[1. Call the meeting to order.]
[00:00:07]
TODAY IS TUESDAY, JANUARY 28TH, 2025.
THIS IS THE REGULAR SCHEDULED BRIEFING SESSION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
ALL NOTICES HAVE BEEN PROPERLY POSTED.
I WANNA OFFICIALLY CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[2. City Manager Reports: City Council Calendar/Upcoming Events City Operations Conduct a briefing to discuss items for the 7:00 p.m. regular meeting]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CITY MANAGER REPORTS.GOOD EVENING, MADAM CITY MANAGER.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME FOR SIX MONTHS ON SATURDAY.
I WILL HAVE BEEN YOUR CITY MANAGER FOR SIX MONTHS, AND YOU HAVE PUT UP WITH ME, SO WELL, I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU, AND IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN AND, UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF ON THE WORK AHEAD OF US, BUT I, I AM REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT MILESTONE.
UM, I HAVE A FEW THINGS FOR THE CALENDAR TO GO OVER WITH THE COUNCIL, AND THEN I'LL GO THROUGH THE AGENDA.
AND THEN WE HAVE TWO REALLY AMAZING PRESENTATIONS, UH, HERE ON OUR AGENDA HERE, BUT I'LL START WITH THE CALENDAR.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK.
UH, THE FIRST ITEM WE HAVE FOR NEXT WEEK IS NEXT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH.
WE HAVE THE MAYOR'S PRAYER BREAKFAST FROM SEVEN 30 TO NINE AT THE ALLEN E SIMS RECREATION CENTER.
AND THEN ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH FROM NINE TO TWO, WE HAVE THE BEST SOUTHWEST STEAM SHOWCASE AND COMPETITION REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THAT.
SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, LET BELINDA OR I KNOW AND WE'LL GET YOU REGISTERED AND PLAN TO GO FOR THAT THAT EVENING.
WE HAVE OUR DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE FROM SIX TO 9:00 PM AT THE A SIMS RECREATION CENTER.
AND THEN ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH, WE HAVE OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING HERE IN THE TURK KENNEDY ROOM.
AND THEN ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, WE HAVE OUR, WE TALKED THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
YOU ADOPTED THE STRATEGIC PLAN, UM, STRATEGIC PLAN, STEP ONE A, AND THEN WE HAVE STEP ONE B, THE ACTION ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND THAT IS VERY COLLABORATIVE APPROACH FOR BOTH YOUR CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM, THE DIRECTORS, AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, UH, WE HAVE OUR SECURE PAPER SHREDDING EVENT.
OUR AMAZING LAUREN FAST, UM, HAS TAKEN ON OUR OWN AND SAW THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDED MORE SHREDDING EVENTS BECAUSE THEY WERE MAXING OUT AND SELLING OUT, I GUESS, UH, FREE TICKETS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO SHE IS IMPLEMENTED BI MONTHLY, UM, PAPER SHREDDING EVENTS.
AND SO THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF THAT SERIES ON FEBRUARY, SATURDAY OF FEBRUARY 22ND, HERE AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER PARKING LOT BEHIND HERE FROM NINE TO NOON.
SO IF YOU HAVE IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS OR OLD DOCUMENTS WITH YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR PERTINENT INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED SHREDDED, PLEASE BRING IT ON THAT SATURDAY AND WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU ON TUESDAY.
FEBRUARY 25TH IS OUR SECOND MEETING FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, SECOND COUNCIL MEETING.
THEN ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, WE HAVE THE C-H-I-S-D STATE OF THE DISTRICT FROM 11 TO ONE.
IT'S A LUNCH AT THE MADDOX TEACHER TEACHING AND LEARNING CENTER IN HIGH POINT.
THEN THE NEXT DAY, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM WE HAVE THE STATE OF THE CITY, UH, AT THE ALLEN EAST SIMS RECREATION CENTER FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM AND TICKETS ARE FREE FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO JOIN FOR THAT.
UM, ALLISON, DO YOU KNOW WHEN THOSE TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE? THEY ARE AVAILABLE NOW, ACTUALLY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
SO IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN THE AUDIENCE TO JOIN US FOR THE MAYOR STATE OF THE CITY ON THE 27TH OF FEBRUARY, PLEASE GO AND GET YOUR TICKETS.
THEY ARE FREE DOLLARS, UH, NO COST TO CITIZENS, AND IT'LL BE A REALLY GREAT EVENT.
DINNER IS INCLUDED ON SATURDAY, MARCH 1ST, NINE TO 1:00 PM THE CEDAR HILL BLOCK PARTY.
WE DO THE SAME EVERY YEAR AT THE ALLEN E SIMS RECREATION CENTER FROM NINE TO 1:00 PM UH, WANNA INVITE THE COMMUNITY OUT.
IT'S A REALLY GREAT DAY WHERE WE, UM, DISPLAY A LOT OF BIG EQUIPMENT.
THE WASTE MANAGEMENT COMES AND WE HAVE OPENING, UH, OF THE REC CENTER, AND, UH, EVERYBODY CAN EXPLORE THE RECREATION CENTER AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
IT LITERALLY IS A PARTY, SO IT'LL BE A LOT OF FUN.
MARCH ON TUESDAY, MARCH 6TH IS GOLDEN HOMES GRANT OPENING CELEBRATION FROM NINE TO ONE 30.
THAT'S ON A THURSDAY, I THINK LUNCH IS, LUNCH IS ALSO PROVIDED.
AND THEN ON TUESDAY, MARCH 11TH, THERE IS NO CITY COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT SPRING BREAK.
OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IN MARCH IS MARCH 25TH.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE COUNCIL CALENDAR OR ANY ADDITIONS?
[00:05:06]
I I WAS LOOKING FOR THE, THE EMAIL I WAS THINKING YOU GUYS SENT US AN EMAIL ABOUT THE, UH, STATE OF THE DISTRICT, UH, TO, UH, REQUEST TICKETS OR ACCESS OR SOMETHING FOR THAT.AND I, I, I THINK THE, UH, THE EMAIL IS BURIED SOMEWHERE IN THERE.
IF CAN, CAN Y'ALL SEND THAT AGAIN? SURE.
WE WILL GET THAT EMAIL RESENT OUT.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THE COUNCIL CALENDAR? NO.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THE AGENDA REALLY QUICKLY.
OF COURSE, ON THE BRIEFING SESSION, YOU HAVE, UH, COUNCIL'S GIVEN US VERY CLEAR DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL RETREAT ON HOW YOU WANNA IMPROVE THE LITTER ISSUES IN AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND SO WE'RE HERE TO REPORT BACK ON, UM, WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER TO IMPROVE, AND THEN WE'LL GO IN IMPLEMENTATION PHASE.
SO THAT IS THE FIRST BRIEFING ON ENHANCED LITTER ABATEMENT INITIATIVES.
UM, ALSO A BRIEFING FROM THE BEAUTIFICATION ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD.
WE CAN'T FIX BAD BEHAVIOR, UM, ENTIRELY, BUT WE CAN REALLY WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS, WE CAN WORK WITH THE CHURCHES, WE CAN WORK WITH, UM, UH, ALL ORGANIZATIONS AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO HELP IMPROVE THE LITTER THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND IT REALLY STARTS WITH THE KIDS.
I THINK I SEE A CLASSROOM IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND SO THIS IS A REALLY GREAT BRIEFING PRESENTATION TO EDUCATE ALL OF US ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT LITTERING.
AND WHEN YOU LITTER THE COMMUNITY, IT'S LIKE LITTER LITTERING IN YOUR LIVING ROOM.
SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO PARTNER WITH KIDS, ADULTS AND EVERYONE ELSE, WE WANT TO DO IT.
GOING INTO THE AGENDA, WE HAVE AN INVOCATION BY ALAN MARTIN FROM CEDAR HILL CHURCH OF CHRIST.
OUR PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 2025 IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN CEDAR HILL.
OUR ITEM PRESENTATION, ITEM B NEEDS TO BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE OUR OFFICER THAT IS ACHIEVING THAT HAS ACHIEVED THAT REWARD AWARD IS SICK.
SO HE'S OUT WITH THE FLU AND WE WISH HIM, UH, SPEEDY RECOVERY, BUT HE IS UNABLE TO BE HERE.
SO WE'LL PUSH THAT TO THE NEXT AGENDA.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, UM, INCLUDES SEVERAL ITEMS. THE MINUTES, UH, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A DISCRETIONARY SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ENCORE ELECTRIC SERVICE DELIVERY FOR THE UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE RELOCATION OF THE DOWNTOWN COMPLETE STREETS.
PHASE TWO, A PROJECT, THERE ARE CONTRACTORS WORKING IN DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S ATMOS ENERGY AND, UH, ENCORE WILL BE OUT THERE AS SOON AS WE GET THIS APPROVED.
ITEM C IS A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR SECOND YEAR RENEWAL OF A BODY-WORN CAMERA GRANT FROM THE OFFICE OF TEXAS GOVERNOR TO FUND BODY-WORN CAMERAS FOR 81 PERSONNEL FOR THE CEDAR HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
OUR OFFICERS HAVE BEEN WEARING BODY-WORN CAMERAS FOR, UM, VERY LONG TIME, PROBABLY OVER 10 YEARS SINCE THE BE BEGINNING OF, UM, THE TECHNOLOGY COMING OUT.
UM, BUT THIS IS REPLACEMENT OF THE CURRENT EQUIPMENT.
AND SO THOSE 81, UH, POLICE OFFICERS WILL GET NEW EQUIPMENT WITH THE, WITH THAT AWARD AND THAT SUBMISSION IF WE'RE AWARDED IT.
ITEM D IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO ASSIST THE CEDAR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS FOR A MENTAL HEALTH RESILIENCY PROGRAM.
THIS IS FUNDING TO HELP THEM, UM, WITH THE COUNSELING AND, AND NECESSARY SERVICES FOR THE TRAUMA THAT THEY EXPERIENCED IN THEIR POSITIONS.
ITEM E IS APPROVING RESOLUTION, WHICH AUTHORIZES SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO ASSIST THE CEDAR POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.
WE, EVERY YEAR WE DO A YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES AN AMAZING JOB WHERE WE HAVE A WEEK AND BRING ALL TEENS AND TWEENS TOGETHER.
THIS IS TO FUND SOME ACTIVITIES FOR THAT PROGRAM.
ITEM F IS TO AWARD THE 2025 CEDAR GREEN AWARD TO WISE ACADEMY AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BEAUTIFICATION ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD.
ITEM G IS AUTHORIZED AND MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH G TWO CONTRACTORS FOR RENOVATIONS WITH THE CEDAR HILL GOVERNMENT CENTER FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 105,000.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS BUILDING IS OVER 15 YEARS OLD.
AND, UH, TIME TO TIME WE NEED TO REPAINT AND REPLACE CARPET.
AND THE 105,000 IS BUDGETED AS PHASE ONE OF THAT PROCESS TO, UM, ADD SOME NEW PAINT AND CARPET FOR THE GOVERNMENT CENTER.
ITEM H IS AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF WATER UTILITY EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING METERS FROM CORE AND MAINE, OF COURSE, WITH YOUR WATER UTILITY SYSTEM, UH, REQUIRES METERS TO BE REPLACED HERE AND NOW.
AND SO THAT, THAT, THAT'S I THINK A THOUSAND METERS.
AND THEN THE NEXT ITEM IS FOR METER REGISTERS.
[00:10:01]
IS, IS THE REGISTERS ARE FAILING AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THE METERS ITEM J'S RESOLUTION FUNDING.THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ENCORE CITY STEERING COMMITTEE, OCSC, OF COURSE, WE FUND THAT EVERY YEAR THROUGH OUR BUDGET.
AND WE PUT THAT ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA FOR YOUR, UM, CONSIDERATION APPROVAL TONIGHT.
AND THEN REGULAR AGENDA HAS ONE ITEM.
ALSO IN THE, UH, COUNCIL RETREAT YOU TALKED, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, PUTTING TOGETHER, UM, OR BUILDING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRINITY CHURCH, A DOG PARK, A PUBLIC DOG PARK FOR CITIZENS TO USE.
AND, UM, THIS ITEM AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A-M-O-U-A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH TRINITY CHURCH TO DEVELOP A PUBLIC DOG PARK.
AND THAT IS ALL OF YOUR AGENDA.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR A CITY MANAGER? COUNCILOR MCCURDY, I, I HAVE ONE MORE THING GOING BACK TO THE CALENDAR.
UM, FEBRUARY 22ND, THERE IS ALSO GOING TO BE THE LIONS CLUB ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH.
I WAS, I WAS TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE CALENDAR STUFF AND YOU WERE GOING FASTER THAN I COULD, THAN I COULD GET THROUGH MY CALENDAR AND GET, OH, SORRY.
WHAT TIME IS THAT? UH, DAN, WHAT TIME DO WE USUALLY DO THAT? DOESN'T IT START LIKE SEVEN, I THINK SEVEN 30? YEAH, I SERVED UNTIL SEVEN 30.
SEVEN 30 USUALLY RUNS LITTLE TILL ABOUT WHAT? 10? ABOUT 10.
I THINK THEY'RE DOING SEVEN 30 TO 10 30 IS WHATEVER HEARD.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT UNTIL THE CROWDS DIE DOWN.
SO WE'LL GET THAT ON COUNCIL'S CALENDAR.
ARE THERE ANY, UH, ANYTHING ON CONSENT THAT NEEDS TO BE PULLED? COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT.
BEFORE I GO TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND RECOGNIZE OUR CEDAR HILL ISD SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE, MR. SINGLETON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US WITH US TODAY.
[3. Briefing on enhanced litter abatement initiatives.]
WITH THE, UH, NEXT ITEM DURING THE BRIEFING SESSION IS I ITEM THREE, BRIEFING ON ENHANCED LITTER ABATEMENT INITIATIVES.AND THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY OUR VERY OWN DIRECTOR, RAY PARKS, DIRECTOR.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNSEL, PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU ALL THIS EVENING.
UM, IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE SEXIEST THING TO COME UP AND TALK TO EVERYONE ABOUT LITTER ABATEMENT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW IS IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY TO YOU ALL, BUT MANY OF THE CITIZENS OF CEDAR HILL.
SO OUR VISION OF CEDAR HILL IS ENVISIONING CEDAR HILL AS A PREMIER CITY THAT RESTRAINS ITS DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER WHERE FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES FLOURISH IN A SAFE AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.
SO WE'RE REALLY GONNA DIAL INTO THAT GOAL OF HAVING THAT CLEAN ENVIRONMENT THIS EVENING.
IN PURSUING PREMIER, UH, WE KNOW THAT WE, UH, LOVE OUR DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER, THAT WE WANT CEDAR HILL TO BE CLEAN, SAFE, HAVE VIBRANT PARKS, TRAILS, AND NATURAL BEAUTY.
JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AS A WHOLE TODAY, AND YOU'LL BE SEEING A LOT MORE OF THIS WITH THE UPCOMING, UH, ADOPTION OF THE ASTRO PLAN BETWEEN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, DOGWOOD CANYON, AUDUBON CENTER, AND DALLAS COUNTY.
THERE'S 52 PARKS AND TRAILS THROUGHOUT CEDAR HILL, AND THAT'S OVER 3,700 ACRES OF GREEN SPACE THAT, UH, WE HELP MAINTAIN AND FACILITATE.
UH, THREE BIKE STATIONS, 24 BIKE RACKS, 21 WATER STATIONS, 17 FOR OUR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS, 24 PUBLIC RESTROOMS, 1200 IRRIGATION VALVES, 27, UH, PLAYGROUNDS.
WE CAN JUST KEEP GOING WITH NUMBERS AND NUMBERS, BUT WE'LL DIVE MORE INTO THAT SOON.
SO, UM, COUNCIL RECENTLY ADOPTED ITS 25, 20 30 CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN.
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE OF THAT, UH, IT'S, THEIR GOAL IS TO EXPAND AND INCREASE INITIATIVES.
ALIGNED WITH OUR PREMIER STATEMENT, CEDAR HILL IS CLEAN WITH ONGOING CLEAN CITY PROGRAMMING AND COLLABORATION WITH BEAUTIFICATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD.
SO WE TRULY UNDERSTOOD AND HEARD WHEN THE COUNCIL SAID THAT THEY WANT TO EXPAND AND INCREASE THESE INITIATIVES THAT ALIGN WITH THE CEDAR HILL AS CLEAN STATEMENT.
SO WE IDENTIFY THE ISSUE, AND REALLY IT'S LITTER ABATEMENT AND IT'S CHANGING A BAD BEHAVIOR.
UH, AND THAT BAD BEHAVIOR COULD BE, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE FROM THROWING THEIR WHATABURGER BAG OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO JUST NOT HAVING A SECURE LOAD AND IT BLOW OUT.
UH, AND, YOU KNOW, MAKING OUR CITY LOOK, UH, LESS THAN ATTRACTIVE.
YOU KNOW, HIGHWAY 67 IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, UM, AND IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT DALLAS DUNCANVILLE, MIDLOTHIAN, RED OAK, GLEN HEIGHTS, ALL OF OUR SURROUNDING CITIES HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THAT HAVE MAJOR THOROUGH AFFAIRS, BUT WE ALSO ARE VERY PRIDEFUL OF OUR CITY MEETINGS AND RIGHT OF WAYS WHICH INCLUDE,
[00:15:01]
BUT, UH, ARE NOT LIMITED TO UPTOWN JOE WILSON, PARKVILLE, SAL CLARK, AND ALL THOSE ROADS.SO WE WANT THOSE TO LOOK JUST AS NICE AS 67.
SO WHEN CITIZENS ARE DRIVING HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY, OR OUR GUESTS ARE COMING TO VISIT AND PLAY SPORTS AT VALLEY RIDGE PARK, WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE AT A VERY SPECIAL PLACE.
SO, UH, OUR PROPOSED OPTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES IS, UH, COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, WHERE OUR BEST BOARD WILL BE COMING UP IN A FEW MOMENTS, UH, TO TALK ABOUT A FIVE POINT PLAN WITH SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, BUSINESS NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEN OUR CITY AS A WHOLE.
UM, SO REALLY WE'RE HERE REPRESENTING TONIGHT THE ENHANCED TER ABATEMENT OF THE CITY, AGAIN, FOR HIGHLY 67, AS WELL AS MEDIANS AND RIGHT OF WAYS.
SO CURRENTLY WITH OUR 67, UH, CONTRACTS, UH, WE HAVE 29 TRASH REMOVALS PER YEAR.
FIVE OF THOSE OCCURRED DURING OUR MOWINGS, WHICH ARE SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY, JUNE, AUGUST, OCTOBER, AND DECEMBER EVERY YEAR.
I KNOW THAT'S A LARGE GAP IN BETWEEN JANUARY AND JUNE.
UM, COUNCIL, THIS COUNCIL AND COUNCIL BEFORE, UH, ADOPTED A WILDFLOWER ORDINANCE THAT, UH, PROHIBITS US FROM ONLY, AND ALSO IT'S A STATE, UH, BEST PRACTICES THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW.
UH, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO BE ON THE NEWS OR, YOU KNOW, TAKING DOWN OUR STATE FLOWER.
UH, AND, UH, THEY REALLY DO ADD A LOT OF BEAUTY TO OUR, UH, CITY, BUT THEY ALSO ACT AS A POLLINATOR WASTE STATION, UH, FOR VARIOUS BIRDS, UH, BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND THINGS, THOSE THINGS AS THEY MIGRATE INTO CEDAR HILL AND, UH, TO SURROUNDING STATES AND COUNTRIES AS WELL.
UM, SO WE HAVE 29 CYCLES THAT WE'RE, UH, PROPOSING A 40% INCREASE TO MOVE TO 41, UH, CYCLES PER, UH, YEAR.
THAT AVERAGES OUT TO ABOUT THREE CYCLES A DAY.
OR ANOTHER WAY TO PUT IT IS WE'RE GOING FROM PICKING UP TRASH ABOUT EVERY 15TH DAY TO EVERY 10 DAYS.
SO THAT'S A PRETTY DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THOSE THINGS.
AND JUST AS A NOTE, UH, IN 2018 WHEN WE SIGNED OUR MUNICIPAL SERVICE AGREEMENT TO BE ABLE TO, UH, BY RIGHT AND BY LAW AND, UH, BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BE REIMBURSED FROM TXDOT, WE SIGNED A MUNICIPAL AGREEMENT, AND THAT ALLOWED US TO DO 17 MORE TRASH PICKUPS THAN THE STATE DID BEFORE.
SO BY WHEN, IF A CITY DOES NOT HAVE ONE OF THESE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE SUCH AS CEDAR HILL, THOSE CITIES ONLY SEE 12 TRASH PICKUPS PER YEAR.
UH, YOU GO TO SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES IN OUR AREA, AND YOU CAN SEE A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW CEDAR HILL LOOKS AND HOW THEY LOOK AS WELL.
SO CURRENTLY, UH, ON OUR OTHER MEDIAS AND RIGHT OF WAYS, AGAIN, THOSE INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, UPTOWN JOE WILSON.
UM, WE DO THE 41 TIME LITTER ABATEMENT.
UH, THOSE ARE, INCLUDE THOSE THAT ARE DONE WITH THE, UH, MOWING CYCLE.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR CONTRACT.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN TWO EMPLOYEES WHOSE PRIMARY, UH, FOCUS, WE'LL BE LITTER ABATEMENT, UM, AND BY ADDING AC CREW, THE EQUIPMENT, THE TRUCKS, THE TRAILERS, THE ADVANCED WARNING SIGNS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT COME WITH THAT.
UH, AND THEY'LL REALLY BE OUR, HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE DISPATCHED TO HOTSPOTS, UH, THROUGHOUT CEDAR HILL AND LONG AS, AND ALSO SERVICING SOME OF THOSE AREAS ALONG THE SERVICE ROAD IS 67 67.
SOME OF OUR WORST AREAS ARE AT THE ABSOLUTE OUTSIDE FRINGE WHERE THE MOWING HAS STOPPED.
AND PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE BIT RURAL AND THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE AS MUCH AS SOME OF THE OTHERS.
SO THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS WITH THIS CREW WILL BE KIND OF CLEANING UP THAT EDGE WHERE THE WIND TAKES A LOT OF THAT TRASH THAT'S BLOWN OFF OF THE MAJOR HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE SIDE.
UM, AND THEN WHEN I TALK ABOUT A HOTSPOT, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING, UM, AS, UH, SOMEONE NOTICES THAT, UH, AFTER A WRECK, UH, FENDER'S LAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, UH, MEDIA AND MANSFIELD AND LAKE RIDGE PARKWAY, WE CAN SEND THEM OUT QUICKLY WITHOUT HAVING TO, UH, DETOUR A CREW.
UH, RIGHT NOW, UH, WE CONTINUE, WE WORK WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT TO HELP IDENTIFY BUSINESSES THAT MAY BE OUTTA COMPLIANCE.
AND THIS COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS REMINDING, UH, BUSINESS OWNERS TO KEEP THEIR LIDS SHUT ON THEIR DUMPSTERS, BECAUSE IF THEIR LIDS ARE OPEN ON THE DUMPSTERS ON A WINDY DAY, THEIR WIND'S GONNA BE BLOWN, THEIR TRAFFIC GONNA BE BLOWN OUT INTO THE MEDIANS AND RIGHT OF WAYS OR ONTO 67.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE, UH, TO SUPPORT BEST BOARD CITYWIDE CLEANUP DAYS AND THEIR RELATED INITIATIVES AND
[00:20:01]
PROGRAMS. SO WHAT DOES ALL THIS COST? SO THE ADDITIONAL COST, UH, IS ESTIMATED AT $170,560 ANNUALLY TO INCREASE OUR, UH, MOWING FREQUENCY ON 67, IT'S $19,800, MOVING OUR 67 LITTER CONTRACT FROM 39,600 TO 59,400.AND THEN THE CONTINUED COLLABORATION BETWEEN PARKS AND RECREATION CODE ENFORCEMENT.
AND THE BEST BOARD IS JUST THE CEDAR HILL WAY AND HOW WE'VE ALWAYS DONE BUSINESS.
UH, FUNDING SOURCE IS, UH, COUNCIL ADOPTED A NEW TRASH RATE THAT IS, UH, FORECASTING TO BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL $193,000 ANNUALLY TO THE LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION FUND TO ENHANCE CITYWIDE EFFORTS.
UM, AND SO OUR ANNUAL COST, UH, IS, UH, JUST ABOVE THAT.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, MODIFY THESE AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED.
OUR POTENTIAL TIMELINE, UH, WE'RE HERE TONIGHT UPDATING COUNCIL AND RECEIVING ANY FEEDBACK YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
UH, AND WE INTEND TO ORDER EQUIPMENT AND RELATED SUNDRIES FOR THE CREW.
UH, MARCH WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, INCREASE OUR CONTRACTS WITH OUR CURRENT MOWING SERVICES, UH, WITH NO COUNSEL ACTION.
AND THEN, UH, AND ALSO IN MARCH WE ABLE TO ADVERTISE, INTERVIEW, AND HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFFING TO MOBILIZE THAT CREW.
UH, WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION AND RECEIVE ANY ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
ALRIGHT, LET'S BEGIN WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN.
UM, ON THIS ADDITIONAL CRUISE THAT WE HAVE.
AND YOU SAID THEY WERE GONNA BE SUBJECT TO, YOU KNOW, BEING CALLED OUT TO HOTSPOTS AND SO FORTH.
UM, ARE THEY ALSO GONNA BE ABLE TO BE CALLED OUT ON HOTSPOTS FOR 67 AS WELL, OR IS THAT JUST SPECIFICALLY THE OTHER MEDIANS? SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO KEEP, UH, UH, A WATCH AND ON IS WE WILL DEFINITELY USE THEM ON THE SERVICE ROAD.
THOSE TRAVEL LANES, WE USUALLY, WE WON'T USE THEM WITHIN THE TRAVEL LANES.
SO IF WE KNOW THAT SOMEONE HAS A LARGE BAG OF TRASH THAT FELL OUT OF THEIR VEHICLE AND WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND SAFELY GET IT, THEN WE'RE GONNA GO GET IT.
IF IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAVEL LANE, WE'RE CALLING TEXDOT BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
AND, AND THEN WHO WOULD BE CALLING IN THESE, YOU KNOW, AS WE DRIVE AROUND, ARE THE, ARE THE ADDITIONAL CREWS GONNA BE PATROLLING OR, OR WHO'S GONNA BE FROM A CITY RESPECT, UH, STANDPOINT CALLING IN THESE, THESE ISSUES? 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES WHERE I'LL GO DOWN AND I'LL, YOU MADE REFERENCE TO AN A BUMPER, YOU KNOW, SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR SOMETHING OUT IN, SO IS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT GONNA BE DIRECTED, YOU KNOW, FOR THE OFFICERS WHEN THEY NOTICE THESE THINGS LIKE THIS TO CALL THAT IN? I KNOW OBVIOUSLY OUR STAFF AND OUR AND OUR CREW WILL ALWAYS DO THAT TOO, BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST WHAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION ARE WE GONNA HAVE TO TO THAT? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL WORK THROUGH WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
UH, AS WE IMPLEMENT THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS NEW TOOL TO HELP COMBAT LITTER, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD WORK BEST FOR THEM AND WHAT WORKS BEST FOR US AND KIND OF HA THAT HAPPY MEDIUM.
AND ALSO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNT THAT, UH, AVERAGE CITIZENS KNOW THAT THEY CAN CALL OUR PARKS AND REC OFFICE, YOU KNOW, AT 9 7 2 2 9 1 51 30 AND REPORT THESE THINGS, AND THEN WE'LL MAKE AN ACTIVE EFFORT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM IN AN EXTREMELY TIMELY FASHION.
WELL, AND AND I, I APPRECIATE THE STAFF RESPONDING TO, UH, OUR WORKSHOP THAT WE HAD AND ALL THE COUNCIL GETTING ON BOARD TO DO THIS.
UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, OUR MAYOR PRO TIM, THROWING OUT THE FIVE POINT PLAN OPTIONS, UH, I THINK WE REALLY DISCUSSED IT PRETTY IN DEPTH ON THAT.
AND, UH, AND STAFF IS RESPONDING AND I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, I GUESS GOING, GOING THIS WAY AND, AND TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE, UH, THE PREMIER CITY, THE, THE CLEAN PORTION OF THAT.
ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? UH, ALL TWO.
SO, I, I WAS GONNA HOLD OFF UNTIL, UH, THE BEST BOARD.
I, I BELIEVE THERE'S A PRESENTATION FROM THEM AS IT RELATES TO, UM, UM, ADDITIONAL EFFORTS, COORDINATED EFFORTS, BECAUSE I, I THINK, I LOVE WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT WE'RE BEING REACTIONARY AND I WANT TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE, UM, WE CAN ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS TO SOMETHING ELSE.
BECAUSE IF WE GET, UH, THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED, AND I SEE A LOT OF CHILDREN HERE, BUT IF WE GET THE, THE BUSINESSES INVOLVED, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS, THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN WAS TALKING, WE GET THE BUSINESSES INVOLVED, WE GET THE SCHOOLS INVOLVED, IF WE GET THE CHURCHES INVOLVED, IF WE GET THE, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOODS
[00:25:01]
INVOLVED AND THE CITY'S ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS, I REALLY BELIEVE WE CAN GET TO A POINT THAT WE, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL MONEY, WE CAN MOVE THROUGH A MOVE TO A DIFFERENT, UH, DIRECTION AS FAR AS LITTER IN OUR CITY.SO I'M GONNA TALK, I'M GONNA SHARE MY COMMENTS WHEN WE HAVE BEST BOARD, BUT MY DESIRES TO A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND GET US FROM SHIFTING AND REACTING TO LITTER, TO GETTING US TO A PLACE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE IT THROWN DOWN ON THE GROUND IN THE VERY BEGINNING.
THAT, THAT'S A GREAT, UH, THE COMMUNITY IS DEFINITELY WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT, AND THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK WITHIN A YEAR, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW THINGS ARE GOING AND SEE A DYNAMIC SHIFT IN A LITTER WITHIN OUR CITY.
UH, THOSE APPEAR TO BE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO JUST WANNA POINT OUT, UM, YOU KNOW, HERE IN OUR CITY IN CEDAR HILL, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, UH, TXDOT HIGHWAYS, WE HAVE 1382, IT'S TXDOT PROPERTY.
WE HAVE BELTLINE, TXDOT PROPERTY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, PRIMARILY IN CONTROL OF THEIR PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, UH, JUST AS YOU PRESENTED, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DO, UH, ASSIST AND ALSO TAKE CARE OF THEIR RIGHT OF AWAY JUST AS MUCH AS WE DO OURS.
UH, SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR, FOR DOING THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, CEDAR HILL, OBVIOUSLY WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GO ANOTHER LEVEL.
UH, WE'RE SHOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU PROPOSING TO DO THAT.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANNA SHOW FOR THE RECORD THAT UM, A LOT OF THIS, UH, AREAS THAT WE ARE SPENDING OUR TIME AND RESOURCES ON IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY, OR THAT WE OWN.
UH, HOWEVER, UM, WE DO, UH, HAVE IT IN OUR MISSION FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A CLEAN CITY AND WE ACTUALLY ARE DOING IT TO CEDAR HILL WAY.
SO JUST WANNA MAKE THAT COMMENT.
[4. Briefing from the Beautification and Environmental Sustainability Board.]
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS BRIEFING FROM THE BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFICATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
SO I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH MOST OF YOU, BUT JUST TO QUICKLY REINTRODUCE MYSELF, I'M LAUREN FAUS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER AND STAFF LIAISON TO THE BEAUTIFICATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD, AND TONIGHT I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING OUR CHAIRPERSON FOR 20 24, 20 25 TO GIVE A LITTLE BRIEFING ON WHAT SOME OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN WORKING ON.
SO I'VE GOT OUR CHAIRPERSON, LA TAMBRA GIBSON, HERE TO PRESENT.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
UH, BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE FOR, UM, THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BEST BOARD TO STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
SO, UM, THE BEST BOARD BELIEVES IN THE VISION, THE MISSION, AND THE VALUES OF CEDAR HILL.
WE ARE PROUD TO UPHOLD THE VISION OF THE CITY, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO FLOURISHING IN A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.
BEST PROGRAMS EMBODY PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS.
AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO SHOW SERVING LEADERSHIP THAN TO PICK UP TRASH? PURSUING PREMIER BEST BOARD IS DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH FOUR OF THE EIGHT PREMIER IDENTITIES OF THE CITY.
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER, CLEAN, VIBRANT PARKS, TRAILS, AND NATURAL BEAUTY, AND AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY BEST BOARD, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE BEST IS KNOWN FOR ABATEMENT AND WE OWN THAT.
WE ARE BUILDING UPON OUR SUCCESSES AND EMBRACING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BEAUTIFICATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
OUR GOAL IS TO HELP RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND NEIGHBORHOODS UNDERSTAND THIS CONNECTION AND MOTIVATE THEM TO ACT, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN KEEPING CEDAR HILL BEAUTIFUL AND SUSTAINABLE.
BEAUTIFICATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.
WE CAN HAVE A VIBRANT CITY AND A SUSTAINABLE CITY.
BEAUTIFICATION WHAT CATCHES THE EYE? THE ART INSTALLATION, THE COMMUNITY GARDEN, ALL SUPPORTED BY LITTER ABATEMENT.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, MAINTAINING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, WATER CONSERVATION, ENERGY
[00:30:01]
EFFICIENCY, RECYCLING, AND AIR QUALITY.OKAY, HERE ARE SOME PICTURES THAT, UM, SHOW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE BOARD'S 2024 INITIATIVES.
THE BOARD IS INVOLVED IN PROGRAMMING THE FOSTERS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR 2025.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY WITH PROVIDING THEM WITH EVEN MORE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT EDUCATIONAL SERIES.
WE WILL OFFER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND INTERESTS TO HELP BUILD A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY.
WE WILL ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION BY REACHING OUT TO ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, ET CETERA, TO SOLICIT IDEAS, SKILLS, AND VOLUNTEERS.
WE FEEL IT IS IMPERATIVE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
WE ARE STRIVING FOR BROAD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE WANT TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED WITH A REGULAR PRESENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN THE HIGHLIGHTS NEWSLETTER.
WE ALSO WANNA SEEK FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO HEAR AND ACT UPON THOSE OPINIONS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY'S OPINIONS MATTER AND THEY CAN BE THE CATALYST FOR TANGIBLE CHANGE.
LITTER ABATEMENT, THE BEST BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS ALSO A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE COUNCIL.
AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY REACH OUT TO DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE CITY, LETTING THEM KNOW THERE IS A ROLE FOR EVERYONE.
WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING CEDAR HILL CLEAN.
WE WILL CONTINUE OUR TWICE A YEAR CITYWIDE CLEANUPS.
WE WILL IMPLEMENT A NEW CLEAN CEDAR HILL CAMPUS PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM WILL ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS TO PLEDGE TO BECOME A CLEAN CEDAR HILL CAMPUS AND CONDUCT CLEANUPS AROUND THE SCHOOLS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THE CEDAR HILL ISD ON THIS INITIATIVE, THE GREEN BUSINESS OF THE QUARTER.
WE WILL HIGHLIGHT BUSINESSES THAT MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THEIR EXTERIOR, INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPROVE THEIR RECYCLING EFFORTS.
ALSO, UNDER LETTER ABATEMENT, THE BOARD WILL CREATE A NEW PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND THE EXISTING ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD AWARDS CRITERIA TO TIE IN WITH LITTER ABATEMENT PROJECTS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE EARMARKED $1,500 FOR RECOGNITION AND INCENTIVES RELATED TO OUR NEW ABATEMENT PROGRAMS. NOW, WHEN I STARTED, I STATED THAT HISTORICALLY THE BOARD FOCUSED ON LITTER ABATEMENT.
AND IN 2025 WE WILL CONTINUE THAT FOCUS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT LITTER ABATEMENT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR A CLEAN PREMIER CITY.
BEFORE I YIELD THE FLOOR, I LIKE TO RECAP SOME BEST SUCCESSES.
NOW WE HAVE A LOT, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A TIME LIMIT, SO I'M ONLY GONNA GO OVER A FEW.
FOR CITYWIDE CLEANUP PROGRAM, WE HAVE SUSTAINED AN INCREASE IN VOLUNTEERS AND THE AMOUNT OF TRASH WE'VE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS OF CEDAR HILL.
WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND FOR BEING AN ARLO AIR NORTH TEXAS AMBASSADOR.
AND WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL WITH A GRANT, WHICH WILL FUND OUR ADDITIONAL CLOGGING STATION TO BE INSTALLED IN SPRING 2025.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PLUGGING STATION, IT'S A STATION THAT'S ALONG A TRAIL THAT ALLOWS YOU TO PICK UP LITTER AS YOU JOG OR WALK THE TRAIL.
AS OUR CITY MANAGER STATED, OUR SHRED EVENTS HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT WE HAVE EXPANDED FROM FOUR TO SIX.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S JUST A FEW OF OUR SUCCESSES.
I LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, UM, FOR THE PRESENTER, MS. MS. GIBSON? UM, YOU DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT ARBOR DAY.
ARE WE STILL GONNA BE DOING THAT THIS YEAR OR, I, I MEAN WE USED TO CALL IT ARBOR DAY.
IS IT, WHAT, WHAT DO WE CALL THAT? YES SIR.
WE SHOULD ALL BE CELEBRATING A DAY THIS YEAR.
TO HAVE A BEAUTIFICATION, UH, ALONG WITH SUPPORTING THE BEST BOARD AND A OKAY.
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID, UH, IN 2024, WE TIED IT IN WITH OUR CEDAR HILL BEAUTIFICATION AND ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION.
[00:35:01]
SPRING CLEANUP AND WE, UH, PARTNERED WITH PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION.NO, I THINK IT'S A, YOU KNOW, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED AS WELL.
SO, UH, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS WANTED LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINGS.
UH, I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION THAT YOU HAD, UH, MENTIONED THAT YOU ADDED ONE, UH, PLUGGING STATION.
SO HOW MANY DO WE HAVE AND WHERE ARE THEY? SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE ONE ALONG BA TRAIL, RIGHT.
UM, LOCATED AT THE DOGWOOD CANYON TRAIL HEAD THERE.
UM, THIS SECOND PLUGGING STATION, WHICH WE RECEIVED THE GRANT MONEY, UH, THE GRANT FUNDS FOR WILL BE LOCATED ALONG RED OAK.
SO WE HAVE TWO, SO THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND ONE.
SO THAT'S OUR, OUR WALKING TRAILS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
UM, NEXT WILL BE MAYOR TM SIMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
SO I, I REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, AND, UH, IT HIT ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.
I, ME, I, I NOTICED YOU MENTIONED, UH, BUSINESSES, WHICH, YOU KNOW, CEDAR HILL, WE GOT QUITE A FEW OF THEM.
AND, AND THAT'S A KEY PART OF IT.
AND, AND EDUCATING AND HAVING OUR BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING IN A VERY AGGRESSIVE LITTER ABATEMENT PROGRAM IS GONNA BE KEY.
AND, AND YOU'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE SCHOOLS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UH, WE'VE GOT A SCHOOL, A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER HERE AND, AND I HAPPEN TO KNOW A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER VERY WELL.
AND, UM, I WOULD, UH, I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO GET THE SCHOOL BOARD TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.
THE ONE THING THAT I DIDN'T SEE WAS CHURCHES.
AND WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CHURCHES THAT TAKE UP A DECENT FOOTPRINT IN OUR CITY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US, UM, THEM ALSO PLAY A ROLE IN IT.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THE BUSINESSES AND THE SCHOOLS, THE CHURCHES TAKE A, UM, HAVE CAMPUSES ALL OVER OUR CITY.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE, THE CHURCHES TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO EDUCATE THEIR PARISHIONERS, UM, AND THE WORSHIPERS AND HAVE THEM ALSO, UH, BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AREA AROUND THEIR CAMPUSES.
I THINK THAT'LL GO A LONG WAY.
UM, WE, WE WERE ALREADY INVOLVED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT'S A KEY POINT.
AND IF WE CAN GET THE BUSINESSES TO TAKE AN AGGRESSIVE ROLE, GET THE SCHOOLS TO TAKE AN AGGRESSIVE ROLE TO CLEAN UP THEIR AREAS AROUND THEIR CAMPUSES, THE CHURCHES, THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEN THE CITY WOULD ONLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC RIGHTS AWAY, I THINK WE CAN GO A LONG WAY.
AND FOR THE RECORD, I'M WILLING TO PARTICIPATE.
I WOULD, UH, IF THERE'S A FORMAL PRESENTATION THAT YOU GIVE TO ANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, LET ME KNOW AND I'D BE MORE THAN WILLING TO COME AND, UH, PARTICIPATE, UH, AND COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS TO, UH, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHEN PEOPLE COME IN HERE AND THEY SEE A CEDAR HILL, I THINK IT'S, MY PERSONAL OPINION'S, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE METROPLEX.
TECHNICALLY IT'S THE HIGHEST ELEVATION IN THE METROPLEX, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE, THEY JUST SAY, WOW, THIS CITY IS SO BEAUTIFUL, SO CLEAN.
UM, NEXT IS COUNCILLOR GLOVER.
UM, I'LL MAKE THIS VERY QUICK.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE MATURITY OF THE BEAUTIFICATION ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD FROM ITS ORIGINS TO WHERE IT IS NOW.
AND IT'S THE, I LOVE THE PLAN, I LOVE THE COLLABORATION WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND WITH OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND THE POTENTIAL FOR CHURCHES.
UM, JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
NO ONE LIKES LITTER, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WHEN WE SEE IT, IT MAKES US NOT FEEL GOOD ABOUT OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY.
SO JUST RAISING THE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PICKING UP AFTER OURSELVES OR EVEN PICKING UP AFTER SOMEONE ELSE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
ALSO, I WANT TO, UM, THANK THE BOARD FOR THE PROGRESSION.
JUST LIKE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER SAID, UM, I REMEMBER WHEN THE BOARD FIRST STARTED, UH, AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT THE, Y'ALL ARE CONTINUING TO BUILD AND Y'ALL ARE BUILDING WITH SOME GREAT MOMENTUM AND Y'ALL HAVE SOME GREAT IDEAS, UH, THE LEADERSHIP THAT Y'ALL HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, I REALLY WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE PRESENTATION AND I LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT THE BOARD IS DEFINITELY GOING AND I THINK THAT WE DEFINITELY WILL GET THE CITY CLEANED UP TO WHERE OUR CITIZENS DEFINITELY WILL APPRECIATE A LOT MORE.
AND COUNCIL HAYDEN, YOU HAVE TO PUSH YOUR MIC.
UH, I JUST HAD ONE OTHER I DIDN'T MENTION, I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING RELATIVE TO ADOPT A STREETS, THE ADOPT A STREETS PROGRAM.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THE BEST BOARD TRIES TO INITIATE OR STAFF INITIATES, BUT I THINK, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T REALIZE THAT.
[00:40:01]
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO PUT SIGNS OUT OR WE NEED TO DO SOME KIND OF COMMUNICATION TO DO THAT BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I WALK, DRIVE INTO MY, UM, SUBDIVISION AT KINGSWOOD, WE'VE GOT A GUY THAT'S ADOPTED, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE STREETS AROUND THERE.WHEN I GO DOWN TO MY OFFICE ON STRAUSS ROAD, THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT'S ADOPTED THAT STREET.
SO, UH, SO THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK THE MORE THAT WE PROMOTE THAT MAYBE THERE'LL BE SOME OTHERS THAT ARE REAL CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE LITTER ABATEMENT THAT WILL HAVE MORE OF THE STREETS, YOU KNOW, ADOPTED.
SO THE ADOPT A STREET PROGRAM, I THINK IS WHAT I WAS HOPING THAT WE KIND OF EXPAND ON.
AND WE, AND THAT PROGRAM IS STILL ACTIVE.
UM, AND WE ARE, WITH THE INCREASED OUTREACH THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO, WE ARE PLANNING TO KIND OF RELAUNCH THAT IN A WAY AND POST ABOUT THAT MORE, TO GET MORE OF THESE GROUPS INVOLVED.
BECAUSE THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, WE DO HAVE A BUNCH OF GROUPS THAT ADOPT DIFFERENT AREAS AROUND THE CITY AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO KIND OF GET THEIR NAME OUT THERE TOO, WHILE IMPROVING THE CITY.
IT SEEMS LIKE IF WE HAD SAY ONE PERSON THAT REALLY, REALLY WAS INVOLVED IN THAT, AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA BUILD THEM A, A, UH, UH, A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND HEY, WE'RE GONNA, SO IF WE GET SEVERAL IN INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INTERESTED THAT MUCH IN THE CLEAN THE CITY, MAYBE THEY CAN DO THEIR PART AND TRY TO CREATE SOME CREWS.
UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS TO YOU, MS. GIBSON, AND ALSO TO THE BEST BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR EFFORTS.
UM, WELL COUNSEL, BEFORE, BEFORE I ADJOURN, I, I SEE WE HAVE, UH, A LOT OF YOUNG SCHOLARS HERE.
DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE FOR THE SCHOLARS? I FIGURED, I FIGURED IT, IT WAS YOU, UH, YOU WANT TO, YOU WANT TO COME UP AND, AND TELL US JUST BRIEFLY WHY YOU HERE AND CAN I TELL YOU, COME BACK HERE.
WHAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY? EXCUSE ME.
MY APOLOGY, I ASKED, COULD I SAY IT BACK THERE? OH YEAH, OF COURSE.
YEAH, YOU CAN SAY IT BACK THERE.
NO, I'M, I'M, I'M TEASING, I'M TEASING.
WE ARE A, WE ARE A PREMIER PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL.
SO I HAVE STAFF AND A FEW FAMILIES.
THIS IS LIKE A 10TH OF OUR ENROLLMENT THAT ARE HERE.
BECAUSE IT WASN'T ANNOUNCED WAS IT, WAS IT ANNOUNCED THE RECOMMENDATION.
IS THAT, I THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY.
IT'S ON THE, IT'S ON THE CONSENT.
I WAS INFORMED THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE BY SIX.
IF IT'S THE NEXT SESSION, YES.
WE WILL HAVE YOU COME UP NEXT SESSION.
I'M GONNA LET THEM GO HOME AND DO HOMEWORK.
BUT WE WANTED TO AT LEAST SHOW YOU THAT WE APPRECIATE.
YEAH, I'LL TELL YOU, YOU ALL, I, I, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, UM, I MEAN, LOOKING AT OUR AGENDA, UM, WE CAN PROBABLY HAVE YOU TO BE THE FIRST THING.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH IN OUR AGENDA TONIGHT, SO YOU COULD BE OUTTA HERE BY SEVEN 15.
AND, AND, AND, AND THE REASON WHY, 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT ON THIS AGENDA, SO I CAN'T HAVE YOU SAY TOO MUCH, UH, BUT, UH, WE'LL ALLOW YOU, WE ALLOW YOU A LITTLE MIC TIME.
SO WITH THAT COUNSEL, THE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO ADJOURN.
OH, DO YOU NEED THE MIC FOR THAT? ALL RIGHT.
SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILOR MCCURDY.
DO HAVE A SECOND FOR COUNCILOR MALONE? UH, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND MOVES FORWARD.
WE'LL RECONVENE AT 7:00 PM THANK YOU, COUNSEL.