[5.F. Consider approval of an engineering services contract with Freese and Nichols for the design of Alsbury Blvd- Ph. 1B from Candler to Hulen in the amount of $360,500. (Staff Contact: Errick Thompson, Deputy Director of Public Works)]

THAT BRINGS US TO 5F THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM THAT WAS PULLED OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH FREESE AND NICHOLS FOR THE DESIGN OF ALSBURY BOULEVARD, PHASE ONE B FROM CANDLER TO HULEN IN THE AMOUNT OF $360,500. THE STAFF PRESENTER TONIGHT IS ERIC THOMPSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

MR. THOMPSON.

IF I CAN INTERJECT HERE.

I DON'T REALLY WANT TO SEE A PRESENTATION ON THIS ITEM.

IN ESSENCE, THIS IS APPROVAL OF A DESIGN CONTRACT FOR FREESE AND NICHOLS, WHO WAS THE DESIGN ENGINEER ON PHASE ONE OF THE ALSBURY PROJECT TO DESIGN PHASE TWO OF THE ALSBURY PROJECT.

[00:15:01]

AND I'M GOING TO PREFACE MY COMMENTS BY SAYING THAT ABOUT 90% OF WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS JUST [EXPLETIVE], AND THE OTHER 10% HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE SOME SOME MERIT TO IT.

THIS PROJECT HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONCEIVED AS AN ULTIMATE BUILD OUT OF A FULL PROJECT, YET WHEN IT WAS DESIGNED THE FIRST TIME AROUND, IT WAS NEVER DEPICTED AS THAT.

IT WAS SHOWN AS A PHASE ONE PROJECT AND NOW WE'RE HAVING TO SPEND $360,000 AND SOME CHANGE TO IN ORDER TO DESIGN SOMETHING THAT IN MY OPINION, HAS PRETTY MUCH ALREADY BEEN DESIGNED.

PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DESIGN ENGINEER IS TO CHOOSE THE HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT OF THE ROADWAY TO DETERMINE THE TRAFFIC BEARING CAPACITY OF THE ROADWAY TO ASSIST IN THE PURCHASE OF ACQUISITION OF ANY RIGHT OF WAY NEEDED TO DESIGN A DRAINAGE SYSTEM TO SIZE ALL THE PIPES AND CULVERTS.

IN OTHER WORDS, ALL THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.

NOW, A GOOD RULE OF THUMB IN DETERMINING WHAT SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT BE THE ENGINEERING COST OF A PROJECT IS ABOUT 10% OF CONSTRUCTION COST, AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE BUSINESS WILL KNOW THAT'S TRUE.

AND IN MY OPINION, THAT'S NOT OUT OF THE BALLPARK.

IF THIS WERE THE DESIGN OF A RIGHT OF WAY OR A DESIGN OF A PROJECT THAT DIDN'T ALREADY EXIST AND HADN'T ALREADY BEEN DESIGNED, I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'RE HERE NOW PAYING BASICALLY TO RE-ENGINEER SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY PAID TO HAVE ENGINEERED AT LEAST NEARLY ALL OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS. AND THE ONLY THING I'VE GOT TO SAY BEYOND THAT, AND THIS IS THE 10% PART, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING OTHER PROJECTS, THOROUGHFARES THAT ARE PART OF THE BOND PROGRAM, PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT, CHISHOLM TRAIL PARKWAY AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

IF WE'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING AND IT MAY BE EXPEDIENT TO DO SO, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING BUILDING ANY OF THESE FUTURE PROJECTS AND PHASES, I THINK WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT OUR ENGINEERS WILL DESIGN A COMPLETE PROJECT AND THEN PRESENT IT TO US IN A WAY THAT WE CAN USE THE COMPLETE DESIGN, BUT BUILD THE PORTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD NOW AND SHOW US SOME MEANS, SOME ECONOMICAL MEANS OF TREATMENT OF THE PROJECT IN BETWEEN THE CURRENT PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION AND THE ULTIMATE BUILDOUT. THAT WAS NOT DONE ON THIS PROJECT.

AND I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S IN A WAY, I THINK IT'S OUR ENGINEER HAS FAILED US BECAUSE PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CONSULTING ENGINEER AS OUR CONSULTANT IS TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS AND FIND FOR US THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EXPEDIENT WAYS TO GET FROM NOT HAVING THIS JOB TO HAVING THIS JOB COMPLETE.

I THINK THEY LET US DOWN.

BUT WITH THAT SAID, THE 10% IS LET'S PLEASE BE SURE AS WE GO FORWARD ON OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE IF WE DO DECIDE TO PHASE SOMETHING, LET'S DO IT INTELLIGENTLY.

LET'S DESIGN THE ENTIRE PROJECT AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK THE SECOND TIME.

PROBABLY NOT EVEN HAVE TO DESIGN ANOTHER SET OF PLANS.

JUST FINISH IT UP WITH THE SET WE ALREADY HAVE.

ANYWAY, THAT'S THAT'S MY SPIEL.

I DON'T EXPECT IT TO CHANGE ANYBODY'S VOTE, NOT EVEN CHANGE MINE.

I STILL SUPPORT IT BECAUSE WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE.

ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT FREESE AND NICHOLS DEVELOPED IN DESIGNING THE ORIGINAL PROJECT IS THEIR PROPERTY.

IT'S THEIR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THEM TO GET THE FINISHED DESIGN.

OKAY, FINE, LET'S DO IT.

BUT LET'S BE ONCE BURNED TWICE WISE.

THAT'S ALL I GOT. IT SOUNDS LIKE COMMON SENSE TO ME, SO I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT.

IS EVERYBODY ON BOARD OR MAYBE CONSIDERING THIS DOWN THE ROAD ON FUTURE PROJECTS AND EVERYTHING? ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THAT'S I THINK COUNCILMEMBER MCCLENDON MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO US.

AND I THINK GOING FORWARD, IF WE DO ANY KIND OF PARTIAL PROJECT, WE'LL HAVE THE FULL SET OF PLANS THAT WE TRY TO DRAW UP AT THE SAME TIME.

AND FORTUNATELY, WE DID GET ALL THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND SO THERE'S NOT ANY RIGHT OF WAY THAT NEEDS TO BE REQUIRED.

BUT I THINK THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

I THANK WE CAN FOREGO THE PRESENTATION AND GO AHEAD AND ASK FOR A VOTE ON THIS.

IS THERE A MOTION? I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT, BUT I CAN'T BUT SOMEONE TO DO IT FOR ME.

IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS? YOU GOT A MOTION BY RICK AND A SECOND BY VICTORIA.

PLEASE VOTE. MAYOR PRO TEM WHICH WAY WITH A HAND UP PASSES UNANIMOUS.

OKAY, MAYOR, COUNCIL.

IF YOU'LL GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT, I'M GOING TO SEE IF I CAN FIX SOMETHING ON THAT VOTING.

THANK YOU. WE'LL SEE IF THIS WORKS ON THE NEXT ITEM.

[00:20:01]

THAT BRINGS US TO SECTION 6 DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS.

[6.A. 3321 John Jones (Case 22-135): Hold a public hearing and consider approval of a waiver to Section 5.1.a “Street and right-of-way basic policies” of the Design Standards Manual for the design criteria for streets within the Sherwood Forest Subdivision. (Staff Presenter: Errick Thompson, Public Works Deputy Director) (The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval by unanimous vote)]

6A 3321 JOHN JONES CASE 22-135.

TONIGHT'S TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A WAIVER TO SECTION 5.1 A STREETS AND RIGHT OF WAY BASIC POLICY OF THE DESIGN STANDARD MANUAL FOR THE DESIGN CRITERIA FOR STREETS WITHIN THE SHERWOOD FOREST SUBDIVISION.

THE STAFF PRESENTER TONIGHT IS ERIC THOMPSON, PUBLIC WORKS DEPUTY DIRECTOR.

MR. THOMPSON, YOU'RE UP ONCE AGAIN.

THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A WAIVER REQUEST BEFORE YOU TODAY.

SENDERO OAKS, LLC IS THE OWNER AND APPLICANT OF THIS 28 ACRE PROPERTY THAT'S SHOWN ON THE SLIDE HERE, AND THEY'RE SEEKING A WAIVER OF THE SUBDIVISION AND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE RELATED TO ROADWAY PAVEMENT DESIGN.

PRELIMINARY PLAT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT WAS OR DEVELOPING THE SITE INTO 24 SINGLE FAMILY LOTS WAS APPROVED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

AND THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES GIVE YOU SOME HISTORY ON THE DEVELOPMENT.

BUT I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS.

PLAN REVIEW COMMENTS WERE PROVIDED TO THE APPLICANT BACK IN APRIL, NOTING SOME ISSUES WITH THE PAVEMENT DETAIL NOT CONFORMING TO CITY STANDARDS.

AND AT THAT TIME TWO OPTIONS WERE PROVIDED ONE TO EITHER REVISE, TO CONFORM TO THE STANDARD OR TWO TO SEEK A WAIVER FROM CITY COUNCIL.

ON AUGUST 10TH, PAVING BEGAN ON THE PROJECT FOR THE NEW ROADWAY AND EARLY SEPTEMBER, CITY STAFF MET WITH THE DEVELOPER AND I THINK HAD A PRETTY GOOD MEETING TO WORK OUT AN ARRANGEMENT THAT WE FELT ALL PARTIES COULD AGREE WITH.

THAT INCLUDED THREE PRIMARY CRITERIA THAT NEEDED TO BE PROVIDED.

AND IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE DEVELOPER IS ON BOARD WITH AND MAKING GOOD PROGRESS ON THOSE.

ONE WAS THAT THE PLAT BE REVISED TO MAKE THE ROADWAY PRIVATE.

AGAIN, THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT IN THE ETJ.

SO WE ALSO WANTED RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS TO BE FILED WITH JOHNSON COUNTY INDICATING THAT AN HOA WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ROADWAY AND THE DRAINAGE.

AND THEN WE ALSO, SINCE FM 731 IS TXDOT RESPONSIBILITY WE WANTED CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL FROM TXDOT FOR THE CONNECTION TO THEIR ROADWAY, AND THAT'S BEEN OBTAINED.

THE NEXT SLIDE GIVES YOU A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND ABOUT HOW THESE ISSUES ARE CURRENTLY ADDRESSED IN THE ETJ THROUGH AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH JOHNSON COUNTY.

BURLESON HAS A PLANNING AUTHORITY WITHIN THE ETJ.

SO THROUGH THAT THE CITY EXTENDS THE DEVELOPMENT DESIGN STANDARDS TO DEVELOPMENTS THAT OCCUR IN THE ETJ.

CITY WOULD INSPECT THE PAVING AND ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE CONSTRUCTION BUT THE CITY DOES NOT MAINTAIN THE ACTUAL ROADWAY.

THE NEXT SLIDE GIVES A LITTLE MORE A LITTLE MORE OF THE TECHNICAL DETAIL OF WHAT THE WAIVER ACTUALLY IS WHEN IT COMES TO THE PAVEMENT DESIGN.

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER HIRED BY THE DEVELOPER PROVIDED THE RECOMMENDATION ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WHICH IS BASICALLY AN ADDITIONAL TWO INCHES OF CONCRETE PAVEMENT IN LIEU OF THE STABILIZED SOIL THAT THE CITY STANDARD WOULD CALL FOR.

AND AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE A PRIVATE STREET MAINTAINED BY THE HOA, NOT THE CITY.

OOPS. THIS CASE WAS HEARD BY A PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION LAST WEEK.

THEY UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

AND TONIGHT WE STAFF CONCURS OR SUPPORTS THE WAIVER BE APPROVED BASED ON THE CRITERIA THAT WERE MENTIONED BEFORE AND THE APPROVAL BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND THE APPLICANT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ITEMS WE AGREED TO.

WITH THAT I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

AS I UNDERSTAND THE PRESENTATION HERE, THE DEVELOPER HAS AGREED THAT THIS STREET WILL BE PRIVATELY MAINTAINED, THAT THE CITY WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MAINTENANCE OF THE ROADWAY.

CORRECT. YES, SIR. AND SO IT'LL BE A PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITY NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

CORRECT? YEAH.

YEAH. I'VE LOOKED AT THIS.

I'VE SEEN IT ON THE GROUND.

[00:25:02]

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THIS FOR PUBLIC EXPENSE.

I CAN SUPPORT THIS.

THERE'S, IT'S NOT UNPRECEDENTED FOR EXTRA THICKNESS OF CONCRETE TO BE SUBSTITUTED IN LIEU OF STABILIZED SUB GRADE.

MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT THAT'S NOT AN ADEQUATE SUBSTITUTE, BUT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE RESPONDING IF THIS ROAD FAILS IN THE FUTURE.

WE ALWAYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE OUR STANDARDS, EVEN IN A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND OTHERWISE PEOPLE WHO MAY SOMEDAY BE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF BURLESON ARE GOING TO HAVE LESS THAN WHAT OUR ENGINEERS HAVE DETERMINED TO BE AN ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT.

BUT IT'S SUBJECT TO SOME DEBATE WHETHER THE EQUIVALENCY OF EXTRA CONCRETE IS THE SAME AS THE TREATMENT OF SUBGRADE.

SO I CAN SUPPORT THIS, BUT I DON'T LIKE IT AND I DON'T WANT TO SET A PRECEDENT THAT DEVELOPERS CAN GO OUT AND DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO AND FLAUNT THE RULES AND POUR CONCRETE WITHOUT AN INSPECTOR PRESENT.

BUT I GUESS WE'RE NOT SENDING A MESSAGE THAT THAT'S OKAY.

WE'RE JUST GRUDGINGLY GOING ALONG WITH IT.

HALF THIS ROAD'S ALREADY PAID.

IT'S NOT JUST ONE POUR OF CONCRETE, HALF THE ROAD FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER IS ALREADY IN THE GROUND.

I DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH US MAKING A GO LINE STAND OVER THAT.

AND I DON'T INTEND TO.

BUT ANYWAY.

THAT'S ALL I GOT. ANYBODY ELSE? I AGREE WITH, DAN WHEN I READ IT, IT UPSETS ME THAT FOLKS WILL GO AHEAD AND DO THINGS KNOWING IT'S NOT CORRECT AND THEN COME BACK AND SAY, OKAY, I'M SORRY, IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO? AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S THE ETJ I GET THAT.

AND I AGREE WITH DAN.

WE'LL GO AHEAD BECAUSE WE'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

INSIDE THE CITY, I WOULD SAY THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT THIS WAY.

NO WAY. SO I AGREE.

ANYBODY ELSE? MAYOR, IF YOU COULD OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE.

I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:02.

I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS FOR THIS ITEM.

IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING SESSION? I SEE NO ONE. MAYOR, CAN YOU CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE? THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND IF YOU COULD ASK FOR A MOTION, PLEASE? A MOTION.

ANYBODY? IS THERE A MOTION? I NEED ONE MORE, GUYS.

I GOT A MOTION FOR RICK AND A SECOND BY RONNIE, PLEASE VOTE.

DAN UP OR DOWN? UP? VOTE IN THAT CASE IS UNANIMOUS.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL IN ALL FAIRNESS, I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY GO TO A HAND VOTE, A FORMAL HAND VOTE.

THAT WAY WE'RE NOT DISENFRANCHISING ONE OF OUR MEMBERS FROM VOTING.

CAN WE STILL DO THE DIGITAL MOTION? NO.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THAT BRINGS US TO SECTION 7 GENERAL 7 A IS CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO INCREASE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTER SALARIES AND

[7.A. Consider approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to increase police and firefighter salaries and implement hiring incentives. (Staff Presenter: Rick DeOrdio, Director of Human Resources)]

IMPLEMENT HIRING INCENTIVES.

THE STAFF PRESENTED TONIGHT IS RICK DEORDIO, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

MR. DEORDIO, YOU'RE UP.

THANKS, AMANDA. MAYOR COUNCIL.

GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF WHAT OUR MARKET DATA HAS GIVEN US WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS AS IT PERTAINS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE MARKET COMPENSATION WISE.

WE DO SURVEYS ALL YEAR LONG TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COMPETITIVE.

IT'S BEEN OUR GOAL AND OUR CULTURE NOW TO TRY AND MAINTAIN A VERY COMPETITIVE WAGE AND BENEFITS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND WE TRY AND STAY IN THE TOP QUARTILE OUT OF 15 CITIES.

WE'D LIKE TO BE IN THE TOP FOUR A LITTLE BIT HIGHER IF POSSIBLE.

BUT THE TOP FOUR AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY GRACIOUS ABOUT ALLOWING US TO GET TO THAT POINT FOR A MAJORITY OF OUR STAFF.

BUT WHEN WE GOT DOWN TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND BELIEVED THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE REMAINING IN THAT TOP QUARTILE, A COUPLE OF CITIES IN THE

[00:30:05]

AREA DECIDED TO THROW US A CURVE BALL AND CHANGE THAT NUMBER.

SO WE WANTED TO TRY AND SHOW YOU WHERE WE'RE AT AND PUT FORTH A REQUEST FOR A RESOLUTION ALLOWING THE CITY MANAGER TO GET US BACK TO BE COMPETITIVE, WHERE OUR DEPARTMENTS CAN BE STAFFED FULLY FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR CITIZENS, BOTH ON THE POLICE AND FIRE SIDE.

BACK IN THE EARLY PART, THE MID PART OF THE SUMMER, WE SURVEYED A LOT OF OUR CITIES TO SEE WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO BE AT.

WE COMPARED THEIR SALARIES ALONG WITH THE PERCENTAGES THAT THEY WERE ANTICIPATING AND FIGURED, OKAY, ALL THE NUMBERS PLAY OUT.

WE SHOULD BE IN THE TOP THREE, TOP FOUR AND ALL THE POSITIONS AND SOME OF THEM SOME OF THE CITIES DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR SURVEYS, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE THEIR DATA, WHICH WAS, I BELIEVE, INTENTIONAL ON THEIR PART.

SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT, SOME CITIES WERE DOING 2, 3%, 4%.

EVERYTHING WAS LOOKING GOOD.

THIS YEAR WE WERE FAIRLY AGGRESSIVE IN A COUPLE OF OUR AREAS.

DISPATCH PREDOMINANTLY GOT A VERY AGGRESSIVE MOVE ON IT A COUPLE OF TIMES EARLY IN THE SPRING.

AND THEN BECAUSE OF THAT, WE ARE STAFFED FULLY AND WE ARE ABLE TO BETTER SERVE THE CITIZENS AND VISITORS OF THE CITY AS IT PERTAINS TO DISPATCH.

A LOT OF CITIES ARE RUNNING INTO THE SAME ISSUE, COMPENSATION WISE, BENEFIT WISE, WHAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY IS STAFFING.

IT'S A MARKET ISSUE.

IT'S A NATIONWIDE ISSUE.

IT'S PROBABLY A GLOBAL ISSUE.

WE CAN'T GET PEOPLE TO COME TAKE THE POLICE ENTRANCE EXAMS. WE CANNOT GET STAFFED UP FOR BOTH POLICE AND FIRE.

AND WE NEED THESE PEOPLE TO BE HERE.

A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT TO THE CITY, THEY'RE TAKING THESE TESTS WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES AND THE FIRST ONE THAT OFFERS THEM A GOOD JOB, THEY'RE GOING FOR IT.

THEY LOOK AT THE PAY PREDOMINANTLY.

AND WHEN WE BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE TOP THREE OR FOUR AND WE END UP BEING LIKE NUMBER EIGHT OR NINE.

THAT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR US TO GET THOSE APPLICANTS TO COME HERE VERSUS OTHER CITIES.

SO THAT AND TIED WITH THE FACT THAT EMPLOYMENT RATES RIGHT NOW, EVEN THOUGH THE EMPLOYMENT RATES ARE GOING DOWN, THERE'S STILL 5 MILLION MORE JOBS OUT THERE THAN PEOPLE TO FILL THEM.

PEOPLE HAVE OPTIONS TO GO DO OTHER THINGS VERSUS PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND WE NEED PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE STREET TO PROTECT EVERYBODY WITHIN THE CITY ITSELF.

FIREFIGHTERS ARE HAVING A LITTLE BIT LARGER RECRUITING GROUP, BUT THEY'RE STILL HAVING HIRING CHALLENGES.

AND FINDING PARAMEDICS HAS BEEN REALLY HARD FOR A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS.

SO WE NEED TO GET A COMPETITIVE EDGE ON THIS.

A LOT OF THESE CITIES THAT WERE HAVING TO GO UP AGAINST WERE VERY QUIET ALL UP UNTIL 10-1.

AND THEN THE SURPRISE HIT US.

SO THIS CHART YOU SEE RIGHT HERE ON THE POLICE AND THE FIRE SIDE, WHERE WE WOULD BE NORMALLY NUMBER THREE OR NUMBER TWO, WE GOT KNOCKED DOWN. ALL THE CITIES THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE OR IN THE GREEN ARE STARTING AT RATES HIGHER THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

PLUS, ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU HAVE INCENTIVES THAT A LOT OF THESE CITIES ARE GOING TO NOW THEY'RE GIVING HIRING INCENTIVES FOR CERTIFIED OFFICERS OR CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS.

THEY'RE GIVING SIGN ON BONUSES FOR CERTIFIED OFFICERS THAT WAY THEY CAN EXPEDITE GETTING THESE INDIVIDUALS ON THE STREET.

IT TAKES 3 TO 4 MONTHS TO GET A FIREFIGHTER, EMT ON THE STREET, ADD ANOTHER 23 TO 26 WEEKS.

IF YOU HAVE PARAMEDIC SCHOOL POLICE, YOU HAVE SEVERAL MONTHS OF THE POLICE ACADEMY, THEN YOU HAVE THE FTO, THE FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, PART OF THE PROGRAM BEFORE YOU ARE EVEN LETTING THEM OUT ON THE STREET BY THEMSELVES.

THEY'RE NOT VIABLE FOR A YEAR.

THESE CITIES, AS WE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO JOIN, WOULD LIKE TO PUT THESE INCENTIVES OUT THERE TO GET CERTIFIED OFFICERS THAT YOU CAN BRING THEM ON BOARD, GET THEM WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF FTO TRAINING TO SHOW THEM HOW WE DO THINGS HERE.

AND WE HAVE A VIABLE, ACTIVE, TRAINED POLICE OFFICER ON THE STREET WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WE WOULD LIKE THIS PERMISSION FROM YOU ALL WHEN WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE PAY PLAN THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE AS OF 10-01, WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE REQUEST TO DO SOME CHANGES SO THAT ON 11-1 WE HAVE A NEW PAY STRUCTURE IN PLACE. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF DOING FIRE TESTING THIS WEEK.

[00:35:03]

WE HAVE OVER 130 APPLICANTS.

WE'VE MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM WITH IN COOPERATION WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SO THAT CERTIFIED, DUAL CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTERS DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE AN ENTRANCE EXAM. LUCKILY, WE ARE NOT CIVIL SERVICE.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO THIS.

SO WHAT THAT'S DOING IS IT TOOK THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE TESTING PROCESS FROM 130 DOWN TO 60.

WE CUT THE NUMBER IN HALF AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE THE TEST ARE ALREADY TURNING IN THEIR POLY PACKETS, THEIR BACKGROUND PACKETS, SO THAT THEY CAN GET EXPEDITED THROUGH THE PROCESS ON THE FIRE SIDE, WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING SOMETHING POSSIBLY THE SAME AS ON THE POLICE SIDE IF WE CAN GET ALL OF OUR STUFF DONE IN TIME.

WE NEED TO HAVE A POLICE TEST SCHEDULED POSTED BY NOVEMBER 1ST.

ALL THESE ARE THE CITIES THAT WERE UP AGAINST AND WE'RE FIGHTING AGAINST ARE RUNNING TESTS WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN ADVERTISED OURS YET.

WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THIS EVENING BEFORE WE COULD DO THAT.

SO WE ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING A POLICE ENTRANCE EXAM HERE VERY SHORTLY, BUT WE NEED TO ADVERTISE WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

RECRUITING CHALLENGES.

THE CHIEF AND THE DEPUTY CHIEF WERE KIND ENOUGH TO GET ME THEIR NUMBERS FOR THEIR POLICE TESTS FOR THE LAST YEAR.

OUT OF ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPLIED PAST WENT THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

WE HAD A HANDFUL GET HIRED.

OUT OF THAT HANDFUL WE HAVE LOST FIVE IN THE LAST YEAR.

A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH AND TAKING THE POLICE ENTRANCE EXAM HAVE VERY LITTLE LIFE SKILLS.

THEY GOT ON BOARD, THEY GO THROUGH THE TRAINING, THEY GET INTO THE FTO, AND FIVE, SIX, EIGHT MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, THEY REALIZE THIS IS A HARDER JOB THAN THEY HAD ANTICIPATED. THEN WE'VE LOST THEM.

THAT'S WHY WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO GET CERTIFIED OFFICERS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN SEASONED AND ON THE STREETS AT SOME POINT TO COME ON BOARD WITH US AND PAY IS GOING TO BE THE BIG THING.

THIS IS THE RANKINGS THAT WE HAD IN PLACE.

ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE IS WHERE WE WERE ANTICIPATING OUR NUMBERS TO BE ON THE 10-1 DATE AFTER EVERYBODY MADE THEIR MOVES AS OF 10-1, ALL THE OTHER COMPETING CITIES.

OUR RANKING FOR JUST ENTRY OFFICERS WENT FROM THIRD TO EIGHTH.

THEY WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE TO TRY AND GET IT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT MONEY TALKS.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE CHOICES ON WHERE TO GO.

SO WE WENT BACK AND WE REBUILT THE POLICE AND FIRE PAY STRUCTURE.

WHEN WE ADDED INCREASED PARAMEDIC PAY TO THE STIPENDS, WE BROUGHT OURSELVES FROM ANYWHERE FROM THIRD TO EIGHTH UP TO SECOND AND THIRD IN ALL OF THESE POSITIONS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDING HIRING INCENTIVES FOR ENTRY OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS, A LATERAL POLICE INCENTIVE, AS WELL AS TAKING THE PARAMEDIC PAY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT DO HAVE PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION AND DOUBLING IT FROM 2400 TO 40 $800 ANNUALLY TO MAKE OURSELVES EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE. THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION OUT THERE, AND EVEN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS A COMPETITOR TO US.

SO WE'VE CHANGED THE STRUCTURE, OUR RECRUITS FOR POLICE, BECAUSE THE FIRE DOESN'T HAVE A RECRUIT SIDE.

THE POLICE RECRUIT WOULD START AT 65.

GOING FORWARD, OUR POLICE OFFICERS WOULD START AT 75,000, FIREFIGHTERS WOULD START AT 71,000, AND THEY WOULD STILL HAVE THE ABILITY WITH THE PARAMEDIC PAY TO GET ANOTHER 4800.

SO THEY WOULD BE RIGHT THERE AT THE SAME LEVEL.

WE'VE TAKEN EVERY OTHER POSITION.

AND IN ESSENCE, GIVEN THAT A 3% INCREASE PER STEP AND ABOUT A 3% INCREASE BETWEEN GRADES, SO AS PEOPLE PROMOTE THROUGH THE RANKS, THEY CONTINUALLY GET AN INCREASE IN PAY SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN AND RETAIN ALL THE BEST TALENT WE'VE GOT.

AND WE HAVE ONE HELL OF A STAFF.

POLICE AND FIRE WE'VE GOT HERE OUR AWESOME FOLKS, AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THEM.

SO THIS IS FOR THEM MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, THE COSTS ON THIS.

WHEN WE DID THE CHANGES, WE LOOKED AT THE SALARY INCREASES, THE HIRING INCENTIVES.

WE DID AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE GOING TO NEED TO GET HIRED ON BOTH POLICE AND FIRE.

WE HAVE 10 TO 12 OPENINGS, LATERAL INCENTIVES.

WE TOOK A GUESS WE MIGHT GET TWO OR THREE THAT ARE CERTIFIED OFFICERS.

[00:40:01]

AND THEN THE INCREASE IN PARAMEDIC PAY IS BASED ON THE CURRENT NUMBER OF PARAMEDICS THAT WE HAVE AT THE MOMENT AND POSSIBLY OBTAINING THREE MORE IN THIS NEXT RECRUITING CLASS IF WE HAVE MORE GREAT.

BUT WAGE ESTIMATES CAME TO A LITTLE UNDER 870,868 TOTAL.

AND THEN WHEN YOU ADD THE BENEFITS TO IT BEING THE TM REST MATCH AND MEDICARE AND ALL THAT, IT CAME TO 1,085,000 IS WHAT WE ANTICIPATE COSTING WISE.

AND THEN WE WENT TO FINANCE AND GOT JOHN BUCKETS HERE TO GO OVER A LITTLE BIT OF THE FINANCE NUMBERS.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON CAN WE AFFORD THIS JOB WELL.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS. JOHN BUTKUS, DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR.

WE WENT AHEAD AND TOOK A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND BASICALLY ALIGN THEM WITH CURRENT GENERAL FUND BALANCES AND TAKING YOU DOWN TO THE LEFT COLUMN THERE FOR 2122.

WE'RE SEEING A SLIGHT UPTICK IN REVENUE WHICH HELPS.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE PROJECTED TO HAVE ABOUT A 44.53% FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

AGAIN, FAVORABLE REVENUES COMING IN AND WE'VE GOT SOME SALARY SAVINGS AT 115,000.

AGAIN, THESE ARE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON GETTING THE FINALIZED NUMBERS, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO COME IN.

THE ENDING FUND BALANCE WOULD BE ABOUT 22.2 MILLION.

TAKING THAT OVER TO THE ADJUSTED COLUMN FOR 22-23 AND USING OUR ADOPTED NUMBERS FOR EXPENSES AND REVENUES, WE'RE PROJECTING ABOUT A 36.28% FUND BALANCE AND THEN INCORPORATING THE INCENTIVES AND THE ITEMS THAT RICK TALKED ABOUT, THE MILLION 85.

AND THEN OFFSETTING THAT, AGAIN WITH SOME FAVORABILITY WITH SALARY SAVINGS OF THE 300,000.

WE REALLY ARE LOOKING AT COMING IN AT ABOUT 34.38% FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS VERY CLOSE TO WHAT WE WERE PROJECTING TO BEGIN WITH.

SO WHAT'S THE FAVORABILITY OF REVENUES AND SOME OF THE SAVINGS WE'RE FOR? WE BELIEVE WE CAN OFFSET THESE EXPENSES AND MAINTAIN THAT FAVORABLE FUND BALANCE.

AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, ANYBODY.

THANK YOU. AND THE FUN BALANCE OF THE SALARY SAVINGS THAT WE REFER TO RIGHT THERE AT THE 300,000.

WE LOOK AT THE OPEN POSITIONS.

WE WE CAN'T HIRE THESE FOLKS IMMEDIATELY.

EVERY PAY CYCLE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THESE POSITIONS FILLED SAVES US IN SALARY SAVINGS.

IT SAVES US ABOUT 25, 30,000 DEPENDING ON THE POSITIONS.

SO EVERY PAY CYCLE, WE'RE SAVING OFF OF THAT MONEY IN 85.

SO IT ACTUALLY IS NOT GOING TO COST US AS MUCH TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS IN THIS YEAR.

WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING COVERED GOING FORWARD.

BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE FOLKS.

WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE ONES WE'VE GOT AND WE HAVE TO BRING MORE ON BOARD BECAUSE WE'VE GOT WE'RE GROWING TOO FAST AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AND WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE.

THEY EXPECTED OF US, THE CITIZENS EXPECTED OF US.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

SO OPTIONS WE BASICALLY WE HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET TO ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT HIRING INCENTIVES AND AN INCREASED STARTING SALARY PAY SCALE FOR POLICE AND FIRE SWORN PERSONNEL APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF THAT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANYTIME WE'RE READY. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS? MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION FOR RONNIE AND A SECOND BY TAMARA, PLEASE VOTE.

VOTE. RONNIE, I'M TRYING.

WE'RE NOT TRYING. WE'RE GOING TO DO A HAND VOTE.

WE'RE DOING A HAND.

MOTION PASSES. UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU ALL. WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THAT BRINGS US TO SEVEN B CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY STAFF TO OBTAIN AN APPRAISAL AND LAND SURVEY OF REAL PROPERTY IN JOHNSON COUNTY,

[7.B. Consider approval of a resolution authorizing City staff to obtain an appraisal and land survey of real property in Johnson County, Texas, being a portion of a tract of land commonly known as 1324 County Road 914, necessary to allow for the expansion of Lakewood Drive and for other public purposes. (Staff Presenter: Matt Ribitzki, Deputy City Attorney/Compliance Manager)]

TEXAS, BEING A PORTION OF TRACT OF LAND COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1324 COUNTY ROAD 914.

NECESSARY TO ALLOW FOR THE EXPANSION OF LAKEWOOD DRIVE AND FOR OTHER PUBLIC PURPOSES.

STAFF PRESENTED TONIGHT IS MATT RIBITZKI, OUR DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY COMPLIANCE MANAGER.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANOTHER TITLE AT THE END OF THAT? WORKING ON IT.

WE STILL GOT ROOM.

MR. RIBITZKI. THANKS, AMANDA.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS MATT RIBITZKI, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY AND COMPLIANCE MANAGER.

THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A RESOLUTION SEEKING AUTHORIZATION FOR STAFF TO OBTAIN A SURVEY AND APPRAISAL FOR A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY COMMONLY

[00:45:05]

KNOWN AS 1324 COUNTY ROAD.

914. AS COUNCIL IS WELL AWARE, CONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF LAKEWOOD DRIVE IS WELL UNDERWAY.

THE CONSTRUCTION ESSENTIALLY EXPANDS LAKEWOOD DRIVE, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS COUNTY ROAD 914, EXTENDS THE ROAD FROM COUNTY ROAD 1020 TO FM 1902. THE EXTENSION OF LAKEWOOD WILL HELP MITIGATE TRAFFIC ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN.

OBVIOUSLY BETTER CONNECT THE CITY BY CONNECTING PROVIDING A BETTER CONNECTION BETWEEN WILSHIRE BOULEVARD AND THE CHISHOLM TRAIL PARKWAY.

SEWER IMPROVEMENTS WILL ACCOMPANY THE ROADWORK, AND THOSE SEWER IMPROVEMENTS WILL SERVE THE CHISHOLM SUMMIT AREA, THE HOOPER BUSINESS PARK, AND JUST THE ENTIRE SURROUNDING AREA.

PORTIONS OF FOUR DIFFERENT PARCELS OF LAND ALONG LAKEWOOD DRIVE ARE NEEDED TO EXPAND THE ROAD AND EXTEND SEWER SERVICES.

THE CITY HAS REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THREE OF THE FOUR PROPERTY OWNERS TO ACQUIRE PORTIONS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE TRACTS ALONG LAKEWOOD.

THE LAST REMAINING PARCEL IS A PORTION OF THE TRACT OUTLINED THERE AND READ ITS 1324 COUNTY ROAD.

914 THE PORTION OUTLINED IN RED IS THE ENTIRE TRACK.

THAT'S NOT THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY WE NEED.

THE CITY ONLY NEEDS ABOUT 7000 SQUARE FEET OF THAT TRACT ALONG LAKEWOOD DRIVE FOR THE ROAD AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS.

THE RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF COUNCIL TONIGHT AUTHORIZES STAFF TO OBTAIN LAND, A LAND SURVEY AND REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL ON THAT 7000 SQUARE FOOT PART OF THE TRACK.

THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION AND APPRAISAL ARE NECESSARY TO MAKE A FINAL OFFER, A BONA FIDE OFFER TO THE LANDOWNER, AND AGAIN, A FINAL OFFER IS REQUIRED BEFORE THE CITY CAN FILE A PETITION TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NOT WE DON'T WANT TO DO.

THAT'S KIND OF A LAST RESORT.

THE RESOLUTION IS EXPLICIT AND ENCOURAGES STAFF TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATING WITH THE LANDOWNER IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE PARCEL AMICABLY THROUGH AN AGREEMENT. AND STAFF HAS NEGOTIATED WITH THE LANDOWNER FOR ABOUT THE PAST 60 DAYS.

VERY NICE GENTLEMAN.

WE HAVE AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION OF INFORMALLY PAST OFFERS BACK AND FORTH.

STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THAT LANDOWNER.

AND JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR, I KNOW WE'RE THROWING THE WORD EMINENT DOMAIN OUT THERE.

THAT'S A VERY HEAVY WORD.

BUT JUST SO COUNCIL'S CLEAR.

IF THERE IS A COMMON CONDEMNATION PETITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILED, THAT ITEM WOULD BE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA.

MEANING THERE'S NO THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY ACTION TAKEN UNTIL THAT ACTION IS PLACED IN OUR FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA.

IF THAT FINAL OFFER, IF WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE MAKE A FINAL OFFER AND THAT FINAL OFFER IS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE LANDOWNER, AN ORDINANCE WILL BE PLACED ON THIS ON ONE OF YOUR FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDAS THAT YOU WILL NEED TO APPROVE BEFORE A CONDEMNATION PETITION CAN BE FILED.

THE ACTION REQUESTED TONIGHT TO APPROVE OR DENY A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY STAFF TO OBTAIN AN APPRAISAL AND LAND SURVEY ON 1324 COUNTY ROAD.

914 FOR THE 7000 SQUARE FEET THAT WE NEED, STAFF AWFULLY OBVIOUSLY RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS? VERBAL. VERBAL.

MOVED TO APPROVE.

I GOT APPROVAL.

IS THERE A SECOND? I GOT A MOTION BY RICK AND A SECOND BY RONNIE.

PLEASE. ALL IN FAVOR? I'M OUT OF A RHYTHM HERE.

PASSAGE. UNANIMOUS. THANKS, COUNCIL.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM SEVEN C JAN, WILL YOU BE PRESENTING BOTH OF THESE TOGETHER?

[7.C. Consider approval of a contract with Playwell, Inc for the installation of new playground and park features at Oak Valley Park in the amount of $283,121.86. (Staff Presenter: Jen Basham, Director of Parks and Recreation)]

C AND D? SO I'LL CALL FORWARD ITEM C AND D? NO, I'M SORRY. I'LL BE PRESENTING THEM BACK TO BACK THERE.

SEPARATE ITEMS. ALL RIGHT, SO SEVEN C CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH PLAINWELL INC.

FOR THE INSTALLATION OF NEW PLAYGROUND AND PARK FEATURES AT OAK VALLEY PARK IN THE AMOUNT OF $283,121.86.

STAFF PRESENTERS JEN BASHAM, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION BASHAM.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND. OAK VALLEY PARK WAS APPROVED AS A 2023 PROJECT.

AS PARK REFURBISHMENTS GO, THIS IS ONE OF OUR MORE EXPENSIVE ONES, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE INCLUDED AN EXPANSION OF THE PARKING LOT, AS WELL AS UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS PARK, THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA HAD SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT WE MAKE THIS MORE INCLUSIVE.

[00:50:03]

SO IT WAS MORE OF A WARM PLACE, RUBBER SURFACING VERSUS OUR STANDARD RUBBER MULCH OR DWF THAT WE DO.

IT DOES NOT INCLUDE A BUDGET FOR RESTROOMS OR PAVILION.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WAS COMPLETED UTILIZING THE FORMAT THAT WE APPROVED LAST YEAR.

SO WE DID TWO ROUNDS OF SURVEY AFTER AFTER THAT FIRST ROUND OF SURVEY, WE TOOK ALL THAT FEEDBACK.

WE ASKED FIVE DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS TO PROVIDE US SOME CONCEPTS WITHIN OUR BUDGET.

WE SENT THOSE CONCEPTS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT SHOWS THAT WE DID REACH OUT TO FIVE MANUFACTURERS.

ONLY FOUR WERE SUBMITTED FOR THIS, AND I WILL SHOW YOU THE FEEDBACK OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

SO IN SURVEY ONE, WE HAD 487 RESPONSES.

WE RAN THAT FOR A MONTH.

ADDITIONAL REQUESTS WERE MADE FOR RESTROOMS, SECURITY CAMERAS AND THEN OF COURSE, FULLY INCLUSIVE FOR ALL ABILITIES.

IN THAT SECOND ROUND OF SURVEYS, WE HAD 338 RESPONSES AND IT WAS OPEN FOR ALMOST A MONTH FROM THE END OF AUGUST TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

AND WE ALSO RECEIVED ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR RESTROOMS AT THAT ONE.

SO TOTALING OVER 800 RESPONSES OVER BOTH SURVEYS.

AND THESE WERE THE FOUR CONCEPTS THAT WE ASKED THE COMMUNITY TO LOOK AT.

SO THE TOP LEFT IS A BERLINER.

THE TOP RIGHT IS A LANDSCAPE.

STRUCTURES PLAY WELL AND THEN A CRAFTSMAN.

AND THIS IS THE RESULTS OF THOSE SURVEYS.

SO I HAVE ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL DATA, IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE ANY OF THAT QUESTION.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE SURVEYS FOR THIS WERE BURLESON RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA THAT HAVE CHILDREN BETWEEN ZERO AND TEN YEARS OLD.

AND THEN THE SECOND LARGEST RESPONDENT GROUP WAS PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN AGES 10 TO 18.

AND THE WINNER OF THIS ONE WAS PLAY WELL AT 175 RESPONSES.

SO THE ELEMENTS OF THIS SELECTED PLAYGROUND INCLUDE AN INCLUSIVE MERRY GO ROUND PORT AND PLACE RUBBER SURFACING A DOUBLE BASE SWING WITH SHADE, NEW BENCHES, PICNIC TABLE AND TRASH RECEPTACLES.

AND THE LEAD TIME ON THIS PROJECT IS FROM AWARD.

IT WILL BE 20 WEEKS UNTIL THIS PRODUCT IS DELIVERED AND INSTALLED.

AND SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

IT LOOKS THIS GREAT THAT YOU SEE ON THE GROUND.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE MULCH THAT WE USE AT EVERY PARK.

BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A SOLID RUBBER SURFACING, SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL SEE IN SOME OF THE NEXT PART THAT WE BRING THIS EVENING IS THAT PEOPLE WANT SHADE OVER THOSE SWING SETS.

SO I THINK THAT'S A BIG FACTOR IN WHY THIS ONE WON.

SO WE'LL HAVE A COMBINATION OF TODDLER SWING, BELT SWING AND THEN A MOM AND CHILD OR PARENT AND CHILD SWING COMBO.

AND THEN THIS IS AN ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS IS RAMPS THROUGHOUT.

AND SO FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, YOU CAN USE DIFFERENT ABILITIES DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO, BUT YOU CAN ALSO USE A WHEELCHAIR AND RAMP THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PLAYGROUND. AND SO THIS IS THE BEST ONE TO SEE THROUGH THAT.

SO YOU CAN SLIDE RIGHT UP.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, DEPENDING ON YOUR ABILITY LEVEL, YOU CAN DO OTHER CLIMBING WAYS TO GET ON THERE AND DO THE SLIDE AS WELL.

OAK VALLEY IS OUR MOST VEGETATED OR CANOPY PARK, SO THERE IS ALREADY A LOT OF SHADE.

SO STAFF IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE WAY THAT THE SHADE IS LAID OUT ON THIS ONE.

AND THEN FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.

SO AS I MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS ONE, WE ARE GOING TO BE EXPANDING AND RENOVATING THE EXISTING PARK, BUT WE HAVE NOT BUILT THIS PART OF THE PROJECT OUT YET, SO WE WILL BRING THAT TO YOU FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION ONCE WE BID IT OUT.

AND THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

SO TO THE LEFT IS THE EXISTING WILL BE RESURFACING THAT AND THEN WE'LL ADD FOUR ADDITIONAL SPOTS WITH A HANDICAPPED SPACE PARK BOARD DID REQUEST THAT MAYBE WE LOOK AT ADDING A SECOND HANDICAPPED SPACE BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING THIS AN INCLUSIVE ONE.

SO WHEN WE REVISE THESE PLANS BEFORE WE BID IT OUT, WE WILL ADD A SECOND ADA SPACE TO THIS PROJECT.

IT SHOULDN'T ADD TO THE BOTTOM LINE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE ESTIMATING THIS COST TO BE ABOUT 195,000.

AND SO THAT BRINGS YOU TO THE END OF THIS ONE.

PARK BOARD DID MEET ON OCTOBER 13TH AND THEY UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THIS AS PRESENTED.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE SECOND HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPOTS.

THAT WAS ON MY THINKING TOO, SINCE WE'RE MAKING THIS AN ALL ACCESSIBLE PARK.

I'M THRILLED TO HEAR THAT, AND I KNOW A NUMBER OF CITIZENS IN THIS COMMUNITY WILL BE VERY RECEPTIVE TO THAT.

MY QUESTION ABOUT THE I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND I THINK I CAN SEE ONE SLIDE THAT'S ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THAT FIRST LEVEL RAMP BECAUSE THAT'S A DOWNFALL OF SOME OF THESE. THEY GIVE THE PERCEPTION THAT THEY'RE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE.

BUT TO BE ABLE TO GET ON A SLIDE, YOU'D HAVE TO TAKE UP A STEP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE ENTERTAINMENT PIECES ARE ACCESSIBLE FROM THAT FIRST LEVEL AND NOT REQUIRING A STEP UP. YES, IT SHOULD BE.

NOW, THE A SLIDE ITSELF IS TYPICALLY NOT CONSIDERED AN ADA OR LIKE A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE AMENITY WITHIN.

[00:55:04]

SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY THIS IS AN ALL ABILITIES, IT MEANS ANYBODY WITH AN ABILITY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PLAY.

BUT NOT EVERY SPECIFIC FEATURE IS AN ALL ABILITY FEATURE.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE MERRY GO ROUND THOUGH.

THAT'S SUPER FUN TOO.

YEAH, IT'S SUPER FUN.

ANYBODY ELSE? I HAVE ONE, AND IT'S A GENERAL QUESTION.

I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTE THAT IN EACH OF THE TIMES THAT WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITIZENS TO ASK WHAT THEY WANTED, THAT THEY RESPONDED THAT THEY WANTED RESTROOMS AT THE PARK.

I DON'T WANT TO TURN A DEAF EAR TO THAT.

I'D RATHER RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION.

IF IT WAS ASKED OF ME.

IT WAS JUST WHAT OUR POLICY IS ON THAT.

I KNOW WE HAVE SOME PARKS BAILEY, LAKE PARK, FOR INSTANCE, CENTENNIAL PARK FOR A FURTHER TWO DO HAVE RESTROOMS AND THERE SEEMS TO ME TO BE NO DIRECT, NO OBVIOUS REASON WHY WE DO.

YOU KNOW, WARREN PARK HAS A PAVILION BECAUSE IN OAK PARK IT HAS A PAVILION.

IT DOESN'T HAVE A RESTAURANT LATELY.

LAKE PARK HAS MORE IN-HOUSE RESTROOMS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

BAD EXAMPLE. BUT WHAT IS OUR POLICY OR HAVE WE EVER FORMULATED TYPICALLY, YOU SAY IF YOU DROVE, YOU HAD TO DRIVE TO IT.

SO IF THERE'S A PARKING LOT, THEN A RESTROOM TENDS TO MAKE SENSE, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT MEANS PEOPLE ARE DRIVING FAR ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN'T JUST RUN HOME.

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OF OUR PARKS IN OUR SYSTEM THAT IF I WAS LOOKING AT IT FROM A SEPARATE STANDARD, WE WOULD I THINK IT'S A TENDS TO BE COST PROHIBITIVE AND THEN MAINTENANCE PROHIBITIVE AS TO WHY YOU DON'T ADD THEM TO EVERY PARK.

IT'S 100 GRAND TO DO A SINGLE STALL FAMILY RESTROOM NOW.

SO IF WE WANT TO DO THAT, WE ABSOLUTELY CAN.

IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDING AS A LINE ITEM FOR FUTURE SIPS, JUST ADDRESSING THAT THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM IN GENERAL, BUT NOT AS PART OF THESE PARK REFURBISHMENTS. I THINK IT'S A REASONABLE REQUEST AND I DON'T I THINK I'D LIKE TO HEAR US HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND DECIDE AS A BODY WHETHER WE THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'D LIKE TO GO BACK AND RETROFIT OUR EXISTING PARKS THAT DON'T HAVE IT AND MAKE THAT A PART OF OF ALL OF OUR PARKS GOING FORWARD.

AND I THINK, AS YOU SAY, THIS ONE WILL HAVE A PARKING LOT AND THAT IMPLIES THAT PEOPLE WILL DRIVE THERE FOR IT.

SO I GET THAT IT'S NOT JUST A POCKET PARK.

ABSOLUTELY. IT GIVES THE PERCEPTION THAT IT IS BECAUSE IT'S NESTLED IN NORTH OAK VALLEY.

BUT I LIVE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN EAST, HIDDEN CREEK.

AND SO WE DRIVE OR WE BIKE AND WHEN WE BIKE AND WE'VE HAD POTTY SITUATIONS, IT WAS TOUCH AND GO LIKE OK LIKE, HOLD YOUR BREATH.

WE'RE GOING TO GO AS FAST AS WE POSSIBLY CAN EVEN WHEN WE'RE DRIVING.

AND SO I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE IT'S INEVITABLY.

AS SOON AS YOU GET TO A PARK, SOMEBODY HAS TO POTTY.

AND THERE ISN'T THE RESOURCE FOR THAT.

AND WE WANT TO I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT CONSIDERATION BECAUSE IT'S IF YOU'RE AT THE PLAYGROUND, YOU GET STICKY, YOU WANT TO WASH YOUR HANDS, YOU NEED TO POTTY.

THERE'S IT'S JUST IT'S A NICE RESOURCE AND AMENITY TO HAVE, LIKE YOU SAID, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE PARKING.

PEOPLE ARE NOT ALL JUST COMING FROM ACROSS THE STREET.

CORRECT. ABSOLUTELY.

I'D LIKE TO SAY THE NUMBERS ON THAT, TOO.

YES, SIR. HOW WE DO.

I THINK WE'RE READY FOR A VOTE ON THIS THROUGH A MOTION.

I HAVE A MOTION BY DAN AND A SECOND VICTORIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? PASSES UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 70.

[7.D. Consider approval of a contract with Playworks, Inc, a sole source provider of Playwell products for the installation of new playground and park features at Elk Ridge Park in the amount of $195,084.63. (Staff Presenter: Jen Basham, Director of Parks and Recreation)]

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH PLAYWORKS INC, A SOLE SOURCE PROVIDER OF PLAY WELL PRODUCTS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF NEW PLAYGROUND, PLAYGROUND AND PARK FEATURES AT ELK RIDGE PARK IN THE AMOUNT OF $195,084.63.

JEN BASHAM, DIRECTOR OF PARKS RECREATION.

JEN, YOU'RE UP AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT. GIVE ME A SECOND FOR SOME TECHNOLOGY.

THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT.

SO IT'LL BE A VERY SIMILAR PRESENTATION, BUT A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PLAYGROUND.

TOTALLY DIFFERENT PARK. ALL RIGHT.

SO SAME AS LAST ONE.

THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE THREE PARKS WE'RE TOUCHING THIS YEAR.

THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR THIS ONE IS MUCH SMALLER.

IT'S A SMALLER PARK.

IT DOESN'T ATTACH TO ANY OF OUR EXISTING TRAIL SYSTEM AND IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY PARKING LOT.