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GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
SINCE IT IS A SATURDAY, I WANT TO TAKE A VERY GOOD BE A GOOD STEWARD OF YOUR TIME.
AND IT IS AN HONOR FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HOST THE CANDIDATE FORUM.
WE'VE DONE THESE FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS VOTERS ARE EDUCATED, THAT WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO KNOW WHO WE ARE VOTING FOR.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR VOICE TO BE HEARD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED.
SO IF YOU'RE AT HOME AND WATCHING, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THAT AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR BEING OUR MODERATORS TODAY.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT THEY DO IN VOTER EDUCATION, BUT IN BEING HERE THIS MORNING TO HELP US OUT.
SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, AARON, ESPECIALLY FOR BEING OUR MODERATOR THIS MORNING.
JUST GOING TO GIVE HIM A FEW MINUTES TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL. BUT WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY ALL THEY DO WITH THE CHAMBER SO. [APPLAUSE]. GOOD MORNING.
NOW IT'S APPROXIMATELY 15,000 HOMES. THAT'S AN AMAZING.
AND YOU GUYS JUST AREN'T THE FASTEST GROWING COMMUNITY IN TEXAS.
CAROLYN DAVID-GRAVES GIVE HER A SHOUT OUT [APPLAUSE].
AND COUNCIL MEMBER BRYAN WASHINGTON. DO YOU MIND STANDING UP COUNCIL MEMBER WASHINGTON? I THINK WE'RE REALLY TURNING AROUND AND, YOU KNOW, PROGRESS WITH PURPOSE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY HERE TODAY.
WE ALL LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING A US CITIZEN IS WE GET TO CHOOSE OUR LEADERS AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. SO TODAY WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES.
ONE HAVE LIVED SINCE. BOTH OF THEM ARE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO HEAR THEIR VISION, AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR WILLING TO THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING IN THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT TODAY, YOU SEE A TIP OF THE HAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, IT'S A GREAT PARTNER WITH CWD.
THEY GIVE A, WE GIVE AWAY 30 TO 50 GALLONS OF PAINT FOR FREE WITH THEM EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
THAT'S AN AMAZING PROGRAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING PARTNERS WITH THAT.
GOOD LUCK, BOTH CANDIDATES. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M GOING TO PASS OVER TO AARON.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION.
WE NEVER SUPPORT OR OPPOSE ANY POLITICAL PARTY OR CANDIDATE.
AND WELCOME TO THIS FORUM FOR CANDIDATES FOR PRINCETON CITY COUNCIL PLACE 4.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, LET'S GO OVER A FEW GROUND RULES.
THE AUDIENCE MAY SUBMIT WRITTEN QUESTIONS ANY TIME USING THE FORMS PROVIDED.
JUST RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU NEED A QUESTION FORM OR WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A QUESTION.
QUESTIONS MAY BE COMBINED OR REWORDED AND WE MAY NOT GET TO ASK EVERY QUESTION.
CANDIDATES PLEASE STOP PROMPTLY WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.
PLEASE TALK ABOUT YOUR POSITIONS AND DO NOT ATTACK OTHER PERSONS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.
THIS SESSION WILL PRESENT THE TWO RUNOFF CANDIDATES FOR PRINCETON CITY COUNCIL PLACE 4.
THE TWO CANDIDATES ARE JAISEN RUTLEDGE, JAN GORIA.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR OPENING STATEMENTS, BEGINNING WITH JAISEN RUTLEDGE.
THE SPONSORS AND EVERYONE THAT'S IN ATTENDANCE.
I GUESS MY OPENING REMARK WOULD BE I'M EXCITED TO BE SITTING HERE NEXT TO JAN.
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I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD LONGER THAN BOTH OF US PROBABLY ANTICIPATED, BUT I'VE BEEN INVESTED IN SERVING PRINCETON FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.SO I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THE QUESTIONS AND TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS TODAY. THANK YOU NEXT. JAN GORIA. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
AND I FIRST, MY VISION WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO PRINCETON WAS COUNTRY.
A LITTLE BIT OF THAT COUNTRY IS DISAPPEARING RIGHT NOW AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.
BUT, BUT I LIVED IN FRISCO BEFORE THIS FOR 24 YEARS, AND I SAW IT GO FROM 80,000 TO OVER 200,000.
AND I SAW WHAT THAT DOES TO A CITY, AND I, AND TO THE PEOPLE AND TO THE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY.
SO I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN HERE. I THINK A LOT OF IT IS PROBABLY UNDERWAY, BUT I'M HERE TO DO WHAT I CAN TO SUPPORT THE CITIZENS OR THE CITY OF PRINCETON. AND ALSO THANK YOU, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, FOR SPONSORING THIS.
AND TO BETH FOR PUTTING ALL THIS TOGETHER. I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
AND HELPING ME AND JAISEN ALSO TO GET OUR VOICE OUT THERE AND WHAT WE'RE THINKING.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL.
AS A REMINDER, IF WE CAN DO THE APPLAUSE AT THE END.
THAT WAY WE HAVE MAXIMUM TIME FOR QUESTIONS. AND THE NOW WE'LL ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATE.
QUESTION THE FIRST. HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE THAT YOU HEAR FROM AND REPRESENT ALL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING ONES THAT MAY NOT ALREADY BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'LL REPEAT AGAIN FOR CLARITY.
HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE THAT YOU HEAR FROM AND REPRESENT ALL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING ONES THAT MAY NOT ALREADY BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS? FIRST ANSWER PLEASE. JAN GORIA WELL, DURING BLOCK WALKING, A LOT OF MY FRIENDS DID THE WALKING AND I DID THE DRIVING, BUT WE KNOCKED ON A LOT OF DOORS AND GOT A LOT OF RESPONSES FROM PEOPLE.
AND A LOT OF THEM DON'T COME TO THE MEETINGS.
THEY DON'T EVEN WATCH THE VIDEO OR LOOK AT THE AGENDA BECAUSE THEY'VE FALLEN AWAY FROM THE GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS HARD TO DEAL WITH. WHAT WE NEED THE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, ALL OF US UNDERSTAND, IS THAT WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT. WE'VE GOT IT ALL BACKWARDS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE LETTING THE GOVERNMENT RULE US, AND WE SHOULD BE THE ONES THAT RULE THE GOVERNMENT.
I DON'T LIKE THAT WORD RULE, BUT IT IS IN OUR POCKET TO DO THAT.
AND WE NEED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO THAT.
SO THEN, THEN WE. SO WE NEED TRANSPARENCY, BUT WE HAVE TO HELP INITIATE THAT.
I MEAN, BE THERE AND, AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, THAT IS TIME.
THANK YOU ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW THAT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN CHEWING ON, AND I THINK EVEN PREVIOUSLY IN PAST ROLES, I'VE SEEN AS A AS A TENSION POINT IS HOW DO WE ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY? HOW ARE WE ABLE TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS AND GET THE INPUT IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE ACTUAL EFFECTIVE CHANGE? I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S NO NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
THERE'S OTHER CITIES THAT ARE DOING THIS AND DOING IT EFFECTIVELY. THERE'S TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE COMMUNICATION. I THINK THERE'S PROCESSES THAT CAN BE PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT AS WE ARE GETTING THAT INFORMATION THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY CONTRACT, WHO'S RESPONDING, WHAT'S BEING RESPONDED TO, WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A, IT'S A GOOD TOOL. I THINK THERE HAS TO BE LIMITS IN HOW WE MANAGE THAT TOOL, BUT I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO SO. AND FROM THE CAPACITY OF THE CITY STANDPOINT AND ALSO FROM EACH SEAT HERE.
SO I WILL PERSONALLY CONTINUE TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT IS TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. QUESTION 2.
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, SHOULD THE CITY DO TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY AS THE CITY GROWS? WHAT, IF ANYTHING, SHOULD THE CITY DO TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY AS THE CITY GROWS? FIRST TO ANSWER, PLEASE, JAISEN RUTLEDGE. YEAH.
SO I WOULD SAY WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR STAFF.
OUR POLICE FORCE CURRENTLY IS I KNOW IT'S UNDERSTAFFED.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK THAT THERE'S WAYS FOR US TO LOOK AT REPORTING AND ANALYTICS AS A AS A STANDPOINT AT EACH, LIKE AT AN ANNUAL OR QUARTERLY BASIS, TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE CHANGING AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS WITH THEM.
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ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS I'VE SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS YOU KNOW, ACCIDENTS ON 380, RIGHT? WE CAN LOOK AT A TRAFFIC STUDY ON A CONSISTENT BASIS AND SEE HOW THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS ARE CHANGING AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS THERE.WE CAN LOOK AT CRIME STUDIES AND SEE HOW THOSE THINGS ARE BEING IMPACTED AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, WORKING WITH OUR STAFF AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THEM TO HAVE THE RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD FOCUS ON.
THANK YOU. NEXT. JAN GORIA. I AGREE WITH WHAT JAISEN JUST SAID, BUT I THINK ALSO THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP WITH THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE THE SCOOTERS, THE MOTORIZED SCOOTERS, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'RE GOING TO AND FROM SCHOOLS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND THEY'RE CREATING TRAFFIC HAZARDS FOR THE DRIVERS AS WELL AS FOR THEMSELVES.
AND I KNOW E-BIKES, YOU KNOW, E-BIKES HAVE A LOT MORE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO THEM.
BUT, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S ALSO, I UNDERSTAND IN SOME HOA NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE ARE SWIMMING POOLS AREAS ARE BEING VANDALIZED, I MEAN, TERRIBLY VANDALIZED AND RUINING PIPES AND TOILETS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THERE'S VANDALS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, IN A PUBLIC PLACE.
THAT IS TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. FOR THE NEXT QUESTION.
HOW SHOULD YOU AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HANDLE THE POSSIBILITY OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? HOW SHOULD YOU AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HANDLE THE POSSIBILITY OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
FIRST TO ANSWER, PLEASE, JAN GORIA. WELL, I THINK WHENEVER YOU GET ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE TOGETHER, MEN OR WOMEN, IT DOESN'T MATTER. THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHT PROCESS AND DIFFERENT IDEAS, BUT WE NEED TO BE ADULTS ABOUT IT AND WE NEED TO NOT ALWAYS WANT TO BE THE WINNER DEPENDING ON WHAT THE, THE SITUATION IS. I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO BE GRACEFUL, YOU HAVE TO STATE YOUR POINT OF VIEW.
AND I MEAN, THERE'S SEVEN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ON A COUNCIL OR, YOU KNOW, ON A COMMISSION.
AND SO YOU HAVE TO BE OPEN TO EVERYONE'S INPUT AND GO WITH THE BEST.
THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY KIND OF THE BOTTOM LINE MAY NOT BE YOUR BEST.
IT MAY NOT BE YOUR CHOSEN ONE, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S JUST KIND OF HOW IT WORKS.
THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION, BECAUSE THIS WAS A TOPIC THAT CAME UP IN SOCIAL MEDIA RECENTLY.
AND SO I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST THAT PARTICULAR MEMBERS OF BOARDS OR COUNCIL WOULD RECUSE THEMSELVES IF THEY FELT THAT THERE WAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THEY WOULD INVOLVE, YOU KNOW, THE LEGAL COUNSEL TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS SOME LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING TO PROTECT THE CITY AND PROTECT THEMSELVES AS WELL.
I THINK THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GO FURTHER AND ENSURE THAT THERE IS DOCUMENTATION IN PLACE THAT EVERY PERSON THAT SITS IN THIS SEAT, WHETHER YOU'RE ON COUNCIL OR NOT, HAS AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT MEANS AND THAT THERE IS AN AGREEMENT TO RECUSE YOURSELF FROM ANY SCENARIO WHERE THERE IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. AND I'M ASSUMING THAT YOUR QUESTION IS SPECIFICALLY TO THEIR ENGAGEMENT FROM PERSONAL BENEFIT VERSUS WHAT THEIR ROLE IS WITHIN THE CITY.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD ASSUME THAT, YOU KNOW, CREATING A PROCESS TO SUSTAIN THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT QUESTION. EXCUSE ME.
WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES WITH RESPECT TO CITY MANAGEMENT AND STAFFING? WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES WITH RESPECT TO CITY MANAGEMENT AND STAFFING? FIRST ANSWER PLEASE. JAISEN RUTLEDGE. I'M GOING TO TRY MY BEST TO DO THIS IN A MINUTE.
I'VE HAD DIRECT CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THE DIRECTORS IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
SO I WOULD DEFINITELY LOOK TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE IN GIVING OUR STAFF AND INVESTING IN OUR STAFF WITH THE TOOLS, THE CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE LINE OF SIGHT TO THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING FROM A CITY MANAGER PERSPECTIVE.
HE'S THE CEO OF THE CITY. HE HAS TO HAVE THE EXPERTISE, THE EXPERIENCE.
HE HAS TO HAVE THE CONTACTS, HE HAS TO KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS ARE A PROCESS TO GET THAT RIGHT PERSON.
THANK YOU. NEXT, PLEASE, JAN GORIA. WELL, I THINK JAISEN ANSWERED THAT VERY WELL.
[00:15:01]
[LAUGHTER]. I'M ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN WITH THAT.BUT I THINK FOR ME COMING INTO THIS, IF I WERE TO BE ELECTED.
SORRY, I'M BATTLING ALLERGIES, SO BEAR WITH ME HERE.
BUT I WOULD WANT TO SIT WITH ALL THE DIRECTORS AND, AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY DO AND FIND OUT WHAT THEIR RESPONSE TO THEIR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY IS, HOW THEY WORK WITH IN THEIR STAFF AND WITH OTHER STAFF MEMBERS IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE TOTAL LAYOUT BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO ME IN MAKING MY DECISIONS ON WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, WHETHER IT'S ON COUNCIL. CURRENTLY, I'M ON PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE.
I'VE ONLY BEEN TO ABOUT FOUR MEETINGS, SO I'M IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT I THINK KNOWING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON BOARD THAT ARE DIRECTORS, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE STAFF UNDER THEM, IS PROBABLY A KEY STARTING POINT TO UNDERSTAND THE WORKINGS, WHETHER IT'S PLANNING AND ZONING, BUT THE CITY ITSELF. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WHEN IT WILL BE RELEASED? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WHEN IT WILL BE RELEASED? FIRST TO ANSWER, PLEASE, JAN GORIA. I'M VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE THAT FINISHED PLAN BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED AT IT ONLINE AND I'M LOOKING AT OLD IT'S OLD INFORMATION. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY NEW INFORMATION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SUBDIVISIONS THAT HAVE GONE UP.
EVEN THE CITY OF PRINCETON BOUNDARIES ARE HARD TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A BOX, YOU KNOW. IT'S NOT A RECTANGLE. IT'S PRETTY JAGGED OUT THERE.
SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU'RE IN THE CITY AND WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS.
SO I'M VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE THAT AND SEE WHERE ALL OF THE BUSINESSES OR HOMES, HOW IT LAYS OUT WITHIN THE CITY AND THE ETJ. SO I THAT WOULD REALLY BE A GREAT EDUCATIONAL PIECE FOR ME.
SO I'M PRETTY ANXIOUS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT, PLEASE.
JAISEN RUTLEDGE. YEAH. SO I THINK THIS IS A KEY PIECE.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THE STRATEGY OF HOW OUR CITY OPERATES IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT BUDGETARY ASPECTS.
AS FAR AS WHEN IT'S RELEASED, I WOULD SAY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE LINE OF SIGHT TO WHAT THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS AND WHAT IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE CURRENT STATE. I DO ALSO FEEL LIKE THE CITY HAS KIND OF SHIFTED AND CHANGED, AND I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REVIEW THIS.
THE PRINCETON TODAY IS NOT WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE BEFORE AND IT PROBABLY NEEDS SOME REVIEW AND WE PROBABLY CAN LET OUT PIECES OF IT IN AN ITERATIVE PHASE AND BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHY WE'RE DOING SO, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE CHANGING THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS ON.
LIKE, WE JUST SAVED A LOT OF MONEY ON OUR RECREATION CENTER.
WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES WITH RESPECT TO THE BUDGET AND TAX RATE? FIRST ANSWER PLEASE. JAISEN RUTLEDGE. YEAH, SO I KIND OF HINTED TO THIS EARLIER.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT TO INVEST IN OUR STAFF.
BUT I THINK THAT A GOOD WAY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE IN A COMFORTABLE POSITION IS OUR CITY IS SUPPORTED BY OUR COMMERCIAL GROWTH, AND WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE BEING VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT GOING OUT AND GETTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING TO GROW OUR CITY AND ENSURE THAT OUR TAX BASE IS HEALTHY.
RIGHT? AND THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US A LOT OF BREATHING ROOM TO BE ABLE TO DO OTHER THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE. SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPACTING OUR RESIDENTS FROM A, FROM A TAX PERSPECTIVE, WE WANT TO PUT THAT BURDEN, NOT ON THE ON THE WALLETS, BUT WE WANT TO PUT IT ON THE CORPORATIONS. RIGHT? WE WANT TO GET THE BUSINESSES IN HERE AND ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO CARRY MOST OF THAT BURDEN THAT WILL GIVE US OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GROW AND ADD THE AMENITIES AND THE DIFFERENT CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE FROM ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO. GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT IS TIME. NEXT QUESTION. I'M SORRY. NEXT TO ANSWER, PLEASE, JAN GORIA.
I HAVE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET AND IT'S PRETTY DAUNTING, QUITE HONESTLY [LAUGHTER].
IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND. I MEAN, I HAVEN'T WORKED WITH THE CITY BUDGET. IT'S.
I WOULD WANT TO BRING CLARITY AND TRANSPARENCY TO WHAT THE BUDGET MEANS, BECAUSE IT'S OUR MONEY.
IT'S THE PEOPLE'S MONEY THAT ARE RUNNING THE CITY.
AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT'S CATEGORIZED OR WHY IT'S CATEGORIZED THAT WAY.
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SO WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF, DO WE AGREE WITH IT? BECAUSE IF WE DON'T AGREE WITH IT, YOU KNOW, THEN WE HAVE A VOICE AND WE NEED TO USE THAT VOICE.SO THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING I WOULD DO. I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BUDGET. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. I'M SORRY, BUT I THINK THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF IT.
ALSO PRINCETON IS NOW. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT TERM.
A TRANSPARENT CITY DESIGNATED.
THAT IS TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT QUESTION.
WHAT DOES TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT MEAN TO YOU? WHAT STEPS ARE NEEDED? WHAT SPECIFIC STEPS ARE NEEDED TO PRACTICE IT? WHAT DOES TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT MEAN TO YOU AND WHAT SPECIFIC STEPS ARE NEEDED TO PRACTICE IT? FIRST, TO ANSWER, PLEASE. JAN GORIA WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD GO BACK TO HAVING TOWN HALLS, AND I KNOW THERE'S ONE THAT'S COMING UP AND WE NEED TO GET THE PEOPLE THERE. WE'LL SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT IS BECAUSE IT WAS MOVED FROM ONE DATE AND NOW IT'S LATER, SO THAT HOPEFULLY I'VE GOT A LITTLE MORE TIME TO GET TO A FEW MORE PEOPLE.
BUT I THINK TOWN HALLS WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN ASK A QUESTION IF THEY GO TO THE VIDEOS THAT, OR IF THEY COME TO CITY HALL OR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OR PLANNING AND ZONING OR WHATEVER THEY COME TO, THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS THAT'S GOING TO TRIGGER SOMETHING OR THEY HAVE AN ISSUE.
SO WE NEED TO KNOW ISSUES. WE NEED TO KNOW THE CITY SHOULD KNOW OR NEED.
THE CITY SHOULD WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING RIGHT.
AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING WRONG. AND IT'S NOT THAT IT CAN ALWAYS BE CORRECTED, BUT AT LEAST THE CITY HAS THAT INFORMATION AND THEY CAN USE IT GOING FORWARD IN THEIR PLANNING. THANK YOU. NEXT ANSWER PLEASE. JAISEN RUTLEDGE.
AND IT'S A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY WARRANTED.
THE I THINK THE TRANSPARENCY WITHIN THE CITY'S CAPACITY IS, IS VERY MUCH ON HOW WE'RE ENSURING THAT THE PUBLIC HAS INFORMATION, HOW ARE WE COMMUNICATING THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. I THINK THAT ANOTHER ASPECT OF IT IS, IS THAT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT I'M NOT PERFECT.
AND I HAVE TO BE OKAY SAYING I DROPPED THE BALL. I HAVE TO BE OKAY LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY, THERE'S AREAS, THERE'S THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO OVERCOME. OUR CITY IS NOT, YOU KNOW, STARTING IN A STATE THAT SOME OF THESE MORE PREDOMINANT OR MORE FURTHER ALONG IN THEIR GROWTH CITIES ARE WE'RE COMING UP INTO A TRANSITION PHASE. AND SO WE HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THOSE ROADBLOCKS, THOSE BUMPS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
AND SO FOR ME, I WANT TO BE THAT VOICE TO SAY, HEY, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
AND THAT IS TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION.
WHAT MEASURES WOULD YOU SUPPORT REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN PRINCETON? WHAT MEASURES WOULD YOU SUPPORT REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN PRINCETON? FIRST ANSWER, PLEASE. JAISEN RUTLEDGE. I THINK THAT PRINCETON IS IN A SPACE WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT OUR CITY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE FUTURE STATE. FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE TO GO AFTER THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN PRINCETON LONG TERM.
I'VE BEEN IN SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE JUST KIND OF WAITING FOR, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES TO COME TO US AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, AND WE HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND BE AGGRESSIVE. AND THERE'S SMART WAYS TO DO THAT.
BUT WE NEED TO, TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE DIFFERENT VARIOUS ASPECTS THAT WE CAN ENGAGE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GROWING OUR, OUR CITY. FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, I'D LIKE TO SEE A LOT MORE PROJECTS LIKE PRINCETON TOWN CENTER WHEN IT GETS COMPLETED.
I KNOW IT'S ON ITS WAY, BUT THINGS LIKE THAT.
DO WE HAVE STRONG BIG BOX RETAILERS THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO CREATE JOBS AND LONG TERM GROWTH FOR THE CITY? THAT'S TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT TO ANSWER, PLEASE, JAN GORIA.
WELL, I AGREE WITH WHAT JAISEN JUST SAID. I THINK ONCE FOR ME ANYWAY, AND PROBABLY FOR THE PEOPLE ONCE THE COMPREHENSIVE FINAL PLAN IS OUT THERE, WE CAN SEE WHERE THERE IS SPACE FOR COMMERCIAL TO COME INTO.
BECAUSE IT SEEMS WE KEEP FILLING 380, WHICH IS BESIDES ALL OF THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TRAFFIC IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE AND I'D LIKE TO SEE COMMERCIAL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND NOT JUST DOWN 380 WHERE THERE'S MORE TRAFFIC, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE WIDENING THE ROAD, IT'S GOING TO BE A TRAFFIC ISSUE.
WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE AROUND THE CITY TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT.
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BUT BUT WE DO NEED SOME SMALL BUSINESSES HERE, NOT JUST SO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE CAN ALSO WORK HERE AND, YOU KNOW, EARN THEIR LIVING RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY.RIGHT. THAT IS TIME. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE WE'RE ON THE NEXT QUESTION.
NOW, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE ABOUT HOW THE CITY COUNCIL OPERATES AND COMMUNICATES WITH RESIDENTS? WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE ABOUT HOW CITY COUNCIL OPERATES AND COMMUNICATES WITH RESIDENTS? FIRST ANSWER PLEASE, JAN GORIA. WELL, I'VE LIVED IN PRINCETON FOR TWO YEARS, AND I'VE BEEN COMING TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR ABOUT AT LEAST A YEAR OF THAT, AND I'VE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
I MEAN, NO ONE'S EVER SAID, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW? OR THIS IS OUR FUTURE PLAN, YOU KNOW, OR AN EMAIL OR, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO I THINK WE'RE NOT AS TRANSPARENT AS WE MIGHT THINK WE ARE.
AND I THINK THE CITY WEBSITE IS A GREAT TOOL, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE BETTER THAN WHAT IT IS BECAUSE IT'S JUST KIND OF A LITTLE BLURB AND THEN YOU DON'T HEAR ANY MORE AND YOU DON'T SEE ANY MORE UNTIL MAYBE THE NEXT WEEK.
THANK YOU. NEXT TO ANSWER, PLEASE, JAISEN RUTLEDGE.
YEAH, I THINK THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ENGAGE IN UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE BEING MORE EFFICIENT WITH HOW WE'RE COMMUNICATING THINGS, TRACKING PROJECTS, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSPECTIVE BEFORE WE GO INTO BIG PROJECTS.
RIGHT? I'VE SEEN IT DONE A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE WE'VE UTILIZED POLLS.
WE'VE CREATED OPPORTUNITIES IN TOWN HALLS. BUT I THINK THAT BEFORE WE DECIDE TO MAKE A DECISION FROM A COUNCIL PERSPECTIVE, THAT IF WE KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE LIFT FOR THE CITY, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE INPUT FROM OUR RESIDENTS, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SPEAK UP.
AND I THINK THAT THERE'S A THERE'S A WEIGHT ON THAT ON TWO SIDES. WE'VE SEEN THE VOTING TURNOUT HERE RECENTLY. WE SEE THAT IT'S EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND MAKE COMMENTS THERE. WE HAVE TO TRY TO LOOK AT VARIOUS WAYS TO GET ENGAGEMENT, TO GET INPUT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE TAKING IN THOSE PERSPECTIVES AS WE'RE MAKING CHANGES FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE. I KNOW THAT THINGS MOVE FAST PACE.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES AND IT REQUIRES THE COUNCIL TO MAKE QUICK DECISIONS.
THAT IS TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS OUR THIS IS OUR 10TH QUESTION.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE PRINCETON TO SOMEONE THINKING OF MOVING HERE? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE PRINCETON TO SOMEONE THINKING OF MOVING HERE IN 30 SECONDS? FIRST TO ANSWER PLEASE. JAISEN RUTLEDGE. I WOULD SAY PRINCETON IS A FAST-GROWING CITY THAT STILL HAS A SMALL-TOWN CHARM TO IT.
I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF RETAINING A LOT OF ITS CULTURE.
AND I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF EXTREMELY EXCITED AND ENGAGED RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL WITH THE FUTURE GROWTH OF PRINCETON.
THAT'S HOW I WOULD DESCRIBE IT. PERFECT. THANK YOU.
AND NEXT TO ANSWER, PLEASE, JAN GORIA. I WOULD TELL THEM THANK YOU. I WOULD TELL THEM THAT PRINCETON IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, SO BE PREPARED FOR THAT. THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT.
SO THAT IS AN IMPORTANT FACT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S OUR TIME FOR THAT ONE. THANKS.
OKAY. NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO OUR STANDARD MINUTE FORMAT HERE FOR A FEW QUESTIONS.
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, SHOULD THE CITY COUNCIL DO TO REGULATE THE RATE OF RESIDENTIAL GROWTH? WHAT, IF ANYTHING, SHOULD CITY COUNCIL DO TO REGULATE THE RATE OF RESIDENTIAL GROWTH? BACK TO OUR FULL MINUTE. JAN GORIA, PLEASE. TO REGULATE THE GROWTH.
I THINK THAT WOULD COME FROM THE CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE GOING TO COME TOO.
THE APPLICATION WILL GO TO THE DIRECTOR. SO I THINK IT'S IN IN THE CITY COUNCIL'S HANDS TO SAY, NO, WE CAN'T GROW THIS OR WE CAN. YOU KNOW. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY WITHIN PRINCETON CITY LIMITS. SO THAT LIMITS WHERE THE BUILDING CAN BE.
SO I'M AND I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT I'M A LITTLE.
[00:30:03]
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN MY RESEARCH.THERE'S MORE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE NOW. AND THAT IS TIME FOR THAT ONE.
THANK YOU. NEXT TO ANSWER, PLEASE, JAISEN RUTLEDGE.
YES, I THINK THAT OBVIOUSLY THE CITY IS ENGAGED IN UTILIZING A NUMBER OF TOOLS.
MOST RECENTLY, WE HAD A MORATORIUM. THE STATE HAS MADE CHANGES AS TO HOW WE CAN HANDLE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO PULL THESE LEVERS WHENEVER WE WANT TO, LIKE WE HAD IN THE PAST.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S A LOT MORE LAWS THAT SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS AND THEIR GROWTH, RIGHT? AS AN OWNER OF A, OF A PIECE OF LAND, YOU DON'T WANT THE CITY COMING AND TELLING YOU WHO YOU CAN SELL YOUR LAND TO.
AND I THINK WE CAN BE, YOU KNOW, VERY COGNIZANT AND INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE MANAGE THOSE PROCESSES.
AND SO THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT THAT THE CITY CAN DO, BUT WE CAN COMMUNICATE WHAT THE SITUATION IS.
SO THAT WAY RESIDENTS HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING. THAT IS TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION. WHAT DO YOU VIEW AS THE ROLE OF THE CITY IN ENCOURAGING SPECIFIC ECONOMIC GROWTH, SUCH AS INCENTIVIZING PARTICULAR GROCERY STORES OR TYPES OF BUSINESSES? WHAT DO YOU VIEW AS THE ROLE OF THE CITY IN ENCOURAGING SPECIFIC ECONOMIC GROWTH, SUCH AS INCENTIVIZING PARTICULAR GROCERY STORES OR TYPES OF BUSINESSES? FIRST ANSWER PLEASE. JAISEN RUTLEDGE.
WELL, I THINK I'VE SAID THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES, SO I WON'T, YOU KNOW, BEAT A DEAD HORSE, IF YOU WILL. [LAUGHTER] BUT I DO THINK THE CITY HAS TO BE INTENTIONAL. RIGHT? I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ON THE CDC, I WENT TO THE TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CONFERENCE, AND YOU GET TO MEET ALL THESE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, DIFFERENT CITIES, AND YOU GET TO HEAR THESE SUCCESS STORIES.
AND I REMEMBER ONE THAT STOOD OUT TO ME. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY GOT TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TO COME INTO THEIR CITY. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE CITY, BUT THERE WAS INCENTIVES THAT THEY HAD TO PROVIDE. BUT FOR THE TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, REVENUE THAT THAT TYPE OF ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO BRING INTO THE CITY WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO FOR JOBS. LIKE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
WELL, THAT'S KIND OF NOT THE WAY IT WORKS. I'VE TALKED TO SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES IN DIFFERENT CITIES, AND EVERYONE HAS TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT TO GET SOMETHING HERE. AND I THINK THAT THE CITY HAS TO BE SMART ABOUT IT.
THAT IS TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT ANSWER PLEASE, JAN GORIA.
SO YOU WANT TO BRING IN BUSINESSES THAT EVERYONE CAN SHOP AT AND MAKE IT LUCRATIVE FOR BOTH SIDES, FOR THE CITY, REVENUE FOR THE PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S GROCERIES OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, BUT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOP, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND NOT HAVE TO GO TO MCKINNEY OR WHEREVER IT MIGHT BE.
SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AS WELL.
WONDERFUL. NEXT QUESTION. WHAT CHANGES, IF ANY, ARE NEEDED TO EMERGENCY AMBULANCE AND FIRE SERVICES IN THE CITY AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY? WHAT CHANGES, IF ANY, ARE NEEDED TO EMERGENCY AMBULANCE AND FIRE SERVICES IN THE CITY AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY? FIRST ANSWER PLEASE.
JAN GORIA. WELL, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW THIS WORKS, TO BE REALLY VERY HONEST WITH YOU, BUT I KNOW THAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY DO WORK TOGETHER.
THEY HAVE A PHONE BANK. I GUESS IT IS WHAT PEOPLE CALL IN, AND THOSE CALLS WILL BE SENT TO THE APPROPRIATE CITY OR POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO I WISH I HAD A BETTER ANSWER FOR THAT.
BUT QUITE HONESTLY, THAT'S WHAT I KNOW SO. WONDERFUL NEXT TO ANSWER, PLEASE.
IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOMEONE TO THAT POINT OF EMERGENCY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND THE CITY SHOULD SUPPORT WHATEVER MECHANISMS AND MEASURES THAT NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE FOR THAT TO BE THE CASE. IF SOMEONE'S HOUSE IS ON FIRE OR SOMEONE HAS A HEALTH CONCERN OR ISSUE THAT THE CITY SHOULD ENSURE THAT IT'S DOING ITS PART NOW, WE CAN'T SHOULDER THE BURDEN COMPLETELY FOR A WHOLE AREA.
[00:35:07]
AND I KNOW THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND, LIKE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND MONEY THAT THAT THAT GOES INVOLVED IN THAT WE HAVE TO BE SMART ABOUT THAT AS WELL. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I MYSELF WOULD NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE HEARING A TRAGIC STORY BECAUSE WE DECIDED THAT WE WANTED TO DRAW A LINE. RIGHT? AND SO I THINK ULTIMATELY THAT HAS TO BE WHAT TAKES MOST PRECEDENCE.ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION. HOW CAN THIS.
EXCUSE ME. HOW CAN THE CITY COORDINATE MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ENSURE INFRASTRUCTURE, SAFETY AND SERVICES KEEP PACE WITH STUDENT ENROLLMENT? HOW CAN THE CITY COORDINATE MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ENSURE INFRASTRUCTURE, SAFETY AND SERVICES KEEP PACE WITH STUDENT ENROLLMENT? FIRST ANSWER PLEASE. JAISEN RUTLEDGE. YEAH, I THINK THAT WE'VE STARTED TO SEE THIS HAPPEN A BIT SO FAR HERE RECENTLY.
AND IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION.
THE CITY SHOULD BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE INITIATIVES AND THE GROWTH AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
THERE SHOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY. I BROUGHT UP AN INITIATIVE WHEN I WAS ON THE CDC THAT WAS A FAMILY EDUCATION FACILITY WHERE I STARTED HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD TO GET THEM INVOLVED AND SAY, HEY, LET'S BRING A FACILITY HERE THAT BRINGS THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, GENERAL EDUCATION, DIPLOMA OPPORTUNITIES OR CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND AT ALL LEVELS.
WE HEARD A COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THINK ABOUT THE MEDIAN INCOME.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GIVING PEOPLE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP SKILLS SO THAT MEDIAN INCOME INCREASES, RIGHT? SO PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GO OUT FOR JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
SO IT'S ABOUT COMMUNICATION AND PROPER PLANNING.
AND THAT IS NOT JUST A EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY ARISES.
IT NEEDS TO BE CONSISTENT AND INTENTIONAL. WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU. NEXT TO ANSWER, PLEASE, JAN GORIA.
I'M SORRY, BUT THAT'S AN HONEST ANSWER. ALL RIGHTY.
I THINK WE HAVE TIME FOR A FEW MORE QUESTIONS.
LET'S SEE. AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, HOW WOULD YOU BUILD TRUST WITH RESIDENTS AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, HOW WOULD YOU BUILD TRUST WITH RESIDENTS AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? FIRST ANSWER PLEASE. JAN GORIA. WELL, I HAVE QUITE A LARGE BASE OF CITIZENS IN THE CITY OF PRINCETON JUST FROM BLOCK WALKING, AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE WANTED MY YARD SIGN IN THEIR YARD, YOU KNOW? SO I HAVE STAYED IN TOUCH WITH THEM. SO FROM THAT, I CAN GROW THAT COMMUNICATION, BE TRANSPARENT, BRING THEM TO THE CITY WEBSITE OR EVEN JUST EMAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS OF UP AND COMING, OH, YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE OR JUST KEEP THEM APPRIZED OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN PRINCETON.
SO I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT IN THAT. I'VE DONE THAT SEVERAL TIMES NOW.
I GET RESPONSES FROM THEM. SO THEY ARE TUNED INTO THAT.
SO THAT THAT IS A GREAT THING THAT'S COME FROM BLOCK WALKING.
AND ALSO IT'S GOT ME IN A RUNOFF. [LAUGHTER]. RIGHT NEXT TO ANSWER, PLEASE.
JAISEN RUTLEDGE. YEAH. SO I THINK THIS ROLE IS A ROLE OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP.
BUT YOU ARE REPORTING AND YOU'RE SUBSERVIENT TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION, EVEN WHEN THERE'S DISAGREEMENTS, THERE'S PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT I'VE HAD DISAGREEMENTS WITH, AND I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH AND HAD DISCUSSIONS, AND I'VE MET WITH THEM ONE ON ONE, AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN OPEN DOOR POLICY.
I THINK THERE'S A, THERE'S A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH OF THAT YOU CAN DO.
I MEAN, EVERY PERSON THAT SITS UP HERE HAS A DAY JOB, RIGHT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TIME IN A DAY AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE THERE FOR YOUR FAMILY. BUT I THINK THAT IT HAS TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE YOU'RE INTENTIONAL ABOUT GOING OUT AND HEARING THE VOICES AND CREATING SPACES FROM HERE TO WHERE THOSE VOICES CAN COME IN AND SPEAK AND YOU CAN HEAR WHAT THEY WANT AND YOU CAN ACT ON IT.
SO THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
LET'S SEE. IF ELECTED, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR NEXT TERM? IF ELECTED WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR NEXT TERM? FIRST ANSWER PLEASE. JAISEN RUTLEDGE. ALL RIGHT.
AGAIN, I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT TO A MINUTE. THERE'S SO MUCH.
I THINK THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WITH MY BACKGROUND.
SO I CURRENTLY WORK FOR AN INVESTMENT FIRM AND I'M IN GOVERNANCE AND RISK PERSPECTIVE IN MY ROLE.
AND WHAT I DO IS I ESSENTIALLY LOOK FOR GAPS WITHIN PROCESSES AND WITHIN THOSE GAPS, I CREATE POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND OPERATIONALIZE HOW TO FILL THOSE GAPS.
[00:40:02]
AND THEN CREATE A FRAMEWORK THAT OUR CITY MANAGER THEN GOES VERTICAL BY VERTICAL AND GO IN AND IDENTIFY THE GAPS.AND THEN WE START TO CREATE A PLAN AND A PROCESS TO FILL THESE GAPS.
SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS.
THIS ONE CAME IN AT THIS TIME. THIS ONE WAS QUICK.
THIS ONE THEY DENIED, SO ON AND SO FORTH. THERE'S.
IS THERE A TRANSPARENCY? IS THERE GUIDELINES AROUND HOW IT LOOKS LIKE? WE NEED TO CLEARLY OUTLINE WHAT THAT IS. AND I WOULD SAY IN ADDITION TO THAT OTHER AREA THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY FOCUS ON IS I KIND OF HAVE A KIND OF A SUPER EXCITED YOU KNOW, TASTE FOR TXDOT.
I WANT TO BE THE VOICE IN THE ROOM FOR PRINCETON.
JAN GORIA, WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING THAT QUESTION? IF ELECTED, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT TERM? I THINK IT WOULD BE A REALLY GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT IF THE PEOPLE WOULD COME BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS TO ACCOMPLISH.
I MEAN, WE COULD PLAN THE CITY, AND WE CAN LOOK AT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND HAVE ALL THE TOOLS THAT WE NEED, AND THAT'S WONDERFUL. BUT IF THE PEOPLE DON'T COME BACK, THEN WHAT DO WE HAVE? WE NEED THE PEOPLE'S INPUT. [INAUDIBLE]. WE TAKE THE TAX DOLLARS THEY NEED TO INPUT.
YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO COME AND LET THEIR VOICE BE HEARD.
THEY NEED TO. THEY NEED, I GUESS THEY NEED A DESIRE TO COME BACK AND DO THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE TURNOUT THAT WE HAD ON THIS PAST ELECTION WAS ONLY 2.5%.
AND CONSIDERING WHAT'S GOING ON, NOT JUST IN PRINCETON, BUT EVERYWHERE, YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD GET A HUGE TURNOUT OR AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, 5%. BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. SO THAT'S VERY DISHEARTENING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE JUST.
I DON'T KNOW, FED UP FEEL THAT THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD.
PLEASE. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN TO MAKE YOU AN EFFECTIVE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN TO MAKE YOU AN EFFECTIVE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR 30 SECONDS? PLEASE ANSWER FIRST. JAN GORIA. WELL, I'M ON THE LOW END OF THE LEARNING CURVE.
I MEAN, MY PARTNER RIGHT HERE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN THE INNER WORKINGS. I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON IT.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF FACTS AND FIGURES I HAVE.
BUT APPLYING THAT IS DIFFERENT. AND SO WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE, WHETHER IT'S ON THE CITY COUNCIL OR WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT THAT INTO PLACE AND IT WILL MAKE SENSE.
AND IT CAN FALL INTO YOUR LITTLE CATEGORIZED BRAIN, YOU KNOW, SAY OKAY, THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS.
SO THAT'S. AND THEN I CAN BE A LOT MORE EFFECTIVE.
JAISEN RUTLEDGE. YEAH, I WOULD JUST PROBABLY ADD TO KIND OF WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR ME TO HAVE LINE OF SIGHT TO EXACTLY THE PROCESSES THAT WE, WE EXPERIENCE FROM A RESIDENT PERSPECTIVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSES THIS TENSION, THESE PAIN POINTS. THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE HEAR ABOUT THAT RESIDENTS HAVE ISSUES WITH.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO CLOSING REMARKS.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE UP TO ONE MINUTE FOR CLOSING REMARKS, STARTING WITH JAN GORIA.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I AND I THINK, I THINK THAT I GUESS MY LACK, I GUESS, IS THE ONLY WORD I COULD USE OF A CITY EXPERIENCE COULD WORK AGAINST ME.
BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE, IF YOU COME INTO A JOB WITH NO EXPERIENCE OR YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE YOU GET IN THAT JOB, WHETHER IT'S AT THE CITY OR IT'S AT A TECH COMPANY OR A GROCERY STORE, YOU'RE GOING TO GO INTO TRAINING NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR TERMINOLOGY, THEY HAVE THEIR SOFTWARE. I MEAN, YEAH, IT'S A BOOST.
I'M NOT TAKING AWAY FROM JAISEN. YOU CERTAINLY IT'S NICE TO HAVE THAT BACKGROUND, BUT IT'S NOT A BE ALL, END ALL. SO WHEN YOU GET SOMEONE IN THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT BACKGROUND, YOU HAVE A MORE CLEAR THINKER BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT INGRAINED OR THEY DON'T HAVE THAT TUNNEL VISION. I MEAN, THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE BEAST. WHEN YOU WORK AT A COMPANY, THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT AND THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF GO OFF TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN SERVING PRINCETON FOR SOME TIME NOW.
I'VE DONE IT IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES. I'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
[00:45:04]
I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET AWAY FROM ALL THE HEADACHE AND ALL THE BACK AND FORTH AND BICKERING, AND LET'S GET TO A POINT OF ACTUALLY RESOLVING THINGS.AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING TO BRING. THERE'S A LOT OF STRONG PERSONALITIES AND STRONG EXPERIENCE THAT ALREADY SIT UP HERE, AND I THINK THAT I WOULD BE AN ADDED VALUE TO THAT.
BUT TO THE POINT OF EXPERIENCE, I THINK IT'S VALUABLE.
I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE HIRING SOMEONE, THERE'S COMPANIES THAT MAKE DECISIONS THAT WON'T HIRE YOU IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER.
PLACE 4. THANKS TO BOTH CANDIDATES FOR BEING HERE.
[APPLAUSE]. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S NOT EASY.
THANKS TO BOTH CANDIDATES FOR BEING HERE AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS.
LOCAL ELECTIONS HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN EARLY VOTING JUNE 1ST THROUGH 9TH, ELECTION DAY, JUNE 13TH.
IT'S GOING TO GET ANOTHER SHOUT OUT TO VOTE411.ORG.
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR BEING INFORMED VOTERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.