Sep 23, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting

OKAY,

[00:00:01]

[1. Call meeting to order.]

TODAY IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2025.

I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED, UH, COUNCIL MEETING.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM OF CITY COUNCIL.

I THINK WE HAVE A FULL QUORUM OF CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.

UH, THEY'LL BE, UH, JOINING US HERE MOMENTARILY.

UH, I WANNA OFFICIALLY CALL THIS MEETING AN ORDER.

I HAVE 7:05 PM UH, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORING ELECTED OFFICIALS, COUNCILWOMAN DEBORAH NORTH, IS JOINING US FROM DESOTO.

HELLO THERE, COUNCILWOMAN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

UM, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION, UM, FROM, UH, MR. BRIAN K. BENJAMIN WITH, UH, THANKS THANKSGIVING TABERNACLE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP.

AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHO DID THE PLEDGE LAST TIME.

I DID.

YOU DID, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIMS YOU MIND MEETING US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE STAND AND, UH, JOIN US IN THE INVOCATION, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

AND FATHER, AS WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE BODY OF LEADERS THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED THIS CITY WITH, AND ASK THAT YOUR PRESENCE OF GRACE AND WISDOM WOULD CONTINUE TO RESIDE ABOUT THIS BODY AS THEY ENGAGE THIS VITAL WORK OF CARRYING THIS MOST BLESSED OF CITIES INTO THE FUTURE.

AND WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR EACH OF THEM, LORD, AND FOR THIS GREAT CITY THAT YOU'VE BLESSED US WITH.

IT'S IN THE NAME OF CHRIST THAT WE PRAY.

AMEN.

AMEN.

SO WE'LL PLEDGE TO THE US FLAG, FOLLOWED BY THE TEXAS FLAG, IP PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FRAUD, TEXAS.

FLAG.

HONOR, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD.

ONE INDIVISIBLE.

THANK YOU.

YOU ALL MAY BE SEATED.

NEXT WE'LL HAVE, UM, NEXT

[a. Badge pinning and administering Oaths of Office to newly hired and promoted fire personnel. ]

THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY CHIEF RE.

GOOD EVENING, CHIEF EVENING.

YOU GOT A BIG SMILE ON YOUR FACE TODAY.

I ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE A SMILE ON MY FACE, MAYOR.

BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE ONCE MORE BE UP HERE AND, UH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO, UH, LAST TIME I TOLD YOU THIS IS ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS THAT I GET TO DO AS A FIRE CHIEF.

AND, AND, AND, UH, I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN.

THIS IS ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS THAT, THAT I GET TO DO, DO.

AND, AND, AND, UH, I LOVE BRINGING UP OUR PEOPLE THAT WILL BE OUR FUTURE LEADERS AND, UH, INTRODUCING THEM TO, TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGERS AND, AND, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A HAPPY DAY FOR US.

UH, BUT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP, UH, THATCHER RIDDLE, KYLE GARCIA, AND, AND TIGER GLASS AT THIS TIME.

SO, SO I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, ABOUT THESE, UH, FINE YOUNG MEN.

SO, THATCHER COMES TO US, UH, AS A ALREADY SEASONED FIREFIGHTER.

UH, THATCHER DISCOVERED THAT HE WANTED THE GREATEST JOB IN THE WORLD, UH, AFTER STARTING HIS OWN BUSINESS AND WORKING AS A FITNESS COORDINATOR.

AND, AND HE REALIZED I NEED TO BE A FIREFIGHTER.

AND, AND WE'RE GLAD THAT THATCHER, UH, SET DOWN THAT, THAT ROAD BECAUSE NOW HE'S AMONGST US AND, AND, UH, WE LOVE HAVING THATCHER AMONGST US.

UH, TYLER GLASS IS BEING PROMOTED, A MEDICAL OPERATIONS TECHNICIAN.

UH, TYLER'S BEEN WITH US GOING ON ON FIVE YEARS AND, AND WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF, OF THE WORK THAT, THAT TYLER'S DOING AND, AND THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE AND THE WORK THAT HE'S GONNA DO IN THE FUTURE.

AND THEN LASTLY, UH, BUT NOT LEAST, KYLE GARCIA.

SO, KYLE COMES TO US, UH, NOT ONLY FROM, UH, ROCKWALL COUNTY EMS, BUT FROM THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.

UH, KYLE DID NINE YEARS IN THE MARINE CORPS AND, AND WE'RE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR HIS SERVICE, AND, AND WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE HIM AMONG AMONGST US.

UH, SO, SO, UH, I'D LIKE TO ALSO BRING UP, UH, TYLER'S DAD.

TYLER'S DAD WILL BE PINNING HIS BADGE ON HIM.

MR. GLASS, IF WE COULD JUST GET YOU TO STAND BY WITH US.

OKAY.

I'M GONNA ADMINISTER THEIR OATH, AND AFTER I ADMINISTER THE OATH, WE'LL GET YOU TO PIN TYLER'S BADGE ON HIM AND, UH, WE'LL ALLOW THE FAMILY TO COME UP AND WE'LL TAKE SOME PICTURES AND, UH, GO ON AND CELEBRATE.

SOUND FAIR? OKAY.

RECORDING

[00:05:01]

PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR SWEAR THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE CEDAR HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE OFFICE OF THE CEDAR HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT.

FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND MOVE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFENDANT, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFENDANT CONSTITUTION LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION, AND OF THE UNITED STATES OF THIS STATE.

SO, OKAY, LET'S SCOOT THIS WAY.

NO ONE BEHIND.

OKAY.

3, 2, 1.

AND IF YOU COULD HOLD, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO INTRODUCE THESE FINE, UH, YOUNG MEN AND FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME FOR JUST ONE MORE SECOND, UH, THERE'S SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE ROOM THAT I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE.

UM, THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS OFF AT FIRE ACADEMY WHEN HIS CREW, UM, IF YOU REMEMBER BACK, WE WERE GIVING OUT SOME UNIT CITATIONS AND AWARDS A FEW MONTHS AGO.

HE WAS UP IN FIRE ACADEMY AND WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND.

SO I'D LIKE TO ASK, UH, JACK EICHELBERGER TO COME ON DOWN.

ALL RIGHT.

JACK CAME TO US, UH, IS ALREADY SWORN IN, OF COURSE, AS A, UM, PARAMEDIC, UH, WHO WENT TO FIRE ACADEMY.

AND WHILE HE WAS THERE, HIS, UH, CREW EARNED A UNIT CITATION AND HE WAS PART OF THE MEDIC CREW THAT HELPED WITH THE ROLLOVER, UH, ACCIDENT OF A, UH, HEAVY VEHICLE.

YES, SIR.

YOU REMEMBER THAT ACCIDENT? I DO.

UM, HIS CREW WAS, UH, PARAMOUNT IN THAT AND, AND AS WELL AS HIM BEING ON THE AMBULANCE, UH, TAKING CARE OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY, UH, THEY TOOK TO THE HOSPITAL.

SO JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HIM TONIGHT WHILE WE HAD EVERYBODY HERE.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BEING PROMOTED UP, UM, WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT.

NEXT

[b. Present a Proclamation designating the week of October 5–11, 2025 as Fire Prevention Week in Cedar Hill.]

THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY MAYOR PRO TIMM GLOVER AND, UH, TO THE FIRE MARSHAL.

THERE HE IS.

THANK YOU.

AND IN KEEPING IN LINE WITH CELEBRATING FIRE PREVENTION, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FROM THE MAYOR, FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR.

AND THIS, IT READS AS SUCH, WHEREAS THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL THOSE LIVING IN CEDAR HILL AND VISITING.

AND WHEREAS FIRE REMAINS A SERIOUS PUBLIC CONCERN BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

AND THE PRESENCE OF LITHIUM ION BATTERIES AND MANY HOUSEHOLD DEVICES INTRODUCES UNIQUE FIRE RISKS.

AND WHEREAS MOST OF THE ELECTRONICS USED IN HOMES DAILY, INCLUDING INCLUDING SMARTPHONES, TABLETS, LAPTOPS, POWER TOOLS, E-BIKES, SCOTERS, AND TOYS ARE ALL POWERED BY LITHIUM ION BATTERIES, WHICH IF MISUSED, DAMAGED OR IMPROPERLY CHARGED, CAN OVERHEAT STAR THE FIRE OR EXPLODE.

AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION,

[00:10:02]

AND WHEREAS RESIDENTS SHOULD FOLLOW THREE KEY CALLS TO ACTION.

FIRST BY ONLY LISTED PRODUCTS, TWO, CHARGE BATTERIES SAFELY AND THREE, RECYCLE THEM RESPONSIBLY TO PREVENT BATTERY RELATED FIRES.

AND WHEREAS LITHIUM ION BATTERIES STORE A LARGE AMOUNT OF ENERGY IN THE SMALL SPACE AND IMPROPER USE, SUCH AS OVERCHARGING, USING OFF-BRAND CHARGERS WITHOUT SAFETY CERTIFICATION OR EXPOSING BATTERIES TO DAMAGE CAN RESULT IN FIRE OR EXPLOSION.

AND WHEREAS A PROPER DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING OF LITHIUM ION BATTERIES HELP PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS REDUCE FIRE RISK IN THE HOME AND THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS CEDAR HILL FIRST RESPONDERS ARE DEDICATED TO REDUCING THE OCCURRENCE OF FIRES THROUGH PREVENTION, SAFETY, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

AND WHEREAS THE 2025 FIRE PREVENTION WEEK THEME IS CHARGE INTO FIRE SAFETY, LITHIUM ION BATTERIES IN YOUR HOME SERVES TO REMIND US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF USING, OF USING CHARGING AND RECYCLING LITHIUM ION BATTERIES SAFELY TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRES IN HOMES AND COMMUNITIES.

NOW THEREFORE, I STEPHEN MASON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 5TH THROUGH THE 11TH 2025 AS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK IN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS AND 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 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025.

AND IT'S SIGNED BY OUR MAYOR STEVEN MASON.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UH, MR. MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL, UH, ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING FIRE PREVENTION WEEK KEEPING CEDAR HILL SAFE.

AND THE THEME THIS YEAR IS CHARGE INTO FIRE SAFETY.

SO EVERY DEVICE THAT YOU PLUG IN AND CHARGE IS, IT HAS A RECHARGEABLE BATTERY.

SO WHENEVER YOU FEEL THAT YOUR CELL PHONE OR YOUR ONE OF YOUR POWER TOOLS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS FEELING A LITTLE OVERHEATED, IT'S TIME TO UNPLUG IT WHEN IT SAYS 100%, TAKE IT OUT OF THE, UH, CHARGER.

AND, UH, WE DON'T WANT TO OVERCHARGE THINGS.

NEVER CHARGE YOUR PHONE ON THE BED, NEVER CHARGE IT WHERE IT'S CLOSE TO A COMBUSTIBLE WHERE IT CAN OVERHEAT AND CATCH ON FIRE.

SO, UM, TODAY I BROUGHT SOME, UH, MATERIALS FOR THE COUNCIL AS WELL, UH, TO HELP YOU REMEMBER CHIEF REYES AND, UH, CHIEF, UH, O'NEILL AND HARRISON TO HELP ME HAND THAT STUFF OUT.

WE JUST WANTED TO BRING YOU BRING THE COUNCIL SOME SWAG BAGS, WE'VE GOT SOME INFORMATION IN THERE.

AND DURING FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, UM, WE WILL BE AT THE LIBRARY OCTOBER 7TH FROM SIX TO EIGHT.

WE'LL BE AT THE SENIOR CENTER FROM 10 TO ONE ON OCTOBER THE EIGHTH AND OCTOBER 9TH, WE'LL BE AT THE ALLEN E SIMS REC CENTER HANDING OUT, UH, FIRE PREVENTION MATERIALS LIKE THIS.

SO ENJOY YOUR SWAG BAGS.

I'VE ALSO INCLUDED A FIRE TRUCK STRESS TOO.

SO WHENEVER YOU ARE HAVING A STRESSFUL DAY, YOU CAN SQUEEZE YOUR FIRETRUCK AND TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE TENSION.

BUT THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THE PROCLAMATION AND HELPING KEEPING CEDAR HILL SAFE.

ALRIGHT, THE TIME CHANGE, PLEASE.

OH YES.

AND ALSO, UH, TIME CHANGE IS COMING UP.

THERE'S A SAYING CHANGE YOUR BATTERY, CHANGE YOUR CLOCK, CHANGE YOUR BATTERY ALSO.

AND ALSO, ONE THING I FORGOT TO MENTION, UH, EVERYBODY'S GONNA ASK, WELL, WHAT DO WE RECYCLE THOSE BATTERIES? RIGHT? SO THERE IS A WEBSITE THAT'S CALLED, UM, CALL TO RECYCLE.ORG AND YOU'LL FIND THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBPAGE AS WELL.

ALRIGHT.

BUT THANKS AGAIN.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

FIRE MARSHALL.

WHILE THEY'RE TAKING, UM, PICTURES, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A A MOMENT TO, UH, TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND.

UM, TCU PLAYED SMU AND TCU BEAT, SMU.

SO COUNCILMAN MCCURDY, HE OF COURSE WENT TO SMU AND HIS MIC DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING RIGHT NOW, SO I GOT BRAGGING RIGHTS.

UH, TCU HAS THIS SKILLET FOREVER 'CAUSE TC U'S NOT GONNA PLAY SMU AGAIN.

UM, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANNA SAY? MCCURDY, YOUR MIC DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING.

SO, UM, ANYWAY, MOVING ON TO THE AGENDA.

I DIGRESS.

UH, ITEM

[c. Present a Proclamation designating September 28, 2025, as National Good Neighbor Day in Cedar Hill.]

[00:15:02]

THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIMS. THANK YOU MAYOR.

I WAIT FOR THE NEIGHBOR TEAM TO COME UP.

ALRIGHT.

BRAGGING ME.

I'M SORRY, , YOU WANT US TO COME? YES.

OKAY, HERE WE ARE.

I SHOWERED PROCLAMATION OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, WHEREAS NATIONAL GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 1978 TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF STRONG, SUPPORTED AND CARING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG NEIGHBORS.

AND WHEREAS A GOOD NEIGHBOR IS SOMEONE WHOSE ACTS OF KINDNESS, RESPECT, AND COOPERATION ENHANCE THE WELLBEING, SAFETY, AND UNITY OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS THE VALUES OF MUTUAL RESPECT, NEIGHBORLY EXISTENCE, ACTIVELY COMMUNITY, ACTIVE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT FORMED THE CORNERSTONE OF A STRONG, VIBRANT AND RESILIENT SOCIETY.

AND WHEREAS IN 2003, THE UNITED STATES SENATE OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED SEPTEMBER 28TH AS NATIONAL GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY, A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND STRENGTHEN.

AND WHEREAS GOOD NATIONAL GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE SPIRIT OF NEIGHBORLY KINDNESS THAT ENRICHES THE LIVES OF ALL WHO CALLS CEDAR HILL HOME.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, STEPHEN MESER MAYOR OF CEDAR HILL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER THE 28TH.

2025 IS NATIONAL GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY IN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS.

FURTHER, I ASK CITIZENS TO USE THE DAY TO ENCOURAGE NEIGHBORS, TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER BETTER AND TO CELEBRATE FRIENDSHIPS AND THE WORK WE DO EVERY DAY TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

AND WITNESS WHEREOF I HEARING TO SET MY HAND AND HAVE CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED THIS 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025.

STEPHEN MASON MAYOR, EXCUSE ME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR MASON AND COUNCILMAN SIMS ON BEHALF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY BOARD, WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO INVITE YOU THIS COMING SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH, 9:00 AM AT THE TINE HICKMAN LIBRARY.

WE WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR SIXTH ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT.

THAT IS A TIME FOR YOU TO COME OUT AND LISTEN TO SOME GREAT GUEST SPEAKERS, OF COURSE, GETTING TO KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS IN, IN HONOR OF PRE NEIGHBORHOOD DAY, AND THEN AS WELL AS ALSO LEARNING WHO HAS WON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AWARDS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON SATURDAY MORNING.

OKAY, THANKS.

AND WE'RE GONNA ONE MORE GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS APPRECIATION.

AND TO ALL OF YOU, MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT CEDAR HILL TEXAS.COM/GOOD NEIGHBORS FOR TIPS ON BECOMING OR CONTINUING TO BE A GREAT NEIGHBOR.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

UH, TIA, WHILE I HAVE YOU, UM, PROTE, UM, I'M OFFICIALLY A SOCCER DAD, SO ON SATURDAY MY KIDS PLAY, UH, SOCCER, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME THEY PLAY, BUT, UH, TIA ASKED ME TO AT LEAST DO THE WELCOMING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT.

SO I HAVEN'T, I HAVEN'T CONFIRMED MY SCHEDULE YET FOR SATURDAY MORNING, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST BE ON STANDBY, MAYBE YOU COULD COME AND DO IT FOR ME.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE NEXT DAY, I JUST GOTTA TAKE TIME OUT TO LOOK AT THE CALENDAR, BUT OKAY, THANKS.

YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU.

THANK, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.

ALL

[d. Present a Proclamation designating October 6–10, 2025, as Customer Service Week, recognizing the contributions of the Utility Services Department.]

UM, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A, UH, ANOTHER PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING OCTOBER 6TH THROUGH THE 10TH 2025 AS CUSTOMER SERVICE WEEK, RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE UTILITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY COUNCILMAN MCCURDY, .

SO AS WE BEGIN THIS, UH, PROCLAMATION ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WOULD BE

[00:20:01]

SO, UM, NOW LET, LET ME, UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UH, UH, RECOGNIZE OUR, OUR, OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE GROUP IN THE, IN ESPECIALLY IN THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT.

UM, WHEREAS CUSTOMER SERVICE WEEK IS AN INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION THAT CALLS ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE IT.

PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH ISSUED THE FIRST PROCLAMATION IN 1992, OBSERVING THE FIRST WEEK IN OCTOBER AS NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE WEEK.

AND WHEREAS NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE WEEK IS SET ASIDE TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE AND HONOR THOSE WHO DEMONSTRATE OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CONSISTENTLY PERFORM THEIR THEIR DUTIES WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE PROVIDED.

AND WHEREAS EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUIRES AN INCLUSIVE CULTURE WHERE DIVERSITY IS VALUED, ALL CUSTOMERS ARE WELCOMED AND EQUITABLE, ACCESS TO SERVICES IS PROVIDED TO ALL.

AND WHEREAS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS CRITICAL FOR CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH SERVICES, BUILDING TRUST, WITH RESIDENTS, ADDRESSING UNIQUE CHALLENGES, AND CREATING POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WITH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL BELIEVES THAT MUTUAL RESPECT, INTEGRITY, EMPATHY, AND INITIATIVE ARE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT CO POSITIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECOGNIZES THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERYONE AT ALL LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION.

AND WHEREAS BY RECOGNIZING NATIONAL CUSTOMERS SERVICE WEEK, WE CAN PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE AN EVEN STRONGER COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE THROUGH MOTIVATION AND TEAMWORK, AND CONTINUE OUR COMMITMENT TO PREMIER CUSTOMER SERVICE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I STEVEN MASON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, PROCLAIM AUGUST 6TH THROUGH 10TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE WEEK IN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL.

A WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HEARING TO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE SALE OF THE CEDAR HILL, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED AS 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025, SIGNED TO MAYOR STEVEN MASON.

YEAH, YOU WANNA TAKE A PICTURE FIRST? OKAY, WE'LL TAKE, WE'LL TAKE PICTURES AND THEN, AND THEN YOU CAN SAY SOMETHING.

OKAY.

I HAVE TO SAY IT, BUT NO ONE BEYOND THIS POINT.

'CAUSE I CAN'T SEE YOU IN THE CAMERA.

OH, OKAY.

SO WE GOTTA, GOTTA SCOOT OVER JUST A LITTLE BIT.

PERFECT.

OKAY.

3, 2, 1.

AND IF YOU COULD HOLD, SCOOT IN.

LUCKY LIKE EACH OTHER.

CLOSE ENOUGH.

3, 2, 1 CAN GO LIKE THIS.

PERFECT.

I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR COUNSEL FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND OUR AMAZING CITY MANAGER.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY TEAM FOR YOUR HARD WORK FOR SHOWING UP EVERY DAY AND SERVING THE CITIZENS.

AND THANK YOU FOR THIS.

IT'S AN HONOR.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

YOU INTERFACE WITH CITIZENS EVERY SINGLE DAY, UH, SO WE APPRECIATE, UM, YOU BEING THE FACE OF THE CITY AND, AND DOING YOUR JOB.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

[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 CITIZENS TO COME AND, AND SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL.

UM, WE DO HAVE ONE ONLINE COMMENT.

UM, I'M NOT SURE IF, UM, THIS IS JUST SUBMISSION OR IF YOU WANTED TO COME UP AND SPEAK.

DID YOU WANNA COME UP AND SPEAK? OH, PLEASE COME ON UP.

ALRIGHT.

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

AND, UH, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND WE DO HAVE YOUR FORM HERE, BY THE WAY.

SO, YEAH, I SUBMITTED EVERYTHING ONLINE, SO, UM, I WON'T REPEAT ALL THAT.

I'M ROGER WELCH, UH, 26 40 WELLS COURT.

UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

UM, BOTTOM LINE IS I WANT TO THANK YOU.

UH, I'M NOT SURE WHO ALL WAS INVOLVED.

I HAVE A FEELING OF WHO SPEARHEADED THE CLEANLINESS EFFORTS IN THE, IN THE CITY, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT, UH, COMPARED TO TWO YEARS AGO, DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE OPPOR UH, TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO CONTRACT WITH, UH, YELLOWSTONE.

IT'S ALREADY MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

PEOPLE ARE NOTICING IT'S OUR POSITION THAT, UM, EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY DOES TO IMPROVE ITSELF, ITS DEVELOPMENT, UM, PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING, UM, MUST BE DONE ON THE BASIS OF A CLEANY, UH, CLEAN CITY.

AND, UH, RIGHTFULLY

[00:25:01]

SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UH, WE FEEL LIKE, UH, WITH THE YELLOWSTONE CONTRACT, WE HAVE BASICALLY MOVED PAST THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.

IF, UH, YELLOWSTONE DOES ITS JOB, WE SHOULD HAVE A A FAIRLY CLEAN CITY GOING FORWARD.

WE'D LIKE TO NOW FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PUTTING THE LITTER DOWN.

AND, UM, I KNOW I TALKED WITH ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I, I AGREE IT'S DIFFICULT TO CATCH PEOPLE IN THE ACT.

UM, BUT JUST LIKE, UH, WE HAVE STOP SIGNS OR RED LIGHTS OR WHATEVER, WE DON'T ALWAYS CATCH PEOPLE IN THE ACT, BUT I THINK, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE PUT OUT, UM, RECEPTACLES ALL AROUND THE CITY TO MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO COMPLY.

UM, AND ALSO, UM, I THINK, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE, UH, SOME SIGNAGE THAT, UM, INDICATES THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, FINES ARE THAT TRASH IS NOT OKAY, AND IF YOU THROW IT DOWN, YOU GET, UH, YOU GET FINED.

BUT IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT PUNITIVE STUFF.

UM, SOMEBODY IN OUR GROUP HAD AN EXCELLENT SUGGESTION ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE VOLUNTEER HOURS, UH, AS PART OF WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, GETTING INTO THE UNIVERSITIES AND THAT SORT OF THING.

WHY NOT GET THEM INVOLVED, UH, UNDER APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION AND, UH, HELP US KEEP THE CITY CLEAN.

UM, IF THE ADULTS IN THE CITY SEE THEM OUT AND ABOUT, WHAT'S IT GONNA DO? IT'S GONNA TRIGGER THEIR THINKING.

IT'S LIKE, OH, OKAY.

YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THEIR WORK ANY HARDER, SO MAYBE I WON'T DO IT.

UH, PUT THE, PUT THE TRASH DOWN.

NOW THE PEOPLE COME BACK AND FORTH SIX, SEVEN.

YEAH, I KNOW.

YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S TIME.

MR. WELCHS, YOU, YOU, YOU GOT MY STATEMENT? YES, SIR.

WE WANNA, WE WANNA FOCUS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON A DIFFERENT AREA NOW.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE COUNSEL? IS THAT ALL THE FORMS? ROSIE? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MUCH.

NEXT

[a. Case No. CUP-728-2025 – Conduct a public hearing and consider an application for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption in conjunction with a restaurant, on property zoned Local Retail (LR) District, generally located northwest of Highway 67, with the address being 949 N. J. Elmer Weaver Fwy., Suite 309. Applicant: Thomas Cofer with Denzie’s Corporation Property Owner: Pleasant Run and 67 Ltd]

CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN APPLICATION FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, CUP FOR THE SALE AND ALCOHOL FOR ON-PREMISE CONSUMPTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH A RESTAURANT ON PROPERTY ZONE, LOCAL RETAIL LR DISTRICT.

GENERALLY LOCATED NORTHWEST OF HIGHWAY 67 WITH THE ADDRESS BEING 9 4 9 NORTH J ELMA WEAVER FREEWAY, SUITE 3 0 9, APPLICANT THOMAS FER WITH DENZY CORPORATION, PROPERTY OWNER, PLEASANT RUN, AND 67 LIMITED.

DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE WITH US TODAY? I DON'T THINK I SEE ANYONE.

SO THEREFORE, COUNSEL, IF IT'S YOUR PLEASURE, UH, I'LL CONTINUE ON WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, WE, UH, DELIBERATE FROM THERE.

ANYONE IN WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION TO CASE NUMBER CUP 7 2 8 2025? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION TO CASE NUMBER CUP 7 2 8 2025? NOT SEEING ANYONE APPROACH.

I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND, UH, COUNSEL, ARE THERE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? IF NOT, THE FLOOR IS OPEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY, ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT.

I JUST, UH, MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE, UH, CUP 7 2 8 2 0 5 25, UH, AS PER PLANNING AND ZONINGS, UH, FIVE STIPULATIONS.

WE DO HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE DO HAVE A SECOND.

ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNSEL? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

MOTION UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

NEXT ITEM

[b. Case No. Z-735-2025 – Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2024-806 entitled “Food and Food Service Establishments Ordinance” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cedar Hill, Texas; providing mobile food vendor regulation preemption and causing said ordinance to be in compliance with House Bill 2844, which takes effect on September 1, 2025.]

CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024 DASH 8 0 6 ENTITLED FOOD AND FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS ORDINANCE OF THE CODE OF OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS, PROVIDING MOBILE FOOD VENDOR REGULATIONS PREEMPTED AND CAUSING SAID ORDINANCE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE BILL 2 8 4 4, WHICH TAKES EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025.

DIRECTOR SELF, WHAT IS GOING ON? ? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

IT'S GREAT TO BE BEFORE YOU.

TONIGHT WE WILL BE ADDRESSING A RESPONSE BY THE CITY TO HOUSE BILL 2 8 4 4, WHICH PREEMPTS THE FOOD TRUCK PILOT PROGRAM THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT, UH, AS A BRIEFING EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

UH,

[00:30:01]

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

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

IN THE PURSUIT OF PREMIER THE CITY SEEKS TO HAVE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER, TO BE CLEAN, SAFE, TO HAVE VIBRANT PARKS, TRAIL, THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY, EXCELLENT, SAFE AND EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, STRONG AND DIVERSE ECONOMY, AND TEXAS SCHOOLS OF CHOICE.

SO WE BRIEFED THE COUNSELOR EARLIER IN THE YEAR ABOUT THE 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND IN RESPONSE TO HOUSE BILL 2 8 4 4, WE WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH A SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION, TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS UPON THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, AND WALK YOU THROUGH A PROPOSED DRAFT ORDINANCE.

SO A SUMMARY HOUSE BILL 2 8 4 4 ESTABLISHES A STATEWIDE LICENSING PROGRAM FOR MOBILE FOOD VENDORS ALLOWING A SINGLE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES TO LICENSE, LICENSE ALL OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO IT ENDS THE NEED FOR MULTIPLE LOCAL PERMITS AND DUPLICATE FEES.

IT PREEMPTS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM IMPOSING ADDITIONAL PERMITTING REGISTRATION LOCATION RESTRICTIONS, BUT IT ALSO PRESERVES THE AUTHORITY OVER ITEMS LIKE HOURS OF OPERATION NOISE, TRAFFIC, FIRE AND HEALTH INSPECTIONS, AND CITY PROPERTY USAGE.

AND SO TONIGHT WE WANNA WALK YOU THROUGH THE, UH, STATUS OF THIS LEGISLATION ON THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL AND WHAT IT WILL IMPACT IN VARIOUS AREAS OF POLICY.

AND SO IN SUMMARY, THE UH, HOUSE BILL PREEMPTS THE PROGRAM THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED HERE IN CEDAR HILL.

AND SO WHAT I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH TONIGHT WILL BE WHAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO RETAIN AND WHAT MUST BE CHANGED AS A PART OF THAT LEGISLATION.

SO IN THE AREA OF PERMITTING AND REGISTRATION, THAT ITEM HAS TO BE REMOVED FROM, UH, LOCAL JURISDICTION ONLY STATE LICENSES ARE REQUIRED OR ALLOWED, UH, FOR LOCATION RESTRICTIONS.

WE ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO RESTRICT USE ON CITY, PROPERTY CITY RIGHT OF WAY.

WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RESTRICT IT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR HOURS OF OPERATION.

WE STILL CAN KEEP THE 8:00 AM TO 10:00 PM REQUIREMENT THAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL PILOT PROGRAM.

AND SO YOU WILL SEE THAT AS A PART OF THE ORDINANCE.

AND THEN FOR NOISE CONTROL, WE ARE STILL ABLE TO PRESERVE OUR, UM, AUTHORITY OVER THAT AREA WHEN IT COMES TO PARKING, TRAFFIC, FIRE LANES, ANY PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, WE ARE ABLE TO PRESERVE OUR CONTROLS OVER THOSE AREAS.

THE SAME IS TRUE FOR HEALTH INSPECTIONS AND FIRE INSPECTIONS, HOWEVER, IN THE AREA OF DISPLAYING OF LICENSES, NO CITY CAN DISPLAY, UH, CREATE A DISPLAY MANDATE.

AND SO THAT WILL HAVE TO BE CHANGED AS A PART OF THIS PROPOSAL.

SO TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME THINGS THAT, UM, WILL RESPOND TO HOUSE BILL 2 8 4 4.

SO AS I NOTED IT, REPEALS THE PILOT PROGRAM, BUT IT REPLACES IT WITH AN ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TONIGHT.

IT ADOPTS REGULATIONS THAT STRICTLY CONFORM TO THE HOUSE BILL 2 8 4 4 PREEMPTION.

AND ALL THE PRESERVED AUTHORITY THAT WE STILL HAVE AS A CITY VENDORS WILL BE LICENSED THROUGH THE TEXAS DSHS UNDER THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.

AND WE WILL NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO LICENSE THEM LOCALLY.

FOR LOCATION RESTRICTIONS, WE CAN HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL ON PUBLIC LAND, BUT OTHERWISE WE CANNOT IMPOSE ANYTHING THAT IS STRICTER THAN STATE LAW FOR PERMITTING AND REGISTRATION.

AGAIN, NO LOCAL REGISTRATION, ONLY THE STATE REQUIREMENT.

AND THEN FOR HOURS OF OPERATION, WE STILL CAN CONTROL AND THOSE AREAS FOR HEALTH AND FIRE INSPECTIONS, WE MUST COMPLY WITH THE FIRE CODE AND HEALTH CODES OF THE CITY AS AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW.

SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT'S BELIEVED THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO RETAIN CONTROL IN THOSE AREAS FOR NOISE.

WE MUST COMPLY WITH ALL CITY NOISE ORDINANCES AND SO WE ARE ABLE TO RETAIN THOSE AS WELL.

IN THE PILOT PROGRAM, WE HAD SEVERAL DETAILED, UH, ITEMS REGARDING SIGNS.

THE CITY CANNOT EXCEED THE AUTHORITY PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE, AND SO THERE WILL BE NO REQUIREMENTS FOR SIGNS FOR PARKING AND TRAFFIC.

THE PILOT PROGRAM ALSO SPOKE TO SEVERAL LIMITATIONS, AND IN GENERAL, WE CAN STILL REQUIRE ALL CITY ORDINANCES ON TRAFFIC, FIRELANDS AND PARKING, BUT AGAIN, WE CANNOT EXCEED THE STATE LEGISLATION.

[00:35:02]

WE CANNOT IMPOSE THOSE REQUIREMENTS ANY LONGER BECAUSE THEY EXCEED THE, UH, REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE ALLOWED BY STATE LAW WHEN IT COMES TO ALCOHOL SALES.

UM, IN THE PILOT PROGRAM WE TALKED ABOUT DRIVE-THROUGHS AND ALCOHOL SALES FROM MOBILE FOOD VENDORS BEING PROHIBITED.

UH, WE DID CONSULT WITH OUR ATTORNEY, THE CITY ATTORNEY TO TALK THROUGH SOME OF THESE ITEMS. AND OUR DIRECTION IS THAT ALCOHOL SALES PROHIBIT ARE PROHIBITED ON CITY PROPERTY, UH, EXCEPT WHEN AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY MANAGER, CITY COUNCIL.

OTHERWISE, WE CANNOT INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL PROHIBITIONS.

UH, LOCAL REGISTRATION IS NOT ALLOWED.

I'VE TOUCHED ON THAT ISSUE.

UM, FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, WE MAY BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE OUTSIDE THE STANDARD HOURS FOR OUR OWN SPECIAL EVENT REQUIREMENTS, BUT AGAIN, UM, WE WILL INCLUDE HOURS OF OPERATIONS AS A PART OF THIS NEW PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

WHEN IT COMES TO PENALTIES OR ENFORCEMENT, WE HAVE TO RELY ON THAT STATE LAW AND CITY AUTHORITY, UH, AS PRESCRIBED BY HOUSE BILL 2 8 4 4.

AND SO THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU WILL NOT EXCEED WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATION REQUIRES.

THIS GOES INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST, 2026.

AND SO THE ORDERS BEFORE YOU WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON THAT DATE.

AND SPEAKING WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, IT WAS BEST THAT WE GET AHEAD OF THIS ISSUE AND WE GO AHEAD AND HAVE THIS PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

AT THIS TIME, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

UH, YES, COUNCILWOMAN, AZI, DIRECTOR SELF.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, UM, AS IT'S, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE CLARIFICATION.

IT'S, UH, IT'S QUITE CLEAR.

UM, SO AS IT STANDS NOW, UM, WOULD SOMEONE HAVE TO, UH, PRODUCE, UH, A PERMIT IF ASKED? AND IF SO, WHO WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT? IF SOMEONE JUST CAME AND SET UP IN OUR CITY, UM, AND THEY WERE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, WHAT, WHAT COULD WE DO OR ASK OR SEE? THE PERMIT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HOLD IS A STATE PERMIT.

AND AT THIS TIME, THERE'S NO ENFORCEMENT THAT, UM, THE CITIES HAVE IN MANAGING THAT PERMIT.

UM, SO TO YOUR QUESTION, CAN WE ASK FOR IT PERHAPS? CAN WE ENFORCE ANYTHING RELATED TO IT THAT WOULD BE A STATE REQUIREMENT? OKAY, SO I'M GOING JUST FURTHER DOWN THAT ROAD JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR.

UH, IF THERE WAS A VACANT LOT PRIVATELY OWNED NEXT DOOR TO ME MM-HMM .

SOMEONE COULD BRING THEIR WHATEVER AND SET UP, THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE A SIGN, DIDN'T HAVE TO PROVE THAT THEY HAD A COM A PERMIT, AND THEY COULD SELL ALCOHOL FOR THE ALCOHOL SALES.

UM, WE WOULD HAVE NO JURISDICTION OVER THAT FOR FOOD TRUCKS.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN.

SO EXPANDING ON.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, YOU'RE OPEN.

OH, YOU CUT IT OFF, .

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO EXPANDING ON THAT QUESTION THEN.

SO FROM THE ALCOHOL SALES, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY JURISDICTION TO AT LEAST SEE IF THEY HAVE THE PERMIT.

I DON'T, I WON'T SAY THAT WE CAN'T ASK, BUT I WILL WILL SAY WE HAVE NO ENFORCEMENT POWER, RIGHT? UH, THE STATE IS WORKING THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THIS LEGISLATION, SO OVER THE NEXT YEAR WE MAY GET MORE CLARIFICATION BETWEEN NOW AND JULY 1ST, BUT AS IT STANDS TODAY, WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER THAT AREA.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE ON AS IS TILL JULY 26TH? YES, SIR.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

UM, COUNCIL, YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? SURE, GO AHEAD.

UM, IS IT OUR PLAN TO, UM, SINCE WE ARE PREEMPTIVELY OR OR DOING IT AT LEAST BEFORE THE REQUIRED DATE, IS WILL THERE BE ANY DATA COLLECTION SO THAT WE CAN SEE WHAT KIND OF TRENDS OR ISSUES WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANTICIPATE? I CAN SURELY COORDINATE WITH CITY STAFF TO LOOK INTO THAT.

OKAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

AND JUST BECAUSE THINGS COULD CHANGE BY THEN, UM, AT LEAST WE WOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY TRENDS OR AREAS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO FOCUS ON.

YES, MA'AM.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UM, HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE FORMALITY.

UM, IF IT'S BEING, IF IT'S PREEMPTIVE, UM, WHY ARE WE DOING A PUBLIC HEARING? SO AS A, AS A PART OF OUR POLICY, WE HAVE TRIED TO ADOPT ORDINANCES THAT SPEAK TO WHAT THE CITIES CAN CONTROL.

AND SO THE GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO CODIFY WHAT WE FIND IS, UH, LEFT FOR CITIES

[00:40:01]

AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE RULES IN PLACE, UH, BEFORE THE JULY 1ST DATE, SO WE COULD CONTINUE BUSINESS AS USUAL UNTIL JULY, 2026.

SO BETWEEN NOW AND JULY 1ST, YOU CAN F YOU WILL FOLLOW THE PILOT PROGRAM.

THE CITY WILL BE UNDER THE PILOT PROGRAM UNTIL THAT DATE.

GOT IT? MM-HMM .

OKAY.

UM, OKAY.

I THINK YOU, I THINK YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

COUNCILOR SIMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, IN THE FIR IN THE PARAGRAPH UNDER THE SUMMARY, IT SAYS THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXT OF THESE CODES AT THIS TIME.

IS THAT MEANING THAT YOU'RE A NEW DRAFT? THERE'S NOTHING PROPOSED TO BE CHANGED.

SO THE ORDINANCE THAT'S BEFORE YOU, IT IS A REPLACEMENT.

OKAY.

AND SO WE ARE COMPLETELY REPEALING THE CURRENT PILOT PROGRAM.

OKAY.

AND IT WILL BE COMPLETELY REPLACED BY THE NEW ORDINANCE.

OKAY.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NO AMENDMENTS, IT'S NOT REFERRING TO THE ONLY ONE, IT'S JUST REFERRING TO THIS NEW DOCUMENT THAT, THAT'S BEFORE US.

OKAY.

YEAH, THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS TO THE CURRENT ONE.

THAT'S ALL I WANTED.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT.

UM, I WILL GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN WE'LL GO FOR THERE FOR ACTION.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION TO CASE NUMBER Z 7 35 2025? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION TO CASE NUMBER Z 7 3 5 2025.

ALL RIGHT.

NOT SEEING ANYONE APPROACH, I WILL CLOSE THAT PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNSEL, UH, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER, UH, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS AS FAR AS OPEN FOR ACTION, GOTTA TAKE ACTION COUNSEL.

OH, PROTE, YOU GOT THE FLOOR? YES.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 2 4 DASH 8 0 1 ENTITLED FOOD SERVICE AND FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT.

UM, I'M SORRY, AM I ON THE WRONG ONE? MY 8 0 6? YEAH, I, I'M SORRY.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE ORDINANCE TO A APPROVE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 2 4 8 0 6 ENTITLED FOOD AND FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT ORDINANCE.

ALRIGHT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

WE DO HAVE A SECOND.

UM, MY QUESTION TO YOU, ONE MORE COMMENT BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE.

MY QUESTION, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, UM, YOU GOTTA READ SOMETHING.

OH, OKAY.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A SECOND.

UH, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN IS A SECOND.

YES.

UH, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, UH, IS THERE ANY OTHER, YOU KNOW, ACTION THAT WE NEED TO DO LEADING UP TO JULY 1ST? NOT AT THIS TIME.

NOT AT THIS TIME.

OKAY, PERFECT.

ALRIGHT, COOL.

UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER RING.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS.

REPEALING CHAPTER EIGHT, ARTICLE TWO, DIVISION THREE MOBILE FOOD VENDOR REGULATIONS PILOT PROGRAM OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES AND REPLACING IT WITH NEW MOBILE FOOD VENDOR REGULATIONS CONSISTENT WITH HOUSE BILL 28 44 PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION.

ALRIGHT, SO IF I HAD TO CLARIFY, COUNCIL, WE HAD A PILOT PROGRAM, THEREFORE WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE AN ORDINANCE.

THIS ACTUALLY MAKES US HAVE AN ORDINANCE AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE BUSINESS AS USUAL TILL JULY 1ST THAT WE'RE BEING PREEMPTIVE, UH, BY THE STATE.

AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? THERE IS A CURTAIN OR ORDINANCE IN PLACE? THE PILOT PROGRAM IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY UHHUH.

THIS WOULD REPEAL THAT AND REPLACE IT WITH THE DUE AS OF JULY 1ST, 2026.

GOT IT.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

IS THAT CLEAR? YES.

ALRIGHT.

WE DO HAVE A MOTION.

WE DO HAVE A SECOND.

ALL FAVOR.

PRESENT.

RIGHT HAND MOTION.

UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

UH, WE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE, .

SO LET'S GET TO IT.

CASE

[c. Case No. Z-734-2025 – Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending Chapter 23 entitled “Zoning” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cedar Hill, Texas; providing amended regulations pertaining to zoning amendment protest procedures and causing said ordinance to be in compliance with House Bill 24, which takes effect on September 1, 2025.]

COULD THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 23 ENTITLED, ZONING OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS PROVIDING AMENDMENT AMENDING AMENDED REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO ZONING, AMEND, AMENDMENT, PROTEST PROCEDURES, AND CAUSING SAID ORDINANCE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE BILL 24, WHICH TAKES PLACE OR TAKES EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025 DIRECT ITSELF.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, AGAIN, WE BE BEGIN WITH OUR VISION, MISSION, AND VALUES.

OUR MISSION OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL

[00:45:01]

IN THE PURSUIT OF PREMIER, WE SEEK TO BE A DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER CITY WITH CLEAN AND SAFE COMMUNITY, VIBRANT PARKS, TRAILS AND NATURAL BEAUTY AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE, EXCELLENT, SAFE AND EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, STRONG AND DIVERSE ECONOMY, AND TEXAS SCHOOLS OF CHOICE.

AGAIN, WE'RE HERE BEFORE YOU TO DISCUSS LEGISLATION FROM THE 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE.

I'LL PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION FOR HOUSE BILL 24, THE IMPACTS UPON THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, AND REVIEW A DRAFT ORDINANCE FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

SO WITH HOUSE BILL 24, WHICH ALSO WENT INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER ONE, IT REVISES TEXAS PROCEDURES FOR PROTESTING MUNICIPAL ZONING CHANGES.

AS A RESULT, THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL MUST AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO COMPLY PROTEST RIGHTS NOW ONLY APPLY TO NON COMPREHENSIVE PARCEL SPECIFIC ZONING CHANGES, NOT CITY INITIATED COMPREHENSIVE CHANGES SUCH AS FULL ZONING MAP UPDATES.

AND SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS THAT IF WE'RE DOING A UNI, A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, IF WE'RE DOING A COMPREHENSIVE CHANGE TO A ZONING DISTRICT, THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT REQUIRE, UM, IT WOULD CHANGE THE PROTEST RIGHTS FOR THAT.

AND THEN UNDER HOUSE BILL 24, WE ARE CHANGING FROM THE 20% THRESHOLD, WHICH HAS BEEN IN PLACE PREVIOUSLY TO A 60% THRESHOLD.

AND SO I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THAT AS A POINT OF ORIENTATION.

COMPREHENSIVE ZONING CHANGES ARE CITYWIDE CODE UPDATES.

I MENTIONED THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, DISTRICT-WIDE OVERLAYS LIKE AN UPTOWN OVERLAY, UH, UNIFORM AMENDMENTS TO, UH, ZONING DISTRICT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE WERE ADDING RESIDENTIAL TO ALL ZONING DISTRICTS OR IF WE WERE CHANGING, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS UNIVERSALLY APPLIED ACROSS, UM, OUR ZONING CATEGORIES, THAT WOULD BE SEEN AS A COMPREHENSIVE ZONING CHANGE.

AND THOSE ARE EXPRESSLY EXEMPT FROM PROTEST POTENT PETITIONS, EXCUSE ME, AND HEIGHTENED COUNCIL VOTES.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR, UH, PROTEST PETITIONS? THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S A LOWER THRESHOLD FOR APPROVAL.

IT MEANS THAT THERE'S A LOWER THRESHOLD FOR VOTING.

AND SO WE'LL WALK THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THAT, UH, PROTEST PETITIONS WHEN THEY WILL OCCUR, AND WE'LL TALK THROUGH THE SCENARIOS FOR THAT.

THEY MUST BE SIGNED BY QUALIFIED PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE AREA OF IMPACT OR WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE SUBJECT AREA ACCORDING TO NEW STATE DEFINITIONS AND PROCEDURES.

AND SO WHAT THIS DOES, IT PROVIDES MORE CLARITY.

IT PROVIDES A, A MORE CONSISTENT WAY OF APPLYING SOME OF THE RULES THAT VARIOUS CITIES HAVE HAD ABOUT HOW THEY HANDLE PROTESTS TO ZONING CHANGES.

THIS NEW ORDINANCE SUPERSEDES CONFLICTING LOCAL CODES AND TAKES EFFECT AFTER ADOPTION AND PUBLICATION AS REQUIRED BY LAW.

SO AGAIN, I MENTIONED THIS WAS APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, AND SO WE ARE ACTUALLY OPERATING UNDER IT, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE RESPOND TO IT HERE LOCALLY.

FORMAL NOTIFICATION PROCESSES WILL CONTINUE WITH MAILED AND PUBLISHED NOTICES.

THEY WILL ALSO BE PUBLISHED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR THAT WE'RE STILL FOLLOWING THE SAME NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN STILL BE INFORMED ABOUT ZONING CHANGES.

SO I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH EACH OF THE POLICY AREAS AND PROVIDE WHAT WE'RE DOING CURRENTLY, UH, AND WHAT WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH HOUSE BILL 24.

AND SO RIGHT NOW ALL ZONING CHANGES INCLUDING COMPREHENSIVE CITYWIDE UPDATES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE UDC UM, WOULD BE, UH, APPLICABLE FOR A PROTEST BY AN, UH, A RESIDENT OF THE CITY.

UH, UNDER HOUSE BILL 24, ONLY NON COMPREHENSIVE PARCEL SPECIFIC ZONING CHANGES, COMPREHENSIVE CITY INITIATED UPDATES ARE EXEMPT.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT'S A IT'S A LOT.

BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT IF WE'RE DOING A UNI, A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, IF WE'RE DOING A NEW OVERLAY, IF WE'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT IS COMPREHENSIVE ACROSS ALL ZONING CATEGORIES, UH, THEY WILL BE EXEMPT FROM THOSE PROTEST RIGHTS.

AND SO THAT REALLY, UH, REDUCES THE THRESHOLD FOR, UH, DECISION MAKING.

IT MEANS THAT WE CANNOT HAVE THE PROTEST ELEMENT FOR THOSE PARTICULAR ZONING CHANGES.

CURRENTLY UNDER THE PRESS PROTEST THRESHOLD, 20% OF ADJACENT AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD BE NEEDED TO TRIGGER THAT SUPER MAJORITY VOTE UNDER HOUSE BILL 24.

NOW THAT THRESHOLD IS INCREASED TO 60% OF AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS NEEDED TO TRIGGER A SIMPLE MAJORITY CITY COUNCIL VOTE.

SO IT REALLY IS REDUCING, UM, THE, UM, IMPACT, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY OF THE PROTEST,

[00:50:01]

COUNCIL VOTING REQUIREMENT.

AS I MENTIONED, THE THREE FOUR SUPERMAJORITY VOTE IS WHAT IS IN PLACE TODAY AMONG, UH, UPON A VALID PROTEST PETITION.

AND AGAIN, SIMPLE MAJORITY WOULD BE THE REQUIREMENT UNDER HOUSE BILL 24, AGAIN, WHEN IT'S PROTESTING A NON COMPREHENSIVE CHANGE.

SO IF IT'S, UM, NON COMPREHENSIVE, IT'S A PARCEL SPECIFIC ZONING CHANGE.

IF IT'S COMPREHENSIVE, IT IS CITYWIDE TYPES OF CONSIDERATIONS.

QUALIFIED PROPERTY OWNERS.

SO THAT DEFINITION HAS VARIED, UH, BY JURISDICTION.

AND THIS HOUSE BILL CLARIFIES THAT YOU MUST BE LOCATED WITHIN THE AREA OF IMPACT OR YOU MUST BE WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE AREA AFFECTED.