2026-08-25 - Town Council Regular Session

00:00heard this conversation right now and

00:02just read that paragraph. Um, I would I

00:06would understand the Maven Arthur.

00:08>> So, so if I can ask council a question,

00:10if I add that in there that it is at the

00:12only at the approval of the chief of

00:14police and does that

00:18beef that up enough for you because I'm

00:21worried that too much detail would kind

00:22of drown out a little bit of it too.

00:24Right. So, um,

00:26>> agree. Agree. Sometimes you don't.

00:28You're right. Agree.

00:31I would be okay with that.

00:33>> Okay. Being okay with that small

00:35adjustment.

00:38>> You got what you need there.

00:40>> Okay. I can make those adjustments. Um

00:42and then uh would council like to see

00:44this back at next meeting.

00:47>> That'd be fine. Probably not on consent

00:49though.

00:49>> Okay. All right. We can make that

00:52happen. Thank y'all.

00:53>> Anything else you need from me?

00:56>> Um I think we're good.

00:58>> All right. Thank you.

00:59>> Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.

01:01>> And at this time, uh, item 11 A, 11B, we

01:06now invite town manager Zuda to the

01:07podium

01:10for 11B.

01:13>> Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, Mayor

01:15Council. I'm sorry, I got turned off in

01:17between. Uh, coming back to you tonight

01:19with a resolution asking you to approve

01:22a lease for the relocation and expansion

01:25of the senior center.

01:28Can you bring up the document with red

01:31line, please?

01:33So, as background for the audience and

01:35for um anyone that is listening live or

01:38watches this later, again, we

01:40established a senior center in 2020 at

01:43Mcrimid Corner Shopping Center. That

01:45senior center is just over 3,000 square

01:47feet of space.

01:55So again over 3,000 square feet um that

01:58has operated um almost continuously with

02:01some co exceptions since that time. Uh

02:04shortly after operations began uh I

02:07think the staff became aware uh that the

02:10space was limiting uh not only because

02:12of its layout but because of the size of

02:14that space and that there was interest

02:16in expansion of that space. So,

02:18beginning in 2025, we negotiated with

02:21Westwood Financial, uh, who is the, um,

02:24leasing agent for that shopping center

02:26to discuss expansion. Originally, we had

02:29reached agreement to expand into the two

02:31spaces adjacent to the existing senior

02:35center as you move towards what was the

02:37Harris ter shopping center. Uh, a lease

02:39was agreed to and signed for that that

02:41would bring that uh, senior center space

02:44up to almost 5,500 square ft. Uh and

02:48then that would be the plan was that we

02:50would be designing that which we did and

02:52then as we completed design we were

02:54notified by the uh leasing agent that

02:57they were going to be unable to provide

02:59that space to us until 2028 and that was

03:02related to the new business that was

03:06coming into the Harris ter space. So at

03:09that point um earlier this year was when

03:11we learned that information. We

03:13backpedalled a little bit and began a

03:15conversation with the leasing agent

03:16about alternatives and they came to us

03:19and identified what is currently or what

03:22was until it closed the petland store

03:24space which is within that same shopping

03:27center. Uh that business is not going to

03:30be there. Uh they've apparently gone

03:31idle business and will be leaving the

03:33space. So that space was available. That

03:35space is just over 5,500 square ft. Um

03:39so very very similar to what we would

03:41have had with the expansion at the

03:43existing space. Uh beyond that there was

03:46some real opportunity there that we

03:48didn't have at the other space. Um

03:50because it was an expansion that was a

03:52little bit of square peg into round hole

03:55the best we could to maneuver that

03:57space. Um it wouldn't have overcome the

03:59walking in in front of the in

04:01potentially in a class or going through

04:03a class to get to another room. Uh so

04:05this building gives us more flexibility

04:07in how we structure it. We believe it'll

04:10give us two large spaces that can then

04:12be opened up into one even larger space

04:14if needed. Again, it has full glass

04:17windows but not facing the sun during

04:19the day. So we won't have the um

04:21excessive heat in the front of the

04:22building. Uh it but it lets in more

04:24daylight. It's a much higher ceiling

04:26which makes it feel like a bigger space.

04:28I think it's more welcoming in that

04:30regard and it's able to be laid out

04:32better than what the other space would

04:34have been able to. It gives us a little

04:36more flexibility in that regard and

04:38ultimately probably a little more

04:39working space uh in classroom space. So

04:43when I first spoke to you, we were

04:45working on finalizing an agreement

04:46there. you had expressed some question

04:49uh particularly around the um ability to

04:52secure some additional parking there and

04:54what would happen in terms of when rent

04:56would commence and then also what would

04:58happen if rent commenced at the new

05:00space while we still had to be in the

05:02old space. So the lease that I've shared

05:04with you tonight um I believe addresses

05:06all of your concerns. So the lease that

05:09I've presented you is a 59month lease.

05:12Um there is an option for the town to

05:15consider an additional 59-month lease if

05:17we so choose to. Uh the cost of that

05:20lease will be approximately $233,000

05:24annually. It is within $3,000 of what

05:27the other space would have been because

05:28it's such a similar amount of square

05:30footage, which is what that's based on

05:32for lease rate and then also the um cam

05:35rent rate each month for the community

05:38accessible space. Uh in addition to

05:40that, uh the lease e lease work, excuse

05:44me, uh Westwood has agreed to give us

05:47eight months uh from the time of lease

05:50signing until rent commencement. That's

05:52normally a 90-day window. We've

05:53negotiated uh eight months of that, 240

05:56days of that. We have also worked with

05:58them to negotiate that if for any reason

06:00we are not able to be in the new space

06:03when the rent commences that the rent at

06:06the existing space will reduce to $1,000

06:08a month for anytime we need to remain in

06:11that space while we're paying rent on

06:13the new space. So that was one of the

06:14things I think you expressed some

06:16question about or concern about last

06:17time. So was able to negotiate on that

06:20down to $1,000 a month. So with that,

06:24um, we also negotiated the ability to

06:26add additional ADA accessible parking in

06:29front of the building along with marking

06:31other spaces, additional spaces reserved

06:33for senior center parking. Again, an

06:36advantage there that if you park in

06:38those ADA accessible spots, you walk

06:40right onto a sidewalk through a curb cut

06:43in that immediate vicinity. There's no

06:45more crossing what is almost a main

06:47thoroughfare in the shopping center

06:49there in front of the existing space.

06:51Um, we have had very preliminary

06:53conversations, but we believe the smart

06:55shuttle stop can be moved closer to the

06:57senior center for those that use it. Um,

07:00again, it's it's not a heavily used

07:02means of transportation, get there now.

07:04That could improve as we continue to

07:05improve smart shuttle service, but we

07:07believe that could move over there as

07:09well. Uh, and so again, also as a

07:11reminder earlier this evening on

07:13consent, you approved the the build

07:15method for this space. So that is going

07:18to allow um the engineering department

07:20to get started with formal design work

07:22for this space. So we can be through

07:23that as quickly as we can and then we'd

07:26be able to get into the new space

07:27ideally around that eight-month time

07:29frame. But again, if if we have to go

07:31beyond that, it would only be an

07:32additional $1,000 a month to hold the

07:35existing space and continue to meet

07:37there. uh again and that just from the

07:39context of that's also an advantage of

07:41we can just build this and then they can

07:43come when it's ready rather than trying

07:45to work in the same space they are or

07:47immediately adjacent to where the

07:48seniors are. So we think that's also an

07:51advantage. Um

07:55happy to take any questions.

07:59>> Council member Johnson to begin then

08:01council member Johnson. So, thank you

08:04Brandon um for bringing this and for

08:07confirming

08:08um a lot of those details that we had

08:10asked about and I had mentioned this to

08:13you when we spoke yesterday, but please

08:15share all these details with the senior

08:18advisory committee. The um especially

08:21the the parking issues um that those

08:24were some concerns they had as well. So,

08:26now that we've confirmed all that and

08:28then the fact that there'll be

08:30designated designated spots for this

08:34senior center I think is going to be um

08:37built received very well by them. But if

08:40you can make sure that all this is

08:41shared with them so that they know and

08:43then going forward maybe um on their

08:46agenda it doesn't have to be every month

08:48every other month but it's some

08:51consistent kind of cycle give them

08:54updates as to what's happening.

08:56>> Absolutely. I think we can once you know

08:59in the design component they'll be

09:01seeing that they'll be able to give a

09:02little bit of feedback on the design

09:03component. Once that's finalized um we

09:06can certainly once they really are in

09:07there working we can certainly give them

09:09if nothing else monthly photo updates of

09:11how it's coming along and what we

09:12estimate timelines to be. We're we're of

09:15course happy to do that.

09:16>> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it.

09:19>> Council member Spargin Johnson, please.

09:23>> Thank you. Um, I'd like to say thank you

09:27to town manager Zudman and the staff

09:30because this has been something that has

09:33been needed for a while and we had a

09:35great opportunity to expand it next door

09:38and that kind of fell through um with

09:41the changing of Harris tery and so forth

09:45like that caused a cascade of um

09:48interesting circumstances and this

09:52potential new space The petland space is

09:56on a corner. It's it's more visible to

09:58the street. I think it's going to be

10:01more attractive overall to the seniors

10:04as well because of the expansion. Um,

10:07one of the things that as I'm thinking

10:11about the design of the new space, I

10:13like the fact that you have two small

10:15spaces that you can expand into a larger

10:17space for larger events and so forth.

10:20With that in mind, there's also a need

10:23for storage. Now, the current space has

10:26very limited storage. So don't forget

10:28the storage is something you know

10:31whenever um you go into new spaces you

10:34have everything laid out but a little

10:36larger storage closet might be good so

10:39that we can grow into that you know new

10:42kind of um space because

10:45I have heard a lot of feedback from

10:47seniors about not being able to store

10:50decorations or certain activity um items

10:54that they want to have stored on site

10:56has to be stored off site due to limited

10:59availability. But um very excited to get

11:02this approved tonight. Um hopefully

11:05>> for September 8th,

11:07>> but yes, understand.

11:09>> No, I said it right. [laughter]

11:12Thank you so much.

11:16>> I look forward to uh the new space. I

11:20like the idea that it'll be larger. Um

11:22just want to also say pickle ball and

11:24table tennis. Those are things that I

11:26know uh the seniors really do enjoy and

11:28to be able to do that indoors would be

11:30great. So, no promises, just a thought.

11:34I already got you. And now, Council

11:35Member Castling, please.

11:37>> I just wanted to say thanks for all the

11:39hard work on

11:43what's the saying, the making li

11:45lemonade out of limits. Yeah. Um and

11:48being able to transition into this new

11:50space. Um it's a nicer space. It seems

11:53it will be uh and it'll be open. Well, I

11:56guess maybe not sooner, but it's not

11:59going to be delayed. So, thank you.

12:01>> Thank you. Great team effort. Spans

12:03multiple departments, public works,

12:05parks, finance, admin, engineering. So,

12:08lots of folks involved with this.

12:10>> And council member Johnson has another

12:12thought.

12:13>> So, I'm sorry. I just need to say thank

12:15you, Brandon. Brandon was present along

12:17with a lot of our staff at the last

12:20senior advisory committee meeting and

12:23you and Kitty and others that were there

12:25did a fabulous job and um the feedback I

12:29got was it was very much appreciated

12:31that the staff was there to answer their

12:33questions and um as as difficult as this

12:37is because this is not what we all

12:39wanted. We wanted to be in a new senior

12:42center just about now or by the end of

12:44this year. Um, thank you because you you

12:48did a great job, Brandon, explaining um

12:51to the group and they very much

12:53appreciate that and understand um and I

12:56think they are going to be happier in

12:58the end although it's taking a little

13:00longer. Let's hope we don't go through

13:02this again. But just thank you. You did

13:04a fabulous job.

13:06>> And if I could um one quick thing I

13:08didn't mention um in terms of finances

13:11for this. So the other piece that

13:12because I think it's fair to acknowledge

13:14Westwood is they did give us not only

13:16the TIA the tenant improvement allowance

13:19that we would normally get which is in

13:20the neighbor of $83,000 to help with our

13:22upfit. They also agreed to $50,000

13:25additional because we had invested that

13:27in design at the al at the original

13:29location. So with that um you may recall

13:32the original budget for this was

13:34$850,000.

13:36Um, so we spent 50 that so that left us

13:38at eight, but we're going to get 130 in

13:42TIA including that 50 back. So that puts

13:44us at about 132, 133 or sorry 932, 933.

13:50Uh, and in talking with finance, we can

13:52cover the remaining 67ish to get to a

13:55million um, out of interest earned on

13:58this uh, account. And again, right now

14:00the the ROM the and I want to say that

14:02again the rough order of magnitude no

14:04one has designed anything estimate is $1

14:07million and again we because of the

14:09method of design build bridging we're

14:11using we can ensure that we stay to that

14:14budget and then as that gets designed

14:16we'll be back to you and we'll share

14:17that with you and if if there are things

14:18you want to consider otherwise we can

14:20certainly do that with you but that's

14:21where we stand today.

14:24>> Excellent. lots of great work and um we

14:27value all of our residents but all of us

14:29have been to the senior center and we

14:31enjoy our time there so we look forward

14:33to being in uh continuing to go there

14:35for a while and then going to the new

14:36place council member Johnson

14:40>> if we don't make a motion to approve

14:41tonight would this go on consent for the

14:44gate

14:45>> it's not asked for be approved tonight

14:47but it can probably go on consent for

14:49the eth I believe

14:50>> so I think it I mean you're certainly

14:52welcome to take action tonight you know

14:53we discussed it previously. Normally, we

14:55don't bring it back for discussion and

14:57then take action. I think action on

14:59September 8th on consent is fine. Um

15:02because again, when you approve

15:04hopefully the resolution, that's

15:06authorizing me to sign the lease. I will

15:09not sign that lease until the space is

15:11empty and we can walk in the door to

15:13begin working. So, that could give us

15:16another monthish

15:18of additional time where we really might

15:20have nine months before that rent

15:23commences. So I think again that's to

15:25our advantage. That depends on how

15:26quickly pet land exits the building.

15:30>> Okay. All good. Excellent. Thank you

15:33very much to the whole team. Really

15:34appreciate to the senior advisory

15:36committee and all the seniors.

15:38>> Okay. Um for a full listing of our

15:41upcoming town events, please see the

15:42town calendar at www.morrisvillec.gov.

15:46We're now at council comments. I'll

15:48share first followed by Mayor Protemati.

15:50Uh, first I want to again express our

15:52gratitude to Sergeant Steve Bailey on

15:54his retirement. I was there for his

15:56final 1042 call earlier this month and

15:58it was a moment filled with emotion and

16:00admiration. What stood out most from

16:02those who spoke was Sergeant Bailey's

16:05unwavering integrity, a legacy that will

16:07remain with our community and our police

16:09department. We wish them all the best in

16:12his next chapter. I also want to thank

16:14our staff for their extraordinary effort

16:16this week and leading up to this week.

16:18It was supporting multiple meetings in

16:20close succession, including tonight's

16:22council meeting. Your dedication as a

16:24team and preparation made all this

16:26possible, and we truly appreciate the

16:27time and energy that you all give to

16:29Morrisville. As days grow shorter, I

16:32encourage everyone to enjoy our

16:33greenways and parks. I had the chance to

16:35participate in the 5K this past weekend

16:37from Cedar Park District Park to

16:38Morrisville Community Park and back. And

16:41even though the race started at an

16:42ambitious 7:30 a.m., I told them it

16:44should be later in the future. It was a

16:46wonderful reminder of all the natural

16:48beauty and community spirit that we're

16:50fortunate to have here in Morrisville.

16:51And now I'll turn over to Mayor

16:53Petraati.

16:54>> No comments. Thank you, Mayor.

16:57>> Council member Scottish Johnson,

16:58followed by Council Member Garamela.

17:01>> No comment. Thank you.

17:02>> Council member Garamela, followed by

17:04Council Member Johnson.

17:06>> I just want to thank the staff for, you

17:08know, this weekend summer retreat. was

17:12pretty good and you guys did a fabulous

17:14job and it's not easy to have the entire

17:17staff and the directors to be there

17:18present. Thank you.

17:21>> Uh, Council Member Johnson followed by

17:23Council Member Patel.

17:25>> Um, so I too want to say thank you to

17:28staff for Saturday and to my fellow

17:30council members for um taking the time

17:33away from family and friends and all the

17:35other obligations we have in our life um

17:38to be there on Saturday. So, thank you

17:40for that. And then for um all those that

17:43are starting a new school year um

17:46congratulations and we wish you a

17:48successful and safe school year.

17:51>> Council member Patel followed by Council

17:53Member Castle.

17:54>> So I also want to thank all all staff

17:57members. They were there on on site for

18:00the for the retreat and presenting the

18:02material that was very at least very

18:04insightful for for myself. And um also

18:08want to thank uh I I did not comment

18:10during the the last uh presentation for

18:14the senior center but um I want to thank

18:17all staff to put in you know quite a bit

18:21of time and effort uh to come up with

18:23the solution that we currently have. So

18:25thank you

18:26>> council member cast please.

18:29>> Uh thank you for the retreat. It's very

18:31insightful. Congrats to Sergeant Bailey

18:34and my comments.

18:37>> Town Manager Zuda, do you have anything

18:38for the good of the order?

18:40>> Briefly,

18:42um, thank you all as well for Saturday.

18:45Um, I thought that was a very good there

18:46was a lot of cander. There was a lot of

18:48good conversation. I think it was a very

18:50good first step towards an FY28 budget.

18:52So, thank you. We're very appreciative

18:54of that as well. I do want to thank the

18:56leadership team. Um, you know, they with

18:59few exceptions that just had other prior

19:01commitments before we picked the date.

19:03Um, they all showed up. They all had

19:05smiles on their face. I didn't hear a

19:07moan or a groan. They they recognized

19:09the value of being there and

19:10contributing to that and we were talking

19:12about it. I think almost every

19:15leadership team member that was there

19:17offered something to contribute to the

19:19conversation as well. So, I think that

19:20was a very unique opportunity. I'm very

19:22appreciative that they, you know, they

19:24don't hesitate. They don't hoon. just

19:25say yes and and let's get this done. I

19:28also want to specifically call out a

19:29young man um Michael McCrae in our

19:32financial services uh department. So um

19:35we we took a chance on him and he just

19:39soared. I thought I thought he was

19:40fantastic. He was very confident. He had

19:42a lot of good information. So really

19:45complimentary of and appreciative of

19:46Micah uh for his work in that as well.

19:49Thank you.

19:52>> Okay. At this time, I'd entertain a

19:54motion and a second to adjourn this

19:56evening's meeting.

19:57>> I'll make that motion.

20:00>> Motion from Mayor Tamati and a second

20:02from

20:02>> I'll second.

20:03>> Council member Johnson. That's kind of

20:04the teamwork that's working tonight. All

20:06those in favor of adjourning, please say

20:08I.

20:08>> I. Any opposed? Hearing? None. That

20:10carries unanimously. Uh 70. It is 8:35.

20:14We are adjourned. Thank you. See you on

20:15Thursday.