Everybody vote. I mean, Yeah. I heard. No, that's what I'm saying. Good morning and welcome to the city council. Parker calls the meeting to order. We ask that you please be seated and silence all electronic devices. For those 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. A bell will sound when you have 30 seconds left. Speakers registered on consent items will be taken following the announcement of any items being pulled from the consent agenda. Speakers registered on non-conent items other than public hearings and zoning cases will be taken following council announcements. Speakers will be given three minutes to speak on all items within those blocks that they registered to speak on. Before you begin your comments, please state your name. Thank you. Good morning and welcome to your Fort City Council meeting. As a special guest for mayor for the day, I'm going to introduce you to Roman and let him gavvel us in. Is that sounds okay, Roman? This microphone's yours. Introduce you. Perfect. Hi, I'm Roman. And you just had a 13th birthday. Is that right? Yes. So, happy birthday to Roman. Yeah. Yes. So, you're going to use that. You're going to say, um, call the meeting to order. Uh, go ahead. Order. I call the meeting to order. Call the meeting to order. Great job. You did it. That's great. And I'll turn it back over to Janette. Today's invocation will be provided by Pastor Brian Coulter of First Presbyterian Church. Please rise for the invocation and remain standing for the pledges of allegiance. Uh grace and peace. Good morning. Please join me in a word of prayer. Uh sovereign and mighty God, uh we come before you this morning with gratitude for your presence and for your power. Uh you are good, you are gracious and you are faithful. And we thank you for sustaining us day in and day out. We thank you for creating each one of us in your image and calling us to live in community uh to care for one another and to seek the good of our city. And this morning we give you thanks for the city of Fort Worth, for its people, its neighborhoods, its businesses, its faith communities, its schools, and its public servants. We lift up our elected officials, our mayor, our council members, our mayors for the day, our city leaders. Bless them with wisdom, with compassion, with integrity as they lead. And we thank you for all the residents from every background and every walk of life who work each day to make this city not only great but one that is truly fort worth it. We confess, Lord, that we do not always live up to the calling you've given us. We fall short. We get it wrong uh not once but on repeat. And so we are forever grateful for your grace. Help us to extend that same grace to others. Grace mixed with mercy and added amounts of faith, hope, and love. May we be faithful stewards of your generosity and justice. May we extend kindness to all regardless of difference. May we build bridges of understanding where divisions exist. May we welcome the stranger and care for the vulnerable. May we seek justice for the oppressed and speak for the voiceless. May we work together for peace and foster reconciliation. Lord, we pray for this meeting for every decision made, every word spoken, every heart present. And we ask that your spirit guide us in this way. May we listen carefully. May we lead with humility. And may all that is done here today serve your glory and your purpose. And we pray all this in your holy name. And we love you, Lord. All God's people say, "Amen. United States of America to the stands nation and justice for alliance indivisible. Mayor and council, our first items today will be special presentations and recognitions. The first is presentation by the 2025 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club. Thank you. And gentlemen in plaid, you can join me here at the podium. Uh well, first of all, thank you, mayor, uh members of the council, Mr. City Manager, senior staff, uh mayor for the day, Roman. Uh we uh on behalf of the uh PJ tournament committee at Colonial, we want to formally invite you all to the 2025 Charles Schwab Challenge. Uh our chairman, Mr. Kip Adams will pass out your badges for the tournament. Uh I do want to say mayor a couple of words just so that you know the impact that we're having in your city. Uh this is an amazing tournament. It's the 70th 79th annual event. Um we will during the course of this week generate about $7 million in earned media coverage for the city. Will be viewed in television sets in about 110 different countries all across the world making this one of the best advertisements for our great city anywhere. We also will generate $25 million in economic impact for businesses right here in Fort Worth. And most importantly, we'll generate some $20 million in charity that will go to 33 different local organizations. Uh we have an amazing field this week, as you know. World number one Scotty Sheffller and recently crowned PGA champion Scotty Sheffller will be here. Uh so we're very excited about the field. We're very excited about this week. It's the greatest week uh at Colonial of the year. Um, and we hope to see all of you out there. I see that Miss Beck got the memo on our wardrobe, which we thank her for. Um, we hope to see you all out there and, uh, it's going to be a week that, uh, you won't forget. So, please make every effort to come see us and let us know how we can help you. Thank you all very much. Thank you, Casey, and to the Colonial team. It really is impressive. I was a guest last night and got to be a part of the Ben Hogan Awards ceremony for outstanding collegiate golfers and it was quite a testament not just to their craft but also to how hardworking and how important this tournament is. We were reminded last night this is really impressive 79 years running Colonial Tournament the longest um longest location that stayed in one place for the PGA in the history of the PGA tournament and that what happens here in the city of Fort Worth. So, it's an important part of our community and economic development driver. Each of you have a badge. I think you might have the wrong names on your badge. So, we'll fix that in a second. We'll we'll we'll rotate those in a minute. But I know that council members really do appreciate the personal invitation. So, thank you for being here. Casey want to say, okay, next up, council, I'm going to ask all of you to come down actually because this is a presentation and recognition for military appreciation month and I think all of us would like to be a part of that. We're also joined today by some very special guests. So if you're here on behalf of NASJRB, Tarant County Veterans Council, Air Power Foundation, all of our guests we can welcome down here in the well as well for military appreciation day. And if you'all want to, why don't you all come gather behind me? We'll look at the audience a little easier for them to see your faces. Whereas for well for well over two centuries in times of peace and war, generations of Americans have answered the call of duty, service, and country. Standing under freedom's banner, our veterans have worked tirelessly to preserve the unalienable rights we hold dear, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And whereas Fort Worth's own Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth is home to more than 10,000 active duty guardsmen, reser, and civilian employees who work together every day to ensure the security of our nation. These dedicated men and women play a critical role in supporting the readiness of our military and safeguarding our way of life. And whereas Fort Worth is home to a proud veteran population of more than 40,000 who continue to serve as a vital part of our community and uphold the values that define our country. Their hard work, sacrifice, and teamwork are essential to maintaining the strength and freedom of our nation. Whereas the month of May has been designated to honor and celebrate these brave heroes with their exceptional contributions to our country. I encourage all Americans to join me in offering our deepest appreciation and support to those who have served to those and to those who are currently serving to the families who have made countless sacrifices and especially to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Their legacy of heroism will endure for generations to come. Now therefore, I, Mattie Parker, mayor of Fort Worth, Texas, do hereby recognize and express profound gratitude to the personnel of the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, and all members of the military and community in Fort Worth for their unwaving service and dedication, urging all residents to join me in honoring their commitment and defense and freedom of our nation, and herebying proclaiming May 2025 as military appreciate appreciation month in the city of Fort Worth. Thank you. Hey, good morning everybody. Uh, mayor, council, staff, and our community members. I just want to thank you for inviting us down here. It's our second time here in a couple months. Hopefully, we're not wearing out our welcome. Uh, but, uh, but it's great to be here. Hey, um you know, as we approach Memorial Day, um this is a time where we all take a pause to just remember those that went before us. And as I look around the room, you know, we we've talked a lot about what the city of Fort Worth brings to our installation when it comes to support. And uh and that's been enduring over the years. And so we we thank you uh really the city uh the people of our city for supporting us. I would ask you real quick if you have a um if you have somebody uh in your family um who has served, if you have served, uh if you're a veteran, uh would you raise your hand? That's a large number. Um more that did that didn't. And uh I think that just speaks to the fabric of this city and and your willingness to serve. And u so our our promise to you, you know, those of us that are up here wearing a uniform, we get we get three years, four years maybe max, um here to try to make a difference on the base. Our time is short. Um and and and this is your city. But we we promise to you that we'll um we'll give it all every day and pursue excellence so that we turn it over better than we found it. And ultimately um our job when we wear the uniform is uh that we're stand that we all stand ready to answer when the nation calls. and uh and you can be very confident in the fact that we will do that. So, thank you for your support. [Applause] And for our students in the audience, we'll recognize you in a minute, but I think it's important for you to know we're also very fortunate on the for city council to have one veteran. Council member Elizabeth Beck represents district 9 as a US Army veteran. If Elizabeth, if you could raise up the kiddos, that'd be great. And then we also have a Marine who is a current active duty first sergeant, excuse me, reserve duty, a Marine Corps, um Carly Larsdorf, who represents Council District 4. And so they don't know how to not serve the public, right? That's what they do day in day out. So we're just really thankful for them and appreciative of all of our military veterans and active duty folks that came today. I got to go to the community day last week at NSJRB. It is truly amazing what happens on that base day in day out. We're very for young pianists from May 21st through June 7th, 2025, offering a global stage for emerging artists to compete for career launching prizes and international acclaim. This competition truly is renowned around the world for its commitment to artistic excellence and en role in propelling winners to the forefront of the classical music world. And we're joined today by the president and CEO Jacqu Marque. Please come forward. Thank you. Thank Thank you, Mayor Parker. Thank you. Thank you, counselors, as well. Uh they will have fun with subtitles with my accent there. Um uh let's go back in time. 1958 the cold war between Russia and the US and the Russian decided to create a music competition to show their supremacy. That was their goal. and a young American of 23 years old goes to Moscow to compete in the piano competition and with all Russian jury through the competition wins the competition to the surprise of everybody but he was the best and they had to ask the prime minister of that time Kushnv the permission to give to an American the first prize and they give Clyurn at that time was the most known classical music pianist in the world. He had the ticket tape in Parade in New York a few days after that did the Time magazine the front page and the title was the men who conquer Russia. Therefore, in 1962, leaders here in Fort Worth decided to create the Van Clabber International Piano Competition. It's been almost 65 years. And every four years, think of the Olympics. Every four years, we welcome the best pianist between 18 and 30 years old. You still have time to practice a lot. 30 uh 18 and 30 to come here and compete. And what we do was the vision of Van Clabber first helping young musicians to get to launch careers to organize concert and to go and to play. But Van had a desire profound desire of sharing his music with the world. Today we do that with the clurn with streaming and that you can do. And tomorrow we'll be live here at TCU for the first round and at Bass Hall, but we'll be also streaming the entire competition on webcast. The streaming is we reach in 1920 in 2022 uh a little bit more than 60 million views in 179 countries. I'm not competing with Colonial here. Actually, I think you should go to the golf co tournament and come to the clin after that close by. And we uh we are one of the thing that the most known when you go outside in the world because we have winners everywhere. We're we're happy to share with you and we try in so many ways to get this accessible at the end the two last concert or selcast with in the big screen at sundan square and we are welcome everybody to come and share the love of classical music with us it's free and we have fireworks then we hope to see all you there thank you again for the opportunity and Jacques will be very proud The resolution appropriately says piano town for Fort Worth. Aren't you [Applause] glad? Next is a recognition to Cynica Studios for their contributions to Fort Worth. Good morning. Um, we are joined here, I'm joined here at the podium, uh, by a group of people here, all representing Senica Studios. And so if you've never had the opportunity to wander down Magnolia and watch people playing with molten hot glass, I welcome you to do so because that is the folks here at Cynica. And you can do more than just um watch, but you get to play sometimes. And what I can tell you is that they do a lot for the community, not just by offering fun workshops for us to make Christmas ornaments or or pumpkins, but um you give back in a big way. So we are here today to celebrate them. So without further ado, um whereas Cynica Cynica Studio School of Glass and Gallery founded in 2007 and located in the heart of Fort Worth's near southside arts cultural district stands the only public access glass studio in North Texas and a beacon of creative excellence in Fort Worth's arts ecosystem. And whereas Synica Studios has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the advancements of glass arts through education, community engagement, and artist support, offering hands-on classes, workshops, and outreach programs that make the art of glass accessible to all. And whereas the Glass Art Society, a global organization of artists, designers, and institutions dedicated to the advancement of glass arts, elected North Texas to host region, the host region for its 2025 annual international conference May 14th through the 17th, drawing more than 1,000 glass artists and professionals from over 20 countries. And whereas the theme of the 2025 conference, trailblazing new traditions, reflected the innovation and spirit of community fostered at Sica Studios, whose leadership and advocacy were instrumental in bringing this prestigious international event to Fort Worth. And whereas the city of Fort Worth celebrates the cultural, educational, and economic impact of hosting the 2025 Glass Art Society Conference here in North Texas and recognizes the vital contributions of Synica Studios to elevating Fort Worth as a world-class art destination. Now therefore, the city of Fort Worth hereby recognizes Synica Studios School of Glass and Gallery for its exceptional contribution to the arts community, celebrating its instrumental role in bringing the 2025 Glass Art Society Conference to North Texas. Um, and with that, I will hand it over to Clifton Crawford to say a few words. [Applause] Uh, it's an honor to stand here in this chamber. Thank you all for your support and this recognition means a a lot to us and our group. Um I want to thank the Arts Fort Worth for their advocacy and their continued support. We got our first grant from them way back in 2002 and it's been an honor to elevate glass art in this community. Um I want to thank the Texas Commission on the Arts for their continued support. um the R4 Foundation and L and Carol Green Roads Charitable Trust and so many donors who have helped elevate what we represent. I want to thank these people who are here with me. Um Mike Brennan at the nearest Southside has been a a mentor and an advocate and a a great champion as we've spent the last 15 years um doing what we love and sharing it with the community. I want to thank the Fort Worth ISD for their partnership over the years and what we've done with the schools. Um, glass is all around us. It's it helps us to see. It focuses our vision. It protects us. It is the ultimate container. And for expressionists, it offers an extra dimension. It captures light. It helps us to tell stories. And this and this means a lot to us. So, I want to thank everybody who helped make the the conference a success. We had an incredible week. We had international artists, the best in the world here in Fort Worth. Um, I want to thank the mayor's office and the uh Fort Worth promotion and development fund to help make it possible. Want to thank Visit Fort Worth, District 9 and Elizabeth Beck, and before her Anzeta for their incredible advocacy and support. Um, I'll stop now because I can keep going. But thank you all so much. And I also want to just thank the International Glass Arts Society for selecting us. We all want to be heard. We've been working really hard to do what we love. And for them to recognize and to select this city and to bring that here. [Applause] That's great. Thank you for coming. Next is recognition for water safety month Julian Mitchell or here. Oh, there we are. Okay. Thank you for joining us here today. We have Julian Mitchell from Cook Children's here for water safety month. So, um, thank you for all that you do to make sure that our children stay safe. Um, drowning, um, impacted my family personally. So, um, thank you from the bottom of my heart to everything you do to make sure that we keep our kids safe in the water and that they, um, enjoy their summer fun, uh, but make it back to school. So without further ado, whereas drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury and fatality for children ages 1 through 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury and fatality for children ages 5 through 12 in the US and in Texas. And whereas the average of an average of one Texan per day dies of a fatal drowning injury. And whereas Cook Children promotes childhood injury prevention by uniting diverse groups into local and state coalitions, developing innovative educational tools and strategies, initiating public policy changes, propoting promoting new technology, and raising awareness through the media. And whereas the city of Fort Worth is committed to creating a safe environment, contributing to the safety and well-being of our children and hospitals, state agencies, and community organizations are committed to their crucial role in reducing drowning related injuries and deaths by promoting safe practices in, on, and around water. And whereas National Water Safety Month raises awareness and promotes efforts to reduce injuries among children, the city of Fort Worth commends Cook Children's and all involved in their endeavor to protect children from drowning related injuries. Now therefore, the city of Fort Worth does hereby proclaim May Water Safety Month. And I will turn it over to you for some remarks and then we'll get a picture. Good morning. Thank you so much for uh having us here. Thank you so much for the recognition. Um, Cook Children's has been working hard on prevention efforts for many years. Uh, back in 2014, we realized that too many children were coming into the emergency department for unintentional injuries and wanted to do something about that. So, Lifeguard Your Child was born. Um, we've been working hard to grow that with partnerships in our community for many years now and it has become quite large. We're very proud of that. We have over 50 laner life jacket stations all through the metroplex at local uh rivers and lakes and reservoirs. Um and we work with partners to educate families and professionals to prevent this from happening to anyone else. So, thank you so much very much uh Councilwoman for the time and for the recognition and stay safe this summer. Watch your children always around the water. Thank you. [Applause] Next is items to be withdrawn from the consent agenda. We have one item to be withdrawn. MNC25-0468 will be withdrawn and moved to the June 10th council agenda for consideration. Next is items to be continued or withdrawn by staff. We have no items. Next is consent agenda speakers and we have three. Mayor, thank you. And before I call on the speakers, I want to recognize our schools and students that are here today. Uh, I know we have Treetop International School. Treetop kiddos, you want to wave? Hi. Good to see you all. Y'all aren't excited about summer, are you? No, never. And then we're also represented um by Boswell High School today. Where are Boswell gentlemen? There they are. Looking good, Sharp Boys. Thank you very much for being here. We appreciate it. Um, and we're also here with OD Wyatt, but we'll recognize them in a minute for our agenda item. Okay, with that, we'll go to consent agenda speakers. Our first is Chris Wood, followed by Adrien Smith. Hi, I'm Chris Wood from District 9. I support the acceptance of $10,000 from Texas Health Community Hope for nutritious healthy snacks during summer camps at 21 Fort Worth community centers. Encouraging children to develop a positive relationship with food early on is crucial for lifelong healthy eating. A recent study estimates that one in five teens struggle with disordered eating behaviors. This includes intentional vomiting, caloric restriction, binge eating, over exercise, the use of weight loss supplements, and misuse of laxatives or diuretics. The traditional stereotype is that mainly thin, white, affluent females develop eating disorders. However, research research demonstrates these conditions can arise with anyone regardless of age, race, body size, gender identity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Also, contrary to popular assumptions, studies show teen boys are at risk for eating disordered behaviors just like teen girls. Male eating disordered behavior often goes undetected, usually disguised as a desire to become more muscular. However, eating disordered habits are just as dangerous for boys as they are for girls. Personally, food choices were wide open where I attended high school. Lunch, usually French fries, followed by as many sweets as we wanted. Afternoon snacks were peanut butter washed down with a Coke. People were cruel about my subsequent weight gain, so I doubled down. I tried to eat less, but this pressure to lose weight just created an unhealthy cycle of binge purge behaviors that unfortunately still creeps up on me today. I believe the availability of healthier food choices when I was young would have led to better food choices then and would have resulted in the development of improved lifelong habits. Children learn what they like and dislike based on what they are exposed to. This influences their food choices as they get older. So, this grant will positively influence kids to develop lifelong eating habits that are healthy and steer them away from eating disordered behavior. Thank you. Next speaker is Adrienne Smith followed by Jack Barkley. Adrian here. Jack Barkley. Good morning, Mayor Council. Thank you for having me here. Uh, special thank you to Mayor Parker for all of your support in the film industry here in Fort Worth and everything that we have going on with Hillwood in North Fort Worth. So, I'm Jack Barkley with Hillwood Properties. Um, we 27,000 acre master plan and developer of that project in North Fort Worth that most of you are familiar with. That project is now home to 590 companies, 66,000 jobs, and generated over $130 billion of economic impact. It's about 10.2 billion in 2024 alone. And now specifically for this project moving into the film industry, we really see that as a growth segment, an industry that is not so welldeveloped here in Fort Worth. And we think that uh this MPDZ program really allows uh for the facilities to support this industry for the long term to be built here in Fort Worth. Um the Fort Worth area alone uh according to the Fort Worth Film Commission generated $700 million in economic impact and it's created 30,000 local jobs. with the natural economic and workforce advantages that we already have here in Fort Worth today, plus these types of incentives, uh it allows the city of Fort Worth to continue to attract uh high quality jobs in the film industry. Uh over the 30-year history in Alliance, we've really partnered with Ter County College to pursue certain workforce development programs for industries that are new to this market, that are underserved uh from the community because these types of employee employers don't necessarily exist here. Um, so we've trained workforce workers in aviation and power plant mechanics to locomotive development. Um, and Taran County College has already started aggressively training this type of workforce for the film industry. Uh, in less than a year, Taran County College produced 30 graduates from the Fort Worth film collaborative certificate program and there are now 200 students enrolled in that program today. So, this project is at uh Alliance Center East number two, 2601 Spirit Drive in North Fort Worth. This is the second half of the first phase that we approved, I believe, early this year, maybe at the very end of last year, which would then total 450,000 square feet, which as far as we know, that makes this the largest media production facility under one roof in the state of Texas. Um and so as referenced just to give some numbers to this in the recent hearing at the state uh 1923 Taylor Sheridan production had about,00 different crew members and a little over a thousand of those were Texans. Um so this helps promote a long-term home for these types of jobs in the city of Fort Worth. Thank you. Thank you Jack. Council, that's the conclusion of our consent agenda speakers. I can entertain a motion on the consent agenda. Got a motion and a second. Council, any other discussion? If not, please vote. Motion carries. Next is announcements by city council members. Thank you. Starting with Council Member Flores. Thank you, Mayor. Can we get the slides up please? Okay, first slide. Uh we're enjoying a wonderful evening there with family, friends, and supporters of All Saints Catholic School at Jot Garcia. They've been a constant supporter and that marked this year the 29th uh Father Steven Hasso tuition assistance banquet which ensures uh needy students have access to a private Catholic school education. My honor to be a sponsor there. Uh on the bottom slide you will see that I joined uh Lieutenant Consley who is retiring and superintendent Karen Molinar uh for for Worth ISD's uh junior ROC awards and pass in review. Uh they do that they're very proud of presenting themselves. So we're very equally proud of these students put themselves out there and endeavor to excel in excellence. So thank you for doing that. Next slide please. CPW doesn't often get the attention and recognition they deserve, but I wholeheartedly give them my thanks for making a project that we started working on about 3 years back that finally came to fruition there at Basswood Boulevard and Old Santa Fe Trail. Complex intersection had a lot of challenges, a lot of accidents there. Uh we finally got the money even despite COVID uh having the effect of raising construction costs. We did that with the uh uh cooperation of the CMO office and everyone on board. So that project finally came. There were pedestrian improvements as well as and including some drainage improvements. So thanks again to DPW staff and appreciate the involvement of the local community. On the bottom half there I joined the Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for the grand opening ribbon cutting for the new double tree by Hilton there off Meechum Boulevard. So we're also welcoming and supporting our local businesses. Next slide please. All right. Often like having the time to visit, you know, with our cherished seniors at our senior centers and uh for the occasion of Mother's Day, I stopped in uh gave them some flowers and uh just spread a little love and appreciation to them. And uh also I want to note that our community center staff is really excelling in providing them with great programming and also wonderful fellowship and friendship. All right. on the bottom. Uh our colleague Michael Crane joined us at the monthly luak chiso menudo which is there held in north side at leon restaurant. So he gave uh some remarks on topics that are affecting all of us on council including other speakers from Fort Worth ISD etc. And I gave some announcements as well. I think that's the last slide I have. Thank you Carlos. Oh, wait a minute. There is a force slide. Sorry. I think I lied. Oh, anyways, real quickly, joined UTA table for the Greater Arlington Chambers third uh annual state of higher education. And I wanted to congratulate our first responders who will now join our ranks under the fire department and make us a wonderfully integrated EMS team. Now, that's all I have. Thank you, Carlos. I'm kind of flying blind, but I think Council Member Beck is maybe up next. Okay. Uh, next slide. So, um, it's always a fun day. If you've never attended the Fairmount Mother's Day weekend home tour, it's kicked off by a parade. It's really great way to, um, view some history in your city. Next slide. Speaking of, um, if you head down fifth, the first house off of Magnolia now has a historic marker dedication um, listing its, uh, original owner's contributions to the community. So, and while you're taking that stroll to Saka, head on down and um and check out this new historical marker. Next slide. Okay. Tomorrow, tomorrow, um Wednesday, May 21st, uh Sundance Square along with our Fort Worth Fire Department is hosting a hands um a handsonly CPR training at uh 11:00 a.m. So, don't miss out. Next slide. All right. Carry the load. May 24th, 10 a.m. we will start um at the TCU stadium and we will walk to the um police and fire memorial um on West 7th. So, if you haven't already signed up, please do so. Next slide. Wedgewood Garden Club is having their annual garden tour June 1st from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. It's a self-guided tour and it starts at 3524 Wley if you are interested in joining that. Next slide. June 3rd, for all of the women veterans out there, there will be a Women's Veteran Day lunchon um held at 2300 Circle Drive if you are interested in joining. And then finally, last but not least, Movies That Mattered uh coming up June 5th. Cooked is our next um item and or I'm sorry, next movie. And I'd also like to take a moment to uh welcome District 9's newest intern, uh Nicholas Romero, who comes to us from uh the University of New Mexico. So, welcome aboard. Good luck. And I don't know who else has announcements next. Councilor Martinez. Okay, next slide, please. Sorry, this is kind of behind. Um, on May 5th, I had the opportunity to participate in the CodeBlue charity golf tournament. We had a great time. We won. No, I'm just I'm not I'm just playing. We didn't win, but I had so much fun. They had a really great event and raising money for their annual awards lunchon. Next slide, please. Uh congratulations to Eugene McCrae. They had a beautiful event for Mother's Day. We were able to sponsor a few tickets and some raffle items. So, congrats uh Eugene McCrae for um and thank you for celebrating our wonderful mothers. Next slide. Uh, congrats to the many uh, Meta Meta 2025 data center community action awardees. Special shout out to Champ and Steam, both east side um, nonprofit organizations. Next slide. And on May 3rd, uh, the city of Fort Worth had a community block party for the Fair Haven Neighborhood Improvement Program. Um, and so it was really great to have the uh neighborhood come out and talk to staff and meet staff and talk about the improvements that they'd like to see with those NIP dollars. Next slide. Please uh join us for World Environment Day, June 5th. Um, that is a Thursday morning. It's going to be 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sing by on your way to work for those that you know the kids are off for summer. So, uh, come by, dispose of some household hazardous waste, drop off some old electronics for recycling or bring your sensitive documentation for shredding. Um, all that will be on site and we'll have some of the uh, city of Fort Worth departments there, code, environmental, and neighborhood services, several others. Uh, and free coffee and sweet bread. So, take advantage, get some breakfast, drop off some stuff. Next slide. some upcoming uh things in the district and throughout the city of Fort Worth. Of course, summer day camp, Camp Fort Worth is coming up. So, if you need uh some camp options for your children, those are usually available at each community center throughout the city. And um Victory Forest is having their spring sidewalk sale on May 31st. And that's off. Thank you. Thank you, Janette. I believe that's the conclusion of our presentations by council members, but if I missed anybody, I'm sorry. Council member, did you have one? Next is speakers on the non-conent. Just a second. I think council member Peoples had one. Okay. Thank you. I did. I'm gonna have to up my game because the other council people just put me to shame. But I wanted to tell you that on day five of my uh first uh week as a council member. I got to attend the graduation for the Save Our Children Learning Center. It was there were four and five year olds that were graduating from prek to kindergarten. And I don't have a picture because I don't take pictures of children. So all I got were the backs of their little heads in their mortar boards. But it was absolutely amazing. So I promise next time I'll have better pictures. And then on May the 31st, we talk about economic development. We're going to have the ribbon cutting for the True Care Funeral Services at 2312 East Loop 820. And so I'm excited to see that and I promise next time Selena and I will have great visuals. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Peoples. That's a conclusion of our presentations by council members. Next is speakers on the non-consent items. Yes, ma'am. I'll start us off. Our first speaker is Andrea West who will be then followed by EJ Kerrion. It's Miss West here. Hi. How are you? Hi, Mayor and Council. Thank you for having me. Um, my name is Andrea West and I am a resident of Fort Worth District 6, precinct one of Taran County. I come before you today to express my support for CP 333 to adopt a resolution opposing Taran County Commissioner's Court redistricting process. In a representative republic, there is to be fair representation of the population. Fair representation is based upon the premise that there is equitable proportioning of the population in this case within the precincts within which includes prohibiting racial discrimination in compliance with the voting rights act. The redistricting process that the Taran County Commissioner's Court has chosen to undertake goes directly against the fundamental principles of a representative republic. This entire process ignores fair representation is and is designed to give the few majority a say over the many. Therefore, minimizing the role of the majority minority citizens in the governing process. As a city who has completed a redistricting process within the last 5 years, you know what a transparent and inclusive process looks like. This isn't it. Since I moved to the Fort Worth over nine years ago, I've known the people of this city of now 1 million people to be change makers and barrier breakers. From the infamous Opouli to the people of this city electing its first millennial mayor, the first Latina council member for my district, District 6, the first Africanamean to represent District 6. We truly do set the standard. Additionally, I am a witness to this council being no stranger to standing in solidarity with their constituents. Whether it be standing with parents and students in opposing a proposed school district split, um advocating for reszoning in areas that have historically been subjected to environmental harms or standing with the families of victims of gun violence. I am asking you to do the same here today. You all are our leaders. I ask you as leaders of the 11th largest city in America, the largest city in Taran County to stand with those who have elected you and oppose Taran County Commissioner's Court redistricting process as it lacks transparency, inclusiveness, and is a complete waste of taxpayer dollars which will impact city progress. put party officials party affiliations aside, stand with the people and be on the right side of history. Thank you. Our next speaker is EJ Kerrion, followed by an Zeta. Is EJ available to speak? Former council member Anne Zeta and will be followed by Daryl Davis. And it's good to see you. Thanks for being here. This is very fancy digs you all have here. Uh, thank you for the opportunity. I'm here to speak on CP 333, a council proposal to adopt a resolution opposing Tarant County's commissioner's court's redistricting process. I am an Zeta and I am here as an individual with an unique perspective of having been a council representative in Fort Worth from 2014 to 2021. I wanted to thank the council members who have brought this council proposal for a resolution opposing Tarant County's proposal for midsensus redistricting effort. Thank you to council members Nettles, Beck, Martinez, Williams, and Flores. I also want to encourage all of you to join in supporting this resolution today. I have spoken at the commissioner's court, bringing my unique lens to having been in elected office when the city's redistricting effort began and when the charter amendment election occurred that added two council districts was proposed and approved in 2016 to when the redistricting process began after the 2020 census. when I although I was not in office at the conclusion of that effort as many of you got to suffer through that I was well aware of the robust effort that went into the process including public input opportunities mapping tools available to the public to submit their own maps a decidedly not rushed process a and a thorough and transparent and inclusive and open process while the county has not done that and it is what they have done is a complete embarrassment their rushed process dictates to all of us having to rush a bit but It's not hard to find reasons to oppose this. I have personally attended two of the four, the final one is tomorrow, public meetings where the constit the consultants hired or no-shows or stood mute. Only one of those meetings provided any type of presentation by redistricting experts and those were not the consultants hired by the county. Overwhelmingly, in all of these spaces, the participants are in opposition, outnumbering those in favor by huge margins. And this is in the face of a rushed, not transparent process with most of the education and outreach occurring by concerned citizens, not the professionals who have been hired to be in charge of this process. The very representatives who are supporting this have also not been in attendance at many of these meetings. I commend all of you for the research that you have brought to light of many of the consequences that will result in this illconceived effort that is being that will be negatively impactful to the residents of Fort Worth. And while I totally understand that you do not have control of the county choosing to do this, I believe that it is important to be on record in opposition of this proposal as it harms your shared constituents. Thank you for your service and I again ask all of you to support this resolution today. Thank you. Our next speaker is Daryl Davis followed by Carol Peters. Good morning, mayor and council. My name is Daryl Davis. I am a resident of District 6. I'm a li lifelong resident of the city of Fort Worth, and I fully support the resolution opposing Taran County's unjust, unfair, and unnecessary redistricting process. Given the urgency of the commissioner's court's upcoming vote on June 3rd, I also support suspending the rules to ensure this resolution can be heard and acted on today. Fort Worth residents deserve the opportunity to speak through their council before it's too late. Let me be clear. If this council refuses to suspend the rules or votes against this resolution, it will be choosing not to stand with the people of Fort Worth in defense of fair and just representation. Since this rule was established, the council has approved waving it every single time. There is no precedent for denial. A vote to block this resolution today is in effect a vote to silence the communities across our city who deserve for their voices to be heard. Taran County already completed redistricting for this decade in 2021. Yet for political reasons, the Republican majority on the commissioner's court is imposing an unnecessary and undemocratic process on us all fueled by misinformation and a desire to consolidate power at the expense of people. This process has lacked transparency, community input, and frankly fairness. It reflects the priorities of political insiders, not the people most impacted by these maps, including the residents of District 6 and most importantly, the historic community of Lake Ko, Texas. Our communities, especially communities of color, deserve to be heard and not sidelined. I urge this council to stand on the side of democracy, justice, and just good governance. Let this resolution be a clear and a powerful statement that Fort Worth stands for fair representation and rejects any process that seeks to divide and diminish our communities. I leave you with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The time is always right to do what is right. [Applause] Our next speaker is Carol Peters followed by Gerilyn Jackie Cox. Miss Peters. Good morning, Mayor and Council. My name is Carol Peters. I live in Tarant County's precinct 1 in district 11. I support the resolution before you today on the Tarant County redistricting plan now being rushed through the commissioner's court. The city council resolution correctly highlights how disruptive and expensive this change could be. Precinct one has more roads and bridges than any other precinct. Under every alternative map, all those roads and bridges would move to another area. A huge shift on infrastructure responsibility. I have attended every public meeting so far and there is little public support for this fasttracked and frankly targeted plan. Minority voters have been packed into a single district or diluted by heavily angled districts, creating maps tilted toward a predetermined outcome. As a reminder, city council took over a year to work through data, select a task force, study and revise maps, accept extensive public public comment before making decisions on district uh reorganization. Tarant County did a redistricting review in 2021 after the 2020 census. The nonpartisan firm the court hired found only minor shifts in population and recommended no changes in boundaries. The same data is being used to justify massive changes in precinct composition five years later. No evidence exists to justify this snap redistricting plan. At least none has been shown to voters who ask for explanations from commissioners who unilaterally designed five new maps based on their own preferences. These maps will be challenged and taxpayers be on the hook for costs. It's wasteful, unnecessary and discriminatory. Mayor Ross stood up for his city. Please stand up for ours. Pass this resolution. Thank you. Our next speaker is Jackie Cox followed by Adrienne Smith available for this presentation. I think they have them ready. There we go. Thank you. As you see above, the first map is how the current county commissioner's court is currently aortioned. And you will see that there's a s a piece that looks like what some people describe as the hook. It starts in the southwest corner and it rolls up and across the area below that which is precinct two. Precinct one is the hook. Precinct two is Arlington and Mansfield and part of Grand Prairie. Uh and four is Commissioner Ramirez's precinct and three is Matt Krauss's precinct. And could we please Okay, we're now looking once again at the hook. It's in the left side. The the map on the left side is the current map. This is the map that was drawn by ter by this really it was drawn using data that was created in 2021 by the firm Heath. I've actually heath presented it. Heath uh it's census data. It's the most accurate currently available representation of the ethnic makeup of Tarant County. And the green slide represents the black voting age population. You will note that it is heavily concentrated in precinct one, but there is also a concentration in precinct two, which is sufficiently large to us for us to now have black representation on uh both on the currently constructed commissioner's court. We have a black representative Miles Rodrik Miles for precinct one. And for precinct two, we have Alyssa Simmons from Arlington. Arlington is the target here. Arlington is the part that gets dismembered. If you look at the map on this onto the right called the PIL map, that's the acronym for the law firm who were hired out of Washington DC to draw this map. And all of the black, not all of the black, but many of the black representatives of district 2 are carved out and packed into district one. And all of a sudden, District 1 is a semicircle. Anyway, it's it has a very unfortunate racial impact. It was rushed and it's not good for our county. I appreciate Chris Nettles for bringing it this resolution. Thank you. Our next speaker is Adrienne Smith. Is Mr. Smith here? No. Um Jod Gonzalez. This Gonzalez here? No. Kate Forwood. Is Kate here? No. Council, that's the conclusion of our non-consent agenda speakers. Next is council proposal CP-332. Um, this is a waiver of site reservation fees and festival equipment rental fees for Glenrest Civic Lead board member space um in council member Nettle's district at his request. Um, council, as a reminder, first we need to um vote to suspend the rules to take up CP 332. Um, so we'll take that vote and then the next vote would be to vote on CP 332. I can entertain a motion. Yes. I move to suspend the rules uh on the CP to uh vote on this item today. Second. A motion and a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Now move for approval for this CP 332. Second. A motion and a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next council, we have CP 333, which is a council proposal to adopt a resolution opposing Tarant County Commissioner's Court redistricting process. And again, we have to wave the rules, suspend the rules to vote on CP 333 today. Um, once we've done so, we can complete another vote. Can entertain a motion? Yes. I make a motion to suspend the council rules of procedure session session 5.21 to allow this council proposal to be voted on at this meeting. Got a motion. Second. Motion and a second. Council, please vote. Okay. I'm sorry about that. I um have comments um just on this before we make our vote. Um you know uh this resolution today um um is really important that we suspend our rules. Um especially given the time sensitity of Taran County's vote. Um and I think it's really important um that we do so. Um, I want to be clear that this vote is about whether Fort Worth will speak up for its residents or um whether or not it'll remain silent while county level decisions impact the voices of our residents. Um, as I was thinking about um what to say, I was reminded of um one of my favorite scriptures, Proverbs 31:8 says, "Speak out for those who cannot speak for the rights of all the destitute." Um and I believe that um as a council member I have been um very clear and very consistent about the importance of ensuring that um the voices of all of our residents are heard um irrespective to what decision we make um and that our voices of our neighbors are critical for decisions we make both large and small. Um I also want to be clear that Taran County has already completed redistricting in 2021. Um, a Republican le commissioner's court hired a law firm, reviewed the 2020 census data, examined population growth, and voted uh to keep the existing maps. That wasn't inaction. That was a clear and deliberate act. That's the truth. And there's no rewriting of that narrative, and no rewriting can change it. Um, when the city of Fort Worth redistricted, we did it right. Um, we took our time. It was quite a few months, if not years, that we went through that process. I mean, we welcomed community input every step of the way. Um, residents weren't just allowed to give comment. They weren't just allowed to attend hearings. We gave access to the data and to the map software for residents to not only draw their maps, but to submit them. And the horseshoe map um which elected our first Latina ever, Councilwoman Janette Martinez, which has been an honor to serve with you, um was a map, a product of a map submitted by a resident. Um real democracy in progress and in process. Um communities of interest also had a seat at the table. Uh the process centered people, not politics. Many neighborhoods, including neighborhood leaders that are in this room, um like Daryl Davis, were involved in the in the process. um and ensured that all communities of interest had a voice and ultimately that the map that we adopted um overwhelmingly honored community of interest preference on which district they would like to be represented by including the historic Lake Ko um which I'm proud to represent and I'm proud to be um I believe if the record um reflects that I'm the first African-American to ever represent uh the historic Lake Ko uh community on the city council. Um so what's happening at the county is exactly opposite of what Fort Worth does best and that's putting people first. Um um it this process was rushed by the county. It lacked transparency um and ultimately it left the public out. Um even with the public hearings, the law firm who was responsible for drawing these egregious maps um was too scared to even come into the community center at KOMO because they feared their life. And I said I told them KO is perfectly safe, but I guess if you're from DC and you're only here in Fort Worth for partisan politics, it doesn't really matter. Maps um in this process were created quickly by outsiders with no real space or no real concern about local neighbors or communities or neighborhoods to be heard or involved. This kind of process is not just flawed, it's dangerous to our democracy. This democracy was built on representation and right now I feel like I'm being taxed overt taxed without due representation and this map will certainly do that. Um because uh if people don't trust how their representation is shaped then ultimately we're eroding faith and trust in our very institution called democracy. This isn't just a county issue. This is damn well a Fort Worth issue. Fororth is the largest city in Taran County and we owe it as the big sister in this county to speak up when injustice occurs, no matter whether it's convenient, expedient, or whether special interests or millionaires uh disagreed whether we should or not. If the city doesn't speak now, when will their voices be heard? If the city doesn't speak now, will we cut our residents out of the process? This isn't about partisansship. This is about principle. This is about morality. This is about ethics. This is about good governance. This is about good, fair government. And it's it's incumbent upon us as a city council to speak up and to make sure that government indeed works for the people. This is about truth. This is about transparency. This is about standing up for the people we represent. Even when they're bullied, we have a right to stand up. Voting to wave the rules today is about giving Fort Worth a voice in the process and this uh vote will certainly shape the future of our city. We owe it to our residents to act with integrity and to make sure that they are not left out of decisions that define their representation. This is indeed a defining moment, my friends. Um I hope you vote wisely. Additional discussion. Councilor Larsdorf. Yeah. Um, thank you, Mayor. A couple things I've heard so far is uh communities around the city, which I'm sure there there certainly are. I have yet to hear anything from District 4. Um, however, I do agree there's a yet another issue with process, and we seem to talk about that as a body quite a bit. Um, and right now, my my issue isn't necessarily with the process with Tarant County, it's actually with this own body. Um on Friday whenever we got the word of this council proposal uh which key word there being council proposal not individual proposal um is interesting. I was like all right well I'm I'm sure I'll I'll get a phone call or an email explaining how it's affecting their particular districts and and how I can be of assistance in that. Um however that that that never came which I find interesting. We say it's nonpartisan yet you look at this proposal it definitely quite is. Um, and I'm glad Miss West brought up Keller ISD, uh, because that's a great point. Absolutely. Vocal um, uh, was vocally against that from from day one. And the two individuals who actually came up with that brainbird idea were two staunch conservative Republicans. I had no problem with standing toe-to-toe and them telling them their idea was absolutely idiotic and it was dumb and was going to have a direct impact on 95% of the district that represented me. So, of course, I was going to speak up for them. Um, admittedly, I've been uh recently I've been too concerned about Miss Hayuso's sidewalks uh sidewalk issues she's had because of a street repair that went went arry. I've been concerned about Egrets and Park Glenn and the damage they're causing and how we can get additional federal permits because we ran out of permits. So, right now those birds are taking up a home there. I've been worried about Fossil Creek HOA and some of the damage I was done to the property after some storm water uh repairs and trying to get everything uh taken care of there. And that's been a two-year battle. And of course, I've been concerned with a lot of bond research and figuring out how I can make sure District 4 is um gets its share of its need in the in the bond. To that end, been driving just about every street in District 4 to figure out what streets need the most repair. All this, what's the point of all this? I've been focused on the things that have a direct impact on District 4. Now, you won't hear about any of that in the news. I assure you, because none of it is sexy. Absolutely. And none of I guarantee you no one else on council, and rightfully so, is going to be concerned about those issues either. However, I was repres I was elected to represent the members of or the residents of district 4. So, that's where my focus has been. Not on a council proposal that quite frankly at the end of the day is not going to have an impact on what Tarant County decides to do or what not to do. Um, I do hope that whatever they decide to do is is for the right reasons and they make the right calls. Um, however, to to ask for council uh to to wave a rule and a council to come up with this proposal without even involving all of council, quite frankly, I'm a little disappointed in that process. And so, to my colleagues, I just ask in future if there's something that's going to have a direct impact on your district and the residents of your district that we might not see in ours. Have the conversation. I'm sure uh everyone's been able to get a hold of me whenever they needed to. Uh, just have that conversation. That's all I ask. Council member Flores, followed by Council Member Peoples. I appreciate the prior comments, but my fellow council members, and I do agree that process is something that is more than just a guidance for us, but it should be a principle that we follow as a council. Regards to this CP, my opinions are as follows. The count the county's mid decade redistricting plan is unprecedented in the history of Taran County. Just five years ago, as we talked about and was mentioned by our speakers, under county judge Glint Whitley, the commissioner's court uh voted to approve the existing county commissioner precinct maps and the court then had a 3-2 Republican majority at that time. I oppose this mid decade redistricting as it is not based on the most current US census data and runs counter to redistricting principles that we all abide by in our rapidly growing and diversifying areas. Offcycle redistricting could have two impacts lead to unfair representation and undermine the principle of equal political power for all residents and citizens. Redistricting is a political process. I think we all realize that. But it's also legally tied to the US census to ensure districts and precincts reflect accurate population data. Deviating from this schedule sets a bad precedence of redrawing lines based on political convenience instead of population accuracy and fairness. The city of Arlington and some souththeast Tarant County city cities right now are questioning the legality of the county's mid decade redistricting. Mayor Ross would share their legal analysis with our mayor and the city of Fort Worth legal team. Until that time, redistricting under this plan, it is my opinion, essentially dilutes the vote of diverse communities, hacking most diverse folks into precinct one and cracking precinct 2. Darren County would ultimately decide how to proceed. If enacted, this litigation, I think if enacted, litigation under the Voting Rights Act will likely occur for dilution of the vote of protected communities. And those are my comments. Council member Peoples, followed by Council Martinez. So, as the newest member of this August body, I just went through a session with our uh city manager, our city attorney, our city secretary, our city auditor, and they explained to me that the council proposal only requires four signatures. And so if there is anybody who is offended that they did not get contacted, I believe that the uh that the whole um effort was to get the four signatures. So for anybody who feels left out of the process, I just happened to be in the office on 3:00 on a Friday and was there uh to be able to discuss it. But I think what we're asking today is about suspending the rules so that we can vote on this process. And I think it's important that we understand that we just voted on CP32 to suspend the rules. And so this is something we have always done. My understanding is when I went back and researched it, we have always voted to suspend the rules. I think it's important that we look when we talk about prior actions that we try to remain consistent. And the other thing I'd say when I looked at the faces of our amazing young visitors today, I see resilience. I see intelligence. I see creativity. But most important, I see promise. I see the next generation of leaders that are going to lead this amazing, extraordinary city. And I know that the decisions we make today will affect them, each and every one of them. And I am asking that we all join together as citizens of Fort Worth to send a message that we care about each and every resident and we care about each and every student sitting in this chamber today. Thank you, [Applause] Council Mayor Martinez, followed by Council Member Beck. Thank you, mayor. Well, as you can see, a lot of us have several of us have different opinions and u that comes from a different perspective, each of our own perspectives. So, here's mine. While I'm not necessarily against the process of mid decade redistricting, I am opposed uh to a process that is rushed, not transparent, and one that could impact vital infrastructure improvements that are in various stages of planned construction. How can we trust a legal firm that refuses to answer questions, that refuses to address the public, that refuses to attend public meetings? The public has no access to software to design to design their own maps. Believe me when I tell you this is a move of self-interest, one that is targeted and one that merits ramifications. Council member Beck. Thank you, Mayor. The majority of us here on this dis went through the very very painful process of redistricting uh for this city. It was not easy. It was wrought with Okay, are we back on uh amongst us here on this dis and the community? Uh but it's a process that I can say that I'm proud to be part of. Not only did it produce maps that um are reflective of our community, but it produced maps that allowed this dis to be reflective of the community of Fort Worth. Um, and you see that by the great diversity on this council. And I don't just mean um uh in our our color, but in our socioeconomic backgrounds and our experiences here on council. We have a wealth of diversity. And that is because we had welldrawn, wellthoughtout maps that produced um some great leaders that sit on on this dis today with me. We don't see that with the county's process. It's certainly not one that they should be proud of. And then they will tell you that it is a blatant partisan um grab. In fact, they have been very vocal about it. Commissioner Ramirez uh blatantly said in his op-ed to the Star Telegram that it was to keep Tarant County conservative. And while we know partisan gerrymandering is legal, the question begs, is this really what we're doing? Is that really the right thing to do for the residents of Taran County? And the answer is no. By diluting voices of our brown, black, and Asian community, our county commissioners are not producing maps that will produce leaders that are reflective of the people here in Tarant County. Now, some will ask, what does this resolution do today? It's not binding on our um our county government, and it's not. But it sends a clear message the same way that we stood with our gold ribbons on our chest that um council member uh Bllelock proudly gave to us that we stand with Keller ISD. Was was our stance binding on them? No. But it sent a message that the leaders of the city of Fort Worth stood for what was right. And today what we're doing is sending a message to Taran County and those people that would seek to silence voices um what is right. And so I would ask all of my colleagues here today uh regardless of if your specific district is directly impacted to understand the enormous impact that this particular redistricting has on all residents across the city. And today we're leaders for not just um district 2 or district four or six or eight um or or district 9, but we're leaders for all of the city of Fort Worth. Thank you. [Applause] believe that's the conclusion of our discussion among council members. Council member Nettles, go ahead. Sorry. Okay. Um, thank you, mayor. And I want to kind of talk through the process and I'm glad that um, uh, Council Member Lord brought it up. uh one of the process for the process for CPS placed on the agenda is that prior to two years ago two council members can come together and put a CP on the agenda to discuss something on the dis prior to that if you don't have a CP is our city manager and our uh mayor who sits and sets the agenda uh for projects to come to the city of Fort Worth and that's how we have done it in the city of Fort Worth and so we have a CP process means council proposal Um and council proposed me a council member proposal to go to the board of directors for the city council. And so here recently uh in the last two years uh Councilman Mccraine uh wanted to change that policy and add four signatures cuz he felt that if though if four people on this council agree together then maybe it's something that we all should talk about. And so we went from two members signing a a council proposal to four members signing a council proposal. And some of us did not agree, but the majority of the council agreed to do it. So here we are with four and this count this county has been pushing this redistricing and the city of Fort Worth have been monitoring and have been watching and early Friday morning I received numerous of calls. Councilman Nettles, what can the city of Fort Worth do to show their support to the residents of Taran County and the residents of the city of Fort Worth? Seeing Mayor Jim Ross come out uh openly and say he condemned the fact the redistricting happened in Taran County because it would directly affect the residents of Orlean. Seeing Mansfield, Michael Evans talk about how it's going to affect his city. received calls from Everman City as well as Forest Hill City. I got on the phone, I started calling to see how can we do and I would tell you one of the first phone calls I called uh the individual said, "I hate to put this pressure on our city staff to come up with a proposal at the last minute." And I said that we have to do something. And so first I want to take the opportunity to thank Leanne for taking opportunity to help put together this proposal and city staff at the very last minute to order to get it on the agenda. Why did we do this today? Next week this council has voted that we do not have meetings after holiday. So we won't meet next Tuesday. The next meeting we have is June 3rd. It is a work session meaning it is not a voting council meeting. That is the same day that the Taran County Commission's Court would take a vote to uh on redistricing. And so it is important for us as a city body to send a letter, send a proposal prior to that vote. And that is the single reason why this uh resolution is on the DAS for today. Secondarily to that, knowing that we only need four signatures, trying to navigate calling different individuals You will see on the CP that some who agree with the CP wasn't able to get on the CP because of the time stretch to have it done by five. Others I didn't have opportunity to call. I did have opportunity to call um Councilman Michael Crane. So I will say publicly to Councilman Laura, I apologize for not giving you a call uh about the CP uh prior to it hitting the agenda. What I did do is I spoke with Lyn. I say, uh, city attorney, I want to make sure that this CP is not partisan. I want to make sure that we talk about things that directly affect the city of Fort Worth residents. To me, it's not about red uh neighborhoods or blue neighborhoods. It's about projects and infrastructure that's going to take place. And for district 8 specifically, we'll be hit hard. We have several projects that we have partnered with Taran County with major roadways that widen the roadways and deal with uh flooding in our far south uh district. And those two streets that we have partnered with different cities and the county as well as the city of Forward and Cobb. Those streets will be moved out of one precinct into another precinct. And with the county, they have each commissioner has an opportunity to control their budget, which streets they're going to fund and which streets they're not going to fund. And we have seen historically with this new commissioner court that they have killed projects and deals and took money such as from Girls, Inc. and all of us was disappointed about that for whatever racial issues that they have. And so for me and for district A and for the city of Fort Worth, it is vitally important that we not only put this resolution in motion, but we tell the county that you can't just affect an entire city of Fort Worth with just redrawing the lines because you want to pick the person that of your choice. And so that is why I'm so adamant about it today. That is why I put it on the agenda today. And I am also want to articulate for since we've been elected this body have been elected since 2021 through 2025 we have had over 13 CPS that come to this DAS and every one of those 13 CPS we have waved the rules in order to vote on it. I understand that you may not agree with the CP. I understand that you may not like the CP, but you have all we have always given the right so that we can at least vote on the CP and I stand proud and I think all of us have pride in representing our constituents today. And so let your pride show whether you agree with their redistricting or whether you not do it with your chest. Do it with your head held high. Let's take this vote today and show where we are in the city of Fort Worth. A few more points I want to make today is this uh redistricting uh redrawing of lines will with the lack of transparency and public process and public engagements. You guys know me. I've been here the last four years and one of the main things I have always talked about is a public process. I don't care if if we're uh hiring uh uh the library director, we need a public process because it's important that the residents matter. Uh their voice matter. We went through this process and a lot of us on this dis kind of had some words to say towards each other during our redistricting is because we were fighting for our constituency. This is no different. When we had an issue with forth ISD, we all signed a letter. Mayor Parker went down to the school board and spoke on that issue. We didn't have a say in how they operate the forward ISD, but we had a say in how we feel about how they operate in Forward ISD. We did the same thing with the Keller ISD. I wasn't in the conversations about uh why Keller ISD shouldn't split. I really wasn't concerned because I trusted my counterpartners who live in Keller ISD to stand and be the voice for this entire council. And so I too put on a gold ribbon. I too supported them. Even not even reading two cents of what they wrote down is because I trust those who I sit with. And so today I'm asking this council, those things that I articulated in my brief and my comments and what my other council members have articulated, trust the fact that we are standing not against Taran County. We're standing for the residents of Taran County. We need to oppose this. We need to vote on this resolution and we need to approve it. Those are my comments. Council, that's the conclusion of our discussion. We're going to vote on the waiver for the rules. Suspending the rules. I think there's already a motion on the floor. Yes, Liam, you're good with that. Okay. Got a motion on the floor in a second. Please vote. Motion carries. Nine votes is what you needed for this. So now we're going to move forward with a vote for CP 333. Um I can entertain a motion. I move to approve uh council proposal 3333. Second. Got a motion on the floor and a second. Any other discussion by council members. Um I'm going to say this. Thank you all for your public comments today. Um, I will say to my council members, as your mayor, I and really for the office, it is so important that we communicate and I know that life is busy and we all have a lot going on. And so, um, in the past, I have attempted and you can hold me accountable to this, but whether it's been on a budget discussion and a management letter, I gave opportunity for unanimous um, decision. And I wish I had been contacted on Friday because I could have shared some very helpful information in my close conversations with Mayor Ross in Arlington over the last week. Um Jim and I are close friends and he afforded me the opportunity to know what he was moving forward with on in city of Arlington. Um they've hired outside counsel to look closely at what's happening to their city because there is a lot of concern um moving possibly to three new commissioners in Arlington rather than just one which I understand why that would be problematic. Um, lot of discussion today about the way the city of Fort Worth conducted redistricting and we all have battle wounds to prove from that. It was not easy. Um, and I'm very proud that at the end of this, this audience may not all know this, it was a unanimous vote by this body to appoint or create those two new council districts and move us forward as a city. And as a result, this is the district. This is the body you have. Um, a few things make me sad today. We've said Democrat and Republican more times than I ever remember in this chamber. And as I have often said, it is irrelevant to city business. It really is. Um I appreciate the um language in the resolution. I do because I do think it was trying to focus on a few issues that we think we all can agree on. Transportation projects continue to be a top priority. Um so I'm actually going to offer amendment language um to the resolution. I don't agree with the last now, therefore, and whereas I think actually redistricting is helpful. I'm disappointed in 2020 they didn't really look more closely at this because I think it afforded an opportunity to do this in the mid-century which is in excuse me in the mid decade which is unique. Um if we really want county to listen um I don't think this is the way to do that. And so what I'm going to offer to the authors of the CP if you'd like to vote on it as is that's okay. I I think what will likely happen is we'll have an opportunity maybe during executive session to learn what city of Arlington has learned next week. there could be another resolution that's voted on after they vote on the maps. I've not talked directly um to any of the commissioners other than Council Member Ramirez about this. Um to Council Beck's point, they were very clear and transparent. This is an inherently very political process and I can't remember your words, um Janette, but they were they were well stated. I do think there ramifications for this as a county. Um every every single thing right now feels like it's about whether you are blue or red. Everything. and it is dividing this city and it is dividing this county and it is unacceptable. And so my job is to govern and do what is best for the city of Fort Worth. Um I don't think this CP is the right direction because I want to be really clear um to Tarant County where we are. I don't think we've had a chance at all to deliberate as a body. I do not I know that every council member was not contacted. Um, so that's my decision today, but it's not a reflection of my um displeasure with the way this is that they've conducted redistricting in Tarant County. It's not the right way to do it. Um, we had to subject ourselves to hours and hours of public testimony, many maps drawn, tears in back hallways, really working together to draw a map that we thought was best reflected for the city of Fort Worth. And that's where we got. So, I appreciate um bringing this important issue forward. I hope to continue to work with Tarant County. It is too important. You need a commissioner's court that is collaborative. Each of us have had major projects we've had to work on together for our community um with the county. And I I just am heeding a warning here that we're headed down a really really dangerous path um in this county, in this city. And I'm deeply disappointed. And so my vote today is not a reflection on any approval for Tarant County. And so you may very well see me at the next few meetings have a more robust resolution to move forward and work with my council colleagues on what that may look like. So that's my decision today and I do appreciate the discussion. I think it was important and I think we were all respectful. Um and with that please vote council. Uh mayor just um point of clarification. I'm unsure what I'm voting on and you're voting on the resolution as is. You made a substitute motion. Yeah. I'm just going to let it I didn't make a motion. No motion. You can vote on as is. I'll work on that in the next few weeks. Motion carries. Motion [Applause] carries. Council, we're moving to changes in membership on boards and commissions. Only have one at large 25-5119. And if I'm supposed to be the one to read those, I don't have in front of me. Maybe I do. right here. Yes. Um like to make a motion to approve the following amendments. Excuse me, the following appointments. Kirk Milikin, partial term place two for downtown design review board. Brandon Burns, place six for downtown design review board. Mark Dabney for downtown design review board. And Brian Farta, city plan commission and capital improvements plan advisory committee for transportation impact fees. Second. Got a motion, a second. Council, please vote. Elizabeth's absent. You can mark her. Motion carries. Next is board appointments for district six. Council member Williams. Yes, thank you. Um, I want to request the council's consideration to appoint the following individual to the board listed below with a partial term effective May 20th, 2025 and ending October 1st, 2026. Sabrina Connor, partial term, board of adjustment, commercial and forth Alliance Airport Board of Adjustment. The respective application and resume are attached. The original copy will be maintained in the city secretary's office. Second. You got a motion and a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next is resolution 255082. This is an important one, council. It's a resolution confirming the appointment of Robert Aldridge as the Fort Worth Police Chief on an interim basis as we see uh Chief Nilnos retire on May 30th. Chief No, this is your last city council meeting, right? I can I can feel you sat your sadness back there. Yeah, of course. Um but to Chief Aldidge, thank you for stepping into this capacity as we navigate the police chief search. We appreciate you very much. Got a few comments, I think, from council members. Council member Flores, go please. Thank you, mayor. I want to say to Assistant Chief Aldridge that in my experience and those of us here on this NAS, you have served faithfully and diligently in your capacity as assistant chief for the Fort Worth Police Department since 1999 if I'm correct. And I support your selection as interim police chief because I have the utmost confidence, your knowledge, expertise, as well as your professional character and your personal demeanor because you need all that in dealing with the most challenging of issues that come at us as a city and as a police department. So you have my support, sir. Then that's my motion. Got a motion council and council Nettles John. So, I'm just making sure we didn't want to speak. Yeah, I do. Please. I guess second Carlos's motion. Okay. So, Chief won't be back so we can sit put him in the hot seat to talk to him. Sure, I guess. So, if you really want to, he would love it. Well, I'll say uh Chief uh notes, we really appreciate your service to the city of Fort Worth. I mentioned it last week in uh our comments. Uh to serve as a police officer um when in one of the largest city is a big deal. and appreciate you, your lovely wife. Uh normally, uh I see her by your side at different events and so that shows that it's just not you, but it's our entire family who devoted uh to serve the city of Fort Worth. So, uh thank you, Chief, for all you've done for for work these last few years as the chief of Fort Worth. And I want to take the opportunity to uh welcome Chief Aldridge as our new chief interim. Uh, Chief Audrey, you ought to find you somebody to do all your work sessions like the chief did you uh present them in front of Beck, get you somebody else so you don't have to take all that anymore. Uh, but we're excited to have you uh step in for this role. I do respect and honor you and I look forward to working with you for the next few months or years. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Peoples, followed by Council Member Williams. So, Chief Notes, you will be missed, but I wanted to say, Assistant Chief Aren, I I had an opportunity to visit not only with members of the council who think extremely highly of you and think you are the right person for this interim appointment, but I also went out and visited with members of District 5, and I got the same positive response from those community members that I talked to as the council people. So that is high praise coming your way. So I am proud to be able to vote to approve your appointment. Thank you. Council peoples. Council member Williams. Thank you. Uh Chief Oaks, I'll start with you first. Um brother, I I believe it's important to give honor where honor is due and to give flowers publicly as well as behind uh uh the scenes. And so, um, obviously, you know, uh, my deepest appreciation and and and s and sincere gratitude for our friendship and our partnership in this work. Um, there's been many times where, uh, you and I have, um, not on camera, but shared really important, meaningful moments together, uh, times of laughter, times of sadness and tears, and even, um, times of, um, shared faith. Um, I just want to share, um, you know, a couple scriptures just as a blessing for you. um 1 Philippians 2 uh:es 3-4 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Do not look to your own interests, but rather to the interests of others." And Hebrews 13:16 says, "And do not forget to do good and to share with others. For with such sacrifices, God is pleased." um day in and day out uh you have served in this role not to be in the limelight or the spotlight, not to get all the glory and credit um but to to love God, serve God, and love neighbor and serve neighbor. You did it even to the extent your entire career where you're willing to lay down your life for the one. And I'm so grateful um that you have committed in to life and to this service as a as a trusted sworn police officer to do that for even the stranger you don't even know. I mean that's so powerful and and you are representative of uh the the fine people all across um this profession and especially right here in the city of Worth with the Forest Police Department. And so from the bottom of my heart, thank you brother for your service. You have literally saved lives time and time again. You've done it with courage. You've done it with humility. You've done it with grace. Um and you've done it with a whole lot of pride. Uh knowing that we certainly have um a a best-in-class uh group of people dedicated to serving the city and to promoting the safety of our public. Um Chief Aldridge, I just want to also say to you um do not grow weary for doing good. And in this interim role, there will be certainly uh new pressures on your shoulder um at the helm of this great work. Um but indeed, it's important and you know that because you've dedicated your entire life to it. Um so from the bottom of my heart also, I I certainly appreciate you. Um it's been the honor of my lifetime not only to serve on this DAS uh in the city that raised me and representing the neighborhoods that raised me. And even to this day, I still get whoopins in the community for not doing certain things right. Um but some of the things that you you both have helped me do um and this das do and this city do was to protect um the lives of our our most vulnerable including our young people who have been um absolutely terrorized by cyclical and retaliatory gun violence. So I'm forever indebted um to your partnership in this work in a number of ways. Grateful for your willingness to take late calls and Chief Aldridge, congratulations on this important role. I will obviously be voting yes. Um, and it's not because of uh any other reason than you absolutely deserve it. So, God bless you both. Thank you, Council Williams. Council member Martinez. Oh, I'm out of order. Sorry. Council Block. Can't read. I'll be extremely brief. I want to reflect the words that have already been said and say I wholeheartedly agree with all. Uh, Chief, I just want to say congratulations on making it to your retirement. Uh, job very well done. You have led the police department in the city of Fort Worth exceptionally, and we're a better city because of it. Chief Aldridge, I want to extend congratulations and condolences for you taking on even more responsibility uh during the interim time frame. Uh, both welld deserve what's going on. So, thank you. Thank you. And Council Martinez, I will be brief as well. Uh, interim Chief Aldridge, uh, you know, I look forward to working with you. I know you got this. Uh, to Chief No, congratulations on your retirement. And thank you for your many years of amazing public service. Thank you for always being accessible and always hearing me out, taking my calls and returning them in a timely manner. Um, I hope you get to enjoy your family and I know you look forward to that and you know you always have us here if you ever need us. Thank you, Council Member Hill. I'm going to try to talk a big big long weekend with graduation. Um, Chief Notes, thank you so much for your years of service to the city of Fort Worth. I've truly enjoyed getting to know you and work with you and um, you really do have a servant's heart and thank you so much for loaning that to the city of Fort Worth. Um then Chief Aldridge, thank you so much for stepping up. This is a huge role and I know you're going to serve the city well and um I think Allan's right. Um congratulations and condolences are in order, but we do appreciate you stepping up. Thank you. Did I make everybody? I think I did. One more. One more. I'm so sorry. Because we're back, please. Uh Chief Notes, good luck and congratulations. hope you take some time in your retirement to enjoy life and enjoy the new grandbaby grandb babies I think plural um and uh really thank you for all your years of service for here um here at the city of Fort Worth and uh to Chief Aldridge good luck and don't mess it up thank you I think that's a conclusion of our comments gentlemen thank you both very much we appreciate you um and for and for Neil it's uh not goodbye for any of us on on this das you you won't be rid of us that easily. We're very proud of you. I I got to do my podcast yesterday with chief and catch up with him and just reminded of what an amazing person he is and and how great it is after 25 years of service. It's on his terms he's getting to retire and move on to his next chapter. And you have absolutely you absolutely have earned it and left this city incredibly well well placed for Chief Aldridge to step up. And apparently we don't have any officers with hair left at this stage. Um once you once you step into the the chief role, please vote council. Thank [Applause] you. That's great. Thank you, gentlemen. Council, I'm going to personal privilege because we have one item that I want to go ahead and put up because I know that Dr. Dr. Mullenar and her staff have an important meeting today. It's MNC250454. It's adopting an ordinance appropriating $15,000 in grants coming through this city operating other fund to no kid hungry campaign of share our strength and mayor's alliance to end childhood hunger. I am very lucky to be the chair of the mayor's alliance across the country and have been afforded opportunity of a $15,000 grant. If my friends from OD and forth ID want to come to the to the well, I want this council to recognize them. I had the opportunity yesterday to go to the Thrive Market at OD Wyatt High School with their leadership. It is amazing what they do for our city every single day. Dr. Muller, if you want to come to that middle dis. Um they essentially I just wanted you to see their faces. Come on. Don't be shy. Y'all come on down. Um first of all, OD Wyatt High School is always fun to get to be there with your students. Even though it's the last week of school, they're ready to get out of school. Um, but this Thrive Market is available to families in the OD Wyatt community. Um, to really to to to meet the needs of food insecurity. Special thanks to our partners between Kroger, THR, Etna, and importantly for ISD for making this happen. Um, I look forward to partnering with you more in the future and and council. If you haven't seen the Thrive Market or want to do something similar in one of the schools in your districts, I highly encourage you to go see what they do there. It's it's full circle. There's entrepreneurial students that are running the market. the parents are a part of it, getting to visit with families that are that are really blessed by the the market as well. So, anybody can speak to this, but I just wanted to say thank you personally before we vote. Council member Neler, welcome to Thank you. There's some pictures from yesterday. Um, they're amazing. Truly. Good um afternoon now, Mayor Council. Uh my name is Armando Aos and I'm the proud principal at OD Wyatt. And of course, I want to thank you on behalf of the ODY community. Thank you. Thank you very much. So, I think we can vote unless Councilor Nettles think wanted to say a few things. Yeah, I I did. Thank you, mayor. Um I just really want to appreciate OD Y staff and the superintendent. Um OD Y has seen ups and downs, but I want to say that you guys have always risen to the challenge and you guys are doing fantastic work in district 8. And so, thank you for your service and I look forward to continue to working with the ODY school. I love always going to the graduation. So, I'll see y'all on graduation. Karen, how many graduations do you have coming up? 20. We have 23. Uh, 22 traditional ones. And so, I'll be at 20. There's two of them I cannot make. So, they conflict. But just want to thank you. This is not just for ODY students. It's for all of our families that reside in our ODY pyramid. and just want to recognize the staff that make this happen every day. And just please come out and visit OD Wyatt and uh let us share the love that our students have for our city with you as well. So, thank you for this partnership. Yes. And thanks to all THR knows here today. Thank you. I mean, it really is tremendous what everybody's done to step up. So, we'll be back. Thank you'all very much. Council, with that, we can Yes, please Jared. Um, so given my role with Tanner Food Bank as an executive on the team there, um, I won't be participating in this vote because we have relationships with all of you, THR, at good reason though, right, etc. Yeah. And part of the reason why I'm stepping away to fight national hunger. Um, and and thank God I'm able to serve on the Feeding America's uh, public engagement advocacy committee to set the national agenda. So, I would support this if I could support this, but uh I'm going to recuse um an abundance of caution because of my employment and all my files are all of my documents are on file with the city secretary. Thank you, Jared. I move for approval. MNC25-0454. Motion and a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Now y'all can go about your day. I know that you're busy. Thank y'all very much for making time to be here. Okay, council. Now we're back in order. We're going to go back to public hearing MNC25-0427. No, we need to do the other resolution. I'm sorry. 25-5083. I apologize. Let's do that one first. Thank you. Motion a second. Council, please vote. probably can't hear her, but yeah. Council peoples, try one more time to vote if you don't mind. Thank you. Motion carries. Now we'll go to 25-0427. And under our new rules, are we conducting the public hearing? Is Kelly speaking or no? Ellie's available if there's any questions. Great. Okay. Okay. Entertain a motion, council. Do I have to move to close the public hearing? Yes. Move to close the public hearing and approve MNC 2550427. Second. Motion a second. Council, please vote. Hey, next is um item 25-1157. And Chris Harter is available for questions. Any questions, council? Got a motion in a second. Council please vote. Motion carries. Next is MNC25-0453 and Joel Malini is available for questions. Any questions for Joel? If not, we can entertain a motion. A motion, a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next is M andC25-0457 and Joel Malini is available for questions. Any questions? Not contain a motion. I'll use the microphone since I can't talk. Move to close the public public hearing and approve MNC 2550460. Second. Motion a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next is MNC25-0460. Entertain a motion. Council motion in a second. Motion carries. Next is ZC25-080 and we have two speakers on this item. Council member Williams, this one is yours and I will find my speaker list. Just a moment. We have two speakers. The first is Larry Miller. Only if there's opposition and there is if Adrien Smith is present. Mr. Smith is not present. So I'll turn to Council Williams. I'll just ask uh do we have a site plan of this available? Not it's okay. We're looking for it. Okay. If not, it's okay. Don't worry about it. Um I just do I want to say a few things really quickly. Um this um this project um um has been one that's been a long time coming. Um when this f project or this site um which is owned by Crowley ISD was first being proposed to be developed um myself and uh many of the neighbors and neighborhoods had um opposition against it. Um and so that case didn't wasn't successful. Um however um because we have great partnerships with our neighborhoods Crowley ISD as well as development community um it um we have gotten to a win-win win win um and I think it's important to just share for the record for our residents who may not be aware of it. Um, so this development is going to provide high-end town homes, um, both for lease and for sale, right next door to the Roy Charles Brooks, uh, medical home, um, which is an incredible hospital managed by, uh, JPS. Um, and so JPS, this new home will have a new neighbor. Um in addition to that, it'll also have a neighbor commercial, which is something that um I have been very proud over the past uh four years to um bring significant investment into the district, specifically for commercial, both bringing jobs and neighborhood services into um our district um like um um medical uses. And so this neighborhood commercial um um is open for all the possibilities, but particularly for future medical uses is what we have our eye towards. Um, so this is a huge deal for Southwest uh Fort Worth. Uh, to put the icing on the cake, um, the developers have agreed to partner with the city to bring a traffic signal, a much needed traffic signal at the intersection of uh, Granberry and Appalachian Way. Um, it's it's Granberry, especially during rush hour, is a very dangerous arterial. Um, and this traffic signal will certainly help make a huge difference in keeping our neighbors safe. Um and so I enthusiastically move to approve. Last thing I'll say is this not only helps the development community and our neighborhoods, this also helps our public schools. Um Crowley IC selling this asset will allow them to divest from this particular property and to use these funds to build um more schools. Um so Crowley Pride Unified move to approve. Second. Got a motion, a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Next is MNC25-0467. Motion a second. Please vote time and motion carries. That concludes all the action items. Thank you councel and meeting is adjourned.