and silence all electronic devices. For those of you who have requested to speak, when your name is called, please come forward to the center podium. The countdown clock is displayed on the chamber monitor and will indicate how much time is remaining. The bell will sound when you have 30 seconds left. Speakers registered on consent agenda items will be taken following the announcements of any any items being pulled from consent. Speakers registered on non-consent items other than public hearing and zoning cases will be taken following council announcements. Each speaker will be given three minutes to speak on all the items within those blocks that they registered to speak on. Before you begin your name, please state your name. Thank you. Good morning and welcome to your Fort City Council meeting. Today we have a special guest, Everett to my right, who is our mayor for a day. Everybody, please welcome Everett. Thank you. And ever you get to call us to order. O say you use the gabble. >> I called this meeting to order. >> Great job. >> Today's invocation will be given by Pastor Robert Sample from the Holy Tabernacle Church of God in Christ. Pastor Sample here. I don't see. >> Please rise for the invocation and remain standing for the pledges of allegiance. >> Good morning and welcome all. Please bow your heads. Lord, we beseech you. your wisdom and your infinite patience as we embark in our civic process to have our city council meeting. Let us be respectful and actively listen to all differing opinions and render the best decision possible. This we ask in your name. Amen. To the flag of the stands nation indivisible and justice for all the Texas flagged one state one indivisible. Our first items will be special presentations with the first one being recognition of honor in honor of World Homeless Okay. Good morning. Um, World Homelessness Day is held annually on October 10th to raise awareness of homelessness and provide a chance for people to get involved locally. Today, I've invited um several members of our community to be honored. And if y'all don't mind coming up and standing with me, I'd appreciate it. Um, I have Tara Perez of the City of Fort Worth directions home, the Fort Worth PD hope team, the Fort Worth Fire Department hope team, DRC Solutions, Uten Gospel Mission, Journey Home, Presbyterian Night Shelter, um, I think said Lauren King with Partnership Home, Salvation Army. I don't think I missed anybody. Um, first of all, I wanted to say thank you to everything that y'all do every single day. I think y'all have probably the hardest job in the community. um you'll take care of the most vulnerable in our population and you do it with such grace and kindness and show them the respect that they deserve and keep our communities safe. So I'll read the recognition and then I have um one for each of you all to take. Whereas World Homeless Day observed annually on October 10th is a day dedicated to raising awareness and promoting action to address the plight of homelessness around the world including right here in Fort Worth. And whereas neighborhoods in Fort Worth and Tarant County are seeing a rise in the scope, visibility, and complexity of homelessness. And whereas as of the most recent point in time count completed in January 2025, there were 2,289 individuals experiencing homelessness with 934 of those individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness within the city limits of Fort Worth. And whereas it is essential to implement comprehensive strategies that include prevention, emergency response, and long-term solutions to end homelessness. And whereas homeless homeless service agencies, especially those that operate emergency shelters and provide direct outreach, are on the front lines of this effort, doing the work where it is most needed and under immense strain with limited resources. And whereas the city of Fort Worth is a committed partner to the local continuum of care that is made up of more than 40 entities including nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, law enforcement, and healthcare providers working collectively to promote a communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness. Now, therefore, the city of Fort Worth does hereby proclaim October 10th, 2025 as World Homeless Day in the city of Fort Worth. Thank you for all that y'all do. I was going to ask Toby Owen with Presbyterian Night Shelter, will you come up and just kind of give an overview of the work that y'all are doing throughout the city? >> Good morning everyone. Thank you Councilwoman Hill for this opportunity and for city council and the mayor, all of y'all for supporting the efforts of everyone involved in addressing homelessness in our city. It is a significant partnership between the providers and the city employees and the elected officials and definitely our police department and the fire department with the hope team and just thank you all very very much. We have um a lot of conversations around what we all do together and through the efforts in shelter care and housing and employment. We truly are making a difference and I believe we are a shining light and an example for the United States in a partnership that we all do and so thank you for that and uh we will continue to work hard together to always make a difference. Thank you. >> Chief Garcia and Chief Hill, if y'all are here, y'all are still here or not. If y'all come get a picture with us, too, I'd appreciate it. You fully one. [Applause] Thank you ladies and gentlemen for making the time to be here. Believe our next recognition is in honor of Donald Warren and that's with council member Chris Nettles. All right, mayor and council and the city of Fort Worth, I want to take out take the opportunity to honor someone who is special to district 8. And before I do that, we was here probably about a year or two ago uh doing the same thing for his lovely wife Wanda, who's also in the room today. And so Don has been extraordinary uh help to district 8 uh through co making sure the planning uh for uh development happens uh through multiple council members, Kathleen Hicks, Kelly Allen Gray, and myself. And it has been a true honor uh to have you on our team uh supporting our offices and making sure great development and great planning in the city of district 8 in the uh uh city. Are you laughing at me, Alan? Okay. Thank you. I mean it is a city all by itself. Thank you. Um and so I have a uh a recognition that I want to uh present to Mr. Borne for over 16 years of service. The city of Fort Worth special recognition presented to Don Borne for 16 years of service in the city of Fort Worth's plan commission. The city of Fort Worth proudly honors and recognize Donald for his 16 outstanding years and dedication service as district 8 representative on the Fort Worth city plan commission. Donald's journey began in 2009 when he was approached by the former councilwoman Ke Kathleen Hicks uh for district A. Although initially unfamiliar with the work of the city of Fort Worth plan commission, Donald determination and commitment to public service prevailed in him investing in countless hours attending training sessions, conferences, and striving to become the most effective on our plan commission. Over the years, his leadership and dedication has earned him the respect and the admiration of his colleagues. He has served as chair of the commission and was honored as the planning advocate of the year in 2020 by the APA Texas local chapter. We certainly appreciate your dedication and your service to not just to District 8, but to the city of Fort Worth as a whole. Thank you so much. We appreciate you. You know, it's been quite an honor and I have to tell you everyone just a quick when I was first appointed uh I replaced uh one of the uh appointees at that time who is now a state representative of Ramon Romero uh was uh the commissioner that I did replace. It's been quite an honor serving district 8 and I can't tell you how much I've appreciated working with you, Chris. You're always in you always let me know if there's something uh that we need to do and I appreciate it. You you've been a real gentleman. Thank you so much and quite an advocate for everything that we do. Plan commission is very important. uh because the state law requires us to be the final authority and act on all platting matters within 14 days of approval, we actually have to meet twice a month. Now, combine that with work sessions and uh because the chair is also appointed by our city manager uh the chair of the plan commission on the development advisory committee. That's quite a time commitment to uh to serve the city. I might also add that today uh or when we honored National Homeless Day uh for three years I was chair of the city's homeless commission before I was on plan commission. So, uh, service is kind of in my blood and I have a very good reason for that because my wife Wanda before she served on zoning, uh, was land commission chair for nine years in the 1990. So, I've learned from a professional service person for the city of Fort Worth. She is absolutely wonderful and we enjoy it. Uh I have to say that uh I have encountered a great number of people along the way both commissioners and and uh developers and uh other professional people, staff people that have have that same dedication. And uh along the way we've had a few that didn't quite feel that way. Well, they get weeded out real quick. uh when you're in the service mode, there's no place for a uh singular agenda. You know, when you're serving, you you actually need to serve. Uh I appreciate the honor you're giving me today and uh the void on those meetings is already being filled by other commitments. So, uh thank you so much and I hope that you'll join us at the reception later today. Thank you. >> That's right. >> Thank you again, Chris. [Applause] Thank you, Don and Wanda. We appreciate all of your service to the city of Fort Worth. Our next recognition with Council Michael Crane is Lena Pope's safer program's 10th anniversary. We have our friends from Lena Pope here today. >> Yeah, Mayor. Um we're uh glad that we're honoring Lena Pope today. Uh we've talked about homelessness and for almost 100 years they've been helping dependent, neglected, and homeless children. And we're here today to talk about the 10th anniversary of the project safer through uh Lena Pope and what y'all are doing which is helping strengthening families. Many many youth have of have been fortunate to be a part of the services heal growth find brighter futures together by focusing on accountability, education, and true family support. So, uh, we have representatives here. Shana Hazard, who's director of counseling services, Dr. Ashley Barnes, CEO, Jennifer Carpenter, chief program officer. Katie Laneir, chief marketing officer, and Jim Davidson, Tarant County Juvenile Services. It really is a team effort to get it done. I'm going to read this and then invite y'all to speak. Uh Lena Pope's project safer safety and family resiliency is celebrating 10 years of services to youth in Tarant County. Established in partnership with Tarant County juvenile services, the car Tarant County District Attorney's Office and Alliance for Children, Project Saver was the first and remains the only program in Tarant County specifically designed to serve the unique needs of this population. Since its launch 10 years ago, nearly 300 youth and their families have successfully completed the program. Project Safer uses a family- centered evidence-based model that emphasizes accountability, education, and long-term healing through comprehensive assessments, individual treatment plans, education, and support for both uh their family, parents, and families, and guardians. Project Safer has helped strengthen families and promote safer communities through early intervention, collaborative partnerships, and compassionate care. So, let's give a round of applause for the 10th anniversary for the Project Safer. that way. Yeah. >> Thank you, Councilman Crane and Fort City Council and Mayor Parker. We really appreciate this recognition. Um, Lena Pope is really proud of the work that we've done with this population over the last 10 years. We've touched the lives of over 600 families altogether and have a very low 3% recidivism rate. we're proud of. Um, and we're also honored to work in partnership with Tarant County Juvenile Services to positively affect the lives of so many families and children in Tarant County. >> Let's take a photo. Thanks. [Applause] Next will be items to be withdrawn from the consent agenda or continued or withdrawn by staff. >> We have one item to be withdrawn. Uh because we're asking council to vote on a revised M andC that's M andC2-0866 and it'll be replaced by revised 25-0866. >> Mayor, I believe we have one speaker on the consent agenda, >> Adrienne Smith. Is Adrian here? That's the conclusion of our consent agenda. Speakers council to entertain a motion on the consent agenda. Got a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Please vote. Motion carries. Next will be upcoming and recent events by council members. Thank you. Our first is Council Member Carlos Flores. Get the mic. There we go. Thanks, Mayor. All right. Have one slide, please. Get that up, please. All right. uh at the top uh joined Deputy Chief Horton of Fort Fire Department. Also, Aubrey Senko, R911 communications administrator. Sean Curtis, the fire, he's a fire deputy with the EMS off uh office and Sunny Saxon, director of emergency uh communications and management at the Fort Worth Alliance meeting recently and we discussed uh the EMS system, uh the transition, financial impact, offsetting revenues, and the outlook for the uh program and received a lot of positive feedback, a lot of great questions. Uh right below that, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Taran County came into the river ranch in the stockyards with a big wing challenge. Uh I participated in that along with council member Bllelock and council member Crane and we uh got kind of messy and devoured as many wings as we could in five minutes. And so um the funds that we raised, I think they were about $30,000 uh towards goal uh helps Big Brothers and Sisters to continue providing those essential mentoring uh services to the kids who need it the most. All right. below that or next I should say. There we go. Okay. Attended the red mass at St. Mary of the Assumption Church. And this is a long-standing tradition uh seeking God's guidance for uh the legal world as far and and also including elected officials. So we're grateful to Bishop Olsen, clergy, attorneys, judges, and officials uh all in prayer who serve in law and public life. and thanks to the Thomas Moore Society of Fort Worth for that. Uh below that, the 15th annual Dreaming the Cure event brought out friends, family, and community to raise money for Cook Children's Hospital uh so that they can fund pediatric brain tumor research. Proud to be a continuing sponsor for that worthy event. And lastly, um I have one announcement. If you can advance to the next slide. We have a meet and greet tonight, this evening uh for for plea chief Eddie Garcia at Artist Rosa there at the Rosemary Theater, 1440 North Main Street. This is a come and go event from 6:00 to 8. We'll have uh orurves uh Latin arts and fellowship and a great opportunity to have a one-on-one with chief. So, everyone feel welcome to come on in and say hi to the chief. That's all I have. >> Thank you, Council Member Flores. Next up is Council Member Crane. There it is. Can you hear me? Awesome. I got one slide up there. Just want to invite everybody next Thursday uh to the brick and mortar forum that's being uh partnership with city of Fort Worth, Hispanic Chamber, and Fort Worth uh Black Chamber of Commerce. This is a program with Flock Safety and Homegrown, a partnership with them to invest in small businesses. Uh so if you're interested and want to know more, the email's up there to email us about it. It's at Chadra Messa. They do a great job, a great small business here in Fort Worth. Uh and they're looking to uh uh the uh Thriving Cities Fund is looking to invest in small businesses here. Uh they were wanted to go to Dallas, but I convinced him to come to Fort Worth first. So, we're going to do this little forum here. The other thing I do want to shout out to Cooper Morris who is uh ending his internship today in the District 3 office. Thanks for your service. He's going to graduate in May from right Texas Wesleyan. Sorry I did that to you. uh from Texas Westand in the dual credit program. They went through high school and college. So pretty proud of that and thanks for your service to the city of Fort Worth. Appreciate it. >> Thanks, Michael. Next up, Council Larsdorf. >> Thank you, mayor. Just a couple quick announcements. The first one is a reminder uh that tonight um registration for National Night Out ends. So any neighborhoods um that are interested can still that you still have a little bit of time left to register your neighborhood. Next slide. And lastly, say the date uh again for October 23rd at 6 PM uh for our District 4 town hall. The location we were going to have it, we found out today the school the uh air conditioner does not work in the cafeteria. So we will be finding a new venue for that. So be on the lookout for the new location for the district 4 town hall. And that's all I have. Mayor, thank you. >> Thank you, council member Peoples. Well, as I got ready to start today, I realized as I was thinking of what I wanted to say, this is really turning into a presentation of gratitude. So, if we can have the first slide, I I want to say in this time of so much division and ranker, it is amazing to still have young Fort Worthians who believe and who want to bridge the gap. And so I wanted to give a shout out to a young man, Shiloh Taylor, who has put together uh an amazing podcast, When Eagles Talk. It is uh meant to reach out to young Fort Worthians and those around the country to discuss issues where we can come together. So I am grateful for that. But I'm also grateful, next slide, that we have businesses and nonprofits who want to locate to District Five. And so we did two ribbon cutings. Uh, one at a new restaurant in Chef's Corner. It is a sitdown restaurant with a full bar. So for all of you East Side residents who keep telling me that's what you want, we have one. It was a great thing. And then Sunday, I also had an opportunity to cut the ribbon for uh an amazing church that has moved into our comm community. And then finally, if we can go to the next slide, I want to thank uh we have businesses. Uh Franklin Moss Jr. opened the Franklin and Anthony Havadasherie. It's an amazing store and you have to go see it. It's a little too rich for my blood right now, Franklin, but that's okay. it is there. And then I want to talk do a shout out. Next slide please. Uh it's gratitude to my fellow council members. People don't understand that this is a seven day a week job and most of our work starts on the weekends and so gratitude to my fellow council members for giving up their time. So council member uh mayor proim Carlos Flores and I have been together. If we can go to the next one. Uh I also have spent time this weekend. We have passed like ships in the night with uh Councilman Alan Bllelock. We were at the mad scientist ball together. Uh also uh Dr. Mia Hall, Councilwoman Dr. Mia Hall and Councilwoman Elizabeth Beck JD. And then honorary Councilman Pepper the u the little robot up there. We were at the mad scientist ball. But I want to thank my fellow council members for giving of themselves because I know what it takes to make all these events. And then finally, I am grateful to our unbelievable city staff. And so we are having rolling town halls. And so I want to thank uh those city staff that have been there. Martha Collins from economic development, commander Andre an um Anton Williams was there, our NPO officers are there, Lieutenant Petravich, my staff, Lisa Baker and Selena Vasquez, uh Olga Nolan and all the other staffs. And so as we do these um rolling town halls, I just want to thank the city staff for always being so proactive about issues. And I want to finally shout out before I announce our next rolling town hall. We have an amazing, extraordinary employee, John Crane, who recently deescalated a situation in our priority repair program. It could have ended differently, but what uh that team did was they dealt with a very frustrated homeowner. They turned him into a fan and we're getting the job done. So, I am grateful for all of that. And finally, I'm grateful that we are going to be taking our rolling town hall. Our next one, we had one Saturday at uh Wood Haven at the East Branch Library. Our next rolling town hall will be at the MLK Community Center on Saturday, October the 4th from 11 to 1. And if for those of you who have not noticed, District 5 is massive and with many communities. And so that's why we're doing these rolling town halls so that we can connect with communities of interest all over the district. And I'm through mayor. >> Thank you, Council Member Peoples. Lots to celebrate. Counciloman Nettles, I believe you had a few announcements you wanted to mention. >> Thank you. On October the 1st, we will have a Fort Area job fair transit connection event from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Texas West uh supported by Trinity Metro and Workforce Solutions. And then our next announcement, our district a state uh town hall address uh will be October the 6th, which is on a Monday from 7 from 6 uh to 7:30. Uh we'll have all the department's heads there. We'll have nonprofits such as uh CHAMPS that deal with mental health uh and others. So, we want you to come out and we'll have our new chief police there addressing the uh uh crowd. So, please come out and hear everything about pothole, streets, bonds, and things that happen in district 8. Those are my two announcements. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Beck. >> All right. Good morning. Uh, all right. First slide. Yesterday, um, if you notice I'm a little sunburned today, it's because I, um, had the amazing opportunity to take a tour, um, behind the scenes of our nature center. If you don't know, it's one of the largest, uh, municipal nature reserves in the nation. It sits in district 7 and um we have our very own bison herd. They get a little rowdy. Um if you look at the closely at the photo on the right and you see that red spot um that is from some not so friendly playfulness of our uh bison herd. They let me um hold what they call shop dog and that is the um alligator. It's a baby alligator that they use for educational purposes only. They wanted me to make sure that I let everybody know that those alligators do not get released um into the nature center. So, um they are not responsible for the alligators. Those are natural phenomenon. They did say it's the meanest alligator that they've had. And so, um I nominated them to name it Beck um in honor of me since they didn't have a name. Next slide. All right. We have a lot going on. Um are coming up in uh in district 9. October 11th is a big day. It is arts goggle in the near southside. If you have not attended, I would highly recommend um you do so. We shut down Magnolia and it's full of local vendors and artists. Um it's fun for the whole family. October 18th and that's from noon to 10. Um October 18th is the rock and roll rumage sale um in the near southside. It's always a fun uh event as as well. Next slide. Okay, we have the neighborhood litter stomp on October 11th at 8 a.m. to 11. So, you can wake up, stomp out some litter, and then head on over to Arts Goggle and enjoy the day. Um and then on October 2nd, uh Movies That Matter will have um at 7 p.m. The disruptors at the Modern Art Museum. Next slide. Okay. Um, the Michelatada Festival is back in downtown Fort Worth October 12th. I hope you will all join me um for what has grown into one of our biggest festivals in town. If you are a Mishelada fan, um there is best in show and you always um can take your liberty and try as many as you'd like. Just remember to responsibly. Um, we also have uh some Bernett fall Bernett Park fall programming Tuesdays are free yoga in Bernett Park from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. if you need to get your zen on um after uh or before a council meeting. Um and then Wednesdays, uh every Wednesday there is lunchtime music from 12 to 1:00 p.m. So I invite you to go enjoy your lunch in Burnout Park with some uh live tunes. Next slide. Okay, this one's fun. Um there aren't a lot of perks on council as um much as people would like to believe, but one of the fun perks of um having the zoo in your district is that you get little sneak peeks sometimes of um really cool new constituents. And so we have three new babies at the Fort Worth Zoo. If you have not been out there to see them, um we have two baby lion cubs, Imra and Tamu. And um Tamu is actually um means uh timid and it's because he is um actually a very timid little boy. But I can tell you that I Emra is um real spunky. So um I'd invite you to go out there and see them. And then um we also have a baby elephant. And so that baby elephant does not have a name. Um but that is where you come in. The Fort Worth Zoo is hosting a competition to name um this baby elephant. They're all Texas themed names um like Ladybird or Blackeyed Susan and Susie for short to go with the uh themes of the other elephants at the zoo. So I um hop online and vote at the zoo's website for your favorite baby elephant name. And that's all I've got. >> Thank you. And Council Martinez. >> Yes. Thank you. Um, so next slide please. Yes. So I wanted to share that uh we attended the Fort Worth Public Library College Career Fair. We were very excited about that. Thank you to Fort Worth Public Library for hosting this event. It was great this resident directly to congratulations on a successful event. I believe their third year at Lag this event. I also attended youth um Lagan Fiesta their Hispanic that was at Reberry Park wonderful event where the community came together. Shout out to Fort Worth and also to the West Me neighbor associate being a part of this wonderful event. Um next slide. I'm also super excited to announce that the Med Golf Course reopening this Friday, October 3rd, and so it's open to the public golfer now because lots will fill up. So we are also hosting a warrant for event on October 18 at the new Riverside offers residents who warrants wared and vision community action partners also provide free information for attendees and so that is all I have for today. Thank you. Thank you, Janette. Believe that's the conclusion of our upcoming recent events by council members. Correct, Janette? >> That is correct. Mayor, we can now move to non-consent speakers and I believe we have 10. >> Thank you. Our first is Sida say followed by Bob Willoughby. >> Good morning, Mayor and Council. I am say and I am one of the candidate for tenant appraisal district board of directors. Uh I'm the only candidate with the experience complete knowledge of duties and function of appraisal review board the ARB. ARB is a vital link to the journey property owners experience when they discussing their protest with the appraisal district. Currently, as of July of 2024, the TAD board of directors appoints the member of ARB for two years. I will bring the clarity and understanding of the ARB processes to the TAD board, helping to enhance the governance of our appraisal district. No currently serving TAD board of director or the potential candidate has that kind of experience. Since January of 2025, I have attended all the TADs closed dooror entity meeting. I attended these meetings on behalf of those entities who cast votes for my candidacy in the prior election. They include Collville, Crowley, Benbrook, Halam City, Richland Hills, Grapevine, Hasslet, Ail, White Settlement, Grand Prairie, Forward ISD, Arlington ISD, and Averman ISD. Going forward, my plan is to implement the recent changes by the 89th legislative session within the Texas property tax code, focusing on uniform and equal appraisals, uniform and equal treatment to all taxing entities and the taxpayer. The accuracy and integrity of the tax role will be my first priority. I'm asking for your nomination. Please join hands with me together to enhance the governance of our appraisal district. Your support is highly appreciated. Thank you. Our next speaker is Bob Willoughby getting that up. I'd like for y'all to move that announcement by the city members to the bottom of the agenda and you'll see no one will be here to hear it and you can go home early. This coming up on resolutions here the fourth time in a row um about free speech um the new agenda that's resolution 25420. You've you've lied constantly about this that it doesn't take away free speech. You've actually lied about it. Cranes make jokes about it. It does take away free speech. Look at the council agenda. Where is the public comment com? You know, we used to be on this agenda. We used to be able to speak right here three minutes on what we want to. The public presentation was on the council agenda before Mayor Parker. When Mayor Parker got in, she said, "I'll just take it away. I don't want you to hear. I don't want to hear you. I'll just take it away." You know what it does? It protects the criminals of the city, too. There's some good workers. I know there's some good workers city. There's some bad ones, too. And when you try to put their picture up, Mayor Parker takes it down and protects them. That's wrong. I'll tell you, saying that this does not take free speech away from the citizens of Fort Worth is a lie. Just like you lied about me here in these chambers when you said I cursed at kids, Mayor Parker, until you take that back, you're a two-faced liar. I'm not through. >> Our next speaker is Chris Wood. >> We're changing >> followed by EJ Kerrion. Okay, good job. >> Please put that up the right way. Saying that this doesn't take away free speech is the same as tombstone saying that this man died of emphyma. It's the same identical thing. That man did not die emphyma and you are taking away free speech not. And you're going to hear about it all year long. I grant you. Now I don't know if the phones got tied up yesterday from me telling people to call, but when I tried to call city, I got bump didn't work. Maybe people did call in. Maybe people will wake up. And that's why you you know you moved this up on the agenda. It should be in October. Last year it was October when we voted on when you put this on here and you moved it up because you know us talking about it. The railroad it through. Keep your head down because you know it's wrong. It's it's the first amendment. Free speech is and any of you that been in the military, you're traitors. You are treason. You are nothing. >> To go fight for this country and then take away free speech to vote against that. That's not it. Our ancestors died for that and you're voting against it. >> You're a coward and you are traitors. or sustain >> point of order. Where's point of order? I know we're going to hear that's free speech. >> It's taken away. They got this point of order. That wasn't here either before Matt Parker. You never heard point of order. I could come down here and speak about anything I wanted to. And you didn't hear point of order. But you get Matty Park. All these little clowns over here start going point of order. That's not free speech. That's communism. That's what you are. You're communist. When you vote against our right to speak at the city, you are totally wrong and crooked. >> Our next speaker is Chris Wood, followed by EJ Kerrion. I'm Chris Wood from District 6. The proposed schedule for 2026 city council meetings has 10 separate standalone public comment meetings instead of having public comments as part of the meetings where business is attended to. Reasons supporting this public comment schedule. First, the separate public comment meetings have less attendees. I personally get nervous when speaking in public. The lower attendance is calming and comforting to me and relaxes me before speaking. The more personal my speeches, the better I feel about the less people present at the meeting. Second, the council meetings where business matters are handled are stressful and tiring. Consequently, attendees, they may be tired or distracted from dealing with these business matters and they may pay less attention to the speakers. The reasons against this public comment schedule. First, because attendance at comment meetings is lower, proper attention may not be given to issues raised. Second, comment meetings are more easily put on the chopping block. There was not a single Fort City Council comment meeting for November 2024, December 2024, and January 2025. 3 months without public comments is dangerous for a large city like Fort Worth. Some issues need to be acted on right away, so eliminating the avenue of speaking before city council may result in negative consequences. Third, according to the first amendment of the constitution, founding fathers established the right for citizens to petition the government for a redress of grievances, meaning they have the right to communicate with government government officials and express concerns to them. This is considered a fundamental right to free speech. It's a key aspect of a democratic system. Council members are more more likely to attend the city council meetings where regular business is attended to. they are less likely to attend the standalone public comment meetings. This decreases the likelihood that a citizen can address a specific elected council member. Overall, I believe the reasons for having public comment meetings part of city council meetings where the business meetings are attended to, I'm sorry, where the business issues are attended to. This outweighs the reasons for having separate public comment meetings. This is because public comments get more attention when not separated out to different meetings. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is EJ Kerrion followed by Ken Shimanto. I don't agree with Bob uh Willoughby on much, but I believe we are living in a time where free speech is under assault. Across America, people are being silenced from&m professors to late night hosts. We're sliding into a far-right authoritarian state. Reducing public comments in Fort Worth during this climate should be unconscionable. I admire Fort Worthians who come to this chamber and exercise their civic duty. What troubles me is how often this disas dismisses the disgruntled regulars and ultimately perpetuates a culture in our city that stigmatizes people who speak up. However, if you look at public engagement over the last few months, more people are showing up, more voices are being raised, the facade that public comments is fringe behavior is becoming eliminated. And just as Fort Worthians are having the courage to champion the city they desire to build, this dis is considering slashing their appearances. Public comments is fundamental to a thriving democracy and it's one of the few unfiltered ways people can hold their government accountable. If anything, this council should expand opportunities for residents to be heard, restore public comments at every meeting as we had before Mayor Parker made the change in 2022. It's too convenient that now that people are holding you accountable and seeing through your yaw means all rhetoric, you seek to limit diverse voices. Without public comments, only elite funders and private receptions will guide our city's future. Councilwoman Hill, I see tonight you're hosting a fundraiser with Mike Barry, the tycoon who built Alliance Texas, the affluent Mree family, and billionaire John Goff. My critique to you is that you should speak to everyday residents with as much as enthusiasm as you give to your donors. I've heard you say barely 10 words during public comments and that is concerning given the amount of money you raise in this city. Lastly, the council member with the poorest attendance in public count in public comments, Councilman Crane. You have missed 40% of public comments through August, which does not include the ones where you were virtual and disengaged. The people recommend you have the highest attendance in Fort Worth rather than the highest travel expenses. Fort Worth is in a metamorphosis. We're becoming one of the largest, most diverse cities in the nation. These are the moments when leaders must be sponges listening, learning, and absorbing the hopes of the people. Without more public comments, we will continue to fall to the Fort Worth Way, where decisions are decided on between the people in elite clubs with the deepest pockets. Our next speaker is Ken Shimato followed by Mindy Tacket. Is Ken present? Mindy Tacket will be followed by David Martinez. Morning. Government exists because it represents people. You all should be here to listen to and reflect the voices of the people in this city. And if you're not doing that, then there's really no reason for any of you to be here. Public comment is not an inconvenience, y'all. It is the foundation of representative government. And yet the path that you are you all are considering today would result in fewer general public comment sessions and even Tim O'Hare and the Tarant County Commissioner's Court now provide fewer than Tim O'Hare. That should be concerning and give pause to all of us. When Tarant County under this current leadership is offering more frequent space for public voices than this council, what message does that send about your priorities or your commitment to transparency? Public comment is where accountability happens. It's where citizens can bring forward concerns that may not fit neatly into an agenda item, but still matter deeply to their neighborhoods, their families, and their livelihoods. So today, I urge you to expand, not shrink, opportunities for public comment. Our next speaker is David Martinez, followed by Patrice Jones. Good morning. My name is David Martinez. Um I was signed up to speak about the um 6 million giving to um to Alcon uh I believe was it sorry. Um, anyways, I was hoping that in district 8, I was hoping that that the funds also would include our students at OD Wyatt High School uh for the students in Carter Park. Uh, a lot of people don't know uh OD Wyatt is uh our high school as it at the um on seminary. Well, a lot of students come from other parts of uh the city also and attend there. And um I would like those funds also to include uh maybe having job fairs and things like that at TCC uh South Campus and at the uh um OD Wyatt uh school events. Um but I also want to bring attention to why I'm wearing this orange shirt. It's not because I'm working construction. It is also to bring awareness that in 1891 the United States government was made it a rule where uh Native American indigenous children were taken from their mothers like myself. Um uh it was practiced until 1978 uh where the child welfare Indian child welfare act was enacted. Um when you see somebody wearing an orange shirt, it's to represent the children that were murdered and um abused on these uh school in these schools that they were sent away and take from their parents. And um a lot of stuff doesn't get uh brought up in these meetings uh gets put aside. But uh I would like you to also know that it was 197 it was 1978 also where we were allowed first to dance. It was a federal crime for Native Americans to dance up until 1978. I was four years old when we first were allowed to do dance on the reservation. Um it I would like for us to also look um at the things that for Native Americans that we have contributed to society throughout the years. We have the highest demographic and combat veterans uh in the United States nation's history. Um all branches, things like that. my family included. I'm Cherawa Apache. I'm the descendant of Chief Goron Mo. I would like you also know that as I work more for South uh in the southside, I would like to see more engagement for our community. Thank you very much. God bless. >> Our next speaker is Patrice Jones followed by Adrienne Smith. Good morning. I know y'all missed me. So, I am back and I'm here this morning to say loud and clear that you cannot silence the people of Fort Worth. Public comment is not a privilege or a favor that you grant us. It is a right guaranteed to every resident of this city. It is the one space where everyday people can stand before their government and tr and speak truth to power. to cut that time to shorten our voices is nothing less than an attack on democracy. It's not lost on us that since you've been elected, Maddie, you've reduced public comments year after year. We all remember when a public comment that spoke the truth about your family's KKK ties caused you to turn red and leave the chamber. As the leader of this city, you need tougher skin. This city belongs to the people, not to a handful of officials who find our concerns inconvenient. Reducing public comment sends a dangerous message that you would rather govern in comfort than listen in accountability. Leadership is not always comfortable. Leadership means listening even when it's hard, even when it challenges you and your beliefs. Reducing public comment tells us that our time, our voices, our lived experiences are too much. Absolutely not. We demand more transparency, not less. We demand more access, not restrictions. If you truly believe in serving the people, then stand with the people and vote no on this resolution. The people of Fort Worth will not be silenced. We will not be ignored. As always, we will remember who stood for democracy and who stood against it. and not something I wrote down. If you guys make it harder for us to talk to y'all in spaces like this, then we're just going to have to come to spaces where you are and make it uncomfortable. So, you may as well give us the opportunity to do what you were elected to do and hear us here so we don't pop up at your church or nowhere where you're at and make you uncomfortable in your comfortable spaces. >> Patrice, I still have your casket. Adrienne Smith is our next speaker, followed by Alexander Montalvo. Adrienne Smith, followed by Alexander Montalvo. Alexander Montalvo. So I think everyone can see why public comments are important because because there is a lot of sensitivity when community comes to speak to all of you. And what is being said is is really important that we're seeing the erosion of our democratic principles happen right before our eyes. We see a county commissioner's court that is reducing election sites after they passed a racial gerrymandering and redistricting process. We see them also reducing meetings for commissioner's court to once a month. We're seeing this city council get very sensitive and reactionary to the public coming to speak their perspectives and to give their voice, their concerns. And then we see a lot of the city council member not even show up to meetings that they're supposed to hear the public. I think it was mentioned my council member Crane has missed almost half of the public comment sessions this year going up to going through August. Maddie, you've missed I think at least three. Um there's always issues of is there going to be quorum to where we have to reduce minutes from three to one that happened one month and so there continues to be this restriction of the people's voices and this cannot be accepted. I move a request to all of you to make a motion to not only double the amount of public comment meetings, but to add public comments to every city council meeting that y'all have. So whether it's at 10:00 a.m., 6 p.m. or wherever, there should be a spot for public comments for the community to be able to speak about the concerns. We should be working to increase the voices and perspectives as we celebrate a million people in this city. That's doubled in the last 20 25 years. And yet over the last couple of years, we've been working to restrict that. That is moving in the opposite direction. That is moving into the direction of only giving voice to people who have privilege, who have dollars. And that shouldn't be the kind of city that we're trying to run. There are a lot of issues, a lot of problems that we have to solve and community want to be able to speak to that and this is a space that they get to speak to every elected official who represents them on city council including the mayor. And so as y'all continue to erode the voice of the people, just know that this is not going to help our city. This is not going to help us solve our problems. And ultimately, it's going to continue to motivate people to look towards leadership that actually wants to work with community, that actually wants to serve the people versus protecting institutions, industry, and their donors. Make a motion to increase public comments in this city so that the people's voice can be heard. I think at this point we're moving to 255461 which is a board appointment for district 3. Man, at some point I'm going to figure out this microphone. Um, okay. Request your consideration to appoint the following individuals to the board uh below with the term effective September 30th and ending October 1st, 2027. Emmy Luck first term Library Advisory Board request your consideration to reappoint the following individuals to respective boards with terms effective September 30th 2025 and ending October 1st 2027 except for building standards commission which will end on September 30th 2027. William Ren Jr. second term aviation advisory board. Jonathan Leiden first term building standards commission. Stephanie Musey second term historic and cultural landmarks commission. Joseph Romero second term pedestrian and bicycle advisory commission. Tom Carr secondterm urban design commission. The respective applications and resumes are available on request. The original copies copies will be maintained in the city secretary's office. >> Entertain a motion on board appointments for district 3. >> Got a motion and a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next is 255465 district 7. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, I request your consideration to appoint the following individual to the board term effective September 30th, 2025 ending October 1st, 2027. Sherea Pena, firstterm community development council. The rep uh respective application resume are available upon request. The original copies will be maintained in the city secretary's office. Second. >> Got a motion and a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next is 255466 board appointment for district 8. Council member Nettles. Council, I request your consideration to appoint the following individuals to board listed below with the partial term effective September 30th, 2025 and ending October 1st, 2026. Andre Smith to a partial term for the city plan commission. The respectable applications and resumes are available on upon request. The original copy was maintained in the city secretary office. You >> got a motion to second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Moving to 255467 board appointments by council district 9. Council member Beck. Council, I request your consideration to appoint the following individual to the Urban Design Commission with a term from September 30th ending October 1st, 2027, Mr. Steven Holiday to his first term. >> A motion a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next is 255468. Appointments from district 11. Council member Martinez. >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor and Council. I request your consideration to appoint the following individuals to the boards below with terms effective September 30th, 2025 and ending October 1st, 2027. Uh Juan Manella Costa to his first term of community development council. Naomi Dillard first term pedestrian bicycle and advisory commission. I additionally request your consideration to reappoint the following individuals to the boards below with terms effective as described. Leslie Shield, second term, effective September 30th, 2025 to October 1st, 2027. Library Advisory Board. Mia Moss, her second term effective September 30th, 2025 to October 1st, 2027. Urban Design Commission. Rick Herring, second term, effective September 30th, 2025 to October 1st, 2027. Essentially, all these are the same terms, so I'm not going to repeat that. History, Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission. Stephanie Thompson, first term um same uh sorry, first term effective September 30th, 25 to September 30th, 2027. Building Standards Commission. Andrea Akuna, second term um same September 30th to October 1st. Aviation Advisory Board. Greg Hughes, second term. Uh same effective September 30th to October 1st, 2027. Park and Recreation Advisory Board. The resp respective applications and resumes are available on request. The original copies will be maintained in the city secretary's office. A motion to second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. >> Next will be resolution 25-5420. >> Thank you, Janette. Council Nettles. Yes, this is the uh calendar uh resolution. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. I have a couple questions for uh city staff and I want to make a motion. >> Jay, do you want to cover those or you can ask someone else to come down? >> I can cover them. >> Okay. It was just it's just a question I asked at the last work session. Uh I don't have my notes in front of me and I also want to give the opportunity for those who are here that wasn't at work session. The number of public comment meetings I believe is slated for to be 10 this year uh for the upcoming year. Uh but last year it was 15. Is that correct? >> I believe that's correct. >> Um >> two were I think ended early because of loss of core. >> Okay. Correct. In 20 25 for this year we had 15 scheduled. uh one was cancelled uh for a special called meeting and two we limited the time because of quorum issues. >> Okay. Um and this and last year well this caring year we have two meeting which is on the first and the third of each month. Um, and the proposed calendar only allows public comment on one Tuesday a month. >> That's a recommendation. >> Okay. All right. Uh, thank you for those questions. Uh, my thoughts on uh, public comment. Uh, and I want to make a motion. Um and I think that we all know how I feel about public comment and opportunity for uh individuals to come to this body, this council body who represent the people and I believe that we have come to this das on numerous occasions and our votes or our desires have been changed by hearing comments the voices of those who live in our neighborhoods. And so when we essentially limit the opportunity for individuals to come on an an opportunity where they can talk about something other than what's on the agenda. Cuz let's be clear, you have the opportunity to come to talk about any agenda item. And you saw that today. People were here to talk about the business that we're going to be voting on today. That's one thing. But we have other individuals who want to come and give us their thought and their feeding pattern on what's happening in their in their streets and their cities. That's not on the agenda item. And I think those are vitally important for uh this council. Um since I've been elected, I hold an annual town hall address to our constituents and some other council members do as well. Um but it's important that when we're here, you can have the opportunity. This is your city hall to come. And so I can support limiting the uh opportunity for people to come to speak publicly. Um I remember standing on the opposite side of this dis uh in 2019 and 2020 before I was elected and we had opportunity to come every week. Now, it's not lost on me that we have a couple of bad apples within the city of Fort Worth who come and use this platform to uh be negative towards this council, this body that have said horrific things to people, family members. I've been one the others on this council. And I understand how that makes you feel. I understand how it makes our family feel. Um uh because my kids watch count as well. Understanding all of that, I still cannot stomach to reduce the public comment. And so today, I want to propose uh an alternative, well, a motion today where we will add public comment back to at least one of our council meetings. Uh so, as we did this year, have twice a month, we will have that as well. And so I want to add those public comments to the day meeting. I think uh if someone's going to take off their job and come during the day to give us public comment uh then we should allow them to do that. Um and so my motion today is going to be I move to approve this resolution with the following changes in section one. um to change the start time for the afternoon work session from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and to start the start time executive session from noon to 1. Uh that's in a conversation I had with a fellow council member uh and the mayor. And then also in section three to add language to require the city manager to include a public comment section at the end of each day meeting in addition to >> two seconds here and council member um I don't want to cut you off. Is that conclusion? Okay. >> I was saying in addition to what we already have. Yeah. >> Okay. Council member Peoples. >> No, I was just going to say and I thank uh council member Nles for saying that. This is what we signed up for. Thi this is the job that we signed up to do. And so that means that we have to listen to the good, the bad, and the ugly. And uh for those of you who know me, I don't ask anybody to do anything that I wouldn't do myself. So yesterday I was in the field at a disgruntled resident's home with our city staff because I believe that our city staff should not have to take this. But we ran for office because we wanted to serve the citizens. So I believe that public comment is necessary. I have been on the receiving end of negative public comment and I'm prepared to be on the receiving end of more. But we can't make decisions unless we know what our residents are thinking. And to limit public comment is the wrong direction for a city our size. Council member Dr. Hall. >> Thank you. Um I just wanted to go on the record with um I was a part of that conversation with Councilman Nettles and with uh with Mayor and I think that it was um a I agree that we should not be limiting um our public comment. I think that the recommendations to adjust the meeting schedule, the day meeting schedule to include a public comment that would give um our residents not only an opportunity to speak in evenings, but also to give residents who would be available in the day daytime hours, the business hours, an opportunity to come here as well. I have to say um I share um the sentiment that public comment is a part of uh the democratic process. I come from a different body or board where we had public comment every single meeting. I think I think it's actually required for school boards, but um I don't want uh to limit public comment and certainly not reduce the opportunities and I support uh the proposal um that Councilman NAS has put forth for us. >> And Council Member Flores. >> Yes. Thank you. and I respect uh the uh the positions that my fellow council members have taken thus far. I'm going to offer uh another perspective uh for your consideration. All right. Uh the proposal by Councilman Nettles is to add to the day meeting uh if I understood it correctly. And while it we're able to do that, um I don't know if I should phrase this in the form of a question or not, but it's an observation. We do committee meetings right after our day meetings. As soon as we adjourn, that's the that's the next set of items that we have to do. We have to perform city business at hand. And at each of those committee meetings, which several of us serve on, there is a public comment portion. Now, I can tell you that I've been here longer than any other of the council members, and I don't see any public there. That's a grand opportunity to speak on those topics. And I use the word opportunity because merely providing a certain number of meetings does not guarantee that opportunity will be taken. So consider that there is lost opportunity to address council on matters at hand at those committee meetings. It's never taken up by anyone. And then I also want to clarify something else. Because I served uh with the previous mayor, the meeting schedule for council meetings was different. It was all loaded onto one day. And those days were very long. They were very arduous. Staff that was here at the time can attest to that. By the time we got to public comment, it was at the very end of the day and we were ragged and people were leaving. They have jobs to go to the following day. was not an effective use of that opportunity. So when Mayor Parker was elected, she sought input from all the council members so that we could retool this to be more effective use of time. Not just our time, not just staff time, but the public's time to make it more available for all of you to address us. That's why we have day meetings. That's why we have night meetings. So there are avenues of communication here to us and while one can look at the number and I agree compared to the current year there is a reduction in the amount of public meetings but if you look in the past that varies because every year council considers and gives input to the city secretary as far as what changes we want. So, I'm just opening up the floor for further uh conversation about that because that's another way of looking at it. >> Council member Crane. >> Y >> Hello. Yep. Uh good point there. Uh Mayor Pro Tim Flores, what I'll say to this is um I'm not supportive of this amendment because I'll tell you why. Um, I look around this room and if I believe at least half of you or more have my personal phone number and for those that don't, I'll give it to you. 8176778258. If you have a real issue, a real problem, something you want to solve, whatever it is, want me to be somewhere or whatever, call me, text me, whatever it is. So if we're talking about public being able to give us input, may not be able to do it in this forum, but I can tell you that all of us as we do these presentations are out and about. We're here doing our job. We're doing all that that. So if you want to reach us, you can do it through the normal channels through the office. Uh all of our 817-3928803. Christy and Jason do a great job of getting back and I I do too if it needs to be addressed that way. Email district3 texas.gov. Email Michael. Texas.gov. happy to get those emails. So, I'll say this. If there are true issues that need to be resolved and there are you need to reach us very accessible, all of us are. So, I see that the time that we're spent here in public comment means we don't have a Tuesday night out where we can go to a neighborhood meeting. We can go meet with people, etc. So, I won't be supporting this amendment as part of it and sticking with the schedule as profered by the city staff, city secretary looking over all of it and city legal. >> Council member Larsdorf. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh I I agree with Councilman Crane on a lot of the issues uh spoken there. Whenever I look out in the crowd right now, I see if we actually had all the city staff and media leave, I think the room would nearly be empty. Um I would completely agree with Councilman Nettles. U if the issue were every public comment we had so many people lined up to speak that we just didn't really have time to get through everyone. We had to continuously cut down time because there were so many people lined up. But we don't see that Nate. Um, and like Councilman Crane said, I've met with residents numerous times of Black Rifle coffee, cold beverage at trucky yard, some mocktails at Firebirds, plenty of opportunities to actually meet with residents who want to see meaningful change. I think the issue with the public comment is you don't really get that back and forth dialogue where you can ask questions, get answers, uh, bring some subject matter experts to the table and actually solve the problems. It's a lot of the same song and dance, which I'm happy to listen to, but I never really hear a lot of solutions. Um, and so that's why I prefer to handle our business actually into the in the district. Um, and then allowing city staff to actually do their job instead of having to sit through this while we discuss this right now when they could actually be out taking care of a city of a million people and actually doing the job that you all as taxpayers are paying them to do. Uh, so I support the current schedule as written. Um, I think when we have a lot of uh angry folks coming down to speak, absolutely you you know, you won't find somebody more appreciative of our of our First Amendment rights and being called a coward. That's that's just ridiculous. Um, and then to come down and listen to threats, too. Sure, we signed up for this. This is what we signed up to do as elected officials, city staff, they they they applied for a job to actually get work done. So, I want to allow them to do that. And I think this new schedule will allow them more time to do the job that we are asking them to do. Uh, and as far as the threats go, I think that's incredibly that's laughable. Um, I think speaking uh with the city attorney, she probably wouldn't want me to say uh f around and find out. So, I won't, but I will say please test that assumption and then take note of the results. Um, I think it's incredibly disheartening to hear residents sounds like threatening uh elected officials uh while we're up here volunteering to do our job. Um, and lastly, I want to thank staff for taking the time to put together a thoughtful and meaningful uh calendar that allows us to not only hear public comment but also get the work of the uh the city done. And lastly, I will leave on some good news uh for those of on the the dis who want additional public comment and those in the the audience or or out in the city who want more comment. I did confer with city attorney. I'll let her correct me if I'm wrong in this at all. Uh but after city council meetings, there's nothing that stops council members as long as there's no quorum from meeting with residents afterwards down in the down the galley, out the hallways, wherever it may be to hear additional comment. So, that is still an absolute opportunity that they can take and I'm sure that they will set some of that time up with you to hear those concerns. Um, I know whenever I've missed public comment, those on the list that I know actually want to see change and not just have a sound bite for YouTube or podcast, I've actually called those residents. Uh, David Martinez, he already left. I called him, we spoke for 45 minutes and actually had a conversation. So, he had far more than just three minutes to get a one-sided conversation. So, like Councilman Crane, I invite anyone else who wants to see meaningful change and wants to actually talk about solutions, contact me. I would love to meet with you somewhere in the district, uh, District 4. We can meet, we can have dinner, we can have coffee, we can have a cold beverage, and we can work together for meaningful change. That's all I have, Mayor. Thank you, >> Council Member Hall. >> Um, I think that it's also noteworthy to mention that on Tuesdays, um, Tuesdays, we have Taran County Commissioner's Court meets on Tuesdays. That's a morning meeting. Fort Worth ISD meets on Tuesdays. That's an evening meeting. If we limit public comment to one Tuesday a month and we choose it to be an evening or morning, then we actually don't allow our residents to have a voice in other spaces. They have to pick and choose where they want to bring forth their concerns about our school district, our Fort Worth city, and our county. And it just doesn't I don't understand the reason for moving from two to one there. There's no reason to move from two to one. We're all here. It's what we signed up to do. And I don't know where the conversation about discomfort has come from. And I don't know if that's actually a point at all about consideration, but I definitely believe that we need to give people the options and the availability and the flexibility to bring forth their concerns. And while they can call you on your phone or send you text messages or talk to us down in the galley, it's often that I don't know the citizens or residents positions, their concerns or even what they support unless I'm here hearing it for my colleagues uh districts. I would not get that information. I would not be um I would not have uh an opportunity to hear their their sentiments. And so I believe that public comment we don't need to restrict it any further. I think that uh Councilman Nettles has put forth a great opportunity for us to split the baby um and be available and immunable um for not only on this day but also be available for our citizens. >> Council Nettles. >> Yes. I just wanted to actually rebuttal a few comments that were spoken about the the other opportunity. Um, I want to make it clear that yes, when Mayor Parker was elected, we came up to a new schedule and in those work sessions and in those executive sessions, I agreed with that work section with that limited to two meetings. I didn't vote to support it, but I in the meeting I voted to support it as a as a group of a body to limit it to two on the DAS. I voted against it because and I didn't argue with I just took the no vote because I felt like we should have it every week. So I compromised two week two or three years ago. I'm not asking for us to go back to it was before all of us got elected. I'm asking us just to keep it as what we agreed to three or four years ago, two times a month. And this also gives a better time, a time in the evening and a and a daytime. I think that it's important that people have the opportunity to speak on the record what their issue is. Make it public, not known just to us individual, but in the media and everywhere. is important for all of us because I represent district 8. I lead the charge for district 8, but Macy Hill votes on stuff in district 8. Deborah Peoples votes on stuff in district 8. And so I second the notion where Mia Hall talks about. I need to hear from other districts in a public setting like this so that I can know how that individual feel. You'll seek votes tonight where people will vote against and for proctors that I have in my district. is because their own individual interest or their own individual they heard from their constituents they hear from their city members and so I think it's important that we have a public setting and I'm not asking us to go back to the century I'm asking us to continue what we have decided to do four years ago allow people to speak twice a month one time in a day and now one time in the evening those are my sentiments >> council member peoples >> I I was just going to say and I respect all my learned colleagues up here. But when you have public comment, it goes on the record. When people have sidebar comments with us at uh individual at individual events and I was out all weekend. I I had four events on Saturday and three events on Sunday and events yesterday and people come up to me all the time, but it's not on record. and the ben the whole council doesn't get the benefit of hearing that. And so I just believe uh we're good stewards of our uh of our jobs and the things we were elected to do. And part of that is listening to our constituents and our residents. >> Council member Beck, >> I just public comment is incredibly important because it's the public forum. It's our audience. It's it's the time in which um we are the audience and we are here to listen to the concerns of residents. Um like my colleagues have said um I try to make myself incredibly available to residents that have um questions, concerns, complaints um via me personally or through my office. But the truth is is that oftent times people um find their way to city council in different methods. um more than once, more than twice, I've seen someone sign up on this um on our public comment um seeing that they were a District 9 resident um and and reached out to them or gave them a call or talked to him when they came here for um public comment. And um it's the first time that I'd heard about their complaint and I said, "Well, you know, why didn't you reach out to my office?" And a lot of them just um well, I didn't know how to get you, but they figured out how to speak at public comment. And so by allowing that um we give people more opportunities to connect with their council members in a way that they feel comfortable. And as elected officials I think it's important that we meet people where they are and in doing so we or we do that through public comment. I also want to talk about how special Fort Worth is to have public comment. We are not legally required. There is no state law that requires us to have an open public comment session in the city of Fort Worth. There's cities in the state that don't offer that uh resource to their residents. I think having public comment makes us special here in Fort Worth. I think it sets us above the rest because we are providing that opportunity for for redress. Um, I'd also like to address the comment made about, well, we don't have people busting down the doors to get here. And um, I know you weren't able to be here for some personal reasons last uh, Tuesday, but we certainly had them busting down the door last Tuesday and cyclally we have that happen often. U, but you're right, we don't typically have people, you know, gaggle of of folks coming to speak. So to that I say, then what's the harm of having the meeting? It cost us maybe 30 minutes of our time to sit there and listen. So, um I take the opposite opinion of that. We don't have a lot of people. So, it's it's not really an inconvenience to me to sit here and listen. It shouldn't be an inconvenience to anyone else because we did sign up to um to to be discomfort to to be uncomfortable at times and sometimes to be comfortable. >> Okay. Council, we have a an alternative motion on the floor from Council Member Nettles. So, if I'm correctly, and we'll vote on that motion first. Correct. Okay. Got a motion by Council Nettles and a and a second by Council Member Peoples. Please vote. Someone's missing. Carlos, try again. This is Council Member Nettle's motion. And then we have to vote on it. and whether or not it passes. Then we go to the next motion. Motion fails. So we need now we need a motion back on the original resolution which is 25-5420. >> Got a motion and a second. Council, please vote. Council Hall, try one more time. Thank you. And motion carries. We'll now move to 25-5456. This pertains to council districts 9 and council districts 11. Council Martinez. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just want to thank staff that have worked with the Rosemont Neighborhood Association. I know the largest portion of uh Rosemont is in district 11 and I thank Councilwoman Beck for also working and her staff for uh putting this large project together to reszone um the area of that neighborhood. And so I just again thank you to all the staff and everybody who had a hand in this. And I move to approve. >> Got a motion, a second, council. Any other discussion? Please vote. Motion carries. Next is 25-5457. Entertain a motion. Thank you. Motion and a second. Please vote. Motion carries. Exis 25-5458 >> motion and a second. Any other discussion? Please vote. Council member Blac. Again, thank you for your service on Tad. We appreciate you. Council Nettles, try one more time. Thank you. Motion carries. >> Next is 25-5464. >> Staff is available for questions. council if there is any. No questions. Council >> Blocklock motion to close the public hearing and act on the MNC. >> Got a motion to second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next is MNC25-0935. Any staff questions from Chelsea? She's available if we need her. If not, I can entertain a motion. Motion a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next is ZC-25-131. Council Nobles, we do have a few speakers on this item. Our first is Bob Riley, followed by Rhett Bennett. Thank you. I'm Bob Riley with Half Associates uh located off of Meechum Boulevard in North Worth. uh here to speak to this case and the next if there's opposition the um I want to let Rhett who is the CEO have the Black Mountain speak to the benefits of the project. >> Morning uh council members. Great to see everybody again. Um, everyone's familiar with the project that we've been advancing in Southeast Fort Worth. Digital infrastructure. We feel like it's going to be one of the largest economic developments in the history of Taran County. Ultimately, a full buildout over $10 billion of investment. We think that will uh bring tremendous benefits to the community, new fiber optic lines, new power infrastructure, upgraded roads. Um, the entire effort over multiple years will sustain thousands of jobs. um direct employment will be in the hundreds of high-skll highwage jobs. Um and really, you know, one of the benefits we think is it gives local youth an ability to have high-paying jobs in their area without having to move away. As it stands today, over 90% of data centers in DFW are in Dallas. Um so we think that's a real positive. And then indirectly um each job supports six indirect jobs. Restaurants, retail, coffee, getting gas when they leave work. So we we think the economic benefits tremendous from a local tax revenue perspective. It'll at full completion generate uh over 8 million a year local tax benefits without putting additional stress on um students and seats, etc. So, we we think the additional proceeds um ultimately over a 30-year life are or hundreds of millions of dollars of tax income to the city. We think that can really be used to enhance the lives of for residents. Um so, we're we're excited about the project, continue to grow it. I'll let Bob speak a little bit to the zoning details. Um and then I'll jump back in. The uh application for 131 is for 119.06 acres and it parallels the exact same uh conditions that this council approved on January the 10th uh which resulted resulted in PD 1435. It uh uh it's for these tracks that are adjacent to the um 1435 as well as does not front onto uh Lawn Stevenson existing Lawn Stevenson. We are asking for a 75 ft. We were requesting a 75 foot set back from any residential and limited uses in the PD. Um we had significant community outreach. Over 300 folks were s sent invitations to a community meeting that we held. Uh we only had three individuals that attended regarding this uh one application. We met with Weston Gardens on the 4th of September prior to the zoning hearing on the 10th uh and followed up on the 5th with an email that answered any questions that we had from that meeting. And today we're here to gain consideration. >> Thank you, Mr. Riley. >> Thanks, Bob. Um I think it's worth noting if you can see on the screen um on y'all screens there's a natural buffer between ourselves and Western Gardens and and what's denoted on here shows the flood plane which you cannot build a structure in. So there's a natural barrier I think between both sound and any kind of visual aspects that remains to kind of be highlighted here. Um so as we take that a step further and zoom in our campus is in yellow. the Western Gardens um commercial nursery plus the gardens are in the blue. Um and so what you're seeing is there's there's a quite a wide strip of there's just not going to be any structures or development. So we we feel like it's certainly a concern. Um and you know we want to address it but we think it's you know probably evident that there's not going to be a lot of stuff looming over the fence line or within visual or or kind of hearing distance. Um, and this is actually just a a picture of what that flood plane looks like. It's it's heavily wooded and and quite a dense thicket. So from that across, you're talking 300 yards um or 300 ft. So 100 yards. And so for us, I think that's a really nice kind of natural barrier that that probably should alleviate u concerns. But um and there's just another image of the the flood plane. So again, that's that's terrain that you can't build anything in anyway. So, um we think that's going to be quite helpful. And then again, just on community impact, um we've heard from the community that the number one issue in that area is traffic. Um and so certainly this versus some of the land currently's zoned for mobile home development. Um this has a dramatically lower impact as you can see from the highlighted numbers. So I think the the broader um concern in the area is traffic. I think this is definitely a positive step in the right direction. We want to be thoughtful and be good neighbors regarding um any noise or um visibility issues. But I think as I kind of showed you, there's there's a natural barrier there that we think will will certainly make us good neighbors. So um with that, Bob, you got anything else? Thank you. Our next speaker is Aean I Abraham followed by Jackson Weston. Hello everyone. My name is Aean Ibrahim. Yes, I am named after Aean G. Carter of Fort Worth and I share a love for our city much like he did. I have worked at Western Gardens since 2014 and am currently their landscape designer. When I first started working at the gardens, what stood out to me most was our community events. Each year, we host events at our historic gardens where people that stop by can receive free food and drinks, educational talks about native plants that thrive in North Texas. We have a trick-or-treating event, and a number of fun activities to um at our expense. Not to mention that our beautiful historic gardens are open to the public during our store hours and there is no charge for admissions to going um to going to the gardens. The West are strong believers that businesses should give back to their community and I've seen over my 10 years working for them that they practice what they preach. um this data center, they're saying they're going to give all this stuff to our community, but it's very vague what they're saying, and we're just concerned that it's not going to be like they're vaguely saying. Um I would like to ask the city council to strongly consider the impact that a data center could bring to one of Fort Worth's unique communitydriven historic sites. The noise, light, and pollution does not just reside over their property line, but will impact all of its surroundings. um who would want to go to a garden that's directly adjacent to a um industrial facility. Um thank you. >> Our next speaker is Jackson Weston followed by Sue Weston. >> Morning, Mayor Parker, city council members. Thank you for having me. I grew up at Weston Gardens at 8100 England Drive, which is right next to the proposed data center. My mother, who will speak shortly, lives there still. My childhood there was filled with the wonders of plants, wildlife, and life lessons. I'm opposed to this reszoning. A new data center could potentially ruin our business and the environment that our customers and community at large enjoys at the gardens. We have grave concerns about the constant noise levels produced by data center. The light and air pollution would pose a threat to our garden tranquility as well as the heat that could be generated from it. We have received no guarantee that this data center will use renewable energy. As far as water, they claim that is a loop system and they will only use slashwaste 5% of the water annually. But 5% of what? How much water will this consume? This is a precious resource. If they are denied city water due to restrictions, will they drill wells and deplete our water table? We have wells and no city water service. This poses a huge risk risk to our wells and the viability of our business, gardens, and plants. There will always be another opportunity for a data center in this day and time, but never another place like Weston Gardens. The Tranquil Garden property has been home to Mother's Day events for 34 years. I've watched my mother make tea and refreshments for the community my entire life. I've seen my mom think of and serve others and not herself on that special day. This place is where I learn to work and protect the environment. I'm watching my 10 and six-year-old learn to work and provide for their future families on the garden property. Now, I've seen couple after couple marry and start their own families at our gardens, including my own wedding. This is a special place to me, my family, and the community at large. May many of our employees even find solace and refuge at our place at work from their hectic lives when they come every day. Our customer base and community is strongly opposed to this proposal with over 1,200 signatures on our petition. I implore you to please consider this development in an area that is already industrial in nature and protect this Fort Worth treasure. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Jackson. Our next our next speaker is Sue Weston, followed by Lorie Stellas. Good morning, um, Mayor Parker and city council people. Um, my background really is I'm a CPA. I grew up in the Texas panhandle. Um, my husband, my late husband and I moved here in 79. We just always wanted to work together. So, we just quit our jobs one day and started saying, "What what makes us happy?" and it was being in nature, being in the garden, um teaching people about plants. So, we just started out with the dream and we we just bought the land where the nursery is and just started it from scratch. All we had was fire ants and then the the people across the street were the people across the street were like, "We need to sell this place." And it was a historic gardens. It's originally de developed in the 20s, 30s, and 40s. It has a rock ship that hangs out over the creek. It was very rundown, but customers would come in and say, "This used to be the showplace of Tarant County, and it was designed by Mr. Leon Bandy." He made his money by doing all the blueprints and uh all the designs and stuff for when they were building what's Lockheed. So, that's where he got his money. And he also hired a landscape architect. She was the first woman architect in the state of um Texas and she also designed UT and Austin in the Saniosenial monument and so it has a lot of special things to it. Um I wanted to make one comment about in the zoning meeting Mr. Riley with uh Black Mountain said that it would have no effect on the gardens on the historic gardens because the zoning commissioners were asking. and he said, "No, we're not buying their property. It's not going to affect it in any way." Well, absolutely will it will affect it. Um he didn't tell them that they were planning on building uh two 70ft buildings within 350 to 400 ft of the gardens. And that's going to bring noise and light in a in a garden. No one wants to go to a garden that's not peaceful and quiet. uh they already have 300 acres that y'all have already reszoned and this is 119 and they don't need this 119. So we're asking that you keep it keep it more tranquil. Let us keep our historic designation. Being a CPA, I've worked for several years on trying to get a succession plan in revenue and now we have revenue from about 35 to 40 weddings and celebrations of life. and I don't want to see that end because people don't want to have an event at a peaceful uh garden. Thank you for your time. Our next speaker is Lori Stas who is followed by Jennifer Rener. Is Lori here? Hi Lori. >> Lori couldn't be here today, but I'm speaking from the same organization. >> That's great. Okay, great. My name is Barbara Kate and I'm a resident of Fort Worth Council District 9 and I'm also a member of the Greater Fort Worth Sierra Club as is Lori and I'm here to ask you to deny the zoning change near Western Gardens which was requested by Black Mountain Power. I've shopped at Western Gardens. It's a lovely quiet property. There are areas where one can have outside weddings or celebrations. And if you vote to allow this change to the current zoning, this property this property would no longer be a viable location for such events. Who would want to compete with the noise? Perhaps many of you haven't kept up with the data center issues in Granberry and other locations around the US. The constant noise generated 247 has prompted a lawsuit by Granberry homeowners who live nearby. They've reported constant loud humming and buzzing sounds generated by the fans used to cool the servers and state that the noise and constant bright lights have impacted people and livestock alike. Residents have reported health problems like not being able to sleep, developing migraines, and vertigo, all caused by the noise, lights, and vibration. My guess is that this has also reduced home sales near this facility. I would never buy a home near a data center, would you? Depending on the height of the data center, I suspect these issues will impact more than Western Gardens. There are residents off the intersection of Forest Hill Drive and Royal Crest Drive. There's an animal shelter and a boarding stable for horses nearby. And it wouldn't surprise me if diners at Hickory Stick Barbecue would even be able to hear the noise. All these facilities and homes could be impacted by the noise and certainly by the increased traffic. And let's talk about water usage. According to a report from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, a data center of this size could use up to 5 million gallons of water per day. And that's the equivalent of providing that amount of water to a town with a population between 10 and 50,000 people. Can we afford this kind of stress on our current infrastructure? We're already going through a growth spurt and infrastructure concerns already exist. This data center, on top of the projected growth, will land you in a situation you'll be forced to address as soon as it's built. So, this should be of grave concern. It could also require enough energy to power up to 750,000 homes. and the employment advantage never turns out to be as much as promised, especially after the initial construction. So, the prudent and reasonable thing to do is to vote no today, preventing it from being built in our city. The trade-off is facing down with uh lawsuits and facing the environmental impact of energy and water shortages. And so, vote no on this zoning change. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Our next speaker is Jennifer Reiner, followed by Sue Allen. Good morning, honorable mayor, council, and city staff. Jennifer Reiner, District 7. I'm happy to be here today to speak to you about ZC2131, even though I really regret that I missed the opportunity to speak to you all about ZC25070 and ZC 24153. This case caught my eye because three years ago, I was so proud that Fort Worth reszoned this property for manufactured homes and compliance with the comprehensive plan. Because this housing product is the largest category of unsubsidized single family detached affordable housing occupied by all housing all age cohorts as documented by the Turner Housing Center, Harvard's joint center for housing and the American Planning Association. If you saw my points at the August zoning commission, you know that this case poses a dilemma for me as a planner and a housing researcher. One past staff report noted that proximity to the high voltage lines makes manufactured homes an incompatible use in this location. Yet the zoning was approved for over 500 home sites. Now, the subject property will be added to over 300 acres amassed for speculative data center and light industrial uses. So, here are my points. I am opposed to the loss of a significant opportunity for a large number of affordable affordable homes. I respectfully ask that the city offset the loss if this case is approved. Identify land in the updated future land use plan for manufactured homes in areas that are not under high voltage lines like this one or in a flood plane. Instead, identify areas with access to public services, including public transit. Second, deny the site plan waiver as it is the only way for current residents to remain aware of how these hundreds of acres will be developed. The two PDs pertaining to the resoning cases all around read identically and there has been a lot of talk about data centers. However, there are plenty of uses that are also listed in the PD zoning uses. Yet another reason to deny the waiver for site plan. Third, resource allocation and reliability is a concern. Some will note that utilities are critical infrastructure and site that utilities have a duty to serve. I posit that we all do. Resource allocation is a crucial municipal activity. Manufactured homes are critical affordable housing infrastructure and its history is hitched to American innovation and the American dream. Like AI driving demand for data centers, technologies are building opportunities for existing and new affordable housing products and ultimately home ownership. Finally, I ask, has the applicant provided one overall map of all the properties that they've amassed? Thank you. Our next speaker is Sue Allen. Sue will be followed by Jessica Gonzalez. Sue here. Jessica Gonzalez. Then Paris Sanchez. Good morning, mayor and city council members. Um, I don't have any prepared statements because I'm just going to speak from the heart and I hope you don't throw me out because I am a Fort Worthian now, but I am a native Dallasite and and even an SMU. So, when I first moved here 22 years ago with my wife, uh, my then partner, um, I was not I was very much a city girl, I guess. I used to make all kinds of jokes about Fort Worth and like you guys rolled this place up at 9:00, etc., etc., etc. One of the amazing things about my wife was that she taught me to slow down. She taught me to become more of a Fort Worthian. And one of the things that she really, really taught me to do was to sit back and stop and smell the roses and actually take time to build and garden and grow beautiful things. I felt compelled to come speak today because since I have moved here to Fort Worth, I can honestly say that the people at Western Gardens and everything that Western Gardens does is an absolute gem. I've also before I you know now I'm a retiree but I have been I spent a career serving the state of Texas for almost 30 years and I've been all over the state and I've met all kinds of different people from all kinds of different areas and I've also spent a career serving people from all kinds of areas and people who don't necessarily have that much. So yes, in terms of affordable housing, I it also I I know that development and innovation are all inevitable and they're all things that we need to consider. But at the same time too, I think it is vitally important that we protect the green spaces that we've got. I like other people have read things that seriously concern me in terms of what kinds of effects the data center can have on the environment, potential for toxic uh disposal, um electronic waste and things like that. I feel I'm very very concerned about the adverse effect that it could have on Western Gardens, the surrounding area and this historic place that means so much to me and to other Fort Worth Orthians. So I would please ask that you consider disapproving the zoning and and allowing for additional um development. Again, those are just my that's Thank you for uh allowing me to speak. [Applause] Our next speaker is Paris Sanchez, followed by Jessica Hall. Hello, my name is Paris Sanchez. I am a resident of district 11. I am a licensed landscape architect and I got my start at Western Gardens where I became a Texas native plant expert. I have been a resident of Fort Worth for 13 years and an and am an active member of the community. I previously served on the board of the historic and cultural landmarks commission for four years and I'm currently on the board of keep forth beautiful. Data centers can bring benefits but at tremendous environmental costs. A typical data center today requires 100 megawws or more of electricity, which is equivalent to between 350 and 400,000 electric vehicles. By 2030, data centers in the US will consume more electricity than the production of aluminum, steel, cement, chemicals, and all other energyintensive goods combined. During the great Texas freeze of 2021, the England Drive area of Fort Worth, where this property is located, lost power for three days. Has our infrastructure been upgraded since that time to be able to accommodate even the current energy demands, let alone that that a data center would bring. The everyday energy consumption of data centers is primarily generated from fossil fuels, which release significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. What is often overlooked about data centers is their need to fully operate 24/7. To prevent downtime, the scale of backup power requires a large number of diesel generators as a failafe during power disruptions. These generators emit particular matter such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide. All of which degenerate air quality and pose health risks to nearby communities. One of the special things about the area in this proximity is its proximity to the city while having the feeling of being in nature. The construction of this data center will require clear cutting of significant number of large trees leading to severe habitat loss and fragmentation. This not only disrupts local ecosystems and threatens wildlife, particularly birds and essential pollinators, but also eliminates trees that play a critical role in absorbing carbon dioxide. Beyond the immediate destruction, studies have shown that air pollution pollution generated by data centers can harm nearby plant communities and weaken ecosystems already under pressure. If the pollution is potent enough to damage hearty plant species, it raises serious concerns about health implications for the people who are exposed to it every day. Thank you. Our next speaker is Jessica Hall. Hello, I am from Granberry. I ask that you deny the resoning for this property. A 100 foot setback is nothing. This resoning, if this resoning goes through, you will be putting nearby residents, families, and businesses in harm's way. My family lives roughly three miles from a crypto data center. Three miles. For two years, our family and many others have been subjected to the horrendous noise pollution coming from that facility. We hear it in our home nearly every night and into the morning 24/7 like a vacuum running continuously and at 1,000 ft. The roar of the noise is deafening. Nearby residents have reported multiple health issues, insomnia, hearing loss, stress, and cardiovascular problems. This has been a disaster for our community and in one case a family abandoned their own home. Most data centers are incredibly loud due to the type of sound they produce including low frequency noise. Data center issues have been well documented across the United States. The type of data center, cooling, chillers, HVAC does not matter. They are loud and they are a heavy drain on our energy and water resources. Data centers are not good neighbors, not for people and not for animals. They do not belong next to neighborhoods or near a historic garden with wildlife. I beg you please to rec to rethink this project and deny the reasonzoning. You have no idea the backlash you will face from your community if this goes forward. It's been bad for us. Protect your community first. Protect your people. You are their last lines of defense here. And last, I would like to add, Black Mountain sold a lithium battery project that is now being built behind a daycare center in Hood County near an elementary school. This is right behind the daycare center. It might as well be in their playground. They have no concern for their neighbors. They do not care. That is who they are. So, thank you for your time. >> Council member Nettles, that's the conclusion of our speakers on this item. Um, Council Martinez, did you have a question or No, >> I just had a comment. Um, just I'm genuinely concerned about the number of data centers establishing themselves in the city of Fort Worth. Um these, as you've heard, these data centers require significant amounts of energy and water to operate. Uh Councilman Nettles, I will follow your lead today. Uh but we need to start talking about an ordinance that limits or creates greater restrictions for data centers in our city. >> Council Nettles, >> thank you. Um couple of questions. I think it'll be with Black Mountain. Then I have a question for city staff. Uh, is Chris Harter here? I see him leave. Oh, don't. He's over here. Okay. Um, can you just remind me and the council and those who are present? Uh, there were one or two tracks that was previously approved in June. Uh, and this is a continuation of the process that you guys are doing uh for the data center. >> That's correct. Yes. Yes. This is contiguous to the campus um that was previously approved. Um this has also had staff recommendation unanimous um recommendation by the zoning commission. Um a couple points that I would add. Uh Bitcoin mining operations are entirely different than data centers. Bitcoin mining operations are more wild west data centers. Think Microsoft, Google, Facebook. So completely different uh asset classes. um addressing noise. The average um decel level of a data center is 60 dB. That's conversation level. So again, you saw pictures of the thick at the flood plane. I think there's tremendous separation there to mitigate any sound. Um and obviously we comply with all city ordinances as they um are set forth. Um regarding water, no plans to drill water wells on the property. uh most of the uh water wells in the area are 20 30 40 gallons per minute which is you know probably not adequate. So, we'll be on city services um and a strong contributor to the city budget. Um and I think that addressed a lot of what was put forth, right? >> Um regarding the lithium comment, we do energy storage as well, which is um lithium lithium-ion batteries next to substations which do back up the grid and provide energy resiliency um like times um during the freeze. And so, what I would say is that that's >> Let me ask you another question. >> Yeah, go sir. Go for it. Um, and when you met when you came to zoning and this council in prior to June, you sent well, we sent out notifications. You had a a meeting and you met with residents from Forest Hill and those surrounding, >> correct? >> Okay. >> All right. Those are my questions. Um, I briefly had a conversation with you through email. Can you just kind of articulate what you explained to me through your email, uh, Mr. Harter, uh, for the council as it rel uh, relates to the water? Yeah. Uh so the way that we um prepare for a development uh related to the water system is they submit a loading study or a study uh engineering study to us. We see what the uh infrastructure can support. If this infrastructure won't support the demand, I'm talking about peak demands, average demands, what have you, then we would require that the developer upgrade the infrastructure so that they could uh the system could supply the demand to that customer. >> And so if they need to upgrade the system, the city would require them to do that prior to them building the structure. >> Yeah. So I mean that would normally be done uh as part of a study uh submitt. If it is approved, then it would potentially go to engineering plan submission and CFA type construction. >> Okay. So, we'll do our due diligence to make sure. >> And and I'll just say that not only that uh but the investment that the city has already made in utilities, we generally recoup our prata uh component of that uh load from the developer. So, it's there could be a CFA where there's new infrastructure involved, but there's also recoup of costs that the city has spent to be able to provide service to that property. >> Thank you. All right. I have a few comments and then I'll make my motion. Thank you guys. Um, I do want to uh remind this council again uh this is the same track of land that we previously approved. I know this is a little bit different today because there are a number of individual who are here to oppose it. Um, I will um also state that when I took this office in 2021, it was very uh prevalent to me that we had a good relationship with the city of Fort Worth, with the city of Everman and even Kennedale, which this property all surrounds in the uh the farthest skirts of souththeast uh you can go and we have built those relationships. You'll see today uh that there is not a resident uh from Forest Hill uh or a letter from the city councils because we make sure that we have met their needs and their concerns. And that's not to discredit the concerns that we have today. The concerns that we have with Weston uh here today are legitimate concerns I hear with what you are saying today. and um it is incumbent on the city of forward to make sure number one that uh we take care of the water and number two is that that we're good neighbors. Um I'm very confident uh that the buffer will be enough to support uh between the development that you guys have your beautiful facility versus uh this black well not black mountain but versus this data center. Um I am going to if we look at I know it may be mentioned here briefly uh but right now this land is designed agriculture A5 residential and uh manufactured homes and I'll address one more concern about the housing. The record will show that District 8 has built more housing, apartments manufacturer, and single family in the last four years uh on this council. And so we are 100% uh housing affordability here. And I do want to take uh on I think the young lady that said we need to revisit our city plan. I will take that in consideration and ask them to look at that so that we can if there's any other tracks of land that we can provide housing if this is eliminated due to going to the data center. And so today I am going to move for approval with waving of the site plan. >> Got a motion and a second. Council council Larsdorf and council member Flores. Did you have a comment? Council Ldorf. >> Yeah, just a quick comment. Um, so Chris, I will follow your lead and I will uh certainly support you in this this effort. I think one of the things that always concerns me is whenever we make decisions are the unintended consequences and looking at the other zoning possibilities uh just because they can do something um may not always be what you want, especially if it's by right. So, um you know, I certainly know that after this vote is made that the conversation with Chris and Black Mountain certainly isn't over. and to address some of the residents concerns that I heard today. Uh he will certainly still be part of those uh and making sure that Black Mountain does the right thing by its residents. But we're dealing with something very similar in District 4 where it's we could say no all day long to one thing, but what could be built by right with having zero say or input? That's what causes me concern which can do more damage than what is being presented. So Chris, I'll support you on this. >> Cro Flores. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh Chris, like CM Martinez and CM Larstoorf, I'll support your lead, you know, on this owning case. We rely on each other when it comes to, you know, matters like this to know our districts and know the needs of those districts. So, I'll follow what, you know, you prescribe. I just have a question and I guess I can direct this to staff. Uh I heard at least one speaker mention something uh historic. I heard that at least more than once. Does this uh property have a historic designation whether it be local or national? Uh well, I'd like to hear from staff on that. Is there someone from staff from zoning and speak to that? Morning. almost noon. City council um to us to to staff's knowledge there um for sure there's there's no historic zoning um no historic designations that we're aware of that the city has imposed. There may be you know something that is um maybe that they've done from a community perspective but there is no zoning. >> All right. And there is one across the street though, right? >> Um not not for the property that we're specifically talking about today. Yeah, but across the street there may be one not part of this property. >> Did you want? >> Yeah. >> Yes. Uh to address the historical uh back in 2004, this council or another council approved a PD uh for the historical portion of Western Gardens, which is at uh on the west side of England. The ordinance I have calls for PD 568 be uh plan development historical cultural for all uses in e neighborhood commercial plus tea house or t- room restaurant with alcohol sales um with on on premise consumption plant nursery plant demonstration gardens and indoor and outdoor areas. for weddings and receptions with outside storage. So I believe at some point in time the city did designate as a local historical and this is Weston Gardens a portion of their holdings, not any of the property that Black Mountain has under contract or has purchased. >> Understood. Thank you. >> Sue, I am going to ask you to come down just to make clarifying um on your property, please. Then I'll go back to Council Flores. Uh yes, in 2004 u my late husband and I came to we went to the historic commission and then we came to the city council and the city council approved the historic designation for the gardens. At the time we were looking to do a T-room and those sorts of things on on the garden side. Again, I'm looking for succession planning for my son, for my grandkids, looking for additional revenue for to to maintain it because just like we know historic Fort Worth, if you if this will help, if you don't have revenue to keep it going, it's it's not going to stay going. And I'm a CPA by training. So, that's how I'm looking at it. So, when I'm no longer here, it'll have it'll be able to continue on. And I just know that the historic designation I always felt would help us preserve the property. And I I know they also had told me Black Mountain said they're going to build two 70 foot buildings right within 350 foot and that they will only abide by Fort Worth N ordinance for noise which is like traffic or a vacuum cleaner and that's just not conducive. And I also wanted to make it clear to you Mr. Nettles that our zoning was not part of any of the June zoning. I never found out about this till the end of July. So, I haven't had a lot of time to get it together. There are a couple pieces in it that were part of the June, but they've added more to it. So, ours was not part of it. I've only known about it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Flores. Were you >> I I have no further questions. And again, I defer to Council Member Nettles. >> Thank you, Council Member Beck. I would just like to um echo the sentiments of uh Councilwoman Martinez. Um I think that um it would behoove us as a city to um take a look at things like data centers or Bitcoin mining, these large uh facilities uh given the fact that we know in other communities they've been um they've been problematic. And I understand u your distinction between data center and um and Bitcoin mining, but to those of us on council and to lay people um they tend to operate the same, which is um functionally a bunch of servers in a room. Um, and so I also would like to direct staff to um to conduct a study and um bring bring us back a proposed either changes to our zoning ordinance or a particular ordinance in relation to these so that we make sure that if we are citing them in the city of Fort Worth um that they are they are going to be good neighbors that we're not going to cause in um unintended consequences as Councilman Lowers dur Lowers Dorf mentioned. Um and um and also given the fact that they are so resource intensive, as we build new pipelines for our water and we know what that causes cost our water system, I want to make sure that as as these pop up throughout the city that we have a long-term um idea of of the impact to our water system that these could potentially cause. and council peoples. >> Well, Councilwoman Beck just stole the words right out of my mouth, but I was going to say that we do need to do a study about these data centers. And so as the parent of a child who's a writer director who stayed on strike for nine months because of what large data centers and AI are doing to her profession and then Miss Weston as a customer of Western Gardens. I love the gardens. I I think that what they give to us there is this uh sense of serenity. But I also know that we have to move forward with progress and you know I have to balance my decision about the number of jobs that it's going to bring and the opportunity for residents in that southern sector of the city. So but I want us to do due diligence around data centers and making sure that we allow places like Western Gardens to be able to coexist because uh we're not going backwards. these things are going to move forward and so it it's a tough one. I will follow your lead, Councilman Nettles, but I do believe going forward we have to ensure that we keep places like Western Gardens for the future and our children and prosperity. >> Thank you, Council Peoples. Um, Council Nells, I think that's the conclusion of our speakers. I will mention that staff I know has followed really closely this legislative session. Senate bill six pertained exclusively to data centers and power. So I think the council's in consensus we need to bring this forward a work session and take some time to understand what current impact looks like. I do want to recognize Robert Allen for EDP who's helped sort of shepherd some of these through because they're quite difficult. Um and I'm I'm in agreement that I'm going to follow council member Nettle's lead here. It's the right decision for the community at this time but there's a lot more homework we could do as a council. So thank you for your leadership. Council member Nettles. Uh yes. So my motion still stands and I'll just address the the zone that we did in June was only for the property that Black Mountain own, not actually the historic uh property that you're uh referring to. And so again, we I do honor your uh your work that you have done in the city of Forward. Uh we appreciate your cultural district and the wedding venue. Uh but that's my motion for today. Got a motion council and a second by council member Crane. Any other discussion? If not, please vote. Motion carries. Next is ZC-25-132. Our first speaker on this is Bob Riley, followed by Rhett Bennett. on this on this case it's a uh once again a kind of a fill in from a previous zoning case which fronts on lawn seat Stevenson and I'd sign up to speak only if there was opposition this is just basically a fill in does require sight plan it does face uh residents that are in Forest Hill >> thank you Mr. Riley R. Do you want to add anything? >> Our next speaker will be Adicha Hot. >> Thanks. So, um, just if we have a map in here of this one, um, what's what's outlined in red? So, it's kind of the fill in already surrounded by the plan development. So, um, it's continuous with with the zoning um that we've already received approval up there. So um just kind of filling in a couple ranch heads. >> Okay. >> And on Mr. Panangot. >> Yes sir. >> Hi. Good morning. Um, thank you to the council for allowing me to speak today. My name is Adita Panaga. I'm a sustainable machine learning researcher. I've worked with MIT sustainability or engineering lab over the summer and I've published at an MIT sustainability conference. Um, most importantly, I have talked to people who have had data centers built in their communities and based on everything that I have learned, please deny this request. I have two reasons why. First, we need to focus on what's important for the community. And if we allow any more expansion of this land to build this data center, people are going to have to pay for Black Mountain's data, Black Mountain's water use. Earlier this month, TK County Water District already increased their water bills because demand for water is so high. Here's the thing. On top of that pre-existing infrastructure pressure, Black Mountain wants to build this data center, which is going to use water for at least a thousand households. All the all this data center will do in the short term is make Texas's water deficit worse. And we've seen what that does to communities. For example, in Bedford, just 20 minutes away, because they had increasing water use, they had to deal with their water shortages by raising their water bills by 12.4%. Today, people there are now paying an extra $120 every year for water. If Black Mountain's project worsens our water shortage here, our community will have to pay for it. The median income in Fort Worth is only about $40,000. There are people in this city that are living paycheck to paycheck. Their last few dollars should not have to be should not have to go to funding water for their homes that is being used up by Black Mountain's project. Second, please deny this request because we don't have enough information about the data center that is being built. At this point, a lot of companies are going out to these hearings and saying, "Hey, we have better technology. We won't be wasting our We won't be putting stress on our electricity infrastructure. We won't be putting stress on our water infrastructure. Please have a third-party expert come in and tell you what they think the implications of this data center will be. Why is that so important? Because we've seen examples of this. When I was working in Abalene, Texas, a company came up to a city council and said, "Hey, we have new technology. We're going to make sure that electricity isn't strained. We're going to make sure that water isn't strained." What ended up happening was the city council approved it. Then the data center, yes, didn't use that much water, but the power plant that was powering that data center ended up using so much water that now Abalene citizens don't have water because of it and they only built 300 jobs. So, I have three pages of questions that an expert wrote and I think a third party should view these questions and give us answers for them before we move forward. I hope that you'll take them. Until all of these questions on the sheet are answered, there's a real chance that our infrastructure cannot handle this data center. Please delay this hearing. 69% of Texans don't want a data center in their community. And if a data center comes to Fort Worth, it needs to come on our terms, not Black Mountains. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Adrienne Smith. I do not think Adrienne is here. Council member Nettles. I don't see one of my staff, but sir, can you hand that paperwork to the city secretary and I'll take a look at that. Um, thank you for being here today. Move for approval. >> A motion a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next will be ZC-25-133. Council member Leilock, we have two speakers on this item. Tyler Wallock followed by Ty Thompson. >> I think he does want to speak according to my notes. Tyler, >> mayor, city council, thank you'all for allowing me to speak today. Tyler Wallick with Jackson Walker representing traditions investors. U just want to make one thing kind of clear for the record. uh the um the uh the trying to think the the posting said that there was a site plan required, but we're asking for zoning approval plus uh site plan approval as well. Um and so we did submit the uh the site plan with our application. That site plan went to the zoning commission. Staff did inform the zoning commission that we did uh submit that site plan and that was approved and recommended for approval uh from the zoning commission. So, >> thank you, Council Member Bllelock. Sorry. >> Thank you, mayor. Yeah, Tyler. Staff informed me of of the site plan inclusion. Uh there's no opposition today. There's no opposition at zoning, no written opposition, no calls. Uh so I think this is pretty straightforward and a motion to approve site plan included. >> Got a motion and a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. >> Next is ZC-25-134 Martinez. We have one speaker on this item. David King. >> Morning, mayor. Good morning, council. I uh my name is David King, a local Fort Worth resident. I um came here to ask that we reszone the property that I purchased is currently zoned at from well it's a combination of zoning. It's I guess I can't get it to work. It's a combination of zoning. It's be E and J and I'm asking if we can just combine that to zone to commercial E. Um, the whole plan here is I would like to build our engineering office and design office, not to mention our construction services based out of this property. Uh, the overall goal here, and I wish I had the clickers working or the plans. Um, we are going to build a it's not just going to be your traditional office. It's going to look like a what I would consider a historical Fort Worth home. front porch, uh, siding, wood back windows, and that's going to be our office for our services. But our overall goal in the future, and we feel like we've actually accomplished a lot in the last three years, is uh, you know, as far as home design goes. We're going to offer this home design that we're building out our own office for people here in the Fort Worth residents, a more affordable house. Um, it's it's a Pure Beam house. A lot of people think that Pier Beam is more expensive. it was, but through our engineering uh work and construction services, we feel like we've actually made it way more affordable and way more accommodable for everybody to afford that. And we're going to put that to use in our own office when we build that. Um, you know, once we've finished that construction, but uh it's taken us a lot of time, uh, spent a lot of effort in it, and I think we've, uh, but I think we're almost there. So, we want to put all of this this, you know, background work that we put into in our office and then eventually pass that on to the folks of uh Fort Worth and uh give them another chance to uh bring back the front porch and more affordable uh housing. Thank you, Council Martinez. This conclusion of our speakers on this item. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh Mr. King, I'm excited to see your project come to fruition, so I move to approve. >> Motion a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next is ZC-25-136. We've got lots of shared uh districts here, 8, 9, and 11 on this item. Motion a second. Please vote. Elizabeth, try one more time. Thank you. Motion carries. Next is ZC-25-143 Hill. There you go. >> Reagan, I just want to tell you thank you for sticking with us through the long haul. Appreciate it. Motion to move to approve. >> Second. >> Motion a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next will be MNC25-0866 revised. Council Block. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh move to approve. >> Motion and a second. Please vote. >> Motion carries. Next is MNC25-0918. A motion and a second. Council, please vote. >> Council member, excuse me. Uh, motion carries. >> Next is MNC 25-0937. >> Council member Lillock. >> Thank you, mayor. Motion to approve. >> Motion a second. Council, please vote. Try one more time. >> Motion carries. >> Um, next will be M andC 25-0927. But mayor, before we take a motion, I do need to read into the record a correction that the agreement is with Alcon Research LLC rather than Inc. Got a motion and a second. Council, please vote. >> Motion carries. >> Next is MNC25-0939. Council member Hall first. >> Yes. I'll need to um recuse myself of this vote due to my appointment with Fort Worth ISD. >> Council member Hall, I can entertain a motion. Council motion and a second. Please vote and motion carries. >> Mayor, that concludes all of the action items. >> Thank you, councel. And meeting is adjourned.