[00:00:03]
>> STARTING OFF COUNTY OF WESTLAKE, MONDAY,
[A. CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION (5:30 P.M.)]
JUNE 12TH, 2023 TOWN COUNCIL BOARD OF TRUSTEES AGENDA.FIRST ITEM AGENDA IS CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION STARTING AT 05:30, A123-158.
THE TOWN WILL CONDUCT A CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE ANNOTATED CHAPTER 551 FOR THE FOLLOWING, ALPHA SECTION 551.074, ALPHA-1 DELIBERATION REGARDING PERSONNEL MATTERS HEAD OF SCHOOL WESTLAKE, YOU CAN PERSONNEL AND DUTIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND BRAVO SECTION 551.0712, CONSULTATION WITH TURNING TO SEEK ADVICE AND COUNSEL ON MATTERS WHICH THE DUTY OF THE TOWN ATTORNEY UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLARITY CONFLICTS WITH CHAPTER 551 AT THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FM 1930 AXIS FOR PROPOSED SOUTHLAKE DEVELOPMENT IN SECTION 551.712, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY TO SEEK ADVICE AND COUNSEL ON MATTERS IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE TOWN ATTORNEY AND THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICT WITH CHAPTER 551, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SENIOR STUDIOS.
NOW AT 05:31 WE'LL CLOSE OUT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> EXECUTIVE SESSION CLOSE AT 06:01.
[J. TAKE ANY ACTION, IF NEEDED, FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS]
THERE'S A COUPLE OF ITEMS I HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION. ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS?>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT VIDEO [INAUDIBLE].
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER MOTIONS?
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION OF SOUTHLAKE VERSUS WESTLAKE, CASE NUMBER 2020007041-1 MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, WHEREBY THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE WILL PAY WESTLAKE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 150,000 AND AUTHORIZED THE TOWN ATTORNEY AND OR MAYOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NEEDED DOCUMENTS.
NO OTHER ITEMS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND FINISHED AT 06:01.
[B. REGULAR MEETING – Call to Order (6:00 P.M.)]
NOW WE'RE GOING ON TO THE REGULAR MEETING TO CALL THE ORDER.LETS HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> WE HAVE THE CITIZENS AND PARENT COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
[D. CITIZEN/PARENT COMMENTS]
CITIZENS. ARE THERE SHEETS FILLED OUT HERE?>> THE ONE I HAVE IS, I THINK MY BELIEVE IT'S IFEY ADELAYEI.
>> IS SHE HERE? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND THEN WHAT YOUR ISSUE IS.
I AM HERE BECAUSE MY KID WAS GIVEN AN ADMISSION TO WESTLAKE ACADEMY.
HE WAS OFFERED AN ADMISSION AND SIX WEEKS LATER, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT THE ADMISSION [INAUDIBLE].
THE THING IS THAT WE WERE NOTIFIED, WE WERE TOLD TO ACCEPT THE ADMISSION WITHIN 48 HOURS, WHICH WE DID.
WE WENT TO THE SCHOOL, WE WERE INVITED TO THE SCHOOL, WE TOOK A TEST.
SHE TOLD THE SCHOOL AND SURPRISINGLY, WE RECEIVE THIS NOTIFICATION THAT THERE IS NO SPACE, THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE ADMISSION PROCESS, FOR THAT REASON THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HONOR THE ADMISSION THAT WAS MADE.
I HAD REACHED OUT TO THE SCHOOL, WE WERE DIRECTED TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I SENT AN EMAIL IF STATEMENT INTO THE COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL RECEIVED IT, I HOPE YOU DID.
IT WAS A DETAILED STATEMENT, AN EMAIL EXPRESSING MY THOUGHTS AND GIVING YOU FEEDBACK ABOUT THE DECISION.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK AND I WAS HOPING THAT IF THE RESPONSE CANNOT BE GIVEN TODAY, IS THERE A TIMELINE TO EXPECT A RESPONSE FROM THE COUNCIL? REGARDING MY EMAIL,
[00:05:02]
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN IT?>> WE'VE ALREADY WORKED OUT RESPONSE TODAY, WE'LL EMAIL BACK TO YOU.
>> MY HUSBAND GOT YOUR RESPONSE, BUT THE RESPONSE DID NOT ADDRESS THE STATEMENTS THAT I SENT.
THE STATEMENT WAS ACTUALLY SENT ON JUNE THE 5TH.
IT WAS A NICE PDF FILE BASICALLY ASKING THE COUNCIL, ARE YOU ABLE TO TELL US, GIVE US A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE ERROR.
BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THAT AN ERROR WAS MADE.
BUT THEN WE'RE TOLD THAT AN ERROR WAS MADE, IT TOOK ABOUT SIX WEEKS FOR US TO FIND OUT THAT AN ERROR WAS MADE, WE WERE BASICALLY REJECTED ENROLLING MY DAUGHTER IN THE SCHOOL THAT SHE CURRENTLY GOES TO.
SHE EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO WESTLAKE ACADEMY.
HOW DO YOU TELL A 12-YEAR OLD THAT YOU ARE GOING TO A SCHOOL AND THEN TURN AROUND AND TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER GOING FOR NO FAULT OF THEIRS.
THERE WAS NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION GIVEN.
WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE IS NO SPACE, AN ERROR WAS MADE.
WHAT WAS THE ERROR THAT WAS MADE AND WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO DETECT THE ERROR? I COULD UNDERSTAND IF WE WERE NOTIFIED MAYBE TWO DAYS AFTER THE OFFER WAS GIVEN, BUT THEN SHE'S OVER THERE SAYING, "I CAN'T FACE MY FRIENDS, THEY ARE GOING TO THINK I'M A LIAR." THINK ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL CONSEQUENCES AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE BY THE COUNCIL WHEN SEND THESE OFFERS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE COUNCIL DID NOT MAKE AN ERROR.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHO MADE THE ERROR.
>> WE WEREN'T AWARE OF THE LETTERS THAT WENT OUT, THEY WERE UNAUTHORIZED.
THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER GONE OUT.
>> I GUESS MY QUESTION THEN IS, DO WE NOW PUNISH THESE KIDS EMOTIONALLY BY NOT LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ACCOMMODATE THEM? THEY DID NOTHING THAT THE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO.
THEY WERE TOLD, THIS SATURDAY YOU'VE BEEN ADMITTED TO WESTLAKE ACADEMY, YOU HAVE A TEST THERE TO TAKE TO BE ABLE TO HOLD YOUR SPOTS.
YOU CAN'T GO TO YOUR TENNIS CAMP, YOU HAVE TO COME IN AND TAKE THE TEST.
WE CAME IN AND WE WERE TOLD THAT YOUR SPOT IS RESERVED.
YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY MAKE YOUR PLANS AND YOU HAVE A SPOT HERE.
>> YOU WERE TOLD BY SOMEBODY WHO IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED IN WESTLAKE.
>> SHOULD THESE KIDS BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE CONSEQUENCES? IT WAS STILL THE SCHOOL THAT MADE THE OFFER.
WE DIDN'T ASK TO BE GIVEN AN OFFER.
IT'S NOT THESE KIDS FAULT THAT THEY HAVE TO NOW CARRY THE EMOTIONAL BURDEN THAT THIS HAS CAUSED, NOT ONLY THEM, THEIR ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD.
HOW DO YOU TELL A 12-YEAR-OLD, AT THAT AGE WHERE THERE'S JUST A LOT OF EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON THAT YOU ADMITTED AND THEN YOU'RE NO LONGER ADMITTED.
I WOULD JUST ASK THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS THAT, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD DO.
WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REASON WHY WE'RE BEING DENIED IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO SPACE.
I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH BEFORE COMING HERE, 1450 STUDENTS, THAT'S WHAT THE STATE OF TEXAS ALLOW WESTLAKE TO SERVE.
I KNOW THE CHARTER SAID MAYBE 25 PER CLASS, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING AT ALL THAT THE COUNCIL CAN DO TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PAIN THAT THESE KIDS ARE GOING THROUGH, AS WELL AS THE FAMILIES, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BASICALLY MADE PLANS BASED ON THE ADMISSION OFFER THAT THEY RECEIVED.
THEY WERE HOSTED IN THE SCHOOL.
THERE WERE MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS AVAILABLE AT THAT MEETING AND ALL OF THEM SAID, YOU HAVE OUR WORD, YOU HAVE A SPOT.
>> I'M SORRY. IN CITIZENS PRESENTATIONS AND PARENTS PRESENTATIONS, THE COUNCIL IS NOT ALLOWED TO RESPOND.
WE HAVE PRESLEY ENVELOPE A LITTLE BIT TRYING TO BE COURTEOUS TO YOU AT THIS POINT SO WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU WITH MORE INFORMATION IN A DIFFERENT TIME.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, AMY? DID YOU FILL THE FORUM?
[00:10:03]
SURE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.>> MY NAME IS MARISSA MAHON AND I AM A RESIDENT OF 2949 RIVER CREST STREET, GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, 76051.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR KILBRIDE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MARISSA MAHON AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE GRAPEVINE, SOUTHLAKE AREA SINCE 1992.
I'M THE MOM TO TWO BOYS AND I PARTICIPATED IN WESTLAKE ACADEMY LOTTERY SINCE BOTH OF MY BOYS WERE AGE ELIGIBLE.
ONE OF MY BOYS WAS GRANTED ADMISSION TO THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY LOTTERY AND RECEIVED AN EMAIL NOTIFICATION ON APRIL 24TH.
THE EMAIL STATES THAT WE MUST RESPOND WITHIN 48 HOURS TO RESERVE YOUR CHILD SPOT IN THEIR CLASS FOR THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR, WITH A DEADLINE TO ACCEPT THE OFFER, NO CONTINGENCY CHANCES WERE NOTED.
THIS DECISION WAS NOT AN EASY ONE TO MAKE FOR OUR FAMILY.
BUT AFTER SPEAKING WITH KEY CONTACTS AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY, I WAS ASSURED THIS WAS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO INTENTIONALLY SHAPED MY SON'S EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES.
WE WERE THEN OFFERED TWO DIFFERENT TO OUR OPTIONS AND THE GOOGLE DOCUMENT TO CONFIRM THE TOUR DATES SELECTION, NO CONTINGENCIES ON OUR SPOT WHERE MENTIONED.
DURING THE TOUR IN MAY 13TH, WE LISTENED TO A PRESENTATION TO LEARN ABOUT THE TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH USED BY WESTLAKE ACADEMY, UNIQUE ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES, AND MANY OF US BECAME MORE AND MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY AS PRESENTATION WENT ON.
ONE PARENT ASKS IF THE ASSESSMENTS WOULD INFORM OUR ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WE GOT TOLD, AGAIN ON MAY 13TH, YOUR SPOT IS SECURE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO WORRY AND CAN PLAN FOR THE FUTURE BASED OFF THIS INFORMATION YOU MADE IT.
AGAIN, NO CONTINGENCIES ENROLLMENT OFFERS EXISTED.
OUR OFFERS WAS RESCINDED 38 DAYS AFTER THE OFFER WAS GIVEN.
SINCE THEN, I'VE CONNECTED WITH ABOUT 20 OF THE APPROXIMATE 50 PARENTS WHO HAVE THEIR OFFERS RESCINDED.
SEVERAL STATED THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO YOU, MAYOR KILBRIDE, AND WE'RE NOT AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS FURTHER, BUT WERE SIMPLY TOLD THE LETTER WE RECEIVED SHOULD ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS.
MOST ALL PARENTS SHARED THE SAME CONCERNS I'VE NOTED IN MY HANDOUT.
WHEN DID WESTLAKE ACADEMY FIRST DISCOVERED THIS ENROLLMENT ERROR? WHAT PROCESS DO THE RESCINDING GO THROUGH TO ANALYZE NEXT STEPS? THEY PROVIDE EXPLICIT DETAILS IS HOW THIS WILL WORK WITH PRIORITIZATION OF THE OTHER SECOND-GRADERS THAT WERE ACCEPTED, DENIED, AND THOSE WHO CHOSE NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE SELECTION, AND HOW THIS NEW PROCESS WILL INTERACT WITH SIBLING LISTS AS WELL IN THE FALL.
IS THERE A NEW POLICY BEING APPROVED FOR THIS? WOULD THE LOTTERY RE-LIST WITH UPDATES BE CONSISTENTLY UPDATED AND SHARED ANYTIME CHANGES MADE TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY? CAN YOU ALSO SHARE THE LOCAL POLICY SIDED TO MAKE THESE ENROLLMENT CHANGES THEY'RE NOT IN THE CHARTER BYLAWS? CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE TEA POLICY REFERENCED AND THE LETTER WAS COORDINATING WESTLAKE ACADEMY DATA? AND LASTLY, CAN YOU PROVIDE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS FORECASTED IN EACH GRADE LEVEL PRIOR TO THE LOTTERY, THE ANTICIPATED AVAILABLE SPOTS AT THAT TIME AND HOW THOSE SPOTS WERE FILLED WITH DESCRIBE LOTTERY SPOT NUMBERS, WITH THE SPOTS THAT WERE IN FRONT OF MY SON? AND IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AT ALL GRADE LEVELS.
THE UNINTENTIONAL OUTCOME OF THIS DECISION TO RESEND OFFERS 38 DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL OFFERING ARE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL IMPACTS.
MAYOR KILBRIDE, YOU'VE TOLD PARENTS THAT YOU SIMPLY UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATIONS AND CONCERN.
BUT NONE OF US OUR SEVENTH GRADER WHO'S TOLD EVERYBODY GOODBYE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO'VE BEEN IN BULLYING SITUATIONS, AND YET NOW THEY'LL HAVE TO FACE THEM ONCE AGAIN.
WE'RE NOTE A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD WHO WALKED OUT OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HE'S BEEN OUT FOR FOUR YEARS, THINKING HE WAS NEVER GOING TO RETURN.
YOU ARE NOT THE PARENT WHO CONVINCED THEIR CHILD THAT THIS WAS THE ABSOLUTE OPTION AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY, AND NOW YOU HAVE TO BREAK THE TRUST AND THE PROMISE TO YOUR CHILD.
THE ACTIONS PEOPLE TOOK OFF THIS REINSURANCE OF ENROLLMENT, OR PEOPLE THAT MOVED OR THEIR HOUSE ON THE MORTGAGE, CHANGE JOBS, TURN DOWN OTHER ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES LIKE WE DID TO TWO CHARTER SCHOOLS, PURCHASE NON-REFUNDABLE UNIFORMS AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT LIFE CHANGES BASED OFF THESE PROMISES, WHICH DID OCCUR AGAIN, EVEN IF NOBODY WAS AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON BY THE TIME WE WERE DOING THOSE ACTUAL ASSESSMENTS.
SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, YOU HAD MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS REASSURING US THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE THERE AND THERE WAS NO MORE WORRYING.
IN YOUR BYLAWS AGAIN, THERE IS NO MENTION OF THESE PROCESSES.
THERE'S NO RESCINDING OUR CONTINGENT OFFERS FOR THE LOTTERY THAT'S OUTLINED.
ANY CURRENT WESTLAKE ACADEMY PARENT WHO'S PARTICIPATING IN THE LOTTERY AND SUBSEQUENTLY OFFERED ENROLLMENT TO A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION WOULD BE ABLE TO EMPATHIZE AND UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION YOU'VE PUT MANY OF US IN.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF MILESTONES WE COULD HAVE RECEIVED THIS DEVASTATING NEWS.
MAYOR KILBRIDE, STATED IN A WESTLAKE EMAIL, YOU'VE STATED YOU ARE THE INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL, I KINDLY ASK THAT YOU ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS PROVIDED, RECONSIDER THESE RESCINDED OFFERS FOR ENROLLMENT THIS YEAR, AND ALSO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRIORITIZE LOTTERY FOR NEXT YEAR FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HAD TO MAKE DECISIONS SINCE THEN. THANK YOU.
[00:15:01]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER FOLKS? SURE, COME ON UP, BUDDY.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR KILBRIDE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS BEN MAHON, I WILL BE IN SECOND GRADE THIS YEAR.
I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE SITUATION.
I WAS REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT CHANGING SCHOOLS, MY MOM TOLD ME THIS WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME, AND IS A PLACE I CAN ASK QUESTION TO BE CREATIVE AND BEING CHALLENGED.
WHEN I DID THE TESTING AND THE TOUR I BECAME EXCITED TO GO TO SCHOOL HERE.
I LEFT MY SCHOOL FEELING SAD ABOUT WITH MY FRIEND.
NOW THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE CHANCE TO GO TO SCHOOL HERE, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO PLAN FOR NO REASON.
THROUGH THE THINGS I WAS TAUGHT WHEN I WAS LITTLE, WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE KIND TO EVERYONE AND HAVE INTEGRITY.
INTEGRITY IS DOING THE RIGHT THING EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING.
THE DECISION TO TAKE AWAY OUR SPOTS DOESN'T REALLY FEEL LIKE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER EVERYONE'S SPOTS. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENT TO ME? JASON HAS GONE UP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH CLOSING OUT THE CITIZEN PARENT COMMENTS AND MOVING ON TO ITEMS
[E. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
OF COMMUNITY INTEREST. JASON.>> THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE'VE GOT BUSY A FEW WEEKS HERE IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, WE'VE GOT THE ACADEMY BUDGET WORKSHOP COMING UP ON THURSDAY, JUNE 15TH AT NOON.
THEN WE'VE GOT THE TOWN BUDGET WORKSHOP WEEK FROM THEN ON THURSDAY, JUNE 22ND AT NOON AS WELL.
OUR NEXT PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING IS THE 27TH OF JUNE, THAT'S OF COURSE, ON TUESDAY AT FIVE O'CLOCK, AND OUR NEXT TOWN COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, JULY 31ST.
SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES TO TALK ABOUT, WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF PROGRESS GOING ON, NOT ONLY AT THE SCHOOL, BUT IN TOWN AS WELL.
THE PORTABLES ARE OFFICIALLY GONE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS SAW THAT GREAT VIDEO, YES, OF COURSE, WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED.
WE HAD THAT GREAT VIDEO OF THE TRACTOR TRAILER PULLING IT OFF.
NO ONE WAS UPSET ABOUT THAT AT ALL.
SOME ADDITIONAL VIDEO OF THAT AS WELL.
>> YEAH, CERTAINLY. BUT THAT WAS A BIG DAY, OBVIOUSLY, TO SEE THOSE GO, AND THEN I WOULD JUST SPOKE WITH OLIVER RIGHT BEFORE WE CAME INTO THE MEETING WHO TELLS ME THAT THURSDAY MORNING, BITS AND PIECES OF THE NEW MODULAR BUILDINGS WILL IN FACT BE ON CAMPUS AND THEY START TO BE ASSEMBLED, OF COURSE.
THAT'S VERY EXCITING AND WE'LL OF COURSE, GET OUT THERE FOR THAT MIGHTY MINISTER OCCASION.
THE GYM RENOVATIONS ARE GOING REALLY WELL, THEY STARTED OUT AND SO FORTH, I ALSO SPOKE WITH OLIVER ABOUT THAT, HE SAID THE GOAL IS THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST FOR COMPLETION, WHICH WOULD BE HUGE AS WELL.
TWO MAJOR THINGS GOING ON, AND OBVIOUSLY THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THOSE DONE AND FINISHED FOR THE 2023, 2024 SCHOOL YEAR.
PARISH LANE IS NEARLY COMPLETED, ACTUALLY, THE ROAD IS COMPLETED NOW THEY'RE JUST WAITING ON THE SIGNAL LIGHTS TO BE INSTALLED.
WE'RE THINKING HERE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, PARISH LANE WILL BE OPEN, WHICH WILL BE A GIGANTIC DEAL FOR FOLKS, NOT ONLY IN WESTLAKE, BUT IS ROANOKE AS WELL.
TWO OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE, WE WILL BE CLOSED, MEANING TOWN HALL AND THE COURT ON TUESDAY, JULY 4TH FOR THE INDEPENDENCE HOLIDAY, AND THEN FINALLY, PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE MILITARY HEROES RUN, THAT'S GOING TO BE ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 19TH AT 7 AM, I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS BECOME A STAPLE AT THAT SO FAR, KICKING OFF THE EVENT.
THIS YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A 5K AS WELL AS THE 5K.
I JUST SPOKE WITH THE ORGANIZERS LAST WEEK, THEY ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED TO MAKE WESTLAKE HOME.
IT'S REALLY COOL, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO REALLY MAKE THESE RACES.
THEY CAN HAVE THEM ANYWHERE THEY WANT, BUT THEY CHOOSE WESTLAKE FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR, AND THAT MEANS SOMETHING, THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE GETTING COMPLETE BUY-IN FROM YOU GUYS, FROM THE CITIZENS, FROM THE CORPORATE PARTNERS AS WELL, IT'S A TREMENDOUS HONOR TO HAVE THESE FOLKS THERE.
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO COME ON OUT, CERTAINLY MARK THOSE DATE, AUGUST 19TH, SATURDAY BEGINNING AT 7 AM.
THOSE ARE YOUR ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MOVING ON TO REPORTS.
[F.1. 23-155 Receive a Town Quarterly Financial Report]
ANYONE NEEDS TO SEE A REPORT ABOUT THE TOWN QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT?>> GOT ON HEELS AND A LITTLE TALLER THAN EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.
[00:20:03]
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS EVENING'S REPORT IS ON THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR 23.THAT GOES THROUGH THE END OF MARCH.
WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE JUST RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THIS GO ROUND IS THE BIG CHANGE IN INCLUDING PROJECTIONS.
IF YOU'LL RECALL, AFTER THE FIRST-QUARTER.
I'D MENTIONED THAT WHENEVER WE REPORT ON QUARTERLY FINANCIALS, THAT FIRST-QUARTER IS USUALLY PRETTY STATUS QUO.
THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH DATA FOR US TO BE MAKING THOSE REVISED PROJECTIONS.
WE HAVE INCLUDED THAT HERE IN THE SECOND QUARTER. PUT THEM THROUGH.
ONE OF THE BIG TAKEAWAY, THE HEADLINE OF WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN ALL OF OUR FINANCIAL NUMBERS IS THAT THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR US HAS IMPROVED FROM WHAT WE BUDGETED.
I'LL GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE DETAILS HERE IN A MINUTE JUST BASED ON SOME OF THOSE MAJOR FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES.
ALSO SOME THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE AND NOTICE IN HERE.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO INCLUDE THAT IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 24 ADOPTED BUDGET.
A LOT OF THE TRENDS THAT WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING CURRENT YEAR, WE'RE TAKING THOSE FORWARD AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE INCORPORATING THEM APPROPRIATELY.
BUT TO TALK MORE NUMBERS GETS ALL EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE NUMBERS IN THERE.
AS I SAID, REVENUES ARE TRENDING A LOT HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED, BUT SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE SEEING SALES TAX, FRANCHISE FEES, AND INTEREST INCOME TRENDING MUCH HIGHER.
I KNOW THAT AFTER THE FIRST QUARTER, WE'VE TOUCHED ON SALES TAX HAVING SOME HIGHER THAN USUAL ACTIVITY THAT CONTINUED THROUGH JANUARY.
IT HAS SINCE NORMAL DOG, SO WE DON'T EXPECT THAT TO CONTINUE.
BUT THAT WAS A HUGE BUMP FOR US AND THAT AFFECTS A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FUNDS.
THE OTHER ONE FOR GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO BE FRANCHISE FEES.
WE'RE SEEING THOSE A LOT HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAD BUDGETED AND THAT JUST HAS TO DO WITH HIGHER ENERGY RATES.
THEN THE LAST THING ON HERE THAT YOU'LL NOTICE THROUGHOUT A COUPLE OF THE DIFFERENT FUNDS HAVE TO DO WITH INTEREST INCOME.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THE FED RAISED RATES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER.
WE'RE SEEING HIGHER REVENUES FROM JUST OUR INTERESTS PORTFOLIO.
THEN WHENEVER IT COMES TO SPENDING, THE BIG THING THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE SECOND QUARTER, IF YOU'LL RECALL, THE MODULAR BUILDINGS WERE APPROVED OVER FEBRUARY AND MARCH.
THOSE COSTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE FINANCIALS THIS QUARTER.
ADDITIONALLY, THE INCOME THAT WE GOT FROM THE TEXT NOTE THAT WE ISSUED ARE ALSO IN THERE.
STARTING WITH THE GENERAL FUND, IF YOU'LL RECALL, WE ADOPTED A BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND THAT HAD A FIVE MILLION DOLLARS DEFICIT GIVEN THE INCREASE IN SALES TAX, FRANCHISE FEES, AND INTEREST INCOME.
WE'RE LOOKING AT CHANGING THAT TO BE A $1.2 MILLION CONTRIBUTION TO FUND BALANCE.
WE'RE GOING FROM FIVE MILLION TO THE BED TO 1.2 TO THE GOOD, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS FOR OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
>> WE'RE GOING FROM FIVE MILLION TO THE BAG, TO 1.2 MILLION TO THE GOOD FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
>> JOHNNY ARE YOU OKAY TO SEND A NOTE OUT TO THE TOWN ON THAT ONE.
>> THEN THE ONLY ADJUSTMENT WE MADE AFTER THE SECOND QUARTER TO THE EXPENDITURES WAS THE $60,000 INCREASED TO REFLECT THE ACTUAL CONTRACT WITH KILLER PD WE HAD BUDGETED FOR THE ESTIMATE AND IT WAS JUST $60,000 LESS THAN THAT FINAL CONTRACT THAT WE SIGNED.
>> WE HAVE A SALES TAX OFFSET AND PROPERTY TAX.
DOES THAT MONEY GET TAKEN OUT THE BEGINNING BEFORE WE GET IT OR DOES IT COME OUT AT THE BACK END? WE DO AN OFFSET. WE HAVE A ONE PENNY OFFSET ON OUR PROPERTY TAX. HALF PENNY.
>> HOW THAT WORKS, IS IT ALL COMES IN TOGETHER FROM THE COMPTROLLER.
THEN WHENEVER WE DO OUR PROPERTY TAX CALCULATION USING THE COMPTROLLER FORM TO SET THAT, WE CONSIDER THAT FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S RATE.
>> IT'S ALREADY TAKEN OUT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL DOWN.
>> THEN MOVING ON TO THE UTILITY FUND, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WE DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY CHANGE TO THE PROJECTIONS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER.
MAJORITY OF UTILITY FUND ACTIVITIES HAVE TO DO WITH WATER AND SEWER SALES AND PURCHASES.
WHENEVER WE'RE BUYING WATER WHOLESALE, WHENEVER WE'RE TREATING SEWER AND WE TURN AROUND AND CHARGE FOLKS, YOU'LL NOTICE GOING AROUND THE SUMMER, EVERYBODY IS WATERING.
THAT'S WHEN A LOT OF OUR REVENUES COME IN.
WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THIS FUND.
THEN AFTER THE THIRD QUARTER, WHICH WILL END JUNE 30TH, WE'LL COME BACK AND LOOK AND SEE IF THIS FUND IN PARTICULAR NEEDS ANY ADJUSTMENTS.
>> WHEN CAN WE THEORETICALLY RESET THE RATES?
>> WE CAN RESET RATES USUALLY ABOUT ONCE A YEAR.
WILL ENGAGE WITH A CONSULTANT WHO USUALLY DOES A RATE STUDY FOR US; NEWGEN.
THEY'LL COME IN AND THEY'LL LOOK AT ALL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE COST TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES, AND SUGGEST A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS IN THE WINTER.
>> IT IS NOT SCHEDULED YET, BUT WE'RE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMPANY.
[00:25:04]
THEN THE LAST SECTION OF MAJOR FUNDS THAT ARE PRESENTED IN HERE ARE HAVING TO DO WITH THE CAPITAL FUNDS.WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT CAPITAL FUNDS AND THIS IS WHERE WE WILL SEE ALL THE ACTIVITIES HAVING TO DO WITH THE MODULAR BUILDINGS.
YOU'LL NOTICE RIGHT OFF THE BAT THAT WE WENT FROM A COUPLE OF MILLION TO WELL OVER SIX MILLION.
AND LIKE I SAID, THAT HAS TO DO WITH THAT THREE-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT THAT WAS SIGNED AND THE OFFSETTING TAX REVENUE OR THE TAX NOTE REVENUE.
THEN THE OTHER THING THAT IS REALLY GOOD FOR ALL THE MODULAR BUILDINGS, THESE FUNDS ALL HAVE INTEREST INCOME.
AGAIN, SAME THING IN THE GENERAL FUND.
WE SAW HIGHER RATES, WHICH MEANS HIGHER REVENUE.
WE'VE GOT SOME UNEXPECTED REVENUE THAT ARE COMING IN THAT WE CAN USE TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT WE MAY SEE.
THEN LOOKING FORWARD, THE NEXT QUARTERLY REPORT WILL COME FORWARD TO THIS GROUP ON AUGUST 7TH AT THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.
THAT WILL ALSO BE THE FIRST MEETING WHERE AN INVESTMENT REPORT WILL PRESENT AN INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO THAT IS NOT JUST TEXTS POOL AND FIRST FINANCIAL.
ADDITIONALLY, IT WILL ALSO REFLECT THAT WE HAVE HAD OUR CAP ON OUR YIELD WITH FIRST FINANCIAL REMOVED.
THAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF MARCH.
YOU WON'T SEE THAT REFLECTED IN THE SECOND QUARTER HERE.
>> INTO THAT CAP, THERE WAS A CAP THREE AND A QUARTER.
>> B-FLAT. NOW WE'LL WILL BE A MARKET RATE.
>> WE'LL BE MARKING BACK TO TEXTS PULLED THE MONTH BEFORE.
>> THEN ALL OF THESE CHANGES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHENEVER IT COMES TO PROJECTIONS WILL OFFICIALLY CODIFIED THEM THROUGH WHAT'S CALLED A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
THAT MEANS THAT IN SEPTEMBER, I'LL COME BACK HERE AND SAY THIS IS HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO FORMERLY CHANGE THE BUDGET TO REFLECT REALLY THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE HERE AT THE DIETS OR ANY OF THOSE REVENUES THAT WE'VE SEEN.
>> HAVE WE START TO SEE THERE'S A LARGE COMPANY IN TOWN DOING EXPANSION.
HAVE WE STARTED TO SEE AND THE REVENUE FROM THE PERMITS OR FROM THE TAX AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE FROM THERE.
>> WHEN DO WE PROJECT THAT, IN THE END OF THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR?
>> WE WOULDN'T EXPECT THAT THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 23 AT ALL.
>> NEXT YEAR COULD BE REALLY GOOD TO POTENTIALLY.
>> IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD HAVE THAT NEXT YEAR.
>> THANK VERY MUCH. GREAT JOB.
AGAIN, WE'RE REALLY GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
[G.1. ORD-964 Conduct a public hearing and consider adopting Ordinance 964 approving a zoning change request from O-Office Park District to Planned Development District Number 8 (PD8), including a concept plan, to allow for a hotel to be located on the portion of Lot 1, C.M. Throop No. 1510 Addition that is located within the Town of Westlake. The subject property is located at 3300 T.W. King Road at the northwest corner of T.W. King Road and State Highway 114; and take appropriate action (Continued from the March 27, 2023 Town Council meeting)]
CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE 964, APPROVING A ZONING CHANGE REQUESTS FROM OFFICE PARK DISTRICT TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 8, PDA, PUTTING A CONSTANT PLAN TO ALLOW FOR A HOTEL LOCATED IN PORTION OF LOT ONE, CM GROUP ROPE, NUMBER 1510, ADDITION, THAT IS LOCATED WITHIN THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE.THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED 3,300 GW KING ROAD AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF TW KING ROAD AND STATE HIGHWAY 114 AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. RON. THAT'S RON.
>> GOOD EVENING MEMBER COUNCIL, SO YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
THIS HAS BEEN ON THE LAST FEW AGENDAS, HAS BEEN TABLED AT THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS RELATED TO THE PROPERTY AND THEY CAN GET UP AND ANSWER AND GIVE YOU A STATUS UPDATE AS TO WHERE THAT IS.
BUT THEY'RE READY TO TAKE THIS FORWARD.
JUST BRIEFLY I THINK YOU'VE ALL PROBABLY READ THE STAFF REPORT AT LEAST ON ONE OF THE AGENDA MEMOS.
I WON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THIS.
IT'S A FAIRLY SIMPLE REQUEST AND THAT INVOLVES THE LOCATION OF A HOTEL ON THIS PROPERTY.
JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, THE PROPERTIES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 114 BETWEEN THE WOODS SPRING SWEETS AND THE AEROSPACE PARKING GARAGE.
LITTLE TRIANGULAR PIECES SPIN A PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.
IT'S GOT A MUD LIFT STATION ON IT.
IT'S TWO-AND-A-HALF ACRES AND SO THEY WANT TO PUT 130 ROOMS, SIX STORE HOTEL WOULD BE EFFECTIVELY IN THE LIMITED SERVICE HOTEL.
BUT THEY WOULD HAVE SOME MINOR CAPABILITIES OF A FULL-SERVICE HOTEL AS WELL.
IT WOULD LIKELY BE A HILTON PRODUCT.
THEY'RE WANTING TO REZONE THE PROPERTY FROM THE CURRENT ZONING, WHICH IS O OFFICE PARK DISTRICT TO A PD DISTRICT.
THE PD ALLOWS THEM TO GET MULTIPLE WAIVERS TO CERTAIN CODE REQUIREMENTS AND ALSO FIT THIS THING ON THIS PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S A LOT TO FIT ON THE PROPERTY, NOT A LOT OF SPACE.
IT'S ALSO WEDGED IN BY SOUTHLAKE ON THE EAST AND BY TROPHY CLUB ON THE NORTH, JUST A LITTLE PORTION OF THE NORTHERN PROPERTY.
ONE THING WE WERE WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THIS WITH THE APPLICANT, IS WHERE EXACTLY THAT COMMON TOWN BOUNDARY LINE IS BETWEEN TROPHY CLUB AND WESTLAKE, AND SO YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE TOP OF THIS GRAPHIC THAT IS THE FINAL DETERMINATION OF THE TOWN BOUNDARY LINE IS THE DASHED LINE AT THE TOP PORTION OF THE GRAPHIC.
[00:30:07]
THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH THE PROPERTY.THERE'S A MUD LIFT STATION ON THE PROPERTY.
THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTING AND GNARLY HISTORY WITH THIS PROPERTY THAT GOES BACK TO LITIGATION BETWEEN SOUTHLAKE AND WESTLAKE BACK IN THE LATE 90S.
WHEN YOU THROW IN THE FACT THAT THE DENTON COUNTY, AND TARRANT COUNTY BOUNDARY ALSO MOVED AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, IT REALLY MADE THIS PROPERTY PROBLEMATIC, TRYING TO FIGURE ALL THESE THINGS OUT.
WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN PAST A LOT OF THESE TECHNICAL ISSUES, AND SO WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ZONING CASE.
THE PD HAS BEEN TEED UP TO APPROVE THE USE OF A HOTEL ON THE PROPERTY WITH A CONCEPT PLAN THAT'S ATTACHED TO THE ORDINANCE, AND THEN IT WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH A DETAILED SITE PLAN THAT WOULD GET INTO ALL THE SPECIFICS OF THE HOTEL, AND BY THAT TIME THEY WILL HAVE WORKED THROUGH WHATEVER ACCESS ISSUES THEY NEED TO WORK WITH ON SOUTHLAKE, ON TW KING, AND ALSO GETTING APPROVAL FROM THE TOWN OF TROPHY CLUB ON THE NORTH END OF THE LOT AS WELL.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID VOTE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS BACK ON FEBRUARY THE 13TH.
MUCH TIME HAS ELAPSED SINCE THE P&Z MEETING, WE WENT AHEAD AND WE NOTICED THAT WE ADVERTISE THE CASE FOR THIS PARTICULAR COUNCIL MEETING, SO IT IS READY FOR ACTION TONIGHT, AND THE APPLICANT IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOU GUYS AS WELL.
>> BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION ONE BEING FOR YOU.
THIS HAS COME UP A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT LIKE THIS HAS GONE THROUGH P&Z.
DO WE DO PRO FORMAS ON THESE PROPERTIES BEING WHAT WE EXPECT FROM TAX REVENUE I THINK? WHEN IS THAT DONE?
>> WE'VE DONE A VERY GENERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS.
THEY PROVIDED THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE HOTEL WITH WHAT THE ESTIMATED HOTEL-MOTEL TAX REVENUE WOULD BE FOR THE TOWN.
>> YEAH. I GUESS MY BIGGEST QUESTION IS, IS THERE BEEN A FORMAL MARKET STUDY DONE FOR THE POTENTIAL DEMAND CASE FOR MORE HOTEL ROOMS IN THAT 114 CORRIDOR, ESPECIALLY IN THE WESTLAKE AREA?
>> THE TOWN HAS NOT DONE ANY STUDY OF THAT SORT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE APPLICANT COULD PROBABLY BETTER ANSWER THAT. COME UP
WE HAVE NOT DONE A FORMAL STUDY FOR AN OUTSIDE FIRM, BUT I'VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS, HOTEL BUSINESS PRETTY MUCH ALL MY LIFE.
WE HAVE THE HOMEWOOD SUITES RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET ALSO.
WE HAVE A LOT OF MARKET DATA INTERNALLY ON HOW WELL THAT HOTEL DOES AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR A NEW HOTEL.
I'VE BUILT OVER A DOZEN HOTELS MYSELF AND SO I NORMALLY WOULD DO A MARKET STUDY FOR LENDERS REQUIRING IT BUT RIGHT AT THIS POINT, I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LENDERS WHO DON'T EVEN REQUIRE IT BECAUSE THEY JUST GO IN ON OUR EXPERIENCE.
>> I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER GRAVES IS JUST BRINGING UP A POINT.
WE HAVE, I GUESS ONE DATA POINT INTERNALLY HERE IN WESTLAKE, AND THAT'S OUR OWN MARRIOTT HOTEL THAT'S BEEN HERE AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE DONE A PROJECTION ON POTENTIAL TAX REVENUE COMING TO THE TOWN.
I THINK YOU SAY 379,500 PER YEAR.
JUST LOOKING AT SOME OF THE ASSUMPTIONS, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE MODEL BUT YOU'RE ASSUMING A 75 PERCENT OCCUPANCY RATE.
JUST BY COINCIDENCE, THE MARRIOTT ACTUALLY PRESENTED TO US IN DECEMBER OF THIS PAST YEAR AND FOR THE 2022 YEAR, THEIR OCCUPANCY RATE WAS AT 55.6 PERCENT.
FOR 2023, IT WAS PROJECTED TO BE 54.5 PERCENT.
YOUR STRING, AN AVERAGE DAILY RATE AT YOUR HOTEL OF $165.
THE MARRIOTT'S HOLDING IT ABOUT 135 AND THEIR AMENITIES ARE MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN WHAT'S BEING PROJECTED FOR YEARS, AND I THINK THE REVENUE FROM THEM FOR 2022 IS ABOUT 363,000, WHICH IS LESS THAN WHAT YOU'RE PROJECTING FOR YOUR HOTEL.
IT REALLY GOES BACK TO MY QUESTION ABOUT THE DEMAND.
THERE'S A LOT OF ORDINANCES THAT I THINK ARE BEING REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED TO ACCOMMODATE THIS HOTEL ON SOMETHING THAT IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE UNDER THE EXISTING ORDINANCES.
WHY DO YOU FEEL SO BULLISH ABOUT A SECOND HOTEL COMING IN? YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT IN TROTTER THAT'S STILL TO BE DEVELOPED.
THERE'S DISCUSSIONS RUMORS ABOUT POSSIBLE HOTELS COMING IN THERE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD NEVER WANT TO FLEDGLING BUSINESS TO COME IN AND STRUGGLES.
I'M JUST CURIOUS ON THAT MARKET ANALYSIS, WHY YOU FEEL SO STRONGLY?
>> WELL, I FEEL LIKE OUR HOMEWOOD HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND I DO THINK THERE'S A LOT OF BARRIERS TO ENTRY AROUND HERE.
WHATEVER COMPETITION WILL COME, IT'S GOING TO BE LIMITED AND I MEAN
[00:35:04]
WE'VE NEVER STRUGGLED WITH OCCUPANCY AT OUR OTHER HOTEL IN THIS AREA.>> IT RANGES FROM 75-85 PERCENT.
ONLY DURING COVID DID WE STRUGGLE, AND EVEN DURING COVID THAT HOTEL STRUGGLED LESS THAN A LOT OF MY OTHER HOTELS.
>> BUT ONE THING I WOULD THINK IS OUR MARRIOTT IS LIKE COMPARING FUEL EFFICIENCY FROM A CAR THAT WAS MADE 30 YEARS AGO VERSUS A BRAND NEW ONE.
I MEAN, BUSINESS TRAVELERS WANT TO STAY IN A FRESH PRODUCT.
I CAN'T SEE HAVING A 55 PERCENT OCCUPANCY AND A FRESH HILTON OR MARRIOTT BRANDED PRODUCT.
THE THING I WOULD SAY IS WE'RE GETTING ZERO REVENUE OFF THIS UNIQUE TRIANGLE OF A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THIS COMPARED TO HAVING A WATER BURGER, WHICH I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE [LAUGHTER].
FOR PERSONAL REASONS, I LOOK AT THIS AS A LOT OF POTENTIAL REVENUE BECAUSE WE ARE GOING SIX STORIES UP VERSUS LET'S SAY SOMEBODY WANTED TO BUILD UP A TITLE COMPANY OR SOMETHING THERE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST IN WESTLAKE.
>> MR. PATEL, DID YOU LOOK AT HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO BUILD THIS HOTEL?
>> THAT'S DIFFICULT QUESTION BECAUSE IT USED TO BE WHERE THE DESIGN STAGE WOULD TAKE MAYBE NINE MONTHS TO A YEAR AND CONSTRUCTION WOULD TAKE MAYBE 12 MONTHS TO 14 MONTHS.
BUT WHAT I'VE NOTICED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IS EVERYTHING IS TAKING LONGER.
JUST FOR US TO GET TO HERE HAS TAKEN US WELL OVER A YEAR.
I REALLY THINK THE DESIGN STAGE CAN TAKE LONGER, IT CAN TAKE 18 MONTHS, MAYBE EVEN TWO YEARS, JUST DEPENDS AND THEN ONCE YOU GO INTO CONSTRUCTION, IT'S TYPICAL FOR ANOTHER 18 MONTHS.
BUT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF VARIABLES SO IT'S HARD TO SAY.
IT COULD BE MUCH FASTER AND THERE HAVE BEEN PROPERTIES THAT HAVE DONE THAT EVEN IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS FROM BREAK GROUND TO OPEN IN 12 MONTHS.
>> I THINK SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING IN OUR LOCAL HOTEL NOW IS DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION IN OUR AREA, AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU HAD LOOKED AT THE TECH START PROJECT AND MADE SURE THAT YOU ARE IN LINE WITH, HOW THE TECH START PROJECT IS ADVANCING.
>> WE'VE TALKED TO TECH START SPECIFICALLY ABOUT OUR ACCESS HERE, BUT I'M NOT SO FAMILIAR WITH THE OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH TECH START.
>> WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT IF YOU'D LIKE.
>> NO. I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU HOME WITH A MARKET STUDY BECAUSE I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT SUPPORT BECAUSE I KNOW FROM OUR OWN MARRIOTT, YOU TALK ABOUT A BUSINESS CASE USE FOR THIS.
I THINK YOU'RE PROJECTING ABOUT 520 SQUARE FEET OF MEETING SPACES.
THE MARRIOTT HAS NEARLY 15,000 SQUARE FEET OF BIDDING SPACE.
IT IS WELL GEARED TO THE BUSINESS TRAVELER, AND FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN TAKING TAX MONEY BACK TO THEM TO HELP PROMOTE SHUTTLE TO THE AIRPORT, LOCAL ADVERTISING.
WE'VE BEEN PARTNERED VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM.
I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF WE HAD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE POTENTIAL DEMAND FOR YET ANOTHER HOTEL IN WESTLAKE.
THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION.
>> FOR THE VOTE TODAY UNDERSTAND THAT ALL WE'RE ALLOWING YOU TO DO IS CHANGE THE ZONING.
IT STILL REQUIRES THE ORDINANCES BE REVIEWED AT A LATER DATE SO I FEEL WE'RE GIVING NOTHING UP.
BUT I WOULD JUST CAUTION THAT WE JUST HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MODEL.
>> MY QUESTION, RON, IS, IF WE APPROVE THIS NOW AND THEN ZONING CHANGES, AND FOR SOME REASON, THE PROJECT DECIDES NOT TO HAPPEN, WHATEVER HAPPENS.
THAT'S NOW THE FOREVER ZONING FOR THAT, RIGHT?
>> IT'D BE A PD FOR A HOTEL USE.
WITH THE SAME CONDITIONS, THAT DOESN'T FORBID SOMEBODY ELSE FROM COMING IN, A TOTALLY DIFFERENT OPERATOR COMING IN AND TO GET THAT SITE PLAN DOWN THE ROUTE.
YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A PERMANENT STRUCTURE.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S OPEN THIS UP TO A PUBLIC HEARING.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS MATTER? ANYONE? LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GET A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO CONSENT AGENDA,
[H. CONSENT AGENDA]
ANYTHING I CONSENT THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.>> ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT.
[00:40:01]
>> MOTION CARRIES. GOING TO REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS,
[I.2. RES 23-28 Consider approving Resolution 23-28 authorizing participation in Texas Cooperative Liquid Assets Security System as an authorized investment; and take appropriate action]
LET'S QUICKLY JUST START WITH THE EASY ONE, RESOLUTION 23-28.CONSIDERING APPROVING A RESOLUTION 23-28, AUTHORIZING THE PARTICIPATION IN TEXAS CO-OPERATIVE LIQUID ASSET SECURITY SYSTEM AS AN AUTHORIZED INVESTMENT AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
IS THERE A BRIEFING WITH THIS HERE?
>> [NOISE] THANK YOU ALL. THE ONLY UPDATE I HAVE SINCE THIS WAS FIRST PROPOSED BACK IN APRIL IS JUST THE CONFIRMATION THAT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP IN US IMPROVING OUR DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR PORTFOLIO.
AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR HOLDINGS ARE ALL IN ONE ACCOUNT.
WE WOULD BE ENTERING INTO A RISK POOL WITH TEXAS CLASS.
WE'VE ALREADY PARTICIPATE IN TEXTS POOL.
THEN LATER ON THIS FALL WHENEVER WE REVISIT THE INVESTMENT POLICY, WHAT WE'LL ALSO BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THEN IS A LIST OF BROKERS SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT, AS I SAID, FURTHER DIVERSIFYING OUR HOLDINGS AND WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL BROKERS ON DIRECT PLACEMENT SALES.
>> MY ONLY QUESTION RELATES BACK TO OUR INVESTMENT POLICY HERE AT THE TOWN.
I THINK SECTION 8 TALKS ABOUT THE AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS WE'RE ALLOWED TO MAKE, WITH THIS CONFORM WITH ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS?
>> YES. TEXAS CLASS AND THE MANAGER PUBLIC TRUST ADVISORS, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO ADHERE TO WHAT'S CALLED PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT OR PFIA AND THAT IS WHAT GOVERNS US AND SAYS WE CAN OR CANNOT INVEST IN CERTAIN HOLDINGS.
>> I THINK ALSO THERE'S ANOTHER REQUIREMENT UNDER THE SAFE KEEPING CLUTTER REALIZATION THAT EVERYTHING IS SETTLED DVP, IT SAYS CUSTODIANS FOR YOUR CAR TO ISSUE ORIGINAL SAFEKEEPING RECEIPTS FOR EACH SECURITY, ETC.
>> WE WOULD NOT HAVE THAT WITH THE POOL.
THE WAY THAT THE RISK POOLS WORK IS THAT THEY HAVE EVERYBODY COMMINGLED.
IT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT PURCHASING POWER.
>> DO WE NEED TO AMEND THE POLICY BECAUSE IT DOES STATE THAT IS REQUIRED FOR AN INVESTMENT?
THAT WILL COME FORWARD, LIKE I SAID, LATER ON IN THE FALL WHENEVER WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF UPDATING IT AGAIN.
BUT BECAUSE WE ARE GENERAL LAW, WELL, THE STATE SAYS GOES AND SO THAT CAN ACTUALLY TRUMP US.
>> WE ARE, BUT OUR POLICY COULD SUPERSEDE STATE REQUIREMENTS AND I FEEL LIKE OURS IS QUITE CONSERVATIVE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT SAYS ANYTHING OVER THE FDIC INSURANCE LIMITS, WE ARE REQUIRED TO BE COLLATERALIZED BY 102 PERCENT IN SECURITY.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE PROBABLY NOT DOING THIS AND SO WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO AMEND OUR POLICY [INAUDIBLE] THIS I THINK, BUT I'D DEFER TO YOUR VIEWS ON THIS.
>> WHENEVER IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE COLLATERALIZATION, THAT'S TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR BANK RIGHT NOW AND NOT THE RISK POOL ITSELF.
>> HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE ACTUALLY MOVING INTO THIS?
>> THAT'S STILL UP FOR DEBATE.
I WOULDN'T EXPECT US TO MOVE MORE THAN HALF OF WHAT OUR LIQUID HOLDINGS ARE.
AGAIN, JUST THINKING ABOUT THE DIVERSIFICATION AND LIQUIDITY ASPECT.
>> THIS IS LESS THAN MY RED ARE VERY HEAVILY IN TREASURIES RIGHT NOW.
A LOT OF THE BANKS NOW ARE NEGATIVE UNDER TREASURY HOLDINGS, BECAUSE THEY GET THEIR BONDS ARE AT HALF A PERCENT INTEREST IN THE MARKET RIGHT NOW IT'S AT FIVE AND A QUARTER.
THESE ASSET CLASSES IS THE TROUBLES IN THE '90S AND HEAVY BELT OUT WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I KNOW THAT THEY DO SEARCH AND DO WE DO ANY DUE DILIGENCE LOOKING THROUGH THEIR STUFF, THIS HAPPENED IN THE '90S.
JUST DOUBLE-CHECK OURSELVES AND THAT STUFF?
>> ABSOLUTELY. TEXAS CLASS, AS I SAID, THEY'RE BEING MANAGED BY PUBLIC TRUST ADVISORS.
THEY HAVEN'T HAD A SITUATION LIKE THAT.
>> I KNOW, BUT IT HAPPENED IN '90.
YOU SAID TEXAS HAD TO STEP IN AND BAIL THIS.
WE'RE IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT NOW WHERE THIS WEEK, FED IS GOING TO GO TO FIVE AND A QUARTER, WHEREVER IT IS.
THEY'RE HOLDING ONTO THESE ASSETS.
THERE'S A STEEP CLIMB VERY QUICKLY, THE THINGS THAT ARE UNDER TWO YEARS.
JUST INTELLECTUALLY, THIS HASN'T EXISTED IN 20 YEARS.
I'M JUST ASKING THAT QUESTION OUT LOUD.
DO WE LOOK AT THEIR HOLDINGS DIRECTLY?
>> WE DO. TEXAS CLASS IS VERY GOOD, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER RISK POOLS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THAT IS VERY TRANSPARENT.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE MANAGING PUBLIC FUNDS.
THEY PUT OUT ALL OF THEIR HOLDINGS AND THEY DO REGULAR REPORTING.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THERE'S SEVERAL LARGE INSTITUTIONS IN TOWN THAT ARE $200 BILLION IN THE HOLE,
[00:45:03]
IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR BONDS.THEY'RE SOLVENT, THEY'RE GOOD.
BUT THE NIGHTMARE HAS HIT SEVERAL BANKS ALREADY.
THEN WE'RE ALSO AT RISK FOR WHO ELSE MIGHT NEED MONEY TOO IN THE FUTURE? WHO ARE THE OTHER TOWNS INVESTING? THEY ALL TRY TO DUMP THEIR ASSETS.
WE WOULD BE IN A SPOT WHERE THAT CLASS WOULD BE IN THE HOLE.
I KNOW THIS IS A LARGE FUN, BUT ITS HAPPENED VERY RECENTLY ON THIS VERY SAME ISSUE ON SEVERAL BANKS.
I'D LIKE TO TRUST, BUT WHY PEOPLE TRUSTED MADE OFF AND THEY SAID, HE PUSHES HIS REPORT AND THEN PEOPLE FINALLY READ IT AND SAID IT'S THE SAME REPORT FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.
JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT AS WE DO THIS.
>> THAT IS PART OF THE REASON THAT WE'RE BRINGING SOMETHING LIKE THIS FORWARD.
THE IDEA OF DIVERSIFICATION, NOT HAVING ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET AS ESSENTIALLY WE DO NOW.
THIS WOULD BE A GOOD MOVE TO HEDGE AGAINST THAT SAME SITUATION HAPPENING ON THE BANK SIDE.
>> IT'S INHERENT IN INVESTMENT.
>> I THINK IS A PATH TO FURTHER DIVERSIFICATION.
I THINK THIS MAKES LOT OF SENSE AND WE'VE DISCUSSED IT FOR A WHILE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL AWARE RISK DO STILL EXIST.
BUT THANK YOU FOR DOING THE RESEARCH ON IT.
>> WHAT WE INHERITED HAD TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REDS.
THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES.
>>ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> AYE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[I.1. 23-156 Receive an update from Northwest Chamber of Commerce]
>> LAST ITEM ON REGULAR AGENDA IS 23J-156.
RECEIVE AN UPDATE FOR THE NORTHWEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
>> THANKS FOR WAITING. [LAUGHTER]
>> NO WORRIES. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
WE USED TO DO THESE EVERY YEAR AND THEN WE ALL HAD TO DO A PAUSE AND LIFE FOR COUPLE OF YEARS AND LAST YEAR WAS VERY MUCH A RECOVERY OR FOR US.
I HAVE A LOT OF SLIDES, BUT I AM GOING TO BE BRIEF AND RUN THROUGH THEM REALLY QUICKLY.
OR YOU HAVE A PACKET IN FRONT OF YOU THAT GIVES YOU [INAUDIBLE] WERE DOING.
I'LL MENTION THEM AS WE GO THROUGH IT.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME, I'M SELINE ALDRIDGE, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE METRO CHAMBER.
I SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCED BEFORE.
WE CONTINUE TO BE THAT WE ARE FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ALSO HERE FOR RELOCATION.
BUT PREDOMINANTLY, WE'RE HERE TO SERVE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
ALTHOUGH WE'RE A NON-PROFIT, WE ARE A BUSINESS DEDUCTION FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER.
WE CONTINUE TO HOLD OUR MISSION, VISION, AND VALUE STATEMENTS ON ANYTHING THAT WE TAKE ON OR MAKING ADJUSTMENTS WITH EVERYTHING WE DO.
THIS OF COURSE IS OUR REGION AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE MEMBERS OF THE WESTLAKE.
WE HAVE FROM GLOBAL 500, FORTUNE 500, TO MIDSIZE, TO SMALL BUSINESS, TO NON-PROFITS THAT WE HAVE THE GAMUT OF BUSINESSES WE HAVE TO SERVE.
THEN A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF 2022 BECAUSE OUR YEAR RUNS A CALENDAR YEAR.
TO GIVE YOU A SYNOPSIS OF HOW WE FINISHED OUR YEAR, WE FINISHED WITH JUST OVER 500 MEMBERS.
IT WAS A DROP BECAUSE WE KEPT ON A LOT OF BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING WE FELT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
BUT LAST YEAR WE HAD TO PULL THE BAND-AID OFF AND CLEAN IT UP.
BUT WE DID HAVE AT 24 PERCENT GROWTH, WHICH WAS VERY GOOD, AS WELL AS AN 82 PERCENT RETENTION.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERS FALL IN THE BASIC AND THE BUSINESS LEVELS, WHICH ARE THE LOWER LEVELS.
WE REALLY DEPEND ON THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS OUR LARGER COMPANIES TO HELP ENABLE US TO BRING WHAT WE DO TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THIS GIVES YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE BREAKDOWN OF WHERE ALL OF OUR MEMBERS ARE.
THEN HERE'S JUST A BRIEF VIDEO FOR YOU TO SEE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR YEAR.
>> IT'S ALL RIGHT, IT'S JUST MUSIC SO WE CAN JUST GO THROUGH THE SLIDES SO WE CAN HIT FAST BECAUSE ITS A LONG EVENING.
[00:50:04]
PRETEND THERE'S THIS REALLY COOL MUSIC PLAYING WHILE YOU LOOK AT THESE SLIDES.>> I WAS [LAUGHTER] GOING TO SAY THERE ARE NO WORDS TO THIS IS JUST TO SOMETHING IN THE BACKGROUND WHILE WE WATCH THE SLIDES.
IT'S BASICALLY A BRIEF OVERVIEW TO GIVE YOU, IT'S REALLY MORE PICTURES ON THE SUCCESSES THAT WE'VE HAD AND GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A REPORT ON ESPECIALLY WITH OUR EVENTS, WE HOST FIVE MAJOR EVENTS A YEAR.
THEY ARE MAJOR FUNDRAISERS THAT WE HOST, AND THE ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT FORUM, WE PARTNER WITH OUR COMMUNITIES ON THIS EVENT.
MANY OF YOU HAVE COME TO THIS AND THE TASTE IS OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN EVENTS THAT WE HOST OVER AT THE SCHWAB CAMPUS, AND IT'S BEEN VERY POPULAR.
I THINK WE HAD OVER 300 PEOPLE.
OUR LONE STAR LEGISLATIVE, WHICH WE HELD LAST FALL, AND WE WILL HOST AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER.
OUR ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC, OUR LUNCHEONS WHICH WE HOLD QUARTERLY.
WE CHANGED THAT LAST YEAR TO QUARTERLY A LOT BECAUSE OF THE VENUES AND THEIR COSTS THAT ARE GOING UP AND TRYING TO BE COGNIZANT FOR OUR SMALLER MEMBERS, WE AVERAGE OVER 300 FOR THAT.
OUR WOMEN IN BUSINESS PROGRAM IS GROWING GREATLY.
WE'RE ACTUALLY ALMOST OUTGROWN THE TROPHIC COUNTRY CLUB AND IT IS A PROGRAM THAT CONTINUES TO GROW.
OUR BUSINESS BUILDER WE MOVE THEM THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES SO THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING THE MEMBERSHIP PHYSICALLY TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR MIXERS THE SAME.
WE STARTED NEW MEMBER MIXERS TO REALLY ENGAGE OUR NEW MEMBERS SO THAT THEY DON'T FEEL OVERWHELMED.
OUR BUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OUR ELM, WHICH I THINK IS NEXT, WE HOST THEM NOW AT THE CHAMBER BUILDING AND THEY BECOME VERY POPULAR, SMALLER INTIMATE GROUPS BEING ABLE TO NETWORK, LEARN DIFFERENT TOPICS.
THEN OUR REGIONAL ADVANTAGE PROGRAM, WHICH YOUR TOWN MANAGER IS A GRADUATE FROM, IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WE DO THROUGHOUT A YEAR.
IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM TO LEARN ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND GETTING ENGAGED IN THE REGION.
THEN YOU SAW PICTURES OF RIBBON CUTTINGS OUR GROWTH THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH EVERYTHING WE DO THAT'S WAS IN PLACE OF THE.
>> HERE'S A BRIEF RECAP, MID-YEAR.
WE'RE ACTUALLY AT OVER 550 MEMBERS, SO WE'RE REALLY GROWING BACK STRONG, WHICH I'M THRILLED TO SEE.
A LOT OF THAT IS THE TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP AS WELL THAT WE HAVE WITH SO MANY OF OUR BIG COMPANIES.
HERE'S JUST A SNAPSHOT OF OUR PARK COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT THAT WE'RE GETTING ON THE HIGH LEVEL FROM MANY OF THE COMPANIES THAT ARE PRESIDENTS LEVEL, OUR CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE, AND THAT'S OUR MEMBER PARTNERS.
THEN ON OUR EVENTS ARE THEN PARTNERS.
THANK YOU TO THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE FOR BEING A BRONZE PARTNER OR SILVERS OR PLATINUMS. THEN OUR AREAS THAT REALLY TRULY FOCUS ON IS NETWORKING, PROMOTION, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY.
QUICK SNAPSHOT ON PROGRAMS. THESE ARE ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR MEMBERS CAN NETWORK.
SOME OF THEM I'VE TOUCHED ON THROUGH THE VIDEO.
THIS IS BRINGING A LOT OF NEW BUSINESS TO US.
WE HAVE A GREAT DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT'S MANY MEMBERS ARE JUST FINDING US, LOOKING US UP AND JOINING ONLINE AND GETTING ENGAGED.
THEN EDUCATION, OUR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ARE EMERGING LEADERS, ARE WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND BUSINESS EDUCATION TRAINING.
OTHER WAYS WE'RE PROMOTING OUR MEMBERS AND IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING ENGAGED AND GETTING INVOLVED.
WE PROVIDE THE TOOLS WE ENGAGE THEM AND IF THEY JUST JOIN AND THINK THAT A BUSINESS IS GOING TO COME TO THEM, YOU HAVE TO GET ENGAGED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
ADVOCACY. WE HAVE OUR STATE OF THE COMMUNITIES ADDRESSED.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR PRESENTING BACK IN FEBRUARY OUR LONE STAR LEGISLATIVE REPORT, WHICH WILL BE IN SEPTEMBER, OUR ORIGINAL ADVANTAGE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.
THEN WE PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR IN BOTH THE DENTIN AND THE TARRANT COUNTY DAYS.
THEN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, WHICH IS WHAT WE DO A LOT, MOSTLY WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE WORK ON.
WE MEET WITH OUR COMMUNITIES ONCE A MONTH ON THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON TOGETHER.
OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BROCHURE IN YOUR PACKET IS YOUR BUSINESS AND RELOCATION GUIDE,
[00:55:04]
WHICH EACH COMMUNITY PROVIDES A FULL SPREAD ON THAT.OUR WEBSITE, OF COURSE, A VIDEO THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT REDOING THAT.
THEN WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITIES ON A REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT OVERLAYS EVERYBODY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT EVERYBODY IS DOING AND WE'RE ALMOST DONE WITH THAT.
I HAVE A PHENOMENAL BOARD, THIS IS MY OFFICERS THAT I WORK WITH, AND THEN OUR DIRECTORS.
I HAVE A SMALL BUT VERY MIGHTY TEAM THAT WORKS WITH ME EVERY DAY.
THEN OTHER WAYS IN WHICH WE CONNECT WITH THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS OUR MEMBERS.
THEN ALSO IN YOUR PACKET IS VERY QR CODE-DRIVEN BECAUSE IT'S VERY REALITY, IT'S ORGANICALLY ON POINT ALL THE TIME.
ANYTIME WE'RE CHANGING ANYTHING, YOU CLICK ON THE "CALENDAR", 'THE DIRECTORY' OR 'JOIN', IT'S ALL NEW, AND HOW TO CONTACT US.
THERE'S JUST A SNAPSHOT OF SOME PICTURES OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE OVER THE PAST YEAR.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR A TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP FOR I WAS LOOKING BACK AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I SAY IT RIGHT.
WESTLAKE WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL COMMUNITIES THAT JOINED AFTER ROANOKE.
IT WAS THE ROANOKE CHAMBER, THEN IT BECAME THE ROANOKE TROPHY CLUB, WESTLAKE CHAMBER.
I CAME ON IN THE YEAR 2000 AND SO WESTLAKE HAS BEEN A MEMBER FOR 32 YEARS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP.
THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWERING THE QUESTION.
I HATE TO SAY THIS, I WAS IGNORANT OF THIS BEFORE I JOINED COUNSEL THAT I'VE BEEN TO MOST EVERY ONE OF THE QUARTER LUNCH THEY'RE OUTSTANDING.
>> YOU GUYS REALLY DO A GOOD JOB, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.
>> DO YOU KNOW OFFHAND? I KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF LARGE CORPORATIONS.
BUT HOW MANY SMALL BUSINESSES IN WESTLAKE ARE PART OF YOUR ORGANIZATION?
CAN I LOOK THAT UP AND SEND THAT TO YOU?
>> YEAH. IF YOU WERE TO GUESS WOULD BE LESS THAN 10? LESS THAN FIVE?
>> I WOULD SAY LESS THAN 10 ON THE SMALL.
>> THIS HELPS THE LARGER WEALTHY COMPANIES.
>> NO, TO BE QUITE HONEST, I THINK THAT THE LARGER CORPORATIONS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, IT'S MORE OF THE GOODWILL AND PARTICIPATION AND BEING ENGAGED TO SHOW THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE HERE TO HELP THE ECONOMIC GROWTH.
MOST OF THE PROGRAMS WE PROVIDE IS REALLY FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS.
>> BUT DO YOU THINK IT'S LESS THAN 10 OR MAYBE EVEN FIVE?
>> WOULD THAT BE THE SMALLEST OUT OF ALL THE TOWNS IN HERE?
>> WE'RE BENEFITING THE LEAST?
>> WE'RE BENEFITING THE LEAST.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE BENEFITING THE LEAST?
>> WE'RE NOT BENEFITING THE MOST, RIGHT?
>> I LOOKED AT THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE AS A MEMBER AND THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE THE TOWN IS EQUAL TO WHAT WE DO FOR ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES.
>> BUT I'M LOOKING HERE AT ALMOST $12,000 AND WE HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF BENEFIT FOR THAT.
I WOULD THINK THAT OUR PARTICIPATION SHOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS.
>> WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY THE SAME AS WHAT WE PROVIDE ALL COMMUNITIES.
THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I HEAR THAT WE ONLY HAVE 1,800 PEOPLE, HALF OF WHICH ARE KIDS.
I JUST THINK THAT WE SHOULD PAY SIGNIFICANTLY LESS BECAUSE WE HAVE LESS PEOPLE AND LESS LITTLE BUSINESSES IS HELPING.
>> MR. SHANNON, ALSO, THOUGH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WESTLAKE IS ONLY BEING 40 -50% BUILT OUT.
WE ALSO HAVE THE MOST TO GAIN FROM BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE CHAMBER TO BRING IN MORE BUSINESSES, NOT JUST TO WORKING WITH THE CURRENT BUSINESS LOAD.
>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN PART OF IT FOR 32 YEARS, SO EVENTUALLY IT'S GOING TO KICK IN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S THE LAST REGULAR AGENDA ITEM.
WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN THE ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IS ANYONE WANT TO ADD A FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? THAT'S A GERMAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FOLKS FOR CLOSING OUT.
>> THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.