>> [MUSIC] YOU'RE WATCHING THE MEETING OF
[00:00:03]
THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR ERIC L. JOHNSON, MAYOR PRO TEM TENNELL ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.CAROLYN KING ARNOLD, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CHAD WEST, JESSE MORENO, ZARIN GRACEY, JAIME RESENDEZ, OMAR NARVAEZ, ADAM BAZALDUA, PAULA BLACKMON, KATHY STEWART, JAYNIE SCHULTZ, CARA MENDELSOHN, GAY DONNELL WILLIS, PAUL RIDLEY AND CITY MANAGER T.C.
BROADNAX, CITY SECRETARY BILLIERAE JOHNSON AND INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY TAMMY PALOMINO.
>> GOOD MORNING. WE HAVE A QUORUM.
[Call To Order]
TIME IS 09:30 AM ON AUGUST 23RD, 2023.I NOW CALL THIS MEETING OF DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
TODAY'S INVOCATION SPEAKER IS MY MINISTER, ACTUALLY AND A CHAPLAIN HERE WITH THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, MINISTER J.K. HAMILTON OF THE MOUNTAIN VIEW CHURCH OF CHRIST.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO BROTHER HAMILTON TO GIVE US OUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. AFTER OUR INVOCATION, WE'LL HAVE OUR PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG.
>> GREAT SEEING YOU, ALL OF YOU.
FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY.
WE'VE NEVER SEEN THIS DAY BEFORE, WE'LL NEVER SEE IT AGAIN SO WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR CITY, WE THANK YOU FOR THE MINDS AND THE PERSONALITIES THAT ARE LEADING THE CITY AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT OUR CITY, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS OUR CITY AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PROGRESS OUR CITY.
WE TRUST YOU. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
>> WE'LL PLEASE RISE FOR OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH YOU MAY BE SEATED.
I THINK NOW WE'RE TO OUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS SO MADAM SECRETARY I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
[OPEN MICROPHONE (Part 1 of 2)]
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND GOOD MORNING.
THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW HEAR ITS FIRST FIVE REGISTERS SPEAKERS AFTER WHICH THE REMAINING OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY, DECORUM AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL AND PERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS, OR WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN-PERSON, FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION.
THE VISUALS BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, FOR THOSE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS YOU'LL NOTICE THE TIME ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM.
WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP PLEASE STOP.
ALSO FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ALSO SPEAKERS DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ADDRESS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME.
ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR JOHNSON ONLY.
YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, WILLIAM HOPKINS.
>> MY NAME IS WILLIAM HOPKINS.
WE DELAYED A GIVEN OUT AGAIN, ERIC IS A LAWSUIT.
ONE OF YOUR CITY OF DALLAS INFORMED THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WEREN'T INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT WITH AURAS ARE LAYERED PLAN AND WEST DALLAS.
I'VE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE WITH 25-YEAR-OLDS THE PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T DIE.
IN THE 25-YEAR-OLDS I'VE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE
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BEGGING FOR HELP FOR THE PEOPLE IN WEST DALLAS.THE DISD, THEY DIDN'T TELL THE PEOPLE THAT THEY MOVED TO WHITE PEOPLE IN THE '70S FOR THE LAY UP.
THEY JUST TOLD GISD DON'T TELL THE BLACKS THAT WE'RE MOVING OUT OF THE WHITES, OUT OF AMELIA EARHART.
THE GISD DIDN'T SAY NOTHING TO NOBODY.
THEY TOLD THE CITY, THE CITY WROTE TO PEOPLE TELLING THEM THEY WEREN'T INVOLVED THAT'S THE FIRST SHEET.
THEY WEREN'T INVOLVED IN THE LAYER PLANT, THEY WEREN'T INVOLVED IN A SETTLEMENT, IT WAS BETWEEN SOME ATTORNEYS.
ON NEXT PAGE IS WHAT A CITY SUED IN 1983.
ERIC USED A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, LOWER-MIDDLE HOUSTON WAS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, THE STATE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS SUED IN 1983 AND GOT THE MONEY.
OUR WAY TO 2023, SIT THERE ERIC AND LET THE PEOPLE DIE.
RON KIRK, MERRILL RAWLINS FAMILY OWNED SLAVES.
HE VOTED FOR ME NOT TO SPEAK EVERY WEEK INSTEAD OF HELPING TO PEOPLE AS DIANA WAS DALLAS, MERRILL RAWLINS WITH HIS FAMILY OWNED SLAVES VOTED AND IT'S A BLACKS VOTED WILLIAM DUANE CARAWAY AND ARRESTED THEM.
HOUSE NEGROES VOTED WILLIAM FOR ME NOT TO SPEAK EVERY WEEK.
THEY LET THE PEOPLE DIE AND WHITE PEOPLE COME IN, [INAUDIBLE], ROGERS STARBACK COME IN, BUY UP DEPARTMENTS IN WEST DALLAS AND WHITE PEOPLE LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
I SEE YOUR MINISTER, THE MINISTER WAS HERE.
HE WAS A MINISTER JOHN WILEY PRICE, HAD SOME PEOPLE COME TO THE BOY'S CLUB.
I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW DID JOHN WILEY PRICE GET THE ISSUE OUT MONEY THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE STATE OF TEXAS SUED FOR.
HE HAD THE PEOPLE TO COME TO HIM AND THE MINISTERS.
DO YOUR MINISTER KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN SITTING HERE THIS LONG LETTING PEOPLE DIE IN WEST DALLAS AND YOU GO TO CHURCH AND YOU PRAY TO WHO? WHO DO YOU PRAY TO ERIC THAT ALLOW YOU TO SIT HERE KNOWING PEOPLE DIE AND YOUR MOTHER GRADUATED IN COMPLACENT IN WEST DALLAS? WHO DO YOU PRAY TO ERIC, THAT ALLOWED YOU AND ALL THESE WHITE PEOPLE? I'M NOT GOING TO YELL OUT.
HISPANICS, GAYS, ONE, IT REPRESENTS WEST DALLAS.
WHAT A LOT OF GAZE TO LEAD TO POOR PEOPLE OR BLACK TO DIE.
THEY WANT TO GO TO AFRICA, WANT US TO DO THE GAY THING IN AFRICA.
BUT GAYS HERE IN DALLAS DON'T CARE ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE WHY ARE THEY GOING TO AFRICA?
>> I'LL BE BACK. I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY.
>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR JOHNSON.
MY NAME IS PHILIPPE RAMIREZ AND MY PROPERTY IS 6718 BROOKLYN DRIVE, 7, 5, 2, 3, 7.
I HAVE EROSION PROBLEMS ON MY PROPERTY.
I HAVE ASKED FOR HELP FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR OVER A DECADE.
THIS EROSION IS CONTINUALLY GETTING WORSE DUE TO THE DIRECTION OF THE GAVIAN WALLS ON THEIR PROPERTIES SURROUNDING MY PROPERTY, CAUSING THE WATER TO PUSH TOWARDS MY HOUSE, CREATING MORE EROSION.
THERE ARE ALSO OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS PROPERTY DAMAGE FROM CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT ACCESSING THE CREEK THROUGH MY DRIVEWAY AND MY YARD, AS WELL AS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CONNECTION FROM MY HOUSE PLUMBING TO THE SEWER MAIN, BUT IS LOCATED ON THE CREEK BED, WHICH HAVE BEEN POORLY REPLACED FIVE TIMES ALREADY TO DATE.
THE EROSION HAS CAUSED ME TO LOSE AN AREA OF OVER 120 FEET OF LAND.
THREE CENTENNIAL MATURE TREES, A SWING, A LARGE WOODEN DECK, AND IS NOW THREATENING MY STORAGE BUILDING.
THE PROPERTY DAMAGE INCLUDES THE LAND LOST, BUT ALSO DAMAGED BY WORKERS TRESPASSING WITHOUT MY PERMISSION ONTO MY PROPERTY TO ACCESS THE CREEK.
THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE YARD AND PROPERTY, INCLUDING GROOVES AND POTHOLES IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND JAR FROM HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES DRIVING ON MY LAND.
DEBRIS TRASH LEFT BEHIND INCLUDE TANK CUBIC YARDS OF GRAVEL.
AND THAT YOU WILL SEE ON THE PICTURES I SENT THAT SOMEONE HAS DEPOSITED INTO A MAKESHIFT RUN TO ACCESS THE SEWAGE PIPES THAT EXPOSE AND NEITHER OF REPAIRING THE CREEK.
THE PIPES ARE EXPOSED BECAUSE EROSION HAS WASHED ALL THE TERRAIN AROUND IT.
AND THE LAST REPAIRS ATTEMPTED, WE'RE NOT DONE CORRECTLY EXPOSING THE PIPES TO THE CRITIC AND ELEMENTS.
ONLY A LATERAL ENCASE WOULD FIX IT ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS TO BE UP TO CODE.
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PLUMBING, MY HOUSE HAS HAVE PLUMBING PROBLEMS DUE TO THE EXPLOSIVE SEWER PIPES ISSUE BECAUSE IN WASTEWATER TO BACKUP GAVIAN WALLS.I NEED TO KNOW WHEN THE CITY IS GOING TO FINISH THE GAVIAN WALLS AND PROTECT MY PROPERTY FROM FUTURE EROSION AND DAMAGE BEFORE I DON'T HAVE ANY YARD LEFT.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ABOUT HOW THESE ISSUES CAN BE RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
I HAVE COMPLAINED, REPORTED AND MAYBE THE CITY OF DALLAS ENGINEER AND HIS BUSINESS, SO THAT THEY CALLED THE APARTMENT, WHAT THEIR WORKS CITY MANAGER, SECRETARY, MRS. JOHNSON AND JONES CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO NUMEROUS TIMES.
NO ONE HAS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY WORKERS OR CONTRACTORS AND THE EROSION OF MY PROPERTY CONTINUOUS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP.
>> THANK YOU. CAROL BELL WALTON
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SQUEAKY WHEEL.
I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE SPILLWAY AT WHITE ROCK LAKE.
IF THE SPILLWAY IS A FUNNEL, YOU'VE GOT ONE SIDE THAT'S CONCRETE, THE DAM, AND YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER SIDE THAT'S JUST DIRT AND EARTHEN EMBANKMENT.
SO YOU'VE GOT ALL THIS WATER RUSHING DOWN AND IT IS COMPLETELY ERODED.
THIS WALL THAT IS UNDER THE WHITE ROCK TRIAL, IT'S ERODED SO FAR THAT THERE ARE CAVES UNDER GARLAND ROAD.
THE TRAIL HAS SHIFTED 4 " TOWARDS THE LAKE.
I SENT YOU ALL AN EMAIL YESTERDAY THAT HAS PICTURES OF THE ERODED WALL.
IT HAS PICTURES OF THE TRAIL SLIDE.
IT HAS PICTURES OF THE SHORELINE BEING UNDERCUT.
WE CAN'T GO BACK AND REPLACE THIS WITH AN EARTHEN WALL.
THAT JUST DIDN'T WORK. WE'VE PROVEN THAT.
THIS LEVEL OF EROSION OF SOMETHING I'M REALLY NEVER EVEN SEEN IN DALLAS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK WITH A SOLID WALL.
AND THAT'S WHERE I WANT YOU TO JOIN MY VISION.
IF WE BUILD THAT SOLID WALL 30 FEET INTO WHITE ROCK LAKE, WE CAN BACKFILL WITH THE DREDGE SOIL THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET FROM THAT BOND ELECTION.
AND WE CAN MOVE THAT TRAIL OFF OF WHITE ROCK LAKE, OFF GARLAND ROAD.
WE CAN MOVE IT BACK TOWARDS WHITE ROCK LAKE.
WE HAVE TO PUT A WALL IN BECAUSE IT'S JUST CATASTROPHIC AT THIS POINT.
OUR CHOICE IS, WHERE DO WE PUT THAT WALL? DO WE PUT THAT WALL RIGHT UP AGAINST WHERE THE TRAIL IS NOW, THAT REALLY BUYS US NOTHING, THEN IT'D BE A VERY COMPLICATED ENGINEERING PROJECTS.
IF WE MOVE THE RETAINING WALL 30 FEET FROM GARLAND ROAD, WE HAVE THE 12TH FEET OF THE TRAIL.
WE WILL HAVE RECLAIMED 6 FEET OF ERODED LAND AND WE WILL BE CREATING 12 FEET.
THAT 30 FEET WILL ALLOW A TWELVE FOOT TRAIL TO GO DOWN THE MIDDLE OF IT, AND IT WILL ALLOW ENOUGH ROOM FOR A TRAFFIC BARRIER BETWEEN 45 MILE AN HOUR GARLAND ROAD AND THE BICYCLIST.
NOW ONE THING ABOUT WHITE ROCK LAKE IS IT'S LOW ON THE EQUITY SCALE BECAUSE IT'S AN EAST DALLAS.
BUT IF YOU GO THERE AND YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF ATHLETES THAT USE THE TRAIL, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A GREATER DIVERSITY THAN YOU COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED.
IT IS A RAINBOW [INAUDIBLE] LAKE, AND THAT'S ONE THING WE'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED ABOUT IT.
I WANT THE TRAIL TO BE BETTER.
THERE'S 20 SPANS WHERE THE POSTAR WHERE THERE'S NO GROUND UNDERNEATH IT.
SO AS YOU'RE DRIVING OVER DOWN GARLAND ROAD, I WOULDN'T GO IN THE RIGHT LANE.
MY SUBJECT TODAY IS FLUORIDATION.
BUT MAYOR, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU TODAY, WHY IS IT YOU'RE ALWAYS LATE TO THE COUNCIL MEETING? REALLY, YOU NEED TO BE ON TIME.
YOU MAYOR, WHAT SIDE ARE YOU ON NOW? THE SIDE THAT WANTS ALL CITIZENS TO NOT DRINK THAT POISON,
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JUST UNPLEASANT IN OUR WATER.OR YOU WANT US TO KEEP DRINKING THAT POISON TO GET SICK OR SICKER? I'VE BEEN CALLING WHAT YOU CALL FLUORIDE A POISON.
YOU PLACE THORACIC ACID AT OUR WATER INSTEAD OF HIGH-GRADE FLUORIDE.
LOOK UP FORENSIC ACID, IT'S CLASSIFIED AS A POISON.
I RECENTLY PULLED FOLKS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT FLUORIDATION.
THERE WERE 167 VOTES, 65% INDICATED NO FLUORIDATION, 17% INDICATED YES FLUORIDATION, 15% INDICATED THEY NEED TO RESEARCH MORE, 3% INDICATED NOTHING.
BUT SOMEONE MADE THAT COMMENT, YOU CAN DRINK AS MUCH FLUORIDE AS YOU LIKE.
I'M SURE IT'S 100% SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.
MANY ACTIVISTS HAVE SPOKE HERE BEFORE THE COUNCIL MANY TIMES.
IT SEEMS TO GO THROUGH ONE SIDE AND NOT THE OTHER.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU ALL HAVE SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE, REALLY.
THE POISON IS TOXIC YOU ALL PUT IT IN WATER.
THERE HAVE BEEN FLUORIDE SPILLS THROUGHOUT THE US.
ON MARCH 31, 2011, THERE WAS A SPILL IN ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, JANUARY 24, 2016, THERE WAS A SPILL IN NEW YORK.
I DID RESEARCH IS FLUORIDE TOXIC METAL AND THEY SAY SUSTAIN CONSUMPTION OF SUCH LARGE AMOUNTS IS VERY DANGEROUS.
UNDERSTAND THERE'S 500,000 SET ASIDE FOR FLUORIDATION.
IF YOU STOPPED FLUORIDATION, YOU CAN USE THAT MONEY FOR OTHER BETTER THINGS THAN POISONING THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS.
DO THE RIGHT THING, STOP FLUORIDATION.
>> GOOD MORNING TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.
I AM DIMITY WEISINGER AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7 HERE IN DALLAS.
I LIKE TO SAY, GOOD DAY TO YOU ALL.
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK AND COMMENTS.
THE FIRST BEING IS I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE THREE HOTELS THAT WERE PURCHASED BY THE CITY TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT SITUATION? ARE THERE ANY RESIDENTS THERE? IS IT BEING REFORMED, RENOVATED? WHAT'S THE STATUS AND HOW SOON WILL THAT BE AVAILABLE FOR SOME OF THE HOMELESS TO BE HOUSED? I HAVE A DEEP CONCERN FOR THE HOMELESS.
I'VE SEEN TOO MANY VETERANS, TOO MANY ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH NO LEGS, SOME NO ARMS, HOMELESS.
THAT BOTHERS ME, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S SEVERELY HOT AS IT IS RIGHT NOW AND SEVERELY COLD. I HAVE A HEART FOR THAT.
ALSO TOO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE CITY HAS ANY PLANS WITHIN THIS BOND PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE ANY LANDS TO BUILD SOME HOUSING, APARTMENT COMPLEXES, OR HOMES THAT WOULD BE AFFORDABLE AND ESPECIALLY SET ASIDE FOR THOSE IN SUCH STATUS TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE OR RESIDE.
THE NEXT THING IS WHAT MONEY IS THERE IN THE BUDGET FOR ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT FOR THE POOR IN DISTRICT 7 SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THAT'S THE DISTRICT WHERE I RESIDE AND I BELIEVE THAT IS THE POOREST DISTRICT OF ALL THE DISTRICTS HERE IN DALLAS.
IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE THE TURNOUT OF ALL THIS SO-CALLED WHAT'S DEEMED TO BE DERELICT OF THE SOCIETY IN SOUTH DALLAS WHERE I LIVE, IN THE HEART OF THE HOOD AS IT'S CALLED.
I SEE MEN WITH NO JOBS THERE, I SEE MEN WHO HAVE BEEN LET OUT OF PRISON AND WOMEN LET OUT OF PRISON WHO ARE THERE, SLEEPING IN THE STREETS.
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I'VE SPOKEN EXTENSIVELY TO MANY OF THEM AND THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB ADVANCEMENTS ARE NOT THERE, SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT THIS COUNCIL WHEN IT'S CONSIDERING THE BUDGET, CONSIDER HAVING SPECIAL MONIES ALLOCATED SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES THERE IN DISTRICT 7 SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN AMONGST OURSELVES AND WITH PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF IN THE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT OF THE POOR IN DISTRICT 7.DISTRICTS 7 IS BORDERLINE TO THE DOWNTOWN WHERE OUR SKYLINE IS LOCATED, WHERE WHEN ANYBODY IN THE WORLD LOOKS AT DALLAS AND THEY SEE THE SKYLINE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT MY DISTRICT RIGHT AROUND THERE AND WHAT YOU SEE IS POOR, WHAT YOU SEE IS DIRTY, WHAT YOU SEE IS NOTHING NEW OR ADVANCED THERE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY REAL NEW RESTAURANTS, ANY REAL NEW BUSINESSES BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THERE AND THE CHILDREN THERE, THEY HAVE NO VISION, AND THE SCRIPTURE SAYS WITHOUT A VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH BECAUSE WHAT THEY SEE [OVERLAPPING] AROUND THEM IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO PROSPERITY. THANK YOU.
>> MR. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
>> LET'S GET STARTED WITH OUR VOTING AGENDA THEN.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR FIRST ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE
[MINUTES]
AUGUST 9, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE ON FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM, PLEASE.
>> YOUR NEXT ITEM IS YOUR CONSENT AGENDA,
[CONSENT AGENDA]
BUT BEFORE WE MOVE TO YOUR CONSENT AGENDA, YOU DO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON TWO OF YOUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. YOUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE EDWARD GREY.MR. GRAY WILL BE SPEAKING ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 19.
>> GOOD MORNING. CITY MANAGER, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND FELLOW DALLASITES, MY NAME IS EDWARD GREY.
I REPRESENT THE DALLAS COUNTY JUSTICE INITIATIVE AND ALSO REMEMBERING BLACK DALLAS.
AS A LONGTIME ACTIVIST, I SPEAK WITH GREAT PRIDE AND PLEASURE TO HAVE WORKED WITH THE CITY REGARDING 110 WEST COMMERCE STREET.
110 WEST COMMERCE STREET IS THE SITE ON A LOCATION IN WHICH WE WILL BE PUTTING FORTH A HISTORICAL MARKER FOR ONE OF THE TRAGIC DAYS THAT EXISTED IN DALLAS.
DALLAS IS A GREAT CITY, BUT IT'S ALSO HAS HAD A HISTORY IN WHICH WE HAVE NOT COME TO TERMS WITH RACISM AND ALSO WITH LYNCHING.
WE HAVE IN THE PAST HAVE ADDRESSED THAT ISSUE WITH ALLEN BROOKS'S HISTORICAL MARKER AT MAIN AND AKARD.
THE APPROVAL OF THIS AS A HISTORICAL MARKER DESIGNATION AT 110 WEST COMMERCE WILL ALSO GIVE CREDENCE TO THE RIGHTS OF HUMAN BEINGS TO EXIST IN DALLAS.
HUMAN RIGHTS EXISTED THROUGHOUT HISTORY, BUT IT ALSO HAS TO BE CODIFIED IN THE LAW.
CODIFIED IN THE LAW IS ALSO TO RECOGNIZE THESE MOMENTS AND THESE SITES IN WHICH THESE TRAGIC OCCURRENCES HAVE OCCURRED.
WILLIAMS ALAN TAYLOR WAS LYNCHED TO EXTRA-JUDICIAL TRIAL HELD BY DALLASITES.
WE WILL RECOGNIZE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE BANKS OF THE TRINITY RIVER WHERE A MAN WAS EXECUTED, WAS LYNCHED.
BUT WE DO THIS NOT OUT OF HATRED, WE DO THIS NOT OUT OF FEAR BUT WE DO THIS OUT OF LOVE BECAUSE IT BRINGS DALLAS CLOSER TOGETHER.
IN ORDER FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT DALLAS IS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY, WE MUST RECOGNIZE THIS REGIONAL PAIN.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO THANK THOSE WHO WERE WORKED WITH THE DALLAS COUNTY JUSTICE INITIATIVE AND REMEMBERING BLACK DALLAS, THOSE PEOPLE WHO SERVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL, THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN STAFF WHO HAVE NAVIGATED THIS TORTUROUS TRAIL ON THE BANKS OF THE TRINITY, IN WHICH WE WILL RECOGNIZE WILLIAM ALAN TAYLOR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TIFFANY DAVIS.
MS. DAVIS WILL BE SPEAKING ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 38.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
MY NAME IS TIFFANY DAVIS AND I'M THE CEO PRESIDENT OF TURTLE CREEK CONSERVANCY.
THE TURTLE CREEK CONSERVANCY WAS FOUNDED IN 1998 AS LEE PARK AND ARLINGTON HALL CONSERVANCY TO HELP RESTORE ARLINGTON HALL, WHICH HAD FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR AND TO BE CARETAKERS OF TURTLE CREEK PARK THAN LEE PARK.
[00:25:04]
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL 20-ACRE PARK IN THE HEART OF DALLAS IN DISTRICT 14.TURTLE CREEK PARK IS THE SECOND OLDEST PARK IN DALLAS AS THE FOUNDING PREDATES THE CITY OF DALLAS PURCHASE OF THE PARK IN 1909.
I'M HERE TODAY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPROVE AND SAY THANK YOU IN-PERSON FOR APPROVING PARK AND REC AGENDA ITEM 38.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH PARK AND REC TO MAKE NEEDED SAFETY AND BEAUTIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PARK.
BEEN WORKING ON THIS ABOUT A YEAR AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU'RE PROVING THIS TODAY.
JUST TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT AT THE PARK, OVER THE PAST YEAR-AND-A-HALF WE'VE REPLACED THE HIBISCUS FOUNTAIN TWICE.
WE'VE UPDATED THE BUILDING SECURITY SYSTEM AND NOW HAVE 13 WORKING CAMERAS ON PROPERTY.
WE'VE CLEARED THE SOUTH PARCEL.
WE'RE HALFWAY TO COMPLETING THE RESTORATION OF LANDSCAPE BEDS FROM THE FRIEZES OF 2001-2022 AT A BUDGET OF ABOUT $900,000.
WE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS TO REPAIR THE LEAKS IN THE ROOF AND THE GUTTER REPLACEMENTS FOR THOSE SO THAT PREVENT IT FROM LEAKING AGAIN.
WE ALSO ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING THE INTERIOR OF ARLINGTON HALL WITH NEW PAINT, NEW CURTAINS, AND SOME ADDITIONAL FURNITURE.
YOU'LL ALL RECEIVE AN INVITATION LEAD FREE TO JOIN US FOR A MEMBER RECEPTION AT ARLINGTON HALL ON SEPTEMBER 28TH.
ALSO, WE ARE IN THE STEPS OF PLANNING FOCUS GROUPS SO THAT WE CAN WORK OUT SOMETHING TO RENEW AND RESTORE THE CORNER AT HALL STREET AND TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD.
JUST TO KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO BE RELEVANT AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN BE MOST HELPFUL AND PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY.
WE BROUGHT BACK EAST OR IN THE PARK THIS YEAR AND HAD OVER 6,000 DALLAS RESIDENCE THERE.
WE'VE CREATED AT KIDS FISHING DERBY, A MOVIE NIGHT, AND TURTLE CREEK PARK, AND A LIGHT UP TURTLE CREEK PARK.
WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR DALLAS CITIZENS TO ENJOY EVENTS IN TURTLE CREEK PARK.
WITH OUR RENEWED MISSION STATEMENT, WE'RE STRIVING TO CREATE PROGRAMMING AND WELLNESS EVENTS FOR ALL CITY CITIZENS OF DALLAS AND PROVIDING OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN THE PARK FOR UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN DALLAS.
OUR GREATEST HOPE IS THAT WE CAN CREATE A SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR THIS PARK TO EXIST FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THIS INCLUDES ANY SPEAKERS ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO YOUR CONSENT AGENDA.
YOUR CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTED OF ITEMS 3 THROUGH 38.
AGENDA ITEM 3 IS BEING PULLED AS A CITY MANAGER HAS REQUESTED THE ITEM BE CONSIDERED AS AN INDIVIDUAL ITEM.
IT ALSO WILL REQUIRE RECORD VOTE.
AGENDA ITEM 27 IS BEING PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO.
AGENDA ITEM 30 IS BEING PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO AND IT'S ALSO CORRECTED.
AGENDA ITEM 31, IT'S BEEN CORRECTED.
THEREFORE, YOUR CONSENT AGENDA.
I WILL ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 18 IS BEING CLARIFIED TO AUTHORIZE A COOPERATIVE PURCHASE SERVICE PRICE AGREEMENT PROCURED THROUGH THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,733,760, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,192,107.
AGENDA ITEM 24 IS ALSO BEING CORRECTED AS THE COUNCIL, THE CORRECT COUNCIL DISTRICT IS COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 NOT COUNCIL DISTRICT 8.
THEREFORE, YOUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEM CONSIST OF ITEMS 2, 4 THROUGH 26, 28, 29, 31, AND 33 THROUGH 38.
>> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> MOVED IN SECOND. I WILL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER WEST FIRST FOR COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> THANK YOU. JUST A FEW ITEMS I WANTED TO COMMENT ON.
ITEM NUMBER 15 IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ENHANCE THE CROSSWALKS AND LEAN MANAGEMENT AND WALKABILITY OF ONE OF MY WORST INTERSECTIONS IN DISTRICT 1, THAT'S ZANG BOULEVARD AND SANER AVENUE.
I REMEMBER THIS COMING UP AS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM INTERSECTIONS IN THE VISION ZERO ANALYSIS, AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE FUNDING COME IN.
I WANT TO COMMEND OUR TRANSPORTATION OFFICE AND ANYONE ELSE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN GETTING US THIS GRANT.
THEN SECONDLY, ON ITEM 37, I WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE, CHAIRMAN [INAUDIBLE] FOR CONTINUING ON
[00:30:03]
THE EFFORTS TO SECURE FUNDING FOR THE SKATE PARK OR BACHMAN LIGHT.THIS IS EXCITING. OUR FIRST REGIONAL SKATEBOARD PARK IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WE'RE TRYING TO BRING ONE DOWN TO OAK CLIFF.
YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY SICK OF HEARING ME TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE THOSE EFFORTS TO GET US THE FIRST SKATE PARK IN OAK CLIFF.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS ONE COME UP. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> CHAIRMAN BEZEL DEWEY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS. ITEM 7 IS [NOISE] AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF FIVE LAND TRANSFER PROGRAM LOTS IN THE DOVE AND HEIGHTS COMMUNITY.
THERE'S BEEN CONCERN OF A LOT OF WHAT IS BEING BUILT THERE, AND THIS DEFINITELY GIVES THE CITY SOME OVERSIGHT TO THESE VACANT LOTS.
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE GIVING HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO HOMEOWNERS AT 60-120% AMI.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, [NOISE] I WANTED TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 17.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW FROM RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 7 ABOUT RE-ESTABLISHING THE QUIET ZONE AT PRAIRIE CREEK ROAD AND SAM HOUSTON ROAD, RAILROAD CROSSINGS.
I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT 5 HAS HEARD ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD TO GET THIS BACK TO THE RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF.
I ACTUALLY LIVE IN A VICINITY TO HEAR THIS TRAIN AND EVERY MORNING AT 04:00 AM IT COMES THROUGH HONKING.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT THING THAT WE'RE APPROVING HERE TODAY.
JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE COUPLE OF ITEMS. THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR.
>> CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ, YOU MAY RISE FOR FIVE MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WANTED TO ONE, THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR POINTING OUT THE TRANSPORTATION MONIES THAT ARE GOING TOWARDS THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN THEIR DISTRICT.
ALL OF THESE ARE PART OF THE BIG MAJOR PLAN TO INCREASE WALKABILITY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS ARE SAFER.
WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.
MR. MAYOR, I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT ITEM 19, WHICH IS RESOLUTION DESIGNATING 110 WEST COMMERCE STREET AS A LOCATION FOR MEMORIAL PLAQUE TO MARK THE LYNCHING OF WILLIAM ALAN TAYLOR.
THIS IS IN DISTRICT 6 AND WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THE SITUATION THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN AS FAR AS WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. TAYLOR, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER OUR HISTORY AND KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
ONCE IT'S DONE, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS INVITED TO ATTEND THE RIBBON-CUTTING SERVICE SO THAT WE CAN ALL HONOR MR. TAYLOR.
THEN ITEM 37, WHICH MY COLLEAGUE, MR. WESTERN DISTRICT 1 MENTIONED, SKATE PARKS ARE A HUGE DEAL.
WE USED TO HAVE THEM BACK IN THE DAY AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THEM FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THIS IS AN ITEM FROM THE 2017 BOND.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE WRAPPING THAT UP AND WE ARE SO THRILLED AND EXCITED TO HAVE AND HOST THE VERY FIRST ONE BACK IN THE CITY OF DALLAS AT BACHMAN LAKE.
THERE USED TO BE ONE HERE, AND THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST REGIONAL SKATE PARK.
DEFINITELY MR. WEST MENTIONED SOME STUFF ABOUT OAK CLIFF.
I'M GOING TO INVITE HIM TO COME CHECK OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING WITH THE HAROLD SIMMONS PARK WHEN IT COMES TO ESCAPE PARK.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT OFFLINE SO THAT HE CAN SEE THAT AS WELL AND SEE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS RECREATIONAL PLACE FOR PEOPLE HERE IN OUR CITY.
SKATING IS BECOMING A BIG DEAL ALL ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITIES.
SO WONDERFUL JOB AND THANK YOU TO OUR PARK BOARD MEMBER, TIM DICKEY, FOR GETTING IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE IN PART BOARD AND COLLEAGUES.
HOPEFULLY WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WE CAN GET STARTED ON THIS CONSTRUCTION AT BACHMAN LAKE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR
>> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO-TEM, YOU MAY RISE FOR FIVE MINUTES.
>> DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND MOST DEFINITELY ITEM 24, THERE IS THE SOME REVITALIZATION EFFORTS GOING ON INTO CITY CLAYS CORRIDOR.
I'M HAPPY ABOUT THE NEW MARKETS TAX CREDIT TRANSACTION THAT WILL ENABLE BEHIND EVERY DOOR MINISTRIES TOO.
WE'VE ACTUALLY RENOVATED A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WAS ON THE DEATHBED FOR YEARS AND THIS IS IN 1007 HUTCHINS ROAD.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THEY'VE STEPPED IN TO RE-INVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
[00:35:05]
IT WILL SERVICE NOT ONLY THE REVITALIZATION EFFORTS OF CEDAR CREST.I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FROM STUDENTS FROM THE ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE ACTIVITIES AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
THEY'RE INVESTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO DO SO.
THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE A PLACE IF THEY WANTED TO GO AND FELLOWSHIP STUDENTS WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
JUST WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT AND JUST UNDERSCORE THE FACT OF HOW EXCITED I'M WHENEVER YOU HAVE A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT AFRAID TO COME INTO OUR DISTRICTS HERE IN DISTRICT 4 AND INVEST IN THE PEOPLE, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
THANK YOU TOO. I KNOW ROBIN BENTLEY AND ROBYN AND THE CREW HAS WORKED, BUT I TALKED MOSTLY WITH MORE SO WITH SU HANS LEE ON THIS NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT IN DISTRICT 4 BUT JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THIS MORNING, NUMBER 24, FOURTH WALL, IS A GREAT INVESTMENT INTO PEOPLE AND THEY WERE NOT AFRAID TO COME AND INVEST THEIR DOLLARS IN THE HEART OF A COMMUNITY THAT IS HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR PRO-TEM, YOU MAY RISE FOR FIVE-MINUTES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> QUESTION TO THE STAFF, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY WAS THE BILL REJECTED FOR ALLEYS ON NUMBER 2?
>> I APOLOGIZE, COUNCIL, CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?
>> [INAUDIBLE] REJECTION OF BEINGS FOR CONSTRUCTION FORT ALLEYS TO BE RECONSTRUCTED? THE BILLS WERE REJECTED.
>> LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET PUBLIC WORK STAFF TO COME IN TO THAT QUESTION, OR PURCHASING, GIVE ME A SECOND.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M [INAUDIBLE] THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
SIR, THE BID WAS ONLY ONE BIDDER AND IT WAS MORE THAN THE ESTIMATED FROM THE ENGINEERING DESIGN.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE REJECTING IT, TO GET A BETTER DEAL BASICALLY.
>> OKAY. IS THERE A TIME LIMIT BEFORE WE GET NEW BIDS? HOW LONG?
>> YOU GOT TO GO BACK OUT TO REBID AGAIN, SO WHAT IS THE TIME-FRAME?
>> WELL ONCE IT GETS REJECTED, THEN WE HAVE TO RE ADVERTISE IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND RECEIVE THE BIDS AND THEN GO TO THE COUNCIL AGAIN.
>> THE ADVERTISEMENT IS TWO WEEKS GENERALLY, BUT IT DEPENDS IF IT'S PASSING TODAY SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO RE ADVERTISE IT AGAIN.
>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY ALLEYS WOULD THIS BE, CONSIST OF?
>> HOW MANY ALLEYS WERE IN THIS CONTRACT?
>> YES. I GUESS IT WAS IN DISTRICT 7 AND DISTRICT 8.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ALLEYS WERE IN THE PACKAGE.
I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION IF YOU GIVE ME FIVE MINUTES.
>> ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO BE GONE FOR AGAINST THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSE? THE AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM, PLEASE.
[3. 23-1977 Authorize (1) a public hearing to be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 to receive comments on a proposed tax rate; and (2) a proposal to consider adoption of a $0.7393 per $100 valuation tax rate, or a lower rate as may be proposed by City Council for the 2023-24 fiscal year on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 - Financing: No cost consideration to the City ]
>> THANK YOU. YOUR NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM.
IT'S YOUR FIRST PULLED ITEM AGENDA ITEM 3.
AGENDA ITEM 3, AUTHORIZE, ONE, A PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2023, TO RECEIVE COMMENTS ON A PROPOSED TAX RATE, AND TWO, A PROPOSAL TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF 73.93 CENTS PER $100 VALUATION TAX RATE OR A LOWER RATE AS MAYBE PROPOSED BY CITY COUNCIL FOR THE 2023/24 FISCAL YEAR ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023.
YOU DO HAVE THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, HARRY SWANSON.
>> HARRY SWANSON, 8223 CLAREMONT, DRIVE, DISTRICT 7.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS YEAR HOLDS PROMISE FOR [OVERLAPPING]
CAN YOU SPEAK MAYBE A LITTLE CLOSER TO IT?
[00:40:01]
>> CHECK AND SEE IF THAT BUTTON IS PUSHED.
>> HARRY SWANSON, 8223, CLAREMONT DRIVE, DISTRICT 7.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS YEAR HOLDS PROMISE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS.
THE LEGISLATURE'S PROPOSED INCREASE IN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM 40,000-100,000 CAN GIVE AN AVERAGE DALLAS HOMEOWNER A YEARLY SAVINGS OF ROUGHLY $1,300.
ALSO, OUR CITY MANAGER AIMS TO DECREASE THE PROPERTY TAX FOR THE EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR BY 0.65 CENTS WHICH WILL ADD MORE FINANCIAL SAVINGS TO DALLAS HOMEOWNERS.
YET WHY HOMEOWNERS REJOICE, LET'S CONSIDER THAT THE MAJORITY OF CITY OF DALLAS POPULATION, THE RENTERS.
WHAT WILL THEY RECEIVE? AS USUAL, THEY'LL GET NOTHING.
THEY INDIRECTLY PAY THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX OBLIGATION WITHOUT ENJOYING ANY FINANCIAL BENEFITS FOR THEIR RENT PAYMENTS.
OVER 40% OF THESE RENTERS EARN BELOW 35,000 ANNUALLY.
ONE-BEDROOM RENT VARY FROM 1,200-2,300 A MONTH, DEPENDING ON LOCATION.
DALLAS RENTS HAVE SURGED BY 13.8% IN THE LAST YEAR.
A STAGGERING 41% OF RENTERS USE MORE THAN A THIRD OF THEIR INCOME SOLELY ON RENT, WITH ONE-IN-FIVE DEDICATING OVER HALF OF THEIR INCOME.
CONTRAST THIS WITH HOMEOWNERS WHOSE PROPERTIES HAVE APPRECIATED BY 14.4% LAST YEAR, ESCALATING PERSONAL WEALTH BY A WHOPPING 113% IN A DECADE.
BESIDES THESE YEARLY, MONTHLY SAVINGS, THEY ENJOY TAX BENEFITS FOR HOUSE PAYMENTS, PROPERTY TAXES, AND EVEN CERTAIN HOME IMPROVEMENTS.
RENTERS, ON ANOTHER HAND, LIKE ALWAYS, THEY GET NOTHING.
THE CRUX OF THE MATTER IS THIS, WE NEED A ROBUST FINANCIAL INITIATIVE TO ENSURE AFFORDABLE RENTS AND HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR RENTERS OF DALLAS.
I PROPOSE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT HOUSING FUND OF ONE CENT OF THE PROPERTY TAX TO BE ALLOCATED TO COMBAT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DILEMMA, WHICH WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILLION PER YEAR.
I PROVIDED EACH OF YOU A BLUEPRINT OF THIS PROPOSAL IN YOUR PACKET.
PLEASE READ AND ENVISION THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF SUCH AN INITIATIVE ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
LET'S EXTEND OUR ASSISTANCE TO THE DALLAS POPULATION THAT HAS BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR YEARS.
LET'S EMPOWER THEM TO COMFORTABLY RENT, FEED, AND EDUCATE CHILDREN, AND PERHAPS EVEN ACCUMULATE ENOUGH FOR PURCHASING THEIR HOME SO THEY TOO CAN EXPERIENCE THE DREAM OF FINANCIAL WEALTH BY OWNING A HOUSE INSTEAD OF GETTING THEIR USUAL NOTHING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
>> THANK YOU. TAMARA JEFFERSON.
>> FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU-ALL CREATED FOR THE GRACE, LOVE, AND MERCY AND I CONTINUE TO FOLLOW STEPS OF MY ANCESTOR KING DAVID AND WAIT ON THE BLESSINGS OF MY FOREFATHERS, YABARINE AND THE PROMISES.
NOW THE VERY THOUGHT OF INCREASING TAXES, ESPECIALLY ON THE ELDERLY WHO ARE ALREADY MANY NOT ON A DEFERRED TAX PROGRAM WILL ONLY INCREASE POVERTY.
THE TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS HAS NOT WORKED IN MOST OF DALLAS IN CERTAIN PARTS, WHITE ROCK AND OTHER AREAS PEOPLE ARE LIVING GOOD.
MANY OF YOU ARE ATTORNEYS, MILLIONAIRES AND CONNECTED TO ORGANIZATIONS TO WHERE YOU HAVE MEAT AND POTATOES ON YOUR TABLE, YOUR RENT IS PAID.
INCREASING THESE TAXES RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WORLD IS ON THE VERGE OF A SOCIAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, IS NOT ONLY INCONSIDERATE, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE.
YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE.
MOST OF YOU, YOU LOOK AWAY, YOU CHEAT, YOU LIE, AND YOU STEAL AND THESE ARE ALL VIOLATIONS OF BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES.
YOU HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION AND A CIVIC DUTY ACCORDING TO YOUR CONTRACT THAT YOU HAD TO SIGN BY THE CITY CHARTER, THAT YOU WOULD DO RIGHT.
IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO RAISE THE TAXES, ESPECIALLY WHEN HALF A DALLAS ARE RENTERS, YOUR BUDGET IS GOING TO INCREASE OVER.
I THINK THE CITY MANAGER SAID IS GOING TO INCREASE ABOUT $116 MILLION TO I THINK 4.61 BILLION.
WHAT DID THE LAST BUDGET GO TO? AT A COUNCIL MEETING,
[00:45:02]
WE WERE TOLD A GRANDIOSE IDEAS OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT SUCCESSES THAT HAPPENED.WE WERE TOLD THAT THE HOMELESS SUCCESS WERE HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS, WHAT HAPPENED? INCREASE IN TAXES, YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE HOMELESSNESS.
WE WERE TOLD THAT MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS FACTORS. THEY ARE THERE.
YOU INCREASE TAXES MORE PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE POOR, IT HURTS YOUR MIND.
YOU CAN'T THINK YOU'RE UNDER PRESSURE.
MANY OF YOU ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR FAILURE AND WE ARE LOSING WHILE YOU GO HOME TO YOUR HOMES, AND YOUR LIGHTS DON'T GET CUT OFF.
MANY OF YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SACRIFICING.
MANY OF YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT HUNGER PAINS.
MANY OF YOU GO TO THE GAS PUMP AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE PRICE.
DO NOT RAISE TAXES BECAUSE YOU WILL INCREASE CRIME.
YOU WILL MAKE IT HARDER ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND YOU WILL FORCE HANDS TO BECOME A MENTOR OFFICERS, AND THAT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
BE PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH THE TAX DOLLARS THAT YOU HAVE AND LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M BELINDA EPS, I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE METRO TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND STAFF.
I KNOW PERSONALLY HOW MUCH WORK YOU PUT INTO THIS AND THE TIME.
I HAVE AN AGENT WHO IS A MAYOR OF A CITY RIGHT HERE.
I HAVE ANOTHER MAYOR WHO'S ANOTHER AGENT AND I ALSO HAVE AN AGENT WHO'S A FORMER STATE REP.
UNDERSTAND THE PASSION AND THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE FOR YOUR CITY.
METRO TEXTS AND THE REALTOR ORGANIZATION BELIEVED THAT PROPERTY OWNERSHIP IS A PATHWAY TO LIFT FAMILIES TO WEALTH.
THE SINGLE GREATEST INVESTMENT, MOST FAMILIES MAKES IN THEIR LIFETIME, IS THE PURCHASE OF A HOME.
THIS INVESTMENT LEADS TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH TRANSFER AND BUILDS THE STRONG COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE DALLAS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK, LIVE, AND PLAY.
ADOPTING THE NODE NEW REVENUE BASED BUDGET WILL PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR PROPERTY OWNERS.
ARE ONGOING CONCERN IS ENSURING THAT PROPERTY OWNERS CAN CONTINUE TO OWN PROPERTY WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING PRICED OUT OF THEIR HOMES DUE TO CONTINUAL RISE AND PROPERTY TAX LIABILITIES.
IN ADDITION TO THE PRODUCTION OF THE CITY'S TAX RATE TO THE NO NEW REVENUE, METRO TECH SUPPORTS THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN THE CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AND INCREASE IN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF DOES NOT JUST IMPACT PROPERTY OWNERS.
THIS RELIEF WILL PASS ON TO PROPERTY OWNERS TO TENANTS WHO HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED INCREASING COST.
NEARLY 30% OF ATTENDANCE MONTHLY RENT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PROPERTY TAX LIABILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNER.
AGAIN, METRO TEXTS WANTS TO SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THESE ARE YOUR SPEAKERS FOR AGENDA ITEM 3, MR. MAYOR, THIS ITEM WILL ALSO REQUIRE RECORD VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MA'AM SECRETARY, CHAIR RECOGNIZES.
CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN FOR A MOTION.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.68, 3821 PER 100 VALUATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR '23, '24.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED AND BEFORE WE START ANY DISCUSSION, I WANT MYSELF ACTUALLY ASK JACK IRELAND IF HE'S AVAILABLE TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING PROCESS WISE.
BEFORE WE EVEN HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND MYSELF.
THAT'S NOT QUITE A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY, BUT JUST WANT TO CHECK HIM ON STATE LAW AND HOW IT AFFECTS US.
TODAY, WHAT WE HAVE POSTED FOR TODAY AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS NOT A BUDGET HEARING, WE'RE NOT HERE TO DEBATE THE BUDGET.
[00:50:01]
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE NOT SETTING A TAX RATE TODAY EITHER.WE ARE ESTABLISHING A CEILING THAT WE CAN'T EXCEED IF WHATEVER WE AGREED TO TODAY.
THE ONLY MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS, THINGS THAT WOULD BE AN ORDER TODAY IS I GUESS MADE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO WEIGH IN ON THIS TOO, WOULD BE MOTIONS OR AMENDMENTS TO MOTIONS THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A CEILING, WHICH IN ESSENCE TRANSLATES INTO A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE COULD COLLECT FROM THE TAXPAYERS AND SPEND IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
BUT IT'S NOT THE BUDGET ITSELF, AND IT'S NOT THE RATE ITSELF.
IT'S ESTABLISHING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL HAVE TO FRAME THAT SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LATER ON THE BUDGET.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.
AM I CONFUSED ABOUT THERE OR IS THAT RIGHT?
>> JACK IRELAND, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AND START YOU'RE EXACTLY CORRECT.
EXACTLY AS YOU SAID, IT IS THE WAY IT IS.
YOU'RE SETTING A CEILING ONLY.
YOU WILL ADOPT THE TAX RATE AND THE BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER THE 20TH AND ON SEPTEMBER THE 20TH YOU WILL SET THE TAX RATE.
TODAY IS YOU'RE SETTING A CEILING ONLY EXACTLY AS YOU DESCRIBED.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT WRONG ABOUT IT AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING OUT OF ORDER AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T SPEND INORDINATE AMOUNTS OF TIME DISCUSSING THINGS THAT ACTUALLY FRANKLY OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE THAT'S FOR SUBSEQUENT DAY.
WE JUST REITERATE FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND.
TODAY WE'RE NOT VOTING ON YOUR BUDGET.
WE'RE NOT DEBATING YOUR BUDGET.
WE DIDN'T POST TO HAVE A DEBATE ABOUT YOUR BUDGET AND WE ARE ALSO NOT DEBATING WHAT YOUR TAX RATE IS GOING TO BE, THAT GETS DETERMINED AT A SUBSEQUENT POINT IN THE PROCESS.
A LOT OF THIS PROCESS IS DICTATED BY STATE LAW AND WERE TOLD WHEN WE HAVE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, TODAY IS THE DAY WE SAY HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE AVAILABLE, MAXIMUM TO THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR HOW TO SPEND IT.
BUT TODAY'S DAY WE TELL HOW MUCH THEY GOT TO WORK WITH MAXIMUM.
IS THAT PLAIN ENGLISH WAY OF DESCRIBING WHAT WE'RE DOING?
>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU SAID IT CORRECTLY AND I DO WANT TO ADD ONE OTHER THING.
>> YOU'RE ALSO CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 20TH.
THERE WILL BE A RECORD VOTE, AS MS. JOHNSON MENTIONED, THE RECORD VOTE AND WHAT THE CEILING THAT YOU SET TODAY WILL BE ADVERTISED IN THE NEWSPAPER.
THOSE ARE ADDITIONAL LEGAL STEPS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE BEFORE WE GET TO SEPTEMBER 20TH WHEN YOU ADOPT THE TAX RATE.
THE ONLY THING I'LL ASK FOR YOU TO DO FOR ME, MR. IRELAND, IS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ONE QUESTION I'M GOING TO HAVE FOR YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT GETS PROPOSED TODAY.
I DON'T CARE WHO PROPOSED IT, I'M VERY AGNOSTIC TO WHO PROPOSES WHAT.
BUT FOR MY OWN UNDERSTANDING, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU AT THE POINT AT WHICH WE GET THERE, WHAT THE PRACTICAL IMPACT WILL BE ON THE TAXPAYER WHO OWNS THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE HOME IN DALLAS.
WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE ON THEIR TAX BILL? WHAT DOES THE CALCULATION AND WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT FOR EVERY MOTION OR AMENDMENT THAT'S PROPOSED.
I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A HEADS-UP TO BE PREPARED TO CALCULATE THAT PRETTY QUICKLY FOR ANY MOTION THAT GETS PUT FORWARD BY ANYONE BECAUSE THAT'S THE TAKEAWAY I NEED TO KNOW.
WITH THAT, ANY DISCUSSION, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN FIRST ON HER MOTION, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. IN THE DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL, THE APRIL 14TH HEADLINE READ, 'DALLAS HAS THE HIGHEST FIVE-YEAR PROPERTY TAX INCREASE OF ANY MAJOR US CITY. STUDY SAYS.' TODAY'S VOTES NOT ABOUT INDIVIDUAL LINE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET.
IT'S NOT ABOUT SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT ANYONE'S DISTRICT OR CITYWIDE PROJECTS.
IT'S A DECISION THAT'S A POLICY STATEMENT ON CITY SPENDING AND TAXATION.
TODAY, EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER WILL DECIDE BY THEIR VOTE THE TAX CEILING THAT THEY SUPPORT, AND IF THEY WANT TO LOWER TAXES, KEEP THEM THE SAME, OR RAISE TAXES.
EACH VOTE WILL BE RECORDED FOR THE RESIDENTS OR VOTERS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO SEE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR WHAT I'VE WRITTEN IN THE MEMO TO THE MAYOR ABOUT TAXES AND THE OP-ED TODAY IN THE MORNING NEWS.
I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANKS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE SENT LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE ITEMS I'M PROPOSING.
I HOPE YOU HAD TIME TO READ THEM, SPECIFICALLY METRO TAX, THE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVEN BEING HERE TODAY.
THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OF GREATER DALLAS, THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL, REVITALIZE SOUTH DALLAS COALITION, METROPLEX CHAMBER AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION,
[00:55:01]
AS WELL AS SEVERAL DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE SENT IN COMMENTS.AS EACH OF YOU RAN FOR ELECTION JUST THREE MONTHS AGO, I BELIEVE EVERY RETURNING MEMBER, HOW DID THAT YOU HAD REDUCED TAXES? BUT YOU DIDN'T.
WE ACTUALLY HAVEN'T REDUCED TAXES IN THE FOUR YEARS I'VE SERVED.
IN FACT, WE'VE INCREASED TAXES EVERY SINGLE YEAR I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, BUT WHAT WE DID DO IS WE REDUCED THE TAX RATE.
IT'S THE GAME THAT WE SAY WE'RE LOWERING YOUR TAX RATE, AND THEN WE TAKE A BOW BUT THE RESIDENTS GET A HIGHER TAX BILL BECAUSE THEIR PROPERTY VALUE HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.
THE ONLY WAY TO REDUCE TAXES IS TO REDUCE OUR EXPENSES AND TO VOTE A TAX RATE AT THE SAME LEVEL THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT HAS INCREASED THE VALUES.
THIS YEAR, APPRAISALS HAVE COME IN 10.5% HIGHER.
SO TO ACTUALLY REDUCE TAXES, YOU'D HAVE TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE 5.8 CENTS LOWER THAN WHAT THE CITY MANAGER IS PROPOSING.
IF YOU ADOPT THE TAX RATE WITH THE PROPOSED 0.65 CENT REDUCTION THAT'S PROPOSED OR A ONE CENT OR TWO CENT REDUCTION, THOSE ARE QUITE SIMPLY TAX INCREASES.
WHEN I WAS ELECTED IN MAY 2019 ALONG WITH THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER BASIL DUO, BLACKMAN [INAUDIBLE], THE BUDGET WE INHERITED WAS $3.6 BILLION.
NOW IT IS FOUR YEARS LATER AND WE'RE PRESENTED WITH A PROPOSED BUDGET OF $4.6 BILLION.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $1 BILLION INCREASE IN THE BUDGET IN FOUR YEARS.
TO OUR DALLAS RESIDENCE AND OUR BUSINESSES, I WANT TO SAY THANKS A BILLION.
THANK YOU. BUT HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH.
THIS EVER-INCREASING, UNSUSTAINABLE BUDGET IS GROWING AT A RATE THAT FAR EXCEEDS THE GROWTH OF OUR POPULATION OR THE RATE OF INFLATION.
OUR CURRENT $4.5 BILLION BUDGET IS THE LARGEST IN OUR HISTORY, AND THE CITY MANAGERS PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR IS EVEN LARGER.
DALLAS DOES HAVE AN ENDLESS NEED OF SERVICES, OF INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES, ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT RESIDENTS NEED AND WANT.
BUT THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES ARE LIMITED IN HOW MUCH THEY CAN PAY AS A REASONABLE PORTION OF THEIR INCOME OR THAT THEY WILL PAY, GIVEN DALLAS' PROXIMITY TO CITIES WITH SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER TAX RATES.
THE DECISION ELECTED OFFICIALS MAKE ABOUT TAXATION VERY IMPORTANT AND WE MUST BE MINDFUL OF HOW TAXPAYER FUNDS ARE USED.
IN SHORT, WE MUST CONTROL OUR SPENDING.
THAT BEGINS WITH A BUDGET THAT HOLDS THE LINE ON SPENDING AND OUR GOAL AND OUR FISCAL FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT.
WE HAVE THE HIGHEST TAX RATE IN THE REGION, LET'S WORK TO ATTRACT MORE RESIDENTS AND MORE BUSINESSES BY HOLDING THE LINE ON SPENDING THIS YEAR AND INVEST IN EFFICIENCY AUDIT THAT WILL PROVIDE LASTING SAVINGS WITHOUT CUTTING SERVICES.
I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND A TAX CEILING OF 0.683821.
>> JOHNS, DO YOUR RIGHT THAT'S FOR FIVE MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN AN INTERESTING WEEK, LET'S SAY THAT.
LOTS OF CONVERSATION, LOTS OF THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.
BUT LAST NIGHT, I HAD A CLARIFYING EXPERIENCE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I WAS INVITED TO A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN TO THESE, YOU GO TO SOMEONE'S HOME YOU'VE NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE, YOU MEET PEOPLE YOU HAVEN'T MET BEFORE, BUT YOU COME INTO THEIR SPACE.
WE PULL UP KITCHEN CHAIRS AND WE SIT IN THE DEN.
I TELL THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME AND WHAT MY GOALS ARE FOR THE DISTRICT.
THEN WE OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS AND THEY POUR OUT THEIR HEARTS.
I LISTENED TO THINGS THAT TUG AT MY HEART.
I WON'T TAKE YOU THROUGH ALL OF IT, THAT'S NOT NECESSARY THIS MORNING, BUT DRIVING HOME, I STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION OF FOURTH IN DAHLIA ON MY WAY HOME AND THAT'S MY SPACE.
THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO SEE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT.
IT DAWNS ON ME THAT THE PEOPLE I'VE SPENT THE EVENING WITH AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AT THIS INTERSECTION ARE ALL GOING TO PAY MORE NEXT YEAR IF WE DON'T DO NEW TAX REVENUE OR IF WE STICK WITH THIS CITY MANAGERS' RECOMMENDATION, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.
THE HOMEOWNERS ARE GOING TO PAY MORE AND THE RENTERS WILL PAY MORE BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW
[01:00:02]
THAT LANDLORDS AREN'T GOING TO JUST PAY THOSE INCREASED TAXES ON THEIR PROPERTY VALUE.IT WILL GET PASSED ON TO RENTERS.
ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT, ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICTS, ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THIS INCREASE.
THIS IS INCREASE HAS GONE ON FOR YEARS.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME, IT'S NOT THE SECOND TIME, IT'S WHAT THE LAST 5, 6, 7, 8 YEARS, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE REDUCED THE RATE, THEIR TAX BILL GOES UP.
THAT'S THE REALITY THAT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
WE NEED TO FACE THAT REALITY AND I AM READY TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT SOLUTION IS.
IT IMPACTS OUR CITY, IT IMPACTS OUR RESIDENTS, IT IMPACTS THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
ALL OF US HAVE SIGNED UP TO DO THIS, TO SERVE OUR DISTRICT, TO SERVE OUR PEOPLE.
THEY ARE WAITING FOR US TO DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL.
I CHALLENGE ALL OF US TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL DECISION TODAY, A DECISION THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR TAX BILL, NOT THEIR TAX RATE. THANK YOU.
>> MS. WILLIS, RECOGNIZE HER FIVE-MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, I MOVE TO AMEND THE MOTION TO CONSIDER A PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.7358 PER $100 VALUATION.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
I WANTED TO CONFIRM AN ORDER AN AMENDMENT TO MOVE THE RATE FROM PROPOSED TO WHAT NUMBER? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR.
>> MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION THAT'S BEEN SECONDED, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION.
MS. WILLIS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR 5 MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT.
WE MUST LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY WHO ARE CRYING OUT FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND THE FACE OF RISING PROPERTY VALUES.
WHILE THE CITY MANAGERS PROPOSED BUDGET LOWERS LAST YEAR'S PROPERTY TAX RATE, WE MUST SIGNAL TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE HEAR THEM AND THAT WE BELIEVE THE RATE SHOULD BE LOWER.
THIS MOTION HAS TWO OBJECTIVES TO ASSURE OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE WILL TAKE THE STEP TODAY TO LOWER THE TAX CEILING AND IN THE COMING DAYS, WORK VIGILANT TOGETHER TO CONTINUE THE DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY OF THEIR PROPERTY TAX RATE BY AT LEAST REDUCING IT BY THIS PENNY AND BEYOND.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK MY COLLEAGUE HAS PUT INTO EVALUATING THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE SUGGESTIONS MADE.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SPECULATING ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS BY ELIMINATING VACANT POSITIONS AND REDUCING NON-PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT BUDGETS BY 5%.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MORE TARGETED APPROACH SO WE DIFFER ON THAT.
SO WE DON'T HAVE REDUCTIONS IN OVERALL SERVICE TO RESIDENTS AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
I DON'T HEAR FROM ANYONE THAT THEY WANT MORE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
CITIZENS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO US WHAT THEY WANT.
WE HAD A SURVEY IN JUNE, THE CITIZENS SATISFACTION SURVEY THAT INDICATES THAT ALL DISTRICTS ARE DEMANDING BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND POLICE SERVICES.
BROAD CUTS WOULD AFFECT THESE FUNDAMENTAL SERVICES EVEN MORE.
I UNDERSTAND THE CFO WILL SHARE DEPTH AROUND THE LENGTH OF VACANCY IN A ROLE AND HOW IT'S ACCOUNTED FOR IN THIS BUDGET.
WE MUST GIVE GREAT CARE TO HOW WE ADJUST THESE ROLES AS MANY, PERHAPS THE MOST ARE WITH DPD IN A HARD TO FILL COMPETITIVE MARKET.
AN EFFICIENCY STUDY ON DEPARTMENTS THAT COMPRISE THE LARGEST PART OF OUR BUDGET MIGHT MAKE SENSE.
IT HAS A BIG PRICE TAG, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS SOME DUPLICATIVE EFFORTS AND COULD STAND TO STREAMLINE IN AREAS.
THIS CAN BOOST EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION AND DELIVER BETTER SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
WHAT HAVE WE ALREADY SHOWN AND REVEALED THAT COULD MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT THAT WE HAVEN'T ENACTED YET? LET'S LOOK AT THAT.
THE BUDGET IDENTIFIES A LOOMING STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT.
WHY DON'T WE ASK OUR CITY MANAGER TO RECOMMEND STRUCTURAL CHANGE SO THAT THIS ORGANIZATION CAN CORRECT ITSELF IN AREAS WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO.
DALLAS HAS A NUMBER OF LARGE FUNCTIONS THAT COULD BE OUTSOURCED.
OUTSOURCING CAN CREATE A TARGETED APPROACH TO ADDRESS REDUCING COST OR EVEN STABILIZING COST.
IN THE NAME OF EFFICIENCY AND COST SAVINGS, I THINK THIS HAS TO BE CONSIDERED.
MOST OF THE CITIES COST IS IN PERSONNEL AND THAT'S LOGICAL WE ARE CUSTOMER SERVICE ORGANIZATION, THE ONLY WAY TO FIX A LONG-TERM STRUCTURAL PROBLEM IS TO ADDRESS THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF OUR PERSONNEL.
WE'RE LIVING IN A TIME OF INCREASED COST.
FOR POLICE CARS, FIRE TRUCKS, AND PARK AND MAINTENANCE VEHICLES WHEN IT COMES TO FUEL, INCREASED MATERIALS COSTS FOR REPAIRING THAT BROKEN AIR CONDITIONER AT A LIBRARY OR THE ASPHALT TO FILL THAT POTHOLE AND A LABOR MARKET THAT IS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE IN LOW WAGE AND HIGH WAGE POSITIONS.
[01:05:03]
THE CITY OF DALLAS NEEDS TO HAVE A QUALIFIED STAFFER AT THE END OF THAT PHONE CALL WHEN IT'S RESIDENT MAKES THAT CALL TO 311 OR 911 FOR ASSISTANCE.WE CAN BE MORE CONSERVATIVE, BUT HOLDING FLAT IS NOT THE ANSWER IN THE FACE OF THESE RISING MARKET COST, IT WILL AFFECT THE SERVICE WE GIVE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
FINALLY, WE MUST BE SURE WE'RE SUPPORTING INITIATIVES THAT GENERATE REVENUE.
WHETHER IT'S DIVESTING CITY PROPERTY, MAXIMIZING FEES WHERE APPROPRIATE, SELLING SPONSORSHIPS FOR ATHLETIC FIELDS OR PROGRAMS, AND KEEPING OUR PERMITTING ON TRACK SO THAT THOSE WHO ARE BUILDING OUR CITY CAN DO SO TO HELP US GROW OUR TAX BASE.
COLLEAGUES, I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF A FURTHER TAX REDUCTION TODAY BY LET'S LOCK IN THIS LOWER TAX CEILING, IT'S SOMETHING I KNOW THAT WE BELIEVE IN AND LET'S SEND A SIGNAL TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE BELIEVE IN SERVICE WITH EFFICIENCY TO OUR RESIDENTS TODAY AND KEEP WORKING VIGILANTLY WITH A CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF OUR EXPENSES AND REVENUE GENERATION IN THE COMING DAYS TOGETHER SO WE CAN PUSH THIS TAX RATE DOWN FARTHER. THANK YOU.
>> JORMAN SHORTS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR 5 MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, JACK AND TEAM, WILL THIS CEILING, HOWEVER WE VOTE, WILL THIS IMPACT THE UPCOMING BUDGET THAT WE WILL BE VOTING?
>> YES, MA'AM. THE TAX RATE THAT YOU SET TODAY AS YOUR CEILING GIVES YOU THAT FLEXIBILITY OR THOSE BOUNDARIES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WORK WITHIN OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THAT WILL LIMIT WHAT YOUR REVENUE POTENTIAL IS.
>> HAS THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS THAT IS STILL ONGOING, HAVE THEY SEEN ANY IMPACT FROM ANY OTHER CEILING THAN THE ONE THAT WAS CURRENTLY PROPOSED?
>> WE RELEASED A NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATES SCENARIO THAT IDENTIFIED $123 MILLION OF REDUCTIONS THAT WOULD GO ALONG WITH THAT REVENUE.
IT WAS RELEASED AS A MEMO ON AUGUST THE EIGHTH.
BUT AS FAR AS IT BEING PART OF ANY OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKING OR ANYTHING, IT HAS NOT BEEN.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE OR ANY OTHER CEILING, I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER, BUT IS IT POSSIBLE THAT PROPERTY TAXES COULD STILL GO UP?
>> YES. EVERYONE'S PROPERTY TAX IS GOING TO BE BASED UPON THEIR INDIVIDUAL VALUE.
WHILE CITYWIDE WE GREW 10%, THAT'S NOT WHAT EVERYONE'S INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY GREW.
THERE POTENTIALLY COULD BE PROPERTIES THAT LOST VALUE, IT'S UP TO EVERYONE'S INDIVIDUAL SITUATION OR PERHAPS THEY GOT OVER 65 EXEMPTION THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE AND THAT WOULD IMPACT THEIR PERSONAL TAX BILL.
>> SO THE NO NEW REVENUE DOES IT OR DOESN'T NECESSARILY IMPACT PEOPLE'S PROPERTY TAXES?
>> IT DOES IMPACT THE PROPERTY TAX BILL, BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU JUST ONE NUMBER THAT'S EVERYBODY.
>> GOT IT. THEN FINALLY, COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN FOR THE PUBLIC THAT THE WHOLE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT LANGUAGE AND HOW WE START WITH A NUMBER AND THEN IT GETS CORRECTED OVER THE YEARS.
THE IMPACT OF THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET THAT THE CITY MANAGER INTRODUCED AND WHY THAT'S REVOLUTIONARY, WHEREAS BEFORE IT WASN'T?
>> YES, MA'AM. PRIOR TO 2017, WE DID AN ANNUAL BUDGET ONE YEAR AT A TIME.
MR. BROAD NEXT INTRODUCED A BIENNIAL BUDGET THAT REQUIRED THAT WE PLAN THE SECOND YEAR SO THAT WE WOULDN'T KNOW DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO ADOPT, THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHETHER IT IS SUSTAINABLE IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR OR NOT.
THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET HAS ENABLED US TO DO THAT.
IT'S BEEN AN EXCELLENT TOOL THAT HAS HELPED US KEEP AN EYE AS WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS ON THAT SECOND YEAR.
THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST IS ANOTHER TOOL THAT WE HAVE.
BEYOND THE TWO YEARS OF THE BIENNIAL, WE PROJECT OUT THREE ADDITIONAL YEARS, THE FURTHER OUT YOU PROJECT, THE HARDER IT GETS, WE MAKE SOME VERY CONSERVATIVE ASSUMPTIONS ON REVENUE.
WE BUILD IN SOME FACTORS RELATED TO GROWTH AND EXPENSES BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THOSE YEARS, WE WILL ADDRESS ANY STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THAT EXIST WITHIN THAT YEAR, 3,4 AND 5.
WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE OUT OF BALANCE, BUT WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE COME TO YOU AND RECOMMEND A BUDGET, THAT WE WILL RECOMMEND A BALANCED BUDGET, WE WILL MAKE THE DECISIONS, THE MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION WILL INCLUDE A BALANCED BUDGET.
>> COULD YOU ALSO ADDRESS PLEASE, WHAT THAT ALSO INCLUDES IN TERMS OF OUR RESERVES AND THAT CLIFF THAT PEOPLE KEEP REFERENCING.
>> THE WAY WE FORMATTED THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST IN OUR BUDGET DOCUMENT JUST SHOW BALANCING WE'VE SPENT DOWN,
[01:10:06]
IF YOU WILL, RESERVES.IT IS NEVER OUR INTENT TO SPIN DOWN RESERVES THE WAY THAT IT IS LAID OUT IN THAT FORMAT.
BUT WE JUST SHOWED YOU, IF NOTHING CHANGES, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
IT HAS NEVER OUR INTENT TO COME TO YOU AND RECOMMEND A BUDGET THAT RESULTS IN US SPENDING DOWN RESERVES AS LAID OUT IN THAT FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.
WE HAVE A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA THAT REQUIRES THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR RESERVES BETWEEN 50 DAYS AND 70 DAYS.
IN THAT FORECAST, WE DROP BELOW THE 50 DAYS. THAT'S NOT OUR INTENT.
THEN MY FINAL QUESTION AND YOU MAY NEED TO COME BACK I'M NOT SURE, BUT COULD YOU SHARE WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE BILLION DOLLARS THAT HAVE INCREASED SINCE 2019 IS TAXABLE?
>> IT'S EXACTLY [INAUDIBLE] ANSWER [LAUGHTER].
>> JEANNETTE, WE DIDN'T DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT THE $4.63 BILLION AND THAT INCLUDES ALL FUNDS, NOT JUST THE GENERAL FUNDS, NOT ALL OF THAT IS TAXABLE.
IT INCLUDES DALLAS, WATER, UTILITIES, SANITATION, AVIATION.
THOSE DEPARTMENTS HAVE GROWN OVER THE YEARS, PARTICULARLY AVIATION BECAUSE OF THE LIFTING OF THE RIGHT AMENDMENT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT ADDITIONAL 4.63 BILLION, AND WE CAN SHARE THAT DETAIL WITH YOU THIS COMING FRIDAY.
>> FOR THE PUBLIC, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
ONE IS OF THE 4.6 BILLION, WHAT PERCENT COMES FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAT PEOPLE PAY? WHAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT RATHER? IT'S IT 1.
>> 1.8 BILLION IS FROM THE PROPERTY TAXES AND THEN IT WAS [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WANT TO CORRECT THAT THAT IS THAT IS THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND IS MADE UP OF PROPERTY TAX, SALES TAX, NOT TRUSTEES AND OTHER.
>> GOT IT. WHAT OF THE 1.8 COMES FROM PROPERTY TAXES?
>> THEN IT WAS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY THAT SINCE 2019 THE BUDGET'S GONE UP $1 BILLION.
I'M WONDERING HOW MUCH OF THAT BILLION OR WHAT PERCENT OF THAT BILLION CAME FROM PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE THAT'S THE BIG DISCUSSION TODAY.
>> YES, MA'AM. I'M SORRY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT HERE, BUT WE CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THE PUBLIC.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, I ONLY HAD QUESTIONS.
>> CHAIRMAN BASIL, DO YOUR AMEND FOR FIVE-MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO AMEND THE MOTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.7393 PER $100 EVALUATION.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED AS NEEDED TO ALWAYS CONFIRM WITH THE CONTENT WE CAN HAVE WITH OUR LIMIT NOW.
THIS IS THE LAST ONE WE CAN HAVE PENDING ON THE FLOOR AND THEN WE HAVE A RULE ABOUT TWO AMENDMENTS, MAX.
WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT NOW BY MR. BASIL DOWER. IT WAS THE SAME EXCEPT FOR YOUR SUBSTITUTE IN THE RATE OF WHAT AGAIN,.
>> 0.7393 PER $100 EVALUATION.
>> EVERYBODY HEARD THAT IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION, MR. BASIL DOWER YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE-MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT? WE GOT TWO AMENDMENTS IN THE ORIGINAL MOTION ON THE FLOOR, FOLKS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD FIRST JUST LIKE TO THANK MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON FOR BRINGING UP WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION THAT SEEMS TO BE A WILL TO FOLLOW THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH OUR TAX RATE.
THAT TAX RATE NEEDS TO BE REFLECTANT OF THE SERVICES THAT WE, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS CHOOSE TO BE CUT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
I DO NOT AGREE WITH A THEORY TO DO THIS TODAY, WE ARE DOING AN EXERCISE THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR AND WE HAVE SOMEWHAT OF A CONVOLUTED CONVERSATIONS SIMILAR TO THIS EVERY SINGLE YEAR WHEN SETTING A CEILING IS JUST THAT.
IT IS A CEILING. WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET BY ANY MEANS WITH ANY AMENDMENTS.
WITH THAT SAID, WE ALWAYS CAN GO DOWN AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S AN APPETITE TO GO DOWN, BUT I KNOW THAT MY CONSTITUENTS ELECTED ME TO BE THE ONE IN POWER TO OVERSEE WHAT THOSE CUTS LOOK LIKE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IMPACT THAT'S GOING TO BE HARD IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS, NOT GOING TO DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT A COMMUNITY WHO QUITE FRANKLY HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERINVESTED IN FOR THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT PROCESS AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY AS A BODY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THOSE CUTS CAN BE THAT WE CAN LIVE WITH.
[01:15:05]
WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS SET AN ARBITRARY CEILING NUMBER THAT GIVES THE DISCRETION TO CITY STAFF TO THEN REPRESENT A BUDGET WITH CUTS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE OUR FINGERS ON.THAT'S WHAT THIS ELECTED BODY IS HERE TO DO.
IN FACT, I THINK IT'S THE BIGGEST TASK THAT WE HAVE AS THE ELECTED BODY OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL.
BY ADOPTING THE PROPOSED CEILING, WE ARE IN NO WAY PROHIBITED FROM LOWERING WHAT THAT TAX RATE WILL END UP BEING.
BUT WHAT WE GET TO DO JUST AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST AND WHAT WE'VE APPROVED AND SUPPORTED IN THE PAST IS AMENDMENTS THAT WILL GO TO THE TAX RATE THAT MAKES STRATEGIC AND SPECIFIC CUTS TO GET US TO WHATEVER THAT DESIRED GOAL IS.
THAT'S THE WAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS BODY PERFORM THIS EXERCISE AND UTILIZE THE PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE THAT IS TRANSPARENT.
I KNOW I HAVE COLLEAGUES THAT STILL HAVE TOWN HALLS WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED.
ARE WE JUST CHECKING A BOX WHEN WE GO AND SPEAK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT REALLY WILLING TO MAKE ALL OF THE HARD DECISIONS HERE WITHOUT THEIR INPUT.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE MESSAGE I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY SENDING THE PUBLIC BY MAKING A CEILING VOTE WITH AN ARBITRARY NUMBER.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE BEING ABLE TO BE TRANSPARENT TO THEM ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT BUDGET TO BE BALANCED, TO HIT THAT RATE, THE CUT IN THE SERVICES NEEDS TO COME FROM THE ROBUST INPUT THAT WE GET FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS.
I KNOW I'VE HEARD, JUST AS WE'VE HEARD FROM OTHER COLLEAGUES THAT WE WANT TO SEE AN INCREASE IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS.
WE WANT TO SEE AN INCREASE IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FROM OUR STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
MY CONSTITUENTS SPECIFICALLY HAVE ASKED US TO PUT MORE INTO OUR EFFORTS TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS.
I'VE HEARD A LOT FROM MY CONSTITUENTS ABOUT WANTING TO SEE US PUT MORE MONEY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES FOR OUR FOOD INSECURITY ISSUES.
I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE LIGHTING AND THE BLIGHT THAT WE HAVE SAID WE WERE COMMITTED TO THROUGH OUR RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.
ALL OF THESE THINGS, NONE OF THEM INCLUDED MAKING CUTS, ESPECIALLY TO WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE VITAL SERVICES FOR THE CONSTITUENTS THAT I SERVE.
THAT'S A PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT I THINK SHOULD WEIGH IN HEAVILY TO THE PROCESS THAT IS PRESENTED TO US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THE PRESENTED BUDGET, [NOISE] HAVE A CONSENSUS AROUND THIS BODY TO SUPPORT SUCH CUTS THAT CAN GO TOWARDS THE TAX RATE.
THE END RESULT CAN BE PROVIDING SOME RELIEF TO OUR RESIDENTS WITH A VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS AND IN THE END RESULT CAN MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY.
I DO NOT BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE IF WE DO THIS WITH THE NOTION THAT THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE RE-PRESENTED TO US AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE IN AGREEMENT WITH WHAT CUTS WERE MADE IN ORDER TO GET THERE.
I THINK THIS IS A CALL FOR US TO REALLY WORK TOGETHER AS A BODY OVER THE NEXT MONTH AND A HALF AND GET THIS DONE TO PLEASE ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS TO SEE WHAT CUTS CANNOT MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT TO THOSE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SERVE BEST.
I HOPE I CAN GET YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROPOSED TAX RATE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
>> WANT TO MAKE SURE MADAM [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL, MAKE SURE WE GOT THE KEY RIGHT.
WE'RE ON MR. BASIL DOWER'S AMENDMENT NOW.
IS JAYNIE SCHULTZ NEXT IN THE QUEUE? DID YOU SEE.
>> JAYNIE SCHULTZ, WHO RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES THIS TIME ON MR. BASIL DOWER IS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT MR. BASIL DOWER I MENTIONED? IN ADDITION, LOOK, EVERYONE WANTS A LOWER TAX RATE.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THIS BODY IS GOING TO APPROVE THAT THE AMOUNT THAT THAT IS IS WHAT HAS YET TO BE DEBATED AND STILL SHOULD BE DEBATED BECAUSE IF WE ARE AUTHENTIC AND OUR DESIRE TO HEAR PUBLIC INPUT, THEN WE SHOULDN'T CLOSE THAT OFF YET.
THAT IS, I THINK IT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL IN FACT, TO CLOSE THAT OFF BEFORE THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO FULLY COMPLETELY WEIGH IN ON THAT.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSED CUTS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A FURTHER REDUCTION, WHICH I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT IF THOSE CUTS DON'T DO DAMAGE TO THE DESIRES OF MY DISTRICTS.
AT THIS POINT WE CAN ALWAYS LOWER IT FURTHER BUT IF WE LOCK OURSELVES IN NOW WE HAVE CUTOFF PUBLIC VOICE ON THIS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE PROMISED THEM. THANK YOU.
[01:20:05]
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE-MINUTES ON MR. BASIL DOWER'S IS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY INTERESTING JOURNEY TO THIS POINT, IS COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE] ALLUDED TO WE TEND TO GO THROUGH THIS EVERY YEAR.
I WAS INTERESTED IN THE CONVERSATIONS.
I BELIEVE I CAN LISTEN TO SUPPORT HIS RESOLUTION TO THIS CONVERSATION, BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN, BUT I BELIEVE I FEEL BETTER WITH HIS COMMENTS AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN SCHULTZ.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, SINCE I KNOW WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF EMAILS AND TAGS TO US ON INFORMATION THAT IN MY POSITION OF WHERE I REPRESENT IS A LITTLE BIT MISLEADING.
I HEARD THE COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT SOME OF US VOTED OR CAMPAIGNED ON.
I DON'T WANT TO BE CLEAR BEFORE I ASK THE QUESTIONS TO YOU, I HAD TO GO BACK AND LOOK AND CHECK TO SEE WHAT I CAN CAMPAGN ON.
ONE THING I KNOW I CAMPAIGNED ON WAS A REPRESENTATION OF MY DISTRICT THEN THE INTERESTS ALSO OF THIS CITY.
COMMITTED TO EQUITY, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, STRONG PUBLIC SAFETY, ACCESS TO HOUSING, IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND BETTER CODE ENFORCEMENT.
I HAD TO GO BACK AND CHECK SO I KNOW WHAT I DID.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ALL CAME TO DEAL WHAT YOU NEED, BUT I KNOW WHAT I COMMITTED TO.
NOW TODAY WE'VE GOT TO GET A RATE AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS THAT WILL SPEAK TO AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO SPEAK TO.
A TAX RATE THAT WILL SERVE ALL OF DALLAS, BUT ALSO SUPPORT THE COMMITMENT THAT I BELIEVE MOST OF US MADE, AT LEAST 13 OF US MADE A COMMITMENT TO SERVE THE EQUITY PRINCIPLE THAT THIS CITY MANAGER BROUGHT FOR EQUITY AMONG EMPATHY, ETHICS, EXCELLENCE, AND ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DOING THAT EVEN WITH THE TOWN HALLS.
WE COMMITTED TO SERVE THE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
THIS TAX RATE NEEDS TO SPEAK TO THAT.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO SET US UP FOR THE ROPE, A DOPE.
WE KNOW NOW IF YOU LOWER, TOO LOW.
I THINK I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE.
WHEN YOU CUT, WE BLEED IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
WHEN YOU CUT, WE DIE IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR WHEN YOU CUT, WE DIE IN THE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
I'M NOT READY FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS TO BE BURIED DOWN WITH GOLDEN GATE OR ANY OTHER BURIAL INSTITUTION.
WHEN WE GO LOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO HIGHER DOWN THE ROAD.
WE MUST NOT HAVE THAT TEMPORARILY COMMITMENT WHEN WE KNOW WE ARE ALL TERMED HERE.
THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE ARE BASED ON THE TERMS THAT WE SERVE.
WE'VE GOT TO SET UP A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS GENERATIONS TO COME.
IF WE LOSE HERE NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DOUBLE UP DOWN THE ROAD.
MOST OF YOU HAVE DEALT WITH MONEY AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS.
WE'VE GOT AN INFUSION OF CASH FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CITY MANAGERS ALREADY TOLD US THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE WITH US ALONG.
LET'S CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON EQUITY COMMITMENT TO BRING IN ALL FOLKS UP TO THE LEVEL WHERE WE SHOULD BE.
NOW LET ME STOP IN JUST A MOMENT.
MR. IRELAND, IF YOU COULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
WITH THE LOWERING OF THE CITY TAX RATE, DALLAS ALONE, DOES THAT PRECLUDE US FROM STILL HAVING HIGH TAXES BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THREE OR FOUR OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT ALSO WEIGH IN ON THIS.
PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> THE CITY'S TAX RATE IS ABOUT 28%, I BELIEVE, OF THE TOTAL TAX RATE FOR THE CITY, AND THE REST OF THE TAX RATE IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO COUNTY, THE COLLEGE DISTRICT, AND PARKLAND HOSPITAL, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE ABOUT 27, 28%.
OTHER PARTS OF YOUR TAX BILL, THE OTHER 72% OF YOUR TAX BILL IS NOT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
>> IS IT A POSSIBILITY THAT WE MIGHT IF IN THE PERFECT STATE OF CONDITIONS THAT IF ALL JURISDICTIONS REDUCE TAXES ON A LETTER LEVEL WHERE WE COULD ALL BE COMFORTABLE WITH AND STILL, I GUESS DELIVER SERVICES, WOULD THAT GIVE US POSSIBLY MORE RELIEF? THIS IS IN YOUR OPINION, IS AS AN EXPERT IN FINANCE?
>> YES, MA'AM. IF EACH TAXING ENTITY LOWERS THEIR TAX RATE, IT'S A BENEFIT? YES, MA'AM.
[01:25:03]
>> GOOD POINT, THE MAYOR MADE ABOUT AN AVERAGE.
ON AN AVERAGE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE IN TERMS OF TAX BILL ON AN AVERAGE? IF YOU COULD DO THAT.
>> THE TAX BILL FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A $334,000 HOME, WHICH IS THE MEDIAN VALUE AND THE CITY.
MAYOR, ARE YOU OKAY WITH ME GOING THROUGH THEM ALL RIGHT NOW?
>> I'LL JUST SAY WITH THE MICROPHONE ON.
>> WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION TO LOWER THE TAX RATE BY 0.65, WHICH IS ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA'S AMENDMENT.
IT LOWERS YOUR TAX BILL BASED ON THE TAX RATE BY $17.40 WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS'S AMENDMENT, IT'S $26.78 OF SAVINGS.
WITH THE MOTION BY MRS. MENDELSOHN, IT'S A SAVINGS OF $166.02.
THAT'S ASSUMING THE MEDIAN VALUE WITH A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH THE THREE FOR THE OVER 65?
>> I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THE SAME. I'LL JUST TELL YOU THIS.
IT'S NOT COUNT AGAINST YOUR TIME, HE CAN EITHER ANSWER IT NOW FOR YOU OR YOU CAN ANSWER IT FOR ME LATER, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THEM THE EXACT SAME QUESTIONS SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO ANSWER IT NOW, BUT IT'S YOUR CHOICE AS LONG AS IT WILL BE.
>> SO FAR RESIDENTS THAT HAVE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND THE OVER 65 EXEMPTION, THE CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBER BASIL DO, IS $186.59 SAVINGS, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS IS $191.08 OF SAVINGS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN'S MOTION, $257.93.
THOSE WERE NOT INCREMENTAL, THOSE WERE STANDALONE.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WHAT I WANT TO GET TO IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, BECAUSE ON AN AVERAGE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, ON AN AVERAGE WE ARE PROBABLY 250 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT 65 AND I THINK WE PROBABLY HAVE TIME A LITTLE BIT LATER TO DO THIS.
I THINK THE PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR TOTALLY.
IF I PAID LAST YEAR, $1,200 FOR MY TAX BILL, WHAT WILL I PAY NEXT TAX SEASON? I MEAN NEXT SEASON.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW, AND THEY NEED TO KNOW ALSO HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO END UP LOSING IN THE VALUE OF SERVICE DELIVERY.
WHAT CAN BE CUT POSSIBLY, THAT WILL DRASTICALLY IMPACT THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
I THINK MOST OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED ARE THOSE THINGS.
AS WE LISTEN ON AND THEN I WILL CHIME IN, BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M FEELING COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA'S PROPOSAL BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT SPEAKS TO EQUITY. THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE TWO MORE ROUNDS IF YOU NEED THEM, BUT THAT'S YOUR TIME FOR THIS ROUND.
>> MR. RESENDEZ, AS REGULATION FIVE-MINUTES ON, MR. BAZALDUA'S MOTION TRACKING WHERE EVERYBODY IS SITTING STILL. SORRY.
I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THIS MOTION. THANK YOU, MR. BAZALDUA.
FOR THE REASONS MR. BAZALDUA MENTIONED MS. KING, ARNAUD MENTIONED, MS. SCHULTZ.
I'M ALL FOR LISTENING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
SOME OF US HAVEN'T HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY YET IN TERMS OF OUR TOWN HALLS.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE MAKE THIS DECISION.
IT IS TRUE THAT SINCE 2019 WHEN I WAS ELECTED ALONG WITH MS. MENDELSOHN, AND OTHERS ON THIS BODY.
THE BUDGET HAS INCREASED, BUT GUESS WHAT? WE'VE ALSO MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS ON A LOT OF OUR PRIORITIES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO TOUT THE FACT THAT WE WANTED THE SAFEST CITIES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
IT TAKES INVESTMENT, AND UNTIL WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE SOUTHERN DALLAS IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE TAX BASE AS MUCH AS NORTHERN DALLAS IS.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE WAY WE WERE MAKING CUTS.
TO PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, I THINK IS OBVIOUSLY PRETTY MATURE AND THAT'S REDUNDANT.
BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION FOR THE REASONS THAT I JUST STATED. THANK YOU.
>> SURE. WOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MR. BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU. JACK, CAN YOU SIMPLY VERIFY IF WE WENT WITH THE TAX RATE THAT COUNCIL BAZALDUA IS PROPOSING, WOULD THE TYPICAL TAXPAYER RECEIVED AN INCREASE FROM OUR CURRENT YEAR TO, THIS PROPOSED RATE?
>>. IT DEPENDS ON THE VALUE OF THE HOME.
[01:30:03]
>> IF YOU USE THE SAME VALUE AND APPLY THE TAX RATE CHANGE, IT'S A SAVINGS OF $70.40.
>> NOT USING THE SAME VALUE BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A 10.5% INCREASE IN VALUE.
>> THAT'S THE AVERAGE CITYWIDE.
THE INCREASE IN THE MEDIAN HOME VALUE INCREASED BY 4.3%.
IF YOU WERE A MEDIAN VALUE AT HOME LAST YEAR AND YOU'RE STILL A MEDIAN VALUED HOME UNDER THE PROPOSAL, IT IS AN INCREASE.
ONCE YOU FACTOR IN THE INCREASE IN VALUE OF 4.3%, THE REDUCTION OF THE TAX RATE, IT'S ABOUT $65 OF AN INCREASE.
>> THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS ALSO ACTUALLY A SMALL INCREASE.
IT'S FLAT, PLUS THE FIVE MILLION.
THAT'S WHAT NO NEW REVENUE PLUS THE FIVE MILLION IS.
>> WHAT THAT VALUE CHANGE? I'M SORRY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. CAN YOU RE SAY?
>> I'M GOING TO WITHDRAW THAT QUESTION. THAT'S FINE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ WAS ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT THE 50 DAY RESERVE, THE FNPC THAT WE HAVE.
IF YOU WERE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IN THAT FIVE-YEAR FORECAST, WHICH JUST TWO YEARS FROM NOW YOU DO NOT MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS.
HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT DOING THAT?
>> IT WOULD BE A PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER, REVIEWING MULTIPLE OPTIONS OF HOW WE WOULD ADDRESS THAT, WHETHER THAT'S A REDUCTION OF SERVICES.
THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO EACH YEAR.
EVERY YEAR, WE RE-EVALUATE OUR REVENUES AND WE RE-EVALUATE OUR EXPENSES, AND WE LOOK AT OPTIONS TO BRING US INTO BALANCE.
>> AS I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST OVER MANY YEARS, WHAT ACTUALLY SEEM TO HAPPEN IS YOU ONLY HAD TWO CHOICES, AND IT WAS EITHER TO CUT SERVICES OR TO INCREASE TAXES.
ACTUALLY EVERY SINGLE TIME IT WAS INCREASE TAXES.
WE'RE ACTUALLY WAY AHEAD OF OUR PROPOSED TAXES.
IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AND SAY, WELL, WHERE SHOULD WE BE IN FIVE YEARS, WE'RE WAY ABOVE THAT.
>> I HAVE NOT LOOKED BACK LIKE THAT MRS. MENDELSOHN.
YOU ALSO ANSWERED A QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ ABOUT THE REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVE FROM PROPERTY TAXES, AND YOU'RE VERY FOCUSED ON THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS OF COURSE THE MOST INTEREST TO US.
BUT YOU FORGOT ABOUT DEBT SERVICE THAT WASN'T ACTUALLY MENTIONED.
>> NINETY-FIVE PERCENT OR MORE OF PROPERTY TAX.
>> WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE IT AS APPROXIMATELY 400 MILLION OR MORE?
>> A LOT OF TIMES WE SAY AT THE PRESENTATIONS, IN FACT, THERE'S A CHART THAT SAYS, WOW, LOOK AT OUR GENERAL FUND.
IT'S ALL OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES PLUS SUM OF SALES TAX FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
BUT NOBODY REALLY TALKS ABOUT THE FACT THAT OVER 400 MILLION OF THAT FIRST WENT TO DEBT SERVICE AND THEN IT'S THE REST OF THE PROPERTY TAX.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT DISINGENUOUS HOW THAT IS SOMETIMES SHOWN.
TRYING TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE A OVER-INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE IS TRUE.
ALL THAT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENTS, I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, EVERY AMENDMENT THAT IS ABOVE THE RATE THAT I PROPOSED ON THE MAIN MOTION IS A TAX INCREASE AND I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THAT. THANK YOU.
>> BUT THEN WE PROBABLY GOT OUR TECHNICAL ISSUES ADDRESSED, MR. ATKINS, SO GAY DONELL CAN JOIN US FOR FIVE-MINUTES ON MR. BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN COUNCILMAN SHULTZMAN AND [INAUDIBLE] QUESTION NUMBER 1.
JACK [NOISE], WHEN WE LOOK AT THE THREE DIFFERENT MOTION ON THE FLOOR NOW, HAVE YOU EVER DID A CALCULATION OF PROFIT VALUE NORTH OF 30 AND SOUTH OF 30 WITH THE SAME CALCULATION OF THE RESIDENT OR PROPERTY OWNERS?
>> NO, SIR. WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT.
>> IF I'VE JUST PUT A SCENARIO IN PLACE THAT SAID THAT NORTH OF 30, THE PROFIT VALUE PROPERTY TAX IS PROBABLY SAY 80% SOUTH, MAYBE 20% IS THAT EQUAL WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS BUDGET ASSURANCE EFFICIENCY?
[01:35:02]
IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SAVING A PROPER OWNER.IF I HAVE THE AVERAGE HOUSES IS $300,000, HOW MANY HOUSES SOUTH OF 30 300,000 NORTH FOR 300,000.
>> NOW, WE'VE NOT LOOKED AT THE SPREAD OF THE PROPERTIES BY VALUE LIKE THAT.
BUT YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S MORE VALUE IN THE NORTH THAN THERE IS IN THE SOUTH.
WE'VE SHARED THAT IN THE PAST, BUT NO, WE'VE NOT LOOKED AT INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS RELATED TO PROPERTY VALUES.
PROPERTIES BECAUSE OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND THE OVER 65 EXEMPTIONS SO A SENIOR THAT HAS A VALUE OF $174,250, BECAUSE OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IN THE OVER 65 WOULD NOT PAY CITY TAXES.
IF IT'S LOWER VALUED, THEN THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY MAY NOT PAY CITY TAXES.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT AND I'M TRYING TO STAY ON COURSE, MERIK.
THAT THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SET A CAP ON THE BUDGET, I HAVE NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO MY BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETING TO EXPLAIN TO MY RESIDENT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
ALL MY TOWN HALL MEETINGS IS OVERWEIGHT.
I WISH I HAD THIS EARLY TO GO BACK TO MY RESIDENT.
I NEED TIME TO GO BACK TO MY RESIDENTS TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
AND DIANA CALLED AND EMAILED AND SAID, PLEASE LISTEN TODAY AND GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK. WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT? TO ME, IT'S NOT ME AS A GOOD PUBLIC SERVICE, NOT TO GO BACK TO THE RESIDENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I WORKED FOR THE RESIDENT, THE CITIZEN IN DISARRAY.
WHEN I SEE THIS, WE GO BACK AND WE SAID THE RATE IS 0.68 WHATEVER, I GOT TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LOSE? WHAT ARE THE RESIDENT IS GOING TO LOSE? I GOT TO HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING.
ARE WE GOING TO LOSE THE SANITATION BECAUSE WE DECIDED THAT WE GOT TO PICK UP TRASH.
WE GOT TO DO THAT. WE'LL LOSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE GOT TO HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY, WE GOT TO DO THAT.
THOSE ARE SOMETHING THAT WE GOT TO TO PERFORM, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF WHAT COST WOULD BE CUT.
AS WE'LL SEE THE MANAGER, WE GOT TO PROCESS.
WE COULD DO AMENDMENTS OR WHATEVER, BUT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AMENDMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CUT THE TAX RATE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE CAN CUT THE TAX RATE. THAT'S MY THING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIVE DOWN INTO THOSE NUMBERS, TO SAY, WHAT IS THE MAGIC NUMBER NOT TO GIVE UP SERVICE.
TO LOOK AT 0.5123 MILLION, AND WE SAID THAT HERE IS THE CEILING WE CANNOT GO BACK UP.
WE GOT TO GO LOW. WE CANNOT GO UP.
THAT IS MY PAUSING DATA THAT I CAN'T GO UP.
I DO LACK COUNCILWOMAN WILLIS THE MOTION I LIKE [INAUDIBLE] DO A MOTION.
IT GIVES US A TARGET THAT WE CAN'T COME DOWN.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE CAN COME DOWN.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT AMENDMENTS THAT WE ASKED THE POLICYMAKER SAID, WHAT I'M WILLING TO GIVE UP.
I KNOW PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER 1.
BUT LOOKING AT THE RED RATE AND LOOKING AT THE MILL MOLES, I SEE THAT PUBLIC SAVINGS SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHED.
NOW, IS THAT FAR YOUR TRASH AND I GET PICKUP, A PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED TO TOUCH.
WITH THAT JACK, COULD YOU TELL ME IF YOU IN IDEAL SITUATION, WHAT IS THE NECESSARY SERVICE THAT WE GOT TO DO? WHAT'S THERE DO WE HAVE TO PERFORM?
>> POLICE, FIRE, SANITATION, PUBLIC WORKS, MAINTENANCE OF THE STREETS.
THOSE ARE THE THE CORE CITY SERVICES.
>> THOSE THE OWNERS SAY WE HAVE TWO.
>> CAN YOU REPEAT THOSE PLEASE AGAIN SO EVERYBODY HEAR THAT.
>> POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS, STREETS, WATER, SANITATION, MAY BE CONSIDERED VERY CORE TYPICAL SERVICES THAT A CITY WOULD PROVIDE.
[01:40:03]
>> THAT'S MY DILEMMA. THOSE ARE SERVICES THAT WE GOT PROVIDE.
SO IF THOSE ARE SERVICE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THEN ALL THESE OTHER START TO GO AWAY.
I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ANYMORE.
THOSE BY DILEMMA AND SO I NEED TO GET BACK TO MY RESIDENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. MAYOR.
>> CHAIRMAN [INAUDIBLE], YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE-MINUTES ON MR. [INAUDIBLE] AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. JACK, THIS MIGHT BE A BIT OF AN UNFAIR QUESTION, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION OVER IT.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT SIGNED INTO LAW A REDUCTION FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
AS WE KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE CHART THAT'S IN ALL OF OUR BOOKS THAT'S ON THE WEBSITE, DOWNSIDES D IS ABOUT 47.5% OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN DALLAS ISDS, TAXES WHICH IS INSIDE OF THE CITY DALLAS.
WE DON'T UNFORTUNATELY ADD FOR THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
SOMETHING I'D LIKE FOR THE FUTURE IS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE STILL IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHAT PERCENTAGE THOSE ARE.
I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO BE VERY SIMILAR, BUT IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE THAT, DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT THAT ENDS UP BEING FOR THE, UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN JUST DO DALLAS ISD, RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
>> FOR THE OTHER TAXING ENTITIES, NO, SIR.
WE CAN PULL THAT FOR YOU, BUT I BELIEVE WE'RE IN 18 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTIES.
NO, WE TAKE THE TYPICAL DALLAS COUNTY, DALLAS ISD, BUT WE PULLED THAT INFORMATION AND CAN SHARE IT BY MEMO.
>> SURE. THE ONLY REASON I'M ASKING THAT IS WHY I SAID I KNEW IT WAS A BIT OF AN UNFAIR QUESTION FOR MAYORS.
THEY HAVE 18 DIFFERENT CHARTS IS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD.
I'M NOT REALLY EXPECTING THAT, BUT IS THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE IS ACCORDING TO THIS, AND THERE WILL BE A SAVINGS THERE.
NOW MY EXPERIENCE ON THIS COUNCIL, MR. MAYOR, BEFORE THE GOVERNOR SIGNED INTO LAW WHAT HE SIGNED IN WHICH I KNOW WE'VE SUPPORTED AS A CITY, IS THAT WHEN WE WOULD CUT OUR TAX RATE AND WE'D GIVE OUR SAVINGS TO OUR RESIDENTS.
THE ISD WOULD SCOOP IN, DALLAS COUNTY WOULD SCOOP IN, PARKLAND HOSPITAL WOULD SCOOP IN, DALLAS COLLEGE WOULD SCOOP IN.
BECAUSE THEY WOULD TAKE THAT SAVINGS THAT WE GAVE AND [NOISE] SUCK IT UP AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THE HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR, FROM MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN WE GET ALL THE BLAME, 100% OF THE BLAME FOR THE TAX BILL.
YET, ACCORDING TO THIS CHART, WE'RE 30% OF FOLKS TAX BILLS.
WHEN WE SHARE THIS AND THE CFO BEFORE YOU, MR. IRELAND, ELIZABETH RAGE, SHE WAS THE FIRST THAT I EVER SAW PUT THIS CHART INTO SOMETHING.
I'M NOT SAYING IT DIDN'T HAPPEN BEFORE.
JUST THINK FOR ME THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT AND LET ME TELL YOU.
ME AND MY STAFF USE THIS CHART CONSTANTLY IN ORDER TO SHOW TO RESIDENTS WHAT PERCENTAGE WE ARE.
THEN WE USE THIS CHART CONSTANTLY, WHICH SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THEIR TAXES ARE GOING TO.
ACCORDING TO THIS ONE, OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IS GOING TO PUBLIC SAFETY. WE NEED THAT.
RESIDENTS HAVE SAID IT. WE WANT PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF POLICE AND FIRE, EMS, MARSHALL'S, OUR COURT SYSTEM, ALL OF THAT.
THEY'VE ALSO SAID THAT THEY WANT THEIR STREETS FIXED.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING. WE'VE DONE A LOT SINCE THE 2017 BOND.
THIS YEAR WE'RE IN FIRST TIME, WE FULLY FUNDED MAINTENANCE ON STREETS, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO LAST, MR. MAYOR.
IT WILL NOT LAST BECAUSE THE COST OF THINGS IS GOING UP, WE ALL SURVIVED A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
IF YOU'RE LISTENING OR YOU'RE HERE IN THIS BUILDING, YOU SURVIVED A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS.
THINGS WENT UP, SUPPLY CHAIN, THE COST OF CONCRETE IS RIDICULOUS.
BUT WE STILL GOT TO REPAIR STREETS, WE STILL GOT TO BUILD THINGS.
WE GOT ALL KINDS OF THINGS HAPPENING.
TODAY I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS.
YOU SAID IT VERY WELL, MR. MAYOR, AND YOU SAID IT VERY WELL, MR. IRELAND, THAT WE'RE NOT SETTING THE TAX RATE.
WE'RE NOT SETTING THE TAX RATE.
ALL WE'RE SAYING IS WE CANNOT GO ANY HIGHER THAN THIS. I GET IT.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT RESTRAINT AND THAT WE DON'T EVER DO THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL SIX YEARS IN ROW.
SIX YEARS IN A ROW, THIS COUNCIL HAS TAKEN THE PROPOSED CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET, AND WE'VE REDUCED THE TAX RATE.
MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE, BUT WE'VE DONE IT.
[01:45:03]
LAST YEAR, THE CITY MANAGER GAVE US A RECORD PROPOSAL OF TAX RATE DECREASE AND WE ADDED TO IT.WE CAN DO IT. WE JUST GOT TO SIT DOWN.
MY RESIDENTS ARE STILL MEETING.
YOUR RESIDENTS ARE STILL MEETING.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY FOLKS SAID SPEND MORE ON PARKS, SPEND MORE ON STREETS, SPEND MORE ON POLICE AND FIRE, SPEND MORE ON HOMELESSNESS.
THOSE WERE THE TOP THINGS THAT MY RESIDENTS SAID.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE SAVINGS OF $13 A MONTH AT NO TAX RATE, WHATEVER THE CAMPAIGN IS THAT WAS CALLED, IT WAS REAL CUTE, IS THAT I'VE ASKED THEM AND THEY SAID $13 A MONTH AND I HAVE SOME OF THE LOWEST INCOME FOLKS IN THE CITY, SO THAT WILL NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IN THEIR POCKET BOOK, I'M $13 A MONTH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
>> FIVE MINUTES ON, MR. BAZALDUA'S AMENDMENT, AND THEN MS. BLACKMON, FIVE MINUTES.
>> WELL, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR, AS IT GIVES NO HOPE FOR OUR CITIZENS TODAY TO EXPECT ADDITIONAL TAX RELIEF.
I CAN'T SUPPORT IT WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESET THE STARTING DATE FROM WHICH OUR FISCAL GRIT CAN KICK IN.
WE'VE ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO COME BACK TO US WITH A REVISED BUDGET.
HE'S THE CEO OF 42 DEPARTMENTS, SO WE'LL GET THAT NEW NUMBER.
THIS IN NO WAY REMOVES AN AMENDMENT PROCESS.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXAMINE WHAT HE COMES BACK WITH, WITH GETTING FEEDBACK FROM HIS DEPARTMENTS, AND THEN THAT PROCESS CAN BEGIN, WHERE COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN REPRESENT THE PRIORITIES OF THEIR DISTRICT AND OUR DESIRE TO ADVANCE THE CITY OVERALL.
WE ARE UNIFIED, THIS CITY IS UNIFIED AROUND WHAT OUR TOP PRIORITIES ARE AND WE HAVE A SCIENTIFIC MEASURE OF WHAT THAT IS.
JACK LISTED SOME SACRED COWS THAT WE ARE BOUND BY THE CHARTER, BUT ALSO BY OUR INTERACTION WITH OUR CITIZENS ALL THE TIME, SO WE KNOW WHAT THE CORE SERVICES ARE THAT WE NEED TO DELIVER.
I SUSPECT THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT WE'RE DELIVERING THAT WE COULD BE DOING MORE EFFICIENTLY.
THAT MAY BE WHERE SOME OF THE SAVINGS COME FROM.
THERE MAY BE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO EXAMINE.
I UNDERSTAND HOLDING THE LINE AND WANTING TO SORT THIS OUT IN AN AMENDMENT PROCESS EXCLUSIVELY, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ARE ON THE GROUND IN THE DEPARTMENTS WHO CAN OFFER UP WHAT THEY SEE EVERY DAY IN WAYS THAT THE CITY CAN BECOME MORE EFFICIENT.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A $6 MILLION DIFFERENCE AND A $123 MILLION INCREASE, TAKING DOWN THAT $6 MILLION TO SEND A MESSAGE TO OUR CONSTITUENCIES TODAY THAT WE DO BELIEVE IN BEING MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND LOWERING THIS RATE CEILING AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER THROUGH AMENDMENTS, THROUGH THE PROCESS TO ARRIVE AT THE BEST BUDGET THAT WE CAN FOR THE CITY.
>> MS. BLACKMON, FIVE MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. GREAT DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE HAVING HERE AND I THINK IT'S BEEN NEEDED.
I WANT TO THANK JACK FOR ANSWERING EVERY QUESTION, TC FOR ANSWERING EVERY QUESTION FOR EVERYBODY BRINGING THIS UP.
BECAUSE I MEAN THAT IS THE QUESTION, IS HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD GIVEN OUR HISTORY OF OUR TAX RATE INCREASES AND NOW OUR EVALUATIONS THAT ARE FINALLY MATCHING UP TO THAT.
CAN WE LOOK AT OUR HISTORY, JACK, YOU WERE HERE WHEN I WAS HERE, I THINK MR. ATKINS, YOU WERE HERE, WE'RE NOW SEVEN, WHERE WE HAD FURLOUGH DAYS.
IT WAS HARD. WE WENT TO THE BONE AND AS YOU SAID, WE'RE FINALLY GETTING OUT OF THAT AND IT'S TAKEN SIX YEARS MAYBE?
>> THAT WAS BECAUSE, WHAT DID WE DO TO GET FINALLY GET OUT OF THAT? CUTTING IT BACK AS FAR AS WE CAN.
I CAN'T EVEN HAVE A LIBRARY OPEN BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE AN HVAC, SO IT'S NOT ALL THE WAY.
TELL ME WHAT WE DID TO FINALLY CLIMB OURSELVES OUT OF AFTER WE CUT.
>> DURING LEAN TIMES, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE CUT SERVICES, WE'VE CUT WAY BACK.
WE HAVE GROWN OUT OF THAT THROUGH THE VALUES GOING UP, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO THE CITY.
WE'VE HAD INCREASES IN SALES TAX THAT'S ENABLED US TO RESTORE SERVICES.
I FEEL LIKE THROUGH THE REVENUE GROWTH, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTORE SERVICES.
>> SO IT'S FAIR TO SAY BECAUSE OF THAT REVENUE GROWTH DUE TO APPRAISALS THAT PEOPLE ARE FINDING DALLAS ATTRACTIVE TO COME BACK TO EITHER DEVELOP OR LIVE OR WORK?
[01:50:02]
>> YES, MA'AM. IT'S BEEN THROUGH THE GROWTH, NOT BECAUSE WE'VE CONTINUED TO CUT THE TAX RATE.
>> I'VE SEEN WHERE WE'VE CUT THE TAX RATE.
IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT, WE'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE 2017?
>> FOR THE LAST EIGHT CONSECUTIVE YEARS, YES.
>> YEAH, AND MORE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS IT STAYED STEADY OR A LITTLE BIT FLAT?
>> IT WAS JUST FLAT PRODUCTION, YES.
>> LOOKING AT THE VARIOUS TAX RATES ON THE TABLE, IS IT OKAY TO EXTRAPOLATE THAT IF YOU HAD A $1 MILLION HOUSE, YOU JUST MULTIPLY IT BY 3 AND YOU GET A BALLPARK? IN OTHER WORDS, THE SAVINGS IF I HAD A $1 MILLION HOUSE ON ONE THAT'S ON THE FLOOR, THE 0.7393, IT'S ABOUT $152 A YEAR SAVINGS?
>> LET ME PROVIDE YOU WITH THE TABLE WITH FRIDAY MIMO DOING THOSE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EXACT TO THAT BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S WHY I WAS JUST SAYING A BALLPARK SO IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM $50-60.
[OVERLAPPING] YEAH $8 WHICH IS MAYBE YOU JUST FOREGO A LATTE.
BECAUSE THE THING ABOUT IT IS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CUT? WE'VE HEARD WE WANT LIBRARIES, THEIR NEEDS, COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN OUR CITY IS WE'RE NOT IMMUNE TO THAT.
I DO WANT TO BE CONSIDERATE OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I KNOW YOU MS. SCHULTZ HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WITH MR.RESCIND.
THERE'S STILL PEOPLE BEING HEARD AND A CEILING IS ONLY WHAT WE CAN'T GO BEYOND.
I WOULD LOVE TO DO THE PENNY AND I WANT TO EVEN GO FURTHER IS THAT WHEN WE GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO GO ONE-AND-A-HALF, MAYBE TWO.
BECAUSE I DO FEEL THAT AND SINCE WE'VE BEEN AROUND A LOT, WE KNOW WHERE SOME PLOTS ARE.
BUT THE THING IS WE CAN'T SAY THAT NOBODY CAN'T FEEL THIS, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS TO FEEL IT, EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS TO GIVE UP SOMETHING.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO GIVE REAL RELIEF, THEN IT CAN'T BE PUT ON THE BACKS OF ONLY A FEW.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES ARE IMPORTANT HERE.
WE HAVE AN EXPECTATION OF MAINTAINING OUR SERVICES.
SOMEBODY SAYS ESSENTIAL, BUT THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT ON THEIR TRAILS. IS THAT ESSENTIAL? IS A TRAIL ESSENTIAL? BUT THEY WANT A TRAIL.
I AM INCLINED TO GO WITH THE ONE THAT'S ON THE TABLE WITH MRS. WILLIS'S.
TO ME, THIS IS JUST A EXERCISE, THE REAL WORK BEGINS AFTER TODAY.
I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN.
I THINK MS. WILLIS AND I WANT TO DO A 1.5 AT THE MINIMUM.
I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES TO, AND WITH YOU, MR. STAB, MR. CITY MANAGER, AND JACK, ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES, AND LET'S REALLY LOOK FOR HARD DOLLARS TO CUT.
LET'S HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
WHEN WE HAVE EFFICIENCIES THAT SAY THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN, THAT WE ALL GO GET, TAKEN OUT BACK AND YELLED AT, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE AN EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT.
YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH, YOU CAN'T SAY GIVE ME AN EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT, AND THEN DON'T CUT THIS AND DON'T CUT THAT.
I GLAD THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THIS NEW COMMITTEE THAT I'M ON, I LOOK FORWARD TO REALLY RAISING UP MY SLEEVES AND GETTING INTO THE DIRT, BECAUSE I'M NOT AFRAID OF THAT.
WITH THAT, I SAY WE LET IT ROLL.
WE HAVE THIS HERE, WE HAVE IT PUBLISHED.
WE GO THROUGH THIS EXERCISE, WE COME BACK ON THE 20TH, AND HAVE THESE HARD CONVERSATIONS, IF NOT BEFORE THEN WHEN WE DO OUR BUDGETS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU AND I WILL GET BACK 30 SECONDS.
>> THANK YOU. MR. ATKINS, YOU'VE GONE.
EVERYONE WHO I SEE IN THE QUEUE HAS ALREADY SPOKEN ONCE.
IS THERE ANYONE NOT SPOKEN WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON MR. BAZALDUA'S MOTION BEFORE I GO TO AROUND TWO ON THIS? MR. GRACIE, RIGHT ANSWER FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MR. BAZALDUA'S AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE GONE AROUND ABOUT THIS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DID COMMIT TO ALONG MY CAMPAIGN WAS CONSISTENTLY KEEPING AN OPEN MIND, AND TRULY TRYING TO HEAR AND APPRECIATE EVERY PERSPECTIVE AT THIS HORSESHOE, BUT ESPECIALLY MY CONSTITUENTS.
LIKE MANY OF YOU, THIS IS MY FIRST ROUND, WELL NOT MANY OF YOU, BUT HAVING NOW THIS IS MY FIRST ROUND GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND I'VE ALREADY COMPLETED MY TOWN HALLS, HAVEN'T REALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS BACK AND GET SOME FEEDBACK.
I DO APPRECIATE SOME OF THE EMAILS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED FROM SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS, BUT REALLY NEED TO TAKE THIS CONVERSATION BACK AND HAVE A DEEPER CONVERSATION WITH THE REST OF MY CONSTITUENTS THERE.
WITH THAT SAID, I THINK THERE IS A NEED AND I CAN APPRECIATE MS. MENDELSOHN'S MOTION TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF, AND I CAN ALSO APPRECIATE WILLIS'S MOTION AS WELL.
[01:55:05]
BUT WITH THIS BEING MY FIRST PROCESS, I REALLY CAN APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA'S PROCESS BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN GET THERE.THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THERE AND REALLY TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT SOME OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET US THERE, AND I MAKE THAT COMMITMENT PERSONALLY TO GET THERE, WHILE I ALSO APPRECIATE THE NEEDS OF MY CONSTITUENTS AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE REMOTE, I DON'T KNOW, ANYONE BEFORE I GO TO ROUND TWO? DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES ON MR. BAZALDUA'S AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU. I'M STILL FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE BEZALDUA AMENDMENT.
LARGELY BECAUSE WE HEARD THE POWERFUL WORD OF EQUITY THAT I DON'T WANT US TO FORGET.
AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND I'M ALWAYS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH CONSTITUENTS.
IT IS ABOUT DOING THE BEST PLAN THAT'S NOT COMPOSED OF A LOT OF ROP-A-DOPES.
WE HAVE TO ALSO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR BUDGETS AND I BELIEVE ON THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL AS THE CITY-LEVEL, WE HAVE RECEIVED FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT HAS PUT A CUSHION IN SOME OF THOSE BUDGETS.
WHEN THAT MONEY LEAVES, YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SCENARIO, AND SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH REALITY.
THANK YOU, OUR STAFF, MR. ALLAN GUSTAV, I'VE REQUESTED SOME SCENARIOS SO THAT CAN BE PREPARED FOR THEM DOWN THE ROAD AS WE SPEAK.
BUT I BELIEVE AT THIS POINT, WHAT I WANT TO HEAR MR. JACK IRELAND, STATE FOR THE RECORD, BECAUSE WE ARE EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITIES.
ONE OF THE TAXING JURISDICTIONS, ONCE AGAIN, THAT WEIGHS IN ON THAT FINAL TAX BILL THAT ALL OF US RECEIVE AS PROPERTY OWNERS WHEN WE TURN OVER ON THE BACK OF THAT SHEET TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
>> THERE WE GO. SORRY. CITY OF DALLAS, YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICHEVER ONE YOU LIVE IN, YOUR COUNTY, MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE DALLAS, BUT WE ARE ALSO IN THREE OTHER COUNTIES.
THE COLLEGE DISTRICT AND PARKLAND HOSPITAL.
>> AND WHO SETS THE APPRAISAL?
>> EACH COUNTY HAS A CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
SO DALLAS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, COLLIN CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, ETC.
EACH TAXING ENTITY SETS THE TAX RATE.
THE TAX BILLS ARE SENT OUT BY THE DALLAS COUNTY TAX OFFICE.
>> DALLAS ACCOUNTS FOR WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL BILL?
>> DALLAS COUNTY IS ABOUT EIGHT POINTS.
>> I'M SORRY, NOT DALLAS COUNTY, THE CITY.
>> I'M SORRY. ABOUT 28 OR 29%.
>> SO 70% OF OUR BILL IS ON THE TAX ROLLS OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS, CORRECT?
>> SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY LISTENING.
YES, WE GET THE BULK OF THE KICKS AS THE CITY, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE REALLY EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY.
IF ALL JURISDICTIONS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THIS CITY, IN TERMS OF REDUCTION OF TAX RATE, MR. IRELAND, IN WHICH YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND, ONCE AGAIN, TOUGH DECISION BY ALL ENTITIES, BUT COULD WE REALLY RECEIVE OR EXPERIENCE OR SEE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE TAX BURDEN THAT ALL OF US CARRY AS PROPERTY TAX PAYERS, BE THEY RESIDENTIAL OR BUSINESS?
>> OF COURSE, IT WOULD BE BEST IF ALL ENTITIES WERE TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THEIR TAX. YES, MA'AM.
>> SO I DID WANT TO PUT THAT ON THAT SO THAT WE WOULD UNDERSTAND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT LARGER THAN THE CITY, BUT I WANT MY CONSTITUENTS TO KNOW, I'M NOT FIGHTING TO KEEP YOUR TAX RATE HIGHER.
I'M FIGHTING SO THAT YOU DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE ROPE-A-DOPE.
AS COUNCIL WOMAN SAID, YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE CUT ON FRIDAYS AND YOU CAME DOWN TO CITY HALL? [NOISE] NOBODY WAS HERE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT LIFE IS GOING TO BE LIKE IF WE HAVE TO CUT WITHOUT HAVING DISCUSSIONS? I'M SIMPLY SAYING LET'S GET A TAX RATE IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN SPEAK TO EQUITY, WE CAN SPEAK TO SUCCESS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WE CAN SPEAK TO REALITY AND NOT INCITING FEAR IN THE CONSTITUENTS.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH, THANK YOU.
I THINK WE CAN GO WITH ANY ONE OF THE FIRST MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
[02:00:03]
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL WOMAN BLACKMON, BROUGHT UP QUESTION, GOING BACK TO 2008, AND TO ME, IT'S ALMOST THE SAME SCENARIO TODAY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT TRYING TO LOWER THE TAX RATE AND WAS THE TAX RATE WAS VERY LOW AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, AND WE WAS IN THE CROSSROAD TO RAISE THE TAX RATE.
BUT WE DID HAVE OTHER ITEMS IN THERE, AND NOT MEET AND CONFER WHICH WAS ZERO THERE.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY THERE. IT CAME ABOUT.
SO IF YOU GO BACK INTO HISTORY OF THIS BUDGET AND GO BACK TO 2008-2009, WHEN WE DID LOWER THE TAX RATE AND WE CUT LIBRARIES, WRECK CELL ON FURLOUGH DAYS, WHATEVER.
HOW DO WE MANAGE OURSELVES TO GET BACK ON THE EVEN BUDGET KILL TO BASIS SERVICE?
>> YES, SIR. I'VE BEEN HERE 28 YEARS, SO I'VE TO CUT MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE WE'D GO THROUGH THE DOWNTURNS IN THE ECONOMY.
WE'VE HAD TO PULL SERVICES BACK WHEN VALUES WENT DOWN OR A RECESSION, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
AS WE'VE COME OUT OF THOSE, WE HAVE EVALUATED SERVICES, WHETHER WE NEED TO ADD THEM BACK OR NOT, SOME SERVICES WE MAY HAVE MADE A DECISION NOT TO ADD BACK, BUT WE LOOKED AT SERVICES AND AS THE ECONOMY RECOVERED, SALES TAX, RECOVERED PROPERTY VALUES RECOVERED, THEN WE WOULD ADD SERVICES BACK.
I BELIEVE WITH THIS NEW BUDGET OF RESTORING FINAL HOURS IN LIBRARIES, I THINK WE'RE BACK AT A REALLY GOOD PLACE.
AND OF COURSE WE'VE ADDED A LOT OF SERVICES THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
AS YOU'VE ASKED BEFORE ABOUT RIGHT CARE, THE HEART PROGRAM, SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS WASN'T COVERED BY THE CITY IN THE PAST, THE NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, SINGLE ROW PARAMEDIC PROGRAMS, BLOT REMEDIATION, JUST A NUMBER OF BIKE LANES, DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT WE'VE ADDED INTO THE BUDGET THAT WERE NOT IN THE BUDGET PREVIOUSLY.
SO WE'VE RESTORED WHAT WE HAD TO CUT DURING THOSE RECESSIONS AND MADE DECISIONS TO IMPROVE THE CITY BY ADDING ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
TO YOUR QUESTION WHILE AGO, THEY MAY NOT BE CORE SERVICES, BUT THERE ARE SERVICES THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE DEMANDED OVER TIME.
>> I KNOW YOU CAN PROBABLY GIVE ME AN ANSWER TODAY.
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE NEW SERVICE THAT WE ADDED THAT WE DID NOT HAVE IN THE PAST THAT I KNOW I ACTUALLY HAD MANY TIME.
>> AS FAR AS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, I DON'T HAVE A TOTAL HERE, BUT WE CAN GET THAT FOR YOU.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD PROGRAM IS OVER EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS.
THE RIGHT CARE PROGRAM IS $8.2 MILLION.
WE ADDED SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FOR SINGLE ROW PARAMEDICS.
YOU MENTIONED MEET AND CONFER BACK BACK IN THOSE DAYS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE MEET AND CONFER AND IT'S COSTING US TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH TIME WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE INCREASES.
SO WE CAN TALLY SOME OF THAT UP FOR YOU IN THE FRIDAY MEMO.
>> BUT BASICALLY, YOU CAN SAY TODAY ITS WAY NOT OF $100 MILLION. THAT FIRST STATEMENT?
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO.
WE HAD OCCURRED WHOLE LOT EXPENSES THAT WE DID NOT HAVE TO OCCUR, BUT WE DECIDED TO DO BECAUSE SOME OF THE SUBURBS, SINCE TO HAVE VERY ISSUES TO THE CITY DOLLARS.
LIKE THE HOMELESS, THE RIGHT CARE HELP, THE HARD THING THAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, WE CAN CUT AND I KNOW WE CAN CUT, AND WE CAN CUT, MAYBE 1, 2 OR 3% OF WHATEVER.
BUT WE HAD TO GET OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO OUR RESIDENT AND TELL THEM, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CUT? WE GOT TO MAKE THE DECISION.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CUT? AND A RESIDENT GOT HAS THE INPUT, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CUT.
>> I NOTICED CITY MANAGER BAIRD CHARLIE, HE GIVES US A RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND WE GO OUT TO THE RESIDENT AND SAY, HEY, HERE IS THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDED BUDGET, NOT THE COUNCIL RECOMMENDED BUDGET JUST THE CITY MANAGER.
AND WHEN ASSEMBLED, THEN WE COME BACK AND WE SAID NOW CITY MANAGER, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK YOU'VE DONE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, COGWHEEL BOWS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR MANY YEARS, SO I DON'T THINK WE CHANGED IT IS THE SAME PRINCIPLE.
WE NEED TO DO OUR JOB, AND OUR RESIDENT WHO IS OUR BOSS, TELL US WHAT THEY NEED AND WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, AND RIGHT NOW WE GOT TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE.
I DON'T WANT TO BE DIVISIVE, AND WHATEVER WE ARE 13 COUNCIL MEMBER.
MAYOR PRO TEM AND THE MAYOR, WE ARE DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS AND BEST FOR THE TAXPAYER.
WE KNOW WE NEED TAX RELIEF. WE KNOW WE NEED IT.
[02:05:02]
I KNOW WE CAN GET THERE.WE CAN GET THERE, IF WE WORK TOGETHER.
RIGHT NOW, WE GOT AMENDMENTS COMING UP.
WE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO DO IT, AND I THINK FOR ALL THE MEMOS GOING ON, BUT WE NEED TO GET BACK IN THE BACKROOM AND GET A JOB DONE. THANK YOU.
>> MS. BLACKMON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. JACK, I'M JUST FIGURING OUT MY LITTLE CHART HERE WITH WHAT ALL THIS MEANS.
CAN YOU GO OVER WHAT REVENUE CUTS WOULD NEED TO BE MADE AT EACH OF THESE LEVELS TO GET US TO THAT POINT, EITHER YOU OR JEANNETTE?
>> YES, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA'S AMENDMENT WOULD NOT REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME AS THE CITY MANAGERS, AND THROUGH THAT, WE DID REDUCE OUR REVENUE BY $12.7 MILLION, SO THAT'S ALREADY BAKED INTO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
>> TO GET TO THE AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS, WE WOULD NEED TO REDUCE AN ADDITIONAL $6.8 MILLION IN REVENUE, AND TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, WE WOULD NEED TO CUT THE SAME AMOUNT AND EXPENSES.
TO GET TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN, WE WOULD NEED TO CUT $108.3 MILLION IN REVENUE, TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, WE WOULD NEED TO CUT EXPENSES IN THE SAME AMOUNT.
>> AND THOSE EXPENSES CUTS ARE NOT ONLY TO NEW PROGRAMS BUT EVEN TO EXISTING ONES? THAT COULD POSSIBLY?
>> OKAY. AND SO BUT WE STILL HAVE MEET AND CONFER AND FUEL COSTS THAT WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR?
>> YES, MA'AM. PART OF THE $130 MILLION INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET INCLUDES MEET AND CONFER.
IT INCLUDES FUEL INFLATE, IT INCLUDES OUR IT COSTS GOING UP.
IT INCLUDES HEALTH BENEFIT COSTS GOING UP.
THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD CONTRACT WENT UP BY TWO MILLION DOLLARS.
SO THERE'S SOME CONTRACTUAL THINGS IN THERE THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN THERE.
>> TO THOSE CONTRACTS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO FIND IT ELSEWHERE IN THE ORGANIZATION? YES, MA'AM. YOU CAN'T JUST CUT ALL THE NEW STUFF OUT BECAUSE SOME OF THE NEW STUFF IS CONTRACTUALLY REQUIRED.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S IT.
>> CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES ON YOUR OWN AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK THIS DISCUSSION HAS BEEN EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL TO THE PROCESS OVERALL, I THINK THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR CONSENSUS AND A WILL AROUND THIS BODY TO ADDRESS THE INCREASE IN OUR PROPERTY TAXES.
I AGAIN, WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE TO BE DISCUSSED AND I WILL PERSONALLY COMMIT TO DOING WHAT IT TAKES THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN FIND SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDES RELIEF BUT ALSO IS SOMETHING THAT IS DONE DILIGENTLY WITH ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS IN MIND AND THOSE SERVICES THAT WILL NEED TO BE IMPACTED IN CONSIDERATION BEFORE WE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
I AGAIN, URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO NOT PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, TO NOT TAKE AWAY POWER FROM US ON WHY OUR CONSTITUENTS ELECTED US, THEY ELECTED US AND THIS IS THE SOLE MOST IMPORTANT TASK THAT WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA EVERY YEAR, WHICH IS TO PASS A BALANCED BUDGET.
WHAT I PREFER TO DO IS TO HAVE MY CONSTITUENTS' PRIORITIES IN MY HANDS INTO WHAT THAT FINAL APPROVED BUDGET LOOKS LIKE BY APPROVING A CEILING THAT WOULD BE LESS THAN WHAT IS PROPOSED AND BY PASSING THE AMENDMENT PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN FRONT OF US.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE TAKING POWER AWAY FROM WHAT THE VOTERS SENT US HERE TO DO, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US STICK WITH THIS COLLABORATIVE NATURE THAT THIS CONVERSATION HAS BROUGHT FORTH AND WORK TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, WANTS TO SPEAK ON, FOR, OR AGAINST THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR BY MR. BAZALDUA? I DON'T SEE ANYONE. SO I WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU, JACK.
I SAID I WOULD DO THIS FOR EACH AMENDMENT, SO WE ARE THERE.
LOOK, I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET THE BIG HEAD, JACK.
BUT I THINK YOU'RE THE MOST IMPORTANT GUY IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW ON THIS ISSUE, I DO.
BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE THE PERSON WHO CAN HELP US ALL UNDERSTAND THE ANSWER TO SOME QUESTIONS I THINK HAVE TO BE ANSWERED FOR US TO DO OUR JOBS.
SO I'M GOING TO JUST TO CLARIFY TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND IT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADMIT IT.
IF YOU'RE CONFUSED ABOUT ANY OF THIS, IF YOU'RE HERE AT THE HORSESHOE,
[02:10:02]
IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, YOU'RE CONFUSED BY ANY OF IT, DON'T BE ASHAMED ABOUT IT.IT CAN CONFUSE ME AND I SERVED ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE IN AUSTIN.
I WANT TO TELL YOU TAXES AND BUDGET CAN BE COMPLICATED, BUT I WANT TO DUMB IT DOWN FOR ME AND IF IT BENEFITS YOU, THEN YOU CAN JUST PRETEND LIKE YOU KNEW ALL OF THIS ALL ALONG.
SO LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS, JACK, AND NOT TO PUT YOU UNDER PRESSURE.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK YOU'RE THE MOST IMPORTANT GUY IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW.
OF THE THREE SCENARIOS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OUT HERE WHICH ARE REPRESENTED AT THIS POINT IN THE THREE MOTIONS THAT ARE ON THE FLOOR, EXPLAIN WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE ON THE TAX BILL, THE CITY PORTION.
I'LL SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF A LITTLE BIT OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT THE ONLY TAXING JURISDICTION THAT A DALLAS RESIDENT HAS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.
BUT THE CITY PORTION OF THE TAX BILL RIGHT NOW, IF YOU OWNED THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE HOME IN FISCAL YEAR 2023 AND YOU STILL OWN THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE HOME IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, MEANING WE KNOW THAT YOU SAID THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE HAS GONE UP IN VALUE.
IF YOU OWN A MEDIAN HOME PRICE HOME IN '23 VERSUS '24, WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND IS WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE ON YOUR CITY TAX BILL.
NOW THE REASON WHY I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT I'LL TELL YOU WHY I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR US TO ALL UNDERSTAND.
IT SPEAKS TO SOMETHING THAT CHAIRWOMAN SCHULTZ BROUGHT UP, BUT I THINK THIS ADDRESSES WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN THIS SITUATION AS A POLICYMAKER, YOU CAN'T KNOW.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO TAX POLICY BASED ON ANY INDIVIDUAL'S SITUATION BECAUSE EVERYONE'S SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.
SOME PEOPLE, EVEN IN A SITUATION WHERE THE AVERAGE EVALUATIONS GO UP OR DOWN, AN INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNER'S PROPERTY COULD DO THE OPPOSITE.
IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES.
SO YOU CAN'T SPEAK TO IT IN INDIVIDUAL CASES, YOU HAVE TO SPEAK TO IT IN AVERAGES AND USE MEDIANS.
SO WE HAVE TO USE THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE HOMEOWNER'S VALUE TO MAKE POLICY BASED ON THEM.
WE CAN'T TELL IF AN INDIVIDUAL'S PROPERTY WENT UP OR DOWN IN VALUE, WE CAN'T KNOW THAT.
SO USING THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE HOMEOWNER'S TAX BILL AS THE EXAMPLE TO KEEP EVERYTHING APPLES TO APPLES UNDER THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT, UNDER THE WILLIS AMENDMENT, UNDER THE MENDELSOHN AMENDMENT, WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT BE ON THAT PERSON'S TAX BILL? DOES THE TAX BILL GO UP FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR OR GO DOWN AND BY HOW MUCH? THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND.
>> OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THE WAY YOU WANT THE ANSWER.
IN FISCAL YEAR '23, THE MEDIAN HOME VALUE WAS $320,900.
IN FISCAL YEAR '24, THE MEDIAN VALUE HAS GONE UP BY 4.3% TO $334,710.
>> SO FAR EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
>> I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, GETTING 20% REDUCTION IN THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE TAXED FOR.
>> ASSUMING THAT WE'VE DONE OUR PART IN EDUCATING FOLKS ABOUT HOW TO APPLY FOR THOSE WHICH WE SHOULD DO A BETTER JOB OF EVEN BUT THEY'VE APPLIED FOR THEIR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, THEY ARE GETTING THAT.
>> OKAY. IF WE GO WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET-
>> WE CALL IT THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT OF $73.93, THAT'S ALREADY A REDUCTION OF 0.65.
YOUR TAX BILL WOULD GO UP BY $64.99.
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO THE WILLIS AMENDMENT.
>> THE WILLIS AMENDMENT REDUCES A TOTAL OF ONE CENT FROM THE CURRENT YEAR TO $73.58.
>> THE ORIGINAL MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN FOR 68.38, IT'S A $83.62 REDUCTION.
>> SIXTY-TWO, 63? I'M SORRY. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME TO HEAR THAT.
[02:15:01]
[NOISE] I HAD 6,499 INCREASE UNDER THE BAZALDUA'S AMENDMENT, $55.62 INCREASE UNDER THE WILLIS AMENDMENT, $83.62 DECREASE IN THE MIDDLE SLOPE AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU ROCKSTAR AND JACK FOR HAVING THOSE CALCULATIONS READY.
I'LL GIVE YOU A HEADS UP THAT WE'D NEED THEM, [OVERLAPPING] IT WAS REALLY OUT THERE A LITTLE BIT.
BUT NO, YOU REALLY DID A GREAT JOB THERE.
SO 5+3+1, DON'T LET ME TALK LONGER THAN NINE MINUTES [LAUGHTER] SECRETARY BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK HERE FOR A MINUTE BEFORE WE GO TO VOTE ON THIS.
ONE OF THE COOL THINGS IF YOU HAVE KIDS IS THAT YOU GET A CHANCE TO SEE THINGS THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW OR THOUGHT YOU UNDERSTOOD A SECOND TIME AROUND THROUGH THEIR EYES.
I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS PROCESS, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW MY OLDEST SON, WILLIAM, LAST YEAR AT SCHOOL, BROUGHT HOME A BOOK THAT HE WAS ASSIGNED TO READ AT SCHOOL AND IT WAS ABOUT THE STORY OF THE TITANIC.
IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT THE MOVIE IN THAT SONG THAT THEY HAD TO MAKE US LISTEN TO EVERY SINGLE DAY, ALL DAY LONG FOR THE YEAR IT CAME OUT LIKE IT WAS POPULAR SONG OF THE YEAR.
I THINK BOSTON RADIO STATION ACTUALLY BANNED IT FROM BEING PLAYED ANYMORE AFTER A YEAR PLAYED SO MUCH, BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT THE MOVIE, BUT THEN I ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT THE STORY OF THE TITANIC.
I ASKED MY SON, WELL, WHAT DOES THIS STORY MEAN TO YOU AND WHY THEY ASSIGN IT TO YOU? WHAT WAS YOUR TAKEAWAY FROM THE STORY? WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE THING I REMEMBER HIM SAYING WAS THIS.
"DAD, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN DIDN'T TURN THE SHIP AROUND.
WHY DIDN'T THEY AVOID HITTING THE ICEBERG?" I SAID SON, THAT'S THE THOUGHT THAT EVERYBODY HAS WHEN THEY FIRST HEAR THE STORY.
I SAID, BUT WHAT I SEEM TO REMEMBER, I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I THINK WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IS THEY DIDN'T SEE IT IN TIME.
BY THE TIME THEY SAW THE ICEBERG, IT WAS TOO LATE TO TURN THE SHIP AROUND BECAUSE THE NATURE OF ICEBERGS IS YOU ONLY SEE PART OF IT ABOVE THE WATER.
THE MAJORITY OF IT IS BELOW THE WATER.
BY THE TIME YOU GET A VISUAL ON IT AND THEN CASES IT'S TOO LATE TO TURN IT AROUND.
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY TRAGIC SITUATION THEN, BUT IT'S A METAPHOR, I THINK, FOR THE SITUATION THAT WE FACE RIGHT NOW.
I ACTUALLY BROUGHT YOU GUYS SOMETHING THERE.
I BROUGHT YOU ONE OF MY KIDS TOYS.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
THIS IS US. WE'RE AT THE CITY OF DALLAS AND WE'RE FLOATING ALONG.
THIS PROPERTY TAX SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN IN DALLAS, IT'S AN ICEBERG.
I SAY IT'S AN ICEBERG BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO TAX PEOPLE THE WAY WE'VE BEEN TAXING THEM AND THINK THEY'RE GOING TO STAY.
THINK THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CHOOSE DALLAS TO LIVE IN AND HAVE THEIR BUSINESSES HERE.
WE GOT TOO MANY OPTIONS IN NORTH TEXAS ALL AROUND US WHERE THEY COULD GET A BETTER DEAL ON THEIR TAXES.
THAT'S AN ICEBERG. THIS IS US AND WE'RE FLOATING ALONG.
TO ME PERSONALLY, THIS IS JUST HOW I SEE IT.
I'M ASKING EVERYBODY TO THINK ABOUT IT HOWEVER THEY WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT, BUT I'M A SIMPLE GUY AND I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THINGS IN A SIMPLE WAY SOMETIMES.
TO ME, OF THESE OPTIONS, ONLY ONE OF THEM REPRESENTS TURNING THIS SHIP AROUND AND GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION.
ONLY ONE OF THESE. NOW, BIG SHIP CAN BE TURNED AROUND ALL AT ONE TIME.
SO IT'LL BE HARD TURNAROUND BUT ONLY ONE OF THESE OPTIONS ACTUALLY BEGINS TO DO THAT TODAY.
TURN IT AROUND STARTING TODAY.
THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT I SEE AMOUNT TO MOVING THE DECK CHAIRS ON THIS THING AROUND.
THE NUMBERS ARE WHAT THEY ARE.
THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT I SEE BEFORE US AMOUNTS TO SAYING, I SEE THAT ICEBERG OVER THERE AND I THINK WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO IS MOVE THE CHAIRS ON THE DECK OF THIS BOAT AROUND.
ONE OF THESE OPTIONS REPRESENTS SAYING,
[02:20:02]
I SEE THAT ICEBERG OVER THERE, LET'S TURN THIS SUCKER AROUND STARTING RIGHT NOW.THAT'S WHY I WOULD SAY, FOR ME, I MADE A COMMITMENT.
YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT IT.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT TURNING THIS SHIP AROUND FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS AND THE TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE ACTUALLY VOTE AGAINST MY GOOD FRIEND.
CHAIRMAN BATTLES THIS MOTION TO ADOPT ESSENTIALLY THE CITY MANAGERS PROPOSED BUDGET TAX RATE, SO WE COULD CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT TURNING THE SHIP AROUND AND VOTING FOR A TAX RATE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY A CEILING ON THE TAX RATE THAT ENSURES, AND THIS I'M GOING TO GET TO YOUR POINT, MR. CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN NOW ADVISERS POINT ACTUALLY, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO GET TO LATER.
THE REASON I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO DO TODAY AND I WANT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I SAID BEFORE, WE AREN'T VOTING ON THE RATE TODAY.
YOU ALL ARE SO SMART AND YOU'RE RIGHT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DECIDING TODAY, BUT WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US DO IS GUARANTEE THROUGH OUR ACTIONS TODAY THAT NO MATTER WHAT DECISIONS GET MADE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THE SHIPS TURNED AROUND.
THE ONLY WAY WE DO THAT IS TO ADOPT AT LEAST THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
BUT THIS IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO IF WE ACTUALLY WANT TO TURN THE SHIP AROUND.
THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE AS WELL INTENTIONED AS THEY ARE, AS CREATIVE AS THEY ARE, AS POWERFUL AS THEY ARE, DON'T ACTUALLY TURN THE SHIP AROUND.
THEY MOVE THE CHAIRS ON THE SHIP AROUND.
I WANT TO SEE THE SHIP TURNED AROUND AND SO I'M SAYING, PLEASE, TODAY TELL THE CITY MANAGER, TELL HIS STAFF, YOU GUYS ARE SMART, YOU'RE CREATIVE.
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE ALL OF OUR EQUITY GOALS AND THINGS WE WANT TO DO DOABLE WITH THIS PILE OF MONEY RIGHT HERE, THIS PILE OF MONEY.
THIS IS THE PILE OF MINE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU TO WORK WITH MAXIMUM.
THE ONLY WAY WE GET THERE IS BY SETTING THIS MAX TAX RATE TODAY AT A LEVEL THAT'S LOWER THAN WHAT'S ON THE TABLE WITH MR. BAZALDUA'S MOTION.
WITH THAT, WE NEED A RECORD VOTE ON MR. BAZALDUA'S AMENDMENT, AND THEN WE'LL WORK BACKWARDS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IT.
>> THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR. PLEASE START VOTING.
CORRECT? YES, THIS IS THE RECORD VOTE ON ADAM BAZALDUA'S MOTION TWELVE HAVE VOTED.
WE HAVE 14 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT,12 HAVE VOTED.
ALL 14 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WHO'S PRESENT HAVE VOTED WITH 10 VOTING IN FAVOR FOR OPPOSED, ONE ABSENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM SECRETARY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEARING WITH US IN THE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE.
WE'RE WORKING IT OUT. WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DOWN.
I DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT PROBLEMS HERE.
I THINK NOW THE EFFECT OF THIS AMENDMENT IS THAT IT'S ACTUALLY A SUBSTITUTE NOW FOR THE ORIGINAL, LIKE IT'S ACTUALLY GOES INTO THE ORIGINAL MOTION THAT MS. MENDELSOHN MADE.
THAT'S THE RATE THAT'S IN THAT MOTION NOW, IS THAT CORRECT?
[02:25:03]
>> THAT IS CORRECT BECAUSE IT WAS A SECONDARY MOTION TO REPLACE THE PRIMARY MOTION AND NOW MOVES INTO THE MAIN MOTION.
>> NOW EVERYONE, WE JUST NEED TO VOTE UP OR DOWN ON THE AMENDED MOTION BY MS. NELSON.
HAS BEEN AMENDED WITH THE 0.7393 RATE.
>> I WOULD LIKE YOU TO NOT REFER THIS AS THE MENDELSOHN MOTION WITH THIS TAX RATE?
>> IT'S NOT CRITICAL TO THE [OVERLAPPING].
I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EFFECT OF WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO.
BUT FROM A PARLIAMENTARY STANDPOINT, YOU ARE NOW VOTING ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION AS IT'S BEEN AMENDED.
IT'S BEEN AMENDED NOW WITH THIS. THAT MAKES SENSE?
>> STATE YOUR INQUIRY. I CAN TELL YOU [OVERLAPPING].
>> NO, YOU'RE NOT DENSE. I'VE BEEN TALKING TO HER ABOUT IT FOR 30 MINUTES TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHY IT HAS TO BE DONE THAT WAY, MS. SPENCER.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE ON THAT ONE.
BASICALLY WE'RE VOTING ON THE SAME THING WE JUST VOTED ON. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER INQUIRIES OF QUESTIONS, MADAM SECRETARY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A RECORD VOTE, SO LET'S DO IT.
ALL 14 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT HAD VOTED WITH 10 VOTING IN FAVOR FOR OPPOSED.
CALCIUM OR WEST IS EPSILON NOTE TAKING.
>> THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN DISPOSED UP NOW, AND AT THIS POINT IT'S 11: 55.
WE WILL STAND IN RECESS UNTIL 01:00 PM WHEN WE RECONVENE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[MUSIC] IT'S 1:17 WERE BACK IN REGULAR SESSION MEMBERS, MADAM SECRETARY, WHERE ARE WE ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY.
>> MR. MAYOR WE'RE ON AGENDA ITEM 27.
[27. 23-1837 Authorize an Interlocal Agreement with Dallas County to accept funds in the amount of $1,000,000.00, to be granted to Bridge Steps for homeless assistance services to be provided at The Bridge, for the period October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024 - Estimated Revenue: General Fund $1,000,000.00]
>> YES, WE'RE STILL ON OUR POOLED ITEM MR. MAYOR.
>> AGENDA ITEM 27, AUTHORIZED AND INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH DALLAS COUNTY TO ACCEPT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION TO BE GRANTED TO BRIDGE STEPS FOR HOMELESS AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED AT THE BRIDGE FOR THE PERIOD OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION, MR. CHAIRMAN?
>> ANY DISCUSSION ANYONE? HEARING NONE.
ANY OPPOSE? AYE HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM?
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM 30.
[30. 23-1753 Authorize the City Manager to (1) exercise the first of four, one-year renewal options to the facility management services contract with Bridge Steps d/b/a The Bridge Recovery Center, as amended, for the facility management and all operational services; responsibilities of the City’s homeless shelter facility for the period October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024 - Not to exceed $5,669,686.00 (2) increase the annual fee for year two of the contract, as amended, of $4,519,000.00 by $800,683.00 sourced from Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) funds and by $350,003.00 sourced from Emergency Solutions Grants funds for an annual not to exceed amount of $5,669,686.00; and (3) expand the services under the contract to include rental assistance through the Rapid Rehousing Program at the Homeless Assistance Center - Not to exceed $5,669,686.00 - Financing: General Fund ($4,519,000.00) (subject to appropriations), FY 2024 TDHCA-Homeless Housing and Services Program 23-24 Grant Funds ($736,579.00), FY 2024 TDHCA-Texas Ending Homelessness 23-24 Grant Funds ($64,104.00), and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Emergency Solutions Grant Funds ($350,003.00)]
AGENDA ITEM 30, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ONE EXERCISE, THE FIRST OF FOUR ONE-YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS TO THE FACILITY MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT WITH BRIDGE STEPS, DBA, THE BRIDGE RECOVERY CENTER AS AMENDED FOR FACILITY MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL SERVICES, TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL FEE FOR YEAR TWO OF THE CONTRACT AS AMENDED OF $4,519,000 BY $800,683.>> I'M SORRY. HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
CAN YOU KEEP IT DOWN IN THE GALLERY, PLEASE? THANK YOU. CAN YOU PLEASE KEEP IT DOWN? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, AGENDA ITEM 30, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ONE EXERCISE, THE FIRST OF FOUR ONE-YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS TO THE FACILITY MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT WITH BRIDGE STEPS, DBA, THE BRIDGE RECOVERY CENTER AS AMENDED FOR FACILITY MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL SERVICES, TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL FEE FOR YEAR TWO OF THE CONTRACT AS AMENDED, A $4,519,000 BY $800,683 SOURCE FROM TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, TDHCA FUNDS BY $350,003 SOURCED FROM EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT FUNDS FOR AN ANNUAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $5,669,686.
AND THREE EXPAND THE SERVICES UNDER THE CONTRACT TO INCLUDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM AT THE HOMELESS ASSISTANCE CENTER, NOT TO EXCEED $5,669,686.
THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY COUNCILMAN MORENO AND IT WAS ALSO CORRECTED.
>> IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ONE MR. MORENO?
>> YES, MR. MAYOR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES IN DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO BRING THE GOOD NEIGHBOR REQUIREMENTS TO THE SEPTEMBER HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW AND
[02:30:03]
DISCUSSION TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS INCLUDING METRICS, AND TO BRING THE METRICS TO THE COMMUNITY INPUT BACK TO THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS COMMITTEE WITHIN 120 DAYS.>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR DISCUSSION?
>> GO AHEAD YOU'VE FIVE MINUTES.
>> WE, AS A CITY, ARE FACING A CHALLENGING TIME WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING OUR UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY OUR SHELTER RESISTANT.
IT IS MY GOAL TO BRING A BALANCE FOR HOUSING FOR HOMELESSNESS AND ARE UNSHELTERED WHILE ADDRESSING THE QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERNS TO OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
TODAY WE ARE BEING ASKED TO EXERCISE THE RENEWAL FOR THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT ALONG WITH THE INCREASE IN BUDGET FOR THE BRIDGE.
WE ARE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT SPACE TODAY THAN WE WERE WHEN THE BRIDGE FIRST OPENED.
YET THE METRICS, IN PARTICULAR, THE GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS, HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE.
WE MUST HOLD OUR PARTNERS ACCOUNTABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE RECEIVING STEADY FUNDING.
THE METRICS AND THE SPEED MEASURED BY THE CITY AND ADJUST IT TO TODAY'S EXPECTATIONS AND DIRECTION OF OUR COUNCIL.
MY PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL ALLOW US TO REEVALUATE THE AGREEMENT AND TO MEET WITH THE BRIDGE DPD, OFFICE OF HOMELESS DELAYS SOLUTIONS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR NEIGHBORS.
THIS IS A LONG OVERDUE AND WILL RESULT IN A BETTER AGREEMENT WHILE HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE AND MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD IN ADDRESSING OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION.
SOME EARLY NOTABLE CHANGES SHOULD INCLUDE COORDINATION OF REPORTING BETWEEN 311 AND DDI.
EXPAND THE GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT RADIUS.
IT SHOULD INCLUDE LITTER, ENCAMPMENT AND ILLEGAL DUMPING AND OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
REGULAR MEETINGS BETWEEN DPD, CODE, OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS AND STAKEHOLDERS.
PROGRAMMING ON STREET FEEDING, REEVALUATING IN CONTINUOUSLY MEASURING METRICS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE.
IN CLOSING OUR LANDSCAPE HERE AND AROUND THE CBD, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF DOWNTOWN, ARE MUCH DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS BACK IN 2005.
THUS, WE MUST MAKE ONLY THE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO THE CONTRACT.
TOGETHER WE CAN WORK AS ONE IN ORDER TO SOLVE OUR HOMELESSNESS WHILE PROVIDING SERVICES AND ADDRESSING THE THOUSANDS OF CALLS AND REPORTS FROM QUALITY OF LIFE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. THANK YOU.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE MOTION IM 30.
I DON'T SEE ANYONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSE? AYES HAVE IT. MADAM SECRETARY.
[39. 23-1860 Consideration of appointments to boards and commissions and the evaluation and duties of board and commission members (List of nominees is available in the City Secretary's Office)]
SPRING INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION BEGINNING WITH AGENDA ITEM 39.ITEM 39 IS YOUR CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THIS AFTERNOON YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL AND FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THESE NOMINEES WILL BE APPOINTED TO THE 2023, 25 FULL TERM WHICH BEGINS OCTOBER 1, 2023.
YOUR NOMINEES FOR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT TO THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
ELIZABETH SHRUB IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
MISHRA MEETS THE GENERAL PUBLIC SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION, BRADLEY SPELCY IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR PRO TEM TENNELL ATKINS.
TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, ROBERT AGNEW HE'S BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
TO THE CITIZEN HOMELESSNESS COMMISSION, ANGELA CLINTON HOFF IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
MS. CLINTON HOFF MEETS THE GENERAL PUBLIC SPECIAL QUALIFICATION.
TO THE CITY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
LAURIE BLAIR'S BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.
TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ARE NO FO GARZA BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER IN OUR BIAS.
TO THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD DEREK PILGRIMS NOT BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NARVAEZ.
TO THE DALLAS PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION ALAN TALUS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, CHOLINE MARIES BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
TO PARK AND RECREATION BOARD, EARNEST SLAUGHTERS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.
TO THE SENIOR AFFAIRS COMMISSION, [INAUDIBLE] IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
MS. CLARK MEETS THE 55 PLUS YEARS OF AGE SPECIAL QUALIFICATION UNTIL THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION.
SCOTT CHASE IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
MR. CHASE NEEDS THE SERVED IN US MILITARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATION.
YOUR NOMINEES FOR FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENT TO THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION.
SUSAN BOWMAN IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
[02:35:01]
MS. BOWMAN MEETS THE FORMER ETHICS INSTRUCTOR, SPECIAL QUALIFICATION.TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE, 20 BOARD MILE AREA REDEVELOPMENT MIKE SAM'S IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
ALSO TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE 20 BOARD MALL AREA REDEVELOPMENT.
AMY MONIE, IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
THESE ARE YOUR NOMINEES, MR. MAYOR.
>> THE MOTION FOR APPROVAL. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSE? AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM, PLEASE.
>> YOUR NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM 40.
[40. 23-1834 A resolution authorizing the creation of the Charter Review Commission and the appointment of members to the Charter Review Commission - Financing: No cost consideration to the City]
AGENDA ITEM 40 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.> IS THERE A MOTION? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR A DISCUSSION.
SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM.
>> YOUR NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM 41.
[41. 23-2130 Authorize the purchase of four 1,600 Gallon Ice Master T-Series tanks with C & H Outdoor LLC dba SNO-BIZ through the Camion Sourcewell cooperative agreement - Not to exceed $104,715.00 - Financing: General Fund]
ITEM 41 AUTHORIZED A PURCHASE OF FOUR 1600 GALLON ICE MASTER T SERIES TANKS WITH CNH OUTDOOR LLC, DBA, SNOW BASE THROUGH THE K-MEAN ION SOURCE WELL, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NOT TO EXCEED $104,715 THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR.>> THAT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION?
>> MR. RIDLEY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PURPOSE FOR THESE ICE MASTER TANKS?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND YOU GOT TO FEED DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. YES, SIR.
THIS IS THE TANK ACTUALLY THAT WE'RE USING FOR THE ICING AS A PART OF OUR NEW INITIATIVE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY. I'M NOT SURE WHO'S SPEAKING FROM THE CITY STAFF. THERE YOU GO.
>> YES. WE CAN SEE YOU AS WELL. YOU MAY CONTINUE.
>> SORRY, I PLAYING MY VIDEO WAS ON.
YES. AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE HAD FOR PRE-TREATMENT OF THE ROADS AS A PART OF OUR BRINE SOLUTION.
THIS YEAR, THE SPINNER TIME, WE'RE GOING TO PRE-TREAT SOME BRIDGES AND ROADS BASE.
THIS APPLICATION IS BASICALLY TO END AT [INAUDIBLE] REDSHIFT.
>> ARE THESE TWO REPLACING EXISTING TANKS OR ARE THESE BRAND NEW? IS THIS A BRAND NEW SURFACE?
>> THAT'S A BRAND NEW SERVICES.
WE NEVER HAD ANY PRE-TREATMENT.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PRE-TREATMENT ADMINISTRATIVE IN DALLAS.
>> I TAKE THAT THESE WOULD BE UTILIZED JUST ON CITY-OWNED ULTERIOR STREETS AND BRIDGES BECAUSE TEXAS COVERS ALL OF THE STATE HIGHWAYS?
>> THERE'S NO OVERLAP BETWEEN JURISDICTIONS HERE, BETWEEN WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO USE THESE TANKS FOR AND WHAT TEXAS DOES.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? LET'S JUST BE GONE FOR AGAINST ITEM 41, SEEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED, AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE TO YOUR ZONING AGENDA.
[Z7. 23-2046 public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for and an ordinance granting an MU-1 Mixed Use District on property zoned a CR Community Retail District, on the south line of Fordham Road, west of South Lancaster Road Recommendation of Staff: Approval Recommendation of CPC: Approval Z223-165(LG)]
BEFORE WE MOVE TO YOUR ZONING CONSENT AGENDA, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER NARVAEZ WOULD LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED ON ITEM Z7.>> CHAIRMAN, ADVISE YOU RECOGNIZE FOR MOTION.
>> THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO THE FURTHEST ZONING MATTER UNTIL OCTOBER 11TH, 2023.
>> MOVE SECOND. DISCUSSIONS CHAIRMAN.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THIS IS FROM ISN'T DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CAROLYN KING ARNOLD'S DISTRICT, AND SHE ASKED HER IF I COULDN'T MAKE THIS MOTION FOR THE DEFERRAL FOR HER AND I SAID I WOULD, THAT'S WHY I'M DOING IT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
ANYONE ELSE WAS TO BE ON FOR OR AGAINST THE MOTION SEEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED AS HAVING MOTIONS DEFERRED, ITEMS DEFERRED.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO YOUR ZONING CONSENT AGENDA.
[ZONING CONSENT AGENDA]
YOU'RE ZONING CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF ITEMS Z1 THROUGH Z5.ITEM Z1 IS BEING PULLED BY MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS HAS HE HAS A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS.
THEREFORE, YOUR ZONING CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF ITEMS Z2 THROUGH Z5.
I'LL READ THOSE ITEMS INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM Z2 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A TH-38 TOWNHOUSE SUB-DISTRICT AND A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DEED RESTRICTIONS VOLUNTEERED BY THE APPLICANT ON PROPERTY ON THE NORTHWEST LINE OF GARDEN LANE SOUTH OF SECOND AVENUE.
ITEMS Z3 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A CR COMMUNITY RETAIL DISTRICT AND A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DEED RESTRICTIONS VOLUNTEERED BY THE APPLICANT ON PROPERTY
[02:40:03]
ON THE SOUTH CORNER OR WEST LAWSON AND LASSO TO ROAD.ITEM Z4, IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A CS COMMERCIAL SERVICE DISTRICT AND A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DEED RESTRICTIONS VOLUNTEERED BY THE APPLICANT ON PROPERTY NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF EMPIRE CENTRAL AND OAK BROOK BOULEVARD AND ITEM Z5 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AND RR REGIONAL RETAIL DISTRICT AND A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DEED RESTRICTIONS VOLUNTEERED BY THE APPLICANT ON PROPERTY ON THE EAST LINE OF SALAD COCKEREL HILL ROAD SOUTH OF EAST RED BIRD LANE.
YOU DO HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ZONING CONSENT ITEMS Z2, AFTER WHICH IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE PUBLIC AND THE AUDIENCE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
YOUR SPEAKER ON CONSENT, ITEM Z2, MUSTAFA [INAUDIBLE].
YOU'LL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I'M THE OWNER OF 3411 GARDEN AVENUE.
WE'RE PROPOSING A TOWN HOME ZONING CHANGE BECAUSE IT'S CONVENIENTLY LOCATED BETWEEN A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ON ONE SIDE AND AN END OF RESIDENTIAL ON THE OTHER.
I FEEL THERE'S A NEED OF THE HOUR TO CREATE A HIGH DENSITY ZONING, AND THIS OPPORTUNITY IS PERFECT TO HAVE A DUPLEX TWO UNITS TO DWELLINGS ON OUR LAND TO ALLOW FOR ANOTHER ADDITIONAL RENTAL UNIT.
IT'S BEEN HARD RECENTLY, MOST OF THE BUYERS FOR HOME BUYERS HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING QUALIFIED FOR LOANS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH INTEREST RATES.
THIS ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HOUSING.
I VOLUNTEERED FOR ALL THE DEED RESTRICTIONS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF AND COUNSEL TO KEEP IT WITHIN THE RULES OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I REST MY CASE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE FEEL FREE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK [NOISE] ON ANY OF THE ZONING ITEMS THAT WOULD JUST READ INTO THE RECORD, ITEM Z2 THROUGH Z5.
[BACKGROUND] THERE ARE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS.
MR. MAYOR, THIS IS YOUR ZONING CONSENT AGENDA.
>> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ZONING CONSENT AGENDA?
>> WONDERFUL. ANYONE WANT TO DISCUSS IT.
SEEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ZONING CONSENT AGENDA ADOPTED.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ZONING ITEM Z1.
[Z1. 23-2040 public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for and (1) an ordinance granting a Planned Development District for MU-1 Mixed Use District uses; (2) an ordinance granting the termination of Specific Use Permit No. 891 for an establishment for the care of alcoholic, narcotic, and psychiatric patients; and (3) a resolution accepting the termination of the existing deed restrictions [Z823-227] on property zoned an MF-1(A) Multifamily District on the west line of University Hills Boulevard, northwest of the intersection of East Wheatland Road and University Hills Boulevard Recommendation of Staff: Approval, subject to a development plan and conditions Recommendation of CPC: Approval, subject to a development plan and conditions Z212-161(MP)]
MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS HAS A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS AND WILL BE LEAVING ON THIS ITEM.ZONING ITEM Z1 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND ONE AND ORDINANCE GRANTING A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR MU-1 MIXED-USE DISTRICT USES TO AN ORDINANCE GRANTING THE TERMINATION OF SPECIFIC USE PERMIT NUMBER 891 FOR AN ESTABLISHMENT FOR THE CARE OF ALCOHOLIC, NARCOTIC AND PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS, AND THREE, A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE TERMINATION OF THE EXISTING DEED RESTRICTIONS ON PROPERTY ON THE WEST LINE OF UNIVERSITY HEELS BOULEVARD, NORTHWEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF E SWEET LAND ROAD AND UNIVERSITY HEELS BOULEVARD.
>> MR. MAYOR, WE SENT 22 NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 500 FEET OF THE AREA OF REQUESTS.
WE RECEIVED ONE REPLY IN FAVOR AND ZERO REPLIES IN OUR POSITION OF THE REQUESTS.
>> ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM, ITEM Z1.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. A MOTION ON Z1? MOVE APPROVAL. THERE YOU GO.
ANY DISCUSSION ASSUMING THERE ISN'T ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSE? AYES HAVE IT, YOU CAN BRING. THAT GETS BACK.
>> [OVERLAPPING] MAYOR, SHE MAY RETURN TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO YOUR FIRST INDIVIDUAL ZONING ITEM, ITEM Z6.
[Z6. 23-2045 public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for and an ordinance granting a CR Community Retail District and a resolution accepting the deed restrictions volunteered by the applicant on property zoned an LO-3 Limited Office District and a CS Commercial Service District, on the northeast line of North Haskell Avenue, northwest of Worth Street Recommendation of Staff: Approval of an NS(A) Neighborhood Service District, in lieu of a CR Community Retail District with deed restrictions volunteered by the applicant Recommendation of CPC: Approval of a CR Community Retail District, subject to deed restrictions volunteered by the applicant Z223-149(MP)]
ITEM Z6 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A CR COMMUNITY RETAIL DISTRICT AND A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE DEED RESTRICTIONS VOLUNTEERED BY THE APPLICANT ON PROPERTY ON THE NORTHEAST LINE UP NORTH HASKELL AVENUE, NORTHWEST UPWARD STREET.>> MR. MAYOR, WE SENT A TEAM NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE AREA OF REQUESTS, WILL RECEIVE A ZERO REPLIES IN FAVOR AND ZERO REPLIES IN OPPOSITION.
[02:45:02]
>> YOU DO HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM, MICHAEL DAVIS.
ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM, ITEM 6.
>> ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? ITEM Z6.
>> MR. MARINA, YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ONE. ANYBODY?
>> YES MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ZONING CHANGE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND DISCUSSIONS, JEREMY?
ANY OPPOSE HER? THE AYES HAVE IT.
>> ITEM Z8 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING
[Z8. 23-1770 A public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for and an ordinance granting a TH-3(A) Townhouse District and a resolution accepting the deed restrictions volunteered by the applicant on property zoned an R-5(A) Single Family District, on the southwest line of South Fitzhugh Avenue and the northeast line of Caldwell Avenue, north of South Haskell Avenue Recommendation of Staff: Approval, subject to deed restrictions volunteered by the applicant Recommendation of CPC: Approval, subject to deed restrictions volunteered by the applicant Z212-347(RM) Note: This item was deferred by the City Council before opening the public hearing on June 28, 20123 and is scheduled for consideration on August 23, 2023.]
A TH-3A TOWNHOUSE DISTRICT AND A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE DEED RESTRICTIONS VOLUNTEERED BY THE APPLICANT ON PROPERTY ON THE SOUTHWEST LINE OF SOUTH FITS YOU AVENUE AND THE NORTHEAST LINE OF CALDWELL AVENUE, NORTH OF SOUTH HASKELL AVENUE.>> MR. MAYOR, WE SENT 32 NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE AREA REQUEST.
WE RECEIVED A ZERO REPLIES IN FAVOR IN THREE REPLIES IN OPPOSITION OF THE REQUESTS.
>> YOU DO HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, MUSTAFA [INAUDIBLE]
>> HELLO. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.
I'M ALSO THE OWNER FOR THE LORD ON 14, 1950 AVENUE, AND WE'RE PROPOSING DOWN ON ZONING THERE.
THE SIMILARITIES END THERE BECAUSE THERE'S LOT IS UNIQUELY SITUATED IN REGARD TO STREETS ON THE BACK OF THE LOT AND THE FRONT ON FITZHUGH.
WHAT I'M PROPOSING IS HOMES THAT WILL LOOK AND MIMIC EXACTLY WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS, AND WILL BE NO DIFFERENT FROM THE STREET AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WILL ESSENTIALLY LOOK LIKE TWO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES FACING EACH STREET.
THEY MIGHT BE CONCERNS ABOUT USING THE TOWN HOME AS ANY OTHER TWO-STORY OR SIMILAR TO TYPICAL TOWN HOMES, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE VOLUNTEERING DEED RESTRICTIONS TO ENSURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM, ITEM C8.
NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, MR. MAYOR.
>> IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ONE?
>> YES, MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ZONING CHANGES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVING TO SECONDS OR ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH ANYONE ELSE? WONDERFUL. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM?
[PH1. 23-1974 A public hearing to receive comments on the FY 2023-24 Operating, Capital, and Grant & Trust Budgets; the adoption of the ordinance will occur on September 20, 2023 - Financing: No cost consideration to the City]
PH1 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS ON THE FY 2023, 24 OPERATING CAPITAL AND GRANT AND TRUST BUDGETS.THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE WILL OCCUR ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2023.
YOU DO HAVE SIX INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM AFTER WHICH WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR FURTHER COMMENTS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
YOUR FIRST SPEAKER IS CONNIE BUFORD.
I LIVE AT 1416 HUTS BED AVENUE.
TODAY I'M UNDRESSING YOU AS A RESIDENT, AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE.
I'M HERE TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 OF THE BUDGET FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE AND RESIDENTS FOR ALL OF CITY DALLAS ABOUT THE GUNSHOTS, PURCHASING GUNSHOT DETECTION EQUIPMENT THAT IDENTIFIES RANDOM GUNFIRE.
WE ARE ASKING THE CITY OF DALLAS TO CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS TO DETECT THE GUNFIRE FOR THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS.
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD MANY TIMES THAT IT'S NOT COSTLY,
[02:50:02]
AND THEN WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING IS NOT A GOOD FIT FOR DALLAS.HOWEVER, I HAVE WITNESSED THESE GUNSHOT DETECTORS IN REAL-TIME, 4TH OF JULY I WAS VISITING ANOTHER STATE, AND WHILE VISITING, GUN SHOTS WERE FIRED, THE HELICOPTERS WERE THERE SO FAST SHE COULDN'T EVEN GET TO YOUR CELLPHONE.
THE OFFICERS WERE COMING DOWN THE STREET.
THE COLLECTION OF THE DATA AND THE PROGRESS OF USING THE DATA HELPS DETOUR RANDOM GUNSHOTS PLUS FIREWORKS.
IN 2023 ALL THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE ACCESS TO SHOULD NOT HAVE DODGE, BUT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK CITIZENS DODGE BULLETS AND FEAR FOR OUR LIFE.
FOR EXAMPLE, MY HUSBAND WAS WORKING IN THE BACKYARD GUNSHOTS RUN OUT ALL TYPES.
HIS QUOTE WAS, I FELT LIKE I WAS IN THE OLD CAKE RAIL.
HE HAD TO LAY FLAT ON THE GROUND FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE THE BULLETS, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS COULD DO BETTER.
I HAVE BEEN IN THIS AREA FOR QUITE AWHILE, AND I'M THINKING TECHNOLOGY SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM FOR THESE LARGE CITY OF DALLAS.
>> HARRY SWANSON, A223, CLAREMONT AVENUE, DISTRICT 7.
HOUSING IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN DALLAS AND IN THE WORLD.
WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE THE HOUSING PROBLEM.
I WAS IN TEARS LISTENING TO YOU TODAY.
I WAS REALLY REMINISCING THAT I'D LIKE TO BE BACK WORKING FOR THE CITY.
I ENJOYED THE CONCEPT OF GOING OVER COST AND EVERYTHING.
MY SUGGESTION IS, LET'S DON'T TALK ABOUT COST ANYMORE BECAUSE THE TABLES WERE TURNED 20 YEARS AGO.
THE NORTHERN COUNCIL MEMBERS WANTED TO PUT TIPS IN.
THE SOUTHERN COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, "OH, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE REVENUE." BUT WE IN STAFF SAID NO, IT'S AN INVESTMENT, LET'S TALK ABOUT INVESTMENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN, I THINK AT THAT TIME WE ONLY HAD 450 PEOPLE LIVING IN THE DOWNTOWN WHEN WE STARTED THE TIPS.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THE DOWNTOWN NOW? WE TALKED ABOUT INVESTMENTS, WERE SITTING ON A JOULE FOR HOUSING.
THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF THE CITY OF DALLAS IS THE SAME SIZE GEOGRAPHICALLY AS THE CITY OF ATLANTA, THINK ABOUT THAT.
THERE'S 490,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR? MAYBE WHAT, 50,000? I DON'T KNOW. FIND OUT.
WE'RE SITTING ON A JEWEL, WE'VE GOT DARK DOWN THERE, WE'VE GOT AN AIRPORT DOWN THERE WE'VE GOT TO COLLEGE DOWN THERE, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF LAND TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WAS TEACHING, MENTORING SOME STUDENTS AT THE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER, AT THE DECK CENTER AT RED BIRD, AND I ASKED THEM HOW MUCH THEY ARE PAYING FOR RENT.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT PRICE AND I SAID, WHAT ABOUT A STARTUP HOME? THEY LOOKED AT ME LIKE STARTUP HOME? WHAT'S THE STARTUP HOME? WE DON'T BUILD STARTUP HOMES ANYMORE.
I WANT TO A ULI CONFERENCE HERE IN DALLAS, THERE ARE CONVINCING PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE INCOME TO NOT BUILD, TO SELL ANYMORE, BUILD THE RENT.
WE'RE CREATING ELITE SOCIETY HERE.
PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD HOUSES ANYMORE.
WE'VE GOT A JEWEL IN SOUTHERN DALLAS, LET'S PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOWN THERE.
WE'VE GOT THE DART STOPS, WE CAN PUT PEOPLE IN THERE.
THE PEOPLE DOWN, THEY'RE GOING TO STOP THE JENNIFER CATION.
THEY'RE SMART PEOPLE DOWN THERE THAT LIVE THERE, WE CAN HAVE A GORGEOUS PLACE IN SOUTHERN DALLAS AND BE THE JEWEL OF THE WORLD WHERE WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN A MAJOR CITY.
LET'S STOP TALKING ABOUT COST AND START TALKING ABOUT INVESTMENTS.
THESE ARE INVESTMENTS, THEY'RE NOT COST THEY'RE GOING TO GENERATE REVENUE.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A CITY, GENERATE REVENUE.
[02:55:02]
PLEASE STOP TALKING ABOUT COST, HOW MUCH THAT WOULDN'T BE.>> I'M MARCUS WOULD 5335 RICH LAWN DRIVE IN DISTRICT 9.
I'M A NATIVE DIALYSATE AND PURCHASE MY HOME NEAR LEVERS LAYMAN'S GILMAN IN 1967.
I'VE BEEN ON COMMITTEES IN THE PAST, INCLUDING ZERO ACT FOR YEARS.
I SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND QUESTION IN A REDUCTION IN THE TAX RATE, SIMPLY PUT, COSTS ARE GOING UP, BUT WE NEED THE CITY MUST HAVE REVENUE.
I'VE PROVIDED A DETAILED TWO-PAGE HANDOUT ABOUT SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU AND THE STAFF ABOUT THE BUDGET, BUT I'D LIKE TO EMPHASIZE TWO THINGS.
ONE, THE CITY CHARTER REVIEW IS TO OCCUR THIS COMING YEAR ONCE EVERY TENURE ACTIVITY, PLEASE PROVIDE ADEQUATE STAFF, BUDGET, AND APPOINT A QUALIFIED COMMITTEE TO MODERNIZE THE CITY GOVERNANCE, MODIFY THE CHARTER TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.
I RECENTLY READ THE CHARTER AND I BELIEVE IT'S MID-TWENTIETH CENTURY AND NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.
AS PART OF THIS, PLEASE INSTRUCT THE CITY AUDITOR THIS COMING YEAR TO COMPLETELY REVIEW THE ADEQUACY OF THE 311 SYSTEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND OTHERS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING WITHIN THE CITY CHARTER ON ABUNDANCEMENT OFFICE TO BE FUNDED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
OTHERS SUCH AS NTTA, HAVE ABUNDACEMENT OFFICE FOR THE PUBLIC.
I'M NOT BEING CRITICAL OF THE CURRENT CITY LEADERSHIP OR STAFF, BUT RATHER THE 311 SYSTEM AND ITS USE.
ALL TOO OFTEN SERVICE REQUESTS ARE REPEATEDLY CLOSED PREMATURELY, RESULTING IN CITIZEN COMPLAINTS TO EACH ONE OF YOU.
THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY AS TO ACTIONS.
I FEAR CURRENT FUNDS ARE BEING WASTED THROUGH INEFFICIENCIES AND OUR PROBLEMS NOT BEING CORRECTED.
OFTEN CITIZENS WERE BADLY TREATED FOR VIOLATIONS BEYOND THEIR CONTROL.
VAGRANT AND CABINETS, ILLEGAL DUMPING ON VACANT LOTS AND OTHER PROPERTIES AROUND THE CITY ARE EXAMPLES.
THERE OWNERS ARE BEING TREATED LIKE AN INNOCENT DRIVER GOING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT, BEING HIT BY A REPEAT DRUNK DRIVER, THEN BEING TOLD BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CLAIM THE INTERSECTION, CALL A RECORD AND POSSIBLY GIVEN A FINE FOR GOING THROUGH THE GREEN LIGHT RESULTING IN THE MESS.
WHILE THE DRUNK DRIVER IS BEING ALLOWED TO DO IT AGAIN, PLEASE BE FAIR, CORRECT THE SYSTEMS, THE ORDINANCES, AND THE PROCEDURES, THIS COMING BUDGET YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND PARTICULARLY YOUR CONTINUED DAILY EFFORTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. YOLANDA WILLIAMS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. LET ME MAKE THIS QUICK BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY AT THE EYES.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
I'M IN FAVOR OF LOWER TAXES, AND WHEN YOU HEAR THIS EVERY YEAR, EVERY YEAR BY CB SERVICES AND I'M SORRY.
FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU ALL WOULD GO AFTER THOSE WHO ABUSE SANITATION.
WE ARE VERY SELDOM USE SANITATION MY BULK TRASH.
BUSINESS OWNERS ARE BRINGING OUR BULK TRASH TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS EVERY MONTH, AND IF YOU GO AFTER THEM, YOU CAN FIND THE MONEY.
BUT I'M SPEAKING FOR THOSE WHO ARE 65 YEARS AND OLDER WHO BELIEVE THAT MY COMMUNITY, I KNOW TO SOME PEOPLE, $287 MAY NOT BE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY WHEN YOU OWN A 16 CAR.
I PUT MY OWN ADDRESSING AND MY OWN NAME TO SEE HOW MUCH MY TAXES OR AND OUR SOMEONE ELSE WITH MY SAME NAME, THEY'VE BEEN SOLD UP.
I KNOW WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SOLD, BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE.
THE TAXES THAT THEY PAY IS COMPARED TO THE TEXT IS IN NORTH DALLAS, AND WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING HAS TO GET CUT.
NOW, I'M ALL FOR PEOPLE GET BREAKS.
THIS I'M AWFUL. PEOPLE RECEIVE AND THE BONUSES, BUT SANITATION, AESTHETIC GOING UP, THE WATER'S GONE UP, WAS QUALITY OF SERVICE QUALITY-OF-LIFE IS DECREASING.
NUMBER 2, WE DESPERATE NEED ANOTHER RECREATION CENTER IN DISTRICT 5, WE HAVE ONE RECREATION CENTER.
PLEASANT NOTES, [INAUDIBLE] HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A SENIOR CITIZEN OF FACILITY, WHICH IS GREAT.
THE FIRE STATION BUS SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL IS SO OLD ALL BABY.
WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THEM TO GET A DOUBLE FIRE STATION? THOSE ARE MY THREE REQUESTS.
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I HOPE YOU ALL CAN FIGURE THAT OUT.I'VE WORKED FOR 20 YEARS OR MAYBE ALBUMS LIKE NOT TO DECREASE THE TAXES.
THOSE NEW IF YOU WOULD'VE BEEN A BIG COWS, IF YOU HAD TO PAY 10,000, $12,000, IF YOUR TEXT IS, YOU WILL BE AN AGREEMENT.
WE VOTED FOR YOU ALL TO COME DOWN THERE.
I WANT TO FIGURE IT OUT, BUT EVEN ME MY TAXES ARE STEADY GOING UP AND I WANT TO SEE MY TAXES GO DOWN BECAUSE QUALITY OF LIFE IS NOT IMPROVED.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND I WISH YOU ALL A BLESS SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. JOHN FULLINWIDER.
>> MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M JOHN FULLINWIDER, 1851 FULLER DRIVE IN DISTRICT 2.
YOU CONSIDER THE BUDGET FOR THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF DBDS, INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS, AND TO SCHEDULE A SERIES OF BRIEFINGS ON THIS SUBJECT.
RECENT REPORTING INDICATES THAT IEDS INVESTIGATIONS DO NOT MEASURE UP TO THE BEST PRACTICES RECOMMENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
PERHAPS THIS IS THE REASON THAT THE ONGOING POLICE BRUTALITY OF OFFICERS LIKE ROGER READ LA CLARK'S DOLLAR AND FORMER OFFICER CHRISTOPHER HESS WAS NOT CHECKED BEFORE OR EVEN AFTER THEY KILLED THREE PEOPLE.
CONSIDER THE CASE OF DYNA LANE A VETERAN WHO'S WOUNDS AND MAKE HIM ELIGIBLE UNDER THE ADA TO USE THE RESTROOM WHENEVER NEEDED.
WHEN HE WAS DENIED ACCESS TO A RESTROOM ON JUNE 10TH OF THIS YEAR BY THE STAFF AT SERIOUS PIZZA.
HE RECEIVED NO HELP FROM TWO DALLAS OFFICERS WORKING OFF-DUTY AT THE RESTAURANT.
MR. LANE LEFT THE RESTAURANT AFTER SOILING HIMSELF TWO ON DUTY OFFICERS ARRIVED IN THE FOUR COPS ALL IN UNIFORM, LAUGHED, AND JOKED ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
ON AUGUST 8TH OF THIS YEAR, IAD REPORTED TO THE POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD THAT IT FOUND "NO VIOLATION OF DEPARTMENT POLICIES OR PROCEDURES".
CONSIDER THE DEATHS IN CUSTODY OF DIDI HALL ON MAY 26TH LAST YEAR.
MS. HALL WAS OBVIOUSLY DISTRESSED WHEN POLICE OFFICERS FIRST STOPPED HER WALKING ALONG GARLAND ROAD, BUT THE OFFICERS EXACERBATE, EVADED HER DISTRESS.
AT EVERY POINT IN THE ENCOUNTER, OFFICERS MOCK MS. HALL, MAN HANDLER TOOK HER TO THE GROUND, PLACED IN A SPIT HOOD.
SHE DIED IN THE AMBULANCE ON THE WAY TO BAYLOR HOSPITAL.
NO CHARGES WERE RECOMMENDED BY IAD AND NONE WERE FILED, AND A YEAR LATER THERE WAS NO INDICTMENT.
YOU REMEMBER THE CASE OF TONY TEMPEH, WHO HAD HIMSELF CALLED POLICE FOR HELP ON AUGUST 10TH, 2016, OFFICERS MOCKED HIM, TOOK HIM TO THE GROUND FACING THE DIRT, AND OFFICERS KNEE AND HIS BACK UNTIL HE WAS DEAD.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT RULE TO DEATH BY HOMICIDE.
BUT THE OFFICERS RETURNED TO DUTY AS USUAL.
NO PROBLEM, AND THEY WERE ON DUTY THAT DAY THEY WERE INDICTED IN DECEMBER 2017.
THE OFFICER WHO HELPS TONY TEMPEH DOWN FOR ALMOST 14 MINUTES, WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR CORPORAL IN MAY OF 22 A POSITION THAT INVOLVES TRAINING ROOKIE OFFICERS.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN A POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT CORRUPTION, WITHOUT MISCONDUCT, WITHOUT EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE, WITHOUT WRONGFUL USE OF DEADLY FORCE, OR WITHOUT ABUSE OF POWER.
BUT CAN WE HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT EFFECTIVELY INVESTIGATES OFFICER, [OVERLAPPING] USES THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, [OVERLAPPING] AND WHEN ABUSES OCCUR, HOLDS OFFICERS ACCOUNTING.
>> LOUIS DARE SET, SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCED.
>> MAYOR JOHNSON. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
MY NAME IS LOUIS DARE SET, I'M A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR THE METROPLEX CIVIC AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.
THE MCBA WAS FOUNDED TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH METRO PLEX.
WE NOW HAVE 120 MEMBER COMPANIES THAT EMPLOY NEARLY 10,000 RESIDENTS.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY, ASKING YOU TO STRONGLY CONSIDER COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSOHN'S NO NEW REVENUE PROPOSAL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 BUDGET.
THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS SOME MAJOR DECISIONS TO MAKE THAT WE'LL HAVE LONG-LASTING EFFECTS, NOT JUST ON DALLAS, BUT ON THE METROPLEX, DALLAS POPULATION HAS BEEN STEADILY GROWING SINCE 1880 UNTIL 2020.
[03:05:06]
THREE YEARS AGO WAS THE INFLECTION POINT, AND SEE IF DALLAS HAS SINCE STARTED LOSING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES.WE'RE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CITY.
DALLAS POPULATION HAS DECREASED 3.36% IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
YET THE CITY'S REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES HAS INCREASED $360 MILLION PER YEAR OR 35%, WHICH IS OUTPACING INFLATION.
YOU TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MANY ON THIS COUNCIL DEMAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IF PLAYED A PART IN STALLING DEVELOPMENTS TO GET IT.
YET THROUGH THIS BUDGET, YOU MAKE HOUSING LESS AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO CAN BARELY AFFORD IT.
IT SEEMS A LITTLE HYPOCRITICAL.
WILL DALLAS SUFFER THE SAME TRAGIC OUTCOMES AT SO MANY GREAT CITIES LIKE SEATTLE, SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES, AND CHICAGO ARE NOW FACING OR WILL IT BUCK THE TREND AND GET ITS FINANCIAL HOUSE AND OPERATIONS IN ORDER? IF YOU'RE CURIOUS, IF WE CAN OVERTAX OUR POPULACE AND THEN SPEND OUR WAY TO A BETTER CITY.
THE CASE STUDIES ARE BACK AND THE ANSWER IS, WE CAN'T JUST LOOK AT SEATTLE, IT'S DYING.
SAN FRANCISCO IS LOSING COMPANIES LEFT AND RIGHT, AND IT'S TAX BASE IS COLLAPSING.
DALLAS HAS JUST STARTED THIS TREND AND RAISING PROPERTY TAX REVENUE VIA A TAX RATE REDUCTION TROJAN HORSE WILL ONLY SPEED UP THE FLIGHT TO THE SUBURBS.
COMPANIES THAT ARE LEAVING OTHER OVERTAX AND OVER-REGULATED CITIES AND STATES ARE NOT MOVING TO DALLAS.
IN A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE DFW GREW MORE THAN EVER, DALLAS MANAGED TO LOSE PEOPLE.
I HEAR MANY OF THE MEMBER COMPANIES THAT ARE WITH MCBA AND THEY TOO ARE LOOKING AT PACKING THEIR BUSINESSES UP AND MOVING TO THE SUBURBS.
WILL YOU BE THE COUNCIL THAT HELPS CRASHED DALLAS FINANCIALLY INTO THE GROUND, OR THE COUNCIL THAT MAKES THE HARD DECISIONS AND TAKES THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED? THE CITY OF DALLAS NEEDS EACH OF YOU TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HELP DALLAS OPERATIONS BECOME SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EFFICIENT.
>> THIS IS YOUR TIME. [NOISE] THANK YOU.
THIS COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO MAKE THIS A REALITY, IF YOU PULL THIS OFF.
>> THAT'S YOUR TIME. THAT MEANS THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THESE ARE YOUR REGISTERS SPEAKERS, SO ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE, ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? ITEM PH1.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING? SIEVING ON THIS ITEM.
I USED TO WORK IN SAN FRANCISCO.
THEY EVEN CREATED A BOARD WHERE THEY PAY PEOPLE OVER $100,000 TO TALK ABOUT CLEANING UP THE POOP IN SAN FRANCISCO.
I PERSONALLY WITNESSED PEOPLE BECAUSE IF THERE'S NO JOBS AND JOBS BEGIN TO LEAVE BECAUSE YOU'RE OVER TAXING THE PEOPLE, PUTTING DRUGS IN THEIR ARM, SMOKING CRACK IN FRONT OF MILLIONAIRES, BILLIONAIRES WALKING BY PEOPLE.
GAVIN NEWSOM, POSSIBLY THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IS A GARBAGE VEAL IN SAN FRANCISCO.
SACRAMENTO, THE HOMELESS CRISIS IS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.
THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING YOU'RE TRYING TO DO WITH OVERTAXING AND NOT PROPERLY DEVELOPING BECAUSE EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU ARE ALLEGEDLY POTENTIALLY CONNECTED TO SPECIAL INTERESTS AND YOU ARE PUTTING PROFITS OVER THE PEOPLE.
WE WANT SUCCESS AND YOUR SUCCESS ENDS UP BEING OUR FAILURE.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE CUT THAT GENTLEMAN OFF.
YOU SHOULD GIVE MORE TIME TO PEOPLE TO TALK.
I RESPECT WHAT YOU ALL DOING, ALLOWING FOR THE PEOPLE TO COME AND SPEAK WITHOUT SIGNING UP.
THAT'S A GREAT START ON PROTECTING THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
BUT MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING LESS WITH WHAT YOU HAVE AND SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE, BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING IRRESPONSIBLE.
EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU.
THE GOOD ONE OF YOU, THE GOOD COUNSEL PEOPLE THAT'S UP THERE, YOU'RE BEING DRAGGED DOWN BY THE HORRIBLE COUNSEL PEOPLE.
I REMEMBER AT THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADE, WHAT THEY DID WAS SOMEONE STOLE A TOW TRUCK.
[03:10:01]
SOMEONE CARVE IN, WHILE WE WERE IN THERE SIGNING UP TO BE A PART OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S PARADE, A CELEBRATION OF ALL THAT WE WENT THROUGH AS THE NEGRO PEOPLE HERE IN AMERICA.THE POLICE OFFICER TOLD THE PERSON TO CALL IT IN, AND THEY FOUND HIS CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
THAT'S THE REASON THE CRIME STATS ARE GOING DOWN, BECAUSE THEY'RE PADDING THE STATS, BUT POVERTY IS GOING UP, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING TAXES IN THIS BUDGET? WE DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT REVISITING HOW THE CHARTER IS EVEN DESIGNED.
WHEN WAS IT CREATED BY MR. NEVY? THIS CITY WAS FOUNDED OVER 180 YEARS AGO.
SO MAKE SURE WHILE YOU'RE IN THAT POSITION YOU DO GOOD.
WE'RE ONLY GIVEN A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME ON THIS PLANET.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE? NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, MR. MAYOR.
>> I'M ENTERTAINING A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
>> NEWTON'S SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSE? HEARING IS CLOSED. NEXT ITEM.
[PH3. 23-1984 Dallas Downtown Improvement District A public hearing to receive comments concerning: (1) the proposed levy of assessment for the Dallas Downtown Improvement District (the “District”), in accordance with Chapter 372, Texas Local Government Code, for the purpose of providing supplemental public services to be funded by special assessments on property in the District; and, at the close of the public hearing: (2) authorize an ordinance approving and adopting the final 2024 Service Plan, the final 2023 Assessment Plan, the 2023 Assessment Roll (to be kept on file with the City Secretary) and 2024 Notice of Obligation to Pay Improvement District Assessment (to be filed with Dallas County); (3) establishing classifications for the apportionment of costs and the methods of assessing special assessments for the services and improvements to property in the District; (4) closing the public hearing and levying a special assessment on property in the District for services and improvements to be provided in the District during 2024; (5) providing for reimbursement of city administrative costs for operational oversight of the District; (6) establishing charges and liens against the property in the District and against the owners thereof; (7) providing for the collection of the 2023 assessment; (8) authorizing the receipt and deposit of assessments from Dallas County; (9) authorizing the disbursement of assessments and interest to Downtown Dallas, Inc.; and (10) providing for an effective date - Not to exceed actual collections estimated at $11,120,756.38 - Financing: Dallas Downtown Improvement District Fund ($10,199,987.59), General Fund ($614,012.10), and Convention and Event Services Enterprise Fund ($306,756.69) (subject to appropriations) (see Fiscal Information)]
WE'LL MOVE AHEAD TO PUBLIC HEARING 3.I'LL READ THAT ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
PH 3 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS CONCERNING ONE, THE PROPOSED LEVY OF ASSESSMENT FOR THE DALLAS DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
THE DISTRICT AND OF COURSE, WITH CHAPTER 372, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL PUBLIC SERVICES TO BE FUNDED BY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS ON PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT AND AT THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
TWO, AUTHORIZE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE FINAL 2024 SERVICE PLAN, THE FINAL 2023 ASSESSMENT PLAN, THE 2023 ASSESSMENT ROLL TO BE KEPT ON FILE WITH THE CITY SECRETARY, AND 2024, NOTICE OF OBLIGATION TO PAY IMPROVEMENT, DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS TO BE FILED WITH DALLAS COUNTY.
THREE, ESTABLISHING CLASSIFICATIONS FOR APPORTIONMENT OF COST AND THE METHODS OF ASSESSING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT.
FOUR, CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND LEVYING A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ON PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT FOR SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO BE PROVIDED IN THE DISTRICT DURING 2024.
FIVE, PROVIDING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF CITY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT OF THE DISTRICT.
SIX, ESTABLISHING CHARGES AND LIENS AGAINST THE PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT AND AGAINST THE OWNERS THEREOF.
SEVEN, PROVIDING FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE 2023 ASSESSMENT.
EIGHT, AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT AND DEPOSIT OF ASSESSMENTS FROM DALLAS COUNTY.
NINE, AUTHORIZING THE DISBURSEMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND INTERESTS IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS INC AND 10, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
YOU DO HAVE ONE REGISTER SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM.
YOU'D BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES. YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> I JUST CAME TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? THE DOWNTOWN DALLAS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
NO FURTHER SPEAKERS MR. MAYOR.
>> WHAT MOTION DO WE NEED HERE?
>> YOU NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSE? AYES, HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR NEXT ITEM WILL BE PH 6.
[PH6. 23-1988 Klyde Warren ParkDallas Public Improvement District A public hearing to receive comments concerning: (1) the proposed levy of assessment for the Klyde Warren Park/Dallas Arts District Public Improvement District (the “District”), in accordance with Chapter 372, Texas Local Government Code, for the purpose of providing supplemental public services to be funded by special assessments on property in the District; and, at the close of the public hearing (2) authorize an ordinance approving and adopting the final 2024 Service Plan, the final 2023 Assessment Plan, the 2023 Assessment Roll (to be kept on file with the City Secretary) and 2024 Notice of Obligation to Pay Improvement District Assessment (to be filed with Dallas County); (3) establishing classifications for the apportionment of costs and the methods of assessing special assessments for the services and improvements to property in the District;(4) closing the public hearing and levying a special assessment on property in the District for services and improvements to be provided in the District during 2024; (5) providing for reimbursement of city administrative costs for operational oversight of the District; (6) establishing charges and liens against the property in the District and against the owners thereof; (7) providing for the collection of the 2023 assessment; (8) authorizing the receipt and deposit of assessments from Dallas County; (9) authorizing the disbursement of assessments and interest to Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation; and (10) providing for an effective date - Not to exceed actual collections estimated at $1,878,075.00 - Financing: Klyde Warren Park/Dallas Arts District Public Improvement District Fund (subject to appropriations) (see Fiscal Information)]
PH 6 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS REGARDING ONE, THE PROPOSED LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE KLYDE WARREN PARK, DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.THE DISTRICT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 372, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL PUBLIC SERVICES TO BE FUNDED BY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS ON PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT, AND AT THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
TWO, AUTHORIZE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE FINAL 2024 SERVICE PLAN, THE FINAL 2023 ASSESSMENT PLAN, THE 2023 ASSESSMENT ROLL TO BE KEPT ON FILE WITH THE CITY SECRETARY AND 2024, NOTICE OF OBLIGATION TO PAY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ASSESSMENT TO BE FILED WITH DALLAS COUNTY.
THREE, ESTABLISHING CLASSIFICATIONS FOR THE APPORTIONMENT OF COST AND THE METHODS OF ASSESSING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT.
FOUR, CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND LEVYING A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT FOR SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO BE PROVIDED IN THE DISTRICT DURING 2024.
FIVE, PROVIDING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF CITY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT OF THE DISTRICT.
SIX, ESTABLISHING CHARGES AND LIENS AGAINST THE PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT AND AGAINST THE OWNERS THEREOF.
[03:15:01]
SEVEN, PROVIDING FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE 2023 ASSESSMENT.EIGHT, AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT AND DEPOSIT OF ASSESSMENTS FROM DALLAS COUNTY.
NINE, AUTHORIZING THE DISBURSEMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND INTERESTS TO WOODALL ROGERS PARK FOUNDATION AND 10, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
YOU DO HAVE ONE REGISTER SPEAKER FOR THIS ITEM.
CHRIS HEINBAUGH, YOU'D BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, MR. MANAGER, COUNCIL.
I'M CHRIS HEINBAUGH WITH THE AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF THE KLYDE WARREN PARK, DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT PID.
I DON'T HAVE ANY REMARKS. I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
I DID NOT COMPARE NOTES WITH SARAH OR OMAR OR ANYBODY ON OUR ATTIRE TODAY.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM, PH 6.
NO FURTHER SPEAKERS MR. MAYOR.
>> LOOKING FOR A MOTION ON PH 6.
>> SO MOVED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSE? AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM.
[PH2. 23-2006 A public hearing to consider authorizing a public hearing to amend (1) the relocation of certain detached non-premise signs provisions in 51A-7.307; (2) the digital displayed on certain detached non-premise sign provisions in Section 51A-7.308; and (3) the non-conformance and enforcement procedures in Division 51A-7.700 of the Dallas City Code (This is a hearing to consider the request to authorize the hearing and not the ordinance amending the Dallas City Code at this time) - Financing: No cost consideration to the City]
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW GO BACK TO PUBLIC HEARING 2, PH2.
PH2 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AUTHORIZING A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND ONE, THE RELOCATION OF CERTAIN DISPATCH, NON-PREMISE SIGNS PROVISIONS IN 51A-7.307, TWO, THE DIGITAL DISPLAYED ON CERTAIN DETACH NON-PREMISE SIGN PROVISIONS IN SECTION 51A-7.308 AND THREE, THE NON-CONFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES IN DIVISION 51A-7.700 OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE.
YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY REGISTER SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.
ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS HEARING ITEM.
ITEM PH2. NO SPEAKERS MR. MAYOR.
>> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSE? NO. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM.
>> WE GOT TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
IN OPPOSE. NO, I HAVE IT CARRIED.
[Items PH4, PH5 & PH7 - PH15]
>> THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE REMAINING PUBLIC HEARINGS, PUBLIC HEARING PH 4, PH 5, AND PH 7, THROUGH PH 15 BE CONSIDERED COLLECTIVELY? THERE'S NO OBJECTION.
>> THANK YOU. ITEMS PH 4, PH 5, PH 7, PH 8, PH 9, PH 10, PH 11, PH 12, PH 13, PH 14 AND PH 15 WILL BE CONSIDERED COLLECTIVELY.
THERE ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR DALLAS TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, DEEP ELLUM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, KNOX STREET PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, LAKE HIGHLANDS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, MIDTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, NORTH LAKE HIGHLANDS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, OAKLAND HIGHLINE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, PRESTONWOOD PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, SOUTHSIDE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, UNIVERSITY CROSSING PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND UPTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ARE TO RECEIVE COMMENTS CONCERNING ONE, THAT PROPOSED LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE DALLAS TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, DEEP ELLUM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, KNOX STREET PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, LAKE HIGHLANDS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, MIDTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, NORTH LAKE HIGHLANDS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, OAKLAND HIGHLINE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT PRESTONWOOD PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, SOUTHSIDE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, UNIVERSITY CROSSING PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AND UPTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
DISTRICTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 372, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL PUBLIC SERVICES TO BE FUNDED BY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS ON PROPERTIES IN THE DISTRICTS AND AT THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS TO AUTHORIZE ORDINANCES, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE FINAL 2024 SERVICE PLANS, THE FINAL 2023 ASSESSMENT PLANS, THE 2023 ASSESSMENT ROLES TO BE KEPT ON FILE WITH THE CITY SECRETARY IN 2024, NOTICE OF OBLIGATION TO PAY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS TO BE FILED WITH DALLAS COUNTY.
THREE ESTABLISHING CLASSIFICATIONS FOR THE APPORTIONMENT OF COST AND THE METHODS OF ASSESSING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO PROPERTIES AND THE DISTRICTS.
FOUR, CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND LEVYING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS ON PROPERTIES IN THE DISTRICTS FOR SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO BE PROVIDED IN THE DISTRICTS BY PROVIDING FOR
[03:20:02]
REIMBURSEMENT SUBSIDY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT OF THE DISTRICT.SIX, ESTABLISHING CHARGES AND LIENS AGAINST THE PROPERTIES AND THE DISTRICTS IN AGAINST THE OWNERS THEREOF.
SEVEN, PROVIDING FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE 2023 ASSESSMENTS.
EIGHT, AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT AND DEPOSIT OF ASSESSMENTS FROM DALLAS COUNTY.
NINE, AUTHORIZING THE DISBURSEMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND INTEREST TO THE DALLAS TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CORPORATION, DEEP ELLUM FOUNDATION, KNOX STREET IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CORPORATION, LAKE HIGHLANDS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CORPORATION, MIDTOWN MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, OAKLAND HIGHLINE IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION, PRESTONWOOD HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, SOUTHSIDE QUARTER DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, UNIVERSITY CROSSING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT COOPERATION, UPTOWN INC.
TEN, PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATES FOR THE DALLAS TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CORPORATION, DEEP ELLUM FOUNDATION, KNOX STREET IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CORPORATION, LAKE HIGHLANDS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CORPORATION, MIDTOWN MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, OAKLAND HIGHLINE IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION, PRESTONWOOD HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION, SOUTHSIDE QUARTER DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, UNIVERSITY CROSSING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT COOPERATION.
ELEVEN, REQUIRING CITY STAFF TO FILE A COPY OF THE AMENDED SERVICE PLAN AND NOTICE WITH THE DALLAS COUNTY CLERK AND 12 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THE UPTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
THIS IS YOUR ITEM. YOU DO HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON VARIOUS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
YOUR SPEAKER WILL BE FRED EULA ON PUBLIC ON PH 4, WHICH IS YOUR DALLAS TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE DALLAS TOURISM IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10 ON FIELDCROSS DRIVE, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER, STEPHANIE KELLER HUDIBURG.
HUDIBURG WILL BE SPEAKING ON PH 5 DEEP ELLUM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
YOUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SALLY ROE, WHO WILL BE SPEAKING ON PH 7, KNOX STREET PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
>> I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF KNOX STREET PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
>> .THANK YOU. YOUR NEXT SPEAKERS WILL BE SPEAKING ON PUBLIC HEARING AID.
LAKE HIGHLANDS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, LINDA SHERMAN.
WE'LL MOVE ON. I'M TOLD MS. SHERMAN IS NOT PRESENT.
TAYLOR IS PRESENT. MS. TAYLOR.
>> YEAH. I'M TRYING TO TURN MY CAMERA AND IT'S NOT ALLOWING ME TO, BUT [INAUDIBLE].
>> MS. TAYLOR, SINCE YOUR VIDEO IS NOT VISIBLE, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M TOLD MS. STEPHANIE KELLER HUDIBURG IS PRESENT.
MS. HUDIBURG. WE WILL MOVE ON.
YOUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SPEAKING ON THE MIDTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
>> I'M SORRY, MS. FREEMAN. WE CAN HEAR YOU HI OVER YOUR VIDEO IS NOT DISPLAYING.
IT'S LAGGING A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DID, HE HAD TURNED ON VIDEO START VIDEO, SO IT SHOULD BE SHOWING UP.
>> IT'S NOT OKAY. CONTINUE SPEAKING.
>> WERE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOUR VIDEO IS NOT DISPLAYING.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD DISPLAY BY NOW.
[03:25:03]
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR VIDEO IS DISPLAYING.I'M GOING TO MOVE ON, I'LL COME BACK TO YOU, MS. FREEMAN.
>> YOUR NEXT SPEAKER? VICKY TAYLOR, AGAIN, WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON NORTH LAKE HIGHLANDS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
>> THIS IS VICKY. MY CAMERA [INAUDIBLE] NOW.
>> MS. TAYLOR, YOU MAY CONTINUE SPEAKING ON BOTH ITEMS, LAKE HIGHLANDS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND NORTH LAKE HIGHLANDS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS VICKY TAYLOR.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LAKE HIGHLANDS AND [INAUDIBLE] PUBLIC AND [INAUDIBLE] I'M HERE TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED.
>> HELLO. I'M SHANNON FREEMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE MIDTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND I AM OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS FROM COUNCIL THAT THEY MAY HAVE FOR THE MIDTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ASSESSMENT AND ANY OTHER THINGS?
>> THANK YOU. YOUR NEXT SPEAKER BE SPEAKING ON THE OAKLAND HIGHLINE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, CHARLOTTE CARR.
>> HI, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE REGARDING THE OAKLAND HIGHLINE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER BE SPEAKING ON PRESTON WOOD PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, JIM MILLS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JIM MILLS, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE REGARDING THE PRESTON WOOD PIT.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER BE SPEAKING ON THE SOUTHSIDE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, SHANNON BROWN-KEY.
SHANNON BROWN-KEY, 1409, NOT CONTAIN BOULEVARD, APARTMENT 503.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOUTHSIDE QUARTER DEVELOPMENT CORE, AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE RELATED TO THE PERIOD ITEMS, ALSO, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SPEAKING ON THE UNIVERSITY CROSSING IN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
>> YES. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY [OVERLAPPING]
>> CONTINUE SPEAKING. I'M SORRY, MR. SANDERS.
>> QUITE ALRIGHT, I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR NEXT SPEAKER BE SPEAKING ON THE UPTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. JAMIE JOLLY.
JAMIE JOLLY, I'M THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPTOWN DALLAS INC, AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THESE ARE YOUR REGISTER SPEAKERS FOR THESE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. ARE ANY ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS, YOU MAY COME FORWARD.
PLEASE STATE WHICH PUBLIC HEARING YOU'LL BE SPEAKING ON.
>> I LIKE TO BE SPEAKING ON, I CAN'T RECALL, BUT IT'S THE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR THE SOFT SIDE AND AS WELL AS THE TOURIST IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, I'LL GET THOSE ITEMS. I HOPE THAT'S SUFFICIENT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE JAW ALLOW FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE ACTUAL INPUT EVEN ON THE FLY.
I KNOW THE SOUTHSIDE IS NEAR WHERE WE LIVE, BUT I DIDN'T MENTION ANY IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTRICT 7 BECAUSE IT'S A MESS THERE.
WE DON'T HAVE NO REPRESENTATION AND IT'S HORRIBLE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TOURISM IN AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
TOURISM IS GOING TO BE HIT HARD IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THE FOCUS IS ONLY ON THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE HERE.
THERE'S MORE MONEY TO BE MADE BY A CITY OF HAPPY FAMILIES WITH MOMMY AND DADDY IN THE HOUSE TO GO DO STUFF ON THE WEEKEND.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPROVING FOR TOURISTS, IT'S TALKING ABOUT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE HERE BECAUSE CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME, QUALITY OF LIFE BEGINS AT HOME.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN SENEGAL, THEY BUILT A $27 MILLION OF BRONZE STATUE THAT'S 171 FEET TALL, AND IT BRINGS IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF REVENUE, JUST INVESTMENT OF $27 MILLION.
WE LET THE COWBOYS LEAVE, AND YET DO WE GET ANY REVENUE FOR THEM TAKING OUR NAME? JERRY JONES, AND THE FORMAL COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR WAS VERY SELFISH TO LET THE COWBOYS LEAVE AFTER ALL OF THAT INVESTMENT, REGARDLESS OF HOW THE DEAL WENT DOWN, HAD THE COWBOY HAS BEEN IN FAIR APART, THE PROPERTY VALUE WOULD HAVE WENT THROUGH THE ROOF.
YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF BLACKS, HISPANICS, AND POOR WHITES OUT OF POVERTY JUST BY
[03:30:02]
SELLING A HOUSE IS CALLED THE PROPERTY VALUE WOULD HAVE BEEN INCREASED LIKE IT'S DOING RIGHT NOW FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN EAST DALLAS.I WAS IN SAN FRANCISCO, I'VE LIVED IN CALIFORNIA, I'VE LIVED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND I CAN TELL YOU, IT'S A MESS, NOBODY WANTS TO REALLY COME HERE, YOU'RE NOT BUILDING ANYTHING, THEY'RE GOING TO ARLINGTON, THEY WANTED THE SUPER BOWL BE ON SALE, BE HERE, THEY'RE GOING TO GET HOTELS THERE FIRST AND WE OWE OUR LAST RESULTS.
YOU NEED TO FIGHT FOR THE TOURISM DOLLARS BECAUSE IT CAN POSSIBLY GO INTO THE GENERAL REFORM.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS IMPROVE DISTRICT 7.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU STRAIGHT UP, IMPROVED MY DISTRICT.
THE NORTH SIDE, THE EAST SIDE, THEY'RE GETTING EVERYTHING, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE.
THEN THE MONEY IS FLOWING IN FOR TOURISM BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE IN DUBAI, THEY WANT TO BE IN A SOUTH SIDE OF PARIS, FRANCE OR GO SEE THE EIFFEL TOWER OR THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA OVER THERE, GO TO DUBAI OR ANY OTHER PLACE, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO COME WHERE PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY.
YOU OVERTAXING PEOPLE, AND THE JOHN F KENNEDY THING IS, IT HAPPENED.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE, GET THE COWBOYS BACK, I'LL GET A NEW EXPANSION TEAM, NOW THAT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS THAT WERE JUST READ INTO THE RECORD? NO FURTHER SPEAKERS. MR. MAYOR?
>> ANY SPEAKER? COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.
>> THESE ARE MY PEOPLE, SO I JUST HAD TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU JAMIE, THANK YOU JENNIFER, THANK YOU VICKY, THANK YOU PATRICK, THANK YOU STEPHANIE.
THERE IS SO MUCH GREAT WORK GOING ON IN THE CITY WITH OUR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR THAT.
THEY ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY, BEAUTIFICATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
IN SO MANY WAYS, THEY DIG INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND REALLY MAKE IT COME TO LIFE AND I THINK WE NEED TO JUST TELL THEM THANK YOU WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE, WHEN YOU RUN INTO THEM, OR THEY COME TO YOUR MEETING, OR THEY ASK YOU FOR SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY DO ASK THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THINGS AND THEY SHOULD ASK THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THINGS.
ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND THANK THEM AND WISH THEM GOOD LUCK AS THEY PLAN FOR A WONDERFUL 2024. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENTS, OUR GRATITUDE TOWARDS OUR PARTNERS AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT THE RECORD REFLECTS THAT STEPHANIE WAS ON BUT WASN'T ABLE TO CONNECT DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL WOMAN MENDELSOHN. SORRY.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S GOING TO BE ONCE.
>> COUNCIL WOMAN WILLIS BEFORE MENDELSOHN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I TOO WOULD LIKE TO ECHO EVERYTHING YOU SAID AND LEAVE IT TO OUR FORMER DIRECTOR TO BE ABLE TO SUM IT UP SO NICELY.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.
BUT I DO WANT TO CALL OUT PH9, WHICH IS THE MIDTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES VICKERY MEADOW.
THEY ARE REALLY HELPING ADVANCE THE CITY'S OBJECTIVES BY FUNDING SOME STUDIES THAT CAN HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL TO GROW OUR TAX BASE AND REALLY HELP THE NEIGHBORS ON THE GROUND IN VICKERY MEADOW.
THEY FUNDED A STRATEGIC MOBILITY STUDY, ECONOMIC FISCAL IMPACT STUDY, BUILDING SOPAC TRAILHEADS FOR THE CITY, WORKING WITH GISD TO WIDEN SIDEWALKS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY KIDS ON FOOT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, CONVENING PROPERTY OWNERS OF APARTMENTS TO HELP US MANAGE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AROUND CRIME, COORDINATING WITH THE VICKERY JUSTICE CENTER TO HAVE A SATELLITE LOCATION FOR SERVICES FROM THE BRIDGE AND IT JUST GOES ON AND ON.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MID LEADERSHIP AND TO STAFF THAT ATTENDS THOSE BOARD MEETINGS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU'VE INVOLVED CITY STAFF AND REALLY PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO HELP MAKE THAT AREA GET ON THE RIGHT TRAJECTORY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JUST WANT TO SAY, FIRST, WOW, WHAT A LONG LIST THAT WE JUST HAD OUR CITY SECRETARY READ.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT LONG LIST IS, IT'S A LONG LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TAXING OUR RESIDENTS EVEN MORE FOR SERVICES LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY, BEYOND WHAT THEY ALREADY PAY.
THEY'RE PAYING IN TO DO THINGS THAT TYPICALLY ARE A CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY.
I DRIVE INTO CITY HALL AND I SEE THE LITTLE MACHINE THAT'S DOING STREET SWEEPING AND GARBAGE CLEAN UP AND HOMELESS SERVICES AND SAFETY WORK AND THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER OUR CITY WHERE PEOPLE ARE VOLUNTARILY PAYING EVEN MORE TO BE ABLE TO GET THE EFFECTIVE SERVICES THEY NEED.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR MEMBERS FOR BEING WILLING TO DO THAT.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN NECESSARY.
IN MY DISTRICT, THE PRESTONWOOD PID, THIS IS HOMEOWNERS WHO GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING ENOUGH PUBLIC SAFETY AND WERE WILLING TO PAY EXTRA FOR IT.
[03:35:02]
I THINK THAT SHOULD SAY SOMETHING TO US ABOUT THE SERVICES WE'RE DELIVERING. THANK YOU.I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE OAK LAWN HI LINE PID BOARD AND WHAT THEY DO, THEY HELP DO A LOT OF BEAUTIFICATION THERE ALONG THE HI LINE AND WE'RE GETTING A NEW TRAIL THAT'S BEING BUILT AND IT'S A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN THERE AND THEN IT RUNS INTO THE DESIGN DISTRICT, TIF AND PID, AND THIS HAS BEEN HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL.
THESE ARE BUSINESSES THAT ASSESS THEMSELVES, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO PUT IN ORDER TO GET DONE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
THIS ISN'T YOUR TAX DOLLARS, THIS IS THEMSELVES DOING IT ON THEMSELVES AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN BOARD.
WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS JUST FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IS THAT WE COLLECT THE TAXES BECAUSE OF THEIR ASSESSMENT, ALL WE'RE DOING IS PASSING THROUGH WHAT IS THERE.
THIS IS NOT CITY OF DALLAS MONEY.
THIS ACTUALLY IS THEIR MONEY THAT THEY WANTED TO DO.
LUCKY TO HAVE A COUPLE OF THEM IN DISTRICT 6, KOREA TOWN, THE NEWLY DESIGNATED KOREA TOWN, THOSE FOLKS, BECAUSE WE DID DO SOME EQUITY THERE, WE SHOWED THEM THAT WE BELIEVE IN KOREA TOWN AS A CITY, THAT THEY NOW ARE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THEIR PID TOGETHER, BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT FIRST BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY WAS GOING TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO RIGHT BY THEM.
THE PARTNERSHIP NOW IS WORKING AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS A FANTASTIC TOOL.
WHETHER YOU WANT TO DO A PID OR YOU WANT TO DO A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP, IT'S UP TO YOU, BUT THE PID IS A LOT EASIER, IT'S MORE FAIR BECAUSE IT'S JUST YOUR ASSESSMENT WITHIN THAT BOUNDARY IN THAT DISTRICT.
ALL THE PIDS, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO.
NOT JUST THE ONES IN SIX, BUT ACROSS THE CITY BECAUSE OF YOUR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
WHAT YOU ALL SEE YOU NEED AND WANT, IT HELPS IMPROVE THE ENTIRE CITY, WHICH THEN BRINGS IN EVEN HIGHER REVENUES, MORE THINGS HAPPENING ON THE ACTUAL TAXES THAT WE'RE DOING WITHIN OUR CITY BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE DOING THE ARTS AND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSTALLATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SOME OF THESE PLACES AND THE FLOWERS AND THE REALLY NICE THINGS THAT MAKE CERTAIN AREAS LOOK A LOT NICER.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO.
MAYOR ATKINS, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY AND I'M READY TO VOTE YES ON THIS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
>> ANY OPPOSE? AYES CARRY IT. NEXT ITEM.
>> MR. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR ITEMS FOR YOUR AGENDA.
OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS ARE NEXT.
[OPEN MICROPHONE (Part 2 of 2)]
I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY.
I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES. MY APOLOGIES.
SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY, DECORUM, AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL AND PERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS, OR WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN PERSON.
FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION.
INDIVIDUALS ARE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
YOU'RE NOTICED OF TIME ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM.
FOR THOSE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE STOP.
FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ALSO SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME.
ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR ATKINS ONLY.
YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, MARVIN CRENSHAW.
>> MARVIN CRENSHAW, 2704 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, DISTRICT 7.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT CORRUPTION IN 14-1.
AS ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS IN 14-1 AND ROY WILLIAMS WAS BORN AUGUST 20TH, THAT WE ALWAYS DISCUSS CORRUPTION.
THE OTHER DAY I RECEIVED AN EMAIL AND THE TITLE OF IT WAS, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY COUSIN BECAUSE SHE'S
[03:40:02]
ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT SHE'S THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, SO I IGNORED IT.THEN IT POPPED UP AGAIN AND I BEGAN TO READ IT AND IT WAS ABOUT A MEETING OF MANY, MANY, MANY AMERICAN JEWS AND THOSE IN ISRAEL AND THE TOPIC OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN ISRAEL NOW AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE OT, OPT, OR THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES.
THE PERSON WHO WAS SPEAKING FOR THE THING STATED THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN AMERICA WILL NO LONGER BE SILENCED WHEN IT COMES TO ISRAEL AND WHAT IS GOING ON AT THIS PRESENT TIME.
WHAT IS GOING ON? ABOUT 2,500 SCHOLARS, FORMER MILITARY PEOPLE IN ISRAEL, FORMER SCHOLARS AND TEACHERS IN THE US HAS SIGNED A PETITION AND I'M JUST LOOKING AND READING IT.
THEY PROPOSE FOUR ITEMS TO MOVE THINGS ALONG IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE FOURTH ITEM WAS THE ONE THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION AND THAT WAS THE ONE ABOUT AMERICAN POLITICIANS.
THEY SHOULD NO LONGER BE BOUGHT OFF BY APAC, AMERICAN NATIONAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, AND OTHER LARGE ORGANIZATIONS WITH PLENTY OF MONEY, TO BUY THEM OFF TO SUPPORT ISRAEL AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
BUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME, IS THAT THEY COME IN AND THEY CAN BUY AN ELECTION, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S THE ONE THAT'S TIGHT, FAVORING THE OPPOSITION.
THEY CAN COME IN AND GIVE ANOTHER CANDIDATE $200,000 OR $300,000 THAT THEY WOULD NOT ORDINARILY HAVE.
WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
IT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER CITIES.
WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW FOR ANYONE TO COME IN AND CORRUPT OUR SYSTEM WITH MONEY.
SOME OF YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE IT, BUT THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING.
IT'S NOT COMING FROM MARVIN CRENSHAW NOW.
THIS IS AN AGENDA ITEM BEING PUSHED BY AMERICAN JEWS ON THE SHORES OF NORTH AMERICA.
>> THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA AND WE SHOULD CONSIDER THAT MAYOR ATKINS, IS THAT THEY COME IN AND THEY BUY AN ELECTION.
>> YES, THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM A NEW RESIDENT OR REPEAT RESIDENT TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I MOVED HERE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE SECOND DAY THAT I WAS HERE, I FOUND OUT ABOUT A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT AND ERIC, ZIP CODES 75287.
EVER SINCE THEN, MY LIFE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE.
THESE PEOPLE IN THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT, THEY ARE NOT TRULY HOMELESS.
THEY ARE DRUG DEALERS, PROSTITUTES.
THEY BURN FIRES UNDERNEATH A TRANSFORMER.
THEY HAVE A GASOLINE POWERED GENERATOR UNDER A TRANSFORMER.
THE CITIZENS AND THE RESIDENTS OF 75287, AND PARTICULARLY GIBBONS STREET AND TALL OAK, IT IS UP TO US TO POLICE THAT ENCAMPMENT.
I THINK IT WAS ONE WEEK LATER, THEY RETURNED.
DUE TO SOME VIGILANT RESIDENTS, THE ENCAMPMENT IS NOW GONE.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO RETURN.
BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE RESONANCE THAT PAY VERY HIGH PROPERTY TAXES ARE FORCED TO POLICE THIS WHEN WE PAY PROPERTY TAXES, A VERY HIGH PROPERTY TAX THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSING THIS.
YOU CAN LITERALLY SIT IN THE PARKING LOT OF FRANKFURT AND THE TOLL WAY IN AMERICA PARKING LOT WITH A PAIR OF BINOCULARS WHICH I HAVE DONE.
I HAVE WATCHED GO ACROSS THE STREET TO THE SANAKO, THEY DO A LITTLE DRUG DEAL.
THEY GO CRAWL BACKED UP UNDERNEATH THE TOLL ROAD AND THEY SHOOT THEMSELVES UP WITH DRUGS AND THEN THEY COME TUMBLING DOWN AND THEY START BEGGING FOR MONEY.
I'VE TAKEN UPON MYSELF TO GO PICK UP THE TRASH FROM THE SIDE OF THE STREETS BECAUSE I'M TOO EMBARRASSED TO EVEN TELL SOMEBODY THIS IS THE WAY TO COME TO MY HOUSE.
[03:45:04]
I HAVE TO TELL THEM COME THE OTHER WAY.THEIR MIDWAY, WHICH ISN'T A WHOLE LOT BETTER BECAUSE I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THE HOMELESSNESS AND THE DRUG DEALS THAT GO ON.
I'M FORCED TO GO TO PLANO TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GO TO ANY GROCERY STORE IN 75287 WITHOUT GETTING HIT UP BY A PANHANDLER.
THERE'S NO REPUTABLE BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THE FRANKFURT TOLL WAY CORRIDOR ON EITHER SIDE OF THE TOLL WAY.
THEIR SHODDY AT BEST BECAUSE NO REPUTABLE BUSINESS IS GOING TO PUT UP WITH THE DRUG FUELED, ALCOHOL FUELED, PROSTITUTION, AND GOD KNOWS WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON. THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
>> HOW DO I SOUND? HELLO MR. MAYOR? MY NAME IS DEBRA KENDRICK, AND I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU, SIR, TODAY ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH THAT IS HAPPENING HERE THROUGHOUT THE NATION IN SEPTEMBER.
I WILL BE THE GUEST SPEAKER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, AND I HELD PUBLIC OFFICE IN MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.
I KNOW THAT YOU ATTENDED PRINCETON AND GRADUATED FROM THERE.
I DID NOT MOVE FORWARD IN 1999 WITH MY PUBLIC SERVICE INTEREST BECAUSE I ALMOST DIED BY SUICIDE.
I HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS THAT'S STOPPED MY CAREER.
BUT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THAT.
I AM OFFERING TO WALK WITH ANY COUNCIL MEMBER THIS SEPTEMBER TO PROMOTE SUICIDE PREVENTION, 988 IS THE MOST IMPORTANT NUMBER THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO OUR CITIZENS TODAY.
NOW, MR. MAYOR, I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU YET, SIR.
YOU HAVE HELPED ME WITH MY MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, I HAVE A MINUTE.
I MET YOUR FRIEND FROM PRINCETON.
I HAVE NOT SEEN MY FRIEND MARTY, WITH WHOM I DANCED WITH AT PRINCETON SINCE 1980.
AFTER YOUR INAUGURATION, I EMAIL MARTY AND I HAVE A DINNER DATE WITH HIM AND HIS WIFE IN NEW YORK CITY, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU.
THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE FOREFRONT ISN'T WHY I CAN'T CALL MY FORMER BOYFRIEND ANDREW. I'M SORRY.
I KNOW THIS IS A SOAP OPERA, BUT THERE IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE HERE.
SOMEBODY, IN 1987, A COUNSELOR, HUNTER COLLEGE WHERE I FINISHED MY DEGREE, TOLD ME, YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL BOYFRIEND.
MY MEDICATION WAS NOT RIGHT AT THE TIME.
NOBODY SHOULD TELL ANYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY.
I'M OPEN TO ANYTHING, I'LL WALK WITH ANY OF YOU.
I HAD THE PEACH COLOR FOR LUNCH FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JEREMIAH JEFFERSON.
>> AWAITED ALL THIS TIME TO COME HERE TO TALK ABOUT CORRUPTION IN THIS CITY.
I THANK YOU ALL CREATE IT FROM BRINGING ME HERE TODAY TO REMIND US OF WHAT THE PROPHECIES, I'LL GIVE THEM A HEART TO KNOW ME FOR HIM, THE CREATOR.
THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE AND I WILL BE THEIR POWER FOR THEY WILL RETURN TO ME WITH THEIR WHOLE HEART.
NOW, THE LAST LADY, SHE JUST SAID, SHE'S AFRAID OF ALL THE DRUG DEALERS, BUT SHE SHOULD BE MORE HEARTFELT CONCERN WITH THE PEOPLE TRYING TO COPE IN A SOCIETY THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW DID THE DRUGS GET 400 MILES FROM THE MEXICAN BORDER, TO THE CITY OF DALLAS.
IN THIS STATE OF TEXAS, WE HAVE 254 COUNTIES AND SHARES IN EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM, WITH POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SECURITY AND WE CAN'T STOP THE DRUGS FROM COMING IN HERE.
SERIOUSLY. YOU'RE RAISING TAXES ON MY BACK WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE BLAME.
[03:50:02]
IT'S ACCOUNTABILITY TIME.JOE BIDEN, DONALD TRUMP, BARACK OBAMA, GEORGE BUSH, AND BILL CLINTON, ARE ALL TO BLAME FOR THE RISING EXPENSES THAT WE FACE NOW WITH THE ENDLESS WARS AND NOT INVEST INTO AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY ARE TO BLAME AND YOU WANT TO RAISE THE TAXES.
THEY'VE HAD THIS BUDGET HERE TODAY WAS TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY RAISING TAXES SO YOU CAN USE THAT MONEY THAT THE PUBLIC INTERESTS WITH YOU TO PAY FOR POTENTIAL INCREASES AND RESPONSIBILITY, SUCH AS A BOND? NO WAY, JOSE, THE CITY IS ALREADY AND ALMOST $8 BILLION WERE FOR A DEBT SERVICE ALREADY FROM THE LAST FULL BONDS, YOU'VE BEEN IRRESPONSIBLE WITH.
YOU LEFT PEOPLE IN POVERTY AS PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW IN THE HOT SUN.
NEITHER ONE ARE YOU GOING TO STOP AND GET THEM A MEAL OR DRINK OF COLD WATER.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE A GOOD SAMARITAN TO BE A GOOD LEADER.
BECAUSE IF YOU CAN DO WRONG, YOU CAN DO RIGHT.
YOU HEARD WHAT I SAY IF YOU CAN DO WRONG, YOU CAN DO RIGHT.
THAT THE CITY COUNCILS SHOULD INCREASE THEIR PAY FROM 60,000 TO A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS WITH AN INCREASED BUDGET AND AT LEAST $25- 30 MILLION OF DISCRETIONARY INCOME SO DID THE CITY COUNCIL CAN DIRECTLY HAVE A SAY.
WHAT I'D HAVE TO HAVE IN AS A COUNCIL MEMBER SAID YESTERDAY, THE MEAN OR HUNGER GAME.
WE DON'T REPRESENT YOU TO COME UP OR TO HAVE A HUNGER GAMES AND THE MESH WILL BE THE HIGHEST PAID IN A COUNTRY WITH A MILLION DOLLARS.
YOU'RE UNDERVALUING THE SEATS.
THE MAYOR IS CONNECTED TO LOCK LORD, WHO GAVE HIM $10,000 PLEASE PACK.
YOU'RE CONNECTED TO SPECIAL INTERESTS AND MAY HAVE A REQUIREMENT OF YOU.
AFTER THE CONTRACTS, BUT THEY DID NOTHING TO SOUTH DALLAS OR, CLIFF.
BEFORE I GO, DO GOOD WHILE YOU CAN, AND I LOVE EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU.
I MAY SEEM LIKE A TOUGH GUY, BUT I'M A REALLY NICE GUY.
>> HI. MY NAME IS WILLIAM BARTON.
I OWN AND OPERATE A BUSINESS THAT HAS BEEN IN DALLAS FOR 60 YEARS.
THE LAST 25 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST AREA OF DALLAS.
I HAVE GREAT BUSINESS NEIGHBORS IN A WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONS AND WE WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO HAVE A NICE, SAFE PLACE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.
IS ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN IN DALLAS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME KNOWS NORTHWEST DALLAS, HARRY IONS, KOREA TOWN AREA HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR PROSTITUTION FOR DECADES.
WOMEN WALKING THE STREETS, PRACTICING THE WORLD'S OLDEST PROFESSION HAS BEEN COMMON FOR YEARS, BUT JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD, PROSTITUTION HAS CHANGED.
IT IS NO LONGER WOMEN DOWN ON THEIR LUCK DOING WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO GET BY.
THE WOMEN ON THE STREETS TODAY ARE BEING HUMAN TRAFFIC BY VIOLENT ORGANIZED CRIMINAL GANGS.
WHEN A WOMAN IS SELLING SEX ON THE STREETS OF DALLAS, THERE IS A MALE PIMP NOT FAR AWAY WATCHING AND CONTROLLING HER EVERY MOVE.
A MALE PIMP THAT ABUSES HER AND TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF HER AND HER BODY.
I PREFER TO CALL THE PINS HUMAN TRAFFICKERS AS THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST PIMPS, ORGANIZED CRIMINALS FROM OUT-OF-STATE AND OTHER CITIES COMING TO DALLAS TO COMMIT LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL CRIME.
THESE CRIMES INCLUDE PROSTITUTION, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ROBBERY, MURDER AND DRUGS.
THIS ACTIVITY HAPPENS 24 HOURS A DAY, BUT IT NOT IT BECOMES ITS OWN LITTLE WORLD AND THE ONE-BLOCK AREA THAT INCLUDES WANTED HILL, SHADY TRAIL, SOUTHWELL ROAD, AND MORRISON LANE.
THE CRIMINALS BASICALLY TAKE OVER THE STREET, DOING AS THEY PLEASED.
NOT UNLIKE THE STREET RACERS WE HAVE SEEN ALL OVER THE CITY, EXCEPT THIS HAPPENS AT THE SAME PLACE, THE SAME TIME EVERY WEEK.
THE NEXT MORNING WE ARE LEFT TO PICK UP USED CONDOMS, USED HANDY WIPES, USE SYRINGES, BEER AND LIQUOR BOTTLES, AND TRASH LEFT BY UNLICENSED FOOD VENDOR THAT SETUP AND SELL FOOD TO THE PROSTITUTES, PIMPS AND JOHN.
THIS GATHERING IS OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, IS SO WELL-KNOWN FOOD VENDOR SHOW UP EVERY WEEKEND.
I'VE SEEN AS MANY AS 45 WOMEN ON THE STREETS AT ONE TIME SELLING SEX, HUNDREDS OF CARS DRIVING AROUND WHILE PIMP STANDBY AND CONTROL THE AREA.
THE PUMPS HAVE LOOKOUT STANDING BY TO ALERT THEM WHEN THE POLICE ARE IN THE AREA.
IT IS ORGANIZED CRIME THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING WOMEN DAILY ON THE STREETS OF DALLAS.
I HAVE WITNESSED THREE SHOOTINGS WOMEN BEING BEATEN, MAN ROBBED BY PROSTITUTES, AND PIMPS HAVE POINTED GUNS AT ME AS I TOLD THE WOMEN TO LEAVE MY PROPERTY.
[03:55:06]
THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST FIVE MURDERS TIED TO THIS ONE BLOCK AREA THIS PAST YEAR.TWO OF THE THREE WOMEN FOUND MURDERED JUST SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN THIS SPRING LAST KNOWN WHEREABOUTS WERE NORTHWEST DOWN.
THE MEN WHO ARE TRAVELING WITH THEIR WOMEN ARE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.
MOST OF THE WOMEN ARE VICTIMS.
>> MR. MAYOR, SIR, I HAVE SOME PRE ALERTED DPD TO TALK TO YOU.
IF YOU'LL COME OVER HERE TO THE SIDE AND I THINK MR. FORTUNE WILL GET THEM TO YOU.
I THINK IT'S SERGEANT BARNS WILL BE COMING TO SPEAK WITH YOU. THANK YOU.
JENNA LI IS NOT PRESENT. LOCALE YOLANDA.
>> HELLO. I ADD ON, LOCALE YOLANDA AND I'M HERE CONCERNING THE BETHLEHEM FOUNDATION, WHICH IS ON OUR POKING CAN WISDOM, WHERE BEHIND THE BUILDING THERE ILLEGALLY DUMPING STUFF.
I HAD TO GET SEVEN TRUCKS TO GO HOUSE TO HOUSE TO THE CITY.
IN SOME PEOPLE'S WILL GET IN CHARGE BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN LIVE IN DALLAS WHEN THEY SHOW THE ID, $60, STUFF LIKE THAT.
THE ISSUE WHEELS, I FOUND OUT IT WAS IN MR. GRACE'S NEIGHBORHOOD AREA. WE WON'T COUNT.
YEAH, I HAVE TWO POLES IN THE BACK AND WE WOULD LIKE CAMERAS PUT OFF FOR THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP DUMPING.
THEY ARE LITERALLY DON'T WANT TIRES AND THE TREES NOW.
EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN CLEANING UP, THEY DON'T WANT STUFF IN THE TREES AND A PIECE THAT PEOPLE LEAVE THAT HAVE SEX VECTOR AND IT CALLS, PUT A CAMERA UP.
THAT'S IN DECENT. I MEAN, COME ON, I NEED SOMETHING DONE, SOMETHING LIKE DONE LIKE YESTERDAY.
IT'S AMAZING THAT I HAD TO GET THIS BUILDING CLEANED UP BECAUSE A PASS THE COALITION WAS FORMED BUT THIS IS MINE OWN OAKLAND BIBLE THING.
HE'D BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MS. EVANS FOR A LONG LONG TIME.
SHE JUST DIED THREE YEARS AGO.
ONE YEAR AFTER HER DEATH THEY FORM THIS PASS THE COALITION BECAUSE THEY WANT TO FORM A MEDICAL HOSPITAL WHERE SHE DID STUFF FOR THE YOUTH AND THE PEOPLE, THE POOR.
SHE GAVE THEM FOOD, SHE GAVE TOYS EVERY YEAR.
SHE HELP THIS COMMUNITY SINCE 1979.
SHE'D BEEN HELPING HIS COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, SHE WAS ONLY IN THE GROUND A YEAR AND THEY FORM THIS PAST THE COALITION SO I WANT THE PAST THE COALITION TO COME SEE ME BECAUSE I HAD THE KEY TO THE BUILDING.
I'M GETTING PEOPLE TO COME IN A HOT BUILDING AND PUT CLEAN IT UP.
SOMEBODY WENT ON THE ROOF, BROKEN A PLACE, STOLE OUT OF THE CARPET, CLEANED THE KITCHEN OUT, TOOK THE ICEBOX, TOOK THE STOVE, TOOK EVERYTHING, INTERESTS THE PLACE.
FOR A WHOLE WEEK IT TOOK US TO CLEAN THAT PLAYS OUT BECAUSE IT WAS MESSED UP REAL REAL BAD.
WELL, WE COULDN'T EVEN WALK IN THE BACK.
WHO DOES THAT? IT WAS ORGANIZED.
THE ISSUE IS IF THEY DUMP YAO MAKING NO MONEY, PUT THE CAMERA BACK THERE.
YOU GOT CAMERAS ON THE CITY STREETS.
THE ALLEY IS YAO'S SO PLEASE PUT A CAMERA.
I WON'T TONY EVANS AND HIS CREW CLASS THE COALITION TO COME SEE ME BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GIVEN A BUILDING UP LIKE THAT.
WE'RE NOT GIVING UP NOTHING FOR NO MEDICAL CITY CENTER.
WE NOT DOING NONE WITH NO DOCTORS.
WE'RE NOT DOING NOTHING. THAT BUILDING IS WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THE BETHLEHEM FOUNDATION.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO DO TAKE IT, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
>> THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ERIC MOTTO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE STEAM CITY MANAGER.
MY NAME IS ERIC MOTTO AND I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A LIFELONG DALLAS RESIDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.
DOES THIS JOURNEY TOWARDS BECOMING A SMART CITY IS COMMENDABLE.
MY PROGRESS MUST REACH ALL RESIDENTS.
TODAY I'LL REQUEST IMMEDIATE ACTION THAT THE SPANISH VERSION
[04:00:01]
OF THE OURDALLAS 311 APP MUST BE LAUNCHED WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.NINE YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE OURDALLAS 311 APP LAUNCHED YET OUR SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY CONTINUED TO BE EXCLUDED.
IT'S TIME TO RECTIFY THIS OVERSIGHT.
PLEASE CONFIRM THAT FUNDS IN THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR THIS APP FOR TRANSLATION AND PROVIDE A CLEAR DATE FOR HIS RELEASE.
FOLLOWING UP WITH EMAILS WITH MORE INFORMATION AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS APP LAUNCHED RIGHT AWAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MRS. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING.
>> IN OUR DISCUSSION? NINE IS NOT A TRUE CITY, IT'S A COMMITTED ADJOURN.
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* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.