Remarks by Ryan Cotton
48 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 2
- Play at 42:55
“I mean, yeah, I don't have any questions. Just I'll respond to some of those.”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 43:04
“I have no comments. I will save my questions and concerns for that later.”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 51:49
“Awesome. Thank you, sir. So I'll just kind of... cut in where I was at. Mitch, I apologize for that. Thank you for handling it very well. I'll tell you, when I went to get Mitch's contact information, I found his email, I emailed him, and surprisingly enough, he called me three hours later. So trying to get a hold of Mitch has not been a problem for me. That was early on in the discussion, probably much like the mayor's. I have not spoken to you since. So thank you for being so responsive and I think we had a great conversation, you know, explaining the history of downtown, being a second…”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 2:03:52
“Yes, sir. Thank you. So far we've had 28 speakers, all four positive comments to this, more so for all of us to understand. I know the last time that we had a topic like this come up, you were able to do a side for and against to get equal comment. Are we not allowed to do that now? Or ask if there's anybody that's got the opposite opinion that would like to speak?”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 2:08:34
“Thank you. I completely agree. I pulled the city manager, city attorney, and city clerk aside during the break and asked them if we could do something like that, to which they said that still acknowledges the First Amendment right, but still records your position as being notated. If you are positive, I would appreciate it, just as the mayor has said, that you would stand up after your name's called. If you've got your three minutes, you're more than entitled to it. But in order to try and get through it, that you would just say, I support. We'll notate that and then try and move through it…”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 3:02:34
“Thank you, sir. So to that, I'll just say I wasn't implying that. If you felt like that was implied, that was just your interpretation of it. Mind-boggling. What I was getting at is that it is mind-boggling that Evo, CEO of Mitch Roberts, showed us and explained a very real reason as to why he incorporates closed parking lots and that I get it and even gave an example with my young children as to why I fully understand the safety aspect. Next, you know, I don't understand it, and I have to thank everybody else in this room because at the count that I got, and this could be off, but we're over…”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 3:14:23
“Yes, sir. Thank you. So again, I think this is where government's getting in the way. This is one of the reasons why I ran. I'm not a family entertainment center developer or expert by any means, nor am I an architect, nor am I an investment banker or the things of these needs. But we literally just had the CEO of the venue stand before us, present why things are needed for vacation requests that are tied to his lease agreement that said, and I do not blame him whatsoever, if this doesn't happen, I'm leaving. And again, I hope it never happens, but going back to the safety aspect, what is one…”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 3:23:05
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 4:02:51
“Motion to approve agenda item 6.6. Second.”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 4:08:51
“Motion to approve agenda item 6.10. Second.”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 4:26:55
“Motion to approve agenda item 6.14. Second.”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 4:32:15
“Just one question. Do we have a shade structure going over the splash pad, too, in the future?”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 4:32:27
“Not for the kids, clearly, in the water, but for the parents and grandparents on the benches. Thanks. Appreciate your art.”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 4:36:20
“Motion to approve agenda item 619. Second.”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 4:42:38
“Motion to approve. Agenda item 623. Second.”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 5:08:56
“Thank you, sir. I just have one quick question in regards to what you said with the supervisors of election. You did say it was going to be 10 cents per card. Like when we have to get the petitions verified to run, who is going to pay that? Is that save the garden that should pay that? Cause they're asking for the verification.”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 5:09:44
“Yeah, I mean, I have no problem honoring their request either. However, I do think that if it's their request, they should pay for the verification since we do have a city clerk that's capable of doing it with their staff.”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 5:15:12
“Yes, thank you. I just want some quick clarifications. Lena, when you spoke, did you say that Save the Garden was not aware of any potential violations of state law?”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 5:15:39
“Say violation? Yes. Okay. No, no, you're fine. I just wanted to, because just listening to everybody. But I want to be clear, so Owen, In the brief that Brian Miller-Olive would have given to, I think it was the ACLU that was representing Save the Garden, would they have been made aware or should their counsel have made them aware of this potential violation is what you stated, Mayor, that it said, potential violation?”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 5:16:55
“So they could have potentially notified them. It was in the same brief.”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 5:17:03
“OK, very good. My next question for clarification, Mr. Mayor, are you saying that we, the city, should pay to verify the supervisor of elections process?”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 5:18:11
“My next question to either the clerk or the city manager, were there any overtime costs encumbered from doing this?”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 5:18:21
“Right, okay. So essentially, you just took up more of your time when you could have been dealing with other city matters?”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 5:18:30
“For sure. I completely agree with honoring their request to allowing the supervisor of elections to do this. I have no problem with that. However, again, this is their petition. I believe they've raised funds, too. I mean, we could speak to that, but... We had to pay for our costs to get our petition signed. I think that they should have to pay for it if it's their request. I think that's just fair. So with everything that's been said taking it in, I would also say that we accept the petitions, have saved the garden, paid for it, it's their request. And I see it as just due diligence with the…”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 5:20:48
“Just another question. Again, I would see it as just due diligence while both processes are going on. Just because if we do collectively decide to send that letter, it doesn't mean we're going to get a response, right?”
City Council · Sep 17, 2026