIL THE FULL SCHEDULE OF THE SEASON, WE HAVE A MUCH LIGHTER FALL SCHEDULE.
THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING IN THIS COMMUNITY IN THE FALL, AND WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, OUR COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE TO MAKE SO MANY DIFFICULT CHOICES OF, AM I GONNA GO TO THIS OR AM I GONNA GO TO THAT? SO WE REALLY HELD UP AND A MUCH LIGHTER SCHEDULE IN THE FALL.
WE ARE VERY MUCH AVOIDING FRIDAYS.
YOU'LL NOTICE WE DON'T HAVE ANY FRIDAY PERFORMANCES IN THE FALL, SO FEEL FREE TO GO TO EVERY HOMECOMING GAME THAT YOU LIKE THIS FALL
UM, WE'RE ALSO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH MORE AND MORE PRESENTERS AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS AND MUSIC VENUES THROUGHOUT THE DFW MARKET.
AND THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN WONDERFUL BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND THE MARKET A LOT BETTER, BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WHERE WE MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO, UM, HAVE A LITTLE SMALL TOUR THAT HAPPENS THROUGHOUT DALLAS-FORT WORTH, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS A HUGE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, SO THERE'S A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT LIVE WAY, WAY OVER ON THE EAST SIDE THAT ARE NOT GONNA DRIVE ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE WEST SIDE.
AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR NORTH AND SOUTH.
SO WE'RE REALLY, UM, WE'RE REALLY WORKING HARD TO BUILD THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND, UM, FIND OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN MAYBE WORK TOGETHER AND LIFT BOTH OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE'RE ALSO CONTINUALLY ANALYZING AS MUCH DATA AS WE CAN GET OUR HANDS ON TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE.
IN PARTICULAR, OUR MARKETING EFFORTS HAVE BEEN USING A BUNCH OF DATA THIS YEAR, LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR, UM, GOOGLE ANALYTICS, LOOKING AT OUR TICKET SALES RESULTS, LOOKING AT, UM, ALL OF OUR DEMOGRAPHIC RESULTS.
WE ARE USING, UM, AN ONLINE TOOL THAT USES HAYSTACK DNA DATA TO REALLY TELL US WHO OUR AUDIENCES AND WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM.
UM, AND IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN ALLOWING US TO REFINE OUR STRATEGY AND ENGAGE MORE AUDIENCE MEMBERS WITH OUR PROGRAMMING.
AND WE'RE EXPANDING OUR ARTISTS.
NEXT SEASON, WE'RE EXPANDING THE PRESENTATION OF ARTISTS FROM REGIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE THAT HAVE DIRECT RELEVANCE TO RICHARDSON, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE, UM, SHARE ABOUT THAT WITH Y'ALL VERY SOON.
AS DON MENTIONED, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A COUPLE OF NEW INITIATIVES, UH, NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
ONE OF THEM IS OUR CORPORATE EVENT RENTAL MARKETING STRATEGY.
OUR INTEREST FROM CORPORATE CLIENTS HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
AND ONE OF THE TRENDS THAT I NOTICED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN HAPPENING WAS THAT WE WOULD GET INTEREST FROM CORPORATE CLIENTS THAT REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THE SPACE.
THEY KNEW THE EISMAN CENTER, THEY KNOW OUR REPUTATION, THEY KNOW RICHARDSON, THEY WANNA BE HERE, THEY WANNA HAVE THEIR EVENTS HERE BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS THAT THEY ALREADY KNOW ARE TELLING THEM THIS IS WHERE THEY WANNA BE.
BUT THEY DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ASSETS WERE THAT THE EISMAN CENTER HAD TO OFFER.
SO WE CREATED THIS PIECE THAT WE'LL ALSO HAVE AVAILABLE ONLINE AS A PDF.
SO YOU CAN FIND IT PHYSICALLY, BUT YOU CAN ALSO FIND IT ON OUR WEBSITE THAT REALLY ENHANCES THE ASSETS THAT THE EISMAN CENTER BRINGS TO A CORPORATE EVENT.
BUT IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS OUR PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE RENAISSANCE HOTEL, WHICH THE TWO PROPERTIES WERE DEVELOPED TOGETHER AND REALLY DESIGNED TO WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER.
SO IF WE HAVE A RENTAL CLIENT THAT JUST WANTS TO DO A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE AND A RECEPTION, WE CAN HANDLE THAT NO PROBLEM.
BUT WHEN WE HAVE CLIENTS WHO WANT TO DO A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE AND A KEYNOTE ENGAGEMENT AND A TRADE SHOW AND A DINNER FOR 700, THAT'S WHEN IT STARTS TO GET OUT OF OUR REALM.
BUT WE CAN SHARE THIS AND SAY, HEY, LET'S PARTNER WITH THE, UH, RENAISSANCE HOTEL, HAVE PART OF YOUR EVENT AT THE RENAISSANCE, HAVE THE OTHER PART OF YOUR EVENT AT THE EISMAN CENTER, AND HAD REALLY HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK WITH A SUPER SPECTACULAR EVENT.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW THIS CAN HELP US, UM, INFORM OUR CORPORATE CLIENTS AND MAYBE EVEN ENGAGE SOME NEW CLIENTS WHO MAYBE THINK A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ISN'T GONNA HAVE WHAT WE NEED.
SO, UM, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE RESULTS OF THIS.
THE OTHER THING THAT THIS IS REALLY HELPING US WITH IS, UM, THE BUSINESS RETENTION TOOL FOR DON AND MCKAYLA AND CHRIS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY'RE MEETING WITH BUSINESSES AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT RELOCATING TO RICHARDSON OR TALKING TO BUSINESSES ABOUT EXPANDING IN RICHARDSON, HAVING
[00:45:01]
THE EISMAN CENTER AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO HAVE THEIR ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING OR UH, MEETING OF THEIR TOP EXECUTIVES OR A NEW PRODUCT KICKOFF IS A REALLY, UM, EXCELLENT TOOL FOR THEM TO HAVE IN THEIR TOOLBOX.ALRIGHTY, THE OTHER INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO INTRODUCE, UM, STARTING NEXT YEAR IS THE NONPROFIT RENTAL SUPPORT PROGRAM.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT'S BASED ON PROVIDING FEE WAIVERS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD LIKE TO USE THE EISMAN CENTER FOR THEIR PERFORMANCES AND THEIR ENGAGEMENTS, BUT CAN'T QUITE AFFORD ALL OF THE FEES INVOLVED IN USING THE EISMAN CENTER.
CREATING THIS PROGRAM GIVES US A POLICY, A PROCEDURE, AND AN APPLICATION PROCESS THAT DEMOCRATIZES IT, STANDARDIZES IT AND MAKES IT SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY.
AND EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A GRANT PROGRAM EXCEPT IT'S A FEE WAIVER.
UM, AND IT REALLY HELPS TO LAY OUT WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
AND IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN A SENSE OF HOW MUCH WE HAVE GRANTED IN FEE WAIVERS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, RATHER THAN DOING ONE-OFFS AS PHONE CALLS COME IN OR EMAILS COME IN, OR CONVERSATIONS ARE HAD, UM, AT VARIOUS NETWORKING EVENTS.
THIS REALLY WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE THAT PROCESS MUCH MORE STANDARD AND TRANSPARENT AND OPEN FOR, FOR ALL.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE'LL BE ROLLING THIS OUT STARTING OCTOBER 1ST IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
ALRIGHTY, GETTING INTO EISEN CENTER PRESENTS 2026.
HERE'S OUR BUDGET, PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT SEASON.
WE ARE PROPOSING, UM, TICKET SALES OF ABOUT $856,000, UH, WITH SPONSORSHIPS AND SPECIAL EVENT REVENUE OF JUST OVER $110,000.
AND FRIENDS MEMBERSHIPS COMING IN AT ABOUT 25,000 FOR A TOTAL REVENUE OF ABOUT $992,549.
OUR EXPENSES ARE, UM, VERY SIMILAR.
WE ARE LOOKING AT CONTRACTUAL AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF JUST OVER $630,000 EQUIPMENT RENTALS OF ABOUT $26,000.
OUR ADVERTISING, PRINTING, AND POSTAGE BUDGET.
WE PROPOSED $243,000 AND A FOOD AND ARTIST PROVISIONS BUDGET OF $86,000.
THE FOOD AND ARTIST PROVISIONS BUDGET INCLUDES GIVING THE ARTISTS, UM, HOSPITALITY BACKSTAGE, GIVING THEM A MEAL BEFORE THEY PERFORM, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES, UM, PROCURING HOTEL ROOMS FOR THEM AND DRIVING THEM FROM A HO FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE HOTEL AND AROUND TOWN AS THEY'RE ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE PROPOSING A BUDGET THAT NETS APPROXIMATELY 381 THOU $381.
ALRIGHTY, NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF.
I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU OUR SIZZLE REEL.
IT'S JUST OVER TWO MINUTES FOR EISMAN CENTER, 25, 26.
IS GREG AROUND BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE PASSWORD FOR THIS COMPUTER.
AND DON'T CRY, I'M LOUISIANA WILL HOLLOW.
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IF YOU CAN'T KEEP IT, PROMISE WHAT YOU MAKE IT FOR.SEE YA, YOU ARE BREAKING MY HEART.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT IS JUST LIKE A VERY FAST SNEAK PREVIEW OF EISMAN CENTER 25 26.
WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS SEASON.
WE HAVE ALL OF OUR JAZZ PERFORMANCES THIS SEASON HAPPENING IN THE EISMAN CENTER CABARET SPACE.
UH, WE'RE BRINGING IN MORE AUTHORS AND SPEAKERS THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST AND REALLY CELEBRATING IMPORTANT MILESTONES OF HISTORY.
UM, THE US AIR FORCE CONCERT BAND OF THE GOLDEN WEST WILL BE PERFORMING FOR A FREE CONCERT IN DECEMBER.
UM, THAT'LL BE A HOLIDAY CONCERT.
UM, AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO WELCOME THEM BACK.
UH, WE ALSO ARE BRINGING IN ARTISTS FROM THAT REPRESENT CHINA.
UM, JESSICA AU IS A SINGER WHO IS OF, UM, FRENCH AND CHINESE DESCENT.
SHE SINGS IN MANDARIN, FRENCH, ENGLISH, AND SPANISH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
UM, AND SHE'LL BE WITH US TO REALLY HELP US CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY TOOK NOTE OF IS THAT, UM, THE RICHARDSON COMMUNITY HAS SUCH A HUGE LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION.
AND OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW THAT DFWS CHINATOWN IS LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN RICHARDSON.
SO IT MADE A LOT OF SENSE THAT WE BROUGHT IN ARTISTS THAT WILL REALLY CELEBRATE, UM, LUNAR NEW YEAR AND CHINESE CULTURE.
WE ALSO WILL HAVE A FAMILY PROGRAM CALLED THE GREAT RACE, THE STORY OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC THAT TELLS THE STORY OF HOW THE CHINESE ZODIAC CALENDAR CAME TO BE.
SO THAT'LL ALSO BE PART OF THAT CELEBRATION.
UM, ALL OF THE ARTISTS THIS SEASON HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO DO SOME SORT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WHETHER IT'S A PRE-SHOW WORKSHOP ONSITE OR IF THEY'RE GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO DO A LECTURE DEMONSTRATION OR EVEN JUST HAVING A COMMUNITY DIALOGUE, UM, AT A LOCAL HOUSE OF WORSHIP OR A LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, SO WE'RE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED TO BRING THESE ARTISTS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGE WITH NOT JUST THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT EVEN BEYOND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND REALLY, UM, IMPACT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
WE WILL STILL HAVE SCHOOL PERFORMANCES THIS SEASON, WHICH WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT.
UM, SO KEEP YOUR, UM, EYES PEELED FOR THOSE AS WELL.
AND I HOPE I SEE YOU GUYS ALL ON THURSDAY.
UH, THIS THURSDAY WE WILL HAVE OUR SEASON PREVIEW CELEBRATION.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A WHOLE LOT MORE DETAILS ABOUT ALL OF THESE PERFORMANCES AND GO THROUGH THEM ONE BY ONE.
UM, THE PROGRAM STARTS AT 6:00 PM BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME BY A LITTLE BIT EARLY, WE'LL START WITH COCKTAILS AT FIVE 30.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE BANK OF AMERICA THEATER FOR THE PROGRAM.
COCKTAILS GET TO THERE EVERY TIME, UH,
AND SO WE'LL START THE PROGRAM ABOUT 6:00 PM AND THEN, UH, ONCE THE PROGRAM IS COMPLETE, SHE'LL BE ABOUT 6 45, 6 50.
THEN WE'LL HEAD BACK OUT INTO THE LOBBY FOR A FULL RECEPTION, UM, AND A CELEBRATION OF THE UPCOMING SEASON.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, MR. DORIAN? THANK YOU, MAYOR HALLIE, YOU'RE DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB.
THANK I REALLY LIKE WHAT YOU'RE, I I REALLY LIKE WHAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS.
I MEAN, YOU'VE JUST ELEVATED THE ICEMAN IN SO MANY WAYS AND I LIKE THE DIVERSITY.
UH, WE'RE CATERED TO EVERY, EVERYONE HERE THAT LIVES IN RICHARDSON.
AND ALSO, UH, EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, I LOVE HOW YOU'RE LEVERAGING, UM, THE ICEMAN AND THE CORPORATE STRUCTURE AND, UH, BRINGING LIFE TO THAT AS WELL.
SO WE MIGHT AS WELL, I MEAN, WE CERTAINLY HAVE IT AVAILABLE AND I THINK, UH, WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN AN INCREASE.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND THANKS A LOT.
UM, YEAH, I'LL, I'LL ECHO THE, THAT SENTIMENT, UM, JUST BEYOND THE CORPORATE EVENTS, SOME OF THE AMAZING PARTNERSHIPS LIKE WITH THE DMA FOR INA GARTEN AND BRINGING BILL GATES TO THE EMAN, I MEAN, INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING OVER THERE.
SO, I MEAN, BEYOND THE EISMAN CENTER PRESENTS PROGRAM, GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT THE EISMAN.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE TO THINK ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVING MARK CUBAN AND, AND BILL GATES ON THE STAGE AT THE EISMAN CENTER, LIKE, WHOA, WE'RE SO COOL.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO YOU AND THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU'VE HELPED BUILD, UM, SINCE JOINING US.
AND SO I, I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON THAT.
AND, AND I REALLY LOVE THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH THAT YOU'RE DOING TOO.
YOU KNOW, I WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, SHOOTING YOU A MESSAGE AT THE HIP HOP ORCHESTRA AND HOW BLOWN I WAY I WAS WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS THE PLANO EAST, YOU KNOW, ORCHESTRA THAT HAD JOINED THEM.
I WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, WE WERE SITTING THERE THINKING WE WERE JUST FEELING OLD BECAUSE THEY ALL LOOKED REALLY YOUNG UNTIL WE REALIZED THEY WERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND THAT MADE US FEEL BETTER ABOUT OURSELVES.
BUT I MEAN, THAT'S A REALLY, REALLY
[00:55:01]
GREAT, YOU KNOW, TESTAMENT TO, AGAIN, TO YOU REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT THESE ARTISTS ARE REALLY GETTING BACK.UM, SO I, I JUST, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO BRINGING NEW EXPERIENCES TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THE EISMAN CENTER AND, AND THANK YOU.
WELL, I DO LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING LAST FEW YEARS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT CORPORATE EVENTS AND THE NON-PROFIT INITIATIVE, THOSE ARE GREAT THINGS.
I THINK, UM, THAT, THAT, UH, YOU HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT, UH, OTHER THINGS.
SO POSITIVE DIRECTION, POSITIVE, UM, UH, APPROACH.
I THINK WE CAN UTILIZE HEISMAN CENTER EVERY WAY.
I THINK, UH, I HEAR, I DON'T HAVE TO JUST YEAH.
I SEE THAT RECOGNITION THAT YOU HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM SO MANY OTHER PLACES IS, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE OUR PROBLEM.
I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID.
COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT SLIDE? I'M, I'M JUST, I'M CURIOUS.
UM, SO I KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS ON THE CULTURAL ARTS, UM, THIS ALWAYS, THIS CAME UP, YOU KNOW, A A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE TAKING THIS INTO, INTO TO CONSIDERATION WITH THE, THE, THE DOLLARS THAT COME FROM THE, UM, HOTEL MOTEL TAX? HOW ARE WE, WHAT, WHAT'S OUR OVERALL STRATEGY? BECAUSE I KNOW IN SOME CASES THE, THE DIFFERENT, UM, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS, THE, THE, THE PERFORMING ONES WOULD, WOULD UTILIZE THE MONEY THAT THEY GOT FROM THAT TO, IN ESSENCE PAY FOR POTENTIALLY THE EISMAN, OR, OR, UM, SO I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW THAT'S GONNA, HOW THAT'S GONNA PLAY OUT NOW THAT WE'RE, IF WE'RE GONNA, IF WE'RE DOING THIS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE WHAT I'M ASKING? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO ONE OF THE, UM, BENEFITS OF HAVING A STRUCTURED PROGRAM LIKE THIS IS THAT IT REALLY ALLOWS US TO TRACK AND ALLOCATE THESE FEE WAIVERS, UM, WITH A BUDGETED NUMBER IN MIND.
SO AS WE WERE CREATING THE BUDGET, WE WERE ENVISIONING APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH WE WOULD WANT TO, UH, WAIVE IN FEES FOR THE YEAR.
UM, THAT NUMBER HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED YET, BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IN THE REALM OF 30 TO $40,000, UH, WORTH OF FEE WAIVERS.
UM, THE, THE PROGRAM POLICY AS IT'S WRITTEN IS SPECIFICALLY EXCLUSIVE OF THE GRANT PROGRAM.
SO IF YOU APPLY FOR A FEE WAIVER, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE GRANT PROGRAM AND VICE VERSA.
SO ORGANIZATIONS WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO USE THEIR GRANT FUNDS TO PAY FOR PART OF THEIR EISMAN CENTER, UM, INVOICE, BUT THEY MIGHT ALSO HAVE SOME OF THOSE GRANT FUNDS LEFT OVER TO PAY FOR MARKETING OR TO PAY THEIR ARTISTS A LITTLE BIT MORE OR OTHER EXPENSES THAT WOULD FALL OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE EISMAN CENTER INVOICE MIGHT BE.
BUT, BUT, UH, ALLIE, I WOULD, I WOULD AND, UH, UH, MCKAYLA, UM, SHARE SHARE ANYTHING HERE AS WELL.
I WOULD SAY THOUGH, I THINK WE'RE GONNA TAKE 'EM IN, THEY'LL, THEY, THEY WON'T BE CONSIDERED COMPLETELY MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
I THINK THAT WE WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IF ONE IS RECEIVING A CERTAIN X NUMBER OF GRANT DOLLARS AND WE HAVE, UH, THROUGH THE CULTURAL ARTS, UH, PROGRAM, FOR INSTANCE, AND WE HAVE TWO APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORT AND MAYBE ONE'S NOT RECEIVING ANY, WE WOULD TAKE THINGS LIKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND TRY TO STRIKE A GOOD BALANCE.
I, I THINK YOUR POINT IS A, A VERY FAIR POINT, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT THROUGH CULTURAL ARTS, RECEIVE A ROBUST, UM, GRANT FROM THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, IF, IF THEY LEVERAGE THIS AS WELL, AND, AND, UH, THEY WOULD, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT BENEFACTORS, UH, THEY WOULD BE GETTING, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR TOTAL BENEFIT WOULD BE A LOT LARGER.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT BENEFIT FROM THIS, UM, THAT DON'T PARTICIPATE IN CULTURAL ARTS IS LIKE, UM, LET'S SAY FOR INSTANCE, THE REAL HEROES.
UH, FOR INSTANCE, THAT WOULD BE A, A ONE THAT WOULD COME TO MIND THAT MIGHT REALLY, REALLY WORK WELL FOR THIS, BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR CULTURAL ART.
SO I THINK WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO CONSIDER THEM MUTUALLY, UM, UM, AND, AND, AND, AND USE THE CONTEXT FROM EACH OF THE PROGRAMS TO INFORM THE OTHER AS WE MAKE DECISIONS.
I, I DO THINK WHAT THIS WOULD ALSO DO IS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME NONPROFIT, UM, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PERFORM PREVIOUSLY AT THE ICEMAN CENTER.
AND SO, AND, BUT THEY DO RECEIVE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO WHAT THIS COULD DO IS HELP BRING SOME OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS OVER AND BRIDGE THAT GAP A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN JUST THE CULTURAL ARTS GRANT IS ABLE TO DO.
I, I ECHO THE COMMENTS ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE CREATIVE WAYS WE'RE, UH, USING THE EISMAN CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOW WE'RE PITCHING IT TO DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND PARTNERING WITH THE RENAISSANCE.
I MEAN, EVERY YEAR Y'ALL BRING
[01:00:01]
SOMETHING NEW TO US.AND I, I JUST LOVE HEARING THAT.
YOU KNOW, I DID HAVE, I HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION, AND IT'S REALLY MORE OF JUST A HYPOTHETICAL.
I KNOW THAT THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS BUDGET AND THIS PAST BUDGET HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER, BUT IN YEARS WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE MAYBE PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAXES IS A LOT BETTER, HAVE WE EVER CONSIDERED HAVING AN EISMAN CENTER PRESENT BUDGETS WHERE IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY EITHER PAY FOR ITSELF OR ZERO OUT? I'M THINKING SPENDING, YOU KNOW, EXTRA A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON ADVERTISING OR THINGS LIKE THAT? I MEAN, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY FOR THE CITY STAFF.
I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF AN EFFECT MAY OR MAY NOT THAT HAVE YEAH.
ON, ON HEISMAN CENTER PRESENTS? WELL, IN REALITY FOR, UH, SEVERAL YEARS, INCLUDING SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO, TO ALL UNION, IS THAT, IS THE, THAT IS THE EFFECT THAT WE'VE HAD.
WHERE THE REVENUE IS NOT, UM, UH, WE'VE NOT GENERATED AS MUCH REVENUE AS, AS WE'VE, UM, ESTIMATED IN TERMS OF, UH, AND, AND, AND IN RELATION TO THE EXPENDITURES.
AND SO, UM, I WOULD SAY, UM, AND ALI AND MIKAYLA HAVE DONE AN AWESOME JOB THIS YEAR.
UH, TAKING THE LESSONS LEARNED THE FIRST TWO YEARS, YOU, YOU MAY RECALL, THIS IS A, THIS IS A OVERALL, A SMALLER OVERALL MM-HMM
UM, EXPENDITURE BUDGET, UM, WHICH DRIVES THE REVENUE, THE REVENUE, UH, UM, SIDE.
UH, BUT THIS IS AN OVERALL SMALLER REVENUE, UM, EXPENDITURE BUDGET.
UM, TRYING TO FIND THAT SWEET SPOT TO WHERE WE CAN START ACHIEVING, UH, THE REVENUE ESTIMATES, UH, SO THAT WE CAN, UH, TAKE ON STRATEGIES LIKE YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
BUT FIRST I THINK WE'VE GOTTA GET BACK TO A PLACE WHERE, UH, BECAUSE IF, IF, IF WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT NOW, AND WE'RE STILL FALLING SHORT ON THE REVENUE, YEAH.
IT'S JUST GONNA BE EXASPERATED.
UM, AND SO, SO I WOULD SAY, UM, VERY OPEN TO THAT.
AND I THINK THE, THE, THE SEASON AND THE APPROACH THAT WE'VE USED AND THAT NATALIE'S PROPOSED THIS YEAR, UM, IT'S PROBABLY TAKEN US ONE STEP CLOSER TO FINDING THAT SWEET SPOT WHERE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES KIND OF START TO BALANCE OUT.
AND THEN WE CAN CONSIDER, WE CAN, UH, CONSIDER STRATEGIES LIKE THAT MOVING FORWARD.
I MEAN, I, I KNOW THAT IT, IT HASN'T ALWAYS COMPLETELY EQUALED OUT, AND THAT'S NEVER BEEN, FOR ME, THAT'S NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM.
I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM REALLY FOR ANY OF US BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIMENTATION.
UM, I THINK IT'S, I APPRECIATE THE CONTEXT THOUGH, THAT IN YEARS, YOU KNOW, EVEN PRIOR TO ME BEING ON COUNCIL, WE'VE TRIED TO TAKE THAT APPROACH AND IT, IT HASN'T ALWAYS PANNED OUT, BUT IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT WE'RE OPEN TO.
I, I MEAN, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THURSDAY.
UM, I KNEW THAT WAS COMING UP.
I WASN'T SURE ON THE EXACT DATE, BUT I REMEMBER SEEING IT IN THE CALENDAR, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, THE LAST COUPLE YEARS I'VE COME HOME AND JUST BEEN SO EXCITED WHEN I TELL MY WIFE ABOUT THE, I KNOW A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE HAD PEOPLE COMING OFF THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING AND IT, LAST YEAR WAS GREAT,
UM, AND UH, CAN I BRING MY WIFE TO THAT? IS THAT SOMETHING? YEAH.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE SO I CAN LET HER KNOW.
'CAUSE SHE'S LIKE, HONEY ME ABOUT THIS, BUT I WANT TO GO TOO.
UM, I, I LOVE THAT YOU'RE DOING SO MUCH COMMUNITY AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SCHOOLS AND SOME OF OUR PARTNERS HERE.
'CAUSE IT, IT STARTS WITH THEM AND, AND, UH, TO PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, I DID THAT, THE SLIDE THAT COUNCILMAN HUTCHIN RYDER POINTED OUT ACTUALLY WAS ONE THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION TOO.
AND I, I LOVE THE SPIRIT BEHIND THAT.
UH, I'VE GOT, UM, QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
WELL, NOTHING, BUT I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, LIKE, I HOPE WE SEE MORE ABOUT THAT AS FAR AS DATES AND WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND MORE DETAILS.
SO I LOOK FORWARD WHEN THAT TIME COMES TO, TO HEARING THAT SO THAT I COULD ALSO SHARE WITH MY FRIENDS IN THE NON-PROFIT WORLD.
AND I JUST HOPE THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, THAT PROCESS MAKE IT CLEAR SO THAT WE'RE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PROCESS.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE FAVORING THIS AND FAVORING THAT, BUT IT'S A, A CLEAR ABOUT, UH, HOW THAT DECISION'S MADE WHEN IT'S MADE TIMELINES, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SO, UH, WHEN THAT INFORMATION COMES OUT, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT.
BUT GREAT JOB, ALLY AND I IRE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
I KNOW, NOT JUST AT THE EMAN, BUT I'VE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOU HELPING WITH OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE A GREAT ASSET TO OUR CITY AND TO OUR RESIDENTS.
UH, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT DURING MAYBE THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT AS WE FINALIZE THAT.
I MEAN, A 30, $40,000 PROGRAM, IT FEELS VERY MUCH LIKE A PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHAT WE INTENDED IT TO BE, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL, UH, WE'LL ADD SOME DETAIL TO, UM, TO THE, TO THE BUDGET PRESENTATION TO KIND OF FURTHER ELABORATE ON IT.
[E. REPORT ON ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST ]
THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM E REPORT ON ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.[01:05:01]
MR. DORIAN.YES, IT WAS, UH, STARTED OUT WELL.
WANNA ALSO DO A BIG SHOUT OUT TO MARVILLE SQUARE.
UH, THEY HAD THEIR LITTLE SPRING FLING.
IT WAS VERY NICE, UH, HAD A GOOD TURNOUT.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK THEM FOR, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THE EFFORT OUT TO CONTINUE THAT, UH, ANNUAL EVENT.
UM, WE HAD THE GROWTH AND MOBILITY, UM, DART UPDATE AT THE, UH, IQ EARLIER THIS WEEK.
THAT WAS EXTREMELY EDUCATIONAL.
UH, WE ALSO HAD THE VOLUNTEER POLICE, UH, APPRECIATION DINNER.
UM, AND THAT'S OF COURSE, THAT'S, THAT'S VALUABLE FOR EVERYONE THAT, UH, VOLUNTEERS THEIR TIME.
AND THEN OF COURSE, COTTONWOOD.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAD THE ELECTIONS.
TWO, UH, OTHER EVENTS LAST WEEK THAT DUCK CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAD THEIR ANNUAL MEETING AND JUST A MASSIVE TURNOUT.
UM, LIKE YOU WALKED INTO THE ROOM, IT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
THEY FILLED AN ENTIRE CAFETERIA OF, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IT, I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY
THEY SAID IT'S BECAUSE THEY SERVED PIZZA, BUT I'M GONNA CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT'S THAT EVERYONE'S THAT CIVICALLY ENGAGED WITH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AND THEN ALSO WE, UH, UH, SEVERAL OF US ATTENDED THE RETIREMENT OF DR. RICHARD BENSON OVER AT, UM, UTD.
UM, IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE HIM AND THE AMAZING WORK HE'S DONE AT UTD FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS.
UM, UM, AND, UH, JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT HE AND, UH, LESLIE HAVE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, YEAH, GREAT JOB TO YVONNE.
EVERYBODY AT PARKS AND PD AND SO MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED WITH COTTONWOOD, UH, THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS OF THE CITY.
IT'S WHAT MADE ME MOVE TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S, IT'S AN AMAZING EVENT.
YVONNE ORDERED PERFECT WEATHER FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
I KNOW THEY HAD TO WORK A LITTLE EXTRA EARLY SATURDAY MORNING, SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE CREW THAT CAME OUT THERE.
I BELIEVE AT 6:00 AM TO PUT THE HAY DOWN AND HELP ABSORB SOME OF THAT, THAT MUD, UM, ON SATURDAY WAS THE RICHARDSON WOMEN'S CLUB, UH, GARDEN FESTIVAL.
AND MY WIFE AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THAT, VISIT A COUPLE HOMES, SAW SOME AMAZING GARDENS, AND BOUGHT WAY TOO MANY BAKED GOODS, UM, THAT ARE FILLING OUR KITCHEN TABLE RIGHT NOW.
UH, BUT WE WILL ENJOY 'EM THIS WEEK.
UM, LOOKING FORWARD, I JUST WANNA WISH EVERYBODY A UH, ALL THE MOTHERS OUT THERE, A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY AS THAT COMES UP NEXT WEEKEND AND HOPE EVERYBODY GETS TO ENJOY, UH, SOME TIME AND CELEBRATE THE MOTHER IN THEIR LIFE.
SEEING NO MORE ACTIVITIES, THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE US TO CALL THIS MEETING ADJOURNED AT SEVEN OH SEVEN.