Branson, Missouri

Oh, you know, he didn't do that. >> He doesn't do that. I'll leave him a note, but he just never wants to do a story. Doesn't want any attention. >> Any attention? He wants to do a story wanting I don't feel ever doing a story without it. I mean, I'd much I can't think of the guy used to be the Michael. >> He got one story. >> I will. >> Here I am. But it's >> I just can't make you promise. >> No, I understand. You're very surprised. >> Well, he's very thankful. >> Yeah, that's why. >> That's great. I appreciate that. >> I was the permit. I can leave her because Oh god. Don't catch any Hello, Paul. Hi, Todd. How are you doing? Well, Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> I can hear you guys. >> Paul, you're on mute. I think >> now. >> Yeah. Can you guys hear me? >> I just wanted to let you know I've printed off the resolutions. Okay, thank you. Sure. background that >> you're going to need to be able to share the screen. >> We will. Yes. I'll go ahead and make you the host now just so you can do that. Actually, hang on one second. >> Yes. Right. Paul, are you ready? >> Yes, sir. June 24th, 2026 76 entertainment. Yeah. Meeting order. Um so please >> thank you. Um Father, we thank you for um for Branson. We thank you for this country. We thank you just as we celebrate the 250 years celebration of this country. I know there's a lot of people especially in Britain are preparing to celebrate and I thank you for just blessing this country as we move forward father that you continue to guide this country in a way to be glorified to you. May may we continue to make um this country great and and honor you. Um we are thankful uh just for the effort that everybody the staff and the mayorman are making to make this celebration very very special. We ask for uh the safety. We we pray that u you continue to give us a a great great celebration. We thank you that you be able to serve in this capacity in the CI po. We ask that you continue to guide us and give us wisdom and direction as we move forward. May the things that we do be pleasing to you. It give us the the the will to direction in a way that it be seen in a way that um it'd be good for the community for the um tourists and for uh just for the uh for everybody that are involved in in this thing here. Thank you again for all the things that you do. We ask a blessing upon it and I pray all this in wonderful name. Amen. >> Amen. Still, can you give a roll call, please? >> Yes. Um, so Chuck is present. I see Brian is present. Mike is present. Billy is present. I see the mayor is present. Um, Alex G. And is Alderman Williams present? I >> present, sir. Okay, thank you. Looks like everybody's present. Thanks, Paul. Does everybody have a chance to read the minutes from May 27th meeting? Okay, we had a chance to review them. I'll entertain a motion to approve minutes from May 27th. Motion to approve. >> Second. Thank you. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor state by saying I. >> The same site. All right, let's uh take a look. C fin. >> Can you guys hear me? >> Y. >> Okay. Um, good afternoon. So, we are 42% done with the year and we've collected 2,241,772 in revenue and expended $80,322 in expenditures and sales tax is up three and a half% um over this time last year. Are there any questions about the financials to date so far? Alison, you said at the beginning, did you say the revenues were down? >> Nope, the revenues are up. Um, right now we are we've only collected 39% of budgeted revenues, but usually in the last six months of the year, we see that sales tax increase because we're not um our sales tax increases in um our busier months. And so we're right now we're collecting our um offseason months revenue. And like next month we should see that sales tax revenue increase a little bit but we still are three and a half% greater than this time last year. >> Thank you. >> Also what's current inflation rate you know off top of your head? >> Um I'm not for sure what we're seeing. I mean most most things are coming in around 5% and that's what we budgeted for. Um we're seeing some like material costs come in higher than that. Um but right now if we want to say overall it's around 5%. So if we look year over year, well, it looks like we're up three and a half% with inflation. We're either flat or down ahead. >> That's my ass. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but that would be my assessment. >> I mean, that's say Yeah. And that's saying that everyone in the C has raised their prices 5% to adjust for inflation, right? Um, which doesn't always happen either. Um but yeah, if if people are to adjust their their sales price for inflation, then yes, then um we haven't caught up with inflation. >> Todd, do you have anything to add to that? >> Can you repeat that? >> I just that question probably should go to Todd, I'm guessing. >> I don't know, Todd, if you have better or more information to ask the prices received from different businesses that increase their prices. I know we've been so there's a number of businesses that have so inflation just larger market forces I guess. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean I think certainly fuel prices are a big wild card here. Uh those seem to be coming down now. But I I agree with Allison that, you know, probably somewhere around that 5% range uh is what we've been hearing. You know, somewhere three three to five. I think the CPI last year was a touch under three. But I think to Chuck's point that, you know, it would appear that if the CI revenues are 3.5% above what it was a year ago at this time, more than likely most of that increase is due to inflation. >> Thanks, Todd. Thanks, Alison. Does anybody have any questions on the financials? None. Uh, I guess we can move on to R2026-02, resolution approving an amended fiscal year 2026 budget of the 76 entertainment community improvement district, do you have that available to where you could just do a brief run through? I know most of us all looked at it and just a quick run of it would be great if possible. >> Yeah, give me one second. So, if you can see the lines highlighted in yellow, those are the what we're amending. Um, so we did increase the size one second. Paul, can you make uh Allison be able to share the screen? >> Cheryl, can you share? Do you have it up on your screen? I don't have it up on my computer. I have it up on my phone. >> I don't. >> I can. Give me one second then. >> Allison, do you need to be made the host? Yep. One second. Okay, you should be good, Allison. Trying to share it right now. Just trying to open it. And Paul, I've got it pulled up here. If we'll give Allison a chance to open it up. If she can't do it, I can can share my screen. >> Try one more time. >> My PDF editor is not opening. It's just a black screen. Um Todd, can you share it? >> Absolutely. >> Looks like Paul's gonna have to click it over to me. >> Okay, >> there we go. So, the lines highlighted in yellow are what we're amending. Um, we did increase the sidewalk um for that 20% match. Uh, we the costs were increased and so uh we'll have to find 200,000 of that sidewalk match for the grant money. >> Alison, you can you enlarge that screen, please? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'm sorry, Alison. Go ahead. >> Okay. >> Is that better there? >> Yes. And then we've also added the wow factor in here um for 588,000 is what our estimated cost is right now. Um we added the great river change order that we expect to come in the future. Um and then we added construction service cost for 250,000. Um we've also added our bond cost of 900,000 to this and then um we amended the budget to include what was in the cooperative agreement of that 10% maintenance cost. Are there any questions about the amended budget? I have a question. Um the consulting um what is the roll down of what's the consulting is by chance? I don't remember. I don't remember when we passed this to J earlier. >> So the consulting is like our marketing expenses for the website and different fees. >> So that's $100,000 for marketing consulting. >> Yep. We usually don't spend that whole amount. Um but we budget 100,000 and really the only expense that we see come out of there is for the website. Thank you. Where did we get the 588 for the ball factor and what's the 25 or the 250 for construction services for project? What's that? So the 588 is 76 and 165. Um that that's the one that we're working on that is the engineers estimate for that. And then the 250 services is an estimated cost for third party construction inspection services and everything else that we're going to need help on this. You'll have third party testing to get QA. >> Right. So placeholder and Allison, did you roll up anything else in construction services? >> No, I didn't roll anything else up into construction services. That's just what we're estimating for construction services that we put in. We had talked about an integrator or some of you guys wanted to bring a third party person. We we definitely need to bring in third party materials instructions. So that's part of the satisfy high that's just a ride from the engineers. Yeah. Yeah. And so there were $100,000 placeholders there and it was there and if if we try to roll them all at once, the likelihood that that you'll get into that money before December 31st is little to no, but if you have the availability to start ordering things and doing stuff and then we'll roll that forward as it's an encumbered fund. >> So my opinion of it is is that I like to budget what we know, not what we don't know. Well, I mean, we don't even have a bid. >> Exactly. >> So, we're >> Exactly. That's That's >> a placeholder, right? >> Yeah. These are just placeholder. The money is not moving. It's just a It gives us Allison, correct me if if I'm incorrect, but this gives us a place to to draw funds from and gives us an account number to draw as things come in. And I I guess >> Yeah. Yeah. And we don't expect to spend that, but we'll encumber it into next year because then we know that, hey, we already have the money accounted for. We won't have to do anything um with it next year. Um it's ready to go. And then that gives us the opportunity to bid versus doing a budget amendment before we go out to bid or anything on that wow factor. >> But the ones that are in your white, those are agreements we've already taken to the board, alderman, and so on and so forth. >> Yeah. I'm not worried about the white ones. I'm worried about debt services. I'm not worried about maintenance costs. Not even worried about the $200,000 20% match. It's the bottom two that I would rather, you know, put a minimal amount in there. We can always do budget exceptions. the bone to >> the 250. >> Okay. >> I think for 250 was super high for two or four months and the 588, we're not even going to dig into maybe half of that. >> The 250 would be encumbered. So like if we go out to bid for that, it would be encumbered into next year. So you don't want to pay for you don't want to go to a contract for 40,000 and only pay for it this year. You would be putting all of that cost up front for the whole project and not just what you're going to spend within the end of the year. that that's part of why I would like to see it adjust to something more realistic. Yeah, >> I agree with that. So, um there's two different ways we could go about this house. And we could cut the wow factor completely and and and do another budget amendment if if stuff comes in. But yeah, that's that's I need something to be able to get into contract with them. So I spend a hundred this year, I'd be I don't know. I mean, we're going to throw down some concrete at some point. >> Even we could go out to bid for this, too. We could go out to bid for construction services and then before we award the bid, we can um bring it back to you guys with budget amendment. It will just slow things down. >> You're good with that, Alison? That's what board's asking for a zero map. >> Yep. That's fine if we want to take those both out. Just know that it might slow things down on awarding that construction bid to any to anyone. >> Construction services. >> We just don't want to put 600 in one and 250 in another. want to be realistic to what we think we're going to study this year. >> Yeah. So, Paul, what would be next step so that we're not holding anything up on this? >> So, it's going to be kind of a two and a halfstep process. The first step would be a motion to amend the resolution by either striking or reducing the certain line items. Assuming that motion passes, the next step would be a motion to approve the resolution as amended. And then the half step, Allison, is I would need you to since you've got the actual I guess that's a spreadsheet file, send me a revised budget uh document that I can that can be attached to the resolution to be signed. >> Yeah. The reason we're doing this is as Sarah is working on the the bond documents and the preliminary offering statement and whatnot, there are representations made to potential investors that the debt service money has been budgeted and appropriated. Um, you'll recall from the budget that we adopted last year for this fiscal year, because we didn't know exactly what that debt service was going to be, uh, the budget message, the budget didn't include a debt service line item, but it was stated in the budget message that once we knew, then we would come back and amend this fiscal year's budget, which is what this does. Um, I guess the extra half step would be then once Allison transmits to myself and Cheryl the revised budget spreadsheet, then um Chuck and Mike will need to be able to come into Sarah uh to Cheryl and sign the resolution. So that those are the next steps. So, I make a motion we reduce the wow factor from 588,000 to 50,000 and to reduce the construction service fees of 250,000 down to 100,000. >> Okay, I'm going to make motion. I'll second that. Alex seconds. Um, any further discussion? Um, my only comment would be those, right? It was 100,000 wild factor, 50,000 on construction services. That would be my only comment. >> So, you want to amend the motion? You see amend the motion Paul or do we have to vote on this and then go over it again? >> So I'll make it simple. What are you wanting to change? The 50 or the 100? >> Okay. So I'll amend the motion to reduce the wow factor to 100,000 and construction services down to 50,000. >> Alex, do you still second that? >> Second that. Second. Any further discussion? None. All those in favor say by saying I. I. And I sign. >> Now, we can do a motion to approve R26-02 as amended. >> So, already got a motion with it on the board. Now we get a motion to approve it as amended. >> Yes. >> So I entertain a motion to approve uh resolution number 2026-2 as amended. So second by Billy further discussion none. All those in favor say by saying I I same sign. All right, we're done with all that, right Paul? >> I'm sorry. >> We're done with that now, right? >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. >> All right, next item on the agenda. R2026-03 resolution approving the issuance of sales use tax revenue bonds for B76 entertainment community improvement district project series 2026 and an aggregate principal amount not takes 40,000 or $40 million. I wish by the industrial devel development authority of the town pledging and assigning certain revenues for the purpose of paying the principal and interest on the bonds and authorizing certain other actions and documents in convection there with uh who's best to lead this Paul uh Sarah is on and she will present this item. >> Great. Thank you. So I do Sarah. >> Okay. Good afternoon. Uh so as you are all aware, we've been working towards this bond issuance. Um so the resolution before you right now will be the CD's final action on um on approving the bond issuance, the first series of bonds. Um so to kind of recap the the process that this has been going through and will continue to go through. Um we met with the IDA, the Teny County IDA on June 4th. they approved being the issuer of the bonds. So the IDA will be the issuer and the CI is the borrower and that is to allow us to go out longer than 20 years on the debt service or the term of the bond. CIDs are are restricted by state statute to 20 years. Um so to allow for that extra time for repayment and and therefore allow the multiple series of bonds that we're contemplating um to finish the entire project, we are going through the IDA. Um the with the IDA as the issuer, the CI is still entering into a few of the documents. They're listed in the resolution. It's a financing agreement and that's actually between the IDA, the city, and the CI. um that financing agreement basically says that the CI will um they commit to annually appropriate funds to pay debt service. So that's similar to that budget amendment that you that you all just approved on appropriating your uh some some of the net sales tax revenues to payment on the bonds. um the c the city is a part of that agreement because they actually hold and and manage those funds. And so um they will consider at a a board meeting in Jul uh July if they approve that document also they say okay if C appropriates we will um uh we will transfer those funds to payment. There's also the bond purchase agreement. Uh Baird Robert W. Baird has been selected as underwriter that happened a couple years ago. um they will be the ones uh marketing and purchasing these bonds. Then the tax compliance agreement saying you'll do what you can to keep these taxes these bonds tax exempt. And the continuing disclosure agreement there are um with all publicly offered and marketed bonds. Um there are ongoing requirements for continuing disclosure to uh the investors. So those are the documents that the district will actually be signing. Um along with this whole process, there's the preliminary and then the official statement uh that gives investors information on the bonds and the district. It also includes information on the city and the IDA as the issuer. Um so I've been working with uh sever several representatives of both the C and the city to to gather that information. Um a couple final points on what this resolution does. it approves what we call parameters. And so, um, at this point, we are in the the authorization part of the process. So, like I said, we had the IDA authorization, we're coming to the C for authorization, and we'll get city authorization hopefully in um I believe it's uh July 14th is the meeting. With all of those authorizations in place, um Baird and Todd at Piper Sandler will go and uh work to market the bonds and we will have a pricing date. Um I believe near the end of July is when is when we intend to price those bonds. And this resolution is the CI's um the it's the C's way of giving authority to uh the chair to sign and accept the final pricing terms of the bonds so long as those terms are within what is approved in the parameters. And so those parameters are listed under section 2 suboint B. Um, I'll go over just a couple of them uh that are, you know, might might kind of mean something to the general uh group here, but um so long as the principal amount is not over $40 million, the true interest cost is not over 7% um and that they don't have a final maturity later than 205. They're subject to optional redemption. So, you can either prepay or refund them no not later than 10 years following the issue date. Um and then the underwriters discount. So basically the compensation that the the purchaser gets for for purchasing um these bonds does not exceed 1% of the principal amount. Happy to answer any questions on those as is Todd. Um but that's kind of where we are in the process and where we're going. Once pricing happens, again, I think we're still targeting late July. Uh we'll work towards closing. Todd can probably give a better estimate. I would imagine probably mid August on that. and that will be uh dollars in the bank account to um to start spending. So, happy to answer any questions or if Todd has anything else he'd like to add. >> Todd, do you know when we're expecting to get city's bond rating? >> Yes, we're we have a rating call scheduled for next Thursday, July 2nd. Um and we have been in communications with the analyst from standard and pores. Uh we would expect to have uh some rating questions the early part of next week at the latest and we'll be uh working with Paul and Sarah and the folks from Baird on those various reading questions to where we have our responses uh either prepared in writing ahead of time or at least uh at least we've gone through those and we'll be able to provide verbal answers. answers to the analyst when we get on the rating call. Uh generally once the rating call occurs, we'll have a rating in place uh within about a week. Uh it may extend beyond that given the Fourth of July uh weekend. Uh but that sets us up like Sarah indicated to be able to get into the market with having bear underwrite and market the bonds at the end of July and then we would have a closing within a couple of weeks uh after that point. So early to mid August. >> Yeah. Do you have a good feeling what that'll be? The rating will be >> at this point. we're requesting the process we're following uh is a little different for this type of a credit because it's being rated based solely on the CID uh not uh anything to do with the city of Branson. And so in this case, we aren't exactly sure where the rating will come out. The thought is that if we're in a like a tripleB type category that we would move forward with a rated transaction uh to the extent the rating the private rating came in below tripleB we may just leave the rating out of the process and just move forward as a non-rated issue. Uh that's going to be a call that Baird is going to have to to weigh in on. But if if it occurs as we all expect um to have be in the in the tripleB category, then we would uh tell S&P to move ahead with the next step and instead of it being a private rating, we would ask that that rating be made public. >> Thank you, Todd. Do they have any further questions for Paul or Sarah? Paul read it or you and Paul both are solid with everything. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh hearing none. I'd entertain a motion to approve resolution number 2026-03 to approve. >> Second Mike second Billy. Any further discussion? >> Any none? All those in favor? >> If by saying I same side, thank you very much for your guys' hard work on that. is I'm sure it was not the most fun thing to do. Well, maybe it was in your food. >> Thank you all. >> Thanks, Sarah. Thanks, Sarah. >> All right. Uh, next on the agenda is spring solution uh 2026-04 recommending approval of amendment number one to the agreement for professional consulting services. Great River Associates Inc. EVA hearing for the West 76 country segment one street skate project. Do you guys have that document want to go through? So came and discussed with you all the the need for $10,000 in plant development and also $5,000 for going out for survey work. i.e. businesses that have come in the last two years so on so forth changes to Douglas Dutton's route that's there and so um they have uh honestly went out and the work is done and so um they hope that support that definitely changes some things um there are a lot of consultants working in the background on on good faith I came in to talk to you guys and so uh we we we hope we approve that and we're one more ask to come for you guys all to take a decision at this I would entertain a motion to approve the resolution 2026-04 unless somebody wants city we have a second uh all those in favor signify by saying I on the same side. Thank you. Uh let's see updates on bidding process. So um Cheryl's going to follow up. I kind of handed out the checklist of what's in progress, what's found in progress, and where we are. And my goal is to always try to be as transparent as possible with you all about where we are. We've met the deadlines that that that you all have set and super excited about that in the paper on on through our finance. Our legal team turned it around in the breath of time just a couple days and so super thankful for all all the work in inside. Um MDOT had come through at the 12th hour literally and um had greenlighted everything that's in the the bottom of this. So, um, the only thing we're we're waiting on is for them to go to their board with the governor's money and get that all all set in. There should be no there, but the tabs, STPs, the locals are all in there. Um, right right now, uh, we believe u bid checkout is 10 to 13, but there's also plan holder rooms. And for those that aren't in the construction industry world, uh, plan holder rooms check out. They're large companies. people can check out from them and they help them put together the bids and stuff like that. So, um well, lots of lots of talk. We we don't go 10 peak without somebody saying, "Wow, this is really going." So, uh we're super excited about all that. Um on this the the thing we will have have some Daniels. We know that we released the plans without the final landscape. And a little bit of what what happened there was at the very end in 2024, we were kind of wrapped up in a pausing point. We're still making a little bit of negotiations because some of the owners that were there and the plans not go back to Vario, get the landscape cleaned up and without a solid plan, it's not there. So, we told all the bid holders, that's the last 10 or 15 pages of it, that this will will come out that we can go ahead and bid. It's just the quantities are going to change around. Um the Great River Engineering and and their principal has reassured us multiple times that it's coming. As of today, I still don't have it. Uh and so, uh Burio is is supposedly working, but they also have an ask in a minute. So, um that that will ultimately get has to go out before the bids come in. So, you get solid numbers that they go in. And so, um, those are all the properties that were the readjustments, some of the stuff that's hustling right now with Todd's group that that got done. And so, uh, we did have, uh, a couple of the different fiber companies ask for some things that are a little bit different as their business models are are changing a little bit and where they want to go and dumps and things like that. And so, we did accommodate every bit of everybody's ask. And so, uh, lots of late hours and thank you to our staff and and lots of conversations with her. They they did a great job. So, comfortable. Yes. Um, that some of the next steps is we have a mandatory pre- bid meeting. That means that if you are a true bidder on the project and you're not a sub, you have to show up. So, um, that way they hear from our mouse can ask any questions they want. Some people hold it close, some people don't. And that creates one more addendum. So, whatever we answer there goes back out to to everybody else. Uh, a lot of questions are coming in about gateway. Gateway was delegated design, which for for those that aren't in the industry, you kind of give the general area. You give the general foundation and then you say, "Hey, there's three or four listed companies that that we agree that probably could be good." Now, the contractor is going to go to town and and talk to each of each of these companies that are shortlisted. And so, um, that short list was made by you many a couple years ago, actually. And so, those questions are coming in and those businesses are very busy putting together what's going to come forward there. So, um, happy to answer any questions. I know that's a mouthful. Um, we are, as a group, Cheryl, Matt, and I are pretty confident we're doing pretty good. Um, the the plan is, you know, to to be dead honest with everybody sitting in this room, I'm like 90% comfortable. for some things I'm like, h I don't know if we really took care of that. And so we're we're trying to hustle through some of those things. And and we know that once you put a shovel on the ground is when we really get people's attention, right? So for instance, there's a food truck out there that has some build patios that attach to sidewalks. And that's going to have to be a conversation with the food truck to figure out how we're going to keep them happy while we're going, but that's our job and we're happy to do that. So >> I think you and your team way above and beyond really appreciate each other. >> We appreciate you all. This is going to be a highly success successful project. Um we we did get cost estimates back. I was pleasantly surprised and not saying anything about the numbers that are there because we're going to know very shortly. So, um, we'll see how they did and we definitely will report how the engineers of Recruit put their their prize together and and what it really was because I think that's super important to say how good did we do what they did not do. And so, um, I I do want want and warn everybody going forward that the conversations about financials, as Allison will will know too, once we get done with bonding and the money's in, it's going to become very complicated. We have four sub projects that are on this. So we have a city project, we have the governor's money and and we did some things that kept not very happy with us with the the tap. So there's four that may encompass the project. So somebody on the outside said says I don't really stand 76. So on the website they have four. I just want to bid one. They're not allowed to do that. They have to bid all four and it's a controlling basically of a mother and daughter. So you have to get everything done to get to here. Um, thank you for for the bonus structure. I I know that excites a lot of people that are out there and uh we'll we'll see what they do. Um, we have heard a little bit of feedback as recently as today is that it's an aggressive timeline. So, uh, faster than a year is very aggressive and so we're probably going to knock out at least one or two of the biders. They won't be able to come. So, but that's good and that's good for business. So, and good for the residents that are there. So, and visitors Unless less board meeting talk about Liberty holding their stuff is where you guys Liberty did deliver a 30% plan set to us as by contract to get it but I got it. So um yes like 30%. Yeah 30% plans. That's all right. They're in the back 40. We have a lovehate relationship right now. So, it's okay. It's nothing with it's it's nothing to do with the city or feelings to the city. Um, it's their company and so it it's it's rough and I I sure hope they figure it out someday and so they've had a lot of turnover. Um, and so >> yeah, Junior Junior is no longer that that made me cry pretty hard. So, >> that's a big deal. He he got out. So, but we might see Junior again from what I heard. So, you never know. I know there's a lady that took his place is at a job. She has returned. So, I don't know. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, so how do you feel about it? I know this all recorded and and I hope you listen like you guys need to straighten out. So, um we'll get there. >> Uh any other questions about the bidding process timelines? We've met every timeline that that that we think. Um, you know, I I do want to let you also know that we wrote in some provisions to control the contractor. Um, we took some mod provisions in there. We also the general contractor if they come with a change order that's not a bid item. So, for instance, a linear foot of of sidewalk and something else comes the largest that you pay for the linear price of wherever you go. That's an agreed value. If there's something that pops up that's not there, they're the general contractor is limited to 10%. If they have a sub doing the work, they get 3% on top of that. So, it's actual cost, actual hours on that. Um, city projects, as you may know or not know, and a lot of you have your own private businesses, we pay a little bit different prices than the rest of you do because and I call number 33 wage order 33. So, I think that's the one we're on and that's the newest. So, 32 went to 33. So, everybody got a raise, right? There you go. Um, but that's good. And, um, we do wage orders and we make sure that people are getting paid paid what they're promised to pay be paid by by the different trades that they're in. So, >> and a couple of these are under the federal Davis bacon wage act. So, so whichever the one is the higher is what we pay. >> That's what we This is going to challenge our skills with no doubt for sure. And I'm excited to to do skills with them. Four bucks, four day dailies, four inspections, four possibilities, four closeouts, really good time. So, um, we're excited. Super excited. So, I've been there. Um, and we're very thankful for that because >> when you brought up the gateways short listed, are they allowed to go out outside of the short list as well? uh they're restricting them. >> We restricted them to the the short list that was there. Can since we baked those what was it two years ago or three years ago, can you remind me who the short list is and if there's somebody that one of those may have worked with that might have some site. >> Yeah. Can we increase the list? >> Uh yeah. So there there was one company that um sure is it possible we can bring it up on the screen. So Pinnacle is a local company that's there. There's a company out of uh Kansas City that's there. Uh there's a company it's on page four. I can almost see it on that. Um we can get that and we can keep on moving. U there there's a company that may or may have not came out of power that may have knocked this. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Well, the only reason I ask is because we I mean just my company, which I'm sure you guys as well have the ability to there's other companies that potentially could come in on this as well just to make it sure just so the so how how the how the bid bid item works. So, uh, Pinnacle Group, uh, Amy Jacobson and >> LC, sorry, I thought there was four. There's only >> Amy Jacobson and might want to look expanding if it's not. If if anybody has a suggestion of a a company, take that and add them on today. It'll be in an addendum one. >> I'll send us your list probably just because >> Yeah. Um so so how it is in the bid document, the original bid bid item that was on there that that uh you guys have seen probably two years ago is $2.1 million for all the the sculptures, the entrance and pieces that are there. we back that back into the actual description is that they can't spend more than $2.1 million. They can go out to those companies and what whatever that's there. Um the reason we did that is that some people are saying I can do it a whole lot cheaper or better or whatever. So the contractors are going to have to talk to subs that that are out there and the subs are now asking questions that I'm going to ask you all and there'll be a time where we need to reach out to you all say hey this is some of it. So it's a delegated design that is what we started with in the beginning. So it's just saying this is our general idea. This is the general rendering that we want. This is the area that we want and this is what what we want there. So it's kind of done with journey and your crazy I like sidewalks that you can measure. You can I'm not the artsy one. That's right. Yeah, we have the right board and that's what you control. So, it's very good. >> Uh, anything else on the bidding process? >> I I don't have anything with this question. >> It's not a bidding question. It's a timeline question. Has there been any thought um from from the C perspective and or the cities? I'm sure it overlays on like the themed and messaging of like when we're going to start hitting the public with a game plan on controlling the narrative. Uh because I've heard some great conversations happening around the community on how to skin that cat. But when we're to your earlier point about the cost of consulting, maybe that's an area where you're going to we're going to take a proactive stance and try to control you can't control everything, but try to be proactive in messaging to our guests like this upgrade, this opportunity, whatever that looks like. Has there been discussions? >> Yeah, actually going to bring that up during reports. Um, uh, yeah, the city's taken aggressive stance on messaging. Um, and so I've had Maria reach out to Ann, um, to set up some times. We're going to have a dedicated web page similar to a lot of our larger capital projects. So it'll be a lot of the the question and answer. It'll be periodic so timeline of everything where we are to date on the 76 C. It will be in a massive native dump that anyone can go to and then we'll message it out on social media too. I mean it kind of had a missed opportunity on the counts front when we when the bids were posted. Um you know that would have been nice right to put out I think to the community uh for them to know because that shows a lot of progress and and for momentum. Um, but we're going to look at those milestones on on this uh chart and have that ready to go. So, that's in progress. Um, as for 76 C communications, I really think it'd be critical of this board to ask the consultants to put together a communications plan uh and to have a demonstrated plan laid out uh what some of the deliverables are going to be, what the website's going to look like. Um, because there's a question that's going to come up of where do I find out more information on this project? Do I go to the city's website or do I go to the 76 website? Um and I don't want to that. So I think there's probably a conversation amongst this board um of how do stakeholders I look at that. I don't know if there are a mailing list that we have on the stakeholder side. We can do email distributions. Um as much as we want to let the the general community know, right? I think a lot of people that are paying this tax also know. So um I just want to open this this conversation up. Thank you all for we already have the sign up for information. We we do I mean there hasn't been much to say for a while but the site's been in place for a couple of years that the board approved uh I don't remember when but it's been there a while and I are meeting today at three to sort of coordinate that effort and um yeah we'll get going quickly and we do have email addresses at least again those things get outdated fairly quickly but when we did the annexation we gathered all of those contacts emails and have that in a database for the 76 That's generally the only people we've really been communicating with uh lately are those folks within the district, but now it's definitely time to broaden that. We look forward to partnering. >> Yeah, me too. I suggest, you know, Patrick and I started on the chair and we were discussing this in our executive meeting yesterday, just how can we utilize utilize the chamber for some of this communication, especially what we learned with downtown. I mean, unlike downtown, there's not Jack Emerson people's doorstep. I mean, we have parking lots before entrance stores and box offices, but Patrick had a great suggestion yesterday. You know, two of the stakeholders, Hughes and and uh Dutton, you know, they signed easements and they have fan bases. He'll do some videos with them helping to educate and you know, as our communication to the guests like this, this is positive. This is not negative. This is going to be great. So I just submit that you know I think you know for being a board member of the chamber I know they would be willing to really assist us. I don't know how we coordinate that but my big taste be coordination between me and the city. Okay. And then taking the chamer's ideas chamber and make sure that whoever's on single it's on hereite vice versa. >> Yep. >> And even anything that chamber wants to go out page on chamber website maybe associated maybe it's a link that goes through the city or the CI forms making people possible but the ideas of videos things like that for guests that are going to die. That's huge. So, I'm excited to see what >> not a lot of these sites were talking about a link to one site that keep updated with all the videos and all the rousing. We took the liberty to for for uh alderman William here that this is uh the site that this group runs and this is Franc76.com has your leadership, your background, your needs and the updates that are there. I know Ann and Maria have been in contact. We threw it out the door and it's out there. But we did a pretty good splash with contractors and so it soon as you all worked that out of course administration handles that. So, and and not and I don't think the city wants to put a bunch of stuff on their website to compete with this site, right? So, it's kind of like what's the right to the mayor's point, but what's the right page? I think we invested in this website, right? It looks fantastic. The video looks great. Um, and I'd be fine linking, you know, uh, any traffic that comes through Google or on our website, any search bars. We can even do a hot link to our main page that actually directs it back to the site. So, that we're not um, like our street skate project. I really like the way that promis worked out. that plan. We had all the different things that were on there that was on the same site, right? I think it probably I don't know if you agree on this, but I think it probably makes sense to have it probably all the information land on this site and >> I think Marie is working more than healthy to help with you and she was involved in that knows how that rolled out. >> Okay, perfect. We'll we'll go over all that. We'll set up some clear um plans and a timeline that is coordinated with all three. I yeah, I think to your point, Mike, that the CBB is going to be great at communicating with visitors, especially those before they get to town. And we'll of course work with the engineers to do the, as we did in segment one, um, a lot of that communication on the street with signage and that sort of um, information for visitors that are in town. Then you've got residents that want to know what's going on. And then you've got your real stakeholders in the district um that have a well stakeholders. They got a stake in the game, right? Their their business sitting there and dealing with it. They need to know what's happening um on a couple of different levels. So >> yeah, we'll have a plan to address all of that is put together quickly and bring it maybe to the next board meeting at least a preliminary. >> Put it downtown. We we did >> Yeah, it's it's 99. >> Yep. Um but we did a texting service and and that conversation will be had about who will do that texting service. Um that was honored out and and kind of given out um and how how we did downtown if if you all weren't in there. We did week by week. Um Maria is awesome communications person. I'd sit in our office. Sure. We'll work with Ann and Maria together. I just verbally tell you everything that's going on. She created these great little blips about here's what's really going on and um she's a blessing to work with and and and we're proud right we were really proud of of the steps the monumental steps that that got there when we got halfway you know we had everybody around the be that everybody knows so now so I'm keep on scrolling down so um and that that's what it look like it'll be 52 weeks of of that um the the drone footage and all that uh We did that in house with our engineering staff. Um, we definitely have some different thoughts on that. Uh, they have to get licenses because it's a helicopter freeway over there. And so, um, and I've g pictures for that. But, um, that's a little bit of stuff that that we'll pass through and outside of there, but more American and Maria and what you guys have here, it's going to look great. It's going to be updated consistently. So, >> there's like, you know, project schedule, there's phasing, construction timeline, and there's just a lot of things like text alert, social media to stay up to date. Hey, here's all information. >> Um, I think that's going to be really important. So, that's that bottom part is going to be huge. >> That bottom part maybe top people to those things. Who's the chairman? That's my wife. You can find out on our side. >> I do have all your numbers and I >> Yes, I am that text. All right. Uh any further discussion on I need to go. I kind of already started on project timeline discussing this. So yeah, so we'll scroll back down and and we'll kind of get down there. Uh so each meeting that that we have, we we continue to do, you know, just like Sarah said, hey, the bond pricing is here. We're adding those items in progress, not trying to keep the the thousand moving plates that are going around, you know, keep them going. And so, you know, the intent still is is is Labor Day. Um, working towards that all all of our contract documents and everything that's out there is the, you know, the next big step in this is do we have a responsible, good, solid bid, right? And so, um, you know, and it's it's okay. I'm going to say that today. I we have a lot of interest. I'm not as concerned as I was on some other stuff, but you know, some sometimes the contractors look at it and they say, "You're being too aggressive." Uh, MOD learned that on the slide repair across the river. If you all had followed any of that, that was supposed to be done and already moving it and that got delayed a couple times. Uh, downtown Ranson, we put an aggressive time schedule on and it didn't fit into anybody's schedule. Uh the good thing is is that the the contractors seem very hungry and hunger hunger is good and so um they've been waiting for this a long time and I'm excited to open it in. I hope we have three or four so we can make a really good educated decision and and realizing too that what we see um sometimes you know ju just in a couple million dollar overlay we'll see $600,000 laid on the table um you know and that's on a couple couple million dollars. So, um, but we did really work very hard. We do have to come into consensus once the bids come in. It's not only what the city staff thinks is right, that we'll come to you and and and tell you what we think will probably work and and a company that's there, you'll have to approve it, but I'll have to approve it and the board will have to approve it. So, multiple steps of of people. Thanks for the trusting of that. Um, >> one additional step is they have to be pre-qualified with MDOT. also the biders too, >> right? And so, um, what that that is for for those that are on the outside means you can start at MOD with a a certain size of value of projects with them and you grow into the bigger projects. So, they will have to be on that qualified list and that's good. So, uh I do expect that most of the contractors to be used subs. So um once they do disclose and we select we get information on all the subs they are any questions on that. So wait and see. So the only question I have is like aggressive meaning do you think you'll be able to have shovels on the ground 10 or is there a way to get shovels on the ground 95? I I think if we follow all the steps that are here, the contracts in place, we issue the notice proceed and the time time clock is turned off and give up till >> Yeah. What I'm saying is you got to proceed on 9th, right? >> Yep. >> They could be that is the first day they could begin construction, but the time clock is literally hitting the time clock to get. >> So, will they have already received the approved bid by 98? Yeah, we build some tops in there. So potentially 98 they're already so potentially 99. >> Sure. The only reason I'm asking that is we're looking at our 60-day Senate program 79, right? We all know how brains right now business wise, how crazy is right now. I mean, my student it's solid. U we know what it's going to be like for the next couple weeks. If we can get and that's more 69 which would be probably a very welcome benefit to the people that interfered with this construction project. Just saying >> yeah the issue again you have to have concurrence. >> No I understand there's a lot of communications. I'm just throwing it out there. I'm just throwing it out there. We can slide it up sometime. So, thanks for that, Chuck. What do you think? >> I I mean, we look at this daily. We we shave times. Um, again, another great point is stone was late coming in and we turned it around. I mean, like that's a blessing for city staff to approach it that way and realize how important it is. Um, you know, I I believe that our administration, our board of alderman, you all I mean, you have your your meetings and I know we do special meetings and you know, you're you're welcome. I can send this out digitally and if if somebody else wants to try to help us find some more duration of days, I mean, the real worry is is making sure you don't rush to fail, right? These plans have to be solid because everything that's not the plans when you accept is a change order. And so um and and I know Todd and John Todd on vacation today and Spencer they listen to this even I've been tough on my very tough they will tell you that. So >> things like um the board calling special needs to save a couple weeks >> right >> things like that. >> Yeah. Or what we could come to master resolution. So there's there's lots of >> special needs. A lot of it has to do with bond too. So still the bond uh I don't know if Sarah is still on um I I did contact her. Um and so in in the actual construction documents JSPs that are in there, there's a $10 million whole point that's on there. So you're never too far out from that. Um she assured me that you had already approved that we can do the whole amount, but I felt like a $10 million whole dollar plan is is comfortable for me. and your your money by the way is looking will be in place >> and and so that that's another thing where we talked about earlier. Um this is a little abnormal for the city. Um the city usually has funds in place before we do that. Very very similar to why we were asking for the wild money and and all that and you know we go on a little bit of good good faith and a little bit different but uh finance has been flexible along with that administration. So >> yeah, I will I can jump in there. The is the question about if uh you can start basically incurring costs before you have the bond proceeds. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. So, uh, back a while ago now, this, uh, C and the city both, uh, passed resolutions or ordinances that, um, indicated their own intent to issue or pursue taxexempt financing for the project. And so with that what we call reimbursement resolution in place, um, you able to incur costs that then, uh, can be reimbursed out of bond proceeds on the taxexempt basis. um when those proceeds are received, those um authorizations are are good at least three years. Um really we could go beyond that. So we're well within that time frame of um any costs that you incur now can be reimbursed with the proceeds when they are received. >> Thank you Sarah. Any other questions on the none? Um, not sure if we all got the email or if I got the email, but uh Cheryl sent an email. I did not have new business on here, but there is some new business that might Okay, so um couple new business items that are there. Um, so Bario was responsible for your irrigation and landscape plans with they also did all your renderings. Uh, Vario updated the last corridor plan in 2024 of August. So we we've had, as you all know, we've had some tweaks, changes, and driveways that have been adjusted and so on and so forth. Um, Cher Cheryl's going to bring up and we're going to discuss two things that are here. Uh, one of them being that V Vario is suggesting that um for rendering updates is $5,400. Um, Vario's scope I I want to read to you. So, so you all know and then we need to make some type of decision. Um, there I understand that moving money would be the next meeting, but if if they got a verbal from this board similar to Todd, they're going to do work in good faith and we're going to come back to that. So, uh, Vario said their scope of work for task 10 that that was in the overall contract was that that they would update the August 2024 corridor plan rendering to reflect the final roadway, sidewalk, and landscape design. Um, the scope does not include revisions to the 3D perspective renderings. 3D perspective renderings are these renderings that that that are up in the corners and also in the bottom. And so my question to to the board is I asked Ray River Engineering I said hey we've changed things and some some of the stuff is is flat out wrong right and so if we're going to do a communications package together I don't want somebody to see a drawing and say man I see a bridge there and three people standing on there and there's no bridge there and so um the qu the question basically comes down to do you want to invest the money to update this and you hold this back and and there are no renderings to share for like downtown. We share we we paid a different service outside of Vario to to do renderings or is this something that this board would want to have another company come in and do do renderings? The second question that's interlaid in that is we had a long discussion about the the archway going in and so that's actually showing the correct one archway in there but it says Branson 76 entertainment district and we had a pretty good long discussion about what is the verbiage that needs to be there and the companies that are the on the short list are asking hey if I'm going to provide a bid document of what my cost is going to be to the general contractor how many letters are you guys putting on here and what's the words going to be they're asking for that answer during the bidding process. So I I would love if if those couple questions can be talked about with the board and you give us general direction for where to go because because uh this is part of that. The interesting thing about this is we're zoomed in right here. So uh we can Branson 76 entertainment district. We just need to come up with the actual words if it's welcome to Branson if it's whatever the board desires and and we will do that. Um, if we scroll out here, the important thing about this rendering and I and I printed just a handful of them is that um, if it's such a high density rendering that if I'm for instance uh, Schlotsskis, let's go into Schlotskis. You can scroll all the way in down to the plants. So it's it's what's hanging upstairs in my office. It's it's something that we use too. Um and and the interesting thing for that would be like um for instance Mr. Pro Crohox property. Um there were some drawings that were on there that are no longer accurate and I don't want to send something out that somebody sees this for years on the website and that. So hopefully I didn't over talk that the cost. Uh 5400 is just for the sidewalks and and landscaping part the the cubes or boxes or perspectives. They did not and I have asked for this from Vario and Great River Engineering since April. So, um, Vario is engaged. And so, um, the email that I got or text message I got last night was, "Here's the price." I'm like, "That's not how that works." And so, I asked them for scope. And I read you the scope that we got. I think it's very important to manage the expectations and manage potential disappointments especially at this stage. Some of this information like you said is year and a half, two years old and so anything that we know putting up something where people are walking on a bridge would be ridiculous, right? Because we'll be hearing about that weekly or monthly. So managing the uh expectations I think is very important and if that's what plan is is to update all this to the most current they're updating it. I want to make sure I'm clear that's a very small slice of it. And so my my question is is in downtown we had had a different artist necessarily do it. I said, "What is that artist because burio um apparently we can ask Todd, but River Engineering was not able to tell me what was going on, but they had a little bit of disagreement and talks and so um you know what is another company and anywhere from 9 to 15,000 and they can tons of renderings for you guys. So that's a conversation for for you. I think the $5,400 is very general and then the blobs that are there are not getting done. um it's not what I asked for any or I thought that this board would want I felt like that in the description of the contract they were responsible and they have drawn the line that August 2024 they were told by the previous engineer record that we were that this is the final so they spent their money options other options why not why not get the full package. That's going to be beneficial. While we're getting some updates here, here, and here. I mean, 10 grand, you could probably get a completely updated full package that's going to show more realistically what the plans actually reflect. I think that's more value than spending, $400 to do a halfway job. >> Yeah. Right. >> Or or >> just from the communications side of things, which was what we're talking about releasing these to the public, right? This big long diagram was not useful for communications. Anyway, by the time you zoomed in there, it was terrible resolution. As you mentioned, people couldn't quite find where they were in here. If it's still functional for you guys because it lines up with plans, that's great. But if we're going to pay for additional renderings, I would focus on the gateway. I would focus on the area in front of Lodge the Ozarks. Those are going to be usable and the Wows that we're talking about, not very many people want to study this three mile long sidewalk and exactly where it turns and bends and, you know, has a bush or doesn't have a tree, you know. So, um, if I I agree visuals are crazy important. I agree. We don't want people to expect things that aren't going to be delivered, but let's get some visuals if if this is designed for the public that are workable for the public because this one really never was. >> I think it's I think we're looking atility for the public, but we're also looking atility for the stakeholders and what their property is kind of visually going to look like as well. So, so I understand 100% what you're saying and completely, but I feel like the visibility for the stakeholders that own those properties and now we have plans that are more in line, we can kind of get better real look what it's going to look like in front of Hampton or Slavskies or whatever that is. And I feel like there's a benefit to both. And I don't see any reason why if they get the visuals on like what you're saying the gate might visual arcs um and then go ahead and do the middle stuff. I think for everybody else, I think that's all I'm able to pull those out. >> Pull those out, use them for for additional uh advertising or change. >> Yeah. And this little relaxation node. I mean, those aren't really very valuable because maybe that's what the bench looks like, but maybe we ordered one that's slightly different or whatever. You know, those were really just sort of vision, not >> you don't that's not going to necessarily be on there, >> right? But I me and I agree that I mean just for beneficial for the marketing side but we do have a number of excuse me residents that are more in the anal mode the more detail mode and I think they would appreciate being able to go through this kind of detail it's high go through so you absolutely no Then I'll just use this example. We looked at 73 when we did the wax. We had a plan to show what was going to be in front of the waxes, right? We looked at the landscape plan and to be honest with you, it was good but not great. >> So we decided to throw an extra $45,000 in to make it great. >> So there's all those different aspects for the property owners to be able to do. Well, and it also would be nice to have a rendering that is approved for public distribution of the Gretina intersection in that new wow that this group funding as well. So, >> yeah, because now we then we've really got three places that we can point to and say, look how great this is going to be general public and then have whatever detail we need for property owners too. That'd be ideal. So I guess my idea my direction here correct me if I'm wrong if you put it out skip other possible quotes um that will do the two areas the gateway as well as the lodge area the biggest areas um for uh the entire retail along or public circulation And as for your question regarding the Branson 76 the number I would have it with because chances are don't worry it' be good on cost per letter. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Right. I mean they have this they have deliverable designs and so contractors >> I'm going to be honest with you. My opinion is I'm not experienced or expert on what that chain says to me. I would take that and put it out to H2R or a survey from other people and not just my opinion of what it should say across. Can you do a survey to maybe the business own? >> We could definitely do that. But the thing about it is is could you kind of survey what we put together is three to five or would you rather somebody come up with three to five and then >> that's kind of I mean Branson 76 entertainment district sounds cool >> sounds cool to us. Yeah, exactly. Welcome to Branson. So, it's cool. Welcome people back to our city. I mean, Branson, right? >> What do you think? >> I don't I don't But I agree. I mean, I won't miss this out. So, I think we need to give some ideas. >> Yeah, I think Yeah. And I don't know the best way to go about that. So, I understand the design aspect and and that process, but see if they can do it based on the number of letters. We'll try to get an answer to them very soon. The full letters that are there is good. >> Yeah, that >> shouldn't be any longer. >> You can spell out 76. >> Do we need to say Missouri? And uh yeah, >> thank you. Does anybody have anything like that? >> Is the plan just timeline wise? if there are a rough idea or is there need to be these other discussions first to figure out if we're going to get graphics and when those are going to get pushed out. You know what I'm saying? Like we know tenatively between September and October shovels going into the ground. Are we far enough along to have an idea when we're going to go out with our unifying message or is that still being decided? send and I think they're gonna work on and actually kind of put a plan in place and sooner later you said this week you guys are done. >> Um at 3:00 actually there wrapped up hurry up quick when you guys are done maybe just an email out thinking so we can decide if we have a special meeting or if we just say or I don't go into text process enough and she's going to be on top of it. The biggest thing I think would be these renderings because she's going to want to use those for the messages. >> I saw like I got in into the renderings and what I knew was accurate that wasn't changing. I gave her two to get a great Yeah. Not high density. >> Good enough. >> Okay. So we will tell Brio thank you thank you and I will ask uh great river engineering for some suggestions if anybody's on this board and knows company or people that like to do this kind of work plans are online and accurate except for the landscape part we could work with them to to get there so see if I can anybody >> the guy that did this is a friend of mine is not whatever is seven he did all my work is the guy that's doing all the Disney and Adam Kingdom right now are he doing but uh he has all this in a 3D in AutoCAD he's the one that generated all this now some of this he did not do that because you can tell cuz at the end when his design river did all that this is his drawing so he did he has the 3D model of that thing design >> no this is this but actually it's my partner in in design. He got started work for me right now. He's he's really busy. I just talked to him about 30 minutes before our meeting. But uh again, I talked to Michael about it. >> Yep. >> And and see, but he is he's probably the best designer in the world. You don't start over. You have to. >> Yeah. He has he he has this in his computer. >> I mean, that may be the reason why They can't do it because David has >> and I'll show you some of the work he's done. You don't know where >> he did the whole master plan for epic the new that be slow. So >> um >> anything further on this >> right anything else could call >> let me ask you a question about moving forward but where are we at on the mountain at 76 >> oh so 76 from our last meeting we um had given them the marching orders to uh straighten out the the flags that were there and also of rendering for a selfie spot that's there. Um we sent a couple out which included Ann in that. Um that is in third hands. Uh we also talked about some of the deterrence that we could do for uh making sure that people just enjoyed the area and didn't overstay. And so came up with triangular rocks that would be uncomfortable to stay at for too long but long enough you could hang out for a minute and take some pictures. um and they are in the process of turning that back to us. Um our real goal is to get this out because um the JSPs that are on this, you're going to see very similar JSPs back into this because there's there's going to be, you know, the majority of of that project is is city money that's in there for the signalized intersection and and for the paving. You guys are um going to cover the sidewalks, some of the stuff that's in there that we had talked about very long ago as we were moving things around. And so we expect that we'll we will be putting that out bid probably by August 1st and then we'll set up the timeline that all these come together all at once. It is going to be if we pull this off poss if we can engineer the American flag to include a P flag underneath. >> That's in the works now. And so, um, we we did a line hold item for for the wavy flag that was there, the >> and we did a line hold. And so, basically, you're going to end up with artists that very similar to what we're doing here. um both of those $100,000 piece we were we're asking what they think selfie stop would cost and we'll be a line hold there and then that being the wild right we'll come back to you all when contractor bids and wins and there so you can massage it all the way into the finish line >> hey Cheryl before we adjourn Allison sent the revised budget document um Before Chuck and Mike leave, can you have them sign all the resolutions, uh, print off the revised budget document, attach it, and then scan and email it out? >> Do we not need to amend that resolution? >> Not the resolution itself. The budget document was just the attachment to it. >> Thank you. Yes. Motion to move. Second. All those in favor state by saying. >> Yeah.

Our Father in heaven, we thank thee for this beautiful week that we've enjoyed for the moisture that we've received that has helped to get this area out of the severe uh drought uh problems that we've had. And for the just the beautiful nature that we have here. Father, we are grateful to thee for the ability to come together as leaders of this community uh with input from our residents and our businesses uh to do the business of the city. We are so grateful to thee for those that are on the dais for their willingness to serve and for their ability to uh help to make things better as we progress through the decisions that will be made today. Father, at this time we ask thee for thy blessing of thy spirit that they might have the power of discernment uh that they may be uh blessed with the ability to uh garner the facts that they need and enable in order to enable them to make wise choices uh that affect the city, um our residents and our businesses as well as our tourists. We ask thee to continue to bless this community as we go forth to celebrate the 250th anniversary of this great country. Uh that we continue to strive to serve as an example to the rest of the country in how we treat each other and uh the ability that we have to make everybody feel welcome. And we say these things in the name of thy son, Jesus Christ. Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you, Chief. Madam Clerk, could we have a roll call, please? >> Harkness? >> Here. >> Lucas? >> Cooper? >> Here. >> Milton? >> Denham? Scholes? >> Here. >> Williams? >> Present. >> Your honor, you have a quorum. >> Thank you. Um Before we start public comment, I need to make a public um apology. The apology is to Doug Smith. At our last meeting, um Doug Smith was wanting to comment a second time on an agenda item. And I was insistent that our rules say only you can't you can't comment more than once on an agenda item. And I felt really bad cuz it it was clear that Doug had something that was really important he wanted to share. So it was my mistake for not allowing him to share. And so that is my public apology to Doug. In saying that, I'd also like for our alderman who maybe realize that that was a mistake on my part. Um when those things happen in the future, I just appreciate being corrected. Um during the in the meeting so we can address that at at the time. So with that, um this is the public comment section of the Board of Alderman meeting. At this time, the board will hear the citizens who have signed up in the order they are listed. Please note the clerk will let speakers know when they have 30 seconds left and a notification will sound when their time is up. We ask that speakers wrap up their comments upon hearing the 30-second warning. If a speaker would like a board member to bring an item down from consent agenda for an additional discussion, please note this request during comments. Please come to the free-standing microphone on podium to address the board. Madam Clerk, how many speakers do we have? >> We have six speakers. Okay. Our first one is Brian Seitz speaking on special presentation. >> Good evening. >> For the record, I am State Representative Brian Seitz and I do reside here in Branson. I have a resolution that I thought it would be fitting to give during a Board of Aldermen meeting. And uh Marshall Howden, if you come forward, please, with the board's permission. >> You bet. >> I've known this before I read this. I've known this gentleman for probably over a decade. And I've watched him grow into the man that he is today. And I thought he did an outstanding job as alderman for the I think you were in for 4 years. Yeah, for 4 years. And prior to that, except for myself and a couple other fixtures, he was sitting right back there watching what was going on, learning the ropes, and was very diligent in serving Branson even before he was elected. So, I thought it was only fitting that I present to him today from the Missouri House of Representatives a resolution. And I won't read it all, but I'll read it in part. Whereas, it is with special pleasure that the members of the Missouri House of Representatives pause to recognize an outstanding Missouri citizen whose efforts and accomplishments have made him a source of inspiration to all those around him. And whereas, Marshall Howden, a long-time resident of Branson, Missouri, is to be commended for his dedicated service to the live entertainment capital of the state as Ward 1 alderman, a position that he relinquished on April 7th, 2026 to pursue a new business venture. And whereas, an alum of the Branson High School, Marshall Howden, has supported and supported sustained growth throughout the destination city while serving as a member of the Board of Aldermen. And here's where it gets a little funny. Since 2002, we always thought Marshall looked young, but I'm telling you, uh this is a typo. You would have only been 9 years old, which explains why you're 24 right now. So So anyway, I think it was 2022 probably. Yeah. Um So whereas a music aficionado has also served as the city's ambassador to shows um Marshall is also the grandson of country music Hall of Famer Mel Tillis and for many years has valiantly endeavored to preserve Branson's live music show industry by founding the Song of Hope Historical Society, a living memoir that chronicles the area's rich musical history through exhibits that continue to grow to this day. I think again, I think it's wholly appropriate for his service to the city, for his service to Branson entertainment, for his service to the community in general that Marshall Howden receive this Missouri House of Representatives resolution signed by myself and the speaker of the house John Patterson. Thank you, Marshall. >> Wow. >> [applause] [applause] >> Marshall, say a few words. Thank you. You know, I've given a lot of awards, so much so that they made memes about it. >> [laughter] >> So it's awful nice to receive one. Appreciate you guys. I'm humbled and honored. >> Thank you, Marshall. >> Madam Clerk, our next speaker is Joe Alkyre speaking on comments from citizens. >> Good evening. Uh my name is Joe Alkyre. Um I was just coming to you know, make a statement that it's my understanding that uh the there's an intention of maybe moving the citizen comment section to later in the meetings. Uh just keep in mind, you know, that a lot of us don't have all the time in the world to come to these meetings and have our voices heard and to sit through a 3-hour meeting only to be late in the meeting to give our our voice or our opinion really isn't conducive to the general public. So, I know that you guys have work to do and that can take some time, but if we could keep the citizen comments at the beginning of the meetings like right now. This is very handy. Uh you know, we can come in and say what we need to say and then you guys can continue on with your uh with your business of the day. So, I sit on a lot of boards myself and I know that often that can be used as a strategy. Uh but just, you know, having it early in the meeting uh is more conducive to the general population. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> [applause] >> Madam Clerk? >> Our next speaker is Imelda Beaty speaking on timing of public comment. >> Hello. >> Imelda Beaty from Taney County, Branson. >> Uh if you don't mind, I've written my thoughts and it sort of follows what he is saying. I'm here to encourage that the public comment remain as it is as is at the beginning of the meeting. I feel that to move it to the end of the meeting would create a hardship on the people you represent. The steps that you are taking to limit comment to only those who are from Stone or Taney counties or who own and operate businesses here are right steps. They're the right steps to take and with and with that move will automatically rein in the number of comments which was a concern. To go beyond that and to move public comment to the end of the evening's meeting is a bridge too far. You may feel your rationale makes sense, but I do not think that it will bode well with the public that you represent. Many of us are not savvy enough about the process of knowing when to give public comment as opposed to waiting for a consent agenda item to come down for public comment. So, so we may by mistake get things out of order. On a different note, in talking with someone recently that had moved here from out of state, he informed me that the town he came from his the plans this plan was carried out the public comment had been moved to the end of the meeting. They resorted to video recording the public comment due to the fact that practically everyone else had gone home. The comments were to be listened to at a later time. This says to me that the interest in the public comment became minimal. This almost certainly minimizes the elected officials from being scrutinized from any bad decisions or challenges from the community. I do hope that you keep the public comment at where it is. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Madam Clerk, next speaker is Carolyn DeJager speaking on public speaking at beginning of meetings. >> Carolyn DeJager, Stone County. Um, also speaking on public comment should be stated and stated at the beginning so we get our voices heard. We went through a lot of this through the COVID when we weren't being heard. So, I just would like that you consider it to be stated at the beginning of the meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> And the speaker is Rick DeJager speaking on public speaking before meeting. >> I'm Rick Deeger. I'm from Stone County. I'm also on planning and zoning. Uh, appreciate that. Um, I'm not a speaker. I actually put together a uh, two-page document that I was going to read, which was There was a lot of good, negative. >> [laughter] >> Uh, but it all boils down to what we're here for is public comment. I'm old. I don't want to sit here all night. Uh, I also a lot of times get up before the sun. So, an early meeting is beneficial if you want to hear the comments of a lot of us old people. Um, that's pretty much all I have to say. Other than I do vote my own vote. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Our final speaker is Mike Metz speaking on public comment and ice contract. >> Looks like a picked a popular subject this evening. And uh, while I was watching everybody else speak, it uh, brought something to mind for me. It uh, by having the public comment at the first of the meeting, the Board of Aldermen, alder ladies, will be able to get an idea of what people think rather than wait until the end after all the business has been done or whatever it is we're talking about is already been voted on. If you do it at the first, at least you can have some time to ponder on what's going on. Uh also speaking like that, the uh I think we've got a good setup already. You've got to sign in before you can uh make a public comment. And if at some point you want to put a limit on how many people can speak, then uh you know, you can do it on the tablet, you know. Or you can pass and say, you know, we have more comments that need to be heard and uh so we'll pass this down to the next meeting or whatever you need to do. I think uh uh on that last uh deal that instigated this, had so many people speaking, I think they did the right thing. They skipped it over. Says, "Let's wait till it comes up and then have comment on this." That way you're not sitting here listening to 100 people commenting on something that you know, is going to get in the way of everything else you got to get done. So, that's pretty much uh all I had to say about that. I did I put on there, I don't know if I can comment on more than one thing. Uh the uh I was listening to the radio the other day and they were uh talking about the uh oh, different steps that were being taken. I think it was Alligator Alcatraz is how they started off. And they went to uh going on to the different things they were doing and they They up uh the very thing that started this. They were talking about that ICE agents were employing the uh different things that they were going to do and give the local police to uh you know, look for illegal aliens and whatnot. Which we've been a while since we've done that. Got voted in. But uh I was wondering what's being done or are we still doing around, you know, catching speeders and you know, keeping everybody safe or are they out knocking on doors trying to find out how many illegals around? I mean, it's nothing you know, they don't need to be here, but we don't need to be doing somebody else's job for them. You know, whenever our police are supposed to keep us safe and So, that's pretty much it. Thank you. >> very much. >> So, next is the consent agenda. Are there any items that any member of the board or staff would like to have moved down from consent to ask additional questions or make comments? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, would you please read the items on the consent agenda? >> You are under the items on the consent agenda are as follows: approval of the Board of Aldermen minutes for the May 26, 2026 special meeting, May 26, 2026 regular meeting of June 3rd, 2026 special meeting, acknowledge receipt of Planning Commission minutes for the May 11th, 2026 special meeting, acknowledgement of disbursements for May 21st, 2026 through May 28th, 2026, final reading of Bill number 6673, an ordinance approving the second amended and restated cooperative agreement between the Historic Downtown Branson Community Improvement District and the City of Branson, Missouri, and authorizing the mayor to execute the agreement, final reading of Bill number 6683, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a developer agreement with fountains of Fall Creek LLC for fountains of Fall Creek development. Final reading of bill number 6684 an ordinance approving the cooperative agreement with Taney County for the county to provide funding toward the cost of the city's pursuit development project to expand expand and improve the sewer system servicing properties along Fall Creek Road west of Country Bluff subdivision and authorizing the mayor to execute the contract. Final reading of bill number 6685 an ordinance pertaining to extraterritorial legislative and campaign activity. Final reading of bill number 6686 an ordinance amending section 2-28 of the Branson Municipal Code pertaining to finance and human resources reporting and final reading of bill number 6687 an ordinance approving the intergovernmental agreement with Taney County Ambulance District for the memorandum of understanding for the use of utility vehicle. You're under that concludes the reading of the consent agenda. >> So do I have a motion approving all items on the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and second. Madam Clerk, would you provide a roll call vote, please? >> Hertnus? >> Yes. >> Lucas? >> Guber? >> Yes. >> Denham? >> Folsom? >> Yes. >> Williams? >> The result of the vote is 6-0. Motion carries. You're under this is the first reading of bill number 6681 an ordinance amending chapter 2 of the Branson Municipal Code pertaining to the criteria for addressing the mayor and Board of Aldermen. This item was postponed during the May 26th and June 9th uh regular meetings. It had a motion and second and is ready for additional discussion and a vote. Also, please note for the record additional red line proposed changes were distributed to the board after five business days due to being uh finalized by staff. >> So we have a motion and second on the floor. Is there any additional discussion? >> Yeah. Uh Mayor, I move to amend bill 6681 by incorporating all of the changes indicated in red as displayed. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second on the amendment. Are there any members of the board wishing to speak regarding the amendment? >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes. >> I had one question for clarification. I just want to make sure that like any members of a CID board or anything like that are not um not able to speak if they don't live in Stone County and maybe they're part of a board but they don't have a business inside of the community. I want to make sure we don't overlook that. >> I don't think that's included in this, is it? >> I mean, do we have many of those types of members on political subdivisions and and boards? >> Normally there are resident requirements for for those or like a CID board they would have to live with or own property within the CID district and those are all in the general area. >> Okay, so most of those are going to fall under our um our speakers. [laughter] Forgot what we call them. >> Eligible commoners. >> Thank you, Alex. Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, Ruth. >> Are we going to hear from the public before >> Oh, yes, we will. >> Thank you. >> Just trying to listen to the board. Are the >> So So in this the amendment to keep it at the end of the night is still in here, right? >> That's correct. >> Are these at their turn? >> I'm going to ask them. >> Okay, go ahead. >> You would let me interrupt and ask them. You just have to sit back and listen. Are there any members in the audience wishing to speak to this amendment? Come on up to the microphone, please. >> Mayor, Mr. Perhaps you could clarify that this is just the amendment. >> That's correct. >> Good evening. My name is Haven Howard. I have been a member of a resident of Taney County for 33 years. I love living in this area and raising my family here. I would like to remind the mayor and the city council members Oops, just a second here. Lost my space. Um that it's not the builders, the developers, the contractors, or the architects that elected you to office or whom you represent. The citizens of this city are who you represent. They're the ones that should have priority and input into what goes on in the city. I agree with you that only Taney and Stone County and those with businesses here should be able to speak at the city council meetings. But it's not right or fair that citizens have to wait till the end of the meeting, sometimes several hours, in order to share their thoughts, their wishes, and their concerns. Please reconsider the scheduling of your meetings to put the citizens first. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Again, Mr. Mayor, it should only be to the amendment. >> It's me again. I know you're getting sick of me. Julie Metz, Taney Como Acres. Um one thing nobody's brought up is that parents with young children have to pay a babysitter to come here. So, it could get become an awful expensive night if they have to wait till the end of the meeting to speak. That's all I wanted to bring up. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. That's how it works. >> What exactly are we discussing? This thing was amended on the fly last meeting. It would have been nice to have a staff report so we know what we're commenting on and and where we are. And I agree with all of them as well, but what is the amend- what amendment are we discussing? What has been added to the bill? How does it read now? I'm I'm You're a lot more intelligent than me if you know. >> Mr. Mayor, if I may. >> Excuse me, Alex. Um I understand what the legalities are. And the legalities are the board and the public should only be speaking addressing the amendment to this bill. >> Okay, what is the amendment that I'm addressing? >> However because of the confusion on this and because this mayor and this board puts the priority of listening to our visitors, I mean our residents that I'm being I want to be um uh more flexible and if some that show up to speak and they don't understand the difference between the amendment and the bill we're talking about, I'm allowing them some liberties to do that. >> But that's right. But could somebody just give us a review of of what we're doing? Uh this was all done by video on the fly and >> Okay. >> Help. Then I can speak intelligently to it. >> Okay, so Hillary, would you please uh answer this question? >> So the changes in red were the motions that um Alderman Williams submitted. Uh they pertain to removing the requirement to have an oath. Um it's on several of these pages. So anything that's in red is the proposed amendment. If you want to scroll up. So it's cleaning up the the verbage to um be in line with not requiring an oath is the main and Alderman Williams might be able to speak more to the specifics. >> Anything else, Hillary? >> I I believe those were the only amended changes. >> The major thing was we changed it last meeting, we changed the start of public comment to the end. That was a major change last meeting. Is that still up there? >> [clears throat] >> Is that the amendment we're talking about right now? >> It is not. >> So, >> No, that was voted on and approved. >> So, that amendment is now part of the bill. >> That was voted on and approved. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> So, technically, Gary, the speakers, the board, and the audience are supposed to be speaking on just these items in red. And like I said, when I have somebody from the public that comes up and wants to talk about the bill, I'm not going to correct them and ask them to sit down because this is amendments and come back at the right time. >> Okay. Well, in that case, uh >> [clears throat] >> I hope Alderman Williams will appreciate this. I know he likes stats and facts, so this is for you, sir. Between June 24 24th, 2025 and June 9th, 2026, this board held 21 meetings. During those 21 meetings, 64 people spoke during public comment. Divide 21 into 64, and the most you get as far as delaying anything is about 3 minutes. If the provisions that were in this ordinance were in place during that period of time, that would have been reduced to 38 speakers, which be about 2 minutes per speaker, because you have a prescribed time limit during public speaking, at the most it could have been 10 minutes a meeting. The proposed ordinance, unlike the existing ordinance, has a specific prohibition against a speaker discussing an item on the regular agenda during public comments. Had that provision been in place during the June 24th, 25 through June 9th, 2026, the number of speakers during that period would have been reduced from a total of 64 to 38, about two per meeting. At the most, 10 minutes per meeting delay prior to getting to regular agenda business. Again, I I would remind you that the speaker's time is strictly controlled in public comment. On the average, the most someone is waiting to conduct regular business agenda regular agenda business, they'd have to wait 10 minutes with this with this current rule if it's passed. On the other hand, a regular agenda item has no such time limit for each item. If public comment is moved to the end, those public comment speakers would have to wait anywhere from an hour to 4 hours to speak for a minimum of 5 minutes and would have to sign up to speak before the meeting even starts. Where's the need to move it from the beginning to the end because of inordinate delay? Uh to me, it seems like we're proposing a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Those are stats. And I can go I'll go If you'd like, I will go down meeting by meeting from June 9th until now. I'll give you the name of the speaker, I'll give you the topic, and I'll give you whether or not they would have been eliminated under under this. I mean, uh I know you can do what you want to do, and you're probably going to do it. But but please don't tell us you're trying to save time for the regular agenda cuz that's just poppycock. Where's the need to move it from beginning to the end because of inordinate delay? One of the examples I've heard is a is a long meeting like the one with ICE. Well, let's take a look at just how long public comments delayed getting to the discussion of regular agenda during that over 5-hour long meeting. The tape of the meeting shows the public comment ran from approximately 18 minutes and 20 seconds to 30 minutes and 20 seconds, about 12 minutes. That's 12 minutes out of an over 5-hour meeting. Give me a break. The tape of the meeting shows that the public comment I'm sorry. If this proposed ordinance had been in place, that time would have been reduced to zero minutes because the speakers that all the speakers that spoke were on topics that were going to be discussed at the regular meeting. You had about nine of them withdrew when they were given the opportunity. The six that spoke, the Cushmans, Bob Buells, uh they were talking about agenda items, but as Bob so so nicely told you, he was ready to go. Even though the ICE discussion went on for hours, it was not caused because of public comment period. The regular agenda discussion was extended because there was no limitation on who could speak. Under the proposed regulation, that period of time would have been cut drastically because of the limitations who can speak. But either way, it had not a darn thing to do with public comment. And these are stats. These are These aren't These come right out of your tape. Given the actual facts, how can any of you justify moving the public comment period from the beginning of the meeting to the end of the meeting? To me, it is based based on the actual evidence as opposed to political power, it seems like a proposed solution to a problem that doesn't exist. And I have here uh if you want to talk about any meeting, I'll be happy to any meeting you pick a meeting and we and we can go ahead and The facts speak for themselves. And all the Williams, you like facts and statistics, that's them. They're there. They're on the tape. Thank you. >> Thank you, Gary. [applause] >> Daniel Saiz, Branson. I am only going to speak on the amendment, and the reason I'm only going to speak on the amendment is because I want to make sure that the people behind us understand that when you vote on this amendment, if you vote in favor of it, you're not voting in in favor of the entire entirety of this bill. There's still the opportunity for amendments to potentially remove the part that puts public comment at the end. I don't want them to think that you're doing something that they don't want you to do based on the fact that we're going out of order here because the commenting should only be on the redline. The redline is an excellent amendment. It takes away an oath that I think shouldn't have been there. I think that that was an agreement last week. Alderman Cooper, who sponsored this particular item, even said, "Go ahead and remove the oath." Everybody was in agreement. So, I just want to make sure that the the people behind, whether they come up and speak now, they do understand that once this amendment passes, which can get adjudicated with rather quickly, you can pass this easy amendment, they'll still get the opportunity to speak on the underlying bill, and there is still opportunity to amend that underlying bill to potentially change that public commenting time. I just want to make that clear for the people who don't sit around political rooms like I do all the time and maybe don't understand process. Not because they don't know it and don't know anything. You don't know what you don't know when it comes to this political process and this this governmental process. So, when you pass this amendment, it's a great amendment. It's an amendment that should be done to do away with the oath, and then the rest can be dealt with later. So, I just wanted to make that very clear for the people who are here that they understand that even if they don't speak right now, they will get an opportunity to speak on the underlying bill after this amendment is either passed or failed. >> Thank you, Daniel. Any other speakers? Is that Pearl coming down? No. Well, I'm hoping to do that one day. It's easier than it looks. >> [laughter] >> Pearl Henning Branson, um I'm a resident and an employee of Branson vicinity. Um as far as the amendment goes, I think that's an excellent change. Um not only because it it uh preserves your time, but also I think that uh such an uh such an oath would be easily abused and not a very weighty commitment. Um regarding the bill itself, uh I'm not exactly sure where that falls on the agenda. >> Ruth, after we approve after we vote for this amendment, then we're going to go back to the original bill. >> Okay. So after this amendment is passed or or yes, then the bill itself comes up >> That's correct. >> as a separate agenda item. >> Passed or failed? >> Yes. Very good. Thank you. >> You bet. Any other speakers? Hearing none, um how about from the board? Any additional comments? Before we vote, I do want to reiterate what Dan Daniel shared. When we vote on this, this vote is just to address these items in red. Once this vote is um completed, then we're going to go back to the entire bill as written for discussion. So, that being said, um we ready to vote? Um let's do a roll call vote, please. Argnes? >> Yes. >> Lucas? >> Cooper? >> Yes. >> Denham? >> Jules? >> Yes. >> Williams? >> Result of the vote is 6-0, motion carries. >> Um So, we need to go on to this ordinance as amended. So, are there any members of the board wishing to speak regarding this bill as amended? And for everybody in the audience, that means the entire bill um that's been amended. No, this is the board. Alex Smith. >> Um all right, I will begin uh since I had made this amendment and just kind of give an overview of where I was at um listening to everybody speak and just give you my current disposition. So, going into this, um I greatly value public input. This board should be responding to the tempo of this community. And doing the research and preparing for this role, you I've heard it put both ways. In preparing for this specific amendment, that the goal was to support the idea that the state of business of the city that for a given evening is driven by things like the Sunshine Law noticing requirements, so that when you go to public comment, it's it's been an unwritten rule that's sometimes enforced and sometimes not, that you keep your comments to the agenda item. After listening where people are at and and being true to that belief that you a lot of you know me, um I am sympathetic to that and I'm I'm leaning into what you're saying. And my goal here is to say I understand the idea that the Taney and Stone County piece is going to help address the primary issue. Uh and I am open-minded and I'm still considering it. So, uh you're loud and clear. Um I understand where you're coming from. I just hope you understand that I care about our community first. That is why I went after the oath requirement. That is why um I've done many of the things I've done in public service in my life. So, I hear you and I'm weighing in and I'm considering changing my current disposition. >> So, in saying that, this started out as Clay Cooper's original bill. Clay Cooper wanted to limit the speakers allowed to include Taney County residents, Stone County residents, and businesses within the city limits of Branson. That's how this started out. Then, at the last meeting, Alex made a motion to include removing the public speaking from the beginning of the meeting to the end of the meeting. And in that meeting, that amendment was passed on this ordinance. So, right now this ordinance says Clay Cooper's proposal of the Stone, Taney, Branson business um comment commenters only and then Alex added in the moving it from the first of the meeting to the end of the meeting. So, right now the bill includes both. What I just heard Alex say was he was the one that amended it to include moving the speakers from the front of the meeting to the end of the meeting and so he's taken that under consideration. Is that fair, Alex? >> That's correct, Mayor. >> Okay. Any other board members have comments? >> I'd like to make an amendment to move it keep it where it is. Can I do that? >> Keep what where it is? >> Keep public comment where I originally had it in my original bill at the beginning of the meeting. >> So, Hillary, that would involve making an amendment to remove the amendment that was approved at the last meeting. >> I would feel more comfortable with a different phrasing. Um >> Right. I'm I'm open [laughter] I'm open >> Point Point of order. Mr. Mayor, um so since this item was continued from the the previous meeting um you can't >> [snorts] >> make an amendment to undo an amendment. Right? >> I got to take a shortcut to say whatever that language was that was approved put up that same language and then put it up for vote again. >> You can't. I mean the amend the the point of Robert's Rules says that [laughter] >> Go ahead. >> I mean what's funny? >> It was funny because what I was saying was not to go through a legal step and take the amendment from the last meeting that was passed and put that up and say, "Okay, we're going to undo it." I was merely saying take the language that we amended and approved at the last meeting. Take that same language, amend amend this current bill to remove that. >> Yeah, that's that's what isn't under under our ordinances. So, the the proper procedure would be that you would have to have a motion to reconsider the amendment and that motion would have to be made by a party that was in the prevailing party for the original amendment. >> And then Mr. Mayor, if I may, I in in spirit of Alderman Cooper, other colleagues, [clears throat] and the community, I'm making said motion to reconsider the amendment that was previously considered in the last Board of Alderman meeting. >> Did the board understand that? >> Does it need a second? >> Second. >> Board understands that? All righty. >> I just wanted to say that with respect to the amendment that is up there now prior to being reconsidered that if that amendment passed I was going to request that we reconsider it at the next meeting. I think that's what Glenn was talking about. >> Okay. >> Make sure that we have an opportunity that if the motion I mean the the amendment to move it to the end of the meeting passes, I'm going to request that we get the opportunity to reconsider it at the next meeting. >> Okay, so right now we have a motion and a second. Right? And you understand what that motion and second is? Okay. >> Mr. Mayor >> Hold on, yeah. >> Go ahead, Ruth. >> Mr. Mayor, >> [clears throat] >> excuse me. Alex, Alderman Williams, this is your motion to reconsider, which would be removing it from what was amended. Just wanted to clarify and put it back to the beginning of the meeting. >> Uh it's my intent after listening to the public and upholding the role and and the things that I've said saying I'm going to place the people first, that I hear them. And so, in doing that, yes, it's to reconsider the placement of public comment. >> I want to thank you very much. I really appreciate because I value this community, I value the input, and I would never in my wildest dreams think of imposing on any We work for you. And I I hope that you see that in this board. We work for you, you don't work for us, and we are very proud to serve you. Thank you so much for being here tonight, too, and I look forward to hearing some more comments. >> Right. So, to explain what's happening is the vote we're going to take now is to remove the amendment language that included having the public comment speaking section moved from the front of the meeting to the end of the meeting. >> Point of order. >> Yes. >> It's actually a vote to consider whether we're going to take a revote on the original amendment. So, we're not actually voting to remove the amendment, we're voting to decide if we're going to revote that amendment. >> Okay. So, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed, same sign. I's have it. So then, Alex, are you offering to remove that language? >> Uh so, for clarity, I'm still very much in in mind uh of the mind that Alderman Cooper's original intent has to remain. So, the parts of the bill discussing bringing uh focus to who is an eligible commenter must remain in place. Um I still believe that it's completely unnecessary to make our citizens swear an oath. That was that was a natural position I had in the previous meeting. The only thing that I'm reconsidering after listening to the public and going through this process, I've spoken to each of you individually, I've spoken to several people in the audience. Um I've gone through as many possible forums as I possibly could to make sure all the way up to the point that uh we are now that I'm very serious about listening to public input, and I'm open if it doesn't meet the threshold, I just ask that we reconsider or be open-minded that if it if the new provisions don't get us where we need to go that we're not uh unopposed to looking at it again in the future, but that is my intent. Sorry for the words, but I just want everybody to clearly understand where I'm coming from with this. >> Okay, so are you wanting to hear the public comments again? >> It would only be appropriate. I know they're pretty loud and clear what their disposition is, um but I wouldn't He If there's something that somebody feels like is still um unresolved, I think it would be appropriate given the topic. >> Okay, so for those in the audience, if you haven't spoke against for this moving the um public comment to the end of the meeting. If you haven't spoke, we'd like you to come up and share your thoughts. And if you have spoken and you had additional thoughts, you can come up and speak. That's what the alderman's asking for. >> I have not changed my identity in the last 15 minutes. >> [laughter] >> I would like to speak not necessarily and specifically in support of placing public comment at the end or the beginning, but to speak in support of this Board of Aldermen because what I've seen over several years of being involved in local politics is that our aldermen do prioritize the opinions and the needs of our citizens, our residents, our businesses, and I appreciate that. I have uh personally heard from several people who uh were very alarmed at the idea of moving public comment to the end of the meeting. Um it's difficult to take a position on where that should be, but I would speak in encouragement to you all and in reassurance to the public that we cannot have this discussion without also recognizing section 2-70 B, which states that the presiding officer may consider items out of sequence from the printed agenda upon a motion and affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of the board present. That particular language is not a change that is being proposed as being changed. That is something that has been in this ordinance and none of you are saying we should take that out. So, I don't think that moving public comment or keeping it where it is actually impacts your value of the public. And I appreciate that you guys are leaving that section alone. That you actually do still say whether public comment is at the beginning or the end we as the board have given permission to the presiding officer to move public comment around, to move any of the items in the agenda around as needed based on the needs of your community. So, with that said we don't live in a society that is well versed on parliamentary procedure. I myself have no background with parliamentary procedure except that when I understood that it was important for me to come before the city council I made sure that I learned how to do it appropriately. And it has been my dismay over the last several years to observe that few people take the time to do that same research. That's unfortunate for them because it limits their ability to communicate with you all regardless of where public comment is. And it's unfortunate for you all because a lot of times people come before you with great deal of unwarranted disrespect. And I regret that for your sakes. So, I thank you for your value of the Branson public, the residents and employees of the community, Stone and Taney County. And I believe that you guys are listening to the people. So, I appreciate that. I think that's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you, Pearl. >> Hi, my name is Deborah Bran and I currently live in the second ward. Um I have been in the Missouri area here since 2013 and so I spent 8 years in Stone County and the rest of the time has been in Taney County. And I know most of you either from say candidate forums or having worked with you personally back in the caucus in 2024 and I still don't understand Robert's Rules. Okay? I I want to say that, you know, I commend all of you. First of all, I want to go back to the meeting where you guys were challenged with ICE and the contract with law enforcement here. Um those of you that weren't here, what I want you to know that the aldermen that were in the midst of that meeting put up with an amazingly disrespectful crowd of personal comments. And it went on for an hour or more. And you very politely called into order those that were disrespectful. And you also took the time afterwards to give them a very polite and respectful um response before you all voted. So, I wanted to commend all of you that were there. I also want to say thank you to Alex for reconsidering uh the amendment that had been put in. And I still don't understand the whole process here, okay? But what I do want to let you know is that this morning I met with a group of individuals, 30 or sometimes 40 individuals, and we we meet once a week. Multitude of ages, but most of us were uh 55 and older. I'm going to be 70 this year. So, I'm certainly not a junior in any of this. But I mentioned this amendment, the fact that you were looking at moving public comment to the end, and also the fact that um I had shared with some of them what I'd witnessed with the um ICE contract council meeting. And they were really perplexed with why was there a multitude of individuals from say Christian County, Springfield area that were speaking? And I said, "Well, Branson has a history of listening to all." So, I will say that I'm very glad that you're considering keeping it more local. Um I really defer to what's going to work best for, you know, Branson, hopefully Stone County, Taney County, and the city of Branson. And I really hope you all I really hope you all consider keeping the public comment to the beginning. I I think that if someone is going to take the time to come and meet you face-to-face, it's important to them. Very important to take their time out. And I I'm a retired nurse. There is not a patient that I took care of that I didn't meet face-to-face and worked with them and met their individual needs. And I know that's your whole goal, to meet the needs of Branson. So, I just want to say thank you very much. >> Well, thank you. >> Daniel Sites, resident of Branson. Um I'm going to address my comments to the mayor, but my comments will actually be for council. So, this is to you, Mr. Mayor. Uh just as a point of clarification on the procedure that was just used to reconsider the vote by which the bill passed. I don't know that you can make the reconsideration motion specifically on the amendment because you passed the amended bill. So, you have to make a reconsideration motion. Well, you you passed it on a first read, right? Okay. So, in that case, is the amendment that was just made out of order on the bill because you've made a reconsideration motion to go back to the previous meeting and you've amended that bill now. That's that's the question that I just wanted to make sure that we're getting right, that that amendment gets to stay on that you just passed cuz I think everybody was in favor of the amendment to do away with the oath. They don't want to see that go away. And so, that's That's just something that I want to make sure is is understood, that that gets to stay on because while people don't want to see public comment at the end, they do want to see that oath gone away with and they don't want to have some sort of procedural issue get in the way of that getting to stay on there. So, that's all I've got to say about that. >> Alderman Schulz, would you like to address that? >> Yeah, thank you. So, the bill was not passed on a first read. We did an amendment and then we were contemplating a second amendment that was much more complicated. So, we moved to postpone the entire item to this meeting. >> So, the motion you were on is the amendment. >> So, >> after the amendment itself, you didn't vote on the bill. >> Yeah, so we we have not taken a vote on the overall bill. There was up to the up till today there was only the amendment on the moving these public speaking to the end. And so, it's appropriate now to reconsider >> case, you can reconsider >> motion to reconsider that one motion. >> Sure. Um in speaking in favor of the reconsideration motion that Alderman Williams made, I think it's very shrewd of him to do that. I think that it takes a lot of uh I would say courage sometimes to go and make a motion and change something and then go back and say, "Hey, I'm actually going to take another look at this instead of just kind of standing ground and saying, 'No, I said what I said and I'm going to, you know, stick with it.'" So, I appreciate Alderman Williams being willing to do that. I think that it shows good working together with the board and the mayor having this conversation again and making sure that it's done right. That way it doesn't have to be revisited again in a year or 2 years because something was done that's upset the apple cart. So, I appreciate everybody's work on this. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Cheri Webster. I'm a living Branson's Ward 3. Don't you like stats? Especially Gary Grohman stats. Pertinent stats. I'm not so sure that this is a public comment issue as it is a an eligible speaker issue. I really appreciate removing the oath. I also appreciate your reconsideration, Alderman Williams, on the public comments uh considering moving the public comments, keeping them at the beginning. But, you have said a couple of things over the last meeting or two about why you wanted to move them. And one of them one of your comments was related to the agenda items have people that are attorneys and engineers who are billing their hours while they're sitting here. And it made me think, well, do the public commenters, aren't we also addressing city business? And because we do I need to hire a $500-an-hour lawyer? If he came and spoke, would he be allowed to speak at the beginning of the meeting because I paid paid an attorney to speak my public comments? I mean, you shouldn't be ranking You shouldn't be ranking residents as to how valuable their comments are as to whether or not they're being billed. And so, I I just want to want you to understand that that that was not an appreciated comment. If you really want to reduce the the meeting length time, there are ways to do that by screening the eligible voters. When the crazies came down for the Homeland Security issues, I was waiting for the police officer over there to escort someone out. But, that didn't happen. But, you might want to consider doing all of this scree- screening before 6:00. It's going to be labor-intensive to put a staff person out there, but your IT department should be able to change the tablet questionnaire to put the agenda on there instead of just asking the person their name and what what their comment title is. Ask them what agenda item they're going to speak on. If they can't come up with one, then the system says, then you doesn't allow them to tell them that they can't speak during public comments. Right now, well, for years there's a sign out there that says that you don't sign up for public comments if you're going to speak on agenda item, but new people don't see it. It's not even noticeable. And even if you've been here a couple of times, if you've never been a commenter, you you still might not notice it or recognize it. But the tablet like I say, you can post the agenda on the wall, you can post the agenda on the actual question sign-up kiosk, and then let the system tell the person you're not an eligible voter, and you don't and you're not uh speaking during public comments because you'll have to wait till an agenda item. So, I I do appreciate your reconsideration of this. Um my first reaction was tyrants and despots do away with free speech in third world countries. But, we can look at the UK right now. Those people don't have a First Amendment right, and they're being arrested because they're talking about they're speaking out on criminals who are not getting arrested. So, to me, if you moved it to the end of the meeting, I'd feel like um I wasn't really exercising my First Amendment right. It'd be more like being moved to the back of the bus. So, thank you for reconsidering that, and thank you very much for removing the oath. That's all I have to say. >> Thank you. >> I just want to say thank you. With the if the public comment stays in the beginning with the changes that you have, in my opinion, you have solved the public comment problem. You're controlling who is speaking. You're controlling what they can speak on and what they what they can't speak on. And although and you've also taken care of that I situation extending the meeting because by by having them being a qualified commenter, a lot of them wouldn't have been been up here taking taking up your time. So again, I want to thank you and Alex specifically I want to thank you for the for the process. Thank you so much. >> Anybody else want to speak? Hearing none, any alderman want to speak? Marty? >> Just a point of clarification. I want to make sure that we all understand what we're going to be voting on. And that is that we are still making a motion to limit people that can come and speak during the public comment section to people from Taney and Stone County or a business owner. We are going to retain the public comment section to the beginning of the meeting, not the end. And the oath is done away with. And I think that pretty well says what we're trying to vote on now, right? >> Okay, any alderman uh want to address that? Glenn? >> Yeah, uh just one comment from one of the speakers, the discussion of a first amendment right. I get that, we're used to that as uh citizens of the US, but this actually isn't a first amendment issue just as a matter of procedure, it's not. Um and I also think because we're in a very unusual motion here that I don't think this board has dealt with in a fair amount of time. I [clears throat] we should probably clarify that the status is is we're back to the original motion is on the floor to move the public comments to the end of the meeting. So the vote that's about to happen is as if you're voting on that original amendment. And so if you want it at the end of the meeting, you should vote yes. If you want to leave it in the beginning of the meeting where it is right now technically, you have to vote no. So I just wanted to offer that point of clarification. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, Ashley. >> So Glenn, thank you for that clarification. I myself am learning Robert's Rules of Orders as well, so that is helpful. Um I want to thank you guys for coming and speaking. I've counted at least 14 of you who have spoke on this matter. And I think it's important that you understand that your voice does matter. And I want you to know that I am very grateful that you're willing to come and say something because it does help us figure out how to best serve you. And Ruth said it correctly that we are here to work for you. You have elected us and we represent you. And so for that, I just want to say that I'm very grateful that you guys all showed up to tell us what you think. I mean, that is what and how this is supposed to work. And I hear you as well, and I will be in favor of keeping it at the beginning for that reason. I do have a couple um questions, and so I'm not sure who to direct them to, so I'm going to say them and I'm going to direct them to the mayor because he is our chairperson and then you can help me figure out who answers. So, the first question is with this ordinance though, I do know that I do understand the parliamentary procedures are a little confusing for most of us as citizens. But, in general, are we trying to still make sure that agenda items are spoken on during the agenda item and public comment is is that written that way in the ordinance? Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. And then maybe answer, but I'll give it the second one. Um I know we've tossed around some different ideas on how to regulate signing in, what you're here for, what you want to talk about, what you agree with, what you don't agree with. And um one of those ideas was a comment card. And so, I'm going to just lean to the rest of everybody and Hillary or maybe there's a way to make it to where city staff figures out the best way that we move forward and making sure that it's very clear what we're all here for to help streamline and organize that process. >> So, Hillary? >> Yes, hi. Can I comment just on one item? Um I'm trying to find where it is, but I believe one of Alderman Williams' proposed amendments was to remove the language that we were adding to make um public comment just for public comment and agenda items agenda items. So, there was there was something that was written in there that was stricken because of the motion that's being reconsidered right now. And yes, so we're going to find it. Um Yeah, right right there right there. Go go go. Okay, stop. Alderman Williams, do you know where it was earlier? >> It >> was actually it was co-located with the public comment section. It's referring to it was a process when we moved it to the end of the meeting. There was another provision that required the speaker to abstain from talking about agenda items. That's the one you're talking about, right? >> Yes, and >> I'm pulling that up. >> That was part of your original motion. So, it's it's not showing in this current version that's up on the screen right now because it was >> And my intent would be in the reconsideration as we go through the votes that are coming that goes away as well or comes back into force when we move it back to the beginning. >> thank you for that clarification. So, so the the motion on to reconsider, that's part of the original motion that Alderman Williams made to amend the bill was to move public comment to the end and to remove that specific section that added the language in where public comment was just for public comment and not for agenda items. So, if you vote no, then that is still on the floor in the bill as amended. It puts it back to make it really complicated. >> I think the easiest way to understand that would be it puts it back to Alderman Cooper's original bill with one change, which is the amendment we voted on tonight, which is the striking of the oath. So, picture it as Alderman Cooper's bill in its original form and the only change we made is we've stripped the oath. >> So, Hillary >> Yes. >> there's a lot of confusion on this. >> So, I need you to clarify. >> Oh, boy. I I will do my best. So, the motion that you guys are about to take is on Alderman Williams' original motion, but his motion was not just to move public comment from the beginning to the end of the meeting. It was also the strike language that we were proposing to add. And I don't have that language with me because it's not in the the bill on the screen. Um I can find it if we have one moment which might help. >> Is that the one with the language that's only significant if it was at the end, right? Is Is that what you're talking about? >> No. If anybody wants to sing a song or talk amongst yourselves for just one second. >> do we have any singers on the board? >> Mr. Mayor Ruth >> Can I just >> [laughter] >> I just want to make a a comment here. Just to refresh the audience on what took place at the last meeting. How important it is. I want to thank Gary Gromman for writing an article to make people aware that this was actually taking place. And yes, I made quite a few phone calls because people were not aware that this was taking place. The vote at the last meeting to push public hearing to the end was a 4-2 vote with Clay Cooper and myself voting no. So, that's how we ended up here. I don't know if it can be done or not, but it has got so convoluted at this point. Is there a possibility maybe this will have to go to our our attorney, but is there a possibility of somehow striking this bill and coming out with the clean bill of what we've discussed tonight as a new ordinance, maybe um deleting this ordinance and starting out fresh because we all know what the intent is now. And again, I want to thank the community for coming out because your voice really does matter. I did reach out and I would never have voted yes to take your voice away. >> So, Hillary, how do you feel about that? >> I believe that is up to the board to decide >> What does the board feel? What what Ruth just said? >> Um I'm comfortable if we simply understand that we are about to vote on the same motion to amend that we voted on the last time. Um and it puts back all the original language as if we didn't amend the original bill. And all we're doing is striking the things about the oath. I think that should be satisfactory for me. >> And if I may clarify, so what was also stricken, we had language that we were adding that said public comment shall not be allowed on any topic related to an agenda item published under the regular agenda until such time as the item shall be called on the agenda. When the item is called on the agenda, an eligible commenter wishing to comment on such item may address the board. So, that's part of this motion as well, and that would go back into the proposed bill. >> But >> Yes. >> The So, that would all go back in. So, it's just back to that point where the five people that's If this bill passes, the five people that spoke today at public comments would have been told you have to hold those comments until that item on the agenda. Because we had five people that spoke about the public speaking issue. So, they would under this ordinance, if we vote down this amendment, and then the balance of the ordinance passes, that will be in place. >> That's right. I still feel that this needs more clarity before we vote on it. >> I'm comfortable with what >> Are you? >> I mean with what Glenn I mean it's >> Are you are you >> Okay. >> Mr. >> Yep. Ruth. >> Don't know when this would be appropriate timing but move to table this item so that we can have discussion and then that way the public will know when we have the proper the proper ordinance on the table to vote on and they have the opportunity to come back and speak. >> Glenn >> It would be a motion to postpone but the um don't forget we've got a second reading coming up too where we'll have a clean copy of this and if anybody has any concerns about it, you can look at it, pull it down from the consent agenda and do further modifications. >> If we tabled it indefinitely it could couldn't it? >> No, just post you know >> If we tabled it indefinitely >> postpone. >> to get rid to get rid of the ordinance as it's whole and start from fresh. >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, Ashley. >> I feel comfortable with the way it is. If we vote no, that is going to keep public comment at the beginning of the meeting and that is going to also limit it to Stone and Taney counties and that is also going to be striking the oath. So my understanding if that is correct, I'm very comfortable with voting that tonight. >> Hillary, is that your understanding? >> Yes. >> Okay. So the board you're comfortable with this? Alex? >> Mr. Mayor, if I may, it would be I think appropriate given the topic if it's in order to have if there's anybody in the community that feels that they're confused cuz that's who really we should be most worried about if they're out there and they're confused and worried about what we're going to do. That's what I I think given the topic again and being very sensitive and aware of what's going on out there is there anybody I can't ask you but I would ask that we make sure that if they are not concerned, I am not concerned cuz it's been stated a few times by two or three different colleagues that they understand what the intent is. >> Okay, that's a very fair question. So, is there anybody in the audience unclear of what we're about to vote on? Yes, come up, please. >> Very unclear about what you're going to vote on this evening. My name is Judy Isaacson. I've been here for 35 years. I compliment you for calling your people and letting them know what is going on. Because actually, I didn't know what was actually taking place tonight. >> Yes. >> But what do we do when we have a situation and we want to get it taken care of? If there's something in our ward that's going on that shouldn't be going on, I can't go to this alderman because I'm not getting any action. Not at all. I have come to Mr. Stites when he was up here. That was 6 months ago. It hadn't been taken care of. I came in 2 weeks ago and he passed me off to Christina, which is up in the office up there. She said, "I will help you." I said, "No, you can't help me." Because there's a block there where they stopped you so you can't do what you got to do. There is a business in our area that needs to be out of our area and nobody is taking heed to it. >> Okay, excuse me. >> I'm speaking out of turn, but this is the only way we can get it out there because it's in our ward >> Okay, that >> and our alderman, he doesn't really take any heed. He hasn't called or nothing. I've called him. >> Okay, let >> Don't get no action. >> Let me interrupt if I can. What you're talking about, if you're for Alderman is not responding, then you come here during public comment and share what your concern is to the entire board. And that's at the very beginning of the meeting. But right now, what we're talking about is on this particular bill. >> But I wish that the comments would be at the beginning instead of the end. >> That's right. That's what we're discussing right now. >> But I do need to have some help in finding out what I can do. >> Okay, Kathy. >> Thank you. Is it Mrs. Isaacson, did you say? Yes, ma'am. I'm going to have Alex Girard, who's the number two here at the city, just connect with you out in the hallway so we can find out what the issues are that you're concerned about. And let's see if we can get to the bottom of it for you. >> working on this for 6 months. >> Yeah, I have no idea what the issues are, but he's going to dive right to the deep end with you. We'll get it figured out, okay? >> That's fine. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> [laughter] >> Anybody else have any questions or comments? >> Once again, State Representative Brian Seitz, you guys have done a great job this evening. I think you're going to satisfy everyone by keeping the public comment at the beginning, allowing them to uh speak speak on agenda items when they come up, and limiting to Branson, Taney County residents, and so forth. Branson, Branson West, and uh business owners. So, I think you've done a great job. I think it's a great compromise, and that's what government and representative republic is all about. So, you've done a great job this evening. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Any other comments from the public? Hearing none, um comments, questions from the board. So, we're clear. Um Hillary, let's take a roll call vote. >> Argness? >> No. >> Lucas? Cooper? >> No. >> Denham? >> Phelps? >> No. >> Williams? >> The result of the vote is six no's, motion fails. And now we're to back to the bill as amended. Or the original motion, which is just approving the bill. Yeah, it's the bill as amended. Because it includes removing the oath. As well. So, we need to take one more vote on the bill as amended. >> Okay. And but this what we're voting on does not change what the bill is that we've approved, which means the motion the uh public comments at the beginning no oath is required and um it's for Taney Stone and Branson businesses only. That's what we're about to vote on. Okay? Glenn? >> And I would just add that that was a good summary. I would just add the other thing for clarity is that public speaking cannot address topics that are on the agenda. >> That's right. Okay. Are we clear on that? So, let's vote. Um all in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed, same sign. I's have it. Thank you. Thank you for coming out and sharing your opinions. >> [applause] >> Your honor, the next item is a presentation on partnership opportunity between the city CVB and TCED. >> So, we'll get a report from Heather Harman. >> So, we can start with a presentation. There was this little thing that happened on June 14th on Flag Day where we set a Guinness World Record. So, we wanted to officially present you all with the actual certificate that came from Guinness World Records, the official adjudicator who was here. So, this is for you all to hang at City Hall. >> Would you show the show the audience? >> [applause] >> You want to hold that there? We What don't we get a group photo? Is that Everybody in a photo, please. >> Heather, you can hold on to the plaque. >> Oh, yeah. >> Pam, did you want to come up to the >> I am. >> Come on, Pam. >> It's a pretty big deal. >> It is. That's fun. What? >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Heather. You can just Yeah. >> It's super fun. Yes. >> All right. Now, on to a completely different topic. We're going to talk about the film industry and Branson and what that means for us. So, we have a little bit of information that has come out about filming in Missouri and what that means. And just recently, Hollywood Finds Missouri is a piece that came out in the Como Business Times. And you can see the quote there that they talk about, you know, some of the great things, the natural diversity, the rolling plains. And then they ended it with, "It's a cinematographer's dream." talking about Missouri and what filming is like in our state. And because of that, we see a lot of opportunity, and you've obviously heard about some of the projects that we've had. And we would like to join in with the rest of the states and see what we can do to be more competitive to get more projects here. And we know that the competition is is big. If you're familiar at all with the film industry in the United States and how each different state is set up in terms of funding, there's a lot of competition. Texas has just passed more than 300 million annually for the film industry, and Georgia is officially no limit on the amount of funding that they have for the film industry. And then, just as a smaller note, Illinois has 40 million, but they're willing to adjust it year after year. In Missouri, it's 16 million. And that is equally divided, 8 million for films and 8 million for TV scripted series, reality shows. And right now, this year, the state of Missouri ran out of money for the film incentive in May. So, it's a hot commodity, but there's not enough of it. But we see a lot of opportunity for our area, and that's what we're going to share. And you may be wondering why filming? If we look at some of the really robust studies that have been done specifically with Expedia and TripAdvisor, we can see that people are picking their locations for vacation based on what they're seeing, whether it be on the big screen or the small screen. And they're looking. They're looking for places to go based on what they see. And some examples that we threw in there, even though The Walking Dead may not be your show of choice. It's not mine. Scares me. But, if we look at that town in Georgia that it was filmed in, it started with only five storefronts when that series was first filmed. And now, there's over 150 storefronts. That's what that's done to that community. And just as another example, Crazy Rich Asians, when that movie debuted in 2018, their organic search tripled in the United States for the destinations where that movie was filmed. And since organic search is something that I look at every day, I can tell you that that's a priceless thing to have is triple your search based on something that someone saw on a screen. We can't pay for that. We can, it's really, really expensive. It also means growth for the state of Missouri. It means jobs. It means economic impact. It means direct spending, and it impacts infrastructure. So, when we consider different locations where filming takes place, if they come into an area, just as an example, the movie that we had Ozark Mountain Christmas that will debut here in Branson in November, when they came in January and they filmed, they had a lot of filming that took place at the Pie Safe. And working with the owner of the Pie Safe, she opened up her doors, she brought out all of her Christmas decorations in January, and the set team came and decorated, and then they also shopped locally, went and bought more decorations, and infused those into her store to make it look even more Christmasy. They also those that film crew was here for over 3 weeks. They needed things to do. They needed stuff to keep them busy on the weekends when they weren't filming. They went to all sorts of locations across our destination. They ate out at our restaurants. They shopped. All of the set clothes, they buy that at our local Tanger Outlets. Because they're cheaper clothes and they can use them for sets. So, there's an economic boom for sure. But then it's also a piece of the the component that we don't think about is infrastructure. When a set comes into town and they need to design something or build something, they go to our local hardware store. They buy the equipment. They hire local contractors. They build what they need. But it also provides us with an opportunity for more. So, if they hear of more projects coming and they see and they experience how film friendly we are, easy to work with, easy to negotiate with and get their project here, it encourages other businesses to potentially invest in our area, expand what they're doing in quarter. Then we think about the tourism piece. And just this year, we'll have three movies that have been filmed in Branson by the time we get to Christmas. That provides us with an opportunity. You know that we have our Ozark Mountain Christmas pass that is done all virtually on an app. We have the opportunity to add a film app as well. We can have our own movie trail. Our own film trail will where people come into Branson and they check in at the pie safe and they take their selfie and they're able to say this is where an Ozark Mountain Christmas was filmed. They go down to the historic Owen's Theater and they say, this is where those stars stood on that stage and they take their picture and they check in. They're automatically entered to win prizes. They're automatically their social content is filtered into the hashtags that we search and it comes across our feed, across our website with the tools and the technology that we've added. Those are things that we're already doing with the Frozen Treat Trail, with the American Pie Way, with Ozark Mountain Christmas Pass. It's a given that we create our own film trail. And the great thing about it, with this technology that we use, it's called Bandwango, it's super affordable. It's easy, and we can start making this film trail available by January of next year. So, we'll be ready when the film launches and we have that debut on November 6th, come January, people are going to be able to find all the locations where these films have started. And what we are in front of you asking for today is outlined on the slide above, and we've already made this presentation to the Branson Lakes Tourism Community Enhancement District, the TCED, and they have already agreed to the investment on their side. What that means is we're looking at an exclusive partnership with Great American Media. They're the ones who brought in Ozark Mountain Christmas, the movie, in January. And that $750,000 partnership will be an annual agreement, 750 each year for the next 3 years, guaranteeing at least two movies from that film organization each year. So, six movies total. It also includes $500,000 in advertising that is already included in the advertising budget annually that we do with them across all of their platforms. It also includes digital billboards, digital placement on their website, as well as connected TV and traditional TV advertising. And what we're looking to do is also add $750,000 to establish Branson as a film-friendly destination, which means that we would have the flexibility and the freedom to be able to not only market, promote the destination in the film industry, but recruit the films and the projects that we want here. To go and look for those producers who have the right projects that fit our destination. Whether that be a reality fishing show for Discovery Channel or a scripted series that has certain story elements that fit our audience and what we represent and being able to pick, handpick the projects that we feel would be the best representation of our destination as a whole. We have another movie that's coming in September that will be a an outdoor focus. It'll be focused more on the lake. It'll be a marina love story and the boy might get to kiss the girl at the end. And we know that we have four seasons a year. We don't need to just tell a Christmas story. We can tell about our beautiful fall seasons that we have and our fall fest downtown and showcase what it looks like as a Hallmark movie set. We've got a spring season that is spectacular that we all know and love. We have a summer season that is just screaming for story about a family vacation. So, we have a lot to tell and we feel like this is a wise investment when we start to look at how we've shifted away from the Kansas City Chiefs partnership and look at how this is something tangible that helps us drive visitation that we can measure through pixel placement on all the advertising that we place on these networks, but then also be able to gauge what is happening when things air and when they show and then what that means for traffic coming in. So, we're asking for consideration and for you all to think over the next time period of what a $1 million annual investment beginning in January would look like to help Branson become the newest film friendly destination in the state of Missouri. >> So, Heather, for clarification, those three bullet points total to Excuse me, $2 million a year. >> Mhm. >> So, your request is a million from the city >> Correct. >> and a million from TCD. >> And they have committed to that. >> Oh, okay. I was going to ask you. So, you've proposed this to TCD and they voted to approve this million dollars. >> Absolutely. In fact, they've started with some of that initial investment this year so that we can bring the film here in September to film for that Lakeside Love Story. >> Um what additional information did you provide TCD for them to make this commitment? >> Well, historically, we feel like we've we've shown proof of concept. The fact that the pitch was made to Great American Media. I looked back at when I was hired, Brad Thomas from Silver Dollar City, when I interviewed, he mentioned at least three times that we needed a movie in this destination. And then I did a tour with him of Silver Dollar City during my interview and he talked about how if only we got a movie. We just need a movie. And then I went back and watched all of the TCD meetings over a two-year period and that should be a Guinness World Record. >> [laughter] >> So, >> for pain tolerance? >> All of the above. Um but there was there was mention multiple multiple times if we just had a movie and if we just partnered with Great American Media. So last year in August, I reached out to their VP of media just like a cold outreach on LinkedIn and I was like, "Hey, your name's Heather, my name's Heather, too. Um we should know each other and I would really like to look at all the things we have in common, you know, a movie deal that just, you know, and literally 4 days later I had my first Teams call with Bill Abbott, the president of Great American Media and his leadership team and we struck up a partnership with some additional funds that TCED had last year to invest and we did a whole social media takeover promoting their Christmas movies and then Bill Abbott and his team came to College of the Ozarks for a lunch and Pam and I got to meet them in person. And after we left that lunch, I called Nick Gavel at Silver Dollar City and I was like, "Send me your pitch deck for when you pitched Hallmark." And he's like, "Yeah, go for it. Do whatever you need to do." So I sent it to Bill and I was like, "You may think I'm crazy, but we really want a movie here. So you tell me, read the pitch deck, tell me what you want and what's it going to take." And he wrote back on November 18th and said, "I don't want to wait another year. I want a movie here in January." And that's how fast we got the Ozark Mountain Christmas movie to come in January. And that was with no contract, that was with no written agreement, that was with no financial commitment at all. It was literally he saw what Branson represents and he saw the authenticity of the faith, family, flag commitment and he said, "We're a perfect match. Great American Media and Branson go hand in hand." So his team came, they did the movie and this the production team told us that this was the easiest project and team that they had ever worked with. This destination was so film-friendly. And then the word started to get out. People started to call us and like, "Oh, we have a project. We have a project." I mean, we were I was getting calls from people with motion pictures that were like, "We'll move it from One One guy wanted to move his movie from Kansas City to Branson because he was getting kicked out of his location because of the FIFA World Cup." But we couldn't find two basketball courts that would fit during the time frame that they needed to film this major motion picture. Believe me, I tried. And then we got the next movie, A Country Kind of Christmas, that had originally called itself Ozark Mountain Christmas. They actually filed their LLC. And those two movies got in a spat with each other. Like, "Well, we have it first." Well, no, we have it. So, their LLC is Ozark Mountain Christmas, but the movie's going to be called A Country Kind of Christmas. And that one, there's actually like they're deciding is going to be Hallmark, is going to be Lifetime, is going to be Great American Media? We want that kind of challenge. Well, TCD was like, "We don't have these funds to invest in in the Chiefs any longer. That ended, as we all know, in May. Like, find something else." So, they said, "Why not look at film?" So, I I took my marching orders. We left that meeting and I reached out to Bill Abbott and I said, "What would it take? Here's how much money we could invest. If we could do this, we want this many movies a year and we want to be able to dictate what the topic is, where you film, that you're filming in Branson, that you're hiring locals because locals love to be extras in the movies. And we get to help you name it as well. And by the way, we threw out a storyline for them, too." Well, they came back and said, "Yes, we want this." So, it really is about relationship building and showing that our alignment is there for who we are and what we represent and staying true to that and finding the right network who believes in it also. And I know there has there has been some question about, well, it's an exclusive agreement with this partnership with Great American Media. It's exclusive in that we won't be going to Hallmark and saying we want the exact same thing. That's where the exclusivity lies. We want this unique partnership because we want them to write their press release and say that they have this exclusive partnership with a destination that has not been done before in their history or in our history. So, we want that. It doesn't exclude us from being able to say, oh, there's a project that wants to come in and it could be sold to Hallmark or there's a project that's coming in and it could be sold to Netflix. We're not We're not hand-tied on that. This is this type of agreement we will commit to for a 3-year period. That's probably way more than you wanted. >> Um any questions from the board? Yes, Alex. >> Uh Ms. Harmon, would you say, cuz I've had the pleasure of working with you in other capacities, uh would you say that this opportunity gives us more measurable opportunities to say where the marketing tax dollars are going and what's coming back from them as opposed to not going after previous deals, but being responsible to public feedback, maybe not super excited about the amount of dollars that were going in the previous deal with a lack of measurable return. >> 100%. And the beauty of just the advertising component itself, the fact that we can drop pix- pixel placement on those ads and be able to show where they're served and who has been served those ads when they book a trip, when they come to Branson, how much they spend, how long they stay. The data is there. In the beginning of the Chiefs agreement, there wasn't anything remotely close to that. We started using pixel placement and data capture towards the end. But at that point it wasn't a sound investment compared to this. >> So this would be a responsible way to move forward with our tax dollars and our limited precious marketing funds towards something that's measurable that we can show the public where it's going. >> I agree. And with the potential that it has for creating an actual film office that's in our destination, as well as creating a workforce for it, there's training that goes with it, there's an educational component that comes with it, there's business resources, it's literally opening up another channel for economic development within our destination. >> Thank you for all you do. It's greatly appreciated. >> Thank you. >> Any other >> Yeah, Mr. Mayor. Um I am curious, kind of along the same lines, but maybe worded different, so your answer might be similar. But yeah, do we have results from the first movie to help quantify that this is a viable way to go? Is this coming from our infrastructure marketing dollars? And if that's the case, is there a world where we're supposed to open that to the public to get input on what they think? And I know tonight we're not voting on this, you're making a presentation, but we will have to ask ourselves these questions soon. >> So the movie hasn't come out yet. It'll be out November 6th and it'll be Branson will actually be the first eyes and ears on the movie, will be the first place to have it seen with that red carpet premiere. And then it will debut to the rest of the Great American media network and their worldwide audience the following day. And once that starts to happen, the advertising actually will take place before that. We start We're partnering with them to broadcast the the debut and to talk about this is when it's going to air. So, as soon as those ads start being placed, the pixel is placed and we start tracking and converting all of the ads from there and then the measurement begins to take place. And that'll be the same thing with the movie itself. Once it is Once it airs, you start to hear people talking about how they're planning a trip based on what they saw and it takes off from there. >> Any other alderman? >> Heather. You are the gift that just keeps giving. Thank you so much. Your marketing skills are absolutely brilliant and thank you for making this city shine so well. Um Pam Yancey, I the same to you. We are really blessed to have both of you making Branson look so good and of so much fun for every for all of our residents as well to be able to take place being extras and it's how fun. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Well, a good story line would be like a guy from Texas, 40 years country singer in Branson. Just throwing that out there. >> Believe me, you're on my short list. >> [laughter] >> I have a wish list of all the places and all the stories that we can tell. >> Just confirming I'm on the same short list. >> Yes and I mean, you're going to be >> On the dance >> Save the date, November 6th. He made his debut. It was on Mountain Christmas. >> Any other alderman? >> No. Kathy, you have some? >> Um Heather, thank you for this and when Pam and Heather first brought this idea to me, I knew that this was a very big endeavor and a very ambitious move for our destination. So, that's why I'm thankful she was able to come here tonight and share this with you all. Um there's a couple of things and I'm just going to air them because some people [clears throat] in the community are going to be thinking them. So, one of the things is since it's an equal partnership that you're proposing between TCED and the city, um how are you going to maneuver and navigate that we'll get 50% of the movie time that's in the city proper and 50% can be outside the city proper so we don't have these inter-family Hatfield and McCoy wars that might start again as a result of people, you know, counting beans, right? Like how many pictures was there of Table Rock versus downtown, etc. So, um and I'm not even expecting you to answer that cuz I wouldn't put you on the spot like that. But just to say, I think we all going into this, if you all decide that something you want to pursue, is something that we're going to have to watch closely as to make sure contractual language is appropriate, right? If is there accountability for the movie company if they don't produce those movies, what's the what's the mechanism there to hold them accountable to make sure that they fulfill their end of the bargain. But the bigger thing I worry about is kind of starting to go backwards potentially if we don't watch some of those markers when it comes to who gets enough screen time, is it inside the city or the the places outside. >> Well, and I think the way that we look at this, there's a couple of options. The Great American Media Agreement could be viewed as the TCED's because it's going through them. The agreement is is going through Explore Branson Tourism and it goes through their board for approval. The $1 million from the city investment and and then the the advertising component it could be viewed as this is these are the funds that are being used to attract new projects outside of that. So, it could be a very clear line of demarcation if we needed to do it that way. Or it could be that you want the advertising component split with the city piece. And so there are ways to work on that, but I will say the Great American Media agreement is something that has been put in front of the TCED board for their portion. And the 750 they've committed for that that piece. So I I think that if that brings any sort of comfort, that could be how that's looked at. And I do think that we have gotten to a point where on that board we're not looking and counting the time any longer. You know, when I first started, it was literally with like a stopwatch of you showed this for so long on the commercials. I don't feel like we're at that point anymore. We even got kayaks added back into the commercials. It's a huge win. So it's you know, we've we've made a lot of progress and I think that that is because we've been transparent and shown what we're doing. Yeah. >> That that that's a valid I mean, that's a valid point and that's a valid response. You know what I mean? Because things were the leadership was different >> Yeah. >> when all that was going on. And I think that cleared a lot of that up. But >> Yeah. >> Um anyone in the audience want to speak to this? Daniel meaning ward three. >> Uh I just want to say this is an excellent opportunity to uh be nationally advertising the city of Branson. But we're tying up essentially $3 million over the course of three years and $3 million of TCED money for three years for six guaranteed films. Are we going to have the ability to analyze that every year to see the if the return on investment is still there year-over-year or are we going off of the contractual obligation of six guaranteed films over 3 years and where the dot where the pieces fall is where they fall. >> No, this is a partnership. It's a partnership between Great American Media and the TCED. And the commitment is $750,000 for the actual films that helps with production on their side for two movies per year for 3 years and it's reviewed annually. This isn't the contract right here. Obviously, it's multiple pages and then the advertising component is actually already part of our budget, the $500,000 and that captures far more than just for the specific two movies. That gets us through promoting Christmas in July and then our entire Ozark Mountain Christmas season in the year. So, it's not just about marketing movies on their channels is promoting us as a destination. So, there's a lot more to it than just two movies and then the amount of funds that would be allocated for recruiting and getting new projects is obviously going to be fluid. If we don't spend a million dollars in a year, then the city's not rolling it over to us and saying you keep that for another year. Those will be funds that the city determines what they're used for. Much like if we don't spend all of our budget for marketing that we do for the city right now, we don't keep it. It stays with the city. It's and they do what they need to do with it. So, it's not it's not as clear-cut as here's all the money that we're taking and we're spending every single last penny or dime. It's reviewed monthly, daily actually. >> Right. Thank you. I just wanted to kind of clarify that cuz I know there was a comment from Alderman Williams about the I saw comments floating around from the public about the Chiefs' agreement and there wasn't a clear return on investment kind of vocalized as far as how much foot traffic we got. I know there was a lot of uh grief about that and I appreciate the the comment about having the trackers and having the ability to see the clicks and and the in- the increased foot traffic that these will generate as far as revenue. >> Absolutely. Thank you for the question. >> Thank you. >> Once again, State Representative Brian Seitz, when I left the capital in January, I promised this is exactly what I was not going to do was I was wanting to sit back and just watch. Um this is something that's in my wheelhouse and I had to Google it to remind myself that in 2023, I'm the one who passed the Show-Me Act in the House of Representatives. It was my initial legislation that I presented to the Tourism Committee and then now Senator Gregory teamed up with me as well as Travis Smith, who was a representative from uh the Forsyth area a couple years ago. We teamed up to pass this legislation. I even had to fight with my own party because the movie film tax credit had been inactive for 10 years. Until I got there and stood on the House floor and then off to the side arguing with my fellow conservative Republicans that this is something that we need and yes, in the back of my mind and they always hear me mention on the floor, Branson, Missouri because this is who I represent. I warned them before they passed it in 2020 when I first got elected about a show called Kansas City Kings starring Sylvester Stallone. I said if we don't get a tax some sort of incentive to bring the film industry to Missouri, they're going to go to Georgia, Texas, or Oklahoma. And guess what Kansas City Kings became? It became Tulsa Kings, one of the number one rated shows on on cable. I warned them about that and then the next year I used that information to help them pass this legislation. There is a sunset that was built in that I did not call for that was built in by the Senate. This whole thing because we're having budget cuts at the state right now, we we cut 4 billion, we're going to have to cut another 4 to 5 billion next year. This sort of legislation is on the chopping block. So as you determine your list of legislative priorities, if we're going to increase it from the 16, I think it's 16 million that's current, and we're going to try to increase it, they gave that to Representative Wallingford. And I started hearing this legislation, I thought, what? I've heard this before. Oh, yeah, it was coming out of my lips and it failed. It failed miserably. So if you want a heavy hitter to increase the amount of money that's going to be used by the state to film projects here, and I can narrowly tailor it and bring stuff down to Branson, make this one of the legislative priorities that we remove the sunset or extend the sunset, and I can attempt, I've only got 2 years left to do this, and it took 4 years to get it in play the first time, I can attempt to get that money increased so that we can do something like this and that would be beneficial to Branson. So I'm asking you that once I'm presented those priorities, you know, I pre-filed bills on December 1st. I can do this. I can build the coalition to try to get this done in a very adversarial year as far as budgetary spending and tax credits and so forth. A lot of them are going to go away. This is one that needs to stay because it makes the state money. Every dollar that's spent on films, TV shows, entertainment, and so forth has a massive return for the state, and I am on the state Board of Tourism. I won one of two elected officials, so I have the ear. Currently, I'm still the chairman of the Tourism Committee. I think they're going to bump me up next year, but I'll still be involved in tourism. So, make this a legislative priority, and if you decide to go this direction, I can help with that and make it successful as I've done in the past. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Representative Sites. Anyone in the audience? Marshall? >> Can I just bring it to everybody's attention that she got two major corporations to fight over Ozark Mountain Christmas? That's quite remarkable. Um good job, Heather. So, some of my favorite projects have been PBS's documentaries, like the one they did on the history of Branson, the one they did just did on Shad Heller. So, maybe as we consider TV projects as well, we're considering documentary films, you know. Um I think maybe the reality shows and some of the Hallmark type movies might sell. Um but I could think of a a documentary on the architectural history of our theaters, of our 75 incredible music venues that have existed in this town for years and years, um or a documentary on the Branson boom, things like that. So, just my suggestion uh that we look towards documentary films as well when we're thinking of this holistically. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else in the audience? Um any other members of the board? Um, yep. So, we're not voting on this. We're here to say, "Thank you, Heather, very much for bringing this to our for our consideration." >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes. >> We've been at it 2 hours. Could we have a 10-minute recess, please? >> Yep. Going to have a 10-minute [clears throat] recess, and we'll I don't have a clock. >> Mhm. >> Start taking our seats, please. >> We're ready. >> Yeah, I'm ready. >> I'll let you know. >> You can let me >> Okay. >> You're welcome. >> You're safe. >> Okay. >> I call this meeting back to order. Madam Clerk. >> Your honor, the next item is a presentation from the fire department providing a brief overview of 2025 accomplishments and current initiatives for 2026. >> We'll begin with a report from acting Chief Houston. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the board. I appreciate the opportunity just to be in front of you this evening. Uh doing what I love doing anyway is bragging on our fire department. >> A lot to brag on. >> I'm going to scroll for you, Chief. I apologize. We got some technical We'll We'll make it. Just uh say next slide and we'll get to the next slide. >> All right. Next slide, please. As you know, we operate in uh five divisions within the fire department. I'm going to touch briefly on each one of those uh just to give you an idea of what's been going on in 2025 and kind of where we're heading in 2026. Um I will say this is a terrible way to start a presentation, but 2025 we started off kind of rough. Um in February 24th of 2025, uh we began the year with a tragedy with several members where several of our fire members were injured um when they were caught in an explosion during a routine call. Um and I I will say that it was a it was kind of a crucible moment for us as uh a firefighters when you when you take that oath of office, you expect you to have your metal challenged from time to time. Um but as a chief officer for me, it uh it rocked me back on my heels, I I will say for for a little while. Um but one for one reason it rocked me back on my heels is because I thought I'd just lost a bunch of firefighters in one fell swoop and and that that really scared me. Um, but the other side of that coin was what I saw that day. Those firefighters when they picked themselves back up and dusted themselves off and went right back into the fight, I could not have been more proud to watch that happen. They they showed tremendous grit and uh continued the mission and until the problem was solved. And I'm very proud of them for that. What that did though as as we dealt with those injuries that that took place was uh we we had to turn our focus to uh some resiliency and and growing our mental health programs. Um, it they were they were shook up. And uh so it it took us some time to work through peer counseling and and doing some uh debriefing sessions with them. Uh some even to the point of of uh professional clinicians. And uh so we've really leaned into that and have built a robust system um that that I think is a a fantastic program now for the the mental health of our firefighters. So, uh that was a positive that came out of the the ashes of that that fire. Um we had already put on station four and and did the staffing for that. And so as we looked at 2025 and building the budget and where we were going for that year, uh we knew that we wanted to pump the brakes just a little bit and uh focus more on maintenance and and taking care of what we had. So, we did a lot of projects. Uh just uh listed a couple of there for you. Uh station two water infiltration was a big issue that we had. Uh we had a lot of water infiltration coming into the station. That uh created a a rather large remodel project. Um, and and we are we are proud to be in that fire station today because it is uh it has turned out beautifully. Um, we we did a concrete replacement out of fire station three. All the concrete uh driveway that goes around takes a lot of concrete to go around the fire station. That was just about a gravel drive. Um, and so we had to replace all of that and uh so those are just a couple of examples. We've done some roofs and those types of things, but we really really wanted to focus on maintaining, you know, what we what we currently had and and making sure that it was it was top notch. We've continued our hiring practices. As we We started the process as we put on station four and had uh 12 firefighters was kind of hard to to come up with all at once. But so it took us several testing processes to do that. And then we've also had older guys that are aging out and retiring from the organization. So we've had continuous cycle of of hiring firefighters it seems like. Which brings me to a point that right now This was kind of alarming to me at first whenever I looked at it that 50% of our personnel have been here under five years. It took me back to when I first started. When I first started with the organization, we were a very small department. And and we had only 15, 20 firefighters and we were all young and and green. But we had a huge passion for protecting this community and we dove in to do everything that we could to learn and grow and and we were just like sponges. It's the same passion that I see in these firefighters today. They're coming in we they may have not been here for very many years, but the the passion that they have and the aggression that they have to train themselves and master their craft and be the best that they can possibly be for the citizens of this community just amazes me. So we are in good hands. Next slide, please. So the operations division, this is where the rubber meets the road is the guys on the trucks. Quite literally the rubber meets the road. Um We we had 5,300 calls in 2025. If you notice the the overall calls over from 2023 to 2025 started to decline. We had changed some response policies and procedures and was really looking at at efficiency. Um but even with those policies and procedures in place now, we are still climbing rapidly again. We are We We hit 5,300 calls in 2025. Um 159 of those is listed as fires. I will tell you that that is 16 of those were were structure fires. The rest were other types of fires whether whether it's vehicle fires or vegetation fires, those types of things. Um The one thing that I want to draw your attention to is the the dollar loss versus dollar saved. We had loss of $14,907,195. 13 million of that was that incident that I talked about at the very beginning of this presentation. So, when you take that one incident out of there, we're just under $2 million loss for the year. However, I really like to look at that number saved, which was over $19 million that we saved through the firefighters' efforts in in battling those blazes. Some of the interesting stats that we just threw in there was the busiest month is July. Busiest day for the fire department is Saturday and the busiest station is station three out on the West End. So, Alderman Cooper, I'm not sure what you're doing out there your theater, but you're turning up the heat apparently. >> It's a hot show. Yeah. >> Um the other thing that we're proud of is the average response time in 2025 was 4 minutes and 40 seconds to get from the fire station to the to the incident. The reason why we're proud of that is because that number had been climbing for the past few years. It had gotten up over 5 minutes and and close to 6 minutes at times. But when we added station four, that made a world of difference and it it it brought down that average time that was a an area that just had a long response time to get there. And so, we're very proud of the fact that that that helped level the playing field and brought that back down to a reasonable number. And I think that we can continue to drive that down in the future. Next slide. So the fire training and safety division, obviously with all those guys that are under 5 years are spending a lot of time in training. Continuing to focus on training for excellence with an emphasis on proficiency. We don't just train to get certificates and and uh go through a class. We go through to make sure that they can't get it wrong. And uh that's what they spend a lot of time doing. Developing new firefighters over the last year has been a huge push. Um the average training hours for our personnel were were just over 240 hours per person. But we had several of our personnel that hit well over 400 hours, close to 500 hours of training uh for the year. They've spent a lot of time uh doing exactly that. The total hours, if you can scroll down just a little bit, the total hours of for the training was uh 12,523 man hours that we put into training alone. Uh these these folks that are on the fire department are not just uh training to to be uh average. They're training to be excellent at what they do. They're masters of their craft and and uh they want to make sure that uh we we've always talked about if we're going to pass a test, um we we don't want to aim for the 70% it takes to pass. We want to aim for 100%. Otherwise, we want to know what the 30% is that you don't know, right? And uh that's their they take that very serious. Our fire prevention division, uh overall, uh that number is 4,723 touches when it comes to inspections, plan reviews, and and permitting. Um you can see that with business license inspections, that takes up an awful lot of their time. Uh they did uh 2,500 business license inspections. Um the lodging inspections, which was a great initiative. They've they've been banging that out with uh 248 inspections on our lodging. Uh the fire inspections there on the second line, those are new construction, so that ties in also with the fire plan reviews that they've done. And then you see that we've also done on several burn permits and pyrotechnic shows uh for the year as well. Uh they've they've been a a busy division. The The one thing that we are proud of besides all of those inspections, and yes, we have to do the code enforcement and those types of things, but we also want to make sure that we're educating our public. And so we've done 25 public education uh programs, assemblies, and classes. That's most of the time getting into the schools and and uh dealing with the the kids. We know that whatever message we share with the kids, it goes back home and uh touches all the family as well. So, uh we had 2,500 participants in all of those classes, and uh we're we're very proud of that. This was a year where we hired two new fire prevention officers as trainees. It's the first time we'd ever done that. Um we usually had them uh certified whenever they came to us. We We tried that route, and we were having a difficult time trying to get uh someone who was completely qualified to to fill those positions, so we we looked at uh those those uh requirements for the position and went out for some trainees. And I'm proud to say that the two guys that we hired have done a fantastic job. Not only have they been doing on-the-job training, um but they've also been going to class, so they they'll spend time in Jeff City or wherever the class is being held, um and and getting their certification to become state certified fire inspectors and uh fire investigators. And they have just wrapped uh those classes up uh just this week. So, uh they've done a fantastic job though in in that division. And I also want to just point out the division chief uh Patterson, who runs the the fire prevention division, uh was appointed the regional director of the Fire Marshals Association of Missouri, so >> Oh. >> um he's he's really banging it out in that division, and I appreciate everything that he's doing. His leadership there is what's driving his two um inspectors to to to do great stuff out there in the community, and we're hearing nothing but good feedback from the community, I might add. Next. >> Our emergency management division, we first started off relaunching our our CERT and COED volunteer organizations. Those are going strong. In fact, our CERT, I believe right now has 17 members in in on the roster. That is volunteers from the community that just want to be involved with the fire service, and and they are they've gone through the initial training that helps them to take care of themselves and their neighbors in the event of a disaster. Takes a little bit of pressure off of emergency services during that time, but they also go beyond that. They volunteer at at a lot of our public events. You'll see them in their green vests down at the parades, at some of the intersections helping out with law enforcement and fire as we help control those crowds. And and COED is another volunteer organization that is is they're active looking at ways that they need to be able to help the community in the event of a disaster. And and so that those are both going strong. We also participated in seven different disaster drills in 2025. That was everything from a disaster drill with FEMA to all the way down to our local we we did a disaster drill that we wrote and and then participated in with them for a a senior living facility here in town. So we're trying to to get to as many of those disaster drills as we possibly can. And then I the special event planning. This is one thing that I wanted to touch on only because it does take a lot of man hours behind the scenes. Besides the parades and the the the show of of safety and and concern that we we put into the actual parade, we have have committee that is formed that does the event planning. And that's led out of our emergency management division, but it includes police, fire, EMS, local stakeholders a lot of times. And they they put in a public works as well. They put in about 60 hours a year just doing the planning process behind the scenes to prepare for those events. And that doesn't include the actual day of the event. We've been working on communications redundancy. We've implemented things like Starlink and MeshTastic to make sure that in the event of a disaster, if we lose communications in any way, we've also been working with ham. If we lose those communications in any way, we have redundancy in our communication system so that we can continue to communicate through that event. And then we've continued working on our outdoor warning siren replacement program. We we've we've for historically had two different types of warning sirens out there and we're trying to narrow that down to one type of siren. And and the new technology that is in those gives us a farther throw and and better overlap in in our coverage. Of course, those are designed to notify people who are outdoors that hey, something's coming. It's time to move inside, right? And so the more area that we can cover with those, the better off we are. And the new ones that we're going to by the time we get through with this this project of replacement, we will be able to monitor and control those through a computer app rather than having to go out to each siren or go through our dispatch center to to set it off. We will will be able to monitor all of those things through technology. And so it's a it's a very exciting program that we're working on there. So, where do we go from here? Well, obviously the big question out there is the new chief selection. As Chief Martin retired earlier, we were working hard to refill that position with a new fire chief. Um and so that that's that's priority number one. Uh the other thing is we're we're looking right now at the doing a community risk assessment and and leads into some strategic planning. It's something that we haven't done. Uh when when I looked at it the other day, I I I think it was about 25 years ago the last time we did a community risk assessment uh to build our strategic planning off of. That's something that we would we would like to go through an independent contractor to to help us put that together and and lead that process. So that's going to be something that we're going to be coming forward with but I feel like if we're going to look at the future of the fire department, we're going to have to start here at this community risk assessment and and uh build out that strategic plan. Beyond that, we're going to continue to be a battle ready with through the training and and all of the the different programs that I just talked about. Um the guys are going to continue to do those things and and remain battle ready so that we can protect the the visitors in in this community. That's my presentation. I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have. >> Great. Thank you. Any other? >> Mr. Mayor. >> Hold on. Arty. >> Chief. >> Yes, sir. >> Being a small town boy from Kansas, the one thing you mentioned up there was about if you see if you hear a siren, go down under. >> Correct. Correct. >> That's not what a good small town boy in a dozen Kansas We see the siren go off or hear it. First thing we do is go out and see where the tornado's at. >> Yeah, and go to the front porch, right? >> Yeah. >> Ashley. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I mean, I just wanted to thank you and your team. I was at the Elevate annual barbecue in Fire Station 3. Captain came out with the truck. And the kids got to be part of that and crawl around. And I have a 6-year-old daughter. So, we um I hear quite frequently about the training. You guys have come to her school, obviously. And um one thing though that was new for me is I've never seen I'm going to call it your battle ax and then it attaches to that metal like my husband would use to take nails out of something. That sucker is heavy and it's big. And um so, I thought that was really cool that they were gracious enough to show us, you know, even some of the tools in there. And it's pretty fancy. And then I've actually been to a couple of the co-ed meetings myself. And you you do have a great group of people and nonprofits in that meeting. So, thank you for all the work you guys do. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Right. Hey, Chief. A couple of things. Uh So, I I want to comment on Division Chief Patterson because the comments I'm hearing out has just been there are static to he he's been a pleasure to work with and I've experienced he's been at our theater a couple of times with some stuff and it's just he's top notch. Uh we had a restaurant owner a couple of months ago that was under the gun trying to get a valve replaced at end of business day on a Friday. He calls me, he's freaking out. I go over there. And uh he shows up late on a Friday. Looks at everything. He's like, "You're cool, man. You're you're going to be fine." So, he he helped calm that thing down. I've just watched him several times. And he does a really good job. Uh another thing on the warning sirens, there's one right by my house and it's working really well. >> [laughter] >> And it's plenty loud. Um also, we had lightning hit our pole at the theater about a week and a half ago and it zapped the whole lighting pole and sent it into the building. Charred our wires inside the back thing, and you guys were there in under 4 or 5 minutes and checked everything out. It was right before our show was about to start, made sure everything was safe. We had a theater full of people, and y'all gave us the clear, and it was it was really cool. And uh last thing, I was on the Ferris wheel Saturday night, and town was packed this weekend. I mean, I've never I haven't seen it this crowded all year. I'm at the top of the Ferris wheel with my wife and and some friends, and here comes the truck coming east, and I'm like I'm like, how is how are they going to get through all this? And I mean, it was stopped, bumper-to-bumper. And when you get to that red light by the Titanic, you know, all three lanes are just stopped, and I I was just watching that whole thing, and I just loved It was a sight to see, first of all, all the just cars as far as you could see, and that truck I thought I was watching Emergency 51 again from the '80s. I was like, "Here they come, you know?" coming down the center lane there, and everybody just parted in that intersection and and right on down the strip, and it was it was cool to see. So, you guys are doing a great job. >> Thank you. There's there's a trick to that. We have bigger bumpers. >> Yes, you do. Yes. >> [laughter] >> Thanks, Glenn. >> Okay. Ruth? >> Chief Houston, we go we go back many years, and >> Yes, ma'am. >> you are You were great then, you're doing a fantastic job now. Thank you so much for representing. Thank you to all our Branson Fire Department. Branson Fire Department is second to none, so thank you for all that you do for our community. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, Chief, thank you for stepping in and doing such a great job of of leading our fire department. We love our fire department, and really appreciate you keeping them moving forward in the absence of a permanent chief. So, thank you for that. You brought up CERT. I I just wanted to also shout out, you know, I've been in the CERT group now for a while, and I think Josh is doing just a great job with that CERT group. The success that you're seeing is his great leadership, and there's several uh trainers and coordinators under him that are really keeping that group moving forward, and I I wouldn't be surprised if it grows double that size in another year or so. I think it's They're just doing a great job there. So, kudos to to Josh in that role. >> Thank you. >> Um you commented on all the the uh new um complete our chief fire officers, firefighters, and all the training. How are we doing on retention? Obviously, we're investing a lot in these folks. Are they sticking around? Are they here for the long term, do you think? What's your perspective? >> Yeah, believe it or not, they we're we're not seeing the new ones come and go. Um they're they're coming, and the comments that I'm hearing from them is that that they love this organization. In fact, I I usually tell them welcome home um because this is where they're coming to stay. It's uh it's actually the guys who are are have been here forever and a day, and and they're retiring out, and those are the ones that we're continuing to replace, and and uh we've had a few that have gone, you know, to other departments, but uh for the most part, it's it's the older guys, you know, timing out. So. >> That's great. Well, if there's anything we can do to help retain those great new firefighters, let us know because I think once you put that kind of investment in them, and they've gone through all that, uh it'd be great to make sure that they stick around. I I've got a question for you just in general about fire, and I've never heard any discussion on this before, but, you know, some of our city streets that are probably have been designed for some time, like along Branson Landing Boulevard, go for long stretches without a fire hydrant in sight. Right? And there's a lot of buildings on that stretch. Do we have a program where your department looks at things like that and recommends additional hydrants be installed or how is that handled? >> Yes, absolutely. We There There actually in in the commercial areas, they have to be within a certain distance from the building. So, they're they are typically there. Now, there may be some older parts of town that that you know, they're they're at a little more scarce. But, we also have to keep in mind that we have three different water systems here and we can regulate to some degree and and some we can't. So, but yes, we do have regulations to make sure that we have those hydrants within within the area. >> I just I'll just give you an example. I won't labor this, but >> Sure. >> if you look from the roundabout up to 65. >> Okay. >> Okay, on BLB and you look on the right side across from the hospital essentially. You look how few fire hydrants are along that run and how many businesses are there. I'm just kind of surprised we as a city aren't pointing to that and saying, "Hey, we better get a few more fire hydrants in this area." >> Yeah, I would have to actually take a look at that area. It's It's been a while since I've I've actually looked at that. But, you know, they were they were put in there by code. Of course, changes to code, you know, come around, but I'd have to look at that. >> Yeah, I'll bet you there's a good half mile quarter mile half mile between fire hydrants pretty easily. But, I I would just appreciate your perspective in general, you know, we can talk about it offline if you get a chance just to understand how we should address that. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Alex. >> Chief, thanks again for all you do. Um in previous briefings, I've heard it brought up as the the primary benchmark There's many benchmarks, but the primary benchmark it seemed like we were striving for as a community fire prevention related, was an ISO rating. Is that still the primary push, or what would you say, if you can, cuz I know you're in we're in flux right now. What what is that prevailing benchmark among There's many, but would you say there's one? >> So, yes. Um and and that's why I really want to dive into a community risk assessment and a strategic planning. Um because I think that we have to find other ways to define ourselves besides an ISO rating. The you can we can get a lower ISO rating, but it's going to cost a ton of money um because the only way that we're going to get that number to go down from this point. What we learned during this last round um is that we have to add additional personnel to each fire station that we currently have. That's the only way we're going to get the numbers to go down. Or, we have to be able to improve the the water system. Our city water system does a fantastic job, but we have some areas where uh like I said, we have three different water systems, and uh some of those are not as strong in certain areas. So, we're not going to be able to make much of an impact there. So, I think we have to look at other ways to to uh really identify those things, and I think it's going to come from that strategic planning and uh uh building a response model. Um and that's why we're we're trying to drive towards being becoming an accredited fire department. And that process looks at many many aspects besides the the training and policies and water systems and all of our everything that we do, basically. And it pushes us to strive for excellence, but that's that is going to be down the road. And we can't get to that process until we start with a community risk assessment. >> I appreciate that a ton. Uh just, you know, from a proactive risk reduction stance, like that's that's the best thing we can do is prevent it from happening. And so, my last thing I'll share with you is we had a great discussion at the Flag Day parade, where we have this brand new event. We're dragging everybody into the community. It's the 250th uh birthday of America. You know, it's the Midwest and there's all this stuff going on and it's your department that's tasked with, you know, emergency operations you know, of our city and it takes all the key players to execute the mission, but as a homeland security practitioner myself, you see the subtle and very visible signs of what's going on to prevent issues, but then I was amazed at all the other layers that are in play even for a first iteration event, how well it work is organized and orchestrated it was because we have plenty of other parades that we do that are much larger than that, but I was pretty impressed that the Flag Day parade came on pretty quickly and that you guys were already postured and well prepared to handle the issue. So, thanks again for just always being ready to respond and providing layers of protection. >> Absolutely, thank you. >> Do you any members of the audience wish to ask any questions of the chief? Make any comments? Hearing none, Chief Houston, thank you so much for your presentation. You're doing a great job. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Your honor, the next item is the annual Police Department update. >> Why would you ask Chief Smith to follow Chief Houston? >> Uh you needed somebody to back clean up. >> [laughter] >> So, let's let's see how this presentation goes. Chief Smith. >> Thank you, your honor, members of the board. We're going to start out with um I I do this every every year. I remind you that this is our underlying philosophy. Uh I I've got to just explain it recently to uh couple of the new alder men and women here. Um we first and foremost, we have to have legitimacy in the community. Uh that is what keeps us going. That that's what the support that we have from the community um just basically drives our ability to keep them safe. So, this is just a a reminder. This is just the six pillars of 21st century policing. The six pillars there. Hopefully throughout the presentation and when we're talking and in everything you see us do, those are very prevalent and I'll discuss a couple of them here in a little bit. But ultimately, our legitimacy is what allows us to do our job here in this community. So, for our calls for service, you can see we've been pretty steady. Dispatch calls have really only fluctuated by less than a thousand in that infographic there. Police calls were we we managed to just go up just a little 1% which was great for us because over the last previous few years we'd had them double digit increases. But we're still fairly busy. You saw the fire calls in there. Our dispatch does dispatch for fire as well. Um, just I broke down these numbers a little bit and I wanted you to just to put it in perspective for what these people are doing on a daily basis. In 2023, between 2023 and 2025, we had between 105 to 108 calls per day. Okay? That is 36 calls per shift when you break down our three 10-hour shifts. And those are individual call takers and and dispatchers who are taking those and getting getting the proper people dispatched to the right areas. For the PD, that averages between 66 and then for this year 2025, 70 calls per day which breaks down to 23.5 calls per shift or 5.9 calls per average officer per day per their shift. And when you think about that, our arrests, we had we ranged anywhere between 3.5 to three arrests per shift. You think about that that at when we take somebody over to Taney County, there's about an hour. Then we have the report, that's another 30 minutes to an hour minimum use with our more complicated ones, much longer. So, that gives you some perspective for what the officers are are doing on a on a daily basis. They're staying very busy. Uh and then we do pay attention. One of those pillars is our social media and our transparency with the community. We pay attention as much as it drives me crazy sometimes to to look at the comments in Branson Buzz, we do. And we continue to get comments about the traffic in this town. It is a very unique place to do traffic enforcement because every week we get a new clientele. We deal with Kansas one week, Iowa the next week, Oklahoma the following week and so the education part just kind of is out the window for us because we get a new clientele every week. But our traffic stops over the last 3 years have gone from an average of 4.9 per shift to 10.4 per shift. So, our officers are focusing on that pretty intently. I asked our crime analyst now we've we've had almost a year with our new CAD RMS system and we're able to produce some new graphics and and heat maps and so forth. So, what I asked her to do was to put a side by side give me a side by side of where our crimes are occurring and where our officers self-initiated activity is occurring, which means our proactive enforcement. That is important because somehow between everything we've applied with with our staffing, with our focus on proactive policing, and some of the technology we've added, we are still down since 2022, we've seen double-digit decrease in our property crimes year after year, which man, I've been in law enforcement for uh give or take 37 years for and I've never seen more than a 5% decrease. So, it's it still keeps decreasing that much and Um, I just keep praying that we're able to continue to do that. Um, we we just see that our officers are focusing on those same areas where those crimes are occurring and that proactive ability, we really do believe in broken windows policing and if we can get people on the small stuff, we prevent the big stuff from happening and so this map kind of backs that up for me. The only thing I was a little surprised, we have had a big spike this year in harassment cases. That's kind of verbal threats and so forth. Um, we're up 56% in that. So what my um ask of the community would be is let's just be nicer to everybody. We're getting mad for some really stupid reasons and we're threatening each other and and doing things that get us called. So this is Branson and it is the most amazing thing since I've been here. We have the Branson effect on people and we get people that come from inner cities that sometimes think they're going to come and bully their way through and after like two or three days they're thanking us, they're buying us lunch, they're they're they're taking on that Branson perspective. So I just remind everybody we're in Branson, let's treat everybody like we're in Branson. Uh example of our LPR, commonly known as Flock. This gives you an example of some of the successes we had last year. And this is very understated because our officers have to actually put in the success when they have something and a lot of times they're dealing with the arrest and stuff and so they forget to tag that that success. So I would say there's there's probably double that in our successes, but it gives you an idea just how many cases that we were able to clear by arrest or take people off of the street before they had the opportunity to commit crime. As you've heard me say with LPR in the past, man, we get somebody in stolen car with warrants from another city that comes down here to victimize us and we get a an alert within 3 to 5 seconds of them hitting the city and usually the officers have found them within half half and we're able to get them before they commit crime here. So, and get them out. So, wanted to touch on some of the highlights. Um we are getting ready to move into the new dispatch center. Um I just had a Motorola our warranty rep was just in and she was blown away by how nice the center is. I am so excited to be getting our people out of that dungeon downstairs. And this is going to be one of the few dispatch centers that they actually have uh windows and a view, an incredible view. And it's because it's it's still hardened and can withstand an F5 tornado. Um and so our our dispatchers are going to have actual natural light and uh top-of-the-line uh facilities. You can see uh some of their um workstations there. Each workstation has its own uh heating air conditioning, so they can be individually be comfortable. They can stand if they want, they can sit if they want, uh different ambient lighting, everything that they can control uh through their phone app. So, we're excited about that, and that should happen right after the 4th of July. And when they're up and it's all running, we'll invite you up to to come and take a look. Uh these are some of the highlights from last year. Of course, the big one was moving into the uh new police department. Um one of the things I want to highlight in that, if you remember those those pillars, uh was our training and uh our officer wellness. Uh you can see that incredible weight room that we have there, as well as the training room that we have there. Um we in fact this week we're hosting a nationally recognized uh tactical training with a SWAT. Uh it's called Guild Solutions, and we we have experts out here teaching not only our officers, but uh officers from the entire region, to include Benton County uh down in Arkansas. So, we're able to bring some of that expertise to not just us, but the region. Um and then the the weight room facility, we are so excited about that. Uh I was able to incorporate the mandatory workouts um on duty, and uh they are partaking of that. Uh one of the officers is already down 35 lb. Um and so we're seeing some My own son is down 18 lb. So we're seeing some um really good results on that. And then we worked with HR. Big shout out to them to work with our insurance company. We were able to arrange Remember that family mindset that we have? We were able to arrange for our spouses to be able to come in out and work out in the same facility without our insurance. They just have to sign a waiver. Didn't touch our insurance. So that of course not only helps the family atmosphere, but our goal is to prove that by doing this we're bringing down our health insurance costs for the city by by reducing our claims by having healthier family members as well. These are some of the highlights of the year and as as you know the trans bearing in the community transparency in the community. We were really excited to be able to do the breast cancer awareness with the pink patches and we've had we had several employees that have had breast cancer. So we were able to to work with them. Course the the shop with a hero as and the operation blue Santa. That's just really a cool photo of our SWAT team training at night and some neat optics there. And then Ashley I I just love that we have the best animal control officer in the world. I have never seen somebody that cares about animals like her and so we wanted to give a shout out to her and with some of the tools of her trade right there. I mean she you can see she deals with anything and everything. So for 2026 these are our goals for the year. As you know you've already supported us with the laptops that we should be able to have in stock next month and issue to all our employees. We are going to be acquiring some new canine vehicles. You'll see some different graphics with them that let them blend in. As you know we we already have one officer that's been deputized to really focus on drug interdiction along the highway corridors to to reduce the amount of drugs traveling through our city and impacting our community. The the motor patrol if you guys are out at the flag parade you got to see or not the flag parade but the light day parade, you got to see our motorcycle one of our motorcycles leading the parade. Of course the dispatch move and we really have a focus on improving our officer safety equipment, our armor. You're going to see a couple things come before you here throughout this year as far as that. We have a lot of lessons learned from the shooting with Christian County that it it's time to to make these moves. We're not waiting any longer. We're not going to take chances with our officers' lives anymore. So you're going to see those coming through. And the next item on the agenda is going to be the drone as a first responder. You'll get to see that. We want to get that rolled out. Updated recruitment videos. I want to brag on Maria real quick. Couple weeks ago she had that fun little post about the Citizens Academy. Within 2 days that hit 1.8 million views. We're just almost to 2 million views now. It just it they call that mega viral in the young person's world. And so we're excited that hopefully that exposure we're going to be able to roll out some community or some recruitment videos and and help to recruit. Um And then of course our social media presence which goes hand in hand with that. We we want to be transparent. I I hate when I read on those various sites that we're the myth that we hide crime because we don't want the tourists to know about it or anything. Again as a reminder, we have a crime map right on our website that you can link to and see what our crimes have been reported for the month, for the year, everything along those lines. Half the time those negative comments saying that we don't release it came as a response to a post that the police department put out. Like hey, look what you know, what what what happened. I am not going to hide crime from the community. The community is our partner in fighting that. I want them to know what's going on and what to look for. And we certainly want to be be every keep everybody safe. So we're not going to hide things just to to try to bring in tourists. And with that, that's the end of the that presentation. I'll happily take any questions. >> What a great presentation, Chief. What I didn't see up there was extra practice for softball. >> I'm glad you brought that up. Do you know that I found out I was at a certain chiropractic office and I found out for that that there was a semi-pro team that was recorded or recruited for the other team and over half of the players on that were were semi-pro. So, lesson learned for me, you can fool me once, but we we won't be fooled again. >> And you have hard evidence on that, Chief? >> Well, it's a former alderman that was there and witnessed that conversation. >> Okay, consider the source. >> [laughter] >> Um questions or comments? >> Mayor. >> Go ahead. >> Uh Chief, two things. The you said property crimes were down what, 56% or something like that? >> No, that that one increase in the harassment was up 56%. Everything varies. >> No, no, I'm sorry. I messed that up. You you said property crimes were way down. >> Double double digits. >> Double digit. What what do you contribute that to? >> Uh so, again, we started kind of measuring this in 2022 and we were able to really improve our staffing. Now, we've had some attrition this year, so we're down a couple three officers right now, but the not only the staffing and the proactive the focus on proactive policing, but working with our PA's office on the repeat offenders. We share our crime analyst shares our weekly crime bulletin put out by our analysts so that the our our PAs that are prosecuting can see this is the 30th second time we've dealt with this guy in the last 2 years. This is these and and we make calls. We're like, we need help on this. We need to have this person get some DOC time or get held. And then of course all the technology. We brought Flock in in 2022 and again, that's it's giving us a heads up for people that have already been proven to commit crime and it allows us to get them before they can commit it and then again, we can go in and search real quickly when we do have a crime and we're finding things within minutes of the crime occurring. I I told you last time I was here about the domestic where the guy fled, we put him in Flock and we had him found within 5 minutes. Just last week, we had a very serious assault in the county that we were first on scene down by the charcoal plant. Our officers got a description of the vehicle. We got them Flock within minutes, we had a plate and within 30 minutes they had found him at one of our extended stay hotels and we had him in custody, the suspect. So, that's the kind of stuff that we're able to do with that technology and officers that are aggressive and and proactive and not wanting to let crime happen here. And then one of the slides that the LPR hits, is that the Flock? Is that >> Yes. >> Okay. It is then what LPR? >> LPR stands for license plate reader. >> Okay. I thought that was the Flock, but okay. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Randy, you have something? Ashley? >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I wanted to tell you guys if you didn't know, I got to go to the drone presentation and that is phenomenal and I cannot wait to see you guys bring that forward into us in the process of that because it's like super super cool. And I got a tour of the facility. I believe it was Officer Caleb. And that was really awesome because I got to like maybe see some of the things the average citizen doesn't get to see and some of I'm going to call your secrets that maybe people don't know about, but the Branson PD, I mean, you guys are on point. You know what you're doing and I'm I'm even excited to maybe see your lab get built out. I mean, I'm just like CSI-ing it the whole time I'm going through there. So, thank you all of you guys what you do and for keeping us safe. >> You're welcome and one of my goals for that lab is within the next few years and you'll probably see this on a capital project if I can't get a grant for it is I want to see us bring rapid DNA to here because right now we're limited the state will not do any misdemeanor crimes. They only do certain felonies and it still takes a while. If we can build our own database where I came from we solved 46 catalytic converter thefts just by swabbing the exhaust pipes that they were holding on to with our rapid DNA. Yeah, so it was there's a lot we can do if we can bring that here and again it can be a regional resource and we can build our database with the other surrounding agencies. >> Alex. >> Thank you, Mayor. Chief, could you on the license plate reader discussion cuz I know you and I have talked about it. Has its merits. We're using it. It makes good sense. For the public's benefit, could you just answer the basic questions that seem to keep circulating up in some of the forums you've mentioned like how long is it stored? What are we actually using it for? The the controls that you have in place for officers so it's not like perceived as a free for all and then what our actual stake in the game was when we onboarded this program for the city. >> Yeah, so the way it works is it we don't use it doesn't have like facial recognition. It doesn't record people. It records a vehicle and the plate associated with it and we can use vehicle descriptions but it is stored in the system for 30 days. After that it is automatically purged. The the company does not use that for you know, marketing purposes or anything along those lines and what that means is our officers have to get that search. If we did have a crime that occurred we have to get that search done within that 30 days. In order for us to do a search we have to have we have to list the crime and we have to have an associated case number with it. That is more restrictive than even our state system to run the license plates. So our officers can drive down the street can look at Mr. Sites's car, think he looks a little sketch and run his plate and and we get that information. We can't do that with Flock because we have to be investigating a crime and we have to list that what that crime is. So that's that and again it does not keep any identifying information for the person driving it or anything along those lines. It it basically if I could put an officer on every corner that we have LPR that had a photographic memory and and was scanning plates and can see who is wanted with the associated warrants and so forth that that's what it does. It does not track everybody's movements um you know 24/7 where they go several courts have already found that that limited that does not qualify for the violation of the expectation of privacy because we're not minute by minute where you're going. We have them very strategically placed mostly for the ingress and egress of the city and then a couple of our higher crime areas. And did you have another question with that? >> You answered all of them Chief. Again I just I appreciate that and the more we can convey that to the folks that are concerned the better off we're going to be because this is simply a tool that's enabling our officers to have more situational awareness and deal with threats and problems quicker which is all we want like as a dad of four a representative of the schools like this is the type of technology it's not infringing upon anybody's rights but it's only giving our law enforcement officers a tool to take care of those that are in the in the city and our guests and this is a safe destination that people want to come visit because we have a police department with trained professionals that have the right tools. >> Yes sir. Thank you. >> Glenn. >> Yeah Chief thanks for the great presentation. I just want to share with you you know Beth and I are out in the community teaching security classes. I can't tell you the number of citizens that comment on how proud they are of our Branson Police Department. It's just outstanding. It just comes up on its own in the classes. People truly appreciate you and your officers. I just wanted to pass that along. >> I appreciate that because that is a a major goal of us is a the first uh sentence in our mission statement is our reason for being is the community. And again, you've heard me say this, I have never seen a community where we are so intertwined with the community. Our officers are part of the community and they are part of us. >> Yeah, it's doing a great job. It's really impactful. Could you go back to your heat map slide and just walk us through that a little bit? What are the different color codes and >> Yes, so the brightest areas are highest areas of the of crime and it it's really not a surprise for you. It's where most of our density for our um high high density housing, our businesses, things along those lines. So this is this is including everything. This is shoplifting, this is you know, petty theft, everything under the gamut. So the farther out you go from those dense areas, you see the less crime you see. You will see a couple spots on the officer initiated calls that are outside of the city and that the only reason for that is when we receive a call for mutual aid from Hollister or Taney County. In fact, I'll tell you right now that that that bright red spot up there off of highway is Lost Tree Apartments, right? They they they're busy and so when they call us for assistance, it goes in as an officer initiated even though it was a radio call from the neighboring agency. So that's the reason for those two outside the city. But again, the one on the left is the officer initiated call so that's where we're focusing on. Most of our proactive stops, our traffic stops, things along those lines because our our our training and experience has told us the same places where these violations are occurring, these small violations occurring are the same places where major crime happens as well. And so you can see that basically coincides and correlates with the the bright spots on the right where where the reported crimes are. >> What what is the the yellows what? >> The I'm sorry, the what? >> The yellow. What's the yellow? >> Yellow. He means to say yellow. >> Yellow yellow. What is the yellow? >> So the the the more matted color is the least amount of crime and so forth and those so the outline is just the the city the city limits and then as you go orange to red to yellow, that's how or I'm sorry, red to orange to yellow, that's the frequency of the events. >> Red to orange to yellow. >> Yes. >> Ward 3 looks pretty good. >> Ruth. >> As always, thank you, Chief. Great presentation. Thank you for the leadership of our police department because our police department's second to none as well and we're just really proud for for all that you do for us. Thanks. >> You said they're second to none. Does that include the fire department? >> You know, I I believe if either one of us will if if we're worth our salt, we would believe the other is better, but we do compliment each other very well. >> Yes, you do. Yes, you do. Um any questions, comments from the audience? Fire doesn't want to beat up on the police? No, you guys are good? Um >> We have a joint item coming up next, so we we have to get along. >> Oh. Okay, well, there's nothing to vote on. We appreciate your report and um keep up the good work, Chief. >> Thank you. Thank you for all the support. >> Y'all, this is the first reading of bill number 6688, an ordinance approving the contract with Motorola Solutions Incorporated for drone as first responder, DFR, and authorizing mayor to execute the contract. >> So, we've heard the first reading of bill 6688. I'll a approving this bill. >> A motion a second, staff report from Chief Schmidt. >> Your honor, members of the board, we are really excited to bring this to you. Uh first and foremost, I want to acknowledge I have Sergeant Teague in the audience here. So, if we have any in-depth questions, I'll be able to call him up. He is our uh sergeant in charge of our drone unit, and he has really helped us carry this into the next century, and and we are in the forefront of leading in this area uh thanks to his efforts. Um we also do have online um a rep from the drone company if we do have any questions related to that. Uh this is a joint project um that we are excited about because this is the closest thing to having an actual helicopter that we could get. Um BRINC has made some incredible uh technological advances over the last few years. Um you know, we just testified I testified a couple years ago to in Jeff City um that the DJI drones drones were still outpacing the American drones, and that we really needed the American companies to step up, and BRINC has done so. Uh this Guardian drone that we are uh proposing to you today for contract um has a it far exceeds any of the other drones out there. Um and this drone as a first responder program uh has a top speed of 65 mph. It can be anywhere in the city from the police department uh within 3 minutes. Uh it has a payload of 10 lb. So, it's designed to be able to drop AEDs, EpiPens, life preservers, uh any number of different rescue type things. And the dock station that comes with it allows us to stock uh it with those items. So, based on the call, it will the dock will load up whatever it needs and get itself dispatched and get it in the air um so that our pilots can take over. Uh this is a joint uh program with uh the Branson Fire Department. Uh we have um uh partnered on this to evaluate all the different drone companies. They actually uh got to go out to Seattle to the BRINC uh headquarters and and see um the the specifics of the drone and get some very detailed um uh demonstrations and that's why they're recommending this to us. Um the uh change in this, right now our drone program, we have about 15 calls a month where we're able to put our drone up. Um and right now the drone we have to come get it, take it out, and launch it. So there's sometimes a delay, especially when we don't have a drone pilot on. Even with that, we have had several saves uh where we saved people's lives. We had one incident with a person that overdosed on some medication. Officers have been looking for approximately 45 minutes before the drone got up there. Within 2 minutes of the drone getting up, we had them with our heat-sensitive camera. Um and we were able to get our officers and rescue to him before uh he expired and and save a life on that. So um there was a lot that we do with that. We find lost hikers. Um you know, we've had suspects that we've been able to locate to protect our officers and and have the high view coming in. Uh it operates a lot like a helicopter in that we have a spotlight, we have flare, um and we can put those together or separate them and and do numerous things. Uh the um the way we've divided this up is we we basically just went with call load. Uh the police department accounts for about 2/3 of the call load uh compared to the fire department. So we figured it would only fair for the police department to finance uh 2/3 of this and the fire department to finance a third. Uh we would uh get roughly 10 pilots each per fire department and and police department and also a couple to four dispatchers so that we always have pilots ready so that this is truly a 24/7 program. The idea of drone as a first responder is that call comes in, the drone is already connected to the CAD dispatch, and it can self-dispatch on several calls. So that drone can be there before many of many times our officers are there. That's a huge officer safety thing. It can clear calls. It can tell us, "Hey, everything is gone. Nobody's there. You can you can disregard the officer so we don't have to waste man hours going and looking for things when the when the drone's already been up. But the But the intel and the life saving capabilities are by far the biggest reason we're looking at doing this. Um Brinc has teamed with Motorola so this is actually a contract with Motorola and Motorola they believe in this product so much that they for a select few agencies and we're one of them they have offered to cover the first year's expense on the drone program so that we could basically test it out, evaluate it, use it, make sure it's worth it to us before we ever spend a dime on it. And after that then we have another five years with the price in there is right at 140,000 per year. It's a lease program which gets us a refresh drone after about halfway through. Also has some spare parts and things that we get to keep for the drone program. And it's a unique contract in that it does not lock us in. If we say we have a recession or something where funding really drops off we are able to cancel the contract and we don't have to stay in for that full length of the contract. So it's really built to be advantageous to us because they believe in the product so much. And we believe it's going to be a game changer for the emergency services and what both police and fire can you know offer the hot spots that it can find on the fires. You name it it's it's going to give us capabilities that we just have not had in the past. Like I said much like an air unit. So. Yeah well I'm sorry we do recommend the passage of this. So. >> Um. I too was able to attend your drone presentation. And very very impressive. And I think primarily we saw a few examples of how it did actually offer um really good officer protection. Um and then the the cost savings also. Um, very impressive. Um, any alderman have any questions for Chief? >> I have a comment. Um, I really when we heard Lisa Marshall's, um, the health department's presentation about how much Narcan they give out. I um, I wasn't surprised by it, but I think it's cool that the drone can also drop Narcan and we can get it to people even quicker, especially if they're in remote locations like in the woods. And how it's got the heat sensing capabilities on it. It's really really fascinating. I think I also remember you guys saying it can drop a life jacket. And so when we saw some of the stuff happening up in Springfield, I remember thinking, man, that's awesome cuz you know, we have a big body of water and if we can use it for any of that, it's really amazing. So I'm glad you guys found it. I'm glad you guys are training your captains and I'm glad that you're working together with the fire department on it. >> Put us under the same roof and see what happens. >> Yeah. How much was the annual commitment, Chief? >> The annual commitment is it's 139,999. So just under 140,000. >> Okay. Um, Clay? >> I I love it. I I I it's it's sounds like it's going to be amazing in the lives it can save and structure damage it can prevent. It's just it's cool to see us getting to that next burst of technology in our little town here. >> Yep. Already anything? Nope. Lynn? >> Yeah, I just thanks Chief. I too was at the demo of the thing. Very impressive. I think you've made a great selection in terms of product. I have a son that's a professional drone operator and so he's thrilled by this. So thanks much for all the great work between you and the fire department in getting this organized. Just one question, is this within your current budget or are we looking at changes to the budget? >> We will need to budget for it, but we expect to have the funds readily available at least from the police department budget due to other agreements that we have in place. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Alex. >> Thank you, Mayor. Chief, do you know off the top of your head what what is the drone program in its current form run approximately? [clears throat] And it's purely a police function right now, right? Fire Department doesn't fund our current drone operation. >> It does not, but we we do assist them still with with their hotspots and stuff with that drone. Uh right now I'll call Caleb up if he has any yearly projections, but our drone program has already been paid for by grants we had received in the past. So. >> That helps cuz obviously the I as well was at the event and couldn't help myself with my my past asking all the questions, so I'm sorry for that. But it it is a huge asset as everyone's already stated, and so to gain all those things in addition to what we were showing in videos cuz for everybody that wasn't able to go, you showed us real Branson videos, real calls of things that were happening. So we got to witness that then demon- see the demonstration of the equipment. So it it speaks for itself, but just out of curiosity, we've been prudent in using grant funds, so what else can you ask for? And then you're going to cost share it with the another department, so thanks again for doing everything you can to help make it a reality for us. >> Yes, and to clarify, we're going to continue to have those other drones in service. One of which is is a SWAT drone, which is tailor-made to go into the buildings, and actually we just used it on that call downtown after this last meeting, and it I believe it saved some lives that day, so. >> Oh, yeah. Um any questions, comments from the audience? Any firemen want to get up and share their concerns about this? Oh, you're all good? >> They're drowned out. >> [laughter] >> Okay, well, with that, um we're going to call the question for a vote. So, all in favor, um actually, let's do a roll call vote, Hill. >> Harkness? >> Yes. >> Lucas? >> Hooper? >> Yes. >> Denham? >> Fols? >> Yes. >> Williams? >> Result of the vote is 6-0, motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Chief. >> Mayor, the next item is a public hearing and first reading of bill number 6689, an ordinance approving the final plan development for the property known as the Branson Meadows TIF, Branson, Missouri. >> Now, open the public hearing to begin with the staff report from Amanda Ross. >> Good evening, Mayor, members of the board. Um thank you for your time this evening. These documents that you're going to see, these slides tonight, you've seen a couple of times, so we're back in front of you tonight for the final plan development for the Branson Meadows TIF master plan. We do have Great River Engineering here tonight. Um also Branson Meadows, uh this is the new new final plan development. Uh again, provides mixed use. I'm just going to do a real high overview since you've seen this multiple times. Um it's going to be consisting of commercial uses, educational, cultural, historical use, indoor and outdoor recreational [clears throat] uses, hotel and resort hotel uses, nightly rental cabins, multi-family residential uses, and employment housing. It is mixed-use, community commercial, and part of a PD currently. Um the planning commission previously conducted a public hearing for the preliminary plan development on May 5th of this year, and unanimously recommended approval bill through resolution number PD 2602. And then it came to the Board of Aldermen on May the 12th with another unanimous vote of approval and the planning commission previously conducted the public hearing on June 8th for the final with another unanimous vote. Um it has met the criteria of section 9448 regarding planned developments. Again, 11 parcels, 71.54 acres. Staff has reviewed the submitted fine plan development and associated land use regulations and finds the proposal remains consistent with the previous approved preliminary plan development. Staff did not identify any substantial changes in the land use, circulation, development intensity, phasing framework, or overall development configuration that would alter the approved final plan development. With that, um we'd like to ask for approval, but I do have Great River here this evening and I think they would like to address the board if they may. >> You bet. Good evening. I'm David Lundstrom with Great River Engineering. Uh you guys are probably used to seeing Todd. Uh unfortunately, he's on vacation, so you're stuck with me. >> This This is a nice break. >> [laughter] >> Um uh appreciate your time this evening and uh your consideration of this project. Um you know, and and as we've been through the preliminary process um and moving forward into the the final PD with with little to no change in um in uh the content of the PD. Um we're actually requesting if if the board is agreeable to it, if maybe possibly we could do a double reading tonight to kind of shorten the approval process and maybe get this project rolling a little bit quicker. >> You need to get the the one approved First. Just kidding. >> But um beside that, if there if you all have any questions, I'm I'm here to try to help. >> That's great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Amanda? >> Uh staff recommends approval. >> Okay. Any questions from the board? >> Mr. Mayor? >> Yes. >> Um my one question as I'm kind of wrapping my head around this cuz for me it's a little bit more recent. Um when you guys talk about workforce housing, do you you might not know the specifics, but is it going to be enough workforce housing that is just serving the businesses within the TIF, or is there going to be quite a bit that will also be serving the broader community? >> Um so currently right now we don't have any applications in for that portion yet. We're just in the the preliminary well the final PD tonight. Um so those questions and answers will be addressed during the permitting process. So once we have the building, we'll know kind of the numbers, you know, what kind of um projection they're looking at as far as how many and if that will just be enough for the area of the TIF or if it will be for other areas of the city. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mayor? >> Yes, Glenn. >> Yeah, I just would thanks David for being here, but I just want to repeat what we said last time if I may, Amanda, is that uh there's an interest in looking at our process of having these two stages for plan developments and collapsing that to one. We would appreciate your input and feel free to punt this to Todd when he gets back, but we would sure appreciate your input working with our planning and development department as to how we might effectively accomplish that without putting anything at risk, right? But just for the sake of being more developer friendly, if we can achieve that, I think this board would probably be interested in that discussion. Thank you. >> Kathy. >> Thank you, Alderman Schultz, for that. That is actually one of the proposals that we've been working with uh the chamber on as of late, and you'll be hearing from them at your next Board of Aldermen meeting. Uh we've had really productive conversations where they've done some of the vetting for us with the builder-developer community, and they've given me a list of I think 12 or 13 different ideas that are actually solution-driven versus complaint, you know, only, right? Which I really, really welcome that. So, we're going to have a lot of really exciting things to be sharing with you guys in the upcoming weeks. One more thing to Alderwoman Harkness's question, I'll provide just a little bit more light on that for you. Um during the TIF and um discussions and in the negotiations that we had preliminarily on the workforce housing in particular, um we wanted as many workforce housing units as we could get. In fact, the original number that we had asked for, and I can't, off the top of my head, remember exactly what that was, but we ended up with substantially more than what we were even asking. And they so, whether they're all working they're not going to be restricted to only people working in that area, they'll be open for anybody that fits in that criteria. So, thank you. >> If I might add, um we did have uh the pleasure to meet with a couple of the commissioners after the last PC meeting to start those conversations on how that looks. So, I just want to thank them for their time as well. And so, we'll we'll do an internal meeting, and then we'll be reaching out to you guys see how we can make that process a little bit more time effect- efficient. >> Ruth. >> I just want to thank Administrator Step and Amanda in your department for all the work that's been put in to this. Um in the past, I mean, um a planned development, all it is is zoning. It's it's a zoning request and uh subdivision plat is a subdivision plat and the the preliminary some people submit the preliminaries and the finals because they have all their public work elements. I know you know this, but just to provide clarity. So, um, I'm I'm excited about the uh the plan developments being one process and allowing if if there's no changes between your preliminary and your final and you have everything else in order with your public works elements, I think it's a smooth process. So, thank you for all the efforts that have been put into this. >> Thank you. >> Any other alderman? Anybody in the audience would like to speak to this? Oh. Hearing none, the uh public hearing is now closed. So, you've heard the first reading of bill 6689. Do I have a motion approving this bill? >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have motion and second. Any members of the board wishing to speak regarding this matter? Anybody in the audience? Um. So, any alderman before we go to vote? Hearing none, um, Hillary, would you take a roll call vote, please? >> Burgess? >> Yes. >> Lucas? >> Hooper? >> Yes. >> Denham? >> Rolls? >> Yes. >> Williams? >> The result of the vote is 6-0, motion carries. >> And your uh your honor, if I may, um, may request to move uh reading bill number 6690 um for its final reading due to timing and streamlining the process. >> I think that was 6689, Alex. Is that right? >> Sorry, I might be ahead of you. Yes, correction, 6689. Thank you. >> Okay. We have a second? >> Second. >> So, with a motion and a second, any members of the board wishing to speak regarding this matter? Anybody in the audience? Hearing none, we're voting to approve a second read. So, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed, same sign. Eyes have it. Madam Clerk, would you please provide the introduction for this item? >> Your Honor, this uh is the final reading of bill number 6689, an ordinance approving the final plan development for the property known as the Branson Meadows TIF, Branson, Missouri. >> So, you've heard the final reading of bill 6689. Do I have a motion approving this bill? >> So moved. >> We have a motion and a second. Any alderman wishing to speak to this? Anybody in the audience wishing to speak to this? Hearing none, this is a final read, so Madam Clerk, would you do a roll call vote, please? >> Harkness? >> Yes. >> Lucas? >> Cooper? >> Yes. >> Denham? >> Fols? >> Yes. >> Williams? >> The result of the vote is 6-0. Motion carries. Your Honor, the next item is a public hearing and first reading of bill number 6690, an ordinance approving the final subdivision plat for the Longstone 2 subdivision, Branson, Missouri. >> So, we'll now open a public hearing and begin with a staff report from Amanda. >> Thank you. This one has been in front of you a couple times as well, so we'll just do a high overview of it. Um it's a request for a final plat, 622 Sunshine. There's a quick view of the location. Uh existing conditions to the northwest, east, and south is low-density residential. And the current zoning is low-density It's existing land use is vacant. Here's your aerial with your water connections and your sewer on site. The Planning Commission previously recommended approval of the preliminary plat on October 7th, 2025 unanimously through resolution SD 2514. The Board of Aldermen approved the preliminary plat on October 14th, 2025 unanimously. And the proposed final plat for Longstone 2 subdivision phase 1 has been reviewed under the major subdivision procedures of section 948 of the Branson Municipal Code. The preliminary plat for Longstone 2 was previously approved by the Planning Commission and the Board of Aldermen. The staff finds the proposed final plat satisfies the criteria. Uh they are wanting to phase this um currently. So, phase 1 includes nine lots um and associated street and access improvements necessary to support the phase of the development. While the approved preliminary plat uh contemplated a total of 35 lots, the proposed lot layout, street network, and access points remain consistent with the approved subdivision design, and staff reviewed the submitted plat and finds the proposal remains in substantial compliance with the approved preliminary plat. Um also in section 948-8 requires that improvement plans for any required public or private improvement be reviewed and approved prior to the final plat approval. The applicant submitted construction plans for required infrastructure improvements, which have been reviewed and approved by the appropriate city departments. Staff finds that this criteria has been satisfied as well. Um at this time, the Planning Commission uh when this went before the Planning Commission, uh it they are financially uh the final financial security documentation associated with the required infrastructure improvements is still being finalized. Um the applicant is aware that um, if in fact that does not come through and it's approved tonight that we will pull that from the consent agenda. Um, but I did speak with the applicant today. He couldn't be here. He was traveling. Um, he did give me his word that he has those uh, the bond is drafted and he will sign those tomorrow morning and then he will hand deliver those to city hall the beginning of next week. And with that um, staff ask for approval. I can answer any questions you might have. >> Any questions on the board? Any questions from the audience? Hearing none, this public hearing is now closed. You've heard the first reading of bill 6690. Do you have a motion approving this bill? >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any members of the board wishing to speak regarding this? Any members of the audience? Hearing none, this is uh, um, we're going to take a vote and uh, I think we'll say just all in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed, same sign. I's have it. >> Thank you. >> Here are the next items. Is a resolution of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Branson, Missouri setting forth the facts and reasons for the necessity to amend and increase the city's annual budget for fiscal year 2026 in the amount of $1,444. 567. Yeah. [laughter] Numbers are not they're not my my thing. 144567 for property liability cyber cyber liability workers compensation insurance coverages premiums. >> For clarification, that's $144,567. >> Thank you. That's to motion adopting this resolution. >> So moved. >> I have a second? >> Second. >> We have motion and second. We'll get a staff report from Allison. Oh, you're not Allison. >> I'm not. Allison left today, so I'm filling in for Allison. >> Oh. >> It's my It's insurance policy is housed under HR. She just provides the funding, so >> [laughter] >> that's how this is working today. Um so, um in March of this year, um we issued an RFQ for broker services for our property, liability, work comp policies. In April, we selected Allis Acres Arney um as our new broker. Um this transition created a very tight timeline um to get all of those renewals back to us. Uh we weren't needing a full renewal, um but did want to make some adjust additions to our policies in cyber um and our wind and hail buyback, and then also had a little bit of an uptick in the work comp premium. Um so, that's why we're here today is to ask for approval um for those increased premiums um totaling that 100 144,567 dollars. Um this is approximately uh 66,000 um for the property liability. Um that increase covered um additional structures and values for the police station um as well as some additional vehicles that we purchased that might have cost a little more than the vehicles we were replacing. You know, insurance. >> Yeah. >> Um we also increased our cyber liability coverage from 5 million to 10. Um this created an increased premium of 54,477 dollars. And then the work comp piece went up 84,000 dollars. Um this is primarily impacted by payroll um and our loss runs. Um so, loss runs are looked at over a 3-year average. Um they are ticking down. Um we did have a year that was really bad a few years ago. Um that should be falling off next year. So, hopefully those things will be coming down. We're also working very hard with our new broker agency um to close out any claims that are still pending and open. Um that will help reduce that rate, as well. So, that's what we're here for today is to ask for um a little more money to get those premiums paid. >> Right. Um any questions from the from the alderman? >> Ma'am. >> Alex. >> Um ma'am, do you know You said it was a bad year. Is that when it comes to workers' comp, are we referring to risk reduction measures were put in place because of an issue, or we just had more accidents in >> We just had a given year. >> Every once in a while you have more accidents, and sometimes they're not accidents. They may be like a torn rotator cuff, right? Which is caused by an accident, but typically when you have that big uptick, it's things like that. Orthopedic surgeries are what caused such a big uptick, and that's exactly what it was. So, you know, it's a shoulder, a knee, those kind of things that caused such a big uptick, and we happen to have Was it seven in one year? So, seven in one year. And when that happens, it just spikes you way up, right? Um and they're very, very large claims. Um we've also Bob has done a great job in mitigating some of that by saying, "If you've just gotten a cut that's going to require a few stitches or something like that, we file a claim we have to report, um but we don't actually ask them to pay for it through insurance. We pay for that out of pocket, right? To help kind of reduce some of that that claim dollar spend. >> And the last question I have on it is was the request to double the coverage on cyber. Obviously, you can't say why, and I wouldn't ask you to because you don't want to tip your hand on vulnerabilities, but was it concern-driven or proactively driven, and where did it come from primarily? >> Proactively driven. Um and that was a request from admin and IT. >> Thank you. >> Mhm. I truly think that 5 million probably wouldn't touch a claim, right, in the cyber world if there was a breach or something. >> Any other questions from the board? Any questions from the audience? Hearing none, um let's vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed same sign. Eyes have it. >> Your Honor, this is the first reading of bill number 6691, an ordinance amending the adopted 2026 budget for the city of Branson to adjust monies for the additional insurance expense of the general fund and approving the contract with Allis Acres, Arni Insurance and Business Advisors for the purchase of property liability, cyber liability, and workers compensation insurance coverages, and authorizing the mayor to execute the contract. >> You've heard the first reading of bill 6691. Do I have a motion approving this bill? >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Staff report from Haley. >> Ditto. Everything I just said. >> Everything's the same. [laughter] So, do we have the same questions from the board? Alex, same questions? >> Uh just one, I guess, since I don't know I thought I picked up on your previous briefing that there was a time a time crunch. So, is there anything behind that that you're asking, or is it just purely informational? >> Nope, we are. Um so, we do need a double read, right? This policy renewed July 1. Um and the reason we're pushing so hard with that um with those renewals was one with the change of broker, but also because we went back to the carriers and asked them for those upticks, and it just takes some time, right, to get all of that back to get the contracts back through contract management. Um so, that's the only reason. >> Any other questions from the board? >> I know. >> Any questions from the audience? >> [laughter] >> Hearing none, let's vote. All in favor say I. Opposed same sign. Eyes have it. >> That's Your Honor, I move to read bill 6691 for its final reading due to timing. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Um we're going to vote and the vote is to just approve to have a second reading. So, any questions from the from the board? Questions from the audience? Hearing none, let's vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed, same sign. I's have it. So, Madam Clerk, would you please um read this for its final reading. >> You're now this is the final reading of bill number 6691 an ordinance amending the adopted 2026 budget for the city of Branson to adjust monies for additional insurance expenses in the general fund and approving the contract with Arni Insurance and Business Advisors for the purchase of property, liability, cyber liability, and workers compensation insurance coverages and authorizing the mayor to execute the contract. >> So, you've heard the final reading of bill 6691. Do I have a motion approving this bill? >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Um any questions from the um members of the board? Questions from the audience? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, would you do a roll call vote, please? >> Harkness? >> Yes. >> Lucas? >> Cooper? >> Yes. >> Denham? >> Shull? >> Yes. >> Williams? >> The result of the vote is 6-0, motion carries. >> We're at the reports. Thank you, Haley. We're at the reports section of the meeting. Um we'll start with Alderman Harkness. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um over the past couple of weeks, I've actually spent some time reflecting on why I'm here, what in the world I signed up for, and uh what matters most. So, I can honestly say that my reasons remain steadfast. I'm here to serve our community. I'm here to be a voice for our residents, and I'm here to advocate for others and to continually ask the question, can we do better? These questions will also guide me. Is it good for our residents? Is it good for tourism? Is it good for our community? And can we do better? >> [snorts] >> That requires an honest look at where we are today and where we want to go tomorrow. I am actually confident that our board is moving in the right direction and I'm eager to continue learning, growing, and applying myself in this role. I've even started reading my massive Robert's Rules of Order handbook and I'm learning that I'm actually supposed to say Mr. Mayor and wait to be recognized before speaking. So, none of this came with a handbook on day one, you guys. Recently, I did attend the Missouri Municipal League training for newly elected and seasoned officials. One of the biggest take takeaways was the value of building relationships with other municipalities. What can we learn from them? How can we share resources, ideas, and best practices? There is a statewide event in September that I actually think would be very beneficial for all of us to attend, even our city staff. I also gained a deeper understanding of the Sunshine Law, how it relates to executive sessions, and the responsibilities that come with public service. So, this past week, I also attended the Lodging Association's annual luncheon where the Chamber CVB shared updates on the incredible work that's being done throughout our community. It's always very impressive to me what our community entities are actually working on. I'm very excited to be working with each of them towards collective priorities and goals. I'm learning that essentially, we all do want the same thing. A bright future, a thriving [clears throat] year-round tourism economy, and quality of life for our residents. I also had the opportunity to speak with HVS. Thank you, Alex and Kathy for that one. The company conducting the feasibility study for the proposed sports complex. I was glad to ask a question that I believe deserves attention. That is, how will this project impact the quality of life for our residents? I've also had several conversations with Cindy in our parks department, and I'm excited to advocate for splash pads and a turfed soccer field as part of our upcoming budget discussions. I will continue exploring the viability of an indoor aquatic center as part of our long-term capital planning, and always welcome our residents' feedback on priorities, priorities, concerns, and ideas. We also received a a response to our letter from MoDOT regarding our sidewalks on State Highway 165. While I'm not certain that this project will move forward in 2027, I need some people helping me understand really what what is happening, I will continue to advocate for it and encourage residents to support additional pedestrian infra- structure to make their voices heard as well through the MoDOT website. It is truly an honor to represent Ward 3 and serve our greater community. I want to help create a culture where the city is a partner to those who live, work, invest, and raise their families here. I will continue asking, "Can we do better?" And just as importantly, "Can I do better?" Thank you for trusting me with this responsibility. I'm excited to be part of building a community where residents thrive, businesses succeed, and our children grow up wanting to stay, work, play, and raise families of their own in our wonderful community. So, as always, many blessings to you all, and thank you. >> Thank you, Ashley. And when it's appropriate, would you share the response from HFS HFS about the question you asked about the quality of life for the sports facility, how it affects our quality of life? >> Sure. >> Thank you. Um Alderman Lucas. >> I really enjoyed being a part of the Flag Day parade uh that we got to ride on the city float and throw candy to kids, not at kids. >> [laughter] >> I played sports for a long time and I really learned the difference. Uh but I was just disappointed that we didn't have a bigger turnout, a bigger crowd. >> Mhm. >> And maybe next year we'll we'll do a better job of promoting it and uh getting more people to understand that we're having it and what it's for. And I appreciate Alex pushing to get that going. So, thank you, Alex. Uh also, I had the chance to attend the uh Branson Area Lodging Association meeting as well and enjoyed hearing all the presentations and getting the opportunity to visit with a lot of people that I hadn't seen for a couple of months. So, uh that's all I have tonight. >> Thank you, Clay. >> Uh uh the flag parade uh we sent our cast, Hot Rods and High Heels, one of our our '50s show from the theater. They were there riding in a slick little '57 Chevy and my son and all the cast said they had a blast handing out stickers and uh we sent a couple of our um couple of ladies that work in my gift shop. Their husbands are veterans, Jerry and Archie, were there getting to ride in the car and they just loved every bit of it. Uh law enforcement week was unbelievable. Uh met met a ton of uh law enforcement this week. Every show I ask how many law enforcement do we have and there's always a handful, but this last week it was incredible how many more hands that came up uh each night. So, that it was a a very uh successful law enforcement week. Uh the past couple of weeks we've had a couple of major dance competitions in town, a bluegrass convention, uh bluegrass and barbecue at Silver Dollar City, law enforcement week, uh had a a really cool community theater junior musical at the Owen's theater that I went and watched last week and it was unbelievable. It was fabulous. Uh town was packed this weekend bigger than I've ever seen it this entire year so it's really cool to see all the different the diverse things that people are coming to town for not just you know, the Clay Cooper show but uh there's a lot of stuff to do. I don't know if you knew that, right? But anyhow, uh also last week this last weekend we had a big uh Branson High School uh basketball tournament in Poplar Bluff and my wife and I got to go down for a day on a day off and watch that and the Branson Pirates went 11 and one and lost by two in the championship game so excited about the Branson High School basketball and football coming up this season as well so it's been it's been a great season. Glad to be a part of it. >> Very nice. Ruth? >> I'm a little disorganized here. My printer went off went out at home and so I've been scribing all night but I've been listening cuz I took pictures of my screen. Excuse me. Um Saturday last Saturday I attended the Liberty rally at Big Cedar. It was extremely well attended. Our keynote speaker was Senator Burlison. Also um in attendance were Senator Moon, Senator Hudson, and of course our very own Representative Side and Representative Whaley. Um probably left some people out but it was a great time. We we really enjoyed having you speak there. And pray. Um second of all, Well, to the city of Branson for making the Guinness World um Book of Records. There were so many festivities that were held last Sunday. I did not attend, not because I did not want to, but um I had an appointment that I wanted to keep. I chose to join um Cherry Webster and the Diehlgers to go visit our planning commissioner Charles Hillis in the hospital in Springfield. Charles was having major surgery that next morning, and we wanted to just go visit and encourage him. His quadruple bypass surgery was a success, and he's now home resting. So, um please keep him and his wife Leslie and their family in your prayers. That's going to take a while for him to recoup. Here I go to my next page. Okay. So, the fountains of Fall Creek agreement I just had spent in in the making for over 4 years. The non-negotiables that were discussed They were discussed in our courtroom in a meeting 4 years ago with the Country Bluff Estate residents, city directors, Mayor Milton, former Alderman Ralph LeBlanc and myself. Many meetings were held on site in Country Bluff Estates. Administrator Step attended, not only listened, but she heard all the concerns of the residents. Um a thank you to Cherry Webster for never giving up on her neighborhood. This agreement has been in a long long time coming. The county sewer agreement and dollars offered up for the improvements for this property just happened to to come to fruition at the same time this final development agreement was completed. I want to offer a huge thank you to Mayor Milton, Administrator Step for your untiring efforts to work with the Country Bluff residents. Also, Alderman Ralph LeBlanc always being at location to provide support to the residents as well as voicing his support from right up here at the dais. This neighborhood's really special to me, case people haven't noticed. I promised that I would fight hard for all neighborhoods in Ward 3 and others whenever needed. I'm I'm willing to to provide that support. Reach out to me if there's needs that arise. Not all of what was asked for was agreed upon, but so much was. Oh, I think that both sides really did have some winning points. I look forward to great development in which all new owners and the existing Country Bluff Estate owners can enjoy the privacy on their property. So, thank you. And then lastly, if you've been around a while, you know who Judge Ray was. Peter Ray passed away and his service will be at 2:00 on Friday at the First Baptist Church in Forsyth. Please keep his wife and family in your prayers. He served as our city attorney here and he served city attorney in city of Hollister, too. He was involved in so much other so many other things. So, um just please keep them in your prayers. >> Thank you. Um Glenn. >> Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I too participated in the Flag Day parade. It was a nice event, I agree. I think it'll build as the years go on. Uh but it was fun and Administrator Steph, I'm not sure who's responsible, but make sure to thank the staff for building that float and then allowing us to Course, some people rode on the float. Other people walked alongside the float. What am I saying, Arty? I don't know. But it was a it was a fun event and thanks to everybody that worked to put that thing together. I was really pleased to hear that Alderwoman Harkness attended MML. You know, it's an organization that I too value for their training and expertise. Um I just as a way of information, I was at our regional MML meeting about a month ago now, I guess that was, and I offered Branson to host the 2027 regional MML meeting. So it's not the full MML, but our region. We'll have more details on that as it gets closer. Um I attended the two data center seminars that I mentioned last time. One was hosted by MML and the County Association and the School Board Association for the state. Um excellent excellent speakers. I mean, they had one of the commissioners from Loudoun County, Virginia, which is the area with the most dense density of data centers in the world. So there was a guy that just has a wealth of experience on what they did right, what they did wrong, what they would change if they could, and he basically laid it all out on the table. And it was just one good speaker after another. I really give that organization credit for putting together such a credible seminar. And contrary to some of the press about it, it wasn't to sell us as public officials on the idea of putting in data centers. It was really to expose us to all the issues about data centers from a very unbiased perspective, but also to highlight what has changed in the last year or two with data centers. And there's been some very substantial changes. So great seminar. The second day I went to S&T in Raleigh. It was the governor's uh meeting on data centers. The governor was there to speak. Uh again, a slightly different angle, probably less of a technical angle. Instead, it brought in all the activity within the state uh government as to what they're doing around data centers. And if you are considering a data center, how they can help, uh economic development activity, training of workforces, all the things around data centers. So, two really well-invested days on my part. Um I walked away with some definite actions that we can take as a community to put the rest of our ordinances in place uh relative to data centers. Um and I've already talked to our county commissioners about the same. So, I'll be sharing some of that information with them so that they can take a look at as well. But, just really great and look for some things coming up on future agendas relative to that. Um and the last thing is I just want to reflect what Representative Sights said. We're getting excited about getting our legislative agenda together in plenty of time for you and our senator to be able to look it over and tell us what you think is doable and get your early filings in relative to it. So, we're engaged this year and we'll have you back to talk about it. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Kathy Stepp? No. My report. Oh, I'm sorry, Alex. No, Glenn is so tall and he leans over. >> [laughter] >> Uh sorry, Alex. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um so, public comment, uh I just want to reiterate to everybody in here, my colleagues and online, the intent and the heart behind the original um amendment that I sponsored. Just me to you, all the people I just mentioned, the goal is to prioritize city business. City business means our residents first. So, I need to make sure that's very clear. So, I'm responsive to that idea. I know my colleagues are, too. So, just know we're here to serve you, and that means we're flexible. We know what our values are, but we're flexible and we're listening. Um, second, I was trusted to go and represent the city on the leadership trip to Tennessee. Uh, I went to Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, uh, Gatlinburg, and went with partners, community partners, the chamber, TCP, other elected officials from the county, and business owners, and others. A big group. The big takeaways from there, and I wrote a a full-length, uh, email to to my colleagues, sent that to y'all today. Um, but the takeaway for the public is they did the same thing to us a few a few decades ago is what they shared with us. They said, "Hey, Branson, you've got it all figured out." And they watched what we did. They took it back. They executed. And now we see Branson just in Tennessee in a very effective version of us. So, we are now doing the same thing. We're going out. We're taking notes. We're coming back, and we're going into an implementation phase. We have so many opportunities right now, going through the comprehensive plan, going through budgetary process, going through legislative priorities. We can really take it and be timely with it. So, I'm very grateful to have gone on that trip, and I look forward to implementing some of those things that we saw with my colleagues and our community partners that went on the trip. Flag Day was great. Um, you know, I know some folks may have felt like it was under attended, but it's Branson, Missouri, and we made it a priority. I'm glad that we made it a priority cuz that's us, and we did a lot of great things that day, and I'm grateful for that. We did such a good job that we had Austin Von Letkemann come out, who is a pronoun- well-pronounced social media influencer, 4 million followers, and he's in Branson, Missouri, watching us break the world record, and he's doing social media on that. So, that means we have people's attention. And particularly with him, he the young veteran community, which as a veteran myself I worry about the longevity and the the long-term relationship between Branson and its veterans. We want to continue to maintain that and think about the next generation of veterans and he's helping give us credibility on that. As a former Army aviator, I'm super proud to watch the Missouri Army National Guard support us as well with a flyover a multi-ship flyover the aquarium. Um that was really awesome. We're greatly supported by the state of Missouri. The flag initiative that I've sponsored has been going well. It's resulted in uh SOP changes, so my standard operating procedures were maintaining the flags more frequently. Uh business owners are uh taking the advice uh that we're sharing in the community well. Um businesses across our entire community are um fixing some things that needed to be fixed and ultimately just our whole community is thriving uh and respecting the United States flag and that makes me and I'm sure you as well very very excited. Um something I'm working on uh with the staff is campaign sign reform. So, helping our police department and code enforcement um have some more bandwidth back to do what they do best, which is not worried being worried about policing up campaign signs. So, be on the lookout for that. That's going to increase safety and help increase the civic process here in Branson, which is a very big deal. Local and state legislative priorities. Um we are going to be proactive and we're going to name what we want to work on so we can be held accountable to that. Some of those will be the state specific things that we'll give off to the state representative and state senator. Others will be local level and we'll be held accountable to those items cuz we can act on those items. Whereas we'll work with our partners to hope to achieve our state priorities as well. Um the next date for the community um since community input is first and foremost is July 14th with a study session. Please make sure that uh if that's something near and dear to you that you're able to attend and if all goes well, we should be adopting that on July 28th provided we got it right on the first go. I had the the honor to attend and be a part of this comprehensive plan committee that met for the first time nearly 12 months uh Monday night. And so, I've spoken about this since being an alderman. We're going through this process cuz the previous board said it was time to change it and I agree with them. Our previous community plan was not comprehensive and it was not relevant to Branson. So, we're taking the reins, we're making it ours, and we have the right people on the committee to get it done. So, it's time to get into the implementation phase and carry us into the next chapter. And then, I'll end with it's time to move forward. We have lots of big conversations in this town. Let's start capitalizing on some short-term wins and then we can start turning those into bigger and more loftier wins from there. Uh I'm honored to get to be here and representing Ward 1, the city. I'm it's a huge blessing, a massive responsibility, and uh thank you again. Appreciate all of you. >> Thanks, Alex. Kathy, you same report? >> I I what? >> Same report? Your last one. >> Same as my last one? Why did I not have a report last time? >> Oh, you wish that that's what it was. Uh just a couple of quick things. Just to echo uh Alderwoman Denham, thank you for bringing up Charles Hillis. Our blessings and prayers to him, to his family. Uh he is such a contributor to the city and uh a heart as big as City Hall. So, blessings to him on a speedy recovery and full recovery. And also, I wanted to just touch base uh with everybody again on the Fall Fountains at Fall Creek development. And it has been a long road, not as long for me as it's been for the developer himself and the residents of Country Bluff. And so, it's been a long journey. So, I do want to also recognize, you know, the past alderman, yourself, Alderman Harkness. Since coming on, you know, very quickly she was in the deep end of the pool on this, almost literally. And so, and I also want to thank Mr. Ruud and his team for giving us and you guys all a tour so you could see it with your own eyes and understand it's very different when you're out there on the land versus seeing something on paper, which is just two-dimensional. So, um thank you guys for putting in the extra work and the effort that you did to get this across the finish line. Branson will be much better served and if we can keep that kind of momentum and motivation going to where we can lock arms and work together through the lens always of what is the best for the city of Branson. If that is our first filter on all the things that we do and you do as a team, there are no limits to the successes we will see on the ground in this community for decades to come. It's time. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kathy. Um our report is uh I was pleased to give a opening welcome to the Rally Point um celebration um that they had this year. I was uh also blessed to be one of the judges for the Guinness World Book Record for the flags, um which was pretty cool. Um I uh in our Flag Day parade, I rode in our fire truck. We were not provided candy to throw out. Not sure why. Um I was also invited to the Lodging Association their board of director meetings. So, each month now their board of directors meeting is going to include an invitation for uh myself and um uh Kathy Stepp to attend those, um which is real interesting. They have a real interesting uh group on their board of directors and they're looking at making some good positive changes moving forward. So, I'll be reporting back on probably our next meeting. So, with that I would entertain a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> That's the slowest um motion and second I've had to adjourn. So, let's please vote. Vote all in favor say I. >> I. >> Those double dog dare you. Meeting's adjourned.