Jun 24, 2024 City Council

[00:00:06]

I NOW DECLARE THE PLANO CITY COUNCIL IS RECONVENED INTO OPEN SESSION AND ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.

WE'LL BEGIN TONIGHT'S REGULAR MEETING WITH THE INVOCATION LED BY REVEREND DEANNA GHOLSON WITH DISCIPLES CHRISTIAN CHURCH, AND PLEASE JOIN THE COUNCIL RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND TEXAS PLEDGE.

WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE? ALL RIGHT. OH, I DIDN'T HEAR THAT.

WE'RE JUST ON BREAK.

OKAY, THERE WE GO.

WELL, THERE WE GO.

LORD, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD WATCH OVER THIS MEETING IN THIS CITY.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY WHO WERE IMPACTED BY THE RECENT STORMS, AND WE KNOW THAT PATIENCE IS REQUIRED AS WE CLEAN UP FROM IT.

LORD, WE PRAY THAT OUR WORK OF OUR CITY WOULD CONTINUE TO BE EXCELLENT IN THAT CLEANUP AND THAT PEOPLE WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE PATIENCE AND PLEASE BLESS THEM AS THEY DO.

LORD, WE PRAY FOR YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THIS MEETING AND UPON THIS BODY.

WE PRAY FOR WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT.

WE PRAY FOR PATIENCE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

WE PRAY THAT WE WOULD ALL HAVE GRACE FOR ONE ANOTHER, BOTH ON THIS COUNCIL AND IN THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY.

WE PRAY THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE KNOWN, BY THE WAY, THAT WE LOVE EACH OTHER AND THE WAY THAT WE HAVE UNITY, AND LORD, WE PRAY FOR YOUR HAND TO BE ON THIS MEETING, ON THIS COUNCIL AND ON THIS CITY NOW AND ALWAYS.

WE PRAY THIS ALL IN YOUR SON'S NAME.

AMEN.

THANK YOU. BE SEATED.

YOU KNOW WHAT? WE COULD ALWAYS USE A SECOND PRAYER, SO I'D BE GLAD TO COME UP.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU, REVEREND, I APOLOGIZE.

I HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS ALL THIS CONSTRUCTION THIS WAY.

THAT'S MY FAULT. YEAH.

HOLY CREATOR GOD OF ALL PEOPLE AND ONE KNOWN BY MANY NAMES.

WE COME BEFORE YOU SEEKING WISDOM.

LET OUR HEARTS OPEN TO THE NEEDS MORE THAN OUR WANTS.

LET OUR EARS HEAR BEYOND MERE WORDS AND OUR UNDERSTANDINGS BE WHOLE.

LET OUR VERY HUMAN NATURES BE STRENGTHENED BY YOURS AND IN ALL THINGS, IN ALL WAYS, AND IN ALL TIME.

MAY OUR WILL BE YOURS.

GUIDE US IN THE DOING, STRENGTHEN US IN THE UNDERSTANDING, AND AS ALWAYS, BE WITH US.

AMEN, AMEN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, REVEREND.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

ALL RIGHT.

THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ACTED UPON IN ONE MOTION AND CONTAINS ITEMS WHICH ARE ROUTINE AND TYPICALLY NONCONTROVERSIAL.

ITEMS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THIS AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION BY A COUNCIL MEMBER, THE CITY MANAGER, OR ANY CITIZEN.

PRESIDING OFFICER WILL ESTABLISH TIME LIMITS BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKER REQUESTS.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT FOR A.

SECOND. SECOND.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM A.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. ITEM A.

[(a)  

June 10, 2024

MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THE COUNCIL CONDUCTED ITS ANNUAL RETREAT ON JUNE 14TH, AND WE HAD MINUTES POSTED IN DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING THE TOP GOALS FOR THE 24-25 ANNUAL BUDGET.

IT WAS LISTED THAT I MENTIONED A $60,000 DEFICIT.

I WOULD PREFER THAT, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY AT A $60 MILLION DEFICIT.

SO THAT ONE CORRECTION WE WOULD ADD TO THE MINUTES.

SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU AMEND THE MINUTES TO INCLUDE 60 MILLION, INSTEAD OF 60,000 AS FAR AS THAT DEFICIT GOES.

THANK YOU. I WILL MOVE THAT.

WE PASS ITEM A, AS AMENDED BY CITY MANAGER ISRAELSON.

SECOND. THANK YOU.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM A, AS AMENDED.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM.

[(1)  Consideration of a Resolution to support capping the sales and use tax revenues for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority; and providing an effective date. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-6-9(R).]

ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

[00:05:02]

REMAINING SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO 30 TOTAL MINUTES OF TESTIMONY TIME, WITH THREE MINUTES ASSIGNED PER SPEAKER.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY AMEND THESE TIMES AS DEEMED NECESSARY.

NONPUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. THE PRESIDING OFFICER WILL PERMIT PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA NOT POSTED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER WILL ESTABLISH TIME LIMITS BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKER REQUESTS, LENGTH OF THE AGENDA AND TO ENSURE MEETING EFFICIENCY, AND MAY INCLUDE A CUMULATIVE TIME LIMIT.

SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER THE REQUESTS WERE RECEIVED UNTIL THE CUMULATIVE TIME IS EXHAUSTED.

ITEM NUMBER ONE CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE SALES AND USE TAX.

EXCUSE ME TO SUPPORT CAPPING THE SALES AND USE TAX REVENUES FOR THE DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ALL RIGHT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

SO THIS IS THE ACTUAL ITEM FOR YOU TO VOTE ON.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WATCHING ONLINE AND THOSE IN THE ROOM, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION FOR YOU.

LET'S SEE A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PLANO, TEXAS, SUPPORTING CAPPING THE SALES AND USE TAX REVENUES FOR THE DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, WHEREAS THE DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY WAS CREATED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN 1983, AND WHEREAS, THE DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY PROVIDES SERVICE TO ADDISON, CARROLLTON, COCKRELL HILL, DALLAS FARMERS BRANCH, GARLAND, GLENN HEIGHTS, HIGHLAND PARK, IRVING, RICHARDSON, ROWLETT, PLANO, AND UNIVERSITY PARK, AND WHEREAS ALL DART MEMBER CITIES CONTRIBUTE $0.01 OF THE SALES AND USE TAX TO THE AUTHORITY AS APPROVED BY VOTERS, AND WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TAXPAYERS, AND WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS MOBILITY AND TRANSIT IN THE NORTH TEXAS REGION, AND WHEREAS, THE CITY COUNCIL'S CONCERN THAT THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO TAXPAYERS MAY NOT BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE CURRENT CONTRIBUTION PROVIDED TO THE DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

NOW, THEREFORE NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLANO, TEXAS, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL NOW ADOPTS A POSITION OF SUPPORT TO REDUCE THE SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTIONS OF THE DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO NOT EXCEED THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY.

THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS CAPPING SALES AND USE TAX REVENUES AT THE AMOUNT EQUIVALENT TO THE 2024 COLLECTIONS UNTIL A REDUCTION CAN OCCUR.

A MOUTHFUL. I WILL JUST REITERATE BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO SPEAKERS, THAT THE INTENT OF THIS IS NOT TO REDUCE SERVICES.

I KNOW THERE ARE MANY IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE REACHED OUT AND HAVE EXPRESSED A CONCERN THERE.

THAT IS NOT THE UNDERSTANDING I HAD FROM THIS BODY, NOR IS THAT THE INTENT OF THIS RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS? WE DO HAVE SIX SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.

THE FIRST ONE IS PRESTON KOLB, WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON ZOOM, AND I'M NOT SEEING PRESTON.

IS PRESTON IN THE AUDIENCE? OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO JOSHUA HAUPT.

YES. OKAY. COME ON UP.

OKAY.

AGAINST THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION BECAUSE OF FEAR OF, LIKE I SAID, JUST CUTTING SERVICES AND YEAH SEEING WHAT THEY DO OFFER FOR WHAT THEY'RE PAID FOR.

$0.01 SAY IT'S, BUT AGAIN ANOTHER CONCERN IS CAN SERVICES ALSO CUT SECURITY? OKAY. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DAN MUSTAFA.

GOOD EVENING, DEAR, AND ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR.

MY NAME IS DAN MUSTAFA AND I AM A RESIDENT OF PLANO.

A QUESTION REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT THE TAX PAID TO DART IS EQUAL TO THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE TO THE CITY OF PLANO HAS BEEN RAISED.

THE ANSWER IS YES.

DART PROVIDES SERVICE THAT IS EQUAL TO THE SERVICE, IT TO THE TAX IT IMPOSES.

DART PROVIDES PLANO CITIZENS QUICK AND CHEAP ACCESS TO MAJOR JOB CENTERS IN DALLAS AND OTHER CITIES VIA LIGHT RAIL AND BUS LINES.

IT ALSO ALLOWS PLANO CITIZENS TO TRAVERSE DFW AND PLANO WITHOUT USING A CAR, WHICH SUPPORTS THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE A CAR.

THOSE WHO DON'T WANT A CAR, THOSE WHO ARE TOO YOUNG TO HAVE A CAR, AND OF COURSE DECREASES TRAFFIC FOR EVEN THOSE WHO DON'T USE DART.

THEY RUN CHEAP AND QUICK ON DEMAND MOBILITY SERVICES IN ALMOST ALL OF PLANO, ALLOWING THE ELDERLY, IMPAIRED AND MANY OTHERS TO TRAVEL ALONE AS THEY WISH.

JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, DART OPENED A BRAND NEW BUS LINE, THE 254, WHICH RUNS ONLY IN PLANO, BUT ALL THIS IS ONLY WHAT THEY DO NOW.

WHAT THEY PLAN ON DOING IS EVEN BETTER.

DART IS CURRENTLY BUILDING A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR, STATE OF THE ART TRAIN LINE, WHICH WILL PROVIDE EXTREMELY QUICK AND CHEAP CONNECTION TO UTD, RICHARDSON, DALLAS, ADDISON, CARROLLTON AND THE DFW AIRPORT TO PLANO RESIDENTS.

THEY ALSO PLAN ON EXPANDING THEIR BUS NETWORK AND INCREASING FREQUENCIES FOR BUS AND RAIL.

[00:10:07]

DURING THE PANDEMIC, LIGHT RAIL AND BUS RIDERSHIP DROPPED TO AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 61% OF PRE-PANDEMIC RIDERSHIP.

IN 2023, RIDERSHIP HAD RISEN TO 82% OF PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS, MEANING IN JUST TWO YEARS RIDERSHIP HAD RISEN BY 21%, OR 10.5% PER YEAR.

WITH THIS INFORMATION, WE CAN PREDICT THAT WITHIN JUST A COUPLE YEARS, RIDERSHIP WILL LIKELY SURPASS PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

IN CONCLUSION, DART DOES AND WILL GIVE THE CITY THE SERVICE IT PAYS FOR TO DECREASE.

COMMITMENT TO DART IS TO DECREASE COMMITMENT TO THE ELDERLY, THE POOR, THE YOUNG, THE COMMUTER, THE DRIVER AND THE IMPAIRED.

THEREFORE, I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT DART AND THE COUNTLESS BENEFITS IT BRINGS TO OUR CITY.

THANK YOU DEAR AND ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR, ALONG WITH ALL OTHERS WHO WORK TO MAKE PLANO THE CITY OF EXCELLENCE.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA DONALDSON, WHO WAS JUST ON ZOOM, AND NOW SHE'S GONE.

OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO [INAUDIBLE].

HELLO, MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AND I AM A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF PLANO.

I LIVE IN CENTRAL PLANO.

I WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO THIS RESOLUTION TO CAP SALES AND USE TAX REVENUES GOING TO DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT.

WHEN I READ THE AGENDA ITEM ONLINE, I SAW AN INSINUATION THAT DART HAS BEEN SLOW TO RECOVER TRANSIT RIDERSHIP SINCE THE PANDEMIC, AND I WOULD LIKE TO DISABUSE YOU OF THIS NOTION.

DART HAS RECOVERED ABOUT 80% MORE, AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER HAS STATED OF ITS PRE-PANDEMIC RIDERSHIP, WHICH IS TYPICALLY COMPARED TO 2019 LEVELS.

I'VE DECIDED TO LOOK AT HOW THIS COMPARES TO OTHER CITIES WITH SIMILAR TRANSIT SYSTEMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

SAN DIEGO, WHICH HAS A LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM CALLED THE TROLLEY, WHICH PRE-PANDEMIC HAD A SIMILAR RIDERSHIP TO DART, HAS RECOVERED 75% OF ITS TRANSIT SYSTEM RIDERSHIP.

SO HAS SEATTLE.

PORTLAND HAS ONLY RECOVERED 70% OF ITS RIDERSHIP.

SAINT LOUIS, WHICH ALSO HAS A LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM, 60%.

MINNEAPOLIS, ALSO AROUND 60%, AND EVEN LARGE CITIES LIKE NEW YORK CITY AND CHICAGO HAVE ONLY RECOVERED ABOUT 60 TO 70% OF THEIR PRE-PANDEMIC RIDERSHIP SO FAR.

DART IS NOT A FAILURE IN RECOVERING PRE-PANDEMIC RIDERSHIP.

IT IS A SUCCESS, AND THE REASON THIS SUCCESS HAS OCCURRED IS BECAUSE OF THE RECENT AND ONGOING IMPROVEMENTS TO TRANSIT SERVICES ACROSS THE DART AREA, INCLUDING IN PLANO.

PLANO, SORRY, THE DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT HAS IMPROVED BUS SERVICE FREQUENCIES AND RELIABILITY SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND IT HAS SET PLANS TO CONTINUE TO DO SO, INCLUDING PLANS TO IMPROVE WEEKEND SERVICE ON THE LIGHT RAIL.

JUST THIS YEAR AND LATER PLANS TO IMPROVE THE 200 SERIES BUS ROUTES WHICH RUN 40 MINUTES OR HOURLY IN THE MIDDAY TO RUN EVERY 30 MINUTES.

THESE WOULD INCLUDE ALL OF PLANO'S BUS ROUTES.

THESE SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL FOR ACHIEVING THE SUCCESS THAT DART HAS SEEN IN RECOVERING PUBLIC TRANSIT RIDERSHIP SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIT, AND REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT DART RECEIVES WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPAIR DART'S ABILITY TO CONTINUE. I'M NOT SAYING IT WILL HAVE TO REDUCE SERVICE NECESSARILY.

IT WILL. SORRY.

IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE SORTS OF IMPROVEMENTS, AND PLANO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET MORE FOR THE MONEY THAT IT'S ALREADY GIVING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

RIVER BLOOM.

GO AHEAD AND START.

[00:15:05]

I LIVE AT 4000 HALIFAX DRIVE, AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A PLANO RESIDENT WHO USES JUST ABOUT EVERY DART SERVICE THERE IS IN THE CITY.

I DON'T OWN A CAR, SO I RELY ON DART FOR JUST ABOUT ALL OF MY BASIC NEEDS.

SORRY IF I'M A LITTLE SWEATY.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT SHOWS UP ON CAMERA.

I TOOK MY BIKE HERE.

I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS I'VE HEARD ABOUT DART, AND GIVE MY PERSPECTIVE ON SOME THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD DISCUSSED BEFORE.

THE FIRST POINT I'VE HEARD IS THAT DART HAS LOW POST-PANDEMIC RIDERSHIP RECOVERY.

THIS IS NOT TRUE, BUT POST-PANDEMIC RIDERSHIP RECOVERY IS AN ISSUE THAT TRANSIT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING, AND DART IS ACTUALLY A SUCCESS COMPARED TO OTHER AGENCIES.

EVEN SO DART IS AT A LOWER POINT THAN IT WAS PRE-PANDEMIC, BUT THE ANSWER IS UNEQUIVOCALLY NOT TO STRIP FUNDING.

SECOND, I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE MENTION EMPTY BUSSES.

PART OF EFFECTIVE CITY PLANNING IS MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE RESIDENTS, RESIDENCES, AND DESTINATIONS THAT CAN BE SERVED BY TRANSIT.

IN THIS PLANO HAS LARGELY FAILED.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A CITY AND A TRANSIT AGENCY IS A TWO WAY STREET.

CITIES CANNOT SUBURBAN SPRAWL THEMSELVES INTO A FUNCTIONING TRANSIT SYSTEM.

YOU NEED RESIDENTIAL, RETAIL AND OFFICE DENSITY TO ATTRACT TRANSIT RIDERS.

THIS DOESN'T MEAN DEMOLISHING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OR BANNING CARS.

IT JUST MEANS BEING SMARTER WITH YOUR COMP PLAN AND NOT GIVING IN TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO INCREASE THEIR SHORT TERM PROPERTY PROPERTY VALUES AT THE EXPENSE OF EVERYONE ELSE.

I HAVE ALSO HEARD PROPOSALS FOR A POINT TO POINT RIDE SHARE SYSTEM LIKE VIA IN ARLINGTON TO REPLACE BUSSES, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA IN THE SLIGHTEST.

FIRST OF ALL, IF WE GIVE IN TO THE ROVING BANDS OF CONSERVATIVES TRYING TO DESTROY OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND KILL DART, FUNDING A SYSTEM LIKE VIA IS NOT VIABLE LONG TERM BECAUSE IT'S RUN BY PRIVATE EQUITY TECH FIRMS THAT WILL INEVITABLY GO BANKRUPT IN 5 TO 10 YEARS WHEN THEIR SOFTWARE AND DATA COLLECTION BUSINESS FAILS, BUT ALSO, I WILL POINT OUT THAT DART CURRENTLY OFFERS PRETTY MUCH THIS EXACT SERVICE.

IT'S CALLED GOLINK. THERE'S A POINT TO POINT PLANO PILOT PROGRAM, AND I RELY ON IT TO GET TO AND FROM WORK EVERY DAY, AND IT SUCKS.

GOLINK IS ONLY THERE BECAUSE PLANO HAS FAILED TO GENERATE TO PLAN A CITY THAT GENERATES ENOUGH DEMAND FOR BUSSES.

EVERY GOLINK ZONE THAT DART HAS TO SET UP REPRESENTS A FAILURE OF A DART MEMBER CITY TO ACT AS A PARTNER IN ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH DART, AND A FAILURE TO EFFECTIVELY PLAN A CITY. ALSO TO STATE THE OBVIOUS AS A DART RIDER, JEOPARDIZING PLANO'S RELATIONSHIP WITH DART WITH A RESOLUTION LIKE THIS ONE WOULD BE AN IMMENSE PRESSURE AND HARM TO ME AND RESIDENTS LIKE ME WHO RELY ON DART.

ALL THIS IS TO SAY, IF PLANO WANTS MORE VALUE FROM THEIR DOLLAR FROM DART, START PLANNING LIKE IT AND VOTE NO ON THIS RESOLUTION.

ANY OTHERS. NO.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL CONFINE THE COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL.

MOTION TO APPROVE, MAYOR.

I WILL SECOND THAT.

SO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER ONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES.

[(2)  

Consideration to approve an expenditure for the Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center – Renovation, Project No. FAC-F-7525, in the amount of $13,568,203 from Lee Lewis Construction, Inc.; and authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents. Approved

ITEM NUMBER TWO CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE AN EXPENDITURE FOR THE TOM MUEHLENBECK RECREATION CENTER RENOVATION PROJECT.

NUMBER FACF7525 IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,568,203 FROM LEE LEWIS CONSTRUCTION, INCORPORATED AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE YOU GUYS? SO WHAT, 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO, WE STARTED WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, AND NOW WE'RE FINALLY HERE TO GET IT STARTED.

WE CHOSE THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK DELIVERY METHOD ON THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO HAVE THE ABILITY, AS WE WENT THROUGH THE DESIGN ITERATIONS TO AFFECT THE PROJECT BUDGET AND END UP WITH EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED AT THE END.

WHAT THIS PROJECT INCLUDES IS MORE OR LESS A FULL COSMETIC RENOVATION FOR ALMOST ALL THE FINISHES THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.

ALL THE MAJOR SYSTEMS FROM THE ROOF, THE MECHANICAL, THE LIGHTING NETWORK, SOUND SYSTEMS, ALL OF IT'S BEING REPLACED ON THIS PROJECT. IN ADDITION, WE ARE GOING TO REMODEL THE LOCKER ROOMS HEAVILY.

THEY NEED SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CURRENT STATE OF WHAT'S BEING ASKED OF US.

MORE PRIVATE LOCKER ROOMS. FAMILY TYPE SINGLE USER LOCKER ROOMS. ALSO, THE AQUATICS AREA IS GOING TO SEE SOME MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS.

[00:20:01]

WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE THE SMALL TODDLER AREA TO HAVE A ZERO DEPTH ENTRY AND A BUNCH OF NEW PLAY STRUCTURES, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, AS WELL AS SLIDE TOWER REMEDIATIONS AND REPAIRS.

OVERALL BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT IS 15.5 MILLION, AND 1.5 OF IT IS GOING TOWARDS DESIGN AND SUPPORTING DESIGN SERVICES.

THE ITEM IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT IS THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR OUR CMAR OF 13.5 AND CHANGE, AND THEN THE REMAINING IS FOR $431,000 OF OTHER CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

OVER HALF OF THAT IS FIXTURES AND FURNITURE FOR THE PROJECT, AND SO WHEN WE WERE SCOPING THIS JOB, WE WORKED HEAVILY WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO TALK ABOUT LESSONS LEARNED ON OTHER RENOVATIONS OF OTHER REC CENTERS AND WHAT THE BEST APPROACH WAS IN THE PAST.

WE'VE KIND OF LENGTHENED THEM OUT, GIVEN PORTIONS OF THE PROJECT AND DONE IT IN PHASES, AND WE'VE DISCOVERED THAT IT'S JUST BETTER TO RIP OFF THE BAND-AID, DO IT AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE, SHUT IT DOWN, AND IT EVEN SAVES US MONEY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PAYING AS MUCH AS GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR THE CONTRACTOR BEING ON SITE AS LONG.

SO WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE HOPING TO GIVE NOTICE TO PROCEED IF APPROVED TONIGHT TO THE CONTRACTOR IN JULY, WE WOULD START ON ALL OF OUR SUBMITTALS, OF ALL OF OUR LONG LEAD MATERIALS, AND IN FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR, WE WOULD ACTUALLY CLOSE THE CENTER THROUGH FEBRUARY OF OCTOBER INTO NOVEMBER WITH A SMALL PUNCH LIST OF ITEMS, WHAT WE EXPECT TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED IN OCTOBER, AND WITH THAT, I'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT OUR MUEHLENBECK CENTER'S OUR MOST USED RECREATION CENTERS.

DOCTOR SMITH BACK THERE NODDING HIS HEAD.

SO WHILE I KNOW THAT IT'S OUR NEWEST RECREATION CENTER, IT IS CLOSE TO 20 YEARS OLD.

A LITTLE BIT LESS, BUT CLOSE TO 20 YEARS OLD AND BEING THE MOST USED.

WE HAVE A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE, AND SO THIS IS ALLOWING US TO KEEP UP THE CONDITION OF THAT IMPORTANT FACILITY.

THANK YOU.

MY ONLY CONCERN, I THINK I AGREE WITH YOU.

WE SHOULD SHUT DOWN THE WHOLE FACILITY BECAUSE IF YOU JUST KEEP PART OF IT OPEN, YOU SPEND A LOT OF GC MONEY ON KEEPING IT CLEAN, KEEPING THE SAFETY OF ALL THE USERS.

SO SHUTTING IT COMPLETELY DOWN IS THE BEST.

MY QUESTION IS TIED TO THE SCHEDULE, BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FROM FEBRUARY TO NOVEMBER OF A MAJOR, WELL USE RECREATIONAL FACILITY.

DID WE PROVIDE ANY TYPE OF INCENTIVE TO OUR CONTRACTOR TO BEAT THAT SCHEDULE? AND ON TOP OF THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY LEADS ON THAT IF THEY DON'T MEET THAT SCHEDULE? FUNNY YOU ASK. I JUST WORKED ON THE CONTRACT.

THERE'S $1,000 PER DAY LEASE AND THERE ARE INCENTIVES.

ALL OF OUR CURRENT CMAR CONTRACTS HAVE INCENTIVES BUILT IN FOR BOTH SHARED SAVINGS ON BUYOUTS.

SO ON DAY ONE THEY'RE PROJECTING WHAT THE COSTS ARE WHEN THEY ACTUALLY SIGN THE CONTRACTS WITH THE SUBCONTRACTORS.

THAT'S A SHARED SAVINGS.

CITY GETS 75%, CMAR GETS 25%.

LIKEWISE IF THEY FINISH EARLY THAT MONTHLY GENERAL CONDITIONS MODEL WE'VE ESTABLISHED WITH THEM 75 TO THE CITY, 25 TO THE CONTRACTOR.

SO YES, THERE ARE INCENTIVES TO FINISH EARLY.

THANK YOU. DID WE CONSIDER I DON'T I'M ASSUMING, AND MR. SMITH CAN CORRECT ME THAT OUR MOST USED TIME WOULD BE IN THE SUMMER WHEN PEOPLE ARE OUT OF SCHOOL.

DID WE CONSIDER WAITING UNTIL SCHOOL WAS BACK IN SESSION? SO WE'RE NOT MISSING THE HIGHEST TRAFFIC CLOSING DOWN WITH THE HIGHEST TRAFFIC MONTH.

WE DEFINITELY CONSIDER THAT.

WE WERE HOPING TO ESTABLISH IT TO TRY TO SHUT IT DOWN THIS FALL.

BUT OUR LONG LEAD ITEMS ARE AQUATICS FEATURES, OUR ROOFTOP MECHANICAL UNITS.

WE JUST CAN'T GET IN TIME TO DO THAT.

SO IF WE PUSH IT OFF FOR A WHOLE 'NOTHER SEASON, WE WOULD EASILY SPEND, I DON'T WANT TO SAY ALMOST ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS IN ESCALATION TO GET TO THAT NEXT SUMMER, JUST TO NOT SHUT IT DOWN THIS SUMMER.

SO VISITING WITH RON'S FOLKS, WE DECIDED THAT THIS WAS THE BEST APPROACH.

OH, NO, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY.

ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. THANK YOU.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER TWO.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES.

[COMMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST]

COMMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST.

THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS TO ALLOW UP TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER, WITH 30 TOTAL MINUTES ON ITEMS OF INTEREST OR CONCERN, AND NOT ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CURRENT AGENDA.

THE COUNCIL MAY NOT DISCUSS THESE ITEMS, BUT MAY RESPOND WITH FACTUAL OR POLICY INFORMATION.

[00:25:04]

LET ME. THE FIRST ONE IS MICHAEL RUBEN TREJO. MR. TREJO. GOOD EVENING.

STARTING MY VIDEO.

JUST MAKING SURE EVERYONE CAN SEE ME.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION YOU ALL PUT INTO MAKING THIS CITY AN EXCELLENT PLACE TO LIVE.

I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION CIRCUMSTANCE THAT I BELIEVE PLACES AN UNDUE BURDEN ON FAMILIES LIKE MINE WHO ARE NEW ARRIVALS IN THE CITY OF PLANO.

MY FAMILY AND I ESTABLISHED RESIDENCE IN PLANO IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, AND WE WERE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT WE WILL BE PAYING $60 A MONTH FOR UNTIL MAY OF 2025 AT WHICH POINT THE CITY OF PLANO WILL ESTABLISH A SEWER RATE FOR OUR HOUSE THROUGH THE WINTER QUARTER AVERAGE WQA METHOD.

I SPOKE WITH THE CUSTOMER AND UTILITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THIS PRACTICE IS CONTROLLED BY CITY ORDINANCE AND THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DEVIATE FROM THIS ORDINANCE. HENCE MY SPEAKING IN THIS FORUM ON THIS TOPIC.

I SUSPECT THAT OUR SEWER USAGE OVER THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR WILL BE UNDER THE $60 A MONTH THAT WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY.

AS SUCH, I THINK THAT IT IS UNFAIR THAT WE WILL BE CHARGED MORE THAN WE WILL USE.

IN ESSENCE, WE ARE SUBSIDIZING OTHER BY DEFINITION, MORE AFFLUENT NEW RESIDENTS OF PLANO WHO DO NOT NEED OUR SUBSIDY.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF THE CITY WANTS TO KEEP THE CURRENT WQA METHOD OF CALCULATING SEWER USAGE, THEN THEY SHOULD CREDIT OR DEBIT ACCOUNTS LIKE OURS AFTER THE FIRST WQA IS ESTABLISHED.

THAT IS IN ADDITION TO BEING PROSPECTIVE.

THE FIRST WQA WOULD BE RETROSPECTIVE AS WELL, AND WOULD APPLY TO THE ENTIRE PERIOD DURING WHICH AN ACCOUNT WAS CHARGED THE CITY AVERAGE.

IF OUR FIRST WQA IS BELOW THE CITY AVERAGE.

MY ACCOUNT WOULD BE CREDITED WITH THE OVERAGE, BUT IF OUR FIRST WQA IS ABOVE THE CITY AVERAGE, MY ACCOUNT WOULD BE DEBITED FOR THE SHORTFALL.

SUCH A CHANGE WOULD ENSURE THAT EVERYONE PAYS THEIR FAIR SHARE WHILE STILL RESPECTING THE SEWER METERING CHALLENGES THAT GIVE RISE TO THE WQA METHOD IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE FURTHER, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALLOWING ME TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN.

THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

MAYOR COUNCIL. I WOULD JUST ADD IN THAT THE REASON FOR THE WINTER QUARTER AVERAGE IS THE CITY DOES NOT METER SEWER FLOW OUT OF INDIVIDUAL HOMES.

SO THIS IS AN ESTIMATION PROCESS THAT THE CITY HAS ADOPTED.

THAT'S AN INDUSTRY STANDARD THAT REALLY FOCUSES ON THE WINTER MONTHS WHERE IRRIGATION IS AT A MINIMUM THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND THAT IS USED AS A PROCESS TO ESTIMATE HOW MUCH WATER IS ACTUALLY RETURNED VIA SEWER.

SINCE YOU'RE NOT IRRIGATING YOUR LAWN, THEORETICALLY YOU'RE USING MORE DISHWASHING BATHROOMS AND LAUNDRY AND THAT STUFF IS THAT WATER ONCE USED IS THEN RETURNED TO THE SYSTEM.

WE'VE HAD THIS IN PLACE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND NEW RESIDENTS THAT COME IN GET THE CITYWIDE AVERAGE APPLIED TO THEM.

WE HAVE NOT CONSIDERED LOOKING AT THE REBATE ASPECT ASPECT AS FAR AS TRUING UP AT THAT TIME, BUT THEY DO ESTABLISH AN INDIVIDUAL WINTER QUARTER AVERAGE OVER THAT TIME FRAME AND THE ISSUE I THINK WOULD BECOME THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF THINGS, AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME TO HAVE BALLOONED COSTS IN THAT.

SO THIS HAS BEEN THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT, BUT IF COUNCIL WANTS TO LOOK AT THAT, IF YOU'LL REACH OUT TO ME, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO SOME RESEARCH WITH OUR FINANCE STAFF TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL. THANK YOU.

YEAH, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TARA RICE.

LET ME TAKE JUST A SECOND.

MISS RICE.

MISS RICE. GO AHEAD.

GOOD EVENING. I AM HERE TO ADDRESS THE MAYOR ABOUT THE MISCONDUCT OF HIS POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY

[00:30:05]

SINCE APRIL 12TH, AND I WAS HERE ON JANUARY SPEAKING ABOUT THE WRONGFUL.

WHICH THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ARREST OF MY JUVENILE SON, BUT.

FORT WORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ENLISTED NINE DIFFERENT CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO COME AFTER ME FOR SPEAKING PUBLICLY SINCE FOR MY SON'S INJUSTICE.

WELL, APPARENTLY THAT DIDN'T WORK.

SO I WAS ARRESTED ON APRIL 12TH, 2022, AND LISTED AS A WITNESS TO TESTIFY [INAUDIBLE] MY PERSISTENCE IN HOLDING INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE.

I HAVE LOST MY JOB, AND THIS IS SINCE 2022.

I HAVE BEEN LEFT HOMELESS COUNTLESS TIMES.

THE TYPICAL STORY FOR SOMEONE TO, YOU KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T GAIN STABILITY WILL BE THAT THEY'RE ON DRUGS.

WELL, THAT'S NOT MY STORY, AND THE REASON WHY I'M ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL TODAY IS BECAUSE ROBERT FEVER HAS ARRESTED ME.

HE DIDN'T MENTION IN HIS ARREST REPORT THAT HE DID A COMPLETE TRAFFIC STOP THREE MILES FROM WALMART, BUT IT WAS A LIE, AND HE TOOK ME INTO CUSTODY, AND AS A RESULT, THAT WAS MY FIRST MALICIOUS PROSECUTION.

I MISSED MY COURT DATE.

LEFT ME WITH A WARRANT.

JUST RECENTLY THE STATE HAS BECOME COMPLICIT.

SO BASICALLY, MY MAIN GOAL IS TODAY.

I CAN'T EVEN GET A JOB TO TAKE CARE OF MY CHILDREN.

MAYOR. YOU HAVE EIGHT CHILDREN.

ONE OF YOU HAVE FOUR DAUGHTERS? I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, THREE AND FOUR.

THEY THINK GOING AFTER THE GOVERNMENT IS MY JOB.

IT'S NOT MY JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO RAISE MY CHILDREN IN PEACE AND LIVE.

I CAN'T EVEN DO THAT.

YOU KNOW HOW MANY JOBS I'VE BEEN DENIED FROM BECAUSE OF THIS HANGING OVER MY HEAD? SOMETHING THAT'S NOT, THAT YOU ALLOWED YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BECOME INVOLVED IN.

WELL, I'M GOING TO MAKE IT MY JOB TO MAKE SURE PLANO AND ALL OTHERS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR PART BECAUSE THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

MY CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER.

MY DAUGHTERS DON'T DESERVE TO GROW UP IN A WORLD WHERE.

I'M FIGHTING THE GOVERNMENT FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY GOT ELECTED TO DO.

I AM DEMANDING THOSE CHARGES BE DROPPED IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO MAKE IT MY JOB TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE.

OKAY. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.