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ALL RIGHT, UH, WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE OCTOBER 9TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE RICHARDSON CITY PLAN COMMISSION.
THE PLAN COMMISSION CONSISTS OF RICHARDSON RESIDENTS APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
THERE ARE SEVEN REGULAR MEMBERS AND TWO ALTERNATES ON THE COMMISSION.
ONLY SEVEN MEMBERS WILL VOTE ON AN ISSUE, ALTHOUGH ALL MEMBERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSIONS AND DELIBERATIONS.
IN THE CASE OF THE ABSENCE OF A REGULAR MEMBER, A DESIGNATED ALTERNATE WILL VOTE ON THE ISSUE.
UH, WE'VE GOT SEVEN IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT, SO EVERYBODY'S VOTING.
UH, THIS MEETING IS A BUSINESS MEETING AND WILL BE CONDUCTED AS SUCH IN THAT REGARD.
AS A COURTESY TO THOSE IN ATTENDANCE, WE REQUEST THAT ALL DEVICES THAT ARE MISSED SOUND BE TURNED OFF OR ADJUSTED.
SO AS NOT TO INTERRUPT THE MEETING, OUR PROCEEDINGS ARE RECORDED.
SO PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD WHEN ADDRESSING THE COMMISSION.
UH, TONIGHT ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
EACH PUBLIC HEARING IS PROCEEDED BY A STAFF INTRODUCTION OF THE REQUEST.
THE APPLICANT IS THEN PERMITTED 15 MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION TO THE COMMISSION.
THEY MAY RESERVE ANY PORTION OF THIS TIME FOR A FINAL REBUTTAL.
TIME SPENT IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE COMMISSION IS NOT COUNTED AGAINST THE APPLICANT.
ALL SPEAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD AND SUBMIT IT TO THE RECORDING SECRETARY, WHICH IS AJ SITTING RIGHT THERE.
UH, BEFORE THE MEETING BEGINS, THOSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES EACH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION.
WHEN THE TIMER BEEPS, THE SPEAKER SHOULD CONCLUDE THEIR COMMENTS PROMPTLY.
SPEAKERS MUST NOT PHYSIC PHYSICALLY APPROACH MEMBERS OF THE CPC OR STAFF AND SHOULD REMAIN AT THE PODIUM DURING THEIR COMMENTS.
SPEAKERS WITH HANDOUTS MUST PROVIDE THEM TO THE RECORDING SECRETARY FOR DISTRIBUTION.
IF THERE ARE ORGANIZED GROUPS IN ATTENDANCE, WE SUGGEST THAT YOU SELECT REPRESENTATIVES TO PRESENT YOUR OBJECTIONS.
THE COMMISSION IS INTERESTED IN GATHERING NEW AND RELEVANT INFORMATION.
WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN REPETITION.
PLEASE ADDRESS ALL COMMENTS TO THE COMMISSION, NOT TO MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
AFTER A BRIEF REBUTTAL BY THE APPLICANT, THE HEARING WILL BE CLOSED.
NO FURTHER TESTIMONY WILL BE PERMITTED.
UH, SO WITH THAT, UM, WE'LL OPEN OUR MEETING AND, UM, FIRST WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS. SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE CITY PLAN COMMISSION MEETING IS, UH, SCHEDULED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
AND THIS IS TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY PLAN COMMISSION REGARDING AN ITEM LISTED ON THE AGENDA THAT IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO THE ONLY ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT THAT IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OCTO AUGUST 19TH, 2025.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON THAT MATTER? SEEING NONE, UH,
[1. Approval of the minutes of the regular business meeting of August 19, 2025.]
WE WILL MOVE TO THE MINUTES OF APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.WE DIDN'T DISCUSS THIS IN OUR BRIEFING SESSION, DID WE? SO ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR, UH, CAN I GET A MOTION, A MOTION THAT THE MINUTES BE APPROVED AS WRITTEN? I'LL SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER ROBERTS AND A SECOND FROM THE VICE CHAIRMAN, UH, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF AUG AUGUST 19TH, 2025.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[2. Zoning File 25-16 – Special Permit – What a Great Dog Training: Consider and act on a request for a Special Permit for a Dog Training Center within a 5,256 square-foot existing building on a 0.431-acre lot located at 304 S. Cottonwood Drive, and currently zoned O-M Office. Owner: Jim Otis, Knight Family Investments. Staff: Derica Peters]
SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, UH, WHICH IS OUR PUBLIC HEARING.THIS IS ZONING FILE 25 DASH 16.
SPECIAL PERMIT FOR WHAT A GREAT DOG TRAINING, MS. PETERS.
THE SUBJECT SIDE IS AT 3 0 4 SOUTH COTTONWOOD DRIVE.
IT'S CURRENTLY ZONED OM OFFICE.
IT'S ON THE WEST SIDE OF COTTONWOOD DRIVE, NORTH OF STAGECOACH DRIVE, SOUTH OF BELTLINE ROAD AND NORTH OF SPRING VALLEY ROAD.
THE PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED WITH OFFICE BUILDINGS.
THE PROPERTY TO THE EAST IS THE COTTONWOOD CITY PARK.
TO THE WEST OF THIS PROPERTY IS A RETAIL SHOPPING CENTER THAT ALSO HAS FRONTAGE ON COIT ROAD TO THE WEST AND TO THE SOUTHWEST IS A, UH, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL PERMIT FOR A DROP DOG TRAINING CENTER, WHICH IS AN UNLISTED USE IN THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE.
THE APPLICANT, WHAT A GREAT DOG PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE AND GROUP TRAINING TO OP, UH, DOG TRAINING, UH, OPTIONS, WHICH WILL OPERATE ENTIRELY WITHIN THIS BUILDING.
AND NONE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES WILL TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
THERE WILL BE INTERIOR REMODELING TO RECONFIGURE THE SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE THE DOG TRAINING ACTIVITIES.
THERE WILL BE NO EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS.
THE EXISTING LANDSCAPE AREAS IN THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING HAVE
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ALREADY BEEN MODIFIED.UH, THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH ARTIFICIAL TURF, WHICH HELPS TO MAINTAIN THE CLEANLINESS IN THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
UH, AND THERE WILL BE A PET WASTE STATION REQUIRED TO BE IN, PLACED IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING AS WELL.
UH, BECAUSE AS THE DOGS LEAVE THE CAR TO ENTER THE BUILDING OR LEAVE THE BUILDING TO ENTER THE CAR TO GO, TO GO HOME, THEY WILL MOST LIKELY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.
UM, THE DOG TRAINING AND RELATED USES FOR WHAT A GREAT DOG WERE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED IN THE CITY OF RICHARDSON AT 6 55 NORTH GLENVILLE ROAD IN 2016.
AND THEN IN 2019, THEY EXPANDED THEIR OPERATIONS ACROSS THE STREET TO 6 75 NORTH GLENVILLE ROAD.
THE LEASE EXPIRED IN THESE LOCATIONS IN LATE 2024.
SINCE THAT TIME, THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO OPERATE OUT OF THEIR FRISCO LOCATION.
HOWEVER, THEY PLAN ON RELOCATING TO THIS NEW RICHARDSON LOCATION.
THIS IS THE SITE, SO THE NORTH IS TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PICTURE.
SOUTH IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PICTURE.
THIS SITE IS 0.4 ACRES LITTLE UNDER HALF AN ACRE.
THE BUILDING IS 5,200 SQUARE FEET.
THERE IS ONE DRIVEWAY, UH, WHICH UH, PROVIDES ACCESS TO COTTONWOOD DRIVE TO THE EAST, AND THEN IN THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY IS A PUBLIC ALLEY THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE ROW OF PARKING SPACES TO THE REAR OF THE BUILDING TO THE, TO THE WEST.
I SHOULD SAY, THERE IS NO PARKING STANDARD FOR DOG TRAINING FACILITIES.
SO THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED THAT AT MAXIMUM THEY WILL HAVE 10 CLIENT FAMILIES ATTEND FOR GROUP SESSIONS WITH THE CLIENT, FAMILIES IN ATTENDANCE AND THE EMPLOYEES ON SITE.
THEY ANTICIPATE ONLY NEEDING 15 PARKING SPACES, WHICH EQUATES TO ONE PARKING SPACE PER 350 SQUARE FEET OF A LEASEABLE AREA.
AS A COMPARISON, THEIR PREVIOUS LOCATION ON GLENVILLE WAS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PARKING AT ONE PARKING SPACE PER 450 SQUARE FEET.
SO THIS IS A HIGHER RATIO REQUIRED AT THIS LOCATION.
THE SITE PROVIDES 32 PARKING SPACES.
11 OF THOSE ARE SHARED WITH THE OFFICE BUILDING TO THE SOUTH.
THOSE ARE SHOWN IN PURPLE HERE.
THAT OFFICE BUILDING WILL SOON BE OCCUPIED BY A MEDITATION CENTER.
THEY PLAN ON MEETING ONLY TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK.
SO THEY, UH, DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSED USE WILL BE IN CONFLICT WITH THAT.
UH, CENTER, UM, IS WHAT THE APPLICANTS HAVE INDICATED.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THOSE 32 PARKING SPACES ON SITE, THERE IS ON STREET PARKING ON COTTONWOOD DRIVE.
THERE'S PARALLEL PARKING AVAILABLE IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING AS WELL, AND THAT WAS NOT COUNTED TOWARDS THAT 32 COUNT.
HERE ARE PHOTOS OF THE BUILDING.
SO THESE OFFICE BUILDINGS ALONG COTTONWOOD WERE DEVELOPED IN THE SEVENTIES AS MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDINGS, AND THEY'VE BEEN OCCUPIED BY GENERAL OFFICE USES AND MEDICAL OFFICE USES SINCE THAT TIME.
HERE'S A PHOTO OF THE BUILDING FROM THE FRONT AND THEN A BETTER LOOK AT THAT INTERIOR BREEZEWAY AREA.
THAT'S, UH, PRETTY UNIQUE TO THESE BUILDINGS ALONG COTTONWOOD.
THIS IS THE SOUTH ELEVATION SHOWING A BETTER VIEW OF THE PARKING LOT, AND THEN THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH SHOWS THE ALLEY, AND THEN ANOTHER ROW OF PARKING ON THE BACK OF THAT BUILDING.
I WILL ALSO GO BACK TO POINT OUT IN THIS PHOTO ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, THE LANDSCAPED AREAS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH ARTIFICIAL TURF.
THE ENVISION RICHARDSON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HAS DESIGNATED THIS AREA AS A COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL PLACE TYPE IN THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN.
THAT PLACE TYPE IS CHARACTERIZED BY LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ATTRACT REGIONAL TRAFFIC AND SHOPPING.
IT CAN ALSO CONTAIN SMALLER RETAIL AND BOUTIQUE SHOPS AND SMALLER OFFICE DESTINATIONS.
THE PRIMARY USES IDENTIFIED INCLUDE RETAIL AND OFFICE USES IN THIS ZONING DIS IN THIS PLACE TYPE DISTRICT.
IN SUMMARY, SHOULD THE CITY PLAN COMMISSION ACCEPT THE REQUEST AS AS PRESENTED, THE MOTION SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL CONDITIONS.
THE SPECIAL PERMIT WILL BE TIED TO WHAT A GREAT DOG AS THE SOLE OPERATOR OF A DOG TRAINING CENTER AT THIS LOCATION.
THE SPECIAL PERMIT WILL EXPIRE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE.
THE MINIMUM PARKING RATIO IS ONE SPACE PER 350 SQUARE FEET AT MINIMUM, ONE PET WASTE STATION SHOULD BE LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY, AND THE HOURS OF OPERATION WILL BE LIMITED FOR THIS FACILITY AS WELL FROM MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FROM 7:30 AM TO 8:30 PM AND FRIDAYS THROUGH SUNDAYS FROM 9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM.
UM, ALSO THAT I WILL, SOMETHING I WILL MENTION HERE AS LONG ALONG WITH THE HOURS OF OPERATION.
JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS WILL BE DAILY DOG TRAINING ACTIVITIES.
THERE WILL BE NO OVERNIGHT BOARDING AT THIS LOCATION, AND THIS WAS A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE DID RECEIVE A COMMENT TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU FROM THE NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH OF THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS THE ETHIOPIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.
THEY OUTLINED FIVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ANSWERED WITH THIS PRESENTATION.
I CAN GO THROUGH THOSE REAL QUICK.
THE APPLICANT MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER
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SOME OF THESE AS WELL.THEY ASK HOW MANY DOGS ARE EXPECTED TO BE TRAINED ON A TYPICAL DAY.
THEY ASK IF TRAINING WILL BE CONDUCTED INDOORS OR OUTDOORS.
AS I MENTIONED, IT WILL ALL BE INDOORS.
HOW LONG DO DOGS USUALLY STAY AT THE FACILITY? WE CAN HAVE THE APPLICANT ANSWER THAT THE HOURS OF OPERATIONS WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED AS A CONDITION.
THEY ASK WHAT NOISE CONTROLLER SOUNDPROOFING MEASURES WILL BE REQUIRED OR MONITORED.
UM, THE BUILDING IS NOT SHARING ANY BUILDING WALLS WITH OTHER BUILDINGS OR TENANTS.
SO I, WE DON'T BELIEVE ANY SOUNDPROOFING WILL BE PLACED AS FAR AS NOISE CONTROL BEING MONITORED.
THEY WILL BE SUBJECT TO OUR, UH, NUISANCE ORDINANCE AND CODE ENFORCEMENT WOULD ENFORCE THAT.
AND HOW WILL PARKING AND TRAFFIC BE MANAGED TO OVER TO AVOID OVERFLOW ON COTTON DRIVE? I SHOWED EARLIER ON THE SITE PLAN WHERE PARKING WILL BE ALLOWED FOR THIS FACILITY ON SITE.
AND, UM, THAT WAS THE ONLY COMMENT WE GOT.
THE APPLICANT HAS A GREAT PRESENTATION TONIGHT AS WELL, AND THEY CAN ANSWER ADDITIONAL QUESTION.
YOU MAY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. PETERS OR STAFF.
WELL, THIS IS, UH, A PUBLIC HEARING, SO WE WOULD ASK THE APPLICANT TO PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UH, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU COULD HOLD THAT IF YOU NEED TO POINT ANYTHING.
HELLO, MY NAME'S MAUREEN PATAN.
MY HUSBAND HAROLD PATAN IS ALSO HERE WITH ME.
UM, WE LIVE AT 83 79 SANTA CLARA DRIVE, AND THAT'S IN DALLAS, 7 5 2 1 8.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND HEAD TRAINER OF WHAT A GREAT DOG.
I'M EXCITED TO BE TALKING TO Y'ALL.
RICHARDSON WAS A FABULOUS LOCATION FOR US.
WE WERE VERY SAD TO LEAVE, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE TALKING ABOUT COMING BACK TO RICHARDSON.
UM, SO THE PROPOSED LOCATION, AS YOU KNOW, IS ON COTTONWOOD DRIVE.
WE'RE SEEKING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, UM, ABOUT US.
SO WE'RE A POSITIVE REWARD-BASED TRAINING CENTER.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT DOG TRAINING METHODOLOGIES OUT THERE.
UH, THE ONE THAT WE USE IS KIND OF THE FUN FRIENDLY ONE.
SO WE USE, UM, REWARDS RATHER THAN PUNISHMENTS.
SO MOSTLY, UH, FOOD REWARDS AND TOYS AND SUCH.
AND WE'RE DEALING WITH PET DOGS OR THE, THE TYPE OF TRAINING WE'RE DOING.
SO JUST HELPING PEOPLE'S PETS FIT BETTER INTO THEIR FAMILY.
WE ARE A FAMILY OWNED COMPANY.
WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS IN THE DALLAS AREA FOR OVER 18 YEARS.
UH, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN FRISCO AND WE'VE BEEN, UH, 13 YEARS AT THAT LOCATION.
UH, THE REASON WE WERE LOOKING TO MOVE IS WE LOST OUR LEASE IN RICHARDSON BECAUSE OF THE, UH, RENT GOING UP BEYOND WHAT THE BUSINESS COULD AFFORD.
SO WE CONSOLIDATED INTO FRISCO, UM, AND NOW THAT LEASE IS UP.
AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO MOVE, WE REALLY WANTED TO COME BACK TO RICHARDSON AND WE REALLY WANNA OWN OUR OWN BUILDING.
SO WE WERE, UM, VERY FOUND THIS SPACE TO BE VERY ATTRACTIVE FOR US.
UM, I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THE POTENTIAL ANIMAL IMPACT THAT'S KIND OF AN OBVIOUS CONCERN THAT NEIGHBORS MIGHT HAVE OR OTHERS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN REALLY GOOD NEIGHBORS AND RICHARDSON PREVIOUSLY AND IN 13 YEARS IN FRISCO.
UM, OUR BUSINESS MODEL IS REALLY LOW IMPACT BECAUSE WE ARE AN INDOOR TRAINING CENTER.
UM, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE TRAINING GOING ON OUTSIDE.
HOWEVER, AS OUR CLIENTS ARE COMING AND GOING FROM OUR FACILITY, OF COURSE THEY'LL BE GETTING THEIR DOGS OUT OF THE CAR, UH, BRINGING THEM IN.
AND THEN WE DO ASK THEM THAT THEY ALWAYS GIVE THEIR DOG A CHANCE TO POTTY BEFORE COMING INTO THE BUILDING SO WE CAN MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS IN THE BUILDING.
SO THOSE, UH, WASTE STATIONS, AND WE WILL PROBABLY END UP HAVING TWO OF THEM JUST SO IT'S SUPER CONVENIENT, ARE RIGHT THERE.
THEY'LL HAVE THEIR DOGS POTTY ON THAT ARTIFICIAL TURF.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DISPOSE OF THE WASTE THERE AND THE RECEPTACLES.
AND THEN OUR STAFF AS A PART OF THEIR, UH, DAILY CHECKOFFS, THEY GO AND THEY MONITOR.
OUR CLIENTS ARE ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD ABOUT PICKING UP AFTER THEIR DOGS, BUT WE DO A PASS TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING WAS MISSED AND THEN THEY EMPTY THOSE RECEPTACLES EVERY DAY AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF BAGS.
UM, THE DOGS THAT WE'RE TRAINING ARE, UM, FAMILY PET DOGS.
SO IF A DOG HAS A BITE HISTORY OF ANY KIND, THEY'RE NOT INVITED INTO THE FACILITY.
SO THEY'RE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE TYPE OF TRAINING WE'RE DOING AT THE FACILITY.
AND OF COURSE, WE REQUIRE THAT ALL THE DOGS BE UP TO DATE ON VACCINATIONS AND THEY ARE ON LEASH AT ALL TIMES.
SO COMING INTO THE BUILDING WHILE THEY'RE IN THE BUILDING, THEY'RE ON LEASH.
UM, THE QUICK FACTS, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED THROUGH, UH, DEREK ALREADY COVERED OUR HOURS OF OPERATION.
UH, WE ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY NOW, WE DO HAVE A SMALL RETAIL SECTION AS PEOPLE COME AND CHECK IN WITH THEIR DOGS.
AND IT IS, UM, INCIDENTAL RETAIL SUPPORTING THE ACTIVITIES THEY'RE DOING WITH US.
SO IT'S DOG TREATS, LEASHES, TRAINING, HARNESSES OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO THERE COULD BE THE OCCASIONAL CLIENT STOPPING BY TO PICK UP SOMETHING OUT OF OUR LITTLE RETAIL AREA, BUT IT'S PRIMARILY GONNA BE, UM, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP BY APPOINTMENT FOR THEIR TRAINING CLASS OR THEIR PRIVATE LESSON OR THEIR DROP OFF TRAINING.
UH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE SAW WAS, UM, HOW MANY DOGS WILL BE TRAINED? SO THE MODEL IS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY DURING THE DAY IS PRIMARILY
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DROP OFF TRAINING, AND WE'LL TAKE A MAXIMUM OF 12 DOGS AND THOSE DOGS WILL BE DROPPED OFF BY THE CLIENTS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING BETWEEN SEVEN 30 AND EIGHT 30.UH, WE HAVE THREE TRAINERS THAT WORK WITH THOSE DOGS.
SO EACH TRAINER HAS FOUR DOGS AND THEY WORK WITH THOSE DOGS ALL DAY LONG, GOING THROUGH TRAINING SESSIONS ONE THROUGH FOUR, AND THEN THEY START BACK OVER ONE THROUGH FOUR, START BACK OVER.
SO THESE DOGS GET LOTS OF ATTENTION THROUGHOUT THE DAY, UM, LOTS OF TRAINING.
AND THEN THE CLIENTS WILL COME AND PICK THEM UP AT THE END OF THE BUSINESS DAY.
SO THEIR PICKUP TIMES ARE FOUR 30 TO FIVE 30.
THEN IN THE EVENING WE KIND OF SWITCH OVER AND THAT'S WHERE CLIENTS ARE GONNA BE COMING AND DOING TRAINING WITH THEIR DOGS.
SO WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED WAS DROP OFF TRAINING THE EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS OUR FAMILIES COMING WITH THEIR DOG TO ATTEND EITHER A GROUP TRAINING CLASS OR AN INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE LESSON.
SO WE HAD THOSE 12 DOGS DURING THE DAY.
AND THEN EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS WE'LL HAVE A TOTAL, UM, MAX OF 10 FAMILIES AT A TIME IN THERE FOR THE GROUP TRAINING AND PRIVATE LESSONS.
UH, JUST SOME PICTURES TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A FEEL.
THIS IS THE, OUR FACILITY THAT'S CURRENTLY OPERATIONAL AND FRISCO.
SO IT'S A VERY NEAT PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE.
WE KEEP IT SUPER NICE, SUPER CLEAN.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE UPPER LEFT HAND THERE IS JUST THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING IN FRISCO.
THE UPPER RIGHT IS OUR RECEPTION AREA.
SO AS PEOPLE COME IN, IT'S GONNA LOOK VERY SIMILAR WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING IN THIS RICHARDSON BUILDING.
SO THEY COME IN, THERE'LL BE A VERY NICE, WELL APPOINTED CHECK-IN AREA, ESSENTIALLY WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF RETAIL AVAIL AVAILABLE THERE.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TWO TRAINING RINGS, UH, IN THE SPACE.
AND IT'LL BE THAT PICTURE IN THE BOTTOM LEFT SHOWS A GROUP CLASS WORKING WITH THEIR DOGS.
THEY'RE WORKING ON A, UH, A DOWNST STAY THERE DOWN THE CENTER LINE.
AND OUR TRAINING RINGS WILL BE KIND OF WIDE OPEN WITH THAT RUBBER SLIP PROOF, UH, FLOORING.
AND THEN THE BOTTOM RIGHT PICTURE JUST SHOWS YOU THAT WASTE STATION OUT IN FRONT OF OUR FRISCO LOCATION.
SO IT'S THE KIND OF WASTE STATION YOU WOULD SEE AT A CITY PARK FOR DEALING WITH DOG WASTE WITH THE BAGS AND THE SIGN AND THE, THE WASTE RECEPTACLE RIGHT THERE.
AND THAT IS, UH, ARTIFICIAL TURF THERE AS WELL.
THAT JUST WORKS OUT REALLY NICELY.
WE DO SPRAY DAILY THE TURF, UH, WITH DISINFECTANT JUST TO KEEP THINGS SUPER CLEAN.
UM, SO WHY WE'VE BEEN GREAT NEIGHBORS IN BOTH OF THE LOCATIONS WE'VE BEEN IN AND WHY WE PLAN TO BE GREAT NEIGHBORS IN RICHARDSON.
AGAIN, UH, WE DO HAVE LIMITED TRAFFIC FLOW WITH THAT BY APPOINTMENT ONLY KIND OF MODEL, UM, WITH MORE THAN AMPLE PARKING ON THIS SITE FOR SURE.
UM, WE DO KEEP OUR OPERATIONS REALLY NEAT, QUIET, PROFESSIONAL.
UH, WE LOVE HELPING AREA FAMILIES AND THEIR DOGS HAVE A HAPPY HOME LIFE.
UM, IT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO.
AND THEN WE HAVE COLLABORATED HEAVILY WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES BOTH IN FRISCO AND WHEN WE'VE BEEN IN RICHARDSON IN THE PAST.
SO, UM, ESSENTIALLY EVERY VETERINARIAN IN RICHARDSON REFERS THEIR CLIENTS TO US.
WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION FOR DOING A REALLY EFFECTIVE HUMANE JOB OF TRAINING FAMILY DOGS.
SO WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH VETERINARIANS.
I GO INTO VETERINARY OFFICES AND DO CONTINUING EDUCATION ON BEHAVIOR TOPICS.
UM, WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE RICHARDSON ANIMAL SHELTER PRETTY EXTENSIVELY IN THE PAST, BOTH PROVIDING DONATIONS AND ALSO PROVIDING, UM, TRAINING HELP FOR THEM ON THE DOGS TO HELP MAKE THE DOGS MORE ADOPTABLE.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS FOR US? I HAD TO PULL OUT A CUTE PUPPY PICTURE.
SO, UM, SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT FACILITY.
I HAVE SEVERAL, UH, DOGS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF MY HOUSEHOLD WHO COULD PROBABLY USE SPENDING SOME TIME WITH YOU,
UM, SO I WAS, UH, OVER THERE THIS AFTERNOON AND UM, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOFY QUESTION OR SOMETHING, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF GEESE AND DUCKS YES.
I ASSUME THAT YOUR INGRESS EGRESS OUT OF THE BUILDING FOR THE CUSTOMERS ARE GONNA BE UP THOSE FRONT STEPS.
AND MOST OF THE PARKING IS THAT PARKING LOT TO THE SIDE.
AND THE, THE SIDEWALK, THE SIDEWALK DOES CUT ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING INTO THAT PARKING LOT WHERE THE GEESE COULD ABSOLUTELY BE AVOIDED.
SO WHEN I WAS TURNING IN THIS AFTERNOON, THERE WERE THREE GEESE THAT PREVENTED ME FROM GOING INTO YOUR PARKING LOT.
I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT.
HAD NOT ACTUALLY SEEN GEESE IN THE PARKING LOT BEFORE.
THEY SEEM TO HANG OUT A LOT IN THE, IN COTTONWOOD PARK ACROSS THE STREET.
UM, SO DOGS WILL BE ON LEASH AND, UM, IT WILL BE MANAGED.
UM, I ALSO ANTICIPATE THAT AS THE GEESE START NOTICING A LOT OF DOGS IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO COME UP INTO THE PARKING LOT AS MUCH.
JUST THE SIDE OF A DOG IS ENOUGH FOR THEM TO BE LESS INCLINED TO, BUT BECAUSE THE DOGS ARE ON LEASH, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY, ANY ISSUES.
I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CLICK INTO HOW YOU'RE ESTABLISHING NO BITE HISTORY.
ARE YOU JUST VERBALLY ASKING THE CLIENTS TO DIVULGE THAT OR ARE YOU PULLING RECORDS OR? NO, SO IT IS OWNER REPORTED.
SO AS WE'RE DOING INTAKE ON, UM, NEW DOGS, WE HAVE A WHOLE SERIES OF QUESTIONS AND HISTORY WE TAKE.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
AND, UM, WE DO HELP PEOPLE WITH DOGS THAT BITE, BUT THE WAY WE DO THAT IS WE GO TO THEIR
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HOMES AND HELP THEM.AND SO, UM, I FEEL THAT CLIENTS ARE, UM, MOTIVATED TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT BECAUSE IF THEIR DOG IS A DOG THAT HAS BITTEN, UH, THEY WANT HELP WITH THAT AND THEY LET US KNOW AND WE TELL THEM, HERE'S HOW WE'RE GONNA HELP YOU.
AND THEN FOLLOW UP WOULD BE DO YOU OUTLAW ANY DOG TYPES AT ALL? UH, NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY BREED BANDS AT ALL.
WE, UH, THERE JUST, UM, WITH THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED, UM, UM, TONIGHT, UH, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'VE ADDRESSED ALL THOSE.
UM, SO HOW MANY DOGS EXPECT TO BE TRAINED? SO ON A TYPICAL DAY, SO YOU SAID 12 NORMALLY DURING THE WEEKDAYS AND THEN 10 AT NIGHT AND WEEKENDS YEAH, AT A TIME, YEAH.
SO YEAH, YOU WOULD NEV SO THE THE MOST AT ANY TIME WOULD BE 12.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, LIKE IN THE EVENING WE WILL RUN, UM, TWO GROUP CLASSES.
SO 10 DOGS WILL COME IN WITH THEIR FAMILIES, HAVE THEIR CLASS, THEY'LL LEAVE ANOTHER 10 DOGS COME IN.
SO YEAH, THE MAXIMUM AT ANY GIVEN TIME'S GONNA BE 12.
AND I THINK YOU'VE CONFIRMED THERE'S NO OUTDOOR TRAINING, RIGHT? RIGHT.
UH, YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY STAYED YOUR HOURS.
UM, HOW LONG DO THEY USUALLY STAY AT THE FACILITY? SOUNDS LIKE THE WEEKDAYS IS THE LONGEST PERIOD.
YEAH, PRETTY MUCH BUSINESS DAY.
THEY, THEY'RE GOING TO WORK JUST LIKE THEIR FAMILY, SEVEN 30 TO 30 DROP OFF, AND THEN FAMILIES COME TO GET 'EM BETWEEN FOUR 30 AND FIVE 30.
UH, YOU WANNA ADDRESS NOISE CONTROL SOUNDPROOFING MEASURES.
UM, YEAH, I MEAN, AS, UM, DEREK HAD MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IT IS A FREESTANDING BUILDING.
UM, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY SHARED WALLS, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, THERE'S REALLY VERY LITTLE BARKING BECAUSE WHEN THE DOGS ARE WITH US, THEY'RE BEING TRAINED AND THEY'RE BUSY
AND SO, I MEAN, OF COURSE THERE WILL BE SOME LEVEL OF BARKING, AN OCCASIONAL BARK HERE AND THERE, BUT IT'S REALLY VERY MINIMAL.
AND AGAIN, INDOORS AND SELF-CONTAINED.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE WAS, UH, ABOUT THE PARKING AND TRAFFIC.
UH, SO WHICH, WHAT'S, WHAT'S YOUR BUSIEST TIME? IS THAT IN THE EVENING WHEN YOU HAVE THE FAMILIES COMING IN FOR THE INDIVIDUAL? UH, YES.
SO IT'LL, IT'S GONNA BE, UM, IN THE MORNING WHEN THOSE, UH, 12 DOGS ARE BEING DROPPED OFF, WE'LL HAVE 12 DIFFERENT PEOPLE CYCLING THROUGH DURING THAT HOUR THAT THEY CAN DROP OFF.
AND THEN DURING THE DAY THEY'LL BE NO TRAFFIC 'CAUSE THE DOGS ARE STAYING.
UM, AND THEN AT, AT PICKUP TIME, WE'LL HAVE THOSE SAME 12 FAMILIES PICKING UP THEIR DOGS.
AND THEN WE'LL SHIFT ONCE THOSE DOGS ARE ALL PICKED UP, ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER WE SHIFT INTO OUR GROUP CLASSES AND WE'D HAVE 10 FAMILIES SHOWING UP AT THAT POINT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S PROBABLY THE, WHEN YOU HAVE THE MOST TRAFFIC, RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S A SET TIME.
YOU GONNA START IN THE EVENING.
AND, AND WHAT TIME WOULD THAT BE? SO, UM, WE WOULD TYPICALLY RUN A CLASS THAT STARTS AT SIX AND ONE THAT STARTS AT SEVEN IN THE, ON TYPICAL EVENING.
SO MAYBE THAT'S SEVEN O'CLOCK ONE'S PROBABLY THE BUSIEST WHEN YOU GET PEOPLE'VE.
AND ARE THOSE USUALLY FULL? UM, LIKE ALL 10? YEAH.
YEAH, THE EVENINGS USUALLY ARE, YEAH.
DO SOME, SOME FAMILIES COME WITH TWO DOGS OR THEY ALWAYS JUST COME WITH ONE? UM, TYPICALLY JUST ONE.
IN, IN SOME OF OUR UPPER LEVEL CLASSES, WE'LL ALLOW MULTIPLE DOGS, BUT TYPICALLY JUST ONE DOG ALLOWED PER FAMILY.
UM, AND, UH, I, AND I NOTICED THAT IN YOUR, YOUR OLD SPACE IN RICHARDSON AND YOUR FRISCO LOCATION, THEY WERE MUCH LARGER SPACES, LIKE YES.
I THINK 20,000 SQUARE FEET YES.
IN, IN FRISCO AND YEAH, 15 OR SO, 15,000 SQUARE FEET IN RICHARDSON.
SO MAYBE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SPACE AND SIZE AND WHY.
YOU KNOW, SUCH, SO MUCH SMALLER THAN WHAT YOU, YOU'RE USED TO.
IT'S, I, IT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING THING.
I THINK THE, UM, THE INDUSTRY IS EVOLVING AND I THINK IT WAS ALREADY EVOLVING AND COVID JUST KIND OF SPED IT UP.
SO IN THE PAST, THE BIG DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICES WAS GROUP CLASSES.
PEOPLE WANTED TO COME AND TAKE GROUP CLASSES WITH THEIR DOGS, AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF SPACE.
UM, SO IN FRISCO WE HAVE FOUR BIG RINGS ACTUALLY.
AND IN RICHARDSON IT WAS SIMILAR IN OUR PREVIOUS LOCATION, SO IT TAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE, UM, TO DO THAT.
WE ALSO DID DOG AGILITY, WHICH TOOK A LOT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE AS WELL, AND WE DON'T DO THAT ANY LONGER.
SO THE CHANGE THAT'S HAPPENED, THE EVOLUTION THAT I THINK COVID SPED UP IS CONSUMERS WANT MORE CONVENIENCE IT SEEMS LIKE, IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIFE.
UM, I KNOW I'M THAT WAY AND DOG OWNERS SEEM TO BE THAT WAY TOO.
SO WE STILL DO GROUP CLASSES, WE STILL HAVE GOOD DEMAND FOR OUR GROUP CLASSES, BUT IT'S MUCH LESS THAN IT WAS IN THE PAST.
SO THE MODEL NOW HAS SHIFTED TO FAMILIES WANTING TO DROP OFF THEIR DOG.
UM, AND WE DO THE HEAVY LIFTING NOW.
THEY STILL HAVE TO GET KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT TRAINING FOR THE BEHAVIORS TO PERSIST, BUT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING ON THE TRAINING AND THEN GIVE THEM PRIVATE LESSONS SO THEY CAN KIND OF CATCH UP WITH THEIR DOG.
SO THAT DROP OFF TRAINING WHERE I JUST HAVE, UM, THREE TRAINERS WORKING WITH THOSE FOUR DOGS EACH DOESN'T TAKE NEARLY AS MUCH SPACE AS THESE MULTIPLE GROUP CLASSES DID.
UM, SO IT'S JUST A REAL SHIFT IN THE BUSINESS MODEL HAS CAUSED US TO NOT NEED AS MUCH SPACE.
[00:25:01]
AND, UM, FRANKLY, THE PAST, AT LEAST TWO YEARS IN FRISCO, WE'VE BEEN VERY INEFFICIENT IN THAT HUGE SPACE.SO WE'VE GOT 16,000 SQUARE FOOT IN FRISCO, AND THE BUSINESS MODEL HAS EVOLVED TO THE POINT WHERE WE DON'T NEED ALL THAT SQUARE FOOTAGE.
SO THIS SPACE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, AT 5,200 SQUARE FEET ON COTTONWOOD, UM, IS REALLY PRETTY IDEAL FOR US.
IT'LL WORK OUT REALLY NICELY FOR THE NEW MODEL.
AND I NOTICED THAT, UH, I LOOKED AT YOUR WEBSITE AND I NOTICED THAT, UH, THERE WAS ONE PART ABOUT, UH, UH, BARN BARN HUNT.
ARE ARE YOU STILL DOING THAT? NO.
SO WE ARE STILL DOING THAT IN FRISCO, BUT WE WILL NOT BE BRINGING THAT TO RICHARDSON.
IT'S JUST, IT'S ANOTHER KIND OF GROUP CLASS ACTIVITY WHERE, UM, THERE'S LESS, JUST LESS DEMAND FOR IT.
AND, AND YOU'RE LOOKING TO PURCHASE THIS BUILDING? YES.
YOU'RE NOT, IT'S NOT JUST A LEASE.
SO YEAH, WE'VE HAD THE PAST TWO LEASE SPACES, YOU KNOW, THE, IT'S JUST A, UM, WE'RE ANXIOUS TO OWN OUR OWN PROPERTY.
IT'LL BE NICE TO NOT HAVE A LEASE EXPIRE AND, UH, NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL RENT RATE AND SUCH.
AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THE REASON IT'S YOU WANNA BE IN RICHARDSON IS 'CAUSE YOUR HISTORY HERE YES.
AND THE VE VETS AND YOUR CUSTOMERS, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.
RICHARDSON WAS JUST AN AWESOME LOCATION FOR US, AND A LOT OF THE CLIENTS, DR.
ARE DRIVING TO FRISCO NOW AND ARE EXCITED HEARING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE MAY BE COMING BACK TO RICHARDSON.
IT'S ALSO JUST A REALLY NICE LOCATION FOR US.
WE GET, WE HAVE A LOT OF DALLAS CLIENTS AS WELL, AND, UH, DRIVING TO FRISCO'S, A BIT OF A BEATING FROM DALLAS, BUT RICHARDSON'S ATTAINABLE AS YOU KNOW.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. VICE CHAIRMAN, FOLLOW FOLLOW UP QUESTION ON THE PURCHASE.
SO ARE YOU IN CONTRACT PENDING, SUB APPROVAL AND SUB APPROVAL THEN YOU'RE PURCHASING? YES.
IS THAT THE WAY TO DESCRIBE IT? YES, EXACTLY.
WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO CLOSE? UM, WELL, SO OUR CONTRACT, WE NEED TO CLOSE BEFORE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL.
SO WE'RE GOING OUT ON A LITTLE BIT OF A LIMB AND WE PLAN TO CLOSE OCTOBER 23RD IF WE GET A RECOMMENDATION FROM THIS COMMISSION OF, YES.
UH, WOULD YOUR HUSBAND LIKE TO SPEAK TO ON YOUR BEHALF OR JUST COVERED IT?
UH, SO WE, YOU KNOW, MAY BRING YOU BACK AFTER.
IF THERE'S ANY OTHER, SINCE WE DO HAVE, UM, YOUR NEIGHBOR HERE, UH, AND THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND ASK ANY QUESTION OR MAKE ANY COMMENTS, UH, THAT YOU CAN ADDRESS TO THE COMMISSION OR YOU THINK YOU GOT MOST ALL THE ANSWERS THAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? YEAH.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, ARE YOU GOOD? THAT'S IT.
UH, SEEING NONE, I MAKE A MOTION.
SECOND, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BEACH.
ALL IN FAVOR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
UM, WELL, I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IN MY VIEW, THERE'S, WE GOT A, A, A GOOD BUSINESS.
FILLS A COMMUNITY NEED, GOT, SEEMS TO HAVE A GREAT TRACK RECORD.
UM, SEEMS TO HAVE ADDRESSED ALL THE, THE CONCERNS THAT I WOULD'VE HAD.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE WOULD'VE BEEN LIKE THE ARTIFICIAL TURF, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU TAKE GOOD CARE OF THAT, DISINFECTING IT, CLEANING IT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TWO STATIONS.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE TRAFFIC COULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ISSUE WHEN YOU GOT THAT, UM, THAT CHANGEOVER IN THE EVENINGS BETWEEN THE TWO CLASSES.
UM, BUT, UM, YOU'VE GOT, UH, AN OVERFLOW PARKING THERE WITH THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH THAT'S SHARED PARKING, SO YOU'VE GOT MORE THAN ENOUGH SPACES THERE.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE, UM, AND THEN YOU GOT THE ONES IN THE BACK TOO, UH, AS WELL AS THE STREET PARKING.
SO THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD KIND OF BE THE ONLY THING, UH, THE NOISE, UH, SINCE IT'S A SELF, YOU KNOW, IT'S FREESTANDING BUILDING, UM, AND IT'S ALL INDOOR TRAINING, UM, DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE TO ME.
SO I'D BE, UH, IN FAVOR OF IT.
UM, YEAH, FULLY, FULLY IN FAVOR.
I THINK IT'S GREAT TO SEE SOMEONE COMING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WHO'S GOT WELL ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS, UM, WORKING WITH THE CITY, WORKING WITH THE ANIMAL SHELTERS, THE LOCAL VETERINARIANS.
I FEEL LIKE WE COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER BUSINESS PARTNER.
UM, SO I WAS GOING TO, I SEE WE HAVE ANOTHER LIGHT ON, BUT I WAS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE 25 16 AS IT'S WRITTEN.
I'LL COMMENT REAL QUICK IF PLEASE.
UM, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS SAID, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, AND YOU HEARD MY QUESTION, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE AN OWNER.
[00:30:01]
PAID THE PENALTY OF NOT BEING AN OWNER, IT SOUNDS LIKE.AND, UH, THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HONING UP YOUR OWN CAPITAL TO, UM, NOT JUST BE A BUSINESS HERE, BUT BE AN OWNER AND A BUSINESS HERE.
AND SO, PUTTING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS, AND I FULLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT GOING OUT ON A LIMB, UM, A LITTLE BIT HERE WITH YOUR, THE WAY YOUR CONTRACT IS.
BUT, UM, YEAH, I WOULD, I'D DEFINITELY BE IN SUPPORT.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE, UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO AS PRESENTED WITH A SECOND.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS TOO, AND THE QUESTIONS, UH, ANY OTHER BUSINESS.
ALL RIGHT, THEN WE STAND ADJOURNED.