>> Mayor Muns: I NOW DECLARE THE PLANO CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION, THAT ALL COUNCILMEMBERS ARE PRESENT. OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE PRELIMINARY AGENDA IS CONSIDERATION IN ACTION RESULTING IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. OUR SECOND ITEM IS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, QUALIFIED HOTEL PROJECTS. ANDREW? >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, ANDREW FORTUNE, DIRECTOR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS. EARLIER TODAY I SENT OUT A BRIEF MEMO THAT HAS DATA PERTINENT TO THIS DISCUSSION. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED TO REFER TO THAT, IT'S IN YOUR INBOX. I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU A TOOL THAT IS OFTENTIMES REFERRED TO AS QUALIFIED HOTEL PROJECTS. SO A QUICK REFRESHER. WE HAD AN UPDATE ON OUR HOTEL TIMELI OUT ATHE EVENT CENTER. MY PROPOSAL TONIGHT IS A TOOL THAT COULD BE USED FOR THAT, BUT TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT PROPOSING WE USE THIS TOOL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AT THIS POINT. BUT JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO FIND A HOTEL AT THIS SPECIFIC SITE SINCE 1990. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INVESTING AND BRINGING A HOTEL AND USING THIS TOTAL, THE INTENT BEHIND THE LEGISLATURE WHEN THEY PUT THIS IN PLACE, OUR PROJECT IN THIS INSTANCE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR WHY IT MIGHT BE USED. SO JUST MOVING FORWARD, IT IS A PUBLIC FINANCE TOOL. IT IS USED EFFECTIVELY BY SEVERAL CITIES ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING THE MAJORITY OF OUR SURROUNDING CITIES. SO WHAT IS THIS TOOL? IF A HOTEL PROJECT IS CONSIDERED QUALIFIED UNDER THE STATUTE, AND THERE ARE A LIST OF QUALIFYING FACTORS, YOU'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY ACCESS THE STATE'S PORTION OF THE SALES TAX, THE STATE'S PORTION OF THE HOT TAX, AS WELL AS A REPURPOSE SOME OF YOUR MIXED BEVERAGE TAX RECEIPTS. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS -- LET ME SKIP AHEAD A LITTLE BIT TO SHOW YOU THE IMPACT. IF YOU CAN SEE TT ON YOUR SCREENS -- IF NOT, IT'S IN THE MEMO. SEVERAL OF THE EXISTING PROJECTS IN THE PAST IS THE OMNI-IN DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH, OMNI-IN DALLAS, LOWE'S HOTEL IN ARLINGTON, PGA IN FRISCO, SEVERAL OF THE IRVING PROJECTS. IT'S AN ECONOMIC TOOL USED ACROSS THE STATE SELECTIVELY FOR LARGER PROJECTS. WE'RE PROPOSING TONIGHT FOR THE COUNCIL TO ADD THE PURSUIT OF THIS TOOL TO OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. UNLIKE OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS, IT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO EVERYITY IN THE STATE CURRENTLY. IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE TOOL TO RECEIVE THE STATE'S PORTION OF THE TAX REVENUE, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO AND PASS A BILL THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE US AS A CITY TO MOVE FORWARD AND ACCESS THIS TOOL. AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE THE EVENT CENTER PROJECT THAT'S ONGOING. THAT WOULD BE A CANDIDATE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS TOOL IF WE WERE AUTHORIZED. BUT ALSO IT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO HAVE IN OUR TOOL BELT FOR FUTURE HOTEL PROJECTS. AGAIN, ASSUMING IT MEETS THOSE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. SO BACKING UP JUST A BIT, THE REBATES FROM THE HOTEL ITSEL COULD BE ACCESSED REALLY FOR TEN YEARS. SO IF WE OPENED THE EVENT CENTER NEXT YEAR, AND WE FOUND THAT AS QUALIFIED, AND THAT HOTEL IS QUALIFIED, FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS WE COULD CAPTURE THAT REBATE. SO THOSE NUMBERS MULTIPLY VERY QUICKLY OVER TIME WHEN TALKING ABOUT TAX REVENUE. IN THE REQUIREMENTS THERE, THE HOTEL MUST EXIST ON CITY-OWNED LAND. SO AS YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH OUR CURRENT AGREEMENT, IT WOULD MEET THAT REQUIREMENT. THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, ED HEGAR IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PROGRAM. IT'S A VERY COMPLEX TOOL. AS SUCH, GOING AFTER IT IN THE LEGISLATURE IS COMPLICATED, TO SAY THE LEAST. GIVEN THAT, MY RECOMMENDATION IS GOING TO BE TO CONSIDER HIRING A LOBBYIST. I HAVE ONE IN MIND WHO IS INVOLVED AT THE BEGINNING AND ONSET OF THIS TOOL. HE HELPED PUT THE LEGISLATION AN EVERY SUBSEQUENT CHANGE THAT HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE TOOL WAS ENACTED, HE HAS WORKED ON. GENERALLY YOU MAY HAVE 15, 20 CITIES WHO ENTER THEIR OWN BILLS. AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, THERE WILL BE ONE OMNIBUS BILL AS IN THE PAST. HE WOULD WORK AT MY DIRECTION SOLELY ON THIS TOPIC. HE WOULD NOT ADVOCATE ON ANY OTHER POSITIONS OR ENGAGE LEGISLATORS ON ANYTHING ELSE. THE TWO-YEAR CONTRACT AT THE BEGINNING OF A LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF WORK THE YEAR PRIOR TO HAVE A BILL READY AND MOVE FORWARD. THE TOTAL FOR THAT TWO YEARS IS $120,000. IN TERMS OF IMPACT, AGAIN, THE MEMO SHOWS DIFFERENT EXAMPLES. WHAT WE HAVE CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED IS 10 TO $15 MILLION RETURN OVER TEN YEARS FOR ONE PROJECT. SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN INVESTMENT IN PLANO, AN INVESTMENT IN A TOOL WE CAN ACCESS FOR DOUG'S TEAM LATER DOWN THE ROAD, IT'S SOMETHING I WOULD STRONGLY SUPPORT. I'VE KIND OF FLOWN THROUGH TS P. I WANTED TO SHOW YOU JUST A TIMELINE, IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL FOR STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LOBBYING CONTRACT AND ADD THIS TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. ASSUMING THE COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE DECIDED TO USE THIS TOOL FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL, THIS WOULD BE THE TIMELINE THAT WE WOULD MORE OR LESS ADHERE TO IN TERMS OF ENGAGING THE LOBBYIST DOING THE INTERIM WORK ON THE BILL, PREPARING THE LEGISLATION. WE SEE THE HOTEL CONSTRUCTION BEGIN. WE WOULD BE FILING THE LEGISLATION IN 2024. JANUARY 2025 IS WHEN WE BEGIN O LIKE WE'VE BEEN IN SESSION CONTINUALLY WITH ALL THE SPECIAL SESSIONS. WE WOULD LOOK AT A JUNE 2025 DATE FOR THE LEGISLATION TO PASS. AND THEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2025, THAT TOOL WOULD NOW BE IN OUR TOOL BELT AND WE WOULD JOIN McKINNEY, FRISCO, IRVING, DALLAS, FORT WORTH ARLINGTON. POTENTIALLY AS EARLY AS SPRING OF 2027 IF THE HOTEL PROJECT WAS ONLINE, WE COULD BEGIN REQUESTING THAT REBATE FROM THE COMPTROLLER MOVING FORWARD. I WILL NOTE WITHIN THAT BILL ITSELF, THERE IS A20-YEAR CLAWBACK PROVISION. THIS WAS PUT IN JUST IN CASE YOU HAD SOMEONE STRETCHING FOR A PROJECT THAT WAS NOT VIABLE. WE MAKE ALL OF THEM ARE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE. SO THIS IS NOT A CONCERN I HAVE FOR THIS BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THE COUNCIL SO THEY KNOW ABOUT IT. AND AGAIN, WITH THE NEW REVENUE POTENTIAL FOR THE EVENT CENTER, IF THAT WAS ONE THAT WE CHOSE, YOU WOULD HAVE NEW OPPORTUNITIES, NEW BUCKET OF MONEY. STAFF AT THIS JUNCTURE WOULD RECOMMEND LOOKINGT BRINGG THE EVENT CENTER UP TO THE DIFFERENT STANDARDS THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AS WELL AS A PARKING GARAGE POTENTIALLY. IT WOULD REALLY DEPEND ON HOW MUCH REVENUE WE WERE ABLE TO GENERATE AND WHAT THE COUNCIL WANTED TO USE THAT REVENUE FOR, BUT THAT REVENUE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK IN THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE. FOR THE SAKE OF BREVITY, THAT'S MY PRESENTATION. IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM >> Mayor Muns: ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANDREW? >> I WANTED TO POINT OUT THE USE OF A LOBBYIST IS ONE OF THOSE EXNSIV DCUSSIONS ABOUT. THISOULD FOR THAT PARTICULAR LOBBYIST. IN ORDER TO HAVE THE BILL GO THROUGH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THE REVENUE THAT COMES BACK, AGAIN, IT IS A STATE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THESE REVENUES TO COME BACK, WITHOUT HAVING THAT BILL PASS, WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT REVENUE. SO WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT FOR QUESTIONS. >> Mayor Muns: SHELBY? GO AHEAD, SHELBY. >> Williams: SO I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE PLANO TO BE ADDED TO THIS LIST. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE USE OF THIS TOOL. AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, I HAVE ISSUES WITH TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING. WOULD WE DIRECTLY LOBBY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS THE BILL? WOULD IT BE TO WORK ON LANGUAGE, MECHANISMS? >> IT WOULD REALLY BE ALL OF THE ABOVE. MY ROLE IN AUSTIN WOULD NOT CHANGE, SO I WOULD BE GOING WITH THIS LOBBYIST TO THESE MEMBERS. AND IT GIVE YOU BACKGROUND ON THE LOBBYIST, AGAIN, HE HELPED RIGHT THE ACTUAL STATUTE TO CREATE THE TOOL. EVERY SUBSEQUENT SESSION THERE HAVE BEEN TWEAKS IN THE TOOL, TO CHANGE IT. HE DOES HAVE THE BENEFIT WHEN HE WALKS IN THE ROOM TO DISCUSS THIS LEGISLATION, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, ALL THE STATE AGENCIES KNOW WHO HE IS AND TRUE WILL YOU MEANS TO MOVE FORWARD IN A RESPONSIBLE MATTER. HE BRINGS CREDIBILITY AS WELL AS A HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE. HE WOULD BE WORKING UNDER MY DIRECTION TO ENSURE THE MEETINGS THAT WERE HAD TO MOVE THIS BILL FORWARD STAYED ON TASK. >> Williams: IF HE'S SPEAKING AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, I HAVE ZERO PROBLEM WITHTH. IF HE'S ACTIVELY ADVOCATING MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS THE BILL, THAT'S WHERE I WOULD HAVE CONCERNS. >> AND HE WOULD BE -- TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR, HE WOULD BE DOING BOTH. WE'D BE LOOKING AT HIM TO BE -- I WOULD BE UTILIZING HIM LARGELY, ESPECIALLY IN THE BEGINNING ON THE SUBJECT MATTER COMPONENTS OF THE BILL. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GETTING INTO ADVOCATING WITH THE LEGISLATURE, I DON'T ENVISION HIM RAMPING UP THOSE EFFORTS UNTIL WE HAVE AN OMNIBUS BILL. MY INTENTION WOULD BE JUST AS WE WORKED LAST SESSION ON PFCs AND OTHER LEGISLATION, I WOULD BE IN THE OFFICE WITH DELEGATES, OTHERS PUSHING THAT LEGISLATION. WHEN IT BECAME AN OMNIBUS BILL, IT'S MULTIPLE LOBBYISTS. I DON'T WANT US TO GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE HE BECOMES THE DRIVER FOR AN OMNIBUS FOR AND ON BEHALF OF OTHER CITIES AND GOES INTO THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATURE AND SAYS I'M ADVOCATING FOR THIS BILL, BUT LEGALLY I CAN ADVOCATE ONLY FOR THIS PORTION. I CAN'T ADVOCATE FOR PLANO. THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT US IN A NEGATIVE WAY WHEN TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD THIS BILL. I HAVE SEEN CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN CUT OUT AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO USE THIS TOOL. SO FOR US, REGARDLESS OF HOW WE USE IT IN THE FUTURE, I THINK IT'S VALUABLE FOR US TO ENSURE IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE EFFORT, THAT WE DO IT THE BEST WAY, THE RIGHT WAY. IT WAS THE HOTEL PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO ENGAGE THE LOBBYIST ON THIS. AND I DON'T COME TO Y'ALL WITH THIS LIGHTLY. I RESPECT YOUR POSITION AND PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THAT. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO OPERATE VERY WELL WITHIN THOSE BOUNDS. I THINK IF WE TRULY WANT TO ACCESS THIS TOOL, THIS WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. >> Williams: UNDERSTOOD. I THINK FROM M VANTAGE POINT ALONE, I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD BE FULLY COMFORTABLE IF HE'S ACTUALLY ADVOCATING FOR OR AGAINST LEGISLATION. ALL IN FAVOR OF USING HIM AS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, ADVISORY, EVEN ADVISORY DIRECTLY ABOUT HOW TO CRAFT THE BILL, THE PITFALLS. I WOULD, OF COURSE, VOLUNTEER MYSELF TO CONTACT AS MANY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AS POSSIBLE, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, THE CRUX OF MY CONCERN OF TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING. THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND STAFF'S, AND WE'VE BEEN IN THE TRENCHES TOGETHER DOWN THERE DOING THAT. >> Ricciardelli: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO I WAS BASICALLY GOING TO SAY THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS HAS ALREADY COVERED. I DO THINK THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT TOOL FOR US TO GET ACCESS TO AND TO ENGAGE SOMEBODY FOR THEIR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, FOR THEIR INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY, FOR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT ON BILL LANGUAGE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I, TOO, WOULD BE TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. I'VE SPOKEN OUT PUBLICLY ON TAXPAYER-FUNDED LOBBYING, AND I TRY TO AVOID TAKING INCONSISTENT POSITIONS. JUST FEEL LIK OUT OF CONSISTENCY AND JUST MY BELIEF THAT AS COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SAID, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, THE COUNCILMEMBERS AND STAFF TO BE ADVOCATING FOR THE CITY. I THINK THE PORTION WHERE THE LOBBYIST WOULD ACTUALLY BE LOBBYING MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY -- AND AGAIN, I MAY BE IN THE MINORITY, BUT I WOULDN'T BE COMFORTABLE THERE, BUT OTHERWISE THIS SOUNDS GREAT. >> Tu: UNTIL THERE IS ACTUALLY EQUAL FOOTING FOR ALL THE CITIES AND NOBODY ELSE IS USING LOBBYING FOR PERSUADING THE LEGISLATURE TO ASSIST THEIR OWN CITY, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS NECESSARY. WE DON'T ACTUALLY GO IN THERE AND WINE AND DINE THESE LEGISLATORS. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS PROVIDING INFORMATIVE DECISION-MAKING TOOLS, AS WELL AS DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT WHAT WE WANT. AND IF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ARE USING ARE HIGHLY EDENTIALED HIGHLY RESPECTED, IT WOULD PUT US IN A BETTER LIGHT THAN MOST OTHER QUOTE, UNQUOTE LOBBYISTS WHO ARE THERE TO WINE AND DINE PEOPLE. SO I'M ABSOLUTELY IN SUPPORT OF IT. SOUNDS LIKE THIS PERSON IS VERY HIGHLY RESPECTED BY THE LEGISLATURE. AND IF YOU'RE SAYING SO, I TRUST YOU BECAUSE, ANDREW, YOU RATE VERY HIGHLY WITH ME TOO. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT NOW THAT ALL THE OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES AROUND US HAVE ALREADY ACCSED T LAGGING BEHIND IN ACCESSING FUNDS THAT COULD REALLY HELP THE CITY. AND I WANT TO SEE THAT WE NEVER GET LAGGED BEHIND. IF THAT'S WHAT'S NECESSARY TO GET US IN THE EQUAL FOOTING WITH OTHER CITIES WHERE HAVING ACCESS TO THESE POOLS OF FUNDS, BY ALL MEANS, I AM TOTALLY IN SUPPORT OF IT. >> AS WELL, AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM SAID. WE HIRE EXPERTS ALL THE TIME, AND THIS WOULD BE THE SAME THING. ARE YOU IN AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT, RICK AND MAYOR PRO TEM? >> Smith: I'M IN AGREEMENT. IS HE -- >> PREDOMINANTLY AROUND NORTH TEXAS, SOME ACROSS THE STATE. THE NICE PART ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION, AND SHOULD THE COUNCIL MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, WE WOULD BE ENGAGING HIM SOLELY ON THIS. SO ANYONE WHO JOINED THAT EFFORT WOULD NOT BE IN CONFLICT WITH OUR INTERESTS. IT WOULD BECOME ONE OMNIBUS BILL SIMILAR TO THE PFCs AND HOW THAT WORKED LAST SESSION. >> Mayor Muns: MAYOR PRO TEM? >> (OFF MIC). >> Mayor Muns: OKAY. RICK? >> Smith: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN GENERAL, I'M NOT PARTICULARLY IN FAVOR OF TAXPAYER PROVIDED LOBBYISTS IN GENERAL. HOWEVER, WHAT I AM IN FAVOR OF IS THE TAKING ADVANTAGE AND BEN WILL ENABLE US TO DO GOOD THINGS. WITH THE NARROWNESS OF THIS, THIS LOBBYIST WOULD ONLY BE DEDICATED TO THIS ONE PARTICULAR CASE. AND YOU WOULD BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH HIM. SO THOSE FACTS, AS MAYOR SAID, I TRUST YOUR JUDGMENT. YOU'RE DOING GOOD WORK FOR US, AND APPRECIATE IT. I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF IT ALSO. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> Mayor Muns: COUNCILMEMBER HOLMER? >> Holmer: I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF IT AS WELL. I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO TO AUSTIN AND ADVOCATE. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS DID A LOT OF THAT LAST YEAR. UNFOUNATELY, WE DON ALL HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO DO THAT, SO SOMETIMES IT'S NECESSARY TO PAY FOR THE SKILLS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR HAVE ON STAFF. I WOULD BE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MONEY SITTING ON THE TABLE FOR THIS. >> Mayor Muns: OKAY. I THINK WE HAVE DIRECTION. NEXT ITEM IS CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDA. ANY ITEM COUNCILMEMBER WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE? >> Ricciardelli: I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEMS D AND H. >> Mayor Muns: ALL RIGHT. ANY ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS? OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A RECESS AND RETURN IN 12 MINUTES. BUT I WANTED TO OFFER THE SCOUTS TO COME DOWN HERE IN THE FRONT AND TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS MEETING MIGHT BE. SO WE WERE HOPING MAYBE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS BEFORE THE MEETING. ARE YOU INTERESTED? OKAY, COME ON DOWN. (RECESS) >> Mayor Muns: I NOW DECLARE THAT THE PLANO CITY COUNCIL IS RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION, THAT ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE'LL BEGIN TONIGHT'S REGULAR MEETING WITH THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND TEXAS PLEDGE LED BY CUB SCOUT PACK 112 WITH GULLEDGE ELEMENTARY FOLLOWED BY LEGACY OF HARMONY CHORUS. WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE? >> DEAR LORD, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT. WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THEM AND WATCH OVER THEM. WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH THIS COUNCIL, THAT WE'LL MAKE DECISIONS FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE PRAY THAT WE ALWAYS LOOK TO YOU FOR STRENGTH. WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE ALL OF US PEACE AND LOVE AND HARMONY TONIGHT AND THROUGHOUT ALL YEAR LONG. AND WE PRAY THAT YOU BE WITH US IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. IN CHRIST'S NAME, AMEN. >> SCOUTS ATTENTION. SCOUTS IS A ABSOLUTE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. (PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE) >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE TEXAS PLEDGE. (TEXAS PLEDGE) SCOUTS, AT EASE. >> Mayor Muns: THANK YOU, BE HO ON, Y GUYS WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE? REAL QUICK. DID YOU GET ONE? >> OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Mayor Muns: DID YOU GET ONE? >> YEAH. >> Mayor Muns: OH, GOOD FOR YOU. YOU'VE ALREADY GOT IT ON. OKAY, YOU GUYS COME RIGHT HERE. STAND RIGHT HERE IN FRONT BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE IN THE PICTURE. TURN AROUND. >> TURN THAT WAY. >> Mayor Muns: TURN AROUND, GUYS. Y'ALL ARE DOING SO WELL. THANKS, GUYS, THANK YOU. YOU GUYS READY? ARE YOU GOING TO SING FROM THERE? PERFECT. (SINGING) [ APPLAUSE ] . ♪ MAY YOUR DAYS BE MERRY AND BRIGHT AND MAY ALL YOUR CHRISTMASES BE WHITE ♪ (SINGING) ♪ MAY YOUR DAYS BE MERRY AND BRIGHT AND MAY ALL YOUR CHRISTMASES BE WHITE ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> Mayor Muns: THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. >> Mayor Muns: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. >> SEE Y'ALL NEXT YEAR. [ LAUGHTER ]. >> Mayor Muns: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY, I WAS GOING TO PUT THIS OVER MY NECK, BUT -- [ LAUGHTER ] -- KIND OF WEAR IT AS A MEDALLION. I'LL LET DR. RON SMITH DO THAT FOR ME. ON OCTOBER 11th, THE PLANO PARKS AND RECREATION WAS AWARDED THE 2023 GOLD MED FOR EXCELLENCE BY THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION. THE HIGHEST HONOR WITHIN THE PARKS AND REC INDUSTRY. AND TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD, THIS MARKS THE FIFTH TIME THE PLANO PARKS AND RECREATION HAS WON THIS NATIONAL GOLD MEDAL. LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH OUR PARKS MEAN TO US. [ APPLAUSE ] SO I'D LIKE TO CALL FORWARD DR. RON SMITH, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC. DAVE ANLIS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. SUSAN HERGENRAIDER, RENEE JORDAN, MARK GERALD, PLANO EVENTS CENTER MANAGER. CHRIS GULKE, BUSINESS MANAGER, AND ALL OTHER PARKS AND RECREATION EMPLOYEES WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT. [ APPLAUSE ] OKAY, I'M GOING TO LET YOU HOLD THIS BECAUSE MY ARM IS GETTING REALLY TIRED. >> MAYOR MUNS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS BIT OF RECOGNITIO IT GOE WITHOUT BEING SAID THAT WE WOULD NOT BE EARNING THIS AWARD WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF AND, OF COURSE, THE CITIZENS OF PLANO. THIS AWARD REPRESENTS THE COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT, OFTENTIMES UNSEEN. BUT WE DO WHAT WE DO SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS OF PLANO CAN ENJOY AND BENEFIT FROM THE VERY BEST PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES THE COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Mayor Muns: THANK YOU. [ APAUSE ] YOU'RE ALREADY ALL SET UP THERE. WE'LL JUST COME IN HERE. [ LAUGHTER ] CONGRATULATIONS, APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. SO WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM. WE HAVE AN OATH OF OFFICE TO GIVE TO SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER EFRAIN GIRARDOT. OKAY. THIS IS SPECIAL BECAUSE I'M ONLY GIVING AN OATH OF OFFICE TO YOU. I'M USUALLY GIVING IT TO VERY MANY PEOPLE. SO I'M GOING TO READ THE CEREMONIAL OATH OF OFFICE. LE AND THANKYOU, AGAIN, FOR SERVING ON OUR SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD. DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT YOU WILL FAITHFULLY EFFECT THE DUTIES OF THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD, CITY OF PLANO, STATE OF TEXAS AND TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE AND THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES OF THIS CITY? AND YOU FURTHERMORE SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT YOU HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED, OR PROMISED TO PAY, CONTRIBUTED NOR PROMISE TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR VALUABLE THING OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT AS A REWARD TO SECURE YOUR EMPLOYMENT -- APPOINTMENT, SO HELP YOU GOD? >> (OFF MIC). >> Mayor Muns: THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING. [ APPLAUSE ] OKAY. MOVE ON TO COMMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST. >> City Clerk: COMMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST. THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS TO ALLOW UP TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER WITH 30 TOTAL MINUTES ON ITEMS OF INTEREST AND CONCERN AND NOT ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CURRENT AGENDA. THE COUNCIL MAY NOT DISCUSS THESE ITEMS, BUT MAY RESPOND WITH FACTUAL OR POLICY INFORMATION. THE COUNCIL MAY CHOOSE TO PLACE THE IT ON A FUTURE AGENDA. >> Mayor Muns: THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WE HAVE 30 MINUTES FOR COMMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST AND WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS. SO I'M GOING TO CUT IT DOWN TO ONE MINUTE EACH. SO EACH OF YOU WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK. AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR EVERYONE THAT HAS SIGNED UP. SO IF WE CAN GET STARTED, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. >> City Clerk: THE FIRST SPEAKER [ PLAU ] YAD. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR MUNS AND ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS HERE. BLESSING ON ALL OF YOU GATHERED HERE TODAY. I'M SABA SAYAD, A PLANO RESIDENT IN EAST PLANO. I'VE BEEN A PLANO RESIDENT FOR 15 YEARS NOW WITH MY THREE KIDS GOING TO ALL THE PLANO SCHOOLS. AND YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO A PART OF THE PLANO ISD DIVERSITY ADVOCACY COMMITTEE HERE IN PLANO ISD. AND I'VE MET SO MANY AMAZING ADMINISTRATORS AND, YOU KNOW, CITY LEADERS THROUGH THAT. >> City Clerk: 20 SECONDS. >> I'M HERE TODAY ESPECIALLY -- I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME, BUT I'M HERE ESPECIALLY TODAY TO TALK ABOUT A PUSH FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. WE ALL KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING OVER THERE. WE ALL KNOW THE CONDITIONS OF THE PEOPLE OFPALEINE. AND I'M HERE SPECIFICALLY TO TALK ABOUT THIS. AND YOU MAY ARGUE AS A CITY COUNCIL, WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH OUR CITY POLITICS? I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE AS CITY RESIDENTS, WE ARE FACING DIRECT AND, YOU KNOW, IMPACT OF THIS CONFLICT. >> Mayor Muns: I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO FINISH YOUR POINT, BUT WE CAN ONLY DO ONE MINUTE, PLEASE, AND YOUR TIME HAS BEEN UP. >> SURE, YES. SO I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW -- >> Mayor Muns: ONE LAST THING. >> JUSTNEAST THING. I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL LIVES MATTER, AND ALL LIVES ARE PRECIOUS, AND I WOULD REALLY REQUEST OUR COUNCILMEMBERS AND MAYOR MUNS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Mayor Muns: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] . >> City Clerk: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JINGSCHUAN ZENG. [ APPLAUSE ] AND OBAID SADIKI WILL BE THE ONE FOLLOWING. >> OKAY. CAN THE TIME BE RESTARTED? I'M HERE AS PART OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE IN GAZA. [ APPLAUSE ] AND ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY KNOWS THE PAIN OF FOREIGN P POLICY, INFLUENCING DOMESTIC POLICY. SO THERE WAS THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS AGAINST JAPANESE AMERICANS DURING WORLD WAR II. THERE WAS -- >> City Clerk: 20 SECONDS. >> VINCENT CHEN WHO WAS KILLED BECAUSE OF TOYOTA CAR MANUFACTURING. AND MOST RECENTLY, WHILE TRUMP WAS SAYING KONG VIRUS, MANY PEOPLE WERE KILLED. AND THIS IS ALL FOREIGN POLICY. SO THE COMMUNITY IS IN DANGER ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. AND THESE ARE AMERICAN PEOPLE. SO IF THE RHETORIC IS SO INFLAMMATORY AGAINST PALESTINIANS, DEMONIZING THOSE PEOPLE -- >> Mayor Muns: OKAY. >> -- THEN IT IS VERY HARD FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN THEIR SAFETY. >> Mayor Muns: THANK YOU. >> AND THAT INCLUDES THE CITIZENS OF PLANO. >> Mayor Muns: OKAY, THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] WE'RE IN OUR BUSINESS MEETING RIGHT NOW, SO THIS IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, SO WE'RE TRYING TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN, BUT WE ONLY HAVE 30 MINUTES FOR THIO HAPPEN. >> I UNDERSTAND. (OFF MIC). >> Mayor Muns: WHICH SPEAKERS WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SPEAK? >> (OFF MIC). >> Mayor Muns: YEAH, LET'S DO EIGHT MORE SPEAKERS. >> (OFF MIC). >> Mayor Muns: GIVE THEM THREE MINUTES. >> MY NAME IS MERRIAM ABSOL, A RESIDENT OF RICHARDSON, I GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF LAW, AND I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF THE TEXAS STATE BAR. THE SAME ZEAL FOR HAN RIGHTS ANDUSTICE THAT LED ME TO PRACTICING LAW IS THE SAME ZEAL THAT COMPELLED ME TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, I WOULD SAY GOOD EVENING, BUT IT IS, IN FACT, NOT A GOOD EVENING. IT IS NOT A GOOD EVENING FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS IN (INDISCERNIBLE) TRAPPED AND BLEEDING UNDER THE RUBBLE. IT IS NOT A GOOD EVENING FOR THOSE BEING BOMBED. AND IT IS NOT A GOOD EVENING FOR PEOPLE OF CONSCIOUSNESS ACROSS THE GLOBE WHOSE HEARTS ACHE FOR THE OVER 18,000 PALESTINIAN HEARTS THAT ARE NO LONGER BEATING. OUR U.S. AND STATE LEADERS HAVE ABANDONED THEIR CONSTITUENTS. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL NOT ABANDON US. 68% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT THE CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE, YET, THE U.S. WAS THE ONLY COUNTRY TO VETO THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION AT THE UN. SISTER CITIES ARE TELLING MY COMMUNITY THEY DO NOT SEE THE LOCAL RELEVANCE. BUT MAYOR MUNS, I KNOW YOU DO. YOU RELEASED A STATEMENT ON OCTOBER 9th CONDEMNING THE ATTACK ON ISRAEL. YOU RECOGNIZE WE'RE MEMBERS OF A GLOBAL COMMUNITY. THE PALESTINIANS NEED YOU. WILL YOU CONDEMN THE GENOCIDE OF INNOCENT PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS? OUR HUMANITY CANNOT ONLY EXTEND ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR WHITE LIVES BUT STOP AT THE BORDERS OF PLANO WHEN IT COMES TO BROWN ONES. FOR DECADES, WE HAVE BEEN BOXED INTO TROPES AND STEREOTYPES OF THE ARAB SAVAGE AND MUSLIM TERRORISTS THAT LED TO A SIX-YEAR-OLD BEING STABBED IN CHICAGO 26 TIMES, LED TO THREE MUSLIM COLLEGE STUDENTS BEING SHOT IN VERMONT, L A 2018 MEMBER OF THIS CITY COUNCIL TO CALL FOR ISLAM TO BE BANNED FROM SCHOOL ACROSS AMERICA. THIS CITY SPOKE OUT CALLING FOR HIS RESIGNATION. WILL YOU SPEAK OUT AGAINST HATE AND BIGOTRY TODAY? THIS IS A LOCAL ISSUE. SINCE OCTOBER 7th, TEXAS COME TROLLER HEGAR USED 65 MILLION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS TO INCREASE ISRAELI LIQUIDITY (INDISCERNIBLE). GOVERNOR ABBOTT USED OUR TAX DOLLARS TO VISIT ISRAEL, AFFIRMING HIS SUPPORT, AND RUBBER STAMPING THIS GENOCIDE. HE ALSO SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER PROHIBITING STATE AGENCIES FROM PURCHASING PRODUCTS FROM GAZA. THESE ARE ALL LOCAL ISSUES. WHEN FEDERAL AND STATE LEADERS FAIL TO REPRESENT THE VALUES OF CONSTITUENTS IT BECOMES OUR CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO BE OUR VOICE AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW TO USE THEIR PLATFORMS AND SPEND OUR TAX DOLLARS. SPONSORING AND AFFIRMING THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION IS THAT PLANO DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS GEN GENOCIDE. PLEASE SPONSOR AND THIS TOGHT IS NOT A GOOD EVENING. BUT YOU, MAYOR MUNS, AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT A BETTER ONE. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]. >> Mayor Muns: THANK YOU. >> GREETINGS OF PEACE AND BLESSING TO ALL OF YOU. I LIVE IN HARBOR LANE IN PLANO. THE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF PLANO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY OF EXCELLENCE THROUGH POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED AND HOSTED EFFORTS, CANDIDATE FORUMS, MEET AND GREETS, AND MANY OF YOU HAVE ATTENDED THAT. WE HAVE ISLAMIC CENTERS AS POLLING STATIONS. THESE EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN HIGHER VOTING TURNOUTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. THE ENGAGEMENT OUTREACH AND DIVERSITY INITIATIVES SUCH AS POLICE AND FIREFIGHTER APPRECIATION EVENTS AND HEAVILY CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM. JUST ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY EPIC SERVED 1.1 MILLION MEALS LAST YEAR. THEY SUPPORT 300 FAMILIES THROUGH FINANCIAL AID EVERY MONTH, AND DISTRIBUTE OVER 1,000 BLANKETS IN WINTER SEASON. AS PART OF THE EFFORT, OUR EAST PLANO ISLAMIC CENTER IS BECOMING A WINTER SHELTER AS WELL. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE TREMENDOUS LEVEL OF SUFFERING AND COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT FACED BY PALESTINIANS IN GAZA. KILLING OF CIVILIANS AND CHILDREN, ALL LIVESTREAMED, SO YOU CAN CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT, BUT NO ONE CAN DENY IT. WE AS PLANO CITIZENS ARE AGAINST KILLING OF ANY INNOCENTS, WHETHER BY A GROUP OR STATE. 1200 INNOCENT PEOPLE MURDERED ON OCTOBER 27th OR CIVILIANS KILLED IN BOMBING. I'M SURE YOU'LL AGREE THE ALN WITH OUR CITY'S COLLECTIVET JUSTICE AND NONVIOLENCE. WE ALL KNOW TOO WELL IT IS A THREAT TO THE PEACE AND JUSTICE EVERYWHERE. WHEN WE BECOME DESENSITIZED, WE SUPPRESS OUR CONSCIENCE, WHICH WILL HAUNT US BACK SOONER OR LATER AND WE WILL FAIL TO RECOGNIZE OR RESPOND TO IT WHEN WE SEE IT WITH OPEN EYES. WE URGE THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS AND REQUEST THE CITY OF PLANO TO SUPPORT HR 786 AND JOIN OTHER CITIES IN CALLING ON OUR CONGRESS MEMBERS TO DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE, RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES, FOR A RESOLUTION THAT PROTECTS THE SECURITY OF ALL INNOCENT CIVILIANS. OUR CITY AND COUNTRY HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE EVERY DIPLOMATIC EFFORT TO PREVENT GENOCIDE, ETHNIC CLEANSING, ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS AND (INDISCERNIBLE) SYSTEMS. WITH THOUSANDS OF LIVES LOST AND MILLIONS MORE AT STAKE, WE NEED A CEASEFIRE NOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]. >> HI. MY NAME IS NOAH, I LIVE AT 4332 (INDISCERNIBLE) DRIVE IN EAST PLANO. I'M HERE WITH MANY OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ALSO ASK YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THE RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE. THE REASON I LIVE IN PLANO IS BECAUSE WHEN I WAS OFFERED A JOB IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE METROPLEX OR DALLAS, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT PLANO WAS -- THERE WAS A VIBRANT CHINESE COMMUNITY IN PLANO. SO I SOMEWHAT ARBITRARILY CHOSE TO LIVE HERE, AND BECAUSE MY WIFE AND THEN ONE DAUGHTER FROM CHINA, IT'S WORKED OUT REALLY WELL. IT'S WONDERFUL. WHAT I DIDN'T EXPECT AND HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL SURPRISE WAS THE ADDITIONAL DIVERSITY IN PLANO AND IN PARTICULAR, THAT OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. AFTER WE BOUGHT OUR HOME IN EAST PLANO, THE FIRST PEOPLE TO INVITE OUR FAMILY OVER TO EAT WERE OUR NEIGHBORS SONJA AND SULOMON. PEOPLEO COME TO O DR AND E ONLY- WELCOME US TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS MY NEIGHBOR NASIR. SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT IS SPECIAL AND WONDERFUL IN PLANO IS THE DIVERSITY AND IN PARTICULAR, THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT THAT REALLY DEFINES WHAT PLANO IS. SGLGS WONDERFUL ABOUT PLANO THAT I LOVE LIVING ABOUT HERE IS WHEN YOU SEE A PLANO CITY OF EXCELLENCE, IT REALLY DOES MEAN SOMETHING BEYOND A SLOGAN. AND WHAT I'VE FOUND THAT THAT MEANS IS REGARDLESS OF THE LITI AND HEADLINES OF THE WIDER WORLD, THAT THE CITY OF PLANO REALLY IS A BEACON OF CIVILITY INTELLIGENCE FRIENDSHIP, AND KINDNESS AND YOU KNOW, ANY OTHER PLATITUDE YOU CAN THROW AT IT. IT'S REALLY SOMETHING REAL HERE. IT'S REAL AT THE LEVEL OF CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS WE CAN HAVE HERE AND I'VE HAD PERSONALLY WITH MANY OF YOU AND THAT I APPRECIATE. AND I THINK THAT THAT ALSO -- IT'S NOT JUST IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT THAT SETS A TONE FOR HOW WE ALL RELATE TO EH OTHER THROUGHOUT THE CITY. IN THAT SPIRIT, COMING BACK TO WHY I'M STANDING HERE, PLANO IS RECOGNIZED FAR AND WIDE TO MY RELATIVES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THEY KNOW THAT PLANO IS -- THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT PLANO, REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICS AND THE HEADLINES, THAT PLANO IS AN EMINENTLY RESPECTED INSTITUTION. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE -- YOU DON'T NEED ME TO TELL YOU IT WOULD BE CONTROVERSIAL AND UNEXPECTED, BUT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING VERY POSITIVE AND RESPONSIBLE THAT WILL BE MEANINGFUL NOW AND BE REMEMBERED INTO THE FUTURE THAT DESPITE WHATEVER OTHER PREVAILING HEADWINDS, PLANO DID THE RIGHT THING WHEN IT WAS CLEARLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SAMI, AND I'VE BEEN PART OF THE EAST PLANO COMMUNITY FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE LAST DE DEDE. I STAND BEFE YOU TODAY WITH AN URGENT APPEAL THAT ALIGNS WITH THE WISHES AND HOPES OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS. JUST IN THE LAST MONTH, A REUTERS POLL REVEALED A COMPELLING TRUTH. 68% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. THIS IS NOT JUST A STATISTIC. IT IS A CLEAR EXPRESSION OF THE COLLECTIVE WILL OF OUR NATION. TRANSCENDING POLITICAL DIVISIONS AND AFFIRMING OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TOWARDS PEACE. THE CITIZENS OF PLANO, LIKE MILLIONS ACROSS THE WORLD, HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE RELENTLESS VIOLENCE AND ITS TOLL ON INNOCENT VES. AS STEWARDS OF THIS COMMUNITY, WE ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THE SACRED DUTY TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF OUR PEOPLE AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT ALIGN WITH THE COLLECTIVE WILL. IN SPONSORING AND AFFIRMING A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, THE PLANO CITY COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO HARMONIZE WITH THE PREVAILING SENTIMENT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS GOES BEYOND A MERE ENDORSEMENT OF PEACE. IT IS A DECLARATION THAT OUR COMMUNITY STANDS SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, A UNITED FRONT, URGING THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO WIELD ITS DIPLOMATIC INFLUENCE FOR THE GREATER GOOD. I IMPLORE EACH OF YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE WEIGHT OF THIS MOMENT, TO HEED THE RESOUNDING VOICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND TO STAND AS ADVOCATES FOR A WORLD THAT STRIVES FOR PEACE. SPONSOR AND AFFIRM OUR RESOLUTION AND LET PLANO SHINE AS A BEACON, A COMMUNITY THAT REVERES COMPASSION, UPHOLDS JUSTICE AND TIRELESSLY PURSUES A WORLD FREE FROM THE SHADOWS OF . I APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. LET'S MOVE FORWARD BOLDLY FOR A FUTURE FULL OF PEACE. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND ALL THE ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE PLANO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS AZIR, I LIVE IN PLANO TEXAS. ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, 1.9 MILLION PEOPLE IN GAZA DISPLACED. OVER 20,000 PEOPLE ARE KILLED? GAZA. 66% ARE WOMEN, CHILDREN, MOSTLY BABIES. OVER 50,000 PEOPLE ARE REPORTED TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. 43 HOUSING UNITS ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED, INCLUDING SEVERAL PLACES OF WORSHIP. AND LAST TWO WEEKS ALONE, 18 HOSPITALS IN GAZA HAVE STOPPED OPERATING, AND EVERYONE OVER THERE HAS BEEN REMOVED AND EVACUATED. I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THIS PLACE, TO THIS VERY BLESSED LAND FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES AS AN INTERNATIONAL AIDE WORKER. LAST WAS JUST A FEW MONTHS BACK. I KNOW THE ENTIRE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF GAZA. SO TODAY I JOIN HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF MY FELLOW CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE NATION AND MAKE THIS HUMBLE APPEAL TO EACH ONE OF YOU AS THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS OF THIS GREAT CITY, TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND TAKE ACTION AND ACT NOW AND PASS A RESOLUTION FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THIS WILL BE THE MOST AMERICAN THING TO DO. I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION INSIDE GAZA, A PLACE WHERE ALL HAVE BEEN GATHERED, ALMOST THE SIZE OF DFW AIRPORT WHERE AROUND 2 MILLION PLUS PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO STAY WITH NO FOOD, NO RUNNING WATER, NO SANITATION, NO ELECTRICITY, NO INTERNET ACCESS, AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY WILL BE STAYING OVER HERE. GAZA, FROM BEING THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED PLACE ON EARTH, AND FROM BEING THE LARGEST OPEN AIR PRISON, IS NOW BECOMING THE LARGEST GRAVEYARD ON THIS EARTH. ANYONE WHO HAS A HEART CANNOT BE SILENT TO WITNESS WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE. WE ALLAVE TO SPEAK FOR THEM AND DRAW THE ATTENTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAVE LOST THE MORAL COURAGE TO ASK AND PUSH FOR A CEASEFIRE. PLEASE JOIN OTHER CITIES ACROSS AMERICA BY PASSING A RESOLUTION ASKING FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. WE NEED TO ACT NOW. THE WORLD IS WATCHING, AND WE NEED TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF PLANO AND OUR BELOVED NATION, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. [ APPLAUSE ] . >> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR MUNS, ESTEEMED COUNCILMEMBERS. I LIVE IN EAST PLANO. I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF CALLING MYSELF A RESIDENT OF PLANO AND A RESIDENT OF THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY LIFE. I'M BRINGING YOUR ATTENTION A MATTER THAT HAS CAUSED STRESS AND ANXIETY TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THE WORST HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA HAS HAD VISIBLE IMPACTS IN PLANO. AN AVERAGE ONE CHILD IS KILLED AND TWO ARE INJURED EVERY TEN MINUTES DURING THIS WAR, TURNING GAZA INTO, QUOTE, A GRAVEYARD FOR CHILDREN. AS HE STATED IN HIS MOST RECENT ADDRESS, MORE THAN 17,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN KILLED, INCLUDING 7,000 CHILDREN. TENS OF THOUSANDS INJURED AND MANY MEETING. 26 HOSPITALS, 56 HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, 88 MOSQUES AND THREE CHURCHES HAVE BEEN HIT. WHILE THESE ARE FIGURES ON A PAPER, NUMBERS, THEY ARE FAMILY MEMBERS FATHERS MOTHERS AUNTS, UNCLES, PEOPLE LIVE IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNOW PERSONALLY KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED WORD FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE LOST FAMILY IN GAZA. I INVITE YOU TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE HERE TODAY AND THEY'LL CONFIRM THEIR OWN FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE. THIS IS LEADING TO A MAJOR PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA IN YOUR OWN RESIDENTS, FEAR AND ANXIETY FOR THEIR LOVED ONES AND THEY NEED TO KNOW THEIR CITY SEES THEM AND WEEPS ALONG WITH THEM. ON TOP OF THE WORRY, THERE'S A REAL CONCERN OF ANTISEMITIC, AS SHOWN BY THE SENSELESS KILLING OF A SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY IN CHICAGO AND KILLING OF STUDENTS IN VERMONT. SHOULD MY WORD HAVE ANY WEIGHT, I URGE YOU, MR. MAYOR AND RESPE PLEASE NOT TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE WORRY AND CONCERN OF YOUR PEOPLE. I URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEEN DRAFTED TO PROPOSE AND CALL FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. THIS IS THE VERY MINIMUM WE CAN DO TO LET RESIDENTS OF THE CITY TO KNOW WE STAND WITH HUMANITY AND PEACE. AS THE CITY OF PLANO, LET US LIVE UP TO OUR NAME AS THAT VERY SLOGAN SAYS, AS THAT FLAG STATES, WE ARE THE CITY OF EXCELLENCE. LET US LIVE UP TO OUR NAMES AND LET US NOT LET HISTORIANS WRITE THAT THE CITY WAS SILENT. THE CITY HAS NEVER FAILED ME IN THE PAST AND IN THIS TIME OF GREAT WORRY AND GRIEF FOR SO MANY OF OUR OWN NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I TRUST AND I PRAY THAT MY CITY WILL NOT FAIL ME IN SUCH A MOMENT. RESPECTED MAYOR, ESTEEMED COUNCILMEMBERS, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY AND SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]. >> ELECTED OFFICIALS, MY NAME IS ADAL, AND WAS RAISED IN THIS GREAT CITY OF PLANO. I WENT TO ARMSTRONG MIDDLE SCHOOL, McMILLAN HIGH SCHOOL. AND I ALWAYS TOOK PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT I LIVE IN A CITY, WHICH IS THE SAFEST CITY, ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN AMERICA, YEAR BY YEAR, AND ONE OF THE MOST PEACEFUL CITIES YEAR BY YEAR. AND I TAKE PRIDE IN THE SERVICES THAT THIS CITY OFFERS. SERVICES SUCH AS THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE REC CENTERS, PLANO CARES, THE PLANO OVERNIGHT WARMING SHELTER, WHICH I ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERED FOR. I TAKE PRIDE IN THIS COUNTRY AS A FOUNDATION WAS BUILT ON THE CONCEPT OF PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HUMAN RIGHTS. AND YET, PEACE AND THAT THESE RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE, THESE HUMAN RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE, THESE RIGHTS ARE NOT BEING EXTENDED TO THE PEOPLE OF GAZA. THESE RIGHTS THAT WE TAKE PRIDE IN, NOW WE ARE TAKING AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE OF GAZA. OUR OWN TAX DOLLARS, OUR TAX MONEY THAT WE GIVE IS BEING USED TO MASSACRE THE PEOPLE OF GAZA. OVER 17,000 PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY DIED, INNOCENT LIVES. AND SO AS THE PEOPLE OF GAZA, BOMBS ARE FLYING THROUGH, THEY'RE LOSING THEIR HOMES, LOSING THEIR SHELTERS, THEY DON'T HAVE FOOD, THEY DON'T HAVE WATER. THEY DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY. EVERYTHING IS BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM. AND EVEN THEN, AS THE U.N. CAME TOGETHER AND HAD A RESOLUTION FOR PEACE, FOR A CEASEFIRE? WHO DENIED IT? OUR OWN GOVERNMENT, AMERICA SAID NO. THEY VETOED IT. THIS IS NOT THE AMERICA WE LOVE. THE AMERICA WE LOVE IS WHAT THE GREAT PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SPOKE OF WHEN HE SAID, AND I QUOTE, I AM IN FAVOR OF ANIMAL RIGHTS AS WELL AS HUMAN RIGHTS. THAT IS THE WAY OF A WHOLE HUMAN BEING. EVERYBODY DESERVES THEIR RIGHTS. EVERYBODY DESERVES THE RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE IN AMERICA AND IN PLANO. SO I URGE OUR GREAT CITY OF PLANO, IN WHICH WE HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS AND WHERE WE HAVE PEACE, TO EXTEND THIS PEACE TO THE RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS TO THE PEOPLE OF GAZA. I URGE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SPONSOR AND PASS A RESOLUTION THAT ADVOCATES FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. TO END OFF, I WANT TO END WITH A REFLECTION POINT. THINK ABOUT IF YOU HAD FAMILY IN GAZA, IF YOU HAD CHILDREN IN GAZA. ONE DAY YOU SEE THE NEWS AND BOMBS START FLYING THROUGH. AND YOU SEE AND YOU TRY TO CONTACT YOUR FAMILY, BUT YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH. YOU FIND ELECTRICITY IS GONE. YOU FIND OUT THEY DON'T HAVE FOOD WATER GAS. WOULD YOU DO NOTHING? WOULD YOU STAND AROUND AND SAY IT'S A COMPLICATED SITUATION OR WOULD YOU USE THE POWER AND AUTHORITY YOU HAVE TO TRY AND ADVOCATE FOR A CEASEFIRE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [ APPLAUSE ] . >> WE BEGIN WITH THE NAME OF GOD AND IN GOD WE TRUST. MY NAME IS ZIRA, AND I AM A TEACHER HERE. I TEACH IN RICHARDSON, ACTUALLY. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US WANTS TO BE A HERO IN THE EYES OF OUR CHILDREN. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? IN ISLAM, WE LEARN THAT IF WE SEE EVIL IN THE WORLD, WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION AINST IT. IF WE CAN'T TAKE ACTION, WE ARE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT IT. IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, WE HATE IT IN OUR HEARTS, THE LEAST WE CAN DO. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PALESTINE RIGHT NOW IS EVIL. I WAS THERE THIS PAST SUMMER, AND THOSE 20,000 PLUS LIVES WE LOST WERE HUMAN BEINGS WHO LOVED, LAUGHED, AND LIVED, JUST LIKE THIS. SO IT HURTS US. WE HATE IT IN OUR HEARTS BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING THE PICTURES AND STATISTICS, AND NOW WE CAN HARDLY SLEEP AT NIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE NIGHTMARES THINKING WHAT IF THOSE WERE OUR OWN CHILDREN? BECAUSE THE CHILDREN OF GAZA, THOSE ARE OUR CHILDREN. SO WE HATE IT IN OUR HEAS AND WE ALSO WANT TO SPEAK OUT. WE'LL SPEAK IN WHATEVER WAY WE'RE ABLE TO, WHETHER IN OUR HOMES, CITY HALL, WHEREVER WE CAN, UNTIL THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE FOR IT. LASTLY, WE WANT TO MAKE ACTION. WE NEED TO MAKE MOVES SO WE CAN END UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. THE ACTION OF INDISCRIMINATELY BOMBING A POPULATION MOSTLY UNDER THE AGE OF 18 WILL NOT HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON HISTORY. WE WANT TO HAVE A PROPER RESOLUTION SO WE CAN BUILD A WORLD WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO GROW UP IN. THERE'S ALSO THE OVERCOMING OF SUFFERING. SO THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE A HERO, NOT ONLY IN THE EYES OF YOUR CHILDREN BUT IN THE EYES OF AN ENTIRE GENERATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND IN GOD WE TRUST. [ APPLAUSE ]. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS YARA ISMAIL. LAST WEEK IN MY U.S. HISTORY CLASS, WE WERE COVERING AN ERA KNOWN AS THE CENTURYF SHONOR. WE WERE COVERING THE INDIAN WARS THAT OCCURRED IN THE GREAT PLAINS OF THIS COUNTRY. ROUGHLY 180 YEARS AGO. BUT AS THE TEACHER PRESENTED THE SLIDES, MY HANDS STARTED TO QUIVER. THE SLIDES DEMONSTRATED PICTURES OF MASS GRAVES. PICTURES IDENTICAL TO THOSE COMING OUT OF PALESTINE FOR THE PAST 66 DAYS. THEY DEMONSTRATED THE NATIVE AMERICAN CASUALTIES FROM THE MASSACRES COMMITTED BY THE UNITED STATES. AND THE VILE LANGUAGE USED TO JUSTIFY THE KILLING AND ASSIMILATION OF THE NATIVES. THEN I LOOKED AROUND ME AND SAW MY CLASSMATES CASUALLY WRITING DOWN THE NUMBER OF THOSE KILLED AS A POSSIBLE TEST QUESTION. AND AS THE LUMP IN MY THROAT FELT BIGGER, I BEGAN TO SHED TEARS AT THE BLATANT RETITION OF HISTORY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THIS COUNTRY. I DO NOT KNOW OF FRIENDS OR A LIFE OTHER THAN THE ONES I HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY. AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD TO SAY THAT I AM AN AMERICAN MUSLIM. AND I HAVE BEEN PROUD TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT IS COMPOSED OF SO MANY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. BUT NOW, I SIMPLY CANNOT. W, A I CAN FEEL IS UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF UNSAFETY AND FEAR, FEAR OF SIMPLY WALKING DOWN THE STREET, FEAR AS I WAIT FOR MY SCHOOL BUS AND FEAR OF BEING THE TARGET OF THE NEXT ISLAMOPHOBIC ATTACK. I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE PAIN AND THE FEAR OF YOUR CITY MEMBERS WHO WATCH IN HELPLESSNESS AS FAMILY MEMBERS ARE KILLED IN PALESTINE AND AS ISLAMAPHOBIC ATTACKS STRIKE IN OUR COUNTRY AND CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]. >> GOOD EVENING, PLANO COUNCILMEMBERS, OFFICIALS, AND STAFF. I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF PLANO. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY. I ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS, AND I CONTINUE AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER GROWING MY CAREER HERE AS YOU PROFESSIONAL. THE CITY OF PLANO IS RANKED THE TOP 100 SAFEST CITIES IN AMERICA. WE WISH FOR SAFETY FOR EVERYONE AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THOSE LIVING IN AN ACTIVE GENOCIDE, WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, WE HAVE PALESTINIAN NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE LOST MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES IN GAZA. STANDING HERE TODAY AS A PROUD MUSLIM AND AS A PROUD RESIDENT OF PLANO, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS GENOCIDE IS NOT A RELIGIOUS ISSUE. IT IS A HUMANITARN CRISIS TT HAS GONE UNCHECKED FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CAMPAIGN FOR PALESTINIAN RIGHTS, THE STATE OF TEXAS ALONE GIVES $298,367,616 PER YEAR TO THE ISRAELI MILITARY. FROM THAT, THE CITY OF PLANO GIVES $3,878,956. I WOULD RATHER HAVE PLANO PARKWAY ROAD BE FIXED THAN HAVE OUR HARD-EARNED MONEY BE USED IN GENOCIDE THAT WE AS PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN. pTHA [ APPLAUSE ] -- IT IS IMPORTANT AT A LOCAL LEVEL WE USE OUR VOICES TO STAND UP AND CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE BECAUSE YEARS FROM NOW OUR CHILDREN WILL READ IN THEIR TEXTBOOKS ABOUT THE GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY BEING MADE TODAY. AS MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL ASK IN THIS MOMENT, WHAT ACTIONS DID YOU TAKE? SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM TO STAND ON THE SIDE OF HISTORY THAT FOCUSES ON HUMANITY AND AS LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY LET'S CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE BECAUSE THIS GENOCIDE DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE VALUES AND MORALS OF TEXAS AND DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE VALUES AND MORALS OF THE CITIZENS OF PLANO. SPONSORING A RESOLUTION IN WHICH WE CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PLANO CITY COUNCIL. DOING SO WOULD CREATE A PUSH ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO THE SAME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS MATTER. [ APPLAUSE ] >> IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST MERCIFUL AND MOST COMPASSIONATE, MAY GOD'S PEACE BE ON ALL OF YOU. I AM A PROUD MUSLIM AMERICAN AND LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF PLANO. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE ORGANIZATION COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR, JOHN MUNS, AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. LIKE MANY MUSLIMS ACROSS THE WORLD, THE MUSLIM RESIDENTS OF PLANO ARERIEVINGHE LOSS OF COUNTLESS LIVES IN PALESTINE. ISRAEL HAS KILLED MORE THAN 17,700 IN GAZA. ABOUT 90% OF GAZA'S 2.3 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED WHERE U.N. AGENCIES SAY THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE TO FLEE. THE NUMBERS ARE APPALLING. THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR, AFTER 650 DAYS ALMOST AFTER TWO YEARS RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF 545 CHILDREN, COMPARED TO THE DEATH OF 7,112 CHILDREN IN JUST TWO NTHSN PALESTINE. THE SHEAR DIFFERENCE IN DEATH TOLLS ILLUSTRATE THE INDISCRIMINATE AND BRUTAL ACTION OF A POWERFUL AND WELL-FUNDED OCCUPIER. WE SHOULD NOT AND MUST NOT CONDONE UNJUST KILLING OF EVEN A SINGLE CHILD ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. THE CONFLICT HALF WAY ACROSS THE WORLD HAS EXACERBATED THE RIGHTS OF ISLAMOPHOBIA IN THE LAND. A 16-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN AMERICAN BOY WAS STABBED 26 TIMES TO DEATH IN HIS HOME IN ILLINOIS AND THE COUNCIL ON ISLAMIC RELATIONS HAD 774 BIASED INCIDENTS IN AMERICA. RESPECTED OFFICIALS, I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN. AND AFTER SEEING THE INCESSANT KILLING OF CHILDREN IN GAZA, THEY ASK, WHY AREN'T OUR LEADERS, WHY AREN'T THEY STEPPING FORWARD TO STOP THIS ATROCITY AGAINST A POPULATION WHOSE LANDS HAVE BEEN STOLEN ILLEGALLY? IT IS VERY HARD TO PROVIDE THEM AN ANSWER WHEN OUR COUNTRY AND VETOES UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE. NOW PUSHING AN EMERGENCY SALE OF OVER 100 MILLION WEAPONS TO ISRAEL COMING OUT OF OUR HARD-EARNED TAX DOLLARS. WE LOOK TO OUR LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SET THE RIGHT TONE AT THE TOP. THE TONE OF PEACE AND TOLERANCE, MERCY, AND COMPASSION. SUPPORT CALLS FOR PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND DE-ESLATIF VIOLENCE. WE REQUEST ALL OF YOU TO DISCUSS THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION AND SPONSOR AND ADOPT THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND GOD BLESS. >> Mayor Muns: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU. WE'VE GONE OVER 30 MINUTES, WAY PAST. >> CAN I SPEAK? >> Mayor Muns: NO, WE'RE DONE. >> MY MOM IS A COUNCILMEMBER. >> Mayor Muns: I UNDERSTAND, BUT WE'RE DONE. WE'VE GONE WAY PAST OUR TIME. >> YES, I'LL MAKE THIS VERY SHORT. >> Mayor Muns: NO, I'M SORRY. >> I'M A CHRISTIAN. I'M A FELLOW CHRISTIAN. >> Mayor Muns: I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO STOHERE. [ APAUSE. >> WE GRIEVE WITH YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]. >> Mayor Muns: I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE CAN'T KEEP GOING. >> (OFF MIC). >> Mayor Muns: THIS IS COMMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST. WE HAVE A TIME -- >> I UNDERSTAND. MY MOM IS A COUNCILMEMBER. >> Mayor Muns: I APPRECIATE IT. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE ON, OKAY? >> IUNDERSTAND. >> (OFF MIC). >> Mayor Muns: FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO SPOKE THIS EVENING ON THE ONGOING CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THE PRIORITY OF THE CITY OF PLANO CONTINUES TO BE KEEPING ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS SAFE. >> CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. >> YES, CEASEFIRE! [ APPLAUSE ]. >> CEASEFIRE! >> Mayor Muns: PLEASE, LET ME FINISH. >> (INDISCERNIBLE). >> Mayor Muns: I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU -- >> THEY CRUSHED THE NATIVITY SET AND THREW RUBBLE ON IT. THIS IS 2023 (INDISCERNIBLE) WE'RE CHRISTIANS! >> Mayor Muns: WE'RE IN RECESS. (RECESS) ♪