>> YES, SIR. ARE YOU READY? [00:00:03] >> ALRIGHTY. WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. [A. CALL TO ORDER] THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AT 6:05. WE'RE GOING TO DO ROLL CALL. KAREEM EVANS HERE. >> I'M HERE, MELISSA. >> AHMAD THORNTON HERE. >> PRESENT, SHANITA SAMUEL. >> PRESENT, MARY LOU PEREZ. >> OH, GOSH. >> ALRIGHTY. IF I CAN HAVE MR. THORNTON DO THE INVOCATION? >> FATHER, WE JUST COME TO YOU THIS EVENING IN LIKE MIND, IN UNITY, FATHER. FATHER, LET YOUR WILL BE DONE IN THIS TIME IN THE MEETING. LET US COME TO A CLEAR DECISION. LET US WORK TOGETHER AS A UNIT, LORD. LORD, HAVE YOUR WAY IN THIS MEETING. IF THERE'S THINGS THAT WE ARE UNAWARE, LET IT BE KNOWN AND BE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BETTER OUR CITY AS A UNIT. WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME, AND IN THIS MEETING, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. >> AMEN. >> IF WE CAN HAVE EVERYBODY STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PUBLIC APPEARANCE. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS UNABLE TO RESPOND OR TO DISCUSS ANY ISSUES THAT ARE BROUGHT UP DURING THIS SECTION THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA, OTHER THAN TO MAKE STATEMENTS OF SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC INQUIRY, OR TO RECITE EXISTING POLICIES IN RESPONSE TO ANY INQUIRY. BREE, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FOR PUBLIC APPEARANCE TONIGHT? >> YOU'LL SEE US TALK THROUGH. >> I SAY, I KNOW, BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. >> WE CAN'T SEE EACH OTHER OVER. [LAUGHTER]. >> JIM, DO I HAVE TO OPEN PUBLIC APPEARANCE AT A CERTAIN TIME AND CLOSE IT? >> JUST SAY, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC APPEARANCE AT 6:07 P.M. PUBLIC REPORT ITEMS. [F. PUBLIC REPORT ITEMS] NEXT REGULAR PCDC MEETING WILL BE DECEMBER 17TH AT 6 P.M. NEXT REGULAR MEETING WILL BE DECEMBER 16TH AT 6 P.M. NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH AND MONDAY, DECEMBER THE 8TH, BOTH AT 6:30 P.M. STAFF REPORT ITEMS G1 CEO PRESENTED BY JIM FOR AN UPDATE. [G. STAFF REPORT ITEMS] >> GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. BEFORE I GET INTO MINE, AS YOU REPORTED THE MEETING DATES, WE'VE GOT THE EDC ON THE 16TH, THE CDC ON THE 17TH. MY BIRTHDAY IS ON THE 18TH. I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT I EXPECT EXTRAVAGANT GIFTS FROM ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS. I ALSO SAY THAT TO SAY THAT AFTER THE BOARD MEETING ON THE 17TH, YOU WILL NOT BE SEEING ME ON THE 18TH. THIS OLD MAN IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE ON A GOLF COURSE ON THE 18TH IF IT'S NOT COVERED IN SNOW. BREE, IF YOU COULD BRING UP SALES TAX, PLEASE. I WROTE IN MY REPORT, BUT YOU CAN SEE POSTED UP. WE FINISHED THE YEAR 12% AHEAD OF LAST YEAR. WE HAD ANOTHER STRONG MONTH AT 13% UP, FINISHING WITH A TOTAL OF $2,259,535. I'M SORRY, $2,259,535.36. THAT FINISHES US UP, I BELIEVE 12.16% AHEAD OF LAST YEAR AND 11.98% AHEAD OF BUDGET. THAT WAS A GOOD YEAR. BREE, IF YOU WILL PUT UP THE BUILDING PERMITS, AS WE MENTIONED LAST MONTH, WE'VE BEEN ON A BASICALLY A ROCKET SHIP WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING PERMITS HERE, SURPASSING PREVIOUS YEARS BY A LOT, IF YOU CAN. YOU'VE GOT IT TO PRINCETON. THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW 15% DOWN FOR THE YEAR. WE WERE DOWN AGAIN LAST, BUT NOT AS DRAMATIC DOWN AS WE WERE THE PREVIOUS TWO. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS SHEET, [00:05:02] WE'RE 15% DOWN YEAR TO DATE, MCKINNEY'S 19% DOWN, MELISSA'S 40% DOWN AND A 47. VAN ALSTYNE 52. WE'RE DOWN A BIT, BUT WE'RE STILL VERY STRONG. IF WE END THE YEAR 15% DOWN, WE WILL END UP WITH JUST UNDER 1700 PERMITS AND STILL WELL OVER 5000 NEW RESIDENTS FOR THE YEAR. I THINK THIS IS FOR A COUPLE REASONS. NUMBER 1, THE NATIONAL HOUSING MARKET HAS SLOWED DOWN DRAMATICALLY, AND IN OTHER STATES, IT IS THEY'RE EVEN LOOKING AT, THERE ARE SOME PUNDITS SAYING THAT IT IS THE CRATERING ESSENTIALLY. THAT'S NOT HAPPENING IN TEXAS, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN TEXAS. WE ARE A LITTLE BIT ISOLATED FROM THAT, PARTIALLY BECAUSE WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE IN-MIGRATION STATE IN AMERICA. WE'VE BEEN THAT WAY FOR 24 CONSECUTIVE YEARS, I THINK. OUR HOUSING MARKET IS STILL STRONG, RELATIVE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. WITH THAT, I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE TWO THINGS BEFORE I DIP INTO MY WRITTEN REPORT. ANY QUESTIONS? >> NO, SIR. >> I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE ENTIRE THING, BUT JUST A COUPLE QUICK THINGS ON MY WRITTEN REPORT ON THE PROFESSIONAL PARK. AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF REZONING THAT WE HAVE NOW CONFIRMED THAT WE WILL GO TO P&Z ON DECEMBER 1ST. WE WILL COME TO CITY COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 8TH. ONCE THAT'S OVER, WE WILL BE COMPLETED WITH THE REZONING. AGAIN, WE ARE REZONING THAT FROM MANUFACTURING 1 OR LIGHT MANUFACTURING TO A COMMERCIAL PLAN DEVELOPMENT OR COMMERCIAL PD WITH A TARGET OF RETAIL, PROFESSIONAL OFFICE AND HEALTHCARE. THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS SOON AS WE GET THAT ZONING DONE, WE WILL CLOSE ON OUR FIRST PIECE OF LAND IN THE NEW REZONE, WHICH WILL BE A HEALTH CARE USE, WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT MORE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THAT'S ALL GOING VERY WELL. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THE HATS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, THE EDC, CDC SPONSORED THE GOLF HATS AT THE TOURNAMENT THAT THE CHAMBER TOURNAMENT THEY RECENTLY HAD. I WAS GOING TO ORDER A BUNCH OF HATS ANYWAY. THEY JUST HAVE THE ICON LOGO ON THE FRONT AND OUR ZIP CODE ON THE SIDE, MAKING THEM A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE. I WAS MENTIONING TO MELISSA THE REASON BEING JUST PUTTING THE ICON WITHOUT PUTTING PRINCETON AND ALL THAT IS BY SEEING OUR ICON LOGO AND SEEING THAT THE ZIP CODE ON THE SIDE, PEOPLE WILL ASK YOU, "WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?" IT GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE STORY OF PRINCETON. I THINK THEY CAME OUT NICE. THEY WERE VERY POPULAR AT THE TOURNAMENT. I AM ALSO VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT NEITHER THE CDC NOR THE EDC TEAMS CAME IN LAST. THEY BOTH PARTICIPATED AND NEITHER ONE OF THEM CAME IN LAST. NOW, NEITHER ONE OF THEM CAME IN FIRST, BUT WE BEAT A LOT OF TEAMS. I DO WANT TO, ALL JOKING ASIDE, CONGRATULATE THE CHAMBER. THEY HAD A FULL FIELD OF 100 TEAMS, WHICH IS FANTASTIC. HOPEFULLY THEY MADE A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY ON THAT. I KNOW THEY GOT INTO MY POCKET PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY THAT DAY. THE COMMUNITY CENTER NEED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT. BOTH THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT AND THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER PASSED THE CITY COUNCIL. BOTH OF THEM PASSED WITH COMMENTS, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY'VE ASKED, GRANT BASICALLY TO ADD A CONFLICT RESOLUTION PARAGRAPH IN CASE THE BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL DIDN'T AGREE ON SOMETHING, HOW THEY WOULD RESOLVE THAT. I SAY THAT TO SAY BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING THAT IT HAS TO COME BACK TO YOU IN DECEMBER. WE'RE STILL NOT READY TO OPEN THE COMMUNITY CENTER. WE STILL DON'T HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT, BUT THAT WILL HAPPEN IN DECEMBER. IT'S A VERY MINOR CHANGE. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE BOARD HAVING AN ISSUE WITH IT, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO JUST SAY THAT'S A SMALL THING. I'LL SIGN IT. I'VE GOT TO BRING IT BACK TO YOU. >> JIM, SO WITH THAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE TIMELINE IS LIKE FOR THAT? FOR A GRAND OPENING? >> I WOULD JUST PLAN ON FIRST OF THE YEAR. >> FIRST OF THE YEAR? >> THAT'LL BE DONE DECEMBER 8TH. THE MAYOR WILL SIGN THE DOCUMENTS USUALLY THE DAY AFTER THE MEETING. I'LL GET WITH YOU, KAREEM, AND SIGN THE DOCUMENT. YOU CAN DESIGNATE ME TO SIGN IT, BUT YOU'RE THE BOARD'S DESIGNATED SIGNATORY RIGHT NOW, AND ALONG THOSE LINES, I DID WANT TO, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, AND I DON'T WANT TO STEAL YOUR THUNDER, MR. VICE CHAIR, BUT, WE ARE RIGHT NOW A BOARD OF FIVE. WE HAVE POSTED OPENINGS FOR TWO SEATS ON THE BOARD. [00:10:04] JEFF WATSON AND JASON ASH ARE NOT ON THE BOARD ANYMORE. I WANT TO GIVE THEM MY SINCERE THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE FOR THE BOARD AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, WISH THEM WELL, OBVIOUSLY. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS, AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS TO VICE CHAIR EVANS IS, HE WILL PRESIDE OVER MEETINGS, THIS MEETING AND THE DECEMBER MEETING. I HOPE TO HAVE THE BOARD SEATS FILLED BY THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, AND THEN WE GENERALLY ELECT OFFICERS IN THE JANUARY MEETING. WE DID IT MY FIRST MONTH HERE, MY FIRST MEETING HERE. THAT WILL BE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR, INSTEAD OF MOVING EVERYTHING AROUND TODAY AND THEN REDOING IT AGAIN. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE VICE CHAIRS AND THE OTHER OFFICERS SO THEY CAN STEP IN. HE'S GOT ALL THE AUTHORITIES OF THE CHAIRMAN. BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A CHAIRMAN. WITH THE BOARD'S PERMISSION, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE TO DO OR THE WAY I WOULD PROPOSE HANDLING IT. BUT I DO WANT TO SINCERELY THANK BOTH JASON AND JEFF FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE FOR THIS BOARD. WITH THAT, I BELIEVE I AM FINISHED. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS UNLESS, BREE, DID I SPACE OUT, MISS? OH, I KNOW I DID. I NEED TO DO THE FINANCIALS. THESE ARE REALLY EXCITING FINANCIALS. IT'S THE FIRST MONTH OF A NEW FISCAL YEAR, SO WE'VE SPENT VIRTUALLY NOTHING. THE ITEMS SPENT 90% OF IT IS JUST FOR THE EMPLOYMENT, OUR EMPLOYMENT COSTS FOR BOTH EMPLOYEES. WE DID SPEND $1,000 OUT OF THE MARKETING BUDGET AND OUR REGULAR LEGAL BILL, $2,800, BUT, VERY LITTLE ACTIVITY. WE STILL HAVE 99.26% OF OUR BUDGET REMAINING FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, SO WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. THEN ON THE BALANCE SHEET, IF YOU COULD PUT THAT UP, IT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO LAST MONTH, BUT HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE ALMOST 4.9 MILLION IN THE BANK. NOW I'M FINISHED AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> ALL RIGHT, JIM. LOOKS GOOD TO US. >> MR. CHAIR, IF, AS WE GET TO IT, WHOEVER MAKES A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE ONLY MOTION NEEDS TO BE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE DON'T NEED TO READ EACH INDIVIDUAL ITEM. >> ALRIGHTY. THANKS, JIM. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JIM BEFORE WE MOVE ON? CONSENT AGENDA. [I. CONSENT AGENDA] ALL CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS UNLESS A BOARD MEMBER SO REQUESTS. IN EACH EVENT, THE ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED IN ITS NORMAL SEQUENCE ON THE AGENDA. I'D LIKE A MOTION. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS. >> I SECOND THAT MOTION. >> ALRIGHTY. >> I'M SORRY, MARY LOU, DID YOU HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MINUTES? YOU MENTIONED IT TO ME BEFORE THE MEETING. BEFORE Y'ALL DO THAT, I THINK THAT WE HAD POSSIBLY MISSED SOMETHING. I APOLOGIZE, I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU BEFOREHAND. I JUST REMEMBERED WHEN I HEARD THAT MOTION. >> YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JIM. I DID WANT TO ADD ON THE BRIEF SUMMARY ON PAGE 3 OF THE AUDIT DISCUSSION, THAT THERE WAS A REQUEST BY JEFF WATSON FOR THE INTERVIEWS AND RESPONSES ON THAT. IF WE COULD JUST ADD THAT IN THERE IN THAT SUMMARY, THAT'D BE GREAT. DO YOU NEED A TIME STAMP OF THE MEETING MINUTES OF THAT REQUEST? >> WE CAN FIND IT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> I'LL EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO THERE, BREE. >> YOU GOT IT. >> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO US, JIM? >> WHEN THE BOARD HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE IN THE REPORT COMING BACK FROM THE AUDITOR, THERE IS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF DETAIL AND MARY LOU HAD SENT US AN EMAIL SAYING THAT THE TWO THAT SPOKE ON THAT BEHALF, SHE SHE WANTED TO ESSENTIALLY GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR BRINGING THAT THAT POINT UP BUT THAT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. [00:15:02] DID I COVER THAT MARY LOU OR DID I MISS IT? >> THAT'S PERFECT. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED. I WANTED THEM TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR ASKING FOR THE INFORMATION, SO THAT IT WAS KNOWN THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE ALL THE FACTS. THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY GOT ANYTHING ELSE? JIM, DO I NEED TO READ THAT CONSENT AGENDA ITEM AGAIN OR? >> WE WOULD NEED TO REDO THE MOTION. IF YOU WOULD MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE IT WITH THE CORRECTIONS BY BOARD MEMBER PETTIS. >> GOT YOU. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS UNLESS THE BOARD MEMBERS WILL REQUEST, AND THEN IN EACH EVENT, ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED IN ITS NORMAL SEQUENCE OF THE AGENDA. WE HAD AN UPDATE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA BY DIRECTOR MARY LOU PETTIS TO HAVE THAT ADDED AND I'LL JUST TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, WITH THE ITEM ADDED BY DIRECTOR MARY LOU PETTIS AS IT IS. >> I SECOND THAT MOTION. >> WE HAVE MOTION MADE BY MR. THORNTON AND SECOND BY MISS NED. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE. >> VERY GOOD. >> ITEM I1, MINUTES. DISCUSSION AND ACTION REGARDING THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 15TH, 2025 REGULAR MEETING. >> LET'S SEE. >> ARE WE ON J1? I APOLOGIZE, THE PURCHASING POLICY. >> MINUTES FROM THE LAST PCI1. >> WE SKIP OVER THOSE. THEY JUST APPROVED THOSE AS A CONSENT AGENDA. I'M SORRY, YOU'RE ON J1 NOW. >> J1, SO REGULAR AGENDA J1. [J1. 2025-030 PCDC Purchasing Policy Consider, discuss, and act on the adoption of the City of Princeton's purchasing policies for the CDC.] CONSIDER DISCUSSING AN ACT OF THE ADOPTION OF THE CITY OF PRINCETON'S PURCHASING POLICY FOR THE CDC. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, YOU REMEMBER AT THE LAST MEETING THAT THE AUDIT FIRM CAME AND PRESENTED UPDATES ON THE FORENSIC AUDIT. ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WAS IN QUESTION WAS PURCHASING POLICIES. THEY'RE INVESTIGATING THE PURCHASING POLICIES OF THE CITY. BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER FROM THAT CONVERSATION, IT WAS THE CITY MANAGEMENT AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE THAT ACTUALLY ACTED AS A GENERAL CONTRACTOR ON THAT PROJECT. BUT IT ALSO BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I BELIEVE CHAIRMAN EVANS HAD ASKED IF WE HAD ADOPTED THE CITY'S PURCHASING POLICY OR IF WE HAD ONE. WE GENERALLY FOLLOW THE CITY'S PURCHASING POLICY. THE LAW DOES NOT. I NEED TO SAY THIS. THE LAW DOES NOT MAKE US FOLLOW IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT LAWS THAT GOVERN WHAT WE DO, BUT WE CAN FOLLOW THEIRS WITHOUT RUNNING AFOUL OF THE LAWS THAT THAT GOVERN OUR CORPORATIONS. WE TRY TO FOLLOW THE SAME RULES THAT THE CITY DOES. WITH THAT WE'VE PUT AT YOUR SEAT A COPY OF THE CITY'S UPDATED PURCHASING POLICY. NOW, WE HAD INADVERTENTLY ATTACHED A PREVIOUS VERSION OF IT TO YOUR AGENDA. WE PUT A HARD COPY AT THE DAIS. THE ELECTRONIC COPY HAS ALSO BEEN POSTED ON THE CITY WEBSITE. IF YOU GO TO GOVERNMENT TAB THEN AGENDAS AND MINUTES, YOU WILL FIND THE CORRECT PURCHASING POLICY THAT WE'RE ADOPTING JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES. THE PUBLIC DOESN'T THINK WE PULLED A BAIT AND SWITCH AND APPROVED SOMETHING THAT WASN'T ON THE AGENDA. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS APPROVING THE ADOPTION FOR THE CDC OF THE CITY'S PURCHASING POLICY. I WILL TELL YOU, 90% OF THAT IS STATE LAW IS HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO RUN OUR PURCHASING. THE CITIES CAN BE STRICTER THAN STATE LAWS, BUT WE CANNOT BE LOOSER THAN STATE LAW. MOST OF THAT'S GIVEN BY STATE LAW. THE STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS PURCHASING POLICY, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE IT IN OUR MINUTES THAT WE HAVE AN ACTUAL ADOPTED PURCHASING POLICY. WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. [00:20:08] >> ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? JIM, YOU NEED A MOTION TO PASS THIS POLICY FOR US TO ADOPT THIS POLICY. >> YES, SIR. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASING POLICY AND PROCEDURES ACCORDING TO THE CITY FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF PRINCETON. >> I SECOND THAT MOTION. >> WE GOT A MOTION BY MR. THORNTON AND SECOND BY MR. NED. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE. THAT MOTION PASSES 5-0. J2 HERE PRESENTATION. [J2. 2025-031 NAREB Homeowner Presentation Hear presentation, discuss, and approve the sponsorship of NAREB to hold a homeowner seminar at the Steve and Judy Deffibaugh Community Center.] DISCUSS AND APPROVE THE SPONSORSHIP OF NAREB TO HOLD A HOMEOWNER SEMINAR AT THE STEVEN JUDY COMMUNITY CENTER. THANK YOU. >> LADIES YOU'RE ON AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. >> YES. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. IF YOU CAN HIT THAT BUTTON ON THAT MIC. >> THE BUTTON ON THE RIGHT. THAT'LL TURN THE MIC ON. >> THERE YOU GO. Y'ALL ALIVE. >> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. HERE I AM ROSS BOOKER, AND I AM THE FAITH BASED AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CHAIR FOR NORTH TEXAS. AND THIS IS OUR PRESIDENT. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MATT, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS AND WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT A STRATEGY TO YOU GUYS. >> WE'D LIKE TO THANK SHANITA SAMUEL FOR INVITING US TO PRESENT. OUR ORGANIZATION STARTED IN 1947, AND IT WAS BASED ON THE PREMISE OF DEMOCRACY AND HOUSING. WE ARE AN AFFINITY GROUP THAT PROVIDES SERVICES, TOOLS. WE BRING COMMUNITY AND ALLIANCES TOGETHER TO TRAIN AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE BRIDGE THE GAP FOR HOME OWNERSHIP. WE'RE GOING TO TOGGLE BACK AND FORTH WITH THIS PRESENTATION. THERE'S SEVERAL SLIDES, BUT WE'D RATHER JUST SPEAK FROM THE HEART BUT GIVE YOU A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. THE PICTURES AND THE LITTLE VIDEO SLIDES THAT YOU SEE INTERMINGLED ARE AN EXAMPLE OF EVENTS THAT WE HAVE HOSTED BEFORE WITH OTHER FAITH BASED COMMUNITY TYPE ORGANIZATIONS. IF YOU'LL GO WITH THE HISTORY. >> OUR HISTORY IS VERY UNIQUE. I AM A STRONG, PASSIONATE NAREB MEMBER, AND I'VE BEEN WITH THE NAREB FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. WHAT STRUCK ME TO THE CORE WITH NAREB IS, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY HAS A HISTORY, IS THAT THE SACRIFICE THAT WAS MADE DURING THAT TIME. I KNOW THAT WE'RE IN A TIME WHERE CERTAIN THINGS ARE SENSITIVE, SO I JUST CAN ONLY TELL YOU HOW IT CAME ABOUT. NAREB WAS BIRTHED BECAUSE IN 1947, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY REPRESENTATION FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR AND TO BE REALTORS OR TO EVEN HAVE ANYBODY THAT WE CAN TURN TO FOR HOUSING AND TO HELP US TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THAT. WE HAD 11 MEN AND ONE WOMAN THAT DECIDED THAT THIS WAS DEFINITELY A NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY FORMED WHAT YOU NOW KNOW IS NAREB, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BROKERS. WE CALL OURSELVES REALTEES BECAUSE THE TERM REALTOR WAS ALREADY A TRADEMARKED NAME BY NORTH, SO WE CALL OURSELVES REALTEES. OF COURSE, THROUGH THE STRUGGLE, THE FIGHT, THE LAWSUITS THAT WERE WON, THE JUST ALL THE WORK THAT NAREB DID WAS ENOUGH TO GET US FROM 1947 TO NOW, WHERE WE'RE REALTORS, BROKERS, WE'RE HELPING THE COMMUNITY. WE SERVE IN ALL COMMUNITIES. WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S AN UNDERSERVED IN EVERY COMMUNITY. WE MAY BE BASED OFF OF THE STRUGGLES FOR BLACK PEOPLE, [00:25:04] BUT WE HELP ALL PEOPLE. WHEN I TELL YOU THAT THERE'S AN UNDERSERVED IN EVERY COMMUNITY, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WE'RE HERE TO HELP STRENGTHEN HOME OWNERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITIES. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T STRENGTHEN THE HOME OWNERSHIP, THEN WE'RE GOING TO PERISH BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH OUR FUTURE? THAT'S WHAT NAREB IS ABOUT. WE HAVE SINCE INCORPORATED, NOT HOME OWNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT APPRAISALS. WE JUST HAVE A WHOLE FACET OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR ORGANIZATION THAT WE WANT TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT, LIKE PRINCETON, LIKE MCKINNEY, AND HELP THOSE HOMEOWNERS SEE THAT THERE IS STILL AN AMERICAN DREAM OUT THERE. THAT'S THAT'S A WRAP. >> THANK YOU. WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT IS A COLLABORATION, A RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'D LIKE TO FORM WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO HOST A COMMUNITY DAY. WHAT COMMUNITY DAY REPRESENTS FOR US IS A DAY THAT WE JUST POUR INTO OUR COMMUNITY. WE INVITE THOSE WHO WILL BE HOMEOWNERS, THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY HOMEOWNERS AND ALLIANCES IN THE ECOSYSTEM OF REAL ESTATE, WHETHER IT BE ATTORNEYS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, INSURANCE, EVERYTHING THAT WORKS WITH EQUIPPING THE HOME BUYER. THE PROSPECTIVE HOME BUYER OR THE HOME OWNER WITH GAINING THE WEALTH. OUR RECENT COMMUNITY DAY THAT WE HELD WAS WITH IN CONJUNCTION WITH CITY OF MCKINNEY, AND WE HELD IT AT ONE OF THEIR CENTERS AND WE HAD THE MEDIA OUT. SEVERAL OF THE DEPARTMENTS FROM THE CITY WERE OUT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR DIFFERENT SERVICES REGARDING TAX ABATEMENTS, FIXING UP THEIR HOME. WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN INITIATIVE WITH AN ATTORNEY IN OUR ORGANIZATION WHEREBY WE PUT ON A SESSION CALLED WHAT TO DO WITH BIG MAMA'S HOUSE, BECAUSE WHAT WE REALIZED IS THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DO OWN HOMES, BUT THERE ARE SCARS ON THE TITLE. THEY MAY NOT OWN THE HOME OUTRIGHT, OR THEY MAY HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN PREYED UPON TO STEAL THEIR EQUITY. IT'S ALL ABOUT EDUCATION. IT'S ALL ABOUT EMPOWERMENT. WE ARE CONTINUING TO GROW OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO WANT TO COME ALONGSIDE OF US AND HELP POUR INTO THE COMMUNITY. OUR ASK IS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION TO BE REPRESENTED WITH US AND FUND OUR COMMUNITY DAY, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE THE ALLIANCES AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND HELP PROCURE THAT IN ONE OF YOUR CENTERS. >> WHAT HAPPENS AFTER COMMUNITY DAY? NOW YOU'VE MET A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WITH INTERESTS, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AFTER THAT? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, MISS NED. WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION, AGAIN, WE HAVE SEVERAL ALLIANCES, LIKE WE SAID, FINANCIAL ALLIANCES, THOSE WHO HELP, THOSE WHO PROTECT THEIR EQUITY, SO OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT AND HOST CONTINUOUS EVENTS WITH FAITH BASED INSTITUTIONS, WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURSELF, TO HOST SEMINARS, AND WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT FITS YOUR MODEL, YOUR RESIDENCE, TO HOST ALONG WITH YOUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS AND WHATEVER DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE HOUSING INITIATIVES. WE ARE THE VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE. WHAT MAKES US REALLY STRONG IS THAT WE HAVE ALMOST 80 YEARS BEHIND US, AND WE'RE A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, AND WE HAVE OVER 101 CHAPTERS NATIONWIDE. A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY DAY IS AN INITIATIVE THAT DEALS WITH OUR REALTORS WEEK. EVERY YEAR THERE'S A RESOUNDING MESSAGE OF OVER 101, ACTUALLY I THINK IT'S 117 CHAPTERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DOING THE SAME THING AROUND BASICALLY THE US. MADAM? >> IN ADDITION TO THAT, AND ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, WHAT WE DO AFTER COMMUNITY DAY, WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO EDUCATE OUR HOMEOWNERS OR THE COMMUNITY IN BECOMING HOMEOWNERS, WE NEED TO TEACH THEM SUSTAINABILITY. ONCE THEY COME TO COMMUNITY DAY, WE GET THEM PAIRED WITH OTHER PARTNERS OF OURS BEING LENDERS, [00:30:04] EDUCATION PIECE, IF YOU GUYS HAVE A HOUSING DEPARTMENT, WE HELP YOUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT EDUCATE. WE WANT TO TEACH THEM THE SUSTAINABILITY OF HOMEOWNERSHIP. I'LL SHARE A STORY WITH YOU GUYS THAT THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE DID THE 101 TOUR, IT WAS WITH OUR LOCATION IN HOUSTON, OUR NATIONAL PRESIDENT AT THE TIME, THEY WERE ALL THERE, IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT, AND A YOUNG MAN CAME UP TO HER, AND HE WAS CARRYING HIS FOLDER IN HIS HAND, AND HE HAS LEFT THE FAMILY HOME. HE HAD TALKED TO SOMEONE THAT WANTED TO BUY THE HOUSE, AND WANTED TO GIVE HIM $100,000 FOR THE HOME. AS FAR AS HE KNEW, THEY NEEDED A DEED AND HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, SO HE REACHED OUT BY BEING AT THAT COMMUNITY DAY, AND HER TALKING WITH HIM, SHE WAS ABLE TO OPEN A FOLDER AND SEE THE DEED, AND THEN SHE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, LET'S FIND OUT HOW MUCH THIS HOUSE IS WORTH. BY HER WORKING WITH THIS YOUNG MAN, HE WAS GETTING READY TO GET RID OF THIS FAMILY HOME FOR $100,000, THAT WAS WORTH $650,000. THAT'S WHAT WE DO. WE WANT TO BE THAT EDUCATION PIECE. WE WANT TO BE THAT PERSON THAT YOU COME TO THE ORGANIZATION, THAT YOU COME TO IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT DEALS WITH HOUSING. NOT ONLY ARE WE BRINGING THEM TOGETHER FOR COMMUNITY DAY, WE WANT TO HOLD THEIR HAND THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SUSTAINABLE HOMEOWNERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. >> LAST, IF I MAY INTERJECT AS WELL, ONE OF MY PASSIONS, AND ONE OF THE DUTIES FOR THIS POSITION IS TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR FAITH BASED COMMUNITY AS IT COMES TO CHURCHES. FROM A NATIONAL LEVEL, WE HAVE SEVERAL WHAT WE CALL MOU PARTNERSHIPS, AND JUST TO NAME A FEW, NAACP, RAINBOW. >> CATHOLIC CHARITIES. >> CATHOLIC CHARITIES, AND THE MOST RECENT IS THE NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION THAT HAS THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES ACROSS THE US. WE HAVE HOSTED WITH PASTORS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THEM BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHURCH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST LAND OWNERS, AND SOMETIMES THE CHURCH DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH AND CULTIVATE THAT LAND. MADAM PRESIDENT, JUST TO LAND AND END ON THE INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE REGARDING OUR COHORT FOR DEVELOPMENT. >> YES. I HAVE TO SAY, I'M A RECENT GRADUATE OF OUR DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY, WHICH IS HUGE. WHAT THEY DO OR WHAT WE'VE DONE IS EDUCATED OUR MEMBERS BECAUSE AS YOU NOW, THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF INVENTORY IN A LOT OF AREAS, SO THE IDEA IS IF YOU CAN GET US, AND EDUCATE US, AND HELP US BECOME DEVELOPERS, WE CAN ELIMINATE OR HELP START WORKING ON THAT SHORTAGE BY CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED HOUSING. WE WANT TO GET THEM FROM THE RENT RACE INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP. AND NOT SAYING PARTICULARLY RENTING IS WRONG. SOME PEOPLE NEED THE RENT FOR NOW WHILE THEY LEARN HOW TO BECOME A HOMEOWNER. WE DO FOCUS ON ALL OF THAT, AND EVEN AS A DEVELOPER, WE MAY NEED TO DEVELOP MORE RENTAL PROPERTIES OR SOME RENT THEIR OWN. DEPENDING ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S NEED IS, IS WHAT THEY'RE TEACHING US OR THEY TAUGHT US IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. MIXED USE, WHATEVER THE COMMUNITY NEED IS, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND IDENTIFY, AND HELP SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS. I HEARD YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU GUYS HAVE 1,700 BUILDING PERMITS THIS YEAR. THAT IS AWESOME. THE THING ABOUT IT IS THAT IF YOU KEEP GROWING, YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP BRINGING PEOPLE HERE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP NEEDING TO HAVE SUSTAINABLE HOUSING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO DO, WORK TOGETHER, COLLECTIVELY BECOME PARTNERS, AND HELP THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE SERVE. >> THIS BOARD ACTUALLY OWNS A FACILITY, AND WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO WAIVE ANY USE FEES FOR THE AUTHORITY, AND I THINK IT'D BE A GOOD PLACE TO HOLD SOMETHING LIKE THIS. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT CHENEDA ALSO HAD IN MIND. YOU MENTIONED FUNDING THE COMMUNITY DAY. CAN YOU GO INTO A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL ABOUT WHAT THAT ENTAILS, WHAT WE WOULD BE FUNDING, AND A BALLPARK DOLLAR FIGURE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PROVIDE? >> TO PUT ON A COMMUNITY DAY, THERE'S A LOT OF EXPENSES INVOLVED THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE. IF THE FACILITY IS AVAILABLE AT NO COST, THERE'S ADVERTISING INVOLVED, THERE'S LUNCHES INVOLVED, THERE'S TRAINING INVOLVED. IT JUST TAKES QUITE A BIT OF FUNDING. [00:35:03] THE BIGGEST THING FOR US, THE BIGGEST EXPENSE FOR US WAS THE MARKETING. WE SPENT QUITE A BIT ON MARKETING AS WELL AS WE MADE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE, I DON'T KNOW, YOU GUYS MAY HAVE SEEN US ON THE TV, ON THE NEWS SEVERAL TIMES, AND WE FAIL. WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER IN THE MARKETING AREA TO GET MORE PEOPLE OUT, BUT I STILL THINK WE WERE SUCCESSFUL. BUT PLANNING FORWARD, THE BIGGEST FINANCE IS THE MARKETING PIECE. THEN YOU HAVE ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT A SUCCESSFUL DAY. >> ALSO WE HAVE A PORTION BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT PARENTS TO NOT COME BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHILDREN. ON THIS DAY WE HAVE A KIDS ZONE, SO IT'S ALL THINGS KIDS, SO WE REALLY POUR INTO THEM. WE HAVE A BOUNCE HOUSE, WE BRING IN PEOPLE TO EDUCATE THEM AT THEIR LEVEL ON FINANCIAL LITERACY. THAT'S A PART OF THE BUDGET AS WELL, AND THE ENTERTAINMENT AS WELL. BECAUSE WE HAVE A DJ, WE HAVE MUSIC. WE MAKE IT REALLY FAMILY FRIENDLY, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO COME OUT. >> DO YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT? WHAT'S THAT? >> TWENTY THOUSAND. >> I HAD MISSED THAT. THANK YOU. >> SORRY, IT'S IN THE PRESENTATION. I THINK IT'S JUST ROAMING. >> IS THIS AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP, TOO. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE OR LIKE? >> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT. FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE NAREB NORTH TEXAS. WE COVER COLLIN AND DENTON COUNTY. HOWEVER, WE'LL HELP ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE OUR SERVICES THAT DON'T LIVE IN THIS AREA. BUT I'VE ALWAYS SAID WE'RE THE BEST KEPT SECRET. EIGHTY YEARS AND NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN COLLIN COUNTY KNOW ABOUT US. I THINK PERCEIVABLY BECAUSE COLLIN COUNTY IS CONSIDERED, WELL, THERE'S NO NEED HERE. WHAT WE HAVE REALLY WANTED TO DO IS DO A BETTER JOB IN COLLABORATING, IN ATTAINING PARTNERSHIPS LIKE YOURSELF FOR LONGEVITY. WE DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE HIT WONDER. WE WANT TO CONTINUE NOT JUST ANNUALLY, BUT PARTNER WITH OUR ALLIANCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. HOW CAN WE COME IN AND BE THE VOICE AND THE RESOURCE? BECAUSE WE HAVE THE HISTORY, WE HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS, WE NEED THE PLATFORM FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO HEAR WHAT WE HAVE. WE WANT TO COME UP WITH SPECIAL PROGRAMMING, AND PROVIDE WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY ACTUALLY NEEDS. IT COULD BE AS BASIC AS FINANCIAL LITERACY TO GET PEOPLE READY, OR LIKE I SAID, THOSE WHO ALREADY HAVE PROPERTY BUT NEED HELP DISSOLVING OR CURING THEIR TITLES TO SAVE THEIR PROPERTIES, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TO PRESENT TONIGHT, AND THINKING ABOUT US IN PRINCETON. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE. HOW MANY PEOPLE DID YOU ALL HAVE AT YOUR EVENT IN MCKINNEY? WAS IT A GOOD TURNOUT? ANYTHING LIKE THAT. JUST GIVE ME SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HOW IT WAS IN MCKINNEY. >> YES. FINAL COUNT WAS 350 SOMETHING TO THAT NATURE, AND WE HAD VENDORS AS WELL. WE HAD ABOUT 30 VENDORS MAYBE, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE ROOM, BUT WE HAD ABOUT 30 VENDORS, WE HAD SEVERAL CHURCHES, CLERGYMEN COME TO OUR CLERGYMEN LUNCHEON, OUR BREAKFAST. I THINK IT WAS IT WAS LUNCH OR BREAKFAST, I DON'T REMEMBER, BUT IT WAS AN OVERWHELMING RECEIPT TO THAT. THEY'RE WANTING US TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THEIR PROPERTY IN ORDER TO SERVE. THERE'S A CHURCH IN HOUSTON WHERE THE PROPERTY THAT THEY OWN ACROSS THE STREET, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. OUR PRESIDENT ACTUALLY HELPED THEM TO REALIZE THE VALUE THERE. THEY CREATED THIS SUBDIVISION, AND NOW THEY GIVE THEIR MEMBERS FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL, SO NOW YOU'RE GETTING THEM, TURNING THEM AROUND. THE RELATIONSHIP IS ONGOING AND IT CAN BE AS BIG AS WE WANT IT TO BE. AS MUCH AS WE CAN IMAGINE, WE CAN PUT TOGETHER, PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND CREATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. WE DON'T WANT TO JUST BE HERE ONCE, WE WANT TO BE ONGOING. >> THERE'S ALSO A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THIS. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FINANCES, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WEALTH IN TERMS OF MONEY AND EQUITY. BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE WHOLE PERSON, [00:40:03] THE WHOLE FAMILY MAKING THEM HEALTHY. WE BRING IN A HEALTH COMPONENT THAT DAY. WE HAD CARTER BLOODCARE OUT LAST YEAR, AND THIS YEAR WE'LL BE HAPPY TO PARTNER UP WITH THE CITY OF MCKINNEY, AND WE'LL BE HAVING A HEALTH FAIR. THOSE PEOPLE WITH BLOOD PRESSURE TAKEN, A SLIGHT PANEL FOR DIABETES, SO SOMETHING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO MAKE THEM HOLISTIC. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, IF WE HAVE 300 PEOPLE SHOW UP THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM [LAUGHTER] >> WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN. >> WE DON'T QUITE HAVE AS MANY RESIDENTS AS MCKINNEY, SO I THINK WE'LL BE GOOD ON THAT. BUT I DID LIKE TO HEAR THAT NUMBER. I WANTED TO GAUGE WHAT TYPE OF PARTICIPATION YOU GOT IN THE CITY OF MCKINNEY, SO THAT WAS A GREAT NUMBER. JUST TO REITERATE, THIS IS FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME. BACK TO MRS. NED COMMENT ABOUT, IS THIS JUST A ONE STOP EVENT OR IS THIS SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT AND SEE HOW IT GOES, AND IF IT GOES GREAT, THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN BRING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY [INAUDIBLE] >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING, IS TO SEE HOW THE FIRST ONE GOES, AND THEN TALK ABOUT REVISITING IT AGAIN IN DIFFERENT WAYS. BUT I'D BE INTERESTED. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT TAILORS TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES? >> YES WE DO. THAT'S ONE OF OUR TARGETS AS WELL. ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, HE'S SPANISH SPEAKING, WELL, ACTUALLY, WE GOT MORE THAN ONE MEMBER WHO'S SPANISH SPEAKING. THEY'RE ALSO ONE OF OUR SPONSORS. HIS TEAM ACTUALLY OVERSEEN THE CHILDREN'S ZONE LAST YEAR. THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE OF OUR SPONSORS, SHE'S ALSO SPANISH SPEAKING. WE HAVE A HUGE FOCUS ON PEOPLE OF COLOR, DOESN'T MATTER, AND WHATEVER THE NEED IS. IF THERE'S A LARGE POPULATION OF SENIORS WHO ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH. BECAUSE ONCE EVERYBODY DIES OFF OR LEAVE THE HOME, YOU HAVE SENIORS THAT'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. WE ALSO TALKED TO THEM ABOUT REVERSE MORTGAGES, AND HOW THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT. WE TRY TO SOLVE AS MANY PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITY AS WE CAN THAT DAY. ONCE WE IDENTIFY WHAT THE NEED IS HERE IN PRINCETON WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS. WE ALSO HAVE AN ATTORNEY ON STAFF ON THAT DAY, ATTORNEYS FOR WILLS AND PROBATES, AND TALK ABOUT THAT. WE TRY TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING. >> THIS IS THE TRUE ONE-STOP ALL. YOU CAN GET A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION FROM COMING OUT THAT DAY. NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, IF YOU'RE IN THE PRINCETON COMMUNITY, COME OUT AND GET SOME INFORMATION, THEN AT THAT POINT, THERE'S OTHER STEPS THAT YOU CAN HELP THEM TAKE AFTER THAT DAY. >> BUT WE DON'T WANT TO JUST BE THAT DAY. >> RIGHT. >> THAT'S GOOD. >> WE WANT TO KEEP IT GOING, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE EDUCATION PIECE TOGETHER, WE WANT THEM TO KNOW WHERE TO COME FOR HELP. WE DON'T WANT FOLKS PERISH FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN HERE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. WHAT DOES THE DAY LOOK LIKE? IS IT LIKE A SEMINAR, OR DO THEY WALK AROUND TO THESE VENDORS, OR WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? >> [INAUDIBLE] >> GLAD YOU ASKED. THANK YOU. FROM ABOUT 9:00 AM-3:00 PM, THAT'S OUR DAY. PEOPLE COME AND THEY ARE ABLE TO GO TO DIFFERENT SEMINARS. WE SET UP SESSIONS, SOME ARE 30 MINUTES, SOME MAYBE 45 MINUTES, SOME MAY BE AN HOUR. BUT WE HAVE ROUND ROBINS WHERE THAT SPECIFIC SESSION COULD EITHER BE REPEATED AND THEY CHOOSE OUT OF THE DAY, WHICH 2-3-4 THEY WANT TO GO ATTEND. WE EVEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED TO SPEAK WITH A CREDIT COUNSELOR, OR A LENDER ONE ON ONE, OR AN ATTORNEY ONE ON ONE, FOR THEM TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT THAT DAY. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A REALLY BIG HIT FOR US. >> THE CREDIT THING TOO BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT CREDIT, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GET STARTED, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE TO THAT, TOO. >> THEN WE HAVE MAIN SESSIONS WHERE WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL MAIN STAGE SPEAKERS WHERE EVERYBODY WILL CONGREGATE IN ONE AREA. HE'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT WE DO HAVE ONE OF OUR LENDERS HERE, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO HIM ABOUT HOW THEY WORK WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE. IF YOU WANT TO ASK HIM A FEW QUESTIONS. >> YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SOMEWHAT CUSTOMIZE WHAT THAT DAY LOOKS LIKE BY WORKING WITH, I'M JUST SPITBALLING, MAYBE CHENEDA AND MELISSA. [00:45:01] SINCE THEY'VE BEEN ASKING THE MOST QUESTIONS ON THE BOARD. >> [LAUGHTER] I KNOW THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN IT. BUT NO, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THEN SCHEDULE YOUR ROUND ROBINS AND YOUR SESSIONS AND THAT TYPE OF THING. >> YES. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THEY GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. IT'S NOT JUST THEY COME THAT DAY AND THE RALLY IS SET UP. THEY START FROM THE TIME WHERE WE SAY YES. THEY START FROM THAT DAY REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, REACHING OUT TO CHURCHES, REACHING OUT TO BUSINESSES. THEY DO THE WHOLE SCOPE AND THEY GO FROM THAT DAY TO THE DAY IT ENDS AND THEN AFTER THAT, LIKE SHE SAID, LIKE THEY SAID, THEY WILL SET UP SPECIAL PROGRAMS. IF THEY FEEL LIKE EVERYONE IN PRINCETON NEEDS, I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE UP A SILLY ONE, RED BOOTS. THEY'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET EVERYBODY RED BOOTS AND HAVE A PROGRAM. THEN IF WE NEED TO HAVE A PROGRAM ONCE A MONTH, ONCE A QUARTER, THEY WILL DO THAT SO IT DOESN'T STOP. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT LAST YEAR WHEN THEY DID IT IN MCKINNEY, THE PEOPLE CAME OUT, THEY ENJOYED IT AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT SUCCESS. >> THIS IS A CATEGORY THAT'S OVERLOOKED IN A SORE SPOT FOR SOME, BUT WE HAVE A HEART FOR VETERANS AS WELL. THE EMOTIONAL STATE AND MENTAL STATE OF VETERANS, NOT JUST HOUSING, BUT WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT COULD COME TO SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL. >> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD. MR. AHMAD >> ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS WHAT ABOUT SENIORS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL? THEY MAY BE ENTERING INTO A TRADE SCHOOL OR COLLEGE, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO GET READY OR TO BE PREPARED TO BUY A HOUSE BUT THEY WANT A HOUSE AT A YOUNG AGE. >> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IF WE GO TO THE SCHOOLS AND EDUCATE THEM STARTING AT SEVENTH GRADE AND EIGHTH GRADE BEFORE THEY GET THEIR BAD HABITS, YOU CAN PRODUCE A BETTER CHILD COMING OUT OF COLLEGE AND COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. WE USUALLY TRY TO GET OUR FINANCIAL LITERACY IN PLACE STARTING THAT EARLY, AND WE TRY TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ALLOW US TO COME IN AND TEACH FINANCIAL LITERACY TO THEM AT THAT EARLY AGE. YOU PROBABLY THINK, IT'S SEVENTH GRADE AND EIGHTH GRADE, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND. THE EARLIER YOU TEACH THEM, THE BETTER THEY'LL BE. WE DID FINANCIAL LITERACY WHERE WE TAUGHT THEM HOW TO BALANCE CHECKBOOKS AND ABOUT THEIR CREDIT REPORT, ABOUT THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT NOBODY ELSE NEED TO USE IT. EVEN AT THOSE SEMINARS, AND WE KNOW THAT BOYS AND GIRLS, THEY FUNCTION BETTER WHEN THEY'RE SEPARATE SO WE DID ONE FOR THE BOYS AND ONE FOR THE GIRLS, AND WE ALLOWED THE PARENTS TO SIT IN. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MANY PARENTS DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO BALANCE A CHECKBOOK. THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE OVERWHELMED BY THE INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDED. BUT THE EARLIER WE WERE ABLE TO GET WITH THEM AND WORK WITH THEM, THEN THE BETTER SENIOR COMING OUT OF SCHOOL YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, AND WE HAVE A BIG FOCUS ON HBCUS AND ANY OTHER SCHOOL. BUT IF WE GIVE THEM, MAKE THEM COLLEGE MINDED, THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SCHOOL THEY GO TO, BECAUSE NOW THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF LEAVING FROM THIS LIFE TO THE NEXT, AND THEY COME BACK AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HOME OWNERSHIP. >> THERE SHOULD BE A SUBJECT LIKE THAT THAT THEY TEACH IN SCHOOL ESPECIALLY AT A YOUNG AGE LIKE THAT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU SHOW THEM ATTAINABLE GOALS, IT DOES HELP THEM. WITH ANY KID THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY AT THE TOP TEACHING THEM THAT, THEN WHY WOULD THEY? >> IF THEY DIDN'T SEE THEIR PARENTS AS HOMEOWNERS, THEIR MINDSET IS NOT GOING TO TAKE THEM TO THAT SPACE. WE HAVE TO CATCH THEM EARLY ENOUGH IN ORDER FOR US TO LET THEM SEE THAT IT DOESN'T STOP HERE. YOU CAN BE, YOU CAN HAVE, AND YOU CAN GO WHEREVER YOU WANT TO GO. BUT IF YOU DON'T TEACH THEM, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO EVER KNOW. AGAIN, PEOPLE PERISH FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY OUR BIG PIECE IS EDUCATION. IT'S NOT A ONE STOP SHOP. THAT DAY WE WANTED TO GO ON UNTIL WE CAN DEVELOP THE BEST COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE AND SOME HOMEOWNERS HERE. >> I ACTUALLY REALLY LOVE THAT YOU GUYS ARE FAITH BASED BECAUSE WE DO HAVE ONE SOVEREIGN KING, AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT YOU GUYS KEEPING THAT IN YOUR PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT, SO THANK YOU. >> YEAH. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. >> YES. >> ONE LAST QUESTION THAT I HAVE. YOU ALL ARE REQUESTING 20,000, IS THAT RIGHT JIM? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> YES, SIR. >> JUST TO SAY, WHAT DOES THE $20,000 GET US EXACTLY? I KNOW WE GET THE COMMUNITY DAY AND ALL OF THAT. IS THERE ANYTHING IN BETWEEN? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR. DO WE GET THE COMMUNITY DAY AND THEN IS THERE A FOLLOW UP FOR SOMETHING ELSE, [00:50:01] OR IS IT, HEY, IT'S JUST THE JUST A COMMUNITY DAY, BUT WE'RE ALSO WILLING TO COME BACK FOR DIFFERENT THINGS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND IT COSTS MONEY TO RUN THESE EVENTS SO I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT, JUST WANTING TO BE SPECIFIC ON WHAT WE GET FOR THE AMOUNT THAT'S BEING REQUESTED NOW SO THEN WE CAN MAKE A DECISION BASED ON WELL, WE LIKE THIS, THEIR FOLLOW UP EVENTS. JUST KNOW IF WHY THERE COULD BE MORE REQUESTS FINANCIALLY FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS. THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE. >> THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION IS ONCE WE GET STARTED HERE IN THE CITY OF PRINCETON, AND WITH THE COST OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET THERE, WHATEVER IS LEFT AFTER THE BUDGET, WE CAN PLAN WITH PRINCETON THE NEXT EVENT. IF WE HAVE ANYTHING LEFT, THEN WE AUTOMATICALLY WE CAN START FUNDING HOME BUYER EDUCATION COURSE. BECAUSE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE COURSES, YOU HAVE TO FEED THEM, YOU HAVE TO HAVE MATERIALS. THAT'S WHAT THAT WOULD DO DEPENDING ON WHAT WHAT'S LEFT FROM THE BUDGET. BUT THE DAY OF THE EVENT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE NECESSARY MATERIALS TO PROVIDE TO THE PEOPLE COMING OUT. WE NEED THEM TO LEAVE WITH SOMETHING. WE NEED TO EDUCATE THEM AND THE MATERIALS, THE MARKETING, GET THE PEOPLE OUT HERE SO IF THERE IS ANYTHING LEFT FROM THE BUDGET? WE CAN DEFINITELY PLAN FOR THE NEXT THING BASED OFF OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. >> IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY FROM CHENEDA, IF THE BOARD VOTES YES TONIGHT, YOUR GROUP WILL START WORKING IMMEDIATELY LEADING UP TO COMMUNITY DAY SO IT'S NOT LIKE APPROVE IT TONIGHT, WE'LL SEE YOU IN APRIL. YOU'LL BE WORKING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING SPONSORSHIPS AND VENDORS AND SETTING EVERYTHING UP. THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE GET AS WELL, CORRECT? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> I ASK THAT JUST TO BE CANDID BECAUSE THIS IS VIDEOTAPED. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THE CHAIRMAN ASKED THE QUESTION. WE WANT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR. >> ABSOLUTELY. JIM, THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION. THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I ASKED BECAUSE I WILL GET STOPPED IN WALMART AND SAY GET HEMMED UP ON THE END. >> HE STOPS ME IN WALMART. >> [LAUGHTER] NO, THAT GREAT. THE WORK ACTUALLY STARTS BEFORE THE EVENT. IT MAY JUST BE ONE EVENT, BUT THERE'S HOURS GOING INTO THEIR STAFF, HOURS GOING INTO IT TO LEAD UP TO THAT EVENT SO YEAH. >> YES, THANK YOU FOR ASKING FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. WHEN THE VOTE IS YES TONIGHT, WE'LL TOUCH BASE WITH CHENEDA OR WHOEVER OUR COMMITTEE WILL BE. WE DEFINITELY WANT YOUR INPUT. WE WILL FROM THIS DEVELOP COMMITTEES. >> YOU SPOKE THAT INTO EXISTENCE. YOU SAY WHEN THE VOTE IS YES, TONIGHT. I GOT YOU. I ALWAYS SPEAK IT INTO EXISTENCE, I GOT IT. NO. GO AHEAD, I'M SORRY. >> IT'S CALLED PLANTING THE SEED, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> YOU ARE TALKING TO REALTORS UP THERE. >> I TOTALLY GOT YOU. [LAUGHTER] >> YES, WE WOULD DEFINITELY GET OUR PLANNING GROUPS TOGETHER AND THEN GET A TIMELINE BECAUSE IT'S EXTENSIVE PLANNING. WITH THAT PLANNING IT WILL TAKE FUNDING TO FUND SOME OF THE PROJECTS ALONG THE WAY, SO WE ANTICIPATE IN ACTUALITY, IF THE YES IS TODAY THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FALL OF 2026. WE NEED ABOUT SEVEN TO EIGHT MONTHS. >> WHAT WE ARE HOPING THAT LEADING UP TO LIKE WHAT WE DID IN MCKINNEY, THERE WAS SOME PRE EVENTS PRIOR TO THAT WE DID IN ORDER TO BRING US AND INTRODUCE US TO THE COMMUNITY AND WORKING WITH THEM, KNOWING THAT ANTICIPATING THAT DATE TO COME. THE SAME THING WE WANT TO DO HERE IS [OVERLAPPING]. >> HAVE A PRESENCE HERE, BRING A FEW EVENTS. A RALLY, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. >> WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND PRESENTING TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU. >> I GUESS AT THAT POINT IF I HAVE A MOTION. >> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE TO APPROVE THE COMMUNITY DAY RALLY FOR A FALL. >> I SECOND THAT MOTION. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. CHENEDA, AND I HAVE ONE BY MR. THORNTON. WE WILL TAKE A VOTE. THAT PASSES FIVE, ZERO. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THE TROUBLE I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN WITH CHENEDA HAD THIS NOT BEEN ON, [00:55:02] NOT JUST A AGENDA, BUT TONIGHT'S AGENDA? >> WHO IS OUR CONTACT PERSON? >> THAT'S UP TO THE CHAIRPERSON. WHO YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE THE CONTACT PERSON? >> JIM, I'M GOING TO GO WITH YOU, MS. NED, AND MS. CHENEDA, BE THE CHAIR PEOPLE FOR THIS. >> YOU SPOKE THAT INTO EXISTENCE. >> HE SURE DID. >> I'M HAPPY TO DO IT. I WOULD LIKE CHENEDA TO BE INVOLVED ONLY BECAUSE SHE'S ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN THESE BEFORE, AND SO SHE HAS THAT FIELD OF KNOWLEDGE THAT I DON'T HAVE. >> MISS NED HAS ALL THE ENERGY WITH IT. I THINK IF WE PAIR THOSE TWO TOGETHER, IT'LL BE GREAT EVENT. >> THAT'S CALLED NEEDING TO LEARN HOW TO SHUT YOUR MOUTH. [LAUGHTER] >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, THERE'S NOT REALLY A LARGE DEAF COMMUNITY OUT HERE. I HAVE SEEN SOME DEAF FOLKS IN IN PRINCETON, WALMART. I WAS HAVE MY WHEELS SPINNING AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING THAT SAYS THAT MAYBE THERE'S AN ASL PIECE TO THIS. I SPEAK FLUENT SIGN LANGUAGE. BOTH MY PARENTS ARE DEAF AND SO I HAVE A PASSION FOR DEAF CULTURE. I WAS TRYING TO THINK, BUT I'M LIKE, THERE'S NOT A HUGE DEAF COMMUNITY, BUT MAYBE THERE IS, BUT THERE'S NEVER ANYTHING TO BRING THEM OUT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I DON'T KNOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT. [BACKGROUND] >> YOU ALREADY GOT YOUR SIGN LANGUAGE PROFESSIONAL RIGHT HERE. >> I HEARD HER SAY IT. >> YEAH. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT, I APPRECIATE IT. JIM, I'M READING EXECUTIVE SESSION INFORMATION. IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES. >> EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER TERMS CHAPTER 551 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. [K. EXECUTIVE SESSION] THE BOARD MAY ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION OR EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ANY ITEMS LISTED OR REFERENCED ON A POSTED AGENDA NOTICE FOR THIS MEETING AS NECESSARY UNDER THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF THE OPEN MEETING ACT UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551072-2, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CONSULTING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ON A MATTER IN WHICH DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE GOVERNMENT BODY UNDER TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS, CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THIS CHAPTER OR ANY POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. DO I READ THESE ITEMS, JIM? >> YES. >> FUTURE LAND OPPORTUNITIES; PROJECT HOME RUN, PROJECT LONE STAR, PROJECT RED, PROJECT QUEEN, PROJECT BREAD. READ THE LAST PORTION? >> ALL YOU HAVE TO READ IS SECTION AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT. SECTION 551074. >> YES. SECTION 551074, PERSONNEL MATTERS. THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT REQUIRE A GOVERNMENT BODY TO CONDUCT AN OPEN MEETING TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE TO HEAR COMPLAINT OR CHANGE AGAINST AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE. REVIEW CURRENT STAFF AND STAFFING NEEDS. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I DO NEED TO MAKE NOTE THAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS NOT HERE, SO WE WON'T BE GOING IN UNDER THAT SECTION. I APOLOGIZE. WE PUT IT ON ALL OF OUR AGENDAS BUT HE HAD A CONFLICT TODAY. BUT WE WILL BE GOING IN UNDER 551087 AND 551074. >> WE ARE ENTERING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:03 PM. TIME IS 8:32 AND WE ARE COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH NO ACTION TO BE TAKEN. [L. ACTION PERTAINING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION] >> YOU DON'T NEED A MOTION, MR. CHAIR. YOU CAN ADJOURN THE MEETING ON YOUR OWN IF YOU LIKE. >> IF YOU'RE READY TO LEAVE, GET UP AND LEAVE. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.