[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:08] MEETING OF THE WACO CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 12TH, 2026 TO ORDER AT 6:01 P.M. ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT HERE TONIGHT. PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY, TONIGHT'S KIND OF A SPECIAL NIGHT. IT'S NOT A WHOLE FULL AGENDA OF RESOLUTIONS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ALL THAT AND ORDINANCES, BUT WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE TRANSITION TIME WHERE WE CELEBRATE THE ELECTION OF THE NEW OFFICERS AND THE RETIREMENT OF OF AN OFFICER. [PRESENTATIONS AND COMMENTS] AND THIS IS IT'S KIND OF A FUN NIGHT FOR ALL OF US TO RECOGNIZE PUBLIC SERVICE. SO WE START WITH THE PRESENTATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND. AND IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE NEW OR OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER, JOSH, FROM DISTRICT THREE, AND ALSO MAYOR PRO TEM BENEFIELD WAS REELECTED. WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF HONOR HER A LITTLE BIT. AND I GOT REELECTED, TOO. SO WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING NICE ABOUT ME, BUT I DO EXPECT NICE THINGS ABOUT THESE TWO FOR. WE'RE GOING TO START, I THINK, WITH JOSH. JOSH, WHO'S BEEN WITH US FOR THREE TERMS. AND HE HAS DECIDED TO RETIRE. AND WE ARE SO HAPPY. AND I'VE I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES, I LOVE THIS GUY. AND WE'LL JUST KIND OF GO DOWN THE LINE AND, AND HONOR JOSH WHO WANTS TO START. THIS WILL COME AS A BIG SURPRISE TO YOU, BUT I DIDN'T PREPARE ANY REMARKS AND THEREFORE I WILL KEEP THEM VERY BRIEF ALSO BECAUSE I TEND TO GET EMOTIONAL WITH THESE THINGS. SO ALL I WILL SAY IS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR MENTORSHIP AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP, AND GLAD TO KNOW YOU AND LOVED SERVING WITH YOU. I DON'T TEND TO GET EMOTIONAL AT THESE THINGS, SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LACK OF THAT HERE. BUT JOSH, I, I MEAN, I'M HONORED TO KNOW YOU HONORED TO HAVE SERVED WITH YOU. YOU HAVE BROUGHT SUCH A DEMEANOR OF, OF LEVITY THAT YOU BALANCE SO WELL WITH REALLY FIRM AND GOOD GOVERNANCE. AND I THINK THAT YOUR TRACK RECORD PRIOR TO JOINING COUNCIL SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. AND I WAS TELLING SOMEONE TODAY, THEY'RE ASKING ABOUT YOU SORT OF SAILING OFF INTO THE SUNSET. AND I MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT REALLY AN AREA OF THE CITY, BE IT BOARD OR COMMISSION OR, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH BAYLOR LAW THAT THAT YOU HAVEN'T WORKED IN IN SOME OFFICIAL CAPACITY. AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE TO, TO HAVE LEARNED THAT ABOUT YOU AND SEEN HOW MUCH YOU'VE GIVEN SO FREELY OF YOURSELF AND YOUR TIME SINCE BEING HERE IN WACO. AND I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU AND YOUR WIFE. AND IT'S BEEN A REALLY, REALLY GREAT TO SEE A SIDE OF YOU OUTSIDE OF THE DAIS. AND I'LL TELL THE PUBLIC THAT IT'S NOT VERY MUCH DIFFERENT AT ALL. JOSH BRINGS HIS FULL SELF TO EVERY MEETING AND EVERY ROOM THAT HE'S IN, AND WE ARE ALL BETTER FOR IT. I'M GOING TO DESPERATELY MISS. WELL, WHAT EVERYONE'S GOING TO MISS THE HUMOR THAT YOU BRING, THE MEMES THAT YOU MAKE. I'M GOING TO MISS THE FACT THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE OUTGOING NOW, SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM SHARING THIS. I MIGHT FEEL LIKE I WAS OUTING YOU IN SOME WAY OTHERWISE, BUT I DON'T THAT. JOSH AS OUR COMMS DEPARTMENT FOR HIGH RES PHOTOS AFTER EVERY EVENT TO BE SENT TO HIS INBOX. AND I'M GOING TO MISS THAT BECAUSE YOU TAKE GREAT CARE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THEM AS WELL. AND I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE THAT IF IF I'M NOT APPRECIATIVE OF IT, MY WIFE'S APPRECIATIVE OF IT. YOU ARE SO THOUGHTFUL AND YOU CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT THIS CITY. THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, OUR STAFF, THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT THREE. I WAS WITH THE OWNER OF SHORTY'S HEWITT'S WIFE TODAY. SHE'S A COWORKER OF MINE, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR SENDING OFF. AND SHE'S LIKE, YEAH, I REMEMBER WHEN WE OPENED, YOU CAME OUT AND, YOU KNOW, NAMED IT SHORTY'S DAY AND CUT THE RIBBON WITH US. AND, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT SHORTY'S HEWITT IS IN WACO PROPER AND IT'S IN DISTRICT THREE. BUT THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE SUCH A A BROAD MINDSET OF SERVING EVERY PART OF YOUR DISTRICT, AND THEY ARE BETTER FOR IT. YOU'VE MADE US BETTER. AND I'M SO, SO THANKFUL TO HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU REALLY WELL. I CONSIDER YOU A FRIEND AND A BROTHER. I LOOK FORWARD TO [00:05:01] CONTINUING THAT FRIENDSHIP AFTER YOU ROLL OFF COUNCIL. AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF SOMETHING WITTY OR A POEM, OR A 90S HIP HOP LYRIC TO THROW YOUR WAY. I HAVE NOT. I'LL PUT IT IN A CARD. THANKS, JOSH. LOVE YOU BUDDY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, JOSH, FOR YOUR MENTORSHIP AND YOUR GUIDANCE AND JUST THE HUMOR AND THE JOY THAT YOU BRING TO COUNCIL. I JUST LOOK FORWARD EVERY COUNCIL MEETING TO WHAT YOU BRING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GOING TO MISS MY ELBOW, BUDDY. THAT'S RIGHT. HE'S THE ONE THAT I ASK, IS IT YES OR NO? INSIDE JOKES. NO. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING ME AS IF I HAD BEEN HERE FOREVER. SO THANK YOU. HEY, JOSH. SO JOSH AND I STARTED PLANNING COMMISSION TOGETHER 20 1717 YEAH. 1617 WHATEVER. AND I'M BAREFIELD HE'S BOARD APPROVED. SO WE'RE SITTING RIGHT OVER THERE. WELL, OVER THERE THEN I WAS LIKE, THERE THEN AND OUR VERY FIRST MEETING AND WE VOTE FIRST AND WE'RE BOTH LIKE, ARE WE DOING IT RIGHT? BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WATCHING PLANNING COMMISSIONS ALL THE TIME. BUT THEN JOHNNY ON THE SPOT, WE'RE LIKE, OH, I HOPE THAT WAS RIGHT. AND IT WAS. AND WE'VE KIND OF BEEN STUCK LIKE GLUE EVER SINCE THEN. YOU CAME ON DURING COVID AND, YOU KNOW, I SENT HIM A PICTURE EARLIER OF US GETTING SWORN IN WITH OUR MASKS ON AND, AND, AND JUST GETTING TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE AS A HUMAN HAS BEEN A JOY FOR ME. WE, YOU KNOW, OUR FAMILIES HAVE GROWN AND WATCHING YOUR KIDS GROW AND MY KIDS GROW AND THE CELEBRATIONS OF YOUR LOVELY WIFE AND JUST HOW YOUR FAMILY HAS MADE YOUR MOM RIDING ON THE PARADES WITH US AND SPENDING TIME WITH US, AND JUST LOVING GETTING TO KNOW HER HAS BEEN A PLEASURE FOR ME. JUST AS A HUMAN. WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS ME TALKING ABOUT ANDREA NOW, THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR YOUR DISTRICT AND FOR THIS CITY HAS BEEN IMPECCABLE. WE CONSIDER YOU THE GRIO OF THE OF THE COUNCIL BECAUSE YOU HAVE A GREAT HISTORY OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE'VE DONE AS A CITY AND AS A COUNCIL, AND WHETHER THOSE DECISIONS BE TOUGH DECISIONS, WHETHER THEY BE FUN DECISIONS, GREAT DECISIONS, OPPORTUNITIES TO CULTURALLY CHANGE OUR COMMUNITY AND CITY. YOU SPOKE INTO THAT, AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO LEAD WITH YOU AND TO BE ABLE TO SERVE WITH YOU. SO FROM PLANNING COMMISSION TO WE'RE ON THE SAME ELECTION CYCLE TO THE. INFINITE NUMBER OF MEMES THAT YOU'VE MADE AT MY EXPENSE SOMETIMES AND TO MY BETTERMENT. OTHER TIMES, I SALUTE YOU. AND I APPRECIATE NOT ONLY YOUR FRIENDSHIP, YOUR, YOUR, BUT YOUR HEART FOR THIS WORK. YOU HAVE GONE IMMEDIATELY TO THE TOP LIST OF MY FAVORITE COUNTRY LAWYERS, AND I AM BETTER BECAUSE I KNOW YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS COUNCIL AND THIS CITY. AND WE STILL EXPECT THOSE MEMES TO COME REGULARLY, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE IN GEN POP. I LOVE YOU, BESTIE. YEAH. JOSH, THANKS SO MUCH. YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A GREAT REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT THREE AND REALLY ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE AT THE CITY IN THESE LAST THE LAST SIX YEARS YOU'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL JUST OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MOST OF WHICH HAPPENS TO BE IN DISTRICT THREE. I'LL SAY ALL THE NEW COMPANIES MOVING INTO TOWN OR IN OR IN YOUR DISTRICT. THE GREAT THING YOU'VE DONE ON ON DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION AND HELPING BRING THAT TO LIFE IN OUR CITY AND MAKING WACO SUCH A GREAT CITY, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD, NOT ONLY JUST THE DOWNTOWN, EVERYTHING GOING ON DOWNTOWN, WHICH YOU'VE BEEN THE SPIRIT OF THAT, BUT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT ADVOCATE OF OUR PARKS AND OUR PARK SYSTEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES YOU CAME TO ME AND SAID, HEY, WE GOT TO FIX CHAPEL PARK, AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW DILIGENT THIS GUY WAS IN MAKING SURE SOME OF THESE PARKS LINED UP. I MEAN, EVEN YOU EVEN GOT A, I THINK, A SPECIAL EMAIL FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT I WAS COVERED ON A ON A WEEKLY BASIS. WHAT'S HAPPENING? SO HE, HE, THE ENERGY BEHIND WHAT WE'VE DONE OUT AT ALICE RODRIGUEZ PARK, ALICE MARTINEZ, RODRIGUEZ PARK, WHAT WE'VE DONE AT CHAPEL PARK, WHAT WE'VE DONE AT CHINA SPRING PARK AND THE LAKE EYRE LITTLE LEAGUE PARK AND THE, THE DUPUIS PARK AND, [00:10:03] AND ALL OF THE ALL OF THOSE THINGS. JUST APPRECIATE YOUR ENERGY AND LEADERSHIP IN THOSE FIELDS. I THINK WE'VE ALL LOOKED TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ATTORNEY OF THE GROUP. WE'VE ALWAYS KIND OF LOOKED TO YOU WHEN WE GET STUCK ON SOMETHING, PARTICULARLY AN EXEC. THERE'S A TIME BETWEEN OUR WORK SESSION AND AND BUSINESS SESSION WHERE WE TALK ABOUT KIND OF, I GUESS, MOSTLY THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DISCUSS PUBLICLY. SO WE ALL KIND OF LOOK TO JOSH AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M A LAW SCHOOL DROPOUT. SO I ALWAYS LOOK TO, TO JOSH, HE ACTUALLY GOT THROUGH. SO IT'S, I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO MISS THAT WHERE WE KIND OF GET GROUNDED A LITTLE BIT. YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID THE, YOUR CREATIVE MIND. YOU'VE GOT YOU. AND REALLY MAYBE THE WORD IS JOY THAT THAT THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'VE GOT A SPIRIT OF, OF JOY AND GOOD NATURE AND, AND REALLY YOUR CREATIVITY, YOU, YOU WERE THE ENERGY AND THE CREATIVITY BEHIND OUR FLAG, NEW FLAG DESIGN. YOU WERE THE ENERGY AND CREATIVITY BEHIND OUR BRANDING, REDESIGN AND REFINEMENT THERE. THE, THE SEAL THAT WE HAVE, THERE'S THESE THINGS THAT MAYBE THE REST OF US DON'T THINK ABOUT BECAUSE WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO FIX THE STREET. HE THINKS ABOUT THE STREET, AND THIS HAS TO LOOK COOL TOO. SO WE RELY ON JOSH FOR THAT. AND JUST THE OTHER STUFF AS WE DO PARADES. I MEAN, JOSH IS THE GUY. I MEAN, HE MAKES IT HAPPEN. HE MAKES THE WHOLE PARADE FUN AND HE MAKES IT FUN FOR THE CITY AS AS HE GOES THROUGH, BECAUSE HE'S GOT THE THE BULLHORN AND THE LACK OF A HYPE, HE MAKES US ALL KIND OF HE'S A HYPE MAN. HE'S A HYPE MAN. WE EXPECT THAT TO CONTINUE. AND THEN WE, A COUPLE OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED THE MEMES. HE'S A HE'S A MASTER OF MEMES AND, AND CINDY, WHO'S MY WIFE'S OUT IN THE CROWD TONIGHT. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I. I'M DRIVING. AND I HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD BECAUSE I GOT SOMETHING FROM JOSH AND I COULDN'T DRIVE. SO IT HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS PRETTY OFTEN. HE'S BRILLIANT. HE'S GOT SUPER REFINED SENSE OF HUMOR. AND LIKE I SAY, WHENEVER THINGS GET KIND OF TOUGH OR STICKY, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY BACK IN EXEC, I THINK EVERYBODY KIND OF LOOKS TO JOSH TO, TO, YOU KNOW, BREAK THE ICE A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, AND JOSH WILL ALWAYS BE THE GUY WHO DOESN'T LET THINGS GET TOO TENSE. BUT ANYWAY, ALSO, I LOVE YOUR SPIRIT FOR THE VETERANS. I MEAN, YOU'VE THE, THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE. I THINK WE CREATED A COMMISSION, ESTABLISHED A NEW COMMISSION. YOU MADE SURE THAT THE CITY WAS INVOLVED IN VETERANS ONE STOP AND THE NEW THINGS WE WERE DOING OUT AT THE VETERANS CENTER OUT THERE. JOSH, IS THE ENERGY BEHIND THAT ALSO. AND ONE THING I'M GOING TO MISS IS WHAT WAS WEIRD WAS WHEN CINDY AND KENNEDY AND I WOULD BE OUT JUST EATING AT LIKE DOUBLE R OR, OR LOLITAS WE WOULD RANDOMLY RUN INTO JOSH AND JENNIFER AND RC AND IT WAS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES THAT HAPPENED, BUT WE ALWAYS HAPPEN TO KIND OF BE IN THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME. SO I'LL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT COUNCIL MEMBER AND A GREAT FRIEND. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE A COUNCIL ANYMORE, BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE A GREAT FRIEND. SO. OKAY WITH THAT, WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT YOU SOME THINGS AND THEN WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. BUT LET'S GET YOUR STUFF. OKAY, MAYOR, IF YOU WILL, WE HAVE A VIDEO THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PLAY FIRST, A VIDEO FIRST, AND THEN WE DO THIS STUFF. YEAH, IF IT'S ALL RIGHT. IF IT PLEASES THE DICE. RYAN SWEAT WILL PLAY THE VIDEO FOR US. AND THEN WE JUST HAVE REAL BRIEF COMMENTS OVER HERE. GREAT CHOICE. MCGRUFF WAS A MAJOR PART OF MY CHILDHOOD. ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO SEE MCGRUFF DOING HIS THING. WOW. I WON A TRIP TO DISNEY WORLD LAND. THIS IS JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. DANG IT. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN COOL. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN COOL. HAVING A LIBRARY CARD OPENS UP YOUR WORLD, DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME. WILL YOU CALL MY NAME WHEN YOU WALK AWAY? AND JUST LIKE THAT, HIS RUNNING DAYS WERE OVER. OH, WILL YOU WALK AWAY? BE COOL. WACO. COME OVER HERE. [00:15:06] AND THEY'RE GOING TO. THEY'RE GOING TO TALK FIRST, RIGHT. OH, I'M SORRY. SO MESSY. THAT'S RIGHT. WE DID NOT REHEARSE THIS. OBVIOUSLY. IF IT PLEASES, WE GET OVER TO THE DAIS OVER HERE AND THEN WE WILL PRESENT CITY MANAGER HOME AS AS CITY MANAGER, AS YOU SERVE YOUR LAST OFFICIAL MEETING, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE 1700 EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST FOR YOUR STRONG LEADERSHIP, BUT MAKING GOVERNANCE A LITTLE LESS SERIOUS. AS YOU'VE GONE ALONG. YOU'VE BEEN A TRUE CHAMPION OF SOUND POLICY, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, THOUGHTFUL ON THE BIG ISSUES, AND ALWAYS WILLING TO DIG INTO THE THE DETAILS THAT MATTER TO OUR RESIDENTS. YOU ALWAYS ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS, AND WE'RE ALWAYS APPRECIATIVE OF STAFF. THIS CITY AND OUR STAFF ARE BETTER BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE. LET'S BE HONEST, FROM OUR STANDPOINT, YOU ALSO HAD A SUPERPOWER WHILE WE WERE DRAFTING VERY NARROW PRESS RELEASES. YOU WERE OUT THERE ON YOUR PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA CRAFTING MEMES THAT ACTUALLY MADE PEOPLE LAUGH AND PAY ATTENTION TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND THAT'S A RARE TALENT. YOU SOMEHOW MADE BUREAUCRACY MEME WORTHY, AND IT'S BEEN APPRECIATED. WHO CAN FORGET YOUR LEGENDARY WILLINGNESS, JUST LIKE WE SAW TO STAR IN CITY VIDEOS? NO MATTER HOW AWKWARD THE SCRIPT OR COSTUME, AND SOME OF THEM WERE AWKWARD, YOU SHOWED UP READY TO DO THE JOB. YOU DIDN'T JUST PROMOTE OUR PROGRAMS, YOU STARTED THEM LIKE A SEASONED ACTOR BRINGING CITY PROGRAMS TO LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, YOUR PRINCIPLED VOICE ON COUNCIL, AND FOR REMINDING US ALL THAT PUBLIC SERVICE CAN INCLUDE A LITTLE BIT OF SENSE OF HUMOR WHILE YOU'RE AT IT. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. OUR GROUNDBREAKINGS RIBBON CUTTINGS AND DEDICATIONS WILL NEVER, EVER BE THE SAME. YOU ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT STAFF KNEW THEY WERE IMPORTANT TO YOU AT SPECIAL EVENTS AND EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION. YOU SHOWED UP FOR SERVICE AWARDS, AND YOU ALWAYS EXTENDED GRACE TO OUR EMPLOYEES, AND IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. SAFE TRAVELS ON YOUR ADVENTURES AND WE HOPEFULLY WILL KEEP THE MEMES COMING FOR US. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU ROGER. COUNCIL MEMBER PORTER, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY AND FOR YOUR YOUR DEDICATION. ON BEHALF OF MYSELF PERSONALLY, I AM SO GRATEFUL TO YOU. WHEN I FIRST HEARD OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE, YOU MADE ME FEEL VERY WELCOME. AND WE HAD SOMETHING IN COMMON THAT WE COULD THAT MADE ME FEEL LIKE, OH, THAT'S REALLY SPECIAL THAT YOU KNEW ABOUT NYACK, NEW YORK, WHICH IS VERY RANDOM AND REALLY COOL THAT WE HAD THAT CONNECTION AND IT JUST, IT, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS HELPFUL FOR ME TO MAKE MY DECISION. AND YOU WERE ALWAYS VERY WELCOMING AND WARM AND ALSO VERY UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE LIKE THE MAYOR WAS POINTING OUT, SOMETIMES THE LEGAL ASPECT IS NO FUN AND THERE'S TENSION AND YOU, YOU, YOU GET IT. AND I WILL ABSOLUTELY MISS YOU ON THE DAIS AND IN EXECUTIVE AND JUST YOUR, YOUR, YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR, YOUR SMART QUESTIONS. I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU. THANK YOU. WELL, KRISTEN SAID SHE HAD TWO SENTENCES. SO THAT WAS LIKE TEN. SO OKAY, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU. WE WILL DEFINITELY MISS YOUR ENERGY, YOUR JOKING SPIRIT, AND MOST OF ALL, THIS ANNOUNCER VOICE THAT YOU HAVE. I'M NOT SURE WHO'S GOING TO TAKE YOUR PLACE NOW AS THE DJ OF OUR PARADES, BUT COUNCIL, WE GOT ONE COMING UP NEXT MONTH, SO WE WILL BE LOOKING TO PASS PASS THAT ON. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHOWING SO MUCH APPRECIATION TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING TO US. VERY HELPFUL. I LIKE TO CALL HIM THE PROCLAMATION KING BECAUSE HE WILL REQUEST A PROCLAMATION. WE'LL SEND IT TO HIM. HE'LL DO HIS DUE DILIGENCE WITH IT, SEND IT BACK TO US. BUT WE DO APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP THAT YOU'VE GIVEN OUR OFFICE, AND WE WILL DEFINITELY MISS YOU. OKAY, WITH THAT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT YOU A COUPLE GIFTS AND THEN LET YOU COME BACK IN AND HAVE SOME REMARKS. ANYBODY? Y'ALL HELP ME HAND THESE OUT. YOU'RE GOING TO ONE PERSON, HAND THEM OUT. JUST BRING THEM. OKAY. WE START WITH YOU. WE KIND OF DO IT RIGHT HERE. SO STARTING WITH THE CITY SEAL, THE CITY SEAL, WHICH JOSH WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN REFINING OUR, OUR SEAL AND OUR AND OUR BRANDING AND EVERYTHING. SO THAT'S SUPER COOL. AND THE WE [00:20:02] ALSO HAVE A SIGN BOARD A LITTLE HARD TO READ. AND HOLD IT BACK UP. SO. NOT THAT LONG. WE ALSO HAVE A BULLHORN, WHICH IS SIGNIFIES WHAT JOSH IS IN ANY BRAVE. YOU. SO YEAH. JOSH IS TRYING TO KEEP US ALL MOVING AND IDENTIFIED AND HYPED AND EVERYTHING. SO THIS WEEK'S. AND THE NEXT ONE IS THE. THIS IS. VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD AND THERE IS A ABORTION. OH WOW. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY. AND THAT'S THE WAY WE OFTEN DESCRIBE. AND SO THE LAST THING WE HAVE IS. THE BUILDING AND. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK. YOU KNOW, IT HAS A. YOU JUST HAVE TO FEEL. GOOD. OH. YOU SAID YOU TRANSMISSION, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SIGNATURE. OH YEAH. OKAY. LET ME GO. TO. OH MAN. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE DARKER, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. AMAZING. SO. INTRODUCTION OF MY ACADEMY AWARD RECIPIENT SPEECH. ALL RIGHT. AND WE HAVE A WRAP IT UP BOX TOO. SO DON'T BE ALL DAY. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE FLOOR IS YOURS. OKAY. THIS IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE LENGTHY. AND SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. AND I ALSO APOLOGIZE. THIS IS A NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF THANK YOUS. THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND STAFF MEMBERS THAT I PROBABLY HAVE NEGLECTED TO MENTION IN THIS. AND SO I APOLOGIZE. I TRIED TO HIT A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT I WORK WITH WITH SOME REGULARITY, BUT I WANT TO THANK START BY THANKING MY WIFE, JENNIFER, AND MY CHILDREN, ARCHIE AND LILI. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME MORE LOVE AND SUPPORT IN THESE LAST SIX YEARS THAN I DEFINITELY HAVE DESERVED, AND IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN DOING THESE PARADES AND OTHER PUBLIC CEREMONIES WITH THEM. IT'S JUST, IT'S I'M SO BLESSED WITH MY FAMILY AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM BEING HERE TONIGHT. THE I THINK THE LAST TIME THEY WERE HERE FOR ONE OF THESE SWEARING INS, IF NOT TWO TIMES AGO, TWO ANGRY GROWN MEN WERE THROWN OUT BY WACO PD. AND THAT IS JUST A TREASURED MEMORY FOR OUR FAMILY. I WAS SO GLAD THAT HAPPENED. THEY WERE HERE JUST TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW? AND IT ALSO REALLY MADE ME GRATEFUL FOR BILLY AND CINDY AND OUR SECURITY TEAM AND WILL AND VINNIE AND THE OTHERS BACK THERE APPRECIATE ALL THEY DO KEEPING US SAFE. BUT I WANT TO THANK MAYORS DILLON MEEK AND MIKE MORRISON, COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN KENNARD, WHO KIND OF SUSTAINED ME, ENCOURAGED ME TO START THIS JOURNEY AND ADVISE ME ALONG THE WAY. I REALLY WANT TO THANK JED COLE, WHO'S AN AMAZING PUBLIC SERVANT ALREADY WITH ALL HE'S DONE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ALL THE INCREDIBLE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HE'S BEEN PART OF. AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT HE'S WILLING TO WILLING TO TAKE THE MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP AND RUN WITH IT. I KNOW HE'S GOING TO BE AN AMAZING COUNCIL MEMBER, AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR HIM GETTING SWORN IN AND STARTING THIS IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. RYAN. I WANT TO THANK BRADLEY, DEIDRA, PAUL, BLUE, ASHLEY, JO LEE, AMY, BRANDI, WANT TO THANK THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TEAM WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND EVERY DAY. MICHELLE. MANDY. DEANNA. TOBY. [00:25:04] JENNY. JULIE. JUSTIN. IF I FORGOT ANYBODY, I APOLOGIZE. I WANT TO THANK KRISTIN, KATHY AND THE AMAZING TEAM OF ATTORNEYS IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, JUDGE GARCIA, AND THE MUNICIPAL COURT TEAM. I WANT TO THANK LISA AND THE DEMO TEAM, MONICA, AND THE FUN AND CREATIVE COMMS TEAM. ALWAYS GETTING THOSE HI RES PICS FOR ME. JONATHAN, MEGAN AND THE SPECTACULAR PARKS TEAM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT TEAM. I SAW TOM OUT THERE AS WELL. HE'S BEEN DOING SO MUCH FOR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT. REALLY GRATEFUL FOR HIM. CLINT PETERS, I SEE YOU OUT THERE FOR WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE COUNCIL AS WELL, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I KNOW MUKESH AND THE MPO TEAM. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT, ABOUT, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF OUR TIME AND IT'S IMPORTANT WORK. AND SO HE'S BEEN A DREAM TO WORK WITH AS WELL. BUT ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, DEDICATED CITY STAFF MEMBERS, FIRE CHIEF, POLICE CHIEF, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. DEREK. WITH FACILITIES BACK THERE, I SEE SO MANY OF YOU OUT HERE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME IN KIND OF A CHAOTIC ERA IN OUR NATION FOR GOVERNMENT, OUR COUNCIL HAS BEEN A STEADY AND A CONSISTENT MODEL OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. AND THAT'S NOT A TRADITION THAT WE NECESSARILY CREATED THIS LAST YEAR. THIS IS ONE THAT WE HAVE BUILT ON AND SUSTAINED OVER TIME FOR DECADES. AND SO IT'S JUST BEEN A REALLY INSPIRING EXPERIENCE TO ENGAGE WITH MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT LIKE THIS IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. I WANT TO THANK ISABEL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN, FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY. YOU'RE AN AMAZINGLY RESPECTED LEADER, AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE THE HARDEST WORKING WOMAN IN WACO. I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY DOING WHAT YOU DO, SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. ISABEL. TO GEORGE, THESE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN A LOT OF FUN, MAN. YOUR BUSINESS ACUMEN, YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR, YOUR WISDOM, ALL THAT YOU SAY BEHIND THE SCENES AND SHAPING POLICY WITHOUT BEING SHOWY ABOUT IT IS AN AMAZING MODEL OF PUBLIC SERVICE. AND SO IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL GETTING TO KNOW YOU AND BECOMING YOUR FRIEND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. DARIUS, YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST THOUGHTFUL, CONSCIENTIOUS PEOPLE THAT I KNOW. AND YOU JUST YOU ARE SUCH A GOOD HUSBAND AND FATHER AND JUST AN AMAZING PUBLIC SERVANT ON THE RISE. AND IT'S JUST, IT'S BEEN A JOY TO BE YOUR FRIEND. AND THESE LAST THREE YEARS HAS HAVE JUST BEEN SO MUCH FUN, MAN. AND I THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. I'M GOING TO SKIP TO THE MAYOR AND JUST SAY, I I'VE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU. YOU'VE BEEN AN ADVISOR TO ME BEFORE I STARTED ON THIS. YOU GAVE ME YOU OPENED YOUR PLAYBOOK UP FOR ME. AND IT WAS SO HELPFUL AND JUST I'VE ENJOYED YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR. I'VE ENJOYED YOUR LEADERSHIP. I'VE ENJOYED YOUR APPROACH TO THE WAY YOU RUN MEETINGS. I THINK IT IS SO FUN UP HERE WITH YOU AT THE HELM. IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE A TALK SHOW HOST AT TIMES AND I LOVE IT, BUT I JUST LOVE HOW EFFECTIVE YOU ARE AND HOW UNIFYING YOU ARE. YOU'RE ABLE TO BUILD CONSENSUS. YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE EVERYONE FEEL HEARD AND LISTENED TO, AND THE RESPONSIVENESS OF YOUR YOUR APPROACH TO THIS OFFICE IS JUST INSPIRING, MAYOR. SO THANK YOU. I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT YOUR REELECTION AND THAT YOU'VE GOT TWO MORE YEARS OF LEADING THIS CITY. THANK YOU FOR SIGNING UP FOR THAT. AND, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CHEERING YOU ON, ON THE SIDELINES, DOING WHATEVER I CAN TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU. FINALLY, ANDREA, MY BESTIE, STRAIGHT OFF HER FIFTH REELECTION AND TAKING THE HELM OF TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AS PRESIDENT, THE FIRST WACO WIN TO DO THAT SINCE 1929. SO. SO I THINK THE LAST WACO WIN TO DO THAT WAS BORN IN THE 1800S. AND SO THIS IS NO SMALL THING FOR WACO TO BE AT THE HELM OF TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. AND YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE BEEN SO INSPIRING. LIKE YOU SAID ABOUT OUR TIME ON PLANNING COMMISSION, THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO BEGIN LIKE THAT TOGETHER. AND IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO SERVE WITH YOU AND YOU'RE SO INSPIRING AND YOU'RE SO LOVING AND YOU'RE SO WONDERFUL. AND I'M GOING TO MISS I'M GOING TO MISS SERVING WITH YOU. BUT I KNOW OUR FRIENDSHIP IS STRONG AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE LOTS OF FUN TIMES GOING FORWARD. BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. BETSY, I LOVE YOU, BUT THANK YOU ALL. THIS HAS BEEN JUST THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME. I APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU. OKAY. THANKS SO MUCH, JOSH. WE NOW ARE GOING TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE THE TWO OF US WHO WERE REELECTED HERE. FIRST, ANDREA BARFIELD WAS REELECTED TO DISTRICT ONE. OUR MAYOR PRO [00:30:08] TEM WAS REELECTED AGAIN. AND WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF GO AROUND AND I'LL I'LL START IT OFF. YOU KNOW, JUST EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. AJ YEAH, MAYOR PRO TEM BAREFIELD AJ TO ME. OKAY, SO MAYOR PRO TEM BAREFIELD I THINK YOU HAVE THIS UNIQUE WAY OF LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR D1 CONSTITUENTS, BUT ALSO SEE THE BIG PICTURE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET DONE HERE AT THE CITY AND OUR VISION. I MEAN, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE AT THE TOP OF THE CHARTS ON VISION AND EXECUTION AND FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH I WHICH I PRESS ON AND YOU'RE GREAT AT THAT. OUR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU AND ALL OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN ALL THE PARKS THAT WE'VE GOT, JUST THAT, THAT INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE. AND AS YOU AS AS EVERYBODY OUT THERE SEES THESE NEW PARKS COMING ON, IT'S, IT'S PART OF A, A J. S BRAINCHILD THERE STEM, YOU KNOW, THE STEAM CENTER, THE ELM STREET IMPROVEMENTS I COULD GO DOWN THE LIST IS AS, AS JOSH MENTIONED. BUT YEAH, I THINK AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I RESEARCHED THAT IS WITH OUR REELECTION TOGETHER, WE WILL, IF I MAKE IT TWO MORE YEARS, YOU KNOW, IF I MAKE IT UP HERE, MY HEALTH HOLDS OUT OR WHATEVER THE. WE WILL HAVE SERVED TOGETHER THE LONGEST OF ANY TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY. SO I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE. SO AGAIN, AND THE OTHER THING, BESIDES LOOKING OUT FOR HER DISTRICT AND THE CITY, AJ IS SHE REPRESENTS THE CITY NATIONALLY AND STATEWIDE. AGAIN, AS JOSH SAID, PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. I MEAN, THAT THAT'S I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE HISTORY THAT WAS FANTASTIC. AND NOT ONLY DO YOU REPRESENT US AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE NATIONAL LEVEL, BUT YOU. THE FACT THAT AJ BRINGS BACK THOSE IDEAS TO WACO IS WHAT IS WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL BECAUSE WE. WE LIKE, AS WE BOTH LIKE TO SAY, WE PUNCH ABOVE OUR WEIGHT HERE IN WACO. AND BECAUSE WE SEE THESE. WE BOTH DO A LOT OF TRAVELING AND WE SEE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE SPECIAL AND WE. WE GOT TO BE SPECIAL. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S. CONGRATS. I LOOK FORWARD TO TWO MORE YEARS WITH YOU. THANK YOU. NOT EVERYONE WANTS. WHAT ARE WE DOING, MAYOR PRO TEM BENEFIELD, IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO SIT UP HERE WITH YOU. I'M SO THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE WITH YOU FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS. WELL, I HAVE TO WIN TO MAKE IT TO. BUT AT LEAST ONE MORE ON MY END. YOU ARE SO. YOU'RE SO RESOLUTE AND IN THE ACTIONS THAT YOU TAKE FOR WACO AND FOR DISTRICT ONE AND FOR WACOANS AND THIS PLACE THAT YOU CALL HOME AND HAVE CALLED HOME, IT IS TRULY INSPIRING TO WATCH THE WAY THAT YOU GO THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND OUR NATION REPRESENT WACO, AND TO HEAR HOW YOU TALK ABOUT OUR CITY INSPIRES ME TO WANT TO DO MORE FOR OUR CITY. YOU ARE SO. YOU JUST HAVE SUCH A DEEP BREATH OF KNOWLEDGE AND HOW TO GET THINGS DONE, TO BRING MONEY BACK HOME TO, TO DRIVE DECISIONS ON, ON WHERE WE'RE SPENDING THINGS FOR THE BIGGEST IMPACT. BUT YOU ARE ALSO SO QUICK TO BE DEFERENTIAL AND GO TO YOUR FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SAY, HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS AND THAT? THAT MEANS SO MUCH. NOT ONLY, I'M SURE TO EVERYONE UP HERE AT THE DAIS, BUT TO THE PEOPLE IN WACO THAT THAT LOOK TO YOU FOR LEADERSHIP AS WELL, TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE THEY ARE FOLLOWING SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF BUILDING THAT CONSENSUS AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY VOICE IS BEING HEARD IN THE WAY THAT IT NEEDS TO. YOU REPRESENT THE HELL OUT OF YOUR DISTRICT. THERE HAVE BEEN OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CONTESTED ELECTIONS, AND TO COME OUT ON TOP AS MAYOR WAS MENTIONED OR JOSH MENTIONED NOW FIVE TIMES THROUGHOUT THAT HAVING MULTIPLE CONTESTED ELECTIONS IS, IS A TESTAMENT TO NOT ONLY YOUR WILL AND RESOLVE. BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, CAMPAIGNING AND GOVERNING ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS, DIFFERENT SPORTS ENTIRELY. AND SO TO BE ABLE TO DO BOTH SO WELL AND TO CONTINUE TO SUCCEED IN BOTH AS A TESTAMENT TO YOU. AND AGAIN, I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT. THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO SERVE WITH YOU FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM YOU AND GROW ALONG WITH YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU'RE THE BEST AND I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU. I'M SO HAPPY FOR D1. I'M SO HAPPY FOR THE CITY OF WACO, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR OF SERVING WITH YOU. I AGREE, YOU'RE THE BEST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR MENTORSHIP, FOR PAVING THE WAY AND FOR BRINGING ALL THAT KNOWLEDGE BACK. AND SO HOPEFULLY ONE DAY I WILL BE LIKE YOU. YOU ALREADY BETTER THAN ME. MAYOR, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR REELECTION. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU LEADING OUR [00:35:04] CITY. YOU ARE SURGICAL IN HOW YOU. STEWARD OUR OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY. FISCALLY. YOU'RE LOOKING AT THINGS THAT YOU KNOW THE LAYPERSON WOULD NOT SEE, AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE OF YOUR DEPTH AND BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE AND, AND IN FINANCE. BUT IT'S NOT JUST THAT IT IS YOUR FOCUS ON PEOPLE. THAT IS A TREMENDOUS TESTAMENT TO THIS CITY AND TO YOUR SERVICE IN IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE FOR THIS CITY AND THIS COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE. COMING ONLY SECOND TO YOUR FAMILY FOR CERTAIN, WHO WE ALSO LOVE AND ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU SERVE WITH US. BECAUSE AS AS MY FAMILY KNOWS, AS YOUR, YOU KNOW, WE ALL SERVING TOGETHER. IT'S NOT JUST US ON COUNCIL, BUT IT'S THE FAMILIES THAT SERVE RIGHT ALONG WITH US. SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND THE DIRECTION THAT YOU CARRY OUR CITY. WE, WE. WHILST WE CANNOT GO FROM MOUNTAIN TOP TO MOUNTAIN TOP, YOU HAVE MADE SURE THAT THAT THE SLOPE WASN'T A TREMENDOUS SLOPE IN THE VALLEY. AND, AND WE'RE EVER MOVING FORWARD, PUNCHING ABOVE OUR WEIGHT. WE ARE A FORMER MAYOR, MIKE, WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE SAID, WE ARE THE SMALLEST MEMBER ON THE VARSITY TEAM, AND WE ARE STARTING. SO. AND WE'VE BEEN STARTING FOR A WHILE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO PLAY AT OUR BEST. AND THAT IS BECAUSE YOU SERVE AS OUR CAPTAIN. SO THANK YOU SIR. THANKS, AJ. WHAT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT MAYOR, THANK YOU. I LOVE SPREADSHEETS NOW. GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WELL I APPRECIATE AGAIN, AJ AND I WERE EACH REELECTED. SO GREAT. I WANT TO THANK THE VOTERS. I WANT TO THANK MY SUPPORTERS AND ADVISERS. YOU KNOW, THE FEEDBACK I GET FROM FROM FROM ALL OF YOU MAKE ME A BETTER MAYOR. I MEAN, THE INTERACTION, ALL OF US AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, YOU MIGHT THINK YOU'RE COMPLAINING OR ADVICE OR WHATEVER, BUT IT, IT JUST MAKES US ALL BETTER PUBLIC SERVANTS, I GUESS MAYBE NONE OF THE REST OF YOU GET COMPLAINTS LIKE I DO. BUT ANYWAY, NO, I WANT TO THANK THE FORMER MAYORS WHO. AND DYLAN. GREAT FOR BEING HERE, THE GUY WHO SERVED RIGHT BEFORE ME AND SERVED IN THE TRENCHES WITH HIM FOR MANY YEARS. AND I STILL LEAN ON, PARTICULARLY MAYOR MEEK AND MAYOR DEVER, WHO I SERVED WITH FOR ADVICE AND PERSPECTIVE. AND LIKE I, I AT THE END OF EVERY CALL, WHAT DO I SAY? THANKS FOR LETTING ME CRY ON YOUR SHOULDERS. THAT'S WHAT I SAY. BUT ANYWAY, I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY EMPLOYER, O'BRIEN STALEY PARTNERS UP IN MINNEAPOLIS, JERRY O'BRIEN, MY BOSS. I'M GOING TO SAY HIS NAME AGAIN, JERRY O'BRIEN. I MIGHT GET A BONUS OUT OF THAT IF I SAY IT ENOUGH TIMES. SO, BUT ALL OF US HAVE EMPLOYERS WHERE THEY ALLOW US THE FLEXIBILITY TO, TO, TO SERVE, TO SPEND OUR TIME HERE. AND AS AJ SAID, SPEND OUR TIME WITH OUR FAMILY AND SPEND OUR TIME ACTUALLY EARNING A LIVING, YOU KNOW, WHICH WE'RE ALL KIND OF RESPONSIBLE FOR. I WANT TO THANK MY CAMPAIGN TREASURER, WHO I GOTTA BE HONEST, I HAD AN AFFAIR WITH MY CAMPAIGN TREASURER. I SAY IT EVERY TIME. CINDY HOLMES IS MY WIFE, IS ALSO MY CAMPAIGN TREASURER. AND SO I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY. WHO, WHO? AND THEY'RE ALL HERE TONIGHT. REALLY? KENNEDY. MY MY 15 YEAR OLD SON IS HERE. SPENCER, MY OLDER SON IS HERE. MY GRANDSON, TRUE. HOLMES IS RIGHT THERE. LET'S HEAR IT FOR TRUE. IS THERE. AND AND BETHANY, MY SON'S WIFE. AND CHARLIE, YOU'RE HERE TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE IT, BUT YEAH, THE FAMILY, AS AJ SAID, MAKES IT ALL WORK. SO MANY GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN WACO. AND I'M GOING TO GO INTO THE LIST, BUT JUST FANTASTIC. IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH THESE GUYS AND FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. IS FAMILY UP HERE TOO. IT'S IT'S A STRONG BOND. AND THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT STAFF, THE LEADERS OVER HERE AND IN THE BACK ROW OVER THERE, WE'VE GOT THE BEST IN THE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WE'VE GOT THE BEST LEADERSHIP GROUP TO WORK WITH. AND SO MANY GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN WACO. SO RYAN AND KRISTEN AND MICHELLE, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, MAYOR, BECAUSE I MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE SAYING AND BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO HOME. MY BAD. THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY WHO'S HERE WITH ME, MY HUSBAND, MY MOTHER IN LAW, MY SONS, MY BEST FRIEND, AND MY GOOD CHAPTER PRESIDENT. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING WITH ME AND STANDING WITH ME IN THIS TIME FOREVER. I LOVE YOU AND I CANNOT DO THESE THINGS WITHOUT YOU. AND AS MAYOR SAID, WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM IN THIS CITY FROM THE THE LEADERSHIP IN THE DEPARTMENTS TO OUR CITY MANAGEMENT OFFICE, TO OUR CITY [00:40:03] ATTORNEYS, AND OF COURSE, THE CHIEF CAT HERDER IN THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, BECAUSE COLLECTING US IS YEOMAN'S WORK. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THIS CITY AND WHAT YOU DO FOR US. AND LET'S GO. ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS THAT WAS GREAT. SORRY. I WENT VERKLEMPT THERE A [ELECTION PROCESS] COUPLE TIMES, BUT THIS IS A THIS IS LIKE I SAY, IT'S FAMILY UP HERE. THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE ELECTION PROCESS AND THE CANVASING OF THE ELECTION RETURNS. CITY SECRETARY HICKS, WILL YOU PLEASE PROCEED WITH CANVASING OF THE MAY 2ND, 2026, ELECTION? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS A CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS FOR THE CITY OF WACO AND THE CITY OF WACO ELECTION REGISTER, I PRESENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL THE CERTIFIED ELECTION RETURNS, WHICH WERE DELIVERED VIA EMAIL FROM MCLENNAN COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR ON MAY 11TH, 2026. PURSUANT TO THE ELECTION SERVICE CONTRACT, THE CITY OF WACO BALLOT FOR THE MAY 2ND, 2026 GENERAL ELECTION WERE COUNTED, TALLIED, AND CERTIFIED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WACO BY JERRY GOLDSMITH, THE MCLENNAN COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR. THE PRECINCT TABULATIONS WERE PROVIDED TO THE MAYOR, TO MAYOR JIM HOLMES IN A SEALED ENVELOPE, AND COPIES WERE PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHICH INCLUDE THE VOTES RECEIVED BY PRECINCTS FOR EACH CANDIDATE. THE NUMBER OF VOTERS WHO CAST A BALLOT IN EACH PRECINCT, AND THE TOTAL VOTES RECEIVED. YOU ARE WELCOME TO OPEN YOUR ENVELOPES AT THIS TIME. ON MAY 2ND, 2026, THE LEGAL VOTES CAST FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION ARE AS FOLLOWS, WHICH I WILL READ ALOUD ACCORDING TO THE ORDER ON THE BALLOT FOR MAYOR JIM HOLMES RECEIVED 2311 VOTES, WHICH WAS 83% OF THE VOTES. AIDAN MORGAN RECEIVED 231 VOTES, WHICH IS 8%, AND DAVID HOWARD PONDER RECEIVED 236 VOTES, ANOTHER 8%. DISTRICT ONE. ANDREA J. BAREFIELD RECEIVED 261 VOTES, WHICH IS 56% OF THE VOTES. RACHEL E PATE RECEIVED 199, WHICH IS 43% OF THE VOTES. AND FOR DISTRICT THREE, WE HAVE GERRIT COLE, WHO RECEIVED WHO WAS UNCONTESTED AND RECEIVED 325 VOTES, 100% OF THE VOTES FOR DISTRICT THREE. THE TOTAL VOTES CAST WAS 3563 VOTES. THE FOLLOWING HAS RECEIVED THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF VOTES AND WAS DECLARED ELECTED IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. JIM HOLMES FOR MAYOR, ANDREA J. BAREFIELD FOR DISTRICT ONE AND JACK COLE FOR DISTRICT THREE. THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WACO, TEXAS, AND MEETING WITH THE WACO CITY COUNCIL, SITTING AS THE CANVASING AUTHORITY TO CANVASS THE ELECTION FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION HELD ON MAY 2ND, 2026. I DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE TOTALS PRESENTED ARE ALL THE VOTES RECEIVED BY EACH CANDIDATE ACCORDING TO THE CERTIFIED TABULATIONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN READ INTO THE RECORD BY THE CITY SECRETARY. I FURTHER CERTIFY THAT THE VOTE TOTAL INCLUDES EARLY VOTING RESULTS BY PRECINCTS RECEIVED UNDER SECTION 87-123, ONE OF THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE. THAT'S THAT. AND NEXT, WE WILL CONSIDER RESOLUTION 2026-286. THE REPORT OF CANVASING AND THIS RESOLUTION IS WHERE WE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR THE ELECTION OF THE MAYOR AND DISTRICTS ONE AND THREE OF SAID ELECTION BEING HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 2ND, 2026. IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR, IT WOULD BE MY GREAT HONOR AND PLEASURE AND MY LAST OFFICIAL ACT TO MOVE TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JOSH PORTER AND A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? THERE BEING NONE. CITY SECRETARY HICKS, WILL YOU PLEASE PULL THE COUNCIL? LOZANO. YES. PORTER. YES. BAREFIELD. YES. EWING. YES. CHASE. YES. HOLMES. AYE. THAT MOTION PASSES, AND WE NOW MOVE TO THE CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION. AND I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT RIGHT OUT HERE. SO THIS IS WHERE WE DO THE SWEARING IN AND ALSO THE CERTIFICATES. OKAY. I AM PRESENTING TO YOU STARTING AT FIRST I WAS GOING TO DO IS CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION TO CONGREGATE. SEE ONE MORE. THIS HAS A WINNER IN DISTRICT THREE, [00:45:14] JAKE. I WILL. OFFER THE BEFORE AND AFTER. I WANT TO GATHER ON. I'LL SAY I SAID I WOULD SAY FOR ME AND. I. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY OF WACO. COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR FOR BEING MAYOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, WILL TO THE BEST PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND. PRESERVE THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE AND OF THE CITY OF WACO. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. YES. SO. YEAH. NOW. JUST LIKE THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. THIS DIFFERENT SCRIPT TONIGHT. OKAY. LOOK, WE HAVE UP HERE, WE HAVE JED COLEMAN. WE. JED, I WANT TO JUST WELCOME YOU TO THE COUNCIL. AND THIS IS A WEIRD MOMENT BECAUSE MY SON SPENCER IS OUT THERE AND Y'ALL WANT Y'ALL PLAYED BASEBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, SO I GOT EITHER YOU'RE VERY YOUNG OR I'M VERY OLD. YOU KNOW, I THINK MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH. TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE. YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. SO ANYWAY, WELCOME TO YOU. AND YOU'VE GOT SUCH A GREAT BUSINESS REPUTATION AND YOU'VE KIND OF, I THINK EVERYBODY KIND OF KNOWS YOU. AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR ROLE ON, ON THE, ON THE, ON THE COUNCIL. IT'S EXCITED TO, TO BE ABLE TO SERVE WITH YOU THESE NEXT TWO YEARS. SO ANYBODY WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, JUST SAY OUR NEW BROTHER HERE. EXCITED TO GET A CHANCE TO SERVE WITH YOU. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, AS I MENTIONED WITH COUNCILMAN MERRIFIELD, AT LEAST ONE MORE YEAR OF SERVING WITH YOU. YOU DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS, GUYS. JED, I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BENEFIT TREMENDOUSLY JUST FROM THE WAY THAT YOU YOU THINK ABOUT AND VIEW WACO AS A WHOLE AND CITIES IN GENERAL. AND THE BEST WAY TO BUILD THEM THAT SO THEY CAN LAST LONG INTO THE FUTURE. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE IN DOING SO ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, REALLY, REALLY EXCITED TO GET A CHANCE TO TO PUT OUR BRAINS TOGETHER AND KEEP BUILDING WACO FOR THE BETTER. WELCOME ABOARD. YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT, AND I HOPE YOU WILL FIND IT AS REWARDING AND INTERESTING AS THE REST OF US DO. YES, WELCOME. I KNOW I SERVED BRIEFLY WITH YOU ON PLANNING COMMISSION, SO I ENJOY NOW THAT I. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL SIT. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO REARRANGE US, BUT I'M GLAD. THANK YOU DAD. WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY. WE, WE YOU'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY ACTIVE AND A STRONG COMMUNITY MEMBER BEFORE THIS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT SAME ENERGY AND DRIVE AND THOUGHTFULNESS THAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR WORK ON PLAN, YOUR WORK ON MPO AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN AND AROUND THIS COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SERVE WITH YOU. WELCOME. THANKS. ANY WORDS? I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU. AND OBVIOUSLY, THANKS TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE. AND I JUST HAVE A TON OF RESPECT FOR THE FIVE OF YOU ALL. AND OF COURSE, FOR THE CITY [00:50:02] STAFF HAVING HAVING WORKED WITH THEM ON PLANNING COMMISSION. SO I'M EXCITED TO SERVE WITH YOU ALL AND EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WE GET DONE. GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE, JED. THE NEXT ITEM TO BE CONSIDERED IS RESOLUTION 2026-287. DESIGNATING ONE OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE AS MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF WACO. SO THIS THIS RESOLUTION IS CONSIDERING A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING ONE MEMBER FOR MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF WACO. AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MAYOR, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO RECOMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER GEORGE CHASE TO SERVE AS MAYOR PRO TEM FOR 2020 627 YEARS. ENTHUSIASTICALLY. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND AN ENTHUSIASTIC. SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? GEORGE, YOU READY FOR THIS? CERTAINLY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD GOOD, GOOD. SECRETARY HICKS, WILL YOU PLEASE PULL THE COUNCIL? LOZANO. YES. COLE. YES. FAIRFIELD. YES. EWING. YES. CHASE. YES. HOLMES. I THAT MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS, GEORGE. THANK YOU FOR. OKAY. I THINK IT'S THE LAST ITEM. SO AFTER WE ADJOURN, WHICH I'M ABOUT READY TO DO, THERE'LL BE A RECEPTION OVER IN MCLENNAN HALL, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR HERE. RIGHT. GOING OUT THIS BACK DOOR AND OVER THERE. WE WELCOME EVERYBODY HERE TO JOIN US. SO THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 6:53 P.M. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.