[1)CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH QUORUM]
[00:00:04]
YOU GUYS ARE MY CALL TO ORDER HERE? THE TIME IS-- NO, YOU ARE GOOD. 5:00.
BASED ON WHAT I HAVE A MY PHONE. I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH A QUORUM.
>> EXCELLENT. NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE
INVITATION PRAYER. >> DEARLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OVER THIS COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR ENSURING THAT SAFETY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING US OUT OF THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS WE WERE IN A FEW MONTHS AGO.
AND THANK YOU FOR A NEW CITY STAFF THAT APPEARS TO BE STEERING THIS COMMUNITY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR-- YOUR BLESSINGS, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY. IN YOUR NAME, AMEN.
>> WE WILL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
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.
>> ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC COMMENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NONE?
[3)REGULAR AGENDA]
EXCELLENT. MOVING ON TO REGULAR AGENDA.DO WE NEED TO MOVE THE ORDER AROUND AT ALL? OR ARE WE GOOD TO-- SOMETIMES WE ADJUST FIRE.
IF YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? YOUNG, SIR? OKAY. [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> CAN YOU MAKE SURE THAT MICROPHONE IS ON.
THANK YOU. >> FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK.
WE HAD A HISTORIC THING HAPPEN FOR THE ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM.
WE HAD A TEAM HERE THAT COMPETED THAT GOT INVITED TO THE NATIONAL STUDENT SHOWCASE IN CHICAGO. WE WENT TO THE NATIONAL SHOWCASE, WHICH WAS VERY COOL. THEY DID A GREAT JOB.
I WAS TOTALLY IMPRESSED. ON THAT TEAM WE HAD ONE EXCHANGE STUDENT FROM GERMANY. WHO LEFT, AND THEN CAME BACK FOR THAT. AND HE LEFT ALREADY AND WENT BACK. BUT THEY DID REMARKABLY WELL.
AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS THAT ANY TEAM HAS BEEN INVITED TO ATTEND THAT SPECIAL DEAL THAT HAPPENS IN CHICAGO. SO, VERY PROUD OF THAT.
SECOND THING IS THAT THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW.
I HAVE A RECORD NUMBER OF KIDS IN BOTH SECTIONS THAT I AM TEACHING AGAIN THIS YEAR, ALONG WITH A COUPLE OTHER CLASSES AND HIGH SCHOOLS. SO THINGS ARE REALLY MOVING ALONG. AND ON AUGUST THE 26TH, I THINK THAT IS NEXT WEDNESDAY, AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, I WAS SPEAKING WITH CRYSTAL, FILLING HER IN ON THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. AND SO SHE HAS INVITED THE STUDENTS TO COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND THEY ARE GOING TO DO A PROCLAMATION, ANNOUNCING ALL THE SUCCESS THAT SHE HAS DONE-- THAT THEY HAVE DONE.
SO I AM PROUD OF ALL OF THAT. THE CLASS HAS BEEN AMAZING.
WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED SCHOOL. OF COURSE, I HAVE-- HAD TO REESTABLISH THE RULES AGAIN THIS YEAR.
THE FIRST TIME I WAS CALLED "BROKE" IN A LONG TIME.
I HAD TO STAMP THAT OUT SUPER QUICK.
SO EVERYONE REMEMBERS MY NAME. WE PRACTISED IT.
EVERYONE SAID IT 100 TIMES UNTIL THEY GOT THAT RIGHT.
BUT THINGS ARE GOING GOOD. IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA ON THE 26TH, I HAVE A FUNNY FEELING THAT MEETING WILL BE CROWDED.
I'VE INVITED ABOUT 120 PEOPLE TO WATCH THE AWARDS.
I KNOW THE PARENTS WILL BE THERE.
VERY PROUD. I'M GOING TO BE SUPER BRIEF.
I WAS GONE MOST OF THE SUMMER. ON THE EAST COAST.
BUT I NEVER MISSED A MEETING. AND WE DID OUR THING.
A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT THINGS, WE HAVE FIVE NEW MEMBERS THAT SIGNED UP LAST MONTH. WE RENEWED EIGHT PEOPLE.
AND OUR ATTRITION RATE IS REALLY, REALLY LOW.
I AM PROUD OF THAT. WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND WE ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE WE ARE REALLY CLOSE TO 350 SOLID MEMBERS. AND OUR GOAL FOR THE YEAR IS 400. AND WE HAVE A GOOD FEELING WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE. BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT INFORMATION AND WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS AND THE THINGS YOU GET. SO THAT'S KIND OF EXCITING.
TWO THINGS THAT I'LL GIVE YOU A HEADS UP ON.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE MOVED OFFICES, AGAIN.
[00:05:04]
FOR THE THIRD TIME. SO WE ARE IN A SEMIPERMANENT LOCATION FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. WE ARE IN THE HUGHES AND COMPANY BUILDING RIGHT NOW, LOCATED ON THE MAIN DRAG.SO WE HAVE A NICE OFFICE SET UP WITH A GREAT CONFERENCE ROOM.
WE ARE KIND OF PROUD OF THE DEAL WE WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER THERE. IF YOU'RE EVER IN THE AREA STOP BY AND SAY HELLO. I'M SURE KELLY WOULD LOVE TO VISIT WITH YOU. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TELL YOU, FOR CALENDAR PURPOSES, TWO MAJOR EVENTS WE WILL HAVE THIS YEAR, BESIDES THE MONTHLY MEETINGS, OR THE MONTHLY LUNCHEONS THAT WE HAVE, NUMBER 1, AND I BELIEVE IT'S NOVEMBER THE 2ND. A MONDAY.
NOVEMBER THE 2ND, WE WILL BE HAVING OUR GALA.
IT WILL BE ON MONDAY NIGHT. AT REUNION RANCH THIS YEAR.
AND I HEARD THEY HAVE A NEW GUIDE THAT IS THE HEAD CHEF THERE, I GUESS. AND HE COMES FROM TERRY BLACK'S BARBECUE. SO IT SHOULD BE KIND OF INTERESTING. AND WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THAN WE DID LAST YEAR.
WE HAD THE TASTE OF LIBERTY HILL THING GOING ON.
BUT WE WILL CHANGE IT UP AGAIN THIS YEAR.
IT WILL BE DIFFERENT ENTERTAINMENT, BUT IT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN. TICKETS ARE GOING TO GO ON SALE, I BELIEVE, THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER. SO GET TICKETS EARLY.
PLEASE JOIN US. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN. THE SECOND THING WE ARE GOING TO DO, THE-- IN COORDINATION WITH THE LIBERTY HILL EDUCATION FOUNDATION, THE JINGLE BELL RUN AGAIN, THAT WILL BE SEPTEMBER THE 12TH. I BELIEVE THAT IS WHEN IT IS.
IT IS ON A SATURDAY. LAST YEAR WAS INCREDIBLE.
FIRST YEAR WE DID THIS. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD YEAR.
FIRST YEAR WE HAD JUST SHY OF 360 RUNNERS.
LAST YEAR WE HAD 700 PLUS RUNNERS THAT RAN.
AND WE WERE HOPING THIS YEAR THAT WE WOULD TRACK ABOUT 1000 PEOPLE. LAST YEAR WE GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION OVER I THINK $18,000 THAT WE GAVE BACK. SO ALL THE MONEY RAISED, THE CHAMBER DOES NOT GET ANY OF IT. WE GET IT BACK AND TURN IT AROUND AND GIVE IT BACK TO THE SCHOOLS AND THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION. OTHER THAN THAT, PLEASE-- PLEASED TO TELL YOU THAT I WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I BELIEVE BECAUSE EVERYBODY KEEPS SHIFTING IN THEIR CHAIRS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT, I BELIEVE I WILL BE THE PRESIDENT NEXT YEAR AGAIN FOR ONE MORE YEAR, AND I WILL HAVE TO COME OFF BECAUSE MY TERM WILL BE DONE BY THEN.
BUT I WILL BE PRESIDENT NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN.
WE CHANGE THE TIMES OF OUR MEETING.
WE MEET AND 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON NOW, AS OPPOSED TO 830. BUT EVERYTHING IS ROLLING.
I'M PLEASED WITH WHAT WERE DOING AND HOW WE ARE DOING IT.
ANY QUESTIONS ANYBODY HAS? [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> WE STARTED AT 730. PEOPLE CHECK IN, SO WE WOULD GET
STARTED AT 8:00 A.M. >> 7:30 A.M. ON A SATURDAY?
>> ON A SATURDAY MORNING. [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> WILL SEE IF SEATTLE COMES IN SECOND PLACE.
>> I LIKE WHEN PEOPLE CHALLENGE EACH OTHER.
>> DID YOU SAY WERE THAT WOULD BE?
THE SAME LOCATION? >> SAME REGION, MIDDLE SCHOOL IS WHERE WE START. AND WE WILL RUN DOWN PROBABLY THE SAME PATH. THE WHOLE IDEA OF HAVING IT THERE IS WE ARE TRYING TO TIE BOTH ENDS OF THE CITY TOGETHER.
AND WE FOUND THAT TO BE SIMPLE FOR US TO EXECUTE AND SIMPLE FOR THE POLICE. IT IS STRAIGHT DOWN AND STRAIGHT BACK. THERE ARE NO PICKUPS IN THE WAY.
LAST YEAR WE HAD CONSTRUCTION TO DEAL WITH.
BUT I THINK EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SETTLED NOW.
AND I HAVE TO BE HONEST, WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERS THAT WE DEAL WITH DOWN THERE. THE WOMAN WHO RUNS ALL THE FUN ACTIVITIES IS ABSOLUTELY GREAT TO DEAL WITH AND ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP. AND WE DID A GOOD JOB LAST YEAR WITH OUR VENDORS. THEY WERE NOT SPREAD OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY CORRALLED THEM IN TO ONE AREA. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE STAYED TO THE END WHEN WE GAVE OUT MEDALS. YOU COULD WIN A MEDAL.
HOW OLD ARE YOU. I WANT TO SEE IF YOUR AGE GROUP
>> I MAY RUN THIS YEAR. I'M NOT SURE.
CAN I TELL YOU GUYS A QUICK STORY ABOUT WHAT I DID THIS SUMMER, REAL QUICK? REAL QUICK.
I'M NOT A SWIMMER BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.
BUT I WORKED ON THE BEACH THIS SUMMER, I WAS TRANSPORTING
[00:10:03]
HANDICAP PEOPLE FROM THE TOP OF THE BEACH DOWN TO THE WATER AND BACK. I DROVE A LITTLE FOUR WE'LL DEAL ON THE BEACH. I DID NOT RUN OVER ANYBODY.EVERY YEAR WE DO THIS THING CALLED.
TO. AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS IT'S A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THE TOP OF THE BEACH DOWN TO THE WATER.
SO YOU HAVE TO RUN DOWN THERE. SWINGOUT 100 YARDS.
THEY HAVE A BELL OUT THERE. YOU RING THE BELL AND MAKE A RIGHT-HAND TURN. GO 100 YARDS THAT WAY.
RING THE BELL. COME BACK, AND FINISH THE QUARTER-MILE. EVERY YEAR, IOWA'S WANTED THE T-SHIRT THAT SAYS IT'S A. TO.
CHALLENGE. SO THIS YEAR I DID IT.
AND YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD.
I HAD MY SHOES ON AND EVERYTHING.
BECAUSE I HATE ALL THE STUFF THAT IS IN THERE.
I DON'T LIKE TO SWIM WITH OTHER LIVING THINGS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU. AFTER LOTS OF TRAINING IN THE WINTER, I FINISHED IN LESS THAN 13 MINUTES.
WHICH IS IMPRESSIVE FOR ME. IN MY AGE GROUP BY WON FIRST PLACE IN MY AGE GROUP. OF COURSE I DID.
THERE WAS NOBODY ELSE. BUT THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> FOR THEEGALA, I ASSUME YOU WOULD BE CONSIDERING OFFERING SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES?
-- FOR THE GALA. >> OF COURSE.
AND WE WOULD CONSIDER DOING A LIVE AUCTION.
BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO DIG AN AUCTIONEER.
I CANNOT WALK UP THERE AND AUCTION STUFF LEGALLY.
IT BECOMES MORE EXPENSIVE. THIS IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST UNDER AGERS THAT WE HAVE. SO WE USE THOSE FUNDS TO CONTINUE ONGOING TRAINING FOR OUR BOARD, NUMBER 1, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT, AT SOME POINT WE WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BRING IN A FULL-TIME ASSISTANT FOR KELLY.
MAYBE KELLYANNE I WILL NOT BE AROUND FOREVER, BUT WE ARE TRYING AS HARD AS WE CAN. THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE USE THE MONEY FOR. AND TO HAVE THESE GREAT FUNCTIONS. I THINK OUR LUNCHEON-- LUNCHEONS HAVE IMPROVED OVER THE YEARS. WHEN I FIRST JOINED WE HAD 20, 25 PEOPLE AT OUR LUNCHEONS. NOW WE ARE 85 TO 100 PEOPLE SHOWING UP ON A REGULAR BASIS. THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. VERY HAPPY AND VERY PROUD.
WE DEVELOPED A INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP WITH COSTCO.
THE NEW COSTCO THAT OPENED. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BREAKFAST AT COSTCO, I BELIEVE IT'S EITHER THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER, OR THE SECOND WEEK. I WILL LOCK DOWN THE DATE AND GET IT TO YOU. BUT COSTCO WANTS EVERYBODY TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF COSTCO AND UNDERSTAND ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. SO THEY ARE SETTING UP A SCAVENGER HUNT AND AT EACH STATION THAT IS SET UP THEY WILL OFFER PRUDENT SAMPLES AND THIS KIND OF STUFF.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO RUN FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 9:30 P.M.
SO THEY REALLY HAVE TO LET EVERYBODY IN.
-- 8:30 A.M. TO 9:30 A.M. YOU WILL SEE THAT PUBLICIZE SHORTLY. IT SHOULD BE A LOT OF RUN-- A
LOT OF FUN. >> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT DIDN'T WE BUDGET TO SPONSOR THAT EVENT THIS YEAR?
>> YES. FOR THE PASSED TWO GALA'S WE HAVE BEEN AT THE SILVER SPONSORSHIP LEVEL.
WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR AS WELL.
>> HAVE WE ADDED IT TO AGENDA OR IS IT BUDGETED?
>> IT'S ALREADY BUDGETED FOR. >> PERFECT.
>> IT JUST STARTED THIS YEAR. JUST A FRIENDLY COMPETITION.
[INDISCERNIBLE] >> I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I KNOW THEY ARE NOT AS GOOD AS I AM.
[LAUGHTER] >> ARE YOU GOING TO DO THE FUN
I'M NOT GOING TO RUN A 5K. >> I DON'T THICK I HAVE TO REMIND YOU TO GIVE A PITCH. BUT YOU SHOULD PITCH FOR YOUR
SOME OF YOU GOT ONE ALREADY. I'LL BE REACHING OUT.
ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO MENTOR CAN COME IN AND HELP.
AND THE FUN PART IS THE JUDGING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
EVERYBODY SEEMS TO GET A KICK OUT OF THAT.
AND I DON'T-- LAST YEAR WE RAN AT THREE DIFFERENT NIGHTS.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO COMBINE IT INTO ONE NIGHT.
AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE EVERYBODY, BUT NOT LET EVERYBODY. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LAST TIME WE DID IT BEFORE LAST YEAR IT WAS THREE HOURS.
A LONG TIME FOREVER BY TO SIT IN PLACE.
CONTACT ME, CALL ME, I CAN GET YOU INVOLVED, AS LITTLE OR AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED. THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. >> WE HAVE THREE A, THE
[00:15:07]
PRESENTATION DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LIBERTY HILL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL REPORT.>> GOOD AFTERNOON-- GOOD EVENING.
EVERYBODY. IN FRONT YOU SHOULD BE THE FINANCIAL REPORT. EVERYTHING IS TRENDING IN THE WAY WE EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM IF I CAN.
>> JOSH, I SEEM SINCE WE DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM YOU ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WE ARE HOOKED UP ON THE BUDGET? DID COUNCIL APPROVE IT AND LOOK AT IT?
>> IT WAS DELIVERED ON THE SEVENTH AND WE HAD A WORKSHOP ON THE 12TH. AND WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER WORKSHOP ON THE 26TH. AND THEY ARE SLATED TO PASS IT
ON THE NINTH. >> THIS IS A BUDGET QUESTION KIND OF. BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE DEMOLITION BUDGET. WE HAD IT ON BUDGET WHEN IT WAS
NOT OR SOMETHING? >> WE WILL TAKE THAT TO COUNCIL ON AUGUST 26TH. THAT WILL COME OUT OF THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET, NOT NEXT YEAR'S. >> OF COURSE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> THAT IS EASY.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? >> GENTLEMEN?
>> I THINK WE ARE GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> LOOKING AT REGULAR AGENDA THREE C.
DISCUSSIONS REGARDING DOWNTOWN ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVES.
>> BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WE DON'T HAVE A DIRECTORS REPORT ON HERE. IS THERE ANYTHING WE NEED AN UPDATE ON? NORMALLY WE HAVE A PLACEHOLDER FOR DIRECTOR REPORT. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT? SORRY, THOMAS.
>> AS OF RIGHT-- NOT AS OF RIGHT NOW.
BUT IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, PLEASE REACH OUT, I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. >> ALL RIGHT.
SORRY FOR MY INTERRUPTION. >> OKAY.
HERE WE GO. I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE. THERE IS A CONVERSATION THAT HAS STARTED. IT STARTED AT THE DRC COMMITTEE.
AND I THOUGHT YOU ALL MIGHT WANT TO BE A PART OF THE.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.
RECENTLY-- I'M GOING TO SKIP PASSED THIS-- SKIP PAST THIS LIVE. WE CAN GO BACK UP WE NEED TO PICK BUT THERE HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION ABOUT LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS TO DOWNTOWN.
AS A PART OF DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.
AS WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, ALL THESE THINGS GOING ON, THESE ARE EXCITING THINGS, BIG THINGS AND RELATIVELY LONG-TERM VISIONS.
SO IN THE INTERIM WE SEE THINGS, DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME UP, WHERE WE CAN DO LITTLE BITS AND PIECES THAT HAVE HIGH-IMPACT AND CAN HAPPEN IN A RELATIVELY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO ENHANCE THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THIS IDEA CAME UP THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE.
NOT ANY ONE SPECIFIC IDEA, BUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE COULD DO AS A COMMUNITY TO INJECT A LITTLE BIT OF LIFE AND COLOUR AND VIBRANCY INTO WHAT IS CURRENTLY A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPAQUE LANDSCAPE. WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT HISTORICAL MAIN STREETS, ONE COOL THING ABOUT OUR DOWNTOWN IS WE HAVE A MAIN STREET THAT HAS SOME COOL HISTORICAL CONTEXT.
BUT IT LACKS A LOT OF COLOUR. SO THERE HAS BEEN THIS INITIATIVE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO FROM A SHORT-TERM PERSPECTIVE. SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS HAVE TO DO WITH THE INSTALLATION OF PLANTERS.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GET SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE COLOUR BECAUSE THE DRC IS BATTING AROUND COLOUR CHOICES OR OTHER THINGS, SO TO SPEAK. BUT WE ARE REALISTICALLY LOOKING AT THE DEPLOYMENT OF PLANNERS THAT WOULD ADD COLOUR TO DOWNTOWN AS A PART OF THIS INTERIM INITIATIVE.
THE OTHER THINGS BEING CONSIDERED RIGHT NOW, AS WE ARE JUST STARTING THE FINAL STAGES OF GETTING THOSE POWER POLES RELOCATED, THE PLANS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FROM POWER UTILITY TO THE CITY FOR US TO REVIEW TO GET THE POLES RELOCATED, AND IS PART OF THIS PROJECT WE ARE LOOKING TO BRING ON SOME DARK SKY COMPLIANT 2024 MASTER PLAN COMPLIANT LIGHT POLES DOWNTOWN.
DECORATIVE, THEY LOOK REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
THAT IS ONE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THIS PROJECT.
[00:20:03]
ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THIS PROJECT IS A ENHANCEMENT TO THE VEGETATIVE STRIPS THAT ARE ALONG THAT SIDEWALK THAT WAS INSTALLED VIA THE ARCO PROJECT. THOSE ARE KIND OF A MAINTENANCE HEADACHE. NOT SAYING THAT THEY WERE NOT DONE WELL, JUST SAYING THAT THEY COULD BE DONE BETTER.THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE FESTIVALS DOWNTOWN IT KIND OF CREATES A BARRIER FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER ALONG THAT ROAD SIDE.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDING IN SOME BOARDWALK FIELD, AND CREATING EXTRA SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO BE DURING THOSE SPECIAL EVENTS. IT INCREASES YOUR VENDORS FACING. WITH THE PLANNERS IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO ADD SOME GREENERY WITH THE GRASS DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW THAT IS LESS THAN GREEN. SO THERE IS KIND OF THIS GROWING SUPPORT FOR AND ENHANCEMENT DOWN THERE THAT KIND OF ENCAPSULATES ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS I HAVE TALKED ABOUT.
YOU CAN SEE THE CORRIDOR IS ROUGHLY FROM 1869, STOPPING JUST SHORT OF-- WHATEVER THAT IS THEY ARE.
SHORT OF GREEN STREET. WE SHOW A BIT OF AN EXTENSION THERE. BUT WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE IF WE WOULD GO THAT FAR. THE COOL THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT AS THINGS DEVELOP YOU CAN PUSH THESE INTO SOME OF THOSE FLEX AREAS. YOU CAN BLEED INTO SOME OF THE PARKING LOTS. WHERE WE STAND TODAY IS THIS CONCEPT IS BEING REFINED. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIRST BE AWARE OF IT, AND THEN TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT PARTICIPATION LOOKS LIKE.
WE DON'T HAVE A CONCEPT PLAN FLESHED OUT YET.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE DRC WITH THAT, BUT I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE OF PEOPLE WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS. SO I WILL PAUSE THERE.
WE ARE KIND OF WORKING THIS THROUGH THE DRC.
I WANT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE WALL AND WE WILL EVENTUALLY PRESENT THIS TO COUNCIL.
RECOGNIZING THAT THIS INTERIM KIND OF ENHANCEMENT IS NOT IN ANYBODY'S BUDGET. SO SOMETHING LIKE THIS MOVES FORWARD IT WOULD BE A FUN BALANCE SITUATION.
OBVIOUSLY THE SUBCOMMITTEE DID NOT PUT SOME THING LIKE THIS IN THE 2027 BUDGET. THE BUDGET I PROPOSE TO COUNCIL DID NOT CONTEMPLATE THIS FOR 2027.
BUT WE HAVE HEALTHY FUND BALANCE RESERVES ALL ACROSS THE CITY.
IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT RIGHT NOW.
AND SEEING THIS GROUNDSWELL OF SOME FUN THINGS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AT PARKER'S, MAYBE WE PUT A SPLASH OF COLOUR DOWNTOWN.
YOU START TO SEE SOME THINGS REALLY COME ALIVE.
SO I WILL PAUSE THERE AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
>> RELATED TO DOWNTOWN, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND MURALS. IS THAT STILL A CONVERSATION? AS FAR AS BEAUTIFICATION OF DOWNTOWN?
>> THE DRC HAD A BROAD CONVERSATION.
AT ONE POINT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A SCOPE THAT REALLY WOULD REQUIRE THE CITY TO GO OUT AND HIRE A CONSULTANT.
BECAUSE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SIDEWALK ART AND-- I'M GOING TO FORGET THE NAME OF IT, FACADE IMPROVEMENTS ON BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC ART AND MURALS. AND THE SCOPE WAS GETTING REALLY LARGE. AND WHERE THAT SITS IS WE NEED TO LET THE FIRST PHASE OF THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT PROJECT GET GOING. AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS GOING TO BE BEFORE WE GO INVEST A BUNCH OF MONEY INTO SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT PLAY. SO I THINK THOSE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS WILL HAPPEN AS WE GET FURTHER IN TO PHASE ONE, AND THE DRC UNDERSTOOD THAT. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PIVOTED TO.
WHAT COULD WE DO TODAY THAT WOULD NOT BE $1 MILLION, BUT WE COULD JUST INJECT LIFE INTO THE MAINSTREAM? AND THAT IS WHERE THIS CAME FROM.
>> I LIKE THE FLOWERS. AND I ALSO LIKE THE HANGING PLANTERS. THE BLUE ONES THAT ARE ON THEIR I THINK WOULD BE PROHIBITIVE TO GET GROUPS GATHERING.
SO IF THE PLANTERS GET TOO BIG, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, MOVING THE POLES AND THINGS SO PEOPLE CAN WALK AND CONGREGATE.
BUT THAT IS JUST MY FEEDBACK ON THAT.
>> I KNOW IT IS EARLY IN THE SCHEMATIC.
BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION.
MAYBE THERE IS NOT AN ANSWER TONIGHT.
JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT. I SEE A LOT OF PLANS ON HERE.
IT'S A SCHEMATIC THAT WOULD REQUIRE IRRIGATION.
IS THERE A PLAN TO ADD DEROGATION?
>> THERE IS IRRIGATION THAT RUNS UNDER THAT SIDEWALK.
WHAT WE WOULD DO IN THIS SITUATION IS GOING TO THOSE VEGETATIVE STRIPS. BRING THAT IRRIGATION SLIGHTLY ABOVE WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY AT, POUR CONCRETE SLABS REAL THIN UNDERNEATH IT. THEN WE WOULD PUT THE PLANTERS ON TOP AND DRILL A HOLE THROUGH THE BOARDWALK AND YOU WOULD
NEVER SEE HER OCCASION. >> THE SIMPLEST THINGS SEEM LIKE
[00:25:01]
THEY ARE SIMPLE AND THEY ARE NOT.>> 100%. >> LAST YEAR WE APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF BENCHES, ARE THEY STILL THERE?
>> WE PURCHASED A TOTAL OF SIX BENCHES.
THREE ARE OUTRIGHT NOW CURRENTLY AND ONCE THE NEXT PHASE OF THE SIDEWALK IT'S COMPLETED, THE REST OF THE BENCHES WILL GO OUT
>> SO THE IRRIGATION WILL BE PART OF THE BUDGET DECISION?
>> IT WILL BE RELATIVELY LOW COST.
THE IRRIGATION IS ALREADY THERE. SO IT'S JUST CONNECTING TO IT AND DRILLING UP INTO THOSE BOXES.
>> WHAT ABOUT MAINTENANCE? WHO DOES THE MAINTENANCE ON THE
PLANTS? >> THE CITY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE. I CAN TELL YOU THE MAINTENANCE ON THOSE PLANTS WILL BE LESS THAN THE MAINTENANCE OUT THERE
>> ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
ANYTHING ELSE? >> NEXT STEPS, TO COACH THE END OF THIS THING, IN APRIL WE ARE GOING TO WAIT FOR A FINAL RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DRC AS FAR AS WHAT THE CONCEPT WILL LOOK LIKE. THAT WILL GIVE US THE ABILITY TO GO SECURE A BUDGET BEEN NUMBER. NOT A HARDWARE BEEN NUMBER TO GIVE US AN IDEA OF SCALE OF WHAT THE COST WILL LOOK LIKE.
AND I'LL COME BACK AND SEE IF YOU ALL WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROJECT. AND WE WILL GO FROM THERE.
>> I THINK WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN THAT.
SIMILAR TO THE BENCHES. WE ALL HAVE A TASTE FOR IMPROVING DOWNTOWN IN THE SHORT TERM.
>> THAT SOMETHING WE HEAR FROM A LOT OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS RIGHT NOW. LIKE NOT THAT WE DON'T LOVE THIS UNMAINTAINED OPAQUE GRASS IN FRONT OF US.
BUT WE WOULD LOVE SOME COLOUR AND VIBRANCY.
THE BIGGER CONVERSATION IS YOU HAVE ALL LEFT THE COMMUNITY AT SOME POINT. YOU'VE DRIVEN OUT OF DOWNTOWN AND THOUGHT THAT WAS COOL, I WANT TO BRING MY AUNT HERE, MY SISTER-IN-LAW HERE. IT FELT LIKE THAT WAS THOUGHT THROUGH. SO THIS IS KIND OF THE FIRST STEP OF WE ALL WANT TO GO FROM ZERO TO 100.
THE THING THAT PREVENTS US FROM GETTING THERE IS STARTING AT ONE. AND THIS IS THE FIRST STEP WITH CONSISTENCY AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS.
WE WILL BRING IT BACK WITH A HARD NUMBER AND LET YOU GUYS
[4)CONVENE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION]
>> THAT TAKES US TO FOUR BE-- 4B.
ARE YOU GUYS READING NOT? DO YOU WANT ME TO READ IT?
>> FOR THE ONLINE THING? >> I CAN READ IT.
THE BOARD WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING ITEMS AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 55.1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. PURSUE TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, THERE LIBERTY HILL ECONOMIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL CONVENE I
[5)RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION]
>> WE ARE RECONVENED TO REGULAR SESSION.
THE TIME IS 6:28 P.M. THERE IS NO ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN OPEN SESSION. AND A
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.