* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [Town Hall on August 21, 2025.] [00:00:03] HELLO AND WELCOME LIVE VIRTUAL FORUM RESIDENT. THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ALREADY JOIN OUR LINE. WE JUST GOT A COUPLE ON RIGHT NOW. WE'RE DIALING OUT TO NEARLY 30,000 HOUSEHOLDS AROUND THE CITY, AND WE WILL HAVE EVERYONE ON THE LINE IN JUST A COUPLE OF MOMENTS. SO AGAIN, THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY HAVE REGISTERED FOR THIS CALL ON OUR WEB REGISTRATION PAGE. UH, HANG TIGHT. WILL I GET YOU UP TO SPEED ON WHAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING AND HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE TONIGHT? NOW, JOINING US TONIGHT, WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS TO HELP ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ON THE 20 25, 20 26 RECOMMENDED BUDGET. WE'LL HEAR A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND THEN WE'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THOSE OF YOU IN OUR LIVE LISTENING AUDIENCES. AS YOU LISTEN, THINK ABOUT QUESTIONS YOU'D LIKE TO SUBMIT FOR Q AND A, IF YOU'RE JOINING US BY PHONE, YOU CAN PRESS ZERO TO SUBMIT A QUESTION TO AN OPERATOR FOR Q AND A AT ANY TIME, AND THEN YOU CAN EITHER ASK YOUR QUESTION LIVE OR YOU CAN LET YOUR OPERATOR KNOW. IF YOU PREFER TO HAVE THE MODERATOR READ YOUR QUESTION OVER THE AIR INSTEAD, WHATEVER'S MORE COMFORTABLE FOR YOU IS FINE WITH US. AGAIN, ZERO TO SUBMIT A QUESTION FOR Q AND A. IF YOU'RE WATCHING TONIGHT ON PLANO TV OR PLANO TV.ORG, YOU CAN SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO US VIA X USING THE HASHTAG PLANO TOWN HALL. IF YOU'RE JOINING VIA FACEBOOK OR YOUTUBE TONIGHT, YOU CAN SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO US IN THE COMMENT OF THE VIDEO FEED. AND IF YOU'RE PARTICIPATING, LIVE FROM SENATOR FLORENCE SHAPIRO, COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND WANT TO ASK A QUESTION THERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. YOU CAN FLAG DOWN JONATHAN WITH THE MOBILE MIC DURING Q AND A AND UH, HE'LL BRING IT ON OVER TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN GET A QUESTION IN AS WELL. SO AGAIN, WE ARE DIALING OUT TO ALMOST 30,000 RESIDENTS OF PLANO AROUND THE CITY. WE ARE ALSO BEING JOINED BY THOSE WATCHING ON PLANO TV AND PLANO TV.ORG. UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING ON TV, YOU CAN SUBMIT QUESTIONS VIA X USING THE HASHTAG PLANO TOWN HALL. IF YOU'RE JOINING US VIA FACEBOOK OR YOUTUBE TONIGHT, SUBMIT QUESTIONS USING THE COMMENTS IN THE VIDEO FEED. AND IF YOU'RE THERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AGAIN, FLAG DOWN JONATHAN TO SUBMIT A QUESTION DURING Q AND A. NOW, WE WILL TAKE AS MANY QUESTIONS AS WE CAN IN THE TIME THAT WE HAVE WITH YOU TONIGHT. AND AGAIN, TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION WILL FOCUS ON THE 20 25, 20 26 RECOMMENDED BUDGET. SO IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A QUESTION ON THE BUDGET, PRESS ZERO RIGHT NOW TO GET YOUR QUESTION TO ONE OF OUR OPERATORS. WE'LL PUT YOU IN LINE TO ASK IT LIVE WHERE YOU LET YOUR OPERATOR KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO READ IT, AND WE WILL GET AN UPDATE. FIRST FROM DIRECTOR OF BUDGET, KAREN RHODES WHITLEY. SO AS YOU LISTEN TO HER UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET, BE THINKING ABOUT QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT WANT TO SUBMIT FOR Q AND A. AND AGAIN, YOU CAN PRESS A ZERO AT ANY TIME. SUBMIT THOSE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO ONE OF OUR OPERATORS. YOU CAN GO LIVE OR ASK YOUR, UH, YOUR UM, OPERATOR TO HAVE ME READ THEM IF THAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE. AND AGAIN, MOST OF TONIGHT'S FORUM WILL BE DEDICATED TO ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS. FOR THOSE OF YOU JOINING BY PHONE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET OCCASIONAL EMAIL UPDATES FROM THE CITY OF PLANO ON THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT YOU AS A RESIDENT, PRESS SEVEN NOW. SPEAK TO AN OPERATOR AND THEY CAN GET YOU SIGNED UP FOR THOSE E-NEWSLETTER UPDATES. YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES@PLANO.GOV. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 20 25 26 RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM, YOU CAN VISIT PLANO.GOV/RECOMMENDED BUDGET. AND NOW LET'S GET EVERYONE UPDATED TO KICK OFF OUR DISCUSSION. FOR THAT, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO TURN IT OVER TO MAYOR JOHN MUNZ. MAYOR MUNZ, PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, IAN. WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S PLANO TELEPHONE TOWN HALL. I'M MAYOR JOHN MUS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR THIS TOWN HALL ARE VIEWERS WHO ARE WATCHING THE LIVE STREAM@PLANOTV.ORG OR ON THE CITY OF PLANO, FACEBOOK OR YOUTUBE PAGE, AS WELL AS OUR GUESTS JOINING BY PHONE AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. TONIGHT, WE WILL TAKE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE 20 2025 2026 BUDGET AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM FROM CALLERS AND THOSE PARTICIPATING VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. JOINING US, WE HAVE CITY MANAGER MARK ISRAELSON, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, JACK CARR, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, SHELLY SEAMER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, LASHAWN ROSS AND DIRECTOR OF BUDGET. KAREN RHODES WHITLEY, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING. CALEB THORNHILL, DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, ABBY OWENS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, RON SMITH AND DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS, PETER BRATER. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KAREN RHODES WHITLEY FOR A SHORT UH, VIDEO OR EXPLANATION OF OUR BUDGET. WE DON'T HAVE A VIDEO. A VIDEO. . THANK YOU MAYOR. THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR ENCOMPASSES THE ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY VALUES THAT HAVE MADE PLANO THE PREMIER CITY IN NORTH TEXAS. LAST [00:05:01] YEAR, THE CITY WAS PRESENTED WITH A FINANCIAL FORECAST INDICATING THE NEED FOR THE CITY TO IMPLEMENT OUR BUDGET CONTINGENCY PLAN, INCLUDING A HIRING FREEZE AND MAKING SOME STRATEGIC CHANGES TO OUR BUDGET PHILOSOPHY. THE CITY ACCELERATED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A FIVE YEAR FISCAL ROADMAP PROJECT THAT PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF FINANCIAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO ADAPT TO FLATTENING REVENUES AND THE CONTINUED REDUCTION OF DEVELOPABLE LAND. ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY STUDIED SEVERAL HIGH PERFORMING CITIES TO UNDERSTAND INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CITY ADOPTING POLICY CHANGES FOR FUND BALANCES AND THE COST RECOVERY OF FEES TO ENSURE PLANO STAYS FINANCIALLY STRONG IN THE FUTURE AND REMAINS THE CITY OF EXCELLENCE. THOSE ACTIONS TOWARDS REDUCING COSTS, CHANGING POLICIES AND ADAPTING NEW POLICIES HAVE PLACED THE CITY ON A SOLID FINANCIAL FOR FOUNDATION FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. WE FEEL THE CITY OF PLANO IS THE BEST VALUE FOR ANY CITY AND THE DFW REGION. DUE TO THE COMMITMENT TO THE GOALS WHICH HAVE MADE PLANO, THE CITY OF EXCELLENCE PLUS CONTINUES TO HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST TAX RATES IN THE REGION. NEXT SLIDE. THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH STARTS OCTOBER 1ST, TOTALS $788 MILLION AND REPRESENTS A 4% INCREASE OVER THIS YEAR'S ADOPTED BUDGET. PUBLIC SAFETY AND WATER AND SEWER ARE THE PRIMARY EXPENDITURES INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, TOTALING 447 MILLION OR 57% OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. NO NEW PROGRAMS OR SERVICES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET. NEXT SLIDE. THE BUDGET FOCUS THIS YEAR IS TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE OUR $2.8 BILLION GROWING INFRASTRUCTURE BY ENSURING OUR CAPITAL MAINTENANCE FUND IS ADEQUATE, ADEQUATELY FUNDED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES TO ENSURE THAT ALL FINANCIAL POLICIES ARE MET AND WE MAINTAIN OUR AAA BOND RATING AND TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN OUR GREATEST ASSET, OUR EMPLOYEES. IN ADDITION, WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A LOW TAX BURDEN FOR OUR CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES. THE 25 26 RECOMMENDED BUDGET INCLUDES THE SAME CURRENT YEAR TAX RATE AS 41.76 CENTS PER $100 OF ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUATIONS. HOWEVER, A PROPOSED TAX RATE CEILING OF 44.06 CENTS PER $100 OF ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUATIONS WAS POSTED AND PUBLISHED AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS TRUTH AND TAXATION LAWS. THE 44.06 CENTS SERVES AS A TAX RATE CEILING AND THE TAX RATE ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 8TH CANNOT EXCEED THIS TAX RATE. THE CITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO DISCUSS THE TAX RATE AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING SLATED FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH AT 7:00 PM NEXT SLIDE. THE CERTIFIED PROPERTY VALUES FROM BOTH COL AND DENTAL DENTON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICTS PROJECTS. THE CITY'S ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUES TO TOTAL $65 BILLION AND INCLUDE $650 MILLION IN NEW PROPERTY COMING ONLINE AND AN EXISTING PROPERTY VALUE INCREASE OF 1.7 BILLION. THE TOTAL CHANGE IN THE TAX SPACE IS PROJECTED AT $2.4 BILLION AND AN INCREASE OF 3.8%. NEXT SLIDE. AS A RESULT OF CONTINUED DEMAND IN THE RE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING MARKET, THE COLLINS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT REPORTS THE VALUE OF THE AVERAGE MARKET VALUE IN PLANO IS UP 2.1% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO $591,947. GIVEN THAT PLANO IS ONE OF THE HOTTEST HOUSING MARKETS IN THE NORTH TEXAS AREA, THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT ARE UNDER TO APPRAISE MARKET VALUE, PROPERTY OWNERS MAY FIND THEMSELVES WITH INCREASED APPRAISED PROPERTY VALUES. NEXT SLIDE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER. GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT SLIDE. YOU GOT OFF, EVAN. THERE YOU GO. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE CITY OF PLANO IS ONE OF THE FEW CITIES IN TEXAS TO OFFER A 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. THIS 20% IS EQUAL TO APPROXIMATELY $594 ANNUALLY IN SAVINGS FOR THE [00:10:01] AVERAGE HOMEOWNER. IN ADDITION, WE ALSO OFFER A $40,000 EXEMPTION FOR INDIVIDUALS 65 AND OVER AND OR DISABLED PLUS A 65 AND OVER TAX FREEZE, WHICH WILL FREEZE THE AMOUNT OF TAXES OWED EACH YEAR. AT THAT LEVEL, NO CITIZEN WITH THE FREEZE WILL SEE ANY INCREASE IN THEIR TAX BILL FROM THE CITY WHILE THEIR FREEZE IS IN PLACE. FORMS FOR ALL THESE EXEMPTIONS CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT YOUR DESIGNATED CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT WEBSITE. NEXT SLIDE. SALES TAX. THE GENERAL FUND'S SECOND LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE IS RE-ESTIMATE AT 125 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR. WHILE WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE ROBUST SALES TAX INCREASES, WE REMAIN CAUTIOUS, CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, AND FULLY KNOW THAT A FLATTENING OR LEVEL OFF OF THIS RE REVENUE SOURCE IS POSSIBLE AND THAT THESE INCREASES ARE NOT NECESSARILY SUSTAINABLE GOING FORWARD. INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR IS $123 MILLION BASED ON COUNCIL'S POLICY AT PROJECTING SALES TAX BASED ON A THREE YEAR AVERAGE, LESS AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS PLUS INFLATION, ANY AMOUNT RECEIVED OVER THE THREE YEAR AVERAGE CAN BE USED FOR ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES TRANSFERRED TO THE CAPITAL MAINTENANCE FUND OR THE RAINY DAY FUND. MUCH OF THIS DISCUSSION HAS BEEN REGARDING THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND WHERE PROPERTY TAXES AND SALES TAX ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE REVENUE THIS YEAR. I NEED TO MAKE NOTE THAT OUR COSTS ON WATER AND SEWER ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND THE MUNICIPAL DRAINAGE FUND ARE INCREASING. SOME OF THEM ARE INCREASING DURING DUE TO CONTRACTS WITH NORTH TEXAS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT, PLUS OTHER ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, AND SOME ARE INCREASING DUE TO CAPITAL PROJECT COSTS. THESE ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, LABOR SHORTAGES, AND INCREASED DEMANDS FOR SERVICE. THE CITY MANAGERS RECOMMENDED BUDGET PASSES THROUGH THE INCREASED COST INTO THE RATES OUR RESIDENTS AND CORPORATIONS PAY FOR THE SERVICE. NEXT SLIDE. THE 25 26 RECOMMENDED BUDGET WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON JULY 30TH. WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS BEGINNING THIS EVENING WITH THIS TOWN HALL MEETING, AND NEXT MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH FOR A SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING ON THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM AND THE TAX RATE. THE CITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO ADOPT THE OPERATING BUDGET CIP AND SET THE TAX RATE ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH. NEXT SLIDE. THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK REGARDING THE 25 26 RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND PROPOSED COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM. PLEASE VISIT PLANO.GOV/BUDGET TO VIEW DETAILED INFORMATION IN ADDITION INFORMATION REGARDING THE BUDGET AND PROPOSED CIP IS AVAILABLE AT ALL LIBRARIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT OVERVIEW, KAREN. IAN, LET'S BEGIN TAKING QUESTIONS. SURE THING, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY AGAIN FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. A QUICK REMINDER THAT IF YOU DO HAVE A QUESTION AND YOU'RE IN OUR PHONE AUDIENCE, YOU CAN PRESS ZERO TO GET IT INTO THE QUEUE. WE'LL BE GOING TO EVELYN'S QUESTION FIRST, AND THEN IF YOU'RE JOINING US, UH, VIA TV, YOU CAN ALWAYS SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS ON X USING THE HASHTAG PLANO TOWN HALL. IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON FACEBOOK LIVE OR ON YOUTUBE, JUST USE THE COMMENTS IN THE VIDEO FEED TO SUBMIT ANY QUESTIONS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO READ AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET AS WELL. ALRIGHT, WE'VE GOT OUR FIRST QUESTION COMING TO US FROM EVELYN. OH, I'M SORRY. ONE MORE REMINDER FOLKS. IF YOU'RE IN THE PHONE AUDIENCE AND YOU WANT TO GET EMAIL UPDATES FROM THE CITY, PRESS SEVEN, GET THOSE, GET THOSE EMAIL ADDRESSES TO US SO WE CAN KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT AFFECT YOU AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF PLANO. FIRST QUESTION'S COMING TO US FROM EVELYN WHO ASKS OUR ASPHALT OVERLAYS IN THE BUDGET. AND I BELIEVE FOR THIS ANSWER WE'RE GONNA GO TO DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, ABBY OWENS. THANK YOU, IAN. UM, SO YES, OVERLAYS ARE IN THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR. WE ACTUALLY PLAN ABOUT EIGHT TO 10 MILES OF ASPHALT OVERLAY AFTER WE'VE COMPLETED THE CONCRETE REPAIRS UNDERNEATH. UM, BY THE END OF THIS SUMMER, WE'LL HAVE ACTUALLY COMPLETED ABOUT 50 MILES OF OVERLAYS OF OUR LITTLE OVER 136 MILES THAT WE HAVE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND, UH, APPRECIATE THAT. LAST QUESTION FROM EVELYN. WE'VE ALSO GOT A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME TO US VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE'RE GONNA GO TO ONE OF THOSE NEXT HERE. BUT A REMINDER TO OUR PHONE AUDIENCE, PRESS ZERO TO GET A QUESTION IN ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET. THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM REDDIT, AND THE QUESTION IS, WHY ARE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT ON ROAD REPAIRS, [00:15:01] BUT THE ROADS ARE STILL BAD? WHERE ARE THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GOING IF THE ROADS ARE AWFUL? AND I THINK WE'LL GO TO, UH, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING, CALEB THORNHILL FOR THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. YEAH, THANKS, IAN. THIS IS CALEB THORNHILL, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING. UM, YEAH, SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN A LOT OF THESE ROADS AND PARTICULARLY PARKER ROAD AND PARK BOULEVARD IS A PHASED APPROACH AND A REHABILITATION. UH, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO THESE ROADS IS THE UTILITY REPAIRS. SO BASED ON THE CONDITION, THE AGE, UH, OF THESE UTILITIES, BEFORE WE PUT THE OVERLAY DOWN, WE WANTED TO, UH, REPLACE THE UTILITIES SO THAT HOPEFULLY WHEN WE DO COME GET TO THE OVERLAY, UH, WE WON'T HAVE TO DO, UH, MANY DISTURBANCES TO THE SURFACE. SO THE INITIAL STEP IS A, A REPLACEMENT OF THE UTILITIES, AND THEN AFTER THAT YOU'LL SEE THE CONCRETE AND ASPHALT. AND I'LL LET, UH, ABBY OWENS TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU CALEB. ABBY OWENS, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. AND YES, PART OF THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS, UM, OVER 50% OF THE ROADS IN PLANO WERE ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTED MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO. AND SO THE AVERAGE DESIGN LIFE OF A CONCRETE ROAD IS ABOUT 30 TO 40 YEARS. AND SO WITH MOST OF OUR ROADS REACHING SOME SORT OF MATURITY WHERE THEY NEED ADDITIONAL, UM, REHABILITATION, WE REALLY PRIORITIZE THOSE BASED UPON WHAT THEIR SCORE IS. AND THEN WE ALSO TRY TO BALANCE THAT WITH, AS CALEB MENTIONED, WHAT THE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES LOOK LIKE, AND THEN TRYING NOT TO HAVE MULTIPLE ROADS THAT ARE PARALLEL UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE SAME TIME. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WE ALSO HAVE FUNDING AND STAFFING LIMITATIONS. SO WE DON'T WANT TO REPLACE ALL THE ROADS AT ONCE. WE HAVE TO PHASE THEM IN AND DO A VERY METHODICAL APPROACH THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE ANSWER AND, UH, APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION FROM REDDIT. WE'LL GO RIGHT TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM OUR PHONE AUDIENCE. THIS COMES TO US FROM LYNN AND, UH, LYNN ASKED ME TO READ THIS QUESTION. HAPPY TO DO THAT FOR YOU, LYNN. YOU'RE ASKING WHAT IS BEING BUILT NEXT TO CHRISTIE ELEMENTARY AND THE OLD CARPENTER MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND, UH, MAYBE FOR THE ANSWER TO THIS ONE, WE CAN START OUT WITH DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS, PETER BRESTER. I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE A BETTER ANSWER FOR YOU. UM, I KNOW PISD IS ACTUALLY DOING QUITE A LOT OF WORK ON THE SCHOOLS THIS SUMMER. UM, AND SO IT MIGHT BE THEM. I, UM, OTHER THAN THAT, I'M NOT SURE. IAN, THIS IS RON SMITH. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. JUST WANTED TO ADD ON TO THAT, THAT, UH, NEAR THAT SCHOOL WE HAVE BIG LAKE PARK AND THE CITY OF PLANO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. WE ARE CONDUCTING A DREDGING PROJECT THERE FOR BIG LAKE PARK. SO IT MAY BE THAT SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT THE COLLAR IS REFERENCING HAS TO DO WITH THAT PARK RESTORATION PROJECT OF BIG LAKE AT BIG LAKE PARK. BUT AS FAR AS SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, UH, AT THE CARPENTER MIDDLE SCHOOL SITE, THAT WOULD BE A-P-I-S-D QUESTION. GOT IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE THE QUESTION FROM LYNN. AND WE'RE GONNA GO, UH, BACK TO SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THIS QUESTION. IT IS, WHAT EXEMPTIONS DO YOU OFFER FOR SENIORS? AND WE'VE GOTTEN THIS QUESTION FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS. SO I THINK WE'LL GO AGAIN TO, UH, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET, KAREN RHODES, WHITLEY FOR THE ANSWER. ANSWER. YEAH, THANK YOU, IAN. UH, WE OFFER SEVERAL EXEMPTIONS FOR 65 AND OVER, OR IF YOU'RE DISABLED, UH, OF COURSE WE HAVE OUR NORMAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, WHICH IS 20%. IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU QUALIFY FOR $40,000 65 AND OVER. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE DO FREEZE YOUR TAXES ONCE YOU TURN 65. YOU NEED TO, WHEN THE PROPERTY VALUES GO UP OR SAY THE TAX RATE GOES UP OR GOES DOWN, WHATEVER YOU ARE PAYING WHEN YOU TURN 65, LIKE IF IT'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS, YOU ARE KEEP AT THAT THOUSAND DOLLARS UNTIL, UH, YOU NO LONGER OWN THAT PROPERTY. SO WE HAVE SEVERAL EXEMPTIONS, IF YOU WILL GO OUT ON THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT. THEY HAVE ALL THE FORMS THAT YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE WHEN YOU GET NEAR 65. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN, KAREN. APPRECIATE YOU. LET'S GO, UH, BACK TO THE PHONES HERE. IN A REMINDER, IF YOU'RE ON THE PHONE, PRESS ZERO TO SUBMIT A QUESTION FOR Q AND A JUST LIKE GARY DID. HEY, GARY, WELCOME TO THE CALL. YOU'RE LIVE ON THE LINE. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION FOR US TONIGHT? WELL, THE CALL GOES BACK TO THE ROADWAYS, UH, IN, UH, PARKER ROAD FROM, UH, LET'S SAY INDEPENDENCE. UH, EASTBOUND HAS, UH, BEEN BEAUTIFIED WITH GOOD CONCRETE AND EVERYTHING'S GOING GOOD THAT WAY. BUT IS THE INTENT TO OVERLAY AND IF IT IS, WHY IS THAT NOT BEING DONE WHEN WE SEE ALL OF THE OVERLAYS WITH ASPHALT BEING DONE ON INDEPENDENCE OUT TO 1 21? UH, AND UH, WE, WE'VE BEEN GOING DOWN PARKER ROAD, UH, FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW WITH THIS CONCRETE WORK. SO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? [00:20:02] YEAH. HI GARY, THIS IS CALEB THORNHILL, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING. SO, UM, WE TALKED JUST, UH, A FEW MINUTES AGO ABOUT, UH, THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS. THE UTILITIES WERE FINISHED LAST YEAR AND THEN WE'VE STARTED THE CONCRETE PANEL REPLACEMENT. AND LIKE YOU MENTIONED, IT'S GOING WELL. UM, WE HOPE TO HAVE THE, UH, CONCRETE FINISHED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND THEN HOPEFULLY, UH, NEXT SPRING OR NEXT SUMMER, THERE IS SOME TIME OR SOME WEATHER CONSTRAINTS ON THAT OVERLAY. UH, WE'LL COME BACK IN WITH THE OVERLAY NEXT SPRING OR SUMMER. SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, GARY. ALRIGHT, APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH GARY, AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE ANSWER THERE FROM CALEB. LET'S GO TO, UH, LEONARD NEXT TO, UH, SUBMITTED THIS QUESTION IN ADVANCE. HE'S ONE OF OUR WEB REGISTRANTS, SO THANKS TO LEONARD WHO SIGNED UP FOR THIS, UH, THESE FORMS IN ADVANCE. HE'S ASKING HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENT ON AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. WHO CAN WE GO TO FOR THE ANSWER TO THIS ONE FROM LEONARD IN OUR, UH, VIP LIST? YES, THIS IS KAREN RHODES WHITLEY. I'M THE BUDGET DIRECTOR. WE HAVE CURRENTLY PLANNED FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, $30 MILLION FOR THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE STREETS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, $91 MILLION. NOW, AS FAR AS THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, JUST OUT OF THE CAPITAL MAINTENANCE FUND, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE ALSO OUR BUILDING STREETS, UH, ANY AIR CONDITIONING REPAIRS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE HAVE $47 MILLION FOR THOSE BUILT INTO THE CAPITAL MAINTENANCE FUND. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER. UH, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS HERE COMING FROM OUR PHONE AUDIENCE. UH, THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM PABLO. PABLO, WELCOME TO THE CALL. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION FOR US TONIGHT? YEAH, UM, I JUST LIKE TO FIND OUT, UH, IF THE CITY OF PLANO, UH, HAS ANY CONSIDERATIONS OF, UH, IMPLEMENTING, UH, DEDICATED BARRIER BICYCLE LANES. HEY, PABLO. HI, THIS IS RON SMITH. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. UH, THE CITY DOES HAVE DESIGNATED BIKE LANES ON A NEW SECTION OF SHILOH ROAD THAT WAS JUST OPENED UP LAST YEAR. UH, AND AS FAR AS ADDITIONAL BIKE LANES, THERE'S NOTHING CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT WE ARE MONITORING THE USAGE OF THE NEW BIKE LANES AT SHILOH ROAD. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE QUESTION. ALRIGHT, MUCH APPRECIATED, THANKS SO MUCH. AND, UH, FOLKS, WE, UH, DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS LEFT IN OUR QUEUE AT THIS JUNCTURE. SO WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS IF YOU STILL HAVE, UH, JOHN, I'M SEEING YOUR QUESTION ON, UM, REPAIRING SPECIFIC ROADS AND KEEPING AREA, GETTING AREAS REPAVED. WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE CITY REACH OUT TO YOU AND MAKE SURE WE'RE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE SPECIFIC AREA THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT. SO YOU CAN EXPECT A CALL FROM THE CITY OF PLANO IN, UH, THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS HERE. WE'LL MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. UH, AS FAR AS ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES, UM, YOU CAN STILL PRESS SEVEN REAL QUICK HERE TO TRY AND GET US YOUR EMAIL. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO SOMEBODY, THEN I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UH, STAY ON THE LINE AT THE END AND LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL MESSAGE WITH THAT EMAIL ADDRESS SO WE CAN GET YOU REGISTERED FOR EMAIL UPDATES. AND, UH, WITH UH, NO MORE QUESTIONS, UNIQUE QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND START WRAPPING UP AND I'LL, UH, START THAT OFF BY TURNING IT OVER TO MAYOR JOHN MONS. MAYOR. THANK YOU IAN, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENING'S TELEPHONE TOWN HALL. WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS. IF THERE WERE ANY THAT WERE NOT ADDRESSED TONIGHT, PLEASE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH US BY SUBMITTING THEM ONLINE AT FACEBOOK.COM/CITY OF PLANO, TX. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2025 2026 RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM, YOU CAN VISIT PLANO.GOV/RECOMMENDED BUDGET. AGAIN, IT'S PLANO.GOV/RECOMMENDED BUDGET. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR THE PLANO TOWN HALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, AND A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO A FEW OTHER LISTENERS IN OUR PHONE AUDIENCE WHO, UH, SUBMITTED SOME LATE QUESTIONS TONIGHT. UH, WE'RE GETTING THOSE QUESTIONS NOW, BUT WE ARE WRAPPING UP. SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA FLAG YOU FOR FOLLOW UP, JUST LIKE WE DID WITH JOHN. WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE CITY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS DIRECTLY, DIRECTLY. SO, JOHN, CAROLYN, PERK, AND MICHAEL, WE SEE YOUR QUESTIONS. WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. AND AS THE MAYOR SAID, YOU CAN VISIT PLANO.GOV/RECOMMENDED BUDGET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET. AND YOU CAN STAY ON THE LINE AND LEAVE A VOICEMAIL WITH YOUR, UH, EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU'D LIKE TO [00:25:01] SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES FOR THE CITY. OR OF COURSE YOU CAN JUST GO VISIT PLANO.GOV AND SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES THERE. THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S JOINED THIS LIVE FORUM. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP NOW. STAY ON THE LINE TO LEAVE THOSE VOICEMAIL MESSAGES. OTHERWISE, THANKS AGAIN. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.