Jan 27, 2025 City Council

[00:00:02]

OUR EDMOND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AND PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY MEETING TODAY

[1. Call to Order of the Edmond City Council Meeting.]

UH, BEFORE WE GET TO THE PRESENTATIONS, I DO WANNA MAKE THE ONE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ITEM 10 A, IF YOU'RE HERE FOR ITEM 10 A AT ITEM WILL BE CONTINUED, UH, WHEN WE GET TO IT.

UH, SO I JUST DIDN'T WANT ANYONE SITTING HERE WAITING FOR 10 A TO COME AROUND.

AND, UH, NOW THAT, SO NOW IS ANOTHER TIME OF MY, UM, TIME IN THE SEAT IS TO

[A. Recognition of Janet Yowell for Over 35 Years of Service to the City of Edmond.]

GONNA TALK ABOUT JANET YOW FOR A MINUTE, 'CAUSE SHE DECIDED TO RETIRE, WANT YOU RETIRE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A NECESSARY EVIL IN LIFE, BUT SOMETIMES WE'VE JUST GOTTA SAY IT'S TIME TO GO HOME AND WATCH THE BUTTERFLIES.

AND THAT'S WHAT JANET WANTS TO DO.

AND I JUST, WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME OUT THAT YOU SAID THAT YOUR FUNNY, I'M LIKE, I, AS I SAID, I FULLY UNDERSTAND, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING YOU IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL AND SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US, FOR THE CITY, UH, YOUR TIME.

AND ALSO, I DON'T HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR HUSBAND, BUT GUESS WHAT, DO YOU THINK HE DESERVES ONE? YEAH.

BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT MY WIFE HAS TO DEAL WITH.

YES.

THAT YOU SPENT TIME AWAY FROM HIM TO BE WITH US.

AND SO THAT IS A BIG SACRIFICE.

AND SO, YES, I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND JUST HAD A FEW THINGS.

I HAD THIS LITTLE CERTIFICATE HERE FOR YOU.

I WAS JUST SAYING, JANET, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR YOUR 35 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY OF EDMOND.

YOUR EXCELLENCE AND COMMITMENT ARE TRULY WORTHY OF RECOGNITION, AND WE WISH YOU'RE THE BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL OF THE CITY OF EDMOND ON THE 27TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025.

BUT ALSO, WE HAD THIS, IT HAD THIS COIN HERE, AND THIS IS, SOME PEOPLE CALL IT THE MAYORS CHALLENGE COIN.

SOME PEOPLE JUST CALL IT A COIN, BUT IT HAS TWO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ON IT.

ON ONE SIDE, IN 2026, WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL OF ROUTE 66.

SO WE HAVE THAT ON THIS SIDE.

AND THEN JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, WE CELEBRATED THE 50 YEARS OF LIBERTY FEST, AND YOU WERE A PART OF ALL OF THESE ACTIONS AND, AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED HERE.

AND I JUST WANTED YOU TO HAVE THIS COIN HERE FOR YOUR MOMENTUM FROM US.

AND JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE ON THE COUNCIL WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING.

'CAUSE I WAS GONNA OPEN THE FLOOR BEFORE WE GAVE YOU THE FLOOR.

I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING ON THE EDMOND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WITH JANET OVER THE LAST THREE AND THREE QUARTERS YEARS.

AND SO I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY A SPECIFIC THANK YOU AND APPRECIATION FOR NOT JUST THAT TIME, BUT 35 YEARS OF SERVING THE CITY.

AND I GOT THE PLEASURE TO MEET JANET AS A FRIEND BEFORE I STARTED WORKING WITH HER.

THIS WOMAN HAS NOT GIVEN, NOT ONLY GIVEN TO THE CITY OF EDMOND AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS, BUT SHE IS A HEART OF GOLD AND SHE'S AN AMAZING WOMAN.

AND YOU JUST HAVE FUN AND WHATEVER YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, AND ENJOY IT AND ENJOY THOSE BABIES AND YOU'LL BE MISSED.

BUT I KNOW WE WILL SEE YOU AROUND.

JANET, YOU'RE MY FRIEND AND I'M VERY HAPPY FOR YOU.

ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.

MM, JANET.

YEAH, JANET.

UM, I THANK YOU FOR THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN AND SACRIFICING AND, UM, SERVING VERY WELL.

AND I JUST WISH YOU, UM, WONDERFUL TIMES WITH YOUR FAMILY AND ENJOYING, UM, ENJOYING RETIREMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WELL, LET'S HEAR FROM YOU.

DID THAT, IT WAS FOR ME.

.

WELL, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

[00:05:01]

UM, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO PLAY A PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY, UM, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND I WANT TO THANK THIS COUNCIL AS WELL AS I NEED TO THANK MANY PREVIOUS COUNCILS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE EEDA OVER THE YEARS AND OF ME, AND ALSO FOR GIVING ME, UM, A VAST ARRAY OF TRUSTEES THAT HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE ME THAT HAVE HAD JUST ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BUSINESS EXPERTISE THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE HELPED US.

UH, DONNA YOUNG IS HERE FROM MY OFFICE.

SHE'S BEEN THERE 25 YEARS.

WE'VE HAD A GREAT STAFF.

WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF.

AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDMOND IN THE FUTURE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING THOSE FROM THE SIDELINES.

UM, I, I HAVE A COUPLE OF DAUGHTERS WATCHING ON, UH, CAMERA AND SO I WILL BE SPENDING TIME WITH BABIES AND MY HUSBAND IN THAT ORDER.

NO, BUT THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

AND I'LL WATCHING FROM THE SIDELINES.

OKAY.

NEXT ORDER, BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS THAT WE HAVE THE WARD FOR APPOINTMENT

[3. Appointments and Reappointments:]

THERE'S NO MAX TERM ON THIS COMMITTEE.

COUNSEL, THAT IS THE ONLY APPOINTMENT WE HAVE AT FOR THIS MEETING.

I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT.

MR. MAYOR, I'LL SECOND THAT APPOINTMENT.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

THAT APPOINTMENT IS APPROVED.

THANK YOU, MR. DEBA.

WE'RE WILLING TO SERVE.

UH, ITEM FOUR IS THE RECESS OF THE EDMOND CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND CALL TO ORDER OF THE,

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

SO MOVED.

MOTION SECOND.

SECOND.

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

WE'RE NOW IN THE PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY MEETING.

THE FIRST ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE GENERAL CONSENT ITEMS. THERE ARE TWO ITEMS THERE.

[5. 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.]

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEMS FIVE A AND B.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND AND A SECOND, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

THOSE GENERAL, THOSE PUBLIC WORKS.

GENERAL CONSENT ITEMS, UH, TWO ITEMS PASSED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, NEXT IS ITEM SIX.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION ITEMS. UH, SO AS WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WE NEED TO ADJOURN FOR THE, UH, THE EVAN PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY MEETING

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

SO, MOVE MAYOR.

MOTION SECOND.

SECOND, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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

ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS THE CITY COUNCIL GENERAL CASSETTE ITEM.

THERE ARE 14 ITEMS THERE, COUNCIL.

[8. 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.]

SO ITEM H IS CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NUMBER FIVE DASH 25, 5 DASH 25 AND I IS CONSIDERATION APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NUMBER SIX DASH 25 6 DASH 25.

ARE THERE GONNA BE ANY PRESENTATIONS? OKAY.

THERE ARE NO PRESENTATIONS IN THESE, UH, 14 CONSENT ITEMS. COUNSEL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO ON THESE? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THE, ON THESE 14 GENERAL CONSENT ITEMS? NO, SIR.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE GENERAL CONSENT ITEMS. WE HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THOSE 14.

UH, CITY COUNCIL GENERAL CONSENT ITEMS HAVE BEEN PASSED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER NINE, AS THE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION ITEMS.

[B. Discussion and Presentation of the Long Range Transit Plan (LRTP) Currently Under Development by the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) for the ACOG Transportation Management Area. (Citywide)]

UH, TRANSIT PLAN, LRTP, CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY THE ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL

[00:10:01]

ACOG FOR THE ACOG TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT AREA.

YES.

GOOD EVENING.

CHRISTIE BATTERSON, HOUSING COMMITTEE RESOURCE DIRECTOR.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.

UM, WE ARE PART OF, UM, SEVERAL CITIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE LONG RANGE TRANSIT PLAN, UM, EMBARK, UM, US AND NORMAN, AS WELL AS ACOG.

UM, SO I'M JUST GONNA TURN IT OVER TO THEM 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A HIGH LEVEL THING AND I DON'T WANNA STEAL TOO MUCH OF THEIR THUNDER.

SO I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CHIP NOLAN WITH EMBARK AND JOHN SHARP WITH ACOG.

GOOD EVENING.

THANKS FOR HAVING US, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW.

UH, I'M WILL ACOG.

WE DO A 30 YEAR TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR THE REGION, AND WE LOOK AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UH, DIFFERENT ITEMS. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REGIONAL TRANSIT IN OUR, UH, IN OUR, UH, STUDY AREA.

UH, WE HAVE ABOUT 1.3 MILLION FOLKS HERE OVER ABOUT A 30 YEAR PERIOD.

THE PLAY, THE R AREA GROWS BY ABOUT 30%.

SO WE'RE LOOKING, ADDING OBVIOUSLY AROUND 300,000 OR MORE FOLKS IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

HOW ARE THEY GONNA MOVE AROUND? IF THIS IS AS GOOD AS WE'RE GONNA GET TODAY, WE'RE GONNA BE IN A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE.

SO WE NEED TRANSIT AND OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION TO GIVE OUR FOLKS OPTIONS.

UM, THIS STUDY WILL REALLY HELP US IN REGARDS TO UPDATING WHAT WE DO HERE IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

THE LAST TIME WE HAD A MAJOR TRANSIT PLAN, LIKE THIS WAS 2005, THE FIXED GUIDEWAY STUDY.

SO WE'RE LONG OVERDUE.

THIS PLAN WILL ALSO BE USED AS FEES INTO OUR 2050 PLAN FOR THE REGION.

SO IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY, UH, TO HELP THE THREE TRANSIT AGENCIES.

BUT ALSO IT ALSO TIES IN WITH THE RTA WORK THAT'S GOING ON HERE LOCALLY.

UH, SO I'LL HAND IT OVER TO CHIP AND LET HIM DO THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

UH, JUST WANNA ADD THAT I DID GROW UP IN EDMOND.

I LIVE IN CHIMNEY HILL, SO I WAS A LONGTIME EDMOND RESIDENT.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

I'LL WALK THROUGH THE SLIDES TODAY.

SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT PROJECT OVERVIEW, VISION AND GOALS, PROJECT SCHEDULE.

LET'S, SO FIRST, UH, TALK ABOUT MAYBE EMBARK'S ROLE.

SO WE, UH, AS PART OF OUR MAPS PROGRAM, IT'S FUNDED, UH, ARENA PARK.

LOTS OF WONDERFUL THINGS.

AND WITHIN THAT, UH, THERE WAS SOME PLANNING FUNDS SET ASIDE.

'CAUSE WE KNEW THERE WOULD BE A NEED.

AND, UH, AND SO WE RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR THIS PLAN, AND WE APPROACHED ACOG, PARTNERED WITH THEM.

SO WE WERE BOTH, UH, PROVIDING THE FUNDS FOR THIS STUDY.

UH, SO OUR GOAL WAS TO, UH, GIVE THIS A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

UH, AGAIN, AS JOHN MENTIONED, IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE WE'VE DONE A PLAN LIKE THIS.

SO, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYBODY ON THIS SLIDE.

UH, WE'VE, UH, MADE SURE TO INCLUDE EVERYBODY FROM, UH, CITYLINK AND CITY OF EDMOND, CITY OF NORMAN STAFF, ODOT, UH, OKLAHOMA CITY, ACOG, MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS A REALLY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ALL INVOLVED AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

SO, FIRST TALK ABOUT PROJECT DESCRIPTION.

WE'RE GOING TO, UH, LOOK AT OUR LOCAL SERVICES.

WE'RE GOING TO DEFINE CLEAR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE'RE GOING TO FINALLY LOOK AT HOW MUCH IT, UH, ARE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS GONNA COST US.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE, UH, WRAPPING UP OUR ASSESS PHASE, WHICH INCLUDED, UH, REVIEWING PREVIOUS PLANNING STUDIES, UH, BASELINE CONDITIONS, UH, NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

UH, WE'RE WRAPPING THAT UP NOW.

WE'RE GOING INTO THE SECOND PHASE, WHICH ARE EVALUATE PHASE, LOOKING AT NETWORK DEVELOPMENT, UH, SOME SCENARIO PLANNING, AND THEN SOME SORT OF FRAMEWORK TO EVALUATE THOSE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.

AND FINALLY, UH, RESULTING IN, UH, RECOMMEND PHASE TALKING ABOUT THE OUTCOME.

SO FACILITIES, UH, FLEET COSTING, OPERATING AND CAPITAL FUNDS, UH, TO MAKE THAT VISION A REALITY.

SO AGAIN, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE OUTCOMES OF THIS.

WE'LL BE LOOKING AT FACILITIES, UH, OPERATORS, FLEET, UH, CAPITAL AND OPERATING FUNDS.

UH, WE ALSO WANT TO KEEP IN MIND FUTURE UPDATES.

UH, SO WE WANT TO BUILD IN, UH, SOME SORT OF PROCESS TO REVISIT THIS IN A, IN A FEW YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE CAN EXTEND THE USEFUL LIFE OF THIS PLAN AS LONG AS POSSIBLE AND CONTINUES TO STAY RELEVANT AS, AS THE REGION CHANGES.

AND THEN HOW DO WE PHASE THIS IN OVER TIME IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE.

UH, WE'LL ALSO BE DOING A PEER REVIEW WITH SOME OTHER, UH, OTHER REGIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS BEFORE.

UH, WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THEM? UH, WHAT STATE, WHAT MISTAKES CAN WE AVOID? UH, WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN? SO, UH, SOME STEPS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

WE HAD A GREAT WORKSHOP A FEW WEEKS AGO, UH, WITH STAFF.

UH, WE'RE GEARING UP FOR A TOWN HALL, UH, IN A FEW DAYS I'LL HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT BEGINNING.

WE'VE BEEN PRESENTING THIS TO NORMAN CITY COUNCIL TO YOU ALL THIS EVENING, OKLAHOMA CITY, ALL THE DIFFERENT BOARDS.

UH, WE'LL BE, UH, PRESENTING THIS TO RTA IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AS WELL.

UH, AND THEN, UH, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF INTERVIEWS, ANOTHER WORKSHOP, AND THEN, UH, HOPEFULLY PLAN APPROVAL, UH,

[00:15:01]

UH, AND OUR, UH, PROJECT WEBSITE, TOWN HALL PROJECT WEBSITE IS LIVE OF, UH, INFORMATION ON THAT AT THE END FOR ONGOING, UH, PUBLIC FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS PLAN.

SO WE WORKED WITH ALL OF OUR PROJECT PARTNERS, UH, STAKEHOLDERS TO, UH, DEVELOP OUR VISION AND GOALS.

SO WE WANT TO, UH, PROVIDE COMMUNITIES WITH MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO TRANSIT, CREATE A COMPELLING RIDER EXPERIENCE, UH, OFFERING COMPETITIVE SERVICE CHOICES SO THAT PEOPLE WANT TO USE TRANSIT SO THAT IT'S A CONVENIENT OPTION FOR THEM.

AND THEN UTILIZING RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE CONSTRAINED BUDGETS.

SO HOW DO WE TARGET OUR, OUR DOLLARS ON THINGS THAT, THAT, UH, ARE GONNA MAKE THE MOST IMPACT? AND THEN WE'LL USE THESE GOALS TO DEVELOP SPECIFIC, UH, METRICS, UH, AND HOW WE DEVELOP AND SCORE ON DIFFERENT SCENARIOS SO THAT WE CAN, UH, FIND, CREATE A VISION THAT ALIGNS WITH THESE GOALS.

SO THEN WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPING A DRAFT VISION.

SO WE'VE GOT THREE PHASES HERE.

THIS IS JUST KIND OF A, A DRAFT.

THIS WILL, THIS WILL CHANGE AS WE GO THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS, BUT KIND OF, WE'VE GOT THREE BUCKETS.

UH, WHAT'S IN EACH BUCKET? MAY, MAY CHANGE SLIGHTLY, BUT WE'VE GOT RESOURCED PROJECTS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE A, A CERTAIN LEVEL OF FUNDING COMMITTED.

SO THE NORTHWEST RAPID LINE LAUNCHED LAST DECEMBER.

THE, THE TWO OTHER BRT LINES ARE FUNDED THROUGH OUR MAPS PROGRAM THROUGH IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

UH, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR CATALYTIC REGIONAL PROJECTS.

UH, THOSE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TIMEFRAME.

UH, MAYBE, UH, 10 TO 15 YEARS, POTENTIALLY TIMEFRAME, A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

UH, THAT'S OUR NORTH SOUTH COMMUTER RAIL LINE FROM EDMONT TO NORMAN.

UH, AND THEN FINALLY, SOME UNCONSTRAINED REGIONAL PROJECTS THAT MAY BE NEAR THE END OF, OF THE PLANNING HORIZON FOR THIS LONG RANGE TRANSIT PLANT.

UH, LOOKING AT A-A-R-T-A LINE OUT EAST OF TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, AN AIRPORT LINE, UH, AND THEN, UH, BRT LINE OUT WEST, AND A POTENTIAL, UH, BRT EXTENSION.

BUT THEN ONE OF THE, THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE WANNA DO IN THIS STUDY IS TO, TO START TO TALK ABOUT HOW OUR LOCAL SERVICE INTERACTS WITH SOME OF THESE HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT CORRIDORS.

AS THESE DIFF, AS THESE HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT CORRIDORS COME ONLINE, HOW DO WE ADJUST OUR LOCAL SERVICE IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE? WHAT FACILITIES ARE REQUIRED, WHAT HUBS, WHAT, UH, CONNECTIONS AND TRANSFERS ARE GONNA NEED TO HAPPEN FOR THIS TRANSIT NETWORK TO MAKE SENSE AND TO, UH, TO BE, UH, CONVENIENT FOR, UH, FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.

SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT, UH, TYPES OF SERVICE, UH, UH, FREQUENCY.

HOW, HOW OFTEN DOES THE BUS COME BY WHEN YOU'RE STANDING AT A BUS STOP? UH, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT SERVICE SPANS.

UH, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE SO THAT WE'RE KIND OF CREATING A HOPE, HOPEFULLY A HOLISTIC REGIONAL TRANSIT NETWORK AND NOT INDIVIDUAL, UH, BUS SYSTEMS FOR EACH CITY.

SO A PROJECT SCHEDULE, UH, AGAIN, RIGHT NOW WE ARE WRAPPING UP OUR ASSESS PHASE GOING IN FOR OUR EVALUATE PHASE, AND FINALLY OUR RECOMMEND PHASE AND COORDINATING WITH THE RTA AS WE GO SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

UH, SO, AND THEN OUR TOWN HALL, HOPEFULLY YOU'LL JOIN US THURSDAY FROM 11 THREE TO ONE, UH, WEBSITE IS CONNECT CENTRAL OK.COM.

UH, WE WILL POST THE RECORDING OF THE TOWN HALL ON THE WEBSITE.

IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO JOIN US AT THAT TIME, YOU'LL FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT WEBSITE, AND WE'LL BE DOING A MUCH DEEPER DIVE IN THE RESULTS OF OUR ASSESS PHASE DURING THIS TOWN HALL.

SO, AND THAT'S, UH, MY PRESENTATION.

UH, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, UH, YOU'LL HAVE ME BACK AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PLANNING STUDY TO HAVE SOME MORE EXCITING UPDATES.

BUT RIGHT NOW, UH, JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF, OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, COUNSEL ANY QUESTIONS.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

UH, ALWAYS TELL THE PERSONAL STORY THAT I GREW UP ON REGIONAL TRANS TRANSIT, UH, BEFORE I ACTUALLY MOVED HERE.

AND THAT'S HOW IN THE TWO MAJOR CITIES I LIVED IN BEFORE, UH, THAT'S HOW WE GOT AROUND.

AND AS I WOULD JUST LOVE FOR EDMOND TO, TO STILL BE A PARTNER IN THIS REGIONAL SOLUTION FOR TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE I ENVISION ONE DAY THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO TO THE, SOME STATION HERE OR GET ON SOME BUS HERE AND GET, GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO NORMAN AND MAYBE TO EAT, WATCH AN ACTIVITY DOWN THERE, THEN COME BACK AND NEVER BE IN YOUR CAR, GO TO OKLAHOMA CITY, OR, OR WHEN PEOPLE AS TINKER AIR FORCE BASE CONTINUES TO EXPAND, THE WORKFORCE CAN LIVE ALL THE WAY OUT IN, UH, YUKON AND JUST GET ON THE BUS OR SHUTTLE AND COME ON IN INTO WORK.

AND WITH THE FREQUENCY, THEY WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MISSING TRANSPORTATION.

IT'S, IT'S JUST, TO ME, IT'S JUST, THERE'S SO MANY OPTIONS HERE, UM, THAT I THINK IT'S JUST GREAT THAT, UM, AND I JUST HOPE EDMOND CONTINUES TO STAY AND BE AS STRONG REGIONAL PARTNER AS WE GO FORWARD.

ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

WE'RE EXCITED TO,

[00:20:01]

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I WAS JUST GONNA ECHO SOME OF THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE NOTICED, BUT SOME PEOPLE IN ADMIN ARE RESISTANT TO CHANGE.

UM, AND, UM, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE STATISTICS YOU OFFERED IS WE'RE GONNA GROW BY 30% IN THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE, RIGHT? PEOPLE ARE THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT, RIGHT? IS TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND DIFFICULTY GETTING AROUND.

AND THOSE ROAD PROJECTS ARE NOT GETTING ANY CHEAPER.

AND FRANKLY, THERE ARE TIMES WE CAN'T EXPAND ANY FURTHER BECAUSE OF PROPERTY LINES AND SO FORTH.

SO I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE OPEN-MINDED ABOUT THIS AS A SOLUTION TO ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

UM, AND YEAH, IT COULD BE REALLY POWERFUL.

AND EVENTUALLY, HOPEFULLY WE GET REGIONAL, REGIONAL TRANSIT.

AND YOU DIDN'T MENTION FOOTBALL GAMES, BUT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN GO DOWN TO NORMAN FOOTBALL GAME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE TRAFFIC FOOTBALL DOWN THERE.

OH, YEAH, YEAH.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

AND EVENTUALLY, I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE REGIONAL TRANSIT TO THE AIRPORT, THEN I DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR PARKING AT THE AIRPORT.

UM, SO I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION AND LAYING THIS GROUNDWORK AND ANYBODY LISTENING, I JUST HOPE THAT THEY'LL BE OPEN, UM, TO THIS AS A SOLUTION TO SOME OF THE, THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL HELP US ALSO WITH A SOLUTION WITH FOLKS WHO, UH, WORK IN EDMOND AND DON'T LIVE HERE MM-HMM .

MM-HMM .

AND, UM, I'M HOPING THAT WILL MAKE THEM THAT A LITTLE EASIER FOR THEM TO GET TO THE PLACE THAT THEY WANT TO WORK AND LOVE TO WORK AND TO HANG OUT.

OUR, OUR TOWN IS, IS SO MUCH FUN AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT GROWING AND THE POPULATION AND THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

WELL, THIS IS AN AMAZING SOLUTION TO THAT REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YEAH.

AND NOT TO MENTION FOLKS WHO CAN'T DRIVE FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, GIVING THEM MORE ABILITY TO BE INDEPENDENT TOO.

MM-HMM .

ABSOLUTELY.

PLANTING THAT SEED FOR A TREE THAT WE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE AROUND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, BUT FOR THE FUTURE.

MM-HMM .

THAT'S RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING.

THANK YOU, SIR.

AND, AND THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS LIKE JAMES BOGGS, WHO'S SERVING ON THE RTA COMMITTEE, UM, AND REPRESENTING EDMUND WELL.

MM-HMM .

THANK YOU.

LOOKING, LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE.

SO NOW WE ARE ON ITEM.

THAT WAS JUST FOR INFORMATION, UM, ON THE PRESENTATION.

NEXT IS ITEM NINE CS, CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE

[C. Consideration of Approval of an Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Edmond Land Conservancy Regarding the Deed of Conservation Easement for the Land Located South of Hafer Park Previously Labeled as the Preserve at Hafer Park, Now Known as the Charles D. Lamb Nature Preserve. (Ward 1)]

YES, SIR.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL, BRAD RAINEY, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.

UM, JUST, UH, HAD A FEW CHANGES TO THE MOU WITH, WITH THE ELC, THE EDMOND LAND CONSERVANCY.

I JUST WANT TO GO OVER THOSE WITH, WITH YOU TONIGHT.

UM, THIS CHANGE WAS LARGELY DRIVEN BY AN ITEM THAT WAS EARLIER ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH WAS A GRANT SUBMISSION TO THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND TO CONSTRUCT THIS PROJECT.

UM, WE'RE GOING AFTER $800,000, AND IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR THE, UH, GRANT, WE HAD TO JUST MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE MOU.

SO, SO IT'S JUST A MAP OF THE, THE PROJECT RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS, UH, HAYFORD PARK RIGHT HERE, I THINK PELICAN BAYS AROUND.

OH, PELICAN BAYS RIGHT THERE.

THERE'S, UM, SHOPPING CENTER THERE, 15TH STREET BRYANT, AND THEN BRIDGE OVER SPRING CREEK THAT'LL BE BUILT AS PART OF THE PROJECT.

UM, THIS LITTLE TRAIL CONNECTION WILL BE OUTSIDE OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

UM, THE GREEN IS AN IMPROVED LOOP.

THE CIRCLE IS AN OUTDOOR NATURE CENTER THAT'S, THAT'S CALLED FOR IN, IN THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND THE YELLOW OR UNIMPROVED TRAILS THAT WOULD BE MORE LIKE JUST HIKING TRAILS, BARE EARTH HIKING TRAILS.

UM, JUST SOME PICTURES OF WHAT THE IMPROVED TRAIL, UH, MIGHT LOOK LIKE, UH, GOING FOR NATURAL SURFACE, BUT A DA COMPLIANT.

UM, SO JUST A TYPE OF MATERIAL THAT WOULD, WOULD WORK WITH THAT FOR YOU TO KIND OF REVIEW.

SO BRAD, WOULD THIS BE THE GREEN LOOP? AND THIS WOULD BE THE YELLOW LOOP AT THE BOTTOM? I KNOW, OR NOT NECESSARILY.

I, I THINK THAT'S WAS A LITTLE THINK THE, THE GREEN LOOP, IT'S, IT'S THE PRODUCT, UM, THAT WE, IT'S A, A GRANITE WITH A BINDER THAT WE USE THE, SO BASICALLY THE GREEN LOOP WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT WIDER.

IT WOULD BE, UM, HARD MEET A DA REQUIREMENTS.

THE YELLOW LOOP WOULD BE MORE LIKE A HIKING TRAIL IF, UM, IN A MORE REMOTE AREA.

OKAY.

THERE.

SO, UM, I'LL GO BACK REAL QUICK.

YEAH, THAT DIDN'T WORK.

BUT ANY, ANYWAYS, UM, THAT, THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH.

MM-HMM .

OKAY.

UM, SO CONSERVATION EASEMENT, UM, WAS AGREED UPON IN

[00:25:01]

AND THEN AN MOU WAS, WAS ENTERED IN TO KIND OF ESTABLISH WHAT EACH PARTY WAS GOING TO DO.

AND IN THAT MOU THERE WAS A TIMELINE, UM, FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

AND THAT WAS KIND OF THE ISSUE WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS IN THE MOU, IS THAT WITH A GRANT, WE'RE KIND OF SUBJECT TO THE GRANT TIMELINE, SO WE HAVE TO WAIT TO BE NOTIFIED IF WE GOT IT.

THEN THERE'S A GRANT AGREEMENT AND THAT, THAT MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE BIT, BUT BOTH US AND THE LC FEEL THAT, UM, $800,000 WAS, WAS WORTH WAITING A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

HMM.

FOR, UM, THE GRANT'S GONNA BE TURNED IN A COUPLE DAYS.

YOU JUST APPROVED IT.

SO WE'VE GOT IT READY TO GO, TO BE TURNED IN.

AND, UH, YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S THE MAIN THING.

AND THEN JUST A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT IT COVERS KIND OF PROVIDES A, A FRAMEWORK IF YOU WANNA TRY TO GO AFTER OTHER GRANTS, UM, ADDRESSES SOME DESIGN ELEMENTS, SO SPECIFIES THAT THE, UM, MAIN TRAIL LOOP WILL BE A DA COMPLIANT.

IT GOES OVER KIND OF A RANGE OF TRAIL WIDTH AND THEN PREFERRED MATERIALS, AND THEN JUST THE NAME CHANGE THAT YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED, THAT'S ENTERED INTO THE MOU.

AND THIS IS LESS TO DO WITH THE MOU, BUT JUST UPDATES ON THE PROJECT FOR YOU ALL.

AND FOR THE PUBLIC, IF THEY'RE CURIOUS, IT'S UNDER DESIGN.

NEXT STEP THEY'LL GET OUT THERE AND, UM, SURVEY AND STAKE OUT THE TRAIL.

SO FLAGGING WHAT THE TRAIL WILL ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE, THAT SHOULD HAPPEN VERY SOON.

UM, THERE NEEDS TO BE DESIGN WORK DONE ON THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, SPECIFICALLY MODELING OF, UM, HOW THE WATER FLOWS AND HOW THAT BRIDGE WILL AFFECT THE WATER FLOW THERE.

UM, WE'LL AWAIT THE RESULT RESULTS OF THE GRANT.

WE CAN'T DO ANY CONSTRUCTION ON IT UNTIL WE KNOW WHETHER WE GOT THE GRANT OR NOT, AND WE GET A NOTICE TO PROCEED.

UM, RESTORATION WAS PULLED OUT OF THE GRANT, SO THAT'S LIKE REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES AND, UM, HAZARDOUS TREES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, A A DRAFT OF THAT PLAN IS BEING, UM, DONE BY URBAN FORESTRY DEPARTMENT IN HOUSE, AND WE'LL HAVE THAT SOON AND HOPEFULLY BEGIN WORK HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

UM, JUST, JUST WORKING ON SOME OF THE, THE PLANT, THE VEGETATION THAT SHOULDN'T BE OUT THERE.

AND THEN JUST A NOTE, WE, WE WANT TO KEEP OUR PARTNERS WELL-INFORMED.

UM, WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER THAT'LL PROVIDE A MONTHLY UPDATE TO THE ELC JUST SO THEY KNOW IT'S GOING ON.

I THINK EVERYBODY'S EXCITED FOR IT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES BE ON BEHIND THE SCENES BEFORE WE DO A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

SO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE REVIEWED THIS AND, UH, HAVE APPROVED RECOMMENDED APPROVAL UNANIMOUSLY.

AND I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS IF, IF YOU HAVE, UH, I MIGHT ASK TOO, AS WE'RE GETTING OUT OF HOPEFULLY THE DESIGN PHASE AND ACTUALLY THINGS ARE GONNA START TO HAPPEN.

UM, I'D LOVE TO HAVE PERIODIC REPORTS HERE AT COUNCIL MEETINGS.

UM, THE MAYOR AND I HAD SOMEONE BEND OUR EAR NOT TOO LONG AGO AND JUST FELT LIKE WE WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT IT ENOUGH MM-HMM .

AND THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE SO PEOPLE KNOW THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

UM, IT'S JUST NOT AS VISIBLE RIGHT NOW.

AND SO SURE.

JUST PUTTING A PLUGIN FOR THAT.

YEAH.

LOTS OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE, IS BEING DONE, CONTINUES TO BE DONE.

UM, BUT MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, IN A MONTH OR SO, MAYBE JUST LET US KNOW HOW THE GRANT PROCESS IS GOING AND WHAT'S HAPPENING OR HAPPENED OR NOT.

SURE.

YEAH.

AND WE'LL, AND THEN PEOPLE WON'T YELL AT THE MAYOR AND ME .

WE'RE HOPING THE MONTHLY UPDATE WILL WILL HELP TAKE THAT PRESSURE OFF YOU AND WE CERTAINLY INCLUDE YOU ALL IN IT.

AND WHENEVER YOU WANT ME OUT HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT, I'M HAPPY TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT IT.

YEAH.

'CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE, AND, AND I DO THINK THAT WILL HELP WITH THE EDMOND LAND CONSERVANCY, JUST THAT COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH, BUT ALSO TO THE PUBLIC SOMEHOW.

SURE.

ABSOLUTELY.

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANOTHER GREAT PROJECT IN, IN THE LOOP.

APPRECIATE, I MEAN, WE'RE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE FUNDS THAT TAXPAYERS, UM, THROUGH THE TEMPORARY SALES TAX ROAD RAISED.

UM, BUT THIS WILL JUST KIND OF FURTHER LEVERAGE THAT AND ALLOW US TO DO EVEN MORE WITH IT AND WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS IN THE CITY WHO ARE REALLY GOING AFTER ALL THE DIFFERENT GRANTS MM-HMM .

UM, AND MAXIMIZING THE MONIES THAT WE DO HAVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COUNSEL? SO WE NEED A, WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO, THIS IS CONSIDERATION APPROVAL OF, OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOU, UH, MOTION TO APPROVE.

HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND.

SECOND.

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT AMENDMENT IS ISSUED BY APPROVED.

NEXT IS ITEM 10, IS THE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS FIRST ITEM IS 10, A CASE NUMBER

[A. Case No. Z24-00020; Public Hearing and Consideration of Ordinance No. ___ Rezoning from “D-3 PUD” Office Commercial Planned Unit Development, “D-3” Office Commercial, and “D-0” Suburban Office to “PUD Z24-00020” Planned Unit Development for Turtle Creek Storage, Located on the South Side of East 15th Street, East of Bryant Avenue. (BLD, LLC; Ward 3) This item will be continued to the City Council meeting on February 10, 2025.]

UM, THIS WON'T HAVE AN ORDINANCE NUMBER IF YOU'RE CONTINUING IT.

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE CONTINUING THAT.

CONTINUE MY, MY FAULT COUNSEL ON ITEM 10 A.

WE DO NEED A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO 10 TO FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025.

SO MOVED.

MAYOR SECOND.

MAYOR MOTION SECOND.

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

[00:30:02]

THAT ITEMS IS HEREBY CONTINUE TO FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025.

NEXT IS 10 B CASE NUMBER SP TWO THREE DASH 0 0 0 0 9 PUBLIC

[B. Case No. SP23-00009; Public Hearing and Consideration for a Site Plan Application for Centerline Plumbing, Located West of Broadway Avenue, on Broadway Court. (Centerline Plumbing; Ward 3)]

LINE PLUMBING IS THE APPLICANT.

IS THE APPLICANT HERE.

OKAY, GOOD.

I JUST WANT MAKE SURE YOU'RE HERE FOR OKAY.

THANK YOU.

SO SIR, UM, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING APPROVAL OF A SITE PLAN FOR A LOCATION CALLED CENTER LINE PLUMBING.

THE SITE IS LOCATED WEST OF BROADWAY ON THE NORTH END OF BROADWAY COURT.

THE SITE'S APPROXIMATELY 27,000 SQUARE FEET.

THE SITE IS ZONED E TWO, WHICH IS OUR OPEN DISPLAY COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT.

IN TERMS OF THE CASE ITSELF, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING ONE BUILDING APPROXIMATELY 7,000 SQUARE FEET AND 25 FEET TALL.

ACCESS WILL BE FROM TWO DRIVEWAYS OFF OF BROADWAY COURT.

AS AS PROPOSED THERE ARE TWO VARIANCES REQUESTED TO LANDSCAPING.

ONE IS A REDUCTION IN THE PERIMETER BUFFER FROM THE REQUIRED 10 FEET, UM, IN WIDTH TO THREE FEET.

AND ONE IS A REDUCTION IN THE LANDSCAPE AREA FROM THE REQUIRED 2,600 SQUARE FEET TO 1100 SQUARE FEET, WHICH ALSO RESULTED IN A REDUCTION OF THE REQUIRED FRONTAGE AREA FROM AT LEAST 1300 SQUARE FEET TO 620 SQUARE FEET.

AT THE REGULAR PUBLIC HEARING ON JANUARY 7TH, 2025, THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED TO APPROVE BY VOTE OF FOUR TO ZERO.

SUBJECT TO THE VARIANCES.

STAFF IS HAPPY TO TRY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AT THIS TIME? YES.

I MEAN, I'M, I'M CURIOUS WHY THE APPLICANT FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE LANDSCAPING BY SO MUCH.

I MEAN, WERE THERE LIMITATIONS IN THE PROPERTY? I KNOW THAT WE'RE REALLY, UM, I KNOW THIS DOESN'T COMPLETELY FACE ONTO BROADWAY, BUT IT IS AWFULLY CLOSE AND I THINK VISIBLE.

UM, WE'RE CERTAINLY WANTING TO IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF THIS AREA, SO IT JUST STRUCK ME AS A REALLY LARGE VARIANCE.

I THINK THE APPLICANT WOULD BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

OKAY.

BEFORE THE APPLICANT ANSWERS THE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH THE VARIANCE, WHAT, WHY IS THAT? SO IT'S A, IT'S A BIT OF A TECHNICALITY.

UM, STAFF TRIES TO NOT TAKE A STANCE ON VARIANCES.

UM, OBVIOUSLY WE PREFER THAT YOU FOLLOW THE RULES.

UM, SO WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL BASED ON THE TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE, THE CASE ITSELF AND WHETHER IT IS ALIGNS THE ZONING DISTRICT.

AND THEN, UM, THEN WE ALLOW THE PUBLIC PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD.

UM, OF COURSE, IF IT DOESN'T HAVE A VARIANCE, THEY STOP AT PLANNING COMMISSION.

UM, BUT THEY DO HAVE A VARIANCE.

THEY NEED TO COME AND PLEAD THE CASE, UM, AND SHOW THEIR THEIR HARDSHIP TO COUNSEL.

BUT I MEAN, THE STAFF'S OKAY WITH THE VARIANCE.

SOUNDS LIKE IT.

I I THINK IT'S MORE, AGAIN, TECHNICALLY AND LEGALLY IT'S OKAY, BUT THEY'RE NOT MAKING A JUDGMENT CALL, IS WHAT I'M HEARING.

YEAH.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S EASIER FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED IF, IF PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW THE RULES AS WRITTEN.

UM, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR STAFF TO FORCE FORCE APPLICANT'S HAND IN ALL CASES, SO, OKAY.

OKAY.

SO THIS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, THIS LOOKS LIKE, UM, AN INDUSTRIAL AREA.

I MEAN, FROM THE, FROM THE MAP HERE MM-HMM .

WHEN I SAY INDUSTRIAL, IT'S, IT'S, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCRETE THERE.

I DON'T SEE A LOT OF VEGETATION IN ALL OF THE OTHER, UM, DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE AROUND THERE.

AM I, AM I MISSING THAT IS NO, NOT AT ALL.

I THINK THAT'S A, THAT'S JUST A LEGACY OF WHEN THIS AREA WAS DEVELOPED.

MM-HMM .

UM, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE HAD ROBUST, UH, LANDSCAPE STANDARDS, UM, WAS, IS PROBABLY WHEN MOST OF THIS AREA WAS DEVELOPED.

OKAY.

SO, YEAH.

VERY GOOD.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AT THIS TIME? WE DID A, FOR THE APPLICANT, WE DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD BEFORE WE START ASKING YOU QUESTIONS? OH, YES.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME'S OPHELIA CIO WITH HEWITT ZELLERS.

WE'RE THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS ON THE PROJECT.

UM, JUST WANNA SAY, WE DID WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY, UM, BACK AND FORTH WITH LANDSCAPING, SPECIFICALLY MYSELF SPEAKING AND HAVING MEETINGS.

WE DID HAVE

[00:35:01]

UM, REGARDING THE FRONT BUFFER, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THE 10 FOOT BUFFER, BUT WE DID PROVIDE A, UM, SCREENING WALL THERE WITH EVERGREENS, UM, TO KIND OF COMPENSATE FOR SOME OF THAT.

AND THEN REGARDING THE SQUARE, UM, FEET THAT IS REQUIRED, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET IT AGAIN BASED ON SITE CONSTRAINTS, THE EASEMENTS ON THE SIDE AS WELL WHERE WE CAN'T ADD LANDSCAPING.

UH, WE DID EXCEED THE PLANTING UNIT REQUIREMENTS, UM, ON THE PROJECT.

SO COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? I GUESS WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT, UM, CONSTRAINTS WITH THE PROPERTY, UM, I, I'D LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICALLY.

YEAH.

SO IF YOU LOOK ON THE EAST SIDE THERE, THERE'S AN EASEMENT THROUGH THERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, USUALLY WE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADD SOME LANDSCAPING THROUGH THERE, BUT BECAUSE OF THAT EASEMENT WE WERE NOT, NOT ABLE TO DO THAT.

UM, THIS IS A VERY NICE BUILDING, UM, FOR LIKE, UM, MAYOR POINTED OUT, UM, JUST GIVEN THE SITE DEVELOPMENT, IT'S A REALLY NICE BUILDING, UM, THAT IS BEING PLACED ON THERE.

IT'S, AND THERE'LL BE VANS KIND OF CIRCULATING THROUGH THE BACK, SO WE DID NEED TO PROVIDE MORE, UM, AREA FOR VANS TO FIT THROUGH THERE FOR FIRE, UM, FIRE TRUCKS TO CIRCULATE THROUGH THERE AS WELL.

UM, IN THE FRONT WE HAVE OFFICE BUILDINGS AND WE NEEDED TO ALSO PROVIDE, UM, MORE, UM, PARKING FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN.

AND, UH, SO THOSE WERE SOME OF THE SITE CONSTRAINTS, THE PARKING REQUIREMENT AND THEN THE SITE CIRCULATION.

AND THEN WHERE IS THE EASEMENT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? IT'S ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.

YEAH.

ALL ALONG THROUGH THERE.

THERE'S ALSO AN EASEMENT TO THE NORTH FOR SANITARY, SIR.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW? COUNSEL? ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND ANY QUESTION, COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON THIS ITEM RIGHT NOW? ITEM 10 B, IS THERE ANY QUESTION, COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? CAN YOU, NONE.

COUNSEL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO ON THIS ITEM? FURTHER DISCUSSION? I AM STILL STRUGGLING WITH WHETHER THIS IS THE BEST OR MOST SQUARE FOOTAGE OF LANDSCAPING THAT'S POSSIBLE.

I JUST, I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO GET IN THE HABIT OF MAKING THIS LARGE OF A VARIANCE.

RIGHT.

ON LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS.

THERE'S A REASON WE HAVE THEM THERE, RIGHT? MM-HMM .

UM, I UNDERSTAND, UM, YOU ALL'S POINT.

UM, I KNOW WHERE THIS AREA IS.

I TRAVEL THIS ROAD OFTEN.

MM-HMM .

IT'S, THERE'S, YOU HAVE, I REMEMBER ACROSS THE STREET WE APPROVED SOME TYPE OF GREENHOUSE GOING IN THERE, THE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM HERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S STILL AN OPERATION OR NOT.

THIS IS BEFORE MEDICAL MARIJUANA CAME AROUND.

IT WAS AROUND THAT TIME.

UM, BUT IT'S, IT IS, IT'S NOT AN INDUSTRIAL AREA, BUT IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY IT'S A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL.

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A 10 BUILDINGS BACK HERE ON, THAT'S BASICALLY THE WHOLE STREET ALL THE WAY UP TO, TO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GO NORTH AND YOU FINALLY RUN INTO THE, UM, OIL CHANGE, AND THEN YOU MAKE A RIGHT, YOU RUN INTO JIMMY'S EGG AND THE CLEANERS MM-HMM .

AND ALL THAT.

IT'S, UM, AND THEN ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT, YOU HAVE THE CAJUN PLACE.

AND, AND SO IT'S, THERE'S NOT MUCH GREENERY BACK THERE RIGHT NOW.

AND, AND I DON'T THINK I REMEMBER CORRECTLY BEING ON COUNCIL WHEN WE APPROVED SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE, ACROSS THE STREET.

WE DIDN'T, THEY ASKED FOR VARIANCE TOO ON THEIR, THEIR GREENERY.

AND WE, WE OBLIGED BY THAT.

SO I UNDERSTAND.

IT'S UP TO YOU ALL.

COUNSEL, WHAT'D YOU LIKE TO DO? CAN YOU SHOW ME WHERE THE GREENERY'S GONNA BE PLANTED? MR. LANDSCAPE PLAN? UM, DO I,

[00:40:04]

UM, SO THEY'LL DO A, THE SCREENING WALL THAT THE APPLICANT INDICATED, IT'LL BE ALONG HERE, ALONG THERE.

THIS IS THEIR FRONTAGE, UM, ON BROADWAY COURT HERE.

MM-HMM .

AND THEN THERE'LL BE PLANTING AREA HERE, HERE IN THE PARKING LOT.

SO WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE TERMINAL ISLANDS, THE INTERIOR ISLANDS, UM, AND THEN I, I BELIEVE THERE'S A, THERE'S A BIT OF LANDSCAPING.

THEY'RE ABLE TO KIND OF FIT IN THERE NEXT TO THAT EASEMENT.

SO THE LANDSCAPING WILL BE BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE BUILDING, CORRECT? YEAH.

THAT'S PART OF OUR REQUIREMENTS.

MM-HMM .

UM, WHEREVER THERE'S, UH, FRONTAGE, WE HAVE BOTH FRONTAGE REQUIREMENTS AND THEN, UH, SCREENING BETWEEN PARKING AND CIRCULATION BETWEEN THE, THAT AREA AND THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

SO IS THERE ANY ON THE NORTH OR WAS THERE NO ROOM THERE? I BELIEVE THIS IS WHERE THAT, UH, SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT RUNS THROUGH HERE THAT WAS REFERENCED.

AND THEN THIS IS THE SITE TO THE NORTH IS DEVELOPED.

OKAY.

YEAH.

OKAY.

AND THEN BROADWAY IS ACTUALLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PROPERTY TO THE, UM, EAST, RIGHT? YES, YES.

AND THERE'S AN EASEMENT THERE IN BETWEEN.

YEAH.

THEY'RE INDICATING AN, AN EASEMENT IN THIS, ON THIS PART OF THEIR SITE.

AND THEN BECAUSE IT'S A PLUMBING BUSINESS AND THERE'S GONNA BE VANS GOING IN AND OUT GETTING SUPPLIES, THAT'S THE CIRCULATION YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

RIGHT? CAN I YES, PLEASE COME BACK UP.

UM, YES, BUT THERE IS, UM, A BUILDING BUILDING RIGHT BEFORE WE, SO OUR PROPERTY DOESN'T ABUT RIGHT NEXT TO, TO THE EAST BROADWAY.

RIGHT.

THERE'S A RIGHT, I UNDERST UNDERSTAND.

OH, OKAY.

YEAH, YEAH.

AND, AND LIKE I SAID, WE, EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T GET, GET THE AREA FOR LANDSCAPING THAT WE WANTED TO, EVEN THOUGH WE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH AVA, UM, TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, WE EXCEEDED THE PLANTING UNIT REQUIREMENTS BY, I THINK, I THOUGHT I CALCULATED LIKE 38%.

SO THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE.

WHAT WAS THE LAST YOU SAID? SO I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE, THE AREA REQUIREMENTS AND THEN THE UNIT REQUIREMENTS.

EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET THE, THE AREA REQUIREMENTS, JUST GIVEN THE CONSTRAINT OF OUR SITE, WE DID EXCEED THE UNIT REQUIREMENT AND WE ALSO EXCEEDED THE EVERGREEN, UM, PLANT UNIT REQUIREMENT.

YOU ALSO EXCEEDED WHAT, SORRY? THE, UH, EVERGREEN PLANT UNIT REQUIREMENT.

SO WE HAVE MORE EVERGREENS THAN ARE REQUIRED ON THE SITE.

OKAY.

YEAH.

I I MEAN I HEAR YOU, BUT IT'S, THEY CAN BE REALLY SMALL PLANTS.

RIGHT.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE, I MEAN, IF WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO 10% LANDSCAPE AREA, WHICH IS 2,600 SQUARE FEET, AND WE'RE NOT EVEN DOING HALF THAT, SO IT MIGHT BE THREE AND A HALF, 4%.

RIGHT.

YEAH.

I, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN WE CAN DO OTHER THAN SHRINK THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING.

UH, AT THIS STAGE WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO MEET THE, WE, WE REALLY TRIED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT.

OKAY.

YEP.

AND IT WAS SUGGESTED TO YOU AT WHEN YOUR, IN YOUR MEETINGS WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND MR. BRIAN'S TEAM, THAT YOU WERE COMING FOR A FAIRLY STRONG VARIANCE AND YOU WERE, WAS THAT SUGGESTED TO YOU TO MAYBE TRY TO GO BACK AND DO MORE? UM, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T FORESEE US NEEDING A VARIANCE, UM, AT FIRST.

SO THAT WASN'T THE ORIGINAL INTENTION.

I THINK IT'S JUST THE, THE CONSTRAINTS AFTER WE HAD TO COME BACK AND ADD MORE PARKING AND THEN THE CIRCULATION AS THE SITE BEGAN TO DEVELOP, WE BECAME MORE AND MORE CONSTRAINED WITH WHERE WE COULD, UM, PLACE LANDSCAPING.

SO THE VARIANCES DUE TO, UM, THEM WERE THE STAFF REQUESTING, WHAT DO YOU THINK? UM, SO IT'S FOR TWO THINGS.

UM, THERE'S A LANDSCAPING OF A 10 FOOT BUFFER REQUIREMENT.

UM, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MEET THAT 10 FOOT BUFFER ENTIRELY.

UM, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE VARIANTS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SCREENING THROUGH THERE OF EVERGREEN PLANTS.

UM, AND THEN THE SECOND ITEM IS THE, UM, SQUARE FEET AREA REQUIREMENT FOR LANDSCAPING.

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MEET THE TOTAL AREA BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY VERY MANY AREAS WHERE WE COULD ADD MORE LANDSCAPING, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO EXCEED THE NUM THE UNITS, UH, PLANT UNIT REQUIREMENT.