[00:00:02]
[CALL TO ORDER]
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.I APPRECIATE YOU BEING PATIENT WITH US AS WE GET STARTED.
A FEW MINUTES LATE, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
THIS WILL CALL TO ORDER THE WORKSHOP SESSION FOR THE CITY OF PRINCETON TODAY'S JANUARY 8TH, 2024.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH A ROLL CALL.
THAT WILL PUT US INTO OUR WORK SESSION AGENDA.
[WORK SESSION AGENDA]
WE WILL BEGIN WITH AGENDA ITEM 2020 4-WS-002 BOARD APPOINTMENTS.ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS? I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF YOU GUYS AND ALL OF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN NERVOUS.
DON'T BE NERVOUS. SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
UM, I'M GOING TO READ THROUGH.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH EDC.
WE'LL DO EDC, CDC PLANNING AND ZONING, AND THEN WE'LL END WITH LIBRARY.
I'M GOING TO CALL YOUR NAME IF YOU'LL COME UP, SINCE THERE'S A BUNCH OF US HERE TONIGHT.
AND WE'VE GOT TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THESE IN AN HOUR.
JUST GIVE ME A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
SO WE'VE ALREADY GOT YOUR APPLICATION.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN EVERYTHING.
YOU DON'T NEED TO GO BACK OVER THAT.
WE GOT TO KEEP IT SHORT. ALL RIGHT.
MIKE THOMPSON IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING.
YES, PLEASE. AND JUST MAKE SURE YOU TURN THE MIC ON.
GOOD EVENING. STUDENTS, BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, MY NAME IS E MARCUS BINGHAM, I'M CURRENTLY ON THE EDC, AND I'M HERE TO RENEW THAT.
I FEEL LIKE, UH, I'M A GOOD ASSET HERE ON THE EDC.
AS A FATHER, AS A HUSBAND, AS AN ENTREPRENEUR HERE IN THE CITY, I FEEL LIKE THAT I ADD VALUE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN.
GENTLEMEN, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR TERENCE JOHNSON.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL.
UH, I'M TERRENCE JOHNSON, CURRENTLY SERVING ON THE EDC BOARD.
UH, I'M HERE TO RENEW THAT APPLICATION OR THAT APPOINTMENT, RATHER, IF YOU SEE FIT.
UH, I WOULD SAY THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, WE'RE BASICALLY, UH, WE JUST AMENDED BYLAWS.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL.
I'VE BEEN SERVING ON THE EDC BOARD FOR ABOUT THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
UM, AND I JUMPED ON THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I MOVED TO PRINCETON ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
AND IMMEDIATELY, PART PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE OPPORTUNITY HERE IN A GROWING COMMUNITY.
AND SO I'VE SERVED ON THE LAST FOR THE SIX MONTHS.
UM, JUST BEING HONEST, IT TOOK ME ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO GET MY FEET WET ON THE GROUND GOING.
BUT I'VE ENJOYED SERVING UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR CHAIRMAN, MR. JOHNSON. UM, AS HE MENTIONED, WE HAVE DONE A LOT OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE AND TAKING BIG STEPS, UM, THAT ARE GOING TO BRING ABOUT SOME POSITIVE THINGS TO THIS COMMUNITY, UH, OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, UM, IT IS A CRUCIAL TIME IN THIS CITY'S DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND SO I HAVE SUBMITTED MY RENEWAL APPLICATION FOR THAT SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE.
[00:05:05]
UH, GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN.MY NAME IS PATSY SHEEHAN, AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED I GUESS I'VE BEEN HERE IN FOR 15 YEARS.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY GROW.
WE'RE GROWING IN THE WAY OF EXPANDING WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
AND I'M HERE ALSO TO RENEW UH, WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE EDC MEETING, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CONTINUE. AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF THINGS, BECAUSE MY LATE HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED A LOT WITH THE CITY.
AND SO THE WATER DEPARTMENT PLUS THE CITY COUNCIL, AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE US BECOME A COMMUNITY, LIKE YOU SEE AROUND LIKE THE COLONY OR SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT I'VE BEEN TO.
I WANT US TO BE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND WANT TO BE HERE.
UM, I HAVE ACTUALLY LIVED IN PRINCETON SINCE 2015.
UM, CURRENTLY HOA PRESIDENT OF THE TRAILS OF RIVERSTONE.
I WAS PREVIOUSLY ON THE CDC, UM, FOR A FEW YEARS.
TOOK A BREAK TO RUN A BUSINESS, UM, IN DOWNTOWN MCKINNEY WITH MY HUSBAND.
UM, SO NOW I'M LOOKING TO JUMP BACK IN TO CDC, EDC, P&Z AND WHEREVER I'M NEEDED.
UM, I SEE GROWTH, AND I REALLY WANT TO BE PART OF THAT, ESPECIALLY FOR MY CHILD, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL STAY HERE AFTER ME AND CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF NOT ONLY PRINCETON, BUT OF OUR FAMILY, UM, FOR THAT GROWTH.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM.
I'M NOT AS SEASONED AS EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS CROWD.
UM, BUT THE GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC HERE IS YOUNGER FOLKS, AND I BELIEVE I CAN REACH THEM.
I ALSO HAVE FAMILY MOVED HERE, PROBABLY LIKE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, TWO YEARS.
UM, I WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES TO MOVE TO THE CITY AS WELL.
UM, SO I BELIEVE I CAN, I'M A FINANCE GUY, SO I BELIEVE I CAN, UM, ADD VALUE IN THAT WAY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE ARCADIA FARMS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
I WAS ON THE HOME RULES COMMITTEE, AND I WOULD, UH, LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE CITY TO HELP WATCH IT GROW. I'VE ONLY LIVED IN HALTOM FOR THREE YEARS NOW, BUT I THINK FRESH EYES, FRESH VOICE MAKES A DIFFERENCE. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MR. HARRELL IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING.
GOOD EVENING, I'M BOB JEMISON.
I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN PRINCETON.
BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS, BUT MY WIFE HAS ACTUALLY BORN AND BRED HERE IN PRINCETON AND WENT TO SCHOOL HERE FOR ALL OF HER GRADE SCHOOL YEARS. UH, I'M VERY STRONG ON, UH, THE WHOLE ACTIVITY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND THE, UH, I'VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE IN MY PAST, OVER THE YEARS, UH, IN THE STATE OF KANSAS, I WAS ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF THEIR KANSAS CAVALRY, WHICH WAS A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION MADE UP OF BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY TRAVELED AROUND THE US TO BRING INDUSTRY INTO THEIR COMMUNITY.
[00:10:08]
1970S AND 1980S THAT ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED.SO, UH, BUT, UH, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY AND HOPEFULLY I CAN GET ON HERE.
GOOD EVENING. I AM MICHELLE, I'M CURRENTLY SERVING ON THE CDC BOARD, UM, AND ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
THE CDC BOARD IS ON A GREAT PATH, AND I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONTINUE THIS DIRECTION.
AND I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE BEING INVOLVED AND A PART OF IT.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JOHN REGAN, I'VE BEEN IN PRINCETON FOR 22 YEARS NOW.
I WAS ON THE HOME RULE CHARTER COMMISSION, AND NOW I'M ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO LET MY SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY SPEAK FOR ITSELF TO YOU ALL HERE.
THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES IN IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE MY WORK WITH THE CDC.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD.
HAVE SERVED ON THERE SINCE DECEMBER OF 2020.
I'VE LIVED IN PRINCETON SINCE 2007.
UM, I THINK ONE OF THE UNIQUE PIECES THAT I BRING TO THIS BOARD IS, UH, I HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND WORKING WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS AND MY ACTUAL JOB, I DO A LOT OF WORK WITH MCDC, SO I HAVE A VAST KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THAT, UM, PROCESS AND PROCEDURES GO.
SO AS WE GROW HERE AS A COMMUNITY, I JUST WANT TO BRING MY KNOWLEDGE, UM, TO HELP US GROW WITH THAT.
JASON ASH. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR.
DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I'VE BEEN ON THE CDC NOW FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS.
UM, WE'VE DONE SOME PRETTY SPECTACULAR CHANGES SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE.
UM, THAT'LL BRING A LOT OF CHANGE, UM, IN A POSITIVE WAY.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD BECAUSE I HOPE THAT, UM, MAKE A BIG IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY FOR CHILDREN, FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE WE HAVE HERE AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS WE HAVE GOING, I'D LIKE TO SEE ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO FRUITION.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, MY NAME IS JASON RUTLEDGE.
I'VE SERVED ON THE CDC, UH, FOR SOME TIME NOW.
I SERVED WITH STEVE, UH, FOR A WHILE AND LEARNED A LOT UNDER HIM.
UH, BEEN IN THE CITY SINCE 2013.
UH, I HAVE EDUCATION IN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP.
UH, I'VE BEEN IN MULTIPLE HTML CONFERENCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
[00:15:01]
I'VE CONTINUED TO PUSH INITIATIVES THAT WILL HELP US GROW AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND OUR KNOWLEDGE AND BE ABLE TO SERVE THE CITY BETTER.UH, I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS YOU GUYS WILL ALLOW ME.
AND SO I LIKE TO PUT MY APPLICATION IN THE BUCKET FOR YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER.
I WAS ABOUT TO SAY AFTERNOON THIS EVENING.
I AM REALLY HOPING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE CDC.
UM, LIKE, ON MY APPLICATION, I SAID I VOLUNTEER FOR JUNIOR LEAGUE OF COLLIN COUNTY.
I'VE DONE THAT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
UM, WE'VE MADE BLANKETS FOR THE KIDS AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
I'VE GONE AND DECORATED THE COMMUNITY GARDEN KITCHEN IN MCKINNEY.
SO SERVING IS REALLY MY PASSION.
SO I HAVE A LOT OF, UM, LIKE I SAID, CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE ON MY APPLICATION.
BUT I ALSO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH SERVING THE COMMUNITY, ALTHOUGH THEY COULDN'T SEE MY FACE, BUT I WAS THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY AND JUST GIVING, JUST BEING ABLE TO EASE THEIR MIND, UM, HELP IN ANY WAY THAT I COULD.
UM, OF COURSE, OVER THE PHONE, DISPATCHING AS MUCH AS I NEEDED TO, TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS WERE, UM ASSISTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND JUST PROVIDING RESPECT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN.
SO AS I MENTIONED, SERVING IS DEFINITELY MY PASSION.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A SPOT ON CDC IF YOU GUYS SEE FIT.
UM, I'VE HELD A NUMBER OF LEADERSHIP ROLES WITHIN MY CAREER, UH, MANAGING VARIOUS SIZE TEAMS OF DIFFERENT CALIBER, MANAGING LARGE BUDGETS, SOME OF WHICH ARE UP TO LIKE $36 MILLION BUDGETS.
UM, AND ALSO, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF VOLUNTEER WORK THAT GOES WITH MY FOUR DAUGHTERS AS WELL.
UM, DRAG THEM INTO IT KICKING AND SCREAMING SOMETIMES.
SO I THINK, UH, I'LL ECHO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS SAYING, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING A LOT OF THAT WORK AND, UH, VERY PLEASED AND EXCITED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP. SO A COUPLE NEW FACES ON THERE AS WELL, THAT MAY BE WELCOME.
AND, AND JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HOW WELL THE COMMUNITY IS COMING TOGETHER AROUND THIS.
GOOD EVENING, Y'ALL. I'M LARRY PUTMAN.
I JUST, UH, MY FAMILY AND I HAVE JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO PRINCETON, AND WE WANT TO GET TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE GOT KIDS AND GRANDKIDS THAT LIVE HERE.
WE RECENTLY SOLD OUR FARM AT LAKE FORK, MOVED FROM THE COUNTRY TO THE CITY, AND EVERYBODY'S QUESTIONING THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT WE'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT PRINCETON IS GOING THROUGH AS FAR AS GROWTH.
AND I'D LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE CDC.
UH, MY FAMILY AND I MOVED TO PRINCETON ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
UM, I'VE WATCHED MY FATHER FOR YEARS AND YEARS, OVER A DECADE.
UH, HE WAS ON PNZ FOR NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, AND SO I'VE GROWN UP AROUND IT.
[00:20:01]
UM, REALLY ENJOYED WATCHING THE CITY GROW OVER THE YEARS AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT IS YET TO COME.GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SAHAROV AND THIS IS QUITE UNEXPECTED.
I WAS NOT EXPECTING ANYTHING TO DISCUSS, SO JUST INTRODUCING MYSELF.
I MOVED IN 2020 TO PRINCETON FROM COLORADO, AND MOVING TO PRINCETON WAS, UH.
IT WAS A KIND OF LIKE A GOD'S CALL BECAUSE I BOUGHT MY HOUSE ONLINE.
I DIDN'T EVEN SEE WHEN I WAS MOVING.
SO, UH, FIRST I CLOSE, AND AFTER THAT I MOVE INTO MY HOUSE.
UH, IN PRINCETON, UH, I WANT TO, UH, SERVE IN THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION BECAUSE SO MANY, UH, DEVELOPMENT IS GOING ON, AND I THINK I CAN, UH, CONTRIBUTE WITH MY SKILLS.
UH, I AM AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND WORKING AS A TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER IN NOKIA.
SO WITH ALL MY SKILLS FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS, UH, COVERING, UH, BUDGETS FOR MILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS SO I CAN SERVE, UH, I LIKE, I CAN, UH, UH, HELP PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WITH MY SKILLS.
I AM A BIG PROMOTER OF LIBRARIES.
NOT TOO FAR AWAY, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE METROPLEX.
UM, WHEN THEY HAD THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM AFTER THE FOURTH GRADE.
I DIDN'T REALLY LIKE READING ALL THAT MUCH, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO WIN, AND I READ EVERY SWEET VALLEY HIGH TEEN BOOK THEY HAD AND SEVERAL OF THE OTHER SERIES AS WELL.
SO I JUST REALLY LOVE OUR LIBRARY HERE IN PRINCETON.
IT REMINDS ME OF THAT LIBRARY THAT I GREW UP IN, AND I LOVE TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT IT.
I'VE VOLUNTEERED SEVERAL TIMES AT EVENTS TO PROMOTE THE LIBRARY, I BELIEVE AT THE JULY 4TH EVENT, ONE OF MY OTHER ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS AND MYSELF HANDED OUT ALMOST 100 APPLICATIONS TO GET LIBRARY CARDS.
AND SO I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT TO CONTINUE MY SERVICE ON THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD.
MS. EAVES, I WILL SAY THERE WAS A CORE MEMORY UNLOCKED WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT SWEET VALLEY HIGH.
BUT THANK YOU, PATRICIA HEMPSTEAD.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE TONIGHT.
I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF PRINCETON.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT HERE FOR OVER THREE YEARS.
I AM EXPRESSING MY INTEREST HERE AS A LIBRARY ADVISORY MEMBER.
I HAVE LIKE MY FRIEND BACK THERE.
I WORKED IN A LIBRARY FOR HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL.
NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE HERE EXPRESSING MY INTEREST TO BE ON THE BOARD OF A LIBRARY ADVISORY COUNCIL.
I AM. I BELIEVE THE LIBRARY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF LITERACY.
IT'S THE CORNERSTONE OF GROWTH, OUR CULTURE.
IT'S WHERE WE ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF A TEAM WHERE I COULD BRING MY SKILL SET AS A NATIONAL BOARD LEADER, AS A NATIONAL TALENT LEADER, MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE.
AND I JUST I'M A LIFELONG LEARNER AND I'M JUST WISHING TO SHOW YOU MY, MY, MY STRATEGIC PLANNING SKILLS HERE AND BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CHILDREN AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT BEING A VOLUNTEER AND BEING INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY.
[00:25:03]
WE'VE LIVED HERE.MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED FROM PLANO 41 YEARS AGO, SO I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT LIVING IN PRINCETON, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE WE HAVE STAYED HERE, WE HAVE SEEN IT GROW.
WE'VE RAISED OUR CHILDREN HERE, UH, NOW OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
I AM A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER, SO BEING ON THE LIBRARY BOARD, I THINK THAT I COULD BRING THAT EXCITEMENT FROM MY CLASSROOM, FROM MY CHILDREN, MY CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE JUST A WONDERFUL LIBRARY CONTINUE FOR OUR CHILDREN AS WELL AS THE ADULTS.
RENE APARICIO IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING.
GOOD EVENING, I'M SARAH STAWINSKI.
I GROW UP GROWN UP WITH LIBRARIES AND I LIVE FOR BOOKS.
I HAVE MY OWN LIBRARY IN MY HOUSE AND I JUST WANT TO BE CONTINUE TO BE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD TO SEE IT GROW OUR LIBRARY, GET BIGGER AND HELP THE CHILDREN ENJOY THEIR LOVE OF READING.
THANK YOU. JANICE RUCKER READ.
GOOD EVENING, I'M JANICE RUCKER.
I'M KNOWN IN SCHOOL LAND AS JANICE REID.
I'VE BEEN IN PRINCETON ISD FOR 39 YEARS.
I WAS 21 YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM.
IN FACT, I TAUGHT CHIEF WATERS.
I'VE BEEN IN THE LIBRARY FOR 18.
RIGHT. UM, I'VE BEEN IN THE LIBRARY FOR 18 YEARS.
I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS, UM, ELEMENTARY DISTRICT LIBRARIAN OVER ALL THE ELEMENTARIES.
UH, I'VE BEEN ON THE LIBRARY BOARD FOR TWO YEARS.
I LOVE IT. I LIKE SEEING THAT SIDE OF THINGS.
I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY.
DID YOU KNOW THAT CHIEF WATERS WAS CAPABLE OF BEING CHIEF WHEN YOU WAS TEACHING HIM? I HAVE STORIES, BUT I WON'T TELL THEM HERE.
HE WAS A GOOD KID. AND I WORKED WITH YOUR WIFE ALSO.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE STORY HOUR NOW IN FRONT OF EVERY MEETING.
I'VE SERVED ON THE LIBRARY BOARD FOR MANY YEARS.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING UNDER MISS DUNKLE, AS WELL AS, UM, GLENDA AND I.
UM, YOU MIGHT NOT RECOGNIZE ME IN MY DAY TO DAY OUTFIT, BUT I AM THE FACE OF MRS. CLAUS FOR THE LIBRARY AND HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS, SO I WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN PART OF THE LOIS NELSON PUBLIC LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD.
UH, MY NAME IS SAMIA AMIN, AND I MOVED IN PRINCETON IN 2020 FROM THE COUNTRY I BELONG.
THERE IS A VERY LITTLE BIT, VERY SMALL CONCEPT OF LIBRARIES ON THAT TIME.
AND I REMEMBER THE WAY I, UH, WENT TO THE BOOKSHOPS AND BUY THE BOOKS AND READ THEM WHEN I MOVED HERE IN USA, AND THIS IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD FOR ME, THE LIBRARIES, OH MY GOD, THE BOOKS.
OKAY, SO WE STARTED LIKE WITH MY KIDS, I AGAIN STARTED LIKE READING AND UH, FOLLOWING MY PASSION.
LAST YEAR, UH, WITH THE HELP OF MISS GLENDA AND OTHER LIBRARIANS, I ARRANGED AN EVENT IN THE LIBRARY AS, UH, IT WAS A SMALL, UH, RAMADAN EVENT, AND I JUST WANTED TO BE A VOICE FOR MY COMMUNITY SO WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AND EXPAND THE SERVICES.
[00:30:06]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF PRINCETON FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS AFTER I MARRIED MISS REED.
UH, I HAVE RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE TARRANT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AFTER 30 YEARS.
I WAS IN CHARGE OF THEIR RECORDS DEPARTMENT.
SO I HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW GOVERNMENT KIND OF WORKS.
I ALSO HAVE A BACKGROUND IN LIBRARY SCIENCE, SO I HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW LIBRARIES WORK TO ME, THE LIBRARIES AND THE ABILITY TO READ THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR COUNTRY, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT ON BOTH ENDS, BEING A FORMER EDUCATOR AND IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN INDIVIDUALS DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO READ, DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE A LIVING FOR THEMSELVES, THEY RESORT TO THINGS THAT CRIME AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
I HAVE VOLUNTEERED SEVERAL FOR SEVERAL EVENTS HERE IN PRINCETON FOR THE LIBRARIES, UH, PANCAKES FOR UH, AT CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHILDREN, THE 4TH OF JULY, AS WELL AS OTHER EVENTS.
YOU KNOW, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS SINCE MY WIFE IS ALSO PUTTING IN FOR THIS.
BUT ANYWAY, IF I COULD HELP IN SOME WAY, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HELP.
THANK YOU. CAN I PUT YOU ON THE SPOT? YES. I HAD TO PICK BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU GUYS.
DEFINITELY. WELL, SHE'S GOT MORE EXPERIENCE.
SHE'S BEEN IN PRINCETON COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE A WISE MAN, AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO BE HOMELESS.
I AM A BUSINESS OWNER HERE WITH MY HUSBAND, AND I HAVE FOUR KIDS.
ONE IS GRADUATED, TWO IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND ONE IS, UH, AT SMITH.
SO ANYWAYS, I SAY ALL OF THAT BECAUSE I HAVE A VERY GENUINE INTEREST IN OUR CITY.
UH, AND IT'S BEEN AMAZING WATCHING IT GROW THUS FAR.
I HAVE A, UH, I HAVE I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I REALLY LIKE BEING INVOLVED AND AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PLACES WHERE MY VOICE CAN BE HEARD.
I JUST GOT APPOINTED A FEW MONTHS AGO, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHERE IT COULD GO.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF PRINCETON FOR GOING ON 16 YEARS NOW.
UH, JANUARY 20TH WILL MARK SEVEN YEARS THAT I HAVE SERVED ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
UM, I THINK ABOUT FIVE OF THOSE AS CHAIRMAN.
UH, IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY INTERESTING AND EXCITING TO WATCH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS CITY.
SO, UM, I'D BE HONORED TO CONTINUE SERVING IN THE CAPACITY THAT I HAVE BEEN SERVING IN.
WE'VE HAD A FEW WALK INS SINCE WE HAVE STARTED.
I WANT TO MAKE FOR SURE THAT I DIDN'T MISS ANYONE THIS EVENING.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT PUT IN AN APPLICATION THAT NAMES YOUR NAME? DID NOT GET CALLED? OKAY. TAKE YOUR PICK.
WHO WANTS TO COME UP FIRST? AND IF YOU'LL JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND THEN THE BOARD THAT YOU ARE, UM, PETITIONING FOR.
I'M APPLYING FOR THE EDC COMMISSION.
AND, UH, ABOUT MYSELF, I JUST MOVED TO PRINCETON, LIKE, ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
UH, AS AN ENGINEER, I BELIEVE I BRING IN A VALUE TO THE BOARD, TO THE EDC.
I'VE STARTED ONE AND BEEN STILL.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON, AND THAT'S IT.
[00:35:11]
GOOD EVENING, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MY TARDINESS.FIRST OFF, MY NAME IS AARON BARNETT.
I'M HERE TO APPLY FOR THE CDC AND PNC.
UM, WE MOVED TO HERE FEBRUARY 27TH, 2020, JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
I THINK MY, UM, FURNITURE ARRIVED ABOUT JULY OR AUGUST, SO THAT WAS ALWAYS A FUN START TO PRINCETON.
UM, I COME HERE, WE HAD OUR FIRST KIDDO HERE.
UM, MOVED MY MOM HERE IN 2021.
SO HEAVILY INVESTED, PRINCETON, UM, WANT TO SEE IT GROW AND ASSIST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE THIS EVENING? OKAY, WELL, IF THAT IS IT, THEN THAT WILL CONCLUDE THAT PORTION OF THIS THIS EVENING.
WE'LL LOOK THROUGH YOUR APPLICATION.
WE WILL NOT BE MAKING ANY DECISION DURING THIS MEETING.
HOWEVER, OUR FOLLOWING MEETING DURING THAT WE WILL BREAK FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE WILL DISCUSS IT BACK THERE AND THEN WE WILL MAKE THAT DECISION LATER TONIGHT.
PLEASE DO NOT FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO SIT THROUGH THAT.
UM, WE WILL RELEASE THAT TONIGHT.
SO GO HOME, ENJOY YOUR FAMILIES.
WE WILL UPDATE YOU. BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST ATTENDANCE WE HAVE EVER SEEN FOR ANYONE WANTING TO PARTICIPATE ON OUR BOARDS.
UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR GIVING UP YOUR TIME TONIGHT AND COMING AND INTERVIEWING WITH US.
IF NOT, IF I COULD GO AHEAD AND GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN, PLEASE.
YEAH, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TO ADJOURN.
THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GUYS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.