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ORIGINALLY REQUESTED, AND THAT
[*This meeting was joined in progress.*]
WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY.[Dallas Park and Recreation Board on June 15, 2023.]
UM, THE ORIGINAL SITE WAS AT, UH, ON ALAMO STREET, BETWEEN THE DOWNTOWN EL PHOENIX AND THE PER MUSEUM.AND, UM, AGAIN, THAT WAS BACK IN 2017.
AND PRESERVATION DALLAS HAS BEEN, UH, MORE THAN GENEROUS TO US IN HOUSING OUR MARKER, UM, ALL THIS TIME UNTIL WE FOUND A SUITABLE SITE.
IT'S AN UNTOLD STORY THAT THE AREA NOW KNOWN AS A HARWOOD DISTRICT IN UPTOWN WERE ONCE LITTLE JERUSALEM LATER, LITTLE MEXICO.
AND THAT THERE WAS ONCE A RESIDENCE ON ALAMO STREET AT THAT LOCATION I MENTIONED THAT LATER SERVED AS A SYNAGOGUE, THE ANGIE CHAR SYNAGOGUE, AND LATER A FIRST MEXICAN BAPTIST CHURCH.
I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE TO HELP US TELL OUR STORIES, UH, A SIGNIFICANT PART OF DALLAS'S HISTORY.
I'M REPRESENTING THE DALLAS JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE FIRST MEXICAN AMERICAN, UH, BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THE DALLAS MEXICAN AMERICAN HISTORICAL LEAGUE.
TAKE THREE MINUTES FOR ME TO WALK OVER HERE AND SIT DOWN.
MR. PRESIDENT DONALD COMMISSIONERS, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
I LIVE AT 2108 KE COURT DALLAS, 75 2 0 8.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I LIVED AT 1807
I GREW UP IN THE AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED HELP TO HAVE OUR HISTORY RECOGNIZED IN DALLAS.
THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL LOCATION FOR US WHERE WE'RE PUT IN THIS, UH, FLAG MARKER.
IT IS AN IDEAL PLACE FOR THE NEW PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.
I, I DROVE BY, THEY'RE COMING OVER HERE EARLIER TODAY, AND IT'S, I'M TRAFFIC TO FLYING LEFT AND RIGHT, BUT THEY HAVE NO IDEA OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE BEFORE.
ALWAYS KEEP SOMETHING IN MIND.
AND THEN IN MEXICO AT ONE TIME, AT ANYWHERE FROM SEVEN TO 12,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN THAT LOCATION WHERE WE'RE DOING, THERE USED TO BE CATHOLIC CHURCH OR ADA LUPE ACROSS THE STREET.
USED TO BE A MAN METHODIST CHURCH DOWN THE STREET WAS AT
AND YET, TWO BLOCKS FROM THERE USED TO BE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH.
SO OUR RELIGIOUS HISTORY THERE.
SO WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS MARKER, AND WE INTEND TO EVENTUALLY SHOW UP AGAIN AND TALK ABOUT MORE MARKERS.
AND LAST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR VOLUNTEERING TO BE HERE, CAUSE I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME.
PRESENT AT THE DALLAS MEXICAN AMERICAN HISTORICAL LEAGUE.
I ALSO SERVE ON THE DALLAS COUNTY, UM, HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE RECENTLY CREATED, UH, HISTORICAL WORKSHOP THAT IS WORKING THROUGH THE CITY OF DALLAS TO HELP PRESERVE SOME OF OUR MAJOR COMMUNITIES AND IDENTIFY OTHER HISTORIC AREAS.
UM, WHEN I FIRST CAME ONTO THIS PROJECT OF WORKING TO CREATE THIS MARKER FOR THE FIRST MEXICAN BAPTIST CHURCH, I WAS REALLY FASCINATED BY THE HISTORY ITSELF.
I WAS BORN IN DALLAS, ACTUALLY METHODIST HOSPITAL.
YOU CAN SEE IT FROM CITY HALL.
UM, BUT MY IMAGE OF DALLAS HAD A VERY LIMITED SCOPE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN I STARTED LEARNING ABOUT HOW CLOSE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, JEWISH, AND MEXICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES WERE AND WHAT IS NOW UPTOWN.
WHEN I STARTED LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED CREATE THE DALLAS THAT I KNOW AND LOVE TODAY,
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I REALIZED THAT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THIS HISTORY AVAILABLE.NOW, WHEN IT CAME TO IDENTIFYING WHERE THE FIRST CHURCH WAS LOCATED, THE FIRST MEXICAN BAPTIST CHURCH, I WENT THROUGH HISTORICAL MAPS, CITY DIRECTORIES, SANBORN, FIRE INSURANCE MAPS.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE TIME OR ABILITY OR WILLINGNESS TO DO.
UH, WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS MARKER TO BE PLACED ON THE HARRY HEINZ TRIANGLE PARK.
IT ISN'T, IT ISN'T EXACTLY AT THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE FIRST MEXICAN BAPTIST CHURCH.
HOWEVER, IT IS AN AREA WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WALK AROUND, THEY CAN SEE THE MARKER, AND THEY THEMSELVES CAN KNOW WHERE THE CHURCH ONCE STOOD.
OF COURSE, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A GEOGRAPHIC LIMITATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGING ORIGINAL SITES, BUT THIS WOULD GIVE PEOPLE SOME INSIGHT INTO WHO ONCE LIVED HERE, WHO STILL LIVES HERE, AND THE PEOPLE THAT BUILT THE DALLAS OF TODAY.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING YOUR BELT, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, YOU KNOW, OUR CITIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES ARE THRIVING AND THAT WE JUST WANT PART OF OUR PARTS OF OUR STORIES TOLD, PARTS OF OUR STORY THAT SHOW HOW THESE COMMUNITIES WERE UNIFIED AND WORKED TOGETHER FOR OVER A CENTURY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME, MS. BOOM.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JUNIOR PLAYERS.
UH, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN ATTENDANCE, UH, FOR TWO.
WE CAN SEE THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING, BUT WE CAN HEAR YOU.
OH, NOIA, CAN WE, CAN YOU SPEAK TO SEE IF WE CAN HEAR YOU? FAIA, CAN YOU SPEAK? I'M HERE AND I CAN HEAR ROSARIO.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? HEAR YOU? SCOTT, CAN YOU SPEAK PLEASE? OR STEVE
AND YOU CAN'T HEAR ME? NO, WE CANNOT HEAR YOU.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT.
WE CAN TAKE OUR NEXT IN PERSON.
I AM PHILLIP HYATT HAIG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOOP, DALLAS.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO COME ONE MORE TIME SINCE THIS ITEM IS BACK, UM, UH, THE CHANGE ORDER FOR THE HIGHLINE CONNECTOR.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU THE PARK BOARD FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE LOOP OVER THE YEARS.
UM, AND I ALSO REALLY WANT TO THANK THE PARK DEPARTMENT FOR, UH, THEIR WORK.
AND ALSO THE NOTICE TO PROCEED TO GET THE HIGHLINE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A FEW, UH, LONG MONTHS WHERE WE HAD A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THAT PROJECT.
AND NOW IF YOU GO OUT THERE TODAY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT PROJECT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
YOU KNOW, DIRT IS TURNING, CONCRETE HAS BEEN POURED, AND WE ARE ON TRACK TO FINISH THAT AND MAKE THAT CONNECTION FROM THE KATY TRAIL TO THE TRINITY STRAND TRAIL.
UH, AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD REALLY ASK YOU TODAY, IS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CERTAINTY FOR THIS PROJECT TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
UH, I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT AN EASY DECISION, UM, BUT WE, THE LOOP ARE COMMITTED TO BRINGING BACK SOME OF THOSE AMENITIES THAT WERE BROUGHT IN THERE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THAT MORE IN THE COMING MONTHS AS WE SECURE FUNDING FOR THAT AND BRING THEM BACK IN.
BUT WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO DO THAT IF THE CERTAINTY FOR THE PROJECT DISCONTINUED IF THE CONSTRUCTION CAN CONTINUE.
AND SO I REALLY ASK FOR Y'ALL TO, UH, APPROVE THE CHANGE ORDER TODAY.
MS. CRUZ, ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR US? AND LET ME SEE IF THIS WORKS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? ALL RIGHT.
SO I'M THE, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JUNIOR PLAYERS.
AND WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 68 YEARS DOING ARTS ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO OUR MOST UNDERSERVED YOUTH.
UH, AND I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TWO PROGRAMS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE PRESIDENT, UH, TO COME AND ATTEND AT THE COHORT OR AS INDIVIDUALS.
WE REALLY NEED YOUR SUPPORT, UH, BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY, WE'RE DOING ALL OF THESE INCREDIBLE PROGRAMS FOR OUR YOUTH, AGES FIVE, ALL THE WAY TO 18.
AND RIGHT NOW, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO OPEN UP, WE'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE THE, UH, WORK IN ACTION FOR YOU TO SEE THE WORK IN ACTION.
WE HAVE OUR SUMMER THEATER CAMPS, UH, WHICH STARTED ON MONDAY, UH, FOR OUR SEVEN TO 14 YEAR OLDS ALL ACROSS, UH, SOME OF THE RECREATION CENTERS FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, UH, UH, FROM
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LARRY JOHNSON TO JC SARAGOSA, FIRESIDE, XOL, SAMUEL GRAND, UH, PARK.UH, AND SO WE'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE.
WE'RE GONNA HOST OUR FESTIVAL AT THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER, UH, ON THE 24TH FROM 12 TO 2:00 PM YOU'LL GET AN INVITATION AS WELL.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS FREE TO, UH, THE RECREATION CENTERS AND TO THE STUDENTS AND THE FAMILY.
SO WE REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT WITH THE FACILITY.
SO THANK YOU, UH, FOR THAT, UM, LONGSTANDING PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR, UH, SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION, WHICH I'M A PROUD PRODUCT OF.
SO I ALWAYS SAY CULTURAL EQUITY AT WORK.
UH, AFTER THE MYRIADS OF CAPACITIES, I'VE SERVED ON JUNIOR PLAYERS, UH, BUT WE'RE DOING CROWNS OF POWER, HENRY THE IV, UH, WHICH IS A HISTORY.
UH, BUT THIS IS A PLAY ABOUT PAIN AND SACRIFICE.
AND GROWING UP IN A YOUNG PRINCE DECIDING, UH, HIS CHO BETWEEN HIS CHOSEN FAMILY AND THE FAMILY THAT HE GREW UP IN.
SO A LOT OF REALLY RELEVANT THINGS WITH OUR TEENS AND OUR FAMILIES.
UM, THE, A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, BUT THINK OF IT'S A FAMILY SHOW.
THINK OF A FUN, EPIC PERIOD SHOW, UH, DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, RINGS OF POWER, ALL THE COSTUMES.
SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE WAR AND WIZARDS.
UM, AND WE'D REALLY LIKE TO INVITE YOU, THAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE, UH, AUGUST 1ST THROUGH THE SIXTH AT SAMUEL O' GRAND AMPHITHEATER.
SO ENJOY SOME SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS.
UM, AND WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE, UH, UPGRADES THAT YOU'VE DONE TO THAT FACILITY AS WELL.
SO WE'VE BEEN THERE OVER 30 YEARS NOW.
SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A STRONG PRESENCE FROM, UH, THE PARK AND BOARD, UH, PARK AND REC, UH, THIS SUMMER.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND I KNOW MR. UH, CONNOR HAD A BRIEF COMMENT TO ME, RIGHT? YEAH.
I'VE KNOWN ROSA FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I KNOW PRISCILLA IS CLOSE WITH ROSA.
UM, ROSA'S PARTNERSHIP WITH PARKS REC DEPARTMENT IS, UM, ESSENTIAL FOR THE YOUTH THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE TYPE OF TRAINING THAT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS GIVE, THE NEED TO MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL EVERY YEAR THAT SHE, SHE HAS HER, HER NONPROFIT, SHE SENDS KIDS REGULATED, JUILLIARD, NYU, SO FORTH AND SO ON.
AND SO, ROSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY.
UM, REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE ACCOMPLISHED FOR 68 YEARS.
AND THIS IS, WE'RE SETTING IT IN A THEATER SETTING.
SO THE IDEA IS THAT KIDS GET TO SEE WHAT A PROFESSIONAL, UH, CULTURAL CENTER LOOKS LIKE AND REALLY PICTURE THAT VIABLE CAREER PATHWAY.
SO HOPE TO SEE Y'ALL AT THE FESTIVAL OF PLACE.
AND BEFORE WE MOVE ON, CAN WE TEST MR. GOLDSTEIN ONE MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN HEAR US AND WE CAN HEAR YOU? YEAH.
MS. MONELL, CAN WE TEST YOU AS WELL? CHECK ONE, CHECK TWO? YES, MA'AM.
AND I THINK THAT WAS ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS, SIR.
AND I THINK TAYLOR IS ON THERE, IS HE'S NOT ON.
UH, WITH THAT, UH, OUR NEXT POINT ON AGENT APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 1ST, DO I MR. SLAUGHTER SECOND.
MR. BLA, UH, UH, DISCUSSIONS ON THAT.
WITH THAT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
MR.
SO WE ARE GOING TO VOTE FROM 1, 2, 3, AND FIVE TO, I HAVE A MOTION.
UH, MR. BUR 92ND MS. HAS BEENY.
ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THAT? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
NOW WE BRING NUMBER FOUR, VERYS TRIANGLE PART.
DO I HAVE A MOTION, MS. RICE TO SECOND? MR. HUTA? UH, ANY DISCUSSION I GUESS, UH, MS. RICE? UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I, UM, I FULLY SUPPORT WHAT OUR SPEAKERS, UM, FOR MS. FORDO, MR. GONZALEZ SAID TODAY ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORY.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T PRESERVE OUR HISTORY, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THIS EXISTED.
UM, I AM NOT ORIGINALLY FROM DALLAS, SO I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT LITTLE MEXICO TILL, TILL I STARTED, YOU KNOW, MEETING PEOPLE LIKE, LIKE MR. GONZALEZ AND STUFF THAT TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY.
SO I THINK THIS IS, UH, THIS IS CRUCIAL AND, UM, WE NEED TO PASS THIS.
I JUST WANNA SAY, GROWING UP IN CITY PARK, LITTLE MEXICO WAS OUR RIVAL, CUZ THERE'S OTHER SIDE OF DOWNTOWN, UH, CONNECTED BY HARDWOOD, RIGHT? SO IT WAS JUST, IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE, UH, SYMBOLIC THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AND, AND, AND RE UH, PRESERVE OUR HISTORY OF MEXICAN AMERICA.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY
[00:15:01]
ON THIS MR. SLOT.UH, HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND THEM FOR COME HERE AND I, I'M A PRODUCT OF SOUTH DALLAS AND I GREW UP HERE.
THERE WAS ALWAYS PROBLEMS IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT WE WERE ALWAYS WELCOME.
WE USED TO GO TO MEXICO AND, AND EAT TAMALES AND, AND FELLOWSHIP, UH, WITH OUR HISPANIC BROTHERS.
SO WHEN YOU GET PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT REMEMBER WHERE THEY'RE FROM AND THEY WANT OTHERS, CITIZENS ALSO IN HISTORY, THEY HAVE TO GET ON BOARD WITH THIS.
EVEN THOUGH I GREW UP IN BONTON, I ALWAYS SAY, HEY, I GREW UP IN LITTLE MEXICO TOO, SO GOD BLESS YOU.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION THAT ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT, UH, TO OUR FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
UH, MS HAS TO, I HAVE A SECOND.
UH, MR. NER, ANY DISCUSSION WITH THAT? ALL IN FAVOR.
HIGHLINE CONNECTOR TO THE MOTION.
UH, MS. ASPEN, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, UH, MR. NER, ANY DISCUSSION? MR. DICKY? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I HAVE QUESTIONS, UH, THAT I'D LIKE TO ANSWER.
UH, WHOEVER CAN ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.
UM, I'M SO CONFUSED, UH, HAVE BEEN CONFUSED BY THIS AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO.
UM, SO WHEN WE SET OUT THIS PROJECT, THERE WAS THIS FULL SCOPE THAT WAS LAID OUT THAT INCLUDED THE LIGHTING AND THE BEARING OF THE ELECTRICAL CABLES.
THEN THE DELAY HAPPENED AND IT CAME BACK THAT BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN COSTS OR WHATEVER, THE CONTRACTOR COULD NO LONGER DO THE PROJECT FOR THE PRICE THAT WAS AGREED UPON.
SO THEY CUT, HAD TO CUT THE SCOPE TO GET TO THE NUMBER THAT WE HAD AGREED UPON.
IS THAT PART, IS THAT RIGHT? SO FAR? YES.
PRESIDENT AGARWAL AND, UH, PARK, PARK BOARD MEMBER J THAT IS CORRECT.
SO THIS NUMBER THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT FIRST, THAT'S BEEN NEGOTIATED UP, THAT IS A NUMBER BASED ON WHAT WE'RE NOT GONNA GET.
IF, IF IS THIS A ANOTHER WE WE'RE PAYING, WE WOULD, WITH THAT LESS SCOPE, WE WOULD BE PAYING THAT AMOUNT LESS THAN WHAT WE'D ORIGINALLY AGREED.
BASICALLY OUR BOARD MEMBER DICKEY, WOULD YOU MIND IF I GAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY I'D YES, I WOULD.
WOULD THAT HELP MATTERS A LITTLE BIT? VERY MUCH.
SO THE ORIGINAL TIMELINE ON THIS HIGHLINE CONNECTOR, UH, TRAIL ITEM, WE HAD COUNSEL WARD ON APRIL 27TH, 2022.
AND DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO ISSUE THE NOTICE OF PROCEED FOR THE CONTRACT, WHICH SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN MAY OF 2022.
SO WE ESSENTIALLY FINALLY GOT APPROVAL FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTRACT IN DECEMBER OF 2022.
AND IN SPEAKING WITH THE FAME GROUP, WHO IS OUR CONTRACTOR, WE BASICALLY RECEIVED SOME DIFFERENT PRICING FROM THEM ON SEVEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BETWEEN DECEMBER 22ND, DECEMBER 22ND, 2022, AND JANUARY 19TH, 2023.
AND ON THOSE SEVEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THAT WAS THE STAFF NEGOTIATING WITH FAME GROUP ON THE COST AND THE COST INCREASES THAT THEY HAD OCCURRED INCURRED BASICALLY BETWEEN THE PROJECT BID IN DECEMBER OF 2021 AND DECEMBER OF 2022.
SO THEY HAD SUBSTANTIAL COST INCREASES THAT OCCURRED OVER THAT YEAR, AND ESSENTIALLY THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD THEIR NOTICE TO PROCEED IN MAY OF 2022, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN DUE TO THESE UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.
CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION? ABSOLUTELY.
SO THE COST INCREASE, THIS IS AS THEY'RE BUYING MATERIALS WHILE THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION, BASICALLY THEY HAD NOT EVEN BEEN ISSUED THEIR NOTICE TO PROCEED YET.
THEY HAD BEEN SITTING ON HOLD DUE TO THESE UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO AGAIN, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE GAVE
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THE PARK DEPARTMENT APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD DECEMBER OF 2022, WHICH IS BASICALLY A YEAR AFTER THE PROJECT DID.SO THEY HADN'T REALLY SPENT ANY MONEY AT THAT POINT.
THEY HADN'T SPENT ANY MONEY AT THAT POINT.
SO BASICALLY TO BREAK FREE OF KIND OF WHERE WE WERE WITH THE COST INCREASES, WE HAD TO MAKE SOME CONCESSIONS IN THE PROJECT TO KEEP THE COST WITHIN THE, THE AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAD.
SO WE REMOVED SOME ITEMS THAT WE CAN ADD LATER, AS YOU MENTIONED, SOME ACCENT LIGHTING AND SOME UNDERGROUNDING OF SOME ELECTRICAL.
AND WE DID ISSUE THE NOTICE TO PROCEED IN JANUARY 30TH, 2023.
THIS ITEM ORIGINALLY CAME TO THE BOARD IN APRIL, I BELIEVE IT WAS APRIL 18TH, 2023.
WE DEFERRED THAT ITEM TO MAY, WE THEN DEFERRED IT TO TODAY.
AND OVER THE LAST MONTH AS A SHOW OF GOOD FAITH, THE FAME GROUP HAS FURTHER REDUCED THEIR COST AND PROFIT BY $72,358 TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE COST.
SO BASICALLY THAT BRINGS THE INCREASE IN COSTS TO $1,866,455 AND 59 CENTS.
THE DECREASE IN SCOPE ON THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE MADE THOSE CONCESSIONS ON IS $2,035,300, WHICH IS HOW WE'VE ENDED UP WITH A NET DECREASE IN THE COST OF $168,844 AND 40 CENTS.
SO IT'S, IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE COST INCREASE, WHICH WE HAVE NEGOTIATED DOWN AS FAR AS WE CAN NEGOTIATE DOWN OVER THE LAST GROUP, OVER THE LAST, EXCUSE ME, THE LAST MONTH, THE MAIN GROUP HAS GIVEN US ADDITIONAL CONCESSIONS OF OVER $72,000.
AND HERE WE ARE TODAY ASKING FOR APPROVAL FOR THIS CHANGE ORDER.
AND IN THE, I STILL HAVE TIME.
I HAVE A MINUTE, NOTHING MINUTE.
UM, SO IN THE BACKGROUND, UNFORTUNATELY, I LET MY COMPUTER AT HOME, I DON'T HAVE THE BACKGROUND, BUT IT SAID THAT THE CIRCUIT TRAIL CONSERVANCY WAS THE WRITTEN FUNDING.
WHAT DOES THAT, WHAT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT IS CORRECT.
THE CIRCUIT TRAIL CONSERVANCY IS THE SOURCE OF FUNDING.
UM, THEY HAVE TAKEN A BANK LOAN AND I KNOW MR. HYATT HAGG IS HERE IF, UH, HE WANTS TO COME AND SPEAK AND, AND AS WELL, OR IF YOU NEED HIM TO COME SPEAK.
BUT THEY HAVE TAKEN OUT A BANK LOAN TO FINANCE THIS.
AND AS MR. HAGUE STATED IN HIS PUBLIC COMMENT, THEY ARE ALSO WORKING TO BRIDGE THE GAP OF THIS 2 MILLION, UM, OF THE $2 MILLION CONCESSIONS THAT WE MADE IN SCOPE ITEMS TO TRY AND GET THOSE ADDED BACK INTO THE PROJECT AS WELL.
AND THEY'RE WORKING SEPARATELY WITH THE FAME GROUP TO MAKE WHAT HAPPENED.
SO THE CONTRACTOR IS BEING BACKSTOPPED BY CIRCUIT TRAIL FOR THE LAW FOR THAT MONEY.
RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT, IT'S BEING, THE MONEY'S BEING PROVIDED TO MAKE IT WORK IS BEING PROVIDED BY CIRCUIT TRAIL CONSERVANCY, NOT OUT OF CONTRACTORS PROFITS OR WHATEVER IF THERE, IF CIRCUIT TRAIL CONSERVANCY IS PROVIDING THE FUNDING.
I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION AND I DON'T BELIEVE I DO.
COULD YOU REPHRASE THAT FOR ME PLEASE? YEAH, I'M JUST, I UNDERSTAND AS WE SPOKE YESTERDAY, YOU SAID THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY, THEY, IT IS TOUGH.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, BUT IF THE CIRCUIT TRAIL CONSERVANCY IS FUNDING THE MON THE 1 68, HOW DOES THAT NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE CONTRACTOR? ISN'T THAT HELPING THE CONTRACTOR? THAT THEY'RE NOT THE ONES, THE THE CONTRACT ITSELF IS, THE CONTRACT ITSELF IS BEING FUNDED FULLY THROUGH THE CIRCUIT TRAIL CONSERVANCY FUND.
THAT'S AN AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CIRCUIT TRAIL CONSERVANCY THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED FUNDING OVER TO THE CITY TO PASS THROUGH TO THE CONTRACTOR.
SO BASICALLY THE REASON WE HAVE THE NEGATIVE CHANGE ORDER AGAIN, IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TAKEN MORE SCOPE OUT THAN WHAT THE COST INCREASES WERE FOR THE CONTRACT.
SO THE LOOP, AS THEY'RE NOW BEING REFERRED TO, IS WORKING ON BEHIND THE SCENES TO TRY AND RAISE SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY TO WORK WITH THE FAME GROUP TO REPLACE THOSE SCOPE ITEMS INTO THE CONTRACT.
WHETHER WE COME BACK AND DO IT AS A CHANGE ORDER, AN ADDITIONAL CHANGE ORDER TO THIS CONTRACT TO ADD IT BACK, OR WHETHER THEY CONTRACT SEPARATELY WITH THE BANK GROUP TO DO THAT WORK.
THAT HASN'T BEEN DETERMINED, BUT THEY ARE WORKING TO RAISE THE FUNDS TO GET THAT, THOSE SCOPE ITEMS BACK INTO THE CONTRACT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, OR BACK INTO THE PROJECT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M, I'M, I HATE THAT WE KEEP PUTTING THIS PRESSURE ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.
[00:25:01]
HATE FOR US TO KEEP GETTING HELL HOST, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SIT HERE AND MOST EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD, WHEN WE GET FOOD TRUCKS OR GRASS CUTTING, WE TRY TO GET INFORMED INFORMATION SO WE CAN MAKE A DECISION.UH, THERE'S NO WAY THAT, UH, I GOTTA COMMEND FAIRPORT FIRST IS DID A CONTRACT WHERE THEY HAD AN AGREEMENT, HE CAME BACK WITH A CHANGE ORDER, THEY DECIDED NOT TO GO WITH THAT COMPANY.
UH, WE ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN SIGN A CONTRACT IF YOU COME BACK AND THERE'S A $2 MILLION CHANGE ORDER.
AND WE SIT HERE AND MOST PEOPLE SAY, WELL, PEOPLE ON THAT BOARD, THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT CONSTRUCTION.
THERE WAS A COMPANY CALLED PARAGON CABLE AND PARAGON CONSTRUCTION.
PARAGON CABLE, AS YOU KNOW, 30 YEARS AGO BECAME CHARTER CABLE COMPANY, THEN BECAME TIME WARNER.
AND THAT'S HOW SPECTRUM PARAGON CONSTRUCTION SIGNED THE FIRST MINORITY SUB CONTRACTING AGREEMENT WITH AUSTIN COMMERCIAL.
PARAGON CONSTRUCTION BECAME THE CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANT FOR FANNIE MAE, THE BIGGEST CORPORATION IN THE WORLD, WHICH WAS $20 BILLION WORTH OF CONSTRUCTION.
PARAGON CONSTRUCTION ALSO BUILT ALL OF THE FRITO-LAY DISTRIBUTION CENTERS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CORPORATIONS IN THE WORLD.
PARAGON CONSTRUCTION, PARAGON CABLE, WHILE YOU FROWNING AND MESS UP WAS BOTH SLOWER.
SO I KNOW BY CONSTRUCTION, I KNOW BY CONSTRUCTION COST AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE ESCALATED THIS MUCH.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE SHOULD BE SIGNING OFF ON A 2 MILLION CHANGE ORDER.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE OUR COMMUNITY GROUPS, WHICH I GOTTA COMMEND THEM.
THEY'RE STICKING TO THE PLATE AND SAID THAT, HEY, WE'LL THEY GOTTA GO GET A BANK LOAN TO DO THIS.
AND HERE WE ARE ON THE PARK BOARD, YOU KNOW, WE WROTE STA STUFF AND WE ALWAYS GET PUSHED DOWN OUR THROAT.
OH, WE GOTTA HAVE THIS DONE CAUSE IT'S COMMUNITY.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE.
WE ARE, WE WERE PUT HERE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS AND WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.
I'M NOT GONNA BE MAD AT YOU AND NOT GONNA ASK YOU TO GO TO HAPPY HOUR WITH ME OR TAKE YOU MONEY.
THIS IS NOT PERSONAL, BUT YOU GOTTA LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
I KNOW THERE IS A GOD AND IT'S NOT ME,
SO I AM NOT GONNA VOTE ON THIS.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU ARE HEARING WHAT I'M SAYING.
SO THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME.
YEAH, I WOULD, UH, AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE MR. SLAUGHTER ON, UM, EVERYTHING YOU SAID.
I STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND A 2 MILLION INCREASE FROM 11 MILLION PROJECT OVER SIX MONTHS, SEVEN MONTHS.
UM, IF IT WAS, WE JUST HAD A MEETING THIS MORNING ABOUT POINT PLANNING AND DESIGN.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT INCREASED COST FROM 2017 TO 2023, COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND INCREASED COST THERE.
IN OUR BOND MEETINGS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INFLATION IN 2026, UM, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS GOING THROUGH IN 2026 WOULD HAVE A 2 MILLION CHANGE IN ORDER, UM, AND TO LOSE SECURITY LIGHTING ALONG TRAIL.
WHEN WE HAVE ISSUES LIKE IN MR. KITNER'S OR MR. UH, EMI'S DISTRICT WHERE WE'VE GOT TRAILS THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, SAME KIND OF THING, AMENITIES NEED TO BE STOPPED OR AMENITIES NEED TO BE, UM, LEFT OFF PROJECTS BECAUSE WE HAVE CHANGE ORDERS.
AND, AND TO MR. SLAUGHTER'S POINT, WE KIND OF RUBBER STAMPED THEM THROUGH BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO THIS FOR THE PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED.
UM, AND IF THE SYSTEM'S BROKEN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE SYSTEM BEING BROKEN BEFORE WE NEED TO FIX IT.
UM, BECAUSE COMING IN AND SAYING THE LOWEST POSSIBLE BID IS X AND THEN COMING IN WITH THESE CHANGE ORDERS, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THE CHANGE ORDERS THAT COME IN, I MEAN, I I AT LEAST LIKELY WHEN THIS CHANGE ORDER CAME IN AT THE FULL 2 BILLION, UM, THE OTHER CHANGE ORDERS THAT WE SEE ARE 99,000, 97,000, 96,000 THAT ARE JUST UNDER THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THRESHOLD THAT WE NEVER GET IT TOLD ABOUT.
SO I'M WITH MR. SLAUGHTER, I HAVE A HARD TIME SUPPORTING THIS.
UM, I LOVE WHAT THE LOOP IS DOING.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A BIG TRAIL THAT'S COMING THROUGH DISTRICT 12 OTHER TRAILS THAT ARE PLANNED.
UM, BUT I, I HAVE A REAL HARD TIME, UM, SUPPORTING A 2 MILLION ON AN 11 MILLION PROJECT CHANGE ORDER AND THE SPAN OF, SO THANK YOU MR. UH, MR. GLAD.
I JUST WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION, I GUESS TO STAFF OR WHOEVER CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.
WHAT HAPPENS, UM, IF WE DECIDE TO DELAY THIS PROJECT? WHAT ARE THE CASCADING IMPACTS OF IT? WELL, THERE, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW IMPACTS.
UM, THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE THAT ESSENTIALLY THE FAME GROUP WILL LIKELY PULL OFF THE PROJECT.
UM, WHETHER THAT WILL BE TODAY, TOMORROW, NEXT
[00:30:01]
WEEK.WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH THEM, BUT THEY WILL LIKELY PULL OFF THE PROJECT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO GUARANTEES THEY'RE GOING TO GET PAID.
UM, AT THAT POINT, WE WILL HAVE TO TALK WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS FAR AS WHAT DIRECTION WE GO, WHETHER WE GO TO THE BONDING COMPANY AND IF THE BONDING COMPANY DECIDES TO PICK UP THE PROJECT, UM, THEY CAN EITHER CHOOSE TO PAY US FOR THE PROJECT, THEY CAN CHOOSE TO REBID THE PROJECT.
IF THE BONDING COMPANY DOES NOT WANNA PICK UP THE PROJECT, THEN WE AS THE CITY WILL HAVE TO REPACKAGE THAT PROJECT AND REBID THE PROJECT.
WE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND REWORK WITH TAX STOCK BECAUSE THERE IS TAX STOCK FUNDING AND MATCH FUNDING IN THIS PROJECT AS WELL.
I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT WILL BE A YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF PROCESS BEFORE WE CAN REVISIT THIS PROJECT.
AND WE WERE TRYING TO GET AN ANSWER FROM PDOT AS FAR AS WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION FUNDING, UM, WILL EXPIRE ON THIS.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THAT ANSWER LAST NIGHT.
WE WERE TRYING TO GET THAT ANSWER.
UM, BASICALLY IT, IT WILL BE A COSTLY PROPOSITION BECAUSE TRAFFIC CONTROL AND THINGS LIKE THAT WILL STILL NEED TO BE MAINTAINED ON THE PROJECT SITE, UM, WHERE THINGS HAVE BEEN STARTED.
SO IT, IT DOES HAVE MANY CASCADING EFFECTS IN TERMS OF HOW WE DEAL WITH CLOSING UP THE PROJECT SITE, HOW WE DEAL WITH PROTECTING THE PUBLIC THAT'S TRAVELING OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, FROM ANYTHING, ANY HAZARDS THAT MAY BE THERE WITH THIS OPEN CONSTRUCTION SITE.
AND IT HAS CASCADING EFFECTS IN TERMS OF HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE US TO PUT IT BACK OUT TO REBID AND WHAT HAPPENS TO CONSTRUCTION COSTS IN THAT TIMEFRAME.
SO IT, IT WON'T ONLY JUST COST US MORE TIME, IT'LL ALSO COST US MORE MONEY.
SO WE'RE TALKING MORE THAN 2 MILLION AND WE'RE TALKING POTENTIALLY A YEAR AND A HALF.
THAT IS MORE THAN LIKELY CORRECT, AS FAR AS MORE MONEY AND DEFINITELY MORE TIME.
SO TO MY COLLEAGUES, UM, I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT IF WE DELAY THIS PROJECT, UM, NOT ONLY WILL WE BE MORE HEARD ABOUT FOR SPENDING MORE MONEY ON THIS PROJECT, BUT OUR JOB HERE, AS MUCH AS IT CAN SEEM ONLY FINANCIAL, WE REALLY WORK TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND A TRAIL IS NOT JUST FOR RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN DISTRICT TWO AND SIX, BUT I I MIGHT BE ON LOOP TRAIL AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT, UM, DALLAS AND WHO LIVE IN DALLAS NOW IT'S FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT WE HOPE TO ATTRACT.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE GROWTH OF OUR REGION, IT'S GROWN 36% THE LAST 10 YEARS.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT DALLAS IN PARTICULAR, IT'S ONLY GROWN ABOUT 9%.
THAT'S BECAUSE THESE OTHER COMMUNITIES, THEY DON'T PUT AS MANY ROADBLOCKS IN THE WAY OF BIG DEVELOPMENTS AND CREATIVE IDEAS.
THAT'S WHY FRISCO'S GETTING A CLUE NEW PART.
AND WE ARE NOT, THAT'S WHY THE COWBOYS ARE IN ARLINGTON AND ALL OF THIS IMPACTS GROWTH IN OUR CITY.
AND IF WE THINK ABOUT THE CITY HOLISTICALLY, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD NOT MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD AND GIVE THE RESIDENTS WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IN THIS GREAT NEW TRAIL.
AND I MEAN, IF YOU THINK $2 MILLION IS WORTH BIDING IT AND DOING A YEAR AND A HALF, UM, IN THE CAN AND THROWING AWAY GRANT GET MATCH FUNDS, I MEAN, THAT'S COOL, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SUPPORT THAT I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, MS. COLLINS, THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES AND, AND I BO YOU KNOW, MORE THAN ANYONE ABOUT EXPENSIVE CHANGE ORDERS, ALLAH, SINGING HILLS.
UM, BUT CHRIS, I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK AND I KNOW IT'S HARD WHEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE NEGOTIATING TO, UM, WITH THE COST OF INFLATION OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF LITIGATION HAS COST US A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS PROJECT AND A LOT OF TIME THAT IS NO FAULT OF OUR STAFF AND THIS BOARD PASSED THIS TO MOVE FORWARD TWO YEARS AGO.
IS THAT RIGHT? WHAT'S THE TIMING ON THAT? LIKE IN ONE OF OUR EARLIER DISCUSSIONS, TWO YEARS YEAR AND A, AT LEAST A YEAR AND A HALF.
SO LITIGATION HAS BEEN VERY COSTLY IN TERMS OF TAX DOLLARS AND IN TERMS OF TIME IT IS TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT THERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENTS THAT MR. HYATT HAY DID NOT MENTION IN ADDITION TO THE 90 MILLION IN PROJECTS, THE FUNDING THAT THEY ARE COMMITTING TO VARIOUS LOOT PROJECTS.
BUT A PORTION OF THIS PARTICULAR SECTION OF TRAIL WAS COMMITTED BY THE VICTORY PARK TIF 11 MILLION, IS THAT RIGHT? PHILIP? 11 MILLION.
SO THAT INCLUDED IT GETTING DONE AND THAT TIF PAID FOR COMPONENTS IN THIS SECTION.
SO IN THIS SECTION OF TRAIL IS A LINCHPIN FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE LOOP TRAIL PROJECT.
SO THIS NOT ONLY TO THE CASCADING EFFECTS QUESTION, NOT ONLY DELAYS THIS HIGHLINE PORTION, BUT ULTIMATELY COULD HAVE A TREMENDOUS RIPPLE EFFECT FOR OUR TRAIL PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
AND IF WE REMEMBERED OUR BOND DISCUSSION FROM LAST WEEK, THERE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT TRAIL FUNDING ALLOCATED SO FAR IN 20, THE 2024 BOND.
SO THIS BOARD HAS HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IN THE LAST THREE, COUPLE MEETINGS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
[00:35:01]
LET'S NOT PENALIZE STAFF.IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT, THEY'RE NOT PROFESSIONAL NEGOTIATORS.
UM, IT'S NOT THE HIGH LINE'S FAULT.
THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG IN THIS TO GET TO THIS VOTE.
WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON TODAY IS REALLY NO FAULT OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
SO, AND IT'S BECAUSE THE MARKET INFLATIONARY MARKET STANDARDS, THE COSTS, STAFFING LABOR IS, I MEAN, EVERYTHING ACROSS THE BOARD IS HIGHER AND ALL OF THAT INCREASED COST HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE LITIGATION.
SO AGAIN, NOT SOMETHING THIS BOARD CONTROL EITHER.
SO I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF DELAYING THIS FURTHER BECAUSE OF THE GREATER IMPACTS THAT THAT DELAY WOULD CAUSE NOT ONLY TO THE LOOP, BUT TO OUR EXIST, OUR OTHER TRAIL PROJECTS AND TO TXDOT AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS PARTICULAR HIGHLINE PROJECT.
SO, UM, I JUST THINK THIS IS A LOT BIGGER THAN JUST A $2 MILLION COST OVERRUN.
AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE FAIR INTO OUR PARTNERS, NOT ONLY TO THE LOOP, BUT ALSO TO TEXDOT, IT'S THE COUNTIES AND BY OTHER FUNDERS ON THE OTHER TRAIL PROJECTS.
SO, UM, WHILE I AGREE BO AND AND LANE THAT I DON'T NORMALLY APPROVE OF REALLY HIGH COST OVERRUNS AND CHANGE ORDERS, I GIVE STAFF CREDIT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
UM, AND I I, I DON'T LIKE OUR BACKS BEING AGAINST THE WALL, BUT WE GOTTA MOVE, WE'VE GOT TO MOVE THIS ALONG BECAUSE IT JUST HAS TOO MUCH GREATER IMPACT ON TOO MANY OTHER PROJECTS AND IT IS FOR ULTIMATELY THE BENEFIT OF OUR TRAIL SYSTEM FOR RECREATIONAL USE AND FOR TRANSPORTATION USE.
UH, MR. CARMI, UH, GOOD MORNING.
UH, I AM, UH, I'M VERY CONFLICTED ON THIS, UH, MORE THAN I THOUGHT I WOULD BE.
I, I LOVE ART TRAILS, I LOVE WHAT THE LOOP IS DOING.
UH, BUT AS MR. SLAUGHTER, MR. CONNOR MENTIONED, UH, I HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING HOW A GROUP, WHOEVER THEY ARE, CAN KNOW THAT COSTS ARE GONNA INCREASE 15% OVER THE NEXT SIX, 12 MONTHS AND STILL START A JOB AND HANDCUFF US EVEN FURTHER.
THEY KNOW WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY, AS MR. SLAUGHTER STATED.
AND, AND, AND I HAVE A REAL HARD TIME SWALLOWING THIS.
I'M JUST GONNA MENTION THAT I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA VOTE ON THIS, BUT I HAVE A VERY, VERY HARD TIME REWARDING THIS BEHAVIOR AND I DON'T WANNA MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF ANY AMENITY IN OUR PARK DEPARTMENT, BUT I THINK THIS BEHAVIOR NEEDS TO STOP.
I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING EVERYTHING CORRECTLY.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 2 MILLION INCREASE.
EVERYONE KEEPS SAYING, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE AGENDA ITEM, IT SAYS THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT IS 11.5 MILLION.
THERE'S NOW A REDUCTION TO 11.3 MILLION.
SO IN TERMS OF THE TOTAL COST OF WHAT WE'RE PAYING, IS IT ACTUALLY LOWER? I KNOW WE'LL GET INTO THE AMENITIES IN A SECOND, BUT THE COST IS ACTUALLY LESS.
SO THE, THE 2 MILLION INCREASE THAT WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT HERE IS TO PAY FOR AMENITIES THAT ARE NOT BEING CONSTRUCTED BY THE CONTRACTOR AS PART OF THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO GET IT SOMETHING CLOSER TO WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY AGREED TO.
IS THAT RIGHT? LET, LET ME EXPLAIN.
THE, THE INCREASE IS ACTUALLY, AND IF YOU WANNA WRITE THIS NUMBER DOWN, THE INCREASE IS ACTUALLY 1 MILLION 8 66 4 55 59.
AND THAT'S AN INCREASE THAT WOULD GET US THE ENTIRE PROJECT AS WE HAD ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED IT.
LET ME LET FINISH WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
THAT INCREASE WAS BASICALLY INCREASE IN CONCRETE COSTS.
IT WAS INCREASE IN TRAFFIC CONTROL COSTS, IT WAS INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL COSTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE SO THAT THE INCREASES CAME UP TO THAT SPECIFIC NUMBER.
IN ORDER TO OFFSET THAT, WE DECREASED THE ACCENT LIGHTING AND THE ELECTRICAL OF $2,035,300.
THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE NET DECREASE OF $168,844 AND 41 CENTS.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, THE INCREASE, IT'S BASICALLY 1.866 MILLION, BUT THAT'S AN INCREASE IF WE INCLUDED THESE AMENITIES, IS THAT RIGHT? THEY WERE ORIGINALLY INCLUDED.
THEY WERE ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACTS.
UH, SO CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE SPECIFIC AMENITIES THAT WE ARE LOSING? IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S LIGHTING AND SOME ELECTRICAL WORK THAT WE'RE LOSING.
I'M GONNA ASK, UH, THE PROJECT MANAGER, JOHN REYNOLDS TO COME UP AND, AND GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE SPECIFIC AMENITIES.
THE AMENITIES THAT THAT WERE, UM, WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE SCOPE ARE, UH, ACCENT LIGHTING.
IT WOULD BE LIKE WALL WASH LIGHTING.
[00:40:01]
SECURITY LIGHTING IS REMAINING IN THE PROJECT.THOSE WERE, UM, LIKE WHAT WE DO.
SO USE WOULD BE, UM, STANDARD, UH, FULL TOP PLACE.
THIS WAS MAINLY ACCENT LIGHTING ON, THERE'S, UM, I DUNNO IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR, AS YOU GO INTO THE, UH, UM, SIGN DISTRICT, THERE'S SOME, UH, STEEL I-BEAMS. WE WERE ADDING LIGHTING, SOME OF THOSE, WE WERE ADDING LIGHTING UNDERNEATH I 35 TO UP ALONG THE COLUMNS.
UM, SO WE DIDN'T, UH, WE DIDN'T REMOVE ANYTHING THAT WAS, UM, TRAIL SPECIFICALLY.
IT WAS, UM, IT, IT WAS, IT WAS AMENITY LIGHTING.
AND WE ALSO HAD A ITEM IN THERE THAT WE WERE GONNA TAKE FOR PUTTING A ELECTRICAL SERVICE AND HOPE LAWN UNDERGROUND.
IT CURRENTLY IS, IS ABOVE GRADE THERE.
AND SO AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, WE WERE GONNA PUT THAT UNDERGROUND AS REALLY AESTHETICS AND, UH, BOTH OF THE ITEMS, UM, WERE ITEMS THAT COULD BE COME BACK AND HAD LATER ADDING, WE'RE PUTTING SLEEVES IN AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, SO YOU COULD ADD THAT LIGHTING LATER.
IT WAS THINGS THAT WEREN'T TRAIL SPECIFIC.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S HOW THOSE WERE SL.
SO THAT GETS INTO MY NEXT QUESTION.
IS THE TRAIL CONCRETE ITSELF, WHAT USER WOULD BE WALKING ON, RUNNING ON RIDING BICYCLES ON THAT'S NOT IMPACTED BY ANY OF THIS? THAT WOULD STILL BE WITHIN THE SCOPE? WOULD YOU ALL SAY THAT THE AMENITIES THAT ARE NOW BEING REMOVED OR AESTHETIC AMENITIES, OR ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE REALLY WOULD NEED FOR SECURITY PURPOSES? YOU'RE CORRECT.
IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO LIKE IF, UH, EXTERIOR YOUR HOUSE.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE LIKE WALL WASH LIGHTS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S, IT'S NOT A SECURITY LIGHT, BUT THOSE ARE STILL REMAINING IN THE GARAGE.
SO, UM, IT'S WHAT THIS WOULD BE SIMILAR TO LIKE BACHMAN LAKE THAT HAS, THAT HAS TRAIL LIGHTING.
UM, UM, IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE MOST OF OUR OTHER LIGHTING TRAILS.
THERE'S NO AMENITY LIGHTINGS ON THOSE.
WE, THIS ONE WENT A LITTLE ABOVE AND BEYOND BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE DESIGN DISTRICT AND IT WOULD BE, IT'S A NICE TO HAVE ITEM, BUT IT'S NOT, UM, SECOND, IT'S PROBABLY THIRD COMPARED TO THE TRAIL.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S NOT A, UH, PRIMARY COMPONENT OF IT, SUCCESSFUL TRAIL LANDING.
BUT IF, IF WE APPROVE THIS PROJECT, WE'LL BE GETTING THE CONCRETE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE TRAILS.
IT'LL BE CONSISTENT WITH OUR OTHER TRAILS IN THE SYSTEM.
THAT'S, UH, WE'LL JUST BE LOSING OUT ON SOME AMENITIES, WHICH WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY, UH, FOR TRAIL USERS TO HAVE IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE TRAIL, IN ORDER TO BE ON THE TRAIL AS PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, RUNNERS, ET CETERA.
UM, AND, AND THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR MR HA HAIG, BUT I ASSUME THESE ARE THINGS THAT, UH, THE LU IS ALREADY WORKING ON FUNDRAISING FOR.
YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO FUNDRAISE FOR THESE ADDITIONAL ITEMS? YES, SIR.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF, WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED UPDATED PRICING FOR THE LIGHTING SPECIFICALLY IN THE TIF BOUNDARIES AS CALVERT MENTIONED.
UM, BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THOSE ITEMS HAVE TO BE IN THE PROJECT IN ORDER FOR US TO, AT THE END RECEIVE THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LOAN THAT WE HAVE.
UM, SO IF THOSE ITEMS ARE NOT IN THE PROJECT BY THE TIME IT'S DONE, WE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO DRAW THAT MONEY BACK, UM, FROM THOSE SOURCES.
SO YOU'LL HAVE, WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH OTHER PARTNERS ON THE DESIGN DISTRICT SIDE, UM, TO, UH, BURY THE CABLES.
UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS WANTED BY THE, THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW WITH THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE POPPING UP ALL OVER THE CITY, A LOT OF TIME THE DEVELOPERS DON'T ADDRESS THE UTILITIES AND YOU END UP HAVING, YOU KNOW, UTILITY POLES RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR SIDEWALKS, YOU KNOW, MAKING THEM, UH, MORE DIFFICULT TO TRAVERSE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE, UH, HAVE ADA REQUIREMENTS.
SO, SO Y'ALL HAVE A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO RAISE THIS MONEY ABSOLUTELY.
AND I, AND I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE, SO WE DE LUBE DALLAS TOOK OUT A 9.25 MILLION LOAN FROM A LOCAL BANK TO FINANCE THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS THE THREE CIRCUIT TRAIL CONSERVANCY FUND.
SO OUR BANK IS GIVING THOSE DOLLARS TO THE CITY OF DALLAS TO USE ON THIS PROJECT.
IF THE PROJECT BECOMES UNCERTAIN, OUR LOAN THEN BECOMES IN JEOPARDY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE THAT SCENARIO IS NOT ONE THAT WE ANTICIPATED.
UM, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS WAS APPROVED BY COUNSEL LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S WHY THE, THE NOTICE TO PROCEED FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WAS SUCH A, A GOOD MOVE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOOP OVERALL.
AND Y'ALL HAVE PARTNERS IN THE AREA WHO ARE INTERESTED IN, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU SAID BURYING THE CABLES, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE TRADITIONALLY ON LONG TRAILS ANYWAY, SO THAT WOULD BE RIGHT, YOU
[00:45:01]
KNOW, AN AMENITY THAT YOU MIGHT GET A PARTNER IN THE DESIGN DISTRICT OR A NEIGHBOR TO HELP FUND THAT AS WELL.I MEAN, THIS, THIS PROJECT IS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE, UM, A, UH, PID THAT OVERLAYS THE DESIGN DISTRICT SIDE.
UM, THAT'S THE HIGHLINE OAK LAWN PID, AND UH, THEY HAVE A NEW BOARD CHAIR OF THAT.
UM, IT'S BIB NAAR WHO RUNS HM.
CAPITAL, WHICH HAS ACQUIRED A LOT OF THE PROPERTY ALONG HIGHLINE.
AND THEY ARE A VERY IMPRESSIVE DEVELOPER WHO HAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE CIVIC, UM, GOOD OF THIS PROJECT AND THE ACCESSIBILITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR THERE WERE 2 MILLION PEOPLE ON THE KATY TRAIL.
AND SO THOSE 2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW GONNA HAVE A DIRECT ACCESS POINT TO ALL OF THE BUSINESSES, ALL OF THE RESIDENCES ALONG HIGHLINE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME REALLY SMART DEVELOPERS ON THE DESIGN DISTRICT SIDE AND THE VICTORY SIDE, BUT ON THE DESIGN DISTRICT SIDE, SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT HOW DO WE USE AN ALREADY APPROVED PUBLIC FINANCING MECHANISM TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THESE LOSSES THAT WE HAD.
AND, UH, THAT'S I THINK A REALLY SMART AND, AND GREAT PLAY FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
AND, AND FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE FRIENDS GROUP AND FROM THE BLUE, YOU ALL WOULD PREFER US THAT WE APPROVE THIS TODAY? ABSOLUTELY.
I, I THINK THAT IT, IT CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR US THE, CUZ THIS COST WILL COME BACK TO US AS AN ORGANIZATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS FOR Y'ALL TO APPROVE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT CONTINGENCIES TO FUND THIS NEW MONEY, UM, YOU KNOW, OTHER SOURCES, BUT THAT, THAT 2 MILLION COSTS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MORE IMPORTANT THING FOR US IS DELIVERY OF THE LOOP AND CERTAINTY.
AND I THINK THAT CALVERT BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT THAT WHEN WE RECEIVED OUR TIF AWARD, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF US MAXING OUT AS MUCH AS WE COULD WITH THE PROJECTS IN THAT GEOGRAPHIC AREA BECAUSE AS YOU SAW TODAY, THERE ARE NO BOND FUNDS ON THIS PROJECT.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE THOSE BOND FUNDS OVER TO THE THREE FOUR SPINE TRAIL BECAUSE THAT AREA DOES NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF OPPORTUNITIES LIKE YOU DO IN VICTORY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE CITY SAID THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SAID, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO, TO WORK THIS MECHANISM THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING THAT THE TIF BOARD APPROVES IT, ASSUMING THE COUNCIL APPROVES IT.
AND THAT WAY YOU CAN MOVE THE BOND FUNDS FROM THIS PROJECT OVER TO THE TRINITY FOREST SPINE TRAIL AND ALSO TO THE PROJECT THAT CONNECTS TO WEST DALLAS.
AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE.
SO I THINK THAT IT WAS REALLY WELL STATED THAT THIS DOESN'T JUST JEOPARDIZE THIS ONE PROJECT.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FINANCING MECHANISM FOR THE HIGHLINE, IT NOW IMPACTS OUR OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE WERE ASSUMING WITH THIS NINE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR LOAN THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THOSE BOND FUNDS ON A PROJECT IN WEST DALLAS AND SOUTH OF I 30.
SO THIS, THIS DOES HAVE A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS BEYOND JUST THIS POINT.
UH, AND ASSUMING WE APPROVE IT TO TODAY, WHAT'S OUR TIMELINE AND WHEN WE THINK THIS PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETE, IF PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS TRAIL? AND THAT'S A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
BA BASICALLY ABOUT A YEAR FROM TODAY IS, IS WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING, UM, INSTRUCTION SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE.
MR. MON, MS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK CUZ IT'S REALLY LOUD WHERE I'M AT.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS IS THAT THIS WAS DONE TWO YEARS AGO WHEN INFLATION WAS AT ITS HIGHEST AND WE HAVE A, WITH THE FAME GROUP, IT'S NOTORIOUS THAT THEY'VE ALWAYS COME IN OVER BUDGET AND THEY'VE ALWAYS HAD MANY, MANY DELAYS AND THEY ARE MINORITY.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I STATED A LONG TIME AGO.
I'M GONNA CONTINUE SAYING THAT.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LOGISTICS HAPPENING IN THIS AND I, AND I APOLOGIZE, IT'S WHERE I, I REALLY CAN'T THINK CLEARLY.
BUT, UM, THIS, AGAIN, THESE COSTS WERE WHEN TWO YEARS AGO WHEN INFLATION WAS AT ITS HIGHEST AND NOW PER THE CENSUS, IT'S THE INFLATION IS DOWN.
SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY RIGHT NOW FOR MY FIRST ROUND.
THIS IS A HARD, UM, DECISION IN MY OPINION.
UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION, PHILLIP.
I WAS SORRY THAT YOU LEFT ALREADY.
UM, WHEN WE FIRST BID THIS OUT, WHAT DID WE EXPECT THE COST TO BE? LIKE? WHAT IS THE TOTAL PROJECT COST? CHRIS, WHAT IS THE TOTAL, ACTUALLY I'M GONNA ASK JOHN IF HE'LL COME BACK UP AGAIN.
DO YOU WANT MY SEAT COST ESTIMATE WAS ACTUALLY 14.
UM, AND UH, UM, WE ACTUALLY HAD BIDS, I BELIEVE THREE BIDS HIGHER THAN THE BANK GROUP.
UH, ONE'S BID ORIGINALLY, SO WE'RE NOT, WE, IT WAS THE SECOND.
SO ORIGINALLY WE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE ABOUT 16 MILLION,
[00:50:01]
I BELIEVE WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE 14 TO 16 MILLION.AND IT CAME AND THE DANE GROUP CAME IN AT 1111 AND WE HAD ONE BID LOWER THAN THAT THAT WE, IF YOU CAN'T, IT'S NOW IN LITIGATION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T CHOOSE THE LOWEST BID.
UM, SO WE'RE STILL UNDER WHAT WE ANTICIPATED THE COST TO BE.
WHO, AND SO THERE'S 2 MILLION IN MIXED.
ARE, IS THE PARK DEPARTMENT GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT OR, HONESTLY, THE WAY IT SOUNDS TO ME IS THAT THE LOOP IS GONNA ASSUME THAT RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT OBLIGATIONS AND IF WE, YOU DON'T MEET THOSE OBLIGATIONS, SO YOU HAVE TO DO IT REGARDLESS.
UM, SO YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
OTHERWISE YOUR 9 MILLION LOAN IS GONNA BE IN JEOPARDY.
AND WHEN YOUR 9 MILLION LOAN IS IN JEOPARDY, I'M ON THE NEXT PHASE OF THE WHITE ROCK, WHITE ROCK CREEK TRAIL.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT $9 MILLION IN THE BOND FUNDING FOR THAT, MY TRAIL FUNDING IS ALL OF SUDDEN IMPACTED.
SO THIS DELAYING HERE IS GOING TO DELAY PEOPLE SOUTH OF 30, SOUTHEAST DALLAS FROM BEING CONNECTED TO WHITE ROCK AND TO THE REST OF THE LOOP.
UM, IT COULD POTENTIALLY PUT YOU GUYS OUT OF BUSINESS AS OUR, A MAJOR PARTNER THAT HAS DONE SO MUCH GOOD WORK FOR ALL OF THE CITY.
UM, SO AS MUCH AS I HATE BEING BACKED UP AGAINST THE WALL WITH A CONTRACTOR THAT KEEPS COMING BACK WITH CHANGE ORDERS, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REEVALUATE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AND LOOK AT LIKE, WHEN WE BID OUT CONTRACTS THAT WE BUILD IN CONTINGENCY FUNDS.
AND THAT'S ALL THE MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE AT THAT POINT.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CHO I MEAN, WE DO HAVE A CHOICE, BUT I THINK OUR CHOICE, IF WE MAKE A A DECISION TO HALT THIS, WE'LL LIKELY GET INTO ANOTHER LAWSUIT, WHICH I DON'T WANNA BE THREATENED BY A LAWSUIT, BUT A COMPANY THAT'S GOT, YOU KNOW, WORK ALREADY DONE, THEY'VE PROBABLY GOT THE PRODUCTS ALREADY PURCHASED AND ALL OF THAT, WE'RE GONNA END UP IN ANOTHER LITIGATION SUIT.
UM, AND OUR TRAIL IS NOT GONNA BE CONNECTED SOUTH OF 30, A SAFE CONNECTION SOUTH OF 30, BRINGING IT BACK.
UM, I REALLY, AS MUCH AS I HATE AND I, I'D SUPPORT MY CO OR MY FELLOW PARK BOARD MEMBERS, I HATE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AN EASY SLAM DUNK, UM, EITHER WAY.
BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY OTHER PROJECTS AND TOO MANY, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GONNA BE AFFECTED IF WE DON'T.
UM, SO I I ASK THAT WE MOVE THIS FORWARD AND THAT'S WHAT I'LL BE VOTING.
MS. HASANI, THANK YOU, UM, MR. TO KIND OF HEARING EVERYBODY AND LISTENING TO EVERYTHING TO USE THE TEXAS COLLOQUIALISM, THE HORSE IS ALREADY OUT OF THE BARN AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT MOVING FORWARD ON THIS SEEM JUST INCREDIBLY PAINFUL.
SO FOR ME, IF WE HAVE A BROKEN PROCESS AND LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF CHANGE ORDERS IN A CONTRACT, WE NEED TO FIX THAT IN OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
THAT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING WE NEED TO FIX.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, I'M GONNA DEFER TO THE PERSON WHO HAS THE MOST SKIN IN THE GAME.
AND RIGHT NOW THE LOOP HAS THE MOST SKIN IN THE GAME.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO GO FIND MORE MONEY.
AND IF PHILLIP IS SITTING HERE SAYING, PLEASE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AND LET'S GET THIS GOING, THEN I'M GONNA DEFER TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE AMOUNT TO LOSE AND WE WILL ALL LOSE.
TO YOUR POINT, DANIEL, WE'RE ALL GONNA LOSE SOMETHING IF THIS DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD.
SO I'M IN FAVOR OF MOVING IT FORWARD.
I DON'T LIKE HAVING MY BACK AGAINST THE WALL.
I THINK WE NEED TO FIX THE PROCESS FOR THESE, UH, ANYTIME YOU HAVE THESE CHANGE ORDERS THAT RACK UP THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT THAT SOMEBODY BID, WE NEED TO FIX THAT INTERNALLY.
BUT THAT'S NOT LOU'S FAULT, THAT'S NOT STAFF'S FAULT.
WE NEED TO FIX THOSE THINGS, BUT RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO I'LL I'LL BE IN FAVOR OF MOVING IT FORWARD TODAY.
ANY, UH, SECOND ROUND? MR. SLAUGHTER, NIA, AND THEN JULIE? YES, ABBY.
YOUR HONOR, LET'S, LET'S BE PERFECTLY CLEAR.
WE HAVE PARTNERS LIKE THE LOOP PEOPLE.
WE'RE NOT, WE SHOULDN'T PENALIZE THEM.
YOU ASKED ME LAST WEEK OR LAST MONTH, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE LOOP? HOW I LOOP? ARE YOU FOR IT? YOU DAMN FOR TRADE OUT THERE? I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO FILL, I THINK LIKE MS. HANBY
[00:55:01]
SAID, WE HAVE A PROCESS HERE AND I DON'T WANNA BE, I DON'T LIKE TO BE FORCE FED.IT'S NOT, WE GOT THE BEST STAFF IN THE WORLD.
UH, THE LOOP, UH, TRAILS, WE HAVE 'EM IN THE DISTRICT EIGHT.
I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE SO EXCITED THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR KIDS OUT THERE, THEY CAN EXERCISE THEIR BIKES.
WE HAVE A PROCESS HERE AND WE'VE GOT A COMPANY THAT'S SPORTS, THAT'S SPORTS FEEDINGS, BUT WE SHOULD NOT PENALIZE THE PROSPERITY AND WHAT'S HAPPENING, UH, WITH OUR LOOPS AND WITH OUR TRAILS.
I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT SKIN IN THE GAME.
WE'RE NOT A GRIM WITH A COMPANY THAT WE'RE GONNA DO BUSINESS WITH.
WE'RE GONNA PENALIZE ONE OF OUR, I I I I OUR COMMUNITY GROUPS LIKE THE LOOP.
I MEAN, WHAT YOU GUYS DO IS, IS, IS PENANCE.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU AND I IN THE HALL OR YOU AND I AT A HAPPY HOUR OR YOU AND I ARE IN THIS BUILDING, I'M TELLING YOU I SUPPORT WHAT YOU DO.
AND, AND, AND MY MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD ME, EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND YOU HAVE TO USE COMMON SENSE.
UH, WE ARE ON THIS BOARD AND WE'RE HERE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS, BUT WE ALSO HERE MAKE COMMON SENSE DECISIONS.
UH, I AM NOT A FAN OF THE FAN GROUP.
I THINK THEY'RE UH, UH, THEY USE US TO THEIR ADVANTAGE, WHICH I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH.
UH, MR. THAT'S YOUR TWO MINUTES.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. SECRETARY.
MS. MANO, I WAS PUT ON HERE AND I WILL NOT BE BULLIED BY A CONTRACTOR WHO THINKS HE HAS OUR BACKUP, THE WALL BACK AGAINST THE WALL.
WE ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE AND I WILL BE ALWAYS PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS OF DALLAS.
UM, MR. BECKER, UM, I WAS VERY ENCOURAGED TO HEAR THAT THE SCOPE CAN STAY THE SAME BY MR. HYATT HAGUE.
THAT'S REALLY COMFORTING TO ME AND I WANT THIS TO GO FORWARD.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE NUMBERS CAUSE IN THIS CHART THAT I HAVE, IT SHOWS THAT, AND I'M BEING DISTRIBUTED NOW.
CAN I PAUSE MY TIME WHILE THIS DISTRIBUTION HASN'T? THANK YOU MR. BAKER.
SO, UM, EVERYBODY GOOD? SO IF YOU LOOK UP HERE IN MARCH OF 2022, WHEN THIS BANK CONTRACT WAS AU WAS AUTHORIZED, INFLATION WAS AT 7.5%, THEN IT WENT UP TO 9% BY JUNE OF 22.
SO IN THREE MONTHS IT WENT TO 9% FROM SEVEN FIVE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TREND SINCE THEN AND, AND THIS RELATES TO THEIR COSTS ON THIS PROJECT GOING FORWARD, THE TREND IS DOWN.
SO IT CAN BE EXPECTED THAT THEIR COSTS ARE GONNA FOLLOW THE TREND OF INFLATION GOING FORWARD AS THEY GO FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT.
SO I'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH THE NUMBERS AND I THINK THE CONTRACT, I THINK WE SH COULD PUSH BACK AND MAKE, ASK FEIN TO MAKE A BUSINESS DECISION.
AND WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO THE ITEM.
AND THE AMENDMENT TO THE ITEM WOULD READ TO OFFER AUTHORIZE A CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES CONTRACT WITH THE FAME GROUP FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGHLINE CONNECTOR TRAIL ON VICTORY AVENUE AND THE HIGHLINE DRIVE BETWEEN THE KATY TRAIL AND THE TRINITY STRAND TRAIL NOT TO EXCEED $366,000 844, DECREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM 11 MILLION 531 424 84 TO 11,164,580.
THAT'S THE SUGGESTED BASIC TAKEAWAY ON THAT IS IT INCREASES WHAT WE'RE ASKING BY 198,000.
AND I THINK IT'S JUSTIFIED, I'D LIKE FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE FOR US GIVING THE INFLATION NUMBERS AND TRENDS TO TRY TO GET A BETTER DEAL FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.
CAUSE I DON'T THINK THESE THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND MR. SLAUGHTER SECOND? YEAH.
[01:00:01]
ANY DIS SO WE NEED TO ASK IF THEY'RE EVEN WILLING.SO I DID HAVE SOME, BUT NOW WE'LL START DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION.
SO WE'LL START DISCUSSION ON, CAN YOU NOT REPEAT THE MOTION SO EVERYBODY YES.
I WON'T REPEAT THE FULL MOTION, BUT BASICALLY WHAT I'M SAYING IS I THINK WE SHOULD ASK 198,000 BACK OR MORE THAN WHAT'S ON THIS.
UH, ON THE 1 68, THE TOTAL WOULD BE, THE TOTAL WOULD GO FROM 1 68, 8 44 TO 360 6 8 44.
AND THAT HAS IN VAIN PUTS IT FOR THEM TO MAKE A BUSINESS DECISION.
UM, AND SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY DELAYS IN THIS ALREADY, I THINK TO WAIT FOR THEM TO COME BACK AND TELL US