Oct 10, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting

THAT

[00:00:01]

ALRIGHT.

[1. Call meeting to order.]

I HAVE 7 0 1.

TODAY IS OCTOBER 10TH, 2023.

THIS IS THE REGULAR SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

WE DO HAVE A FULL QUO OF CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.

UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT OPEN CARRY IS NOT PERMITTED, UH, WITHIN THESE, UH, COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

THIS IS AN OPEN MEETING AND ALL NOTICES HAVE BEEN PROPERLY POSTED.

UH, AND, UH, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP WITH THE INVOCATION, UH, PASTOR JULIUS HARRIS, ARE YOU HERE? INCREASE IT.

SO IT STANDS.

WE MIGHT STILL BE OUTSIDE.

WELL, I GUESS WE'LL JUST WAIT.

UH, WHO DID THE, WHO DID THE PLEDGE LAST TIME? MR. DID YOU I DID.

UH, MR. GLOVER, YOU MIND LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE OF ANCE? HUH? JULIUS? YES.

PASTOR JULIUS HARRIS.

ARE YOU HERE, SIR? YES.

.

COME ON DOWN.

PARTNER.

IF EVERYONE WILL PLEASE STAND.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY THE P OF ALLEGIANCE.

WE WERE, WE WERE, UM, WE WERE OBSERVING AND HERE DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SO, UH, I THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF COMING BACK TO OFFER PRAYER.

UH, AGAIN, I'M PROUD, UH, THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 15TH YEAR.

UH, WE WERE FOUNDED RIGHT HERE IN, IN, UH, CEDAR HILL, OUR 15TH YEAR THIS SUNDAY AT THREE O'CLOCK.

SO Y'ALL ALL INVITED TO POINT OF LIGHT CHURCH AT THREE O'CLOCK ON SUNDAY, IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BY.

ALRIGHT.

UM, ALSO, UH, I'M NOT GONNA NOT GONNA SAY THIS LONG, BUT PLEASE JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY, UH, BEFORE WE BEGIN, PRAYER WON'T BE LONG, BUT I ENCOURAGE EACH OF US TO JUST REMEMBER ALL THE PEOPLE THAT'S DEALING WITH THE CONFLICT.

UH, THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE EAST WITH ISRAEL AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON THERE.

SO LET'S NOT GROW WEARY IN OUR EFFORTS TO KEEP REMEMBERING THEM, UH, IN PRAYER.

PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES, THE HOSTAGES, EVERYBODY, UH, INVOLVED.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A HISTORY WITH, WITH ISRAEL THERE.

AND SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY.

LET'S JUST BOW HEADS NOW FOR PRAYER.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING THANKING YOU, FIRST OF ALL, AND WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE A COMPASSIONATE AND A GRACIOUS GOD.

YOU'RE THE ONE WHO ABOUND IN LOVE.

AND FATHER, WE GLORIFY YOU FOR THE INNUMERABLE, UH, WAYS THAT YOU BLESS THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL.

AND, AND FATHER, YOU PROMISED THAT WHEN PEOPLE WOULD COME AND THEY WOULD GATHER IN YOUR NAME, YOUR PRESENCE WOULD BE HERE WITH US.

AND SO WE'RE CAREFUL TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE NOT ONLY ENTERED THIS BUILDING, BUT WE ENTERED YOUR PRESENCE.

AND FATHER, WE ASK FOR YOUR SOVEREIGN HAND TO GUIDE THIS MEETING AS THE HONORABLE ELECTED OFFICIALS TAKE ON THIS, THIS HONORABLE TASK OF DIRECTING AND MANAGING THE VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS.

AND I THANK YOU THIS EVENING THAT YOU'RE FAITHFUL TO HEAR AND ANSWER OUR PRAYER.

FATHER, GIVE US CLEAR MINDS AND PEACEFUL HEARTS AS WE REASON TOGETHER WITH THE AIM, UM, OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE, MOST EFFECTIVE AND DESIRABLE SOLUTIONS AND THE OUTCOMES.

AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR SPIRIT OF AGREEMENT AROUND THE CITY'S AGENDA AS IT ALIGNS WITH YOUR WILL, AND MAKE ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD.

AS YOU PROMISED IN YOUR WORD, IN THE MIDST OF CULTURAL, RELATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, BUSINESS, ECONOMIC WARS, RUMORS, OR WARS THAT ARE APPARENT IN THIS SEASON.

FATHER, WE LOOK TO YOU, OUR LORD, FOR ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF JUDE, YOU ARE ABLE TO KEEP US FROM FALLING.

AND IT IS YOU WHO WILL PRESENT US BLAMELESS BEFORE THE PEACE OF YOUR GLORY WITH GREAT JOY.

FATHER, IT IS TO YOU OUR GOD BE GLORY, MAJESTY, DOMINION AND AUTHORITY NOW AND FOREVERMORE.

IT IS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, I PRAY.

AMEN.

AMEN.

AMEN.

THANK YOU.

AND NOW JOIN ME IN OUR PLEDGE TO WORK THE AMERICAN FLAG AND THEN OUR TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE TO, TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN REPUBLIC, WHICH STANDS ONE, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN INVIS INJUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, A ALLEGED ALLEGIANCE TO DEED TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD AN INTRICAL.

THANK YOU.

YOU ALL MAY BE SEATED.

NEXT ITEM

[a. Presentation of the International City Management Association (ICMA) Award for Career Development by ICMA representative Bob Livingston to City Manager Greg Porter.]

I C M A AWARD FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT BY I C M A, A REPRESENTATIVE BOB TON TO CITY MANAGER GREG PORTER , COME ON DOWN.

[00:05:05]

I'M, UH, GLAD TO BE HERE.

MY NAME IS BOB LIVINGSTON.

I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH THE, UH, TEXAS CITY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION AT I C M A AS A SENIOR ADVISOR.

I'M A RETIRED MANAGER.

SO, UH, I, THIS IS ONE OF THE FUN THINGS I GET TO DO IS DO THIS.

I WILL BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE.

I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO GET IN THE WAY OF AN AGENDA THAT HAS A ITEM ON IT FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR AX THROWING .

UH, EVERY YEAR I C M A HONORS A MEMBER FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S A, A VERY PRESTIGIOUS HONOR.

UH, IT'S GIVEN AN HONOR OF LP COOKHAM.

UH, PERRY COOKHAM, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND, WAS THE MANAGER IN A NUMBER OF CITIES.

HE CAME UP AT A TIME WHEN MOST MANAGERS WERE ENGINEERS AND HE REALIZED THAT THEY NEEDED TO DEVELOP OTHER SKILLS.

HE NEEDED TO DEVELOP YOUNG TALENT TO COME IN.

AND HE DID THAT.

HE WAS, FOR 20 YEARS THE CITY MANAGER OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

MM-HMM.

CLEANED UP AFTER THE PENDERGAST MACHINE THERE.

REALLY DID A LOT OF WORK.

UM, LIKE I SAY, HE WAS AN ENGINEER BY BACKGROUND.

HE TRAINED A LOT OF ASSISTANCE.

UM, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE TOO, ALAN, WHEN YOU WERE AT KU, WE GOT TO SPEND A WEEK WITH HIM AS A PRACTITIONER IN RESIDENCE.

AND HE HAD STORIES YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE ABOUT WHAT HE'D GONE THROUGH IN KANSAS CITY.

UM, HE TRAINED SO MANY MANAGERS THAT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING FOR A LONG TIME, THERE WAS A GROUP DINNER THAT WAS FORMED THAT WERE THE SONS OF LP COOKING HAM.

HE, HE REALLY STRESSED TRAINING NEW MANAGERS.

SO, YOU KNOW, IN THAT, IN THAT VEIN, I C M A HAS CREATED THIS AWARD JUST FOR REFERENCE, I C M A WORLDWIDE HAS ABOUT 13,500 MEMBERS.

ONE INDIVIDUAL EACH YEAR GETS THIS AWARD.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE.

ONE OUT OF 13,500, GREG WAS RECOGNIZED FOR A LOT OF THE SAME SKILLS THAT YOU FIND IN IN LP INGHAM.

UM, GREG RECEIVED THAT AWARD, UM, WHAT, TWO WEEKS AGO OR LA LAST WEEK AT THE I C M A, UH, UH, ANNUAL CONFERENCE DOWN IN AUSTIN.

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE AUDIENCE THE DAY THEY DID IT.

UM, BUT SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE AWARD OR CITED FOR HIS, HIS SKILLS WERE HIS PROGRAM HERE OF MEETING WITH AND DEVELOPING MID-LEVEL MANAGERS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.

UM, AND HELPING THEM RAISE THEIR, IN THEIR AWARENESS OF INTERACTION OR THE NEED FOR INTERACTION IN THE ORGANIZATION.

CREATION OF THE TWO PROGRAMS HERE THAT YOU HAVE, WHICH ARE REALLY UNIQUE, CITY U AND CITY ME, THAT PROVIDED EDUC PROVIDES EDUCATION TO, UH, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND CITY OPERATIONS.

THAT, AND PROVIDES MEN MENTORING, MENTORING TO YOUNGER MANAGERS, UM, HIS ENCOURAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL AND OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS.

UH, THE CREATION OF THE TEAM COUNCIL.

AND HE'S DONE THIS OVER A 35 YEAR CAREER AT THIS CITY.

SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE GREG FOR THAT AWARD.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK.

I KNOW HE IS REALLY COMMITTED TO THIS CITY.

WOW, THAT'S GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND, UM, I GUESS TO ADD EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANCES, UM, HOW FAR DID YOU TRAVEL TO BE HERE TODAY? YEAH, I CAME FROM DALLAS.

OH, YOU CAME TO DALLAS .

BUT IT'S STILL A LONG WAY.

.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS, THE CERTIFICATES THAT THIS IS THE INTERNATIONAL AWARD, UH, AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT HERE, UM, IS IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

UM, YOU KNOW, UM, I'M ABOUT TO GO TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE REQUEST OF OUR CITY MANAGER, HE ASKED FOR ME TO JUST TONE IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

SO, UM, BY CHANCE IF I COULD GET A, A LOUD APPLAUSE FOR OUR CITY MANAGER.

[00:10:06]

TD MANAGER.

NEXT ITEM PRESENTER,

[b. Present a Proclamation recognizing and honoring City Manager Greg Porter.]

RECOGNIZING AND HONORING SEATED MANAGER, GREGORY REPORTER.

UM, I'M STILL TONING IT DOWN, BUT I'D LIKE FOR COUNCIL TO PLEASE JOIN ME DOWN AT THE FRONT COUNCIL.

SO IF YOU KNOW CITY MANAGER GREG PORTER, HE IS SO METICULOUS THAT HE HAS TO KNOW EVERY SINGLE DETAIL.

SO AS YOU CAN TELL, THE CITY SECRETARY KIND OF SLIDE ME MY PROCLAMATION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT HIM TO FIND IT.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO IS, YOU KNOW, SELFLESS, WHO'S A TRUE, YOU KNOW, UH, SERVANT AND HE JUST CARES ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE AND ALWAYS THINK OF HIMSELF LAST.

SO, UM, WANTED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THIS GREAT AWARD.

UM, AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR OUR COUNCIL MEETING.

SO, UH, MR. GREG PORTER, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME ON DOWN.

PLEASE, SIR, WE WANNA DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY, SO I HAVE A PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU, SIR.

AND YOU GOTTA COME AROUND THIS SIDE OF ME .

I HAVE A PROCLAMATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS YET, RIGHT? I HAVE NOT SEEN IT.

.

WHEREAS CITY MANAGER, GREG PORTER, BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL AS AN INTERN IN FEBRUARY 23.

YOU WANNA SEE WHAT YEAR THAT IS.

1987.

1987.

AFTER 36 YEARS, GREG IS CREDITED WITH NOT ONLY BEING RECOGNIZED AS A ROLE MODEL, BUT MENTOR TO ALL LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING DIRECTORS, MID-LEVEL MANAGEMENT, AND FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.

HE HAS CREATED A MULTITUDE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYEES TO BECOME THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVANT LEADER THROUGH C D U, WHICH EXPOSES THEM TO MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS, C D ME, WHICH IS A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AND Q TWO AND Q TWO MEETINGS.

WHEREAS THERE IS NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL FOR GREG.

HE IS THE EPITOME OF A SERVANT LEADER WHO NOT ONLY STANDS UP AT THE PODIUM, BUT ALSO GRAB A MOP, IS FAITHFUL.

THAT IS THANK, UH, SINCERE, DEDICATED LAWYER AND CLEANS UP AFTER EVERY EVENT.

, AND GREG WAS RECENTLY HONORED BY THE CEDAR HILL, UH, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS THE MAN OF THE YEAR, JUST AS RECENT AS HIS PAST SATURDAY.

GREG RECENTLY RECEIVED THE INTERNATIONAL CITY COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, I C M A AWARD FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND MEMORY OF LP COOKHAM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TALENT IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT PROFESSION.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL AND I, IN ADDITION TO THIS AWARD, WANT TO RECOGNIZE GREG FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE, HIS EIGHT YEARS AS A SERVICE AS A CITY MANAGER, AND HIS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT, NOT JUST TO THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CITY, BUT TO THE MANY LIVES THAT HE HAS TOUCHED.

GREG IS LOVINGLY SUPPORTED BY HIS PARENTS, HIS SISTER, HIS WIFE, PAM OF 35 YEARS CHILDREN'S JESSE, ANDREW, UH, JOSHUA, AMANDA AND GRANDSON KANE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, STEVE MASON, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM GREG PORTER AS OUTSTANDING SERVANT LEADER OF THE YEAR THAT'S IN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL.

WITNESS OF I HAVE HERE TO SET MY HAND AND HAVE CAUSED THE SEAL, THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS, TO BE AFFIXED ON THIS 10TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023, SIGNED BY STEVE MASON.

MAYOR.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO WE NEED A GROUP PHOTO.

ALRIGHT, LET'S DO IT.

HOW, HOW DO YOU WANT US? HUH?

[00:15:12]

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

YOU WANNA SAY IF YOU WERE A CITY MANAGER? JUST A COUPLE.

SO, UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING TO GIMME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.

UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A FAMILY BUSINESS, UH, PUBLIC SERVICES AND THOSE OF YOU WHO DO IT, UNDERSTAND IT.

UM, I SEE MANY FRIENDS, MANY COLLEAGUES, UH, IN THE ROOM, AND YOU DO ME HONOR, JUST BY BEING HERE, APPRECIATE MR. LIVINGSTON, WHO'S LIKE A CITY MANAGER, LEGEND, UH, COMING ALL THE WAY FROM WHITE ROCK LAKE TO COME TO OUR COUNCIL MEETING.

UH, IT, IT HONORS ME GREATLY.

UH, THERE'S NOT A THING THAT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT THIS AWARD, UH, OR ABOUT ME THAT HAS TO DO WITH ME.

UH, EVERYTHING IN THERE HAS BEEN DONE BY A TEAM OF PEOPLE, UH, BEEN INSPIRED BY THE COMMUNITY BEING INSPIRED AND SUPPORTED BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL.

SO THEY SAY THE DEFINITION OF GRACE IS WHEN YOU'RE GIVEN SOMETHING YOU DON'T DESERVE.

AND THAT'S BEEN MY JOURNEY HERE IN CEDAR HILL SINCE I WAS A KID AND COLD CALL THEM AND FOUND MYSELF HERE IN 1987.

AND LIKE A BAD DISEASE NEVER LEFT .

BUT I WANT TO JUST THANK YOU.

WHO, UH, WHO HAVE BEEN FRIENDS OF MINE, COLLEAGUES OF MINE, UH, FELLOW CITIZENS OF MINE, ESPECIALLY, WANNA THANK MY FAMILY AGAIN.

THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE SERVED ALL THIS TIME AS WELL.

THEY'VE DONE BALLOON ARCHES AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING IN MY GARAGE.

THEY'VE DONE ALL KINDS OF CRAZY THINGS.

UH, BUT THIS IS A, THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT UNDERSTANDS WHAT FAMILY MEANS.

AND, UH, SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU.

I'LL BE HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU MR. UH, GREG PORTER.

I DO SEE ONE OF YOUR, UH, COLLEAGUES FROM NEXT DOOR, BRANDON WRIGHT FROM, UH, THE CITY MANAGER OF DESOTO.

HE IS HERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER CITY MANAGERS HERE? OKAY.

UM, AND ALSO, UH, CITY MANAGER, PLEASE FORGIVE YOUR STAFF FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, AVOIDING YOU IN THE HALLWAYS FOR THE PAST, FOR THE PAST WEEK, TRYING TO PUT THIS AGENDA TOGETHER.

SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

ALRIGHT, NEXT.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? NO.

YES.

HUH? OF COURSE.

OH, GO AHEAD, CURDY.

UM, YOU, YOU MADE THE COMMENT THAT YOU DIDN'T FEEL THAT THE AWARD WAS DESERVED.

NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

TRUTH, IT, IT, IT'S OKAY TO BE HUMBLE AND TO NOT LET IT GO TO YOUR HEAD.

BUT I DON'T WANT FOR ONE MINUTE.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO BELIEVE THAT THIS AWARD WAS NOT DESERVED.

YOU HAVE NEVER ASKED ANYBODY TO DO A JOB THAT YOU EITHER HAVE NOT DONE YOURSELF OR WOULDN'T BE WILLING TO DO YOURSELF.

AND YOU HAVE LED BY EXAMPLE ALL ALONG THE WAY.

THANK YOU.

I TONED IT DOWN ON A BIT JUST LIKE YOU ASKED ME TO.

ALRIGHT, NEXT ITEM

[a. Present a Proclamation recognizing November 11, 2023, as Veterans Day in Cedar Hill.]

UH, PRESENTED PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZED ON NOVEMBER 11TH, 2023 AS VETERANS DAY IN CEDAR HILL.

THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY COUNCILOR HAYDEN.

YES, SIR.

MAYOR.

ALRIGHT.

WE HAVE HERE TO RECEIVE THIS.

YES, WHY NOT? YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE LIVE IN A F FREE SOCIETY TODAY AND BECAUSE OF IT, IT'S THE CHALLENGES AND THE SACRIFICES THAT THE VETERANS HAVE DONE FOR US TODAY.

SO IT'S MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO BE ABLE TO READ A, UH, PROCLAMATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR FOR VETERANS DAY.

THANK YOU.

WHEREAS VETERANS DAY HAS ITS ORIGINS IN, IN THE NOVEMBER 11TH, 1918 ARM, ARM, ARM, ARM.

YEAH, I CAN SAY THAT ONE, WHICH BROUGHT WORLD WAR I TO A CONCLUSION.

AND WHEREAS THE ALLIED VICTORY OF WORLD WAR I AFFIRMED THE STRENGTH OF GREAT NATIONS ACTING TOGETHER FOR HIGH PURPOSES.

AND WHEREAS THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES CAUSED THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, THE DESI DESIGNATING ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH AS A FEDERAL LEGAL HOLIDAY, WHICH IS 1954 AND BECAME OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS VETERANS DAY.

AND WHEREAS VETERANS DAY HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE, AS WE RECOGNIZE THE MILLIONS OF OUR CITIZENS WHOSE MILITARY SERVICE HAS HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON HISTORY.

AND WHEREAS THE COURAGE, HONOR, SACRIFICE, AND DEDICATION THAT VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES HAVE DISPLAYED IN THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE, FREEDOM, AND DEMOCRACY ARE MOST WORTHY OF RECOGNITION NOW.

THEREFORE, OUR MAYOR, STEVE MASONS MAYOR

[00:20:01]

I HERE SET TO MY HAND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 10TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023 AS VETERANS DAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LEMME LET, UH, ALSO SAY, DO WE HAVE ANY VETERANS? I'M SURE WE DO IN THE HOUSE.

I'D LIKE EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN A VETERAN, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE ALREADY STANDING OR STAND IF YOU HAVEN'T.

LET'S, STAN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.

SAY IF YOU, TO MR. MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE OTHER CITY OFFICIALS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THIS CITY ON BEHALF OF CITY HILL CHAPTER TWO 40 D A V, DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN, I LY ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION.

I AM A COMBAT VETERAN FROM VIETNAM.

UH, I KNOW WHAT IT IS.

I HAVE SOME, MY COMRADE IS HERE.

WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FROM TWO 40 CHAPTER TWO 40, CITY HILL, MR. MAYOR, AND TO THE CITY HILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, I MEAN THE COUNCIL AND ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU LET US DO IN YOUR CITY.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TO SERVE VETERANS AND THEIR WIDOWS AND THE OFFERINGS AND OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS TO BE A COMBAT VETERAN OR BE A VETERAN OF THE MILITARY, YOU WOULD'VE BEEN SPEAKING SOME OTHER DIFFERENT LANGUAGE IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE MILITARY.

THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN WAS FORMED IN 1922 OCTOBER, AND IT WAS CON, UH, CONFIRMED BY CONGRESS THEN TO SERVE, TO HONOR THE VETERANS THAT WE DO, THAT WE SERVE.

I HONOR TO TO BE A VETERAN.

MY DAD'S A VETERAN.

I HAVE A SONS OF VETERAN ALL MEMBERS THAT HERE.

VETERAN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE MR. MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE VETERANS WHO ARE IN THE ROOM.

UH, NEXT ITEM ON

[b. Present a Proclamation designating the month of October 2023 as National Code Enforcement Appreciation Month in Cedar Hill.]

AND THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY OUR VERY OWN COUNCIL MEMBER .

GOOD EVENING.

A PROCLAMATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR.

WHEREAS CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ENSURE THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL BY ENFORCING LOCAL CODES OR ORDINANCES, DEALING WITH VARIOUS ISSUES INCLUDING BUILDING, ZONING, HOUSING, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND LIFE SAFETY.

AND WHERE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVE A CHALLENGING JOB AND ARE OFTEN UNDERAPPRECIATED FOR THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT THEY HAVE IN IMPROVING LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICES ARE DEDICATED, HIGHLY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS WHO SHARE THE GOALS OF PREVENTING NEIGHBORHOOD DETERIORATION, ENHANCING AND ENSURING SAFETY AND PRESERVING PROPERTY VALUES THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND APPLICATION OF HOUSING ZONING AND NUISANCE CODES AND ORDINANCES.

AND WHEREAS THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CODE ENFORCEMENT REQUEST THAT OCTOBER BE SET ASIDE TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE CONTRIBUTIONS THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE MADE TO THE QUALITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, TO CELEBRATE AMERICAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN MAKING COLLECTIVE DECISIONS CONCERNING OUR CITIES AND REGIONS THAT BRING QUALITY AND MEANING TO OUR LIVES.

AND TO RECOGNIZE THE PARTICIPATION AND DEDICATION OF CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE

[00:25:01]

AND WHEREAS CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE CALLED UPON TO PROVIDE QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXCELLENCE TO THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY SERVE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, STEPHEN MASON MAYOR OF CEDAR HILL TO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2023 AS NATIONAL CODE ENFORCEMENT MONTH IN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS.

FURTHER, I ASK OUR CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN COMMENDING OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HARD WORK AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES AND PROPERTY IN EFFORT TO ASSIST OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO THEIR DAY IN THEIR DAILY TASKS.

AND WITNESS HEREOF, I HAVE HEREIN TOO SET MY HAND AND HAVE CAUSED A SEAL OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 10TH DAY OF OCTOBER.

SIGNED MAYOR STEVEN MASON.

TIGHTEN IT UP.

PICTURE, TIGHTEN IT UP.

SHE SIGNED IT UP.

TIGHTEN IT UP.

KEVIN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME FORWARD.

SHANTE, I CAN'T SEE YOU ON PURPOSE.

PURPOSE READY? SURE.

YOU GET EVERYBODY .

THANK YOU.

HI.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION.

I'M STACY GRAVES, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DIRECTOR, AND THIS TEAM THAT WAS UP HERE WITH ME, UH, THEY REPRESENT OUR CITY WITH A REAL CAN-DO ATTITUDE.

UH, THEY REALLY WORK WITH CITIZENS TO, UH, COME INTO COMPLIANCE VOLUNTARILY INSTEAD OF PENALIZING THEM IMMEDIATELY FOR, UH, CODE INFRACTIONS.

SO DURING, UH, THIS MONTH OF RECOGNIZING THEIR SERVICE, I ALSO WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO THIS CITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

AND YOUR TEAM, UH, STACY FOR WHAT YOU DO.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU STACY, FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR WHAT YOU DO.

UH, I THINK I'VE MENTIONED THIS DURING THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT.

UM, Y'ALL TYPICALLY ARE THE ONES WHO DO ALL THE HARD WORK, GET ALL THE BLAME.

UH, BUT THIS MONTH WE HAVE APPRECIATION FOR YOU FOR IT.

SO, SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

ALRIGHT, NEXT

[6. Citizens Forum/Public Comments. Citizens wishing to speak during this time should submit a Speaker Request Form to the City Secretary before the meeting begins. Public comments may also be submitted online at: cedarhilltx.com/publiccomment. All public comments submitted online by 3pm on City Council meeting dates will be distributed to the City Council and entered into record. ]

THIS GIVES OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY TOPIC THAT THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

OF COURSE, COUNCIL CANNOT DELIBERATE ANY ITEMS. IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.

UH, FIRST PERSON THAT I HAVE IS, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S MARVIN CLAYTON.

MARVIN, ARE YOU HERE? YES.

I'M PLEASE.

COME ON DOWN.

AND, UH, HIS TOPIC IS, UH, TRAFFIC CITATION.

YES, GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

YOU HAVE, UH, THREE MINUTES.

PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

YES.

CAN YOU PULL THE MIC TO YOU A LITTLE BIT, SIR? NO, YOU CAN PULL IT OVER TO OKAY.

YEAH, PLEASE GET COMFORTABLE.

OKAY.

SO THE MAYOR, MAYOR, UH, PRO TIM SIMS AND, UH, OTHER DISTINGUISHED, UH, MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS MARVIN CLAYTON.

I CURRENTLY RESIDE AT 56 45 PALLADIUM DRIVE, DALLAS, TEXAS.

UM, THERE AT THE CORNER OF, OF, UM, WHEATLAND, UH, CAMP WISDOM AND MOUNTAIN CREEK.

OKAY.

AND, UM, I TRAVEL UP AND DOWN 1382 QUITE OFTEN, UH, OVER 16 YEARS I'VE BEEN COMING UP 1382.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY, UM, I'M NOT HERE TRYING TO, UH, BASH ANY, UH, POLICE OFFICER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE ALL HE DID WAS, DID HIS JOB.

BUT I RECEIVED A TICKET THERE FOR MISSING A SIGN AT CLARK IN 1382.

I'VE COME THROUGH THERE MANY TIMES AND NEVER SEEN THE SIGN, GOT THE TICKET UP THE HILL, HE SAID, SIGN IS BACK DOWN THE ROAD.

WENT BACK DOWN AND INVESTIGATED.

SIGN IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET.

WELL, I SAID, OKAY, UH, MAYBE I NEED TO BEEN LOOKING, UH, BIT FURTHER, BUT NOW THE SIGN IS APPARENTLY GONE.

IT'S NOT THERE ANYMORE.

SO I'M SAYING, WELL, WHY DID THEY REMOVE THE SIGN? YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT 45.

AND FROM THERE ON UP, I THOUGHT IT WAS 55 UP TO THE TOP OF THE HILL, THEY TOLD ME I NEED TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL TO SEE IF I COULD GET, UH, A RETURN, UH, OVERTURNED.

I'M NOT TRYING TO, UM, GET MY MONEY BACK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THIS EXPUNGED BY RECORD BECAUSE I CURRENTLY HOLD A C D L LICENSE.

YOU KNOW? UM,

[00:30:01]

SURE.

WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DELIBERATE, BUT IT MUST HAVE BEEN MISCOMMUNICATION.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE COURT TO GET IT OFF YOUR RECORD.

MM-HMM.

.

SO YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE COURT.

UH, IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME, THE OFFICER OR SOMEBODY WAS TELLING YOU THAT THE SPEED LIMIT YOU MAY NEED TO COME TO THE COUNCIL.

UH, AGAIN, I CAN'T DELIBERATE, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S 1382.

THAT'S T DOT THAT'S NOT EVEN, THAT'S NOT EVEN OUR ROADWAY, SO I KNOW.

ANYWAY, I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO DELIBERATE, BUT I'LL JUST GIVE YOU THAT LITTLE INFORMATION.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

ALRIGHT, NO PROBLEM.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, NEXT IS, UH, DEBORAH, UH, CAWTHORNE.

DR.

DEBORAH CAWTHORNE, ARE YOU STILL HERE WITH US? PLEASE COME ON DOWN.

TOPIC IS WINE AND WORDS LIBRARY.

FUNDRAISER.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

YEAH, NOT YET.

NOT YET.

NOT YET.

GOOD EVENING.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW AFTER ALL THE ACCOLADES FOR OUR CITY MANAGER, BELINDA'S, PASSING OUT THE FLYER FOR OUR EVENT.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR.

CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGERS.

TODAY IS EXACTLY ONE MONTH AWAY FROM OUR WINE AND WORDS EVENT, HOSTED BY THE LIBRARY.

FRIENDS, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE THE FUNDRAISERS WHO SUPPORT PROGRAMS REQUESTED AND DEVELOPED BY OUR INNOVATIVE AND EXTRAORDINARY LIBRARY STAFF.

AND THEY REALLY ARE.

I'M THE CHAIRPERSON DEVELOPING THIS EXCITING EVENING, ALONG WITH A SELECT FEW WHO WILL BE ALSO PLANNING OUR NEXT FUNDRAISER, A LARGER GALA EVENT, CELEBRATING THE NEW LIBRARY ONCE IT'S OPEN NEXT YEAR.

SO BE PREPARED ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, WE WILL BE HAVING OUR WINE AND WORDS EVENT HERE IN THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, ATRIUM AND PATIO, SIX 30 TO 9:00 PM WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE ENGAGED A BILINGUAL POET, MELANIA LUISA MARTA, TO READ FROM HER RECENT RANDOM HOUSE PUBLICATION.

SHE'S A DYNAMIC YOUNG WOMAN WITH A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE FROM HER TROPICAL NATIVE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO NEW YORK CITY, AND NOW TO DALLAS.

FOR THIS INCLUSIVE EVENT, WE HAVE LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT UNIQUE WINES, A GRAZING TABLE FROM THE STELLAR GRAZING DALLAS CATERING OUTFIT.

IF YOU'VE NOT INDULGED IN THEIR FOOD PREP PRESENTATIONS BEFORE YOU'RE IN FOR A REAL TREAT, WE ALREADY HAVE ENTICING SILENT AUCTION ITEMS. SNEAK PEAK, INCLUDE TICKETS TO LELA, BASKETS OF CHOCOLATES, SALON BASKETS, CINEMA, MOVIE PASSES, AND ORIGINAL ARTWORK.

AND CHIEF REYES HAS RECENTLY, UH, SUGGESTED DONATING A TOUR OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LUNCH WITH THE CHIEF.

SO WE'LL BE AUCTIONING THAT OFF.

SO COME AND LOOK FOR A TREASURE.

WE'RE ALL SO EXCITED TO KICK OFF THIS FUNDRAISING IN A BIG WAY FOR OUR STATE OF THE ART ONCE IN A LIFETIME, EXTRAORDINARY LEAD CERTIFIED LIBRARY.

YOU WON'T HAVE MORE FUN ANYWHERE THAT FRIDAY NIGHT.

SO BE GENEROUS FOR A GOOD CAUSE AND HELP US MAKE THIS NIGHT MEMORABLE AND THE START OF A GRAND WELCOME FOR THIS CROWNING CITY EDIFICE.

COME ON AND LET'S CELEBRATE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

BY THE WAY, I'M DR.

DEBORAH COUGHIN, 6 1 7 RED BUD COURT.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

ALRIGHT.

AND UH, WE HAVE OUR FINAL, UH, CITIZENS FORM SPEAKER, UH, DWAYNE SPENCER.

UM, TOPIC IS VALUE OF A QUALITY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

GOOD EVENING, SIR.

HELLO.

GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

MY NAME IS DWAYNE SPENCER.

MY ADDRESS IS 4 0 5 NORTH BELL FOUR DRIVE.

UH, WHAT I'M GONNA, I UH, ACTUALLY AM A MEMBER OF THE DALLAS COUNTY APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD.

SO WE THE PEOPLE THAT GET TO DECIDE WHETHER YOUR TAX TAXES ARE GONNA GO UP OR NOT.

SO LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAD A $500,000 HOUSE THAT THEY, THEY, UH, COUNTY APPRAISES IS THAT, AND YOU BELIEVE IT'S ONLY WORTH 400,000, YOU COME DOWN TO SEE US TO SEE IF YOU CAN GET IT LOWER.

THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE WE HAD, IN OUR CASE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THAT I THOUGHT WAS PERTINENT FOR CEDAR HILL BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR EDUCATION.

[00:35:01]

HE BROUGHT ALL HIS DOCUMENTATION AND EVERYTHING, BUT WE FOUND OUT HIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS A $500,000 NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO WE'RE TRYING, WELL WHY IS, WHAT'S, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? SO HE PRESENTED HIS CASE AND WE FELT THAT EVERYTHING WAS LEGAL.

HE BOUGHT IT, YOU KNOW, ARMS LENGTH.

AND WE DECIDED THAT, WELL, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO, SIR, THE HOUSE WAS VALUED AT SEVEN 50 OR YOU PURCHASED IT FOR SEVEN 50 NO MATTER WHAT VALUE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU GAVE THE PERSON SEVEN 50.

SO AFTER WE WERE DONE AND EVERYTHING, THE FINAL QUESTION WE ALL LOOKED AT, OKAY, WHY DID YOU PAY 750,000 FOR A $500,000 HOUSE? AND HE SAID, BECAUSE HE WANTED HIS KIDS TO GO TO THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THAT WAS THAT IMPORTANT TO HIM.

AND I SAID, WELL, THAT'S POWERFUL.

AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CEDAR HILL IS SEARCHING FOR.

THAT'S SOMETHING YOU MAY WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN HERE.

YEAH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND IT'S GOOD TO KNOW YOU'RE ON THE APPRAISAL BOARD.

.

ALRIGHT, UH, COUNSEL, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF OUR, UH, CITIZENS FOR THE CITIZENS FORUM.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHILE EVERYONE IS HERE, I I DIDN'T MENTION EARLIER, BUT, UM, THERE IS GONNA BE A RECEPTION AFTERWARDS TO CELEBRATE OUR WONDERFUL CITY MANAGER.

SO WE, WE STILL TURNING IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

CITY MANAGER.

UM, .

[a. Case No. CUP-574-2023 - Conduct a public hearing and consider an application for a Conditional Use Permit for “commercial amusement (indoor)” for 1) an axe throwing business and 2) on-site consumption of hookah on property zoned “LR” (Local Retail District), generally located north of N J Elmer Weaver Freeway, with the approximate address being 1431 N J Elmer Weaver Freeway, Suite 200. Representative: Michael Berkowitz/Colonial Commercial Real Estate, LLC., Applicant: Lynn Miller Jr./Rekt, Property Owner: DFW Oracle Venture Two, LLC. ]

IT'S PUBLIC HEARING CASE NUMBER C U P 5 7 4 2023.

CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN APPLICATION FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR COMMERCIAL, UH, AMUSEMENT INDOOR FOR ONE, AN ACTS THROWING BUSINESS AND TWO ONSITE CONSUMPTION OF HOOKAH ON PROPERTY ZONE.

L R LOCAL RETAIL DISTRICT.

GENERALLY LOCATED NORTH OF UH, J ELMER WEAVER FREEWAY WITH APPROXIMATE ADDRESS BEING 1431 NORTH J ELMER WEAVER FREEWAY, SUITE 200.

REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL, UH, BERKOWITZ, UH, COLONIAL COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, L L C A, APPLICANT, LYNN MILLER JR.

UH, UH, I GUESS R E K T, PROPERTY OWNER D F W, ORACLE VENTURE TWO L L C.

DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE WITH US TODAY? WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESENT ANYTHING BEFORE I GO ON PUBLIC HEARING? NO.

OKAY.

SO WITH THAT I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD.

I COME UP, YOU CAN IF YOU LIKE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO RIGHT NOW PLEASE, BUT .

UH, SO COUNSEL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION TO CASE NUMBER C U P 5 7 4 20 23.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION TO, UH, CASE NUMBER C U P 5 7 4 2023? ALRIGHT.

NOT SEE ANYONE APPROACH.

I'D LIKE TO CLOSE THAT PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND USUALLY THE QUIETEST ONE ON THIS COUNCIL IS THE FIRST ONE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK.

SO I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THAT'S GONNA BE ABOUT.

COUNCILWOMAN, I'M SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN DANIELS.

UH, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, YOUR MIC ON? YEP.

TURN THE RED BUTTON OFF.

YEAH.

UM, I JUST, AFTER READING LIST, I'M OVER IN THAT AREA ALL THE TIME.

BUYING YOU WANNA COME BARBECUE, UH, GOING TO THE RESTAURANT AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT THE AX, UH, SPORT.

I'M FROM THE COUNTRY.

MY FATHER MADE HIS LIVING USING AXES AND MACHETES AND SAUCE SAWS.

AND HE TAUGHT ME BACK IN THE DAY, TAUGHT ALL OF US, THESE ARE NOT OBJECTS THAT YOU PLAY WITH GUNS, AXES.

AND THEY ALWAYS BROUGHT THIS ATTENTION TO ME ABOUT WHEN MY UNCLE CUT HIS WHOLE FOOT OFF WITH A AX.

HE WAS CUTTING WOOD.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GRASP HOW IS THAT GONNA BE A SPORT THROWING A AXE.

I MEAN, THESE ARE OBJECTS THAT YOU DON'T PLAY WITH.

THAT'S LIKE RUSSIA ROULETTE, A GUN, A MACHETE THAT YOU GOING TO THROW.

AND WHEN I SAW THAT YOU ALL SAID THAT YOU CAN BRING YOUR OWN LIQUOR OR WHATEVER YOUR DRINKS DO, YOU REALIZE SOMEBODY GONNA GET MAD AT EACH OTHER AND ASK SOMEBODY TO REAL GOOD.

AND I MEAN, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A AX, UH, A AMUSEMENT ONLY AX I'VE HEARD OF IS WHAT YOU CHOP WOOD WITH.

IT'S, IT'S

[00:40:01]

AND I, MY, I JUST DON'T, MY BLOOD ON NOBODY'S HAND THAT'S GOING TO COME UP, BE CHOPPED UP WITH AX.

I, I KNOW YOU SAY YOU'RE GONNA BUILD A FENCE AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THIS CHAIN FENCE GOING TO BE.

'CAUSE IT'S NOT THAT MUCH SPACE, UH, NEXT TO THE WHIS.

AND YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I'M OVER THERE ALL THE TIME AND I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO THROW THESE AXES AT? 'CAUSE THERE AIN'T THAT MUCH SPACE IN THERE.

ARE YOU GONNA THROW 'EM ON THE WALL? YES.

I MEAN, WHAT, SO, SO AX, BEFORE YOU RESPOND, COUNCILWOMAN BEFORE YOU RESPOND, IF YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

OH, I'M LYNN MILLER.

MY ADDRESS IS 1 1 1 OLD SPANISH TRAIL IN WAXAHATCHEE, TEXAS.

PERFECT.

ARE YOU JUNIOR OR ARE YOU THE JUNIOR.

OKAY.

LYNN MILLER JUNIOR.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UM, AND AX THROWING, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AS A SPORT.

UM, AND IT'S GETTING VERY, IT'S GETTING PRETTY POPULAR.

UM, THERE'S PROBABLY THAT I COULD THINK OF MAYBE SIX VENUES IN OUR METROPLEX AREA.

WHERE DID THIS ORIGINATE FROM? WHAT STATE? I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT ORIGINATED IT ORIGINATED FROM THE COUNTRY.

.

IT WAS JUST A SPORT OF PEOPLE THROWING AT THE TREES AND EVENTUALLY THEY, UH, THEY TURN INTO A SPORT.

THERE'S A, THERE'S TWO NATIONAL, UM, RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY COMPETE IN.

UM, THAT, THAT HAS BIG NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.

THERE'S, THERE'S DIFFERENT STYLES, THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF AX THROWING.

THERE'S DIFFERENT, UH, THERE'S A LOT.

IT'S, IT'S A BIG SPORT.

IT'S A BIG SPORT NOW FOR RECREATION.

HOW BIG IS YOUR AXES YOU GONNA BE DOING? UH, SO MY, MY MY PLACE WILL BE MORE OF THE RECREATIONAL.

SO WE'LL BE THROWING 14 INCH AXES.

THAT'S THE TOTAL IN 14 INCH AXESS.

OH MY GOD.

UM, AND WE THROW 'EM FROM A RANGE OF, UH, 12 FEET.

SO IT'D BE 12 FEET FROM THE WALL.

UM, WE HAVE COACHES, WE'LL HAVE, THERE'LL BE RULES, THERE'LL BE, UM, A LOT OF SAFETY MEASURES TO, TO MAKE SURE YOU TAKE CARE OF IT.

AX THROWING ALSO, WHEN YOU THINK OF, WHEN YOU THINK OF ALCOHOL, PEOPLE DON'T THROW AXES MAYBE 30, 45 MINUTES.

SO IT'S NOT A THING WHERE SOMEBODY'S SITTING THERE FOR EIGHT HOURS, YOU KNOW, DRINKING WHISKEY, GETTING BELLIGERENT, AND THEN TRYING TO THROW AXES.

IT IS MORE OF LIKE A RECREATIONAL THING.

AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR OWN WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S A VERY COMMON THING.

UM, THERE'S ONE, THERE'S ONE'S CLOSEST IS MIDLOTHIAN.

I THINK THEY HAVE ONE.

UM, AND THEN, UM, THEY GOT A TON OF 'EM IN DALLAS.

UH, SO IT IS PRETTY COMMON.

THIS IS SCARY.

IT THE TRUTH.

DID I HAVE AN AX IN YOUR POSSESSION OF SOMEBODY? NOW I DID SOME RESEARCH ON IT AND THEY SAID THIS TO RELEASE STRESS.

SO SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT TODAY, UH, YOU THROW AX.

I'M LIKE, THEY GONNA AT RELEASE STRESS ON SOMEBODY THEY DON'T LIKE .

THAT'S WHAT THE STRESS GONNA BE RELEASED.

YEAH.

IT'S, IT'S FEELING, I MEAN, IS ALMOST LIKE A GUN RANGE IN OUR, IN OUR, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU KNOW? I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SORRY.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, IT'S JUST AS DANGEROUS AS A GUN RANGE TO ME.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A AX.

I USED TO WATCH MY DADDY SHARPEN THEM AXES.

MM-HMM.

, HE CUT WOOD FOR LIT.

SO YOU TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S DETRIMENTAL.

AND I WAS TAUGHT YEARS AGO, YOU DON'T FOOD WITH AXES.

THEY ARE DETRIMENTAL, YOU KNOW, FOOD WITH GUNS, THEY'LL KILL YOU, ACTS THE SAME, IT'S UNDER THE SAME, UH, CATEGORY.

I UNDERSTAND.

AND YOU GOT FOLKS THROWING THEM.

OH MY WORD.

THERE'S, UH, AND THE TRUTH IS, IS THAT THERE IS MORE ACCIDENTS IN BOWLING, THERE'S MORE INJURIES IN GOLF, THERE'S MORE INJURIES IN GUN RANGE THAN THERE ARE, THAN IT HAVE BEEN IN AX THROWING.

THERE'S INSURANCES THAT TRACK THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

AND THERE'S INSURANCE THAT ARE SPECIFIC FOR AX THROWING.

AND SO IT IS NOT AS DANGEROUS AS IT SEEMS. UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR YOUR YOUR CONCERN THOUGH, AND IT, AND I, I DO UNDERSTAND IT.

SO THAT'S HORRIBLE.

YEAH.

I MEAN, I WOULDN'T PUT MY BUSINESS ON THE LINE LIKE THAT IF I WERE YOU.

I, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY GONNA GET MAD AND HIT SOMEBODY WITH AXS.

I MEAN, THAT'S IN THE PAST WE HAVE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.

SO WE HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS.

I GOT SAY THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN COUNCILWOMAN NAZE GOT THREE LANES.

UH, I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO SAY IT, BUT AS A PERSON WHO HAS DONE THE X FOR, UH, FOR SPORT , UM, I UNDERSTAND, UM, SORT OF THE SETUP AND THE SEPARATION, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT BETWEEN THE ACTS AREA AND THE SITTING AREA.

AND I, I UNDERSTAND THAT AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THE COUNCIL WOMAN'S CONCERN.

ABSOLUTELY.

UM, THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS A SIMILAR ONE AS IT RELATES TO THE BRING YOUR OWN BEER PART MM-HMM.

.

UM, AND I THINK I WOULD JUST LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, AND MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION FOR STAFF OF, UM, BECAUSE IF THIS IS NOT A T A B C REGULATED SORT OF, UH, ENGAGEMENT, WHAT WOULD

[00:45:01]

UM, I MEAN, WE, WE WILL HAVE OUR OWN, UM, YOU KNOW, RIGHT OF REFUSAL AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

UM, BUT THIS IS, IT IS VERY TYPICAL OF THE BUSINESS.

UM, PRETTY MUCH EVERY AX THROWING VENUE IN OUR, IN, IN OUR AREA HAS ALCOHOL.

THEY SELL IT.

UM, WE JUST, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WITH CEDAR HILL RULES AND ALSO WE JUST DECIDED THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO UNDERTAKE.

UM, WE, WE WOULDN'T DO IT.

UM, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAD THINGS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T GET TOO FAR IN HAND.

AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS FOR AX THROWING IN THE WAY THAT WE ARE DOING IT.

IT'S MORE OF A RECREATIONAL DAY NIGHT TYPE THING.

YOU, IT'S VERY RARE THAT ANYBODY'S GONNA BE THERE ONE LONG ENOUGH TO GET THAT DRUNK.

AND TWO WITHOUT US, YOU KNOW, NOTICING IT, IT'S, IT'S MORE OF A CASUAL RECREATIONAL THING.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT IF YOU'RE GOING OUT ON A DATE OR GOING TO A MOVIE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

OR YOU'RE GOING TO TOP GOLF, YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO TOP GOLF, YOU HAVE MAYBE A DRINK OR TWO AND YOU HIT THE GOLF, YOU KNOW, HIT THE BALL.