[*A portion of this meeting is without audio*]
          [State of the City Address on February 5, 2025. ]
          [00:08:28]
          WITH THESE STAKEHOLDERS TO CREATE SAFE SPACES. SAFE SPACES FOR WORK, PLAY AND TO EMPOWER 
          [00:08:34]
OUR YOUTH AND SENIOR ADULTS. WE TALKED ABOUT OPERATIONALIZING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WORKING TOWARDS BUILDING, TRANSITIONING FROM THE FIRST BOND OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MOVING INTO THE NEXT TWO BONDS. FOR OUR CITY LIBRARY AND CITY HALL LIBRARY PROJECT AND OUR REC CENTER. SO WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE WILL BE THE GOALS THAT WE'LL BE CLOSING OUT SOME OF THOSE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC PROJECTS AND THEN MOVE INTO THOSE SPACES. AND THEN LASTLY, WE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO WORK TOWARDS A HIGHWAY SOLUTION FOR 290 AND 973. AND SO RIGHT NOW I'M VERY PROUD TO KIND OF TO SHARE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE HEADWAY WE'VE MADE IN NOT ONLY THOSE THINGS I JUST MENTIONED, BUT EVERYTHING WE TALKED ABOUT IN 2024. I GUESS IT WAS 2024 FOR 20 2023 FOR 2024. I WAS JUST KIND OF FUZING ON THE DATES, BUT EVERYTHING WE TALKED ABOUT WE WERE GOING TO DO LAST YEAR. WE'LL START WITH OUR OUR OVERALL ADMINISTRATION OFFICE LED BY SCOTT MOORE. JUST PRIOR TO ANNOUNCING THIS IS CONNECTED TO OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE A TOP BOND RATING OF CAPITAL A LOWERCASE, A, LOWERCASE A. IT'S A IT'S A FINANCIAL RATING FOR OUR $15 MILLION BOND. IF YOU IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THAT'S THAT'S TOP. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CITY. IT'S EVIDENCE OF THE CITY OPERATING WITH INTEGRITY, 
          [00:10:06]
ACCOUNTABILITY AND SYSTEMS THAT MEET THE LEGAL EXPECTATIONS FOR TRANSPARENCY. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HIGHLIGHT THOSE THINGS. BECAUSE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW UNTIL UNLESS YOU TELL THEM WHAT'S GOING ON. SO CONGRATS TO YOU TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND MISTER MOORE. WE ALSO SECURED ABOUT $5 MILLION FROM THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY TO INITIATE A CORRIDOR STUDY FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR HIGHWAY 290. AND IF YOU'RE UNAWARE OF WHAT THAT MEANS, IS YOU CAN'T DO A MAJOR HIGHWAY PROJECT WITHOUT HAVING A FEASIBILITY STUDY. AND SO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THOSE DOLLARS COMMITTED TO THAT PUTS US ONE STEP CLOSER TO HAVING IT THROUGH THERE FOR HIGHWAY 290. YOU CAN CLAP FOR THAT. YEAH, YOU CAN CLAP FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CLAP FOR. IT'S ALL GOOD NEWS. IT'S ALL GOOD NEWS. SO WE CONTINUE TO NURTURE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MAYNARD ISD. AND SO I KNOW SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE WANTING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN BE ABLE TO OFFER PROGRAMS AND SPACES IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO OUR CITY MANAGER AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT, DOCTOR ROBERTSON, MEET REGULARLY, AND THE EXCHANGE HAS ALLOWED FOR US TO HAVE EVENTS INDOORS. AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP THAT EXISTS. AND NURTURING THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH SHARED RESOURCES AND FACILITIES. WE HAVE SIDEWALKS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON 290 AT THE FROM THE MEDICAL TOWER, AS WELL AS ON RING ROAD. AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S THAT THE IT'S A COMMITMENT TOWARDS SAFE PATHWAYS FOR OUR RESIDENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE CARS OR PREFER TO WALK OR USE AUTOMOTIVE. AUTO AUTOMATED WHEELCHAIRS. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. DURING THE COVID 19 SITUATION, THERE WAS ALSO INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS THAT WAS SET ASIDE. AND WE ARE USING ABOUT 3.3 MILLION OF THOSE DOLLARS TO ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO EXPAND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE MAIN AND COMMERCIAL PARK, WHICH IS GOING TO YIELD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LATER ON OF REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF MAYNARD. WE SECURED ANOTHER $1.2 MILLION OF RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FROM LENNAR HOMES TO INVEST IN CITY NEEDS, AND WE MOVED ON TO OUR SECOND BOND. IF YOU I THINK WE ANNOUNCED IT IN NOVEMBER. YEAH, THE NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 21ST MEETING. WE'VE MOVED ON TO OUR SECOND BOND AND SECURING ABOUT 8.4 ACRES OF LAND SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR OUR MAYNARD TOWN SQUARE PROJECT, WHICH WILL HAVE OUR CIVIC CENTER, OUR RESIDENT RESIDENCE HALL, OUR LIBRARY AND OUR CITY HALL. SO DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S COMING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WITH THAT BOND PROJECT. OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT. MISS BLAND, YOU WEREN'T HERE A SECOND AGO WHEN I HAD EVERYBODY STAND. BUT SHE'S A NEW HIRE FOR US. AND I TELL YOU, WE ARE THRILLED ABOUT HER EXPERTISE IN FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING. IT'S LED TO THESE RATINGS. IT'S ALSO LED TO SUCCESSFUL AUDITS. AND IN THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE A 7% INCREASE IN OUR SALES TAX REVENUE. THERE'S BEEN SOME SAVINGS THAT THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED BECAUSE WE'VE INSTITUTED FISCALLY SOUND PRACTICES. WE EXPERIENCED, I THINK, OVER 20% AND INCREASE IN SALES IS WHAT SHE'S REPORTING FROM WATER AND SEWER SALES. LAST YEAR, THIS THIS THIS YEAR WE INVESTED 5.6 MILLION INTO WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, EQUIPMENT AND BUILDINGS. WE ARE ALLOCATED $300,000 TO PROGRAM COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE ADOPTED A FISCAL AND GRANT POLICY AND A NEW SOLID WASTE CONTRACT WITH WEEKLY BULK TRASH PICKUP OPTIONS AND A 39% INCREASE IN REGIONAL ACCOUNT AND RESIDENTIAL ACCOUNTS, WHICH ADDS TO ABOUT ANOTHER $575,000 TO THE CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND WITH OUR CONTRACTS AND OUR CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AGAIN. OVER 400 PAGES OF MULTI-PAGE DOCUMENTS FOR CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING, AS YOU KNOW, OVER THERE. SO AND THEN HELPING TO MANAGE OUR LIVE STREAMS AND ARCHIVING OUR, OUR RECORDS SO PEOPLE CAN STAY CONNECTED WITH US. OVER OVER 800 OPEN RECORD REQUESTS WERE RECEIVED AND RESPONDED TO IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND THEN SHE JUST CONTINUES TO WIN SERVICE AWARDS. CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD AND THEN ACHIEVEMENT EXCELLENCE AWARD THAT SHE'S RECEIVED FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW. SO WE DEFINITELY ARE APPRECIATIVE OF YOU AND YOUR HARD WORK. OUR MUNICIPAL COURT HAS INCREASED THEIR COURT SECURITY SYSTEMS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE, MADE UPDATES TO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES WE WERE 
          [00:15:01]
PROUD ABOUT IS THAT THEY'VE CREATED DUAL LANGUAGE DOCUMENTS FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND INCREASED STAFF RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE WORKLOAD FOR THE INCREASED GROWTH FROM THE THROUGH TRAFFIC THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU TO OUR COURT PERSONNEL WHO JUDGE IS A CABALLERO. LAST YEAR WE ACTUALLY ANNOUNCED HIM AS OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGE AND NOW HE'S OUR PRESIDING JUDGE. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT MOVEMENT AND WANT TO THANK SOPHIE AND ISABEL, PAMELA AND YESENIA FOR THEIR HARD WORK WITH MANAGING OUR MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEM. MR. JONES. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. HE'S COMPLETED OUR REBRANDING PROJECT WITH OUR NEW LOGOS. HE HAS PARTNERED WITH OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE COMPANIES LOOKING AT MANNER FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT HE'S DOING AND THE PARTNERSHIPS HE'S ESTABLISHING, AND AS WELL AS BRINGING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO THE CITY OF MAYNARD THAT ARE LIVABLE WAGES AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. AND SO, UP UNTIL RECENTLY, THE BIGGEST EMPLOYER HAS BEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND NOW WITH ALL THE COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING TO THE AREA, WE HAVE SOME COMPANIES THAT WILL BE ABLE TO EMPLOY EMPLOY MORE THAN 500 EMPLOYEES. HE'S BEEN ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES TO MAYNARD, AND WE HAVE CLOSING THE GAP FOR ABOUT OVER 200 ACRES OF FUTURE RETAIL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMING THIS WAY. WARNOCK MATERIALS, WHICH IS A SUPPLIER AND CONNECTOR TO SAMSUNG, IS SLATED TO DO A $46 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE CITY OF MAYNARD. Y'ALL CAN CLAP FOR 46 MILLION. AND THEY'RE GOING TO BRING JOBS. FACILITY THAT'S GOING TO BE CENTERED AROUND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH, STORAGE, AND DISTRIBUTION. WE'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE AND READY TO START LOOKING AT OUR FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE 236 ACRES OF LAND THAT WE PURCHASED FOR THE CITY OF MAYNARD. THAT'S GOING TO BE A DESTINATION. SPACE WHERE WE HOPE TO ATTRACT REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ATTENTION. THAT AGAIN, BRINGING US RESIDENT REVENUE, BUT ALSO ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES AND LODGING OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR AREA. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'RE PROUD ABOUT IS THAT WE WERE LOOKING ON LOOKING AT HOW TO PLAY A PART IN AFFORDABILITY IN THIS AREA. AND SO COUNCIL MET WITH LEGAL AND CITY STAFF FOR SOME TIME. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE ENDED UP DOING WAS CREATING A PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION. 
          AND THIS PFC, WE LAUNCHED TWO PROJECTS AND ONE IS ACTUALLY ON THE CONSTRUCTION NOW. IT'S A WORKFORCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT'S THAT LOOKS LIKE MARKET RATE APARTMENT, BUT IS DEFINITELY FOR FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING AND DON'T NECESSARILY MAKE THE INCOME OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROJECT AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEXT PROJECT ON TOWER ROAD. THAT'S IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS OR THE PAPERWORK PROCESS, HOPING TO GET THE PERMITTING. AND THAT PROJECT AS WELL WILL, AGAIN, PROVIDE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING BETWEEN 40,000 AND $50,000 OR IN THAT RANGE, BUT CAN'T SEEM TO AFFORD TO STAY IN CENTRAL TEXAS. THESE PROJECTS WILL ALLOW FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE, AND SO WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND WE'RE THANKING THANKFUL TO W2 AND DOMINION FOR CHOOSING MAYNARD AND CHOOSING TO BUILD PRODUCTS THAT ARE THAT MEET OUR EXPECTATIONS, BUT ALSO PRODUCTS THAT THAT ARE A LABOR OF LOVE TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT DOWNTOWN FOR SOME TIME, AND I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE DO HAVE A STRATEGIC DOWNTOWN PLAN, AND WE HAVE A DOWNTOWN TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE. AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO IS ALLOW THE INCREASE OF PROPERTY VALUES. 
          AFTER OUR SET RATE WAS ESTABLISHED, A FEW MEETINGS BACK TO ALLOW THAT PROPERTY VALUE INCREASE TO ACTUALLY REINVEST INTO DOWNTOWN AREA. SO WE WON'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO OUT AND FIND DOLLARS. BUT IT SECURES ABOUT, I THINK, $40 MILLION OVER A SERIES OF SEVERAL YEARS THAT WILL BE REINVESTED INTO THIS DOWNTOWN AREA FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, SEWER, SIDEWALKS AND ALSO TO BRING MORE BUSINESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THE AREA. SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO SCOTT JONES AND THE CITY STAFF THAT DID THE NECESSARY PLANNING SO WE COULD MAKE THAT STRATEGIC PLAN AND THAT TOURS POSSIBLE. 
          AND THEN ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'RE PROUD ABOUT IS WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST TWO BUSINESSES, LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE. ECONOMY IS TOUGH RIGHT NOW. AND WHEN YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THE RENT GOES UP AND BUT THE SALES DO NOT. WE WERE ABLE THEY WERE ABLE TO TURN TO THE CITY AND THROUGH OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WE WERE ABLE TO HELP THEM OUT FOR, I THINK, A SIX MONTH PERIOD. AND THEN WE 
          [00:20:04]
EXTENDED IT TO SIX MONTH PERIOD FOR THOSE TWO BUSINESSES AS WELL. SO DEFINITELY ANOTHER POSITIVE ON OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AREA. THERE'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES COMING AND I'M NOT GOING TO OUT READ THEM ALL UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE SOME OTHER PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO CLAIM GET SOME CLAIM TO THE FAME AND THOSE DEPARTMENTS. BUT I WILL RUN THROUGH THEM REAL QUICK, JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE. AND SO IT'S FOR THE FOR THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OR ONLINE. NEW BUSINESSES, TRANSPAC LOGISTICS COMPANY, DOCTOR PEPPER AND KEURIG NATIONAL, NATIONAL NATIONAL EQUIPMENT DEALERS RACK ROOM SHOES, JERSEY MIKE'S MATTRESS FIRM TJ MAXX FIVE AND BELOW BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY, MCALISTER'S DELI, ULTA BEAUTY, JAMES AVERY, UPS, PLANET FITNESS, BREAKS PLUS DOLLAR TREE, STEPHEN MILLERS STATE FARM, EAST STILES HAIR SALON, PRESIDENTIAL SELF STORAGE, SPORTS CLIPS, TWIN LIQUORS, PAPA JOHN'S PACIFIC, PACIFIC DENTAL WAXING, THE CITY, TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE, AND MILK AND TEA, JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE NEW BUSINESSES COMING TO OUR CITY. AND THE POSITIVE ABOUT THIS IS IT'S JUST IN THE AREAS THAT THE FEW AREAS THAT ARE ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 1500 NEW JOBS AND ABOUT 400 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS. SO. NEXT UP IS MR. MIKE BURRELL, WHO'S BEEN SERVING AS OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. AND HE GETS HE WANTS. I LEFT A LITTLE BIT FOR YOU FOR YOUR PERMITS. SO YOU GOT SOME CLAIM TO FAME. BUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT THAT I WANT TO THROW OUT THERE IS AGAIN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. THEY DO THE PERMITTING. THEY MAKE SURE THEY WALK PEOPLE THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. AND SO THEY'RE DEALING WITH ABOUT 1400 PERMITS. AND I THINK WE EVEN GAVE YOU ALL SOME EXTRA STAFF IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO TO MANAGE THE INCREASE OF IN AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE HAVE GOING ON THREE MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON. TWO OF THOSE ARE THE CITY'S ABOUT 500 SINGLE FAMILY AND DUPLEX HOMES UNDERWAY, AND TWO NEW TEN NEW COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS. SO THESE ARE NOT WHAT I'VE ALREADY LISTED. SOLID AND GOLD CHICK FIL A, DUTCH BROTHERS PLATINUM 973 GAS STATION, HOME DEPOT, FROST BANK, SEVEN BREW COFFEE, UNIVERSAL, FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, CHILI'S AND HEB. 
          THAT'S A BIG ONE, AND THAT'S ABOUT A TOTAL OF ABOUT 313 MILLION IN NEW TAXABLE VALUES. 
          WITH THAT LIST, NEW PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS WAFFLE HOUSE, CHIPOTLE, POPEYES, VENTURA APARTMENTS, H2O, MIDAS, SAINT DAVID'S MEDICAL FACILITY, BOJANGLES, ANOTHER MCDONALD'S OFF OF PRESIDENTIAL GLEN HIGHLAND DAIRY, AND 5F5F MECHANICAL. AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT THESE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL IN PROGRESS, WHICH IS ABBOTT'S FROZEN CUSTARD DISCOUNT TIRE, THE MAINER ANIMAL HOSPITAL, TOWNEPLACE HOTEL, AND HAMPTON INN. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE COMING TO OUR CITY. I WANT TO THANK OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT LED ON, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF TRACY VASQUEZ, FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING, CREATING THE YOUTH INTERNSHIPS PROGRAMS. YOU DEFINITELY HAD A LOT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. STUDENTS FROM PFLUGERVILLE AND FROM MAYNARD ISD WITH WITH MATT WOODARD AND PUBLIC WORKS. AND OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING INTERNSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH THE CITY WHILE THEY'RE YOUNG. AND THEN THAT'S TRANSFERRING UP, AND IT'S CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO LEARN ABOUT THE CITY AND THE BENEFITS OF THE CITY AND HOW THEY CAN WORK HERE, LIVE HERE, AND, AND HAVE A NICE CAREER. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT WORK AND FOR CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE TRIBES COUNTY SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS ARE ARE SUPPORTED AND HAVE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. ANOTHER THING IS THAT SHE IN IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING OUR STAFF MORE BENEFITS, SHE ALSO WAS ABLE TO INCREASE SAVINGS OF $175,000 ANNUALLY. SO WE GOT MORE BENEFITS AND WE'RE SAVING MONEY. SO THANK YOU AND KUDOS TO YOU. MR. FIELD. 
          INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. HE'S BEEN WORKING TO INCREASE OUR COMMUNICATION NETWORK SYSTEMS. HE'S MOVED ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS TO AT&T, WHICH NOT ONLY GAVE US BETTER SERVICE BUT ALSO SOME SAVINGS. SO THANK YOU, SIR FOR THAT. UPDATING ALL OF OUR SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AND THEN TAKING ON MANAGING THE STREAMING TECHNICAL PIECES AND OUR CITY WEBSITE. SO SOME SOME TIME AGO, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO STREAM OUR MEETINGS AND WE COULD ONLY AUDIO RECORD AND POST IT ON A WEBSITE. 
          AND SO NOW YOU'RE ABLE TO WATCH LIVE AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT IN. SO WE 
          [00:25:06]
THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE TAKING PLACE. CHIEF RYAN AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AGAIN, UPDATING TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY EQUIPMENT, MAKING SURE THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE GETTING MORE TRAINING THAN ALL THE NEIGHBORING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. I WANTED TO JUMP TO SOME THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WERE PRETTY SPECTACULAR. IS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HOSTS 84 FREE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS. AND SOME OF THE HITS ARE THE COFFEE WITH THE COP, SHOP WITH THE COP, AND THEN THEIR TRAILER THAT CHIEF BROUGHT TO US THROUGH A COUNCIL MEETING WHERE WE OUTFITTED A TRAILER THAT THEY CAN TAKE INTO THE COMMUNITY. AND I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY IN STONEWATER AND THEY WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT TRAILER COMING. IT WAS LIKE, BRING IT BACK! MORE SO, SO DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE PROGRAMS WITH OFFICER ROCK MEN IN THE SCHOOL. SO I THINK YOU CAN POLICE A COMMUNITY OR YOU CAN BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. AND I'M THANKFUL THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKS TO BE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO THREE THINGS. ALSO WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS STAFF MEMBERS THAT HELP THAT WE CALL CITIES CALL COUNTIES CALL WHEN THEY NEED HELP IN EMERGENCIES. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW CHIEF DID IT, BUT CHIEF WAS ABLE TO RECRUIT ONE OF THEIR TOP FOLKS TO BE OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSON FOR OUR CITY. AND SO WHICH IS A HUGE NEED BEING OUT HERE ON THE, ON THE, ON THE OUTSKIRTS. AND NOW WE ARE WE'RE GOOD TO GO FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SO THAT'S A POSITIVE. WE HAVE OUR DETECTIVE EATON, WHO RECEIVED OFFICER OF THE YEAR IN CENTRAL TEXAS FOR HER EFFECTIVENESS AND LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AND CHILDREN CRIMES. AND SO WE HAVE SOME EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENT OFFICERS IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT, THEY ALSO WROTE GRANTS AND BROUGHT IN ANOTHER $467,000 TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY EVENTS, TRAINING AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ONE OF THE OTHER BIG QUESTIONS IS WHAT ABOUT OUR ROADS? AND SO MATT WOODARD OVERSEES OUR PUBLIC WORKS. AND I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO CALCULATE HOW MANY MILES WORTH OF STREETS WE FIXED. BUT I CAN TELL YOU 16 STREETS BETWEEN US HIGHWAY PALMER 973 AND LEXINGTON, SOUTH LEXINGTON AND THAT BOX, IF YOU WILL, ABOUT 16 STREETS GOT REPAIRED WITHIN ONE YEAR, ABOUT A ONE YEAR'S WORTH OF TIME. SO. THE MAJORITY OF WHICH IS DOWN IS IN THIS DOWNTOWN AREA. SO WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A LOT OF LOVE DOWN THERE THIS WAY. AND SO APPRECIATE THAT WORK. AGAIN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SUPPORT FOR OVER 17 COMMUNITY EVENTS. WORKING TO IMPROVE OUR WATER QUALITY, WATER WATER QUALITY BY INSTALLING HYDRANT FLUSHERS SO THAT THEY CAN BE AUTOMATED AND THEN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE TEXAS WATER UTILITY ASSOCIATION AND TEXAS WATER BOARD SO THAT WE ARE STAYING AHEAD OF OUR WATER NEEDS AND WE DON'T GET TO A SPACE WHERE WE HAVE WATER CRISIS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND SO UPKEEPING ON OUR WATER WELLS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU, SIR, FOR TAKING CARE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE STREETS, OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS AND THE WATER AND OUR WASTEWATER. NEXT UP IS OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AREA. AND THAT'S MISS YOLANDA SANTANA. AND OH, THERE YOU ARE IN THE BACK. AND SO IF YOU NOTICE, WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT MORE EVENTS AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I JUST WANT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT WE'RE DOING. BUT I'M ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW ATTENDING OUR EVENTS. AND SO THE NEW EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD WAS THE EASTER EGG DROP, WHERE WE HAD ABOUT 2800 PEOPLE ATTEND OUT THERE ON OUR NEW PROPERTY, OFF OF 290 EAST MANOR DEVELOPMENT ONE. AND THEN WE'VE ADDED A MOVIE NIGHTS WHERE WE HOST MOVIES IN THE PARK. WE DID ABOUT FOUR EVENINGS OUT THERE. WE BROUGHT IN HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION, AND THEN WE HAD THE MAYOR'S BALL, WHICH WAS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CELEBRATED AND HONORED PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY TAKING CARE OF THE COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND, AND, AND DIDN'T DO IT FOR THE RECOGNITION. BUT IT WAS NICE TO BE NICE AND RECOGNIZE PEOPLE. SO EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY AND SOMETHING WE PLAN ON CONTINUING TO DOING AND USING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO FUND AND SUPPORT MORE COMMUNITY ENDEAVORS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL EVENTS WHERE WE HAD MANOR PALOOZA, WHICH IS ONE OF 
          [00:30:05]
OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS. WE HAD ABOUT 4000 PEOPLE THERE. JUNETEENTH HAD ABOUT 400 PEOPLE, 4TH OF JULY 6000 PEOPLE, VETERANS DAY ANOTHER 100 PEOPLE, AND THEN HOLIDAY IN THE PARK, WHICH HAD ABOUT 2600 PEOPLE. SO WE HAVE I REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS JUST A HANDFUL OF SOME OF OUR EVENTS AND, AND THE RESIDENTS ARE APPRECIATIVE AND THEY'RE SHOWING UP, AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE IT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND ALLOWS US TO SHARE SPACE, LAUGH, ENJOY SOME MUSIC AND SOME FOOD, AND GO HOME MORE NEIGHBORLY AND WITH MORE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. WE ALSO HAD A BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT WHERE WE SUPPORTED ONE OF OUR LOCAL BARBERS WITH THE BACK TO SCHOOL HAIRCUT EVENT, AND THEN WE'VE HAD, I THINK, OUR SECOND FIVE K EVENT. AND SO IF YOU'RE INTO FIVE K'S, YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN. 
          IF YOU CAN WALK THAT LONG, WE'LL DO. WE HAVE IT I THINK IT'S IN JUNE COMING UP. SO WE HAVE A COMMUNITY DAY WHERE IT'S A5K. BUT WE ALSO HAVE EVENTS FOR ALL AT THE PARK. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WALK. YOU CAN JUST COME THERE AND ENJOY THE FOOD AND THE FUN. SO. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'RE PROUD ABOUT IS OUR YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. AGAIN, WHEN WE WERE DOING DOOR TO DOOR DURING CAMPAIGN, PEOPLE WERE ASKING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR THE YOUTH? AND SO WE LAUNCHED A YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL ARE NOW COMMISSIONERS, AND THEY'LL LEAD A GROUP OF STUDENTS, AND THEY WILL SERVE AS AN ADVISORY TO CITY COUNCIL. THEY LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS, THEY'LL GET TO NETWORK. AND ACTUALLY, THIS PAST WEEKEND, THEY WERE DOWN IN CORPUS BEAUMONT. THEY WERE DOWN IN BEAUMONT MEETING OTHER STUDENTS THAT WERE THAT HAD THE SAME DRIVE AND DESIRES AS THEM TO LEARN ABOUT CITY GOVERNMENT AND TO LEARN HOW THEY CAN BECOME A POSITIVE AND STRONG VOICE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO NOT ONLY ARE WE BUILDING PROGRAMS FOR YOU, BUT WE'RE DEVELOPING OUR YOUTH SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE OVER WHEN WE'RE GONE BECAUSE WE WON'T BE HERE FOREVER. AND I'M NOT TRYING TO DO THIS FOREVER. NO. SO DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND WE GOT TO INTERVIEW THEM. AND I TELL YOU WHAT, WE HAVE SOME AWESOME YOUNG PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OUR CITY. AND ANYTIME YOU GET A CHANCE TO MENTOR A VOLUNTEER IN THE SCHOOLS OR JUST MEET SOME OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU WILL BE IMPRESSED WITH HIGH INTELLIGENCE ARE THE INTEGRITY THEY POSSESS AND THEY'RE THEIR PASSION FOR CHANGE. SO LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WITH THAT IS WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION AND STILL A MAJOR GOAL FOR US. WE WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE OUR FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS FROM 4000 TO 10,000 FOLLOWERS, WHICH IS A HUGE POSITIVE. WE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING FROM FACEBOOK ON THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT NUMBER YOU HAVE TO HAVE, BUT WE HAVE 10,000 NOW. AND THEN WE ALSO CREATED INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT AND HAVE ABOUT A THOUSAND THERE. AND SO THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION IS GETTING TO THEM ON THE PLATFORM THAT THEY PREFER. SO WHAT'S NEXT? A LOT, BUT I CAN'T TELL IT ALL. I CANNOT TELL IT ALL. WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING AND THAT STARTS AT 7:00, SO WE GOTTA PAUSE FOR THE CAUSE A LITTLE BIT. SO BUT I WILL TELL YOU SOME THINGS THAT STAFF SHARE WITH ME AND SOME THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT TO SHARE IN REGARDS TO WHAT'S NEXT THIS YEAR AND ONGOING. ONE TOP ONE ON THE LIST. FINISH THE WORK WITH CTRA, TXDOT AND CAMPO ON FINISHING THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, BUT THEN ALSO SECURING THE FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN GET AN ELEVATED HIGHWAY ON 290 AND 973. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK AND HOW IT'S PROGRESSING. ON 973. WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD MEETINGS, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN SOME BLUEPRINTS OF WHAT THAT ROLE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, LOOK LIKE, AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME SOON, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT SOME OPPORTUNITIES THIS SPRING WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BRING THESE AGENCIES INTO THE CITY, AND YOU'LL GET A CHANCE TO GIVE THEM SOME FEEDBACK ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND SO THIS HAPPENED YEARS AGO, AND PEOPLE THAT WANTED THE ROADS DIDN'T SHOW UP, AND THE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T WANT THE ROADS SHOWED UP. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THAT'S THE MAIN REASON WHY RIGHT NOW WHY WE DO NOT HAVE THE HIGHWAYS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH. SO IF YOU ARE OUT THERE AND YOU'VE BEEN WANTING TO SEE SOME HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT WHEN WE ANNOUNCE THOSE DATES, PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT THE DIAGRAMS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHARING AT THOSE MEETINGS. A FEW YEARS BACK, WE TALKED ABOUT A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, AND WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A REGIONAL LEADER IN OUR CITY, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A STRONG CITY? AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE PRESENCE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENTITIES. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOL 
          [00:35:04]
SYSTEM, FIRE EMERGENCY SERVICES. YOU HAVE TO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL THOSE STAKEHOLDERS, BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION, AND YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE QUALITY HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS. AND SO WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS TRYING TO ATTRACT A REGIONAL MEDICAL FACILITY TO THIS AREA. IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO GO TO A DOCTOR, A PRIMARY CARE OR SPECIALTY CARE, YOU ALREADY KNOW YOU HAVE TO DRIVE OUT MAYBE MINIMUM 15 MILES. MY WIFE JUST HAD SURGERY NOT TOO LONG AGO, AND WE WERE WAY OFF OF THE TOLL 45 IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN ROUND ROCK AREA FOR THAT. AND IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT BECAUSE EVERYONE DOES NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION. 
          AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TO GET TO CERTAIN APPOINTMENTS AT CERTAIN TIMES, YOU END UP MISSING THEM. AND IT'S VERY TOUGH ON ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS. AND SO HAVING ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE OPPORTUNITIES HERE DOES A NUMBER OF A FEW THINGS. ONE, IT ALLOWS FOR THE COMMUTE TO SHORTEN NOT ONLY FOR MAINER, BUT FOR THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS AROUND MAYNARD AND ALSO FOR THE CITY OF ELGIN, AND ALSO FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN BASTROP COUNTY THAT ARE NOT CLOSE TO BASTROP. AND SO WE'RE ACTUALLY SOLVING AN ISSUE FOR TWO COUNTIES AND MULTIPLE CITIES BY BRINGING A REGIONAL HOSPITAL TO THE AREA. THE OTHER THING IT DOES IS THERE'S A NURSING SHORTAGE. THERE'S A SHORTAGE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD. AND SO HAVING SOMETHING THIS CLOSE AND THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAVE ALREADY LOOKED AT WHO, WHO'S THE TARGET POPULATION THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO ATTRACT INTO THIS FIELD. AND IT'S MAYNOR. IT'S EVERYONE AROUND MAYNARD. HOWEVER, THE SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES AND THE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ARE TOO FAR FOR OUR STUDENTS TO GET TO. SO HAVING A REGIONAL MEDICAL FACILITY HERE SHORTENS THAT COMMUTE. AND THEN IT ALLOWS FOR EVERYONE IN THIS AREA TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN THE HOSPITAL, GET THE TRAINING, GET THE PRACTICUM EXPERIENCES, AND THEN TRANSITION INTO A CAREER. THEN AGAIN, NOT TO MENTION IT ALSO PROVIDES THE CARE THAT WE NEED IN THIS AREA. 
          AND SO WHAT YOU WILL SEE COMING THROUGH, WE'VE ANNOUNCED THAT SAINT DAVIS MEDICAL WILL BE PUTTING STARTING A FOOTPRINT IN THE AREA WITH AN EMERGENCY CARE FACILITY THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW. WE WILL BE WORKING WITH ONE OF OUR DEVELOPERS TO ALSO BRING IN A AND OUR LEGAL TEAM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT A MEDICAL DISTRICT LOOKS LIKE AND ESTABLISHING THE MEDICAL DISTRICT WHERE WE ARE. WE'LL SAY THIS AREA RIGHT HERE OF LAND IS ONLY FOR MEDICAL COMPLEXES, MEDICAL FOR DOCTORS OR FOR WHATEVER YOUR CARE IS. AND SO THAT DESIGNATION WOULD THEN ALLOW FOR US TO ATTRACT SOME OF THE BUSINESSES OUT THIS WAY, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC SPACE FOR THEM. AND, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE MORE CONVERSATIONS OR MORE INFORMATION COMING FROM US ABOUT THAT. THE MEDICAL COMPLEX. SO WE'VE HAD SOME REAL GOOD FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN INTERESTED. AND MAYNARD, AS A SITE AND VERY ASSERTIVE, IF VERY ASSERTIVE AND RESPONDING BACK AND TRYING TO SEE THIS PROJECT THROUGH. SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT ONE. IN ADDITION, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT INCREASING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THROUGH RIDE SHARE INITIATIVES. AND SO WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES INTO THE CITY. WE EXPLORED SOME OF THAT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, I THINK, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING THAT BACK TO THE TABLE. WE TRY TO BE VERY PROACTIVE. AND SO WE KNOW WE HAVE WATER FOR A WHILE. AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING FOR WATER FOR 2050 AND BEYOND. AND SO THAT'S A POSITIVE TO BE IN A PLACE TO WHERE WE CAN LOOK DOWN FROM HERE 25 YEARS AND START PLANNING FOR 25 YEARS OUT. SO AGAIN, KUDOS TO MR. WOODARD AND MR. MOORE FOR THAT LEADERSHIP. AND OUR CITY ENGINEER FIRM. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO NOT ONLY DO AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME FOR SOME DEVELOPERS AND INVESTORS TO DO SINGLE FAMILY AFFORDABLE HOMES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT TO CREATE GENERATIONAL WEALTH, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO OWN SOMETHING. AND SO OUR HOPE IS THAT IF WE CAN CREATE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE CAN BUY A HOME IN MAYNARD, IT'S AFFORDABLE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY OWN AND IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN PASS DOWN TO THEIR KIDS. AND SO WE'RE THANKFUL THAT WE'VE WE'VE PUT A SMALL CALL OUT AND WE'VE GOTTEN SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE CALLING BACK WITH INTEREST IN THAT PROJECT. WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE REGIONAL SEWER PLANT AND WORKING TO BRING IN THE CITY OF ELGIN SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE UTILITIES FOR YEARS TO COME FOR THIS AREA, TO BRING IN THE TYPE OF EMPLOYERS THAT WANT TO COME TO THIS AREA, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE UTILITIES. AND SO WE HAVE SOME EXPERTS ON OUR TEAM AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE US FORWARD. GBA AS WELL. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S HERE FROM GBA, BUT THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING TO MOVE US DOWN THE PATH FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER IN THE 
          [00:40:08]
FUTURE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS. BUILDING ON VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. AND SO LAST YEAR, MISS YOLANDA AND COUNCIL WORKED TOGETHER TO CREATE SEVERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SO THAT WE CAN START INVITING NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WORK TO DO EVENTS WITH US IN A MANNER THAT CAN THAT WILL BE SUSTAINABLE. IF YOU'VE LIVED IN ANOTHER CITY, THERE'S THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU CAN GO AND YOU CAN PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS. SAUL PAUL IS HERE. I KNOW HE'S HAD A LOT OF GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH THAT, WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AND SO WE'RE WE'VE WORKED LAST YEAR TO PUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN START CREATING THOSE EXPERIENCES FOR RESIDENTS AND FOR NONPROFITS IN THIS AREA. SO WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED TO MOVE IN PHASE TWO OF THAT AREA. I TALKED ABOUT A LEARNING CITY ON MARCH 9TH. RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT'S STILL AT THE NEW TECH SCHOOL. WE WILL BE HAVING OUR FIRST EVENT. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A NAME FOR IT, SO WE'LL JUST CALL IT THE MAYNARD LEARNING CITY EVENT. AND WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THAT DAY IS THE JUMP START TO US BECOMING A LEARNING. WHAT IS IT? EMPOWER MAYNARD. THERE WE GO. THAT'S THE NAME EMPOWER MAINTENANCE. SO WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THAT DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IS THE JUMP START FOR THIS CULTURE. WE WANT TO ESTABLISH IN OUR CITY WHERE WE'RE LIFELONG LEARNERS. BUT WE HAVE TO BECOME NEIGHBORLY, BUT WE WILL BECOME NEIGHBORLY THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND SO IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, CHRIS HARVEY IS A SKILLED MECHANIC, AND I HAVE NEIGHBORS ON MY STREET THAT DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DO SOME BASIC CAR MAINTENANCE. AND THIS LEARNING CULTURE WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE, WE WILL HAVE THESE EMPOWER MAYNOR DAYS. AND ON THESE DAYS, CHRIS HARVEY WOULD THEN OFFER A FREE CLASS ON SOME BASIC CAR MAINTENANCE THINGS. WE WILL WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER ENTITIES TO HOST THESE SPACES. SO NOW I CAN SHARE MY EXPERTISE WITH MY NEIGHBORS OR WHOMEVER WANTS TO COME. SOMEONE ELSE LOVES TO CROCHET. THEY WOULD. MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE WANTS TO LEARN HOW TO DO THAT. ON THIS WORKSHOP DAY, YOU WOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. PUBLIC SAFETY I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO DO SELF-DEFENSE. I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO DO ZUMBA. WHATEVER SKILL SET THAT YOU HAVE, YOU WILL BE ABLE ON THIS DAY TO OFFER IT TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE HOST THE SPACE FOR YOU. WE HELP WITH THE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND ALL THAT AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. AND CONSEQUENTLY FROM THAT, WE START TO BECOME MORE NEIGHBORLY. WE'RE LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER. WE'RE WE'RE MEETING PEOPLE. WE WOULD HAVE WE WOULD HAVE NOT MET BEFORE. WE'RE UNITING AND COMING TOGETHER ON A COMMONALITIES AND STRENGTHS AND SKILLS AND HOBBIES. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, NOW WHEN I SEE THAT PERSON THAT I HELPED TEACH HOW TO CHANGE THE OIL AT WALMART OR AT H-E-B OR WHEREVER I SEE THEM, OR WHEN I'M DRIVING ON 290 AND I'M FRUSTRATED, I MAY NOT YELL AND HONK AT THEM BECAUSE, OH, THAT'S SO-AND-SO. I'M GONNA BE NICE BECAUSE THAT'S WHO THAT IS. I RECOGNIZE THEM SO, AND THE IDEA IS THAT THE MORE WE BECOME NEIGHBORLY, THE MORE WE INTERACT, THEN THE NICER WE ARE ON THE HIGHWAYS, THE NICER WE ARE IN OUR INTERACTIONS. AND IF WE'RE NICE AND WE'RE COMPASSIONATE AND WE LOVE LOVING TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER, THEN THOSE OUR STUDENTS START TO GROW UP IN SOME OF THAT OLD VILLAGE TYPE OF SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN'T THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING ANY OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT ARE WRONG, BECAUSE THAT'S SO AND SO, AND THEY KNOW MY MOM, THEY KNOW MY DAD, THEY KNOW MY GRANNY, THEY KNOW MY UNCLE. AND SO WE START BUILDING A CULTURE OVER TIME WHERE PEOPLE WHERE STUDENTS ONLY THINK ABOUT SUCCESS AND ONLY THINK ABOUT LEADERSHIP, AND THEY ONLY THINK ABOUT POSITIVE THINGS. BUT IT TAKES A VILLAGE. AND SO THIS IS THE CITY'S EFFORT IN CREATING THAT LEARNING CULTURE AND PUTTING PEN TO PAPER AND PUTTING ACTION BEHIND OUR OUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING COMMUNITY AND UNITING OUR CITY. THE OTHER THING WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AGAIN, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. AND I IF I STAY ON THIS TOPIC, WE'LL BE HERE FOREVER. AND THAT'S JUST GETTING THESE BOND PROJECTS GOING. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO BE. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE THINGS WE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IN THOSE FACILITIES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE COLLABORATION AND CONNECTION THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ONCE THESE BUILDINGS ARE UP AND RESURRECTED, PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GO AND HAVE BOOK CLUBS, STUDY WHATEVER. ALL KINDS OF THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN FROM THIS PLACE, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR PARTNERS ON THAT 80 ACRES AND THE THINGS THAT THEY SEE AND THE VISION THAT THEY CAST AND HOW WE GAVE THEM FEEDBACK AS COUNCIL AND CITY WORKERS. AND THEY CAME UP WITH AN ARTISTIC DESIGN THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE PLEASING AND VERY ENJOYABLE TO THE CITY OF MINOR. I'M EXCITED ABOUT ONE MORE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, AND 
          [00:45:05]
IF YOU'VE RAISED YOUR HAND, IF YOU'VE LIVED IN MAINE FOR OVER 30 YEARS, I KNOW YOU MISS RUTH. 
          A FEW OF Y'ALL, SOME OF Y'ALL. OR IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE AND PEOPLE JUST KIND OF TOLD YOU ABOUT OLD MAINER, THERE WAS A SPACE WHERE YOU COULD A PLACE YOU COULD GO HANG OUT, HAVE SOME FUN, MAYBE HAVE SOME ADULT BEVERAGES. AND THIS PLACE WAS CALLED MAINER DOWNS. MAINER DOWNS IS ONE OF THOSE SPOTS THAT IS LIKE SOME OTHER SPACES IN MAINE WHERE IT'S ON THE EDGE OF OUR CITY. AND A FEW YEARS BACK, THE STATE OF TEXAS WAS LISTENING TO LOBBYISTS AND LARGER METROPOLITAN METRO CITIES, AND THEY SAID, HEY, WE DON'T WANT TO BE LANDLOCKED. AND SO WE LIKE FOR YOU TO PASS A BILL THAT ALLOWS US TO EXTEND OUR BOUNDARIES OUT. AND WHEN THEY DID THAT, MAINER LOST A LOT OF LAND TO THE COUNTY AND TO THE ETJ OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THAT IS HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT TO US. MAINER DOWNS WAS ONE OF THOSE AREAS, AND AS A RESORT RESULT, RESULT, IT WAS SOLD AND PLANS WERE MADE TO TURN IT INTO TO BRING IN SOME WAREHOUSES. THAT'S GOING TO BE JOBS AND SO FORTH. AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT. WE WERE HEARTBROKEN AS COUNCIL AND WE WAS LIKE, MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST CALL THEM AND ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE CITY AND COME BACK INTO THE CITY. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE POSITIVELY HAPPENING, BUT I'M VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT ONE, THE CITY, THEY CAME AND THEY AND WE ARE ANNEXING THEM BACK INTO THE CITY OF MAINER. SO THAT LAND IS BACK IN MAINER AND TWO. YEAH, PLEASE. AND TWO, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH US TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING ON HOW WE CAN HONOR THE LEGACY OF MAINER DOWNS AND THAT AND THAT. SO MORE DETAILS TO COME ON THAT. BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A COMMITMENT TO THE VISION THAT WE'VE CAST FOR THE CITY. AND THEY'RE NOT JUST THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS WE'RE WORKING WITH ARE HERE FOR THE PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE BUILDING SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE MAKING A PROFIT, BUT THEY'RE HERE FOR THE PEOPLE. AND THAT THAT THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES INTO THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE. CHALLENGES AHEAD. 
          I'D BE REMISS IF I DID NOT RECOGNIZE WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY. THE PURPOSE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES. IT'S NOT. IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE. IT'S FRUSTRATING TO SEE ON NEWS MEDIA OUTLETS, SOCIAL MEDIA THAT SO MANY LEADERS ARE CHOOSING POLITICS OVER THE PEOPLE. BROTHER DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SAID AN INDIVIDUAL HAS STARTED LIVING, HAS NOT STARTED LIVING UNTIL HE CAN RISE ABOVE THE NARROW CONFINES OF HIS INDIVIDUALISTIC CONCERNS TO THE BROADER CONCERNS OF HUMANITY, OF ALL HUMANITY. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE THE GREATEST PRIORITY OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT HE OR SHE OR HIM, OR FIND HIMSELF OR HERSELF LEADING A LIFE THAT STANDS FOR JUSTICE, WALKS UPRIGHT, RUNS TO LEND A HAND, AND JUMPS AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. MARTIN LUTHER KING ALSO SAID THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE, BUT WHERE HE STANDS AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY. MAYNARD, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IN THIS TIME OF ADVERSITY, DIFFICULTY, UNCERTAINTY AND DESPAIR, I STAND WITH YOU, ALL OF YOU, DOCTOR KING SAID. OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER. WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE PLAGUING OUR COMMUNITY. SO HERE IT GOES. WHEN WE DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER AND WE ARE TRAPPED IN OUR BELIEFS AND ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T KNOW, WE WILL OPERATE IN FEAR AND HATE. WE WILL STEREOTYPE. WE WILL TURN A BLIND EYE. WE WILL BE A PART OF THE PROBLEM FOR NOT STEPPING UP TO BECOME PART OF THE SOLUTION. WE WILL STAY IN THE COMFORT OF IGNORANCE AT THE EXPENSE OF WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS RIGHT, AND EVEN AT OUR OWN DETRIMENT OF OUR OWN FUTURE. THE TIME IS NOW TO TURN THE PAGE ON ISOLATION. 
          SAFETY STARTS BY LIVING SAFELY. LET'S COMBAT FEAR BY GETTING TO KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS. STEP OUTSIDE, KNOCK ON THE DOOR, INTRODUCE YOURSELF. HAVE A MEAL TOGETHER. LEARN YOUR SIMILARITIES. APPRECIATE AND ACCEPT YOUR DIFFERENCES. OUR DIFFERENCES IS WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE. OUR DIFFERENCES. OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH. INTERESTING FACT FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON SAID YES, GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE BOSOM OF AMERICA IS OPEN TO 
          [00:50:01]
RECEIVE NOT ONLY THE OPULENT WHICH IS RICH OR LAVISH AND RESPECTED STRANGER, BUT THE OPPRESSED AND PERSECUTED OF ALL NATIONS AND RELIGIONS, WHOM WE SHALL SHALL WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE OF ALL OUR RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES. FORMER GEORGE BUSH GEORGE W BUSH SAID, CONFIRMED THIS THOUGHT BY SAYING NEARLY ALL AMERICANS HAVE ANCESTORS WHO HAVE BRAVED THE OCEANS LIBERTY LOVING RISK TAKERS IN SEARCH OF AN IDEA. IMMIGRATION IS NOT JUST A LINK TO AMERICA'S PAST. IT IS ALSO A BRIDGE TO AMERICA'S FUTURE. FROM 1780 TO 2009, FROM GEORGE TO GEORGE, WE ARE HEARING A NEED TO HAVE A LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND, AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COUNTRY WE LOVE, THAT OUR ANCESTORS DIED FOR, SERVES AS A REFUGE FOR THE BROKEN AND HOPE FOR THE NEEDY. 
          WHAT IS AMERICA IF WE ERASE THOSE 240 YEARS OF HISTORY REGARDING LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS? IF THESE PRINCIPLES ARE A PART OF THE GREATNESS OF OUR COUNTRY, ABANDONING THEM ONLY DEMOLISHES OUR PILLARS OF HOPE THAT SERVE AS LEVEES, PREVENTING AND HOLDING BACK DESTITUTE HATRED, DESPAIR, AND DISENFRANCHISEMENT. SO WHAT CAN WE DO WHEN IT SEEMS THAT ALL HOPE IS GONE? WE STAND. WE FIND HOPE IN THE MIGHTY AND POWERFUL GOD. WE CONFESS LIVING IN OUR COMFORT, AND WE TURN TOWARDS LOVE, COMPASSION, GRACE, PEACE, KINDNESS, AND COMMUNITY. 
          I'VE REACHED OUT TO OUR FAITH COMMUNITY. I'VE ASKED THEM TO START MEETING WITH ME REGULARLY TO TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I'LL ASK THEM TO ENGULF US IN PRAYER, ENCOURAGEMENT, COUNSELING, AND RESOURCES THAT OUR FAMILIES MAY NEED DURING THIS TIME. I HOPE THAT THEY MAY SERVE AS A SAFE PLACE FOR THOSE SEEKING ANSWERS AND ADVICE. LAST, I WILL ASK THEM THAT THEY REMIND PEOPLE OR TEACH PEOPLE THE LORD IS MY LIGHT, MY SALVATION. SALVATION. WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS MY STRONGHOLD OF MY LIFE. OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID? WHEN THE WICKED ADVANCE AGAINST ME TO DEVOUR ME, IT IS MY ENEMIES AND MY FOES WHO WILL STUMBLE AND FALL. THOUGH AN ARMY BESIEGE ME, MY HEART WOULD NOT FEAR. THOUGH WAR BREAK OUT AGAINST ME. EVEN THOUGH I WILL, EVEN THEN I WILL BE CONFIDENT. ONE THING I ASK FROM THE LORD, THIS ONLY DO I SEEK THAT I MAY DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, TO GAZE ON THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD AND SEEK HIM IN HIS TEMPLE. FOR IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE HE WILL KEEP ME SAFE IN HIS DWELLING. HE WILL HIDE ME IN THE SHELTER OF HIS SACRED TENT AND SET ME HIGH UPON A ROCK. THEN MY HEAD WILL BE EXALTED ABOVE MY ENEMIES WHO SURROUND ME. AND AT HIS SACRED TENT I WILL SACRIFICE WITH SHOUTS OF JOY. I WILL SING AND MAKE MUSIC TO THE LORD. LET'S CONTINUE TO BUILD MAYNARD STRONG. LET'S CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. ALWAYS WORKING TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.