Sep 03, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting

[1. Open Meeting.]

[3. Convene into Executive Session pursuant to:

1. Section 551.071, Texas Government Code, and Rule 1.05, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, to consult with legal counsel regarding proposed settlement of Cause No. 24-0818-C369; DeNucci Constructors, LLC v. City of Leander, et al, in the 368th Judicial District Court, Williamson County, Texas; and
2. Sections 551.071 and 551.076, Texas Government Code, and Section 1.05, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding deployment of security devices and contracts related to security devices; and
3. Section 551.071, Texas Government Code, and Section 1.05, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding agreements regarding Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) and facilities expansion projects, and litigation and agreements related to the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (BCRWWTP); and
4. Section 551.071 and Section 551.087, Texas Government Code, and Section 1.05 Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding the acquisition of properties for public purpose; and to deliberate proposed economic development incentives for one or more business prospects that the governmental body seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body with which the City is conducting economic development negotiations along with consideration of an Old Town Incentive Chapter 380 Agreement(s) for Project EDA-25-007; and
5. Section 551.071, Texas Government Code, and Section 1.05, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding Upper Brushy Creek Water Control and Improvement District (WCID) lower water levels at Lakewood Park lake; and
6. Section 551.072 Texas Government Code, and Section 1.05 Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding the acquisition of properties for public purposes.

[00:00:46]

DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF CAUSE NUMBER 240818-C369. DENUCCI CONSTRUCTORS, LLC VERSUS THE CITY OF LEANDER IN THE 368TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS AND TWO SECTIONS 551.071 AND 551.076 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND SECTION 1.05 TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING DEPLOYMENT OF SECURITY DEVICES AND CONTRACTS RELATED TO SECURITY DEVICES AND THREE. SECTION 551.071 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND SECTION 1.05 TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING AGREEMENTS REGARDING BRUSHY CREEK REGIONAL UTILITY AUTHORITY AND FACILITIES, EXPANSION PROJECTS, AND LITIGATION AND AGREEMENTS RELATED TO THE BRUSHY CREEK REGIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, AND FOR SECTION 551.071 AND SECTION 551.087 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND SECTION 1.05. TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE AND TO DELIBERATE PROPOSED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES FOR ONE OR MORE BUSINESS PROSPECTS THAT THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY SEEKS TO HAVE LOCATE, STAY OR EXPAND IN OR NEAR THE TERRITORY OF THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY WITH WHICH THE CITY IS CONDUCTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, ALONG WITH CONSIDERATION OF AN OLD TOWN INCENTIVE. CHAPTER 380 AGREEMENT FOR PROJECT EDA DASH 25-007 AND FIVE. SECTION 551.071 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND SECTION 1.05 TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT CONDUCT. CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING UPPER BRUSHY CREEK WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, OR WCID. LOWER WATER LEVELS AT LAKEWOOD PARK LAKE AND SIX SECTION 551.072 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND SECTION 1.05 TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES FOR ALL RIGHT. TODAYS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD. AND THE TIME IS NOW 7 P.M. AND THIS

[4. Open Meeting, Invocation, the Police and Fire Honor Guards will present the Colors and lead the Pledges of Allegiance.]

PREPARE TO CARRY COLOR. FIRST.

PLEASE. COLOR. 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. TEXAS. FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. ORDER CODE. HOST THE COLORS.

[00:06:00]

ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM FIVE. CITY SECRETARY CRABTREE, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEVEN CHANG, PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL HERRERA HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

TONY BLAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER ANNETTE SPONSELLER, PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW NADINE HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM BECKY ROSS HERE. MAYOR NICOLE THOMPSON PRESENT QUORUM IS PRESENT AND

[6. Welcome Special Guests and Visitors.]

[7. Public comments on items not listed in the agenda.

Public comments on items listed in the agenda will be heard at the time each item is discussed.

[All comments are limited to no more than 3 minutes (6 minutes if translation is needed) per individual.]]

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO STATE YOUR COMMENT. AND THEN WHEN YOU FINISH, I'LL CALL THE NEXT PERSON. SO WE'LL ASK THAT WE KEEP ALL THE ADDITIONAL NOISE TO A MINIMUM, SO THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SO THE FIRST SPEAKER I HAVE IS LAWRENCE KEPNER AND I. OKAY, GOOD. I WAS LIKE, I KNOW THERE'S SOME PEOPLE IN THE HALL THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET IN YET. SO IF YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. IF YOU STEP TO THE MICROPHONE, BECAUSE WE ARE STREAMING, PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HEAR IT. IS THERE A BUTTON HE NEEDS TO PRESS OR IS IT JUST ON OKAY, AT 2013 COTTON FARM TRAIL IN LEANDER. 7641 HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I DON'T THINK I'LL TAKE THE WHOLE THREE MINUTES, BUT. WELL, I'M HERE TO DO IS TO ASK YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER ADDING PICKLEBALL COURTS TO LEANDER IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION BUDGET. LEANDER, AS YOU KNOW, IS SOMEWHERE, I THINK, BETWEEN 94, 97,000 PEOPLE. NOW

[00:10:07]

THERE'S A NEW COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING IN DIRECTLY BEHIND MY FENCE, AND THE PLANS PUT A DUMPSTER EVEN CLOSER TO OUR HOME. WHEN I ASKED THE PLANNING, THE CITY PLANNING, AS WELL AS THE BUILDER IF IT COULD BE MOVED, THE ANSWER WAS NO, BECAUSE OUR CODE ONLY REQUIRES 20FT OF SEPARATION FROM A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. SO I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO DIRECT STAFF TO DRAFT TWO CHANGES. FIRST, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE INCREASE THE SETBACK BETWEEN COMMERCIAL DUMPSTERS AND HOMES. OUR NEIGHBORS AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND US HAVE ALREADY FIGURED THIS OUT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. GEORGETOWN, CEDAR PARK, MANSFIELD ALL REQUIRE 50FT AND THEY MEASURE IT FROM THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LINE, NOT THE DISTRICT. BOUNDARY. 20FT FROM A DISTRICT LINE CAN ALLOW QUITE A BIT OF LATITUDE AND WHERE TO PLACE A DUMPSTER. SECOND, PLEASE RESTRICT COMMERCIAL COLLECTION NEAR HOMES TO DAYTIME HOURS. WE ALREADY REGULATE THIS FOR RESIDENTIAL TRASH, AND WHEN IT CAN BE PICKED UP AND WE REGULATE IT TO QUIET HOURS, COMMERCIAL COLLECTION IS FAR, FAR LOUDER THAN RESIDENTIAL TRASH COLLECTION, AND IT HAS NO RESTRICTION AT ALL. DALLAS PROHIBITS IT FROM 7 P.M. SORRY, 10 P.M. TO 7 A.M. WITHIN 300FT OF A RESIDENCE. CEDAR PARK, RIGHT NEXT DOOR, LIMITS IT TO 7 A.M. TO 6 P.M. FOR COLLECTION TIMES NEAR RESIDENTIAL ZONES.

AND AUSTIN IS ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW DRAFTING THE SAME TYPE OF LEGISLATION. LEANDER WAS A SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY FOR A WHILE, SO IT HASN'T MATTERED AS MUCH UNTIL NOW. BUT IT DOES MATTER NOW, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO AFFECT MORE AND MORE OF US AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW. I'VE SENT THE CITY COUNCIL A FULL SET OF ORDINANCE CITATIONS, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU. PARTICULARLY MR. CHANG AND MR. AND MRS. SPONSELLER FOR YOUR RESPONSES. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. DO I HAVE MORE? OKAY, WE JUST HAVE. YOU'LL GIVE ME THE REST FOR LATER. OKAY. SO THAT IS ALL WE HAVE FOR OUR

[8. Recognitions/Proclamations/Visitors.

• Proclamation recognizing September 11, 2026, as Patriot Day and concurrently as the National Day of Service and Remembrance.
• Proclamation recognizing the month of September as Emergency Preparedness Month.

[00:15:01]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I THANK THE HONOR GUARD IS GOING TO COME AND BE PRESENTED WITH THE PROCLAMATION. AND WE'LL GO DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE. YEAH.

AT THAT TIME WE CAN WAIT. OKAY. GOOD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

[00:20:20]

THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED. I, MAYOR NICOLE THOMPSON, DO HEREBY DECLARE SEPTEMBER 2026 IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN. GO TO WARREN, CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG TO REGISTER TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY ALERTS AND WORK AS A TEAM TOWARDS THAT END. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF LEANDER TO BE AFFIXED ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2026. THANK YOU. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MAYOR, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON PREPAREDNESS MONTH. IT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. SO MUCH SO THAT I DECIDED TO GET A JOB DOING IT FULL TIME. SO. AND YOU DO AN AMAZING JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IN THE CITY IS WE'VE APPROACHED THIS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT ASPECTS. NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR OUR STAFF IS PREPARED AND TAKING THE CORRECT TRAINING CLASSES FOR THAT. WE'VE ALSO HAD OUR COUNCIL TAKE CLASSES FOR THAT AS WELL, SO THEY CAN BE AWARE. AND WE'VE ALSO APPROACHED IT FROM THE ANGLE OF HAVING OUR CITIZENS TAKE CLASSES AS WELL. SO WE DO HAVE A LEANDER CERT PROGRAM, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM PROGRAM THAT ANY CITIZEN REALLY IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY IS ELIGIBLE TO BE A PART OF. SO YOU GUYS CAN COME AND MEET WITH US. WE MEET TWICE A MONTH, MOST MONTHS, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME AND PARTICIPATE THERE. I AM WANTING TO DO A SHAMELESS PLUG ON SATURDAY. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR VERY FIRST PARTNERS IN PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FAIR AT HAZEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THAT WILL BE FROM 9 A.M. TO 12 P.M.

AND SO EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO COME AND PARTAKE IN THAT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT VENDORS THERE. WE'VE GOT ABOUT 40 OR SO. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FIRE TRUCKS AND POLICE CARS AND MOUNTED POLICE, AND WE TRY TO GET A HELICOPTER, BUT THEY HAD SOME OTHER THINGS THEY HAD TO DO. SO WE COULDN'T GET THAT. BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SAINT DAVID'S HOSPITAL IS GOING TO BE THERE AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING YOUTH BIKE HELMET FITTING. SO THAT'S GOING TO HELP. AND SO THERE'S IF YOU GOT KIDS WHO NEEDS A BIKE HELMET, THEY'LL THEY'LL FIT THEM FOR BIKE HELMET. SO BUT THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU GUYS TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO IT'S SATURDAY AT HAZEL ELEMENTARY FROM 9 TO 12. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRE-REGISTER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. YOU DO NOT NEED. IT'S FREE TO COME AND PARTICIPATE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL KINDS OF FREE GIVEAWAYS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO COME PREPARED TO GET SOME NICE SWAG AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOUR FOLKS. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING ADVERTISED ON THE CITY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S FACEBOOK PAGE. SO IF YOU GUYS CAN GO THERE AND LOOK FOR THAT AS WELL. EXCELLENT. WELL THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT

[00:25:02]

THAT'S FINE. OKAY. LET'S DO IT. ALL RIGHT. YOU WANT.

THIS IS A LITTLE OFF TOPIC, BUT I SEE A LOT OF YELLOW SHIRTS. BUT I'M AN OLD LADY AND I CANNOT READ THE WHAT'S ON IT. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I, I CAN'T READ WHAT YOUR GROUP IS, BUT WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING IN ATTENDANCE IN NUMBERS I YOU CAN SEE YOU CAN READ THAT. OKAY, WELL, CLEARLY I NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DOCTOR BECAUSE IT'S NOT

[ CONSENT AGENDA: ACTION]

[26. Conduct a Public Hearing regarding Comprehensive Plan Case CPA-26-0020 to adopt the Stormwater Master Plan to be included in the Comprehensive Plan, Leander, Williamson and Travis Counties, Texas.

• Discuss and consider action regarding Comprehensive Plan Case CPA-26-0020 as described above.

ITEM 26 CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CASE C-26-0020 TO ADOPT THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN. TO BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. LEANDER WILLIAMSON AND TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ROBIN GRIFFIN, OH. OKAY. WELL, NOT ROBIN GRIFFIN, SORRY. ON BEHALF OF ROBIN, MY NAME IS I'M THE ASSISTANT CITY ENGINEER FOR CITY OF LEANDER AND ALSO THE FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR. AND THIS IS A SHORT PRESENTATION. WE'VE HAD A WORKSHOP BEFORE AND A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THAT. SO STORMWATER MASTER PLAN THAT HAS A PUBLIC HEARING RIGHT NOW. AND DAVID CLARK IS OUR CONSULTANT WHO WORKS WITH ENGINEERING, AND THEY PREPARED A SHORT PRESENTATION FOR EVERYONE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY FEEDBACK FROM ANYBODY IN THIS PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU. SO THERE IS A SHORT PRESENTATION. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. GO FOR IT. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT NICE AND SHORT. YOU GUYS SAT THROUGH THE FULL SPIEL. THIS WILL BE THE SIXTH TIME THAT I PRESENT ON THIS ITEM, WHETHER THIS BODY OR OTHERS. IN FACT, LAST WEEK WE TOOK THIS PRESENTATION TO THE TEXAS FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS ASSOCIATION AND HAD A 30 MINUTE SEMINAR TO HELP OTHER CITIES THAT ARE PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR STORMWATER PLAN. SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT THE CITY OF OF CITY OF LEANDER HAS EVER PUT TOGETHER, WE LEARNED A LOT OF REALLY GOOD LESSONS, AND WE WANTED TO PASS THOSE ON TO THE OTHER COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS AFFECTED BY FLOODING. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND FOR BEING A MODEL FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. JUST TO GIVE EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE, THERE'S SLIGHTLY MORE PEOPLE HERE THAN WERE LAST TIME. BUT TO GIVE FOLKS AN IDEA, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST LOOKING AT WHERE THINGS FLOOD. THIS WAS A TWO YEAR PROCESS THAT BEGAN BACK IN 2024. DURING THAT TIME, WE HAD TWO MAJOR FLOODING EVENTS. AS EVERYONE KNOWS, LAST YEAR, 2025, JULY, JULY 4TH WEEKEND, AND THEN OF COURSE, THIS SUMMER AS WELL, SEVERAL FLOODING EVENTS. THOSE HELP US IN PUT TOGETHER THE AREAS OF INTEREST THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PLANS. EXCUSE ME, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS RESULTING IN 76 AREAS OF OF INTEREST AROUND THE CITY TOP 45 OF WHICH WE'VE STUDIED FOR CONCEPTUAL LEVEL PROJECTS, TOP 16 OF WHICH WE RECOMMEND BECOMING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS I'VE PRESENTED BEFORE, THE THE AREAS OF INTEREST WERE FIRST RANKED BASED ON FLOOD RISK. FIRST AND FOREMOST, BASED ON FLOOD RISK.

THEN WE LOOKED AT FACTORS AFFECTING THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. THE TOP 16 PROJECTS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED FOR CIP ARE A TOTAL OF $14 MILLION, AND ALL 45 OF THE CONCEPTUAL PLANS THAT WE RAN THROUGH ARE JUST UNDER $40 MILLION. SO DEFINITELY SPACING THOSE OUT WITH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR EACH EACH

[00:30:01]

WE'LL GO BACK, ANALYZE AND WE'LL KIND OF GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN AND NOT THE WHOLE THING. I MEAN, I GUESS WE GO THROUGH THE WHOLE THING, BUT WE WILL ACTUALLY THEN BUBBLE UP OTHER THINGS. BUT WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS, IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE POPPING UP, YOU GUYS WILL MOVE THEM UP THE LIST AND YOU HAVE A PROCESS NOW TO DO THAT. AND, AND THEREFORE WE CAN ADAPT TO WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. SO THAT'S CORRECT. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THAT I DO LIKE THE PRESENTATION RELATED TO THE DIFFERENT ITEMS AND ALL THE DETAIL ON IT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY USEFUL THAT YOU GUYS WENT OUT AND DID. I THINK THERE'S LIKE 100 OF THEM. THERE'S QUITE A FEW. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. APPRECIATE IT. PLACE FOR I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS FIRST EVER STORMWATER MASTER PLAN. OUTSIDE THE FIRST 16 PROJECTS. RIGHT? THE REST ARE KIND OF ON HOLD. RIGHT? SO THE TEXAS WATER

[00:35:07]

ARE WE INCORPORATING ANY OF THOSE INTO THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO RIGHT AWAY OR MOVING FORWARD? HOW CAN WE INCORPORATE THEM INTO SOME OF THESE FLOOD ISSUES? BECAUSE, YEAH, THOSE ARE EXCELLENT QUESTIONS THROUGH THE TOP 16 AND THE TOP 45, SEVERAL PROJECTS DO HAVE ELEMENTS THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY INCLUDE NATURAL RESPONSE ITEMS, NATURAL STREAM RESTORATION PROJECTS, PLANNING AND ZONING. COUNCIL ALSO BROUGHT UP EITHER TRAINING OR DOCUMENTATION OR SOME SORT OF PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT CONTRACTORS ARE AWARE OF INVASIVE SPECIES, AS WELL AS IMPORTANT RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS. SO WE DON'T JUST GO INTO A CREEK, RIP EVERYTHING OUT, AND POUR CONCRETE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CREATING SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CRITTERS THAT LIVE IN THE WATER, BECAUSE THEY MAKE THE AIR THAT WE BREATHE. FIVE TO DOVETAIL ON THAT, I HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SPONSLER WITH REGARDS TO URBAN FOREST CODES AND CREATING PERHAPS A STANDALONE URBAN FOREST CODE THAT WOULD INTEGRATE WITH THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN. I WISH WE'D HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING EARLIER, BECAUSE IT COULD ADD SOME QUESTIONS AND SEE IF THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO MAYBE EVEN KIND OF INTEGRATE THAT INTO THE WORK THAT YOU WERE DOING AT THE TIME.

THAT SAID, THERE'S NOTHING THAT RESTRICTS US FROM DOING THAT IN THIS DOCUMENTATION. WE CAN MAKE THOSE AMENDMENTS AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME, EVEN WITH THE 15 TO 16 PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED, IF WE SO SEE BENEFIT TO DOING SO, IS THAT CORRECT? CERTAINLY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU AND GREAT WORK. THIS IS REALLY, REALLY WELL DONE. THANK YOU. SIX. OH, GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE THE ACTION UNTIL SEPTEMBER 17TH. AND I HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 27. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING

[27. Conduct a Public Hearing regarding Zoning Case Z-26-0246 to amend the current zoning of Interim SFR-1-B (Single-Family Rural) to LC-2-A (Local Commercial) on one (1) parcel of land 3.85 acres ± in size, more particularly described by Williamson Central Appraisal District Parcel R549068; and generally located southeast of the intersection of Kauffman Loop and CR 267, Leander, Williamson County, Texas. 

• Discuss and consider action regarding Zoning Case Z-26-0246 as described above.

[28. Conduct a public hearing regarding the adoption of an updated Service and Assessment Plan (SAP) for Calendar Year 2026 for the Oak Creek Public Improvement District (District) and updated assessment roll to apportion assessment levied against property located in the District among subdivided lots.

• Discuss and consider action on an Ordinance adopting an updated Service and Assessment Plan for Calendar Year 2026 for the Oak Creek Public Improvement District as described above.

THE IMPACT OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS. THEY'VE BEEN NOTIFIED VIA POSTCARD AND IN THE

[00:40:05]

THE DEVELOPER HAD HAD PUT THESE IMPROVEMENTS IN PLACE. AND THIS IS A MECHANISM TO COLLECT THESE THAT GO BACK TO REIMBURSE THAT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. IS THAT SATISFACTORY? OKAY. VERY GOOD. SO THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM, A MOTION TO APPROVE. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM 29. CONDUCT

[29. Conduct a Public Hearing regarding an updated Service and Assessment Plan (SAP) for Calendar Year 2026 for the Deerbrooke Public Improvement District (District) and an updated assessment roll to apportion assessments levied against property located in the District among subdivided lots.

• Discuss and consider action on an Ordinance adopting an updated Service and Assessment Plan for Calendar Year 2026 for the Deerbrooke Public Improvement District as described above.

COUNCIL IS STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WOULD CALL ON SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SUBMITTED CARDS, BUT AS NONE HAVE SUBMITTED CARDS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED, AND WE'LL DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION ON THE ORDINANCE. ADOPTING AN UPDATED SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026 FOR THE DEERBROOK PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. COUNCIL. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AND NOW

[30. Conduct a public hearing regarding the adoption of an updated Service and Assessment Plan (SAP) for Calendar Year 2026 for the Crystal Springs Public Improvement District (PID) and an updated assessment roll to apportion assessments levied against property located in the District among subdivided lots, and to adjust boundaries between assessable and non-assessable lots.

• Discuss and consider action on an Ordinance adopting an updated Service and Assessment Plan for Calendar Year 2026 for the Crystal Springs Public Improvement District as described above.

ALL RIGHT. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WOULD CALL ON SPEAKERS WITH SUBMITTED CARDS.

BUT AS WE HAVE NONE TONIGHT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED, AND WE'LL DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION ON AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN

[00:45:02]

[31. Discuss and consider action on an Ordinance providing for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to assume the duties of the Historical Preservation Commission and the Public Arts and Culture Commission; abolishing the Historical Preservation Commission and the Public Arts and Culture Commission; changing the name of the new board to Parks, Recreation, and Arts Advisory Board moving the definition of "Culture" from the duties to the definitions section of Section 4.14.001, Division 1, Article 1.14, Public Arts Program; authorizing the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to create subcommittees to carry out board duties; making finding of fact; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date and open meetings clause.]

WHAT MANY OF YOU ARE HERE FOR TONIGHT. AND I WILL SAY I KNOW WE HAVE SOMEONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 31, AND I WILL CALL YOU FOR IT IN A MINUTE. BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, I THINK THERE IS MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THIS ORDINANCE. AND I, I WILL ASK COUNCIL IF THEY AGREE. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE POSTPONED TO GIVE STAFF MORE TIME TO WORK THROUGH THIS.

THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. THE WAY WE PASSED IT PREVIOUSLY, AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE GUIDANCE ON 31. BUT 31 IS I'LL READ IT. IT'S VERY LONG. 31 IS DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION ON AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD TO ASSUME THE DUTIES OF HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION ABOLISHING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION. CHANGING THE NAME OF THE NEW BOARD TO PARKS, RECREATION AND ARTS ADVISORY BOARD. MOVING THE DEFINITION OF CULTURE FROM THE DUTIES TO THE DEFINITION SECTION OF SECTION 4.14.001. DIVISION ONE. ARTICLE 1.14 PUBLIC ARTS PROGRAM AUTHORIZING THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD TO CREATE SUBCOMMITTEES TO CARRY OUT BOARD DUTIES, MAKING FINDING OF FACT, PROVIDING FOR SEVERITY, SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND OPEN MEETINGS CLAUSE. CITY ATTORNEY PAGE SIGNS. I HAVE YOU GIVING A PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL DO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER THAT.

I KNOW THAT WAS A MOUTHFUL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE SO THE BOARD ORDINANCE. YES. WELL, WHAT IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF DUTIES INTO ONE BOARD, WHICH WOULD BE THE PARKS BOARD, THE ORDINANCE THAT IS IN THE THE BACKUP MATERIAL PROVIDES THAT THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION WOULD BE ABOLISHED. THE. THE PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION WOULD BE ABOLISHED, AND THE DUTIES OF EACH OF THOSE BOARDS WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THE PARKS BOARD AND THE PARKS BOARD RENAMED. ACCORDINGLY, THOSE DUTIES ARE CONSOLIDATED UNDER THE PARKS BOARD. THE PARKS BOARD IS AUTHORIZED TO CREATE SUBCOMMITTEES TO ASSIGN WORK TO SMALLER GROUPS TO CARRY OUT THE DUTIES OF THAT BOARD AS DETERMINED APPROPRIATE. THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM STILL SURVIVES. THAT PART OF THE ORDINANCE HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED OR ABOLISHED. THE PART OF THE ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHES THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT FUNCTIONS STILL REMAINS IN EFFECT. IT JUST ASSIGNS THE MANAGEMENT AND THE DUTIES TO CARRYING OUT, TO CARRYING OUT THAT PROGRAM TO THE THAT THE THE NEW PARKS BOARD THAT DEALS WITH PARKS, ART AND HISTORICAL MATTERS. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER. I WILL NOTE THAT THIS ORDINANCE THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU DOES NOT CHANGE THE COMPOSITION OF THE PARKS BOARD.

IT DOES NOT INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SEATS. SO THAT IS SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF. IN THE EVENT THAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON ITEM 31, RANDY BACHMAN. IF YOU COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. OH, IF YOU CHECK OUTSIDE. YEAH. I CAN'T HEAR IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

GOTCHA. BRANDIE BURTON. YES I WAS NO THAT'S OKAY. WE KNOW IT'S A LOT GOING ON. YOU'RE ON ITEM 31 AND YOU'RE AGAINST. I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS ONE. OKAY. SORRY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. WELL, THIS WE'LL JUST READ IT INTO THE RECORD ITEM 31 AGAINST THAT

[00:50:07]

YEAH. SO WE HAD TALKED ABOUT REALLY KIND OF A BROAD SET OF THREE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE THERE. AND SO WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN OUR MIND, IT WAS LIKE, OKAY, WE'RE BRINGING THESE THINGS TOGETHER. AND AS WE HAVE SPOKEN AND WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE CONVERSATION AND IT'S LIKE, OKAY, THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE COMING FROM THAT WE REALLY WERE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO CREATE A NEW BOARD THAT HAD A BLEND AND WAS, AND WAS REALLY KIND OF WEAVING THOSE THINGS TOGETHER. SO WE HAVE BEEN, WELL, WE, DARRAH AND PAGE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING THE LAST COUPLE DAYS TO REALLY KIND OF BEGIN TO BRING A DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT BETTER REFLECTS THAT. SO WE WOULD BE READY TO BRING IT BACK TO YOU ON THE 17TH, IF THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO DO. OKAY. BECAUSE I THE THE GOAL DEFINITELY WAS NOT TO GET RID OF OUR ARTS PROGRAM AND TO GET RID OF OUR HISTORY PROGRAM. IT WAS DEFINITELY TO COMBINE THEM. AND THEY ALL WORKED TOGETHER AND BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND WE THOUGHT WE HAD NAILED IT PERFECTLY. SO. WELL, NO, I'M JUST I'M JUST SAYING, WHEN I, WHEN I ORIGINALLY READ IT, I WAS LIKE, WHOA, THIS IS NOT WHAT I RECALL AND WHAT I REMEMBER. YEAH, BUT PLACE ONE DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? IF NOT, I'LL GO TO THE PLACE. OKAY.

PLACE TWO I'M SORRY. OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, PARKS THEIR WHOLE BOARD. BASICALLY THEIR TERM EXPIRES IN OCTOBER. IS THAT RIGHT? AND SO ALL NINE OF THEM WILL BE OFF SEVEN. OKAY. AND THEN WE HAVE LPAC. WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE COMING OFF OF THAT. WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE COMING OFF HISTORICAL PRESERVATION. AND THEN WE HAVE THEY'RE HAVING STRUGGLES MAKING QUORUM. SO I, I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT IS I THINK THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT BLENDING THEM TOGETHER AND THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME BACK IN EVERYTHING. BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKE, HEY, LET'S TAKE, LET'S SHOVE THEM ALL TOGETHER AND END UP WITH SIX PEOPLE. SIX. OR HOW MANY WOULD IT BE? IT WOULD JUST BE NINE IF YOU DID THREE FROM EACH BOARD, RIGHT? BUT THE ONE IS GONE. AND SO WE HAVE WE HAVE OUR PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH AND WHICH BOARD IS ON THE PARKS BOARD PARK, ALL THE PEOPLE ON PARKS, THEY EXPIRE AT THE SAME TIME. OH, YOU MEAN TECHNICALLY THERE IS NO MEMBER FOR IT AFTER OCTOBER. GOT IT. AND SO AND SO I THINK THAT IT, I THINK THE PROCESS SHOULD BE IS THAT WE RECONSTITUTE THE BOARD, BUT WE GIVE WE INTERVIEW THE PEOPLE THAT FROM THOSE BOARDS THAT ACTUALLY WANT TO BE ON THEM AND RECONSTITUTE THE BOARD WITH THE IDEA THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEES ARE WILL BE SOMETHING THAT IS ONE OF THEIR FIRST BOARDS OF ACTION WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY FORM THE BOARD IS TO CREATE THOSE THAT HAVE THOSE FOCUSES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE ORDINANCE, I DID NOT SEE AN EMPHASIS OR A BREAKING OUT OF HOW EVENTS WOULD HAPPEN. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND LPAC DO ARE EVENTS. THEY. THEY COME, THEY HELP. THEY ASSIST WITH THE THE MASON DAYS.

THEY DO STUFF WITH THE SPIRITS OF BAGHDAD. AND THEN YOU HAVE LPAC DOES MLK JUNETEENTH AND

[00:55:04]

AND THE FOCUS GROUPS ARE THE KEY TO THAT. THEY'RE ALSO GOOD TO DO FOR PLANNING, AS WE HAVE LAID OUT ALREADY. BUT I THINK THE THING WE'RE MISSING IN 32 IS THAT WE HAVEN'T PUT FORTH HOW WE'RE GOING TO GATHER ALL THE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO DO THESE EVENTS. MLK, JUNETEENTH ART FEST HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF ALL THE CITIZENS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THAT AND THE VISION THEY BRING TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING. AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THAT.

AND AND SO WHILE I'M IN AGREEMENT THAT WE WANT THAT CONTINUITY, I THINK WE WILL GET IT. I THINK THAT THAT'S I THINK I THINK WE WILL GET IT. I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO TIE 3132 TOGETHER AND KIND OF WORK THROUGH THAT. SO THAT'S JUST MY STATEMENT FOR THAT. YEAH, I'M OKAY DOING THAT. BUT AND I HAD SENT A LIST OF QUESTIONS WHEN THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA LAST MEETING, AND IT INCLUDED CLARIFICATION FOR WHAT HAPPENS TO JUNETEENTH AND MLK FUNDING, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AN LPAC EVENT. THEY WERE HELPING TO PUT IT TOGETHER. I THINK IT GOES BACK TO JUST THE SPECIAL EVENTS DEPARTMENT THAT DOES JULY 4TH. LIKE THAT'S ORIGINALLY WHERE IT WAS. IT WASN'T ORIGINALLY LPAC HELPING WITH IT. THAT CAME, I THINK, A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, BUT THERE WAS NOT REAL CLEAR CLARIFICATION WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN I HAD ALSO, I KNOW YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER, AND MAYOR PRO TEM ROSS PROBABLY REMEMBER LPAC HAD A REAL DIFFICULT TIME A FEW YEARS AGO, AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN BEFORE YOU, BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE HERE DESCRIBING WHAT CULTURE WAS THAT? THAT TOOK A LOT OF. OKAY, THEN THAT WAS BEFORE YOU. THEY HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THAT DEFINITION. AND SO I DID HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR THAT, THAT I HAD SUBMITTED TO STAFF AND ALSO A NAME SUGGESTION TO STAFF FOR LEANDER HERITAGE, RECREATION AND CULTURE BOARD THE OTHER WAY STILL KIND OF LED WITH PARKS.

AND SINCE THEY WERE A COMBINED BOARD, I. IT WAS JUST MY SUGGESTION. OF COURSE, COUNCIL WILL DETERMINE WHAT THEY FEEL IS BEST, BUT I HAD SOME SIMILAR QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW DOES THIS GET SET UP? AND WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT CLEARER BECAUSE WE TABLED SOME THINGS AT OUR LAST MEETING. THESE HAD TO BE ON THE AGENDA AT THIS TIME, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR TO GIVE STAFF MORE TIME TO WORK THROUGH IT BY POSTPONING IT OUT A LITTLE BIT LATER. PLACE FOR NO COMMENT, PLEASE. FIVE I JUST WANT TO ECHO COUNCILMAN HERRERA'S COMMENTS. I, I, I AGREE WITH HIM LARGELY IN THE FACT THAT THE 31 AND 32 REALLY KIND OF THEY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER. THIS IS REALLY KIND OF ONE SCOPE AND NOT NECESSARILY TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. I ALSO, YOU KNOW, LANGUAGE IS A FUNNY THING AND WE'RE NOT REALLY ABOLISHING ANYTHING. IT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY, REALLY HARSH TERM, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND IT CAN BE MISINTERPRETED AS SUCH. SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION. THIS IS A REEVALUATION AND A REORGANIZATION OF THESE PARTICULAR COMMITTEES FOR EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY AND CAUSAL PURPOSE. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. BUT SOMETIMES SOME OF THE LANGUAGE GETS IN THE WAY. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT WE'RE NOT ABOLISHING ANYTHING. WE'RE JUST REORGANIZING THE WAY WE DO THINGS AND IT'S TO BENEFIT YOU. SO HOPEFULLY IF WE GET IT RIGHT, WE COULD GET IT WRONG, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT. WELL, DON'T SAY THAT. WELL, IT CAN HAPPEN. IT'S TO GET IT RIGHT. HEY, FAILURE IS AN OPTION. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD SAY THAT. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET IT RIGHT ANYWAY. BUT YES, THANK YOU, PRO TIM. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO DO YOU. CITY MANAGER. PARDON NEED US TO PROVIDE ANY DIRECTION AROUND THE NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS. I KNOW YOU SAID THERE WAS SEVEN LISTED IN THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WAS IN THE PARKS BOARD. BUT SINCE THIS IS A CREATION OF A COMBINED SITUATION. RIGHT. SO LET ME KIND OF GIVE YOU A DESCRIPTION WHERE WE'RE GOING, OKAY, IF WE'RE HITTING THE RIGHT PATH. YES. OKAY. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT NINE MEMBERS AND THEY WOULD BE SERVING A THREE YEAR STAGGERED TERMS. YES. SO SO THEN WE WOULD HAVE A TRANSITION PROCESS. AND SO WE'LL THEN DECIDE WHO FOR WHO DOES THE FIRST YEAR. THEN THERE'LL BE A TWO YEAR. THERE'LL BE A THREE YEAR TO GET THINGS ROLLING. OKAY. THERE'S GOING TO BE A SPECIFICATION ABOUT 12 OR SO KIND OF BACKGROUND PREFERENCES THAT WE

[01:00:03]

AND SOME OF THESE THINGS CAN BE VERY HIGHLY TECHNICAL COMPONENTS, BUT THAT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT WE HAD PREVIOUS, LIKE LPAC, THEY HAD A REQUEST FOR ART TEACHERS OR DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN MUSEUM WORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT. CORRECT. SO WE ANCHORED THOSE RECOMMENDED SECTIONS, I THINK 12 DIFFERENT KIND OF QUALIFICATIONS WE'RE LOOKING FOR. SO THAT WAS KIND OF BUILT OUT OF THE THREE DIFFERENT ORDINANCES THAT ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT WERE THERE. AND SO AND THEN WE'VE KIND OF PULLED TOGETHER KIND OF A VARIETY OF THINGS. SO LOOKING AT KIND OF SOME OF THE CORE COMPONENTS OF THE PARK BOARD.

SO THOSE ARE KIND OF PULLED OUT AND REPRESENTED THERE. THE CORE COMPONENTS OF THE HPC ARE PULLED OUT AND REPRESENTED. AND LIKEWISE FOR LPAC. SO AND THEN IT DOES GO THROUGH A PROCESS THEN TO LOOK AT CONTINUATION OF EVENTS. SO ALL THE CITY EVENTS THAT THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH WILL CONTINUE THERE, CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTED, AND THEY'VE COME OUT OF THE PARK AND REC FUND OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. SO THAT CONTINUES AND MOVES FORWARD. AND THEN SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS FOR THE PARK BOARD TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INPUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL, THINGS LIKE OUR FACILITY PLANNING, OUR PROGRAMING NEEDS, AND REALLY ALSO LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET AND, AND COMPONENTS LIKE THAT. SO REALLY CREATING THAT BOARD TO REALLY, REALLY BEEF UP AND DO A LOT OF THOSE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS. SO IF THAT'S SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE WHERE WE WANT TO GO, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE ABOUT 90% BUILT THERE. THAT SOUNDS PERFECT. AND DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY OTHER. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. YES, MA'AM. I'M SORRY.

CAN YOU. BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING READY TO ADVERTISE FOR OUR OTHER BOARDS. IT'S OUR TIME FOR APPOINTMENTS. ARE YOU WISHING FOR US TO ADVERTISE FOR THIS, FOR NEW MEMBERS, OR JUST STRICTLY CONSULT WITH EXISTING MEMBERS ON THE BOARDS COUNCIL? I'D OPEN UP TO EVERYONE.

EVERYONE? EVERYONE THEN? YES, MA'AM. AND THE OTHER COMPONENTS WE ADDED IN. THIS IS THE ART PROGRAM AND THE BUDGET FOR IT. OKAY. AND THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD TO COUNCIL WAS, IS THERE SOME DIRECTION THAT YOU GUYS HAVE AROUND NAMING OR YOU JUST WANT WHATEVER STAFF BRINGS BACK AND THEN WE CAN JUST ACCEPT OR NOT ACCEPT? CAN YOU ALL COME UP WITH A FEW OPTIONS? MAY BE AND SEE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DOES THAT GIVE ENOUGH? YES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD REACH BACK OUT TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS AND ASK THEM IF THEY WANT TO SERVE AND WHAT TERM THAT THEY WOULD PREFER. YOU KNOW, DO YOU WANT TO DO ONE OR 2 OR 3 YEAR? SO WE'LL INCLUDE THAT WITH THAT OUTREACH AS WELL. AND I THINK DORA. SO IF WE DON'T REPLACE MEMBERS, DON'T THEY REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL. OR ARE THEY TERMINATING.

OKAY. OKAY. GOT IT. OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM 30 OR POSTPONE ITEM 31 TO OUR NEXT MEETING TO GIVE STAFF MORE TIME TO CREATE A BETTER PLAN THAT WE ALL CAN GET BEHIND AROUND THAT. I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

[32. Direction to City staff to establish an annual process to solicit community input that would lead to an annualized focus group screening process.]

[01:05:08]

SO THOSE ARE THE COMPONENTS. OKAY. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL TO AT LEAST ONE? GOOD. OKAY. PLEASE DO I DO. SO I MEAN, ONE OF THE REASONS THIS IS IMPORTANT, I THINK YOU KIND OF HIT IT ON THE HEAD, IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THIS PROCESS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING TO US NOW IS WE'RE KIND OF GROWING, IS THAT WE'RE HAVING WE HAVE SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT WHERE IT'S NOT PART OF OUR PLAN, BUT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO FUND SOMETHING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S CULTURAL, WHATEVER. AND THE THING IS, IS THAT IF WE FOLLOW THE PROCESS THAT WE KIND OF LAID OUT IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN THE COMING YEAR, AND IT WOULD COME BEFORE COUNCIL AS PART OF A WORKSHOP, AND WE WOULD SIX MONTHS BEFORE WE GO TO BUDGET SOMETHING, WE WOULD KNOW WHAT IT IS, AND THEN WE CAN BRING ALL THE RESOURCES OF THE CITY BEHIND AN EVENT. WE CAN MAKE SURE THE EVENTS OF SUCCESS. WE'RE NOT REACTING TO SOMEBODY COMING AND PUTTING THEIR PROBLEM ON US AND MAKING SOMETHING HAPPEN. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND I AGREE THAT THERE'S THE ONE TIME ITEMS, THERE'S THE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING IN THE FUTURE? WHO DO WE WANT TO BE? WHICH IS KIND OF TIES INTO THE BRANDING AND ALL THAT. AND THEN THERE'S LOOKING AT FIXING THINGS BECAUSE THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT PARKS AND LPAC AND HISTORICAL PRESERVATION. THIS IS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT'S ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PERMEATE THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE CITY. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE GET IT RIGHT. I DO THINK THAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME. I THINK THE FIRST THING IS KIND OF GATHERING AND FIGURING OUT, OKAY, WHAT DO WE WANT? WHAT DO WE WANT? 2028? BECAUSE THAT'S IT'S KIND OF CRAZY. WE'RE THAT'S WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS 2028 GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN 2027? WE'RE GOING TO PASS A BUDGET HERE, WHAT, TWO WEEKS? AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE. AND WE CAN'T JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN DECIDE WE'RE GOING TO GO ON THIS TANGENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. AND THAT'S WHY I, I PUSH FOR THAT. BUT YOU BELIEVE THE TIMELINE IS MORE 2028, NOT 27. WHAT I'M SAYING IS I THINK WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE'LL FORM THINGS, BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE TALKING SIX MONTHS OUT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. AND SO YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE A YEAR AND A HALF AHEAD. I JUST MEAN YOUR EXPECTATION FOR RESULTS IS NOT. YES. THANK YOU. PLEASE FOR OKAY, PLEASE PLAY AGAIN HERE. JUST TO ECHO SOME OF THE POINTS THAT COUNCILMAN HERRERA IS BRINGING UP, THE INTENT HERE AGAIN, WAS TO CREATE A WHAT WE CALL A STEERING PROCESS, IF YOU WILL, THAT ALLOWS THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE FEEDBACK AT A PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE'RE ACCEPTING THE FEEDBACK TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE RUN INTO WITH A LOT OF THE COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD PREVIOUSLY, IS THAT WE'RE STANDING COMMISSION, SO WE JUST DO IT THE SAME THING YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AND DO THE SAME THING. OUR CITY IS NO LONGER IN THAT POSITION. WE ARE NOW IN A POSITION THAT WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE FUTURE AND FORWARD THINKING, AND SO THOSE THINGS WILL CHANGE.

AND TO COUNCILMAN HERRERA'S POINT, IT COULD BE AN EVENT OR IT COULD BE A SUBJECT MATTER, OR IT COULD BE AN ISSUE THAT THE CITY CITIZENRY NEEDS TO HAVE ADDRESSED. THIS GIVES A MECHANISM FOR THEM TO BRING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION. SHOULD WE NOT HAVE IT ON OUR RADAR ALREADY. IT ALSO GIVES FUTURE COUNCILS THE ABILITY TO BE FLEXIBLE AND CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY IN A MORE ORGANIZED MANNER, AND NOT BE PUT IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS SILOED AND VERY QUICKLY WITHOUT ANY FORETHOUGHT. SO THIS IS A WAY TO REORGANIZE THIS PROCESS. I THINK THE FOCUS GROUPS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL LOOK AT

[01:10:03]

SO WE HAVE SOME MORE TIME TO KIND OF GET THE P'S AND T'S CROSSED PRO TEM PROBABLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT LIKE THIS. THIS ITEM IS STILL VERY FUZZY TO ME. I DON'T, I DON'T FOLLOW THE THE POINT OF IT AND HOW IT MESHES. I MEAN, SO I AGREE WITH POSTPONING IT, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE US TO SEE AS A TEAM TO WORKSHOP IT AND TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE, BECAUSE THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE ONE MORE COMMITTEE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A FOCUS AND DOESN'T HAVE A POINT. SO I'M ALL FOR PURSUING IT, BUT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE US ACTUALLY WORKSHOP IT SO WE CAN SIT AROUND A TABLE AND DISCUSS WHAT THIS SHOULD ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE. AND IF IT MAKES SENSE. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ADD TO OUR RETREAT IN NOVEMBER, OR IS THAT AGENDA ALREADY TOO FULL, OR IS IT BETTER? YOU MEAN AS A SEPARATE 6 P.M. WORKSHOP MATTER? YES, I WAS THINKING 6 P.M. WORKSHOP, BUT THAT'S FINE. I, I NEED SOME MORE DISCUSSION BECAUSE AS IT IS, I'M NOT FOLLOWING. OKAY. ARE YOU OKAY? WE CAN MOVE THIS TO A WORKSHOP IN OCTOBER. OKAY. WHAT WOULD YOU PREFER? YOU GIVING ME THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT WOULD YOU PREFER? NO. OKAY. OCTOBER IS NOT PREFERABLE. SO IS IS NOVEMBER. LIKE, WHERE ARE WE GOING? I'M TOO LATE. OR I NEED TO BE SOONER. OH, OKAY. YEAH. WHAT WHAT IS SAYING IS Y'ALL'S OCTOBER I SEE. YEAH. Y'ALL'S OCTOBER IS VERY JAM PACKED. YOU GOT A LOT. I KNOW THINGS GOT A LOT GOING ON. YEAH. YEP. YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER NADINE AND COUNCIL MEMBER HERRERA. SINCE Y'ALL WERE THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WORKED ON THIS, IS THAT AGREEABLE TO WHAT Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO DO? I MEAN, IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON THE TIMING FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. I THINK THAT THERE'S A CALL FOR PUBLIC INPUT THAT WE WOULD NEED TO GET OUT BEFORE NOVEMBER IN ORDER TO MAKE EFFECTIVE. SO THAT WOULD KIND OF CRAMP THE IDEA. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT. IT'S PLAUSIBLE THAT NOVEMBER WOULD BE FOR THE WORKSHOP. YEAH. BUT WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO HAVE DECIDED HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS. AND IF I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, IS THAT WE'RE KIND OF FIGURING OUT THE P'S AND Q'S OF THIS. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE SHORTER ORDER THAT YOU HAVE ASKED FOR. AGAIN, THIS IS WHY 2031 AND 32, THEY'RE THERE TOGETHER. THEY THAT THEY'RE PART OF THE SAME PROCESS. I, I, I WISH I HAD A BETTER ANSWER FOR HOW THE WORKSHOP MIGHT WORK. I'D LOVE TO DO THAT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, BUT I THINK IT'S TOO LATE IF WE GO THAT IF WE GO THAT FAR. I THINK WHAT PRO TEM WAS ASKING WAS FOR A WORKSHOP TO WORK OUT THESE DETAILS BEFORE WE START GETTING ADVICE FROM THE PUBLIC OR HAVING THEM FILL OUT SURVEYS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF US ARE ON THE SAME PAGE AND REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING ASKED AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE DEPLOYED BEFORE IT'S ACTUALLY DEPLOYED, IS WHAT I UNDERSTOOD. AM I CORRECT? OKAY. LET'S SEE.

THANK YOU DORA. I THINK THE THING HERE IS THAT WE'RE NOT APPOINTING CITIZENS. SO THIS REALLY IS LAUNCHING A PUBLIC INFORMATION PIECE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. PART OF THE OBJECTIVE THINK OF THIS WAS TO GET INPUT THAT COUNCIL CAN PROCESS AS PART OF THE 2728 BUDGET CYCLE. SO IT'LL KIND OF ROLL IN THERE. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. HOWEVER, TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION, MAKE IT USEFUL FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT. WE REALLY NEED TO BE NOVEMBER, DECEMBER GETTING THAT PUBLIC INPUT. WE DIDN'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON BEFORE THAT WAS KIND OF LAUNCHING. SO I THINK IF Y'ALL ARE OKAY, WE CAN SQUEEZE A WORKSHOP IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, SHE SAID NOVEMBER NOW FIRST. SO.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER SADLER HAD A QUESTION OR COMMENT. I'M SORRY. WHAT KIND OF STAFF LIFT WILL

[01:15:06]

SO OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER. I THINK. OKAY, OKAY. WELL, OCTOBER 15TH, DOES THAT GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO OCTOBER 15TH, DO I HAVE A MOTION YOU WANT TO MAKE? OH. OH, WE DON'T NEED ONE. OKAY. GOT IT. SO WE'RE GOOD ON 32, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. OKAY. ITEM 33 DISCUSSING.

[33. Discuss and consider action on affirming participation by individual City Council members in the One Leander initiative and the designated area of focus for each City Council member.]

AND AT THE TIME, I THINK MOST EVERYBODY WAS ON BOARD, BUT WE HAD SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT A LITTLE MORE TIME TO READ THROUGH IT, UNDERSTAND IT. AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS ON THE AGENDA NOW. THIS IS ONE. LEANDER IS A VOLUNTARY INITIATIVE CREATED TO REALLY HELP US HAVE FOCUS AREAS THAT WE CAN WORK IN AS A COUNCIL, AND THEN BRING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION. WE COLLECT BACK TO THE COUNCIL QUARTERLY AND REPORT BACK WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH SOME OF OUR NONPROFITS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEN BE ABLE TO WORK COLLECTIVELY AS A BOARD ON DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS FOR ANY ISSUES OR CHALLENGES THAT MAY COME UP, OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING GREAT THAT'S GOING ON THAT WE CAN ALL BE AWARE AND BE A PART OF IT. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, OUR COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE A MECHANISM OR A REQUIRED WAY THAT WE REPORT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON ALL THE DIFFERENT BOARDS THAT WE WORK ON. WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT BEFORE, AND THIS IS A WAY TO BRING US ALL TOGETHER WITH MEASURES OF SUCCESS, BUT ALSO ACCOUNTABILITY. SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WORK WE DO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT BE SILOED, BUT ACTUALLY BRING IT BACK TO ALL OF COUNCIL SO WE CAN ALL BE AWARE AND BE INVOLVED. THE SUGGESTED AREAS OF FOCUS WHERE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP AND MAYORAL INITIATIVES, IT WAS TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, BUSINESS GROWTH AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION. AND I THINK EVERYBODY WAS ON BOARD WITH THAT EXCEPT COUNCIL MEMBER SPONSLER. BUT I WILL SAY, I THINK COUNCILWOMAN NADINE HAD A SUGGESTION THAT IF HE WANTS TO SHARE HIS SUGGESTION, BUT OTHERWISE, THIS IS COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY. IT'S IT'S A FRAMEWORK. AND IF A COUNCIL MEMBER DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT WORKS FOR THEM, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO VOLUNTARILY SIGN UP FOR THIS. THEY CAN CONTINUE OPERATING WHATEVER WAY WORKS BEST FOR THEM. IT WAS JUST REALLY A WAY TO BRING OUR COUNCIL TOGETHER SO WE CAN BE FOCUSED ON THESE PARTICULAR AREAS AS LEANDER CONTINUES TO GROW. BUT COUNCIL MEMBER NADINE. OH, OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR. I ACTUALLY DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MENTION THIS TO COUNCIL MEMBER SPONSLER IN THAT THE AREA THAT. I WOULD BE ADDRESSING AND AND COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY

[01:20:10]

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. THOSE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. BEFORE I MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE, I WANT TO SAY ITEM 37. WE NEED TO MOVE THAT TO AFTER ITEM 39. SO I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THAT AFTER

[34. Discuss and consider action on Zoning Case Z-25-0197 to amend the current zoning of Interim SFS-2-B (Single-Family Suburban) to GC-3-A (General Commercial) and on Zoning Case Z-26-0239 for a Special Use Permit to allow for one (1) food truck on one (1) parcel of land 1.67 acres ± in size, more particularly described by Williamson Central Appraisal District Parcel R031577; and generally located northeast of the intersection of Ronald W. Reagan Boulevard and CR 177, Leander, Williamson County, Texas.]

I BELIEVE ON THIS ITEM WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GC TWO A AND GC3C,

[01:25:01]

RIGHT. I WAS JUST SAYING THAT THE PACKET SAYS OTHERWISE. YEAH. BUT DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE THE ZONING TOO? I DON'T OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. THAT THAT'S REALLY THE ONE AREA OF CLARIFICATION I NEED JUST SO I KNOW WHAT I'M VOTING ON. I THINK WE'RE LOOKING IT UP NOW.

OKAY. SO DOES SAY THREE C THAT WE APPROVE THREE C. THAT'S WHAT I HAD THOUGHT. COULD WE GET A READ BACK OF WHAT THAT VOTE WAS ON THE THREE C. SHE'S SHE'S CHECKING RIGHT. THANK YOU.

WHILE WE'RE WAITING TO MAKE USE OF THE TIME, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THE TWO A AND THE THREE C WAS PRIMARILY IN THE OUTDOOR DISPLAY AND THE OUTDOOR STORAGE. IT'S ALSO GAS STATIONS.

SO IT'S THE TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION THAT CAN ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE. THE SITE COMPONENT TALKS ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO OUTDOORS. SO IT ALLOWS THINGS LIKE YOU CAN DO SMALL CAR DEALERSHIPS, STORAGE OF VEHICLES, CAR WASH, GAS STATION, AND THE TWO WAY WAS WAS RECOMMENDED BECAUSE IT WAS GERMANE TO THE FOOD TRUCK. CORRECT? RIGHT. THE, THE PURPOSE WAS HE WANTED TO ADD THE, THE FOOD TRUCK KIND OF WHILE DEVELOPMENT CATCHES UP AND UTILITIES COULD EXTEND IT TO THE PROPERTY. OKAY. AND THERE WAS, WAS THERE A MARKED REASON WHY TWO A IS BETTER THAN THREE C OR WAS. BECAUSE I REMEMBER THERE WAS SOME ARGUMENT AS TO WHAT EACH ONE DID. RIGHT, RIGHT. SO USUALLY STAFF SUPPORTS THE THE THREE WHEN THERE IS A YOUTH THAT'S ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED RIGHT NOW IT'S SPECULATIVE. SO THAT'S WHY THE TWO IS BEING RECOMMENDED. IS THAT FAIR? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE MINUTES REFLECT THAT THEY APPROVED THE ZONING CASE AS IT WAS PRESENTED, NOT WITH THE CHANGE. AND IT WAS A FIVE TWO VOTE THAT THOMPSON AND ROSS DID NOT SUPPORT. SO GC3C WAS WHAT WAS WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED. OKAY. YEAH. WITH A TWO YEAR. OKAY. IS THAT GOOD. ALL RIGHT. SOMEBODY MADE A MOTION. I'M SORRY. I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO WELL NO, I, I FEEL LIKE I NEED BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING BACK TO RESTRICTING THE USE OF THIS PROPERTY WHERE IT CAN'T HAVE A GAS STATION OR IT CAN'T HAVE THIS OR THAT. I JUST, I THINK Y'ALL MOTIONED FOR THE G, C3C IF YOU'RE GOING FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE. AND SO I'M JUST HOPING NOBODY CHANGES THEIR VOTE BECAUSE I THINK THAT I THINK I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO PERSON OWNS A PIECE OF PROPERTY.

IT'S RIGHT ON RONALD REAGAN. I MEAN, IF THEY IF THEY IF THEY CAN, WE WANT THE HIGHEST USE THERE. SO I AND I THINK THAT THEY WILL ATTEMPT THAT. AND I DON'T THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO SET THE ZONING DOWN BECAUSE ONCE WE SET THE ZONING, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. AND I JUST FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO SET UP THE HIGHEST THING SO THEY CAN GET THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF THAT. SO WE CAN, SO WE CAN GET THE MAXIMUM USE OUT OF IT FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY. SO ALL RIGHT, WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THREE G. THANK YOU. THAT WITH THE TWO YEAR, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAD A WHAT HAD PASSED BEFORE. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO THERE'S A MOTION IN A SECOND. THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL RIGHT. THOSE OPPOSED. OKAY. ARE YOU WHERE ARE YOU.

OKAY. SO IT'S THREE THREE. SO THE MOTION FAILS. MOTION FAILS. YEAH. OKAY. AND SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE UNTIL THE NEXT. SO WE HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE. WE ALREADY TOOK IT. WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT BEFORE. BUT CAN YOU. THEY MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE A. SO THERE'S A THREE THREE. IT FAILED TO PASS. SO SOMEONE CAN MAKE ANOTHER MOTION. OKAY. YEAH.

SO THEN I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE UNTIL WE HAVE A FULL COUNCIL. OKAY. AND I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF POSTPONING UNTIL COUNCIL MEMBER CAN I CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE PROCEDURAL MOTION? HOLD ON. I'M SORRY. WHAT, YOU WANT ME TO STOP? YOU WANT ME TO SAY SOMETHING? PAGE? IT MIGHT BE BETTER AS A MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PREDICT ATTENDANCE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS. RIGHT? RIGHT, RIGHT. CAN I JUST BRING UP ONE THING? YES, PLEASE. I THINK IT'S FINE TO POSTPONE THE

[01:30:06]

WERE YOU ON THE PREVAILING SIDE OF THE VOTE? YES. WELL, IT WAS THREE THREE. IT WAS THREE THREE.

AND THE IT WAS TIED. THE WHAT WAS THE MOTION TO APPROVE? YES. THE MOTION WAS TO APPROVE. AND YOU VOTED AGAINST. YES, I DID. SO SHE CAN VOTE TO RECONSIDER. OKAY. IF YOU VOTED AGAINST IT THEN YOU CAN MAKE THE MOTION. YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT? OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO I MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER WHAT WE JUST VOTED ON. I'LL SECOND. OKAY. AND THEN I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHANG. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OKAY. FOR AND THOSE OPPOSED? TWO ALL RIGHT.

SO THE MOTION IS TO RECONSIDER. AND NOW SOMEBODY WOULD NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE.

CORRECT? CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE THE VOTE. DO YOU WANT TO CALL OUT THE ITEM. SO FOR SPECIFIC FOR THE ZONING NOT THE SPECIAL. SO WE WANT TO POSTPONE ACTION ON ZONING CASE Z 250197. TO AMEND THE CURRENT ZONING FROM INTERIM SFS TO BE. TO GC3C YES.

OKAY. AND THAT WOULD BE TO SEPTEMBER 17TH. YES. YES. YOU 1ST SEPTEMBER 17TH OKAY. TILL SEPTEMBER 17TH. SO I NEED A SECOND. I'LL SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO POSTPONE. THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY YES. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, 4 TO 2. AND NOW WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ZONING KZ26-0239 FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR TWO YEARS TO ALLOW FOR ONE FOOD TRUCK ON ONE PARCEL OF LAND 1.67 ACRES, PLUS OR MINUS IN SIZE AS STATED ON THE POSTED AGENDA. PLUS TWO YEARS. YES. OKAY. YES, I NEED A SECOND. OKAY, WE GOT A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HERRERA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OKAY. OH, WAIT. NO. YES. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM ANYMORE. OKAY. 1234. WAIT, WHO'S ALWAYS IN FAVOR? CHANG HERRERA, AND THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. GOT IT. THERE WE GO. THOMPSON AND ROSS. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ARE WE GOOD? GOT IT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK TO 840. AND THEN WE WILL BEGIN WITH ITEM 35. AS SOON

[35. Discuss and consider action on a Special Event Application for the Leander Diwali Festival to be held on October 17, 2026, at Devine Lake Park, with a rain date of October 18, 2026; authorize towing associated with the event; and authorize the City Manager to execute any and all necessary documents.]

ONE MAJOR CHANGE IN COMPARISON TO PRIOR YEARS IS THIS IS AT A NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR. IT'LL

[01:35:02]

JUST AS A REMINDER FROM OUR CITY CODE, IF WE HAVE A SPECIAL EVENT THAT'S OVER 6000 ATTENDEES, WE HAVE TO CLOSE ROADS FOR MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE HOURS, OR WE HAVE EXPENDITURES FROM THE CITY OF OVER 30,000. WE HAVE TO BRING IT BEFORE COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL. THIS DOES MEET TWO OUT OF THE THREE CRITERIA THAT ARE ON THAT SCREEN, WHICH IS THE FIRST TWO, WHICH IS MORE THAN 6000, AND THEN CLOSURE OF TWO ARTERIAL ROADS FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS. AT THIS TIME. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. GARG, WHO CAN KIND OF SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THE EVENT THAT HE'S PROPOSING. BEFORE YOU TURN IT OVER, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION HERE. MAYBE I'M MISSING IT ON THE AGENDA. IT TALKS ABOUT THE AMOUNT FOR POLICE. WHAT IS THE LIKE TOTAL THOUGH THE PERSONNEL TOTAL LIKE NUMBER OF POLICE IS WHAT I'M 36 IS WHAT WAS WAS ESTIMATED. THAT WOULD BE THE SAME NUMBER THAT WE HAD FOR LIBERTY FEST. THANK YOU. HOW MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED LIBERTY FEST? WE ESTIMATE AT LEAST 10,000 AT THAT ONE. HELLO, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU. SO AS GREG MENTIONED, WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FESTIVAL FROM LAST THREE YEARS. IT'S I THINK OUR GOAL WAS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND BUILD A PLATFORM. SO. SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN PRACTICING. I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THE LAYOUT. I DO HAVE A STATEMENT FOR THE NEXT ITEM. I CAN TALK NOW FOR THE 36 OR LATER. SURE.

RIGHT BEFORE THE ITEM. RIGHT. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE LAYOUT. SO I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH, YOU KNOW, BRASS TACKS ON THE LAYOUT. SO WE, WE DO SET UP STAGE BECAUSE NONE OF THE PARKS HAVE AN AUDITORIUM BUILT IN, IN LEANDER CITY. SO WE HAVE TO SET A TEMPORARY STAGE FOR ANY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PERFORMANCES PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, DEMONSTRATE THEIR ARTS CULTURE. WE INVITE LOCAL BANDS FROM LEANDER, AUSTIN AREA IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE. I THINK THERE WERE LIKE FIVE BANDS WHICH PERFORMED AND SHOWED THEIR CULTURE. AND WE HAVE A DEDICATED SECTION FOR, YOU KNOW, KIDS WITH THE BOUNCY HOUSES AND SOME OF THE PLAY FESTIVALS. WE ALSO STARTED A SERIES, A SEGMENT CALLED LEANDER GOT TALENT, AND THEN WE INVITED

[01:40:04]

DAN MICHAEL ON 35. HI. THANK YOU FOR THE FUNDING. NO, YOU YOU BROUGHT 35 AND 36. OH, OKAY.

THEN I WILL I WILL MARK THAT OFF AND I'LL CALL YOU IN JUST A MINUTE. AND DANIEL REED. CAN YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS? AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. DANIEL 78 PALMOS. YEAH, I HEARD THERE WAS SOME PUSHBACK AGAINST THE WALLY BECAUSE IT'S CONSIDERED A RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY. BUT WE DO HAVE THE OLD TOWN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL, WHICH LAST TIME I CHECKED, CHRISTMAS IS A RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY. ALSO, DIWALI IS AWESOME AND SUPER FUN. SO THAT'S IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WE'RE GOING TO Y'ALL CAN SNAP. YOU CAN DO SPIRIT FINGERS, BUT IT'S HARD TO HEAR WHEN YOU START CLAPPING AND WE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM. SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND. NOW COUNCIL, YOU HAVE DELIBERATION ON THIS ITEM OR DO WE HAVE A MOTION? IS THERE ANY QUESTION? YOU HAVE A QUESTION.

YEAH. SO SO GREG, WHEN YOU GOT UP THERE, YOU TALKED ABOUT WE DID THIS OR WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND ALL THAT. SO WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN? WE THE CITY OR SO FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, WE WANT TO REALLY MIMIC WHAT WE DID AT LIBERTY FEST. THE PUBLIC SAFETY FACTOR IS OBVIOUSLY OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. AND SO WE'VE HAD LOTS OF MEETINGS BETWEEN THE EVENT ORGANIZERS, PUBLIC SAFETY, TO KIND OF DISCUSS WHAT THE LAYOUT WOULD BE. AND WE DID KIND OF LAND ON THE FACT THAT DIVINE LAKE HAS THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THIS, THIS

[01:45:04]

WE THINK 16 IS SUFFICIENT. IS THAT YEAH, IT'S IT'S OVER TIME. THEY'VE KIND OF TRIED TO WORK WITH WITHIN A BUDGET THAT THEY RAISE, OBVIOUSLY, AND THEY FELT THAT THEY'VE WORKED WITH LESS AMOUNT IN PAST YEARS. HOWEVER, WE'VE KIND OF SEEN THE UPTICK IN THE THE NUMBERS AND THE ATTENDANCE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE FOR LIBERTY FEST. AND SO REALLY, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MATCH, YOU KNOW, LIKE FOR LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS IN THAT AREA. AND SO WE FELT THAT IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT THESE WOULD BE ON THE SAME LEVEL. RIGHT? SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW TRYING TO PUT ON A LOT OF PEOPLE COME BEFORE US IS THEY WANT TO DO SPECIAL USES, THEY WANT TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THEY MEET WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, THEY MEET WITH THE PEOPLE. THEY KIND OF LOOK AT THIS AND THEY SAY, HEY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED THIS, RIGHT? AND IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR NUMBER DOWN, YOU NEED TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO KEEP IT DOWN TO 2000 OR 3000 SO THAT YOU CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF WHAT THAT FACILITY CAN TAKE OR FOR THE SECURITY AND ALL THAT. SO, SO ONE OF THE THINGS IS, IS, WAS IT CONSIDERED AT ALL? AND I'M ASKING THE ORGANIZER, WAS IT CONSIDERED MAKING THIS LIKE A TICKETED EVENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT SO THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHOW UP AND SO THAT YOU COULD MAYBE LIMIT IT AT 4 OR 5000, 6000, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YEAH. GREAT POINT COUNCILMAN. SO THE ESSENCE OF THE FESTIVAL IS IT'S A FREE FESTIVAL OPEN FOR ALL THE MOMENT. WE WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF WE WANTED TO PUT A TICKET, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES MORE OF A, YOU KNOW, PROMOTIONAL THING. WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS. WE WE DON'T HAVE THIS AS A DAY JOB. WE CAME TOGETHER TO, YOU KNOW, TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE CITY, PUT, YOU KNOW, LEANDER MORE FOCUSED ON THE MAP IN THE GREATER AUSTIN AREA TO HAVE MORE CULTURAL REPRESENTATION. SO WE WANTED TO MAKE IT LIKE FREE AND OPEN TO ALL. AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM. IF WE MAKE IT FREE AND OPEN TO ALL, THERE IS NO WAY TO RESTRICT. AND THEN IF WE MAKE IT LIKE TICKETED, THEN IT BECOMES, YOU KNOW, WE LOSES THE ESSENCE WHY WE WANTED TO DO THE FESTIVAL. SO SO THOSE WERE THE PARAMETERS. JUST AS A SUGGESTION, YOU CAN MAKE A TICKETED EVENT WHERE THE TICKETS ARE FREE. IT JUST HELPS YOU KEEP TRACK OF THE ATTENDANCE. YEAH, WE WE HAVE THAT. SO WE HAVE A EVENTBRITE AND THEN WE, WE SET THE PARAMETERS THERE. AND WE ALWAYS RUN OUT. WE SET THE PARAMETERS TO BE AT 5000 OR WHATEVER WE PUT ON THE SPECIAL PERMIT. WE ALWAYS RUN OUT AND WE SAY SOLD OUT. RIGHT. OKAY. BUT AGAIN, THE ESSENCE OF THE FESTIVAL IS FREE. THE GATE IS OPEN. PEOPLE CAN WALK IN FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND, AND I, I WILL SHARE SOME MORE DATA ON HOW MANY NEIGHBORHOODS AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WE, WE GET FROM. RIGHT, RIGHT. BUT MY POINT IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU HAVE A SECOND REQUEST. YOU'RE GOING TO COME TO US. I DON'T NECESSARILY I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SPECIAL. WE'RE NOT THERE YET. I KNOW I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SPECIAL USE, BUT I BUT BUT MY CONCERN. NO, BUT I HAVE A CONCERN THAT WITHIN THE SPECIAL USE THAT THERE ARE CITY FUNDS BEING USED OR DOING THINGS, AND THAT IF WE AGREE WITH THE SPECIAL USE THAT THAT THERE WILL BE A PROBLEM WITH, WITH, WITH THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED UNDER THAT. AND SO THAT THAT'S MY CONCERN. BECAUSE IF TEN, 12, 15,000 PEOPLE SHOW UP AND WE'RE NOT GEARED FOR THAT AND SOMETHING HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT? AND, AND, AND, AND YOU AS THE ORGANIZER, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO HAVE ALL THESE THINGS. I KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO RENT THIS PARK, THEY MAKE YOU HAVE INSURANCE, THEY MAKE YOU HAVE THIS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO AND HAVE ALCOHOL, THERE'S ALL THESE THINGS YOU GOT TO DO, RIGHT. AND, AND THINGS. BUT MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT SINCE WE HAVE THIS OTHER THING WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS THERE STUFF THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING, THAT WE'RE NOT BEING TOLD THAT THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO DO REGARDLESS IF YOU PERFORM OR NOT? THAT'S MY THAT'S MY CONCERN. YEAH. SO THE ONLY CAVEAT I WOULD SAY TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HERRERA, IS THAT WITH ANY SPECIAL USE PERMIT THAT COMES TO US, WE ARE DEPENDING ON THE ORGANIZER TO TELL US HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ATTEND. THIS IS JUST ACROSS THE BOARD. AND SO WE HAVE TO TRUST THAT THEY HAVE ALLOCATED FOR. HOWEVER, WE'VE

[01:50:03]

AND THAT'S STILL IN LINE WITH HOW WE SIMILARLY STAFFED LIBERTY FEST. AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM INCIDENT COMMAND, DRONE PILOTS, EVENT SECURITY STAFF ON SITE, PLUS ALL THE TRAFFIC CONTROL AND THE SUPERVISION NECESSARY FOR ALL THAT. SO IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO PUT ON ANY OF THESE LARGE SCALE EVENTS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 7 TO 10,000 PEOPLE AT ANY ONE SPOT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO KEEP THAT SAFE, AND NOT JUST THE EVENT, BUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. AND JUST TO CONFIRM AGAIN, THAT THIS IS NOT A CITY EXPENSE. THIS IS AN EXPENSE THAT THE ORGANIZERS ARE PAYING. YES, THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR. OKAY. ALSO BE COMPLETELY ON THE APPLICANT TO PAY THOSE THOSE COSTS. THANK YOU. YEAH. PLACE ONE. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I DID WANT TO REEMPHASIZE JUST BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE A VOTE IN A LITTLE BIT, THAT ITEM 35 AND 36 ARE TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE COMING OUT TO SPEAK ON 36, BUT 35 IS, YOU KNOW, THE EVENT PERMIT. AND WE CONSIDER THIS AS WE WOULD CONSIDER ANY OTHER PERMIT. SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE COMMENTS BEFORE WE MAKE A MOTION? OH, PLEASE. MAYOR PRO TEM DO MISTER OMAR, THIS IS I GUESS MORE FOR YOU IN THE YOU KNOW, THIS EVENT IS LARGE AS IT IS. IT'S GOING TO END UP BASICALLY BEING YOU KNOW, BEING THIS AS WE'VE COMPARED HERE, ANOTHER LIBERTY FEST. WHAT CONVERSATIONS OR STAFF HAS HAD TO ADD ANOTHER.

EVEN THOUGH THIS ISN'T A A CITY SPONSORED EVENT, IT'S STILL A EVENT. OUR STAFF IS GOING TO BE OUR POLICE AND FIRE AND PUBLIC WORKS, AND EVERYBODY WILL BE WORKING. HOW ARE WE LOOKING AT THIS IN THE COURSE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT EVENTS? BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK WE NEED TO EVALUATE ALL OF IT BECAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT OUR TEAM SOAKING UP ANOTHER GIANT EVENT AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE WHOLE PICTURE, THE WHOLE PICTURE. SURE. AND SO WHAT, WHERE ARE Y'ALL LANDING ON THIS? YEAH, IT, IT JUST, IT ADDS ANOTHER THING TO THE CALENDAR, OBVIOUSLY FOR STAFF. AND, AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IT GOES ACROSS THE BOARD. SO IT'S MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS. YOU'VE GOT PUBLIC WORKS, PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS AND REC, OF COURSE ON SITE. WE HAD A NICE AMENITY AT LAKEWOOD PARK WHERE YOU HAD A DEDICATED TEAM THAT'S THERE THAT KIND OF KNOWS THE INS AND OUTS OF THE PARK. DIVINE LAKE DOESN'T HAVE A FULL TIME TEAM PER SE, SO THAT WILL BE KIND OF MORE OF A CHALLENGE TO US. HOWEVER, WE'VE HAD THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THERE WITH LIBERTY FEST. AND SO AGAIN, LOGISTICALLY WISE, FROM A PARKS AND REC PERSPECTIVE, DIVINE

[01:55:05]

BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO START DOING THIS EVERY OTHER MONTH, BECAUSE I SEE THE NEXT ONE, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF WE DO THIS, THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING ELSE. AND SO I'M TRYING TO THINK IN THE BIGGER PICTURE, IN THE LONGER TERM OF HOW ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO MANAGE THIS? BECAUSE I, I SEE IT ROLLING REALLY FAST. YEAH, THERE DEFINITELY IS THAT BALANCE THERE OF HOW MANY WE CAN, WE CAN HANDLE PER YEAR. AND I'LL LET, IF SHE WANTS TO TALK TO THAT AS WELL, SHE CAN INPUT ON THAT. WELCOME. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. I DO THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A POLICY DECISION BY THE STAFF AND PERHAPS THE COUNCIL, AS THE CURRENT ORDINANCE IS NOW. IT ADDRESSES SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATIONS. IT HAS A PROCESS, AND WE DO NOT HAVE A PROCESS FOR CAPPING THE NUMBER OF SPECIAL EVENTS. WE JUST VET THEM BASED OFF OF THE CRITERIA.

AND AND I CITY MANAGER PARDON AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT. WHAT IS THE CAP? WE HAVE LOTS OF PARKS. IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE DOING EVENTS THAT WE'VE GOT TO KNOW WHAT OUR CAPACITY IS TO MANAGE EVENTS AT ALL OF THE PARKS. AND IF WE'RE RENTING THEM, THAT'S GOT TO BE A PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. SO IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. ANYBODY ELSE? OH, PLACE ONE YOU HAVE. OH NO. OH NO, I WAS JUST I WAS JUST ACKNOWLEDGING YES, YES. OKAY. PLACE FOR I'M SORRY. PLACE FIVE. DID YOU WANT TO GO. HE HE HAS HAD HIS HAND UP TWICE. GO AHEAD. IT'S MY TURN. OH OKAY. OKAY. SO. YOU MENTIONED I'M SO SORRY BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE MET AND I KNOW YOUR NAME AND IT'S JUST ESCAPING ME. THANK YOU, I APOLOGIZE. NO WORRIES. LAST YEAR'S EVENT, YOU SET A EVENTBRITE CAP, IF YOU WILL.

WHAT WAS THE CAP LAST YEAR? I BELIEVE IT WAS 6000. SO AT 6000 YOU WENT OVER 6000. CORRECT.

AND WE ESTIMATE THAT WAS BY ABOUT 2000 PEOPLE. CORRECT. OUR ESTIMATE. IT'S IT'S FINE. WE DON'T HAVE TO BE PRECISE ABOUT THAT. RIGHT. WHAT IS YOUR CAP THIS YEAR? 6000. OKAY. SO IT'S THE SAME CAP THAT YOU HAD LAST YEAR. SURE. LAST YEAR'S EVENT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, AT LAKEWOOD, HAD A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY OPEN. CORRECT. LIKE YOU STARTED EARLIER, DID YOU NOT? I'M GOING FROM RECOLLECTION. SO THIS WAS A LONGER EVENT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE AND THAT YOU STARTED EARLIER. AND I'M ASSUMING YOU ENDED SIMILARLY AT THE SAME TIME. RIGHT. SO YOUR ATTENDANCE INCREASED IN THE EVENING HOURS AS THE EVENT CONTINUED. CORRECT. THAT'S WHEN YOU SAW LARGER INFLUX OF PEOPLE, RIGHT. WE'RE CURRENTLY RESTRICTING THIS. I, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING AND RESTRICTING IS THE WRONG WORD, THE CURRENT HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THIS EVENT ARE FROM 3 P.M. TO 9 TO 9 P.M. SO A SIX HOUR EVENT. YES, WE HAVE REDUCED. WHAT WAS THE EQUAL TIME ON LIBERTY FEST? WHEN DID WHEN DID WE OPEN AND CLOSE LIBERTY FEST? I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME AFTER HOURS STUFF WITH THE FIREWORKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT YEAH, GENERALLY SPEAKING, 6 TO 10, IT WAS 6 TO 10, CORRECT? YEAH. AND WE SAW 10,000 PEOPLE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF SIX AND TEN. SO THEORETICALLY THIS IS 3 TO 9.

AND WE'RE ESTIMATING AROUND 6 TO 8000. THAT'S PROBABLY EQUAL TO WHAT WE DID FOR LIBERTY FEST.

AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP IN THE TIME FRAME THAT THEY SHOW UP OPERATIONALLY, WOULD THAT BE CORRECT? OFFICER, I APOLOGIZE, I CAN'T REMEMBER YOUR NAME EITHER. YES, SIR. YES THAT'S CORRECT. WE'VE SEEN THAT BE FAIRLY CONSISTENT WITH THIS EVENT IN THE YEARS THAT IT DOES GROW AS THE EVENING GOES ON. IN OUR CONVERSATIONS AND PLANNING, THERE WERE A COUPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO VDOT AND HIS GROUP AS FAR AS HOURS, BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO OBVIOUSLY CONVERSATIONS ON THE FUNDING PIECE OF WHAT THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD. AND I REALIZE THAT'S A DIFFERENT ONE, BUT THAT'S KIND OF TIED INTO HOW WE SETTLED ON THESE HOURS.

A SHORTER TIME FRAME DID NOT GIVE THEM THE TIME TO RUN THE EVENT THAT THEY WANTED IN A LONGER TIME FRAME WAS GOING TO START BEING PROHIBITIVE FOR THEM. AND SO THAT'S WHERE THAT TIME FRAME KIND OF GOT SETTLED ON. OKAY. BUT WE'RE STILL ESTIMATING THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMING TO JUST AS IN A MORE COMPRESSED TIMELINE. OKAY. SO IN THE SUMMARY ALSO THAT YOU HAD, IT HAS THOSE NUMBERS FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS OF WHAT THE APPLICATION SHOWED, AND THEN

[02:00:02]

LIKE LIKE THAT'S A THAT'S A PERTINENT QUESTION. YES. SO A COUPLE OF POINTS TO CONSIDER HERE. LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE AND THE YEAR BEFORE, WE HAVE OPERATED BETWEEN 12 TO 10 P.M. A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS WERE, YOU KNOW, STRETCHED OUT BETWEEN 12 AND 2 TWO TO, YOU KNOW, FOUR AND THEN 4 TO 9, 930 THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED HOURS, WE HAVE COMPRESSED THE EVENT TO 3 TO 9. AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, REMOVED SOME OF THE PIECES. SO LAST YEAR WE HAD 35 GROUPS WHO PERFORMED ON OUR STAGE. THIS YEAR THE CAP IS 20, RIGHT. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME.

LAST YEAR WE HAD MULTIPLE OTHER ACTIVITIES GOING PARALLELY. THIS YEAR WE DON'T HAVE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME. RIGHT? SO THAT'S THAT'S POINT NUMBER ONE. POINT NUMBER TWO, BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN LOCATION, WE HAVE SEEN A DROP IN PARTICIPATION AS WELL. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALSO A FACTOR TO CONSIDER. THE THIRD THING THAT THAT CAME UP TO US WAS SOME OF THE VENDORS BACKED OUT BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT GREG MENTIONED. RIGHT? LOGISTICALLY, LAKEWOOD OFFERED TWO ENTRY EXIT POINTS INTO THE PARK. DIVINE DOES NOT DO THAT. DIVINE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A HARD LIMIT OF STARTING AT THREE. SO WE ESTIMATED THAT WE WILL HAVE SOME DROP IN IN PEOPLE WHO WILL BE PARTICIPATING HERE. AND THEN AGAIN, WE GOT THE FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE THAT THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE LIBERTY FEST AND WE HAVE CHALLENGES ON LIBERTY FEST AND BUSSES. YOUR EVENT AT LAKEWOOD HAD A BETTER BUS SYSTEM, SO THAT'S WHY WE ESTIMATED FIVE. BUT AGAIN, SOME OF THESE ARE VERY HARD COST, WHICH IS IRRESPECTIVE OF 5000 OR 8000, FOR EXAMPLE, SAFETY, THE THE INVESTMENT WE HAVE TO DO AT EACH PARK FOR LIGHT TOWERS, GENERATORS. SO THESE ARE HARD COSTS. SO 1000 PLUS OR MINUS DOES NOT MATTER TO THAT COST. WHAT WHAT MATTERS IS IS THE OVERALL PLAN. SO IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COSTS BECAUSE THE COSTS ARE SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDER OF THE EVENT PRODUCER. ASHLEY, I WOULD ASK YOU AGAIN, DO DID WE HAVE.

DIWALI SCOPED ON OUR CALENDAR AS WE WERE ROLLING INTO 2026? DID WE KNOW THAT THE PETITIONER WOULD BE COMING BACK WITH A NEW REQUEST FOR THE NEXT YEAR? OR WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND WE DIDN'T PLAN AT ALL? WE DID ANTICIPATE FOR IT. OKAY. WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE FOR THE FUNDING REQUEST, WHICH IS A SEPARATE OKAY. THAT'S SEPARATE ITEM. YEAH, CORRECT. SO I THINK ULTIMATELY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S BEEN SOME COMPROMISE IN MY ESTIMATION ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS EQUATION. I THINK THAT THE CITY HAS DONE A REALLY REMARKABLE JOB TO ASSIST THE PETITIONER TO BE ABLE TO EXECUTE ON THE EVENT. I LIKE THIS EVENT QUITE A BIT. I WAS THERE LAST YEAR. I SPOKE LAST YEAR. YOU WERE VERY KIND IN ALLOWING ME TO, TO, TO SAY OUR THANK YOUS AND HELP EMBRACE THE CULTURE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, WHICH I THINK IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK SOME OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS MAKE SOME VERY, VERY IMPORTANT POINTS WITH REGARDS TO HOW WE, AS A CITY, ADDRESS THESE TYPES OF EVENTS GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE AS OUR POPULATION INCREASES AND AS OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE OF EVENTS INCREASE, WE DO NEED TO HAVE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR THAT. AND I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE REMISS IN THAT. I THINK WE MAY. AND IT'S FINE. IT'S NOT A BAD THING. IT'S JUST IT'S A THIS IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS. SO I THINK THAT'S ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS. I THINK THAT'S BROUGHT TO LIGHT A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT I WAS HOPING TO RAISE. MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD. I JUST HEARD YOU YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS 6 TO 9 WHAT LIBERTY FEST WAS, BUT WHAT WAS THE SETUP TIME? WHEN DID WE ALLOW VENDORS IN THE SETUP? THEY WERE ABLE TO GET IN A FEW HOURS EARLIER. JUST YOU MEANING THREE THE EXACT HOURS THAT THEY'RE DOING. YES. OKAY. YEAH. YEAH. THANK YOU. YOU HAD A QUESTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL EVENT AND GROWING IT IN LEANDER OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. AS, AS MOST ANYONE HERE WHO HAS BEEN TO ANY OF OUR FESTIVALS KNOWS, THAT'S NO SMALL FEAT. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE FESTIVAL. I THINK IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION. I THINK THAT WE

[02:05:03]

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY MORE COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WELL, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT. ANY A SECOND SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. AND NOW WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM 36. DISCUSSING CONSIDER ACTION ON THE CITY SPONSORSHIP AND THE AMOUNT OF $46,350 FOR THE LEANDER DIWALI FESTIVAL TO BE RENAMED THE LEANDER CULTURAL FESTIVAL, TO BE HELD OCTOBER 17TH, 2026 AT THE VINE LAKE PARK AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION GREGG ALLMAN. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS IS THE SECOND PART OF THE RELATED EVENT. THE APPLICANT HAS SUBMITTED A LETTER THAT WAS SUBMITTED AND REVISED A FEW TIMES, BUT THE MOST RECENT REVISION ON THE LETTER CAME IN ON AUGUST 24TH, AND IT'S SPEAKING TO A PROPOSAL FOR A SPONSORSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $46,350 TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE EVENT AND LOGISTICAL COSTS. I DO HAVE A FEW SLIDES TO SHARE THAT CAN BREAK THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE. BASED ON THE LETTER THAT WAS SUBMITTED. SO THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE MATRIX OF WHAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION TO GET TO THAT 46,350. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE THE BULK OF THE COST IS WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY FACTOR OF POLICE OFFICERS. WE HAVE TEN METRO CAP METRO BUSSES THAT HAVE BEEN RESCINDED UNTIL WE GET APPROVALS TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT REQUEST. AGAIN, LIGHT TOWERS, $4,000. PORTABLE RESTROOMS, ABOUT 16 AT. AT 4000 GOLF CARTS. THESE ASSIST WITH PUBLIC SAFETY TO GET AROUND THE DIVINE LAKE AREA SAFELY IN CASE ANY INCIDENTS OCCUR. WE HAVE TENTS, TABLES AND CHAIRS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FOR $5,000 FOR RENTAL COSTS. BOUNCE, BOUNCE HOUSES FOR KIDS FAMILIES IS $3,000 EMS. THEY ARE PROPOSING THAT THE FEE BE PUSHED OVER TO THE CITY PUBLIC WORKS. WE DO HAVE PERSONNEL THAT ARE OUT THERE TO HELP COORDINATE WITH THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS, AND THEN ALSO SOME RENTAL COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WITH BARRICADES AND TRAFFIC CONES. THE CAFETERIA REQUEST AT LASD CAMPUS IS $950. THAT'S BEING PUSHED OVER FOR A POTENTIAL COST. WE DO RENT A TRASH DUMPSTER. THAT'S $900 AS WELL. SO IF YOU ADD THAT ALL UP, WE'RE AT 46,350. WHEN THE CITY LOOKS AT IT, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SCOPE OF OUR COSTS. WE DON'T HAVE THOSE RESOURCES TO PAY OUT. FOR A LOT OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU SAW IN THE PRIOR MATRIX THERE FOR THE RENTAL COSTS, THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE IS IN-HOUSE OR IN-KIND COSTS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY COVER IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. AND SO THE COSTS THAT WE'D HAVE FOR POLICE FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE IS 25, FIVE, 60, AND THEN FIRE EMS THAT NEEDS TO BE ON THE APPLICANT ON THEIR OBLIGATION TO PAY THAT. PUBLIC WORKS AGAIN, MENTIONED THAT EARLIER FOR THE PERSONNEL COSTS AND THE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED, AND THEN PARKS AND RECREATION, OUR PARK RENTAL FEE IS $250 TOTAL. SO OUR TOTAL, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE FROM THE CITY IS 277, 56 AND $0.52. AS YOU MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION TO THIS AGENDA ITEM, IF THE SPONSORSHIP IS APPROVED, THEY HAVE PROPOSED THAT THEY WOULD RENAME THIS FROM THE LEANDER DIWALI FESTIVAL OVER TO THE LEANDER CULTURAL FESTIVAL. THEY WOULD ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL CULTURAL GROUPS TO COME FORWARD, PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANNING, EXECUTING THE EVENTS IN FUTURE YEARS AS WELL. NOT ONLY THIS YEAR, BUT FUTURE YEARS. WE WANT TO MAKE A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE THAT WHETHER THIS GETS APPROVED TONIGHT OR ANYTIME IN THE FUTURE FOR CONSIDERATION, IT'S NOT MERGING WITH THE CITY OR BECOMING A CITY RUN EVENT. IT REMAINS PRIVATELY ORGANIZED.

AND THEN THE FUNDING SOURCE HAS KIND OF BEEN A BIG QUESTION ON WHERE THE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM.

IT WOULD BE THE HOTEL MOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX OR HOT TAXES. WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. I HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON

[02:10:03]

WE GOT YOU ON THE RIGHT ONE NOW. THANK YOU. JUST NEED YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. MY NAME IS DAN MICHAEL. I'VE BEEN A LEANDER RESIDENT SINCE 1983. I RESIDE AT 709 ENCINITAS DRIVE, LEANDER, UNTIL MY WIFE SAYS OTHERWISE. SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE RIDE HERE. LEANDER HAS ABOUT $350 MILLION OF LONG TERM LIABILITIES. WHAT I WAS TOLD 2025 ESTIMATED POPULATION OF OVER 92,000. AND LEANDER BRINGS ALMOST CLOSE TO 4000 PER PERSON.

SO A FAMILY OF FOUR IS LOOKING AT 15 TO $16,000 THAT THE CITY HAS IN DEBT. SO. BUT NOW THE CITY IS CONSIDERING SPENDING MONEY FOR THE LEANDER DIWALI, IF I'M SAYING IT RIGHT.

FESTIVAL TO BE RENAMED THE LEANDER CULTURAL FESTIVAL. WELL, FOR $46,350. SO NOW THAT IT'S CHANGED NAME, HAVE THE ORGANIZED ORGANIZERS REQUESTED OTHER CULTURES BRING IN THEIR TYPE OF FOOD, DRESS AND SO ON? NOW THE NAME CHANGE, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, IS NOTHING MORE THAN A FEEBLE ATTEMPT TO DRAW ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE INTENDED RELIGIOUS PURPOSE OF THE EVENT. NOW, DIWALI IS A HINDU RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY, CELEBRATED IN VARIOUS WAYS. A FESTIVAL IS ONE OF THEM, AND THERE'S FOOD, DANCING, SOMETIMES FIREWORKS, WHICH EVERYBODY LOVES. NOW, I HEARD FROM ORGANIZERS THAT THERE WILL BE, IF I SAY IT RIGHT, A PUJA,

[02:15:06]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE BRANDY BURKMAN AGAINST ITEM 36. OH, OUTSIDE. THANK YOU.

[36. Discuss and consider action on a City sponsorship in the amount of $46,350.00 for the Leander Diwali Festival, to be renamed to the Leander Cultural Festival, to be held on October 17, 2026, at Devine Lake Park; and authorize the City Manager to execute any and all necessary documents.]

I'VE NEVER SEEN AN EASTER EVENT. I SAW A SPRING EVENT AND THEN THE CHRISTMAS EVENT. IT DOES NOT TALK ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS. THERE'S NEVER BEEN A NATIVITY SCENE, SO IT'S NOT RELIGIOUS. THE BRAHM FOUNDATIONS FORM 990 FOR THEIR TAX EXEMPT IRS FORMS LISTS A CHURCH. IT ALSO LISTS RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, DAILY PUJA OR PUJA. MAY I SAY THE WRONG? SO THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS A RELIGIOUS EVENT. I FEEL LIKE THE CHANGE OF THE DEFINITION OF CULTURE IS A BIT DISINGENUOUS AS WELL, CONSIDERING THAT THEY'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE DIWALI NAME. IN ADDITION, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN THIS ORIGINALLY CAME, THEY WERE ASKING FOR 2000. THEN IT WAS 36, NOW IT'S 46. ALSO ON THE FORM 990, THE DOCUMENT, $93,000 ANNUALLY TO POSTAGE OR PUBLICATION. AND SO, I MEAN, THIS IS A TAX EXEMPT ENTITY. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS $93,000 IS GOING, WHY THEY'RE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY ON POSTAGE OR PUBLICATIONS, BUT PERHAPS THEY COULD CUT BACK ON THAT TO HELP PAY FOR THEIR PRIVATE EVENT. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT AS A 501 C THREE, THAT THEY'RE BANNED FROM ENGAGING IN ANYTHING POLITICAL. AND AT THE 2025 EVENT ON THEIR INSTAGRAM, THERE'S A POST WITH A FORMAL FORMER CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE WHO WAS CAMPAIGNING. THERE'S A PICTURE OF HIM PASSING OUT LITERATURE. HE'S ON A STAGE. HE HAS A MIC. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE SAID THEN, BUT PASSING OUT LITERATURE AT THIS EVENT, THAT IS A VIOLATION. AND I WILL BE REPORTING THIS TO THE OAG. THEY COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE THEIR TAX EXEMPT STATUS OVER THIS. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR 22 YEARS. TWO THIRDS OF MY MORTGAGE PAYMENT NOW GOES TO TAXES AND INSURANCE. I MEAN TAXED OUT OF MY HOME. THINGS LIKE THIS, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARY. THEY CAN PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES. I THINK THAT THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE ADDITIONAL VIOLATIONS REPORTS TO THE IRS, MAYBE THE SECRETARY OF STATE. SO I THINK THAT Y'ALL NEED TO RECONSIDER WHO YOU WANT TO

[02:20:01]

I'M NOT SPEAKING AGAINST ANY. AGAINST DIWALI HINDU RESIDENTS, INDIAN CULTURE OR ANYONE'S RIGHT TO WORSHIP, GATHER, CELEBRATE OR SHARE THEIR TRADITIONS. I FULLY SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO HOLD THIS EVENT AND CELEBRATE THEIR FAITH AND HERITAGE. THE ISSUE BEFORE YOU IS NOT WHETHER THIS EVENT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO OCCUR. IT DEFINITELY SHOULD BE.

THE ISSUE IS WHETHER THE TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE ASKED TO SUBSIDIZE APPROXIMATELY $46,000 CITY PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES FOR ONE DAY, SIX HOUR EVENT THAT HAS A SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS CHARACTER. THESE EXCUSE ME. THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS. POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, STREET PERSONNEL, PARK STAFF, TRAFFIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT AND CITY FACILITIES ARE FUNDED BY THE TAXPAYERS OF LEANDER. WHEN A PRIVATE ORGANIZER REQUIRES ADDITIONAL CITY RESOURCES BEYOND NORMAL OPERATIONS, THE CITY SHOULD HAVE A TRANSPARENT, CONSISTENT AND FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE POLICY FOR RECOVERING THOSE COSTS. IF THE CITY PROVIDES THOSE SERVICES AT NO COST TO ONE EVENT ORGANIZER, IT IS SIMPLY NOT SUPPORTING AN EVENT. IT IS MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL IN-KIND DONATION OF PUBLIC RESOURCES, AND IT ESTABLISHES PRECEDENT. IS THERE A CITY POLICY THAT AUTHORIZES THIS 46,000 WAIVER SUBSIDY? IS THE SAME POLICY AVAILABLE ON IDENTICAL TERMS TO OTHER CELLULAR EVENTS, RELIGIOUS EVENTS, CULTURAL EVENTS, NONPROFIT EVENTS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND PRIVATE ORGANIZERS. IF ANOTHER FAITH COMMUNITY OR CULTURAL GROUP, NONPROFIT OR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR PRIVATE PROMOTER COMES TO THE CITY COUNCIL NEXT MONTH AND REQUESTS $46,000 IN FREE POLICE, FIRE, PARKS, STREETS AND TRAFFIC SUPPORT. WHAT STANDARD WILL THIS COUNCIL APPLY? TEXAS PUBLIC FUNDS PRINCIPLES REQUIRE THE CITY EXPENDITURES TO SERVE A LEGITIMATE PUBLIC PURPOSE, PROVIDE CLEAR PUBLIC BENEFIT AND INCLUDE SAFEGUARDS IN CITY CONTROL TO ENSURE THAT TAXPAYERS RECEIVE AN ADEQUATE RETURN. I BELIEVE THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE SUBSIDIZING PUBLIC SERVICES SIMPLY BECAUSE AN EVENT MAY BE WORTHWHILE, POPULAR OR WELL ATTENDED. THIS COUNCIL SHOULD BE ABLE TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE PUBLIC PURPOSE, THE MEASURABLE PUBLIC BENEFIT AND FINANCIAL SAFEGUARDS AND POLICY THAT APPLIES EQUALLY TO EVERYONE. THIS REQUEST ALSO WARRANTS SPECIAL CARE BECAUSE THE EVENTS HAVE A RELIGIOUS COMPONENT. WE ALL KNOW THAT TEXAS LAW CONTAINS RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF PUBLIC MONEY AND PUBLIC PROPERTY FOR THE BENEFIT OF RELIGIOUS SECTOR SOCIETY. AT THE SAME TIME, GOVERNMENT MUST REMAIN NEUTRAL. IT CANNOT FAVOR ONE FAITH, DISFAVOR ANOTHER FAITH, OR MAKE OFF THIS ONE OFF DECISIONS BASED ON RELIGIOUS IDENTITY. WOW, THAT WAS A FAST THREE MINUTES. YOU WERE SPEAKING FAST. I WAS TRYING TO. I WAS TRYING TO GET IT ALL IN.

ALRIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO LEANDER AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU MA'AM, YOU'RE WELCOME. PARIMA SIDHU. SORRY IF I DID NOT GET THAT RIGHT. YOU CHECKING OUTSIDE? NO. OH, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE YOU WALKING UP. HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? AND TELL ME THE CORRECT WAY TO PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME. NO, YOU PERFECTLY PRONOUNCE. OH, YEAH.

THANK YOU. LOOK AT ME. HELLO. YES. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND I JUST NEED YOU TO STATE YOUR ADDRESS. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES AND I SHOW YOU ARE FOR THIS ITEM. SURE. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS DIWALI FESTIVAL. SO WILL YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? OKAY. YES, JUST IN THE MIC IS FINE. OKAY. 1733 BOVINA DRIVE, LEANDER, TEXAS. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'LL START. YES, MA'AM. DIWALI IS CALLED THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AND IT IS CELEBRATED WORLDWIDE. IT IS NOT ONLY ONE COMMODITY OR ONE FESTIVAL. AND BEFORE THAT ITEM 35, WHERE WE ARE SHOWCASING ALL THE EVIDENCES AND DETAILS, EACH WORD EACH YEAR, IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC, WHOEVER COMING, PARTICIPATING EACH YEAR, IT IS EXCEEDING IT MEAN THAT IT IS NOT ONLY ONE COMMUNITY OR RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL, IT IS ACROSS THE FESTIVAL. FOR EVERY

[02:25:03]

SO NONE OF THE MONEY IS GOING WASTED BECAUSE I SEE MANY CITIES SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON MENTAL HEALTH, OTHER ISSUE OR HAPPINESS TO BRING, OR BRINGING THE HORMONAL COMMUNITY HERE, THIS KIND OF FESTIVAL, THEY ARE PROMOTING THOSE HARMONY BETWEEN THE PEOPLES AND ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS OF THE PEOPLE. EVERYBODY IS BENEFITED OVER HERE VENDORS, ARTISTS, STUDENTS. SO I JUST WANT TO END MY SPEECH WITH THAT ONE. I DEFINITELY LOVE ALL THESE THINGS. WHAT YOU PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT IT AND LIKE THE EVENT AS ONE OF THE CORE MEMBER, I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE. I WILL BE AHEAD OF TIME. NO, YOU STILL HAVE TIME. I THINK SO, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YES. VIDHYA RAO. HELLO.

AND I HAVE YOU FOR THIS ITEM. IF YOU'D STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. MY ADDRESS IS 1713 HOLLENBACK DRIVE. THANK YOU. I WANT TO COVER TWO THINGS. TWO QUESTIONS. ACTUALLY. ONE IS THERE'S A QUESTION ON WHY THE NAME CHANGE. WE STARTED AS LEANDER DIWALI FESTIVAL. THAT'S WHERE THIS BEGAN. AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO PRETEND OTHERWISE.

BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED OVER THREE YEARS THAT WE DID NOT PLAN FOR. THE CROWD CHANGED.

PEOPLE CAME WHO HAD NO CONNECTION TO DIWALI AT ALL. NEIGHBORS, CLASSMATES, COWORKERS, FAMILIES FROM EVERY CORNER OF LEANDER WHO WANTED A GOOD AFTERNOON IN THE PARK. OUR VENDORS CHANGED. OUR PERFORMERS CHANGED. BY LAST YEAR, THE DAY HAD GENUINELY BECOME BECOME BROADER THAN THE NAME ON IT. SO WHEN WE SAT DOWN WITH THE CITY STAFF AND THIS HAPPENED WAY BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WE ARRIVED AT THE SAME CONCLUSION. AT THE SAME TIME. THE OLD NAME NO LONGER DESCRIBES WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS OUT THERE. THE LEANDER CULTURAL FESTIVAL DOES.

WE DID NOT RENAME IT OR TO HIDE ANYTHING. WE RENAMED THE RENAMED IT BECAUSE THE OLD NAME HAD GOTTEN TOO SMALL FOR THE DAY. ANOTHER QUESTION THAT KEEPS COMING UP IS REGARDING THE RELIGIOUSNESS OF THE EVENT. IS THIS A RELIGIOUS EVENT? THE PROGRAM CONTAINS NO SERVICE, NO CLERGY, NO INVOCATION, AND NO RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. IT IS STUDENT DANCE PERFORMANCES FROM ELIAS LISD 50 TO 60 FOOD AND RETAIL VENDORS ACROSS THE ACROSS THE LEANDER COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES IN A PUBLIC PARK. THE ORIGIN OF A HOLIDAY IS HISTORY. WHAT A PERMIT.

GOVERNANCE IS THE PROGRAM. SO ACCOUNTABILITY FROM US. WE ARE VOLUNTEERING AND WE ARE. WE. WE ARE. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR, FOR, FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THREE YEARS. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A REALLY A CULTURAL EVENT AND NOT A RELIGIOUS EVENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

LYNN AINSWORTH AGAINST THIS ITEM. LYNN AINSWORTH.

NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. DAKAR. PERATA. DINKA PERATA FOR THIS ITEM. HI. IF YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES, MY ADDRESS IS 1321 SADDLE SPURLING, LEANDER, TEXAS. YOU CAN START. THANK YOU. YEP. DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, THIS IS AN

[02:30:01]

I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE IN LEANDER. I HAVE SEVERAL PROPERTIES SINCE MIDDLE 80S.

OUR TAXES ARE HIGH, BUT FOR US TO WASTE MONEY LIKE THIS, I THINK IT'S TOTALLY WRONG.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING I GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, RAMESH DV OR DV? I'M SORRY. IF YOU'D STATE YOUR ADDRESS. YEAH. AND WHAT'S THE CORRECT WAY TO PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME? RAMESH DIVI. DIVI. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'M RESIDING IN 1605 ABOUT LEANDER. RESPECTED MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RAMESH, A HAPPY AND PROUD RESIDENT OF LEANDER SINCE 2021. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE WRITING TO SHARE THE VISION AND HEART BEHIND THE ANNUAL DIWALI LEANDER DIWALI FESTIVAL, AN EVENT CREATED TO FOSTER UNITY, CONNECTION AND JOY ACROSS OUR CITY. THE UNITED STATES IS TRULY A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY AND DIVERSE CULTURE THAT WELCOMES PEOPLE FROM ALL REGIONS TO EXPLORE AND SHARE THEIR TRADITIONS IN THAT SPIRIT. WHILE DIWALI HAS HISTORICAL ROOTS IN SOUTH ASIA, OUR LOCAL FESTIVAL IS DESIGNED AS AN INCLUSIVE CULTURAL CELEBRATION RATHER THAN RELIGIOUS GATHERING. IT SERVES AS A SHARED PLATFORM WHERE NEIGHBORS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS COME, CAN COME TOGETHER, EXPERIENCE RICH TRADITIONS AND CELEBRATE OUR COMMON HUMANITY. AT ITS CORE, THE FESTIVAL EMBODIES SPIRIT OF UNIVERSAL LOVE, UNDERSTANDING AND MUTUAL RESPECT WHERE THERE IS SIMPLY NO ROOM FOR HATRED TO HIGHLIGHT THE VIBRANT, COMMUNITY DRIVEN NATURE OF THIS EVENT. EVERY YEAR WE SHOWCASE 30 TO 40 DIVERSE CULTURAL PERFORMANCES FEATURING OVER 400 LOCAL PARTICIPANTS. THESE PERFORMERS RANGE IN AGE FROM FIVE YEAR OLD CHILDREN TAKING THE STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO 60 YEARS OLD. ELDERS SHARING CHERISHED TRADITIONS BEYOND CELEBRATING ART AND CULTURE, THE FESTIVAL ACTIVELY SUPPORTS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY BY ENCOURAGING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS TO PARTICIPATE. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS YEARS ALONE, WE HAVE WELCOMED APPROXIMATELY 200 VENDORS WHO HAVE USED THEIR PLATFORM TO SHOWCASE THEIR GOODS, SERVICES AND CULINARY OFFERING TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS BROAD PARTICIPATION REFLECTS THE STRONG INTERGENERATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL BONDS WITHIN OUR WITHIN OUR CITY, OFFERING A POSITIVE, ENGAGING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL RESIDENTS WHO DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE CITY'S COUNCIL. CITY COUNCIL'S ONGOING SUPPORT IN HELPING US BUILDING A WELCOMING, PROSPEROUS LEANDER WHERE EVERY RESIDENT FEELS VALUED AND CONNECTED. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. EDITOR ALVERA AGAINST THIS ITEM. 232 MANDANA

[02:35:15]

PUBLIC DOLLARS SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES, REGARDLESS OF WHICH RELIGION IS INVOLVED. I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT ANY PROPOSAL TO DONATE OR ALLOCATE CITY FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE. PROTECT TAXPAYER MONEY. AVOID SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT VIOLATES TEXAS CONSTITUTION, AND KEEP CITY SPENDING FOCUSED ON THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT BENEFIT EVERY CITY RESIDENT OF LEANDER. YOU GOT IT RIGHT IN UNDER THE BILL. THERE YOU GO.

BONNIE ALVERA AGAINST THIS ITEM. WE HAVE TO LEAVE. SO YOU'RE OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU.

NO PROBLEM. MARK CASEY AGAINST THIS ITEM. I. PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. 120 MESA RIDGE. SO I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING HOW PROUD I AM TO LIVE IN LEANDER.

MY WIFE HAS LIVED HERE FOR 38 YEARS, AND I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HERE FOR 16. AND I REALLY ENJOY IT. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE, I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND FOR THE TIME YOU DEDICATE TO MAKING LEANDER A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. I SINCERELY THANK YOU. I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I HAVE A SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT THE PROPOSED 46,350 CITY SPONSORSHIP OF THE LEANDER DIWALI FESTIVAL, WHICH IS BEING PROPOSED TO BE RENAMED TO LEANDER CULTURAL FESTIVAL. LET'S BE VERY CLEAR. I AM NOT OPPOSED TO DIWALI, BUT LET'S LOOK UP DIWALI IN GOOGLE. GOOGLE. GOOGLE SAYS IT'S A RELIGION, A MAJOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY AND FESTIVAL. FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS CELEBRATED BY HINDU JEANS, SHEETS AND BUDDHISTS. AGAIN, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DIWALI. I RESPECT ALL RELIGIONS AND I BELIEVE PEOPLE SHOULD ASK ABSOLUTELY BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THEIR FAITHS, TRADITIONS AND CULTURES. IN FACT, I'VE ATTENDED DIWALI CELEBRATIONS AT PLACES WHERE I'VE WORKED AND I'VE TRULY ENJOYED THEM. THIS IS NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. MY CONCERN IS WHETHER CITY

[02:40:02]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ITEM. I WANT YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S COME UP HERE AND SPOKEN ABOUT THE REASONS WHY THEY ARE AGAINST IT. I ALSO ECHO THAT I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO CELEBRATE CULTURAL, THEIR CULTURE, THEIR, THEIR RELIGIOUS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

WHAT I DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IS SPENDING BASICALLY REFUNDING THEM FOR THIS FESTIVAL. THERE WAS A RECENT SURVEY THAT WAS SENT OUT THIS YEAR FROM WILLIAMSON COUNTY THAT WAS ASKING RESIDENTS TO PRIORITIZE WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CITY THAT WE LIVE IN. ITEMS SUCH AS ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, WATER SAFETY.

THESE WERE THE THINGS THAT ALL THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE IN THIS COUNTY FEEL ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. I'M NOT NEGATING THAT A CULTURAL EVENT ISN'T IMPORTANT, BUT IS IT IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY THAT WE SHOULD BE REFUNDING THEM? $46,000 ON I SAY NO, THAT MONEY SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TOWARD THE ITEMS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS ALREADY SPOKEN ON, AND OVERWHELMINGLY SAID THAT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT OUR CITY RESOURCES, COUNTY RESOURCES TO BE SPENT SUPPORTING, NOT CULTURAL EVENTS, NOT RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS, BUT COMMUNITY ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, SAFETY, SECURITY, WATER. WE ALL KNOW THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE IN THIS CITY, AND I FEEL THAT THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE WELL SPENT IN THOSE AREAS VERSUS THIS OTHER ONE. I URGE YOU TO VOTE. NO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. KELLY ECKLUND. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. I SAID MY OKAY. THANK YOU. SUMMER BARTER OR BARBER? BARBER. THANK YOU. I IT WAS ALL CONNECTED. I WAS LIKE, OH, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. SORRY. STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. 4209 VALLEY OAKS DRIVE. MY NAME IS SUMMER BARBER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL DO. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL. I KNOW I PUT LIKE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I PUT, BUT LET ME EXPLAIN. THIS IS VERY CONFUSING.

THE RENAMING, YES, IS WHAT YOU WERE. SO TO ME, THIS IS THE DIWALI FESTIVAL, THE DIWALI FESTIVAL. AND THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING. IT IS A RELIGIOUS EVENT.

THERE'S SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. WE CANNOT TAXPAYER FUNDS CANNOT SUPPORT RELIGIOUS EVENTS. BUT THAT SAID, I DO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL HOW MUCH TAXPAYER FUNDS ARE SPENT ON OTHER HOLIDAYS. FOR EXAMPLE, OLD TIME CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OR WHATEVER IT IS. IS THERE AN

[02:45:04]

THAT THERE'S A SEPARATION OF THE STATE AND THE CHURCH. WE CANNOT FUND ANY RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY. WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND SO I'M AGAINST AFTER LISTENING TO ALL OF THIS, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DO NOT FUND CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES. AND IF WE DON'T, THEN WE CANNOT FUND THIS ACTIVITY EITHER. AND $46,350. OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE STILL SHORT. WE'RE VOTING TO TAX EVERYONE AND ADD A SMALL TAX IN NOVEMBER FOR FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS. I KNOW IT IS NOT THE CITY'S FAULT, BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE FUNDING ANYTHING UNTIL WE CAN GET OUR SCHOOLS FUNDED.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THIS ONE, SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME, GANG. I DON'T KNOW. SAY IT FASTER. I DON'T THINK I GOT IT RIGHT, GANG. MAYBE ROMS. DOUGIE. I CAN SPELL IT OUT. GANGADHOVA. LAST NAME RAMADIEGU.

KNOW, EVERYBODY IN THE LOBBY IS HERE FOR 39 FOR 39. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. OKAY. OKAY. THOSE ARE ALL THE COMMENT CARDS THAT I HAVE. FOR ITEM 36, RIGHT? YES.

THANK YOU. IT'S LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM NOW. OKAY. FOR ITEM 36, EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAVE IS FOR 38 AND 39. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW THAT WE HAVE HAD ALL OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THAT. WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BECAUSE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT SINCE YOU'RE UP HERE. YEAH. SO I CAN USE GOOGLE TO CHRISTMAS IS A MAJOR RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL. WE PAY FOR OLD TOWN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL. SO. YEAH. IS THAT IT? OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO NOW WE ARE READY FOR COUNCIL TO DELIBERATE ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. OH, YOU DON'T WANT ME TO START WITH YOU? OKAY, SO WE HAVE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC, GREG ULMER, IN CASE WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. AND I WILL SAY I WAS I HAVE BEEN ON THE LEANDER PUBLIC ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION AS LIAISON FOR A LONG TIME, I THINK SINCE 21 ON THAT COMMISSION. AND THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT TO LPAC SPECIFICALLY, NOT TO THE CITY OR TO CITY COUNCIL, BUT IT WAS TO ONE OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. AND THERE WAS A REQUEST MADE LAST YEAR, AND I WAS IN THAT MEETING WHEN THAT REQUEST WAS MADE. AND AS A LIAISON, WE CANNOT PROVIDE WE CAN'T TELL PEOPLE HOW TO VOTE.

WE CAN'T DIRECT THEM OR ADVISE THEM ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TO DO THAT. BUT WHAT I ADVISE THEM WAS THERE WAS NO PROCESS SET UP FOR HOW YOU DEAL WITH REQUESTS GOING FORWARD. SO THIS IS NOT ADVISABLE. SO THE REQUEST WAS MADE. THE COMMISSIONERS AT THE TIME VOTED TO APPROVE IT AND IT WENT TO LEGAL AND IT WAS DECLINED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MEET THE PROPER STANDARDS. AND THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE AT THIS POINT IS THAT, LIKE THE ITEM BEFORE WITH PRO TEM ROSS MENTIONED, WE HAVE GROWN VERY FAST AS A CITY AND WE ARE STILL TRYING TO CATCH UP, UNFORTUNATELY, WITH SOME PROCESSES IN PLACE AND WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE AN OFFICIAL PROCESS FOR REQUESTING SPONSORSHIPS FROM ANYBODY. AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. CITY MANAGER PARDON. WE HAVE NOT PROVIDED SPONSORSHIPS TO RELIGIOUS EVENTS OR TO CULTURAL EVENTS THAT ARE NOT CITY EVENTS, BUT NOT TO ANY RELIGIOUS ONES ANYWAY. AND I KNOW IT GETS VERY CONFUSING THE WAY OUR EVENTS ARE SET UP. THE CITY IN GENERAL HAS THREE MAJOR EVENTS. THEY ARE FEDERAL AND STATE HOLIDAYS. THEY HAVE THAT DESIGNATION AND THEY ARE JULY 4TH. THEY ARE JUNETEENTH, AND THEY ARE MLK. AND THOSE ARE EVENTS THAT ARE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED, STATE RECOGNIZED. THEY HAVE A DESIGNATION OF HAVING A SIGNIFICANT AMERICAN PURPOSE AND AMERICAN HISTORY BACKGROUND, AND THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY

[02:50:03]

SAID EVERYTHING CORRECTLY, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE A NOTE ON THE THE LETTER THAT WE HAVE WITH THE LIST OF THE 46,000. YES, MA'AM. IT DOES STATE ON HERE THAT THERE'S NO COST TO THE FESTIVAL GROUP FOR TEN CAMP METRO BUSSES, AND THAT THERE'S NO COST ASSOCIATED. THERE ACTUALLY IS VERY MUCH A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT. AND IT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN $20,000 FOR THAT TIME PERIOD. IT'S IN A WITH THE TWO BUSSES, THEY'RE ABOUT $10,000 APIECE. AND ALSO BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A CITY SPONSORED EVENT, METRO WOULD NOT BE PROVIDING THOSE BUSSES.

SO THE EVENT ORGANIZERS WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH. THANK YOU. PLEASE SLIDE. BEFORE I BEGIN, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESS. THE EVENT HAS CREATED A A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, I THINK, IN OUR COMMUNITY OVERALL, AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE BY YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO CREATE THIS TYPE OF EVENT FOR THE CITY OF LEANDER. THAT SAID, I ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF THE MAYOR IN THAT LEANDER IS NOT EQUIPPED TO MANAGE THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IN AND OF ITSELF. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS WHO CAME AND SPOKE WITH WITH EITHER FOR OR AGAINST. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HEAR BACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK SOMETIMES THESE TYPES OF ISSUES BECOME A LITTLE BIT COMPLEX IN THE WAY THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE. I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE RELIGIOUS OVERTONES THAT WERE THAT WERE PUT INTO THIS PARTICULAR CONVERSATION, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GERMANE TO THE TO THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY SHOULD BE SPENDING FUNDS IN THIS MANNER AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER COMMENTARY, WHILE I RESPECT YOUR INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVES AND YOUR PERSPECTIVES AND YOUR POINTS OF VIEWS, THAT IS NOT GERMANE TO THIS ISSUE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY IS IN A POSITION TO SPEND FUNDS TO ASSIST ANY ORGANIZATION IN CREATING EVENTS FOR THE CITY. TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO DO THAT. WE DO NOT HAVE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

[02:55:01]

BUT BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IN MY ESTIMATION IS THE ONE ISSUE THAT THAT WE WOULD NEED SPECIFIC DATA ON. AND BASED ON YOUR PREVIOUS COMMENTS, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY HEADCOUNT FOR HEADS AND BEDS, WHICH IS A PRIMARY MARKER FOR ANY EVENT RECEIVING ANY HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, TAX MONIES. DO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT IN THE FUTURE AS A CITY? ABSOLUTELY.

DO WE NEED TO STRUCTURE OURSELVES DIFFERENTLY AS IT RELATES TO THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU? ABSOLUTELY. BUT THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE NOT YET ADDRESSED. SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO YOUR EVENT, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE EFFORTS THAT YOU ARE TAKING, I CERTAINLY WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS IN A PROPER MANNER. BUT AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO MANAGE THIS. THIS IS A REQUEST. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE SENTIMENT BEHIND IT, THE CITY IS NOT IN A POSITION TO FUND THIS TYPE OF EVENT. I APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR THAT, BUT WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO DO THIS. I CANNOT APPROVE THIS BASED ON THAT. PLEASE, FOR I COULD SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW HOT TAXES ARE COLLECTED? WE'LL GIVE IT TO THE CITY MANAGER PARK. YEAH. THEY'RE THERE. AN ADDITIONAL PERCENTAGE THAT'S COLLECTED ON ROOM RATES THAT ARE CHARGED IN THE CITY. APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH IN HOT TAX DO WE MAKE PER YEAR? FOR ABOUT 230, 250,000. AND WHAT DO WE USE HOT TAX DOLLARS FOR? CURRENTLY IT'S IT PROVIDES FUNDING REIMBURSEMENTS TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR EVENTS AND COMMUNITY MARKETING, SUCH AS THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL. I DO NOT I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY IF REIMBURSEMENT GOES BACK. THE CHAMBER HAS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY TO ALSO OPERATE THE CVB OPERATIONS. AND SO THERE'S THERE'S REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS THAT COME THROUGH THE CHAMBER. A TOTAL OF ABOUT 130, 260,000 A YEAR. AND IT GOES TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS. SO WE CAN'T YOU CAN'T SAY FOR SURE IF ANY SITTING IN-KIND OR FUNDING HELPS WITH THE LEANDER OLD TOWN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL. WE PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE CHAMBER THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC SAFETY TO HELP CONDUCT THOSE EVENTS FOR SURE, WHICH IS IS ABOUT OF A RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL AS THIS DIWALI FESTIVAL. THEY ARE. DO YOU DO YOU HAVE MORE COMMENTS? I DO, LET'S STAY FOCUSED AND NOT ARGUE BACK WITH OUR. OUR. I DO NOT SEE THIS AS A RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL ANY MORE THAN I SEE THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL. I THINK BOTH OF THEM SHOULD BE IN THE CITY. I THINK THAT IF ANYTHING, WE SHOULD BE INVESTING MORE IN THE MULTIPLE CULTURES THAT ARE IN OUR CITY. I KNOW THAT IT WASN'T ABLE TO GET ANY ROI INFORMATION ON DIWALI, BUT DO WE HAVE IT ON LIBERTY FEST? SINCE WE KEEP COMPARING IT TO LIBERTY FEST? WELL, THERE WAS A LIST OF REQUESTS FOR VERY SPECIFIC DATA FOR ALL CITY EVENTS. SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER. BUT GENERALLY WE HAVE ROI INFORMATION REGARDING CITY EVENTS. WHAT WE HAVE IS ANTICIPATED OR I GUESS PROJECTED ATTENDANCE. AND THEN WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER BUDGET NUMBERS IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS SPENT WITH THOSE BUDGET COMPONENTS WERE. AND THEN THERE WOULD BE ANY KIND OF DONATIONS OR ANY KIND OF OTHER INCOME THAT CAME WITH IT. SO ROI CALCULATION, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THAT WAS FROM THE CHAMBER BECAUSE THE CHAMBER PROVIDE THAT, I THINK. YEAH, FOR US, WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS PULLING TOGETHER A FULL FINANCIAL SUMMARY OF, OF EVERY SINGLE CITY EVENT THAT WE'RE DOING. OKAY. YES. AND WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH JUST SERVE.ORG, CORRECT? NO, IT WAS ON THE FLIER. IT WAS ON THE FLIER. IT'S NOT A PARTICIPATION. IT'S A VOLUNTEER. OKAY. EFFORT. SO I, I DON'T THINK THIS IS RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL, BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT THE CITY SHOULD

[03:00:04]

PLACE THREE DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? OH, YEAH. I'M SORRY. WE WILL BE TAKING A BREAK SOON.

OKAY. PLACE TWO. SO WE'VE HEARD THAT THE BOMB FOUNDATION IS ACTUALLY A CHURCH. AND TYPICALLY, LIKE MY CHURCH WENT OUT AND HAD AN EVENT AND CALLED IT WHATEVER, AND THEY USED IT AS A FORM OF EVANGELISM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE WOULD SAY THAT'S A RELIGIOUS EVENT BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO PULL PEOPLE INTO THEIR CHURCH, INTO THEIR THOUGHT PROCESS AND ALL THAT. JUST LIKE IF WE WERE TO HAVE A POLITICAL EVENT, WE WOULD PULL THEM IN. SO I, I, I, I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO ALL THAT BECAUSE I REALLY, WHAT IT'S REALLY ABOUT IS THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS IS, IS THAT YOU HAVE A NEED BECAUSE YOU HAVE A FINANCIAL SHORTFALL, YOU NEED ASSISTANCE ON MAKING THIS HAPPEN. AND SOMEHOW THIS IS NOW THE CITY'S PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HAVE AN EVENT. BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE PLANNED. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE PRIORITIZED IN OUR BUDGET. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY HAVE GATHERED AROUND. AND, AND NOW WE'RE COMING 30 DAYS OR 30 DAYS RIGHT BEFORE TO DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO FUND SOMETHING AND PUT US ON THE SPOT AND HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE SITUATION RELATED TO IS IT RELIGIOUS? IS IT NOT RELIGIOUS? IS IT A PRIORITY? IS IT ALL THESE THINGS? I JUST I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING THAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S MISGUIDED TO BRING IT BACK TO US. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO THINGS IN THIS CITY, AND THEY FIND THEM THEMSELVES. THEY GO OUT AND FIND SPONSORS. THE ONE GUY SAID SPONSORS, RIGHT? AND AND THEY GO FIND SPONSORS AND PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO FUND IT. THEN THEY FUND IT THEMSELVES. THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. YOU KNOW, WE ALL WISH WE'D HAVE SOMEBODY JUST COME AND DUMP MONEY ON US TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PROBLEMS AND MAKE IT GO AWAY. BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PROBLEM AND YOU'RE OVERSUBSCRIBING IT AND TURNING IT INTO A BIGGER PROBLEM IN THE SENSE OF FROM A MONEY PERSPECTIVE, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT IT'S A GREAT THING. I MEAN, YOU GOT SOMETHING YOU NEED TO MAKE MONEY ON IT. THE ONE GUY SHARED, YOU HAVE 200 VENDORS. WELL, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THAT. YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE BRINGING 8000 PEOPLE THERE. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IT. I'VE HAD TALKS WITH THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT HOW THEY TOOK MUSIC FESTIVALS OUT IN KERRVILLE, AND THEY TURNED THEM INTO MONEY MAKERS FROM BEING MONEY LOSERS.

RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE THING. WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF TAKING CARE OF OUR CITIZENS, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT HERE IN A FEW MINUTES. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PUTTING OUT THE ROADS, DOING ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS. AND WE'RE DISTRACTED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ORGANIZED ENOUGH BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T MADE A PLAN. BUT I DO THINK WE ARE ORGANIZED BECAUSE THIS WASN'T IN OUR PLAN. IT'S NOT IN THE CITY'S PLAN. IT'S IN YOUR PLAN, BUT IT'S NOT IN OUR PLAN. AND SO, SO I JUST THINK THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE EVER COME BEFORE US. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S BEFORE US. AND I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. THAT WAS SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND SAY WHY? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THINGS COMING UP FOR US WHERE THEY THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST NOT THEY SHOULDN'T BE BEFORE US. SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD FUND AS A CITY PLACE ONE WELL, LAST. SO A LOT OF MY COMMENTS HAVE BEEN COVERED, I THINK, BY THE FOLKS WHO'VE COME AND SPOKEN AND THEN ALSO MY COLLEAGUES ON DYESS. SO I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT AS BRIEF AS I CAN. BUT I WANT TO START OFF BY RE-EMPHASIZING AGAIN, THAT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO SPOKE AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT A GREAT EVENT THIS IS AND HOW FOLKS SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND ALSO THEIR CULTURE, THAT IS WHAT WE COVERED IN THE PREVIOUS ITEM.

AND AS COUNCILMAN NADINE NOTED, RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT, CITY SPONSORSHIP, TAXPAYER DOLLARS, CANDIDLY, YOU KNOW, I THINK MR. MUELLER'S HIS HIS COMMENTS REALLY COVERED WHAT I HAD WRITTEN DOWN AND WANTED TO TO EXPRESS, WHICH IS I THINK WE'RE SETTING A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT HERE. IF EVERY SINGLE TIME SOMEBODY WANTS TO HAVE AN EVENT THAT THEY HAVE A BUDGET SHORTFALL, THEY COME TO US AND THEY ASK FOR US TO SPONSOR WITH TAXPAYER

[03:05:04]

AND THEN TO EVERYONE, SO BROWN FOUNDATION IS NOT SET UP AS A CHURCH. I'M NOT SURE WHERE EVERYBODY OR WHOEVER SPOKE GOT THE MATERIAL, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROVIDE ALL THE, YOU KNOW, SET UP GUIDELINES. IT IS NOT SET UP AS A CHURCH. RIGHT. WITH THAT. MAYOR THOMPSON, MEMBER OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY.

RIGHT. MY NAME IS VEDANT. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF BROWN FOUNDATION, PART OF THE VOLUNTEERING TEAM. WE ARE A NONPROFIT, SIMPLY A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS. RIGHT. SO I WANT TO TAKE YOU, YOU KNOW, VERY QUICKLY ON, ON WHY WE STARTED, HOW WE STARTED, BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SET THAT CONTEXT. RIGHT. AND VERY QUICKLY, VERY QUICKLY. YES. SO THREE YEARS AGO, THE FORMER CITY ADMINISTRATION ASKED US TWO THINGS. BRING THE COMMUNITIES TOGETHER WITH WITH AN EVENT, CREATE A PLAYBOOK FOR LEANDER TO ADOPT. WE DID THIS EVENT FOR THREE YEARS AND THE PLAYBOOK IS FINISHED. AND THIS IS WHY WE, YOU KNOW, REALLY CAME TO YOU GUYS TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE INCLUDED. SO LEANDER SUPPORTS MANY FESTIVALS LIKE BLUEGRASS, OLD TOWN, I CAN GO ON, BUT AND ALL OF THEM ARE WONDERFUL. I HAVE TAKEN MY KIDS TO ALL OF THEM. MOST OF THEM. WE ARE NOT ASKING TO BE AN EXCEPTION. WE ARE ASKING TO BE ADDED IN IT. RIGHT? THIS WAS OUR INTENT. WHAT DID WE BRING TO THE TABLE? WE. LAST YEAR WE BROUGHT LIKE 400 PARTICIPANTS, 616 NEIGHBORHOODS, 100 PLUS LISD STUDENTS FOR CREDIBLE VOLUNTEERING CERTIFICATE. WE BROUGHT, YOU KNOW, GOT TALENT SERIES, 120 PLUS KIDS AND MUCH MORE. RIGHT? SO EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF IT. I ALSO WANT TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THAT. YOU SAW THE REPRESENTATION THAT WE HAD CLOSE TO 8000 PEOPLE, RIGHT? IF YOU SPEND, YOU KNOW, ON THAT 8000 PEOPLE AT THIS FESTIVAL, PLUS YOU MAKE IN DIRECT AND INDIRECT SALE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT AT AN AVERAGE OF LIKE $30, 30 TO $40. YOU'RE LOOKING AT 300,000 TO 400,000 IN THAT AFTERNOON. THAT IS WHAT THIS PLATFORM IS BRINGING TO LEANDER.

NOTHING ELSE RIGHT? THERE IS THERE IS NO THERE IS NO MAGIC OR NO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, HIDDEN PURPOSE BEHIND THIS. RIGHT. SO I JUST WANTED TO HAVE THAT CONTEXT FOR THE COUNCIL AS AN ECONOMICS. AND THEN TWO MORE THINGS. WE DISCUSSED WHERE THE MONEY, WHERE WE THE MONEY THAT WE WERE ASKING WAS GOING. YOU SAW A MAJORITY OF THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS AND

[03:10:03]

SO I JUST WANT TO SET THE CONTEXT. SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CITY FROM LAST THREE YEARS FOR THIS YEAR EVENT. WE ACTUALLY STARTED PLANNING WITH CITY MANAGER AND TEAM IN DECEMBER OF 2025. RIGHT? SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCHES AND OFFICES FROM A VERY LONG TIME. WHY WE ARE ON AGENDA ON ON TODAY'S DATE. THAT'S BEYOND MY CONTROL, I THINK. BUT, YOU KNOW, I RESPECT EVERYBODY'S FEEDBACK. I RESPECT EVERYBODY'S POINT.

AND AGAIN, THE INTENT OF THE FESTIVAL WAS NOT TO DUMP SOMETHING ON, YOU KNOW, TAXPAYERS, RIGHT? THIS IS WHERE I LIVE. THIS IS WHERE ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEERING TEAM LIVES. AND, YOU KNOW, WE PAY OUR TAXES EVERY. SO I RESPECT EVERYBODY'S POINT OF VIEW. SO WE WERE NOT ASKING SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT ASKING SOMETHING TO BE DOING, YOU KNOW, FISHY OR, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS BROUGHT IN FOR LEANDER AND WITH THE PURPOSE OF LEANDER.

SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU BELIEVED THAT THIS SPONSORSHIP APPLICATION WAS FOR YOU TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL CITY EVENT? NO, THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE SAYING. AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. IS THAT WHAT. NO, NO, WE WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A BUY IN FROM THE CITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, THE 300 TO 400 K AFTERNOON SWING WHERE IT IS, WHERE DOES THAT GO? RIGHT. THE VENDORS MAKE MOST OF THE MONEY. 50 VENDORS, THEY MAKE APPROXIMATELY $2,000 PLUS ON THAT AFTERNOON. WE HAVE RESTAURANTS WHO MAKE, YOU KNOW, SELL THE FOOD. BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, WAS YOUR YOU DIDN'T MEAN THAT YOU THOUGHT THIS WHOLE PROCESS YOU WERE GOING THROUGH THAT STARTED BACK IN DECEMBER, WAS TO PUT YOU ON A PATH TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL CITY EVENT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT WHAT I HEARD WHEN YOU WERE TALKING, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND OUR OUR DISCUSSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT OUR TEAM WILL ALWAYS HELP TO, TO HAVE THIS EVENT. OKAY. BUT WE WANTED MORE PARTICIPATION FROM THE CITY TO. BECAUSE OUR TEAM IS JUST VOLUNTEERING, WE ARE JUST IN THE MIDDLE. WE ARE WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ON THAT. GOTCHA. OKAY. THE LAST THING I WANT TO CLOSE WITH WHAT WE REALLY BUILD IS A PLATFORM TO INTEGRATE, TO BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

OKAY. SEVERAL OTHER CITIES ACTUALLY OFFERED US AND ASKED US TO BRING THE PLATFORM TO THEM, AND WE SAID, NO. OUR TEAM RUNS ONE EVENT IN ONE CITY, THE CITY WHERE WE LIVE, WHERE OUR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL, WHERE OUR PAY OUR TAXES ALONGSIDE EVERYONE IN THE ROOM. SO, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO HAVE THAT LEANDER NAME BECAUSE WE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. GOTCHA.

WITH THAT, THANK YOU. AND RESPECTFULLY, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COMMENT, BUT THANK YOU. NO. AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE. I HAVE ATTENDED THE EVENT, AND SO I KNOW I'VE PLANNED PLENTY OF EVENTS, SO I'M QUITE AWARE OF ALL THE WORK THAT GOES INTO IT. IT IS A LOT TO TAKE ON, RIGHT, AND TO MANAGE. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE WITH THAT. I THINK SOMEBODY ALREADY HAD A MOTION WAS, YEAH, IF YOU. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, BUT WE'LL LEAVE IT UP TO YOU. WOULD YOU PREFER TO WITHDRAW YOUR REQUEST OR YOU WANT US TO WE WE CAN VOTE ON IT.

IT'S. AS I SAID, OUR YOU KNOW, FOUNDATIONS JUST. DO YOU WANT US TO VOTE ON IT OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO WITHDRAW BECAUSE WE NEED TO MOVE ON EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, NOTION AND, YOU KNOW, COMMENTS. THIS IS NOT WHY WE STARTED THIS. SO I WOULD, YOU KNOW, RESPECTFULLY WITHDRAW OUR, YOU KNOW, ITEM FROM THE AGENDA. OKAY. SO LET ME WHAT IS WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND. OKAY. AND THEN I WILL TALK TO THE REST OF COUNCIL. DO Y'ALL WANT. YEAH. WHAT DO Y'ALL WANT TO DO? YOU'RE FINE. OKAY, EXCELLENT. SO COUNCIL MEMBER HERRERA HAS REMOVED HIS HIS MOTION. I

[03:15:01]

WE'RE GOOD. OKAY, SO WE HAVE ALL OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE RECORD. THE ITEM IS WITHDRAWN.

[38. Discuss and consider action regarding revisions to the City's existing Significant and Heritage Tree ordinance (Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14, Exhibit A, Article VI, Section 1 — Landscaping, Tree Preservation and Protection), to close provisions that currently permit wholesale removal of significant trees during development, and to bring the City's tree-preservation thresholds and mitigation fees into parity with neighboring Cities — consistent with the tree-ordinance revision Cedar Park adopted by unanimous vote in 2019.]

SO YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO SINCE 2019 THERE HAVE BEEN 42 HERITAGE TREE REMOVAL REQUESTS FROM TO CITY COUNCIL. AND 100% OF THEM WERE APPROVED. OUT OF THE 162 SIGNIFICANT TREE REQUESTS THAT WENT TO PLANNING AND ZONING, ONLY ONE WAS DENIED. SO 161 SIGNIFICANT TREES WERE REMOVED. THOSE DO NOT EVEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL. THOSE GO STRAIGHT TO PLANNING AND ZONING AND THEIR APPROVAL IS FINAL.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THESE ARE THE TREES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, CENTRAL TEXAS OAKS.

THEY'RE MATURED. THEY HELP WITH RAINFALL, STORMWATER DISTRIBUTION WITH THOSE BEAUTIFUL CANOPIES THAT THEY HAVE, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE EROSION PREVENTION THAT THEY DO WITH ALL OF THE ROOTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE CURRENTLY. SO WE ALLOW ONCE WE ALLOW THEM TO CUT IT DOWN, THEY THEY REPLACE IT A RATIO OF 3 TO 1. SO A SAPLING DOES NOT REPLICATE WHAT A MATURE TREE DOES BY ANY MEANS. A MATURE TREES CAN LOWER SUMMER COOLING BILLS. THEY ADD PROPERTY VALUE. THEY ABSORB THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF STORM WATER EASING, FLOODING AND DRAINAGE COSTS. AND THEY PROVIDE COOLER NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE WORST OF DAYS. SO WHAT AM I KIND OF ASKING FOR OR WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE. SO THIS IS KIND OF THE HEART OF THE CHANGE. CURRENTLY, WE ALLOW 50% OF ALL SIGNIFICANT TREES ON A PROPERTY TO BE REMOVED WITHOUT ANY MITIGATION WHATSOEVER. NOTHING AT ALL. THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. SO A LOT OF CITIES HAVE KIND OF SWITCHED THAT SCRIPT. AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE HAVING A 50% RETAINED. SO INSTEAD OF BEING ALLOWED TO REMOVE 50% OF THOSE SIGNIFICANT TREES BEFORE THEY EVEN HAVE TO HAVE A MITIGATION PLAN, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN TO RETAIN AT LEAST 50% OF THOSE TREES. CURRENTLY, THEY CAN CUT OFF HALF THE TREES ON THEIR PROPERTY WITH NO MITIGATION WHATSOEVER. NEXT SLIDE. SO WE WOULD DEFINITELY NOT BE THE FIRST IN THIS. WE'RE KIND OF FALLING FURTHER BEHIND.

IN 2019, CEDAR PARK LOWERED THE THRESHOLD OF WHAT A SIGNIFICANT TREE WAS. LOWERING THAT INCHES ALLOWED MORE MID-SIZED TREES TO BECOME PROTECTED. THEY RAISED THE FEES CURRENTLY THAT THEY WERE CHARGING FOR MITIGATION. THE LOWEST YOU CAN CHARGE IS 200, UP TO 600 PER THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE ARE CURRENTLY CHARGES 300, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LOWEST. AND THEN AS A BIG KIND OF PUSHBACK I'VE HEARD IS REGARDING DEVELOPERS AND THE CASE STUDY WITH CEDAR PARK RIGHT NEXT DOOR, WE CAN SEE THAT THESE TYPES OF TREE ORDINANCE MITIGATION HAS NOT STOPPED GROWTH IN CEDAR PARK AT ALL WHATSOEVER. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THIS IS MORE ON THAT

[03:20:07]

YEAH. BUT I'M WELCOME TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. OKAY. WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. THE FIRST IS LEON, CLAIRE OR CLAP. WHAT IS THE LAST NAME? CLERK.

I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T EVEN SEE THE K ON HERE. 220 MALDEN STREET, GEORGETOWN, TEXAS. I'M NOT A LEANDER RESIDENT, BUT I AM A WILLIAMSON COUNTY RESIDENT. AND LAST MINUTE I SIGNED UP BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE TREES. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME. I'M AN ARMY. I'M AN ARMY VETERAN, AND I RETIRED TO TEXAS AFTER SPENDING A LONG TIME OVERSEAS FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS. AND ONE THING THAT I'VE GOTTEN INTO IS TREES. SO WHEN I SAW THAT POP UP, JUST A CORRECTION FOR THE RECORD, I CHECKED AGAINST YOU. I'M FOR THIS PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. OKAY, I BELIEVE I WOULD LIKE ALL OF YOU TO CONSIDER THIS. $500 IS REALLY LOW. I LIVE OVER IN MORNINGSTAR, OVER IN GEORGETOWN, AND THE DEVELOPER PRETTY MUCH BULLDOZED ALL THE TREES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S HOT. THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS UGLY. THE VALUES COULD BE WAY MORE ON PAR WITH AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY FOR THE ESTHETICS. AND THESE HERITAGE TREES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO TEXAS HISTORY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN AS THEY CONTINUE. MAYBE THEY'RE GROWN, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT. BUT THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE GROWING UP IN THESE DESOLATE STREETS. IF THESE DEVELOPERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOW FEES TO CUT DOWN WHATEVER TREE THAT THEY WANT, I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD PAY $1,000 PER TREE. IT WOULD DETER CUTTING DOWN THE TREES AND PROMOTE BETTER PLANNING ON THEIR PART, ESPECIALLY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. I THINK THAT THE CALIPER INCH SHOULD BE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE TEENS, AND I WOULD ASK THAT THE THE COUNCIL HERE CONSIDER LESS CONSERVATIVE APPROACHES TO PROTECTING LEANDER TREES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KATHERINE. WE ARE MOVING ON. SO WE ASK THAT WE WOULD KEEP ALL THE NOISE BECAUSE WE ARE RECORDING. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL UP TO SPEAK. KATHERINE UTES FOR THIS ITEM. MAYBE I DIDN'T SAY YOUR LAST NAME PROPERLY, I APOLOGIZE. WHAT IS THE CORRECT WAY TO PRONOUNCE IT? WEITZ. WEITZ. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. 707 NORTHERN TRAIL. LEANDER. AND I'M GLAD YOU GUYS ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE AMERICAN HISTORY EARLIER ABOUT OUR FESTIVALS. BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE AGE OF SOME OF THESE TREES, IT'S IT DOES BLOW YOUR MIND. OKAY, LET ME SHOW YOU. SO 24 INCH TREE, WE'RE WANTING TO LOWER THE THRESHOLD TO 24IN. AND THAT'S, OH, THAT'S THE SIZE OF A 24 INCH TREE TRUNK. SO THAT'S HOW THEY MEASURE THE DIAMETER. YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH HOW THEY MEASURE THAT, IT'S THE DIAMETER OF THE TREE TRUNK, RIGHT. AND 24 INCH LIVE OAK TREE IS 166 YEARS OLD, 166 YEARS AGO, IN 1860, ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS RUNNING FOR

[03:25:08]

THEY KNEW THE TREES WERE THERE WHEN THEY BOUGHT THEM. AND LET ME ADD ADD AS AN ASIDE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU KNOW WE'RE OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, ANITA CHUMANEVICH FOR THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU. YES. SPIRIT FINGER SNAPS ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN DO THAT. THANK YOU. SOUNDED VERY SQUEAKY. I NEED A 708 PALOMAR DRIVE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MADAM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

I'VE BEEN UP HERE BEFORE SPEAKING AGAINST HERITAGE TREE REMOVALS. AND TIME AFTER TIME, I'VE WATCHED THOSE REMOVALS GET APPROVED. ANYWAYS, IT'S BECOME CLEAR THAT THE PROBLEM ISN'T JUST ANY SINGLE VOTE, IT'S THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. AND I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT AMENDING IT.

THIS IS WHAT I KEEP SEEING. A DEVELOPER COMES TO PLANNING AND ZONING WITH A SITE PLAN ASKING TO REMOVE TREES. A COMMISSIONER ASKED THE OBVIOUS QUESTION COULD YOU SAVE A FEW OF THOSE TREES? AND THE DEVELOPER SAYS YES. ACTUALLY, WE JUST DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT. THEY DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT. THAT'S THE WHOLE PROBLEM IN FOUR WORDS. UNDER THE CURRENT RULES, THEY DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT. IT IS EASIER AND CHEAPER TO DRAW WHATEVER SITE PLAN THEY WANT. DROP IT ON A CENTURY OLD TREE AND BUY THEIR WAY OUT. THE TREES THAT STOOD FOR DECADES BECOME AN AFTERTHOUGHT. JUST A LINE ITEM. THEY PAY OFF AND BULLDOZE WHAT HAPPENS IN RETURN.

THEY TAKE DOWN A 100 YEAR OLD OAK, AND THE MITIGATION REPLACES IT WITH FOUR INCH SAPLINGS THAT DON'T SURVIVE THE FIRST COLD SNAP IN WINTER IN A PRIVATE NEIGHBORHOOD, NO ONE EVER, EVER REPLACES THEM. AND ALONG OUR OWN ROADWAYS, THE CITY SPENDS REAL MONEY WATERING THEM, AND STILL HALF OF THEM DIE AND HAVE TO BE TAGGED FOR REPLACEMENT. THAT'S NOT MITIGATION. THAT'S PAPERWORK. EVEN YOUR OWN PNC COMMISSION HAVE SAID IT OUT LOUD. THE MATH ISN'T MATHING. OUR TREATMENT IS NOT WORKING AND THE PROOF IS IN THE FUND ITSELF. OUR TREE MITIGATION FUND HAS PAID NO MORE THAN PAID FOR NO MORE THAN THREE TREES. THREE. MEANWHILE, THAT FUND IS SITTING AT ROUGHLY UNDER $8 MILLION. THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT NUMBER REALLY TELLS YOU. IT ISN'T A SIGN THAT THE PROGRAM IS WORKING. IT'S A MEASURE OF HOW MANY TREES WE'VE LOST AND LET DEVELOPERS PAY TO ERASE. BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY. $8 MILLION SITTING IDLE COULD FUND SOMETHING REAL, LIKE A CITY ARBORIST OF OUR OWN, SOMEONE WHOSE ACTUAL JOB IS PROTECTING LEANDER'S CANOPY INSTEAD OF CATALOGING ITS REMOVAL. SO I'M ASKING YOU ONE THING TONIGHT. SUPPORT REVIEWING THIS ORDINANCE TO FIX A RULE THAT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, INCLUDING YOUR OWN COMMISSIONERS, CAN SEE IS BROKEN. LET'S STOP MAKING IT EASY TO BUY OUR WAY OUT OF TREES THAT DO SO MUCH FOR OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEM, HELP THE

[03:30:05]

SHIMLA. SEE YOU WERE WRONG TO GOOD TRY. GOOD TRY. THANK YOU. 301 SEMINOLE APPRECIATE IT. AND I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO GIVE YOU THE REST OF THE SPEECH FROM THE LADY THAT WAS TALKING TO YOU.

SWEET. BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, DEVELOPERS WANT TO WRING AS MUCH PROFIT OUT OF THEIR PURCHASES AS POSSIBLE. DEVELOPERS AND THE CIVIL ENGINEERS WHO WORK FOR THEM WILL ONLY DO AS MUCH AS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO BY THE CITY. AND IF IT'S MORE EXPEDIENT TO CHOP THE TREES DOWN, THAT'S WHY THAT'S WHAT THEY'LL DO IF ALLOWED. UNLESS THE CITY PUTS THEIR FOOT DOWN. AND THAT'S THE KEY. IT HAS TO BE REQUIRED. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I AM AN AUTOCAD DESIGNER FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING FIRM. OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT. BUT LET'S SEE. REROUTING A ROAD OR UTILITY TO SAVE A GROVE OF TREES IS A CHALLENGE I ENJOY. I WOULD ENJOY IT, BUT MOST PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY ARE NOT LIKE ME TRYING TO SAVE TREES. FOR THE MOST PART, THEY DON'T CARE. THIS IS WHY PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS HAVE TO BE MANDATED. THIS CITY IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION. DOES THAT MEAN IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION OF BEING ABLE TO DICTATE STRICTER TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT, AND STILL HAVE DEVELOPERS WANT TO BUILD HERE? DEVELOPERS ARE STILL GOING TO COME AND CREATE GROWTH IN LEANDER. LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE LOCATED ON A GROWTH CORRIDOR.

THE CITY OF LEANDER WILL CONTINUE TO EXTEND THEIR TAX BASE BY VIRTUE OF DEVELOPMENT.

BUT WITH STRICTER TREE PRESERVATION ORDINANCES. DEVELOPERS WILL WORK WITH THE TERRAIN AND THE TREES, THUS CREATING MORE INTERESTING, MORE SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS. AND EVERYONE WILL BENEFIT. AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO ADD I'M A MASTER NATURALIST. I DO NATIVE PLANT RESCUE AND. WHEN I'VE BEEN DOING THAT HERE IN SOME OF THE PLACES THAT WE HAVE HAD, DEVELOPERS WANT TO COME IN CLEAR CUT, WE GO IN, WE TRY TO SAVE WHATEVER WE CAN, BUT IT'S HEARTBREAKING. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT TREES ACTUALLY DO FOR US, AND THEY CANNOT BE REPLACED. THESE TREES WILL NOT BE REPLACED. THEY'RE OLDER THAN ANY OF US. SO ANYWAY, WITH THAT SAID, AS A MASTER NATURALIST, AS AN AND AS SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO BE ABLE TO SEE MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN CONTINUE FORWARD WITH A TOWN, A CITY, A COUNTRY THAT ACTUALLY HAS GREEN IN IT, AND NOT JUST CEMENT. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SAVE OUR TREES.

THANK YOU. MATT PITCHER. I HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT. 14801 RONALD REAGAN PARKWAY, LEANDER, TEXAS.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. YEAH, I LOVE THE TREES IN THIS CITY. AND I'M WATCHING THEM COME DOWN FASTER THAN WE CAN EVER REPLACE THEM. TONIGHT. YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M HERE TO ASK TO ASK YOU TO. I WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE CHANGES BEFORE YOU KEEPING AT LEAST HALF OF A SITE SIGNIFICANT TREES PROTECTING HERITAGE TREES STARTING AT 24IN AND RAISING THE REMOVAL FEES SO THEY CAN FINALLY ACTUALLY MEAN SOMETHING. RIGHT NOW IN A MATURE TREE COMES DOWN, WE TELL OURSELVES WE'LL PLANT A FEW SAPLINGS AND CALL IT EVEN, BUT IT ISN'T EVEN CLOSE. YOU CAN'T BUY BACK. IF SOMEONE STOLE MY LINE, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A REAL ZINGER HERE. BUT YOU CAN'T BUY BACK A 100 YEAR OLD TREE AT THE NURSERY. THEY DON'T EXIST.

AND IT ISN'T JUST THE GIANTS. WE LOSE THE EVERYDAY MATURE TREES. THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY MAKE UP MOST OF OUR CANOPY ARE GETTING CLEARED WHOLESALE, HALF A SITE AT A TIME, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THAT'S FREE. THE AMENDED RETENTION RULE FIXES THIS, GUARANTEEING AT LEAST HALF OF THEM STAY STANDING. THESE TREES PAY THEIR WAY EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE HOMES AND SHOPS NEAR THEM ARE WORTH MORE. MATURE TREES COVER MATURE TREES. MATURE TREE COVER ADDS 10 TO 20% TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUE. BUSINESS DISTRICT SHADED BY LARGE TREES. ENJOY HIGHER OCCUPANCY RATES, INCREASED LEASES AND HIGHER FOOT TRAFFIC. SURVEYS CONSISTENTLY SHOW THAT CONSUMERS PREFER TO SHOP IN TREE LINED AREAS AND ARE WILLING TO STAY LONGER AND SPEND MORE MONEY. THESE TREES EVEN QUIETLY HANDLE SOME OF OUR WORST WEATHER FOR US WHEN THE

[03:35:03]

THAT'S WHY THE FEE INCREASE MATTERS AND WHY I HOPE AND YOU WON'T, AND WHY I HOPE YOU WON'T SOFTEN IT. A FEE THAT'S TOO CHEAP ISN'T A DETERRENT. IT'S JUST THE PRICE OF DOING BUSINESS. AND RIGHT NOW IT'S A BARGAIN. RAISE IT. AND SUDDENLY KEEPING THE TREE IS A SMART FINANCIAL CHOICE, NOT JUST THE RIGHT ONE. SO MAKE IT EASIER TO SAVE A TREE THAN TO CUT IT.

LOWERING THE HERITAGE TREE THRESHOLD IS 24IN DOES THE SAME THING. NONE OF THIS STOPS GROWTH. IT JUST SAYS NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS TO CARRY THE REAL COST OF WHAT IT REMOVES.

INSTEAD OF HANDING THAT COST TO THE REST OF US, WE NEED TO VALUE WHAT WE HAVE. NOW, I'D HATE FOR US TO LOOK UP IN 20 YEARS AND REALIZE WE GAVE AWAY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THIS CITY HAD GOING FOR IT, AND WE HAD TO VOTE RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW TO KEEP IT. THANK YOU, CARLOS SAINT JAMES. I DON'T HAVE IT SELECTED WHETHER YOU'RE FOR OR AGAINST, BUT. I'M MASSIVELY FOR THIS. IN FACT, I'M HOPING JUST A FURTHER. OH YEAH. LIKE JUST SAID, STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. CARLOS AND JAMES ON ARTESIAN SPRINGS CROSSING OUTSIDE OF LAKEWOOD PARK. GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL. I'M ALSO WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE LEANDER FOUNDATION. BACK IN 2022, WE PARTNERED WITH TEXAS A AND M FORESTRY DEPARTMENT, AND WE FOUND, MEASURED AND DATED THE TEN OLDEST TREES OF LEANDER. IT WAS A VERY POPULAR EVENT THAT WE DID. IT GOT A LOT OF PRESS, ETC. AND WE FOUND THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF TREES.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TREES THAT ARE OVER 250 YEARS OLD IN TOWN, AND WE'VE SINCE FOUND MORE, BUT WE HAVEN'T DATED THEM YET. WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND THIS TO AT LEAST 20 NOW GOING FORWARD. AND I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THE REASON WE'RE HERE TONIGHT IS BECAUSE TWO OF THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ON THE BOARD OF THE LEANDER FOUNDATION AT THAT TIME.

WHEN WE PUT THIS TOGETHER, WE SAW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON AND THAT WE FELT WE NEEDED TO PROTECT THE TREES. IF IF YOU RECALL BACK THEN IN 2022, OVER 50% OF THE CITY'S REVENUES CAME FROM CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS. THAT IS COMING FROM DEVELOPERS. THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION BACK THEN HOW WE DEVELOPERS HAD UNTOLD INFLUENCE ON OUR DECISIONS, AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY WORRIED A LOT OF US. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE STARTED MAKING THAT NOISE. I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE'RE FINALLY ADDRESSING THIS, THIS THING. SINCE THEN, THE LEANDER FOUNDATION ALSO PUBLISHES STUDIES COMPARING CENTRAL TEXAS CITIES ON A BUNCH OF LEVELS. AND SINCE THEN, LEANDER'S REVENUES FROM CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE DROPPED FROM THAT 52% IN 2022, IT'S AS OF LAST YEAR, IT'S ONLY 35%. THAT IS STILL WAY TOO HIGH. WE'RE STILL TOO DEPENDENT ON DEVELOPERS FOR OUR REVENUES, BECAUSE IF YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE NINE CITIES SURROUNDING AUSTIN, OUR PEER GROUP, THAT AVERAGES ONLY 23%. SO I WOULD ADVISE THAT WE CONTINUE DOING THIS. WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH. WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I DO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS PER THE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CARLA SAINT JAMES. I ALSO DON'T HAVE YOUR MARK ON HERE, BUT OKAY. THANK YOU. AND IF YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. 1817 ARTESIAN SPRINGS CROSSING OUTSIDE LAKEWOOD PARK. I AM HERE REPRESENTING KEITH MANOR, BEAUTIFUL AS A BOARD MEMBER, WHICH IS AN AFFILIATE OF KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL. IN 2022, WE DID PAIR UP WITH LEANDER FOUNDATION AND WENT AROUND LOOKING FOR ALL THESE TREES, AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE THE PRESERVATION OF IT. THESE TREES SERVE AS A LIVING SYMBOL OF THE CITY'S HISTORY. I AND MY FAMILY AND I ARE BLESSED TO LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE OLDEST TREE IN LEANDER, AND IT IS OVER 260 YEARS OLD. SO THAT IS BEFORE WE WERE EVEN INDEPENDENT. IT HAS BEEN A BLESSING FOR MY FAMILY TO WATCH PEOPLE HAVE PICNICS, READ BOOKS, DRINK COFFEE, HAVE EASTER EGG HUNTS UNDERNEATH THE TREES. DISNEY EVEN ILLUSTRATES THIS BY DEPICTING A HERITAGE TREE AS, QUOTE, THE GRANDMOTHER TO POCAHONTAS, SHOWING STRENGTH,

[03:40:01]

I UNDERSTAND AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE NEED NEW DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S WHERE WE GET A BULK OF OUR MONEY. HOWEVER, I HOPE OUR COUNCIL WILL GO ALONG WITH OTHER FOLLOWING CITIES AND MAKE THE DEVELOPERS PAY THE COST OF EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT I HAVE ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. SO. WE WILL GO TO COUNCIL. I'LL START WITH PRO TEM. I'VE GOT A FEW NOTES HERE AND THEY'RE A BIT DISJOINTED, SO FORGIVE ME, BUT I AM EXTREMELY.

TAKE YOUR TIME. EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF TREES. IN FACT, WHEN WE MOVED HERE IN 2003, THE FURTHER WEST WE GOT, MY HUSBAND TOLD ME ON THE DRIVE THAT THE ONLY THING YOU'RE GOING TO HATE ABOUT THIS AREA IS THE TREES GET SHORTER AND FEWER AND FAR BETWEEN. SO I GREW UP IN THE PINEY WOODS OF NORTH LOUISIANA. BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS SUBJECT, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS THAT I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, NEED TO BE HELD IN A CONTEXT OF A LARGER CONVERSATION. I DON'T THINK THIS DECISION SHOULD BE MADE IN A VACUUM. MAKING THESE CHANGES THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT DO IMPACT SEVERAL LARGE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. AND I, I JUST THINK IT NEEDS TO BE HELD IN AN OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONVERSATION. I KNOW THAT CEDAR PARK WAS USED AS AN EXAMPLE IN THE PRESENTATION, AND THERE ARE CHANGES THAT THEY MADE IN 2019, BUT THEY DO HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION WHERE THEIR CITY STAFF FOR A LARGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS CAN MAKE THE DECISION TO AUTHORIZE THE TREES BEING CUT DOWN. I THINK SCHEELS THINK 1890 RANCH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE DONE UNDERNEATH THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION OF THE CITY STAFF. THERE ARE THINGS THAT DID NOT GO TO THE CEDAR PARK CITY COUNCIL, SO THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION TO. ANOTHER THING TO KNOW IS THAT IT'S. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I THINK WORTHY OF FURTHER CONVERSATION IS THAT WE ALSO CANNOT TAKE AWAY THE ABILITY OF A LANDOWNER TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THEIR PROPERTY, AND THAT THERE COULD IT COULD BE CONSIDERED A LEGAL TAKING IF WE CHOOSE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE CITY ENDS UP BUYING UP A WHOLE LOT OF PROPERTY THAT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH EITHER. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THAT WOULD PLAY OUT POTENTIALLY. AND ALSO WHEN THINGS COME BEFORE US AND PLANNING AND ZONING AND CITY COUNCIL WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD PERSON, FOR INSTANCE, WHERE WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER THOSE HERITAGE TREES AND SIGNIFICANT TREES. BUT ONCE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE PLOTTED, THE BUILDERS CAN COME IN AS THEY'RE BUILDING THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSES AND CAN TAKE DOWN WHATEVER TREES THEY DEEM NECESSARY TO BUILD THE HOUSES. AND WE HAVE ZERO CONTROL OVER THAT. SO I THINK THIS IS CONVERSATION IS WORTH HAVING AND A BIG CONVERSATION. BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF TREES THAT HAVE BEEN SAVED. SO, I MEAN, I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S GREAT TO BRING UP, BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN MAKE THIS DECISION IN A VACUUM. THANK YOU. PLEASE. FIVE. I THINK THOSE ARE SOME EXCELLENT POINTS THAT MY COLLEAGUE HERE ON DYESS HAS MADE IN CONTEXT OF THIS. I WILL SAY THAT I HAD SPOKEN WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SPONSLER ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. I DO SUPPORT THE DIRECTION OF THE SUGGESTION AS FAR AS A NEED TO REASSESS HOW WE MANAGE THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS GOING FORWARD, IN MY EXPERIENCE ON COUNCIL THUS FAR, THERE'S BEEN, TO MY COUNT, MAYBE 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT HAVE COME FORTH THAT WERE RELATED TO HERITAGE TREE REMOVAL. IN THE INSTANCES WHERE THE PETITIONER TOOK THE TIME TO MANAGE THIS FOR THEIR PROJECT, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT TREES THAT WERE SALVAGED AS A RESULT OF THAT EFFORT. WE'VE ALSO HAD ITEMS WHERE, FRANKLY, I QUESTIONED THAT AND ONCE THE DEVELOPER WENT BACK AND TOOK ANOTHER LOOK AT THOSE THINGS, THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SALVAGE THOSE TREES.

THERE'S A TRADE OFF, AND I DON'T I THINK IT WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE TO THE POINT MADE DEVELOPERS THAT THEY'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF DEVELOPING BECAUSE IT IS A FINANCIAL EQUATION, IT'S A BUSINESS DECISION. AND SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE SOME OF

[03:45:07]

BACKGROUND OR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE. SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING TO ADDRESS THIS. THIS IS NOT IN A VACUUM. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A CONSIDERED CONVERSATION AND CONSIDER STEPS TO TO AMEND. I THINK THERE'S SOME STATE LAWS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT AS WELL TO ENSURE THAT OUR OFFSETS ARE CORRECT AND THAT OUR FEE AND LOSE ARE ARE STANDARDIZED. SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE LONG TERM PROCESS THAT THIS WOULD CREATE, BECAUSE ONCE WE HAVE ESTABLISHED STANDARDS FOR, SAY, LIKE THE TREE TYPES AND MITIGATION OF OAK WILT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THAT STARTS TO CREATE ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON THE CITY FOR LONG TERM MAINTENANCE AND FUNDING. WE ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE HOA, SO THAT THE HOA'S ARE DOING THE SAME THINGS THAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO TO ATTEMPT TO DO AS WELL. SO THE RESPONSIBILITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AS A COMMUNITY. IT'S CLEAR THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE SAYING THE THE CANOPY AND TREES ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. WE SEE IT IN EVERY SURVEY THAT WE'VE DONE. AGAIN, I, I SUPPORT THIS. I THINK THIS IS A THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT I DO ALSO THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ROSS MADE SOME VERY, VERY IMPORTANT POINTS AS WELL IN CONSIDERATION HERE. AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS IN THAT LIGHT AND AND DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SPONSELLER DO YOU OR DO YOU HAVE THE NUMBER OF TREES THAT WERE ON THE PROPERTY COMPARED TO WHAT WAS REMOVED FOR THE NUMBERS YOU CALLED IT? DO YOU HAVE THAT TISSUE? MY NUMBERS ARE BASED ON CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS AND THOSE TREES THAT WERE REMOVED VIA PLANNING AND ZONING, MEETING AGENDA ITEMS, OR COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEMS THAT WERE ACTUALLY VOTED ON BY THE COUNCIL. OKAY. IT JUST FOR ME, IT WAS IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE A FULL COMPARISON OF WHAT WAS ON THE PROPERTY, HOW MANY TREES WERE ON THE PROPERTY VERSUS WHAT WAS TAKEN DOWN. 50% CAN AUTOMATICALLY BE REMOVED. SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN EVEN TRACK THE 50%. HOW DO WE TRACK THE 50% THAT'S REMOVED FOR MITIGATION? I THINK I THINK IT'S IN THEIR THEIR PROJECT. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SITE PLANS. YES. ON THE SITE PLAN. THANK YOU. PLACE TWO. SO. I LIKE WHERE I KIND OF LIKE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH SOME OF THIS STUFF AND EVERYTHING. I THINK FOR ME KIND OF LOOKING AT, I THINK YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU HAVE FOUR THINGS THERE, RIGHT? IF I'M READING THIS RIGHT, I DON'T, I, I AGREE STANDING TREE MEASUREMENT 4.5FT TIES UP. I'M, I'M GOOD WITH THAT CUTTING TWO INCHES OFF THE, THE HERITAGE THING. THAT'S NO BIG DEAL. I HAVE I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM HERE THOUGH, WHERE WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THE MARKET LOOKS LIKE. IF WE WERE TO DO THE FLIP THE 50%. RIGHT. SO I THINK I THINK THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION FOR ROBIN. IS WHAT DOES THIS ACTUALLY DO? WHAT DOES THIS CHANGE WHEN YOU GO INTO THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS? SO IF I GOT THIS PIECE OF LAND AND NOW I GOT TO KEEP 50% OF THE TREES, RIGHT, OR I CAN'T GET I, I HAVE TO TRY TO SAVE THEM AND THEN I CAN PAY TO GET RID OF THEM. IS THAT HOW THAT

[03:50:02]

OH, TODAY. NO NO, NO, I'M SAYING HOW WOULD THIS WORK. SO SO THEN OKAY, SO NOW I HAVE TO KEEP 50% OF THE TREES ON A PIECE OF LAND. AND NOW I'M GOING TO PUT I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS FOR HER BECAUSE THIS IS HER. I KNOW SHE'S DEALS WITH THE DEVELOPERS. SHE'S LIKE, THAT'S NOT MINE. I COULD, I COULD GUESS WELL, THAT'S, I WOULD SAY YOU'D HAVE THE SMALLER BUILDINGS. WELL, THIS IS I'M POSITING SOMETHING HERE. SO THE SO WOULD THAT MEAN THE HOUSES ARE GOING TO BE SMALLER? I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU GOT I MEAN, YOU CAN'T BUILD A HOUSE ON A TREE, RIGHT. SO WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT. AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE TREES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SMALLER HOUSES, RIGHT? IS THAT WHAT IS THAT? NO, I THINK YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF YOUR ORDINANCE. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL. RIGHT. SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW WE APPLY IT. BUT I THINK SHE'S SPEAKING MORE TO THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS. IS THAT WHAT THIS THIS COMMERCIAL IS THIS RESIDENTIAL TOO? I MEAN, DEFINITELY COMMERCIAL. I'M HAPPY TO LOOK AT THE RESIDENTIAL LIKE THIS ITEM IS TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER IF, IF WE WANT TO BRING UP SOME ITEMS AND THEN HAVE IT STAFF BRING IT BACK FOR A WORKSHOP SO THAT WE CAN FULLY FLESH THESE ITEMS OUT. I'M HAPPY FOR THAT. SO KIND OF MY CONCERN WITH THAT WAS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO LOOK AT IS THAT HOW WOULD THIS IMPACT THINGS THAT ARE IN THE ETJ? THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT BEING ANNEXED PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THEY'RE LOOKING TO COME INTO THE CITY AND THINGS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE ROADS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT THAT? THAT TO ME IS REALLY PART OF THE QUESTION HERE, BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO GO AND SAY, OKAY, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS. AND I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THIS, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO SET UP A STRUCTURE WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY STAYS OUT, AND THEN WE END UP WITH HAVING TO BUILD, WE END UP WITH SUBPAR ROADS, SUBPAR INFRASTRUCTURE. PEOPLE CAN'T GET OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN THESE AREAS. AND WE DON'T GET INVOLVED IN WHAT'S GOING ON. SO THEY WON'T COME IN THE CITY BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY THE FEES. THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT.

THEY'LL STAY IN THE COUNTY, THEY'LL PUT ONE ACRE LOTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR THEY'LL DO OTHER KIND OF THINGS THAT. SO THAT'S SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME ANALYSIS AROUND THIS 50% OPTION HERE. I THINK THAT'S I THINK IT'S WORTH LOOKING AT AND SEEING, OKAY, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, ON THE CALIPER INCH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S I'M, I'M NOT WEDDED TO A NUMBER.

I JUST THINK ON THAT. I THINK IT'S, IT'S WORTH LOOKING AT, BUT I DO DEFINITELY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MARKET IS GOING TO DO WHEN YOU DO THIS. HOW IS IT GOING TO REACT AND WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS GOING TO LOOK LIKE? I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THE TREES. I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT STUFF. I THINK I'M GOING TO GO MEASURE MY TREE AT HOME AND SEE WHAT AND SEE HOW BIG IT IS, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S PRETTY BIG AND BUT THAT WOULDN'T BE THERE IF THEY HADN'T PUT IT ON A CUL DE SAC. RIGHT. AND THINGS. AND IT IS DISAPPOINTING WHAT, WHAT BECKY WAS SAYING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION CAN BASICALLY JUST ELIMINATE THINGS AFTER IT GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF US OBSESSING ABOUT THESE TREES AND THEN WHACK, THEY'RE GONE. SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD LOOK AT. I DO THINK WE CAN. I WOULD RECOMMEND WE MAKE THE TWO CHANGES RIGHT OFF THE BAT. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

THAT'S JUST ME. PLACE ONE. I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN SPONSLER FOR BRINGING THIS TO DYESS, AND I SHARE A LOT OF THE SAME SENTIMENTS AS MY COLLEAGUES. I THINK THAT SEVERAL OF THESE CHANGES ARE STRONG CHANGES. I THINK THAT THE ONE THAT I WOULD WANT TO DISCUSS MORE AND WORKSHOP MORE WOULD BE THE 50% RETENTION FOR. DON'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO ADD PAST THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M LAST. SO APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. SO. OH YES.

CITY MANAGER. I WAS GOING TO SAY I THINK WE NEED TO CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE 50%. AND I THINK THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING OR, OR NOT A COMPLETE FLESH OUT IN TERMS OF HOW THAT WORKS. AND COMPARED TO CEDAR PARK AND THEN THE WAY THE FEES WORK FOR THE TREE REMOVAL.R TONIGHT OR YOU MEAN? WELL, JUST TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE THERE'S A MISCONCEPTIONS IN THE AUDIENCE AND FOR COUNCIL RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF WHAT THE STANDARD IS.

AND, AND I'LL JUST SAY THIS TO YOU BEFORE I SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL'S BEEN STRUGGLING THE LAST FEW KIND OF HERITAGE TREE PERMITS WITH, WITH THIS ISSUE KIND OF LOOKING AT WHAT SHOULD OUR POLICY IN LOOKING AT THE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME ADDITIONAL CRITERIA OR THOUGHT PROCESSES BEHIND THAT. SO THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THAT THAT REALLY IS MERITING SOME CONVERSATION. BUT ON THE 50% REMOVAL, THERE'S ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE OF IT, ONCE YOU GET TO EIGHT CALIPER INCHES TO 18 CALIPER INCHES, THERE'S 50% OF THOSE TREES THAT CAN BE REMOVED. THOSE ARE SIGNIFICANT TREES. SO ANYTHING LESS THAN EIGHT INCHES ISN'T SUBJECT TO

[03:55:03]

THAT EXCLUDES HERITAGE TREES. SO ANYTHING OR SIGNIFICANT TREES THAT ARE LARGER THAN 18IN.

SO YOU DON'T JUST GET TO CLEAR CUT THOSE WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL MITIGATION EITHER.

SO THOSE ARE NOT CAPTURING THE 50%. SO YOUR 50% WOULD BE IN THAT BRACKET, THOSE TREES BIGGER THAN THAT OR HERITAGE TREES ARE NOT ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE CUT UNDER THAT 50% CONCEPT FOR THE CITY OF CEDAR PARK. ONCE YOU GET TO THERE, I THINK A SIX INCH THRESHOLD ON THEIR CALIPER INCHES, 50% CAN BE REMOVED FROM THAT STANDPOINT. SO IT'S A DIFFERENT METRIC. IT DOESN'T RESPECT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HERITAGE TREES AND AND SIGNIFICANT TREES. SO IT'S A DIFFERENT METRIC. SO YOU CAN CLEAR CUT THINGS THERE UNDER THE 50% THAT YOU CAN'T UNDER OUR STANDARD. SO IT IT WARRANTS THAT DISCUSSION. AND ON THE FEE REMOVAL COMPONENT, THERE IS A COST TO REMOVE, LET'S SAY, A HERITAGE TREE. SO YOU PAY $300 A CALIPER INCH FOR THAT REMOVAL.

ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S A MITIGATION THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT IN. SO YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE CALIPER INCHES WITH NEW TREES OR PLANTED TREES. AND IF YOU'RE PLANTING AND REPLANTING THE SITE AND YOU YOU CANNOT PUT THE TREES ON SITE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOW OVER PLANTING IT, THEN THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL FEE THAT YOU PAY FOR THAT THE MITIGATION ON THE HERITAGE TREE FOR THE REMOVAL IS A 3 TO 1, FOR EXAMPLE. SO IF IT'S A 20 INCH OR I'M SORRY, 24 INCH, IF THAT'S WHERE WE GO, YOU MULTIPLY IT TIMES THREE AND THEN YOU MULTIPLY BY 300. THAT WOULD BE FOR THE REMOVAL. THEN YOU STILL HAVE TO DO THE MITIGATION REPLACEMENT. IF YOU CAN'T GET ALL THOSE TREES ON THE SITE, THEN THERE'S ANOTHER $150 PER CALIPER INCH OF MITIGATION THAT YOU DON'T GET TO. SO, SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AND LOOK AT AS WE LOOK AT THAT, THAT FEE AND THE WAY THAT PROCESS GOES FOR CEDAR PARK, IT'S, IT'S A NUMBER PER INCH THAT YOU TAKE OUT OF HERITAGE TREE. SO IT'S A DIFFERENT FORMULA THERE. FORMULA YIELDS A MUCH HIGHER COST FOR REMOVAL THAN OURS WOULD BE. SO I JUST KIND OF RAN SOME NUMBERS THIS AFTERNOON, SAID WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE. SO LET'S SAY A 28 INCH TREE WOULD BE ABOUT $35,000 TO US, ABOUT $64,000 ROUGHLY TO CEDAR PARK, TO PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE FEES, WE DO HAVE TO ALSO PAY ATTENTION TO THE TAKINGS STATUTES AND THE FEES THAT WE CHARGE HAVE TO BE RELATIONAL TO THE IMPACTS THAT THE DEVELOPER ACTION IS ACTUALLY TAKING. SO WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT THESE THINGS. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE FEES, LOOK AT THOSE COMPONENTS, AS WELL AS THE OTHER THINGS THAT THAT MISS ROSS HAD ALLUDED TO, WHICH IS ANYTHING WE DO THAT THAT REMOVES THE ABILITY OF A HOMEOWNER TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THEIR PROPERTY OR ACTIONS THAT WE TAKE THAT ELIMINATE AN INVESTMENT EXPECTATION FOR A PIECE OF PROPERTY OR ELIMINATES THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, HAS TO BE COMPENSATED. SO THERE'S SOME THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT FOR THAT. BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO, TO KIND OF CLARIFY SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND KIND OF MAKE SURE THOSE ARE KIND OF CLEAR AS WE LOOK AT THESE THINGS GOING FORWARD. SO DO WE HAVE A IT SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF COUNCIL WANTS TO BRING IT BACK FOR A WORKSHOP SO WE CAN DO MORE DETAIL WORK ON THIS AND GET MORE INFORMATION. SORRY, WORKSHOP, ANOTHER WORKSHOP. SO.

OKAY, IT'S FIFTH IS THAT THURSDAY. THAT IS ELECTION WEEK. IT'S FINE WITH ME. I'M JUST SAYING IT'S IT'S ELECTION WEEK. SO OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE TO THAT NEXT MEETING BECAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING. ARE YOU OKAY? ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT DATE? SHE'S NOT DOING IT WELL. BUT I MEAN, YES, YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WHAT THOUGHTS. OKAY. I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE THIS TO A WORKSHOP ON NOVEMBER 5TH. I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? FANTASTIC. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SPONSELLER, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ONLY A FIVE MINUTE BREAK, USE THE BATHROOM, GET SOME WATER AND COME BACK. AND WE HAVE LOTS OF THANK YOU. SO NOW WE ARE MOVING TO ITEM 39. RECEIVE A

[39. Receive a presentation from City staff on the Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) sytem and provide direction.]

[04:00:03]

THAT'S WHAT, WHAT THE SYSTEM WILL DO INTERNALLY. AND WHAT HAPPENS IF IT DOES FIND A VEHICLE THAT'S A POSSIBLE MATCH. IT WILL SEND AN ALERT OUT TO THE TO THAT AREA WHERE THAT CAMERA WAS ACTIVATED BY THAT CAMERA. SO THE OFFICER THAT'S WORKING THAT PARTICULAR AREA WOULD BE ALERTED THAT THERE IS A STOLEN VEHICLE OR A VEHICLE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR SPECIFICALLY CLOSE TO THEM. THEN THE OFFICER MUST VERIFY THAT. SO THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD VERIFY THE INFORMATION JUST TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE IT'S A HIT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S 100% ACCURATE ON THAT. SO WE HAVE TO GO AND CHECK AND WE FIND THAT VEHICLE. WE RUN THAT PLATE AGAIN THROUGH THE THROUGH THE STATE DATABASES. AND THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT AND THEN WE WOULD ACT UPON THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION. SO DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, MAKING INVESTIGATING IT, SEEING IF IT'S WHAT IT IS, WHO THE PERSON'S INSIDE, IS EVERYTHING OKAY? OR IS IT SOMETHING WE NEED TO TO WE RECOVERED A VEHICLE OR NOT? WHAT IS CAPTURED ON LICENSE PLATE READER PHOTOGRAPHS IS THE ACTUAL LICENSE PLATE. SO THERE'S 50 STATES OUT THERE. THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT, BUT IT'S ABLE TO CAPTURE AND LOOK AT

[04:05:04]

BUT THE PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT LEGITIMATE LAW ENFORCEMENT WORK, NOT TO MONITOR INDIVIDUALS FOR PERSONAL REASONS. SO, LEANDER. YEAH, I KNOW, SO THAT'S THE INTENT OF THEM. SO THE CAMERAS, THERE'S 15 LEANDER CAMERAS RIGHT NOW, AND LEANDER CAMERAS ARE SET UP IN THE INGRESS AND EGRESS AREAS IN MAJOR INTERSECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO THE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE ARE BASICALLY WHAT I CALL OUR GUARDRAILS. BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY IS POWERFUL, WE ESTABLISH CLEAR BOUNDARIES AND CLEAR FOR THE USE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT. SO THERE'S LIMITS ON WHO CAN USE ALPR, WHY THEY CAN USE IT AND WHAT PURPOSES ARE AUTHORIZED. THE CONTROL IS HOW WE HOW THE INFORMATION IS ASSESSED AND DOCUMENTED, RETAINED, PRESERVED AND SHARED.

AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE AN AUDITING SYSTEM AND HOW SYSTEMS ARE ACTIVELY OR WHO LOGS IN AND REVIEWED AND HELP TO ENSURE OUR POLICIES ARE IN COMPLIANCE. SO WHEN WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER OUR OUR PARTICULAR POLICY, WE DIDN'T JUST COME UP WITH ONE. WE LOOKED AT ALL THE OTHER MAJOR AGENCIES AROUND THAT WERE USING IT TO KIND OF COMPARE TO AND ALSO AS A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED AGENCY THROUGH CALEA, THEY ALSO HAVE AN ADVANCED STANDARD THAT ADDRESSES ALPR TECHNOLOGY. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICIES WITHIN BEST STANDARDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO WHO CAN USE ALPR? SO AUTHORIZED USERS ONLY SO SWORN OR PROFESSIONAL STAFF MUST BE AUTHORIZED BY MYSELF OR THE DESIGNEE. THERE IS TRAINING REQUIRED TO. PERSONNEL MUST COMPLETE END USER TRAINING BEFORE USING THE SOFTWARE. THERE'S UNIQUE CREDENTIALING, SO EACH AUTHORIZED USER RECEIVES A UNIQUE USERNAME AND PASSWORD, SO CREDENTIALS MAY NOT BE SHARED. SO THAT WAY YOU CAN SPECIFICALLY KNOW WHO'S SEARCHING FOR THAT DATA BY THAT NAME. SO THEY CAN'T MAKE ONE UP. IT'S ASSIGNED TO THEM AND IT'S VERY SPECIFIC. OFFICIAL PURPOSES IS IT'S LIMITED TO OFFICIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES. AND THE REASON IT HAS TO BE DOCUMENTED. SO RELATED INCIDENT REPORT NUMBERS ARE CALLS FOR SERVICE NUMBERS ARE REQUIRED FOR EVERY SEARCH. SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE ON OUR OWN SYSTEM THAT YOU CAN'T JUST GO IN THERE AND JUST LOOK WHATEVER YOU WANT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIFIC CASE NUMBER OR CALL FOR SERVICE AND NOTES TO BE ABLE TO RELATE BACK TO THAT ONE. AND THEN SUPERVISOR OVERSIGHT IS DESIGNED SYSTEM IS DESIGNATED SYSTEM FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR OVERSEES THE SYSTEM AND RELATED ACCESS ISSUES. SO WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT DOES THE AUDITS AND WATCHES THE SYSTEM CONSTANTLY. JUST MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S IN COMPLIANCE. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THESE ARE PARAMETERS THAT LEANDER HAS PUT IN PLACE ON THEIR USAGE. FOR FOLKS USING THIS SYSTEM AS RESTRICTED AS WE CAN WITHIN THE SYSTEM. THANK YOU. WHAT PATROL OFFICERS MAY

[04:10:06]

INVESTIGATING OR CORROBORATING COMPLAINT TIPS AND LEADS. WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THAT IF SOMEBODY HAS A SPECIFIC INFORMATION, WE CAN TRY TO CORROBORATE THAT TOGETHER AND SUPPORTING OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS DURING CRITICAL INCIDENTS. SO SOMETHING UNIQUE TO OUR AREA IS BECAUSE OF WHERE LEANDER IS LIBERTY HILL, CEDAR PARK, ROUND ROCK, GEORGETOWN, WE'RE ALL TOUCHING EACH OTHER'S BORDERS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

SO IN ORDER TO HELP EACH OTHER DURING THESE AMBER ALERTS, REGIONAL PURSUITS OR MISSING ENDANGERED PERSONS, WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THE SYSTEM. A DATA RETENTION PROTECTION. SO CURRENTLY OUR SYSTEM IS SET FOR 30 DAY RETENTION AND ALL SYSTEM DATA IS RETAINED FOR THAT 30 DAYS AND WHICH IS DELETED AND NO LONGER SEARCHABLE BY LPD AFTER THAT 30 DAYS. THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS WOULD BE IF IT'S BEING INVESTIGATED AT THAT TIME.

WE CAN PULL THAT PARTICULAR PHOTOGRAPH OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND PUT IT IN AN INVESTIGATIVE FILE, BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE INVESTIGATION, WHICH ALLOWS US TO KEEP IT LONGER THAN THAT 30 DAYS. AND IF THAT BECOMES A, I GUESS, A CRIME WHERE WE ACTUALLY PUT SOMEBODY ARRESTING SOMEBODY FOR THAT, THEN IT WOULD FALL INTO OUR EVIDENCE SYSTEM WHERE IT'LL BE RETAINED.

SO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CAN USE THAT AS PART OF THEIR THEIR CASES. IF IT'S FOUND TO BE THAT THAT'S NOT THE PERSON'S ACQUITTED FROM IT OR IT'S NOT THAT PERSON OR IT'S NOT THAT SITUATION, THEN IT WOULD FALL INTO THE SAME RETENTION PERIOD AS OUR NORMAL INVESTIGATIVE FILES. AND LASTLY, SHARING AND OUTSIDE AGENCIES ACCESS. SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S AUTOMATIC. IT'S NOT IT'S FOR SHARE INFORMATION SIMPLY BECAUSE ANOTHER PERSON'S AGENCY OR WANTS TO REQUEST IT. IT HAS TO BE ASKED, HAS TO BE REQUESTED FOR US, AND WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN APPROVAL PROCESS. AND IT CAN ALSO BE DENIED IF WE DON'T THINK THEY NEED TO BE ON OUR SYSTEM. BUT WHAT WE DO NOT SHARE WITH. IS THERE ANY FEDERAL PARTNERS AT ALL? WE HAVE THAT TURNED OFF. WE DO NOT SHARE IMMIGRATION RELATED SEARCHES, NOR DO WE ALLOW SEARCHES TO BE FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS RELATED TYPE SEARCHES AS WELL. SO ACCOUNTABILITY. SO EVERY SEARCH LEAVES AN AUDIT TRAIL. SO DOCUMENTED LOGS. SO THE QUERY IS IDENTIFIED. IDENTIFY THE USER WHO INITIATED THEM. AND THE SYSTEM MAINTAINS AN AUDIT TRAIL OF REQUESTED ACCESSES OR SEARCHED INFORMATION. SO EVERY EVERY TIME THEY'RE IN THE SYSTEM IT'S LEAVING. IT'S LEAVING A TRAIL BEHIND IT THAT'S REVIEWABLE. SO USER ACCESS IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW. SO IT CAN BE REVIEWED AT ANY TIME.

AND AUDIT INFORMATION CAN BE SEARCHED BY TIME PERIODS OR USERS. SO IF WE GET A COMPLAINT WE CAN LOOK FOR UNDER THAT SPECIFIC USER OR THAT PARTICULAR TIME FRAME. AND WHEN THAT SEARCH WAS DONE, AND THEN WE DO QUARTERLY AUDITS, WHICH WHICH INCLUDES SEARCH TOTALS, REASONS FOR SEARCH AND THE SEARCH PATTERNS OR TRENDS THAT WE WOULD SEE. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BASICS OF THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM. SO DEFINITELY HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.

I'VE GOT SERGEANT VAN HERE FOR ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE SYSTEM.

SO JUST WANTED TO HAND THAT OVER TO Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

COUNCIL. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT IS JUST PRESSING OR WE CAN GET TO OUR COMMENTS FIRST? THANK YOU. OKAY. SICK COMMENTS FIRST. GOT IT. AND WE HAVE AGAIN, WE HAVE I HAVE A BIG STACK OF COMMENTS. SO JUST A REMINDER, PLEASE LET EVERYBODY GET THROUGH THEIR COMMENTS.

THEY HAVE SAT HERE. THANK YOU ALL FOR HANGING ON. IT IS 1130. WE PROBABLY HAVE ANOTHER HOUR OR SO WITH THE COMMENTS THAT WE HAVE. SO PLEASE ALLOW EVERYBODY TO GET THROUGH THEIR COMMENT.

THEY'VE WAITED SO LONG TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THIS, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HEAR EVERYTHING EVERYBODY HAS TO SAY. SO THE FIRST ONE WILL BE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID MCDONALD IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT. AND PLEASE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STATE YOUR ADDRESS BECAUSE OF. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, I THINK EVERYONE PROBABLY AGREED TO GIVE YOU DOUBLE PAY FOR TONIGHT SINCE YOU'RE GOING TO BE YOUR SLAVE. THANK YOU. DOUBLE PAY OF 000. THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S SO EASY AGAIN, DAVE MCDONALD. I JUST LIKE TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THIS WHAT THE CHIEF JUST SHARED. SO WE SHARED A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS AND WHAT IT'S CAPTURED.

IT DOESN'T CAPTURE ANY OF THAT PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION. AND SO IT'S REALLY USED AS A REACTIVE TOOL TO FIND THE BAD GUYS WHO HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME. AND I THINK WE'VE ALL HEARD THE STORY THIS WEEK WHERE A CHILD WAS IN A STOLEN CAR DOWN IN KYLE, AND THAT CAR WAS STOPPED AND THE CHILD WAS BACK WITH HIS PARENTS WITHIN LIKE 30 MINUTES. SO IT'S A REALLY, REALLY A GOOD TOOL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. DOES IT COLLECT ANY OTHER STUFF? AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE A REASON TO UTILIZE A SYSTEM. BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT OTHER SYSTEMS THEY HAVE WITHIN THEIR CARS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE ANY REASONABLE SUSPICION OR CAUSE OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THEM TO ACCESS. SO THEY'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THEY GET STOPPED BY SOMEBODY AT A STOPLIGHT. THEY CAN ACTUALLY RUN YOUR REGISTRATION, RUN YOUR LICENSE PLATE, AND USE THAT AS A REASON FOR STOP IF IT'S EXPIRED, YOU HAVE WARRANTS OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. THEY ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THE DPS DATABASE TO CHECK YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

AND NONE OF THIS REQUIRES ANY INDICATION THAT YOU COMMITTED A CRIME, BUT IT'S ALL AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND SO WORRIED ABOUT THIS SYSTEM. IT'S A REACTIONARY, AND THEY'RE ONLY GOING INTO THE

[04:15:05]

AND SO WHEN WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT SURVEILLANCE AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, HEY, I MEAN, THERE'S NO VIOLATION OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THERE'S NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THESE CAMERAS ARE NOT RIGHT AWAY. SO THERE'S NO VIOLATION THERE. SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION TO CONSIDER AS YOU LOOK AT THESE CAMERAS, BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE ALL THESE OTHER TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET MUCH MORE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION AND THINGS ABOUT YOU THAT'S ALREADY ACCESSIBLE, THAT IS NOT EVEN ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT. SO THINK ABOUT THE VICTIMS. THINK ABOUT THE CRIMES AGAINST SOLVED WHENEVER YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NILES PERINO I KNOW I DIDN'T GET THAT RIGHT. SO CORRECT ME IF I TRIED. I TRIED 412 MOUNTAIN SKY BEND.

THANK YOU. OH, SORRY. OH. YOU'RE FINE. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL. SO THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK AT ALL ON FIRST RESPONDERS OR ANYONE ON THE PANEL. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AND YOUR WORK. SO. SO BASICALLY I'LL JUST READ IT OFF.

I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPROVAL AND CALL TO AND CALL ATTENTION TO THE INFRINGEMENT OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS. CITING CARPENTER AND CARPENTER V UNITED STATES, A U.S. SUPREME COURT RULED LAW, THE US SUPREME COURT RULED LAW ENFORCEMENT IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN PROBABLE CAUSE AND AND SEARCH WARRANT TO ACCESS HISTORICAL CELL SITE LOCATION INFORMATION. FOR REFERENCE, THAT'S CARPENTER V UNITED STATES. SO FURTHER MORE SPECIFICALLY TO TO OUR RIGHTS. THIS SYSTEMATIC TRACKING CREATES A SEARCHABLE DATABASE THAT HAS LED TO OVER 100 CASES OF SEVERE INSTANCES OF ALPR DATA ABUSE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. SO THAT'S FLORIDA, KENTUCKY, CALIFORNIA, AND SOME OTHER STATES. THAT'S JUST THE USES. AND IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE'VE ALREADY JUST HAD IT, I KNOW IT WAS APPROVED. I THINK IN 2024 FOR LEANDER, BUT IT REALLY DIDN'T GET MORE UPROAR TILL MORE RECENTLY. SO THE USE OF FLOCK CAMERAS LEAVES, I BELIEVE, LEAVES THE PUBLIC'S RIGHTS VULNERABLE TO VIOLATION. IT SETS A PRECEDENT THAT EVEN THOUGH I, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DESIRE TO PREVENT CRIME. NO ONE WANTS, YOU KNOW, CRIME TO BE COMMITTED NECESSARILY. AND WE WANT TO GET THE RESPONSE TIME WHEN CRITICAL TIME, WHEN TIME IS CRITICAL AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, BUT NOT AT THE COST OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE THAT PUTS US DOWN SURVEILLANCE STATE. THAT SHOULD BE THAT WE SHOULDN'T TAKE FOR GRANTED. AND.

SO I REQUEST THAT. AND RECENTLY, ON THE 31ST, I THINK THERE WAS A DIRECTIVE BY GOVERNOR ABBOTT TO TO PAUSE FUNDING FOR ACROSS TEXAS FOR. FUNDING. THAT TIMER SUCKS. SO I URGE THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE COVERING THE FLOCK CAMERAS, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE VOTING FOR IT IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO MAKE THEM NONFUNCTIONAL. YOU MADE IT. ALL RIGHT. JUSTIN, EARLY. NOT HERE.

OH. NOT HERE. OKAY. MATHIAS. EARLY. IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MATHIAS. EARLY 805 SOUTH PINE STREET, GEORGETOWN, TEXAS. OH, YEAH. YOU CAN GO. YES. YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO TALK ON MY EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND PEOPLE'S REACTIONS TO FLOCK CAMERAS, REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION. THERE HAS BEEN A LARGE CONSENSUS THAT PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO BE WATCHED, AND REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE POLICE STAND, THEY'RE CONCERNED ARE NOT WITH THE POLICE. THEY'RE CONCERNS ARE WITH THE ACTUAL COMPANY BECAUSE THESE CAMERAS CAN BE ACCESSED REMOTELY. THERE IS ALSO NOT A

[04:20:02]

2016 HARVEST DANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR THOMPSON, FOR PUTTING THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE ON THE AGENDA. I FIRST WANT TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK ON ANY INDIVIDUAL OR THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE MAIN ISSUE TODAY IS FLOCK AS A COMPANY AND THE MASS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM THAT IS BEING BUILT WITHOUT MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY INPUT OR TRANSPARENCY. AS CONCERNED CITIZENS OF LEANDER, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO LISTEN TO THE WARNING SIGNS. BACK IN 2023, WHEN THE GRANT WAS OFFERED, THE IDEA OF HOLDING A WORKSHOP WAS BROUGHT UP. THAT WORKSHOP NEVER HAPPENED, AND THE COMMUNITY WAS NEVER GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT ON FLOCK. MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AGO, OUR BIPARTISAN GROUP HERE BROUGHT ALL OF YOU GUYS ONE OF THESE, AN 18 PAGE BINDER ON DOCUMENTING OUR CONCERNS ABOUT FLOCK. WE BROUGHT IT TO POLICE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CITY MANAGER, AND ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND THIS DOCUMENT, WE BROUGHT UP THE RISK OF OUR DATA BEING SHARED WITH OUTSIDE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, THE MONETIZATION OF THE DATA OF THAT DATA, THE POTENTIAL MISUSE OF THE TOOL, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF LAWSUITS INVOLVING LEANDER. NOW WE'RE LEARNING THAT MANY OF THESE CONCERNS HAVE ALREADY BECOME A REALITY IN OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY OF PFLUGERVILLE. ACCORDING TO RECENT REPORTS, 459 AGENCIES ACCESS PFLUGERVILLE FLOCK DATABASE, EVEN THOUGH ONLY 80 HAVE BEEN APPROVED. PFLUGERVILLE POLICE REPORTEDLY RAN 5000 SEARCHES, WHILE EXTERNAL AGENCIES RAN 1.6 MILLION SEARCHES. TEXANS ARE LEARNING THAT $30 MILLION OF OUR PUBLIC MONEY WAS USED THROUGH A $1 ENTRANCE FEE TO

[04:25:02]

SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SECURITY. SO MY PREVIOUS LIFE, I USED TO BE A HACKER FOR OVER A DECADE, HACKED INTO STATE AGENCIES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC PRIVATE COMPANIES UNDER LEGAL CONTRACT, OF COURSE. AND NOW I WORK FOR A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY AS A LEADER IN IT, INFORMATION SECURITY AND AI. SO JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, EVERY CAR THAT PASSES THESE 15 CAMERAS, TIMESTAMP PHOTOS FOR 30 DAYS, REVEALS WHERE EVERY DRIVER WORKS, SLEEPS, WORSHIPS, GETS TREATED, WHETHER IT'S DOCTOR OR WHATEVER ELSE. A FILE LIKE THIS IS VERY VALUABLE TO CRIMINALS, FLOCK SAYS IT'S NEVER BEEN HACKED, BUT HERE'S THE RECORD. IN DECEMBER, MORE THAN 60 FLOCK CAMERAS WERE FOUND, WITH THEIR LIVE VIDEO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC INTERNET ON SHODAN, WHICH IS A PUBLIC SEARCH ENGINE FOR PHYSICAL DEVICES. THERE'S LIKE 1.7 MILLION CAMERAS ON THERE THAT ARE NOT AUTHENTICATED. YOU CAN GO SEARCH THROUGH THEM AND WATCH WHAT THEY SEE. NINE OF THOSE WERE ADDRESSED TO TEXAS IN NOVEMBER, UNITED STATES SENATOR TOLD THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AT LEAST 35 FLOCK CUSTOMER PASSWORDS HAVE BEEN STOLEN BY MALWARE. FLOCK ACCOUNTS FOR SALE ON RUSSIAN CRIME FORUM AND FLOCK DOES NOT REQUIRE TWO STEP LOGIN. ONCE A PASSWORD STOLEN, THE CAMERAS YOU CAN SEARCH, YOU KNOW, NATIONWIDE. AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES HERE I WANT TO TOUCH ON, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT. THERE'S 15 OFFICIAL REPORTS ON THE CAMERAS THEMSELVES ON MITERS CV, COMMON VULNERABILITY SITE, WHICH LISTS ALL THE VULNERABILITIES, TWO CRITICAL ONES, SO YOU CAN PRESS A BUTTON ON THE BACK AND A WI-FI HOTSPOT OPENS UP. YOU CAN EASILY CONNECT TO THE PASSWORD IS NOT GOING TO SAY IT. DO A GOOGLE SEARCH. FULL CONTROL IN 30S ALL THE IMAGES AND PASSWORDS STORED INSIDE UNENCRYPTED COULD GRAB ALL THAT WITH MY LAPTOP, MY PHONE, BRING IT HOME, RUN IT ON MY DOG BLACKWELL AI COMPUTER. OR IF YOU HAVE A GRAPHICS CARD, IF YOU'RE A GAMER, RUN IT ON THERE, GET SOME MODELS. YOU CAN THEN BASICALLY USE THAT INFORMATION TO DO THE SEARCHES YOURSELF. LOOK UP LICENSE PLATES IN. YOU CAN ALSO DO FACIAL RECOGNITION BECAUSE THERE YOUR MODELS. YOU CAN CONFIGURE IT HOWEVER YOU WANT.

SO FOX ANSWERED ALL THIS IS THAT THE CLOUD HAS NEVER BEEN BREACHED. MAY BE TRUE. THE FRONT DOOR IS FINE, BUT THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN. THE BAD ACTORS ARE TESTING THOSE WINDOWS ALL THE TIME. SEVEN YEARS AGO, A LOT LIKE THIS PROBABLY WOULD TAKE MONTHS, MAYBE EVEN A YEAR TO FIGURE OUT. NOW WITH AI, IT TAKES DAYS, IF NOT HOURS WITH SOME OF THE NEWEST MODELS. AND JUST SO YEAH, ONE OTHER THING. SO WHAT ARE THE CRIMINALS? WHAT WOULD A CRIMINAL CRIMINAL DO WITH 30 DAYS WORTH OF MOVEMENT? THEY CAN FIND THE SHELTER THAT THEIR EX FLED TO. THE PREDATOR CAN LEARN WHAT CAR DROPS THE CHILD OFF AT SCHOOL. AND WHEN BLACKMAILER CAN SEE WHO VISITS THE CLINIC, SUPPORT GROUP, MOTEL, ETC. ONE IN PARTICULAR FOREIGN SPY SERVICE CAN PULL CLEANS CAMERAS WHICH. THESE ARE CAMERAS. OH THANK YOU.

BASICALLY, THE GIST IS THANK YOU. THE CONTRACT'S NOT GOING TO PROTECT YOU. POLICY IS NOT

[04:30:02]

JUST A LITTLE WALK AWAY. SO I WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO CANCEL ITS CONTRACT WITH FLOCK SAFETY AND REFRAIN FROM USING ANY ALPR TECHNOLOGY. I SAY THAT SAFETY IS BEING USED AS A JUSTIFICATION TO ERODE FOUNDATIONAL CIVIL LIBERTIES. I DID NOT AND DO NOT CONSENT TO BEING SURVEILLED. WHILE MANY SAY THAT THERE'S NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY IN THINGS EXPOSED TO THE PUBLIC, THE AGGREGATION OF LOCATION DATA CREATES A HISTORY AKIN TO MONITORING MANY TIMES THAT REQUIRES A WARRANT. SO IT IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO A SINGLE LICENSE PLATE. CAPTURE. AN ASSAULT TO OUR RIGHTS IS ALREADY REASON ENOUGH. THERE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL DANGERS THAT NEED TO BE SPOKEN ABOUT. FLOCK SAFETY DEVICES HAVE ALREADY SHOWN TO BE FALLIBLE IN WAYS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE CITY'S CONTROL. AS THE PREVIOUS PERSON BROUGHT UP, THEY CAN AND HAVE BEEN USED TO ABUSED TO HARM CITIZENS. THAT IS NOT SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MICHAEL GUTIERREZ. IF YOU NEED TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION, PLEASE USE A SNAP. PLEASE USE AIR FINGERS. WE ARE STILL RECORDING AND IT IS VERY HARD TO HEAR WHEN YOU'RE CLAPPING LOUD. THANK YOU. MICHAEL GUTIERREZ. IF YOU WOULD STAY YOUR ADDRESS AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. ALL RIGHT.

I'M ALSO AT 1100 CANADIAN COVE. THANK YOU. WALK TONIGHT. JUST WANTED TO SAY SORRY. I DREW A LITTLE BLANK. NOTHING UP HERE. YOU'RE FINE. IT'S. IT'S LIKE. FLOCK HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN MISUSED MULTIPLE TIMES A ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT EVEN BY SOME OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEANS WHERE LIKE A POLICE OFFICER USED IT THAT DIDN'T HAVE A, A AUTHORITY. THERE HAVE BEEN MISUSES WHERE A WOMAN WAS JAILED FOR 11 DAYS BECAUSE THERE WAS A MISMATCH. FLOCK WAS LIKE WRONG. AND THE REVIEW JUST SENT IT THROUGH WAS LIKE, YEAH, THAT'S GOOD. SEND IT THROUGH.

GOT MISUSED. SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T WHO, WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN A JAIL, WHAT WAS IN JAIL FOR 11 DAYS FOR THAT THERE THERE HAVE BEEN INNOCENT CITIZENS HELD AT GUNPOINT BECAUSE THEY WERE READ BY FLOCK. AND THEY WERE THEY WERE NOT THE TARGET. WE HAD TALKED ABOUT. REASONABLE. THIS KEEPS A LONG HISTORY, LIKE A LOT OF OUR CAMERAS ARE AT RAILROAD INTERSECTIONS AND AT TOLLS. THERE ARE DAYS WHERE PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO USE TOLLS OR DAYS WHERE THE TRAINS COME BY. SO LIKE FOR ME, WHEN I'M DRIVING BACK HOME, THERE'S THE TRAIN AT CRYSTAL FALLS. I WILL SOMETIMES CUT DOWN LAND TO DRIVE. I'VE NOW MISSED A FLOCK CAMERA THAT DAY. IF SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THAT AREA, I HAVE MISSED A CAMERA. I HAVE MISSED MY USUAL ROUTE. I HAVE SUSPICION ON ME NOW FOR JUST CHANGING ROUTE. IN ADDITION TO THAT. I WANTED TO ADD THAT I WISH THE COUNCIL, IN FUTURE MEETINGS WOULD LOOK AT ALSO FOR PRIVATE USE OF LIKE FLOCK, LOWE'S HAS A CONTRACT AND AT AT A. CRYSTAL FALLS IN THAT SHOPPING CENTER, FOUR MAJOR EXITS ARE ARE MONITORED ALSO BY FLOCK. IF YOU'RE GOING TO MCDONALD'S, TACO BELL, SUBWAY, GRANDE DONUTS, PETCO. GOODWILL OF BURBANK, YOU ARE BEING MONITORED TO BY THOSE CAMERAS.

IF YOU USE ANY OF THOSE EXITS OR IF YOU'RE GOING EVEN FURTHER DOWN TO THE GYM, IF YOU ENTER ON CRYSTAL FALLS, YOU YOU ARE BEING MONITORED. SO NOT ONLY DO I WISH FOR THE POLICE AND THE CITY TO PULL OUT A FLOCK, I WISH FOR FURTHER REGULATION ON PRIVATE USE OF FLOCK BECAUSE IT COVERS WAY TOO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SNAPS INSTEAD OF THE CLAPS. AND MY YOUNG. HELLO. IF YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. 1006 DOWNWARDS DRIVE.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS EMMA YOUNG. I'VE LIVED IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY FOR THE BETTER PART OF 25 YEARS. I'M A MOTHER AND A WIFE, A SISTER, A DAUGHTER AND AUNT. I HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING MY COMMUNITY AS A CRITICAL CARE NURSE FOR 14 YEARS. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'M A CITIZEN OF LEANDER. AS A NURSE, I WAS CALLED TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY, AND THAT DUTY GAVE ME A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE. I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU, CITY COUNCILORS AND POLICE ALIKE ARE IN YOUR RESPECTIVE VOCATIONS BECAUSE YOU CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND YOU TAKE

[04:35:02]

THESE CAMERAS FLOCK ACTS ON ALL. ALPERS ARE, BY DEFINITION, PRIVATIZED MASS SURVEILLANCE AND A CLEAR VIOLATION OF OUR FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS. OUR DAILY MOVEMENTS ARE BEING TRACKED WITHOUT WARRANT OR CONSENT AND HAVE BEEN FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. THE VAST MAJORITY OF US ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL OR NEFARIOUS. DRIVING TO WORK, GOING TO SCHOOL, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, MY CHILDREN'S PEDIATRICIAN OFFICE IS FOUR AND A HALF MILES FROM MY HOUSE. I DRIVE THROUGH EIGHT CAMERAS TO GET THERE. EIGHT. THESE CAMERAS HAVE BEEN MISUSED, HACKED LIVE STREAM SHARED BEYOND THEIR STATED LIMITS, AND HAVE PROVEN TIME AND AGAIN TO GIVE UNRELIABLE DATA. THIS TECHNOLOGY IS INSIDIOUS. THE HARM BEING DONE TO THE PUBLIC IS NOT THEORETICAL. IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING. THE CAMERAS ARE MARKETED AS LICENSE PLATE READERS. BUT WHEN WILL WE FIND OUT THAT THEY CAN DO MORE? THERE WAS NO PUBLIC VOTE WHEN FLOCK WAS GREENLIT. ARE WE GOING TO GET A VOTE WHEN WE START USING FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY? LET'S LOOK AT THIS FROM ANOTHER ANGLE. THE CAMERAS ARE SETTING THE CITY UP FOR LITIGATION. ARE WE WILLING TO WAIT FOR LEANDER TO BE THE NEXT CITY TO MAKE HEADLINES, OR DO WE REMOVE THESE CAMERAS ENTIRELY AND PROTECT WHAT LITTLE REMAINING TRUST WE HAVE IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHILE WE STILL CAN? IF THERE WAS A TOOL THAT MADE MY JOB AS A NURSE EASIER SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT THAT MY PATIENTS COULD NOT CONSENT TO OR OPT OUT OF, I WOULD WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE TERMINATION OF THE USE OF THAT TOOL. THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT STATISTICS AND DATA SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF AI ERROR OR ABUSE OF TECHNOLOGY, BUT I'M SHORT ON TIME, SO I WILL END WITH THIS.

I HAVE A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY. IT REQUIRES TRANSPARENCY, KNOWLEDGE SHARING, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONSENT AND TRUST. THESE. THESE CAMERAS DO THE OPPOSITE. THERE WAS. WE'RE NOT HERE FOR A COMPROMISE. PROMISING TO PLACE GUARDRAILS OR INCREASED OVERSIGHT IS NO LONGER SUFFICIENT BECAUSE SADLY, THAT REQUIRES TRUST THAT HAS BEEN LOST. PLEASE REMOVE THESE CAMERAS. PHYSICALLY CANCEL THE CITY'S CONTRACT PERMANENTLY. DO NOT REPLACE FLOCK WITH ANY OTHER SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY PROMISING TO BE BETTER OR SAFER.

PLEASE REPAIR THE TRUST THAT'S BEEN BROKEN. WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION. THANK YOU. BRIANNA DYKSTRA. DYKSTRA. TELL ME AGAIN. DYKSTRA. DYKSTRA. THANK YOU. JUST STATE YOUR ADDRESS, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. 1205 TAMARACK TRAIL. THANK YOU. I WAS NOT PLANNING ON SPEAKING TONIGHT. I THOUGHT I'D JUST SHOW UP AND WEAR YELLOW. AND THEN SOMEONE SAID, HEY, THERE'S SWARMS OUT FRONT. AND LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, I'M TIRED. I HAVE TWO TODDLERS AT HOME, AND THEN TOMORROW I WILL GO IN FRONT OF 180, 11 AND 12 YEAR OLDS AND TRY AND TEACH THEM WITH MULTIPLE CUPS OF COFFEE. ALSO, IF THERE'S ANY FORMER STUDENTS IN THE ROOM, WHICH THERE IS ONE, PLEASE DON'T SHARE MY ADDRESS. BUT. I THINK IT'S ALL CLEAR. PUBLIC MEETING.

AND SO YES, I AM OKAY. I WAS LIKE, IT'S LIKE, I KNOW, I KNOW, THAT'S WHY I DON'T COME VERY OFTEN. BUT I DO HAVE TO SAY I'M NOT HERE TO SHARE STATISTICS BECAUSE I DIDN'T PLAN ANYTHING.

BUT ALL I'VE HEARD TONIGHT IS GROWTH, GROWTH, GROWTH. WE DID NOT HAVE THIS MUCH CRIME WHEN I WAS BROUGHT HERE AT SIX YEARS OLD, 24 YEARS AGO. AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S DISPROPORTIONATE TO OUR GROWTH, BUT I DON'T CARE ABOUT GROWTH. I DON'T CARE TO SEE SHOOTINGS RIGHT THERE.

ROBIN BLEDSOE I DON'T CARE TO SEE ANY OF THAT. AND I DON'T CARE TO SIT IN TRAFFIC FOR 20 MINUTES TO GET HOME FROM WORK. ONLY IN A FOUR MILE SPAN. WHILE SITTING THERE IN FRONT OF THESE FLOCK CAMERAS, I PASSED THREE ON MY WAY TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY AND ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND IF WE'RE USING SAFETY TO SUGGEST THAT WE NEED MORE FLOCK CAMERAS, OR WE NEED TO KEEP THESE FLOCK CAMERAS, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WAS CREATED BY ONLY THINKING OF GROWTH. I HAVEN'T HEARD A SINGLE PERSON HERE ON ANY AGENDA ITEM TALK ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN GROWTH. AND I DON'T CARE, AND I DON'T CARE THAT IT'S MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT'S A PROBLEM THAT WAS CREATED BY CITY COUNCIL, BY ZONING, BY EVERYONE WHO SAID GROWTH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LEANDER, AND NOW WE HAVE CRIME AND NOW WE NEED TO SEVERE DO SURVEILLANCE ON YOU. SO THAT'S MY THOUGHT. YEAH, I TEACH SOCIAL STUDIES. I KNOW I SHOULD BE HERE MORE OFTEN, BUT HERE I AM TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ASPEN JENSEN. 2225 AMBUSH CANYON. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. FIRST, I WANT TO DISPENSE WITH A COMFORTING KIND OF FICTION THAT THIS IS SIMPLY A TRAFFIC MONITORING TOOL. IT'S NOT. FLY

[04:40:04]

THEY DO NOT TARGET CRIMINALS. THEY TARGET EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN, RECORDING DAILY MOVEMENTS, ROUTINES, AND ASSOCIATION OF INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WHEN YOU APPROVE THESE CAMERAS OR WHEN THEY WERE APPROVED, YOU PLUGGED INTO AN INTERCONNECTED ARCHITECTURE THAT SHARES DATA FAR BEYOND OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE'VE SEEN NATIONWIDE EVIDENCE OF OUTSIDE AGENCIES, FEDERAL ENTITIES, AND UNAUTHORIZED USERS QUIETLY TAPPING INTO LOCAL DATABASES. THE TECHNOLOGY CREATES A PERMANENT, SEARCHABLE HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY'S PRIVATE LIVES. IT'S BEEN ABUSED ELSEWHERE BY OFFICERS TRACKING ROMANTIC PARTNERS, AND A RISK EXPOSING SENSITIVE TRAVEL PATTERNS WHERE SOME SOMEONE IS VISITING A REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CLINIC, ATTENDING A PEACEFUL POLITICAL PROTEST, OR SIMPLY LIVING THEIR LIVES. CONVENIENCE AND A FALSE PROMISE OF SECURITY DOES NOT JUSTIFY TRADING AWAY FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS. AND I KNOW LICENSE PLATE READING AND CATCHING STOLEN CARS WAS USED AS AN EXCUSE. WE'VE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN ON CAMERA, PEOPLE BEING HELD AT GUNPOINT FOR A WRONG LICENSE PLATE. LA COUNTY DID AN AUDIT. THEY FOUND THAT 71% OF LICENSE PLATE READINGS WERE WRONG. IF THAT'S HOW WE'RE USING IT, I DON'T THINK IT'S WORKING AS IT IS. I THINK WE SHOULD REMOVE IT ALL AND LEAVE IT AT THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MAUREEN SABOL. LIVE AT 3603. CAN YOU PULL THE MIC DOWN? THERE YOU GO. SO WE CAN HEAR YOU. IS THAT OKAY? THAT'S BETTER. THANK YOU. DOZENS OF JURISDICTIONS HAVE CANCELED THEIR FLOCK CAMERAS. LAST WEEK, PFLUGERVILLE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO TERMINATE THEIR CONTRACT AFTER DISCOVERING THAT HUNDREDS OF UNAUTHORIZED AGENCIES HAD ACCESSED THE CITY'S DATA. FURTHER, BLOCK HAD BEEN USING PFLUGERVILLE LIVE DATA FOR TESTING, AND NOW OVER 100 SEARCHES CONTAINING PEOPLE'S FULL NAMES AND DATES OF BIRTH SIT ON A VENDOR DATABASE SEARCHABLE BY HUNDREDS OF AGENCIES. A PERSON WATCHING YOUR CAR IS AN OBSERVATION, A SYSTEM THAT LOGS IT, KEEPS IT, AND LET SOMEONE RECONSTRUCT WHERE YOU WERE ON REQUEST IS A DIFFERENT ACT. WHAT CAN BE REVEALED BY THIS TRACKING? WHERE YOU LIVE, YOUR CHURCH, MOSQUE, TEMPLE OR SYNAGOGUE, AND HOW OBSERVANT YOU ARE? YOUR UNION HALL, WHO YOU ROUTINELY ASSOCIATE WITH POLITICAL MEETINGS OR PROTESTS YOU ATTENDED WHERE YOU RECEIVED MEDICAL CARE. NONE OF THAT REQUIRES FACIAL RECOGNITION. IT REQUIRES ONLY A PLATE, A TIMESTAMP, AND ENOUGH ENTRIES TO DRAW A LINE BETWEEN THEM. AND THERE'S A FIRST AMENDMENT COST CARRIED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT COMMITTED AN OFFENSE AND WILL NEVER BE CHARGED WITH ONE. BECAUSE KNOWING YOU MAY BE RECORDED CAN CHANGE WHAT YOU DO. IF ATTENDING A PROTEST OR A MOSQUE MEANS CREATING A DURABLE GOVERNMENT RECORD OF HAVING BEEN THERE, SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT GO. HOW DID FLOCK CAMERAS COME TO LEANDER? IN APRIL 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSED A FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM. CHIEF MINTON WAS EXPLICIT THAT THAT VOTE THAT NIGHT AUTHORIZED NOTHING BUT A GRANT APPLICATION.

IF THE MONEY EVER ARRIVED, HE SAID, THE COUNCIL SHOULD SIT DOWN IN A WORKSHOP BEFORE ANYTHING WENT FORWARD. HE SAID IT TWICE. HE SHOWED THE COUNCIL, A NEIGHBORING CITIES TRANSPARENCY PORTAL, A LIVE PAGE THAT LISTED PROHIBITED USES. THE NUMBER OF SEARCHES RUN IN HOT LISTS, HITS IN THE LAST 30 DAYS, AND WHICH AGENCIES SHARED THE DATA. HE CALLED IT GREAT FOR TRANSPARENCY. IN SEPTEMBER 2024, A $236,000 GRANT WAS AWARDED, AND NOVEMBER 21ST THE COUNCIL WAS TOLD ABOUT IT AND A STAFF REPORT WITH NO MOTION ATTACHED.

THE CAMERAS WERE INSTALLED JULY 2025, AND THE CITY NOW PAYS ROUGHLY $45,000 A YEAR TO KEEP THEM RUNNING THE WORKSHOP THE CHIEF STRONGLY SUPPORTED NEVER HAPPENED. HOUSE BILL 2083, FILED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BUSSEY, WOULD HAVE CAPPED RETENTION AT 48 HOURS, BANNED THIRD PARTY SHARING, PROHIBITED TARGETING BY RACE, ETHNICITY AND INCOME AND GIVEN TEXANS A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION WHEN THE RULES. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. HARRIS. SCHARNHORST.

NO. HARRIS. SCHARNHORST. NO. BETTY. SIGNS. SHE LEAVE. NOT PRESENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. DAN.

[04:45:17]

WE'RE BLESSED WITH CHIEF MINTON. THEY'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB TO TRY AND PREVENT MISUSE. MISUSE WILL OCCUR. I HAVE SERVED ON TASK FORCE WITH FEDERAL AGENTS. I'VE BEEN TRAINED BY THE FBI AND THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. ONE OF THOSE AGENTS CAN GO TO A CERTAIN PLACE. THEY CAN TALK TO SOMEONE, THEY CAN GET IN. YOU WON'T KNOW IT, BUT IT CAN HAPPEN. CAN I DO IT? NO.

I'M PRETTY MUCH TECHNOLOGICALLY ILLITERATE. BUT THE THING IS, 2020 6TH APRIL, THE OSHKOSH CITY COUNCIL MEETING WAS LIED TO BY FLOCK THAT IT COULDN'T CREATE A HEAT PATH AND SHOW A PATTERN OF WHERE VEHICLES TRAVEL. THE NEXT DAY, THE CITY COUNCIL FOUND OUT IT CAN SO IMAGINE BEING FOLLOWED. PHOTOS TAKEN. EVEN VISITORS TO YOUR HOME DOCUMENTED WELL. FLOCK DOES A DIGITAL VERSION OF THAT AT SCALE, BUT IF I DID IT, IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED STALKING OR HARASSMENT. SO YEAH, IF I WAS KIDNAPED, I WOULD HOPE A FLOCK CAMERA WOULD HELP SAVE ME. SO.

WELL, YOU SEE, I'M KIND OF TORN BOTH WAYS ON THIS. AND YES, I BELIEVE IT WILL GROW WHERE IT'S ABUSED AND USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES. I'VE RUN INTO PEOPLE WHO'LL SAY, AND THIS IS AN OLD POLICE TRICK WHERE IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, BUT THOSE WORDS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A PSYCHOLOGICALLY REASSURING, NARROW WAY OF TREATING PRIVACY AS SOMETHING ONLY WRONGDOERS NEED. IT SHIFTS THE CONVERSATION AWAY FROM SURVEILLANCE, BEING JUSTIFIED AND ACCOUNTABLE, AND TOWARD WHETHER THE PERSON CAN PROVE THEY ARE INNOCENT WHEN THEY'VE DONE NOTHING. AND THAT'S NOT HOW OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM WORKS. SO YEAH, I THINK WE NEED THE CAMERAS, BUT WE DON'T NEED THEM. AND I CAN'T REALLY SAY WHICH WAY TO GO, BUT THANK YOU, ALEXIS. MARKET AMERICA. THANK YOU. SAY IT ONE MORE TIME. MY NAME IS ALEXIS MERRICK MERRICK.

I AM NOT A RESIDENT OF LEANDER. OH. I AM A RESIDENT OF CEDAR PARK. JUST STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. 1302 TREMONT DRIVE. THANK YOU. AS I SAID, I AM NOT A RESIDENT OF LEANDER. I DIDN'T CONSENT TO THIS. I DIDN'T VOTE FOR ANY OF YOU. HOWEVER, I AM IN LEANDER DAILY. MY CHILDREN ATTEND LEANDER ISD SCHOOLS. THERE ARE FOUR CAMERAS THAT I PASS EVERY SINGLE DAY IN MY. DROPPING MY CHILDREN OFF AND COMING BACK HOME. TWO OF THOSE CAMERAS POINT DIRECTLY INTO CEDAR PARK. THEY ARE ON THE LEANDER CEDAR PARK BOUNDARY AND THEY FACE CEDAR PARK. THEY ARE NOT SURVEILLING THE RESIDENTS OF LEANDER. THEY'RE SURVEILLING THE RESIDENTS OF A CITY YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER. I DID NOT CONSENT TO THAT. THEY ARE NOT. THEY CREATE A CULTURE OF SURVEILLANCE. THEY CREATE A CULTURE OF DISTRUST OF THEIR COMMUNITY. I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND, ONE OF THOSE CAMERAS IS SO CLOSE. I CANNOT WALK MY DOG AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT BEING SURVEILLED. AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY ATTESTED. AND IF A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL TELL YOU, YES, THESE CAMERAS ABSOLUTELY DO FACIAL RECOGNITIONS. YES, THEY ABSOLUTELY DO HAVE BLUETOOTH CAPABILITIES. IF I WALK PAST WITH MY PHONE, MY PHONE WILL PING THESE TOWERS. I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG, BUT I AM WALKING IN A CULTURE OF SURVEILLANCE. I AM CONSTANTLY BEING WATCHED AND THAT AFFECTS MY BEHAVIOR, MY CHILDREN. IT AFFECTS THEIR BEHAVIOR. ANY SORT OF POSSIBLE WRONGDOING, EVEN UNINTENTIONALLY, IS CAPTURED. AND I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THIS OF THIS CITY. THERE'S NO WARRANTS. THERE ARE NO WARRANTS. THE LPRS DO NOT

[04:50:03]

RIGHT NOW, ALPER'S ARE GATHERING EVIDENCE ON ALL OF US AT ALL TIMES. ALPER IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, INVERT THAT RELATIONSHIP WHERE BASICALLY WE'RE ALL SUSPECTS, WE'RE ALL UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE SUPPORTERS OF ALPER'S WILL TELL YOU, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, THEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR. ALPER MISREADS, I THINK PAINT A VERY DIFFERENT PICTURE.

ALPER MISREADS ARE NUMEROUS. THEY HAVE RESULTED IN EGREGIOUS HARM. THERE WAS A BLACK WOMAN IN AURORA, COLORADO WHO WAS PULLED OUT OF HER CAR WITH FOUR CHILDREN, THE YOUNGEST OF WHOM WAS SIX YEARS OLD AND HELD AT GUNPOINT ON THE HOT CONCRETE. AND THAT RESULTED IN A OVER $1 MILLION SETTLEMENT PAID OUT IN TAXPAYER MONEY. IN THE WRONGFUL ARREST LAWSUIT, INNOCENT PEOPLE, MOSTLY WOMEN, HAVE BEEN STALKED AND HARASSED BY OFFICERS OF USING THEIR ACCESS, AND NO GUARDRAIL HAS BEEN SUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS THAT HARM. WE'VE ALSO SEEN ALPR VENDORS LIKE FLOC VIOLATE PUBLIC TRUST AND THEIR CONTRACTS, AS HAPPENED IN PFLUGERVILLE. BUT EVEN WITHOUT THIS HARM, THE FOUNDATION OF THIS BUSINESS MODEL IS IRREDEEMABLE. COMPANIES LIKE FLOC ARE DATA BROKERS. THEY HARVEST YOUR DATA WITHOUT YOUR INFORMED CONSENT, AND THEN THEY BROKER THAT DATA WITHOUT YOUR INFORMED CONSENT. THAT IS A PIECE OF THE BIGGER SURVEILLANCE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS ALL OF US VERY FIRMLY IN ITS GRASP RIGHT NOW. I HAVE A THREE YEAR OLD, AND I AM AFRAID THAT 20 YEARS FROM NOW, A GROUP OF PRIVATE CORPORATIONS ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HIS LIFE THAN I DO, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FREELY USE THAT INFORMATION IN THE PURSUIT OF PROFIT, EVEN IF IT HURTS HIM. I AM URGING YOU TO REJECT THAT FUTURE, REJECT ALPERS BECAUSE MASS SURVEILLANCE IS THE SINGLE MOST INDICATIVE, DISTINGUISHING TRAIT OF AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE SEEN THE WORKING CLASS IN THIS STATE, SO UNITED ON AN ISSUE. YOU CAN STAND WITH US ON THIS. INSTEAD OF STANDING WITH THE TECH BILLIONAIRES BEHIND ALPERS, YOU CAN STAND ON THE LEGACY THAT YOU BUILD OR IT MAY WELL STAND ON YOU. IT MAY WELL STAND ON MY CHILDREN AND IT MAY WELL STAND ON YOURS. THANK YOU. SEAN CLARK. THAT'S NOT HIM. SEAN CLARK. NO. OKAY. MISTY MEADOWS. THANK YOU. IF YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. OKAY. SORRY. MY PHONE'S ABOUT TO DIE. SO WHERE'S MY STUFF? SORRY. I LIVE AT 1933 CRYSTAL POND WAY, AND I.

THERE'S A LOT THAT'S BEEN SAID HERE TONIGHT ALREADY, BUT I WAITED SO LONG, SO I GUESS I'LL JUST READ WHAT I. WHAT I ALREADY WROTE. MY NAME IS MISTY MEADOWS. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT IN LEANDER FOR OVER A DECADE, AND TODAY I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF SHARING THE TESTIMONY OF SOMEONE WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. HERE'S YOUR STORY. EVER SINCE LEARNING ABOUT FLOC, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN AVOIDING THE CAMERAS IN OUR AREA. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT MASS SURVEILLANCE MEANS FOR REGULAR CITIZENS, AND WITH ALL THE STORIES ABOUT SURVEILLANCE ABUSE, OUR FEARS ARE BEING CONFIRMED IN REAL TIME. WE DO NOT TRUST BEING TRACKED, ESPECIALLY AS NONWHITE AMERICANS. CLEARLY, I'M NOT THAT WE USE DF.LOC TO LOCATE CAMERAS AND MAP WHERE WE FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. IT'S ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT FINDING ROUTES

[04:55:04]

ALL WE CAN DO IS TRY TO ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMVENT THE SYSTEM. WE AS CITIZENS ARE COUNTING ON YOU, OUR COUNCIL, TO PROTECT AND DEFEND. JUST AS YOU SOUGHT TO DO THIS INCOME OPPORTUNITY THAT FLOC CLAIMS TO PROVIDE, OUR CITY COMES WITH A REAL AND DEVASTATING COST. IF YOU CONTINUE TO SAY YES TO FLOC, IT SHOWS THAT WE AS A CITY ARE VALUING MONEY OVER THE CITIZENS BY NOT DO FLOCKING. LEANDER, YOU ARE DECIDING THAT YOU VALUE MONEY OVER THE VALUES OF OUR CITY, OUR STATE, AND OUR COUNTRY. A PRO FLOC STANCE IS UNEQUIVOCALLY AGAINST THE PREAMBLE OF OUR CONSTITUTION. OUR CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE PROVIDING FOR OUR COMMON DEFENSE, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, AND SECURING THE BLESSING OF LIBERTY TO ITS CITIZENS. I FOUND NO WAY IN WHICH FLOC FULFILLS THESE THREE THINGS. BY ALLOWING THIS CONTRACT TO CONTINUE. YOU'RE SAYING YES TO FLOC. SAYING YES TO FLOC IS AGAINST THE THREE PILLARS OF OUR CONSTITUTION. WHILE THIS REFERENCE REFERENCES THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OF OUR CITY WOULD ALSO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION.

WHEN THE CITIZENS OF LEANDER ELECTED THE CITY COUNCIL, WE ELECTED YOU TO PROTECT AND DEFEND US. THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL DID NOT CONSIDER ASKING WHAT THE CONSTITUENTS DESIRED. AND SO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THAT. EACH OF YOU CAN MAKE A CHANGE.

YOU CAN CHOOSE TO VALUE THE PRIVACY OF EACH AND EVERY CITIZEN, AND YOU CAN CHOOSE TO HEAR THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE AND TAKE A STAND. I URGE YOU TO DE FLOCK LEANDER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. JOHANNA NELSON. THANK YOU. STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. LEANDER, TEXAS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. HI, I'M JO, I'M A MOTHER OF TWO AND AN ARMY VET.

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE LIVED AND OWNED A HOME IN LEANDER FOR NINE YEARS. I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANT FLOCK CAMERAS AT LEANDER. I'M AGAINST AI LICENSE PLATE TRACKING. THIS IS BIG GOVERNMENT AND THIS IS OVERREACH. WE SHOULD NOT BE TRACKED WITHOUT A WARRANT. I DON'T WANT AI TO GLITCH TO GET ME AND MY FAMILY PULLED OVER AT GUNPOINT AND TRAUMATIZE MY KIDS.

I DON'T WANT MY MUSLIM NEIGHBORS TRACKED. I DON'T WANT MY GAY NEIGHBORS TRACKED. I DON'T SUPPORT ICE GOING AFTER PEACEFUL PEOPLE. I DON'T WANT ANY OF MY NEIGHBORS LIVING IN FEAR OR WRONGLY TARGETED. THIS IS AN INVASION OF PRIVACY. FLOCK CAMERAS GIVE TOO MUCH ACCESS TO OUR MOVEMENTS, AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH REGULATIONS AND TRANSPARENCY AVAILABLE.

WHO'S KEEPING THE PUBLIC SAFE FROM AI BIAS AND STEREOTYPES? IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF FORCED CONFORMITY OR POLICE STATE? THIS IS NOT HOW I WANT MY KIDS TO GROW UP BEING CONSTANTLY SURVEILLED. WHERE'S WHERE'S THE FREEDOM IN THAT? ARE THE CAMERAS GOING TO BE USED TO GO AFTER PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT POLITICAL OPINIONS OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS? WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE OUR AUTONOMY AND WE DON'T WANT MASS SURVEILLANCE. SO FLOCK CAMERAS AND LEANDER SHOULD GO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOSHUA FRANCO, JOSHUA FRANCO. OH. THANK YOU. 909 SUNNY DRIVE.

THANK YOU A LOT. I'M GOING TO BE SAYING IS REITERATING OF WHAT MOST PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAID. SO A LOT OF GOOD POINTS THAT I'D LIKE TO GO OVER, BUT I THINK I'M GOING TO ADD A COUPLE THINGS THAT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING AND HEARING MY AND MY CONSTITUENTS CONCERNS ABOUT THE CAMERAS. AS A RESIDENT SPEAKING TO YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME, I URGE YOU TO REMOVE CAMERAS AND REJECT OTHER MASS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS IN LEANDER. OTHER LOCAL CITIES HAVE ALREADY DISMANTLED THEIR PROGRAMS DUE TO THE PUBLIC BACKLASH, SHOWING THAT CITIZENS DO NOT WANT THIS LEVEL OF SURVEILLANCE WITHIN THEIR CITIES. THE MAIN ISSUE THAT I HAVE WITH THESE SYSTEMS IS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE PRIVATIZED COMPANIES THAT ARE PRODUCING THEM. I THINK AI IS A RATHER MISUNDERSTOOD TECHNOLOGY. IT'S VERY NEW, AND WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY, WE NEED TO VET IT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SAFE AND RESPONSIBLY USED IN OUR CITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MATTERS OF LAW AND CITIZENS. JUST APPLYING THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES LIKE A BAND AID, WITHOUT REALLY CONSIDERING HOW THEY CAN BE USED, HOW THEY CAN BE ABUSED IS DANGEROUS AND IT CAN LEAD TO, AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID, MISUSE AND FALSE FALSE POSITIVES WITH SCANNING AND LICENSE PLATE GRABBING.

[05:00:09]

MORE THAN 83,000 CAMERAS, INCLUDING CAMERAS IN WASHINGTON AND ILLINOIS. THE REASON HE TYPED INTO THE LOG WAS HAD AN ABORTION, SEARCHED FOR FEMALE. THE SHERIFF AND FLOCK HAVE CALLED THAT A WELFARE CHECK. THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION OBTAINED THE RECORDS, AND THE INVESTIGATING OFFICERS OWN AFFIDAVIT CONTRADICTS KEY PARTS OF THAT STORY. CONGRESS HAS SENT FLOCK A LETTER DEMANDING ANSWERS. ONE ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT PULLED OUT OF THE PROGRAM ENTIRELY AND CALLED IT MISUSE. THIS IS THE SYSTEM LEANDER JOINED. NOT A HYPOTHETICAL. A TEXAS SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, A TEXAS WOMAN, A SEARCH THAT CROSSED STATE LINES.

BECAUSE THIS NETWORK DOESN'T HAVE ANY. AND THE SAFETY CASE IS THINNER THAN THE SALES DECK.

PROPERTY CRIME IS DOWN NATIONALLY SINCE 2022 ACROSS CITIES AND WITH AND WITHOUT THESE CAMERAS. LAST MONTH, NEAR NEAR MILWAUKEE, A WOMAN WAS PULLED OVER AND HELD AT GUNPOINT BECAUSE FLOCK RED TIED FLOCK RED TIED HER TO A HOMICIDE. IT HAD. SHE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH. AUSTIN ENDED ITS CONTRACT AND PASSED AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING COUNCIL APPROVAL BEFORE ANY LICENSE PLATE READER GOES UP. SAN MARCUS LET HIS CONTRACT LAPSE IN DECEMBER. I'M ASKING FOR THREE THREE THINGS. DON'T RENEW UNTIL. UNTIL THEN, DISABLED NATIONAL AND STATE DATA SHARING. SO LEANDER'S CAMERAS CAN'T BE QUARRIED BY ANY AGENCY. WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF AND PUBLISHED THE AUDIT LOGS SO WE CAN SEE WHO SEARCHED US AND WHY. IF THIS TECHNOLOGY IS AS TRANSPARENT AS THEY SAY THEY ARE, THEN WHY ARE THESE CAMERAS PUT UP QUIETLY AND SECRETLY IN LEANDER AND ACROSS THE STATE? THANK YOU, THANK YOU, SARAH AMBROSE. 208 NORTH GABRIEL. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SARAH AMBROSE. AND SHE'S SHE'S SHE'S GOT A GET IT TO TURN BACK ON. SORRY. OKAY. I'M SARAH AMBROSE. I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN LEANDER, AND I'M A FORMER LEANDER ISD EDUCATOR. AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW. I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD MANY ARGUMENTS TONIGHT ABOUT FLOCK SAFETY CONCERNS, GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, AND THE POTENTIAL MISUSE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY. BUT I WANT TO APPROACH THIS ISSUE FROM THE LENS OF HISTORY, THE LENS BY WHICH WE WILL ALL BE JUDGED ONE DAY. AS A FORMER TEACHER, I KNOW THAT HISTORY HOLDS MANY LESSONS FOR US. IF WE ARE WILLING TO LEARN. ALPERS, AS WE LEARNED FROM THE PRESENTATION THIS EVENING, ARE AN ADVANCED FORM OF TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO MASS SURVEILLANCE. AND UNLIKE MANY FORMS OF PERSONAL DATA COLLECTION, WE AS CITIZENS CANNOT OPT OUT WHILE TRAVELING ON PUBLIC ROADS.

HISTORY GIVES US MANY EXAMPLES OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN GOVERNMENTS GAIN THE ABILITY TO COLLECT AND USE INFORMATION ABOUT LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE. WE HAVE SEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S USE OF CENSUS AND OTHER PERSONAL DATA DURING THE INTERNMENT OF THOUSANDS OF JAPANESE AMERICANS DURING WORLD WAR TWO. WE'VE SEEN MCCARTHYISM AND THE HOLLYWOOD BLACKLIST

[05:05:01]

THERE IS A GRAY AREA IN WHICH MOST OF US LIVE AND IN WHICH YOU, AS OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS. THAT GRAY AREA SAYS THAT YOU CAN BE BOTH PRO PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMITTED TO PROTECTING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTIES. YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND STILL BELIEVE THAT CITIZENS HAVE LEGITIMATE PRIVACY INTERESTS, AND YOU CAN RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF A TECHNOLOGY WHILE STILL ASKING WHETHER SUFFICIENT RULES EXIST TO PREVENT ITS MISUSE. HISTORY SHOWS US THAT EXTRAORDINARY POWERS, ONCE ACCEPTED, CAN EXPAND BEYOND THEIR ORIGINAL INTENT, AND THAT IS WHY SAFEGUARDS MATTER. I URGE COUNCIL TO PAUSE AND WAIT FOR CLEAR REGULATIONS AND MORE SAFEGUARDS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL BEFORE CONTINUING THE USE OF ALPR. THANK YOU, LEON CLARK. I'M SORRY, WHAT'S UP? 220 MALDEN STREET. THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THESE ALPR CAMERAS COST. I, I DON'T HAVE A POLITICAL MESSAGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT I HAVE A BLUNT MESSAGE FOR YOU ALL. THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT CAMERA COSTS. NOW THINK ABOUT SOMEONE CUTTING THEM DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ALL AT ONCE. NOW I'M NOT GOING TO CUT THEM DOWN. I'M A TAXPAYER. I PAY MY TAXES ON TIME. I EVEN FOLLOW THE LAW. I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER MANY TIMES BY LEANDER PD. I LIKE GETTING PULLED OVER BY THEM. WANT TO KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY GOT A FRIENDLY FACE. WE USUALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.

THEY CHECK ALL MY STUFF. THEY LET ME GO. THEY EVEN WARN ME ONE TIME. BE CAREFUL. BIKE THEFT IS UP. I RIDE A MOTORCYCLE IF YOU CAN'T TELL, I TOLD THEM I PROBABLY WON'T CALL YOU. I GOT A TRACKER ON MY BIKE. PROBABLY GO GET IT MYSELF. THEY LAUGHED. I DO WANT PEOPLE'S PROPERTY RECOVERED. I WANT THEIR KIDS RECOVERED. BUT YOU GOT NON TAXPAYERS THAT ARE WILLING TO RISK THE REST OF THEIR LIVES TO CUT DOWN EVERY LAST ONE OF THOSE CAMERAS. AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I'M NOT GOING TO CUT THEM DOWN. BUT YOU'VE SEEN ON THE NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA TRUCKS FULL OF DOWNED CAMERAS, KIDS SWINGING FROM THEM, PEOPLE SHOOTING AT THEM, RUNNING THEM OVER, STEALING THEM, STRIPPING THEM DOWN. THERE'S A DEVICE CALLED A FLIPPER ZERO AT FOR $150, YOU CAN TAKE THIS DEVICE THAT YOU CAN BUY ON AMAZON, AND YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH RFID SWITCHES, WI-FI SIGNALS, BLUETOOTH SIGNALS, THOSE FLOCK CAMERAS. YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE LEVEL OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE THAT OCCURS WHEN YOU OBSERVE A SOCIETY THAT HASN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG YET. I'VE OBSERVED THIS IN IRAQ. WE USED TO HAVE THESE STATIONARY CAMERAS ON THESE HUGE BALLOONS. WE TOLD EVERYBODY WE'RE USING IT TO WATCH THE ROAD FOR IEDS. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WERE USING THEM FOR. WE WERE USING THEM TO HUNT PEOPLE DOWN AND WE DID IT WELL. YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE THE DOOR THAT GETS KICKED IN ACCIDENTALLY. FORTUNATELY FOR ALL OF US, LEANDER PD, THEY'RE NICE DUDES. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KICK YOUR DOOR IN ACCIDENTALLY. THAT'S NOT THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT HAVE ACCESS TO THESE CAMERAS. SO THE WARNING IS CLEAR AND THE MESSAGE IS BLUNT. IT'S GOING TO COST YOU MORE TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE CAMERAS UP THAN WHAT YOU'RE PAYING TO KEEP THEM ON, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE REPLACING THEM A LOT MORE OFTEN THAN YOU THINK. BEFORE YOU DO

[05:10:01]

SO I LIVE AT 137 WEST WINDERMERE IN LEANDER, AND I WANT YOU TO GET RID OF FLOCK. I WANT THERE NOT TO BE ANY AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE. READERS CAN HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT CATCH CRIMINALS OR FIND MISSING PEOPLE. YES. CAN THEY COLLECT A VAST AMOUNT OF PERSONAL DATA THAT ENABLES THE GOVERNMENT TO TRACK CITIZENS MOVEMENTS AND PIERCE THE VEIL OF PRIVACY? YES. ARE THE PEOPLE EMPLOYED BY THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES AND THOSE AT THE DATA CENTERS WHERE THE INFORMATION IS STORED, VETTED TO ENSURE THEY AREN'T CRIMINALS OR WON'T ACCESS THE INFORMATION FOR PERSONAL USE? NO. HAVE FORMER AND ACTIVE MEMBERS OF US LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO DO UNDERGO VETTING BEEN KNOWN TO USE THE DATA FOR PERSONAL GAINS, INCLUDING TO STALK VICTIM VICTIMS? YES, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THE GUARDRAILS.

THEY'RE ALL WONDERFUL, BUT LEADERSHIP AND POLICIES CHANGE. AND WHO IN THE CITY IS OVERSEEING THE LA OF THE LEANDER PD? TRUE ACCOUNTABILITY IS RESOURCE INTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE. DO ALL RFPS VIOLATE THE FOURTH AMENDMENT'S PROTECTION AGAINST UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES BY THE GOVERNMENT? THE COURTS ARE STILL DECIDING. BUT AS THE DATA GETS COLLECTED IN EVER MORE VAST QUANTITIES AND IS KEPT LONGER AND LONGER, THE UNREASONABLE ARGUMENT GROWS STRONGER. AND IT IS NOT LIKE JUST SEEING SOMEBODY DRIVE ON THE STREET, AS HAS BEEN SAID. SO THE QUESTION FOR YOU ALL IS WHAT KIND OF CITY DO YOU WANT? I HOPE YOU WILL CHOOSE THE TEXAS IDEAL OF PERSONAL FREEDOM FROM GOVERNMENT OVERREACH. LAW AND ORDER IS IMPORTANT, BUT AS WILLIAM BLACKSTONE ONCE WROTE, IT'S BETTER THAT TEN GUILTY PERSONS ESCAPE THAN ONE INNOCENT SUFFER ALL OUR PEACE, DON'T PREVENT CRIMES. THEY CAN ONLY HELP SOLVE THEM. I'D RATHER HAVE SOME CRIMINALS GO FREE THAN HAVE LEANDER CITIZENS UNDER SURVEILLANCE. GEORGE ORWELL'S 1984 IS A BOOK I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO READ OR REREAD. REMEMBER, BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU. IT'S HAPPENING. SUCH SURVEILLANCE IS TYRANNY.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK, OH, JUST LIBERAL PEOPLE, GIVE ME A BREAK. I REMEMBER WHEN BEING A TEXAS REPUBLICAN MEANT KEEPING GOVERNMENT SMALL. ALL MAKE GOVERNMENT'S REACH QUITE LARGE AND WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. SOMEHOW WE HAVE SURVIVED FOR MILLENNIA WITHOUT THEM. PLEASE VOTE NO TO THEM. I MEAN, EVEN MAYNARD DID IT TODAY. COME ON MAINER. THANKS. SUMMER BARBER. 4209 VALLEY OAKS DRIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR STAYING SO LATE. I AM AN EARLY BIRD, SO THIS IS SUPER LATE FOR ME. I'M JUST GOING TO READ THIS BECAUSE I'M REALLY TIRED. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE FLOCK SAFETY CAMERAS THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND WHY I BELIEVE THEY VIOLATE THE FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF EVERY RESIDENT WHO DRIVES THROUGH THIS TOWN. THE FOURTH AMENDMENT PROTECTS US FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCHES. FOR MOST OF AMERICAN HISTORY, THAT MEANT POLICE NEEDED A WARRANT, OR AT LEAST INDIVIDUALIZED SUSPICION BEFORE TRACKING WHERE YOU GO FLOCK CAMERAS THROW THAT PRINCIPLE OUT THE WINDOW. THESE CAMERAS DON'T JUST WATCH THE STOLEN CARS OR AMBER ALERTS. THEY PHOTOGRAPH EVERY LICENSE PLATE THAT PASSES TIME, STAMP IT, GEOTAG IT, AND STORE IT FOR 30 DAYS, AND IT CREATES A PERMANENT RECORD OF WHERE EVERY DRIVER IN THE CITY HAS BEEN. THAT'S NOT TARGETED LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S MASS SURVEILLANCE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SUSPECTED OF ANY CRIME. THE SUPREME COURT HAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED THAT LOCATION DATA DESERVES SPECIAL PROTECTION IN CARPENTER VERSUS UNITED STATES. THE COURT RULED THAT ACCESSING SOMEONE'S CELL PHONE SITE LOCATION RECORDS REQUIRES A WARRANT. BECAUSE TRACKING A PERSON'S MOVEMENTS OVER TIME REVEALS INTIMATE DETAILS ABOUT THEIR LIFE, WHERE THEY WORSHIP, WHO THEY VISIT, WHAT DOCTORS THEY SEE, FLOCKS NETWORK OF CAMERAS DOES EXACTLY THAT, JUST WITH LICENSE PLATES INSTEAD OF CELL PHONES. A PATTERN OF YOUR CAR'S MOVEMENTS OVER WEEKS CAN PAINT THE SAME INTIMATE PICTURE,

[05:15:02]

THEY'LL CHANGE THE NAME TO SOMETHING INNOCUOUS, LIKE SAFETY MONITORING STATIONS.

THEY'LL HIDE THEM BETWEEN STREET SIGNS AND MAKE THEM LESS VISIBLE, AND USE ANY MEANS OF DECEIT TO CONTINUE THIS WARRANTLESS SURVEILLANCE OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THE FIGHT DOES NOT END HERE OR TONIGHT. IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WELCOME. BUT DON'T MAKE IT YOUR LAST. WE HAVE TO BE AS VIGILANT AS WE CAN BE. IT DOESN'T END HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IAN RICHARDS. I DIDN'T ACTUALLY PLAN ON SPEAKING. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY NO. AND A LOT OF WHAT I SORRY. GOSH. IT'S THE MORNING. 1240 WESTBORO LANE, LEANDER. THERE WE ARE. THANK YOU. AND YOU ARE CORRECT. YOU DID. MARK. I DO NOT WANT TO SPEAK SO I APOLOGIZE. THAT'S FINE. I'M ACTUALLY GLAD BECAUSE I WORKED UP THE COURAGE. YOU CAN STILL NOT DO IT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO. NO. YOU'RE GOOD. I THINK IT'S A TESTAMENT. YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE. WE STAYED HERE THIS LATE. THANK YOU GUYS FOR STAYING LATE. BUT I THINK IT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW MUCH WE CARE ABOUT THIS, RIGHT. AND I ALSO WANT TO COMMUNICATE LIKE UTMOST RESPECT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. DEFINITELY WANT Y'ALL'S JOB TO BE AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. I JUST THINK THERE ARE OTHER WAYS, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER, INVEST IN, MAKE OUR, YOU KNOW, CITY SAFER, BETTER FOR EVERYBODY. ONE SMALL MORSEL THAT I'LL SAY, JUST TO KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET. I WORK IN AN INDUSTRY THAT HANDLES A LOT OF LIKE PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION, PCI COMPLIANT DATA, YOU KNOW, PAYMENT CARD INDUSTRY, VERY SENSITIVE INFORMATION.

THERE'S A LOT OF REGULATION THAT GOES INTO THAT, THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ENCRYPTED. YOU KNOW, YOU NEED SUPER ADMINISTRATOR RIGHTS. AND JUST SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE POINTS THAT WERE MENTIONED ABOUT SOME OF THE SAFEGUARDS ACCESSING THE DATA, I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW,

[05:20:03]

LIKE WE THINK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY DATABASES, RIGHT? LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY TO GET THAT DATA.

AND THAT'S JUST HOW THE WORLD WORKS. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, REMOVING FLOC IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT ALSO TAKING THIS INFORMATION OR, YOU KNOW, TAKING THIS IDEA A STEP FURTHER AND WHEN, WHEN THE VOID THAT FLOC LEAVES, YOU KNOW, IS GOING TO GET FILLED WITH AXON OR SOME OTHER THING, WE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT LIKE, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS, AND I DON'T WANT TO FEED ALL OF OUR CITIZENS INFORMATION TO THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT IT IS. THEY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN COLLECTING AS MUCH DATA AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THEY GET THEIR MONEY, RIGHT? THEY GET SOME MONEY FROM THE CONTRACTS, THEY GET ALL THE MONEY FROM THE DATA. SO THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ETHAN GIBBONS. HI. IF YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES, 5025 COLOMBO VIEW. THANK YOU. SO I'M CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE PAUSE ON THE USE OF FLOCK CAMERAS AND TOOLS OF SURVEILLANCE AND THE CANCELLATION OF THE FLOCK CONTRACT. BECAUSE THE DATA AND THE LEGAL FACTS ARE NOT ESTABLISHED. MY NEIGHBORS HAVE BEAUTIFULLY DESCRIBED THE ISSUES OF OUR RIGHT TO PRIVACY, PRIVATE CORPORATIONS AND ABUSE.

SO TODAY I WANTED TO SHARE ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW FROM MY EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT AND A PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCHER. I'VE DONE CANCER RESEARCH FOR TWO YEARS, AND I'M APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL TO BECOME A DOCTOR, WHERE RESEARCH INTEGRITY IS CRUCIAL. I KNOW THAT LEGAL PREREQUISITES TO PASS POLICY ARE DIFFERENT FROM RESEARCH, BUT I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER HOW RESEARCH INTERTWINES WITH THE RIGOR NEEDED TO BEST SERVE THE PUBLIC GOOD. WHEN I THINK OF SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH ETHICS, I THINK OF DATA AND IMPLEMENTATION. SO I HAVE TWO KEY QUESTIONS TODAY. WHAT CONCLUSIVE DATA DO WE NEED BEFORE WE CHOOSE TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING? AND IF THERE ARE BENEFITS, AT WHAT COST? FOR QUESTION ONE ABOUT THE DATA, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO SHOW WHETHER THE BENEFITS AND CRIME REDUCTION ARE SIGNIFICANTLY AND UNIQUELY SOLVED BY FLOCK ON THE FLOCK FAQ. I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGE OUR POLICE WHO'VE STOPPED MULTIPLE ROBBERIES AND STOLEN VEHICLES, AND WE TRULY THANK THEM FOR PROTECTING US. BUT HOW UNIQUELY IS FLOCK CONTRIBUTING TO THIS COMPARED TO THE WEALTH OF RESOURCES WE ALREADY HAVE THINGS LIKE BODY CAMS. HOW DELIBERATE ARE OUR INVESTIGATIONS? ARE CCTV CAMERAS AND OTHER TOOLS? COULD WE HAVE DONE 90% OF THE WORK WITHOUT FLOCK? ESSENTIALLY, WE DON'T HAVE A DENOMINATOR OR A TRUE REFERENCE POINT FOR HOW MUCH FLOCK ITSELF ACTUALLY SOLVES CRIME. AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE PEER REVIEWED LITERATURE ON ALPR EXACTLY LIKE FLOCK IS SPARSE, AND THE SUCCESS DATA IS OFTEN PROPAGATED BY FLOCK, THE COMPANIES WHO PROFITS THEMSELVES. WE SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTING SOMETHING WITHOUT THE DATA THAT IS UNREPRESENTATIVE AND UNPROVEN. NOW ON TO QUESTION TWO. AT WHAT COST? EVEN IF WE PROVE THAT FLOCK HELPS TO STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT DEGREE, WHAT ARE WE GIVING UP? MY ANSWER TO THAT IS WHAT WE SEE FROM SUCH A RAPID AND READY IMPLEMENTATION IS WHAT ALL OF MY PEERS HAVE SAID BEFORE ME, AND THE RISK IT CARRIES INTO THE FUTURE. THINGS LIKE THE RAPID ROLLOUT OF FLOCK WITHOUT THE VOICE OF US, THE PEOPLE, THE INEFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT FOR THE ABUSES OF FLOCK, EVEN DESPITE OUR VERBAL COMMITMENTS. AND NO MATTER HOW THOROUGH WE THINK, WE RESTRICT OUR DATABASE USAGE THAT WE JUST SAW 30 MINUTES AWAY IN PFLUGERVILLE FOR THE MILLIONS OF SEARCHES FROM OUT OF STATE AGENCIES, AND FINALLY, JUST OUR BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. IN CONCLUSION, I HAVE TWO THINGS TO SAY. NUMBER ONE, AT THE BARE MINIMUM, ANY INTERVENTION FLOCK INCLUDED SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RIGOROUSLY TESTED PILOT IN SELECT COUNTIES, VERIFIED WITH CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE AND KNOWN PUBLIC BENEFIT, NOT SOMETHING RAPIDLY EMBRACED BY OUR LEGISLATION WITHOUT OUR VOICE AND RULED OUT BEFORE WE HAVE THE TIME TO TRULY TEST ITS SAFETY. AND NUMBER TWO, FRANKLY, I'M 22. I'M YOUNG. I WANT TO BRING MY KIDS INTO A WORLD WHERE THEY WHERE THEY AREN'T AFRAID TO PLAY IN A COMMUNITY POOL WITHOUT BEING WATCHED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FREDERICK SYMBOLIST. HI. MY NAME'S FREDERICK SYMBOLIST. I'M 2504.

THANK YOU. I DON'T WANT FLOCK AND LEANDER. I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO REMOVE THESE CAMERAS AND END THE CONTRACT. HERE'S WHY YOU GET PULLED OVER. MAYBE AT GUNPOINT. BECAUSE THE SYSTEM SAID YOUR CAR WANTED WAS WANTED BECAUSE IT MISREAD THE LICENSE PLATE. YOU'RE TERRIFIED AND YOU DONE NOTHING. EVENTUALLY, SOMEONE, SOMEBODY CHECKS AND CONFIRMS THE MISTAKE AND LETS YOU GO AND YOU THINK IT'S OVER. IT ISN'T. THE FLAG IS STILL ALIVE IN A NATIONAL SYSTEM.

THREE MONTHS LATER, IN A DIFFERENT CITY, IT HAPPENS TO YOU ALL OVER AGAIN. FLAXEN CEO ADMITTED THIS. WHEN AN AGENCY CLEARS A BAD FLAG, IT CAN ONLY TURN THAT ALERT OFF LOCALLY. IT

[05:25:06]

THAT IS BACKWARDS FROM HOW THIS COUNTRY WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK. WE WOULD BE HANDLING OUR RESIDENTS A MISTAKE THAT THEY CANNOT GET RID OF, AND TELLING THEM IT'S THE PRICE OF A CAMERA.

I DO NOT WANT AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS IN THIS CITY, NOT THIS COMPANY, AND NOT THE NEXT ONE THAT COMES THROUGH WITH BETTER SALES PITCH. AND AGAIN, REPEATING THIS, EVEN GOVERNOR ABBOTT ORDERED THE STATE AGENCY TO STOP SPENDING MONEY ON FLOCK CAMERAS LAST WEEK. AUSTIN, HOOD COUNTY AND WYLIE HAVE ENDED THEIR DECLINED OR DECLINED THESE CONTRACTS. PFLUGERVILLE OWN POLICE CHIEF WOULD NOT RECOMMEND RENEWAL AFTER HE LEARNED 459 OUTSIDE AGENCIES HAD RUN 1.6 MILLION SEARCHES AGAINST THEIR DATA. THEIR CHIEF, OUR OUR NEIGHBORS ARE NOT DOING THIS BECAUSE THEY STOP CARING, STOP CARING ABOUT CRIME. THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY LOOKED CLOSELY. I'M ASKING YOU TO LOOK JUST AS CLOSELY AND TO REMOVE THESE CAMERAS FROM OUR CITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. REED. NELSON. REED. NELSON. MARGARET. KAPLAN. THANK YOU.

REALLY SHATTERED I DON'T KNOW. I'M GOING TO KEEP IT MUCH SHORTER. I'M AT 501 DREAMCATCHER DRIVE. THANK YOU. LEANDER, I WANT TO THANK THE OFFICER FOR BEING HERE GIVING THAT PRESENTATION. FLOCK HAS DONE SOME DONE SOME GOOD, BUT IT'S BEEN REALLY LIMITED. I DID ABOUT 15 HOURS OF RESEARCH ON THE FLOCK COMPANY AND THE CAMERAS, AND I'M GOING TO BOIL IT DOWN TO JUST A FEW THINGS. IT STARTED OUT BEING A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY VEHICLE OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, TO STOP NONVIOLENT CRIME. BUT IT'S QUICKLY MORPHED INTO SOMETHING MUCH MORE MONSTROUS. IT'S NOT ABOUT LICENSE PLATE CAMERAS ANYMORE. THERE ARE 120,000 CAMERAS IN 49 STATES, GENERATING ROUGHLY 20 BILLION PLATE SCANS EVERY MONTH. IT'S PLATFORM NOW INCLUDES CAMERAS, DRONES, REAL TIME 911 INTEGRATION, AND AI POWERED INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS. IT'S GONE WAY BEYOND LICENSE PLATE READERS FLOCKS NEWEST AI TOOLS CAN SEARCH VIDEO USING NATURAL LANGUAGE DESCRIPTIONS ACROSS LARGE NETWORK NETWORKS OF CAMERAS, FLOCK SAYS. THE LOCAL AGENCY CONTROLS DATA SHARING. LEANDER SHOULD PROVIDE A COMPLETE ACCOUNTING OF EVERY AGE THAT CAN ACCESS OR SEARCH OUR DATA, INCLUDING OUT OF STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, EVERY SHARING AGREEMENT AND EVERY OUTSIDE SEARCH. BECAUSE ONCE YOU HAVE THE DATA, IT JUST KIND OF EXPLODES OUT THERE. AND THEN FLOCK STARTED WITH, WELL, WE'LL KEEP THE DATA FOR 30 DAYS OR THEN IT'S SEVEN DAYS. HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW OR BELIEVE THAT DATA EVER GOES AWAY? IT NEVER GOES AWAY. IT'S ALWAYS THERE. THIS REALLY BOTHERED ME.

THIS THIS STATEMENT FLOCKS PRIVACY POLICY STATES THAT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, DATA MAY BE TRANSFERRED AND PROCESSED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. JUST THINK ABOUT THAT. I'M GOING TO SAY THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE ACLU IS ALL OVER THIS. IT PROTECTS AGAINST REASONABLE, UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES. PUBLIC SAFETY MATTERS, BUT SO DOES LIBERTY. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, REMEMBER THAT GUY? THOSE WHO WOULD GIVE UP ESSENTIAL LIBERTY TO PURCHASE, TO PURCHASE A LITTLE TEMPORARY SAFETY DESERVE NEITHER LIBERTY OR SAFETY. I WANT YOU TO. I AM ASKING THE COUNCIL TO PAUSE FLOCK TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT. LET'S GET BACK TO DOING WHAT GOOD POLICE WORK DOES. THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER TOOLS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU. CATHERINE, DAWN. DANVILLE. CATHERINE. DAWN. DANVILLE. OKAY.

[05:30:01]

MICHAEL. GIBBS. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MICHAEL GIBBS. 1107 CLAYTON DRIVE. THANK YOU.

PEOPLE SHOULD NOT FEAR THEIR GOVERNMENT. THEIR GOVERNMENT SHOULD FEAR THE PEOPLE. WE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU SHOULD BE LISTENING TO. WE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TOLD YOU THAT WE DON'T WANT TO BE SURVEILLED, THAT WE DON'T WANT THIS. MY NAME IS MICHAEL GIBBS. I SAID THAT ALREADY. YOU MAY KNOW ME AS KB 1234, ONE OF MY LICENSE PLATES, I DON'T KNOW. AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF LEANDER FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO VOICE MY OBJECTION TO LEANDER POLICE DEPARTMENT'S USE OF FLOCK SAFETY. AND I PUT A BIG QUOTE AROUND THAT. FLOCK SAFETY TO CONDUCT MASS SURVEILLANCE ON US, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THE PEOPLE THAT CAN VOTE YOU OUT. I WANT TO START BY POINTING OUT THAT WHEN I OR ANY OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT WE WANT TO GET RID OF FLOCK, WE'RE NOT SAYING JUST FLOCK. COMPANY FLOCK HAS BECOME THE GENERAL TERM FOR THESE ALPERS LIKE GOOGLE AND LIKE KLEENEX, YOU KNOW, SO WHEN WE SAY THAT WE WANT YOU TO GET RID OF ALL GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE, THAT MEANS NO AXON, NO MOTOROLA, NO DJI DRONES, NONE OF THAT STUFF. SO ALL OF THAT LEADS TO MASS GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE. IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR. YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD THAT QUOTE MULTIPLE TIMES TODAY OR THIS MORNING. LAST NIGHT. AND IT'S KIND OF SAID ANYTIME THERE'S A DISCUSSION REGARDING PRIVACY AND GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE, IT'S AN INTERESTING QUOTE BECAUSE IT'S OFTEN SAID BY FASCISTS AND EVEN A FAMOUS NAZI PROPAGANDIST WHEN THEY'RE ABOUT TO STEAL THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS OR THEIR PEOPLE. JUST WANT TO HAVE A LOT TO SAY. BUT I DON'T WANT TO SAY I DON'T WANT TO. SO TODAY, SHEBOYGAN DECIDED TO CANCEL THEIR FLOCK CONTRACT. SHEBOYGAN WAS TOLD THAT THEY ONLY RETAINED THE DATA FOR 30 DAYS. BUT THEN ONE OF THE FLOCK REPRESENTATIVES CAME BY AND OFFERED THEM FIVE YEARS OF DATA FOR THEIR TRAFFIC SURVEYING AND OTHER OTHER THINGS. HOW COULD THEY HAVE FIVE YEARS OF DATA IF THEY ONLY KEEP IT FOR 30 DAYS? THERE'S SOME KIND OF MISINFORMATION AND THEY CANCEL THE CONTRACT. LITTLETON, MASSACHUSETTS TURNED OFF THE FLOCK CAMERAS ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY WERE TURNED ON REMOTELY BY FLOCK AGAIN. AND HERE'S A LOT MORE STUFF HERE, BUT JUST LET YOU KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO BE SURVEILLED PEOPLE. DON'T NEED ANY KIND OF GUARDRAILS. WE HAVE THE PERFECT GUARDRAILS IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND THE FOURTH AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT SUBMITTED CARS THAT JUST WANTED THEIR POSITION READ INTO THE RECORD. SO WE HAVE A KEY DID NOT MARK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM. HANNAH MCVAY ALSO DID NOT MARK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM. MARK SPITZ DID NOT MARK FOR OR AGAINST THE ITEM. NICHOLAS RODRIGUEZ AGAINST THE ITEM. CHRIS ARNOLD AGAINST THE ITEM. FREDERICK DOBSON AGAINST THE ITEM. I CHECKED AND I'M SORRY THAT I WANTED TO JUST LIKE OH IT SAYS POSITION ONLY. GOT IT. YOU WANTED TO TALK. PLEASE COME FORWARD. I'M SORRY. I'M LIKE NO, NO, NO YOU DIDN'T. BUT IT WAS IT WAS LIKE POSITION ONLY YOU'RE GOOD. JUST STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. 2408 GRANITE CREEK DRIVE. THANK YOU. YEAH. I'LL START ALSO BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, LEANDER PD THEY'VE THEY'VE AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN A LEANDER FOR SEVEN YEARS AND THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN I'VE INTERACTED MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH YOU GUYS. AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A CUT ABOVE RIGHT FROM OTHER PLACES I'VE LIVED. I GOT SOME PRETTY NEGATIVE OPINIONS OF POLICE AND, AND REALLY, YOU GUYS DID TURN THAT AROUND FOR ME. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. NONE OF WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY HAS ANY BEARING ON THAT. THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO START BY LETTING YOU ALL KNOW

[05:35:08]

BUT WHAT WE ALL KNOW ANECDOTALLY IS THAT MOST MISSING PERSONS CASES GET SOLVED, RIGHT? THERE'S NOT LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, 500, 000 A YEAR AND A HANDFUL OF THOSE ARE LEFT OVER. SO THAT GUY HAS THE RIGHT QUESTION, RIGHT? HOW MANY LIKE, WHERE'S THE DATA TO SHOW US HOW EFFECTIVE FLOCK IS AT INCREASING OUR SAFETY? RIGHT? THE FALSE DICHOTOMY BEING WE'RE TRADING, WE'RE TRADING FREEDOM FOR SAFETY, RIGHT? ARE WE LIKE, ARE THESE THINGS ACTUALLY MAKING US SAFER? BECAUSE BEFORE WE HAD THESE THINGS, LIKE YOU SAID, TRADITIONAL POLICE WORK, RIGHT? THAT'S ALL WE NEED. HUNTERS. SINCERELY. POSITION IS AGAINST. YES. SARAH BOND. BOHUN IS AGAINST CHADWICK. BOHUN IS AGAINST JOSE GUTIERREZ IS AGAINST. OH, GOSH. I CANNOT READ THIS NAME. BUT THE LAST NAME IS SIMPSON IS AGAINST BRENDA LANGDON OR LANGDON LANGDON. LOUDON, THANK YOU. AGAINST. SAMEER PATEL, AGAINST CARRIE STEVENS AGAINST MACKENZIE CAVAZOS. I DIDN'T SAY THAT RIGHT, BUT AGAINST. DOVE HULL, AGAINST COURTNEY LEWIS, AGAINST LESLIE RUSH, AGAINST SUSAN BLAIR, AGAINST ZACH LOUDON AGAINST. LESLIE. I'M SORRY. ASHLEY WILLIS AGAINST. KIM. MAGNUSSON. I'M SORRY I CAN'T READ THE HANDWRITING AGAINST MIRANDA MALONEY, AGAINST REBECCA WILSON AGAINST. DANIEL CICERO. OKAY. BOTH THINGS ARE CHECKED. OPPOSED. FLOCK IN LEANDER AGAINST LEAH BURKE. AGAINST. ANDREW KLUM.

AGAINST MICHELLE O'LEARY. HELLMERS AGAINST CINDY. HOLSCHER AGAINST MARK MAGNUSSON, AGAINST VAUGHN CHADWICK ARCHADECK. AGAINST OKAY. TONY EARLEY AGAINST CHRISTINE.

SOCIAL AGAINST. I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE. OKAY. THAT IS ALL OF THE POSITION CARDS AND CARDS

[05:40:07]

CITY COUNCIL HAS OPTIONS TO NOT RENEW OR TO TERMINATE. AND ONE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THAT, PROBABLY THE MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD WOULD BE NON APPROPRIATION OF, OF THE NEXT YEAR SUBSCRIPTION. GOTCHA. AND I'M FOR NON APPROPRIATING THE FUNDS. BUT I WILL START WITH PRO TEM. AND THEN WE'LL WORK BACKWARDS AND LET EVERYBODY HAVE THEIR SAY. IF YOU HAVE IF YOU DON'T WE CAN JUST KEEP MOVING BUT OKAY PLEASE. FIVE DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN, WE RECOGNIZE THE. EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY THAT ARE. POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED ON THIS ISSUE. I THINK IT'S IT'S TESTAMENT TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND I ALSO WISH THAT WE WERE IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM ALL OF THE TOOLS THAT THEY FEEL THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SECURITY THAT OUR CITIZENS ALSO ASK FOR. AT THE END OF THE DAY. THAT SAID, ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29TH, 2025 AT 1:59 P.M. MYSELF AND COUNCILMAN CHANG MET WITH FLOCK AND REPRESENTATIVES TO START THE DISCUSSION ON THIS VERY, VERY TOPIC. I WOULD SAY THAT ONLY SO THAT YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED TODAY OR JUST THIS WEEK OR SOMETHING, THAT IT OBVIOUSLY HAS REACHED AN APEX OF CONVERSATION. BUT THESE WERE CONCERNS THAT WERE WERE UNDERSTOOD AND ITERATED TO THE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VERY, VERY MINUTE WITHIN A VERY SHORT TERM OF ME BEING ELECTED TO THIS POSITION. I HAD CONCERNS ON THIS FROM THE VERY START. A LOT OF THOSE CONCERNS ARE BASED ON MY PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR. SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE. I'VE NEVER BEEN COMFORTABLE WITH THIS, I THINK. TRYING TO BALANCE BETWEEN THE NEEDS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE LIBERTY OF OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR LIFE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT THING TO DO. IT'S IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT. MY CONCERNS ARE BASED ON THE LACK OF OVERSIGHT, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY THAT THESE COMPANIES HAVE PROVIDED TO PUBLIC PUBLIC SPACES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. I THINK THERE'S A LARGER CONVERSATION TO BE HAD. I DON'T THINK THAT LEANDER NECESSARILY NEEDS TO BE THE ONE WHO'S DECIDING THESE THINGS. THERE'S A LOT OF LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS. THE SUPREME COURT HASN'T EVEN ADDRESSED THIS YET. THEY'VE BEEN SITTING ON THIS ONE FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS NOW. SO I WOULD SUPPORT US MOVING TO TAKE ACTION TO SUSPEND IF THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING, OR REMOVE IF THAT IS

[05:45:08]

ANOTHER THING I WANT TO ADDRESS IS THAT WE WILL PROSECUTE VANDALISM TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. THERE IS NO REASON TO BE VANDALIZING ANY PROPERTY AT ALL WITHIN OUR CITY. THAT I DO NOT CONDONE THAT REGARDLESS OF OF YOUR STANCE ON THIS, DO NOT GO OUT AND VANDALIZE ANY ANYTHING, REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF THIS COUNCIL MEETING. THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET YOU GUYS WHAT YOU ACTUALLY WANT. SO NO VANDALISM. LPD IS AWESOME.

THANK YOU FOR THE 59 PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT FLOCK DOES WITH OUR DATA. WHILE LEANDER CAN ONLY HAVE IT FOR 30 DAYS, WE KNOW FLOCK PROBABLY HAS IT FOR A LOT LONGER THAN THAT. AND SO I AM DEFINITELY FOR NOT RENEWING. THANK YOU. PLACE THREE, PLACE TWO. YET. SO I THOUGHT THE DISCUSSION WAS VERY GOOD. I THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A SURVEILLANCE SOCIETY. WE REALLY DO. I MEAN, ALMOST EVERY PERSON CAME UP HERE WITH A PHONE AND EVERYBODY'S HAD THEIR DEVICES IN THEIR HOUSE, TALKED TO THEM ABOUT SOMETHING THEY THOUGHT WAS PRIVATE. AND YOU'RE LIKE, HOLY CRAP. AND HOPEFULLY IT HAS A LITTLE DISCERNMENT NOT SHOWING EVERYTHING THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND THE WRONG TIME. RIGHT. BUT IT DOESN'T STOP WITH THE FLOCK STUFF. I MEAN, I THINK THAT WE NEED LEGITIMATE WAYS TO TO DO POLICE WORK, BUT IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT. AND WHEN YOU HAVE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS, HEDGE FUNDS, BILLIONAIRES, COLLECTING INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE'S HABITS, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO WITH PHONES, THEY DO WITH CARS, ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, IT'S THERE TO MAKE MONEY. AT THE SAME TIME, WE BREAK IT. WE'VE BROKEN DOWN OUR TRUST IN THIS COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO INSTITUTIONS, AND WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. WE LIVE IN A 50 PLUS ONE COUNTRY, AND SO EVERYBODY'S AFRAID OF WHOEVER GETS IN CHARGE IS GOING TO ABUSE WHATEVER IS GOING ON AGAINST WHOEVER THEY DON'T LIKE. AND UNTIL WE CAN OVERCOME THAT, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN'T TRUST ANYTHING, WE CAN'T TRUST THE INSTITUTIONS, WE CAN'T TRUST ANYTHING. AND SO IT'S A SAD POINT THAT WE'RE AT BECAUSE THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON THAT. THE COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED WITH A DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT AND HAVING LIBERTY, AND WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE CAN'T EVEN TRUST EACH OTHER IN OUR LIBERTY. SO I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO FREEZE THE USE OF THIS.

THESE LOOK AT IT HARD AND WAIT FOR IT GETS KIND OF SORTED OUT. I THINK THAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU PAIR AI AND YOU PAIR ALL THIS INFORMATION AND YOU TIE IT TOGETHER, IT'S JUST IT IS SCARY. AND WE'RE JUST AT THE TIP OF IT. AND. I CAN ALMOST IMAGINE THEY HAVE CO-MINGLED DATA AT THE SOURCE. AND IT'S NOT NOTHING SAFE. I MEAN, BECAUSE, BECAUSE BASED ON THE SCOPE AND THE SIZE OF THIS THING, THEY COULDN'T BASICALLY COME UP WITH 15, 000 DIFFERENT DATABASES THAT THEY POPULATE AND SEARCH AGAINST. SO I THINK THAT IT'S ALL IN ONE BIG DATABASE AND EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO IT. THEY JUST DON'T KNOW IT. SO I THINK WE SHOULD FREEZE THIS. THANK YOU. PLEASE. ONE JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT. YOU KNOW, AS COUNCILMAN NARDINI NOTED, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, AS EVERYONE STATED, WE. I THINK I THINK WE. ALL AGREE THAT WE SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS. I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE COME HERE HAVE NOTED THAT A LOT OF THEIR CONCERNS ARE NOT PLACED ON LPD, BUT RATHER THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT USER ACCESS. THERE'S STILL QUESTIONS THAT I WANT ANSWERED, I THINK IN TERMS OF WHAT AGENCIES HAVE ACCESSED THE AMOUNT OF QUERIES, DATA RETENTION. BUT FRANKLY, IT'S 1:00. SO I KNOW THAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE PROBABLY LEFT BEST FOR A FUTURE TIME. IF YOU NEED THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, WE ARE ON THIS ITEM. WE WILL GET THEM ANSWERED. BUT I THINK

[05:50:04]

OKAY, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO NOW WE WILL GO BACKWARDS TO ITEM 37. THANK YOU,

[37. Discuss and consider action on amending Ordinance No. 25-061-00 to amend the City of Leander’s FY2026 annual budget, ensuring alignment with financial priorities and necessary funding adjustments.]

ABSTRACT NUMBER 134. COUNCIL APPROVED THIS ACQUISITION AGREEMENT FOR THIS PROPERTY ON AUGUST THE 6TH FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES. THIS ACTION FORMALLY ALIGNS OUR BUDGET TO COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HERE IS THIS IS A ONE TIME EXPENDITURE. IT DOES NOT IMPACT OUR BUDGET. THE INFORMATION, THE FUNDING COMES FROM OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. WE STARTED OUT THE YEAR WITH ABOUT $30.1 MILLION.

AFTER THIS TRANSACTION, WE WILL STILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY $24.6 MILLION, WHICH PUTS US IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND RESERVE REQUIREMENTS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RANDALL MALIK AND I ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS ACTION ITEM. I HAVE ONE QUESTION. WITH THE DIRECTION THAT WE GAVE IN THE LAST ITEM, DOES THAT IMPACT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN ON THIS? IT DOES NOT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

OH. GO AHEAD. NO. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I'LL SECOND YOU. OH, OKAY. MOTION AND A SECOND.

THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER.

[40. Council Member Closing Statements.]

[05:55:06]

ARE WE JUST TRANSITIONAL PARTNERS? IS IT JUST PURE QUID PRO QUO? PEOPLE CARE A LOT ABOUT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE, AND THE WAY THAT YOU CEMENT THEM IS HOW WE SPEAK TO EACH OTHER. AND THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION, AS ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD HERE IN LEANDER HAVE BEEN CIVIL, THEY'VE BEEN EDUCATED, THEY'VE BEEN WELL SPOKEN, AND PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED AND WANT TO BE PART OF THE DECISION MAKING THAT IS PART OF OUR COMMUNITIES FORWARD ACTION. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE CITIZENS OF LEANDER FOR THE TIME THAT THEY SPENT THIS EVENING. AS I THANK THE CITIZENS OF LEANDER ALL THE TIME FOR THE TIME THAT THEY SPEND ENGAGED. IT'S ACTUALLY A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO BE ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS AND BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT EXERCISE. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING SO. TAKE A MOMENT, ESPECIALLY TO MORNING, THIS MORNING, AFTER ALL OF THIS STUFF, TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, GET A LITTLE BIT OF REST AND SAFE TRAVELS TO TWO OF MY PEERS, THREE OF MY PEERS. I THINK YOU ALL GO ON THE ROAD, SO BE SAFE. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT. PLAY 6TGIF HAVE A GREAT LONG WEEKEND. YES. THANK YOU. AND WE ARE GOING TO RECONVENE

[41. Convene into Executive Session, if needed, pursuant to:

1. Section 551.071, Texas Government Code, and Rule 1.05, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, to consult with legal counsel regarding proposed settlement of Cause No. 24-0818-C369; DeNucci Constructors, LLC v. City of Leander, et al, in the 368th Judicial District Court, Williamson County, Texas; and
2. Sections 551.071 and 551.076, Texas Government Code, and Section 1.05, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding deployment of security devices and contracts related to security devices; and
3. Section 551.071, Texas Government Code, and Section 1.05, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding agreements regarding Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) and facilities expansion projects, and litigation and agreements related to the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (BCRWWTP); and
4. Section 551.071 and Section 551.087, Texas Government Code, and Section1.05 Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding the acquisition of properties for public purpose; and to deliberate proposed economic development incentives for one or more business prospects that the governmental body seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body with which the City is conducting economic development negotiations along with consideration of an Old Town Incentive Chapter 380 Agreement(s) for Project EDA-25-007; and
5. Section 551.071, Texas Government Code, and Section 1.05, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding Upper Brushy Creek Water Control and Improvement District (WCID) lower water levels at Lakewood Park lake; and
6. Section 551.072 Texas Government Code, and Section 1.05 Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding the acquisition of properties for public purposes.

YEAH. THREE FOUR AND FIVE. AND WE ARE TAKING ITEM SIX, WHICH IS SECTION 551.072, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND SECTION 1.05 TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES FOR

[ Reconvene into open session to take action as deemed appropriate in the City Council's discretion regarding:

1. Proposed settlement of Cause No. 24-0818-C369; DeNucci Constructors, LLC v. City of Leander, et al, in the 368th Judicial District Court, Williamson County, Texas; and 
2. Deployment of security devices and contracts related to security devices; and 
3. Agreements regarding Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) and facilities expansion projects, and litigation and agreements related to the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (BCRWWTP); and
4. Old Town Incentive Chapter 380 Agreement(s) for Project EDA-25-007; and
5. Upper Brushy Creek Water Control and Improvement District (WCID) lower water levels at Lakewood Park lake; and
6. Acquisition of properties for public purposes.

WE NEED A SECOND. I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION CARRIES. IT IS

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.