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YOU'RE WATCHING THE MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR ERIC L JOHNSON.
MAYOR PRO TEM TENNELL ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CAROLYN KING ARNOLD.
COUNCIL MEMBERS CHAD WEST, JESSE MORENO.
ADAM BAZALDUA. CAN I GET A LITTLE QUIET? CAN I GET A QUIET AIR, PLEASE? PAULA BLACKMON. WE'VE BEEN ABOUT TO GET STARTED.
NOW GET SOME QUIET. JAYNIE SCHULTZ.
PAUL RIDLEY AND CITY MANAGER T.C.
BROADNAX, CITY SECRETARY BILIERAE JOHNSON, AND CITY ATTORNEY TAMMY PALOMINO.
[Call to Order]
WE HAVE A QUORUM.GOOD MORNING. TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, AND THE TIME IS 907.
I NOW CALL THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
SPEAKER, ASSISTANT MINISTER JESSE JONES.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO HIM TO PROVIDE THE INVOCATION.
FATHER, WE LOVE YOU AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.
WE THANK YOU FOR FOR WHO YOU ARE.
WE THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR FOR JUST FOR JUST DOING IT AGAIN.
LORD. FATHER, YOU'VE BEEN YOU'VE BEEN SO GOOD TO ALL OF US THAT IT'S ALMOST FRIGHTENING.
THE FATHER WE WE WE LIFT UP THE THE MAYOR AND ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE A PART OF THIS, THIS VERY CITY COUNCIL ASKING YOU, LORD, TO TO GUIDE THEM. GUIDE THEIR THOUGHTS, GUIDE THEIR SPEECH, GUIDE THEIR BEHAVIOR.
WE'RE ASKING YOU, LORD, TO BE WITH THEM AND WITH US ALL.
WE NEED YOU IN EVERY WAY AND IN EVERY ASPECT.
FATHER, WE WE WE NEED YOU, LORD.
AND WE KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO EVEN TRY.
BE WITH US, FATHER, IN A WAY THAT THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND THAT WE REFLECT WHO YOU ARE IN US.
PLEASE FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS AND OUR SHORTCOMINGS.
NOW LET'S STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, WE GOT A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS TO GET READY.
[Special Presentations]
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK ANY MEMBERS OF THE GAZA FAMILY IN ATTENDANCE TO COME TO THE PODIUM.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. SO I'LL BE READING A SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
AND WHEREAS TRINIDAD TRINI GARZA WAS BORN IN STOCKDALE AND RAISED IN FLORESVILLE, TEXAS, TO A FAMILY OF MIGRANT FARM WORKERS, IN 1961, TRINI MOVED TO DALLAS, TEXAS, ESTABLISHED A BUSINESS WITH HIS WIFE, BENILDA GARZA, AND WAS A PROUD FATHER TO SON JEROME GARZA, DAUGHTERS NORMA GARZA, BERNICE ROBLEDO, DENISE GARZA DE LA CRUZ, AND HONORARY DAUGHTER GLORIA LOPEZ CARTER, AND GRANDFATHER OF 12 GRANDCHILDREN, 16 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND THREE GREAT GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.
AND WHEREAS TRINI WAS WELL KNOWN AS A CIVIC LEADER AND BUSINESSMAN, IN 1969, TRINI BECAME THE FIRST HISPANIC APPOINTED TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHERE HE INITIATED THE ADVANCEMENT OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION IN 1970.
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WHEREAS, TRINI ORGANIZED DALLAS'S FIRST MEXICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE WITH THE GOAL OF EQUITABLY INCREASING CITY AND COUNTY BOARD AND COMMISSION REPRESENTATION, AND WHEREAS, PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER APPOINTED TRINI TO SERVE AS THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF ACTION, A FEDERAL PRECURSOR TO THE AMERICORPS PROGRAM WHICH MATCHED RETIRED BUSINESS EXECUTIVE VOLUNTEERS WITH BUSINESSES IN NEED OF THEIR EXPERTISE.AND WHEREAS, TRINI WAS A FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER OF THE DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT, AND WHEREAS, IN 1994, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON APPOINTED TRINI AS THE DEPUTY REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND WHEREAS, FROM 2001 TO 2008, TRINI DIRECTED LA VOZ DEL ANZIANO AND WHEREAS IN 2010, THE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL AT THE MOUNTAIN VIEW CAMPUS OF DALLAS COLLEGE WAS NAMED FOR TRINITY TRINIDAD GARZA, AND WHEREAS, TRINI CHAIRED THE CITY OF DALLAS SENIOR AFFAIRS COMMISSION ON AGING TO ADVOCATE FOR INVESTING IN AGE FRIENDLY POLICIES IN THE CITY AND SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER DALLAS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND WHEREAS, TRINI SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS SILVER-HAIRED LEGISLATURE, DALLAS MEXICAN-AMERICAN HISTORIC LEAGUE, LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, AND TEJANO DEMOCRATS OF TEXAS, AND WAS A BOARD MEMBER FOR CHARLTON METHODIST HOSPITAL IN DALLAS COUNTY ACADEMY AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DALLAS EXTENDS ITS SINCEREST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND LOVED ONES OF TRINIDAD TRINI GARZA.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL PEOPLE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO A PICTURE. YOU WANT TO COME AROUND HERE? YEAH. DO A PICTURE. COME ON.
Y'ALL GOING DOWN? WE GOING DOWN.
COUNCILMAN RIDLEY, CAN Y'ALL SCOOT IN A LITTLE.
THERE YOU GO. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN ARNOLD, I CAN'T SEE YOU.
OKAY. NOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM COUNCILWOMAN PAOLO BLACKMON WITH A SPECIAL.
IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE AS THE HONORARY CHAIR OF THE NEWLY FORMED OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS FRIENDS GROUP, AND I'M THRILLED TO BE COMBINING MY KNOWLEDGE OF HOMELESSNESS WITH MY EXPERIENCE AS A JUNIOR LEAGUE MEMBER, AS THE HONORARY CHAIR OF THIS ORGANIZATION THAT WILL BENEFIT AND SERVE THE DALLAS UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS ON MONDAY.
THIS THIS MONDAY, I WILL BE HOSTING, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER STAFF MEMBERS, A MEMBERSHIP DRIVE FOR THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS FRIEND GROUP IN DISTRICT NINE AT THE SMOKEY ROSE ON GARLAND ROAD, DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE ARBORETUM.
I ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO JOIN ME.
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YOU HAVE A T SHIRT ON THE BACK OF YOUR CHAIR THAT IS THAT IS ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEW FRIENDS GROUP.SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FROM THE SMOKEY ROSE TO STAFF TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SUPPORTING THIS.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN EACH COME.
YOU GOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THIS PAST WEEK, WE ALSO LOST THE MOTHER OF SANTOS RODRIGUEZ, BESSIE RODRIGUEZ.
AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE FAMILY.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. JUST AN ANNOUNCEMENT, OF COURSE, FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.
SO WE'LL HAVE ALL OF THE HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES BUT WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT QUICKLY.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL DEMONSTRATION BY THE CRICKET NATIONAL CRICKET ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS I AM A GOLFER TO FOCUS ON THE KIDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS ABOUT EATING, CELEBRATING AND SHARING.
BUT THIS IS THE SECOND ANNUAL EVENT WHERE WE'VE HAD MAJOR SPONSORS AND WE WILL BE PUSHING THAT OUT SO THAT FOLKS WILL KNOW THAT OUR SPONSORS SUPPORT US IN THE CITY OF DALLAS AND ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, AND WE LOOK FOR YOU BEING THERE AND SHARE THIS INFORMATION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR INDULGING US THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SECRETARY.
WE NOW HAVE THE HEARING FROM THE OPEN MIC SPEAKERS.
[Open Microphone Speakers (Part 1 of 2)]
THANK YOU, MISTER MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING.THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW HEAR ITS FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
INDIVIDUALS ON THIS MORNING WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
FOR THOSE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, THE TIME IS 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.
PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR ATKINS.
TO CLARIFY. DID YOU SAY WE HAVE TWO MINUTES? THAT IS CORRECT. TWO MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR. IF I'M REGINA BURGER IN THE 14TH DISTRICT.
IF FLUORIDATION IS SO SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, WHY DO THE PRO FLUORIDATION ADVOCATES HAVE TO RESORT TO NAME CALLING? THEY'RE STILL CALLING US CONSPIRACY THEORISTS FOR BELIEVING IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO SWALLOW THE FLUORIDE.
THE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS LABEL WAS CREATED DURING THE JFK ASSASSINATION YEARS.
HOW MANY PEOPLE TODAY BELIEVE THE LONE GUN THEORY? WE HAVE BEEN COMING WITH SCIENCE AND FACTS FOR YEARS, TRYING TO GET THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE, TO SAVE THE MONEY AND STOP PUTTING A TOXIC WASTE IN OUR WATER.
PROFESSOR BRUCE LANPHEAR IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PHYSICIAN AND PEDIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGIST WHO SPECIALIZES IN ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES, INCLUDING LEAD AND THE OTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS LIKE FLUORIDE.
HE CAME TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING TO GIVE A PRESENTATION.
HE DID IT VIRTUAL AND IT CAME THROUGH JUST FINE.
HE'S A DOCTOR WHO CAME FROM FORT WORTH TO COME AND TALK ABOUT IT.
AND HE ALSO I'M TRYING TO SCALE THIS DOWN.
AND THEN THE MEETING WAS ABRUPTLY ENDED AND NOBODY ASKED ANY QUESTIONS OF THESE DOCTORS WHO WERE RIGHT THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT'S TOXIC AND SAFE OR NOT.
WHAT I'M WONDERING IS, WHY DO THEY WANT TO STOP THE CONVERSATION ABOUT FLUORIDATION? THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR.
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IT'S THE LAST 44 PAGES OF THE MEMORANDUM.AND ITEM D IS ALL ABOUT THE SCIENCE, ABOUT WHY IT IS A BIG RISK.
THE RISK BENEFIT IS NOT THERE.
AND THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE QUESTIONS.
DISTRICT SEVEN AND DISTRICT 11 WANT TO STOP THE CONVERSATION.
AND DISTRICT 13 WAS THE ONE THAT CAUSED SOME OF THE ABRUPTION.
WHY WE DIDN'T GET THE QUESTIONS ASKED.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT BIG PHARMA GIANT JOHNSON AND JOHNSON HAS HAD TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST THEM OVER A LONG LIST OF HARMFUL PRODUCTS AND UNETHICAL PRACTICES. THROUGHOUT THESE LAWSUITS, J&J WOULD STRAIN TO DISCREDIT AND DENIGRATE THE OPPOSITION.
THE J&J MARKETING ARM WOULD OFTEN DISTORTED TWIST THE FACTS WITH THE INTENT OF SHAPING A NARRATIVE.
J. J. S MARKETING ARM EXCELLED AT DECEPTION WHILE DELIBERATELY OMITTING IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
J&J KNOWS THAT SHAPING A NARRATIVE, CREATING A PUBLIC CONCEPT OFTEN WINS OUT OVER FACTS AND TRUTH.
SOME POLITICIANS USED THE SAME J&J DECEPTIVE TACTICS.
ON NOVEMBER 7TH, DALLAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM DOCTORS OPPOSED TO WATER FLUORIDATION.
A WORLD RENOWNED SCIENTIST, A 35 YEAR DENTIST, AND A LOCAL PRACTICING MEDICAL DOCTOR.
BUT PRIOR TO THE QUESTIONS, DISTRICT 13 COUNCIL MEMBER, A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF J&J IN THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT, CREATED SOME INTENTIONAL DECEPTION TO CREATE A NARRATIVE FOR THE LOCAL MEDIA TO PICK UP.
THE CHAIRMAN ENCOURAGED THIS DECEPTION, AND THEN THE CHAIRMAN WENT ON TO ELABORATE WHEN HE WAS NOT IN THE HORSESHOE BY SAYING ARGUMENTS RAISED AGAINST FLUORIDE ARE SCARE TACTICS AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
IT'S NOT A CONSPIRACY THEORY TO SAY RISKS EXIST WITH DALLAS WATER FLUORIDATION.
THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE IS VERY CLEAR ON THAT.
IN THE OFFICIAL DALLAS WATER UTILITIES MEMORANDUM ABOUT THE TWO COMMUNITY FLUORIDATION BRIEFINGS, THE LAST 44 PAGES IS COMPLETE WITH STUDIES AND FACTS SUBMITTED BY DOCTORS OPPOSING FLUORIDATION.
THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF SCIENTIFIC, PEER REVIEWED, PEER REVIEWED LITERATURE FROM RESPECTED INSTITUTIONS PUBLISHED IN PREMIER SCIENCE JOURNALS, WHICH DEMONSTRATE HEALTH RISKS FROM WATER FLUORIDATION, INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
MY NAME IS LINDA DOOLAN FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY COUNCILPERSON.
WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, HE WAS ALL FOR STOPPING FLUORIDATION.
WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK. WE HAVE AUDIO PROOF OF THAT.
AFTER HE WAS ELECTED AND WE QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT IT, HE WOULD SAY, MISS NEWLON, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO REFERENCE ANY PARTICULAR HAS SAID A STATEMENT.
ALL UNHARMFUL WE WILL CONTINUE BRINGING LEVELS OF FLUORIDE TO.
SPRAYS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFERENCE INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU. OKAY, YOU MAY CONTINUE.
LET'S GO. YOU MAY. YOU MAY CONTINUE, MISS NEWLAND.
THANK YOU. SHOULD I START OVER OR WHAT? YOU JUST START. JUST STARTED.
GO AHEAD AND START IT. I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
IT'S NOT TAKING. IT WAS. IT WAS PAUSED.
YOU MAY CONTINUE THIS OKAY ON TV WFAA INSIDE TEXAS POLITICS DE SEVEN CONFESSED HE'S NEITHER A DOCTOR NOR A DENTIST.
DE SEVEN HE MADE REFERENCE THAT THOSE THAT SPEAK AGAINST FLUORIDATION ARE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS.
I GUESS THAT ALSO APPLIES TO THE DOCTORS WHO WROTE THIS BOOK, THE CASE AGAINST FLUORIDE, HOW HAZARDOUS WASTE ENDED UP IN OUR DRINKING WATER, AND THE POWERFUL POLITICS THAT KEEP IT THERE.
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DON'T Y'ALL KNOW HOLLAND PARK GETS WATER OR DALLAS GETS WATER? BUT THEY DON'T.FLUORIDE. DON'T Y'ALL KNOW THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT CAVITIES IS TO EAT GOOD FOODS AND TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH.
DON'T YOU KNOW THE BEST CHOICE IS PERSONAL CHOICE, NOT CHOICE MADE BY SOMEONE ELSE FOR YOU, SUCH AS THE CDC OR THE DALLAS COUNCIL.
IT IS DECEPTIVE TO SAY FLUORIDATION IS SAFE.
STUDIES HAVE DEMONSTRATED INGESTING FLUORIDE PRODUCES INVISIBLE RISK.
ET ON THE COUNCIL CAN VOTE TO STOP FLUORIDATION TODAY.
STOP IT! PLEASE. THAT'S YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. UNLESS YOU GUYS WANT TO DO IT.
STEPHEN, PLEASE. YOUR AUDIO IS NOT.
YOU CAN. WE CAN HEAR YOU. YOU MAYBE CAN.
OKAY. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TODAY'S OPPORTUNITY.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS STEVE PRIEST.
I AM THE ONSITE COMMUNITY MANAGER FOR MY HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION.
PIAZZA SIENA CONDOMINIUMS. I'M ALSO A HOMEOWNER HERE, AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH CITY COUNCIL THAT WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFLUX OF CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS IN OUR AREA, PARTICULARLY AS IT AFFECTS OUR PROPERTY AND OUR.
SO WE REGULARLY CALL THE POLICE TO REPORT INCIDENTS OF CRIMINAL TRESPASS AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
WE WE HAD TO CONTACT THE AUTHORITIES ON SEPTEMBER THE 7TH.
WE HAD TO CALL THEM OUT TWICE.
ONCE ON OCTOBER THE 3RD AND ONCE ON OCTOBER THE 4TH.
BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE WE DIDN'T GET OUR OPEN RECORDS REQUEST ANSWERED IN TIME.
FOR THESE REASONS, WE HAVE ESCALATED OUR CONCERNS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE DALLAS CITY HALL, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT TWO, OUR CONGRESSWOMAN CONGRESSWOMAN'S OFFICE, SENATOR TED CRUZ'S OFFICE, CITY MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM MOST OF THESE LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES.
THE FEW THAT WE HAVE HEARD BACK FROM ARE REFERRING US BACK TO THE AUTHORITIES.
FOR US. THIS ISSUE IS ONGOING AND IT'S ESCALATING.
AND WE ARE APPEALING TO THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THAT'S YOUR TIME FOR THIS ISSUE.
YOUR FIFTH SPEAKER WILL BE CLINTON HALEY.
CLINTON HALEY WITH SKATEPARKS FOR DALLAS, REPRESENTING ALL OF THESE FINE SKATE PARK FOLKS BEHIND ME.
CAN YOU STAND UP, PLEASE? AND THESE DALLAS SKATEBOARDING TEENS WITH ME HERE AT THE PODIUM.
WE'RE HERE TO STRONGLY SUPPORT KEEPING THE $350 MILLION IN THE PARKS AND REC PORTION OF THE BOND.
DALLAS PARKS AND REC 2015 COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT STATES THAT DALLAS NEEDS 17 MORE SKATE PARKS BY 2024, AND THAT'S NEXT MONTH.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ONE ONE ANTIQUATED SKATE PARK IN FAR EAST DALLAS.
DALLAS IS WOEFULLY BEHIND THE CURVE IN PROVIDING DALLAS FAMILIES WITH PUBLIC SKATE PARKS.
IF WE WANT TO KEEP DALLAS FAMILIES LIVING WITHIN THE CITY AND ATTRACT OTHERS TO DALLAS AND NOT TO THE SUBURBS, SKATE PARKS ARE PART OF THAT QUALITY OF LIFE WHICH DALLAS NEEDS TO INVEST.
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I WOULD LOVE TO SAY THAT MY SKATE TRICKS AND NEVER SKATE PARK FACILITIES.I WOULD RATHER BE GOING TO A SKATE PARK HERE THAN GOING DRIVING 30 MINUTES OUT TO THE SUBURBS.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SKATEPARKS.
THANK YOU. WE ARE LUCKY WE CAN GET RIDES TO THE SKATE PARKS THAT ARE 30.
WE ARE LUCKY WE CAN GET RIDES TO THE SKATE PARKS THAT ARE 30 TO 45 MINUTES AWAY.
WE THINK ALL DALLAS KIDS SHOULD HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO SKATE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
PLEASE SUPPORT THESE SKATE PARKS ON THE BOND.
THANK YOU. WE ALL NEED SAFE PLACES TO SKATEBOARD IN DALLAS.
PLEASE SUPPORT THESE SKATE PARKS.
THANK YOU. HI I'M DONOVAN SABAN FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.
PLEASE SUPPORT PARKS AND KEEP OUR THREE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IN THE BOND.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THIS CONCLUDES YOUR FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING.
WE HAVE A MOTION, MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ALLOW THE REMAINING REGISTERED SPEAKERS TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.
WE HAD A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? EYES CARRIED. THANK YOU.
WE'LL NOW HEAR THE REMAINING SPEAKERS.
I WILL CALL SPEAKERS IN BLOCKS.
I'M SORRY. IN THE CENTER ROW HERE, I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER.
YES. WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF ORDER? I JUST LIKE TO CLARIFY OUR RULES.
WE JUST HAD SOMEBODY THAT MULTIPLE SPEAKERS SPOKE UNDER ONE PERSON'S NAME.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY ALLOWED.
I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT THEM.
AND I APPRECIATE ESPECIALLY WHEN CHILDREN COME.
BUT IS THAT ALLOWED FOR ONE PERSON WHO REGISTERS TO ALLOW MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO SPEAK? I WANT TO TALK TO MY IT'S NOT IT'S NO POOLING.
CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T ALLOW THAT FOR THE REST OF THE SESSION? THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.
DULY NOTED. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD AGAIN AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST TWO ROWS.
BRAD PRITCHETT, KURT THOMAS, CHRIS HANEY, NAOMI FIELDS, WARREN TRANQUADA, BRIAN LEWALLEN, BRIAN TONEY, LISA MARSHALL, COURTNEY SPELLACY, AND CHRIS DENNY.
BRAD PRITCHETT YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM AND YOU MAY BEGIN SPEAKING.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BRAD PRITCHETT.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TEN AND THE CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER AT THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART.
OUR ENTIRE LEADERSHIP TEAM, MANY OF OUR STAFF AND SUPPORTERS, AND SO MANY OF OUR FABULOUS ARTS PARTNERS FROM ORGANIZATIONS ALL OVER THE CITY ARE HERE TODAY, LOCKING ARMS TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO ENSURE OUR MOST CRITICAL FACILITY NEEDS THROUGHOUT DALLAS ARE MET.
CAN I ASK ALL OF OUR ART SUPPORTERS AND COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE STAND? THANK YOU. WE ARE ALL HERE TOGETHER TODAY ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDED $59 MILLION FOR ARTS FACILITIES, WHILE RESPECTFULLY ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER AN ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION FOR THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART.
SO OUR MOST URGENT NEEDS INCLUDING HVAC, FIRE CONTROL AND CRITICAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE ADDRESSED.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT YOU GIVE HERE TO THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN DALLAS.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KIRK THOMAS.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS DISTRICT TWO.
MY GOAL TODAY IS TO SHARE YOU THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT IS ACHIEVED WHEN WE PRIORITIZE HOME REPAIRS TO MAINTAIN THE AVAILABILITY OF SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF 33,600 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
IN A STUDY DONE BY CHILD POVERTY ACTION LAB, WE HAVE SKYROCKETING COSTS OF MATERIALS AND LABOR, AND THE CONSEQUENCES THAT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE CAN HAVE ON A HOMEOWNER CANNOT BE IGNORED.
THE RESEARCH THAT WAS INCLUDED IN A HANDOUT EMAILED TO YOU IS A PUBLISHED SUMMARY BY REBUILDING TOGETHER, A NATIONAL NONPROFIT I VOLUNTEER WITH THAT PROVIDES CRITICAL HOME REPAIRS TO AND ACCESSIBILITY MODIFICATIONS FOR LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS IN NORTH TEXAS.
SO WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO HAVE SAFE, SAFE AND HEALTHY HOMES.
AND THIS IS JUST FOR THE HOME REPAIR PORTION OF THAT THAT WE HAVE SEEN.
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AND THAT INCLUDES IMPROVED HEALTH, SAFETY, INDEPENDENCE AND COST SAVINGS.AND SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS A METRIC THAT IS ADAPTED FROM THE TRADITIONAL ROI AND IS USED TO MEASURE SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC GAINS THAT RESULT FROM INVESTMENT.
PLEASE CHOOSE TO INVEST IN OUR DALLAS RESIDENCES, AND THAT THE 2024 DALLAS BOND IS IS INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHRIS HEINBAUGH.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR ATKINS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M CHRIS HEINBAUGH WITH THE AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND I'M HERE TODAY URGING YOU TO SUPPORT THE BOND TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION OF 59.1 MILLION FOR CULTURAL FACILITIES AND CONSIDER A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART.
THIS AMOUNT WAS REACHED AFTER INTENSIVE CUTTING AND SCRUBBING BY THE TASK FORCE, THE CRITICAL FACILITY SUBCOMMITTEE, BOND OFFICE, AND THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN COLLABORATION WITH ARTS LEADERS.
THERE IS NOTHING SHINY AND NEW.
WE ARE SIMPLY TAKING CARE OF WHAT WE'VE GOT, PROTECTING AN INVESTMENT THAT IS ALREADY PAYING OFF.
A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT THE NONPROFIT ARTS COMMUNITY FOR DALLAS ATTRACTS 6 MILLION VISITS A YEAR, 2.5 MILLION OF THOSE FROM OUTSIDE OUR CITY, BUT THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR MONEY IN DALLAS.
IT HAS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $853 MILLION A YEAR, SUPPORTS 13,000 JOBS, ATTRACTS $20 MILLION IN LOCAL TAX REVENUES AND 90% OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THEY FEEL A SENSE OF LOSS IF THEIR VENUE WERE TO CLOSE OR DISAPPEAR.
THIS IS CULTURE TOURISM, JOBS, THE ARTS MEAN BUSINESS.
BUT TO MAINTAIN THIS ROI, WE MUST MAINTAIN THESE FACILITIES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
MY NAME IS NAOMI COALFIELDS AND I AM AND WAS A CLIENT AT THE BRIDGE SHELTER AT THE HOMELESS SHELTER.
THEY ARE RUDE. AND WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO TALK AND GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND GO THROUGH PROPER PROTOCOLS FOR SERVICES AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO USE, WE GET WE GET A HARD TIME, AND THEN THEY PICK AND CHOOSE WHO THEY WANT TO HELP AND WHO THEY WANT TO SERVICE, AND IT'S ENOUGH ROOM FOR EVERYBODY TO GET HELP.
BUT IT'S NOT FAIR. I'M GOING TO JUST USE THE BRIDGE AS AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU HAVE THE WELCOME BUILDING, THE PAVILION, AND YOU HAVE THE SECRET GARDEN, YOU HAVE THE SMALL CAFETERIA, THEY HAVE MATS, BUT YOU HAVE THE OVERFLOW AND INTAKE THAT DON'T HAVE MATS.
AND WE SLEEP ON THE CEMENT FLOOR AND IT'S VERY COLD AND IT'S HARD.
AND THEN WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR CASEWORKERS, MY CASEWORKER IS KEVIN JENKINS.
AND IF SHE CAN ASSIST ME IN OTHER PEOPLE AND I'VE AND GREEN AND OTHER CASEWORKERS LIKE KELLY, IF THEY CAN ASSIST US TO HELP US GET BETTER DALLAS CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY NEEDS TO DO BETTER IS HELPING US.
THEY PROVIDE FOOD, THEY PROVIDE BLANKETS, THEY PROVIDE THIS, THEY PROVIDE TOILETRIES.
BUT IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT THEY HAVE TO SPEND SEVEN DAYS A WEEK CLEANING UP TRASH.
AS FAR AS WE STAY IN THE SHELTERS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE SOME CLASSES.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GROW. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO A NEXT STEP, NOT JUST STAY AT A STANDSTILL, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T PUSH THEM TO DO SOMETHING, THEY'RE GOING TO STAY THERE FOR FIVE, TEN YEARS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.
[00:35:03]
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS WARREN TRANQUADA.I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
THE CENTER IS ONE OF THE CULTURAL FACILITIES THAT IS OWNED BY THE CITY OF DALLAS.
IT IS A TEN ACRE CAMPUS THAT INCLUDES THE WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE, THE WYLIE THEATER, STRAUSS SQUARE, SAMMONS PARK, TWO BLACK BOX THEATERS, TWO PARKING GARAGES, AND A NEWLY OPENED RESTAURANT, WHICH I HOPE YOU ATTEND.
IN ADDITION TO PRESENTING BROADWAY SHOWS AND CONCERTS, WE'RE HOME TO FIVE RESIDENT COMPANIES THE DALLAS OPERA, DALLAS THEATER CENTER, DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATER, TEXAS BALLET THEATER, AND ANITA MARTINEZ BALLET FOLKLORICO.
WE'RE ALSO PARTNERS WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE CITY, INCLUDING TITUS DANCE UNBOUND, AND WE WORK WITH SMALL, EMERGING AND HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED GROUPS THROUGH OUR ELEVATOR PROJECT AND THE MOODY FUND FOR THE ARTS, WE WELCOME THOUSANDS OF DALLAS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FOR FREE THROUGH COMMUNITY AND ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. SO, IN SHORT, OUR BUILDINGS ARE WORKHORSES.
AND OUR CENTER IS NOW 15 YEARS OLD.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE BOND PROGRAM SINCE 2003.
OUR TOTAL NEEDS ARE MORE THAN $20 MILLION, AND WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY TO HELP US THERE.
JUST YESTERDAY THE FIRE PANEL AND THE WYLIE THEATER FAILED.
WE HAVE TO REPLACE THAT THIS WEEK.
THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF WAITING FOR THE BOND AND WE'RE MAKING REPAIRS CONSTANTLY.
THE CENTER IS PART OF THE BOND TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION OF $59 MILLION FOR CULTURAL FACILITIES.
OVER THE LAST 8 TO 9 MONTHS, WE'VE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR SECTOR IN REACHING THAT.
YES. WHAT ARE YOUR POINT OF ORDER? CAN WE ASK OUR GUESTS AND OUR STAFF AND OUR COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE TAKE CONVERSATIONS INTO ANOTHER AREA OUTSIDE? IT'S GETTING REALLY LOUD IN HERE, AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, I'M HEARING IT ALL AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HEAR THE SPEAKERS AS WELL AS I WOULD APPRECIATE, ESPECIALLY THEM ALL COMING DOWN. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AT LEAST I GET TO HEAR THEM SAY WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. DULY NOTED.
GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS.
FAIR PARK IS AN INTERESTING SITE AND THAT WE ARE BOTH A PARK AND A CULTURAL CAMPUS.
AND TODAY I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT FAIR PARK.
TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE AND TRUSTING TO THE BOND TASK FORCE, WHO HAS SPENT MANY, MANY HOURS WORKING THROUGH A PROCESS TO DEVELOP A VERY STRONG RECOMMENDATION FOR BOTH THE ARTS AND FOR PARKS.
THESE ARE CATALYTIC PROJECTS THAT MAKE A SINCERE, ONCE IN A LIFETIME INVESTMENT TO KEEP THESE FACILITIES DOING THE GREAT WORK TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN TALKED ABOUT BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.
I DON'T WANT TO BE REDUNDANT WITH THEM, AND I WANT TO BE KIND WITH YOUR TIME.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE FACILITIES DON'T HAVE OTHER CAPITAL MECHANISMS. THEY ARE OWNED BY THE CITY OF DALLAS, AND IT IS CRITICAL TO MAKE SINCERE INVESTMENTS IN LINE WITH THE BOND TASK FORCE AND THE MANY CITIZENS WHO CAME FORWARD AND SPOKE ON BEHALF OF CRITICAL NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY.
GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE TODAY AS THE ORGANIZER OF THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION.
WE NUMBERED A LITTLE OVER 60 MEMBERS ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, WHEN WE HELD A RALLY IN THE CITY HALL PLAZA WITH FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF FROM TWO OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE SPEAKING AND STANDING WITH US.
TODAY, WE REPRESENT OVER 185 MEMBERS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE FIRST TWO PAGES OF OUR BRIEFING MATERIALS ADDRESS WHAT WE HAVE HEARD THE MOST ADO ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS A BLATANTLY FALSE NARRATIVE.
THE CBCF SUBCOMMITTEE WAS VERY PRESCRIPTIVE ON HOW THESE DOLLARS WOULD BE USED, AND HOW THESE DOLLARS SHOULD TARGET HOUSING FOR AMIS THAT THE MARKET IS NOT PRODUCING A LOAN, AND WHAT FUNDING MECHANISMS, PROCESSES AND STAFF ARE ALREADY EXISTENT TO DEPLOY BOND FUNDS AND PROVIDE OVERSIGHT.
[00:40:08]
PURE TEXAS CITIES LIKE SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN HAVE DOCUMENTED ONE, TWO, NINE, EVEN 1 TO 12 LEVERAGE RATIOS, OFFERING A GREATER ROI THAN OTHER BOND ALLOCATIONS BEING CONSIDERED. NOW, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF OUR MEMBERS IF THEY WOULD PLEASE STAND.WE ARE AND REPRESENT TEACHERS, THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS, VETERANS, SENIORS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS AND NURSES, AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE HOUSING COST BURDENED, TRYING TO RENT OR DREAMING OF OWNING A HOME.
WE ARE HERE FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T BE.
WE ARE HERE SO PEOPLE CAN START FAMILIES.
WE ARE HERE SO PEOPLE CAN AGE IN PLACE.
WE ARE HERE SO FUTURE GENERATIONS OF DALLAS HEIGHTS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF DALLAS IS NOT INTENTIONAL ABOUT ITS INVESTMENTS.
THANK YOU. DALLAS IS BIG ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU. LISA MARSHALL, WILL YOU PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE? OKAY, NO MORE ADVERSE.
IN APRIL OF 2022, I BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION THE DIRE SITUATION FACED BY FIVE TENANTS WHO WERE FORCED ONTO THE STREETS DUE TO THE SALE OF THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEX TO A DEVELOPER, RESULTING IN EXORBITANT RENT INCREASES.
AMONG THESE TENANTS, HECTOR, A 50 YEAR OLD BLIND MAN, AND ALICIA, A 70 YEAR OLD WOMAN BOTH ON FIXED INCOMES, FACE MULTIPLE RELOCATIONS, INCLUDING LIVING TOGETHER IN A ONE BEDROOM STUDIO EFFICIENCY APARTMENT.
FINALLY, AS OF OCTOBER, THEY LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT.
HOWEVER, HECTOR PAYS 91% OF HIS INCOME TOWARDS RENT, LEAVING HIM WITH $105.
ALICIA PAYS 80% OF HER INCOME TOWARDS RENT, YET THEY ARE NOT UNIQUE.
ACCORDING TO THE NOVEMBER 30TH TEXAS TRIBUNE ARTICLE, TEXANS OVER AGE 65 WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES CAN'T AFFORD NECESSARY COSTS LIKE HEALTH CARE AS THEY SPEND MORE ON RENT AND MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.
DISTRICT ONE COUNCILMAN WROTE IN HIS RECENT OP ED, THE NEED TO EXPLORE AND IMPLEMENT, ADJUSTING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE TO 1500 SQUARE FEET AND ALLOWING DENSITY SIMILAR TO HOUSTON, WHICH IS HAVING SUCCESS IN LOWERING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEFICIT IN THEIR CITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, SENIORS DESIRING TO DOWNSIZE FROM THEIR HOMES TO A SMALLER PROPERTY, SUCH AS AFFORDABLE TOWNHOMES OR CONDOS WHILE CONTINUING TO RESIDE IN THE COMMUNITIES CLOSE TO THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS, IS UNATTAINABLE IN DALLAS.
RELOCATING THE PROPOSED 200 MILLION BOND TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GUIDED BY POLICY CHANGES AND LOT SIZES AND DENSITY, COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE LIVES OF THE VULNERABLE. FINALLY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT HOW DALLAS HAS TACKLED IMPLEMENTING LARGE SUMS. THAT'S YOUR TIME. THAT'S YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. THEY HIRED OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS.
AGAIN, PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MOST ESPECIALLY THE OTHER 14 THAT PARTICIPATED ON THE TASK FORCE.
NOW, THIS MORNING AT THE RECEPTION, SOMEBODY COMMENTED, WHY DID YOU SIGN UP TO SPEAK? DID YOU NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO SAY WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY PREVIOUSLY? AND THAT IS FAIR.
HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT BETWEEN THE MAYOR'S RECENT STATE OF THE CITY RADIO ADDRESS, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS CARA THAT THIS PROPOSAL THAT'S BEING PRESENTED TODAY BY CHAIR AGARWAL IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND WHAT THE CITIZENRY WANTS.
BUT I WOULD WAGER THAT IF YOU POLLED ALL 90 CONSTITUENTS THAT PARTICIPATED, YOU WOULD FIND AT MAX 30% THAT WOULD SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND FIND IT TO BE A RESPONSIBLE UTILIZATION OF FUNDS.
IS IT TRUE THAT SUPPORTERS OF PARKS CAME TO SPEAK? YES. HOUSING? YES. THE ARTS? ABSOLUTELY. DID ANYONE COME DOWN TO ADVOCATE FOR THE WATERPROOFING ISSUES WE HAVE IN THE PARKING GARAGE UNDERNEATH CITY HALL? NO, BUT WE ALL KNOW IT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.
SO MY DESIRE WOULD BE THAT ALTHOUGH IT IS CERTAINLY POPULAR OR MORE POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT TO
[00:45:02]
SUPPORT A NUMBER OF THINGS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THE TOUGH THING, WHICH IS TO INCREASE YOUR FUNDING IN STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, INCREASE YOUR FUNDING AND ALL OF YOUR FACILITIES, THE CITY FACILITIES, PUBLIC SAFETY, THE ARTS AND CULTURE.AND THE LAST THING I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY STATE IS IN REGARDS TO HOUSING, IT'S DISINGENUOUS TO SAY THAT THE CITY IS BECOMING A DEVELOPER BY PUTTING BOND FUNDS TOWARDS HOUSING, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE UTILIZED FOR STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS WATER.
I LIVE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 14 AND ALSO WORK IN DISTRICT 14.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT FOR THE TURTLE CREEK CONSERVANCY.
WE'RE A 500 AND 1C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CHARGED WITH THE STEWARDSHIP OF ARLINGTON HALL AND TURTLE CREEK PARK, WHICH WAS FORMERLY LEE PARK, WHERE THE SECOND OLDEST PARK IN DALLAS AS ITS FOUNDING PREDATES.
WHEN THE CITY OF DALLAS PURCHASED THE PARK IN 1909, WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSERVATION AND CARE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL 20 ACRE PARK, MADE UP OF THREE PARCELS ALONG TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD FROM LEMMON TO BOWEN, AND ALSO ARLINGTON HALL, WHICH HOSTS OVER 300 EVENTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, EVERY YEAR.
OUR SMALL PARK IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS OF THE DALLAS PARK SYSTEM, YET WE STILL NEED THE SUPPORT OF OUR CITY IN THE BOND ELECTION SO WE CAN ACTIVATE THE SOUTH PARCEL, A 4.9 ACRE SECTION OF TURTLE CREEK PARK, LARGELY UNDEVELOPED, INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF A BRIDGE FOR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND CREATING WALKING TRAILS FOR PEOPLE TO BE IN NATURE.
THE PROJECTED COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS $6 MILLION, WITH A BOND MATCH COMING FROM THE BOND PROGRAM OF $1.5 MILLION AGAINST OUR PERSONAL PRIVATE FUNDRAISING OF 4.5 MILLION, WITH AN EXPECTED INCREASE POPULATION IN OUR AREA.
AS PART OF THE DALLAS PARKS COALITION, THE TURTLE CREEK CONSERVANCY CALLS ON THE CITY OF DALLAS TO INVEST IN PARKS, TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES DURING THE 2024 BOND ELECTION. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE COMPLETE FULL FUNDING OF THE CBCF RECOMMENDATION FOR $350 MILLION FOR PARKS, TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES.
AS I CALL THE NEXT TEN SPEAKERS FOR YOU, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE CENTER TO THE FIRST TWO ROWS ON THE CENTER SECTION. TIFFANY DAVIS, LISA NEERGAARD, AARON JONES, PHILIP KINGSTON, ADAM LAMONT.
KEVIN MORIARTY AND SUSAN HOPPER.
YOU MAY COME, TOO. YES, YOU MAY BEGIN.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
TODAY, THERE ARE OVER 14,000 DALLAS RESIDENTS WITHIN A TEN MINUTE WALK OF TURTLE CREEK PARK.
WE PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY WITH A MUCH NEEDED GREEN SPACE IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
OUR TEAM IS WORKING HARD TO PARTNER WITH THE DALLAS PARK AND REC TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR ALL DALLAS CITIZENS TO ENJOY FREE PROGRAMING AND EVENTS IN A DALLAS CITY PARK WITH A FOCUS ON UNDERSERVED CHILDREN.
WE'RE PLANNING TO ACTIVATE THE SOUTH PARCEL WITH FUNDS FROM THE 2024 BOND ELECTION AT A PROPOSED COST OF $6 MILLION, 1.5 MILLION COMING FROM THE BOND ELECTION AND 4.5 MILLION COMING FROM PRIVATE FUNDRAISING.
AS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE DALLAS PARKS COALITION, WE'RE EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE FULL COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE FUNDING RECOMMENDATION OF $350 MILLION FOR PARKS, GREENER IS GREATER.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LISA NEERGAARD AND I'M REPRESENTING BUILDING COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, A NONPROFIT, DALLAS BASED COMMUNITY DESIGN CENTER WHOSE OFFICE IS IN DISTRICT NINE. SORRY, DISTRICT TWO AND WHOSE STAFF LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE, NINE AND 14.
[00:50:04]
I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE REQUESTED 200 MILLION FOR HOUSING AND 35 MILLION FOR HOMELESS SOLUTIONS IN THE 2024 CAPITAL BOND PROGRAM. AS ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS, WE FOCUS ON DELIVERING COMMUNITY DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.AND WE BELIEVE THAT IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR ENTITLEMENT PROCESS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALONE CANNOT AND WILL NOT DELIVER THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF DALLAS RESIDENTS AND INVESTMENT.
SORRY IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE HOUSING POLICY 2023.
WE NEED ACCESS TO ALL THE TOOLS AVAILABLE AND THAT INCLUDES DEDICATED FUNDING.
INVESTING IN HOUSING IS AN INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC GROWTH, HEALTH AND RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY, AS WELL AS AN INVESTMENT IN THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS SUPPORTING HOUSING AND THE HOMELESS.
SOLUTIONS. BOND REQUEST DEMONSTRATES THAT YOU BELIEVE DALLAS IS BIG ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS AARON JONES AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO AT A CONDO PROPERTY WITH 96 UNITS THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AN ONSLAUGHT OF CRIME DUE TO HOMELESSNESS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT THE LAST 12 MONTHS HAVE SEEN A SHARP INCREASE, BOTH IN VOLUME OF CRIMINALS AND THE SEVERITY OF THEIR CRIMES.
IN EARLY OCTOBER, MY NEIGHBORS AND I BEGAN REACHING OUT TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, PLEADING FOR A RESPONSE BECAUSE OUR NUMEROUS CALLS TO POLICE, FIRE, EMS AND 311 DID NOT ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC NATURE OF THESE ISSUES, NOR DID IT PROVIDE ANY LONG TERM DETERRENCE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR CRIMES.
DESPITE MULTIPLE STAFFERS PROMISING FOLLOW UP.
ALL WE WERE GIVEN WAS A LINK TO COMPLETE AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST, BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THAT WAS NECESSARY TO QUANTIFY THE NUMBER OF TIMES WE CALLED 911, BECAUSE OUR PROBLEM WOULD ONLY BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY IF WE PROVED WE MADE COUNTLESS CALLS AND INUNDATED EMERGENCY SERVICES WITH OUR PLEAS FOR HELP.
THAT REQUEST HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THIS MEETING.
JUST IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, DESPITE OUR POSTED PRIVATE PROPERTY SIGNS AND GATED COMMUNITY, WE HAVE SUFFERED CRIMINAL TRESPASS ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS, THEFT OF PROPERTY, FIRES BEING STARTED ON OUR PROPERTY, DRUG NEEDLES AND OTHER PARAPHERNALIA LEFT ON OUR PROPERTY, AND NUMEROUS PEOPLE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS, MAKING THEM UNPREDICTABLE, DANGEROUS AND THREATENING BREAK INS TO OUR POOL, CAUSING RESIDENTS ASKING TO DRAIN AND ELIMINATE AMENITY WE ALL PAY FOR BECAUSE OF THE DISGUSTING WASTE LEFT BEHIND.
PUBLIC INDECENCY WITH VARIOUS SEX ACTS TAKING PLACE IN VIEW OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THREAT OF PHYSICAL AND BODILY PHYSICAL HARM AND BODILY INJURY TO NEIGHBORS WHO CONFRONT THESE INDIVIDUALS. INDEED, MANY HOMEOWNERS ARE AFRAID TO EVEN STEP OUTSIDE ANY NON GATED AREA ON OUR PROPERTY FOR FEAR OF BEING ACCOSTED.
OUR PROPERTY MANAGER HAS EVEN BEEN CHARGED BY THESE INDIVIDUALS QUITE RECENTLY, AS THEY ARE BECOMING MORE EMBOLDENED BY THE LACK OF POLICE OR CITY RESPONSE, AND THEREFORE MORE AGGRESSIVE AS WE HAVE TRIED IN VAIN TO CURTAIL THEIR UNLAWFUL PRESENCE.
IT SHOULD NOT FALL ON US ALONE TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF CRIME IN OUR OWN BACKYARD, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE COLLECTIVELY PAY ALMOST HALF $1 MILLION PER YEAR IN PROPERTY TAXES. I IMPLORE CITY COUNCIL TO BRING ITS POWER AND AUTHORITY TO BEAR TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO ITS TORMENTED.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. ATKINS PHILIP KINGSTON, 5901 PALO PINTO.
I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FULL $200 MILLION FOR HOUSING.
I'M FRANKLY A LITTLE SHOCKED BY THE TASK FORCE'S RECOMMENDATION.
LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOUR CITY FACES.
YOU ALL HAVE VOTED IN THAT INTEREST MANY TIMES AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
BUT THE FACT REMAINS, MEDIAN INCOME IS $58,000 A YEAR.
MEDIAN RENT WOULD REQUIRE AN INCOME OF $75,000 A YEAR.
THEY DON'T PAY FOR HEALTH CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.
THEY DON'T INVEST IN OUR CITY.
THEY DON'T BUY CONSUMER GOODS AND PAY SALES TAX ON THE THINGS THAT THEY BUY.
TO THE EXTENT WE WOULD WANT THEM TO.
THERE IS A LACK OF SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE BURDENED BY HOUSING COSTS.
[00:55:09]
WE ARE PRODUCING HUNDREDS OF UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ARE GOING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.I THINK THAT IT IS IN LINE WITH OUR PEER GROUPS.
I WOULD SAY ALSO, AS A PERSON WHO ACHIEVED $90 MILLION IN DISTRICT SPECIFIC FUNDING IN THE 2017 BOND PACKAGE, A LITTLE PIECE OF ADVICE DON'T BE TOO SMART.
THERE ARE ADVOCATES ADVOCATING FOR THESE THINGS.
LISTEN TO THEM AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT.
I WOULD JUST POINT OUT ONE OTHER THING.
LESS THAN HALF OF THE STATE'S RETIREMENT FOR 2017 HAS BEEN SPENT.
THAT'S YOUR TIME. DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN.
TO SPEAK HERE TODAY, I'VE TAKEN THE DAY OFF FROM TEACHING SOMETHING THAT I TRULY HATE TO DO.
I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT HOW MANY PENCILS I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE AFTER TODAY, BUT I'M DOWN HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE FUNDING FOR HOUSING BECAUSE I LOVE MY STUDENTS, AND I KNOW THAT THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE OFF A WHOLE MORNING FROM WORK TO SPEAK HERE.
I'M PROUD TO TEACH AND COACH AT EDDIE WALKER.
IT'S A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN NORTH DALLAS.
I'VE GOT A FEW KIDS IN MY CLASS THAT LIVE IN 500 K HOMES.
I'VE GOT KIDS WHO JUST MOVED HERE TO THE US DON'T SPEAK ANY ENGLISH.
THE FIRST DAY THAT THEY START WITH ME.
THOSE COMMUNITIES DO NOT JUST HAPPEN.
THERE HAS TO BE REAL INTENTIONAL INVESTMENT TO MAKE THEM REAL.
IN THE CASE OF MY SCHOOL, THERE'S A LITTLE HOUSING COMPLEX, ONE OF THE FEW IN NORTH DALLAS THAT'S PROVIDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALLOWED SOME OF MY STUDENTS TO GROW UP IN A HIGH OPPORTUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD.
LIKE MANY OTHER COMPLEXES IN DALLAS, THIS ONE WILL EXPIRE FROM THE LOGITECH PROGRAM IN 2026.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE MY STUDENTS COULD LIVE IN NORTH DALLAS WITHOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT WILL YOU DO AS A COUNCIL TO ALLOW MY STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HAVE A FUTURE IN THIS CITY? INVESTING $200 MILLION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL NOT BE THE ONLY THING THAT YOU MUST DO.
PLEASE MAKE THIS HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SAID THE MAYOR, AND CERTAINLY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
DALLAS IS ONE OF THE RICHEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, AND YET WE HAVE ALLOWED OUR CITIZENS IN OUR CITY TO EXPERIENCE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.
THE NEED HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED.
TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS WALKING IN SOUTH DALLAS IN A SOUTH DALLAS NEIGHBORHOOD, INFORMED THE NEIGHBORS ABOUT AN UPCOMING ZONING CASE REGARDING A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
ONE SENIOR CITIZEN I TALKED TO TOLD ME SHE DESPERATELY NEEDED A FOUNDATION FOR HER HOME.
SHE INVITED ME INTO HER HOME TO WITNESS THE DISGRACEFUL CONDITIONS IN WHICH SHE LIVED.
ANOTHER RESIDENT ASKED ME IF TWO FAMILIES COULD COMBINE THEIR INCOMES IN ORDER TO AFFORD A HOME.
AS A MEMBER OF THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION, I MUST REITERATE OUR POSITION.
WE MUST INCLUDE AT LEAST $200 MILLION IN THE BOND PACKAGE FOR HOUSING.
ANYTHING LESS WOULD PUT A BAND-AID ON A BLEEDING WOUND.
HI, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS JANICE TENNYSON.
I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE HOMELESS.
I'M WITH THE RICHMOND LIFE FELLOWSHIP.
[01:00:01]
I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE HOMELESS THAT'S OUT THERE WITH DISABILITIES.THOSE THAT'S OUT THERE THAT DON'T HAVE INCOME, THERE'S LAND OUT THERE.
THEY CAN'T GET IN SHELTERS BECAUSE MAJORITY OF THE SHELTERS CAN'T ACCOMMODATE THE DISABILITIES.
MOST OF THEM DON'T WANT ME TO OPEN THAT UP IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND. THAT'S HOW I HAVE TO SAY.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE MANY SUPPORTERS OF THE ARTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION OF AT LEAST $59 MILLION FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE OF CULTURAL FACILITIES IN THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM AND CONSIDER AN ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION FOR THE DMA.
THE CITY OWNS VALUABLE BUILDINGS THAT ARE FALLING APART FROM YEARS OF NEGLECT, AND THE LONGER THESE REPAIRS ARE PUT OFF, THE MORE EXPENSIVE THE ULTIMATE BILL WILL BE.
FOR INSTANCE, AT THE KALITA HUMPHREYS THEATER, BASIC FUNCTIONALITY SUCH AS ELECTRICITY, HEAT AND HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY PLAGUE A ONCE GREAT BUILDING THAT HAS FALLEN INTO EMBARRASSING DISREPAIR DUE TO THE LACK OF RESOURCES FOR MAJOR MAINTENANCE AT THE WYLY THEATER AT THE AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, HALF THE BUILDING'S ELEVATORS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL, MAKING SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF THE BUILDING COMPLETELY INACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
AS AN ARTS COMMUNITY, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROVIDE ART AND EDUCATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE PROUDLY SHOULDER THAT RESPONSIBILITY, BUT WE NEED THE CITY TO FULFILL ITS OBLIGATION TO KEEP ITS BUILDINGS SAFE, SECURE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUSAN HOPPER.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SUSAN HOPPER AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.
OUR FAR EAST DALLAS COMMUNITY IS ASKING YOU TO FULLY FUND THE WHITE ROCK HILLS RECREATION CENTER ON THE CITY BOND. WE UNDERSTAND MANY CRITICAL NEEDS OF THIS CITY AND THE RATIONALE FOR REDUCING FUNDING FOR PARKS.
THE EASY WAY TO SOLVE THIS DEFICIT WOULD BE TO CUT OUR CENTER.
BUT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DIG DEEPER, THINK CRITICALLY, AND UNDERSTAND OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS AND WHAT THIS CENTER MEANS TO US.
THE CENTER REPRESENTS THE CULMINATION OF A 28 YEAR PHASED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY THAT INCLUDES LAND ACQUISITION FOR A PARK AND RECREATION CENTER, APPROVED FEASIBILITY STUDY, CONSTRUCTION OF THE WHITE ROCK HILLS PARK, COMPLETE STREET OF HIGHLAND ROAD BORDERING THE PARK, AND CONNECTION TO THE TRINITY FOREST SPINE TRAIL.
THE CENTER REPRESENTS A COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROJECT SERVING THREE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS WITH MULTIGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS. OUR COMMUNITY IS 68% MINORITY, WITH SOME CENSUS TRACTS WITH POVERTY RATES AS HIGH AS 38%. THE WHITE ROCK HILLS RECREATION CENTER WILL BOOST ECONOMIC GROWTH.
OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DESERVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT OTHERS IN THIS CITY RECEIVE.
WE'VE WAITED 28 YEARS AND IT'S OUR TURN.
AND YOU WILL HAVE THIS OUR TURN.
PACK IN YOUR PACKET SHEET IN YOUR PACKET.
THANK YOU. THE NEXT TEN SPEAKERS.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, WILL YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST TWO ROWS IN THE CENTER SECTION QUINCY ROBERTS, TAMIKA CURIEL, JAY. DAMANI.
DANIELS, HARRY SWANSON, MICHAEL SIMMONS, TATE.
RINGER, CHARLOTTE MYERS, MARK ISHMAEL, SAMUEL MORTIMER, AND JENNIFER SCRIPPS.
[01:05:06]
QUINCY ROBERTS.TO MEET THE COURIER. YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM.
I'M A RESIDENT OF PLEASANT GROVE IN DISTRICT FIVE.
I'M AN ARTS ADVOCATE, AND I SUPPORT THE FULL RECOMMENDATION OF THE TASK FORCE FOR ARTS FUNDING.
THOSE FUNDS IN OUR AREA WOULD HELP CREATE AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE SOMETHING CALLED DALLAS CENTER FOR ART TECHNOLOGY. THE PLEASANT GROVE AREA IS OFTEN BEEN IGNORED FOR MANY REASONS.
FOR ONE, IT WAS CUT UP INTO THREE DISTRICTS AND IT WAS LIKE THE TAIL END AND IT JUST WENT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR NEEDS, A COMMUNITY NEEDS WENT UNHEARD.
WE'RE CONNECTING TO EACH OTHER, AND WE ARE STARTING TO DREAM.
IT INCLUDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH WE ALSO NEED IN OUR DISTRICT.
IT INCLUDES CREATING A TECHNOLOGY TRAINING CENTER.
AND THE. THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS INCREASED FILM INCENTIVES.
AND WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN FILM PRODUCTION HERE.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TRAIN OUR FOLKS IN PLEASANT GROVE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BE AHEAD OF THE GAME, GET OUR FOLKS TRAINED AND ABOVE THE LINE AND BELOW THE LINE JOBS FOR THE FILM AND MEDIA INDUSTRY, SO THAT OUR VOICES CAN BE HEARD IN THAT INDUSTRY, AND SO THAT WE CAN ALSO INCREASE OUR QUALITY OF LIVING.
WE ARE STARTING TO DREAM, AND WE'RE JUST ASKING THE CITY OF DALLAS.
TO BELIEVE IN OUR DREAMS AND THEN ALSO PUT FUND THOSE DREAMS AS WELL.
GOOD MORNING, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THIS BODY.
AND THANK YOU AND THE TASK FORCE FOR YOUR SERVICE.
MY NAME IS DAMANI DANIEL AND I RESIDE IN D6.
I'M PRIVILEGED TO SERVE AS THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSIONER IN DISTRICT SIX, VICE CHAIR, PERSON OF THE DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, A BOARD TRUSTEE OF THE DEEP ELLUM FOUNDATION, A MEMBER OF THE FORMER CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT THE BOMB FACTORY.
FATHERED A TWO DISC ARTS MAGNET.
SUPPORTING THE REQUEST, THE UNIFIED REQUEST FOR FUNDING FROM THE UNIFIED ARTS COMMUNITY AND THE EFFORTS OF MULTIPLE RESPECTED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE BUILDING OF THE CULTURAL TRAIL, ALLOWS US TO DO PRECISELY THAT.
THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL COME WITH LOTS OF STATS OVER LOTS OF HOURS TODAY.
MAY THE COFFEE GODS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR.
TAKING CARE OF WHAT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO US IN THE PRESENT IS NOT JUST NICE TO DO, IT'S NECESSARY BECAUSE IT GIVES US A FUTURE THAT'S FIRMLY ROOTED IN A PAST THAT WE KNOW AND CAN RALLY AROUND AND BUILD FROM THE ARTS.
SEMI QUOTE THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER TUPAC.
YES, WE DIDN'T CHOOSE THIS LIFE.
NONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY CHOSE TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
NONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT UNITED THREE DISTRICTS.
BUT WE'RE HERE NOW. LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
HARRY SWANSON, DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE BOND PROGRAM FOR HOUSING.
[01:10:01]
THIS IS IN YOUR PACKET SO YOU CAN CHECK MY REFERENCES.HOME OWNERSHIP REMAINS THE AMERICAN DREAM DESPITE CHALLENGES.
NEARLY THREE QUARTERS OF AMERICANS SAY OWNING A HOME IS A HIGHER MEASURE OF ACHIEVEMENT THAN HAVING A SUCCESSFUL CAREER, RAISING A FAMILY OR EARNING A COLLEGE DEGREE.
BUT AFFORDABILITY REMAINS THE MAIN CHALLENGE.
THE SURVEY, RELEASED IN MARCH FOR BANKRATE.COM, A FINANCIAL SERVICE COMPANY, FOUND THAT 74% OF RESPONDENTS RANKED HOME OWNERSHIP AT THE HIGHEST GAUGE OF PROSPERITY, ABOVE HAVING A CAREER 60% CHILDREN, 40% A COLLEGE EDUCATION, 35%.
THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY MARKET RESEARCH YOUGOV, COMPRISED OF 2500 RESPONDENTS, 1300 OF WHOM WERE HOME OWNERS. OF THOSE RESPONDING WHO DID NOT OWN HOMES.
ABOUT TWO THIRDS POINTED TO ONE OR MORE AFFORDABILITY FACTORS HOLDING THEM BACK, INCLUDING INCOME LEVEL, SOARING HOUSE PRICES AND THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT.
I'VE BEEN BEFORE THIS COUNCIL NUMEROUS TIMES TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHAT WAS THE BUZZ LAST MONTH AND IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW? ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
OH MY PROPERTY TAXES ARE DOWN.
DID THE RENTS COME DOWN? NO. ARE THE RENTS GOING TO COME DOWN? NO. THOSE RENTERS WANT TO BE PROPERTY OWNERS.
SO THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO START GETTING PEOPLE TO TO EXPERIENCE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
GIVE THEM SOME MONEY SO THEY CAN GO OUT AND OWN A HOME.
YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THE AMERICAN DREAMS. OH, I'M SORRY, SIR, BUT WE'LL GET YOU A HOME, TOO.
IN THE $200. THAT'S YOUR TIME, MICHAEL SIMMONS.
MICHAEL SIMMONS IS NOT PRESENT.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M KATE RINGER. I'M THE CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER FOR METRO CARE.
WE'RE THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN DALLAS COUNTY, PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH AND DISABILITY SERVICES TO OVER 45,000 CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS EACH YEAR. AND WE ARE ALSO THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING IN NORTH TEXAS.
I'M ALSO A CITIZEN OF DISTRICT 12, BORN AND RAISED IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
I WAS A LIBERAL ARTS MAJOR AND I VALUE THE ARTS.
MY CHILDREN AND I BOTH BENEFITED FROM PARKS, AND I STILL PLAY PICKLEBALL UP AT CAMPBELL GREEN.
SO I VERY MUCH VALUE ALL THESE SERVICES.
BUT FRANKLY, NONE OF THAT MATTERS IF DALLAS IS NOT LIVABLE.
NOT FUNDING HOUSING WHEN WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO IS SHORTSIGHTED.
AND THESE PEOPLE INCLUDE TEACHERS, NURSES, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, YOUR OWN STAFF, EMTS.
SO IF WE WANT THEM TO WORK IN OUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS AND IN OUR PARKS, WE NEED TO PROVIDE THEM A PLACE TO LIVE THAT'S LIVABLE AND THAT THEY CAN AFFORD AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES. THE CRISES WE HEAR ABOUT IN LA AND SAN FRANCISCO AND JUST SOUTH OF US IN DALLAS ARE REAL.
AND IT'S COMING TO DALLAS IF WE DON'T FUND HOUSING NOW.
GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE SERVE THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO TELL YOU JUST ABOUT A COUPLE OF OUR CLIENTS.
I HAVE A WORKING MOM WITH FIVE CHILDREN WHOSE HUSBAND SUDDENLY LEFT AND CAN'T BE FOUND.
SHE AND HER FAMILY WILL BE HOMELESS AT THE END OF JANUARY IF WE CAN'T FIND THEM.
HOUSING. I HAVE AN 80 YEAR OLD CLIENT WHO IS ON A FIXED INCOME.
[01:15:02]
RENT WAS RAISED.SHE'LL BE HOMELESS AT THE END OF DECEMBER.
I HAVE A VETERAN WHO LIVES WITH HIS SISTER ON DISABILITY.
THEY WERE EVICTED BECAUSE THEIR RENT WAS RAISED.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR HOUSING FOR THEM.
WE CAN'T. IF WE CAN'T FIND IT, THEY WILL BE HOMELESS AT THE END OF JANUARY.
I HAVE A WIDOWED FATHER WITH THREE CHILDREN WHO'S WORKING AT A RETAIL JOB.
OVERNIGHT SHIFT RENT WAS RAISED.
IF WE CAN'T FIND HOUSING, HE'LL BE HOMELESS AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2023.
WE GET 200 CALLS LIKE THIS A WEEK.
I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND NOT THE HOUSING COALITION.
IF WE PUT TEN TIMES MORE MONEY INTO OUR PARKS THAN WE DO INTO HOUSING, THE MESSAGE WE'RE SENDING, WHETHER WE MEAN IT OR NOT, IS THAT WE EITHER DON'T BELIEVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A PROBLEM IN DALLAS OR WE DON'T CARE.
HI, MY NAME IS MARK ISHMAEL AND I LIVE AT 2401 BENNETT AVENUE IN DISTRICT 14.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF INCREASING BOND FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS WELL AS ADOPTING THE PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS TO ALLOW MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TO BE BUILT IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
THE NEED FOR MORE ATTAINABLE HOUSING OPTIONS BECAME APPARENT TO ME AS SOON AS I BECAME A DALLAS RESIDENT A FEW YEARS AGO, AT MY FIRST ADDRESS ON FOREST LANE, NEAR I-75 AND THE FOREST LANE DART STATION.
ALREADY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE CENTER CITY FOR SUBURBS AND OTHER METRO AREAS.
DALLAS HAS LOST THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS SINCE 2020, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST POPULATION ESTIMATES.
THAT ROBS THE CITY OF REVENUE THAT ROBS BUSINESSES OF CUSTOMERS AND WORKERS.
IT WILL KILL THE CITY IF WE FACE POPULATION LOSS OVER A SUSTAINED AMOUNT OF TIME, LIKE OTHER PLACES IN THE RUST BELT. THE PRIVATE MARKET ALONE IS NOT ABLE TO MEET HOUSING DEMAND AT PRICE POINTS MANY CAN AFFORD.
THESE DOLLARS WILL ALSO HAVE A BETTER EFFECT WHEN USED IN A DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS REDUCED MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND ALLOWS MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TO BE BUILT IN OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. SO PLEASE SUPPORT THOSE CODE AMENDMENT CHANGES AND AN INCREASE IN THE BOND FUNDING.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SAMUEL MORTIMER.
I CHANGED EVERYTHING I WAS GOING TO SAY.
HOPEFULLY IT ALL COMES OUT RIGHT.
I'VE BEEN A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT HERE IN DALLAS FOR TEN YEARS.
I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND AN ARCHITECT.
I HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF US HERE TODAY.
THEY SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ARE DEMONSTRATIVELY STRONG RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD OF THE SANTA FE TRAIL FOR FOUR YEARS AND SERVED AS ITS CURRENT PRESIDENT.
THREE DALLAS. THE TRAIL CONNECTS 11 CULTURALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND IS ADJACENT TO EIGHT MORE UNIQUELY, OUR TRAIL AND TRAILHEADS LIE IN FOUR DIFFERENT COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
IN 2022, WE SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTED OUR MASTER PLAN FOR ADOPTION TO THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD, AND PHASE ONE OF OUR MASTER PLAN IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST TECHNICALLY SCORING SCORES INVENTORIED BY PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF.
[01:20:03]
WE ARE BUILDING A CULTURAL CONNECTOR BETWEEN TWO STATE RECOGNIZED ART DISTRICTS.WE ARE THE TRANSPORTATION CONDUIT CONNECTING THE LOOP SYSTEM TO DEEP ELLUM AND THE CBD.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE FULL ALLOCATION RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JENNIFER SCRIPPS.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JENNIFER SCRIPPS, AND I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS, INC.
I WANT TO START TODAY BY THANKING OUR COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE MEMBERS, CITY STAFF, AND YOU AS DEDICATED COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH US FOR MONTHS IN CRAFTING THE UPCOMING 2024 CITY BOND PROGRAM.
DOWNTOWN DALLAS IS A GROWTH ENGINE FOR OUR CITY AND OUR FAST GROWING NORTH TEXAS REGION.
OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, DOWNTOWN HAS EVOLVED FROM A PURELY DISTRICT BUSINESS DISTRICT WITH ONLY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED RESIDENTS INTO A COMPLETE SEVEN DAY A WEEK VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ALMOST 15,000 RESIDENTS.
WITH THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST ARTS DISTRICT, MORE THAN 20 ACRES OF NEW PUBLIC PARK SPACES, AND SOON A NEWLY REDEVELOPED KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON CONVENTION CENTER TO WELCOME VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD IN SOME MORE THAN $6 BILLION OF DEVELOPMENT, IS IN DOWNTOWN'S PIPELINE.
YOUR COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE VOTED TO APPROVE THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FIELD STREET AND GRIFFIN STREET TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL RESTORE THIS.
WE HAVE DETAILED OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN A LETTER THAT YOU RECEIVED BY EMAIL YESTERDAY.
LESLIE BERGINC, BILLY LANE, LYNN RICHARDSON, HEXYL, COLORADO SANDRA CRENSHAW, ABRAHAM MORENO, EVA MASON, D ANGELA ALEXANDER, GARRETT PINNELL, AND MAGGIE PARKER.
MY NAME IS LESLIE CHAGGARIS BRUGGINK, AND I'M THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF IN THIS HOUSE.
LAST APRIL, THIS COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED 11 RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE RACIAL EQUITY AUDIT, WHICH INCLUDED THE CREATION OF A, QUOTE, DEDICATED REVENUE STREAM THAT IS SCALED TO THE MAGNITUDE OF DALLAS'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE.
PRIOR TO THAT ADOPTION, SEVERAL OF YOU ASKED, DOES THIS MEAN BOND FUNDING? YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT WITHOUT THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND FUNDING TO TURN THESE RECOMMENDATIONS INTO MEASURABLE ACTION, THE POLICIES COULD BE MEANINGLESS.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO SUPPORT A HIGHER BOND ALLOCATION, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO LEVERAGE PRIVATE FUNDS AND GENERATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN EACH OF YOUR OWN DISTRICTS.
ADDITIONALLY, IN A RECENT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CITY, 53% OF DALLAS RESIDENTS SELECTED AFFORDABLE, QUALITY HOUSING AS ONE OF THEIR TOP THREE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT THE CITY SHOULD PRIORITIZE.
THAT'S WHAT YOUR RESIDENTS HAVE TOLD YOU.
BUT I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
IF THE HARD WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL IS MEANT TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN OUR CITY TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS, THEN WE NEED YOU TO ACT.
WE NEED YOU TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL COMMITMENT TO HOUSING IN THIS BOND PACKAGE.
BEYOND EITHER OF THE PROPOSALS THAT YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT TODAY.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
[01:25:06]
AND WE STAND WITH THE COALITION AS IT RELATES TO THE INCREASE IN THE BOND, THE ALLOCATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO $200 MILLION.IT HAS BEEN ASSERTED IT HAS BEEN ASSERTED THAT PARKS AND RECREATION CENTERS PROVIDE BETTER RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAN ANY OTHER BOND FUNDED ITEM.
I WILL CONFESS THAT WHEN I HEARD THAT ASSERTION, IT MADE ME FEEL A CERTAIN TYPE OF WAY.
I COUNT ON BEING ABLE TO BRING MY CHILDREN INTO A SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND FIT SPACE.
PARKS AND RECREATION CENTERS CANNOT RESOLVE A HOUSING CRISIS, NOR CAN IT MITIGATE IT.
AND IF WE RELY ON PARKS AND RECREATION CENTERS TO BEGIN TO MITIGATE OUR HOUSING CRISIS, WHAT WE WILL NOTICE IS A COMPROMISE IN THE ROI THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SUGGESTED.
I STAND HERE TODAY AS A DEVELOPER, A LEADER OF A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, TO SAY, PLEASE, PLEASE INCREASE THE ALLOCATION TO AT LEAST $200 MILLION.
LYNN RICHARDSON IS NOT PRESENT.
IN MY BOY SCOUT YEARS, I KNEW A TEENAGER WHO LIVED WITH HIS MOTHER IN A STORAGE UNIT.
MY FAMILY TOOK THEM IN, BUT THE ARRANGEMENT WAS SHORT LIVED.
IN MY CHILDHOOD, MY FAMILY MOVED SEVEN TIMES.
WE SURVIVED THANKS TO THE GRACE OF THOSE OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LET US IN.
I DON'T. HOUSING IS NOT THE ONLY PRIORITY, BUT IT IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
IT DOES NOT SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS. BUT WHEN WE FAIL AT HOUSING, WE WE FIND OUR FAILURE IN OUR PARKS, OUR TRAILS, OUR STREETS, OUR TRAINS, OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR BUSINESSES.
THERE'S THIS CONCEPT CALLED MYLES LAW AND IT GOES WHERE YOU STAND DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU SIT.
IF WE'RE GOING TO ASK ALL THE PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF HOUSING TO STAND JUST ONE MORE TIME.
I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT WHAT YOU DO FOR HOUSING, AND IF YOU GET THIS RIGHT, YOU SERVE THE INTERESTS NOT ONLY OF THOSE STANDING, BUT ALL OF US SITTING AS WELL.
COUNCILORS $200 MILLION FOR HOUSING IS THE LEAST WE MUST DO.
SANDRA CRENSHAW IS NOT PRESENT.
ABRAHAM MORENO IS NOT PRESENT.
HOUSING IN THE CITY OF DALLAS IS BECOMING MORE UNAFFORDABLE BY THE DAY.
AS MANY HAVE ALREADY NOTED, WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS.
THE AVERAGE COST TO RENT A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT IS AROUND 1400.
I CAN TELL YOU I PAY MORE THAN THAT.
AND I LIVE IN A ONE BEDROOM STUDIO IN DALLAS.
IN OCTOBER 2023, THE MEDIAN COST OF OF A HOUSE WAS 460 476,000.
[01:30:03]
BEINGS AND FAMILIES IN MIND.PEOPLE NEED HOUSING NO MATTER WHAT THE.
SO THIS INVESTMENT IS CRITICAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF DALLAS.
THE BARE MINIMUM THAT WE CAN PROVIDE IS HOUSING.
IF WE CHOOSE TO BE PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE.
PEOPLE NEED LODGING AS MUCH AS FOOD.
JOBS AND CAREERS CANNOT FULLY MEET THEIR POTENTIAL WITHOUT A ROOF OVER OUR HEAD.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE FOUNDATION OF THAT HIERARCHY, YOU WILL SEE THAT HOUSING, SHELTER, FOOD AND WATER ARE THE THREE FOUNDATIONAL THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, TO THRIVE AND TO BE ALIVE. AND EVERYTHING ELSE COMES OUT OF THAT.
THEN WE CAN GET TO SELF-ACTUALIZATION.
BUT WE CANNOT DO THAT WITHOUT HOUSING.
SO I AM ASKING, AS A MEMBER OF THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION AND AS THE FOUNDER OF DALLAS NEIGHBORS FOR HOUSING, THAT YOU SEEK, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE PUT FORTH FOR $200 MILLION, WHICH IS WELL RESEARCHED AND SUPPORTED BY A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP, AND REALLY HELPS US TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THE 33,000 UNITS THAT WE ARE SHORT CURRENTLY.
I REALLY, REALLY SUPPORT EVERYONE'S NOBLE REQUEST FOR THIS FOR TODAY, BUT I THINK THE MOST NOBLE THING WE CAN DO IS PROVIDE THE FULL FUNDING TO GET HOUSING BACK INTO OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
I'M HERE TO ASK FOR AT LEAST $200 MILLION OF BOND MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, I STARTED TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT TO WORK.
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED WHEN I DID THAT.
I STARTED TO SEE ALL THE PARTS OF MY COMMUNITY THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY INVISIBLE TO ME.
I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS A HEART.
BUT I THINK THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE OF US ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING FOR HOUSING AND THOSE OF US ADVOCATING TO SPEND THE MONEY ON OTHER INITIATIVES, IS MAINLY AN ISSUE OF DISTANCE FROM THE ISSUE.
IF EVERYONE HERE WERE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH OUR UNHOUSED RESIDENTS ON A NEAR DAILY BASIS, I THINK WE'D ALL FEEL THE SAME SENSE OF URGENCY TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THEM OFF THE STREETS. WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS GOING TO BUILD, THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOUSING AND DEVELOPERS CAN BE ENCOURAGED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING BY STREAMLINING ZONING RESTRICTIONS AND BUILDING PARKS, DEVELOPERS SIMPLY CAN'T BE ENCOURAGED TO BUILD HOUSING FOR THEIR THOUSANDS OF UNHOUSED DALLAS RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN THE MOST NEED.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR HAS TO BUILD THAT.
I'M ASKING FOR DALLAS TO FULFILL ITS MOST BASIC OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALLOCATE $200 MILLION OF BOND MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT BY OUR THOUSANDS OF UNHOUSED RESIDENTS AND BY THE MANY MORE WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE UNHOUSED IF THE CITY DOESN'T ACT DECISIVELY.
[01:35:02]
AND I'M PRETTY SURE I'M THE LAST DEVELOPER STANDING ON THE CITY'S 1000 UNIT CHALLENGE FOR AFFORDABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS PUT OUT IN 2021.SO I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS SPACE, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO REALLY URGE YOU ALL TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE BOND ALLOCATION TO AT LEAST 200 MILLION.
AND I'VE SEEN WHERE THE CITY OF DALLAS SPECIFICALLY HAS STEPPED UP IN THE BOTTOM NEIGHBORHOOD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD, WE HAVE SEEN DRAMATIC CHANGES IN THE BOTTOM COMMUNITY WHERE WHERE FUNDING HAS GONE TO NEW STREETS, NEW LIGHTING, NEW UTILITIES, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOUSING FOR NEW AND EXISTING RESIDENTS UNDER NEW CONSTRUCTION OR REHABBING OF EXISTING HOMES. THIS IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEEDS INCREASED INVESTMENT.
BUT WHAT WE REALIZED, AND WE SEE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS ALREADY INVOLVED IN THIS SPACE, BUT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY'RE INVOLVED WHERE THEY'RE BUILDING AND EVERY OTHER SUBURB OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT DALLAS, WE NEED TO BE INCENTIVIZING FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS THAT CAN HELP BOOST OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND HELP BOOST THE JOBS, HELP BOOST THE TAX BASE THAT'S GOING TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE AMENITIES THAT WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT HERE TODAY.
SO IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING EASY? NEVER. THAT IS WORKING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT HARD.
CALL A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME.
TOWLER. YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM.
WILLIAM TOWLER IS NOT PRESENT.
I'M DR. SHERRY ARANHA AND I RESIDE IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.
I'M ALSO A PEDIATRIC RESIDENT HERE, WORKING AT A PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL HERE IN DALLAS, AND I'M ONE OF MANY VOICES ASKING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT. I HAVE A MANDATE TO PRESERVE THE LIVES.
OKAY, SO WE CAN HEAR THE SPEAKER.
OVER 16,000 PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS HAVE DIED SINCE THE START OF THIS CONFLICT 40% CHILDREN.
MUCH OF THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH DECISIONS MADE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAS DISPROPORTIONATE LEVERAGE IN THE REGION, AS $3.8 BILLION HAVE BEEN SPENT YEAR AFTER YEAR AND ADDITIONAL 4.4 14.3 BILLION ARE REQUESTED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SINCE THE START OF THIS CONFLICT.
IF A CEASEFIRE WERE POSSIBLE JUST A WEEK AGO.
A MORE ENDURING ONE CAN BE MADE POSSIBLE.
AGAIN. I HUMBLY ASK THAT DALLAS JOINS THE CITIES OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN AND WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, IN CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE DE-ESCALATION AND A CEASEFIRE IN ISRAEL AND OCCUPIED PALESTINE. I WON'T COST THE CITY A CENT, BUT THE COST OF INACTION IS FAR TOO HIGH FOR ME TO STAY SILENT.
I'M SPEAKING THIS MORNING ON BEHALF OF THE DALLAS PARKS AND ON BEHALF OF THE WHITE ROCK CREEK TRAIL.
[01:40:04]
OUR PARKS ARE ONE OF OUR CITY'S GREATEST ASSETS.PARKS IMPROVE PROPERTY VALUES AND GENERATE LONG TERM INVESTMENTS.
PARKS PROVIDE BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACES AND A TRAIL OF NETWORK WE HAVE CONNECTS THEM TO ONE ANOTHER, CREATING A SEAMLESS GREEN TRANSPORTATION ACROSS THE CITY. SO INVESTING IN OUR PARKS AND TRAILS IS DEFINITELY A KEY PRIORITY.
IT IS NARROW AND IN BAD SHAPE, MAKING IT UNSAFE AT TIMES.
RUNNERS, MOTHERS WITH A STROLLER, NATURE LOVERS, CYCLISTS, SKATERS, BIRD WATCHERS, YOU NAME IT.
WITH YOUR STRONG SUPPORT, THE WHITE ROCK CREEK TRAIL WILL BECOME A PREFERRED DESTINATION FOR EVEN MORE DALLAS CITIZENS SEEKING A GREEN ALTERNATIVE FOR THEIR RECREATION AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.
GARRETT. BOONE. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. PERSIAN TRAILS ARE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT AFFECT EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES AND DESERVE THE SAME CONSIDERATION AS OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. MAYORS REPRESENTING CITIES BOTH LARGE AND SMALL, PART OF THE 250 MILLION MAYORS FOR PARK ALLIANCE UNANIMOUSLY AGREE THAT PARKS ARE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEY ARE BUSY LOBBYING CONGRESS FOR FUNDING FOR PARKS NATIONALLY.
THE BENEFIT OF PARKS AND TRAILS ARE EXTRAORDINARY.
IN MANY. HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THEM.
THEY ENCOURAGE ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH, REDUCE HEALTH CARE COSTS.
REDUCE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT IN SO MANY, MANY MORE.
ONE LOCAL LITTER LEADER THAT WAS ON THE BOND SUBCOMMITTEE TASK FORCE, THE I'M SORRY, THE PARKS AND TRAILS SUBCOMMITTEE SUMMARIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKS AND TRAILS IN THE LIVES OF MANY DALLAS RESIDENTS.
HE SAID, FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, THIS PARK AND TRAIL BOND PACKAGE IS AN EXAMPLE OF JUSTICE.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO BOLDLY IMPROVE, ACQUIRE AND ENHANCE PUBLIC LAND FOR ALL PEOPLE.
BY ANY MEASURE, DALLAS HAS A GREAT PARK DEPARTMENT COMMITTED AND EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN EVERY WAY.
FUNDING NATIONALLY, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS SINCE IMPROVED, DOES NOT PROVIDE EXCESS FUNDS THAT CAN BE TAPPED WHEN INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT REACHED END OF LIFE AND NEED TO BE RESTORED AND REPLACED RESULT IN A SERIOUS BACKLOG OF 2000 UNFUNDED PROJECTS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I WAS BORN IN DALLAS 23 YEARS AGO.
I SERVE AS AN EMT OUT HERE IN DENVER WHILE STUDYING FOR MY MCATS.
LIKE MANY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, MY GIRLFRIEND AND I ASPIRE TO RETURN TO OUR ROOTS IN DALLAS.
HOWEVER, THE HARSH REALITY IS THAT THE COST OF LIVING IN DALLAS IS A HUGE BARRIER TO OUR DREAMS. DESPITE OUR EDUCATION AND HARD WORK, THE PROSPECT OF AFFORDING RENT IN DALLAS SEEMS LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE CHALLENGE.
IT'S DISHEARTENING TO REALIZE THAT THE STARK REALITY OF FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS NOW CHALLENGES MY DREAMS, AND SOMETHING THAT WE THOUGHT WAS NURTURED THROUGHOUT OUR ACADEMIC JOURNEY. MANY OF MY FRIENDS FROM JESUIT SHARE A SIMILAR, SIMILAR PREDICAMENT.
[01:45:07]
EVEN THE SUBURBS OF DENVER, WHERE WE CURRENTLY LIVE, THE STRUGGLE TO MANAGE RENT IS ENORMOUS.DALLAS, A CITY WE LOVE AND CHERISH, NEEDS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES.
I HOPE YOU APPLY 200 MILLION OF THE BOND MONEY TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPPORTUNITY.
CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, ANN HAGEN.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANNE HAGEN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.
NUMEROUS STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT HIGH QUALITY PARKS AND GREEN SPACE AND TRAILS LEAD TO IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES, IMPROVED CLIMATE RESILIENCY, AND A 7 TO 1 RETURN ON ECONOMIC INVESTMENT.
AND WE DO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO MAKE IT CONTINUE TO SUCCEED AND GROW.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DON THOMAS JR.
I RESIDE AT 1439 SORRENTO DRIVE.
I'M SURE THAT MY FACE IS VERY FAMILIAR TO ALL OF YOU.
YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER MY STORY.
I'M NOT GOING TO BORE YOU WITH THE DETAILS AGAIN.
SO I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE NEXT TO THE IDEA OF DENSITY.
I FELT IT FOR TWO YEARS, AND I'VE COMMUNICATED WHAT THAT FELT LIKE TO EACH OF YOU.
BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR BANNING THESE NOW.
WELL, TWO YEARS AGO, AT THE AGE OF 49, I FINALLY GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A HOME.
I CHOSE CASA LINDA ESTATES FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
ONE OF THE REASONS WAS THE LOT SIZE.
AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ALL OF THE VIEWPOINTS TODAY.
I'M IN FAVOR OF IT, AND I THINK I'M JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU IN THIS ROOM.
WE ALL WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COLLECTIVE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET THIS DONE.
BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I SIT.
BUT FIRST I WANT TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY I DON'T WANT THINGS TO CHANGE FOR MYSELF.
PERSONALLY, I DON'T WANT TO MOVE BACK TO DENSITY.
CALL ME JOEL. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TEN AND PLEASED TO BE A CONSTITUENT OF MY NEW MEMBER THERE, AND I LEARNED ABOUT THIS MEETING THROUGH THE ACTIONS OF DALLAS COALITION FOR HOUSING.
AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE DALLAS NEIGHBORS FOR MORE HOUSING.
I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO ALLOCATE AT LEAST $200 MILLION IN THE BOND PACKAGE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND TO REVIEW SUCH REGULATIONS AS MAY CONSTRICT THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DALLAS.
WHEN I CAME HERE IN 2004, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT HERE SINCE THEN.
[01:50:01]
I LIVED IN THE STREETS, I'M HOMELESS, AND MY MY HOME WAS AN APARTMENT THAT WAS A21, AND IT COST $675 A MONTH.I SPLIT THAT WITH A ROOMMATE AND PAID 337 50.
IN INFLATION ADJUSTED TERMS, THAT'S $500.
THAT RENT AT THE TIME ENABLED ME TO TAKE THE JOB THAT I WAS OFFERED HERE IN DALLAS, AND IS THE REASON THAT I'M HERE IN DALLAS TODAY. I WAS OFFERED A JOB AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER.
THAT IS MY CALLING, AND I DOUBT IN TODAY'S RENTAL MARKET WHETHER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AS AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR ME TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY IN THAT WAY.
IF THE RENTS WERE WHAT THEY ARE TODAY, I SOMETIMES GO BACK BY THAT APARTMENT WITH MY WIFE.
THAT'S WHERE WE MET. AND, UM, AND I LOOKED AT ZILLOW AND IT'S $1,400 A DAY.
I'D SAY THAT MEANS THAT THAT THAT RENT FOR THAT PLACE OUTPUTS INFLATION BY 40%.
INSTEAD OF WATCHING THE COWBOY GAME AT THE BEGINNING, I THOUGHT I'D WATCH.
I LISTENED TO THE MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
HE STATED CRIME HAD WENT DOWN, WHICH IS GREAT.
WHAT DRIVES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS HOUSING.
I THINK, HE SAID. PARKS IS NOT HOUSING.
WE HAD A FORMER COUNCILMAN TRYING TO BRING GROCERY STORES TO SOME DISTRICTS.
BUT WHAT DRIVES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS HOUSING.
ALSO, I THINK MY MOST FREQUENT STATEMENTS GO OUT TO BE TO MY CUSTOMERS AND CLIENTS.
SEEMED LIKE IF WE KEEP GOING THE WAY WE'RE GOING, WHATEVER YOU MAKE IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.
WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM.
OR OUR HOMELESS PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE A LOT WORSE THAN WHAT IT IS NOW.
MICHAEL DEXTER, DEBBIE PENA, COURTNEY HUNTER, DANNY OBERST, JADA WOOTEN, CHRIS DOWDY, JONATHAN DILLAHUNTY, CATHERINE MCGOVERN, BRETT BARASH, AND WARREN MELTON.
MICHAEL DEXTER YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM.
THIS YEAR I VOLUNTEER WITH FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS, ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE WITH HOUSING INSECURITIES.
SINCE AUGUST, MY EYES HAVE BEEN OPENED TO THE MYRIAD POPULATIONS GRAPPLING WITH THIS DILEMMA.
ONLY ONE OUT OF EVERY TWO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO AGE OUT WILL HAVE SOME FORM OF GAMBLING EMPLOYMENT.
BY AGE 24, SEVEN OUT OF TEN GIRLS WILL BECOME PREGNANT BEFORE AGE 21.
IN THE AUGUST 2023 REPORT, HOUSING INSECURITY AND HOMELESSNESS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS, WRITTEN BY BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER, HIGHLIGHTED THE DATA PRODUCED BY THE SURVEY OF MORE THAN 195,000 STUDENTS.
[01:55:03]
OF THOSE SURVEYED, 58% REPORTED EXPERIENCING BASIC NEEDS INSECURITY DEFINED AS EXPERIENCING SOME FORM OF IN FOOD INSECURITY, HOMELESSNESS, OR HOUSING INSECURITY. IN THE 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE SURVEY, 14% OF RESPONDENTS EXPERIENCED REPORTED EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND 48% EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF HOUSING INSECURITY. TODAY, I STAND BEFORE YOU AS AN ADVOCATE, PASSIONATELY PLEADING WITH YOU TO TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION.I IMPLORE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE ALLOCATION OF $200 MILLION TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT IS AN INVESTMENT NOT JUST IN BUILDINGS, BUT IN THE DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS OF OUR YOUTH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
AND IN ALL FAIRNESS, WE NEED TO DO THE SAME OR LET EVERYBODY BRING A SIGN.
SO WE NEED TO DO ONE OR THE OTHER.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SECRETARY, WILL YOU? THAT IS CORRECT. IF YOU ALLOW ME.
YOU LIKE ME TO READ THE RULES? YES, PLEASE. OKAY.
GIVE ME ONE SECOND. LET ME PULL THEM.
YOUR CITY COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE 3.3.
YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, COURTNEY HUNTER.
DEAR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER, I AM HERE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I REPRESENT THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, WHERE I'VE WORKED FOR 2724 YEARS AND NOW SERVE AS THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. IT FEELS LIKE 27 SOMETIMES.
THE CURRENT ROOF IS OVER 20 YEARS OLD AND IN VERY POOR CONDITION.
IT SITS OVER THE CONCERT HALL.
[02:00:04]
MEYERSON. SINCE THAT TIME, THE CITY HAS NOT HAD THE FUNDS TO DO THE REPAIRS, AND WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PUT IT ON THE BOND.IT IS IMPORTANT TO TACKLE THIS PROJECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WHILE WE KNOW THESE FUNDS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE READILY.
WE ARE EMBARKING ON A SECOND STUDY SO THAT WE CAN FIND MODIFICATIONS THAT CAN BE MADE IN THE INTERIM TO SLOW THE EFFECTS OF THESE LEAKS.
THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT, ENSURING THE 59 MILLION TO CULTURAL FACILITIES NECESSARY TO UPKEEP ALL OF OUR CULTURAL VENUES IN GOOD REPAIR, AND TO THE 4 MILLION TO KEEP THE MEYERSON BEING ONE OF THE BEST CONCERT HALLS IN THE WORLD.
GOOD MORNING Y'ALL. MY NAME IS COURTNEY.
I LIVE AND WORK IN DISTRICT 14, AND THIS MAKES TWO YEARS.
I WOULD LOVE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
RIGHT NOW, THAT'S NOT AN OPTION FOR ME.
I FULLY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD INVEST IN THEM.
AND SO I AM URGING YOU TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY 200 MILLION FOR HOUSING, BUT ALSO THAT WE DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY CODE ENCOURAGES DIVERSE, PROFITABLE HOUSING, NOT JUST LUXURY APARTMENTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DANIELLE BURST.
I'M DANNY OBERST, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 14.
I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO JOIN OUR HONORABLE MAYOR, ERIC JOHNSON, IN ADVOCATING FOR THE MAXIMUM FUNDING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED OUR CURRENT HOME, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A HALF A BLOCK FROM A DALLAS CITY PARK. AND THE PARK IS TRULY THE FOCAL POINT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND IS A HUGE CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
I THINK THE PARK DEPARTMENT, MORE SO THAN THE OTHER MUNICIPAL FUNCTIONS, SPEAKS TO THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR CITY AND IS OH SO NECESSARY IN AN URBAN LIVING ENVIRONMENT.
OVER THE LAST 35 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN A HOMEOWNER HERE IN DALLAS, I'VE WATCHED IN DISMAY AS THE PARK DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE FIRST DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE A FINANCIAL HIT WHENEVER THE CITY'S BUDGET IS A LITTLE BIT TIGHT.
WELL, THAT IS NOT THE CASE TODAY AND IT IS TIME TO INVEST IN OUR PARK SYSTEM.
EXCEL IS ONLY ONE OF THE 43 DALLAS RECREATION CENTERS WITHOUT A GYMNASIUM.
THE ONLY ONE MY BRYAN PLACE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THIS GOAL FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, AND AT EACH CAPITAL BOND CYCLE, WE ARE TOLD IT WILL COME NEXT TIME.
[02:05:03]
WELL, THAT TIME IS NOW.PLEASE JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND NEW REC CENTER AT EXCEL PARK.
THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
WOOTEN. I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.
I CALLED THE LIBRARY SEVERAL TIME FOR I ALWAYS CALL THE LIBRARY LOOKING FOR INFORMATION.
HOWEVER, THEY ALWAYS HANGING UP IN MY FACE.
AND IF I CALLED THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS, AND SO THEY TOLD ME, ASK, DID I WANT TO COME DOWN HERE AND SPEAK? SO THAT'S THE MAIN REASON I'M DOWN HERE.
AND AS I COME DOWN HERE TODAY, I SEE YOU ALL SPEAKING ON HOUSING.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF MY MOTHER'S MAIN FOCUSES IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, HOUSING FOR POOR PEOPLE.
MY MOTHER'S NAME WAS GWEN WOOTEN.
AND TODAY THERE IS NO HOUSING FOR POOR PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.
AND ALSO I KNOW THAT WHEN IT'S A DRUG INFESTED AREA, THE GOVERNMENT MONEY IS CREATED TO USE TO HELP FUND THAT PART OF THE CITY FOR HOUSING.
AND I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE THAT WE COULD LIVE WITH THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THIS CITY.
AND WHEN I LOOK FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING, I SEE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I NEED TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOW INCOME HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ALL RIGHT. AND I NEED TO COME BACK.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU AS THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STRATEGY AT FOREST FORD.
WE SERVE THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DALLAS AND D7.
IT'S A IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO TO DO THIS WORK.
SO WE ASK THAT YOU AFFIRM AND EXTEND THAT THAT FUNDING IN THE PROPOSAL.
WE'RE ALSO COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING MIXED INCOME HOUSING IN OUR AREA AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE THE AMOUNT THAT'S ALLOCATED CURRENTLY IN THE PROPOSAL IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE CRISIS, AND WE ASK YOU TO CONSIDER RAISING IT.
THANK YOU, JONATHAN DILLAHUNTY.
JONATHAN DILLAHUNTY IS NOT PRESENT.
GOOD MORNING. AND MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF.
[02:10:05]
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE PRUSSIAN MEMORIAL LIBRARY, FRIENDS, AND ALSO ALL OF US WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA, THIS AREA OF DALLAS, THAT IS THE AREA THAT IS IN DISTRICT 13 AND IN DISTRICT 11.WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME ALL OVER TO USE OUR LIBRARY.
OUR LIBRARY IS ONLY 10,738FT².
WE ARE ASKING THAT FROM THIS BOND ALLOCATION, YOU INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO ALLOCATE FROM THE BOND FOR OUR LIBRARY TO PAY TO BRING US TO 8000FT².
BUT, YOU KNOW, IN 59 YEARS, THINGS GROW.
I MEAN, WE GROW OLDER PEOPLE COME IN AND MOVE, BUSINESSES COME IN AND EVERYONE IS USING THE LIBRARY.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT ON.
AND I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THEY DON'T SUPPORT LIBRARIES, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A LIBRARY AND A SUFFICIENT SIZE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME IN.
18,000FT² IS THE STANDARD FOR A BRANCH LIBRARY IN DALLAS.
WE. I SEE THAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR 9,000,000IN DISTRICT 13 FOR A LIBRARY.
I'M HOPING IT'S. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
I APPRECIATE YOUR LISTENING AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL FOLLOW OUR REQUEST.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BRETT BARASH.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BRETT LANDSBERG AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND I WORK IN DISTRICT FOUR.
AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING TEACH PLUS TEXAS AS A SENIOR FELLOW.
I AM A CALCULUS HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING IN DALLAS FOR 15 YEARS NOW.
2009 BEING MY FIRST YEAR, I CONSIDER DALLAS MY HOME.
I'M PROUD TO LIVE HERE AND I LOVE WORKING WITH DALLAS STUDENTS.
THEY ARE THE BEST PART OF MY DAY AND I'VE NEVER WANTED TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.
I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF PRIVILEGE.
I WAS BORN IN A NICE MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GRADUATE COLLEGE WITHOUT DEBT.
I PUT MONEY IN MY ACCOUNT EVERY MONTH, AND I EVEN BENEFIT FROM DALLAS ISD'S T.I.
INITIATIVE. I'M DOING PRETTY FINE, BUT AFTER RENTING APARTMENTS FOR 12 YEARS, I DID GET MARRIED THREE YEARS AGO IN 2021, ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO, AND IT BECAME TIME TO LAY DOWN ROOTS WITH MY FAMILY.
WE SET A REALISTIC BUDGET BASED ON MY TEACHERS SALARY, GOOD CREDIT, AND NO DEBT.
THE HOUSES JUST WERE NOT THERE.
IF PUBLIC SERVANTS LIKE ME, WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN DALLAS FOR 15 YEARS AND LOVE IT, CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO DO SO, WE'LL MOVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AND WORK FOR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
WHAT WILL THAT SAY ABOUT OUR CITY? THANK YOU, THANK YOU, WARREN MELTON.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE PARKS AND TRAILS BOND PACKAGE, THE MOBILITY ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE PART OF THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CONNECTS US NOT JUST TO OUR PARKS, BUT TO ALL OUR DAILY LIVES, OUR OTHER DESTINATIONS.
I SENT YOU A DEEPER HISTORY ABOUT HOW PARKS AND TRAILS BENEFIT DALLAS CITIZENS.
I WON'T REPEAT THAT HERE, BUT YEARS AGO, DR.
[02:15:04]
KENNETH COOPER HANDED ME A BOOK HE HAD JUST PUBLISHED CALLED AEROBICS, AND IT WAS THROUGH THAT RELATIONSHIP OF LEARNING ABOUT HIS BOOK AND HELPING PEOPLE GET THEIR EXERCISE EQUIPMENT.AS I WAS A BICYCLE DEALER AT THE TIME AND SOLD FITNESS EQUIPMENT, AND TEN YEARS, 15 YEARS LATER, I HELPED HIM TO ORGANIZE THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME INCLUDED PLANNING PROFESSIONALS, URBAN PLANNERS.
DR. REID EWING WAS ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS AS WELL.
AND IN THAT, THERE WAS A REVELATION THAT CAME OUT OF THAT CONFERENCE THAT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT COACHING AND GYMS AND PRESCRIPTION WORKOUTS WERE NOT NEARLY AS EFFECTIVE AS BEING ABLE TO INCORPORATE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTO OUR DAILY LIVES.
DURING MY BIKE COMMUTE TODAY, I PASSED MANY STUDENTS PEOPLE UNABLE OR CHOOSING NOT TO BE DRIVING, BUT SEEMED HEALTHY, HAVING HEALTHY, HEART POUNDING EXPERIENCES FOR EVERYONE I ENCOUNTERED.
THESE PEOPLE ARE MORE PRODUCTIVE.
FEWER SICK DAYS CONTRIBUTE TO CLEANER AIR AND LESS TRAFFIC CONGESTION FOR THOSE WHO DO DRIVE.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE PROPOSED $350 MILLION PARKS BONDS.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE TWO ROWS IN THE CENTER SECTION.
BENNY WALKER, RUDY KARIMI, VERDI TAYLOR, DAVID MARQUIS, BYRON SANDERS, MYRON YOUNG, CHERYL WALKER, RAMIRO LUNA, AND MOLLY DEVINE.
BENNY WALKER. YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM.
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE 10TH STREET RESIDENT ASSOCIATION.
AND MY DEAL TODAY IS WE ARE LOSING OUR COMMUNITY AS A HISTORICAL LANDMARK.
TODAY WE HAVE A HOUSE ON BEDDINGTON CIRCLE.
IT'S GETTING READY TO BE DEMOED.
AND WE JUST GOT TWO PEOPLE BACK INTO THE LAND COMMISSION.
THAT WAS A PART OF THE FIRST OF GETTING RID OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DEMOS.
SO WE FOUGHT FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS WITH THE FIGHT TO SAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN ASK THE COUNCIL HERE TO DO TODAY IS MR..
SO FOR THE CHAMBER HERE AT DOWNTOWN DALLAS NEW WORLD CITY, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT EVERYBODY THAT COMES HERE AND SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS AND YOU CAN TAKE A VOTE ON THIS CAN BE MR. AND MRS. WALKER TO GIVE US SOME KIND OF RESPECT, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE RESPECT THAT WE ARE REALLY FIGHTING FOR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE, IS TO JUST TO SEE IF WE CAN DO 24 IF THE MAYOR CAN CHANGE, I THINK THE HORSESHOE CAN CHANGE AND GIVE THESE PEOPLE THAT GOT PROBLEMS THE RESPECT OF SAYING, YES, MA'AM, NO MA'AM TO THESE NAMES.
AND Y'ALL HAVE A BLESSED DAY AT THE HORSESHOE.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS RUDY KARIMI 60.
214 GOLIAD COUNCIL, DISTRICT 14.
DID YOU KNOW WITH A FEW OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS? PLAYGROUNDS. THERE ARE 30 NEW PLAYGROUNDS RECOMMENDED IN THIS BOND.
DID YOU KNOW THIS IS THE SINGLE LARGEST REQUEST FOR NEW PLAYGROUNDS OUT OF ANY BOND IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY? DID YOU KNOW THAT PLAYGROUNDS ARE OFTENTIMES THE SINGLE MOST UTILIZED AMENITY IN OUR PARKS? DID YOU KNOW THAT THESE 30 PLAYGROUNDS WERE SELECTED EXCLUSIVELY FROM A LIST OF PLAYGROUNDS THAT HAVE AGED OUT OR PLAGUED WITH MAINTENANCE ISSUES DUE TO OVERUSE? DID YOU KNOW LARGE, UNIQUE REPLACEMENT PARTS SUCH AS SLIDES, CAN TAKE 16 MONTHS FOR DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION? REC CENTERS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL RECOMMENDED FOR REPLACEMENT, EXPANSION, AND RENOVATION.
DID YOU KNOW REC CENTERS AREN'T JUST BASKETBALL COURTS AND WORKOUT ROOMS ANYMORE? NOWADAYS, THEY INCLUDE SEPARATE SENIOR CENTERS WITH DEDICATED SENIOR PROGRAMING, COMMERCIAL GRADE KITCHEN FOR CULINARY ARTS AND AUDIO VIDEO, AND TECH ROOMS FOR TEENS WHO
[02:20:05]
JUST WANT TO CREATE CONTENT, MIX MUSIC OR LEARN HOW TO CODE.DID YOU KNOW OUR CITY WOULDN'T BE WHAT IT IS TODAY WITHOUT THE DALLAS ZOO, THE ARBORETUM, KLYDE, WARREN PARK, THE KATY TRAIL, OR THE TURTLE CREEK? DID YOU KNOW THESE PARTNERS CONTRIBUTE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THESE SPACES AND WE CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT THEM? AND LASTLY, SKATE PARKS.
THERE IS $2.5 MILLION RECOMMENDED FOR THREE SKATE PARKS IN THIS BOND.
DID YOU KNOW SKATE PARKS PROVIDE RECREATION TO MORE THAN JUST SKATEBOARDERS? DID YOU KNOW THEY PROVIDE RECREATION TO ROLLERBLADERS ROLLER SKATERS, SCOOTER RIDERS, AND BMX BIKERS? DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE MORE ROLLERBLADERS ROLLER SKATERS, SCOOTER RIDERS, BMX BIKERS AND SKATEBOARDERS IN THE US THAN THERE ARE BASEBALL PLAYERS OR SOCCER PLAYERS? DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUNG SKATERS AND SCOOTER RIDERS ARE JUST THE CUTEST LITTLE THINGS IN THE WORLD? DID YOU KNOW THERE IS NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF? AND FINALLY, DID YOU KNOW THAT SKATEBOARDING IS NOT A CRIME? THANK YOU, THANK YOU, VERDIE TAYLOR.
HELLO. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND MY MOTHER.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR BY THE ZOO.
I'M TRYING TO GET HELP FOR MY HOUSE WITH THE WINTERIZATION PROGRAM.
SO NOW THAT MY MOTHER IS WITH ME AND I WANT HER TO STAY WITH ME, I'M HERE TODAY TO REACH OUT FOR ACTUALLY JUST HELP ON GETTING HELP WITH MY HOUSE. I HAVE TO PARK ON THE STREET BECAUSE I CAN'T GET UP IN THE HOUSE IN MY DRIVEWAY.
MY CAR WAS BROKEN INTO TWO WEEKS AGO ALONG WITH OTHER HOUSES OTHER CARS ON THE STREET.
SO RIGHT NOW ALL I NEED IS JUST ADEQUATE HELP OR INFORMATION THAT IS RIGHT.
SO I KNOW WHICH DIRECTION TO GO TO TO GET HELP FROM MY MOTHER AND MYSELF.
SHE SAVED OURSELVES FOR 54 YEARS, AND SHE'S WITH ME NOW.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE HER COMFORTABLE AND I WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE.
BUT IF THE INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE IS NOT RIGHT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
SHE'S OKAY, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
I'M JUST HERE OUT OF DESPERATION RIGHT NOW.
EXCUSE ME. MADAM SECRETARY, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE MRS. VERDI. TAYLOR, WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST MOVE TO THE SIDE? SO, STAFF. EXCUSE ME.
SO STAFF CAN CAN ADDRESS YOUR YOUR CONCERN.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, DAVID MARQUIS.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DAVID MARQUIS, 3110 WEST KEITH BOULEVARD IN OAK CLIFF, TEXAS.
AND THEY DID APPROVE THAT IN DECEMBER OF 1999, 24 YEARS AGO TODAY, RIGHT NOW APPROVED A PACKAGE OF 250 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, 120 ACRES OF TREES WITH EIGHT MILES OF HIKING BIKE TRAILS, A NEW SCHOOL AND A NEW LIBRARY ALL IN ONE PACKAGE.
IT CREATED THE OAK CLIFF NATURE PRESERVE.
THE NEW LAW LIBRARY, JIMMY TOWER, BRASHEAR SCHOOL, AND 250 UNITS OF HOUSING.
THEY SUPPORTED 250 UNITS OF HOUSING, STATE MONEY TO SUPPORT THAT HOUSING.
SO LET'S REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE NOT EITHER OR ISSUES.
[02:25:03]
NOW. SO IF WE LOOK AT PARKS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKS, WE SEE THEY BRING TO US THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OTHER MONEY FROM PRIVATE, STATE, CITY AND FEDERAL SOURCES.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AND I DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR PARKS PROPOSITION BECAUSE IT WILL TURN THE KEY TO LEAD US TO OTHER DOLLARS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
BUT I'M COMING TO YOU ON BEHALF OF MY PEOPLE.
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF BIG THOUGHT.
WE DO A LOT OF WORK WITH YOUTH IN EDUCATION ALL OVER THE CITY.
I'M COMING TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THESE WORKERS, THESE EDUCATORS.
TO THE LIFER, THE SEASONED VET WHO HAS WORKED WITH YOUTH IN THE JUVENILE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY KNOW WELL THE DARKNESS OF THEIR OWN TRAUMA AND THE LIGHT THAT A CARING AND SKILLED HAND CAN BRING.
AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING.
WHERE DO THEY LIVE? WHAT'S SAD IS THAT YOU ALL HAVE HEARD A LOT OF DIFFERENT STATISTICS.
THE FIRST EXERCISE IN FREEDOM FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
DURING THE CIVIL WAR, NOT AFTER.
AND THESE BLACK PEOPLE ON THIS ISLAND, THESE FORMER ENSLAVED FOLKS HAD THEIR FIRST EXERCISE AT FREEDOM WHEN THEY WERE GIVEN AND GRANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN LAND AND OWN A HOUSE.
THOSE HOMES STILL EXIST IN THOSE FAMILIES TODAY.
AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LEGACY.
PEOPLE TODAY DESERVE THAT EXACT SAME OPPORTUNITY.
I'M ALSO ADVOCATING FOR THE $59 MILLION.
THAT'S YOUR TIME FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AS WELL.
MYRON YOUNG FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
I JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT MY EXPERIENCE DALLAS IS A VERY HIGH CRIME CITY, NO MATTER WHAT THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT SAY.
BUT ONE OF THE MOST INSULTING THINGS THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED IS TO KNOW THAT THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMITS CRIME LIKE ANY OTHER CRIMINAL.
AND WHEN I SAY THAT SOMETHING ELSE THAT BOTHERS ME WHEN I GO TO OPEN RECORDS, TO GET INFO, TO PROVIDE WHO'S COMMITTING THE CRIME, THEY DON'T HAVE IT.
AND AND FOR SOME REASON, THEY COVER FOR PEOPLE THAT COMMIT CRIMES.
THAT'S ON THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S SUCH AN INSULT BECAUSE SOMEONE SAID TO ME WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO GET PICKED FOR A JURY, THAT A POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE INTEGRITY.
THEY DON'T HAVE INTEGRITY, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE INTEGRITY.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHERYL WALKER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR FOREST FORD, OPERATING THE HISTORIC FOREST THEATER.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU IN JOINING US IN BRINGING THE FOREST THEATER BACK TO LIFE, WE NEED $6.5 MILLION IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN SOUTH DALLAS TO BRING THE FOREST THEATER BACK.
THE FOREST THEATER PROJECT IN SOUTH DALLAS HAS ALREADY RAISED $45 MILLION BECAUSE OF THE HISTORIC
[02:30:10]
NEGLECT OF SOUTH DALLAS.THESE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS WILL REPLACE CLAY PIPES AND BROKEN ASPHALT ADJACENT TO THE STREETS.
THESE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS WILL MAKE IT SAFER FOR THE MLK STUDENTS AT THE MLK ARTS ACADEMY, AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO ACCESS THE THEATER FOR CLASSES, ACTIVITIES, AND EVENTS.
THESE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS WILL RESULT IN 13,000 1300 JOBS AND $10 MILLION IN ANNUAL SPENDING AT THE SURROUNDING THEATER AND BUSINESSES.
WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING THE CITY TO MATCH THIS GENEROSITY TO FUND THE 6.5 MILLION OF IMPROVEMENTS.
SO. SO WE DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THE FOREST THEATER BACK TO LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
LUNA. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBER. MY NAME IS RAMIRO LUNA, 2206 MELBOURNE AVENUE, OAK CLIFF, TEXAS.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF SOMOS TEXAS, AN ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON BRIDGING CIVICS, CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER. WE SPEND THE BETTER PART OF THE YEAR ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITIES AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THEIR GREATEST NEEDS ARE.
OVERWHELMINGLY, THAT GREATEST NEED IS HOUSING SECURITY, AND THESE ARE BY WAY OF ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT IS THE ECONOMIC BACKBONE OF OUR CITY THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, THE WORKFORCE THAT HELPED PROPEL OUR CITY DURING THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES OF COVID AND THE QUARANTINE.
THE SAME TYPE OF SUPPORT THAT THEY DID FOR US WHENEVER WE NEEDED IT THE MOST.
THE SAD THING ABOUT IT IS THAT MANY OF THESE WORKERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HAVING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PAY MORTGAGE OR TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLES, AND THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING ABLE TO BRING FOOD TO YOUR TABLE.
I THINK WHENEVER WE THINK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT NEED SUPPORT, WE MUST REALIZE THAT WHO'S GOING TO BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PARKS AND THE ARTS? IF YOU'RE PUSHING OUR COMMUNITY OUT, OUR WORKERS, OUR WORKFORCE.
THEY NEED TO HAVE SUSTAINABILITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THAT'S WHY I STAND WITH THE $200 MILLION ALLOCATION FOR HOUSING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND I YIELD MY TIME.
GOOD MORNING. I'M MOLLY DEVINE, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 14.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THIS PROPOSED PROJECT HAS THREE STRIKES.
AND I'M ASKING YOU AS A DISTRICT 14 CONSTITUENT TO CALL IT OUT.
THIS PROJECT WAS NOT COMMUNITY DRIVEN.
THE ROOTS OF THIS PROJECT STEMMED FROM A THIRD PARTY SKATE PARK ADVOCACY GROUP.
DISTRICT 14 DID NOT ASK FOR THIS.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO STRIKE TWO.
THIS PROJECT IS NOT COMMUNITY SUPPORTED.
80% OF RESIDENTS IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS OF GLENCOE DO NOT SUPPORT A SKATE PARK, AND HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS FROM ACROSS DALLAS HAVE SIGNED A PETITION IN OPPOSITION.
THE BULK OF SUPPORT FOR THIS IS FROM OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT 14.
AND WHILE YES, PARKS ARE FOR EVERYONE, THIS NUANCE MATTERS BECAUSE OF STRIKE THREE.
GLENCOE PARK IS CLASSIFIED BY DALLAS PARKS AND REC AS A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, WHICH, PER THE DALLAS PARKS AND REC WEBSITE, INDICATES THAT GLENCOE PARK IS INTENDED FOR USE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN A QUARTER TO HALF A MILE AWAY FROM THE PARK.
[02:35:01]
IT SUGGESTED THIS LOCATION IS IDEAL FOR A SKATE PARK BECAUSE IT WILL ATTRACT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER DALLAS AND THE METROPLEX.BASED ON WHAT IS AVAILABLE ON THE DALLAS PARKS AND REC WEBSITE, A METROPOLITAN PARK IS MORE SUITABLE FOR A SKATE PARK, AS IT IS INTENDED TO SERVE MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES.
I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO STRIKE OUT A SKATE PARK AT GLENCOE.
NORA SOTO, STEPHANIE HUDIBURG, EBONY BROCK, DEIDRE WADSWORTH CHELSEA KNOX IS VIRTUAL AND JOSH RUDD IS VIRTUAL. ELLEN TAFT, JULIE FEINMAN, ALEXANDRA BROOKS, AND KENDALL RICHARDSON.
NORA SOTO YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR, BUT I WAS RAISED IN DISTRICT SIX, IN THE WEBB CHAPEL NEIGHBORHOOD.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS BY DESIGN.
THEY ONLY WANT THE OPTICS OF BEING AN OPEN AND FAIR DECISION MAKING BODY.
THE BIGGEST ISSUE HERE TODAY IS THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE AMOUNT THAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED IS HONESTLY LAUGHABLE.
IT SHOULD NOT ONLY BE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT ALSO WE SHOULD BE MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THIS MONEY IS USED TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY THE HIGHEST BIDDER, IT IS ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE.
MAKING SURE THAT EVERY PERSON IN THE CITY IS HOUSED SHOULD NOT BE A CONTROVERSIAL OPINION.
I'M ALSO HERE AS AN ARTIST AND AN ADVOCATE FOR ART ACCESSIBILITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I, ALONG WITH THE WORKING COMMITTEE FOR THE WEBB CHAPEL COMMUNITY ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER, HAVE SUBMITTED A VERY DETAILED PROPOSAL NOT ONLY DIRECTLY TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SIX, BUT TO THE BOND TASK FORCE AS WELL.
THE PROPOSAL IS A MEASLY 1.5 MILLION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BOND FOR SITE ACQUISITIONS, SITE PREPARATION AND PLANNING FOR OUR PROPOSED WEBB CHAPEL COMMUNITY ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER.
WE'VE DONE ALL THE WORK FOR YOU.
WE DID THE LOGISTICS, THE MONEY, THE DEMOGRAPHICS.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS DO THE RIGHT THING AND PUT IT IN THE BOND.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE KELLER HEDBERG.
I AM A RESIDENT OF D-14 AND I AM ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEEP ELM FOUNDATION.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.
DEEP ELM, AS I HOPE YOU ALL KNOW, IS THE MOST WALKABLE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD IN DALLAS.
IN THIS BOND, WE REQUEST STREETS INVESTMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT ON THE PART ON THE STREETS PACKAGE.
I'M ALSO HERE IN SUPPORT OF OUR PARKS AND PARTICULARLY OUR TRAILS.
THE DEEP ELM FOUNDATION SUPPORTS OUR NEIGHBORING SANTA FE TRAIL BOND REQUEST, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE THAT DEEP ELM IS PART OF A FORTHCOMING DALLAS CULTURAL TRAIL PROJECT, WHICH IS A COLLABORATION OF AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS, FROM THE ARTS DISTRICT TO FAIR PARK AND THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, WHICH HAS ALREADY INVESTED IN THIS PROJECT. THE DALLAS CULTURAL TRAIL WILL CONNECT THE THREE STATE RECOGNIZED CULTURAL DISTRICTS FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHICH IS DEEP ELLUM, FAIR PARK AND THE ARTS DISTRICT.
[02:40:02]
IT WILL SERVE AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR DALLAS, INCLUDING STUDENTS, AND ACTIVATE GATHERING GROUNDS FOR CULTURAL ACTIVITY IN OUR CITY.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, EBONY BROCK.
I AM ALSO A PROUD RESIDENT OF MY JUNIUS HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
MEDALON, KATIE. CITIES CREATE CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS FOR MANY NONHUMAN SPECIES, AND THE PRESENCE OF NON HUMANS IN CITIES INFLUENCES THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE HUMANS WITH WHOM THEY SHARE THE ENVIRONMENT.
SYSTEMATIC RACIST PRACTICES, SUCH AS PAST RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION AND ACTING IN PART THROUGH REDLINING, HAVE LED TO AN UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF NATURE WITHIN THE CITIES. THESE INEQUITIES CONTINUE TO PLAY OUT IN BOTH THE ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF THE CITIES AND THE WELFARE OF THEIR RESIDENTS.
OFTEN, THE INTERESTS OF OTHER LIVING SPECIES AND MARGINALIZED HUMANS ALIGN.
IT IS VERY MUCH A COLONIAL PERSPECTIVE TO THINK ABOUT HUMANS AND WILDLIFE AS SEPARATE.
WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT HUMANS AND WILDLIFE TOGETHER IN THE LANDSCAPE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, CEMETERIES LIKE URBAN PUBLIC PARKS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM BY PROVIDING SEMI-NATURAL HABITATS FOR MANY, OFTENTIMES ENDANGERED, PLANTS AND ANIMAL SPECIES, AS WELL AS A WIDE RANGE OF ECOSYSTEMS, THEY CAN NOT ONLY IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND REDUCE THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND INDEX PHENOMENON, BUT ALSO PROVIDE ESTHETIC AND RECREATIONAL VALUE TO THESE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
CEMETERY WILDLIFE, PLANTS AND SANCTUARIES WILL NOT ONLY STRENGTHEN THESE LOCAL ECONOMIES, ECONOMIES AND REVERSE NATURE DISORDER, BUT ALSO CONNECT THE PAST AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WHILE CREATING NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE.
PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US IN MAKING HISTORY.
I ALSO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DEIRDRE WADSWORTH AND I'M FROM DISTRICT 12.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED SO FAR, AND I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I DO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE DO THAT.
WHAT IS PARAMOUNT? WHAT IS CRUCIAL? FOR THIS COUNCIL.
OUR MAYOR, OUR CITY MANAGER, TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE TOP PRIORITY IN OUR CITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
FUNDING OUR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS PENSION FUND HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.
WE'VE BEEN KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND OUR INTEREST DEBT IS GROWING.
AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD, I KNOW THAT THE PENSION FUND IS A RECRUITMENT ISSUE AND A RETENTION ISSUE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE IS NO OTHER FUNDING SOURCES FOR THAT PENSION FUND OTHER THAN YOU.
EACH ONE OF YOU ELECTED TO DO YOUR DUTY.
SO PLEASE STOP KICKING THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT HOW YOU'RE SPENDING AND BORROWING MONEY.
USE THE CREDIT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS TO ITS FULL BENEFIT TO ADDRESS THESE UNMET NEEDS.
I URGE YOU TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
HOW? WE FUND THE POLICE PENSION PLAN.
I'M IN DISTRICT. I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
MAYOR JOHNSON, YOU RECENTLY PRAISED ACQUISITION OF THE 282 ACRES OF PARKLAND IN THE VERY SOUTHWEST CORNER OF DALLAS, BUT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE MONEY TO PROTECT THESE ACRES OF TREES.
[02:45:06]
AND THE ONLY REAL HILLS IN DALLAS.FOR YEARS, TRESPASSERS ON FOUR WHEELERS AND TRUCKS HAVE DAMAGED THIS LAND BY CUTTING DOWN TREES AND CAUSING EXTENSIVE EROSION DAMAGE AND DUMPING VAST QUANTITIES OF USED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS ALL OVER THE ACRES.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF WHY WE NEED YOU TO APPROVE THE BOND MONEY FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, OR THESE TREES AND HILLS WON'T BE HERE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. AND WE WON'T ENTICE VISITORS TO DALLAS.
JULIE FEYNMAN IS NOT PRESENT ALEXANDRA BROOKS.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED MY WHOLE LIFE IN THIS CITY, AND AFTER GRADUATING COLLEGE EARLIER THIS YEAR, I MOVED BACK TO DALLAS WITH THE HOPE OF SETTING DOWN LONG TERM ROOTS AND EVENTUALLY BUYING A HOUSE.
I IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO TO ALLOCATE AT LEAST $200 MILLION TOWARDS HOUSING IN THIS UPCOMING BOND.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KENDALL RICHARDSON.
NATE. HEMBY. AND AUGUSTIN ORTEGA.
JOE HARGIS. YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM.
OKAY. JOE HARGIS IS NOT PRESENT, VALERIE BALLARD.
GREETINGS. I'M VALERIE BALLARD.
I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR HALF A CENTURY IN THE POLK TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR $200 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
$200 MILLION IS WHAT WE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M HERE ASKING YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY OF VETERANS.
I'M GOING TO SHARE EMAIL WITH YOU THAT I GOT FROM MRS. CARR. SHE WROTE, I AM A DISABLED VETERAN, 73 YEARS OLD, DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL ASSIST ME IN MAKING REPAIRS TO MY HOME SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO LOSE IT.
I HAVE NO COMPUTER, I CAN'T TEXT.
MY MONTHLY WATER BILL IS $600.
I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY MY WATER BILL AND PAY MY HOUSE NOTE.
SHE HAD TO SELL HER HOUSE TO AN OUT OF STATE DEVELOPER TODAY.
SHE COULDN'T BE HERE BECAUSE SHE IS MOVING OUT OF HER HOME, WITH WHICH SHE STAYED FOR 15 YEARS.
I SAY TO YOU, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DESERVE TO HAVE HOUSING FOR EVERYBODY, VETERANS AND EVERYBODY.
THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO SLEEP UNDER OUR BRIDGES AND ON OUR STREETS.
I URGE YOU TO GIVE US $200 MILLION SO THAT WE CAN HOUSE EVERYBODY IN DALLAS.
[02:50:05]
THANK YOU. SARAH.ELIAS. SARA ELIAS IS NOT PRESENT.
HELLO, I'M MINISTER DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER, PRESIDENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION ACTION NETWORK.
2512 EAST OVERTON ROAD, DALLAS, TEXAS.
I'M GOING TO START OFF LIKE WE START IN THE CHURCH.
AND I WILL SAY, IN THIS CASE, TO THE MAYOR AND HIS REPEATED ABSENCE, IT'S A CONTINUATION OF THE MAYOR TO START STUFFING THE MEDIA AND THEN HIDE HIMSELF LATER ON.
AND A CRITICAL ISSUE, A CRITICAL CONVERSATION, BECAUSE EVERYBODY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ALONG WITH THE NEWS MEDIA, KNEW THAT CONSTITUENTS WERE GOING TO BE HERE TALKING ABOUT A CRITICAL NEED THAT WE NEED IN THIS CITY.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN NONPROFIT.
WE KNOW THAT OUR PARKS AND OUR NEEDS AND OUR PARKS CAN BE RAISED BY PHILANTHROPY.
HELL, THEY JUST ANNOUNCED A $300 MILLION PARK JUST THE OTHER DAY.
WHO ARE WE PUTTING FIRST? WE'RE PUTTING GENTRIFICATION FIRST WHEN WE SAY, OH, WE'RE GOING TO FUND PARKS OVER HUMANS, WHEN WE'RE GOING TO FUND PARKS OVER CRITICAL NEEDS.
AND YET, IN THE SAME SENTENCE, SAY THAT WE HAVE A HOMELESS ISSUE, BUT YET WE'RE GOING TO FUND PARKS.
BUT I WANT TO SAY THIS REAL QUICK IN THE LAST THINGS, FOR SO MANY PEOPLE THAT SAY I SUPPORT POLICE AND SUPPORT AND ALL THIS TYPE OF STUFF, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSES FOR? WHEN YOU SAY, I'M GOING TO BUILD PARKS, YOU TELL THAT OFFICER AND THAT ONE DAY WITH THOSE BADGES, IT'S OKAY, YOU CAN SLEEP IN THE PARK.
FOLDABLE HOUSES IS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR YOU.
AFFORDABLE HOUSES IS THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE AND PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DENYING RIGHT NOW.
THOSE PEOPLE THAT CRITICALLY COME BEFORE YOU SAYING, HEY, CAN I GET A RAISE? THAT'S WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS.
SO LOOK AT THAT AND REFLECT ON IT WHEN YOU VOTE ON IT.
THIS MORNING. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES HERE IN OUR CITY.
I'VE LIVED IN DALLAS MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I'M A SON OF IMMIGRANTS, AND I HAD TO SEE MY DAD AND MY MOM WORK VERY HARD.
BUT THANKFULLY, THANKFULLY, IT WAS REALLY MY DAD THAT WAS WORKING.
MOST OF THE TIME. HE WAS OUT OF THE HOUSE AND IT WAS MY MOM THAT WAS ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF ME.
SINGLE FAMILY, SINGLE PARENT HOMES.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT MORE UBIQUITOUS NOW.
AND WITH THAT MUCH BEING SAID, A SINGLE INCOME USED TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR RENT.
DO YOU THINK IT CAN DO THAT NOW? ALL OF THESE KIDS WHO LOSE BOTH OF THEIR PARENTS, YOU KNOW, DURING THE DAY OR SOMETIMES EVEN IN THE AFTERNOON BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING LATE JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE PAYMENT.
IT'S NOT JUST AFFECTING THE WORKING ADULTS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THOSE PAYMENTS.
IT'S AFFECTING THE FUTURE OF DALLAS, IS IT NOT? IF WE CAN'T FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT TRULY MATTER.
BUT NONE OF THAT HAS ANY SORT OF VALUE WHEN PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE, RIGHT? THREE MINUTES IS REALLY NOT ENOUGH TO EXPRESS MY PASSION FOR THE SUBJECT, BUT I THINK YOU GUYS ALL CAN KIND OF HEAR, YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO ME.
AND I'M CERTAIN YOU ALL HAVE HEARD HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO EVERYBODY HERE.
SO WITH THAT MUCH BEING SAID, PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
200 MILLION SHOULD BE THE BARE MINIMUM.
I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN DALLAS DISTRICT NINE AND I AM A MEDICAL STUDENT.
LIKE MANY OF OUR PASSIONATE SPEAKERS HERE, I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF INCREASING FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE GREEN HOUSING, WHICH IS A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE OF OUR TIME AS A FUTURE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
[02:55:02]
WHAT IS SUBSTANDARD HOUSING MEAN, ESPECIALLY IN A CLIMATE CRISIS? IT MEANS EVERY SEASON CHANGE BRINGS SCORCHING HEAT WAVES TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES, WHICH ALL BECOME A TEST FOR SURVIVAL.BROKEN VENTILATORS, CROWDED CONDITIONS, WATER LEAKS.
THESE CREATE A PETRI DISH FOR DISEASE.
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THIS.
I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT WE LACK THE FUNDING FOR HOUSING HERE FOR DALLAS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT YET WE DO HAVE MILLIONS IN TAX DOLLARS TO FUND THE CONTINUED DISPLACEMENT AND HOUSING DESTRUCTION OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE VIA MILITARY AID.
CALEB ROBERTS, IT'S NOT PRESENT.
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR ADDRESSING YOU, FOR LETTING ME ADDRESSING YOU.
I AM AGUSTIN ARTEAGA, THE EUGENE MCDERMOTT DIRECTOR AT THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART.
WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS ARTS ECOSYSTEM.
THE DMA IS ONE OF THE LARGEST MUSEUMS IN THE COUNTRY, AND ONE OF THE GREATEST ASSETS OF OUR CITY, WITH A COLLECTION OF OVER 25,000 OBJECTS REPRESENTING CULTURES BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AND WHERE ALL CITIZENS FROM DALLAS CAN SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED.
WE HAVE FREE ADMISSION AND WELCOME OVER 600,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS A YEAR, BECAUSE ACCESS FOR ALL, FOR ALL IS A PRIORITY. IN 1984, THE DMA WAS THE FIRST BUILDING ON WHAT IS NOW THE BOOMING ART DISTRICT.
AND WE WERE PART OF THE TRANSFORMATION AND OF WHAT IS THE DOWNTOWN TODAY.
BUT 40 YEARS LATER, THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART, A CITY OWNED FACILITY, IS IN DESPERATE NEED TO REPAIR.
WE JOIN OUR PARTNERS IN SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDED $59 MILLION FOR THE ARTS FACILITIES, WHILE RESPECTFULLY ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER ADDITIONAL 5 MILLION FOR THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART.
THIS WILL ADDRESS OUR MOST URGENT NEEDS, INCLUDING HVAC, FIRE CONTROL, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
WITH THIS CAMPAIGN, WE WILL MATCH WITH PRIVATE MONEY THE REQUEST BOND FUNDS 9 TO 1 WITH.
THANKS. MR. MAYOR. IT'S 12:00.
WE'RE GOING TO BREAK FOR LUNCH AND RETURN BY 1:00.
AND WHO IS OUR FAMOUS LEADER, SINGER ALAN BALLADEER.
WHAT IS THAT, CHAIRMAN BASS? HAND IT OVER.
HE TOOK IT OVER. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
IT IS NOW 1205 ON DECEMBER 6TH, 2023.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 551 .071, THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER DESCRIBED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.[03:00:05]
CAMERON VERSUS DUPONT AND COMPANY, INC A E P INC ET AL.AND DALLAS SHORT TERM RENTAL ALLIANCE AND SAMUEL ALPHA, VERA ELKIN DANIELS, LIZ LINDEN LINDSAY AND DENNIS LOWRY VERSUS CITADEL AND UNDER SECTION 551074 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER DESCRIBED ON TODAY AGENDA CONSIDERING RACIAL APPOINTMENT TO BOARD AND COMMISSION CHRISTOPHER KEITH WILLIAMS, BUILDING INSPECTOR.
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HAS COMPLETED ITS CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 551 .0715510.074, THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT AT 125 ON DECEMBER 26TH.
WE HAVE RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION.
[Open Microphone Speakers (Part 2 of 2)]
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.WE WILL RESUME WITH YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.
NORTON, ERIC HALL, AND MIRIAM SHARMA.
JEFF. RAIN, YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM.
WE'VE BEEN THE ANCHOR TENANT AND THE PRIMARY OCCUPANT OF THE KALITA HUMPHREYS THEATER SINCE 2010, AND HAVE PRODUCED OVER 65 PLAYS AND MUSICALS IN THIS HISTORIC VENUE OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS, ALLOWING US TO GROW INTO ONE OF THE LARGEST LGBTQ PLUS FOCUSED THEATERS IN THE NATION.
LISTENING TO ALL THE SPEAKERS BEFORE ME TODAY MAKE A GREAT, STRONG CASE FOR EACH OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE BOND PROPOSAL, BUT THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE $59 MILLION RECOMMENDATION FOR A DEFERRED MAINTENANCE TO MANY OF THE CITY'S EXISTING CULTURAL FACILITIES, AND TO CONSIDER AN ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION FOR THE DMA. THIS EQUATES TO JUST 6% OF THE TOTAL BOND PROGRAM.
NONE OF THESE FUNDS ARE DESIGNATED FOR SHINY NEW PROJECTS.
THE KALITA IS NOT THE CROWN JEWEL THAT THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK SHOULD BE.
WHILE THERE ARE MANY AREAS WITH DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, I'LL HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW OF THEM FOR YOU.
BECAUSE THE EQUIPMENT INSIDE THE BUILDING NO LONGER WORKS.
MANY OF THE INTERIOR WALLS HAVE PLASTER CRUMBLING OUT OF BIG HOLES IN THE WALLS.
BECAUSE OF ALL THE WATER THAT HAS LEAKED INTO THE BUILDING, THE THEATER IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF ADA UPGRADES TO ENSURE THE FACILITY IS ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE WHO MAY BE MOBILITY CHALLENGED. THERE IS ONE SINGLE UNVENTILATED RESTROOM ON THE LOBBY LEVEL THAT IS ADA ACCESSIBLE.
I'M LILY WEISS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT IN DISTRICT 14.
THE ARTS DISTRICT IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTING TOP TIER BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS INSTITUTIONS, FAITH COMMUNITIES SUCH AS THE NEWLY DESIGNATED NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE AND HUNDREDS OF DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS.
16 ARTS DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONS GENERATED NEARLY $341 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT AND $62 MILLION IN TOTAL TAX REVENUE JUST LAST YEAR.
WE WANT FAMILIES TO VISIT KLYDE WARREN PARK, HAVE LUNCH AT THE FOOD AT A FOOD TRUCK, AND WALK SAFELY TO THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART OR ANNETTE STRAUSS SQUARE FOR THE AFTERNOON. BUT THE SIDEWALK ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF PEARL, FROM KLYDE WARREN PARK TO THE ARTS HEART OF THE ARTS DISTRICT IS IMPASSABLE FOR STROLLERS AND WHEELCHAIRS ALIKE.
[03:05:03]
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST 1.5 MILLION IN CITYWIDE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS TO REPAIR OUR MOST CRITICAL SIDEWALKS THROUGHOUT THE ARTS DISTRICT.IF BOND FUNDS AREN'T AVAILABLE, PLEASE CONSIDER OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS, SUCH AS FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS OR THE RECENT DART REFUND TO SUPPORT THIS CRITICAL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE.
ON BEHALF OF THE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, I AM IN STRONG SUPPORT OF OUR CONTINUED REQUEST OF 6% OF THE PROPOSED BOND FUNDS TO RESTORE AND MAINTAIN DALLAS'S CULTURAL FACILITIES, THE SAME NATIONAL STUDY SHOWS THE ARTS IN DALLAS YIELDING $854 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT AND GENERATING $169 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE ARTS AND FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE.
I WAS GOING TO SAY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
I'M HERE SPECIFICALLY AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE DALLAS ZOO, ALONG WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO WERE HERE AND ARE HERE STILL JOAN WONG, JENNIFER GATES, CW WHITAKER, LOIS FINKELMAN, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF FULL FUNDING OF THE DALLAS ZOO AND THE BOND REQUEST.
YOU'VE RECEIVED A PACKAGE AND A LETTER FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR.
I WANT YOU WANT TO TELL YOU SPECIFICALLY WHY THIS AMOUNT IS IMPERATIVE.
SINCE 2017, THE ZOO HAS BEEN WORKING ON A NEW MASTER PLAN.
THIS COUNCIL PASSED THAT MASTER PLAN IN 2019.
THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE CAME TO AND THAT WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING, WHICH WAS MARKED AS A TOP PRIORITY FOR BOTH THE PARK BOARD AND THE CITIZENS BOND TASK FORCE, WAS NOT PULLED OUT OF THIN AIR. THERE WERE PEOPLE EARLY ON THAT SAID, LET'S ASK FOR A BIG NUMBER, BECAUSE WHEN WE COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, THEY'RE GOING TO CUT IT.
AND SO IF WE ASK FOR A BIG NUMBER, THEN WE'LL GET THE ACTUAL AMOUNT WE WANT.
WE DID NOT DO THAT, I CAN TELL YOU.
WE HAVE GRANTS WE HAVE WE HAVE.
SERIOUS DOLLARS THAT ARE TIED TO THIS FULLY FUNDING OF THE PROJECT.
IT'S AN OVERALL $100 MILLION PROJECT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE $70 MILLION OF PHILANTHROPY INVOLVED.
THE ZOO HAS BEEN THERE FOR 135 YEARS.
IT IS NO LONGER BRIGHT AND IT IS NO LONGER SHINY OKAY.
IT SERVICES 100,000 CHILDREN A YEAR.
SINCE 2009, IT HAS GIVEN 1 MILLION KIDS FREE OR REDUCED ENTRANCE.
IT IS ACCESSIBLE AND IT IS AFFORDABLE.
IT IS ONE OF THE ONLY ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE THINGS IN SOUTHERN DALLAS FOR FAMILIES TO DO.
I HEARD OUR DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ON MONDAY SAY THAT SHE USED TO TAKE HER KIDS TO THE ZOO.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS.
YOU HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING FOR THEM TO DO.
AND AS A KID GROWING UP, THE FORT WORTH ZOO HAD BILLBOARDS ALL OVER I-30.
THAT DOESN'T THAT'S NOT LIKE THAT TODAY.
SO WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU FUND THIS FULLY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KYLE OGDEN.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF TRINITY RIVER AUDUBON CENTER.
BORN AND RAISED IN DALLAS, I WENT TO DISD ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
SO, YES, THIS IS A DALLAS ACCENT.
YOU HEAR? RIGHT NOW THE CENTER IS IN DISTRICT EIGHT, BUT WE SERVE THE ENTIRE CITY.
AND WHILE WE ARE A PARK WE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
WE ACTUALLY DO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE STORY FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WE ARE A FORMER LANDFILL THAT CAUGHT FIRE TWICE.
THE WHOLE REASON WE EXIST IS BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY ACTION IN OUR AREA.
WE'VE SEEN ALMOST 230,000 SCHOOL KIDS IN OUR TEKS ALIGNED PROGRAMING SINCE WE OPENED.
WE'RE TEACHING YOUNG AND OLD ABOUT CONSERVATION.
WE DO OFFER FREE ENTRY TO OUR VISITORS.
BUT OUR CENTER IS 15 YEARS OLD.
[03:10:01]
WE HAD AN ENTIRE NINTH GRADE FROM IRMA RANGEL ON OUR PROPERTY AT THAT TIME.FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PHILIP HYATT.
PHILIP HYATT. HEY, I'M WITH THE LOOP DALLAS, AND I'M ALSO A DALLAS PARK COALITION TRUSTEE.
I'M SURE YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT THE PARK'S PROPOSITION AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITIZEN BOND TASK FORCE, BUT I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT STREETS, SO I'M IN FAVOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE. ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE SOURCES FOR THE 80 MILLION THAT THE LOOP HAS SECURED TODAY ARE FROM INFRASTRUCTURE SOURCES.
SO STREETS TIFFS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE NBC FIVE INVESTIGATIVE SERIES DRIVEN TO DEATH.
DALLAS HAS THE HIGHEST DEATH RATE OF ANY MAJOR CITY IN THE COUNTRY, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WAY.
WELL, NOT BECAUSE OF, BUT IN PART BECAUSE OF THE WAY OUR STREETS ARE DESIGNED.
AND SO I KNOW RIGHT NOW THIS COUNCIL IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF FINDING A NEW VISION.
WE'RE WORKING WITH TRANSPORTATION.
WE'RE WORKING WITH TEX DOT. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING ON, BUT THE COUNCIL HAS NOT DECIDED ON WHAT THAT DIRECTION IS, AND I THINK WE NEED SOME MORE TIME BEFORE WE LOOK AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO REBUILD OUR CITY STREETS, BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY HALF A BILLION GOES INTO THE STATUS QUO, I THINK THAT'S A BAD DEAL.
WHILE YOU'RE ALSO CONSIDERING THIS HUGE BOND PACKAGE THAT HAS ALL THESE OTHER PRIORITIES.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND OTHERS SAFE STREET ADVOCATES OVER THE COMING MONTHS, BECAUSE WE'RE WE ARE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW WE CAN REDUCE THOSE FATALITIES AND MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON THAT WITH YOU ALL.
HOPE YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL LUNCH.
I'M A PARENT OF A YOUNG ADULT WITH A DISABILITY.
I'VE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY TO YOU TODAY.
IF EVERYONE IN THE CROWD COULD RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE A PARENT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN'S FUTURES.
AS A PARENT, I LAY AWAKE AT NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT HOW I, AS A MIDDLE AGED SINGLE PARENT, AM GOING TO MAKE RENT AND BUY GROCERIES IN THE SAME WEEK, LET ALONE WORRYING ABOUT ALL THREE OF MY CHILDREN AND THEIR FUTURES.
MOST OF ALL, MY SON WITH A DISABILITY.
WHAT IF I WAS HIT BY A BUS WHEN I LEFT THIS BUILDING TODAY? WHERE WOULD MY SON LIVE? THE ANSWER TO THAT IS VERY SCARY.
ACCORDING TO A STUDY DONE IN 2017, SIX YEARS AGO ON TEXAS.GOV.
THE MAJORITY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH THEIR PARENTS OVER THE AGE OF 60.
I AM NOT OVER THE AGE OF 60 YET, BUT I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO MY SON.
I REALIZED THAT I REPRESENT ONLY ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES, BUT IF ME SPEAKING HERE TODAY BRINGS YOUR AWARENESS TO THE GREAT NEED FOR A HOUSING SOLUTION FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR POPULATION, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, THEN I WILL CONSIDER THAT A WIN FOR THE DAY.
MY NAME IS HOLLY NORTON AND I WORK FOR RUBLES PLANTS OF TEXAS.
I'M SORRY. CAN YOU MOVE THE MICROPHONE CLOSER? CLOSER. HI, MY NAME IS HOLLY NORTON, AND I WORK FOR RUBLES PLANTS OF TEXAS.
MOST OF YOU KNOW OUR LOCATION JUST UP THE STREET AT THE FARMERS MARKET.
HOWEVER, I'M REPRESENTING OUR STORE LOCATED IN DISTRICT 12 ON ROSEMEAD PARKWAY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TO EXPRESS THE NEED FOR FUNDING FOR THIS PARK.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED LIFE THREATENING ACTIONS MADE BY THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AT THIS PARK, INCLUDING PROPANE EXPLOSIONS, GUNFIRE THREATS WITH WEAPONS SUCH AS MACHETES AND CHAINSAWS, AND MANY MORE HORRENDOUS ISSUES, AND OFTEN WITH LITTLE EMERGENCY RESPONSE WHEN WE CALL 911.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE CAUSED OVER $30,000 IN PROPERTY DAMAGE TO OUR PROPERTY ALONG WITH OTHERS.
[03:15:01]
THE MAJORITY OF THIS AREA COMPRISES OF APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT SURROUND THIS UNDEVELOPED PARK, AND IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL GREEN SPACE FOR FAMILIES TO GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY.RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT SAFE TO ENTER BECAUSE OF THE DANGEROUS INDIVIDUALS STAYING THERE.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY TO TRY TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE.
AND SO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS PROJECT.
THANK YOU. ERIC HALL HAS CANCELED MIRIAM SHARMA.
GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS MIRIAM SHARMA AND I'M A DALLAS RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, SO I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.
I'M A HUGE FAN OF THE DMA, AND I'VE BEEN BRINGING MY CHILDREN TO THE DMA SINCE THEY WERE BABIES.
I HAVE THREE, NINE, SEVEN, AND FOUR YEAR OLD AND MY YOUNGEST NOW ASKS ME, WHEN IS ART CLASS AT THE MUSEUM? THE DMA HAS PROVIDED OUR FAMILY WITH A LOT OF JOY AND EDUCATION THAT ONLY COMES FROM EXPOSURE TO ART AND MAKING ART.
MISS LEAH AND MISS DENISE, WHO LEAD MANY OF THE EDUCATION INITIATIVES AT THE DMA, HAVE ALSO REMINDED ME THAT CREATIVITY IS PRESENT IN EACH ONE OF US, WAITING EAGERLY TO BE EXPRESSED FOR THAT INVALUABLE GIFT, I PUT THE DMA AT THE TOP OF MY LIST OF PLACES TO RECOMMEND TO FELLOW MOTHERS AND FAMILIES.
IT IS A TRUE TREASURE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF DALLAS AND EVERYONE WHO COMES TO VISIT OUR CITY.
THESE ARE TRUE TREASURES TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED.
AND I'LL ALSO ADD, IN ADDITION TO BEING A MOTHER, I'M ALSO A REGISTERED NURSE.
AND I USED TO WORK AT PARKLAND IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
AND I'VE RECENTLY BECOME VERY INVOLVED WITH GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF INITIATIVES ABOUT HOW ART CAN ACTUALLY DECREASE GUN VIOLENCE.
AND SO NOT ONLY BY GATHERING PEOPLE TOGETHER THAT WOULDN'T NORMALLY BE TOGETHER TO DISCUSS ART, BUT ALSO IMPROVING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN. AND WE KNOW THAT FIREARMS LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS IN CHILDREN AND TEENS IN AMERICA.
SO THIS IS ANOTHER AREA THAT WE COULD HELP IMPROVE DALLAS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
LILY BENITEZ, ALBERT HOLMAN, DOLORES PHILLIPS, JAYLENE SALVADOR, ANGELA DUGGAN, ELIZABETH MARKOWITZ, SALEEM OR SALEM FIRTH, LITH.
NASSIF AND TAMMY THOMAS, SABINA CARR.
IF YOU'RE PRESENT, YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM.
SO BUYING A CAR IS NOT PRESENT.
I'M HERE. OKAY, YOU MAY BEGIN.
HI, MY NAME IS LILY BENITEZ AND I'M THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF BLADE CRAFT BARBER ACADEMY.
I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOU TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORT OF THE BONDS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP REPAIR AND FINISH OUT THE DALLAS CULTURAL TRAIL. I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ON BEHALF OF A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I HAVE A BARBER ACADEMY IN THE HEART OF DALLAS ON MAIN STREET IN DEEP ELLUM, TEXAS, AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE STREETS COMPLETELY REDESIGNED FOR IMPROVED WALKABILITY, IT BEING BRIGHTER, MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS MORE SAFETY FOR CYCLISTS, AND TO SUPPORT THE MICRO MOBILITY THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE MOST RECENT TIMES WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT FORMS THAT WE HAVE FOR TRANSPORTATION.
SO I JUST WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SUPPORT OF THE $5.5 MILLION THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE DALLAS CULTURAL TRAIL, BECAUSE IT DOES IMPACT SMALL BUSINESS THAT DOES IMPACT HOMES.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THESE DOCUMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED AT THE DALLAS COUNTY COURT.
I THINK IT'S A 95TH DALLAS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.
I THINK THE CASE NUMBER IS DC 2319821.
YOUR DELIBERATE, RELENTLESS RETALIATORY MAYHEM, YOUR NEGLIGENCE IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MY
[03:20:10]
FATHER'S DEATH.SEE, LET ME SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU.
BUT YOU. HE'S THE ONLY THING I KNOW.
HE WAS THE ONLY THING I KNOW AS A CHILD.
SO Y'ALL CAN HAVE EACH OTHER ON PUPPETS, YOU KNOW, ON STRINGS LIKE PUPPETS.
MY DAD CRIED TO ME, TEARS IN HIS EYES.
HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES FOR ME TO SAVE HIM.
BUT Y'ALL RETALIATORY CONNECTIONS SEND HIM BACK TO DIE.
WHEN YOU SAID HE WAS INCAPACITATED.
NOW YOU HAVE APPOINTED DEPUTY SHAMAN COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY AD LITEM TO SAY SHE'S OVER HIS ESTATE. SO I STARTED RESEARCHING.
MY DADDY DIDN'T HAVE NOTHING, AND I RAN FOR HIM IN 2019 WHEN HE GOT HIT BY A CAR.
HE WAS FLOWN HERE FROM BAYLOR.
WHEN I WAS HIS POWER OF ATTORNEY, I WAS TRYING TO SEE WHY I WAS SIGNING A $50 CHECK.
AND YOU TRYING TO TAKE IT? AND NO NEGLIGENCE.
NO NEED TO TRY TO FILE BANKRUPTCY, BABY.
THIS IS DELIBERATE NEGLIGENCE THAT'S DOCUMENTED FOR OVER A DECADE.
JOLENE. SALVADOR IS NOT PRESENT.
I'M HERE TO STATE MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR A ROBUST INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH THE BOND.
I'M ALSO HERE TO STATE MY SUPPORT FOR REFORMING DALLAS MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS, AND ALLOWING TEXANS THE FREEDOM TO FIND THE HOUSING OPTION THAT WORKS BEST FOR THEIR UNIQUE SITUATION. MANY OF MY FRIENDS MILLENNIAL FRIENDS WOULD LOVE TO PURCHASE A TOWNHOME, BUT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO.
WE THINK THAT MAKING IT EASIER TO BUILD THIS TYPE OF HOUSING IS THE RIGHT THING FOR DALLAS.
IN ADDITION TO INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH THE BOND, THIS IS ALSO HIGHLY POPULAR.
ACCORDING TO PEW, 58% OF AMERICANS NATIONWIDE SUPPORT MAKING IT EASIER TO BUILD TOWNHOMES.
I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT SOME DALLAS RESIDENTS WANT TO KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY'VE GROWN TO LOVE, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THROUGH HOAS, THEY WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO SET THEIR OWN LOT REQUIREMENTS.
SO THESE KIND OF ZONING REFORMS WOULD ACTUALLY GIVE DALLASITES MORE FREEDOM, NOT LESS FREEDOM.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE RIGHT THING.
I'LL ALSO ADD THAT DALLAS IS PROJECTED BAN ON SHORT TERM RENTALS AND SINGLE FAMILY ZONING.
LOTS WOULD STILL APPLY BECAUSE THIS WOULD NOT REDEFINE SINGLE FAMILY ZONING, SO THERE WOULD STILL BE ROBUST PROTECTIONS AGAINST SHORT TERM RENTALS AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS HOUSING GOES TO THE DALLASITES WHO REALLY NEED IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, SALEM FIRTH.
I'M SORRY. WE CANNOT HEAR YOUR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, YOU MAY CONTINUE.
THANK YOU. UM, I'M TRYING TO SHARE SLIDES HERE.
THERE. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SEE THOSE.
REALLY PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
I'M FROM THE MERCATUS CENTER AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, AND IT IS MY HONOR TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT MY OWN RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE ON DALLAS COUNTY.
[03:25:04]
THE EXISTING SYSTEM FOR BUILDING SMALL LOT HOMES IN DALLAS IS UNFAIR AND INEFFICIENT.I USED 2019 DATA TO LOOK AT HOUSES BUILT IN DALLAS IN 2000.
HOUSES ON CONVENTIONAL LOT IS COST ON AVERAGE $573,000.
SMALL LOT HOMES COST JUST 388 K.
AS MY FIRST SLIDE HERE SHOWS, THE SMALL LOT DISCOUNT IS LARGEST IN THE MOST EXPENSIVE ZIP CODES.
MINIMUM LOT SIZES ALSO HURT OWNERS BY REDUCING THE VALUE OF MY OWN.
THE COMMON MINIMUM LOT SIZE IN DALLAS IS 7500FT².
YOU CAN SEE A FEW OF THOSE HOUSES HERE.
THE CHAOTIC SYSTEM PRODUCES FAR TOO FEW SMALL HOUSES TO MEET THAT MAN.
NASSIF. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL.
AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT HERE TO REPRESENT JUST MYSELF.
ON OCTOBER 11TH, THIS COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING HAMAS AND SUPPORTING ISRAEL.
THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO AN ATTACK IN WHICH 1400 PEOPLE WERE KILLED.
OVER A MONTH HAS PASSED SINCE THEN, AND TO DATE OVER 6600 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED IN GAZA.
YET THIS COUNCIL HAS REMAINED SILENT.
A CHILD'S LIFE IS ALWAYS A CIVILIAN LIFE, AND THE LOSS OF A CHILD SHOULD NEVER BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
I HAVE ACHIEVED MY DREAM OF BECOMING A DOCTOR TO SAVE CHILDREN'S LIVES.
BUT SIMULTANEOUSLY, MY WORST NIGHTMARE HAS COME TRUE IN MY TAX DOLLARS, I DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEATH OF MORE CHILDREN IN THE PAST MONTH THAN THESE TWO HANDS COULD EVER SAVE IN MY LIFETIME.
WE ARE PROVIDING MONEY, WEAPONS AND POLITICAL SUPPORT TO AID THE WAR CRIMES IN GAZA.
BIDEN IS REQUESTING FOR AN ADDITIONAL 14.3 BILLION TO BE USED FOR MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL, WHICH COULD BE USED IN OUR OWN COUNTRY TO HELP CITIZENS AND ACHIEVE BETTER HOUSING, PARKS AND HEALTH CARE.
AS A PALESTINIAN MYSELF, IF MY MY GRANDPARENTS HAD DECIDED TO MOVE SOUTH TO GAZA INSTEAD OF EAST TO JORDAN IN 1948, RATHER THAN ACHIEVING MY DREAM OF BECOMING A DOCTOR, I WOULD LIKELY HAVE SUFFERED A SIMILAR FATE TO OVER 6000 CHILDREN IN GAZA AND BE TRAPPED UNDER THE PILE OF RUBBLE, RATHER THAN SPEAKING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TAMMY THOMAS.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION.
MY NAME IS TAMMY THOMAS AND I AM A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AT DR.
FREDERICK DOUGLAS TODD MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND WITH ME SAYING THAT IS THAT WE DO NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE IN MY AREA BECAUSE THEY ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. WE HAVE A SCHOOL POPULATION OF 420 CHILDREN, AND OUT OF THOSE 400, OUT OF THOSE 402,404 ARE LIVING IN A DISADVANTAGED, ECONOMICALLY INTOLERABLE COMMUNITY.
I SPEAK AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER THAT THESE STUDENTS THAT WERE IN OUR COMMUNITY LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A THREAT AND THERE WAS A GAS LEAK, AND ONE OF THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT THEY LIVE IN HAD WAS ON FIRE.
WHEN THOSE KIDS WHEN THAT FIRE WAS OUT, THEY DIDN'T REPLACE THOSE APARTMENTS FOR THOSE KIDS.
[03:30:02]
AND SO MY SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS ARE DISPLACED AND I CAN'T FIND THEM.AND THEIR PARENTS CAN'T DO IT ON THEIR OWN BECAUSE WE WERE HELPING THEM WHEN THEY WERE THERE.
SO YES, TODAY I STAND HERE IN FRONT OF YOU LETTING YOU KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS LIKE OR WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD FEELS LIKE, THEY'RE IN NEED AND THEY'RE IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SOMEONE TO HELP THEM TAKE CARE OF THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS.
WHITTAKER, SOUMYA SHENAULT, HANNAH.
MORGAN, JOANNA SAINT, ANGELO CLINTON HALEY SPOKE EARLIER AND MELANIE FERGUSON, SHANTE BRANTON IF YOU'RE IN, YOU MAY COME TO THE.
YOUR MICROPHONE. THERE'S A BUTTON AT THE BASE.
OKAY. I AM SHANTE BRANTON REPRESENTING TEACH PLUS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY, NOT JUST AS AN EDUCATOR IN THE DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT AS SOMEONE DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN MY TIME HERE, I'VE WITNESSED A GROWING CONCERN THAT IMPACTS NOT ONLY ME, BUT ALSO OUR DEDICATED WORKFORCE IN EDUCATION. RECENT CENSUS DATA HIGHLIGHTS A CRITICAL ISSUE.
40% OF PEOPLE MOVED BASED ON HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY.
THE LOOMING HOUSING CRISIS PUTS OUR CITY'S VIBRANCY AT RISK.
WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOCATE $200 MILLION FROM THE UPCOMING BOND.
I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MANY WHO RELOCATED HERE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY'S GROWTH.
LET'S ENSURE THAT DALLAS REMAINS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
TURN THE DREAM OF OWNING A HOME.
I CURRENTLY LIVE IN ARLINGTON, BUT WOULD LOVE TO OWN A HOME IN DALLAS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? I CAN HEAR YOU.
HOWEVER, YOUR VIDEO IS NOT DISPLAYING.
OKAY, WELL, I'LL JUST HAVE TO GO WITHOUT VIDEO, I SUPPOSE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY.
YOUR VIDEO MUST BE DISPLAYED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL.
YEAH, I LOST THE BUTTON, SO I GUESS I CAN'T DO IT.
WE CAN. THE SYSTEM IS NOT OFFERING ME THE CHANCE TO TURN ON VIDEO.
OKAY, WE CAN TRY COMING BACK TO YOU.
OR WILL YOU BE CANCELING? I'LL TRY FOR A FEW.
MY NAME IS COURTNEY PAGE AND I SERVE THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY HERE IN DALLAS, AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE REGARDING HOUSING THAT AFFECTS MANY OF THE FAMILIES THAT I WORK WITH.
BUT DALLAS FALLS SHORT TO MEET THIS NEED.
FOR EVERY 100 LOW INCOME RENTERS IN DALLAS, THERE ARE 37 UNITS AVAILABLE.
[03:35:01]
A STUDY DONE IN 2019 BY THE TEXAS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT COUNCIL SHOWED THAT DALLAS IS THE THIRD LARGEST POPULATION IN TEXAS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, AND THE MAJORITY OF THESE FAMILIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE LIVING WITH A CAREGIVER OVER THE AGE OF 60.WHEN THEIR CAREGIVER PASSES ON, THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE AT A HIGH RISK OF HOMELESSNESS OR WORSE.
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH UNITS TO MEET THE CURRENT DEMAND.
DALLAS NEEDS 100,000 NEW OR REFURBISHED AFFORDABLE HOMES BY 2033 TO MEET THIS GROWING NEED.
ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMUNITY HERE WANTS IT.
LET'S KEEP IT STRONG, AND LET'S HELP PEOPLE FROM ENDING UP ON THE STREETS.
SO I URGE YOU TO INCREASE THE HOUSING BOND TO 200 MILLION FOR THE HOUSING, SO THAT THE CITY CAN FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND POSSIBLY DOWN PAYMENT PROGRAMS FOR NOT ONLY THE GENERAL POPULATION, BUT FOR ALSO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
THANKS FOR STICKING WITH ME, I APPRECIATE IT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JAKE WEGMANN.
I'M A FACULTY MEMBER IN COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
AND ALL OF THESE THAT I EXPRESSED TODAY ARE MINE ALONE.
I ONLY HAVE TWO MINUTES, SO I'M JUST GOING TO CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE.
IN SHORT, THE REFORMS HAVE BEEN REMARKABLY EFFECTIVE.
MY COAUTHORS AND I FOUND OVER 5000 TOWNHOUSES IN HOUSTON BUILT BETWEEN 2007 AND 2020 ON LAND PARCELS THAT WERE FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES.
WE ALSO COMPARED THE TOWNHOUSES THAT WERE BUILT ON SINGLE FAMILY LOTS BETWEEN 2007 AND 2020, TO ALL SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES ON LARGE LOTS THAT WERE BUILT DURING THAT SAME TIME PERIOD.
AS OF 2020, THE MEDIAN NEW TOWNHOUSE THAT WAS BUILT ON A BIG LOT WAS ASSESSED FOR OVER.
RATHER, THE MEDIAN NEW TOWNHOUSE BUILT ON WHAT HAD BEEN A BIG LOT, WAS ASSESSED FOR OVER $200,000, LESS THAN A NEW BUILD, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE BUILT IN HOUSTON IN THAT SAME TIME.
TO CONCLUDE, MY VIEW IS THAT MINIMUM LOT SIZE REFORM IS EFFECTIVE AND HELPFUL IN HOUSTON, AND I SEE NO REASON WHY COUNCIL MEMBER LESS AMBITIOUS PROPOSED REFORM CAN'T ALSO ACHIEVE POSITIVE RESULTS IN DALLAS AS WELL.
AND JUST TO FINISH OFF, IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE STUDY, JUST TYPE TALL SKINNY HOUSES HOUSTON INTO YOUR SEARCH ENGINE AND IT'LL COME RIGHT UP ON THE NYU FURMAN CENTER WEBSITE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JODIE WHITTAKER.
JODIE WHITTAKER IS NOT PRESENT.
SORRY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? I CAN HEAR YOU.
GREAT. GOOD AFTERNOON, DALLAS CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JODIE WHITTAKER, AND I'M THE CO-FOUNDER OF BAN HORSE CARRIAGES DALLAS.
HERE'S ANOTHER ARTICLE FROM AUGUST 18TH, 2020.
THE ANIMAL WAS PULLING OVERTURNED IN DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH IN JANUARY 2018.
[03:40:06]
FORCING THESE GENTLE GIANTS TO SHARE BUSY, CHAOTIC STREETS WITH MOTOR VEHICLES IS A VERY DANGEROUS MIX, AND IT CAN BE A DEADLY COMBINATION.IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF, BUT WHEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
SOUMYA SHYAM NOTE IS NOT PRESENT.
AS YOU'VE HEARD MANY TIMES TODAY, WE ARE ALL LOCKING ARMS TO SUPPORT THE $59 MILLION RECOMMENDATION FOR THE ARTS, WHILE RESPECTFULLY ASKING FOR JUST 5 MILLION MORE TO FINISH ADDRESSING THE URGENT NEEDS AT THE DMA.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE REST, AND WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN CONTINUE TO GENERATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC IMPACT AND TAX REVENUE FOR OUR BELOVED CITY OF DALLAS.
JOANNA. SAINT ANGELO HAS CANCELED CLINTON HALEY SPOKE PREVIOUSLY MELANIE FERGUSON.
I AM MELANIE FERGUSON, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND DIRECTOR OF THE DALLAS WATER COMMONS AND DISTRICT TWO, WHICH IS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND DWU.
AS TEXAS AND THE REGION DOUBLES IN POPULATION, BOTH WATER AND EVERY ACRE OF COMMON PUBLIC GREEN SPACE BECOMES A VITAL SOURCE AND STRONGHOLD FOR THE FUTURE VIBRANCY OF OUR CITY.
DALLAS IS BECOMING A LEADER IN WATER CONSCIOUSNESS IN TEXAS AND BEYOND, THROUGH THE DALLAS WATER COMMONS AND NATURAL PARK THAT WILL LINK DOWNTOWN TO THE ORIGINAL RIVERBED OF THE TRINITY RIVER EAST OF THE LEVEES WITH ITS NEW CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS JUST SOUTH OF WHERE YOU SIT.
THESE ARE WETLANDS THAT WILL ACTUALLY POLISH WATER REENTERING THE TRINITY WATERSHED.
THE WATER COMMONS ALIGNS WITH DWS EXISTING FLOOD CONTROL CAPACITY WORK, WHILE ELEVATING THE WATER QUALITY BEFORE IT ENTERS THE WATERSHED, POSITIVELY IMPACTING DOWNSTREAM AND HOPEFULLY INSPIRING BEST PRACTICES FOR CITIES UPSTREAM WHOSE DEVELOPMENT AND PERMITTING PRACTICES IMPACT OUR CREEKS, STREETS AND RIVER BASIN FLOOD CAPACITY DOWNSTREAM.
THE NORTHERNMOST GEM IN A STRING OF SOUTHERN DALLAS IMPACT PROJECTS, THE DALLAS WATER COMMONS, FURTHERS THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF WISE WATER ACTION DONE NOW WHILE CREATING A SIMPLE AND BEAUTIFUL PARK THAT STRENGTHENS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DOWNTOWN DALLAS AND SOUTHERN DALLAS.
THESE ARE YOUR LAST GROUP OF SPEAKERS.
DAVID GOSWICK COOKIE PEDEN HAS CANCELED KIT SAWYER'S, AND JOE SANDERS HAS CANCELED KIT MASUJIMA, JODY GRANT, DANNY JACKSON OR DANIA JACKSON, DANIEL PRESCOTT, SAMANTHA BRADLEY, NICOLE RAPHAEL, JAMIE KIRBY, AND SHE AND XU.
DAVID GOSWICK IF YOU'RE YOU MAY COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
[03:45:04]
YOU MAY BEGIN. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPEN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THOUGHTS ON HOUSING.I'M FROM HOUSTON, AND I THINK THERE'S ONE TOPIC THAT ALMOST EVERY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES AND MAYBE THE WORLD ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, AND THAT IS HOUSING AND MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO ALL.
MY PASSION IS TO HELP SAVE AND PRESERVE THE AMERICAN DREAM OF HOME OWNERSHIP.
IN THE MID 90S, WE REPRESENTED THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON AND COUNCIL TO CREATE THE HOMES FOR HOUSTON PROGRAM THAT WAS RECOGNIZED BY HUD AS A PROTOTYPE THAT COULD BE REPLICATED.
AND IT'S VERY REWARDING TO SEE THE LEGACY OF GOOD DECISIONS NOW OR GOOD DECISIONS THE OUTCOME OF IT.
SO IN HOUSTON, WE CAN LOOK AT CHILDREN THAT WERE SIX YEARS OLD, ELEMENTARY, ELEMENTARY STUDENTS THAT CAME IN AND TORE THESE HOMES AND THE DREAM WAS PLANTED.
THE SEED WAS PLANTED WITH THEM FOR THEY COULD OWN A HOME SOMEDAY.
MORE HOUSING MEANS MORE LOTS MORE LOTS MEANS SMALLER LOTS.
AND AS THE SPEAKER EARLIER SAID, THAT INCREASES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY.
THEY CAN BE TOWNHOMES, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE MORE HOUSING.
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE TEXANS FOR REASONABLE SOLUTIONS AND THE TEXAS A&M 12TH HOUSE PROJECT.
IF WE WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP AND AND CONTRIBUTE TO THOUGHTS.
COOKIE PEYTON HAS CANCELED KITS.
MY NAME IS KIT SARS AND I'M PRESIDENT AND CEO OF KLYDE WARREN PARK.
WE ARE PROUD TO HOST 1300 FREE ANNUAL EVENTS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS INCLUDING FITNESS CLASSES, CONCERTS, CULTURAL FESTIVALS, MOVIES AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, PARKS DRIVE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND KLYDE WARREN PARKS RESULTS ARE UNPRECEDENTED.
IT HAS SPAWNED BILLIONS IN DEVELOPMENT SINCE IT OPENED, TRIPLING THE ASSESSED VALUE OF PROPERTIES WITHIN OUR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FROM 2.5 BILLION TO $7.7 BILLION AND GENERATING $650 MILLION IN TAXES FOR THE CITY, COUNTY, DISD AND PARKLAND.
WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AMPLIFY OUR SUCCESS BY ADDING 1.7 ACRES TO THE WEST.
THE PLANNED EXTENSION WILL COVER THE LAST RECESSED PORTION OF WOODALL RODGERS FREEWAY, PROVIDING FURTHER CONNECTIVITY TO FIELD STREET AND THE PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE. THE CURRENT PLANS WILL ENABLE US TO HOST EVEN MORE FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OFFER A WEATHER PROTECTED VENUE.
THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE SECTOR HAVE INCREASED THEIR INVESTMENT IN THE PROJECT TO HELP OFFSET AN INFLATION RELATED INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS. IF THE CITY DOESN'T PARTICIPATE, NOT ONLY DO WE LOSE THE $13 MILLION WE HAVE INVESTED IN DESIGN AND ENGINEERING WORK TO DATE, BUT WE RISK LOSING THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS COMMITTED TO BUILDING THE DECK INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD AND ARE SHOVEL READY.
THIS IS OUR ONE SHOT TO COMPLETE THIS EXPANSION.
WE ASK THE CITY TO PLAY THIS MODEST ROLE IN WHAT WILL GALVANIZE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM OTHER CONTRIBUTORS, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CIVIC LEADERSHIP TO COMPLETE THIS MAGNIFICENT PARK.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING KLYDE WARREN PARK IN THE 2024 BOND PACKAGE.
WE'RE ALMOST THERE. HI, MY NAME IS KEITA GIRMA.
I LIVE IN EAST DALLAS, SPECIFICALLY DISTRICT 14, AND I'M A MEMBER OF SUNRISE MOVEMENT DALLAS.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS ABOUT WHY I THINK YOU SHOULD FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT $200 MILLION.
[03:50:08]
SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF, SOMETIMES THE WATER WASN'T ON FOR A WEEK, AND I CAN'T HELP BUT IMAGINE WHAT WE WENT THROUGH IN THE EARLY 2000S BEING EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TODAY IN 2023.AND I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AND A DUTY TO THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS TO PROVIDE MORE FUNDING FOR HOUSING, BECAUSE CURRENTLY, WHEN I LOOK AT THE BOND PACKAGE, I DON'T SEE MY FAMILY IN THIS CITY.
I SEE PARKS AND I SEE ART INSTITUTIONS THAT WE WOULD NOT GO TO BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE HERE.
WHAT IS THE POINT OF A PARK IF REGULAR PEOPLE IN DALLAS CAN'T VISIT IT BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER LIVE HERE? SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE MAKE SURE TO INCREASE FUNDING TO 200 MILLION TO FIGHT FOR THE REGULAR FOLKS IN DALLAS WHO MAKE OUR CITY POSSIBLE, SO THAT NEXT TIME WE'RE PUTTING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PARKS, THERE'S ACTUALLY JUST REGULAR FOLKS WHO CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET AND ENJOY THEM.
HELLO, EVERYBODY. I'M CHAIRMAN OF KLYDE WARREN PARK.
HERE TO ASK YOU FOR $10 MILLION TODAY.
IN 2006, YOU VOTED $20 MILLION TO BUILD KLYDE WARREN PARK.
AND I CAN SAY WITHOUT HESITATION THAT IT IS THE BEST INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY HAS EVER MADE IN ITS LIFETIME IN TERMS OF WHAT THE RETURN HAS BEEN, BOTH IN SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL TERMS. IN IN TO PUT THIS INTO NUMERICAL CONTEXT, YOU'VE COLLECTED TOTAL TAXES OF $650 MILLION AND IN THE LATEST YEAR $145 MILLION.
THE SHARE OF THAT WHICH HAS GONE DIRECTLY TO THE CITY CUMULATIVELY HAS BEEN $180 MILLION.
AND IN THE LATEST YEAR $40 MILLION.
POUND FOR POUND. AGAIN, I THINK IT'S THE BEST, BEST INVESTMENT YOU COULD POSSIBLY MAKE.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR $10 MILLION.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT. WE'VE BEEN CUT TO 6 MILLION.
WE RESPECTFULLY ARE ASKING THAT WE BE RESTORED TO 10 MILLION.
WE ACTUALLY SHOULD BE ASKING FOR 25 MILLION.
THIS WILL RELEASE YOUR INVESTMENT.
THAT WILL BE PART OF THIS BOND ISSUE, WILL RELEASE $81 MILLION TO HELP US EXPAND THE PARK TO THE WEST AND RECLAIM OR CLAIM INITIALLY, ER, THAT PROPERTY THAT IS NOW AIR THAT WILL BECOME ACREAGE 1.7 ACRES TO BE EXACT.
SO PLEASE PUT ON YOUR YOUR THAT PART OF YOUR HAT THAT'S LOOKING FOR RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND HELP US COMPLETE THE VISION FOR KLYDE WARREN PARK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I WAS ALSO BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
I'M SPEAKING WITH YOU ALL TODAY TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE DALLAS ZOO.
THE DALLAS ZOO SERVES MORE THAN 1 MILLION GUESTS EACH YEAR.
AND I CAN ATTEST TO THAT BECAUSE I CAN SPEAK TO MANY OF YOU.
ALL MY HIPPO CHATS WITH ZOO ALSO WELCOMES OVER 100,000 SCHOOL KIDS AND MANY, MANY, MANY MOONS AGO, I USED TO BE ONE OF THOSE KIDS. I STARTED MY ANIMAL CARE CAREER VOLUNTEERING TO ZOOS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WHEN I WAS 14, ALL BECAUSE I VISITED THE ZOO AND SAW ALL THE GIRAFFES LAYING DOWN ON THE FILTER.
AND SURPRISINGLY, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW GIRAFFES LAID DOWN.
BUT I WENT ON, I DECIDED THAT I WAS GOING TO BE A ZOOKEEPER.
SO A YEAR AFTER YEAR, SUMMER AFTER SUMMER, I DALLAS BACK WITH OPEN ARMS. BUT I ALSO ALSO HELP SUPPORT STILL GET MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ZOOLOGY AND MY MASTER'S DEGREE THROUGH CONSERVATION BIOLOGY.
AND NOW I'M BACK HOME WORKING AS A SENIOR ZOOLOGIST.
I'M CURRENTLY LIVING MY DREAM.
THESE PROPOSED PROJECTS WOULD EXCITE ME IF I WAS A KID.
DALLAS ZOO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[03:55:06]
GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR.DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE CITY CITY COUNCIL.
ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY.
I AM, AS YOU CAN TELL, AN ADVOCATE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS AN ISSUE.
WE NONPROFITS, WE ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
WE'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO DO ALL OF THE WORK IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARENA.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING.
SO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MINE, WE SAID, WHAT CAN WE DO TO BRING TO THE CITY? SO SERVICES OF HOPE BECAME A CDFI, A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, AND WE GOT FUNDED IN YEAR ONE TO GIVE OUR MONEY TO FOCUS JUST ON HOUSING FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES.
OUR MONEY WILL BE GRANTED TO THOSE BUYING HOUSES.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO? WE COULDN'T GET TRACTION HERE IN DALLAS.
WE'RE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WE'RE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS.
WE GOT TRACTION IN OTHER CITIES, BUT I CAN'T GET TRACTION IN MY OWN CITY.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO? LET'S BACK AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT LET THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS LET US DO WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
WE ARE CERTIFIED BY THE CITY IN THE FIRST TIME.
HOMEBUYER. WE'RE A HUD CERTIFIED.
WE'RE A MULTI STATE, BUT BEING A CDFI IS A GAME CHANGER FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE FIRST GENERATION GOING TO COLLEGE.
WE'RE PARTNERING IN FORT WORTH.
THE CITY OF FORT WORTH IS WELCOMING US.
WHY CAN'T DALLAS DO THE SAME THING? THEY GAVE US LAND THROUGH THE LAND BANK.
LOOK UP, REIMAGINE, STOP SIX AND YOU'LL SEE THE HOUSES THEY'RE UP THERE BUILDING.
THAT'S FROM DALLAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HELLO. MY NAME IS SAMANTHA BRADLEY.
I'M THE COOL SCHOOLS PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND HERE REPRESENTING THE TEXAS TREES FOUNDATION.
TODAY, MY CEO AND PRESIDENT, JEANETTE MEUNIER, IS HERE TO SHOW HER SUPPORT AS WELL.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, SINCE 2019, THE CITY OF DALLAS, DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TEXAS TREES FOUNDATION HAVE PARTNERED TO CREATE 25 COOL SCHOOL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS WITH AN ADDITIONAL 20 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IN PLANNING AND DESIGN PHASE.
DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, THESE SITES WILL BE ENJOYED BY OVER 10,000 STUDENTS, AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS, THEY'LL BECOME PUBLIC PARKS THAT SERVE MORE THAN 115,000 RESIDENTS WITHIN A TEN MINUTE WALK.
WE'RE DELIGHTED TO SHARE THAT THE MCDERMOTT FOUNDATION HAS PLEDGED $1 MILLION TO THE COOL SCHOOLS PROGRAM NEIGHBORHOOD PARK INITIATIVE, CONTINGENT ON THE INITIATIVE'S FULL $3 MILLION INCLUSION IN THE CITY OF DALLAS'S 2024 BOND PACKAGE.
THE FIRST 25 PARKS WERE BUILT ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WITH PRIVATE FUNDING, AND HERE AT THE TEXAS TREES FOUNDATION, WE HAVE ALREADY SECURED $9 MILLION FROM DALLAS ISD AND FROM PRIVATE FUNDING.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO UPHOLD THE DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED INVESTMENT OF THE 2024 BOND FUNDS AND THE LIGHT IN THE LINE ITEM CITYWIDE PARTNERSHIPS TO COMPLETE THE TRANSFORMATION OF THESE 20 CAMPUSES.
AND I'LL JUST LEAVE YOU WITH A FEW QUOTES FROM SOME OF OUR PRINCIPALS.
ONE PRINCIPAL AT THE AT A COOL SCHOOL PARK IN IN PLEASANT GROVE, EXCUSE ME, SAID THAT WE'VE SEEN AN UPTAKE IN THE COMMUNITY COMING TO THE CAMPUS AND PLAYING WITH THEIR KIDS BECAUSE OF THE NEW PARK PROVIDED WE SEE FAMILIES OUT WALKING ON THE TRACK IN THE AFTERNOON, IN THE AFTERNOON FOR EXERCISE AND FAMILIES ON THE PLAYGROUND WITH THEIR STUDENTS. IT'S BEEN LOVELY TO SEE THESE NEW PARKS OPEN.
I WORK FOR SAINT PHILIP'S SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY CENTER.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION'S REQUEST FOR AT LEAST $200,000 FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ATTAINABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF DALLAS. SAINT PHILIP'S IS NESTLED IN THE FOREST DISTRICT, WHICH IS IN THE 75216 ZIP CODE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAINT PHILIP'S IS REALLY HAS BEEN REALLY DRIVING IS.
[04:00:06]
HOUSING CONTINUUM THAT INCLUDES DIGNIFIED HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY.MANAGE OUR MINOR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM SO AS OUR HOME PRESERVATION PROGRAM.
THE HOUSING THAT THEY LIVE IN IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE PLACE THAT THEY CAN LIVE.
AND I DON'T ENVY YOU FOR THE HARD DECISION YOU HAVE TO MAKE.
BUT PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE SUFFERING.
I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN IT WHERE PERSONALLY SPOKEN WITH A SENIOR THIS WEEK.
AND SO WITH THAT, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE REALLY IMPLORE THAT YOU TAKE A KEY TO EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID TODAY AND HEAR THE PLEA FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING, BECAUSE HOUSING IS A SOCIAL IS A HEALTH DETERMINANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S YOUR TIME, ESTABLISHES YOUR ECONOMIC VIABILITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING SO MUCH TIME FOR EVERYBODY TODAY.
I'M A 35 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS AND CURRENTLY LIVE IN DISTRICT 13.
I'M ON THE BOARD OF SOUTH FAIR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND I'M THE HOMEOWNERSHIP DIRECTOR FOR BCL TEXAS, A HUD CERTIFIED HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTION.
WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THE $200 MILLION REQUEST.
THE INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO HAVE LED, BLAZED A TRAIL AND THEY SHOW 9 TO 1, 12 TO 1 LEVERAGE ON THESE INVESTMENTS. YOU HAVE THAT AND MANY OTHER DATA DRIVEN ARGUMENTS FROM THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED TO YOU AS A HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCY. WE DO HOMEBUYER EDUCATION AND HOMEBUYER READINESS.
WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME IN, AND WE CAN GET THEM IN A PLACE WHERE THEY'RE CREDIT WORTHY FOR A MORTGAGE LOAN, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN AFFORD THE PRICE OF A HOME AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES.
WE ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY, DO FORECLOSURE COUNSELING, AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING TO US WHO ARE ELDERLY AND ON FIXED INCOMES.
THEY'RE NOT THE PEOPLE WHO GOT IN OVER THEIR HEADS.
THEY'RE NOT PEOPLE WHO CHOSE THE WRONG TYPE OF MORTGAGE.
BUT ONE HOME REPAIR OR ACTUALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING, SOME ARE UTILITY BILLS THROW THEM OFF TRACK FROM PAYING THEIR MORTGAGE AND GETTING BEHIND AND EVENTUALLY GETTING A DEFAULT LETTER.
A $200 MILLION INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY, ALSO IN REHABILITATION, PRESERVATION, ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS, AND REALLY TAKE CARE OF THE ELDERLY HOMEOWNERS THAT YOU HAVE IN THE CITY.
THIS CONCLUDES YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.
NOW WE ARE THROUGH WITH THE BUTTON.
NOW LET'S GET READY FOR THE VOTING AGENDA.
MADAM SECRETARY, THE FIRST ITEM.
[1. 23-2934 Approval of Minutes of the November 1, 2023 City Council Meeting]
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.AGENDA ITEM ONE IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
OKAY, WE GOT A MOTION. YOU GOT A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY I.
[2. 23-2935 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)]
JEN. ITEM TWO IS CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.THIS AFTERNOON YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL FULL COUNCIL AND OFFICER APPOINTMENTS.
ONE OFFICER APPOINTMENT WILL BE HELD OR CONSIDERED UNDER A SEPARATE VOTE, AS WE NEED TO APPOINT THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE BOARD BEFORE APPOINTING THAT INDIVIDUAL AS AN OFFICER OF THE BOARD.
YOUR NOMINEES FOR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT APPOINTMENTS TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION, SYLVIA BODELL, IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER STEWART. MISS BODELL MEETS THE SUBSTANTIAL VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE BUILDING INSPECTION, ADVISORY, EXAMINING AND APPEALS BOARD.
FREDERICK TULLMAN IS BEING NOMINATED BY CITY MANAGER BROADNAX.
MR. TULLMAN MEETS THE REGISTERED ENGINEER WITH FIVE PLUS YEARS EXPERIENCE IN FIRE PROTECTION.
[04:05:02]
TO THE CITIZEN HOMELESSNESS COMMISSION.LETITIA OWENS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY.
OWENS MEETS THE PAST EXPERIENCE AS HOMELESS PERSON.
SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE CITY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
BRANT RUBIN IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.
ADJUNCT MEMBERS CASSANDRA JAMES IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER BLACKMON.
MS.. JAMES MEETS THE FIVE PLUS YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH BUSINESS ORGANIZATION SPECIAL QUALIFICATION.
ALSO, ALANDRA LYONS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER BAZALDUA.
OLGA CAN KALKANLI IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON TO THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.
JONATHAN MAPLES IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
MS.. ROBERSON MEETS THE GENERAL PUBLIC PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIAL QUALIFICATION AND MR. WOOTEN MEETS THE GENERAL PUBLIC SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE FIRE CODE ADVISORY AND APPEALS BOARD.
EVAN WILSON IS BEING NOMINATED BY CITY MANAGER BROADNAX.
MS.. MR. WILSON MEETS THE FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD.
MARCY HILTON IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ, AND JACK MARSHALL IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ TO THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD.
SANDRA MENDENHALL IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO TO THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD.
THOMAS PERRYMAN IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON TO THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD.
SONIA MONDELL IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO TO THE PERMIT AND LICENSE APPEAL BOARD.
DEBBIE AUSTIN IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS, MARY WILLIAMS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA AND VERNA MITCHELL IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY. ALL MEMBERS MEETS THE 55 PLUS YEARS OF AGE SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK OPPORTUNITY FUND BOARD.
LEANDER JOHNSON IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON.
MR. JOHNSON MEETS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF A CULTURAL INSTITUTION OR OTHER FACILITY PERMANENTLY HOUSED AT FAIR PARK AND UNDERWRITING EXPERIENCE SPECIAL QUALIFICATION ALSO TO THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK OPPORTUNITY FUND BOARD TRENT HUGHES IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.
MR. HUGHES MEETS THE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK COMMUNITY.
SPECIAL QUALIFICATION YOUR NOMINEES FOR FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENT TO THE LANDMARK COMMISSION.
ALTERNATE MEMBERS JEFF CUMMINGS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER WEST.
GOLDSTEIN DAVIS SENIOR IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST.
MR. DAVIS MEETS THE OK NORTH OAK CLIFF RESIDENCY SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE SEVEN BOARD SPORTS ARENA.
ESTEFANIA ORTIZ IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NARVAEZ TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE EIGHT BOARD.
NICOLAS VILLALBA IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NARVAEZ TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE NINE BOARD.
BRIAN TEEFEY IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NARVAEZ TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE 16 BOARD.
DAVIS GARDEN. JENNIFER LONGFELLOW IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST.
YOU ALSO HAVE VICE CHAIR APPOINTMENTS.
ROBERT AGNICH AND SHERRI GAMBO IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON.
BOTH ARE VICE CHAIR POSITIONS.
THESE ARE YOUR NOMINEES AND OFFICERS, MR. MAYOR. DO I HAVE A MOTION? OKAY, WE GOT A MOTION A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? EYES CARRIED. NEXT ITEM.
YOU ALSO HAVE ONE CHAIR APPOINTMENT.
ANGLICAN JOHN CONLEY IS BEING NOMINATED CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES BY MAYOR JOHNSON.
THIS IS YOUR NOMINEE. MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A MOTION.
[04:10:04]
ALL IN FAVOR? IN OPPOSED ICE CARRIED.NEXT ITEM, MR. MAYOR, YOUR BRIEFINGS CONTINUE.
I'D LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
YES, BUT WHAT IS IT? I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE DALLAS HOUSING AUTHORITY AS A RECIPIENT OF A $5 MILLION HUD GRANT FOR HOUSING MOBILITY RELATED SERVICES.
AND I THINK WE ARE ALL VERY THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THEY DO.
AND SECOND, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HANUKKAH, WHICH IS BEGINS TOMORROW NIGHT.
HANUKKAH IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, WHERE WE CELEBRATE THE REDEDICATION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM AND THE MIRACLE OF THE OIL, LASTING EIGHT NIGHTS ON THE MENORAH.
BUT REALLY, IT'S A CELEBRATION OF A MILITARY VICTORY OF THE JEWISH WARRIORS, WHO ARE KNOWN AS THE MACCABEES, WHO REBELLED AGAINST THE OCCUPIERS OF THEIR LAND IN THE SECOND CENTURY BEFORE CHRIST.
SO MAY THEIR LIGHT SHINE BRIGHT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
MR. CITY MANAGER, THE FIRST BRIEFING ON.
[Items B & C]
HAVE. BE. BE. YOU WANT TO KICK US OFF? YES, MAYOR. AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS NEXT BRIEFING.WE HAVE ARUN AGARWAL, WHO'S THE CHAIR OF THE OVERALL COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE, ALONG WITH CHAIRS OF THE OTHER TASK FORCE SUBCOMMITTEES, STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION, PARKS AND REC, FLOOD PROTECTION, EROSION CONTROL, CRITICAL FACILITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING AND HOMELESS SOLUTIONS WILL PRESENT THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM.
THE FIRST THING I NEED TO CHANGE, I HAD.
GOOD MORNING. I GUESS I NEED TO CHANGE IT TO.
GOOD AFTERNOON. SO GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LETTING ME BE HERE.
WHAT A WONDERFUL SPEAKER AND PASSIONATE SPEAKER ABOUT THINGS THEY WERE ACTIVATING THEY WERE WANTING TO TALK ABOUT.
AND THAT'S TRULY WHAT I AM HERE TODAY FOR.
FOR THE RECORD, I WAS BORN IN INDIA, BUT I WAS MADE IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO.
AND SO HOW DO WE ALL HEAR THE PUBLIC INPUT AND BRING THAT PEOPLE'S VOICE TO YOU? AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TODAY FOR.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT HERE TO LOBBY FOR ANY SPECIFIC PROJECT.
I'M NOT HERE TO LOBBY FOR ANY SPECIFIC SUBCOMMITTEE, BUT TO PRESENT YOU THE REPORT, WHICH THIS TASK FORCE DID, AND THEY FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO HERE EVERY TIME.
AND I HAVE TRIED TO REALLY NEVER, NEVER UNDERMINE THAT AND TAKE IT LIGHTLY FOR THE JOB YOU ENTRUSTED ME WITH. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT PEOPLE'S VOICE TO YOU AS AND AND A LOT OF A LOT OF THINGS WE DISCUSSED.
I THINK, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF.
I HAVE MY I'M TRYING TO GET USED TO MY SYSTEM.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EITHER OR SO TO JUST TO GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE PURPOSE AND GOALS AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT AND THEN GO THROUGH EACH SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WHAT HOW DID WE ARRIVE AT THE NUMBERS WE DID AND WHAT WAS THE THINKING BEHIND IT? AND THEN I LEAVE IT TO YOUR GOOD HANDS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR TAKE IT FROM THERE.
WHEN WE DID OUR FIRST TASK FORCE INAUGURAL MEETING.
[04:15:04]
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FEW THINGS WHICH WERE REALLY LAID OUT AS THE PRIORITY WAS PUBLIC INPUT.THIS, THIS, WE ACHIEVED THE MOST AMOUNT OF PUBLIC INPUT IN THIS BOND PROCESS, WHICH WE DID.
WE SAW YOU SAW TODAY, YOU KNOW, THE PASSION YOU SAW.
THEY JUST CAME OUT OF THE SURGERY.
KIDS COMING TO TALK ABOUT THEIR PASSIONATE PROJECTS, PEOPLE COMING TO TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARIES.
SO REALLY THE PASSION, YOU KNOW, THIS CITY'S CITIZENS HAVE.
THIS MORNING, OUR CITY MANAGER, T.C.
BROADNAX, SAID THAT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN WE DO THIS PROCESS AGAIN, HOPEFULLY PEOPLE SEE THAT HOW WE ARE INVOLVED AND HOW WE INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT TRULY IS THE SPIRIT IN WHICH I AM HERE TO SHOW THAT, YES, WE DID INVOLVE COMMUNITY AND NOW WE IF WE LISTEN TO VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY AND LET YOU MAKE THAT DECISION WHERE WE GO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO WHAT WERE OUR GOAL OF COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE? MOST IMPORTANT WAS THE FIRST WORD OF WHAT YOU NAMED IT COMMUNITY.
SO KEEP THAT COMMUNITY INVOLVED.
AND WHILE WE DO THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE BASIC NEEDS AND THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WHEN WE SAY DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, THAT WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF THE RULES WHICH WERE LAID OUT, THAT IT SHOULD BE THE MAINTENANCE, WHICH SHOULD HAVE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TO IT, SHOULD HAVE A 20 YEAR LIFE TO IT. SO THOSE WERE THE THINKING BEHIND, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE CALLING IT MAINTENANCE, IT CANNOT BE REGULAR MAINTENANCE.
IT HAS TO BE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, MAINTENANCE, IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, HEALTH AND SAFETY, INVEST IN MODERNIZATION OF KEY DALLAS FACILITIES, WHICH WE'LL TALK AS WE GO INTO THOSE FACILITIES.
AND MOST IMPORTANT, PORT CITY OF DALLAS IN POSITION TO COMPETE.
WHEN I GRADUATED, I USED TO LOOK FOR THE JOB WHERE THE COMPANIES WERE.
I USED TO LOOK, MICROSOFT IS IN SEATTLE.
LET ME GO THERE. CATERPILLAR IS IN ILLINOIS.
EMPLOYERS ARE COMING WHERE EMPLOYEES ARE AND EMPLOYEES ARE GOING, WHERE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS THE WHERE THE MUSEUM DISTRICTS ARE, WHERE THE SPORTS TEAM ARE, WHERE THEY HAVE GOOD LIVING CONDITIONS.
AND WE HAVE CITIES WHICH ARE NEWER CITIES NORTH OF US.
LEAVE ASIDE. PLANO IS LITTLE OLDER THAN ALL THOSE CITIES.
THEY OF COURSE HAVE NEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WHEN STATE OF TEXAS IS BOOMING, DALLAS-FORT WORTH REGION IS BOOMING.
CITY OF DALLAS NEEDS TO BE, YOU KNOW, A PART OF THAT.
WE SHOULD NOT JUST BE THE MENU, BUT WE SHOULD BE THE ONE WHO WHO SHOULD BE DRIVING IT.
IN NEXT TEN YEARS, DALLAS-FORT WORTH REGION WILL BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST REGION.
IS THE DATA THE LARGEST REGION IN THE COUNTRY? WE WILL BE WE ARE RIGHT NOW FOURTH LARGEST METROPLEX WILL BECOME THE LARGEST METROPLEX.
WHEN WE BECOME THAT CITY OF DALLAS SHOULD BE DRIVING IT.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE OBJECTIVE.
WELL, WE ARE LOOKING THAT HOW DO WE MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND THEN MOST IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE TAKE KEEP EQUITY IN MIND.
HOW DO WE MAKE THAT EQUITABLE IMPACT? HOW DO WE INVEST IN THE AREAS WHICH HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND, WHICH IS NOT ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO? THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE WE CAN ATTAIN THE GROWTH FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS AS WELL.
WE HAD VICE CHAIR OF LANDMARK COMMISSION AND COURTNEY PLC.
WE HAD CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER AND JASMINE ANDERSON.
WE HAD OUR RECENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION APPOINTEE, RANDALL BRYANT, WHO WAS THERE.
FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE SAM COATES WAS THERE, TOO, FORMER DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
THEY DID THE JOB, WHICH YOU WERE DOING.
SO THE BRAIN TRUST YOU PROVIDED US WAS AMAZING.
I THINK THIS WAS THE BRAIN TRUST.
WE MIGHT NOT HAVE AGREED ALL THE TIME, BUT THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT THE BEST OUT.
[04:20:01]
BUT AMAZING BRAIN TRUST.AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO THE SUBCOMMITTEES.
WE HAD OUR PAST MAYOR PRO TEM ED MEDRANO.
LAURIE BLAIR, WHO HAS BEEN PART IS PART OF THE PLANNING, VICE-CHAIR OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING ZONING COMMISSION, MAUREEN MILLIGAN, VICKI MARTIN, THESE ALL ARE THE PASSIONATE LEADERS WE KNOW KNOW ABOUT IT.
AND NOW WE TALK ABOUT THE SUBCOMMITTEES.
LINDA KOOP, THE MOST PASSIONATE PERSON SHE WAS IN CITY COUNCIL TO LEAD OUR STREETS.
ANITA CHILDRESS, A VERY SUCCESSFUL ATTORNEY, AGAIN LED HER SUBCOMMITTEE WITH PASSION.
GARRETT BOONE, HE LIVES PHILANTHROPY.
HE TALKS. HE NOT ONLY TALKS PHILANTHROPY, HE WALKS PHILANTHROPY.
VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT GREEN SPACES.
WE HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.
HE HAS DONE IT. JENNIFER STAUBACH, GATES AGAIN.
HE GAVE HIS FULL TO WHAT HE WAS DOING HERE, SO COULD NOT HAVE I COULD NOT BE THANKFUL ENOUGH FOR THE LEADERSHIP WHICH YOU PROVIDED ME IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE AND COME WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WE ARE COMING WITH TODAY.
SO IT WAS A 18 MONTH TIMELINE, 18 MONTHS OF WORK BETWEEN THE TIME TASK FORCE WAS ANNOUNCED TO WE STARTED DELIBERATING TO TAKING PUBLIC INPUT, TO ALLOCATING THE TOP DOLLARS TO THE SUBCOMMITTEES, TO COMING UP WITH A PROJECT WISE DETAIL WITH THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS. SO TODAY, WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE PUBLIC'S WORK, PUBLIC RECOMMENDATION.
IT'S 18 MONTHS WORTH OF WORK WHICH IS COMING IN FRONT OF YOU, SIR.
WHICHEVER CITY CFO SAID, I TOOK THIS $1.1 BILLION NUMBER AS IF, YOU KNOW, CITY I WE ARE BEING GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CITY'S CREDIT CARD FOR $1.1 BILLION.
AND HOW DO WE VERY WISELY USE THAT CREDIT CARD, WHICH WE ARE GIVING? THIS IS PRETTY MUCH WE ARE TAKING AN ADVANCE ON THE CREDIT CARD.
SO HOW DO WE USE IT WISELY IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE.
AND REALLY GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, I HAD TOTAL NEW APPRECIATION OF WHAT YOU DO HERE EVERY DAY WHEN YOUR NEEDS ARE HUMONGOUS AND THERE IS CERTAIN AMOUNT WE HAVE TO ALLOCATE, IT'S NOT EASY.
I THINK THE ONLY REASON I BROUGHT UP, I THINK YOU KNOW WHEN STAFF WILL BE GIVING THEIR PRESENTATION.
I THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN INFORMATION.
IT COMES AS A PREVIOUS COUNCIL INPUT THAT THIS IS WHAT THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES WERE.
AVERAGES WERE. AND THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ONE WHICH SAYS COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE AVERAGES WERE JUST I WANT TO PUT ON RECORD THAT THESE WERE THESE INPUTS WERE RECEIVED BEFORE THE PROCESS STARTED, AND ONLY SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS REALLY RESPONDED TO THESE.
SO THESE WERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE OLD COUNCIL AND ONLY SEVEN MEMBERS WERE TRULY THIS.
THIS YOU MIGHT BE GOING THERE, BUT THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE TRUE REFLECTION OF THE DATA, WHICH CAN BE BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SAY THIS IS, YOU KNOW WHAT ALL YOUR PEERS HAVE HAVE RECOMMENDED, IT JUST GIVES SOME LITTLE DIFFERENT INDICATION OF WHAT WE DO.
THERE WERE TASK FORCE MEETINGS IN EVERY CITY COUNCIL, BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
AND BIG KUDOS TO OUR COMMUNITY BOND.
TASK FORCE MEMBER PRISCILLA RICE, WHO ADVOCATED FOR MAKING SURE MEETINGS WERE IN SPANISH.
AND I REALLY COMMEND THAT SHE TOOK THAT LEAD BECAUSE IT REALLY HELPED THE THE COMMENTS WE GOT FROM RESIDENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS. OVERALL, AS YOU SAW TODAY, I THINK IT DEPENDED ON THE DAY PEOPLE OF CERTAIN PASSION, THEY WOULD COME AND DO IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE I WOULDN'T SEE ANYTHING DIFFERENT WHAT YOU SAW TODAY.
PARKS AND RECREATIONS HAD HUGE PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY HAD HUGE PRESENCE IN THE MEETINGS AND HOUSING HAD A HUGE PRESENCE IN THE MEETINGS.
[04:25:08]
TASK FORCE, AND THEY WENT TO THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS AS WELL.SO THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE HAD RECOMMENDED THEM INTO FIVE SUBCOMMITTEES.
BUT I HAVE BROKEN THESE DOWN IN THE SAME BUCKETS AS STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED.
SO THERE IS AN APPLE TO APPLE COMPARISON WHEN WE SEE THAT.
SO AGAIN, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE NUMBERS.
WE HAVE IF WE HAVE TO FIX THE LEAKY ROOF, LEAKY ROOF AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, HOW DO I KEEP MY FRONT GRASS MANURE? YOU KNOW, IN BUSINESS, WHEN YOU MAKE EXPENSES, I THINK WHEN YOU DO EXPENDITURE, THERE ARE TWO THINGS YOU KEEP IN MIND.
ONE IS THE EXPENSE WHICH YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS GOING.
ANOTHER IS THE INVESTMENT YOU MAKE IN THE BUSINESS.
WHO GIVES YOU WHICH? WHAT GIVES YOU FUTURE RETURNS TO MAKE THOSE EXPENSES.
SO THOSE WERE THE PARAMOUNT CONSIDERATIONS.
WHILE WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ALLOCATE AND THEN DISCUSS AND PRESENT IT TO YOU.
AND IF I GO THROUGH THOUSAND 2012 AND 2000 BOND PROPOSALS 2017 BOND PROPOSITIONS PUBLIC PREDOMINANTLY ALWAYS FAVORED STREETS, PARKS AND RECREATIONS FLOOD CONTROL LIBRARIES.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND THAT THAT CLEARLY SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 75% WERE ALWAYS, ALWAYS WANTING, YOU KNOW, THOSE INVESTMENTS TO BE MADE IN THOSE AREAS SPECIFICALLY. AND IT'S NOT FAIR.
STREETS, OF COURSE, PREDOMINANTLY ALWAYS CAME UP THAT THIS IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
STREET HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER WHICH HAS BEEN ALLOCATED AND BEING RECOMMENDED TO YOU.
THERE WERE CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS WE MADE WHEN WE DID THE STREETS AND WHEN THE NUMBERS WERE COMING.
AND I THINK TODAY, EVEN WHEN I WAS COMPARING WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION RESURFACING, THE OBJECTIVE OF THE TASK FORCE IS THAT THE EXPENDITURE HAS TO BE DONE, WHICH IS A 20 YEAR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
AND I'VE TALKED TO A FEW EXPERTS AND I RECOMMEND YOU TO TALK TO OTHERS.
THAT DOES RESURFACING REALLY COME INTO A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND NOT.
I DID A QUICK CHAT GPT A FANCY THING TODAY THAT RESURFACING.
AND THEY SAID RESURFACING WOULD BE LASTING, IF AT ALL, BETWEEN 15 TO 18 YEARS OR SO.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASON, I THINK TODAY IN THE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, AROUND $180 MILLION IS PART OF THE RESURFACING RECOMMENDATION. BUT WITH AND THEN I COMPARED IT WITH WHAT LAST BOND.
AND TILL NOW WE HAVE ONLY SPENT $388 MILLION.
SO WE TOOK THAT, THAT THAT'S THE CAPACITY FOR US TO EXECUTE IN THE STREETS.
SO THAT NUMBER AGAIN BECAME A REASON FOR US TO BE AT THE NUMBER.
WE HAVE THE WE HAVE 384MI² OF STREETS IN OUR CITY, THIRD LARGEST IN THE STATE.
AGAIN, NOT NOT AN EASY TASK THAT HOW WE ARE GOING TO MANAGE.
AS THEY SAY A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
THIS IS WE ARE GETTING INTO VERY UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER CYCLES.
[04:30:10]
INVESTING. MILL CREEK, WHICH RUNS RIGHT FROM UPTOWN TO FAIR PARK, AND THIS BAYLOR FALLS UNDER THAT.I THINK THOSE ARE KIND OF PROJECTS WHICH JUST NEED TO BE COMPLETED.
THEY CANNOT HAVE PARTIAL FUNDING TO IT.
AND THAT'S ONE PLACES I THINK IN PAST BOND, WE HAVE DONE IT.
AND THEN WE WERE HOPING WE'LL GET INTO THE NEXT BOND.
AND IF IF WE DO THAT THEN NEED TO PUT SOME KIND OF A CONTROL THAT NEXT BOND PROCESS.
WE DEFINITELY HAVE THAT FUNDING AVAILABLE BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS ROOM WILL CHANGE IN FIVE YEARS.
AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T AGREE TO IT.
AGAIN, A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT IT TODAY, THE MOST, THE BIGGEST, SINGLE, BIGGEST INVESTMENT, WHICH TASK FORCE IS RECOMMENDING IS IN THE POLICE ACADEMY $50 MILLION.
TODAY, WE HEAR THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WE LOSE MORE OFFICERS THAN WE GAIN.
ONE OF THE REASON IS WE CANNOT FIND THAT WORKFORCE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS CAN BE A MODEL WHERE ENTIRE COUNTRY'S PUBLIC SAFETY MIGHT BE LOOKING TO HIRE THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL AND LABOR FOR THE COMING AGE.
SO THIS CAN BECOME A REALLY THIS CAN BE I CAN LACK OF BETTER WORDS.
THIS CAN BE BECOME THE HARVARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY IF WE DO IT RIGHT.
WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT, FRONT OF US.
NOW, THEY HAVE NOT REMAINED JUST TO FIREFIGHTING.
AND THEY ARE PART OF THE HEALTH NEED OF THE CITY.
AND LIBRARIES AGAIN, THOSE ARE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THE LIBRARIES OF TODAY ARE NOT WHAT THE LIBRARIES OF YESTERDAY WERE. SO PLACES WHERE WE FEEL THERE NEEDED TO BE THE INVESTMENT IN LIBRARIES NEED TO GO WHICH WHICH ARE THE CUTTING EDGE LIBRARY FOR THE NEW KID WHO IS GETTING READY FOR THE READY FOR THE WORLD FOR TODAY.
I AS I MENTIONED DURING MY BEGINNING, ART IS ONE PLACE WHERE NOT ONLY EMPLOYERS LOOK, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE EMPLOYEES ARE LOOKING WHEN THEY MOVE. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST CONTIGUOUS ART DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE CREATED WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, WITH TIME.
BUT WE CANNOT HAVE THAT ART DISTRICT WITH CRUMBLING BUILDINGS.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE PUTTING WE ARE GETTING SIX TIMES MORE PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY TO INVEST INTO IT.
SO WE WE WE OWE TO, YOU KNOW, THE BUILDINGS WE HAVE THAT ART AROUND.
AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, GREAT, GREAT ART MUSEUMS AND DALLAS SYMPHONY.
MEYERSON IS RATED TO BE THE BEST SYMPHONY CENTER IN THE WORLD.
YOU GOOGLE IT. AND I WAS AMAZED TO SEE IT WHEN I GO.
BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO FIX THAT ROOF, WHICH WE ARE OBLIGATED.
AND THAT'S WHERE OUR TOTAL THINKING ABOUT CRITICAL FACILITIES WAS.
ECO DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS I HAVE THE HONOR TO SERVE AS THE VICE CHAIR OF TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD AS WELL.
BUT WHEN CITY STARTS PITCHING ON IT, DALLAS DOES NOT HAVE MONEY OR INCENTIVES TO OFFER.
AND WE TRULY LOSE THOSE PROJECTS.
[04:35:01]
THEN FRISCO TAKES IT AWAY OR LITTLE ELM TAKES IT AWAY.WE WERE LACKING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH NOW IS IN PLACE.
HOW DO WE DO THOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITH PLEASANT GROVE FAR LEFT BEHIND? I THINK IT TOTALLY NEEDS THAT INVESTMENT.
AND AND ONE THING I WANT TO I THINK WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOUSING, WHICH I WILL ALL THESE THREE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, WHICH THIS TASK FORCE IS RECOMMENDING TO YOU BETWEEN PLEASANT GROVE, UNT, DALLAS AND INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
THEY ALL HAVE HOUSING COMPONENT IN IT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE PART OF THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD BE THERE.
SO YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CUT IT EITHER WAY.
BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BECOMING PART OF THAT WHOLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
JAZZ ANDERSON, ONE OF THE APPOINTEE OF A TASK FORCE, HE BROUGHT UP AN AMAZING POINT.
WE ARE BECOMING A BIOTECH HUB TODAY.
YOU KNOW, WE WE ARE REALLY BECOMING LEADERS IN BIOTECH.
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO STAY ONLY IN PEGASUS PLAZA? WHY CAN'T WE CREATE A CULTURE WHERE I THINK THE BIOTECH SMALL BIOTECH COMPANIES GO IN THE SOUTHERN DALLAS THAT INCREASES.
IT REALLY INCREASES THE WAGES.
IT TEXAS IS BECOMING A SEMICONDUCTOR CAPITAL.
SO WHY I THINK WITHIN THE PROJECTS WHY DOING WHY DON'T WE CREATE THOSE ECO SYSTEM WHERE I THINK WE WE HAVE THESE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS WHO CAN CREATE THEIR OWN SMALL COMPANIES WHO BECOME PART OF THIS NEW INDUSTRIES, WHICH ARE COMING UP.
AND THAT WAS THE THINKING TOTALLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE WOULD DO IT.
WE WERE LOOKING AT THE SHOVEL READY PROJECTS THAT WHERE IT WOULD BE.
AND WHEN IT CAME TO THE THE HOUSING, WE DID NOT THINK THERE WAS A THERE NEEDS TO BE.
WE HAVE TODAY. I HEARD A LOT ABOUT AUSTIN AND ALL AND AUSTIN LAST WEEK A REPORT CAME OUT.
ACTUALLY, THE RENTS ARE GOING UP WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSING.
POLICY IS WHERE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A SPECIAL CALLED ONE WINDOW CLEARANCE OR PERMIT, MAYBE GIVING THEM BENEFIT, YOU KNOW, LOWER UTILITY COSTS AND ALL WHEN YOU DRIVE THOSE POLICIES, THEN IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS TO CREATE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS BADLY NEEDED.
AND THAT TRULY AND ONE REASON I THINK WE WERE CAREFUL BECAUSE EARLIER NEVER IT HAS BEEN STILL THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, $20 MILLION ALLOCATED BUT RATHER DO IT WITH THE CARE RATHER THAN GIVING THAT WITHOUT A PLAN, BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLAN.
AND TODAY WHEN I HEARD THAT BASIC THEME, ALSO PEOPLE WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN HANDING OUT THE CHECK.
THE NEED IS THERE, THERE IS NO DOUBT OF IT.
THIS MIGHT BE THE MONEY WHICH IS NOT WELL INVESTED WITH GREAT INTENTIONS.
AND AND AGAIN, I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THERE AT LEAST 14 OR 15 DAYS.
LAST WEEK I WAS READING DALLAS HOUSING OPPORTUNITY FUND.
AND THEY HAVE PROMISED $40 MILLION OF INVESTMENT BY 2026.
SO THERE ARE BODIES LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, MAYOR APPOINTED FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING WITH ALAN COHEN BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY WHICH IS STILL LEFT FROM FROM THE FEDERAL MONEY.
SO THERE ARE BUCKETS WHICH CAN DO IT.
I'M TRYING TO EMPHASIZE THIS NEED IS THERE.
BUT WE NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE HANDLE THAT NEED.
I THINK I HEARD A LOT AND I THINK I HEARD FROM THE BODY.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IF OR THEM OR US AND ALL PARKS ARE THE I.
THEY ARE NOT ONLY THE QUALITY OF LIFE, THEY TRULY ARE.
[04:40:01]
COURT. HIS WORDS PARKS ARE PART OF PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL.I WOULD SUGGEST YOU TO TAKE THAT DATA FROM HIM.
I'M QUOTING HIM WHEN HE SAID DURING THAT BASKETBALL AND IT MAKES COMMON SENSE.
I THINK IF YOU ARE PROVIDING THAT OPPORTUNITY OF A BASKETBALL COURT, THE RECREATION CENTER, AND AGAIN, I THINK IN THE PARKS WHAT IS RECOMMENDED $75 MILLION OF IT IS MATCHING FUNDS.
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP HAS MADE PARKS WHAT IT IS THAT $75 MILLION IS GOING TO BRING $400 MILLION OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF ZOO $30 MILLION WILL BRING $70 MILLION LIKE HOW POLICE ACADEMY WAS BRINGING THAT KIND OF MONEY I THINK THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT WE ARE GETTING INTO PARKS AS WELL.
AND GRANTED THERE ARE SOME NEW PROJECTS I COUNCILMAN NARVAEZ I HEARD YOU IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING THAT YOU DROVE AND YOU SAW SOME PLAYGROUNDS AND YOU SAID, WHY MY PLAYGROUNDS ARE LIKE THAT? ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THE PLAN BECAUSE THE END OF THE LIFE, SIR.
AND THIS IS THE AMENITY WHICH ACTUALLY ARE USED BY THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.
AS I SAY, PARKS ARE THE BIGGEST EQUITY DRIVER FOR THE COMMUNITY.
NEW. I THINK IF WE CREATE WHITE ROCK HILL, THAT'S THE THAT'S THE COMMUNITY WHICH NEEDS IT.
IF WE CREATE THAT BUCKNER BUTTON, I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I WISH I COULD I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION LONG.
YOU SEE CONSTRUCTION AROUND IT.
YOU GO TO FOUNDERS PARK, YOU SEE CONSTRUCTION AROUND IT.
YOU GO TO LAKE CLIFF PARK COUNCILMAN.
YOU SEE CONSTRUCTION AROUND IT.
DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM RONDELL PARRISH PARK, WE YOU HAVE JUST TAKEN THAT INITIATIVE.
YOU ARE ALREADY SEEING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECTS AROUND IT, BECAUSE IT BECOMES AN INTEREST OF THOSE DEVELOPERS, BECAUSE YOU ARE GIVING THEM AMENITY, WHICH THEY WOULD NOT PUT IN THEIR PROJECTS.
SO THEY TRULY BECOME PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
I WILL NOT QUOTE THAT STUDY, WHICH IS ONE IS TO SEVEN AND ALL, WHICH I TRULY BELIEVE, WHICH IS THAT IF WE DO, YOU KNOW, IF WE IF YOU AGREE TO $350 MILLION, THERE IS ANOTHER 400 MILLION COMING.
700 MILLION I WON'T EVEN SAY BY DIVIDED BY SEVEN WHICH THEY SAY IS ECONOMIC IMPACT.
I WOULD JUST SAY MULTIPLY IT BY FIVE.
SO THIS REALLY IS, AS I SAY, PARKS ARE YOU KNOW, THEY ARE PUBLIC SAFETY, THE QUALITY OF LIFE, THEIR TRANSPORTATION, THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE TRAILS. YOU SEE THOSE KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL.
SO THAT WAS OUR THINKING, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PARK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN AND AND I CHALLENGE HERE THAT AND THE TO DIRECTOR JENKINS THAT HE SHOULD GIVE YOU A PRESENTATION ON VERY THAT ON O&M OF THE PARKS THAT IF THIS GETS CREATED AND YOU APPROVE IT, HOW IS HE GOING TO MANAGE THAT O&M? AND GOD FORBID, IF THERE IS A RAINY DAY, WHICH IN ECONOMY WHICH HAPPENS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAINTAIN THOSE PARKS? BECAUSE A BADLY MAINTAINED PARK IS WORSE THAN NO PARK.
SO THAT CHALLENGE HAS TO BE ANSWERED BY HIM BEFORE YOU EVEN DELIBERATE IN THIS AMOUNT FOR THEM.
AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAME WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION JUST AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION AND REDUCTION IN PARKS, BUT IT JUST GIVES YOU A SNAPSHOT WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH WE HAVE SEEN IT ALL.
IT GIVES YOU A GOOD CHART OF CONCERN.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE DELIBERATIONS OF COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE AND SUBCOMMITTEES ARE OVER, BUT YOU CAN CALL US ANY TIME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. YOU REQUEST SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS OR ME OR TASK FORCE MEMBERS, AND WE WILL BE AVAILABLE AT YOUR DISPOSAL AS YOU START DELIBERATING IT.
TASK FORCE DID NOT TAKE A FORMAL POSITION ON MAY OR NOVEMBER.
THAT WOULD BE YOUR GOOD DECISION.
[04:45:05]
THAT'S FOR THIS BODY TO DECIDE.AND THEN ONCE YOU DECIDE THE FINAL NUMBERS, WE WOULD YOU KNOW, THE MOST EXCITING PART IS THAT HOW DO WE TAKE IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS AND HOW DO WE TAKE IT WHERE THEY ACCEPT IT? I THINK WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROP, A, YOU KNOW, CONVENTION CENTER.
AND AT THE SAME TIME WE HAD THAT AMAZING SUCCESS.
I'M READY FOR ANY LIGHT QUESTIONS.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND YOU KNOW, I WAS TEXTING ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HOW DO YOU DO IT EVERY DAY? IT'S JUST AMAZING. I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU DO WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK.
AND I WOULD REMISS IF I WOULD THANK THE STAFF, MR. PEREZ AND JENNIFER, I THINK JENNIFER, SHE JUST MOVED INTO CITY HALL.
I DON'T THINK SHE LEFT THIS PLACE FOR 18 MONTHS.
ANY QUESTIONS? JUST ONE SECOND. WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR PROCESS DOWN.
AND FIRST OF ALL, SO THANK YOU, ARUN, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
EITHER WE CAN DO Q&A SPECIFICALLY NOW ON THE BOND TASK FORCE CHAIRPERSON AND OR ALLOW STAFF TO GO AHEAD AND PRESENT AND THEN HAVE ALL THE QUESTIONS BE CENTERED.
IT'S AGAIN, WE'LL DEFER TO HOWEVER COUNCIL WANTS TO DO IT.
OKAY. I PREFER TO ASK QUESTIONS INDIVIDUALLY TO ARUN AND THEN ASK THEM TO STAFF LATER.
EVERYBODY'S TALKING AT ONE TIME.
THANK YOU. MR.. THANK YOU, MAYOR ATKINS.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, NOW THAT I'M RECOGNIZED THAT I AGREE WITH WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SAID, I THINK I SEE SOME HEADS NODDING THAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM STAFF SO THAT WE HAVE A COMPARE CONTRAST, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF DIFFICULT TO ASK QUESTIONS OF ONE, AND THEN WE MIGHT BE POSITIVE ON THE OTHER.
AND WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT ONE YET BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HEARD THAT BRIEFING.
SO I WOULD PREFER TO HEAR THE SECOND ONE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT'S VERY GOOD.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO DO THE WARRANT.
SO GO AHEAD TO YOUR NEXT PRESENTATION, MR. CITY MANAGER. YES.
I MEAN, WE'VE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS, AND SO WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WE KNOW YOU ALL PUT IN SO MUCH TIME, BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS AROUND THIS.
AND WHAT WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO EXPLORE ON ANY LEVEL IS WHAT THE CITY STAFF HAS HAS PRESENTED.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US DEDICATE MORE TIME TO THAT SIDE OF THE EQUATION.
IT'S ONLY TWO. SO THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL SAID, LET'S DO IT.
BOTH PRESENTATIONS. RUN WHEN YOU STAY.
SO WE STILL GET EVERYTHING ACCOMPLISHED.
THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER. I'M GETTING MAD.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ROBERT PEREZ AND INTERIM DIRECTOR OF BOND AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT JENNIFER NISWANDER WILL BE BRIEFING YOU ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR THE DRAFT BOND 2024 PROGRAM FOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW AND DISCUSSION.
THIS BRIEFING WILL PROVIDE, OBVIOUSLY, AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS AND DETAILED STAFFS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND REVISIONS OR PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE PRESENTATION THAT YOU JUST HEARD.
THANK YOU. I'LL TURN IT OVER NOW TO JENNIFER.
I'M JENNY NISWANDER. I'M THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF BOND AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME AND BRIEF YOU ON OUR PRESENTATION AS WELL.
SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO, AS AN OVERVIEW, GO OVER THE BOND TIMELINE, THE DATA PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE, THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE PROGRAM FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS, STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, A NO NEW BUILD OPTION, FUNDING SOURCES, NEXT STEPS AND THEN SOME QUESTIONS.
[04:50:02]
NEXT SLIDE. SO OUR BRIEFING STARTED IN THE SUMMER OF 20 2022 AND KICKED OFF WITH A AND KICKED OFF THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM.THE FALL OF THE WINTER, WE DID THE DATA, DEVELOPED THE TECHNICAL CRITERIA AND BOND CAPACITY.
IN SPRING OF 23, WE DID THE TOWN HALLS.
COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE MEETINGS BEGAN IN SUMMER OF 23.
PUBLIC INPUT BEGAN AT THESE MEETINGS, AND WE HAD OVER 227 SPEAKERS.
IN SEPTEMBER OF 23, WE HAD THE SUBCOMMITTEES IDENTIFY 1.8 BILLION IN PROJECTS, AND WE BEGAN OUR SECOND ROUND OF TOWN HALLS THIS PAST OCTOBER, THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE SET PROPOSITION ALLOCATION LEVELS, AND THE SUBCOMMITTEES REFINED THEIR RECOMMEND RECOMMENDED PROJECTS TO THAT AMOUNT.
NEXT SLIDE. SO THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS PROVIDED TO THE COMMITTEE ON TASK FORCE FOR THEIR REVIEW.
WE ALSO OUTLINED THE 30% GOAL OF FUNDS PROGRAMED FOR AREAS IN THE EQUITY PRIORITY ZONES.
WE PROVIDED THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE CITY COUNCIL AVERAGED FUNDING BY PROPOSITION AND THE COMMUNITY SURVEY OF CITY SERVICES THAT WAS PUT OUT THIS SUMMER, WHICH SHOWED STREETS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AS THE TOP TWO PRIORITIES.
NEXT SLIDE. AND IT'S DISCUSSED IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION OR THE PREVIOUS BRIEFING.
THIS TABLE SHOWS WHAT THE ALLOCATION LEVELS AT THE SUBCOMMITTEE AT THEIR SUBCOMMITTEE LEVELS.
SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE FEEDBACK FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEES AT THE PROPOSITION LEVEL, AS WELL AS THE IMPACT TO THE NEEDS INVENTORY, WITH A LOW OF 3% IMPACT TO THE NEEDS INVENTORY FOR FLOOD AND EROSION CONTROL, AND HIGH OF 35.4% TO THE CULTURAL ARTS NEEDS THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED.
NEXT SLIDE. SO HERE WE'RE SHOWING WE'RE PROVIDING A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THE ALLOCATIONS BY COUNCIL DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE CITYWIDE PROJECTS WHERE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE WE'RE SHOWING IT AT $410 MILLION.
THAT RANGES FROM 26.6 MILLION OUT OF LOW TO 127.8 MILLION AT A HIGH.
NEXT SLIDE. SO AS IT RELATES TO ZERO DEGRADATION, PROBABLY ALL AWARE THAT FROM THE BOND WE ARE NEEDING $100 DOLLARS A YEAR, THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE FROM THE 375,000,287 MILLION WERE FOR PROJECTS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTED THE PCI, INCLUDING RESURFACING AND RECONSTRUCTION AND BRIDGE PROJECTS.
AGAIN, CENSUS TRACKS THAT WERE SCORED TWO, THREE, 4 OR 5.
NEXT SLIDE. SO HERE WE'RE SHOWING JUST A HISTORY OF THE VARIOUS ALLOCATION OPTIONS.
THE LAST COLUMN SHOWS THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION AT THE PROPOSITION LEVEL.
SO WITH THIS SLIDE, WE BEGIN TO DISCUSS IN DETAIL THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE'RE ALSO SHOWING A PERCENT OF KNEES THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED AT THESE FUNDING LEVELS, WITH A LOW OF 1.98% FOR FLOOD AND EROSION CONTROL AND A HIGH OF 29.55% FOR CULTURAL FACILITIES.
AND A NOTE ABOUT THE LIBRARIES.
WE HAVE MOVED $17 MILLION INTO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSITION TO BE UTILIZED FOR THE NORTH OAK CLIFF LIBRARY MIXED USE FACILITY, AND ALSO TO CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS FOR SOME MIXED USE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
NEXT SLIDE. SO SOME BACKGROUND CONSIDERATIONS.
WE WERE LOOKING TO NARROW THE OVERALL FUNDING GAP BETWEEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS INCLUDE EQUITY AS PART OF OUR DISTRIBUTION, LOOK AT THE COUNCIL IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES AND INCLUDE THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL, PUBLIC INPUT AND OTHER SERVICE LEVEL PRIORITIES.
NEXT SLIDE. SO RECOGNIZING THAT THE COMMITTEE ON.
TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS MAY NEED SOME FURTHER REFINEMENT AND WITH THE THOUGHT.
OF NARROWING THE FUNDING GAPS BETWEEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS INCLUDING EQUITY IN THE.
[04:55:08]
AND THE TABLE. ON THIS SLIDE SHOWS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT COUNCIL DISTRICT HAS HAS THOSE CENSUS TRACTS.WITHIN THEIR COUNCIL DISTRICT.
NEXT SLIDE. OKAY, SO AFTER RANKING THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS FROM THE HIGHEST TO LOWEST, WE SAW THERE WAS A STRONG NATURAL BREAK BETWEEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS RANKED AT THREE AND FOUR.
SO WE UTILIZE THIS BREAK TO IDENTIFY A38 FUNDING DISTRICT 383 FUNDING DISTRIBUTION.
AND AS A NOTE, HERE WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION PROPOSITION, AS IT'S THE MOST FLEXIBLE AND ADDING AND SUBTRACTING PROJECTS, AS WELL AS BEING THE LARGEST PROPOSITION TO WORK WITH.
SO WE TOOK THE AVERAGE OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICT SPECIFIC PROJECTS WITHIN THAT PROPOSITION, AND THEN ADDED A 10% MULTIPLIER FOR AND ADDED THAT TO THE TOP THREE COUNCIL DISTRICTS ON THIS LIST AND DEDUCTED THAT FROM THE BOTTOM THREE COUNCIL DISTRICTS ON THIS LIST.
THE DOLLAR AMOUNT SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE WAS A GOAL FOR THE REVISED PROGRAM.
SO THE NUMBERS ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY OFF.
NEXT SLIDE. SO LOOKING AT ZERO DEGRADATION AGAIN AND BREAKING DOWN THE STREETS.
PROPOSITION OF THE 446,000,446 MILLION OF THE 546 THAT WE HAVE ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION GOES TOWARDS PROJECTS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE PCI.
BUT FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PRESENTATION, WE'VE BEEN USING THE $100 MILLION A YEAR NUMBER.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALSO SHOWING 32% OF OUR FUNDS PROGRAMED IN EQUITY.
CENSUS TRACT AREAS SCORED THREE, FOUR AND FIVE.
WE ALSO INCLUDED FUNDING FOR CATALYTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
AS WE MENTIONED, THE NORTH OAK CLIFF LIBRARY AND SELECT FIRE STATIONS FOR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
THE 522 $522 MILLION I'M SORRY, THE $522 MILLION SHOWN FOR CITYWIDE PROJECTS AS DEFINED BY THE APRIL MEMO INCLUDES PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER REGIONAL IMPACT OR ARTERIALS, OR HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGH COST.
AND AS IS THE CASE WITH BRIDGES.
NEXT SLIDE. SO THERE ARE A FEW PROJECTS THAT THAT DIDN'T REALLY FIT INTO EITHER A SPECIFIC COUNCIL DISTRICT OR CITYWIDE PROJECTS, BUT THEY DO SHARE COUNCIL DISTRICTS. THESE ARE MAINLY STREET TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECTS, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDED EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN OUR PROGRAM.
SO HERE'S THE BREAKDOWN OF STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS BY COUNCIL, DISTRICT AND PROPOSITION.
BUT SHOWING THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN THE CONSTRUCTED IN COUNCIL DISTRICT.
THERE'S $209 MILLION SHOWN FOR CITYWIDE PROJECTS.
AND THEN THERE'S $100 MILLION FOR HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
NEXT SLIDE. AND AS WITH THE PREVIOUS ANALYSIS, THERE ARE A FEW PROJECTS THAT WERE JUST KIND OF STRAGGLERS AND WEREN'T NECESSARILY CITYWIDE, BUT THEY DO SHARE COUNCIL DISTRICTS, AND THOSE ARE ALL IN THE STREET AND TRANSPORTATION PROPOSITION.
NEXT SLIDE. SO PROPOSED PROPOSITIONS ARE BASED ON THE 2017 PROPOSITIONS.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR BOND COUNSEL ON THE EXACT WORDING AND PROJECT DEFINITIONS.
AMOUNT WOULD BE FOR THIS BOND.
NEXT SLIDE. SO WE DID LOOK AT A NO NEW BUILD OPTION.
THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THAT WAS JUST BARE BONES, NO FRILLS, SO NEEDS ONLY DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
WE DID USE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AS A BASE FOR THIS.
SO WE TOOK OUT THINGS LIKE THE POLICE ACADEMY, THE STREET PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS.
NO STREET LIGHTING OR GAP FUNDING.
AND WE DID MOVE THE NORTH OAK CLIFF LIBRARY BACK INTO THE LIBRARY PROPOSITION.
[05:00:01]
WITH THAT, THERE'S ABOUT 80% OF THE BOND THAT WE'RE SHOWING AS PART OF STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT IS FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE OR PURELY NEEDS BASED.AND THAT IS ASSUMING THAT THE 225 MILLION FOR PARKS WOULD, WOULD ALL FALL INTO THOSE CATEGORIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THIS IS NOT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, BUT IT WAS A GOOD EXERCISE TO GO THROUGH JUST TO SEE THAT THIS BOND REALLY IS A NO FRILLS BOND AND A HIGHLY RELIANT ON DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
JANUARY. FEBRUARY WE'LL HAVE BRIEFINGS AND CINDY COUNCIL WILL CALL FOR A MAY ELECTION.
THE LAST DAY TO CALL FOR AN ELECTION WOULD BE FEBRUARY 14TH AND THEN FEBRUARY THROUGH MAY.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL WOULD LEAD ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT WAS THAT WAS IT.
SO YEAH. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO QUESTIONS.
OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PROCESS HERE.
THE FIRST ITEM WAS ARUN WHO DID A PRESENTATION.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE A LITTLE WHILE LONGER TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS. SO THEREFORE YOU GOT TEN SIX TO.
SO THEREFORE, COLLEAGUES, YOU WILL NOT LOSE NONE OF YOUR TIME.
SO OKAY, SO I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE 1062 SO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE YOUR TIME.
SO LET'S GO WITH THE FIRST PRESENTATION, THE FIRST ITEM AROUND HERE.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO ADDRESS ALL THE QUESTION TO HIM.
CAN I HANDS. WE WANT TO START IT OFF.
CHAIRMAN WAS JUST A POINT OF INFORMATION.
SO IS THE TEN MINUTES HAS TO BE SPENT ON THE FIRST.
OKAY. IT'S REALLY FIVE, FIVE, FIVE.
I'M JUST I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT LOSING ANY OF YOUR TIME.
YEAH, I GOT YOU. SOME COLLEAGUES WORRY ABOUT GOING TO LOSE MY TIME.
NO, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE NONE OF YOUR TIME.
YOU COMBINE COMBINING. YOU GOT TEN, SIX, TWO.
I'LL GET MY THANK YOU'S OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE IMPORTANT.
AND I WANT TO FIRST THANK THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE.
I THINK WE'VE ALL READ YOUR EMAILS AND WE APPRECIATE THEM JAYNIE YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC AND STAFF AND OF COURSE, MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING SO ENGAGED ON THIS.
I MEAN, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY HARD AND I WON'T BELABOR IT.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING'S IMPORTANT.
WE KNOW THE NEEDS ARE ENDLESS AND I DON'T SEE THIS AS ONE DEPARTMENT VERSUS THE OTHER, ALTHOUGH I FEEL LIKE AND I'VE BEEN EXPRESSING MY CONCERN ON THAT FOR MONTHS, THAT I FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN PITTED THAT WAY.
I DON'T SEE THIS AS HOUSING VERSUS PARKS, AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S BECOME THAT IN THE MEDIA.
AND I DON'T LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH BOTH SO IMPORTANT.
I DO APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGEMENT PROVIDING US WITH A RECOMMENDATION.
I HAD BEEN ASKING FOR THAT THROUGH THE PROCESS BECAUSE I FELT LIKE WE HAD THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, EVERYBODY FIGHTING LIKE THEY'RE HUNGER GAMES LIKE WE DO UP HERE SO OFTEN.
ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO GO INTO QUESTIONS FIRST.
AND I DON'T HAVE AS MANY AS YOU GUYS MIGHT ASSUME.
HOUSING IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY FOR OUR CITY.
YOU SAW THE ADVOCATES TODAY, I DON'T.
BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE HOUSING ISN'T AS AS SPECIFIED AS A THING OF NEEDS LIKE PARKS OR LIBRARIES, WHICH ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO ME AS WELL. I FEEL LIKE HOUSING GETS BEAT UP A LOT IN THE MEDIA AND IS NOT HAVING A SET GOAL.
BUT AS ADAM LAMONT SAID EARLIER, YOU KNOW HE'S DOWN HERE TODAY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T BE HERE BECAUSE THE STUDENTS ARE IN SCHOOL, THE TEACHERS CAN'T MAKE IT, THEIR PARENTS ARE WORKING.
SO HOUSING, IT WORRIES ME A LITTLE BIT.
AND I'LL START WITH WITH YOU, ARUN, ON THIS ON YOUR HOUSING PROJECTS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOUR VISION WAS FOR THE HOUSING ELEMENT ON THOSE? YEAH. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU KNOW THAT THAT.
[05:05:05]
ABSOLUTELY. SO WHEN WE IDENTIFIED THE BUCKET IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EVEN IN THE HOUSING, THE MOST IMPORTANT WAS THAT ARE THE SO-CALLED SHOVEL READY PROJECTS.SO CAN WE IDENTIFY WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECTS WOULD BE GOING? AND THAT'S WHERE WE IDENTIFIED PLEASANT GROVE AND DALLAS.
UNTY DALLAS ITSELF IS BECOMING A POWERHOUSE, I THINK, IN SOUTHERN DALLAS.
I THINK IT CAN CREATE AN ECONOMIC HUB IF WE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE POLICE ACADEMY, WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHICH WAS DISCUSSED IN THE TASK FORCE, AND IT MIGHT BE IN THE MINUTES ALSO THAT WHEN IT GETS DEVELOPED, THERE NEEDS TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT TO IT.
BUT THE TASK FORCE DEFINITELY SAID THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD BE PART OF WHAT THE SO-CALLED MASTER PLAN, WHICH WILL HAPPEN IN THOSE AREAS IN, YOU KNOW, IN PLEASANT GROVE AND IN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
OKAY. I THINK MY CONCERN JUST WITH THAT SLIDE AND EVERYTHING, A LOT OF YOUR OTHER STUFF LOOKS REALLY GREAT, BUT THAT PARTICULAR SLIDE IS IT'S JUST NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH ON HOUSING AND I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
ALL RIGHT. TABLE OUT FOR A MINUTE.
SO CAN I GO TO MISS NISWANDER NOW OR HOW DOES THAT IS THAT COOL? OKAY, COOL. I'M GOING TO YOU'RE STAYING ON THE SAME TOPIC OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING.
YOU MENTIONED YOUR YOUR CATALYTIC PROJECTS.
WHAT'S IN THAT. SO OUR PRIORITY FOR THE CATALYTIC PROJECTS IS THE NORTH OAK CLIFF LIBRARY.
THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH.
THAT'S THE ONE. THAT'S THE TOP OF THE LIST.
OKAY. AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY NEAR AND DEAR TO ME.
AND I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO GET INTO LIKE MY OWN SPECIFIC DISTRICT.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO STAY HIGH LEVEL. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT.
WHERE DO YOUR PROJECTS LIKE THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, AND ARE THEY IN YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET AS WELL, OR ARE THEY CALLED SOMETHING ELSE? SO WE DIDN'T HAVE THEM CALLED OUT IN TERMS OF LIKE THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE, BECAUSE WE WE DO HAVE THE $30 MILLION IN THERE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND IF 17 OF THAT'S FOR THE LIBRARY IT DOESN'T LEAVE MUCH.
AND INSTEAD OF BEING TIED TO A SPECIFIC AREA.
SO WE WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE IT AS ROBUST AS THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE.
I JUST WORRY WITH THAT 30 MILLION, IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A POT OF RED MEAT OUT THERE WE'RE GOING TO BE FIGHTING OVER, AND IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO BE I DON'T KNOW, I WORRY ON THAT ONE THAT IT'S NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH OR TIED TO ANYTHING AT THIS POINT.
SHE GAVE OUT. THIS IS AWESOME.
ON THE PARKS BUDGET OF 225 MILLION.
THAT'S NOT SPECIFIED HOW LIKE WHO'S GOING TO DECIDE WHERE WHERE THAT MONEY GOES.
SO THAT WOULD ALL BE THROUGH THE PARK BOARD IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
OH, I APOLOGIZE I CAN, I GUESS.
YEAH, WE GOT MORE PEOPLE COMING DOWN.
YOU'RE NOT ON THE MIC. GET TO THE MIC FIRST SO WE GET YOU.
THANK YOU. ONCE THE COUNCIL DECIDE.
OKAY, MIKE, AN INTRODUCTION, PLEASE.
ONCE THE COUNCIL DECIDES ON THE ALLOCATION FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THEN I WILL GO BACK TO THE BOARD AND WORK WITH THE BOARD AND WITH MY STAFF ON WHATEVER NUMBER YOU ALL DECIDE.
AND THEN WE'LL BRING THAT NUMBER BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
I MEAN, WE'LL BRING THOSE PROJECTS BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WHY LET ME ASK CITY MANAGEMENT OR YOUR TEAM THIS.
WHY DID WHY IS STAFF NOT GIVING US A RECOMMENDATION ON THE PARK ALLOCATIONS? BECAUSE THE TASK FORCE DID.
SO WE'RE JUST BEING ASKED TO JUST THROW A NUMBER OUT THERE I MEAN.
[05:10:05]
THAT'S MY QUESTION. I THINK JUST WHEN I SAY THE ALLOCATION, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER YOU ALL DECIDE ON 350 OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS GOING TO BE, THEN IT WOULD BE OUR JOB BECAUSE WE, WE, WE, WE KNOW OUR PROJECTS TO WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS ON WHICH ONES WOULD NEED TO BE ADDED OR ELIMINATED.OKAY. WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A LITTLE BIT ARBITRARY, LIKE THE NUMBER, YOU KNOW.
225 SO HOW DO WE COME UP WITH THAT NUMBER? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.
CHAIR WEST ROBERT BETTIS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE DID WAS WE TOOK THE TASK FORCE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS BY ALLOCATION.
WE LOOKED AT, AGAIN THE DIFFERENT VARIABLES THAT WERE DISCUSSED DURING THE PRESENTATION.
COMMUNITY INPUT NEEDS, THAT OPERATIONAL NEEDS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE.
AND THEN WE, YOU KNOW, WE ESSENTIALLY WE WE MOVED SOME MONEY AROUND.
I MEAN, AS YOU MENTIONED, HUNGER GAMES.
WHAT WHAT CAN WE FIT INTO EACH PROPOSITION WHILE ADDRESSING ALL THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, STILL TRYING TO STAY CLOSE TO SOME OF THE PROPORTIONS, IF YOU WILL, OF WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROVIDED BY THE TASK FORCE.
I'M GOING TO MARINATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.
IS THE POLICE ACADEMY FUNDED IN STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION? YES, SIR. IT IS.
I THINK I'M GOOD FOR THIS ROUND CHAIR.
THANK YOU. WELL, FIRST I JUST WANT TO SAY TO ARUN.
THANK YOU. AND THE ENTIRE TASK FORCE.
SO MANY MEETINGS, SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.
AND IT'S REALLY COMMENDABLE AND APPRECIATED.
I THINK EVERYONE APPRECIATES YOU AND AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
SO THANK YOU. MY FIRST QUESTION IS JUST TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WERE THE PARAMETERS, WHAT GUIDANCE DID YOU GUYS RECEIVE FROM STAFF, FROM THE MAYOR, FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? AND AS YOU WERE CONSIDERING ALLOCATIONS AND ALSO HOW THE PROCESS WOULD WORK FOR YOU? THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO AGAIN, THE THE PROCESS, YOU KNOW, $1.1 BILLION WAS LAID OUT PRETTY EARLY OF THE PROCESS THAT THAT'S THE FUNDING AMOUNT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH AT THAT POINT OF TIME.
AND MY BIGGEST OBJECTION TO THAT WAS THAT THIS IS 90 PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON IT.
SO I DID NOT TAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION AND I DID NOT GIVE THAT TO SUBCOMMITTEES.
THEY WERE GIVEN THE NEED LIST.
AND BASED ON THAT NEED LIST, THE SUBCOMMITTEES CAME UP WITH THE ALLOCATION OF $1.8 BILLION AND THAT.
SO THEN THAT BECAME A TOP LINE.
AND THE TASK FORCE CONSIDERED THAT $1.8 BILLION AND DELIBERATED THAT.
HOW DO WE GIVE A TOP LINE OF $1.1 BILLION TO EVERY SUBCOMMITTEE? BECAUSE REAL WORK WAS DONE BY 70 PLUS 75 PLUS SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THEY WERE DOING THE REALLY WORK WHERE THE ALLOCATION OF THE PROJECTS AND ALL HAPPEN.
MAYBE, YOU KNOW, IN ONE SUBCOMMITTEE, A FEW HUNDRED TEN, $15 MILLION HERE.
THEY CUT THEIR PROJECTS LIST FROM $1.8 BILLION TO $1.1 BILLION.
AND THEN TASK FORCE VOTED, LOOKED AT THOSE PROJECT LISTS, SOME ADOPTED AS IT IS OR MADE CHANGES.
AND THAT INTERSECTION HAS ISSUES.
SO WE MADE SOME CHANGES THERE IN CRITICAL FACILITIES.
I THINK THERE WERE CHANGES IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THE ALLOCATION TO POLICE ACADEMY IS THERE.
SO AND THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP WITH A NUMBER AND THE ALLOCATED PROJECTS BASED ON THAT MAP.
[05:15:04]
SO YES, THERE WAS A NUMBER GIVEN BY STAFF WHICH WE DID NOT ACCEPT.AND WHAT I'M SEEING, THE NEW RECOMMENDATION IS PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT THEY INITIALLY TOLD US.
AND THAT'S ONE THING I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE REASON I RESISTED IS THAT I THINK IF WE HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE JOB AND 90 PEOPLE ARE GIVING AWAY THEIR TIME AND, YOU KNOW, GOING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES TALKING, AND THESE ARE MEMBERS WHICH YOU YOU APPOINTED, THERE WAS NOT ONE PERSON.
AND AND THERE WERE DIVERSE VIEWS.
ONE THING I LEARNED IN THE PROCESS IS SUCH SELFLESSNESS.
AND PEOPLE STARTED APPRECIATING WHAT THE NEEDS IN THE OTHER PART OF THE CITY IS, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD THEY WERE NOT FOCUSING IN WHAT WHAT WAS THERE WERE PRIORITIES OF THEIR DISTRICT NEEDS.
THEY WERE, BUT THEY WERE ACTUALLY LOOKING WITH THE EYE WITH THE OTHER DISTRICT NEEDS AS WELL.
SO HOPEFULLY I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION A LITTLE LONGER THAN MAYBE YOU DID, BUT I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN SHARE IF YOU WERE AWARE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING ABOUT THE TOTALITY OF THE NEEDS THAT YOU WERE TO CONSIDER MEANING, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE IT ON THE STAFF SLIDE TODAY.
SLIDE 12 THE NEEDS INVENTORY OVER $16.3 BILLION.
WE'VE HAD THIS NUMBER FLOATED OUT THERE 16 AND 17 BILLION.
DID YOU REALIZE AND DID THE SUBCOMMITTEES REALIZE THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO TAKE AN IMPOSSIBLY LARGE NUMBER AND TRY TO MEET THE MOST URGENT NEEDS OF OUR CITY WITH ONLY 1 BILLION? THAT NUMBER WAS THERE.
MEMBERS TO THE TASK FORCES AND IT MIGHT BE IN THE LIGHTER VEIN.
THEY SAID, OH, WHAT WILL DO WILL BE CHANGED AT THE COUNCIL ANYWAY? I SAID, THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD, BECAUSE WE WILL GO WITH THE REASONING, WE WILL GO WITH THE DATA OF WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED AND THEN LET YOU MAKE THE GOOD DECISION.
SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN SHARE WITH US WHY YOU THINK IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN ANY PART OF YOUR PRESENTATION, YOUR RECOMMENDATION? WELL, GREAT QUESTION.
AND I THINK IT WAS A DELIBERATION WHICH HAPPENED DURING THE FINAL ALLOCATION.
AND MR. BRYANT EVEN BROUGHT UP THAT, YOU KNOW, 6 MILLION WAS THERE IN IT.
AND THEN IT IS ONE SECTOR WHERE WE AND ANOTHER THING WHICH CAME UP WAS THAT NEEDS OF IT HAVE TO BE MET MUCH SOONER THAN THIS BOND MONEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. WE JUST CANNOT WAIT TILL THEN.
SOME OF THE NEEDS WHICH ARE IT AND THE SMARTEST COMPANIES OF THE WORLD ALSO TODAY IT THEY ARE DEPENDING ON OUTSOURCING BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A DYNAMIC FIELD THAT YOU KNOW, CREATING AN INTERNAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN IT BECAUSE IT'S WHAT WE WILL INVEST TODAY, TOMORROW IT WILL CHANGE.
SO THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE ARE OUTSOURCING IT SERVICES.
AND THAT MIGHT BE A SMARTER IDEA RATHER THAN PUTTING IN A HARDWARE WHICH BECOMES OBSOLETE BEFORE I'M JUST GIVING YOU EXAMPLE OF A HARDWARE OR A HARDWARE WHICH BECOMES OBSOLETE BEFORE WE PUT IT, WHICH IS HAPPENING IN TODAY'S TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD.
SO THE EXPLANATION SHOULD BE THAT HOW DO WE OUTSOURCE? AND COMPANIES LIKE SMARTEST TECHNOLOGICAL COMPANIES LIKE FACEBOOK'S AND ALL.
ALSO THEY ONLY DO CERTAIN PART OF THEIR TECHNOLOGY, OTHER PART WHICH THEY ARE NOT GOOD.
WELL, CERTAINLY IT IS CENTRAL TO SO MUCH THAT WE DO HERE.
BUT THAT DOES EXPLAIN TO ME NOW WHY YOU DID THAT.
THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF COMMENTS MADE ABOUT HOW MANY PARK BOARD MEMBERS ALSO SAT ON THIS, ON THIS TASK FORCE, AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
WELL, WHEN WHEN IT STARTED, WE HAD FIVE PARK BOARD MEMBERS, AND BY THE TIME WE FINISHED, THERE WERE SIX BECAUSE ONE OF THE MEMBER ON TASK FORCE, SHE WAS APPOINTED ON PARK BOARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY.
AND YES, THEY I THINK THERE WERE MEMBERS, AS I SAID, THEY WERE MEMBERS FROM PARK BOARD AND THESE WERE NOT APPOINTED BY ONE SINGLE INDIVIDUAL. THEY WERE THEY WERE APPOINTED BY DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO THEY MUST HAVE BELIEVED THEY WERE THE SMARTEST PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB.
THAT'S THE REASON THEY APPOINTED THEM.
SO AND AGAIN, I THINK, AS I SAID IN MY PRESENTATION AS WELL, THAT I AM NOT HERE TO LOBBY FOR PARKS OR CRITICAL FACILITIES, I'M TRYING TO DO THE WORK OF THOSE 90 PEOPLE, WHICH WE DID.
[05:20:03]
NORTH, EVERYWHERE, IF YOU SEE.SO IT'S NOT THAT IT WAS JUST A CERTAIN REGION AND SOMEONE DECIDED THAT WE ARE GOING TO.
SO THERE WERE I THINK IF I TAKE OVER ALL THE PROCESS, THEY WERE NOT IN THE TASK FORCE, BUT IN THE SUBCOMMITTEES AND THE PEOPLE FROM PLANNING COMMISSION. THERE ARE TWO, I THINK, MOST IMPORTANT BOARDS, I'VE BEEN TOLD IN THE CITY, WHICH ARE PARK BOARD AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
AND THESE PEOPLE, WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THEY COMMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS VOLUNTARY ACTIVITY.
WELL, I'M ONE OF THEM THAT DID THAT, AND I'LL SAY THAT I DID IT BECAUSE I FELT LIKE MY PARK BOARD MEMBER REFLECTED THE PRIORITIES AND VALUES AND UNDERSTOOD NOT JUST MY DISTRICT, BUT ALL OF THE DISTRICTS.
BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE PARK BOARD IS FOCUSED ON THE WHOLE CITY.
MY NEXT QUESTIONS ARE FOR CITY STAFF.
AND ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE JACK IRELAND WOULD PERHAPS MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER IT.
THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR NEW DEBT TO BE ISSUED WITHOUT INCREASING THE TAX RATE.
JACK IRELAND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER YES, MA'AM.
IN THE BRIEFING THAT WE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST THE 16TH, WE SHARED A GRAPH THAT SHOWED HOW EXISTING DEBT IS RETIRED AND PAID OFF, WHICH ALLOWS US WITHIN THE EXISTING TAX RATE TO LAYER IN NEW DEBT.
AND THAT'S HOW WE LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL CAPACITY.
SO WHAT'S THE FIRST DEBT THAT'S RETIRING? WE RETIRE DEBT EVERY SINGLE YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE HISTORICALLY ISSUED DEBT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE PROPOSED THAT WE ISSUE $220 MILLION A YEAR IN FISCAL YEAR 25, SIX, 27, 28, AND 29.
AND WE'VE DONE THAT HISTORICALLY.
SO EVERY YEAR WE ISSUE SOME TYPE OF DEBT.
SO WHATEVER DEBT WE ISSUED 20 YEARS AGO WILL ROLL OFF THIS YEAR AND SO FORTH.
SO IF WE DELAY THIS BOND TO NOVEMBER, WHICH I WOULD DEFINITELY BE AN ADVOCATE FOR DOING, TALK ABOUT THAT LATER, YOU WOULD HAVE CAPACITY THAT WE'VE BUDGETED TO GO TO DEBT SERVICE THAT YOU WOULDN'T NEED.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THE FIRST ISSUANCE OF THIS NEW BOND PROGRAM TO BE IN FISCAL YEAR 25.
AND THEN IN FISCAL YEAR 25, WE WOULD HAVE OUR FIRST BOND ISSUANCE OF $220 MILLION.
DID YOU JUST MISSPEAK? IF WE HAD THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, YOU COULD ISSUE COMMERCIAL PAPER.
SO IF IN NOVEMBER WE HAD AN ELECTION, WE WOULD START WITH COMMERCIAL PAPER, AND THEN WE MAY NOT AT THAT POINT MAY CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE A BOND ISSUANCE UNTIL 26 AND JUST DO DOUBLE.
OKAY. YES, MA'AM. AND DURING THAT SIX MONTHS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER, PROCUREMENT STAFF COULD BE PUTTING TOGETHER RFPS THAT YOU COULD ISSUE AFTER A BOND PASSED AND DESIGN WORK COULD BE DONE FOR STREETS IN THAT SIX MONTHS.
BUT YES, THEY COULD BEGIN PROCUREMENT PROCESSES.
OKAY. AND HOW DID YOU DETERMINE THAT 1.5 BILLION DEBT CAPACITY WAS AVAILABLE, AND THE 400 MILLION THAT WAS DESIGNATED TO HOLD BACK FOR PENSION? WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T USE THAT FOR PENSION? SO THAT CAPACITY REMAINS IN THE DEBT SERVICE FUND.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE CAPACITY, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, WE LOOK AT WHAT REVENUE WILL COME IN FROM PROPERTY TAXES, WHAT GROWTH THERE IS, WHAT THE TAX RATE IS GOING TO BE, WHAT EXPENSES THERE ARE RELATED TO OUR EXISTING DEBT AND PLANNED DEBT.
WHEN WE INCREASED THE CAPACITY IN AUGUST FROM 1 BILLION TO 1.1 FOR THE BOND PROGRAM, THERE WAS $400 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL CAPACITY THAT WE WERE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO PENSION, AND KNEW THAT THERE MIGHT BE A NEED TO HAVE SOME AMOUNT FOR A CASH
[05:25:07]
INFUSION INTO THE FUND.SO WE HAVE THAT SCHEDULED FOR A RIGHT NOW IN 26 AS AN ISSUANCE.
IT WOULD REMAIN IN THE CAPACITY IF WE DO NOT USE IT FOR THAT PURPOSE.
AND SO THE BOND COULD BE EXPANDED TO 1.5 BILLION IF WE DIDN'T USE THE 400 FOR THE RECOMMENDATION AT THIS POINT IS THE 1.1, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE YET WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ON THE PENSION FUND.
AND SO WE HAVE CONSIDERED THAT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOME FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR AS TO START THAT PROCESS, AS EVERYONE ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE IS VERY WELL AWARE.
BUT IF THE PENSION COMMITTEE CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION ON FUNDING THAT PUT US IN THE BOUNDARIES THAT WE NEEDED TO BE, AND IT DIDN'T USE THAT 400 MILLION, THIS BOND COULD EXPAND TO 1.5 BILLION, IS THAT CORRECT? THIS BOND PROGRAM COULD BE EXPANDED.
YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON TO DELAY.
WHAT ASSUMPTIONS DID YOU MAKE FOR THE INTEREST RATES? I'M SORRY, COULD YOU WHAT ASSUMPTIONS DID YOU MAKE ABOUT THE INTEREST RATES FOR THE BOND.
BUT WE HAVE USED FROM 4 TO 6% FOR THE GEO BONDS I USED BETWEEN 5 AND 5.5%.
WE'VE MORE RECENTLY HAD BETTER INTEREST RATES THAN THAT.
BUT IN THE LAST RECESSION WE DID HAVE INTEREST RATES THAT WERE IN THAT RANGE.
SO WHAT KIND OF PROVISIONS ARE WE MAKING FOR A MORE PAY AS YOU GO SYSTEM FOR, ESPECIALLY ROAD MAINTENANCE, THAN WE'RE USING RIGHT NOW? SO PAY AS YOU GO.
WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING FUNDS THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND OR THROUGH OTHER SOURCES INTO ANNUALLY SETTING MONEY ASIDE IN A STREET AND ALLEY FUND SOURCES HAVE INCLUDED DALLAS WATER UTILITY, PART OF THE FRANCHISE FEE THAT COMES TO THE GENERAL FUND.
STORMWATER, SOME OF THAT FRANCHISE FEE, SANITATION PART OF THAT.
SO WE ARE ACCUMULATING CASH THAT WE APPROPRIATE ANNUALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY THE STATE LAW IS ABOUT HOW MUCH WE CAN GROW IN THE GENERAL FUND, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO REDUCE YOUR DEBT TAX RATE AND MOVE IT OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND TO USE AS PAY AS YOU GO.
BECAUSE THE STATE LAW ONLY ALLOWS YOU TO GROW AT 3.5% FROM REAPPRAISAL, REGARDLESS IF THAT'S FROM GROWTH OR FROM MOVING THE TAX RATE OVER FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. AND SO I THINK THAT'S A FLAW WITHIN THE STATE LAW.
IT DOESN'T DOESN'T ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO FROM DEBT TO PAY AS YOU GO, UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS FOR A VERY SIGNIFICANT ROAD INVESTMENT THAT ISN'T JUST THE COST OF THE ROAD, BUT IT'S ALSO INTEREST WHERE WE JUST HAD A BRIEFING ON TRANSPORTATION AND THE SCHEDULE FOR FUNDING OF PUBLIC WORKS IS GOING TO DROP DRAMATICALLY NEXT YEAR.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PAY LESS AS WE GO AND RELY MORE ON DEBT.
AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY FROM THE BRIEFING, YOU MAY BE REFERENCING PART OF THAT CURRENT YEAR IS FROM CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, BECAUSE WE WERE USING CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION IN FISCAL YEAR 24, WE DID IN 23 AND 22 BECAUSE WE WERE SPENDING DOWN THE BOND FUNDS AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE A GAP IN THE FUNDING. SO WE PUT IN CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION TO TRY TO KEEP THAT NUMBER HIGHER.
NOT ONE, BUT NOT IF IT'S GENERAL FUND.
CORRECT. SO ON SLIDE NINE, YOU HAVE WHOEVER DID THE SLIDE.
500 MILLION IS NEEDED FOR ZERO DEGRADATION OF THE STREETS.
THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF THE BOND AND GENERAL FUND OR THAT'S JUST SOME PORTION.
THE NUMBERS WE WERE WORKING ON WAS 160 MILLION A YEAR FOR ZERO DEGRADATION, AND THERE'S ABOUT 63 MILLION, I THINK, GOING TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR TOWARDS ZERO DEGRADATION. SO THAT 100 MILLION A YEAR IS THAT GAP THAT WE WOULD NEED AND COUNCIL MEMBER THAT IN THE IMP BRIEFING, YOU WILL GET AN UPDATED NUMBER AS WELL.
IT'S HIGHER BASED UPON AN UPDATED MODEL.
SO WHAT'S THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DOLLARS YOU NEED ANNUALLY FOR ZERO DEGRADATION FOR ROADS?
[05:30:02]
BECAUSE, LIKE, THEY'RE ALREADY BAD.I DON'T WANT IT TO BE WORSE THAN THEY ARE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS NORTH OF $200 MILLION A YEAR, 200 MILLION NORTH OF NORTH OF WELL 266,000,266 MILLION. WELL, THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
WE ARE DOING THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
OKAY, SO THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE IS ABOUT THE POLICE ACADEMY.
I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
DO YOU HAVE THE POLICE ACADEMY IN THERE OR NOT? YES IT IS. THE POLICE ACADEMY IS IN THERE.
IT'S IN PUBLIC SAFETY PART OF THAT 88 MILLION.
THE FULL 50 MILLION, I'M SORRY.
YES, MA'AM. OKAY, WELL, WHEN I SAW THE NO NEW BUILD CONCEPT, WHICH THAT WAS NOT.
THERE IS VERY LITTLE THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED NEW NEW BUILD IN THIS BOND.
SO THAT'S NOT A RECOMMENDATION.
THAT WAS JUST REALLY TO SHOW WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE BOND.
AND YES, AND WE HAD SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS ASK FOR THAT.
WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING $1 MILLION A YEAR FOR RENT.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S NO COST ALREADY.
OKAY. SO THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE IS ALL OF THE STREETS THAT ARE INCLUDED.
AND JUST LIKE CHAIRMAN WEST, I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO PROJECT SPECIFICS.
BUT EVERY PROJECT YOU HAVE LISTED ARE ANY OF THOSE RESURFACING? YES, MA'AM. THERE ARE. THERE'S RESURFACING.
SO AREN'T ALL THESE PROJECTS SUPPOSED TO LAST AT LEAST 20 YEARS? YES. FOR THE YES.
SO TRY TO SAY THAT RESURFACING LAST 20 YEARS.
SO RESURFACING DOES LAST 20 YEARS.
IF WE DO THE SAME TYPE OF MAINTENANCE THAT WE WOULD DO ON ANY OTHER STREET THAT WE WOULD RESURFACE OR RECONSTRUCT, WE CAN'T WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO RESURFACE AND THEN WALK AWAY FOR 20 YEARS. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT IS A 20 YEAR CAPITAL ITEM AND THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES.
COAS ASPHALT MILLED AND RESURFACED EVERY 10 TO 15 YEARS.
SOUTHERN ASPHALT RESURFACING SAYS 8 TO 12 YEARS.
ALSO, CONSTRUCTION, MILLING AND RESURFACING IS NEEDED EVERY 10 TO 15 YEARS.
SO THOSE PROJECTS PROBABLY NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.
I DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE REST OF YOUR RECOMMENDATION THOUGH.
SO GIVEN THIS HUGE BACKLOG OF NEEDS, IS IT YOUR RECOMMENDATION NOT TO ADD ANY NEW BUILDINGS OR FACILITIES UNTIL THE ONES WE HAVE ARE IN A STATE OF GOOD REPAIR? SO NO THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY OUR RECOMMENDATION.
SO I DID HAVE THAT ONE NEW BUILD SLIDE.
BUT AGAIN THAT WASN'T A RECOMMENDATION.
SOME REBUILDS. SO THE LIBRARY PRESTON ROYAL AND WE HAVE A FIRE STATION THOSE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
WHAT'S THE OUTSTANDING DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED TO CURE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT NONCOMPLIANCE? THAT I'D HAVE TO GET. I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
WILL THIS BOND CURE ALL OF OUR DEFICIENCIES FOR OUR CITY BUILDINGS? NO. WHY NOT? OUR NEEDS EXCEED OUR DOLLARS THAT WE NEED.
SO AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WAS PASSED 33 YEARS AGO.
I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE AN INCLUSIVE CITY.
WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME HERE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO PHYSICALLY CANNOT GET IN OUR BUILDING, NOT TO MENTION THE AGING OF AMERICA.
I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT THROUGH THAT LENS, AND PROJECTS SHOULD HAVE HAD AN EQUITY SCORE.
THOSE POINTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDED WHEN THERE'S AN ADA ISSUE, ESPECIALLY FOR CITY BUILDINGS.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE'S BUILDINGS AND THEY CAN'T EVEN GET INTO THEM.
THE PCI SCORE I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE VALIDITY AND LEVEL OF ACCURACY IS FOR THAT.
NO, I UNDERSTAND HOW IT WAS DEVELOPED, WHAT THE LEVEL OF ACCURACY AND VALIDITY THAT YOU HAVE FOUND IS WE WENT AND DROVE EVERY SINGLE STREET IN OUR DISTRICT, AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THERE WERE STREETS THAT WERE MARKED VERY, VERY LOW SCORE THAT WEREN'T ACTUALLY ALL THAT BAD AND SOME THAT WERE PRETTY HIGH SCORE THAT WERE AN F FOR
[05:35:02]
SURE. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THESE PCI SCORES ARE ACCURATE.HAVE YOU HAVE YOU DRIVEN HIM? HAVE YOU VERIFIED THESE SCORES? SO YEAH.
SO WHEN WHENEVER WE WOULD GET THE NEW PCI SCORES IN, WE WOULD DO A RANDOM SAMPLING.
WE WOULDN'T DRIVE EVERY STREET, BUT WE WOULD GO AND DO RANDOM SAMPLING JUST TO CONFIRM THAT THE WHEN THE VAN DROVE THE STREET, THAT THEY DID ALIGN WITH WHAT WE WERE SEEING IN THE FIELD AND WE WOULD FIND, YOU KNOW, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, A STREET THAT WASN'T IN ALIGNMENT, BUT IT WASN'T AT THE LEVEL THAT, THAT, THAT YOU FOUND WHEN DURING YOUR.
OKAY. WELL, I TOOK ALL OF MY STAFF IN MY CAR.
OKAY. I MEAN, THEY'RE LITERALLY F STREETS.
GOING TO AN ANNUAL REVIEW VERSUS EVERY THREE YEARS IS WHAT WE PREVIOUSLY HAD.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE ON.
WHY DON'T YOU HAVE THE RESIDENTS SEND YOU PHOTOS? YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO HIRE FOR $1 MILLION SOMEBODY TO GO OUT IN A TRUCK AND GIVE YOU THE WRONG NUMBERS.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, I'LL BET YOU EVERY STREET THAT'S GOT A PROBLEM.
YOU HAVE AT LEAST 1 OR 2 RESIDENTS WHO'D BE WILLING TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS AND SEND IT IN TO YOU.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FOUR EMPTY PROPERTIES WE HAVE, AND I'M GLAD THAT THE CONSIDERATION IS NOT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE, BUT SOME OF THOSE NEED ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR RENOVATION.
NONE OF THAT WAS INCLUDED AS A LINE ITEM FOR HOMELESSNESS.
DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT? SO AS PART OF THE CITY FACILITIES PROPOSITION THAT WE DID HAVE, I THINK IT WAS 1.8 OR $2 MILLION IN THERE FOR THE BRIDGE, BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY PROPERTY THAT WE HAD ALLOCATED MONEY ON INDEPENDENCE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY IN THE IN THE BOND FOR INDEPENDENCE.
SO WE BOUGHT A BUILDING, WE KICKED PEOPLE OUT.
WE HAVE A BUILDING THAT'S GOT A NICE RECEPTION AREA.
THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE BOND.
THERE IS AN ITEM IN HERE TALKING ABOUT OUR NEARBY NEIGHBORS AND COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? SO IN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAD $10 MILLION THAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT WAS DETERMINED THROUGH.
ANYTHING BEYOND THAT, I'D HAVE TO DEFER TO THE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S CLEARLY A FEDERAL ISSUE.
WE CANNOT SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM IN OUR CITY WITH CITY DOLLARS.
SOME OF THOSE ARE STATE THINGS.
SOME OF THOSE ARE COUNTY THINGS, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE FEDERAL THINGS.
THANK YOU FOR THE TEN MINUTES.
CHAIRMAN SHUE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THESE ARE QUESTIONS FOR BOTH RECOMMENDATIONS.
I LOOK AT THE WHOLE THING THROUGH THE LENS OF THE ROI.
SINCE WE'RE ACTUALLY BORROWING MONEY, WE SHOULD HAVE A RETURN ON THIS.
AND WE SHOULD USE OUR GENERAL FUND FOR THINGS THAT DON'T HAVE THE RETURN.
THAT'S MY SORT OF FISCAL PHILOSOPHY, IF YOU WILL.
SO ON PARKS FROM THAT LENS, COULD YOU DO YOU KNOW.
AND IF NOT, I'M HAPPY TO GET THIS INFORMATION LATER.
LIKE ARE THESE SO FOR THE NEW PARKS GETTING PEOPLE ADDING TO THAT GOAL AND THEN FOR THE $7 RETURN THAT WE ALL AGREE PARKS DO, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
I WAS WONDERING ALSO WHICH OF THE ITEMS ARE ADDITIVE OF THAT $7.
ARE THERE EXISTING PARKS ALREADY THAT WE HAVE THE $7 FROM? AND THIS IS NOW GOING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.
[05:40:03]
COLLECTED ON, SO TO SPEAK.RIGHT. SO THE TWO QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE ON PARKS, JUST TO BE CLEAR, ARE WHICH ONES ARE GOING TO FULFILL THAT TEN MINUTE GOAL IN A NEW WAY? AND AND ALSO WHICH ONES ARE GOING TO ADD TO THAT $7 BENEFIT UNLESS YOU KNOW SOME OF THESE ANSWERS? NOW, ON THE TEN MINUTE WALK, ONE PROJECT I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER FOR SURE IS FIVE MILE CREEK.
THIS WAS THE PLAN WHICH WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL KESSLER PLAN.
AND MR. CONNOR OR SOMEONE CAN GIVE YOU THE EXACT DATA THAT FIVE MILE CREEK WILL ADD, AND I'LL SEND YOU.
SO OTHER PROJECTS I CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON THE INFORMATION.
YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD BE WORTH JUST.
YEAH. AND WE DON'T IF WE CAN ANSWER IT NOW OR LATER, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE WORTH IT FOR ALL THE COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND OF THE OF THE PARKS PROJECTS, BOTH IN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE.
WHICH ONES ARE GOING TO TAKE US THERE, YOU KNOW, TO OUR GOAL OF OF A TEN MINUTE WALK FROM PLACES THAT CURRENTLY HAVE NO ACCESS TO A PARK. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
THE OTHER THING AGAIN IS WHICH ONES ARE IS THE NEW DOLLARS, THE NEW $7 THING AS OPPOSED TO JUST REPLACEMENT? BECAUSE TO ME, REPLACING PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND ALL THAT, I PUT THAT IN THE SAME CATEGORY IN MY MIND AS STREETS, RIGHT? WE'VE MADE THE INVESTMENT, AND NOW WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INVESTMENT DOESN'T DETERIORATE TO A TO A WORSE PLACE.
SO I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT ON SO I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW THEM ALL OFFHAND.
SO IF SO, I'D LOVE TO GET MAYBE SOMETHING FROM THAT.
THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION BACK TO YOU.
WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION BACK TO YOU.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU ONE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW AND IT HAS A PHASE TWO TO IT.
AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
I CAN'T HEAR YOU. ONE PROJECT WE'RE WORKING ON IS IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE DOING PHASE ONE, AND WE'RE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND THE STAFF ON THAT ONE AS WELL.
THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF PROJECTS, AND IT'S ABOUT $37 MILLION IS IN THIS PROPOSED PROPOSITION.
I GET YOU ALL THE LIST THAT THAT IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS WHERE ARE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE IF WE ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL PARK LAND THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AN OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH.
HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL.
TO ME, THAT'S THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THE BOND MONEY.
YES. THEN I'M ACTUALLY NOW GOING TO MOVE AWAY FROM PARKS IF WE CAN.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW ON HOUSING FROM BOTH THE COMMUNITY BOND AND THE STAFF IS HOW IF WE COULD ALSO GET SOME MORE DETAIL ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE THROUGH THESE PROPOSITIONS ON RETENTION AND ATTAINMENT.
RIGHT. SO WE WE HAVE THE FANTASTIC PIECE THAT'S DONE BY THE ADVOCATES FOR HOUSING ON, YOU KNOW, $10 MILLION, $20 MILLION, $10 MILLION TO PREPARE 20 FOR THIS, WHICH IS GREAT.
AND I'M A HUGE HOUSING ADVOCATE, AS I AM FOR PARKS.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S ANY METRICS AT ALL THAT ARE ANTICIPATED AND MOVING THOSE NEEDLES TOWARD THE, YOU KNOW, THE 33,000 NUMBER THAT EVERYBODY KEEPS BOUNCING AROUND.
SO THEN WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO IMPACT? LIKE WHAT WILL $10 MILLION DO IF WE KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT BECOME HOMELESS? WHAT WOULD $20 MILLION DO IF WE'RE ABLE TO INCENT EVEN MORE THAN THE PFC AND OTHER TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, TO BUILD MORE UNITS? WE KNOW AS AS DIRECTOR JENKINS JUST SAID, THAT SOME OF THESE PARKS WILL ACTUALLY UNLOCK HOUSING, AS YOU MENTIONED, TO CHAIR WEST POINT.
RIGHT? SO WE ALREADY KNOW SOME OF THOSE.
AND WE OUGHT TO DO THOSE CALCULATIONS, BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL OUR VOTERS, IF YOU VOTE FOR THESE HOUSING PROPOSITIONS, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET WE'RE ANTICIPATING X NUMBER OF BRAND NEW UNITS IN THIS CITY THAT'S GOING TO EAT AWAY.
IT'S GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE TOWARD THAT PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN DALLAS AT ALL PRICE POINTS, BECAUSE I KNOW IN DISTRICT 11, IN ADDITION TO, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT'S SUCH A RELATIVE TERM BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THEIR HOMES WHEN THEY WERE FIRST MARRIED, AND NOW THEY'RE IN THEIR 70S
[05:45:02]
AND THEY WANT TO STAY IN THE AREA THAT THEY'VE LIVED FOREVER, AND THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE TO LIVE.THERE'S NOWHERE TO LIVE IF YOU'RE AN EMPTY NESTER IN DISTRICT 11.
AND SO HOW DO WE FIND HOUSING FOR EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF INCOME? SO THOSE ARE THE TWO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT I'D LIKE TO MAYBE GET SOME MORE DATA ON.
ON THE STAFF PROPOSAL, I'D LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN IF I READ THE INFORMATION CORRECTLY.
AND NOW WE'RE ALL SORT OF FLOATING IN PAPER, SO IT'S HARD TO KNOW.
SO SO THE REASON FOR CUTTING THAT REALLY WAS WHEN WE TOOK A LOOK AT OUR RECOMMENDATION.
IT WAS REALLY TO MOVE MONEY TOWARDS STREETS SO THAT WE COULD GET TO THAT ZERO DEGRADATION.
AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, THAT MEANT A LOT OF FOLKS WERE TAKING A HIT ON THAT AND THAT INCLUDED FLOOD.
BUT WE DID WANT TO LEAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THERE FOR FOR MILL CREEK.
AND I BELIEVE THERE'S ONE OTHER LARGE PROJECT THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WAS FUNDED.
SO AS LONG AS WE GOT TO THAT FUNDING LEVEL, THAT WAS KIND OF OUR GOAL.
SO ON EACH AND THE SAME QUESTION I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE CULTURAL ARTS AND THE LIBRARY.
AND SO IF YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY IN ADDITION, I THINK FOR BECAUSE AS I LOOK THROUGH EACH DISTRICT, ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAD CUTS FOR THEIR SPECIFIC DISTRICT THING. SO IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO KNOW WHICH THINGS YOU CUT WITHOUT US HAVING TO GO BACK AND FORTH.
A LIST OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT FOR THE STREETS THING.
ALL RIGHT. THOSE WERE OH AND THEN FINALLY ARE FOR THIS FOR THIS, FOR BOTH ACTUALLY ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS REFLECTIONS OF WHAT THE DEPARTMENTS THEMSELVES HAD ASKED FOR.
YES. WE. ON WHAT TASK FORCE DID? YES, THEY DID GO THROUGH THE NEED LIST FROM THE STAFF.
SO AGAIN I WAS EXPLAINING EARLIER, FIRST, THE TOP LINE WAS CREATED FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEES AND THEN THE SUBCOMMITTEES LOOKED AT THE RECOMMENDATION WHICH WAS PROVIDED AND THEN TOOK INPUT FROM THE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, IF THEY HAD SOME SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR THEIR DISTRICT OR OTHERWISE.
SO AND AND A LOT OF IT, IF IT WAS NOT PART OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, IT CAME FROM THE TOWN HALL OR THE INTERACTIONS THEY HAD WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT THAT TIME.
BUT MOST OF IT, IT DID COME FROM THE NEED INVENTORY LIST FROM THE STAFF, WHICH WAS PROVIDED.
YEAH, OUR STAFF WORKED REALLY WELL WITH ALL THE SUBCOMMITTEES, AND I KNOW IN THE STREETS SUBCOMMITTEE THAT THE STAFF CAME TO THEM AND SAID, THIS IS HOW, YOU KNOW, THE STREETS CAN BE BROKEN OUT.
AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE SAID, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS IS WE'D LIKE TO DO IT THIS WAY.
SO THEY WERE VERY INVOLVED IN HOW THE MONEY WAS DISTRIBUTED IN BETWEEN THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
IF IT WAS A HOUSING, THEY WOULD IF IT WAS ART AND CULTURE, THEY WENT TO THE ART AND CULTURE TO TO SEE HOW THE IMPACT OF EITHER OF THE PAST BOND HAS MADE OR WHERE THE NEED WOULD BE. SO THEY WERE NOT SITTING ON THE DESK AND JUST LOOKING AT THE DATA.
THEY WERE LITERALLY GOING OUTSIDE.
THE NEEDS ARE OR WHAT IMPACT HAS BEEN MADE.
SO THEY HAVE VISUALS RATHER THAN JUST SEEING SOME DATA ON THE PAPER FROM STAFF.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH ANY KIND OF BOND PROGRAM, AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND DEDICATION AND HEART THAT OUR VOLUNTEERS AND OUR STAFF IN EVERY DEPARTMENT, BUT PARTICULARLY THE THREE PEOPLE SITTING RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US, HAVE PUT INTO THIS IS OUTSTANDING.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
AND PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THE PUBLIC, WHOEVER'S LISTENING, REALLY UNDERSTANDS HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THAT YOU ALL PUT INTO THIS AND CARE AND CONCERN AND FIGHT.
IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GIVING AND WE'RE INVESTING, IT'S NOT REALLY WRONG.
WE COULD ARGUE UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME WHETHER OR NOT ONE THING MIGHT BE BETTER THAN ANOTHER.
[05:50:09]
ANY DISTRICTS.I'D LIKE US TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THESE WHERE OUR CITYWIDE HAT IN THIS AREA.
AS WE EXAMINE THE DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS, OUR APPOINTEES WERE TASKED WITH MAKING SURE THAT OUR PAROCHIAL ITEMS MADE IT INTO THE BOND, AND THEY DID A BRILLIANT JOB.
OUR JOB, TO ME, OUGHT TO BE TO STRUGGLE TOGETHER FOR THE SAKE OF OUR ENTIRE CITY.
SO I HOPE THAT WE ALL GO IN THAT SPIRIT AND HAPPY TO TALK TO ANYBODY ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT THEY SEE FROM A CITYWIDE PERSPECTIVE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I'M FINISHED.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT.
IF I MAY ADD, WE HAD ONE TASK FORCE MEMBER.
JUST EXCEPT ONE MEETING TIFFANY YOUNG.
SO THAT WAS THE KIND OF COMMITMENT THEY DID.
WE HAD ANOTHER TASK FORCE MEMBER.
WE WOULD HAVE ISSUE WITH BABYSITTERS.
SHE WOULD HAVE A KID STUDYING IN A ROOM HERE.
SO THE COMMITMENT WAS REALLY SINCERE FROM SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ALL.
AND THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS, THIS, THIS, THE GROUP THAT YOU ASSEMBLED? TOTALLY. THEY WERE COMMITTED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT.
THEY'RE WITH THE MEXICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
BUT I AM PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK THE BOND TASK FORCE, WHO ARE VOLUNTEERS WHO NOT WERE NOT ONLY TASK FORCE MEMBERS, BUT ALSO SERVED ON VARIOUS OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO MAKE OUR DALLAS A BETTER PLACE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS WHO TOOK THE TIME OUT OF THEIR SCHEDULES TO ATTEND THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO GET STARTED WITH WITH MR. ARUN, IF YOU CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL, IF YOU FEEL THAT THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE A TRUE REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT THAT YOU HEARD THROUGHOUT THE MEETINGS, AND WAS THAT A RESULT? CAN WE SEE THAT IN FRONT OF US AS A RESULT? COUNCIL MEMBER AGAIN, THIS IS NOT MY RECOMMENDATION.
THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF 90 PLUS PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON IT, AS I SAID, WHO FULLY COMMITTED THEIR TIME IN THE COMMUNITY, GOING TO THE PROJECTS, LOOKING AT THE RECOMMENDED LIST.
I AM JUST THE MOUTHPIECE OF THEM PRESENTING IT HERE.
THANK YOU. PARKS HAD A BIG ALLOCATION ON THE RECOMMENDATION.
A LOT OF WHAT I'VE HEARD IS HOW DO WE UPKEEP THESE PARKS WITH THE PARKS THAT WE HAVE TODAY WITH NEW PARKS, AND MAYBE WE CAN TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON THE FEE AND LIEU PROGRAMS AND OTHER WAYS THAT WE ARE POTENTIALLY GOING TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THESE FACILITIES.
COUNCIL MEMBER. I THINK IT'S A VERY, VERY FAIR QUESTION THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THESE PARKS AND IN THE FUTURE, HOW DOES AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE, I THINK BEFORE YOU CONSIDER THAT NUMBER, I WOULD REQUEST YOU TO TAKE A BRIEFING FROM DIRECTOR JENKINS THAT WHAT HIS PLAN WOULD BE ON THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PARK PARKS.
AND AND I THINK WHILE YOU DO THAT, IT SHOULD BE DONE FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL, LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, THEY HAVE 120 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WHO ARE BEING CHARGED TO THE BOND, WHICH IS CLOSE TO $15 MILLION A YEAR ANNUALLY, WHICH IS BEING CHARGED TO THE BOND.
SO WILL THERE BE A COST OF IT IF WHAT WE ALLOCATE, HOW MUCH WILL THAT GO REALLY INTO THE PROJECT AND HOW MUCH OF IT THAT WILL GO INTO THE SALARIES OF THE EMPLOYEES? SO I WOULD CHALLENGE NOT ONLY FOR YOU TO CHALLENGE THE DEPARTMENT'S PARKS DEPARTMENT, BUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS ALSO TO COME UP WITH THAT PLAN.
THIS ONE'S FOR OUR CITY STAFF.
IF WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HOW WE IDENTIFY THESE PROJECTS, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE 15 YEARS TO 15 TO 20 YEARS TO QUALIFY THE PUBLIC GOOD SHOVEL READY PROJECTS.
WHAT PUBLIC GOOD MEANS AND WHAT PROJECTS FALL UNDER THAT CATEGORY.
[05:55:02]
THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. AND I THINK PUBLIC GOOD WAS CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, A PART OF THAT, AND NOT ONLY FOR ONE SPECIFIC DISTRICT, BUT FOR FOR, FOR CITYWIDE AND FOR THE BEST, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR THE BEST FOR THE CITY IN GENERAL.SO WHAT WOULD SERVE THE MOST? WHAT TYPE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT WOULD SERVE THE RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY OF CITY OF DALLAS? WOULD BE MY WOULD PROBABLY BE MY RESPONSE TO THAT ONE.
OKAY. AND SO HOW DO WE EVALUATE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A PROJECT? I GUESS IT WOULD JUST DEPEND ON THE PROJECT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SO IN WHAT CATEGORY THAT WOULD FALL IN LIKE THE HVAC.
SO IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON THE, THE ASSET WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
OKAY. SO IN PARTICULAR TO RESURFACING OF STREETS, WILL THE CONTRACTOR OR WHO WILL BE PUTTING A WARRANTY ON THOSE PRODUCTS THAT THAT WE CONSTRUCT.
I MEAN IF THAT STREET DOES REPAIRS, ARE WE ABLE TO CALL IN THE CONTRACTOR TO COME BACK TO TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS? SO FOR RESURFACING AND JUST AS A REMINDER, SO THAT COVERS THREE DIFFERENT PAVEMENT TYPES, RIGHT.
THERE'S ASPHALT ASPHALT OVER CONCRETE AND CONCRETE.
AND IT'S ALMOST A MISNOMER BECAUSE RESURFACING IS APPLIED TO ALL OF IT.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANYBODY THAT WOULD ARGUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE 75% OF THE PANELS, THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A 20 YEAR LIFE OUT OF THE CONCRETE THAT WE'RE PUTTING DOWN. SO.
AND FOR ASPHALT OVER CONCRETE, IT'S IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING.
AND ASPHALT IS, AS WE EVEN SHOWED THAT IN THE IN THE PAVEMENT MANUAL THAT'S ON THE PUBLIC WORKS WEBSITE, THE MAINTENANCE THAT GOES ALONG WITH ANY ASPHALT STREET, WHETHER IT'S A BRAND NEW ASPHALT STREET OR WHETHER OR NOT IT'S BEING RESURFACED, THERE IS A MAINTENANCE COMPONENT TO IT.
SO WE WOULD NOT GO BACK TO A CONTRACTOR AFTER A YEAR.
THEY HAVE A YEAR WARRANTY ON THE ON THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM.
SO IF ANYTHING FAILS WITHIN THAT YEAR, THEN WE DO GO BACK.
BUT I ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE SAME WORRIES.
SOME OF THE STREETS THAT I DRIVE ON, I SEE THAT THERE'S LITTLE TO NO NEED FOR UPGRADES, BUT YET THERE'S OTHER STREETS THAT THEY'RE ON. THE BOND NEEDS INVENTORY OR ACTUALLY MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE BOND RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND SO AGAIN, I DO HAVE SOME PAUSE ON HOW WE EVALUATE SOME OF THESE STREETS AND DETERMINE HOW THEY'RE PLACED ON THERE AND HOW WE SCORE THEM AND HOW WE EVALUATE THEM.
I'M GOING TO BOUNCE BACK TO PARKS FOR A LITTLE BIT.
THERE'S ALSO THE THE TRAILS PROJECTS THAT ARE OUT THERE, EVEN POTENTIALLY TURNING IN ROADWAYS INTO INTO PARKWAYS. SO ELIMINATING CONCRETE AND TURNING THOSE INTO PARKS, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAPTURING THOSE AND THE POTENTIAL TWO MINUTE WALK CHALLENGE.
OKAY. AND THEN I'M GOING TO END WHERE I KIND OF STARTED EARLIER, IS ASKING YOU IF YOU FELT THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU SET FORTH FORWARD WERE A REFLECTION OF WHAT THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE RESIDENTS THAT YOU HEARD SPEAKING AT THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS? IF YOU FELT THAT THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU PUT FORWARD AND YOU ANSWERED THAT.
I WANT TO FOLLOW UP NOW WITH THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION THAT JUST CAME OUT.
IF YOU FEEL THAT THAT'S A REFLECTION AND A TRUE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CONSTITUENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER. AND AGAIN, I SAID, I'M NOT AN EXPERT.
YOU KNOW, I CAME WITH A TOTALLY OUTSIDE VIEW.
[06:00:02]
STAFF HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FROM INSIDE.BUT THE THE PROCESS WHICH WAS DESIGNED IN WHICH MR. BROADNAX ALSO THIS MORNING IN MORNING IN HIS REMARKS SAID THIS SHOULD BE PEOPLE DRIVEN AND IF THIS SHOULD BE PEOPLE DRIVEN, I THINK WORK DONE BY THOSE 90 PEOPLE WHO DID NOT COME WITH THEIR OWN PHILOSOPHIES, THEY WENT TO THE CONSTITUENT CONSTITUENTS, THEY LISTENED TO THEM AND ULTIMATELY RECOMMENDED WHAT I AM PRESENTING IN FRONT OF YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL COUNCILMAN RIDLEY.
WITH REGARD TO THE TASK FORCE'S ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION, DURING YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT INTEREST IN RELATION TO THE TOTAL ALLOCATION OF $375 MILLION.
AND I WANTED TO GET MORE DETAIL ON WHAT YOUR POINT WAS THERE.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON WHY THE TASK FORCE ARRIVED AT THE $375 MILLION FIGURE FOR STREETS? AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
THAT REFERENCE WAS BASED ON LAST YEAR.
THERE WAS 500 SOME DOLLARS WHICH WERE ALLOCATED TO THE STREETS.
AND SO FAR $388 MILLION OF THAT HAS BEEN UTILIZED.
AND IT'S THE HIGHEST INTEREST RATE WE HAVE SEEN AND WHICH WILL CONTINUE AT LEAST I WOULD SAY IF IT IS IN MAY, NOVEMBER, THERE MIGHT BE A CHANCE TO DECREASE DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS.
SO THAT WAS MY POINT ABOUT THE INTEREST RATE.
YOU'RE BASICALLY TAKING CREDIT FOR THAT AS AVAILABLE FUNDING GOING FORWARD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEWLY ALLOCATED $375 MILLION 188 IS STILL AVAILABLE, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.
COUNCILMAN. SO YES, IF WE ADD TO 375 WHICH THE TASK FORCE HAS RECOMMENDED, THEN IT'S COMING CLOSE TO WHAT THE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING, RIGHT? IT'D BE ALMOST $550 MILLION COMBINED COUNCILMAN IF I COULD JUMP IN THERE PLEASE.
YES. SO I WAS GOING TO SAY THIS NICELY THAT THAT REASONING IS A LITTLE FLAWED IN THAT THE $188 MILLION THAT HAS NOT BEEN ALLOCATED YET IS BASICALLY IT'S LARGE PROJECTS AND THE BOND THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AWARD, WHICH IS WHY WE ACTUALLY HAD TO ISSUE $215 MILLION OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AS PART OF THE FY 24 BUDGET PROCESS TO FINISH OUT THOSE PROJECTS SO THAT THAT FUNDING IS NOT AVAILABLE. I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD, SIR.
RIGHT. SO SO ONE OF THE ONE OF THE ONES THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU IS MCKINNEY COLE.
IT'S BUDGETED AT $20 MILLION, BUT I THINK IT'S COMING IN CLOSER TO 30.
ANOTHER 10 MILLION OF THAT, $215 MILLION OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
BUT ON A SIMPLISTIC LEVEL, THE $188 MILLION WILL FROM THE 2017 BOND PROPOSITION WILL BE UTILIZED FOR STREET PROJECTS IN DALLAS GOING FORWARD THAT ARE PART OF THE 2017 BOND PROJECT.
AND AGAIN, ANOTHER POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
OH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. SO WE'RE NOT ACCRUING INTEREST.
I THINK THAT WAS THE STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. WE DON'T DO THAT.
YEAH. NO, I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T SELL A BILLION WON IN BONDS THE FIRST YEAR.
YOU SELL THEM IN TRANCHES AFTER.
SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT FOR THE PUBLIC.
THANK YOU. UNDERSTOOD. SO ABOUT HOUSING AGAIN, MR. AGARWAL, THE 70 MILLION THAT THE TASK FORCE ALLOCATED FOR THAT PURPOSE, WAS IT ALLOCATED TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS? I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHICH ONES.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF IT WAS ALLOCATED TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS LIKE STREETS WAS, OR IS IT JUST A LUMP SUM THAT WILL LATER BE ALLOCATED TO SPECIFIC HOUSING PROJECTS?
[06:05:01]
SO THE ONE WHICH WAS ALLOCATED AS PART OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ONE OF THE REASON THOSE WERE ALLOCATED FOR THOSE THREE PROJECTS IS THOSE ARE THE AREAS EITHER OF EQUITY WHERE THE GROWTH IS NEEDED.SO WHEN WE ARE DOING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING BECOMES PART OF IT.
SO THAT NEEDS A DEVELOPMENT TOO.
SO WHAT WAS ALLOCATED WAS PROJECT RELATED.
SO IT FELT LIKE WE WERE GIVING A BLANK CHECK OF A NUMBER WITHOUT A PLAN.
OKAY, SO WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION AT THE TASK FORCE LEVEL OF PROVIDING RENOVATION FUNDING FOR THE FOUR BUILDINGS THAT THE CITY HAS PURCHASED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING? NO COUNCIL MEMBER THAT DISCUSSION WAS NOT THAT PROJECT LEVEL DISCUSSION DID NOT HAPPEN AT TASK FORCE.
SO THERE WAS NO CONSIDERATION.
THERE WAS NO CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO FUNDING THOSE PROJECTS FOR THE RENOVATION, FOR THE AFFORDABLE.
KNOW THAT THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION, AND WE DID NOT DISCUSS IT FURTHER.
OKAY, SO THE SAME QUESTION TO STAFF, WHY WEREN'T THOSE FOUR PROJECTS CONSIDERED IN THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOUSING ALLOCATION? SO AGAIN, THE AND YOU'RE CORRECT, THE ONLY PROJECT THAT WE SPECIFICALLY FUNDED WAS FOR THE BRIDGE.
I WOULD ASK CHRISTINE IF SHE'S AVAILABLE TO COME AND TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO COUNCILMAN, IN LIEU OF, I GUESS, CHRISTINE, I THINK I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HER.
THOSE PROJECTS, WHETHER THROUGH A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP OR HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH THEM AND OR FUNDING THAT MAY COME FROM THE COUNTY AND OR HOW WE POSITION OTHER PROJECTS, WILL BE FUNDING THOSE PROJECTS SEPARATELY AND NOT AS A PART OF THE BOND PROGRAM.
YES, AT THIS TIME, AND NOT SQUEEZE OUT OTHER PROJECTS THAT MAY HAVE A LATER TIMELINE.
THESE AS OFTEN TALKED ABOUT HAVE NOT ADVANCED.
ONE TO DISCONTINUE THE COMMENTS AND STATEMENTS AROUND HERE.
WE ARE ANOTHER TWO YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WAITING ON A BOND PROGRAM TO HAPPEN, FOR WHICH WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN THAT BOND PROGRAM WILL GO BEFORE THE VOTERS, BECAUSE IT'S STILL AN OPEN QUESTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND I'LL SAY ONE MORE THANK YOU TO THE THE SUBCOMMITTEES AND TO THE BOND COMMITTEE.
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DIG INTO THESE AND HAVE THE DISCUSSION.
SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THE EYES AND EARS.
AND I HEARD THE REMARKS FROM FROM MANY COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABOUT HOW IT REALLY DID OPEN THEIR EYES TO THE LEVEL OF NEED ACROSS THE CITY, AND TO UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHY OF OTHER DISTRICTS AND WHAT THEY WERE FACING.
SO JUST LOOKING AT THE BOND PROGRAM OVERALL, AND I THINK WE'VE DONE THIS TO SOME DEGREE, BUT.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU PRESSURE TESTED ITEMS. I MEAN, I THINK EVERY ITEM SHOULD BE PRESSURE TESTED ABOUT AGAINST WHETHER IT CAN BE FUNDED SOME OTHER WAY.
BUT I THINK WE ALL KNOW IT COSTS A LOT MORE MONEY TO BORROW MONEY.
IT COSTS MONEY TO BORROW MONEY NOW TO A GREATER DEGREE THAN IT DID IN 2017.
AND SO WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE THE BOND COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE LEVEL ABOUT WHAT OTHER FUNDING SOURCES COULD BE, OR WERE YOU ALL GOING TO WAIT FOR STAFF TO TO WEIGH IN THAT THE DISCUSSION DEFINITELY DID HAPPEN IN THE SUB CATEGORIES.
BUT THEN HOW DO WE LEVERAGE THE DOLLAR? SO WHEN IT CAME TO THE ALTERNATE FUNDING IS HOW DO WE WHITE ROCK LAKE DREDGING THAT CAME UP THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE FUND THAT THAT WE CAN GET THAT, YOU KNOW,
[06:10:08]
FIVE TIMES FEDERAL DOLLARS IF WE LOSE IT.AND CERTAINLY IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE WAS TOTALLY AGREEING TO THAT.
BUT CITY AND HONESTLY, THAT AND THEN THEY HAVE ENDOWMENTS.
WHY CAN'T THEY USE ENDOWMENTS? BUT ENDOWMENTS CANNOT BE USED FOR THE MAINTENANCE.
THE LONG TERM MAINTENANCE, WHICH THEY ARE NEEDED.
AND PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS ARE HARD TO COME JUST TO JUST FOR THOSE MAINTENANCE.
BUT STILL I THINK WE TASK FORCE REQUESTED AND THE OUR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERS, THEY CAME UP WITH THE LEVERAGE IN TERMS OF MATCHING NOT ONE TO 1 TO 2, BUT 1 TO 3 IS WHAT THE BASE WE KEPT.
AND THEN WHEN IT CAME TO HOUSING, THAT'S WHERE ONE DISCUSSION HAPPENS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE 15 SOURCES WHICH I CAN READ.
AND I WAS AMAZED ALSO THAT HOW MANY ALTERNATE SOURCES WHICH ARE THERE FOR THE HOUSING, WHICH CAN BE.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE MAIN DISCUSSION WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW HOW CITIES SHOULD BECOME A CATALYST IN THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF MAYBE, YOU KNOW, CREATING A SPECIAL PERMITTING PROCESS THAT MAKES IT EASY INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS IN A DIFFERENT WAY RATHER THAN GIVING THEM A CHECK, YOU KNOW, REDUCE THEIR PERMIT FEES, TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, YOUR PERMITS WON'T TAKE SIX MONTHS.
THEY WILL BE DONE IN THREE MONTHS, MAYBE THE UTILITY FEES AND THEN THEN THAT INCENTIVIZE.
AND THEN THEY CAN AUTOMATICALLY TAKE FROM THE OTHER 15 SOURCES WHICH ARE THERE.
AND SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY THEY'RE DOING PRETTY DECENT WORK.
AND THE FUNDING IS HAPPENING THROUGH THOSE SOURCES RIGHT NOW.
AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT DISCUSSION DID TAKE PLACE.
SO SO I UNDERSTAND THAT PART, BUT I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS SOME DEPTH AROUND THOSE DISCUSSIONS IN GOING TO SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALL BROUGHT UP AROUND STREETS, AND I UNDERSTAND IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE HIGHEST ALLOCATION.
AND THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING HOW THAT NUMBER WAS ARRIVED AT AFTER BEING LESS THAN LAST YEAR.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE HIGHEST ALLOCATION, IT'S STILL ABOUT $71 MILLION SHORT OF WHAT THE CITY NEEDS JUST TO TREAD WATER ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS JUST TO TO GET TO MAINTAINING.
AND EVEN SO I THINK WE'RE BEING ASKED FOR OR YOU, DR.
PEREZ, YOU'VE SAID IT'LL BE 500 MILLION OR 100 MILLION A YEAR TO REALLY KEEP US AT THAT LEVEL.
AND YET THE YOU'RE RECOMMENDING 446 MILLION IS IN YOUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF WHAT THE STREETS NUMBER SHOULD BE, AND THAT IS SPECIFIC TO STREETS THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE OTHER TRANSPORTATION FACTORS.
SO, I MEAN, THAT WOULD TAKE UP THE WHOLE BOND.
I MEAN, IF WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO PUT MONEY TOWARDS THAT.
SO AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S OTHER NEEDS ACROSS THE VARIOUS AREAS.
SO I MEAN, WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH A 1.1.
SO I THINK WE KNOW WE NEED ANOTHER FUNDING PLAN TO GET AT THIS.
SO I DON'T EXPECT IT ALL TO COME FROM THE BOND.
BUT I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT OF CLARIFICATION, TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN'T JUST KNOCK THE NUMBER DOWN BECAUSE SOME OF THE MONEY HASN'T BEEN SPENT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS MARKETPLACE YOU'VE GOT I MEAN, THERE WAS SOME MONEY ALLOCATED.
AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TIME TO TEE IT UP, IT DOESN'T COST THAT ANY MORE.
BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE DID NOT NEED THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GET AT OUR STREETS.
WE MIGHT NEED THAT CAPACITY TO FINISH OFF THE 2024 BOND PROJECTS.
SO I THINK IT'S A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD APPROACH.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE TO A MORE FREQUENT GAUGING OF THAT.
[06:15:03]
UNDERSTOOD, MA'AM.WE KNOW THAT. AND JUST IN THE STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION ALONE, WE HAVE LIKE AN $8 BILLION NEED.
AND YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS WHAT'S IN THE NEEDS INVENTORY.
SO WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET EVERYTHING.
I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO PUT.
AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT RESURFACING AND, YOU KNOW, AN ROI.
SO YEAH, THERE IS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE AGAIN, ENSURING IF WE DO THE RESURFACING AND WE KEEP UP WITH OUR MAINTENANCE, WHICH WE HAD NOT HISTORICALLY DONE, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WHEN, WHEN I FIRST STARTED WITH THE CITY SIX YEARS AGO, I THINK WE WERE PUTTING $1 MILLION, MAYBE, MAYBE 1.7 TOWARDS OUR PRESERVATION PROGRAM.
NOW WE'RE UP NORTH OF 5 MILLION ANNUALLY.
RIGHT? SO WITH THE BIG INVESTMENT WE WOULD MAKE ON THE RECONSTRUCTION, NOW WE'VE GOT A PROGRAM THAT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY TO MAINTAIN THOSE BETTER AND NOT HAVE THIS CYCLE BACK SO FAST. OKAY, MISS NISWANDER, I THINK IT WAS ON PAGE 11.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CATALYTIC PROJECTS, AND I'M I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO DIG INTO SPECIFICS.
I DO HAVE A LIBRARY THAT I THINK SUFFERED BECAUSE IT GOT REDISTRICTED OUT OF DISTRICT SIX AND INTO D 13, BUT IT'S A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE CITY INVESTING IN A PRETTY PRIME LOT AT FOREST AND MARSH IN 2006, I BELIEVE.
AND THOUGH YOU KNOW I LOVE MY VICTORY PARK LIBRARY, IT BREAKS MY HEART THAT IN OH 7 TO 0 11 OR 211, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL FOR MIXED USE THERE.
AND SO WE'VE GOT A GREAT LIBRARY.
AND SO LET'S NOT DO THAT ANYMORE.
I THINK THERE'S REAL HEART FOR CREATING MIXED USE EVERYWHERE WE CAN.
SO THAT LOT HAS BEEN SITTING THERE SINCE 2006, AND WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK MANY BOXES.
WE CAN MAKE THIS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT COLLECTING TAX ON IT NOW, BUT WE COULD DO HAVE OUR LIBRARY.
AND WHERE WE COULD PUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE'VE ACTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO BE PART OF THE LYDA HILL GREENING INITIATIVE, WHERE A CORNER OF THAT LOT WILL BE A POCKET PARK AND HELP OUR PARK SCORE.
BUT AS I LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'VE GOT IN OAK CLIFF, NORTH OAK CLIFF, AND I LOOK AT THIS AREA THAT I SHARE WITH DISTRICT SIX, I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT WE HAVE A POOL OF MONEY THAT WE CAN TAP INTO FOR MIXED USE, SO WE CAN GO OUT AND PURSUE OUR ECO DEV TEAM CAN GO OUT AND PURSUE DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN HELP GENERATE SOME REVENUE, AND ALSO CREATE HOUSING AND CREATE A BETTER ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ON THAT CORNER.
SO I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT SUFFER BECAUSE IT GOT MOVED INTO DISTRICT 13 OUT OF D SIX.
SO ONE THING I WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND I KNOW CHAIR MORENO OF THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE IS ALSO LOOKING AT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, BECAUSE THE HOUSING COALITION WOULD LIKE $200 MILLION, $40 MILLION A YEAR.
AND WE'RE NORTH OF 41 MILLION ANNUALLY.
AND SO THE QUESTION IS, IN THIS MARKETPLACE WHERE IT'S EXPENSIVE TO BORROW MONEY, HOW WE CAN LOOK AT USING OTHER INCENTIVES, SOME OF WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE UNDERWAY IN OUR 14 DIFFERENT HOUSING PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, IS IT MONEY? IS IT A LOAN.
IS IT A TAX INCENTIVE? IS IT OUR RENT REDUCTION OPPORTUNITIES? I MEAN, DOES IT HAVE TO BE CASH MONEY? AND SO WHILE I THINK WE'VE GOT OTHER NONPROFITS OUT THERE, WE'VE GOT THE PRIVATE SECTOR OUT THERE AND REALLY HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.
BUT WHEREVER THAT GAP IS THAT NO ONE ELSE WILL DO, THAT'S WHERE THE CITY OF DALLAS NEEDS TO BE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO FIT IN THAT CERTAIN ROLE AND THE DEVELOPERS, THEY CAN'T GET THE DEAL DONE WITHOUT INCENTIVE, AND NO ONE ELSE IS STEPPING UP BUT THE CITY.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE'RE BEING ASKED FOR REALLY BIG NUMBERS, THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING, WE HAVE A GREATER SENSE OF WHAT OTHERS HAVE PLANS TO DO, AND THAT WHEREVER THAT HOLE IS, THAT THAT'S WHERE WE WE STEP IN TO FILL.
[06:20:03]
SO I THINK ONE OTHER QUESTION I HAD, AND THIS IS, I BELIEVE ON PAGE 13, IT'S GETTING INTO THE CENSUS TRACTS AND THE COMPOSITION I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT.AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE NOT DIMINISHING THE SITUATION OF SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVE DIRE NEED BECAUSE THEY DON'T TAKE UP THE GEOGRAPHY THAT OTHER DISTRICTS MAY HAVE, BUT THEY DEFINITELY HAVE THE DENSITY, YOU KNOW, AN AVERAGE SALARY IN THEIR CENSUS TRACT OF $30,000.
BUT I'VE JUST I'VE STILL NOT BEEN COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
WITH THAT SAID, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M NECESSARILY HAPPY WITH WHAT WE'RE GETTING.
AND I'LL TELL YOU THIS, THE PROCESS AND WE'VE HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT US, YOU KNOW, FEELING ALMOST AS IF WE WE HAVE TO GO AGAINST OR IT'S PINNING DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. AND I FEEL THAT THERE WAS SOMEWHAT OF, OF A LACK OF COHESIVENESS TO FIND SOME CONSENSUS. AND WE'RE BEING GIVEN A LOT OF NUMBERS.
THAT REALLY, IN MY OPINION, MAKES MORE WORK FOR US.
AND I THOUGHT THAT THIS PROCESS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO BE MORE STREAMLINED.
AND I APPRECIATE THIS BEING INCLUDED IN YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT THE COUNCIL WAS ASKED FOR INPUT BEFORE ANY OF THIS STARTED, AND WE WERE ASKED WITH A HARD DEADLINE AND THEY WANTED TO HEAR.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY WE WENT THROUGH THIS EXERCISE, BECAUSE THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT THE COUNCIL'S AVERAGE IS ON ANY OF THESE PRIORITIES IS SO SKEWED BY BOTH OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE GETTING, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WASN'T LOOKED AT AS SOME SORT OF A GUIDE, KNOWING THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO US TO WORK TOWARDS A CONSENSUS.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR Y'ALL'S, YOU KNOW, RATIONALE AND PRIORITIZATION OF THIS DATA THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU ALL AND HOW IT WAS USED TO TO START THE FOUNDATION OF Y'ALL'S EXERCISING.
AND I'LL TAKE THAT FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER.
NO THANKS. AND GREAT OBSERVATION.
AND THAT'S THE REASON I THINK I PUT THIS SLIDE IN HERE, IS, FIRST OF ALL, THE REASON I THINK THIS DATA BECAME A LITTLE LESS RELEVANT WHILE WE WERE CONSIDERING IS THIS WAS DONE WITH A PREVIOUS COUNCIL.
SO WE HAD TWO NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE ONLY SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT. ONLY SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS RESPONDED.
SO THIS IS THE DATA OF SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO REALLY IT DOES NOT GIVE THE AVERAGE OF THE COUNCIL.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I MENTIONED THAT.
YES, IF WE HAD A HARD DATA AND THIS WAS MUCH BEFORE EVEN, IT WAS JUST RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS, BEFORE EVEN A SINGLE TOWN HALL, BEFORE EVEN YOU HAD YOUR TOWN HALLS, OR WE HAD OUR COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE, BECAUSE A LOT OF FINDINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE ARE DOING THOSE TOWN HALLS.
ONLY IF SEVEN OF YOUR COLLEAGUES WOULD HAVE VOTED ON IT.
AND I DON'T KNOW REASON WHY OTHERS NOT EITHER THEY MISSED THE TIMELINE OR WHATEVER.
COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I MEAN, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL ADULTS AND I CAN'T TELL MY COLLEAGUES WHEN THEY'RE GIVEN A DEADLINE TO TO MEET IT. I KNOW I DID RIGHT, AND I DON'T THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE SEVEN OF US DID, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISREGARDED.
[06:25:03]
AND THAT'S THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.AND AGAIN, THAT'S NOT A DIG AT THE WORK THAT YOU ALL PUT IN.
WHY, FOR INSTANCE, HOUSING WITH ULTIMATELY THE $25 MILLION COMING FROM THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION ON THE HOUSING LINE, THE AVERAGE OF SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WAS 150.
YOU KNOW, WE GOT A RECOMMENDATION FROM PARKS THAT WAS.
346. THE AVERAGE FROM THE SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WAS 175.
SO IT JUST IT ALMOST SEEMS AS IF THIS WAS A POINTLESS EXERCISE AND IT CREATED MORE WORK.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S NOT JUST YOURS, BECAUSE I CAN TALK ABOUT THE DISCREPANCIES FROM STAFF NOW.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT STAFF THAT HAS $80 MILLION LESS IN HOUSING.
WE'VE GOT $50 MILLION PLUS IN PARKS AS WELL.
THAT'S WHO THE VOTERS ELECTED.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH, WITH WITH YOUR STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE THE HUGE DELTAS BETWEEN THAT RECOMMENDATION AND THE ONE THAT THE TASK FORCE GAVE AND THEN AND THEN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT, EVEN IF IT IS JUST SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE DATA THAT YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN THAT IS FROM THIS ELECTED BODY, IT'S IT'S ALL OUT OF WHACK. AND SO NOW HERE WE ARE.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE STARTING FROM FROM SQUARE ONE.
AND AS THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, THEIR NUMBERS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING THEIR KNOWLEDGE BASE WAS INCREASING, I THINK AT THE BEGINNING OF IT AND THE END OF IT, I THINK SO AGAIN, WHEN WE GOT THE PRIORITIES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS AND WITH ONLY AND WE SPECIFICALLY ASKED THAT QUESTION, THAT HOW MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE REALLY GIVEN THIS DATA? IT WAS SEVEN. WE PRESENTED IT TO THE TASK FORCE AND THEN THEY DECIDED, OKAY, IF THAT'S THE CASE, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO PRESENT WHAT WE FIND, WHY, YOU KNOW, OUR OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION GATHERING.
AND THESE ALL WERE THE REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTED BY THIS BODY.
THIS WAS NOT WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED, WAS NOT A DECISION OF ONE PERSON.
IT WAS MORE THAN 90 PEOPLE WHO DID.
SO, SIR, I'M LOOKING AT THE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COUNCIL COUNCIL INPUT AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL.
I'VE DONE THE MATH. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
NO NO NO NO I TOTALLY I'M CHECKING IT OUT RIGHT NOW.
SO I THINK ONE OF THE BIG DISCREPANCIES, OR ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES THAT YOU HAVE POINTED OUT, IS THE COUNCIL OUTPUT FOR LIKE 445 MILLION AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AT THE BEGINNING, STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF ABOUT 500 MILLION.
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WE UNDERSTOOD THAT WHAT WE WOULD NEED, WE NEED $100 MILLION EACH YEAR, ANNUALLY EACH YEAR TO REACH OUR ZERO ZERO DEGRADATION, ALONG WITH OUR ALONG WITH OUR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW, TOO, THAT WE HAVE SIGNALS THAT ARE WARRANTED.
WE ALSO KNOW WE HAVE SOME BRIDGES THAT WE NEED TO REPAIR BEFORE THEY FALL.
NOT NOT THAT ANYTHING'S GOING TO FALL, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, LIKE WE HAVE OTHER NEEDS.
SO AS A PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATION, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS MOST OF THESE DOLLARS ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR, THAT'S WHY A VAST MAJORITY WENT TO THE STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION AS FAR AS THE PARKS AND RECREATION TO 25, IN VERSES 175 VERSUS 165, WHERE WE STARTED WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
I MEAN, IT WOULD BE RATHER DIFFICULT TO GO FROM A $350 MILLION RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TASK FORCE TO TAKE IT DOWN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 175 OR 165.
SO WE YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKS.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S ADDRESSED AND REFLECTED HERE, THE FLOOD AND PROTECTION, THE FLOODING, I MEAN, 60.5 VERSUS 50 MILLION, 15 MILLION.
I LOVE OUR STORMWATER PARTNERS, BUT WE ALSO KNOW TOO THAT THEY DO HAVE A STORMWATER REVENUE FUND.
SO I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION, AGAIN, KNOWING THE VAST NUMBER OF NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, AND WE CAME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE CLOSE.
[06:30:03]
THANK YOU. I LOVE PARKS.I JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD AND START THERE.
OKAY. YES, THERE IS A BIG BUT.
BUT, BUT I ALSO REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS CITY.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THESE PARK AMENITIES TO HAVE PEOPLE TO FREQUENT THEM.
WE HAVE GOTTEN A BRIEFING THAT I QUESTIONED ABOUT THE PROFITABILITY AND THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
WHEN IT COMES TO PARKS, 7 TO 1 IS GIVEN TO US VERY ARBITRARILY.
WHEN YOU HAVE 410 PARKS IN A PARK SERIES AND JUST A HANDFUL OF THEM ACTUALLY GENERATING REVENUE, I DON'T THINK IT'S VERY GENUINE OF A MESSAGE TO TELL US THAT JUST ACQUISITION OF PARK SPACE ACROSS THE THE CITY IS GOING TO ACT AS ECONOMIC DRIVERS.
I NEED A LOT MORE DATA TO BACK THAT UP.
AND JUST AS I SAID EARLIER IN COMMITTEE, THAT IF WE'VE GOT SOME THAT ARE GOING TO BE GENERATING IN OUR PROFITABILITY ARE PROFITABLE, THEN WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT MORE AMENITIES INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, ASSETS THAT AREN'T GENERATING ANYTHING.
BUT IF THAT'S NOT BROKEN DOWN TO US, I THINK THAT IT'S IT'S A DISINGENUOUS ASK TO PUT IN A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND NOT BE ABLE TO QUANTIFY WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US THAT PARKLAND IS AND HOW PROFITABLE IT IS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN'T DRIVE TO THESE PARKS WITHOUT GETTING A BLOWOUT, THEN WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT HAVING A PARK? WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THESE PRIORITIES.
AND I AND I APPRECIATE THAT MESSAGE.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FUNCTION OF US AS A CITY GOVERNMENT.
WHAT IS THE CORE RESPONSIBILITIES HERE? I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN BE SAYING THAT THAT'S WHERE OUR PRIORITY IS, WITH THIS HUGE OF A PERCENTAGE GOING TO PARKLAND, AND NO JUSTIFICATION FOR HOW THAT'S GOING TO RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT. MEANWHILE, WE'VE GOT STREETS THAT ARE CRUMBLING.
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS.
SO AGAIN, I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD TO PICK AND CHOOSE AND PIN PRIORITIES AGAINST EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF LOOKING COHESIVELY AT WHAT'S GOING TO BRING OUR CITY FORWARD.
THAT'S NOT THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED NOW.
NOW WE'RE HAVING TO SIFT THROUGH WHAT DIFFERENT BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDING.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.
RACIAL EQUITY PLAN THAT WAS PASSED BY THIS COUNCIL.
NOTHING THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US REFLECTS IT.
WILSON, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
THE VERY FIRST TIME WE WERE PRESENTED WITH THE BOND BEFORE ANY OF THIS WORK STARTED AT THE TASK FORCE LEVEL, BEFORE ANY OF THIS STARTED WITH BRIEFINGS, I ASKED SPECIFICALLY ON RECORD FOR THIS TO BE DONE COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
I DON'T EVEN NEED TO ASK YOU IF IT WAS DONE COLLABORATIVELY, BECAUSE I CAN SEE THESE NUMBERS AND KNOW THAT IT WASN'T, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE IF YOU COULD KIND OF ARTICULATE HOW MUCH COLLABORATION WENT INTO IT.
AND WHY DOESN'T THIS REFLECT EQUITY IN THE WAY THAT OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET EACH OCTOBER OR EACH FALL IS PRESENTED TO US? GOOD AFTERNOON.
LINDSEY WILSON, DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I WOULD SAY THAT TO START, EQUITY WAS A COMPONENT, ONE OF MANY COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE TECHNICAL SCORE AS WELL.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT HAS A BIG CONSIDERATION OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY.
I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE WORKED ALONG AND ACROSS WITH SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING BONDS.
THAT BEING SAID, THIS WAS AN EVER CHANGING PROCESS.
AND SO SOME OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY IS A RESULT OF ALSO STILL NEEDING TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE AND LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TODAY.
WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THE DIRECTIVE FROM OUR CITY MANAGER TO LISTEN VERY CLEARLY TODAY, AS WELL AS GOING BACK AND TAKING THAT DEEPER DIVE BECAUSE OF THE WAYS THAT THINGS HAVE BEEN SHIFTING AND CHANGING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF, IF, IF IT LOOKS AS IF THERE'S AN EFFORT SO THAT ALL 14 DISTRICTS ARE GETTING AN EVEN PIECE OF THE PIE, IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER EQUITY? SO EQUITY IS NOT ABOUT EVERYONE GETTING THE SAME SLICE OF ANYTHING.
[06:35:04]
IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHO HAS THE GREATEST NEED.AND THEN HOW ARE WE BEING INTENTIONAL AROUND ADDRESSING THAT GREATEST NEED.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. IN FACT, CAN YOU REMIND US OF WHAT THE MISSION STATEMENT IS OF OUR RACIAL EQUITY PLAN? SO OUR RACIAL EQUITY PLAN IS A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK THAT HELPS THE CITY AND UNDERSTANDING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ADDRESSING THE RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES THAT WE KNOW EXIST HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND HISTORICAL NEGLECT WAS A BIG POINT OF CONTENTION WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS PLAN.
IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT IS CORRECT.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT ONE PIECE OF EQUITY.
FOR INSTANCE, WE'VE GOT PARKS AND A VERY LARGE PROPOSAL THAT WAS GIVEN TO US.
I'VE GOT A PARK THAT I CONSIDER OUR CITY'S JEWEL.
AND THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE LAST I HEARD WAS ABOUT $600 MILLION.
HISTORICAL NEGLECT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED IN A RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.
HISTORICAL NEGLECT $600 MILLION.
AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT A $346 MILLION RECOMMENDATION OR STAFF'S $225 MILLION IS INCLUSIVE OF A TOTAL OF $4 MILLION FOR FAIR PARK.
I COUNCIL MEMBER I THINK FAIR PARK.
I THINK IT WILL BE UNFAIR FOR ANYONE TO SAY THAT FAIR PARK IS NOT GETTING THE ATTENTION.
IT IS. I YOU KNOW, BREMER WAS HISTORIC, WHICH CAME RECENTLY.
THE STAFF CAME UP WITH A NEW FUNDING PLAN.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YES, THE BREMER BILL IS NOT ON THE BACKS OF THE PAYER OF THE TAXPAYERS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER, WHICH IS IN THE PLAN.
THAT IS A HISTORICALLY NEEDED PROGRAM, WHICH IS THERE.
WHITE ROCK HILL RECREATION CENTER, WHICH IS THERE.
SURE, SIR. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
ABSOLUTELY. SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING.
I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE CITY HAS FAILED TO INVEST IN, IN OUR HISTORY, IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY AND WHAT WE'RE PERPETUATING GOING FORWARD BY THIS TYPE OF PROPOSAL THAT THIS BODY IS SUPPOSED TO WEIGH OUT.
WE ARE PERPETUATING A PROBLEM THAT WE'RE SAYING WE'RE TRYING TO FIX.
AND I DON'T HAVE DETAILS OF WHAT HOW THE EQUITY CONSIDERATION HAD HAPPENED.
SO IF IF WE WOULD HAVE DONE FAIR PARK AND WE WOULD HAVE IGNORED MARTIN LUTHER KING PROJECT, MAYBE YOU WOULD HAVE QUESTIONED ME ON THE SAME THING THAT WHY ARE YOU NOT DOING MARTIN LUTHER KING PROJECT? NO. YES, EQUITY IS A NEED, BUT CAN WE FIX 100% OF IT IN ONE BOND? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN.
MEANWHILE WE'RE GOING TO TOP OFF OVER $30 MILLION FOR KLYDE WARREN PARK WHICH THE PARK THAT WE TOLD THE TAXPAYERS WAS GOING TO BE ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR'S DIME, NOT OURS. SO WHERE IS OUR COMMITMENT NOW.
AND KLYDE WARREN PARK IS NOT $30 MILLION COUNCIL MEMBER BETWEEN THE TWO BONDS.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT THEY ARE BRINGING IN TERMS OF SEVEN TIMES OF OTHER FUNDING AS WELL.
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT AS WELL.
I WOULD I WOULD HAVE VERY READILY ACCEPTED IT IF FAIR PARK WAS NOT GETTING OTHER HELP FROM.
DOESN'T MATTER. AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS SAME QUESTION.
WERE ALTERNATE SOURCES OF FUNDING CONSIDERED THAT AS AN ALTERNATE SOURCES BEFORE WE DO IT, SIR.
YEAH. WITH THAT MENTALITY, SHOULD KLYDE WARREN PARK BE IN OUR BOND PROPOSITION? HOW MUCH EXTERIOR FUNDING IS GOING TO THAT PARK? IF THE MENTALITY IS THAT THERE'S ALREADY HELP AND INVESTMENT COMING FROM OUTSIDE, WHY ARE WE PUTTING MONEY IN THE SOUTHERN GATEWAY PARK?
[06:40:06]
WE KNOW THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SEVERAL BUCKETS TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE, AND THAT'S NOT REFLECTING.AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU'RE JUST PICKING ONE FAIR PARK PROJECT.
YOU CAN GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE THAT IS EQUIVALENT.
CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN BATTLE, YOU HAVE A TIME.
OKAY. I'LL WAIT TILL NEXT ROUND.
THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ.
AND FIRST I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING YOU, MR. AGARWAL, FOR CHAIRING THE TASK FORCE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY TASK FORCE MEMBERS FOR DISTRICT SIX, WHO REPRESENTED US EQUITABLY AND VALIANTLY MR. TIM DICKEY, DR.
ERICA SOLIS, SHARON HOWARD, RAUL REYES, ILKNUR OZGUR, AND THE HONORABLE JOE CAROLYN.
WE PAID VERY STRICT ATTENTION TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR DISTRICT WAS FULLY REPRESENTED AND AND PEOPLE THAT REALLY KNEW THE ISSUES IN THAT, IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA.
AND I'M JUST SO PROUD OF THEM AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY DID.
NOT EVERYTHING MADE IT. NOT EVERYTHING GOT IN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS MADE IT AND A LOT OF THINGS GOT IN.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF OF THAT.
I'M GOING TO START OUT WITH STREETS.
I'M JUST I'M JUST GOING TO SPEAK OVERALL.
SO STREET RESURFACING I'M DEFINITELY WE NEED TO DO IT 521 GUYS VERSUS HAVING TO REPLACE.
PEREZ HOW MUCH DOES IT COST PER LANE? HOW TO REPLACE A STREET.
PER LANE MILE RIGHT NOW AROUND $2.5 MILLION PER LANE, MILE PER LANE MILE.
SO NOW REMEMBER LANE MILES AND DOESN'T MEAN IF IT'S A FOUR LANE ROAD.
AT TIMES FOUR. SO THAT'S 10 MILLION RIGHT.
AND THEN THE FURTHER YOU GO IT COSTS EVEN MORE.
STREET RESURFACING IS ABOUT HOW MUCH PER LANE MILE RIGHT NOW ABOUT 600.
I WANT TO SAVE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY AND GET WAY MORE STREETS RESURFACED.
I DO AGREE WE NEED TO BE ON A PAY AS YOU GO AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THERE.
AND I'M PROUD OF THE COMMITTEE AND I'M PROUD OF THIS, MY COLLEAGUES, FOR DOING THAT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE.
AND WE DIDN'T GET INTO THIS MESS OVERNIGHT.
I THINK YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE.
WE CAN'T BLAME THIS ONE BOND ON ALL OF THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX $18 MILLION WORTH OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN IN STREETS, SIDEWALK I MEAN STREET SIDEWALKS AND ALLEYS.
IT'S FOR FOUR AND FOR TWO AND TWO.
IT'S 18 BILLION OVERALL AND 8 BILLION OF THAT IS STREET SIDEWALKS AND ALLEYS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT WITH A $1 BILLION BOND.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THE RIGHT STREETS AND ROADS.
WE'VE MAINTAINED IT AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY MORE ISSUES WITH IT.
WHERE BEFORE IT WAS THE BUMPIEST MOST CRAZY RIDE THAT YOU'VE EVER BEEN ON.
AND I KNOW WE ALL HAVE THOSE STREETS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
AND YES, I AS WELL GET THOSE SAME PICTURES FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T END UP AND WE LOOK THEM UP AND THEY'RE NOT IN NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND WE GET THEM IN VERY QUICKLY. I'M CONSTANTLY STUDYING THAT NEEDS ASSESSMENT LIST WITH MY STAFF, WITH MY COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY GETTING MORE STREETS INTO THAT NEED ASSESSMENT LIST BECAUSE THE PCI DOES GREAT.
BUT AFTER THREE YEARS, THAT'S NOT LONG ENOUGH.
THE NEXT THING IS IN THE SAME AREA IS 88 CURB OUTS WAS MENTIONED AND I WANT TO KNOW, DO WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN OR SOMETHING THAT DETERMINED WHICH STREET CURB CURB OUTS WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR ADA OR WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE? IS THERE A PROCESS OR HOW ARE WE DOING THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW IN MIDWAY HOLLOW, BETWEEN 6 AND 13 ON BOTH SIDES, WE'VE BEEN GETTING EMAILS AND THEY'RE VERY LEGITIMATE EMAILS BECAUSE IT'S TO GET TO THE REC CENTER, IT'S TO GET TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS, ESPECIALLY WITH NOT JUST OUR ELDERLY, BUT OUR DIFFERENTLY ABLED RESIDENTS THAT ARE EITHER IN WHEELCHAIRS OR USE SOME OTHER FORM OF OTHER MODE IN ORDER TO TRAVERSE THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT A VEHICLE, LIKE A CAR.
SO YES, THERE IS A MASTER PLAN FOR THAT.
UM, AND I THINK THERE IS PART AS PART OF A RECOMMENDATION IN HERE FOR THAT OR.
[06:45:07]
I MEAN, IT WAS MENTIONED 33 YEARS, AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.AND IT'S SAD THAT THE CITY DIDN'T GET THAT CAUGHT UP IN TIME, CAUGHT UP WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE.
BUT HERE WE ARE. SO WE GOT TO WE GOT TO GET IT DONE.
SURE WE'RE NOT AWARE OF A TIMELINE IN WHICH WE HAVE TO COMPLETE THAT IN ORDER TO GET IN COMPLIANCE.
BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT WHEN WE DID DO THE SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN, WE DID HAVE ABOUT A $2 BILLION NEED.
ABSOLUTELY. I UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND SO I DEFINITELY IN THE FUTURE LET'S IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, LET'S GET A BRIEFING ON ON THE ADA ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON WITH STREETS, SIDEWALKS, ALLEYS, ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WE CAN WORK AS A AS A COMMITTEE AS WELL AS AS A COUNCIL TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET THOSE THINGS ADDRESSED AS AND THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS TIMELINE WE POSSIBLY CAN WHILE MAINTAINING EVERYTHING ELSE AT THE SAME TIME.
THE NEXT THING THAT I HAVE IS STORMWATER.
WE, THE THE LEVIES WERE MENTIONED DURING.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A WAY, IF THEY'RE CUT, THAT WE HAVE A WAY.
BECAUSE YOU DID MENTION THAT THAT THEY'RE AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
SO. SO I GOT A VERY CONFIDENT NOD FROM SARAH STANFORD.
STANDERFER WAS ON HER WAY OVER HERE, SO.
I KIND OF GAVE HER A BIT OF A WARNING, SO.
GOOD AFTERNOON. SARAH STANDEFER, INTERIM DIRECTOR, DALLAS WATER UTILITIES.
WITH RESPECT TO THE DALLAS LEVEE SYSTEM, THE PROJECT THAT IS IN THE NEEDS INVENTORY IS A SERIES OF 11 LOCATIONS OF EROSION THAT IS ALONG THE SYSTEM STARTING AT THE BOTTOM END NEAR CORINTH AND EIGHTH, AND WORKS IT ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE IRVING SECTION AND THEN INTO THE WEST LEVEE SYSTEM HEADED TOWARDS FORT WORTH.
WE'VE BEEN SCRAPING SOME PENNIES ASIDE AS WE GO THROUGH.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT WE WILL ADVANCE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND WE DO OUR FIRST ISSUANCE OF CODES THIS YEAR.
RIGHT. SO IT WAS A 5 TO 10 YEAR PLAN.
WE WILL HAVE THOSE IN THERE AND THEY ARE BUDGETED IN THE NEXT TEN YEAR PLAN.
SO WE WILL BRING THEM FORWARD AS THEY BECOME CRITICAL AND IMPACT THE LEVEE SYSTEM.
SO THOSE PRIORITIES MOVE FORWARD.
SO WE WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
AND WE WILL WE'LL WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH YOU ALL.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. AND THE REASON I WANTED TO ASK THAT ON THE RECORD, MR. MAYOR, SO THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT WAS ADVOCATING FOR THOSE KNOWS THAT WE HAVE A PLAN.
IT MAY NOT BE THE BOND, BUT WE HAVE A PLAN IN ORDER TO GET THERE.
THE NEXT THING THAT I HAD, MR. MAYOR, WAS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE MONEY IN HOUSING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ANSWER IS.
I DO KNOW THAT HOUSING IS HUGE AND IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THAT ORIGINALLY WE HAVE A LOT OF ADVOCATES ASKING FOR 200 MILLION, I GET THAT.
I WOULD LOVE THAT IF WE HAD IT, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY NEEDS THAT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER, BUT AROUND 100 MILLION IS WHERE I KNOW I COULD PERSONALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S THE RIGHT NUMBER.
HOUSING ADVOCATES DON'T START BLOWING ME UP THAT I THAT I DON'T WANT 200 MILLION.
BUT LIKE MY MY COLLEAGUE NEXT TO ME SAID ABOUT LOVING PARKS.
I DO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE ARE 8 TO 9 PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE RIGHT NOW READY TO GO.
THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING.
SO IF WE CAN GET AT LEAST 25 MILLION IN THERE AND THOSE DRAW INTEREST, IT REPLENISHES THE FUND.
AND THEN THAT HELPS US GET TO MORE, MORE HOUSING JUST SO THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOWS.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S TENS OF MILLIONS OR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT THAT OUT THERE.
[06:50:03]
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'LL SAY IT, CHAIR MENDELSOHN MENTIONED IT, AND SHE WAS RIGHT.YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WE DON'T ADVERTISE IT.
AND BUT THAT DOESN'T SAY THAT I'M OUT TO NOT PUT SOME MONEY IN THE BOND, BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN AUSTIN AND HOUSTON, THAT 9 TO 1 THAT PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IS ABOUT FEDERAL MONEY, FEDERAL MONEY THAT COMES BACK INTO THE CITY FOR EVERY DOLLAR.
WE'RE INVESTING IN THE HOUSING.
AND THAT'S HOW HOUSTON AND AUSTIN GOT OUT.
AND THE MORE HOUSING WE BUILD AND WE CAN GET PEOPLE'S HOMES, THEY LIVE HERE, THEY SPEND HERE.
THAT MEANS THERE'S MORE SALES TAX.
THAT MEANS THE PROPERTY VALUES ARE GOING UP, AND THEY'RE BALANCING OUT THE PRICE OF HOUSING ACROSS OUR CITY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY HERE, WORK HERE, LIVE HERE AS LONG AS THEY WANT, AND THEY CAN AGE IN PLACE, LIKE OUR ELDER RESIDENTS THAT I HEARD A LOT OF STORIES ABOUT.
AND HERE THEY ARE AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE AND THEY'RE IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I SAID, I LIKE I SAID PARKS, I LOVE PARKS, TOO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE WE NEED ALL OF IT.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OR HUGE DOLLARS GOING INTO THINGS THAT ARE EITHER NOT BEEN BUILT YET, THINGS THAT ARE BUILT THAT WANT TO EXPAND AND MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.
THAT ONE BURNT DOWN, ONE WAS STOLEN AND THE OTHER ONE IS JUST GONE.
AND SO THAT DON'T HAVE PARKS THAT DON'T HAVE A PLAYGROUND.
AND WE ALSO THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY, I'M NOT GOING TO QUIT TALKING ABOUT THE ARTS FACILITIES.
I MEAN, THAT'S NOT ASKING FOR A LOT.
WE'RE ALMOST THERE. WE'RE AT 59.
IF WE DO THE DMA THING, WE GET THAT 6%.
ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S GET THAT DONE.
AND WE DO THAT INVESTMENT IN ARTS.
I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT I MEET.
HOW MANY PEOPLE I MEET THAT ARE NOT FROM THE CITY THAT CAME IN AND NOT JUST OUR SUBURBS? I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE FROM WAXAHACHIE, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA, ALL THESE OTHER PLACES, AND THAT MEANS THAT THEY CAME HERE.
THEY MAY HAVE STAYED IN A HOTEL.
THEY BOUGHT FOOD, AND THAT'S REVENUE THAT'S BRINGING INTO OUR OUR CITY.
IT'S JOBS. IT'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
AND WE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE FACILITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT.
AND THE OTHER RETURN IS MENTAL HEALTH, LONELINESS FOR SENIORS.
IF WE GET IT AND WE DO IT RIGHT, THAT'S IT FOR ME, MR. MAYOR. I GOT IT ALL OUT, SO I'M NOT GOING TO NEED A SECOND OR THIRD ROUND.
THANK YOU, ARUN, FOR YOUR WORK AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROCESS.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LOT AND IT'S VOLUNTARY TOO.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO DEAL WITH US.
I MEAN I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION THAT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TODAY.
I WANT TO START WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHY THE WHY STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION DIFFERS SO MUCH FROM THE TASK FORCE'S RECOMMENDATION, SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE CATALYTIC PROJECTS. WELL, I CAN EXPLAIN MY POSITION AND THEY WILL.
YOU KNOW, WE PICKED UP WHERE, YOU KNOW, PLEASANT GROVE AGAIN.
I THINK WE JUST TALKING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY.
AND I THINK IF ANYTHING EQUITY.
PLEASANT GROVE HAVE BEEN LEFT FAR BEHIND.
SO WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BRING BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA WHERE THERE IS LAND AND THERE ARE PEOPLE AVAILABLE NOW, HOW DO WE UPSKILL THEM? AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT CERTAIN INDUSTRIES.
YEAH. IT MIGHT NOT BE PART OF, YOU KNOW, SOME HISTORIC IGNORANCE, BUT I THINK IT'S PART OF EQUITY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. THAT'S THE URBAN LAND, WHICH IS THE MOST VALUABLE URBAN LAND WHICH WE CAN UNLEASH IN TERMS OF DALLAS IS BECOMING AN INTERNATIONAL CITY.
WE WERE LEFT FAR BEHIND WHEN ALL THE CONSULATE, EVERY INTERNATIONAL THING HOUSTON STOLE FROM US.
[06:55:01]
AND IF THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, WHEN NORTH TEXAS IS DEVELOPED, GROWING AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO GROW, NO MATTER WHAT CITY OF DALLAS OR NOT, NORTH TEXAS IS GOING TO BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST METROPLEX IN NEXT 15 TO 20 YEARS.SO THAT WAS OUR THINKING AND I CAN HAVE STAFF EXPLAIN THAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RESENDEZ.
SO AS MENTIONED, SIR, I MEAN, WE TOOK FUNDING FROM SOME OF THE SOME OF THE PROPOSITIONS TO PUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS JUST BECAUSE WE TOOK FUNDING FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR PLEASANT GROVE DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT CAN'T COME OUT OF THE HOUSING.
AND AGAIN, I THINK THAT WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER, WE CAN REFINE THOSE DOLLARS.
BUT I THINK THAT FOR US, WE DIDN'T WANT TO TIE OURSELVES TO ANY ONE PROJECT BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE SOME PROJECTS THAT RISE TO THE TOP THAT MAY NOT BE IN PLEASANT GROVE, OR THEY MAY NOT BE IN THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
SORRY, MISS SCHULTZ, BUT I THINK THAT WHEN WE PUT OUT THESE CATALYTIC PROJECTS, I THINK THAT THE PROPOSALS THAT WE RECEIVE BACK WILL WANT TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW THEM AND EVALUATE THEM ON WHAT'S BEST FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
GOT IT. OKAY. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS WONDERING.
YOU KNOW, HOW WE PLAN TO ADDRESS THOSE PROJECTS, IF NOT SPECIFICALLY.
SO I'M HOPING THAT WE HAVE THOSE TRACKS IN MIND AS WELL.
AND I GUESS HOW HOW WOULD WE ADDRESS FUNDING NEEDS FOR THAT? SO CHAIR WEST IS HAVING ME COME AND BRIEF THE GBFM COMMITTEE ON A MONTHLY BASIS SO THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THE COMMITTEE THOSE AREAS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AS CATALYTIC PROJECTS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REDEVELOPING PROJECTS WITH A MIXED USE, I KNOW THAT FIRE STATION FIVE WITH THE PROPERTY ON BRUTON, I KNOW THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WHERE ARE THE NEEDS AS FAR AS OUR FACILITIES, SEEING WHERE WE CAN REDEVELOP THEM WITH A MIXED USE PURPOSE, WHETHER IT'S HOUSING OR OR RETAIL OR SOMETHING.
AND SO WE'VE HEARD COUNCIL AND AGAIN WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS AS WE CONTINUE WORKING WITH GBFM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND I ALSO WANT TO WANTED TO TOUCH ON THE DISCUSSION RELATED TO RESURFACING, RESURFACING VERSUS RECONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT RESURFACING IS ADDRESSED THROUGH THE IMP, AND THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE ADDRESSED THROUGH BONDS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF WANTED TO I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHY.
SO WE TYPICALLY RESERVE THOSE PROJECTS FOR THE BOND, THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNTS, IT TAKES AT $67 MILLION, SO THAT WE HAVE ANNUALLY THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND, IF WE TRY TO RECONSTRUCT PROJECTS OUT OF THAT.
SO THIS IS WHY WE TYPICALLY RESERVE THE THE BOND FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
WE DO DO A LARGE AMOUNT OF OUR RESURFACING OUT OF THE BOND, AND WE DO DO A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF RESURFACING OUT OF THE OUT OF THE IMP OR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. BUT I CAN GET YOU A BREAK OUT AS FAR AS WHAT PERCENTAGE WE DO AS FAR AS RESURFACING IN THE IMP, BUT A VAST MAJORITY OF THE $534 MILLION IN THE 2017 BOND, I BELIEVE SOMEWHERE AROUND 400 OR SO.
OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE AGAIN, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT WE WANTED TO USE THE IMP FOR RESURFACING AND THE BOND FOR THE BIGGER PROJECTS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I SAW FROM THE 2017 BOND THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN ENOUGH OF IN THIS, THIS PROPOSAL IS WAYS TO ADDRESS UNIMPROVED STREETS.
AND WITH THE 2017 BOND DISTRICT, FIVE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY HAVE BENEFITED SIGNIFICANTLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, PEMBERTON HILL, YOU KNOW, IT'S CONNECTING WITH THE LOOP TRAIL PROJECT.
I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY STILL EXISTS TO TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES.
[07:00:10]
ALSO HAD A.I KNOW SOME SOME THINGS ARE EARMARKED FOR THAT, BUT DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH IS SPECIFIC FOR VISION ZERO? SO IN THE STAFF PROPOSAL, THERE'S $9.4 MILLION PROPOSED FOR VISION ZERO.
SEEMS LIKE A SMALL PERCENTAGE, UNLESS I'M MISTAKEN.
I MEAN, DO WE KNOW WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO ADDRESS OUR NEEDS IN TERMS OF VISION ZERO? WE CAN GET YOU THAT OVERALL NEEDS INVENTORY FOR THAT.
BUT FOR SURE, THERE'S A THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF LIGHTING IN THESE VISION ZERO PROJECTS.
YEAH. WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS A PRIORITY.
WE'VE GOTTEN SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHAT'S THE PLAN TO ADDRESS THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE GET FROM THOSE STUDIES? LET'S GET THAT TO YOU, SIR. BUT IF I IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, I THINK THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS IN THERE TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE TRAFFIC STUDIES IN DISTRICT FIVE.
BUT I'LL CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU.
OKAY. I'M ON ON PAGE 12 OF THE OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
IT MENTIONS BACKGROUND OF CONSIDERATIONS NARROW THE OVERALL FUNDING GAP BETWEEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO. SO WHAT WE WHAT WE DID KNOW IN THE COMMUNITY ON TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THERE WERE SOME PRETTY LARGE GAPS BETWEEN SOME OF THE DISTRICTS.
I THINK WE NOTED IF YOU LOOKED AT THE IF YOU LOOKED AT WHERE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS WERE CONSTRUCTED, AND IF YOU LOOKED OVERALL, I THINK DISTRICT EIGHT HAD $128 MILLION VERSUS DISTRICT 12 THAT HAD LIKE $26 MILLION.
SO, I MEAN, THOSE $100 MILLION SWING BETWEEN DISTRICTS IN THAT IN THAT CASE.
SO EVEN IF YOU TAKE THAT OUT, I MEAN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 70, $70 MILLION VERSUS $26 MILLION.
AND SO WHAT WE REALLY TRY TO DO WAS, WAS BRING THE DISTRICTS A LITTLE CLOSER.
SO THERE WASN'T SUCH A HUGE DISPARITY AS FAR AS THE DOLLARS AND THE WAY THAT WE DID THAT, AT LEAST IN THE STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION, IS WE ACTUALLY DID LOOK AT THE EQUITY, AND WE USED THAT AS A DRIVER TO TO ALLOCATE FUNDS BETWEEN DISTRICTS.
UM, AS AS JENNY HAD MENTIONED EARLIER DURING THE BRIEFING, WE LOOKED AT KIND OF A BELL CURVE, IF YOU WILL, AND THOSE DISTRICTS THAT HAD A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF AREA OR LAND OR ACRES THAT WERE IN EQUITY PRIORITY AREAS WITH THREE, FOUR AND FIVE, THERE WERE THREE DISTRICTS THAT THAT CAME UP PRETTY HIGH.
THE BREAK BETWEEN THE THIRD AND FOURTH RANKED DISTRICT WAS ABOUT 25%.
SO WE REALLY TRIED TO GIVE GIVE SOME WEIGHT TO THE EQUITY.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO TRIED TO ENSURE THAT THE DISPARITY BETWEEN THE DISTRICTS WASN'T SO GREAT THAT IT WOULDN'T IT WOULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, NOT PALATABLE FOR FOR ANY COUNCIL MEMBER.
[07:05:03]
EQUITY AND WHAT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY IGNORED.WE'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS.
YES, SIR. AND KEEP IN MIND, I THINK NATURALLY THAT'S GOING TO OCCUR WHERE WE SEE OUR HOUSING NEEDS.
I THINK A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE IN IN DISTRICTS OR IN AREAS THAT HAVE THAT NEED AND MAYBE HAVE A HIGHER EQUITY SCORE THAN OTHERS. KEEP IN MIND TOO, THAT THAT THE WHAT WE LOOKED AT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION.
UM, AND SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS AS WELL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THE LOWEST LEVEL POSSIBLE FOR THE STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION, WE TRY TO GET IT AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER INVESTMENTS THAT WILL DRIVE UP THE DISTRICT ALLOCATIONS.
GOT IT. THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE RIGHT NOW, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN GRACEY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS.
AND TO ALL OF MY DISTRICT THREE FOLKS THAT WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU.
IN ALL OF THIS PRESENTATIONS, BOTH PRESENTATIONS.
SO WITH SOME OF THIS, WE'RE GRATEFUL, RIGHT? WE'RE GOOD. WE'RE GETTING SOME THINGS DONE.
GLENNDALE PARK IS THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING, SO WE'RE GLAD THAT THOSE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
BUT THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING IS FOR HOUSING THERE, SO I DO I AM VERY INTERESTED IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN GET HOUSING INCORPORATED INTO THIS, TOO, BECAUSE.
SOME PARTS OF THE CITY ARE PAST.
OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY ARE STILL AT NEEDS AND HAVE BEEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
SO WHILE THIS EFFORT WAS GREAT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T FORGET ABOUT THAT.
AND WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT.
THE HISTORICAL NEGLECT, THE NEEDS AND VERSUS WANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THAT WAY TOO, THAT WE CAN ADDRESS ALL OF THE NEEDS IN SOUTHERN OR AS MANY AS WE CAN WITHIN THIS BOND PACKAGE, BUT MAKING SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS WITHIN SOUTHERN DALLAS AS WELL, AND NOT JUST GETTING THE PRETTY SHINY THINGS THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT BE.
IT'S NOT THE PRIORITY. SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY THERE.
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS REALLY ABOUT THE TIMING OF THESE PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, RIGHT.
BECAUSE ALL THIS STUFF GETS MOVED FORWARD, HOWEVER IT LANDS.
AND THEN JUST TALK TO ME ABOUT THE TIMING OF THESE PROJECTS AND HOW ALL OF THAT STUFF MOVES FORWARD.
SO ONCE ONE CITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR AN ELECTION, WE WILL IMMEDIATELY BEGIN PUTTING OUT RFPS RFQS TO GET CONSULTANTS ON BOARD TO HELP DELIVER THESE PROJECTS.
SO AS SOON AS FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE, WE'LL HAVE A LIST OF FOLKS WHO CAN START DESIGNING THEM.
WE CAN START NEGOTIATING AND AWARDING CONTRACTS AS SOON AS THE FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE.
SO IF COUNCIL CALLS FOR AN ELECTION JANUARY, FEBRUARY, WE START PUTTING OUT THE RFQ RFPS TO BRING ON DESIGN CONSULTANTS. ONCE THE FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE, WE DO NEGOTIATIONS AND THEN WE AWARD FOR RESURFACING PROJECTS.
WE HAVE CONTRACTS IN PLACE THAT AS SOON AS FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE, WE START DAY ONE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE OCCURRING SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY OVERLAP OR IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO START WORKING WITH OTHER FOLKS OR, SAY, A PROJECT OR DEVELOPERS, WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
BUT THAT WORK STARTS IMMEDIATELY.
I THINK THAT AS SOON AS AS SOON AS WE HAVE A CALL FOR A VOTE AS WELL, WE COULD PROBABLY START TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY DOING RFPS FOR THESE CATALYTIC PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT I MEAN, AS SOON AS WE GET A CALL FOR A VOTE, WE START THAT PRELIMINARY WORK.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE DEVELOP THEM AND MOVE THEM FORWARD IN THE FIRST YEAR.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE.
[07:10:07]
COUNCILMAN TO BLACKMON.THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU FOR STAYING IN THE HARD CAUSE OUT HERE.
IT'S 530 AND WE'RE STILL HERE.
AND SO THANK YOU ALL FOR LOVING YOUR CITY AND BEING A PART OF THIS.
AND TO ALL THE FOLKS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TASK FORCE, IT'S IT'S NOT EASY.
IT'S IT'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
I WORKED ON IT AS A CONSULTANT.
SO IT'S ALWAYS A LOT OF PUSH AND PULL AND A LOT OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THE NEEDS MET OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO ARUN, LOOKING AT Y'ALL'S PRESENTATION, I NOTICED THAT YOU DIDN'T PUT IN THE 2006 BOND.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU DID THE ALLOCATIONS, YOU ONLY DID 12 AND 17.
BUT IN 2006, I MEAN, PARKS DID GET 343 MILLION.
AND SO YOU KNOW PARKS HAS BEEN AND I THINK THE LAST TIME THAT WE GOT IN 2017, IT WAS 262.
AND THAT WAS CONSIDERED A PARKS BOND.
AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS AND I DON'T KNOW IF IF PARKS IS STILL IN THE BUILDING, BUT ARE WE ABLE TO MEET THESE OBLIGATIONS WITH O&M THAT WE'VE ADDED TO TO OUR BOTTOM LINE? AND AND BECAUSE, AGAIN, I THINK WE HAD A FOUNTAIN IN FAIR PARK THAT WE BUILT, BUT WE COULD NEVER OPERATE IT BECAUSE IT COST US AN ARM AND A LEG.
I'LL HIT THE BUTTON. MR. JENKINS. REMEMBER THIS.
ALL RIGHT. I NEED TO SAY MY NAME AGAIN.
JOHN JENKINS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC.
ALL RIGHT, SO, COUNCILWOMAN BLACKMON TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.
I'VE BEEN CHALLENGED BY THE BOARD.
I'VE BEEN CHALLENGED BY THE STAFF.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE IN JUST BUILDING STUFF IF WE CAN'T MAINTAIN IT.
AND SO I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A PLAN ALONG WITH MY STAFF THAT I WILL BE PRESENTING BACK TO THE COUNCIL, BACK TO THE PARK BOARD ON MY MODEL OF CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL PARK SYSTEM.
OKAY. SO AND I'M GOING TO JUST GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES RIGHT NOW.
AND YOU HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL TO ME AS WELL.
I NEED THEM TO SET ASIDE A CERTAIN PERCENT TO GO BACK TOWARDS WHAT I CALL ENHANCED MAINTENANCE OR MAJOR MAINTENANCE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT BLOWS OUR BUDGET, OKAY, AND PUTS US IN A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN'T MAINTAIN THINGS.
SO I'M GOING TO BE ASKING THEM AT A MINIMUM, YOU GO RAISE US $5 MILLION.
YOU'VE GOT TO PUT AWAY 10% TO GO INTO SOME TYPE OF ENDOWMENT.
OTHER THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING AT IS I KNOW WE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT FEES, BUT YOU ALL GOING TO SEE WHEN I PRESENT TO YOU ALL, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT THESE ARE JUST PRIVATELY HELD EVENTS THAT DON'T REALLY BENEFIT THE PUBLIC PER SE, BUT THEY'RE PRIVATE EVENT AND WE'RE NOT AT THE MARKET RATE.
SO I WILL BE BRINGING AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WAY WE DESIGN OUR PARKS NOW.
OKAY. NO LONGER ARE US DESIGNING PARKS WHERE WE JUST PUT A TRAIL, AND YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT THREE FEET FROM A CREEK WHEN YOU KNOW THE CREEK IS GOING TO EROSION IS GOING TO HAPPEN OVER TIME.
SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DPW AND I TELL YOU, THEY'VE BEEN ADVISING US TO STOP DOING THAT.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS ALSO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE VEGETATION LIKE CYPRESS WATERS, WE WENT UP THERE AND CHECKED OUT HOW THEY DESIGNED THEIR PARK IS ALL PRETTY MUCH LOW MAINTENANCE WHERE WE PUT VEGETATION IN.
AND OUR I MEAN, OUR PATRONS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED TO THE NEW LOOK, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THESE MANICURED TRAILS THAT'S GOING TO CREATE ALL THIS MAINTENANCE COSTS ANYMORE. AND OUTDOOR SPACE IS WHAT I THINK OUR SHOULD BE OUR GOAL, NOT NECESSARILY THAT MANICURED, AS YOU MENTIONED, OR EVEN A SOFT SURFACE, EVEN JUST A GROUND THAT HAS AN OPEN TRAIL BECAUSE IT THE WHOLE POINT IS TO BE IN NATURE AND BE OUT.
THAT'S CORRECT. BECAUSE WITH THAT, I NOTICED THAT ESPECIALLY IN D9, I'M GETTING SOME REPLACEMENTS OF, OF OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT 140 A POP. SHOULDN'T THAT BE AN AND M? WELL, I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT UP TO THE MLS AND THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE THAT.
[07:15:02]
IF WE GO WITH THE 20 YEAR, IT'S I WOULD ASSUME IT'S LESS THAN 20.I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT'S NOT JUST OUR STREETS THAT WE LOOK TO AUGMENT.
WE USE OUR BOND MONEY ANY WAY WE CAN.
THE WATER IS GOING TO FILL IT BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET IT FIXED.
BUT TO ME THAT SHOULD BE AND M AND I'M HOPING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT BRINGING THAT BACK INTO ALIGNMENT WITH PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT BEING A 20 YEAR. I WILL CAUTIOUS AGAINST AGAINST THAT.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH MY MAINTENANCE STAFF, AND WHEN WE USED TO BUILD A $150,000 PLAYGROUNDS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTED AT THE TIME, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTED ANYMORE.
THEY WANT WHAT WE CALL POURING PLACE PLAYGROUNDS.
THOSE PLAYGROUNDS ARE GOING TO COST ANYWHERE FROM 250 TO 300 K.
OKAY, OKAY. AND THEN WHAT I'M LEARNING FROM MY STAFF IS I MET WITH THEM BECAUSE I NEED TO SEE THE THINGS WE'RE INVESTING IN IN THIS 350 MILLION BOND PROGRAM, HOW MUCH NEW O AND M AND HOW MUCH ARE WE SAVING IN INEFFICIENCIES? BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN REPLASTERING A POOL FOR $250,000 A POP EVERY SIX YEARS, OR WE GOT SOME OUTDATED HVAC SYSTEMS THAT'S COSTING US ALL KIND OF MONEY TO OPERATE.
AND SO THEY ARE GATHERING ALL THAT COST.
SO I CANNOT WAIT TO COME BACK BEFORE THIS BODY AND PRESENT THE INFORMATION.
WHAT ARE THE SAVINGS WE'RE GETTING FROM MAKING THIS INVESTMENT INTO THE PARK SYSTEM? AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO REDUCE OR SLOW DOWN OUR COST TO THE GENERAL FUND GOING FORWARD? YEAH. THANK YOU JOHN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT, BECAUSE I DO THINK FISCAL NOTES SHOULD COME WITH OUR INVESTMENTS THAT WE MAKE WITH BOND DOLLARS.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO END UP COSTING US IN, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR BUDGET.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS A JUST AS MISS SCHULTZ LIKES THE ROI.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST US.
MOVING ON. BECAUSE THE LAST THING WE NEED IS SOMETHING SITTING THERE BECAUSE WE CAN'T OPERATE IT.
SO ON THE STREETS, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATION ABOUT USING BOND DOLLARS FOR RESURFACING PROJECTS, BUT I DO THINK THAT HAS BEEN A NORMAL PRACTICE.
CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT OF HOW WE'VE DONE STREETS IN THE PAST HERE AT THE CITY, AND WHY THE COSTS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE AND WHY WE'RE HERE AT THIS POINT? BECAUSE I DO THINK A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT GIVEN AROUND THE 2009 BUDGET CYCLES THAT CUT US ALL TO THE BONE, IS PROBABLY A GOOD EXERCISE. OKAY.
I'M JACK GARLAND, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AND I'M ASKED TO GIVE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE, I GUESS TRYING TO GO BACK IN SOME OF THAT HISTORY, THE CITY HAS NOT DONE A GOOD JOB OF FUNDING THE MAINTENANCE, AS MR. JENKINS JUST TALKED ABOUT.
WE HAVE RELIED PRIMARILY ON THE BOND PROGRAMS TO FUND THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY.
NOW, WE HAVE INCLUDED SOME FUNDS IN THE GENERAL FUND, PRIMARILY FOR MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES, BUT NOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE COST TO EXTEND THE LIFE.
AND SO EVEN BACK DURING THE RECESSION, A LOT OF CITIES MAY HAVE BEEN PULLING BACK.
WE WEREN'T INVESTING THAT MUCH IN THE GENERAL FUND TO BEGIN WITH.
SINCE MR. BROADNAX HAS BEEN HERE, WE HAVE STARTED PUTTING MORE CASH ASIDE FOR STREETS.
BUT WE'VE ALWAYS, SINCE MY RECOLLECTION, USED PRIMARILY THE BOND FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE.
AND LOOKING AT THE PROPOSAL THAT THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD, IF YOU LOOK AT, I GUESS, THE WHAT IS PROPOSED FOR NOW, THE THREE, YOU KNOW, THE OVER, THE 500 VERSUS THE I CAN'T I GOT SO MANY PAPERS HERE, THE 532 VERSUS A 375.
[07:20:04]
I DON'T EVEN MAKE A 70 IF WE DON'T INVEST AT THE AT THE RATE THAT YOU'RE PUTTING FORWARD, IS, IS THAT GOING TO BE THE CASE? I MEAN, IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? YEAH. YES, MA'AM.
SO IN ANY SCENARIO, I MEAN, THAT THAT WOULD TAKE UP THAT WOULD TAKE UP THE WHOLE BOND AT 1.1.
BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE OTHER RESOURCES THAT THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER.
BUT YEAH, I MEAN, WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE MORE INVESTMENT INTO THE STREETS TO KEEP THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT.
DO YOU SEE US EVER GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE ALL, OKAY, AND WHAT IS THAT GOING TO TAKE? AND I GUESS THAT MAY BE SOMETHING OFFLINE, BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE KEEP DIGGING AND DIGGING AND DIGGING, BUT WE'RE NOT GETTING ANYWHERE.
AND IS THERE A POINT WHERE YOU JUST SAY IT IS WHAT IT IS? AND SO LET'S GO AND INVEST IN SOMETHING ELSE.
AND I'M JUST BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE JUST THROWING IT INTO THE WIND.
AND WHEN IS THE FINAL, WHEN IS IT THAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A SPOT WHERE WE CAN SAY OUR ROADS ARE ACTUALLY AT A GOOD PLACE? SO I THINK WHAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN, MA'AM, IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT DISTRICT BY DISTRICT WHERE THE PAVEMENT CONDITION IS.
SCHULTZ'S COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT NOT CARING ABOUT WHAT DISTRICT IS GETTING WHAT AND JUST SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF MORE MONEY NEEDS TO GO INTO ONE DISTRICT TO BRING IT UP TO THE OTHER LEVEL WHERE ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS ARE AT OR WHATNOT, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO FOREGO A LITTLE BIT OF WORK IN ONE DISTRICT AND PUT A LOT MORE WORK INTO A DISTRICT THAT HAS A LOWER PCI. IF WE IF WE EVER WANT TO GET TO THE SAME LEVEL, I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER, BECAUSE I'M AT 69 FOR FOR A GOOD PERIOD OF TIME, AND I'M AT THAT.
I'M NOT AN I'M NOT AN OUTER LIMIT AND I'M NOT THE INNER CITY.
SO I, YOU KNOW, BUT PEOPLE COME FLYING DOWN, YOU KNOW, ALL OUR BIG STREETS.
SO IT'S THERE'S A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO GET TO A, THAT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE, THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN ANYTHING THAT WE DO. AND I JUST WAS OUT TALKING TO A CONSTITUENT YESTERDAY WHO KEEPS SAYING, FIX MY ROAD, FIX MY ROAD.
AND AND I HOPE WE GET TO A POINT WHERE PEOPLE ARE OKAY WITH THEIR ROAD.
WELL, THERE IS A FIVE YEAR PLAN, WHICH IS THE.
RIGHT. AND SO I MEAN, EVERY YEAR WE ANALYZE THE CONDITION OF OUR STREETS AND, AND WE MAKE THE BEST RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE CAN WITH THE AVAILABLE FUNDING IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OUR STREETS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
UM, ON THE ARTS AND CULTURE, I SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE.
WE'VE MADE IT. IT'S COMING IN.
AT WHAT? I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF A IT'S A $10 MILLION OFF.
BUT SINCE 1985, WE'VE ONLY PUT $131 MILLION INTO ARTS AND CULTURE IS WHAT MY.
WHAT CAN BE DONE SHORT OF JUST GOING AND FINDING THE MONEY IN SOME PLACE ELSE? IT'S HOW ARE WE GOING TO BALANCE THAT ONE? SO I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF A COUPLE OF THINGS, MA'AM.
I THINK ONE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE HAVE MADE WE'VE MADE COMMITMENTS WITH SOME OF THE THE FACILITIES, THE OWNERS, OR I GUESS WE WERE THE OWNER.
BUT TO TURN OVER THE O&M TO THEM AFTER SUBSTANTIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
SO I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF THAT.
THE OTHER THING, TOO, AND MR. JENKINS HAD MENTIONED IT EARLIER, WAS MAYBE LOOKING AT SOME FEES.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME COMBINATION OF, OF THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
OKAY. AND THE, THE ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE LISTED AS BUCKETS, WHEN DO WE PLAN TO GET A WHEN DO YOU ARE WE EVER GOING TO GET A PLAN OF WHAT THAT BUCKET OF MONEY WILL ACTUALLY BE USED FOR? OTHER THAN PARKS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
BUT HOUSING, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT DEPENDS ON YOU KNOW, WHAT.
AND THAT IS TO SOME PEOPLE'S POINT, THERE'S LAYERS OF MONEY THAT COME WITH HOUSING.
AND I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IS HOW DOES ALL THE LAYERS WORK TOGETHER.
BECAUSE BOND DOLLARS ARE EXPENSIVE.
AND SO IF THERE'S A WAY THAT THAT IS THE LAST BIT, THEN YES, USE IT.
[07:25:06]
LET'S ACTUALLY PUT IT TO WORK IF THAT'S WHAT IS NEEDED.SO I THINK OVER THE NEXT MONTH, AS WE WORK WITH CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER THAT WILL ACTUALLY COME TO BEFORE WE CALL FOR AN ELECTION, WE ACTUALLY HAVE IT. YEAH, THE BUCKETS WILL ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE DEFINED.
NOW, I THINK AGAIN, THERE MIGHT BE STILL A FEW, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, AS AN EXAMPLE, DEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH COMES OUT AS FAR AS WHAT IS ALLOCATED FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE MAY NOT WANT TO SPECIFICALLY TIE OUR HANDS TO ANY ONE PROJECT BECAUSE AGAIN, ONCE WE START PUTTING OUT RFPS AND WHATNOT, WE'LL WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THOSE WITHOUT SAYING, OH, BUT BUT WE HAVE TO PUT X AMOUNT TO THIS AREA.
THESE ARE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT.
RIGHT OKAY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND FINALLY, I MEAN, THE TIMING OF THE ELECTION, ARE WE GOING TO BE READY TO GO IN FEBRUARY? WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO TO GO.
AND WE COULD PROBABLY I'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ON MY NEXT ROUND TOO.
BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE DOING THIS A LITTLE BACKWARDS.
I WISH WE'D HAVE HAD SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT WAY.
WE COULD ALWAYS SAY, WHAT'S THE ROI? WHAT IS IT? IS IT GOING TO ADD TO THE BOTTOM LINE? SO THAT WAY WE COULD UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE PICK A PROJECT OR PICK A NUMBER, THAT IT HELPS US SHAPE WHY WE ARE DOING THIS.
AND BECAUSE I JUST FEEL THAT WE'RE KIND OF IT FEELS VERY BACKWARDS HERE.
AND BUT THAT'S JUST MY FEELING.
SO THAT WAY, AS WE FINALIZE THE NUMBERS, WE TRY TO INCORPORATE AS MANY OF THOSE PRIORITY PROJECTS INTO THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT BY THE TIME THAT WE COME BACK WITH A REFINED LIST IN JANUARY AND THEN AGAIN BRIEF IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, UM, THAT HOPEFULLY WE HAVE IT BY THEN.
I'M, I KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GET EVERYTHING, OBVIOUSLY.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT BETWEEN THE TASK FORCE AND THE STAFF WORK, I THINK WE'VE TRIED TO INCORPORATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AS FAR AS THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITIES. SO WE'RE GOING TO DO TWO ELECTIONS IN 2024.
WE COULD HAVE A CHARTER REVIEW IN MAY, I MEAN, IN NOVEMBER.
BUT AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR A MAY AND NOVEMBER.
IT SHOULD BE THAT WE'RE READY TO GO EITHER IN MAY OR READY TO GO IN NOVEMBER.
AND SO WHETHER WHATEVER THAT IS.
AND BUT I'VE BEEN SAYING I WANT IT IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE I JUST DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE READY.
THANK YOU. SECOND ROUND CHAIR MENDELSOHN.
AND I STRONGLY URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOCALIZE SUPPORT FOR A NOVEMBER ELECTION.
WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME SITUATION THAT WE WERE IN 2016 AND 17.
WHEN THEY FACED THE PENSION LAST TIME, THEY HAD 3600 POLICE OFFICERS.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 3000.
AND I THINK ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME MEETING OUR RECRUITING GOALS.
[07:30:08]
PRIOR TO ISSUING ADDITIONAL DEBT, TO ASKING VOTERS TO COMMIT TO DOLLARS THAT WERE NOT READY TO DO.THE OTHER THING IS THAT THERE'S BENEFITS TO DELAYING BESIDES THE COST OF ELECTION.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON POINTED OUT, JUST SIX MONTHS MORE, WE MAY HAVE 400 MORE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE CAN ADD TO THIS BOND. THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S BEEN PUT ON EITHER OF THESE TWO PLANS THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE OFF, RIGHT.
EVERYBODY WANTS THEIR PROJECTS, BUT WE ALL HAVE ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE WANT AND NEED THAT WE KNOW, AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF OUR AREA ARE A PRIORITY FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS. THE POLICE AND FIRE ASSOCIATIONS HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THEIR DESIRE FOR THIS TO MOVE TO NOVEMBER, AS HAS THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD.
THE STREET PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX DATA, WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW OTHERS WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH, BUT I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER MORENO ALSO MENTIONING THE PROBLEMS HE'S SEEN WITH THE DATA. WE NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS.
OUR SUBCOMMITTEES WERE RUSHED.
THEY WERE NOT PROVIDED THE DATA REQUESTED.
THAT WAS UPDATED UNTIL CLOSE TO THE END OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE, WHERE THEY HAD TO MAKE DECISIONS.
AND EVEN THE CHAIR OF THE STREETS, IN PRESENTING TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE, SAID THERE WAS A MISTAKE LEAVING OUT FRANKFURT ROAD. FRANKFURT ROAD STILL ISN'T INCLUDED IN EITHER PROPOSITION, BUT YET 55,000 CARS PER DAY GO ON THAT ROAD.
WANT TO PIGGYBACK? ALSO ON SOMETHING THAT COUNCILMEMBER BAZALDUA SAID WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT FAIR PARK AND THE VERY SAD STATE THAT THAT INCREDIBLE PIECE OF LAND AND PIECE OF OUR HISTORY IS IN, WE SHOULD ALL FEEL SHAME.
AND I DON'T MEAN ALL OF US SITTING AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, I MEAN THE CITY.
WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE LET THAT HAPPEN.
HE'S 100% RIGHT THAT IT NEEDS MORE INVESTMENT.
AND JUST IMAGINE MY HEAD EXPLODING.
IF ALL OF THAT DOLLAR DOESN'T GO THERE.
BECAUSE EVERY BIT OF IT SHOULD.
BY THE WAY, HAVE WE EVEN TALKED ABOUT OUR OWN? OUR OWN FIRST PARK? OUR VERY FIRST OLD CITY PARK THAT LITERALLY HAS THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY ALSO IN VERY POOR, SHAMEFUL STATE.
WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE LET THAT HAPPEN.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT.
I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND IT WILL PROBABLY DISTURB MOST OF YOU.
I'M SORRY. WE DEVELOPED A PLAN.
AND THEN WE DOUBLED THE POINTS ALLOCATED TO IT.
AND WHAT WE SEE IN ALL OF THIS IS NOT ACTUAL EQUITY.
WHAT WE SEE IS THAT CERTAIN AREAS GOT CERTAIN THINGS.
THIS EQUITY SCORE NEVER IS ACCOUNTING FOR EXTREME POVERTY AND MIXED INCOME AREAS, BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU LOOK AT A CENSUS TRACK, IF YOU ACTUALLY GET TO A MIXED INCOME AREA, WHICH MANY OF YOU SAY YOU WANT, GUESS WHAT? COME ON UP TO DISTRICT 12.
WE ALL LIVE IN A MIXED INCOME AREA AND THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE BRIGHT PURPLE ON OUR MAP.
IT ALSO DOESN'T INCLUDE DENSITY.
AND THEN YOU CAN LOOK IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR AND SEE A BRIGHT, BIG GIANT AREA.
AND LESS PEOPLE LIVE IN THAT AREA, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BIGGER, BUT LESS PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERED.
SO THE NEXT THING I'M GOING TO SAY IS THAT I CAN PROVE TO YOU THE EQUITY PROBLEMS. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS START LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL DATA.
DENTON COUNTY, ACQUIRED BY THE CITY, ANNEXED 40 PLUS YEARS AGO, HAS 29,000 PEOPLE.
THERE'S THREE PARKS FOR 29,000 PEOPLE.
BUT WAIT, ONE OF THOSE PARKS IS TOTALLY CLOSED AND 100% UNDEVELOPED.
MACHETE MAN, PEOPLE CHASING YOU.
YOU HEARD RUBLES TALKING ABOUT IT.
[07:35:01]
85% MINORITIES AT THESE THREE SCHOOLS DOESN'T EVEN RATE ON OUR EQUITY SCORE.THAT'S SHOCKING, BUT ONLY BECAUSE THE SCORE IS NOT MATHEMATICALLY VALID.
OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN ALAN BAZALDUA.
THANK YOU. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO TALK WITH THOR ERICKSON AND CYNTHIA.
IT MADE IT SEEM AS IF THE CITY OF DALLAS IS TRYING TO ACT AS A DEVELOPER.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S AT ALL WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COMPARE WHAT IT IS THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED FOR OUR CITY TO THAT OF BONDS IN OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE SHOWN SUCCESS AND WHAT THOSE KIND OF LOOK LIKE.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS, COUNCILMAN.
YOUR FIRST QUESTION WHAT CATEGORY THAT WOULD FIT IN? WE HAVE EXISTING PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS AND PROCESSES.
NOW, THAT BOND MONEY IS ANOTHER FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
AND WE WOULD PUT THAT THOSE FUNDS IN OUR EXISTING PROCESSES.
NOW, WE DON'T ACT AS DEVELOPERS.
WE PUT IT IN THE NOFA AND DEVELOPERS CAN APPLY FOR THOSE FUNDS THROUGH THE NOFA.
THE MONEY FOR BOND IN THIS, IN THIS CAMPAIGN IS SPECIFICALLY FOR DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE NOT USING IT FOR ANY OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY'RE TYPICALLY NOT A THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE UNDER THE BOND BECAUSE THEY THEY PROVIDE FUNDING DIRECTLY TO RESIDENTS IN THE OTHER PROGRAMS. THIS IS STRICTLY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS YOUR THIRD QUESTION? OH, I'M GOING TO ASK THOR ERIKSON TO RESPOND TO YOUR THIRD QUESTION, I REMEMBER.
GOOD. GOOD EVENING. THOR ERIKSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.
THEY'LL DO IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEIR HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
SO AS CYNTHIA SAID, IT'S A CONTINUATION OF ALLOWING DEVELOPERS TO ACCESS ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE TO EITHER PROVIDE DEEPER SUBSIDIES TO SERVE A LOWER AMI GROUP IN THOSE PROPERTIES OR TO PROVIDE WHATEVER THAT GAP SUBSIDY IS NEEDED ON THOSE DEVELOPMENTS.
THANK YOU. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RESULTS THAT Y'ALL, THAT YOU HAVE COME UP WITH WHEN YOU HAVE TALKED TO THEM SPECIFICALLY IN HOW THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE THESE BOND DOLLARS TO GET OTHER MATCHING FUNDS? SURE. SO SIMILAR TO US, WE INVEST ABOUT 10 TO 15% ON ANY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
WE'RE SEEING THAT THEY DO VERY SIMILAR RATIOS.
OUR HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FUNDS REQUIRE MATCHING DOLLARS WHENEVER WE PUT HOME MONEY INTO A PROJECT, SO THE BOND MONEY CAN BE USED AS A MATCHING SOURCE FOR WHEN WE INVEST HOME DOLLARS IN OUR PROJECT.
THANK YOU. AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY? CURRENTLY, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT CANNOT IDENTIFY SPECIFIC PROJECTS IN ADVANCE, AND HOW THIS WOULD CHANGE IF WE HAD BOND FUNDING APPROVED BY THE VOTERS FOR HOUSING? ABSOLUTELY. SO WE THERE'S A COUPLE OF REASONS.
WE HAVE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS, WHICH IS OUR APPLICATION PROCESS.
SO WE DON'T IDENTIFY PROJECTS IN ADVANCE OF ANY FUNDING SOURCES, BECAUSE WE WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS WHEN WE HAVE FUNDING TO POST AND LET FOLKS KNOW TRANSPARENCY, HOW MUCH MONEY WE ACTUALLY HAVE AVAILABLE AND THE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES SO DEVELOPERS CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WITH US WHAT KIND OF FUNDING SOURCE WORKS BEST FOR THEIR PROJECT.
[07:40:04]
WE ALSO HAVE TO WORK WITH TIMING ON DEVELOPMENT.DEVELOPMENT DEALS USUALLY HAVE TIMELINES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO MEET, AND TRYING TO UNDERWRITE A PROJECT TOO FAR IN ADVANCE OF WHEN WE HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE ISN'T REALLY WHAT THE MARKET DOES.
BANKERS AND DEVELOPMENT FINANCE.
FINANCERS NEED TO KNOW WHAT NUMBERS LOOK LIKE AT THE TIME OF AN APPLICATION.
AND BECAUSE THE MARKET IS SO VOLATILE RIGHT NOW AND INTEREST RATES KEEP RISING AND ALL THESE THINGS KEEP HAPPENING, IT'S HARD TO TO GAUGE TODAY WHAT THEY WOULD NEED IN OCTOBER WHEN WE GET MORE MONEY.
SO IT REALLY DOESN'T WORK FOR THE MARKET TO DO REVIEWS OF PROJECTS TODAY AND WAIT SO LONG TO GIVE THEM MONEY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT YOU ALL WERE PARTICIPATING IN FOR BOND TOWN HALLS, AND WHERE HOUSING RANKED IN THE SURVEYS THAT WERE GIVEN OUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY? HI. WE WE HAD STAFF AT EVERY MEETING TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT PROGRAMS WE OFFER OR HOW WE WOULD UTILIZE BOND IN TERMS OF WHERE THE SURVEYS RANKED, I THINK HOUSING, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD LISTED HOUSING AS A AS A NEED WITHIN THOSE SURVEYS.
AS FAR AS LIKE THE ACTUAL RANKINGS, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT DIRECTLY.
I TURN THAT BACK OVER TO THE BOND.
CAN YOU OR SOMEONE FROM OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS EXPLAIN WHY HOMELESS OUTREACH IS BUNDLED INTO THE HOUSING BUCKET AS BEING PROPOSED TO US? I KNOW WHY. IT'S BECAUSE THE MONEY THAT'S BEING PROPOSED FOR HOMELESS ISN'T FOR SERVICES.
HOUSING IS LEADING SOME OF THAT EFFORT SO THAT WE CAN HELP THEM THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT, ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT STEPS THAT OCCUR, LIKE FINANCING AND ENGINEERING AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN, EVEN WORKING, PAIRING UP WITH A DEVELOPER THAT CAN ACTUALLY DEVELOP A PROPERTY.
SO THOSE FUNDS WEREN'T MEANT FOR ACTUAL SERVICES OR COSTS AND FEES.
THOSE FUNDS WERE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
WITH REGARDS TO THE REFERENDUM, LANGUAGE AND LEGALITY, HOW DO YOU SPECIFY TO THE VOTERS THAT A DEFINITIVE PERCENTAGE OF THIS PROPOSITION WILL GO TO HOMELESS OUTREACH OR HOMELESS PROJECTS? IT DOESN'T SEEM AS IF THAT EXISTS.
SO IF THERE'S HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY FROM HOUSING WITH YOUR CURRENT PROGRAMS, I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY GIVE US THE DISCRETION TO ROB PETER AND PAY PAUL. SO HOW CAN WE SOLIDIFY THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR HOMELESS HOUSING? CHRISTINE. THANK YOU.
CHRISTINE CROSSLEY, OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS DIRECTOR AS CYNTHIA SAID, THE FUNDING THAT HHS HAS IN THIS AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE TIME WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE, WAS REALLY TO LOOK AT GAP FINANCING, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUPPLYING FUNDING THAT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE LOWER AMIS WITHIN THE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT HOUSING WOULD WORK ON.
AND SO THE WAY THAT IT WAS APPROVED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE SPECIFIES THAT IT HAS TO WORK THROUGH CERTAIN MECHANISMS WITHIN HOUSING THAT GUARANTEE THAT I THINK, FOR HOW IT WOULD BE WORDED.
I WOULD ASK JENNY, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR PART.
SURE. SO AS WE WERE WORKING WITH BOND COUNSEL, THEIR RECOMMENDATION, BECAUSE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HOUSING PROPOSITION IN THE PAST HAS THAT TYPE OF FLEXIBILITY THAT THAT BE INCLUDED, THAT THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PORTION ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THAT PROPOSITION? AND WE COULD SPECIFY, AS WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER THE TOTAL PROPOSITION, A LINE ITEM, KIND OF LIKE WE DO WITH OUR STREETS PROPOSITION IS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WOULD BE THIS DOLLAR AMOUNT, HOUSING THIS DOLLAR AMOUNT, AND IT WOULD STILL GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY TO CHANGE IF WE NEEDED TO WITHIN THERE.
BUT WE WOULD CERTAINLY IDENTIFY THE FUNDS THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE US TO PUT ASIDE FOR THOSE.
[07:45:01]
THOSE IS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, THE ONLY NEED THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION.IT IS THE LARGEST NEED AT THIS POINT THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED.
AND SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AS A AS A WHOLE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT PROJECTS THAT CAN BE BROUGHT ONLINE.
BUT REALLY THE HOPE IS IN THE FUTURE.
KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO CONCENTRATE ANYONE IN ANY PARTICULAR AREA BUT TO HAVE SCATTERED SITES.
SO MULTI, MULTI USE HOUSING THAT IS DEEPLY AFFORDABLE.
AND SO I THINK FOR US THE HOPE IN WORKING WITH HOUSING IS THAT THIS JUST BECOMES KIND OF THE MODUS OPERANDI IN THE FUTURE IS THAT THERE IS THIS FUNDING SET ASIDE FOR DEVELOPERS WHO WANT TO USE IT.
I THINK YOU'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
AND I LOVE THE COLLABORATION THAT WE HAVE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PHILANTHROPY COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, IF WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF MATCHING FUNDS AND PARTNERSHIP, THAT GIVES US THE LUXURY OF OF FURNISHING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, WOULDN'T LANGUAGE LIKE THIS BIND US TO NOT BE ABLE TO THEN EXPEND THOSE ON OTHER NEEDS, LIKE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING? SO TRANSITIONAL IN AND OF ITSELF WOULD STILL COUNT AS HOMELESSNESS? WHAT YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR IS FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE A LEASE, EVEN IF IT'S A SHORT TERM LEASE.
AND SO I THINK THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
AND I THINK THAT'S A MORE COMPREHENSIVE WAY OF LOOKING AT IT.
SO WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THAT.
OF COURSE, AT THAT LEVEL OF AREA, MEDIAN INCOME, YOU ARE UNSHELTERED.
AND SO I THINK THAT IS THE POPULATION.
BUT HOW AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT IN ITS OWN PROPOSITION.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I, I WOULD LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE PUT MORE INTO HOUSING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS EITHER.
I PERSONALLY IN THAT EXERCISE THAT I.
REALIZED WAS WAS KIND OF A WASTE OF MY TIME.
I PUT $400 MILLION TOWARDS HOUSING.
I'D LIKE TO SEE US GET TO WHERE OTHER CITIES HAVE, AND BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE AN INVESTMENT WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND GET TO CLOSE TO $1 BILLION OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
AND TRUST ME, I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A SEXY FOR ME TO GO AND CAMPAIGN ON IN TWO YEARS, BUT I ALSO KNOW THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I'M GOING TO BE ON COUNCIL WHEN WE HAVE THIS ONE TIME OPPORTUNITY. WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY AND WHAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE HIGH NEEDS OF OUR CITY.
I THINK THAT WE'LL BE IN A BETTER PLACE TO FOCUS MORE ON WHAT'S GOING FORWARD.
SO I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BIG SHUFFLE IN THESE NUMBERS.
I THINK THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO CHANGE DRASTICALLY HERE ON THE COUNCIL LEVEL, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT MEANS THAT IT'S MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE TO SUPPORT THE HIGHEST NEEDS OF OUR CITY AND ALSO SUPPORTING AMENITIES LIKE PARKS.
IT'S PRESENTED THAT TO THE PUBLIC.
AND LOOKING AT THIS AS A ONE TIME OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT DONE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS.
AND IF WE DON'T DO IT THIS TIME, I KNOW THAT ON OCTOBER 1ST, NEXT YEAR, WE ONLY HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT AND WE'RE ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO NOT EVEN SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF WHAT WE NEED. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK.
WE HAD A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A WIFE AND I.
PERSONAL PRISON, PRISON, PRISON.
ARUN, I KNOW YOU LEAD A GOAL, AND I THINK NO ONE HAD ANY MORE QUESTION FOR YOU SO BAD.
[07:50:01]
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A GREAT VOICE.COULD YOU JUST SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HIM? HIS WIFE? YES, BECAUSE HE GOT READY.
MAY I HELP YOU? THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
AND I TRULY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. CHAIR.
MAYOR. A COUPLE OF QUICK FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
THE FIRST ONE IS ACTUALLY ON HOUSING.
AND IT'S REALLY JUST A POINT THAT TO STEAL A CHAIRWOMAN BLACKMUN'S COMMENT YOU GET FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU PUT INTO HOUSING, YOU DO GET A BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE FOR PARKS OHALA DEVELOPERS TEXT MESSAGE ME ON THE 300 UNIT COMPLEX THEY'RE DOING IN DISTRICT NINE.
UNDER THE NEW FORMULA FOR PAYING INTO THE PARK FEE, THEY WOULD BE PAYING IN $500,000.
AND THAT'S USE OF THE PFC MONEY, WHICH WILL THEN GIVE US 300 UNITS OF A LOT OF WHICH ARE AFFORDABLE.
AND THEN THEY WOULD ALSO BE PAYING INTO PARKS.
THROUGH THAT, WE'RE ALSO GETTING MONEY FOR PARKS.
SECONDLY, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ BROUGHT UP VISION ZERO, WHICH I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE, AND I WANT TO ASK STAFF, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RESURFACE ONE LANE MILE OF ROADWAY? THAT'S APPROXIMATELY $600,000.
I'M SORRY. IT'S APPROXIMATELY $600,000.
CAN YOU. I'M SORRY. CAN YOU SAY IT ONE MORE TIME? $600,000. 600,000.
OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE TO ELABORATE.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IS ACTUALLY 720 LANE MILES.
THAT'S THE COST OF RESURFACING.
ALL RIGHT, ONE LANE MILE, RESURFACING OF ROADWAY, $720,000.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RECONSTRUCT ONE LANE MILE OF ROADWAY? IT VARIES BASED ON THE STREET CLASSIFICATION FROM 2.1 TO $3.7 MILLION.
ALL RIGHT. IF WE ABANDONED A LANE FOR ANY LANES WE CAN ABANDON FOR ONE MILE.
CHRIS OR SOMEONE FROM PARKS, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO MAINTAIN? LET'S JUST SAY TWO ACRES OF CONTIGUOUS GRASSLAND PER YEAR.
I PROBABLY HAVE TO DEFER THAT TO PARKS IF THEY'RE HERE.
THANK YOU. CHRIS TURNER, NOWHERE.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
THAT WOULD BE ANYWHERE FROM $100 TO $800 FOR TWO ACRES.
OKAY. AND I DON'T HAVE TWO ACRES OR CONTIGUOUS.
SO WE HAVE A LANE MILE, WHICH STAFF WORKED WITH MY COMMUNITY, JEFFERSON BOULEVARD, I THINK A COUPLE OF MILES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CONVERTING INTO GREEN SPACE OR SOMETHING ELSE.
TAKING IT OFF THE CITY'S BOOKS.
BECAUSE LOOK AT THE COST SAVINGS WE HAVE WHEN WE TAKE THESE LANE MILES OFF OUR OFF OUR BOOKS.
I KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT ALL OVER THE CITY.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, BUT WE NEED TO BE FINDING THOSE ROADS WHEREVER WE CAN AND AND MEETING OUR OTHER GOALS IN THE CITY WHILE WE'RE TAKING THEM OFF OUR BOOKS. THANK YOU.
HERE ON VERSE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YES.
SO WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT OUR CAPACITY, BUT I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT OUR CURRENT BOND RATING IS AND WHAT IT WAS IN 2017, AND WHAT FACTORS GO INTO ESTABLISHING WHAT OUR RATING IS.
PROBABLY. I HAVE TO DEFER THAT TO EITHER JEANETTE OR TO JACK.
JEANETTE IS COMING UP, SIR. THANK YOU.
JEANETTE WEEDEN, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
SO EACH BOND, OUR OVERALL RATING IS AN AA.
BUT EACH TIME WE HAVE AN ISSUANCE, OUR BONDS ARE REVIEWED BY THE RATING AGENCIES.
[07:55:05]
SO WE HAVE AN UPCOMING BOND ISSUANCE FOR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.AND THE PRELIMINARY RATING IS A AA.
AND WHAT ARE SOME FACTORS THAT CHANGE THAT RATING.
SO THEY LOOK AT A NUMBER OF FACTORS.
THEY LOOK AT OUR ECONOMIC STABILITY, OUR FORECAST, OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST 50 DAYS OF FUND BALANCE, OUR ABILITY TO WEATHER THE RECESSION AND OUR ABILITY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET EACH YEAR.
SO THEY LOOK AT THOSE FACTORS.
THEY ALSO LOOK AT OUR ABILITY TO MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS, OUR PENSION OBLIGATIONS.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT THEY LOOK AT.
THANK YOU. WANT TO SPEAK TO LEVERAGING FUNDS.
AND WE SEE THAT THE PARK DEPARTMENT DOES THAT QUITE WELL.
AND QUITE OFTEN WITH OUR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT POTENTIALLY WITH OUR POLICE TRAINING FACILITY.
BUT ARE WE LOOKING AT THAT AT THE LOCAL SUBSTATIONS WITH GFR AND DPD OR EVEN OUR LIBRARIES TO ENSURE THAT IF THERE'S POSSIBILITIES FOR PARTNERS OR NAMING RIGHTS FOR THOSE FACILITIES TO LEVERAGE PRIVATE DOLLARS? COUNCILMAN MORENO. I DON'T THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FOR NAMING RIGHTS.
I COULD BE WRONG. I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
BUT AS FAR AS THE CATALYTIC PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED ALREADY, YES, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT AT PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THOSE FACILITIES WITH EITHER A HOUSING COMPONENT OR SOME OTHER KIND OF MIXED USE.
OKAY. YOU GUYS SPOKE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND A LINE ITEM SPECIFICALLY TO TO TWO PROJECTS.
AND THOSE WERE INCLUDED IN THE TASK FORCE, BUT THEN LATER REMOVED FROM THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WAS DONE.
JUST THE WAY, YOU KNOW, WE GO DOWN TO A VERY SPECIFIC LIBRARY OR PROJECTS THAT A MASTER PLAN HAD FEEDBACK ON, A MASTER PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED BY A BOARD AND THE COUNCIL.
AND SO GET THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY.
BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE WHEN WE'RE GOING TO THE VOTERS WHEN ABLE.
WHEN IT COMES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION, COUNCIL FEEDBACK, RESIDENT TASK FORCE FEEDBACK, WHAT OTHER THINGS ARE WE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT? ARE WE LOOKING AT, FOR EXAMPLE, AN AQUATIC MASTER PLAN? ARE WE LOOKING AT VISION ZERO? THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP MULTIPLE TIMES.
PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THIS BODY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
ASIDE FROM THE. FROM THE EQUITY INDEX THAT THAT WE SPOKE TO EARLIER.
THE PROJECTS IN THE VISION ZERO PLAN DROVE THE $9.4 MILLION TO A RECOMMENDATION.
THE NORTH OAK CLIFF LIBRARY AND I BELIEVE THE WHAT'S THE OTHER ONE IS IN THE LIBRARY MASTER PLAN.
I'M TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT ELSE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. WHEN IT COMES TO THE THE LATEST STAFF RECOMMENDATION, WHY DID WE NOT HAVE PARKS IDENTIFIED PARK PROJECTS IDENTIFIED PER DISTRICT WITH THE REDUCED ALLOTMENT FOR THE PARKS? BUT YET WE SEE THAT WE SEE IT FOR CITY FACILITIES.
WE SEE IT FOR OTHER COMPONENTS.
[08:00:08]
REDUCTIONS? MR. JENKINS IS WALKING UP, SIR, TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTIONS.GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, ROBERT AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
THAT ACTUALLY WASN'T A QUESTION TECHNICALLY UNTIL THE END TO FOR JOHN.
BUT THE QUESTION IS, DID THEY SUBMIT AND OR WHY WAS NOT SPECIFIC PROJECTS ALIGNED WITH THE REDUCED AMOUNT IN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION? THAT WAS YOUR INITIAL QUESTION, CORRECT.
AND SO AS THAT NUMBER GOT REDUCED, OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THE MANY CHANGES THAT I THINK ROBERT AND JENNIFER TALKED ABOUT, ONE OF THE ISSUES AS I DISCUSSED WITH MR. JENKINS, WAS WE WERE REDUCING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
THE UNDERSTANDING AND CLEARLY FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE WAS THE DIRECTOR, SINCE THE PARKS BOARD HAD REVIEWED AND SEEN THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS WITHIN THE INITIAL $350 MILLION AMOUNT THAT STAFF ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION SIDE DID NOT WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF THEIR BOARD AND WANTED TO SEEK GUIDANCE FROM THEM.
ONCE. IN FACT, THEY HEARD FROM THE CITY COUNCIL ON WHAT THE LEVEL OF THE FUNDING MIGHT BE.
ONE TO NOT HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES TWICE, BUT TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT SETTLED NUMBER IS.
AND THEN THEY WOULD, AS A PARK STAFF, GO BACK AND PRIORITIZE AND LOOK AT THEIR OVERALL PARK SYSTEM AND THEN DETERMINE HOW AND WHAT PROJECTS WOULD GO INTO THAT $250 MILLION NUMBER.
SO WE PUT A ASTERISK BY IT TO SAY THAT IS SUBJECT AND WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE PARKS SYSTEM AND THE BOARD TO COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION THEN WOULD FURTHER BE REVIEWED AND ANALYZED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT REDUCTION OF THAT SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
HE THOUGHT ABOUT DURING THIS CYCLE AS WELL.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN STEWART.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I KNOW I HAVEN'T HAD ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO DATE.
I HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF NOTES AND I'M LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THIS PROCESS.
BUT I WAS TROUBLED BY CHAIR BAZALDUA ASSERTION THAT THIS THE EQUITY PLAN HAD NOT BEEN FOLLOWED IN THIS PROCESS, AND I'M STILL TROUBLED BY THAT.
BUT AND SO I STARTED WITH WONDERING WHAT PORTION OF THE PARK'S 350 MILLION, WHAT PORTION OF THAT COULD WE ATTRIBUTE TO THE EQUITY AREAS IN OUR CITY? AND AND LET'S JUST TAKE OUT MY FAR NORTH LBJ.
WHAT WHAT PORTION OF THE 350 MILLION? MR. JENKINS KNEW I HAD A QUESTION.
WHAT PORTION OF THAT 350 MILLION, COULD WE SAY IS ALLOCATED FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF OUR CITY OR THE EQUITY PORTION OF OUR CITY? HOWEVER, WE WANT TO DESCRIBE THAT.
YEAH, I KNOW I KEEP COMING BACK AND FORTH.
THAT'S STRATEGICALLY BECAUSE IF Y'ALL SEE ME, Y'ALL GOING TO ASK ME PLENTY OF QUESTIONS.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING TO A TEN MINUTE WALK.
WE LOOK AT A CONDITION ASSESSMENT.
AND SO THIS PROPORTION OF THE BOND PROGRAM THAT WHEN WE LOOKED AT CONDITIONS, WHEN WE LOOKED AT CERTAIN NEEDS AND WE DID OUR SCORING AS WELL, THIS BOND PROGRAM IS BROKEN UP.
WEST DALLAS, AND WE'RE NOT INCLUDING EAST PARK.
EAST. I MEAN, LIKE DISTRICT 14.
THEN THAT NUMBER WOULD BE ABOUT $150 MILLION OF THIS BOND PROGRAM IS NORTH AND 200 WELL, ABOUT 130
[08:05:03]
OR 140 MILLION IS NORTH.THE REST IS TO ABOUT 220 MILLION IS THE IS.
EAST AND WEST AND SOUTHERN SECTOR OF THE CITY, AND THAT WASN'T PURPOSELY DONE.
IT'S JUST THAT WHEN WE LOOKED AT THERE'S DIFFERENT NEEDS IN THE PARK SYSTEM, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR EQUITY LEANINGS IN THE PARK SYSTEM AND UP NORTH, I HAVE THE WHOLE ISSUE OF IT WAS BUILT OUT FAST THROUGH DEVELOPMENT.
WHERE THEY INHERIT A PLAYGROUND ON A PARK AND MADE SURE THEY GOT PLAYGROUNDS.
AND SO WHILE YOU MAY SEE A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER LIKE THAT.
WAS. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS.
BUT UP NORTH I COULDN'T IGNORE THAT.
I GOT SOME EQUITY ISSUES UP NORTH.
I MEAN, I CAN NAME ROSEMEAD PARK.
AS I HEARD YOU ALL JUST MENTIONED THE WHOLE ISSUE GOING ON THERE.
I GOT A WHOLE ISSUE UP NORTH WHEN IT CAME TO DISTRICT 13.
AND SO I HAD TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
I GET PLACES LIKE FOREST AUDELIA.
THAT IS JUST A HUGE SERVICE GAP AND WE SERVING THOSE FOLKS.
BUT I CAN NAME YOU TEN OTHER PLACES IN THE SOUTH THAT I MADE SURE GOT INCLUDED IN THE BOND PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR DOING GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
CARA. MENDELSOHN. THIS IS YOUR LAST ROUND.
JOHN, MY FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT VISION ZERO.
THE LIST THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN WHEN WE'VE HAD A BRIEFING OF THE MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS.
ARE ALL OF THOSE INCLUDED IN THE BOND? THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH.
LET ME LET ME GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT BECAUSE I JUST DON'T HAVE.
WAIT, WAIT. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO STOP MY TIME.
PLEASE. YEAH. YOU NEED TO BACK THAT THING UP.
I WAS. SO I BELIEVE GUS IS HERE.
OKAY, SERIOUSLY, I NEED TEN MORE SECONDS THERE.
GUSKIN CARLI, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO IT'S NOT ALL INCLUSIVE BECAUSE WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 19 CORRIDOR STUDIES UNDERWAY AND UNSURE AT THIS POINT OF WHAT WILL COME OUT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THESE.
OKAY. WELL, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IN THE BOND.
AND I DON'T CARE IF THEY'RE ALL IN ANY ONE DISTRICT, IF EVERY SINGLE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT SEVEN DO THEM, BECAUSE OUR MOST DANGEROUS PLACES NEED TO BE FIXED AND WE NEED TO STOP LOOKING AT DISTRICT NUMBERS.
JOHN, MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS AREA OF NEEDS FOR THE PARK.
I THINK THIS IS WHAT CHAIRMAN STEWART WAS GETTING AT.
WE HAVE AN EQUITY MAP THAT'S SHOWN ALL THE TIME.
SAME MAP. DOES THAT LOOK LIKE THE EQUITY MAP YOU HAVE FOR PARKS? YOU GOT TO PUSH YOUR MICROPHONE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT MAP BEFORE ME, SO I CAN'T REALLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
I CAN JUST ANSWER IT. JUST FROM WHAT PART OF TOWN HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ACRES OF PARKLAND? I WOULD SAY THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ACREAGE OF PARKLAND, I CAN TELL YOU IS DISTRICT 14 HAS 200 PLUS ACRES, FOLLOWED BY DISTRICT 12.
AND I WANT TO SAY IT'S NOT I'M SORRY.
DISTRICT ONE IS A I WANT TO SAY IS ALMOST ABOUT 300 AND DISTRICT 12 IS ABOUT 400.
[08:10:08]
A PARKLAND.GO ANYWHERE FROM AS LOW AS 300 ACRES ALL THE WAY UP TO 4000 ACRES PER COUNCIL DISTRICT. SO I JUST POSTED THE NUMBERS THAT PARKS RAN FOR ME.
I'M SORRY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU JUST SAID, BUT THE DISTRICTS WITH THE LEAST ACREAGE OF PARKLAND ARE DISTRICT 14, THEN DISTRICT 12, THEN DISTRICT 11, AND THEN I BELIEVE THE NEXT IS DISTRICT 13.
AND THEN WE MOVE TO DISTRICT ONE.
SO IT'S THE FOUR NORTHERN DISTRICTS.
AND I THINK DISTRICT ONE ACTUALLY HAS MORE THAN DISTRICT TEN.
SO THE AREA THAT HAS THE LEAST PARKLAND IS ACTUALLY THE NORTH.
IT'S NOT THE NARRATIVE WE HEAR AROUND HERE.
SO THAT'S MY QUESTION FOR YOU ON THAT.
EQUITY DOESN'T ALWAYS LOOK THE SAME.
MY LAST QUESTION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT PCI.
WELL, TO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, THE 17 BILLION.
DOES THAT INCLUDE A MS FACILITY CONDITION ASSESSMENT FROM 2016.
AND IF ALL OF THOSE ISSUES WERE ADDRESSED.
NOT ALL THE NOT ALL OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FROM THE 2016 2017 FACILITIES ASSESSMENT IS GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IN THIS BOND PROGRAM, BUT IS A 17 BILLION INCLUSIVE OF THAT? OH I'M SORRY. YES.
THE 17 BILLION OF THE NEEDS INVENTORY INCLUDES THAT.
OKAY. MY LAST QUESTION IS ABOUT THE PCI SCORE AND THE GOAL.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE NO DEGRADATION.
ARE YOU SAYING AN INDIVIDUAL STREET? CLEARLY NOT. IT'S GOT TO BE AN AVERAGE.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO STOP RELYING ON PCI AND START TALKING ABOUT VOLUME OF TRAFFIC AS WELL AS THE SAFETY, INCLUDING THE CONDITION. SO ALL THREE OF THOSE NEED TO BE PART OF WHAT WE CONSIDER FOR DEGRADATION.
CHAIRMAN ALAN BAZALDUA LAST ROUND.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DID GET OUT.
WHERE I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS GO, SO THAT YOU ALL HAVE MY FEEDBACK IN THE MIX.
I THINK IT'S 54 MILLION PARKS.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE SPENDING MORE THAN 200 MILLION ON OUR PARKS IN THIS BOND HOUSING.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A MINIMUM OF 150 TO 200 IN HOUSING.
AND I'D LIKE FOR OUR HOUSING PROPOSITION TO BE NOT INCLUSIVE OF OUR HOMELESS.
AND I THINK THAT OUR FORMER MAYOR, I WASN'T ON THE COUNCIL, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE HE MADE THE CHANGE FOR THE 2017 BOND AND, AND GOT HOMELESSNESS TO TO BE IN ITS OWN PROPOSITION.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FEEDBACK THAT I GOT IN TOWN HALLS, THAT THOSE TWO ARE SEPARATED BECAUSE THAT WAS DEFINITELY A PRIORITY TO FOCUS ON. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO PARKS, I WILL JUST SAY.
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE EQUITY THAT WENT INTO IT.
SO NEGLECTING THE HISTORIC NEGLECT, WHICH IS THE CORE FUNCTION OF OUR RACIAL EQUITY PLAN, SHOWS ME THAT THAT WAS NOT A WEIGHED IN AS A PRIORITY IN WHERE Y'ALL HAVE GONE.
GIVE US THAT FROM STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT 225 MILLION IS INCLUSIVE OF OF ANYTHING.
COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE I HAVE.
MY UNDERSTANDING, EVERYONE AND THE COUNCIL HAS A COPY OF THE PRESENTATION THAT HAS THE BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE PROJECTS, BECAUSE I MADE SURE WE LAID OUT THOSE PROJECT COUNCIL MEMBER. THAT'S WITH THE.
[08:15:01]
YEAH. WITH THE 350 NOT OUT.I HAD TO WAIT FOR HIM TO WALK UP AND IT WAS.
NO, NO, I'LL. GIVE YOU FIVE SECONDS.
I ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THAT THERE IS NO BREAKDOWN ON THE TWO.
AND THAT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN NUMBER.
SO THE RESPONSE I DON'T THINK WAS ACCURATE.
OKAY. AND COUNCILMAN, IF I MAY ASK, AND AS, AS MR. BROADNAX MENTIONED EARLIER, THE ONLY REASON YOU DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER, BECAUSE HIM AND I DID HAVE THE CONVERSATION AND I DID IT, ADVISED MR. BRODNIK. I CAN'T MOVE ON THAT NUMBER UNTIL YOU ALL TELL ME WHAT NUMBER YOU ARE GOING TO.
Y'ALL WON'T PARKS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND FOR PARKS.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. HAVE ANYONE ELSE WHO ARE NOT SPEAKING? OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN BLACKMON.
THANK YOU. UM, I GUESS I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A CLARIFICATION OF WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS, BECAUSE I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND A LOT OF FEEDBACK, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO OR TO EXPECT WITH THAT FEEDBACK, GIVEN THAT WE'VE GOT PROBABLY ALL OF JULY, JANUARY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CALL AN ELECTION IN FEBRUARY IF WE ARE TO CALL ONE FOR MAY.
TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE NEXT PROCESS.
YEAH. ARE WE GOING TO ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING TO HAMMER THIS OUT? BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE CAN'T DO THIS UNTIL WE DO THAT.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING, I'D LIKE TO JUST KNOW, ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE IT TO US IN A MEMO? LAY IT OUT. LIKE, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT BEFORE WE GO ON BREAK? BECAUSE WE'RE GONE FOR BASICALLY THREE WEEKS.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE STATEMENTS, I THINK, BEFORE WE HAD CLOSED OUT TODAY WAS AT LEAST WHAT WE BELIEVE WE WANTED TO WALK AWAY WITH BEFORE WE BEGAN TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED TODAY ARE RECALIBRATION AND THOUGHT AND APPROACH BASED ON THAT DISCUSSION AND ULTIMATELY GETTING SOMETHING FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UNLESS I HEAR DIFFERENTLY AS IT RELATES TO HOW WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY ADJUSTMENTS AND USE THAT AS THE BASELINE AS IT RELATES TO WHERE WE'LL GO FROM HERE.
THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD HAVE SAID AT THE END.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE GETTING TO THAT POINT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE TIME TALKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSIONS THAT MAY NEED TO HAPPEN THAT MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED TODAY, JUST TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS, GET MORE CLARIFICATION, AND THEN COME BACK THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND PROBABLY SHARE THROUGH MEMORANDUM WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, KIND OF WHERE ANY REVISIONS TO WHAT BASELINE NUMBER WE SET TODAY.
ANY CHANGES OR THOUGHTS BASED ON THAT FEEDBACK AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY SCHEDULE ANOTHER COUNCIL BRIEFING THAT WOULD THEN LAY OUT ANY MODIFICATIONS OR ADJUSTMENTS TO WHATEVER THAT NUMBER WAS THAT WE KIND OF WALKED AWAY WITH TODAY AND THEN GIVE ALL THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND HOW WE GOT THERE AND WHAT WENT INTO IT.
I WILL SAY THIS, AS MR. MRS WILSON INDICATED, OUR EQUITY DIRECTOR, THAT WE'VE ALSO ASKED THEM OR I'VE ASKED THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS WITH AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT LENS BASED ON PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED AND OR THAT MAY NOT BE INCLUDED NOW, AND TRULY LAY OUT WHAT IF FOLK REALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY IN ITS PUREST, THAT THEY WOULD COME BACK WITH THEIR LENS? THAT'S DIFFERENT AFTER WORKING WITH STAFF AS WELL, TO SHARE POTENTIALLY WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE OR WHAT DEVIATIONS ARE THERE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK, SHARPEN OUR PENCILS, TAKE ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED, HAVE INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GOOD, BAD AND INDIFFERENT, AND REALLY MAYBE GET SOME PRIORITIES AROUND CERTAIN PROJECTS AND THEN GO BACK AND RUN THAT THROUGH OUR OWN FILTERS AND THEN SHARE SOMETHING WITH COUNCIL AT A FUTURE DATE VIA A MEMO, AND THEN COME BACK AND DO A FULL BRIEFING BRIEFING TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THE CONVERSATION.
WITH NO DATES SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED, IT MAY BE FIRST OR SECOND BRIEFING IN JANUARY IF WE CAN MAKE IT BACK, BUT WE'LL HAVE CONVERSATIONS IN BETWEEN NOW AND BEFORE WE COME BACK FOR SURE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S CLEAR, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF WORDS TO SAY.
WE'RE GOING TO GO FIGURE IT OUT.
[08:20:02]
BUT WE WILL WALK AWAY TODAY UNLESS WE HEAR OTHERWISE.AND I JUST NEED TO REMIND PEOPLE, WITH ALL DEFERENCE TO THE TASK FORCE AND ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK, THE TASK FORCE AND THE WHOLE PROCESS ITSELF WAS ACTUALLY CREATED BY ME, THIS CITY MANAGER, TO GIVE ME MORE INSIGHT AND GUIDANCE AS IT RELATES TO HOW AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES WAS ON THE BOND PROGRAM.
IT KIND OF GOT A LITTLE WONKY AND KIND OF GOT AS IF STAFF IN.
JUST TO GIVE A RECOMMENDATION OR IT SEEMED COUNTER.
AND SO THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND WHAT'S NOT HAPPENING, I THINK IS INTERESTING, BUT I'M GLAD THAT IT IS A PROCESS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS ENJOYED AND THINKS IS GOOD, BECAUSE I DO AS WELL.
BUT THAT'S HOW WE LEAVE TODAY.
UNLESS AGAIN, I HEAR OTHERWISE, WHICH I'M SURE I PROBABLY WILL, BUT I'LL LOOK FOR CONSENSUS ON THAT VERSUS, I THINK, INDIVIDUALS SPECIFIC THOUGHTS ON IT RIGHT NOW.
SO, SO SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS WE'RE GOING TO USE THE THESE ALLOCATIONS FROM STAFF THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A BOND PACKAGE AROUND AND COME BACK AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS.
YES. BUT GUIDED BY COUNCIL'S DESIRE TO WIN, WE'RE GOING TO CALL AN ELECTION AND OR YOUR COMFORT WITH THE NEXT BRIEFING, I DON'T THINK, UNLESS, OF COURSE, SOMEONE SAYS WE'RE GOING TO SHOOT FOR MAY.
THERE IS NO HARD, DEFINITIVE IT'S GOT TO BE DECIDED.
AND IT'S A BLOOD SPORT IN JANUARY.
IF IN FACT, THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT EVOLVING CONVERSATION UNTIL WE GET TO A POINT WHERE COUNCIL IS COMFORTABLE AND THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS WHY YOU'RE COMFORTABLE. AND WE CAN OBVIOUSLY FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT WHAT WE PUT TO THE VOTERS AND WOULD EXPECT FOR THEM TO PASS, WHETHER IN MAY OR IN NOVEMBER.
THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THIS VERY MUCH.
I THINK PART OF THE REASON THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING IS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CRAFT A VISION THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON OR BUY INTO. AND SO FOR THE LACK OF THAT, WE'RE ALL JUST SORT OF, YOU KNOW, FALLING INTO OUR OWN DISTRICT THINGS OR WHATEVER.
AND SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF WE'RE UNABLE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF A VISIONING PROCESS WHERE WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, END, YOU KNOW, END THIS OR ALL I'M SAYING IS THIS.
I THINK THAT EVEN IF WE CAN'T HAVE A VISIONING PROCESS, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE META GOALS AND VISION STATEMENTS FOR EACH ONE OF THE BOND CATEGORIES SO THAT OUR TAXPAYERS, IF WE'RE ASKING TO BORROW MONEY ON THEIR BACKS, THEN THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE BY THAT.
AND NOT JUST PROJECTS, NOT JUST PROJECTS.
WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE IN THEIR CITY IF THEY'RE GOING TO GO INTO DEBT ON THIS? AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GO UP 10,000FT, AT LEAST IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO CRAFT THAT AMONG EACH OTHER, THEN AT LEAST BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT AS PART OF OUR FEEDBACK, PART OF THE FEEDBACK BACK TO US.
THIS IS WHERE THINGS WILL CHANGE.
IF YOU SPEND X DOLLARS, SO THAT WE CAN HOLD OURSELVES AND EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT LOAN THAT WE'RE ASKING THE THE PUBLIC TO, TO MAKE ON OUR BEHALF WITH OUR DECISION.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MR. MAYOR, I DECLARE.
HOO HOO HOO! JESSE! YES, SIR. GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THE PARK ALLOCATION, AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING CLOSER TO THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION.
FEELING COMFORTABLE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF ON THE PARK APPLICATION.
THAT'S IT. THEN WE KIND OF MAKE A STATEMENT.
[08:25:04]
NUMBER ONE, I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A STAFF RECOMMENDATION.WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION.
RECOMMENDATION? I'VE BEEN AROUND A THREE BUTTON PACKAGE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT'S REALLY UP TO THE COUNCIL.
RECOMMENDATION IS UP TO US BECAUSE WE GOT TO DIG IN.
ALSO BEST FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO I THINK THAT REALIZE THAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBER, OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CITY AND ALSO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR DISTRICT.
BECAUSE IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST BOND PACKAGE.
SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LEARN THIS OVERNIGHT.
SO SO THEREFORE, YOU KNOW, DON'T BE SCARED TO ASK.
JUST GO AHEAD AND ASK THE QUESTION, THE HARD QUESTION AND GET THE ANSWER.
AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, WITH THAT, IS THERE NOT ANY OTHER QUESTION? SO IT IS 650 AND I GOT CLEAR GUIDANCE.
CLEAR GAINS FROM HER. CRAIG AS HOME FROM THE PARK DEPARTMENT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO? ARE WE? DO WE WAIT AS YOU ALL WORK THROUGH MR. BROADNAX AND HIS RECOMMENDATION.
SEND THE PARK DEPARTMENT SAYING THIS IS YOUR NEW ALLOCATION.
WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS COME BACK IN.
HERE YOU ARE. AND HAVE YOU ALL RIPPED ME APART BECAUSE I WENT BACK REDUCING NUMBERS.
YES. BECAUSE WE NUMBER ONE WE GOT TO WE GOT A DIVISION, WE GOT A PARK DEPARTMENT AND CITY MANAGER.
AND I THINK BOTH OF Y'ALL SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER, NOT IN SILOS.
I THINK WHAT JOHN IS ASKING IS WHAT NUMBER SHOULD HE BE GOING BACK TO HIS PARKS BOARD AND TALK ABOUT ANY REVISIONS FOR? AND SO I THINK THAT'S HIS QUESTION.
AND WHAT I SAID EARLIER, I THINK WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, ANY DISAGREEMENT AT THIS POINT OTHER THAN I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO TALKED WHERE HE WANTED TO BE AT A LEVEL WAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO WALK AWAY WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE ALLOCATIONS THAT WE'VE RECOMMENDED AS A REDUCTION AT THIS POINT, ANY FUTURE REFINEMENTS OR CHANGES WILL BE PREDICATED ON THAT NUMBER, WHETHER UP OR DOWN IN PARKS.
BUT WE'LL START AT 225, 532 AND THE OTHER NUMBERS THAT ARE LAID OUT.
AND THEN ANY CHANGES BASED ON THESE DISCUSSIONS TODAY WILL EITHER GO UP OR DOWN BASED ON THOSE.
AND THEN IT COULD GO UP OR DOWN.
BUT IF WE GOT MORE, HERE'S WHERE WE WOULD SPEND IT.
AND IF WE GOT LESS, HERE'S THE LINE THAT WE DREW.
SO THE 225 IS WHERE I THINK YOU SHOULD START.
THAT MAY CHANGE, BUT THAT'S WHERE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A NUMBER, THAT'S THE NUMBER.
AND AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DIFFICULT HERE.
I JUST KNOW IF I GO START REDUCING NUMBERS.
I PEOPLE, I'M GOING TO GET KILLED.
Y'ALL GOING TO HEAR ALL KINDS OF PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS.
YOU GOT THE FLOOR? I JUST HAVE TO SAY, I DON'T AGREE THAT THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT WE START WITH.
I DIDN'T HEAR THAT FROM EVERYBODY.
I HEAR THAT THERE'S FLUCTUATIONS, BUT I, YOU KNOW, MY PERSONAL I HAVE KEPT FROM GIVING MY PERSONAL OPINION, BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT TOO MUCH IN STREETS AND NOT ENOUGH IN PARKS.
AND MISS SCHULTZ MAY THINK SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
[08:30:07]
I SURE DIDN'T HEAR THAT TODAY.BUT I DIDN'T HEAR EVERYBODY WAS COMFORTABLE WITH THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION.
AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE WHERE WE ARE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, JOHN, I APPRECIATE WHERE YOU SIT, BUT I SIT THERE EVERY WEDNESDAY AND THERE ARE NO WRONG OR RIGHT ANSWERS ON CERTAIN DAYS IN EVERYBODY, WHETHER IT'S THE PARKS, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COMPLAIN AND WE WILL WALK AWAY FROM HERE IF WE LEAVE IT WHERE IT'S AT THE HOUSING COALITION, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COMPLAIN. THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WON'T COMPLAIN ARE THE STREETS COALITION AND THERE AIN'T NO STREETS COALITION, SO THERE'S NOBODY ADVOCATING FOR THEM EXCEPT FOR SOME FOLK AROUND THIS DAIS.
BUT SO Y'ALL TELL ME TODAY IS WHAT I ASKED.
AND SO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TELL ME ANYTHING, THEN I'LL FEEL LIKE A REGULAR DAY.
I JUST HAVE A POINT OF PERSONAL. HOLD ON.
WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT. WE GOT IT.
HOLD ON. MANY RESENDEZ JUST PUNCHED.
GET OVER THERE. NO, NO, NO, YOU HAD NO MINUTES.
STRATEGIC MAYOR JAYNIE JAYNIE, YOU HAVE THE MIC.
YOU HAVE TO FIND MR. CITY MANAGER. YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM US IMMEDIATELY SO THAT YOU REALLY DO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE AS AS CHAIR STEWART SAID, I DIDN'T SAY ONCE WHAT I WANTED, AND I THINK MANY OF US DID NOT BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO WEAR OUR OUR CITY HAT AND TRYING TO ASK, SO LET ME JUST MAKE A SUGGESTION.
AND THAT IS UNTIL WE CAN FIND A WAY TO TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT THIS AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S IN AN INFORMAL SETTING OR WHATEVER.
I WOULD SUGGEST THEN THAT AT LEAST THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME QUICK SURVEY ON WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, THE THE PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, SO THAT YOU GET A SENSE OF WHAT WE REALLY WANTED FROM THIS FROM TODAY, BECAUSE WE ALL LEARNED A TON AND MAY HAVE CHANGED OUR OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU THOUGHT WE WANTED.
SO THAT COULD BE WORTH A VERY BECAUSE SOME OF US DIDN'T EVEN PARTICIPATE IN THE INITIAL ONE.
BUT I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WOULD NOW TO SAY, OKAY, BASED ON THAT, WHERE ARE YOU? BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE TO COME FROM, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING PROPOSALS THAT SAY TO 25 PLUS OR -10% PLUS OR -20%, BECAUSE THEN WE GET INTO WE SPEND THE WHOLE CONVERSATION HORSE TRADING.
SO THAT'S MY SUGGESTION ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
OKAY. CHAIRMAN OMAR, THANK YOU.
MR. MAYOR. AND I, I DID SAY WHAT I WANTED.
I DIDN'T GIVE NUMBERS EXACTLY.
I JUST SAID I WANTED MORE HOUSING.
I WANTED ARTS AND CULTURE TO BE AT 6%.
I SAID, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHERE TO TAKE FROM, WHERE TO CUT FROM.
I JUST SAID, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE.
SO I UTILIZED MY TIME FOR THAT.
MY ISSUE WITH THE SURVEY IS THAT IS THAT CONSIDERED A WALK IN QUORUM, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE, AND IT'S NOT PUBLIC TO EVERYBODY TO SEE WHAT THAT QUORUM, WHAT THAT SURVEY WOULD BE.
SO AND ALSO IT'S LIKE, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING TOGETHER IN ORDER TO HORSE TRADE BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE BOND AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE WE'VE NOW MET AS A WHOLE? I'M JUST SAYING THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, THEN WE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO DO IT THAT WAY.
I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AS HAVING TO COME BACK HERE AND DO THAT IN FRONT OF OUR PUBLIC.
AND IT'S NOT SOME RANDOM HIDDEN SURVEY THAT PEOPLE GET TO HIDE BEHIND.
IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH BEING THE DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE YOUR FIRST DAY.
AND THE PUBLIC TRUST ME, I SAID I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOUSING.
MAYBE I COULD LIVE WITH AROUND $100 MILLION.
BUT I PUT THAT CAVEAT OUT THERE THAT Y'ALL DON'T KILL ME.
I'M NOT SAYING, I MEAN, IF IT'S 200, THEN IT'S 200.
I'M NOT SAYING IT CAN'T BE. I JUST SAID THAT'S WHERE I'D FEEL COMFORTABLE AT THE LOW, BUT THAT'S ME.
[08:35:05]
BUT I'VE ALSO GOT TO DO THE VERY TAIL END OF THE 2017 BOND.AND SO POSSIBLY I HAVE A LITTLE TINY BIT MORE EXPERIENCE.
I DEFINITELY DO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD BE PUTTING MORE DOLLARS IN THIS.
I WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY AND HAVE EVERYBODY.
NOW THAT THEY'VE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, THEY MAYBE WERE THAT THEY NEEDED ANSWERED.
AND MAYBE I JUST DID ALL OF THAT WITH STAFF ON MY OWN.
I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I DID WHAT I NEEDED TO DO TO BE HERE AND BE READY.
AND I DO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ, THAT, YOU KNOW, NOW, AFTER HEARING THE ANSWERS TO SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, MAY HAVE CHANGED YOUR MIND ON SOMETHING ELSE OR SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE HERE, WE NEED MORE, LESS THERE.
THAT'S THE WHOLE THAT'S THIS PROCESS.
BUT I AM JUST GOING TO FINISH BY SAYING, I REALLY THINK IT NEEDS TO BE HERE AT THE HORSESHOE AND A PUBLIC PUBLICLY, SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE IN THE CITY CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE REALLY SAYING AND WHY WE'RE PUTTING THOSE DOLLARS THERE SO THAT NOBODY CAN HIDE BEHIND A NUMBER CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT I TURNED IT IN, BUT NOW IT'S NOT THERE.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. GRAYSON.
THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE GO WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION OR WHETHER WE GO WITH A BOND TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION, THE PROCESS ON THE OTHER SIDE COULD POTENTIALLY BE THE SAME. WE WOULD EITHER COME AROUND HERE AND DISCUSS WHAT WE WANT, OR YOU WOULD MEET WITH US INDIVIDUALLY TO GET US WHERE WE'RE GOING.
SO WITH THAT SAID, THEN CAN WE START WITH WHAT THE TASK FORCE DID? I'M NOT COMPLETELY ON BOARD WITH THAT ONE, NOT COMPLETELY ON BOARD WITH THE OTHER ONE, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE TIME SPENT AND THE EFFORT THAT THEY WENT THROUGH TO GET US TO THAT POINT, CAN WE JUST START THERE AND THEN KIND OF DO THE PROCESS, MEET WITH US, AND WE DISCUSS IT PUBLICLY SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE? BECAUSE IN SOME OF THOSE PIECES, I'M OKAY WITH OTHER PARTS.
SO NOTHING PRECLUDES ANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID IN THE CONVERSATION, BECAUSE THE PROCESS, WHETHER WE START AT THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION OR STAFF'S, THERE WAS NOT CONSENSUS.
TO YOUR POINT ON EVEN WHERE THE TASK FORCE WAS AND NOT FULL CONSENSUS BECAUSE IT WASN'T ASKED OR SOUGHT OR LOBBIED FOR AS IT RELATES TO WHERE STAFF ENDED UP.
BUT THERE WERE SOME PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT GUIDED STAFF'S DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NUMBERS BASED ON A LOT OF CONVERSATION AND FEEDBACK, WHETHER THROUGH BUDGET OR JUST HISTORY, AROUND WHERE THE IMPORTANT THINGS LAY.
AND SO IF THE WALK AWAY TODAY DOES NOT WANT TO BE PERCEIVED AS THE COUNCIL CHOSE TO GO FORWARD WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION AS THE BASELINE TO GO FORWARD, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS AROUND THAT.
THAT'S FINE, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR NUMBERS AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'LL HAVE AND THE ONES YOU'LL HAVE HERE WILL GET US TO A PROPOSITION LEVEL.
WHAT I WOULD HATE TO SEE, QUITE HONESTLY, IS THE THOUGHT AND BELIEF THAT THIS COUNCIL, WHETHER AS A BODY OF THE WHOLE OR AT SOME FUTURE BRIEFING, IS GOING TO ACTUALLY PULL UP A SEAT AND PRETEND TO BE STAFF AND GET DOWN INTO PUTTING NUMBERS IN SPREADSHEETS AND DOING THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU EVER GET OUT OF THE ROOM UNTIL THE 2028 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IF IN FACT, WE WERE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE.
SO AT A POLICY LEVEL SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN SCHULTZ SAID, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME THEMATICS AND SOME HIGH LEVEL PERSPECTIVES ON WHAT AND WHAT NOT AND WHETHER THIS OR THAT FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, WHATEVER THAT IS THAT GETS Y'ALL SOMEPLACE.
BUT DOING THAT WORK AND TAKING THE PLACE AND I GIVE ALL DEFERENCE TO THE TASK FORCE, BUT Y'ALL PAY LARGE SUMS OF MONEY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY DO THIS WORK AND GUIDE YOU BASED ON THINGS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY GROUND INTO HOW WE APPROACH IT, THAT I DON'T SAY WE ABDICATE OUR PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOR SHOULD YOU IGNORE THAT OR THE COMMUNITIES.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE WANT A LOT OF THINGS, PERIOD.
AND AS DESCRIBED TODAY, EVEN BY SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS, QUITE HONESTLY, ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD BE FUNDING IN THE GENERAL FUND AND WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING HERE? A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE SPOKEN AND DONE HERE DON'T LINE UP WITH THE REALITIES OF OUR FISCAL ABILITIES, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES BUILT IN HERE.
[08:40:07]
AND TO JOHN'S POINT, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO SCREAM AND YELL, BUT Y'ALL ARE EXPERIENCED AT THAT.AND SO WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
SO IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE WE START, IT MATTERS WHERE WE END.
SO THAT HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.
AND SO EVERYTHING ELSE IS WHERE THAT NUMBER GOT MOVED BACK FROM TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO HOUSING.
SO YOUR TASK WILL NOT GET ANY EASIER.
YOUR DESIRES AND HOPES AND DREAMS WILL PROBABLY BE CRUSHED, BUT WE'VE GOT TO GET TO A NUMBER.
AND YOU CAN'T TELL ME ALL YEAR IN MY TEAM THAT YOU CARE ABOUT STREETS AND ALLEYS, AND THEN WE DON'T FUND THEM AT, AT LEAST AT THE LEVEL CONSISTENT WITH WHAT STAFF IS TELLING YOU PROFESSIONALLY. AND YOU CAN'T DO AWAY WITH THE PCI SYSTEM BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SERVE YOU WELL IN THIS PROCESS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN BASING ALL OF OUR DECISIONS ON.
AND SO I WOULD RECOMMEND AGAINST THAT.
IT SHOULDN'T EVEN BE A CONVERSATION.
YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT, BUT FOLK RUNNING.
AND DOWN THE STREET SAYING, OH, IT'S LUMPIER HERE THAN THERE.
AND THEN WE GO FUND THAT STREET THAT IS NOT SCIENTIFIC AND NOT PRACTICAL OR DATA DRIVEN.
SO AGAIN, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.
WE'LL START WITH ANY NUMBER AND WE'LL START WITH THEIR NUMBER.
WE'LL MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND WE'LL COME BACK.
BUT IF THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL WANT TO DO, WE'LL DO THAT TOO.
AND WE CAN GET THERE SPEEDIER IF WE CAN SPEED THAT UP.
LET ME KNOW BECAUSE THE NUMBERS JUST PICK A NUMBER AND WE'LL PUT PROJECTS WITHIN IT.
BUT WE GOT $1.1 BILLION RIGHT NOW OKAY WITH THAT OKAY WILLIS, YOU HAD THE MIC.
THANK YOU. WELL, I WANT TO BUILD ON ON THAT THOUGHT.
BUT I THINK THE GROUND IN THIS SHOULD BE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE THAT CAME TO LIGHT TODAY.
THE FACT THAT THE PARK NUMBER WENT SO FAR UP AND STREETS WAS KNOCKED BACK FROM THAT HALF MILLION, BASED ON A SUPPOSITION THAT MONEY WASN'T BEING SPENT WHEN THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT. THERE WERE JUST SOME MARKET FACTORS THAT CAUSED A DELAY.
THAT NUMBER ALSO WENT UP FROM THE 2017 BOND, 34%.
I DON'T KNOW THAT PHILOSOPHICALLY, WE'RE SAYING THAT WE WANT TO SEE A PARK BOND NUMBER GO UP 34% WHEN WE'RE STARING DOWN HOUSING CRISIS AND HOMELESSNESS AND TECHNOLOGY ISSUES THAT THE 2024 BOND MUST GIVE ATTENTION TO.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US PUT OUR OWN THOUGHT INTO IT ABOUT NOT ONLY OUR DISTRICT'S PROJECTS, BUT SOME OF THE ONES WE'VE COME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AND SOME OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS SO THAT WE HAVE THOUGHTS.
I KNOW I'VE HAD SOME PROJECTS IN VERY HIGH NEED AREAS THAT WHEN I LOOK AT A LIST, I SEE THAT I JUST I WANT TO WEIGH WHY SOME MADE IT AND SOME DIDN'T AND BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MAGNIFY FOR STAFF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, THE PLACES WHERE WE THINK OTHER FUNDING SOURCES COULD BE FOUND AND, AND JUST WEIGH IN AT THAT POINT.
AND THEN THAT CAN BE A BASIS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF DISCUSSION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO COME RIGHT BACK HERE.
THANKS. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REALLY, I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK ALL OF THE THE PUBLIC FOR LISTENING.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STILL WAITING FOR US TO LET THEM GO IN THE BACK.
BUT MR. BROADNAX, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE STAFF MEMBERS AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
THE OUTCOME OF THIS BOND SHOULD REFLECT WHO WE ARE AS A CITY AND WHAT OUR MESSAGES HAVE BEEN.
AND WE KNOW THE OVERALL ARCHING MESSAGE HAS BEEN ABOUT EQUITY AND RACIAL EQUITY AND ALL I WANT.
[08:45:11]
I'M JUST. ALL I WANT IS FOR WHEN WE BEGIN TO DRILL DOWN ON WHAT OUR MESSAGE REALLY IS TO BE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY.I DON'T WANT TO SEE FOLKS GET AMNESIA AND START PUSHING BACK, BECAUSE THERE'S NO UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OR NEEDS.
AND WE'RE NOW HERE AT NEEDS VERSUS WANTS.
AND FROM AN ECONOMIC ECONOMICS, WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANT TO USE IT, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT YOU NEED IN A CITY IN ORDER TO TO EXIST AND WHAT WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE IN A PLACE WHERE THEY WANT TO COME, LIVE, WORK AND PAY THEIR TAXES.
SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT HERE ON THE BOOKS.
BUT WE KNOW THERE NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY ON THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SENT US HERE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS AND THEIR WISHES AND THEIR DESIRES.
MAYOR ATKINS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TODAY.
DR. JENKINS, WHAT I CALLED YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO WORK ON PRESCRIPTIONS FOR EVERYBODY'S FEELINGS.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS WE'RE GOING TO GET HIT AND WE'RE GOING TO GET BEAT UP.
BUT WE ALL SIGNED UP FOR THIS JOB.
ALL I ASK OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF AS WE CLOSE, DON'T GIVE ANYONE ELSE MY PERSONAL CELL NUMBER TO TAKE ON AN ADVOCACY.
BUT BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILWOMAN TO BLACKMON.
I THINK YOU GOT TWO MORE MINUTES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE TWO COLLEAGUES THAT WENT THROUGH THEIR THREE ROUNDS, AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR THEIR COMMENTS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT, I GUESS, NOT ALLOWING THEM TO SPEAK.
NO, WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK.
BUT ON THIS I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND GO UP BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, STARTING HIGH AND COMING DOWN NEVER REALLY WORKS.
I JUST FEEL CUTTING STUFF IS HARDER, ADDING STUFF IS EASIER.
AND I KNOW, JOHN, YOU DON'T AGREE, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET SOME MONEY IN SOME PARK FEES THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY THEN PUT TO USE AND THEN HOUSING. LIKE THERE'S SOME STILL SOME INFORMATION VARIABLES THAT STILL NEED TO BE PUT AROUND ALL OF THIS TO SEE THE FULL SPECTRUM OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. AND AND I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE THE DECIDING BODY.
OKAY. SO I KNOW HOW THE CHARTER READS, BUT THAT'S THE FACT.
AND WE ARE HERE TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH STAFF AND BUILD AROUND.
AND I KNOW AT ONE TIME THERE USED TO BE LIKE A DOTTED LINE.
AND I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE AN OPEN PUBLIC FORUM.
I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO BE IN AN OPEN SPACE SO PEOPLE CAN HEAR, AND NOT MEETING WITH ME INDIVIDUALLY, BECAUSE I DO GAIN KNOWLEDGE FROM LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR POINT OF VIEW. AND SO I KNOW THAT WE GOT OUR TASK FOR US.
IF THAT MEANS WE'RE HERE CHRISTMAS DAY, THEN SO BE IT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR THAT I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU ALL.
YOU REMEMBER THAT? I'M IN AGREEMENT.
WHATEVER Y'ALL DECIDE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER I TAKE BACK TO YOU ALL IS WELL.
THAT'S THE NUMBER Y'ALL WANT US TO WORK FROM.
CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA, TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WON'T USE ALL OF THE TIME.
AND I TOO WOULD SUPPORT GOING TO AS A STARTING POINT WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION AND THEN ALLOWING FOR WHATEVER MECHANISM YOU ARE GOING TO PROVIDE FOR US TO AMEND GOING FORWARD.
FROM THAT. I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN AND SAY THAT I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS.
ANYTHING ELSE, MR. CITY MANAGER? OH. CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU WANT TO CHIME IN? I WAS GOING TO SAY, BUT IF YOU'RE GIVING ME TWO MINUTES, I'LL SAY MORE THAN THAT.
[08:50:02]
WHEN I WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO SAY, IS THAT THE VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON ASKED WAS, WELL, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? AND THAT WAS NOT PART OF THIS BRIEFING, AND IT WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE JUST WALKED OUT WITH LIKE, WELL, NOW WHAT? AND SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THERE'S A LOT OF BACKROOM CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPEN, AND THE PUBLIC DOES DESERVE TO KNOW WHERE WE STAND.AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER WRITE THEIR OWN MEMO TO THE CITY MANAGER OUTLINING NOT JUST THE ALLOCATION THAT THEY THINK, BUT ANY OTHER ASPECTS, INCLUDING TIMING, INCLUDING ALL OF THESE.
SO MUCH CONVERSATION ALREADY COMING ABOUT HOW MUCH FOR PARKS YOU WANT.
325 HOW MUCH FOR STREETS YOU WANT? YOU WANT AT LEAST 500.
GUESS WHAT? IF WE DELAYED TO NOVEMBER AND YOU.
MAYOR PRO TEM COME UP WITH A PENSION PLAN THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT $400 MILLION.
EVERYBODY CAN HAVE EVERY SINGLE THING THEY WANT.
EVERYBODY EXCEPT I GUESS, THE TIMING FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
EVERYBODY, EVERY PROJECT, EVERY ONE OF THESE THINGS IS NEEDED AND ABOUT 15 BILLION MORE.
SO BEING ABLE TO EXPAND THIS BOND TO ACTUALLY MEET THE NEEDS GETS US TO.
AND WHILE I'VE ALSO TRIED NOT TO TALK ABOUT MY DISTRICT.
PLEASE NOTE IT'S THE SMALLEST ALLOCATION AND NO CITYWIDE DOLLARS ARE FOR DISTRICT 12.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ASKING RESIDENTS WHO WILL COME OUT TO VOTE.
TO TAKE 1.4% OF THE DOLLARS, BUT STILL TAKE ON ALL THE DEBT.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND SUPPORT FOR MANY OF THESE ITEMS. SO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS TAKEN CARE OF SO EVERYONE CAN VOTE FOR THIS AND EVERYONE CAN SUPPORT IT.
AND IT'S CALLED WAITING TILL NOVEMBER.
HE GOT A QUESTION TO MR. JENKINS. SO, DIRECTOR JENKINS, DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GOT FROM THIS BODY? MY HONEST ANSWER.
SO I HEARD YOUR RECOMMENDATION, BUT THE ANSWER IS NO.
AND THEN WHEN IT'S ASKED TO REFINE THAT NUMBER, YOU'LL THEN HAVE TO GO BACK AGAIN.
AND SO AS I SUGGESTED EARLIER, GO BACK AND START WITH 225 AT LEAST.
I FORGET THE NUMBER AND THEN JUST WORK FROM THERE, AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE GUIDANCE, AND YOU CAN BE ABLE TO HOPEFULLY DO THAT WITHOUT DRAGGING ON WITH YOUR BOARD AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE GUIDANCE ALL THE WAY BACK UP TO THE 350.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST TO SAVE TIME.
BUT FOR YOU TO WALK AWAY WITH NOTHING AGAIN.
BECAUSE IF NOTHING CHANGES, THEN YOU STICK WITH THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT THAT THEY HAD BLESSED.
BUT IF IT DOES CHANGES, YOU CHANGE.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU DO.
THE STATEMENT WILL MAKE IT VERY SIMPLE.
WE, THE COUNCIL CAN CHANGE IN.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS UP TO US TO MAKE THE DECISION OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
SO LIKE I SAID, YOU START AT 225 OR WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS, BUT IT'S STILL UP TO US TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION, TO APPROVE THAT, TO GO BACK TO OUR COLLEAGUES. SO I DON'T WANT TO PUT ON RECORD OUT THERE BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS, THE CITIZENS KNOW WE HAD A TASK FORCE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A STAFF THAT WE NEED.
WE DID NOT COME WITH THE SAME CONCLUSION, BUT WE STARTED SOMEWHERE.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE IT WORK.
BUT REMEMBER, YOU GOT ELECTED.
SO IT'S UP TO US TO TO FINISH THAT ISSUE.
AND I THINK WE DID HAVE SOME THOUGHT AROUND THAT.
[08:55:03]
REFINE THIS NUMBER AND THEN PACE OUT AND SCHEDULE TWO MORE BRIEFINGS THAT WERE ALREADY BE PLANNED FOR IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AS ITERATIVE UPDATES ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS. AND I WOULD SAY THAT IS A NORMATIVE PROCESS OF HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING THIS.IT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT, DOESN'T MAKE IT WRONG.
BUT THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU.
WE'LL COME AGAIN IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK EARLY ON A SPECIAL MEETING.
I DON'T THINK ANY BACKROOM DEALS ARE GOING TO BE MADE, AT LEAST FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE.
BUT I THINK WE'VE HEARD A LOT TODAY.
AND IF WE NEED TO GET BACK IN THE ROOM BECAUSE WE'RE STILL UNCLEAR AND ARE WAY OFF, THEN WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND BRING IT BACK BEFORE YOU AT A SPECIAL CALL MEETING, OR COME BACK IN OUR NORMAL PROCESS THAT WE ALREADY LAID OUT.
THANK YOU. AND. WE GOT STUART.
SORRY. I KNOW I'M THE OLDEST ONE HERE.
PROBABLY IN TIRED, BUT I'M CONFUSED.
WE ARE GOING TO MEET TO DISCUSS.
THANK YOU. I CAN SLEEP BETTER TONIGHT.
WE CAN SLEEP BETTER. WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSED.
WE ARE NOW CALLED THE COUNCIL.
BRIEFING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.