May 20, 2021 City Council Regular Meeting

GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YES, RANDY WAS RANDY AND I BECAME VERY WELL ACQUAINTED AND DURING FEBRUARY.

ALL RIGHT, GOD FORBID ANOTHER ONE.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

ITEM

[5. Convene into executive session pursuant to Section 551.071, Texas Government Code, and Section 1.05, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Reconvene into open session to take action in the City Council’s discretion regarding Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority.]

FIVE.

WE'RE GOING TO CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION FIVE, FIVE ONE ZERO SEVEN ONE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND SECTION 1.05, TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING CAPITOL METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.

THE TIME IS SIX OH FIVE.

WE ARE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

YEAH.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AT 7:01 PM AND TAKE ACTION IN OUR DISCRETION REGARDING CAPITAL METRO, METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, MAYOR PRO TIM, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? I DO.

THE MOTION IS TO PROCEED WITH PUTTING A CAP, METRO PARTICIPATION ON A BALLOT FOR THE CITIZENS TO DECIDE WE HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND ALL IN FAVOR.

WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN THE WORKSHOP AT SEVEN OH THREE.

NOW I GET TO BANG IT AGAIN.

[6. Open Meeting, Invocation and Pledges of Allegiance.]

TODAY IS THURSDAY, MAY 20TH, 2021.

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN OUR REGULAR MEETING.

THE TIME IS SEVEN OH THREE.

THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE LEANDER CITY COUNCIL.

I WILL BE PROVIDING THE INVOCATION FIRST TIME EVER FOLLOWING THE INVOCATION, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FATHER GUIDE.

WE FIRST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LIVING IN A PLACE FOR, WE HAVE FREEDOM WHERE WE HAVE ELECTIONS, WHERE WE GET TO CHOOSE.

AND WE JUST

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GIVE YOU ALL THE HONOR AND GLORY FOR LETTING US LIVE IN A TOWN LIKE LEANDER, TEXAS FATHER.

THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE GIVEN ME PERSONALLY, OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS OVER THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE GIVEN OUR TOWN.

I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ARENA THAT I LOVE.

AND I JUST ASK YOUR BLESSINGS, GO FORWARD FOR THE CITY, LET IT PROSPER.

LET THE PEOPLE PROSPER AND LET US UNITE AND BE HAPPY IN JESUS NAME.

AMEN.

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

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

ALL RIGHT, MS. CRABTREE, IF YOU COULD DO A ROLL

[7. Roll Call.]

CALL PLEASE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, CATHERINE BATTALION PARKER HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER IN THAT SPAWN CELLAR HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, JASON SHOT HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, CHRISTINE SET REQUEST HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, CHRIS ARNETT HERE.

MAYOR PRO TEM, MARCY CANNON HERE, MAYO, TROY HILL.

HERE.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM SO WE CAN PROCEED.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE

[8. Recognitions/Proclamations/Visitors. Recognition of service Mayor and Councilmember Place 6. Administer Oath of Office to newly elected Mayor and Councilmember Place 6.]

TO ITEM EIGHT, RECOGNITIONS AND VISITORS.

FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

DAN GRINSPOON OH, NO, YOU'RE NOT GETTING OFF THAT EASY.

YOU NEED TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE PLEASE.

UM, MAYOR FIELDER STARTED THIS TRADITION WHERE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY'RE NEW WOULD HAVE TO HUM A LITTLE MELODY OR SEEING THEIR FAVORITE SONG.

SO SINCE HE'S IN ATTENDANCE AND I, IF YOU COULD JUST MAKE HIM HAPPY, PLEASE, UM, UH, MAN, YOU REALLY PUT ME ON THE SPOT THERE OR YOU COULD FIX OUR WATER ISSUES.

THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE EASIER.

I'M GOING TO GO WITH THAT.

HOW'S THAT? UH, YES.

I'M UH, DAN GRIMSBY MODEL, UM, COMING HERE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

QUICK BACKGROUND, UH, 22 YEARS IN, UH, IN THE MILITARY, FIVE YEARS IN THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY AND THEN FIVE AND A HALF YEARS WITH THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI.

UM, AS THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES, UM, BEEN TO A COUPLE, A COUPLE OF NEAT PLACES TO PAN MIDDLE EAST AFRICA.

SO, UH, SOME LITTLE BIT OF WORLDLY EXPERIENCE WITH THE CONSTRUCTIONS AND OTHER AREAS.

SO, UM, IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD.

UM, I'VE BEEN READING SOME REPORTS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING ON BOARD AND MEETING EVERYBODY AND, UH, GETTING INVOLVED WITH, WITH THIS, WITH THE TEAM HERE AND MOVING PROJECTS FORWARD, OR WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE AND WELCOME TO LEANDER.

AH, YES, SIR.

AND THANK YOU AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, WE DO HAVE SOME DIGNITARIES AND ATTENDANCE.

I THINK MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY IS HERE.

NO, UH, WE HAVE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE, UH, REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BUCY THE THIRD IN THE HOUSE, WHEREAS WE HAVE WILLIAMSON COUNTY JUDGE, BILL GARAVEL JR.

WELCOME JUDGE.

WE HAVE FORMER MAYORS, CHRIS FIELDER AND JOHN KALMAN OKAY.

ALSO RECOGNIZING OUR SISTER CITY, UM, CEDAR PARK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND DUFFY AND MALE KIRKLAND.

I ONLY SEE HIM AT STARS GAMES, SO IT'S REALLY ODD SEEING HIM HERE.

ALRIGHT.

AND A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER.

DON TRACY.

PLAQUE IS VERY BREAKABLE AND UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE AND NEXT, UH, MARCY CANNON.

AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO RECOGNITION OF SERVICE.

UH, FIRST I HAVE, UM, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE FOR CHRISTINE SET OR QUIT WITH THIS LOVELY.

OH, THIS LOVELY

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DO WE HAVE A PLAQUE FOR MS. SHE GETS TO, YOU KNOW, UM, MARCI AND I CAME AT, WELL, SHE CAME IN WHEN I GOT ELECTED MAYOR AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT, THERE IS NO COUNCIL MEMBER AND LEE ANDREW'S HISTORY THAT IS UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTANDS OUR CODES AND ORDINANCES LIKE MARCY CANNON.

AND IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS GIFT TO THE COUNCIL TO HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE THAT WHO KNOWS THEM INSIDE AND OUT.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, ZONING IS BORING.

NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO, IT'S, IT'S A LOT TO RECITE AND, UH, UNDERSTAND.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MARCY IS SO GIFTED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE, SHE PUTS THINGS OUT THERE THAT SHE ALREADY KNOWS.

SHE ALREADY KNOWS EVERYTHING, BUT SHE TRIED, SHE ALWAYS TRIED TO MAKE IT WHERE CITIZENS WATCHING OR IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD UNDERSTAND.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I NEVER DID THAT.

YOU KNOW, I JUST, YOU KNOW, HERE'S WHAT IT IS, BUT SHE ALWAYS TOOK THE TIME TO DO THAT.

AND SHE HAS BEEN FAITHFUL TO THE CITY.

SHE HAS LIVED IN THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME.

WELL, RIGHT OUTSIDE IT.

BUT PART OF THE CITY BEEN A PART OF THE CITY AND TRYING TO MAKE THIS CITY WHAT IT IS.

AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

SO, SO THANK YOU.

MARCY, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? IT'S MY TURN TO TALK.

MADE SOME NOTES SO I WOULDN'T LOSE IT.

UM, IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE HONOR TO SERVE THE CITIZENS AND MEET SO MANY MORE AND WE'VE GROWN SO MUCH.

IT'S, IT'S UH, INCREDIBLE.

UH, I I'M REALLY GONNA MISS WORKING WITH MY, UH, STAFF FAMILY IN THE TRENCHES.

I KNOW WE'VE, UH, EXPERIENCED A LOT THROUGH COVID AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS.

UM, I ALSO WANT TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMISSIONER LONG, WHO HAS HELPED US AS WE PARTNER WITH HER ON A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, UM, WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED, NEED THE COUNTY'S COOPERATION AND HELP WITH AND TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE.

CATHERINE, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT.

YOU BRING YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND MEETING WITH YOU JUST ABOUT WEEKLY ON ITEMS. IT'S MEANT A LOT TO ME AND ANNETTE, THE WAY YOU HAVE JUST DIVED IN NO MATTER WHAT WAS THROWN AT YOU, YOU, YOU DOVE IN, UH, JASON DEFINITELY IS MY, UH, MY PARTNER IN THE TRENCHES GOING THROUGH THE CIP SUB COMMITTEE.

UM, CHRISTINE, IT, WE MISSED HAVING YOU HERE DURING COVID.

WE'RE GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK HERE.

AND CHRIS, YOUR COMMITMENT TO HONORING THIS POSITION AND YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.

IT ALWAYS BRINGS ME A SENSE OF STRENGTH.

SO I APPRECIATE IT.

AND LASTLY, TROY, I'VE SEEN HOW HARD YOU'VE WORKED FOR THIS CITY ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, BRIDGET WITH THE CHAMBERS SAID, NO OTHER MAYORS BROUGHT SO MANY BUSINESSES TO OUR CITY AND THAT'S TRUE BECAUSE YOU ACTIVELY PURSUED THEM.

AND THE HOURS THAT YOU POURED IN EVERY DAY, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO GET TO WORK WITH YOU HONESTLY.

AND MY FAMILY'S SUPPORT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST TWICE A MONTH.

IT IS MANY, MANY, MANY HOURS A WEEK AND WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.

SO THAT'S IT.

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, WE HAVE PREPARED SOME REMARKS, BRIEF REMARKS FOR YOU, BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS RECOGNITION IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SITTING UP HERE.

A PONY, MR. MAYOR, MIKE NEW

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UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING DURING YOUR TERM, THESE OTHER COUNCIL, UH, INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT AND THEY'VE BEEN A PART OF THIS GROUP.

SO I, I DO WANT THIS TO BE A RECOGNITION FOR THOSE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CANON THAT IS OUTGOING AND THOSE THAT ARE MOVING INTO NEW POSITIONS.

SO, UM, I'M GOING TO SKIP AHEAD ON THAT ONE MAYOR HILL.

I WANTED TO SHARE OUR SINCERE THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICES.

GREAT CITY FROM YOUR FIRST DAY IN 2015 AS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER TO YOUR LAST DAY IN 2021 IS OUR MAYOR.

YOU HAVE COMMITTED COUNTLESS VOLUNTEER HOURS ON BEHALF OF THE UNDER CITIZENS, BUSINESS OWNERS, PUBLIC PARTNERS, AND FUTURE RESIDENTS.

YOU'VE ALSO FACED A NUMBER OF UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES, CHALLENGES, DEMANDING CONSTANT ATTENTION AT THE SACRIFICE OF MANY ASPECTS OF YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND FAMILY.

ONLY THOSE WHO PROCEEDED YOU AS MAYOR.

AND THOSE WHO SUCCEED YOU AS MAYOR WILL TRULY UNDERSTAND THE BURDENS.

YOU BEARS OUR CHIEF PUBLIC SERVANT, AND YOU ARE BE REMEMBERING.

LAND ARE NOT JUST FOR YOUR CANDID HUMOR, WHICH PROVIDED MUCH NEEDED RELIEF DURING A CRIPPLING PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO FOR LEAVING YOUR MARK WITH YOUR PASSION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU'VE HELPED LANDER CREATE HUNDREDS OF PRIMARY NEW JOBS, PLANTED SEEDS FOR VIBRANT BUSINESS CULTURE IN OLD TOWN LIFTED UP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGH YOUR SUPPORT OF MANY GRANTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS, HELP LOWER OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE EVERY YEAR, WHILE IN OFFICE AND WITNESSED THE START OF LANDERS TWO LARGEST EVER MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS.

BUT I WOULD BE REMISSED IF I DIDN'T IN THIS BEAR SWEET RECOGNITION WITHOUT MENTIONING THE ONE THAT ALMOST GOT AWAY.

THE ONE PROJECT WE KNOW IS NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR HEART.

THE ONE PROJECT I THINK WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF EVERY STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS YOU GAVE AND WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO THIS SPECIAL GROUP TO ASK IF THERE WAS ANY WAY THEY COULD HELP US RECOGNIZE ONE OF THEIR PROUDEST SUPERFANS WITHOUT HESITATION, THEY SAID HAIL.

YES.

SO MAYOR, WE OFFER YOU A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF ATLANTA, TEXAS.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

I HAVE AN APRON, A HAT, AND A NAME BADGE I'D LIKE YOU TO WEAR AVE NEW JOB.

I'LL BE WORKING THE WINDOW AT THE NEW WATER BURGER, PLEASE COME SEE ME.

WOW.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU ONE OF THE FUNNIEST THINGS WAS I WAS DOING THE STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH.

AND SO I WASN'T REALLY SUPPOSED TO SAY THAT WHATABURGER WAS COMING AND, UM, BUT I WANTED TO JUST LIKE KIND OF HINT, YOU KNOW, AND SO THOUGHT, WELL, I'LL JUST RUN TO A, THE QUARTER BURGER IN CEDAR PARK AND, UM, AND GET A DRINK AND I'LL JUST DRINK IT WHEN I'M UP GIVING MY SPEECH.

WELL, I GOT THERE, THEY WERE CLOSED SLACK.

WELL, GREAT.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW? SO THE GUY GOT, SO LITERALLY I'M OUT THERE 30 MINUTES AWAY FROM DOING MY SPEECH, GOING THROUGH THE DUMPSTER TO FIND A CUP AND THE MANAGER CAME OUT AND HE'S LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? AND I EXPLAINED, AND HE'S LIKE, WELL, CAN WE AT LEAST CLEAN IT OUT FOR YOU? AND I WAS LUCKY AGAIN.

YES, PLEASE.

YOU KNOW, SO IT WAS KINDA FUNNY, BUT YEAH, WHAT A BURGER IS A NEAR AND DEAR AND, UH, I, I D I MADE A COMMENT.

AND WHEN YOU MAKE COMMENTS ONLINE, THEN THEY'RE YOURS FOREVER.

SORRY, SCOTT.

UM, AND, UM, I SAID, IF I DON'T GET A WATER BURGER, THEN I DON'T DESERVE TO BE ELECTED, YOU KNOW? SO, UH, HERE WE GO.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S, UH, IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING POPPED UP ON MY CALENDAR THE OTHER DAY.

AND, UH, IT WAS MY SWEARING IN, AND MY FATHER WAS HERE.

UM, HE, HE DIED.

WE WERE AT AN EVENT ACTUALLY FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS AT THE OASIS.

AND, UM, THREE MONTHS AFTER I GOT SWORN IN, BUT YOU KNOW, WHY IS THIS PERSON I'VE EVER KNOWN? I SURE COULD HAVE USED THIS ADVICE THE LAST SIX YEARS, BUT LOOK, I SWORE I WASN'T GOING TO CRY.

GOOD LORD.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A POLITICIAN.

I CAME INTO THIS THING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE CITY TO BUILD A CITY.

IT'S WHAT I LIKE DOING, YOU KNOW, UH, AND THAT'S WHAT I CONCENTRATED ON.

AND I THOUGHT THAT IF WE COULD MAKE A CITY, THAT'S UNLIKE ANY CITY OUT THERE, EVERY SINGLE PERSON, REGARDLESS OF COLOR, REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER, WE COULD ALL ENJOY IT TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW?

[00:20:01]

AND, AND THAT WAS ALWAYS WHAT I FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I HATE PART OF SOME POLITICS, BUT THEY'RE HERE TO STAY OBVIOUSLY, BUT I STILL BELIEVE THAT WE CAN BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK IT'S WITHIN EACH ONE OF US, SO, WELL, GOD, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I'M STILL GONNA LIVE HERE, HOPEFULLY.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, THE SPECIAL, WELL THING HAS BEEN IT'S, IT'S THE TIMES THAT, YOU KNOW, AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY, WHEN I TOOK MY SON TO HILL COUNTRY MINISTRIES, WE'RE HELPING LOAD UP A, YOU KNOW, A TRAILER FULL OF SUPPLIES.

AND I SEE RESIDENTS COMING AND PEOPLE THAT LITERALLY PROBABLY COULDN'T AFFORD TO GIVE WHAT THEY WERE GIVING AND THEY WOULD GO BUY DIAPERS OR SOMETHING.

AND IT, AND IT JUST, IT'S THOSE KINDS OF TIMES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHO ARE YOU REALIZE WHAT PR PUBLIC SERVICE IS ALL ABOUT? AND IT IS SERVING OTHER PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER BEEN GOOD AT THAT KIND OF THING.

SO FOR ME, THIS WAS A WAY THAT I COULD DO IT, BUT IT'S THE FRIENDSHIPS.

AND IT'S SEEING JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE DO REALLY EXTRAORDINARY THINGS THAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST BLESSING TO ME.

AND IT'S THE FRIENDSHIP SQUAD, FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE GUYS ARE, ARE, ARE LIKE A GODSEND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST GOOD PEOPLE.

AND WE HAVE DONE WELL AS A CITY.

DOESN'T MEAN THERE AREN'T ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS AND GUESS WHAT, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE GROWING AS FAST AS WE'RE GROWING.

BUT LOOK, IF I COULD SAY ONE THING TO EVERYBODY, IT'S THAT LET'S KEEP A COMMON GOAL.

LET'S REMEMBER WE'RE NEIGHBORS.

FIRST OF ALL, THE STUFF THAT SAYS IT GETS SAID DURING CAMPAIGNS, OR, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, I MEAN, GOOD LORD JUST DON'T DO IT.

YOU KNOW, JUST BE NEIGHBORLY EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS WITHOUT BEING AN A-HOLE, YOU KNOW, AND JUST REMEMBER THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE JUST PEOPLE THAT ARE UP HERE DOING IT FOR FREE, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS TOWN.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT WITH ME.

SO THE BLESSING HAS BEEN MINE AND I THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT THEIR TRUST IN ME OVER THE YEARS.

AND LET ME DO THIS, YOU KNOW, AND REPRESENT YOU BECAUSE IT'S BEEN AN HONOR.

SO THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

MARYHILL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UM, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US HERE IN THIS ROOM AND THE COUNCIL, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

AND I REALIZE IT'S GOING TO BE REAL HARD TO NOT REACH UP ON THAT WALL AND PULL THAT GAVEL DOWN.

AND, UH, YOU MIGHT WANT TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM SALLY AS WELL.

UM, AND ONE THING I WILL SAY BEFORE I READ THIS IS THAT, UM, WHEN THE TEAM HERE HELPED, UH, RECRUIT ME UP FROM DOWN SOUTH OFF THE SANDBAR, UH, THAT, UH, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT, THAT WERE HERE, MAYOR HILL DID A, A REAL SALES JOB ON ME AS WELL.

SO YOU GOT ME TO COME HERE, STAY HERE THROUGH COVID AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

AND WE'VE GOT SOME VERY REAL NEAT THINGS THAT ARE ARE COMING.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.

THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US.

SO PRESENTING THIS TO YOU AND APPRECIATION OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS, UNFAILING COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF LEANDER, TEXAS, WHILE SERVING AS MAYOR FROM 2018 TO 2021.

HOP AND SHE RUNS INTO PEOPLE.

AND COME DOWN HERE AND GET IT.

IT NEVER FAILS.

I ALWAYS FORGET THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON AND SHE'S STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

AND BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, IT IS LITERALLY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH YOUR FAMILY DOES SACRIFICE.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE A MEETING WHEN THEY HAVE A FOOTBALL GAME AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO FUNNY WHEN YOU KNOW, MY WIFE KNOWS EVERYBODY IN EDUCATION.

EVERYBODY KNOWS SALLY, RIGHT? WE'VE BEEN IN OKLAHOMA CITY AT AN

[00:25:01]

SHE KNOWS, AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SALLY'S HUSBAND.

WELL, WHEN I BECAME MAYOR, SHE BECAME TROY'S WIFE.

SO GUESS WHAT? NOW I GET TO GO BACK TO BEING SALLY'S HUSBAND AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

THANKS.

WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE.

SO NOW I'M GOING TO BE SWORN IN AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE Y'ALL A SORT OF A, AN INTRO OF, OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

UM, TONIGHT IS VERY SPECIAL, NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT IT'S HISTORIC FOR LEANDER.

AND SO, UM, WHERE FAMILY NORMALLY STANDS BEHIND THE PERSON TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE TONIGHT, I HAVE FORMER MAYORS FIELDER AND FORMER AMIR KALMAN WHO WILL BE STANDING WITH ME AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE BUCY WILL BE HOLDING THE BIBLE.

AND, UM, JUDGE GREVILLE OF WILLIAMS COUNTY WILL BE ADMINISTERING THE OATH AND THE BIBLE TONIGHT.

I WANTED TO FIND SOMETHING SPECIAL TO LEANDER.

SO, UM, WE HAVE BEEN VERY BLESSED.

UM, PASTOR HORN AT HILL COUNTRY, BIBLE CHURCH RECENTLY PASSED AWAY AND HIS WIFE, LISA HAS ALLOWED US TO BORROW HIS BIBLE TONIGHT.

SO IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

YEP.

REPRESENTATIVE.

THERE'S A BIBLE COMING A PROMISE REPRESENTATIVE.

THERE'S SOME GOOD MAYORS COMING UP HERE TO COME ON.

WHEN YOU GET EVERYBODY SITUATED, I WANT TO SAY IS A WILLIAMSON COUNTY JUDGE THAT LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS ARE ALWAYS UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT SETS AMERICA.

APART FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD, WE MAY HAVE ADVERSARIAL OR DIFFICULT CAMPAIGNS, BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE PEACEFUL TRANSITIONS.

AND THAT'S WHY WE LIVE IN AMERICA.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HAD GOOD MEN AND WOMEN FIGHT FOR IS A PEACE, PEACEFUL TRANSIT POSITION OF DEMOCRACY.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT.

WOULD YOU NOT AGREE? ALL RIGHT, CHRISTINE, ARE YOU READY? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

REPEAT AFTER ME.

I, CHRISTINE SET REQUEST.

DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY OF LEANDER MAYOR? AND I

[00:30:01]

SO HELP ME GOD, CONGRATULATIONS, MIRROR AND I WOULD REMIND ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS WHAT MY PREDECESSOR REMINDED ME OF THAT THOSE NAME PLATES ARE REMOVABLE AND REPLACEABLE.

AMEN.

WHERE'S BECKY AT, COME ON, BECKY.

HOW ARE YOU? YEAH, YOU'RE GOING TO STAND RIGHT HERE.

YOU'RE GOING TO DO ME A FAVOR THOUGH.

YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THOSE GLASSES OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD BECAUSE THERE'S A CAMERA GUY BEHIND ME AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FAMILY STAND RIGHT HERE BEHIND US.

DID I DO WELL, GUYS, ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU READY TO GO? ARE YOU EXCITED? SO I WANT TO SAY ONE WORD TO YOU INTO OUR NEW MAYOR.

SERVING THE PEOPLE IS A PRIVILEGE.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU OWN, AND IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR A LIFETIME.

IT'S ONLY INTENDED FOR A SHORT TIME.

TAKE THE TIME THAT GOD'S GIVEN YOU AND THAT THE CITY HAS TRUSTED YOU WITH AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND THEN HUMBLY WALK AWAY SOMEDAY WHEN IT'S THE RIGHT TIME.

GOOD WORDS, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

LET'S GO REPEAT AFTER ME.

I, BECKY ROSS DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY OF LEANDER CITY.

COUNCIL PLACED SIX OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE.

SO HELP ME, GOD, CONGRATULATE GOOD.

MARIN COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SERVING.

AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SERVING DURING SOME OF OUR MOST DIFFICULT DAYS.

AND DURING SOME OF OUR BEST DAYS, I WANT TO SAY THIS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT YOUR CITY MANAGER.

HE AND I HAVE HAD SOME AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC IN MATTERS THAT WERE NOT EVEN IN RELATION TO A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE ASSEMBLED IS STRONG.

IT IS GOOD.

DO NOT FORGET WHO YOU SERVE.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM DEMAND YOUR RESPECT.

THEY WERE MAN.

THEY DEMAND YOUR LOYALTY AND THEY DEMAND YOUR STRENGTH.

BUT FOR ALL OF YOU, I WOULD REMIND YOU OF THIS.

WE ALL SERVE GOD, AND IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.

AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO SERVE HERE.

EVEN IN OUR TEXAS, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY WHO SPENT HOURS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR IS HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE HE AND I BELIEVE IN YOU.

AND WE BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY, MOUNT A MIRROR.

IF THERE'S EVER ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED, UH, PLEASE ASK AND DON'T ALWAYS ASK FOR MONEY, BUT YOU CAN ASK FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

GOD BLESS YOU.

AND GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS OKAY.

WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER ROSS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OPENING COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE ELECTION AND, UM, FEEL LIKE I AM THE PERSON TO REPRESENT YOU IN THIS CITY.

I'M EXCITED TO DO IT.

I AM THRILLED TO SEE WHERE THE CITY GOES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

UM, WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP CONTINUING TO MAKE

[00:35:01]

LAND OR BETTER.

SO THANK YOU.

IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME A MOMENT.

UM, WHEN I WAS 22, I HAD MY FIRST CHILD AND THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME REALLY WELL KNOW THAT I AM A CHRONIC OVER-THINKER AND OVER PREPARER AND OVER READER.

SO I SPENT ALL THOSE MONTHS READING EVERY PARENTING BOOK, MAGAZINE, BLOG MESSAGE BOARD, UH, GOING TO ALL THE CLASSES, EVERYTHING.

AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THE MOMENT THE NURSE LAID MY SON IN MY ARMS. AND I LOOKED DOWN AT HIM AND HE WAS SO PERFECT.

AND I LOOKED UP AT THE NURSE IN WHAT MUST'VE JUST BEEN SHEER TERROR AND BLURTED OUT.

WHAT DO I DO? AND THIS MOMENT FEELS SO MUCH LIKE THAT.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH PREPARATION YOU DO, UM, YOU CAN NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE WALKING INTO AND YOU CAN NEVER BE PREPARED ENOUGH.

AND THE WISDOM OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE HERE BEFORE IS INVALUABLE, BUT IT'S STILL WON'T TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND IT FELT FITTING TO ME THAT, THAT I WOULD HAVE THIS SENSE, UM, THIS REMEMBRANCE OF THAT FIRST COUPLE OF MOMENTS OF MOTHERHOOD, BECAUSE BEING THE MAYOR OF A CITY, THAT'S STILL GROWING UP IS NOT SO DIFFERENT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTS THAT WE SHARE GOOD AND BAD.

UM, I'M COMMITTED TO YOU COMPLETELY, AND WE'LL WORRY ABOUT YOU 24 HOURS A DAY WITH EVERY MILESTONE, I'M GOING TO BE YOUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADER.

AND WITH EVERY FALL I'M GOING TO BRING COMFORT AND DO WHATEVER I CAN TO MAKE IT BETTER.

THERE ARE DAYS THAT WE WILL DISAGREE DAYS THAT YOU WILL PUSH BACK AGAINST ME DAYS THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED AND DAYS THAT I LET YOU DOWN, BUT YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE MY HEART.

AND I WILL ALWAYS GIVE YOU MY BEST.

WE WILL CELEBRATE TOGETHER, CRY TOGETHER.

AND NO MATTER HOW ROUGH THE SITUATION GETS, WE'LL BE SUPPORTIVE AND WE'LL GET THROUGH IT TOGETHER.

AND SOMEDAY WHEN YOU'RE BIGGER, YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE ON AND SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO SIT IN THIS CHAIR AND LOVE YOU, BUT I WILL ALWAYS BE PROUD AND HAPPY FOR THIS TIME THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

MY DAUGHTER'S TEXTING ME FROM THE FRONT ROW TO STOP SO AT THIS TIME, BEFORE WE, UM, MOVE ON TO OUR RECEPTION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS, COUNCIL.

I WOULD, UH, MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SUSPEND OUR REGULAR RULES AND ALLOW THE TIME LIMIT OF THREE MINUTES FOR EACH SPEAKER AND ALLOW SPEAKERS WHO HAVE NOT YET SIGNED UP TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR AGAINST MOTION FAILS.