“Oaths, Secrets & Settlements: A Night of Swearing In and Swearing Off at Frisco City Hall”

Frisco Chronicles: What Lies Beneath … in the Agenda?

Every other week, like clockwork, the Frisco City Council releases an agenda packed with the usual suspects: zoning changes, budget adjustments, proclamations for pickleball appreciation month—nothing to see here, folks. Move along.

You ever hear that old saying, “The devil’s in the details?” Sometimes, here in Frisco, the devil doesn’t just visit the details—he rents a room in the city council agenda.  But this week is a little DIFFERENT!   Let’s Dive In!

First Up: Executive Session: The Vault

This is where transparency goes to die. Behind closed doors, council members discuss land deals, lawsuits, and personnel matters—away from public ears and cameras.  Yes, some of it needs to be private. But some of it? Let’s just say if the public heard the full audio, they’d be polishing pitchforks by sunrise.  So, what is happening during The Vault this week?  Agenda Item 2(C) is about Personal Matters, and it says they will “DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR PRO-TEM, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO-TEM AND CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES.”   

The actual vote will happen under the “Individual Items” and our vote is for Brian Livingston for Mayor Pro-Tem and we encourage everyone to email you council members today and tell them to vote for Livingston for Mayor Pro-Tem for the last year of his term.

Second: Individual Items – Special Events

We expect the council chambers to be packed with supporters of Burt Thakur and Jared Elad on Tuesday night as they will be sworn in.  There has been a buzz in the air since the election night of the runoff race.  Seat will be filled, cameras will be rolling, and the room will be electric with that rarest of municipal emotions: hope.

Because Tuesday is not just another city council meeting it is changing of the guard!  With right hands raised and left hands resting on the city charter, Burt Thakur and Jared Elad will be officially sworn in as the newest members of the Frisco City Council. 

Why is this important, because they were not appointed to the seat, they were elected by you!  By the small business owners tired of red tape. By the residents who want Frisco to thrive, not just survive.  And they came in not to blend, but to stand.

The room will be electric, and you will be able to feel the shift in the room.  Smiles from supporters. Side-eyes from the establishment. A few city staffers quietly clutching their blood pressure meds.  It will end with applause. Loud. Sustained.

Welcome to the table, Burt and Jared.  Frisco’s watching!

Next up, The Consent Agenda: Where Democracy Goes to Nap

We have said it before, and we will say it again, the most exciting thing most Frisco residents glance over is the “DETAILS” in the CONSENT AGENDA.  If you stop, squint, and scroll past the “Consent Agenda” (which is code for “let’s pass this all without discussion”), you’ll find the real story. Because what lies beneath those bland agenda titles are buried treasures—or more often, ticking time bombs. 

This is where the “Devil Is in the Details!”  Basically, the Consent Agenda is where they stash the stuff they want to hide. Think of it like the junk drawer of city government—contracts, appointments, expenditures, land swaps, and sometimes even lawsuits—all passed with a single vote and zero debate.

The Devil is in Item 24: It reads, Consider and act upon approval of the Settlement Agreement and Release between the City of Frisco, Texas and Lauren Safranek and authorizing the City Manager to sign the same and take all steps necessary to effectuate the Settlement Agreement and Release. (CMO/HH)

After our blog “City Halls Troubled Sea’s” everyone was quiet about the mysterious disappearance of the HR Director and several others in her department.  In fact we have had PIR’s in for over a month a now and they are delaying them and going to the Attorney General. According to item 24 in the consent agenda they will approve a settlement agreement and release between the City and Sassy Safranek.  We will file a PIR for that settlement agreement.   

Yes, this is the same Lauren Safranek who led the witch hunt against Former Fire Chief Mark Piland and continues to oversee the court case against Assistant Fire Chief Cameron Kraemer.  She has spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on unnecessary investigations to cover up her flagrant forgeries and other mistakes!   

What we find interesting is that the city could have settled with Cameron Kraemer, who WON his PTSD Injury Claim by the TDI Workers Compensation Division in Dallas.  You can read more about in The Local Profile, but instead, Safranek and the city pushed forward, continuing to spend taxpayer dollars on a losing case.  Something in the Council Chambers smells like the crap in Exide. Why will the City settle with Lauren Safranek and not Former Asst. Fire Chief Cameron Kraemer?  Demand answers, Frisco!

Learn more about Lauren Safranek in a few of our old blogs:

Breaking News; Big Time Casino Payout

Day 12: Tangled Web of Lies

Day 10: Dog & Pony Show

Day 9: Case 64 Responses

Day 3: Case 64 & HR Malfeasance

2023: Sassy Safranek

Last Up for The Night, The Regular Agenda – aka The Cryptic Language 101

Usually, items here are often worded in such vague terms that only a decoder ring or a PhD in municipal bureaucracy could translate it!  Most of the time this section can be pretty boring but NOT TONIGHT! 

Item 36:  Consider and act upon appointments to City Council Committees. (CSO/KM)

Remember when Brian Livingston supported Mark Piland two years ago against Mayor Cheney – well he was removed from all the committees he served on and so were many of his supporters.  Why?  They didn’t play Cabal Ball.  In the past, you didn’t walk away from that, like nothing happened.  No, instead you were punished!  Well tonight Livingston and hopefully our new council members will take their rightful place on these committees again! 

It’s time to speak up and demand changes not with our council representatives but what happens deep down in the city on these committees.   It is time for us to make our voices heard!  There are more Cabal Busters than Cabal God Fathers.

What Can You Do?  Read the agenda. Seriously, someone must.  Ask questions. Email your council members. Show up. Be annoying.  Speak out at Citizens’ Input, have your message included in the record. Demand clarity. If an item sounds vague, ask why. If they dodge, follow the money. Watch for patterns. When the same developer keeps getting breaks or the same contractor keeps winning bids, take note.

Help us!  Share what you find. That’s what we’re here for. To shine a flashlight into the shadows and say, “Hey… what the hell is this?”  Frisco isn’t just growing—it’s morphing. And what gets decided in those meetings shapes the city we live in, the traffic we sit in, and the taxes we pay.

Lastly, tomorrow you can bet some Cabal Godfathers will be upset.  Maybe one will write another HAIKU on her page full of hidden meaning and endless blah, blah, blah.  The Cabal will all respond to it on queue for sure as they are supposed to do.  Don’t worry, we know they are butt hurt but we are moving forward with change while they wallow on yesterday. Most of all remember, the next time someone tells you the council meeting was boring, just smile and say: “Sure… until you read what lies beneath.”

The $3,000 Question: What’s the Price of Consistency?

It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life for Frisco Taxpayers
Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo
And they’re feeling good

Today I was thinking, it is the start of a new beginning and soon two new city council members will join the Dias.  Burt Thakur and Jared Elad will be sworn into office at the July 1st City Council Meeting.  We hope their supporters come out and support them during the swearing in at the start of the meeting.

But what is happening before the meeting?  Well, apparently there is a City Council Work Session on June 26th.  They just posted the agenda and it appears under the Regular Agenda they are going to do a traditional welcome, agenda overview and set the theme for the session.  Then they are going to discuss a book called Great by Choice.  Lastly they will talk about the traits of successful teams. 

After that they will break into “Closed Session” where they will “have a deliberation, regarding commercial or financial information that the City has received from a business prospect or to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect.”   What could that mean?  We have no idea!

Then they will convene back into the “Regular Agenda” and finish with a Review of Councils 2025 Progress Goals, have a discussion regarding the FY2025-26 Initial Budget Considerations and closed with a “Ted Talk” regarding 5 Bold Steps to a Bright Future.   Interesting!  This is where we have questions.

Outgoing council members Tammy Meinershagen and Bill Woodard will be there as they still hold the seats for city council until July 1st. and then Burt Thakur and Jared Elad are sworn in.   Because of the runoff Thakur and Elad’s swearing falls after the meeting, but “THE BUDGET” is a big discussion that the new council members may have questions or input on.  Here is what we are interested in;

1. Did the city extend an invitation to the two newest council members to participate and learn at this work session like they have done in the past.

2. Will they host the meeting live on Frisco TV so residents can watch and learn and be more transparent for Frisco Residents?

3. What is the social event they are going to afterwords at Perry’s Steakhouse and is that on taxpayer dollars?

Now many may say, they are not sworn in yet so they can’t participate but exceptions have been made in the past.  In our article No Business Like Show Business we told you about how in March of 2022, our newly “APPOINTED” council woman Tammy Meinershagen went on the Frisco Chamber of Commerce Leadership Exchange Trip to Cary, North Carolina.  Why was that interesting to us at the time?  Well, Tammy Meinershagen had NOT YET BEEN SWORN IN as a council member yet. 

In that article, we asked the question of how Meinershagens’ trip was paid for.  Did she pay for it – remember she was not a SWORN IN council member or did TAXPAYERS pay for it?   Then we laid out the emails showing that on March 3, 2022, Mayor Jeff Cheney sent an email to Holly McCall, and said Tammy has expressed an interest in going on the LEX trip.  Cheney thinks it would be good for her to join to get a head start on her development and start building relationships.  He specifically notes, I know she will still be a council member elect as the time so not sure what hoops we need to jump through.  McCall, the Sr. Administrative Asst. to the Mayor & Council responds, “I’m sure it will be fine to pay for Tammy.  We’re just waiting on confirmation/advisement from the attorney’s office before proceeding.”

Then on March 7, 2022, in an email from Tammy Meinershagen to Tony Felker, President/CEO for the Frisco Chamber she states it looks like she will be able to join “representing the city council” so can you let me know what you need from me. 

Tony responded with an email asking Jeff Cheney what the best way for her is to register and then Jeff responds Holly McCall, the Sr. Administrative Assistant to the Mayor & Council, can book it. 

McCall responds again that she believes it will be fine to pay for her to go but she is waiting for the official city approval.  Fast forward to the April 19th, council meeting, Item #20 under the Consent Agenda (remember that is where they hide things) there is an action to consider and act upon approval of the attached reimbursement request presented to the Mayor and Council.   The memo reads that the $3000 request was the cost for Tammy Meinershagen to travel to Cary, North Carolina for the LEX trip hosted by the Frisco Chamber. It states she is a ‘CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL RUNNING UNOPPOSED.”    It then reads, Minershagen will begin her term in May, but members of the council believe the trip provided knowledge and experience that serves the public purpose of the city and was beneficial to the duties of a city council member. 

Guess what, THE COST WAS APPROVED!

At the time we wrote this article in October of 2023, we said we were alarmed that she would be going representing herself as a councilmember – when she had NOT YET BEEN SWORN IN and taken her OFFICIAL OATH.  We were adamant that running unopposed or not should not matter – what should matter is she was not sworn in to uphold her official duties as a city council woman.  We still believe that today!   However, what we think about the situation and what happened back in 2022/23, is irrelevant! The City of Frisco, The Chamber of Commerce and our City Council “SET A PRESCENDENT” that you do not have to be SWORN IN to present yourself as a council member and have the bills paid for by the city if you are appointed to your seat. 

Fast Forward to 2025

How does that change when two council members, who have officially been ELECTED, and are less than 7 days away from being sworn in, when it comes to them participating in the Summer Work session, in meetings that affect their upcoming term, etc.?  The session clearly says it is Councils Goals for the remaining time of 2025 and the future Budget for 2025-26!  I am guessing if you ask the two future elected council members what they think, they will agree with us!

That is the problem when you set a PRESCENDENT like they did in 2022 with Meinershagen, because now to be fair to the newly ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS – the city needs to invite them, allows them to participate, talk to leaders and city management, for the “experience it gives them, for educational reasons and benefits it presents them,” as it will help them grow in their council positions the same way they did for Meinershagen in 2022. 

Now, we wait and see – what happens?  Better get the city attorney on the phone and make allowances for the same concessions –

at least allowing them to attend s work session, doesn’t cost taxpayers $3000 this time!

Toxic Tammy’s Political Porch Pirates

Anyone who tells you they look forward to each election cycle and the Frisco Chamber Forum is either lying, blind or deaf!  Each year we watch it live, hoping it will be an independent, and we are always disappointed, and this week was no different!

If you watched the Frisco Chamber Candidate Forum this week, then you saw Tammy Meinershagen’s opening statement.   In case you missed it, Meinershagen said, “This re-election has been the hardest thing I have done in my entire life.  I am very grateful for the love and support of my husband, 3 daughters, my friends, my supporters who have walked in this journey with me, and I am thankful for many of you who have had open, honest, and healing conversations.

There is more that unites us than divides us.  But what is happening in Frisco is not okay.  This is not our Frisco.  Doing secret recordings, having multiple fake profiles, anonymous blogs, attacking family members, this is not right.  And despite being attacked, and my family being attacked, I’m still here.  I’m here to fight.  Fight against the dirty tactics, fight for Frisco, and I believe all of us need to come together and refuse to accept this as the new normal of choosing our Frisco leadership.  We need to choose better.  I believe that tonight you’re going to hear more empty promises, performative politics, and sound bites. 

I’m here to talk about my record and what I’ve actually done for the citizens of Frisco and for our city through my time here.  I look forward to earning your vote and sharing more about my time here in Frisco.”

While Tammy stands proudly and proclaims she is here to fight against dirty tactics and this being the new norm of Frisco, behind the scenes her supporters are doing exactly that!  Don’t let Toxic Tammy fool you, she is holding up to her statement that she is here to fight!  Fight for her control to govern by using her own supporters or any means necessary including committing dirty acts she talked about in her opening statement, all while acting coy and innocent, “oh poor me the victim.”   

Incoming!  Meet the Political Porch Pirate!  

Like political cloak-and-dagger a mysterious car drives slowly through a neighborhood on the hunt for a specific political porch.  The car has arrived at its destination, then parks at the house next door.  A mysterious man walks up the front steps of the home and begins to approach the front porch.  The Ring Doorbell shows him laying down an envelope, then he quickly turns to leave ascending down the front steps.  Who was the mystery man?  What did he drop off?  What could be in that envelope?  Is this the only home that received that envelope? 

Guess what, we know!  SMILE FOR THE CAMERAS

Who is the mystery man delivering envelopes all over town?  We had several people send us Ring Doorbell footage and security camera footage and after careful examination ….

Meet Brian Thomson, a resident here in Frisco who worked the polls every day for Tammy Meinershagen at Frisco Fire Station 7.  Brian is a long time Tammy supporter and according to Been Verified has an asset listed similar to the car in the video.

“Political Poison Pages: Unpacking the False Burt Binder”

What is in the envelope?    We call it the Burt Binder, by that we mean a hit piece against Burt Thakur!  The first page talks about how Burt defies the TX GOP Platform with public union support.  A COMPLETE LIE!  Tammy’s team is crumbling due to the Frisco Firefighters Association and Frisco Police Officers Association endorsing Burt Thakur and Jared Elad.  The only way to counter that is to use scary words like “union supporter” in a last-ditch effort to scare them before early voting.  At no time has Burt said he supports unions, but he has said he supports our public safety departments.  He believes that through conversation and getting back to the table and addressing the primary issue of staffing would alleviate many of the problems.  Keep in mind both departments have done “staffing studies” that we have published right here on Frisco Chronicles that at the time showed The City of Frisco was below standards in both departments.  These men and woman put their life on the line to save us, our homes, our pets, and they are not asking for a raise.  They are asking for more staffing!  Burt has said he supports more staffing so that we can be where we need to be to keep citizens safe and our police and fire fighters safe.  How is that supporting “unions?”    

Next the front page of this binder lists a political action committee that we are not listing here because we have been able to find ANY LEGAL FILINGS FOR THIS PAC.   For now, we have to believe this is a FAKE PAC and question if this group is even legit?  The binder has a certain look to it that we have seen before, and we have a pretty good guess of who designed it!  One of Tammy’s greatest supporters!  We won’t say their name because we are not 100% sure but we are 99.99999% sure. 

The second page talks about how Burt ran for Congress.  Okay, and?  John Keating ran for the Texas House of Representatives in 2015.  That’s right, he ran for District 33 in 2016 which covers Rockwall County and parts of Collin County.  At the time he ran he touted how he was proud to establish the $5Billion Dollar Mile – what happened with that, oh yeah Lake Lebanon was born after the developer went belly up.  Guess what, Keating lost by 99 votes!  So, if Tammy and her supporters are saying Burt is not qualified because he ran for Congress then how is John Keating qualified?  He was endorsed in his 2016 bid for District 33 by every major REPUBLICAN and still lost by 99 votes.  If you have all the support and still can’t win, should you be qualified to be sitting on city council? 

The false binder then discusses how Burt auditioned for a TV or was on Jeopardy. Being an actor, appearing on a game show, or having an IMDb page makes you inept and not qualified to run for office?  Hey Matthew McConaughey – you can’t run for Texas Governor!  Hey Dr. Mehmet Oz, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood, Al Franken, and Donald Trump – according to Tammy supporters and this FAKE PAC you are all inept and unqualified to run for government offices. 

The next page says Burt’s campaign manager is a Hard Democrat and we reached out to him, and he said he is his own campaign manager.  He has many supporters on both sides of the isle (Tammy said that too at the Forum this week) and he appreciates all their help to win so he can serve the people of Frisco.  Let me understand, it is okay for Tammy who claims to be a Republican, to be supported by HARD…HARD DEMOCRATS, and that is, okay?  It is also okay Meinershagen to pander to the Republican Base that she is a conservative and yet not one conservative candidate or group has come out to endorse her.

Campaign of Harassment

In what can only be described as a masterclass in political desperation, supporters of Tammy “Toxic Tapes” Meinershagen have gone beyond spirited campaigning and crossed the line into something far more disturbing — a coordinated, relentless campaign of harassment and intimidation against her opponent, Burt Thakur. It started with whisper campaigns and online trolling but quickly escalated into full-blown digital and real-world stalking. Facebook pages, comment sections, and community groups have been littered with copy-paste attacks, baseless accusations, and character assassinations aimed at discrediting Thakur. 

But it didn’t stop there. Someone—clearly with too much toner and not enough integrity—dropped off phony binders filled with lies and distortions at private homes of Thakur supporters.  A juvenile stunt meant to mirror past political smear tactics. These “binders” had all the hallmarks of a hit job: half-truths, wild speculation, and outright fabrications.  And as Election Day draws near, things will get uglier. One resident email to us described it “more like a mob than a campaign” that has resorted to stalking, slander, and intimidation tactics.   Frisco deserves a campaign, not a crusade—and voters have every right to demand better than this.

“Tammy’s Greatest Hits: Now That’s What I Call Hypocrisy”

Tammy’s opening statement completely goes against what her supporters are doing!  Does she want us to believe she does not know the porch pirate deliveries?  Does she want us to believe she did not know what Jake Petras would do at the polls while holding her Vote For Tammy sign?   Tammy has one problem: she is full of lip service and zero accountability for her actions and the actions of her campaign or the supporters of her campaign.  Her hot mic moment exposed her cold heart!  Even amid full proof truth, her supporters will still fight till the fat lady sings that she is INNOCENT!  INNOCENT!  Tammy is a well-experienced politician who knows how to play the game now!  A vote for her is a vote for continued corruption within our city.  As for Brian Thomson, please email us the filings for your PAC.

Tammy’s Tea Continued…

Quote Highlights:

Tammy says, “I don’t like bullies! I don’t care if they are 300lb firefighters or black woman!”

Tammy on Scott Johnson: “He is the weakest leader I have ever seen.”

Tammy continues, and it sounds like she is gloating when she talks about his divorce and his wife potentially spilling the tea if he runs for Mayor.

Tammy on Angelia Pelham: “She also voted Republican for the first time. Why would she do that? She is a staunch democrat.”

Tammy continues to talk about Angelia’s poor leadership, how she doesn’t care if she ever talks to Angelia at an event, how she doesn’t have a lot of respect for Marcia (John Keating’s girl), and how Angelia has not done anything for our city.”

Tammy on Shona Sowell: “She was a nice person at the beginning, I heard, but at the end of the six years, she was a monster.”

Tammy, the reason you gave in this conversation is not the same reason you have previously stated as to why you ran against Shona Sowell. Which one is the truth?

Tammy on John Keating: “He should not get married until after he loses the Mayoral race to see if Marcia sticks around.”

Tammy continues to talk about John, his ex-wife Leslie, his kids, and we are curious why you would ever have a conversation with someone and discuss someone else’s personal life. You are okay spilling others’ secrets and talking about their lives, so let’s see how you like now that it is happening to you.

Gossip is human nature. At some point, we all talk about others or are talked about. Not all gossip is evil. Some of them are mindless chit-chat. But it can hurt someone else and also backfire. Those who are busy discussing your life are probably not happy about theirs. Tammy needs to take a good look in the mirror and re-evaluate her choices. She doesn’t want folks talking about her husband’s Ketchup Caddy, yet she thinks it’s okay to expose anyone and everyone’s secrets.

The Arts of the Deal: FCFA Finale

If transparency were a magic act, Frisco City Hall would be pulling rabbits out of hats while the real answers disappear up their sleeves. Welcome back to our ongoing tale of smoke, mirrors, and municipal mystery, The Phantom of Frisco saga. Now, in Part 2, we go deeper into the back corridors, where the stage props and “public meetings” feel more like rehearsed performances for an audience of none.  Enjoy our final blog that expresses the last of concerns we have and we hope it lifts the curtains so you can see who’s really pulling the strings.

Community Arts vs Broadway:

For years, the Frisco Arts community was pushing the need for a community theater where residents could perform musicals, art shows and more.  How did that turn into bringing Broadway to Frisco?  Do we NEED Broadway – No!  Do we NEED a COMMUNITY THEATRE EVENT SPACE – Yes!   We have a lot of local groups who could benefit from it.  A community theater event space would have a much smaller price tag than what the city is pitching today.  The city and Tammy Meinershagen, the leader of Frisco Arts, are no longer thinking about the needs of Frisco residents or the Frisco Arts Community. 

Backstage Pass to PAC Mentality

Smart Frisco is a local political action committee that supports Proposition A & B.    We were open to learning more but then they did a post with the caption It’s Free!  Immediately we wondered who is behind Smart Frisco?  Who is running Smart Frisco?  Who is funding Smart Frisco?   NOTHING IS FREE!   

The first report filed for the PAC is the Treasure Report which lists the name Heather Eastburn.  We simply googled her name at that point to find out she was arrested in April 2023 for “Assault Causes Bodily Injury of a Family Member” and thought is this someone we should trust to tell us it’s free!  Then we found out Eastburn used the excuse of being INDIGENT to bond out.  That means the party of the original action is unable to afford the costs of paying or giving security costs (bond).   Eastburn’s credibility was in question simply because she claims indigency to get free bond/lawyer all while telling Frisco Residents that the $340 million performing arts center IS FREE and WON’T COST US A CENT!  Eastburn has a layer of problems we won’t expose here but, in the future, maybe fix your home before trying to take money from our pockets through sales tax.

Who is funding Smart Frisco?  

The answer, Smart Frisco has been flushed with $20,000 in cash by Frisco North Development LLC, which is owned by the Wilks Brothers, who are building Firefly Park in Frisco.  Firefly is slated to be a $2.5 to $4 BILLION dollar project located next to what could be the home of the future FCFA.  Clearly having a Frisco Arts Center next to their billion-dollar development would benefit them greatly.

Then you have Councilman Bicycle Bill Woodard who donated to the PAC.  He has done this before when he ran the PAC against the Frisco Firefighters in 2024.  Why does his involvement make us cautious?  Our city is constantly in the news, and every picture taken has our council front and center at events.  When you want to use the excuse “I am doing this as a private citizen not a council member” we don’t buy it!  We have proven that the PAC last year used city resources which Bill could have only had access to as a councilman and to us you can’t play both sides.   Residents give more credibility to what he says because he is in a position of leadership versus another PAC run by regular ole joes!  When a PAC is funded 99% by a developer, and the voice for the PAC is a city council member – that concerns us!   

Letter of Intent (LOI) – Language Semantics at play! 

How does semantics play into an LOI?  Semantics is the meaning or interpretation of a word or sentence.  A letter of intent (LOI) is a formal written document expressing a party’s intention to enter into a contract or agreement. It outlines the main terms of the future agreement and shows a serious commitment to a deal. LOIs are preliminary to any formal dealsor terms and are designed to be general and non-legally binding.

Pay attention to the key words in the definition which are intention, agreement, commitment, preliminary, and non-legally binding.  The City Council wants us to vote on changing the use of funds in our EDC based on a commitment, preliminary, non-legally binding agreement.  Some would say it is filled with semantical words, depending on how you interpret them.

On April 1st, the city council authorized a LOI with Frisco Live for them to be the operator-at-risk for the new FCFA.  We reviewed the 8-page Venue Operator Letter of Intent and the first thing to catch our eye was the following which states, “Frisco Live is a Texas non-profit corporation formed by Broadway Dallas and Broadway Across America.”  Then it goes on to say they will make the best effort to obtain tax-exempt status, however if they don’t the parties will still move forward.  

Why does this matter?  The non-profit with a tax-exempt status is to help them with FUNDING!  Remember, the last $100 million must come from donors or heavy hitter sponsors. This is the biggest piece of “the unknown” pie that residents should be concerned with.  According to the IRS website, “Until a nonprofit receives that status—even if it operates as a nonprofit in good faith—donations to it are not deductible.  Just calling yourself a nonprofit or even being registered as a nonprofit corporation with your state is not enough for federal tax purposes.”  Why would you donate when it is not tax right off?  If they did not achieve tax-exempt status and the city moves forward anyways, then how will they cover the $100 million they are supposed to be raising from donors? 

They also stated at the meeting they had done two funding studies and had a target list so why not share the studies.  As of now we can only assume there are no donors who have signed a commitment to fill this gap.  Project Theatres has stated numerous times that most donations don’t come in an upfront lump sum – they are given over years. The city needs to state before we vote to change the use of EDC funds what will happen if they don’t get that status and where will the money come from?  Why would you vote so they can continue to move forward, spend more money on a very expensive project with so many unanswered risks.  How much do we spend without knowing the facts?  Again, residents need to ask themselves, are they willing to take a $100 million dollar risk? 

Next the LOI talks about how Frisco Live will contribute $4 Million to the FCFA Capital Campaign Fund as part of the 2025 “silent capital campaign” effort. It goes on to say the delivery of that money is contingent upon the following and is fully refundable if not meet.

1. In the event the project is canceled before completion or fails to be completed.

2. If The City of Frisco and PISD fail to get the bond issuances necessary to design and construct the project.

3. The City’s authorization and funding of the one-time maximum $8 million reserve balance split between three City administered funds.  First $6 Million for the startup “Operational Support Fund,” plus $1 Million for the “Facility Maintenance Fund” and $1Million for the “Major Capital Expense Restricted Fund.”

What caused us to be concerned?  The number $8 million because every time this slide comes up in their presentations, they say $6 Million. They have failed to highlight the two $1 Million contributions, aka they just put that in the small print. 

When we watched the April 7th meeting a resident named Dan Elmer took to the microphone (2:20:00) and explained his background in private equity and how he is in charge of approval authority for loans for a local bank.  He said he could not vote yes for the propositions based on what was written in this LOI.  He said he was incredibly disappointed to watch the council approve this LOI especially after Councilman Brian Livingston asked the question “who are the parties to the definitive operation agreement” being discussed and no one could answer that. 

Elmer went on to say, while the consultants and council expressed Broadway Dallas and Broadway Across America, based on the current LOI that is not true.  Elmer then held up the agreement and said Page 1 – “Parties Involved” – City of Frisco and Frisco Live Inc.”   Elmer then asked, “Why does that matter?”  The structure proposed is a remote bankruptcy structure and there is no recourse to Broadway Dallas or Broadway Across America.  That would require a separate agreement. 

Elmer then asked, “What’s the role of Broadway Dallas and Broadway Across America as written in the current LOI?”  They are CONSULTANTS to Frisco Live!  That means they are providing services to Frisco Live, a Non-Profit Bankruptcy Remote Entity.  Why is that important?”  Let’s say they run out of funding, Elmer said that means they have no assets, and no one is required to step up and fund this entity as the LOI is written today. 

Elmer continued, “in order for that to happen you need a keep well agreement which is an agreement that those entities will continue to provide funding in the event of an operational loss which is not in this LOI today.”  You don’t have a guarantee of an operating agreement from Broadway Dallas /Broadway Across America.  What you do have is “THE PROMISE TO NEGOTIATE THE CONSULTING AGREEMENT AT A LATER DAY UNDER UNSPECIFIED TERMS.”  He also stated at the April 1st meeting it was said we are not paying management fees to Broadway Dallas / Broadway Across America.  He pointed out that it is not true, we will be paying consulting fees which are stated in the LOI.  He said whatever fee arrangements are to be paid should be back end loaded to limit the fees they are paid early before the concept is proven.  Again, he stated, none of that is discussed in the LOI.  Holding up the agreement he said these are not things to be figured out in the next steps, these are material deal terms that are not in the framework of the deal.   

Elmer went on to say that he reached out to the email on the presentation and the phone number to ask what the fees are to be paid in year 1 & 2 and he got no response. He closed by stating he is not against the project, but he is against a bad deal, and this is a bad deal.  Sir, you took the words right out of our mouth!

Facility Use

We heard over and over the “Community Hall” will be shared by Prosper ISD and several local community groups.  Based on the presentation on 4/7/2025 (slide 7) it stats that Prosper ISD, community non-profit arts organizations, small community events, visual arts exhibits and regional events will occupy the facility 84% of the time.  The remaining 16% of the time it will be dark days, meaning no use.  A note at the bottom of the slide says, “community use projections INCLUDE PISD NEEDS.”

Former City Manager, George Purefoy, posted on Facebook that he was told at the open house that the local arts groups will have approximately 50% of the use of the small theater.   According to the city’s FAQ , “Prosper ISD is anticipated to be the predominant user of the Community Hall.”  Funny they don’t have consistent answers to the questions!  It must have been a typo when they left off the percentage on the answer in the FAQ.  We decided to go directly to the source… Prosper ISD that is!

We emailed the Superintendent for Prosper ISD and one of the questions we asked was what % of the time would the community theater be used by Prosper ISD.  The Chief Communication Officer responded to us, Rachel Trotter and said, “AS OF TODAY, THE SMALLER THEATER WILL BE USED 84% OF THE TIME BY PROSPER ISD.” 

Question, if Prosper is using it 84% of the time and it’s dark 16% of the time, then when are the community non-profit arts organizations, small community events, visual arts exhibits, or regional events supposed to use the facility?  The question of Prospers quantitative use of the community hall was asked this week and Gena with Project Theatres paused and never directly answered, instead she gave generic percentages as we expected.  Based on how the Universal Kids vote went down, it is our opinion that the night of the vote many will be shocked to learn some “changes” may take place leaving no availability to other groups.  We call it the Bait & Switch!

Well, they can use the large hall right?  Yes, but can they afford to rent the large hall?  Probably not!

Next, based on the usage chart, Broadway will only be using the Large Hall 15% of the time. A $340 million dollar investment for 15% of the time to be used for Broadway. Does that sound reasonable to you?

Conflict of Interest

Lastly, we point out the conflict of interest starting with Tammy Meinershagen.  She claims to be voting yes for this because she believes it is good for the community; the truth is there is no way in hell she would vote against it.  Tammy was introduced to music as a young child and plays the Violin and at age 5 she played her first concert at the Rockford Symphony Orchestra in front of 5000 people.  Her family moved to Frisco in 2004, and in Voyage Dallas Magazine article in 2018 she said, “As a professional musician and teacher, I felt a bit like a fish out of water in Frisco, and I wanted to help our city become more well-rounded.” 

Meinershagen went on to say in the article, “I began serving in many capacities regarding arts and culture, as PR/Marketing Chair of the Texas Music Teachers Association, Diversity Chair for the Frisco Council of PTA, a Board member of Frisco Public Art, and Frisco Association for the Arts. After meeting Councilman Jeff Cheney (now Frisco Mayor) in 2009, I was eventually appointed to the 2015 Citizen Bond Committee to represent the arts. It was there, that I spearheaded a successful bond initiative of $10 million in bonds for a performing arts center in Frisco.”

At the time of the article, she was serving as the Executive Director of Frisco Arts, the city official arts advocacy agency.  Our point, even if Tammy Meinershagen thought this was a bad deal – there is NO WAY SHE IS VOTING AGAINST IT.  She is blinded by her love and conflict of interest.  She knows if this does not pass it could be another 5 to 10 years down the road before another opportunity comes up.  Her conflict of interest is glaring when it comes to voting and being involved on this project.

Next up, Cheney!  He has been transparent that he wants this to be a destination city. Based on the proposed location it will help Mayor Jeff Cheney, and the Cheney Group sell more houses at the PGA (where he claims to have no exclusive contracts). It will help his friends, the Wilks brothers, and their billion-dollar development.  It will help the new PGA Entertainment District being built by Cheney’s friends (remember his former Broker). The potential millions to be made off tourism directly are the real driving force here for Cheney and his developer friends. 

Lastly Bicycle Bill – if he wants to donate from his campaign fund to the Smart Frisco PAC and be a voice for the PAC then claim he is doing it as a private citizen – we say NO WAY!  You did not donate from your personal funds, he used his campaign money, that was donated to him to help him win his run for the council.  In our humble opinion, we would say that is a conflict of interest. 

TIME TO VOTE

Where does it end?  April 22nd starts early voting, election day is May 3rd, and you are the deciding vote!  What we do know is that details are important, and the truth is we don’t have many details at all.  City leaders have said this is the most transparent project they have ever worked on, and you’re seeing the whole picture. But as any good illusionist knows: if you’re watching the right hand, you’re missing what the left one’s hiding.

We warned you to buckle up!  We told you the sales pitch would be coming from all angles, and it would be Oscar-worthy.  We also told you don’t be surprised when the fine print on this production budget reads: No refunds, taxpayers!

Listen to what others are telling you and look at the resume!  Former City Manager George Purefoy says this deal is no good.  Ron Patterson, who resigned after 21 years with the City of Frisco, where served as an Assistant City Manager, President of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and then became the Deputy City Manager and was one of the top 3 candidates to replace George upon his retirement has also said this is a bad deal.  Former City Council member Shona Sowell and current Councilman Brian Livingston are saying – no!   Cheney wants you to believe they are all idiots and they just don’t understand this deal. 

The mayor and council are banking on residents to fall for the Broadway glam, so they don’t look at the details behind the curtains. Hell, we have not even talked about the parking garage that will be needed for this project yet. Trust me, they say!  In the end, if this passes, they hope that by the time the shiny new Performing Arts Center opens, everyone will have forgotten how the money got there in the first place. Maybe they’re right. Or maybe, just maybe, Frisco isn’t as easily distracted or stupid as they think.  Know Before You Vote!

As for me? I’m just an old man who’s seen this kind of story before. When you cut corners in winemaking, you don’t get a masterpiece, you get something undrinkable. And when you cut corners in city finances, you don’t get a thriving, well-managed town. You get a mess.

Standing ovation or a total flop? Stay tuned for May 3rd.

Frisco Chronicles Endorsement: City Council Place 2

As part of our commitment to keeping Frisco residents informed and engaged, we sent a candidate questionnaire to all three individuals running for Place 2 on the Frisco City Council. Using the contact information provided on the official candidate website, we reached out to each candidate via email, offering them an opportunity to share their views on issues that matter to our community.

Who took the time to respond? Only one candidate — Burt Thakur — replied to our questionnaire. We appreciate his willingness to engage with the voters and provide thoughtful responses to the questions submitted.

Unfortunately, Tammy Meinershagen and Sai Krishnarajanagar did not respond to our outreach. By choosing not to answer these citizen-submitted questions, they passed on an opportunity to directly address the concerns and interests of the very people they seek to represent. Tammy must be too busy selling her performing arts center and keeping Catchup Daddy in line. As for Sai, we have no idea what he would be up to – maybe getting another ear pierced.

For Whistleblower, being accountable to your constituents matters, and two of the candidates made it very easy for us to say The Whistleblower Team Proudly Endorses Burt Thakur!

**Please note we have not altered the candidates’ responses. If you would like a copy of their questionnaire, email us.**

Full Name: Burt Thakur

Campaign Website: www.burt4frisco.com

Social Media Links: Facebook https://facebook.com/burt.thakur.for.frisco.city.council

Occupation and Background: Data Center Commissioning Engineer. I have also worked in power generation in operations. I am a U.S. Navy veteran and I served during 9/11 and was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am a graduate of the Naval Nuclear Power School.

Why are you running for the Frisco City Council? I’m running because I love Frisco and our residents. As taxpayers, we deserve careful stewards of our money, with elected leaders who make wise decisions. My infrastructure experience, coupled with established relationships with government leaders will help guide smart growth decisions and accelerate high velocity decisions for all Frisco residents.

Community and Development

What are your top three priorities for Frisco’s growth and development? 1. Lower Property Tax 2. Create Good Paying Jobs 3. Safe Streets – Proactively Fund Police & Fire and fix traffic

How do you plan to balance economic growth with maintaining community character? We must support and foster small business growth – as one small business owner told me, ‘Burt, i wish the city council was as excited about our business as they are about the flashier ones they are getting!’ There’s something to be said about going down main street and seeing ‘mom and pop’ shops and thriving businesses in the Railway district. By poor city planning with road construction, many of these businesses are struggling to get customers and now are having a difficult time making their lease payments. I’ll never forget the first night my wife and I drove through downtown and fell in love with Frisco and envisioned growing old here. We couldn’t believe we found our dream home , and we got to live in a city with a small town feel. I believe in growth – but I believe in sensible growth. I do not believe it is prudent to compete with Dallas or Ft. Worth – if we wanted to live there, we would have purchased a home there! I argue that instead of Universal Studios which will bring 25,000 people a day and disrupt our traffic among other issues or a poorly funded $380 Million Performing Arts Center – how about ensuring basic needs? Many want an animal shelter, a place for mental health help, a building for veterans groups, community center for parents with special needs children, or more recreational and athletic facilities. How about covered parking in school areas for protection from hail? For sensible economic growth, how about businesses which make money – like power plants, high tech manufacturing, data centers, start-up incubators, high tech research?

What is your stance on residential and commercial zoning changes? What I am against is subverting the intent of zoning changes to benefit private interested in city councils. For example, Irving approved a zoning change which paved the way for a casino resort near their stadium site. Ultimately, there are several bills in the Texas legislature which could remove the ability of local governments to control zoning. As this is uncharted territory, I have been researching different methods to potentially ensure we have more control at the local level – and therefor you, the voter, on helping guide zoning.

How will you ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with growth? We must upgrade our infrastructure. This includes water and sewer, substations and power transmission, internet and fiber lines, our roads as well. This is why it is imperative to ensure the basics are met before jumping into capital projects which impact our infrastructure.

Density continues to be a hot discussion for Frisco Residents. Cheney even did a video on Density seven years ago when running for Mayor. He said in that video that the resident’s ultimate concerns was the concept of density and what the ultimate build out population number should be.

At build out, the city’s comprehensive plan allows a maximum capacity of up to 350 thousand residents (building with maximum density). He then said in his campaign video that is not what people move to Frisco for, and he believed that to maintain quality of life, the population target goal should be around 280,000. He continued, we need to build out with world-class level developments with more open space, less multi-family all over the city, and an overall less dense environment. The last two years Cheney has changed his tune and said, “Density is a political dog whistle used at election time for political mailers.” What is your stance on Density? I agree with Mayor Cheney from 7 years ago.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budgeting

What would be your approach to managing the city’s budget while ensuring essential services are maintained? I’d call for a detailed budget analysis to identify inefficiencies and prioritize funding clearly toward essential services such as police and first responder services (safety), essential services, infrastructure, sanitation, and required community programs. I’d implement performance-based budgeting using specific KPIs to evaluate and optimize the effectiveness of expenditures, encouraging modernization and digitization as much as possible to improve efficiency and reduce costs. I’d look for areas where we could utilize AI services to reduce level of effort and costs. Additionally, I’d pursue EDC projects which create large economic possibilities (power plants, high tech manufacturing, data centers etc.), competitive grants, and carefully balanced tax policies to maintain economic attractiveness. To foster transparency and public trust, I’d engage citizens through community-driven budgeting and clear communication. I’d also attempt to engage county, state and federal leaders to discuss what initiatives are funded for collaboration and inclusion into programs if we have qualifying projects and needs

Do you believe Frisco’s current property tax rates are sustainable? Would you support any changes
including cuts, increases or adjustments to the current property tax rates? Why or why not?
I would try to lower Property Taxes. One method is to increase sales tax through new businesses which also have the potential of generating significant income (as described earlier) – thereby increasing sales tax revenues and reducing reliance on property taxes. We should also determine where we can create cost-saving measures within city operations like streamlining services and adopting efficient technologies, can decrease expenditures. We can also work to determine if we are paying for redundant services or if there are opportunities to combine services while we prioritize essential services. I’ll be advocating for increased county, state and federal funding to supplement local revenues. Another potential way could be through more effective management of unspent or unused bonds (according to our city website we have more than $150 Million). When bond funds remain unused or projects are completed under budget, these surplus funds can be strategically redirected or repurposed to pay down existing bond debt or fund upcoming projects which require new borrowing. The bonds can also be returned if feasible (or possible). Reducing the city’s overall debt obligations or avoiding additional debt issuance lowers annual debt-service payments, directly easing the burden on taxpayers and creating room to decrease property tax rates. Additionally, carefully monitoring bond expenditures and ensuring funds are allocated efficiently prevents unnecessary financial burdens, helping to maintain fiscal responsibility and taxpayer affordability in the long term.

What are your funding priorities for public safety, education, and infrastructure? For public safety – I’d prioritize proactive as opposed to reactive funding and staffing for a well-equipped police and fire department and first responders, investing in advanced training, modern technology, as well as better traffic studies and mitigations for traffic jams so we can maintain response times with the arrival of potentially 25,000 people from Universal Studios. For education, I’d work with the respective governing bodies and trustees to see what help they require and how we in the council can help find support for local schools to ensure adequate resources for modern classrooms, more school resource officers, innovative educational technology, and competitive teacher salaries. Infrastructure funding would target long-term sustainability and growth through investments in road expansions, improved traffic management systems, reliable utilities, and enhanced broadband connectivity—key elements in attracting high-tech employers and supporting future growth.

How would you plan to handle Frisco’s increasing debt and financial obligations? I would adopt a strategy rooted in transparency and fiscal discipline. By carefully prioritizing debt issuance exclusively for critical infrastructure and economic development projects, we can strategically control expenditures and reduce reliance on taxpayer-funded debt. Transparent financial reporting and open communication with the community will ensure residents clearly understand how funds are used and why debt decisions are made, fostering public trust. Simultaneously, leveraging unspent bond funds or surplus reserves to pay down existing debt will directly reduce the property tax burden. Creating an attractive economic environment through competitive taxation policies, targeted incentives, and streamlined permitting processes will draw investments from innovative sectors, generating higher-paying jobs and diversifying the local economy.

In December of 2021, the Mayor, Jeff Cheney had to vote in a rare tie breaker vote in regard to an employee Health Clinic operated by Premise Health. At the time, city staff shared the results of a survey which collected responses from 684 of 1,239 city employees. Out of those 684, a total of 89.75% said they were likely or somewhat likely” to use the clinic for urgent care needs. Only 64.7% said they were likely to “somewhat use” the clinic as their primary care provider.
Estimated expenses in the clinic’s first year total over $1.44 million, according to the proposed five-year budget. Those expenses include salaries, insurance, management/implementation fees and equipment purchases. The clinic’s fifth-year budget is listed at more than $1.31 million. It was projected that the clinic will operate at a loss in its first three years. The estimated cost for the first five years was $6.28 million. At the time there was a concern about how many years it could take to break even on the investment and how many employees would use the option. At the five-year mark if the clinic is still not breaking even would you support closing the Employee Wellness Clinic or continue to operate at a loss?
I need to learn more about this issue. From reading the question, I’d like to determine the cost-benefit of this project. I’d like to learn where the money is being spent, and what opportunities exist to make this a profitable business. If there isn’t a way to make it profitable, and there is no need for this clinic, I would like to know what the exit strategies are for this clinic, and if it would be something that an organization like the Veterans Affairs would be interested in operating.

Should the city be in the business or running an Athletic Center, Performing Arts Center, or any other type of business model that mirrors a commercial business which has annual operational costs paid for by tax dollars? I do not like public-private partnerships which use our hard-earned tax dollars for operations and maintenance costs.

Transparency and Accountability

How will you ensure transparency in your decision-making process and open communication between the city council and residents? I’ll make myself available to residents. I’ll hold monthly townhalls, and attempt to visit various groups around our city on a regular basis . In addition, I will ensure my team releases all meeting minutes and I will make it a point to keep a weekly update of what work I performed at the end of the week. I believe it is important to ensure we complete projects which matter to people and, with accountability, you , the voter get a weekly update of the status of the various projects I’ll be working on and executing. This also allows me to solicit help from the members of the community who have good ideas on execution. In addition, many people have expressed their frustration on applying to various boards and being rejected. I don’t know the cause of this, and I’ll investigate – this process should be transparent, and should serve as a potential opportunity for us to raise the bar for serving on a board by having clearly defined requisites and a definable interview process where we can track metrics

Currently only the city council meeting is aired live, however many residents believe they should have access to live meetings for the different boards and commissions as well as well as the published minutes of the meetings should be more detailed as to what was discussed.

A. Do you support more increased public access to city council meetings, boards and commission meetings? Absolutely – we should have transparency and an opportunity to be informed in what various boards/commissions are proposing.

    B. What steps would you take to improve access to meetings, meeting minutes and public records? I would introduce a motion to approve all meetings are streamed as well as meeting minutes available to the general public.

    What is your definition of conflict of interest? If there is a possibility of favoritism for a company one owns or works for or if there is a significant opportunity to make money from a vote. Basically, if there is a potential abuse of power due to business interests which the politician has with their vote.

    Do you support implementing a stricter ethics policy that puts a check on the influence of money in local politics which would require council members to recuse themselves from votes that could benefit donors who contributed more than $1000 or $2500.00 to a political campaign? Yes

    Do you believe active members of the city council should be on the front lines advocating as “private citizens” for Propositions on the ballot during local elections? No – as an elected official, one has an enormous influence on the electorate. In essence they are the target of a lobbyist for a cause. While I am a firm believer in our 1st amendment rights , a politician masquerading as a private citizen when it is convenient for them to push an agenda is morally questionable.

    Community Services and Quality of Life

    What are your plans for enhancing public parks and recreation on Frisco’s East Side of the DNT? I the last city Council Meeting, the Parks and Recreation Open Space Master Plan was discussed. This included Shepherds Glen Park which will increase amenities for residents in east Frisco. Additionally, the Cottonwood Creek Trail Extension will extend the existing trail. Many residents I have spoken to like my idea of seeing if we can build an arboretum. This is something that I’d love to explore as a councilman and determine its feasibility

    How do you plan to address traffic congestion across Frisco? I want to see what opportunities exist for smart infrastructure and leveraging AI-driven solutions. This could include integrating intelligent traffic management systems powered by AI algorithms to optimize traffic flow, dynamically manage intersections, and predicting congestion patterns in real-time, significantly reducing wait times and improving commuting efficiency. With Universal Studios bringing potentially 25,000 people a day, or the World Cup, we need to figure out solutions quickly. Expanding road capacity strategically, coupled with smart signaling technologies, could enhance overall traffic management. This would be in addition to the initiatives currently being worked on in city council.

    Do you think Frisco has a public transportation need? From what I’ve read in Frisco’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, it emphasizes enhancing mobility and exploring alternative transportation modes to accommodate future growth. If our population keeps growing at the rate proposed in the plan, I think we would need better public transportation provide mobility options for residents without personal vehicles, and support economic development by connecting workers to employment centers, and also potentially reduce traffic.

      How will you engage with and listen to diverse voices of the community? By making myself available. Look, I don’t and won’t know everything. I will attempt to meet many members of our city, and I’ll hold monthly townhalls. I will also attempt to come to many events hosted by our vibrant communities. My office will have an open door policy for the residents of Frisco. Also, once a week, I’ll have coffee at a local business, and I’ll post those times and will broadcast a livestream where I’ll take questions from those who are unable to attend.

      Public Safety

      What measures will you take to ensure Frisco’s Police and Fire Department remain well-funded? My approach will focus on prioritizing public safety within the city’s budget planning, I want information to flow to the council as well – concerns and issues should never be punitive. I want to ensure Frisco remains one of the safest cities in the country so guaranteeing consistent and adequate resources for staffing, advanced training, and cutting-edge equipment is a top priority of mine. I’ll advocate for strategic fiscal policies that secure dedicated funding streams and explore alternative revenue sources to supplement city resources. Additionally, regular assessments and transparent evaluations of departmental needs including review of surveys will be conducted, ensuring funding allocations and departmental needs align effectively with public safety priorities. By actively communicating with residents about the critical importance of these investments, we will maintain strong community support for sustainable funding, thus safeguarding the high-quality services provided by our first responders.

      For years the Frisco Firefighters Association has taken to the citizens input pulpit asking for more staffing (specifically going from a 3 Man Truck to a 4 Man Truck). Turnover has been high recently with Firefighters taking retirement and then going to work for other cities who are more supportive of their First Responders.

      Do you support increased staffing and moving to a 4 Person Truck? Yes

      What will you do to start repairing the relationship with our first responders to stop the turnover, so they stay here in Frisco, and we don’t lose that much needed experience and wisdom? I will actively engage in open and ongoing dialogue to clearly understand their needs, concerns, and ideas. We can work on improving compensation packages, expanding to national searches for attracting a larger talent pool, benefits, and career advancement opportunities. I want to ensure we are properly investing in comprehensive mental health and wellness programs to ensure their wellbeing. By cultivating a supportive environment built on respect, trust, and consistent communication, we can retain experienced personnel, preserve institutional knowledge, and enhance morale, ensuring that our community benefits from their invaluable expertise and helps to preserve a safe Frisco.

      As Frisco continues to grow, do you believe Frisco’s current policies on crime prevention and emergency response are sufficient? Why or why not? While our police, fire and first responders have an incredible program, which is the envy of other mid size cities, there is only an upside in continuous investment in technology, personnel training, new skills as well as determining better community engagement and policies. As these departments see a need for growth opportunities, I want them to know that they will have an advocate for their expert opinions on what needs to be driven in the city council for maintaining Frisco’s safety.

      Would you support removing Animal Services “out” from under Public Safety and turning it into its own department? Yes

      Residents have been advocating for an animal shelter (instead of the partnership with Collin County) and the city keeps stalling, saying they are open to one with a public-private partnership. Do you believe Frisco should have its own Animal Shelter and Education Center? Do you believe it is a city service, or should it be a public-private partnership? Yes and this should be a city service.

      Closing Statements

      Is there anything you would like us to know about you that we have not asked? Here’s a fun fact – I’m a Jeopardy! champion, and I appeared on the last televised episode with Alex Trebek before his death.

      What is the most important issue facing Frisco, and how do you plan to address it? Frisco residents should vote no on Propositions A, B, and E to protect both their financial interests and democratic rights. Propositions A and B would commit the city to substantial financial obligations—including $160 million in new bonds—for an extravagant performing arts center, potentially burdening taxpayers and risking future property tax increases if projected revenues fall short. With numerous comparable venues nearby, this costly investment is unnecessary and not aligned with recent calls from residents for fiscal prudence. Proposition E, meanwhile, would significantly diminish voter power by allowing the City Council to appoint replacements to vacant seats without voter input, potentially leading to political favoritism and reducing democratic accountability. Voting “no” ensures Frisco maintains responsible financial management and preserves citizens’ fundamental right to directly elect their representatives

      Do you have any final messages for the voters? I would love to get your support dear reader. If you like my positions, please make sure you vote. Please tell 10 of your friends to vote for me as well. This election, more than ever, will determine Frisco’s futur. Please vote for Burt Thakur for Frisco City Council, Place 2.