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GOOD[1. Call to Order of the Edmond City Council Meeting.]
EVENING.I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
WILL EVERYONE RISE AS WE WELCOME THE COLORS BEING PRESENTED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HONOR GUARD AND INVOCATION WILL BE BY DANIELLA TO THE FATHER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
NOW, DANIEL GLOVER WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME, HEAVEN? ANY FOLLOW? WE GATHER HERE TODAY WITH ARMS FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND NATION.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS AND TALENTS YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US AND FOR THE GUIDANCE THAT HAS LED US TO THIS MOMENT.
AS WE, AS OUR NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS TAKE THEIR OATH OF OFFICE, WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THEM.
GRANT THEM WISDOM, COURAGE, AND INTEGRITY AS THEY UNDERTAKE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEADERSHIP.
MAY THEY BE GUIDED BY A SPIRIT OF JUSTICE, COMPASSION, AND HUMILITY IN ALL THEIR DECISIONS.
HELP THEM TO SERVE THIS DE SERVE WITH DEDICATION AND TO ALWAYS SEEK THE COMMON GOOD.
MAY THEY BE INSPIRED TO STAND WITH THE NEEDY, TO CHALLENGE INJUSTICE, AND TO UNIFY OUR COMMUNITY.
WE PRAY THAT YOUR ACTIONS WILL REFLECT YOUR LOVE AND GRACE, AND THAT THEY WILL, AND THAT THEY WILL LEAD WITH SERVANT, WITH THE SERVANT'S HEART.
BLESS THIS CEREMONY AND ALL WHO ARE PRESENT.
MAY WE ALL BE REMINDED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR ROLES IN SUPPORTING AND UPLIFTING OUR LEADERS.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE PRAY.
[2. Swearing In Ceremony for Mayor Mark Nash. ]
WE WILL NOW CALL ON JUDGE SLATON TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE TO MAYOR ELECT MARK NASH.DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT, THAT I WILL SUPPORT, DEFEND, DEFEND, AND OBEY, AND OBEY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF EDMOND, THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF EDMOND.
AND I WILL NOT KNOWINGLY AND I WILL NOT KNOWINGLY RECEIVE ANY MONEY OR OTHER VALUABLE THING, RECEIVE ANY MONEY OR ANY, ANY OTHER VALUABLE THING FOR THE PERFORMANCE, FOR THE PERFORMANCE, FOR NON-PERFORMANCE, FOR NON-PERFORMANCE OF ANY ACTOR DUTY OF ANY OUTDOOR DUTY PERTAINING TO MY OFFICE, PERTAINING TO MY OFFICE, OTHER THAN THE COMPENSATION ALLOWED BY LAW OTHER THAN THE COMPENSATION ALLOWED BY LAW.
I FURTHER SWEAR, I FURTHER SWEAR.
I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE MY DUTIES.
I'LL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE MY DUTIES AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EDMOND, AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EDMOND, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY AND CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
[3. Swearing In Ceremony for Ward 3 Council Member Preston Watterson. ]
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PRESS IT NEXT.I, PRESTON AND WATERSON DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT, I'LL SUPPORT, OBEY AND DEFEND.
OBEY AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS, OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, CONSTITUTION, OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF EDMOND, AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF EDMOND.
AND I WILL NOT KNOWINGLY RECEIVE, I WILL NOT KNOWINGLY RECEIVE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ANY MONEY OR OTHER VALUABLE THING, ANY MONEY OR OTHER VALUABLE THING FOR THE PERFORMANCE, FOR PERFORMANCE, FOR NON-PERFORMANCE, FOR NON-PERFORMANCE OF ANY ACTOR DUTY, OF ANY ACTOR DUTY PERTAINING TO MY OFFICE.
PERTAINING TO MY OFFICE, OTHER THAN THE COMPENSATION ALLOWED BY LAW OTHER THAN THE COMPENSATION ALLOWED BY LAW.
I FURTHER SWEAR, I FURTHER SWEAR.
I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE MY DUTIES.
I'LL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE MY DUTIES AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR WARD THREE OF WARD THREE OF THE CITY OF EDMOND, THE CITY OF EDMOND, AND TRUSTEE OF THE EDMOND PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY OF THE TRUSTEE OF THE EDMOND PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
[4. Swearing In Ceremony for Ward 4 Council Member Phillip Fraim. ]
RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT, THAT I WILL SUPPORT, OBEY AND DEFEND.
OBEY AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, CONSTITUTION, OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF EDMOND, THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF EDMOND.
AND I WILL NOT KNOWINGLY RECEIVE, I WILL NOT KNOWINGLY RECEIVE ANY MONEY OR OTHER VALUABLE THING, ANY MONEY OR ANY OTHER VALUABLE THING FOR THE PERFORMANCE, FOR THE PERFORMANCE OR NON-PERFORMANCE OR NON-PERFORMANCE OF ANY ACT OF DUTY, OF ANY ACT OR DUTY.
OTHER THAN THE COMPENSATION, OTHER THAN THE COMPENSATION ALLOWED BY LAW.
I FURTHER SWEAR, I FURTHER SWEAR THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE MY DUTIES.
I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE MY DUTIES AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR WARD FOUR AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR WARD FOUR OF THE CITY OF EDMOND, OF THE CITY OF EDMOND AND TRUSTEE AND TRUSTEE OF THE EDMUND PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY OF THE EDMUND PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
[5. Remarks from Council Member Watterson, Council Member Fraim, and Mayor Nash. ]
WELL THE HARD PART'S OVER.UM, LET'S HAVE A FEW WORDS FROM OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH PRESTON WATERSON FROM WARD THREE.
PEOPLE ASK ME LIKE, ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? AND I SAID, YOU JUST GOTTA REPEAT AFTER HER, RIGHT? HOW HARD CAN IT BE
ANYWAY, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE UP HERE AND I'M HUMBLED BY THE CONFIDENCE Y'ALL HAVE IN ME AND THE OTHERS.
UM, I RAN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE I LOVE EDMOND.
I WANNA SEE IT CONTINUE TO THRIVE.
UH, WE'VE, WE'VE RAISED OUR FAMILY HERE AND WANT OTHERS TO EXPERIENCE THAT SAME GREAT COMMUNITY, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW WE, THIS COUNCIL CAN WORK TOGETHER, UH, TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.
UM, I WON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS AND WON'T GET EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUT I COMMIT, I COMMIT TO INVEST MY TIME TO DO THE HOMEWORK AND TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE STAFF AND TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OB OBJECTIVE DECISIONS I CAN.
UM, PERSONAL THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO, A LOT OF YOU IN THIS ROOM WHO, UM, ADVISED ME HAD COFFEE, EXPLAINED HOW THIS ALL WORKS.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO RUN A CAMPAIGN UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY DO THESE THINGS.
YOU DUNNO HOW THE CITY WORKS UNTIL YOU START PAYING ATTENTION AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.
AND SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO DID THAT.
UM, THANKS TO PHIL, MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER HERE WHO HELPED ME KINDA ALIGN MY PRIORITIES AND GOALS.
HE DID A GREAT JOB THAT, YOU KNOW, RAN UNOPPOSED,
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BIG THANKS TO THE OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF STUFF SAID ON MONDAY ON THAT, BUT, UM, WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND THE SACRIFICES YOU'VE MADE AND THE HARD DECISIONS YOU'VE MADE.
AND, UH, YOUR HEART FOR THE CITY.
I CAN'T FIND YOU GUYS BACK THERE.
UM, THANKS TO MY FAMILY, MY PARENTS, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR PROVIDING AN EXAMPLE AND, UM, MY WIFE SARAH, AND MY KIDS.
UM, LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, TO TREAT EACH OTHER AS NEIGHBORS, SERVE EACH OTHER, STAY OPEN-MINDED.
AND REMEMBER, IT'S THE PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS AND OUR SHARED VALUES THAT MAKE EDMOND A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
UM, WOW, WHAT A PRIVILEGE, WHAT A RESPONSIBILITY.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, ANYONE WHO SITS UP HERE, IF THEY SAY THEY HAVEN'T FELT THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THERE IS SOME AND WE DO FEEL IT.
UH, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEAR EDMOND ACROSS MY CHEST TO BE AND REPRESENT EDMUND IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL.
IT JUST VIRTUALLY YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT IT'S STILL THERE.
ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF THIS PLACE.
ALWAYS BEEN PROUD TO SAY BORN AND BRED IN EDMOND, MY WIFE, UH, GOD, I GET THIS WRONG.
I DO STILL REMEMBER RACHEL TALK ABOUT AN EDMOND GIRL.
WHEN WE BUILT OUR HOUSE IN 2008 ON OFF BRYANT AND COFFEE CREEK.
SHE THOUGHT WE WERE MOVING TOO FAR OUT OF EDMOND.
WE WERE ALMOST IN KANSAS, SO LIVED HERE ALL OF HER LIFE.
MY THREE CHILDREN, ISAAC, MANDY, AUDRA, THEIR SPOUSES HERE TODAY, KIDS WERE RAISED, BORN IN EDMOND.
WE HAVE TO STRETCH THAT A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE TO CALL MERCY HOSPITAL ON MEMORIAL ROAD, EDMOND TO GET THAT, BUT, BUT IT IS SO.
AND NOW EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN, ALL BEING RAISED, ALL BORN IN EDMOND, ALL LIVE IN WARD FOUR.
UM, NONE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO DO AND TO REPRESENT EDMOND HAVE BEEN ANY MORE MEANINGFUL THAN THIS ONE.
ANY MORE HONORING, AND AT THE SAME TIME, ANY MORE HUMBLING.
I'VE ALWAYS HAD GREAT PRIDE IN THIS CITY.
I WOULD BE REMISS WITHOUT STARTING THIS, WITH, UM, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO KRISTEN, STACY, DARRELL, UH, KRISTEN.
WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK TOGETHER BEFORE YOU EVEN RAN FOR COUNCIL.
THANK FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS.
STACY, I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I EVER CALLED YOU SAID, HEY, I THINK I'M GONNA RUN.
SHE SAYS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING MORE.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE CALLING HER TO COMPLAINT ABOUT I WAS
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR YEARS AND YEARS OF THIS CITY.
UM, YOU TRULY ARE AN HISTORIC MAYOR.
I WANNA PUT THAT INTO A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT FOR US.
MY MOM AND DAD WERE MARRIED IN 1955 AT THE CORNER OF SECOND IN BOULEVARD, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
MY DAD HAD A COUPLE VERY GOOD FRIENDS WHOSE SKIN COLOR HAPPENED TO BE DIFFERENT THAN HIS.
HE HAD TO COME TO CITY HALL, GET SPECIAL PERMISSION FOR THEM TO ATTEND THE WEDDING.
I COME A LONG WAY, STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO, AND I'LL BE, I'LL BE DISAPPOINTED IF THIS COUNCIL DOESN'T ADDRESS SOME FURTHER THINGS.
THE REMAINING THING IN OUR CHARTER AND THE PEOPLE OF EDMOND HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE ON THAT.
UM, I REMEMBER THE GETTING STARTED.
PEOPLE GO, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS? AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST, BUT IT DIDN'T START AT COUNCIL.
I WAS ON THE UCO FOUNDATION WITH CHARLES LAMB.
AND I SAID, CHARLES, I SAID, HOW DID YOU EVER GET STARTED IN ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR EDMOND? AND HE SAID, YOU JUST START DOING.
AND HE LOOKED AT ME, HE SAID, WHAT'S YOUR INTEREST? I SAID, WHOA, WAIT, WE'RE JUST TALKING HERE,
THE NEXT WEEK I WAS ON A CITIZENS TASK FORCE.
THEN I WAS ON THE CITIZENS TASK FORCE FOR SALES TAX RENEWAL.
MAYOR DAVIS REAPPOINTED ME TO THE BOARD, APPOINTED ME TO
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ANOTHER BOARD.I THINK I'M PRETTY WELL INVOLVED.
UM, AND THAT'S AS TENSIONED AS IT GETS.
UM, I REMEMBER ONE THING CHARLES SAID.
I SAID, CHARLES, WE'RE JUST TALKING.
AND HE SAID, I WANT YOU INVOLVED.
AND IN, IN INVOLVEMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO DO SOMETHING.
HELP US CELEBRATE THE WINDS OF THIS GREAT CITY.
WE DON'T WIN EVERY DAY, BUT WE WIN A LOT.
AND I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, I THINK EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
UM, WE, WE WHO'VE LIVED HERE A LONG TIME AND IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO FEEL ENTRENCHED AND TO HAVE LIVED HERE A WHILE, WE GET A LITTLE NUMB TO EXACTLY HOW GOOD THIS PLACE IS, WHAT THIS PLACE OFFERS, WHAT THIS CITY HAS.
I HAVE A REALLY GOOD FRIEND, A BUSINESS ASSOCIATE, UM, FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
HE'S BEEN TO EDMOND MANY, MANY TIMES.
GUY LIVES IN AUSTIN, HAS AN INCREDIBLE PLACE IN SANTA FE, TRAVELS THE WORLD.
HE CALLED ME THE OTHER DAY AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE REALLY, REALLY FORTUNATE AND LUCKY.
AND I SAID, WHAT'S THAT? AND HE SAID, YOU LIVE IN A PLACE WITH SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE AND SO MANY AMENITIES.
YOU GUYS KEEP THAT IN MIND AND HELP US CELEBRATE THOSE WINS.
OPTICS MATTER AS WE ATTEMPT TO ATTRACT CAPITAL TO THIS CITY.
OPTICS MATTER AS WE LOOK TO BROADEN OUR SALES TAX BASE, WHICH WE NEED AS THIS CITY GROWS, OPTICS MATTER AND CULTURE MATTERS AS WE ATTRACT AND RETRAIN, RETAIN A FANTASTIC WORKFORCE.
THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY OF EDMOND.
SO AS WE COMPETE FOR THAT, KEEP THAT IN MIND.
FINALLY, WANNA SAY, I'M SURROUNDED UP HERE WITH, UH, A GROUP OF REALLY MULTI-TALENTED PEOPLE.
UM, I, I LAUGHED THE OTHER NIGHT THINKING ABOUT THIS.
IF I DIDN'T ALREADY BELIEVE IN THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD, I WOULD SAY IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY CUT OUT OF STONE.
THESE PEOPLE, UH, TALENTS, DIVERSE EXPERIENCES, DIVERSE.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BLEND REALLY WELL.
AND YET TOGETHER, INCLUDING YOU GUYS TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE IT EVEN BETTER BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T RUN OUT OF HORIZON YET.
UM, I TYPICALLY TALK OFF THE CUFF.
UM, AS MY PREDECESSOR HAS SAID MANY TIMES UP HERE, HE DOESN'T WRITE SPEECHES, EXCEPT THAT IT, LAST WEEK WHEN HE GAVE HIS CLOSING REMARKS, HE JOTTED A FEW THINGS DOWN TO MAKE SURE HE COVERED THE BASES.
THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER WRITTEN ANYTHING AND I'M PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO READ MOST OF IT.
SO, UM, IT IS GONNA BE TOUGH FOR ME BECAUSE I'M NOT USED TO DOING THAT.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND BEING A PART OF THIS CEREMONY.
I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL AND HUMBLED BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE EACH OF YOU IN OUR REMARKABLE COMMUNITY.
CEREMONIES LIKE THIS ARE IMPORTANT BENCHMARKS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE KEY PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES.
AND A HUMBLING REMINDER OF HOW GREAT THE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE A SERVANT LEADER.
IT IS A PROFOUND HONOR TO BE SURROUNDED BY THIS DEDICATED TEAM OF PAST AND NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THIS LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT WE HAVE ON STAFF HERE IN THE CITY OF EDMOND.
SO MANY CHERISHED FRIENDS AND FAMILY HAVE MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE.
STACY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING LOVE AND SUPPORT.
EVERY LIFE NEEDS A STACY, SOMEONE WHO SUPPORTS THE ONE WITH THE BIG AUDACIOUS DREAMS OF THE VISION WE HAVE FOR OUR CITY AND SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO SACRIFICE WHAT IT TAKES TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND TO MY DAUGHTERS AND THEIR HUSBANDS.
YOU'VE EACH PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN HELPING THIS DAY HAPPEN.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY DAUGHTER, DELANEY, WHOSE TALENT BROUGHT EXTRAORDINARY CREATIVITY AND ENERGY TO OUR CAMPAIGN BRANDING AND OUTREACH TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY.
AND IF YOU'LL, IF EVERYONE ELSE WILL LOOK TO THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM, MOST OF THAT SIDE OF THE ROOM IS MY FAMILY.
UM, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE STANDING AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM, YOU CAN BLAME THEM FOR YOU HAVING TO STAND UP.
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AMAZING THROUGH ALL OF THIS.UH, A LOT OF 'EM ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES AND CAMPAIGNED.
THEY WORKED DILIGENTLY TO HELP.
UM, THEY ANALYZED WHAT WAS GOING ON AROUND US.
OTHERS JUST QUIETLY TOLD THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO LIVE HERE IN EDMOND TO VOTE.
I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
UM, I'M NOT A VERY EMOTIONAL PERSON AS MY WIFE STACY WILL ATTEST, BUT I'M GETTING READY TO GET CHOKED UP
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE INCREDIBLY SPECIAL.
MY MOTHER, MOM, YOUR PRESENCE HERE TONIGHT AND YOUR STEADFAST ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN HAS MEANT MORE TO ME THAN I CAN EVER EXPRESS.
AND THOUGH MY FATHER, WHOM WE AFFECTIONATELY CALLED POO IS NO LONGER WITH US, HIS SPIRIT CERTAINLY IS, HE WAS, HE WAS MY VERY FIRST CAMPAIGN DONOR.
AND RIGHT UP UNTIL HE PASSED, JUST WEEKS AFTER THE PRIMARY, HE WAS STILL CHEERING ME ON.
DAD, THIS MOMENT BELONGS TO YOU TOO.
TO THE MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO GAVE THEIR TIME, ENERGY, AND HEARTS TO THIS CAMPAIGN.
YOU'RE THE LIFEBLOOD OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND NOW AS I LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM AT BOTH THIS NEW COUNCIL AND AT THE THREE MEMBERS LEAVING TONIGHT, I HAVE A RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE.
KRISTEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEGRITY, FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR THE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WE'VE BUILT OVER THE YEARS.
KRISTEN, AS BOTH THE CITY COUNSELOR AND A FAMILY MEMBER, I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE DEDICATION YOU BROUGHT TO THE ROLE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO YOU THREE AS WELL AS MAGGIE AND BARRY.
THE WORK YOU FIVE HAVE DONE TO STRENGTHEN EDMOND IS NOT FORGOTTEN, NOR WILL IT GO UNRECOGNIZED.
YOUR EFFORTS HELP SHAPE THE VIBRANT COMMUNITY WE ARE PROUD OF TODAY.
I TAKE THIS OATH ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO HAVE FAITHFULLY SERVED OUR GREAT CITY AND WITH A VISION AND CLARITY OF PURPOSE TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENT LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABLE CITY GOVERNMENT.
OUR FIRST AND MOST URGENT TASK IS REFORMING THE WAY WE MANAGE OUR CITY FINANCES.
WE MUST IMPLEMENT A BUDGET PROCESS THAT IS NOT ONLY EFFICIEN EFFECTIVE AND COMPLIANT WITH STATE LAW, BUT IS ALSO UNDERSTANDABLE TO EVERY CITIZEN.
IN THE LIMITED TIME, WE HAVE JUST THREE COUNCIL MEETINGS.
WE MUST PASS A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS OUR VALUES AND SETS A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE.
AS WE PRIORITIZE BUDGET REFORM, WE WILL NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE BROADER CHALLENGES FACING OUR CITY AS WE BUILD OUR VISION FOR EDMUND'S FUTURE, THIS COUNCIL MUST TAKE A HARD LOOK AT OUR STREETS PROGRAM.
WE WILL EVALUATE ITS CURRENT STATUS AND DETERMINE THE LEVEL INVESTMENT NEEDED TO CREATE A FOCUSED, ALIGNED IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
ONE THAT DELIVERS REAL RESULTS AND MAXIMIZES EVERY TAXPAYER DOLLAR.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT WE DO.
I SHARE MAGGIE'S COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORMING THE CITY'S COMMUNICATION EFFORTS.
WE MUST DO A BETTER JOB OF TELLING OUR STORY, OF CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND KEEPING OUR CITIZENS INFORMED.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST DISMANTLE THE NOTION THAT EDMOND IS A DIFFICULT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.
TOGETHER WE WILL CREATE SYSTEMS THAT REFLECT A CITY OPEN FOR OPPORTUNITY, INNOVATION, AND GROWTH.
I SERVE WITH A GREAT TEAM OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY LEADERS.
AND TO, TOGETHER WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SHAPE EDMOND'S FUTURE.
ONE THAT IS RESPECTFUL TO EVERY CITIZEN AND EVERY TAX DOLLAR OF THOSE WHO HAVE ENTRUSTED TO US.
I'M HONORED TO WALK INTO THIS NEXT CHAPTER WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND NOW WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A RECEPTION RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AT PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER IN MATT TERRY HALL.
PLEASE EVERYONE JOIN US OVER THERE AND I'M CALLING THIS CEREMONY ADJOURNED.