Aug 21, 2025 Town Council Special Joint Meeting

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

TOPIC TO SPEAK AND. ALL RIGHT, IT IS 6 P.M. AND I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE NORTH LAKE EDC, CDC, AND TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP AND BRIEFING. ALL COUNCILORS FOR THE TOWN OF NORTH LAKE ARE PRESENT. EDC WANT TO CALL YOURS TO ORDER? 6:00 AND WE'LL CALL THE EDC MEETING TO ORDER. WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT AND TWO ABSENT TONIGHT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A QUORUM. IT'S 6:00, AND I'LL CALL THE CDC MEETING TO ORDER. I PRESENT TO ABSENT. THANK YOU. STAFF, WOULD YOU

[2.A. Discussion regarding eligible projects authorized for funding by the Economic Development Corporation and Community Development Corporation, including current and potential future projects]

WOULD EVERYBODY GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THIS IS GOING TO GO THROUGH WHAT THE EDC AND CDC CAN DO. ALSO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CURRENT PROJECTS. JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW. AND THEN THE MAYOR'S ASKED US TO GET RIGHT INTO THE THE VOUCHERS AND DISCUSS THAT. THEY REQUESTED SOME MORE INFORMATION. NATHAN'S GATHERED THAT AND THEN IF IF YOU'D LIKE IT TO END, WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME POTENTIAL OTHER PROJECTS. BUT THANK YOU, NATHAN. THANK YOU DREW. AND BOARD PRESIDENTS AND MAYOR. FEEL FREE TO STOP ME AT ANY POINT DURING THIS. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD OR ANY QUESTIONS. BUT AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND BASED ON COMMENTS FROM THE LAST MEETING. THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE EDC AND CDC COULD SPEND THEIR FUNDS ON. SO SO WE'RE WE'RE STARTING WITH HERE THE EDC. THERE'S A STATE LAW CREATED TWO TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS. A TYPE A AND A TYPE B. THE EDC IS A TYPE A, AND IT'S REALLY DESIGNED FOR CLASSIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. FOCUS ON EXPORTS, BRINGING NEW MONEY INTO THAT LOCAL ECONOMY. SO THINGS LIKE MANUFACTURING, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT TYPE PROJECTS IS THE FOCUS. CDC IS A TYPE B DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. IT CAN DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TYPE PROJECTS. IT CAN DO THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS LIKE A TYPE A, BUT IT CAN ALSO DO SOME QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. BUT IN NORTHLAKE, THE EDC CAN FUNCTION AS A TYPE B LIKE THE CDC. BECAUSE OF OUR POPULATION. AT THE LAST CENSUS, WE'RE OVER 7500 NOW. BUT. BUT THE NEXT CENSUS, THIS WILL ALL CHANGE. BUT NOW WE FALL UNDER THAT NUMBER. AND WITH SINCE COUNCIL ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE BACK IN 2011, THE EDC IS ABLE TO DO TYPE B PROJECTS. SO ESSENTIALLY THE BOARDS CAN DO ALL THE SAME THINGS RIGHT NOW. SO WHAT TYPE A BOARDS CAN DO WHICH THE TYPE B BOARDS CAN DO AS WELL? THESE PROJECTS CAN INCLUDE LAND, BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, EXPENDITURES, TARGETED INFRASTRUCTURE, AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE FOR CREATION OR RETENTION OF PRIMARY JOBS. THE PRIMARY JOB IS ONE THAT PRODUCES GOODS AND OR SERVICES FOR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY. SO IT'S AGAIN BRINGING THAT MONEY FROM FROM OUTSIDE INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

AND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, RETENTION OR EXPANSION OF. AND IT GIVES SOME SPECIFICS, THINGS LIKE MANUFACTURING, INDUSTRIAL AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FACILITIES. THOSE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST. REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS FACILITIES. ALSO DISTRIBUTION CENTERS ARE RELATED SMALL WAREHOUSE FACILITIES, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF KIND OF LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE TYPE PROJECTS. TYPE B IS AUTHORIZED TO DO ALL THOSE SAME PROJECTS THAT TYPE A CAN, BUT CAN ALSO PROVIDE LAND, BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, EXPENDITURES AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE FOR RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, TOURISM, CONVENTION FACILITIES, PUBLIC THINGS THAT ARE FOR PUBLIC PARK PURPOSES AND OR EVENTS. THINGS LIKE AUDITORIUMS, AMPHITHEATERS, PARK FACILITIES, OPEN SPACE IMPROVEMENTS, AND EVEN MUSEUMS. AND THEN ANY KIND OF RELATED TRANSPORTATION, WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES TO SERVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS MENTIONED ABOVE.

[00:05:03]

IF YOU REMEMBER, BECAUSE WE FILLED UP THE RESTAURANT CATEGORIES, BUT RIGHT AFTER THAT, WE HAVE THE TEXAS ROADHOUSE COME IN AND WANTED TO CONTINUE CONSIDERING ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, THE POTENTIAL OF USING THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM ALSO ADDED SOME ASSESSMENT CRITERIA SO THAT AWARDING THESE GRANTS WOULD ALIGN WITH THE PRIORITIES OUTLINED IN THE RETAIL RECRUITMENT STRATEGY, AND SETS AMOUNTS GENERALLY BASED ON 4 TO 5 YEAR PAYBACK PERIOD, AND PROVIDES A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS ON THE PAYOUT ALL UP FRONT, AS WE HAD DONE IN THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM, OR A SPLIT OF SOME UPFRONT AND THEN ANNUAL BASED ON ACTUAL SALES TAX GENERATED. AND I'LL PAUSE RIGHT NOW. AND THE BOARD PRESIDENTS OR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE THE UPDATES TO THE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU. OKAY. ANOTHER PROJECT THAT IS IN THE BUDGET FOR FOR NEXT YEAR IS STARTING ON THIS ENTRY MONUMENT SIGN PROJECT. THIS HAS BEEN A GOAL OF COUNCIL FOR MANY YEARS TO BETTER IDENTIFY THE TOWN. WHEN YOU'RE IN, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE IN THE CRAZY BOUNDARIES. SO IN THE BUDGET, THE UDC AND CDC ARE SPLITTING THE COST FOR HALF OF THE SIX ULTIMATE PLAN LOCATIONS.

AT LEAST INITIAL LOCATIONS. MOST LIKELY WE'LL WE'LL LOOK AT DOING THE LOCATIONS ONE, THREE AND FIVE ON THIS MAP. AND THE REASON FOR THIS FUNDING HALF OF THEM AT THIS TIME IS BECAUSE IT MADE SENSE TO DO MULTIPLE MORE THAN JUST ONE TO TRY OUT, BECAUSE BIDDING MULTIPLE SIGNS TOGETHER IS BENEFICIAL. BUT THREE LOCATIONS IS MORE MANAGEABLE INITIAL PROJECT THAN TRYING TO DO THEM ALL AT ONCE. AND THERE ARE A FEW OF THESE WHICH WOULD COME WITH SUBSTANTIALLY MORE COST IF WE TRIED TO DO IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THERE'S ANY ADJACENT DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE WE'D HAVE TO EXTEND UTILITIES THERE TO TO FULLY ACTIVATE THE SIGN. AND AS

[00:10:02]

ALL RIGHT. SO THE GIFT CARD PROGRAM JUST WANTED TO GIVE MORE BACKGROUND ON THIS. ALSO COME BACK WITH SOME SOME INFORMATION THAT COUNCIL REQUESTED. WHEN YOU CONSIDER IT BACK IN YOUR YOUR JULY MEETING. THIS PROGRAM WAS FIRST DISCUSSED WITH THE EDC, EDC AND CDC AT THEIR JOINT MEETING ON MAY 15TH. BUT BEFORE THAT, ACTUALLY THE TWO MEETINGS BEFORE THAT, EDC AND CDC HAD DISCUSSIONS ON OPTIONS TO ASSIST BUSINESSES IN THE 114 CORRIDOR THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED WERE PROVIDING GRANTS OR POTENTIALLY LOANS FOR THOSE IMPACTED BUSINESSES. BUT WHAT WAS FINALLY ARRIVED UPON WAS APPROVING ADDITIONAL DIGITAL BILLBOARD ADVERTISING FOR THOSE BUSINESSES AND SOME SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION. AFTER THAT, STAFF CONTINUED TO WORK ON SOME RESEARCH ON OPTIONS THAT COULD BE UTILIZED TO BUSINESSES. WHEN WE DISCOVERED COLLIERVILLE AND SIMILARLY, IT WAS STARTED TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY A HIGHWAY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR TOWN. IT WAS, I GUESS IT WAS SUCCESSFUL.

THEY'VE CONTINUED THE PROGRAM. IT WAS VERY POPULAR, ACTUALLY. IT SOUNDS LIKE, WITH THE RESIDENTS AND THEY'VE OPENED IT UP AND ACTUALLY DO IT MULTIPLE TIMES OF YEAR FOR THEIR BROADER BUSINESS COMMUNITY. SO THE OPTION TO POTENTIALLY USE THIS FOR TARGETED ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY ROAD CONSTRUCTION WAS PRESENTED TO THE EDC AND CDC BOARDS AND DISCUSSED WITH THEM, AND THE PROPOSAL WAS TO TRY TO DO THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR 114, DO THAT IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. AND PLAN FOR THE POTENTIAL OF DOING IT FOR 407 NEXT YEAR, WHEN THE BREAKOUT PROJECT IS PLANNED TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION. SO LATER ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT, THERE'S ACTION ITEMS. IF YOU CHOOSE TO CONSIDER THIS AGAIN, THERE'S IT'S BEEN THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN NOTICED FOR THE 114 CORRIDOR AND FOR AN AMOUNT UP TO $150,000. SO THOSE PARAMETERS NEED TO STAY THERE IF YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO OPEN IT BEYOND 114, WE'D HAVE TO COME BACK AT SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS. BUT WE COULD BASED ON DIRECTION AFTER DISCUSSIONS THAT WE COULD DO THAT. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY IT WAS GOING TO GO. SO AN OPTION IF IT IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE READY BECAUSE WE'VE DONE ALL THE BACKGROUND. BUT IF NOT, WE'LL WE'LL REGROUP. SO WE'RE NOT FORCING YOU TO DO ONE THING OR THE OTHER. IT'S JUST READY IF YOU IF IT MOVES THAT WAY GET NOTICED. YES YES YES SIR. SO SINCE THAT'S ON THERE, I WANT TO GO BACK THROUGH THIS AND GIVE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. BUT THIS WOULD BE $25 VALUE GIFT CARDS DISTRIBUTED TO EVERY NORTH LAKE COUNCIL HOLD. IT'S ACTUALLY BE LIKE A POSTCARD.

LIKE A VOUCHER. IT'D ONLY BE USED AT 114 BUSINESSES THAT GENERATE SALES TAX, PRIMARILY RESTAURANTS IN THAT CORRIDOR. AND THOSE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE PRIMARY ACCESS OR FRONTAGE ON 114. SO THIS WOULDN'T INCLUDE BUSINESSES THAT ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO 35 W ON THE CORNER.

SO IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE TACO COSTS OR SHELL OR CIRCLE K OR SH. ALSO, WHEN THE BOARD'S

[00:15:04]

SEPARATE ACTION WOULD NEED TO BE TAKEN WHEN THAT PROGRAM IS READY TO LAUNCH, AND THAT WOULD COME BACK BACK NEXT YEAR, BUT THAT THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE IN THE BUDGET. SO THE PROPOSED TIMING FOR THIS PROJECT, SINCE THIS IS A TYPE B PROJECT, IT HAS SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, REQUIRES HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING AND PROVIDING NOTICE. THAT NOTICE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, IS REQUIRED, IS BACK ON JUNE 28TH. AND THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE A 60 DAY TIME PERIOD BEFORE YOU CAN UNDERTAKE THE PROJECT. SO AUGUST 27TH WOULD BE THAT 60 60TH DAY PUBLIC HEARINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN HELD AT THE EDC AND CDC MEETINGS IN JULY. AND THEN FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE IT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO READINGS AND TWO VOTES OF ON THE RESOLUTION. SO IF THIS IS APPROVED, THE PLAN IS TO MILL THOSE CARDS OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER AUGUST 27TH.

THAT'S WE'RE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT NOW. SO THE WE DISCUSSED KIND OF EXPIRATION DATE ON THIS AT THE WITH THE EDC AND CDC AND WITH COUNCIL EDC AND CDC CHOSE TO SET THAT AT THE END OF OCTOBER. YOU MAY WANT TO DISCUSS THAT MORE TONIGHT, BECAUSE IT MAY TAKE US A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO TO GET THESE OUT. SO YOU MAY WANT TO ADJUST THE TIME FRAME ACCORDINGLY. AND THEN JUST TO GO OVER THE HISTORY OF THE ACTIONS ON THIS. AND REMEMBER, THERE HAVE BEEN BEFORE THE JULY 17TH AND JULY 23RD MEETINGS, THE EDC AND CDC DISCUSSED THIS AT THEIR MAY MEETING AND ALSO DISCUSSED OTHER OPTIONS TO HELP OUT THIS ONE. 14 BUSINESSES AT THE TWO MEETINGS BEFORE THAT. SO THIS HAS BEEN PRETTY THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED BY THE BOARDS AT THEIR JULY MEETINGS. BOTH BOARDS HELD PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THERE WERE NO SPEAKERS THAT CAME AND SPOKE FOR OR AGAINST. AND BOTH BOARDS APPROVED THE PROJECT UNANIMOUSLY, AND IT WENT TO TOWN COUNCIL ON JULY 24TH. AND COUNCIL HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION ON IT AND SEVERAL QUESTIONS, AND DID NOT APPROVE THE PROJECT THAT NIGHT, AND REFERRED IT BACK TO EDC AND CDC. SO THIS MEETING WAS SCHEDULED TO HELP FACILITATE A DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND EDC AND CDC BOARDS, SO THAT THE BOARDS COULD ANSWER A LOT OF THOSE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. AND LIKE WE DISCUSSED, ACTION MAY STILL BE TAKEN TONIGHT IF THE PROJECT FALLS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS IS ALREADY POSTED AND PUBLIC HEARINGS HELD FOR. NOW, I JUST WANTED TO GET INTO SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE DIDN'T PROVIDE. COUNCIL. PREVIOUSLY,

[00:20:02]

AND SIMILARLY, OUR SALES TAX REVENUE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN IN THIS AREA AS WELL. AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY RELATE TO DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THE AREA. AND EVEN BEYOND JUST 114 THE STAR CENTER PROJECT HAS HAD SOME IMPACT, PARTICULARLY ON THE CHADWICK COMMONS DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE THAT DRIVEWAY TO CHADWICK PARKWAY HAD TO BE REMOVED DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THAT AND IMPACTED SOME OF THE TRAFFIC TO THOSE BUSINESSES. THERE'S ALSO SOME COMMENTS ABOUT TRAFFIC ON 407 AND THE IMPACT ON BUSINESSES IN THIS AREA. SO WE PULLED UP SOME DATA TO COMPARE ON THERE. THESE ARE THE METRICS.

NORTHLAKE COMMONS FROM THE SAME PERIOD AND COMPARISONS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. ALL THOSE NUMBERS ARE POSITIVE. SO A VERY DIFFERENT STORY FROM FROM 114. AND SIMILARLY THE SALES TAX DATA IS HAS A MORE POSITIVE TRAJECTORY AS WELL. SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT DATA TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE EFFORTS TO TO TARGET 114 BUT WE WE DO THE BOARDS, I THINK DO REALIZE THAT SOMEWHAT SIMILAR IMPACTS COULD HAPPEN TO 407 WHEN IT GOES UNDER UNDER CONSTRUCTION. SO THEY THEY ALREADY PLANNED AHEAD TO TO HELP SUPPORT WHEN WHEN THAT'S NEEDED. THESE METRICS COULD BE A BIT MISLEADING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION LIVES UP AT THIS END OF TOWN AND ALL. THE PEOPLE. SO YOU'RE SHOWING A -10 OR 15% POSITIVE DIFFERENCES HERE. THIS WOULD POPULATIONS THEIR PERCENTAGE CHANGE. YES. NOT NOT NET CHANGE. YEAH. PERCENTAGE CHANGE. ALL RIGHT. SOME INFORMATION I'D LIKE TO ADD INTO THIS FOR EVERYBODY'S EDIFICATION. I'VE REACHED OUT TO A FEW DIFFERENT MAYORS AS WELL. THE MAYOR OF JUSTIN, THEY'VE ACTUALLY RUN A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THIS. AND THEY STARTED DURING 156 CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THEY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T VISIT THOSE BUSINESSES. IT'S WILDLY SUCCESSFUL. THEY TARGET IT OCCASIONALLY TO WHERE THEY NEED HELP, WHERE BUSINESSES NEED HELP. THEY STILL RUN THAT PROGRAM TO THIS DAY. THEY GET ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MONEY. WE'RE SPENDING, RIGHT UP TO $150,000 FOR THIS, THEY TYPICALLY GET ABOUT 15% DROP RATE, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO COUPON BOOKS AND OTHER METRICS OUT THERE. MARKETPLACE. SO IN REALITY, YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT BE 20 20,000 PROJECT. CHECK MY MATH 20 ISH. SO THAT'S ABOUT WHAT WE'D PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT. THIS DATA YOU PRESENT HERE TONIGHT SHOWING THE ACTUAL DATA AND THE CHANGES FOR SEVENTEENS PROSPERING. AND 114 IS FALLING OFF PRETTY SEVERELY. THAT'S VERY SOLID DATA. I THINK COUNCIL USED THAT LAST TIME. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THE BOARDS HAVE PUT INTO THEIR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR TO ADDRESS 407 AS WELL. SO THERE'S EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR BOTH AREAS SOUTH AND NORTH OF TOWN. THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE THAT FUTURE PLANNING. I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS FIRMLY IN THE BUDGET OR WE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FIRST IS START WITH THE BOARDS. IF YOU HAVE REASONS FOR YOUR DECISIONS. WE DON'T GET TO SEE YOUR MEETINGS VERY OFTEN. YOU GUYS DON'T GET TO SEE OUR MEETINGS VERY OFTEN UNLESS YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE. SO I'D LIKE TO JUST KIND OF GO

[00:25:01]

SO I KIND OF JUST WENT ALONG WITH EVERYTHING. BUT I SELL RETAIL SHOPPING CENTERS. THAT'S WHAT I DO. AND NORMALLY IF A TENANT IS STRUGGLING, THEY REACH OUT TO THE OWNER AND THE OWNER WORKS WITH THAT TENANT TO PROVIDE ABATEMENTS AND HELP THEM GET THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO ANY OF THESE TENANTS REACH OUT FOR HELP, OR WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE A GRANT? YES, I HAVE HEARD FROM A FEW, ONE IN PARTICULAR, AND HE EVEN MENTIONED THAT HE DID SPEAK TO THE LANDLORD TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY CONCESSIONS HE COULD GET, BECAUSE THEY SAID HE WASN'T ABLE TO GET ANYTHING. SO WE WE ALSO ASK, WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU NEED? AND THEY COULDN'T REALLY COME UP WITH AN EXACT NUMBER. AND SO WE STRUGGLED TO KIND OF PUT TOGETHER WHAT WE COULD DO TO HELP WITH THEM AND, AND PROPOSE AS SOME KIND OF GRANT OR LOAN PROGRAM OR SOMETHING TO. SO WE LAUREN AND I CONTINUED TO KIND OF RESEARCH SOME OPTIONS. AND THIS IS ONE THAT WE FOUND THAT THAT THIS MAY HAVE SOME USE AND, AND ALLOW KIND OF A MARKET TO DECIDE, BUT POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME ABILITY TO HELP ALL OF THOSE BUSINESSES. SO. REED, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SELL US. YEAH, I WOULD LOVE FOR LET'S SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES. HERE ARE OUR TAX CREDIT. THAT'S THE GENERAL STORY. FOR THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING I WAS AT WAS DISCUSSING THE TOPIC OF TRAILS AND STUFF THAT DOESN'T BRING ANY MONEY INTO THE TOWN. NOT ONLY THAT, WE LIVE IN ORDER TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS ALONG TRAILS. RIGHT? SO HELP THE BUSINESSES OUT. WE DON'T WANT BUSINESSES TO CLOSE. THESE HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. THEY'RE HERE. THEY'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. THEY DO HELP THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. BOARD PRESIDENT, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO GO LAST IN YOUR BOARD OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER I DON'T KNOW. SIDESTEP.

OKAY, MAYOR, I DO HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR YOU. WHEN YOU SPOKE TO THE JUSTIN MAYOR, HOW LONG WERE THEY KEEPING THEIR GIFT CARDS FOR? IS THAT A COUPLE OF MONTHS, A COUPLE MONTHS, OKAY. BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED WAS HOW LONG TO KEEP THOSE GIFT CARDS OPEN. AND CAN YOU REMIND ME HOW WHAT WAS THE PERCENTAGE OF THAT WAS SEEING THAT CAME BACK TO THEM? DO YOU REMEMBER, DO YOU RECALL THE PERCENTAGE THAT WAS USED? CORRECT. YEAH, THEY IT VARIED BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE IT MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THEY HAD SOME THAT WERE UP TO 80%. WELL, AND WHAT I, WHAT I WAS INTRIGUED ABOUT WITH THE BECAUSE I'LL BE HONEST, I WASN'T I WASN'T ENTHUSED WITH THE IDEA OF JUST TARGETING THE BUSINESSES THAT WERE AFFECTED BY TRAFFIC AND BY CONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A MOVING TARGET. I MEAN, WHERE DO YOU DECIDE, WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE? DO YOU DRAW THE LINE AND SAY, WELL, WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO SUPPORT 7-ELEVEN UNLESS IT'S A FRANCHISE. THEY DON'T STAY WITH SONIC. I LIKED THE IDEA OF HAVING A PROGRAM LIKE THIS THAT CAN BE USED IN DIFFERENT AREAS, ITERATIONS, ITERATIONS, DIFFERENT TIMES, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT TOWN HISTORY. BUT I DIDN'T LIKE THIS WOULD BE A SMALLER CASE TO USE FOR IT TO SEE HOW IT WENT, AND HEARING THE 15%. IT ALSO DOES PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE PROGRAM AS WELL, IS THAT IT GAVE OUR RESIDENTS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR DETERMINATION ON WHERE THEY WANTED TO SPEND THEIR MONEY SPENT THIS QUARTER THAT WE WERE SENDING THEM. IT'S LIKE, OH, WE GOT A BONUS CARD, WHERE SHOULD WE SPEND IT? SO I LIKE THE IDEA OF OPENING IT UP TO MORE BUSINESSES, BECAUSE I DIDN'T LIKE THAT IDEA OF, AGAIN, WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE? WELL, YOU HAVE THIS ENTRANCE INTO 35, BUT YOU HAVE THIS ENTRANCE INTO FOUR, SEVEN OR 1 OR 2. BUT THAT'S WHY I LIKE THE IDEA. I HEARD THAT IT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEYVILLE AND NOW IT JUST DOESN'T AS WELL. IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES DO. IT'S SUCH A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET. WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF RESOURCES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS FOR THE TIME BEING. STACY. WELL, I'M NOT SURE I HAVE TOO MUCH TO ADD TO THAT. I PREVIOUSLY HAVE LIVED IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES THAT HAD THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM, AND I DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL, YOU KNOW, TURN IN RATES. I WOULD SAY MAYBE HIGHER THAN 15, BUT NOT CERTAINLY NOT HIGHER

[00:30:04]

SOME OF THE RESIDENTS MAY FIND THAT THEY THEY GO THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND AND THEY MIGHT GET REPEAT BUSINESS ON IT. IT'S A IT'S A POSSIBILITY TO GET MORE RETURNS ON ON THAT

[00:35:03]

I WANT TO GIVE GUIDANCE TO SAY IF IT DOES PASS, CONTINUE TO KEEP IT A CONSTANT CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW IT'S WORKING, WHEN TO IMPLEMENT. JUST MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON AS THE CITY. TERRIBLY. THANK YOU MICHAEL. I WAS OPPOSED TO THIS AT THE MEETING. AT THE COUNCIL MEETING, I JUST PHILOSOPHICALLY HAVE A HARD TIME USING TAXPAYER MONEY TO SUBSIDIZE BUSINESSES. YEAH, TRAFFIC IS IMPACTING, BUT SO IS THE COST OF GOING OUT. PEOPLE JUST DON'T HAVE THE DISCRETIONARY INCOME ANYMORE. SO IS ALL OF THIS LOSS OF BUSINESS DUE TO TRAFFIC OR THE FACT THAT PEOPLE JUST HAVE MONEY IN ORDER TO GO OUT AS MUCH? THAT'S ONE THING. I NEVER DID GET AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE IMPETUS WAS BEHIND THIS. I THINK NATHAN MENTIONED ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR APPROACHED THE BOARDS. NOW, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, NO ONE'S EVER CONFIRMED THIS, THAT THIS PARTICULAR PERSON IS LOOKING TO SELL HIS BUSINESS, AND THIS IS A WAY FOR HIM OR HER TO INCREASE HIS BUSINESS OR HER BUSINESS TO GET A BETTER PRICE.

[00:40:04]

THAT'S THE SIDE OF THE FENCE THAT I'M COMING DOWN ON. AND WE'RE NOT ALLOWING BUSINESSES IN THIS PROGRAM TO HAVE MULTIPLE ENTRANCES OTHER THAN 114. AND YOU TALKED ABOUT 407.

EVERY BUSINESS IN THE COMMONS HAS TWO ENTRIES CLEVELAND GIVES. ARE THEY GOING TO BE LOCKED OUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE OTHER ENTRIES. SO A LOT OF GRAY AREAS. THEY'RE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH WHO ARE NOT GOING TO DO SO. IT'LL PROBABLY TAKE A LOT FOR ME TO CHANGE MY MIND, BUT I STILL DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS OF SUBSIDIZING BUSINESSES. THAT'S MY POSITION RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT QUESTION. WAS ANYBODY HERE REACHED OUT TO YOU PERSONALLY OR ARE YOU COMFORTABLE SHARING? I HOPE YOU'D BE COMFORTABLE SHARING THAT. WAS ANYBODY HERE REACHED OUT TO? IS IT ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAS ABSENT WHO BROUGHT THIS UP? I THINK THERE WAS A COUPLE PEOPLE REACHED OUT TO WHEN THEY WERE AT BUSINESSES THERE. WAS THAT THOSE COMMENTS MADE, WHICH IS WHAT STARTED THIS SORT OF NO COST CAMPAIGN.

DID THE SOCIAL MEDIA STUFF AND BILLBOARDS, OKAY, THERE'S NOBODY HERE HAS BEEN APPROACHED DIRECTLY BY AN OWNER SAYING, HEY, HELP ME SELL MY BUSINESS, OR STAFF IS UNAWARE OF THAT AS WELL. THAT'S NEW TO US BECAUSE THAT'S CRITICAL INFORMATION. AND AS A BOARD MEMBER, I HOPE YOU DISCLOSE THAT. IF THAT HAD HAPPENED, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WAS JOINTLY DEVELOPED THOUGH.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE ON. YES, YES. FIRST, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EFFORT THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS PROJECT. I WAS AGAINST IT MAINLY BECAUSE I HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT SEEMED UNANSWERED. A LOT OF THOSE QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED TONIGHT, SO THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT. AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US INFORMATION. THE USAGE WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS THAT WAS DEFINITELY CLARIFIED. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF OUR ANTICIPATED USAGE OF THE PROGRAM BASED OFF THE TOWNS AROUND US? JUST KIND OF NO IDEA. SO THAT'S WHY WE BUDGETED HIGH JUST TO MAKE SURE WE GOT IT COVERED. YEAH, WE'RE ASSUMING 100% AND WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO. AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION, I LIKE THE IDEA OF CALLING IT A PILOT AND TARGETING DIFFERENT AREAS, BUT WHAT METRICS ARE WE GOING TO USE TO MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE MY QUESTION, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN DECIDE IS IT A SUCCESS OR NOT, AND WHAT WHAT MEASURES THAT MY OTHER CONCERN WAS WITH THE POSITIVE IMAGE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH A POSITIVE IMAGE. THAT IS WONDERFUL, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LIKE TRACY MENTIONED, KIND OF ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE INVOLVED, NOT JUST ONE, BECAUSE IT WASN'T A NAME THAT DOESN'T GO WITH OUR POSITIVE IMAGE. IF THAT PRODUCT CAN BE BOUGHT SOMEWHERE ELSE, I THINK THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS AND CONCERNS THAT I HAD AND WHY I INITIALLY VOTED NO. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ALL THIS INFORMATION UP FOR DISCUSSION.

APPRECIATE. HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET THOSE DATA POINTS? ARE THEY LAGGING BY A MONTH OR TWO OR.

WELL, HOW LONG BEFORE WE'LL BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE SUCCESS OF THIS, IN YOUR OPINION, IN NUMBER OF VISITS AND IN SALES TAX. SALES TAX WILL BE A COUPLE OF MONTHS, LIKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO VISIT NUMBERS. THEY UPDATE PRETTY QUICKLY. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, LAUREN HOW OFTEN THEY UPDATE THOSE MONTHLY. YEAH. YES I THINK EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS IT'S YEAH IT'S PRETTY QUICK. YEAH. OVERALL I WOULD JUST SAY FROM A BOARD PERSPECTIVE I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER SUCCESSFUL METRICS AT THIS POINT. IT IS 15% SUCCESSFUL. IT'S 50% SUCCESSFUL. WHAT IS THE RATIO OF THE INCREASE IN THE VISITS, THE INCREASE IN THE TAX BASE VERSUS THE PERCENTAGE OF THE OF THE CARDS THAT ARE USED. RIGHT. AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER EITHER. I'M NOT SURE WE CAN GIVE YOU THAT ANSWER TODAY. I WOULD THINK THAT WE DO THIS AS A PILOT PROGRAM AND SEE HOW IT GOES, AND THEN REPORT THAT BACK AND HAVE SOME. BUT AS FAR AS THE GOAL TO HAVE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER. SO IT'S NOT JUST LIKE, OH, THAT FELT GOOD, BUT WAS IT, YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE THE NUMBERS TO TO THAT BEFORE WE GET BACK THAT INFORMATION FROM THE RESTAURANTS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO COME AND TAKE IT TO HANDLE THE CARDS AND MAKE SURE THEY KEEP THEM SAFELY, ALMOST LIKE MONEY. AND THEN THEY HAVE TO COME IN AND GET REIMBURSED FROM THE TOWN. RIGHT. SO WE'LL HAVE THAT DATA. YEAH, EXACTLY. WE'RE CUTTING CHECKS TOO, SO WE'LL DEFINITELY KEEP TRACK OF THAT. SO THERE'S THAT. I MEAN, THAT TO ME WOULD BE A MEASURE OF SUCCESS. HOW MANY ARE YOU GETTING BACK FROM WHERE YOU GET THEM BACK. WELL I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO

[00:45:03]

BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT GOES TO JUST DOING IT MAYBE TO TWO AREAS WHERE WE HAVE TRAFFIC IN ONE AREA, CONSTRUCTION IN THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, AND JUST KIND OF SEE HOW THAT WE ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE TO AGGREGATE ALL THAT SALES TAX DATA. CAN YOU SAY THAT PRACTICALLY EVERY BUSINESS IS DOWN. DOWN THERE IS NOT LIKE AN OUTLIER. IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT.

PRETTY CONSISTENT. YEAH. IS IT THE PREVIOUS SLIDE? BRADEN. ONE MORE. YEAH. IN AGGREGATE IT IS YEAR OVER YEAR AND THE TWO SLIDES FORWARD. BUT THERE'S NOT LIKE SOME BUSINESSES SHINING.

AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THAT DATA TELLING YOU THIS. BUT THERE'S GOOD BUSINESSES BAD BUSINESSES. IT'S FAIRLY LEVEL ACROSS. BUT THAT THAT DATA IS JUST FOR THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO TARGET. CORRECT. NOT NOT INCLUDING THE SURROUNDINGS. WELL, THERE'S THE OTHER CHART. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S NOT INCLUDING IT'S NOT INCLUDING TWIN PEAKS. IT'S NOT

[00:50:02]

ROGER. YEAH. I CAN TELL YOU WHAT BUSINESS WAS ON FACEBOOK WITHIN A DAY OF THE OR TWO DAYS.

I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY DAY OR TWO. AND THAT WAS BURGERS AND CURRY POSTED ON FACEBOOK. AND HE'S TRYING TO SELL HIS BUSINESS. AND I WONDER IF HE'S NOT WANTING TO KEEP HIS BUSINESS UP SO THAT HE CAN SELL IT FOR MORE. THAT'S THE ANSWER TO SOMEBODY'S QUESTION. WOULD YOU PUT THE SLIDE BACK UP THERE WITH GREEN? GRAPH ON IT RIGHT THERE? OKAY. THAT EASTBOUND TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE DETOURED TO THE NEW ROADWAY. HOW ABOUT WHEN THE WESTBOUND TRAFFIC IS DETOURED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WHIZZING BY THESE BUSINESSES AT 70 MILES AN HOUR.

AND ALL WE'RE DOING IS KEEPING THEM OPEN FOR RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE TRAFFIC TRAVELING WEST IS NOT GOING TO BE OVER THERE ON THE SIDE ROAD. IT'S GOING TO BE UP ON 114 TRAVELING. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL BE 70 OR 65 OR WHATEVER. SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THEN? BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT'S JUST THE EAST SIDE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE WEST SIDE WITH THE SAME THING. AND YOU MENTIONED THIS EARLIER AND I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS. THE PROJECT STOPS KIND OF THERE. IT DOESN'T GO ON THROUGH TO 35 W. SO I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE TRANSITION LOOKS LIKE. BUT YOU TOLD ME. YEAH. WELL I KNOW IN LONG TERM LONG TERM YOU'RE RIGHT. LONG TERM. YOU'RE RIGHT. THAT TRAFFIC WILL WHIZ BY. BUT LONG TERM THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE AROUND THERE. BUT YES SIR. AND I CAN'T VISUALIZE. BUT IT IT BASICALLY ALL DUMPS INTO 35 AND THEY'RE NOT. THAT'S ANOTHER TEXTILE PROJECT IN THE FUTURE. 711 IS THE ONLY ONE AFFECTED BY WESTBOUND. AND THAT'S THEY ALREADY HAVE DIVERTED TRAFFIC INTO THE ALREADY MADE A VOTE FOR THE APARTMENTS OVER THERE. YOU TOLD ME THAT THE TRAFFIC'S GOING TO BE GOING PAST. OH YES, SIR, ULTIMATELY I GET I GET IT. YES, SIR. I THINK A KEY POINT TO YOUR POINT THERE, ROGER, IS THAT THEY THEY'LL HAVE TROUBLE DRIVING PAST IT. THEY CAN'T GET BACK ON THE HIGHWAY HEADING EASTBOUND. THEY HAVE TO GO DO TWO U-TURNS. THEY'RE QUITE FAR OUT OF THE WAY. SO VERY FAIR POINT, THOUGH, COUNCIL, DO YOU WANT TO DO ANOTHER ROUND? LET'S JUST DO IT. ALEX, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? I, OF COURSE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY. I THINK THAT. WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT KIND OF SMALL POTATOES AND THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT SOMETIMES IS PUTTING SO MANY OPINIONS IN A MALL THAT WE FORGET THAT THE. I THINK THAT EVEN THOUGH BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING AARON SAID, BUT THAT CONSIDERING THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE PROGRAM DOWN THERE AS THE TEST, I LIKE THAT TO BE ABLE TO SEE HOW THE HECK IS IT GOING TO WORK. SO WE'RE NOT PUTTING WE'RE NOT INVESTING A TON INTO THIS. I MEAN, I WANT TO MAKE THE RIGHT NUMBERS, BUT WE WE'VE SPENT MORE THAN THIS ON ACCIDENT, BASICALLY. AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW IT GOES AT. AND THAT'S INSTEAD OF SPREADING IT OUT.

BECAUSE WHAT I WANTED TO DO BEFORE WE CAME INTO THE MEETING WAS SAY, LET'S DO IT, BUT OPEN IT UP TO EVERYBODY. BUT THAT DILUTING THE PROGRAM TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN'T SEE IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL OR NOT. ANSWER THAT. I THINK IT'S THIS IS KIND OF SMALL, COMPARATIVELY SMALL POTATOES. AND I'D LIKE TO JUST DO WHAT WE CAN TO SAY YES, AND LET'S SEE IF IT WORKS. AND THEN IF YOU'RE AGAINST IT AND YOU HATE IT AND IT FAILS, YOU GOT TO SPEND $20,000 TO SAY, I TOLD YOU SO. AND I LOVE A GOOD I TOLD YOU SO. SO MAYBE IT'LL HELP IF YOU'RE AGAINST IT. YEAH.

YOU GOT THAT. SO. ANYTHING ELSE THEN? NOTHING MORE HERE. NO NO NO THANK YOU. ON THE USAGE OF THE CARDS, HAVE WE GIVEN THOUGHT TO 7-ELEVEN ON THEIR. THEY HAVE A GIFT CARD. THEY GO IN THERE, THEY BUY THE GUM FOR $3. ARE THEY GETTING $22 BACK IN CASH OR ARE YOU USING THE CARD? USE THE CARD. NO CASH BACK. OKAY. AND THEN SORRY, CAN WE GIVE THOUGHT TO MAYBE PEAK

[00:55:07]

THAT'S TRUE. SO. WELL, HOW CAN I. MAY I ASK IF YOU DON'T WANT US TO USE OUR FUNDS IN THIS MANNER, WHAT OTHER WAYS WOULD YOU LIKE US TO USE OUR FUNDS TO SUPPORT THESE? AWARDS? IN THE PAST, WE HAVE USED IT FOR PIONEER GRANTS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON. OKAY, WE STILL HAVE THE GRANT. YEAH, AND I'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH STARTING A NEW BUSINESS. I FEEL LIKE THESE PEOPLE HAVE COME TO US. KIND. I DON'T LIKE THE WORD I'VE USED. MAYBE THAT'S NOT A GOOD WORD, BUT THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESS OPEN. WITHOUT US, THEY NEED TO FUND. WE'VE HAD BUSINESSES FAIL. AND IF THEY'RE GOING TO FAIL, THEY'RE GOING TO FAIL. OKAY, MY FEW CENTS ON THIS IS WE WANT TO BE I THINK WE NEED TO BE REAL CAREFUL AROUND THE THE ALCOHOL STUFF.

WE DON'T WANT ANY LIABILITY AS A TOWN ON ALCOHOL. AND I THOUGHT INITIALLY WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, HEY, YOU GO DOWN TO MAYBE BURGERS AND BREWS AND GET A BEER AND A BURGER, BUT AS LONG AS THERE'S 25 BUCKS IN FOOD, I'M OKAY. I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE AT THE BAR OR SITTING AT THE BAR COMING DOWN. BEERS. I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF NOT USING IT ON TOBACCO, ALCOHOL OR GASOLINE OR GASOLINE HAS NO SALES TAX. I DO LIKE THAT. HAVING IT JUST IT JUST WIE EXCEPTION OF THESE THREE THINGS, INSTEAD OF MAKING IT A BUSINESS THAT'S ACCEPTED OR TO SAY THIS ISN'T, I DON'T YOU COULD USE IT. YOU COULD PUT ON THERE FOR FOOD AND NONALCOHOLIC DRINKS.

THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY. SO SO I THINK AS LONG AS WE EXEMPT THOSE, AS I WAS SAYING ABOUT THE SINS. RIGHT. BUT WE DON'T WANT THAT LIABILITY IN TOWN EITHER ON THE ALCOHOL AND SUCH.

SO I THINK THAT IF WE DO, YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT BE SOME RETAIL IN THERE TOO, MIGHT SELL SOME PRODUCT, ETC. AND THAT'S ALL FINE. GENERATES SALES TAX. SO WE EXEMPT I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU SEPARATE THINGS AREN'T TOBACCO, BUT WE NEED TO INCLUDE THAT WITH SOME SORT OF LANGUAGE.

I'M SURE YOU CAN COME UP WITH THAT. I LOVE SEEING THAT THERE ARE TOWNS HAVE MADE THIS WORK.

AND I THINK THAT THE PILOT PROGRAM IS KEY, THAT WE DON'T DILUTE IT. IF WE DILUTE IT IN AN INITIAL ROUND, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE THE DATA POINTS. SO IT JUST FADES INTO THE AVERAGES.

WHAT I'M HOPING TO SEE OUT OF THIS IS THERE'S A POSITIVE UPSWELL FOR TWO MONTHS, AND THAT OUR REVENUES COME BACK AND THE PHONE TRACKING COMES BACK AND SAYS DWELL TIMES GONE UP, MORE PEOPLE ARE STOPPING HERE AND WE SEE THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING VERY OBJECTIVE. AND I AGREE THAT FOUR SEVEN WILL HAVE ITS UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES. SO WHEN 407 CONSTRUCTION ACTUALLY STARTS, WHATEVER THE HECK THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE, WE WILL HOPEFULLY LOOK AT THAT PROGRAM THEN AS WELL, BECAUSE IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC. IT WILL BE SLOW, IT WILL BE JAMMED UP HERE, BUT IT WON'T BE. YOU CAN'T CONTINUE YOUR CURRENT DIRECTION CURRENTLY. SO SOME WOULD ARGUE WE CAN'T CONTINUE AT OUR DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OR NOT BECOME A SQUARE. SO I THINK THE BOARD'S DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF EXPLAINING THEIR CASE. I THINK COUNSELORS ASK VERY POIGNANT GOOD QUESTIONS. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? WE REALLY IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, THERE'S NOT A LOT TO DO ON THE ACTION ITEMS, EVEN THE READINGS. SO DO WE. DO WITH THAT ALL IN ONE MEETING OR DO WE WHAT WE ARE NOTICED FOR AND WE CAN TAKE ACTION ON? TONIGHT IS TWO READINGS AND THEN PASSING PASSING. WE CAN PUT THE CAVEATS IN THERE. RIGHT.

OUR ATTORNEY BELIEVES THAT AND JUST UNDERSTAND NO ALCOHOL GAS OR. TOBACCO. THEY THEY YEAH THAT'S THAT'S WITHIN WHAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY POSTED. OKAY. ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE

[01:00:04]

BUT LIKE I SAID, THERE'S ALSO LIABILITY CASE FOR US THERE TOO. IF SOMEBODY GOES TO 7-ELEVEN, BUYS A CASE OF BEER, WRECKS THEIR CAR ON THE WAY HOME BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING STUPID, THEY'LL TRY TO COME AFTER US. THEY WON'T HAVE A CASE. NO TRY, I THINK THAT, YEAH. SO THE QUESTION IS, COUNSEL, DO YOU GUYS WANT TO LOOK AT TAKING ACTION TONIGHT? I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE. MY. NO, NOT AT ALL. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM AS WELL. I THINK IT DEPENDS ON HOW WE'RE GOING UP. I'M STILL KIND OF I WOULD WELL IF WE DO I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT IN 14, 14 SINCE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE DATE WHEN THEY'RE IMPACTED BY CONSTRUCTION IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. SECOND, THAT'S THE ISSUE WITH THAT IS IF WE DO IT 114 FIRST AND WAIT TILL THEN, WHENEVER IT HAPPENS IN 114 DOES NOT DO WELL. ARE WE GOING TO REVISIT 47 CONSTRUCTION? IF YOU OPEN IT UP RIGHT NOW, THE 14 IS NOT GOING TO DO WELL. THEY'RE NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE UP HERE. MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION UP HERE. THIS IS A QUICK PLACE TO GO. WE WANT TO EFFECTIVELY ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO DOWN TO 114 AND TRY OUT THESE PLACES THEY MAY HAVE NOT EVER GONE BEFORE. SO I THINK IF WE CAN PLAN ON 407, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT MONTH, A DIFFERENT CYCLE, SOMETHING ELSE ARE WE ULTIMATELY WE'RE ULTIMATELY ASKING THEM TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR. WE ALREADY KIND OF KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. WE WE'RE SAYING PLEASE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT JUST TO CHECK IT OUT. AND SO I THINK THAT WE WHENEVER WE HAVE 407 THAT I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY YOU I WANT YOU TO SPEND IT AT THIS AREA. SO BECAUSE I FELT THE SAME WAY. I'M NOT TRYING TO CHANGE YOUR MIND, BUT I FELT THE SAME WAY. BUT I WANT THE LATITUDE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, OKAY, NOW THIS ONE NEEDS IT. OR, YOU KNOW, THE THIRD ONE IS RETAIL FOR SUMMER, BACK TO SCHOOL OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW. BUT I LIKE THE THE PUSH THAT BEHAVIOR DOWN TO WHERE WE'LL SEE IF IT WORKS BECAUSE THEN WE'LL ALSO SEE. AND THEY REALLY DON'T WANT TO PATRONIZE THOSE BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T EVEN USE $25 TO GO DO IT. YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE THE ANSWER.

BECAUSE THEN IF WE IF THAT'S THE ANSWER THAT WE GET THAT, OKAY, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF BUY IN, BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE SERVICE, THEY DON'T LIKE THIS OR WHATEVER. THEN I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED THAT 407 IS STILL ON THE ON THE TABLE FOR HOW. PILOT. SO MAYOR, WE WE REMOVED 407 FROM THE BUDGET BASED ON YOUR DIRECTION BECAUSE WE HAD TO GET THE BUDGET IN. BUT MUCH LIKE A 114 IS AN AMENDMENT, WE CAN DO THE SAME THING WITH 407. I THINK I HEARD BOTH PRESIDENTS SAID THEY'RE WILLING TO COME BACK AND DO A SIMILAR AND DISCUSS PROS AND CONS OF 114 WHEN FOR FOR 407 I DON'T TO TO COUNCILMEMBER FOWLER'S COMMENT, I DON'T THINK WE'RE NECESSARILY BASING 407 DECISION ON 114 JUST THE SUCCESS. YEAH, YEAH. GOING OFF OF WHAT? WAS SAYING AND YOU AS WELL, MR. ADLER, IS CAN WE LOOK AT THEM BOTH AS A PILOT PROGRAM AND COMPROMISE IN THAT WAY? BECAUSE WE I THINK WE ALL HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT 114 AREA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN 407, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT 407 GETS THE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. BUT IF BOTH FAIL MISERABLY OR ONE DOES, I THINK WE NEED THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT IT, MEASURE IT, AND DECIDE WHAT WE DON'T WORK WITH. I LIKE CERTAINLY PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO, AND WE COMPLETE BOTH PHASES BEFORE WE MAKE A DETERMINATION. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS IF WE DO 114 HERE IN OCTOBER, MAYBE IN THE SPRING IN A NON-PEAK SEASON, WE CAN DO 407. AND THEN AT THE END OF THAT WE CAN COMPARE THE TWO MOVING FORWARD. IF THIS IS SUCCESSFUL, SUCCESSFUL BOTH PLACES, THEN WE KNOW IT'S A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO WORK OUT FROM TOWN TO LIVE. IF IT'S ONLY SUCCESSFUL IN ONE AREA, THEN WE KNOW WE PROBABLY PROBABLY NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON THAT AREA TO HELP THOSE BUSINESSES VERSUS THE ONES. IT MAY JUST BE A BUSINESS THAT'S NOT A GOOD BUSINESS MODEL IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA. SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS BOTH BOARDS, YOU GUYS ARE COMMITTED TO LOOKING AT 407 AND AT A LATER DATE, REGARDLESS OF 114 IS GOOD OR NOT. CORRECT? CORRECT. IS IT DEPENDENT ON ROAD CONSTRUCTION? YES. YES. BECAUSE THESE

[01:05:04]

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO I GUESS I GET THE. ALL RIGHT. SO. ACTION OR NO ACTION ITEMS THAT WE DO

[3. PUBLIC INPUT]

SO A COUPLE OF THINGS HAVE BEEN A FACTUAL QUESTION. WHO APPROACHED NORTHLAKE ABOUT THIS? I DIDN'T HEAR ANYBODY SAY WE WERE APPROACHED BY X, Y, Z, AND MAYBE I MISSED IT. COULD I HAVE THAT QUESTION ANSWERED BEFORE I PROCEED? WHAT I CAN TELL, THERE IS NO BASIS THAT THEY'VE BEEN PERSONALLY APPROACHED. SO OKAY. SO NO ONE OKAY, SO THE BUSINESSES DIDN'T COME TO NORTH LAKE AND ASK, HEY, WE NEED HELP. NOTHING. NOTHING WAS DISCUSSED IN THAT REALM, NOT FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT. THEY DID SAY THAT WE WE DO NEED SOME HELP. AND THAT'S WHY WE DID THE BILLBOARDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT PREVIOUSLY. OKAY, SO OF THE TOWNS THAT YOU ALL MENTIONED HERE, JUSTIN HAS A TAX RATE OF 0.63. THEIR GIVEAWAYS ARE SUCCESSFUL WE WERE TOLD, AND ROANOKE HAS A TAX RATE OF 0.325. THOSE ARE BOTH HIGHER THAN NORTH LAKE'S TAX RATE. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAX OBVIOUSLY. BUT WHAT HAPPENS? SOMEONE ASKED WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO WITH THIS MONEY IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND IT ON THIS? WHAT YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN LIMIT YOUR AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT GOES TO THE EDC, CDC, OKAY? AND YOU CAN PUT THE REST OF THE FUNDS BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND. THOSE MONIES WOULD THEN GO TOWARD ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE, PROJECTS, WHATEVER THE TOWN WANTS TO SPEND THEM ON. AND YOU COULD HOLD BACK THAT PORTION OF MONEY THAT GOES TO THAT'S ALREADY DEDICATED TO THE HOTEL CONFERENCE CENTER, TO THE ICE RINK, TO THOSE THINGS. OKAY. ORIGINALLY WHEN WE SET UP THE EDC, CDC, IT WAS ACTUALLY THE THE A AND B ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS. WHEN WE SET THOSE UP, WE NEEDED FUNDS THAT COULD NOT BE SPENT FROM THE GENERAL FUND. AND WE HAD TO BRAND THE TOWN. WE HAD TO SOLIDIFY OUR BORDERS AND WE HAD TO BRAND THE TOWN. I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BRANDING OF THE NORTH LAKE. OKAY. AND THOSE FUNDS HAD TO BE PAID FOR OUT OF CDC, EDC, CDC MONEY. OKAY. WE HAD NO INTENDED FOR THIS TO BECOME A GIVEAWAY IN NORTH LAKE.

OKAY. WHAT YOU HAVE ON 114 WHENEVER YOU HAVE THESE, I UNDERSTAND THAT INGRESS AND EGRESS ISSUES, BUT WHAT YOU HAVE ON 114 IS YOU HAVE A CAPTURED AUDIENCE WHEN YOU HAVE TRAFFIC BACKED UP, THESE BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM A CAPTURED AUDIENCE. THEY BENEFIT FROM CARS HAVING TO SLOW DOWN, LOOK AT THEIR BUSINESS AND GO, I'D LIKE TO GO GET SOME ITALIAN FOOD, OR I'D LIKE TO GO GET THIS, OR I'D LIKE TO GO WITH THAT. WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, YOU'RE SLOWING TRAFFIC. YOU'RE GIVING PEOPLE A BETTER LOOK AT THEIR BUSINESS. I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS SAID TONIGHT. WE HAVE PLENTY OF RESOURCES. THOSE RESOURCES COULD GO TO THE GENERAL FUND. BUSINESSES ARE HURTING. I'M SORRY. 10S 10S. OKAY, WELL, MY TIME IS OBVIOUSLY UP, BUT I WOULD SAY, DON'T DO THIS. THIS IS A RIDICULOUS WASTE OF MONEY. IT

[01:10:02]

AND IF I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD USE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SIR. ANYONE ELSE? MR. SEEING NONE. CLOSING THE PUBLIC INPUT SESSION 7:10 P.M. FIRST

[4.A. Consider approval of a Resolution of the Town of Northlake, Texas, ratifying the actions taken by the Northlake Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Northlake Community Development Corporation (CDC) Boards of Directors, approving a Business Gift Card Program to provide targeted assistance to businesses impacted by State Highway 114 construction activity in a total amount up to $150,000 - FIRST READING]

SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS ON A, B AND C, ARE THEY EFFECTIVELY ALL THE SAME ITEMS A, A AND B ARE THE SAME ITEMS. YOU MUST HAVE TWO READINGS. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A DIFFERENT MEETINGS. IT CAN BE AT THE SAME MEETING. AND YOU WOULD NEED TWO READINGS TWO VOTES FROM THE COUNCIL. OH I HAVE A QUESTION. SINCE WE'RE GOING TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED, WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED FOR IT TO BE SPENT ON, MAYBE WE CAN, BECAUSE ARE YOU HAVING THE LOGOS PRINTED ON THE CARD FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE INCLUDED? SO IT'S ANOTHER FORM OF LIKE VISUAL BRANDING. I DON'T THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. RIGHT? I THINK THAT INSTEAD OF EXCLUDING THE BUSINESS, PUT THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE WITHIN THAT THING THAT WE OUTLINED SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THEIR BRANDING OUT THERE, BUT THAT YOU'RE SAYING WHAT YOU CAN OR CAN'T SPEAK. THAT'S JUST, WELL, YEAH, BECAUSE LIKE 7-ELEVEN, YOU CAN BUY CHIPS AND SODA AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU MY WIFE, YOU JUST CAN'T. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A WAY TO GET BOMBAY BAKER BACK ON THERE, BUT IF WE WANTED TO SUPPORT. THEM, THAT'S ALL THEY CARRY. YEAH. OKAY. WELL, AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, ITEM C IS A DIFFERENT ITEM FROM THE TWO. OH YOU'RE CORRECT OKAY. VERY GOOD. SO THESE TWO VOTES ARE EFFECTIVELY PASSING THIS. BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT BY PASSING OR DENYING IT.

[4.A. VOTE]

[4.B. Consider approval of a Resolution of the Town of Northlake, Texas, ratifying the actions taken by the Northlake Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Northlake Community Development Corporation (CDC) Boards of Directors, approving a Business Gift Card Program to provide targeted assistance to businesses impacted by State Highway 114 construction activity in a total amount up to $150,000 - SECOND READING]

[4.B. VOTE]

NEXT MOTION CARRIES 4 TO 2. ALL RIGHT. THE PROGRAM PASSES. AND AS MR. PIZZUTO JOINED US FOR

[01:15:01]

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY INTENTION TO LOOK AT IT AND I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT NO MATTER WHAT. BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WASN'T A TOTAL FAILURE. IT COULD BE A BUSINESS CASE.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO EVALUATE THOSE MARKETS. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SHOWING UP TONIGHT.

[4.C. Consider adoption of an Ordinance of the Town of Northlake, Texas, amending the Adopted Budget for the Northlake Economic Development Corporation and the Northlake Community Development Corporation for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2025; providing that expenditures for the said fiscal year shall be made in accordance with said Amended Budget]

[4.C. VOTE]

HAVE YOU ADJOURN AS WELL? YES. TEAM EDC WILL ADJOURN BY CONSENT 2017.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.