[00:00:06]
[CALL TO ORDER]
LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER THIS FIRST MONDAY NIGHT IN SEPTEMBER.TONIGHT OUR INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY PASTOR CARL ALLEN OF FAIRVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE REBECCA AND I RAISED OUR KIDS BACK WHEN BROTHER DUNCAN WAS THERE.
AND OUR PLEDGES WILL BE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TONY SHOTWELL.
PLEASE RISE IF YOU AT ALL BOW YOUR HEADS WITH ME IN PRAYER.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THIS CITY OF OURS.
LORD, WE ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE TONIGHT AND WISDOM FOR EACH COUNCIL MEMBER AS THEY DISCUSS AND MAKE DECISIONS.
GRANT THEM CLARITY OF MIND, UNITY OF PURPOSE, AND A SPIRIT OF HUMILITY THAT SEEKS THE GOOD OF ALL.
MAY EVERY CHOICE MADE HERE REFLECT JUSTICE, FAIRNESS, AND COMPASSION.
WE ALSO LIFT OUT THOSE IN OUR CITY WHO WERE STRUGGLING, THE SICK, THE LONELY, THE UNEMPLOYED, AND THOSE IN NEED OF HOPE BE THIS COUNCIL'S WORK, BE A BLESSING TO THEM AS WELL.
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND HELP US TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
AND WE ASK THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
WOULD YOU JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF AMERICAN FLAG PLEDGE OF THE TEXAS FLAG? I EVERY FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NATION UNDER GOD IN IVIS WITH LIBERTY OF JUSTICE FOR ALL HONORED IN TEXAS, FLAG ARE FOR THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD AND INDIVISIBLE.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
MAYOR PRO TEM IS ON YOU FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.I DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE ITEMS NUMBER TWO TO I, OH, ACTUALLY TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE AND PULL ITEM NUMBER SIX FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
[6. Ordinance Approving a Negotiated Settlement between the Atmos Cities Steering Committee and Atmos Energy Corp., Mid-Tex Division Regarding the Company’s 2025 Rate Review Mechanism Filing ]
SIX.EXCUSE HAROLD SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX, COULD WE PLEASE GO BACK OVER WHICH ITEMS DID YOU JUST PULL? ITEM NUMBER FIVE? NO, ITEM SIX.
WILL WE TALK ABOUT THAT TONIGHT? RIGHT NOW IT'S PULLED TO FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
5 3 8 LINLEY, UH, ATMOS STEERING COMMITTEE.
WHO IS THE ATMOS STEERING COMMITTEE AND WHO IS MID, MID TEXT DIVISION? WHO ARE THESE INDIVIDUALS DOING THIS RIGHT.
INCREASE? TIFFANY BULL, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY, MID TEXT DIVISION.
THAT IS ACTUALLY ATMOS AND THE STEERING COMMITTEE IS, UM, A GROUP OF CITIES THAT HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER TO USE THEIR NEGOTIATING AIDING POWER TO PUT US IN A BETTER POSITION WHEN IT COMES TO RATE.
WHO IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE? WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS OR WE DON'T HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE.
THERE ARE ATTORNEYS THAT REVIEW IT AND THEY COORDINATE WITH DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES.
AND WE DO HAVE A MEMBER OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THEM.
WHEN WILL THIS BE DISCUSSED? IN A PUBLIC FORUM IS THE RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW PUBLIC AND WE'RE FIXING TO TAKE A VOTE ON IT.
WHAT IS THE RATE INCREASE? THE RATE INCREASE IF APPROVED, THE RATE INCREASE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $7 AND 83 CENTS PER BILL FOR RESIDENTIAL AND $25 AND 73 CENTS PER BILL FOR COMMERCIAL.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I'M NOT MAD AT YOU, BUT ATMOS HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO MEET WITH THE TAXPAYERS, TO MEET WITH THE RATE PAYERS BECAUSE ATMOS DOES NOT PAY FEDERAL INCOME TAX.
THEY HAVE NO, THEY'RE NOT PAYING ANY TAXES.
SO IF YOU'RE GONNA INCREASE OUR RATES, AT LEAST HAVE THE DECENCY TO HOLD, YOU KNOW, LET WE NEGOTIATE, LET US MEET THE PEOPLE FROM ATMOS DOWN HERE.
THIS IS, THIS IS COMING YOUR BACK ROOM TYPE STUFF.
AS CONSUMERS WERE GETTING HIT OVER THE HEAD AND TRUMP SAID HE WAS GONNA BE LOWERING PRICES, I MEAN AT MOST THEY'RE SUPPORTING TRUMP.
SO WHY ARE WE GETTING A RATE INCREASE? YOU, YOU ASK AND ANSWER.
WE KNOW WHY WE'RE GOING FOR THE RATE INCREASE.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING.
I KNOW, BUT WHATEVER THEY RECOMMEND, THEY WANT, THEY KNOW IT'S CUT AND DRIED.
20 YEARS AGO, 30 YEARS AGO, THEY HAD TO COME DOWN HERE TO THIS COUNCIL 40
[00:05:01]
YEARS AGO THEY CAME DOWN HERE AND PRESENTED THEIR CASE.IT WAS JUSTIFY A RATE INCREASE.
DOES, DOES ATMOS HAVE A OFFICE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS? WE USED TO HAVE ONE OUT OVER THERE.
MY GRANDFATHER WORKED OVER THERE FOR ABOUT 35 YEARS.
THERE'S NO ATMOS OFFICE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS.
WHAT ARE THEY CONTRIBUTING BACK? I HAD A GAS LEAK OVER THERE ON FRANKLIN.
IT TOOK THEM A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO COME OUT AND FIX THE GAS LEAK.
AND THAT MUST TOLD ME, WELL, WE'RE SHORT STAFFED OF CREWS.
IS THIS GONNA HIRE ANY MORE CREWS OR THIS IS GOING INTO THAT BIG BOY OVER THERE THAT GETS THOSE SEVEN FIGURE SALARIES.
SO WE HAVE THAT RIGHT AS CONSUMERS OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS TO CONFRONT THESE INDIVIDUALS.
NOT A BUNCH OF LOGGERS IN A BACK ROOM CUTTING THE DEAL.
AND THIS IS WHAT, THIS IS LOGGERS IN A BACK ROOM DOWN IN AUSTIN, GOING OUT TO ONION CREEK COUNTRY CLUB AND CELEBRATING THE RATE INCREASE THAT WE GET TO PAY.
SO WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO CHALLENGE THIS.
THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING, MAYOR, THAT THIS IS, IT'S BOILED DOWN TO THIS.
IF WE DENY THIS TONIGHT, THE APPROVED INCREASE IS 8.59.
IF WE APPROVE IT, THE INCREASE IS 7.835.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? WELL, NO, THE, THE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, HAROLD? THE REPRESENTATIVES OF ATMOS NEED TO STAND HERE AND DEFEND.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, HAROLD? THAT'S WHAT I'M ADDING RIGHT THERE.
THE FACT WE'RE FIXING TO VOTE ON IT, YOU HAVE ANOTHER 57 SECONDS.
WE'RE AS CONSUMERS, WE'RE GETTING A RATE INCREASE AND IT'S NOT JUSTIFIED.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YOU CAN SEE IT.
HAVE YOU PUT PUT IT UP ON THE SCREEN SO EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND IT.
COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I DO.
TIFFANY, ARE YOU THE, ARE YOU IN THE HOT SEAT? I AM, UM, ON RESIDENTIAL RATES.
I SEE IN THE, IN THE PAPERWORK, WHAT THE AMOUNT OF THE CALLED CUSTOMER CHARGE PER BILL, WHICH IS THE, WHAT YOU PAY IF YOU USE ZERO GAS.
I SEE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE, BUT I DO NOT RECALL WHAT IT CURRENTLY IS.
SO HOW MUCH THE CURRENT CUSTOMER CHARGE IS 2295.
UNDER THE PROPOSED BILL, IT WOULD MOVE TO 2365.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THE 7%, ISN'T IT? YEAH, IT'S, IT'S 70 CENTS.
I DON'T KNOW THE PERCENTAGE, BUT IT'S A 70 CENT INCREASE.
YES, IT WOULD BE LESS THAN SEVEN.
SO THEY, THEY PICK IT UP ON THE RIDER OF THE SURCHARGE AND THE, UH, COMMODITY CHARGE.
THE BASIC BILL IS THE ONE THAT I WORRY ABOUT MORE.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE FOLKS OVER WHERE I LIVE AND THE FOLKS LIKE ME THAT MAY HAVE TO BE ON A SOMEDAY BE ON A, UH, FIXED INCOME.
UH, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN REGULATE HOW MUCH GAS OR WATER YOU USE, BUT THE, THE BILL TO BE ABLE TO USE IT IS THE ONE THAT WORRIES ME.
THAT'S NOT GOING UP THAT MUCH.
SO I, I REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THAT AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
ANYTHING ELSE COUNCIL MEMBER? I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I GO AHEAD AND MOVE RELUCTANTLY FOR APPROVAL.
MOTION CARRIES SEVEN TO NOTHING.
IF YOU CAN SEE COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS IS OUT OF TOWN TONIGHT.
SHE'S IN MISSISSIPPI ATTENDING TO AN AILING AUNT AND COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ IS OUT TONIGHT.
HE HAD A PRE MEDICAL PROCEDURE DONE TODAY.
[7. Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corporation Board of Directors Appointments]
HAVE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.I WOULD, UH, RECOGNIZE MAYOR PRO TEM IS ON YOU TO PUT FORTH A MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPOINT, UH, RON JENSEN, GEORGIA, CLEMSON, JOHN LOPEZ AND JOHN STEWART TO THE GRAND PRAIRIE SPORTS FACILITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
[8. Resolution adopting a maximum proposed property (ad valorem) tax of $0.660061 per $100 taxable value that the City Council will consider for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and set the proposed tax rate of $0.660000/$100, and set the public hearing date and adoption date of the 2025 proposed tax rate via a record vote]
EIGHT ALVO MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR.[00:10:01]
EVENING MAYOR AND COUNSEL.TODAY WE'RE ASKING YOU TO SET, SET THE PROPOSED TAX RATE AT 66 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE.
YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED THE BENCHMARK RATES AS OUTLINED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
THIS PROPOSED RATE IS ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE OF 0.6 3 6 1 3 8 PER $100.
BUT BELOW THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE OF 0.6 6 0 0 6 1 PER $100, THIS VOTE ONLY ESTABLISHES THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN CONSIDER.
THIS IS NOT THE FINAL, UM, THE VOTE FOR THE FINAL RATE.
THE FINAL TAX RATE WILL BE SET AT THE PUBLIC HEARING AND COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 16TH.
THERE'S A LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT THIS ROLL CALL VOTE IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO ENSURE THAT TRANSPARENCY AND COMPLIANCE WITH STATE REGULATIONS.
SO AFTER SETTING THIS MAXIMUM RATE WILL CONTINUE REFINING THE BUDGET UNTIL THE FINAL VOTE ON SEPTEMBER 16TH.
AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS HANG AROUND.
WHAT IS THE MEDIUM PRICE OF A HOME IN GRAND PRAIRIE? THE AVERAGE, AVERAGE HOME VALUE IS APPROXIMATELY $238,000.
SO WHAT TYPE OF INCREASE MONETARILY WOULD THAT FEE TO A HOME THAT MEETS THAT MINIMUM AVERAGE? I DON'T HAVE THE VALUE RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
YEAH, BECAUSE WE'D HAVE TO KNOW WHETHER THEY HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, WHETHER THEY ARE SENIOR.
IF YOU TOOK, UH, THE BASIC MATH TOWEL, LET'S JUST DO A HUNDRED THOUSAND TIMES SIX.
SIX, THAT'S WHAT, SO IT'D BE 66 CENTS PER 100 TIMES A THOUSAND.
SO A 200,000 WOULD BE TWICE THAT AND A 2 38.
BUT THEN IF YOU ROLL IN THE SENIOR FREEZE, THE SENIOR EXEMPTION, SEE THE SENIOR FREEZE FREEZES IT, BUT IT WOULD BE HARD TO DO.
BUT THAT GIVES YOU A BASIC NUMBER.
AND THIS DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD THEIR APPRAISAL WENT UP OR DOWN.
SOME IN DALLAS COUNTY WENT DOWN THIS YEAR, SOME TARRANT COUNTY DIDN'T GET A REAPPRAISAL.
AND UH, SO IT, IT'S HARD TO SAY, BUT THAT GIVES YOU THE BASIC AND, AND, AND TAL, JUST TO CONFIRM, THIS PROPOSED TAX RATE, UM, FOR THIS ITEM IS THE SAME AS THE ONE FROM FISCAL YEAR 25? YES.
FOR THE LAST, THIS IS A NO INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
IN FACT, FOUR YEARS AGO WE WENT DOWN.
SO TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND, UH, THE POSSIBLE ADOPTION WOULD BE TO GO TO 0.66061, BUT FOR NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, 6, 6, 0, 0, 0, 0 0.
SO BY STATE LAW WE CAN, UM, GO UP TO GO UP TO, SO TONIGHT WE ARE ONLY, UH, ASKING FOR A COUNCIL TO SET THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE ON, WHICH WOULD BE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY BELOW THE VAR.
SO THE POINT BEING, WE WILL PROBABLY PROPOSE USE THE ONE WITHOUT THE SIX ONE TRAILING.
AND THEN YOU WILL COME BACK AND VOTE OFFICIALLY ON THE 16TH SEPTEMBER? YES SIR.
HAROLD WALLACE, FIVE THROUGH EIGHT LINLEY.
HAS IT REMAINED PRETTY CONSISTENT AT THIS LEVEL? WE HAVE GONE DOWN, UH, BACK WHEN JIM WAS ON THE COUNCIL, I THINK WE WERE SIX SEVEN SOMETHING, SIX SEVEN.
AND WE'VE INCREASED THE HOMESTEAD A FEW TIMES.
WE'VE DONE THE SENIOR EXEMPTION AND UM, HAVEN'T, RIGHT.
WHAT MY POINT IS, SINCE WE'RE GETTING INTERFERENCE FROM OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DANNY SCOTT GAB FROM MARYLAND AND THE BOYS DOWN IN AUSTIN TRYING TO TELL, TO MICROMANAGE YOU, THIS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF OF THE PHYSICAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
I MEAN, YOU HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T HAD THESE MASSIVE TAX INCREASES I GUESS, I GUESS LOOKING AT LAST 20 YEARS OR SO, IT'S REMAINED
[00:15:01]
JUST PRETTY.UH, WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE.
THERE'S CITIES ALL AROUND US, INCLUDING ARLINGTON'S HAVING TO GO UP 3 CENTS THIS YEAR.
ALL OF US, EVERY CITY IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA HAS EXPERIENCED SOME DECLINES IN SALES TAX.
AND THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE HAS STAYED PRETTY CONSISTENT AND NOT GONE UP LIKE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IN YEARS PAST.
OUR STAFF T BILL AND EVERYBODY SAW THIS COMING EARLIER ON THIS YEAR AND KIND OF FROZE POSITIONS AND REALLY WATCHED.
AND IF YOU LOOK, THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER CITIES IN THE METROPLEX THAT ARE GOING UP 4 CENTS AND 5 CENTS TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND ARE LAYING OFF PEOPLE.
WHILE WE'RE ON THAT SUBJECT, DANNY SCOTT GAB HAS SAID IT'S CAPPED AT WHAT 3% WE HAVE.
IT'S CAPPED AT THREE AND A HALF.
THE STATE OF AUSTIN IS LOOKING AT CAPPING IT AT TWO AND A HALF OR AT ONE.
UH, IT DIDN'T GET OUTTA COMMITTEE.
SO THEY'RE STILL ARGUING ON WHAT TO DO IT AT RIGHT NOW.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE COACH ABBOTT, DANNY SCOTT GOAD FROM MARYLAND INTERFERING IN THIS OPERATIONS.
TO KEEP THIS THE WAY IT IS WHERE OUR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER FOR THIS YEAR OR WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF INCREASING OUR PROPERTY TAX VALUE? DO WE HAVE ANY, THE NEW BUILDINGS GOING ON THAT CRUNCH FITNESS, PLACES LIKE THAT, WHAT THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING CRUNCH FITNESS.
THEY SAY IT'S $12 MILLION VALUE, BUT WHAT IT GETS APPRAISED AT USUALLY IS A LOT LESS THAN WHAT THEY SAY THEY SPEND ON IT.
YOU KNOW, PROPERTY TAXES ON $10 MILLION BRINGS US WHAT? 6,007? $6,600.
WHAT REALLY HELPS US IS SALES TAX GENERATION.
SO IN THIS 6, 6, 6 AND ON THE OTHER ITEMS DOWN HERE, WHEN WE'RE TAKING APARTMENT COMPLEXES, WE'RE TAKING PROPERTY OFF THE TAX ROLLS.
DO WE HAVE A NUMERICAL FIGURE OF WHAT WE HAVE? WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE BRIEFING.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A NUMERICAL FIGURE, BUT THE STATE OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE HELPED US ON THAT BECAUSE THEY REMOVED THE ABILITY FOR BANDIT HFCS TO COME IN AND BUY PROPERTIES AND TAKE 'EM OFF THE TAX ROLL.
OURS, OUR HFC HAS THE FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL AND IF THEY REFUSE IT, THE OTHER ONE CAN'T COME IN AND GRAB IT.
I HAVE TO GIVE MY HAT KUDO MY KUDOS TO MAYOR ROSS FROM ARLINGTON.
THEY WERE HAMMERED WORSE THAN WE WERE ON THE TRAVELING HFCS AND HE WORKED REALLY HARD ALONG WITH TML AND OTHER ENTITIES AROUND THE STATE TO REIGN IN THE BANDIT TRAVELING HFCS.
I JUST DOWN THE ROAD, IF WE CAN MAKE THE DATA, THOSE APARTMENTS UP HERE OFF 1 61 IN HOUSTON.
NOW THE GUYS I PLAYED FOOTBALL, PAUL KY, HE OWNS PARTS OF THAT.
THESE OTHER APARTMENTS, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT SURE IS OFF THE TAX ROWS.
AND HOW LONG WILL THEY REMAIN OFF THE TAX ROLLS AS WE LEARN TONIGHT? THEY COULD REMAIN OFF THE TAX ROWS INDEFINITELY, BUT THEY NORMALLY FLIP 'EM WHEN THEIR 10 YEAR TIMEFRAME.
ONE RUNS OUT TO BE ABLE TO, THINGS THEY HAVE TO DO AND THEY NORMALLY FLIP 'EM.
SO ONCE THEY FLIP 'EM, THEY'LL COME BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS.
THEY USUALLY FLIP 'EM SOONER THAN 10 YEARS.
UH, COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS JUST TO SET, SET THE MAX.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I READ INTO THE RECORD? WE HAVE SOME THINGS WE HAVE TO READ INTO THE RECORD.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE A RECORD VOTE ON THE PROPOSED TAX TAX RATE.
THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS ABOVE THE NO NU REVENUE, NO NEW NNR THEY CALL IT OF 0.6 THREE SIX ONE THREE EIGHT PER $100.
BUT BELOW THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE OF 0.6 6 0 0 6 1 0.10.
I MOVE THAT WE SET THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE OF 0.6 6 0 0 6 1, WHICH IS THE SAME AS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND, WE HAVE TO HAVE A REC RECORD VOTE.
SO I'LL START ON MY RIGHT COUNT.
SINCE THE PROPOSED TAX RATE EXCEEDS THE LOWER OF THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE ARE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, WE ARE REQUIRED TO HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING.
[00:20:01]
HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2025 AT SIX 30 HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 300 WEST MAIN STREET, GRAND PRIX, TEXAS 7 5 0 5 OH.[9. Authorize the City Manager and the City Attorney to review all necessary and related documents of the Grand Prairie Housing Finance Corporation’s (HFC) approval of the acquisition and operation of Prairie Gate Community Apartment Complex Phases I and II, approved by the HFC on March 18, 2025]
I'D LIKE TO GET A, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM NINE IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL.I'D LIKE TO MOTION TO TABLE ITEM NINE UNTIL THE SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2025 MEETING.
MOTION CARRIES YOU UNANIMOUSLY.
[10. Resolution Authorizing a Payment Agreement with the Grand Prairie Housing Finance Corporation (HFC). The HFC will contribute annual payments in an amount equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of the annual MM Management Fee and Tax Administration Fee received by the HFC to compensate the City for ongoing City services provided to a multifamily apartment facility known Prairie Gate Community Phase I located at 3951 Dechman Drive, Grand Prairie, Dallas County, Texas 75052. The property will be exempt from ad valorem taxation pursuant to Chapter 394 of the Texas Local Government Code]
ITEM 10.UH, HAROLD, LET LET HIM MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
MAYOR COUNSEL, UH, JULIE DOSER, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY.
UH, ITEM 10 IS IN REGARDS TO A PAYMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE GRAND PRAIRIE HFC UNDER THIS PAYMENT AGREEMENT.
UM, THE HFC IS A MANAGING MEMBER OF A, UH, AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER OF THIS PROPERTY.
THIS IS PHASE ONE OF PRAIRIE GATE COMMUNITY.
UM, UNDER THAT AGREEMENT, THE HFC AS A MANAGING MEMBER RECEIVES A MANAGING MAN MM MANAGEMENT FEE AND A TAX ADMINISTRATION FEE.
SO UNDER THIS PAYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE HFC, UH, THE CITY IS TO RECEIVE 35% OF THE ANNUAL MM MANAGEMENT FEE AND 35% OF THE ANNUAL TAX ADMINISTRATION FEE, UM, IN EXCHANGE FOR THE SERVICES THAT THE CITY PROVIDES TO THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX.
UM, THOSE AMOUNTS ARE LISTED IN THE COMMUNICATION.
UH, STAFF HAS REVIEWED THIS AND RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE PAYMENT AGREEMENT.
THAT REMIND THE COUNCIL AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE.
THE HFC IS NOT REQUIRED TO PAY ANYTHING BUT BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS AND PART OF OUR HFC IN OUR CITY, THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO GIVE US A PAYMENT BACK IN LIEU OF TAXES.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, SPEAKERS, SO I'LL ENTERTAIN THE SPEAKERS FIRST AND WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL.
WHO IS THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION? WHO WERE THE MEMBERS? WHERE AND WHERE DO THEY MEET? THEY MEMBERS ARE COUNCIL MEMBER CLEMSON, MARSHALL SUTTON, ZELDA FREEMAN, BUDDY WHITE, GREG, GREG GESNER.
WHEN AND WHERE DO THEY MEET? THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH.
THAT'S, UM, BY NOT MEETING IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, IS THAT MEETING AT A RETIREMENT PLACE ON SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE? THEY, THEY'VE BEEN MEETING THERE AND MEETING OFFSITE FOR 20 SOME ODD YEARS.
THEY'RE SEPARATE CORPORATION AND THAT'S WHERE THEY MEET US.
AND BASED ON THE NEW STATE LAW, IT HAS TO BE POSTED JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO POST OUR MEETINGS.
20 YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS LEVEL OF INTERFERENCE FROM AUSTIN.
MANAGEMENT FEE AND TAX ADMINISTRATION FEE, PLEASE.
UM, SO THOSE TWO ARE TWO FEES UNDER THE AG ORIGINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HFC AND THE DEVELOPER.
UM, THOSE ARE TWO FEES THAT THE HFC IS RECEIVING IN, IN, IN EXCHANGE FOR THE SERVICES THAT THE HFC IS PROVIDING.
SO THE HFC IS KEEPING 65% OF THAT FEE, UM, THROUGH THIS PAYMENT AGREEMENT.
THAT'S UP FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION TODAY.
THE CITY IS TO RECEIVE 35% OF EACH OF THOSE FEES.
AND WHAT IS THAT NUMERICAL AMOUNT OF 35%.
SO THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT OF THE MM MANAGEMENT FEE FOR THE FIRST YEAR IS 10,000.
AND THAT MANAGEMENT FEE IS GONNA INCREASE BY 3% ANNUALLY.
SO DO WE GET 35% OF THE 35% OF THAT? 35% OF WHAT? I'M SORRY.
SO, AND THEN WHAT ARE THEY PAYING IN PROPERTY TAXES RIGHT NOW? NO PROPERTY TAXES.
NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE PAYING BEFORE THEY WERE BOUGHT UNDER THESE AGREEMENTS.
WHO IS THE OWNER OF THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX? ARE THEY HERE TONIGHT? NO.
NO, THAT'S NOT A TRANSACTION THEY'RE INVOLVED IN TONIGHT.
THIS IS A TRANSACTION BETWEEN THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE.
IF WE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS, THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, WE'LL JUST KEEP THE $3,500.
[00:25:01]
SO THIS IS KINDA LIKE THE SCENE IN BLAZING SADDLES WITH THE SHERIFF OF ROCKRIDGE HOLDING THE GUN TO HIS HAND.THIS IS NOT LIKE THAT HAROLD, BECAUSE THE TRAVELING HFCS DON'T DO ANYTHING.
THIS IS OUR OWN HFC THAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS BOUGHT THIS INSTEAD OF A TRAVELING HFC THAT WAS TRYING TO BUY IT.
OUR HFC BOUGHT IT TO BRING IT INTO OUR CONTROL.
AND AT LEAST WE'D GET SOME MONEY FROM IT, YOU KNOW, ON THE MOVIE RAINMAN.
HAROLD, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THING? NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
I I I DON'T NEED A HISTORY LESSON ON MOVIES.
WELL, LIKE LYNDON JOHNSON SAID, LET'S GET TO THE NUT CUTTING AND WHY DON'T WE TAKE THEM TO COURT LIKE JUDGE WATNER, LET'S GO TO COURT AND GET INTO DEPOSITION.
WHO ARE THESE INDIVIDUALS? HOW MUCH MONEY ARE THEY GETTING OFF OF THIS? BECAUSE AS HOMEOWNERS, WE'RE PAYING
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, HAROLD? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
MAYOR, WHY AREN'T WE TAKING THEM TO COURT? FRIENDSHIP WEST BAPTIST CHURCH, THEY WERE GONNA BUILD WAREHOUSES.
THEY TOOK THEM TO COURT FOR A RESTRAINING ORDER.
KELLER SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY WERE GONNA BUILD SHORT-TERM MOTELS.
THEY TOOK THEM TO COURT AND WON.
WHY AREN'T WE GOING TO COURT TO FIGHT THIS? WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT IS DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GONNA ACCEPT THE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES FROM THE HFC AND THE FACT THAT THANK YOU.
NO, THAT'S ALL WE'RE VOTING ON TONIGHT.
AND THAT'S ALL YOU CAN DISCUSS.
AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS.
JUST, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM RIGHT NOW? RIGHT NOW, JUST THE, COULD YOU GIVE US THE TOTAL EXEMPTION FROM THE VALORIAN TAX? I DO NOT HAVE IT, BUT LET'S SAY THE APARTMENTS ARE WORTH $30 MILLION.
YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN SOME MATH TONIGHT.
GO SIT DOWN AND DO THE MATH YOURSELF.
$30 MILLION TIMES 0.0, YOU KNOW, 66 CENTS A HUNDRED, UH, A MILLION DOLLARS I SAID WAS WORTH 6,600.
WELL, LIKE SENATOR EVERETT DIRKSEN SAID A MILLION HERE AND A MILLION THERE AND REAL MONEY.
THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING PER STATE LAW.
AND THE LAW HAS BEEN CHANGED IN OUR FAVOR DUE, DO THE, THE HARD WORK OF SENATOR, I MEAN MAYOR ROSS OF ARLINGTON AND OTHERS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE BETTER CONTROL OF IT IN THE FUTURE.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU DID WITH, WITH MAYOR ROSS.
HE WAS ON CHANNEL 11 AND OTHER TV.
I, YOU KNOW, DID YOU GO DOWN THERE AND FIGHT THIS TOO? I DID NOT.
WE WROTE LETTERS AND SENT PEOPLE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMAN PATSY RAY.
MY QUESTION IS FOR I UH, ITEM NUMBER 10 ON THE AGENDA.
YOU EXPLAINED TO ME HOW WE ARE PART OF GRAND PRAIRIE HOUSING IS A PART OF THE HFC.
I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS PROPERTY THAT THE FHC IS ATTEMPTING TO CERTIFY AS A HOUSING COM, UH, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, WHETHER OR NOT THAT PROPERTY HAS BEEN SUBSIDIZED AS IT IS ON THE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING LIST, WHO CAN TELL ME THAT? I WOULD SAY NO, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT ON THE HOUSING LIST.
CAN WE FIND OUT AND BE SURE? UH, I WOULD, I WOULD.
IT'S NOT, WE'LL GET WITH YOU LATER, BUT THAT'S NOT PART OF OUR MO THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS MOTION.
YOU WHAT WHAT WE'LL DO IS GET BACK WITH YOU.
AND BILL IS TOO, THAT IT'S NOT PART OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ON THE, IT'S NOT PART OF IT.
I'M ALMOST CERTAIN IF YOU, WHEN YOU FIND OUT, IF YOU CAN LET ME KNOW, I BET WE'LL FIND OUT BEFORE YOU LEAVE TONIGHT.
WE'LL, WE'LL GROUP 'EM TOGETHER.
I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM 10.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 10.
[11. Resolution Authorizing a Payment Agreement with Grand Prairie Housing Finance Corporation (HFC). The HFC will contribute annual payments in an amount equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of the annual Ground Lease payments to compensate the City for ongoing City services provided to the Prairie Gate Community Phase II located at 3930 Westcliff Road, Grand Prairie, Dallas County, Texas 75052. The property will be exempt from ad valorem taxation pursuant to Chapter 394 of the Texas Local Government Code]
SAME THING.DO YOU NEED A PRESENTATION? COUNSEL? I'LL LET THE CITIZENS COME UP.
IT'S GO AHEAD AND TELL US WHAT'S DIFFERENT.
THIS, THIS, THIS ONE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
THIS IS FOR PHASE TWO OF A PRAIRIE GATE COMMUNITY.
IT'S ACTUALLY THE SAME APARTMENT COMPLEX AS PHASE TWO OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
SO WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT IT? WHAT'S DIFFERENT IN THIS IS THE CITY OR THE HFC IS A MEMBER OF OR, OR A PARTY TO A GROUND LEASE.
SO THE CITY, THE HFC OWNS THE PROPERTY.
THE DEVELOPER OWNS THE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE
[00:30:01]
PROPERTY.SO UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, UM, UNDER THIS PAYMENT AGREEMENT, UM, THE CITY IS TO RECEIVE 35% OF THE ANNUAL GROUND LEASE PAYMENTS THAT THE HFC WILL RECEIVE.
AND SO HAROLD WILL KNOW HOW MUCH IS THE ANNUAL GROUND LEASE.
I CAN GET THAT AMOUNT FOR YOU.
SO MAYBE HE WON'T HAVE TO COME UP AND ASK, BUT I SHOULD JUST LET HIM COME UP AND WASTE HIS TIME.
I DON'T WANT IT TO GO AGAINST, I WANT IT TO GO AGAINST YOUR FIVE MINUTES.
UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT BRING THAT PAPER UP, BUT I CAN GET GET THAT TO YOU.
IT IS APPROXIMATELY TIME TO HUNDRED AND $70,000 A YEAR.
AND THAT INCREASES 3% EVERY YEAR.
$170,000 A YEAR IS A LOT BETTER.
IF YOU RECALL FROM THE LAST ARRANGEMENT FROM PHASE ONE, THAT TAX ADMINISTRATION FEE WAS TO MAKE UP FOR THE GROUND LEASE PAYMENT.
THIS IS THE SAME BUT IT'S ON PHASE TWO.
UM, SO UNDER THIS PAYMENT AGREEMENT, THE CITY WOULD RECEIVE 35% OF THAT GROWLED LEASE PAYMENT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER? HAROLD? DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, THAT WAS HELPFUL.
BUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE 3 94 AGREEMENT, THEY ARE TO MAKE LOW INCOME OR REDUCED HOUSING FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE STATE IN THEIR INFINITE WISDOM, ALTHOUGH THEY DID HELP US IN THE NEW HOUSE BILL 21, THE OLD BILL GAVE HFCS 10 YEARS TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THAT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT THE HOUSING, THE APARTMENT COMPLEX TO HAVE TO FORCE PEOPLE OUT.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU MAY CALL TODAY AND SAY, I WANT ONE OF THESE REDUCED RATES.
'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO FOR 10 YEARS.
THEY HAVE 10 YEARS TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE.
STAFF IF I LISTEN TO YOUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
SO, UM, HAROLD, THE, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THEY SLOW PLAY IT EXCEPT FOR OUR HFCS, BUT MAYBE OUR HFC WON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER IT 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT MANAGING IT.
THEY SLOW PLAY THAT AND TAKE THE WHOLE 10 YEARS OR UNTIL THEY WANNA FLIP IT.
SO IN ACTUALITY, THAT'S A LOOPHOLE THAT SOME OF THE LOOPHOLE GOT TIED.
NO, THAT LOOPHOLE DIDN'T GET CORRECTED IN HOUSE BILL 21 DID.
SO HAROLD, THAT'S THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
SO WHEN I'VE GONE INTO THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES SAYING I'M ON A FIXED INCOME, I NEED A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT, WHAT IS THE REDUCED RATE? THE YOUNG KIDS ARE WORKING THE APARTMENTS LIKE TALKING ABOUT HAROLD, I JUST ANSWERED THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.
YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT THE ANSWER IS BACK FOR 10 YEARS.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO LOWER THE RATES.
THAT'S WHAT REPUBLICANS CALL WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE.
10 YEARS OF SOME GOOD WELFARE RIGHT HERE.
10 YEARS WE DON'T HAVE, AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS THAT'S GOING ON FOR WORKING PEOPLE.
THAT WAS, THIS IS ANOTHER LIE FROM YOUR TRUMP REPUBLICANS.
I'M NOT GONNA SAY WHO PASSED IT, BUT IT PROBABLY GOT SOME UNIVERSAL SUPPORT DOWN THERE.
'CAUSE IT UNDER THE GUISE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHO PASSED IT? WHO'S IN CONTROL OF AUSTIN? HAROLD GOT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME? YES.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PUT FORTH AS A COUNCIL OF A RESOLUTION IN A PUBLIC FORUM FOR 10 YEARS.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE AFFORDABLE AS THE LAW.
AND WHO SIGNED THAT LAW INTO INTO ACTION? GOVERNOR ABBOTT.
AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HAROLD? NO.
THIS IS SOMETHING MAYOR YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON BECAUSE I HAVE FOLKS UP FOR REELECTION NEXT YEAR AND ONE OF THEM IS IN HERE.
BUT THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UP FOR REELECTION, THIS IS A CAMPAIGN ISSUE.
WE WORKED REAL HARD ON THE NEW HB 21.
GOT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AS FAR AS HAROLD? YES.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL YOU PUT THIS ON THE WEBSITE FOR 10 YEARS? THEY DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR 10 YEARS.
'CAUSE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE TONIGHT? HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS? ONCE NEXT ELECTION SEASON COMES UP? THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE ASKING THE ELECTION SEASON THAT NEEDS TO BE PAID ATTENTION TO IS THE ONE IN NOVEMBER, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER? HOW WILL THAT HELP HOUSING IN NOVEMBER? THAT'S WHO YOU NEED TO CON BE CONCERNED ABOUT AUSTIN.
THAT'S WHERE THESE LAWS ARE MADE.
SO YOU NEED TO CON YOU NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NO STATE OFFICIALS.
STATE OFFICIALS ARE UP FOR REELECTION IN IN AN OFF YEAR.
NO, NO ONE'S UP FOR REELECTION IN AUSTIN IN NOVEMBER.
[00:35:01]
WELL, I JUST WANNA GET THIS ON THE RECORD THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NO ONE IN THE NEWS MEDIA HAS SAID FOR 10 YEARS.EVEN ANDREA, LUCIA AT CHANNEL 11, NO ONE EVEN WITH JIM ROSS HAS NOT SAID FOR 10 YEARS.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DISCUSSED.
AND THAT'S A VERY, VERY LEGITIMATE POINT FOR 10 YEARS.
HAROLD, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I JUST, I JUST WANT TO CONCLUDE THIS IS GOOD TRUMP REPUBLICAN WELFARE, 10 YEARS OF IT.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO ADD WITH HAROLD'S QUESTION.
UH, WE LEARNED DURING BRIEFING, WE WEREN'T, WE'RE NOT EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT WE DID LEARN DURING BRIEFING THEIR REASONING BEHIND THIS 10 YEAR BUSINESS.
AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT THERE ARE RESIDENTS ALREADY FOR THE PLACES WHERE THERE ARE RESIDENTS ALREADY IN THOSE UNITS WHO ARE UNDER A DIFFERENT RATE STRUCTURE THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO KICK PEOPLE OUT.
THEY WANT GIVE FIGURES TO ROTATE 'EM, THAT PEOPLE WILL TRICKLE OUT AND EVENTUALLY MOVE AND THEN FILL, FILL THOSE VACANT UNITS WITH THE NEW RATES.
I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING THIS, BUT I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO TRUST IN THESE INDIVIDUALS.
THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE NO CREDIBILITY BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING MORE APARTMENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT APARTMENT SHORTAGE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
WE'RE BUILDING MORE DALLAS THE WHOLE BIT.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR THEM.
WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING ON LOW INCOME WHO NEED ACCESS TO THESE APARTMENTS.
YEAH, THAT'S, AND THAT WAS THE WHOLE THING.
IT'S INTENDED GOOD, BUT THE OWNERS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TELL ME WHY YOU'RE NOT PAYING TAXES.
UM, THIS AND THE ONE BEFORE IT.
UM, THEY'RE, UH, BASED OFF OF TWO DIFFERENT, UH, POINTS.
I GUESS ONE OF 'EM IS OFF THE GROUND AT LEAST THE OTHER ONE'S OFF THE, AND, UH, I ASKED, UH, WHY THAT WAS BECAUSE MM-HMM
IT SEEMED LIKE, YOU KNOW, CONSISTENCY WOULD TELL YOU TO DO ALL OF IT.
AND IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT THINGS GOT, UH, WORKED OUT.
AND MY PROBLEM WITH IT, I, I WAS TOLD WASN'T REALLY THE PROBLEM.
AND I, AS I UNDERSTAND IT NOW, UM, OUR HFC OR ANYBODY'S HFC IN ANY OTHER CITY, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GIVE US A DIME.
CORRECT? UH, THE, THE FIVE, THE FIVE FOLKS WE GOT IN OUR HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, UH, QUITE HONESTLY, THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION COULD USE THE MONEY TO USE IT FOR SOMETHING, SOME OTHER HOUSING PURPOSE.
UH, MAYBE BUILD SOME MORE HOUSES FOR PEOPLE TO, WORKFORCE PEOPLE TO LIVE IN, UH, AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
UM, THE FACT THAT THEY'RE VOLUNTARILY GIVING UP THE MONEY TO HELP US WITH OUR TAX TO PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.
UM, I, AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, IT'S, IT IS A, IT IS A GOOD DEAL.
IF WE, WE COULD TURN 'EM DOWN, WE TURN, WE COULD SIT, WE COULD SIT HERE AND SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT THIS MONEY.
UH, IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE STUPID TO START WITH.
BUT YOU KNOW, ONE OF 'EM IS NOT VERY MUCH 3,500 BUCKS A YEAR.
UH, BUT IT'S SOMETHING AND THEY'RE OFFERING IT.
AND JUST BECAUSE THE FOLKS DOWN IN AUSTIN MADE A RULE THAT LOOKED GOOD ON PAPER TO TRY TO GET WORKFORCE HOUSING OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS STILL NOT AFFORDABLE.
EVERY GOOD DEED'S NOT ASKING THE QUESTION HAS A PROBLEM WITH IT.
YOU KNOW, AND THIS ONE WAS JUST LOOPHOLES THAT THEY SAW IN THE LAW, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PURPOSELY WRITTEN INTO IT.
AND JUMP THROUGH IT, YOU KNOW, AND THE GOOD THING I THINK IS OUR HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS GIVING US SOME MONEY BACK.
THEY AND THE ONES, THE OTHER ONES THAT OTHER CITIES AND OTHER, UH, WE FOUND OUT A COUNTY HAS IN GRAND PRAIRIE, OTHER APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE OFF THE TAX ROLLS THAT ARE OWNED BY FOREIGN, NOT WELL, DIFFERENT PLACES IN TEXAS.
THEY DON'T GIVE US A DAMN DIME.
SO I DON'T SEE WHY WE WOULD SIT HERE AND ARGUE
[00:40:01]
ABOUT OUR, OUR FOLKS GIVING US SOME MONEY.AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS, I DO.
I DON'T THINK YOU NEED THAT, BUT GO AHEAD.
JUST TO CLARIFY ON ITEM NUMBER 10, UM, IT'S HUD LOAN FUNDED.
SO THE GROUND LEASE PAYMENT COULD NOT COME OFF OF.
PATSY, THE SAME QUESTIONS APPLY.
UH, YOU DON'T NEED TO COME BACK UP.
WE'LL GET YOU THE ANSWER ON THIS ONE TOO.
WHAT DID WE LEAVE OUT? BECAUSE YOU'RE A GOOD LISTENER.
I AM A GOOD LISTENER AND I KNOW THAT THIS PROPERTY IS SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
THAT'S THE REASON HFC WANTS TO GIVE YOU THE 35% BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING MONEY FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT'S BEING PAID FOR WHEN THE APP APPLIES.
AND THE REASON WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO VACATE THE APARTMENT BUILDING, THEY WANT TO GIVE US THAT 35%.
THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING MORE THAN WHAT THEY SHOULD GET.
BUT I WANT THE CITIZENS OF GRAND PRAIRIE TO KNOW THAT SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVE THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT SO MUCH MONEY.
AND EVERYBODY DON'T KNOW THAT.
MAYOR, I, I UNDERSTAND AND I'M NOT STUPID TO THAT EFFECT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE TONIGHT.
THE ISSUE IS THAT WE ARE BEING PAID.
BUT I WANT THE PEOPLE OF GRAND PRAIRIE TO UNDERSTAND.
IF I OWN THAT APARTMENT BUILDING AND I APPLIED FOR FEDERAL, UH, UH, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, NO MATTER WHO I PUT IN THERE, THEY ARE GOING TO GET A HUGE DISCOUNT.
AND I'M ALREADY GETTING TAXES EXEMPTED BY THE CITY, BY THE STATE.
SO IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR SOME OF OUR CITIZENS.
BUT EVERYBODY DON'T KNOW ABOUT SUBSIDIZED HOUSING AND THEY DON'T APPLY.
I HAVE A ALMOST 20 YEAR GOD SHEET, A LIST OF SUBSIDIZED HOUSING IN BOTH COUNTIES.
YOU'RE DOING A GREAT TARRANT COUNTY.
2017 WAS THE LAST ISSUE STATEMENT.
UH, LAST ISSUE UPDATE FOR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
AND YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
SO CAN YOU, CAN YOU EXPLAIN, UM, THESE HFC PROPERTIES, UH, THEY'RE NOT AUTOMATICALLY CONSIDERED UNDER THE FEDERAL SUBSIDIZED, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
THEY HAVE TO BE RECEIVING FUNDS FROM THE FEDS.
SO TO HER QUESTION, THEY, THEY DEFINITELY ARE GETTING, I GUESS THAT THAT'S HER QUESTION.
SO THEY'RE GETTING THE FEDERAL WHATEVER MONEY THEY'RE GETTING AS A SUBSIDIZED PROPERTY.
ARE WE READY? QUESTION FOR, FOR MEL? YES.
WHAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY REGARDING HUD, THE HUD REQUIREMENTS WOULDN'T LET IT BE A YEAH.
SO WE COULD NOT PULL THE PAYMENT FROM THE GROUND LEASE.
SO THE ONLY WAY WE COULD PULL THE PAYMENT FROM THE GROUND LEASE WAS ON ITEM NUMBER 11.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT HUD LOAN FUND.
THAT WAS WHY WE DID ONE THING ON ONE.
BUT NEITHER PROPERTY IS RECEIVING.
YES, IT'S THE HUD MORTGAGE AND NEITHER PROPERTY HUD MORTGAGE HUD.
NOW HE'S ASKING ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT NEITHER PROPERTY IS RECEIVING SUBSIDIZED IS RECEIVING FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT I I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
BUT I HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THAT SUPPOSED TO GET HUD FUNDING DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THEY'RE GETTING FEDERAL FUNDS.
AND THAT'S THE ANSWER WE HAVE.
YEAH, WE WOULD HAVE TO CONFIRM IT.
WE HAVE TO CONFIRM FOR PATY RAY.
CAN WE TAKE A MOTION? TONY, YOU MADE THE MOTION.
UH, I WOULD JUST MOVE, ACCEPT MONEY, MOVE APPROVAL.
A I AIN'T THE OPPOSED AIN'T NAY.
[12. STP-25-06-0017 - Site Plan - 2625 England Parkway (City Council District 6). Site Plan for a two-story multi-tenant building on 1.00 acre. Lot 33, Block D, Mira Lagos East Retail Addition, City of Grand Prairie, Dallas County, Texas, zoned PD-365, within the Lake Ridge Corridor Overlay District, and addressed as 2625 England Pkwy (On August 11, 2025, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval with conditions by a vote of 6-0)]
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.LOCATED AT, UM, 26 25 ENGLAND PARKWAY.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE LOCATION OUTLINED IN YELLOW ON YOUR SCREEN.
[00:45:01]
TWO STORY MULTI-TENANT BUILDING FOR RETAIL AND OFFICE.IT'S ZONED PD 365, UH, FOR GENERAL RETAIL, AND IT'S WITHIN OUR LAKE RIDGE CORRIDOR OVERLAY DISTRICT.
THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THEIR SITE PLAN IS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN, AND IT'S A TWO STORY BUILDING.
UM, AND THEY ARE MEETING OUR DENSITY AND DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND OUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
UH, THEY ARE MEETING LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS AS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.
THESE ARE THEIR PROPOSED BUILDING ELEVATIONS, A COMBO COMBINATION OF STUCCO AND STONE.
AND THEY ARE EXCEEDING THE REQUIRED MENU ITEMS FOR APPENDIX, UH, F UH, CHECKLIST.
UM, THEY ORIGINALLY REQUESTED A VARIANCE TO THE MASONRY SCREENING WALL, WHICH IS REQUIRED ALONG THE TOWNHOMES, UH, PROPERTY LINES TO THE WEST AND THE SOUTH.
UH, THE PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION, UH, MEETING THE APPLICANT DID INDICATE THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO CONSTRUCT THAT.
UM, THEY'RE ALSO REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO THE REQUIRED 15 FOOT BUFFER, UH, THAT'S REQUIRED ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.
UH, THEY'RE PROPOSING AN EIGHT FOOT BUFFER ALONG THE WESTERN PROPERTY LINE AND THEN A FIVE FOOT BUFFER ALONG THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY LINE.
AND ON AUGUST 11TH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS BY THE VOTE, BY A VOTE OF SIX TO ZERO.
UH, THEY'RE CONDITIONS ARE THE TREES PLANTED ALONG THE FRONT FRONTAGE OF ENGLAND PARKWAY SHALL NOT BE PLANTED WITHIN THE 10 FOOT ENCORE EASEMENT OR 15 FOOT UTILITY EASEMENT.
AND THEN THAT THE APPLICANT SHALL CONSTRUCT THAT SIX FOOT MASONRY SCREENING WALL.
UH, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
UH, IN THE PACKET IT SAYS, DRC RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS.
IS IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING ALSO? YES.
THOSE ARE THE SAME CONDITIONS THAT THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED AS WELL.
YOU'RE PROBABLY DRC? YES, SIR.
I, LET'S READ HIM INTO THE RECORD.
NORMAN PATTON, WE'RE FIXING TO MAKE A MOTION.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I'M, I'D GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR MOTION NOW.
SAVANNAH, MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE COMFORTABLE WITH THE SIX FOOT MASONRY, UH, WALL INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED 15? I THINK FINE.
BECAUSE THE FENCE, THE NEIGHBOR'S FENCE.
SO THE, THE REQUIREMENT IS FOR THE SIX FOOT MASONRY WALL MM-HMM
UM, THAT'S A CONDITION OF APPROVAL.
UH, THE 15 FEET IS REFERRING TO THE, THE LANDSCAPE BUFFER, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE WALL.
READY? UH, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEM 12 WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE HAVE MOTION BY DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE, SECONDED BY MAYOR PROTE.
[13. STP-25-06-0020 - Site Plan - Lake Ridge Retail at 7085 Lake Ridge Pkwy (City Council District 6). Site Plan for two multi-tenant retail buildings on 2.62 acres. Tract 1.8, William Linn Survey, Abstract No. 1725, City of Grand Prairie, Dallas County, Texas, zoned PD-384, within the Lake Ridge Corridor Overlay District, and addressed as 7085 Lake Ridge Pkwy (On August 11, 2025, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval by a vote of 6-0)]
13.ITEM 13 IS ANOTHER SITE PLAN WITHIN THE LAKE RIDGE CORRIDOR.
IT'S AT 70 85 LAKERIDGE PARKWAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.
THE LOCATION IS SHOWN IN YELLOW ON YOUR SCREEN.
UH, THEY'RE PROPOSING TWO RETAIL BUILDINGS.
UH, THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, ON THE SCREEN YOU CAN SEE THEIR PROPOSED SITE PLAN, WHICH AGAIN INCLUDES TWO UH, BUILDINGS.
UH, THEY ARE MEETING OUR DENSITY DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS OUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
UH, THEY ARE MEETING ALL OF THE LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS.
UH, THESE ARE THEIR PROPOSED BUILDING ELEVATIONS, WHICH INCLUDES STONE STECCO, UM, AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE DESIGN, UH, REQUIREMENTS ADOPTED WITH THE PD WE MAY NOT EVEN NEED.
UH, THEY ARE MEETING OUR APPENDIX F MENU ITEM CHECKLIST.
AND ON AUGUST 11TH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF SIX TO ZERO.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
ARE, BUT YOU'RE READY TO MAKE A MOTION, AREN'T YOU? WE'LL READ 'EM INTO THE RECORD.
JONATHAN JOB DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, BUT WISHES TO RECORD SUPPORT.
ERIC, I DON'T THINK WE'LL NEED YOU.
IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS, WE'LL BRING YOU UP.
I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM 13 AS PRESENTED BY STAFF.
SECOND, WE HAVE MOTION MADE BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DEBOSKY.
[14. ZON-25-06-0021 - Zoning Change - Funeral Home at 310 SW 3rd (City Council District 5). Zoning Change from Multi-Family One (MF-1) to a Planned Development District for MultiFamily One with a Funeral Home on 2.37 acres. Tract 60, McKinney & Williams Survey, Abstract No. 1003, and Tracts 14, 15, and 16, James G. Stevens Survey, Abstract No. 1674, City of Grand Prairie, Dallas County, Texas, zoned MF-1, and addressed as 310 SW 3rd Street (On August 25, 2025, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval by a vote of 9-0)]
14.ALRIGHT, THIS NEXT ITEM IS A ZONING CHANGE, UH, TO CREATE A PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
UH, THIS, UH, PROPOSAL RETAINS THE BASE ZONING DISTRICT OF MULTIFAMILY ONE, BUT ADDS THE FUNERAL HOME USE.
ON TOP OF THAT, UH, THE PROPERTY'S LOCATED AT THREE 10
[00:50:01]
SOUTHWEST THIRD STREET.UH, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING CONVERTING AN EXISTING CHURCH INTO A FUNERAL HOME WITH LIMITED, UH, INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR STAGING, VISITATION AND CHAPEL SERVICES.
UM, SO AGAIN, THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT KEEPS THE MULTIFAMILY ONE ZONING IN PLACE, BUT ADDS, UH, THE FUNERAL HOME AS AN ALLOWED USE.
UH, THIS AVOIDS, UH, FULL CHANGE TO GENERAL RETAIL, WHICH COULD, UH, POTENTIALLY ALLOW, UH, LAND USES THAT, UM, MIGHT BE IN MORE INTENSIVE OR UN UNSUITABLE, UH, FOR THIS LOCATION.
AND ON AUGUST 25TH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF NINE TO ZERO.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER SHOTWELL, YOU AND I, YOU, YOU MENTIONED THIS, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO KIND OF TIE THIS DOWN? GOOD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT AND GETTING IT WORKED OUT.
UM, I WOULD MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
UH, THIS IS ONE TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT WE'RE PROBABLY ALL GOING TO NEED AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER AND, UH, IT'S NOT A BAD LOCATION FOR THIS.
SO I'D MOVE FOR APPROVAL AND WELL MOTION A SECOND.
UH, DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE, I MEAN MAYOR PROTE.
[15. SUP-25-06-0021 - Specific Use Permit - CDL Driving School (City Council District 1). Specific Use Permit for a Vocational School (Auto)/Driving School at a warehouse building on 8.85 acres Sites 3 & 5, Block 7 GISD Community Addition No.5, Installment No.3, City of Grand Prairie, Tarrant County, Texas, zoned Light Industrial (LI) and PD-63, and addressed as 1202 Avenue R (On August 11, 2025, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval with conditions by a vote of 6-0)]
DRIVING SCHOOL.THIS IS A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A DRIVING SCHOOL.
YOU CAN SEE THE LOCATION OUTLINED IN YELLOW ON THEIR SCREEN.
IT'S LOCATED AT 12 0 2 AVENUE R AND THEY ARE PROPOSING A TRAINING AREA FOR BASIC CONTROL AND MANEUVERING SKILLS.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THEIR KIND OF OPERATIONAL PLAN ON THE SCREEN.
UH, THEY'RE PROPOSING A TOTAL OF FOUR TRUCKS.
TWO OF THEM WILL BE USED TO TEACH STUDENTS BASIC CONTROL SKILLS AND DRIVING PRACTICE.
AND THEN TWO WILL BE USED TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE PRE-TRIP VEHICLE INSPECTIONS.
UM, SO THEY'RE PROPOSING, UH, DURING, UH, THE, THE TRAINING WHEN CLASS IS IN SESSION TO BLOCK OFF THE AREA.
THAT WILL BE USED FOR DRIVING PRACTICE WITH CONES.
UH, THAT WILL PREVENT CONFLICTS WITH OTHER VEHICLES USING THE SITE.
UH, THE TRUCKS WILL BE STORED ON SITE OVERNIGHT AT THE REAR OF THE BUILDING AS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.
UH, WE DID RECEIVE TWO LETTERS IN OPPOSITION.
UH, THERE WAS SOME CONCERN WITH THE TRUCKS THAT THEY WOULD BE LEFT RUNNING WHEN THEY WERE PARKED OVERNIGHT.
AND WE DID RECEIVE ONE LETTER OF SUPPORT.
UM, SO ON AUGUST 11TH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS BY A VOTE OF SIX TO ZERO.
UH, THE FIRST CONDITION IS THE PROPOSED OPERATION SHALL NOT BLOCK ACCESS POINTS OR PROHIBIT VEHICULAR CIRCULATION WITHIN THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
UH, TRUCKS THAT ARE NOT IN USE SHALL BE PARKED AND STORED AT THE LOCATION INDICATED AS OVERNIGHT.
OVERNIGHT TRUCK PARKING ON EXHIBIT B OF THE OPERATIONAL PLAN.
AND THEN THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ADDED THE CONDITION THAT TRUCK IDLING AFTER HOURS SHALL BE PROHIBITED.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
THE COUNSEL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR SAVANNAH? OKAY.
UM, AHMED ABU BARKER DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT WISH TO RECORD SUPPORT AND ABDUL WISHES TO SPEAK ONLY IF NEEDED.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CLEMSON, DO YOU NEED HIM TO? I DO.
NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE, SIR.
UH, ABDUL, UH, 6 0 1 POPULAR VISTA LANE.
UH, ARLINGTON, TEXAS 7 6 0 0 1.
UM, WERE YOU HERE WAS JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO? I WAS, YES.
AND, UM, THAT LOCATION DID NOT WORK OUT FOR YOU OR YOUR UH, IS THIS A DIFFERENT YEAH, THIS IS A DIFFERENT ONE.
THIS IS A LOCATION WHICH WILL ENABLE US TO DO MORE.
WOULD YOU SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE? YEAH.
THIS LOCATION WILL ENABLE US TO DO MORE EFFICIENT WORK 'CAUSE IT IS DEVELOPED.
AND UH, THE ORIGINAL ONE WAS FOR THE OFFICE AND THIS ONE IS FOR THE LAND.
AND ADDITIONALLY, I'M ALSO GOING TO APPLY FOR NEW, MORE S 'CAUSE WE'RE MOVING FROM OFFICE TO ANOTHER LOCATION.
AND THIS LAND IS NOT DEVELOPED THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
THE FIRST ONE WAS FOR THE OFFICE AND THIS ONE IS FOR THE LAND.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE TRUCKS WILL BE? YES.
AND WHAT ARE YOUR BUSINESS HOURS? UH, EIGHT 30.
WE DO OPERATE SUNDAYS NOW, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DISCONTINUE SUNDAY COMING UP.
BUT IT'S MAINLY FROM SATURDAY.
UM, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE, THAT UM, WE HOPE YOU'LL TRAIN ALL OF THOSE
[00:55:01]
NICE TRUCK DRIVERS NOT TO BE DRIVING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.AND, UH, NUMBER TWO, I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE HEADS UP.
I HAVE SOME VERY, UM, I NOTICED WHERE YOU BACK UP TO SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THEY'RE VERY OBSERVANT AND THEY'RE VERY SENSITIVE TO ANY CHANGES THAT GO ON AROUND THERE.
SO I JUST LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HEADS UP ON THAT IN CASE THIS PASSES.
ACTUALLY, MAYBE WE ARE PUTTING A OFFICIAL EMPHASIS ON THE CAREER PARKWAY WHERE IT IS KIND OF TRICKY.
IT SHOWS NO SCIENCE, BUT A LOT OF STUDENTS, SOMETIMES DRIVERS DO MISS IT.
I'VE SEEN A NU NUMBER OF TRUCKS BEING, YOU KNOW, PULLED OVER, YOU KNOW, FOR CITATIONS AND STUFF.
SO WE MADE THAT PRIORITY IN OUR TRAINING.
NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU AGAIN ABOUT, UM, WHERE YOU'RE GONNA PARK THE TRUCKS IN THE EVENING.
UH, THE REAR PART OF THE BUILDING.
AND THAT BACKS UP RIGHT NEXT TO THE IT'S HUGE.
OUR TRUCKS ARE SMALL SINGLE AXLE DAY TO AN EIGHT FOUR TRAILERS.
AND, UH, WE SHALL SPREAD OUT AND WHERE THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF SPACE.
WE'LL BE PARKING AT THE VERY END OF THE BACK OF THE REAR PART OF THE BUILDING.
I THINK THAT COVERS MY QUESTIONS.
UNLESS THERE, I'VE GOT A SPEAKER.
AND THANKS FOR THE ALL OTHER STUFF THAT IS HELPING US IN GETTING THE PROCESS DONE.
MS. PATSY RAY, I THINK SHE MIGHT HAVE STEPPED OUT.
WHAT, WHAT ITEM DID I SIGN UP FOR? ITEM NUMBER 15.
WHICH ONE ARE YOU WANNA SPEAK ON NOW? LET'S GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM.
PATSY RAY, 2217 EL EL PASO STREET.
MY QUESTION WAS, WAS OH, THE ANSWER IS YES.
ANYTHING ELSE?
UH, WHO'S FUN? WHO'S THE WHO'S, WHO'S GONNA ANSWER MY QUESTION? DEPENDS ON WHAT? IT'S THE SCHOOL.
I WILL THE CHILDREN BE DRIVING ON THE PROPERTY.
IS THIS NOT A DRIVING SCHOOL FOR THE GRAND PRAIRIE? ISD? NO.
OH, IT'S NOT TRUCK DRIVING SCHOOL.
I AIN'T CARING ABOUT NO TRUCK DRIVING SCHOOL.
HUH? Y'ALL, Y'ALL COLOR COORDINATED TONIGHT.
I DON'T WANT, NO, THIS ISN'T ANYTHING TO DO WITH G-P-I-S-D.
HOPE YOU GET OVER YOUR HEADACHE, PATSY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TO, UM, APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 15 WITH ALL OF THE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE INCLUDED.
AND SINCE IT IS A SUP, WE CAN, UH, REVIEW THAT AGAIN, RIGHT? ANYTIME.
[16. TAM-25-08-0003 - Text Amendment. An Ordinance of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, amending portions of Article 1: General Provisions and Procedures, Article 4: Permissible Uses, Article 6: Density and Dimensional Requirements, Article 7: Special Districts, Article 10: Parking and Loading Standards, Article 12: Subdivision and Utilities, Article 13: Building Permits & Construction, Article 16: Site Plan Approval, Article 22: Fee Schedule, Article 23: Master Transportation Plan, Article 26: Mobile/Manufactured/Modular Home and Recreational Vehicle Regulations, Article 30: Definitions, and Appendix W: Residential Development Standards, of the Grand Prairie Unified Development Code (UDC) for the purposes of aligning the UDC with recent changes to state law related to mixed used residential and multifamily development rights; zoning protests and notice requirements; regulation of home-based businesses; small residential lot development rights (“tiny lots”); HUD-Code manufactured housing; approval of land use assumptions, capital improvement plans, and impact fees; and regulation of the conversion of office buildings or non-residential buildings to mixed-use and multifamily residential uses; Repealing all Ordinances or Parts of Ordinances in Conflict Herewith; Containing a Savings Clause and a Severability Clause; Containing a Penalty Clause, and Establishing an Effective Date (On August 25, 2025, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval with a vote of 9-0)]
OKAY.ITEM 16 IS TEXT AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES WITHIN OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.
INCLUDES ARTICLE 1, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 16, 22, 23, 26, AND 30 AND APPENDIX W.
UH, SO THIS AMENDMENT UH, INCLUDES MULTIPLE ARTICLES AND IT'S TO ALIGN OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE WITH RECENT CHANGES TO STATE LAW.
UH, THAT INCLUDES MIXED USES AND MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS, ZONING, PROTESTS AND NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, REGULATION OF HOME-BASED BUSINESSES, SMALL RESIDENTIAL LOT DEVELOPMENT, HUD CODE MANUFACTURED HOUSING, APPROVAL OF LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS AND IMPACT FEES AND CONVERSION OF OFFICE BUILDINGS TO MIXED USE AND MULTIFAMILY USE.
UH, SO THERE WAS A SUMMARY TABLE IN THE PACKET THAT WENT THROUGH EACH OF THE BILLS AND KIND OF SUMMARIZED THE RELATED CHANGES TO THE DIFFERENT ARTICLES.
I'M GONNA SKIP OVER THAT AND FIRST FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT REALLY WERE IMPACTFUL TO SOME OF THE CHANGES.
AND THEN I WILL GO THROUGH EACH ARTICLE AND SUMMARIZE THE CHANGES.
UH, SO SB EIGHT 40, UH, I'M GONNA KIND OF COVER THREE MAIN POINTS.
UH, THE FIRST IS THAT A MUNICIPALITY SHALL ALLOW MIXED USE AND RESIDENTIAL USE AND DEVELOPMENT OR MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE AND DEVELOPMENT AND A ZONING CLASSIFICATION THAT ALLOWS OFFICE, COMMERCIAL, RETAIL WAREHOUSE OR MIXED USE
[01:00:01]
OR DEVELOPMENT AS AN ALLOWED USE UNDER THIS CLASSIFICATION.UH, SO THIS PART OF THE BILL APPLIES TO ESSENTIALLY NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.
UH, THE CITY MUST NOW ALLOW MULTIFAMILY AT THESE LOCATIONS.
UH, THE SECOND COMPONENT THAT I'LL COVER, UH, STATES THAT A MUNICIPALITY MAY NOT ADOPT OR ENFORCE AN ORDINATE ZONING RESTRICTION OR OTHER REGULATION THAT IMPOSES A LIMIT ON DENSITY, HEIGHT, SETBACK, OR BUFFER REQUIREMENT.
THAT IS MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN WHAT THE STATE LAW ALLOWS AND CANNOT REQUIRE.
MORE THAN ONE PARKING SPACE PER UNIT OR MULTI-LEVEL OR A MULTI-LEVEL PARKING STRUCTURE CANNOT RESTRICT THE FAR OR REQUIRE THE DEVELOPMENT TO CONTAIN NON-PRESIDENTIAL USES.
UH, SO THIS COMPONENT APPLIES TO ALL MULTIFAMILY OR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS CITYWIDE.
UH, THE THIRD COMPONENT, UH, THAT I'D LIKE TO COVER IS THAT IF A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT MEETS LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER TWO 18, THE MUNICIPALITY SHALL ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVE THE PERMIT OR OTHER AUTHORIZATION AND MAY NOT REQUIRE FURTHER ACTION BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY.
UH, SB 15 APPLIES TO ATTRACTIVE LAND THAT'S GONNA BE PLATTED.
THAT WILL BE PLATTED AND LOCATED IN AN AREA ZONE FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IS FIVE ACRES OR MORE AND HAS NO RECORDED PLAT.
UH, AND THE LAW STATES THAT A MUNICIPALITY MAY NOT ADOPT OR ENFORCE AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES A RESIDENTIAL LOT TO BE LARGER THAN 3000 SQUARE FEET, WIDER THAN 30 FEET OR DEEPER THAN 75 FEET.
ADDITIONALLY, A CITY CANNOT REQUIRE THAT SMALL LOT TO HAVE A GREATER SETBACK THAN 15 FEET FROM THE FRONT, 20 FEET FROM THE BACK, OR FIVE FEET FROM THE SIDE.
WE CANNOT REQUIRE COVERED PARKING.
WE CANNOT REQUIRE MORE THAN ONE PARKING SPACE PER UNIT AND WE CANNOT REQUIRE MORE THAN 38% OPEN SPACE OR PERMEABLE SURFACE.
AND WE CANNOT REQUIRE THAT IT'S FEWER THAN THREE FULL STORIES.
NOT EXCEEDING 10 FEET IN HEIGHT CANNOT REQUIRE MAXIMUM BUILDING BULK OR WALL ARTICULATION.
UH, SO THIS TWO BILLS REALLY, UH, IMPACTED SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE TO MULTIPLE ARTICLES.
SO UP UNTIL THAT THESE ARE TO GET IN COMPLIANCE TO SB EIGHT 40 AND SB 15, CORRECT.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER BILLS, BUT THESE WERE KIND OF THE, I UNDERSTAND ONES.
Y'ALL ACTED REALLY QUICK 'CAUSE THOSE WERE JUST PASSED.
WE DON'T LIKE THEM, BUT THEY'RE LAW.
SO ARTICLE ONE, GENERAL PROVISIONS AND PROCEDURES.
UH, WE'VE MODIFIED OUR REQUIREMENTS FOR, UH, SIGNAGE POSTED FOR ZONING CHANGES TO ONE SIDE PER ONE SIGN PER STREET FRONTAGE.
UH, STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE SIGNS ARE NOW 48 INCHES WIDE, WHICH IS VERY LARGE.
UM, SO WE FEEL THAT ONE SIGN PER STREET FRONTAGE, UM, OF A SIGN THAT SIZE IS VERY VISIBLE.
WE'VE ADDED LANGUAGE REQUIRING LEGAL NOTICE TO BE PUBLISHED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
WE CURRENTLY SEE SEND OUT LEGAL NOTICE TO THE FORT WORTH DOLLAR TELEGRAM.
WE WILL NOW POST THOSE LEGAL NOTICES TO THE WEBSITE.
WE'VE UPDATED OUR ZONING PROTEST LANGUAGE TO ALIGN WITH STATE LAW.
ARTICLE SEVEN SPECIAL DISTRICTS.
WE REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR CONCEPT PLAN FOR PDS WITHOUT A CONCEPT PLAN TO ALIGN DEVELOPMENT, REVIEW PROCEDURES WITH STATE LAW AND KEEP PROCEDURES CONSISTENT ACROSS DEVELOPMENT TYPES.
ARTICLE 10, PARKING AND LOADING STANDARDS.
WE UPDATED OUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS TO ALIGN WITH STATE LAW.
SO YOU CAN SEE SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPED UNDER SMALL LOT DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE, UH, PER STATE LAW CAN REQUIRE ONE OFF STREET PARKING SPACE.
UH, WE ARE ADDING THE PROVISION THAT IT'S ACCESSED FROM A REAR LOADED ALLEY.
UM, WE HAVE KEPT OUR EXISTING MULTI-FAMILY PARKING CALCULATIONS IN THERE, BUT HAVE TITLED IT OUR PREFERRED PARKING, UH, STANDARDS
UH, WE'VE ADDED AN INCENTIVE INCENTIVE LATER ON IN APPENDIX W.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, MODIFIED THE REQUIRED PARKING STANDARDS TO ALIGN WITH, UH, STATE LAW.
WE'VE ALSO REQUIRED, UH, LEASING OFFICE BE CALCULATED SEPARATELY.
AND THEN FOR OUR, UH, REQUIRED PARKING STANDARDS, ADDED A CLUBHOUSE PARKING RATIO AS WELL.
ARTICLE 12, SUBDIVISION AND UTILITIES.
UH, WE'VE ADDED A REQUIREMENT THAT PLATS, UH, FOR DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED WITH THE SMALL OT DEVELOPMENT.
HAVE A DISCLAIMER, UH, THAT STAY WHAT STATE LAW ALLOWS AND CITIES HAVE TO ALLOW, UH, THAT WILL, UH, HELP STAFF WITH OUR REVIEW OF THE PLAS.
AND THEN WHEN THE BUILDING PERMITS COME IN, UM, YOU'RE ALSO REQUIRING THAT SMALL LOT DEVELOPMENTS INTENDED FOR FIVE OR MORE LOTS HAVE A MINIMUM 30 FOOT, 31 FOOT WIDE STREET WITH AN ALLEY.
AND THAT ONE PARKING SPACE THAT WE CAN REQUIRE WILL BE ACCESSED, UH, FROM THAT ALLEY.
ARTICLE 13, BUILDING PERMITS AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.
WE'VE ADDED SOME CLARIFYING LANGUAGE, MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THE BUILDING PERMIT CANNOT BE ISSUED UNTIL ALL THE PROPER, UH, APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ADMINISTRATIVELY, UM, FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL.
WE'VE ALSO ADDED LANGUAGE THAT SAYS SITE PLANS FOR THE MULTIFAMILY MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS, UM, SHALL BE REVIEWED AND ACTED UPON BY THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, OR DESIGNEE UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF DRC.
[01:05:01]
UH, SINCE THEY CAN NO LONGER COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, UH, WE STATE THAT IF A SITE PLAN DOES NOT MEET THE APPLICABLE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS OF THE UDC, UM, THAT ARE STILL ALLOWED TO BE REGULATED BY THE CITY, UM, THEY'LL BE DENIED.AND THEN, THEN A ZONING CHANGE IN CONCEPT PLAN, UH, SHALL BE REQUIRED.
UH, FOR OUR FEE SCHEDULE, WE'VE MODIFIED OUR SITE PLAN FEE TABLE, UM, SITE PLAN AMENDMENTS.
UH, OUR ADMINISTRATIVELY ARE DONE AT 400.
UH, WE ADDED A MULTI-FAMILY, UH, ROW TO SPECIFY THAT MULTI-FAMILY, UH, SITE PLANS STILL PAY THE FULL SITE PLAN, UH, FEE, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE ACTED UPON ADMINISTRATIVELY.
UH, WE REMOVED SOME TABLES THAT WERE DUPLICATE FEES.
UH, WE ALSO REMOVED THE STAFF FILING, UH, OF PLATS, WHICH IS NOT A SERVICE THAT WE OFFER.
AND WE DID ADD A $50 FEE, UH, FOR ZONING SIGNS, AGAIN, WITH THE NEW SIGNS THAT WERE REQUIRED.
UH, THEY'RE MUCH LARGER AND MORE EXPENSIVE.
SO WE WERE PASSING THAT COST ON TO THE DEVELOPER.
UH, WE ALSO UPDATED OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE DEFINITION TO MATCH STATE LAW.
UH, ARTICLE 23, MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
UH, STATE LAW SAYS THAT WE CANNOT REQUIRE A TIA FOR DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING THE CONVERSION OF BUILDINGS TO MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL USE OR MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE.
UM, AND SO WE'VE STATED THAT IN ARTICLE 23, ARTICLE 26, MOBILE MANUFACTURED MODULAR HOME AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE REGULATIONS, WE REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT FOR AN SUP, UH, FOR MOBILE MANUFACTURED HOME WITHIN THE AGRICULTURAL ZONING DISTRICT.
UM, BECAUSE IF, UM, A SINGLE FAMILY OR ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL USE IS ALLOWED BY WRIGHT, WE ALSO HAVE TO ALLOW THAT BY WRIGHT IN THAT LO UH, LOCATION OR THAT ZONING DISTRICT.
ARTICLE 30, WE ADDED OUR, UM, OR MODIFIED OUR HOME OCCUPATION DEFINITION, UH, TO MEET THE HOME-BASED BUSINESS, UH, THE NO IMPACT HOME-BASED BUSINESS DEFINITION, UH, FROM THE STATE.
AND THEN WE ALSO ADDED THE SMALL LOT DEVELOPMENT, WHICH AGAIN, IS, UM, UM, YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, UH, ARTICLE FOUR PERMISSIBLE USES.
WE'VE ADDED KIND OF PROVISIONS THROUGHOUT, UH, THAT REFERENCE THE MULTIFAMILY.
UH, WE UPDATED OUR LAND USE CHARTS TO REFLECT STATE LAW AND ADDED FOOTNOTES, UM, STATING MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED USE.
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS ARE PERMITTED IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS PURSUANT TO CHAPTER TWO 18 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AS AMENDED.
UH, PROVIDED SUCH USES HAVE NOT BEEN OTHERWISE LAWFULLY PROHIBITED OR WAIVED.
UM, SO AGAIN, HERE WE ARE REFERENCING THAT IT'S ALLOWED AND WE SAY THAT THE DEVELOPMENT, UM, REGULATIONS THAT WE CAN REQUIRE MAP TO THE MULTIFAMILY THREE FOR MULTIFAMILY.
UM, MIXED USE FOR THE MIXED USE ON DEVELOPMENT.
UH, ARTICLE SIX DENSITY AND DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
WE'VE ADDED LANGUAGE FOR SMALL LOT DEVELOPMENT.
UH, SO HERE'S NEW SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED DEVELOPMENT.
IF IT'S INTENDED FOR FOUR OR FEWER LOTS, THEN WE SAY THE REGULATIONS THAT WE CAN STILL CAN CONTROL, FOLLOW SINGLE FAMILY SIX ZONING DISTRICT.
IF IT'S, UH, FIVE OR MORE, THEN IT FOLLOWS APPENDIX W, WHICH IS OUR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
WE ALSO ADDED A COLUMN, UH, SUMMARIZING THOSE SMALL LOT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND THE NECESSARY FOOTNOTES.
WE ALSO ADDRESS THE MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL.
AGAIN, MAPPING, UH, THE REGULATIONS THAT WE CAN REQUIRE.
UH, FOR MULTIFAMILY, IT FOLLOWS MF THREE FOR MIXED USE.
OUR APPENDIX W RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, UH, IS FOR ALL TYPE ALL, UH, TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT WE DID IS WE TOOK THE EXISTING APPENDIX W STANDARDS FOR SINGLE FAMILY LOTS OPPOSING, AND, UH, CREATED A SECTION FOR THE SMALL LOT DEVELOPMENT AND THEN REMOVED ANYTHING THAT WE CAN NO LONGER CONTROL.
UH, FOR THE MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, WE ADDED LANGUAGE THAT REQUIRES MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN A CORRIDOR OVERLAY DISTRICT.
THEY MUST MEET OUR EXTERIOR DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THEN WE, UH, MODIFIED SOME OF OUR INCENTIVES.
SO NOW MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT, UM, MUST PROVIDE AMENITIES.
UM, IF THEY ARE MEETING OUR DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUR PREFERRED PARKING STANDARDS, THEY ONLY HAVE TO PROVIDE TWO OF THE THREE CATEGORIES AND THEY CAN, UH, CONSTRUCT A CLUBHOUSE AT LEAST 3000 SQUARE FEET.
UH, THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE NOT MEETING OUR DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS MUST PROVIDE THE OR NOT.
MEETING THE DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS IN PARKING, UH, MUST MEET ALL THREE CATEGORIES OF THE AMENITIES.
AND THEN A LARGER, UH, CLUBHOUSE ON AUGUST 25TH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF NINE TO ZERO.
UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AS WELL.
UM, THEY DID A LOT OF THINGS DOWN IN AUSTIN.
SENATE BILL EIGHT 40 HAD UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OUT
[01:10:01]
OF THE SENATE.UNANIMOUS, WE ONLY HAD ONE STATE REPRESENTATIVE THAT REPRESENTS GRAND PRIX.
SENATE BILL EIGHT 40 AND SENATE BILL 15 WERE SOLD ON MAINLY REFURBISHING AND MAKING APARTMENTS OUTTA OFFICES.
'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF VACANT OFFICES.
BUT THEY DIDN'T THINK ABOUT, I THINK THEY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
YES, THEY WANT ALL THE CITIES WITH 150,000 POPULATION OR MORE TO BE REQUIRED TO GO HIGH DENSITY, NOT JUST APARTMENTS HIGH DENSITY WITHOUT US HAVING A RIGHT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Y'ALL DID THE BEST YOU COULD BASED ON THE STATE LAW.
HAROLD WILLIS, SPEAKING OPPOSITION.
NOW, HAROLD, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION THIS 'CAUSE THIS IS JUST TEXT AMENDMENTS THAT WE WERE REQUIRED TO DO, BUT I'M READY TO LISTEN TO WHY YOU'RE WANTING TO, UH, SPEAK AGAINST IT.
WHAT I'M SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IS THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN AUSTIN.
BY NOT BRINGING, THAT'S NOT WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
I NEED YOU TO STICK TO THE AGENDA ITEM.
WHAT ARE YOU SPEAKING AGAINST ON THIS ITEM? OKAY.
SINCE I MEAN, NUMBER ONE TO THE STAFF.
I MEAN, THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT IS TOLD.
IT'S WHAT THE LATE GREAT MOLLY IVANS SAID, HIDE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURES IN SESSION
SO THIS IS, WHAT ARE YOU SPEAKING AGAINST ON THIS TEXT ADMISSION? I MEAN, THERE WAS, THERE WAS SO MUCH TO IT, MAYOR.
THIS NEEDS TO BE MORE, UM, WE'VE HAD IT QUITE A WHILE.
SO WE WE'VE HAD IT QUITE A WHILE AND IT MEETS STATE LAW.
SO WHAT ARE YOU SPEAKING AGAINST? GIMME AN EXAMPLE WHICH, LIKE, OKAY, GROUP HOMES THAT ARE OWNED BY RELIGIOUS GROUPS THAT PAY NO TAXES AND AIRBNBS.
WHAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT ON THIS? NOTHING THAT, NOTHING.
NOTHING THAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE U NOTHING.
NO, I'M, I'M, I'M, YEAH, I KNOW HAROLD.
I'D LIKE YOU TO GET TO THE POINT.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT AUSTIN.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS TEXT AMENDMENT.
I KNOW WHO, WHO BROUGHT THIS BILL BENTON COURT AND IT GOT UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OUT OF THE SENATE.
COULD WE PLEASE GO ON THE RECORD OF WHO VOTED AGAINST THIS? THAT REPRESENTS US.
HAR THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TEXT AMENDMENT.
WELL, MAYOR, YOU STATED PUBLICLY, MAYOR, OUR STAFF WORKED REAL HARD ABOUT IT.
HAROLD DID, DID OUR STATE REP VOTE AGAINST? WE HAVE THREE STATE REPS.
YOU, YOU'VE GOT A GOOD MEMORY.
WHAT DID I TELL YOU? OH, MAYOR, MY MEMORY IS NOT THAT GOOD.
NO, YOU DO YOU REMEMBER, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I SAID.
YOU CAN TELL ME WHO VOTED AGAINST IT.
I DON'T THINK YVONNE DAVIS NEEDS TO KNOW WHERE I LIVE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
DID CHRIS TURNER VOTE AGAINST IT? WHO? NO.
WE ONLY HAD ONE VOTE AGAINST IT.
AND I TOLD YOU WHO? WELL, PLEASE JESSICA GONZALEZ.
DID ROYCE WEST WHAT ROYCE WHAT ROYCE WEST DID THAT A UNANIMOUS VOTED FOR IT IN THE SENATE.
SO UNANIMOUS A DEMOCRAT ROYCE WEST VOTED FOR THIS.
HAROLD, I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.
DID ROYCE WEST VOTE FOR THIS BILL? IT WAS UNANIMOUS IN THE SENATE.
THAT'S JUST WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW BECAUSE IT'S A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD.
I MEAN, THE COMPLEXITIES OF THIS ARE SUCH THAT TO GO FOR EACH ONE OF THESE, I MEAN, YOU COULD SPEND AN HOUR, THEY SPENT HOURS DEVELOPING THIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? JUST BASICALLY, THIS STRIPS YOUR RIGHT AS A MAYOR AND AS A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
THEY'RE MICROMANAGING US FROM AUSTIN.
AND WHO'S NEXT QUESTION? NEXT QUESTION IS THIS IS, WE NEED TO GET IT ON THE RECORD THAT DANNY SCOTT GAB, LIEUTENANT IS OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DAN PATRICK.
THEY PUSHED WHAT QUESTION DID HE HAVE ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE, SIR.
MAYOR, THERE'S SO MANY OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.
THERE'S SO MANY OTHER ISSUES, LIKE WITH THE AIRBNB.
JUST WHAT ADDITIONAL PROTECTION DOES THIS GIVE? DOESN'T WE'RE ALREADY ANSWERED.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AIRBNB OR HOME.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY ANSWERED IT THOUGH.
YOU DIDN'T GET IN THAT GOPHER BOW
[01:15:01]
SMART MAN.WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS? DO YOU HAVE JUST LEGISLATIVELY, DID THIS GO IN EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST? NO, IT WENT INTO EFFECT THE DAY IT WAS PASSED THE GOV THE DAY THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT.
WE HAD UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST TO UPDATE OUR RECORDS.
YES, IT WAS, IT WAS WRITTEN INTO LAW.
SO DO WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL SIGNING DATE WHEN GREG ABBOTT SIGNED THE BILL, PLEASE? UH, HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO SIGN IT.
I KNOW HE DID SIGN IT, BUT IT BECAME LAW.
JUST, JUST AS AN AVERAGE PERSON, YOU JUST ASSUME SEPTEMBER 1ST, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 800 NEW LAWS GOING INTO EFFECT THAT SOME OF 'EM WENT IN EFFECT IMMEDIATELY AND THEY GAVE US TILL SEPTEMBER 1ST.
IN LINE WITH, I MEAN, THIS IS JUST, THE COMPLEXITIES OF THIS ARE SUCH THAT GOING FORWARD OF DIFFERENT ISSUES AS IT RELATES WE HAD UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST.
AND THAT, THAT WASN'T RIGHT FOR, FOR, FOR THE STAFF AND FOR EVERYONE HERE.
THEN I'VE GOT ANOTHER SPEAKER, UH, SAVANNAH, UH, THE, UH, THE, UH, ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE, UH, FEES SCHEDULE STUFF.
I GUESS WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO 0.1, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
SO THAT'LL BECOME, Y'ALL WILL HELP US BRING THAT UP IN THE FUTURE.
RAY RAY 2217 EL PASO STREET HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
MY QUESTION TO COUNSEL TONIGHT IS HOW THE CITIZENS GOING TO KNOW OF ALL THESE CHANGES? THAT'S NOT FOR US.
THAT'S, THEY'RE GOING TO RIGHT THERE.
AND ALL THE CITIZENS DON'T EVER GET THIS, ALL THIS TONS OF INFORMATION TO UUD C OUR UUD C IS HOW BIG.
IT'S, IT'S IT'S HUNDREDS OF PAGES.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OUR UDC OFF THE INTERNET.
MY QUESTION AGAIN, HAD I NOT BEEN AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT, I WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THESE CHANGES.
AND I'M HOPING MAYBE YOU KEEP TRACK OF WHAT THEY DO DOWN IN AUSTIN.
IT'S BEEN PLASTERED ALL OVER THE NEWS AND EVERYTHING.
WHAT AUSTIN DID ON THE SENATE BILL EIGHT 40 MM-HMM
SO IT WAS OUT THERE IN THE NEWS WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO US.
IT'S ON OUR AGENDA THAT I, THEY COULD DOWNLOAD OUR AGENDA ITEM, BUT WE DON'T GENERALLY POST UDC CHANGES ON OUR WEBSITE.
VERY FEW PEOPLE OPEN UP OUR WEBSITE ANYWAY.
VERY FEW PEOPLE OPEN UP THE AGENDA.
VERY FEW PEOPLE CARE ABOUT WHAT AUSTIN DID WITH THE ZONING.
WHY IS IT BEING BUILT THERE? AND I SAID, IT'S STATE LAW.
AND THEY SAY, WELL, HOW, NO, IT IS NOT STATE LAW.
SO WE TRY OUR BEST TO EDUCATE, BUT PATSY, THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THIS BIG.
WELL, CAN WE NOT JUST A, IN THE PIPELINE THAT IF FOR OUR NEXT WATER BILL THAT THERE ARE CHANGES THAT YOU NEED TO REALLY CHECK INTO.
UM, THAT'S UP TO WHOEVER'S WRITING THE PIPELINE.
THEY TRY TO PUT IN THEIR PERTINENT INFORMATION.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW PERTINENT THAT IS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC 'CAUSE THEY, IS THAT, I DON'T KNOW, THE PIPELINE.
IT GETS PRETTY FULL OF THINGS LIKE ANNOUNCING THINGS LIKE THE PICKLE FEST COMING UP, WHICH WE WANT PEOPLE COMING OUT, BUT WE'LL TRY TO GET THE WORD OUT ON THE CHANGES.
THERE ARE SO MANY LAWS THAT CHANGED IN AUSTIN.
I CAN'T, I CAN'T BEGIN TO JUST THINK ABOUT THIS ONE.
THERE WERE TONS OF THEM THAT AFFECT US.
I JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY DID TO THE, I CAN GO, WELL, HERE'S SOME GRANDMA ADVICE TO THOSE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRING THIS UP TO OH, THAT'S TRUE.
AND WE, I BET WE, WE MAY TALK ABOUT SENATE BILL, BUT BOY, WE WON'T GO INTO ALL THE 800 PAGES.
I DON'T, I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO INTO ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.
I JUST WANT THE CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE CHANGES BEING MADE THAT WE AS CITIZENS HAVE NO CONTROL NEED TO NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.
JUST LIKE WE FIND OUT ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE WITH THE FLYERS THAT ARE POSTED AT OUR RECREATION CENTERS.
I NEED TO KNOW, I NEED TO HAVE A FLYER FROM MY CITY COUNCILWOMAN ABOUT THESE CHANGES.
SHE'LL GET YOU ONE SHOW UP AT HER TOWN HALL COMING UP.
I'LL, BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'LL ADDRESS IT.
[01:20:01]
EXCEPT FOR THE SET OF COMMENTS.WE HAVE TO APPROVE IT, RIGHT? WAS THERE A MOTION? OH YEAH.
NO, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 16, THE TEXT.
I DIDN'T WANNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, BRING UP THE FACT THAT TODAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND IS, UH, WHAT I CALL VJ DAY.
THE, UH, IT'S THE FORMAL SURRENDER OF JAPAN, THE WORLD WAR II ON THE USS MISSOURI.
AND IT HAS A LITTLE SPECIAL MEANING TO ME THAT MY DADDY ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT THIS BEGAN THE SIX MONTHS CLOCK BECAUSE HE WAS IN THE SERVICE FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR PLUS SIX MONTHS AND HE WAS READY TO GET OUT.
SO, WELL, WEREN'T THEY ALL THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER SHOTWELL? YES, MA'AM.
[CITIZEN COMMENTS]
OKAY.MAYOR COUNSEL, UH, FIRST OF ALL, MR.
THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY POINTED MOMENT IN HISTORY.
UM, MOST OF MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED, BUT I HAVE ONE QUESTION AS IT RELATES BACK TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ON THE AGENDA WITH THE PROPOSAL FOR VOTING IN NOVEMBER TO REDUCE PROPERTY RATE TAXES.
HOW WILL THAT AFFECT THIS AND WHAT'S THE LOGISTICS? BECAUSE SHOULD THAT PASS, WE'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT AFTER WE DON'T ANSWER QUESTIONS DURING CITIZEN COMMENTS.
TAL YOU STILL HERE TAL? YES, SIR.
I WANNA THANK COUNCILMAN SHOTWELL.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET TO GO, AS MY RELATIVES CALLED IT AYA IN TEXAS TO STAND ON THAT USS MISSOURI ON THAT PLAQUE WHERE THOSE DOCUMENTS WERE SIGNED.
MY UNCLE WAS ON THE CALIFORNIA AT PEARL HARBOR AND LA AT GULF.
SO THE MILLIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE NO LONGER HERE, THAT MADE THAT SACRIFICE WITH THOSE FLAGS BEHIND US.
SO WE, WE CAN'T REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR.
GROWING UP IN TEXAS, WHAT I WANNA BRING ABOUT, PLEASE, THE SACRIFICE THAT WAS MADE.
WE HAD A BLACK WOMAN IN THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT WAS TOLD BY A WHITE MAN, YOU MUST HAVE A WRITTEN PERMISSION SLIP TO LEAVE THE CAPITAL OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
A WHITE MAN WITH A ROBERT E. LEE BAIRD, DUSTY BARROWS OF LUBBOCK, TEXAS.
THIS IS DISGRACEFUL 2025, A STATE REPRESENTATIVE.
THIS MAN WIELDING THIS POWER TO TELL AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WRITTEN PERMISSION SLIP TO LEAVE A BUILDING PAID FOR BY THE TAXPAYERS OF TEXAS.
WHAT THIS REFLECTS IS LITTLE DUSTY BURROWS OUT THERE AND THAT HE'S GROWN IS ROBERT E. LEE BEARD.
LIKE I HAD FRIENDS THAT WENT TO TEXAS TECH.
WHEN MR. BURNS AND HOMER SIMPSON DUMPS OFF THEIR NUCLEAR WASTE AT THE PANTEX PLANT IN AMARILLO, THAT ALL FLOW SOUTH DOWN TO LUBBOCK.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF THAT THOUGHT PROCESS.
MY FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, THEY REGRET GOING TO LUBBOCK.
THIS IS DISGRACEFUL IN THE YEAR 2025.
TO TELL AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SIGNED PERMISSION SLIP.
I HOPE THAT CHRIS TURNER WOULD'VE SAID, USE THAT PERMISSION SLIP AS CHARM AND TOILET PAPER, JUST FLAT, RIDICULOUS.
AND TO ASSIGN A TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER TO AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE FOLLOWED THEM TO THEIR HOUSE.
FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY A WHITE TRASH DRUNK DOWN ON HIGHWAY 2 81.
FIVE MEXICAN WOMEN BY A GOOD WHITE TRASH DRUNK WHO HAD TWO PREVIOUS DWI CONVICTIONS, OTHER ARREST, BUT HIS DADDY HAD THE MONEY IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
I DON'T NEED DPS OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO A BLACK FEMALE THAT'S BEEN ELECTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I NEED A DPS OFFICER OUT THERE TAKING THE DRUNKS OFF THE ROAD.
THAT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE.
THIS IS JUST YOU, YOU, THIS IS A CITY COUNCIL ISSUE.
THOSE OF US WHO LIVED WITH THIS.
MAYOR, 1975, I WENT OUT TO SEARS TO BUY A TOOLBOX.
[01:25:01]
DON'T HAVE CREDIT.THERE WAS A WOMAN THERE IN HER EARLY FIFTIES.
SHE WAS TRYING TO GET CREDIT AND THE MANAGER SAID, HEY LITTLE LADY, YOU KNOW THE RULES.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A CREDIT CARD UNLESS YOU HAVE WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM YOUR HUSBAND.
YOUR HUSBAND CONTROLS WHAT YOU DO.
LITTLE LADY, YOU DON'T GET CREDIT IN 1975.
TO PLAY THAT GAME AGAINST AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OF TEXAS IS A CITY COUNCIL REELECTION ISSUE.
USE IT AGAINST THESE TRUMP REPUBLICANS.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL.
AND THE FACT THAT FEDERAL TROOPS ARE NOW TAKING OVER CHICAGO, THE WHOLE THING.
BUT THESE ARE CITY COUNCIL ISSUES.
I KNOW Y'ALL LAUGH AND MAKE FUN OF ME, BUT WE GOT ELECTIONS COMING UP IN MAY.
I JUST WANNA CONCLUDE THIS, THAT THAT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU, YOU CANNOT, THAT OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES THAT WE'VE GOT THREE STATE REPS, EH ONE REALLY KNOWS GRAND PRAIRIE, YVONNE DAVIS KNOW THEY NEEDED TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS.
I'LL WRAP IT UP SO Y'ALL CAN GO HOME.
THE BEST THING THAT'S HAPPENED THE LAST MONTH WITH MY MEMORY IS SOUTH PARK.
SOUTH PARK SHOULD BE ON OUR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BY SOUTH PARK SHOWING US WITH SATAN AND DONALD TRUMP IN BED, HOW POETIC IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND HOW POETIC THAT SOUTH PARK PROVED TRUMP HAS A TEENY, TINY TALKING PENIS.
I CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE THE CHANGES TO OUR.