Apr 09, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting

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GOOD EVENING

[1. Call meeting to order.]

TODAY IS TUESDAY, APRIL 9TH, 2024.

THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.

ALL NOTICES HAVE BEEN PROPERLY POSTED.

WE DO HAVE A FULL QUORUM OF CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.

I WANNA WISH YOU GREETINGS.

I'M GONNA CALL THIS MEETING OFFICIALLY TO ORDER.

I HAVE 7:13 PM AND I WANT TO, UH, REMIND EVERYONE THAT OPEN CARRY A FIREARM IS NOT PERMITTED WITHIN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

SO WITH THAT, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AN INVOCATION, AND IT WILL BE FROM PASTOR DIVI DION.

HOPE I'M SAYING THAT CORRECTLY.

UH, VALENTINE WITH OMNI FELLOWSHIP, CEDAR HILL DO HAVE A LITTLE BIO ON HIM, AND I LIKE TO, UH, READ THAT.

UH, HE WAS BORN IN DALLAS, TEXAS.

UH, VALENTINE SERVED PROUDLY IN THE US MILITARY FOR FOUR YEARS.

IT HAS NOW OVERJOYED TO SERVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

HE RECEIVED A BBA FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON AND MANAGEMENT AND MASTERS OF THE ITY FROM, UH, SOUTHWESTERN THEOLOGICAL CEMETERY IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

YES.

SEMINARY.

WHAT DID I SAY? SEMINARY.

OH, SORRY.

.

I MEANT SEMINARY.

IT'S, IT IS ALLERGIES.

OKAY.

, THE VALENTINE SERVED AS LEAD AND PLANTING PASTOR OF AMAZING GRACE BIBLE CHURCH FOR EIGHT YEARS IN DALLAS, DALLAS, UH, OAK CLIFF, TEXAS.

HE ALSO SERVED AS CHURCH PLANT RESIDENT AND ELDER AT STONEGATE CHURCH.

MAY, 2012 THROUGH AUGUST, 2016, HE PLANTED OMNI FELLOWSHIP IN CEDAR HILL, TEXAS, JANUARY, 2017.

HE'S CRAVING TO SEE THE GOSPEL GRABS HEARTS OF THOSE.

LIVING IN CEDAR HILL AND BEYOND IS CONTAGIOUS.

IS A PASTOR HERE WITH US TODAY? I DID ALL THAT.

THE PASTORS, I HEAR .

PASTOR, ARE YOU IN HERE? ARE YOU PLAYING WITH ME, ? WELL, I GUESS THAT'S SHAME ON ME.

SO IF EVERYONE PLEASE STAND, I WILL GO AHEAD AND LEAD US IN PRAYER.

PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

FOLLOWED BY THAT IT WILL BE, UH, UH, THE COLORS FROM, UH, OUR OWN COUNCIL MEMBER MCCURDY.

SO WE ALL WILL PLEASE JOIN ME.

UH, HEAVENLY FATHER, WE DO GIVE YOU, UH, OUR GRACE.

WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

WE LOVE YOU.

WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE BE IN OUR PRESENCE.

PLEASE BE IN OUR MINDS.

GIVE US GUIDANCE OF HOW YOU WANT US TO BE ABLE TO LEAD THIS CITY.

WE CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU.

WE KNOW THIS IS ALL ABOUT YOU AND HEAVEN.

FATHER, WE ASK FOR THESE THINGS.

DO NOT LIMIT THESE THINGS.

IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

AMEN.

PASTOR MCCARTY, PLEASE JOIN ME IN TEXAS FLAG, ALLEGIANCE, STUDENT FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS SAY, NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL OUR LEDGE, ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD AND INDIVISIBLE.

YOU ALL MAY BE SEATED.

ALL RIGHT, SO NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PRESENTATION.

PRESENT

[a. Present a Proclamation designating the week of April 14-20, 2024 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Cedar Hill.]

THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY OUR VERY OWN COUNCILWOMAN INE.

AND I SEE MR. TAMARA BE IS HERE.

GOOD EVENING.

COME ON DOWN.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ALL THE WAY TO CEDAR HILL.

A PROCLAMATION, UH, FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR.

WHEREAS EMERGENCIES THAT REQUIRE POLICE, FIRE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME.

AND WHEREAS WHEN AN EMERGENCY OCCURS, THE PROMPT RESPONSE OF POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND PARAMEDICS IS CRITICAL TO THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY.

AND WHEREAS THE SAFETY OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS IS DEPENDENT UPON THE QUALITY AND AND ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM CITIZENS WHO TELEPHONE THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL POLICE FIRE COMMUNICATION CENTER.

AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS ARE THE FIRST AND MOST CRITICAL CONTACT OUR CITIZENS HAVE WITH THE EMERGENCY SERVICES.

AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATORS ARE THE SINGLE VITAL LINK FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS BY MONITORING

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AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS ARE OF THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL COMMUNICATION CENTER HAVE CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS, SU SUPPRESSION OF FIRES AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS.

AND WHEREAS EACH TELECOMMUNICATOR HAS EXHIBITED PASSION, UNDERSTANDING, AND PROFESSIONALISM DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR JOB IN THE PAST YEAR.

NOW, THEREFORE, I STEVEN MASON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES OF DESOTO AND DUNCANVILLE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THIS WEEK OF APRIL 14TH THROUGH THE 20TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK FOR THE STAFF OF THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL COMMUNICATION CENTER IN HONOR OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE DILIGENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM KEEP THE AFOREMENTIONED PARTICIPATING CITIES AND CITIZENS SAFE.

IN WITNESS HERRA HEREOF, I HAVE HEREON TWO SET MY HAND AND HAVE CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS NINTH DAY OF APRIL, 2024.

SIGNED STEVEN MAY MASON MAYOR ALL.

OKAY.

QUICKLY, I'LL SAY THIS, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH CEDAR HILL FOR ALWAYS REMEMBERING, UH, S-W-R-C-C, UH, DURING NATIONAL, UH, TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK.

BUT QUICKLY, I WANNA SAY IF YOU HAVE AN IPHONE AND ANDROID, IF YOU'RE REALLY COOL, YOU HAVE AN ANDROID LIKE ME, UH, BUT IF YOU GO TO SETTINGS AND, UM, THE RAPID SOS THE EMERGENCY INFORMATION, FILL THAT INFORMATION IN, THAT CAN REALLY, UH, BE HELPFUL FOR YOU.

AND FOR NINE ONE ONE, WE HAD A CALL A FEW MONTHS AGO WHERE A LADY HAS SEIZURES ALL THE TIME.

AND SO WHAT SHE SAID IS WHAT THE, WHAT THE APP GAVE US THE INFORMATION AND SHE COULD NOT TALK.

AND SO WHAT THE APP TOLD US IS, IF YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS CALL, AND I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING, CALL MY MOTHER, HER NAME IS SUCH AND SUCH, GAVE THE NUMBER I AM HAVING A SEIZURE.

AND SHE WAS HAVING A SEIZURE, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT 9 1 1 DID.

SO IF YOU GO TO SETTINGS, YOU SEE THE EMERGENCY CONTACT SOS, YOU CAN FILL IN ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION AND IT WILL NOTIFY DISPATCH.

IF YOU HAD TO CALL 9 1 1, GIVE US ALL THAT INFORMATION IF YOU CAN'T SPEAK.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, DROP THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT LITTLE TIDBIT OFF FOR YOU.

SO, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS AS A TOKEN APPRECIATION FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE EMERGENCY DISPATCHER FLAG WITH THE GOLD BAND IN HERE.

THE GOLD BAND STANDS FOR STRENGTH AND LOYALTY, WHICH IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF EVERY DISPATCHER WE HAVE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S AN EASIEST JOB YOU COULD EVER GET, AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THEY ARE FALSE.

WE GET THE CALL, WE GO, WE TAKE IT, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO DO.

BUT THEY ARE ON THE PHONE, ON THE COMPUTER DEALING WITH THREE CITIES, THREE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, THREE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND DISPATCHING, AND THEY DON'T MISS A BEAT.

SO WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO OUR JOB.

SO WITH THAT, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VERY NICE.

THIS IS SO COME UP HERE, WE'RE GONNA SEND THAT TO STOP HERE IN COSTA.

OH YEAH, PLEASE DO.

HERE, I'LL CARRY THIS.

OKAY, I GOT IT.

MS. BELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

AND, UH, BY THE WAY, THE, UM, THE IPHONES WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE THE ECLIPSE.

I HEARD ANDROIDS COULDN'T DO THAT, SO I I MENTIONED THAT WHEN YOU WAS AWAY FROM THE MICROPHONE.

SO, , THANK YOU FOR COMING AGAIN, MS. BELL.

[b. Present a Proclamation designating April 9, 2024 as Arbor Day in Cedar Hill. ]

THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY COUNCILMAN MCG GLOVER.

GOOD EVENING.

I SEE THAT I AM JOINED BY PARKS AND REC.

YES.

PARKS AND BOARD, YES.

OUR ILLUSTRIOUS PARKS AND REC BOARD.

I HAVE AN IA PROCLAMATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, AND THIS IS FOR ARBOR DAY.

WHEREAS ARBOR DAY IS A NATIONALLY AND LO, LOCALLY CELEBRATED OBSERVANCE THAT ENCOURAGES TREE PLANTING CARE AND PRESERVATION.

AND WHEREAS ARBOR DAY WAS FIRST CELEBRATED IN NEBRASKA IN 1872 AND WAS PASSED INTO LAW BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN 1890 AND IS NOW CELEBRATED ANNUALLY

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AND WHEREAS TREES CREATE A MOSAIC GREEN SPACE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES, IMPROVING PROPERTY VALUES, AIR QUALITY, PROVIDING SHELTER FOR WILDLIFE AND SHADE TO OUR COOL, TO COOL OUR HOMES.

AND WHEREAS ARBOR DAY IS CELEBRATED TO ENCOURAGE THE PLANTING OF TREES THROUGHOUT CEDAR HILL FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC AND AESTHETIC BENEFITS THEY PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL WILL CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS THROUGHOUT, THROUGH ITS LANDSCAPE AND TREE ORDINANCES, AND ITS OFFICIAL ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION TO CELEBRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE URBAN FOREST TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE NEED TO PRESERVE IT.

NOW, THEREFORE, I STEPHEN MASON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SATURDAY APRIL 13TH, 2024 AS ARBOR DAY IN THE CITY OF SEA HILL, TEXAS.

FURTHER, I ASK ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF OUR TREES AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND WORK DILIGENTLY TO MAINTAIN THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE THEY PROVIDE FOR ALL OF US.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HEARING TO SET MY HAND AND HAVE CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS NINTH DAY OF APRIL, 2024.

AND THEN SIGNED BY OUR MAYOR STEVEN MASON.

OH, ONE MORE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

I JUST WANNA INVITE EVERYBODY TO OUR BEAUTIFICATION DAY.

THIS, UH, SATURDAY.

IT'LL BE HERE AT THE LIBRARY IN THE, IN THE SIGNATURE PARK OUTSIDE.

UH, WE HAVE A, A TREE WALK.

WE'LL GET TO, UH, PLANT SOME, UH, PLANTS, , AND, UH, THEN YOU CAN, UH, PICK UP YOUR FREE TREE FROM THE CITY.

SO PLEASE JOIN US ON SATURDAY.

THANKS.

MM-HMM, .

ALL RIGHT.

THAT WOULD BE AT OUR NEW LIBRARY.

SO SEE IT.

NEW LIBRARY.

.

[c. Present a Proclamation recognizing the 170th Anniversary of First United Methodist Church of Cedar Hill. ]

COUNSEL, I'M GONNA COME DOWN FOR THIS ONE.

TRYING TO GET IT IN HERE.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT, THERE WE GO.

WELL, WE HAVE, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S SPECIAL.

YOU DON'T SEE THIS EVERY DAY.

SURE.

UM, UH, A VERY SPECIAL PROCLAMATION, AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ IT.

SO PLEASE GIMME A MOMENT.

ON APRIL 25TH, 1854, LEWIS J WRIGHT APPOINTED THE FOUNDING TRUSTEES OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN METHODIST, UH, EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH IN CEDAR HILL, THUS OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHING THE FIRST METHODIST AFFILIATION THIS SIDE OF THE TRINITY RIVER.

ON, ON OCTOBER 5TH, THE TRUSTEES PURCHASED A SITE FROM MILTON MARYFIELD.

THE TEXAS CONFERENCE REPORTED THAT THE, THAT THERE WERE 150 MEMBERS AND TWO LOCAL PREACHERS.

ROBERT CRAWFORD WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PREACHERS AND TAUGHT SCHOOLS IN THE LITTLE CEDAR MOUNTAINS METHODIST CHURCH FROM 1854 TO 1856.

AND ON APRIL 29TH, 1856, A TORNADO DEMOLISHED CEDAR HILL, KILLING NINE PEOPLE AND DESTROYING THE CHURCH.

SOME OF THE VICTIMS WERE BURIED NEXT TO THE CHURCH SITE, WHERE ROBERT CRAWFORD DONATED FOUR ACRES, A CEMETERY NEXT TO THE CHURCH SITE, ESTABLISHING THE FIRST CEMETERY THIS SIDE OF THE TRINITY RIVER.

IN 1861, THE TRUSTEES PURCHASED LOT TWO ON BELTLINE ROAD IN HOUSTON STREET.

AND A YEAR LATER, SF NEWBIE, UH, GAVE THREE ACRES AND A HOUSE ON BEAR CREEK FOR A CHURCH AND SCHOOL.

IN 1883, THE CHURCH SITE WAS MOVED NEAR ITS PRESENT LOCATION, A BOX FRAME CHURCH WAS ERECTED AND SERVED FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES.

THE FIRST PARSONAGE WAS LOCATED NORTHEAST OF THE CHURCH NEAR BROAD IN HARRINGTON IN 1895.

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AND A GOTHIC CHURCH WAS BUILT IN THE SHAPE OF A CROSS, NOW KNOWN AS THE HISTORIC SANCTUARY.

A HISTORIC SANCTUARY WAS RECORDED AS A TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK BY THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION.

IN 1976, THE FAMILY LIFE CENTER AND WESLEY HALL WAS BUILT ACROSS THE STREET.

AND IN 1989, THE CHURCH BEGAN FOOD MINISTRY, WHICH BECAME KNOWN AS THE CEDAR HILL SHARES FOOD PANTRY.

AND IN 1999, THE CHURCH MEMBERS STARTED A WOMEN'S SHELTER, NOW KNOWN AS BRIDGET SAFE HOUSE.

THE NEW SANCTUARY ON ROBERTS ROAD AT BELTLINE WAS DEDICATED ON JULY 11TH, 2004, THE CITY COUNCIL DESIGNATED THE HISTORIC SANCTUARY AS A CEDAR HILL CITY OF CEDAR HILL, HISTORIC PROPERTY ON MARCH 5TH, 2008.

AND THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO BE A VITAL PART OF CEDAR HILL'S DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER, PROVIDING MINISTRY TO A DIVERSE COMMUNITY WITH A BENEFICIAL PROGRAM AND SERVICES.

REVEREND PRESTON WEAVER IS THE CHURCH CURRENT PASTOR.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, STEVE MASON, THE MAYOR OF CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS, RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE 170TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

AND I DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST, APRIL 21ST, 24 AS FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF CEDAR HILL DAY.

I HAVE HERE ON TUESDAY, SET MY HAND AND HAVE CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED ON THIS NINTH DAY OF 2024.

SIGNED BY ME, MAYOR STEVE MASON.

I DID THAT.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? WELL, LAST WEEK, I, LAST COUNCIL MEETING, COME STEP TWO OH, THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

I INVITED EVERYONE IN, IN ATTENDANCE TO THE COUNCIL MEETING TO JOIN US THROUGH THE WEEK OF THE 21ST THROUGH THE 28TH TO CELEBRATE 170 YEARS THAT WE'VE DONE HERE IN THIS CITY.

AND SO WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL EVENTS TAKING PLACE.

SO CHECK OUR WEBSITE, UH, COME BY, WE JUST SURROUND THE CORNER AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL AND CELEBRATING ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THE LORD HAS DONE IN CEDAR HILL.

AND WE, WE ARE NOT DONE YET, BUT THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

ALRIGHT.

OKAY.

SOUNDS GOOD.

NOW, I, I DO PLAN TO BE THERE, UH, ON THE 21ST AND I DO PLAN TO, UH, FORMALLY PRESENT A PROCLAMATION.

WOULD YOU LIKE THIS COPY OR YOU WANT TO SEE THE OFFICIAL COPY? HUH? OKAY.

BRING THE OFFICIAL COPY.

OKAY.

I'LL READ THE OFFICIAL COPY.

ALRIGHT, SEE YOU THEN.

THANKS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

170 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

THAT IS, UH, PRETTY SPECIAL.

ALRIGHT,

[d. Presentation of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the fiscal Budget Year 2023/2024.]

2024.

HOW YOU DOING? MR. FINANCE? DI UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR? GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.

I'M DOING GOOD.

THANK YOU.

MR. MAYOR, PRO CITY COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION'S DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD FOR THE CITY'S FY 23 BUDGET.

THE FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, BRING TO THE FRONT SOME SPECIAL GUESTS OF MINE THAT WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS AND NECESSARY TO GET THE CITY'S DOCUMENT TO ACHIEVE THIS AWARD.

AND THAT WOULD BE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

AND WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HR DEPARTMENT.

SO IF Y'ALL WILL COME JOIN ME, PLEASE.

AND YOU'LL NOTICE DIFFERENT FROM LAST SUMMER.

I NOW HAVE A FULL CREW.

SO WE'RE FILLING UP THE SAGE UP HERE, .

UM, SO FIRST I'D LIKE TO START AND JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE CITY ACTUALLY RECEIVES THIS AWARD.

SO AFTER THE CITY IS ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, WE GO THROUGH AND DO QUALITY CHECKS ON THE BUDGET.

WE CORRECT GRAMMATICAL ERRORS AND, AND FORMATTING AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

WE ALSO LOOK AT THE COMMENTS THAT WERE, THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE BUDGET AWARD FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.

WE MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF ALL THOSE COMMENTS.

IF THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS TO UPDATE THE BUDGET AWARD AND CORRECT THINGS OR MAKE IT BETTER, THEN WE DO THAT.

SO THE BUDGET DOCUMENT ITSELF IS AN EVOLVING, UH, DOCUMENT THAT GETS BETTER AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.

IT, UH, SO IN THAT ESSENCE, IT PROVIDES MORE MEANINGFUL AND USEFUL, UH, INFORMATION FOR READERS AND STAKEHOLDERS OF THE BUDGET.

ONCE WE DO THAT, WE ACTUALLY DO A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THOSE COMMENTS.

WE PACKAGE IT ALL UP, WE SEND IT TO THE

[00:20:01]

AND IN ORDER TO GET THE AWARD, THAT SCORECARD HAS TO, HAS TO COME OUT TO A CERTAIN SCORE.

AND SO OURS DID DO THAT FOR THE 24TH TIME IN A ROW, SO THAT IS AMAZING.

YES, MA'AM.

SO, UM, THE AWARD IS CONSIDERED THE HIGHEST FORM OF RECOGNITION IN GOVERNMENTAL BUDGETING, AND IT IS A VALID FOR ONLY ONE YEAR FOR THE AWARD FOR THAT YEAR THAT YOU SUBMIT.

SO YOU DO HAVE TO RESUBMIT EVERY YEAR.

SO FROM THERE, I'M GONNA READ THE NEWS RELEASE THAT CAME OUT FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

SO IT SAYS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS RECEIVED GFO A'S DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD FOR ITS BUDGET.

THE AWARD REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT BY THE ENTITY.

IT REFLECTS THE COMMITMENT OF THE GOVERNING BODY AND STAFF TO MEETING THE HIGHEST PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENTAL BUDGETING.

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE BUDGET AWARD, THE ENTITY HAD TO SATISFY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE BUDGET PRESENTATION.

THESE GUIDELINES ARE DESIGNED TO ASSESS HOW WELL ENTITY'S BUDGET SERVES AS A POLICY DOCUMENT, A FINANCIAL PLAN AND OPERATIONS GUIDE AND A COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE.

BUDGET DOCUMENTS MUST BE RATED PROFICIENT IN ALL FOUR CATEGORIES, AND IN THE 14 MANDATORY CRITERIA WITHIN THOSE CATEGORIES TO RECEIVE THE AWARD.

THERE ARE OVER 1700 PARTICIPANTS IN THE BUDGET AWARDS PROGRAM.

AWARD RECIPIENTS HAVE PIONEERED EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF BUDGETING AND PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE FOR OTHER GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA.

SO I HAVE HERE WITH ME, I WANTED TO TO PRESENT AND RECOGNIZE, UH, A FEW PEOPLE THAT, UH, ARE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT.

AND THAT'S THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE GREG PURVIS, WE HAVE, UH, TIFFANY ALLEN.

AND KEEP IN MIND, SOME OF THESE FOLKS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HERE LAST SUMMER, BUT THEY WILL BE HERE THIS, THIS YEAR TO HELP US WITH THIS PROCESS.

AND BUDGETING, AS YOU KNOW, IS A YEAR LONG PROCESS BECAUSE WE DO MONITOR IT.

WE KEEP THEM, YOU KNOW, KEEP OUR, OUR ACTUALS IN, IN CHECK WITH OUR BUDGETS.

SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS.

WE HAVE IN THE BACK, SUSAN SHIN, OUR CONTROLLER, GRACE, DO WE HAVE YVONNE CULBERSON, MARYANNE, WHO'S ALL OF THREE WEEKS NOW WITH US.

SO, WELCOME.

WE HAVE, UH, NIKKI INGS, AND WE HAVE CYNTHIA FRANKS AND TRACY, UH, KERMAN, WHO IS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US WITH OUR PERSONNEL AND OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

SO I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THOUGH OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE FINANCE AND HR.

IT'S ALSO OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, UH, MARIE WATTS.

OUR DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES INCLUDES OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

UH, ALLISON RING INCLUDES DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, UH, MELISSA VALDEZ, CITY MANAGER, GREG PORTER.

BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES EVERY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR ACROSS THE CITY, ALL THEIR SUPPORT STAFF THAT GO PUT HOURS INTO THIS DOCUMENT.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU BECAUSE YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME WORKSHOPS, READING DOCUMENTS.

YOU PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP.

SO THANK ALL TO YOU AND ALSO TO OUR CITIZENS.

'CAUSE WITHOUT THE CITIZENS WE ARE HERE TO SERVE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'D LOVE TO DO TO SERVE.

SO WITH THAT, HERE'S OUR DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD.

SO I'M GONNA HAVE EVERYBODY TURN THIS WAY AND I'LL OVER HERE AND READ IT.

SO IT SAYS, GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICE ASSOCIATION, DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF CEDAR, TEXAS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023.

SIGNED CHRISTOPHER P RELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF YOU.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND THIS WAS WELL RECEIVED.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SUSAN.

I CAN'T SEE YOU.

SUSAN.

SUSAN .

OKAY.

THAT WAS GOOD BACK THERE.

THAT WAS GOOD.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

YOU TURN AROUND, .

NICE.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS, UH, MR. FOX.

THANK YOU.

GREAT JOB, EVERYONE.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE 25TH ONE IN A ROW, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.

NEXT

[5. 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 ANY CITIZENS TO APPROACH THE COUNCIL, TALK ABOUT ANY SUBJECT THAT THEY WANT.

UH, JUST KEEP IN MIND ANY ITEMS THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.

COUNCIL CANNOT ELABORATE.

UH, I DO HAVE ONE COUNCIL, UH, THAT'S HERE WITH US TODAY.

[00:25:01]

ALL RIGHT.

YOU WAS, YOU WAS IN THE FRONT ROW AND THEN YOU WENT TO THE BACK.

YES.

.

UM, IT'S NOT A FUN SEAT, IS IT MEMORIAL QUILT? YES, I AM, UH, MARY SADOWSKI, 28 60 EMERALD SOUND DRIVE.

AND I'M REPRESENTING THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.

BY THE WAY, WE ARE NO LONGER THE FRIENDS OF THE ZULA BEE WILEY LIBRARY.

WE'RE NOW THE FRIENDS OF THE CEDAR HILL LIBRARY.

OKAY, I'VE GOT OUR NAME CHANGED, DONE, UM, USED TO BE, I'D BE UP HERE, WHAT'S THE WORD? NAGGING YOU GUYS TO BUILD US A NEW LIBRARY.

AND TONIGHT I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR THAT SPECTACULAR NEW LIBRARY THAT'S ABOUT TO OPEN IN CEDAR HILL.

SO WE ALL REALLY THANK YOU.

WE ALSO MISSED THE OLD LIBRARY, AND WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO HONOR ZULA BEE, WHICH MEANT SO MUCH TO SO MANY PEOPLE.

SO WE GATHERED UP T-SHIRTS FROM ALL THE EVENTS, AND WE GAVE THEM TO THE, UH, CORNER SQUARE QUILTERS.

AND THEY PUT TOGETHER, DESIGNED AND PUT TOGETHER A WONDERFUL QUILT.

UM, IF YOU NEED ANY QUILTING, GO BUY THAT SHOP.

THEY DID EVERYTHING OUT OF POCKET.

THEY DIDN'T CHARGE A PENNY.

AND THE MONEY WE MAKE OFF OF THE WRAP, WE'RE RAFFLING IT OFF.

AND THE MONEY WE'RE GONNA MAKE OFF OF THAT GOES BACK INTO THE LIBRARY.

SO OUR TICKETS ARE $10 A PIECE, 25 GETS YOU THREE TICKETS.

WE'RE GONNA DRAW AT TWO O'CLOCK ON THE 27TH.

BUT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY GOES.

UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE GONE AND SEEN THE STEM WALL IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA OF THE LIBRARY.

THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY PAID FOR THAT STEM WALL.

WE ALSO, AT OUR LAST MEETING, PURCHASED, UH, $5,000 WORTH OF COMPUTERS TO BE USED IN THE, UH, EDUCATION PORTION OF THE LIBRARY FOR PEOPLE COMING IN FOR COMPUTER CLASSES, WHATEVER.

SO THE MONEY WE MAKE OFF THIS QUILT WILL GO BACK INTO OUR COFFERS AND WE WILL BE, CONTINUE TO BE FUNDING ITEMS LIKE THAT.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO BUY SOME RAFFLE TICKETS.

THE MONEY WILL BE WELL USED.

THE QUILT IS BEAUTIFUL.

I I'M GOING TO WIN IT, BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL TO BUY YOU THE TICKETS ANYWAY.

I WILL DONATE IT TO THE MUSEUM AFTER I, UM, HANG IT MY HOUSE FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

BUT, BUT IT IS A BEAUTIFUL QUILT AND IT'S IN MEMORY OF WHAT ZULA BEE MEANT TO SO MANY PEOPLE.

UM, THE OTHER DAY WE WERE SELLING TICKETS SOMEWHERE AND A LITTLE GIRL CAME IN WEARING ONE OF THE T-SHIRTS THAT'S IN THE QUILT.

AND THAT WAS SO COOL TO SEE.

SO WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNSEL FOR THE WONDERFUL LIBRARY, THE WONDERFUL PARK, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE EVEN BETTER PROGRAMS AND MEMORIES IN THAT, THAT NEW BUILDING.

BUT WE ALSO WANNA REMEMBER OUR, OUR HISTORY.

SO THANK YOU AND, UH, BUY YOUR TICKETS.

WE'RE OUT FRONT .

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

HEY MARY? YES? UH, I THINK WE HAVE A CONTRIBUTOR HERE.

I WILL BRING YOU YOUR STUFF.

THREE.

WE'LL GET THREE.

SHE SAID SHE'S GONNA WIN IT.

YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST, YEAH.

YEAH.

JACKIE'S GONNA RUN 'EM UP TO YOU.

ALRIGHT, .

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? WOO HOO.

, SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT TICKETS, SO YEAH, AND, AND, UM, WE GOTTA FIND A KID ON THE 27TH AT TWO O'CLOCK TO COME OVER AND DRAW OUR WINTER.

SO IF YOU'RE ROUND ON THE 27TH WHERE WE ARE, COME WATCH THE DRAWING FOR THE QUILT.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MARY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALRIGHT, NEXT ITEM ON THAT CONCLUDES OUR ASSISTANCE FORM PORTION, UH, COUNSEL, UH, THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS SUBMITTED ONLINE, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT DURING THE BRIEFING.

UH, NEXT

[a. Consider accepting the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.]

AND THAT IS TO, THE FIRST ITEM IS TO CONSIDER ACCEPTING THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING IN SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE COME UP TO PRESENT MR. FOX? UM, SO JUST TO KIND OF PRECURSOR, WE HAVE FINISHED OUR AUDIT FOR AT FISCAL YEAR 2023, AND IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ON MARCH 26TH.

AND WITH ME, I HAVE RACHEL ORNSBY, SHE'S WITH FOUR OF US, OUR AUDIT FIRM.

AND, UH, SHE'S GOING TO PRESENT, UH, HIGH LEVEL OUR, OUR AUDIT RESULTS.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, CHUCK.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL.

UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

AS CHUCK MENTIONED, I'M RACHEL SBY, I'M YOUR AUDIT PARTNER WITH FORBIS.

UH, FORBIS IS A NEW NAME TO THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL.

UH, WE ARE A NEW FIRM AS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.

UM, AND IT WAS GREAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO COME IN AND PROVIDE A FRESH PERSPECTIVE, WHICH I THINK THE CITY PROBABLY GREATLY APPRECIATED.

UM, AND AS CHUCK MENTIONED, WE HAD A FABULOUS MEETING WITH THE AUDIT COMMITTEE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

WE REALLY TOOK A DEEP DIVE INTO THE FINANCIALS AND KIND OF WENT OVER THE HIGHLIGHTS.

BUT WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD DO TONIGHT IS REALLY KIND OF SHARE THE OVERALL AUDIT RESULTS AND GO OVER, UM, A COUPLE OF KEY, KEY THINGS THAT I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW.

ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT.

YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE THE FINAL ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU.

UH, IT IS ABOUT A 200 PLUS PAGE BOOK.

I DO NOT EXPECT YOU TO READ IT COVERED TO COVER.

UM, BUT IF

[00:30:01]

IT IS 10, 15 PAGES WELL WRITTEN BY CHUCK TIFFANY AND THE ENTIRE FINANCE TEAM THAT WAS JUST UP HERE, UM, AND REALLY GIVES YOU ALL A GOOD OVERVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL DURING FISCAL YEAR 2023.

SO, AGAIN, WRITTEN BY MANAGEMENT REALLY EXPLAINS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WERE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES, DECREASES FROM THE PRIOR YEAR AND REALLY GIVES YOU AN OVERALL GLIMPSE INTO THE FINANCIALS WITHOUT READING THE ENTIRE ENTIRE BOOK THERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

OKAY? SO WHAT YOU'RE ALL ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR AUDIT RESULTS.

THE CITY DID RECEIVE A CLEAN UNMODIFIED OPINION WITH RESPECT TO THIS LARGE BOOK IN FRONT OF YOU, WHICH IS YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS A WHOLE.

I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT A CLEAN UNMODIFIED OPINION ALWAYS EQUATE IT WITH, UM, IT'S AN A ON YOUR REPORT CARD.

I HAVE A 7-YEAR-OLD, SO I ALWAYS TRY TO EQUATE THAT TO AN A ON YOUR REPORT CARD, RIGHT? AND SO THAT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT ANY ENTITY, ESPECIALLY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES CAN RECEIVE.

SO KUDOS TO YOU ALL THERE FOR THAT.

UM, ALSO IN TERMS OF THE STANDARDS, SO GASB IS THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD BOARD THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO FOLLOW AS A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.

THEY HAVE BEEN BUSY IF YOU'VE, IF YOU'VE SERVED ON COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, YOU RECEIVE PRESENTATION AFTER PRESENTATION WHERE THERE'S SOME STANDARD THAT HAD TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

UM, I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE CITY IS UP TO DATE ON ALL GASB PRONOUNCEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED THROUGH 2023.

SO THE CITY IS DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL GASB STANDARDS.

UM, A FINANCIAL METRIC THAT I THINK IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL.

SO THE CITY HAS, AS I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE, A MINIMUM FUND BALANCE POLICY OF 25% OF THE GENERAL FUND UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.

UH, THE CITY'S POLICY IS 25%.

AND GFOA WHO IS A STANDARD KIND OF, NOT A STANDARD, BUT A, A BEST PRACTICE ORGANIZATION AS YOU JUST RECEIVED THAT AWARD, UM, THEY RECOMMEND 16%.

SO YOUR POLICY IS ALREADY VERY CONSERVATIVE COMPARED TO, YOU KNOW, BEST PRACTICES.

UM, AT 9 30, 23, YOU ACTUALLY EXCEEDED YOUR OWN POLICY OF 25% AND YOU ENDED THE YEAR AT 33%.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE, OF THE DOLLARS HERE AT THE CITY AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH YOUR OWN POLICY AT YOUR END.

UM, YOU KNOW, IN FRONT OF YOU IS THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WE DO, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT DONE.

SO THERE IS A SEPARATE COMPLIANCE AUDIT.

SO THE CITY DOES SPEND QUITE AND RECEIVE QUITE A BIT OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

AND SO, UH, WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD WITH CHUCK AND THE TEAM TO WRAP THAT SEPARATE SINGLE AUDIT UP.

AND OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THAT DONE BY APRIL 30TH SO THAT I CAN COME BACK AND PRESENT THOSE RESULTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

UM, BUT BEFORE I ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR KIND OF FINISH MY PRESENTATION, I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, WE WERE A NEW FIRM.

WE WERE COMING IN, AS CHUCK MENTIONED, THIS TEAM WAS PROBABLY NOT THAT ROBUST, UH, 6, 7, 8 MONTHS AGO.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE STAND UP HERE AND WE GIVE THESE PRESENTATIONS, AND SOMETIMES I THINK WE MAKE IT SEEM SO EASY THAT JUST ALL THIS WORK HAPPENED AND WE'RE HERE PRESENTING THE RESULTS.

BUT I MEAN, 6, 7, 8 MONTHS OF HARD WORK WAS POURED INTO THIS DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND I WILL SAY COUNTLESS HOURS LEADING UP, UH, TO THIS PRESENTATION HAS BEEN POURED INTO THIS ENTIRE TEAM, UH, BEHIND US.

AND SO IT'S ALWAYS REFRESHING TO COME IN AND, AND PROVIDE A FRESH LOOK, BUT IT REALLY WAS A GROUP TEAM EFFORT TO GET US HERE TONIGHT.

SO I COMMEND YOUR TEAM.

IT WAS A, A GREAT FIRST YEAR, AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS TO COME.

SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE HAS AT THIS TIME.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOU COMING OUT TO CEDAR HILL THIS EVENING.

YEAH.

UH, I DO KNOW WE DO HAVE SOME MEMBERS ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM, FROM THE COMMITTEE? COUNCILOR MCCURDY, DO YOU WANNA GO FIRST? DO YOU WANT ME TO COUNCILOR HAYDEN? YEAH.

UM, IT'S O OBVIOUSLY AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE WITH, UH, MAYOR PRO, TIM ALLEN SIMS AND, UH, UM, CHAD MCCURDY OVER THERE WHO WAS ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.

BUT, BUT YOU ALREADY, YOU ALREADY SAID IT BEST, YOU KNOW, I WAS SITTING UP HERE THINKING, OKAY, WHAT DO WE SAY TO THE CITIZENS, UH, IN RESPONSE TO THIS? AND, UH, I THINK YOU JUST ARTICULATED IT, YOU KNOW, TO THE, TO THE BEST DEGREE.

'CAUSE I WANTED TO POINT OUT THE FACT THAT, UM, IN SPITE OF HAVING, UH, SHORTAGES IN OUR STAFF, LIKE THREE MAJOR POSITIONS IN THE STAFF, AND, UH, HAVING A NEW AUDIT TEAM COMING IN, A NEW AUDITOR, UH, AND, AND THEN STILL PERFORM IN SUCH A HIGH LEVEL MM-HMM .

AND TO ME THAT WAS JUST, SHOWS THE EXTREME,

[00:35:01]

AND THAT JUST SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF OUR FINANCE TEAM.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT OUR WHOLE STAFF FROM, FROM MELISSA TO MR. PORTER.

AND I KNOW, I KNOW ALLISON REEM HAD A BIG PITCH PICTURE IN IT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WITH HER IN THERE, UH, I'M HAPPY TO SAY TO THE, TO THE CITIZENS THAT, YEAH, WE'VE GOT A, A CLEAN AUDIT, YOU KNOW, SO, AND THANK YOU RACHEL, FOR, FOR WHAT YOU DID COMING HERE, COUNCIL MCCURDY.

SO I, I KIND OF, UH, ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN'S, UH, COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST COMMENDING OUR, OUR, OUR STAFF AND, UH, I KNOW WE, THIS WAS A YEAR WHERE WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, SHORTAGES OF STAFF, BUT THEN WE HAD, WE HAD TURNOVER AS WELL.

WE HAD JUST, UM, HIRED A NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR AND, AND I KNOW FROM, FROM TALKING TO, TO FOLKS IN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND, AND FROM SPEAKING, UH, WITH YOU ABOUT THE, THE AUDIT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, ALLISON, I JUST WANTED TO, TO, UH, RECOGNIZE YOU AGAIN, I KNOW I DID IT ONCE BEFORE, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE HIDING BACK HERE IN THE BACK AGAIN.

IT'S OKAY.

UM, BUT, UH, APPRECIATE IT.

ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING YOU DID, UH, DURING THIS PERIOD TO, TO GET US THROUGH THIS TRANSITION.

AND I KNOW THAT, THAT SWITCHING AUDIT PARTNERS, YOU, YOU GUYS BROUGHT A LOT MORE HORSEPOWER AND YOU BROUGHT SOME RESOURCES THAT, UH, THAT WE DIDN'T PREVIOUSLY HAVE, UH, TO THE AUDITING PROCESS, WHICH HAS ALLOWED US TO, TO OFFLOAD AND, AND PROBABLY TAKE SOME STRESS OFF OF OUR, OUR FINANCE PEOPLE.

SO, UM, REALLY APPRECIATE THE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES YOU GUYS BRING TO THE TABLE, YOU KNOW, BUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE CITIZENS IS, IS REALLY WHAT'S, WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT, THIS TRANSLATES INTO REAL DOLLARS BECAUSE OF OUR BUDGETING PROCESSES, BECAUSE OF, OF OUR AUDITING RESULTS OVER YEARS IS WHY WE HAVE THE CREDIT RATING THAT WE HAVE NOW.

AND, AND IT'S WHY THAT, THAT WE ARE GETTING SOME REALLY FAVORABLE RATES ON THE BONDS WHEN WE HAVE TO GO BORROW MONEY.

AND IT'S, IT'S WHAT ALLOWS US TO DO PROJECTS LIKE THE LIBRARY THAT WE JUST CONSTRUCTED IN THE PARK OVER HERE.

SO, I MEAN, WHILE WE, WE RECOGNIZE JUST WE'RE, YOU KNOW, ACCEPTING THIS, THIS ONE AUDIT, THIS IS YEARS AND YEARS IN THE MAKING AS, AS CHUCK SAID, 24 YEARS OF BUDGET RECOGNITION AND JUST YEARS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, CLEAN AUDITS AND, UH, AND, AND GOOD FISCAL MANAGEMENT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ON, ON ANOTHER, UH, GREAT AUDIT RESULT AND, AND ALSO ON, ON THE, UH, BUDGET RECOGNITION AND, AND ALL, ALL OF OUR STAFF.

ALRIGHT, , THANK YOU.

UM, SO, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT SUBMISSION AND ITS VALUES.

AND I WANT TO, WHAT SOME THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED, I, I ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THE CITY'S VALUES STEWARDSHIP AND WHAT IT SAYS, WHAT YOU'RE COMMUNICATING IS THAT WE'RE MING OUR VALUES BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN A GOOD STEWARD OF, OF THE CITIZEN'S MONEY.

AND THEN SECOND, IT SAYS, HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS, BEHAVIOR AND INTEGRITY.

SO THE THING THAT YOU MENTIONED, UH, ARE IT SAYS THE CITY IS OPERATING CONSISTENT WITH ITS VALUES.

SO I'M GONNA SAY OFF TO THE STAFF AND DEPUTY AND ASSISTANT, BUT ALSO TO YOU FOR, UH, COMING ALONGSIDE AND, AND DOING THE AUTOMATE.

IT WAS MENTIONED THAT YOU PROVIDED A LOT OF TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE TO US AT A VERY CRITICAL TIME WHEN WE WERE DOWN A COUPLE POSITIONS.

SO I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR STEPPING IN AND STARTED HELPING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS, BUT, UH, I, I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT'S BEEN DONE, BUT WE HAVE ADHERED TO THE CITY'S VALUES AS A RELATES TO SPECIFICALLY STEWARDSHIP, HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS, BEHAVIOR AND INTEGRITY.

AND, UM, THERE, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE, BUT THIS IS ANOTHER ASPECT OF TRANSPARENCY AND THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT US BEING TRANSPARENT AND BEING AN ORGANIZATION OF INTEGRITY.

AND I THINK WHAT SHE SAID, UH, COMPLIES WITH THAT.

AND I HEARD THAT WE GOT AN A .

YOU DID, YOU DID.

WELL.

UM, THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, JUST, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY, UM, THERE'S, I MEAN, I GUESS I WAS JUST GOING BACK TO ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.

I THINK, UM, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, WENT THROUGH A TRANSITION OF A FINANCE DIRECTOR AND, AND WE HAD A BRAND NEW AUDIT FIRM.

AND, UM, AT THAT TIME, THAT'S WHEN THE AUDIT COMMITTEE WAS FORMED AND IT WAS THOSE FRESH SENSE, YOU KNOW, SENSE OF EYES THAT,

[00:40:01]

UH, THEN WHEN WE GOT A NEW AUDIT FIRM, UH, AGAIN, THERE IS LENSES THAT THAT NEW FIRM SAW THAT THE PREVIOUS FIRM DIDN'T SEE.

UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THE FACT THAT WE COULD HAVE JUST HAD THE SAME FIRM FOR 15, 20 YEARS, UH, BUT WE DIDN'T DO THAT.

WE BRINGING IN FRESH PAIR OF EYES, BRAND NEW FIRM COMING IN, WORKING WITH OUR FINANCE TEAM, AND WE GETTING THE RESULTS THAT WE WANT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE A BRAND NEW FIRM, MEETING WITH OUR FINANCE TEAM, MEETING WITH OUR, UH, OUR COUNCIL AUDIT COMMITTEE, AND FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO SAY THE RESULTS IS, IS, UH, COMPARABLE TO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING OVER THE LAST THREE, FOUR YEARS.

THAT LETS ME KNOW THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOW WORKING, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE IS IN PLACE SYSTEMATICALLY, THE SYSTEM IS WORKING.

NOT TO SAY THERE'S NOT PEOPLE IN PLACE PUSHING THE RIGHT BUTTONS, UH, BUT IT REALLY DOES MEAN A LOT TO ME THAT WE HAVE A BRAND NEW FIRM WHO'S BEEN ABLE TO COME IN AND BE ABLE TO CHECK THE, YOU KNOW, CHECK THE, UH, THE, THE, THE MEASURES TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT WE ARE ARE SUCCEEDING.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE BIG WIN FOR ME IS FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SEE, WE HAD A NEW FIRM DOING THE AUDIT AND WE STILL GOT A, A GRADE A AS YOU CALL IT.

YEAH.

AND WE ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

SO YES, , YES.

AND, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE HOMEWORK, VERY DETAILED.

I THANK YOU FOR THE HOMEWORK OF THIS BIG OLD YEAH.

HOMEWORK.

YEAH.

, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL ASK FOR A REPORT BACK NEXT TIME I SEE YOU ALL.

SURE.

ALL RIGHT.

I THINK THAT'S, UH, ALL WE GOT, SO, OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

YES.

YES.

BE A SAFE DRIVE GOING BACK HOME, SO THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, COUNSEL.

UM, WE DO HAVE ONE MORE, UH, REGULAR AGENDA ITEM,

[b. Case No. FP-628-2024 – Approve, in accordance with the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation, an application for a final plat for the Munoz Addition, Lot 1, Block 1 and a variance to Section 20-22(b), Chapter 20 – Subdivision Regulations on property zoned “SF-E” (Single-Family Estates – one acre lot minimum), legally described as a portion of Lot 1, Block 3 of the Brook View Unrecorded, generally located on the north side of High Drive, east of Simmons Way with the approximate address being 328 Simmons Way. Applicant/Property Owner: Mario Munoz.]

LOT ONE, BLOCK ONE, AND IT VARIES TO SECTION 20 DASH 22 B.

CHAPTER 20.

SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS ON PROPERTY ZONE SFE, SINGLE FAMILY ESTATES ONE ACRE LOT MINIMUM LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS A PORTION OF LOT ONE BLOCK THREE OF THE BROOK VIEW UNRECORDED GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HIGH DRIVE, EAST OF SIMMONS WAY, WITH THE APPROXIMATE ADDRESS BEING 3 2 8 SIMMONS WAY.

UH, APPLICANT PROPERTY OWNER, MARIO MON, UH, MAN, OUS MUSE, I THINK I'M SAYING IT CORRECTLY.

MOZ MUNOZ.

THANK YOU.

UH, DO WE HAVE A, A REPRESENTATIVE HERE WITH US TODAY? ALL RIGHT, I DON'T THINK THAT'S REQUIRED.

VOTE.

OH, WE STILL GOTTA VOTE FOR A .

OKAY.

YEAH.