Mar 11, 2024 City Council

NEXT WE HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS.

[4. Consideration of Appointments and Reappointments:]

WE HAVE JUST ONE TONIGHT FOR WARD FOUR, THE APPOINTMENT OF CODY MOSLEY TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ADVISORY BOARD TO FULFILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF BRIAN HOLLAND TERM EXPIRES JUNE, 2026.

COUNSEL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO ON THIS? UH, MOTION TO APPROVE? WE HAVE A MOTION.

APPOINTMENT HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

A, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IS RELATED TO THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1300 EAST.

UH, WE'VE CHANGED THE AGENDA AROUND JUST A LITTLE BIT THIS EVENING.

SO WE, UM, BUT TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS THE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.

FIRST IS FIVE

[A. Public Hearing and Consideration of the Following Items Related to the Property Located at 1300 E Ayers, Declared a Public Nuisance by the Edmond City Council on February 26, 2024: Update from City Staff and Property Owners Regarding the Status of Actions Required for Abatement. Discussion and Consideration of Resolution No. ___ Finding that the Public Nuisance Existing on Property Located at 1300 East Ayers in the City of Edmond has Not Been Abated as Directed by the Edmond City Council on February 26, 2024; Determining that Summary Abatement is Not Practical; And Directing the City Attorney to File Suit in District Court Seeking to Abate Said Public Nuisance. Discussion and Consideration of Directing the Owner and Other Persons Responsible for or Causing the Public Nuisance Existing on Property Located at 1300 East Ayers in the City of Edmond to take Additional Actions and/or Abate it within a Specified Time. (Ward 1)]

HEIRS DECLARED A PUBLIC NUISANCE BY THE EDMOND CITY COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 26TH, 2024.

THE WAY WE'RE GONNA RUN, UH, GO THROUGH IT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE HERE FROM SEVERAL CITY, UH, DEPARTMENTS.

FIRST, KIRSTEN IS GONNA GO FIRST.

UM, THEN IVAN, UH, KIRSTEN, UM,

[00:15:01]

IS OUR MANAGER OF BUILDING SERVICES.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE IVAN SMITH, THAT'S CODE ENFORCE SUPERVISOR, THEN MIKE FITZGERALD'S FROM OUR FIRE PREVENTION.

AND THEN WE'LL GO, WE'LL JUST, I HAVE AN AGENDA HERE THAT WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW TO GO THROUGH.

SO KIRSTEN, WE COME, UH, BRING US UP TO SPEED.

UH, WE MET OUT THERE THIS MORNING, KIRSTEN TON BUILDING AND FIRE CODE SERVICES.

UH, WE MET OUT THERE THIS MORNING.

WE WERE ABLE TO INSPECT MORE OF THE ROOMS ON THE FIRST FLOOR THAN WE WERE ABLE TO GET INTO LAST TIME.

SO WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF NEW INSPECTION ITEMS, BUT WE WERE ALSO TO CLEAR ABLE TO CLEAR OUT TWO ROOMS THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED AND THEY HAD COMPLETED THE ITEMS IN THERE.

UH, THEY'RE STILL A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO DO ON THE FIRST FLOOR, BUT OVERALL THEY HAVE MADE A LITTLE BIT OF PROGRESS ON IT.

UH, WE WALKED THROUGH THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS.

UH, THE ONLY CHANGES THEY HAVE MADE ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS WERE THEY INSTALLED LIGHTING, WHICH WAS DESPERATELY NEEDED.

SO IT'S NOT AS DARK IN THERE ANYMORE, BUT WE DID NOT GO PAST THE FIRST FLOOR ON OUR INSPECTIONS.

FOR CLARIFICATION, RIGHT NOW, THE, IS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY'RE ONLY AUTHORIZED, UH, OCCUPANCY ON THE FIRST FLOOR, CORRECT? CORRECT.

ALRIGHT.

BUT Y'ALL, BUT THIS WAS A TOTAL, UH, FACILITY BUILDING INSPECTION.

IVAN SMITH, CODE ENFORCEMENT.

MAYOR IVAN SMITH, CITY OF EDMOND CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT, AS DIRECTED BY THE COUNCIL.

UH, MR. SMITH, COULD YOU BRING THE MICROPHONE UP A LITTLE BIT SO WE CAN SURE.

IS THAT BETTER? YES.

UH, WE INSPECTED THE PROPERTY ON THE 28TH AS DIRECTED BY THE COUNCIL AND MADE A NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS AT THAT TIME.

UH, WE WERE ALSO THERE TODAY AND DID SEE AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE CONDITIONS ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

HOWEVER, IN EXCESS OF 70% OF THE VIOLATIONS INITIALLY IDENTIFIED ARE STILL OUTSTANDING, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS.

I CAN BREAK THOSE NUMBERS DOWN FOR YOU EVEN FARTHER IF YOU WISH.

SO A QUESTION FOR YOU, IVAN, IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE TOLD AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING WAS THAT THERE WAS NOBODY HABITATING THE SECOND OR THIRD FLOOR.

DID YOU AND YOUR INITIAL INSPECTION FIND EVIDENCE OF ANYBODY ON THE SECOND OR THIRD FLOOR BETWEEN YOU, POLICE OR FIRE? I BE, I I WAS NOT ON, UH, THE, THE TEAM THAT WAS DOING THE INSPECTION ON THE SECOND FLOOR, SIR, BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS ONE OCCUPANT ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

MR. FITZGERALD, DID YOU HAVE THAT NOTED? CAN WE, CAN WE HAVE IVAN FINISH HIS REPORT FIRST, THEN GO THROUGH THAT? WELL, I JUST WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION ON THAT ONE, BUT YEAH, GO AHEAD.

SURE.

UH, BECAUSE THAT WAY WE CAN GET THE WHOLE THING IN.

SURE.

GO AHEAD, SIR.

YOU KNOW, AS AS STATED, SIR, ABOUT 70% OF THE VIOLATIONS REMAIN, UH, UNCORRECTED.

YOU KNOW, THE, THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK DONE.

IT WAS ALL DONE ON THE FIRST FLOOR WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE, UH, WHERE, WHERE THE FIRST FLOOR THAT'S BEING OCCUPIED.

YOU KNOW, INITIALLY WHEN WE WENT OUT THERE, WE IDENTIFIED 59 VIOLATIONS ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

20% OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CORRECTED ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

WE IDENTIFIED 127 VIOLATIONS.

LESS THAN 1% OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CORRECTED.

ON THE THIRD FLOOR, WE IDENTIFIED 177 VIOLATIONS.

NONE OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CORRECTED.

UH, ON THE OUTSIDE THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 33 VIOLATIONS IDENTIFIED, AND 7% OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CORRECTED.

UM, NONCOMPLIANT HVAC, UM, ROACHES, MICE, UM, UH, LOCKBOX NOT WORKING, TILES NOT WORKING.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

SO, A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON THOSE VIOLATIONS.

ONE IS, UM, THE VIOLATIONS THAT YOU SAW, WERE THEY SOMETHING THAT WERE CAUSED, LIKE WHEN YOU WENT AND DID YOUR INITIAL REPORT HAD THAT, WERE THOSE VIOLATIONS OF, I THINK THERE WAS ROACHES AND RICE, OR EXCUSE ME, UH, MICE AND VERMIN AND UNSANITARY AND DILAPIDATING, UH, FIXTURES AND LIGHTING.

HAD THAT BEEN CAUSED LIKE THE WEEK BEFORE? WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT'VE BEEN LIKE, YOU KNOW, HAP HAPPENED SUDDENLY TO THIS PROPERTY OWNER? IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, SIR.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS FROM THE RECORDS OF THE CITY, THAT SINCE THIS PROPERTY OWNER HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF THIS PROPERTY SINCE I THINK BELIEVE 2014, IS THAT ABOUT CORRECT? THAT SOUNDS ACCURATE.

SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE OVER 300, HOW MANY WAS IT IN TOTAL INITIAL VIOLATIONS THAT YOU, THAT YOU FOUND IN THE INSPECTION? APPROXIMATELY 397.

SO THE 300, ALMOST 400 VIOLATIONS OF, OF TRIP HAZARDS, INTERIOR SURFACES DAMAGED, NOT CLEAN, NOT SANITIZED, DAMAGED TILES, UH, EXPOSED WIRING,

[00:20:01]

POOR LIGHTING, UM, UH, ELECTRIC PANEL BREAKERS, NOT BEING ABLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR, UH, FIRE VIOLATIONS THAT MIKE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT.

THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.

IT WOULD'VE HAPPENED BY THIS ONE PROPERTY OVER OWNER DURING THAT 10 YEAR PERIOD.

CORRECT.

THAT WOULD BE AN ACCURATE STATEMENT.

SO REALLY WHAT WE'RE ASKED, WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO AS COUNSEL IS TO LOOK AT A PROPERTY OWNER WHO IS WILLFULLY NEGLECTED AS PROPERTY AND NOT INVESTED IN IT, CAUSED ROACHES, CAUSED MICE.

COUNCILMAN ROBS ALL WE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO NOW IS JUST, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT HERE AT THE, AT THE PROPERTY.

WE'RE NOT, THE FACTS ARE GONNA SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

NO.

I'LL, I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT, SIR, BUT I WANT US TO KEEP US IN THE LANE SO THAT WE HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT IS NECESSARY FOR US TO MAKE THE DECISION THIS EVENING.

THE INFORMATION THAT I'M USING IS THAT WE HAVE A PROPERTY OWNER WHO OVER 10 YEARS HAS WILLFULLY NEGLECTED HIS PROPERTY, THAT HAS CAUSED ALMOST 400 OF THESE, UH, VIOLATIONS, WHICH WERE JUST REPORTED TO US AT THIS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT.

SO I'M ASKING THE QUESTION OF THESE 400 VIOLATIONS, IS THIS A WHOOPS SURPRISE OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BUILDING UP OVER YEARS BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS BEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, NOT INVESTING IN THEIR PROPERTY, WHICH HAS CAUSED A SECURITY PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY NUISANCE.

COUNCILMAN ROBBINS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR OUR CITY STAFF TO COME THROUGH AND TELL US WHAT WE, WE GAVE THEM A TASK TO GO OUT AND INSPECT.

I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THEM GIVING US THAT INSPECTION FROM ALL OF THEM.

WE, WE HAVE SEVERAL.

WE HAVE THE FIRE, WE HAVE THE POLICE CHIEF COMING OUT, SO WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS JUST PRESENTED TO US RECENTLY.

SO MY QUESTION IS THIS, ARE THE 400 VIOLATIONS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE JUST GIVEN OF THE RAT POOP, THE COCKROACHES, THE SOIL, THE BLOCK DOORS, THE FIRE HAZARD, THE UNCOMPLIANT, HVAC, ALL OF THAT.

WAS THAT SOMETHING, IN YOUR OPINION, THAT JUST HAPPENED THIS LAST WEEK? OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THIS PROPERTY OWNER HAS NOT BEEN MAINTAINING OR INVESTING IN OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS? COUNCILMAN ROBBINS, IT WOULD BE MY ASER ASSUMPTION THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS, THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

THIS HIT, UH, THIS WOULD BE, UH, NEGLECT.

YOU KNOW, UH, THIS, ALL OF THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S, THAT'S AS I SAID, STATED BEFORE THAT MR. SMITH FINISH HIS PRESENTATION, THAT MR. FITZGERALD COME UP, GIVE HIS PRESENTATION THAT OUR CHIEF COME UP SO WE CAN HAVE MORE SAGE CONVERSATION.

I'M NOT TRYING TO, I UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION YOU'RE TRYING TO GO INTO, BUT LET'S JUST COME, BRING OUR LANE BACK OVER HERE AND ABOUT, GET THE INFORMATION THAT OUR STAFF THAT WE TASKED TWO WEEKS AGO FOR THEM TO DO.

I CAN, I CAN WAIT AND ASK QUESTIONS UNTIL ALL THE PRESENTATIONS ARE DONE FROM THE STAFF.

THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. FISHER.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, MIKE FITZGERALD, FIRE DEPARTMENT ON OUR REINSPECTION TODAY.

AND I DO HAVE SOME HARD COPIES IF YOU GUYS, IF IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR YOU OFF OUR YES, SIR.

I'D LIKE ONE.

HAND IT TO THE MIKE.

DID YOU GIVE ONE TO THE PROPERTY? PROPERTY? I MIGHT NOT HAVE PRINTED IT ENOUGH, BUT I, I THINK I HAD LIKE, LIKE, LIKE SIX OR SO, SORRY.

FIRST FLOOR, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SIX OF 'EM THAT WERE REPAIRED, THERE WERE THREE NEW ONES THAT, UH, WERE EITHER DISMANTLED OR THERE WAS NO BATTERY OR NOT WORKING.

SO AT THE REINSPECTION TODAY, WE DID DISCOVER THAT THE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS BEING THE FIRE ALARM, THE FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM AND THE STANDS PIPE SYSTEMS, UH, HAVE BEEN INSPECTED, ARE UP TO DATE AND ARE TAGGED PROPERLY.

UH, THE FIRE HYDRANTS HAVE NOT BEEN INSPECTED YET.

THEY ARE PRI PRIVATE HYDRANTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

THE SMOKE ALARMS AND THESE, THIS JUST THE, THE MAIN FIRE PROTECTION STUFF, THE SMOKE ALARMS, THEY ARE NOT OPERATING AT ALL ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR.

UH, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE ONLY THING THAT'S BEEN DONE UP THERE IS GONNA BE THE ILLUMINATION IN THE CORRIDOR ON THE SECOND FLOOR, BUT THE SMOKE ALARMS ON THE

[00:25:01]

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE RUN INTO.

THERE IS SMOKING INSIDE THE BUILDING AND A LOT OF TIMES THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES ARE TAKING THEM DOWN OR, UH, MAKING THEM INOPERABLE.

THERE ARE EGRESS ISSUES INVOLVED STILL.

AND THEN AS YOU CAN SEE DOWN THROUGH HERE, UH, SOME SPRINKLER HEADS, SOME, SOME PAINTED, SOME, SOME ARE STILL LOADED UP WITH, WITH GUNK AND, AND DIRT.

SO FOR THE MOST PART, THAT'S KIND OF ACROSS THE BOARD WHAT WE'RE STILL SEEING.

SO I DID, UM, ONE QUESTION.

SO THE, THE INSPECTIONS ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE OCCUPANTS ON THE, UH, THE VIOLATIONS ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH FLOOR? HOW DOES THAT, UH, IMPACT THE, THE OCCUPANTS ON THE FIRST FLOOR? WELL, IT'S GONNA, IT'S GONNA AFFECT 'EM AS A BUILDING AS A WHOLE IS IS NOT COMPLETELY FIRE STATE OR, OR DONE.

YOU STILL HAVE OPEN WIRING ISSUES THAT COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS. YOU DON'T HAVE WORKING SMOKE ALARMS OR DETECTION UP THERE.

SO THAT'S GONNA ALLOW A FIRE TO GROW IN SIZE SPREAD QUICKER IF, IF WE WOULD PREFER TO HAVE EARLY NOTIFICATION GET FIREFIGHTERS THERE IN A QUICK AMOUNT OF TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THE, THE ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SIR.

CHIEF YOUNGER, UH, IS GONNA GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, UM, AND THE POLICING EFFORTS AT THE PROPERTY MAYOR AND COUNCIL JD YOUNGER EDMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, SINCE TWO WEEKS AGO AT OUR, AT YOUR LAST MEETING, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE RESPONDED 20 TIMES TO THE LOCATION.

THREE OF THOSE FIRE RESPONSES, UH, EIGHT OF 'EM WERE RESPONSES BY YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO TRADITIONAL CALLS.

UH, A RANGING IN NATURE FROM SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO THEFT, UH, TO ONE DECEASED BODY.

AND THEN, UH, NINE PROACTIVE CALLS, UH, WHICH IS JUST OFFICERS, UH, TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO GO BY AND, AND, UH, MEET WITH PEOPLE OR CHECK THE LOCATION.

'CAUSE I'M INTERESTED AS A STEWARD OF PUBLIC DOLLARS BECAUSE I NEVER WOULD WANNA SUBSIDIZE, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY'S LACK OF INVESTMENT BY HAVING ALL OF US EDMOND TAXPAYERS PAY FOR IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHIEF.

SO, COUNSEL, THAT'S, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE LATEST UPDATE, UH, THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM STAFF, UH, OF OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS FROM THE BUILDING INSPECTOR TO CODE ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE TO OUR POLICE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON THERE.

UH, IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR STAFF RIGHT NOW BEFORE WE BRING UP THE, UH, THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER? I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

MR. UH, FITZGERAL, FOLLOWING UP ON THE MAYOR'S QUESTION.

SO IF I HAVE PEOPLE, MAYBE A VULNERABLE POPULATION, SENIORS, UM, PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW THAT MIGHT BE FACING ADDICTION VETERANS ON THE FIRST FLOOR, WHY DO I CARE IF THEY'RE WORKING FIRE, UH, ALARM SMOKE ALARMS ON THE SECOND OR THIRD FLOOR? WHY SHOULD I BE CONCERNED WITH THAT EARLY NOTIFICATION IF YOU HAVE DELAYED NOTICE TO A FIRE, UH, IT COULD, IT CAN SPREAD AND GET TO YOU QUICKER THAN IF YOU HAD EARLY NOTIFICATION COULD GET OUT BEFORE THE FIRE SMOKE GOT TO YOU.

UM, NOTED IN THE REPORT THAT THERE'S STILL EXPOSED WIRING.

WHO CARES? LIKE WHY, WHY, WHY NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO LIVE ON THE FIRST FLOOR IF THERE'S EXPOSED WIRING THAT JUST HAPPENS TO BE ABOVE 'EM ON THE SECOND OR THIRD FLOOR? WHY, WHY FROM A FIRE? WHY, WHY DOES THE CITY COUNSELOR SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY? WELL, IT'S A DANGER IF IT'S OPEN AND IT COULD ALSO SPARK AND CAUSE COMBUSTIBLES IN THE AREA TO CATCH FIRE.

THIS CAUSE A RISK TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

ABSOLUTELY.

ANY FIRE THAT GO INTO IS A RISK.

THERE'S A GREATER RISK, A, A GREATER RISK.

ALL FIRES ARE, ALL FIRES ARE DIFFERENT.

I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S A GREATER RISK.

ANY FIRE THAT THEY, THAT THEY GO INTO IS A RISK.

THIS IS A LARGE STRUCTURE THOUGH THAT, SO IT DOES POTENTIALLY CREATE A GREATER RISK THAN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

BUT THANK YOU.

EVEN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ARE DIFFICULT.

NOW, WE WERE TOLD THAT ONLY OCCUPANCY THAT WAS HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, THE MANAGEMENT ASSURED US THAT IT WAS ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

DID YOU GUYS NOTICE ANY OCCUPANCY ON EITHER THE SECOND OR THIRD FLOOR IN YOUR INITIAL INSPECTION? ON THE INITIAL INSPECTION, THERE WERE TWO APARTMENTS ON THE SECOND FLOOR THAT WERE OCCUPIED IN AN EARLIER INSPECTION.

PRIOR TO THAT, THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT ON THE THIRD FLOOR.

WE'VE JUST SPOKE TO THE PROPERTY OWNER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS.

SO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US BEFORE, BEFORE, PREVIOUSLY PER YOUR INSPECTION, WAS NOT CORRECT.

SO WE DID HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS EXPOSED WIRING, MULTIPLE CODE VIOLATIONS, SPLINTER SYSTEMS THAT WEREN'T THERE, UH, INOPERABLE, UH, EQUIPMENT.

AND FROM YOUR INSPECTION, YOU FOUND FOLKS BOTH ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR AT VARIOUS TIMES THAT WERE LIVING THERE.

CORRECT? UM, IN REGARDS TO, I WAS ASKING THE CHIEF

[00:30:01]

HIS UNDERSTANDING WAS WHEN WE SEND A, UH, CREW OVER A TRUCK, WHICH COUNSELOR, UH, MOORE WAS ALLUDING TO FOR A RESPONSE LIKE WE'VE HAD TO MULTIPLE TIMES FOR LIKE THE SMOKE CALL, UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO OR HELP OUT FATALITY, THAT THE AVERAGE COST OF THAT AS FAR AS OSHA REIMBURSABLE IS AROUND $400.

DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT? IT'S PROBABLY CLOSE, YES.

SO AS WE'RE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE CALLS OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND WE GET OUT A LITTLE, UH, PAPER MATH, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE A HUNDRED CALLS AT 400 BUCKS AND THAT EASILY, LET'S SEE IF I CAN DO THIS.

I'M A LITTLE HANDY CALCULATOR HERE.

THAT'S $40,000 BILL TO THE EDMOND TAXPAYER FOR ON BEHALF OF THIS PROPERTY TO PROVIDE SOME SORT OF SERVICE, NOT TO MENTION ANY TYPE OF POLICE ASSISTANCE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY MANY TIMES IN THE FIRST RESPONSE ACCOMPANIES THAT.

SO HOURLY WE CAN TALK TO THE CHIEF ABOUT WHAT HIS POTENTIAL HOUR RATE IS, BUT, UH, THESE CALLS HAVE A, HAVE A COST, UH, TO, TO BE ABLE TO, TO SERVICE THAT NUMBER OF CALLS, CORRECT? SURE.

UM, AS FAR AS WHAT YOU SAW IS, UH, IS THE NEGLECTFUL THINGS WHEN IT CAME TO, UH, THE HAZARDS OF PEOPLE LIVING ON THE SECOND OR THIRD FLOOR, THE EXPOSED WIRING, UH, THE BOX THAT WAS CLOSED, UH, THE, UH, SPRINKLING SYSTEM, I THINK THE GENTLEMAN WHO PRESENTED LAST TIME DID THIS AND SAID THERE WAS JUST A FEW THINGS.

UM, WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT, IN YOUR OPINION? WAS THIS A, WOULD BE THIS A SUDDEN SURPRISE TO THE PROPERTY OWNER? NO, THIS IS, THIS HAS BEEN A, A PATTERN, I WOULD SAY FOR, FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

SO WHEN YOU SEE, WHEN YOU SEE A PROPERTY LIKE THIS, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN MAYBE OWNED BY A PROPERTY OWNER FOR, YOU KNOW, A DECADE, UM, WOULD YOU SEE THE TYPE OF INVESTMENT FOR ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S OVER 300 CODE VIOLATIONS? I I'M SORRY, ASK THAT AGAIN.

WHAT ARE, WHAT IS SORT OF THE STATE OF INVESTMENT THAT YOU SEE FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDPOINT HAPPENING AT THAT LOCATION? NOT MUCH INVESTMENT.

NOT MUCH INVESTMENT.

I DUNNO IF ANY OTHER COUNSELORS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR, ON THAT REPORT FROM MR. FITRO, BUT I'LL HANDLE THAT.

I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET, GO THROUGH THE AGENDA.

ARE YOU FINISHED WITH YOUR QUESTION, SIR, FOR MR. FIT? YES.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR OUR CHIEF.

UM, CHIEF, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

WE WERE TOLD AS COUNSEL OR WE, UM, INSTRUCTED THE PROPERTY OWNER TO HAVE, UM, OUR COUNSEL HAVE A CONTRACT AT 5:00 PM FOR A CLEAT CERTIFIED 24 7 SECURITY.

WERE, EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE IN, IN, DID, DID YOU OR DID OUR COUNSEL, DID YOU RECEIVE THAT CONTRACT AT FIVE O'CLOCK THAT PREVIOUS FRIDAY? NO, NOT ON FRIDAY.

I RECEIVED ONE, UM, SUNDAY, MARCH 10TH AT 1:23 PM OKAY.

UM, THE, UH, PROPERTY ITSELF, I RECEIVED AN INQUIRY FROM A CITIZEN THAT NOTED THAT A GENTLEMAN OR OR A PERSON WHO WAS UNHOUSED HAD SET UP A, UM, SET UP A, UH, A TENT, UH, THAT WAS RIGHT NEXT TO, UH, THE, THE, THE ON THE PROPERTY.

UM, I NOTIFIED OUR INSPECTION SERVICES AND I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR IVAN ABOUT THAT.

YOU RECEIVED AN INQUIRY FROM ME BECAUSE I HAD A RESIDENT OR SOMEBODY REACHED OUT TO ME AND SAID THAT THERE WAS AN IN-HOUSE PERSON THAT HAD SET UP A TENT.

UM, NOW THERE WAS SECURITY ON SITE.

DID SECURITY TAKE CARE OF THAT? DID THEY PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING? DID THEY TALK TO THAT PERSON? WHAT, WHAT WAS THE STATE WHEN YOU WENT OVER THERE TO INSPECT THAT UPON RECEIVING YOUR, UH, CONCERN, SIR, WENT OUT AND MADE AN INVESTIGATION AND DID IDENTIFY WHAT APPEARED TO BE A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT ON THE PROPERTY ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.

ATTEMPTED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CAMPER, IF YOU WILL, AND WAS UNABLE TO, UH, WENT AROUND TO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE, MANAGEMENT OR STAFF.

AND AT THAT TIME I WAS MET BY A GENTLEMAN THAT WAS WEARING A SECURITY GUARD AND I ADVISED HIM OF, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ISSUE AND HE ASSURED ME THAT HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT.

SO PRIOR TO A CITIZEN HAVING TO CALL ME THEM, ME HAVING TO CALL YOU, THEN YOU GOING ON THE PROPERTY, THE SECURITY THAT WAS EMPLOYED AS THE GENTLEMAN WAS SETTING UP AND DOING WHATEVER, DIDN'T INTERACT OR DIDN'T CALL THAT IN OR DIDN'T TALK TO YOU GUYS AS FAR AS CODE ENFORCEMENT OR ANYTHING? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE WAS AWARE THAT THAT WAS GOING ON.

I THINK HE DIDN'T, DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THAT PORTION OF THE PARCEL WAS THEIR PROPERTY.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERTS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE FOR STAFF AT THIS MOMENT? UM, NOPE.

[00:35:01]

I'M GOOD THANKS.

NOW WE WOULD LIKE THE, UM, EITHER THE PROPERTY OWNER OR THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, SIR, COME BACK AND, AND REINTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR US.

CERTAINLY.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

MY NAME'S DANNY SHATTERED, ATTORNEY FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WAS JUST, THAT WERE JUST TALKED ABOUT AND I WILL FILL YOU IN ON OTHER MATTERS THAT WERE NOT TALKED ABOUT.

FIRST, THE PERSON THAT SET UP THIS LITTLE TENT ENCAMPMENT THAT COUNCILMAN ROBBINS WANTS TO TALK ABOUT AND BLOW IT OUT OF PROPORTION WAS NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME WHEN IT WAS FOUND OUT THE PERSON WAS REMOVED.

IT WAS NOT A RESIDENT OF THE PROPERTY.

SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE SECURITY THAT WAS EMPLOYED, UH, DID NOT KNOW THE, LIKE SORT OF BOUNDARIES OF THE PROPERTY? WHAT WAS THE ISSUE? I BELIEVE YOU WERE JUST TOLD THAT.

NO, I'M ASKING YOU.

NO, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

NOW, TODAY I'M HEARING AGAIN THINGS FROM COUNCILMAN ROBBINS IN THE NATURE OF A PROSECUTORIAL FASHION ABOUT HOW SOMETHING DIDN'T OCCUR OVERNIGHT.

I KNOW WHAT I JUST HEARD.

I KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE ON THE PROPERTY BELIEVE.

AND YOU WERE JUST TOLD BY A STAFF MEMBER COUNCILMAN THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SECURITY GUARD KNEW THE EXTENT OF WHERE THAT PROPERTY BOUNDARY WAS.

SO THE PROPERTY OWNER DIDN'T INSTRUCT THE SECURITY GUARD AS TO WHERE THE PROPERTY BOUNDARY WAS.

I DON'T KNOW COUNCILMAN, AND I'M NOT GONNA BE CROSS EXAMINED BY YOU.

YEAH, YOU'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTION.

WHEN YOU'RE A DEFENDANT, YOU WILL, EXCUSE ME.

EXCUSE ME.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE SOME ORDERLY QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD.

AND NOT AN INTERROGATION OF A SPEAKER OR A COUNCIL PERSON.

THERE'S, THERE'S A VERY CIVIL WAY TO HANDLE THIS COUNCILMAN AND AND AUDIENCE.

IT'S JUST A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD SO THAT COUNCIL CAN GET ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON THE NEXT STEPS.

PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT ABOUT SINCE THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS UP HERE HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE, UM, COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS THERE.

AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE THERE BECAUSE THERE ARE A SUBSET OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, OUR ISSUE TONIGHT.

AND, AND, AND, AND THE ATTORNEY, CHAD, IS HERE TO REPRESENT THE PROPERTY OWNER.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROPERTY.

SO LET'S DO THIS IN A CIVIL MANNER OF QUESTION AND ANSWER SO THAT THE COUNCIL AT THE END OF THIS PERIOD, WE CAN DETERMINE NEXT STEPS.

PLEASE CONTINUE, SIR.

MR. MAYOR, ON THE SUBJECT OF A SECURITY COMPANY, THE SECURITY CONTRACT WAS NOT ENTERED INTO BY MARCH 1ST AT 5:00 PM THE OWNER OF OUR INTENDED SECURITY COMPANY CALLED BLACKHAWK SECURITY, WHICH IS NOW IN PLACE, UH, WAS OUT OF TOWN.

THAT PERSON, MR. DANNY FRANKS CAME TO MY OFFICE ALONG WITH THE, UH, OWNERS THAT ON MARCH 6TH, PRIOR TO MARCH 6TH, INDIVIDUAL CLEAT CERTIFIED PERSONNEL FROM TIME TO TIME WERE RETAINED ON AN EIGHT HOUR BASIS OF, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, PRIMARILY FOR OVERNIGHT UNTIL THIS CONTRACT COULD BE PUT IN PLACE.

AND THAT HAPPENED BASICALLY FROM MARCH 1ST UNTIL APPROXIMATELY MARCH 6TH.

AND THAT WAS SPORADIC, BUT IT WAS PRIMARILY OVERNIGHT WITH CLEAT CERTIFIED INDIVIDUALS.

ON MARCH 6TH, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS A WEDNESDAY, UM, MR. FRANKS ATTENDED IN MY OFFICE CONTRACT HAD BEEN SIGNED PREVIOUSLY.

UH, AND THEN MY CLIENT WAS ALSO HAD BEEN ALSO OUTTA TOWN, BUT HE'S WAS THERE AT MY OFFICE.

THE CONTRACT WAS ACTUALLY SIGNED IN FULL ON MARCH 6TH.

I SAID THAT WRONG.

IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME ON MARCH 6TH BY MR. FRANKS.

AND I MISSTATED, I HAD TO SEND IT TO MY CLIENT WHO WAS OUT OF TOWN AT THE TIME FOR A COUNTER SIGNATURE.

THE CONTRACT I SENT TO MS. SAWYER ON MARCH 10TH, AND AT THAT TIME IT HAD BEEN COUNTERSIGNED, MY CLIENT SIGNED IT ON MARCH 9TH WHILE HE WAS OUTTA STATE, SEND IT BACK TO ME.

WE HAD TO PLAY THE, THE, UH, EMAIL GAME BACK AND FORTH.

BUT THE SECURITY WAS ON SITE 24 7 FROM THE LATE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 6TH THROUGH RIGHT NOW AND CONTINUES.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL WAS MOST, MOST WANTED.

BUT IT'S GOTTEN DONE AND THERE'S BEEN REAL MONEY INVESTED IN THAT.

AND THAT SECURITY COMPANY THERE IS THERE 24 7.

[00:40:02]

NOTHING OCCURRED OVERNIGHT, BUT IT DIDN'T ALL GO BACK TO 2014, EITHER.

A YEAR AGO THIS COUNCIL DECLARED THE PROPERTY NOT A NUISANCE.

AND THAT'S ON THE RECORD NOW.

NOW, ADDITIONAL THINGS, AS YOU WERE TOLD, I BELIEVE SPRINKLING SYSTEM HAS BEEN GREEN TAGGED.

UM, WHEN WE WERE HERE LAST, THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ELEVATOR.

YOU MAY RECALL THAT THE TEMPORARY PERMIT ON THE ELEVATOR HAD ON PAPER EXPIRED FEBRUARY 10.

AND, UH, WHEN WE WERE HERE ON FEBRUARY 26TH, THAT WAS A CONCERN OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

ON FEBRUARY 27TH, THE VERY NEXT DAY WE HAD THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OUT TO THE, TO THE PREMISES TO DO THE INSPECTION OF THE ELEVATOR AT THAT TIME.

AND THE REPORT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED THROUGH COUNSEL SHOWING NO VIOLATIONS AND NO RECOMMENDATIONS.

THEN ON A FEW DAYS LATER, MS. SAWYER SENT ME A NOTE SAYING THAT SHE WAS UNDER, HAD HEARD THAT THE CERTIFICATE WAS NOT POSTED IN THE ELEVATOR.

AND I REPLIED TO HER AFTER TALKING WITH THE FOLKS ON THE PROPERTY THAT THE CERTIFICATE HAD BEEN PLACED, IT HAD BEEN TORN DOWN AND NOW IT'S IN A FRAME INSIDE OF THE ELEVATOR IS WHAT I'M TOLD YOU WERE JUST TOLD A FEW MOMENTS AGO ABOUT 20, UH, RESPONSES FROM FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

YOU WERE TOLD THAT THREE OF 'EM WERE FIRE RELATED, THAT EIGHT WERE TRADITIONAL POLICE CALLS, AND THAT NINE WERE PROACTIVE WHERE THE POLICE JUST WENT BY.

AND THAT'S FINE.

THERE HAD BEEN ONE NATURAL DEATH ON THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

I ASSUME THAT PART OF THE RESPONSE DEALT WITH THAT NATURAL DEATH EMS AND I THINK FIRE AND POLICE WERE THERE WHEN THAT PERSON DECEASED.

DID, HAS THE, HAS THE CORONER DECLARED THAT A NATURAL DEATH OR, CAUSE I'M PART, I'M SORRY SIR.

UH, YOU SAID IT WAS A NATURAL DEATH.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THE, IT WAS THAT THE CO WELL, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY.

I BELIEVE IT WAS RULED THAT THERE WAS NOT FOUL PLAY.

I BELIEVE THAT'S HOW IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME.

NOT FOUL PLAY.

THAT'S ALL I KNOW.

NOW, THE REPORT THAT WAS JUST PASSED OUT TO YOU, I HAVE NOT SEEN, I HEARD WHAT I HEARD HERE.

PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.

WE MADE, WHEN WE WERE HERE LAST TIME, I MENTIONED TO YOU THE GROUP CALLED ZOE, UH, HEALING CENTERS.

TWO OF THE REPRESENTATIVE, OR AT LEAST ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES HERE, AND, UH, MS. PAULA PARKHURST, WHO IS NOT TECHNICALLY, UH, A FORMAL REPRESENTATIVE BUT HAS WORKED WITH THEM IS HERE.

AND THEY'VE BEEN ON SITE JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY SINCE WE WERE LAST HERE, TRYING TO GOVERN AND, AND MONITOR THINGS ON THE PROPERTY.

THIS DEAL ABOUT RESIDENTS ON THE SECOND FLOOR OR THE WORD OCCUPANTS, I BELIEVE, I CANNOT SWEAR AND I WILL NOT SWEAR TO YOU, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE REFERRING TO TWO OF THE WORKERS ON THE PROPERTY THAT USED THE SECOND FLOOR TO LIVE IN WHILE THEY WERE THERE.

AND HOPEFULLY THAT IS BEING RECTIFIED.

THE CONTRACT WITH BLACKHAWK SECURITY IS IN YOUR POSSESSION.

THE NICE LITTLE TELL, UH, NEWSPAPER ARTICLE THAT APPEARED THIS MORNING IN THE OKLAHOMAN EVEN SHOWS A PICTURE OF THE BLACKHAWK SECURITY CAR IN FRONT OF THE PREMISES.

[00:45:01]

THE CURRENT PLAN IS JUST A LITTLE TEENY BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I MENTIONED TWO WEEKS AGO.

IT IS BEEN DETERMINED THAT IT'S PROBABLY BETTER TO USE A TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO OPERATE THE PROPERTY AND TO ALLOW THE ZOE HEALING FO HEALING CENTERS TO CONDUCT THEIR CHARITABLE WORK ON THE PROPERTY.

UH, AS AS TIME GOES ON DURING THE, AND THEY'VE GOT A A, WE'VE ALREADY HAD A CONTRACTOR COME OUT TO LOOK AT THE PROPERTY, GIVE US ESTIMATES ON WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO BRING EVERYTHING UP TO CODE.

AND IT'S A SIX FIGURE NUMBER AND A LOWER SIX FIGURE NUMBER TO BRING IT UP TO CODE.

WE'VE ALSO WORKING ON ESTIMATES TO DO COMPLETE REFURBISHING OF THE PROPERTY FOR THE FUTURE.

AS YOU KNOW, ONLY THE FIRST FLOOR RIGHT NOW IS OCCUPIED.

UH, ALSO FOR YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT THREE DAYS OR SO AFTER THE LAST MEETING.

IT'S FEBRUARY 29TH OR MARCH 1ST, AND I CANNOT REMEMBER WHICH.

A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VA WHO WORKS WITH THESE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ACTUALLY, UH, TENANTS FROM THE VA CAME OUT TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM.

MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE ADVISED THAT THE VA THROUGH THE, UH, CASEWORKERS WILL BE WORKING TO TRY AND RELOCATE THEM DURING THIS TIME IF THEY WANT TO.

AND IT'S PROBABLY DURING THE REPAIR PHASE BETTER FOR THEM.

BUT THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE ADAMANT THAT SAID THEY WEREN'T MOVING.

RIGHT NOW, NOBODY HAS BEEN RELOCATED.

THERE'S STILL, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, APPROXIMATELY 30 PEOPLE LIVING ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

THE COMMON AREAS, I THINK THE INSPECTORS WILL TELL YOU HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY CLEANED AND ARE VASTLY IMPROVED.

NOW, GETTING INSIDE OF A PERSON'S APARTMENT IS A DIFFERENT STORY.

WE CAN'T JUST WALK IN ON THEM.

AS CHIEF FITZGERALD MENTIONED, SOME PEOPLE SMOKE AND WE CAN'T ALWAYS STOP THEM.

NOW THERE'S A FUTURE PLAN TO MAKE THIS A SMOKE-FREE FACILITY, BUT THERE ARE LEASES IN PLACE RIGHT NOW AND WE CAN'T NECESSARILY STOP THEM FROM DOING THAT.

AND AS THE CHIEF ALSO TOLD YOU, SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST TINKERING WITH THE SMOKE ALARMS INSIDE OF THEIR UNITS.

SO FROM A LANDLORD TENANT STANDPOINT, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT ONE-ON-ONE, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT ACCORDING TO THE LEASE AND ACCORDING TO THE LAW, IF, IF THE COUNSEL HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF ME, I DON'T WANT TO JUST CARRY ON FOREVER.

WE, WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS MAKING, WE WANT TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS.

LET'S SEE IF I MISSED ANYTHING FROM MS. SAWYER'S QUESTIONS.

I BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE ONE SECURITY CAMERA TO INSTALL AND I AM PRETTY SURE THAT ALL THE EXIT SIGNS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

BUT THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING, WE'VE GOT A CONTRACTOR THAT IS NOT SIGNED UP YET BUT HAS GIVEN US SOME PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES AND I THINK HE WANTS TO GO THROUGH OR HIS NAME'S JOHN GILMORE.

HE REALLY EXISTS.

AND UM, THAT'S BASICALLY THE REPORT FROM THIS END.

MR. MAYOR.

AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

YES, I DO, SIR.

SO WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THIS, IS THAT HEARD TWO, I'VE HEARD THE REPORTS FROM THE CITY STAFF THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS.

UH, THE, THE, THE ENTIRE BUILDING HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED, THE ENTIRE BUILDING'S BEEN DOCUMENTED.

AND UM, IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS THERE'S BEEN A NEW DOUBLE DIGIT, UM, FIRST RESPONDER CALLS OVER THEIR FIRE, PROACTIVE TRADITIONAL CALLS, UM, FROM A BUILDING THAT, USING YOUR WORDS THAT BEEN DEEMED, UH, NOT A NUISANCE A YEAR AGO, BUT A A A YEAR LATER, IT'S A NUISANCE.

AND YOU TELL US THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

AND UM, THAT'S A, I HAVE A GREAT CONCERN WITH THAT, THAT, UH, WE ARE HERE.

AND, AND, AND JUST TO SAY FOR THE BUILDING TO GO DOWN IN IN A YEAR, THAT'S

[00:50:01]

A LOT.

UH, AND THEN FOR IT IS JUST NOT GOOD.

MR. MAYOR, I'M SORRY, LET ME, ONE OTHER STATEMENT.

AND THEN I HAVE THE OVERALL CONCERN THAT THE INSPECTIONS THAT WERE DONE, WHICH WAS I'M GLAD, WAS ALL ENCOMPASSING FOR THE ENTIRE FLOOR.

THAT DOES IMPACT FROM A SAFETY AND HEALTH AND WELFARE ASPECT FOR THE OCCUPANTS ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

IF THERE'S FIRE HAZARDS POTENTIALLY ABOVE, WHICH COULD BE ON FIRE, SMOLDERING AND ALL THAT.

AND THE OCCUPANTS DOWNSTAIRS MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.

SO I, UH, I STILL HAVE GREAT CONCERN ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

HOW DID IT GET TO THIS POINT AGAIN? AND UM, I'M GONNA SEE IF THE COUNSEL HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

MAY I ADDRESS ONE OTHER MATTER THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED? YES, SIR.

SO THE COUNSEL WILL KNOW, THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE IN FACT TURNED OVER THE OPERATION OF, THEY'RE NOT ON THE PROPERTY RIGHT NOW.

THEY HAVE TURNED THE PROPERTY OVER IN THIS PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, BASICALLY UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF ZOE HEALING.

BUT I BELIEVE WE REALLY ARE GOING TO USE A REAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO TAKE OVER THE DAILY OPERATIONS.

WE'VE HAD A GENTLEMAN THERE WHO HAS BEEN PAID MONEY TO OVERSEE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL MANAGEMENT AND AND HANDLING STUFF DAY-TO-DAY.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE PROPERTY.

THESE TWO LADIES HAVE BEEN THERE ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS EVERY DAY SINCE WE'RE DOING WORK.

AND WHAT ELSE CAN YOU ASK? EXCEPT THAT WE TRY AND GET THE, THE MATTER TO THE, UH, TO THE POINT OR THE PROPERTY TO THE POINT THAT THE COUNSEL IS SATISFIED.

THE LIST THAT WE GOT ON JANUARY 29TH FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE LIST THAT WE GOT ON FEBRUARY 28TH.

I I SAID THAT WRONG ON JANUARY 29TH COMPARED TO FEBRUARY 28TH.

WHY IT WAS THAT MUCH DIFFERENT? I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT IS.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? WHAT I MEAN IS ON JANUARY 29TH AND I SHOWED IT TO THE COUNSEL THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, I GOT A LIST IF I, IF IT LOOKS LIKE THIS, WITH MAYBE 20 OR 25 BULLET POINTS, IF THAT MANY.

AND THEN ON FEBRUARY 28TH, I GOT A FIVE PAGE LIST THAT WAS MUCH MORE ENCOMPASSING.

I, I THINK THAT FIRE DEPARTMENT YEAH, THEY DID A INSPECTION FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE DID.

CORRECT.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CLARIFIED THAT BY SAYING THEY STARTED THE INSPECTIONS AND THEN THEY JUST STOPPED.

AND SO WE DIDN'T HAVE A COMPLETE INSPECTION OF THE FACILITY.

SO AFTER OUR LAST MEETING, THEY SAID THAT IN THE COUNCIL MEETING.

SO THEN, WAS THAT CORRECT? YES.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS LETTER SAYS.

THAT WAS GIVEN TO US.

AND SO THEN HE WENT BACK OUT ON OUR WISHES AND INSPECTED THE ENTIRE FACILITY BECAUSE WE SAID WE NEED A COMPLETE INSPECTION, NOT JUST OF THE FIRST FLOOR, NOT JUST WALK IN AND SAY, OKAY, ALL OF THESE AND THEN BACK OUT.

WE NEED AN INSPECTION OF EVERYTHING SO WE CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

WHICH IS FINE.

AND YOU WERE AT THAT MEETING, YOU HEARD HIM, BUT I ALSO KNOW THE WORDS THAT HE WROTE ON THIS LETTER.

BUT YOU ALSO HEARD HIM.

WELL, I, I HEARD HIM COME AT ME AND I KNOW YOU HEARD HIM TWO WEEKS AGO.

'CAUSE I I ALSO KNOW WHAT HE TOLD THE PROPERTY OWNER IS, HE SAYS THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND.

HE DIDN'T MR. MAYOR WHAT THIS IS, I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO THE SOMATICS OF THIS, SIR.

I WAS JUST ANSWERING.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

I UNDERSTAND MR. MAYOR.

YES SIR.

AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

I GOT A FEW CHOICE WORDS TO SAY ABOUT THIS AND THEN I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

SO WHENEVER YOU'RE READY TO DO THAT CALL ON ME.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF, OF CALLS WE'VE HAD, WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE, THE AMOUNT OF CRIME WE'VE HAD OVER THERE, THIS, THAT'S WHY WE DETERMINE THIS PLACE A, A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE GO THROUGH THE, THE, THE PROCESS HERE AND UH, MAKE SURE FROM THE COUNCIL'S PERSPECTIVE THAT WE, WE'VE, WE'VE ANSWERED, 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA REHASH THINGS THAT HAPPENED TWO WEEKS AGO.

YEP.

'CAUSE WE WERE ALL HERE AND IT'S ALL BUT THE, BUT THE THING, THE THING IS THIS, IT'S VERY SIMPLISTIC.

THE BUILDING'S NOT INHABITABLE RIGHT NOW.

IN MY WORDS.

THAT'S MY WORDS.

BUT WE'VE HAD OUR INSPECTORS LOOK UP THERE AND THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S NUMEROUS THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE WRONG WITH THE BUILDING.

AND HOWEVER LONG IT TOOK IT TO HAPPEN, IT HAS HAPPENED.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S WITHIN THE PAST YEAR.

IT'S, IT'S REOCCURRED.

SOME OF IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FESTERING FROM PREVIOUS TIME.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THE THING IS THIS,

[00:55:01]

SO NOW WHEN WE LOOK AT THE, THE CATEGORIES OF A PUBLIC NUISANCE, WE MUST MAKE THE, OUR COUNCIL MUST MAKE THE DETERMINATION, HAVE THOSE BEEN RECTIFIED ENOUGH OR CLEARED UP ENOUGH TO SAY IT'S NOT A PUBLIC NUISANCE ANYMORE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE HEARD THAT YET.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES, LIFE AND LIMB ISSUES AT THIS FACILITY.

BUT I, AND ALL I'VE HEARD FROM YOU IS THIS, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

O ONE THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME IS, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL IN DECLARING A PUBLIC NUISANCE, OUR LAST MEETING HAD SET THE DATE.

UM, WE'D SET A A AN EARLIER DATE, BUT MR. SHA HAD ASKED FOR MARCH 1ST AT FIVE O'CLOCK TO HAVE, UM, MS. MADELINE SAWYER HAVE A CONTRACT IN HAND OF 24 7 CLEAT SECURITY.

WHAT I CAPTURED, AND I WROTE THIS DOWN, THESE EXACT WORDS, WAS THAT BECAUSE THE PROPERTY OWNER WAS OUT OF TOWN, THAT MR. SHE HAD TO PLAY A QUOTE EMAIL GAME WITH HIM UNTIL MARCH 9TH UNTIL IT WAS SIGNED.

AND MARCH 6TH IS WHEN POTENTIALLY THE 24 7 CLEAT SECURITY WAS ON SITE.

MY CHALLENGE IS, IS THAT ON MONDAY, MARCH 4TH AT APPROXIMATELY 5:00 PM WHICH WAS PUBLICLY POSTED BY OUR EDMUND POLICE DEPARTMENT, IF YOU DO CARE TO LOOK AT IT, CASE NUMBER 24 13 2 7 4 AT EDMOND POLICE RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF AN UNRESPONSIVE MALE AT THE RESIDENCE OF 1300 EAST.

HES, UPON ARRIVAL, THE POLICE CONFIRMED THAT THE 68-YEAR-OLD WAS DECEASED FROM AN APPARENT DRUG OVERDOSE.

THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

THE OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

SO WHEN YOU SAY, OH, THERE WASN'T FOUL PLAY AND YOU INITIALLY SAID THAT IT WAS NATURAL CAUSES, LEMME GET SOMETHING STRAIGHT.

THIS ISN'T A COURTROOM, YOU'VE BROUGHT YOUR COURT REPORTER.

BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU BRING A TUX AND SOMEBODY ELSE BRINGS A DRESS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE GET MARRIED AND WE PLAY HOUSE.

I REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT, OF MY WARD AND I HAVE PLEDGED TO THEM THAT WE WILL HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT HAS PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE SAFE, THAT TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROPERTIES.

I'VE MET WITH THE VA AND THE AMERICAN LEGION WHO HAVE VERY, VERY REAL CONCERNS ABOUT HOW PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN TREATED.

AND THE SUPREME COURT OFFERS ME UNEQUIVOCAL SAFEGUARDS AS A PUBLICLY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF REPRESENTING THOSE WHO ELECTED ME AS I PUT MY MAIN NAME ON THE BALLOT IN A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, A HIGH BAR OF POLITICAL SPEECH PROTECTED AND RECOGNIZED.

AND YOU MIGHT THINK OF NEW YORK TIMES VERSUS SOLVENT IN 64, WHICH BASICALLY SAID, BECAUSE I'M A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, I CAN FIGHT FOR MY RESIDENTS, I CAN SAY WHAT I'M FOR AND I'M AGAINST.

I CAN LOOK 'EM IN THE EYE AND SAY, I'LL SHOW UP AND DO THE HARD WORK TO GO THROUGH THE VOLUMINOUS CASE FILES AND EVERYTHING THAT I NEED TO.

NOW IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, WHAT YOUR CLIENT CAN DO IS YOU CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF THE COCKROACHES THAT ARE IN THAT WE HAVE NOW FROM THE INSPECTION AND YOU CAN BLOW IT UP AND YOU CAN PUT IT ON A BILLBOARD AND YOU CAN SAY, MR. ROBBINS IS THE REAL COCKROACH 'CAUSE HE WANTS ME TO GET RID OF MINE.

YOU CAN SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DOING THAT.

YOUR CLIENT CAN.

BUT I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP AND DEFEND OUR RESIDENCE FROM THOSE PEOPLE.

LAST COMMENT, YOU SAID THAT ON THE SECOND OR THIRD FLOOR, YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT MIGHT BE A MAINTENANCE PERSON OR PERSONS THAT HAD ACCESS TO THAT WERE SLEEPING THERE.

WELL, I BELIEVE THAT MAINTENANCE PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE WORTH IT.

SO IF THEY'RE IN SOMEWHERE WITH EXPOSED WIRING OR TAPED OVER OR SHUT DOORS OR NOT ACCESS TO EXITS.

HOWEVER, AGAIN, IF YOU WOULD JUST READ THE POLICE REPORTS THAT ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AND THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE, CASE NUMBER 2024 DASH 2 5 5 5, FEBRUARY 5TH, 2024, A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS IDENTIFIED BY BOTH OF YOUR PROPERTY OWNERS AS A PART OF THE INVESTIGATION WHO IS ON SITE AS A HANDYMAN, NO CONTRACT, NO VETTING, NO BACKGROUND CHECK WAS ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.

SO YES, I WILL VOTE TO DECLARE THIS A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

'CAUSE IF THAT ISN'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS COUNCILMAN, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU COUNCILMAN.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DENY MY CLIENT OF DUE PROCESS AND WE'LL, AND WE WILL, WE WILL, WE WILL TAKE

[01:00:01]

THAT UP.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

HOWEVER, ONE THING HE FAILED TO SAY, HE SAID, WELL, HE, HE MISSED PART OF THE WORDS.

I SAID MY CLIENT SIGNED ON FEBRUARY 9TH, HE MISSED THE PART AND LEFT OUT THE PART THAT THE OWNER OF THE SECURITY COMPANY WAS OUT OF TOWN ALSO AND DIDN'T MAKE IT BACK IN UNTIL MARCH 6TH.

AND THAT'S ON THE RECORD.

AND I SAID, SO ARE THERE NOT MORE THAN ONE SECURITY COMPANIES IN THIS STATE THAT SERVICE THIS AREA? WAS THAT THE ONLY OPTION SOMEONE DIED ON MARCH 4TH? WAS IT WAS, WAS THE, WAS THE PROPERTY OWNER ONLY THE PERSON THAT DIED ON MARCH 4TH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SECURITY? THAT'S YOUR OPINION? THAT IS MY OPINION.

AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY EVIDENCE.

TO THE CONTRARY I WAS TOLD NOT FOUL PLAY.

I'M SORRY MR. MOORE.

SO, SO THE COUNSEL IS THIS, THIS IS WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US.

IS THAT THE ORIGINAL DETERMINATION THAT WE MADE TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, FOR DETERRENCE AND NUISANCE, THOSE ITEMS YOU COUNSEL, YOU NEED, WELL, ONE'S ALREADY STATED, DO YOU THINK IT'S BEEN CLEANED UP ENOUGH THAT THE, THAT IT'S STILL NOT A PUBLIC NUISANCE OR THAT IT'S STILL A PUBLIC NUISANCE? AND THEN THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS THIS, WE STILL HAVE 30 RESIDENTS THERE.

IF WE, IF WE, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.

WE DECLARE, WE, WE CONTINUE IT AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

WHAT'S NEXT? BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO ACCOUNT THE, THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE THERE.

THEY, THEY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE AN ACTION TO SAY THAT THEY'RE OUT ON THE STREET TOMORROW.

THAT AIN'T HAPPENING.

AND THAT, AND THAT'S, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THAT'S NONE OF OUR INTENT UP HERE.

OUR INTENT IS TO CLEAN UP THE, EITHER DO SOMETHING WITH THE BUILDING AND THE OWNER AND THEN WE, BUT WE ASKED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO ADD ANY ADDITIONAL HARM TO THE RESIDENCE DURING THIS TRANSITIONAL TIME FOR THEM POTENTIALLY.

SO I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU.

COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN MOORE? WELL, I, I I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT MR. SHE, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S COMPLETED HIS COMMENTS OR NOT.

I HAD ONE OTHER COMMENT ABOUT OH, OKAY.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE, I WELL, I'M SORRY.

IT WAS JUST A COMMENT.

THE ITEMS THAT COUNCILMAN ROBBINS JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT HE HAS AREN'T FROM TODAY BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T EXIST IN THE COMMON AREAS TODAY.

I, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY, FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER.

UH, I, I DO HAVE A MAYOR.

I KNOW YOU WANNA KEEP THIS TIDIED UP AND, AND, AND, AND ON TRACK.

UH, I TOO, AND I KNOW EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL SHARES YOUR CONCERNS.

WE'RE NOT PUTTING ANYBODY OUT ON THE STREET.

SO COMMANDER DUNCAN, COMMANDER RICE, YOU'RE SITTING OUT THERE, ARE YOU GONNA SEE TO IT? THESE FOLKS HAVE A PLACE TO GO IF THIS PLACE IS SHUT DOWN.

MS. BATTERSON, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THAT? YES.

UM, THE VA PROGRAM AND O UH, OHOA OKLAHOMA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY IN GETTING THE VETERANS THAT WANT TO MOVE OUT OF NEW VOUCHERS.

IT DOES TAKE A PROCESS.

CURRENTLY THERE ARE SIX OF THE 20 THAT ARE VOUCHERED.

SO THERE ARE RESIDENTS THAT ARE NOT VOUCHERED THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING NEW VOUCHERS TO MOVE TO NEW.

SO WE WOULD NEED SOME TIME TO MOVE THE REMAINING THAT WANT TO MOVE.

SO WHAT DOES SOME TIME MEAN APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 90 DAYS? OA IS TRYING TO RUSH IT.

I MEAN, IT'S AN EMERGENCY, BUT I COULD SAY POTENTIALLY 60 DAYS.

SO IF THEY DON'T HAVE A, A VOUCHER, BUT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR THEIR EXPENSES IN THAT 60 TO 90 DAY PERIOD, THEN THEY COULD BE RELOCATED.

SO THAT'S JUST GETTING THE GOVERNMENT TO MOVE THE EIGHT 50 A MONTH TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION? THAT IS CORRECT.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE SOME, UM, THERE WOULD BE SOME DIFFICULTIES FOR SOME OF THESE RESIDENTS TO MOVE TO NEW FACILITIES.

SOME OF THEM HAVE ANIMALS IS MY UNDERSTANDING, SINCE SOME OF THE LANDLORDS THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE SPOKE UP DO NOT ACCEPT PETS.

UM, AND SO THERE ARE SOME CONSIDERATIONS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN.

I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BOTH ORGANIZATIONS OF THE HELP AND THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE.

THERE IS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY PROVIDE, BUT IT WOULD BE A FEW DAYS TO TRY TO GET EVERYTHING IN.

STAFF IN CHARGE OF THE, UH, HUD VASH PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THIS IS ON THEIR RADAR AND THEY CAN EXPEDITE IT.

I'LL ALSO, UM, I SPOKE WITH OUR, OUR CONGRESSWOMAN.

I SPOKE WITH OUR US SENATOR, JAMES LANGFORD, AND I'LL BE, I'LL BE FLYING BACK TO, I WAS THERE LAST WEEK, I'LL BE FLYING BACK TO DC NEXT WEEK, AND ASKED TO MEET WITH THEIR HUD

[01:05:01]

AND SO I'LL BE BACK IN DC WITH THAT MEETING WITH HUD NEXT WEEK.

MR. MAYOR, IF YOU CAN COMMANDER DUNCAN COMMENT ON MY QUESTION? YES, PLEASE.

COMMANDER.

CITY COUNCIL, MR. MAYOR.

SO, THE VFW HAS A PROGRAM CALLED UNMET NEEDS, WHICH OFFERS, OFFERS $1,500 GRANTS TO VETERANS.

WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OTHER, UH, ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING FORWARD LANDLORDS AND, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WOULD GET THESE PEOPLE MOVED.

WE WOULD LIKE, SINCE THE VOUCHERS HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR SOME OF THESE PEOPLE, FOR THEM NOT TO BE THROWN OUT IN THE STREET.

BUT WE ARE WORKING THAT RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE ACTUALLY THE ONES WORKING WITH THE ZOE, UH, HEALTH ORGANIZATION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO SIGN A CONTRACT AND FINDING A DIFFERENT PLACE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO LIVE.

UH, BUT BETWEEN US AND THE AMERICAN LEGION, WE ARE GATHERING THE MONEY.

UH, WE CAN HAVE ANY OF THESE RESIDENTS CAN MEET US TOMORROW, MEET US WHATEVER DAY THEY WOULD LIKE, AND AT WHATEVER THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE US TO DO TO GET THESE PEOPLE APPLIED FOR THEIR GRANTS AND GET THEM MOVED TO SOMEWHERE SAFE.

YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, IN A PERFECT WORLD, IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET EVERYBODY OUTTA THAT FACILITY.

AND THEN JUST LIKE IT HAPPENED LAST TIME, WE GOT EVERYBODY OUT OF THE FACILITY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

AND THEN THE, UM, OWNER OCCUPANT AT THAT TIME HAD TO, TO BRING IT UP TO A CERTAIN STANDARD, WHICH WE THOUGHT THEY DID, BUT THEY DIDN'T.

SO, UM, THAT'S A, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WORLD EXISTS RIGHT NOW.

RED ICE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO GET INTO SPECIFICS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE SOME BETTER INFORMATION TO HELP WITH YOUR DECISION.

SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE AMERICAN LEGION IS WILLING TO DO.

OH, I'M SORRY.

FOR THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

I'M .

I'M COMMANDER OF AMERICAN LEGION POST ONE 11 IN EDMOND, OKLAHOMA.

AND IT'S GOOD TO MEET EVERY, SEE EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT, SPECIFICALLY TO HELP TO THESE, THE IMMEDIATE NEED THAT IS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.

AT 1300 EAST HARRIS, WE HAVE TAKEN A, A VOTE AND WE HAVE MOBILIZED $5,000 INTO OUR BENEVOLENCE FUND FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

THESE GRANTS CAN BE GIVEN AT AN INCREMENT OF UP TO $500 PER INDIVIDUAL.

THEY HAVE TO ALSO QUALIFY AS A HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERAN.

IF A VETERAN DOES NOT HAVE THAT HONORABLE DISCHARGE, WE CANNOT PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WILL HELP THEM WITH ANY OTHER VETERANS CLAIM AND BENEFIT THAT, THAT THEY'VE QUALIFY FOR BECAUSE OF THEIR SERVICE.

AND WE HAVE VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS WORKING THOSE CLAIMS EVERY WEEK, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP THEM.

WE ALSO HAD RECENTLY, NOT ONE, BUT TWO DIFFERENT PRESS EVENTS TO TRY AND ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND GIVE US INFORMATION, UH, ABOUT POSSIBLE LANDLORDS THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP US WITH FINDING IMMEDIATE HOUSING FOR THESE VETERANS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE CALLS DID NOT AVAIL MUCH SUCCESS.

WE ONLY HAD TWO INDIVIDUALS CALL THAT OFFERED ANY TYPE OF HOUSING, AND ONE OF THEM WON'T BE ABLE TO START HOUSING ANYBODY FOR AT LEAST 90 DAYS BECAUSE THEIR, THEIR FACILITIES ARE ALSO UNDER RENOVATION.

UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THIS EFFORT, AND IF WE NEED TO, WE WILL MOBILIZE ADDITIONAL FUNDS AS THE NEED ARISES.

WE WANT THE VETERANS AT THIS FACILITY TO KNOW WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM.

SO DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON WHAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH? NO, THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO FOR US.

SO, COUNSEL, MA'AM, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN RECOGNIZED YET? PARDON ME? IS SHE WHO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH? I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CHRISTIE, AND I HAVEN'T SPOKEN BEFORE BECAUSE I'M A RESIDENT OF EDMOND, BUT I DO NOT SP I WORK FOR THE VA, BUT I CANNOT, I'M NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK OFFICIALLY FOR THE VA, BUT I DO WORK WITH THESE 20 VETERANS.

THEN I, I JUST WANNA EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF FINDING THEM HOUSING.

SO PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF, MA'AM.

UH, MY NAME IS THERESA JAIME MARCEY.

THE UNIT HAS TO BE OPEN GETTING AN INSPECTION.

UM, SO YOU'RE GONNA EXPLAIN THE PROCESS YES.

OF WHAT IT TAKES.

SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WE CAN RELOCATE THESE VETERANS AND WE'LL HELP RELOCATE THESE VETERANS, IT'S NOT THE VOUCHER ITSELF, IT'S FINDING LANDLORDS AND THEN GETTING THE PROCESS EXPEDITED TO, IN GET THEM APPROVED WITH AN APPLICATION.

[01:10:01]

SO MY POINT IN STANDING HERE IS JUST TO BE ABLE TO SAY, EVEN WITH $500 OR ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY, UM, IT'S MORE HAVING OUR VETERANS BE ACCEPTED BY A LANDLORD.

AND THAT PROCESS DOES TAKE TIME, EVEN THOUGH OA IS WILLING TO EXPEDITE ANY KIND OF INSPECTION.

UM, WE ARE PROBABLY REALLY LOOKING, UM, AT, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE 19 VETERANS THERE, ONE HAS ALREADY MOVED ON.

UM, WE HAVE THREE THAT REALLY WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN EDMOND BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAMILY HERE OR THEY WORK HERE.

UM, BUT WE ARE HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE FINDING ANY LANDLORD IN THE AREA BECAUSE THERE ARE CHALLENGES IN THEIR BACKGROUNDS.

EITHER THEY HAVE RECENT EVICTIONS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, UM, IT'S JUST NOT A QUICK PROCESS AND IT ISN'T A MATTER OF PAPERWORK.

IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LANDLORDS.

AND, UM, WE REALLY HAVE NOT HAD ANY LANDLORDS COME FORWARD.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS.

SO WHEN WE'RE ASKING FOR EXTRA TIME, WE REALLY WOULD BE LOOKING AT 60 DAYS IF WE COULD.

I'VE HEARD 60 TO 90 DAYS AT A YEAH, POTENTIALLY AT A MINIMUM.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ENSURE, BECAUSE I DO WORK WITH THOSE VETERANS EVERY DAY, I DO WORK WITH THAT PROGRAM THAT, THAT YOU UNDERSTAND.

IT'S, IT'S NOT PAPERWORK, IT'S PROCESS.

SO MAYOR, UM, BACK TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HAVE WE SEEN SUFFICIENT ABATEMENT, UM, WE GAVE A VERY DETAILED LIST.

THERE WERE VIOLATIONS, THERE WERE THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, UM, AND THEY HAVEN'T.

UM, SO MY SHORT ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.

I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND I STRUGGLE WITH, WE NEED A SAFE PLACE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO LIVE AND LIVING WHERE THEY'RE LIVING NOW IS NOT A SAFE PLACE.

IT IS NOT A HABITABLE PLACE.

IT IS NOT A SAFE PLACE.

UM, AGAIN, I MEAN THE, THE, THESE THINGS HAVE DEVELOPED, REDEVELOPED IN THE LAST 12 TO 14 MONTHS.

YOU TO FILE SUIT AND DISTRICT COURT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THESE FOLKS HAVE TO FIND A NEW PLACE TO LIVE TOMORROW.

UM, IT WAS A HABITABLE PLACE.

WE HAD PEOPLE MOVING.

I MEAN, IT WAS, MANY, MANY THINGS WERE PROMISED AND TOLD AND THEY WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

AND SO THE OWNERS ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT.

UM, THERE ARE ONLY 7% OF THE THINGS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING THAT WERE ADDRESSED.

SO THIS IDEA THAT YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE ROOMS, I'M NOT BUYING THAT WHEN ONLY 7% OF THE VIOLATIONS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING WEREN'T TAKEN CARE OF.

UM, I HAVE BEEN TOLD, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD POINT BLANK, THERE'S NO ONE LIVING ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR.

IT SURE SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY'S BEEN LIVING ON THE SECOND FLOOR, PROBABLY TWO PEOPLE.

AND SO, QUITE FRANKLY, I'M TIRED OF BEING LIED TO.

THIS IS NOT A SAFE PLACE.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO LIVE.

IT'S NOT SAFE FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

IT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

I'M DONE.

WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.

AND IF PART OF THAT I'M DONE, AND MOVING FORWARD ON THAT MEANS THAT THE PROCESS TAKES 60 TO 90 DAYS, THEN I SAY WE START IT TONIGHT.

UM, SO I, YEAH.

I MEAN, I, I AM YEAH.

THIS IS NOT, THIS IS, I, I DON'T, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I, IT IS NOT ABATED ENOUGH FOR ME.

I AM READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE ALREADY DECLARED IT A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

WE SAID WHAT NEEDED TO BE DUE TO DONE, TO BE SHOWN ABATEMENT.

MAYBE 30% OF THOSE THINGS WERE DONE.

AND THE SECURITY, I MEAN, TO THE POINT, THERE'S OTHER SECURITY, UM, ORGANIZATIONS, UM, WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE THAT WAS SPORADIC OVERNIGHT.

UM, YEAH.

AND THIS THING ABOUT TWO PEOPLE LIVING ON THE SECOND FLOOR, EGRESS INGRESS, THESE ARE NOT JUST CALLS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED, SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED, SHOULD NEVER HAVE .

SO WHAT DO YOU WANNA SAY TO THE CURRENT OCCUPANTS AS THEY WORK THROUGH THIS NEW JOURNEY OF TRYING TO FIND HOUSING? I I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR ATTORNEY, IF I WERE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE SUIT AT DISTRICT COURT, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT TIMEFRAME LOOK LIKE, UM, FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT OF, OF PROTECTING THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR WELLBEING? OR DO AS FAR AS, UNTIL A, UNTIL A COURT SAYS THEY NEED TO BE OUT OF THE FACILITY, IT REALLY RIGHT.

IT'S GONNA KIND OF DEPEND ON THE DOCKET.

UM, IF, IF I WAITED TWO WEEKS TO FILE THE ACTION, THAT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT WOULD GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.

BUT IT'S REALLY JUST GONNA DEPEND ON, SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHAT COURTROOM IS UP IN, AND IF WE MADE THE MOTION AND PASSED THE MOTION TO DIRECT

[01:15:01]

RIGHT? RIGHT.

IT MEANS THAT ONCE WE ACTUALLY GET ON A DOCKET, GET A COURT, GET AN ORDER, SO THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME BUILT INTO THE PROCESS, UM, ALREADY.

SO I, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

UM, AND AT THE TOP OF THE LIST ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN A, IN A PLACE THAT'S NOT SAFE.

BUT I'M READY TO, I'M READY TO MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO MOVE FORWARD AND FILE A MOTION IN DISTRICT COURT.

WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND PEOPLE HERE WORKING IN THE ROOM TO HELP THESE FOLKS FIND HOUSING WHILE IT WORKS THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WELL, MAYOR, I HAVE A MOTION IF YOU'LL, MR. MOORE.

COUNCILMAN MOORE, WHERE DO YOU HAVE MR. MAYOR? I'D MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER EIGHT DASH 24, FINDING THAT THE PUBLIC NUISANCE EXISTING ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1300 EAST HEIRS IN THE CITY OF EDMOND, HAS NOT BEEN ABATED AS DIRECTED BY THE EDMUND CITY COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 26TH, 2024.

DETERMINING THAT SUMMARY ABATEMENT IS NOT PRACTICAL AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE SUIT IN DISTRICT COURT SEEKING TO ABATE SAID PUBLIC NUISANCE.

COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ON THIS ITEM? I DO.

I MEAN, I'M LOOKING AT THESE PERCENTAGES THAT HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.

1% OUT OF A HUNDRED TWENTY SEVEN ZERO ON THE THIRD FLOOR, SEVEN OF 33 ON THE OUTSIDE.

I MEAN, IF THE PROPERTY OWNER WERE A BASEBALL PLAYER, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN MAKE THE MINOR LEAGUES WITH A BATTING AVERAGE LIKE THAT.

THIS IS, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

AND I KNOW THAT MR. SHED IS DOING HIS WORK TO REPRESENT HIS CLIENT.

IT'S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

AND, AND AT THE PROCE AND AT THE RATE THIS IS GOING, UH, WE COULD BE SITTING HERE IN A YEAR WAITING FOR THIS TO BE RESOLVED.

SO I, UH, I JUST THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S DEPLORABLE WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE.

UH, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

MS. MUG HAS SAID THAT.

WE'VE ALL SAID IT.

IT'S THE DAMN TRUTH.

IT'S HORRIBLE.

SO I PRESS MY MOTION.

AND, UM, MY ONLY COMMENTS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE OCCUPANTS THAT, THAT NO ONE'S BEING THROWN OUT TO US, NO EVICTED.

WE'RE NOT DIRECTING THAT TO HER.

WE'RE NOT DIRECTING THAT IS THE THING IS, IS THAT THERE'S A, A PROCESS WE NEED TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE THE PROCESSES THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH FOR THE PAST YEAR AND THE TIME BEFORE THAT DID NOT WORK OUT.

AND SO WE WANT TO, THESE ARE THE PROCESSES WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH, AND WE HAVE ALL OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE TO CONTINUE TO HELP.

AND, AND MAYBE THIS IS HIGHLIGHTING, UM, WELL, THIS IS HIGHLIGHTING THAT NEED FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE DON'T HAVE.

THESE RESPONSES, QUITE FRANKLY, IF NOT FINANCIALLY, UM, MAYBE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

SO, UM, WE'VE HAD A MOTION.

WE HAD A SECOND.

WE'VE HAD, I HAVE, I HAVE ONE LITTLE THING.

YES, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

UM, AND MOST EVERYTHING'S BEEN SAID, BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE LIVING IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT ARE THREATENED, BUT IT'S THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE AROUND THAT COMMUNITY THAT ARE THREATENED.

UM, EVEN IF YOU DON'T EVEN CONSIDER THE PURE OUTRIGHT, NOT NEGLECT, BUT OF, OF, OF ALL OF THE CODE VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

AND YOU'RE CORRECT.

THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

THIS, IT HAPPENED YEARS IN ADVANCE.

WE CLOSED IT DOWN.

THEY WERE FIXING THE ITEMS. IT BECAME HABITABLE AGAIN WITH THE LIST OF THINGS THAT THEY WERE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO.

AND LIKE COUNCILWOMAN MUG SAID, WE'VE BEEN LIED TO.

UM, I HATE TO SOUND CHILDISH ABOUT THIS, BUT I DON'T ALLOW LYING IN MY FAMILY.

I'M CERTAINLY NOT GONNA ALLOW IT FOR MY RESIDENTS.

UM, IT, IT'S A HORRIBLE SAFETY ISSUE.

AND THE FACT WHEN OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE THERE, THEY CAN'T BE ANYWHERE ELSE.

AND THAT'S OKAY IF THERE'S AN EMERGENT SITUATION, BUT NOT IN A PLACE THAT SHOULD BE CLEANED UP.

AND THE, THAT'S AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF EMERGENCY CALLS MADE FROM THAT FACILITY.

SO, AND GOOD CONSCIENCE TO THE RESIDENTS THAT NOT ONLY LIVE THERE, BUT THE ONES THAT LIVE AROUND IT.

AND TO THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE PAYING FOR

[01:20:01]

UM, I HAVE TO VOTE FOR THIS.

IN MY MIND, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2014.

THE VFW, THE AMERICAN LEGION, THIS PROPERTY, UM, NORTHERN HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UCO, RIGHT IN THAT AREA, THE RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

SOMEBODY SAYS, WELL, THE PROPERTY OWNER WAS TRAVELING, OR WE HAD TO PLAY AN EMAIL GAME BACK AND FORTH RIGHT AFTER THIS VOTE.

I'LL LEAVE BECAUSE I NEED TO BE IN FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA AT 9:30 AM TOMORROW AT A CONFERENCE GIVING A PRESENTATION.

I COULD HAVE BEEN ON A COMFORTABLE FLIGHT AT ABOUT THREE OR FOUR O'CLOCK.

INSTEAD, I'M GONNA GET ON A FLIGHT, GO TO DENVER, THEN DENVER'S GONNA TAKE ME TO MINNEAPOLIS.

I'M GONNA RENT A CAR, GOT A FULL SIZE, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA GIMME THE ECO DRIVE THROUGH THE BLIZZARD OR WHATEVER.

IT'S GOING ON FOUR HOURS.

I'M GONNA SHOW UP AT 4:00 AM OR 4:30 AM FOR MY HOTEL.

I'M GONNA CHECK IN.

I'M GONNA TAKE A POWER NAP.

I'M GONNA SHOWER AND I'M GONNA GO GIVE MY PRESENTATION.

'CAUSE WHEN YOU NEED TO SHOW UP AND GET SOMETHING DONE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK AND TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

THE EXCUSES ARE DONE.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.

COUNSEL, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ITEM AA.

SO, UM, IT'S BEEN PASSED.

NUMBER FIVE B, A PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERATION FOR THE, UM, FOR THE PURPOSE, UH, RELATED TO SCHEDULING OF A SPECIAL ELECTION ON JUNE 18TH FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO REGISTER QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF EDMOND, THE QUESTION OF APPROVAL OF A 2% INCREASE TO THE STATE, TO THE LODGING EXCISE TAX RATE FROM 4% TO 6% OF THE ROOM RENTAL RATE.

LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK PLEASE.

THERE'S MOTION TO RECESS.

WE'RE HERE BY OUTTA RECESS AND BACK INTO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

OUR NEXT ITEM IS

[B. Public Hearing and Consideration of the Following Items Related to the Scheduling of a Special Election on June 18, 2024, for the Purpose of Submitting to the Registered, Qualified Voters of the City of Edmond, the Question of Approval of a Two Percent (2%) Increase to the Lodging Excise Tax Rate, from Four Percent (4%) to Six Percent (6%), of the Room Rental Rate: Public Hearing and Consideration of Ordinance No. ___ Amending Chapter 3.12 Lodging Tax Ordinance of the Edmond Municipal Code, Section 3.12.010 - Lodging Tax Ordinance; Allowing Informal Reference to Lodging Tax as Visitor Tax; Section 3.12.030 Levied; Amount; Amending Tax Rate to Six Percent (6%) of the Room Rental Rate to be Used Exclusively for the Purpose of Encouraging, Promoting and Fostering Convention and Tourism for the City of Edmond; Requiring Approval of Ordinance by a Majority of Registered Voters Voting at an Election Held for Such Purpose; And Fixing an Effective Date Thereof. Special Election Proclamation and Notice Hereby Authorizing the Calling of a Special Election to be held on the 18th Day of June, 2024. Public Hearing and Consideration of Resolution No. ___ Authorizing the Calling and Holding of an Election in the City of Edmond, in the State Of Oklahoma on the 18th Day of June 2024, for the Purpose of Submitting to the Registered, Qualified Voters of Said City, the Question of Approval of Ordinance No. ___ to Amend the Lodging Excise Tax Rate to Six Percent (6%) of the Room Rental Rate, All Taxes Collected Shall be Set Aside and Used Exclusively for the Purpose of Encouraging, Promoting and Fostering Convention and Tourism for the City of Edmond. (Citywide)]

UM, HAS VISIT EVAN, GIVEN THIS PRESENTATION? YES, I AM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

I AM JENNIFER THORNTON, TOURISM DIRECTOR FOR VISIT EDMOND.

AND WE WANTED TO JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, UM, POTENTIAL INCREASE FOR THE LODGING TAX ALSO REFERRED TO AS VISITOR TAX.

SO THE, THE HISTORY ON THIS IS THAT IN 1994, VISITOR, I MEAN, VOTERS APPROVED A 4% TAX, AND THAT IS STILL IN EFFECT.

AND ON FEBRUARY 20TH, UM, THE VISIT, EDMOND TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD VOTED TO RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TO INCREASE THAT TO A 6%.

UM, ONE THING THAT YOU JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT, THAT THIS TAX FUNDS TOURISM AND, UM, WHEN INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS SPEND THE NIGHT IN EDMOND, THAT IS WHEN THEY PAY THAT.

SO THAT COULD BE A AIRBNB, THAT COULD BE A-V-R-B-O, THAT COULD BE A HOTEL, AND THAT COULD BE A BED AND BREAKFAST.

THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF PLACES THAT YOU CAN STAY IN EDMOND THAT I'VE, ME MENTIONED BEFORE.

UM, I WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES.

THESE ARE SOME CITIES, UM, NEARBY IN THEIR LODGING TAX RATES.

SO WE ARE THE LOWEST AT THE MOMENT.

AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE, UM, TAX DOLLARS ARE USED.

SO WE HAVE A TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD AND WE, UM, GIVE SPONSORSHIPS TO NEW AND EXISTING EVENTS.

UM, WE RECRUIT ANNUAL CONFERENCES, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE GREAT PLAINS REGION.

UM, ANNUAL AMBOX IS COMING TO THE EDMOND CONFERENCE CENTER.

THAT IS WHERE VISIT EDMOND IS.

SO WE GET TO WELCOME LOTS OF GREAT CONFERENCES TO EDMOND.

WE ALSO ARE BEING PROACTIVE AND BIDDING ON SOME NCAA DIVISION TWO MEN'S GOLF AND MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS.

AND WE ALSO LIKE SUPPORTING UCO.

UM, THEY HAVE AMAZING, UM, SPORTING EVENTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE O-S-S-A-A STATE HIGH

[01:25:01]

SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP.

SO OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP THOSE AND GROW THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WE DO HAVE SUPPORT.

THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE ROOM TODAY.

AND, UM, I WANTED TO BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT SPORTS FACILITIES WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS.

UM, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS READY TO, UM, SAY VOTE YES.

UM, VISIT EDMOND IS A CITY DEPARTMENT, SO WE CAN EDUCATE ABOUT THIS FOR VOTERS, BUT WE CANNOT SAY YES, BUT LOCAL HOTELS AND SHORT TERM RENTALS IN THE, IN THE TOURISM BOARD AS WELL.

OOPS.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS TAX THAT COULD GO TO THE VOTERS ON JUNE 18TH.

UH, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS.

AND I REMEMBER A TIME WHEN EVEN WITH THE AIRBNB, WE WERE NOT RECEIVING LODGING TAX FROM THEM.

AND THEN WE HAD MEETINGS WITH THEM AND THEN THEY CAME ON BOARD ALSO.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, UH, UM, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UH, CONTINUE TO TELL THE COMMUNITY ABOUT EDMOND AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

UH, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE CONFERENCES THAT WE'VE CURRENTLY HAVE COMING HERE, UH, THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL JUST TO EXPAND THAT EVEN MORE.

YEAH, I'M, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE INCREASE IN TOURISM ACTIVITIES THAT CAN COME TO OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, JUST FROM VISITING WITH EVERYBODY ON THE TOURISM BOARD, I AM JUST, I'M THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED WITH HOW MUCH EVERYBODY HAS SUPPORTED THIS AND HAS AND SUPPORTS THEIR COMMUNITY.

UM, IT'S NOT JUST A ONE MAN, THIS IS WHAT I WANT.

FOR ME, IT'S WHAT CAN WE DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY? AND, UM, I JUST APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIMES OUTTA YOUR BUSY LIVES TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY BY SERVING ON THE BOARD TO FURTHER BETTER YOUR CITY.

AND I'M JUST, I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

IT'S 30 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

UM, IT'S TIME.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF Y'ALL'S TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS.

AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY OBVIOUS TO ALL OF US, BUT, UM, I SEE THIS AS A REALLY, REALLY GREAT INVESTMENT.

VISITORS TO OUR CITY.

PAY A FEW MORE.

I THINK A DOLLAR.

IS IT AN AVERAGE? WELL, IF THEY, RIGHT.

LIKE IF FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT WAS A HUNDRED DOLLARS HOTEL ROOM, THEY WOULD PAY $6 THAT NIGHT.

SO IT'D BE AN ADDITIONAL, WELL, $6 TOTAL.

CORRECT.

SO AN INCREASE OF $2 A NIGHT AND WHAT VISIT ADMIN CAN DO, LEVERAGING THAT TO CREATE MORE PEOPLE COMING, EATING, SPENDING MONEY, WHICH THEN SALES TAX AND THAT, A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL DON'T KNOW, BUT WE ARE SALES AND USE TAX 100% AT THE CITY LEVEL RIGHT NOW.

AND, UM, JUST TALKED ABOUT OUR BUDGET AT THE WORKSHOP THIS AFTERNOON.

WE HAD PROJECTED AN INCREASE OF 2%.

WE'RE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE OF 0.48%.

AND SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE THAT SALES TAX BASE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANT US TO DO, FIX ROADS AND PARKS AND TRAILS AND ALL OF THE THINGS.

SO THIS IS NOT JUST SPENDING MONEY ON GETTING SOMEONE TO COME TO OUR TOWN FOR NOTHING.

IT'S AN INVESTMENT THAT WILL, UM, I THINK PAY FOR ITSELF MANY TIMES OVER.

AND OUR RESIDENTS AREN'T PAYING IT.

IT'S THE VISITORS WHO COME TO OUR TOWN.

WE ARE NOT TAXING THE RESIDENTS OR UNLESS, UNLESS THEY STAY AT DO IT A STAYCATION.

IT'S THAT FULL CIRCLE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK DONE.

AND WE ARE STILL GONNA BE LOWER THAN EVERYONE EXCEPT OKLAHOMA CITY, WHO'S AT 5.5% AND THEY HAVE BEEN AT 5.5% FOR QUITE A WHILE.

SO EVERYONE ELSE IS SEVEN AND 8%.

YES SIR.

MAYOR, I'LL JUST NOTE, UM, ON YOUR 2024 COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN, YOU NOTE, UH, ON THE PROMOTE TOURISM CONFERENCE, OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND IMPACT, YOU IDENTIFIED EXPAND TOURISM EFFORTS BY SETTING A DATE FOR A VISITOR'S TAX INCREASE SELECTION.

SO THIS ACTION WOULD BE ONE OF THE ITEMS TO IMPLEMENT YOUR COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC PLAN.

ABSOLUTELY.

JENNIFER FIELDS REALTOR AIRBNB OWNER.

I HAVE TWO THINGS, MAYOR.

UH, I WANNA THANK MS. SAWYER FOR HUSTLING AROUND AND GETTING THIS DONE SO QUICKLY.

I KNOW IT WAS LABOR INTENSIVE AND TIME SENSITIVE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND, AND ON BEHALF OF THE WORK ON THE COUNCIL, UH, COUNCILWOMAN PETERSON, I KNOW YOU'VE WORKED HARD AND I KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AND ALL YOUR WORK.

SO THANKS FOR GETTING THIS ON OUR AGENDA.

THANKS.

MY, SO THIS IS A, UM, YES, .

JENNIFER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW? I DON'T.

THERE ARE A COUPLE PEOPLE THAT MAY WANNA SPEAK ON OUR BEHALF.

[01:30:02]

HELLO.

I'M ON VISIT EDMOND TOURISM BOARD IN THE ARCADIA LAKE COMMISSION.

SO AS AN AIRBNB OWNER, I SEE THIS AS VERY POSITIVE.

I DON'T THINK IT'LL AFFECT BOOKINGS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'LL HAVE ANY IMPACT AT ALL.

UM, AS BEING ON THE ARCADIA LAKE COMMISSION, I SEE AS THAT MASTER PLAN GROWS, WE GET MORE AND MORE TOURISM THROUGHOUT NEED FOR MORE HOTELS, AND THEN PEOPLE ARE SPENDING MONEY.

I THINK WE TALK ABOUT IT'S AN AVERAGE OF $65 FOR ANYONE WHO STAYS IN OUR HOTELS, LOCAL HOTELS THAT THEY SPEND IN OUR BUSINESSES.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

SO LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S FULL CIRCLE.

SO I 100% SUPPORT IT.

HI, DINA JONES.

I AM A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF, OF EDMOND.

I'M ALSO THE REGIONAL MANAGER FOR CHAMPION HOTELS.

WE OWN THREE OF THE HOTELS HERE IN EDMOND AND MANY IN THE STATE.

UM, SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THOSE OTHER CITIES THAT LISTED ALL THEIR OCCUPANCY TAXES.

UM, I THINK IT IS TIME FOR EDMOND TO MAKE AN INCREASE.

UM, WE WERE SLIGHTLY, UM, CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING ABOVE OKLAHOMA CITY 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANNA COMPETE WITH A CITY THAT'S WE LARGER THAN WE ARE.

UM, BUT I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE JUST FINE AT 6% AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT'S VERY BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY.

AND I'M THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE TOURISM BOARD AS WELL.

UM, SO IT FEELS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE GONNA HAPPEN THAT WILL REALLY MAKE THIS WORK.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? VERY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, YES.

IS ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE PLEASE COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME.

HELLO, CONNIE THERE, UM, I HEAR ALL THESE THINGS ABOUT HOW THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING, AND YES, IT COULD BE, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS AREN'T DISCUSSING IS THIS IS A SPECIAL ELECTION, RIGHT? AND THAT COSTS MONEY.

WHY DO WE KEEP DOING THESE SPECIAL ELECTIONS AND CAUSING THE TAXPAYERS EXTRA BURDEN? THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT, MY QUESTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MA'AM.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? SO COUNSEL, UH, WE HAVE, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 39 87 39 87, AMENDING CHAPTER 3.1 12 LODGING TAX ORDINANCE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT CODE SECTION 3.2010 LODGING TAX ORDINANCE, ALLOWING INFORMAL REFERENCE TO LODGING TAX AS A VISITOR TAX SECTION THREE POINT 12 0 3 0 LEVIED AMOUNT AMENDING TAX RATE TO 6% OF ROOM RENTAL RATE TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENCOURAGING, PROMOTING AND FOSTERING CONVENTION AND TOURISM FOR THE CITY OF EDMOND, REQUIRING APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE BY A MAJORITY OF REGISTERED VOTERS VOTING AT AN ELECTION HELD FOR SUCH PURPOSE IN FIXING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THEREFORE SPECIAL ELECTION PROCLAMATION AND NOTICE HEREBY AUTHORIZING THE CALLING OF A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE 18TH DAY OF JUNE, 2024.

PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER NINE DASH 24 9 DASH 24 AUTHORIZING THE CALLING AND HOLDING OF AN ELECTION IN THE CITY OF EDMOND IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA ON THE 18TH DAY OF JUNE, 2024.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE REGISTERED QUALIFIED VOTERS OF SAID CITY, THE QUESTION OF APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 39 87.

39 87 TO AMEND THE LODGING EXCISE TAX RATE TO 6% OF THE ROOM RENTAL RATE, ALL TAXES COLLECTED SHALL BE SET ASIDE AND USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENCOURAGING, PROMOTING AND FOSTERING CONVENTION AND TOURISM FOR THE CITY OF EDMOND CITYWIDE.

ALRIGHT.

I WILL NOT READ THAT AGAIN.

YOU TAKE A MOTION.

I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM.

MOTION TO APPROVE A MOTION.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FOR THIS ITEM, COUNSEL? NO.

THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND CALL THE ORDER OF THE CITY OF EDMOND PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY MEETING.

I MS. PASS.

NOW WE NEED TO RECESS.

NEED A MOTION TO RECESS OF

[6. Recess of the Edmond City Council Meeting and Call to Order of the Edmond Public Works Authority Meeting.]

WE'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

MAYOR, WE HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND MAYOR.

NOW WE'RE IN THE PUBLIC WORKS.

[7. Public Works Authority General Consent Items: Items listed under General Consent are usually approved as a group with the proper motion from a member of the Public Works Authority. Members of the Public Works Authority may pull any item under General Consent for separate discussion and/or action.]

UH, CONSENT ITEM.

WE HAVE ITEMS, UH, SEVEN A THROUGH D AND THE CONSENT ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THOSE CONSENT ITEMS? COUNSEL,

[01:35:03]

SEE NONE.

I TAKE A MOTION FOR A VOTE.

THOSE PUBLIC WORKS.

UH, GENERAL CONSENT ITEMS IN PAST AND NOW WE HAVE THE PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY TO DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION ITEMS. UM, WE HAVE ITEM EIGHT, A NINE.

WE HAVE NONE.

[9. Adjournment of the Edmond Public Works Authority Meeting and Reconvene the Edmond City Council Meeting.]

SO ITEM NINE IS A, A.

WE NEED, UH, MOTION TO ADJOURN THE ADMIN PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY.

SO MOVE MOTION.

YOU MAY HAVE A SECOND.

NOW WE'RE BACK IN THE GENERAL, THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

THE ITEMS PASSED.

FOUR ZERO.

UH, NOW WE'RE FOR ITEM

[10. City Council General Consent Items: Items listed under General Consent are usually approved as a group with the proper motion from a member of the Council. Members of the Council may pull any item under General Consent for separate discussion and/or action.]

10.

IT'S THE CITY COUNCIL GENERAL CONSENT ITEMS. UH, WE HAVE ITEMS 10 A AND B.

COUNSEL.

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THOSE? UH, CONS.

GENERAL CONSENT ITEMS? MR. MAYOR, I'D MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEM.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MOORE.

I'LL SECOND.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

PLEASE CATCH YOUR VOTE.

THAT ITEMS PASSED.

OH, THERE WE HAVE.

I'M SORRY.

CD YOU KNOW WHAT? I DIDN'T, I SPOKE A LITTLE EARLY.

I, I I, I I DIDN'T CATCH IT.

WE DID HAVE ITEM WE NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM C, WHICH ARE MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENTS VERSUS ITEM C ONE.

UM, UH, TWO AND TWO.

AND, AND ITEM D.

MR. MAYOR, I'D MAKE A MOTION UNDER THE CONSENT DOCKET FOR ITEMS 10, C ONE AND TWO AND 10 D.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MOORE.

SECOND FOR COUNCILWOMAN MUG.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THOSE ITEMS? OKAY, COUNSEL, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

THOSE ITEMS PASS.

FOUR ZERO.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION ITEMS.

[B. Consideration of Approval of Agreement to Accept $250,000.00 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds from Oklahoma County for Edmond Mobile Meals. (Ward 4)]

WE HAVE ITEM 11 B.

MAYOR, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SHORT VERBAL COMMENTS.

CHRISTIE BATTERSON, THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.

IN THE EVENING.

UM, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS OUR ACCEPTANCE OF OUR GRANT AWARD FROM COUNTY.

THIS IS ARPA MONEY THAT WE APPLIED FOR IN THE AMOUNT OF 250,000 THAT WILL BE APPLIED TO THE EDMOND MOBILE MEALS, UH, REHABILITATION, UM, THEIR KITCHEN EXPANSION.

UM, I DO HAVE CHRISTIE TWIN HERE WITH ME, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EDMOND MOBILE MEALS AS WELL.

IF YOU NEED ANY QUESTIONS.

UM, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A STATUS OF, UM, THE PROJECT, IT KICKED OFF IN FEBRUARY AND CURRENTLY, UM, ALL THE DEMO AND FRAMING HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, UH, ROUGH IN FOR MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING IS ONGOING.

SCHEDULE IS STILL ON TRACK.

BUDGET IS STILL ON TRACK.

AND WE'RE SCHEDULED TO HOPEFULLY OPEN, HAVE A RIBBON COMING IN JULY, UM, OF THIS YEAR.

SO, OH YEAH.

WE'D LIKE TO APPRECIATE, UM, THE COUNTY FOR EXTENDING THE, UM, A ARPA MONEY TO HELP US WITH THIS PROJECT.

YES, THAT IS, UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR ALL THAT DON'T KNOW, WE DO HAVE A VERY GOOD WORKING, COMMUNICATING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR, UH, COUNTY AND, UM, TO HELP US ON VARIOUS PROJECTS AND, AND TO HELP OUR, OUR COMMUNITY GO FORWARD.

BUT IS THIS THE 250,000? WE'RE GOING A LONG WAY.

VERY HELPFUL.

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, COUNSEL? I JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP.

MAYOR COUNCILMAN DAVIDSON WAS VERY HELPFUL IN THIS PROCESS.

AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS EFFORTS.

ANY OH, OKAY.

NO .

WE HAVEN'T VOTED YET.

CHRIS.

COUNSEL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO ON THIS ITEM? MOTION TO APPROVE.

WE HAVE MOTION.

WE NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UM, FOR 12 AE C SO MOVED.

WE HAVE SECOND.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

[12. Executive Sessions and Action Items:]

MOTION.

NEED A MOTION TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE'RE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

UHHUH

[01:40:25]

SO MOVE SECOND.

COMMENT, OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON CITY RELATED MATTERS, NOT ON AGENDA OR SCHEDULE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

YOUR VOTE.

WE ARE AT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THERE IS NO ACTION ON OUR ITEMS TONIGHT.

UM, SYNEX IS ITEM 13, CITIZEN'S

[13. Citizen Comments. This is an opportunity for residents and non-residents to address the City Council on city-related matters not on the agenda or scheduled for a public hearing. Citizens must sign up to speak either online by 3:00 p.m. the day of the City Council meeting, or in person by the start of the meeting. All remarks must be directed to the Mayor or Chair of the meeting, are limited to three minutes or less, and must otherwise be made in accordance with the City Council / Public Works Authority rules, available here and in the Council Chambers lobby.]

CITIZENS MUST SIGN UP TO SPEAK EITHER ONLINE BY 3:00 PM OF THE DAY OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OR IN PERSON BY THE START OF THE MEETING.

ALL REMARKS MUST BE DIRECTED TO THIS MAYOR OR CHAIR OF THE MEETING THAT ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES OR LESS, AND MUST OTHERWISE BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY RULES AVAILABLE, UM, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, I'LL GO AHEAD AND I'LL CALL THE ROLE FOR THE RESIDENTS FOR THE, LET'S SEE.

FIRST RESIDENT IS, UH, LEONARD SCOTT, MR. MAYOR LEONARD SCOTT, MAYOR DAVIS.

THE NEW RULES FOR COMMENTS STATE THAT NOW ONLY TAKES TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN PLACE ASSISTANT REQUEST ON THE CITY AGENDA FOR THE COUNCIL FOR AN OPEN DISCUSSION.

TODAY, I IMPLORE YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLACE AMENDING CITY CHARTER ARTICLE 11 ON THE CITY AGENDA.

IT ONLY TAKES TWO OF YOU PRESENTLY, THE CITY CHARTER REQUIREMENTS FOR RECALL ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE AND IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE US AND STATE CONSTITUTION COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT.

WE THE PEOPLE OF EDMOND, THE PEOPLE HAVE FOR THREE YEARS ATTEMPTED TO FIND REASON WHY THE COUNCIL WOULD NOT ACT.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT AS CITIZENS.

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT THIS GOVERNMENT IS DOING.

THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW HOW EACH COUNCIL MEMBER VOTE ON THIS CITIZEN REQUEST.

WE THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW IF OUR WARD REPRESENTATIVE VOTED TO RETURNING OUR RIGHTS COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND BOTH TO GIVE THIS CITY THIS CRITICAL ISSUE ON THE AGENDA.

FAILURE TO DO SO WILL EXPOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS NEGLECT OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL BASIC RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH, OUR BASIC RIGHT FREE SPEECH.

THIS REQUEST IS IN FACT, ATTEST TO THIS COUNCIL.

YOU HAVE FAILED TO PROTECT THE CITIZEN'S RIGHTS FOR OVER THREE YEARS NOW.

THIS IS YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY.

I SAY AGAIN, YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW YOU STAND WITH THE CITIZENS AND GIVE OUR RIGHTS BACK TO US.

SHOULD THIS COUNCIL FAIL AGAIN TO PROTECT IT.

CITIZENS, YOU ARE REMINDED THAT WHEN YOU COME UP FOR REELECTION, WE WILL REMEMBER YOUR LACK OF SERVICE TO FULFILL YOUR OATH, TO, TO, TO SWEAR YOUR OATH AND YOUR UNWILLINGNESS TO STAND UP FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

YOU GET PAID FOR GOING BACK THERE UNTIL ALMOST 10 O'CLOCK.

WE SIT HERE, THE CITIZENS THAT PAY FOR THIS GOVERNMENT, WE SIT BACK HERE, THE ELDERS AND WAIT FOR YOU.

HOW ABOUT DOING THIS AFTER THIS AND YOUR TIME, AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR LITTLE GET TOGETHERS BECAUSE YOU PUT US BACK HERE FOR TWO HOURS WAITING ON YOU.

AN HOUR AND A HALF WAITING ON YOU.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

THAT SHOWS YOU WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT US SYSTEM COMMENTS UNTIL LAST.

WHY IS IT NOT FIRST? WE PAID FOR THIS DEAD GUN GOVERNMENT.

WE CONSTITUTED THIS GOVERNMENT.

SO WHY DO YOU TREAT US THIS WAY? THANK YOU.

[01:45:02]

NEXT RESIDENCE, CONNIE.

FAIR.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO WE THE PEOPLE.

UM, THE LAST TIME I SPOKE, I ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS.

UM, YOU GUYS TAKING CARE AND PROTECTING YOUR COMMUNITY.

I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SPEAK SOME MORE ABOUT THAT.

UM, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WAS HIT BY A PERSON WHO WAS AN ILLEGAL, WHO HAD GOT A SPONSOR, GOT A DRIVER'S LICENSE, GETTING ALL THE BENEFITS OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO WAS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THERE ARE MANY OF THOSE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I SAW WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED COMING IN, THEY HAD THE BANS ON THEIR WRISTS.

STILL, I HAVE PICTURES OF IT.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA DO.

WHY YOU GUYS ARE TYING THE HANDS OF YOUR OFFICERS AND NOT ALLOWING THEM TO GIVE TICKETS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LEGALLY AT FAULT.

THE OFFICER TOLD US THAT HE WAS ABLE TO USE OFFICER DISCRETION TO NOT GIVE A TICKET TO THE PERSON THAT HIT ONE OF OUR CITIZENS.

THIS PERSON HAD A PAPER DRIVER'S LICENSE AND A SPONSOR WHO CAME TO SPEAK FOR THEM.

THE OFFICER WENT AND SPOKE WITH THEM.

I LY ASKED THE OFFICER, WAS THE PERSON THAT WAS STRUCK WERE THEY OBEYING THE LAW IN THE WAY THEY WERE PARKED? THE OFFICER ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

NEXT RESIDENT IS SHARON FERNANDEZ.

I SAID, WAS THE PERSON WHO STRUCK THE ILLEGAL, WHO STRUCK THE PERSON WHO WAS PARKED? WERE THEY, DID THEY BREAK THE LAW IN WHAT THEY DID? WAS THERE AN INFRACTION? YES.

AND I SAID, WELL, WHY IS THAT PERSON NOT GETTING A TICKET? OH, THERE'S OFFICER DISCRETION.

I SPOKE WITH THE LADY YESTERDAY FROM OKLAHOMA CITY WHO HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT, BUT THIS PERSON DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

THIS PER THIS PERSON COULDN'T SPEAK ANY ENGLISH THAT HIT THEM.

AND THEY GOT THE SAME EXCUSE OFFICER DISCRETION.

IF IT, IF IT HAD BEEN HER THAT HAD STRUCK SOMEBODY ELSE, THAT HAD STRUCK THE ILLEGAL, SHE WOULD'VE GOT HER CAR TOWED A TICKET AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

BUT THE OFFICERS, EXCUSE THOSE.

WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE ON THE SOUTH SIDE THAT DON'T HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSE, SO, SO WE DON'T GIVE 'EM TICKETS FOR THAT.

ARE YOU GUYS GONNA STAND UP AND PROTECT US? IS EDMOND A WELCOMING CITY FOR MIGRANTS, NEWCOMERS, WHICH ARE ACTUALLY ILLEGAL INVADERS IN OUR COUNTRY? THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS SHARON FERNANDEZ.

I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT TO BACK UP THE PATRIOTS WHO HAVE ALREADY PRESENTED THEIR CONCERNS.

I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN TO PASS COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WAS SHOCKED AS TO HOW THE COUNCIL RESPONDS TO CITIZEN CONCERNS AND GRIEVANCES.

THIS COUNCIL HAS IGNORED THE CITIZENS WHOM THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT.

YOU HAVE TAKEN AWAY OUR RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH AND IN DOING SO, HAVE PLACED DOUBTS THAT THE COUNCIL IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF BUREAUCRATS RATHER THAN THE PEOPLE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT.

I'VE RISEN TO SPEAK MY CONCERN DURING NEW BUSINESS.

IN THE PAST, THE COUNCIL IGNORED MY REQUEST TO SPEAK AND NO COUNCIL MEMBER SPOKE UP FOR MY RIGHT TO VOICE MY CONCERN.

THIS PROVES TO ME AND OTHER ELDERS THAT THIS COUNCIL DOES NOT TAKE CARE, DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS CITIZEN.

AND INSTEAD, ADVOCATES FOR DEI AGENDA WHERE THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY ARE NOT PRIORITIZED IN DECISION MAKING.

PLEASE VOTE TO PLACE ARTICLE 11 ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION OR BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED AS REPRESENTATIVES WHO FAIL TO UPHOLD THEIR SWORN DUTIES.

THE RESULTS OF THIS FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE WILL BE NOTED AND REMEMBERED.

SHOULD ANY OF YOU DECIDE TO RUN AGAIN, YOU ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE WILL OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

PLEASE DO NOT FAIL TO UPHOLD YOUR DUTIES.

NEXT NON-RESIDENT, LESLIE MAHAN.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR BEING ABLE TO, UH, BE HERE.

UH, I JUST WANNA ADD TO THAT, UM, WHEN CONNIE TALKED ABOUT THE PERSON THAT, UH, WAS HIT, I WAS THAT PERSON.

MY CAR HAS HAD NOW OVER $5,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE.

IT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR BEFORE THIS ILLEGAL HIT IT.

THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION IN ACTION.

SO I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, I TOO BESIEGED THIS COUNCIL TO TAKE A VOTE TO PLACE ARTICLE 11 OF OUR CITY CHARTER ON

[01:50:01]

FOR THREE YEARS, THE COUNCIL HAS REFUSED TO PLACE ARTICLE 11 ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION.

YOU'VE REFUSED AND IGNORED CITIZENS' PLEAS FOR COMMON SENSE ACTIONS TODAY.

UNDER YOUR NEW RULES, YOU CAN NO LONGER HIDE YOUR INTENTIONS FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU.

THE AMENDING OF ARTICLE 11 IS ON THE TABLE FOR ACTION.

PLEASE PLACE ARTICLE 11 ON THE AGENDA FOR ACTION AT THIS TIME AND GIVE YOUR CONSTITUENCY HOPE THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL LISTEN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND ANSWER THEIR CONCERNS.

WE ARE A REPUBLIC, NOT A MONARCHY.