I think we'll get started. Just want to confirm that all of us are here. Commissioner Cameron. Good morning. Good morning, everyone. I am here. And commissioner Brian. I am here. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, everyone. I'm here. Today. Really the last full day of the state of emergency declared by governor Baker. Last year in March, we are. Able to enjoy continued. Benefit of the virtual connectivity so that we can meet in this fashion today under an executive order. That the governor issued. Last March as well. Before we get started. Call to order the meeting today is Monday, June 14th. It is just nine 32 AM. And it's a public meeting 347. Commissioners who have been here from day one, you are approaching 350. So. This is a big number. Before we get started, I do have a few prepared remarks. If you'll allow me. And then you do have a busy day ahead. First off, happy flag day to all. Thank you. Thank you. On Friday, the MGC will honor a new state holiday. That formally recognizes the historic significance of June. 1865. When more than 250 enslaved that black people in Texas. Would finally freed by executive decree. Over two and a half years after the emancipation. The state of Texas was recognized as the state of Georgia. It was recognized that. The state of Georgia's amendment was ratified. For those newly freed individuals, the state became known as Juneteenth. Well, nearly all states recognize. Juneteenth. Our director of diversity and legislative affairs. On June 19 last year, Governor Baker declared Juneteenth and Massachusetts State holiday in official proclamation, stating that, quote, Juneteenth is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the goal of creating a more equal and just society and effort that continues today. Unquote. On July 24 last year, that proclamation became law when the governor signed the state legislature's bill designating Juneteenth Independence Day as an annual state holiday and consistent with this commission's commitment to intentionally promote and expand racial and cultural awareness and appreciation within the MGC. Our equity inclusion group will be following up internally on this special day of celebration. We also have other reasons to celebrate and want to acknowledge two significant promotions within the Massachusetts State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit. Our commanding officer Captain Brian Connors was promoted to detective captain effective yesterday. Brian started with the MGC's formation and built the team to the robust unit that we know today, the 24 seven onsite presence at all three casinos, the investigative group in our Boston office, and the racing division troopers. Distinguished by his integrity and dedication, we have been more than fortunate to have Detective Captain Connors in this leadership position. Commissioners, Brian is not able to join us today, although I pleaded with him last night, but he did have to report this morning early to headquarters and he has promised to join us for public recognition at a later date. We have a sense that we will probably be celebrating with him in a less public fashion in the near future. While our loss is now the Commonwealth's game. We do have very excited relating related news. Excuse me. Thank you for joining me in congratulating our very own Michael Banks. Mike was promoted to captain effective yesterday and assumes the unit commanders position of the GU. As you know, comes with prior experience as a homicide investigator. DA's office and it's earned his JD will have a lot in common there you've got a few other attorneys like to work with. He has ended up the ranks with the GE use swiftly the MGC is very fortunate that he'll continue to be a value member of our team. His expertise, professionalism character and affable nature will ensure a seamless transition. Captain Banks has joined our public meeting today. Mike, I'm looking for you now. Do I see you can you give away there you are. Mike, I look forward to your leadership starting today and throughout the years ahead. And I'm going to turn now to my fellow commissioners who I know will want to join me in congratulating you and before we get started with our busy Monday morning agenda. Commissioner Cameron. Good morning everyone at first I'd like to say that I know Brian is not with us but Detective Captain Connors. We really wouldn't be in the same place that we are have the reputation. We're lucky enough to have without his leadership in the state police and I know all the GU members will will be nodding their heads when I say that Brian's leadership was amazing he represents the best. I've been fortunate enough to work with hundreds and hundreds of troopers over the years in two different organizations and Brian represents the best I can't speak highly enough about him. But I'll save those remarks still when I see him. And, you know, fortunately for me and I and I'm really serious when I say fortunately, I have had the opportunity to have not worked directly with Captain Banks but certainly get to know him, pop down to the office, share conversations and learn about his character and just how much he cares about doing the job the right way. So it gives me great comfort to know that he will be leading our team, because I really do believe we will be an excellent hands and that's not only the work but but the character of Captain Banks which is really really important so I want to welcome him and I know that he'll do an excellent job leading leading the team. Thanks, Commissioner Cameron, Commissioner Zunica. Yeah, thank you. Just to, to say the same, I feel really happy and it's a great occasion to have to great deserved promotions to very distinguished careers that will continue as chairs. As Stein says, the loss of Captain Connors is the commonwealth's gain as he moves on to continue his leadership, but we're really grateful to have Mike, Captain Banks, take the leadership and feel those shoes, I'm sure he'll be able to continue following Captain Connors. So look forward to continue the work and the great leadership and reputation as Gail was mentioning and congratulations to both. Thank you Commissioner O'Brien, thank you Commissioner Zunica. Good morning. Commissioner, good morning. So I've been fortunate to work with both Captain Connors and Captain Banks. I'm dating myself somewhat but worked with, overlapped with Brian and both Middlesex and the AG's office and I will save most of my remarks from when we formally say goodbye to him that he is the best of the best I remember being spoiled because my entry into being a prosecutor was dealing with the likes of Brian Connors. So when that's your expectation, it's a pretty high one and he's at a pretty high bar. He will do well I'm sure in a position that he is in. And I actually, I think Mike will do great as well I actually worked with Mike when he was just an ADA. Before he became a trooper way back when in Middlesex. I have a great experience in addition to all the experience on students. So I'm sure he'll do a great job and we're in good hands as well with Mike so I congratulate both of them. And I look forward to working with Mike as well. Good morning, Captain Banks, would you like to make say good morning and any add any other thoughts. Good morning chair commissions. Thank you very much for those very kind words and your support. I'm very honored and grateful to continue in this mission with the GU and look forward to continue to work with everybody here. I know I have very big shoes to fill with the loss of Detective Captain Connors but I'm looking forward to the challenge and I'm looking forward to the work ahead. Thank you all so much. Thank you, Captain. And just to add Captain Banks, Detective Captain Connors was great mentor for you and entire GU unit. I'm eager to see how you make this position your own. And as you heard, everyone is very excited that this has happened fortuitously. Thank you for the two promotions occurred at the same time and we kept to have you stay right with us. So thank you. All right. Great. Thank you now. And Vivian, I did allow you to record as well. Great. Thank you. And I think we've got to get started. We have a busy morning and another public meeting this afternoon for the Executive Director of WELS committee. I know members of the team here are going to be in both meetings. So we'll stay on task. We'll get going with the administrative unit today. Executive Director of WELS is out enjoying some deserved vacation time and we have Director Lillios. Hi, good morning, Chair. Good morning, commissioners. And I'd be remiss if I didn't quickly and publicly congratulate both Brian and Mike and state how much I'm looking forward to working under Mike's leadership. With respect to our update this morning, I have a brief update for you with two pieces of information. The first pertains to MGM Springfield up until now their hotel has been open but limited to invited and hosted guests. As of this Friday the 18th the hotel will be open to all guests and guests will be able to make reservations online and over the telephone. So that is a big turn for MGM and I wanted to note that. And the other update has to do with operations at Encore. This past weekend the nightclub memoir did open. They resolved some staff were able to resolve some staffing issues and open this past weekend and I did learn from GEU over the weekend that things went smoothly. So there'll be ongoing communications there between GEU and, you know, in the operator and I have every reason to think that that will continue to go well. I know that Assistant Director Band is in our meeting this morning and he's got his finger on the pulse of operations over the weekend and may be able to update you on some additional items. Thank you. The update is limited as well. The three properties continue to bring all their slots online, remove the plastic dividers that's slow but steady rate going forward. But there's nothing significant to report. Everything is moving ahead positively and steady. Any questions? Commissioner Bryan. I think Commissioner Bryan, we'd want to have these continue to reports, particularly as we have a couple of conditions outstanding. Okay. Excellent. I see her nodding her head. Thanks. No questions. Commissioner Zinigar, Commissioner Cameron. All right. Thank you. Director Lillios and thank you, Bruce. And I think, do you have anything else, Loretta, that may have popped up? I do not. I suggest you move on to item three legislative affairs. Okay, great. Good morning, Director Griffin. Good morning, Chair Juddstein and good morning commissioners. I think you all had an opportunity to review MGC staff written draft white papers on sports wagering. I'll just review a little bit. As an expert in responsible gaming director Vanderlanden has made recommendations related to sports wagering in responsible gaming. By contrast, talented program manager Crystal Howard has compiled a fact based update and the status of play in the US. You may remember as an update to the publication written by Justin Stembeck and Paul Connolly in 2015. This paper takes no policy recommendations. The status of play as you can imagine is fast paced and might have already changed as I'm speaking to you today. Director Linden and program manager Howard will not be presenting the papers today. But we are seeking a go ahead to finalize so that we can distribute to stakeholders including legislators, members of gaming policy advisory committee. And we anticipate also posting the papers publicly. I would add to the plan would be for the papers to be presented to us in a for the MGC in a training that's anticipated that Karen will be organizing in the near future. Probably in the month of July and substitution of any of them, maybe a planned hiatus from our organized public meetings. Do you have any I think that you're looking for the go ahead, were there edits or thoughts that you wanted to convey to director Griffin commissioners. I think that there was a, you received final sort of edits redlined version with the draft last night. But that said, these papers are, are, are dense and if you and also quite thoughtful if you have any additions you'd like to convey. I have a couple on the sports paper and one minor suggested on the on the responsible gaming. And I, and I, by the way, let me start by saying that these are great compilations of a lot of research. Clearly, crystal jail. Others spent a lot of time. I'm now talking about the sports betting white paper spent a lot of time researching what has happened and trying to summarize. It's a very variable history, because states clearly have been doing different things in different ways for a variety of reasons. But there are, there are two things that I think we are to consider explaining or a minimum be prepared to explain, you know, when potentially the question comes back. The first one is the concept of skins. When we in the paper when we try to, when we begin. I think I forget the page but we start with the notion of skins and I think it's important to perhaps lay out why it may be necessary to what why why it is that certain states to limit on skins. And why is that important for the competition in the industry and why and consumer choice. There are, as I understand, usually when there are more than one skin and some limits operators are able to trade access to those different markets. So having one skin in one state and being able to access another state to, to the skin of someone else and therefore, they join an agreement and different states have also done things differently in terms of those numbers of skins. But, and I, I know we don't take a position in terms of policy. It's something that the legislature up to understand in my opinion because different operators here in Massachusetts are going to have different say into whether or not to have multiple skins per per per depending on where you how many states you are you may not be interested in having many skins but if you are not as an operator who wants and trained to the sports bearing world. I'm interested in more skins that you can then trade access to. Again, this, I don't know if this fits in the paper or not at this point but it's something that we should be prepared to answer at a minimum to consider to put in some way. Why that's something that they should consider from the standpoint. Another one is, we, we, I think we do, they do a great job you, you are putting all the sports betting revenue in other states, especially compared to, you know, I like particularly the charts that putting the percentage and how that percentage that can vary quite a bit in the last year because of the pandemic, etc. But, and there's also another number that gets in there, which is 15 million Massachusetts revenue that at some point recently. I think the administration considered as a potential first year revenue for Massachusetts. I'm going to try to put some of that into context. I don't know if we have knowledge of that but I know I recall that that number may have assumed a low tax rate. When we talk about what that $35 million may mean to Massachusetts, we didn't go into a section that explains high and low tax rates and appropriately discusses why what what are the pros and cons of one. You know what what tax rate was assumed for that figure. That might be a better context for the reader, especially if they're looking at it from a student perspective compared to other states. How do we stack up in that 35 million for the first year or for a future year whatever that may be. Again, it's trying to put into context that that. I think it does as a prior one. I think it strikes a really good balance in trying to articulate what is a very variable. There's some significant differences across the states. That's the main message that anybody should take away from that. There's really clear implications. You know, whatever they decide to do, if they do decide to do anything and create examples of the context of other states, what happens with a high rate, there may not be a total elimination of the black or gray market, for example, et cetera, et cetera. So I think those are two things that I thought might be worth considering, but otherwise I like very much the way the length and the way that it lays out, you know, what is clearly a lot of nascent developments in very recent years. If I could make a suggestion, those are two great comments on commissioner, maybe with respect to the, the revenue number of the 35, 35 or 35 million. Perhaps, Crystal on page eight, where you note that the policy conversations regarding tax rates focus on striking the proper balance. Perhaps you could add a footnote to say something about the revenues that were estimated by the governor and his budget this year was, was the 35 million repeated and then say, in turn, we could offer what the tax rate is on in that proposal with that, but that help give that 35 million some context commissioners in a gun. Yeah, yeah, even if it's a footnote I remember I'm sorry I should have gone to the prior white paper but I remember there were three scenarios in the last one, between 1015 20% we didn't, you know, we didn't go into high tax rates in the white paper. There's two different things in terms of revenue because it's not a one for one it's not like a higher tax rate is going to bring necessarily more revenue because again there's, there's a participation in the market that, you know, it's not directly correlated. And that paper still stands so that analysis is well you know available and actually read and it was someone's hand that prompted us to say we really need to do an update. So, I think that the two combined maybe with that notation it gives that 35 million some context address it. And then with respect to the skins I think that might take a little bit more thought crystal and Jill but perhaps, at least generally reflect that the number of skins. Even if this is that game that get actually operationalized may be influenced greatly by the market forces themselves. Is that their mission. That is that is very much fair yes and it's around.  And that also gives consumer choice, not just, you know, one or two platforms, again, for market reasons. Did you have any thoughts on director Vandal Indians paper that you wanted to add I know you'd had a chance to review that. I did and I did work. You know, I did see that in a lot more detail before. There is, this is a lot more surgical and either at the beginning in the introduction or at the end. I would insert the sentence, something to the effect of dedicated dollars from gaming taxes for research programs, research and mitigation programs. The good about the gaming act that we all know was was very important and as it's articulated in the paper was that it provided dedicated money for research and responsible gaming problems, and I would invite the notion of, you know, we're serving that policy. Explicitly, because I think it's a little lost. I could tell you exactly if you're interested in what this is from direction director Vandal Indians. Yes, yes. Do you want it. Do you want it now. Mark, but that'd be helpful and would you prefer after. That was good. Sure. Yeah, I mean, we want to we want to keep this moving. Yeah, exactly. I mean, I don't know if that came, I didn't have it open necessarily. It can come after what's due, but the sooner you can pass it along. If somebody has other comments and wants to go on, I can find it in the meantime. Okay, that makes good sense. Commissioner O'Brien or Commissioner Cameron. Commissioner O'Brien, Commissioner Cameron will have her go next. That would be good because we had the chance to look at the one of the papers. No, I did. I looked at them quickly having gotten them. I thought they were both really good and on point. You know, I might have some more stylistic comments if we weren't sort of under time pressure, but I think given the probably the timeliness of getting these out, I think these are good. So I don't really have any substantive changes or comments to make this time. Thank you. And yes, in stylistically, of course, we can all adopt our own. I have to say that I like the contrast of the two styles and they reflect the nature of the work. I thought that it was, you know, Crystal, you taking this on and shot such short notice and being able to capture what really is the essence here. It's just changing and every jurisdiction really has learned from the other ones before it. So you captured that and then Mark and Marie Claire, your voices are very clear in the paper. Commissioner Cameron. Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. You know, I, like Commissioner, I had the benefit of watching the iterations with with the sports wagering and, and frankly, it was excellent from the beginning. You know, a couple of tweaks so that we all can understand things clearly, but I just think it's, it's so well done and really, really timely. I try to remember this is staff's work. And secondly, there was a real effort to stay away from policy. And I think for good reason right so some of the, some of the edits maybe with regard to commissioners and egos points. I don't think if we can do that without, because it does border on policy right. So trying to trying to just reflect, maybe give some more information about what, you know, a skin and how it can be, how it's effective and what it can offer I think that's really good because that's informative without getting into, you know, why states because we really don't know why other states did right we know what they did but we don't necessarily know why. I think the timing of this is really, really good. It's excellent work. It will be utilized with this discussion coming up this week. And with regard to the responsible gaming. Excellent work. Mark, I love the strategies quickly in detail one two three four. Boom, those are so easy to read the graphics are excellent and here it is right here. These are the best practices. It's really well done as well and I just had a chance to read it recently so I didn't know the, the, the different iterations but really, really, you know, just reading it made so much sense found myself shaking my head yeah I guess this is easy to follow and absolutely a best practice so I just want to thank the team for the work because it really was the, you know, you're proud of a commission that puts together work like this frankly so so thank you and well done. Chair Jed Stein do you mind if I say one more comment. Oh, absolutely and I might add one more comment too so. Go right ahead, Commissioner, Director Griffin. So, in addition to personally acknowledging Crystal Howard's great work. I'd like to acknowledge that Marie Claire also participated in the responsible gaming project. I think one of her first projects here, and she worked with director Vanderlinden and so I just, I didn't want to miss that opportunity as well. Thank you, thank you. Jill, I did squeeze in Marie Claire earlier. And, and, and we are thrilled that she came on right at that time I know Mark, you really appreciated her expertise it's exactly that you were looking for, and, and really an exciting opportunity for for you, and for her. You know, I just want to acknowledge that this was very strong teamwork that was turned around quickly with deadlines in mind, sometimes we just have to operate on tough deadlines and I know that this team always has that capacity. And while it's demanding. It is with great gratitude that we acknowledge your, your dedication over these last several weeks to get this work done so. So thank you for rising to that challenge and surpassing it. The Gaming Commission are happy to respond to outside increase, including the legislators the team has been able to do that. We of course don't assume anything about the sports betting legislation right now the proposals that are out there do name the Gaming Commission as the potential regulator, but we'll stay we stay tuned, and, and we do that without presumption, and with humility and with acknowledgement that in the event we are named the regulator, we will be prepared, and we will be timely. And, and, and assume the responsibilities just like so many of you did back when expanded gaming came into fruition. So, thank you, and I think I hear commissioners we have a consensus that Jill has the green light. Okay, with a few edits and we'll keep them high level commissioners in the event we really need to revisit it's okay to do an amendment to a future version, if we don't quite capture exactly what you intended. Okay. Thank you. Did you want to go back to Mark now sure. So, um, on page. This is the first one. It's really on the introduction. Where it says, you know, the legislature created a vision. They understood that to achieve this there was also be a plan to mitigate gambling related harm. I would strike the rest of that sentence and insert something like and dedicated significant dollars from gaming taxes for research and responsible gaming programs. In other words, keep ready to the legislature for what they did in the gaming act. And by implication, a good deal of blueprint on what to do anymore if there was any more gaming expansion. Great. We're happy to that that makes perfect sense to me, Commissioner, we can turn that around right away. And we'll send it back and see if it captures what you're thinking. Excellent. Green light commissioners. Yes. Excellent. Thank you so much. I suspect Joe, you and crystal and mark. I don't think you have other items. You need to be excused. Thank you. Okay, moving on to item. Number four, an exciting update for, for you. A different update. We haven't had a discussion around boundaries of the gaming establishment for a while. Todd, so good morning. Madam chair commissioners and everyone. As the chair mentioned, does pertain to a petition to amend the boundary of the gaming establishment at plain Ridge Park casino. And there are up pops the north grounds, the general manager of the property who will present the bulk of the request in advance of his presentation, though, which will outline the details of the actual plan. I thought it might be helpful just to quickly discuss some of the legal principles that govern the decision to help to the ultimate review. And I believe the proposal is in the commissioners packet so you can see what he will be presenting shortly. The specific request as depicted in the presentation is essentially that the previous approved racing apron area be expanded further beyond the existing boundary line to allow for a fire pit area adjacent to the surface parking lot. Next to the race track. The commission initially set the boundary for the gaming establishment at PPC. On June 11, 2015. And in establishing that the commission considered a number of provisions contained in chapter 23 K. The foremost though is the definition of the term gaming establishment itself, which is in chapter 23 K section two. And the statute defines the term gaming establishment as the premises approved under a gaming license, which includes a gaming area, and any other non gaming structure related to the game. And may include but shall not be limited to hotels, restaurants, and for other amenities. So that's the definition of the term gaming establishment in the statute. So from the definition it is clear that the gaming area itself must be included in the gaming establishment and that sounds pretty obvious. And on that though the use of the term may in the definition also makes clear that the law was designed to give the commission great latitude to include any other element of the property it deemed necessary to ensure proper regulation and control over the property and the activities of the licensee. The law does of course provide guidance as to which other elements and amenities should and may be considered for inclusion in the gaming establishment. What I mean by that is that by definition, any element that is included must be a non gaming structure that is related to the gaming area. The definition includes some examples as to the types of elements that were envisioned to be included under that part of the definition, and it specifically references hotels, restaurants and other amenities. So that's, that's where the statute leaves us. In determining the boundaries of the three gaming establishments previously, the commission came up with what is essentially a four part test which aids in the analysis and governs the review of these types of issues. And it helps us determine whether to include or exclude a particular element of the subject property within the boundary of the gaming establishment and the four elements that were discussed previously and this is by way of written decision that the commission issued a number of years ago. The four elements are whether the area is a non gaming structure, whether it is related to the gaming area. Whether it is under common ownership and control of the gaming licensee and fourth, whether the commission has a regulatory interest and including it as part of the gaming establishment. This fourth part the regulatory interest only comes into play if the first three elements are satisfied. And in each of the previous three cases in which the commission determined the boundary of a gaming establishment. And that is actually another associated factor that was looked at. That is whether the area at issue is essentially cartilage or is a pertinent to an area of the gaming establishment that otherwise meets that. And that for example, is how the racing apron area at PPC was included initially in the boundary in the first place. And there are actually examples of this the cartilage and the pertinence considerations that are in play and the other two gaming establishments as well so as well as not limited to just cleaner. So in the present matter, the analysis I suggest would focus first on the racing part of the building where the wagers are placed. So there is an actual building that we're looking at. The building as we all know was included in the boundary of the gaming establishment as it met the test that I just discussed. The racing apron was considered to be the cartilage to that part of the gaming establishment and thus related to the racing building and so it was included as well. So the next part of the analysis here then is whether the new area which extends further down the racing apron is still part of that cartilage or it is a pertinent to the gaming establishment as it presently exists. The cartilage and the pertinence are essentially legal terms of art that are intended to cover the area outside of a building that the law recognizes to be closely enough related to the building that a privacy or other type interest should be afforded to it. For example, this typically comes up in the context of the area surrounding a residential dwelling like the lawn or a walkway or something like that, or a homeowner still has some privacy interest, though not as great as the interest inside the home. So a cartilage or a pertinence is something right outside of a building that is closely related to the building and used as part of the building. Yes, that's just the broad overview of what Mr. Groundzel is about to discuss. Happy to revisit some of these issues after his presentation. But unless there are any questions, I'd like to just turn the matter over to North at the moment to run through his petition. Thank you, Councilor Grossman and thank you commissioners, Madam Chair, for the opportunity to present to you this morning. So I'll take just a little bit of time to go over both the written document that we provided to you, which was our petition skipping over the portions that relate to authority and law, because I am not an attorney and Councilor Grossman is going to do a much better job of summing up that portion of the In terms of setting context of what it is that we're asking for, I think it's appropriate to kind of maybe think back in time as restaurants began to open in the US in June of 2020. And when that happened, very quickly, two problems became evident. For folks who operated restaurants, restaurant tours, the capacity limits placed on indoor seating made it very difficult to provide jobs and make a profit. And for public health officials allowing more people to congregate in a confined setting without masks represented a public health risk that outweighed any economic benefit and additional capacity. So it was in this context that municipalities, public health officials and restaurant tours began offering alfresco or outside dining. Across the United States, restaurants built out on the sidewalks, some towns closed streets, and restaurant patrons spent much of the summer of 2020 eating outside. The summer drew to a close. It became apparent that some customers wanted to continue outdoor dining well into the fall and winter months. Outdoor heated patios and transparent domes or igloos popped up everywhere and many restaurants found these options in such high demand, the reservations for the spaces were required. So as Plain Ridge Park entered the late winter months of 2021 and became clear that alfresco dining was something that our guests would want this summer. And it was in this context that we sought to create an outdoor space that provided the opportunity for food, beverage and live music. In order to provide the outdoor entertainment area for our guests, PPC is requesting an amendment to the premises of the gaming establishment. And that that requested amendment area is shown in your packet on page one, the exhibit packet. I'll flip to that in a minute. So talking a little bit about our discussion of this, you know, as as counselor Grossman pointed out, there's a four part test that applies to whether or not a piece of property can be considered part of the game established. So the proposed amendment that we're talking about to the racing apron clearly meets the four criteria set out above, in that it is a non gaming structure, there'll be permanent fire that's located in the area in question. And we're assuming that it is part of the property cartilage, mainly by virtue of the fact that the fencing that will enclose the space extends the enclosure. And that that area was previously deemed as courage. So this is related to the gaming area, and that it supports the gaming area by making the entire facility a more attractive destination area is under common control of PPC. And by virtue of the first correct three criteria being met through private the last point about whether or not the commission has a regulatory interest in including the area in this state in this space as part of the game established. And I see that as a determination for the commission to make. We at PPC are here asking for this amendment to be made, believing that it does represent a good regular interest. In further support of our amendment, we would note that the request here is very limited scope. So with that, I will take just a moment and share with you the presentation that we have that gives just some visuals to what we're talking about here, which should be included in your packet. And as we set this up, I just want to make sure that everyone is able to see my screen. We can if you if you want you can even expand it if you're able to. There you go. Okay, perfect. Yeah. So I'll kind of we're going to kind of zoom in here. If you look at this original drawing is the, the original boundaries of the premises of the gaming establishment. So that is the dark line that outlines all of the different areas of the casino, you can see that extends here underneath the ballet quarter share extends behind the back encompasses a portion of the racing apron comes back round and goes around the outer edge of the building. And as counselor Grossman said this was established on the June 11 2015. If we look about the specific area in discussion here. We're looking at a space that is roughly 50 feet by 50 feet. And so you can see the racing air apron here. This is a small structure where we allowed walk up wagering throughout the Kentucky Derby last year, this this year and in 2020 as well. And there's a small covered area right here. Should this be approved the area in question specifically is the one that's currently shown with grass here. So currently we do have an alcohol permit for this area we do occasionally serve food and liquor and alcoholic beverages in this area, and we do have some existing seating. In the next section this is kind of again zooming down one more level of detail just to show a plan for what the area would look like from above. We've got two fire pits here in the center, flanked by several picnic tables and then an area in the back where there would be space for a truck to come in and out of space. So this is a mixed use area. There would be in the area in question the particular area that we're asking for the amendment would primarily just be the service of food outdoor dining and for just for a place for patrons to sit outside listening to some music or placing games things like that. This is a very simple rendering of kind of what we're looking at for the space so it's a very short extension to the existing rate racing apron. We are talking about a section that is very limited in its scope of what the ask is here. With that, we've also got some kind of marketing materials of what it is that we would show to customers we're considering calling this area the patio, and just a little bit more about what space would be considered. So, with that I will conclude my presentation and stop questions that the Commission may have. Any questions for North. Why don't I go one at a time commissioner Brian, if you're ready. No the question. So the very first time I went down there and saw that space. I was curious as to why it actually hadn't been utilized that way already. So I'm actually not surprised to have you guys coming in now and asking for it. If anything I thought maybe you go a little further out. I think at a certain point you need the buffer does the access to the track. Do you foresee this getting coming back and getting bigger or you feel like this is the space that you need to optimize. I think that's an excellent question commissioner. At this point, we, we, the simple answer is I don't know. I understand that there are limits here in terms of how far we can push this space from the commission standpoint. I don't want to push our luck as it as it would be but all things being equal I would love for it to be so popular that we need to extend even further. There are definitely partnerships that we are exploring right now and we expect to have 67 degrees who is a local brewer in Franklin and it's also minority and veteran. And then a tech takeover with us here. Ideally, they will be inside the casino for the celebration of Juneteenth so that we can provide support to a minority on business during that time. But we'll definitely be with us and the outdoor area that is not part of the portion be considered today here towards the end of the month so we see that there are a lot of opportunities here you know as as we look at the number of guests and people who want to eat outside and think this can be a competitive offer. Thank you. Commissioner, can I can't commissioners and I got sorry to check Cameron. He's that he leaned in. Thank you know I well only because I actually remember. The space being used for some programming. I believe when the constant with the casino what when the casino was under construction, but there was actually racing going on. There was some number of pony and some other kind of you know, snacks and things like that which I think is very appropriate. I think I like the rendering and the use and I'm glad you're, you're thinking, you know, creatively to try to expand offerings. I don't see any adjacencies issues of course here it's all within your property there's no other property owner or public space or anything like that that could, you know, fit within the definitions that you that you articulate, you know, in terms of curvilizing whatnot. So I am very much on board and with the request. Commissioner Cameron. Thank you. I agree with all of that I am on board with this too I think it's a great use of space people do enjoy outdoor space. The only question I had, I know that we're in particular even more now than before right. The only question I had was, I suspect all of the entrance will come to the right so to enter this piece, you need to come in through the racing area and out through the apron is that correct. Yes, Commissioner Cameron that is correct. There was a you did have a. would not be for entrance that would be for other purposes. So Commissioner Cameron they're actually on the rendering there are two gates in there one is a crash bar as an exit or an egress to the space that's necessary to remain for egress. The other one which you may be referring to as you look at the rendering of the space would be in the northwest corner of the map which would be a double gate which would remain locked when operational but is there primarily to allow a rotation of food trucks to come in and out of the space. So that's primarily the reason for the other gate. I would also add for whatever it's worth because I think I might see where you're going here Commissioner we do have good surveillance on the space. We have three unobstructed views of the space from a variety of different angles and we are adding another angle. Great. Excellent. That's exactly where I was going. I assumed that that was for use by you know to bring in equipment, tables, the food truck whatnot but I just wanted to clarify but I agree with everyone's comments so far and I do think there is a regulatory interest in us improving this so thank you. Thank you so much. Just a couple of clarifiers. Director Leos your team has had a chance to review the plan and including Bruce Ban and the gaming agents in terms of surveillance and there you are Bruce. Lorena do you want to comment? So we have been involved. I've been coordinated with Todd and we've jointly met with North and with Lisa McKinney at PPC. You know I think Todd's legal analysis is you know very helpful. I think the request is a modest request and understandable request you know even the pandemic aside everybody wants to eek every hour out of the ability to be outdoors. North did mention the camera coverage issue that's already been discussed with Bruce Ban's team and we're completely confident that that will be fully addressed it's in the process of being addressed now. So you know I think the request is understandable and from the IEB's perspective I fully expect that it's a workable adjustment. Okay thank you and thank you Bruce for chiming in. I saw you nodding your head that you're all satisfied from a surveillance point of view to assure compliance issues. Thank you. The second is do you anticipate North that this will be all year round? You mentioned igloos or do you see this as a regional associated mainly with horse racing? So that's an excellent question Madam Chair. I think that as we look at the summer some of that will depend on how strong the demand is for the area. I think the fire pits give us some options there in terms of extending into the shoulder seasons. I think as we get into the deep winter months I would be very surprised if we're going to be able to do that. I don't know if it's going to be February or January or February of seeing patrons out there but I think that you know the heating portion provided by the fire pits we plan on selling s'mores so that people can make their own s'mores out there and that kind of stuff. We'll lend to an atmosphere where people may want to extend into those shoulder seasons but I would think that we're probably operational somewhere in the neighborhood of seven to eight months a year. I'm excited. I know that we will be discussing PPC's alcohol beverages certificate because they have separate and apart from this issue a renewal requirement coming up. And I wanted to just clarify the question I asked you earlier today. If we go ahead and approve this request this is a request for expansion the apron and the apron already has an alcohol beverages certificate so that certificate would cover this expansion without thinking about the need for the renewal right now. If we didn't act on the renewal today by chance we would have a gap or would we not on the certificate? I think you would have a gap if we didn't act on the renewal and the actual application. Chair. The license packet today would you know, Nacisha is prepared to have the conversation with you today in the event that you allow the expansion she will update the blueprint in her packet address that. I just wanted to make sure I was, you know, we're using the language. The apron is an expansion of the apron. It's not a new term. Okay, good. So those were my questions. I guess my comment is, Mifold, I think it's an exciting opportunity for horse racing as an enhancement to that offering. Of course, it's also an exciting opportunity for your casino guests. Anytime a casino brings their patrons outdoors, you're providing an opportunity for necessary break, an opportunity for some good fresh air and vitamin D, and it's an alternative route that hasn't been followed in the past by casinos. So I like that a whole lot. And I also see it as a real opportunity for demographic expansion, and I know you're thinking that. So I like this proposal a whole lot. It is modest. It looks like you're almost just doubling that space, right? North, it's almost like replicating it. And I too have the same question as Commissioner O'Brien that, you know, but I do hear you, you want to see how the commission feels about this and then also see how it goes. So we'll stay tuned. But I do think you, Todd, need a vote on this issue before I send her under item number four. Unless there are any other questions for North or Todd. All right. Commissioner O'Brien, are you able to help out on that? Certainly, Madam Chair. I move that the commission amend the boundaries of the gaming establishment of Plain Ridge Park Casino to include the area of pertinent to the existing racing apron for the reasons discussed today and is described and outlined in the commissioner's packet. Second. Great. Commissioner Cameron? Aye. Commissioner O'Brien? Aye. Commissioner Zunica? Aye. And I vote yes. Exciting. Congratulations on that, North. All goes well. You'll be able to have some festivities on Friday. Correct? Fantastic. Thank you. Okay, good, good. I want to know if North is going back to his poker game. Hold on just one second. I played this last game. That really brought home a family memory for me, North. My dad had similar backgrounds or pictures in our camp. So it's fun. All right. Great. So we'll get started then on our next item, which is of equal importance for PPC. Good morning, Chief Skinner. Oh, there you go. There. Yeah. Good morning. Good morning, commissioners. Good morning, everyone. Commissioners, from your review and consideration today, is a request for a PPC's gaming beverage license for bill. PPC's current license expires on June 24th, 2021. They submitted timely application to renew on May 7th, 45 days before the current license expiration as required by commission regular. And their application was deemed administratively complete on June 10th. All of the information required to be contained in the application is included and you have it available to you. And so things like floor plans, a description of how the alcoholic beverages will be stored and stored, hours of service and capacity are all addressed and satisfactory. The renewal packet consists of first PPC's umbrella license plus the 10 licensed areas. So we have an application for each of those areas. They're gaming floor, of course, a banquet room, food court, a flight and smash burger restaurants, foodie sports bar, slacks, oyster housing grill, lounges. We've got Revolution 1776 and High Limit. And of course, the racing area venues. There's Mountain Skipper Express, Dark Horse Bar and the racing apron, which is now expanded for your earlier vote. And as touched on earlier today, we will need to supplement the application with the updated map. And I think I heard that the request from PPC is to utilize that space beginning this Friday, which, you know, I wasn't aware of, unfortunately. So I think that unless there's an amendment to the existing gaming beverage license, then we will have a gap. As the material presented to you today discusses the renewal effect of January, excuse me, January, June 24. So the existing approval that PPC is operating under does not extend to, in terms of the racing apron, it does not extend currently to that expanded area. And that's my understanding. I apologize, Makisha. I should have clarified, we have extended our beginning opening date to the 25th. So if that makes life a little bit easier, we've run into some supply chain issues with deliveries as everyone is seeing pandemic. So we're looking actually at the 25th. So I misspoke. It's not the 18th. Okay, the 25th. So does that help you, Makisha? It does. Thank you. Thank you, North. Thank you all. So that would presume, though, that do we, can we act on it now, Loretta, or do we have to, do we have to have another commission meeting in advance of that? We may well. I'd recommend that you act on it now. And it can be effective upon the expiration of the the first, the existing license. So I would recommend that you act on the renewal now. And I agree with that. Okay, Makisha. Sorry, I was directing to Loretta only because I asked a question early this morning and I'm trying to catch up. So thank you, Makisha. So does that mean, and again, forgive me, do we need, how do we vote on this? I know that we have motions. Do we need an additional motion now or I don't have the motions in front, the draft motions that we use for guidance only? If I may offer, I don't think we need an additional vote on this particular piece of it. Given that as North stated, the area won't be, begin to be utilized until the 25th. And what you're, what you'll be voting on today is the renewal that is effective on the 25th. Well, I think it is appropriate to move forward based on the vote that's before you today. And the fact that this, that the new space is really an extension of what's already described as the racing apron. Well, the only condition might be, you know, subject to clarification of the revised drawing. That would really be the only thing that would be noted in the motion that we would vote on. That makes sense. Agreed. And Makisha and I were already discussed this morning and I think she already mentioned that she will supplement the packet with the new map of the apron. All right. And sorry, go ahead. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry. I just want to make sure I'm really clear on process. And that presumes another meeting in advance of next Friday. No. No. Okay, good. That's what I, so, so when you say supplement the packet. So, so your vote, the motion before you, as Eileen mentioned, if you could add language to indicate as reflected in the addition of the new map of the racing apron. All right. I think if we mentioned item four A and say the area, the new area, you know, noted in today's packet for a, then I think it covers the area. I think so. I think that's great. Yeah. No. We don't want to slow down those some more. All of the licensing areas are operated by PPC, meaning there are no jointly responsible persons at play here. In a particular note, there's no bottle service at any of the licensed areas. If approved, this will be PPC's second renewal. And for this renewal, PPC has a new food and beverage director, Damien Hink, who'll be in charge of all of the licensed areas. Damien transferred to PPC from another Penn national property in March of this year. And during the licensing application review process, he readily made himself available for the necessary dialogue and documentation. I understand he has 15 years in the food and beverage industry, which is a great start, but he also certified that he has read and understands the commission's regulations regarding the gaming beverage license. So we'll hold him to that. And I'm recommending the commission approved PPC's gaming beverage renewal application. But before I take your questions, if you have any, and before you take a vote, I'd like you to hear IEB's findings. And so I'll turn it over to Loretta Embers. Thanks, Nikesha. So I concur with Nikesha's recommendation, and the recommendation was reached after a review of PPC's compliance history around the alcohol beverage licenses and after consultation with our partners at the ABCC. So I thought it would be helpful for you to have a little more detail on that.  Thank you, Loretta and Nikesha. Good morning, Madam Chair. I have a brief prepared comment touching on a few aspects of the IEB inspection of the liquor outlets at BBC, after which we'll be happy to answer any questions. First, with regards to the storage and security of the alcohol outlets, the IEB conducts inspections of all kind of outlets on the nightly basis. This is completed through our surveillance monitoring system or through an actual physical inspection on the casino floor and back of house. The IEB ensures all outlets are secured by checking beer tap locks, cooler door locks, and alcohol storage doors. With regards to the surveillance aspects, the IEB conducts weekly alcohol reviews, again, through our surveillance monitoring system. We are routinely notified by the surveillance team and GEU patrons that are given a 24-hour trespass, 30-day eviction, or even possibly after headed by the GEU. The IEB will then in turn review these patrons for possible over-service. Our review consists of the patient's time on property, the number of alcoholic beverages they're served, and even which food and beverage employees serve them. If there's a situation of possible over-service, it is discussed immediately with PPC compliance and management. Through these inspections and reviews, the IEB has recorded minimal instances of alcohol-related violations and non-compliance issues. Any observations, again, are discussed with PPC clients and are followed up with additional training for their employees. Lastly, the IEB and PPC maintain a relationship with the Alcoholic Beverage's control commission. The ABCC routinely conducts unannounced onsite inspections reporting minimal issues. In fact, after recently speaking with the ABCC on the matter, they have recorded minimal issues not only in the last few years, but also since opening the casino. The ABCC has said they have no concerns with the renewal of the liquor license of PPC. To close, PPC has been very receptive to our findings and maintains exemplary compliance with regards to alcohol services. With that, the IEB fully recommends the renewal of PPC's liquor license for all requested outlets. Thank you. Thank you, Andrew. Good morning. Chair, if I can comment. Thank you, Andrew. At the risk of going back to ancient history, I wanted to give you a full picture that under the initial license of PPC, remember, we're in the first renewal now. You're getting ready to vote on the second renewal. In that period of the first renewal, not surprisingly, there were some storage item issues that PPC had. They did receive a notice of noncompliance and they received a civil administrative penalty for a series of alcohol storage infractions. Those date back to 2015. Since that time, and again, that was under the initial license, since that time errors were corrected and that continued coordination with the gaming agent team and inspections have all been met in a satisfactory manner. Questions for, and I want to make sure we get back to questions for Nakisha on the licensing and then on the IEB compliance. So I think we can manage both. Who would like to wave their hand if you have any questions? I'll set. Commissioner Zuniga? Commissioner Cameron? I'm all set as well, but I do appreciate the compliance report and I'm really, I'm glad to see that they have made those improvements and their record has been very strong since the initial training issues that I do recall. So thank you for that. Commissioner O'Brien, comments, questions? I'll set. Yes, and of course, they're on the second, we renewed their full gaming license after the five-year period and that compliance was, of course, taken into consideration upon renewal. So as Director Lillio frames, it's somewhat ancient history. I like how Andrew framed it. That's been exemplary compliance. From the start, there were some lessons to be learned. That's okay. All right, but I want to go back to Nakisha. Is there anything else that you need or want to add? Because I know I added a little element of confusion as I figured out the process. Yes, please. Thank you, Madam Chair. Can I just confirm, if I may, with North, the capacity of the Racing Apron with that expanded space? Currently, it's at 963 and, you know, if that, I would imagine that will be expanded. And so I would ask, Madam Chair, that we adjust the vote to account for that as well. Noor? Yeah, so I do not have a fire rating capacity for that area yet. I'm happy to get it for you, Nakisha, if that's helpful for that space. But it will be in addition of 2,500 square feet. I'm just not sure which formula they'll be using to determine the additional. There is quite a bit of space there, as you pointed out. So the 963 for the apron, I think, should be more than sufficient. But if we need to add additional for the additional square footage, we will. Okay. And so with that, Todd and Nakisha, do we need to manage that in any way, subject to an expansion of that number, Nakisha? I think we should reference that. And we should reference that in any motion as the, I think the anticipated motion would essentially incorporate the particulars of the application. So we want to just recognize that that one number will be different. Madam Chair, if I may, we're not, we're not requesting an increase of the capacity. If the fire marshal were to come back and into grant additional capacity, we can always amend it at a later time. The current capacity for this space seems more than sufficient. Okay. So the number that Nakisha was nine something would stand. Yes, 963. Commissioner's questions on that? Commissioner Green? I did. I just, I'm looking at, I'm trying to figure out what page I'm on. I think it's 13. In fact, it's the gaming beverage license information chart. We have location, restaurant seats, tables, bar, square footage, that chart. It references number eight as the racing apron. There is no specification in terms of seats and tables. Nakisha, is that acceptable or do we need to be slotting in or putting a placeholder in there? Uh, this is the list that we've, that PPC has provided. Because you're talking about capacity, but then the others all seem to specify seats and tables and this doesn't, is that a requirement or was that surplusage? I think that's it's not, it's not required by the regulations that that information be included in the renewal. Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you. Commissioner Cameron? Yeah, questions. So knowing now that they're not asking for an addition, it will remain at 960. Is there a need to reference that number in the, in the motion? Would seem to me that we wouldn't have to do that. I don't think you would, Commissioner Cameron. The number 963 is listed on the application itself. The renewal application and that is what you are voting on today with the, with the addition of the expanded area. Okay. Thank you. Any further questions? Well, then if there are no further questions, we do need a formal vote. Are you prepared commissioners to offer one motion? I am. I'm happy to make that motion. Great. Commissioner Cameron. I move that the commission review the gaming beverage license issued to Plain Ridge Park casino subject to the revised drawing of the apron mentioned today in for a, including all licensed areas described and depicted in the application contained in the commissioners packet and reviewed today and incorporating all terms and conditions described in chapter 23 K 205 CMR and included in the submitted applications for a term of three years ending on June 24th, 2024 in accordance with 205 CMR 136.061. Did you say renew or review? Yeah, I think we need to say renewed and maybe if we say renewed effective immediately upon the expiration of the existing license and then the rest of the language would cover it. But I think if we add that phrase in then it covers renewing and then having it kick in as soon as the existing one expires. Yeah, if I said reviewed, I meant renewed. I thought that's right. I couldn't tell myself to say that. No, it might have been my ears. So thank you. With that revision motion stands. I second that motion with those revisions. And Todd, you have that correct? I'll set. Okay. Then I think we can go right ahead with our roll call vote. Commissioner Cameron. Aye. Commissioner O'Brien. Aye. And Christian Zuniga. Aye. I vote yes, 4-0 Vivian. Thanks so much. Exciting North. Thank you. And Andrew and Burke for a good morning. Andrew took care of business today. We appreciate your appearance. How are you? Hello, how are you? Yes, Andrew does such a great job. I think Bruce and I welcome the opportunity to allow Andrew to speak. That's an excellent job. Thank you. And Nakesha, are you all set? I am all set. Thank you, commissioners. Thank you to the IEB and the Gaming Agents Division. As you said, Andrew, thank you. Great job. I also want to send a special thanks to Lisa Brookner, who is instrumental in getting us across the finish line with the preparation of those renewal licenses. So thank you, Lisa. And nice to see you. Do you want, I have to ask, because Lisa has the most interesting background. What's this one? This is Essex, Massachusetts dinner on the Wolf Edit restaurant. It was beautiful that evening. And you captured it. You captured it nicely. Well, thank you, Lisa, for your good work. And I know that PPC is very pleased with this outcome. So thank you to all. Takes the whole team. Evidence right here, right? So thank you. I think then we can move on to... We can move on to item number six. Is that correct? All right. Thank you. So we have Dr. Lightbound. There you are. Good morning, Alex. So we have several... Oh, Lisa, you might want to mute. Thank you so much. So we have several new people to be approved as racing officials today. One of Joe Pastella is going to be photo finishing timing. He's being trained now by Andrew Tavares. Ed Angel has been on the track crew since 2015, and he's being elevated to track superintendent. Wayne Dunphy is a backup presiding judge. He's had two years as a presiding judge and four years as an associate judge. He does have a USDA presiding judge license. He does not have the racing accreditation program certification. Last year due to the COVID, they did not hold that certification program. And so there is kind of a shortage of judges. And there is precedent that we have had backup judges in the past that have not had the full rope accreditation. So with his experience and the fact that he'll be a backup, I do feel comfortable recommending that he be approved. Steve O'Toole, the director of racing for Plainage Park Casino is on joining us by phone today if the commissioners have any other questions for me. Good morning, Steve. Questions for Alex? Commissioner Cameron, you want to start? Thank you. Yeah, I recall us making an exception in the past for a backup judge, although we do like to follow best practices and require our judges to be accredited. And certainly we would encourage if Mr. Dunphy were to continue as a backup for years to come, we would encourage him to go through that process, which I know is rigorous. But in light of the fact that the course was not offered, I think that this exception is warranted in this case. Can I do a follow-up? Will the training be offered this season so that you can take it well in this position or how does it work? It is being offered in July and I did talk to Steve about that. As Commissioner Cameron mentioned, it is a rigorous program that basically has the person unavailable to do their regular job for 10 days. So sometimes that inhibits people from doing it if they're actively in a position where they need to be present. Okay. And so does that mean that it would be offered off season as well? It might be offered another time of the year. Often they do offer it twice a year, but right now I only see the July dates being offered. Commissioner O'Brien, you're leaning in? Nope, you're lost. No, no, it was just more reacting to that conundrum of the dates not really being conducive to not being able to do it. So yeah, it's not ideal, right? Commissioner Asunika? I'm gonna be lying your judgment, Alex, on that. It does seem like a bit of a catch-22. Yes, unfortunately. Commissioner Cameron? Yeah, I would hope that Rope would get back to twice a year accreditation once they fully come out of these endemic circumstances. Great. And we need a vote. Is there no further questions for Alex? Start it right now. Madam Chair, I'd be happy to move that the commission approve the following racing officials at Plain Ridge Park Casino in accordance with 205-CMR 3.18 Walter Sullivan Jr. as the assistant racing services manager, Joseph Pastella as the racing supervisor, including photo finish and timing, Ed Angel as the track superintendent, and Wayne Dunphy as the backup presiding judge. Second, bad motion. Thank you, Commissioner O'Brien. No further questions? Commissioner Cameron? Aye. Commissioner O'Brien? Aye. Commissioner Asunika? Aye. I vote yes, 4-0. Thanks, Vivian. And thank you, Dr. Lightbound. And Steve, I know that you're on phone. Thank you, of course, for all that you do. And North, I think we may have concluded at least direct business with PPC as we turn to our budget discussion. Is there anything else that you want to offer to the commission or any questions for North? North? Madam Chair, thank you for taking the time this morning. I know that PPC has taken up a good deal of your morning. But we appreciate you being patient as we get through all of these items. And we look forward to the opportunity to continue the record that we've established here in the Commonwealth and to serve our guests and taxpayers. Thank you. Great. We wish you good luck when you launch. And we look forward to the next quarterly report. So we'll hear about the launch. Thank you so much. And again, thank you, Andrew. All right. Then I think we can move right on to item number 7, our finance division. Good morning, Derek. Good morning, Madam Chair. Good morning, commissioners. I'm joined today by Agnes Bolier and Doug O'Donnell. And on June 3rd, we presented to you the FY22 MGC proposed budget. Materials in the packet today are the exact same materials we presented on June 3rd. As a brief overview, we made the following budget recommendations for fiscal year 2022. A game and control fund budget of $33 million, which includes $27.12 million in regulatory costs and $5.9 million in staff required costs, funding 94 FTEs and three contract positions. A racing budget of $2.65 million in regulatory costs, $209,000 indirect, and funds approximately eight FTEs. A community mitigation budget funded at $274,500, including two FTEs. And a research responsible gaming budget funded at $6.49 million, including three FTEs, which is wholly funded by the Public Health Trust Fund. Page two of the memorandum summarizes this information and represents an operational budget of $42.65 million, funding 107 FTEs and three contracted positions. An overview, the assessment and timing issue came up last time as well. You know, I walked through a very complicated explanation of the formula, which is far better summarized in chapter 23K, sections 56A through C, as well as our regulation. And that formula is pretty straightforward when you read it, not so easy when I try to describe it. But the tough thing about it is the projection for slot machines and gaming positions, table game positions on 7-1 is not straightforward at this period. So we use projection in the memo, page eight of the memorandum, and we'll be using that for the annual slot fee bill, as well as the first quarterly assessment. And then we'll adjust the figures as of July 1 to give actual numbers as to what these actual slot fees were. We also updated you that we're recommending returning to the billing schedule of slot fees and assessments to pre-COVID timing. We had gone forward and gone on a monthly basis during COVID to provide some a little bit of leeway to the licensees on cash flow. We're going back to quarterly and full year. We said we would post the budget for public comment, which we did on June 4. We had asked comments to come back by June 15 to 3 p.m. We're here on June 14, so there's still one more day. I can tell you we haven't received any public comments. I did send an email to all of the CFOs of the licensees, letting them know that the deadline would be pushed up, and if they could provide any feedback to me that they wanted to ahead of time. I did not receive any of that for the weekend. I didn't receive any over the weekend. So what we are here asking is for you to approve the budget either in the packet as is, or during the last few weeks you've had a little bit of time to review it and wanted to make some comments on it. Any of those comments we would address here and approve that budget. And we are asking for that contingent upon any additional comments coming back at 3 p.m. We bring those comments back to you but consideration at the next public meeting. Derek, just to clarify, we didn't push up the date you indicated to the licensees that we were meeting today. So the actual public comment deadline is what time and what day? Tomorrow? 3 p.m. I'm sorry? 3 p.m. 3 p.m. Okay. For some reason I thought it was Wednesday, so tomorrow. Thank you. And this would have worked out more seamlessly but we moved up Thursday's meeting to today in order to ensure virtual capacity. Doug and Agnes, thank you. Do you have anything to add in besides a hello and a good morning? Hello and good morning. But I would like to thank the licensees for working with us in this whole process. As Derek had mentioned, it's difficult for them to guesstimate what the numbers will be for the slots in the positions on July 1st, which we will make an adjustment. But they were very good working with us and getting numbers into us in a timely manner. I want to thank them for that. Thank you. And you're reminding all of us that it really is a collaborative cooperative process. Agnes, good morning. Good morning. No, I have nothing else to add. They were very helpful in their comments earlier and we took those to heart and we've implemented some of them. And going forward, I think it's a good budget. Great. So Derek invited commissioners, any additional thoughts or reflections you may have had since our review? I'm having a hard time keeping track of time. It would have been June 3rd. June 3rd. Commissioners in again? Yeah, I just wanted to clarify something for the record, perhaps a reminder. So the assessment, just because of this particular year that is so fluid in terms of gaming positions, the assessment of the slot fee will be revised. Actually, the overall assessment will be revised as of the number of gaming positions as of July 1st. And that slot fee remains the same for the rest of the year because it's on that day of the year. But remind us, Derek, if there was any changes to the gaming positions after July 1st, does the assessment change at any given point or are we on to the next July 1st? No, so we come back at the mid-year and do a revisit of the gaming positions as of January 1. And then we reassess the second half of the year based on what those revised counts are as of January 1. Right. But the slot fee does not change, right? The slot fee is always for the SMT life first. So we have done it that way. The statute does allow us to do partial billings for additional machines that come on throughout the year. We haven't done that because we haven't had much of a need for it. Those numbers stay pretty consistent once the floor is seat. And it's only $600 pro-rated per additional months that it's on the floor. So if you go up by 20, it's really not that big of a... It doesn't make a... Yeah. So decrease based on the assessments that they're getting of, you know, 20-some odd million dollars. All right. Thank you. But we can do that. We just haven't implemented it because of the practicality of it. And by the way, by my question, I don't mean to imply that we should. I just wanted to clarify, you know, the process for the billing and the true op, which only because this particular time, there's a lot more reopening and et cetera. It is, you know, of no worthy to mention that. Commissioners Cameron or Brian, do you have questions for Derek and team? I do not. I think we had a thorough explanation on the third and my questions were answered. And just to thank you to the team, well done in a trying time. That's right. And I don't have any questions at all. Just thank you to everyone for their work. Thank you. And I agree with all of that. I think we stay tuned to see how everything evolves out of this year. But again, as commissioner Cameron points out, it was a trying year and the licensees cooperated with our team and our team has anticipated step right up to the plate. So thank you. All right. So we do share, I'll be happy to move that the commission approved the fiscal year 2022 budget and associated assessments as outlined in the commissioners packet and discussed here today provided that no public comments are received by June 15th or at 3 p.m. Which is the posted closing time for submission of comments. Second. Thank you. Actually, should we maybe amend that further to say that would require that it come back before us? Because if we get a comment that says I love it, okay, didn't have an impact. Thank you for that. Commissioner, I'll restate. I'll withdraw that motion and restate it again. I move the commission approved the fiscal year 2022 budget and associated amendments as outlined in the commissioners packet and discussed today provided that no public comments against the budget are received by June 15th at 3 p.m. is a posted closing time for submission of comments. Second. Thanks for that. Clarify. Commissioner, Brian, Commissioner Cameron. Commissioner, Brian. Aye. Commissioner Zuniga. Aye. I vote yes. Congratulations to the entire team. We have a budget. Thank you. Of course you're out there being thank you. Thank you everyone. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Wow. I'm not sure I'm getting some notice. So it's 11-11. We are running early. We have one more item on our agenda, officially commissioner updates. Does anyone have one? Thank you, Commissioner Zuniga. Well, just a quick one. I attended another one of those virtual conferences that seem to be more prevalent these days as a result of the pandemic. This was the SBC digital conference. I think a lot of the panels are going to be available or to go back and review. This was not a live-only conference. Well, Mark Vander Linden was part of a panel there along with Keith White and other people in the responsible gaming world. This free conference, free rep for registered conference, I'm sure was very well attended. And there's a lot of talk and discussion about all the activity around, surrounding sports betting and online gaming in the United States and the examples of Europe and other jurisdictions. I took a couple of comments that I felt not worthy. And that is the notion that the U.S. has a really good opportunity to get the best practices, especially compared to Europe, in these convergence of sports betting and online. From the standpoint that when Europe approved sports betting 20 years ago, a lot of the regulations didn't necessarily contemplate the online space that developed rather quickly after that and then have to do some adjustment, needless to say, as a result of that. So a little bit like the same thing that happened in a way to Massachusetts, when they approved casino gaming here and we were able to take best practices for from other jurisdictions, a lot of what the gaming in fact already did and we only continued is perhaps manifesting itself as well with jurisdictions across the United States. Taking examples from Europe. So I think there were a lot of great discussions, a sense of a lot of market new entrants, new new entrants into this market, a lot of excitement around the country in terms of opportunity, but also with that responsibility to implement things carefully and thoughtfully. Thank you. Yeah, it was an honor for Mark to be invited to that conference. I didn't get to attend his particular segment. I'm glad that you reminded me it's recorded on RECAY, so I should be able to revisit that. But again, congratulations to Director Van Der Linden for being invited to that comprehensive virtual conference. Any other updates? Well, I'll tell you during this time, the storm has come and gone, at least where I'm sitting. So whoever's on the other side, Eileen, you're looking kind of bright outside still. So yeah, well, I hope everyone has a good rest of the day. We do have the Gaming Policy Advisory Committee meeting at one. I think that that's quite public. If you need an invitation, if you wish to attend, Jill would be able to forward that to you. Presentations from the team starting with Loretta will be interesting, and they'll get to hear also Caitlin's presentation on the federal legislation with respect to tribal matters. I mean, I'm sorry, litigation and legislation on respect to tribal matters. And Alex will give her presentation on the Federal Act on Integrity Commissioner Cameron. So I think that the committee members are in for a treat this afternoon, but our team will be hard at work. All right, so with that, again, everyone, thank you so much. Stay tuned as to our next meeting and the format of our next meeting. We'll be seeing what happens with respect to any legislative change or interim legislative change, and we'll be figuring out our schedule going forward. I have to thank you, commissioners, for being so willing to meet this morning. At such short notice, I think it worked out well. Thanks so much. With that. I move to adjourn. I second that. Launched right in there. Great. Commissioner Cameron. Aye. Commissioner Ryan. Aye. Commissioner Zuniga. Aye. Thanks. 4-0. Thank you. Have a good day, everyone.