[00:00:01]
TODAY IS ANOTHER HISTORICAL DAY FOR EDMOND.
[1. Call to Order of the Edmond City Council Meeting.]
THIS IS OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL AND PUBLIC WORKS MEETING ON MONDAY, APRIL 28TH, 2025.I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING ORDER.
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE SOME PROCLAMATIONS, UH, THAT I WANNA
[A. Presentation of a Proclamation Recognizing May 2025 as Bike Month.]
READ.UH, SOME THINGS THAT ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND EVERY, A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S HEARTS ALSO HERE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA DO THE BIKE PROCLAMATION FIRST, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA DO NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA DO THE BUILDING SAFETY 'CAUSE WE'RE ALMOST OVER CODE ON
BUT I'M, I'M NOT GONNA SAY NOTHING.
Y'ALL GOT ME ON THESE BOW TIES.
THIS IS, UH, MAY IS BICYCLE MOTH, BUT FOR SOME PEOPLE LIKE US, EVERY MONTH IS BICYCLE MONTH 'CAUSE WE RIDE BIKES.
BUT, UM, I LIKE THIS PROCLAMATION.
EDON IS, HISTORICALLY WE'VE DONE A PROCLAMATION.
WE'RE DOING MORE ACTIVITIES NOW TO EVEN BRING OUR SCHOOL KIDS IN TO LEARNING HOW TO SAFELY RIDE.
THERE'S GONNA BE A BIKE TRAIN, BIKE BUS, BIKE BUS THAT RUNS TO WILL.
SO HERE, HERE THIS PROCLAMATION.
THE BICYCLE IS AN ECONOMIC, HEALTHY, CONVENIENT, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION AND AN EXCELLENT FORM OF RECREATION AND ENJOYMENT OF EDMUND SCENIC BEAUTY.
THE BICYCLE IS AN ECONOMICALLY HEALTHY, CONVENIENT, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION AND AN EXCELLENT FORM OF RECREATION AND ENJOYMENT OF EDMOND.
NATIONAL BIKE MONTH IS MAY, AND NATIONAL BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY IS MAY 7TH, 2025.
THE ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA GOVERNANCE, ACOG, OKAY.
AND THE EDMOND BICYCLE COMMITTEE HAVE HELPED ORGANIZE AND COORDINATE LOCAL BIKE TO WORK AND BIKE TO SCHOOL ACTIVITIES SINCE 2006.
NOW, THEREFORE, I DARYL A DAVIS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EDMOND DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2025 IS BIKE MONTH IN EDMOND, GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL OF THE CITY OF EDMOND.
IT IS 28TH DAY OF APRIL, 2025.
AND HERE WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS JAN FEES AND LYSA.
I ALWAYS GET YOU FROM THE BICYCLE WORLD COMMITTEE.
OBS HERE, UH, TO, TO RECEIVE THIS TODAY.
Y'ALL WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING? MAYOR DAVIS.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS.
AND I DON'T WANT TO FALL ALL OVER MYSELF ANYWAY.
UM, THIS IS REALLY WONDERFUL TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE ARE REALLY CYCLISTS HERE AND WE DON'T JUST RIDE ONE OR TWO MILES, BUT WE'LL RIDE A FEW MILES ANYWAY TO LET EVERYBODY IN ON THE FUN OF BICYCLE MONTH.
HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON HERE IN IN EDMOND ON WEDNESDAY THE SEVENTH.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ART TOUR BY BIKE.
SO GET OUT YOUR PENS AND PENCILS AND PAPERS AND WRITE THIS DOWN.
'CAUSE YOU'LL WANNA GO START AT SIX 15 AT TARGET.
AND WE'RE GONNA RIDE MAYBE SIX OR EIGHT MILES AND TO DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND THE CITY, UM, TO SHOW ALL THE GREAT ART THAT WE HAVE.
AND I'M SURE YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT ALL THE GREAT ART WE HAVE AFTER, AFTER WE GET OUT HERE.
AND THEN WE HAVE, EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT WE HAVE THE CASUAL RIDE WHERE WE RIDE EIGHT TO 10 MILES.
SO COME ON OUT AND JOIN THE FUN.
THAT DOESN'T SOUND CASUAL TO ME.
I TOLD YOU, AS LONG AS IT HAS A MOTOR ON IT, I AM THERE.
[00:05:03]
AND ON MAY 19TH, I, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO IT IN MOND, BUT I THINK OKLAHOMA CITY'S DOING THE RIDE OF SILENCE.[B. Presentation of a Proclamation Recognizing May 4 to May 10 as National Travel and Tourism Week. ]
AND SO THE RIDE OF SILENCE IS WHERE WE RIDE AROUND GOING VERY SLOW.NO ONE SAYS ANYTHING, BUT WE'RE REMEMBERING THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED ON A BICYCLE IN THE WORLD.
IT'S A, IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT.
AS THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT COMES UP, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO YEAH.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND HOW, HOW IMPORTANT TOURISM IS TO THE STATE, TO OUR CITY AND TO THE REGION.
WE HAVE SO MANY, UH, ACTIVITIES THAT BRING TOURISTS HERE FROM OUR ART TO OUR SPORTS COMPLEX TO JUST TO VISIT FAMILY.
SO THIS PROCLAMATION IS FOR, UH, THE NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK.
UH, THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY IS THE THIRD LARGEST, THIRD LARGEST INDUSTRY IN OKLAHOMA.
PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC AND ENTERTAINMENT BENEFITS TO THE CITIZENS AND VISITORS AND TRAVEL IS ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY.
FUTURE, FUTURE LEADER, FUTURE LEADERS, UM, TRAVEL LEADS TO THE ECONOMIC GROWTH BENEFITS BUSINESSES FOSTERS MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND CONNECTS THE NATION.
TRAVEL IS AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE FOR EVERY STATE AND DESTINATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH AN ECONOMIC OUTPUT OF 2.8 TRILLION, SUPPORTING 15 MILLION AMERICAN JOBS.
AND EDMOND RESIDENTS VOTED TO INCREASE THE LODGING TAX FROM 4% TO 6% IN 2024 TO PROMOTE OUR CITY AS A DESTINATION AND ATTRACT, RETAIN, AND SUSTAIN MORE CONFERENCES, TOURNAMENTS, AND EVENTS.
EDMONDS, 13 HOTELS, ONE BED AND BREAKFAST AND 140 VACATION HOMES.
YEAR ROUND TOURISM IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN GENERATING SALES TAX REVENUE TO INVEST IN MAKING EDMOND A SAFE AND FUN PLACE TO VISIT.
NOW THEREFORE, I DARRYL A DAVIS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EDMOND DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 4TH THROUGH MAY 10TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK IN MAY.
IN, IN EDMOND GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL OF THE CITY OF EDMOND.
UM, I DO WANNA THANK MAYOR AND STACY PETERSON ALSO.
UM, BOTH OF YOU, I KNOW I'M SHORT.
UH, BOTH OF YOU HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE, UM, OF TOURISM DURING YOUR TIME ON CITY COUNCIL.
WE ALSO HAVE AMAZING BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR STAFF, AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, TOURISM IS THE FULL CIRCLE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT.
A LOT OF TIMES THE FIRST STEP IS TO VISIT EDMOND, THEN THEY MAY CHOOSE TO LIVE HERE.
THEY MAY CHOOSE TO COME BACK AND THEY MAY BRING THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR BUSINESS.
SO WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO BE THAT FRONTLINE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITIES GOING ON.
UH, I THINK ON MAY 4TH THERE'S GONNA BE A CELEBRATION OR RECEPTION FOR THE UCO, UH, FOR THE GOLF.
NO, I'M TALKING ISN'T IT A GOLF TOURNAMENT? A KICKING BIRD? YES.
[C. Presentation of a Proclamation Recognizing May 2025 as Building Safety Month.]
KEEP THESE PEOPLE HAPPY 'CAUSE THEY MIGHT KICK US OUT.AND WE REALIZE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR LIFE TOO.
UM, WHO WROTE THIS? IT'S THE I SHEET
THIS IS THIS, THIS ONE'S DEEP.
OUR JURISDICTION IS COMMITTED TO RECOGNIZING THAT OUR GROWTH AND STRENGTH DEPENDS ON THE SAFETY AND THE CENTRAL ROLE.
OUR HOMES, BUILDINGS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAY BOTH IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND THEN DISASTER STRIKES.
OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE RESILIENCE OF THESE BUILDINGS THAT MAKE UP OUR
[00:10:01]
COMMUNITY IS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE DEVOTION OF VIGILANT GUARDIANS, BUILDING SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION OFFICIALS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, BUILDERS, TRADESPEOPLE, DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, LABORERS, PLUMBERS, AND OTHERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHO WORK YEAR ROUND TO ENSURE THE SAFE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.THESE GUARDIANS ARE DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CODE OF COUNCIL, A NON-PROFIT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER LOCAL, STATE, TERRITORIAL, TRIBAL AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE BUILDING ENVIRONMENT TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT THE HIGHEST QUALITY CODES AND STANDARDS TO PROTECT US IN THE BUILDINGS WHERE WE LIVE, LEARN, WORK, PLAY IN PLAY.
THESE MODERN BUILDINGS CODES AND STANDARDS INCLUDE SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM HAZARDS SUCH AS HURRICANES, SNOWSTORMS, TORNADOES, WINLAND, FARMERS, WIND, WILDLAND, UH, FIRES, FLOODS, AND EARTHQUAKES.
BUILDINGS SAFETY MONTH IS SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL TO REMIND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, LARGELY UNKNOWN PROTECTORS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR CODE OFFICIALS WHO ASSURE US OF SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND AFFORDABLE BUILDING THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR PROSPERITY AND GAME ON.
THE THEME FOR THE BUILDING SAFETY MONTH 2025 ENCOURAGES ALL TO GET INVOLVED AND RAISE AWARENESS OF ABOUT BUILDING SAFETY ON A PERSONAL, LOCAL, AND GLOBAL SCALE.
WHEREAS EACH YEAR IN OBSERVANCE OF BUILDING SAFETY MOUNT, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE ASKED TO CONSIDER THE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE BUILDING SAFETY, RESILIENCE, AND ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDED TO ALL OF US BY THE LOCAL STATE, TRIBAL, TERRITORIAL, AND FEDERAL BUILDING SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION DEPARTMENTS IN PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I DARYL A DAVIS MAYOR OF CITY OF AMEN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2025 AS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH IN EDMOND, GIVEN UNDER MY HAND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF EDMOND.
THIS 28TH DAY OF APRIL OF 2025.
ALRIGHT,
YOU HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT TO YOU.
YOU HAVE BEEN WILLING TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH US TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHY WE NEED NEW CODES.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPPORT.
NOW WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN UPDATE FROM OUR INNER CITY MANAGER.
[D. City Manager's Update.]
THANK YOU.UM, I HATE TO FOLLOW ALL THAT GOOD NEWS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF BAD, BUT, UM, AS I USUALLY START OUT, UH, WITH OUR COMBINED SALES AND USE TAX, WE'RE CONTINUE TO BE SLIGHTLY DOWN COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
UH, COMBINED REVENUE FROM SALES AND USE TAX IS, UH, JUST SHY OF $87.5 MILLION FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS DOWN 0.69%.
UH, THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO SALES TAX, WHICH IS DOWN 2.23% COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
AND IT'S THE FOURTH STRAIGHT MONTH OF REVENUE, OR REVENUE.
NUMBERS HAVE BEEN LOWER THAN LAST.
UH, WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS TREND.
UH, A LOT OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CITIES ARE GOING THROUGH THIS AS WELL.
UH, GOOD NEWS IS OUR USE TAX STILL REMAINS TO BE UP.
IT'S UP ALMOST 7% COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
AND LODGING TAX COLLECTIONS ARE ALSO UP FOR THE YEAR, UH, ALMOST 6%.
UM, A QUICK UPDATE ON ITS, UH, CITY OF EDMOND'S INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
UH, THE FOURTH PHASE IS, UH, BEING INSTALLED NOW.
UH, IT'S AN ONGOING PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND SAFETY FOR TRAFFIC HERE IN THE CITY.
UH, THE NEW INSTALLATION BEGAN IN MARCH, UH, ALONG THE DANFORTH CORRIDOR.
IT'S REPRESENTED BY THE GREEN ON THAT PREVIOUS MAP.
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35 PLUS KEY SECTIONS OF BRYANT AVENUE BOULEVARD AND DANFORTH.UH, THE UPGRADES INCLUDE, UH, 16 MILES OF FIBER OPTIC CABLES, 43 MILES OF ELECTRICAL CABLES, 19 NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS, CABINETS AND CONTROLLERS, EIGHT SCHOOL ZONE SYSTEMS, 39 FLASHING YELLOW LEFT TURN SIGNALS, AND 197 A DA COMPLIANT PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS WITH AUDIBLE MESSAGING.
UH, THE IMPACT, UH, ITS REDUCES VEHICLE DELAYS BY 40% DURING RUSH HOUR AND 75% DURING OFF PEAK TIMES.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, EARLIER PHASES OF CUT COLLISIONS AT THE INTERSECTIONS BY 50%.
UH, QUICK UPDATE ON THE I 35 PROJECT.
UH, AS YOU, IF YOU'VE DRIVEN DOWN I 35, YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION.
UH, THIS IS AN $80 MILLION, UH, ODOT PROJECT WITH $4 MILLION COMING FROM THE CITY OF EDMOND.
IT AIMS TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND PREVENT, UH, DANGEROUS BACKUPS ONTO I 35.
UH, THE KEY IMPROVEMENTS, UH, WILL BE THE EAST AND WEST TWO-WAY FRONTAGE.
ROADS WILL BE CONVERTED TO ONE-WAY STREETS FOR BETTER TRAFFIC FLOW, AND THERE WILL BE TURNAROUND BRIDGES AT SECOND 15TH AND 33RD FOR EASY DIRECTION CHANGES WITHOUT TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
SO, TEXAS TURNAROUNDS, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T LIKE TO CALL 'EM THAT, UH, NEW SLIP RAMPS WILL BE, WILL REPLACE THE BUTTON HOOK RAMPS, ALLOWING SMOOTHER EMERGING ONTO ONE WAY FRONTAGE ROADS, UH, AND ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION LANES WILL BE ADDED ALONG 35.
UH, PHASE ONE, WHICH IS UNDERWAY NOW, ARE THE FIVE TURNAROUND BRIDGES.
UH, THOSE ARE EXPECTED TO BE, UH, COMPLETED LATER THIS YEAR, BUT THE BRIDGES WON'T OPEN UNTIL PHASE TWO IS DONE.
UH, PHASE TWO WILL START IN 2027 WITH THE CONVERSION OF THE FRONTAGE ROADS TO ONE-WAY STREETS, UH, ONGOING WORK.
THE NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND, UH, I 35 LANES WILL INTERMITTENT INTERMITTENTLY BE NARROWED BETWEEN MEMORIAL AND SECOND STREET TO THE SUMMER OF 2025.
UH, WORK ALONG THE INSIDE SHOULDER OF I 35 WILL CONTINUE THIS SUMMER WITH MINIMAL IMPACT ON DAILY TRAFFIC.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? VERY GOOD.
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, REMARKS REGARDING COUNCILWOMAN MUG COUNCILWOMAN
[E. Remarks Recognizing Mayor Davis, Councilwoman Mugg, and Councilwoman Peterson for their Years of Service and Dedication to the City Council and to the City of Edmond.]
PETERSON FOR THE YEARS, AND MEUM, I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO YOU AT THIS TIME.
UH, I'VE GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING TO SAY AND I KNOW THAT COUNCILWOMAN MURDOCH NICHOLS HAS A FEW COMMENTS AND, UH, OUR CITY CLERK HAS SOMETHING TO HAND OUT.
BUT I'M GONNA START THIS OFF IF YOU DON'T MIND, SIR.
UH, YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD ME AT PUBLIC EVENTS DON'T TALK MUCH LONGER THAN WHAT IT TAKES FOR THE WATER TO GET HOT
AND, UH, SO, BUT I'VE GOTTA GO A LITTLE BIT LONGER TONIGHT.
UH, MY MOTHER TOLD ME A LOT OF THINGS, SAVE YOUR MONEY.
AND YES, SIR, GET YOUR ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE AND BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR ELDERS.
I TOSSED THAT ONE IN FOR YOU,
UH, BUT SHE ALSO SAID, WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE AND THEN BECOME FRIENDS WITH THEM, AND THEN TRULY DEVELOP A STRONG AND DEAR FRIENDSHIP TO BE MINDFUL OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM, RESPECT THEIR OPINIONS, AND, UH, LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
AND SO I'VE SET UP HERE WITH TWO YEARS, FOR TWO YEARS.
AND, UH, MS. PETERSON, I'VE COME TO VALUE YOUR OPTIMISM, YOUR DEEP FAITH, YOUR GENUINE LOVE FOR EDMOND, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE YMCA LIBRARY AND FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND DOUG, THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS.
MS. MU I VALUE YOUR DEDICATION TO THE ARTS, YOUR TIRELESS WORK ON UNCOMMON GROUND.
AND I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL AND THE CITY WILL, TOO.
I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK, YOUR DEVOTION TO EDUCATION, AND YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR.
[00:20:01]
I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.YOU HAVE A LOT OF PATIENCE WITH EVERYONE EXCEPT ME,
UH, AND CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS AS WELL.
UH, MR. MARY, YOUR PATIENCE, YOUR HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THINGS, WATER, YOUR PASSION FOR WATER FOR OUR CITY.
I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE THAT'S HAD MORE INFLUENCE AND MORE HOPE FOR OUR CITY ON WATER.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE OF FARMER'S MARKET.
YOU'RE THERE MOST EVERY SATURDAY, UH, SEEING PEOPLE BUYING THINGS, UH, MAKING PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME AND FOR YOUR LOVE OF ALL OF EDMOND.
BUT FOR DOWNTOWN EDMOND, THE THREE OF YOU HAVE MADE AN IMPACT ON OUR CITY.
YOU'VE DEVOTED YOUR TIME, YOUR EFFORTS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, WHATEVER IT TAKES.
OUR CITY'S BETTER OFF FOR HAVING YOU ON COUNCIL.
AND AS OUR MAYOR, I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL.
COUNCILWOMAN MURDOCH NICHOLS CAN PICK UP THE MANTLE OF WHERE YOU TWO LEAVE OFF.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING MY MOTHER TOLD ME WAS, WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE AND BECOME FRIENDS WITH THEM AND BECOME VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH THEM, DON'T BE AFRAID TO HUG THEM AND TELL 'EM YOU LOVE THEM.
WELL, UM, YOUR, YOUR MARK ON THE CITY OF EDMOND IS UNDENIABLE.
AND, UM, YOUR INFLUENCE ON ME, UM, IS SIGNIFICANT.
AND IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO SIT UP HERE WITH EACH OF YOU.
AND AS WE LIST ALL THE WAYS THAT YOU'VE, UH, MADE AN IMPACT ON OUR CITY, UM, I, I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE WONDERFUL 'CAUSE YOU'RE YOU, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU DO.
UM, AND I JUST APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU.
UM, YOU'RE SO INDIVIDUALLY UNIQUELY WONDERFUL.
UM, AND I'M QUICKLY LEARNING IN THIS ROLE THAT IT'S TOUGH AND THERE ARE TOUGH MOMENTS.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO HOME TO THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE YOU
UM, BUT I JUST KNOW THAT EVEN THROUGH, UM, THE HARD TIMES, I, I HOPE, I PRAY THAT YOU'LL REMEMBER, UM, JUST THE GOODNESS.
UM, AND AS I'VE SPENT, UM, TIME OUTSIDE WITH MY FAMILY AND PARKS THAT OUR CITY TAKES CARE OF, I JUST AM REMINDED WE LIVE IN A REALLY, REALLY GREAT PLACE WITH REALLY GREAT PEOPLE.
AND, AND YOU THREE ARE PART OF THAT.
UM, AND I, AS I I DID, WHEN YOU APPOINTED ME, I, I COMMIT TO CARRY ON WHAT YOU STARTED.
WE ARE A COUNCIL OF FIVE FOR A REASON.
UM, AND SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SIT ALONGSIDE YOU AND SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU.
AND, UM, JUST GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU.
THANK YOU, MAGGIE, DEBORAH, ANN, DEBORAH, ANN, I FORGOT TO THANK YOU.
AND MS. DAVIS AND YOUR FAMILY AS WELL.
AND PLEASE GIVE MS. DAVIS OUR BEST, MR. CLERK AT THIS TIME, IF YOU WOULD, SIR.
UH, I HAVE A PLAQUE HERE THAT IS PRESENTED TO STACEY, A PETERSON IN APPRECIATION OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AS WARD FOUR, COUNCIL MEMBER 20 21, 20 25.
AND I HAVE PRESENTED TO KRISTEN MUG AN APPRECIATION OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AS WARD THREE, COUNCIL MEMBER 2021 THROUGH 2025.
[00:25:11]
AND I ALSO HAVE A PLAQUE HERE, PRESENTED TO DARRELL A DAVIS IN APPRECIATION OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AS WARD THREE, COUNCIL MEMBER 2011 TO 2021 AND AS MAYOR 20 21, 20 25, MR. MAYOR.UM, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A HISTORICAL COUNCIL AND YOU, YOU, YOU ALL KNOW I LOVE HISTORY.
UM, FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYOR, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST COUNCIL I, THAT I'M AWARE OF, THAT WE HAVE THREE WOMEN ON THERE.
AND SO YOU ALL ARE A PART OF WITNESSING HISTORY.
UM, LADIES WITH YOU COUNCIL, YOU WANNA GO FIRST? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
UM, SO UNFORTUNATELY I THINK THE WATER WILL BE HOT RIGHT BEFORE I FINISH
BUT, UM, I AM, UH, I, AND I'VE REALLY THOUGHT A LOT, A LOT OF REFLECTION OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE MONTHS, ESPECIALLY AS WE COME TO THE END OF OUR TERM.
UM, AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT WOULD I MAYBE WANT TO SAY? AND, UM, I'M GONNA DISAPPOINT A FEW PEOPLE 'CAUSE I'M NOT GONNA RANT.
UM, BUT I FELT LIKE WE DO RECEIVE A LOT OF NEGATIVITY, TOXICITY ACCUSATIONS, UNFORTUNATELY.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE, UM, AND GIVE SOME INFORMATION.
I'M GONNA TRY TO TALK FAST AND ALSO RECOGNIZE SOME PEOPLE WHO REALLY MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, RIGHT? UM, AND A FEW NAMES I'M GONNA SHOUT OUT 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT PEOPLE YOU SEE NECESSARILY AT THE PODIUM EVERY WEEK.
UM, AND SO HERE I GO AND I'LL AGAIN TRY TO TALK FAST.
ALRIGHT, UH, EDMOND FUNDED BY SALES TAX AND USE TAX.
UM, WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY, UM, A VALOREM OR PROPERTY TAXES.
UM, THEY'RE PAID IN ORDER A PERCENTAGE.
EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FRANCIS TUTTLE, CAREER TECH, OKLAHOMA COUNTY METROPOLITAN LIBRARY SYSTEM, OKLAHOMA COUNTY WIDE SCHOOLS IN HEALTH.
THE MOST, THE THING I'VE CORRECTED MORE THAN ANYTHING IN FOUR YEARS IS THAT NONE OF YOUR PROPERTY TAXES GO TO THE CITY OF EDMOND.
THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND CAMPAIGN WAS TO DO THAT.
UM, THE TAX RATES IN EDMOND ARE THE 18TH AMONG THE OKLAHOMA CITY METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITIES, FOLKS WHO LIVE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, BUT ARE IN EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT ARE THE 12TH HIGHEST.
UM, IF WE, THE GO BOND HAD PASSED, WE WOULD BE AT THE SAME LEVEL AS OKLAHOMA CITY LEGAL ADDRESS.
AND, UM, EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS SALES TAX RATE IS THE 14TH HIGHEST AMONG OKLAHOMA CITY METROPOLITAN CITIES AT 8.25% PIEDMONT, 9.85, MIDWEST CITY 9.1.
AND ON DOWN OKLAHOMA CITY IS 8.63.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD STATED, AND I'M GONNA GIVE THE REAL INFORMATION, AND I'M KIND OF PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.
BUT WHAT I'D ASK YOU TO DO IS WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY THINGS THAT ARE NOT CORRECT, CORRECT THEM, UM, GOD BLESS BILL BEGLEY AND THE, UH, PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, THEY TRY TO GET THAT ACCURATE INFORMATION OUT THERE, BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE IT.
UM, EVERY UH, EVERY CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ARE RECORDED.
THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO WATCH LATER ON EDMUND OKAY.GOV.
UM, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE AGENDAS, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE PACKETS.
UM, YOU CAN ATTEND IN PERSON, ANY OF THE 26 BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS, PLANNING COMMISSION, FINANCE COMMITTEE.
UM, THERE IS, UM, I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH HOW MUCH THIS STAFF IS ABLE TO STRETCH A DOLLAR, UM, GET GRANTS.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY IN GRANTS.
UM, INCREDIBLY LOW INTEREST RATES FOR OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, BUT THERE IS A REAL EFFORT TO MAKE THAT, UM, AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
AND SO IF YOU HEAR PEOPLE CRITICIZING, UM, YOU MIGHT SAY, HEY, IS THAT, WHERE'D YOU HEAR THAT? DO YOU KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE? UM, AND POINT 'EM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
26 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SERVING THE CITY OF EDMOND BICYCLE COMMITTEE, TOURISM COMMITTEE.
[00:30:01]
OF THEM YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT TONIGHT.EACH PERSON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, IS, IS TASKED WITH APPOINTING FOLKS TO THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
I'VE MADE A REAL EFFORT TO APPOINT PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T SERVED BEFORE WHO, UM, REPRESENT DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, REACHED OUT TO PEOPLE.
BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO APPLY, GET PEOPLE TO APPLY.
UM, WE'VE HAD A SLIGHT IN UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN.
I THINK WE WENT FROM ABOUT 32% WOMEN REPRESENTATION TO ABOUT 34, 30 5%.
UM, WE HAVE THE BEST FARMER'S MARKET IN THE REGION, BAR NONE.
OURS IS EVEN BETTER IF WE HAD THE BLUEBERRIES AND SOME OF THE PRODUCE FROM MAINE, IT WOULD BE THE BEST
UM, BUT EMILY HARMON AND BLAZE VAN ALSO DO AN AMAZING, AMAZING JOB.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GONE GO AND THANK THEM, UM, OUTSTANDING PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
BUT THE CHANGE THAT I'VE SEEN SINCE HE'S COME ON BOARD HAS BEEN REALLY PHENOMENAL.
UM, THE AC KAING RIVER IMPROVEMENTS ARE WELL UNDERWAY.
THEY'RE WITHIN BUDGET, THEY'RE AMAZING.
PELICAN BAY, UM, AND AGAIN, REALLY STRETCHING A DOLLAR.
UH, WANT TO THANK AARON KANE AND ALL THE OTHER, UH, CITY PARKS, LANDSCAPING AND MAINTENANCE TEAM MEMBERS FOR DOING A WHOLE LOT TO MAKE OUR PARTS BEAUTIFUL.
WITH LIMITED BUDGET SUPPORTING, UM, THE, UH, BUTTERFLIES AND PERENNIALS, AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND PEOPLE WORK HARD FOR THAT.
LEE MARTIN AND THE REST OF THE WORK ON THE URBAN FORESTRY, PHIL JONES, ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I TALKED TO, SUSTAINABILITY PLANNER AND A DA, UM, COORDINATOR.
THE THINGS THAT, AGAIN, ARE BEING DONE BESIDE, BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE, UM, MAKE THINGS, UM, ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY REASONS, WALKING TRAILS, BIKE TRAILS.
UM, JUST SOME AMAZING WORK IN THAT AREA.
UM, AND RESPECTING AND CONDUCTING CITY BUSINESS IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS OUR, UM, ENVIRONMENT.
UM, AND THEN I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE LOVING THIS, AREN'T YOU? I GOT A SOAP BOX AND I'M GONNA USE IT.
SO CHRISTIE BATTERSON, YOU SEE HER A LOT.
UM, BUT SHE'S ADVOCATING FOR FOLKS IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, NON-PROFITS, ACQUIRING MATT AND MAINTAINING GRANTS.
WE HAVE AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF GRANT MONEY.
UM, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
WE WORK WITH A LOT AND SEE A LOT.
UM, JANE ROBERTSON, MEGAN THURSTON, AND KATIE KING ESPECIALLY.
THEY'RE NOT UP HERE IN THE LIMELIGHT, BUT THEY TAKE A LOT OF, UM, A LOT OF PHONE CALLS THAT ARE CHALLENGING AND, UM, PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE.
I WANNA THANK THE EDMUND POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE STOOD IN THE BACK OF THIS ROOM FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND, UM, WALKED US TO OUR CARS, MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THERE SAFELY.
SO TONIGHT, LIEUTENANT MARK OAK, CAPTAIN PAUL PHILLIPS.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN COMMON TO DO THIS, BUT THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL OTHERS WHO HAVE DONE THAT AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN, UH, RAYNA BE DWIGHT POLSTON.
THE REASON THIS IS LIVE STREAM, THE REASON YOU CAN SEE IT, THE REASON YOU CAN HEAR US ALL BECAUSE OF THOSE FOLKS VIDEOS, UM, PHOTOGRAPHS AND MANY OTHER THINGS.
SARAH LONDON, SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR, SHE WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING EDMOND A FILM, UH, FRIENDLY CITY.
UM, THE WHOLE MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS TEAM HAD UP BY BILL BEGLEY.
THEY REALLY, REALLY TRY TO GET ACCURATE INFORMATION OUT TO THE MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA AND PUBLIC GENERALLY, IF YOU COULD SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS, SHARE WHAT THEY'RE SHARING, WHICH IS, IS THE TRUTH.
UM, ALL THE FOLKS WHO TOOK THE TIME, UH, TO SEND A TEXT, AN EMAIL, A VOICEMAIL, A HANDWRITTEN NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY, UM, WHEN WE'VE HAD A DIFFICULT AND CONTENTIOUS MEETING, THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO COME AT THE PERFECT RIGHT TIME.
UM, AND I, I KNOW OTHER FOLKS WOULD ECHO THAT.
AND IF YOU THINK SOMETHING NICE, YOU THINK SOMETHING APPRECIATIVE, SAY IT, PLEASE SAY IT.
UM, WE HEAR 99%, UM, NEGATIVE, UH, HUGE THANK YOU, UH, TO MY HUSBAND CHRIS, UM, WHO LISTENS TO ME, UM, AFTER MEETINGS, UM, CRYING OR YELLING
UM, HE WATCHED THE MEETINGS IN PERSON INITIALLY UNTIL HE WAS FALSELY ACCUSED, UM, OF ASSAULT.
UM, SO NOW HE WATCHES REMOTELY
UM, AND THERE WAS NO BASIS FOR IT.
WE HAD POLICE OFFICERS IN THE ROOM, WE HAD CITY ATTORNEYS IN THE ROOM, ET CETERA.
UM, SO IT'S NOT JUST US THAT PUT UP WITH CRAP, OUR FAMILIES DO TOO.
UM, MY MOM'S HAD TO DEFEND, UM, DIFFERENT THINGS.
DID YOU KNOW THAT NOT EVERY ROAD IN EDMOND IS A CITY ROAD.
SOME OF THEM ARE COUNTY ROADS, SOME OF THEM.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE DOING THAT.
UM, MADELINE SAWYER, YOU DO SEE HER UP QUITE A BIT, UM, BECAUSE SHE IS, GETS THE PLEASURE OF SITTING UP HERE WITH US.
WE APPOINTED HER A YEAR AND A QUARTER AGO.
SHE IS YOUNG AND SHE IS FEMALE, IN CASE SHE CAN'T NOTICE THAT.
AND NOT EVERYONE HAS TREATED HER WITH THE RESPECT AND DIGNITY THAT SHE DESERVES.
UM, AND SHE'S AMAZING AND TALENTED.
UM, AND, UH, IF YOU READ ANYTHING CONTRARY TO THAT IN THE NEWS,
[00:35:01]
IT WAS CRAP.UM, JUST SO YOU KNOW, UM, COURTNEY'S GETTING EXCITED NOW.
NO, I GOT IT ALL WRITTEN DOWN.
UM, BUT, BUT AGAIN, I MEAN, YOU HEAR THESE THINGS AND THEY'RE JUST NOT TRUE, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND YOU TRY TO GET THE TRUTH OUT THERE.
UM, BUT, UH, SHE FOLLOWS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF STEVE MURDOCH, WHO WAS HERE FOR 37 YEARS AND UNDER WHOM SHE TRAINED AND IS A ROCK STAR IN THE MUNICIPAL LAW COMMUNITY.
NOT ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT, BUT EVERYONE RESPECTS STEVE MURDOCH.
WE'RE REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD HIM GROW WITH US.
UH, CINDY COBELL, UM, SHE WAS THE CITY CLERK WHEN, UM, WHEN THE THREE OF US STARTED FOUR YEARS AGO.
AND NOW SHE, AND SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC ART.
SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC ART.
UM, AND WE ARE NATIONALLY KNOWN AS A CITY, UM, FOR PUBLIC ART.
UM, AND THAT IS A TOURISM DRAW.
UM, BUT THERE'S SOME AMAZING WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE THERE.
COREY ATKISSON, OUR CURRENT CITY CLERK, SUPER ON TOP OF IT, MAKES SURE WE DO ALL THE THINGS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT WE'RE NOT VIOLATING THINGS, HELPS WITH OPEN RECORDS ACT REQUESTS, WHICH ARE SUPER FUN, RIGHT? WHEN PEOPLE CALL AND SAY, I WANT EVERY EMAIL COMMUNICATION AND CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, UM, THEY GET TO HELP DO THAT.
RANDY ENTS, UM, YOU'VE SEEN HIM THE BACK OF HIS HEAD DOWN THERE FOR A WHILE AS THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND, UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
AND WHEN WE HAD A CHANGE IN THE CITY MANAGER, HE SAID, WHATEVER YOU ALL NEED ME TO DO, I'M HERE.
WILLING ABLE, AND, AND HAS FRANKLY WORKED PROBABLY TWO PEOPLE'S JOBS MOST OF THAT TIME AND DONE IT WITH A LOT OF GRACE.
AND I WISH I COULD BE AS CALM.
AND, UM, I, HE, THERE ARE MANY, UM, WISE THINGS, HE'S TOLD ME, WHAT'S THE THING ABOUT THE DON'T TAKE A KNIFE TO A GUNFIGHT
AND THEN, UM, YOU SAW THE VISIT EDMOND TEAM, JENNIFER THORNTON AND JODY TRO ARE AMAZING.
UM, AND DO A WHOLE LOT WITH THE LODGING TAX MONEY THEY GET.
KIRSTEN LUDINGTON BUILDING AND SAFETY.
A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC WHO ARE SUPER, NOT ALWAYS SUPER LOGICAL OR, UM, UH, KIND.
UM, WE'VE GOT AN AMAZING POLICE CHIEF, FIRE CHIEF CHIEF YOUNGER, UM, CHIEF WEAVER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM, BEN CURRY AND TEAM, UM, MUNICIPAL COURT STAFF, CODE ENFORCEMENT, IVAN.
UM, AND THE LIST, FRANKLY GOES ON AND ON AND ON, RIGHT? UM, SO OVER 800 EMPLOYEES WHO DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, GET A FRESH NEW CROP OF US THAT DON'T KNOW A DARN THING.
AND RIGHT WHEN WE'RE GETTING TRAINED AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, WE, WE ROLL OFF AND THEY GET A NEW GROUP.
UM, AND SO THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE, UH, MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, UM, IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I JUST THINK THEY DESERVE, YOU KNOW, CREDIT.
UM, AND AGAIN, IF I LEFT YOUR NAME OUT, IT WAS NOT INTENTIONAL.
BUT, UM, AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY INTERACT WITH EVERYONE DIRECTLY, BUT I THINK ABOUT WHO PICKS UP MY TRASH, WHO PICKS UP MY RECYCLING, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
UM, I AM PROUD AS, UH, THE MAYOR SAID TO BE, UH, AND I DON'T KNOW, WE HAVE A EDMUND HISTORY HISTORIAN RIGHT IN OUR MIDST WITH, UM, OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
AND SO THIS IS THE LONGEST MAJORITY, UM, CITY COUNCIL OF WOMEN APPARENTLY.
UM, THERE WERE THREE LADIES A WHILE BACK, UM, VICTORIA CALDWELL AND I HAD IT SOMEWHERE HERE, BUT NOW I CAN'T FIND IT.
IT WAS VICTORIA, ELIZABETH, ELIZABETH WANER, VICTORIA CALDWELL AND PATRICE.
BUT APPARENTLY THAT WAS ONLY FIVE MONTHS.
AND THEN WE'VE BEEN AS TOWN SINCE 1926.
THERE'S BEEN FIVE PEOPLE UP HERE.
UM, STACEY AND I ARE EIGHT AND NINE, AND MS. MURDOCH AT MURDOCH NICHOLS IS NUMBER 10.
SO LET'S SEE SOME MORE LADIES UP HERE.
UM, I'D LOVE TO SEE MORE OTHER DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHICS AND MAYBE YOUNG PEOPLE AS MUCH AS I ENJOY A 50, MID FIFTIES WHITE DUDE.
UM, WE COULD USE SOME OTHER REPRESENTATION.
MY HUSBAND'S ONE
UM, AND THEN MAYOR FOR FOUR YEARS.
AND, UM, WAS ON PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD BEFORE THAT AND HAS SERVED THIS CITY HONORABLY.
AND I AM PROUD TO CALL HIM MY FRIEND.
UM, PROUD THAT HE WAS OUR MAYOR.
UM, AND, UH, DON'T AL WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS AGREED, BUT I'VE NEVER LOST MY RESPECT, UM, FOR THE MAYOR.
AND HOPEFULLY HE HASN'T LOST MINE.
UM, STACY, UM, WE'VE SERVED THIS TOGETHER FOR FOUR YEARS.
SOME I WAS DOWN THERE, SOME DOWN HERE.
[00:40:01]
UM, SHE IS ALWAYS STRONG, POSITIVE, KIND, GENEROUS.UM, SHE IS THE BEST CHEERLEADER FOR, UM, EDMOND THAT I KNOW.
UM, AND I WISH SOMETIMES I COULD BE MORE LIKE HER AND NOT READ THE MEAN EMAILS AND JUST STOP.
THAT WAS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE SHE EVER GAVE ME.
UM, SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL, AGAIN IN THE LIBRARY, YMCA PRO, UH, PROJECT, ALSO WITH CHANGING OUR AMBULANCE SERVICE THAT IS WAY BETTER, CHEAPER, MORE EFFICIENT, MORE RESPONSIVE.
UM, AND THEN BARRY MOORE, UM, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING WITH, UM, FOR A COUPLE YEARS.
AND SO, SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WISE COUNCIL FORMER PLANNING COMMISSIONER.
UM, HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND, UM, WISDOM.
AND I'M REALLY, REALLY PLEASED THAT HE'LL BE HERE AS THE MOST SENIOR COUNCIL MEMBER WITH TWO YEARS.
RIGHT? UM, AND THEN, UM, MAGGIE NICHOLS.
UM, SO APPRECIATE A YOUNG WOMAN WITH YOUNG KIDS.
'CAUSE IT IS CHALLENGING TO STEP FORWARD.
UM, BUT YOU'RE A HUGE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTING HUGE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WE NEED TO HAVE, UM, I REMEMBER YOU SAID ONE TIME THAT, UH, PEOPLE SAID, OH, SO ARE YOU QUITTING YOUR JOB SO YOU CAN BE ON COUNCIL? AND SHE SAID, I CAN'T DO THAT, OR I CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN EDMOND.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOUNG PEOPLE WITH FAMILIES CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THEN I'M ALMOST FINISHED.
SO, UM, YEAH, I MEAN, IT, IT, IT HAS BEEN, YEAH, A MIXED BAG.
UM, ALL IN ALL, UM, I'VE GROWN LEARNED AND I HAVE FRIENDS THAT I'LL HAVE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
AND THE THING THAT I, I PLEDGE TO ALL OF YOU, UM, AND TO MAYOR ELECT NASH AND COUNCILMAN PETER, UH, PRESTON WATERSON AND PHIL FRAME IS, UM, I GOT YOUR BACK.
UM, ESPECIALLY IF YOU MAKE A DECISION I DON'T AGREE WITH, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING SO WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT AVAILABLE, AND MUCH OF WHICH IS NOT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
UM, I WILL NEVER CRITICIZE YOU PUBLICLY.
I WILL NEVER WRITE A LETTER CRITICIZING YOU.
THAT IS WHAT I PLEDGE TO YOU, AND I HOPE THAT THE REST OF YOU CAN DO THE SAME.
UM, AND AGAIN, I JUST, UM, YEAH.
SO A LITTLE RANTING, BUT NOT ALL THE RANTING, UM, OH, ONE MORE THING.
UM, THOSE OF YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, THAT DON'T FEEL RESPECTED OR MARGINAL OR FEEL MARGINALIZED, UM, I HAVE IN HOPEFULLY WAYS THAT YOU'VE NOTICED, TRIED TO REPRESENT YOU, UM, AND SUPPORT YOU.
RIGHT? AND I WILL NEVER CALL PEOPLE WHO RENT TRANSIENTS.
OR THOSE PEOPLE, OR THOSE PEOPLE.
SO, OKAY, NOW I'M REALLY FINISHED.
THE WHOLE RANTING THING IS KIND OF FUNNY BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER WATCHES EVERY EVENING AND SHE'LL TEXT ME AND SAY, KRISTEN'S GETTING READY TO BLOW MOM.
AND I SAID, I KNOW, I KNOW
AND HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KRISTEN AND I, MY LITTLE ATTORNEY FRIEND AND THE NURSE.
AND THAT'S JUST, YEAH, I, I MADE HER NUMBER, HER PAGES.
I WAS LIKE, WHAT IN THE WORLD? UH, YEAH, THIS IS JUST TO KEEP ME ON TRACK.
UM, I JUST WANNA START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO SO MANY PEOPLE.
I'M, I'M SO FORTUNATE THAT KRISTEN WROTE DOWN ALL THE NAMES BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT.
I WANNA START WITH THANKING MY HUSBAND AND MY FAMILY.
YOU WOULD THINK I STILL HAD A UTERUS.
I MEAN, I JUST CAN'T, BUT NOT CRY.
UM, THEY JUST, THEY SUPPORT ME THROUGH EVERYTHING.
THEY SEE ME CRY, THEY SEE ME LAUGH, THEY SEE ME GET FRUSTRATED.
BUT I HOPE MOST OF ALL THEY'VE SEEN HOW MUCH I LOVE AND SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY IN IT.
THEN I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR AMAZING STAFF.
BEING UP HERE ON COUNCIL IS NOT AN EYE GAME.
UM, THERE ISN'T A SINGLE THING THAT THIS ENTIRE ROW OF FOLKS CAN DO WITHOUT THE AMAZING STAFF AND ALL THE WORK THEY PUT INTO IT.
UM, THEY WORK TIRELESSLY TO GET US ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED.
UM, THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE TO SUPPORT US IF WE HAVE ANY
[00:45:01]
QUESTIONS, AND WE HAVE A LOT, WE GO TO THEM AND THEY'RE JOHNNY ON THE SPOT.UM, AND AGAIN, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH EVERYBODY, BUT WE'RE RESPECTFUL AND WE KNOW THAT EVERY DECISION WE MAKE AND EVERYTHING THEY DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST, I JUST WANNA THANK THEM SO MUCH, THE ENTIRE STAFF AS A BLANKET.
UM, THEN THERE'S A COUPLE PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO, UM, THAT HAVE HELPED ME.
UM, MY SITUATION'S BEEN A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN SOME OTHER FOLKS, SO I'VE REQUIRED SOME EXTRA HELP.
AND, UM, MY KATIE GIRL MAN, SHE, SHE MAKES SURE THAT WE ALL GET OUR INFORMATION THAT WE'RE WHERE WE NEED TO BE, WHEN WE NEED TO BE THERE.
UM, EVERY TIME I GO SOMEWHERE, I GOTTA CONE FOR YOU.
I'VE GOT THIS, I'VE GOT THIS, I'VE GOT THIS.
EVEN MY SWAB MEETINGS, SHE SAW ME WALKING DOWN THE STREET, COMES RUNNING OUT, AND IT'S LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I MEAN, SHE'S ALWAYS THERE FOR ME.
UM, SHE'S ALWAYS REACHING OUT BECAUSE SHE KNOWS, UM, I WATCH MY BABY, SO I'M NOT ALWAYS ON MY EMAIL ALL DAY LONG.
SO SHE'LL TEXT ME AND SAY, I NEED YOU TO PEEK AT THIS.
MEGAN HAS BEEN THERE IN THE, ALSO IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND SHE IS ALWAYS HELPING ME, UM, GET WHAT I NEED TO GET DONE WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
ANY QUESTIONS I HAVE, SHE'S ALWAYS THERE TO ANSWER.
AND JANE HAS BEEN AN AMAZING SUPPORT.
AND THAT GIRL, I THINK COVERED IT ALL FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND, UH, THOSE ARE AMAZING WOMEN THAT HAVE SUPPORTED AND WILL CONTINUE SUPPORT THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY, UH, THANK YOU TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, IT WAS, UH, REALLY BIG SHOES TO FILL, AND SHE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE.
AND WITH HER ABUNDANCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND HER ABILITY TO KNOW WHAT ATTORNEYS TO HIRE FOR SPECIFIC AREAS OF LAW, AND I'M GONNA MESS THIS UP, BUT DIFFERENT AREAS OF LAW FOR THEIR, SO THAT SHE HAD THE RIGHT, UH, THE RIGHT FOLKS AT THE RIGHT JOBS SO THAT WE COULD GET THINGS DONE AND KEEP THIS CITY PROTECTED.
SHE'S DONE AN AMAZING JOB AND SHE'S AN AMAZING WOMAN.
UM, GOSH, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED REYNA.
SHE'S USUALLY BEHIND THE SCENES AS IS DWIGHT.
AND, UM, THEY'RE ALWAYS, THEY'RE TAKING OUR VIDEOS.
THEY'RE ALWAYS, THEY'RE SO COGNIZANT OF WHENEVER WE DO OUTDOOR THINGS THAT MY BANGS ARE LAYING DOWN, IT'S HARD TO SUPPORT BANGS IN OKLAHOMA WITH THE WIND.
I'M LIKE, DON'T FORGET THE BANGS.
SO THEY'RE REALLY GOOD ABOUT MAKING SURE THOSE BANGS ARE LAYING DOWN FOR ME.
AND, UM, DOING VIDEOS ON THINGS.
AND, UH, BECAUSE THEY'RE SUCH GREAT PEOPLE AND THEY'RE SUCH SUPPORTERS OF EDMOND EVERY TIME THEY SAY, CAN YOU DO A VIDEO? MY ANSWER IS ALWAYS, YES, I WOULD DO ANY THING FOR THEM.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, SWEET RAIN, I EVEN CAME AND TOOK FAMILY PICTURES OF MY FAMILY.
UM, THIS, I'M TELLING YOU, THE STAFF GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND.
I WANNA THANK, UM, MR. S FOR STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE.
UM, WHEN WE NEEDED SOMEBODY TO FILL THIS POSITION, UM, HE DIDN'T HESITATE.
MAYBE HE DID INTERNALLY, BUT HE DIDN'T EXTERNALLY.
UM, WHEN WE ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD DO THIS, HE SAID ANYTHING FOR YOU.
AND HE HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
HE AS WELL, HAS HELPED ME THROUGH SOME REALLY DIFFICULT TIMES.
UM, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT Y'ALL LATER.
SO THERE'S A, SOME THINGS THAT, AND AGAIN, IT WASN'T I ON ANYTHING.
WHAT, WHAT I DID WAS I WAS AN INCREDIBLE CHEERLEADER FOR MY COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF MY LITTLE LILY CAN REMEMBER, BUT WHEN I FIRST DECIDED TO RUN FOR COUNCIL, WAY BACK WHEN, UM, SHE SAID, GAGA, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? AND I SAID, HONEY, IT'S BECAUSE, UM, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING.
AND WHEN YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING, GET INVOLVED.
AND I SAID, I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT MY CITY, SO THIS IS A WAY THAT I'M GONNA GET INVOLVED.
AND, UM, EVERY TIME I QUESTION WHY I AM HERE, SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT THAT CONVERSATION WITH THAT DARLING LITTLE GIRL AND THE WAY THAT SHE SAID, OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE.
AND I THOUGHT, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO DO THIS.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT ON COUNCIL TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE SOME AMAZING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT THIS
[00:50:01]
COMMUNITY COULD NOT RUN.THIS CITY COULD NOT RUN WITHOUT THE VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE ON THOSE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
UM, THAT, THAT HAS BEEN AMAZING.
AND ALSO ON A COUPLE OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT I'M ON, UM, THE VISIT EDMOND, THE TOURISM BOARD, OH GOSH, I HAVE ENJOYED THAT SO MUCH.
I JUST GOT, MAYOR JUST APPOINTED ME TO THAT TWO YEARS AGO.
I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME ON COUNCIL, HE SAID, WHAT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ON? AND I MENTIONED SOME.
AND DIDN'T PUT ME ON ANY OF 'EM,
AND THEN HE SAID, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SWAB? AND I SAID, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? HE, AND HE SAID, IT'S A STORM WATER ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH, HOW ABOUT THAT? HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT? AND I SAID, WELL, I CAN HONESTLY SAY I'VE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT IN MY LIFE,
HOWEVER, WHEN THE TWO YEARS CAME UP AND THE COUNCIL SWITCHED AND HE SAID, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? AND I SAID, I WANNA STAY ON SWAB.
BUT HE ALSO, AT THAT POINT, HE SAID, I SAID, I'M AT YOUR PLEASURE.
WHAT I SERVE AT YOUR PLEASURE.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO BE ON? AND HE SAID, NO, COUNCILWOMAN PETERSON, YOU'VE EARNED THAT, RIGHT? AND I SAID, WHEW.
SO I CHOSE, UM, THE VISIT EDMOND TOURISM BOARD.
THIS CITY HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER THAT PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS BOARD AND WHAT OUR VISIT EDMOND, UH, DEPARTMENT DOES FOR THIS CITY TO BRING TOURISM INTO THIS CITY.
THEY WORK TIRELESSLY AND THEY HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE RED BED AWARDS.
IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY AWARDS THEY'VE RECEIVED BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THEY DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY BRING MONEY TO THIS COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND SPEND THEIR MONEY ON SALES TAX.
UM, THEY JUST WE'RE HELPING TO SPONSOR AND SUPPORT DIFFERENT THINGS COMING IN.
AND IT'S BEEN SO FUN AND IT'S BEEN SO EXCITING.
AND EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD IS SO ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM, PROBABLY EXCEPT FOR ME, HAVE BUSINESS, WELL, WE DO, SORRY BABY.
WE DO HAVE A BUSINESS IN EDMOND, BUT THEY HAVE BUSINESSES IN EDMOND AND ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS.
AND I LOVE, UM, THE DIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THERE, JUST THE WAY THEY THINK AND HOW THEY BRING DIFFERENT, UM, INFORMATION TO THE TABLE AND HELP YOU LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
UM, I FELT SO HONORED TO BE A WEE BABY LITTLE PART OF FINALLY, UM, INCREASING OUR LODGING, CITY LODGING SALES TAX AFTER 30 YEARS.
AND I HOPE THAT THAT JUST CONTINUES TO BURST TOURISM IN THIS CITY.
UM, THAT WAS A, I, IT WAS VERY SPECIAL TO ME TO BE A PART OF THAT.
UH, THE OTHER COMMITTEE THAT I'M ON IS THE EVAC ADMIN VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE.
WHEN MY MOM HAD DEMENTIA AND LIVED WITH US BEFORE SHE WENT TO HEAVEN, UH, TO KILL TIME, WE'D GET IN THE CAR.
AND IT WAS A NEW TRIP EVERY TIME BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T REMEMBER.
AND SO I JUST TAKE HER AND DRIVE HER AND LOOK AT THE ART.
AND SHE'S, WE'VE LIVED IN EDMOND SINCE 1973, BUT THIS SWEET WOMAN WOKE UP WITH A BRAND NEW MEMORY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO IT WAS ALL NEW AND BEAUTIFUL TO HER.
SO WE WOULD DRIVE AROUND AND SHE'D JUST SIT THERE AND JUST ADORE ALL THE ART PIECES AND SAY, THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY.
WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE COLLECTION OF CITY ART THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND UNCOMMON GROUND CAN DO NOTHING BUT TO INCREASE THAT COLLECTION AND TO INCREASE THE ECONOMIC BOOST IN THIS CITY.
AND TOURISM, I AM THRILLED ABOUT THAT.
WE, UH, JUST GOT A GRANT OR RECEIVED SOME MONEY FOR, FROM THE STATE FOR A ROUTE 66 PROJECT FOR THE EAGLES NEST OUT AT UNCOMMON GROUND IS JUST GONNA BE A HUGE THING.
GOTTA WALK UP A BUNCH OF STAIRS, AND HOPEFULLY ONCE I GET A FEW THINGS TAKEN CARE OF, I WILL BE WALKING UP THOSE STAIRS.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GET A EAGLE'S EYE VIEW OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE CONCERTS THERE.
IT'S GONNA HAVE GREAT PARKS AND WALKING TRAILS.
IT'S, IT'S JUST GONNA BE AMAZING.
AND SPEAKING OF ROUTE 66, IT'S RIGHT ON ROUTE 66.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL NEXT YEAR.
SO THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS PLANNED FOR THIS.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GET LOCKED IN AND HOOKED UP AND, UM, JUST BE INVOLVED.
THERE'S SO MANY FUN THINGS GOING ON.
UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO ME, UM, THE YMCA LIBRARY THAT I WAS, I WAS PRIVILEGED TO HAVE BEEN PUT ON THAT COMMITTEE, UM, FROM THE BEGINNING.
AND I AM THRILLED ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP.
IT JUST SHOWS WHERE PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS, YOU GET SO MUCH MORE OUT OF IT, SO MUCH MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
[00:55:01]
AND SO MUCH BANG MORE BANG FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.UM, I CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS TO OPEN.
IT'S JUST GONNA SERVE SO MANY MORE PEOPLE ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN.
AND, UM, OUR CITY LINK JUST PICKED UP ANOTHER ROUTE NOT TOO LONG, PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR AGO NOW, BUT THAT, THAT OTHER EXTRA ROUTE WILL GO DOWN I 35.
SO IT'LL GO TO, UM, TO SAM'S AND WALMART AND MERCY.
IT CAN PICK UP THAT Y LIBRARY, AND THEN IT CAN GO TO, UH, BAPTIST, I MEAN BAPTIST INTEGRIS.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST GONNA ZOOM AND HIT EVERYONE.
AND THAT FROM THE WEE LITTLES TO THE ELDERS, IT'S NOT JUST FOR READING.
THERE'S STEM PROJECTS IN THERE.
THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF, UH, UH, THINGS FOR KIDDOS TO DO, FOR ELDERS TO DO AS A PLACE OF COMMUNITY.
AND THAT YMCA, WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT THAT? IT HELPS OUR LITTLE KIDDOS WITH BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE HELPS PEOPLE TO BE HEALTHY.
IT'S ALSO ANOTHER AREA FOR COMMUNITY, FOR OLD FOLK LIKE ME WHO CAN GET UP THERE AND HAVE FRIENDS AND MAYBE WALK THAT TRAIL AND STAY HEALTHY.
SO I AM SUPER THRILLED ABOUT THAT.
UM, ANOTHER THING THAT I WAS A WEE LITTLE PART OF THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT DID AN AMAZING JOB ON, UM, THE INFORMATION THEY GOT FOR US, THE, THE RESEARCH THEY PUT INTO IT AND THE TIME THEY PUT INTO IT FOR OUR NEW AMBULANCE SERVICE HERE IN EDMOND.
UM, A MR HAS DONE NOTHING BUT EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS.
THEY GO UP AND BEYOND THEIR, UM, EXPECTED PERCENTAGE OF, UM, RESPONSE TIMES.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THIS LAST JUST SHORTLY, WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, RAMP UP THEIR, UH, CONTRACT A LITTLE MORE.
AND WE HAVE EVEN MORE DEDICATED AMBULANCE SERVICE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME.
UM, BEING A NURSE, I KNOW THAT MOMENTS CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR SOMEBODY, UM, AND FOR OTHER REASONS.
BUT IT'S JUST, I'M JUST, IF IT, IF IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY FAMILY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING I WAS SO EXCITED TO BE A LITTLE BABY PART OF.
UM, YOU TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT IT, AC CAPLINGER THAT WE JUST HAD THE DEDICATION FOR THE CHARLES LAMB NATURE PRESERVE.
UM, OPENING, KICKING BIRD, UH, GOLF CENTER.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN A COUPLE YEARS.
UM, THAT GOLF CENTER IS KNOWN NATIONWIDE.
IT, IT, IT'S AN AMAZING, THE UPDATES THAT WERE, THAT WERE DONE THERE ARE JUST, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, YOU NEED TO GO.
MY HUSBAND AND I GO OUT THERE AND JUST EAT.
THEY HAVE A CONFERENCE CENTER, A PLACE TO DO FUN THINGS.
UM, OUR FARMER'S MARKET, THAT GROWTH IN THAT FARMER'S MARKET HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE THAT FARMER'S MARKET HAS RECEIVED MULTIPLE AWARDS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE STATE AND OTHER STATES THAT COME TO EDMOND TO SEE HOW THEY CAN MIMIC WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I, IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE.
AND, UM, THEY HAVE THE VENDORS, I, THEY HAVE, I THINK I HEARD THEY HAD 200 ON WAITING LISTS.
THAT'S HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT TO GET INTO THIS FARMER'S MARKET.
UM, THAT IS AN AM AMAZING ADDITION AND GROWTH TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I THINK I SAID ALL THAT STUFF, COREY.
I LOVE IT THAT WHEN WE'RE SITTING HERE, WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH.
WE'RE CHANGING THINGS AND DOING THIS AND THAT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE WORDING.
I CAN ALWAYS LOOK DOWN AND SAY, DO YOU HAVE IT? AND HE'S LIKE, I GOT IT.
AND IT'S LIKE, GOOD, WE'RE GONNA TRY AND PASS THAT.
HE KEEPS US IN LINE, HE KEEPS US INFORMED.
UM, WE COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOU.
UM, THAT SMILE IS ALWAYS THERE.
I THINK WHETHER YOU'RE FEELING IT OR NOT, IT'S ALWAYS THERE.
BUT, UM, AND HE'S JUST AN AMAZING, THE, UM, NOT DO I JUST LOVE MY COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT AND BEING INVOLVED IN IT, BUT BEING PART OF THIS COUNCIL HAS CREATED SO MANY RELATIONSHIPS FOR ME THAT I WOULD'VE NEVER HAD.
I HAVE MADE SO MANY FRIENDS, DEAR FRIENDS, THAT I KNOW I WILL CARRY ON FOREVER.
UM, SOME PEOPLE SOMETIMES ARE READY TO ROLL OFF.
THIS OLD LADY IS NOT BECAUSE I'M GONNA MISS MY PEOPLE SO MUCH.
AND THEY TOLD ME THEY'RE TAKING AWAY MY ACCESS CARD AND
SO I TRIED TO SEE IF THEY'D SNEAK ME A NEW ONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL.
BUT, UM, I'M JUST GONNA MISS EVERYONE.
AND BEING ABLE TO VISIT WITH THEM, THEY'VE ALWAYS HAD MY BACK.
UM, WHEN I STARTED RUNNING INTO DIFFICULTIES, THEY SUPPORTED
[01:00:01]
ME IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO HELP ME DO WHAT I DO WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY.AND I WILL NEVER EVER FORGET THAT MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAGGIE, YOU BRING FRESH AIR.
UM, YOU HAVE A LOVE FOR DOWNTOWN EDMOND THAT I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE SEEN IN AS DEEP OF A LOVE FOR DOWNTOWN EDMOND AND MANY PEOPLE THAT I SEE IN YOU.
I AM THRILLED TO SEE THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO WITH THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW EVEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT ON COUNCIL, THIS WOMAN IS A SUPPORTER OF EDMOND AND WILL CONTINUE TO ALWAYS BE A SUPPORTER OF EDMOND.
MY LIFE IS BETTER FOR KNOWING YOU, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE PART OF THIS NEW, THIS COUNCIL TO CONTINUE.
EVERY TIME I GO SOMEWHERE, MY KIDS ARE LIKE, MOM.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY BECAME MY MOM, BUT THEY, THEY'RE LIKE, MOM, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
AND I SAID, WELL, BARRY'S THERE.
THEN BARRY HAS, HE JUST HAS TAKEN CARE OF ME LIKE NO OTHER.
HE CALLS ME BEFORE EVERYTHING WE GO TO.
HE MEETS ME THERE, HE GETS ME IN, HE GETS ME TO MY CAR.
HE ALWAYS HAS ENCOURAGING WORDS FOR ME AND A GREAT SMILE.
HE EVEN MAKES SURE I GET HOME AT NIGHT.
THIS MAN IS AN INCREDIBLE MAN.
NOT ONLY IS HE INCREDIBLE TO ME, BUT HE'S INCREDIBLE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
HIS LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY CAN YOU, IT CANNOT BE CHALLENGED, CANNOT BE CHALLENGED.
AND EVEN THOUGH BARRY AND I HAVE NOT AGREED ON ALL OF OUR DECISIONS WE'VE MADE UP HERE, WE BOTH TALK IT OUT.
AND WE BOTH SAY COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND IT.
AND THE RESPECT I HAVE FOR THAT IS, IS AMAZING.
AND, UM, YOU AND YOUR BRIDE WILL ALWAYS BE IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE.
I DON'T BELIEVE OUR PATHS WOULD'VE EVER CROSSED HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR COUNSEL.
YOU KNOW, UM, YEARS AND YEARS AGO, I, I PRAYED A VERY DANGEROUS PRAYER.
AND HE SAID, I GOT YOU COVERED.
AND HE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M ON COUNSEL.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO BE OBEDIENT.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES I'M, I'M NOT OBEDIENT AND I'VE REALLY BEEN WORKING ON THAT.
BUT, UM, I KNEW HE NEEDED ME HERE FOR A REASON.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE I'VE MADE IN MY COMMUNITY, BUT I KNOW I'VE LOVED IT WITH EVERY OUNCE OF MY HEART.
AND, UM, BUT I DO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS I'VE MADE WITH ALL OF THE STAFF AND WITH THIS COUNCIL AND WITH THIS WOMAN, ARE WORTH EVERY MINUTE.
UM, I'VE TOLD KRISTEN, I SAID, UM, IN THESE PAST FOUR YEARS, YOU HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE DEAREST PERSONS IN MY LIFE.
AND I THANK GOD FOR YOU ALL THE TIME.
AND HER LIFE IS SO CRAZY BUSY.
SHE, UM, SHE JUST GIVES SO MUCH TO THIS COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, I, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR BEING MY FRIEND.
AND WE MOVED HER DOWN HERE, NOT BECAUSE OF HER FOOT, BUT SO WE COULD TALK MORE.
I JUST, MY DAUGHTER KEEPS TEXTING.
MOM, YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT A GOOD WHISPERER.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOWN HERE TOGETHER.
AND MAYOR DAVIS, UM, WE KIND OF KNEW EACH OTHER KIND OF SOCIALLY BEFORE WE CAME ON COUNCIL, BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT A, WHAT A FRIEND I WAS GONNA HAVE IN YOU.
WHAT A BROTHER I WAS GONNA MAKE FROM YOU.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS I HAVE, HE'S THERE FOR ME.
UM, I SEE HIM IN THE COMMUNITY EVERYWHERE I GO.
AND WE'VE HAD THE JOY OF VISITING WITH SOME A BOY SCOUT TROOP AND A GIRL SCOUT TROOP TO DO DEBATES, UM, ON WHEN WE'RE ON HOW TO VOTE.
AND WE DID IT OVER COOKIES AND CANDY.
I HAD SO FUN, MUCH FUN WITH THOSE LITTLES.
AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HIM DOING THAT WITH ANYONE BUT YOU.
[01:05:01]
WE CRY A LOT.UM, BUT THIS MAN HAS HAD MY BACK FROM THE BEGINNING AND WHENEVER SOMETHING WOULD COME UP, HIS RESPONSE IS ALWAYS FAMILY FIRST, FAMILY FIRST.
IT SHOULD BE GOD FAMILY AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND THAT MAN FOLLOWS THAT RULE.
AND I RESPECT YOU AND, UM, I RESPECT EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AND YOU'VE PUT IN, YOU HAVE A HEART OF SERVITUDE AS EVERYONE DOES UP HERE.
AND, UM, I AM BLESSED TO KNOW YOU.
UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S BEEN EVERY MOMENT IS WORTHWHILE AND I DON'T REGRET A MOMENT OF IT.
MY ONLY REGRET IS I WISH I COULD DO IT LONGER, BUT I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE.
AND UPCOMING COUNCILMAN PHIL FRAME.
HE LOVES HIS COMMUNITY AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE'S GONNA FILL THIS SEAT AND DO WAY MORE THAN I COULD EVER HAVE THOUGHT OF DOING.
UM, I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE SITTING COUNCIL AND THE UPCOMING COUNCIL WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE AS I WILL SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY.
I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THINGS, BUT I'M HERE TO BE Y'ALL'S CHEERLEADER.
I'M HERE TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO.
UM, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF WORDS OF WISDOM, BUT I DO HAVE SOME.
UM, I WILL NEVER STOP SUPPORTING YOU.
AND LIKE KRISTEN SAID, WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO AGREE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING I HAVE VOWED TO ALWAYS DO AND FOR EVERYBODY ON THE STAFF TOO.
AND I HOPE THAT IF THEY NEED ANYTHING FROM ME, THAT I CAN BE THERE.
AND I KNOW THEY THINK THEY'RE GETTING RID OF ME, BUT I'VE ALREADY GIVEN OUT MY EMAIL AND MY PHONE NUMBER AND SAID, I HAVE TO BE ON THIS.
I HAVE TO GO TO THIS, I HAVE TO GO TO THIS.
SO I'M EXCITED, UM, TO CONTINUE TO DO SO MANY THINGS WITH THIS COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING AND WHEN YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, GET INVOLVED.
I THINK MY WATER BOILED
UH, STACEY, DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT THOSE COMMITTEES.
YOU DID THE SAME THING TO ME,
UH, AND TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT BANGS COMMENT, DWIGHT, PEEK THROUGH THAT CAMERA AND MAKE SURE THE MAYOR'S BANGS ARE LOOKING GOOD FOR THIS
UH, IT IS MY PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND A HIGH HONOR TO CALL ON MAYOR DARRELL DAVIS TO OFFER HIS REMARKS TONIGHT.
HE'S, UH, HE IS A HISTORICAL FIGURE IN EDMOND.
WE'RE GONNA DO SOME THINGS LATER TONIGHT THAT WE'RE GONNA CLEAN UP THE LAST OF THE PLATS, UH, THAT HE'S BEEN SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.
AND, UH, HE WAS ADAMANT TO GET THAT DONE ON APRIL 28TH.
AND WE ARE, UH, DARRELL, YOU ARE A GOOD MAN, AND ALL OF US UP HERE ARE YOUR FRIENDS.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND AT THIS TIME, THE HONORABLE DARRELL A DAVIS.
UM, APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE.
DITTLE DI DITTLE DI DI DI DI DITTLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT I SAID THE SAME THING.
BUT A LOT OF YOU ALL KNOW I DON'T PRE-WRITE MY SPEECHES.
I JUST WROTE IT
SITTING UP HERE FROM DEVELOPERS TO PARENTS, TO STAFF, TO PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT EDMOND.
WHAT I DON'T SEE ARE MY NAYSAYERS, BUT THAT'S FINE.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? I KNOW THEY CARE ABOUT EDMOND TOO, AND WE JUST DON'T GET A, WE JUST DON'T AGREE ON HOW THAT SHOULD BE DONE.
BUT I ALWAYS TELL THE STORY, I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR A LONG TIME,
[01:10:01]
AND MY WIFE DOESN'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING ABOUT ME.SO HOW AM I GONNA DO THINGS THAT ARE GONNA MAKE ALMOST A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE HAPPY ALL THE TIME? TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.
BUT THE THING IS, IS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IF YOU HAVE A SERVANT HEART AND YOU HAVE A LOVE FOR PEOPLE, YOU CAN COME TO THIS COMMUNITY AND LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.
THERE IS NOTHING DIFFERENT AMONG US, BEYOND THE MELON IN OUR SKIN.
YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING, AND I ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU, YOU PUT ON EITHER YOUR LEFT FOOT FIRST, YOUR SHOE ON YOUR LEFT FOOT FIRST, OR YOUR RIGHT FOOT.
I DON'T KNOW VERY MANY PEOPLE, IF I KNOW ANYBODY WHO PUTS BOTH SHOES ON AT THE SAME TIME.
YOU HAD TO COMB YOUR HAIR JUST LIKE I DID THIS MORNING.
AND PEOPLE TELL YOU, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'VE TRIED TO DO IN MY TIME WHEN THE, WHEN I FOUND OUT CREST WAS MOVING HERE, I'M LIKE, OH HECK, THIS CITY'S NOT READY FOR CREST.
AND WITH SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM OR WATCHING ON, WE ALL STARTED JUST HAVING CONVERSATION.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S BEEN ABOUT, HAVING CONVERSATION.
AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ME, IT'S NOT GONNA HURT MY FEELINGS.
BUT I GUARANTEE YOU, WE CAN ALL GO OUT AND HAVE A WARM DR.
PEPPER AFTER WE HAVE OUR CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.
IT'S ABOUT CREATING A PLACE WHERE YOU FEEL WELCOME.
IT'S, IT'S ABOUT A PLACE WHERE YOU WANNA BRING YOUR FAMILY TO, AND YOU WANNA BE ABOUT A PLACE WHERE YOU CALL THIS HOME.
AND THAT'S, TO ME, IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING.
I WAS, I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE.
I, WHEN I DECIDED TO, TO RUN FOR MAYOR, I WENT HOME AND ASKED MY WIFE, ARE WE GOING TO RUN FOR MAYOR? AND SHE SAID, WE, I SAID, WE, BECAUSE IT IS NOT, IT'S NOT JUST ME.
AND THEN WE CALLED OUR MIDDLE DAUGHTER, WHO, WHO, WHO LIVES HERE SAID, COME ON, FAMILY TALK.
ARE WE GONNA RUN FOR MAYOR? ANSWER WAS YES.
SO I WANNA THANK MY FAMILY FOR SHARING ME FOR THAT.
I WANT TO THANK CHRIS AND DOUG FOR CHAIR YOUR WIVES WITH EDMOND.
'CAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, I DON'T HAVE TO SAY THAT GOD'S FIRST.
IF YOU CAN'T LOOK AT ME AND SEE THAT FIRST YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU LOOK AT THAT, BUT TO ME, IT'S FAMILY.
IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILY, WE'RE NOTHING.
AND THAT'S WHAT EDMOND'S ABOUT, IS TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILY.
YOU ALL SAW FROM THE WHAT WE JUST DID THIS MORNING.
I MEAN, THAT'S THIS AFTERNOON OVER A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GIVING OUT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE HELPED HERE.
SO I APPRECIATE THE TIME I WAS GIVEN HERE.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY ACCEPTED ME AND MY FAMILY.
I'VE BEEN, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I'VE BEEN GIVEN ON THE VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
I APPRECIATE THE ROOMS THAT I'VE BEEN ALLOWED TO ENTER THAT.
I, UM, JUST SOMETIME AGO, I WAS NOT WELCOME OR ALLOWED TO ENTER THOSE ROOMS. I APPRECIATE THE ABILITY THAT, UH, THE CONFIDENCE THAT Y'ALL HAD IN ME TO REPRESENT EDMOND, THAT YOU ALL SAID TWICE.
GO SHOW EDMOND WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
GO, GO, GO SHOW PEOPLE WHAT EDMOND IS ABOUT.
UH, YOU ALL KNOW THERE'S A DEEP, UM, SPACE IN MY HEART FOR YOU ALL.
[01:15:02]
AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE THAT, UH, THIS COUNCIL, I'VE SERVED ON SEVERAL, AND I APPRECIATE THIS COUNCIL.LIKE I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL BEFORE THAT ONE.
THE COUNCIL BEFORE THAT COUNCIL BEFORE THAT COUNCIL BEFORE THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE WHO'VE COME AND STAND AT THIS DIOCESE AND SAID, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT, OR THIS IS OUR CONCERNS.
I APPRECIATE THE, THE LETTERS THAT PEOPLE SENT ME AND SAY, WE DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? THEY HAD AN ENVIRONMENT TO WHERE THEY COULD SPEAK TO ME.
I WANTED YOU TO BE ABLE TO COME SPEAK TO ME.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, I I SAID IT EARLIER, UM, I DON'T DO THIS JOB BY MYSELF.
IT WAS DIFFERENT WHEN I WAS SAT DOWN THERE.
I COULD TALK, EAT A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS YOU COULD DO IN THE CORNERS, BUT IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU HEAR RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE WHEN I DIDN'T KNOW WE COULD EAT
BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE, UM, PEOPLE BEHIND YOU THAT, UM, HELP YOU DO YOUR JOB.
AND THE STAFF HERE HAS HELPED ME DO MY JOB.
UH, SOME I'M CLOSER TO IT THAN OTHERS.
YOU DIDN'T THINK I YELL, BUT I DO AT TIMES.
BUT, AND THEY KNOW MY CONCERNS.
AND THEN WE SIT DOWN AND TALK AND FIGURE OUT, HEY, HOW CAN WE STILL GET WHAT WE NEED TO GET DONE? I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERYONE FROM STAFF.
THEY'VE TAKEN CARE OF ME FROM THE DAY WE MET EACH OTHER.
AND I, UH, SO I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL FOR WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE.
AND MAYBE WHEN I COME BACK AND, UH, WHENEVER, AND I KNOCK ON THE DOOR, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WHO I AM.
BUT NO, UM, EDMOND, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A POTENTIAL HERE THAT, JUST GONNA TAKE IT JUST A A SECOND HERE.
TO ME, WE'RE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL CITY IN THIS STATE.
THEY GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, DON'T THEY? BUT THEY'RE DROPPING A LOT OF CRUMBS ON THE TABLE.
I DON'T HAVE TO PUT ALL, EVERYTHING IN PLACE TO, TO BENEFIT FROM IT.
WHY CAN'T WE DO THINGS TO BENEFIT FROM WHAT OKLAHOMA CITY'S DOING? BENEFIT FOR WHAT'S GOING ON UP NORTH FROM US? HOW CAN WE IN INFLUENCE THAT? I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY, OH, I WANT, WE GOTTA TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS OF EDMOND.
BUT I WANT TO TAKE, I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF EDMOND FROM A MORE REGIONAL, GLOBAL ASPECT.
IT'S JUST LIKE YOUR PORTFOLIO, YOU HAVE, IT'S, IT'S DIVERSE.
I WANT OUR STUFF TO HERE TO BE DIVERSE IN EVERY WAY.
DIVERSE THE CAN BE FROM OUR PEOPLE, FROM THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, FROM THE WAY OUR INCOME STREAMS, EVERYTHING, AND NOT, AND NOT RELY ON ONE THING SO WE CAN HANDLE ADVERSITY WHEN IT HAPPENS.
SO WHEN YOU WAKE UP TOMORROW AND YOU LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR, I HAVE A CHALLENGE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO HELP EDMOND BETTER BECOME BETTER.
DON'T JUST THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL SILO.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT TO MAKE EDMOND BETTER? BECAUSE GUESS WHAT, ON MAY 6TH, I'M GONNA DO THE SAME THING.
I'M NOT MOVING OUT OF THE TOWN.
[01:20:03]
BECAUSE I CARE.HELP EVAN AND ME BETTER THESE PEOPLE HERE.
I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
YOU ALL, I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL.
BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE.
LET'S TAKE CARE OF HOME AND LET'S CONTINUE TO GROW.
FOR THE GENERATIONS THAT ARE COMING UP BEHIND US, LET'S TAKE CARE OF THEM.
ALRIGHT? NOW, WHAT
IF NOT, IF YOU DO, HOLD YOUR HAND UP.
IF NOT, MR. MAYOR, I'D MOVE FOR A 10 MINUTE RECESS.
I'M ABOUT TO PASS OUT, UP HERE.
SO, UH, IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? SECOND? I, WELL, OH WAIT, DO WE HAVE SOME IN THE PUBLIC? I'D SIGNED UP FOR THE END, BUT I'LL GO NOW.
WELL THEN, MR. MAYOR, I'D MOVE THAT WE TAKE A 10 MINUTE RECESS.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE A 10 MINUTE RECESS.
GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BREAK HERE.
DID YOU SEE HOW LONG, LIKE A MOTION TO COME OFF OF BREAK? SO MOVE SECOND.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE BACK IN, UM, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WHERE'S THE I, WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL, I WAS THE YOUNGEST AND BARRY TOLD ME, NOW I'M THE OLDEST, BUT I THOUGHT BARRY WAS OLDER THAN I WAS.
UH, MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY, UH, I'D, I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP JUST, UH, BRIEFLY ON WHERE WE LEFT OFF A MOMENT AGO.
UH, WE HAD TWO CITIZENS SIGN UP TO SPEAK ABOUT THE OUTGOING COUNSEL.
AND WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND ASK THEM TO COME UP, SIR.
UH, TODD MCKENNA, YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR THANKS TO OUTGOING COUNSEL MEMBERS.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
I DON'T USUALLY HAVE NOTES, BUT I MADE SOME NOTES BEFORE I CAME UP HERE BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT.
UH, WHEN I SIGNED UP TODAY WITH JANE, SHE ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT AND I FELT KIND OF VIOLATED.
SO I TOLD HER AND I SAID, UH, DO I HAVE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT? AND SHE SAID, WELL, YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE LIE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT.
SO, UH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS A, A FACTOR.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AND THE EDMOND ALLIANCE 2050, UH, THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW, SERVICE BY DEFINITION IS SELFLESS.
AND THE THREE OF YOU ARE SELFLESS.
I LOOK AT STACEY AND I, I TRULY THINK ABOUT, I WROTE THIS DOWN, PHILIPPIANS FOUR, EIGHT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IS TRUE AND HONOR, WHATEVER IS THE, THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, RIGHT? LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, GENTLENESS AND FAITHFULNESS AND SELF-CONTROL.
AS STACEY PETERSON, SHE'S GIVEN HER HEALTH TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND CHRISTIAN, I'VE KNOWN SINCE I WAS IN NINTH OR 10TH GRADE, SHE WAS AT A RIVAL SCHOOL CALLED PUTNAM CITY NORTH.
AND, UH, AND CHRISTIAN HAS AN INTELLECT AND INTEGRITY, THAT INTELLECT, THAT'S UNCOMMON.
AND SHE'S A WOMAN OF CONVICTION.
AND SHE'S A WOMAN WHO'S DISCERNING AND IS THOUGHTFUL AND DOES VERY FEW THINGS LIGHTLY.
AND IT'S TO OUR BENEFIT THAT SHE DOES THOSE THINGS THAT WAY.
AND I SAID THIS TO YOU ON THE PHONE LAST WEEK, BUT I AM PROUD OF YOU.
[01:25:01]
PROUD OF YOUR CHANGING CAREERS AT OUR AGE, WHICH IS AMAZING.AND BEING ON THE COUNCIL AT THE SAME TIME, AND I GUESS NOW'S A GOOD TIME TO CONFESS.
I'M THE ONE THAT MADE THE ASSAULT CHARGE AGAINST CHRIS
IS THAT INAPPROPRIATE? TIMEWISE? OKAY.
UH, I MEAN, YOU CAN TELL OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NO MATCH.
UH, AND DARRELL, UH, HE VOTED AGAINST ONE OF MY PROJECTS ONE TIME, AND I SAID, THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL AFTERWARDS.
AND HE SAID SOMETHING TO ME ALONG THE LINES, HALF JOKING, I DON'T, I'M SURPRISED YOU'RE NOT DISAPPOINTED OR UPSET WITH ME.
AND I SAID TO DARRELL, THAT OUR FRIENDSHIP GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN ANY ONE AGENDA ITEM.
THE STATISTICAL REALITY OF EDMOND'S HISTORY, HISTORY IS NOT ALL THAT GREAT.
BUT YOUR ROLE HAS OVERCOME A LIFE THAT I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND.
AND YOU'VE DONE IT WITH GRACE AND WITH COMPASSION AND WITH SENSITIVITY AND WITH SERVICE, WHETHER IT'S ON THE PARK BOARD OR THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR CITY COUNCIL OR ANYTHING THAT YOU SHOW UP AT, WHETHER YOU'RE READING TO CHILDREN AT COMMONPLACE BOOKS OR WALKING AROUND, UH, THE FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE, OR UNFORTUNATELY WALKING AROUND IN BIKE SHORTS AFTER A BIKE RIDE.
AND SO I THINK OF WORDS FOR YOU, DARRELL, ABOUT YOU WERE ALMOST OUTTA ORDER THERE.
OKAY,
AND ONE OF MY FORMER LAW PARTNERS SAID THIS TO ME IN ESSENTIALS AGREEMENT AND NON-ESSENTIALS UNDERSTANDING.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IS THE CHARACTER OF THE LEADERSHIP OF EDMOND.
I BELIEVE THAT IS A CHARACTER OF OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT'S DONE RIGHT.
AND THAT ABILITY TO HAVE UNDERSTANDING WHEN THERE IS NOT AGREEMENT ON NON-ESSENTIALS IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO DIALOGUE IN THIS ROOM AND AT THE COFFEE SHOP AND AT ANY OTHER PLACE.
AND DARRYL, YOU HAVE SET THE TONE FOR THAT.
UH, BUT YOU HAVE SET THE TONE FOR UNDERSTANDING.
AND I AM THANKFUL FOR THE THREE OF YOU.
YOUR SERVICE HAS ALREADY BEEN DESCRIBED IN SO MANY WAYS.
AND WHEN I LOOK AT THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN EDMOND THAT ARE HISTORIC, MOST OF THE NORMAL RESPONSES AREN'T, WHY DID WE DO THIS? BUT WHY DIDN'T WE DO THIS SOONER? AND I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE FOR THE THREE OF YOU.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE THAT IDENTIFIED EARLIER, OUR ALLIANCE AND MY FAMILY AND OUR COMMUNITY, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND WE LOVE YOU.
UH, THE NEXT SPEAKER FOR THANKS TO OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS IS FORMER WARD ONE COUNCIL MEMBER AND RTA MEMBER, UH, DAVID CHAPMAN.
DOCTOR, MAN, I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
DARRELL, COULD YOU START THE CLOCK?
AND WILL YOU DIRECT YOUR REMARKS TO THE CHAIR, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL? I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT WE HAVE A TOWN HALL MEETING, AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU 30 DAYS OR SO TO MAKE THAT ON THE SCHEDULE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, MY MOM RAISED ME, I THINK EXACTLY LIKE BARRY MOORE'S MOM DID.
AND THAT WAS, UH, SHE USED TO REMIND ME, YOU DON'T HAVE, UH, YOU NEED TO PATEL PEOPLE WHEN YOU LOVE 'EM, THAT 'CAUSE YOU MAY NOT GET ANOTHER CHANCE.
AND ALL THREE OF YOU ALL, AND UH, BARRY, I'LL THROW YOU IN THERE TOO, BUT DARRELL AND STACEY AND KRISTEN, I, I LOVE YOU GUYS AND I WAS HONORED TO, UH, SERVE WITH, WITH ALL OF YOU ALL.
AND, UH, MAGGIE, I WISH I COULD HAVE SERVED WITH YOU TOO.
UM, SO THANK YOU AND, AND, UH, AND THANK YOU TO DOUG AND CHRIS.
IT'S BEEN GREAT GETTING TO KNOW, UH, THEM AS WELL AND, UH, AND MS. DAVIS.
SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL AND JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
NOW WE NEED TO APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERYBODY AND APPRECIATE ALL BOW TIES TOO.
UH, THE RECESS, WE NEED, UH, WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, RECESS AT THE EDMOND CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
CALL TO ORDER OF THE EDMOND PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY MEETING.
[3. Recess of the Edmond City Council Meeting and Call to Order of the Edmond Public Works Authority Meeting.]
SO MOVED.NOW, THANK YOU THAT I, WE ARE IN NOW THE PUBLIC WORKS MEETING.
AND NOW ITEM FOUR IS THE PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY, GENERAL CONSENT ITEM.
[4. 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.]
COUNSEL.I DON'T SEE SOME COMMENTS ON B.
WE HAVE SOME SIT, UM, STAFF COMMENTS.
[01:30:01]
COMMENTS ON FOUR B.YES, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, ANDY CONY.
HERE'S ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF ADMINISTRATION HERE TO OFFER SOME COMMENTS ON ITEM FOUR B UNDER THE EPWA AGENDA AS WELL AS ITEMS SEVEN F1, TWO, AND THREE ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
SO THESE ITEMS WILL CORRECT EMISSIONS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 ADOPTED BUDGET RELATED TO THE FIELD SERVICES FUND.
THESE ITEMS WILL DECREASE, DECREASE THE OVERALL BUDGET BY A LITTLE OVER $1.25 MILLION BY REDUCING EXPENSES BY A TOTAL OF MORE THAN $1.9 MILLION, TRANSFERRING MONEY WITHIN DIFFERENT DIVISIONS IN THE FIELD SERVICES FUND, AND ADDING AN ADDITIONAL $669,000 FROM THE CITY UTILITIES TO FUND THE METER SERVICE DIVISION OF THE OF FIELD SERVICES.
$669,000 WAS ANTICIPATED BY THE UTILITY FUNDS.
IT WAS JUST SIMPLY AN OMISSION THAT MONEY WAS NOT TRANSFERRED AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGETING PROCESS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE EIGHT ITEMS. UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER STAFF COMMENTS OR NO OTHER NO RESOLUTIONS.
COUNSEL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO ON ITEM FOR A THROUGH G? MOTION TO APPROVE.
NEXT, WE'RE IN PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY, UH, DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION ITEMS, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY.
SO ITEM SIX IS WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE EDMOND PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY MEETING AND RECONVENE THE EDMOND
[6. Adjournment of the Edmond Public Works Authority Meeting and Reconvene the Edmond City Council Meeting.]
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.SECOND, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE'RE BACK IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
NEXT WE HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL GENERAL CONSENT ITEMS. WE HAVE 23 ITEMS. UH,
[7. 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.]
MAKE SURE DEPUTY CHIEF'S HERE TO GIVE COMMENTS ON E IF DESIRED.IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS ON E LET US KNOW.
IF THE CHIEF'S HERE, I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING, I WE DO NEED TO PULL L AND DO THAT ON A SEPARATE VOTE.
UM, COUNSEL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR ANYTHING FROM THE 23 CITY COUNCIL GENERAL CONSENT ITEMS? MR. MAYOR, I'D MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM L.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO, TO APPROVE ALL CONSENT ITEMS EXCEPT L I'LL SECOND.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON ITEM L?
[L. Consideration of Approval of Purchase of Cisco Flex Plan for Calling and Contact Center Enterprise Agreements with Chickasaw Telecom Inc for Voice Systems on Oklahoma State Contract; $64,917.60 Annually. (Citywide)]
SCENE? NONE.SECOND AND A SECOND, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
NOW WE'RE IN ITEM EIGHT, CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION ITEMS. UM,
[B. Presentation and Discussion of the Performeter for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024, by Frank Crawford of Crawford and Associates. (Citywide)]
WE HAVE ITEM EIGHT B, WHICH IS THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE PERFORMER FOR THE FISCAL YEAR IN JUNE 30TH, 2024 BY FRANK CRAWFORD OF CRAWFORD AND ASSOCIATES.UH, AGAIN, MY NAME IS FRANK CRAWFORD.
NICE TO SEE, UH, MOST OF THE FAMILIAR FACES THAT HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
SO, UM, WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE HISTORY, BUT I'LL, I WILL KIND OF DO A BRIEF, UH, UH, HISTORY OF WHAT THIS PERFORMER THING IS.
THE ONE THING I WON'T TALK ABOUT IS THIS 171 PAGE, UH, THICK AUDITED SET OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WHICH IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THROUGH IT YET, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD.
TONIGHT IT IS THE, UH, PERFECT CURE FOR INSOMNIA FOR NON-ACCOUNTANTS.
UH, IT IS FULL OF A LOT OF INFORMATION, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE INFORMATION THAT'S IN IT, UM, DOES NOT REALLY COMMUNICATE VERY WELL WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER A PICTURE OF
[01:35:01]
THE FINANCIAL HEALTH AND SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE CITY.AND SO, UM, ANDY, UH, KROMER FROM THE AUDITORS WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT THEIR FIVE OR SIX PAGES THAT BELONG TO THEIR FIRM, THAT RELATE TO THE AUDIT.
AFTER I'M DONE, I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE OTHER 165, BUT I'M NOT GONNA DO IT BY INDIVIDUAL PAGE.
I'M GONNA KIND OF SUM IT UP BASED ON THIS MODEL THAT WE CREATED, UH, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THAT TRIES TO TAKE ALL OF THE CITY'S, UH, RESULTS FROM ITS FISCAL YEAR END OF JUNE 30, 24, AND BASICALLY WRAP IT UP TO WHERE A SINGLE QUESTION COULD BE ANSWERED IF SOMEONE WERE TO COME TO YOU AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE DOING AS A CITY FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT? UM, AND YOU CAN ANSWER THAT WITH THIS MODEL.
UH, ON A SCALE OF ONE TO 10 OR ZERO TO 10, WE'VE CREATED BASICALLY A MODEL THAT WE'VE BEEN USING FOR ABOUT 22, 23 YEARS NOW, WHERE WE CAN ANALYZE A, A CITY'S AUDITED SET OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REDUCE THE OVERALL FINANCIAL HEALTH SUCCESS OR FAILURE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CITY INTO A SCALE OF BASICALLY ZERO TO 10, 10 BEING EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL AND, UH, VERY FINANCIALLY HEALTHY.
A ZERO BEING OBVIOUSLY THE OPPOSITE.
UM, AND A FIVE KIND OF BEING RIGHT AROUND SATISFACTORY.
AND SO WE LOOK AT ABOUT 19 DIFFERENT FINANCIAL STATEMENT RATIOS THAT KIND OF MEAN SOMETHING IN THE WORLD OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING.
UH, WE CREATE BENCHMARKS OF WHAT'S A GREAT NUMBER, WHAT'S A POOR NUMBER, AND THEN WHAT'S A KIND OF A MIDDLE AVERAGE NUMBER? AND THEN WE BENCHMARK IT AND WE SCALE, UH, EVERYBODY BY THAT.
AND SO, UH, I'M GONNA FLIP YOU TO PAGE FIVE, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT THE OVERALL SCORE.
AND I'M NOT GONNA SPEND A TON OF TIME GOING THROUGH, UH, EVERY ONE OF THESE, BUT I'LL KIND OF GIVE YOU AN OVERALL PICTURE, TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANNA TALK ABOUT, AND THEN OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, PAGE FIVE, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE OUR OVERALL SCORE FOR THE END OF JUNE 30, 24 IS A 6.9.
AND YOU CAN KIND OF READ THIS REPORT, UH, MULTIPLE WAYS.
UH, ON PAGE FIVE, THERE'S USUALLY ON EVERY PAGE, A, A PICTURE OR A CHART, UH, ON THE LEFT, UH, THAT SHOWS, UH, A HISTORY.
UM, THERE'S SOME NARRATIVE ON THE RIGHT.
UH, AND THEN USUALLY AT THE BOTTOM THERE'S AN OVERALL, UH, AN OVERALL SCORE.
UH, A GREEN NUMBER, A YELLOW NUMBER, OR A, UH, OR A RED NUMBER.
GREEN MEANS OBVIOUSLY GOOD YELLOW, KIND OF CAUTIONARY RED, UH, NOT SO GOOD.
UH, AS YOU LOOK ON SLIDE FIVE, WHAT YOU CAN SEE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, AND AGAIN, I CAN GO BACK 23 YEARS ON THIS IF I WANTED TO, YOU JUST WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO READ IT 'CAUSE THE FONT WOULD BE SO SMALL ON THIS PAGE.
EDMOND HAS HISTORICALLY, UH, FOUND ITSELF IN THE UPPER SEVENS, UH, TOUCHING ON, UH, UH, THE LOWER EIGHTS EVERY NOW AND THEN.
SO TO BE IN THE 6.9 CATEGORY AS KIND OF A FIRST, OBVIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH A 6.9.
UH, FOR, FOR BENCHMARKING PURPOSES, THE HIGHEST SCORE I'VE EVER SEEN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND 11 INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS THAT FOLLOW THIS MODEL IS A 9.1.
IT'S ONLY HAPPENED FOUR TIMES IN 23 YEARS, SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN THAT ANYBODY EVEN GETS INTO THE NINE.
SO TO BE IN THE EIGHTS IS, IS OBVIOUSLY VERY WELL ALSO 6.9 WELL ABOVE SATISFACTORY, BUT NOT TYPICALLY WHERE EDMUND HISTORICALLY LIVES.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, LET'S TAKE THE OVERALL SCORE AND DIVIDE IT INTO ITS THREE COMPONENTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT SLIDE OF THE, UH, RIGHT SIDE OF THE SLIDE, WE KIND OF MEASURE WHAT WE CALL FINANCIAL POSITION, WHICH IS KIND OF A SNAPSHOT OF THE HEALTH OF, UH, THE CITY.
UH, AT A CERTAIN POINT IN TIME, JUNE 30TH, 2024, WE SCORE A 4.5 THERE.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN SATISFACTORY AND IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF OUR LOWER SATISFACTORY SCORES.
NOW, WHY WOULD THAT HAPPEN? WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE SCORE, WHICH IS A VERY GOOD SCORE OF AN 8.4, IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS LAST YEAR'S 9.9, WHICH THEN CAUSES THE HEALTH SCORE TO COME DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
AND SO WE HAD A GREAT YEAR PERFORMANCE WISE, JUST NOT AS GREAT AS WHAT WE HAVE HAD HISTORICALLY IN THE PAST.
AND THEN AS FAR AS OUR SUSTAINABILITY OR OUR CAPABILITY, DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUSTAIN THIS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME? WE SCORE VERY WELL, UH, AT A 7.6.
SO OVERALL, THOSE SCORES AVERAGE OUT TO THE 6.9.
IT WON'T EXACTLY AVERAGE IF YOU WERE TO ADD THE THREE NUMBERS TOGETHER AND DIVIDE BY THREE BECAUSE ALL OF THE 19 RATIOS HAVE DIFFERENT WEIGHTS TO THEM ANYWHERE FROM A ONE TO A THREE, UH, ON THE SYSTEM.
AND SO, UH, WE HISTORICALLY HAVE LIVED SOMEWHERE IN THE MID S UM, IF YOU KIND OF LOOK AT THE LAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS, UH, THE BEST WAY I COULD PROBABLY EXPLAIN THIS, THAT WE WERE STAIR STEPPING UP A LITTLE BIT IN 21, 22, AND 23.
WE PROBABLY WEREN'T REALLY STAIR STEPPING UP.
WE WERE PROBABLY STAIR STEPPING DOWN, BUT IT WAS MASKED BY WHAT I WOULD CALL A A COVID HIGH, UM, COVID, AS BAD AS IT WAS FOR EVERYONE PERSONALLY.
AND, AND, UH, INDIVIDUALLY AND HEALTH WISE WAS ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD FINANCIALLY FOR
[01:40:01]
THE CITY OF EDMOND.UH, ONE, WE SAW A GENERATIONAL ONCE IN A GENERATION TRANSFER OF MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO US WITH VERY LITTLE STRINGS ATTACHED FOR A TWO TO THREE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.
WE HAD DIFFERENT NAMES FOR IT, BUT LITERALLY IT WAS A GIFT.
UH, HERE'S SOME MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
YOU CAN KIND OF DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH IT IN THIS BROAD PERSPECTIVE OF GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS.
UH, MOST, UH, GOVERNMENT GRANTS DON'T WORK THAT WAY.
BUT, UH, WE WERE RECEIVING A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE WOULD'VE NORMALLY SPENT OUR OWN MONEY TO DO THOSE PROJECTS WITH.
BUT INSTEAD, WE GOT TO USE THIS FREE MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT, UH, AND IT KIND OF MASKED OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION FOR A LITTLE BIT.
SO CHANCES ARE THIS COMING OFF THE COVID HIGH OF FISCAL 20 AND 21, PROBABLY STARTED IN 22 AND 23.
YOU JUST DON'T SEE IT VERY WELL BECAUSE THAT GOVERNMENT, UH, MONEY MASKED IT A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN OF COURSE, REMEMBER WHEN COVID HIT, WE ALL KIND OF STAYED AT HOME.
WE STAYED LOCAL, WE BOUGHT LOCAL, WE ORDERED OFF THE INTERNET, WE GENERATED THESE USE TAXES.
WE DID THINGS THAT WE NORMALLY HISTORICALLY DIDN'T DO.
UH, AND THOSE TWO THINGS COMBINED KIND OF CREATED A WAVE, UH, A COVID HIGH, IF YOU WOULD, THAT WE'RE NOW KIND OF COMING OFF OF.
UM, THE CITY MANAGER HAD TALKED EARLY IN HIS INTRODUCTION REMARKS THAT SALES TAXES IS KIND OF DOWN BASED ON WHERE WE WERE, UH, IN THE PRIOR YEAR.
UH, BUT WHERE WE WERE IN THE PRIOR YEARS WERE REALLY HIGH.
I MEAN, WE HAD THREE OR FOUR YEARS OF, YOU KNOW, ALMOST DOUBLE DIG GROWTH THERE IN OUR SALES AND USE TAXES, WHICH IS REALLY UNHEARD OF.
UH, MOST OF THE TIME SALES TAXES, LUCKY TO BE UP A PERCENT OR TWO, UH, IN MOST COMMUNITIES, LET ALONE NINE, 10% OVER A TWO OR THREE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHAT OCCURRED.
AND SO AS ALL OF THAT STUFF IS NOW KIND OF SETTLING OUT, WE HAVE EITHER COMMITTED OR SPENT ALL OF THOSE FREE MONIES FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND OUR MAIN REVENUE STREAM SALES TAXES NOW ON THE DECLINE, DECLINE, KIND OF BACK TO WHERE IT WOULD'VE NORMALLY BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE KIND OF COMBINING, UH, TO REDUCE THIS SCORE THAT LOOKS LIKE A DROP ALL IN ONE YEAR.
BUT IN REALITY WAS KIND OF DROPPING THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
UM, SO REALLY NOTHING TERRIBLY TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER THAN WE DON'T WANT TO DROP ANY FURTHER.
UM, WE NEED TO KIND OF LEVEL OFF AND THEN SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO KIND OF BRING BACK, UH, THAT, THAT, UH, SCORE BACK INTO THE UPPER SEVENS WHERE WE HISTORICALLY LIVE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? UM, THAT THAT MEANS FISCAL DISCIPLINE? UM, UH, WHAT GENERALLY CAUSES THESE SCORES TO GO DOWN IS WE, LET'S DO A SIMPLE EXAMPLE.
WE BRING IN $12 AND WE SPEND 14.
WELL, WE HISTORICALLY HAVEN'T DONE THAT, BUT WE HAVE, THE LAST YEAR OR SO, WE HISTORICALLY HAVE USED UP SOME OF OUR RESERVES THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY, UH, LET COMBINE AND, AND ROLL OVER EVERY YEAR.
THE GENERAL FUND IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
WE HISTORICALLY HAVE HAD SOMEWHERE IN THE LOWER TEENS, UH, OF A, OF WHAT WE CALL FUND BALANCE OR RESERVES, UH, A 13 OR 14% OF OUR ANNUAL REVENUE STREAM IN A RESERVE CAPACITY.
IT'S NOW AT 4%, OR IT WAS AT 4% AT JUNE OF 24.
NOW, WE HAVE REBOUNDED THAT FUND BALANCE, I BELIEVE, UH, SO FAR THIS YEAR.
UH, BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT BECAUSE SALES TAX IS COMING IN HAND OVER FOOT, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE PRACTICING FISCAL DISCIPLINE.
AND SO WE ARE LIVING WITHIN OUR MEANS.
UH, IF YOU WOULD, UH, IN ANOTHER WAY TO SAY IT.
WE ARE, YES, UH, UH, WE, WE ARE NOW POST JUNE 30, 20, 24.
WE WERE A LITTLE BIT ON A DECLINE BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON, BUT NOW WE ARE IN A RECOVERY MODE TO RECOVER THE SCORE BACK TO WHERE EDMOND TYPICALLY LIVES.
SO, AND JUST TO INTERJECT TOO, I MEAN, UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, UM, PRIOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TOO WERE LIKE, SOME OF THE RESERVES IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S OPINION WERE OVER FUNDED.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IS THAT GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF THOSE MONIES? AND SO IT CAN BE, SO I THINK IT'S ALL THOSE THINGS HE MENTIONED, BUT I THINK PROBABLY ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO UTILIZE SOME OF THOSE SALES DOLLARS THAT WERE SITTING THERE.
AND SOME OF 'EM WERE SILOED IN CERTAIN FUNDS.
THAT'S ACT ACTUALLY A GREAT ANALOGY BECAUSE, UH, THANK YOU.
AT, AT A CERTAIN POINT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ACCUMULATES TOO MUCH OF THE CITIZEN'S MONEY, ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT SCORE GREAT ON THE PERFORMER, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SCORE GREAT IN PUBLIC OPINION BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING WITH THE MONIES THAT YOU HAVE.
AND SO THERE IS A FINE BALANCE THAT YOU HAVE TO PLAY.
AND AGAIN, THIS MODEL LOOKS AT THE OVERALL HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE OF A GOVERNMENT.
AND AS LONG AS YOU STAY ABOVE A FIVE, THAT'S SATISFACTORY.
THAT'S JUST NOT WHERE EDMUND HAS THIS HISTORICALLY LIVED.
[01:45:01]
THE UPPER S UH, AND AGAIN, TOUCHING ON THE LOWER EIGHT.SO, UH, EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS AT THE STAFF LEVEL.
THE STAFF AGAIN, UH, DO A GREAT JOB HERE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST WELL-MANAGED CITIES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST 23, 24 YEARS THAT WE'VE KEPT OUR EYE ON IT.
THE ONLY CONCERN IS WHEN IT BEGINS TO STAIR SET DOWN EVERY YEAR, YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND SO WE ARE GONNA HAVE OCCASIONAL YEARS WHERE WE'RE UP A LITTLE BIT THEN DOWN, UP A LITTLE BIT, THEN DOWN.
UH, HISTORICALLY THOUGH, I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT THE SCORE LOOKS LIKE COMPARED TO WHERE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE PAST.
UM, LAST THING I'LL PROBABLY TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS THE SUSTAINABILITY SIDE.
UH, ONE OF THE BIG KEY ELEMENTS OF THE SUSTAINABILITY IS THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND INDEBTEDNESS OUTSTANDING.
UM, I KNOW YOU'VE, UH, TRIED RELATIVELY RECENTLY TO GET A GO BOND PASSED, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT LEVYING A PROPERTY TAX, UM, FOR THE REPAYMENT OF ANY GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND INDEBTEDNESS, IT ALLOWS YOU AN AVENUE THAT EXISTS THAT YOU HAVE NOT TAPPED YET.
OF COURSE, IN ORDER TO TAP THAT REVENUE STREAM, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE TO APPROVE THAT GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND DEBT ANYMORE.
WHAT'S HAPPENED IN, IN OKLAHOMA, IN ORDER TO GET A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND DEBT APPROVED, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A CAMPAIGN FOR OFFICE.
YOU'VE GOT TO SELL THAT PROCESS AND YOU'VE GOT TO FILL IT WITH THE THINGS THAT THE CITIZENS WANT TO HAVE, WHETHER IT'S QUALITY OF LIFE, BETTER STREETS, UH, OR OR OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S A, IT'S A CAMPAIGN, IT'S A STRUCTURE.
AND SO AGAIN, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TRY AGAIN AT SOME POINT IN TIME BECAUSE IN OKLAHOMA, IN A, IN A UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE OF THAT'S NOT THE SAME IN ANY OTHER STATE, WE DON'T LEVY A PROPERTY TAX FOR OPERATIONS.
EVERY OTHER COMMUNITY AND EVERY OTHER STATE IS ALLOWED TO LEVY A PROPERTY TAX TO OPERATE ON.
IT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY FORBIDDEN FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO LEVY A PROPERTY TAX UNLESS IT'S VOTER APPROVED GEO DEBT OR PERHAPS A JUDGMENT HAD BEEN RENDERED AGAINST THE CITY.
AND THEN WE CAN PUT THAT ON THE PROPERTY TAX RULES ALSO.
SO BY PASSING A GEO BOND DEBT, YOU OPEN UP A STREAM OF REVENUE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO.
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHY YOU SCORE VERY WELL SUSTAINABILITY WISE, IS THERE'S A WHOLE UNTAPPED AVENUE THAT'S THERE FOR YOU TO, UH, TO, TO GET SOME DEBT, UH, ISSUED IF THE CITIZENS WILL IT, AND TO USE THAT DEBT TO, NOT TO OPERATE ON, BUT TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
AND SO OVERALL, AGAIN, JUST, UH, NOT TERRIBLY CONCERNING.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SCORE, UH, OF THIS YEAR AND THAT IT HISTORICALLY IS A LITTLE LOWER THAN WHERE WE TYPICALLY LIVE, BUT, UH, I'M KIND OF ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT FISCAL YEAR 25 LOOKS LIKE.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE HAD TO KIND OF TIGHTEN OUR BELT, UH, A LITTLE BIT.
WE'VE GOT SOME DECLINING REVENUE STREAMS, UM, AND WE'VE USED SOME OF OUR RESERVES AND PUT THEM TO USE TO DO SOME THINGS WITH.
SO, UM, WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT SCORE LOOKS LIKE, UH, HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHEN FISCAL YEAR IS OVER.
SO IN MY MIND, THAT SCORE NEEDS AN ASTERISK ON IT.
UH, YEAH, I THINK YOU COULD PUT AN AS ASTERISK HERE AND, AND TO TELL THE REST OF THE STORY OF WHY THAT NUMBER, SOME OF THE INFLUENCES OF WHY THAT NUMBER IS WHAT IT IS VERSUS WHAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY.
IT, IT'S AWFUL DIFFICULT TO GET ALL OF THAT ON A SINGLE PAGE.
AND, UH, BUT THAT'S A GREAT POINT.
YOU, YOU, YOU DO HAVE TO KIND OF LOOK AT THIS WITH A, WITH AN ASTERISK MM-HMM
AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S SOME FACTORS HERE AT PLAY, UM, THAT ARE NOT TYPICAL CORRECT.
AND I'M SURE THAT, OH, WELL, THAT EVERY CITY THAT'S, AS THEY LIVE THROUGH COV AND THAT COVID HIGH, THAT MASKING THAT WAS THERE, NOW THAT DUST IS STARTING TO SETTLE, AND WE'RE, AND WE'RE GETTING BACK TO SOME NORMALCY.
UM, AND, BUT YEAH, I, I, I, TO ME, FOR THE, FOR THE HISTORIANS AND, AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA LOOK AT OUR BUDGETS IN THE FUTURE AND ALL THAT, THERE, THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ASHES THERE.
AND WE'LL PUT YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER, HUH? YOU ON THERE? SO, NO.
SO WE CAN TELL THE REST OF THE STORY.
I SAID YOU CAN TELL THE STORY.
UH, IF I WERE TO MEASURE YOU AGAINST OTHER OKLAHOMA COMMUNITIES, I'M SEEING THE SAME THING.
UH, WE'RE ALL COMING OFF THIS, FOR THE LACK OF A BETTER TERM.
UH, BUT THAT ERA OF FREE MONEY IS, UH, IS IT HAD TO BE COMMITTED AT JUNE 30 OR AT, UH, DECEMBER 24.
IT'S GOTTA BE SPENT BY DECEMBER, 2026.
MOST EVERYBODY HAS ALREADY COMMITTED AND ALREADY SPENT IT, UH, IN MANY CASES.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO KIND OF SEE THE DUST SETTLED.
[01:50:01]
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, UM, YOU HAD POINTED OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I, I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN SORT OF TOUCH POINTS, BUT SOME OF THE DEBT SERVICE AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU POINTED OUT THAT ARE REALLY POSITIVE.WE HAVE A, YOU WANTED TO, WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF RATIOS THAT WE SCORE TENS ON, RIGHT? I MEAN, UH, AND ONE OF 'EM IS THE, THE DEBT COVERAGE RATIO.
IN OTHER WORDS, UM, IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO SATISFY YOUR DEBTS, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANYBODY WILLING TO LOAN YOU MONEY.
THERE WOULDN'T BE ANYBODY WILLING TO BUY THE BONDS THAT THE EDMOND PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY ISSUES OR, UH, REVENUE NOTES THAT ISSUES YOUR DEBT.
SERVICE COVERAGE IS OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH, WHICH MEANS THAT CREDITORS WOULD BE KNOCKING DOWN YOUR DOOR TO GET YOU TO BORROW MONEY FROM THEM.
AND SO, UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOT STRETCHED IN ANY CAPACITY DEBT SERVICE WISE AS FAR AS COVERAGE IS CONCERNED.
YOU CLEARLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO, TO SATISFY DEBT AND OPERATIONAL, UH, EXPENSES WITH NO TROUBLE AT ALL.
SO, SO YEAH, PAGE 22, I GUESS.
UM, IT SAYS FOR THE YEAR EXTENDED JUNE 30TH, 2024, THE CITY EXPERIENCED AN EXCELLENT DEBT RATIO SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO OF 7.76.
WHICH, WHICH, SO THAT MEANS 7.6 TIMES EXACTLY.
AND THE NORM IS ONE AND A HALF TIMES, UH, MAYBE TWO TIMES, UH, EVEN AT A, IS IT CONSIDERED A HIGH LEVEL? SO 7.76 IS, UH, IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH.
AND WE HAD TALKED, I GUESS DEBT SERVICE LOAD WAS 7.5.
AND THAT MUNICIPALITIES, THAT'S HOW YOU FUND LONG TERM INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND SORT OF THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT, THAT IS THE WAY THAT THOSE ARE FUNDED AND SPREAD OUT, UM, AMONG RATE PAYERS FOR DECADES.
I THINK YOU'RE ON SLIDE 28, UH, AS FAR AS DEBT, DEBT SERVICE LOAD, WHICH MM-HMM
UH, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR BUDGET IS NOT OVERLY FILLED WITH PAYMENTS FOR DEBT SERVICE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF I WERE TO REMOVE ALL THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FROM YOUR BUDGET AND SAY, OKAY, HOW MUCH IS LEFT OVER OF THAT BUDGET AND HOW MUCH OF IT'S USED FOR DEBT SERVICE, IT'S NOT TERRIBLY HIGH, RIGHT? I MEAN, SO YOU'RE SCORING SEVEN AND A HALF ON THAT RATIO, WHICH AGAIN, UH, IS STILL EXTREMELY WELL ABOVE SATISFACTORY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE SOME FOLKS HAVE PULLED OUT CERTAIN NUMBERS AND HIGHLIGHTED THEM IN WAYS THAT ARE NOT.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, THERE'S A WHOLE AVENUE OF DEBT YOU'VE NEVER TOUCHED, AGAIN, THE WHOLE GO SIDE.
SO ALL OF YOUR DEBT IS BASICALLY REVENUE BACKED.
SO, UM, UH, AND WITH A, WITH AN ADDITIONAL PLEDGE OF SALES TAX FOR COVERAGE PURPOSES.
SO, BUT THEY ARE BACKED PRIMARILY BY UTILITY RATES.
IT'S BACK BY THE REVENUE GENERATED BY THOSE STREAMS OF REVENUE, SALES, TAX VOLATILITY.
IT'S MORE PREDICTABLE AND STEADY.
THIS WILL BE THIS GROUP'S LAST PERFORMER, RIGHT? UH, AT LEAST AT SITTING ON THE COUNCIL, BUT I'M SURE YOU'LL COME TO EVERY MEETING THAT WE DO THE PERFORMANT AFTER THIS POINT FORWARD.
OR ESPECIALLY IF YOUR CELL PHONE'S GONNA BE ON THE, ON THE, THE DOCUMENT TOO.
MAYOR AND I HAVE BEEN ON FINANCE COMMITTEE TOGETHER FOR FOUR YEARS, AND SO WE HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OF BECOMING EVEN MORE FAMILIAR WITH THIS TOOL.
WELL, I HOPE IT'S OF AT LEAST OF SOME USE AND, UH, SOME, UH, BENEFIT TO ALL OF YOU.
SO IT IS, I WAS, GO AHEAD, SIR.
I THINK YOU COULD GO ON ALL NIGHT, BUT I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO BUTTON THIS UP IN TWO SENTENCES FOR ME.
WHERE DO WE STAND? WHERE DO YOU STAND, UH, AS FAR AS A PICTURE OF, UH, OVERALL HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE? UH, I THINK, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ABOUT A SEVEN, WHICH ON MY SCALE, IF A NINE IS THE HIGHEST I'VE EVER SEEN, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT BAD.
IT'S JUST NOT AS GOOD AS WHERE HIS EDMOND HAS HISTORICALLY LIVED IN THE PAST.
UH, AND AGAIN, NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT.
BUT IN A TWO SENTENCE SHORT ANSWER, I STILL THINK IT'S EXTREMELY WELL ABOVE SATISFACTORY AND, AND VERY GOOD, BECAUSE EDMOND HAS HAD A LOT OF POPULATION GROWTH, RETAIL GROWTH, WHICH THEN, AND THEN THE SALES TAX GROWTH, RIGHT? YES.
UH, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TWO STREAMS OF REVENUE THAT YOU DEAL WITH THAT ARE BIG, THAT'S UTILITIES AND SALES AND USE TAX.
SO THE MORE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, THE MORE PEOPLE THAT BUY HERE, THE MORE PEOPLE THAT SHOP HERE, THE MORE YOUR REVENUE STREAMS GO UP, THE MORE YOU CAN DO WITH THAT MONEY.
WELL, LIKE MS MUG, I'M WAITING WITH BATED BREATH FOR NEXT YEARS
WELL, WE WILL, WE WILL GET ON THAT AS SOON AS NEXT YEAR IS HERE.
SO, SO JUST FOR EDUCATIONAL POINT FOR, YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 24 YEARS.
WE CREATED THE MODEL IN, UH, THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS.
SO I THINK 2002 WOULD'VE BEEN THE FIRST YEAR I THINK I WOULD'VE LOOKED AT EDMONDS.
[01:55:01]
IS IS USED ACROSS THE NATION AND IS USED IN 23 INTERNATIONAL, UH, YES.11, 11 INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, THE US DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, AND, UH, A HUNDRED PLUS GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S SOME BACKGROUND THERE THAT THIS MODEL IS WELL RESPECTED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
I, I'M SAYING I WOULD HOPE SO.
WELL, IT IS TAUGHT IN, UH, COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY TEXTBOOKS ALSO, UH, IN COLLEGE.
SO I MEAN, IT'S, IT DOES HAVE SOME CREDIBILITY.
IT HAS, IT HAS SOME CREDIBILITY BEHIND IT, AND WE'RE, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE AS EBBING THAT WE'VE BEEN USING IT FOR THIS LONG, THAT WE HAVE THE HISTORICAL DATA TO SHOW THE EBBS AND FLOWS IN IT.
COUNSEL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
CURRENTLY, THANK, THANK YOU, SIR.
[C. Consideration of Acceptance of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Single Audit for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024, by Andy Cromer of HSPG & Associates. (Citywide)]
HC WAS CONSIDER CONSIDERATION ACCEPTANCE OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT AND SINGLE AUDIT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024 BY ANDY KROMER.WE'RE OUT OF OKLAHOMA CITY AND WE'VE AUDITED THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
SO THE CITY PREPARES THIS AND HANDS IT TO US, AND WE GET AFTER AND AUDIT IT.
AND SO FRANK'S NUMBERS COME FROM THIS REPORT, PRESUMABLY, HOPEFULLY.
SO THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS BEFORE I GET GOING.
UH, WE'VE GIVEN THIS, BOTH FRANK AND I BOTH ACTUALLY HAVE GIVEN THIS PRESENTATION TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
THAT WAS, AT LEAST MY PART WAS MORE IN DEPTH.
AND SO I'LL KEEP THIS SHORTER BECAUSE SOME OF YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY HEARD THIS AND PROBABLY DON'T WANNA SUFFER THROUGH IT AGAIN.
SO JUST IN A NUTSHELL, I BRING GOOD NEWS, UH, PRETTY MUCH ALL AROUND.
JUST ONE MINOR THING I'LL, I'LL TOUCH ON, BUT OUR AUDIT OPINION IS IN HERE, AND WE CALL IT A CLEAN OR UNMODIFIED OPINION.
SO IT'S THE STANDARD OPINION, IT'S YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MATERIALLY CORRECT.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL WANNA SEE.
UH, CERTAINLY YOUR BOND HOLDERS, THE STATE, WHOEVER IS GONNA WANNA SEE THAT.
UH, SO I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO NUMBERS.
ON THAT YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER REPORT.
WE CALL IT A, IT'S A, WE CALL IT A SINGLE AUDIT REPORT.
THIS YOU ALL ARE REQUIRED WHEN YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL FUNDING.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO AN AUDIT, ESSENTIALLY, OF COMPLIANCE ON THOSE FEDERAL GRANTS.
AND SO, AS FRANK MENTIONED, YOU HAD A LOT OF COVID MONEY COME IN.
AND SO ARPA WAS A BIG FEDERAL GRANT.
AND SO WE HAD TO DO A COMPLIANCE AUDIT ON THAT ARPA GRANT.
AND SO YOU PASSED THAT, I GUESS IN A NUTSHELL.
UH, THE OTHER THING THAT'S, THAT'S ALSO IN HERE IS A SEPARATE REPORT THAT IS NOT RELATED TO FEDERAL GRANTS AT ALL.
IT'S HOW DO YOUR INTERNAL CONTROLS LOOK AND HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING ON COMPLIANCE WITH JUST LAWS OF THE LAND, IF YOU WILL, LAWS OF THE STATE LAWS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, MAYBE EVEN YOUR OWN LAWS.
AND SO WE DO NOT AUDIT YOUR INTERNAL CONTROL A PUBLIC COMPANY.
YOU DARRELL'S INTERNAL CONTROLS GET AUDITED HERE.
YOU DON'T BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY COST PROHIBITIVE.
BUT WE DO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR CONTROLS REALLY JUST TO HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE DESIGN OUR AUDIT PROCEDURES.
AND SO DURING THAT PROCESS, IF WE SEE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT DESIGNED RIGHT OR IT'S DESIGNED RIGHT, BUT IT'S JUST NOT IN PLACE, WE'LL MAKE THAT COMMENT HERE.
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON YOUR INTERNAL CONTROL, WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS OVER YOUR JUST GENERAL COMPLIANCE, SO KIND OF GOOD NEWS ALL AROUND.
I, WE DO HAVE A SEPARATE REPORT.
SO ONE PAGE THING THAT, IT'S A SCALED DOWN COMMENT, I GUESS IF YOU WILL, TO WHERE WE DIDN'T FEEL IT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF NEEDING TO BE FORMALLY REPORTED IN THIS.
THIS DOCUMENT GOES TO THE STATE, IT GOES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THIS OTHER DOCUMENT JUST GOES TO YOU ALL.
AND SO WHAT'S IN THIS DOCUMENT, YOUR TIFF FUND HAS A NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE OF ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS AS OF JUNE 30TH OF 24.
AND STATE STATUTES PROHIBITIVE PROHIBITS THAT, PROHIBITS ANY FUND LIKE THIS TO HAVE A NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE.
AND SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS, IS YOU ALL HAVE LOANED OUT MONEY, PRIMARILY THIS EDMUND ELECTRIC AND THE GENERAL FUND HAVE INCURRED COSTS.
AND THIS TIFF FUND HAS TO PAY THOSE TWO FUNDS BACK.
AND THOSE FUNDS TO PAY THOSE LOANS BACK ARE GONNA COME IN THE FUTURE.
THEY'RE GONNA COME OVER THE NEXT 15 TO 20 YEARS.
SO YOU HAVE A PRESENT LIABILITY, BUT YOU HAVE NO RECEIVABLE OR REVENUE STREAM TO OFFSET THAT YET.
AND SO CLEARLY THE RISK IS, WELL, IF THOSE REVENUES NEVER COME IN, THEN THE GENERAL FUND AND EDMOND ELECTRIC ARE LEFT HOLDING A MILLION DOLLARS OF UNCOLLECTIBLE RECEIVABLE FROM ANOTHER FUND OF THE CITY.
[02:00:01]
NOT LIKE YOU OWE IT TO AN EXTERNAL PARTY WHO WOULD SUE YOU TO GET PAID BACK.YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL FUND'S NOT GONNA SUE THE TIF FUND.
IT'S JUST WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, CAN THE CITY ABSORB THAT KIND OF HIT? AND SO IT'S SOMEWHAT OF A JUDGMENTAL CALL ON OUR PART, BUT WE SAID, REALLY, THIS ISN'T MATERIAL TO THE CITY, BUT IT'S NOT A SLAM DUNK THAT IT'S NOT MATERIAL.
AND SO THAT'S REALLY THE REASON WE'RE BRINGING IT UP HERE IS IF THIS LIABILITY GETS BIGGER IN THE FUTURE OR JUST THE CITY SHRINKS OR BOTH, WELL THEN THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THAT TO BECOME A, A MATERIAL NUMBER.
BUT JUST AT JUNE 30TH, WE SAID IT WASN'T.
SO DOES THAT KINDA MAKE SENSE TO EVERYBODY? YEAH, AND I JUST, RANDY, YOU MIGHT OR MR. CITY MANAGER, SORRY, MR. UM, OR LENA, IF YOU WANT TO, WE DO THE TIFF CONTRACTS DIFFERENTLY NOW, RIGHT? CORRECT.
UH, IN THAT WE'RE NOT OUTLAYING IT UP FRONT, RIGHT? IT'S A PAY PAYOUT SYSTEM NOW, RIGHT? SO THE CONTRACT IN THE FUTURE, THERE'S NO MONEY PAID OUT UNTIL IT'S GENERATED AFTER.
SO I WANTED, I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CHANGE THAT WAS MADE A FEW YEARS AGO THAT WE WILL SEE THE BENEFIT OF THAT, RIGHT? AND SO THE WAY THIS GETS PAID BACK IS THAT DISTRICT, RIGHT? PROPERTY TAXES GO UP, SALES TAX GO UP, AND SO THOSE REVENUES COME IN AND THE CITY THEN PAYS ITSELF BACK FROM THOSE REVENUES.
BUT THIS, WE'RE STILL IN WHAT YEAR? THREE OR FOUR MAYBE OF THIS.
AND IN FACT, MOST OF THOSE PROJECTS AT THIS POINT HAD JUST BEEN COMPLETED OR YET TO BE COMPLETED.
AND SO IT'S STILL VERY EARLY TO EVEN EXPECT THOSE STREAMS. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, YOU DO HAVE THIS NEGATIVE, UH, DEFICIT.
SO REALLY THAT'S THE ONE, THE ONE THING THAT'S NOT, I GUESS A G GLOWING REPORT.
EVERYTHING ELSE YOU GUYS ARE DOING GREAT ON THE LAST THING THAT JUST TO KNOW, IS THERE YES, SIR.
HAS THE TIFF OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SEEN THAT? I BELIEVE THEY'VE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THAT.
THE LAST THING, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IT'S THERE, WE ARE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE CERTAIN, I GUESS, BULLET POINTS WITH THE GOVERNING BODY.
I JUST CALL IT A REQUIRED COMMUNICATION LETTER.
IT'S THREE OR FOUR, TWO OR THREE PAGES LONG, AND THERE'S SEVEN OR EIGHT BULLET POINTS IN THIS LETTER THAT IF WE HAD SOMETHING TO SAY, THEY WOULD BE IN THERE.
THINGS COULD BE LIKE, WERE THERE CONDITIONS UPON HOW WE WERE HIRED? YOU KNOW, WAS IT WE ASKED HOW, HOW ARE AUDITORS? WE ACCOUNT FOR THIS.
DO YOU AGREE WITH IT? AND IF WE DON'T LIKE HOW YOU RESPOND, WE WON'T HIRE YOU.
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WOULD BE IN HERE.
SO THERE WAS CLEARLY NONE OF THAT GOING ON.
THE ONE THING THAT IS IN HERE THAT MAYBE JUST BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, THIS IS A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT, BUT EVEN BEING THAT THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF ESTIMATES EMBEDDED IN THIS.
AND SO THE BIG ONE IS PENSION.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA WORK FOR 30 YEARS AND HOW MUCH ARE THEY GONNA MAKE AND HOW LONG THEY GONNA LIVE AFTER? AND JUST ALL SORTS OF THINGS I PROBABLY CAN'T EVEN COME UP WITH AS FAR AS ESTIMATES IN THAT PENSION ACTUARY STUDY THAT THEN BECOMES THE LIABILITY IN HERE.
SO CLEARLY, BIG ESTIMATE, NOT EVERYONE THAT YOU SELL UTILITIES TO ARE GONNA PAY THAT, THAT BALANCE.
SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A ALLOWANCE FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE RECEIVABLES.
YOU HAVE WORKERS' COMP YOURSELF INSURED FOR THAT.
THOSE CLAIMS CAN GO ON A LONG TIME.
WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH A LIABILITY NOW, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT SETTLE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AFTERWARDS.
SO THERE'S METHODS FOR CALCULATING ALL THESE, THESE ESTIMATES, BUT THEY ARE STILL ESTIMATES AND THEY CAN OBVIOUSLY CHANGE.
BUT THAT WAS A VERY FAST AND A VERY, I GUESS, WHIRLWIND
BUT I DO WANNA SAY KATHY AND HER GROUP DO A FANTASTIC JOB.
IT'S A BIG CITY, IT'S A BIG OPERATION, AND THERE ARE STANDARDS YOU ALL HAVE TO FOLLOW, AND THEY GET MORE COMPLEX EVERY YEAR.
AND, AND IT JUST, IT'S MORE COMPLEX, MORE TIME CONSUMING, AND HONESTLY MORE COSTLY EVERY YEAR.
SO THANKS FOR, THANKS FOR, UH, HAVING ME HERE AGAIN.
AND ANY QUESTIONS? I WAS WONDERING IF COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE HAD THE SAME QUESTION, TWO SENTENCES.
HOW ARE WE DOING? DO YOU NEED THAT
WELL, YOU GOT, YOU ALL ARE DOING VERY WELL, VERY WELL.
UH, I WOULD SAY, AND I MEANT TO SAY YOU HAD WHAT, TWO OR THREE COMMENTS LAST YEAR FROM THE 23 AUDIT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE SAME ISSUES IN 24.
AND HONESTLY, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE SOMETHING EVERY FEW YEARS.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF NORMAL, BUT JUST AS FAR AS, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FINANCIALLY, THAT'S WHAT FRANK GOT TOO.
BUT JUST AS FAR AS YOUR CONTROLS AND YOUR PROCESSES, AND ARE YOU GUYS DOING THINGS CORRECTLY AND ON TIME? YES.
ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU ALL.
IF WE NEED TO ACCEPT THE, UM, ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT IN THE SINGLE AUDIT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024.
[02:05:01]
DO A MOTION.SECOND, ARE WE APPROVING BOTH ITEMS? B AND THAT ONE WAS JUST DISCUSSION.
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM EIGHT D, UH, CONSIDERATION OF WAIVER OF THE COMPETITIVE BID AND APPROVAL
[D. Consideration of Waiver of Competitive Bids and Approval of a Sole Provider Purchase from Lilypad EV for Acquiring and Installing Five Dual Level II EV Charging Stations through a Reimbursable Grant; $65,000.00; $47,084.00 is Reimbursable. (Citywide)]
OF, OF A SOLE PROVIDER PURCHASE FROM LILY PAD EV FOR ACQUIRING AND INSTALLING FIVE DUAL LEVEL TWO EV CHARGING STATIONS THROUGH A REIMBURSABLE GRANT.$65,000, 47,000 IS REIMBURSABLE.
SO THIS DESERVES A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORICAL CONTEXT.
UM, LILY PAD WAS APPROVED AS THEIR SOLE SOURCE, UH, PROVIDER BY CITY COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY, 2022.
UM, AND THE RE THE MAIN REASONS WE DID THAT WERE BECAUSE OF COST, RELIABILITY, UNIFORMING AND REPORTING.
UH, AND THAT BID IN 2019, WE, WE DID BID IN 2019.
UM, WE DECIDED TO GO WITH CHARGEPOINT EV STATIONS.
BLUE PAD IS A VENDOR OF CHARGEPOINT IN EV STATIONS, AND THAT'S HOW THIS ALL TIES IN.
UH, BUT CHARGEPOINT IS A LEADING PROVIDER OF NETWORKED EV STATIONS.
THEY OFFER A COMPREHENSIVE PORTFOLIO OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE THAT SUPPORTS BUSINESSES, DRIVERS AND FLEETS.
UM, LILY PAD, UH, EV WAS THE LOWEST BIDDER IN THE 29 20 19 SOLICITATION, UH, OFFERING $6,300 COSTS ADVANTAGE ON $6 STATIONS OVER THE NEAREST COMPETITOR.
SO THAT, UH, I THINK THAT ALONE, UM, IS, UH, WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING WHY STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THAT SINCE THEY WERE ASSIGNED SOLE, SOLE SOURCE, THEY WERE TOLD THEY WERE THE SOLE SOURCE PROVIDER, UM, AS OF 2022, THAT FOR THIS PURCHASE, THAT THEY, UM, BE ABLE TO REMAIN, UH, THE, THE VENDOR FOR THIS PURCHASE.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO, I WANNA SAY I THINK THIS WAS A GOOD CATCH, UH, BY OUR PURCHASING OFFICE.
UH, THERE, UH, THE OTHER REASON THAT, UM, OTHER VENDORS WOULD BE CONSIDERED, UH, ARE BECAUSE OF THE REPORTING AND UNIFORMITY AND AT THE TIME WE, UH, MADE THEM, THEM, SO SOURCE, SOLE SOURCE PROVIDER, WE, UM, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT TOO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF STATIONS OR DIFFERENT SOFTWARE PACKAGES TO, TO, TO, TO TRACK AND, UM, WHICH, WHICH WOULD'VE MADE OUR REPORTING MUCH MORE COMPLEX AND THAT KIND OF THING.
UH, THERE ARE OTHER VENDORS THAT PROVIDE THAT.
UM, I, I FEEL THAT LILY PAD IS STILL GONNA COME OUT ON TOP IF WE PURSUE ANOTHER, UH, BID.
UH, THEIR, THE PRESENCE, THEY HAVE A PRESENCE IN 40 STATES REPRESENTED BY 800 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
AND, UM, THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT VOLUME BASED DISCOUNTS.
SO, UM, I, I FEEL THAT THEY'LL STILL COME OUT ON TOP.
UM, BUT UH, FOR FUTURE PURCHASES, IT, IT, I THINK THAT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA TO GO AHEAD AND GO OUT TO BID AGAIN.
UH, HOWEVER, UH, STILL REMAINS THE, UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS IS TO, UH, CONTINUE WITH THEM AS THE VENDOR FOR THIS PURCHASE, UH, SINCE THEY WERE INFORMED THEY WERE THE SOLE SOURCE PROVIDER.
ANY QUESTIONS? SORRY IF THAT WAS A LITTLE CONVOLUTED.
LIKE YOU SAID, DETERMINATION AND FINDINGS OF, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO A COMPETITIVE BID PACKAGE, BUT, UH, THERE ARE CERTAIN COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WHEN WE DEALING WITH SOFTWARE AND, UH, THE CONTINUITY OF A SYSTEM WORKING TOGETHER AND YOU KEEP ADDING ON TO IT.
AND, UM, COMPANY A HAS A THIS SOFTWARE PACKAGE AND IT'S NOT COMPATIBLE TO COMPANY B SOFTWARE PACKAGE.
AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING REWORK ON COMPANY'S A SOFTWARE PACKAGE TO MAKE IT COMPATIBLE AND THEN YOU GO DOWN THIS LONG PATH.
UM, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DO ALL THE TIME HERE, BUT, UH, IT IS A DETERMINATION THAT HAS TO BE MADE TO WHICH IF YOU'RE GONNA NOT USE THE COMPETITIVE BID PACKAGING FROM IT.
SO IN THE LONG RUN IT'S EASIER, MORE EFFICIENT AND COST SAVINGS TO, IN THIS CASE, BE A SINGLE SOURCE.
OKAY, COUNSEL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. MAYOR, FROM WHAT I READ, YOU NEED TWO MOTIONS? YES, WE DO.
IF I MAY, UH, NUMBER ONE, MOTION TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE VENDOR FOR THIS PARTICULAR PURCHASE AND WAIVING
[02:10:01]
COMPETITIVE BIDS.THAT'S THE FIRST, THAT'S THE FIRST MOTION.
I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE.
WE HAVE A MO, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE SECOND.
DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION OF INITIATING
[E. Discussion and Consideration of Initiating the Process for Filling the Position of Associate Municipal Judge for the Edmond Municipal Court; Establishing what Materials are Required from Applicants; Designating a Staff Member to Receive Applicant Materials; Setting a Timeline for Submissions; and Directing Methods of Advertising the Position. (Citywide)]
THE PROCESS OF FILLING THE POSITION OF ASSOCIATE MUNICIPAL JUDGE FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT.ESTABLISHING, UM, WHAT MATERIALS ARE REQUIRED FROM APPLICANTS DESIGNATING A STAFF MEMBER TO RECEIVE APPLICANT, APPLICANT MATERIAL, SETTING A TIMELINE FOR SUBMISSIONS AND DIRECTING METHODS OF ADVERTISING THE POSITION.
UM, SO THE MAYOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, APPOINTING A MUNICIPAL JUDGE SUBJECT TO VOTE BY THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNCIL.
THAT HAS TO GO ON BOTH CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.
AND BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE A CHANGE IN MAYOR, UM, MAY 6TH, MAYOR DAVIS THOUGHT IT PRUDENT TO GO AHEAD AND SOLICIT SOME OF THOSE MATERIALS TO GIVE INCOMING MAYOR NASH.
UM, KIND OF SOME LEAD TIME TO REVIEW INTERVIEW AND BE PREPARED TO MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE.
SO WE JUST NEED TO DETERMINE WHAT MATERIALS YOU WANT, UM, WHAT STAFF MEMBER WILL RECEIVE THOSE, AND HOW LONG YOU WANNA LEAVE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT OPEN.
I'M HELPING YOU OUT HERE SO THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE BEHIND THE POWER CURVE.
WE HAVEN'T, UM, SEARCHED FOR A, A MUNICIPAL JUDGE OR ASSOCIATE IN, IN A LONG TIME, QUITE SOME TIME.
AND SO FOR 14 YEARS, ANOTHER HISTORICAL MOMENT.
SO, UM, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR, UH, BE BEYOND QUALIFICATIONS, BEYOND THE NORMAL THAT HOPEFULLY THEY, THEY BEEN A JUDGE SOMEWHERE BEFORE OR, OR THEY HAD THE EXPERIENCE.
UH, JUST NOT AN ATTORNEY I, BUT RIGHT.
SO THE QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY LAW ARE LISTED IN THE AGENDA ITEM.
THEY HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF EDMOND LICENSE TO PRACTICE LAW.
THERE'S A CERTIFICATION REQUIRED BY THE, UM, OKLAHOMA MUNICIPAL JUDGE JUDGE'S ASSOCIATION, AND THEY CAN'T ACCEPT EMPLOYMENT INCONSISTENT WITH THE DUTIES OF A JUDGE OR WHICH MAY CREATE CONFLICT WITH THE CASE UNDER JURISDICTION OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, IN YOUR OPINION, THAT THEY WOULD NEED? UH, QUALIFICATIONS? NO.
UM, AND THEN WOULD WE SEND THIS OUT JUST TO THE, UH, JUST LIKE WE WOULD DO ANY OTHER TYPE OF, UH, POSITION FIELD? IT WOULD GO THROUGH HR AND GO OUT AND I THINK GENERALLY IT'S HANDLED SIMILAR TO HOW, UM, A VACANCY ON COUNCIL IS HANDLED.
SO, HOWEVER WE DID THAT FOR THE WARD, ONE POSITION WOULD BE MOST COMFORTABLE TO HOW THIS WOULD BE HANDLED, THAT WE WOULD PUT A NOTICE OUT THAT WE ARE TAKING APPLICATIONS, AND THAT BASICALLY THEY WOULD COME BACK ON A DUE DATE AFTER, I WOULD ASSUME, AFTER THE NEW COUNSEL WAS SWORN IN ON MAY 5TH, THAT WE WOULD GIVE THEM SOMETIME WHEN, YES, SIR.
WHEN'S THE CURRENT TERM EXPIRED? IT EXPIRES JULY 1ST.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THE, THE VOTE HAS TO OCCUR AT BOTH JUNE MEETINGS.
SO HOWEVER LONG YOU WANNA LEAVE IT OPEN TO ACCEPT RESUMES AND STILL GIVE TIME FOR MAYOR NASH.
UM, TIME TO SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS, DO WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO WITH POTENTIAL APPLICANTS.
YOU COULD ASK HIM HOW MUCH TIME HE NEED FOR THAT.
MAYOR LAKE NASH, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD WANT THIS? THIS IS YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL DECISION ON THE POSTING OPEN OR THE HOLD OR HANDLE? THE, THE ENTIRE PROCESS? NO, HOW, HOW LONG DO
[02:15:01]
HAVE THE POSTING OPEN, RIGHT? CORRECT.SO HE NEED, WE NEED TO HAVE THE POSTING END DATE AND THEN A DATE IN WHICH HE WOULD INTERVIEW, AND THEN BY WHICH MEETING? SO WHAT'S THE AGENDA DEADLINE, COREY? FOR THE FIRST JUNE MEETING, IT'S USUALLY TWO WEDNESDAYS BEFORE, SO BY MID-MAY, WE NEED TO KNOW WHO HE WANTS, WHO YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT.
WHICH IS WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.
BECAUSE YOU, THE REST OF THE COUNCIL HAS TO VOTE AT BOTH OF THOSE MEETINGS.
AND CASEY MOORE HANDLED IT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL VACANCY.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE, YEAH.
WHAT, UH, JUST LOOK AT THE CALENDAR THERE.
WHAT, WHAT, WHEN WOULD IT NEED TO CLOSE? SO WE'RE TALKING, IT NEEDS TO BE THE FIRST JUNE MEETING, SO THAT'S GONNA BE A DEADLINE OF THE 28TH.
SO BASICALLY, MAYOR LIKE NASH WOULD NEED TO HAVE DECIDED WHO HE WANTS TO NOMINATE SOMEWHERE BY MAY 28TH.
AND SO HOW MANY WEEKS DO WANT? I WOULD THINK AT LEAST TWO LEAST TO MAKE A DECISION.
MAYBE TWO OPEN AND TWO TO, WELL, YOU HAD MENTIONED MID-MAY FOUR.
UM, AGAIN, IF, IF IT NEEDS TO BE ON THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE, WHICH WOULD BE JUNE 9TH, THEN THAT WOULD BE A DEADLINE OF THE 28TH.
OH, THAT'S, THAT GIVES IT PLENTY OF TIME.
DO YOU WANT TO, SO WHAT DATE BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND THE 28TH? YEAH.
DO WE WANT TO CLOSE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT? YEAH.
TO GIVE MAYOR ELECT TIME TO INTERVIEW.
SO, I MEAN, I WOULD THINK A WEEK AND A HALF OR TWO WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, RIGHT? YEAH.
I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE THE 20TH.
TWO WEEKS FROM THE SIXTH IS THE 20TH, YES.
SO LEAVE IT OPEN UNTIL IT'S TUESDAY THE 20TH, AND THEN A WEEK TO INTERVIEW TUESDAY THE 20TH.
WE THEN GIVE EIGHT DAYS TO MAKE A DECISION INTERVIEW.
WELL THEN WE CAN BACK IT UP A WEEK.
ONLY GIVES THAT SHORT YOU ON THE FRONT END.
WELL, BUT COULD, COULD THOSE INTERESTED GO AHEAD AND START SUBMITTING THEIR APPLICATIONS? YES.
AND THEN THE STAFF MEMBER COULD HAVE THOSE READY TO GIVE TO MAYOR NASH ON MAY 6TH.
YOU COULD START INTERVIEWING BEFORE THE WINDOW CLOSES, I GUESS.
IF YOU, IF THERE WAS AN APPLICATION YOU WERE INTERESTED IN, I MEAN, CASEY COULD FORWARD THOSE AS THEIR RECEIVED OR CLOSE IT MAY 13TH.
SO MAYBE CASEY SHOULD COME UP AND DO YOU WANT THIS TO CLOSE? MAY 13TH THROUGH MAY 20.
CASEY MOORE, DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
MAYBE JUST FOR SOME CONTEXT, WHEN WE DID OUR LAST ONE.
UM, AND, AND TRADITIONALLY, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE, THE PROCESS THAT'S BEEN USED FOR FILLING IN A VACANT COUNSEL SEAT, ESSENTIALLY THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR AT, AT THE SHORTEST, UH, ABOUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THE MOST ABOUT, SO ABOUT TWO TO THREE WEEKS THE APPLICATION'S BEEN OPEN.
SO I THINK TWO WEEKS IS, IS PROBABLY OKAY.
UM, AND THEN APPLICATIONS, REALLY, THAT JUST HAS ALWAYS DEPENDED UPON HOW MUCH TIME YOU ALL WANT TO PUT INTO THE INTERVIEWS THEMSELVES.
SO IF, IF THE INCOMING MAYOR WANTS, IF, IF HE FEELS A WEEK IS ENOUGH TIME, THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN DONE FOR SOME OF THESE AS WELL.
SO, UM, IT, IT'S REALLY JUST HOW MUCH TIME NEEDS TO BE DEVOTED.
UM, WHOEVER YOU DETERMINE IS THE STAFF MEMBER THAT COMES IN TO DO THIS COULD ACTUALLY START PROVIDING THOSE TO, UH, TO THE, THE MAYOR AND ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HE ALSO WANTS TO INVOLVE IN THAT PROCESS AS SOON AS THEY COME IN.
AND, AND SO THEY CAN, THEY CAN START BEING REVIEWED IMMEDIATELY AS SOON AS THEY START COMING IN.
SO IF THE DEADLINE'S TWO WEEKS, BUT SOMETHING COMES IN, IN THREE DAYS, THAT THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE THAT IN THREE DAYS.
'CAUSE ONE THING WE DO KNOW IS THAT POTENTIAL PEOPLE WHO ARE POTENTIALLY INTERESTED IN IT ARE THINKING ABOUT IT NOW.
'CAUSE THEY SAW IT WHEN IT HIT THE AGENDA.
AND, AND IN THIS PROFESSION, THEY TALK TO EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME.
AND SO THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATIONS OUT THERE IN THE FIELD THAT, UH, I WOULD THINK SO THAT THIS POSITION IS BECOMING AVAILABLE.
[02:20:01]
THE PAPERWORK BE WRAPPED UP TO PUBLICIZE IT? UH, SO I MEAN, I WOULD ASSUME THAT, UH, IF YOU ALL APPROVE A PROCESS TONIGHT, THAT A RELEASE COULD GO OUT AS EARLY AS TOMORROW.SO HE MIGHT, HE MIGHT HIT ME WITH A BOTTLE LATER, BUT, UH, THE RELEASE, BUT HE CAN'T SAY NO NOW.
I MEAN, HONESTLY, IN, IN WORKING WITH, WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING COVERED, ALL THAT INFORMATION IS IN THE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM.
THAT RELEASE COULD GO OUT AS SOON AS TOMORROW.
LET'S NOT, MR. MAYOR, WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT GOING OUT ON APRIL, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 AND BE BACK BY TUESDAY, MAY 13TH? I THINK THAT'S AN OKAY.
WHAT MATERIALS WOULD YOU LIKE? GOLLY GEE.
UH, A RESUME OR A RESUME OF A SHOWING? LETTER OF INTEREST.
CERTIFICATE OF GOOD STANDING FROM THE WATER ASSOCIATION.
CERTIFICATE OF GOOD STANDING WOULD BE GREAT IF THAT'S LETTER OF INTEREST.
ANYTHING ELSE, MS. MUDD? NOT THAT I KNOW OF.
DO YOU NEED A MOTION? SO WOULD THE MOTION BE TO, UH, THE RELEASE WOULD BE, OH, NOTIFYING PUBLIC OF THE POSITION GO OUT ON APRIL 30TH.
LEAVE THAT OPEN UNTIL MAY 13TH.
UM, DESIGNATE CASEY MOORE AS THE STAFF MEMBER FOR RECEIVING THOSE MATERIALS.
UM, MATERIALS BEING RESUME, LETTER OF INTEREST AND OBA CERTIFICATE, UM, MOTION FOR THOSE THINGS.
OKAY, COREY, THAT HE'S GOT IT.
DO YOU NEED TO REVIEW ANY OF THOSE THINGS? THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WILL I MAKE THAT MOTION? SECOND.
YOUR MOTION? SECOND, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE TO FILL THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE.
[F. Discussion and Consideration of Approval of the City of Edmond Resiliency Action Plan 2025. (Citywide)]
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE CITY OF ADMIN RESILIENCY ACTION PLAN 2025.OUR CONSULTANTS WOULD FILL, ARE GONNA GIVE US A PRESENTATION.
I'M PHIL JONES WITH THE CITY OF EDMUND, UH, A DA COORDINATOR AND SUSTAINABILITY PLANNER.
I'M NOT WITH LOTUS ENGINEERING AND SUSTAINABILITY.
AND SHE'LL BE, I'LL BE INTRODUCING HER IN JUST A MOMENT.
UM, AFTER THE PRESENTATION, WE SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE TIME FOR, UH, QUESTIONS.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN A YEAR LONG PROCESS.
WE HIRED LOTUS, UH, UM, ENGINEERING AND SUSTAINABILITY A YEAR AGO.
UM, WE'VE HAD CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND EIGHT INTERDEPARTMENTAL, UM, STAFF, UH, FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS AND A COUNCIL WORKSHOP BACK IN OCTOBER.
UM, THERE'S ALSO BEEN NUMEROUS INTERVIEWS WITH EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
CHRISTIE, THAT'S NOT FORWARDING.
UH, BEFORE TURNING IT OVER TO HILLARY, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW, UH, SOME OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS.
AND I, I SHOWED THIS IN OUR, UH, CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH SHOWING AGAIN.
AND IT WAS SPOKEN TO BY, UM, STACY AND KRISTEN, I, I BELIEVE AS WELL.
UH, THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT GOING, UH, ON IN EDMOND AND HAS BEEN GOING ON.
UM, AND THESE ARE RESILIENCY GRANTS.
THIS IS WHAT, THESE ARE WHAT WE WOULD, UH, CONSIDER RESILIENCY GRANTS, UH, TO THE TUNE OF $56 MILLION, UH, TAKE TO HELP MAKE THE CITY MORE RESILIENT.
AND YOU CAN JUST KIND OF, UH, BROWSE THROUGH THOSE URBAN FORESTRY, A MILLION DOLLARS CITYLINK TRANSIT FOR OUR, UH, OUR BUSES, UM, OVER $3 MILLION AND, AND, AND SO ON.
I THINK IT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT AND IT'S, IT'S, IT REALLY SPEAKS TO, UH, HOW THE STAFF IS, UH, PURSUING RESILIENCY IN IN MANY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND FOR, AND FOR DIFFERENT, UH, FOCUS AREAS.
UH, THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS SOME OTHER THINGS.
IT, IT, UH, REALLY DOESN'T DO JUSTICE TO ALL DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE
[02:25:01]
AS, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THE CITY IS DOING.UH, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS.
UH, IN 2018, CITY FACILITIES SWITCHED TO ALL ELECTRIC TO THE, UH, ALL OF THEIR ELECTRIC TO THE PURE AND SIMPLE PROGRAM.
THE OP THROUGH THE OMPA RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP FOR THIS PROGRAM CURRENTLY.
AND URBAN FORESTRY STAFF HAS MAINTAINED A TREE CITY USA DESIGNATION FROM THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION FOR THE PAST 19 YEARS.
AND THAT'S THE LONGEST GROWTH AWARD IN THE STATE.
AND WHAT THAT INDICATES IS THAT THEY HAVE, UM, WHAT, WHAT THAT REQUIRES IS THEY CONTINUALLY IMPROVE EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S JUST NOT A STATIC, UH, UH, AWARD THAT THEY GIVE.
SO THAT'S THAT, THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
UH, THE RESIDENTIAL CURBSIDE RECYCLING, UH, REMAINS THE POPULAR PROGRAM IN, UH, THE CITY OF EDMOND WITH A PARTICIPATION RATE OVER 93%.
ALSO RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH UCO ON A NEW DROP OFF LOCATION EAST OF CAMPUS.
THE CITY OWNS AND MAINTAINS 23 EV UH, CHARGING PORTS.
22 OF THOSE ARE LEVEL TWO STATION, SLOWER CHARGE STATIONS.
ONE IS THE FAST CHARGING STATION YOU FIND AT FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE.
UH, WE ALSO PARTNER WITH FOUR MORE, UH, WITH UCO.
AND SOON WE'LL HAVE 12 MORE PORTS, UH, FOR FOLKS TO CHARGE IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES.
EDMOND ELECTRIC PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR HOMEOWNERS CONSIDERING, UH, HOME, UH, SOLAR INSTALLATIONS TO SEE IF IT'S RIGHT FOR THEM.
AND FREE ENERGY AUDITS ARE AVAILABLE WHERE STAFF WILL COME AND EVALUATE YOUR HOME TO SEE IF THERE ARE SOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU CAN MAKE.
OUR WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IS ACTIVELY DOING A NUMBER OF THINGS.
UH, BUT AMONG THEM IS PROVIDING RESIDENTS WITH WATER CONSERVATION TIPS ON OUR WEBSITE AND PROMOTING WATER, UH, RESPONSIBLE WATER USE.
UH, SO WE FEEL THE RESILIENCY PLAN WILL PROVIDE A MORE OPERATIONAL AND COORDINATED APPROACH IN HOW WE PLAN AND TRACK RESILIENCY.
THE MAIN COMPONENT, UH, THAT HILLARY'S GONNA TALK ABOUT IS OUR PUBLIC DASHBOARD.
UM, IT'S BEEN DEVELOPED AND WILL PROVIDE BETTER TRANSPARENCY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, UH, MAKING OUR PLANS MORE RESPONSIBLE, UH, RESPONSIVE AND UNDERSTANDABLE.
I WAS HERE IN OCTOBER AND I WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY BOW TIES TONIGHT.
UM, UM, AND I JUST WANNA SAY A QUICK NOTE.
UM, I AM THE PRESIDENT OWNER OF LOTUS ENGINEERING AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO WORK IN OVER 25 STATES AND THREE CANADIAN PROVINCES.
AND I HAVE PRESENTED AT DOZENS OF COUNCIL MEETINGS AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN COUNCIL THAT'S BEEN SO RESPECTFUL TO EACH OTHER AND BEEN SO, UM, ADAMANT TO REALLY HAVE OPEN DIALOGUE AND BE RESPECTFULLY, YOU KNOW, ARGUE WITH EACH OTHER OR HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
SO I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT 'CAUSE YOU DON'T SEE THAT THAT OFTEN.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, I WILL JUMP IN TO THE PRESENTATION.
UM, PHIL SAID YOU COULD ASK QUESTIONS AT THE END, BUT IF YOU DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT COME UP, FEEL FREE TO JUST RAISE YOUR HAND.
I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
AND JUST LIKE THE LAST, UM, TIME I PRESENTED, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP AFTERWARDS, MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN.
I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
SO QUICKLY, WE'RE GONNA GO OVER THE RESILIENCE PROJECT.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE REMINDER.
YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF DECISIONS YOU MAKE DAILY AND WEEKLY.
SO I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE OCTOBER.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC DASHBOARD AND HOW THAT'S STRUCTURED AND WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE, AND HOW THAT THAT DASHBOARD WILL BE UPDATED.
UM, THE MOTIONS TO APPROVE THAT PHIL'S ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON REALLY HARD.
AND THEN THE CLOSING AND NEXT STEPS.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS THAT EDMOND DECIDED TO DO THIS PLAN.
A LOT OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF PIECES ALREADY IN PLACE ON RESILIENCY.
YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT TOURISM, YOU TALKED ABOUT BIKING, YOU TALKED ABOUT ALL THESE AMAZING THINGS THAT YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING ON.
BUT THE NUMBER THAT'S UP ON THE BOARD IS REALLY WHAT KIND OF TRIGGERED THE IDEA TO DO THIS RESILIENCE PLAN.
SO ACOG DID A NON-ATTAINMENT STUDY, WHICH MEANS THAT HOW MUCH COULD BE COST, HOW MANY, UM, HOW MUCH IT COULD COST THE REGION OVER A 20 TO 30 YEAR PERIOD IF YOU DID NOT MEET FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR QUALITY.
AND WHILE THAT NUMBER IS HUGE OF 9.5 TO 15.2 BILLION OVER THOSE 20 TO 30 YEARS, THERE'S ALSO THE HEALTH IMPACTS TO YOUR CITIZENS THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
SO WE KNOW THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS ALWAYS BETTER WHEN THERE IS BETTER AIR QUALITY.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT WITH BAD AIR QUALITY, THERE'S A LOWER LIFE EXPECT, UM, EXPECTANCY.
AND, UM, THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESS THAT COMES FROM, UM, UH, BAD AIR QUALITY, ESPECIALLY FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, ELDERLY AND YOUTH.
AND SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALSO TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
SO WITH THAT, PHIL CAME TO LOTUS WITH TWO QUESTIONS.
WHAT ACTIONS CAN THE CITY TAKE TO IMPROVE ITS OWN FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS, INCREASING EFFICIENCY AND SAVING MONEY,
[02:30:01]
AND HOW CAN THE CITY ENHANCE THIS EXISTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO BETTER SUPPORT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND PROVIDE FOR HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY? AND WHAT I REALLY WANNA POINT OUT HERE IS IT WAS REALLY TALKING ABOUT STEWARDSHIP, TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN FACILITIES, LEADING BY EXAMPLE WAS A BIG PIECE OF THAT.BUT THEN ALSO THERE'S A REALLY BIG FOCUS ON SUPPORT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT MAYBE DOING THE STICK WITH POLICY AND REQUIRING A LOT OF WHAT, UM, THE FOCUS OF THIS PLAN IS, IS HOW TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS THAT ARE ALREADY MAKING THOSE ACTIONS HAPPEN.
SO, UM, AS PHIL SAID, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO BOARDS OF COMMISSIONS, UH, CITY STAFF, EXPERTS IN THE COMMUNITY, PEER COMMUNITIES TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS THE CORE OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET AT.
AND A LOT OF THOSE WORDS THAT CAME UP, UM, DURING THAT PROCESS WERE ALSO THE ONES THAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
SO EVERYTHING IN THIS PLAN SHOULD LEAD UP TO THIS GOAL.
UM, THE GOAL OF THE EDMOND RESILIENCE ACTION PLAN IS TO BUILD A STABLE, RESILIENT, AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO DRIVE HOME THAT WAS I THINK, REALLY UNIQUE TO EDMOND IS ALMOST EVERY CONVERSATION THAT I HAD OVER THE LAST YEAR WAS ALL ABOUT THAT REALLY INTERGENERATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF A PLAN THAT REALLY WORKS FOR NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT ARE OLDER RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO YOUTH.
THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE ABOUT GETTING YOUR, UH, PEOPLE TO MOVE BACK HERE AFTER THEY'VE LEFT, MAYBE GO TO SCHOOL OR FOR JOB, BUT MOVE BACK TO EDMOND.
'CAUSE WE KNOW IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY, SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WANT TO COME BACK.
SO THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THIS PLAN AS WELL.
SO THE STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN HAS, AS I SAID, THE OVERARCHING PLAN GOAL THAT I JUST READ OUT.
THERE ARE SIX SECTORS AND EACH OF THOSE SIX SECTORS HAS A GOAL.
UM, AND IT'S A FIVE YEAR PLAN ON PURPOSE.
WE DIDN'T WANNA MAKE A PLAN THAT WENT OUT FOR 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT THIS INDUSTRY IS MOVING SO QUICKLY THAT JUST THE TECHNOLOGY, EVERYTHING IS CHANGING RAPIDLY.
SO WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS FIVE YEARS.
WE WANTED TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATE.
UM, AS PHIL SAID, YOU GUYS ARE DOING AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK ALREADY.
SO WE WANTED TO REALLY CELEBRATE THE CURRENT STATE, UM, AND REALLY EXPLAIN ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND CELEBRATE FROM THERE.
WE SPLIT STRATEGIES INTO THREE BUCKETS OF ADOPT, ACT, AND ADVOCATE.
SO THOSE ARE STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS POLICY STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS ACTIONS, AND THEN ADVOCACY.
ONE THING THAT'S VERY COOL ABOUT WHERE ED ADMIN IS LOCATED IS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF REGIONAL PARTNERS, A LOT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT YOU CAN, UM, WHICH I THINK THAT THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT TOO IS INFLUENCING NOT JUST EDMOND, BUT ALSO THE OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
AND THEN I AM DEFINITELY A DATA NERD.
SO THE METRICS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT I THINK FOR THAT STORYTELLING.
HOW DO WE KNOW IF EDMOND IS BEING SUCCESSFUL? SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD METRICS THAT REALLY TOLD THE STORY OF THE CURRENT STATE AND THAT FUTURE STATE GOAL OF WHERE YOU WANTED EACH SECTOR TO BE.
SO THE SECTORS, UM, AS I SAID, THERE'S SIX SECTORS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF STRATEGIES UNDER EACH ONE OF THOSE.
UM, YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL THE STRATEGIES IN YOUR PACKET.
UM, IS THAT CORRECT? UM, SO I'M NOT GONNA READ ALL OF THEM TONIGHT BECAUSE THAT WOULD TAKE FOREVER.
BUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT THERE IS A GOOD VARIETY OF STRATEGIES IN HOW THINGS ARE BEING DONE.
SO, UM, IN THE GREEN BUILDING AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY, UM, SECTOR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONCE AGAIN THAT STEWARDSHIP, ESTABLISHING A BASELINE OF ENERGY USAGE FOR CITY FACILITY OPERATIONS AND IDENTIFYING THOSE BUILDINGS WITH THE HIGHEST ENERGY USES, UM, USAGE AND, UM, ENERGY USE INTENSITY.
SO THAT MEANS THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY BEING USED PER SQUARE FOOT.
IT'S A GREAT MEASURE TO FIGURE OUT WHICH BUILDINGS ARE MAYBE ABOVE THEIR OTHER BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN SIMILAR USE.
UM, AND THEN INCREASING FUNDING TO PREPARE FOR EXTREME WEATHER AND POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO A BUILT INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE READY, UM, FOR EXTREME WEATHER THAT CAME UP DURING THAT CODE CONVERSATION.
UM, MAYBE THERE'LL ALSO BE EXTREME WEATHER OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS OCCUR
UM, SO BEING PREPARED FOR THAT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, ACOG'S BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK ON, BUT THEY'VE BEEN MAKING IT VERY CLEAR THAT URBAN WILDFIRE IS A HUGE THREAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT BEING IN AN URBAN AREA THAT WILDFIRE IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE POTENTIAL, UM, HARMFUL TO THEM.
SO DEVELOPING A WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY AS WELL AS PRESERVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS IN THERE.
AND THEN, UM, SHADING AT BUS STOPS.
SO THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A STRATEGY THAT FOCUSES ON PUBLIC HEALTH.
SO WE HEARD FROM TALKING TO FIREMEN AND OTHER EXPERTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT FEIGNING AND HEAT STROKE ARE A BIG ISSUE, ESPECIALLY AT SOME OF YOUR AMAZING PUBLIC EVENTS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.
[02:35:01]
IN ORDER TO STAY COOL AND TO, UM, BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE EDMOND.SO THE NEXT TWO SECTORS ARE AIR QUALITY AND TRANSPORTATION, AND THEN WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVATION.
SO WE TALKED ACTUALLY EARLIER, UM, ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE ALREADY DOING ON TRAFFIC SIGNAL TIMING.
UM, AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE STRATEGIES THAT PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.
TRAFFIC IS A HUGE ISSUE IN EDMOND THAT WE HEARD, UH, IS A CONCERN OF, UM, CITIZENS.
SO MAKING SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY USING THE REALLY GREAT TECHNOLOGY THAT'S OUT THERE TO HELP WITH AIR QUALITY IS ONE OF THE STRATEGIES.
AND YOU GUYS ARE ALREADY WORKING ON IT.
YOU TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER,
YOU AS A COMMUNITY ARE ALREADY DOING PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT THAT EV CHARGING.
AND AS WE'VE SEEN, THE UH, DEMAND FOR EVS IS ONLY ACCELERATING, UM, WATER QUALITY.
UM, IMPLEMENTING PRACTICE ONCE AGAIN IS THAT STEWARDSHIP OF WATER USAGE IN CITY BUILDINGS.
AND THEN ONE THING I DID WANNA DRIVE HOME, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WAS A PRIORITY OF THE MAYOR TOO, IS JUST THE WATER QUALITY AND PROTECTING YOUR WATER.
PART OF THE DISCOVERY WE DID WHEN WE WERE, UM, STARTING THIS PROJECT IS THERE ARE A LOT OF IMPAIRED WATER AREAS THROUGHOUT EDMOND WITH LOW QUALITY WATER.
IT DOES NOT, THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT'S DRINKING WATER, IT'S JUST THAT THERE ARE WATER THAT'S FLOWING THROUGH PEOPLE'S YARDS OR IN, UM, PUBLIC SPACES THAT MIGHT NOT BE, UM, HEALTHY WATER.
SO FIGURING OUT WATER QUALITY MONITORING TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE BEING TESTED AND THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY REPORT THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GOES INTO OUR RIVERS STREAMS AND LIKE EXACTLY.
AND ANOTHER HUGE, AND THEN WE CAN GET DINGED ON THAT.
AND ANOTHER HUGE PRIORITY WE HEARD FROM TALKING TO COMMUNITY IS RECREATION'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S A LOT OF THE REASON PEOPLE COME TO EDMOND IS THAT TOURISM PIECE, BUT THEN ALSO IT'S JUST A PART OF THAT BONDING AND HAVING, UM, THAT TOGETHER TIME.
SO MAKING SURE THE WATER QUALITY IS GOOD, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
UM, THE LAST TWO SECTORS WERE WASTE REDUCTION.
UM, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING MORE OF THAT EDUCATION PIECE ON, UM, RECYCLING, SIGNAGE AND PORTABLE BINS FOR RECYCLING AT CITY SPONSORED EVENTS.
AND THEN THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A STRATEGY OF WORKING WITH A NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WASTE THAT'S MOVING DOWNSTREAM INTO YOUR STREAMS IS COMING FROM OKLAHOMA CITY.
AND SO TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM TO FIND WAYS THAT THEY CAN MITIGATE THEIR, UM, WASTE SO IT DOESN'T IMPACT YOU AS WELL IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON, BUT CAN DO EVEN, UM, MORE IN IS WHAT WE'VE HEARD.
THEN WE HAVE TWO MORE, UM, STRATEGIES THAT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WORKED REALLY WELL WITH ALL THE CONVERSATIONS TONIGHT, UM, OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES.
I LOVE COMING TO EDMOND BECAUSE I LOVE GOING TO ALL YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND, UM, JUST HOW UNIQUE YOU GUYS ARE IT WITH SO MANY INDEPENDENT RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS.
AND THEN ECOTOURISM BASICALLY REALLY HIGHLIGHTING ALL THE AMAZING THINGS THAT YOU HAVE IN EDMOND.
YOU GUYS ARE ALREADY DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THAT, BUT JUST CONTINUING TO DO THAT AS WELL.
SOME STRATEGIES, AS I SAID IN THE PACKET, IT HAS THE FULL LIST, SO PLEASE REFERENCE THAT
I DIDN'T WANNA TAKE YOUR WHOLE NIGHT.
OOH, THAT'S SMALLER ON EVEN ON THE SCREEN.
SO THE FINAL DELIVERABLE THAT WE CAME UP WITH, UM, IS A PUBLIC DASHBOARD.
SO IT'S NOT GONNA BE A NORMAL REPORT THAT YOU GUYS WOULD'VE, UM, RECEIVED.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE LIKE THE REPORT THAT WAS THAT TAX DOCUMENT THAT'S HUMONGOUS.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LIVING DASHBOARD THAT CAN BE UPDATED AS OFTEN AS YOU WANT.
UM, AND REALLY THE GOAL OF THAT WAS TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS, UM, EASILY DIGESTIBLE AND INTERESTING TO YOUTH, TO, UM, MAYBE PEOPLE THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT NOT AS TECH SAVVY, BUT EVERYONE CAN REALLY ACCESS THAT INFORMATION AND CAN COME BACK AND VISIT.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S UPDATED REGULARLY, IT REALLY DOES THAT TRANSPARENCY PIECE SO PEOPLE CAN CHECK IN TO SEE HOW YOU GUYS ARE ACHIEVING GOALS, UM, HOW MANY STRATEGIES YOU'VE DONE.
SO I'LL SHOW SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT.
IT'S ALSO BEEN RUN THROUGH ALL A DA ACCESSIBLE, UM, REQUIREMENTS.
SO IT REALLY CHECKS A LOT OF THOSE BOXES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THIS PLAN HAS BEEN VETTED BY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS CITY STAFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF, AS I SAID, YOUR PEER COMMUNITIES AND EXPERTS IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND THEN YOUR NEIGHBORS TO REALLY DRIVE HOME WHAT THESE STRATEGIES SHOULD BE.
SO IT'S HAD A, A LARGE VETTING ALREADY OF THE CONTENT THAT'S IN THERE.
SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE PAGES, UM, IN THE DASHBOARD.
SO YOU CAN GET FROM PAGE TO PAGE IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT WAYS TO MAKE IT EASY, INCLUDING THOSE ICONS ON THE LEFT.
BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS VERY CLEAR WHICH, UH, SECTOR YOU WERE VIEWING.
WE WANTED TO CELEBRATE THOSE PIECES OF WHERE, UM, YOU'VE ALREADY DONE OF SUCCESS.
SO THAT'S THE WHERE WE ARE NOW.
UM, THE WHERE WE ARE HEADED IS THE CLEAR MISSION STATEMENT OF WHERE EDMOND IS HEADED FOR THAT SECTOR BY 2030.
SO IT'S SHORT, SUCCINCT, IT'S TO THE POINT, TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE AND THEN HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE THE THERE.
[02:40:01]
SO HOW WE WILL GET THERE IS, UM, BELOW THAT, AND IT INCLUDES THOSE STRATEGY BUCKETS THAT I TALKED ABOUT.SO THE ADOPT ACT, UM, AND ADVOCATE.
AND THEY'RE IN THAT ACCORDION FORMAT.
SO IT'S REALLY, UH, READY FOR EASY, UH, READING.
UM, UM, AND THEN EVEN BELOW THOSE STRATEGIES, THERE'S THE HOW TO LEARN MORE.
SO WE WANTED TO REALLY CELEBRATE THE GREAT NUMBER OF RESOURCES AND PARTNERS FOR EDMOND HAS ALREADY.
SO ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS SO MANY PARTNERS RAISED THEIR HAND SAID, I WANTED TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
SO WE ADDED THEM TO THE BOARD SO PEOPLE CAN KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE.
THIS IS A GROUP EFFORT WE'RE GONNA GET DONE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK ALREADY.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PLANS AND RESOURCES WERE BARELY READILY AVAILABLE IN ONE PLACE.
UM, AND THEN ON THE TOP RIGHT CORNER, I KNOW IT'S HARD TO SEE
UM, WE HAVE IT READY TO GO, IT'S READY FOR PREVIEW, BUT UM, WE JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS READY FOR THE, UM, THE MEETING.
BUT THERE'S A VERY CLEAR SUMMARY OF THE NUMBER OF STRATEGIES BEING WORKED ON.
SO WE JUST MADE UP SOME NUMBERS, BUT IF YOU WERE A CITIZEN OF EDMOND, YOU COULD GO HERE AND SAY, OH, LAST MONTH EDMOND WAS, YOU KNOW, 20% OF THE STRATEGIES WERE, UM, NOT STARTED.
WELL, RIGHT ON THE SCREEN IT SAYS 50% ARE NOT STARTED, 50% ARE IN PROGRESS.
HAVE THEY MADE ANY IMPROVEMENT? SO YOU CAN GO THERE AND YOU CAN SEE, OH, THEY'VE FINISHED THIS MANY STRATEGIES, UM, AND THEY HAVE KIND OF MOVED FORWARD.
SO IT'S REALLY TRYING TO MAKE IT AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE AND REALLY, UM, INCREASE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE.
AND SO MY FAVORITE PIECE, OBVIOUSLY THE DATA, BUT YOU HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.
UM, PHIL MENTIONED THE TREE, UM, TREE CANOPY ALREADY.
UM, AND SO WE'RE REALLY SHOWING THE DATA IN, UM, WAYS THAT ARE INTERACTIVE, BUT THEN ALSO OUR COMPATIBLE WITH DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAP OF EDMOND, IF YOU'RE IN A CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU CAN SCROLL IN AND IT'S REALLY INTERACTIVE OR YOU CAN CLICK AND SAY, OH, MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS THIS MUCH TREE CANOPY COVERAGE VERSUS THIS ONE.
YOU CAN REALLY DIG INTO, UM, UH, SPECIFIC AREAS.
SO THESE NUMBERS CAN BE UPDATED AS OFTEN AS YOU WOULD LIKE.
IT CAN BE REALLY INTIMIDATING TO DO A ONE YEAR REPORT, ESPECIALLY WHEN DATA COMES IN.
SOME OF THE DATA COMES IN MONTHLY, SOME OF IT COMES IN QUARTERLY.
UM, SOME OF IT COMES IN LIKE, UM, EVERY OTHER YEAR.
SO WE'VE MADE IT REALLY, REALLY SIMPLE WHERE, UM, THAT'S A GOOGLE SHEET BASICALLY, AND EACH ONE OF THOSE TABS CONNECTS TO THE DASHBOARD.
SO SAY THIS YEAR PHIL REALIZES THAT THEY'VE GIVEN AWAY A HUNDRED TREES, HE'LL JUST PUT 20, 25, A HUNDRED TREES AND IT'LL UPDATE ON THEIR DASHBOARD.
SO THE ENTIRE GOAL OF THIS WAS TO CREATE SOMETHING WHERE YOU DON'T NEED CONSULTANTS.
YOU GUYS CAN DO THIS ALL INTERNALLY.
WE HAD A MEETING WITH IT, WE'VE HANDED IT OFF, THEY'RE REALLY READY TO TAKE IT ON.
UM, IT'S FULLY IN THEIR HANDS ALREADY.
UM, BUT UH, WE JUST WANTED IT TO BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE UPDATED WHENEVER DATA BECOMES AVAILABLE.
AND THEN ANYTIME A NEW METRIC COMES IN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE DO HAVE AN OPEN DOOR WHERE IT'S AT NO COST.
YOU GUYS CAN COME TO US AND WE JUST UPDATE IT FOR YOU.
SO, UM, OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER THING THAT CAME UP TONIGHT OBVIOUSLY IS FUNDING, BUT, UM, YOU ARE ALREADY AS A CITY, USING A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UH, SOURCES ON FINDING WAYS TO FUND RESILIENCY.
I MEAN, I AM SO IMPRESSED BY THE NUMBER OF GRANTS.
UM, IT WAS 57 MILLION, UM, AND GRANTS THAT YOU BROUGHT IN, UM, TO THE CITY THROUGH THE RESILIENCE EFFORTS, BUT YOU'RE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON, UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS.
AND THEN, UM, WHAT, WHAT WAS IT, THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING THAT CAME UP EARLIER, THOSE ARE ALL DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY AND POTENTIALLY COULD FUND ADDITIONAL WORK.
ONE PIECE THAT I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THOUGH WAS ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING, BECAUSE THIS MIGHT BE A PIECE TO THE NEXT STEP OF YOUR SYS UH, RESILIENCE, UH, JOURNEY.
UM, BUT HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING? IS ANYONE? OH, YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT, OKAY.
CALEB CAN DEFINITELY ANSWER A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT DO COME UP.
HE'S WITH JCI, OUR PARTNER, UM, ON THIS PROJECT.
UH, THEY REALLY PROVIDED THAT TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OF BUILDINGS.
UM, BUT PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING IS A GREAT WAY TO FUND, UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, UM, THROUGH ENERGY SAVINGS.
SO SAY THAT YOU, UH, RETROFITTED ALL YOUR LIGHTING IN A BUILDING AND IT SAVED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND UTILITY COSTS EVERY YEAR.
THEN BASICALLY JCI WOULD DO THAT WORK USING THOSE FI UH, SAVINGS OVER TIME TO FINANCE THE WORK.
AND WHAT'S REALLY COOL IS THAT THE LIGHTING WON'T COST THAT MUCH MONEY, BUT THOSE ADDITIONAL SAVINGS WILL BE ABLE TO PAY FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE OR SOME OF THE OTHER BIG COSTS THAT I DON'T KNOW.
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, CALEB WILL DEFINITELY ANSWER THEM.
AND A GREAT EXAMPLE IS THEY'VE DONE WORK FOR UCO, UM, UH, AND BASICALLY THEY USE THAT MECHANISM TO FUND, UM, IMPROVEMENTS IN 45 BUILDINGS WITH A GUARANTEED ENERGY SAVINGS OF $56 MILLION.
SO IT CAN DO HUMONGOUS PROJECTS.
[02:45:01]
AND SO THAT IS JUST ANOTHER THING THAT WILL BE FORTHCOMING AND MORE INFORMATION WILL BE COMING.ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA SAY ABOUT THAT, PHIL? NO, I'D LIKE TO SET UP THE NEXT ONE OF OUR NEXT STEPS WITHOUT, CAN YOU HEAR ME TO THE MIC? I WOULD JUST SAY THAT ONE OF OUR NEXT STEPS WOULD BE TO WORK WITH CALEB AND JCI TO SET UP SOME MEETINGS WITH STAFF AND SEE WHERE, UH, SOME OF THESE AREAS MIGHT, WE MIGHT HAVE SOME POTENTIAL PROJECTS WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
ANYTHING ABOUT A PERFORMANCE CONTRACT, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE EVALUATION CRITERIA THAT'S BEEN USED AND ACCEPTED IN OTHER AREAS LIKE UCO, THAT HELPS WITH THE FORMULATION AS YOU GO DOWN THE PATH THAT YOU HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
UM, SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, THE MOTIONS TO APPROVE THAT PHIL HAS WORKED ON OVER THE LAST MONTH.
HE'S MET WITH 10 DIFFERENT, UM, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WERE RELEVANT.
I KNOW YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL ONES, BUT THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE KIND OF RELEVANT TO THE PROJECT.
UM, EIGHT OUTTA 10 OF THEM SAID YES, AND WERE INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE.
UM, I'M NOT SURE WHEN THAT MEETING IS.
WE JUST, WE I MISSED IT BECAUSE I'VE GOT THE WRONG TIME.
AND THEN THE, UM, CENTRAL EDMOND URBAN DISTRICT BOARD, UM, SAID NO, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE WANTING SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOW EVERYTHING WAS GONNA BE FUNDED, WHICH MAKES SENSE.
I MEAN, THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF WHAT THEY DO.
AND NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO QUESTIONS.
UM, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION TO STATE I'M APPRECIATIVE OF, OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.
AND I TOLD PHIL WHEN HE GAVE THIS THE PRESENTATION THE OTHER DAY, HEY, THIS IS ANOTHER MECHANISM BRINGING ALL OF OUR, MY WORK TENTACLES TOGETHER IN EDMOND, SHOWING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
UM, AND WITH THE DASHBOARD THAT'S JUST GONNA HIGHLIGHT MORE, GET THAT CONNECTIVITY.
UM, SO THE CENTRAL OF AND URBAN DISTRICT BOARD, YOU SAID THEY, THEY VOTED NO, UM, BECAUSE THEY WANT, THEY HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE PARTICULARS OUTLINED IN THE RESILIENCY PLAN WOULD BE FUNDED.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION TO DIGEST AND IT'S BEEN PROBABLY A VERY LONG MEETING FOR YOU GUYS.
SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? I MEAN, I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THIS HAVE ALREADY HEARD THIS A COUPLE TIMES TOO, SO IT'S JUST GOOD TO HEAR IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN YEAH.
YEAH, NO, IT'S REALLY, REALLY EXCITING.
AND UM, I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S A, A GREAT PROJECT THAT YOU SAID TO LIKE REALLY HIGHLIGHT WHERE EDMOND IS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES AND YOU GUYS ARE REALLY CUTTING.
IT'S NICE TO SEE HOW MUCH WE'RE ALREADY DOING.
DEFINITELY WANNA CELEBRATE IT.
SO, SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS GONNA GO BACK TO THE CENTRAL URBAN BOARD.
I MEAN, IF THEIR NO VOTE WAS BECAUSE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT FUNDING AND FUNDING.
I WE'RE, I MEAN, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN ANSWER FOR THEM TO THEIR QUESTION.
UH, SO I MEAN, BUT YEAH, YOU GUYS HAVE PROVIDED A LIST OF POTENTIAL WAYS.
SOME OF IT IS NOT TAKING FUNDS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT MM-HMM
KIND OF INTERNALLY GENERATING A LOT OF THE, A LOT OF THE PROJECTS DON'T SEEM TO HAVE MUCH COST ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
JUST BEING MINDFUL WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING IN THE NEW BUS STOP OR WHAT HAVE YOU TO PROVIDE SHADE.
ONE, ONE OF THE WORDS THAT I'VE USED OVER AND OVER IN OUR, IN OUR BOARD AND COMMISSIONS MEETING IS CAPACITY.
UH, THE, THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, WE JUST HAVE ENORMOUS CAPACITY IN WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT ARE ONGOING AND HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A TEAM SPECIFICALLY PURSUING GRANTS, UH, THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
UM, AND, AND, AND WE DID, WE, WE INCLUDED THE FUNDING PAGE THERE TO SHOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS AND WE, WE'D ALREADY HAVE TIFF DISTRICTS, WE ALREADY HAVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
WE ALREADY DO A LOT OF THINGS.
UH, SO, UH, WHERE WHILE WE DON'T HAVE A PARTICULAR PRICE TAG ASSOCIATED WITH EACH STRATEGY, UM, I, I, I WASN'T VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE URBAN BOARD WAS AFTER ON THAT.
SO, UM, AND, AND WE HAVE OTHER PLANS, UH, IN THE CITY THAT WE'RE, THERE'S NOT A PRICE TAG ASSOCIATED WITH EVERY STRATEGY OR EVERY GOAL.
UM, AND THIS IS JUST ONE, IT'S ONE, IT'S A GUIDING DOCUMENT IS WHAT IT IS.
IT'S A GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR MOVING FORWARD AND, AND COLLABORATING WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ON, ON, UH, THE NEXT STEPS.
WELL, AND YOU JUST PULLED OUT A COUPLE, DIDN'T YOU SAY THERE'S LIKE 129 STRATEGIES? YEAH, YEAH.
[02:50:02]
SO AT EEDA, UM, PHIL CAME TWO DIFFERENT TIMES, AND, UM, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IS A DEVELOPER BUILDING PROJECTS AND JUST CONFIRMED, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY'S FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS AND HOW TO, IN WHAT THE CITY DOES, UM, NOT NECESSARILY FORCE BUSINESSES AND THEIR BUILDING PROJECTS TO DO GREEN THINGS, BUT I WOULD, I WOULD PERSONALLY SUPPORT THAT, BUT YEAH.I'LL, I'LL SPEAK TO THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
WE DO WANNA BE MINDFUL OF BUILDING COSTS AND IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND CURRENTLY WE'RE NOT PURSUING, UM, NEW BUILDING CODES FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
UM, THAT'S BEEN A, THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT STAFF HAS TALKED ABOUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT THE TIMING HAS TO BE RIGHT.
IT'S, IT'S RIGHT NOW BUILDING COSTS ARE
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? NO, SIR.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PASSION AND EXPERTISE.
IT REDUCES OUR WATER USE, OUR ELECTRIC USE, WHICH REDUCES THE COSTS AND YEAH, NO, DEFINITELY IN A HUGE PUBLIC HEALTH COMPONENT THAT'S MIXED IN.
SO JUST NEXT STEPS ARE, UM, THE STAFF WILL BE FORMING FOCUS GROUPS BASED ON THESE STRATEGIES JUST TO REALLY HELP PRIORITIZE THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REALLY IDENTIFY WHICH ARE THE TOP ONES TO DO THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR, AND SO ON.
UM, AND THEN, UM, OBVIOUSLY IF YOU GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT, THEN THE DASHBOARD WILL BE PUBLISHED.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED, SO IT IS READY TO GO.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS TO SAY GREEN LIGHT, AND THEN IT WOULD BE UP AND READY TO GO, UM, WHICH WOULD BE EXCITING.
AND THEN JUST UPDATING THE DASHBOARD REGULARLY IS THE NEXT STEPS.
SO, UM, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, PHIL, UH, IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE AND HE CAN PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH ME TOO.
I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO TALK, SO, BUT YEAH.
OH, WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS FIRST.
UM, WE NEED TO VOTE ON EIGHT F UH, DISCUSSING CONSIDERATION.
APPROVAL OF THIS, UH, CITY OF EDMOND RESILIENCY ACTION PLAN.
MAYOR, I MOVE TO ADOPT A F THERE A MOTION.
WE'RE OUTTA A BREAK BACK IN ON, UH, ITEM EIGHT G.
[G. Discussion and Consideration of Remedies Available Pursuant to Section 24.3 of the Amended and Restated Festival Marketplace Ground Lease Dated April 8, 2024, By and Between the City of Edmond and Lap 7 Development. (Ward 1)]
DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION OF REMEDIES AVAILABLE PURSUANT TO SECTION 24.3 OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE.
GROUND LEASE DATED APRIL 8TH, 2024, BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF EDMOND AND LAP SEVEN DEVELOPMENT.
HELLO, LENA DOZIER, THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION MANAGER AT REQUEST OF COUNSEL.
I, UH, PUT TOGETHER A, UM, A LONG TIMELINE THAT IS PART OF YOUR PACKETS, BUT I'LL JUST HIT SOME HIGHLIGHTS.
UM, TO GET STARTED ON MAY 22ND OF 23, UM, COUNSEL, UM, APPROVED THE GROUND LEASE FOR FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE TO LAP SEVEN.
THE COMPLETION DATE FOR, I MEAN THE, THE START DATE FOR CONSTRUCTION WAS JANUARY 1ST, 2024.
ON JANUARY 3RD OF 24, WE SENT THE FIRST NOTICE OF DEFAULT TO THE DEVELOPER.
IN BETWEEN THEN AND APRIL 8TH, WE WORKED ON NEGOTIATIONS TO EXTEND THE TIMEFRAME.
UM, WE, IN PREPARATION FOR, UM, CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAP SEVEN'S DEVELOPMENT ON DECEMBER 26TH, WE COMPLETED DEMOLITION OF THE, UM, THE SHED THAT WAS OUT AT THE FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE ON MARCH 18TH.
THE SECOND NOTICE OF DEFAULT WENT TO THE DEVELOPER, AND ON AUGUST, I MEAN, ON APRIL 1ST OF 25 THIS YEAR, UM, THE DEVELOPER RESPONDED VIA EMAIL TO THE SECOND NOTICE OF DEFAULT.
UM, THE CONS, THE TIMELINE IN THE SECOND AMENDMENT WAS THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO START CONSTRUCTION NO EARLIER THAN NOVEMBER 11TH AND NO, LATER OF DECEMBER 15TH OF 24.
UM, SO THAT'S WHEN WE SENT THE SECOND NOTICE OF DEFAULT.
UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN LET ME KNOW.
UM, OR THE TIME, LIKE I SAID, THE TIMELINE, THE EXTENDED TIMELINE IS IN YOUR, IS
[02:55:01]
IN YOUR PACKET.ANY QUESTIONS, COUNSEL, AT THIS TIME? SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION OR BROUGHT THIS TO THE, TO THE AGENDA, WANTED TO HAVE COMMENTS OR, UM, OR DID WE JUST WANT TO HEAR FROM THE, UM, THE APPLICANT OR THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATION? UH, I DON'T, I DON'T MIND STARTING.
SO I WAS APPOINTED ON DECEMBER 13TH.
UM, AND ABOUT THAT TIME, I, UM, STARTED GETTING QUESTIONS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THIS PROJECT.
AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, I, I'LL FIND OUT.
AND, UM, KIND OF STARTED ASKING SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, I KNEW THAT THE, I'D READ THE CONTRACT, I KNEW THAT THE DEADLINE FOR COMMENCEMENT WAS APPROACHING, UM, IN THE MIDDLE.
THERE WERE OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
AND THEN, UM, THE, THE STORAGE BUILDING FOR FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE WAS DEMOLISHED AFTER THAT DEADLINE HAD PASSED.
UM, SO I CONTINUED TO KIND OF ASK QUESTIONS, UM, DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A CLEAR UPDATE ON THE TIMELINE.
UM, SO ABOUT IN FEBRUARY I STARTED ASKING FOR AN UPDATE, UH, MORE DIRECTLY AND DIDN'T RECEIVE THAT.
UM, SO I SAW IT AS MY, MY DUTY AS WARD ONE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO, UM, TO KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS AND, UM, AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE CITIZENS THAT WERE ASKING ME.
SO IN MARCH, UM, A LETTER WAS SENT OUT AT THE SECOND NOTICE OF DEFAULT.
AND, UM, SO I WAS IN SUPPORTIVE OF SENDING THAT.
UM, I AM IN SUPPORT OF, UH, DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN EDMOND.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE, THE IDEA OF THAT.
BUT, AND I CAN HOLD THAT IN ONE HAND WHILE ALSO HOLDING, IN THE OTHER HAND THAT I SEE IT AS MY DUTY, UM, ON CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, LOOKING AT CONTRACTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING PEOPLE TO THEM JUST AS WE EXPECT THAT WE WOULD BE HELD TO CONTRACTS.
UM, SO THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY IS OWNED BY THE CITY.
THERE ARE OTHER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, UH, GOING ON IN THIS CITY.
UM, THEY'RE NOT ON CITY PROPERTY, SO I SEE THOSE AS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
UM, BUT GOING BACK TO, UM, JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS MY DUTY TO, TO KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS.
AND, UM, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND DELAYS.
I UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE IS QUITE DIFFICULT AND I, UH, APPRECIATE ANY EFFORT, UM, TO BRING GREAT THINGS TO, TO EDMOND AND, AND MY WARD.
UM, CERTAINLY I ALSO SEE THE FARMER'S MARKET AS, IT'S JUST A, IT'S A GEM AND IT'S A HUGE ASSET TO OUR CITY.
AND I KNOW THOSE DATES, UM, FOR COMMENCEMENT AND THEN FOR COMPLETION, THEY WERE VERY, UM, SPECIFIC, UH, IN ORDER THAT IT NOT BE DISRUPTIVE TO THE FARMER'S MARKET.
UM, SO YEAH, THAT'S WHERE, THAT'S WHERE I AM.
I WAS THE SECOND, UH, MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL TO ASK THIS TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA.
I VOTED FOR THIS IN MAY 22 OF 23.
UH, WHEN I FIRST HEARD OF THE PROJECT, IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL HAD DONE ALL THE WORK, HAD LISTENED TO THE PUBLIC, WORKED WITH STAFF TO PUT IT TOGETHER, AND I THOUGHT, FAR BE IT FOR ME TO VOTE NO ON SOMETHING THEY HAD WORKED ON.
UH, THE SECOND TIME AROUND I WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF AN EXTENSION AND I WASN'T IN FAVOR OF GOING FROM ONE STORY TO TWO.
AND I, I HAD A MEETING WITH THE APPLICANT, TOLD HIM MY FEELINGS, AND I ACTED ACCORDINGLY.
I MET WITH THE APPLICANT AGAIN THIS PAST FRIDAY.
I UNDERSTAND HIS CONCERNS AND I SYMPATHIZE WITH THOSE.
[03:00:01]
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON MY INVOLVEMENT SINCE MAY OF 23.AND I LOOK BACK AND THE DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, 2024 TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AND 12 MONTHS FROM THAT DATE TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION.
SO THAT WOULD'VE BEEN JANUARY 1ST, 2025.
UH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THIS COUNCIL WITH THE HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AND ACTION THAT'S BEEN TAKEN.
SO THAT'S WHY I SECONDED THE MOTION TO PUT IT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
ANYTHING ELSE FROM COUNCIL, COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? MAYOR.
LET'S HAVE THE, UM, APPLICANT REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE APPLICANT COME TO SPEAK.
OH, LEMME SAY SOMETHING BEFORE THAT.
THERE'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A CONTRACT, AND IN ORDER FOR EACH BODY, THE CITY OR THE APPLICANT TO RETAIN THEIR RIGHTS, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO.
YOU HAVE TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE CONTRACT.
SO JUST BECAUSE THE LETTER OF DEFAULT WENT OUT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE WORLD IS FALLING APART.
IT'S A WAY THAT THE CITY HAS TO DO TO, TO PROTECT ITS RIGHTS UNDERNEATH THE CONTRACT.
SO THIS GOES ON EACH AND EVERY DAY OF MAJOR CONTRACTS OR EVEN MINOR ONES.
IT'S, IT'S A PART OF THE, THE DOING THE BUSINESS OF A CONTRACT.
SO SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY IT ISN'T, BUT IT IS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT BEFORE THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE APPLICANT SPOKE.
UH, I REPRESENT LAP SEVEN AND BRANDON LODGE, AND HE'S GONNA SPEAK, UH, HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.
UH,
AND APRIL OF 2024, THE DEADLINES WERE SO UNREALISTIC.
IT WAS NOT FAIR FOR THE PARTIES.
AND LET ME READ YOU THE DATES THAT LENA HAS PUT IN HER DOCUMENT BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE RELEVANT 'CAUSE THEY'RE SO MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE.
AND THE EFFORTS BY MR. LODGE ARE SO MUCH MORE HERCULEAN THAN WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS IN A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
AND I MEAN THAT, WE'VE GOT A PROJECT RIGHT NOW THAT'S BEEN IN PHASE ONE OF PLATING AND ENGINEERING FOR 16 MONTHS.
AND THIS PROJECT WAS APPROVED BY YOU GUYS FOR A NEW DEADLINE IN APRIL OF 2024.
APRIL 8TH, RIGHT? APRIL 17TH, YOU GUYS SENT AN INVOICE TO THE DEVELOPER FOR RENT.
APRIL 29TH, THEY PAID THE RENT.
AUGUST 13TH, THE SITE PLAN WAS CONSIDERED BY CENTRAL URBAN BOARD AND WAS APPROVED AUGUST 26TH.
YOU GUYS APPROVED THE SITE PLAN AND THEN THE BUILDING PERMIT WAS APPLIED FOR ON SEPTEMBER 6TH.
THE BUILDING PERMIT PLANS GOT SUBMITTED THAT QUICKLY AFTER SITE PLAN.
THAT'S JUST NOT COMMON BECAUSE THIS GUY IS TRYING TO GET STUFF DONE.
AND THEN AUGUST 20, OCTOBER 28TH, SIX WEEKS LATER, WHICH IS A NORMAL TIME PERIOD FOR THE CITY ENGINEERING TO HAVE TO REVIEW PLANS, THEY SENT BACK REQUESTS FOR RESUBMITTAL OF THE BUILDING PLANS IN OCTOBER 28TH, 2024.
KEEP IN MIND, HE'S SUPPOSED TO START CONSTRUCTION OCTOBER, I MEAN NOVEMBER 15TH.
AND HE SUBMITTED EVERYTHING AS FAST AS IS POSSIBLE.
HIS ARCHITECTS THEN TURN AROUND IN OTHER SET OF PLANS, AND THEN THE DEMOLITION PERMITS START BEING APPLIED FOR NOVEMBER 8TH, ACCEPTED NOVEMBER 15TH.
THEN NOVEMBER 19TH, THE EEDA GETS AN INCENTIVE THAT HE'D BEEN WORKING ON FOR MONTHS WITH THEM SO THAT HE COULD ATTRACT AND SELL, SIGN UP THE FINAL TENANT FOR HIS PROJECT.
AND THEN YOU HEARD THE SITE WAS DEMOLISHED, I BELIEVE IT SAYS ACCEPTED ON DECEMBER 26TH.
THAT'S WHEN THE CITY FINISHED THEIR WORK.
KEEP IN MIND, THE DEADLINE FOR HIM TO BE STARTED IS 11 DAYS BEFORE THAT.
AND THEN THEY SAID THE SECOND LETTER OF NOTICE OF DEFAULT, THE FIRST LETTER OF NO FAULT WENT OFF BEFORE THE AMENDMENT.
SO I GUESS WE COULD, WE COULD AGREE TO THAT OR NOT.
BUT THAT CAME OUT FROM MRS. SAWYER'S OFFICE ON MARCH 18TH.
AND SHE SAID THE CONTRACT REQUIRES YOU TO USE COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE EFFORTS TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION BETWEEN NOVEMBER 15TH AND DECEMBER 15TH.
RIGHT? AND THEN ON APRIL 1ST, HE SENT A HEARTFELT 700 WORD ANSWER TO MRS. SAWYER THAT LINED OUT EVERY SINGLE THING HE HAD DONE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO SHOW HIS COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE
[03:05:01]
EFFORTS TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION BY A DATE CERTAIN.AND THEN I GOT INVOLVED PROBABLY TO THE DETRIMENT OF EVERYBODY, UH, AND I STARTED TALKING WITH MRS. SAWYER.
AND BECAUSE THE LESSOR MADE A DETERMINATION THAT THOSE EFFORTS TO CURE THAT DEFAULT, WHICH COULD NOT CONCEIVABLY BE CURED WITHIN 30 DAYS, HAD NOT BEEN MET.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AS LES OR TO SAY, WE THINK YOU'RE IN DEFAULT.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA SEE IF WE WANT TO EXERCISE OUR REMEDIES, WHICH THERE'S TWO REMEDIES IN THE CONTRACT, TERMINATE, AND ALL THE TIME, EFFORT, MONEY, EXPENSE HE EXPENDED IS DOWN THE DRAIN.
OR YOU GUYS CAN SELF FULFILL THE CONTRACT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU WANNA SELF FULFILL THE CONTRACT.
HE'S GOT THE TENANT TO BRING A NEW SALES TAX GENERATING PERSON TO A PIECE OF LAND IN DOWNTOWN EDMOND.
ODDLY ENOUGH, THIS IS THE ONE GUY, THIS IS THE ONE GUY IN THE LAST 20 YEARS WHO HAS BUILT A GROUND UP RETAIL SALES TAX GENERATING DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN EDMOND WITHOUT ANY INCENTIVES.
AND HE'S PUT HIS HEART AND HIS SOUL AND HIS MONEY ON THE LINE.
AND I AGREE, THE DEADLINES HAVE NOT BEEN MET.
BUT I SAY WHAT I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, I THINK THE DEADLINES, I I MAYBE HE SHOULDN'T AGREE TO 'EM, MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE AGREED TO 'EM, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THE IDEA OF HAVING SITE PLAN APPROVAL, BUILDING PLANS APPROVED, AND A BUILDING PERMIT ISSUED WITHIN SEVEN MONTHS WHEN YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN APPLICATION YET, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE CITY OF EDMOND EVER.
IF THEY HAVE, MAYBE MR. LAWRENCE COULD GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE WHERE SOMEONE HAS GONE FROM RAW LAND TO A BUILDING PERMIT ISSUED IN SEVEN MONTHS WHEN SITE PLAN APPROVAL AND CENTRAL URBAN BOARDS REQUIRED.
AND SO I DON'T FAULT YOU GUYS
UH, Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY SAID PROJECTS TAKE LONGER.
UH, NOBODY'S GONNA EMBARRASS ANYBODY.
WE TALK ABOUT PROJECTS, PRIVATE SECTOR, PUBLIC SECTOR, STEVENSON PARK, CAPLINGER, THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY, EMBER 1 0 3, BROADWAY, THE LARK, WHATEVER THEY ARE, THEY TAKE LONGER, NOT BECAUSE ANYBODY'S TRYING TO STICK IT TO ANYBODY.
AND I BELIEVE IF IT'S A CONTRACT, THEN IF IT'S IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, TWO THINGS HAPPEN BY THE PARTIES.
WHAT DOES IT COST ME TO EXTEND TIME AND WHAT'S MY UPSIDE? THAT WOULD BE THE ANALYSIS TYPICALLY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AND HERE, WHAT IT COSTS THE CITY OF EDMOND TO EXTEND THE CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE, TIMELINE ON A 50 YEAR LEASE IS NEGLIGIBLE.
NOW I REMEMBER WHAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN NICHOLS SAID THERE WAS CONCERNS ABOUT DISRUPTION OF THE FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE, BUT YET THE DEADLINE TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION WAS JULY 31ST.
I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE DISRUPTIVE TIME TO HAVE CONSTRUCTION HAPPEN, ALTHOUGH HE AGREED THAT HE WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ON WEEKENDS AS PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
SO IF THE COST IS INCONVENIENCE TO THE FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE, I THINK THERE IS A SOLUTION FOR THAT THAT'S ALREADY BEEN AGREED TO KEEP IN MIND.
HE ALSO AGREED LAST APRIL WHEN TOM ROBBINS ASKED HIM, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO HAVE WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH US TO KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE, AND HE SAID, YES, THAT WAS IN THE MINUTES, THAT'S IN ALINA'S TIMELINE THAT SHE, SHE DID FOR ALL OF US.
SO I UNDERSTAND ALSO THE CONCERN OF, WELL, TAXPAYERS WANNA KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEIR ASSET.
AND I THINK THE ASSET AT PLAY HERE IS A PIECE OF LAND THAT'S SUBJECT TO A GROUND LEASE.
AND THAT IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT'S AN ASSET OF THE CITY AND YOU WANT TO TURN THAT NON-PERFORMING ASSET INTO A PERFORMING ASSET.
WE HEARD THAT FROM EVERYBODY THAT SPOKE TONIGHT.
AND SO MY, MY, MY REQUEST, MY DREAM OF YOU GUYS BEFORE YOU EVEN HEAR FROM BRANDON IS GIVE IT A MINUTE.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN WORK OUT A SOLUTION IN THE WORDS OF THE MAYOR THAT FIGURES OUT IF WE CAN GO FORWARD WHERE THERE IS STILL A BENEFIT TO THE CITY.
8,000 SQUARE FEET GENERATES $120,000 IN SALES TAX A YEAR BASED ON NATIONAL AVERAGES.
THIS ISN'T REALLY AN INCENTIVE.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING WITH A PIECE OF LAND THAT'S NOT GENERATED ANY REVENUE.
AND SO I HAD A WHOLE PRESENTATION AND YOU WOULD THINK I JUST DID IT.
UH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE CITIZEN WHO'S RISKING THE CAPITAL TO TRY TO TURN SOMETHING INTO A REALITY.
AND BRANDON, UH, IS PASSIONATE, UH, AS COUNCILMAN MUG CAN BE AT TIMES.
UH, BUT I WOULD LIKE HIM TO TELL YOU THE STORY.
I DON'T WANT TO ARGUE ABOUT THE LEGAL STUFF.
I THINK THAT'S A LOSING PROPOSITION.
I JUST, I'M IMPASSIONED ABOUT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE'VE DONE IT A BUNCH OF TIMES BEFORE AND I DON'T SEE WHY THIS WOULD BE THE TIME WE WOULD, WE WOULD NOT.
SO ANYWAY, YOU HEARD ENOUGH FROM ME, BRANDON, YOU WANNA COME TALK ABOUT YOUR PROJECT? SO TODD, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS TO NOT TAKE ACTION ON THIS AND THEN BRING IT BACK FOR AN EXTENSION.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE, OR FOR NEW DATES? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES, MA'AM.
AND I THINK I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND TO, TO Y'ALL ASKING, HEY, I BELIEVE IT MAKES SENSE NOW.
THIS IS, I REPRESENT THE OTHER SIDE
[03:10:01]
OF THE CONTRACT TO COME TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, LET IT TAKE A BREAK FOR TWO WEEKS.LET US COME WITH A PROPOSAL FOR AN AMENDMENT, THEN SHOOT THAT AMENDMENT UP OR DOWN.
YOU'VE ALREADY GOT YOUR NOTICE OF THE DEFAULT OUT.
RIGHT? AND THE NOTICE OF DEFAULT SAID BASICALLY IT HAS TO BE CURED WITHIN 30 DAYS OR IF IT CANNOT COMMERCIALLY BE CURED WITHIN 30 DAYS AS SOON AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CURE A DEFAULT OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU'VE USED COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE EFFORTS IN THE PAST.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A 30 DAY CURE OR KEEP MOVING.
I MEAN, CITY ATTORNEY COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO THAT.
I THINK IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CURE THE DEFAULT THE WAY IT'S BEEN TREATED.
SO MY QUESTION WAS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT.
YOU PUT US ON NOTICE OF DEFAULT, JUST LET IT SIT FOR A MINUTE.
LET US COME BACK WITH A PROPOSAL.
AND THEN YOU OR SOMEBODY, THE TIMING'S BAD, BUT SOMEONE DECIDES, HEY, YEAH, WE BELIEVE IN THIS.
WE WANT TO GIVE A CHANCE, OR NO, WE'RE DONE.
AND WHATEVER YOU SPEND ON ENGINEERING FEES AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF AND, AND WE'VE GOT SOMETHING ELSE WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THAT LAND.
SO YES MA'AM, I WOULD ASK THAT NOTHING BE DONE TONIGHT AND THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE VERY NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT A PROPOSAL FOR AN ANOTHER AMENDMENT.
WHAT WOULD THAT BE? I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE WE WOULD START CONSTRUCTION WITHIN EIGHT WEEKS OF THIS DATE AND BE DONE WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THAT DATE, GIVEN WHERE WE ARE IN OUR PROCESS WITH SITE, WITH ALL OF OUR PLANS APPROVED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE.
AND WE WOULD WORK OUT THE DETAILS IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF ACCOUNTABILITY WE NEED BETTER SO THAT WE SAY, HEY, LISTEN, I NEED A WEEKLY REPORT FROM YOUR ARCHITECT OR YOUR ENGINEER WHERE YOU ARE TO OUR WHOEVER OR WHATEVER.
AND IF THIS WERE THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND I DON'T MEAN TO KEEP SAYING THAT, BUT I THINK IT MAKES SENSE 'CAUSE YOU GUYS TREAT THIS LIKE CAPITALISM AS YOU SHOULD.
AND SOMEONE CAME TO US AND SAID, I WANT AN EXTENSION.
IF YOU NEED SOMETHING FROM ME, HOW ARE WE GONNA MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN? THAT'S THE QUESTION, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE'RE REASONABLE PEOPLE.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE HARD REAR ENDS ABOUT IT.
AND SO THE QUESTION IS, WELL HOW DO WE DO THAT? HOW DO WE CREATE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY? AND I BELIEVE IN THE LAST ONE, BASED ON THE MINUTES AND BASED ON MS. DOZIER'S REPORT, THERE IS A REQUEST TO MEET WEEKLY.
AND I THINK THE WILLINGNESS WAS THERE, BUT IT NEVER WAS FOLLOWED UP BY THE PERSON THAT ASKED FOR IT.
BUT MAYBE HE WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO ALL THE STUFF HE WAS DOING WITH ENGINEERING AND SITE PLAN AND THE ED A HECK THE INCENTIVE, HE WENT AND GOT A-D-E-D-A GO STRAIGHT TO THE TENANT.
IT'S NOT GOING IN THE POCKET OF THE DEVELOPER.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY HE COULD SECURE THE TENANT.
AND THAT HAPPENED, WHATEVER HE SAID, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.
SO, I'M SORRY, BARRY, DO YOU HAVE A COUNCILMAN MOORE? DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER I HAVEN'T HAD A WEEKLY MEETING.
I HAVEN'T HAD A TWICE MONTHLY MEETING.
I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MEETINGS EXCEPT UNTIL THE LAST MONTH.
AND I ASKED THE APPLICANT, WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL ME? YEAH, LET'S HAVE A CHAT.
HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANNA CALL ME.
'CAUSE I WAS OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT THAT I, I VOTED FOR IT IN MAY OF 23.
I ALSO TOLD THE APPLICANT, LOOK BRANDON, I DON'T THINK THERE'S EVER BEEN A TIME THAT I HAVEN'T MET WITH A CITIZEN OF EDMOND IF THEY ASKED ME TO.
OH, SO WELL, AND I I'VE HAD OPEN EARS.
I, AND I'VE BEEN, PLEASE DON'T HEAR WHAT SAYING WE CAN, WE CAN SING TOGETHER.
THEY SHOULD HAVE, UH, I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO LISTEN, BUT I'VE, I'VE LISTENED A LOT AND I, SOMETHING'S GOTTA BE DONE HERE.
I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA BE BACK HERE IN A MONTH HAVING THIS SAME CONVERSATION OR TWO MONTHS, THREE MONTHS, AND I DON'T WANT TO GO MANY MONTHS NOT HEARING ANYTHING FROM THE APPLICANT OR FROM THE CITY OF EDMOND.
WELL, IF I COULD, AND I'M SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING YOU SURE, NO, NO.
THE DEAL, UH, AND BRANDON CAN SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, ALTHOUGH I KEEP SAYING THAT, I GUESS I'M LYING TO YOU,
I WAS A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED AND, AND I JUST KEPT MY HEAD DOWN AND THOUGHT I'D JUST KEEP WORKING AND WORK OUT OF IT.
AND THERE HADN'T BEEN ANY DIALOGUE FROM THE FORMAL DIALOGUE AT LEAST UNTIL MARCH 18TH, RIGHT? WHEN THERE'S A LETTER THAT CAME AND THEN ALL HECK BREAKS LOOSE AND EVERYBODY PANTIES AND, AND LISTEN, I'VE BEEN UP HERE AND I'VE ASKED FOR EXTENSIONS AND YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN THEM SOME OF THEM.
I MEAN, I CAN GIVE YOU A HOTEL OVER ON ERRORS.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT A LOT OF RISKS BY THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO LET THAT PLACE OPERATE.
AND WE WERE GOING ON THE WORD OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT BEING TRUTHFUL TO US.
I MEAN, I'M RIGHT AND THE, THE POTENTIAL RISKS TO THE CITY, BUT THE UPSIDE TO IT ACTUALLY COMING AROUND
[03:15:01]
AND BEING SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE CITY.AND SO AGAIN, IT'S PERSONAL TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT BOTHERED ME ALL WEEKEND.
AND I JUST FEEL LIKE WHEN I SEE THE DESIRE OF SOMEONE TO INVEST CAPITAL IN OUR DOWNTOWN, AND IT ENDS THE WAY IT MIGHT END AND THAT NARRATIVE GETS OUT THERE, NEWSFLASH, SOME PEOPLE THINK EDMOND'S HARD TO DEAL WITH AS IT IS.
AND WHEN THERE IS INCONSISTENT SENSE BY THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMUNITY, THEY GO TO PLACES THAT IT'S NOT INCONSISTENT AND NOT APPLIED.
AND I WOULD HATE, AND THIS IS MAYBE THIS IS WHY I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, I WOULD HATE FOR THAT TO BE OUR NARRATIVE, NO MATTER IF IT'S TRUE OR NOT.
BUT THE IDEA WOULD COME OUT, HEY, THIS GUY HAD A TENANT LINED UP.
THE CITY WASN'T DOING ANYTHING EXCEPT PROVIDING SPACE.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT COMPLETELY FAIR.
AND THEN THEY DIDN'T EXTEND HIM AND THEY EXTENDED ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
WELL, WHY WOULD I DO SOMETHING IN EDMOND NEXT TIME? AND I, AGAIN, FAIR OR NOT, I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE THE NARRATIVE.
'CAUSE I WANT ALL THE CAPITAL TO COME HERE.
I WANT EDMOND TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND TO FLOURISH.
AND, UH, AND SO I WANT EDMOND TO BE WHAT EDMOND IS
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE INCREDIBLY LENIENT WHEN IT COMES TO EXTENDING THINGS.
AND I JUST WONDER WHY THIS IS THE ONE WE'RE DRAWING A LINE IN THE SAND ON, GIVEN THIS ISN'T AN ABSENT DEVELOPER.
THIS IS A GUY WHO'S ANSWERING THE BELL AND IS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER CONTROLS OR ACCOUNTABLE ACTIVITY YOU WANT TO PUT ON HIM GOING FORWARD AND IN THE PAST.
SO, I'M SORRY, BRANDON, MR. MAYOR, COUNSEL.
UM, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE MUCH ELSE TO SAY.
UM, I GUESS THE MAIN THING, UH, THAT I WANT TO CONVEY IS THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN A SITUATION WHERE I'VE BEEN TWIDDLING MY THUMBS, WASTING TIME CHASING OTHER, MORE LUCRATIVE, LUCRATIVE PROJECTS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
UH, THIS IS WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.
I'M NOT BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION, INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY.
UM, EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE RISKS, THE, THE STUFF THAT I'VE DONE BEFORE, EVERY NEW PROJECT RISKS, THE ONES THAT I'VE DONE BEFORE IT, THIS DELAY.
THERE'S NOBODY ON PLANET EARTH THAT HAS WANTED THIS PROJECT TO START SOONER THAN ME.
THE WAY THAT I SET THESE PROJECTS UP.
IT'S HOW I PAY MYSELF SO I CAN PAY MY MORTGAGE AND MY KIDS' SCHOOL, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT HAS TAKEN TWO YEARS THAT, THAT I OBVIOUSLY HAVE NOT GOTTEN PAID ON AND HAVE BEEN POURING MONEY INTO IT.
UM, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT THERE IS NO DOWNSIDE FOR THE CITY OF EDMOND IN THIS THING IF ALL THE TIME THAT'S BEEN WASTED.
IT, IT, IT HAS TAKEN, I SAY WASTED ALL THE, ALL THE DELAYS, THE FRUSTRATIONS AND THE DELAYS AND THE PROJECTS AND THE, AND THE REDESIGN AND THE, AND THE, THE COSTING AND TRYING TO GET THIS THING WITHIN THE BUDGET.
UM, ALL OF THAT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE TENANTS IN PLACE.
THERE IS NO PROJECT IN THIS ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.
THERE'S NO WAY TO DO A PROJECT LIKE THIS ON SPEC.
AND SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND WE'RE DOING DESIGN AND WE'RE DOING BUDGETING FOR THE CORE AND THE SHELL.
AND THEN WE'VE GOTTA DO DESIGN AND WE'VE GOTTA DO BUDGETING FOR EACH OF THE TENANT SPACES.
THOSE TENANT SPACES BUILD THAT THE BUILD OUT COST IS ON THE TENANTS, IT'S ON, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
AND SO IF THAT COST GETS TOO HIGH, THEY, THEY'RE STARTING, THEY'RE STARTING OFF TOO LOW AND THEY RISK GOING OUT OF BUSINESS AND THE TENANTS GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
WE'VE GOT AN EMPTY BUILDING SITTING THERE.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT ON TIME, BUT IT'S NOT DOING ANYBODY ANY GOOD.
UM, WHAT I WOULD SAY GENERALLY ABOUT THIS IS THAT THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS NOTHING BUT UPSIDE FOR THE CITY OF EDMOND AS FAR AS SALES TAX, UH, GROUND LEASE PAYMENTS, ET CETERA.
IT'S 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF PAVERS THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY INCOME FOR THE CITY.
NO ONE WAS THINKING ABOUT THEM AT ALL.
THE DELAY HERE IS NOT DELAYING ANY PLAN TO THE CITY PROJECT.
THERE IS NO OTHER PLAN FOR A PROJECT ON THAT LAND, AS FAR AS I KNOW.
UM, AND SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT KICKING THIS PROJECT OUT WOULD BE KIND OF CUTTING OFF YOUR NOSE, SPITE YOUR FACE THERE.
THERE'S NOTHING LINED UP TO TAKE ITS PLACE.
EVEN IF THERE WERE, IT WOULD BE TWO YEARS MINIMUM BEFORE ANYTHING COULD GET DONE THERE.
AND I'VE GOT A PROJECT THAT'S SITTING HERE WAITING TO GO THAT I'VE POURED A LOT OF PERSONAL MONEY AND TIME INTO.
I HAVE THE TENANTS THAT HAVE BEEN PATIENT, THAT HAVE STUCK WITH ME ON THIS THING THAT WANT TO BE HERE.
UM, AND SO I WOULD ASK FOR A LITTLE GRACE, A LITTLE UNDERSTANDING AND A LITTLE MORE TIME TO LET ME DO WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IT.
[03:20:01]
I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE COUNSEL ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW? MM-HMM.PROCESSING? UM, NO, UH, INTERESTING SITUATION.
THE, I'M GONNA DISAGREE ON SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS IS THAT THERE'S ONE MODEL OUT THERE THAT EVERY PIECE OF AVAILABLE SPACE HAS TO BE OCCUPIED IN ORDER FOR, TO RECEIVE SOME PERCEIVED ECONOMIC BENEFIT.
IN MY MIND, THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE THE SPACE WAS BEING USED BY THE CITY AND OTHER ENTITIES THAT WERE DOING BUSINESS DOWNTOWN.
THE CAPACITY THAT WE WERE USING BEFORE THAT, THAT FACILITY HAS BEEN REDUCED.
SO THAT CAPACITY, WE DON'T HAVE THAT SAME TYPE OF CAPACITY DOWNTOWN NOW.
SO THAT'S IN POTENTIAL ECONOMIC, UH, IMPACT, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
I, I'M NOT OF, AS I SAID, I'M NOT OF THE MIND THAT EVERY PIECE OF GREENERY HAS TO HAVE A PLAN AND EVERY PIECE OF PROPERTY HAS TO HAVE BE GENERATING INCOME.
IT'S CALLED, I CALL IT SWING SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH.
I I WAS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE.
I DIDN'T LIKE WHEN IT WENT TO TWO STORIES AND ALL THIS, WHAT'S MISSING HERE IS THIS, I DON'T LIKE THE NARRATIVE WHEN PEOPLE GIVE THE ASSUMPTION THAT EDMOND'S DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH BECAUSE WE ARE, IF WE'RE ALL HERE FOR THE BENEFIT OF EDMOND, THEN EVEN IF YOU ARE A DEVELOPER OR SOMEBODY LIKE THAT, IF YOU'RE THROWING OUT THAT SHADE, SHAME ON YOU, WHOEVER YOU MAY BE BECAUSE YOU'RE HELPING WITH THE DISINFORMATION THAT'S GOING OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO LET'S GET REAL HERE FOR A MINUTE AND NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST YOU BECAUSE YOU, SOME OF YOU'ALL ARE GONNA SAY, OH, WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER TYPES OF CONTRACTS.
YOU KNOW WHAT, TO ME, IF I WAS STILL SITTING UP HERE AS MAYOR, EVERY CONTRACT THAT WE HAD AN INVESTMENT IN, I WOULD WANT THEM IN AS SOON AS IF YOU WEREN'T MEETING THE TERMS OF CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT, YOU WOULD BE STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF US, PERIOD.
BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW, ESPECIALLY FROM THE LEGAL WORLD, THAT'S HOW YOU KEEP YOUR RIGHTS.
SO MY THING IS THIS, YOU ALL WANT A TWO WEEK BREAK, MAYBE A FOUR WEEK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU NEED, BUT I DON'T KNOW EVEN WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BRING TO THE COUNCIL, WHOEVER IT MAY BE.
WE KNOW IT'S GONNA BE ON A SOLUTION.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT IS THAT THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RISK THERE.
THE RISK THAT WE'VE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH, WE'VE ALL, WE'VE, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE NOW GONE THROUGH THIS ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THINGS OUT OF WASHINGTON THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GONNA AFFECT US.
OUR SALES TAX DOLLARS ARE DOWN.
SO MAYBE AS YOUR, AS YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL WAS, RIGHT, MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE SIGNED THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE IT IT, IT DIDN'T, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING NOW, WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT WE WERE GONNA BE EXPERIENCING.
SO MAYBE THE RISK IS JUST TOO HIGH.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHAT CAN I HEAR FROM YOU ALL TO SAY THAT YOU ALL CAN DEVELOP SOME TYPE OF PLAN THAT'S GONNA TAKE TO ACCOUNT THOSE RISKS? BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE AN INVESTMENT TO LET, TO GO MOVE FORWARD, TO LET THAT BUILDING BE TORN DOWN.
THAT SWING SPACE THAT WE HAD IN THERE AS A, AS A CITY IS FOR OTHER DOWNTOWN IS GONE.
SO WHAT COULD BE SAID, WHAT CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE THAT WILL TAKE ACCOUNT THOSE RISKS? BECAUSE THE THING IS, SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID TODAY, WERE SAID A FEW MONTHS AGO AND A FEW YEARS AGO.
IT'S WHAT'S GOING TO, WHAT'S GOING TO TAKE THE, THAT RISK AWAY FROM YOU ALL FOR SOMETHING TO PROCEED? WELL, THE RISK IS OUR, I'VE, I'VE BORNE THE RISK.
[03:25:01]
OF MY OWN MONEY IN THIS THING.IT'S THERE, THERE, I I AM FULLY AT RISK.
THERE IS, THERE IS NO MORE AT RISK I COULD POSSIBLY BE.
THE CITY IS NOT AT RISK AT ALL AND HAS NOT BEEN DELAYED ON ANYTHING, UH, AS FAR AS THIS PROPERTY IS CONCERNED.
UM, YEAH, I WHAT, WHAT CAN POSSIBLY YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL SAID.
I MEAN, RIGHT NOW I'M GOING THROUGH THE FINANCING WITH THE BANKS, GOING THROUGH THAT ENTIRE PROCESS.
THEY'RE ORDERING APPRAISALS THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS, RIGHT? LIKE THIS, THIS IS, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.
EVEN EVEN THE NEW, THE NEW WINDOW WE HAD, I MEAN, IT WAS, IT WAS RIDICULOUS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS THING, THE, AND RANDY WAS THERE IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF THESE, THESE, THESE NEGOTIATIONS, THE DATES WERE ALWAYS THE STICKING POINT.
EVERYONE WAS LIKE, GIMME A DATE WHEN YOU START AND WHEN YOU STOP IT.
AND I'M LIKE, WELL, AS SOON AS I POSSIBLY CAN, AS SOON AS I POSSIBLY CAN.
BUT WE HAD TO HAVE THE DATES, HAD TO HAVE THE DATES FOR THE CONTRACT.
THE SECOND ONE, WHEN WE WENT TO TWO STORIES, THERE WAS A ONE MONTH WINDOW TO START CONSTRUCTION BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
I'M ASKING YOU GUYS FOR THIS TWO STORY PROJECT TO GET THE EXTENSION GOING, OR I'VE, OR I'VE LOST THE WHOLE PROJECT TO BEGIN WITH.
SO I MEAN, HOW DO YOU HIT A ONE MONTH WINDOW ON A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT? IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
THAT, I GUESS THAT'S MY POINT.
I MEAN, BOTH PARTIES ARE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEADLINES THAT ARE IN THERE.
AND IT, I MEAN, I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS, BUT I VOTED YES FOR THIS THREE TIMES, RIGHT? AND I THINK IT'S AN AMAZING PROJECT WOULD BE, UM, AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, THE LAST TIME I REALLY REMEMBER DISTINCTLY SAYING THIS IS IT, I MEAN WE, AND, AND THE DATES OF CONSTRUCTION SAYING, WELL, IT'S NOT GONNA BE DONE UNTIL JULY.
THE POINT WAS THAT I REMEMBER, AND IT'S BEEN A WHILE, AND I THINK EMILY HARMON'S HERE, SO SHE MAY BE ABLE TO CHIME IN, BUT THAT BEGINNING STAGE, WHAT WAS, WAS WHAT WAS GOING TO BE DISRUPTIVE TO THE MARKET.
THEN WHEN IT GETS PAST A CERTAIN STAGE, IT'S GONNA BE CONTAINED SOMEWHAT.
AND SO IT'S NOT THE COMPLETION AS MUCH AS DOING THE PART THAT COULD BE INTERFERING.
AND AND THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY WHY THE START DATE WAS NOVEMBER TO JANUARY, RIGHT? IT NEEDED TO START WITHIN THAT PERIOD OF TIME KNOWING KIND OF HOW IT WOULD PROGRESS.
UM, I DON'T DO CONSTRUCTION AND I DIDN'T SIGN AGREEING TO THOSE DATES.
I, I ASSUMED WHEN YOU STOOD UP HERE AND TOLD US THAT THAT WAS DOABLE, THAT IT WAS DOABLE.
WELL, IT IS DOABLE, BUT YOU SAYING IT'S DOABLE.
AND NOW HOW CRAZY THAT THAT ISN'T DOABLE, BUT YOU SIGNED THE CONTRACT.
SO YES, IT REALLY PUTS US IN A, IN A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT POSITION.
AND TO SAY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER PLANS, I MEAN, IF IT WASN'T GONNA WORK, THEN MAYBE WE DO A DIFFERENT MASTER PLAN.
MAYBE IN THE MEANTIME, THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
AND, AND FRANKLY, I DON'T LIKE THE THREAT THAT WE'RE GONNA TELL EVERYONE THAT YOU GUYS ARE HARD TO DEAL WITH IF YOU DON'T EXTEND THE CONTRACT.
UM, THAT FEELS, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WAS A THREAT THAT WAS MADE NOT BY ME.
I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT MR. MCKENNA SAID, UM, IS THAT, AND YOU CALLED IT SHADE, BUT IT WAS LIKE, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO FURTHER THIS NARRATIVE THAT EDMOND'S HARD TO DEAL WITH? AND WE'RE GONNA TELL ALL OUR DEVELOPER FRIENDS THAT YOU GUYS ARE TERRIBLE TO DEAL WITH.
SO, YOU KNOW, SOMEHOW WHEN ANOTHER PARTY CAN'T MEET THE DEADLINES, THINGS THEY'VE AGREED TO, THEN IT'S ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CITY'S FAULT AND WE'RE GONNA THROW THE CITY UNDER THE BUS FOR ALL OF IT.
SO I, I JUST THINK THE NARRATIVE OBVIOUSLY IS A LITTLE ONE SIDED.
UM, BUT I REALLY WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN AND I, YEAH, I PUT MYSELF OUT THERE AND VOTING AND SAYING, YEAH, LET'S DO THE TWO STORIES BECAUSE THEN IT CAN BE PROFITABLE ENOUGH TO DO IT.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A DRAW, IT'D BE A SALES TAX REVENUE.
UM, AND SO I AM NOT NEARLY AS DISAPPOINTED AS YOU 'CAUSE I DIDN'T PUT MONEY INTO THE PROJECT, BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS DISAPPOINTING.
BUT I, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, WELL, AND I'M NOT ON THE COUNCIL AFTER TONIGHT, BUT THIS, THIS THREATENING NARRATIVE AND OF BAD PUBLICITY IS JUST GETTING REALLY OLD.
UM, AND TRYING TO PUT US IN A DIFFICULT POSITION THAT YOU TOLD US YOU COULD DO.
I SAID I COULD, I WOULD MAKE, UH, COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE EFFORTS, WHICH I HAVE ABSOLUTELY MADE.
AND DID EVERYTHING COMMERCIALLY, COMMERCIALLY, REASONABLY POSSIBLE TO HIT THOSE DATES AS TODD OUTLINED IN THE, IN THE, UH, UH, TIMELINE.
[03:30:01]
IT'S, IT, THIS IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.UM, BUT I'M STILL, YEAH, SORRY, I DON'T KNOW.
THOSE ARE AT LEAST MY THOUGHTS AT THIS POINT.
AND TO SAY THERE'S NO DOWNSIDE TO CONS TO THE CITY AGREEING TO THIS IS NOT ACCURATE EITHER.
HOW'S THE COMMUNITY GONNA TRUST US WHEN WE ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT AND WE'RE NOT GONNA ENFORCE THE CONTRACT? AND BECAUSE SOMEBODY FOUR YEARS AGO OR IN THE PAST HASN'T, HAS BEEN MORE LAX, DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD CONTINUE THAT.
NOT I CAN THROW A BASEBALL FROM THAT SITE.
I CAN THROW A BASEBALL FROM THAT SITE AND HIT A PROJECT WITH A MASSIVE TIFF INCENTIVE THAT'S YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE.
AND, AND HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT CONTRACT IS? HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S NOT BEING ABIDED BY AND THAT'S NOT WHAT'S UP HERE TONIGHT.
BUT IT, BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT THERE IS, IN THE CITY MULTIPLE PROJECTS THAT ARE INCENTIVIZED, THAT ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE.
AND TO SAY THIS IS AN INCENTIVIZED, NOBODY HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP HERE.
THIS IS A GOOD DEAL FOR YOU TOO.
IT, IT'S, IT'S, THERE IS AN LEASE.
IS IT? RIGHT? JUST 'CAUSE IT'S NOT A TIFF DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NOT AN INCENTIVE OR A BENEFIT.
IT DOESN'T COST THE CITY ANYTHING.
IT IS EVER WHAT I MEAN WE ARE, WE ARE INVESTING, WE'RE NOT USING IT FOR THE OTHER PURPOSE.
BE IT WHAT? NO, WE'VE ALREADY SPENT 40 GRAND, WE GOT A $60,000 GRANT FROM EEDA TO WHAT TO START WITH.
AND THE GRANT FROM THE EEDA IS THAT, WELL, I HAD TO GO GET THAT GRANT TO KEEP THE TENANTS INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT.
IT DID COST THE CITY SOMETHING THEN.
AND MR. MAYOR, I GOT A QUESTION IF I MAY GO RIGHT HERE, SIR.
ONE, I HEARD THE MAYOR SAY MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE SIGNED THIS CONTRACT.
I ASKED LAST WEEK WHO WROTE THE CONTRACT? I ASKED THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR ADMINISTRATION WHO WROTE IT.
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICER OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
OUTSIDE COUNSEL WROTE IT CITY'S OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
AND I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT AGAIN.
UNLESS OUR CITY ATTORNEY AGREES TO EVERY CAPITAL LEVER, EVERY, EVERY PERIOD EVER.
UH, TO THINK OUTSIDE COUNSEL REPRESENTS THE CITY.
THEY GET TOLD, WELL, HERE'S WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO.
BUT HERE'S, I UNDERSTAND, BUT WE STILL HAVE A CITY ATTORNEY THAT NEEDS TO LOOK OVER THIS.
I WANT TO HEAR SOMETHING ELSE.
MR. LODGE, IF YOU TAKE A BREAK FOR JUST A SECOND, I'VE GOT SOMETHING ON MY MIND.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION MANAGER.
WHAT WENT RIGHT HERE AND WHAT WENT WRONG? I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT WENT RIGHT AND WHAT WENT WRONG? WELL, APPARENTLY WE, HOW DO YOU MEAN? WHERE WE'RE AT? APPARENTLY WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS RIGHT? MR. LODGE HAS, AND THEN SOME THINGS HAVEN'T GONE RIGHT, THE TIMELINE WE KNOW IS NOT WORKING.
WHAT DO YOU SAY YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF DOWNTOWN.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? I THINK LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.
DEVELOPMENT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
UM, HE JUST RAN, I THINK IT, IT REALLY IS SO THAT HE RAN INTO SOME ISSUES AND GETTING THE CONSTRUCTION STARTED ON TIME.
NOT MUCH IN IN THIS INSTANCE, IN THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD COMMUNICATIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET THINGS OFF THE GROUND.
UM, IT JUST, IT JUST NEVER TOOK OFF.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IIII DON'T FOLLOW COMMUNICATION.
WELL, BRANDON AND I WOULD CHECK IN AND I WOULD ASK, YOU KNOW, ARE WE, ARE WE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER AND CLOSER? AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, YES.
UM, BUT I JUST, IT JUST NEVER DID GET THE MOMENTUM THAT IT NEEDED.
SO MY ISSUE IS THIS, AND THIS GOES WITH ALL NEGOTIATIONS.
THERE'S A WAY WE'VE TALKED WITH EACH OTHER.
YOU CAN SIT DOWN, SIR, UNLESS YOU'RE JUST STRETCHING YOUR KNEES.
I'M JUST GONNA SPEAK NO, THIS IS NOT PUBLIC COMMENT TIME.
ARE ARE YOU PART OF THEIR TEAM? WELL, I ASK TO SPEAK AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
WELL, WE'LL TAKE IT UNDER CONSIDERATION.
IT'S HOW WE NEGOTIATIONS IS HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.
WORDS MATTER HOW WE SAY THE WORDS MATTER.
AND WHEN THE, WHEN, WHEN ONE SIDE IS ACCUSATORY OF THE OTHER, GUESS WHAT? THERE WERE MISTAKES MADE ON BOTH SIDES.
[03:35:01]
BUT HOW DO WE, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR WITH EVIDENTLY NO ONE'S HEARING, I'M ASKING FOR HOW, WHAT IS GOING TO BE SAID TO US FOR US TO THINK ABOUT BEING GOING AS, AS, AS THE WAY I WAS TRAINED.WHAT IS THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE? WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE? BECAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, THE RISK, THE RISKS ARE GOING LIKE THIS, BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE.
THEY'RE ALWAYS BEEN OUT THERE IN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW WITH YOU GOING THROUGH ARE NOT NEW TO THE INDUSTRY.
THEY'RE NOT, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH ARE NEW TO THE INDUSTRY, BUT IT'S A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.
AND SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA BRING TO THE TABLE TO, OR EVEN TO SET THAT FRAMEWORK? BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD THESE THINGS BEFORE, JUST LIKE WE'VE HEARD 'EM ON OTHER DEVELOPMENTS HERE.
WE'VE, IT'S A REPETITIVE THING.
AND SO IF, IF YOU WANT A COUNSEL TO MEET YOU HALFWAY, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS OR WHAT POSSIBLY COULD YOU BE LOOKING AT.
BECAUSE FROM MY EXPERIENCE, YOU'LL BE BACK HERE IN SIX MONTHS SAYING HALF OF THE SAME WORDS YOU SAID TODAY.
SO I'M JUST ASKING, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA, WHAT, WHAT IS IT POSSIBLE TO FRAMEWORK? BECAUSE YOU, YOU SENT THE TEXT OUT LAST WEEK, SO I'M ASSUMING YOU WERE THINKING OF SOMETHING.
UH, COUNCILMAN MUG, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR.
UH, AND IF I CAME ACROSS THREATENING, I APOLOGIZE.
HERE'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE.
NOBODY'S A BIGGER APOLOGIST FOR THE CITY OF EDMOND AND THE DEVELOPMENT STAFF IN OKLAHOMA CITY THAN I AM.
I DO STUFF ALL OVER THE METRO.
BUT THERE IS A NARRATIVE OUT THERE THAT I'VE DONE NOTHING BUT DEFEND THE INACCURACY OF IT THAT EDMOND IS DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH AND DON'T GO.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU, THAT'S THE REALITY.
WELL, AND, AND SO I'M NOT SAYING, BUT I WOULD HATE, THAT'S WHY I JUST SAID AS A PERSONAL ASIDE, I HATE THAT THAT NARRATIVE WOULD GET PERPETUATED.
BUT THAT'S NOT, THAT SHOULDN'T BE A DECISION FOR YOU GUYS BECAUSE OF THAT.
EVERY COMMUNITY IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAS GOT AN ANECDOTAL STORY OF ENGINEERING OR PLANNING OR TRAFFIC OR FIRE.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, MAYBE IT'S 'CAUSE I'M HYPERSENSITIVE TO EDMOND 'CAUSE IT'S WHERE I LIVE AND HAVE MY BUSINESS THAT NARRATIVE'S OUT THERE.
AND I HATE IT WHEN THAT CAUSES CAPITAL NOT TO COME HERE.
THAT'S ALL I WAS TRYING TO SAY.
AND I SURELY WASN'T SAYING THAT SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR YOU TO ROLL OVER.
AND IF I KEPT ACROSS SAYING THAT, THEN I APOLOGIZE.
SO LESS IMPORTANT TO ME, MAKING SURE YOU UNDERSTAND MY HEART AND OUR RELATIONSHIP.
LET ME ANSWER WHAT THE MAYOR SAID LAST TUESDAY.
FOUR BUSINESS DAYS AGO I WAS TOLD THIS WAS GONNA BE ON THE AGENDA AND I WENT TO WORK AND SO DID BRANDON.
AND I WONDER IF THE UNNECESSARY STRESS OF THE CHANGEOVER IN THE LEADERSHIP IS MAKING THIS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT WOULD BE IF WE WERE IN SEPTEMBER.
AND SO WITH ALL OF THE PERSUASION I HAD, I WAS REQUESTING THAT THIS BE PUSHED OFF JUST FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING FATAL ABOUT APRIL 28TH.
AND THAT I WAS TOLD WAS NOT WANTING TO BE ENTERTAINED BY THIS LEADERSHIP.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD PRO SUGGEST IS THREE P THREE POINTS.
WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT THAT REQUIRES CONSTRUCTION TO COMMENCE WITHIN EIGHT WEEKS OF THE DATE OF THE AGREEMENT.
EIGHT WEEKS OF THE DATE OF THE AMENDMENT BEING SIGNED, CONSTRUCTION COMMENCES CONSTRUCTION WILL BE COMPLETED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT.
AND ALL ACCOMMODATIONS TO ACCOMMODATE THE FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE WILL BE MADE.
AND THE THIRD ITEM AT EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WILL BE A REPORT FROM THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION MANAGER AS TO THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT AND THE INTERACTION WITH THE DEVELOPER ON THIS PROJECT.
AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE, LIKE WE WOULD IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ARE DIFFERENT DELIVERABLES BY MY CLIENT.
IF WE'RE DOING AN EXTENSION OF A PURCHASE CONTRACT, YOU MIGHT REQUIRE EVIDENCE OF FINANCING FROM THE LENDER TO SAY THE FINANCING.
ALL THE SUBMITTALS BY THE APPLICANT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED AND WE'RE IN CREDIT COMMITTEE OR WHATEVER THOSE THINGS ARE.
AND SO THE BIG PICTURE OF THE THREE ITEMS I MENTIONED, THE SMALLER NUANCES WOULD BE THE AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT AS TO WHAT DELIVERABLES WOULD BE PROVIDED BY MY CLIENT TO YOUR AGENT ON A REGULAR BASIS SO THAT SHE OR HE COULD REPORT TO YOU THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT.
SO IF WE GOT HERE SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, MAYOR, THERE WOULDN'T BE THE SAME SONG OF DENT BEING STATED, I'VE NEVER BEEN HERE AND MADE THESE REPRESENTATIONS TO YOU, BUT I'LL BE HERE IN SIX MONTHS AND I'LL ANSWER 'EM.
AND THAT WAY THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND A REPRESENTATION
[03:40:01]
BY BOTH SIDES SO THAT WE DON'T GET TO THIS SPOT WHERE BOTH OF US MADE MISTAKES AND EVERYBODY'S FRUSTRATED AND PEOPLE ARE LOSING PATIENCE AND MONEY AT THE SAME TIME.IF WE DO GET THERE, IT WON'T BECAUSE THERE WASN'T CONTINUAL EFFORT IN COMMUNICATION, WHICH APPARENTLY HAS BEEN LACKING ON THIS PROJECT TO THIS POINT.
UM, JUST TO CLARIFY, SO I THINK IF, IF THAT WERE TO BE ENTERTAINED AND IF IT WERE TO PASS AT THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE, THEN WE'D LOOK AT COMMENCING CONSTRUCTION JULY 8TH OR WAIT JULY 8TH.
WELL, I MEAN, I I MEAN THAT WAS, MAY I KNOW WHAT DATE IS.
SO LET'S SAY IT WAS MAY 12TH, 'CAUSE I BELIEVE THAT'S THE 12TH MEETING.
SO THEN YOU'RE, SO THAT'S SAY YOU DOCUMENT GOT SIGNED THE WEEK AFTER THAT.
SO YOU'RE AT MAY 19TH WHEN YOU HAVE A SIGNED DOCUMENT.
AND I HAVEN'T DONE THIS MATH UNTIL RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS ALWAYS DANGEROUS.
RIGHT? SO YOU'RE TALKING JULY 20TH WOULD BE THE TIME HE'D HAVE TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION.
RIGHT? AND NOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S WORK RELATED TO THE FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE AND WE HAVE ACCOMMODATIONS YOU CAN'T WORK ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY, I'M SURE THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT SOMEHOW.
WE BUILT THIS THING RIGHT OVER HERE AND SOMEHOW DOWNTOWN SURVIVED, DESPITE ALL THE NAYSAYERS THAT SAID WE'RE GONNA KILL THEIR BUSINESSES.
BUT I, I MEAN, I GUESS BACK TO THERE WAS A ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
AND I KNOW THAT IS PRIME FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE TIME EVERY SATURDAY AND SET UP AND ARE PEOPLE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THERE AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING FROM JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, WHEN DO WE GO INDOORS, RIGHT? SO I JUST, I DON'T WANNA GET BACK INTO A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE MAKING PROMISES AND SAYING THERE CAN BE ACCOMMODATIONS AND THEN THEY CAN'T BE MADE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE GET INTO THIS WHOLE RIGMAROLE.
'CAUSE WE DID HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I DON'T DO CONSTRUCTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOT TO BE THERE.
AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, UM, FOR THE FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE.
AND I MEAN, ANOTHER PART OF THIS IS THERE WERE ACCUSATIONS, UM, ABOUT THE PROCESS A WHILE BACK.
RIGHT? WHICH WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, YOU KNOW? AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, PEOPLE CAN SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT TO SAY AND THEN PEOPLE BELIEVE THEM.
BUT THERE IS THE PERCEPTION IN THE PUBLIC, RIGHT? THAT HEY, WAS THIS A TOTALLY ABOVE BOARD DEAL? THERE WAS AN RFQ DEFINITELY GONNA ENTERTAIN ALL THE THINGS, UM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.
BUT THERE IS THAT NARRATIVE OUT THERE.
AND THEN IF WE CONTINUE TO EXTEND AND EXTEND AND EXTEND AND PEOPLE, I MEAN THAT, THAT ALSO DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR THE CITY, RIGHT? SO WE'RE DAMNED IF WE DO, DAMNED IF WE DON'T, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH WHERE WE ARE MOST OF THE TIME.
BUT, UM, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF, I MEAN, IT'S THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, RIGHT? SO WE MIGHT AS WELL ACKNOWLEDGE IT.
I THINK THAT NARRATIVE WITH ALL DUE RESPECT CAN GO BOTH WAYS.
ALL THE POLITICAL PRESSURE SHOWED UP, EVEN THOUGH YOUR EEDA DIRECTOR SHOWED UP IN APRIL.
AND SHE HAD TESTED TO THE FACT THERE WAS INTEGRITY AND ABOVE BOARD PROCESS.
AND NOBODY SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE THAT IT WASN'T.
WELL NOW YOU'RE HAVE TO TEACH THE PUBLIC A LESSON TO SHOW THAT YOU'RE ABOVE BOARD BY CUTTING MY GUY'S LEGS OFF.
AND MY WORD'S NOT YOURS, BUT THAT'S FRANKLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY IS IT CUTS BOTH WAYS, RIGHT? SO HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW.
I DEFENDED OUR PERSON, I'VE SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND SO YEAH, WE ARE A LITTLE BIT DEFENSIVE
UM, AND SO ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT'S WHAT I GOT.
I I JUST, WE, WE THROW OUT THESE DATES AND THEN WE GOTTA APPLY THEM TO REALITY AND IS THAT DOABLE? AND THEN I GO BACK TO THE THING OF THREE OF US AREN'T EVEN GONNA BE HERE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
IS THIS REALLY SOMETHING THAT I SHOULD BE MAKING A DECISION THIS CONSEQUENTIAL ON WHEN I'M NOT EVEN GONNA BE HERE? BUT THEN I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE IS, AND WE'VE HAD THIS WITH ANOTHER PROJECT, WHICH MAY NOT SOUND FAMILIAR, BUT IT SORT OF REMINDS ME OF MR. FERGUSON'S HOUSE
I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT OVER THE WEEKEND.
AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S AN EFFORT TO NOT LEAVE THINGS THAT THE NEXT COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE A HISTORY OR EXPERIENCE WITH OR RECALL THE MEETINGS OR THE DISCUSSIONS OR SO.
AND, AND SO AGAIN, THERE ARE ALL THESE PRESSURES DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO IN ALL TRANSPARENCY, AND IT'S, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS AND IT'S PAST MY BEDTIME.
UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I AM.
AND I DO ALSO REMEMBER VERY CLEAR CONVERSATION AT THE LAST MEETING THAT NO, THIS IS, THIS IS KIND OF THE LAST FIGHT AT THE APPLE AND WE'RE SWEARING TO THIS AND THEN WE'RE BACK HERE AGAIN.
AND THAT'S WHAT REMINDS ME OF MR. FER, RIGHT? YEP.
WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING ALL THE PROMISES AND LAYING ON ALL THE GUILD TRIPS AND ALL OF THE THINGS.
AND THEN ARE WE GOING BE BACK HERE OR NOT MOVE US, BUT IS SOMEONE GONNA BE BACK HERE IN SIX MONTHS? I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.
[03:45:01]
BOARD.I WANNA GO THERE, BUT I I'M, I'M, I AM, I'M STUCK.
WELL, I, SO THAT'S MY PROCESS.
I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE STUCK AND I KNOW WHEN I HAVE THE MOST DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP SITUATIONS, THE ONE WORD THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS I CANNOT MAKE THE PAST NOT HAPPEN.
AND IF THAT'S THE ONLY SOLUTION, THEN I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR US.
WELL, AND I APPRECIATE THE CONCRETE PROPOSALS, RIGHT? I I KNOW ALL OF THE THINGS THAT LENA LAID OUT IN HER OUTLINE THAT, THAT HAVE HAPPENED OBJECTIVELY SINCE APRIL AND AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE LAST TIME THIS WAS PUT BEFORE YOU GUYS, ALL OF THE APPROVALS OF THE SITE PLAN AND ALL, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE CAUSED REDESIGNS AND ALL OF THAT EFFORT, THE EDA INCENTIVE TO MAINTAIN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TENANT.
SO YEAH, I MEAN, AM I GONNA BE THE FIRST ONE THAT STANDS UP HERE? IF WE'RE HERE SIX WEEKS, SIX MONTHS PLUS EIGHT WEEKS NOW AND SAY, YEAH, WE DIDN'T DO IT.
AND SO ALL I KNOW IS I CAN'T CAUSE THE PAST NOT TO HAVE HAPPENED.
AND IF THAT'S CONSEQUENTIAL TO THE FUTURE, THEN WE MIGHT AS WELL GO TO BED
I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT IT.
AND I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT STUFF IN DOWNTOWN EDMOND.
AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT DIFFERENT FACTORS AND EXTEND THINGS WHEN WE'D RATHER NOT, THEN THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.
AND IF NOT, I'M ASKING YOU TO KICK THE CAN TO THE NEXT PEOPLE LIKE THEY DID TO YOU.
AND BARRY GOT HERE TWO YEARS AGO AND SAID, BY THE WAY, WE'RE GETTING READY TO PROVE THAT.
AND HE'S LIKE, OKAY, WELL I, OR I MEAN, THE TRANSITION OF POWER IN EDMOND IS NOT UNIQUE EVERY TWO YEARS.
'CAUSE WE'VE GOT FOUR NEW PEOPLE.
I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE DECEMBER 13TH, AND I UNDERSTAND, SO THE MAN WHO HAD THIS ROLE BEFORE ME, HE ASKED FOR WEEKLY MEETINGS.
SO I KNOW WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE PAST, BUT I, I, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I, I ASKED QUESTIONS AND I WASN'T GIVEN AN ANSWER EVEN IN PERSON.
SO THAT, UM, I COULD NOT SAY THAT.
UM, AND ALSO I DON'T WANT IT TO APPEAR THAT WE'RE BEING MEAN WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO LIKE KEEP OUR CONTRACTS ACCURATE.
I MEAN, IF A DEADLINE HAS PASSED RIGHT THEN IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
AND I, I GUESS I WAS BEING NAIVE WHEN I STARTED ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS AND IT GOT VERY TOUCHY.
AND SOME OF THE DEVELOPERS WHO WOULD'VE WAVED TO ME ON THE STREET A WEEK AGO, I MAYBE THEY WILL TOMORROW.
BUT I, I JUST DIDN'T, I JUST DIDN'T EXPECT THAT.
AND I GUESS THAT'S MAYBE PART OF BEING ON COUNCIL, THAT IT'S NOT PERSONAL.
ON PAPER I SAW, OH, THE DAY I KNOW WHAT THE, I KNOW WHAT TODAY IS AND WE'RE PAST THAT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS.
SO IT WASN'T A PERSONAL A FRONT.
AND I, I HAVE NOT, I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING.
I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE SINCE DECEMBER 13TH, BUT I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO ANY DEVELOPER WHO SAID NO.
I THAT I GUESS ALSO KRISTEN, THAT CIRCUIT A CHORD WITH ME THAT I DON'T, I CAN'T SOUND LIKE I NEED TO APOLOGIZE FOR EVERYBODY.
IF I SAID SOMEHOW YOU WERE ACTING EMOTIONAL AND PERSONAL, THEN I APOLOGIZE.
WELL, THE REPUTATION, UM, I TOOK THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AND I, I, YOU KNOW, I APPLIED TO BE APPOINTED AND I HOPE THAT I PRESENT AS SOMEONE WHO'S OPEN TO REASON.
AND AND THAT'S WHAT I COMMITTED TO.
I MEAN, THERE WAS A SWEARING IN AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I SWORE TO.
AND I MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF EDMOND.
AND SO WHEN THEY'RE ASKING ME WHAT'S HAPPENING, THEN I HAVE TO ANSWER.
AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY NOT PERSONAL.
SO I I LET'S TAKE A BREATH FOR A SECOND.
THE TONALITY THAT WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT.
APPLICANT'S DEFENSIVE WORDS ARE SAID THAT, UM, THAT SEEM DEFENSIVE, SEEM ACCUSATORY.
THE PERSON MIGHT NOT HAVE WHO SAID IT MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS, BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS PERCEIVED AND ALL THAT.
THERE'S A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY HERE.
'CAUSE EDMOND IS GOING TO, AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONTRACTS, 'CAUSE WE WE'RE STILL GONNA HAVE TO GET CREATIVE IN THE FUTURE ON HOW WE DO BUSINESS.
THE STANDARD WAY OF, OF, OF, OF, OF HOW I GREW UP DOING CONTRACTS IS GONE.
YOU HAVE TO GET MORE CREATIVE.
YOU HAVE TO, UH, DO DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS TO, SO THAT THE, THE WHOEVER THE APPLICANT
[03:50:01]
IS CAN, CAN HAVE THAT CASH FLOW AND THE, THE, WHOEVER THE, THE GOVERNMENT BODY IS, WE HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE INFORMATION.THAT MEANS THAT YOU ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH IT.
AND THEN WHEN IT EBBS AND FLOWS, WE UNDERSTAND ON BOTH SIDES WHY IT'S EBBING AND FLOWING.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU IF UNTIL WE CHANGE THAT TONALITY OF, OF IF, IF OUR WORDS ACCUSATORY WHEN THEY COME OUT, WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET THERE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.
AND, AND BRANDON, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 35 YEARS.
THIS IS MY LIFE AND IT WOULD BE AMAZING THAT WE'RE GONNA TALK CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ON MY STAY UP HERE.
SO UNTIL WE GET THAT TONALITY CHANGE IN THE WAY WE PROJECT OURSELVES AND TO BUILD TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING FORWARD, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET THERE.
NOT, NOT ON THIS PROJECT OR ANY OTHER PROJECT BECAUSE WE'RE, THE COUNCIL VOTED FOR IT INDIVIDUALLY.
WE MIGHT NOT HAVE VOTED FOR IT, BUT THE COUNCIL DID.
SO WE GO FORWARD LOOKING AT THAT.
SO THE QUESTION IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT? SO YOU CAME UP WITH SOME DATES.
I DON'T KNOW, BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE DATES, CAN I SAY ONE THING PLEASE? YEAH.
CAN I, LET ME JUST FINISH THIS ONE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CO COUNCIL WANTS TO DIGEST THAT, UH, OF, OF, OF SOME POSSIBLE WAY FORWARD, UH, OR NOT.
BUT UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY NOW.
YES, COUNSEL
UM, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S OF RECORD.
I'VE VOTED FOR IT THREE TIMES.
UM, I KNOW THINGS GET DELAYED IN CONSTRUCTION.
AND, UM, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
AND, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT PURPOSELY SITTING ON THIS BECAUSE EVERY DAY YOU DO, IT COSTS YOU MONEY.
AND I KNOW THAT TOO IN CONSTRUCTION.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE UP HERE.
I JUST KNOW I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN.
I DIDN'T HEAR THAT LAST SENTENCE.
I SAID, I'M NOT SURE WHAT CAN HAPPEN UP HERE THIS EVENING, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN.
UM, LIKE TODD SAID, YOU CAN'T NEGATE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, BUT OBVIOUSLY IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE TELL OUR KIDS WHENEVER YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, IT'S NOT THE MISTAKE.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO IT WAS, SO, UM, I I SEE BOTH SIDES.
I SEE A CONTRACT AS A CONTRACT.
MY HUSBAND SIGNS THEM EVERY DAY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY IN WHAT HE DOES, HE DOESN'T MEET THAT CONTRACT.
HE DOESN'T GET A CHECK AND HE'S DONE.
THERE ARE NO EXTENSIONS FOR WHAT HE DOES.
SO I SEE THE CONTRACT ISSUE AND I SEE THE ISSUES PEOPLE ARE HAVING, AND THEN OVER HERE I'M LIKE, BUT I REALLY WANNA SEE THIS DONE.
SO, UM, I I I, I ALMOST SPOKE FOR EVERYONE.
I'M NOT, I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF THAT THIS COULD BE AN AMAZING THING FOR THAT AREA.
UM, I THINK WE ALL TALKED ABOUT THAT WE DIDN'T WANT DISRUPTION FOR THE FARMER'S MARKET BECAUSE JUST QUITE FRANKLY, WE LOVE THE FARMER'S MARKET.
WE LOVE OUR TENANTS THAT ARE IN THERE.
IT'S A, IT, IT'S A REMARKABLE ENTITY FOR EDMUND.
UM, BUT, UH, I KNOW WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT, UM,
UM, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE A LOT.
THAT'S A BIG COMMITMENT IN AND OF ITSELF.
UM, NOT, NOT THAT I'M SAYING YOU CAN'T BECAUSE IT, IT CAN BE DONE, JOB SITES CAN BE KEPT CLEAN AND THEY CAN BE ROUNDED OFF TO BE KEPT SAFE.
SO I'M JUST SITTING BACK HERE LISTENING TO MY CO-COUNSEL AND, UM, I THINK I, AGAIN, I ALMOST SPOKE FOR OTHERS, I REALLY WANT THIS, BUT I SEE WHERE THE ARGUMENT IS ON THAT.
I'M JUST, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THE MAYOR SAID EARLIER.
[03:55:01]
OPPORTUNITY TO, TO FOR, UM, FOLKS TO INTERACT AND COLLABORATE WITH THE CI WITH THE CITY IN A MORE OPEN, TRANSPARENT, POSITIVE WAY.UM, WITH, WITH, I MEAN, AND AGAIN, I THINK THE MAYOR ALSO THE 35 YEAR CONTRACT GUY.
I MEAN, ARE THERE MISTAKES ON BOTH SIDES, LESS OR LESSEE OF THIS? YES.
ARE THERE THINGS THAT, UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP, NOT JUST IN THE ELECTED, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UM, WE HAVE, SO THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING.
UM, I I AM INCLINED, UM, TO SAY, LOOK, IF, IF, IF EITHER THE NEXT COUNSEL LOOKS AT THIS OR WE DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING, UM, THAT WE, WE ARE INCREDIBLY CLEAR ABOUT HOW THIS MOVES FORWARD, UM, THAT YEAH, THERE WILL BE DELIVERABLES.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT, TODD, THAT YOU CAME IN TO THE SCENE LATER.
I MEAN, BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T MEETINGS IS NOT ALL BECAUSE OF TOM ROBBINS, RIGHT? I MEAN, NO, MA'AM.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS BARRY SAID, UM, NONE OF US HAVE, YOU KNOW, NOT AGREED TO HAVE THE WEEKLY MEETINGS AND SO FORTH.
BUT I, I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION.
I THINK EVEN THOUGH I THINK IT WAS VE CLEARLY STATED IN THIS MEETING, VE CLEARLY STATED BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY, WE ARE TRYING TO BE FIRM ON OUR CONTRACTS TO PROTECT THE, THE CITY MOVING FORWARD.
AND SO TO SAY OTHER PROJECTS ARE THIS IS, IS NOT GONNA WORK FOR ME.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, BUT I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING ON THIS TONIGHT IF YOU WANNA KNOW THE TRUTH.
I, UM, I'VE SAID A LOT OF WORDS AND MY OPINIONS OUT THERE AND I'M PRETTY SURE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA SIT UP THERE IN A FEW WEEKS SITTING OUT THERE LISTENING TO ALL OF THIS.
SO MAYBE THEY'RE IN A BETTER POSITION.
UM, AND I AM REALLY HOPEFUL THAT, UM, YEAH, AND IT'S NOT JUST THIS PROJECT, RIGHT? NO MA'AM.
UM, AND I HOPE IT DIDN'T COME ACROSS THAT I'M ACCUSING, BUT WHEN PEOPLE ATTACK AND BLAME, THEN I'M GONNA REACT, ESPECIALLY WHEN MY FUSE IS ABOUT THIS SHORT RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO I I I'M NOT COMFORTABLE VOTING ON THIS.
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION.
BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY TO PEOPLE COME AFTER ME, IT'S LIKE WE NEED TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR.
WE NEED TO, I DON'T, IN SOME I SAY THAT AND THEN I'M LIKE, IT WAS PRETTY DAMN CRYSTAL CLEAR BEFORE.
I'M GONNA RELY ON THE OTHER FOUR PEOPLE TO SAY SOME THINGS.
I WAS PART OF THE PROJECT IN THE BEGINNING.
YES, I'VE HEARD COUNCILWOMAN PETERSON AND I'VE HEARD COUNCILWOMAN MUG.
I HAVE THE HIGHEST RESPECT FOR THEM.
I'M GONNA ABIDE BY THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEIR RATIONALE.
BUT MR. MCINNIS, YOU'RE AS GOOD AS THEY GET UP HERE DOING THIS.
YOU MAKE A VERY CONVINCING ARGUMENT.
I THINK YOU USED THAT WORD WITH ME ON THE PHONE THE OTHER DAY.
WELL, IF THERE'S SOMETHING HOTTER THAN BLUE, UH, I AM LAVA HOT ABOUT THIS.
I'M P****D THAT WE, IT'S 10 MINUTES TILL 10 AND HERE I SIT.
WE GOT MR. LODGE, A CITIZEN OF EDMOND.
WE HAD COFFEE, WE HAD A NICE CHAT.
I'M NOT,
YOU'VE MADE SOME DATES, I DON'T KNOW, OR SOME SUGGESTIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE REALISTIC OR NOT.
[04:00:02]
GOOD FRIENDS THAT ARE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE.WELL, HOW COULD YOU DO THAT? AND THE REASON I'M GETTING THOSE CALLS IS BECAUSE MR. LODGE, YOU HAVEN'T DONE WHAT YOU SAID YOU'D DO.
DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE A DISHONEST MAN, DOESN'T MEAN YOU LIED TO ME.
IT MEANS YOU DIDN'T DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WOULD DO.
I THINK MS. MURDOCH NICHOLS DESERVES ANSWERS WHEN SHE ASKS FOR THEM.
I THINK SHE DESERVES 'EM WITHIN 24 HOURS.
I ASK FOR THINGS AND GOT IT IN ONE DAY.
IT BETTER NOT HAPPEN TO HER AGAIN, THAT SHE COULD ASK FOR THINGS AND NOT GET THE INFORMATION THAT'S INSULTING.
SO YOU'VE SAID TAKE A DEEP BREATH TILL MAY 12TH.
YOU'VE SAID WORK ON THAT CONTRACT.
DON'T CALL ANY ATTORNEY EXCEPT THE CITY ATTORNEY.
YEAH, I'D LIKE AN UPDATE FROM COUNSEL OR, OR FROM THE DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION MANAGER.
I'D LIKE THAT IN WRITING AND I'D LIKE IT A VERBAL PRESENTATION.
MR. LODGE EXPECT THE SAME FROM YOU.
IS THE EIGHT WEEKS AFTER THE SIGNING, IS THAT REALISTIC? NO, DON'T SAY IT IF IT'S NOT.
I WANT AS MUCH TIME AS I CAN POSSIBLY GET.
BECAUSE IF YOU SAY EIGHT WEEKS, THEY'RE PRETTY THAT DAMN SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.
AND YOU SAY EIGHT WEEKS AND THEN IT'S NINE.
THEY'RE GONNA GO, I JUST HEARD EIGHT WEEKS, UH, SIX MONTHS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COMMENCE.
I MEAN, TO START EIGHT WEEKS FROM THE START.
THAT'S WHAT I HEARD OF THE AMENDMENT WHEN I TALKED WHEN WE HAD COFFEE YESTERDAY, WHENEVER THAT WAS.
FRIDAY, I THINK I HAD TOLD YOU 90 DAYS IS WHAT I'D FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, RIGHT? YOU CAN'T DO IT IN EIGHT WEEKS.
YOU BETTER LET YOUR LAWYER FINISH.
BRANDON, LET LET YOUR LAWYER FINISH THIS CONVERSATION HERE.
I CAME IN HERE TONIGHT READY TO PULL THE PLUG ON THIS AND I MEAN, WATCH IT GO DARK.
I'VE HEARD FROM MY FRIENDS AND OTHERS, THEY DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
ON MAY 12TH, WE BETTER HAVE EVERYTHING BUTTONED UP OR I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION SITTING RIGHT HERE TO SCRAP EVERYTHING.
SO EIGHT WEEKS, SIX MONTHS, UPDATED TWICE A MONTH IN WRITING AND A PRESENTATION.
WORK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, MS. SAWYER, IF YOU WANT TO BRING IN OUTSIDE COUNSEL, SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO DECIDE THAT.
WELL, THAT'S NOT HIS DECISION.
BEFORE WE GO, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM OUR WARD ONE CITY COUNCIL WOMAN WHO I I DO TOO.
AND I, AND, AND I'M GONNA STOP IN JUST A MINUTE.
RIGHT NOW, AT FIVE MINUTES TILL 10, MR. LODGE, THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS GONNA DO WHEN I WALKED IN HERE TONIGHT.
I WAS GONNA VOTE NO ON THIS AND GET RID OF IT AND START FRESH.
NOT THAT I CAN GRANT YOU THAT, BUT I'M WILLING TO.
I'VE HEARD WHAT YOUR LAWYER SAID.
I'VE HEARD WHAT MY FELLOW COUNSEL MEMBERS HAVE SAID.
SO ON MAY 12TH, WE ARE EXPECTING THEM TO COME BACK ASKING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THIS AGREEMENT.
IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING? YES.
IF YOU'RE ASKING ME, I'M SO I KEEP INTERRUPTING YOU.
SO, UH, MY EXPECTATION IS TO WORK WITH YOUR CITY ATTORNEY TO PRESENT AN AMENDMENT TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 12TH WITHOUT ANY OBLIGATION
[04:05:01]
TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN MAKE AN UP OR DOWN VOTE.AND I ASSUME IF YOU VOTED DOWN, YOU'LL PROCEED WITH YOUR NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND ALL THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO THE CITY.
THAT, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S BEING ASKED OF ME AND WHAT I'M COMMITTING TO PERSONALLY HERE AT WHATEVER TIME.
IT'S, WELL, THE CITIZENS OF EDMOND DESERVE OUR TIME AND I KNOW IT'S LATE, BUT YEAH, I I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MORE TO SAY, BUT, UM, SO THE FIRST WE'VE HEARD OF ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND I HEAR, I HEAR BOTH OF YOU ARE CONFLICTED.
UH, I, I AM COMFORTABLE WITH WAITING UNTIL MAY 12TH.
THERE'S A NEW COUNCIL, UH, BESIDES THE TWO OF US UP HERE.
UM, YEAH, IT'S VERY, IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT A TIMELINE BE INCLUDED WITH THE AGENDA.
THAT I'LL ALL BE VERY, THIS IS A PUBLIC PROCESS.
UM, SO THAT, I MEAN THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
THAT'S WHY THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS, THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION.
SO, UM, YEAH, I'M, I'M FINE WITH MOVING IT TO MAY 12TH.
I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO THAT END.
UNLESS SOMEONE ELSE WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING.
I THINK YOU BETTER BE SUPER SURE WHEN YOU WRITE THAT UP, MR. BENI, THAT, UM, ABOUT THAT EIGHT WEEK TIMELINE.
I HAVE A FEELING THIS CONTRACT'S GOING TO BE HELD TO AND MADELINE, WHAT? I SAW OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? WELL, YOU GUYS CAN FIGURE THAT OUT AND BRING IT BACK.
I MEAN, I, I THINK RIGHT, RIGHT.
WE DON'T NEED TO KEEP MAKING THAT SAUSAGE CHERRY SAUSAGE.
NO, THAT'S, YOU RUN BACK IN TWO WEEKS IN THE ROOMS AND THEN YOU COME, BRING YOU BACK.
I JUST WOULD THINK ABOUT THAT.
I WAS JUST KIDDING WITH BRANDON.
IT'S 10 WEEKS FROM RIGHT THIS SECOND.
SO HE'S GOT 10 WEEKS IF, OH, UM, SO YOU HAD SOMETHING SIR? I DO.
UH, I THINK I HEARD COUNCILWOMAN MURDOCH NICHOLS SUGGEST THAT ITEM.
SO EIGHT G EIGHT G, WHAT IS IT? EIGHT G THAT EIGHT G BE WITHDRAWN OR LAID ON THE TABLE FOR TONIGHT? I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU CONTINUE THAT.
CONTINUE AND THEN WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL IVY WHEN THE TIME COMES SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE ACTION ON EITHER ONE, EITHER TO EXERCISE THOSE RIGHT.
OR APPROVE THE, APPROVE THE AMENDMENT.
OKAY, SO QUESTION, WHAT ARE YOU COUNSELING ME ON TO SAY? MOTION TO CONTINUE TO MAY 12TH, MR. MAYOR, I'D MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE ITEM EIGHT G UNTIL THE MAY 12TH, 2025 COUNCIL MEETING.
I WOULD, CAN WE LET THE APPLICANT, THEY HAVE ONE OTHER THING TO SAY? OH, I THINK MY QUESTION IS PERTINENT.
IF YOU GUYS PASS THE MOTION THAT MR. MOORE JUST MADE AND IT'S JUST A QUESTION ABOUT GIVEN YOUR AGENDA, DEADLINE DATES, WHAT DATE DO I NEED TO HAVE EVERYTHING TO MS. SAWYER SO THAT I DON'T PUT ANYBODY BEHIND THE WALL? I'LL CALL YOU TOMORROW.
THAT'S, THAT'S JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I WASN'T OKAY.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO, SINCE I WON'T HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION AFTER THESE MOTIONS ARE MADE, TEAM YEAH, TONALITY, THERE'S WAYS TO NEGOTIATE AND THERE'S WAYS NOT TO NEGOTIATE TONALITY.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE.
WE HAVE DEVELOPERS, WE HAVE BUSINESS PEOPLE IN HERE.
WE ARE WE EVERYONE IN HERE IS THE FACE OF EDMOND TO THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD MOVE TO CONTINUE ITEM EIGHT G UNTIL MAY 12TH, 2025.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.
ITEMS BE CONTINUED TO MAY 12TH.
UM, WE'RE NOT, NOW WE'RE ON ITEM NINE IS THE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. UM, FIRST ITEM
[A. Case No. Z24-00023; Public Hearing and Consideration of Ordinance No. ___ Rezoning from “A” Single-Family to “Z24-00023” 124 W Wayne Planned Unit Development for 124 W Wayne Street, Located East of Wayne Street and Santa Fe Street. (Ryjack Strategic Investments; Ward 1) ]
IS CASE NINE, A CASE NUMBER Z 2 4 0 0 0 2 3 PUBLIC HEARING IN CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 4 0 3 4 4 0 3 4 REZONING FROM AN A SINGLE FAMILY TO A Z 2 4 0 0 0.[04:10:01]
PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT FOR 1 2 4 WEST WAYNE STREET, LOCATED EAST OF WAYNE STREET AND SANTA FE STREET.RIGHT JACK STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IS THE APPLICANT.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING HERE AS SITE, UM, TO CHANGE THE ZONING MAP FROM A SINGLE FAMILY TO PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS A PUD.
UH, THE SITE IS 13,500 SQUARE FEET, IS LOCATED AT 1 24 WEST WAYNE, WHICH IS THE SOUTH SIDE OF WAYNE STREET, EAST OF SANTA FE STREET.
UH, THE NEARBY ZONING AND USES INCLUDE A SINGLE FAMILY THAT DEVELOPED WITH RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES AND A SMALL PUD TO THE SOUTH THAT ALLOWS A DUPLEX.
THE PUD DESIGN STATEMENT PROVIDES OR ALLOWS FOR THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS, A MAXIMUM OF FOUR RESIDENTIAL UNITS CONFIGURED IN ONE AND ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS, AS TWO DUPLEXES AS A QUADPLEX, A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE OR TWO SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES.
SETBACKS WOULD INCLUDE 20 FEET FROM THE FRONT AND REAR AND FIVE FEET ON THE SIDE.
ACCESS WILL OCCUR FROM WAYNE THE ADMIN PLAN.
THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATES THE AREA AS URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD SINGLE TO AND LOAD DENSITY.
MULTIFAMILY DISTRICTS ARE ALL APPROPRIATE FOR THIS CATEGORY, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO FUNCTION AS A TRANSITION FROM MORE INTENSE DOWNTOWN AREAS TO LESS INTENSE SUBURBAN AREAS.
DEVELOPMENT IN THIS CATEGORY SHOULD SUPPORT ACTIVE MOBILITY AND WALKABILITY PLANNING COMMISSION CONCURRED WITH STAFF AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL AT THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 8TH, 2025 BY VOTE OF FIVE TO ZERO.
HAPPY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? MM-HMM.
APPLICANT HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO ADD? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU, YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? NOTHING TO ADD HERE, HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY COUNSEL ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT, ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THIS APPLICATION? WHAT IS COUNCIL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO IN NINE? A MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND, MAYOR.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
ITEM NINE B IS CASE NUMBER Z 24 DASH 0 0 16 PUBLIC
[B. Case No. Z24-00016; Public Hearing and Consideration of Ordinance No. ___ Rezoning from “A” Single-Family to “PUD” Planned Unit Development for 330 W 1st Street, Located on the Southeast Corner of Walnut and 1st Street. (Castle Custom Homes; Ward 1)]
HEARING.CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 4 0 3 5 4 0 3 5 REZONING FROM A A SINGLE FAMILY TO A PUD PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
4 3 3 0 WEST FIRST STREET LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF WALNUT AND FIRST STREET, CASTLE CUSTOM HOMES IS THE APPLICANT.
APPLICANT REQUESTING APPROVAL OF A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FROM A SINGLE FAMILY TO PUD PLAN, UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
SUBJECT PROPERTY IS APPROXIMATELY 7,000 SQUARE FEET AND IS LOCATED AT THREE 30 WEST FIRST STREET.
THIS IS THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF WALNUT AND FIRST YOU SEE THAT HERE ON THE MAP.
NEARBY ZONING AND USES INCLUDE EAST, SOUTH, AND WEST ARE ZONED A SINGLE FAMILY AND DEVELOPED WITH RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES NORTH ACROSS FIRST STREET IS ZONED AND DEVELOPED WITH A PUD THAT ALLOWS FOR THREE TOTAL RESIDENTIAL UNITS.
THE PUD DESIGN STATEMENT PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING KEY COMPONENTS, A MAXIMUM OF THREE RESIDENTIAL U UNITS CONFIGURED IN A SINGLE FAMILY BUILDING AND A DUPLEX, A MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 3000 SQUARE FEET TO ALLOW THE TWO LOTS TO BE CREATED IF NEEDED.
SETBACKS INCLUDE 15 FEET FROM THE FRONT, THREE FEET FROM THE REAR, WHICH IS THE ALLEY, ZERO FEET FROM THE SIDE ON WALNUT AND EITHER ZERO OR THREE FEET INTERIOR DEPENDING ON FUTURE LOT CONFIGURATION.
THAT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, THE APPLICANT'S ID HERE OF THE LOT.
ACCESS WILL OCCUR FROM WEST FIRST STREET, WALNUT STREET, OR THE ALLEY DEPENDING ON THE RESULTING LOT CONFIGURATION.
THE ED ADMIN PLAN 2018 DESIGNATES THE AREA URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD SINGLE TO AND LOW DENSITY MULTIFAMILY DISTRICTS ARE APPROPRIATE IN THIS CATEGORY, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO FUNCTION AS A TRANSITION FROM MORE INTENSE DOWNTOWN AREAS TO LESS INTENSE SUBURBAN AREAS.
DEVELOPMENT IN THIS CATEGORY SHOULD SUPPORT ACTIVE MOBILITY AND WALKABILITY PLANNING COMMISSION CONCURRED WITH STAFF AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL AT THEIR REGULAR SCHEDULED HEARING ON APRIL 8TH, 2025 BY VOTE OF FOUR TO ZERO.
HAVING ANSWERED ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF RIGHT NOW? I MEAN, I DIDN'T SEE ANY VARIANCES, RIGHT.
UM, SO IT'S A PUD SO YEAH, SOME OF THE ECCENTRICITIES RELATED TO SETBACKS WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T FIND THAT IN LIKE, UH, BY RIGHT DISTRICT, SO, BUT IT BECAUSE OF THE, THE WAY THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO CONFIGURE THE LOTS.
THANK, DOES THE APPLICANT HAVE ANY, IF ANYBODY YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TO THE APPLICATION? NO SIR.
UH, COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? I DO THIS HOW YOU EXPECTED TO SPEND YOUR MONDAY NIGHT
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THAT'S THE ONLY GUYS AGREED.UM, WHERE WAS I? OH, COUNCIL, ANY UH, QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NO.
ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE, OH, WE, ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS, COUNSEL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO FOR NINE B? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO PASS NINE B.
ANY DISCUSSION? ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? PLEASE CAST YOUR BLESS YOU.
ITEM LINE C CASE NUMBER Z TWO 5,000,006 PUBLIC HEARING
[C. Case No. Z25-00006; Public Hearing and Consideration of Ordinance No. ___ Rezoning from “G-A” General Agricultural to “R-1” Rural Estate District for a Portion of Caspian Lakes, Located on the North Side of East 33rd Street, Approximately One-Half Mile East of Post Road. (Caspian Lakes Addition, LLC; Ward 2)]
CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 4 0 3 6 4 0 3 6 REZONING FROM A GA GENERAL AGRICULTURE TO A R ONE RURAL STATE DISTRICT FOR A PORTION OF CAS PLAN LAKES LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF EAST 33RD STREET, APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF MILE EAST OF POST ROAD CASSIAN.LLCS THE APPLICANT IS APPLICANT HERE.
UM, AS YOU STATED, THE APPLICANT'S REQUESTING A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FROM GA GENERAL AG TO R ONE RURAL ESTATE DISTRICT.
THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS APPROXIMATELY 17.7 ACRES IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF CASPIAN LAKES DRIVE.
THIS IS NORTH OF 33RD STREET AND ABOUT HALF A MILE EAST OF POST ROAD NEARBY ZONING AND USES INCLUDE TO THE NORTH AND EAST.
ALSO ZONED R ONE WITH BOTH UNDEVELOPED LOTS AND LARGE LOT RESIDENTIAL USES.
WEST IS ZONED GA AND R ONE AND DEVELOPED WITH LARGE LOT RESIDENTIAL USES TO THE SOUTH IS OKLAHOMA CITY AND IS DEVELOPED WITH ALSO LARGE LOT RESIDENTIAL USES.
THE BY RIGHT R ONE ZONING DISTRICT ALLOWS SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED DWELLINGS WITH RELATIVELY LARGE SETBACKS.
THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS 90,000 SQUARE FEET.
THE EDMOND PLAN DESIGNATES THIS AREA AS RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE R ONE DISTRICT IS APPROPRIATE PLANNING COMMISSION CONCURRED WITH STAFF AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL AT THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 8TH, 2025 BY VOTE OF FIVE TO ZERO.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? MM-HMM DOES APPLICANT HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? NO SIR.
JUST HAVE YOU ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THIS APPLICATION? COUNSEL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? MOTION TO APPROVE.
ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[D. Case No. EPC24-00020; Public Hearing and Consideration of an Amended Final Plat for Amend’s Subdivision, Located Southwest of Boulevard and Danforth. (City of Edmond; Ward 1)]
EPC 24 DASH 0 2 0 PUBLIC HEARING.CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDED FINAL PLAT FOR AMENDS.
SUBDIVISION LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF BOULEVARD IN DANFORTH, CITY OF THE CITY OF EVANS.
WHAT, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE NEXT WHAT WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE GIDDY I THINK.
THE NEXT SIX ARE THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE, UH, PROCESS TO REMOVE THE, THE LAST PART OF THE DISPARAGING LANGUAGE.
UM, I CAN JUST GO THROUGH AND READ 'EM 'CAUSE WE NEED TO VOTE ON 'EM INDIVIDUALLY AND UM, BUT, UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU COUNSEL THAT WE CAN, WE DID THIS AND GOT IT DONE.
UM, TOMORROW BE, IT'S A GOOD THING TO BE SIGNING THEM AND, AND GET THIS DONE.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING A PART OF THIS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE PART OF IT.
MR. MAYOR, I KNOW YOU DON'T OFTEN MAKE MOTIONS FROM THE CHAIR, BUT ON NINE ITEM NINE I, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO MAKE THAT LAST MOTION SO WHEN WE GET TO IT.
UM, SO FIRST WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW IS, IS NINE D.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? MM-HMM.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE? COUNSEL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? MOTION TO APPROVE.
ANY DISCUSSION PLEASE CATCH YOUR VOTE.
NINE IS CASE NUMBER EPC 2 4 0 0 0 21.
[E. Case No. EPC24-00021; Public Hearing and Consideration of an Amended Final Plat for Bigbee’s Santa Fe Addition, Located Northeast of Fretz and Thatcher. (City of Edmond; Ward 1)]
CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDED FINAL PLAT FOR BIG BS SANTA FE EDITION LOCATED NORTHEAST OF F FREDS AND THATCHER.CITY OF EDMOND IS THE APPLICANT.
COUNSEL ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
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WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO IN NINE E? MOTION TO APPROVE? WE HAVE A MOTION.ANY DISCUSSION PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
NINE F IS CASE NUMBER EPC TWO FOUR DASH 0 2 2.
[F. Case No. EPC24-00022; Public Hearing and Consideration of an Amended Final Plat for Bigbee’s 2nd Santa Fe Addition, Located Between Fretz Ave and Bigbee Dr, and Between Clegern Ave and Wayne St. (City of Edmond; Ward 1)]
PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDED FINAL PLAT FOR BIGSBY.LOCATED BETWEEN FRED'S AVENUE AND BIG B DRIVE.
AND BETWEEN CLERK CLARAN CLARE.
AVENUE AND WAYNE STREET, CITY OF EDS APPLICANT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT COUNSEL? MM-HMM COUNSEL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO IN NINE F? MAKE A MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
CASE NUMBER EPC 24 DASH 0 0 23 PUBLIC
[G. Case No. EPC24-00023; Public Hearing and Consideration of an Amended Final Plat for Kale Sub, Located North of 8th St along Littler Place. (City of Edmond; Ward 1)]
HEARING CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDED FINAL PLAT FOR KALE SUB LOCATED NORTH OF EIGHTH STREET ALONG LITTLER PLACE, CITY OF EDMONDS, APPLICANT COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NO.WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? MOTION TO APPROVE.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
NINE H CASE NUMBER EPC 24 DASH 0 0 24
[H. Case No. EPC24-00024; Public Hearing and Consideration of an Amended Final Plat for Shaefer’s Subdivision, Located Northeast of Broadway and 9th. (City of Edmond; Ward 1)]
PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERATION OF AN AMEND FINAL PLAN FOR SCHAFER SUBDIVISION LOCATED NORTHEAST OF BROADWAY AND NINTH STREET CITY OF APPLICANT.COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
ITEM NINE I CASE NUMBER EPC TWO FOUR DASH 0 0 2 5
[I. Case No. EPC24-00025; Public Hearing and Consideration of an Amended Final Plat for South Park Addition, Located Northwest of Boulevard and 8th. (City of Edmond; Ward 1)]
PUBLIC HEARING IN CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDED FINAL PLAT FOR SOUTH PARK EDITION LOCATED AT NORTHWEST OF BOULEVARD AND EIGHTH STREET, CITY OF EDMONDS, APPLICANT COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NO.I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT TO APPROVE.
ANY DISCUSSION, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
UH, THE ONE CITIZEN WHO WAS GONNA SPEAK, UM, HE LEFT
SO, UM, ITEM 11 COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
[11. Comments from the Mayor and Members of the City Council.]
WOW.WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CASEY MORE FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT HE DID COLLABORATING WITH THE MAYOR AND WAYNE FROST TO REMOVE THAT OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE.
AND I THINK BACK TO THE COUPLE SPEAKERS WE HAD A WHILE BACK AND HOW MEANINGFUL THAT WAS TO THEM LIVING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND KNOWING THAT THAT HAD BEEN REMOVED.
AND THANK YOU FOR DOING IT SO QUICKLY.
FARMER'S MARKET SATURDAY, FARMER'S MARKET SATURDAY.
UM, UH, THINGS ARE STILL MOVING.
UH, CYCLE 66 IS COMING UP IN JULY.
UH, KENTUCKY S COMING UP ART FESTIVAL, DOWN FESTIVAL, FESTIVAL ART THIS WEEKEND.
UH, IT STARTS FRIDAY, RIGHT? MM-HMM
CORRECT? WELL, YEAH, 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA RAIN, SO IT'S GOING DAN HERE AS WELL.
UH, LET'S JUST MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE.
PUT ON MICHAEL JACKSON, MAN IN THE MIRROR.
AND, AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA SAY THRILLER.
WELL, I'M GONNA GO HOME AND LISTEN TO SOME TOOL I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL.
BUT, UM, I GOT A NICE WRONG BEAR OF CHARDONNAY CHILLING IN THE FRIDGE.
WHAT A MEETING TO END ON, RIGHT? WHAT A MEETING TO END ON.
I THINK YOU JUST WANTED IT TO LAST FOREVER.
I APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE STAFF.
AS YOU ALWAYS, AND SUPPORTING AND ALL THIS.
UH, I THINK MS. MUG AND MS. PETER SONATA OFFER A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
[04:25:02]
OH, I MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN.THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN.