City Council - Regular Meeting

Good morning. We're going to get started this morning with an invocation led by Pastor Jacob French of Wilmont Place Baptist Church, and that'll be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Todd Stone. Please stand as you are able.

All right. Thank you, Pastor French, and thank you, Councilman Stone. All right, I call this meeting of the city council to order. We're on Office of the Mayor. Item 3A is a resolution declaring the second, designating the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day this year and onward. In 2016, the city of Tulsa did something similar. Their council passed a resolution for Native American Day on that same date. I have been proclaiming it since 2018, and the organizers of these events The primary one at First Americans Museum would really like some certainty that is mayor proof as they

Thank you. And I will point out that the resolution makes it very clear. This is merely ceremonial, not a city holiday or anything of that nature. Are there any questions or comments? Otherwise, we could take a motion. The motion in a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Thank you, and thank you for your advocacy, and thank you, Sarah, as well. I know you've been there with us all of these eight years. We appreciate it. Okay, next up is 3B. This is the final hearing on something we discussed at our last meeting. This would be uh reshaping our arts commission primarily the change is to

We'll take a motion. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item D. Actually, we can take items D through H with one motion. These are appointments. They are to the Building Code Commission, Electrical Code Review, Mechanical Code Review, the Arts Commission, and the Residential Building Code Commission. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously, thank you. All right, item four, items from council. We have one today. Item 4A is a resolution approving travel expenses for council members Carter, Pennington, and Stone-Cypher to attend the upco

All right. Thank you. Okay, we have some folks here on the council who will need to make early departures this morning, and so we're going to move up an item that requires a supermajority, and that is item 11AA. This is a resolution approving the incurrence of indebtedness by the Oklahoma City Airport Trust not to exceed $90 million, and this was deferred from September 15th, and we're going to have a quick explanation. Just a quick update on this with Angela Pierce, our chief financial officer.

If I might, I do want to add, I've had some time to think about this item and when I vote no, I want people to know why. I am hopeful that voters over the next several months when they have an opportunity to support light rail to the airport and commuter rail between OKC, Edmond, and Norman that we will reduce the need for all those cars to park at the airport. And some of these congestion issues won't be there as much. People might still drive and park there, of course, because we should have all of the above approach to transit in this city. But I can assure you there are a lot of people who

So that's it, thank you. Thank you, we have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes seven to two and with the necessary six affirmative votes to incur indebtedness and the necessary seven affirmative votes to waive competitive bidding. All right, we are now back on the agenda in order, which brings us to item six, the Journal of Council Proceedings. We have items A and B we can take with one motion. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item seven is request for uncontested continuances. Listed on the agenda, you'll see item 11H, 11I, 11L, and 11M all defer

All right, thank you. Item eight, revocable permits and events. Item eight A is a revocable permit with Sarish Shahabudin for the Shahabudin and Hanscom Wedding Cocktail Hour in Bicentennial Park on October 24th. And we have Emily Ahern here to speak on this.

I don't recall ever having a permit for a specific wedding. Sounds like quite the affair.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. We wish them all the best. All right. Item 8B is a revocable right-of-way use permit with Red Coyote Running and Fitness to hold the Red Coyote Runtoberfest 5K on October 4th. We have Melissa Hodgson here, and I guess you're also going to speak on item C, but maybe I'll leave it to you, whether you want to do them one at a time or you want to just run through the whole thing.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. And then we have item 8C. This is a revocable right-of-way use permit with Ventures Endurance events to hold the OKC Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. On Harvey and Melissa Hodgson again.

I will say it is very fun to see all the costumes and all of the turkey-themed outfits. So if you're not a runner but just want to go watch, it's a very fun one to watch. So happy to move for approval.

All right. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously.

Okay, we'll now recess the council and convene as the Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority. And on that agenda, we have items A through F we could take with one motion. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. We'll adjourn OCMFA, convene as the Oklahoma City Public Property Authority, where we have items A through J we could take with one motion. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. passes unanimously. We'll adjourn OCPPA and reconvene as the council, where we are on item nine, the consent docket. There are no scheduled presentations, but is there

Yes, Mayor, first, good morning. Good morning. Item AC, I'd like to hear a little bit more about, and I would also request a separate vote. OK. Also, I'd like to hear just a little bit more on item AU and AV. I'm sorry, counselor. I heard AV as in Victor. AV as in Victor, yep. You're welcome, and then finally, item B.J. we'd like to hear. Only a separate vote on that first one, though. Everything else would be just to hear an update.

All right, well, if there's nothing else, I really need to hear about item C. If we could get Chief Kelly in here. I have some really tough questions about this item, and hopefully he is nearby. All right, Chief Richard Kelly. This is merely a ruse, of course. This is your last council meeting after a multi-decade career with the city, and I think we needed to get you in the room. I think some people probably want to say a few words of gratitude for your remarkable legacy of service to the city. So I will simply open the floor at this point.

I just want to say how much I've enjoyed working with you over the years.

Chief Kelly, I'd just like to say thank you as well. I've enjoyed working with you so much over these years. You've always been so positive and great to work with and I can tell you like all the fire staff that

I'll chime in. I really appreciate your service and stewardship of this department and really particularly want to thank you for just taking and running with the Mobile Integrated Health Program. Just your willingness to take on something new and just do it to the best of y'all's ability. Every time I hear people in the community say,

tell me stories of interacting with that team i just have to thank you for um for taking yeah taking that on and just not being um intimidated to try something totally new so thank you thank you yeah chief selfishly and i've said it before on this horseshoe but when the thunder won the championship and my mother participated in the parade and the heat started getting to her the attentiveness with which you dedicated the rest of your time to her, to making sure she was okay. That is just, I felt so bad. It's like, no, Chief, you have a whole city to go take care of. You would not leave my mothe

I'm going to actually let the city manager close, but I'll just add, obviously, agree with everything that's been said. You know, we probably take it for granted that the fire department operates at the level that it does and gets the ratings that it does. We probably take it too much for granted that you have peaceful labor relations. You know, that really falls on your shoulders more than anybody, and we've certainly enjoyed that for some time. And I would also add, you know, you and I have... shared the stage at a lot of ribbon cuttings and ground breakings and the trust that the voters hav

Okay, next up is item AC. This is a project agreement with CSMS management in the state of Oklahoma. And Councilman Cooper, you wanted to hear a little bit more about this, and then we'll also proceed into a separate vote. But first, Debbie.

Thank you, director. I don't really have questions or comments for you, so you're welcome to not have to waste your precious energy and time in that way. That's good.

May I just briefly share my screen? My concern with this project and why I won't be supporting it ultimately is everything I've been reading in the news, briefings I've received, is that one of the reasons, and I am to understand that we've been piecing together parcels of land as city leadership for what we call job development in this part of Oklahoma City. just west of Yukon. I mention this to my students at Oklahoma City University because they're learning argument and Aristotle and ethos, pathos, and logos. And I mentioned to them in the news that we were looking at buckies coming to Okla

You maybe don't have to, but... I'd like to jump in just to clarify a couple things. I mean, the word incentives was used several times in your comments. I just want to make it clear for the listening audience that this is an infrastructure investment by the state in the interchange there. This is not an incentive in the way we usually use that phrase, which is a direct payment to the corporation involved. It is also probably worth noting that this... This commitment from the state of Oklahoma, it is not as if they came here and they said, hey, we'd like to spend millions of dollars on infrast

When I say that there has to be a moment where we can say no, I understand in this moment this is state dollars, but we could say no in this moment to saying this is not the vision that we have for how to generate those sales tax dollars. When this infrastructure improvement happens here, that is going to induce the development that we're seeing in Melissa. That development is going to happen on the far west side of the city past Yukon. With it will come all of the responsibilities that I just named for further infrastructure improvements that those residents will ask for once we induce this g

Okay, we have two residents who signed up to speak and we also have a councilman who's wished to vote on this but needs to leave soon. So let's try to move with some urgency. Michael Washington?

Thank you, Joanne. I just want to clarify, this is in Oklahoma City. This is not in a different city. Okay.

Right, no, but you referenced that this project should be in Oklahoma City and not in Yukon. It is in Oklahoma City. I just want to clarify that for any listeners. Okay, let's go to a vote if we can take a motion. We have a motion and a second. Can I ask for your votes? This is on item 9AC.

Okay, now we are back on the remainder of the consent docket, and Councilman Cooper, you wanted to speak to items AU and AV, I don't guess they are related to each other, so we'll start with AU.

Yes, Mayor, and again, thank you for the respectful back and forth there, always appreciate that. And then, yeah, I just wanted to hear an update, wanted the public to hear an update on these couple items here. Please.

It's great, and I'm glad to know that, of course, that work is ongoing. I'm sure the public is happy to hear that as well. Take us to A.V.

I think that's wonderful. Will council, being the we here, be receiving updates on the work that you just described?

That's great. And congrats again on these different grants that are coming our way.

And finally, Councilman Cooper, you wanted to talk about item BJ?

Yes. Of course, we're all excited about the Olympics coming here, but there are some public transportation improvements that I think that, or some conversations happening around that, and I just wanted to hear a little bit more, wanted the public to hear a little bit more about that.

I think it's great, and I'm looking forward to what the final version of this is going to look like in terms of that enhanced public transit options heading into, and I believe even kind of lingering after the Olympics. That's all from me for now. Thank you. Thank you.

All right, we can now take up the remainder of the consent docket. Oh, OK. So we're stuck. Is anyone able to see anything? OK. OK, so it's just me. So we have a motion and a second? All right. Cast your votes. I wish to vote aye. Did it pass? What's the vote? Unanimously? Yes. Okay, very good. Passes unanimously, thank you. All right, item 10, concurrence docket. We have items A through, it's a long one today, AG we could take with one motion. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. I wish to vote aye. Passes unanimously. Okay, now we're on item 11, items for individual consideration.

Okay, I was looking at the proposal, and I think it's going to be fine, so I would move for approval.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item 11B is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval rezoning 12042 Northwest 150th from AA It's like a typo here. I assume the word two is meant to, two are two. The two is missing. And that doesn't matter as long as the ordinance is correct. And I understand, Councilman Stonecipher, that you will be carrying this for Councilman Carter.

Yes, please. There's no one signed up to speak, and I'm not aware of any protests, so I will move for approval at this time.

Motion and a second, cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item 11C is an ordinance on final hearing recommended for approval rezoning 1500 Piedmont from AA to C3. Councilman Stone-Cypher for Councilman Carter.

This time I'd move for approval of item C.

Motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. And item D is an ordinance on final hearing that was recommended for approval rezoning 14599 North Mustang from AA to R1. Councilman Stone-Cypher for Councilman Carter. Move for approval of 11D please. The motion and the second cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item 11E is an ordinance on finally hearing. It was recommended for approval rezoning 4140 North Lindsay from R1 to 02. Did Councilman Pennington speak to anybody about? He spoke to me. Okay.

After speaking with him, I'm going to move for approval, please. Okay.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item 11F is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval rezoning 15020 South Sooner Road from AA to C3. Councilman Stone, no one is signed to speak.

Thank you, Mayor. Are the Davidsons here? Oh, I just wanted to say hi. I don't need you to come up. Thank you. This is for commercial use at 149th and Sooner Road, and I'll move for its approval.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item 11G is an ordinance on final hearing that was recommended for approval rezoning 9441 West Britain from R1 to R2. Councilman Stonecipher for Councilman Carter.

After speaking with Councilor Carter, I move for approval at this time of item 11G.

I have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item H was previously deferred. Item I was previously deferred, which brings us to item J. This is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval rezoning 4499 South Sarah from AA to PUD 2136. Did Councilwoman Aver speak to anybody about carrying this? Are you talking about K now? uh... jay jay okay i'm sorry if not i'm somewhat nervous to approve it so perhaps we will seek a deferral on that item i'll move for a two week deferral You're the applicant here?

Here's what we'll do. We're going to try to make contact with her. We've got some more items. We'll see if we can move forward. All right. Let's move past Jay, and we'll...

All right. All right. Item K is an ordinance on final hearing recommended for approval rezoning 9601 West Britain from AA R1 and PUD 731 to PUD 2140. Councilman Stone-Cypher for Councilman Carter.

I would move for approval of 11K at this time, please.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item L was previously deferred. M was previously deferred, which brings us to item N. This is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval, rezoning 6200 North Robinson from I-1 to SPD 1846. Councilman Cooper, no one is signed up to speak.

Yes, Mayor. However, is the applicant or the representative here? Oh, lucky me. Would you tell me, tell us a little bit about what's going on here, please?

I saw that. And I see this. And I'm, of course, happy to see redevelopment of parcels like this, properties even like this.

It might require an amendment, I'm not sure. All this parking I see, and I looked at the map and see that this is pretty comparable to what's there. trees? Can we do trees in the parking lot? Like, way more trees? Because that's just going to be like a giant, well, you see there, I mean, that is what it looks like. And I would very much, I don't think summers are going to be getting any cooler. And I'd like to see what I could do to at least amend this.

Do we have any, I just have some pause here. I'm glad that I saw that TE, but I have no renderings of what that's going to look like, no sense of what open space will look like. I see this, but what I see around that building, as everyone else can see, is just a sea of parking. And I don't mind the parking. I guess what I'm asking is for some sort of shade covering throughout that parking lot and or interruption of the parking with more green spaces. I just really don't feel comfortable approving something that looks like this.

are you yes as we're working through our i hear you i understand what current law is as we're working however through our zoning update right now there are proposals serious proposals to add more tree infrastructure requirement when a developer is doing Something like this with the parking like that's coming and I understand the existing law right now allows for something like this I'm asking can we amend this further to add some more trees within this parking lot? So and one more thing I hear what you're saying of course we have an affordable housing crisis and need, I don't feel comfortable

I just think there could be some redoing of this parking lot.

Reducing down the parking doesn't do anything. All it's doing is your, it's paint. It's just different spots. You still have this, see, all the white you see here is asphalt. and it's going to allow the sun, think in July and August, the sun will hit that asphalt. It will warm it up. The mother and the child and the grandparent who lives at this place will be walking out onto this asphalt with the sun pouring down on them. I am asking us, the developer, to figure out how they can intervene here to reduce that effect on who's gonna live there. That is literally all I'm asking, especially knowin

The planning directors here, do you have any thoughts on what are we going to be doing going forward when a person comes forward with something like this? I'm not approving this is where I'm going. And if the council wants to approve it, they can. But I am tired of putting these sorts of things into existence for our people and be like, oh, my hands are tied. They deserve better. People deserve better.

What can, because I do hear Mr. Box's point about the existing parking lot. What are there things that a developer can do? And if we need to defer this to have a private conversation to figure this out, we can. I don't want to take up too much more of Council's time on this, but this is a serious matter. When we're doing these sort of projects, we've really got to do them right for the generations to come. So is there something quickly you could tell us that they could be doing to intervene?

My suggestion would be that we defer this item for two weeks so that we can talk with our planning team to figure out what are some, what are the most cost effective ways to do this for your client, because right now I don't feel comfortable doing this. I'm not just in the habit of just saying we have to meet our housing crisis needs by just putting up whatever. We're trying to undo decades worth of problematic development, at least I am. So that'd be my suggestion.

So also, I mean, we keep talking about housing shortage and trying to create more affordable housing. And I totally get your point, Councilman Cooper, on what we need to do moving forward, but on an existing facility, right, we can require them to do all kinds of changes, but then it's not quite as affordable housing either. I mean, to me, that's where kind of the balance thing is, a non-existing thing to ask them to go in and start ripping up parking lots and trying to figure out how to completely redo that. and they could do it, it's just gonna add a ton of cost to the thing.

My question is, so you have this, what I am interpreting as the new exterior amenity on the southern end, where it says 4,700 square feet. Is that, you're tearing up that asphalt to add in green?

I just, recognizing that doing that in a solid chunk is probably a different cost than doing it throughout, but I do wonder, is there any other space as part of the parking lot where that could be reoriented to provide some of that like through the parking lot experience while also being sort of a solid amenity. And then that is either like sort of a drive space or restripe it for parking. I just wonder if there's a way to reorient what you're already planning to do so that it meets that need of having something through this. I am particularly sensitive that this is right by the highway. This

because I think that is sort of what I'm seeing is that while the space is there, it's just the site plan is maybe a little deceptive because it's an older version and maybe this is not the final positioning of where you actually perceive that green space to go. And I don't know if there's any way to like regulate that now of like actually put it over here when I'm sure there's lots of other factors, but I just wonder if, if this is maybe a little misleading based on the changes you mentioned.

And so maybe it is deferring it two weeks to just discuss with the architect what other orientation is possible. Because I could see that maybe it makes more sense for it to be in this large space that also looks like it's going to be an entryway into the building. Yeah, we can do that. But again, I'm not really good at math, but I don't think I'm down to five. I'm very bad at spatial awareness. I'm like, it looks like it could go there, but...

I would like to sit down for two weeks. And lest anyone think this is just, again, my whim, this is work I am doing behind the scenes with our department to move toward what best practices are. And also, I hear what you're saying, counselor. I understand. But I want to try and, in the in-between time, mitigate any harm. And I don't want to just approve things. So yeah.

I don't have any problem deferring it for two weeks. I do kind of agree with Todd. I think we ought to look at it and see if there's something else we can do. That's a great idea. But I will be opposed to something that will cause the cost to increase that will then be borne by the tenant. I just don't think that's fair, number one. Number two, We need affordable housing. We need it sooner rather than later. And number three, if this developer is within the existing ordinance, if we end up in district court, we can't say we want to base it on an ordinance that we may pass six months from now.

I appreciate that perspective. I appreciate the support in deferring it. one way going forward, and I keep saying this, one way to help bring those costs down is when developers are doing these sort of affordable housing projects, they could be working in partnership with the city to tap into our affordable housing dollars that the voters approved. That is a way to help mitigate some of those costs too. I don't know if your developer has spoken to Economic Alliance, but I just think we need to be way more intentional when we're doing affordable housing projects instead of just putting them out

I'm not talking about a playground. I don't know if we need to have council briefings on what I am talking about when it comes to heat islands. I don't know how many of us volunteered when we did the heat island mapping around the city to see all the places where sun from previous developments, Best Buy on May Avenue, et cetera, are just... heating up our city. So, I mean, I don't know. I don't know if this needs to be briefings for us. I'm not asking for anything extravagant here.

All right, well, let's do our deferral, and then we can talk about it for the next couple of weeks. So this is item N, right? Yeah. We have a motion and a second to defer this item for two weeks. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Okay, 11-0 is an ordinance on final hearing that was recommended for approval rezoning 2837 Southwest 31st from R2 to SPD 1855. Councilwoman Hammond, no one is signed to speak.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. There's five of us here, so who did we miss? Passes unanimously. Okay, item P is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval, closing a portion of the east-west right-of-way, a southwest 46th, and a portion of Barnes. Councilwoman Hammond, no one assigned to speak.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. We'll hold Q for a minute and see if Cooper comes back. All right, item R, did anyone here, did he talk to you about this one too? After speaking with Councilor Pennington, I will move for approval at this time, please. Okay. This closes an east-west portion of Northwest 53rd. Or the right-of-way, actually. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Councilman Cooper, item Q is an ordinance on final hearing. It was recommended for approval closing the remainder of the North-South Public Alley in the No

Thank you, Mayor. I would move for approval. Okay.

We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item 11S is an ordinance on final hearing recommended for approval closing a portion of a north-south storm sewer easement in Block 34 of East Britain near Chartel and Northwest 87. Councilman Cooper known to sign to speak. Move for approval. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Okay, item 11, T1 is the public hearing regarding the assessment role for the Downtown Business Improvement District. And we have Cindy Murillo signed up to speak.

Thank you. And in addition, city manager has an objection to note.

Okay. That concludes the public hearing then we have item t2 a resolution adopting and confirming the assessment role for 26 27 for the downtown bid Have motion in a second cast your votes Passes unanimously Item U is related. It's an ordinance on final hearing adopting and setting the assessment role for the downtown bid. We have a motion and a second. Cast your votes. Passes unanimously. Item 11V1 is a public hearing regarding the assessment role for the Stockyard City Business Improvement District. Amy, has anyone signed or speak? No, they haven't. They have not. So we'll advance to the res

Thank you. All right. That concludes residents who have signed to speak on this public hearing. So we'll advance to the resolution found at X2 declaring the structures are dilapidated. System's not working, so maybe we'll take a verbal motion and second.

A motion and a second. You can do, okay, all in favor, raise your hands. All opposed, raise your hands. Motion carries unanimously. Okay. 11Y1 is public hearing regarding the unsecured structures here listed. We have a resident who has signed up to speak, Michael Washington.

That concludes residents who signed up to speak on the public hearing for item 11Y1. Now we can proceed to the resolution found at Y2, declaring the structures unsecured. All right, we'll take a... Verbal motion and second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor, raise your hand. All opposed, raise your hand. Item is passed unanimously. Item 11Z1 is a public hearing regarding the abandoned buildings here listed. We have a resident who has signed up to speak, Michael Washington. Three.

Thank you. That's good. That concludes residents who have signed up to speak on the public hearing at Z1. So we'll advance to the resolution at Z2 declaring the buildings are abandoned. We got a motion and a second. All in favor, raise your hand. All opposed, raise your hand. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. Item AA was previously passed, and that brings us then to item 11AB1. This is a resolution authorizing the municipal council to confess judgment without admitting liability in the case of Mueller v. City of OKC. Executive session is not requested. We have a motion and a second. All i

Right. There's no one. No protest. It's recommended by staff and the Planning Commission. So with that, I'll move for approval.

All right, we have a motion and a second. All in favor, raise your hand. All opposed, raise your hand. Motion carries unanimously. Item AC1 is a resolution authorizing the municipal counselor to confess judgment without admitting liability in the case of Smith v. City of OKC. Executive session is not requested. We have a motion and a second. All in favor, raise your hand. All opposed, raise your hand. Motion carries unanimously. Item AD1 is a resolution authorizing the firm Collins, Zorn, and Wagner to represent municipal employee Ryan Adams in the case of Mitchell v. City of OKC. Executive se

Thank you, Mayor. I received a letter from a senior citizen that I would like to read for my council members and for the public. Dear City Councilman Cooper, thank you for all you do for our wonderful city. I am a resident of the Cleveland neighborhood near the Shepherd Mall or Center. The Shepherd Mall was a community hub, not just a place to shop, and we will be very happy to see a return to a retail center that meets our needs. I would like my cleaners and a post office back. a Cracker Barrel old country store in the parking lot, built new, or Chili's restaurant, a Golden Corral-type restau

Yes, I sincerely wanted to thank Harold Hamm. It was announced on Tuesday of last week that he is donating $150 million to the University of Oklahoma. It's the largest gift in the history of OU's history. It will boost health education, research, and discovery. Of the $150 million commitment, $50 million will advance the next era of research and discovery at the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, while $100 million will advance the broader academic and research enterprises of the entire health campus. Thank you, Mr. Hamm, for all you do for Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma.

Thank you. That concludes comments from council, which brings us to item 13, citizens to be heard. Vernon Roach. And if everyone would state their name and address and keep their remarks to three minutes or less, then you'll receive a reminder when you have 30 seconds left, should you go.

Okay. Can I ask if someone can stand next to me with some post reports? Is that okay?

We're at time. Thank you, Joy. Carrie Irwin.

I appreciate you all raising this issue. This is something that has increasingly become on my radar in the last year, partially due to some advocacy of some of my constituents, but also my own personal experience moving to a neighborhood where dogs get dumped, or I think in my neighborhood's case, it's more likely abandoned. and friends who are advocates for animals and often are doing this kind of stray rescue work, calling, expressing frustration about the change in animal welfare's policy around when they can intake dogs. When I talk to animal welfare about this, I understand their reasonin

Because that's what, talking to Animal Welfare, they were like, the shelter will help, but if we don't have additional staffing, the space doesn't really.

Well, and I'm so glad you mentioned this, Councilwoman, and thank you all for being here, because yeah, we just had a development code update, and this topic came up within that. When that, and I'll just go back to your point, City Manager, the staff I love. They are doing the best they can within the parameters we've given them. That's what I want to say. Additionally, I want to go back to this letter where again, this person says, we have a wonderful city. I can't stress that enough. We do. but we also have to acknowledge where our shortcomings are. We can hold two truths at once, our develo