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[Charter Review Commission]
LET'S GO.UH, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
THIS IS THE MEETING OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, DALLAS CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
IT IS 6 33 ON OCTOBER 24TH, 2023.
AND NOW THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER TO ORDER.
DO WE HAVE ANY, UM, PUBLIC SPEAKERS? DO WE KNOW STAFF? ANYBODY ON? NO, SIR.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, MEMBERS ONLINE, I DON'T BELIEVE.
UH, WE'LL GO TO OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS, UH, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 12TH MEETING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION MOVE FROM COMMISSIONER HUNT AND A SECOND BY, UH, COMMISSIONER KU.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION ON YOUR MINUTES? NO DISCUSSION.
SO I THINK MR. CHAIR, WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO IS, MR. CHAIR, ARE WE GONNA DO TOWNHOUSE FIRST, MR. CHAIR? YES.
JUST AS A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY, CAN I BE MARKED AS HAVING VOTED YES ON WHAT YOU JUST CALLED FOR? WHAT DID YOU SAY? CAN I BE MARKED AS VOTING? YES.
THANK YOU, MISS, I JUST DON'T WANNA RUIN YOUR REPUTATION AS THE VICE CHAIR OF AND HAVE MISSED MY VOTE.
OKAY, SO WE WERE ON DISCUSSION ITEMS. WE HAVE A FORMAT OF COMMUNITY TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF MOVE SOMETHING OUT OF ORDER REAL QUICK.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING, Y'ALL? YES.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO TO OUR BRIEFING ITEM FIRST, BECAUSE WE THINK THAT'LL CLEAR UP SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE WHEN WE GET TO THE OTHER ITEMS. SO IF WE CAN START OFF WITH, I MESSED MINE UP NOW.
COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT.
SO WE WILL HEAR FROM JAKE ANDERSON, UH, CHARTER REVIEW, COMMISSION, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT OPTIONS.
UM, I'M JAKE ANDERSON WITH THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, UM, AND MY COLLEAGUES CAN INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
I'M WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION, WELCOMING COMMUNITIES AT IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS DIVISION.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JENNIFER BROWN.
I'M THE MANAGER OF PUBLIC INFORMATION FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS, OUTREACH AND MARKETING DEPARTMENT.
ALRIGHT, AND SO TONIGHT, UM, THE OFFICE OF EQUITY INCLUSION, UM, AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTREACH AND MARKETING, UM, ARE GOING TO PRESENT JOINTLY TO YOU A, UM, SOME, SOME OPTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER, UM, FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE CHARTER REVIEW.
UM, AND SO JUST KINDA GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THIS IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.
WE'RE JUST BRIEF BACKGROUND OF WHAT, WHAT WE, WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN THE LAST TWO MEETINGS, UM, WHY WE'RE HERE, UM, TALK ABOUT A FEW CONCERNS TO KEEP IN MIND BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ADRIANA TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF WHAT OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION DOES AND, UH, CAN PROVIDE THIS BODY.
UM, AND THEN JENNIFER WILL TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS MENU OF OPTIONS, UM, AND THEN WE'LL DISCUSS PROPOSED ACTIONS, NEXT STEPS AND OPEN IT UP TO THE BODY FOR, UH, FEEDBACK.
UM, SO AS I MENTIONED, UH, THE PURPOSE HERE IS TO KIND OF PREVENT PRESENT THE COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH OPTIONS TO YOU, UM, AS A BODY AND TO RECEIVE YOUR FEEDBACK AND DIRECTION.
SO, MOVING FORWARD, UM, WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING.
UM, SO AS PART OF THE OCTOBER 12TH BRIEFING ON THE SUGGESTED AMENDMENT SUBMISSION PROCESS, UM, THIS BODY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, MORE SPECIFICALLY, YOU WERE INTERESTED IN HOW THE WORK OF THIS COMMISSION WOULD REACH RESIDENTS OF DALLAS, WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT BE ENGAGED IN GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES.
UM, STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO PREPARE A PRESENTATION, UM, DISCUSSING THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU.
AND SO TONIGHT, ALONG WITH THE, ALONG WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY INCLUSION AND THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS OUTREACH AND MARKETING, UM, WE'VE PREPARED THIS DECK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
NOW, UM, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES, I DO WANNA JUST FRAME UP KIND OF THE, THE ISSUES AND CONSIDERATIONS THAT THIS BODY SHOULD BE AWARE OF.
UM, WE'VE TOLD YOU IN PRIOR PRESENTATIONS THAT THE BUDGET FOR THE WORK THAT, UM, THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION IS, IS DOING, UM, IS ABOUT $25,000.
SO THAT INCLUDES PAYING FOR SECURITY THAT YOU SEE TONIGHT.
UM, IT INCLUDES AV AND TECH FOR EACH MEETING.
UM, FOOD THAT'S MADE AVAILABLE FOR, FOR YOU ALL, UM, AT SIX O'CLOCK.
AND SO A ROUGH ESTIMATE PUTS THE COST OF RUNNING, YOU KNOW, ACHAR CHARTER REVIEW, COMMISSION MEETING, ONE OF THESE, AND PROBABLY THE, THE $800 RANGE.
UM, SO IF YOU'RE PLANNING 15 MEETINGS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HALF OF THE $25,000 RIGHT THERE BEING, UH, BEING TAKEN UP BY THESE MEETINGS.
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LEAST IN THE EARLY GOING, WE'VE UM, HEARD THAT YOU GUYS HAVE SEVERAL PRIORITIES THAT CONTINUE TO COME UP.UM, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.
WE WANNA GET FEEDBACK ON THOSE COMMISSIONERS.
YOU'VE MADE A FEW THINGS CLEAR.
UM, YOU WANNA SEE MULTILINGUAL ENGAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITIES HERE IN DALLAS.
UH, YOU WANNA SEE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
UM, YOU WANT TO SEE BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, UM, WHICH IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WANNA SEE RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE STILL COMMUNICATED WITH AND ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS.
UM, SO, UH, ON THE SLIDE YOU'LL SEE THAT THE, WHAT THE COMMS DEPARTMENT HAS COME UP WITH.
IT'S THE, THE DRAFT FRAMEWORK, UM, FOR EQUITABLE ENGAGEMENT.
WAS IT NOT MOVING
JAKE, DO THEY HAVE THE HANDOUTS AT THEIR PLACE? THEY SHOULD HAVE HANDOUTS AT THEIR PLACE SO YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG.
AND IF LIKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNIFER CAN GO INTO THIS PORTION HERE.
FOR THE EQUITABLE ENGAGEMENT FRAMEWORK.
WE HAVE COME UP WITH THE ACRONYM HERE IN ORDER TO HIGHLIGHT MOBILITY, UNIVERSALITY, LANGUAGE ACCESS, TIMELINESS AND INTERACTION.
AND WHAT THAT STANDS FOR IS MOBILITY MEETING RESIDENTS WHERE THEY ARE UNIVERSALITY INFORMATION ON DEMAND AROUND THE CLOCK LANGUAGE ACCESS, BILINGUAL ENGLISH, SPANISH AT A MINIMUM.
BUT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRANSLATE AND INTERPRET, INTERPRET IN ALL LANGUAGES, TIMELINESS, ENSURING THAT THE DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC INPUT IS PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC IN ADVANCE, NOTIFYING THEM ABOUT DECEMBER AND INTERACTION LISTENING TO SUPPORT AS PART OF OUR ENGAGEMENT VALUE OF SERVICE.
WE'LL MOVE ON FROM THERE TO SLIDE SIX.
MY NAME IS ADRIANA PORTILLO AND I'M THE LANGUAGE ACCESS COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I WORK AGAIN FOR THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AND OUR MISSION IS TO ADVANCE EQUITY, INCLUSION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE SO THAT ALL DALLAS SITES CAN THRIVE.
THERE ARE FOUR DIVISIONS IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
OUR EQUITY DIVISION WORKS WITH DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY TO HELP CO-DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO CREATE A CITY WHERE EVERY RESIDENT HAS THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO THRIVE.
OUR FAIR HOUSING DIVISION WORKS TO ENSURE THAT FAIR AND EQUAL HOUSING CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ALL.
IN DALLAS, THEY RESPOND TO HOUSING DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS BY INDIVIDUALS WHO BELIEVE THEY WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR GENDER IDENTITY.
OUR HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION WORKS TO ADVANCE EQUITABLE SERVICES WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, KNOWN AS THE ADA INFRASTRUCTURE COMPLAINTS AND OTHER L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY EFFORTS.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE WELCOMING COMMUNITIES AND IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS DIVISION, WHICH IS THE DIVISION THAT I AM IN.
WE WORK TO CREATE A WELCOMING SPACE FOR ALL WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE POPULATIONS.
AS A COLLECTIVE, THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS READY TO SUPPORT THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION IN CREATING AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS UTILIZING DATA-DRIVEN AND INTERSECTIONAL LENS.
THAT SAID, TODAY WE WILL ZONE IN ON LANGUAGE ACCESS AS A KEY ELEMENT AMONG VARIOUS CONSIDERATIONS THAT OUR OFFICE EXPLORES WHEN DESIGNING APPROACHES TO ENGAGE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.
IN THIS PRESENTATION, I'LL HIGHLIGHT LOCAL DEMOGRAPHIC DATA OF OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION HERE IN DALLAS.
WE'LL DISCUSS LANGUAGE ACCESS, RESOURCES AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT APPROACH.
SO WE CAN GO TO SLIDE SEVEN, EITHER IN YOUR HANDOUTS OR ONLINE.
UM, AND WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE CITY OF DALLAS DEMOGRAPHICS.
IN FACT, WHEN SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION, WE KNOW THAT ONE IN FOUR DALLAS RESIDENTS ARE BORN OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES.
ADDITIONALLY, 42% OF OUR RESIDENTS SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME WITH 36% OF RESIDENTS OVERALL INDICATING THAT THEY SPEAK SPANISH.
AND WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE POPULATION SIZE OF DALLAS, DALLAS HAS AROUND 1.3 MILLION RESIDENTS.
SO 36 IS AROUND 350,000 PEOPLE.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE 2.3% RESIDENTS THAT ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.
AND AGAIN, WHEN YOU'RE COMPARING THAT TO THE POPULATION SIZE OF DALLAS, IT'S AROUND 30,000 RESIDENTS.
AND THERE ARE OVER 90 LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE TOP LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN DALLAS OTHER THAN ENGLISH PER THE 2020 US CENSUS IS SPANISH, VIETNAMESE, MANDARIN, KOREAN, AMHARIC, FRENCH, ARABIC, SWAHILI, BURMESE, AND HINDI.
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SO LOOKING AT THAT LIST OF LANGUAGES AND RECOGNIZING HOW LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE OUR CITY IS, WE KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS HERE ARE EAGER TO CONNECT WITH CITY SERVICES.AND A KEY PART OF THAT IS THE CITY CREATING LANGUAGE INCLUSIVE SPACES TO REALLY SET UP OUR RESIDENTS FOR SUCCESS.
FIRST, WE SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL MATERIAL PRESENT PRESENTED ARE THE HANDOUTS.
THE PRESENTATIONS ARE IN PLAIN LANGUAGE, WHICH MAKE IT EASY FOR ANYONE TO UNDERSTAND THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION EFFORTS.
WHEN I SAY PLAIN LANGUAGE, I'M REFERENCING WRITING OR SPEAKING IN A WAY THAT YOUR AUDIENCE CAN UNDERSTAND THE FIRST TIME THEY HEAR OR READ IT, THEY DON'T HAVE TO REREAD IT MULTIPLE TIMES, THEY READ IT THE FIRST TIME AND UNDERSTAND CLEARLY THE INTENT OF WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE.
THIS MAKES IT EASIER FOR OUR ENGLISH SPEAKING AUDIENCES TO UNDERSTAND, BUT ALSO MAKES IT EASIER FOR DOCUMENTS TO BE TRANSLATED INTO THE LANGUAGES THAT YOU DESIRE.
WE ALSO HAVE SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION THAT WE MANAGE THROUGH A TRAINED CERTIFIED INTERPRETER TO PROVIDE REAL LIFETIME INTERPRETATION THROUGH A HEADSET EQUIPMENT THAT THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION CAN PROVIDE FOR YOU.
THIS PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL MEETING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONNECTING WITH THE RIGHT GROUPS TO HAVE A TARGETED MARKETING RESPONSE EARLIER IN THE PLANNING STAGES.
THAT WAY COMMUNITIES CAN GIVE THEIR INPUT AND BUY-IN.
SOME EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL MARKETING WOULD BE PARTNERING UP WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL ESL CLASSES, FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS CHURCHES, TEMPLES, AND MOSQUES, AND LOOKING AT SCHOOLS LOCATED IN TARGET AREAS THAT COULD ASSIST BY EITHER HOSTING OR PROMOTING.
SECONDLY, LEVERAGING LEVERAGING DATA IS CRUCIAL FOR INFORMED DECISION MAKING IN IDENTIFYING THE NECESSARY RESOURCES AND LANGUAGES, REQUIRING SUPPORT AND TO OPTIMIZE EVERYONE'S TIME AND ENERGY.
THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION HAS DEVELOPED A LANGUAGE MAP AS AN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RESOURCE FOR STAKEHOLDERS.
THIS MAP SHOWS BY ZIP CODE, THE TOP LANGUAGE IS SPOKEN AND THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION OF PEOPLE BORN OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES.
THIS CAN REALLY HELP WITH OUR TARGETED OUTREACH SO THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND MATERIALS ARE PRESENT TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE WITH OUR LANGUAGE DIVERSE RESIDENTS.
ALSO, RECOGNIZING THAT SPANISH IS THE SECOND MOST SPOKEN LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE CITY HAS STARTED EFFORTS TO CENTER THIS AS PART OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.
TO THE RIGHT ON THE SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE AN ARTICLE FRESH OFF THE PRESSES FROM THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS LAST WEEK ON A SPANISH ONLY BOND TOWN HALL MEETING THAT WE HOSTED HERE IN THIS IN TOWN HALL HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THIS TOWN HALL WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT IN SPANISH WITH EVERYTHING FROM THE MATERIALS BEING TRANSLATED AND THE PRESENT PRESENTATION DONE BY CITY STAFF, 100% IN SPANISH.
WE HAD GREAT SUCCESS IN THIS MEETING AND THE RESIDENTS WERE SO APPRECIATIVE AND WE'RE QUOTED SAYING, INE FINALLY THE CITY IS LISTENING TO US.
HAVING LANGUAGE SPECIFIC SESSIONS IS SO MEANINGFUL AND HAS THE RESIDENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE VERSUS USING AN INTERPRETATION SERVICE, WHICH SOMETIMES CAN HAVE THEM FEEL THAT THEIR ACCESSIBILITY WAS MORE OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT VERSUS WANTING TO AUTHENTICALLY CONNECT WITH THEM.
THIS TOWN HALL WAS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF COLLABORATION WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
SO I THINK WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE IN YOUR PACKET.
UM, IN ADDITION TO TOWN HALLS, IT IS KEY TO AMPLIFY DIFFERENT WAYS TO ENGAGE OUR DALLAS RESIDENTS.
CONSIDER HOW WE ACTIVELY MEET THE RESIDENTS WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
AND THIS INVOLVES PROVIDING DIVERSE PARTICIPATION OPTIONS IN COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS, PLACES THAT YOU REGULARLY GO TO, SUPERMARKETS, LAUNDRY MATS, BARBER SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS TO COLLECT THAT FEEDBACK.
ANOTHER STRATEGY IS BRINGING IN SOMETHING EXCITING TO DRAW PEOPLE IN.
THERE ARE MANY ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DALLAS AREA THAT HAVE SHOWS AND RECITALS.
PARENTS ALWAYS LOVE GOING, SEEING THEIR KIDS PERFORM.
SO MAYBE PARTNERING WITH ONE OF THEM TO HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION RIGHT BEFORE THIS RECITAL CAN HELP ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THAT CAPTIVE AUDIENCE READY TO GO.
WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR SPACES ARE ADA ACCESSIBLE AND HAVE THE APPROPRIATE PARKING SPACES AND ARE EASY TO NAVIGATE THROUGH FOR OUR, UH, RESIDENTS WHO MIGHT HAVE ISSUES WITH MOBILITY.
FINALLY, CONSIDERING HAVING THE TOWN HALLS BE FAMILY FRIENDLY, MANY PARTICIPANTS, MANY RESIDENTS WANNA PARTICIPATE IN CITY FEEDBACK SESSIONS, BUT FACE THE CHALLENGES OF CARING FOR CHILDREN.
BRINGING KIDS TO A LENGTHY PRESENTATION CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE.
KIDS DON'T REALLY LIKE TO SIT FOR HOURS AND LISTEN TO PRESENTATIONS.
UH, WE CAN IMAGINE MEETINGS THAT WELCOME THESE CHILDRENS, THAT WAY THE
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PARENTS CAN FULLY ENGAGE AND BE PRESENT IN THE SESSIONS.UH, TO YOUR RIGHT ON THE SLIDE, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AN EVENT THAT THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION DID IN COLLABORATION WITH DISTRICT 11 COUNCIL MEMBER JANIE SCHULTZ, UH, TO COLLECT AND SHARE FEEDBACK FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THE ESPERANZA AREA.
THIS EVENT WAS AT THE LOS NINOS, A DAY OF THE CHILD EVENT.
WE HAD PERFORMANCES, PAINTING GAMES, GIVEAWAY MUSIC AND INFORMATIONAL TABLES IN THE PLAYGROUND OF A LOCAL SCHOOL THAT'S CRUCIAL TO THE FABRIC OF THAT COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO HAD A TABLE WHERE ONE OF OUR PARTNERS GATHERED INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNITY AND SHARED OUT ON WORK THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE.
THIS ALLOWED ALL GENERATIONS OF DALLAS SITES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND ALLOWED THE CITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE FOSTERING A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST WITH OUR CITY.
IN SUMMARY, I'VE PRESENTED SEVERAL STRATEGIES FOR THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO EXPLORE WHILE ADOPTING AN INTERSECTIONAL APPROACH TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLANNING.
THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS PLEASED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS EFFORT BY OFFERING DATA TOOLS FOR INFORMED DECISION MAKING, FACILITATING CERTIFIED INTERPRETATION SERVICES, AND FOSTERING CONNECTIONS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO AID IN PLANNING AND PROMOTION.
WE VALUE YOUR COMMITMENT TO PRIORITIZING EQUITY IN THE FOREFRONT OF THESE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO JENNIFER FROM OUR COMMS TEAM TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE.
SO THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY CONSISTS OF FOUR INTERNAL UNITS.
WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS THAT HANDLE ALL OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING PLANNING AND OUR MEDIA RELATIONS.
OUR SECOND UNIT IS OUR LANGUAGE ACCESS TEAM.
THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK ON OUR TRANSLATIONS AND COORDINATE WITH THE CITY'S CONTRACT VENDOR THAT PROVIDES TRANSLATIONS IN ALL LANGUAGES.
AND WE HAVE OUR THIRD UNIT, WHICH IS DESIGN AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT'S OUR TEAM OF GRAPHIC DESIGNERS AND OUR DIGITAL CONTENT SPECIALIST.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ENSURE ALL OF THE HANDOUTS THAT WE GIVE TO OUR RESIDENTS, OUR BEAUTIFUL AND MEET THE CITY STANDARDS.
AND OUR DIGITAL CONTENT SPECIALIST HANDLES OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS.
CITY OF DALLAS IS ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS EXCEPT FOR TIKTOK OF COURSE, AND I DO HAVE SOME FLYERS AVAILABLE THAT LIST EVERYWHERE THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS COMMUNICATES WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT I'LL LEAVE HERE JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
THE FOURTH UNIT IS OUR BROADCAST AND AV UNIT ON ANY BIG CAMPAIGN AND ONE THAT WE ARE SO PLEASED TO BE WORKING ON SUCH AS THIS, ALL OF OUR UNITS WILL COLLABORATE IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE AWARENESS THAT WE ARE RAISING FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND TO ENSURE THAT THE MESSAGING IS PROVIDED EXACTLY AS PLANNED.
WHEN WE STRATEGIZE FOR THE COMMISSION TODAY, WE HAVE PREPARED THREE DIFFERENT COLUMNS OF COMMUNICATIONS, OUTREACH AND MENU SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE BASED ON THE COST FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
SO THE FIRST SLIDE THAT I'LL BE REFERRING TO IS SLIDE 11, AND IT ENCOMPASSES OUR IN KIND AND NOCO SERVICES.
THE FIRST THING THAT COMMUNICATIONS ENSURES IS THAT ALL OF THE EVENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ARE LISTED ON THE DALLAS.GOV CITY CALENDAR.
IT'S A PRIMARY POINT OF FOCUS AND INFORMATION FOR NOT JUST OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO A LOT OF OUR MEDIA CONTACTS AND OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
OF COURSE, THERE'S NO COST FOR THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEND OUT TEXT NOTIFICATIONS TO ALL OF THE CITY OF DALLAS SUBSCRIBERS THAT HAS OPT THAT HAVE OPTED IN TO RECEIVE THOSE FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, MENTIONING THAT ALL OF THIS, UH, ALWAYS OCCURS BILINGUALLY AND CAN BE DONE IN ANY LANGUAGE THAT'S REQUESTED.
WE'RE GENERALLY FOCUSED ON THE TOP FIVE LANGUAGES THAT WERE ADDRESSED EARLIER.
THE TEXT NOTIFICATION CAN LINK TO A BLOG PAGE LIKE DALLAS NEWS.NET, WHICH IS WHERE WE STORE A LOT OF OUR HISTORIC ARTICLES AND ANOTHER PLATFORM FOR SHARING INFORMATION VIA SHORT LINKS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO VIEW ON THEIR PHONES.
IT'S ALSO A CHANCE IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE PLATFORMS THAT WE ARE ON FOR SOCIAL MEDIA, TO UTILIZE OUR TEAM TO CREATE IMPACTFUL GRAPHICS AS WE HAVE DONE ALREADY IN PREPARATION FOR THE PAST FEW MEETINGS OF THE COMMISSION AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
THE CITY OF DALLAS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ARE REACHING NEARLY HALF A MILLION INDIVIDUALS.
WE ALSO HAVE AN IN-KIND CONTRACT ESTABLISHED WITH TWO LOCAL VENDORS THAT ALLOWS THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO POST BILLBOARDS AROUND DALLAS.
THOSE BILLBOARDS ARE AS AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, UH, WITH NO COST.
THE ONLY, UM, DISCLAIMER IS THAT WE CANNOT DICTATE EXACTLY WHERE THE BILLBOARDS ARE POSTED BECAUSE
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OF THE IN-KIND CONTRACT.IT'S BASED ON AVAILABLE SPACE, BUT WE CAN POST AS MANY BILLBOARDS AS WE WOULD LIKE AND ALSO WE CAN EXTEND THOSE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE BILLBOARD PROCESS.
THE ONLY CHALLENGE THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED IS TRYING TO ENSURE THAT YOUR MESSAGE IS LESS THAN EIGHT WORDS AND NOT INCLUDING A CALL TO ACTION IN ORDER TO ENSURE WE ALIGN WITH OUR VISION ZERO VALUES AS WELL.
THE LAST REPORT THAT WE SAW ON A CAMPAIGN WAS 500 MILLION IMPRESSIONS, THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT DRIVE BY THOSE.
WE ALSO HAVE CONDUCTED AND CAN SPEAK FURTHER ABOUT, UM, THE SETUP FOR THE TELEPHONE FOR VOICEMAIL COMMENTS.
THIS WAS ESTABLISHED, IT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR A LOT OF MAJOR CAMPAIGNS, BUT IT WAS ESTABLISHED RECENTLY FOR THE CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION IN OR REVIEW COMMISSION IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS HAVE A DIRECT LOCAL NUMBER TO CALL AND THEY'RE ABLE TO REACH DICK.
WE ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECORD AND BROADCAST BILINGUAL PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THE CITY'S, UM, CABLE CHANNELS, WHICH ARE LISTED ON HERE.
SPECTRUM 95, AT AND T UNIVERSE 99, AND THE CITY OF DALLAS YOUTUBE PAGE.
AND OUR WEBSITE ALLOWS US TO BROADCAST THOSE.
THAT'S IT FOR THE IN KIND OF NO COST OPTIONS.
NOW I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR LOW COST AND OUR EARNED OPTIONS THAT ARE OUTLINED ON SLIDE 12.
THE LOW COST AND THE EARNED OPTIONS ARE REALLY BASED ON THE MEDIA RELATIONS THAT THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN FOSTERING AND THAT ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO.
WE HAVE THE SYSTEM SET UP IN ORDER TO DISSEMINATE MEDIA ADVISORIES REQUEST FOR COVERAGE PRESS RELEASES TO OVER 1500, MOSTLY LOCAL CONTEXTS, BUT ALSO A LOT OF NATIONAL CONTEXTS.
THIS IS A ROBUST LIST OF NOT JUST ENGLISH MEDIA CONTEXT, BUT ALSO SPANISH MEDIA CONTEXTS.
AND WE KNOW THAT, UH, WE HAD A VERY GOOD OPENING RATE REPORTED FROM THE PRESS RELEASE THAT WE DISSEMINATED PROMOTING TONIGHT'S, OR I'M SORRY, TO PROMOTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT AMENDMENTS THAT WE, UM, DISSEMINATED ON THE 16TH, OCTOBER 16TH.
THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT WORKS REALLY HARD TO PREPARE OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WITH APPROPRIATE MEDIA TRAINING IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH EARNED MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS IS JUST A CHANCE FOR US TO WORK WITH A CONTACT THAT IS INTERESTED IN THE TOPIC IN ORDER TO CONDUCT INTERVIEWS AND ENSURE THAT OUR KEY MESSAGING IS SHARED.
IT'S REALLY A GREAT WAY TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AND TO MAINTAIN THE MESSAGING.
IT'S ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR PARTNERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED, WHICH WE CALL A SPEAKERS BUREAU.
SO HAVING A COALITION OF FOLKS READY IN ORDER TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS FOR THE MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES.
THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT DOES HANDLE ALL OF THE MEDIA INQUIRIES FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD FOR THIS CAMPAIGN AND WILL DIRECT ALL OF OUR CONTACTS TO COLLABORATE OR SUBMIT THEIR REQUEST TO US@MEDIAATDALLAS.GOV.
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT OUR MEDIA RELATIONS STRATEGY IS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO QUANTIFY IT.
SO THROUGH OUR MEDIA MONITORING SYSTEM CRITICAL MENTION, WE TRACK ALL OF THE MEDIA MENTIONS ACCORDING TO OUR, UH, KEYWORDS AND CAMPAIGNS AND CAN PRODUCE REPORTS THAT WOULD DEMONSTRATE HOW MANY PEOPLE THIS IS, IS ESTIMATED TO REACH AND A SIGN OF VALUE TO IT.
ALRIGHT, AND THEN LOOKING AT THE NEXT SLIDE HERE, SLIDE 13.
AND THESE OPTIONS HERE ARE LISTED IN ORDER FROM POTENTIALLY THE MOST TO THE LEAST ENGAGING.
THEY ALL COST APPROXIMATELY $8,000 EACH.
SO FOR THE FIRST ONE, THE TELE-TOWN HALL MEETING, TELE-TOWN HALLS ARE EXCEPTIONAL AT BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.
WE HAVE SEEN A HIGHER TURNOUT FOR TELE-TOWN HALLS THAN ANY OTHER ENGAGEMENT PLATFORM THAT THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS PARTICIPATED IN.
IT DOESN'T REQUIRE A SMARTPHONE.
AND, UH, WE ALREADY HAVE AN ESTABLISHED VENDOR THAT CALLS TO PRIOR PARTICIPANTS, THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL GET ON THE LINE SIMULTANEOUSLY AS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH OUR BUDGET TOWN HALLS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT INTO THE MEETING OR TO NOT, THEY ALSO ARE ABLE TO HEAR THE INFORMATION THROUGH
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LIVE INTERPRETATION, SPANISH INTERPRETATION DURING THE TOWN HALL.AND THERE IS A FEATURE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO CONDUCT POLLS OR RESPOND TO POLLS THROUGH THE TOUCH TONE POLLING.
WE WOULD SAY THAT IT'S THE MOST EQUITABLE AND ENGAGING OPTION, AND WE CAN PROVIDE DETAILED DATA ON EXACTLY HOW MANY MINUTES PARTICIPANTS STAY ON IN EACH LANGUAGE, AS WELL AS THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS AND THE ABILITY TO OPT IN AND RECEIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
A ONE HOUR MEETING COST ABOUT $8,000 DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CALLED.
THE NEXT POINT THAT WE CAN REVIEW HERE ARE THE PAID, MULTILINGUAL, DIGITAL AND PRINT ADS.
WE DO HAVE RATE SHEETS AVAILABLE FOR DIGITAL AND PRINT, MULTICULTURAL AND MULTILINGUAL LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE HAVE FOSTERED RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS FOR YEARS AS WELL AND ESTABLISHED CONTRACTS WITH A NUMBER OF THEM.
DIGITAL ADS CAN PROVIDE IMPRESSION AND ENGAGEMENT DATA, SO THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY TO ASSESS THAT.
AND MULTILINGUAL ADS CAN INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS TO REQUEST ORAL INTERPRETATION.
THE COMMISSIONERS MAY ADVISE OF HOW THEY WISH TO SPEND THE BUDGET AND WHICH LANGUAGES THEY WISH TO ADVERTISE IN.
AND WHETHER DIG DIGITAL OR PRINT ADVERTISING IS PREFERRED.
WE WILL SAY THAT PRINT PUBLICATIONS HAVE LONGER LEAD TIMES, OBVIOUSLY, AND DIGITAL ADS CAN BE TURNED AROUND QUICKLY IN ABOUT A WEEK.
BROADCAST ADVERTISING IS DISCOURAGED.
THIS INCLUDES RADIO AND THAT IS DUE TO IT BEING THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND WITH THE LOWEST ABILITY TO HAVE IT GEO-TARGETED TO THE PROPER POPULATION.
WE'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT ORAL INTERPRETATION FOR AN EIGHT HOUR MEETING.
IT IS RECOMMENDED UPON REQUEST.
WE HAVE ASSESSED RECENTLY THAT ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN PROVIDED AT THE COUNCIL BRIEFINGS THROUGHOUT THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, THE CITY SECRETARY HAS NOT RECEIVED REQUESTS FROM SPEAKERS TO PROVIDE INTERPRETERS.
SO WE ARE ENSURING THAT THERE IS INTERPRETATION AVAILABLE ON REQUEST AND WANTING TO MAKE THE MATCH FOR THE BEST RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT.
WE ARE PLEASED THAT WE GET TO COLLABORATE WITH DALLAS WATER UTILITIES, DWU ON THE WATER BILL INSERT PROCESS COMMUNICATIONS IS THE FINAL REVIEWER OF THOSE INSERTS ISSUES, THE PUBLICATION NUMBER.
AND OFTEN WE ARE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT UP FRONT IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE CREATION OF THE WATER BILL.
THE WATER BILL INSERT REACHES OVER 200,000 RESIDENTS IN PRINT.
IT'S ONLY AVAILABLE TO THOSE THAT RECEIVE THEIR WATER BILLS IN PRINT, NOT ONLINE.
AND WE DO HAVE TO RESERVE A SLOT RELATIVELY FAR IN ADVANCE, BUT WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO.
AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $8,000 FOR ONE INSERT.
THE FINAL OPTION WE WANTED TO DISCUSS IS ANOTHER INTERNAL SERVICE.
THROUGH THE EXPRESS BUSINESS CENTER.
IT HAS THE ABILITY TO PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE DIRECT MAIL PIECES.
THIS COULD ALSO INCLUDE DESIGNS, UH, REC CARDS.
IT COULD INCLUDE, UM, ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE A GREAT HANDOUT FOR DIFFERENT CITY OF DALLAS FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE CLINICS, THE LIBRARIES, AND THE REC CENTERS.
SO ANYTHING THAT WE WANTED TO DESIGN WITHIN THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, WE CAN ALSO GET PRINTED HERE AT CITY HALL AT THE EXPRESS BUSINESS CENTER AND ESTABLISH A DIRECT MAIL SYSTEM WITH THEM IF DESIRED.
THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WELCOMES THE COMMISSIONER'S GUIDANCE ON WHETHER YOUR PRIORITY IS REACH OR ENGAGEMENT AND ON HIGH COST OR LOW TECH OPTIONS LIKE PRINT RACK CARDS, DIRECT MAIL PIECES, WATER BILL INSERTS, PRINT ADVERTISING, KNOWING THAT THEY MAY HAVE A LARGE POTENTIAL AUDIENCE BUT ARE LESS TRACKABLE OR ENGAGING THAN TELE TOWN HALLS AND MULTILINGUAL DIGITAL ADS.
AND THEN ON SLIDE 14, WE'RE JUST GONNA RECAP KIND OF THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH OF THE OPTIONS HERE.
TELL THE TOWN HALL MEETING AS JUST A NOTED, AGAIN, IT'S THE MOST EQUITABLE ENGAGING.
IT'S ALSO THE MOST EXPENSIVE PAID MULTICULTURAL ADVERTISING, AND IT CAN INFORM STAKEHOLDERS ON HOW TO REQUEST ORAL INTERPRETATION AND PROVIDE DATA.
PRINT ADS HAVE A LONGER LEAD TIME IN-PERSON SPANISH EVENTS BRIDGES THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND ADDRESSES LANGUAGE ACCESS, LIMITED AUDIENCE CAPACITY, AND THE WATER BILL INSERTS.
WE KNOW THAT IT REACHES A LARGE, UH, PORTION OF THE POPULATION, BUT IT NEEDS PLENTY OF LEAD TIME FOR PROPER PREPARATION.
AND THEN THE FINAL, UM, OPTION MENTIONED AGAIN, IS THE DIRECT MAIL AND OR RACK CARDS.
[00:30:01]
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PRESENTATION.UM, WITH THAT STAFF IS PROPOSING THAT THE COMMISSION EVALUATES THESE OPTIONS THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU, UM, AND SELECTS SOME FROM THE MENU, UM, OF OPTIONS SO THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT THEM AS PART OF THE COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH PLAN.
UM, SO WE'RE SEEKING YOUR GUIDANCE ON HOW TO ALLOCATE A PORTION OF THE CHARTER, UH, CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION BUDGET, UM, SHOULD THE COMMISSION WISH TO PURSUE ANY OF THE PAID COMMUNICATION OPTIONS AS WELL.
UM, AND NOW WE'LL OPEN UP THE FLOOR.
WE'RE ASKING, LIKE I SAID, FOR INPUT, UM, ON YOUR COMMUNICATION OUTREACH PRIORITIES, UM, SO THAT WE CAN THEN MOVE FORWARD BY STRATEGICALLY INVESTING OUR BUDGET AND REACHING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY DETAILED COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT OPTIONS.
UM, AS A FORMER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA GO TO MS. LARRY FIRST 'CAUSE I SAW HER AND THEN, THEN I HAVE A SUGGESTION, UM, OF WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
AND, AND IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
WE'RE NOT, WE DON'T WANNA REINVENT THE WHEEL.
WE'VE DONE THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND HAVE SO MANY MEETINGS AND YOU DO, GUYS DO DO A GREAT JOB WITH GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT.
UH, UH, COMMISSIONER LOWRY, THANK YOU.
UH, THE, UH, YOU MENTIONED $800 PER MEETING FOR THE 15 MEETINGS, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE COST OF THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, RIGHT? AND THAT'S CORRECT.
ARE THOSE ALSO 800 OR IN THAT RANGE? THOSE, THOSE MIGHT END UP BEING MORE AS WE, UH, INCLUDE TRANSLATION SERVICES OR IF WE'RE DOING A SPANISH LANGUAGE TOWN HALL.
UM, ALL OF THE, THE LEGWORK THAT WOULD NEED NEEDED TO, TO TRANSLATE EVERYTHING INTO SPANISH.
UM, IF WE WANNA PROVIDE FOOD AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THOSE, THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS THAT WOULD DEFINITELY DRIVE THAT UP.
SO, SO IF IT, EVEN IF IT WAS JUST 800, I COUNTED UP THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS WHERE IT'S 17 FIVE WITH NOTHING ELSE ADDED ON.
SO THAT PRETTY MUCH DOES A LOT OF OUR BUDGET.
UH, JUST ONE THING ABOUT THE WATER BILL INSERTS, THEY ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE, SO PEOPLE THAT DO NOT GET THE HARD COPY, THEY HAVE ACCESS THROUGH THEIR ONLINE BILL PAY.
UM, SO I HAVE A SUGGESTION AND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD, UM, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD AGREE.
I THINK WE JUST DO THE WAY THAT WE DO THE BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
YOU GET ALL YOUR INFORMATION OUT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY COUNCIL MEMBER THERE.
I KNOW MY COUNCIL MEMBER ALREADY TOLD ME HE WANTS TO BE PRESENT WHEN I HAVE MINE.
UH, SOMETIMES THEY PARTNER UP, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PARTNER UP.
WE CAN LET THEM DECIDE ON THOSE AND THE DATES AND THEN GO FROM THERE.
THAT'S, THAT'S PROBABLY EASIEST.
WE SEND THAT OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD JUST REINVENT THE WHEEL ON THAT.
IF ANOTHER, IF A COMMISSIONER WANTS TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING IN THEIR DISTRICT, BY ALL MEANS GO AHEAD.
BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD AT LEAST, UH, PARTNER THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, DECIDE WHAT DATE YOU CAN BE THERE WITH THEM AND HAVE STAFF THERE AND DO IT JUST THE WAY WE DID WITH THE BUDGET TOWN ON MEANS.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY, UM, HAS ANOTHER COMMENT.
I SEE COMMISSIONER, UH, MAGEE, UH, YEAH, I KNOW THAT'S NOT A MOTION, BUT I WOULD SECOND IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, THE, THE PROCESS WORKS PRETTY GOOD WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO DO THAT AT THE SAME TIME AND PEOPLE KIND OF ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE TRYING TO GET ATTENDANCE IS THE MAIN PIECE OF THIS AND THEN GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
AND SO WE CAN, WE CAN DO ALL THAT WE WANT TO.
AND THEN I WOULD JUST SAY THE COMMISSIONERS, ALL OF US SHOULD FEEL FREE TO, YOU KNOW, HOLD OTHER MEETINGS AND OTHER MECHANISMS FOR GETTING THE WORD OUT AND THAT KIND OF THING AS WELL AS WE'RE, AS WE'RE TAKING IN INFORMATION AND AMENDMENTS AND DATA AND WHATEVER ELSE.
AND SO, UM, I JUST, I LIKE THE IDEA OF, OF REDUCING THOSE MEETINGS TO THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE'VE USED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
I'LL GO WITH COMMISSIONER CLAP AND THEN COMMISSIONER HUNT.
I ALSO LIKE USING THE COUNCIL PEOPLE AND THEIR WAY OF COMMUNICATING THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE.
UH, IT SEEMS TO ME LOOKING AT THAT, THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO, UM, CON TO CONTACT AND HAVE MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE COMMISSION.
UM, I THINK ALSO USING THE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE, WHICH IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO GET THE WORD OUT.
UM, AND THEY'RE THE OPINION LEADERS MANY TIMES AND THEY'RE THE MOST ACTIVELY ENGAGED.
SO, UH, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT ON TARGET.
ONE THING I, I DO THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO DO IS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CHARTER IS A DENSE DOCUMENT.
IT'S, UM, IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE BUDGET IN THAT THERE AREN'T LIBRARIES THAT ARE IMPACTED AND PARKS THAT ARE IMPACTED STREETS.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A, A DIFFERENT ANIMAL IN A LOT OF WAYS THAT ISN'T QUITE AS APPEALING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, I WOULD THINK.
AND SO IT, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR US IN ADDITION TO, TO ENGAGING THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE SAME BUDGET PROCESS
[00:35:01]
TO RE BE REACHING OUT, UH, TO DIFFERENT GROUPS ACROSS THE CITY.I'M THINKING, UM, THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL CAME TO MIND, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CAME TO MIND, DALLAS CHAMBER, UM, SOME OF THESE GROUPS THAT HOLD FORUMS FOR, UM, THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSIONS OF, OF, UM, COMMUNITY TOPICS.
THEY MAY BE IDEAL TO HELP, UM, BOTH GET THE WORD OUT TO FOLKS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN THIS AND ALSO TO GIVE US THOUGHTS.
UH, AND THANKS FOR A VERY THOROUGH SUMMARY OF CAPABILITIES.
UM, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT, AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING FOR THE COMMISSION TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH, I MEAN, WHAT IS IT, WHAT, WHAT'S THE OBJECTIVE? WHAT'S THE GOAL OF WHAT, OF ALL THIS AND HOW MUCH COVERAGE? HOW MUCH DO WE, DO WE WANNA PACKED HOUSE WHILE WE'RE DOING OUR BUSINESS? UH, IT'S, UH, I MEAN, THERE ARE WAYS YOU COULD PACK THE HOUSE IF YOU WANTED.
AND THAT'S MY QUESTION REALLY BACK TO THE, BACK TO THE GROUP.
YOU KNOW, I COULD THINK OF, UH, NEWS PEGS.
I MEAN, WE GOT AN ELECTION COMING UP, RIGHT? SO I COULD HAVE, YOU COULD PROBABLY MAKE A STORY OUTTA THE FACT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT MOVING THE ELECTION DAY.
THAT WOULD BE A NEWS BAG, RIGHT? UH, BUT IT REALLY, I THINK, COMES BACK TO US TO HOW MUCH COVERAGE DO WE WANT? HOW MUCH, I MEAN, I THINK THE BEST THING IS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ENGAGED.
NOW WHAT'S THE PROCESS OF HOW WE WANT TO DO THAT? COMMISSIONER KERRY ROGERS, UM, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.
I THINK THAT YOU ARE RIGHT ON THAT.
OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS ENGAGEMENT.
UM, WE DON'T WANNA LOOK BACK AT THIS PROCESS, UM, NEXT YEAR WHENEVER WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT IT TO THE PUBLIC.
AND THESE DISCUSSIONS HAVE HAPPENED IN A DARK ROOM OR THAT OUR PUBLIC DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, WEIGH IN OR SUBMIT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
SO I, I THINK ENGAGEMENT IS OUR, IS OUR PRIMARY GOAL.
THE OTHER THING TOO, UM, SORT OF WHAT YOU SPOKE TO AND THEN ALSO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TOWN HALLS AND ENGAGING THROUGH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, HAVING FORMALLY RUN THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OFFICE.
AND I THINK IT'S A PRETTY TIGHT TIGHTLY RUN SHOP.
UM, I DO THINK THE PROCESS THAT THEY HAVE IS THEY KNOW THEIR COMMUNITIES BETTER THAN ANYONE.
THEY KNOW THE RIGHT WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.
THEY KNOW THIS NEIGHBORHOOD LIKES MAIL OUTS, BUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, PREFERS TO GET THEIR STUFF THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND SO I THINK WHEN WE'RE LOOKING ON HOW WE ENGAGE THEM, IT REALLY GETS GRANULAR, UM, WORKING SPECIFICALLY WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO IT'S, IT'S SORT OF LIKE US TAKING THIS MENU THAT THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE HAS GIVEN US AND THEN PIVOTING TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE COMMISSIONERS AND SAYING, WHICH WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? DO YOU WANNA DO A TELE TOWN HALL? DO YOU WANNA DO A SPANISH ONLY TOWN HALL? DO YOU WANNA DO MAILERS? THAT SORT OF THING.
UM, BUT I WOULD JUST ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS UP HERE THAT I THINK ARE BEST COURSE OF ACTION THAT, THAT STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU WOULD TO, WOULD BE TO, UM, WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE COUNCIL OFFICES TO SET A SCHEDULE AND TO DETERMINE WHICH OF THE COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS AND LEVERS WE WANT TO PULL ON TO BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES.
I, I, I DO ENDORSE, UH, THANKS.
I MEAN, I DO ENDORSE THE IDEA OF USING COUNCIL OFFICES 'CAUSE THEY'VE GOT THEIR HANDS ON, ON THE COMMUNITY MUCH BETTER THAN WE DO.
I, UH, I FORGOT WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
IT WAS SOMETHING REALLY PITHY, BUT, UH, WELL, WE ARE HERE
UH, OH, I KNOW WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW, IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS, BUT IF YOU'VE TOLD ANYBODY THAT YOU'RE SERVING ON THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, THEY GO, HUH, WHAT IS THAT? AND IT SEEMS TO BE THAT A FIRST COMPONENT OF ANYTHING THAT IS DONE ON OUTREACH NEEDS TO BE AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ABOUT WHAT THE HECK IT IS THAT WE COULD BE DOING DOWN HERE.
SO THAT'S, THAT WAS THE INPUT I HAD.
UH, CHAIRMAN, IF I CAN, UM, SPEAK TO THAT.
AND IT GOES TO THE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS.
I THINK THE COMM, UM, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE HAD MENTIONED, UM, SORT OF A SPEAKER'S BUREAU IN PREPARING OUR COMMISSIONERS TO GO OUT AND DO THAT OUTREACH TO STAKEHOLDERS.
UM, WE HAVE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF THOSE CALLS ALREADY THAT, UM, I SPOKE TO THE NORTH DALLAS CHAMBER BOARD LAST WEEK, JUST 'CAUSE THEY ASKED ME TWO MONTHS AGO,
BUT I THINK THAT THE GOAL IS THAT WE WOULD, UM, BE PUSHING OUR COMMISSIONERS OUT THERE TO THESE VARIOUS SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE PARTICULAR STAKEHOLDER GROUP OR THE DISTRICT, UM, IN WHICH THAT, THAT PARTICULAR STAKEHOLDER WOULD BE.
UM, AND PREPARING YOU OF COURSE FOR THOSE, UM, MOST OF YOU, IF NOT ALL OF YOU, ARE ON, UM, THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DISTRIBUTION LIST.
SO YOU GET OUR COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE SEND OUT ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS AND THE CHARTER REVIEW ITEMS AND COUNCIL AGENDAS.
[00:40:02]
UM, SO THOSE SAME STAKEHOLDERS THAT YOU MENTIONED, TREK, OUR CHAMBER ORGANIZATIONS, OUR REALTOR ORGANIZATIONS, ALL OF THOSE FOLKS ARE ON THAT SAME DISTRIBUTION GROUP OUT OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.AND THEY'RE GETTING NOTIFIED OF EVERY TWIST AND TURN, UM, THAT'S HAPPENING HERE AT THE, UM, AMONG THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
SO I WOULDN'T, I'D SAY THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AND INFORMATION THAT'S BEING PUSHED OUT THERE NOW.
AND WHEN THOSE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS COME UP, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WE WOULD PIVOT TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND WORK WITH YOU ALL TO ASSIGN, UM, WHO'S THE BEST, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER DISTRICT OR WHAT HAVE YOU FOR THAT PARTICULAR GROUP.
COMMISSIONER STEAM, I, I AGREE WITH THE, UH, THE CHAIRMAN, THE VICE CHAIRMAN, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO LET EACH COUNCILPERSON HANDLE THEIR COMMUNITY.
THEY KNOW THEY PEOPLE, THEY KNOW THE VOTERS, THEY KNOW WHERE MONEY IS WASTED ON TOWN, HOW MEANS AND WHERE IT'S EFFECTIVE AT.
BECAUSE I WAS LISTENING, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK WE MENTIONED RADIO WAS KIND OF LIKE A WASTE OF, IT WAS NOT THAT EQUITABLE OR WHATEVER, BUT IN OUR COMMUNITY IT'S VERY EQUITABLE.
YOU KNOW, UH, PEOPLE LISTENING THAT TALK RADIO, WE GOT ONE PARTICULAR SHOW THAT COMES ON SATURDAY MORNING THAT PEOPLE GET UP AND LISTEN TO.
AND I THINK YOU HAVE SPOKEN ON THAT PROGRAM BEFORE AND IT'S A GREAT WAY OF GETTING OUT INFORMATION AND IT COSTS NOTHING.
SO WE ARE NOT SPENDING ANY MONEY OUT OF THE BUDGET TO ANNOUNCE ON CERTAIN RADIO TALK SHOWS THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS CHARTER REVIEW BOARD AND THE CHARTER IS DONE, THE REVIEW.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
LET EACH COUNCIL PERSON HANDLE THEIR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WITH TIMING AND SCHEDULING THE WHOLE SHENANIGANS.
COMMISSIONER FRANKLIN, I, I, I DO APPRECIATE THIS COMMISSION'S, UH, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO BE GREAT STEWARDS OF THE PEOPLE'S MONEY AND TRYING TO SAVE ON COSTS.
AND I, I, I, SO IN TERMS OF, OF VIABILITY, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND YOU, MS. BROWN, CORRECTLY ON THE PAID OPTIONS.
DID I UNDERSTAND THAT FOR YOU TO SAY THAT EACH OF THESE OPTIONS WERE $8,000 EACH AND THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THE SUB BUDGET OF, WAS IT 12, 13,000 OR 17,000 WE HAVE REMAINING AFTER WE PAY FOR OPERATIONS OF JUST HOSTING THESE MEETINGS.
IS THAT CORRECT AS WELL? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I SEE NONE.
SO CHAIR, I JUST, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE THEN HAVE A, A DIRECTIVE, AN IDEA.
UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT THE, THE COMMISSION IS SAYING, UM, COMMUNICATIONS IS, IS BETTER DONE ON A, A, A KIND OF CASE BY CASE BASIS, UM, BASED ON DIFFERENT COUNCIL DISTRICTS, DIFFERENT POPULATIONS, RATHER THAN HAVING A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH, UM, TO, TO SPENDING OUR BUDGET OR TO USING OUR, OR TO BUILDING A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN.
UH, WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL PEOPLE AND THEIR DISTRICTS, UM, CONNECTING COMMISSIONERS WITH COUNCIL PEOPLE AND WORKING WITH THEM TO SCHEDULE ANY SORT OF TOWN HALLS, ANY SORT OF OUTREACH THAT THEY WANT TO DO ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT WHAT EVERYONE'S SAYING? OKAY.
I, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT I, I BELIEVE, AT LEAST I DO BELIEVE THAT THE SOCIAL MEDIA, THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE THROUGH THE CITY TO PUT THE WORD OUT, UM, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA IS ALSO, THAT'S DOESN'T COST ANYTHING.
AND I, I BELIEVE ALL THAT IS PART OF THAT TOWN HALL.
AT BUDGET TOWN HALLS, THERE'S PRESENTATION EXPLAINING THE BUDGET, AND THEN FOLKS CAN GET UP AND SAY, I WANT MORE MONEY FOR THE STREETS, I WANT MORE MONEY FOR THE LIBRARIES.
UM, AND MAYBE THIS ISN'T THE, THE RIGHT TIME TO, TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO EXACTLY AT THE CHARTER TOWN HALLS? BECAUSE IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE WE CAN JUST ASK FOR FEEDBACK FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, EDUCATE THEM ABOUT WHAT THE CHARTER IS, AND IF YOU HAVE PARTICULAR CHARTER AMENDMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO PROPOSE, PLEASE GET THEM TO US.
WHAT ARE WE DOING BEYOND THAT? AND, AND AGAIN, MR. CHAIR, IF THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT TIME FOR THAT, I CAN TAKE THIS QUESTION AND ANSWER OFFLINE, BUT THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
UM, DURING THE BUDGET TOWN OR WELL DURING THE TOWN HALLS, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO FOR BUDGET TOWN HALLS, WHAT I WOULD ENVISION IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION OF SOME SORT THAT WOULD GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE CHARTER IS
[00:45:01]
AND WHAT IT DOES.UM, AND THEN ALLOW FOR SOME Q AND A, UM, WITH THE RESIDENTS, UM, ULTIMATELY WITH THEM LEAVING THEIR, UM, HAVING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE CHARTER IS, BUT ALSO KNOW THAT THEIR INPUT WAS IMPORTANT AND HERE'S HOW THEY COULD SUBMIT COMMENTS, UM, EITHER BACK TO THEIR COMMISSIONER OR THE COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO AGAIN, FOLLOWING THE BUDGET TOWN HALL MODEL, I WOULD SEE POWERPOINT Q AND A AFTER ACTION THAT RESULTED FROM EACH OF THOSE TOWN HALLS, I WOULD THINK AT THE TIME, WHICH, UM, ITEMS WE'VE, WE'VE DISCUSSED AS WELL.
I THINK LIKE, PUT IT ON THERE, SAY, HEY, THESE HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY, I DON'T SEE WHY IT'S ALREADY, UM, AN PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ALREADY.
YEAH, WE'VE DONE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HANDOUTS FOR TOWN HALLS AND SOMETIMES, AND AGAIN, IT GOES TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SOME WANT, YOU KNOW, THE FULL POWERPOINT HANDOUTS.
SOME JUST WANT A ONE SHEETER THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THAT SOMEONE CAN LEAVE WITH.
AND SO I THINK WHAT THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM DOES WELL IS PREPARE A SUITE OF A SUITE OF MATERIALS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN PICK AND CHOOSE FROM.
I MEAN, THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT YOU ALL SEE NOW, WHETHER IT'S THE CHARTER REVIEW, SOCIAL MEDIA, INFOGRAPHICS, ALL OF THAT STUFF COMES FROM THE COMMUNICATION SHOP.
AND THAT IS THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL THAT WE THEN TURN AND CAN PIVOT AND PROVIDE TO EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR NEED IS.
UH, I THINK THAT THE FOCUS OF THE TOWN HALLS WILL BE VERY MUCH DEPENDENT ON WHEN THEY OCCUR.
WE HAVE GOT A VERY, VERY SHORT DEADLINE, DECEMBER 15, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, FOR SUBMISSION OF CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSALS.
SO UNLESS THE TOWN HALL MEETING IS HELD VERY QUICKLY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET MUCH INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC ON THAT SUBJECT IN TIME, UH, TO MAKE THAT DEADLINE.
MEETINGS THAT ARE HELD AFTER THAT DATE WILL STILL BE VALUABLE, BUT THEY WILL BE MORE IN THE NATURE OF WHAT DO THE CITIZENS THINK ABOUT THE PROPOSALS THAT ARE ON OUR TABLE.
UH, THE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT NEW PROPOSALS WILL HAVE PASSED.
AND COMMISSIONER, UH, YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD FROM, FROM THIS BODY AT THE LAST MEETING WAS A, A REQUEST WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR, UM, TO HAVE SOME, SOME DATES FOR BUDGET, OR EXCUSE ME, FOR COMM OR FOR CHARTER TOWN HALLS, UM, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THOSE DATES BECAUSE, UH, TO YOUR POINT, UM, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD BE FOCUSED DIFFERENTLY.
UM, AND SO WHEN, WHEN YOU GET TO THE NEXT ITEMS, THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION IS, IS WHAT WILL THOSE LOOK LIKE, UM, AND WHEN DO THEY NEED TO BE HELD? IF, IF WE'RE DOING THEM THROUGH MCC AND THROUGH THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL'S OFFICE, UM, AND AT THE, AT THE, UH, DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THAT ADDS A, A LAYER OF FLEXIBILITY THAT'S NOT THERE.
IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE TRYING TO, TO COORDINATE A, YOU KNOW, CITYWIDE TOWN HALL, UM, RATHER IT COULD BE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, YOU KNOW, A DOES IT ON NOVEMBER 25TH AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER B CAN DO ONE NOVE DECEMBER 1ST, AND THERE CAN BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL IF WE GO THROUGH THEM, UM, TO, TO KIND OF, UM, BUILD IN THAT FLEXIBILITY.
ANYONE ELSE? I DON'T SEE ANYONE.
SO YOU KIND OF HAVE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
SO WE WILL GO ONTO OUR ACTION ITEM THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS THE CALENDAR.
UM, UM, I GUESS WE CAN, WE ALL HAVE LOOKED AT THE CALENDAR BEFORE.
MAYBE WE SHOULD REMOVE THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS FOR NOW AND VOTE ON OUR MEETING CALENDAR AND THEN GET WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DECIDE ON WHEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE, UH, TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE NEED TO DO.
COMMISSIONER HUNT, UH, IS THE PLAN THOUGH TO HAVE 15 DIFFERENT TOWN HALLS? WELL, WE HAVE DONE THAT, UM, AND THEN SOME FOR THE BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS, AND SO IT COULD OCCUR LIKE THAT.
THE CALENDAR THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY FOR ACTION DOES INCLUDE FOUR COMMUNITY TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE DISCUSSION OF THE COMMISSIONERS IS TO REMOVE THOSE DATES, ADOPT THE MEETING CALENDAR, AND INSTEAD WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEM TO HOST AT LEAST ONE MEETING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT.
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO AT THE BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
AND WE CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT BUDGET-WISE.
I, YOU KNOW, ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET, I THINK FOR SURE, YES.
AND, AND I WILL SAY IF WE'RE DOING PARTNERING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, UH, I I WORKED IN THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICE, UH, SOME OF THAT WAS,
[00:50:01]
UM, I MEAN, IT IS VERY CHEAP BECAUSE THE, THE MCC OFFICE COULD COORDINATE SPACE, UM, IN THE DISTRICT OFTENTIMES FOR FREE.MM-HMM,
UM, AND SO THAT, SO THAT CAN KINDA HELP DEF FRAY THE COST FROM BEING JUST OUT OF THE, THE CHARTER BUDGET.
EVEN LIKE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY ACTUALLY DO LIKE EACH OTHER AND THEY MIGHT PARTNER UP AND DO ONE.
SO IT MIGHT NOT BE 15, IT COULD BE 10 11.
UM, BUT, UM, WE'LL LET THEM DECIDE ON THAT AND HOW THEY WANT TO DO IT.
UH, COMMISSIONER SLIS, MR. CHAIR.
I'D MOVE ADOPTION OF THE CALENDAR WITH THE EXTRACTION OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AS THEY STAND ON THE CALENDAR.
SECOND, THAT'S A MOTION I, MR. SLI AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HUNT DISCUSSION? NO.
OKAY, WE ARE ON BRIEFING ITEM B.
THIS IS OUR FIRST CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL FROM COMMISSIONER DE LA FUENTE.
COMMISSIONER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
AND JUST TO CONFIRM, UH, THE POWERPOINT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING CURRENTLY.
IS THE POWERPOINT SYSTEM WORKING CURRENTLY OR NOT? UM, CURRENTLY, NO.
UH, WELL, I, BEFORE I BEGIN, THEN I WOULD ASK, UH, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO PULL UP THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT BEGINS WITH MAY VERSUS NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.
UH, AND I WILL, UH, SPEAK CLEARLY AS TO WHEN WE MOVE PAGES LIKE STAFF JUST DID.
UH, THANK YOU EVERYONE, UH, FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
UM, I, EARLIER TODAY TOOK, UH, MY FAMILY, MY WIFE, MY 13 MONTH OLD SON TO GO VOTE, UH, IN THIS TEXAS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTIONS THAT THE STATE IS CURRENTLY HOLDING.
UH, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD IN EVERY ELECTION THAT OUR GOVERNMENTS FROM FEDERAL DOWN TO SCHOOL BOARD DECIDE TO HOLD.
UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO INSTILL IN MY SON.
UH, AS WE DO THIS, I DO ASK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UH, IN CONSIDERATION OF THIS AMENDMENT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT THOSE OF US HERE ARE MEANT TO REPRESENT OUR DISTRICTS, BUT IN A WAY WE ARE NOT TRULY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
I'M SURE ALL 15 OF US ON THIS COMMISSION ALMOST CERTAINLY VOTED IN THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS THAT OCCURRED THIS MAY PROBABLY 15 OUTTA 15 OF US.
IF WE WERE A RANDOM COLLECTION OF CITY OF DALLAS VOTERS, THAT NUMBER WOULD BE ONE OF 1514 OF US WOULD NOT HAVE VOTED IN THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS THIS PAST MAY.
AND TO ME, THAT IS SOMEWHAT OF AN EMBARRASSMENT.
I THINK IT'S AN APPALLING STATISTIC, AND IT IS UP TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO MAKE THAT BETTER.
AND WE ARE THE PEOPLE, WE ARE THE 15 PEOPLE SERVING IN A ROLE THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THIS.
SO THEREFORE, I HAVE SUBMITTED A CHARTER AMENDMENT IDEA TO MOVE THE CITY OF DALLAS ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER OF THESE ODD NUMBERED YEARS.
SO WE WOULD BE HOLDING OUR CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS ESSENTIALLY.
NOW, IF THIS AMENDMENT HAD BEEN ENACTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN THE PRESENTATION, UH, I HAVE A ROADMAP ON SLIDE TWO, I GO OVER THE STATE LAW BASELINE, GO INTO THE PROBLEM OF LOW TURNOUT, DISCUSS THE SOLUTION, PROVIDE A CASE STUDY, SPEAK ABOUT A FEW BENEFITS, ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS I'VE HEARD AS I'VE PREPPED THIS PROPOSAL OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND, UM, HAVE PROVIDED SOME PUBLIC COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS THAT, UM, WERE MADE AVAILABLE BY THE LEGAL WOMEN VOTERS THIS PAST MAY.
UH, ON THE RIGHT OF THIS SLIDE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT, YOU CAN SEE A CHART THAT SHOWS VO VOTER TURNOUT IN, UH, MAYORAL ELECTIONS.
UM, UH, IN, IN A STUDY THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN 2017, UH, YOU'LL SEE IT GOES FROM THE HIGHEST TURNOUT ON THE LEFT TO THE LOWEST TURNOUT ON THE RIGHT.
WHAT CITY IS THE FARTHEST ON THE RIGHT IN THIS CHART, AND IT'S THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE STATE LAW BASELINE THINGS THAT, UM, WHEN WE'RE CONDUCTING AN ELECTION SYSTEM, UH, OR CREATING AN ELECTION SYSTEM, I I IF WE WANTED TO BLOW UP THE SYSTEM AND START FROM SCRATCH, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO MAINTAIN
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REQUIRED.WE HAVE TO HOLD NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SWITCH TO A PARTISAN, UH, ELECTION, UH, UH, CONTEST IN THE, IN A CITY IN TEXAS REQUIRED WE HAVE TO HAVE MAJORITARIAN RULE.
WHEN WE ELECT A MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THEY HAVE TO RECEIVE OVER 50% OF THE VOTE IN THE FINAL ELECTION.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HOLD PLURALITY.
THE GENERAL ELECTION MUST OCCUR FIRST.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO A PRIMARY AND THEN ELECT AND THEN GENERAL ELECTION SYSTEM.
IT IS GENERAL ELECTION FOLLOWED BY A POTENTIAL RUNOFF REQUIRED.
THE STATE OF TEXAS SETS UNIFORM ELECTION DATES.
ANY OTHER ELECTION DATE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW TERM LENGTH.
IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, A CITY COUNCIL MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE TERM LENGTHS OF TWO, THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
ANYTHING LESS OR ANYTHING MORE IS NOT CURRENTLY ALLOWED.
SO MOVING ON TO THE PROBLEM, DALLAS MUNICIPAL TURNOUT IS AMONG THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT TURNOUT IN RECENT ELECTIONS, 2011, 13%, 2013, 7%, 2015, 7%, 2017, 7% 2019, 12%, 2021, 10%, 2023, THE ONE WE JUST HAD 8%.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS D MAGAZINE AND OTHERS HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS.
WE HAVE PERSISTED WITH THIS PROBLEM OF LOW VOTER VOTER TURNOUT IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
NO, NOTHING THAT WE HAVE TRIED ON ENGAGEMENT WITH INDIVIDUALS THROUGH, UM, IN, UH, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CURRENT SYSTEM HAS MADE, HAS HAD A MEANINGFUL IMPACT, UM, ON, ON INCREASING VOTER TURNOUT IN OUR CITY.
ON SLIDE FIVE, I GO OVER THE SOLUTION.
I'M PROPOSING MOVING THE ELECTION BACK TO NOVEMBER OF ODD NUMBERED YEARS, AND I PROVIDE A COMPARATIVE OF SOME OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
DALLAS FORT WORTH AND SAN ANTONIO ARE THE THREE LARGEST CITIES THAT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT HOLD THEIR ELECTIONS IN MAY.
THEY ARE USUALLY THE LOWEST VOTER TURNOUT MAJOR CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, UM, OF, OF ANY MAJOR CITY.
UH, IN THAT 2017 STUDY, THE THREE OF THEM WERE RANKED 27TH, 29TH AND 30TH.
IN VOTER TURNOUT ONLY LAS VEGAS, NEVADA BROKE US FROM BEING IN THE BOTTOM THREE TOGETHER.
HOUSTON DOUBLES VOTER TURNOUT AND HOLDS THEIR ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER OF ODD NUMBERED YEARS.
IN 2015, FOR EXAMPLE, IN A BIG OPEN MAYORAL CONTEST THAT WAS HOTLY CONTESTED, THEIR VOTER TURNOUT GOT A LITTLE BIT ABOVE 27%.
NOW, I KNOW 27% SOUNDS VERY LOW WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO A PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST, A GUBERNATORIAL CONTEST.
BUT WHERE THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHERE 12% IN AN OPEN MERRILL CONTEST IS WHAT WE ARE, UH, HAVE COME TO EXPECT, 27% SOUNDS LIKE A GODSEND TO ME IN TERMS OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATING.
THEREFORE, I THINK THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE SOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS TO CONSIDER.
ON SLIDE SIX, IF YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT, THERE'S AN ARTICLE FROM HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA WHERE A RICE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR IS WARNING ABOUT HOW THE ELECTIONS FOR HOUSTON MAYOR THAT ARE OCCURRING RIGHT NOW IN EARLY VOTE COULD SEE HISTORICALLY LOW TURNOUT.
THE RICE PROFESSOR WARNED THAT TURNOUT COULD BE AS LOW AS 2220 3%, WHICH AGAIN WOULD SHATTER RECORDS HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE REASON THE NOVEMBER OF ODD NUMBERED YEARS ELECTION DATE WORKS SO WELL IN MY MIND IS THE ELECTION DATE ALREADY MUST HAPPEN.
THE STATEWIDE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT I TOOK MY SON TO VOTE IN THIS MORNING OCCUR EVERY TWO YEARS.
IF WE WANT TO BE SUPER, SUPER TECHNICAL, THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAPPEN.
IT'S JUST I CANNOT FIND A TIME IN ANY, UH, IN, IN ANY RECENT HISTORY.
AND BY RECENT, I DECIDED, LET'S GO BACK TO WHEN I WAS BORN.
NO TIME IN THE PAST 30 YEARS HAS THE STATE NOT SENT STATEWIDE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO THE NOVEMBER OF ODD NUMBERED YEARS