It also uh has the added benefit of um helping folks um to get uh uh if there are uh we constantly encounter folks who have issues but uh that are neighborhood type issues but are not uh they're not city residents, therefore we're powerless to address their issues, and and so often uh uh uh uh it an added benefit of this approach is it will allow us to refer them to the right local government if if they have a direct service need that's that's not in your purview.

So yes, so we will we do look at them in in the to use your word screening, but we're not saying we're not allowing you to speak or not, because I I've been reading the comments, you know, and people are afraid of the we're not screening or editing subject matter or anything of that nature.

We're simply directing people to the correct resource, and as a matter of fact, by policy, if you want to come and talk about a neighborhood issue outside the city limits, you could do that too.

But most of the folks just want um to be talking to the right uh right group to to have their needs met.

So uh we hope that will be convenient for all parties.

Yes, Ms.

Rogers.

Chris, can I ask a follow-up question?

So um if someone does want to call in and and have the city staff support in filling out this form, is it also by noon on is it the same deadline and time frame?

That's right.

And we the these next few meetings we can help folks if there's timing issues.

It it's just to make sure that we don't uh have a uh we're not ill-equipped.

Great.

And then my last question is there a limit to the number of of people that can address council?

No, that would be a matter of uh council if if council wanted to do that, you all are uh in control of your agenda.

But right now it's however many folks sign up, everyone's two minutes.

Okay, great, thanks.

Good, good.

Any other questions?

Thank you, Mr.

Story.

Thank you, sir.

Council updates.

And before we go to council updates, I do want to make mention, because I'm sure everybody else may steal my thunder here.

Um uh the 39th annual Martin Luther King Jr.

Unity Week celebration.

Uh it actually kicks off on Thursday.

Um the the mayor has a breakfast Thursday morning, but also that evening uh we have the art contest reception at 6 o'clock p.m.

at Chapman Culture Center, 200 East Main Street on Friday, Friday.

We all recognize January the 16th as kindness day, all day.

Be kind to your neighbor, be kind to your friend.

But as we had that theme about young people, uh we will have a um uh teen takeover at Dr.

TK Gregg Recreation Team uh Center United Team Takeover on Friday.

So our teenagers will be there from seven until we decide it's time to go home, but they will have access to the centers just to open it up, a safe place for them to go and uh um you know just blow off steam and just be in a safe environment.

That's just one thing that we're doing for them early on.

Also Saturday we have the walk is one, nine o'clock a.m.

We will start at the uh uh Robert Chapman, the third uh center for philanthropy, right there on 431 East Kennedy Street.

Thank you, Troy Hannah, uh for uh helping us with that.

That is nine o'clock Saturday morning the 17th.

Also Sunday, Sunday, January the 19th, community celebration, three o'clock.

We have a dynamic speaker at Sponberg Memorial Auditorium, dynamic keynote speaker, Dr.

Adolph Brown.

If you not if you have not heard him, please come out.

Dynamic young man, really bringing some energy and again, he will have some focus for our young young people and some of the young folks that participate in the teen night will actually get an opportunity to meet with him prior to his um uh speech.

And also on Monday, United Way Day of Service, a day on, not a day off.

We all uh uh would ask you to go out to volunteer, uh take the uh example from the uh Delters in in the back where they are always doing community service.

I'm sure they will be out somewhere with a day on and not a day off, as we all will be as well uh sitting here uh in this uh on this dais.

So um with that being said, council updates.

We're gonna start down here with council one uh member Rogers.

We're gonna start down here with Council uh member Rogers Great, thank you.

Um good evening, happy new year, everyone.

Um I want to congratulate Mr.

Mayor, Councilmember Fulmer, Councilmember Sally, and Councilmember Brown when she returns.

Um a couple things that I have on on my mind this evening.

First of all, I hope everyone's taking care of themselves to stay healthy, caring for their loved ones this time of year.

Um the next thing I wanted to bring up was I had an opportunity to speak to several community members about the Spartago pilot over the holiday.

Um I know the city is is amplifying the information, um, but there's still members of our community that haven't seen that.

So please talk about SpartaGo.

Please grab a friend, hop on, try it.

Um these particular community members were we're very excited about the opportunity to save on gas and just come uh back and forth with the city.