Mar 10, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE NOW ENTER INTO A TIME OF PRAYER ASKING YOUR BLESSING OVER THIS MEETING.

YES, SIR.

FATHER, THESE, THESE MOMENTS SEEM LIKE ROUTINE.

THEY SEEM, UH, LIKE THEY'RE EARTHLY.

UH, MAYBE EVEN LIKE THEY'RE, THEY'RE A BIT OF, OF TEMPORAL IMPORTANCE.

BUT TONIGHT WE'RE ASKING FOR ETERNAL WISDOM.

GOD, AS VARIOUS ITEMS ARE COMING UP ON THE AGENDA, AS CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE HAD, MAYBE EVEN AS AS TENSION, UH, EXISTS IN THE ROOM, OR QUESTIONS ARISE, FATHER, WE PRAY FOR OTHER WORLDLY WISDOM.

HEAVENLY FATHER, PSALM 91 SAYS, HE WHO DWELLS IN THE SHELTER OF THE MOST HIGH WILL ABIDE IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY.

I WILL SAY TO THE LORD, MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS, MY GOD, AND WHOM I TRUST.

FATHER, WE ASK YOU THAT THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS WOULD COME OVER THIS ROOM, NOT JUST IN SAFETY, BUT IN CLARITY.

UNITY, IN THE MIDST OF DIVERSITY, OF OPINION, OF PERSPECTIVE, OF BACKGROUND.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE OF OUR MAYOR OF OUR CITY COUNCIL.

WE ASK YOU THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO BLESS THEM AS THEY SEEK TO BLESS THE CITY.

FATHER, WOULD WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE SEEKING THE SAME GOAL TO SEE, UH, YOUR HAND OF GOODNESS AND LOVE COME AND, UH, BRING THE LIGHT OF THE KINGDOM IN OUR CITY IN A WAY THAT IMPACTS OUR NEIGHBORS, THAT IMPACTS, UM, THOSE OF VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS AND FAITHS.

BUT LORD, IT'S IN JESUS' NAME THAT WE ASK THESE THINGS, NOT JUST A GENERALIZED GOD, NOT JUST A RANDOM, ETHEREAL CREATURE, BUT GOD, WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE MOST HIGH, AS THIS PSALM HAS SAID, YOU ARE THE MOST HIGH GOD OF ALL ANGELIC BEINGS, OF ALL HEAVENLY HOSTS OVER POWERS AND DOMINIONS AND AUTHORITIES.

ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO JESUS CHRIST AFTER HIS RESURRECTION.

AND SO IN THIS MOMENT, GOD, WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THESE TIMES.

WOULD YOUR FINGERPRINTS BE OVER THIS MOMENT? IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.

AMEN.

ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER PRESENTATION PRESENT GOOD SAMARITAN AWARD TO JOHN EDWARDS.

UM, IF EVERYONE PLEASE REMAIN STANDING.

UH, BROOKLYN, SUCH A PRETTY NAME.

MY DAUGHTER'S NAME, BROOKLYN, UH, IS HERE WITH US.

SHE'S DOING A GOVERNMENT PROJECT, SO SHE'S GONNA LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

SO WE DO BOTH THE AMERICAN FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG.

ALL RIGHT.

I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG.

THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH, WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, HONOR THE TEXAS, TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE, ANOTHER GOD, ONE IN INDIVISIBLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU ALL MAY BE SEATED.

NEXT ITEM.

YOU OKAY? SHE CAME IN ON THE WHEELCHAIR.

AH, ALRIGHT.

[a. Present Good Samaritan Award to John Edwards.]

THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY OUR VERY OWN COUNCIL MEMBER, DANIEL HAYDEN.

WELL, GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

UH, THIS IS CERTAINLY A PLEASURE AND REALLY AN HONOR.

YOU KNOW, I DRIVE, I LIVE IN KINGSWOOD AND THIS YOUNG, UH, THIS MAN LIVES IN KINGSWOOD AS WELL.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE SEE HIM EVERY DAY, EVERY MORNING, AND EVERY EVENING OUT THERE PICKING UP TRASH.

HE LIKES HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

HE WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SO I FINALLY STOPPED AND, UH, COLLARED HIM AND SAID, HEY, COME OVER HERE.

AND I GOT HIS NAME AND NUMBER AND, UH, IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO MEET YOU AND HIS WIFE.

WANNA HAVE YOUR WIFE WHILE SHE UP HERE.

SO, BUT ANYWAY, SO

[00:05:01]

WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL A GOOD SAMARITAN WARD, UH, THAT WE'RE GONNA PRESENT TO YOU.

SO I'M GONNA READ SOME THINGS ABOUT YOU.

UH, OF COURSE, I NOMINATED YOU.

AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, WE HAD SOME OTHER NEIGHBORS IN, IN, UH, KINGSWOOD.

RICK AND THEHE SAID, THEY'RE SITTING THERE BEHIND YOU.

YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY NOTICED IT ALL THE TIME TOO.

AND I WAS OVER THERE AT THEIR HOUSE ONE TIME AND THEY SAID, WELL, DAN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING FOR, WE OUGHT TO HONOR HIM.

AND SO THE NEXT TIME I SAW YOU, I PULLED YOU OVER AND WE DID THAT.

AND, UH, OF COURSE, YOU ALREADY HEARD OUR, OUR CITY MANAGER DRIVES THROUGH TO GO TO HER HOME AT WILDWOOD EVERY TIME AND SEES YOU OUT THERE TOO.

SO, SO I WISH WE HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU, .

SO, UH, JOHN EDWARDS IS THE KIND OF NEIGHBOR EVERY COMMUNITY HOPES FOR NOMINATED BY MYSELF.

JOHN IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HIS MEANINGFUL COMMITMENT TO KEEPING THE KINGSWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN AND WELCOMING.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH HE KEEPS CLEAN, UH, UH, KINGSWOOD CLEAN, HE'S ALWAYS UP DOWN THERE ON THE SERVICE ROAD TOO.

AND I SEE HIM WORKING ON THE SERVICE ROAD BY 67 IN KINGSWOOD.

SO, SO HE'S KIND OF EXPANDED.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS GONNA END UP BEING HERE, .

BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY JOHN WALKS HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND PICKS UP LITTER, NOT OCCASIONALLY, NOT EVEN WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT EVERY DAY.

HIS DEDICATION HELPS PRESERVE THE BEAUTY OF KINGSWOOD AND SETS A VISIBLE EXAMPLE OF PRIDE IN OUR CITY.

JOHN'S ACTIONS MAY SEEM SIMPLE, BUT THEIR IMPACT IS MEANINGFUL BECAUSE OF HIM.

STREETS ARE CLEANER, PUBLIC SPACES FEEL MORE CARED FOR, AND NEIGHBORS ARE REMINDED THAT SMALL, CONSISTENT ACTS OF SERVICE MATTER.

UH, COUNCILMAN HAYDEN SHARED HIS APPRECIATION FOR JOHN'S EFFORTS IN THE POSITIVE EXAMPLE HE SETS FOR OTHERS THROUGH HIS DAILY SERVICE.

SO JOHN EDWARDS REPRESENTS THE VERY HEART OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

THROUGH HIS UNSELFISH AND CONSISTENT EFFORTS, HE MAKES CEDAR HILL A CLEANER, STRONGER, AND MORE CONNECTED PLACE TO CALL HOME.

WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE HIM WITH THE GOOD SAMARITAN RECOGNITION AWARD.

CONGRATULATIONS, JOHN, AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

UH, ONE DAY AT A TIME.

ALRIGHT, WE WANTED TO PREVENT YOU SOMETHING HERE.

NOW YOU HAVE YOUR OWN.

I HAVE ANOTHER ONE.

THEY'RE GONNA BE TAKING A PICTURE.

OH, ALRIGHT.

LET'S SCOOT THIS WAY.

ALL RIGHTY.

AND 3, 2, 1.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

UH, RICK AND THE, UH, BRAIER OVER THERE.

STAND UP.

LEMME SEE.

THERE ARE KINGSWOOD LONGTIME CEDAR HILL RESIDENTS OVER HERE.

YOU SAY A FEW WORDS.

CITY COUNCILMAN HAYDEN WAVED ME OVER AND GOT MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T EXPECTING ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

WELL, I GUESS WHAT STARTED ALL OF THIS, I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO MY NEIGHBOR KEN.

I DON'T KNOW HIS LAST NAME, BUT HE LIVED IN THE SECOND HOUSE ON HEATHER'S CIRCLE.

AND I WOULD SEE HIM FROM MY KITCHEN WINDOW WITH A PLASTIC BAG GOING TO THAT LITTLE KINGSWOOD PARK AREA ACROSS FROM THE CHURCH.

AND, UH, HE WOULD PICK UP TRASH.

AND SO I'VE JOINED HIM AND, BUT THAT'S ALL HE DID WAS JUST THE KINGSWOOD PARK AREA.

AND SO I WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE 67.

AND THEN, UH, RIGHT NOW MY ROUTE GOES MAINLY ON THE, I GUESS THE NORTH SIDE OF KINGSWOOD.

UH, I, I GO DOWN ANNE TO DOUGLAS, AND, UH, THEN I CAN GO, YOU KNOW, I DO DIFFERENT ROUTES EVERY DAY, BUT I'LL GO, UH, TO CRESTVIEW AND TO VALLEY VIEW AND UP THAT HILL ON VALLEY VIEW.

SURE.

AS I AM OVER THERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S HILLS IN CEDAR HILL.

WELL, THERE, THAT'S, UH, A HILL.

UH, I, I CAN'T GO AS FAST AS I USED TO WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE.

I WAS JOGGING THOSE ROUTES.

AND, UH, BUT, UH, NOW I'M STILL GETTING EXERCISE, YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING MY WALKING IN AND, UH, I, I LOVE WHAT I DO.

I, AND, UH, I, I WAS HONORED WHEN

[00:10:03]

BUT, UH, YEAH, HE WOULD SAY, WELL, NO, NO, NO, YOU DON'T NEED TO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT IN, YEAH, WE MAY, WELL, , UH, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE TIME THAT WE WERE INTERACTING, THERE WASN'T ANY TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU.

AND USUALLY ON ANNE, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC.

UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE WASN'T ANYTHING TO INTERFERE WITH OUR COMMUNICATION, SO I WOULD'VE STAYED THERE UNTIL WE FINISHED.

, WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE YOUR WIFE OVER THERE.

MY WIFE, JEAN EDWARDS, SHE'S WHO'S JEAN? UH, AND ON THE SAME ROW AS MY OLDEST SON, BRENT AND HIS WIFE STACY.

AND LET'S SEE, .

AND HERE'S, UH, SOMETHING FOR YOU.

NOW, NOW I GUESS THERE ARE SOME OTHER PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN KINGSWOOD THAT ARE, ARE ATTENDING HERE FOR, FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

WE HEAR ANYBODY FROM KINGSMAN? OKAY.

BEAUTIFUL COUNCILMAN HAYDEN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOHN.

GREAT, GREAT CHOICE FOR GOOD SAMARITAN.

UH,

[a. Present a Proclamation designating the month of March 2026 as Women's History Month in Cedar Hill.]

NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS, UH, PRESENTATION PRESENTED PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF MARCH, 2026 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN CEDAR HILL.

THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY MAYOR MASON.

WHY WOULDN'T I WANT TO GIVE THIS PROCLAMATION ? SO I DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE MONTH TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN HERE.

AND I ALSO REPRESENTED HERE BEHIND ME.

UH, PROCLAMATION GOES LIKE THIS, WHEREAS EACH YEAR DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WE HONOR THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF, OF VISIONARIES, WOMEN WHOSE IMMEASURABLE CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE SHAPED OUR WORLD, AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO BREAK BARRIERS TO CREATE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL WOMEN.

THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY, WOMEN AND GIRLS HAVE MADE VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS OFTEN IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE AND UNDUE HARDSHIP.

COURAGEOUS WOMEN MARCH FOUR AND WON THE RIGHT TO VOTE CAMPAIGN FOR EQUALITY LED EFFORTS DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, REPRESENTED THE UNITED STATES ON A GLOBAL STAGE IN THE FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, SHATTERED COUNTLESS BARRIERS AND EXPANDED THE POSSIBILITIES OF AMERICAN LIFE.

THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL PRIZE ITSELF IN BEING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATES DIVERSITY, CREATE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN, AND HONOR THE IMPACT AND ACHIEVEMENTS FOR WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL HONORS THE LEGACY OF INSPIRING WOMEN AND SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO FOSTER A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE YEAR ROUND THROUGH INITIATIVES INCLUDING SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN, AUTHORS, PRESENTERS, AND GUEST SPEAKERS AND PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES AND HOSTING MINORITIES AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, MWBE CERTIFICATION, WORKSHOPS AND INFORMATIONAL EVENTS, WOMEN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS SERVED IN A MULTITUDE OF ROLES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INCLUDING SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS IN ALL LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, THE LEGACY OF, UH, CEDAR HILL WOMEN CAN BE SEEN THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY IN POLICY DECISIONS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM JUST TO NAME A FEW WOMEN.

HISTORY MONTH BEGAN IN 1978 AS A LOCAL CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S HISTORY WEEK IN SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA,

[00:15:01]

AND WAS EXPANDED TO WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN 1987 DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, LET US HONOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND VISIONARY WOMEN WHO HAVE HELPED BUILD OUR COUNTRY, INCLUDING THOSE WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATED AND LET US PAY, UH, TRIBUTE TO THE TRAILBLAZERS FOR THE RECENT AND DISTANT PAST FOR ADORING THE ENVISION, A FUTURE FOR WHAT NO, FOR WHICH NOPA, UH, PROCEEDED EXISTED, AND FOR BUILDING A NATION OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR ALL OF ITS WOMEN'S AND GIRLS.

NOW, I, STEVE MASON, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARKS 2026 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL.

WE CELEBRATE THIS THEME, LEADING THE CHANGE, WOMEN SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

HERE I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF CEDAR HILL, TEXAS TO BE AFFIXED ON THIS 10TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026, SIGNED BY MAYOR STEVE MASON.

SURE.

YES, SURE.

UM, WELCOME EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS VANESSA ALONZO.

I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CEDAR HILL CHAMBER, AND TODAY I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE AS A STRONG WOMAN CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY.

UM, BUT I ALSO AM VERY PROUD THAT EVERYBODY BEHIND ME IS A WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS RIGHT HERE IN CEDAR HILL, TEXAS.

AND SO WITH ME, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ALWAYS GET TO, UM, RECEIVE AND, AND BE IN HONOR OF THESE MOMENTS.

BUT I REACHED OUT TO THESE BEAUTIFUL, LOVELY LADIES WHO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND I WANTED THEM TO JOIN ME.

SO WITH ME, UH, I HAVE MS. TERRY BROOKS OF TERRY'S LUCK, CHARCUTERIE MARQUETTE JAMES OF MCP EVENTS.

IT'S JUST BALLOONS, MS. RANISHA DAVIS OF CHIC BALLOONS, DAISY CANO STATE FARM, DESIREE LUMPKIN OF KEY RENTER, SOUTH DALLAS, ADRIANA VE OF THE SCULPTING ROOM SPA, YOLANDA JENNINGS OF CARD, MY YARD.

TONY JAMES, THE REALTOR FOR CEDAR HILL AND DFW , MS. STACEY COPELAND OF CAMP BOW.

WOW.

MS. PAM GRIFFIN OF LOVE, YOUR MUTT, ROSALYN KNIGHT STATE FARM, AND MS. JOHN ABBO OF THE MACE.

UM, LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND APPLAUSE, LADIES, WHEN I CALL, I'M SO HAPPY Y'ALL ARE HERE WITH ME.

SO I JUST HAVE A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.

I'M ESPECIALLY HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION ALONGSIDE SEVERAL INCREDIBLE WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE HERE WITH ME.

THESE WOMEN REPRESENT THE DETERMINATION, CREATIVITY, AND LEADERSHIP THAT CONTINUE TO SHAPE OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND OUR COMMUNITY.

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS ARE NOT ONLY BUILDING SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES IN CEDAR HILL, THEY ARE MENTORING OTHERS, SUPPORTING LOCAL INITIATIVES, CREATING JOBS, AND INVESTING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WE ALL CALL HOME.

THEIR WORK STRENGTHENS THE SUSTAINABILITY AND VIBRANCY OF CEDAR HILL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH MANY OF THESE INSPIRING WOMEN LEADERS EVERY DAY, SEEING THEIR PASSION AND RESILIENCE REMINDS ME THAT WHEN WOMEN SUCCEED IN BUSINESS, OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES AND WOMEN HISTORY MONTH, AND FOR SUPPORTING A COMMUNITY WHERE WOMEN CAN LEAD, GROW, AND THRIVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CAN WE GET A PICTURE, PLEASE? YES.

NOT ORGANIZE EVERYONE.

WE CAN MAKE SURE WE SEE YOUR FACES.

OH, DOES THIS MOVE MADAM SECRETARY? CAN WE JUST PUSH THIS OTHER WAY? DOES THE PODIUM MOVE? OH, IT DOES IT.

OH, OKAY.

SO IF WE CAN ALL SHIFT THIS WAY, AND THEN I'M GONNA HAVE YOU MAKE TWO ROWS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE TO SEE YOUR FACES SHORT.

YOU WANT FRONT, PUSH FRONT? NO ONE PAST THIS POINT.

AND Y'ALL CAN PIVOT THIS WAY IF YOU NEED TO, TO MAKE MORE ROOM.

MR. MAYOR, MR. MAYOR, YOU COME FORWARD.

I BELIEVE YOU'RE COMMISSIONER PEOPLE.

IT SHOULD BE PROBABLY BE DOWN THERE.

NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS CITIZEN CITIZEN FORUM.

OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR ESTEEM.

MIRANDA'S A MIRANDA IS A WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

[00:20:19]

PER SAY.

I'M GONNA COUNT DOWN FROM THREE.

AND IF YOU COULD HOLD 3, 2, 1, HOLD, 3, 2, 1.

HOLD.

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

CITIZEN FORUM IS FOR ANY CITIZEN WISHING TO SPEAK DURING THIS TIME.

SHOULD SUBMIT A, A SPEAKER REQUEST FORM TO THE SECRETARY, CITY SECRETARY BEFORE THE MEETING BEGINS.

ANY FORM SUBMITTED BEFORE 3:00 PM WILL BE SENT TO COUNCIL CITIZEN FORM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO, UH, TO SPEAK TO COUNSEL.

WE CANNOT DELIBERATE ON THE ITEM.

AND DO WE HAVE I'LL DO IT.

I'LL DO IT.

YEAH, I DO WHAT YOU GOT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

I DIDN'T TURN THIS MIC ON, SO IT SOUNDED GOOD WHEN I WAS DOWN THERE, BUT THANK YOU.

THANK YOU PRO TIM.

UM, SO, UH, WE DO HAVE ONE, UH, CITIZEN WHO WISHED TO SPEAK BEFORE US TODAY, AND I BELIEVE IT IS, IS IT MARK WEST JOHNSON AND JUNIOR? AM I SAYING THAT CORRECT? YES.

YOU WANNA PLEASE COME ON DOWN AND YOU HAVE, UH, THREE MINUTES.

PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

LOOKS LIKE YOUR TOPIC IS HVAC COMPANY, UH, INTRODUCTIONS, HEATING AND AIR.

IS THAT CORRECT? ALL RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING.

HELLO, THIS IS, UH, TREVION.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, PLEASE.

YEAH, YOU, YOU COULD GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PODIUM, BUT YEAH, IT'S YOUR, YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL.

YES, SIR.

THREE MINUTES.

WELL, FIRST OFF, THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING US OUT.

MY NAME IS MARQUES JOHNSON AND THIS IS TREVION CARTER.

UH, FIRST OFF, WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE.

I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET A FEW OF Y'ALL AT CEDAR HILL IN THE PARK.

BEAUTIFUL EVENT.

UH, IT'S SO WEIRD TURNING MY BACK TO Y'ALL AWAY.

IT'S NOT DISRESPECTFUL, I PROMISE.

UH, BUT JUST WANTED TO COME OUT HERE AND INTRODUCE OURSELVES.

SO WE HAVE OUR OWN HVAC FRANCHISE THAT'S COMING INTO THE AREA.

SO WE'RE SERVICING CEDAR HILL, DESOTO MCLOAN, RED OAK, BUT OUR PRIMARY TARGET, CEDAR HILL, NO, WE'RE NOT NEW TO THE AREA, WE'RE BORN AND RAISED.

SO I WENT TO LG PENTON HIGH SCHOOL AND HE WENT TO LANCASTER YES.

COLLEGE ROOMMATES WHERE WE MET AT TEXAS A AND M AND THEN CAME BACK HOME AND JUST JUMPED INTO THE, THE CORPORATE AMERICA JOB LIFE.

AND WE DID THAT WHOLE THING, MOVED UP THE CORPORATE LADDER, AND THEN WE KIND OF REALIZED THAT, UM, WE WANTED TRUE OWNERSHIP AND SO ENDED UP BUYING INTO A FRANCHISE.

AND SO NOW OUR BIGGEST GOAL IS REALLY JOB GROWTH, JOB OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

UM, YEAH, WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY.

WE SEE KIND OF HOW THIS, UH, WORLD IS GOING TO REVERSE ALL THE AI AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS ONE BUSINESS THAT WE CAN STILL OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR.

UH, PEOPLE, UH, ARE THEY'RE YOUNG, OLDER, AND ALL AROUND.

UH, JUST A LEAD THAT, THAT WE REALLY CAN GET INTO AND KIND OF HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE WE ARE LOOKING INTO.

YEP.

AND SO JUST TO KIND OF WRAP IT UP, SERVICE IS OUR BIGGEST THING.

AND SO IF YOU GUYS KNOW ANYBODY IN THE CEDAR HILL, ISD ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMERTIME, WE WANNA GET THE KIDS OFF THE STREETS OR OUT OF, IF THEY DON'T, IF THEY'RE NOT DOING SPORTS, LET'S GIVE 'EM OPPORTUNITIES TO BE RESOURCEFUL, WHETHER THAT'S IN TRADES JOB GROWTH OR JUST ACTUALLY JUST UNDERSTANDING HOW TO ACTUALLY GROW AND SCALE A BUSINESS.

AND SO WE'VE HAD OUR OWN RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES AS FAR AS WINDOW INDUSTRY, FIRST TEXAS HOMES, BUT, UH, HVAC IS OUR NEW INDUSTRY AND SO WE WOULD LOVE TO KIND OF PARTNER WITH Y'ALL AND KIND OF HELP WHERE WE CAN.

BUT THANKS Y'ALL FOR HAVING US OUT.

THANK YOU GUYS.

AND, UH, TREY AND, AND MARK MARQUISE.

AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? MARQUE MARQUEZ? UH, YEAH.

UH, YOU MAY WANNA CONNECT WITH, UM, VANESSA, SHE'S THE CHAMBER, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO JOIN THE CHAMBER.

ALRIGHT, NO PROBLEM.

ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL FOR CITIZENS FORM.

SO NEXT

[a. Case No. 764-2026 – 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 (Razzoo’s), on property zoned Planned Development District No. 05-226, generally located south of East Pleasant Run Road, northwest of Highway 67, with the address being 305 West FM 1382, Suite 401 [Hillside Village]. Applicant: M Crowd Razzoos, LLC Property Owner: Prep Hillside Real Estate LLC]

CASE NUMBER 7 6 4 2026.

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 RESTAURANT RAUS ON PROPERTY ZONE PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 0 5 2 2 6.

[00:25:01]

GENERALLY LOCATED SOUTH OF EAST PLEASANT RUN ROAD NORTHWEST OF HIGHWAY 67, WITH THE ADDRESS BEING 3 0 5 WEST FM 1382, SUITE 4 0 1 HILLSIDE VILLAGE, APPLICANT M CROWD, RAULS, LLC, PROPERTY OWNER PREP, HILLSIDE REAL ESTATE, LLC.

DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE WITH US TODAY? WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESENT ANYTHING TO COUNSEL? NO.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S NOT OBLIGATED, SO YOU'RE GOOD.

UM, SO COUNSEL, IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE RIGHT ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION TO CASE NUMBER 7 6 4 2026? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION TO CASE NUMBER 7 6 4 2026? FINAL CALL.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION TO CASE NUMBER 7 6 4 2026? NOT SEEING ANYONE APPROACH, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THAT PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO THE COUNCIL.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, THE FLOOR IS OPEN.

COUNSEL PRO TIM GLOVER? YES.

MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE, UH, THAT WE, THAT WE APPROVE THE CONDITION.

USE PERMIT NUMBER 7 6 4 DASH 2 0 2 6 FOR THE ZUS LOCATED AT THE PROPERTY LISTED ON THE AGENDA.

JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU PROPOSED TO MOVE FORWARD OR ARE YOU MOVING FORWARD? I, I MOVE FORWARD.

ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ELECTION MATTERS.

I'M GETTING A, A BRAIN FREEZE HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

WE DO HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? COUNCIL MEMBER, HAYDEN, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

MOTION UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, SEEING UE UNDERNEATH YOUR LEADERSHIP.

[a. Consider authorizing the Mayor to execute a joint election agreement and service contract with Ellis County Elections Department to administer and conduct the City of Cedar Hill General Election on Saturday, May 2, 2026.]

CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A JOINT ELECTION AGREEMENT AND SERVICE CONTRACT WITH ELLIS COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT TO ADMINISTER THE, AND CONDUCT THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL GENERAL ELECTIONS ON SATURDAY, MAY 2ND, 2026.

SOME OF YOU MAY BE THINKING, UM, ELLIS COUNTY.

WELL, YES, A PART OF CEDAR HILL IS IN ELLIS COUNTY, SO WE ALSO HAVE TO ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO, UH, VOTE WITHIN THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL.

SO WE DO HAVE AN ELECTION FOR SCHEDULED FOR MAY 2ND.

WE DO HAVE A, A, A CANDIDATE, UH, FOR A SEAT THAT IS OPEN.

AND WITH THAT COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? THE FLOOR IS OPEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN? YEAH, MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE, UH, UM, AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A JOINT ELECTION AGREEMENT AND SERVICE CONTRACT WITH ELLIS COUNTY ELECTION DEPARTMENT.

ON THE AGENDA'S CONSENT AGENDA.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? DO HAVE A SECOND? YES.

SECOND.

COUNCIL MEMBER MALONE.

ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ANY OPPOSITION? ALL RIGHT, UH, THAT MOVES FORWARD.

THANK YOU, COUNSEL.

NEXT ITEM

[9. Consent Agenda: The Consent Agenda includes routine items that may be acted upon with a single vote. Any council member may remove items from the Consent Agenda for separate discussion and consideration.]

THIS INCLUDES ROUTINE ITEMS THAT MAY BE ACTED UPON WITH A SINGLE VOTE.

ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY REMOVE ITEMS FROM CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION.

COUNSEL, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT TO BE PULLED FOR ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NOT SEEING NONE.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.

UH, CONSENT AGENDA ITEM A, CONSIDER APPROVING THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026, SPECIAL CALLED MEETING, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND FEBRUARY 24TH, 2026, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM B, CONSIDER APPROVING RESOLUTION NUMBER R 26 DASH 7 84 WITH AUTHORIZES THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE OFFICE OF THE TEXAS GOVERNOR FOR THE FIRST RESPONDER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.

ITEM C, CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE MERIT S EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH A ED 1 23 FOR AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATE DEFIBRILLATORS, AEDS MAINTENANCE ITEM D.

CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CHANGE ORDER WITH YEAR OUT ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY L-L-C-D-B-A ENERGY SYSTEMS GROUP FOR DESIGN MANAGEMENT AND RENOVATION OF THE FORMER B WILEY LIBRARY.

COUNSEL, THOSE ARE YOUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. COUNCIL MEMBER SIMS? YES, MAYOR.

UH, I MOVE FOR CONSENT.

AGENDA ITEMS A THROUGH D.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

WE DO HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

AND WE DO HAVE A SECOND.

ALL OF FAVOR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

MOTION MO UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

NEXT ITEM

[a. Consider accepting the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the Single Audit for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.]

ON THE AGENDA IS THE REGULAR AGENDA.

CONSIDER ACCEPTING, I'M SORRY.

TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO, UH, YOUR TEAM FOR THE WORK THAT IT'S DONE.

CONSIDER ACCEPTING THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT AND SINGLE AUDIT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

MR. FOX.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL HERE THIS EVENING.

UH, I HAVE TWO GUESTS WITH ME TODAY.

UH, RACHEL ORME, THE PARTNER IN CHARGE OF OUR AUDIT, AND MEGAN HOLYFIELD, WHO IS THE AUDIT MANAGER ON OUR AUDIT, AND THEY'RE HERE TO PRESENT SOME GOOD NEWS THAT MELISSA IN MENTIONED TO YOU EARLIER IN

[00:30:01]

THE BRIEFING SESSION.

SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO, UH, RACHEL AND MAYOR.

WE LIKE GOOD NEWS FROM AUDITORS.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, CHUCK.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

AS CHUCK MENTIONED, I'M RACHEL AMBE, UH, I SEE SEVERAL FAMILIAR FACES.

I'M YOUR AUDIT PARTNER THAT SERVES YOU ALL.

AND THIS IS MEGAN HOLYFIELD, SHE'S THE AUDIT MANAGER.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS IN FRONT OF YOU IS THE FINAL ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, AS WELL AS THE SINGLE AUDIT.

UM, AND SO JUST A COUPLE OF OF HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU ALL.

WE ARE THREE WEEKS EARLIER THAN LAST YEAR.

SO THAT IS NUMBER ONE, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT.

UM, AND SO I WANNA JUST ONE THANK EVERY DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE CITY.

IT'S VERY MUCH A GROUP EFFORT.

THERE'S A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO PRODUCING, UH, THIS REPORT.

SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

SO, CHUCK, GRACE, ALLISON, MELISSA, ALL, EVERYONE HAD A HAND IN THIS.

SO THREE WEEKS EARLIER, UH, VERY, VERY PROUD.

UM, IN FRONT OF YOU IN THE BOOKS, WE ARE PROUD TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE CITY DID RECEIVE CLEAN UNMODIFIED OPINIONS.

AND SO YOU ACTUALLY RECEIVED THREE SEPARATE OPINIONS FROM US.

THE FIRST ONE IS GONNA BE A CLEAN OPINION ON YOUR OVERALL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ACROSS THE CITY.

YOU ALSO RECEIVED A CLEAN OPINION ON YOUR INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING.

AND THEN THE, BECAUSE THE CITY DOES RECEIVE AND SPEND MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH A SEPARATE COMPLIANCE AUDIT.

AND SO YOU DID GET A CLEAN OPINION ON YOUR COMPLIANCE AUDIT.

ALSO PROUD TO LET YOU KNOW, UH, WE DO A LOT OF WORK.

WE ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND IT'S SIX MONTHS OF HARD WORK, BUT WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY AUDIT FINDINGS.

SO KUDOS TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.

UM, AND THEN, UH, EVERY YEAR, IT'S NOT AN ACCOUNTING AND AUDIT PRESENTATION IF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT GASB.

SO, GASB IS THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD.

THAT IS THE STANDARD BOARD THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW AS A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.

UH, THEY'VE BEEN VERY BUSY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

AND SO JUST FOR YEARS, ALL INFORMATION THE CITY IS UP TO DATE ON ALL GASB PRONOUNCEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED THUS FAR.

AND THEN ONE THING THAT I WANNA POINT OUT, BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES IT DOES GET OVERLOOKED, AND SO IN, IN THE, IN YOUR PACKET IN THE BOOK, THERE IS A, TOWARDS THE FRONT AND A, AN AWARD.

SO THE CITY HAS RECEIVED THE PRESTIGIOUS CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING AWARD FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, I THINK A COUPLE OF DECADES.

AND SO THIS IS JUST A TRUE TESTAMENT, UH, TO THE CITY'S COMMITMENT AND EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING.

UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, WILL ALSO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CITY TO RECEIVE THAT PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR AS WELL.

UH, WE'LL GO BACK AFTER TONIGHT AND WORK WITH THE FINANCE TEAM TO ENSURE THAT THIS REPORT, UM, GETS SUBMITTED TO ALL THE PROPER PLACES.

BUT AGAIN, JUST CAN'T THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENTS ENOUGH.

IT'S A, IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS.

AND OF COURSE, MEGAN, UH, OUR, OUR MANAGER, SHE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LATE NIGHTS, EARLY MORNINGS THAT GO INTO THIS TO ENSURE THAT WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE RELY ON THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF TIMELY DELIVERY.

AND SO, AGAIN, GREAT NEWS, ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL AUDIT SEASON AND KUDOS, UH, TO EVERYONE FOR A GREAT JOB.

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

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL REPORT.

, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS FROM THE, UM, AUDIT COMMITTEE THAT IS APPOINTED, UH, ON THE COUNCIL.

UH, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM ANY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE? COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN? YEAH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I WANNA MAKE, UH, KNOWN AGAIN, AND YOU MADE REFERENCE TO IT IN THERE, THAT, UH, THE CITY CONTINUES TO RECEIVE AND HAS THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCING, UH, FINANCIAL REPORTING.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

UH, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE RECEIVED THAT? DECADES.

YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE NUMBER.

YEAH, I BELIEVE IT.

I BELIEVE IT WAS 27.

I BELIEVE IT WAS 27 YEARS.

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

I HIGHLIGHT THAT.

SO, UH, SO YEAH, MY KUDOS OVER TO THE, THE FINANCE TEAM AND, AND OUR AUDITORS, UH, ON THE COUNT ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN CHAD MCCURDY AND ALAN SIMS. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH THEM.

AND, UH, UH, IT IS, I'M IMPRESSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CLEAN AUDIT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

AND, UH, SO IT'S A TESTAMENT TO, TO THE WORK OF OUR FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT.

SO, SO ALL I SAY VERY WELL SAID, COUNCILMAN.

ANY OTHER QUE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? OH, GO AHEAD.

COUNCIL MEMBER SIMS. THANK YOU.

SO I JUST WANTED

[00:35:01]

UM, WE, I'VE BEEN HERE A LITTLE WHILE AND WE'VE HAD A SERIES OF AUDITORS, BUT I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE THAT'S OPERATED MORE OF A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN YOU ALL AND OUR STAFF, UH, TO GET THIS TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

UM, I DON'T, FOR THE CITIZENS THAT ARE OUT THERE, UH, IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS.

THERE'S SO MUCH CONCERN ABOUT HOW CITIES HANDLE THEIR MONEY, UH, AND ARE, ARE THEY DOING WHAT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF, AS THE CITY MANAGEMENT ETHICAL STANDARDS.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL HAVE ATTESTED TO, THAT THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE IN THIS CITY MEETS OR EXCEEDS EVERY LEVEL.

AND WE'VE GOT A CLEAN, A CLEAN AUDIT.

THAT MEANS THERE ARE NO ISSUES, THERE ARE NO FINDINGS, THERE ARE NO CONCERNS.

AND I, I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE, IT'S GOOD NEWS FOR OUR CITIZENS, BUT I WANNA EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO YOU AS A PARTNER ALONG WITH OUR STAFF, CITY MANAGER AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR MCCURDY.

YES, I'M, I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT TOO MUCH OF WHAT, OF WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT, UH, CON YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND TO, TO CITY STAFF ON, ON ANOTHER, A JOB WELL DONE THIS YEAR.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE BAR IS CERTAINLY SET HIGH, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU GUYS, THE EXPECTATIONS ARE SET HIGH.

I'VE SERVED ON AUDIT COMMITTEES WHERE, UH, WE HAD QUARTERLY MEETINGS AND EVERY QUARTER THERE WAS SOME ISSUE THAT THAT HAD TO BE RESOLVED.

AND THERE'S BEEN SUCH A PLEASURE SERVING ON THE, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY, FOR THE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST, SEE, WHAT HAS IT BEEN EIGHT YEARS NOW? EIGHT, EIGHT YEARS OF, UH, AUDITS THAT I HAVE SERVED THROUGH, UM, EVERY YEAR.

YOU KNOW, I, I'M AMAZED THAT, UH, YOU GUYS SEEM TO IMPROVE A LITTLE BIT ON SOME, I I SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THE FINANCIAL REPORTS EVERY YEAR FROM, FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, UH, WHICH IS, WHICH IS TOUGH TO DO WHEN, UH, YOU'RE ALREADY GETTING RECOGNIZED EVERY YEAR, UH, BECAUSE OF YOUR EFFORTS.

OUR, OUR, OUR CITY HAS THE, THE HIGHEST CREDIT RATING WE COULD, WE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE.

UM, SO JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO, YOU KNOW, TO ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THANK YOU TO, TO, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU GUYS PUT IN ON MAKING SURE THAT, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE, THE GASB STANDARDS ARE MET, THAT, THAT ALL OF THE, THE FINANCIAL REPORTS ARE CLEAN, UM, AND, UH, AND ALL THE HARD WORK EVERYONE PUTS IN.

I JUST WANNA ADD ONE, ONE QUICK THING.

UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE TOO, THAT THE CITY DID GO THROUGH A SYSTEM CONVERSION AND IMPLEMENTATION, UM, ERP FINANCIAL REPORTING SOFTWARE.

SO I THINK THAT'S ALSO OF NOTE, UM, AND JUST ANOTHER TESTAMENT TO CHUCK AND HIS TEAM AND GETTING THIS DONE TIMELY AND CLEAN, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE WORKING WITH THEM.

BUT JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT, .

YEAH, THAT'S VERY, THAT'S A VERY GREAT POINT.

IT'S NO SMALL FEAT TO GO THROUGH AN ERP CONVERSION AND ALSO GET READY FOR AN AUDIT AND ALSO MANAGE THE DAY TO DAY.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST A KUDOS AND A TESTAMENT TO EVERYONE'S HARD WORK AND REALIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT RELY ON THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

YEAH, THANKS FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

UM, THAT JUST SHOWS THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT KNOWING AN AUDIT IS COMING UP.

UM, YOU KNOW, I, YOU AND I HAD MET ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO, I THINK I HAD ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER.

DID YOU EVER FOLLOW UP WITH THAT TO SEE IF, IF WE, WE WAS GONNA MAKE ANY, YOU KNOW, CHANGES OR, UM, DO YOU, DO YOU RECALL THAT CONVERSATION? UM, UM, YEAH, I THINK, I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING ABOUT, UH, MAYBE OUR, UH, MAYBE OUR COMMITTEE, MAYBE OUR COUNCIL APPOINTEES WILL BE A PART OF THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

THE PRE THE PRE-AUDIT? YES.

THE PRE-AUDIT.

BASICALLY THE PRE-AUDIT, YES, YES, YES.

WE WILL ENSURE THAT THAT HAPPENS IN AUGUST.

US FOR TAKING A LITTLE SPRING BREAK, .

YES, YES.

OKAY, PERFECT.

UH, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT'S, UM, UH, PERTINENT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO, UH, LET THE COUNCIL KNOW THAT I WILL BE SWITCHING IT UP.

UH, WE WILL HAVE A NEW AUDIT COMMITTEE.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER I TOOK IT OVER, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME DEFICIENCIES AND THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD TO WORK FOR.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY THE NEW APPOINTEES WOULD BE WALKING INTO A CLEAN AUDIT, AND NOT, NOT GOING THROUGH THE BURN AND THE STRESS THAT SOME OF US HAVE ALREADY HAD.

BUT I JUST WANT US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TO, TO BROADEN OUR WINGS A LITTLE BIT AND KIND OF BRING IN SOME OF OUR NEWER TENURE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND UNDERSTAND WHAT GOES THROUGH THE AUDIT.

SO, UH, FOR THAT ENGAGEMENT LETTER OR THE, OR THE PRE-AUDIT, I'LL BE HAVING ME A NEW COMMITTEE, UH, TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS.

IT'LL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, .

YES, IT WILL.

SO YOUR DEADLINE ESSENTIALLY WAS, UH, THE END OF MARCH.

THE DEADLINE WAS, UH, SO YOU KIND OF HAD A FAST, YOU KNOW, FAST DASH TO BE ABLE TO MEET OUR ONLY MEETING IN MARCH.

SO I HOPE YOU FORGIVE

[00:40:01]

UM, BUT, UH, I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING FLEXIBLE TO BE ABLE TO MEET THIS, THIS TIMELINE FOR THE, TO PRESENT FOR THE COUNCIL BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY GO AND SUBMIT IT TO THE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO WHEREVER IT GOES AFTER THIS.

IT'S SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, SO.

PERFECT.

WE'LL WORK ON ALL THE FOLLOWINGS THIS WEEK.