6:30 and we're off.  No discussion on the first 6 things.  Tierney recaps TxDoT's lack of cleaning and mowing on 3040 and I-35.  Durham mentions that there's no money to do anything.  Tierney mentions that the state needs to maintain their property just like we have to maintain our property. 

Items 9-11 no discussion.  Item 12 Gorena mentions that neighbors don't like the trash and he was wondering about the monies paid and donations back regarding the Parker House.  Gorena mentions that the neighbors around the Parker House don't want it there.  Parker House had a neighborhood letter a couple meetings back that showed support.

Items 13-15 nothing.  Item 16 Gorena wants a pass fail vote on the I-35 E N/S Stemmons Purple Heart Trail Tollway to add "Freedom Highway" to honor our veterans.  (If it were me adding 'freedom' to a soon to be toll road is odd, and if it's to honor veterans lets at least call it Veteran's Freeway).

Item 17 Cinco De Mayo- Looking to do it on the 1st of May and the waivers are a bit more than other events since they do close the road in answer to Watt's question. Police feel its safer to close Church, although the event planners did not request the closure.  Watts would like to review the all the waivers and requests for signage waivers.  King reviews some reasoning in general on signage.  Review of the KLB LLELA Earth Day event and why we waive the fees historically. 

Item 18 Parks Board appointment.  Thornhill makes a recommendation since he has served on the Parks Board.  Ueckert mentions another couple of candidates.  

Gorena asks to go back to item 13.  If the City allows a sign could we set a limit for how long the sign could stay?  King states yes.  This would be a new sign on undeveloped property on 121 towards the Colony.  It is beginning to look like a sign farm according to the Mayor.

Item 12 will retreat back to executive session.

And that's the workshop.  Meeting in a couple minutes.

We've got folks from Relay for Life here regarding the in kind donations.  We also have a few veterans here I think to speak about the freeway naming.

7pm and we're pledging and invoking.

April 18-24 "National Cleaning for a Reason" week.  Cleaning for a Reason Foundation (based in Lewisville!) free home cleaning for women undergoing treatment for cancer.  Cool idea- they've helped over 3,000 women since their recent inception.  Mike Forney is the executive director.  Debbie Sardone, a local cleaning company owner came up with this idea and it went nationwide since 2006.  650 maid services participate throughout the US and Canada.  

Proclamation Apr. 18-24 as Denton County Crime Victims Rights Week.  There will be a Denton County Crime Services Coalition recognition and awards ceremony Thursday at 6pm at the Denton County Courthouse.

Public Hearing-  Zoning change for an area near Kealey to old town mixed use 2 just north of Purnell. Planning and Zoning approves.  Ms. Betty Jo Price-Olevo is here to speak about the change.  She gives a history of her purchase of the location and hoping to get it zoned because they're disabled and have a reverse mortgage for their home. Council approves unanimously.  Zone change moved to change.  Passes unanimously.

Zoning Ordinance amendment.  The city staff has found some odd language in chapter 17-22.8.1-3 that needs to be cleaned up.  Moved and approved unanimously.

Citizens Forum:  Mr. Matt McCormick, President of the Chamber here to thank the FD and PD for their work on the Public Safety day on the Leadership Lewisville class.

Linda Asbell (sp) is not here to complain, she's here to ask for help along Carnation Drive.  Her issue is that the Kent Ellis park is beginning to have issues where she has had to call the police several times about fights.  She states that the problems are well known by the police and if this is well known then she would like to see increased police coverage.

Mr. Tim Thompson is here to mention that it's not fair that the city gets to park their trailers and vehicles on grass and in alleys while residents have to have a trailer pad.  He specifically pointed out the sign at the annex which has killed off the grass.  He is concerned that the rules don't apply to the city and that they should.  Not a bad point at all.  I've heard this same complaint about the city getting to use flashing signs while businesses can't.  Mr. Thompson also mentions that public equipment is bought with our tax dollars and in a way it is private and should be beholden to the same rules.

Consent Agenda-  Item 7 (discussing TxDoT for their poor I-35 maintenance) has been pulled. Passes.

Item 7-  Resolution asking for Proper and Adequate Funding for TxDoT to maintain right of ways and infrastructure.  Tierney mentions that last fall the grass and trash were unacceptable in the highway right of ways.  (The last time the city actually mowed TxDoT property, the state stopped mowing altogether, reasoning that if the city would pay for it the state no longer had to).  Tierney believes this also applies to street maintenance and that the state has been very slow to respond.  Tierney would like to issue a ticket to the state but the state is exempt (the irony of Mr. Thompson's earlier comments has not been lost on Mr. Tierney).

Durham mentions that this is happening everywhere and that there is no money after 2012 for roads.  If we think its bad now, it's only going to get worse.  This is on the legislature.  We're all between a rock and a hard place.

This is directed at the legislature.  Moved and seconded.  Passed unanimously.

Item 10- Variance to City Code, waiving April 24th LLELA Earth Day Events fees.  $1223 dollars are asked to be waived.  This includes the KLB event next weekend and the Dam Run.  Moved approved.  Unanimous.  

Item 11-  Variance to City Code, waiving fees for the Defenders of Freedom ride at the Vista Ridge Amphitheater.  Donna Cranston from Coppell is here and gives the background of the Defenders of Freedom organization.  They assist the wounded veterans and this bike ride raises funds to assist wounded warriors.  Approved and Unanimous.  Gorena asks to waive all fees.  Mayor asks if that means the insurance that the staff recommends keeping.  Gorena states no.  Passes unanimous.

Item 12-  Parker House haunted house variance for their September - October event and that they'll add more fence to screen the event and set the property back to it's original state.  Break to consult the lawyers.  Mayor recommends that this is tabled until we get more clarification.  This should be an interesting issue to dig into since some of the neighborhood is unhappy about the Parker House haunted house being near.  Tabled until 2nd meeting of June.

Item 13-  Adding a sign on the frontage road of 121 at the intersection of Cookie Ln. (North of FM 544).  Amaranth Senior Community would like a big sign that is against our sign ordinance.  Staff is concerned about the quantity of signs in the area and recommends declining the variance.  Amaranth would like a sign like another facility already has across the street. They would like to have the sign for two years and would be glad to get rid of it if they're leased out.  There's no drive by traffic for the facility. 

Mayor mentions that he's an opponent of extra signage and that Amaranth knew this was going to be an issue when they purchased property off the main road.  Watts mentions that they're a year old and 33% full, and it takes on average three years to fill up.  Watts thinks it won't make much difference in this economy.  Gorena mentions that the owner has given permission to put up a sign and personally has no problem with granting this and wants to limit it to two years.  He also mentions that he 'kinda' agrees with Watts.  Whatever the city can do to help lease the property he'd like to do within reason.  It might be an eyesore but this might be a way to create value for the company.  Durham wants the existing sign that's non compliant gone and that he wants an 18 month limit.  Tierney dislikes the 'sign litter' and believes that area is getting out of control.  While he feels bad, if all the businesses that were doing poorly asked for extra signs, it wouldn't be acceptable.  Tierney would like to have the illegal sign extended for 1 year.  That would have all the signs in the area expiring in the same time frame.  His only exemption would be for the marina because they were existing before development.  Thornhill mentions that we've let the genie out of the bottle because we've already given variances for other signs.  With the current economy we need to help our businesses survive.  He would like it reduced to under 2 years.  

Motion to allow for 1 year.  Approved unanimously.

Item 14-  Variance for a Wall Sign for National Indoor Storage on 121.  They're asking for an extra 35 square feet of signage.  Gorena asks about the actual sign and mentions that it's 212 ft from the highway.  Hal Kendrick is here for questions.  Tierney thinks it should stay within the ordinance.  Gorena would like to increase it.  Watts wouldn't mind hearing from the property owner.  Mr. Kendrick mentions that the history of this issue is that this is a new concept business and the business plan was only for RV's and boats but it has now expanded to storage, service/repair, and sales.  The current sign is incomplete.  They only want to add a few words to the current sign adding an 11% variance.  Gorena sees what is being discussed and agrees.  Moved and approved.  Tierney opposes. 

Item 15-  Variance for Relay for Life to waive event fees for May 14 and 15th.  This includes 10 tents and the setup/teardown.  Moved approved. Unanimous.

Item 16-  Naming I-35 E. N/S Stemmons Freeway Purple Heart Trail the "Liberty Freeway".  There is mention that there will be an I-35 committee that naming of this corridor would be within this committee's scope of issues.  Staff recommends this be moved to that committee.  Mr. J Buhe (sp) a veteran is here to speak regarding about a Farmer's Branch statement that this is 'Freedom' to honor the men and women of our armed forces.  If you're going to honor the armed forces, call it 'armed forces' not some vague terminology like 'liberty' or 'freedom'.  35 is already the Purple Heart Trail from end to end.  The reason there are not more signs designating this is because of the expense of the signs.  If you want to honor the military and men and women, call it armed forces, not Liberty or Freedom.

Mr. Gilbert Brown is also here with the same sentiments.  "lets be clear and call it Veterans if you want to honor veterans".  The Purple Heart Trail is privately funded.  Brown mentions that his conversation with Gorena would be ok with feeder roads having signs but would like to afford more signs for purple heart trail.  Mayor would like to see our monies spent for Purple Heart instead.  Signs are 500-600 each and we have to have money set aside to replace it according to Mr. Brown.

Lt. Col Al Tolese, Frank Pilsbury, and Debbie Wright (forgive my last name butchery) who support the veterans, they'd prefer the Veterans or Purple Heart designations instead of 'Freedom'.  Former Mayor Carey also supports the Purple Heart option.  Mayor Ueckert mentions that this came from the Mayor of Farmers Branch and there's nothing that's come back from the staff or state about this.  He's also spoken with many veterans over the months and that the feedback has continuously been for Veterans or Purple Heart.  Last meeting the City approved 200,000 to do a study survey on how to facelift the I-35 corridor.  The Mayor would like to see the committee focus on this to generate a theme or idea.  

Gorena now clarifies:  Farmers Branch came up with the idea and he thinks it's a noble idea and it's not just for veterans for all who are serving in the present and past.  "It is to recognize the men and women of the armed forces and their families and a tribute to the guardians of our liberty".  It is a nickname and Farmers Branch and Carrollton have both done this.  Gorena would like this item closed.  He now describes the signs on the frontage roads for this issue.  Gorena would like a final decision.  He wishes we'd come up with the idea but likes the concept.  Other Cities are waiting on Lewisville.  Gorena would like to see it go through and reiterates it doesn't change the addresses or the Purple Heart designation.

Mr. Buhlin wants to be clear on the 'Armed Forces'.  He and his 6 brothers served.  His mother and sister both built military equipment.  It needs to be Armed Forces.

Durham thinks we have plenty of names and would like to use the money for Purple Heart, hoping it's not limited to one per 100 miles.  We need to wait until the highway design is done.  Why do something that could get torn out.

Tierney agrees that this should go to the committee.  He likes the Purple Heart idea and it is already in place.  Thornhill- more names are a mess.  This is Lewisville not Farmers Branch and he wants to keep it the way it is.

Watts states that whatever the name is if there's an issue to discuss we're glad to have the veterans input.  Watts states that when he hears 'Liberty' it means veterans.  He agrees that we shouldn't do this until after the rebuild is finished so we don't waste the cash.  No other cities have to wait on us.  Lets get the committee to look at it.  Gorena moves to send to committee.  Unanimous.  Durham wants it noted that he wants it to be kept Purple Heart, Stemmons, I-35.  He does not want the Liberty name.

Item 17- waiving fees for Cinco de Mayo.  Rebecca Behnke is here to discuss the Cinco event and encourages the city to continue to support the event.  Watts wants to know about the cost associated and if this compares reasonably with other events.  King mentions it is similar to other things like this.  Behnke doesn't want Church closed but if that's what the Police believe then that is what she'll do.  Rebecca states that this is still a small event and is confident that the impact will be less on staff.  Watt's general question is why have fees if we're going to waive them for all events.  He wants to support everything but we've had to cut back to Western Day as our primary event.

Gorena is pleased that businesses are getting together to support.  He is all for the variances and appreciates the businesses getting together.  He wants to know if they can raise more for the officers.  He is behind waiving the fees.

Durham mentions that next year will be worse and that the economy will continue to be tight.  There will be a point where this in-kind won't work any longer, but that he's in favor.  Tierney congratulates and is in support of the variances.  Funding was removed last budget year.  Thornhill is in support.  Approved unanimously.

Item 18-  Appointment for Park Board to replace Patrick Booth.  Thornhill would like to consider only the interviewed list and recommends Michael Polk (sp).  Moved and approved unanimous.

Durham thanks Mr. Booth for his service and hopes that he would volunteer again should he have time.

Early voting starts on the 26th and election day is May 8th. We're all done.  Thanks for reading.