Aug 26, 2025 City Council Briefing Session

[1. Call the meeting to order.]

[00:00:04]

TODAY IS TUESDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2025.

THIS IS THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING FOR THE BRIEFING SESSION.

I DO HAVE A FULL QUORUM OF CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.

I WANT TO OFFICIALLY CALL THIS MEETING THE ORDER.

UH, IT IS 6:00 PM

[2. City Manager Reports: City Council Calendar/Upcoming Events City Operations, including the July 2025 Police and Fire Monthly Snapshots and the July 2025 Financial Report. Conduct a briefing to discuss items for the 7:00 p.m. regular meeting]

GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CITY MANAGER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

IS IT ON? OKAY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU CAN HEAR ME IF YOU SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER.

, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I THINK YOU'RE GOOD.

, UH, MICROPHONE.

IT'S A GREAT , MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IT'S A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE HONOR TO BE, UH, SERVING THIS.

SORRY.

ARE WE GOOD? OKAY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IT'S A PLEASURE AND HONOR TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.

UM, WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT, UH, TWO BRIEFINGS FOR YOU, BUT BEFORE THAT, I HAVE SOME UPDATES I WANT TO GO OVER WITH YOU.

UM, ONE OF THE, UH, LEGISLATIVE CHANGES IN THIS LAST TEXAS 89TH LEGISLATURE WAS THE POSTING OF PUBLIC MEETING AGENDAS.

AND I JUST WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT CHANGE.

NOW, WE WILL BE POSTING AGENDAS THREE BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL MEETING DATE, WHICH MEANS, AND YOU CAN'T INCLUDE THE ACTUAL AGENDA DATE.

SO FOR TUESDAY MEETINGS, WE WILL BE POSTING THOSE AGENDAS ON THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE.

SO FOR NEXT TUESDAY, IT'S ACTUALLY ALREADY POSTED.

OUR AMAZING CITY SECRETARY POSTED IT RIGHT BEFORE WE CAME DOWN HERE, BUT THOSE AGENDAS WILL BE SENT TO YOU BY BELINDA ON THE WEDNESDAY, BEFORE THE TUESDAY.

ALSO, WANNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE SENDING THE BRIEFING PRESENTATION WITH THAT EMAIL, AND BELINDA'S SENDING YOU THOSE DIRECTLY NOW.

AND SO, WHEREAS BEFORE I SENT THOSE TO YOU, UH, THE CITY SECRETARY IS NOW SENDING THOSE TO YOU, CORRECT? THANK YOU.

YES.

TO, TO CLARIFY, IS THAT FOR REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETINGS OR THAT'S EVEN FOR ANY, UH, QUORUM MEETING? THE LATTER.

SO ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS WILL BE, UH, POSTED THREE FULL BUSINESS DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THOSE MEETINGS.

AND SO YOU'LL GET THOSE AND, UM, IT'LL JUST, YOU'LL SEE THEM INSTEAD OF ON A FRIDAY, IT'LL COME IN ON THE WEDNESDAY.

SO, AND OF COURSE, WE'LL FOLLOW ALL PUBLIC POSTING LAWS HERE AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER THAT WE POSTED, UH, IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.

THE SAME GOES FOR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ALL MEETINGS OF THE PUBLIC NATURE, INCLUDING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

SO EVERYTHING, ALL POSTINGS WILL HAPPEN THREE FULL BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE.

AND SO, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT LAW CHANGE, BUT ALSO THAT WE'RE ABIDING BY IT.

AND, AND FOR IN EFFECT SEPTEMBER ONE, WHICH IS, UM, NEXT WEEK, MONDAY.

ONE MORE, ONE MORE QUESTION.

UH, THE APPOINTED OFFICIALS WHERE THEY HAVE TO POINT IN THE SAME SCHEDULE, LIKE BY PLANNING AND ZONING AND ALL OF OUR OTHER BOARDS? YES.

IT GOES FOR ALL OFFICIAL BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS, YES.

OKAY.

SO ALL DIRECTORS, ALL BOARD LIAISONS, COMMISSION LIAISONS ARE MADE AWARE OF THAT AND THE, THE POSTING REQUIREMENTS AND WILL ABIDE BY THAT.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ALRIGHT.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY, THE TEXAS LEG LEGISLATURE IS STILL IN SPECIAL SESSION, AND I JUST WANTED TO READ FOR THE RECORD, UH, CHANGE IN HOUSE BILL 10.

UM, IT'S, UH, SENATE BILL 10, MY APOLOGIES, WHICH WOULD LOWER THE REVENUE MULTIPLIER AND THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE CALCULATION AND ADDED TWO CRITICAL AMENDMENTS, UM, AS AMENDED BY THE TEXAS HOUSE.

SB 10 WOULD NOW DO THE FOLLOWING, LOWER THE REVENUE MULTIPLIER AND THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE CALCULATION FROM 3.5% TO 1% FOR ALL TEXAS CITIES, REGARDLESS OF POPULATION.

UH, FOR CITIES OVER 75,000 POPULATION IN WHICH THE PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENDITURES FROM THE PRECEDING TAX YEAR, ALLOW FOR A POSITIVE ADJUSTMENT TO THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE CALCULATION TO ACCOUNT FOR THE INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENDITURES.

NOW, TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE BELIEVES THAT THAT IS AN OVERSIGHT, AND THEY WILL INCLUDE THAT EXEMPTION FOR ALL CITIES, NOT JUST CITIES OVER 75,000, BUT AS IT'S CURRENTLY WRITTEN, IT ONLY GIVES THAT EXCEPTION OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIES OVER 75,000.

UM, IF THAT TAKES PLACE, IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2026.

UM, AND FOR MANY CITIES, INCLUDING CEDAR HILL, THIS WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON CITY REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES.

JUST AS A REMINDER,

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UM, THAT'S EQUATES TO ABOUT, I BELIEVE $32 MILLION AND $31 MILLION GOES TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENDITURES.

AT 65% OF OUR BUDGET GOES TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE AND FIRE, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFE.

AND SO THIS BILL, IF IT PASSES, WHICH IT'S ANTICIPATED TO PASS WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, UM, WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR BUDGETS GOING FORWARD.

AND SO STAY TUNED.

I'LL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE AND APPRISED ON THE, UH, ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SPECIAL SESSION.

UM, MOVING ON TO MORE, UH, POSITIVE THINGS, UH, IN YOUR PACKET.

UH, I WANT TO GO OVER THE COUNCIL CALENDAR, UM, WITH YOU, AND THEN WE'LL GO OVER THE ATTACHMENTS.

UM, IF, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE COUNCIL CALENDAR, THERE ARE A LOT OF RIBBON CUTTINGS, UM, GIVEN TO US BY THE CEDAR HILL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 28TH.

THEY'RE KIND OF COMPOUNDING SOME OF THESE ALL IN ONE DAY, SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO QUICK.

UH, STARTING AT 9:00 AM AT WATERFORD OAKS ELEMENTARY, THEN 9 45 AT COLLEGIATE PREP, AND THEN 10 30 AT PLUMMER.

THEY'RE DOING RIBBON CUTTINGS FOR ALL OF THEIR NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.

IF YOU REMEMBER FROM THEIR LAST BOND REFERENDUM, THE COMMUNITY, UM, FUNDED, UH, SEVERAL, UH, PLAY PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENTS.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM STARTING THURSDAY.

AND THEN ON THAT EVENING AT 4:00 PM TO 6:30 PM RSVP IS REQUIRED.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO CELEBRATE THE, UM, LATE CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY 67, UM, MAYOR I, YOU HAD ASKED ME TO FIND OUT WHERE THE, THAT EXTENDED FROM AND TO, AND I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, BUT IF I GET IT, I'LL GET IT OUT TO COUNCIL AS SOON AS I CAN.

BUT THAT CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF HER IS AT GILLEY'S IN, IN DALLAS, AND FROM FOUR TO 6:30 PM ON THURSDAY.

SO IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED OR YOU'D LIKE TO GO TO THAT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND, AND, AND BELINDA KNOW AND WE'LL GET YOU REGISTERED ON FRIDAY.

THIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 29TH IS OUR LAST BEST SOUTHWEST TGIF BREAKFAST HIGHLIGHTING CEDAR HILL.

UM, OF COURSE IT'S THE SAME LOCATION.

METHODIST CHARLTON MEDICAL SCHOOL MEDICAL CENTER AT 7:30 AM LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL THERE.

AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT, STARTING AT 9:00 AM AGAIN, WE HAVE ANOTHER THREE SERIES OF CEDAR HILL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND RIBBON CUTTINGS.

FIRST ONE IS AT LAKERIDGE AT NINE, AND THEN HIGH POINT ELEMENTARY AT 9 45.

AND THEN 10:30 AM IS AT HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY, JUST MENTIONING HIGHLANDS AND, AND MY UPDATE FROM LAST THURSDAY, WANNA CELEBRATE THE CEDAR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM TAKING HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY FROM A D RATED SCHOOL TO A B RATED SCHOOL.

AND THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT THEY DID IN ONE YEAR.

AND THE SUPERINTENDENT, DR.

GAMMEL, IS, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO ACHIEVING SIMILAR TYPE OF, UM, ENHANCEMENTS IN THE YEARS COMING FOR ALL SCHOOLS.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST IS LABOR DAY, AND SO CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED, AND THEN THE NEXT DAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, IS OUR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE FIVE PIS THAT WE HAVE.

UM, THOSE POSTINGS WERE POSTED TODAY.

AND IN THE AGENDA ITEMS ARE ALL, UH, THIS WAS BASED ON COUNCIL DIRECTION FROM LAST YEAR.

YOU ASKED US WHAT KIND OF CAPITAL PROJECTS IS EACH PI UNDERTAKING IN THAT NEXT, IN THAT FUTURE YEAR.

WE PUT THAT INCLUDED IN THAT IN EACH, UM, AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET.

AND SO FOR ANY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ON WHAT THEIR PI DOLLARS ARE GOING TOWARDS, THEY CAN GO TO THAT COVER SHEET AND ASK AND ASK THEIR PID BOARD DIRECTLY IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ON THAT BUDGET.

ON THE NEXT PAGE, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD IS OUR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT KICKOFF EVENT AT 6:00 PM AT THE GRADY LAND BUILDING.

IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, EVERY YEAR WE PROVIDE DINNER AND IT'S A PARTY.

WE REALLY, THEY LOVE IT WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL COME OUT AND REALLY, UM, JUST PARTY WITH THEM AND, AND, AND WE REALLY WORK TOWARDS GETTING RESIDENTS OUT OF THEIR HOUSES TO KEEP CEDAR HILL SAFE.

UH, CEDAR HILL IS A LEADER IN HOW WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVERY YEAR.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THAT THIS YEAR, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, WE HAVE THAT EVENING WAXAHATCHEE CIVIC CENTER, THE RSVP IS REQUIRED FOR THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE REGION 13 ANNUAL MEETING.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT, PLEASE LET US KNOW, UM, AND WE'LL GET YOU REGISTERED, UH, THAT EVENING.

ALSO, JUST WANNA MENTION, IT DOES CONFLICT WITH THE FIRST CLASS FOR THIS NEXT CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY FROM 6:45 PM TO NINE 15.

AND THEN ON SATURDAY IS OUR NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD WALK.

I'LL BE SENDING OUT THE MAP FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WALK IN MY UPDATE ON FRIDAY AT CEDAR CR CEDAR TRAILS.

YES, THIS IS, UH, CLARA MCGINNIS, MISS CEDAR HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THE MEETUP LOCATION IS AT WS PERIMETER MIDDLE SCHOOL AT 10:30 AM

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UH, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH IS OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

UH, THAT IS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT WE WILL HAVE ALL THE BUDGET, FINAL BUDGET ACTION ITEMS FOR THE BUDGET TAX RATE AND EVERYTHING ELSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUDGET.

AND THEN ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, RSVP IS ALSO REQUIRED FOR THE NOR TEXAS COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING IN THE, AT THE LOWE'S ARLINGTON HOTEL FROM 11 TO 1:00 PM THAT IS A BIG EVENT.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN GOING TO THAT ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

AND THEN THE LAST ITEM I'LL MENTION, UH, IS OUR SECOND MEETING IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING ON SEPTEMBER, UH, THE, THE THIRD TUESDAY.

SO OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE SEPTEMBER 23RD.

ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY ADDITIONS TO THE COUNCIL CALENDAR? ALRIGHT.

OKAY, SAME.

OKAY, AWESOME.

ALL RIGHT.

ALSO IN YOUR PACKET, UM, AND ONLINE IS THE POLICE AND FIRE MONTHLY SNAPSHOT AND THE FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH WE ARE REPORTING, OF COURSE, THIS IS ALL ONLINE, PUBLIC CAN SEE, UM, WHERE WE ARE ON OUR FINANCIALS, WE'RE AT 75% OF EXPENDITURES BY END OF JULY.

AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POSITION FOR, UM, US FOR END OF YEAR.

WE'RE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

THE OTHER THING I WANNA BRING TO COUNSEL'S ATTENTION IS ON THE POLICE MONTHLY SNAPSHOT REPORT, JUST SOMETHING I FOUND VERY INTERESTING THAT THE COUNCIL, IF YOU REMEMBER, AUTHORIZED THE CITIZENS ON PATROL.

I DON'T, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FIVE OR SIX MONTHS AGO, TO ISSUE DISABLED PARKING VIOLATIONS.

AND IN THIS MONTH OF JULY, THEY ISSUED 26.

AND WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT DOES IS SAVES, UH, NOTIFIES THOSE RESIDENTS OF THE VIOLATION, BUT IT ALSO HOPES TO TRY TO CURB THAT DOWN, BUT ALSO SAVES OUR POLICE OFFICERS FROM HAVING TO ISSUE THOSE VIOLATIONS.

SO THOSE ARE BEING DONE BY OUR CITIZENS ON PATROL.

THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING.

SO THAT PROGRAM IS WORKING VERY WELL.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE ATTACHMENTS? OKAY.

ALRIGHT, WE'LL GO OVER THE AGENDA REALLY QUICK SO I CAN GET TO THE, WE CAN GET TO THE FUN PART.

UM, THE TWO BRIEFING SESSIONS ARE THE FUN PART.

FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OPERATING UNDER THE 48 96 WORK SCHEDULE FOR SIX MONTHS NOW.

AND ACCORDING TO THE WORK PLAN, UH, THAT THE COUNCIL BLESSED FOR ALL OF US, UM, WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE YOU A SIX MONTH UPDATE TO LET YOU KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL IT'S BEEN.

AND IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD.

WE'RE REALLY OVERALL VERY HAPPY.

AND THE CITIZENS, YOU'LL SEE IN THIS PRESENTATION HOW, HOW THE CITIZENS HAVE BENEFITED.

AND THEN THE LAST, UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A PRESENTATION ON TOURISM AND DOWNTOWN PROGRAMS. AND AGAIN, THE COUNCIL, YOU ALL GAVE US DIRECTION TO, UM, YOU ADOPTED THE TOURISM PLAN, BUT YOU ALSO GAVE US DIRECTION TO, TO PROMOTE A DESTINATION ADVISORY BOARD.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR A YEAR NOW.

AND, UH, MICHELLE EBANKS IS THE DESTINATION MANAGER.

SHE'S GONNA GIVE AN UPDATE ON A SIX MONTH REPORT OF ACTIVITY.

BASICALLY, IT'S 12 MONTH REPORT OF ACTIVITY ON ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE TOURISM AND DESTINATION, UM, REALM.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

ONTO THE AGENDA, WE HAVE AN INVOCATION BY PASTOR MIGUEL PDA OF HIGH POINT IIA BALTISTA IN ESPANOL.

THE PRESENTATIONS FOR TONIGHT INCLUDE SEPTEMBER, 2025 AS CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN CEDAR HILL.

THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MCCURDY FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS.

UM, ITEM B IS A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATED THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL IS PURPLE HEART CITY.

THIS IS REALLY EXCITING.

UH, AGAIN, MICHELLE EBANKS, UH, HAS BEEN AN ADVOCATE AND, UH, HER VETERAN HERSELF FOR, UH, PROMOTING CEDAR HILL AND THE VETERANS IN THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO IN THE CITY.

AND THIS IS ANOTHER EFFORT ON HER PART, AND WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR LEADERSHIP IN THIS REALM.

PURPLE HEART CITY, A LOT OF, THERE'S FEW CITIES THAT HAVE THIS AND THEY PUT UP SIGNS, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PROMOTING CEDAR HILL AS PURPLE HEART CITY.

ITEM C IS A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION OF MISSION CEDAR HILL FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECTS COMPLETED IN THIS LAST JUNE, 2025, BIG PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, COUNSEL, YOU'VE GIVEN US VERY CLEAR DIRECTION FROM NOVEMBER OF 2024 TO, UH, BEGIN THE PROCESS OF, UH, OF CITY INITIATED ZONING CASE FOR, UH, THE PROPERTIES RIGHT BEHIND US HERE THAT ARE CURRENTLY ZONED LR, OLD TOWN CORRIDOR, OLD

[00:15:01]

UM, WE'VE ANSWERED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND IN FACT, THE COMMUNITY HAS REALLY AND TRULY SHAPED THE ZONING OF THIS AREA.

UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, I THINK I ATTACHED AN A, A, A QUESTION AND ANSWER SHEET TO ONE OF MY UPDATES ABOUT THE QUESTIONS AND HOW WE ADDRESS THOSE QUESTIONS IN THE PD.

UH, IN MY OPINION, WE'VE ADDRESSED, UM, 99% OF THE ISSUES AND JUST SOME OF THEM WERE DUE TO, IT DIDN'T ALIGN WITH THE COUNCIL'S VISION FOR THESE PROPERTIES.

AND SO, UH, ALMOST EVERY PROPERTY OWNER THAT WAS PRESENT AND EVEN DEVELOPER THAT, THAT WERE PRESENT, WE ADDRESSED ALL OF THEIR CONCERNS.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE PLANNING TEAM'S WORK AND ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO DRAFTING THIS PD.

SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT.

UM, DO WANNA REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT THIS AGENDA ITEM IS A TWO STEP PROCESS AND WE DID THAT DELIBERATELY TO ENSURE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

THIS IS CONDUCTING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, CONSIDERING THE APPLICATION OF THE ZONING REQUEST, THAT ORDINANCE WILL BE DRAFTED BETWEEN FINALIZED BETWEEN TODAY AND THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 9TH.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES, WE NEED THAT DIRECTION TO BE PART OF THE MOTION TONIGHT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT'S PART OF THE ORDINANCE ON SEPTEMBER 9TH.

ALRIGHT, MOVING ON.

UH, TO BUDGET AND TAX MATTERS, WE WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 25 26, AND THEN CONSIDER ORDINANCE NUMBER 25 8 63, WHICH SETS, WHICH SETS REVISED RATES FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES FOR 26 AND 27.

THIS WAS REVIEWED WITH COUNSEL BY OUR CONSULTANT IN THE WATER AND SEWER, CIP, AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT AN INCREASE TO THE THREE YEAR RATE ORDINANCE FOR 26 AND 27 BE DONE FROM 6.6 TO 10%, AND FROM 8.7% TO 10.3% FOR 2027 RESPECTIVELY.

SO, UM, AGAIN, OUR WATER AND SEWER FUND IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND, WHICH IS NOT FUNDED BY ANY OTHER TAXES, SALES TAX, PROPERTY TAXES, ALL FUNDED BY USER FEES.

AND SO WHAT IS RECOMMENDED HERE IS JUST TO COVER THE COST.

WE DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY OFF OF THE WATER AND SEWER FUND, IT'S JUST TO COVER THE COST OF PROVIDING THAT SERVICE.

CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES MINUTES.

UH, ITEM B IS AN ITEM TO EXECUTE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT, A THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH, UH, UH, THE, UH, CEDAR MISSION, CEDAR HILL, MY APOLOGIES.

NOW, WE'VE BEEN UNDER AGREEMENT WITH THEM FOR THEIR CURRENT AGREEMENT IS EXPIRE EXPIRING.

IT WAS A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT AND WE JUST WANNA RE-UP IT.

NO CHANGES TO THAT, UM, THAT AGREEMENT, UH, OTHER THAN, UH, AUTHORIZATION OF AUTHORIZING THEM TO UTILIZE, UH, RETIRED CITY VEHICLE, BUT NO OTHER CHANGES TO THAT AGREEMENT.

ITEM C IS TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH ROUTE WEAR PROVIDER OF THE RECOLLEC CUSTOMER SERVICE TOOL USED FOR WASTE SERVICE ALERTS AND NOTIFICATIONS.

THIS IS THE SERVICE ALERTS THAT YOU, I THINK YOU'RE ALL SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE FOR A WASTE MANAGEMENT TRASH SERVICE DAYS, BULK SERVICE DAYS.

IT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE, UH, A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE, UM, RECEIVING THESE ALERTS.

AND SO IT'S VERY, AND IT'S PAID FOR BY WASTE MANAGEMENT ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT.

SO WE PAY FOR THE CONTRACT AND THEN THEY REIMBURSE THIS UP TO $17,000 FOR THIS ITEM D IS TO AUTHORIZE AND MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH YELLOWSTONE LANDSCAPE FOR TREE TRIMMING, LANDSCAPING MOWER, LITTER AND DEBRIS REMOVAL, AND RELATED LANDSCAPE SERVICES.

OUR CURRENT CONTRACTOR IS NO LONGER IN, UM, DOING, UH, OUR MEDIAN AND RIGHT OF WAY, UM, LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE.

AND SO WE NEED TO HIRE YELLOWSTONE LANDSCAPING TO CONDUCT THOSE SERVICES.

THEY'RE WELL KNOWN.

THEY'VE DONE HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE BEFORE, WHEREAS OUR CURRENT CONTRACTOR, UM, HAS HAD SOME ISSUES.

ITEM E IS AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF OFFICE FURNITURE AND WORKSTATIONS FROM BUSINESS INTERIORS FOR AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 331,300.

THIS IS BUDGETED.

IT WAS IN THE CIP.

WE, UH, ISSUED FUNDS FOR, UM, THESE, UH, WORKSTATIONS.

THEY'RE 17 YEARS OLD AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED.

AND SO THAT'S UP FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

AND THEN ITEMS FGHI AND J ARE ALL ENROLLING THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL IN VARIOUS COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENTS.

AND A LOT OF CITIES DO CO-OP PURCHASING AGREEMENTS IN ORDER TO BE EFFICIENT IN SOME OF OUR PURCHASING ACTIVITIES AND ALLOWS US TO GO DIRECTLY THROUGH AND GET THE SAME COMPETITIVE PRICING AS OTHER CITIES DO.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR CHUCK AND THE FINANCE TEAM FOR GETTING US ENROLLED IN THESE CO-OP PURCHASING AGREEMENTS.

ITEM K IS TO EXECUTE A SECOND AMENDMENT WITH DALLAS COUNTY

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THIS IS SOMETHING WE DO EVERY YEAR.

WE'RE REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE EMERGENCY CONTROL SUPERVISOR, AND THAT'S WHAT, UH, WE'RE, UH, RE-UPPING THAT CONTRACT.

REGULAR AGENDA IS INCLUDES ONE ITEM WHICH AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH FRIESA NICHOLS, INCORPORATING THE AMOUNT OF $425,000 TO COMPLETE A DEVELOPMENT CODE REWRITE.

THIS IS ALSO, AGAIN, PART OF THE CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN AND WORK PLAN.

THE $425,000 WILL PAY FOR CONSULTANT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OVER 30 MONTHS.

AND THEN WE WILL COME, UH, IN THAT TIMEFRAME.

WE WILL HAVE TARGETED INPUT.

WE WILL HAVE WORKSHOPS WITH CITY COUNCIL.

WE'LL MAKE SURE WE'RE ALIGNED AT EVERY STAGE OF THE PROCESS.

AND, UM, IN, IN 30 MONTHS, WE WILL HAVE THAT AGENDA ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, WHICH WILL FINALIZE ALL OF THE CHANGES THROUGH THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE ASSOCIATED TO HAVE A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.

SO THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP, AND THAT IS ALL THE ITEMS ON YOUR COUNCIL AGENDA.

UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER ON ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA? ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ON CONSENT TO BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MADAM CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE THAT REPORT.

NEXT

[3. Presentation on the Cedar Hill Fire Department’s 48/96 work schedule. ]

GOOD EVENING, CHIEF.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MISS CITY MANAGER, MISS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, MRS. CITY SECRETARY.

I WANNA TEST THIS, MAKE SURE IT'S, WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

UH, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO BE UP HERE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, WE DID A BRIEFING FOR COUNCIL BACK IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR REGARDING 48 96 AND, AND THE PILOT PROGRAM, UH, THAT WE IMPLEMENTED JANUARY 12TH.

SO THIS IS AN UPDATE ON, ON THAT PROGRAM, AND, UH, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE AND I HAVE A TON OF GRATITUDE TO TO BE UP HERE TO, TO PRESENT, UH, JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.

UH, WE ENVISION THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL AS A PREMIER CITY THAT RETAINS ITS DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER WHERE FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES FLOURISH IN A SAFE AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.

UH, THE MISSION OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL IS TO DELIVER THE HIGHEST QUALITY MUNICIPAL SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS AND OUR CUSTOMERS, CONSISTENT WITH OUR VALUES, PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS, STEWARDSHIP, HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS, BEHAVIOR AND INTEGRITY, AND SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

AND, UH, OUR PREMIER STATEMENTS, UH, WE'RE FOLLOWING, UH, THE PREMIER STATEMENT OF CEDAR HILL IS SAFE.

SO FOLLOWING COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC PLAN, ACTION ITEM FIVE C.

UH, CONTINUE TO EVALUATE AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE TRENDS IN PUBLIC SAFETY SUCH AS 48 96, UH, DEPARTMENT STAFFING SCHEDULE.

UH, WE DID START THAT SCHEDULE IN JANUARY OF 2025.

IT'S GONE EXTREMELY WELL.

I'VE BROUGHT A COUPLE OF YOUNG MEN UP HERE WITH ME, UH, THAT'LL PROVIDE THEIR, THEIR TESTIMONIES ON, ON THE SCHEDULE HERE SHORTLY.

UH, UH, I I TOLD THEM THAT, UH, THAT I WAS GONNA SAY IT'S, UH, FUTURE FIRE CHIEF DARRELL WOLF AND FUTURE ASSISTANT CHIEF MIKE TERRY.

SO, UH, THEY DIDN'T THINK I WAS GONNA DO IT, BUT, BUT I, I, I TOLD 'EM I WAS SO, I DID.

UH, SO, SO EVERYTHING WE DO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, HAS TO DO WITH PROMINENT SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMER.

THE CITIZEN.

THE CITIZEN IS ALWAYS NUMBER ONE.

AND MY GUYS HEAR ME SAY IT OFTEN WHERE THE CITIZEN IS NUMBER ONE.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE ONE A, BUT THE CITIZEN IS, IS ALWAYS NUMBER ONE.

UH, FIREFIGHTER WELLNESS BEING LINKED TO OUR SERVICE, TO OUR CITIZEN, UH, COUNCIL INITIATIVE, UH, IS HAD THE INITIATIVE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WELLNESS AND, UH, WITH WELLNESS OF THE FIREFIGHTER, LINKED TO SERVICE TO THE CITIZEN.

UH, I OFFER YOU, UH, THE FOLLOWING BULLET POINTS, UH, WITH THIS SCHEDULE IS, HAS COME AN INCREASED REST AND RE AND RECOVERY, UH, FOR, FOR PERSONNEL, WHICH BRINGS A BETTER SERVICE TO THE CITIZEN.

50% OF WEEKENDS ARE NOW ABLE TO, UH, THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE NOW ABLE TO, TO SPEND AT HOME WITH FAMILIES, AND THAT PROVIDES A BETTER SERVICE TO THE CITIZEN.

THE FIREFIGHTER, UH, UH, COMING BACK, WELL RESTED AND AFTER HAVING 96 HOURS, I, I, I EVEN TO SAY THAT SOME OF THE WIVES MAY BE, UH, READY FOR THEIR, UH, LOVED ONES TO COME BACK TO WORK.

UH, I, I, I'M, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S THE CASE OR NOT, BUT I, I JUST, I VENTURE TO SAY, UH, AND PROMINENT SERVICE TO OUR, TO OUR CUSTOMER.

AGAIN, THE, THE CITIZEN RETENTION IS PART

[00:25:01]

UH, RETENTION IS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE CITIZEN SERVICE.

UH, OUR THREE LEGGED STOOL, AND I'VE, I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THIS, BUT OUR THREE LEGGED STOOL IS CULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND, AND COMPENSATION.

UH, WE'RE BUILDING A CULTURE OF, OF, UH, INCLUSION OF BEING, UH, EMBRACING TO OUR, TO OUR PERSONNEL, TO OUR, UH, NEW FIREFIGHTERS MORE, MORE IN PARTICULAR, DEVELOPING OUR PERSONNEL IN, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OF MAKING THEM MORE PROFESSIONAL IN THEIR SERVICE.

AND THEN, THANKS TO YOU ALL, UH, WE HAVE A COMPENSATION PLAN THAT, THAT IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AMONGST OUR, OUR SURVEY CITIES.

AND FOR THAT, WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.

UM, WITH, WITH THOSE, THOSE THREE LEGGED, WITH THAT THREE LEGGED STOOL, UH, CULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPENSATION, I'M HAPPY TO BE UP HERE.

AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, WE'RE, WE'RE FULLY STAFFED, WE'RE FULLY STAFFED WITH, WITH CEDAR HILL FIRE.

UH, WE SAW A LARGER POOL OF CANDIDATES, UH, REGARDING APPLICATIONS.

WE SAW A POOL OF CANDIDATES THAT WERE PRE-CERTIFIED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SEND OFF TO SCHOOL, THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO, UH, BITE THE BULLET ON THEM FOR, UH, A YEAR WHILE, WHILE WE GOT THEM FULLY TRAINED.

AND, UH, IT, IT'S GIVEN US A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AND, UH, THAT'S ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE A, A BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE.

BUT 48 96 IS ABSOLUTELY PART OF OUR, OUR CULTURE THAT IS, UH, ADDED TO THAT, THAT COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

UH, THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY, UH, GREAT MORALE BOOSTER, UH, IN EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION.

AND I'LL, I'LL SHOW YOU, UH, RESULTS OF A SURVEY HERE SHORTLY.

UM, BUT, BUT ONE OF THE, UH, ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE 48 96 SCHEDULE IS HAVING LESS SHIFT CHANGES.

UH, SO REDUCING THE NUMBER OF SHIFT CHANGES BY A THIRD HAS HELPED WITH OUR UNQUOTE ON-DUTY MODE.

SO, UH, THE GUYS DON'T HAVE TO SWAP OUT AND, AND RECHECK ALL THE TRUCKS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT WE'RE ALREADY STAFFING THE VEHICLES TO BEGIN WITH.

AND, UH, IT, IT'S RESULTING IN A BETTER ON-DUTY MODE, UH, AS FAR AS THE TRANSITION, AND THAT'S PROVIDED FOR, FOR BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE CITIZEN.

UH, LAST YEAR WHEN, WHEN I CAME UP HERE, WE STATED THAT WE ANTICIPATED NO COST INCREASE IN THE 48 96 SCHEDULE.

AND, AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S BEEN.

IT THERE, THERE HASN'T BEEN A COST INCREASE.

AND, AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOMETHING, UH, ON, ON THE CONTRARY TO THAT, UH, I, I WANNA PREFACE THIS NEXT STATEMENT WAS SOMETHING THAT, UH, UH, BY NO MEANS AM I, AM I SUGGESTING THAT MY PERSONNEL WERE EVER ABUSING THE SICK LEAVE SYSTEM? BUT, UH, I I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME STATS HERE IN A LITTLE BIT THAT, THAT, UH, THAT SHOW THAT THERE'S BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN, IN TIME OFF AND, AND, UH, THE FIREFIGHTERS TAKING TIME OFF.

UH, THIS HAS BEEN A POSITIVE, UH, POSITIVE SYSTEM FOR, FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND JANUARY 12TH, 2025 IS WHEN WE STARTED 48 96 ON AUGUST 14TH.

I, I RAN THE NUMBERS FOR 2025 AND COMPARED 'EM TO THE SAME TIMEFRAME IN 2024.

UH, THE RESULT WAS A 29% REDUCTION IN SICK LEAVE USAGE, UH, RESULTING IN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OF, OF SAVINGS.

UH, LIKE I SAID, I, I, I, I PREFACED THE STATEMENT WITH LETTING YOU KNOW THAT BY NO MEANS WAS I, UH, UH, GOING DOWN THE ROAD OF FIREFIGHTERS ABUSING SICK LEAVE.

BUT WHAT IT LED TO IS RECOVERY TIMES, UH, UH, ARE, HAVE IMPROVED AS FAR AS ILLNESSES FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

UH, THEY FIREFIGHTERS HAVEN'T HAD TO TAKE OFF AS OFTEN TO STAY HOME WITH FAMILY MEMBERS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ILL.

UH, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, UH, ARE, ARE EASIER FOR THEM TO, TO SCHEDULE ON, ON A 48 96 SCHEDULE.

AND, UH, AND, AND THIS HAS RESULTED IN OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN, IN SAVINGS.

THIS IS THE SURVEY CITIES FOR, UH, CITY OF CEDAR HILL.

AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR SURVEY CITIES, EXCEPT FOR THE CITY OF LANCASTER, HAS MOVED TO A 48 96 SCHEDULE.

UH, IT, IT'S BEEN A, IT'S BEEN A TREND THAT'S BEEN HIGHLY, UH, HIGHLY FOLLOWED AND, AND WE'RE GLAD TO BE, UH, AMONGST THE, THE TRENDSETTERS FOR, FOR OUR SURVEY CITIES.

UM, IN 2024, WHEN I, WHEN I CAME UP HERE INITIALLY, 93.55% OF MY PERSONNEL WANTED TO, UH, TRAVEL DOWN THE ROAD OF A 48 96 SCHEDULE.

UH, THAT THOSE WERE THE INITIAL NUMBERS.

IN JUNE OF 2025, AFTER A RESURVEY, 100% OF THEM WANT TO STAY ON THE 48 96

[00:30:01]

AND, AND IT'S, UH, UH, THE, THE NUMBER OF VOTERS WAS EXACTLY THE SAME IN 2024 AND 2025.

UH, SO, SO IT'S INCREASED BY ROUGHLY 7%.

AND, AND NOW EVERYBODY'S 100% ON BOARD, AS A MATTER OF FACT, UH, UH, THEY DON'T WANT TO GO BACK.

THEY, THEY DON'T WANNA, THEY DON'T WANT TO TREND BACK TO A 24 48 THAT THAT WOULD BE A, A NEGATIVE, UH, SATISFACTION.

THE SATISFACTION SURVEY, UH, ATTACHED TO, TO THE JUNE, UH, SURVEY, WE HAD OVER 80% OF OUR PERSONNEL SAY THEY WERE HIGHLY SATISFIED, UH, 12% ABOVE AVERAGE, AND THEN A SMALL 2% SAID AVERAGE, BUT NOBODY SAID IT WAS THEY WERE BELOW AVERAGE, SATISFIED OR NOT SATISFIED AT ALL.

UH, THIS RESULTED IN 97.92% AT HIGHLY SATISFIED OR ABOVE AVERAGE SATISFIED OF, OF THIS, OF THE SURVEY TAKERS.

UH, I, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP, UH, CAPTAIN DARRELL WOLF AND FIREFIGHTER MIKE TERRY.

UH, THEY HAVE SOME, UH, INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH, WITH MAYOR AND COUNCIL REGARDING HOW IT'S AFFECTED THEM PERSONALLY AND AND AFFECTED THEIR FAMILIES.

BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP, BRING 'EM UP TOGETHER, AND FIREFIGHTER, FIREFIGHTER TERRY WILL SPEAK FIRST.

GOOD EVENING.

I GOTTA TAKE ONE STEP AWAY, BUT I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

GO AHEAD, CONTINUE.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT, UH, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, UH, CITY ADMIN.

MY NAME'S MIKE TERRY.

UH, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS NOW, UM, ALMOST FIVE YEARS.

UH, AND I'VE WANTED TO FIRST JUST START OFF BY THANKING EACH ONE OF Y'ALL FOR THE, FOR Y'ALL LISTENING TO LIKE SOME OF OUR, OUR, WHAT WE WANTED WITH THE 4, 8, 9 6 SCHEDULE AND THE CHANGE BECAUSE, UH, IN ALL HONESTY, IT'S, IT IS TRULY IMPACTED MY LIFE DIRECTLY, AND I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPACTED MY ABILITY TO PERFORM MY JOB, UH, IN THE TOP OF STANDARD IN WHICH I WANT TO DO IT.

SO, UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT.

JUST TO START OFF, GET THAT OUTTA THE WAY.

UH, BUT, UH, JUST TO KIND OF GO INTO A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS AND INTO THE, INTO THE MEAT OF IT.

UH, UM, SO WE TALK ABOUT CONNECTIONS AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS IN, IN THE CITY, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE BUILD EVERYTHING ON.

AND, UH, THE 4, 8, 9 6 SCHEDULE FOR ME HAS ALLOWED MYSELF TO FEEL MUCH MORE CONNECTED TO THE CITY.

UH, I LIVE IN TYLER.

I GREW UP IN EAST TEXAS.

UH, SO THE OLD SCHEDULE AT 24, UH, 48, I ALWAYS FELT LIKE I WAS BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THERE AND HERE.

UH, SO IT WAS REALLY HARD TO KIND OF LIKE DIG MY HEELS IN, UH, AND FEEL LIKE A PART OF THE CITY AND THE AREA IN GENERAL.

SO THAT ALONE HAS MADE A BIG IMPACT ON HOW I PERFORM THE JOB AND THE PEOPLE AND HOW I, I VIEW OUR CLIENTELE HERE.

SO, UH, ONE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAD WAS, UH, MY CHURCH IN TYLER.

WE ACTUALLY, THE OPPORTUNITY CAME UP TO DO A MISSION TRIP IN DUNCANVILLE.

SO, AND THAT WAS A TWO DAY EVENT, AND TRADITIONALLY I WOULD HAVE TO KIND OF BOW OUTTA THAT, BUT WITH THE 48 96, I HAVE FOUR DAYS OFF, SO I GOT TO DO THAT.

IT WAS AT A PLACE CALLED GRACE PLACE.

UH, THEY, THEY HELP, UH, PEOPLE TRANSITIONING OUTTA PRISON, AND I TOOK MORE AWAY FROM THAT THAN I THINK I GAVE ANYBODY OVER THERE.

JUST GETTING TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE THAT I, THAT YOU KNOW, THAT I, I WORK WITH AND POTENTIALLY RUN CALLS ON.

SO, UH, THAT, THAT'S IMPACTED, UH, ME EVER SINCE THEN.

SO, AGAIN, KIND OF GOING BACK TO THE CHANGE IS I WOULDN'T HAVE GOT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY WITHOUT Y'ALL LISTENING TO US AND GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO DO IT.

SO, UH, SECOND, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ACTUAL, OUR STATION LIFE, WE ARE ABLE TO BE MUCH MORE PROACTIVE IN OUR TRAINING, UH, PLANS AND WORKOUT PLANS, AND OUR ABILITY TO BE READY TO RESPOND TO THOSE CALLS.

UH, WE'RE, IT, IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE 24 HOURS TO FIT EVERYTHING IN.

WE CAN MOVE INTO OUR HOME HERE IN CEDAR HILL, UH, WHICH THEN TRANSITION ME TO MY NEXT POINT OF, I GET TO MOVE INTO MY HOUSE WITH MY FAMILY.

AND I DIDN'T GROW UP WANTING TO BE A FIREFIGHTER.

I GREW UP WANTING TO BE A DAD AND A HUSBAND AND LEAD MY FAMILY.

AND THIS HAS ALLOWED ME TO DO THAT AT A HIGHER LEVEL, UH, GETTING TO BE THERE FOR MY WIFE AND MY KIDS MORE OFTEN, MORE, MORE QUALITY TIME BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S MOSTLY ABOUT BEING PRESENT WITH YOUR FAMILY.

UH, AND ON THE OLD SCHEDULE, I JUST, I WASN'T ALWAYS PRESENT HERE OR THERE.

I WAS KIND OF HALFWAY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE.

UH, AND THIS CHANGE HAS REALLY JUST ALLOWED ME TO, TO BE LET MY HEAD BE WHERE MY FEET ARE.

SO, THANK Y'ALL.

UH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME UP HERE AND TALK TO Y'ALL ABOUT IT.

AND, UH, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

GOOD JOB, BUD.

MY NAME'S DARREL WOLF.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, I'M THE CAPTAIN OUT AT FIRE STATION TWO 13 ON C

[00:35:01]

UM, I'VE HAD THE HONOR TO SERVE CEDAR HILL FOR 18 YEARS.

UM, THE 48 9 6 SCHEDULE HAS BEEN, UM, A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE, HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY WE SERVE OUR CITIZENS.

UM, IT ALLOWS US TO REPORT FOR DUTY RESTED, MENTALLY SHARP, AND PHYSICALLY PREPARED.

UM, WHEN WE ARRIVE READY, WE'RE ABLE TO PERFORM AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, NOT ONLY MEETING MY EXPECTATIONS AS A SUPERVISOR, BUT ALSO THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CITIZENS THAT WE SERVE.

UM, THE SCHEDULE, UM, HAS ALSO BEEN A BIG BOOST FOR MORALE.

MY, UM, MY CREW SHOWS, UM, SHOWS UP MOTIVATED AND REFRESHED, WHICH CARRIES OVER INTO HOW WE WORK TOGETHER AND HOW WE RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES.

A POSITIVE, ENERGIZED CREW, UM, MEANS, UH, BETTER TEAMWORK AND ULTIMATELY BETTER SERVICE FOR THE CITY.

AND ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, THE 48 96 HAS CHANGED MY LIFE, UM, HAS BEEN LIFE CHANGING FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

UM, IT GIVES ME THE TIME TO FULLY RECOVER AFTER A SHIFT, SPEND REAL QUALITY TIME WITH MY FAMILY, UM, MY WIFE AND KIDS WHEN I'M, UM, AT HOME, UM, WHETHER IT'S FAMILY ACTIVITIES, SPORTS, UM, HOME PROJECTS, OR JUST BEING PRESENT AT HOME, UM, I'M ABLE TO FILL MY CUP AND WHEN MY CUP IS FULL, I'M ABLE TO TO GIVE MORE BOTH TO THE CITY AND AND TO MY FAMILY.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, CITY HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION FOR ADVOCATING FOR THE 4, 8, 9, 6.

SO ON BEHALF OF ME, MY FAMILY AND MY CREW AND THE DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THE SCHEDULE CHANGE.

IT HAS IMPROVED OUR LIVES STRENGTH AND MORALE, AND ULTIMATELY ALLOWED US TO BETTER SERVE CEDAR HILL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

TWO, TWO MEN THAT I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF AND EXTREMELY PROUD TO HAVE AS, AS PART OF THE PART OF THE DE DEPARTMENT, UH, HAVE A TON OF RESPECT FOR BOTH DARRYL AND, AND MIKE.

AND, AND, UH, THEIR WORDS MEAN A LOT TO ME.

AND, AND, AND HOPEFULLY THEY CARRY THAT SAME MESSAGE TO, TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS MOVING FORWARD.

WE, WE BUILT THE SYSTEM.

WE BUILT OUR, OUR POLICIES AND PRACTICES, UH, ON THE 48 96 SCHEDULE.

UH, WE BUILT IN OVERTIME RULES AND, AND WE'VE MADE SOME MINOR TWEAKS AND ADJUSTMENTS ALONG THE WAY.

WE'VE HAD SOME LESSONS LEARNED ALONG THE WAY AND, AND, AND WE'VE MADE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AND, AND THINGS ARE GOING REALLY, REALLY WELL, UH, ADMINISTRATIVELY, UH, FOR OUR DAILY STAFFING.

THE BATTALION CHIEFS ARE IN CHARGE OF OUR DAILY STAFFING.

THEY, THEY HAVE NO MORE STRUGGLES FILLING POSITIONS, UH, A AHEAD OF TIME.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO FILL OUR SCHEDULE ANYTIME THERE'S VACANCIES AT LEAST FIVE DAYS AHEAD OF TIME.

AND, AND THERE'S NO MORE STRUGGLES WITH LAST MINUTE, UH, PEOPLE HAVING TO, TO BE HELD OVER ON, UH, UH, THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND WE DON'T HAVE THOSE STRUGGLES ANYMORE.

AND, AND FOR THAT, I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.

UH, OUR NEXT STEPS, UH, I'VE, UH, BEEN EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR, UH, FOR THE PARTNERSHIP AND FOR THE GUIDANCE THAT SHE'S GIVEN GIVEN ME.

AND, AND WE'VE MADE THE, THE SCHEDULE PERMANENT.

SO WE'RE NOW IN A PERMANENT 48 96 SCHEDULE, AND, AND I'M EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO, TO MELISSA FOR, FOR HELPING US, HELPING US GET THERE.

UH, IN THE FUTURE.

OUR CONTINUED ACTIVITY REPORTS WILL STILL CONTINUE TO COME.

UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY ON TOP OF, UH, THE TRENDS AND, AND MAKE SURE WE'RE TRENDING IN, IN A POSITIVE, UH, WAY.

JUST LIKE, LIKE WE HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS.

AND, AND SO I'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR OVERTIME AND SICK LEAVE, ET CETERA.

BUT I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE.

AND, AND BECAUSE WE'RE FULLY STAFFED, UH, I, I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE IN, IN A PLACE TO WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOME REALLY, REALLY, UH, GOOD THINGS MOVING FORWARD WITH STAFFING THAT WE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THE PAST.

UH, IN THE END, UH, WE, WE WANT TO CONFIRM PREMIER SERVICE TO, TO THE CUSTOMER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE MAINTAIN THOSE LEVELS ALL THE WAY ACROSS.

UM, BUT WITH THAT MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I, I'M OPEN TO QUESTIONS OR, OR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, PRESENTATION.

CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR THE, THE TESTIMONIAL.

UH, COUNSEL, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.

COUNCILMAN SIMS. THANK YOU.

UH, UM, SO I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION, AND YES, SIR, YOU ALREADY ANSWERED ONE OF MY QUESTIONS I I WAS GONNA ASK, AND THAT WAS IN RELATED TO HOW WAS THIS IMPACTING OVER TIME? SO WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, WHAT I'M PICKING UP FROM THIS IS IT WASN'T REVENUE, IT WASN'T REVENUE.

NIE WE'RE ACTUALLY LOWERING COSTS, AND

[00:40:01]

AND SO YOU'VE ACTUALLY REDUCED OUR OVERTIME COST AND THAT SIGNIFICANCE, SIR, APPRECIATE THAT.

I WANNA MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE THAT PATTERN, THAT THIS, THIS NEW CHANGE IN ESSENCE NOT ONLY BENEFITS THE, THE CITIZENS AS FAR AS BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT LOWERS THE COST TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.

THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

THE, THE CULTURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING, UH, THE SCHEDULE IS PART OF OUR CULTURE AND OUR CULTURES HAS ALLOWED US TO BECOME FULLY STAFFED.

SO, UH, THAT THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN, UH, COUNCILMAN SIMS AND, AND IT'LL BE PART OF THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD.

GREAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? UH, THIS IS GREAT, CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE UPDATE.

UH, IT FEELS GOOD TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME TRUE WORK LIFE BALANCE, UH, THAT IS TAKING PLACE.

AND ALSO THE, THE LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE IS AT A HIGH LEVEL.

SO I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE CHIEF, AND, UH, WE SUPPORT THE 48 96.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, COUNSEL.

[4. Presentation on Tourism and Downtown programs.]

SO, GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

I'M EXCITED TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON THE FIRST SIX MONTHS AS YOUR DESTINATION MANAGER.

'CAUSE I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN, UH, SIX MONTHS ALREADY.

AS YOU KNOW, WE START EVERYTHING IN CEDAR HILL, GROUNDED IN OUR VISION, MISSION, AND VALUES.

PEOPLE VALUES, LIKE PEOPLE IN RELATIONSHIPS, STEWARDSHIP, SERVANT LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY, AND THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS.

BACK IN NOVEMBER DURING CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC WORKSHOP, YOU CONFIRMED THE BIG ROCKS FOR US GUIDING OUR WORK WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT BEING THE NEWEST OF THOSE BIG PRIORITIES.

FROM THAT DISCUSSION, COUNCIL ADOPTED THE 25 30 STRATEGIC PLAN IN JANUARY, WHICH SETS THE TONE FOR WHERE CEDAR HILL IS HEADING AND OUTLINED SEVERAL KEY AREAS OF FOCUS, SPECIFICALLY FOR DOWNTOWN CEDAR HILL COUNCIL.

SET A CLEAR GOAL TO CREATE A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN THAT REFLECTS OUR CITY'S DISTINCT CHARACTER AND ATTRACTS A BROAD RANGE OF PATRONS FOR DOWNTOWN COUNCIL.

CALLED OUT THREE, THREE ACTION ITEMS, IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE TOURISM STRATEGIC PLAN TO ENHANCE DOWNTOWN, INVOLVE THE CEDAR HILL CHAMBER IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS OF DOWNTOWN, AND ENSURE THAT DOWNTOWN GROWTH INTO A VIBRANT DESTINATION THAT REFLECTS OUR DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER AND AGAIN, ATTRACTS BROAD RANGE OF PATRONS UNDER COMMUNICATION, THE PRIORITY IS TO ADVANCE THE ADOPTED BRANDING AND MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN CEDAR HILL'S PERCEPTION ACROSS THE REGION AND BEYOND.

TO ACHIEVE THIS, COUNCIL IDENTIFIED SEVERAL ACTION ITEMS, SUPPORT CEDAR HILL'S BRAND IDENTITY WITH CONSISTENT AND COORDINATED MESSAGING AND VISUALS ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS. CONTINUE THE DOWNTOWN MURAL MURAL PROGRAM AND CONTINUE COMMUNITY PRIDE PROGRAMS, AND ALSO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE TOURISM STRATEGIC PLAN.

AS PART OF THE 2024 WORK PLAN, COUNCIL DIRECTED THE APPOINTMENT OF THE DESTINATION ADVISORY BOARD AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRST YEAR RECOMMENDATIONS IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

SO TONIGHT, WE'LL HIGHLIGHT THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS IN THE DESTINATION STRATEGIC PLAN, SHOWING HOW IT REFLECTS COUNCIL'S VISION, ADVANCES OUR VALUES, AND POSITIONS.

DOWNTOWN SUTER HILL AS THE NATURAL HEART OF THE METROPLEX, THE DESTINATION ADVISORY BOARD HAS BEEN ACTIVE AND ON THE MOVE SINCE FEBRUARY.

PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS, REGIONAL EVENTS LIKE THE BEST SOUTHWEST LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST NEIGHBORHOOD, WALKS THE FARMER'S MARKETS, AND LOOKING AHEAD, THEY'LL BE SUPPORTING OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS AND HOSTING DOWNTOWN MANY EVENTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, HELPING BRING COUNCIL'S GOAL OF A VIBRANT, DISTINCT DOWNTOWN TO LIFE.

OUR CHAIR IS HERE TONIGHT SHOWING SU HER SUPPORT DEANDRE HERD.

ALONG WITH PATTY BUS HART, OUR OTHER BOARD MEMBER, ADVANCING COUNCIL'S PRIORITY OF LEVERAGING THE NATURE CORRIDOR BRAND.

IN JULY, WE LAUNCHED THE VISIT CEDAR HILL AND GREAT GREENWAY WEBSITE IN JUST ONE MONTH.

THE SITES HAVE RECEIVED OVER 1400 VISITS WITH FOOD AND DRINK AND THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE AS THE MOST POPULAR PAGES, SHOWING US WHAT VISITORS ARE MOST INTERESTED IN AND HELPING US GUIDE OUR MARKETING EFFORTS.

PART OF ADVANCING COUNCIL'S COMMUNICATION PRIORITY HAS BEEN INCREASING CEDAR HILL'S VISIBILITY ACROSS THE REGION.

SO FAR.

THIS YEAR, WE'VE BEEN FEATURED IN 13 ADS IN MAJOR PUBLICATIONS LIKE THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE MAGAZINE, TEXAS HIGHWAY MAGAZINE, TEXAS STATE AND TRAVEL, AND THE ANNUAL TEXAS STATE PARK GUIDE.

THAT'S A LOT OF TEXAS.

THESE PLACEMENTS ARE HELPING US RAISE AWARENESS OF CEDAR HILL AS A

[00:45:01]

PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF ADVANCING THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO SHARE UPDATES ON THE COMPLETE STREETS.

PHASE TWO SUPPORTED THE HEART OF THE HILL INITIATIVE AND TEAMED UP WITH EDC TO HOST FAM TOURS, BRINGING DECISION MAKERS TO CEDAR HILL TO SHOWCASE FIRSTHAND ALL THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

THESE EFFORTS HELP ENSURE OUR MESSAGING IS CONSISTENT, COORDINATED, AND HIGHLIGHT CEDAR HILL AS A PREMIER DESTINATION.

FOR 2025, WE PARTNERED WITH THE CEDAR HILL CHAMBER TO MOVE THE FARMER'S MARKET TO A CENTRAL DOWNTOWN LOCATION, AND THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE.

ADVANCED ATTENDANCE NOW AVERAGES 1500 PER MARKET WITH THE OPENING DAY DURING MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND, BRINGING IN 2,500 GUESTS.

THAT'S A 53% INCREASE FROM ITS PREVIOUS LOCATION.

THIS MOVE HAS CREATED A STEADY FOOT TRAFFIC FOR OUR HISTORIC DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS AND INCREASED VISIBILITY FOR OUR VENDORS DIRECTLY SUPPORTING COUNCIL'S PRIORITY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND HELPING DOWNTOWN AS A VIBRANT DESTINATION.

IN AUGUST, WE WELCOMED OVER 150 GUESTS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WHO THE WIZ, NOT INCLUDING THE 30 CAST MEMBERS AND PRODUCTION CREW.

MOST ATTENDEES WERE CEDAR HILL LOCALS WITH MANY WHO SHARED THAT THEY REALLY ENJOYED THE SHOW.

THIS EVENT HIGHLIGHTS THE STRONG DEMAND FOR ART PROGRAMMING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE IMPACTFUL, UH, RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ART GROUPS.

WE WERE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS MALONE AND INE IN ATTENDANCE, DEMONSTRATING COUNCIL'S ONGOING SUPPORT FOR THESE INITIATIVES AND THE ROLE OF ARTS IN ENHANCING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.