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CITY OF LAKE CITY NEVADA.[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS]
REGULAR SESSION ON AUGUST 13TH, 2024 AT 6:00 PM UH, ANDY MANN.I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE PASTOR STEVEN RHODES WITH BAY HARBOR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, WHO WILL BE OUR INVOCATION SPEAKER THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU MAYOR LONG AND COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS, UH, TRULY AN HONOR AND BLESSING TO BE HERE IN THIS MOMENT.
WILL YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER? OUR LORD AND CREATOR, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT TO COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMUNITY OF TALENT AND PASSION.
A COUNSEL THAT IS GIFTED, UH, WE PRAY YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THEM TODAY.
GUIDE THEM IN, IN HEARING AND MAKING DECISIONS THAT AFFECT ALL OF US.
MAY WE CONTINUE TO GROW THIS COMMUNITY INTO THE, INTO THE PLACE YOU WOULD WANT IT TO BE.
IN CHRIST JESUS, NAME WE PRAY.
PASTOR PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALL ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS? ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES.REGULAR THREE B JULY 23RD, 2024.
COUNCIL BUDGET AND CIP WORKSHOP.
COUNCIL BUDGET AND CIP WORKSHOP.
IF THERE'S NO CORRECTIONS THESE MINUTES STAND APPROVED.
THERE ARE NO PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS, PUBLIC
[5. PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL]
COMMENTS.I'M HERE TO APPEAL THE DECISION OF THE, UH, COMMUNITY STANDARDS REVIEW COMMITTEE TO RELOCATE THE BOOK BIGWIG, UH, WITHIN THE HELEN HALL LIBRARY ON JULY 31ST, 2024, THE COMMITTEE VOTED TWO TO ONE TO RELOCATE BIGWIG BASED ON CONCERNS ABOUT ALLEGED HIDDEN MESSAGES DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12, SPECIFICALLY RABBIT IMAGERY THAT SOME HAVE LINKED TO A DEITY ASSOCIATED WITH HOMOSEXUALITY.
HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY THAT BIGWIG DOES NOT MENTION THE TERM DRAG.
IT CONTAINS NO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT AND IT FAILS TO MEET ANY OF THE LEGAL DEFINITIONS FOR OBSCENITY OR HARMFUL TO MINORS.
ADDITIONALLY, LET IT BE CLEAR, DRAG IS NOT IN OF ITSELF INHERENTLY SEXUAL.
IT'S A FORM OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION THAT CHALLENGES SOCIETAL NORMS AROUND GENDER.
EVEN THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CURRENTLY HAS PICTURES CIRCULATING ABOUT THEM DRESSED UP IN DRAG WHILE THEY'RE GOING TO LAW SCHOOL.
SO THIS SHOWS THAT DRAG IS NOT LIMITED TO ANY ONE IDEOLOGY OR COMMUNITY, AND CERTAINLY IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT AUTOMATICALLY SHOULD BE TIED TO SEXUAL CONTENT.
I UNDERSTAND THE COMMITTEE'S CHAIR RESEARCHED THE AUTHOR'S INTENT, AND HOWEVER, THAT INTENT IS NOT ITSELF CLEAR TO ANY CHILDREN THAT ARE READING THE BOOK.
IT'S OVERESTIMATING THEIR ABILITY TO PICK UP ON THOSE KIND OF DETAILS.
AND HONESTLY, YOUNG READERS, THEY'RE FOCUSING ON THE STORIES, THE PICTURES, THE CHARACTERS, NOT THESE COMPLEX OR CONTROVERSIAL IMAGES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE HIDDEN IN THAT STORY.
THE DECISIONS MADE BY THIS COMMITTEE AND THIS COUNCIL AS PART OF THIS APPEAL SHOULD BE BASED ON FACTS NOT SUBJECTIVE INTERPRETATIONS.
BIGWIG ALIGNS WITH OUR LIBRARY'S MISSION TO OFFER DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY AND ACCEPTANCE.
RELOCATING THIS BOOK BASED UPON UNPROVEN CONCERNS, SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT LIMITING OUR CHILDREN'S INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
MOREOVER, AND FOR ME, AS A SMALL GOVERNMENT CONSERVATIVE, THIS RELOCATING THE BOOK CREATES SOME POTENTIAL FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTS ACCESS TO A BROAD RANGE OF IDEAS IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT BACK IN DECEMBER 6TH, 2022, RESTRICTING ACCESS TO BOOKS IN A LIBRARY, EVEN BY RELOCATING IT COULD VIOLATE THESE PRINCIPLES.
MOST CONCERNING TO ME WAS A STATEMENT MADE BY ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE, LUANN, WHO SAID THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMITTEE IS TO QUOTE, UNQUOTE, PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THE WRONG IDEAS.
THAT'S NOT THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMITTEE.
NOT IN ANY OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WERE HAD ON THIS DAIS OR ANYWHERE IN THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU ALL WROTE.
DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM WRONG IDEAS? AND WHAT ARE WRONG IDEAS NOT FOR GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE UPON? THAT'S NOT THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU OR TO BASICALLY TALK TO THIS MEMBER AND REITERATE WHAT
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THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMITTEE IS AND EITHER ASK THEM TO RESIGN OR REPLACE THEM WHEN THE TIME COMES.I WOULD URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER THIS DECISION, UPHOLD INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND ENSURE THAT OUR LIBRARY REMAINS A SPACE WHERE DIVERSE IDEAS THRIVE.
AND IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO READ THE BOOK, I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE A COPY WITH YOU.
WAY TO KEEP IT RIGHT AT THREE MINUTES.
AND THEN I WANNA MAKE CLEAR THAT THE RIGHT TO SPEAK IS FOR CITIZENS OF LEAGUE CITY.
SO IF YOU COULD TAKE YOUR BOOK, BOOK DOWN, I DON'T THINK IT APPLIES TO THE NEXT PEOPLE COMING UP.
SO IT'S FOR THE, UH, PEOPLE THAT CAN SPEAK ARE CITIZENS.
SO IF YOU'D SAY YOUR ADDRESS BEFOREHAND, PAUL ROBINSON, UH, CORRECT ME IF I'M ALLOWED TO SPEAK FROM DICKINSON.
UNLESS IT'S BUSINESS RELATED TO THE STATE OF BUSINESS, IT, IT'S A THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING AN EVENT BY APPROVING A RESOLUTION FOR NO WAKE ZONE ON, UH, CLEAR LAKE DURING THE TEXAS OUTLAW CHALLENGE.
WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW THE RULES FOR EVERYBODY THOUGH.
I LIVE AT FIVE 17 SMALL CEDAR DRIVE IN LAKE CITY, TEXAS.
I AM ONE OF THOSE COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THE COMMUNITY STANDARDS AND I DID REVIEW THE BIG WIG BOOK BY JONATHAN HILLMAN AND THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION FOR YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS BOOK IS ABOUT A WIG THAT WHEN A CHILD PUTS ON THE WIG, HE BECOMES WHATEVER HE IMAGINES.
WHETHER IT'S A SUPERHERO OR A PRINCESS, IT'S NOT REALLY GENDER SPECIFIC BECAUSE THE WIG IS AN IT AND IT'S REFERRED TO AS THAT PRONOUN IN THE BOOK.
THE BOOK IS ABOUT WEARING A, A WIG AND GOING TO A BALL, A PAGEANT, A COSTUME, UH, COSTUME CONTEST.
IT IS NOT DRAG, IT DOESN'T SAY THE WORD DRAG ANYWHERE IN THE BOOK.
IT'S NOT PORNOGRAPHIC, IT'S NOT SEXUALLY EXPLICIT, AND IT'S NOT OBSCENE, NOR DOES IT HAVE POOR LANGUAGE IN IT THAT WOULD MAKE YOU THINK THAT IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN.
I'VE BEEN A TEACHER FOR 36 YEARS AND TWO YEARS AGO I HAD A STUDENT WHO HAD ALOPECIA AND SHE WAS BALD AND SHE WOULD COME TO SCHOOL WITH THE BEST WIG YOU'VE EVER SEEN.
AND IT MADE HER FEEL LIKE A PERSON LIKE SHE BELONGED, LIKE SHE WAS NORMAL, A 10-YEAR-OLD.
EVEN THOUGH THIS BOOK IS REALLY FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN, A 10-YEAR-OLD WOULD'VE BENEFITED FROM THIS BOOK AND I KNOW IT IN MY HEART.
THE SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU IS THAT THERE ARE TWO MEN NAMED JONATHAN HILLMAN.
JONATHAN HILLMAN, THE AUTHOR OF BIGWIG AND JONATHAN E HILLMAN, WHO WRITES ABOUT CHINESE CULTURE AND RABBITS.
THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK IS JONATHAN HILLMAN, AND IF I'VE GIVEN YOU REASONABLE DOUBT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RESEARCH IT AND CHECK IT OUT AND I CAN GIVE YOU MY RESOURCES.
THERE IS NO HARM IN THIS BOOK.
I KNOW THERE'S NO HARM IN THIS BOOK.
THE PERSON WHO PETITIONED FOR US TO REVIEW THIS BOOK SAID THAT IT WAS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT AND OBSCENE, AND BECAUSE OF THOSE TWO THINGS, IT WAS HARMFUL TO CHILDREN.
I REVIEWED THIS BOOK, NO, AND THERE IS NO SEXUAL EX EXPLICITNESS IN IT WHATSOEVER, AND THERE'S NOTHING I'VE SEEN IN IT, AND I CAN ONLY GO BY WHAT THE PETITIONER HAD ASKED US TO REVIEW.
I'M GOING TO ASK CITY COUNCIL TO OVERRULE OUR DECISION OF THE COMMUNITY STANDARDS REVIEW COMMITTEE REGARDING THE BOOK BIG WIG BY JONATHAN HILLMAN AND KEEP THE BOOK WHERE IT'S SHELVED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVE GAMMEL, HOW YOU WITH FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL LIBERTY? I CAN'T EVEN REPEAT MY NATION'S
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ANYMORE BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE A LIE.THE VERY FIRST AMENDMENT OF OUR CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES FREE SPEECH, AND I FIND MYSELF BEFORE MY CITY COUNCIL OPPOSING CENSORSHIP AS A US NAVY VETERAN.
I SWORN OATH TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND AND DOMESTIC.
I STILL ADHERE TO THAT OATH NOW I FIND MYSELF FIGHTING CENSORSHIP BEFORE MY CITY COUNCIL AND IT'S DEEPLY DISTURBING TO ME AS A DECORATIVE VETERAN, AS A CITIZEN, AS A GRANDPARENT, AS A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER, A SOCIALLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST MINORITY AND A FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER OVER HARMLESS CHILDREN'S BOOK.
AND IT MAKES ME ANGRY AND SICK THAT A, THAT MY TOWN WOULD BE SO INTOLERANT AND BIGOTED.
THAT'S BECAUSE TWO MEMBERS VOTED TO BAN THIS BOOK.
TWO OR THREE MEMBERS THAT SHOWED UP.
TWO MEMBERS DIDN'T EVEN TAKE THE TIME TO SHOW.
AND IF I DON'T SPEAK AGAINST HIM, I KNOW THAT I'M NEXT IN LINE TO SUFFER THE SAME BIGOTRY, UH, THAT ENCOURAGED THIS CENSORSHIP.
AND IF YOU DON'T THINK CENSORSHIP IS A RIGHT WORD FOR IT, PLEASE GIMME A BETTER ONE.
OUR GREAT NATION HAS A LONG HISTORY OF BIGOTRY AND HEROES THAT FOUGHT AGAINST IT.
SADLY, WE CONTINUE TO SUFFER THE SAME HATE AND INTOLERANCE OF THE BEST OF OUR ANCESTORS.
OPPOSED STILL SOME OF OUR TOWN PROMOTES SUCH HATE.
WHY ARE WE NOT BETTER THAN THIS? BIG WIG BY JONATHAN HILLMAN IS A HARMLESS AND SHORT CHILDREN'S BEDTIME STORY ABOUT A MAGIC WIG THAT MAKES EVERYONE AT TOUCH FEEL BETTER AND STRONGER ABOUT WHATEVER THEY IDENTIFY WITH.
YET BECAUSE THIS COUNCIL YIELDS TO INTOLERANCE AND FEAR IN LIEU OF TRUSTING LIBRARIANS THAT ARE HIGHLY EDUCATED, OUR GOOD CITY SUFFERS THE SAME OLD BIGOTRY THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE DARKER DAYS BEFORE.
A TOWN THAT PROMOTES HATE AND CHILD IGNORANCE IS NOT WHO WE ARE, AT LEAST I HOPE NOT.
IF YOU JUST, IF EVERYBODY JUST STATE THEIR ADDRESS BEFORE THEY GO, THAT'D BE GREAT.
HI, MY NAME IS CHRISTINE RAMIREZ AND I'M A RESIDENT OF LEAGUE CITY, CURRENTLY LIVING ON TOWNSHIP DRIVE.
ON JULY 31ST, IT WAS DECIDED TO MOVE THE BOOK BIG WIG, EFFECTIVELY RESTRICTING ACCESS BASED ON THE COMMITTEE'S PERSONAL VIEWPOINT THAT THE BOOK IS HARMFUL TO CHILDREN.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS DECISION WAS NOT UNANIMOUS, BUT ULTIMATELY IT COMMUNICATES TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT ONE, THE MESSAGING IN THIS BOOK IS HARMFUL AND THAT IT IS WRONG FOR A BOY TO WEAR A DRESS.
AND TWO, THE CITY HAS A RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHAT IS MORALLY RIGHT OR WRONG FOR CHILDREN BASED UPON THEIR OWN VALUES AND BELIEF SYSTEMS. RATHER THAN ALLOWING THE PARENTS THE FREEDOM TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS THEMSELVES FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN, I ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE THAT THIS BOOK IS HARMFUL TO CHILDREN AND IN FACT, QUITE THE OPPOSITE.
MY INTERPRETATION IS THAT IT PROMOTES BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF AND THE IDEA THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND CELEBRATED.
IT PROMOTES ACCEPTANCE OF PEOPLE THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM YOU AND AIMS TO REDUCE BULLYING, DISCRIMINATION, AND HATE.
THESE ARE VALUES I'M PROUD TO TEACH MY CHILDREN AND ASHAMED TO HAVE HIDDEN ON A SPECIAL SHELF.
THE MESSAGES IN THE BOOK ARE NOT HARMFUL, BUT THE MESSAGE THAT IT SHOULD BE RESTRICTED IS ACTUALLY WHAT IS HARMFUL.
LIBRARIES ARE A PLACE THAT ARE MEANT FOR ALL TO FEEL WELCOME AND CAN COME AND FIND RESOURCES THAT HELP THEM UNDERSTAND AND NAVIGATE THE WORLD.
YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH THE MESSAGING IN THE BOOK, IT MAY MAKE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT TO OTHERS IT IS A CHANCE TO SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED OR TO LEARN TO RESPECT OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS, TO CELEBRATE INCLUSION AND EMPATHY.
IN CONCLUSION, PARENTS GET TO DECIDE WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG FOR THEIR FAMILY.
HIDING CERTAIN BOOKS AWAY, REQUIRING CERTAIN SPECIAL PERMISSION TO CHECK THEM OUT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT THE VALUES PRESENTED IN THE BOOK ARE NOT RESPECTABLE.
DIFFERENT BOOKS MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR SOME, BUT IN OUR DISCOMFORT WE CAN GROW.
LIBRARIES ARE GLORIOUS LEARNING INSTITUTIONS TO OPEN OUR MINDS AND FURTHER OUR EDUCATION.
I THINK MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WOULD AGREE, IT IS NOT UP TO ME OR TO YOU TO DECIDE WHAT IS MORALLY CORRECT.
FOR OTHERS, LIBRARIES PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THEIR
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PATRONS, NOT POLICE THEIR MORALS.AS ONE PATRON SAID IN THE LAST MEETING, THIS IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE.
IT IS INDEED IF YOU DECIDE TO UPHOLD THE DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE PRECEDENT, YOUR SETTING IS DANGEROUS.
AS YOU VOTE TONIGHT, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, EVEN FOR THOSE WITH WHOM YOU MAY HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON HOW THEY LIVE THEIR LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
LOZANO ELOISA PEREZ LOZANO FOR THE RECORD.
THERE IS NOTHING HARMFUL, OBSCENE, OR SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IN THIS BOOK BASED ON THE DEFINITIONS THAT ARE GIVEN ON THE REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION FORM.
INSTEAD OF GOING OFF THESE DEFINITIONS AND THE SUBMITTERS DESCRIPTION, THE TWO COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF OF IN FAVOR OF MOVING THE BOOK MADE INFERENCES AND SPECULATED AS TO WHAT THE SUBMITTER COULD HAVE MEANT AND THEN VOTED BASED ON HOW INAPPROPRIATE THEY FELT IT WOULD BE FOR ANY CHILD TO SEE A BOY DRESSING UP AS A GIRL AND USING A COLORFUL WIG.
IF THE BOOK WERE TO BE MOVED TO A SECTION THAT MAINLY INCLUDED PARENTING BOOKS GEARED TOWARD ADULTS, NO ONE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THIS BOOK UNLESS THEY KNEW WHERE TO LOOK.
AND THE BOOK WOULD CERTAINLY STICK OUT MORE IN A SECTION GEARED TOWARDS ADULTS THAN IF IT REMAINED IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION WHERE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER BOOKS ARE AS COLORFUL.
THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAY SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT CENSORING THE BOOK BY SIMPLY MOVING ITS LOCATION, BUT IF NO ONE CHECKS IT OUT, IT WILL BE REMOVED FROM CIRCULATION, WHICH IS A PASSIVE KIND OF CENSORSHIP AS SOMEONE WHO USED TO WORK IN THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY, WHICH IT ITSELF IS KNOWN FOR ITS GATEKEEPING ISSUES BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE STILL WHITE AND MOSTLY STRAIGHT.
I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY IN THE IDEA THAT REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
SEEING YOURSELF INSIDE THE PAGES OF A BOOK AFFIRMS WHO YOU ARE AND YOUR EXPERIENCE WHEN POSSIBLY NO ONE ELSE AROUND.
EVERYONE DESERVES TO FIND THEMSELVES WITHIN THE PAGES OF BOOKS INSIDE OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I AGREE THAT PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE CHOICE OF HOW AND WHAT TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN.
I DO NOT AGREE WITH PARENTS WHO ARE SEEKING TO DETERMINE WHAT LITERATURE IS APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN WHOM THEY DID NOT CONCEIVE NOR ARE RAISING.
IN SHORT, I'M NOT ASKING ALL PARENTS TO READ THIS BOOK TO THEIR CHILDREN.
THEY ARE WITHIN THEIR RIGHT NOT TO DO THAT.
I AM SIMPLY ASKING THAT ALL PARENTS HAVE THE OPTION TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL.
IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE BOOK, THEN PLEASE LEAVE IT ON THE SHELF SO THAT THE PERSON WHO IS MEANT TO READ THE BOOK WILL FIND IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MARYANNE DELGADO.
GOOD EVENING GENTLEMEN AND EVERYONE ELSE.
I'M MARIANNE DELGADO AND I LIVE IN LAKE CITY ON ENTERPRISE AVENUE 6 0 1 ENTERPRISE AVENUE.
BIG WIG IS A BOOK ABOUT A WIG, BUT OF COURSE IT IS MORE THAN THAT.
IT'S ABOUT HOW WEARING THIS WIG, THIS WIG GIVES CONFIDENCE TO THOSE THAT PUT IT ON.
IT'S ABOUT FEELING GOOD WHEN DRESSING UP BIG.
WIG IS A BOOK THAT PROMOTES DIVERSITY, INCLUSIVITY, AND SELF-ACCEPTANCE.
IT'S A FEEL HAPPY, FEEL GOOD BOOK.
TALKING ABOUT A BOOK THAT SHOULD NOT BE HIDDEN BUT PROUDLY DISPLAYED.
WHAT IS THE FEAR YOUR CHILD WILL PUT ON A WIG AND BECOME GAY? THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
ONCE I, I PLAYED PETER PAN IN A SCHOOL PLAY, GUESS WHAT? I DID NOT TURN GAY.
I'M A STRAIGHT WHITE WOMAN THAT CARES ABOUT PROTECTING MY FRIENDS.
CHILDREN CHOOSE BOOKS MANY TIMES WITH CHARACTERS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, BUT OF COURSE NOT ALWAYS BIG WIG WIGS.
THINK ABOUT THE MANY CHILDREN, UNFORTUNATELY WITH CANCER.
CHILDREN WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HAIR.
IMAGINE HOW WONDERFUL IT WOULD BE FOR THEM TO PICK UP A BOOK LIKE BIG WIG, A BOOK ABOUT A WIG THAT MAKES THEM FEEL GOOD.
I SAY INSTEAD OF HIDING THIS BOOK, DISPLAY IT PROUDLY, I SUGGEST PERHAPS EVEN CONTACTING
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A CHILDREN'S CANCER HOSPITAL AND HAVING A STORY TIME.THE CHILDREN COULD WEAR THEIR WIGS OR SOMEONE COULD DONATE BIG WIGS TO THE LIBRARY FOR STORY HOUR.
WHAT KINDS OF CITY DO WE WANT TO LIVE IN? THANK YOU.
UH, I'LL BE READING THE FOLLOWING REMARKS ON BEHALF OF CATHERINE SOSMAN OF WRESTLING WIND LANE, UH, BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT BE HERE IN PERSON TODAY.
UH, REGARDING BIGWIG BY JONATHAN HILLMAN, ONE COMMITTEE MEMBER SAID SHE LOOKED UP INFORMATION ABOUT A SUPPOSED HIDDEN IMAGE OF A RABBI GOD THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO THE PLUS COMMUNITY.
THE NEGATIVE SPACE, SHE SAID LOOKED LIKE A RABBIT IS QUITE A STRETCH CONSIDERING THE SUPPOSED EARS LOOK MUCH LARGER THAN THE HEAD.
THERE ARE NO PAWS, AND THIS WAS NOT A PICTURE, THIS WAS NOT THE PICTURE DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE BY THE SUBMITTER.
ADDITIONALLY, TO ADD MORE CONTEXT, THIS RABBIT GOD IS ONLY RELEVANT TO THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND CHINA AND TAIWAN, WHICH WAS NOT THE AUDIENCE FOR THIS PARTICULAR BOOK, AS THERE ARE NO CHINESE CHARACTERS OR TRANSLATION WITHIN THE BOOK, NOR DOES IT TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE PLUS CHINESE PEOPLE.
EVEN THOUGH THE WRITTEN REQUEST SAID NOTHING ABOUT HIDDEN MESSAGES OR RABBIT, GODS ONE COMMITTEE MEMBER REPEATEDLY SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE SUBMITTER LIKE SHE KNEW HER.
IF THAT WAS THE CASE, THEN SHE SHOULD HAVE RECUSED HERSELF FROM THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST, OR SHE SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN MORE CAREFULLY TO AVOID THAT KIND OF ASSOCIATION FROM BEING MADE.
WHICH LEADS ME OR CATHERINE, UH, TO ASK, IS THIS COMMITTEE ALLOWED TO DEVIATE FROM THE SUBMITTED RECONSIDERATION AND ADD THEIR OWN INTERPRETATIONS? I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNSEL OF WHEN THE PROPOSAL FOR THESE DEFINITIONS WAS FIRST MADE PUBLIC AND HOW MUCH OF A BACKLASH THERE WAS DUE TO THE INCLUSION OF GENDER, IDEOLOGY AND IDEOLOGUE HUMAN SEXUALITY BEING INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF HARMFUL.
EVEN IF ONE COULD INFER THAT THE AUTHOR MEANT TO REACH A SPECIFIC AUDIENCE, THE DEFINITION THAT WAS AGREED UPON MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED HARMFUL OR INAPPROPRIATE.
IF THE AUTHOR MEANT TO REACH AN INTENDED AUDIENCE AND YOU BELIEVE YOUR CHILD WAS NOT A MEMBER OF THAT AUDIENCE, THEN YOU HAVE NO REASON TO BE CONCERNED.
BUT IF THERE'S A CHILD OUT THERE THAT CAN RELATE TO DRESSING UP IN A CREATIVE WAY THAT IS NOT GENDER TYPICAL, THEN THIS BOOK WILL HELP THEM HELP THEM TO FEEL LESS ALONE.
IT WILL AFFIRM THEM IN THEIR SELF-EXPRESSION, CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH, AND ALLOW THEIR CONFIDENCE TO GROW, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY LEAD TO POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN TERMS OF DOING WELL IN SCHOOL AS WELL AS EVENTUALLY BECOMING A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND LET US NOT FORGET, WHEN IT COMES TO LITTLE GIRLS DRESSING UP IN WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED BOY CLOTHES NOT NEARLY AS BIG A DEAL IS MADE BECAUSE GIRLS HAVE MORE OF A RIGHT TO WEAR WHAT THEY WANT THAN BOYS DO.
IT IS A SEVERELY LIMITED BOX THAT THEY HAVE TO REMAIN IN, WHICH CAN UNFORTUNATELY, UNFORTUNATELY LEAD TO POORER MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES, MORE AGGRESSIVE TENDENCIES AND OTHER NEGATIVE LIFE, LIFE OUTCOMES.
ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH, ALL ALL PARENTS HAVE TO DO IS TELL THE CHILD THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO READ THAT BOOK.
GIVEN THE AUTHORITY PARENTS HAVE OVER THEIR CHILDREN, THIS SHOULD NOT BE A TERRIBLY DIFFICULT THING TO DO.
PARENTS SAY NO TO THEIR KIDS ALL THE TIME.
THIS INSTANCE SHOULD NOT BE ANY DIFFERENT DEPENDING UPON THE SITUATION.
SOMETIMES CATHERINE WILL EXPLAIN TO HER CHILDREN WHY SHE DECIDED AGAINST WHATEVER THE ISSUE IS AT HAND.
IF SHE MAKES THE DETERMINATION THAT THEY'RE TOO YOUNG TO LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUE OR TOO YOUNG TO DISCUSS IT, SHE SIMPLY SAYS THAT NOW IS NOT THE TIME AND DISCUSSES IT.
LATER MAY, MAYBE LIBRARIES COULD HAVE A LIST OF BOOKS THAT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE A LIST WHICH PARENTS CAN REQUEST UPON ENTERING THE CHILDREN'S SECTION OF THE LIBRARY.
THAT WAY THEY CAN QUICKLY LOOK OVER THE TITLES THEIR CHILD, CHILD CHOOSES BEFORE CHECKOUT AND FEEL CONFIDENT KNOWING THAT THEIR CHILD WON'T BE EXPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT THEY MIGHT FEEL IS INAPPROPRIATE.
THE LIBRARY IS A PUBLIC SPACE I TRUST.
CATHERINE TRUSTS THE STATE LAWS AND THE LIBRARIANS WHO ABIDE BY THOSE LAWS TO SELECT APPROPRIATE BOOKS FOR THE COLLECTION.
PUT THE CONTROL IN THE, IN THE HANDS OF THE PARENTS, PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PARENTS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY.
I WAS HERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO DISCUSS A DRAINAGE ISSUE ON HOBBS ROAD.
SECOND OF ALL, I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE PETRO GOLD NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S JUST POORLY DESIGNED.
THE DITCHES DON'T DRAIN LIKE THEY SHOULD.
THIS LAST STORM THAT BLEW THROUGH WAS A REAL STRESS TEST FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
HAD THAT BEEN A SLOW MOVING STORM, WE WOULD'VE BEEN DEVASTATED.
AND FORTUNATELY IT MOVED QUICK ENOUGH WHERE THOSE DITCHES DIDN'T FLOOD OUR HOMES.
BUT IT'S OBVIOUS THERE'S A PROBLEM.
THE SECOND ISSUE WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE BUILDER JUST SIMPLY DOES NOT COOPERATE LIKE THEY SHOULD WHEN THERE'S ISSUES, THERE ARE, THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE LOTS NOT BEING GRADED PROPERLY SO THEY DON'T DRAIN MINE BEING ONE OF THEM.
DRIVEWAYS ARE NOT IN KEEPING WITH THE BUILDING CODE.
AND I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT PROBLEMS. QUITE OFTEN WHEN YOU APPROACH THE BUILDER, THEY TELL YOU THEY'RE NOT GONNA TAKE CARE OF IT.
AND THAT OCCURRED TODAY WHEN I APPROACHED THEM ABOUT THE DRAINAGE OF MY YARD.
THE, I SPOKE WITH CITY LEADERSHIP ABOUT THE DRAINAGE ISSUE IN THE YARD WITH IT NOT BEING GRADED
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PROPERLY.I WAS TOLD THE CITY DOES NOT CHECK THE GRADE, BUT YET YOUR DOCUMENT CLEARLY STATES THAT THEY DO.
AND I'M NOT HERE TO GRIPE AND EMBARRASS ANYONE.
AND EXPANDING THAT PETRO GAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MORE HOMES IS GONNA EXACERBATE A PROBLEM THAT RIGHT NOW JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO GET FIXED.
ANOTHER ISSUE IS DIRT WAS ERODING OUT OF MY BACKYARD THAT BACKS UP TO MALDON PARKWAY AND IT WAS ERODING ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE YARD WASHING OUT INTO THE GUTTER SYSTEM AND INTO THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
THE SAME THING HAPPENED JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MALDON PARKWAY YESTERDAY.
THEY WERE OUT THERE WITH SHOVELS.
THEY THREW IT RIGHT BACK IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WASHED OUT FROM ORIGINALLY AND IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE HELP.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, UH, INSPECTORS SIGN OFF ON THESE HOMES WHEN THERE'S CLEAR PROBLEMS WITH, UM, BUILDING THEM TO CODE AND IN PARTICULAR THE GRADE AND THE DRIVEWAYS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
WE NEED HELP BEFORE WE'RE CUTTING SHEET ROCK OUT OF OUR HOME AND THROWING IT AT THE EDGE OF THE STREET.
AND WE WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.
AND UH, ONE LAST COMMENT IS, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE A LOT OF WHAT WAS SAID HERE TONIGHT.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE AGENDA, BUT I JUST WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH A THOUGHT.
AND THAT IS THAT ALL IT TAKES FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH IS FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
UH, DANICA, ARE YOU HERE? YOU LIVING IN TEXAS CITY OR CITY? UH, SO 2 3 0 1 20 FIRST STREET, NORTH TEXAS CITY, TEXAS, OF COURSE.
TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL OPEN MEETING HANDBOOK OF 2024.
PAGE 44 AND 69 DOES NOT CLEARLY SHOW YOU CAN MANAGE BEING A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC FROM A NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY FROM SPEAKING.
BUT YOUR CALL, IF YOU WANT TO INSIST ON THAT, I SUPPOSE, YEAH, I WON'T SPEAK OUT OF TURN.
VERY WELL APPRECIATE CHARLES HUNSUCKER.
I'VE LIVED HERE IN LEAGUE CITY SINCE 1968.
I'VE OWNED A BUSINESS HERE SINCE 1990.
I'M A BUSINESS OWNER THAT HAS TO RIDE, DRIVE AROUND IN A VEHICLE THAT'S A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE.
I CHOOSE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HOLDS A LOT OF EQUIPMENT FOR MY PLUMBING BUSINESS.
THE TREE ISSUE IS MY PROBLEM IN THIS CITY.
I'M COMING TO YOU TODAY TO ASK YOUR ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT, I FEEL LIKE IS FAILING IN THEIR JOB.
I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN MY COMMUNITY OF THE BILL OF BELT.
TERRA IS, UH, AREA IN TUSCAN LAKES FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF NOW.
CITATIONS ARE SUPPOSEDLY GOING OUT.
LETTERS HAVE COME, LETTERS HAVE GONE.
ONLY A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY HAVE COMPLIED WITH TREE CUTTING AS COMPLIANCE WITH 15 FEET OF CLEARANCE FROM THE CURB UP.
YOU CAN'T EVEN DRIVE A FIRETRUCK THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY IF A FIRE WAS HIT WAS WAS HAPPENING.
I HAVE LITERALLY BEEN STUCK IN THIS COMMUNITY TRYING TO GET OUT ON A WEEKEND WITH MY FAMILY AND MY RV BECAUSE A MOVING VAN WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD LOADING OUT A HOUSE BECAUSE HE COULDN'T PULL UP TO A CURB.
THIS IS WRONG FOR A PROFESSIONAL.
THIS IS WRONG FOR EVERY, EVERY OTHER HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE OUT THERE DRIVING TO THE CITY.
MOST PEOPLE WHO DRIVE LOW PROFILE VEHICLES DON'T KNOW WHEN I'M DRIVING HEAD ON INTO THEM IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE YELLING AT ME BECAUSE I'M DOING SO.
'CAUSE I'M AVOIDING THE TREE ON MY RIGHT.
WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THIS? I'VE EVEN HAD GUNS BROUGHT OUT.
BUT THIS IS, IT'S, IT'S A PROBLEM THAT'S ONGOING.
AND IT'S NOT JUST MY COMMUNITY, IT'S CITYWIDE.
AND I BROUGHT THIS TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION AND I FEEL LIKE NOTHING'S HAPPENING.
SO I'M HERE TO ASK Y'ALL TONIGHT TO PLEASE LOOK INTO SOMETHING.
UM, TUSCAN LAKES WAS REQUIRED TO HAVE A TREE BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND THE CURB.
EVERYBODY KNOWS A TREE BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND CURB IS A WRONG THING TO DO.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE IT? SURE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
WE LOVE TO SEE ALL TREES AND THEY'RE OAK TREES, SO WE CAN'T TOUCH THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE PROTECTED BY THE CITY.
MY TREE IS IN COMPLIANCE, BUT, UH, MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN MY AREA ARE NOT.
AND I'M SICK AND TIRED OF THIS SITUATION.
THERE IS A TREE IN PARTICULAR AT THE CORNER OF LAUREL AND LOUISIANA THAT YOU CANNOT LEAVE THAT EXIT WITHOUT BEING IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE.
I'M SITTING IN THE LANE TRYING TO TURN ONTO LOUISIANA.
I HAVE A VEHICLE TRYING TO TURN IN UNDERNEATH ME.
THEY GO TO MY RIGHT 'CAUSE THEY CAN GO UNDER THE TREE.
SO THIS IS WHAT I'M OF Y'ALL TODAY.
THIS IS THE ISSUE I THINK WE KNEW KNOW ABOUT.
AND I'M, THE STAFF WILL WORK ON.
TOMORROW'S NOT GONNA GET DONE RIGHT AWAY.
BUT THIS TREE I'M TALKING ABOUT, NO, I I'M HEARING YOU.
IT'S FEET OFF THE GROUND HANGING OVER THE STREET.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT EVERY TREE, AT LEAST SOME OF THESE TREES, IF I CALL AND THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH
[00:30:01]
A TREE LIMB HANGING DOWN ON WALKER STREET, THE CITY GOES OUT AND TAKES CARE OF IT.WHY AREN'T THEY TAKING CARE OF THIS SITUATION? WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT ONE.
I'M GONNA PROBABLY BUTCHER THIS NAME, BUT EVAN G UH,
I THOUGHT IT WAS A SIGN IN S**T.
I AM YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE CLEAR CREEK WATERSHED STEERING COMMITTEE AND WE HAD OUR MEETING, UH, THIS MORNING, VERY WELL ATTENDED.
UM, WE ADD AN AGENDA ITEM, UH, ON DEBRIS REMOVAL AND, UH, CURRENT EXPERIENCES.
IT WAS A VERY ENERGETIC DISCUSSION AND WE HEARD FROM ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS OF ALL OF THE THINGS I DID NOT EXPECT TO HEAR.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS PROPERTY, UH, ON AND SOMETIMES IN CLEAR CREEK
AND AS THE MATTER OF FACT, I SENT JB AN EMAIL A DAY OR SO AGO BECAUSE, UH, I WAS GETTING PICTURES OF BOATS AND CREWS ON CLEAR CREEK, VERY CLOSE TO MY HOUSE AND THEY APPEARED TO BE, UH, DOING AGGRESSIVE DE SNAGGING.
SO, SO I WILL SAY FROM A STANDPOINT OF BEING SO PROUD OF WHAT THE WATERSHED STEERING COMMITTEE HAS DONE AS FAR AS ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS, UH, WITH OUR PARTNERS, AS WELL AS AN ONGOING DIALOGUE WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND TALKING TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, I, I REALLY DO THINK PART OF THAT IS, IS THE RESULT OF HAVING ATTENTION PAID TO OUR WATERSHED.
AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE LONG IN THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, CANNOT HAVE DETENTION PONDS, THE ONLY ASPECT THAT WE CAN EVEN DISCUSS OF PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF FROM, FROM FLOODING IS A REGIONAL APPROACH.
AND THIS IS NOT A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR PROBLEM, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT BEGINS TO HELP US GET A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GET THE WATER FLOW DOWN THAT WATERSHED AND MOVING INTO THE GULF.
LIKE TO TALK VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT AGENDA ITEM NINE A.
SO SINCE I WAS WITHOUT POWER FOR THREE AND A HALF DAYS, I HAD A LOT OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT THINGS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT ABOUT IS AS I WAS, UH, SITTING IN MY SAUNA WAS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE CITIZENS IN THE CITY COULD HAVE DONE TO PERHAPS MITIGATE SOME OF THIS? AND RIGHT OR WRONG, I CAME UP WITH SOME IDEAS.
NOW WHEN I CONTRAST MY IDEAS AND KNOWING WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP OURSELVES AND I LOOK AT AGENDA ITEM NINE A, THE ONLY THING I WANNA ASK OUR CITIZENS, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TOO, OF ALL OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ALL OF THE CHALLENGES, IS THIS REALLY WHERE WE WANNA SPEND OUR RESOURCES WHEN WE CAN'T FULLY FUND AND SEND RESOURCES TO OUR REINVESTMENT FUND? THAT'S OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
I MEAN, THAT'S CRITICAL STUFF I WOULD ASK.
LET'S ALL ASSESS OUR PRIORITIES AND CITIZENS PAY ATTENTION TO THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE.
[6. CONSENT AGENDA]
UH, CONSENT AGENDA SIX A THROUGH SIX G.MAYOR, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE WHOLE THING.
NONE AGAINST THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[9A. Consider and take action on a appeal to affirm or overrule the decision of the Community Standards Review Committee regarding the book "Big Wig" by Jonathan Hillman (City Secretary) The Community Standards Review Committee voted 2-1, with two members absent, to relocate and restrict checkout status to adult library cards only on July 31, 2024. 24-0384]
NEW BUSINESS NINE A CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION.I'LL APPEAL TO AFFIRM OR OVERRULE THE DECISION BY THE COMMUNITY STANDARDS REVIEW COMMITTEE REGARDING THE BOOK BIGWIG BY JONATHAN HILLMAN.
ALL RIGHT, AND THAT WAS WHO MADE THE SECOND ON THAT SAUNDERS FIRST
[10A. 24-0375 Consider and take action on an ordinance amending Chapter 114 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of League City, entitled “Utilities” by repealing Article VI entitled “Drought Contingency Plan” and incorporating an updated plan (Director of Public Works)]
READING OF ORDINANCES.CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER ONE 14 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LEAGUE CITY ENTITLED
[00:35:01]
UTILITIES BY REPEALING ARTICLE SIX ENTITLED DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN AND INCORPORATING AN UPDATED PLAN.SECOND, I WHAT TO SAY, GOODNESS.
ALRIGHT, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
ALL OF A SUDDEN I WONDERED WHAT WAS CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT THAT, THAT I WAS MISSING.
[10B. 24-0387 Consider and take action on an ordinance to set a 45 miles per hour speed limit along League City Parkway between Maple Leaf Drive and 1,960 feet west of Bay Area Boulevard, a distance of approximately .95 miles (Executive Director of Development Services)]
AGAINST 10 B, CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON ORDINANCE TO SET A 45 MILE PER HOUR LIMIT ALONG LAKE CITY PARKWAY BETWEEN MAPLE LEAF DRIVE AND 1,960 FEET WEST OF BAY AREA BOULEVARD.A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 0.95 MILES.
WE'LL EAGERLY MOVE TO APPROVE.
OH, EAGERLY SECOND PLEASE VOTE.
[11. ITEMS ADDED AFTER ELECTRONIC AGENDA COMPLETED]
AFTER ITEMS ADDED AFTER ELECTRONIC AGENDA WAS COMPLETED.CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE EMPLOYEE STOP-LOSS INSURANCE WITH SUN LIFE FOR A PERIOD OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025 FOR AN ESTIMATED COST OF 1.72 $8,000,420.
UH, JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, I LOOKED IT OVER.
THEY DID, THEY DID A GREAT JOB ON IT.
UM, YOU COVERED ALL THE RISK THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE PLAN.
ARE WE PROBABLY NEED TO EXPLORE IN THE FUTURE CONTINUALLY MOVING UP THAT DEDUCTIBLE A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE VERY LOW FOR, FOR OUR SIZE, BUT WE ARE BUMPING UP THE DEDUCTIBLE THIS YEAR, SO WE WANT TO KIND OF CONSISTENTLY LOOK AT THAT YEAR TO YEAR.
CHAD, JUST, JUST TO BE CLEAR, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANYONE WHO IS NOT AN EXPERT IN, IN, UH, INSURANCE, THIS IS A TRANSPARENT CHANGE.
NOTHING AFFECTS THE, OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S THE RISK TRANSFER DEVICE OVER TOP OF THE PLAN.
I I SEEM TO RECALL THAT, BUT NOT BEING AN EXPERT.
I THOUGHT I CONFIRMED JUST TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T GET BID AGAIN FOR HURTING OUR EMPLOYEES.
YEAH, THE EMPLOYEES DON'T FEEL IT.
EIGHT FOUR NONE AGAINST 11 B, CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH COBB FINLEY AND ASSOCIATES FOR THE DESIGN BID CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES RELATED TO HOBBS ROAD EXTENSION FM 17, PROJECT T 2 1 0 1 IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $741,390.
OH, WE'RE GLAD TO GET THIS MOVING.
UH, 11 C CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $92,500 AND 5 CENTS TO TEXAS NEW MEXICO POWER FOR THE PRIMARY POWER POLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION RELOCATION SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH CLEAR CREEK VILLAGE SOUND.
SECOND, UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT, THAT WE WILL NOT PAY THIS MONEY UNTIL WE HAVE THE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT FROM THE CLEAR CREEK VILLAGE, UH, FROM CLEAR CREEK VILLAGE COMPLETED TO THE MANAGER'S SATISFACTION.
I AGREE WITH THAT IN MY MOTION, SIR.
[12. REPORTS FROM STAFF MEMBERS]
REPORTS FROM STAFF.JUST REAL, REAL QUICKLY, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'D JUST LIKE TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH DEBRIS REMOVAL.
SO WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS, WE'LL BE COMPLETE WITH THE FIRST, UH, ROUND OF ALL THE VEGETATIVE DEBRIS PICKUP, UH, STAFF AND THE CONTRACTOR CROWDER GOLF ARE GONNA START THIS WEEK, UH, PERHAPS AS EARLY AS TOMORROW.
JUST PICK UP, START PICKING UP CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS.
SO THAT'S ALL YOUR FENCE MATERIAL
[00:40:01]
THEY ANTICIPATE, UM, COMPLETING THE FIRST, THE FIRST ROUND OR SECOND ROUND OF BRUSH, UM, BY, UM, AUGUST 26TH.AND THEN ON AUGUST 26TH, THEY'LL START THEIR FINAL ROUND OF, UH, PICK UP WITH THE REMAINING DEBRIS AND THE REMAINING CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS.
SO MY COUNSEL TO RESIDENTS, IF YOU WANT YOUR BRUSH AND YOUR CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS PICKED UP, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT OUT BY AUGUST 26TH AND THEN THEY HOPE TO BE DONE BY THE END OF AUGUST.
SO I THINK CROWDER GOLF, UH, THE LEAGUE CITY PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES AND AMERI WASTE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH, I GUESS FIVE WEEKS SINCE THE STORM WAS HERE, AND I THINK WE'RE DOING GOOD, TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE COMMUNITY AS THEY PUSH BRUSH OUT.
[13. COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMENTS/REPORTS]
COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS, MAYOR PRO TEM JUSTIN HICKS? YEAH, MR. MAYOR, I'LL BE BRIEF.UM, PRETTY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW, OUR AMERICAN, UH, AMERICAN LEGION LEAGUE CITY BASEBALL TEAM HAS EASILY BARRELED THROUGH THE REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS IN CALIFORNIA.
AND WE'LL BE GOING BACK TO THE, UH, WORLD SERIES IN SHELBY, NORTH CAROLINA.
SO, UH, CONGRATULATE THEM AND IF ANYBODY WANTS TO WATCH, IT'S ON ESPN THREE STARTING THURSDAY.
UH, ALSO, I WAS JUST WANTING TO TAKE THE COUNCIL'S TEMPERATURE ON US HAVING MAYBE SOME SORT OF PUBLIC HEARING AFTER, UM, AFTER OUR WORKSHOP, AFTER ALL THE DEBRIS IS COLLECTED ON AND, AND INVITE THE WHOLE PUBLIC TO COME OUT AND REALLY GIVE US GR A GRADE ON THIS BECAUSE IT, TO ME IT'S BEEN, I THOUGHT WE DID JUST, WE WERE EXCELLENT IN AREAS, BUT THERE SEEMED TO BE AN EXPECTATION IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SOMETHING MORE.
AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT WAS JUST, UH, THESE ARE LOUD VOICES PRIOR TO THE PICKUP.
NOW, YOU KNOW, IN HINDSIGHT MAYBE THERE ISN'T A DEMAND FOR SOME NEW WAY OF DOING THIS.
UH, BUT I'D LIKE TO JUST, UH, THROW THAT OUT THERE TO COUNCIL.
SEE IF MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO ONCE WE WRAP THIS UP.
TOM S HOW YOU ON MY TIME? MAYOR TOM CRUISE.
THE, UH, THE FIRST IS THAT THE, THERE'S A 5K COMING UP.
IT'S CALLED THE SAVANNAH'S MEMORIAL.
IT'S OCTOBER 27TH AND IT'S, UH, GONNA BE AT HOMETOWN.
HE WAS PARKED, IT BENEFITS A, UM, A BATTERED, BATTERED WOMAN AS A, SAVANNAH WAS A WOMAN THAT WAS, UH, BATTERED TO DEATH AT THE, UH, AT A GRAVEYARD, NOT TO I GUESS SEVERAL YEARS AGO NOW.
SO IF YOU GUYS COULD COME AND SUPPORT THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND IF YOU WANNA LOOK IT UP, IT'S SAVANNAH'S 5K.
I REALLY AM DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DID NOT GO AHEAD AND FINISH THIS BIG WIG, UH, ISSUE THAT CAME UP.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE JUST SHIRKING OUR DUTIES AND KIND OF FEELS COWARDLY, BUT THANK YOU
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TELL ALL THE TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND STUDENTS GOOD LUCK SCHOOL KICKING OFF, UH, A LOT OF 'EM TODAY.
UM, KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SCHOOL ZONES OUT THERE.
ANOTHER LITTLE PSA, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH A LOT OF THESE STUDENT ATHLETES.
THE WEATHER'S HOT OUT THERE, MAN.
YOU KNOW, PARENTS MAKE SURE THAT YOUR, YOUR STUDENT ATHLETES ARE, ARE REALLY HYDRATED AND THAT USUALLY STARTS, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THE A THE ACTIVITY.
SO HEAT STRESS, HEAT EXHAUSTION, HEAT STROKE, THOSE ARE REAL THINGS.
THEY HAPPEN MORE THAN WE LIKE AND, AND YOUTH SPORTS, UM, DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME LEFT, BUT THEY, THEY END AT SEVEN 30.
UH, TONIGHT'S MEET THE WILDCATS NIGHT OVER AT CLEAR CREEK HIGH SCHOOL.
IF YOU GET A CHANCE WHEN WE'RE DONE HERE, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO OUT THERE AND MEET YOUR, UH, YOUR 20 24 25 WILDCATS OVER AT CLEAR CREEK HIGH SCHOOL VETERAN STADIUM, FANTASTIC FOREST PERIOD OF SPRINGS.
UH, CHAD TRESSLER, I PIGGYBACK OFF THE WATER BOY THERE.
UM, NOT TALK ABOUT HYDRATION, BUT IT IS BACK TO SCHOOL.
ALLOW YOURSELVES EXTRA TIME FOR YOUR COMMUTE.
UM, THE BUSES ARE GETTING USED TO NEW ROUTES.
THE PARENTS ARE GETTING USED TO NEW DROP OFFS.
UM, WE ALL NEED A, A HEALTHY REMINDER OF WHAT THAT MEANS TO US AND OUR DRIVES TO WORK AND EVERYWHERE ELSE WE HAVE TO GO THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
UH, SO LEAVE YOURSELF SOME EXTRA TIME SO YOU DON'T CREATE AN UNSAFE SITUATION FOR, FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S KIDS OR YOUR HOME.
MR. MAYOR, UH, WOULD LIKE TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THEM TOO ON THE BUSES IS SINCE DISD DOES COME INTO LAKE CITY AREA, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR THAT DISD IS ACTUALLY DOING AWAY WITH BUS ROUTES WITHIN TWO MILES OF A RESIDENCE.
[00:45:01]
BEEN DOING FOR A WHILE, DISD IS NOW GONNA START DOING IT.SO IF YOU LIVE WITHIN TWO YEAR, TWO MILES OF A SCHOOL, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET BUS ROUTE, WHICH MEANS YOU'RE GONNA SEE MORE KIDS WALKING TO SCHOOL.
SO WHEN YOU HAVEN'T BEEN USED TO THAT IN YEARS PAST, GET READY FOR THIS YEAR AND PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR THESE KIDS.
30 YEARS OF DOING WHAT I'VE DONE, I'VE WORKED WAY TOO MANY, WAY TOO MANY EDS WITH KIDS INVOLVED AND IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO HAVE TO SEE OR DO.
UH, THREE OTHER TOPICS I'D LIKE TO BRING UP REAL QUICK.
AUGUST 13TH HERE, THE CITY OF LAKE CITY WILL BE HOLDING A BLOOD DRIVE HERE AT 400 WEST WALKER FROM 10 TO FOUR ON AUGUST 31ST.
BAY COUNTY WEST WILL BE SPONSORING A BLOOD DRIVE AT 66 21 CALDER ROAD AT THEIR COMMUNITY CENTER FROM 10 TO FOUR ALSO.
I'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME THIS YEAR ABOUT IT.
UH, BAY COUNTY WEST, UH, HOO WILL ALSO BE SPONSORING A HUNTER'S EDUCATION CLASS.
IT'S A CLASS REQUIRED IF, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S 13 AND OLDER, I BELIEVE IT IS, IF THEY'RE GONNA HUNT, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THIS CLASS, UM, AND HAVE THE LITTLE CARD AND THE CERTIFICATION, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF BEFORE THEY GO OUT THERE AND ACTUALLY DO THEIR FIRST HUNTING.
I BELIEVE THE CLASSES ARE USUALLY LIMITED TO 30 OR 40 CHILDREN OR YOUNG ADULTS OR ADULTS.
SO PLEASE SIGN UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
YEAH, AND THE FINAL PART IS, UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS TO THE CITY STAFF AND, AND JODY HOOKS AND, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM.
THE, UH, A BIG WATER MAIN, I BELIEVE IT WAS BROKE AT 2094 AND DAVIS ROAD, UH, CLOSED DOWN THAT WHOLE INTERSECTION FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT THEY GOT OUT THERE AND, AND FIXED IT.
IT WAS A PRETTY BIG FIX, BUT GOT OUT THERE AND FIXED IT REALLY QUICK.
UH, MADE THE TRAFFIC FLOW PRETTY GOOD EVEN THOUGH I WAS, I COULD NOT GET INTO MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD SO I HAD TO DRIVE THROUGH THE STARBUCKS PARKING LOT.
BUT, UH, OTHER THAN THAT IT WAS A, A REALLY GOOD FIX.
YOU GUYS DID IT QUICK, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
[14. EXECUTIVE(CLOSED) SESSION(S)]
THEN AT THIS TIME THE CITY COUNCIL UH, WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SUB CHAPTER D OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT SECTION 5 51 ET ALL OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.THIS 13TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2024 AT 6 47 WE'RE AT 6:56 PM THE CITY COUNSEL WILL NOW RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION.
THERE WAS NO FINAL ACTION DECISION OR VOTE WITH REGARD TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[15. ACTION ITEM(S) FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION(S)]
A CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON DISCUSSION CONCERNING POTENTIAL PURCHASE OR SALE OF REAL PROPERTY INTERESTS.I MOVED TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PROCEED WITHIN ABANDONMENT AND CONVEYANCE AGREEMENT WITH HARRY HARTLEY AND CHRISTINE HARTLEY FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF 0.498 ACRES, 20,900 SQUARE FEET PORTION OF SHADY LANE RIGHT OF WAY.
AND THEN JASON LAND AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION SECOND.
AND I HAVE A SECOND MOTION ON THE SAME ITEM, RIGHT? IT'S ONLY ONE ITEM MICHELLE.
THOSE THERE A 15 B OR THEY BOTH, THEY'RE BOTH THE SAME AGENDA ITEM, JUST TWO ACTIONS, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT SIR.
I MOVED TO AUTHORIZE STAFF WITH THE ACQUISITION OF PARCEL SIX DASH 2004 ONE SQUARE FOOT PARCEL TEN ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FORTY ONE SQUARE FOOT AND PARCEL 11 127 SQUARE FOOT TO SUPPORT THE WALKER STREET CORRIDOR PROJECT CIP NUMBER T 1 8 0 3 FROM VICTORY LAKES TOWN CENTER ASSOCIATES.
LLC IS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION SECOND.
MOTION PASSES 8 4 0 AGAINST AND AT 6 58 THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS.