[00:00:01]
WATCHING THE MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR ERIC L. JOHNSON, MAYOR PRO TEM CANNELL ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CAROLYN, KING ARNOLD, COUNCIL MEMBERS SHAD WEST, JESSE MORENO, ZAIN GRACIE, JAIME RESENDEZ, OMAR VALEZ, ADAM, BASIL DUA, PAULA BLACKMAN, KATHY STEWART, JANIE SCHULTZ, KARA MENDELSON, GAY DONNELL WILLIS PAUL RIDLEY, AND CITY MANAGER TC BROADNAX, CITY SECRETARY BILLY RAY JOHNSON AND CITY ATTORNEY TAMMY PALINO.[Call to Order]
HAVE A QUORUM.TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST.
THREE TIME'S 9:20 AM AND I NOW CALL THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE OUR GOOD FRIEND, RABBI ANDREW PALEY, WHO'S WITH THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, HE'S, UH, ONE OF OUR CHAPLAINS AND I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO HIM TO PROVIDE OUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING.
DEAR FRIENDS, I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT VENUE TO ADD A PRAYER FOR THE RANGERS AS WELL.
I KNOW WE HOLD THEM CLOSE IN OUR HEARTS AND WE'LL BE DOING A LOT OF THINKING ABOUT THEM LATER.
BUT IN THIS MOMENT, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
GOD OF MANY NAMES, HOLY ONE OF BLESSING TO STAND BEFORE YOU AT THIS SACRED TIME OF THE LIFE OF OUR CITY.
ON THIS DAY, WE CELEBRATE TRIUMPHANTLY, A VISION OF YOUR CITY WITH ALL PEOPLE OF GOODWILL, WALKING ARM IN ARM TOWARD JUSTICE.
FOR ALL, WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL BREATHE INTO US, YOUR ETERNAL BREATH THAT WE MAY NEVER TIRE OF ENSURING A FLOURISHING LIFE FOR ALL PEOPLE.
HOLY ONE, A BLESSING WE KNOW AND HAVE SEEN YOUR GOODNESS.
AND BECAUSE OF IT, WE CLINGING TO THE HOPE THAT UNITY AND LIBERATION FOR ALL ARE WITHIN OUR GRASP.
CONTINUE TO SHOW US YOUR GOODNESS THAT WE MAY HAVE THE STRENGTH TO ADVANCE YOUR KINGDOM WITH HUMILITY AND GRACE.
WE ASK YOU TO BE WITH OUR MAYOR AND HIS STAFF, OUR CITY COUNCIL, AND THEIR STAFFS, AND ALL THOSE ALONG WITH THEM WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED TO LEADERSHIP IN OUR CITY, SO THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE THE COURAGE AND CONVICTION TO LISTEN, TO CONSIDER AND TO THINK CAREFULLY AND TO ACT WITH COMPASSION AND WITH CONVICTION.
REMIND THEM THAT NO MATTER WHERE IN OUR CITY WE MAY LIVE, EVERYONE IS OUR NEIGHBOR, EVERYONE, OUR SIBLING, AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED TO RESPECT AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, THE POOR, THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY, THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOMES, THOSE WHO ARE ILL AND BODY, MIND OR SPIRIT.
THE STRANGERS AND IMMIGRANTS IN OUR MIDST.
THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE MARGINS, THOSE WHO ARE ALONE, THOSE WHO ARE FORGOTTEN, MAY THEY PUT ASIDE ENMITY AND ENVY, BECOMING EXAMPLES OF WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO COOPERATE AND COLLABORATE FOR THE COMMON GOOD FOR OUR CITY AND INDEED OUR ENTIRE NATION.
MAY THEY ALWAYS BE GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, BY THE SPIRIT OF JUSTICE, AND BY THE SPIRIT OF LOVE.
MAY THEY BE REMINDED OF THE ULTIMATE TEACHING THAT YOU CAN PRETEND TO CARE, BUT YOU CANNOT PRETEND TO SHOW UP.
MAY THEY SHOW UP TODAY WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THEIR HEARTS AND THE WILL TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR US.
ALL THIS WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT WE HOLD, SACRED AND HOLY.
EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR OUR PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES.
FLAG FIRST AND THEN THE TEXAS FLAG.
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 THEE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS
[Special Presentations]
MORNING, AT LEAST ONE I BELIEVE SO AT THIS TIME.THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CHAIRMAN NVAS FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
UM, TODAY IS, UH, THE DAY OF THE DEAD.
UM, OR THE LOS MUTOS IS, WHICH IS A MEXICAN HOLIDAY WHERE FAMILIES WELCOME BACK THE SOULS OF THEIR DECEASED RELATIVES FOR A BRIEF REUNION THAT INCLUDES FOOD, DRINK, AND CELEBRATION.
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A BLEND OF MESO, AMERICAN RITUAL, UM, EUROPEAN RELIGION AND SPANISH CULTURE, ALONG WITH OUR INDIGENOUS, UM, ANCESTORS OF THE AZTEC NATION.WHEN THE SPANISH CAME TO CONQUER, WHICH WAS THE, IS MODERN, IS NOW MODERN DAY MEXICO CITY, THEY TOOK THE RITUAL THAT THEY HAD OF CELEBRATING THEIR DEAD AND MIXED IT WITH ALL SAINTS DAY, WHICH IS ALSO TODAY AND DAY OF THE DEAD, OR THE LOS MUERTOS, AS MANY OF YOU ALL NOW ARE SEEING, UM, MOVING ACROSS THIS NATION HAS COME TO BE.
NOW, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY REALIZES AND UNDERSTANDS THAT THE LOS MUERTOS IS NOT MEXICAN.
HALLOWEEN, LOS MUTOS IS ACTUALLY A CELEBRATION OF OUR ANCESTORS, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED BEFORE US, UM, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, A FAMILY MEMBER, A GODPARENT, A, A PARENT, WHOMEVER IT IS THAT HAS DIED BEFORE, BEFORE YOU, THAT YOU CELEBRATE THEM.
AND IT'S DONE IN VERY, VERY DIFFERENT TRADITIONS.
UM, WE BUILD, UM, WHAT ARE CALLED ALTAS OR, UM, AN ALTAR, AND YOU PLACE A PICTURE OF THAT PERSON OR FAMILY MEMBERS, WHOEVER IT IS.
THERE'S ACTUALLY THE 10 27 IS ACTUALLY, UM, DAY OF THE DEAD FOR DOGS, UM, BECAUSE THE DOG IS THE ONLY ANIMAL THAT IS ALLOWED, UM, TO TAKE THE DEAD AND SHEPHERDS THEM ACROSS THE BRIDGE INTO, UM, THE OTHER WORLD.
AND SO, UM, THERE'S A DAY, IT'S, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY DAYS, BUT TODAY IS THE ACTUAL OFFICIAL DAY.
AND TOMORROW WHEN WE CELEBRATE, UM, AND WE, UM, PUT THE ALTAR UP, YOU MIGHT PUT THINGS ON THERE THAT WAS THEIR FAVORITE FOOD, THEIR FAVORITE DRINKS, THINGS, THEIR FAVORITE ITEM, WHATEVER IT IS IN ORDER TO HELP REMEMBER THEM BECAUSE THESE ARE THE DAYS THAT THE DEAD GET TO COME BACK INTO THIS WORLD AND ACTUALLY GET TO VISIT YOU.
AND, UM, AND, AND YOU GET TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A REUNION OF SORTS, A FAMILY REUNION.
SO, UM, OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO IS, UM, YOU SEE THE SUGAR SKULLS AND YOU SEE LOTS OF COLOR, VIBRANT COLORS, PARADES, ALL KINDS OF REALLY GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPEN, MR. MAYOR.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE CELEBRATION, JUST LIKE A FAMILY REUNION.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE, UM, ON YOUR DESK COLLEAGUES, UM, FROM MEXICO, YOU HAVE, UM, ACTUAL SUGAR SKULLS THAT I HAVE, UM, GOTTEN FOR EACH OF YOU.
SO I HOPE YOU GET TO ENJOY USING THEM.
THEY'RE DECORATIVE, SO I WOULDN'T, UM, IT'S A LOT OF SUGAR.
SO, UM,
UM, I KNOW WE LOVE CAKE HERE, SO, UM, LET'S DO THAT DURING LUNCH AND WE'LL HAVE SOME FOND MUTO, UM, THAT WE CAN SHARE AND BREAK BREAD WITH EACH OTHER WHILE WE'RE HAVING LUNCH.
AND, UM, HOPE THAT EVERYBODY IN YOUR WAY GETS TO CELEBRATE AND REMEMBER YOUR ANCESTORS, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED BEFORE YOU IN, UM, AVIVA DALLAS.
AND, UM, HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WE'LL HAVE THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS ON OUR ALTAR AS THE, UH, RANGERS ARE ONE GAME AWAY FROM WINNING THE WORLD SERIES.
AND NOW I'LL RECOGNIZE, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD, MS. BLACKMAN.
UM, THANK YOU CHAIRMAN FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY IN OUR FAMILY TOO, AS IT'S ALSO MY DAD'S BIRTHDAY.
HE'S STILL WITH US IN WEST TEXAS, SO, UH, BUT SO WE DID IT.
WE HAD TO GO TO MASS AND CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY, SO IT WAS ALWAYS A CHICKEN FRIED STEAK NIGHT.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT IN FOR, UH, SHARING, UH, THE BIT OF HISTORY.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
AS THE RABBI SHARED WITH US THIS MORNING, THE CITY OF DALLAS'S STRENGTH LIES WITHIN THE MULTICULTURAL ESSENCE OF ITS CITIZENS.
WE EMBRACE AND CELEBRATE EACH AND EVERY ONE AS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY.
THIS WEEKEND ON NOVEMBER 3RD, FOURTH AND FIFTH, THE HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IS HOSTING ITS 67TH GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL, A FESTIVAL OF DELICIOUS CUISINE AND PASTRIES, GREEK DANCING, TRADITIONAL DRESSES, WONDERFUL CULTURAL IMPORTS, AND A TOUR OF THE BEAUTIFUL CHURCH, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE GREEK ORTHODOX FAITH COME EXPERIENCE A GREEK ISLAND RIGHT HERE IN THE HEART OF DALLAS, WHERE I AM HONORED AND PROUD TO REPRESENT THE HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH LOCATED IN DISTRICT 11.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU NOW FATHER MARK PSS, WHO'S THE SENIOR PRIEST OF THE HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH.
FATHER MARK HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX PARISH IN DALLAS FOR OVER 50 YEARS, AND HAS SERVED IN THE ORDAINED MINISTRY SINCE 1996.
HE JOINED FULL-TIME AS ASSISTANT PRIEST IN 2018 AND WAS APPOINTED A SENIOR PRIEST IN 2021.
HE'S BEEN A CITIZEN OF DALLAS SINCE 1972
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AND ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL AT JJ PEARSON COLLEGE AT TEXAS A AND M.HE WORKED IN THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AND INVESTMENT BANKING FIELD FOR 30 YEARS AND THEN FOUND A MUCH HIGHER CALLING.
I MUST SAY, THE DALLAS GREEK COMMUNITY IS THRILLED TO HAVE ONE OF THEIR OWN, LEAD THEM, A SENIOR PRIEST AT THIS EXTRAORDINARY TIME OF GROWTH IN FAITH AND COMMUNITY.
PLEASE WELCOME FATHER MARK PSS MAYOR, HONORABLE MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON, COUNCIL MEMBER JANIE SCHULTZ AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
FATHER MARK PS UH, I AM THE SENIOR PASTOR AND PRIEST OF HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH HERE IN DALLAS.
AND WE'VE BEEN AN ACTIVE AND VIBRANT MEMBER OF THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR OVER 108 YEARS.
WE WERE DOWN IN THIS AREA FOR MANY YEARS, OVER 60 YEARS, AND THEN WE MOVED UP NORTH INTO YOUR DISTRICT, UH, ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO.
AND OF THE MANY THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR PARISHIONERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS AND, UH, TO THE VIBRANCY OF THIS CITY, MANY OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, UH, CIVIC AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
UH, BUT ONE ASPECT OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE MOST, UH, PROUD OF IS OFFERING OUR FAITH, OUR FOOD, AND OUR CULTURE.
WITH OUR ANNUAL FOOD FESTIVAL, WE'RE OVER 67 YEARS AND, UH, OUR PARISHIONERS HAVE WORKED VERY HARD AND DILIGENT TO OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME SHARE WITH US THIS COMING WEEKEND AS AGAIN, WE OFFER ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS OF OUR FAITH AND OUR CULTURE TO YOU, THE CITY MEMBERS, THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AND TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF, UH, THE CITY OF DALLAS.
MR. BILLY CORAN IS THE CHAIR OF OUR FOOD FESTIVAL, AND HE'D LIKE TO OFFER A FEW WORDS AS WELL.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THIS WEEKEND.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WANTED TO JUST ADD THIS IS, UM, WE'VE BEEN PLANNING AND WORKING ON THIS FESTIVAL SINCE MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE, AS THEY SAY.
UM, THERE ARE A FEW MEMENTOS STAYING WITH A THEME OF LEAVING SOME SUGAR.
UM, WE HAVE LEFT SOME PASTRIES ON ALL OF YOUR DESKS, UM, ALONG WITH A FLYER AND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE UPCOMING FESTIVAL.
THERE'S ALSO, AT THE VERY BOTTOM, THERE'S A WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN, UM, GO TO, UM, GREEK FESTIVAL OF DALLAS.COM TO SEE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WEEK'S FESTIVITIES.
WE WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO GET YOUR GREEK ON, GET YOUR OPA ON, AND COME AND VISIT US.
AND YOU WOULD DO US AN HONOR IF YOU LET US KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GONNA BE THERE, IF AT ALL, AND WE CAN, UM, HOST YOU AND GIVE YOU THE VIP TREATMENT.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, JOHN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP THIS WEEK.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND VOLUNTEER WORK 'CAUSE THIS IS NOT A GLORIOUS JOB.
SOMETIMES Y'ALL MAKE MAJOR DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR CITY AND WE THANK YOU.
ALSO, THIS IS YOUR GREEK LESSON TODAY.
SO THIS IS BEING NOVEMBER 1ST.
IT'S A GREEK TRADITION THAT EVERY DAY, EVERY THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, YOU SAY KALO, MEINA, KALO.
MEINA MEANS LET'S HAVE A GOOD MONTH AND JUST ENJOY YOURSELVES.
LET'S HAVE A GOOD MONTH, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, LETTING US PARTICIPATE, MAYOR.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, MAYOR? ALRIGHT, THEN WE HAVE ONE MORE MAYOR.
I JUST WANNA SAY THIS IS A GREAT FESTIVAL.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN A DALLAS PREMIER FESTIVAL, UM, MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO.
I ATTENDED FOR THE FIRST TIME AS THE FIRST OFFICIAL DATE WITH MY HUSBAND.
UM, AFTER 35 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, IT WORKED OUT.
SO I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD SKIP ALL THE DATING APPS AND GO TO THE GREEK FESTIVAL
AND, UM, I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A GREAT TIME AND I LOVE HOW COUNCILWOMAN SCHULTZ, UM, MENTIONED TEMPLE SHALOM AND RABBI PALEY'S COMMENTS BECAUSE ACTUALLY YOU MAY END UP PARKING AT THAT SYNAGOGUE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT WAYS THAT, UM, COMMUNITIES OF FAITH COOPERATE.
AND SO I JUST, I LOVE THIS FESTIVAL.
I HOPE EVERYONE GOES BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT TIME.
ALRIGHT, WELL WE HAVE ONE MORE, UH, SPECIAL PRESENTATION AND I WILL, UM, DO THE HONORS TO, UH, INTRODUCE MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK AND TO RECOGNIZE THIS OCCASION.
IT'S A REAL THING AND I'M GONNA EXPLAIN THAT IN MY REMARKS.
AND SO LET ME READ THIS PROCLAMATION AND YOU'LL UNDERSTAND, UM, HOW WE GOT TO HAVE MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK.
IT SAYS, WHEREAS MUNICIPAL COURTS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PRESERVING PUBLIC SAFETY, PROTECTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AREA RESIDENTS AND DETERRING FUTURE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
AND WHEREAS MORE PEOPLE COME IN CONTACT WITH MUNICIPAL
[00:15:01]
COURTS THAN ANY OTHER TYPE OF COURT.AND THE PUBLIC IMPRESSION OF THE TEXAS JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS LARGELY DEPENDENT UPON THE PUBLIC'S EXPERIENCE IN MUNICIPAL COURT.
AND WHEREAS THE DALLAS MUNICIPAL COURT PROVIDES A FORUM WHERE QUESTIONS OF LAW AND FACT CAN BE RESOLVED REGARDING ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF STATE LAW AND MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DALLAS IS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES THAT AN INDEPENDENT, FAIR AND COMPETENT JUDICIARY WILL PROPERLY INTERPRET AND APPLY THE LAW, AND THAT JUDGES SHOULD ADHERE TO THE LAW AND CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A WAY WHICH PROMOTES PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
AND WHEREAS MUNICIPAL COURTS ARE STAFFED BY JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, BAILIFFS CLERKS, AND OTHER COURT PERSONNEL WHO STRIVE TO IMPROVE COURT OPERATIONS BY PARTICIPATING IN APPLICABLE TRAININGS, MEETINGS, AND WORKSHOPS.
AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS, THIS IS THE INTERESTING PART, WHEREAS THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF MUNICIPAL COURTS.
AND ON JUNE 9TH TWO, UH, 2023 DURING THE 88TH LEGISLATURE, GOVERNOR ABBOTT SIGNED A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS AS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK NOW, THEREFORE, I, ERIC L. JOHNSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DALLAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 6TH THROUGH THE 10TH, 2023 AS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
AND WE COMMEND ALL THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DALLAS MUNICIPAL COURTS FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY DE DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND LET'S BRING DOWN OUR VERY OWN JUDGE PRESTON ROBINSON, JR.
TO SHARE SOME WORDS ABOUT OUR LOCAL MUNICIPAL COURTS.
MORNING, UH, CITY MANAGER'S, OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
TO CELEBRATE THIS, I BROUGHT SOME PEOPLE WITH ME JUST TO SAY HELLO, FELT, STAND, AND RAISE THEIR HAND.
UH, JUDGE MICHAEL LACONIA, JUDGE DEMETRIUS BLACKLOCK, JUDGE JULIE CLANCY, JUDGE TANYA GONY, JUDGE KRISTEN KRAMER, JUDGE MARK MORRELL, JUDGE J ROBINSON.
JUDGE MARCIA TILLMAN, JUDGE, SHE WILLIAMS. AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR HEARING OFFICER, UH, KATHERINE WONG AS WELL.
WE ALSO HAVE THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF COURTS, GREGORY NELSON WITH US.
AND I THINK WE'RE MISSING OUR CHIEF PROSECUTOR.
WE'RE JUST EXCITED TO BE HERE.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING SMALL ON YOUR DESK FROM US TO HELP YOU CELEBRATE MUNICIPAL COURT WEEK, AND WE'D LOVE TO GET A PICTURE WITH YOU.
AND THEN WE ALL HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK.
I WANT ALL OF Y'ALL TO COME DOWN AND WE HAVE THE, THE PROCLAMATION HERE SO WE CAN COME, YOU CAN COME INSIDE THE RAIL AND WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE AROUND THE SEMICIRCLE RIGHT NOW WITH THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.
ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER
[Open Microphone Speakers]
NOW TO OUR CITY SECRETARY TO DEAL WITH OUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW HEAR HIS FIRST, HIS FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF
[00:20:01]
PROPRIETY DECORUM AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL IMP 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'LL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION.
INDIVIDUALS 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 FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ALSO, SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME.
ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR JOHNSON, ONLY YOUR FIRST SPEAKER.
HELLO, HOW Y'ALL DOING? LAIA LONDON 7 22 RE AVENUE.
THE ISSUE IS I'M HERE ABOUT A SITUATION IN DUNCANVILLE WHERE I WENT TO THE DUNCANVILLE MAYOR, MR. GORDON, AND TOLD HIM ABOUT A, UM, A A A COMPANY, A GM TOBACCO.
HE WASN'T CARDING PEOPLE, BUT HE WAS SETTING THE CBD STUFF, WHICH THE MARIJUANA OIL, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LEGAL DRUG THAT YOU CAN USE WITH A CARD, AND YOU STILL GOTTA SHOW A DRIVING LICENSE.
SO THE ISSUE IS, THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
NO, I MEAN ALSO I'M ALSO COME TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY OF DUNCANVILLE NEED HELP BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE WRONG WAY DRIVERS THAN ANYBODY IN THE WORLD.
FAIR MEADOWS IS A, IT IS A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
IT'S A ONE-WAY STREET, ONE WRONG WAY, DRIVING ON THAT STREET ALSO.
BUT THE ISSUE, I'M GONNA GO BACK TO THE G THE TOBACCO STOP SHOP THAT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO KROGER ON MAIN STREET.
THE ISSUE IS, I WENT AND TOLD THE MAYOR ABOUT IT, BUT HIS DUNCANVILLE A DUNCANVILLE POLICE OFFICER.
I ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE 21 YEAR OLD THAT GOT HURT IN AUGUST, RIGHT ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, A 20 YEAR, YEAR OLD, 21 YEAR OLD YOUNG MAN WENT ABOUT A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING POUNDS WAS BRUTALLY BEATEN BY THE DUNCANVILLE POLICE.
AND TEXAS RANGERS CAME AND PICKED IT UP REAL QUICK.
THE ISSUE IS NOBODY IN THE CITY OF DUNCANVILLE EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY TRYING TO KEEP IT HUSH HUSH.
SO I CAME TO TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL AS THIS TOBACCO COMPANY.
AND LATER ON, EVER SINCE THEN, THE OFFICER THAT WENT AND TOLD HIM WHO I WAS, LIKE, I WAS TRYING TO BE ANONYMOUS.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE ANONYMOUS.
I COME TO EVERY CITY HALL, DALLAS CITY, CEDAR HILL, I GO TO EVERYBODY'S CITY HALL.
SO I'M NOT TRYING TO BE ANONYMOUS, BUT THEY POINTED ME OUT.
HE BEEN, EVER SINCE THEN, HE HAS BEEN COMING OUT SAYING I'M AF AND B.
HE TOLD ME TO GO BACK TO AFRICA.
I WENT AND TOLD MR. GORDON WHAT WAS GOING ON.
THEN LATELY I COME OUT OF KROGER, HE DECIDES TO PUT A BASKET BEHIND MY CAR WHILE I'M ABOUT TO DRIVE OFF.
AND HE FOLLOWED TO ME TO MY CAR TWICE.
SO I TOLD MR. GORDON, THE NEXT TIME THIS MAN FOLLOW ME TO MY CAR, I WILL TASER HIM.
I HAVE A STONE GUN THAT THAT WORKS.
IF HE FOLLOWED ME AGAIN, IF HE FOLLOWED ME HOME, SOMEBODY FOLLOWED ME HOME ONE TIME.
BUT IF THEY FOLLOW ME HOME, THEY PROBABLY NOT GONNA MAKE IT.
BUT MY BAD, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THE WRONG THING.
THEY, MY HUSBAND WILL SHOOT THEM.
BUT I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED HOME, ALL OF THAT BECAUSE A DUNCANVILLE POLICE OFFICER THOUGHT IT WAS WISE TO TELL THEM WHO LAKO LONDON WAS AND WHERE I LIVED.
I HAD ALREADY SAID WHERE I STAYED STAYED.
BUT YOU GOT A TOBACCO COMPANY AND THIS MAN IS ON A VISA HERE IN OUR COUNTRY, AND HE HAD A NURSE TELL ME TO GO BACK TO AFRICA.
MY MY MOTHER PARENTS ARE STRAIGHT INDIAN.
SO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
NO LAW ORDER IN DUNCANVILLE YOUR TIME.
STEVE KLEIN, I RESIDE AT 64 27 BORDEAUX AVENUE.
UH, AND I AM HERE WITH THE, WOULD YOU MIND PUSHING THAT BUTTON ON YOUR MICROPHONE OR IF, IF IT'S NOT ON, IT'S JUST TOO FAR AWAY, ARE YOU JUST, IS IT ON OR YOU'RE JUST NOT SPEAKING INTO
[00:25:01]
IT? I APOLOGIZE.I RESIDE AT 64 27 BORDEAUX AVENUE, UH, IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
AND I'M HERE, UH, REPRESENTING THE LOVEFIELD CITIZENS ACTION COMMITTEE.
UH, WE PARTICIPATED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION SPONSORED, UH, OFFSITE MEETINGS ON SITE.
AND WE, UH, HELD NUMEROUS OFFSITE MEETINGS TO REINFORCE ELEMENTS OF THE EXISTING VOLUNTARY NOISE PROGRAM AS RELATES TO DALLAS LOVE FIELD AND TO CRAFT, UH, SOME STRENGTHENED MEASURES TO INCORPORATE INTO IT, UH, TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT DYNAMIC OF, UH, OF OUR AIR COMPLICATED AIRSPACE.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN, AND I APOLOGIZE, I CAN'T GET MY PRESENTATION TO RUN PROPERLY.
UH, THIS IS JUST FOUR HOURS OF FLIGHT TRACKS OVER OUR AIRSPACE.
UM, DFW OBVIOUSLY IS BOXED IN PURPLE TO THE EAST LEFT FIELD, BOXED IN RED TO THE WEST.
YOU CAN SEE AT MARKER ONE WE HAVE NOW WITH PERFORMANCE-BASED NAVIGATION, EXTREMELY TIGHT FLIGHT PATHS, APPROACHING LOVE FIELD AND DEPARTING FROM LOVE FIELD.
UH, IN ADDITION, UH, AT DFW, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE NOW HAVE, UH, SOUTHBOUND DEPARTURES THAT GET ROUTED BACK OVER DALLAS AT HIGHER ALTITUDES.
UM, SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE A VERY COMPLEX FLIGHT DYNAMIC, UH, THAT REQUIRES NOT ONLY REINFORCING, UH, OUR EXISTING RULES, WHICH HAVE KIND OF FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE OVER THE YEARS, UH, AS YOU'LL SEE IN A MOMENT, BUT TO TRY TO STRENGTHEN THOSE RULES TO ADDRESS OUR NEW COMPLEX FLIGHT DYNAMIC, UH, DUE TO THE FA A'S NEXT GEN, UH, PERFORMANCE BASED NAVIGATION.
THESE ARE OUR VIOLATORS, UH, SCHEDULED AS OF TODAY.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE EIGHT FLIGHTS THAT ARE ARRIVING AFTER THE AGREED TO VOLUNTARY NOISE, UH, CURFEW, WHICH GOES INTO EFFECT AT 11:00 PM EVERY NIGHT.
AND, UH, EXPIRES AT 6:00 AM IN THE MORNING.
THESE ARE NOT WEATHER DELAYED FLIGHTS.
THESE ARE SCHEDULED AIRLINES, UH, THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE LOVEFIELD GATE USE AND LEASE AGREEMENT SAYS THAT THEY'VE SIGNED OFF ON, UM, YOU KNOW, PLEASE ADHERE TO THIS VOLUNTARY CURFEW.
THEY'VE CHOSEN TO, UH, UH, ENGAGE IN ARRIVALS AFTER RUNWAY UTILIZATION.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE OVERALL FROM DATA SUPPLIED BY THE CITY'S CONSULTANT HMMH, WE HAVE HEAVIER USAGE ON THE LEMON AVENUE SIDE.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, DOWNSTREAM FROM LOVE FIELD ON THE LEMON AVENUE SIDE, THAT THEY'RE SEEING MANY MORE OVER FLIGHTS.
UH, PART OF THIS IS COMMERCIAL AIRLINES.
UH, A GOOD PART OF IT IS ALSO, UM, UH, CHARTER, UH, AND GENERAL AVIATION.
UH, SO IN CLOSING, AS DR AS PATRICK CARANO, YOUR TIME GIVES THIS PRESENTATION'S, PLEASE CONSIDER ALL THE ELEMENTS AS A SYSTEM AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
HELLO? ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
I AM A LICENSED DENTIST IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I'VE PRACTICED HERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS AS AN ORTHODONTIST.
PART OF MY TIME WAS AT UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ORAL SURGERY, WHERE I HAD DONE A FELLOWSHIP IN CRANIOFACIAL, UM, AND DENTAL FACIAL ABNORMALITIES.
I'VE TREATED YOUR CHILDREN OR I'VE TREATED YOU, OR YOU'VE CALLED ME WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT DENTAL ISSUES AND FOR DENTAL ADVICE.
OTHERS OF YOU MAY KNOW ME FROM MY ADVOCACY FOR THE SMALL LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE IN, IN DISTRICT TWO PEAKS SUBURBAN EDITION, A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD IN OLD EAST DALLAS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW ME AS AN ADVOCATE.
CURRENTLY I'M SERVING AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT TWO ON THE, UH, STREET SUBCOMMITTEE AND, UH, FOR THE 2024 BOND.
AND I AM AMAZED AT HOW MUCH INFORMATION ALL OF YOU HAVE TO PROCESS IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND AS SUCH, I AM HERE TO TRY AND WHITTLE DOWN SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY BE HEARING ABOUT WATER FLUORIDATION AND THE ANTI FLUORIDATION MOVEMENT.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED ON THE STREETS COMMITTEE IS THAT THERE IS EQUITY THAT IS NEEDED IN THE CITY, AND THERE'S NO GREATER EQUITY THAN WATER FLUORIDATION.
THIS IS THE GREATEST AND THE EASIEST THING TO DO IN ORDER TO PROVIDE DENTAL CARE TO THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO DENTISTS, DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AND DON'T
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HAVE THE DENTAL IQ TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF DENTAL HEALTH.WATER FLUORIDATION IS NOT EXPENSIVE OVERALL, AND WATER FLUORIDATION MEETS THE NEEDS FOR EVERYBODY, WHETHER THEY HAVE ACCESS TO DENTISTRY.
WHILE AT UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER, I PROVIDED ORTHODONTIC CARE FOR, UH, CHILDREN, UM, ON MEDICAID.
AND I WAS AMAZED IN COMPARISON TO OTHER PLACES THAT I HAD PRACTICED WHERE WATER FLUORIDATION WAS NOT THE NORM.
UM, A SMALL COMMUNITY IN WESTERN NEW YORK, A NATIVE AMERICAN, UM, UH, RESERVATION, UM, I WAS AMAZED AT HOW LITTLE DECAY MANY OF THESE CHILDREN HAD DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY DID NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST ORAL HYGIENE.
NOW, DOES FLUORIDE ABSOLUTELY ELIMINATE DECAY? NO, BUT IT MAKES THE TEETH HARDER AND IT MAKES THE TEETH HARDER WHILE WE'RE DEVELOPING TEETH.
IT ALSO BREAKS UP THE MEMBRANE OF THE BACTERIA IN ORDER TO PREVENT THAT BACTERIA FROM MULTIPLYING.
AND WE CAN'T FORGET THE ELDERLY WHO ARE IN ASSISTED LIVING OR SKILLED NURSING.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CARRIE LACHER.
I'M ONE OF THE MANY STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE ATTENDED MONTHLY MEETINGS THE LAST YEAR TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AVIATION DEPARTMENT TO UPDATE THE VOLUNTARY NOISE REDUCTION PLAN OR VNP FOR SHORT.
CREATING AVNP WAS REFERRED TO IN A FEDERAL AGREEMENT WRITTEN OVER 30 YEARS AGO, CALLED THE FIVE PARTY AGREEMENT OR RIGHT AMENDMENT, AND WAS AMENDED IN 2006.
THAT AGREEMENT WAS A COMPROMISE, WHICH OUTLINED HOW LEFT FIELD WOULD OPERATE AS A REGIONAL AIRPORT TO ENSURE IT WAS A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND DID NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT DFW AIRPORT.
THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO UPDATE THE VNP AT LEFT FIELD WITH SEVEN ADDITIONAL STIPULATIONS IN 1986.
IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, THE AIRCRAFT NOISE HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY AND THE VNP STIPULATIONS TO MANAGE NOISE HAVE BEEN LARGELY IGNORED AS CONFIRMED THROUGH AN OUTSIDE AUDIT OF THE PROGRAM PUBLISHED IN 2021.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY EIGHT SCHEDULED FLIGHTS THAT PA THAT ARRIVE PAST THE VNP CURFEW OF 11:00 PM AND IT HAS BEEN AS MANY AS 11.
THE FAA ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO ADDITIONAL NOISE WHEN THEY INTRODUCED NEXT GEN, WHICH I THINK STEVE REFERRED TO, WHICH CHANGED THE FLIGHT PATTERNS FOR THE DALLAS AIRSPACE BY CREATING HIGHWAYS IN THE SKY THAT ALL AIRCRAFT FOLLOW FLYING IN AND OUT OF TOWN, THE RESULTS ARE A GREATER CONCENTRATION OF NOISE OVER SMALLER AREAS TO OTHER NOISE MEASURES.
THE NIGHTTIME PREFERENTIAL RUNWAY IN THE TRINITY RIVER DEPARTURE AT LEFT FIELD WAS NOT ENTERED INTO THE FA A'S GPS SYSTEM, THEREFORE HAS NOT BEEN USED SINCE 2014.
THE LEMON RUNWAY WAS USED EXCLUSIVELY DURING THE DENTON RUNWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR OVER 18 MONTHS FROM 2020 TO 2022.
THESE EAST OF LOVEFIELD NEIGHBORHOODS WERE PUMMELED WITH FLIGHTS TAKING OFF EVERY, OR LANDING EVERY TWO TO FOUR MINUTES FROM 6:00 AM TO MIDNIGHT SHORE CREST BRIARWOOD BLUFF VIEW, ELM THICKET AND PARTS OF HIGHLAND PARK WERE SEVERELY IMPACTED.
WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION ENDED, WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT GET SOME RELIEF, BUT THE LEMON RUNWAY WAS STILL PREFERRED GIVEN GENERAL AVIATION, WHICH HAS GROWN CONSIDERABLY, IS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE.
CURRENTLY NEAR 65% OF FLIGHTS TAKE OFF FROM THE LEMON RUNWAY.
I'M ON AN EMAIL CHAIN WITH HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES WHO DIDN'T EXPERIENCE EXTREME AIRCRAFT NOISE IN THE PAST IN THEIR HOMES, BUT DO NOW, YOUNG CHILDREN ARE AWAKENED FROM SLEEP AT NIGHT OR IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS FROM THE NOISE AND NOBODY'S REALLY GETTING A GOOD FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP.
WITH THE GROWTH ANTICIPATED AND POTENTIAL DRONE FLIGHTS BEGINNING IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, IT WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME THE WILD WILD WEST OVERHEAD IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE TO MITIGATE THE SITUATION.
TODAY, THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION WILL PRESENT 14 ACTION ITEMS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED TO REDUCE NOISE.
THEY INCLUDE QUIETER TAKEOFF AND LANDING PROCEDURES AND BETTER COMMUNICATION TO ALL AIRLINES USING LOVE FIELD ABOUT THE CURRENT AND HOPEFULLY FUTURE UPDATED NOISE REDUCTION PLANS, SOME OF WHICH ARE ALREADY USED AT DFW OR OTHER US AIRPORTS AND CAN BE IMPLEMENTED QUICKLY.
IN CONCLUSION, PLEASE MANAGE THE AIRPORT PER THE FEDERAL AGREEMENTS, WHICH SET THE TONE FOR BALANCE BETWEEN GOOD AIRPORT ECONOMICS AND ACTIONS THAT SHOW CONSIDERATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS SITUATION REQUIRES RELIEF AND COMPROMISE.
RIGHT NOW IT'S VERY ONE-SIDED.
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UH, HOW'S IT GOING? UM, WITH A POPULATION OF MORE THAN 126 MILLION PEOPLE, UH, JAPAN IS EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT 40% OF THE UNITED STATES POPULATION.JAPAN DOES NOT FLUORIDATE ITS WATER.
IT WAS FROM THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, AGENCY, GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN EXPLAINING, UM, BASICALLY, UH, JAPAN BELIEVES IN QUOTE ONE'S FREE WILL.
UM, SOME OTHER STATEMENTS IN THE DOCUMENT ARE JAPAN'S, UH, GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL WATER SUPPLIERS, UH, HAVE CONSIDERED THERE IS NO NEED TO SUPPLY FLUORIDATED WATER TO ALL USERS BECAUSE THIS MAY CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS TO VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
AND IN THE DOCUMENT THEY ALSO SAY THERE IS OTHER WAYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DENTAL HEALTH CARE, UH, SUCH AS, UH, DIRECT FLUORIDE COATING OF THE TEETH AND USING FLUORIDATED PEN, DENTAL PASTE.
AND THESE SHOULD BE APPLIED AT OTHER OTHERS FREE WILL.
UM, THIS JAPANESE DOCUMENT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE COUNTRY'S BACKGROUND ON WATER FLUORIDATION AT ONE TIME, UH, JAPAN DID FLUORIDATE THEIR WATERS AT THE SAME LEVELS AS DALLAS DOES NOW.
UM, BUT JAPAN NOTICED A STRONG RISE IN DENTAL FLUOROSIS AMONG THEIR POPULATION.
DENTAL FLUOROSIS IS ONLY CAUSED BY DRINKING THE FLUORIDE, UH, NOT BY JUST PUTTING IT ON, UH, WISELY.
JAPAN THEN STOPPED THE FLUORIDATION.
UH, IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED BY THE CDC, UH, THAT OVER 40% OF AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS SUFFER FROM DENTAL FLUOROSIS.
I'M NOT ADOLESCENT ANYMORE, BUT I WAS, YOU KNOW, UM, THIS, UH, JUST LIKE WE HAVE IN DALLAS RIGHT NOW, UH, DALLAS HAS CONTINUED TO FLUORIDATE FOR OVER 60 YEARS, BUT WE CAN STOP IT.
SO, UH, ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, 9:00 AM THE PUBLIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY HEAR THE TRUTH ABOUT THE RISKS OF COMMUNITY FLUORIDATION FROM EXPERTS WITH SCIENCE AND, AND FACTS.
THIS IS THANKS TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE.
HE WANTED TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC TO HEAR FROM PROFESSIONALS THAT OFFER FACTS AND SCIENCE.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO WATCH THIS LIVE STREAM OF THIS MEETING OR ATTEND IN PERSON.
I YIELD BACK THE, THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THIS CONCLUDES YOUR FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS, THE REMAINING OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.
WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE END OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
[1. 23-2798 Approval of Minutes of the October 18, 2023 City Council Meeting]
AGENDA.ITEM ONE IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 18TH, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
[2. 23-2799 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)]
IS A CON, UH, CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.THIS MORNING, YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL FULL COUNSEL OFFICER APPOINTMENTS AND A BALLOT VOTE.
LET ME NOTE THAT THE BALLOT VOTE WILL BE HELD TO LATER IN THE MEETING TO ALLOW THE ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE PRESENT FOR VOTING.
YOUR OFFICER APPOINTMENTS WILL BE HELD ON A SEPARATE VOTE TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED, A MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD BEFORE BEING APPOINTED OFFICER TO THE BOARD.
AND ALSO TO ALLOW, THERE IS TWO CHAIR APPOINTMENTS AND THOSE CHAIR APPOINTMENTS ARE BEING SEPARATED TO ALLOW THE, THE MAYOR TO ABSTAIN.
AT THIS TIME, YOU'LL BE PRESENTED WITH YOUR INDIVIDUAL AND FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS, NOMINEES FOR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
DEREK NUTTALL IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BASIL DUA TO THE CITY PLAN AND ZONING COMMISSION.
BRANDI TREADWAY IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
TO THE, TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD ADJUNCT MEMBERS, CHRIS LEE IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ.
MS. LEE MEETS THE FIVE PLUS YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND BUSINESS SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
ESTHER VIAL IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VALEZ.
MS. VIAL MEETS THE GENERAL PUBLIC SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE LANDMARK COMMISSION.
DIANE SHERMAN IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST.
MS. SHERMAN MEETS THE HISTORIAN SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD.
THOMAS CONNOR IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSON AND PRISCILLA RICE IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ TO THE PERMIT AND LI
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TO THE PERMIT AND LICENSE APPEAL BOARD.JOHNNY JEFFERSON IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAA EFRIN.
FRA VERA IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY AND ANGELA WILLIS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE TO THE SENIOR AFFAIRS COMMISSION.
J PETER KLEIN IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON.
MR. KLEIN MEETS THE 55 PLUS YEARS OF AGE SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK OPPORTUNITY FUND BOARD.
CARL ENRIQUEZ IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS.
MR. ENRIQUEZ MEETS THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE YOUTH COMMISSION.
JORDAN JACOBS IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD, YOUR NOMINEES FOR FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENT TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE 13 BOARD GRAND PARK SOUTH DIANE RAGSDALE IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAA TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE 15 BOARD FORT WORTH AVENUE.
DEBBIE SOLIS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOVAS.
THESE ARE YOUR NOMINEES, MR. MAYOR.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
J PETER KLEIN IS BEING NOMINATED CHAIR OF THE SENIOR AFFAIRS COMMISSION BY MAYOR JOHNSON.
RONNIE MEES IS BEING NOMINATED CHAIR OF THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION BY MAYOR JOHNSON.
AND ESTHER VIAL IS BEING NOMINATED VICE CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOVAS.
THESE ARE YOUR NOMINEES, MR. MAYOR, LOOKING FOR A MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MR. MAYOR.
CHAIRMAN NOVA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I JUST WANNA, UM, STAND UP TO SAY THAT, UM, ESTE AL HAS, UM, DONE A FANTASTIC, PHENOMENAL JOB AS VICE CHAIR OVER THE PAST TERM.
UM, A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE HEARD SOME COMMENTS MADE BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT, UM, WERE VERY NEGATIVE.
AND IT'S A SHAME THAT THESE TYPES OF THINGS HAPPEN.
ESTHER IS A VOLUNTEER JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, AND, UM, TO BE BULLIED AND TO BE, UM, TREATED, UM, JUST NOT IN THE BEST OF WAYS WHEN, UM, I, THINGS ARE NOT GOING THE WAY THAT YOU WANT TO.
IT'S NOT THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS HERE AT CITY HALL.
AND I HAVE TO COMMEND ESTHER AS WELL AS OUR CHAIR CATHERINE, UM, FOR STANDING UP AND NOT BEING SCARED OFF FROM DOING THIS VOLUNTEER POSITION AND TO SERVE OUR GREAT CITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES HERE IN THE FACE OF FOLKS WHO WOULD PREFER TO BULLY AND PICK AT AND SHAME FOLKS AND TRY TO MAKE THEM QUIT OR DO THINGS AND HARASS THEM INSTEAD OF, UM, WORKING WITH THEM SO WE CAN GET THINGS DONE.
AND THAT'S HOW WE DO IT AROUND HERE.
UM, AT CITY HALL IS, YOU KNOW, YEAH, WE BICKER.
AND THAT THAT'S, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S POLITICS AND THAT'S CREATING GOOD POLICY.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ONE BIG FAMILY AND OUR FAMILIES DO THE SAME THING, BUT WE SHOULDN'T DO IT TO A POINT WHERE PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO CALL AND GET, UM, POLICE, UM, SERVICES, ESCORTS, UM, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, ESPECIALLY FOR A VOLUNTEER POSITION HERE IN THE CITY.
AND IT, IT, IT WOULD JUST BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THOSE THINGS.
AND, UM, JUST TO SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE WE, WE DON'T EVER GET USED TO IT, I THINK, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.
BUT IT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE'RE THE ELECTED PEOPLE, WE'RE THE ELECTED BODY.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE APPOINTED FOLKS, UM, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BE SCARED OFF FROM SERVING IN THESE TYPES OF POSITIONS.
SO, UM, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THOSE THINGS, BUT REALLY THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT ESTHER HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB AND HER COMMITMENT TO THIS CITY AND TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE, UH, ABOUT ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY.
SHE HAS RISEN TO BE, UM, THE CREAM OF THE CROP OF THE BOARD ALONG WITH HER OTHER MEMBERS.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SAY THOSE POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT HER AND THAT SHE KNOWS THAT, UM, I'VE GOT HER BACK AND I, I KNOW THIS COUNCIL HAS HER BACK AND THE CITY HAS HER BACK, AND, UM, AS WELL AS THE OTHERS AND TO KEEP DOING THE GOOD WORK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE OUR MISSION OF IMPLEMENTING OUR CCAP AND THE OTHER ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE AS WE CONTINUE TO HELP OUR NEW CHAIR AND THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THIS COUNCIL GET THE POSITIVE, EXCELLENT, UM, UM, POLICY THAT WE CAN ADOPT AND PASS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU VICE CHAIR VIAL AND UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR WORK TOGETHER AND CONTINUING WORKING WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO BE GONE FOR AGAINST THE, UH, APPOINTMENTS THAT THE CITY SECRETARY READ? I DON'T SEE ANYONE.
CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES, UH, POINT OF INQUIRY.
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VOTE.VOTE IS NOT TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW.
WHAT'S, WHAT, WHAT? THE CITY SECRETARY ACTUALLY SAID THIS BEFORE WE STARTED.
SHE'S THE, THE, THAT'S GONNA REQUIRE A BALLOT VOTE AND SHE'S HOLDING THOSE UNTIL WE HAVE A FULL COUNCIL, UM, TO VOTE.
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO VOTE ON THOSE.
UM, BUT ANYWAY, YOU GET MY POINT.
THAT'S WHY SHE WAS HOLDING THOSE.
AND WE WERE GONNA DEAL WITH THE, THE, UM, OTHER ONES FIRST.
ANYBODY ELSE ON FOR AGAINST THE TWO CHAIR APPOINTMENTS AND THE VICE CHAIR APPOINTMENT THAT WE HAD? SENIOR AFFAIRS, VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
AND PLEASE NOTE THAT I ABSTAIN FROM THAT ONE NOTED.
OKAY, MR. MAYOR, ARE WE READY TO DO THE WE ARE READY.
WE HAVE ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT, SO WE'RE READY TO DO THE BALLOT VOTING.
MY STAFF IS DISTRIBUTING A DOCUMENT THAT HAS A QR CODE THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE BALLOTS.
I DO ASK THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS GO AHEAD AND SCAN THAT QR CODE AND LOG IN YOUR INFORMATION, WHICH IS YOUR FIRST NAME AND LAST NAME.
BUT HOWEVER, PLEASE DO NOT BEGIN VOTING UNTIL YOU'RE INSTRUCTED TO.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOUR VICE CHAIR NOMINEES.
SCOTT GOLDSTEIN IS BEING NOMINATED VICE CHAIR, AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD.
SCOTT GOLDSTEIN IS BEING NOMINATED VICE CHAIR BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO AND COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSON STANISLAU JUNIORS IS ALSO BEING NOMINATED VICE CHAIR OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD PRISCILLA RICE IS BEING NOMINATED VICE CHAIR OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER BASAL AND COUNCIL MEMBER VALEZ.
AND AGAIN, I WILL ASK YOU TO GO AHEAD AND SCAN THE CODE, BUT PLEASE DO NOT START VOTING UNTIL INSTRUCTED, MR. MAYOR.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS BECAUSE WE SOMETIMES THIS WE VOTE DIFFERENTLY EVERY TIME.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE GOT A NEW SYSTEM ALL THE TIME.
SO SCAN THE QR CODE FIRST AND THEN YOU ENTER YOUR NAME AND YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOUR NAME APPEARS AT THE TOP OF YOUR BALLOT BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER.
ONCE YOU'VE DONE THAT PART STOP, DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE UNTIL, UM, THE CITY SECRETARY TELLS US WHAT TO DO NEXT.
SO, SO SCAN THE CODE AND THEN PUT IN YOUR NAME.
ENTER, AND THEN YOU SHOULD BE AT THE POINT WHERE YOU SHOULD STOP AND WAIT FOR INSTRUCTIONS.
MR. MAYOR? YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
UM, WILL THE POLL BE UNLOCKED FOR US TO VOTE AT SOME POINT? IT, IT WILL, BUT NOT YET.
AND I THINK WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE, UM, DISCUSSION ON THE VERY GOOD.
JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND THE HORSESHOE ABOUT THIS.
WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T START DON'T START THE VOTING YET.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CHAIRWOMAN STEWART FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THIS IS ON THE, ON THE ISSUE OF THE VICE CHAIR OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD.
SO WE'RE NOW RECOGNIZING PEOPLE WHO WANNA SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ANY OF THE NOMINEES FOR THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD.
VICE CHAIR, THAT'S, SO EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
PLEASED TO NOMINATE SCOTT GOLDSTEIN FOR THE POSITION OF VICE CHAIR OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
SCOTT HAS A LONG TENURE OF SERVICE WITH THE CITY.
HIS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AT CITY HALL AND NOW WORK AT DDI GIVE HIM A UNIQUE AND SOMEWHAT SEASONED PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORK THAT HAPPENS HERE.
HE UNDERSTANDS THE ROLE OF STAFF AND THE ROLE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.
HE KNOWS THE STRATEGIZING THAT GOES ON AND MAYBE THE POLITICS AS WELL.
HIS ADVICE TO ME OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AS A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER HAS BEEN TRULY INVALUABLE.
HE KNOWS WHO TO TALK TO, TO GET SOMETHING EXPLAINED OR WHO TO TALK TO TO GET SOMETHING DONE.
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HE ALSO HAS FLEXIBILITY IN HIS JOB THAT ALLOWS HIM TO BE AVAILABLE FOR MEETINGS HELD DURING THE DAY.WE SHOULD NOT TAKE SCOTT'S EXPERIENCE FOR GRANTED.
WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE HIM IN LEADERSHIP ROLES.
HE CAN STEP INTO THIS ROLE AS A STRONG LEADER WITH GOOD INSTINCTS AND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SUCCESS, THE SUCCESS OF EVERY ONE OF OUR 14 DISTRICTS IS IMPORTANT TO THIS CITY.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES CHAIRMAN WEST FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AGAIN, WE'RE ON THE VICE CHAIR OF THE PARK BOARD.
AND IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT DAY WHEN WE HAVE THREE GREAT NOMINEES, UH, FOR, FOR ONE OF THESE POSITIONS.
IT MAKES THE VOTING REALLY HARD.
UM, I I WANTED TO SPEAK FOR JR HUERTA, WHO I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW.
HE'S BEEN ON THE PARK BOARD SINCE RIGHT AFTER I GOT ELECTED, SO HE'S GOT SOME, SOME GOOD EXPERIENCE.
UM, HE, BUT HE KNOWS PARKS ALL ACROSS THE CITY BECAUSE OF HIS, HIS, UM, HIS PARTICIPATION IN IN LEADERSHIP IN THE DALLAS, DALLAS YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUE.
UM, HE HAS BROUGHT A FRESH ENERGY TO OAK CLIFF AND ACROSS THE CITY FOR ACTIVATION OF PARKS FOR, UM, FOR OUR YOUTH AND, AND RE-EMERGING OF A LOT OF OUR FIELDS THAT NEED TO BE, NEED TO BE FIXED UP.
UM, I THINK STRONGEST REASON WHY I WOULD, UM, ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER JR AND THIS ISN'T A DINGING AGAINST ANY OTHER CANDIDATE, BUT HE IS, HE IS, HE'S NOT POLITICAL.
UM, HE IS, UH, HE'S, HE'S, HE SHOWS UP, UM, NOT JUST AT MEETINGS, BUT HE SHOWS UP AT RIBBON CUTTINGS ACROSS THE CITY.
UM, AND, AND HE'S ALWAYS PRESENT AND, AND, AND SUPPORTIVE OF OTHER DISTRICTS.
AND SO I'D JUST ASK YOU TO CONSIDER HIM FOR THIS POSITION.
AND I AGREE WITH, UM, CHAIRMAN WEST THAT IT, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THREE, UH, GREAT INDIVIDUALS THAT, THAT ARE NOMINATED.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW ANY OF 'EM, YOU SHOULD.
BUT AS WE CONSIDER THE THREE NOMINEES FOR PARK BOARD VICE PRESIDENT I, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, NARVAEZ AND BA STRONGLY RECOMMEND MS. PRISCILLA RICE.
MS. RICE IS A HISPANIC FEMALE WHO HAS LIVED IN DALLAS FOR 28 YEARS AND IN DISTRICT FIVE FOR 15 YEARS, HER CAREER FOCUS HAS BEEN ON COMMUNICATIONS SPECIFICALLY AS A WRITER AND TRANSLATOR FOR THE DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IN THAT CAPACITY, SHE HAS A DEEP CONNECTION TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE LARGE IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN OUR CITY.
MS. RICE SERVED AS MY APPOINTEE TO THE ARCH AND CULTURAL ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS, AND NOW IS MY PARK BOARD MEMBER FOR OVER A YEAR.
SHE ALSO SERVES AS MY APPOINTEE TO THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE IN THE CITY WHOSE POPULATION IS OVER 42% HISPANIC AND GROWING.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT FROM THE, FROM THE VERY BASIC LEVEL OF ENGAGING IN PARK FRIENDS GROUPS IN, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS TO SERVING ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
MS. RICE IS COMMITTED TO ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL AND THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY AS EVIDENCED BY HER ADVOCACY TO HAVE ALL MATERIALS FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PUBLISHED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND HER RECENT EFFORTS TO HOST AN ALL SPANISH CITYWIDE TOWN HALL BOND MEETING AT CITY HALL.
THE FIRST OF ITS KIND ADDITIONALLY OF THE 15 PARK BOARD MEMBERS.
ONLY TWO ARE HISPANIC, CERTAINLY NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE CITY'S POPULATION.
WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT DEVOTED TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION, YET THE RESULTS OF AN AUDIT OF CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PUBLISHED BY OUR CITY AUDITOR ON AUGUST 4TH, 2021 AND REVISED ON JANUARY 26TH, 2022, DEMONSTRATES THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY APPROXIMATELY 500 PEOPLE SERVING ON 60 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN OUR CITY WITH A HISPANIC POPULATION OF 42%.
IN DALLAS, ONLY 11.8% OF THOSE SERVING ON A BOARD OR COMMISSION ARE HISPANIC.
THE FEMALE POPULATION IN DALLAS IS 50.4, AND YET ONLY 39.9% OF OUR BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE FEMALE AS COMPARED TO 60.1%.
MALE COUNCIL HAS JUST STARTED APPOINTING CHAIRS AND VICE CHAIRS FOR THE 20 23, 25 TERM.
BUT IN THE 20 21, 23 TERM, ONLY NINE OF THE CHAIRS AND 16 OF THE VICE CHAIRS WERE FEMALE.
VOTING FOR MS. RICE'S VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PARK BOARD IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NOT ONLY ELECT A QUALIFIED, COMMITTED, AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY AND BOARD MEMBER, BUT TO HELP CLOSE THE EQUITY GAP IN LEADERSHIP AT THE CITY.
DEPUTY MAYOR PROAM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AGAIN, WE'RE ON THE VICE CHAIR OF THE PARK BOARD, VICE CHAIR NOMINATIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME GREAT, UH, CANDIDATES HERE, UH, ON THIS BALLOT TODAY.
UH, AND WE ARE, WE ARE GOING TO WIN REGARDLESS, I BELIEVE WHO'S HERE, BUT I DID JOIN, UM, THE NOMINATION OF CHAIR WEST WITH, WITH WHAT WE CALL, UM, WE NORMALLY REFER TO HIM AS JR.
AND, UH, SO I, I HAVE WORKED WITH MR. UH, JR.
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THAT HE IS MR. UH, PARKS.I THINK THAT'S HIS OTHER NAME, MR. PARKS
BUT PARTICULARLY I LOVE HIS ENERGY BEHIND OUR PARKS IN, UH, THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
UH, SPECIFICALLY I MET HIM, UH, AT KEITH PARK, WHICH IS OUR REGIONAL PARK, SOME 260 PLUS ACRES IN, UH, THE SOUTHERN SECTOR LOCATED NOW BECAUSE OF REDISTRICTING TOTALLY IN DISTRICT FOUR.
BUT I DO WANT TO JUST CHIME IN.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD HAVE THREE PEOPLE WHO COULD, COULD SERVE AS VICE CHAIR, AND I KNOW WE CAN'T, BUT I DID WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL THOSE WHOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN, UH, SUB SUBMITTED, UH, I, I SUPPORTED MR. JR BECAUSE OF THE, THE TIME IN WHICH THAT WAS, UH, IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO DO THAT.
BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A TOUGH DECISION.
YOU HAVE SOME, SOME VERY POWERFUL SKILL SETS HERE.
AND, UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I REPRESENTED, UM, AND SPOKE ON MY RATIONALE FOR SUPPORTING, UH, CHAIRMAN WEST AND OF COURSE SUPPORTING AS WE SO CALLED HIM LOVINGLY, MR. JR.
AND SOME PEOPLE CALL HIM JRA, BUT IT'S JR
SO, UH, I JUST WANNA CHIME IN ON THAT AND, AND TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT IT, IT IS ON LIKE NECK BONES, SO WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION AND WE'LL SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF IT.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS CHAIRMAN, BASIL DUO YOU RECOGNIZE, EXCUSE ME, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AND, UM, I'LL ECHO THE SENTIMENTS THAT WE HAVE, UH, A GOOD PREDICAMENT TO BE IN, UM, TO HAVE, UH, SEVERAL DEDICATED, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME, UH, TIRELESSLY, UH, AND SELFLESSLY FOR OUR PARK SYSTEMS. UM, I, I DO, UH, WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, UM, MR. RESENDEZ FOR YOUR, UM, STATS AND YOUR, AND YOUR, UM, POINTS THAT WERE MADE BECAUSE THOSE POINTS ARE VERY WELL TAKEN.
I THINK THAT, UH, REPRESENTATION AT ALL LEVELS, UH, OF OUR GOVERNMENT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
UH, I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME THAT WE'VE HAD LATINO REPRESENTATION AND LEADERSHIP, UH, ON THIS BOARD WAS WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO WAS VICE CHAIR OF THE PARK BOARD.
UM, AND THAT HAS BEEN SEVERAL YEARS.
UH, I THINK THAT, UM, IT'S ALSO, UH, IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT THAT DIVERSE, UM, LEADERSHIP THAT WE, UH, STRIVE FOR ALSO NEEDS TO, UM, BE COGNIZANT OF A LONGSTANDING NORTH AND SOUTH DIVIDE IN OUR CITY.
UM, LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAD A SIMILAR CONVERSATION WHEN, UM, HAVING A BALLOT FOR THIS VOTE.
AND WE AS A BODY, UH, DECIDED THAT, UH, WE SHOULD BE DIVERSIFYING GEOGRAPHICALLY WHERE THESE LEADERSHIP ROLES ARE.
UM, I AM STRONGLY AGAINST US PUTTING ANYONE, UM, THAT WOULD, UH, FORCE BOTH LEADERSHIP POSITIONS OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO BE FROM THE NORTH INSTEAD OF HAVING DIVERSE LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE CITY.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE EXTREMELY CAPABLE, UM, AND EXPERIENCED AND TENURED PEOPLE ON THAT BOARD, THAT THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR THIS POSITION.
UM, BUT JUST AS I SAID TWO YEARS AGO, UH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SOUTH HAS REPRESENTATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE COME TO SUCH A CRITICAL BOND THAT THE VOTERS ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO APPROVE.
AND SEEING THOSE PROJECTS THROUGH AND GETTING THIS BOND TO FRUITION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE, UM, REPRESENTATION ACROSS THE CITY, ADVOCATING FOR, UH, WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE LONGSTANDING DISPARITIES.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT THAT COMES FROM SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, UH, THE DYNAMIC OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH IN OUR CITY.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE IN WHEN YOU HAVE GREAT CANDIDATES TO CHOOSE FROM.
UM, I WILL BE SUPPORTING PRISCILLA AND, UM, I HOPE THAT, UH, COLLEAGUES WILL AT LEAST CONSIDER, UM, THE COGNIZANCE OF NEEDING DIVERSITY ON THESE BOARDS IN LEADERSHIP.
AND THAT DIVERSITY IS BEYOND JUST GENDER AND ETHNICITY, BUT ALSO GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF OUR CITY.
CHAIRMAN NOR CHAIRMAN NORVAL, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I, I'M RISING TO SUPPORT PRISCILLA RICE TO BE THE NEXT VICE CHAIR OF THE DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD.
UM, I'M MET PRISCILLA RICE IN THE FALL OF 1992 WHEN I WALKED INTO SOME OF MY GOOD FRIEND'S DORM ROOM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
SHE HAPPENED TO BE IN ONE OF THE BEDROOMS IN THE THREE BEDROOM SUITE.
AND WHEN I, AND THEN I WALKED IN, UM, THIS STUNNING PERSON WAS STANDING THERE.
SHE AND I QUICKLY BECAME FRIENDS AND SHE WAS JUST
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THE MOST AMAZING, GENUINE, KIND, SWEET AND OH MY GOD, INTELLIGENT PEOPLE I HAD EVER MET.SHE CAME FROM THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE, UM, BECAUSE SHE WAS FROM A PLACE THAT I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW.
AND, UM, SHE WAS IN HER TOWN, SHE WAS THEIR SPINACH QUEEN.
AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS THE MOST HYSTERICAL THING BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE THE SPINACH QUEEN.
AND THEN REALIZED LATER AS SHE EXPLAINED IT, THAT THIS WAS ABOUT FUNDRAISING AND DOING GOOD WORKS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
DECADES HAVE PASSED THAT I HAVE KNOWN THIS AMAZING TALENT OF A PERSON AND A WOMAN.
I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S A, SHE'S EVER CREATED AN ENEMY, AND IF SHE HAS, IT'S THAT PERSON'S FAULT BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THAT PRISCILLA RICE DID ANYTHING TO MAKE THEM, UM, THAT WAY.
SHE IS A LATINA, EVEN THOUGH HER LAST NAME IS RICE.
UM, WE USED TO CALL HER PRISCILLA ROSS BECAUSE WE WERE LIKE, YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE A SPANISH LAST NAME, RIGHT? LIKE THE REST OF US.
UM, BUT THAT'S HER FAMILY LAST NAME.
SHE'S AN ARTIST WHO HAS A COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AND EQUITY AND BRINGS THAT INTO HER WORK.
UM, SHE JUST RECENTLY, UM, RELEASED A BOOK OF POEMS. UM, YOU CAN GET IT ON AMAZON.
AND I BOUGHT ONE IMMEDIATELY WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT SHE DID THAT.
UM, SHE DOES LIVE IN PLEASANT GROVE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE HAD A PERSON IN LEADERSHIP ON THE PARK BOARD FROM PLEASANT GROVE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE HAD A LATINA IN LEADERSHIP ON THE PARK BOARD.
I BELIEVE IT WAS MY PREDECESSOR.
WELL, WELL OVER A DECADE AGO, UM, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE HAD A FEMALE IN THE VICE CHAIR ROLE.
WE AS A COUNCIL SAID THAT WE WOULD PAY ATTENTION TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
LET'S PUT SOMEBODY INTO THIS ROLE THAT IS PART OF DIVERSITY.
INCLUSION MEANS TO INCLUDE, TO GO OUT AND SEEK, TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FOLKS THAT AREN'T TYPICALLY THOUGHT OF ARE INCLUDED.