[00:00:06]
>> WELL, WELCOME TO OUR SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF
[CALL TO ORDER]
THE FRISCO CITY COUNCIL WITH THE GEORGE A. PUREFOY MUNICIPAL CENTER, COUNCIL CHAMBER 6101 FRISCO SQUARE BOULEVARD IN FRISCO, TEXAS.IT IS 6:00 P.M ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, 2024.
I WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND I'M JOINED BY THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.
IF YOU DON'T MIND FIRST STANDING AND JOINING ME IN THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US HERE THIS EVENING.
WHAT WE WANTED TO TRY TO DO TONIGHT IS THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE HAVING INFORMAL GATHERING, WHERE WE GIVE THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS AN UPDATE OF EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN THE RAIL DISTRICT.
ALSO, LET YOU KNOW THE CITY'S VISION FOR THE RAIL DISTRICT AND HOW WE'RE TRYING TO LEAN IN THERE TO MAKE IT A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT, A SUCCESSFUL PART OF OUR CITY.
THEN IN AGENDA ITEM 3, WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM YOU AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH A QUICK PRESENTATION TO GIVE AN UPDATE.
BUT FIRST, I DO NEED TO TAKE CITIZEN INPUT AND THIS WOULD BE FOR ANY CITIZEN INPUT UNRELATED TO THE RAIL DISTRICT.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO GENERALLY SPEAK DURING CITIZEN INPUT? THAT'LL MOVE US TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.
ITEM 2 IS OUR RAIL DISTRICT UPDATES.
[Rail District updates.]
>> MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, JOHN LETTELLEIR, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
UP HERE ON THE SCREEN IS THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.
AS I HAD MENTIONED TO COUNSEL BEFORE, THIS IS AN IDEA THAT HAD COME FROM THE MAYOR AND TAMMY AND A FEW OTHERS THAT WERE ALL ON THE EXCHANGE TRIP THAT THE CHAMBER COORDINATED WITH THE TRIP TO GEORGIA BACK IN OCTOBER.
WE SENT NOTIFICATIONS, WE SENT TWO OUT OF COURTESY TO ALL THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS DOWNTOWN NOTIFYING THEM OF THIS MEETING TONIGHT.
FIRST ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE RAIL DISTRICT UPDATES.
THIS IS PART OF THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, AND A LOT OF THESE HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE CITIZENS AND BONDS.
BUT AS EVERYONE KNOWS, MAIN STREET IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE MAIN THING IS THE SIDEWALKS ARE BEING WIDENED TO 18 FEET IN WIDTH.
THAT WILL INCLUDE STREET TREES.
IT'S ALSO BEAR ON THE LINES, THAT'S LOCATED BEHIND THE CITY BLOCK.
ELM STREET, WHICH IS BEING COMPLETED, THAT WAS 5.1 MILLION AND THESE WERE THE COST.
FOURTH STREET PLAZA, THAT'S BEING TIED WITH THE MAIN STREET PLAZA.
THE PARKING GARAGE AT 27, ALL OF THAT IS FIGURED TO BE DONE BEFORE THE WORLD CUP IN 2026.
THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE CITY BLOCK THAT'S IN BETWEEN THE PLAZA AND 3RD STREET.
WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH A PARTY AND THAT FUTURE DISCUSSION AT THAT POINT.
BUT WE'RE LOOKING FROM THE WORK SESSION I HAD WITH COUNCIL BACK IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR MAYBE A BOUTIQUE HOTEL, RETAIL RESTAURANT, SOMETHING THAT ADDS TO THE 18 HOUR DISTRICT FILL IN THE DOWNTOWN AS CALLED OUT BY THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN AND THE VELOCITY REPORT THAT WAS DONE LATER THIS SUMMER.
RAIL DISTRICT UPDATES ON THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DOWNTOWN.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ENGINEERING SERVICES AND MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS HAVE PUT TOGETHER.
IF EVERYONE WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE QR CODE UP THERE, THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO THE WEBSITE OF FRISCO, WHERE YOU CAN CLICK ON THESE COLORED AREAS.
IT WILL GIVE YOU ESTIMATED START DATES AND COMPLETION DATES FOR ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT'S AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE 24/7.
>> JOHN, I FELT YOU JUST HOLD THERE REAL QUICK.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THIS IS ON OUR INTERACTIVE GIS SYSTEM.
BUT I KNOW A LOT OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS DOWNTOWN HERE COMPLETION DATE OF APRIL OF 2026.
OF COURSE, THAT'S A DAUNTING NUMBER THINKING 18 MONTHS OUT.
WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER HERE IS MORE OF THE STAGING OF DISRUPTION.
EACH BUSINESS OWNER WOULD KNOW DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESS WHEN THE PEAK CONSTRUCTION, I WOULD SAY, WOULD BE HAPPENING AND WHEN IT WOULD BE COMPLETED SO THEY CAN BETTER PLAN FOR THAT PERIOD OF DISRUPTION.
[00:05:02]
>> THEN MATT JABBAR, HE'S THE PROJECT COORDINATOR AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR MAIN STREET AND THE PLAZA.
IF EVERYONE HAS QUESTIONS, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO MATT.
THIS IS RAIL DISTRICT UPDATES, PRIVATE PROJECTS IN THE DOWNTOWN.
WE HAVE FOUR URBAN LIVING PROJECTS.
RESIDENTIAL IS MARKED IN THE GOLD YELLOW COLORS.
WE HAVE TWO MIXED USE PROJECTS, ONE.
ALL OF THESE ARE EITHER UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR CLOSE TO BEING UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THEN OF COURSE, ROLLERTOWN, THEY'RE UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH A COMPLETION DATE THIS SUMMER.
THAT'S A JOINT PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP.
THEN THE SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE RAIL DISTRICT, TOYOTA STADIUM.
AS UP HERE, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR 182 MILLION IMPROVEMENT UPDATE.
THAT DOES THE STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THE HUNT SPORTS GROUP IS ALSO LOOKING AT DEVELOPING OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL AROUND THE PROPERTY.
RESIDENTIAL WILL REQUIRE A ZONING CHANGE.
OF COURSE, THE CITY IS IN THE PLANNING PHASE FOR GRAND PARK, BUT THERE'S A NUMBER OF EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING AROUND THE RAIL DISTRICT OR DOWNTOWN, SO CREATING THAT SPECIAL VIBE IN THE DOWNTOWN.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO CHRIS, MARLA ROE AND CORY POWERS WERE TO VISIT FRISCO.
THEY LED THE BRANDING EFFORT CREATING THE RAIL DISTRICT LOGO THAT'S BEEN SHOWN UP HERE.
THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN COORDINATING ONE VOICE FOR THE RAIL DISTRICT.
I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO CHRIS TALK ABOUT THE PILOT PROGRAMS OF EDC AND CDC.
>> GOOD EVENING. CHRIS LEONARD, PLANNING MANAGER.
THE CDC COLLECTS HALF-CENT SALES TAX AND THE EDC COLLECTS A HALF-CENT SALES TAX, AND THEY'RE DEDICATING PART OF THAT TO REINVEST INTO THE BUILDINGS IN THE RAIL DISTRICT.
WE MET WITH CDC. EDC IS ALREADY DOING ONE WHERE THEY CALL IT A TYPE A PROPERTY.
THAT'S CORPORATE IN NATURE AND IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A WIDE SCOPE WITHIN THE BUILDINGS IN THE RAIL DISTRICT.
CDC CAN EXPAND UPON THAT WITH MORE OF A CONTEXT OF ENHANCING TOURISM IN THE RAIL DISTRICT AND SO THERE'S MORE ELIGIBILITY WITH THAT PROGRAM.
BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS PROVIDE $4.5 MILLION, NINE MILLION DOLLARS IN TOTAL, AND IT'S FOR THE CDC AND THE EDC PART.
THEY'RE FOCUSING PRIMARILY ON THE FACADE TYPE IMPROVEMENTS.
THEN ONCE THOSE MEET THE ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS, YOU CAN MOVE INSIDE THE BUILDING AND BRING THE INTERIOR BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS UP TO BUILDING CODE AND FIRE CODE.
THAT'S JUST A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT.
FIFTY PERCENT. IT'S A PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT, SO IT'S A 50% MATCH.
>> ALL YOU HAD FOR THOSE ITEMS? DID ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, I'LL JUST ROLL THROUGH THIS THIRD ITEM AND SOME OF
[Discuss Mayor and City Council's vision for the Rail District.]
THE VISION AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU.COUNCIL HAS BEEN PLANNING ON OUR RAIL DISTRICT, I THINK GOING BACK TO 2017, I THINK WHEN WE APPROVED OUR DOWNTOWN MASTER PLANNING PROCESS, IS THAT WHEN THAT STARTED BACK IN 2017?
>> THE PLAN WAS STARTED IN '16, FINISHED IN '18.
>> SOME OF US HAVE ALSO TRAVELED ON THE FRISCO CHAMBER LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE TRIPS AND REALLY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN HIGHLY FOCUSED ON THE BEST DOWNTOWNS IN THE COUNTRY AND TRYING TO LEARN FROM THEM AND PLAN FROM THEM.
THE FIRST ONE OR ONE OF THE EARLIEST ONES WE WENT TO WAS CARY, NORTH CAROLINA.
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH CARY, NORTH CAROLINA OR IF YOU EVER SEE ANY OF THESE TOP 10 LISTS, THAT FRISCO FINDS ITS PLACE ON BEST PLACES TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY.
YOU'LL USUALLY ALSO FIND CARY, NORTH CAROLINA ON THOSE LISTS AS WELL.
THEY'RE VERY MUCH A COMPARABLE CITY TO THE CITY OF FRISCO.
WE WERE CERTAINLY AHEAD OF THEM IN MANY THINGS THAT THEY LEARNED FROM US AND THEY WERE AHEAD OF US ON SOME THINGS WHERE WE LEARNED FROM THEM.
CERTAINLY ONE OF THE AREAS THAT THEY WERE AHEAD OF US IS THEY WERE WELL INTO THEIR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.
WE GOT TO SEE THEM GO THROUGH IT AND THEY COINED A PHRASE, WHICH I STOLE FROM THEM AND NOW USE REGULARLY, WHICH THEY CONSIDERED THEIR DOWNTOWN A 20 YEAR OVERNIGHT SUCCESS STORY.
WHAT THEY MEANT BY THAT WAS THAT IT TOOK A LOT OF YEARS FOR THE PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO START INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY, TO START CREATING ITS OWN IDENTITY.
GOVERNMENT CAN ONLY LEAD SO MUCH.
YOU HAVE TO LET IT CURATE AND BECOME SOMETHING OF ITS OWN.
[00:10:03]
THEN THEY LEARNED THAT ONCE THAT STARTED HAPPENING AND IT WAS ORGANICALLY HAPPENING, THAT THEY COULD LEAN IN WITH CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.THEY BUILT A LARGE PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR DOWNTOWN.
THEIR VERSION OF MAIN STREET, WHICH WASN'T CALLED MAIN STREET, THEY SAID, BASICALLY ROLLED UP ONCE THE SUN WENT DOWN.
THEY REDID THEIR VERSION OF MAIN STREET TO MAKE IT MORE WALKABLE, TO HAVE HAVE MORE PATIOS, AND TO CREATE AN ENERGY THAT BECAME MORE OF AN 18 HOUR DISTRICT.
WHEN WE VISITED THEM, THEY WERE JUST OPENING THEIR PARK.
THEY WERE AT THE TAIL END OF THESE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND BECAUSE OF THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR KNOWING THAT IT WAS COMING, THEY STARTED SEEING A LOT MORE PRIVATE DOLLARS FLOWING INTO THE AREA AND IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO BECOME A REALLY GREAT SUCCESS.
THE NEXT YEAR, WE WENT TO FORT COLLINS.
IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO FORT COLLINS, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE NICEST, SMALL DOWNTOWNS IN THE COUNTRY.
WHAT WE LEARNED A LOT FROM FORT COLLINS IS HOW THEY BALANCED DENSITY IN THEIR DOWNTOWN, HOW THEY ALLOWED MULTI-STORY STRUCTURES AND HOW THEY BROUGHT THAT IN TO CREATE ENOUGH PEOPLE FLOWING THROUGH THE CITY, ENOUGH TRAFFIC FOR THE LOCAL BUSINESSES.
FROM THERE, WE WENT INTO DENVER AND WE LEARNED FROM THE DAIRY BLOCK.
IF YOU'VE BEEN TO THE DAIRY BLOCK, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE VISION THAT WE HAVE WHEN WE REBUILD THE CITY BLOCK IS TO ALLOW VERTICAL THERE WHERE WE MAY GO FOUR-STORIES BOUTIQUE HOTEL TYPE CONCEPT TO CREATE AGAIN, ADDITIONAL ENERGY DOWN THERE.
THEN THIS YEAR WAS A VISIT TO ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA.
WHAT WAS GREAT ABOUT LEARNING FROM ALPHARETTA IS THEY JUST FINISHED THEIR MAJOR MAIN STREET RECONSTRUCTION.
WE GOT TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE BUSINESS OWNERS DURING THAT TRIP, HOW THEY MANAGED THE DISRUPTION, WHAT THEY LOOKED FOR, AND WHAT THEY EXPECTED FROM THE CITY AS FAR AS HOW THEY HELPED THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THERE WAS A GREAT BARBECUE PLACE THAT WE WENT TO WHERE THEY SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCE AND WHAT THEY THINK WENT REALLY WELL AND WHAT THEY THINK COULD HAVE IMPROVED.
HIS BIGGEST TAKEAWAY WAS THAT THE BUSINESSES DOWN THERE LIKED KNOWING THAT THE CITY CARED, THAT THERE WAS ONLY SO MUCH THE CITY COULD DO.
BUT ANYTIME HE PICKED UP THE PHONE, IF THERE WAS A DUMPSTER IN FRONT OF HIS BUSINESS ONE DAY OR HIS CUSTOMERS COULDN'T WALK THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION, THAT HE KNEW HE COULD CALL SOMEBODY AND THEY WOULD TRY TO HELP FIGURE IT OUT.
HE WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THAT AND THEN THEY IMMEDIATELY SAW WHEN THEY WERE DONE, WHILE THERE WAS SOME SHORT-TERM PAIN, THAT THEIR BUSINESS REALLY TOOK OFF AFTER THE CONSTRUCTIONS.
THEY WERE VERY THANKFUL TO GET THROUGH THAT.
THAT IS THE VISION THAT WE HAVE FOR THE RAIL DISTRICT.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A QUARTER-OF-A-BILLION DOLLARS ALMOST FLOWING DOWN THROUGH OUR MAIN STREET.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER TOYOTA STADIUM, ROLLERTOWN, WHAT WE HAVE FUTURE PLANS FOR THE RAIL DISTRICT TO REALLY CONNECT BOTH SIDES ACROSS THE TRACK.
THEN OF COURSE, THE HISTORIC FEEL OF THE ACTUAL RAIL DISTRICT.
WE'RE ALREADY EXPLORING MICROTRANSIT PLANS, AS FAR AS WHAT SERVICES MAY BE OUT THERE ONCE IT'S ALL COMPLETED TO BE ABLE TO FLOW POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS THAT MAY WANT TO GO TO A FC DALLAS GAME AND FLOW THROUGH TO THE DOWNTOWN BEFORE OR AFTER THE GAME.
A LOT OF THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO HOW WE CAN GET MORE BUSINESSES DOWN THERE.
WHERE ARE THE RIGHT PLACES FOR US TO ENCOURAGE DENSITY? YOU'RE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE THAT COME OUT WITH SOME SMALL MULTIFAMILY COMPLEXES, WITH MICROUNITS DOWN THERE.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE'RE OPEN TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
THOSE OF YOU THAT OWN REAL ESTATE DOWNTOWN.
PART OF THIS FACADE IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS WE WANT PRIVATE CO-INVESTMENT, THAT YOU ALSO YOU OWN REAL ESTATE.
IF YOU OWN REAL ESTATE DOWN THERE, I'D LIKE TO HOPE YOU THINK THAT WHEN YOU COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, YOUR REAL ESTATE IS GOING TO BE WORTH A WHOLE LOT MORE.
MAYBE IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH WOULD YOU LET ME GO VERTICAL AND CREATE MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE? HOW CAN WE REINVEST IN OUR BUILDING? THAT'S WHERE THE EDC AND THE CDC INVESTMENTS ARE COMING IN.
REALLY LOOKING THROUGH ALL ANGLES.
WHEN WE GET TO THE END, IN 2026, WE HAVE OUR VERSION OF TOWN SQUARE WITH THE PLAZA THERE.
[00:15:02]
IT BECOMES HIGHLY ACTIVATED, IT BECOMES A SENSE OF PRIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY.ONE OF THE THINGS WE AS A COUNCIL TALK ABOUT, WE'VE GOT SOME PRETTY AMAZING PROJECTS IN FRISCO CERTAINLY THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS PROUD OF, THAT WE'RE PROUD OF.
BUT WE ALSO REALIZE THAT THE HEART AND SOUL OF ANY CITY AND ANY COMMUNITY IS THEIR DOWNTOWN.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE LEANING IN REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW.
HAVING A LIAISON, MATT, FOR THE BUSINESS OWNERS TO HELP WITH THE TEMPORARY DISRUPTION AND WE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T TO TRY TO LEAN IN.
THEN TONIGHT REALLY IS JUST TO HEAR FROM YOU TO SEE HOW YOU ALIGN WITH THE VISIONS.
SOME OF THE CONCEPTS THAT WE'VE HEARD THAT WE'RE EXPLORING, JUST TO PUT IT OUT THERE SO YOU KNOW.
A BIG PART OF THIS IS THE TENANT MIX THAT IS IN THE DOWNTOWN.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS.
WE WANT ALL OF OUR PROPERTY OWNERS, IF TENANTS MOVE OUT TO BUY INTO THE VISION AND CERTAINLY LOOK FOR FUTURE TENANT MIXES THAT COMPLIMENT THE OTHER TENANTS DOWN THERE.
WE LEARNED FROM SOME OF THE CITIES, THEY DID SOME OF THAT THROUGH ZONING.
THEY DIDN'T WANT CERTAIN USES IN THE DOWNTOWN AND SO THEY PUT VERY SPECIFIC ZONING RESTRICTIONS LIMITING CERTAIN TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT MAYBE THAT DIDN'T FLIP WITH THAT TENANT MIX.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS OF, AND CERTAINLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FURTHER DIALOGUE WITH YOU AS WELL.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE SIP & STROLL CONCEPTS, WHERE A LOT OF THE DOWNTOWNS HAVE GONE TO ALLOWING OPEN CONTAINER IN THESE PRIVATE DISTRICTS, WHERE YOU COULD BUY A BEVERAGE AT ONE AND TAKE IT INTO A RETAIL SHOP AND STROLL.
WE'VE LEARNED A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS.
ALL THE CITIES THAT HAVE PUT THAT IN SAID IT'S BEEN A SUCCESS FOR THEM AS A COMMUNITY.
THEN I'D SAY THE LAST THING THAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING INTO AND BUYING IN IS REALLY THE PROGRAMMING OF THE DOWNTOWN.
WHEN WE HAVE THE PLAZA IN THIS STAGE, IT'S GOING TO BE HIGHLY PROGRAMMED TO BRING EVENTS AND FOOT TRAFFIC THROUGH THERE, BUT ALSO LOOKING FOR CREATIVE IDEAS LIKE ONE IDEA.
WELL, I'LL LET YOU DESCRIBE, TAMMY, THE SCARECROWS.
>> WHEN WE WERE IN ALPHARETTA, IT WAS FALL.
IT WAS EACH BUSINESS TOOK A SCARECROW AND DESIGNED IT FOR THEIR BUSINESS AND IT BECAME A SCAVENGER HUNT.
THERE WERE OVER 200 SCARECROWS IN FRONT OF EACH STOREFRONT AND THEY WERE UNIQUE TO THEIR BUSINESS. THEY HAD THEIR FLAVOR.
ONE OF THEM HAD WORKOUT CLOTHES, OTHERS HAD A SMOOTHIE, BUT IT JUST GAVE IT A LOT OF PERSONALITY IN THE DOWNTOWN.
WE LOVED SEEING THAT THE STORE OWNERS WERE TAKING OWNERSHIP OVER THE CONCEPT, AND PEOPLE WERE HAVING A LOT OF FUN FINDING IT, GETTING A SELFIE WITH THE SCARECROW.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHETHER IT'S A SCARECROW OR MAYBE IT'S AN ELF, MAYBE OVER VALENTINE'S.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING WHERE WE'RE SHOWING OUR LOVE FOR THE RAIL DISTRICT, AND PEOPLE CAN COME AND TAKE PHOTOS, BUT I THINK TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, WE REALLY ARE WANTING TO MAKE THIS THE BEST THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.
I KNOW IT IS DIFFICULT, AND WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR HOW THINGS ARE GOING AND WHAT QUESTIONS YOU HAVE FOR US, SO IT IS NOT EASY RIGHT NOW, BUT THE GOAL IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY TRANSFORMATIONAL.
WE WILL HAVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE THAN WE HAVE HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS, AND THAT IT WILL BE ACTUALLY PART OF OUR TRUE IDENTITY THAT PEOPLE WILL THINK ABOUT GOING DOWNTOWN, HANGING OUT FOR THREE OR FOUR HOURS, WHICH REALLY YOU COULDN'T DO PREVIOUSLY, BECAUSE YOU HAD A LOT OF BUSINESSES, WHICH IF YOU WERE BUILDING A HOUSE, IT'S A LOT OF BEDROOMS, AND WE NEVER HAD A LIVING ROOM WHERE PEOPLE COULD REALLY JUST ENJOY.
THAT FOURTH STREET PLAZA IS CHANGING THE WAY WE EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN.
ALL OF US ON COUNCIL, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S TO COME, AND WE DO WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AS WELL ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING.
>> THANK YOU, TAMMY. I GUESS, JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER UPDATES.
I HOPE EVERYONE HAS SEEN THE NEW RE-BRANDING OF THE RAIL DISTRICT.
OUR VISIT FRISCO TEAM PUT A LOT OF COLLABORATION IN WITH THAT AND WORKED WITH THE LOCAL MERCHANTS WITH THAT, SO THAT IS ROLLING OUT WILL BE PART OF THE IDENTITY.
THEN ALSO, THE FRISCO CHAMBER IS REALLY LEANING IN TO HELP AS WELL DURING THE SHORT-TERM.
WE'RE DOING A RECEIPT RACE WITH THE LOCAL PTAS TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO VISIT THE BUSINESSES DURING THIS DISRUPTION TIME.
[00:20:06]
WHERE THE CITY AND THE EDC IS LEANING IN IS TO ASSIST WITH ADDITIONAL MARKETING EFFORTS TO TRY TO INCREASE MERCHANT ACTIVITY OVER THE NEXT YEAR.WITH THAT, I'M JUST GOING TO OPEN THE FLOOR SO WE CAN HEAR FROM YOU ALL ON QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS OR THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
DON'T BE SHY. JUST MAKE YOUR WAY UP AND LET US HEAR FROM YOU.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A FIRST.
COME ON UP. IF YOU'LL JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR AFFILIATION WITH YOUR PROPERTY OWNER, BUSINESS OWNER.
>> I'M CHARLES HALEY. I OWN PROPERTY AT 6623 MAIN STREET, WHICH IS CURRENTLY FRISCO AUTOMOTIVE THERE ACROSS THE TRACKS.
I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
ONE, WHAT IS A TYPE A AND TYPE B BUSINESS?
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT MIGHT BE BETTER FOR CHRIS OR, I THINK I SAW JASON IN THE AUDIENCE, TOO.
THE PRESIDENT OF OUR EDC COULD BRIEFLY EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THOSE FOR EVERYBODY.
>> IN 1991, THE VOTERS APPROVED THE CREATION OF THE EDC AND THE CDC.
EACH ONE IS FUNDED BY THE CITY'S HALF-CENT SALES TAX.
THE TYPE A SALES TAX ESSENTIALLY IS DESIGNED FOR COMPANY RECRUITMENT, CORPORATE RECRUITMENT BUSINESSES, PRIMARY HEADQUARTERS, TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, TRANSPORTATION RELATED WAREHOUSES.
THEN THE TYPE B CAN BE USED FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, RETAIL, TOURISM, THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> WE ALSO USE THE TYPE B OR OUR CDC FOR A LOT OF OUR PARKS DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER NON-BUSINESS RELATED, I GUESS IS THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT.
>> THE MARKING YOU SEE FROM THE CITY, A LOT OF THAT HAPPENS FROM VISIT FRISCO, AND IT HAPPENS THROUGH THE TYPE A.
THEN THE TYPE B REALLY IS AN EXTENSION OF THE CITY OPERATIONS AS WELL.
>> JASON, CAN YOU EXPLAIN SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS THAT WE HAVE ON THOSE DOLLARS? I THINK SOME PEOPLE WILL SEE A HEADLINE WITH A LARGE DEVELOPMENT GETTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT, AND THEN THEY'RE LIKE, WHY AREN'T THEY LEANING INTO THE MOM-AND-POP? I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE BASIS OF SOME OF THAT QUESTION.
>> SURE. ABSOLUTELY. SO THE TYPE A SALES TAX, AGAIN, IT'S DESIGNED WHAT'S CALLED PRIMARY JOBS, AND THAT'S A DESIGNATION BY THE STATE STATUTE.
PRIMARY JOBS, ESSENTIALLY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, COMPANIES THAT EXPORT THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, THEY'RE BRINGING IN THEIR REVENUES IN FROM OUTSIDE OF THE REGION, OUTSIDE OF THE STATE, SO THOSE ARE VERY RESTRICTED BY STATE LAW.
WHEN THE VOTERS SAID, LET'S CREATE THE TYPE A SALES TAX ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE WERE ELECTED FOR A VERY RESTRICTIVE USE OF THAT.
REALLY THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS THAT THE LARGER EMPLOYERS, WHICH ARE TYPICALLY YOUR PRIMARY EMPLOYERS, THEY TEND TO SPEND MONEY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE CREATING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR EVERY JOB CREATED BY A PRIMARY EMPLOYER.
YOU MAY SEE 1-2 OR THREE EMPLOYERS THAT MAY POP UP THROUGH SUPPORTING THE LOCAL RETAIL AND SERVICE ECONOMY, WHEREAS THE SALES TAX GENERATED BY THE SERVICE-BASED INDUSTRIES, THAT TENDS TO HAVE A LOWER IMPACT.
WE TEND TO SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME AND EFFORT CURRENTLY ON THE TYPE A SIDE BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IS, IT ACTUALLY CREATES MORE REVENUE COMING INTO THE CITY.
IT CREATES MORE OF AN INDIRECT IMPACT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO SHOP AS EMPLOYEES ARE HERE, THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY, THEY'RE BUYING HOUSES.
IT JUST HAS A MUCH LARGER ECONOMIC IMPACT AS THE MONEY SPENDS MORE THROUGHOUT THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
THE DIFFERENCES OF PEOPLE WITH IN FRISCO ARE SPENDING MONEY, IT'S CIRCULATING WITHIN, BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TRYING TO INJECT NEW MONEY INTO OUR ECONOMY, AND THAT'S THE TYPE A SALES TAXES DESIGNED TO HELP ATTRACT THOSE COMPANIES AND JOBS, WHICH TEND TO BE THE LARGER EMPLOYERS.
MOST OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE ASSIST ARE JOBS-BASED GRANTS, THEY'RE PERFORMANCE-BASED GRANTS.
THEN SOMETIMES WE CAN HELP WITH ON THE RETAIL SIDE OR ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, WHAT WE CALL QUALIFIED INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WATER, STREETS, CURVES, THINGS THAT YOU WOULD THINK ABOUT FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE CAN PROVIDE GRANTS FOR SALES TAX GENERATING ORGANIZATIONS OR COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, EVEN IF IT'S NOT A PRIMARY EMPLOYER.
IF IT'S NOT A TYPE A QUALIFIED PROJECT IS STILL QUALIFIED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AGAIN, THE TYPE B HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY WHERE THEY CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT THE TYPE A DOES, BUT YOU CAN ALSO DO SOME OF THE CITY PROJECTS, YOU CAN DO COMMUNITY PROJECTS, AND YOU'VE GOT MORE FLEXIBILITY TO DO SOME RETAIL IF THAT RETAIL IS TIED TO THE TOURISM BASE HELPING TO CREATE MORE ACTIVITY THAT SUPPORTS THINGS LIKE OUR STADIUMS OR PART OF THE DESTINATIONS.
[00:25:01]
>> I'D SAY ONE OTHER TOOL WE GET ASKED ALL THE TIME TOO ABOUT, HOW DO YOU HELP THE SMALL BUSINESS? CERTAINLY THIS WOULDN'T APPLY TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP, BUT A BIG PART IS OUR TOURISM THAT WE PUSH FOR IN FRISCO.
WE HIT 7.5 MILLION VISITORS LAST YEAR, WHICH IS OUR HIGHEST AMOUNT.
PART OF THAT IS THEY'RE COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY, THEY'RE EATING IN OUR RESTAURANTS, THEY'RE STAYING IN OUR HOTELS, THEY'RE SHOPPING AT OUR STORES.
CONTINUING TO GROW THAT VISITOR BASE IS JUST THE ENGINE AND THE MECHANISMS THAT WE HELP THE SMALL BUSINESSES TRY TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS, CONCERNING THE MONEY SPENT ON THE SOCCER STADIUM THERE FACILITY, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN THAT WAS FIRST BUILT, THERE WAS A ONE-THIRD OF THE CITY, ONE-THIRD THE FRISCO ISD, AND ONE-THIRD THE FC DALLAS PAID TO BUILD THE STADIUM, WHICH I BELIEVE IS $75 MILLION.
IT WAS $25 MILLION FOR EACH OF THOSE.
MY QUESTION NOW IS AS A PRIVATE ENTITY, WHAT IS THE CITY DOING, INVESTING $100 WHATEVER MILLION YOU'RE DOING ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILD IT BACK UP, TO EXPAND IT WHEN IT ACTUALLY IS A PRIVATE, SAY PRIVATE PROPERTY?
>> YEAH, CERTAINLY. IT'S ACTUALLY NOT A PRIVATE PROPERTY.
IT'S OPERATED BY FC DALLAS UNDER A MANAGEMENT CONTRACT, BUT IT'S OWNED BY THE CITY.
ITS MAIN INTENT OTHER THAN THE FC DALLAS SOCCER TEAM IS ACTUALLY FOR THE USE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOOTBALL AND SOCCER TEAMS AS WELL.
>> IT LEASES IT OUT TO THE SOCCER AND TO THE FRISCO ISD TEAM?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO FOLLOW UP. OF THE COMMITMENT TO FUND IT OF THE $182 MILLION, $65 MILLION OF THAT IS BEING BROUGHT TO THE TABLE BY THE HUNT FAMILY OF THE FC DALLAS OWNERSHIP.
THEY'RE INJECTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THAT, PLUS ANYTHING THAT RESULTS IN AN EXPENDITURE IN EXCESS OF THE $182 MILLION, THAT'S ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITY TO BE PAID FOR BY THE PRIVATE PARTY, AS WELL.
THE DELTA THERE THEN IS ABOUT $77 MILLION AND $25 MILLION FROM THE CITY PUBLIC ENTITIES, AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ALSO PARTICIPATING AS WELL.
>> I'LL ADD, BEFORE YOU JUMP TO THE NEXT QUESTION, THE VISION FOR THE FC DALLAS PROJECT.
WHEN THAT STADIUM WAS BUILT, IT WAS BUILT UNDER THE OLD STADIUM MODELS.
THE OLD STADIUM MODELS WERE, YOU BUILT A STADIUM AND YOU SURROUNDED IT WITH A MILE OF PARKING LOTS, AND IT WAS ONLY ACTIVATED ON GAME DAY.
THE NEW VISION IS TO CREATE DAILY 18-HOUR ACTIVITY AROUND THE STADIUM, SO IT'S ACTIVATED ON NON-GAME DAYS, AND THAT'S WHAT PART OF THIS INVESTMENT IS DOING.
THE PLAZA AREA OUTSIDE OF FC DALLAS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE STADIUM, WHEN IT'S DONE, WILL REMIND YOU A LOT OF THE PLAZA AT THE STAR WITH BIG SCREEN TV, ACTIVATED IN EVENT LAWN, RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL AROUND IT.
THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO RE-ENERGIZE THAT DISTRICT, AND THEY EXPECT TO BRING IN HOTEL, AND OFFICE COMPONENTS ATTACHED TO THE STADIUM.
IT'S GOING TO KICK OFF NORTH OF A BILLION OF DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE STADIUM AND CREATE THESE ACTIVATED AREAS THAT ARE ALIVE EACH AND EVERY DAY AND HOPEFULLY FLOW INTO THE RAIL DISTRICT.
IT'S ALSO GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO ATTRACT MUCH HIGHER CALIBER OF EVENTS, AS FAR AS CONCERTS AND OTHER TYPE OF EVENTS THAT BRING ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE CITY.
>> I THINK YOU'VE ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE.
I JUST APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU CONTINUING TO REMEMBER THE SMALL BUSINESSES ON MAIN STREET RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT CAN BE REALLY ROUGH.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE OWNED A SMALL BUSINESS.
SOMETIMES THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF CASH LANE AROUND.
YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY TO EARN A LIVING.
I APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE IT MORE AMENABLE TO THE DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.
I WENT THROUGH IT WHEN I OWNED THE BUSINESS, WAS RUNNING IT WHEN WE FIRST DID MAIN STREET, THE WIDENING THAT COME UP BEFORE IT WAS A LITTLE TWO-LANE BLACKTOP GOING THROUGH TOWN.
WE STRUGGLED MOSTLY TO MY BUSINESS, BUT WE MADE IT THROUGH IT.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO HELP ALL OF THE EXISTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE NOW.
>> CERTAINLY. JUST TO ADD ONE MORE THING TO THAT IS,
[00:30:03]
IN ADDITION TO MATT DUBOIS, WHO'S OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING, AND IS REALLY FOCUSED ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE OF THINGS, LAUREN WILLIAMS IS ALSO PART OF OUR DYNAMIC DUO THAT'S HELPING OUT DOWNTOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING AND LISTENING TO WHAT'S BEING SAID.WHAT WE WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, IF SOMETHING APPEARS TO BE OFF, LIKE AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, IF THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS PUT A PORTA POTTY NEXT TO YOUR BUSINESS OR A DUMPSTER, LET US KNOW ASAP BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT'S ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.
IN ADDITION, IF THERE'S AN IDEA, UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS DIFFICULT, IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO HELP, WE WILL DO IT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE WE HAVE PLANS TO MAKE SOME WATER AND LINE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE FIFTH STREET.
THAT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS, AND IT WAS GOING TO CAUSE ADDITIONAL CLOSURE.
THE FOLKS DOWNTOWN, THEY CAME TO US AND SAID, "CAN WE DELAY THAT CLOSURE BECAUSE THE HOLIDAYS ARE IMPORTANT TO US?" WE LISTENED AND WE LOOKED AT THE SCHEDULE AND SAID, "YES, WE CAN DO THAT." WE'VE ACTUALLY DELAYED THAT WORK UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT COMES TO MIND, AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO AND STILL KEEP THE PROJECT ON BUDGET AND NOT SCHEDULE, WE ARE GOING TO WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY.
>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO WEST'S POINT.
I KNOW LAUREN TAKES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TIME AT THESE MEETINGS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE HAVING ONE NEXT WEDNESDAY, LAUREN OR NOT.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAD A CADENCE GOING ON EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY AND RIGHT AND EARLY AT 8:00, AND I KNOW SHE'S HAD FULL PARTICIPATION FROM THE BUSINESS OWNERS DOWN THERE.
TO WEST'S POINT, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DIALOGUE THAT HAPPENS IN THOSE MEETINGS, AND A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK IS TAKEN INSTANTLY BACK TO THE DECISION MAKERS, AND YOU START TO SEE IMMEDIATE PROGRESS WITH THAT.
AS A BUSINESS OWNER, PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME TO COME OUT TO THOSE MEETINGS BECAUSE ACTIONS ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE AS A RESULT OF THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU PROVIDE, WHETHER IT'S THE FIFTH STREET, DELAYS, WEST MENTIONED, OR PARKING, WE'RE LISTENING.
IT'S NOT JUST THE EDC, WHICH LAUREN LEADS, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN TO A COUPLE OF THOSE, SO YOU'VE GOT CITY REPRESENTATION.
WE'VE HAD ONE OF OUR CHIEF POLICE THERE.
DARREN STEVENS HAS BEEN THERE TO HEAR IF THERE ARE SECURITY ISSUES OR LOITERING ISSUES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS OWNERS TO COME OUT, SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS, AND ACTIONS DO TAKE PLACE AS A RESULT OF THOSE MEETINGS.
THANKS, LAUREN, BECAUSE I KNOW THE FIRST ONE WAS A LITTLE TOUGH.
YOU GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK ALL AT ONCE, BUT I THINK THAT YOU'VE SHOWN THAT YOU CAN TAKE THAT FEEDBACK, AND THEN PUT SOME ACTION TOWARDS IT.
I THINK WE'RE BUILDING THAT CREDIBILITY WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS AS A RESULT OF THOSE MEETINGS.
>> THANKS, ANGELIA. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> HEY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ROBERT NORRIS.
MY FAMILY OWNS PROPERTY IN DOWNTOWN FRISCO AND HAS HAD IT FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS.
I'VE GOT A FEW QUESTIONS AND A FEW COMMENTS.
FIRST QUESTION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SOCCER STADIUM.
A QUESTION THAT MANY OF US OLD TIMERS HAVE ASKED ABOUT THE SOCCER STADIUM WAS, WE UNDERSTOOD THE OLD LEASE ON THE SOCCER STADIUM ALLOWED FOR, I THINK THERE'S 17 SOCCER FIELDS.
THAT 15 OF THE SOCCER FIELDS OR 14 OF THEM WERE GOING TO BE SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC USE.
AT TIMES, SOME OF THE KIDS AND THE FAMILIES HAVE CALLED THE HUNT GROUP TRYING TO GET A SOCCER FIELD FOR PUBLIC USE AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
WAS THE ORIGINAL LEASE AND THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THAT TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE SOCCER FACILITIES FOR PUBLIC USE?
>> WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AS FAR AS HOW THEY ACTUALLY DEFINED PUBLIC USE.
IT'S DOUBTFUL IN MY OPINION THAT IT WAS LIKE, I COULD TAKE MY BOYS OUT THERE AND BILL'S FAMILY, AND WE CAN GO THREE ON THREE ON THE SOCCER FIELD.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARILY THAT.
TO HELP US WITH OUR SOCCER LEAGUES AND FILLING THAT NEED, THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THESE DEALS HAVE REALLY HELPED BECAUSE THE FC DALLAS PROGRAM AND THE LEAGUES RUNNING THROUGH THERE ATE A BIG PART OF OUR SOCCER DEMAND AS A CITY.
[00:35:01]
WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE HAD TO BUILD AS MANY FIELDS TO FILL THAT NEED.THAT'S HOW WE EXECUTE A LOT OF THESE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WHERE WE CAN USE THE PUBLIC BENEFIT PART TO REDUCE THE NEED THAT WE HAVE TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN.
I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S HOW THE FC DALLAS WAS EXECUTED.
BUT THAT WAS BEFORE MY TIME WHEN THAT ONE WAS DONE.
>> I THINK IT WAS BEFORE YOUR TIME, IT WAS DEFINITELY BEFORE MINE.
>> TO THAT POINT, JEFF, I KNOW WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNGER AND PLAYING SOCCER, THERE WERE MANY SATURDAYS WE WERE OUT AT THE FC DALLAS FIELDS, AND THEY WERE PART OF FRISCO SOCCER ASSOCIATION.
THAT WAS THAT PUBLIC USE WHERE THE SOCCER ASSOCIATION WAS ABLE TO HOLD THEIR GAMES ON GAME DAYS ON THOSE FIELDS.
NOW, I WILL ADMIT, THAT'S BEEN 12 OR 15 YEARS NOW.
I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT LIKE JEFF SAID AS WELL.
>> WHAT PROPERTY DO YOU OWN DOWNTOWN?
>> WE OWN SOME PROPERTIES ON M STREET.
I PROBABLY GOT THE UGLIEST BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN FRISCO, RIGHT AT THE CORNER OF SEVEN OF THEM.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF OLD HOUSES THAT ARE OCCUPIED BY BUSINESSES. EVERYTHING'S COMMERCIAL.
ANYWAY, APPRECIATE THE ANSWER ON THE SOCCER STADIUM.
REAL QUICK. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AS THE SMALL GUYS.
I MEAN, WE OWN SINGLE LOTS OR DOUBLE LOTS.
THE NUMBER 1 ISSUE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS PARKING.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE FRISCO DO AWAY WITH PARKING ORDINANCES ALTOGETHER.
BUT WHAT I'M SEEING IS THE GUYS THAT OWN LIKE US THAT OWN THE SMALL LOTS, ONE LOTS, OR TWO LOTS.
WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS MEETING PARKING ORDINANCES.
THEN WHEN M STREET CAME IN AND WAS REDEVELOPED, WE LOST HALF OF OUR STREET SIDE PARKING BECAUSE OF THE ISLANDS AND SET PARKING.
AND LOOK, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING IN THE CITY'S DOING.
I LOVE M STREET. I LOVE THE PLANS FOR DOWNTOWN FRISCO, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT SOME ISSUES WE NEED TO DEAL WITH.
PARKING, THE 50% ALLOWANCE FOR US OLD GUYS OR THE OLD TOWN IS APPRECIATED.
I'M A LITTLE BIT WORRIED TOO ABOUT THE 30% ON ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT, WHERE IF I HAVE TWO LOTS, AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MEET THE PARKING ON DEVELOPMENT IS BY GOING MULTI-STORY AND PUTTING PARKING UNDERNEATH IT.
A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED ON THAT, BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AT SOME OTHER TIME OR I JUST WANT HALL'S INPUT ON THAT.
WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT PARKING, AND THEN ALSO, IT LOOKS LIKE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, THE LACK OF PLANNING IN MY MIND THAT THE PARKING STRUCTURES SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT FIRST BEFORE WE TORE UP MAIN STREET AND DID AWAY WITH ALL THE PARKING ON MAIN STREET.
WHAT'S YOU-ALL'S OPINION ON THAT? HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE PARKING DURING THIS CONSTRUCTION PHASE?
>> CERTAINLY. IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WE WE COULD DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE AN IDEAL WORLD.
WE'RE DEALING WITH WHAT THE BEST WE CAN.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT IN FEBRUARY ISH, HELP ME FOLKS, TEAM.
FEBRUARY ISH, WE'RE LOOKING AT STARTING THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE PARKING STRUCTURE THAT'S ON M STREET BEHIND THE CITY BLOCK PROPERTY.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND AND MAKE AVAILABLE ADDITIONAL PARKING OFF SITE FROM THERE.
THAT'S AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY DOWNTOWN.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TALKING TO A PROPERTY OWNER DOWNTOWN ABOUT LEASING SOME PROPERTY TO PROVIDE THAT.
IT ACTUALLY WILL NET MORE PARKING DURING THE PERIOD OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE THAN WHAT IS AVAILABLE CURRENTLY.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF THAT AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT.
WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT HERE VERY SOON, AND THE GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT IN PLACE BEFORE WE LOSE THE PARKING WHERE THE PARKING STRUCTURE IS AT.
>> IS THAT ON THE WEST END OR EAST END OF TOWN?
>> IT WILL BE ON THE WEST END OF TOWN.
>> IS THERE ANY PLANS FOR THE OLD FIRE STATION AND THE WATER TOWER?
>> ANOTHER COUPLE OF LITTLE COMMENTS IS I'M IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF TRYING TO LEASE THE BUILDING, AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITH THE CITY ON GETTING TENANTS IN MY PROPERTIES AND GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING THEIR PERMITS AND GETTING CONSTRUCTION DONE AND GETTING THEIR COS. A LOT OF THE TENANTS ARE YOUNGER PEOPLE, NEW BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO NAVIGATE THE PROCESS OF GETTING INTO THE CITY AND GETTING A BUILDING OPEN, OR GETTING A BUSINESS OPERATIONAL.
WELL, THE COMMENT USUALLY IS, IT'S THE CITY OF FRISCO'S SO HARD TO DEAL WITH.
THEY FEEL LIKE THE CITY DOESN'T WANT US THERE.
THINGS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WORKING WITH INSPECTORS AND CODE ENFORCEMENT, I FEEL LIKE THEY OUGHT TO BE THERE TO BE AN ALLY TO GET THE CITY AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND
[00:40:02]
THE BUSINESS OWNERS ON THE SAME PLAN OF GETTING THEM IN THERE, GETTING THEM OPEN.BUT IT'S ALWAYS A FIGHT. WE COME IN AND DO INSPECTIONS, AND IT JUST SEEMED LIKE INSTEAD OF HOLDING HANDS AND HELPING THE BUSINESS OWNERS GET OPEN, IT'S A FIGHT.
>> CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION ON THAT?
>> ARE YOU HEARING THAT IT'S HARD TO DEAL WITH FROM BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH OUR STAFF DIRECTLY OR FROM THE CONTRACTORS?
>> NOW, LET ME TELL YOU, THE STAFF.
IN FACT, I'VE BEEN IN CITY HALL A LOT IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS, AND THE STAFF IN THE CITY HALL IS GREAT.
AND INSPECTORS ARE USUALLY GOOD.
BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE MORE TRAINING TO HELP THE PROPERTY OWNERS UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OF WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A CO AND HOW TO GET THE INSPECTIONS DONE.
AND THEN WHEN THERE ARE PROBLEMS, HOLDING THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE, THE BUSINESS OWNERS ON HOW TO GET THINGS RESOLVED AND DONE.
>> I THINK I'D LIKE TO HAVE JOHN COMMENT ON THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THAT'S HIS DEPARTMENT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED MYSELF WITH SOME CONTRACTORS I'VE HIRED FOR DIFFERENT THINGS, I'LL HEAR ONE THING FROM THE CONTRACTOR, AND THEN WHEN I TELL HIM, LOOK, I'M GOING TO GO LOOK UP THE PERMITS ONLINE, AND I'M GOING TO GET THE DETAILS DIRECTLY.
THEY CHANGED THEIR TUNE ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAUSE SOME OF THESE CONTRACTORS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO, THEY MIGHT BE DELAYED SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND THEN THEY TRY TO BLAME CITY STAFF.
AND SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT IS OR ISN'T THE CASE.
I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS AS TO WHERE THOSE THINGS COME FROM, BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, I'VE HAD GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH CITY STAFF, BUT I THINK TO JOHN, TO SPEAK TO WHAT HIS STAFF DOES AND WHATNOT WOULD BE USEFUL ALSO.
>> AS JOHN'S COMING UP, I HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE.
I WAS GOING TO SAY HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS BILLS.
I GET THESE CALLS WEEKLY, AND THEN I'LL REACH OUT TO JOHN, AND THEN IT'S LIKE 99% OF THE TIME IT WAS REALLY THE CONTRACTOR WHO DIDN'T FILL OUT THEIR PAPERWORK CORRECTLY OR IT DIDN'T CLEAR COMMENTS CORRECTLY.
IT'S EASY TO BLAME THE CITY UNTIL THEY GET CALLED ON IT.
BUT SOMETIMES OUR STAFF ISN'T PERFECT, EITHER.
BUT ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS WHEN YOU HAVE THESE TENANTS COME IN, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO HIRE CONTRACTORS THAT'D HAVE EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF FRISCO.
>> WELL, A LOT OF IT'S NOT REALLY DEALT WITH CONTRACTORS.
OUR STUFF IS MOSTLY FINISHED OUT, SO IT'S COMING IN AND JUST UNDERSTANDING THEY'VE GOT TO DO AN INSPECTION FOR ELECTRICAL, JUST NAVIGATING THE PROCESS OF WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A CO, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN REAL FRUSTRATING.
>> TO THAT, THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER SIDE.
BUT I WILL SAY, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW I'VE SENT GIVE THEM A CODE A DIRECTIVE THAT ONE OPERATING WITHOUT A PERMIT TO SHUT THEM DOWN BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING QUITE A BIT WHERE PEOPLE GO IN WITHOUT A PERMIT.
OR THEY SUBMIT A PERMIT AND SAY, WELL, THIS IS ALL WE'RE DOING, THEY ACTUALLY DOING MUCH MORE.
I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO FLIP, NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
BUT WHEN IT GETS INTO, WELL, WE JUST HAD A SITUATION TODAY THAT I WAS MADE AWARE OF BEFORE 5:00, WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER.
BUT THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED THAT THEY'RE NOT COMING IN AS A GROUP AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS THEY WANT TO DO, AND WE'RE TRYING TO COORDINATE IT FOR THE OWNER.
I'VE ASSIGNED MY STAFF MEMBER TO GET WITH THE OWNER AND JUST GET EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS A LITTLE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, BUT THEY'RE NOT TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER.
BUT IN YOUR SITUATION, WE HAVE A DOWNTOWN PLANNER, PEYTON SHERMAN, SO WE'RE BRINGING HIM UP TO SPEED OF WORKING DIRECTLY.
IT'S A PROCESS OF GETTING EVERYBODY TRAINED TO WORK ON BECAUSE WORKING IN THE DOWNTOWN IT'S CHALLENGING, SMALLER PROPERTIES, DEALING WITH OLDER BUILDINGS.
THAT'S WHY I TELL MY STAFF AND SO IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF WORK ON THAT.
YOU HAVE MY CARD, WE CAN VISIT WITH THAT.
I CAN PULL A FEW PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THAT MEETING AS WELL.
SECOND, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PARKING, IT'S A 50% REDUCTION, BUT IF YOU'RE TEARING DOWN AND GO MORE INTENSE, AND IT'S ONLY A 30% REDUCTION.
THE REASON FOR THAT, WE HAD A PROJECT WHERE WE APPLIED THE 50% REDUCTION AND THEY HAD TO BUY PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET TO PUT IN A SURFACE PARKING LOT.
THAT'S THE LAST THING WE WANT TO SEE IN DOWNTOWN.
ON STREET PARKING COUNTS, THAT'S IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
THAT COUNTS TOWARDS THE REQUIRED PARKING, BUT WE RECENTLY WENT UP TO OKLAHOMA CITY TALKING TO THEIR OFFICIALS, AND IN ONE AREA, THEY ACTUALLY ELIMINATED PARKING.
AND SO THEY'RE ALL LOOKING TO THE CITY AND SAYS, YOU GOT TO PROVIDE PARKING.
[00:45:01]
CAN WE GET RID OF PARKING, BUT PEOPLE STILL DRIVE AT THE END OF THE DAY.WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT EVERYBODY'S GOT TO CONTRIBUTE A SHARE.
BUT THEN WE HAVE THE DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE, WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE PARKING WHEN DONNY CHURCHMAN DID THE [INAUDIBLE] RAILS.
THE CITY PUT IN SOME MONEY INTO THAT WHERE THAT PARKING IS PUBLIC PARKING AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK, SO WE'RE DOING DEALS LIKE THAT TO HELP ON THE EVENING ENTERTAINMENT.
BUT PARKING IS IMPORTANT AT THE END OF THE DAY.
WHEN THE PARKING GARAGE GOES IN, THE DISTANCE FROM THAT PARKING GARAGE TO MOST BUSINESSES IN THE DOWNTOWN FRISCO AREA IS RELATIVELY CLOSE, BUT PEOPLE THINK, I'VE GOT TO CROSS A COUPLE OF STREETS.
BUT IF YOU WERE TO OVERLAY, SAY, A WALMART PARKING LOT ON TOP OF THAT, THEY'RE WALKING HALF THE DISTANCE THAT THEY WOULD JUST TO CROSS A WALMART PARKING LOT.
THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW CLOSE IT IS.
SOME OF ITS EDUCATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING ON OUR PART TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW CLOSE THINGS REALLY ARE DOWN THERE.
>> THE OTHER THING, JOHN, DO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, BUT, MR. NORRIS, IF YOU ARE HAVING A PROJECT, AND YOU ARE AWARE OF IT BEFORE THE WORK STARTS, I BELIEVE IF YOU REACH OUT TO OUR STAFF, THEY CAN HAVE A PRE-SUBMISSION MEETING AND HELP WORK WITH WHOEVER IS DOING THAT TO DO SOME OF THE HAND HOLDING THERE THAT YOU MAY BE LOOKING FOR.
>> I WORKED WITH MR. LETLER BACK IN THE '90S IN THE EARLY 2000 SOME PROJECTS THAT CHAPEL CREEK AND STORMWATER PARK.
MY STUFF IS ALL LITTLE. I'M A LITTLE GUY.
I'VE GOT SOME OTHER STUFF I WANT TO TALK TO HIM, BUT I WILL VISIT MR. LETLER AND PERSONS NOT TO WASTE ALL'S TIME.
ONE OTHER THING, I DID MEET WHEN YOU ALL ANNOUNCED THIS GRANT PROGRAM FOR CLEANING UP AND WORKING ON BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN, I WENT AND MET WITH IS IT CBC OR EDC THAT'S IN THAT PROGRAM?
>> WELL, EDC IS TAKEN CARE OF TYPE A BUSINESSES, AND THEN CDC, TYPE B, THAT SHOULD GO INTO EFFECT MAYBE AT THE END OF JANUARY.
>> I WAS A LITTLE BIT PREMATURE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT.
I'M HOPING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THAT TO IMPROVE SOME OF OUR PROPERTIES, BUT ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND WHAT Y'ALL DO.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, THE EARLIER QUESTION ABOUT THE SOCCER LEASE, IF YOU EMAIL ME AT WPEARSON@FRISCOTEXAS.GOV, I WILL RESPOND TO YOU WITH AN ANSWER ABOUT THAT.
>> YOU'VE GOT YOUR WHOLE CITY COUNCIL UP HERE, CITY MANAGER, MAYOR, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT STAFF MEMBERS HERE.
WE CAN HELP SOMETIMES BRIDGE THE COMMUNICATION GAPS.
THERE ARE SOME LITTLE PRO TIPS AND TRICKS THAT I'VE LEARNED AS A COUNCILMAN WORKING WITH SMALL BUSINESS AND WITH THE CITY IS PERHAPS YOU RUN INTO SOME AN OBSTACLE WITH GETTING A CO OR JUST GETTING SOMETHING FIXED IS TO IF IT'S A PLUMBING ISSUE, HAVE YOUR PLUMBER THERE.
IF IT'S AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, HAVE YOUR ELECTRICIAN THERE.
SOMETIMES IF THE INSPECTOR FINDS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN'T SIGN OFF ON, YOU CAN ASK FOR 10 MINUTES AND HAVE YOUR PERSON THERE AND HAVE THEM TALK AND SAY, LET ME FIX THIS NOW AND GET IT DONE.
THAT'S BEEN HELPFUL. WE'VE RUN INTO THINGS LIKE HOT WATER HEATERS, A COMMERCIAL HOT WATER HEATER VERSUS A RESIDENTIAL HOT WATER HEATER.
HOT WATER IS HOT WATER, AS WELL TO THE CITY OF FRISCO, IF YOU'RE RUNNING A BUSINESS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COMMERCIAL HOT WATER HEATER.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GO AND LOOK AT THEM, THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE EXCEPT FOR THE STICKER.
I KNOW THAT CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING, AND THERE'S TIMES, LITERALLY YEARS AGO, WHEN I CALLED THE MAYOR OF LITTLE ELM AND SAID, ARE YOU HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND HE SAID, YES, WE HAVE A PLUMBER IN TOWN HERE WHO HAS A CACHE OF COMMERCIAL HOT WATER HEATERS, AND I'LL GIVE YOU HIS NAME AND NUMBER, BUT HE'S GOING TO INSIST ON INSTALLING IT, AND YOUR FRISCO BUSINESS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BUY IT FROM HIM, WHICH THEY AGREED TO DO.
THEY HAD PAID FOR ADVERTISING, THEY HAD AN OPENING DATE, AND THIS WAS SOME TIME AGO, BUT THEY HIRED THAT PLUMBER, BOUGHT THAT TANKLESS HOT WATER HEATER.
CALLED THE CITY, HAD THEM COME AND GET AN INSPECTION, HAD THE PLUMBER STANDING BY, AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT DONE AND OPEN ON TIME.
THERE ARE SOME LITTLE TIPS AND TRICKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE SHORTCUTS, AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO WAIVERS OR VARIANCES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE WANT TO FOLLOW THE RULE OF THE LAW, BUT ALSO SOMETIMES THERE'S A WAY TO GET THINGS DONE A LITTLE BIT QUICKER AND COMPRESS SOME TIME.
I WOULD SAY, CALL ON OUR EXPERTISE UP HERE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE KNOW WHO TO CALL WITHIN THE CITY, AND WE'RE CLOSE BY.
WE LIVE IN FRISCO, COME DOWN AND VISIT ALL AND SEE HOW YOU RUN YOUR BUSINESS AND WHAT YOU GOT GOING ON, HEAR YOUR STORY, AND SEE HOW WE CAN HELP OUT.
[00:50:09]
>> YES, I AM BENJAMIN MANO, AND I OWN 68 NANNIES IN MAINE.
MY QUESTION IS, THAT I SEE THE CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE, THEY CUT STING ON MY DRIVEWAY IN THE BACK.
IT LOOK LIKE THE PROJECT THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO COVER THE FORESTRY.
IT'S GOING TO PASS MY BUILDING, AND IT'S GOING TO CLOSE MY ENTRY FROM THE BACK TO THE PARKING LOT.
I GOT THE ENTRY TO THE PARKING LOT FROM MAINE.
SOME PEOPLE ENTER FROM MAINE AND LEAVE FROM THE BACK OF THE BUILDING.
WHAT DO YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT?
>> IF YOU CAN LET ME PULL IT. YOU BET.
>> WE THE NORTHWESTERN OF FOURTH IN MAINE GATE, 6890 MAINE.
THERE'S OKAY. I GOT THE MAP TO WORK FROM, SO I WOULD SAY
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU HAVE THAT BUILDING ON THE CORNER.
THEN YOU GOT THIS LITTLE ALLEYWAY THAT COMES EITHER WAY.
FOURTH STREET WILL GET CLOSED UP TO THAT POINT, BUT THAT WILL REMAIN OPEN BACK THERE.
THE CARS CAN COME IN AND OUT ANYTHING.
>> ENGINEERING HAS THEY WERE WORKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND THAT WAS SPILLED OUT THAT THAT WOULD REMAIN OPEN.
>> THE CARS WILL MAINE, AND THEN WE LEASE IT THERE TOO.
>>ONCE THE FOURTH STREET PLAZA IS DONE FROM MAIN STREET.
THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO COME IN ON SECTION OF FOURTH STREET.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COME INTO, LIKE THE PARK INTO THE PARKING FIELD OFF OF MAIN STREET, LIKE THERE'S A DRIVEWAY THERE.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COME THAT WAY OR THEY'LL COME DOWN THIS WAY.
THEY JUST WON'T BE COMING UP FOURTH IN THIS WAY.
THAT SECTION OF FOURTH STREET WILL BE PART OF THE FOURTH STREET PLAZA? NORTH OF MAINE.
>> BY THE CAR WILL BE ABLE TO GET OUT FROM THERE?
>> DO BE ABLE TO GET OUT ON FOURTH AND THEN GO NORTH.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, MA'AM. YOU HAVE A QUESTION AGAIN?
I LIVE ON THE CORNER OF SECOND AND THIRD.
LIKE THE GENTLEMAN WAS SAYING, HE'S A BUSINESS OWNER, AND I LIVE THERE ON THE CORNER OF SECOND, AND I'VE SEEN THAT IS PUBLIC PARKING, BUT THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN, AND IT COMES WITH GROWING PAINS.
THEY TOOK ONE OF THE STOP SIGNS OFF AND PEOPLE COME SPEEDING.
JUST TO PARK TO GET IN AND OUT OF YOUR CARS, YOU HAVE TO DUCK FOR COVER.
I MEAN, YOU LOOK AROUND AND THERE'S, LIKE, BOOM, PEOPLE RUN LIKE SEVEN 80 MILES PER HOUR.
I'M LIKE, I CALLED THE CITY AND I ASKED THEM, CAN YOU PLEASE PUT THAT STOP SIGN BACK.
AT LEAST, I KNOW THERE'S TRAFFIC, BUT AT LEAST THEY'LL SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
CAN WE THEY CAN'T PUT SPEEDING LIMITS, NO BUMPS. I GET IT.
BUT PUT THE STOP SIGN BACK SO WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT OF REST.
WE'VE BEEN WITHOUT POWER A LOT WITH I GUESS THEY'RE PUTTING NEW TRANSFORMERS, AND WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT, AND FOR HOURS, AND IT'S BEEN COLD, AND I GET IT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE PUTTING ENOUGH WATTAGE OR LIKE THEY SAID.
COMMERCIALS TRYING TO DO RESIDENTIAL.
WE'RE FEELING THE EFFECTS OF IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S CAME UP, BUT LIVING THERE, I'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT.
THEN THE CRIME, I HAVE PEOPLE ON MY PROPERTY, MY PROPERTY ON THE SIDE, FROM EXXON, WHERE THEY HAVE ALL THOSE GENTLEMAN TO LOOKING FOR WORK.
I'M LIKE, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO START CALLING.
IT'S BEEN THREE OCCASIONS ALREADY.
IF I GO TO WALMART COMEBACK, THEY'RE ALL OVER THE YARD, AND THAT'S MY PROPERTY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE POLICE.
MORE SECURITY. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO. I GET IT.
I'VE INSTALLED CAMERAS AT EVERY CORNER, BUT THE PEOPLE ARE I MEAN, IT'S SCARY BECAUSE PEOPLE COME AND YOU'RE COMING, YOU SEE GUYS IN HOODIES, AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.
THERE'S PEOPLE THERE ON THE PROPERTY, LIKE, ACTUALLY ON THE FENCE, LEANING, LOOKING FOR WORK, AND I DON'T I DON'T IT'S GETTING THE CRIME IS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.
I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO BRING IT UP BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S GOING TO LAUGH ABOUT, WELL, I MIGHT AS WELL THE COYOTES.
[00:55:02]
RIGHT STRAIGHT THROUGH OUR PROPERTY AND OH, LEAVE THEM ALONE.THEY'RE IN THEIR HABITAT. I'M LIKE, UNTIL I GET BIT.
WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT? NO, IT'S FUNNY, BUT WE LIVE, WE SEE ALL THAT.
ANYBODY BROUGHT UP ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF NEXT TO THE CAR.
IT GETS DARK EARLY, AND I'M TOLD, I DON'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE, BECAUSE THE COYOTE IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE.
HE'S LIKE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
I'VE CALLED ON THIS ON THE PARKING.
I KNOW IT'S PUBLIC, BUT THEY DO SPEED A LOT.
MY MAIN CONCERN IS NOT SO MUCH THE PARKING, IT'S THE STOP SIGN.
I KNOW I TALK A LOT, SO I HAVE TO STOP MYSELF, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON.
>> WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT STOP SIGN.
IF YOU LEAVE CONTACT INFORMATION.
>> WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THE STOP SIGN.
AS FAR AS THE DAY LABORERS, THAT'S CERTAINLY A CONSTANT STRUGGLE.
IF THEY'RE ON THEY CAN'T BE ON YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY, SO YOU CAN CALL THE POLICE IF THAT'S THE CASE.
>> DO I HAVE TO INSTALL MORE CAMERAS TO SHOW PROOF? I EVEN HAD A GENTLEMAN, JUST BECAUSE I WASN'T ABLE, HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING.
HE WAS TAKING I SENT IT TO CODE ENFORCEMENT, WHERE HE WAS STEALING ALL THE BAGS, THE SANDBAGS THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE SIGNS AND STUFF.
I SAID, GUYS, I SHOWED THEM THE PROOF THE PICTURE, BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEIR LICENSE PLATES?
>> I GOT CALLED THE NON EMERGENCY NUMBER AS SOON AS YOU SEE IT.
>> I HAVE IT ON VIDEO, AND I SENT IT AND THEY'RE LIKE, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.
I'M LIKE, IT'S STEALING CITY PROPERTY.
>> WE COULD PROBABLY LOOK INTO SOME DIRECTED PATROLS, AS WELL.
>> IT'S SO MUCH IN THE MORNING THAN IT IS AT NIGHT, I THINK.
JOB EVERYBODY, JUST GETTING INTO THE PROPERTY.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD THE PARKING.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE? I CAN GO TO THE STORE AT ANY TIME AND NOT HAVE A PARKING.
I'M LIKE, WOW, WHAT DO I PARK? I MEAN, SO PRETTY MUCH I HOPE THE PARKING.
WELL, MY POINT IS, DO YOU TELL THE BUSINESS OWNERS? THERE'S DOWNTOWN PARKING COMING? WHAT HAPPENS TO THE RESIDENTS? DO WE HAVE PERMITS? I MEAN, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT WE CAN DO TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARKING TO BE ABLE TO PARK? I'M TALKING A WHOLE HOURS OF THE NIGHT DAYS ANYTIME.
I FELT LIKE I HAD TO GET ALL THAT OFF MY CHEST BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S SOMEBODY HAD TO HEAR IT.
I MEAN, AS FAR AS PRESERVING PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY FOR PRIVATE USE.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING.
YOU'RE JUST YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PRIVATE PARKING ON YOUR PROPERTY.
>> I HAVE THE SIDE THAT WE PUT GRAVEL, AND THAT'S WHERE I'VE GOT, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE PEOPLE USUALLY AT.
LIKE, PHYSICALLY, AND I'M LIKE, WHOA, I'M ACTUALLY SCARED.
PARKING. I'M TALKING ABOUT DURING THE DAY.
IT COULD BE SEVEN O'CLOCK, EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
>> IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE.
PLEASE CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LET THEM KNOW, AND THEY WILL COME AND ADDRESS THAT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO TROUBLE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
JUST CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IF THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON YOUR PROPERTY THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE, AND THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
>> WELL, MENTIONED AT, BUT LIVING THERE, WE SEE IT FIRSTHAND.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING. BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT IF THERE'S SOMEBODY ON YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE, YOUR BEST BET IS TO CALL THE POLICE THEY WILL COME EARLY MORNING.
THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ON YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY.
>> ONE POINT, WHEN YOU MENTIONED SPEEDING, THIS IS FOR EVERYTHING.
DOESN'T NECESSARILY BE FOR THIS CIRCUMSTANCE AS WELL.
ON THE MY FRISCO APP, IF YOU GUYS DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE THAT, THERE IS A PLACE TO ASK AND REQUEST FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
ESPECIALLY AROUND SCHOOL ZONES OR SPECIFICALLY A STREET, THAT IF YOU GET A LOT OF RACERS, YOU CAN SUBMIT THAT, AND THEN THE POLICE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND HAVE MORE PEOPLE COME OUT.
THAT MAY BE AN EASY WAY THAT IF WE'RE ALREADY, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED DOING SOME ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT OF JUST BEING IN THAT AREA, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT YOU WANT TO ASK, JUST WORK YOUR WAY UP HERE KIND OF TOWARDS THE FRONT COUPLE OF ROWS, BUT, YES, SIR.
I OWN PROPERTY ON 110 SECOND AND THIRD STREETS.
[01:00:04]
FIRST, MY QUESTION IS, IS THE RAIL DISTRICT EVERYTHING THAT'S SHOWN ON THE BOARD? IS THAT WHOLE AREA AIL DISTRICT? WHAT IS THE BOUNDARIES OF THE RAIL DISTRICT?>>I DON'T HAVE THAT WITH ME, BUT WE HAVE IT ON OUR WEBSITE THAT LISTS WHAT THE RAIL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES ARE TODAY AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKED TO BE IN THE FUTURE.
AT ONE AND SECOND, I ONCE SAY I BELIEVE IT'S INCLUDED IN THE RAIL DISTRICT.
IT STARTS TO GET A CHOPPY UP IN THAT AREA.
I WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT THE MAP TO CONFIRM.
>> SECOND, I WANT TO SAY THAT YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE CITY, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.
BUT LIKE WE HEARD EARLIER, A LOT OF THE TENANTS, ESPECIALLY THE SMALL BUSINESS, NEW ENTREPRENEURS, THEY HAVE NO CONCEPT.
I NEED PERMISSION FROM THE CITY.
THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE WORD CO THAT THEY HAVE TO GET ONE.
FOR THEM, I FEEL IT'S THE LEASE STARTS.
THEY SAID, WELL, I CAN'T GET IN BUSINESS.
THESE NEW ENTREPRENEURS GETTING INTO THE BUSINESS, THEY NEED CITIES AND HOLDING AND SERVICE, NOT THEY GO APPLY.
NOW IT HAS TO BE ONLINE, THEY APPLY.
THEN THEY'RE JUST FRUSTRATED, HEY, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING TILL I GET THE CO, I CAN'T GET ELECTRIC OR WATER, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
BUT THEN THEY FEEL THEY DON'T GET ANY HELP.
THEY JUST GET HEY, THIS IS WHAT IT HAS TO BE.
THIS IS HOW IT MUST BE, BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING HELPED, AND I TRY TO GUIDE THEM, TELL THEM THAT THIS IS HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
YOU HAVE TO GET THROUGH, YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR THE CO, AND THE INSPECTORS WILL COME, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO MEET WITH THE INSPECTORS IF THEY SEE ANYTHING THAT HAS TO BE FIXED BEFORE YOU GET THE CO.
BUT ANYWAY, MY COMMENT IS THAT THEY NEED A LITTLE RESPONSE WHERE THEY FEEL THAT THE CITY IS HELPING THEM RATHER THAN BEING HINDRANCE.
>> HIM A NAME AND PHONE NUMBER, THE DOWNTOWN PLANNER TO CALL TO HELP COORDINATE.
BUT WHEN SOMEBODY IS LEASING THE PROPERTY AND WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL THEY MAKE CONTACT WITH US.
>> WE'RE IN A REACTION MODE AT THAT POINT.
WE RELY ON LANDLORDS TO SAY, HEY, REFER THEM TO US, AND WE CAN WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS.
>> I WOULD SAY, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE FOR BEST PRACTICES AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO HELP.
WHAT TENDS TO HAPPEN IS A SITUATION LIKE YOU DESCRIBED WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TENANT IS PANICKED AND DIDN'T PREPARE IN TIME, AND THEY WANT TO OPEN TOMORROW AND DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH LEAD TIME.
I MEAN, MAYBE A BIT OF ADVICE I WOULD GIVE IS WE PROVIDE CHECKLIST TO ANY OF OUR PERSPECTIVE TENANTS.
I MEAN, IT'S VERY MUCH PART OF AN EVALUATION PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE EVERYTHING IN LINE IN ADVANCE OF THEIR LEASE STARTING.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING YOU AS A PROPERTY OWNER CAN REALLY HELP MITIGATE THOSE PANIC SITUATIONS AS HAVING A PROCESS IN PLACE WHERE YOU'RE INFORMING THEM OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A NEW BUSINESS OPENING FOR THE FIRST TIME, BECAUSE IF YOU JUST SEND THEM A LEASE AND THEN THEY SIGN IT, AND THEN THEY EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE KEYS AND OPEN AND START OPERATING THEIR BUSINESS, THEN IT CREATES A PANIC SITUATION THAT THEN FALLS BACK TO THE CITY.
THAT'S WHERE CERTAINLY YOU CAN HELP US WITH THAT PART OF THE PROCESS.
>> YOU ARE RIGHT. NOW OVER THE YEARS, I'VE LEARNED THAT.
THE FIRST THING I ASK THEM IS WHAT BUSINESS ARE YOU IN?
[01:05:03]
THEN WE GO THROUGH THE LIST, WHAT IS ALLOWED.DO YOU FALL IN ONE OF THOSE ITEMS? IF THEY DON'T, I TELL THEM, SORRY, NO USE WASTING YOUR TIME OR MINE, YOU WON'T GET THE PERMISSION FROM THE CITY.
THAT'S THE FIRST THING NOW I DO.
THAT WAY WE DON'T WRITE A LEASE AND TAKE THE DEPOSITS AND ALL THAT.
THEN THEY LEARN THAT, HEY, THIS THING IS NOT ALLOWED IN THIS ZONING.
>> WELL, I DO IT RIGHT AWAY IF IT'S NOT.
BUT IF THE ZONING IS OKAY, THEN WE GO TO THE REST, I EXPLAIN IT TO THEM, YOU HAVE TO GET A CITY PERMISSION BEFORE YOU'LL GET ELECTRIC OR WATER BEFORE YOU CAN OPEN UP.
YOU HAVE TO GO APPLY, IT'S YOURS, I CANNOT DO IT FOR YOU.
BUT THANK YOU. MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN GREAT WITH THE CITY AND THE STAFF. THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT THE LADY BEFORE SAID.
WE LOSE POWER ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
MY HOUSE IS NOT THE CASE AT ALL, SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS SO BAD.
>> WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THOSE POWER OUTAGES.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY WEREN'T RELATED TO CITY PROJECTS.
THAT WAS JUST THE UTILITY PROVIDER THAT LOST SERVICE, AND I THINK PEOPLE ASSUMED IT WAS A RESULT OF THE CITY PROJECT JUST BECAUSE OF THIS.
I KNOW AS SOON AS IT GOES OUT, I GET THREE TEXTS FROM THREE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, AND WE HAVE AN ENCORE REP THAT REACHES OUT AND THEY GIVE AN ETA ON THAT.
I DON'T THINK THEY'VE PROVIDED US A REASON WHY IT'S HAPPENED SO OFTEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, BUT WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT.
THERE'S NOT A LOT THAT IS GOOD ABOUT POWER OUTAGES.
BUT ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS IS YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW LONG IT'S BEEN ON AND EXACTLY HOW LONG IT'S BEEN OUT, AND HOW FREQUENTLY THAT'S HAPPENING.
WE CAN ACTUALLY MEET WITH OUR ENCORE REP AND SAY, WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A RELIABILITY ISSUE DOWNTOWN.
WE CAN LOOK AT THE DATA, AND IF THERE IS AN ISSUE, WE CAN SAY, THESE ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS, YOU SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THEM BETTER.
>> ON ELM, YOU CAN LOOK BACK, IT'S BEEN AT LEAST TWO YEARS LIKE THIS.
>> YES. WE'RE HAPPY TO REACH OUT TO OUR ENCORE REP AND FIND OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS, IF THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AND HELP ENCOURAGE THEM TO RESOLVE IT.
>> IT HURTS MY HEART BECAUSE I AM DESPERATELY TRYING TO ADD PARKING TO MY LOT, BUT I'M HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IT THROUGH THE CITY, AND I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR MONTHS.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANYBODY ON BLAST, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT. BUT THANK YOU.
>> HI. RICK KAUTEN, FROM THE FRISCO OLD TOWN COMMUNITY.
FORMERLY THE FRISCO MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON, AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN EVERYTHING SO THAT WE CAN DO SOME INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND STUFF DOWNTOWN.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY LOOK INTO A [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE RAIL DISTRICT TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE THERE?
>> WE DID EVALUATE THAT YEARS AGO, AND THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH INCREMENTAL VALUE CREATED TO MAKE THAT A WORTHWHILE STRUCTURE, IS WHAT WE DISCOVERED.
>> OKAY. A SECOND QUESTION I HAD WAS I THINK ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MAIN STREET AS PART OF THE PROJECT, THERE'S LIKE A COMMON GREASE TRAP THAT'S GOING IN.
I THINK THERE'S A REGIONAL TRASH COMPACTION THAT'S GOING IN, WHICH ARE GREAT IDEAS.
AS THINGS GO ALONG, WHAT WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN FOR THOSE TO POTENTIALLY BE EXPANDED OVER TO SAY THE NORTH SIDE OF MAIN STREET? BECAUSE, AGAIN, THERE'S MORE WORK GOING ON ON THE SOUTH SIDE, BUT THOSE SEEM LIKE GREAT IDEAS FOR THE DOWNTOWN FOR THE RAIL DISTRICT, IN GENERAL.
>> I SEE [INAUDIBLE] TAKING NOTES OVER HERE.
I CAN GO OUT ON A LIMB AND SAY HE'S GOING TO GET BACK TO YOU ON SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> BUT ON THE TOPIC, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAD DISCUSSED
[01:10:02]
WHEN WE DID THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN UPDATE.YES, TAKING THAT AND WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE SOUTH SIDE, DOING REGIONAL GREASE TRAPS AND REGIONAL TRASH LOCATIONS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PLANO HAD DONE.
WE'D LIKE TO DO THE SAME THING.
BUT WHEN YOU GET TO THE NORTH SIDE, IT'S FINDING PROPERTY TO DO THAT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.
THE CITY IS JUST PART OF THE SOLUTION, BUT LAND IS TIGHT IN THE DOWNTOWN, AND SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THE REASON WE'RE DOING THE GREASE TRAPS IS BECAUSE WE FORESEE RESTAURANTS HAPPENING.
YOU DON'T WANT GREASE TRAPS INSIDE THE BUILDING BECAUSE THEY DO MALFUNCTION, AND THAT'S NOT THE BEST SMELL.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THE REGIONAL GREASE TRAPS OF SIZING THOSE AS WE DO THE PLAZA AND EVERYTHING OF WORKING THAT IN.
BUT IF WE GET SOMETHING ON THE NORTH SIDE WHERE WE CAN DO THAT, YES, WE'RE DEFINITELY OPEN TO THAT.
>> IF YOU KNOW NEIGHBORS OR PARTNERS THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AGAIN, AS JOHN SAID, IT'S NOT ONLY SOMETHING WE CAN DO, WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE TO WORK WITH ON THAT.
IF YOU KNOW PEOPLE AND WANT TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WE'RE OPEN TO IT.
>> WELL, AS WE WORK, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS DOWN THERE TO SUPPLEMENT.
IF THAT TYPE OF STUFF COMES UP.
IT HASN'T YET, BUT JUST ONE OF THOSE LOOKING FORWARD KIND OF THINGS.
I DON'T WANT TO KEEP FROM ANYBODY ELSE, BUT I DID HAVE ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE I KNOW THE CDC GRANT IS PRETTY NEW.
I THINK IT JUST GOT APPROVED LIKE A WEEK OR SO AGO.
I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH IT.
BUT I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS A PRIORITY OR THERE'S A FACADE AND FACADE ISSUES HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED FIRST BEFORE OTHER BUILDING-RELATED ISSUES.
I DON'T KNOW IF I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY.
BUT JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, HOW MANY BUILDINGS ON MAIN STREET POTENTIALLY WOULD OR WOULDN'T, LIKE DON'T MEET THE FACADE REQUIREMENTS NOW.
DOES THAT BECOME A THING WHERE THE GRANT IS OUT THERE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK UP AND DOWN, IT'S, WELL, 90% OF THE MAIN STREET WOULD HAVE TO REDO THEIR FACADES BEFORE THEY COULD POTENTIALLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER MONEY AS PART OF THE GRANT?
>> THE PROGRAMS ARE NOT ACTIVE AT THIS POINT.
CDCS, WE SPENT ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS WORKING ON THAT, GOT TO A POINT WHERE EVERYBODY'S HAPPY.
WE GOT TO GO THROUGH THIS FORMAL PROCESS.
HOPEFULLY, THAT'S UP AND RUNNING AT THE END OF JANUARY, THERE ABOUT.
BUT ON THE PROCESS, THE WAY THE PILOT PROGRAM WAS STARTING OFF, THAT'S ONE THING THAT COUNCIL WANTED WAS IMPROVE THE FACADES OF BUILDINGS.
THERE'S BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN THAT DO COMPLY AND THERE'S BUILDINGS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS FOR THE RAIL DISTRICT.
WHEN SOMEBODY IS LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING, FIRST OF ALL, IF THEY'RE NOT THE OWNER, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A LAND AUTHORIZATION FORM.
WE REQUIRE THAT FOR ALL DEVELOPMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LAND OWNER IS AWARE OF POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE TO THE PROPERTY.
BUT IN THAT MEETING, THERE'LL BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MY DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE EDC.
THEY'LL BE TAKING A LOOK AT IT.
IS THIS GOING TO BE A TYPE A OPERATION OR IS IT GOING TO BE TYPE B, OR IT MAY NOT QUALIFY AT ALL? BUT THE CDC WAS VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THE FACADE DOESN'T COMPLY OR NOT? IF IT DOESN'T COMPLY, WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO? THAT'S WHERE MY DEPARTMENT WILL ADDRESS THAT, WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER.
AND AS CHRIS LEONARD MENTIONED EARLIER THIS EVENING, IT'S A 50% MATCH.
THERE MAY BE TIMES THAT THE FACADE MAY BE JUST FINE, AND THEN THEY START GOING TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING.
>> JOHN, THAT PROGRAM IS FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE RAIL DISTRICT, CORRECT?
>> THERE MAY BE BUILDINGS THAT ARE OFF OF MAIN STREET THAT COULD QUALIFY AS WELL?
>> IT'S NOT JUST MAIN STREET, BUT ANY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IN THE RAIL DISTRICT.
>> THIS ONE IS MAYBE JUST MORE OF A COMMENT.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN THE RFP OUT FOR THE CITY BLOCK.
THE CHARACTER OF THE RAIL DISTRICT, IT HAS ITS OWN CHARACTER RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S CHANGING. CHANGE HAPPENS.
I THINK ONE THING I WOULD JUST ASK BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING UP MAIN STREET THE OTHER DAY IS, THE THOUGHT THAT CROSSED MY MIND WAS, WILL THE SKYLINE CHANGE TO THE POINT WHERE, I GET A LOT OF PLEASURE OF SEEING THE WATER TOWER WHEN I DRIVE UP MAIN STREET? JUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION,
[01:15:02]
WHATEVER THE PROJECT IS THAT GOES THERE, THAT YOU GET FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO SEE IT EVERY DAY.THINGS LIKE THAT SIGHT LINE, WHAT'S THE SKYLINE OF THE RAIL DISTRICT GOING TO LOOK LIKE AS THAT COMES ALONG?
>> THAT'S GREAT FEEDBACK. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MATT BISCHOF.
MY WIFE AND I OWN THE 6959 MAIN STREET.
I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF THE DAB.
I APPRECIATE THE APPOINTMENT THERE.
I THINK EVERYBODY HERE WANTS TO TRY TO SHORTEN THAT 20-YEAR OVERNIGHT SUCCESS STORY TO MAYBE A FIVE-YEAR OR LESS.
>> WE'RE IN YEAR 16 OF THAT 20-YEAR. [LAUGHTER]
>> I ONLY GOT INVOLVED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SO I'M HOPING THAT I'LL SHORTEN THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.
THE GRANT MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE AND THE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ARE GREAT, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY PURSUING THAT; MY WIFE AND I ARE.
CURRENTLY, AS IT STANDS, YOU GET THE APPROVAL FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND THEN YOU GET YOUR BIDS, GET YOUR FINANCING IN ORDER, AND THEN YOU GO AND MAKE YOUR FORMAL APPLICATION.
THE THOUGHT COULD BE IS THAT WITH LAUREN AND WITH PAYDON, AND THIS TEAMWORK THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE, MAYBE WE RETHINK THAT, AND IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY THAT YOU WANT TO PURSUE THAT GRANT MONEY, YOU START WITH THE EDC AND THE CDC, GET THEIR APPROVAL, AND THEN WE JUST FAST TRACK IT THROUGH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND MAYBE THAT MIGHT BE A WAY TO SPEED THINGS UP.
THAT'S JUST ONE THOUGHT. THE OTHER THING IS, PARKING HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OF TIMES TONIGHT.
IF YOU GO TO EAT AT THE YARD AND MCKINNEY, YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S A GREAT RESTAURANT, BUT THERE'S NOWHERE TO PARK, AND WE DON'T WANT THAT.
THE OBSERVATIONS THAT JOHN MADE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, I THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
NOBODY WANTS TO HAVE A BUSINESS OPEN, AND THEN NOBODY WANTS TO COME DOWN AND VISIT BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE TO PARK.
LIKE HE SAID, THERE'S A BALANCING ACT, BUT IT'S A CHICKEN AND THE EGG SITUATION, AND MAYBE WE INCENTIVIZE THE EARLY INVESTORS TO LOOSEN UP SOME OF THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS THERE AND THAT MIGHT SPEED THINGS UP AND TRY TO ENCOURAGE SOME INVESTMENT EARLY, AND THEN LET IT PLAY OUT THE WAY IT IS.
THAT'S THE OTHER THING. THEN THE LAST COMMENT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE IS THE CITY BLOCK IS LIKE EVERYTHING RIGHT THERE.
I KNOW THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING ON, BEING ON THE DAB BOARD, PART OF THE MISSION THERE IS TO BE ABLE TO ADVISE ON THE CITY-OWNED ASSETS, AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A CHANCE TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS OR EVEN SEE WHERE WE'RE HEADED THERE.
I THINK THAT WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT AND WHEN YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION, I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER WAY THAT WOULD REALLY GET A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF THE FENCE AND GET MORE PEOPLE TO BUY IN ONCE WE CAN SEE WHAT THAT VISION IS.
THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK THAT, TO YOUR POINT, WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT, BUT THERE WAS A DELAY IN THAT BECAUSE OF SOME HEALTH ISSUES WITH AN INDIVIDUAL.
IT'S COMING, IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE LONGER.
>> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL.
THE TRAFFIC OFF FROM MAIN STREET HAVE BEEN RE-ROUTED, AND THEY RE-ROUTE ON ASH STREET, COME DOWN ASH STREET TO FIRST STREET.
WE HAVE A CHURCH SITTING ON THE CORNER OF 6610 ASH STREET.
MOST OF ALL, OUR MEMBERS ARE SENIOR CITIZENS, AND THE TRAFFIC AT THEM TWO STOP SIGNS, PEOPLE DON'T STOP.
THEY YIELD, AND THEY KEEP GOING.
MY CONCERN IS IT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF WE CAN'T GET SOME STOP SIGNS.
IF YOU PUT UP SOME MORE STOP SIGNS WITH THE BLINKING RED FLASHING LIGHTS, THAT MIGHT GET THEIR ATTENTION 50 FEET BEFORE THEY GET TO THE STOP SIGN OR 100 FEET BEFORE THEY GET TO THE STOP SIGN.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT TRAFFIC IS REALLY BAD RIGHT DOWN ON THE CORNER.
I'M CONCERNED AND HOPING THAT WE CAN GET SOME CLOSURE ON THE STOP SIGNS, SO THAT PEOPLE INSTEAD OF YIELDING, CAN MAKE A COMPLETE STOP.
>> I'LL LOOK INTO THAT. THANK YOU.
[01:20:03]
MY HUSBAND AND I PASTOR THE CHURCH ON FIRST STREET.
IT'S CALLED THE NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH, 8733 FIRST STREET.
OUR CONCERN IS ALSO WITH THE TRAFFIC THAT IS SO EXCESSIVE THERE ON THAT STREET.
ANOTHER CONCERN THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS RIGHT NOW IS, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS? BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN A RENDERING OF ANY PLANS THAT YOU HAVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF MAIN STREET.
BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY RUNS FROM PECAN TO ELM RIGHT ON FIRST STREET.
I HAVE SEEN SOME RENDERINGS WHERE A CROSSWALK MAYBE IS GOING TO BE BUILT GOING ACROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS, AS WELL AS A BICYCLE PATH GOING THROUGH THERE.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW, ARE THERE REALLY ANY PLANS TO DEVELOP THE SOUTH SIDE OF MAIN STREET ALL THE WAY TO ASH?
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A LONG FIRST STREET?
THAT'S OUR CHURCH RIGHT THERE.
>> A GENERAL DRIVE BY IT EVERY DAY.
>> YOU'RE THE ONE SPEEDING THROUGH.
>> NO. [LAUGHTER]. I AM NOT SPEEDING.
>> SO I WISH I COULD HAVE HAD A CAMERA RIGHT THERE ON JOHN'S FACE.
>> YES. SO YOU WAS ASKING ABOUT A CROSS WALK OR SOMETHING.
>> IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PAST.
AND OF COURSE, DEALING WITH THE RAILROAD, PROBABLY HAVE MORE POWER THAN CONGRESS DOES.
>> WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A CROSSWALK THERE, YOU KNOW, ACCESS ACROSS THE RAILROAD. BUT AS JOHN SAID.
>> THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT ABOUT THAT RENDERING THAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR WEBSITE.
>> GETTING THE RAILROAD TO BUY OFF ON ANYTHING THAT THEY MAY NOT ACTUALLY WANT TO DO IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
THEY ARE VERY CHALLENGING ENTITY TO WORK.
>> I WILL MENTION LIKE BRIAN MOEN AND JOEL FITZ.
THEY'RE TALKING TO BE SF ABOUT A POSSIBLE CROSSING.
BUT GENERALLY, IF YOU GET A CROSSING THE RAILROAD, USED TO SAY YOU NEED TO GET RID OF TWO CROSSINGS, NOW THAT'S UP TO THREE.
IT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP IF WE HAD ANOTHER CROSSING, ESPECIALLY HAVING ACCESS OVER TO THE LIBRARY AND MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN RAILROAD.
BUT THAT'S A LONGER DISCUSSION.
>> THEN NOTHING IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE FOR THE RELEVANT SOUTH OF MAINE.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY DEVELOPMENT?
>> LIKE I SAID, I SAW SOME RENDERING.
THERE WAS THE BICYCLE PATH GOING LIKE RIGHT THROUGH WHERE OUR CHURCH IS.
>> YOU MAY BE REFERRING TO THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL MASTER PLAN AND THAT DOES NOT SET ALIGNMENT.
BUT JUST SHOWING FIRST STREET AS BEING A BIKE ROUTE, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING [OVERLAPPING] TO RIGHT THROUGH OUR CHURCH? NO. FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, CITY WOULD NEED TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
NO. WE'RE LOOKING WHERE FIRST STREET WOULD BE USED FOR A BIKE ROUTE.
>> THANK YOU. THERE WAS AN INVESTMENT THERE IN HAMILTON PARK, OF COURSE, THAT THE CITY PUT INTO THAT AREA.
PART OF THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN THE RAIL DISTRICT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS TO ENCOURAGE FURTHER PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THAT PART OF THE SECTION, THERE'S A LOT OF SMALL LAND OWNERS IN THERE.
THAT BECOMES MORE CHALLENGING FOR SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER ENOUGH MASS OF REAL ESTATE TO DO SOMETHING.
BUT I DO THINK OVER TIME, YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE PROJECTS LIKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU.
>> HEY, DANNY MATT, I AM OWNER OF THE GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE IN DOWNTOWN FRISCO.
JUST WANTED TO GIVE A A LITTLE PERCEPTION FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW WITH ALL THIS CONSTRUCTION AND WHAT'S GOING ON AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT.
THE WORD I'M USING A IS PERCEPTION IS WE GET CALLS ALL THE TIME.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE GET BOOKINGS OFTEN, EVEN 2, 3, 4 MONTHS IN ADVANCE.
WE'RE WORRIED NEXT YEAR THAT FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO CELEBRATE AND GO SOMEWHERE AND YOU WANT TO GO TO LEGACY WEST AND HAVE A NICE NIGHT OUT.
YOU MIGHT AVOID IT AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT, IS THAT PERCEPTION.
EVEN IF IT'S CLOSE, EVEN IF IT'S WALKABLE, WHICH IT'S NOT.
I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS CROSSING OVER THE STREET, AND IT'S WORSE THAN BEFORE.
HOW CAN WE SOLVE THAT PERCEPTION?
[01:25:01]
IF ALL CAN LOOK AT IT FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW, THAT MIGHT HELP NOT ONLY US, BUT A LOT OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES AROUND THERE, BECAUSE WE ARE A LITTLE WORRIED NOW THAT OUR MOST COMMON QUESTION WE GET IS PARKING RIGHT NOW.ONCE THE PARKING LOT IS SHUT DOWN THERE BEHIND THE CHAMBER, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THAT.
WE GET GROUPS LIKE EXECUTIVES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY GET TOGETHER AND COME DO TING BUILDING DOWN HERE.
WHY WOULD SOMEONE LIKE, WE GET MULTIPLE GROUPS FROM JP MORGAN CHASE AND TOYOTA AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO START AVOIDING US BECAUSE THAT PERCEPTION, EVEN IF THEY COME AND HAVE A GREAT TIME, TO BRING THEM TO OUR AREA.
MAYBE THEY'LL JUST SAY, WELL, WAIT GO SOMEWHERE ELSE OR COME NEXT YEAR OR SOMETHING.
JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
WE'RE A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
IT'S PROBABLY THE SAME FOR ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES, WHETHER IT'S THE BARBER SHOP OR THE BOUTIQUES OR THE RESTAURANTS.
PEOPLE MAY AVOID IT EVEN IF IT'S CONVENIENT JUST BECAUSE OF THE PERCEPTION. THANK YOU.
>> NOW, THANK YOU. CERTAINLY WE'RE AWARE OF THAT.
I MEAN, THAT'S A BIG PART OF KIND OF OUR PUSH IS TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE DOWNTOWN AND THE RAIL DISTRICT AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY.
WE'RE WALKING THE WALK FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.
LIKE, ALL OF OUR COUNCIL DINNERS NOW ARE CATERED BY RAIL DISTRICT RESTAURANTS.
EVEN LITTLE THINGS AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DO THOSE LITTLE THINGS.
I HAVE HEARD SOME SUCCESS STORIES OUT OF THE RAIL DISTRICT FROM A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT DOES HAVE ADVANCED BOOKINGS, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY JUST MADE IT PART OF THEIR PROCEDURES OF HAVING THE EXACT MAP OF WHERE THEY PARK, AND THAT'S JUST PART OF THE PRE WELCOME COMMUNICATION THAT GOES OUT TO THE CLIENT.
IF THERE'S, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE CAN HELP YOU CRAFT AND CATER.
THEN, OF COURSE, ALL THE MARKETING THAT OUR TEAMS TRYING TO DO TO CONTINUE TO REMIND PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE RAIL DISTRICT.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO TWO WAYS TO AROUND THAT, I THINK AS IT'S RUN UP, BUT ANY OTHER FEEDBACK OR COMMENTS THAT YOU THINK WE CAN BE DOING MORE OF OR BETTER ON, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR THE IDEAS.
I BROUGHT IT UP BUT [INAUDIBLE].
I THINK I TOLD A FEW PEOPLE IN THE CITY, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE IF WE ACTUALLY WENT OVERBOARD AND DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, THAT'S ANOTHER THE PERCEPTION.
OH, LET'S COME LOOK AT THE LIGHTS AS WELL.
THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS, IF WE AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE ANSWERS ARE, BUT JUST THINK OF IT FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW IF YOU WERE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
>> SORRY, DANNY, ARE YOU ASKING WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN DECORATE?
>> NO, IT WAS AN IDEA TO, WE'VE LOST ALL OUR HOLIDAY LIGHTING.
ALL THE TREES ARE GONE AND THIS AND THAT.
OVERALL, IT'S EVEN WORSE BECAUSE OF THAT.
I GUESS HOW COULD WE HAVE, OR IT'S PROBABLY TOO LATE NOW, BUT PUT UP DECORATIONS, PUT UP STUFF FROM THE CITY, TO MAKE IT MORE INVITING.
>> I THINK DECORATE IS ONE THING, AND THEN POTENTIALLY OUR STAFF CAN EXPLORE? ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT CITY MANAGER MIGHT NOT LIKE THAT I'M GOING TO BRING THIS UP, BUT I HAVE AN IDEA FOR CHANGING PERCEPTION, AND I'M JUST GOING TO PUT IT OUT THERE, AND LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE HEARING TONIGHT, A LOT OF IT IS PARKING, GETTING PEOPLE OUT THERE BECAUSE NO THEY'RE AFRAID OF NOW, THE WAY THAT THE TRAFFIC PATTERN IS.
HOW DO WE CHANGE THE EXPERIENCE OF ACTUALLY GETTING DOWNTOWN? CAN WE MAKE THAT ACTUALLY MORE FUN OR SOMETHING WHERE YOU KNOW, IT'S EXCITING TO GO DOWNTOWN.
IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONSTRUCTION.
BUT WHAT CAN WE DO THAT'S DIFFERENT? WE WERE ON A TRIP WITH THE CHAMBER WITH A GROUP THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE A SOLUTION FOR AN EXPERIENCE TO GET TO DOWNTOWN.
LAUREN AND I WENT AND VISITED THIS GROUP.
IT'S A LIKE A SHUTTLE, BUT IT'S IN A COUCH SHAPE.
LIKE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A BUS, YOU GET TO GET IN THE BUS AND YOU'RE GOING LIKE BEHIND PEOPLE.
YOU'LL GO IN AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE FACING EACH OTHER, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE GOING DOWN WHEREVER YOU'RE GOING.
IT IS SELF DRIVING, BUT THERE IS A SAFETY STEWARD, SO THERE'S SOMEBODY THERE THAT'S HELPING TO NAVIGATE IT.
NOW, I KNOW IT'LL BE DIFFICULT IN DOWNTOWN.
THE ROADS AND EVERYTHING, BUT IF YOU COULD BRAND AN EXPERIENCE OF THE JUST ACTUAL TRAVEL.
[01:30:01]
WHEN THE GIRLS WERE YOUNG, THERE WAS A GUY, FRANCISCO, HAD A BUSINESS CALLED THE KARAOKE CAB.IT WAS SUPER FUN BECAUSE INSIDE THE CAB, ALL THESE LIGHTS, YOU'RE SEEING, AND IT LASTS, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER LONG YOU WANT, 30 MINUTES AN HOUR.
BUT IF YOU HAD A LITTLE EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT THAT GETS YOU TO DOWNTOWN, AND IT'S ONLY DOWNTOWN.
IT IS NOT ANYWHERE ELSE, PEOPLE MAY JUST EVEN DECIDE, HEY, WANT TO GET IN THAT VEHICLE, AND I WANT TO GO TO WHEREVER THEY'RE GOING.
IF IT'S THE DESTINATION, IT'S THE GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE OR IT'S THIS CORNER OR THIS CORNER OR THIS CORNER.
OF COURSE, IT ALWAYS COSTS MONEY.
BUT IF THERE ARE PARTNERS OUT THERE THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO PARTNER WITH US AND CREATE A SOLUTION THAT DOESN'T COST US LIKE, I'M GOING TO SAY AT ALL, BUT IT IS A WAY FOR US TO GET THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE TOGETHER AND TRULY AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORD REVITALIZE, THAT'S BREATHE NEW LIFE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND I THINK YOU GUYS ARE NEEDING SOME RELIEF, AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO INJECT A LITTLE FUN INTO DOWNTOWN.
THAT'S AN IDEA I HAVE. WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES.
BUT WES, I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD THROW OUT CRAZY IDEAS, AND YOU CAN VOTE ON IT. [LAUGHTER].
>> WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR.
>> I THINK TAMMY'S EXAMPLE IS A GOOD ONE OF THAT THIS PROJECT IS DEFINITELY FRONT OF MINE OF CITY COUNCIL.
WE'RE EXPLORING AND LOOKING INTO ANY CREATIVE IDEA.
I DO THINK, EVEN JUST THE CITY DECIDING TO BUY ALL THE BUSINESSES THE FLAGS.
LIKE, JUST DOING LITTLE GESTURES LIKE THAT, TRY TO KEEP A COMMON LOOK, TRY TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT'S OPEN DOWN THERE, DECORATING IDEAS.
I MEAN, SOMEONE BROUGHT UP FLOWERS, JUST SOMETHING LIKE FRESH FLOWERS, MAYBE FEELS LIKE MAKES IT FEEL MORE APPEALING AND AN INVITING WALK.
I THINK WE'RE OPEN TO ASSISTING AS A CITY NOW.
IT DOESN'T ALL FALL IN THE CITY.
I MEAN, THE BUILDING OWNERS AND IT'S PRIVATE BUSINESS, AND IT AND IT'S LEANING IN.
I DON'T WANT TO SET AN EXPECTATION THAT IT'S THE CITY'S ROLE TO DO EVERYTHING.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO A LOT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN AND LEANING IN MORE THAN WE'VE EVER LEANED IN, BECAUSE WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ALL OVER THE CITY.
I MEAN, I READ AN ARTICLE THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT ALL THE BUSINESSES ON 380 THAT ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS AND PROSPER BECAUSE OF ALL THE 380 CONSTRUCTION, AND THEY'RE JUST, SO THAT IS NOT A NEW THING.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO VIEW THIS DISTRICT DIFFERENTLY, THOUGH, AND JUST THE AMOUNT OF DISRUPTION ALL AT ONCE IS DIFFERENT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE LEANING INTO THIS ONE DIFFERENT.
BUT IT IS VERY MUCH A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WHERE SOME OF THESE CREATIVE IDEAS MAY BE THINGS THAT THE BUSINESSES THEMSELVES SAY, HEY, LET'S GET TOGETHER, AND LET'S ALL INVEST A FEW BUCKS TO PUT STRING SOME LIGHTS, DO SOME GARLANDS OR FRESH FLOWERS, OR THOSE THINGS.
I THINK IT'S US WORKING TOGETHER, AND THAT'S WHAT TONIGHT IS FOR FOR US TO HEAR SOME OF THESE CREATIVE IDEAS.
IF YOU GO HOME TONIGHT AND WE'RE LIKE, OH, I WISH I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THIS IDEA.
YOU'LL HAVE 12 MORE ON YOUR DRIVE HOME. LIKE JUST SEND THEM TO US.
WE'RE LIKE, HEY, LET'S EXPLORE THE ONES THAT WE CAN HELP WITH OR MAYBE THE CHAMBER CAN ASSIST WITH SOME OF THEM.
I MEAN, THERE'S SOME LARGE BUSINESSES AND DEVELOPERS IN OUR CITY THAT ARE LIKE, HOW CAN WE HELP? THERE MAY BE SOME OF THESE IDEAS, WE'RE LIKE, HEY, THIS IS HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT THEM. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> DANNY, I JUST WANTED TO ADD.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT NOT ONLY THE PROPERTY OWNERS BUT THE BUSINESS OWNERS IS THAT WE DO HEAR YOU.
TO MAYOR'S POINT, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO, BUT WE HEAR YOU.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT I LEFT CHURCH ON SUNDAY, AND I WANTED TO GET SOME SUMMER MOON.
I LITERALLY WITH MY DAUGHTER, DROVE CIRCLES AROUND MAIN STREET UP ELM STREET, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO PARK.
I'M ON COUNCIL. I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT, OH, THE ONLY PLACE TO PARK IS BEHIND THE CHAMBER.
THEN WE GOT OUT, AND WE HAD TO BE DELIBERATE, AND I WENT THROUGH THIS THOUGHT PROCESS OF, DO I REALLY WANT SUMMER MOON THIS BAD OR DO I WANT TO GO TO STARBUCKS? I MADE THE CONSCIOUS DECISION BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWNTOWN FOR US TO GET OUT OF OUR CAR IN BACK OF THE CHAMBER, WALK ALL THE WAY AROUND TO MAIN STREET, AND I AM ACCUSTOMED TO SUMMER MOON BEING PACKED ON SUNDAY MORNING, AND IT WAS NOT.
I GAVE YOU THAT EXAMPLE TO KNOW THAT WE HEAR YOU, AND IT'S ONE THING TO TALK ABOUT IT.
IT'S ANOTHER THING TO FEEL IT AND EXPERIENCE, AND IT HIT ME.
I MEAN, IT TOUCHED ME WHEN I FINALLY MADE IT INTO SUMMER MOON, AND I THOUGHT, WOW, THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING.
I CIRCLED ONLY BECAUSE I WANTED TO.
[01:35:02]
AFTER ONE CIRCLE, MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT.THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, AND WE'RE DOING IT.
THANK GOD, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING.
THEN THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO OBVIOUSLY.
BUT I DO HEAR YOU ON THE DECORATIONS.
I THINK MAKING IT MORE APPEALING DOWN DURING THE HOLIDAYS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LEAN INTO AS A CITY.
I THINK WAY FINDING IS ANOTHER THING.
THE MORE WE CAN MAKE IT CLEAR WHERE TO PARK, BECAUSE I KNEW TO PARK IN BACK OF THE CHAMBER IF I WAS GOING TO THE CHAMBER.
I DID NOT CONNECT THE DOTS THAT IF I WAS GOING TO SUMMER MOON, THAT WAS THE ONLY PLACE TO PARK.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MADE MENTAL NOTE IS, HOW CAN WE DO A BETTER JOB OF WAY FINDING WITH PARKING. BUT IT'S REAL.
YOUR ISSUES ARE REAL, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN DO THINGS ABOUT IT, I THINK, AS A CITY, WE'RE PROVING THAT WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
THIS FORUM IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
WHAT LAUREN DOES ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.
I KNOW YOU GUYS TEXT BACK AND FORTH WITH US A LOT.
I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK THAT WE'RE JUST CHECKING THE BOX.
LONG-TERM, THIS WILL BE A WONDERFUL VISION THAT WE HAVE CAST, BUT IN THE PROCESS, THERE'S GOING TO BE PAIN TO GET TO THAT VISION, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT PAIN.
MY FINAL THOUGHT IS, IF YOU ARE A PROPERTY OWNER AND NOT NECESSARILY A BUSINESS OWNER, I WOULD SAY, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR THESE PROPERTY OWNERS.
WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BILLS TO PAY, AND THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR LEASE PAYMENTS ARE THERE.
BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN EXERCISE SOME GRACE FOR SOME OF THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT LAUREN AND I HEARD, SITTING IN THOSE MEETINGS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE THEIR LEASE PAYMENTS.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT SAYING, CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS MODEL, WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BILLS TO PAY, BUT THE REALITY IS TO EXERCISE SOME GRACE BECAUSE THEY ARE FEELING THE PAIN DURING THIS TIME FRAME.
IT'S GOING TO BE GLORIOUS, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO GET TO WHERE WE ULTIMATELY WANT TO GO, BUT WE DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE LISTENING, WE DO HERE THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR ABILITY TO MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR THE BUSINESS OWNERS, WE WANT TO DO THAT LIKE WAY FINDING, PARKING, AND EVEN SOME THINGS LIKE, I THINK, EXTRA HOLIDAY DECORATIONS, I THINK WOULD BE IN ORDER, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A CITY CAN PROBABLY FIGURE OUT.
>> REALLY QUICK IF THIS ONE IS.
>> WE SHAKE A LITTLE BIT AND COME BACK ON IT.
>> [BACKGROUND] IS THIS WORKING? I THINK TAMMY AND ANGELIA BOTH TOUCHED ON SOME GOOD STUFF, AND ACTUALLY, I THINK I CAN SHARE THAT I HAVE ACTUALLY TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
BECAUSE WE ARE GIS MAPPED OUT, AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE COMPANIES COMING TO FRISCO AND WANTING TO TEST THEIR VEHICLES OUT AND FIGURE THINGS OUT, THAT TO FIND SPACE SUCH AS DOWNTOWN FRISCO THEN THE RAIL DISTRICT, THAT COULD WORK.
SHORT TERM IN TERMS OF WAY FINDING, I'VE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM JUST TRYING TO GET TO THE DEPOT, AND WAS USING WAYS AS AN EXPERIMENT TO SEE WHERE IT WOULD TAKE ME, AND WOULD IT GUIDE ME THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION, AND IT DIDN'T.
I TALKED TO WEST ABOUT THAT AND SAID, WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH WEST, HOW DO WE GET THEM DIALED IN? WE TALK ABOUT SUPPLY CHAIN AND THE LAST MILE OF DELIVERY AND HERE WE REALLY NEED TO GET IT DOWN TO THAT LAST 10-25 YARDS OF DELIVERY TO A PARKING SPOT, AND HOW CAN WE WORK WITH WAYS AND USING OUR GIS SYSTEM AND KNOWING WHERE OUR CONSTRUCTION IS GOING ON TO GUIDE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.
THEN ALSO FLAG WHERE THE PARKING IS.
I KNOW YOU'VE GOT MY NUMBER AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME REALLY GREAT CLIENTS, YOU NAMED SOME.
YOU MISSED ONE TIAA, AND THEY WERE DOWN TO THE GAME SHOW JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW BECAUSE I WAS THEIR GAME SHOW HOST.
I'LL GIVE THAT SHAMELESS PLUG FOR THE GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE, IF YOU EVER WANT JOHN KEATING TO BE YOUR HOST.
IF YOU WANT TO HEAR THE VOICE, YOU GOT TO PAY FOR IT.
BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE ALL FROM ALL OUT OF TOWN TO YOUR POINT, AND THEY SAID, THEY ALL TOOK UBER, THEY DID THE APP-BASED RIDE, WHATEVER IT IS.
AGAIN, WE SAID, HEY, WHERE CAN WE PUT SOME APP-BASED UBER, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, FLAGS OUT SO THAT THAT UBER DRIVER WHO IS ALSO NOT FAMILIAR WITH DOWNTOWN FRISCO AND IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CONSTRUCTION, THAT IF THEY'RE USING WAYS, IT'LL TAKE THEM RIGHT TO A PICKUP AND DROP OFF POINT.
THEN WHEN THE FOLKS ARE READY TO LEAVE, THEY CAN HIT THAT APP, AND THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY NEED TO BE STANDING AND EXACTLY WHERE THAT CAR IS GOING TO BE.
I THOUGHT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
[01:40:01]
BIGGER VISION, IDEAS UP HERE, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME SHORT TERM FIXES THAT WE'VE GOT IN OUR TOOLBOX THAT WE JUST GOT TO FINE TUNE IT AND MAKE IT WORK.MAYBE PART OF THE ALTERNATIVE IS, LEAVE YOUR CAR AT HOME, JUMP IN THAT RIDE SHARING PROGRAM, GET YOUR FRIENDS DOWNTOWN, AND STILL HAVE A GOOD TIME.
NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE PARKING, AND YOU'RE LEAVING DRIVING TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
THEN IF WE DO, AS THE MAYOR SAID, IF WE COMBINE ALL THESE IDEAS IN ONE, AND WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND WITH THE SIP AND STROLL THAT THEY'RE NOT THEN GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL.
THEY'RE ALSO HOPPING INTO RIDE SHARING AND GETTING A RIDE HOME.
>> WITH THIS MESSAGING AND MARKETING FOR MAIN STREET 380 MAIN USE OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DC FOR ADVERTISING? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE ARE USING EDC FUNDS TO HELP MARKET.
>> YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT TO WHEN THEY'RE GONG TO SEE SOME OF THOSE RESULTS WAY.
>> I'M TRYING TO SEE IF THE APP WILL WORK SO I'M MULTITASKING HERE, BUT GO AHEAD, JASON.
>> JASON FORD, PRESIDENT OF THE EDC.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE HIRED A NEW AGENCY, VERB INTERACTIVE, WHO HELPED WITH THE BRANDING FOR THE RAIL DISTRICT.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY ACTIVELY PUTTING TOGETHER CAMPAIGN SUMMER SEASONAL, SUMMER THEMES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT PROMOTING SPECIFIC BUSINESSES, THEMES AROUND SHOPPING, THEMES AROUND CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S ACTIVELY UNDERWAY, AND WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED. STAY TUNED FOR MORE.
>> IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, LAUREN, I THINK ALSO WE PROVIDE SUPPORT TO SMALL BUSINESSES BY HAVING THEM CONSULT WITH THE MARKETING COMPANY ON HOW TO BEST POSITION THEIR UNIQUE BUSINESSES AND BRANDS FOR THAT.
I KNOW WE KEEP CALLING ON YOU A LOT, BUT YOU ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONES THAT'S MOST CLOSEST TO THESE SMALL BUSINESSES, AND YOU'RE TALKING TO THEM QUITE FREQUENTLY.
IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HEAR YOU JUST TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU'RE HEARING AND SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
>> SURE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
WE DO, WE'VE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES TO PARTNER WITH VERB THEMSELVES AN OFFICE HOUR TYPE CONCEPT.
WE'RE ABLE TO BOOK TIME WITH VERB AND SAY, THESE ARE MY ISSUES CAN YOU HELP ME PROBLEM SOLVE? THEY WILL NOT BUILD THE TOOLS FOR YOU, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU, BUT THEY'RE HAPPY TO HELP YOU BRAINSTORM AND THINK THROUGH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. ABSOLUTELY.
>> FOLKS, OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO US, BUT REACH OUT TO THIS LADY RIGHT HERE FIRST.
>> BECAUSE CHANCES ARE, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO TO FIND YOU SOME HELPER.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO WEST, AND THEN HE'S GOING TO GO OVER THERE.
YOU'RE DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW IN AN OFFICE DOWN THERE SO SHE'S RIGHT DOWN THERE WITH YOU GUYS.
REACH OUT TO HER FIRST WITH THOSE QUESTIONS SHE'LL HELP YOU OUT.
>> I THINK THE MERE EXISTENCE OF THE ROLE ITSELF, THIS DOWNTOWN LIAISON, ROBERT, TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT CAN WE USE EDC FOR HELPING? WE HADN'T SEEN REALLY A LOT OF BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN OUR CORPORATE AND OUR SMALL BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS AND THIS PROJECT HAS BROUGHT THAT TOGETHER.
IN A VERY STRONG WAY, YOU'RE SEEING THEM VERY MUCH LEAN IN TO, HOW CAN WE HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES? IT JUST CONTINUES TO EXPAND.
EVEN FROM THOUGH THE TYPE A BUSINESS GRANT IT WAS A START, AND THEN WE REALIZED, WE NEED TO DO THE TYPE B GRANTS.
WE NEED TO GET LAUREN'S ROLE, WE NEED TO GO INTO THE MARKETING AND HELP THE BUSINESSES.
I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE AS WE CONTINUE THIS PROCESS.
BUT IT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT, AND IT'S EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE HEADED.
>> THEN ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS, AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS TO YOU AND OTHERS IN THE ROOM TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO DECORATE IT FOR HALLOWEEN, CHRISTMAS.
IT'S BEEN A CHORE, AND THIS YEAR, CHRIS LEONARD CAME UP WITH AN IDEA, WEST SIGNED OFF ON IT.
FOR HALLOWEEN, IT WAS $50 TO ANY OF THE BUSINESSES ALONG MAIN STREET THAT WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN IT SO WE HAD SERBAL.
THEN DANNY'S BUSINESS WON THE $500 CHUCK SO WE ALLOWED THE DOWNTOWN ADVISORY BOARD TO RATE, WHICH ONE WAS NUMBER 1.
FRED HAMMONS, WHILE HE'S ON THE BOARD, HE ABSTAINED FROM THE VOTING ON IT.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR BUSINESSES TO PERSONALIZE THEIR SPACE OUT FRONT FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
THE CITY CAN DO CERTAIN THINGS, BUT IT'S REALLY THE SMALL BUSINESSES DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN FRONT OF THEIR STORES.
>> CHARLES HALEY AGAIN. I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT JUST SAID ABOUT THE DECORATING FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
I'VE DRIVEN THROUGH TOWN A FEW TIMES, I THINK I SAW THAT THE GAZEBOS GONE, IS THAT CORRECT?
[01:45:02]
>> OF COURSE, WE HAD THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING THERE AT THE GAZEBO FOR MANY YEARS.
WELL, ABOUT 15 OR 20 YEARS AGO, WE HAD IT AT MY SHOP.
LET ME SEE IF I CAN, IS THIS THE POINTER?
>> WHICH BUTTON DO I PUSH? HOLD IT DOWN.
>> I CHANGED THE SCREEN. I HIT TWO REBUTTALS. IT'S A BIG THUMB.
>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE LETTING THE PROFESSIONALS.
>> RIGHT THERE. SEE THE VERY CORNER THERE WHERE FRISCO SQUARE BOULEVARD COMES ON THE MAIN STREET? THE CITY WANTED TO A DIFFERENT MORE OF A AT THAT TIME, MORE OF A FOCAL POINT WHERE PEOPLE DRIVING THROUGH TOWN WOULD SEE THE CHRISTMAS TREE AS OPPOSED TO WAS OFF TO THE SIDE THERE AT THE GAZEBO AREA.
WHAT WE DID IS THEY NEED ASKED IF I COULD PUT IT THERE, AND I SAID, SURE, BUT THEY NEEDED POWER.
AT MY EXPENSE, I PUT 100 AMP POWER OUT TO THAT CORNER FOR THE TREE, WHICH IS STILL THERE.
>> THAT'S A BIG TREE. [BACKGROUND]
>> DO WHAT? ONLY DID ONE YEAR.
LIKE I SAID, I PUT THAT 100 AMP POWER OUT THERE, THEY DID FOR ONE YEAR, THEN THEY DECIDED TO PUT IT BACK AT THE GAZEBO AND HAVE IT THERE.
THEN ON THE OTHER CORNER THERE OF MY PROPERTY, WHICH I'D PUT UP MYSELF FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS A TREE RIGHT BEFORE YOU CROSSED THE TRACKS THERE AND THEN STOPPED DOING THAT.
WE WANT IT TO LIGHT UP THE DOWNTOWN, IT'S DARK AS YOU GO DOWN THROUGH THERE AND YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION AND YOU CAN'T SEE IF IT'S A DROP OFF AND ALL.
WHAT IF THIS YEAR, WE JUST HOPPED TO THE BANDWAGON, GOT THE TREE AND PUT IT BACK THERE AGAIN THIS YEAR AS A LIGHT UP FOCAL POINT, CHRISTMAS IS HERE, DOWNTOWN IS OPEN, WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE.
THAT'S JUST A SUGGESTION, THE PROPERTY IS AVAILABLE, THE POWER IS THERE.
IT JUST NEED THE CITY'S STAFF TO PUT IT TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> DO YOU STILL HAVE THE TREE?
>> THERE'S A CITY'S TREE. [LAUGHTER] YOU HAVE THE TREE SOMEWHERE.
>> THE TREE GREW A LITTLE BIT OUT FRONT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE TREE THAT'S.
>> RIGHT THERE. I DON'T THINK THAT BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T THINK OF OTHER SOLUTIONS THERE.
>> MOVE TO APPROVE. [LAUGHTER]
>> NO ACTIONS ON THE AGENDA OFFICIALLY.
LET'S JUST GET THAT OUT THERE.
>> BRICK COTTON AGAIN. AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING, ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO WAS AND YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF THE MERCHANTS TRYING TO PULL THINGS TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ACTUALLY INVITE THE BUSINESS, THE PROPERTY OWNERS BECAUSE THAT WE SOMETIMES WE TREAT ONE, ONE WAY, AND WE HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE MERCHANTS, THEN THIS IS A DISCUSSION WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT I DON'T SEE WHERE WE GET BOTH GROUPS TOGETHER IN A ROOM.
TO EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE, AS THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW DO YOU DECORATE THE DOWNTOWN, I KNOW IN THE DAB, THEY'VE HAD GRAPE VINE SHOW UP.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO TALK ABOUT IS THAT CONSISTENCY.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LIGHTING UP A DOWNTOWN, IT WORKS, I THINK YOU CAN GET SOME BENEFIT IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE BUY IN FROM ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND IT'S LIKE, THIS IS A THIS IS A THEME, THIS IS THE WAY IT LOOKS, EVERYTHING RUNS ACROSS THE TOP.
THE INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES CAN DO WHAT THEY CAN INSIDE THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE GOT ACCESS TO.
BUT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, I THINK IF WE HAD A FORUM WHERE THE MERCHANTS AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE COMING TOGETHER, I THINK WOULD BE ACTUALLY REALLY BENEFICIAL.
IF WE COULD PUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT TOGETHER, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD.
>> THAT WAS REALLY ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS TO HOST THIS MEETING WAS TO HOPEFULLY GET SOME BUY IN, NOT JUST FROM THE MERCHANTS, BUT FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS THEMSELVES THAT IT'S NOT JUST A PIECE OF REAL ESTATE THAT THEY OWN THAT THEY'RE BUYING INTO THE VISION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE RAIL DISTRICT AND HOPEFULLY SEE THE VALUE IN THAT VISION AND HOW IT CAN ONLY HELP INCREASE THEIR INVESTMENT THAT THEY HAVE IN THE RAIL DISTRICT.
I THINK, MANY OF THEM LEANING IN, ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE IN IS THAT WE'RE ONE OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT EVERYONE PUTS UP CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
EVERYONE'S MADE THAT COMMITMENT, AND, LIKE, YOU'RE THE ONE HOUSE THAT DOESN'T HAVE IT, YOU'RE LIKE, BOOED.
YOU GOT TO PUT SOMETHING UP LET ME HELP YOU.
[01:50:02]
I'LL COME OVER AND HELP YOU ON SATURDAY.BUT IT IS THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY PRIDE.
IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THE RAIL DISTRICT IS THAT OBVIOUSLY, THE MERCHANTS HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IF IT HELPS LEAD TO SALES AND DOLLARS, BUT WE ALSO HOPE THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS SEE THE VALUE OF THE BUILDINGS THAT THEY OWN THERE AND HOW IT'S HELPING US CREATE THE WHOLE VISION THAT THE CITY WANTS HERE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT, I DON'T KNOW THE BEST FORM TO DO THAT.
SOME THINGS IT'S GOOD FOR THE CITY TO BE INTERMEDIARIES IN AND TO HELP AND SOMETIMES THE MERCHANTS HAVE TO REALIZE THESE MEETINGS CAN'T JUST BE THE MERCHANTS', WE NEED TO ALSO BRING IN THE OWNERS AS WELL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT MECHANISM IS FOR THAT, BUT WE CAN PROBABLY BRAINSTORM ON.
IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN HELP FACILITATE COMMUNICATION OR GET EVERYONE ON THE SAME NEWSLETTER AND UPDATES AND THOSE THINGS AND IDEA SHARING.
BUT WE'LL LEAVE THAT TO YOU, JOHN AND STAFF, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS.
>> I THINK LAUREN AND I WILL VISIT, AND YOU GOT ROCK WITH OLD TOWN COMMUNITY.
[LAUGHTER] BEEN HERE A WHILE I JUST WANT TO SAY DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS.
BUT IT COMES DOWN TO THE PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER AND GETTING THE WORD OUT.
JUST AS YOU SAID, MAYOR, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO.
BEFORE I FORGET, KRISTIE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA ABOUT A SIP AND STROLL FOR CITY COUNCIL, NON-ALCOHOLIC, BUT HOT DRINKS.
ANGELIA, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING, MAYBE.
>> I THINK WE CAN TEST THAT ORDINANCE.
>> ALL GOOD IDEAS COME FROM KRISTIE.
I WILL ALSO SAY TONIGHT, THERE WAS A SOCIAL FOR THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND SOME FOLKS WHO JUST WANT TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES AT DDS.
I DID GET TO SEE A BUNCH OF THEM THERE, AND IT WAS JUST HAPPENED TO BE THAT WE WERE DOING THIS MEETING ALSO AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT THERE IS A DESIRE FOR THE TWO GROUPS TO COME TOGETHER.
IF YOU ALL AS PROPERTY OWNERS CAN CONNECT WITH, IT'S CALLED THE RAIL CONNECTION.
IT STARTED BY A WOMAN NAMED KAREN CUNNINGHAM, AND IT'S JUST ONLINE.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ORGANICALLY STARTED AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO JUST REACH OUT AND SEE OTHER STORE OWNERS AND JUST THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL THAT'S READY TO SUPPORT.
>> WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING HERE.
THIS IS A LOT OF GREAT FEEDBACK, A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS SHARED.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM YOU ON THESE IDEAS.
I CAN TELL YOU WHERE COUNCIL IS TALKING ABOUT DOWNTOWN IN THE RAIL DISTRICT, EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEETING IN BETWEEN COUNCIL MEETINGS, WE'RE ALL GOING OUT.
I THINK I DRIVE THROUGH DOWNTOWN THREE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THE PROGRESS MYSELF, AND I'M ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET DOWN THERE.
MY TEAM, WE GO DOWN THERE AND TRY TO DO OUR TEAM LUNCHES DOWN THERE, AND SO I CAN JUST SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING.
I WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF, WHO IS REALLY LEANING IN TO THIS.
THEY'RE DOING THE HARD WORK ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS TO MAKE THE PAIN LESS PAINFUL AND TO HEAR FROM YOU IN THOSE TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS.
WE HAVE MORE THINGS THAT WE HOPE TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE THINK IN THE SHORT TERM THAT WE THINK WILL HELP IN THE SHORT PERIOD.
AGAIN, ALL THE COUNCILS RECEPTIVE TO YOUR FEEDBACK, THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE YOUR CALLS, THEY'RE WILLING TO TO HELP ANY WAY THEY CAN.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THEM, THE CITY STAFF.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND SHARING YOUR CONCERNS AND YOUR FEEDBACK WITH US.
AGAIN, LET US KNOW ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT BETTER.
>> SECOND BY TAMMY, ALL IN FAVOR?
>> WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 7:54. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.