[00:00:03]
YOU ARE WATCHING THE MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR ERIC L. JOHNSON, MAYOR PRO TEM CANNELL ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CAROLYN KING ARNOLD, COUNCIL MEMBERS SHAD WEST, JESSE MORENO, ZAIN GRACIE, JAIME RESENDEZ, OMAR VALEZ, ADAM, BASIL DUA, PAULA BLACKMAN, KATHY STEWART, JANIE SCHULTZ, KARA MENDELSON, GAY DONNELL WILLIS PAUL RIDLEY, AND CITY MANAGER TC BROADNAX, CITY SECRETARY BILLY RAY JOHNSON AND CITY ATTORNEY TAMMY PALINO.
[CALL TO ORDER]
IT IS NOW TWO 18.WE CALL THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING TO ORDER.
NEED A MOTION FIRST, UH, ZION GRAYSON, CHAIRMAN, COUNCILMAN GRAYSON GONNA DO THE, THE PRAYER.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE JUST COME TO YOU TODAY, LORD GOD, ASKING THAT YOU, UH, GUIDE EACH AND EVERY SPEAKER, UH, TODAY, LORD GOD, UH, EACH AND EVERY PRESENTER TODAY, LORD GOD, AND EACH AND EVERY HEART REPRESENTED ON THIS HORSESHOE TODAY, AND THOSE THAT ARE, ARE NOT HERE.
GOD, IN THE SPIRIT OF CONGRESSWOMAN HEADIE BERNICE JOHNSON, LORD, LET US JUST DO THE WORK.
WE ASK THIS IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME, AMEN.
INSTEAD OF PRESIDENT LEADING OUR PRESSURE LEADING TO FLAG UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNTIL THE REPUBLIC WILL STAND ON NATION AND GOD INDIVIDUAL IN
OKAY, MAYOR, RECOGNIZE CHAIRMAN UA.
UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ALLOW FOR ALL PUBLIC SPEAKERS INSTEAD OF JUST A PORTION AT THE BEGINNING TO SPEAK AT THE END AFTER, UM, BRIEFING AND DELIBERATION.
[Additional Item]
YES.UH, I MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GO INTO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO CONSIDER THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE BOND PROGRAM AND THE ALLOCATIONS FOR EACH PROPOSITION, AND WHETHER THE BOND PROGRAM SHOULD BE CALLED IN MAY OR NOVEMBER 2ND.
WE GOT A MOTION? UH, YOU GOT A QUESTION CHAIR? GO AHEAD.
UM, I WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A RECORD VOTE PLEASE.
UH, I, I'LL JUST GIVE A BRIEF EXPLANATION.
UM, UH, IT'S A, THIS IS, UM, ADVERTISED WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ACCORDING TO, UH, AS A BRIEFING, WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW FOR, UM, STRAW VOTING.
UH, THE INTENT IS FOR US TO GIVE CLEAR GUIDANCE AND INDICATION SO THAT WHEN, UH, WE COME BACK ON THE 31ST, UH, MEETING THAT IT IS REFLECTANT OF THE DIRECTION THE BODY HAS GIVEN THEM.
WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GIVE THAT, UH, FORMAL DIRECTION, UM, WITHOUT MEETING AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AND TAKING STRAW VOTES, UM, AROUND THE HORSESHOE.
SO IT'S THE BASIS FOR THIS, AND IT'S JUST HOUSEKEEPING AT THE FRONT END.
AND, UM, THE STRAW VOTES WOULDN'T OCCUR UNTIL AFTER THE BRIEFINGS.
CAN RECORD VOTE HAS BEEN CALLED.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.
[00:05:01]
DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD? YES.COUNCIL MEMBER WEST IS ABSENT WHEN VOTE TAKEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART IS ABSENT WHEN VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER.
WOULD 12 VOTING IN FAVOR? ONE OPPOSED TO ASK WHEN VOTE TAKEN.
MR. MAYOR, WE DOING THE BOND? YEAH,
[B. 24-155 2024 Bond Program Update]
WE CAN DO AN ITEM B.I BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA DO THE BOND UPDATE FIRST.
AND SO BEFORE THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY BEGINS THE DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS TO REALLY JUST SET THE CONTEXT, UH, FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
CAN YOU NOT HEAR ME? I'M SORRY.
THAT'S UNUSUAL FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
UH, AS WE'VE STARTED THIS PROCESS, STAFF HAS ACTED, UH, WITH THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND STATED GOALS AND INTENTIONS.
AND WE'VE TRIED TO SUPPORT AND MOVE THE PROCESS, UH, EX EXPEDITIOUSLY AS WE CAN TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE A BOND ELECTION TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE ISSUES AROUND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, AND AS WE'VE TALKED THROUGH, UH, WHETHER IT IS THE CITIZENS BOND TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION OR STAFF REVIEW OF THE NEEDS, INVENTORIES AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, TOP OF MIND HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING, UH, THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS THINGS FOR OUR CITY, UH, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
TODAY'S DISCUSSION, UH, IS TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION, UH, GET GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, AND CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK NECESSARY, UH, TO GET US CLOSER TO ULTIMATELY ASKING THE RESIDENTS TO MAKE DECISIONS ON THE TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THEY'D LIKE TO SEE.
WE'RE HOPEFUL TO WALK AWAY WITH BETTER GUIDANCE TODAY AND MORE DIRECTION AND STAFF IS GOING TO PRESENT AND WALK YOU THROUGH A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION AND THEN ALLOW FOR THE DIALOGUE TO OCCUR, UH, NOT ONLY WITH THE COUNCIL, BUT ULTIMATELY FEEDBACK FROM THE RESPECTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN MANY OF THE PROPOSALS BEING MADE, UH, AS PRESENTED TO YOU PREVIOUSLY.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE TEAM TO GO THROUGH, UH, THE PRESENTATION.
I'M THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF BOND AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.
SO TODAY WE ARE GONNA DO A BRIEF, UM, OVERVIEW OF THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME, THE BACKGROUND, THE PROPOSITION ALLOCATIONS, UH, THE BOND PROGRAM, TIMELINE, NEXT STEPS, AND THEN, UH, QUESTIONS.
SO I THINK I'M ON SLIDE THREE NEXT.
SO SINCE THE DECEMBER 6TH BRIEFING, UH, UH, SINCE THE DECEMBER 6TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING, FEE AND STAFF HAS MET AND RECEIVED, RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM, UM, ACTUALLY 13 COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE HAD ANOTHER MEETING YESTERDAY ON THE, UM, BOND PRIORITIES, UH, FOR THE 2024 BOND.
SIX OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PROVIDED, UH, INPUT ON THE 2024 BOND FUNDING AT THE PROPOSITION LEVEL.
AND STAFF HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY IS RECOMMENDED, UH, TO INCREASE BY NO MORE THAN 150 MILLION, UH, TO BE ADDED TO THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM FOR A TOTAL OF 1.25 BILLION.
[00:10:01]
THE PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS, THE MOST RECENT FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL AND THE REFINED STAFF RECOMMENDATION LEVELS.BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THIS WEEK, WE DID RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM OUR BOND COUNCIL IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
SO THERE WILL BE SOME MINOR CHANGES AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROPOSITIONS AND WE'LL NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR THOSE IF ANY STRAW POLLING IS DONE.
UM, WE DID SLIGHTLY REORGANIZE THE PROPOSITION LANGUAGE FOR THE CITY FACILITIES AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSITIONS, UH, DUE TO ADVICE FROM BOND COUNCIL AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE FEEDBACK FROM THE V COUNCIL IS THAT BASED ON SOME LEGISLATION THAT HAS PASSED SINCE 2017, THE PROPOSITIONS NEED TO CLEARLY REFLECT WHAT IS INCLUDED ON THE PROPOSITION FOR THE VOTERS.
THE PROPOSITIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED ARE THE CITY FACILITIES AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING AND, UM, HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, UH, PROPOSITIONS, EXCUSE ME, IN THE CITY FACILITY, UM, THE, EXCUSE ME, IN THE CITY, CITY FACILITIES, SOME PROJECTS WILL BE MOVED, UH, TO PROPOSITIONS THAT ARE MORE APPROPRIATE WHILE OTHERS WILL BE BROKEN OUT INTO STANDALONE PROPOSITIONS.
UH, THE PROJECTS FOR CITY HALL, UH, WHICH ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 20, UH, $28 MILLION WOULD BE A STANDALONE PROPOSITION.
THE ITS UM, UH, BUILDING WOULD ALSO BE A STANDALONE PROPOSITION.
THERE WERE SOME UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS THAT ARE ALL LOCATED AT POLICE SERVICE CENTERS.
THOSE WILL BE MOVED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY PROPOSITION.
UM, AND THERE IS AN HVAC, UH, IMPROVEMENT TO THE BRIDGE THAT WILL BE MOVED TO THE HOMELESS PROPOSITION.
ALL THE LIBRARIES IN THE LIBRARY PROPOSITION, UM, ALL THE LIBRARY PROJECTS WILL NEED TO BE IN THE LIBRARY PROPOSITION.
SO, PREVIOUSLY WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE NORTH OAK CLIFF LIBRARY BEING IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSITION.
THAT LIBRARY THAT FUNDS FOR THAT LIBRARY WILL NOW BE MOVING BACK TO THE LIBRARY PROPOSITION.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING AND HOME HOMELESSNESS WILL ALSO BE THEIR OWN STANDALONE PROPOSITIONS.
UM, IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT IF A PROPOSITION FAILS, THE CITY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ISSUE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION BONDS ON PROJECTS WITHIN THAT PROPOSITION FOR THREE YEARS.
UM, AND IF A PROPOSITION ENDS UP BEING UNDER A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT, SAY $10 MILLION, WE MAY MAY WANNA CONSIDER THE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.
WE'LL BE WORKING WITH BOND COUNSEL IN OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UM, THROUGHOUT THE NEXT, UH, FEW WEEKS TO FINALIZE THE BOND LANGUAGE.
SO FOR MAY, 2024, BOND ELECTION.
SO TODAY, UM, WE ARE ASKING CITY COUNCIL, UM, FOR, UH, PROPOSITION CONSIDERATIONS THROUGH STRAW VOTES, UH, AS LONG AS WELL AS THE TIMING OF THE ELECTION AND, AND, UM, OTHER, UH, BOND, UH, ISSUES.
JANUARY 31ST, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING FOR THE MAYOR'S MENAND SENT ON THE 29TH.
UH, STAFF WILL PRESENT THE PROPOSED BOND PROJECTS BY PROPOSITION ON FEBRUARY 7TH.
UH, WE'LL DISCUSS AND FINALIZE THE PROJECT LISTING ON FEBRUARY 14TH.
CITY COUNCIL WOULD CALL FOR A MAY ELECTION.
UH, AGAIN, FOR A MAY, 2024 OR MAY, 2024 ELECTION, UH, IN MARCH, STAFF WOULD FINALIZE THE FACTS AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS.
UH, THAT WOULD, IT WOULD INCLUDE PROJECT LISTINGS IN APRIL.
THERE WOULD BE INFORMATIONAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
APRIL 22ND THROUGH 30TH WOULD BE EARLY VOTING, AND MAY 4TH WOULD BE THE ELECTION DAY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IS THE CONCLUSION OF OUR PRESENTATION.
AND JENNY, YOU'VE DONE A REMARKABLE JOB, UM, BALANCING ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN OUR OFFICES AND ALL OF THE VERY INTERESTED, UH, CONSTITUENTS ON THIS.
AND IT'S, IT'S BEEN VERY IMPRESSIVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND FOR, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER TODAY.
I'M JUST GONNA JUMP RIGHT INTO A COUPLE BIG QUESTIONS HERE.
UM, SO YOU'VE GOT THE BOND CAPACITY AMOUNT LISTED ON, UM, NUMBER SLIDE THREE.
UM, ARE YOU ASKING FOR US TO GIVE YOU AN OPINION ON WHETHER WE SUPPORT CHANGING THE BOND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ALLOW FOR THE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY OF UP TO 1.25 BILLION? SO YES, TODAY IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES FROM THE 1.1 BILLION, WE WOULD WANT TO KNOW THAT ALONG WITH THE PROPOSITION LEVELS.
THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO, TO GET YOU GUYS THE LISTING OF PROJECTS, UH, FOR THE NEXT FEW BRIEFINGS.
THEN I NEED TO ASK, UM, THE CITY, I GUESS, UH, JACK IRELAND, A COUPLE
[00:15:01]
QUESTIONS OR SOMEONE WHO COULD ANSWER, UM, THE QUESTION OF WHETHER, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR BOND RATING AND WHETHER, YOU KNOW, JUST FISCALLY, IS THIS A RESPONSIBLE MOVE FOR US TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY FROM 1.1 TO 1.25 BILLION? JACKIE NO, YOU CAN'T GET AWAY FROM US VERY LONG.AND THE NEXT QUESTION'S GONNA BE RELATED TO THE PENSION AND HOW THIS IMPACTS THE PENSION.
SO THE QUESTION WAS RAISING THE BOND CAPACITY FROM 1.1 TO 1.25 BILLION, UM, WHAT ARE THE FINANCIAL RISKS TO THE CITY, IF ANY? UM, IS THIS A MOVE THAT THE CITY, UH, THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT? AND IF SO, WHY JACK IRELAND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER? SO, UH, WE DID LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY AT THE REQUEST OF, UH, DR. PEREZ AND SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN INCREASING THE PA CAPACITY.
AND SO IN AUGUST WE EXPLAINED THAT THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY WOULD BE INCREASED FROM 1 BILLION TO 1.1 BILLION.
BUT AT THAT TIME WE ALSO INDICATED THAT WE HAD OTHER DEBT ISSUANCES THAT WERE RESERVED FUNDING FOR OTHER THINGS THAT WERE PLANNED TIME.
SO OUT OF THE $400 MILLION THAT WE HAD SET ASIDE AS A RESERVE FOR OUR POTENTIAL FUTURE USE AS PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS, THIS WOULD BE TAKEN $150 MILLION OF THAT CAPACITY THAT WE HAD RESERVED.
THAT CAPACITY WAS IN FISCAL YEAR 26.
UM, AND IT COULD BE USED TO ADD TO THE 1.1 FOR A TOTAL OF 1.25 BILLION FOR, UH, THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM THAT REDUCES THE AMOUNT THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE RESERVED FOR POTENTIAL PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS FROM 400, REDUCES THAT DOWN TO 250 MILLION.
HOWEVER, IN FISCAL YEAR 30, BECAUSE WHEN WE'VE BEEN DOING OUR ANALYSIS, WE'VE ONLY BEEN LOOKING, UH, FOR A FIVE YEAR PERIOD THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 29.
IN FISCAL YEAR 30, WE WILL BEGIN TO HAVE MORE CAPACITY AS OTHER DEBT IS PAID OFF, NEW DEBT CAPACITY BECOMES AVAILABLE.
SO WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, IN FISCAL YEAR 30, ADD THAT 150 MILLION CAPACITY BACK TO OUR RESERVE IF WE WANT TO SET THAT ASIDE FOR FUTURE PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.
SO IT DOES NOT AFFECT OUR LONG TERM CAPACITY.
IT JUST MOVES THINGS AROUND AND, AND ALLOWS COUNSEL TO ACCELERATE $150 MILLION THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN HELD IN A FUTURE BOND PROGRAM, MOVE IT FORWARD TO THIS BOND PROGRAM, MOVE CAPACITY FOR PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS FROM THIS FIVE YEAR PERIOD, PART OF IT BACK TO, UH, FISCAL YEAR 30.
I, I HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
AND TO JUST TAKE THIS ONE STEP FURTHER, WHAT I'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT, NOT A LOT, BUT A LITTLE BIT, IS THAT THERE'S THIS EITHER OR WE EITHER INCREASE THE BOND A LITTLE BIT OR IF, IF WE DO DECIDE TO DO THAT, WE MIGHT BE HARMING THE PENSION IN SOME WAY IN OUR ABILITIES TO PAY FOR THE PENSION.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND IN THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WE WILL FIND A WAY WE ARE ON TRACK TO FIND A WAY TO PAY FOR OUR PENSION OBLIGATIONS, UM, EVEN IF WE INCREASE THE BOND CAPACITY, UM, IN THIS ELECTION.
AND IF I CAN EXPAND ON THAT, UM, THE, UM, WE, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY HERE.
AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.
THE MARKET CONDITIONS ARE NOT SUCH THAT AT THIS TIME THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND ISSUING ANY LEVEL OF PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS, UH, FOR THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM.
IT'S JUST THE INTEREST RATES ARE NOT WHAT WE WOULD FIND FAVORABLE FOR ISSUING THOSE BONDS BECAUSE PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS, WHAT YOU WANNA DO IS YOU WANNA TAKE THE CASH AND BE ABLE TO INVEST IT TO GROW, TO HELP IMPROVE THE FUND.
UM, SO REGARDLESS IF YOU USE THIS ONE 50, NOW YOU'RE, WE, YOU'RE NOT TAKING AWAY FROM WHAT OUR PLAN IS FOR PENSION OBLIGATION BECAUSE ALL WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A RESERVE FOR A FUTURE, IF THAT IS WHAT Y'ALL WANT TO DO.
IS THERE IN, IS THERE INDICATION THAT INVESTMENT IN THE CITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN PARKS, IN FACILITIES, CULTURAL FACILITIES, CAN RESULT IN A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT TO ACTUALLY BRING MORE REVENUE INTO THE CITY? UH, UH YES, OF COURSE IN THAT, UH, WE HAVE GROWTH IN PROPERTY, UH, TAX REVENUES EVERY YEAR.
AND A LARGE PART OF THAT IS FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION.
SO ANYTIME WE'RE, WE DO HAVE DEVELOPMENT, ANYTIME WE DO HAVE GROWTH, IT IT, IT DOES HELP.
[00:20:02]
DOES HELP DEVELOPMENT.SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST WILL JUST PUT IT OUT THERE EARLY THAT I DO FEEL COMFORTABLE INCREASING THE BOND CAPACITY BASED ON STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
UM, MY NEXT COMMENT IS I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE THE LIBRARY FACILITIES MONIES COMING OUT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOING BACK TO LIBRARIES.
I PROMISE MY COLLEAGUES, I WON'T GET INTO SPECIFIC DISTRICT ONE ISSUES 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA TRY TO AVOID THAT TODAY.
UM, BUT I'M WAS WORRIED ON THE SURVIVAL OF THE LIBRARY PROGRAMS WHEN THEY'RE THROWN IN, YOU KNOW, THE MUD PIT WITH, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS AND EVERYONE WILL BE GRABBING AT THAT.
SO IT'S A PRIORITY FOR MY DISTRICT.
UM, THE TIMING OF THE ELECTION IS MY NEXT QUESTION.
SO IS STAFF RECOMMENDING A MAY ELECTION OR STAFF HAVE A PREFERENCE ON MAY VERSUS NOVEMBER? SO I THINK WE, GENERALLY SPEAKING, I THINK WE WOULD PREFER A MAY ELECTION JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MOMENTUM BEHIND US.
UM, AND, AND WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH THE MAY.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL TO GO NOVEMBER, WE WOULD, I MEAN OBVIOUSLY DO THAT AS WELL, SO.
THA I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION AND I REALLY HAVEN'T ASKED IT SPECIFICALLY TO YOU.
BUT WHAT IS THE BENEFIT, UH, TO US OF DOING MAY VERSUS NOVEMBER? IS IT JUST THE MOMENTUM? IS IT WE GET THE MONEY EARLIER? IS THAT, IS THERE ANY OTHER BENEFIT? SO THE MOMENTUM IS, IS A BIG PART OF IT.
UM, AND IT JUST KEEPING OUR, OUR PROJECTS AND, AND STAFF MOVING.
UM, AND, AND JUST NOT, YEAH, JUST NOT, UM, STALLING ON ANYTHING ON ANY OF OUR PROJECTS.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE BIGGEST THING.
WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH THAT.
IS THERE ANY RISK FOR STAFF BEING RUSHED IF WE TRY TO DO IT IN MAY VERSUS NOVEMBER? WE CAN DO IT NOT WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROJECTS, NO.
IS THERE ANY, ANY INDICATION OF VOTER SUPPORT BEING STRONGER IN MAY VERSUS NOVEMBER? HAVE WE DONE THAT RESEARCH? YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
UM,
AND I THINK JENNY'S REALLY TALKING ON THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF JUST US AND THE WORK WE DO.
I THINK IF YOU WANTED TO START TO THINK ABOUT JUST THE BALLOTS THEMSELVES, OBVIOUSLY MAY VERSUS NOVEMBER, I THINK SOME THINKING AROUND NOVEMBER IS ONE, IT'S GONNA BE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, UH, LONG BALLOT, A LOT OF ISSUES ON THAT BALLOT.
AND OBVIOUSLY CITIES ARE PUSHED TO THE END.
WE'RE ALREADY HAVING A CHARTER AMENDMENT VOTE, WHICH WHO KNOWS HOW MANY DIFFERENT CHANGES COULD BE THERE.
AND THE WHOLE ISSUE OF BALLOT FATIGUE AND THEM COMPLETING AND FINISHING THE BALLOT, I THINK WOULD PROBABLY BE IN SOME PEOPLE'S MIND, WHICH I'VE HEARD A WORRY TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO ACTUALLY VOTE AND PAY ATTENTION AND KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND SO THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE IN NOT A POLITICAL, UH, YOU KNOW, REVIEWER OF THINGS, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A CONCERN AS WELL.
UH, BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S MORE ABOUT IF WE'RE READY AND COUNCIL'S DELINEATED THE PROJECTS, UH, THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE ARE LONG OVERDUE FOR ANY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WE'D LIKE TO GET GOING ON 'EM TO CONTINUE, UH, THE WORKING EFFORT.
THAT, THAT HELPS CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS FOR ME.
MY NEXT QUESTION IS GONNA BE ON HOUSING AND THE HOUSING DOLLARS WITH AN AND I AM GONNA ASK ROBIN BENTLEY OR SOMEONE FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO COME UP HERE IN A SECOND, UM, JENNY, WITH AN INCREASE IN CAPACITY, WHERE DO YOU FORESEE THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING GOING? OR ARE YOU ASKING US FOR THAT AT THIS STAGE? I THINK WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR COUNCIL'S GUIDANCE ON, ON WHAT THE PROPOSITION LEVELS NEED TO BE.
AND, UH, COUNCILMAN, IF I MAY, UH, ROBERT BADASS, ASSISTANT SENIOR MANAGER, UM, THE, THE ADDITIONAL ONE 50 ACTUALLY CAME OUT OF DISCUSSIONS FROM, UM, THE, THE FOLKS HERE, THE, YOUR COLLEAGUES, UM, SOME FOLKS ASKING, OR SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKING FOR, UH, IF WE DID A LARGER, UH, PROPOSITION, WHAT COULD WE SUPPORT AND, AND, UM, MEMORANDUM THAT WE PUT OUT LAST FRIDAY, IT WAS A STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT WE DO NO MORE THAN 150 MILLION MORE.
UM, SO THAT WAS REALLY, UH, THAT WAS REALLY, IT CAME OUTTA THE DISCUSSIONS, UH, WITH THE, YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE.
AND, AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN RIGHT THERE WITH HER ALL THROUGH THE WHOLE THING.
DR. PEREZ, I DIDN'T MEAN TO LEAVE YOU OUT EARLIER.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
SO IF WE INCREASE THE HOUSING, WHAT I'VE, ONE CONCERN I'VE HEARD FROM SOME COLLEAGUES HAS BEEN THERE'S NOT DEDICATED PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE TO PUT THE HOUSING MONEY INTO.
UM, AND I'VE HEARD, WELL, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET THOSE PROJECTS UNLESS WE KNOW WE HAVE THE MONEY.
ON THE FLIP SIDE, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT CONCERN? UM, HEY, HI CYNTHIA.
AND IF, IF THERE'S 200 MILLION OR 180 MILLION OR WHATEVER IN THE HOUSING
[00:25:01]
FUND, WHAT'S, HOW WOULD THAT MONEY BE DIVIDED AND SPLIT UP? SO HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? WE DON'T HAVE A PIPELINE, CORRECT.LET ME START WITH THAT QUESTION.
UM, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY LOOKING AT THE HISTORY OF HOW OUR DEVELOPMENT FUNDS GO OUT AND HOW, HOW MUCH MONEY WE TYPICALLY RECEIVE AND HAVE IT AT ANY ONE GIVEN TIME, HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT IS, THAT IT GETS DEPLOYED TIMELY AND THAT WE HAVE SUCCESS IN PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PIPELINE BECAUSE OF HOW DEVELOPMENT OPERATES.
WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT MONEY IS AVAILABLE BEFORE, UH, OUR DEVELOPERS HAVE TO KNOW THAT MONEY IS AVAILABLE BEFORE THEY CAN SHOP AROUND FOR FINANCING FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR SUB CONTRACT FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT DEALS.
IT, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO SAY, OKAY, I, UM, I I HAVE THIS PROJECT THAT I DON'T NEED TO START FOR THREE YEARS AND C CAN YOU PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPELINE AND I'LL WAIT FOR YOU TO GET MONEY? IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE ACQUISITION HAS TO HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE RESOURCES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND IT CAN'T BE THAT MUCH TIME BETWEEN WHEN WE HAVE AVAILABLE FUNDING AND, AND THEY'RE WAITING ON US.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE FEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM FOLKS.
THAT'S THE TYPICAL MARKET PROCESS.
AND SO I I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING THAT.
IS THERE ANY, AND IT COULD, WOULD WE BE, I KNOW LISC THROUGH THE, THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL HAS ITS OWN FUND.
THEY HAVE A PROVEN PROJECT, UM, PIPELINE THAT THEY'VE, THEY'VE ALREADY FUNDED.
WOULD WE BE ABLE TO PUT A PORTION OF THE HOUSING FUND, I'M KINDA LOOKING AT BOTH OF YOU ON THIS INTO, COULD IT BE POURED INTO THE TREK FUND TO FUND THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE PIPELINE? IF THAT WAS SOMETHING COUNCIL WANTED TO DO? SO LET'S JUST SAY WE FUNDED IT $200 MILLION, COULD 50 MILLION BE PUT INTO THE TREK FUND TO, TO FUND THOSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS LEGALLY? I DON'T KNOW LEGALLY THAT IS A LEGAL QUESTION.
AND I'LL END IT ON THAT CHAIR ONCE I GET THAT ANSWER.
OR MAYOR LISA MORRIS, DID YOU, CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION? IT DOESN'T WORK.
LISA MARS WITH THE DALLAS CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
UM, IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN, THE CITY CAN ISSUE BONDS AND THEN, UM, PROVIDE A PORTION OF THOSE FUNDS, THE PROCEEDS TO TRE OR ANOTHER THIRD PARTY ENTITY THAT'S NOT, UM, SILLY CITY AFFILIATED.
SO WE TYPICALLY WILL PROVIDE GRANTS OF BOND PROCEEDS OR WE'LL DO, UM, FORGIVABLE LOANS AS WELL.
SO IF THAT WOULD BE PART OF A PROGRAM THAT IS A CITY, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY PROGRAM, THEN THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO HAVE SOME CONTROLS OVER USE OF THE FUNDS TO ENSURE THAT A PUBLIC PURPOSE PURPOSES MET AND THAT PURPOSE IS USUALLY SET OUT IN THE POLICY.
UM, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY ON THE MAY VERSUS NOVEMBER SINCE, DID I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THAT? SO DO WE DISCUSS THAT THEN WITH STAFF OR SHOULD I ASK ON QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOW? OKAY, SO IS THERE, AND IT, THANK YOU.
UM, IS THERE AN ADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF MAY VERSUS NOVEMBER IN TERMS OF KNOWING THE RATES OF WHAT THEY ARE NOW OR WHAT THEY WILL BE IN MAY VERSUS NOVEMBER? IS THERE AN ADVANTAGE TO THE CITY? SO, SO WE TALKED, OH, SORRY.
WHOEVER CAN ANSWER THAT, THAT'D BE GREAT.
JEANETTE WHEDON, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
UM, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE WAY WE PROPOSED THE, UH, BOND PROGRAM, UH, DEPENDING ON IF YOU HAVE A BOND ELECTION IN MAY OR NOVEMBER, WE PLAN TO USE OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM TO IMMEDIATELY, UM, START THOSE PROJECTS.
SO, UM, IN TERMS OF WHEN WE WOULD ACTUALLY ISSUE THE DEBT, WE HAVE CAPACITY TO, UH, DELAY THAT TILL THE RATES ARE FAVORABLE BY USING OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM.
SO, SO THERE'S NO, SO THERE'S NO NECESSARILY NOT A RATE DIFFERENCE? WE
[00:30:01]
DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW.SO, BUT DO WE KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE IN MAY IF WE DID IT? I DON'T THINK SO.
WELL, THERE'S A NO, THERE'S, THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ARE YOU ASKING REGARDING THE INTEREST RATE THAT WE WOULD PAY? YES, SIR.
YEAH, IT WOULD BE, WE WOULD DO IT AT A COMPETITIVE BID.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW, WE'VE ASSUMED BETWEEN FIVE AND FIVE AND A HALF PERCENT FOR THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
HOPEFULLY WE WOULD GET BETTER THAN THAT WHENEVER IT IS.
BUT AS JEANETTE MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY BY USING THE COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM SO THAT IF, IF, IF RATES SPIKE FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN WE CAN DELAY, UH, BEFORE WE HAVE THE BOND ISSUANCE.
OUR FIRST PLANNED BOND ISSUANCE, UH, WHETHER IT'S A MAY ELECTION OR A NOVEMBER ELECTION, WOULD NOT BE UNTIL AFTER WE'RE INTO FISCAL YEAR 25.
WE'RE NOT PLANNING, IF THERE'S A MAY ELECTION, WE'RE NOT PLANNING A FISCAL YEAR 24 BOND ISSUANCE.
WE WOULD USE COMMERCIAL PAPER WE WOULD ISSUE IN 25, FISCAL YEAR 25.
MY NEXT QUESTION, I GUESS IS TO OUR CITY SECRETARY IN TERMS OF THE MEMO THAT WAS SENT ABOUT THE COST OF ELECTIONS.
COULD YOU ADDRESS THAT FOR US PLEASE? THANK YOU.
I'D BE HAPPY TO IN MAY IF THERE IS AN A MAY ELECTION, UM, THE COST WOULD DEPEND ON THE NUMBER OF ENTITIES THAT ARE, IT'S VARIABLE COST, BUT THE LARGEST COST IF THERE ARE OTHER ENTITIES ON THE BALLOT.
SO, UM, AND GETTING THAT YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW YET UNTIL A LITTLE BIT LATER ON.
BUT WORKING WITH DALLAS COUNTY, UH, IT HAS BEEN ONE ENTITY THAT HAS, UM, INDICATED THAT THEY MAY BE ON THE ELECTION BALLOT.
IF NOT, THEN THE CITY OF DALLAS WOULD INCUR, UH, THE ENTIRE COST.
AND SO I SENT OUT A MEMO, UH, MAYBE A WEEK OR SO AGO TO SHOW THE DIFFERENCES, UH, WITH WHAT I KNOW NOW.
AND AGAIN, THAT COULD CHANGE, WE COULD GET ANOTHER ENTITY.
BUT, UM, AS FAR AS MAY, IF, IF THE CITY, UM, IF THE OTHER ENTITY JOINS THE CITY OF DALLAS, THE COST IS AROUND $595,000.
UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS WITH USING, THIS IS THE, UH, MOST CONSERVATIVE, UH, ESTIMATE, MEANING WE'RE USING ALL OF THE LOCATIONS.
HOWEVER, DURING A MAY ELECTION, UH, THE CITY OF DALLAS WOULD BE IN CONTROL OF WHAT LOCATIONS, UH, WE, WE WOULD USE.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS WITH ALL 469 VOTE CENTERS.
UM, IF, IF THE OTHER ENTITY JOINS, THE CITY OF DALLAS IS ABOUT $595,000.
UM, IF THE CITY OF DALLAS IS THE ONLY ENTITY ON THE BALLOT, IT'S ABOUT $877,000.
AND AGAIN, THESE NUMBERS WILL CHANGE, UH, NOVEMBER ELECTION, UM, AS THE CITY MANAGER STATED, IT'S A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS THE CITY OF DALLAS WOULD NOT HAVE CONTROL OF, OF THE LOCATIONS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT DURING A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THEY WILL USE EVERY SINGLE LOCATION.
SO THE COST IS, UM, THE CITY OF DALLAS'S COST IF WE ARE ON THE BALLOT, AND I DO BELIEVE WE WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT BECAUSE OF ANOTHER, UH, UH, MEASURE, BUT IT'S, UH, ESTIMATED AT $2.2 MILLION.
AND SO IT, SINCE WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE ON IT FOR THE CHARTER, DOES THAT IMPACT, UM, WILL WE PAY MORE IF WE HAVE TWO ITEMS? IS IT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE ON THE BALLOT? SO IT'S 2.2 NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE OF THE CHARTER? WELL, THAT IS CORRECT.
SO THE COST, MAJORITY OF THE COST IS YOUR POLLING LOCATIONS.
AS FAR AS ADDING ANOTHER MEASURE, IT'S A VERY SMALL COST BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S JUST ADDING ANOTHER LINE ON, ON THE BALLOT.
SO THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED IS, UM, AS FAR AS DOLLARS WOULD BE PROGRAMMING OR PRINTING OR BALLOTS.
THE PROGRAMMING SHOULD BE HARDLY ANY COST.
AND, UM, JUST ADDING THE PROPOSITIONS, IF WE WERE TO ADD THAT TO NOVEMBER, UM, JUST ADDING ANOTHER LINE AND THAT IS A, THE COST OF PRINTING.
AND SO THAT'S A VERY SMALL AMOUNT.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. MAYOR.
UM, MR. MAYOR, UM, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING PORTION.
UM, AS I'VE LEARNED MORE IS, UM, I WAS GOING TO MENTION THAT WE COULD FUND OUR HOUSING, UM, FINANCE CORPORATION.
WE COULD GIVE, PUT A SOME DOLLARS THERE.
UM, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD CREATE A, UM, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
[00:35:01]
WE COULD HAVE, UM, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE FOR HOME REPAIR, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COULD REALLY HELP OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.UM, AND THEN THE POTENTIAL WITH THE HOUSING ONE IS THAT WHEN WE INVEST, THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SEES IT AND THEN THEY SHOW UP WITH MORE DOLLARS.
SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE THAT, UM, WHATEVER IT ENDS UP BEING A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE, ONE FIFTY, TWO HUNDRED, UM, IT'S LIKE CAN DOUBLE, TRIPLE, QUADRUPLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN HOW HAPPEN IN HOUSTON AND IN AUSTIN.
AND, UM, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S LIKE WE REALLY WOULD NOT BE DOING THE RIGHT THING IF WE DON'T PUT MONEY TOWARDS HOUSING.
UM, AND WHAT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE.
WE HAVE THE ENTITY, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A THIRD PARTY, UM, BECAUSE WE'VE CREATED LIKE THE, UM, HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, UM, AND OTHER DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
BUT MAYBE WE CAN DO, UM, SOMETHING THROUGH TREK.
'CAUSE THEY DO HAVE A DIFFERENT FUND AS WELL.
I MEAN, THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT IDEAS.
AND, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE CAN GET, UM, WORKFORCE HOUSING AND MORE OF IT HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, THEN UM, OUR RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ONE, STAY AND OR MOVE IN AND, UM, MAYBE RENTERS LIKE ME, UM, WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, PURCHASE A HOME AND REALLY SET ROOTS HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND WATCH.
UM, AND ALL OF THESE WORK TOGETHER, EVERY ONE OF THESE PROPOSITIONS, RIGHT? WE NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, SO THE STREETS, ROADS, UM, ALLEYS, LIGHTS, CAMERAS, EVERYTHING THAT GOES TO GETTING PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GET.
AND THEN WE NEED A PLACE TO LIVE.
YOU NEED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SO THAT WE CAN GET JOBS.
AND SO ALL OF THESE ARE, IT'S LIKE A BIG GIGANTIC RECIPE AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, IS IT, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED FOUR PARTS HOUSING, TWO PARTS TRANSPORTATION, ONE PART, UM, YOU KNOW, LIBRARY FACILITIES, AND WE NEED ALL OF THIS IN ORDER TO MAKE A GREAT CITY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, IS IT OKAY IF I TALK ABOUT CERTAIN JUST DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT WE SAW? I, I, I DEFINITELY WANT TO SAY THAT WE DID DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE HITS AT LEAST 500 MILLION.
I MEAN, WE, OR THAT WAY WE DON'T.
UM, THAT WAY WE CAN CONTINUE OUR ZERO DEGRADATION HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO 500 MILLION IS, UM, WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.
UM, AT A MINIMUM, UM, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ALL THE ARREST, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, UM, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, CULTURAL ARTS FACILITIES, UM, IF WE'RE GOING TO 1.25, 6% IS 75 MILLION.
AND, UM, THE ARTS AND CULTURE FOLKS HAVE BEEN VERY EASY TO WORK WITH.
WHEN WE, WHEN WE ASKED EVERYBODY TO MAKE CUTS, THEY WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP WITH REAL CUTS AND THEY CUT STUFF THAT WAS, UM, UM, WOULD'VE THEY GOT PRICED OUT OF BECAUSE OF INFLATION.
SO BY RAISING THEIRS FROM 65, 60 6 MILLION UP TO 75, THEY'RE ABLE TO PUT ALL THOSE PROJECTS BACK IN THAT HAD TO GET CUT BECAUSE OF INFLATION.
SO THEY'RE PROJECTS THAT ARE READY TO GO.
UM, AND IF WE DO THAT, UM, ARTS AND CULTURE FACILITIES IN THE CITY OF DALLAS NEED 150 MILLION TOTALED TO FIX EVERYTHING.
SO IF WE CAN GET TO SONY FIVE, WE'RE, WE'RE BASICALLY TAKING CARE OF HALF OF IT NOW.
AND, UM, MAYBE IN THE NEXT BOND WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE OTHER HALF AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN 'CAUSE THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE THEY'RE WHOLE, RIGHT? UM, AND NOT SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE HELPING THEM, BUT IT'S A MAJOR ECONOMIC DRIVER.
UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE ARTS, UM, AND CULTURAL FACILITIES, I WAS, UM, PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO HEAR HOW MANY THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF JOBS, UM, ARE IN ARTS AND CULTURE, UM, THAT REALLY HELP DRIVE A LOT OF, UM, ECONOMIC IMPACT HERE IN OUR CITY.
UM, OBVIOUSLY ALL THE REST OF THESE ARE GREAT.
UM, UM, THANK YOU TO WHOMEVER STARTED ADVOCATING FOR SOME MONEY FOR, UM, HOMELESS FACILITIES.
UM, 'CAUSE WE DO NEED SOME DOLLARS THERE.
UM, WE DID 50 MILLION LAST TIME, AND I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 20.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT, BUT IN ORDER TO HELP UPGRADE SOME OF THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE, WE HEARD ABOUT THE BRIDGE, THE BRIDGE NEEDS THAT NEW HVAC SYSTEM, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.
UM, THIS ISN'T THE SEXIEST PART OF WHAT WE DO, BUT, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO FLOOD PROTECTION AND STORM DRAINAGE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THOSE LEVIES, UM, CAN BE EXPANDED TO HELP AS YOU GO FURTHER SOUTH DALLAS, THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING SONY FIVE 80, A HUNDRED YEARS IN ORDER TO GET SOME FLOOD PROTECTION, BUT ALSO THAT NOTHING, UM, WILL COLLAPSE OR BREAK IN THE, UM, FACILITIES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE LEVEE.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, I'M, I'M DONE.
I JUST WANTED TO REALLY HONE IN ON THAT HOUSING PART AND THE OTHER PIECES.
BUT TRANSPORTATION, WE'VE GOTTA GET IT TO 500 MILLION.
THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR JACK IRELAND.
[00:40:03]
JACK HAS A GENERAL PROPOSITION WHEN AN ENTITY INCREASES ITS BORROWING AND INDEBTEDNESS THAT CAN AFFECT ITS CREDIT WORTHINESS.SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, DO YOU SEE ANY IMPLICATIONS IN THE CITY'S CREDIT WORTHINESS BY INCREASING THIS BOND PROPOSITION FROM 1.1 TO AN INDEBTEDNESS OF 1.25 BILLION? THANK YOU.
UH, I THINK IT'S LOOKED UPON IF A CITY DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE, IT COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEIR CREDIT RATING.
BUT AS FAR AS CONTINUING TO INVEST 1.1, 1.25, I DO NOT SEE, UH, AN IMPACT TO OUR CREDIT RATING AS A RESULT OF THAT.
UM, WITH REGARD TO THE DIFFERENT BOND CATEGORIES, UM, UH, JENNIFER, IN LIGHT OF YOUR STATEMENT THAT SOME OF THESE CATEGORIES THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH NOW FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WOULD BE RECATEGORIZED TO THE ACTUAL BOND PROPOSITIONS.
I WANNA AVOID US TALKING ABOUT APPLES AND ORANGES SO THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE US A, UH, GRAPHIC OR A WRITTEN FORM SHOWING WHAT YOU ANTICIPATE TO BE THE ACTUAL BOND PROPOSITIONS? SO THAT, AND, AND WHICH OF THESE CATEGORIES FIT WITHIN THOSE BOND PROPOSITIONS SO THAT WE CAN TALK APPLES TO APPLES? YEAH.
UH, YES, I CAN GET THAT TO YOU.
I CAN, UM, SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU.
UM, I WILL SAY, SO THE, THE MAIN, UM, IMPACT TO THAT IS CITY, INSTEAD OF HAVING ONE CITY FACILITIES, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MULTIPLE.
AND, UM, AND THEN SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE IN THE CITY FACILITIES, YES, YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY'LL GO INTO OTHER PROPOSITIONS.
SO I'LL SEE IF I CAN GET THAT TO YOU WHILE WE'RE ALL SITTING HERE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
UM, IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE ALLOCATIONS, THE CULTURAL ARTS FACILITIES, UM, I BELIEVE SHOULD REMAIN AT 6% OF WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO BE THE ULTIMATE BOND AMOUNT.
AND I CONCUR WITH COUNCILMAN NOVAS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, DOING THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON OUR ARTS FACILITIES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP THEM OPERATING AND IN GOOD ORDER SO THAT WE DON'T SEE A DROP OFF IN THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THOSE FACILITIES OR THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY MAKE TO OUR CULTURAL QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO I'M FULLY IN SUPPORT OF EITHER A $65 MILLION ALLOCATION IF WE'RE AT 1.1 BILLION OR 75 MILLION IF WE'RE AT ONE AND A QUARTER BILLION.
UM, WITH REGARD TO, UM, FLOOD PROTECTION AND STORM DRAINAGE, THAT ALSO I THINK IS A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SPEND.
I HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS IN MY DISTRICT THAT ARE FLOODING EVERY TIME THERE'S A SERIOUS RAIN.
AND ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE ULTIMATE IMPROVEMENT ONCE THE MILL CREEK TUNNEL IS COMPLETED, THAT IS NOT THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION BECAUSE WE ALSO NEED TO SPEND MONEY TO EXPAND THE LATERALS THAT CONNECT THE NEIGHBORHOODS UP TO THE MILL CREEK TUNNEL.
AND I'M SURE THAT AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST MY DISTRICT.
AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS FUNDING FOR ALL OF THE FLOOD PROTECTION AND STORM DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT WE NEED.
UM, CAN YOU ADDRESS WHAT THAT $50 MILLION ALLOCATION WOULD GO FOR? I'D ASK, UH, DW TO, TO COME UP AND ADDRESS THAT AND MAKE SURE THEY GET THE RIGHT PROJECTS.
MATT PINK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DALLAS FOR UTILITIES.
THE, THE CURRENT 50 MILLION INCLUDES 20 MILLION FOR THE DESIGN OF THE EXTENSION OF THE MILL CREEK, UH, EAST PEAKS AND PEAKS BRANCH IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH ARE THE AREAS ABOVE THE CURRENT FLOOD TUNNEL THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
SO 20 MILLION OF THE 50 MILLION PROPOSED IS GOING TOWARDS THAT PROJECT.
AND, UM, CAN YOU GENERALLY SUMMARIZE WHAT THE OTHER 30 MILLION WOULD GO TOWARD? YES.
[00:45:01]
20% OF THE OVERALL 50 IS GOING TOWARDS EROSION CONTROL, THE OTHER 80% OR FOR, UH, LOCAL AND NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, FLOODED AND, AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS.THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
ANY ANYONE ELSE? I SEE THE LIGHTS.
YOU, CAROL, YOU YOUR LIGHTS ON HUH? DE DEBBIE MAY APPROACH ON.
I DIDN'T, I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF OKAY.
I REALLY JUST HAVE A F FEW COMMENTS SINCE WE ARE HERE AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO GAIN A LITTLE MORE INSIGHT.
BUT JUST QUICKLY IN LOOKING AT, UH, THE PROPOSED ALLOCATIONS, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO FIRST OF ALL, UH, WHERE I SIT IN TERMS OF THE NEED OF A DISTRICT THAT HAS BEEN UNDERSERVED AND UNDER-RESOURCED FOR MANY YEARS, SYSTEMICALLY, UH, UH, SYSTEMATICALLY AND INTENTIONAL THROUGH DIFFERENT POLICIES.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT AND INVESTMENT IMMEDIATELY.
AND SO WE STAND LOOKING FOR A MAY ELECTION SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR RFPS OUT OF ALL THE LEGAL, UM, UH, POLICIES AND, AND, AND PROCEDURES SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR STREETS, ALLEYS, HOME REPAIRS, INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO I STAND HERE COUNCIL MEMBERS, SO THAT YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
WE WANT WHAT WE'VE BEEN NEEDING FOR SO LONG.
AND SO I WANNA GO ON THE RECORD TODAY BEFORE YOU, AND WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE.
BUT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I NEED YOU TO SEE, UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED MAY IN ORDER TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF EQUITY THAT WE TALK ABOUT AND WE WANT IT AND WE WANT IT NOW.
NOW, IN TERMS OF WHERE I'M LOOKING AT, UH, WITH THE, THE, THE PROPOSAL, THE CULTURAL ARTS HAS ABOUT $67 MILLION.
NOW, I I, I HAVE A FEELING, AND I'M PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN A COUPLE OF YOU HERE, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT 75, I I REALLY BELIEVE CULTURAL ARTS CAN, CAN GET BOOSTED UP TO ABOUT A HUNDRED AND, UH, A HUNDRED AND PROBABLY 125 MILLION, PRIMARILY BECAUSE YOU'RE LOSING, YOU'RE GONNA BE LOSING JOBS IF YOU DON'T GET THOSE FACILITIES FIXED.
YOU'RE GONNA LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY DO PROVIDE A VERY VALUABLE GAP FOR MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS.
AND I CAN SPEAK ABOUT THE SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT WHO NEED THAT PARTNERSHIP.
DISTRICT FOUR DOESN'T HAVE ANY, AND THE SOUTHERN SECTOR REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A NUMBER OF FACILITIES THAT WE CAN GO TO FOR CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS.
NOW, WHETHER THE NUMBER GETS TO THAT OR NOT, I'M SIMPLY TELLING YOU THAT'S MY FEAR, IS THAT WE DON'T SECURE THOSE JOBS.
THE PARTNERSHIPS GOES AND THE, AND THE LIGHT AND THE BEAM OF LIGHT THAT THOSE CHILDREN GET FROM THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, UH, WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH IF WE DON'T HAVE THOSE PARTNERS.
UH, I WANT TO, UH, ALSO JUST SPEAK QUICKLY ON A PROPOSAL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I'M GOING TO PROPOSE WORKING WITH STAFF.
AND IT DEALS WITH THE FREEDMAN'S TOWN 10TH STREET, WHICH HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF POLICIES THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT AND LOFTY IDEAS THAT WERE PASSED AROUND THE COUNCIL, BUT WERE NOT IMPLEMENTED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO I'M LOOKING TO GET A, A PROPOSAL FOR A PACKAGE DEAL OR A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR 10TH STREET AND 10TH STREET NEEDS.
EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THIS LIST THAT'S HERE PUBLIC, YOU MAY NOT HAVE IT, BUT EVERYTHING WE NEED, WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR HOUSING, WE NEED EVERY, WE NEED STREETS, WE NEED, UH, FLOOD PROTECTION, WE NEED HOMELESSNESS.
AND I SAY HOMELESSNESS HELP AND MENTAL HEALTH, UH, WRAPAROUND SERVICES AS WELL.
AND, AND ALL OF THAT WILL HELP TO SECURE THAT COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK IF IT'S ON THE BOND, IT PROTECTS, PROTECTS THEM.
SO, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH ON THE GATEWAY, UH, THE DECK PARK.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YEARS TO COME, NO ONE CAN MOVE THE MONEY AND THAT COMMUNITY IS PROTECTED.
AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING I DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE PULL TOGETHER ON THIS, UM, BOND PACKAGE.
LAST, UH, RIGHT NOW ANYWAY, I HAVE ABOUT ONE MINUTE LEFT STAFF, IF YOU WOULD BRING FOR ME, UM, THE FLOOD PROTECTION AND STORM DRAINAGE.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE FLOOD, PARTICULARLY IN THE CADILLAC HEIGHTS AREA, AND THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT 30 AND 40 YEARS.
I NEED TO KNOW IF THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS WE RECEIVED A FEW YEARS AGO, HOW MUCH THAT
[00:50:01]
IS, AND SEE IF IT WILL HELP TO OFFSET WHAT WE HAVE, UH, LISTED HERE IF WE NEED MORE.SO YOU ALL CAN BRING THAT TO ME OFFLINE.
I DON'T WANNA TAKE ALL THE TIME.
IT IS A DIFFERENT, UH, TIME OF THE DAY.
AND I DO KNOW THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO GET THEIR QUESTIONS AND, AND IN.
BUT DID WANNA THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, STAFF, UH, CITY MANAGER.
I KNOW I CAN'T THANK ALL OF YOUR STAFF, BUT I KNOW MS. JENNY, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING VERY PROFUSELY TO GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION TO US.
AND, UH, WE KNOW THAT, UH, YOU ARE COMMITTED TO THIS BOND AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.
BUT, BUT MOST OF ALL, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I SAY TODAY, I THINK IT'S THREE O'CLOCK, THAT DISTRICT FOUR NEEDS AN ELECTION IN MAY, SO THEY CAN GET THERE JUST DUE.
AND I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE HERE AS WE TALK, STAY WOKE AND MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE TIME TO DO RIGHT IS NOW.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. CATCH? STEWART? CHAIRMAN STEWART? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
UM, SO I DIDN'T NECESSARILY REALIZE WE WERE GONNA SPEAK TO NUMBERS TODAY, BUT WHEN MS. ARNOLD HELD UP A PIECE OF PAPER WITH THAT MEMO, UM, I JUST WANNA SPEAK IN FAVOR OF, UH, I THINK BELIEVE MY NAME'S ON THAT MEMO, UM, AND TAKING SOME, AND ADJUSTING THE STAFF NUMBERS TO MATCH, UM, TO MATCH WHAT, WHAT IS IN THAT MEMO.
AND FOR PARKS SPECIFICALLY, I WANNA SPEAK BECAUSE I AM CHAIR OF PARKS TRAILS IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND SO I WOULD ASK FOR AN ADDITIONAL 50 MILLION, 50 MILLION TO GO FROM THE 250 THAT THE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TO 300 MILLION.
AND THAT IS A, THAT ALSO, IT'S A COMPROMISE.
IT COMES DOWN FROM THE COMMUNITY, UH, BOND TASK FORCE NUMBER.
AND, UM, AND I, I THINK MY BIGGEST POINT IS THIS.
I'VE TALKED TO ALMOST ALL OF YOU AND HEARD WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES ARE FOR THIS BOND.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU PARKS IS IN YOUR TOP THREE, ALMOST ALL OF YOU.
SO WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THAT'S A COMMON DENOMINATOR AROUND THIS HORSESHOE.
WE WANT OUR NEW REC CENTER, WE WANT OUR TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT.
UM, WE NEED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN MAINTENANCE PROJECTS TAKEN CARE OF AT SOME OF OUR REC CENTERS AND OTHER PLACES.
SO I'M GONNA BE YOUR ADVOCATE FOR PARKS AND, UM, AND SPEAK UP FOR THEM AND REMIND ALL OF YOU OF WHAT YOU SAID WAS YOUR TOP PRIORITY.
SO IN ORDER TO GET ALL OF THAT DONE, WE'RE GONNA NEED THE 300 MILLION.
ANYONE ELSE? FOR SOME REASON IT'S NOT LIGHTING UP.
UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, UH, FOR THE BODY TO CONSIDER, UH, UH, INCREASING OUR BOND CAPACITY TO 1.25 OVER 1.1 AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
HOLD ONE SECOND TO INCREASE, I MEAN, GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHEN WE ARE IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, UM, THERE'S AN UP DOWN WITH GREEN CARD AND SOMEBODY JUST SAYS WHAT THEIR, WHAT THEIR PROPOSITION IS OR THEIR CHANGE IS.
AND SO, I MEAN, THAT'S THE TYPICAL CUSTOM, BUT WE DO REQUIRE SECONDS IN THOSE.
SO, I, I SECONDED PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY CHAIR.
I'M WONDERING, I'M WONDERING IF YOU WOULDN'T PREFER TO ALLOW EVERYONE TO COMMENT ON THIS TOPIC BEFORE A MOTION OR STRAW POLL IS CONSIDERED.
YEAH, YOU CAN, YOU WANNA COMMENT? UH, I I THINK THAT ROBERT'S RULES ALLOWS FOR DISCUSSION AFTER A MOTION'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED AND THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE FLOOR NOW.
SO WE HAVE A OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, UH, TO IT.
RIGHT? IN CLARIFICATION OF, I'M SORRY.
AM I RECOGNIZED? YOU'RE RECOGNIZED IN CLARIFICATION OF MY PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY? UM, THE QUESTION IS NOT TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION.
THE QUESTION IS, MANY MEMBERS OF THIS BODY HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE INPUT AS WAS REQUESTED.
I'M NEXT IN LINE TO DO THAT AND THERE'S A MOTION TO JUMP AHEAD WHERE I WOULDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S OTHER MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THAT HAVEN'T YET RUNG IN.
AND SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU AS CHAIR, IF YOU FIND THAT IN CONDUCTING THE MEETING IT'S PROPER TO JUMP AHEAD TO THAT MOTION AND RECOGNIZE IT AS OPPOSED TO ALLOWING EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE QUESTION OF INPUT THAT WAS POSED.
WITH THAT, THIS VERY UNIQUE SITUATION, I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD SPEAK BEFORE WE GET TO THAT MOTION.
I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD GET THAT.
WE CAN GET BACK TO YOUR MOTION.
IF IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN IT'S MY TIME TO BE RECOGNIZED AND I QUESTION.
[00:55:01]
UH, MAYOR, I, UH, UH, WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM, JACK IRELAND.THANK Y'ALL FOR ALL OF Y'ALL'S, UH, HELP AND WORK.
UH, I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF MOVING PARTS RIGHT NOW.
UM, ONE, UH, I WANNA FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED TO YOU EARLIER.
UM, I, I FIRST WANNA MAKE IT VERY CLEAR WE HAVE TWO PENSION, UM, FUNDS THAT WE ARE, UH, TRYING TO HAVE CLEAR AND, UH, COHESIVE PLANS, UM, THAT ARE, ARE, ARE LONG-TERM PLANS OF COURSE.
UH, AND THEY ARE SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER.
WE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR.
UM, HOWEVER, WE'VE HEARD FROM, UM, STAFF ON THE OBLIGATION BONDS NOT BEING IDEAL RIGHT NOW AS THE ANSWER.
UM, AND EVEN IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A CAPITAL BOND AND PUT OUR ENTIRE CAPACITY, WE'RE STILL NOT ADDRESSING, UH, THE LONG-TERM NEED IN THAT CAPACITY.
SO WHAT I HAVE TO ASK YOU IS THAT IF THE ROBUST PLAN THAT WE COME UP WITH THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF AN INFLUX OF CASH TO GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO GET, UM, BUT IS, IS ALSO, UM, REQUIRING FOR PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS IF THE MARKET IS NOT DICTATING, UH, THAT TO BE, UM, SUGGESTED AT THIS TIME.
WOULD IT BE SAFE TO SAY THAT BY WAITING UNTIL A NOVEMBER ELECTION, THAT'S JUST WAITING EVEN LONGER UNTIL WE'VE SOLD OFF BONDS FROM WHATEVER CAPITAL BOND THAT WE HAVE PUT FORTH AND, AND WOULD BE THAT MUCH LONGER THAT WE FREE UP THE CAPACITY TO ADD PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS TO THAT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JACK, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER? AND I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THAT AND PUSH BACK IF I DON'T GET THERE.
UM, SO THE, THE PLANNING RELATED TO A FUNDING SOUNDNESS RESTORATION PLAN FOR THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND IS BEING PUT TOGETHER, UM, WITH US INCREASING OUR ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
AND WE WANT THAT PLAN TO BE SUSTAINABLE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PHASE UP INTO IT, PAY THOSE AMOUNTS OVER THE 30 YEAR AMORTIZATION TO GET US TO BE FULLY FUNDED WITHIN 30 YEARS, NOT RELIANT UPON ANY INFUSION OF CASH, NOT RELYING ON ANY INFUSION OF PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.
HOWEVER, IF AT ANY POINT IN TIME THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MONETIZE AN ASSET OR, UM, THE MARKET IS RIGHT THAT WE DO CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS AT ANY POINT IN THE 30 YEARS, WE CAN HAVE THAT CASH INFUSION INTO THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND AND THAT IMPROVES THE FUNDING STATUS AND WILL REDUCE FUTURE YEAR CONTRIBUTIONS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
BUT THE PLAN WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER DOES NOT RELY UPON THAT.
BUT, UM, WHAT I'M ASKING THOUGH, IS IT, IT WITH THAT PLAN AND IF, UM, WE END UP, UH, WANTING TO, UM, INCORPORATE PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS, UH, AS A PART OF THE INFLUX, UM, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE CAPACITY FREED UP IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE CAPACITY IN THE DEBT SERVICE FUND TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL PLUS INTEREST ON THE BONDS THAT WE ISSUE.
AND SO WHEN WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, UH, THE 2024 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM, WE HAVE NOT BEEN LOOKING AT THE 30 YEAR TIMEFRAME.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT A FIVE YEAR TIMEFRAME BECAUSE WE WOULD ISSUE $220 MILLION A YEAR OVER FIVE YEARS TO GET TO 1.1 BILLION.
IF YOU ADD ANOTHER $150 MILLION IN, WE WOULD DO THAT IN FISCAL YEAR 26.
WE WOULD STILL HAVE $250 MILLION OF CAPACITY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.
IF AT ANY TIME DURING THAT FIVE YEAR PERIOD THE MARKET WAS RIGHT.
AND THEN IN FISCAL YEAR 30 AND BEYOND, WE HAVE NEW CAPACITY EVERY YEAR.
SO WITHIN THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD OF THIS BOND PROGRAM, WE STILL WOULD HAVE 250 MILLION FOR PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.
IF EVER WE CHOSE TO AFTER FISCAL YEAR 29 AND GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR 30, WE WOULD START HAVING MORE CAPACITY WHERE WE COULD RESTORE THE ONE 50 THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING NOW AND EVEN, UH, HAVE A LARGER PENSION OBLIGATION BOND IF THAT WAS THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL.
BUT THAT IS CAPACITY, IT'S WITHIN THE 30 YEAR PERIOD AND IT WILL HELP THE PENSION PLAN.
BUT FOCUSING RIGHT NOW ON THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD, UH, FOR THIS BOND PROGRAM, WE WOULD HAVE FUTURE CAPACITY FOR OTHER PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.
AND, AND JUST IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, IF WE WERE TO, UM, WAIT UNTIL A NOVEMBER ELECTION VERSUS A MAY SPECIFICALLY TO THAT CAPACITY THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, THAT'S JUST SIX MONTHS MORE, UH, UH, UH, SIX MONTHS LATER UNTIL WE WOULD START THAT TIME CLOCK TO FREE UP CAPACITY FOR
[01:00:01]
POTENTIAL PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.THAT ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE NO MATTER WHEN YOU HAVE THE ELECTION.
THAT ADDITIONAL CAPACITY DOESN'T COME UNTIL FISCAL YEAR 30.
YOU HAVE, YOU WOULD HAVE 250 MILLION CAPACITY WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.
YOU WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AFTER FISCAL YEAR 29.
NO MATTER WHEN THE ELECTION IS.
CHAIRMAN MIDDLETON, I'M GONNA PULL MYSELF OUTTA THE QUEUE AND WAIT LATER TO SPEAK.
UM, JUST TO RECONCILE BETWEEN THE MEMO THAT WE RECEIVED ON, UM, THE PRESENTATION OF WHAT CITY STAFF RECOMMENDED IN DECEMBER AND THEN, UH, WHAT SOME COLLEAGUES HAVE RECOMMENDED, UM, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE SOME PROGRESS IS BEING MADE.
SO I THINK WE'RE ALL WORKING ON THIS WITH A SPIRIT TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE NEED TO FOR OUR CITIZENRY, UH, OUR RESIDENTS.
SO I GUESS JUST TO GO THROUGH THESE NUMBERS, I WOULD SAY ON STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION, I WANNA ECHO, UH, CHAIR NARVA
I THINK ON GETTING BACK TO THE 500,000 OR $500 MILLION NUMBER, WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT VISION ZERO TO ACHIEVE.
AND I THINK THIS AFFECTS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, EVERY DISTRICT.
AND, UM, I, WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO THAT.
AND THIS IS ONE WAY WE CAN DO IT IN A BIG WAY ON STREETS.
UH, I KNOW CHAIR STEWART TALKED ABOUT ALL OF US HAVING OUR PRIORITIES AND THAT SORT OF THING, BUT WE HAVE A CITIZEN SATISFACTION SURVEY AND 12 OF 14 DISTRICTS HAD STREETS AS NUMBER ONE OF, OF THEIR CONCERN.
THE OTHER TWO HAD IT AS NUMBER TWO IN THEIR, THEIR CONCERN.
SO WE CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS, UH, SCIENTIFICALLY CONDUCTED AND IT'S THE READ THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN THE CROSSHAIRS WHEN LOOKING AT THE BIGGEST PORTION OF THIS BOND.
UM, THE OTHER THING ABOUT STREETS IS THAT YOU CAN'T GO OUT AND GET PRIVATE DONORS OR GRANT MONEY ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS.
AND SO I LOOK AT THIS LIST, ALL OF THIS IS IMPORTANT, IT'S WHAT OUR CITIZENRY IS CRYING OUT FOR.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES FOR SOME OF THE THINGS ON THIS LIST, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOTTA BE MINDFUL OF.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU CAN'T MAKE ME BE QUIET ABOUT STREETS WHEN IT COMES TO THE BOND IS BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE CHIEF WAYS RIGHT NOW THAT WE CAN FUND GETTING TO ZERO DEGRADATION.
WE ALL KNOW THERE'S SOME OTHER OPTIONS BEING TALKED ABOUT AND HOW WE CAN START TO CLOSE THIS AMAZING GAP THAT WE HAVE GOT THAT WE WILL NEVER GET TO UNLESS WE GET CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE ON HOW WE INFUSE MORE FUNDS INTO OUR STREET MAINTENANCE.
AND SO WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THAT NOW, BUT WE CAN'T TAKE OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS ON THAT AND, UH, I KNOW I'LL BE SPEAKING UP FOR THAT AND THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE CHOIR.
SO, UM, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, THIS HAS GOTTA BE A BIG CHUNK OF THE SPA.
UH, I HOPE IN FIVE YEARS OR WHENEVER WE, UH, ARE, ARE COMING UP AGAINST THE NEXT BOND PROGRAM.
IT'S FILLED WITH WONDERFUL TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS AND WE'VE SOLVED OUR STREET FUNDING ISSUE TO WHERE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE THIS BIG PIECE OF THE PIE ON.
UM, WHAT I'M, I'M GOING BACK TO NOW BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED THROUGH THE LIST ON PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES AND UM, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRESS BEING MADE THERE ON, UM, I I'M COMING TO THE LIBRARY FACILITIES BECAUSE IN THE DISCUSSION AROUND LIBRARIES, OUR, OUR LIBRARY MASTER PLAN CONDUCTED IN THE YEAR 2000, UH, HAD, HAS THREE REMAINING PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TO COMPLETE.
AND THAT TEAM IS EMBARKING ON MORE PLANNING AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS COMING UP, UH, PROBABLY WITHIN THIS NEXT YEAR.
AND I JUST WANNA KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE POISED TO ACT ON THAT.
WE ALL KNOW THAT LIBRARIES AREN'T ABOUT BOOKS.
THIS IS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO, UH, MEET IT'S COMMUNITY CENTER.
I CALL IT A REC CENTER FROM THE NECK UP.
IT'S, IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAN WHAT IT USED TO BE.
AND SO CHAIR WEST AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OUR TWO LIBRARIES, UH, THAT ARE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND THAT THEY CAN BE SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
THEY ARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAYS, THEY ARE HOUSING PLAYS.
AND SO, UM, I, I KNOW THERE'S SOME LEGALITIES AROUND HOW WE HAVE TO PUT MONEY INTO DIFFERENT BUCKETS AND HOW WE DESCRIBE IT SO THAT WE'RE TRANSPARENT WITH THE VOTERS AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE VOTING ON.
BUT I WOULD ASK COLLEAGUES TO HELP SUPPORT THE PARK FOREST LIBRARY.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED TO THIS POINT, OR I'M, I'M HEARING THAT MAYBE IT'S REPRESENTED IN THESE NUMBERS, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE PUT
[01:05:01]
A FINE POINT ON IT.AND I JUST, I JUST WANNA SEE US CLOSE THAT LOOP SO THAT WE CAN POISE THESE LIBRARIES FOR THE, THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN AND, UH, JUST MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD ASK YOU ALL TO CONSIDER AND SUPPORT, UH, BECAUSE WE NEED THE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT THESE CATALYST PROJECTS CAN BRING TO HELP US CLOSE THE GAP ON THE PENSION IN THE WAY THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING THAT WE WOULD FUND THIS INCREMENTALLY, UH, WITH NEW REVENUE FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION.
SO, UM, WE'VE GOT THE LAND FOR PARK FOREST, IT'S PART OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE GREENING INITIATIVE.
AND, UM, IT'S AT AN INTERSECTION THAT IT COULD REALLY IGNITE A LOT OF GROWTH AROUND.
SO, THANK YOU CHAIRMAN MARINO.
I WANNA ECHO THIS SENTIMENT THAT I THINK WE ARE PROGRESSING.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THOSE RIGHT ALLOCATIONS, AND I JUST WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE INCREASE TO 150 MILLION, UH, TO OUR BOND CAPACITY WHEN IT COMES TO STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION.
I DO WANNA SEE THAT NUMBER CLOSER TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF 500.
UH, WHEN IT COMES TO PARKS AND REC, I WANT TO BE CLOSER TO THE BOND TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION OF THREE 50.
I WANT TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY FOR DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.
I SEE A BREAKDOWN ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE MEMO THAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY FOR 2 MILLION FOR DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.
IS THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT TO STAY STRICTLY WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? OR COULD THAT BE POOLED FOR PROJECTS THAT DON'T MAKE THE, UM, IF THEY DON'T FALL WITHIN THE BUCKETS, UH, THAT ARE PRESENTED TONIGHT? SO FOR THE, THE DISCRETIONARY, IF YOU HAVE A, A PROJECT THAT, THAT IS NOT, HASN'T MADE THE LIST, UM, WE WOULD NEED TO FIND A BUCKET TO PUT IT INTO.
SO IF IT'S, UM, IF IT'S NOT ONE OF THOSE LARGE PROPOSITION NUMBERS, WE'LL, UM, PROPOSITION BUCKETS, WE'LL NEED TO, TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT, WHERE THAT LIES.
UM, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE IF YOU DO HAVE A PROJECT THAT YOU WANT TO, UH, FULFILL USING DISCRETIONARY FUNDING, THAT YOU IDENTIFY WHAT PROPOSITION IT GOES INTO AHEAD OF TIME, I THINK IT'LL MAKE IT CLEANER FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT RIGHT NOW THAT DISCRETIONARY FUNDING, UH, IS JUST A STARTING POINT OF $2 MILLION, UM, WOULD IT BE SUITABLE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE A HIGHER, UH, DISCRETIONARY DOLLAR? UM, THAT WOULD BE TO THE COUNCIL? SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE DATE, UM, WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY DISCRETIONARY FUNDING IN.
SO IF THAT WAS RIGHT, I'M, I'M SPEAKING TO, TO THE MEMO THAT, UM, WAS PRESENTED.
UM, AS, AS CHAIR OR, AND LET ME JUST C CONTINUE WITH THAT.
UM, IF, IF THE POSSIBILITY AVAILABLE TO HAVE AN DISCRETIONARY FUNDING AT, AT A HIGHER AMOUNT AND WHAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO, TO DO THAT? SO, UH, COUNCILMAN, I, I THINK THAT WE WOULD NEED, UH, COUNCIL DIRECTION, UH, IF, IF YOU WANTED TO, UM, IF YOU WANTED DO A HIGHER AMOUNT OF DISCRETIONARY MONEY, UH, IF THE BOND IS CAPPED AT 1.25 BILLION, THEN, UH, ULTIMATELY, UM, COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO, UH, ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR DISCRETIONARY MONEY FROM ANY OF THE, OF THE OTHER PROPOSITIONS.
WHAT? UM, I'VE, I'VE MOVED LOWER IN THE QUEUE.
WELL, UH, WELL THIS IS ROUND ONE.
UH, UH, UH, CHAIRMAN BLACKMAN.
UM, SO, UM, TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I CALLED THIS MEETING.
I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR ATTENDING.
UH, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BUSINESS AND A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND I DO THINK WE'VE MADE PROGRESS.
SO, UH, I DO WANNA THANK EVERYBODY AND STAFF FOR REALLY HITTING THE, THE CHALLENGE TOO.
SO I HAVE QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE 1.1 VERSUS A 1 2 5.
WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS IF WE WERE TO HIT ONE, 2.5? AND ARE YOU READY TO SHARE THOSE IN? 'CAUSE I BROUGHT MY LITTLE WORKSHEET AND GO DOWN
[01:10:01]
WHAT THOSE WOULD BE.I, I THINK THAT WE WOULD LEAVE IT UP TO COUNCIL, MA'AM.
UH, I THINK THAT WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN IDEAS AND DEPENDENT UPON WHO YOU ASK, BUT WE WOULD SEE COUNCIL GUIDANCE ON THAT.
SO THEN LET'S JUST KIND OF TALK THROUGH THOSE STREETS.
UH, IF WE KEPT IT AT YOUR RECOMMENDATION OF 500 OR THE REVISED RECOMMENDATIONS OF 550 MILLION, AND THEN IT GOES DOWN TO FOUR 50, BUT WHAT IF YOU BROUGHT IT UP BY, UH, SAY FIVE 30? WHAT DOES THAT BIAS, LIKE, WHAT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN REDUCING IT LESS THAN 500, BUT IF YOU INCREASE IT A LITTLE BIT, ARE WE GONNA BE ANY MORE OUT OF THE WOODS THAN, THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY? UH, WE, WE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OUT OF THE WOODS.
UH, I, I WOULD JUST, JUST FOR NUMBERS, JUST POINT OUT THAT ZERO DEGRADATION, UH, AS WE LAST DISCUSSED WAS ABOUT $266 MILLION A YEAR.
UM, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT WOULDN'T CHIP AWAY AT OUR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR STREETS, FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS FOR SIDEWALKS.
UM, SO IT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE INCREMENTAL.
UM, IF, IF IT WENT UP, AND I KNOW, UH, COLLEAGUES, Y'ALL PROBABLY ARE GETTING THE SAME CALLS TO THAT I'M GETTING ABOUT SPEEDERS AND THEY WANT THEIR ROADS TO BE MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, BIGGER SIDEWALKS, AND MOVING THE LANE IN, WOULD THIS MONEY HELP WITH THAT? YES, MA'AM.
UM, PART OF THIS, THE STREETS AND STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION WOULD BE THE VISION ZERO PROJECTS, UH, WHICH WOULD HELP ACCOMMODATE OR ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ITEMS. OKAY.
ON PARKS, UH, I THINK THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION OF TWO 50, AND THEN SOME COLLEAGUES CAME UP TO 300.
UM, WHAT DOES 300 MILLION BUY US? AND WOULD WE REACH OUR STRATEGY OF A PARK WITHIN WHAT, 15 MINUTES OF A, OF EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD WE CAN COME BACK IF THEY'RE NOT READY? UM, HOUSING, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE JUMPED, UM, I THINK 60 MILLION AND IT COULD BE PROPOSED TO DO ONE 50.
UM, IT'S NOT THAT I'M AGAINST THE ONE 50, IT'S WHAT IS THE FRAMEWORK? AND I UNDERSTAND YOU GOTTA HAVE PROJECT, YOU GOTTA HAVE THE MONEY FOR, YOU HAVE THE PROJECTS YOU HAVE, UM, THERE IS A NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE HAVE THE NOFA OUT IN PLACE, ET CETERA.
BUT WHAT ASSURANCES DO WE HAVE THAT THOSE FUNDS WILL GO OUT AND THEY WILL BE USED TO THE PURPOSE THAT, THAT THEY ARE SET TO BE USED FOR CYNTHIA EON, INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION.
AGAIN, THIS IS A FUNDING SOURCE THAT WE PUT IN OUR NOFA.
UM, WE HAVE GENERAL FUNDS, WE HAVE, UH, UM, M-I-H-D-B FEES AND FUNDS THAT WE GET FOR THAT.
ALL OF THOSE FUNDS ALONG WITH THESE BOND FUNDS WOULD GO INTO OUR NOFA.
AND WITH THAT, THEY ALL FOLLOW THE SAME RULES AND REQUIREMENTS UNDER OUR DEVELOPMENT POLICY.
WE STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL OF THOSE SAME RULES WITH ANY FUNDING SOURCE THAT WE USE.
SOME ARE MORE STRINGENT AND SOME ARE NOT AS STRINGENT.
BUT THE GENERAL, THE GENERAL RE REQUIREMENTS FOR GETTING THESE FUNDS AND ANY OTHER FUNDS IS THE SAME.
UM, AND, AND SO I ALSO WANNA MENTION COUNCIL MEMBER WEST HAD ASKED ABOUT, UM, PIPELINE, AND, AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS IN IN PRIOR MEETINGS, THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.
WE'VE, WE'VE EXHAUSTED ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT WE HAD IN THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT WE'VE HAD TO EITHER SAY, WE CAN'T HELP YOU AT THIS TIME OR COME BACK AT A LATER DATE IF YOU STILL HAVE OPEN PROJECT THAT YOU NEED FINANCING FOR, AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO LOOK AT IT THEN.
NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE 'EM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALSO HAS PROJECTS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR, FOR FINANCING AS WELL, THAT WE'VE HAD TO TURN AWAY AT THIS TIME.
SO CYNTHIA, IS HOUSING DEPARTMENT READY TO ALLOCATE 150 MILLION? THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
WE ARE, WE'RE WE'RE READY TO DO THAT.
SO YOU HAVE THE STAFF INFRASTRUCTURE TO GET IT OUT THE DOOR.
UM, ON ARTS AND CULTURE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, I THINK IT WENT DOWN, UM, WHAT IS THE STRATEGY? I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE WANT TO MOVE THESE, SOME OF THESE FACILITIES TO THE FRIENDS GROUPS AND LET THEM MANAGE 'EM.
UM, THE QUESTION IS, IS DOES THE 55 MILLION EVEN GET US IN THAT DIRECTION TO START PUSHING IT IN THE, UH, THE REALM OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO MANAGE THESE FACILITIES?
[01:15:20]
MARTINE, FELIPE, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, UM, TO RESPOND TO YOUR INQUIRY ABOUT IF THE 55 WOULD GET US IN THAT REALM, UH, WITH REGARD TO OUR PARTNER MANAGED FACILITIES, IT WOULD BE BELOW THE ASK.IT WOULD BE BELOW, WHAT? DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER, A NUMBER FOUR, THAT WOULD GET US TO MOVE, BE A BETTER PARTNER, I GUESS, OR TO MOVE IT TO THE PAR PARTNERS? I'M LOOKING FOR A, A, A BENCHMARK OR NOT BENCHMARK, A, UM, BOTTOM LINE.
LIKE IF IT'S, SO WE'VE PREPARED SCENARIOS AT 55, AT 65, 70 AND 75 MM-HMM.
AND NATURALLY YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE HIGHER MILLION DOLLAR SCENARIOS WOULD BE MOST BENEFICIAL FOR US, PUT US IN A BETTER, TO, TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE FACILITY ONTO THEIR MANAGEMENT, I GUESS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS WE, WE, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION THAT SOME OF OUR BIGGER FACILITIES NEEDED TO BE MANAGED BY THEIR PAR, OUR PARTNER GROUPS.
AND SO, BUT THEY NEEDED TO BE MAINTAINED.
THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE PROMISED AND WE HAVEN'T FIXED YET.
HOW DO WE START THAT PROCESS? SO THAT WAY THEY'RE ALL, THEY'RE MOVING OFF OF OUR, I DON'T WANNA SAY BALANCE SHEET, BUT THAT THEY'RE NOT BECOMING A, THEY'RE NOT, WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE HVAC.
THEY ARE, WELL, THAT WOULD BE A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT.
SO BASED ON EACH INDIVIDUAL, UH, FACILITY FOR THE MYERSON, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND WE'VE GOT REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM THE FACILITY, BUT THEY'RE ALREADY IN THEIR MANAGEMENT.
HOWEVER, THAT WAS A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT AND A PHASE OUT PLAN.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT SIMILAR PLAN WITH OUR OTHER FACILITIES.
SO WE'LL MAINTAIN PARTNER MANAGED RELATIONSHIP IN THAT REGARD.
IS THERE, IS THERE A PLAN TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION? WE DO NOT HAVE A FORMAL PLAN TO MOVE THAT DIRECTION.
UM, LOOKING AT PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT 50 MILLION FOR THE ACADEMY, UH, THING THAT IS A GREAT INVESTMENT.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 40 MILLION FOR FIRE AND POLICE.
WILL THAT EVEN GET US TO A SPACE WHERE, 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN IN SOME OF OUR FACILITIES.
UM, DOES THAT, DOES THAT, WHERE DOES THAT GET US? IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASING THIS BY 12 TO 13%, DO WE NEED TO INCREASE? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT NUMBER DOES THAT NEED TO BE? SO THAT, THAT NUMBER OF THE 40 MILLION, I BELIEVE THAT GIVES US TWO FIRE STATIONS.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF A DA MINOR REPAIRS, UM, DONE ON PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES THROUGHOUT.
UM, BUT OUTSIDE OF THE POLICE ACADEMY, THE, THE TWO MAJOR PROJECTS WITHIN THAT PROPOSITION ARE THE, UM, THE TWO FIRE STATIONS.
SO FIRE STATIONS ARE ABOUT, AND THOSE ARE TWO REBUILTS? YES, THERE'S TWO.
WHAT ABOUT JUST GENERAL AND THEN WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE STILL DOING GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF HVA SYS SYSTEMS THROUGH OUR GENERAL FUND? OR IS IT GONNA BE THROUGH BOND DOLLARS? WE DO HAVE SOME BOND DOLLARS AND FOR SOME MAJOR MAINTENANCE ITEMS LIKE THAT.
BECAUSE, UM, I MEAN, DURING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE HEAT AND COLD, AND I THINK THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE BOTH AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATERS WORKING DURING THESE TIMES.
UM, NOW LOOKING AT PROCESS, AND I'VE GOT A MINUTE LEFT.
UM, IT SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE, WE'RE HAVING THIS MEETING, WE COME IN ON THE 31ST, BUT THEN BETWEEN JANUARY 22ND AND FEBRUARY 2ND, UM, IT SAYS PARK BOARD MEETS TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PARK PROPOSITION.
UH, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY AND WHY AREN'T WE DOING ARTS AND CULTURE TO THEN LOOK AT THEIR ALLOTMENT, HOMELESS TO, YOU KNOW, THE HOMELESS COMMISSION TO LOOK AT THEIR ALLOTMENT? AND IF WE DON'T GET AN APPROVAL, DOES THAT MEAN THAT IT STOPS, THE WHOLE PROCESS STOPS AND WE'RE DONE? GREAT QUESTION.
JOHN JENKINS, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
AND I'M SIREN COUNCILMAN BLACKMAN.
UH, WHEN YOU ASKED YOUR QUESTION EARLIER, I WAS IN THE BACK SPEAKING WITH MR. BROAD NEXT, SO I WASN'T YOU CAN DO BOTH.
WHAT WOULD I DO WITH THE ADDITIONAL 50 MILLION? I WOULD ADD BACK ALL THE THINGS THAT I CUT OUT.
AND I'M SPEAKING OF THINGS THAT WERE SOME BASIC STUFF.
WHEN I CUT OUT $10 MILLION FOR OUR ATHLETIC FIELD LIGHTING, UH, I CUT OUT ALMOST, OH GOSH, I WANNA SAY ANOTHER 10 MILLION THAT I WAS GONNA FOR ATHLETIC FIELD RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, I REDUCED THE SCOPE ON A LOT OF THE RECREATION CENTERS.
UH, I CAN GO DOWN THE LIST AND TELL YOU ALL THE THINGS THAT DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT IN, IN MY RECOMMENDATION.
UH, BUT THOSE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES AND THOSE ARE BASIC THINGS.
[01:20:02]
AND WHAT WAS YOUR OTHER QUESTION? I WALKED, OH, IF, IF NOT APPROVED TODAY AND NOT APPROVED BY THE PARK BOARD, WOULD IT STOP THIS, UH, PROCESS? AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE ANSWER IS NO'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE COUNCIL MAKES THE FINAL DECISION.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE PARK BOARD HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT, UH, TO AT LEAST GET, MAKE SURE THAT I GET FEEDBACK FROM THE PARK BOARD TO PRESENT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION BASED ON WHATEVER YOU ALL DECIDE TODAY OR ON THE 31ST.
SO DO WE NEED A LIST BEFORE WE CAN DECIDE IF WE'RE HAVING A MAY OR NOVEMBER A LIT PROJECT LIST? IS A PROJECT LIST DEPENDENT ON A MAY OR NOVEMBER VOTE? OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ADDED LATER? IN OTHER WORDS, WE DECIDE THE ALLOT THE BUCKET AND THEN THE DETAILS OF WHAT IT PAY BUYS IS LATER.
SO ON FEBRUARY 14TH, COUNSEL WOULD APPROVE THE PROPOSITION LANGUAGE, THE PROPOSITION AMOUNT, AND THE PAYBACK AMOUNT, AND IF THE ACTUAL PROJECT LISTING CAN FOLLOW.
SO, UM, AND WHEN DO YOU PLAN TO GO TO PARK BOARD? UH, UH, BASED ON THIS DISCUSSION TODAY, I WILL END UP CALLING US.
UH, I HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THE PARK BOARD NEXT THURSDAY.
AND SO I WILL DIS WHATEVER'S DISCUSSED TODAY, I WILL, UH, UH, MEET WITH THE PARK BOARD NEXT THURSDAY.
AND ARE WE GONNA GO TO ARTS COMMISSION IN THE HOMELESS SINCE WE HAVE A HOMELESS ALLOCATION? ARE WE GONNA GO TO THE THAT COMMISSION AS WELL? UH, I BELIEVE THEY WOULD BE BRIEFED, BUT UM, AGAIN, GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WORKING CLOSELY WITH A PARK BOARD.
SO WE, UM, SO WE DID TALK ABOUT THEM SEPARATELY, BUT, UM, OKAY.
IT'S 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT A, A MEETING OR A LACK OF AN ACTION TO KEEP THIS BODY FROM DOING ITS WORK.
SO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS POSTED AND READY TO GO.
BUT WE, WE'VE GOT STUFF TO DO.
AND I, THE, THE, THE WHOLE THING OF FORCING A VOTE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TAKE ACTION IS NOT SOMETHING I'M INTERESTED IN.
WE NEED TO HAVE EVERYTHING READY TO GO AND MOVE IT FORWARD OR NOT.
I'LL HAVE MORE FOR A SECOND ROUND.
ONE CHU THREE MINUTES? NO, YOU FIRST ROUND? YES.
I THINK KARA'S THE ONLY FIRST ROUND LEFT.
YOU WANNA SPEAK NOW? I'M READY TO GO.
UM, SO JACK, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
I'VE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT THE MON AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF, UM, MYSTERY ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE FUNDED.
AND SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENCE, OUR REGULAR BUDGET, OUR GENERAL FUND, AND USING SALES AND PROPERTY TAXES AS, AND THEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN USING BOND DOLLARS AND WHAT THAT ENTAILS.
UH, JACK IRELAND, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, UM, YES MA'AM.
UM, SO THE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET, THAT'S SUPPORTED BY PROPERTY TAX, SALES TAX, FRANCHISE FEES, CHARGES FOR SERVICES AND OTHER REVENUES, UH, THAT FUND PRIMARILY THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE CITY FROM POLICE AND FIRE SALARIES TO RECREATION, OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR RECREATION CENTERS, LIBRARIES, SO FORTH.
THE DEBT SERVICE FUND IS ALSO PAID FOR WITH, UH, PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
UM, I'D LOOK UP THE EXACT NUMBER FOR YOU, BUT THAT'S IN THE RANGE.
UM, SO PART OF THE PROPERTY TAX GOES INTO OUR GENERAL FUND, PART OF THE PROPERTY TAX WHEN WE GET IT FROM DALLAS COUNTY TAX OFFICE, GOES INTO THE DEBT SERVICE FUND.
THE DEBT SERVICE FUND IS USED TO PAY THE ANNUAL PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST DEBT PAYMENT ON THE BONDS THAT WE'VE ISSUED.
SO BONDS, WE BORROW MONEY AND WE PAY THAT BACK OVER, UH, TYPICALLY 20 YEARS FOR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
AND SO WE HAVE A, LIKE A AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE LIKE YOU WOULD HAVE ON YOUR, YOUR HOME, UH, THAT WE PAY OFF OVER 20 YEARS USING THE PROPERTY TAX THAT'S DEDICATED TO THE DEBT SERVICE FUND.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? IT DOES.
SO WHAT I ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE HAVE A $4.6 BILLION BUDGET ANNUALLY, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE SHOULD BE FUNDING FROM THAT.
MANY OF THE THINGS, I BET PEOPLE SITTING HERE WOULD LIKE TO SEE US FUND, BUT YOU DON'T SHOW UP FOR OUR BUDGET MEETING.
AND INSTEAD YOU'RE HERE TO ASK US TO TAKE OUT MONEY AND PAY INTEREST ON IT.
AND THESE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS.
[01:25:01]
THE QUESTION THAT I KEEP COMING BACK TO ON THIS IS, IS THIS SOMETHING WE SHOULD TAKE OUT DEBT FOR AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING WE SHOULD PUT IN OUR BUDGET AND FUND EVERY YEAR? SO I HAD A VERY NICE CONVERSATION THIS MORNING WITH SOMEONE ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE SPENDING MORE ON HOMELESSNESS AS A GENERAL ITEM, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE HOMELESSNESS AS A BOND PROPOSITION HAVING SERVED ON THE BOND PROPOSITION IN 2017.
SO ALL THAT TO SAY, UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT I THINK DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T SUPPORT 'EM, IT JUST MEANS I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PAY DEBT FOR THEM.
SO I'M GONNA START WITH HOUSING.
HAVE WE EVER HAD A BOND PROPOSITION THAT INCLUDED HOUSING? OKAY.
NOT FOR A STANDALONE HOUSING PROPOSITION.
CAN YOU TELL US WHY WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT? I DON'T KNOW THE ENTIRE HISTORY BEHIND IT.
I I DO KNOW THAT IN THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM WE DID COMBINE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING.
BUT NO, I COULDN'T TELL YOU THE REASON FOR NOT HAVING THAT IN.
WELL MAYBE NOBODY CAN ACTUALLY GIVE THE REASON, BUT I'M GONNA SUPPOSE THE REASON IS 'CAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHER WAYS TO GENERATE HOUSING.
SO I'M JUST GONNA SAY A COUPLE OF THEM.
WE HAVE FEDERAL TAX CREDITS, HOME FUNDS, CDBG FUNDS, WE HAVE GRANTS FROM OTHER FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS, T-D-H-C-A FOUR AND 9% LITECH STATE TAX CREDITS, MORTGAGE PROGRAMS AND HO AND UH, BOND PROGRAMS FROM THE STATE.
WE HAVE OUR HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION.
WE HAVE THE GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE THE LAND BANK, WE HAVE THE FEE AND LIE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE BOND FUNDS THAT WE COULD USE, RIGHT? WE DO INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT WITH WATER.
WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, WE HAVE THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER PROGRAM.
WE HAVE SEVERAL HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS, AND THEN THE COUNTY HAS THE LONE STAR PACE PROGRAM.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO CREATE HOUSING WITHOUT TAKING OUT ADDITIONAL DEBT IN THIS HOUSING PROPOSITION, WHICH IS, I MEAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE $150 MILLION IN THERE.
HOW MANY AFFORDABLE UNITS WILL YOU BE CREATING FOR THIS? $150 MILLION? I'D ASK SOMEBODY FROM HOUSING TO COME AND YEAH, DRESS.
I AM SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN, COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION PLEASE? THE QUESTION IS, HOW MANY UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL YOU BE CREATING WITH THIS $150 MILLION HOUSING BOND? UH, I DON'T HAVE THAT CALCULATION.
'CAUSE UH, THE LAST CALCULATION I DID WAS JUST BY UNIT.
AND I BELIEVE IT CAME OUT IN A MEMO FROM, UH, DR. PEREZ.
UH, IT WASN'T FOR 150 MILLION, IT WAS 75 MILLION, OR LET ME LOOK AT IT.
UH, ACTUALLY IT WAS ONLY 25 MILLION AND THEN 60 MILLION.
SO FOR 25 MILLION, WE CAN PRODUCE 479 UNITS AND FOR 60,001,150 UNITS.
SO I'D HAVE TO DO THE MATH ON THE 150 MILLION.
OKAY, I'M GONNA LET YOU DO THE MATH.
UM, THE QUESTION IS, DO OUR DALLAS RESIDENTS, OUR CURRENT DALLAS RESIDENTS, SHOULD THEY HAVE TO PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAX TO PAY INTEREST ON DEBT THAT WE'RE ASSUMING FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSING? AND I THINK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE OTHER WAYS TO DO THAT, INCLUDING EXEMPTIONS OF PROPERTY TAX.
MY NEXT QUESTION'S ABOUT STREETS, I DON'T DISAGREE THAT STREETS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT NUMBER HIGHER.
I ALSO AGREE, AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER RENOS SAID IT PERFECTLY, I'D LIKE TO SEE US AT 500 FOR STREETS, BUT I ALSO WANNA SEE US AT THREE 50 FOR PARKS.
AND I THINK WE CAN GET THERE IF WE ACTUALLY FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR RESIDENTS.
SO FOR STREETS, I STILL HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
MY FIRST ONE IS, ARE ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED AS PROJECTS FOR STREETS, PROJECTS THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN ON THE BOND 2 0 0 6 20 12 OR 2017? THERE'S A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 11, USED TO BE DISTRICT 12, WHO'S GONE THROUGH AND IS IDENTIFYING PROJECTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE IN A BOND THAT ARE NOW BACK ON THIS BOND'S PROJECT LIST.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? SO I, SO THE, THE PROJECTS THAT WERE SELECTED WERE SELECTED BASED ON CONDITIONS.
I DON'T KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I HAVE TO WORK WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO CONFIRM, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WENT BACK AND OVERLAID THAT ON PREVIOUS BOND PROGRAMS. WELL, WOULDN'T THAT JUST PROVE THAT THE RESURFACING DOESN'T LAST
[01:30:04]
COUNCIL MEMBER WITHOUT SPECIFIC QUESTION OR WITHOUT SPECIFIC EXAMPLES? NOW WE CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PROJECT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RESURFACED AND, UH, NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN UNIMPROVED STREET THAT HAS A DECENT STREET PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX RATING.
BUT WE DID PUT ALL OF OUR UNIMPROVED STREETS, WHICH HAVE NO SIDEWALKS, NO CURB, NO DRAINAGE, UM, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RESURFACED IN AN OH SIX, UH, PROGRAM OR 12.
AND WE JUST PUT IT IN AS A NEEDS INVENTORY STREET THAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED BECAUSE IT LACKS ALL THE AMENITIES THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
SO IF YOU HAVE SPECIFICS, WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT FOR YOU.
I WOULD LIKE, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SHARE WITH THE REST OF COUNCIL A LIST OF ANY PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN ON A PRIOR BOND ALREADY.
THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE IS HOW MANY OF THE DOLLARS IN THE STREETS PROPOSITION, UM, ARE FOR RESURFACING? UH, I DON'T HAVE THE, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
I COULD LOOK REAL QUICK, BUT I DO KNOW THAT TRADITIONALLY, AND THIS GOES BACK TO 2003, I BELIEVE THERE'S A, A A 40 60 SPLIT BETWEEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT RESURFACING VERSUS RECONSTRUCTION.
SO THAT HAS BEEN WHAT WE HAVE HISTORICALLY DONE WITH THE BOND PROGRAM.
SO I KNOW I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION.
WELL, WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE OTHER BOND MEETING, SO IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT PEOPLE WANNA RUSH TO A VOTE TODAY WHEN WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE OTHER DISCUSSION WITH THESE REAL PROJECTS AND NUMBERS.
SO LET ME ASK YOU TO PLEASE GET US THAT NUMBER.
JACK, CAN YOU READ TO US WHAT THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRI PERFORMANCE CRITERIA SAYS FOR NUMBER 25? 25 REGARDING COMPETITIVE PAY CAPITAL AND DEBT MANAGEMENT? SO CAPITAL AND DEBT MANAGEMENT, UH, SPECIFICALLY NUMBER 26, MATCHING OF BONDS, MATCHING OF BOND FUNDS AND USEFUL LIFE OF PROJECT? YEAH.
UH, MATCHING OF BONDS AND USEFUL LIFE OF PROJECT.
ANY CAPITAL PROJECT FINANCED THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS SHALL BE FINANCED FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED THE EXPECTED USEFUL LIFE OF THE PROJECT.
FOR EXAMPLE, BONDS ISSUED FOR STREET RESURFACING SHALL BE FINANCED FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 10 YEARS.
AND WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTED TIME FOR THESE BONDS? SO THE, THE BONDS THAT WE ISSUE, WE PAY, WE MAKE ANNUAL PAYMENTS ON THE PRINCIPAL.
AND SO IN CONVERSATIONS IN THE PAST, WE, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS IN THAT WE ARE PAYING DOWN THE DEBT THAT WE'RE ISSUING BECAUSE WE PAY, WE, WE DON'T START PAYING AFTER 10 YEARS.
WE'RE PAYING SOME OF THE GEO DEBT WITHIN THAT FIRST 10 YEARS TO ENABLE US TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS.
CAN YOU RE READ THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA? THAT'S FOR FACILITY REPLACEMENTS REPLACEMENT VERSUS MAINTENANCE ANALYSIS? I HAVE IT LISTED AS NOT IN COMPLIANCE.
WHAT, WHAT NUMBER DO YOU HAVE IT LISTED AS 10? 10? YES, MA'AM.
FACILITY REPLACEMENT VERSUS MAINTENANCE ANALYSIS.
OPERATING EXPENDITURES WILL BE PROGRAMMED TO INCLUDE CURRENT COST OF FULLY MAINTAINING CITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING PARKS, STREETS, LEVIES, VEHICLES, BUILDINGS, AND EQUIPMENT.
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS WILL BE PERFORMED ON REPLACEMENT COSTS VERSUS PROJECTED REQUIRED MAINTENANCE COST TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL AT WHICH CITY FACILITIES SHOULD BE MAINTAINED.
THE ANALYSIS WILL BE, WILL ALSO DETERMINE THE LONG-TERM COST OF ANY POTENTIAL DEFERRED MAINTENANCE COST.
NORMAL MAINTENANCE COST WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE OPERATING BUDGET.
WE'VE INDICATED THAT WE ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH DOING THAT ANALYSIS.
AND, UH, KEEPING UP WITH THOSE, UH, MAINTENANCE COSTS.
WOULD YOU FIND IT IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THAT ANALYSIS BEFORE WE GO FORWARD WITH A BOND? SO I BELIEVE THAT, UH, THE, IT'S THE COUNCIL'S DECISION ON WHETHER YOU WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH MAY OR NOVEMBER.
UH, WE HAVE, I BELIEVE, ADEQUATE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CERTAIN, UH, PROJECTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
CAN YOU READ NUMBER 11, PLEASE? THAT'S YOUR TIME.
YOU GIVE, UH, COUNCILMAN CAN I GO AHEAD AND ANSWER HER QUESTION? YES, AHEAD.
SO THE, FOR WITH 150 MILLION, WE CAN, WE CAN ASSIST 2,876 UNITS AND I HAVE AN ANSWER.
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT NUMBER? 2000 AND 2,876 UNITS.
AND I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS YOUR ANSWER? UH, ON THE ESE FOR 50 NUMBER, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE 532 LEVEL, WE HAD 154 MILLION FOR RESURFACING.
SO WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT IN TERMS OF THE $500 MILLION LEVEL.
UM, CYNTHIA, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING, IT DOES GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF PAUSE.
NOT HAVING PROJECTS, UH, PRE-SELECTED AHEAD OF TIME IN, IN THE VOTER, NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT THEY'RE VOTING ON.
UM, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW PROJECTS WOULD BE SELECTED
[01:35:01]
AND IF, IF THIS BODY HAS ADOPTED ANY PRINCIPLES OR GUIDELINES THAT AN APPLICANT WOULD BE FOLLOWING IN ORDER TO, UH, QUALIFY OR TO, UH, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE, UH, BOND DOLLARS? YES, SIR.SO NOW AT THIS TIME, UM, OUR, OUR HOUSING COMMITTEE IS REVIEWING OUR POLICIES TO MAKE SOME DETERMINATIONS ON CHANGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT, THAT WE WANNA SEE IN THE DEVELOPMENT POLICY.
WE FOLLOW WHAT IS IN THE POLICY ON TERMS AND PROJECT TYPES AND ALL OF THOSE, UM, ALL THOSE, UM, POLICIES AND, AND PROCEDURES THAT, UH, OUR COMMITTEE AND OUR COUNCIL WANT US TO FOCUS ON.
OUR, OUR PROCEDURE FOR HOW WE AWARD PROJECTS IS MADE THROUGH OUR NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY.
UM, AND THEN, UM, IT ALSO HAS, UH, UNDERWRITE CRITERIA.
SO WE DO SEND ALL OF OUR PROJECTS OUT TO A THIRD PARTY UNDERWRITER, UH, TO DETERMINE GAP, UM, CAPACITY AND, UM, AND, AND SCRUTINY ON WHAT IS REALLY NEEDED ON EACH OF THE PROJECTS.
SO WE DO HAVE A, A STREAMLINED AND VERY EFFECTIVE, UH, PROCEDURE ON HOW, HOW WE LOOK AT PROJECT.
DOES THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED POTENTIALLY? UM, I, I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW SORT OF THE BENCHMARK IS 80%.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING CLOSER TO 60%, UH, MAYBE STUFF AROUND MIXED USE, UH, COMMUNITIES.
WHAT GIVES ME CONCERN THOUGH, IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT ADOPTED OR APPROVED YET.
SO WHEN, WHEN WOULD THIS, WHEN WOULD THOSE CHANGES BE, UM, APPROVED? WOULD IT BE BEFORE OR AFTER? UH, WE MAKE THOSE ALLOCATION BUCKETS.
OUR PLAN IS TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT POLICY IN MARCH.
SO IT WOULD BE BEFORE E EITHER ELECTION, WHETHER IT BE MAY, WHETHER IT BE NOVEMBER.
AND, AND YOU MIGHT HAVE ANSWERED THIS, BUT I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT.
HOW MUCH DOES, I'LL JUST THROW OUT $10 MILLION.
UH, HOW MANY UNITS DOES THAT GET US? IF, IF IT'S RENTAL OR HOME OWNERSHIP? LET ME REDO MY MATH HERE FOR 10 MILLION.
UH, AT RENTAL OR, UH, OWNERSHIP AT RENTAL OR, OR SALE.
SO WHAT I DID IS I PROVIDED AN AVERAGE OF WHAT IT COST US PER UNIT, WHETHER IT BE SALE AND OR MULTIFAMILY, AND PROVIDED THAT TO DR. PEREZ.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE USING ON OUR, ON OUR, UH, GAUGES.
AND THEN, UM, AND THIS MIGHT BE A CITY ATTORNEY QUESTION.
UM, THE PUBLIC, UM, PUBLIC PURPOSE, UM, IF IT'S GOING TOWARDS HOME OWNERSHIP, UH, A A, UM, A LOAN THAT'S A FORGIVABLE LOAN, HOW DOES THAT QUALIFY AS A PUBLIC PURPOSE? UM, I BELIEVE IT FALLS UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS, DO I SEE THE CITY ATTORNEYS THAT COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION A LOT MORE THOROUGHLY, BUT IT'S UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FALLS UNDER THAT PUBLIC PURPOSE.
SO THAT, THAT'S BEEN APPROVED AND, UH, I GUESS RECOMMENDED THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE USE.
UH, LISA MADS IS COMING TO THE MICROPHONE.
LISA MADS WITH THE DALLAS CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE QUESTION IS, UM, HOW, UH, BOND PROCEEDS UNDER A HOUSING PROPOSITION COULD BE USED TO ASSIST A HOMEOWNER TO PURCHASE A HOME? UM, UNDER CHAPTER THREE 80, THERE IS, IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSE AND WE, UM, AS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS RECOGNIZED THAT, UM, PROVIDING AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING IS A PUBLIC PURPOSE TO ENCOURAGE COMPANIES TO LOCATE TO THE CITY AND RETAIN EMPLOYERS AS WELL.
ROUND TWO, DE MAYOR GENERAL ARNOLD, THANK YOU.
I KNOW YOU ALL WERE LOOKING FOR ME, BUT I HAVE THE ANSWER TO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IN THE BACK, UH, CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE HOUSING.
[01:40:01]
THAT.UH, WHEREAS I SUPPORT STRONGLY THE HOUSING.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, UH, I'M GONNA JUST PUT THIS OUT HERE AND I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THE ATTORNEYS AND THE OTHER, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN HELP WITH, WITH THE LANGUAGE.
UH, THE QUESTION, THE, THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE ABOUT PUTTING JUST MONEY IN WITHOUT, FOR HOUSING, WITHOUT HAVING SOME SPECIFICS, UH, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME PROGRAMS IN PLACE.
BUT LONG TERM, WHAT I WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD FOR MY COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE KEEP GETTING THAT, UH, WE NEED HOUSING, UH, IN, I'LL SAY IN, IN, IN OUR, IN MY DISTRICT, IN IN DISTRICT FOUR.
BUT WHAT OUR, OUR COMMUNITY, THE MOST VOCAL, THEY'RE ASKING FOR QUALITY, UH, HOMES THAT ARE NOT ALL CLASSIFIED BASED ON A LOWER INCOME BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE DEVELOPERS TEND TO GO AND PUT THE, UH, LOWER PRICED, UH, MODELS OR BILLS IN OUR DISTRICT.
AND SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO ASK FOR THE, THE, UH, HIGHER PRICE POINTS ON THESE HOMES.
NOW, THE OTHER CONCERN I HAVE JUST ABOUT PUTTING MONEY JUST IN HOUSING WITHOUT SOME SPECIFIC BOND GUIDELINES IS THAT WE, THERE, TO ME IS CONCERNING IF YOU PUT YOUR ADVOCATING FOR HOUSING, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A PRACTICE, UH, A POLICY OR A PROCEDURE TO ENSURE THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE.
AND THE AL ALSO THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, EVEN WITH 10TH STREET, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO PUT IN, OR WE SHOULD DO THAT WITH HOUSING, THAT YOU HAVE SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS.
EVERY CONTRACTOR CANNOT BUILD IN HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO YOU END UP WITH BOOTLEGGERS WHO COME IN TO THINK THEY CAN DO AND THEY CAN'T.
AND SO YOU FRUSTRATE THAT INDIVIDUAL AND THEY LOSE THEIR CONFIDENCE IN THE CITY.
SO WHEREAS WE, WE KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO BE PERCEIVED AS A CITY THAT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT HOUSING.
I DON'T WANT US TO JUST TO PUT THE MONEY THERE AND IT, AND IT'S LOCKED AND IT'S SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CONTRACTORS IN PLACE OR THE PROPER CONTRACTORS.
WE DON'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE DON'T HAVE A FORMULA FOR SUCCESS.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I I ZEROED IN ON THAT.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THE HISTORY.
AND IN THE HISTORY, WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED HERE, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WERE IN, IN INVOLVED IN THE COURTS BECAUSE THERE WAS A CONTINUOUS PATTERN TO PUT THE, UH, LOWER INCOME IF YOU WOULD, HOUSING IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
AND AS THE COURTS WOULD LIKE TO SAY, WE CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE THE CYCLE OF SEGREGATION.
WE WANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL LEVELS AND ALL CLASSES AND IT SHOULDN'T JUST GO TO ONE PART OF TOWN.
SO I DID WANNA WEIGH IN ON THAT WITH HOUSING WHERE I'M DEFINITELY WOULD SAY THAT A CITY SUCH AS DALLAS SHOULD MAKE HOUSING A PRIORITY BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT PEOPLE.
BUT WE WANNA HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PRODUCT, UH, PROCESS IN PLACE.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND I WILL BE WORKING BETWEEN HERE IN THE BACK ROOM WHERE THE REST OF THE KNOWLEDGE IS.
WITH THAT CHAIRMAN GRACIE, THANK YOU.
UH, JUST A REAL QUICK QUESTION AROUND THE HOUSING PIECE, JUST SO I CAN GET SOME CLARITY.
UH, AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSSOHN FOR MENTIONING ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS.
I MEAN THOSE PROGRAMS THAT EXIST.
I GUESS FOR CLARITY FOR, FOR ME, CAN THE HOUSING BOND PROCEEDS, CAN THEY BE USED FOR HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ARE ARE, WELL, LET ME ASK IT THE OTHER WAY.
ARE THERE ANY EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE USED FOR HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE OR PAYING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HOUSING PROJECTS? FEDERAL OR, SO WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE ANY AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT'S WHERE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY WOULD SIT, RIGHT? UH, BOND FUNDS ARE USED.
THAT IS ONE OF THE CATEGORIES THAT WE USE FOR, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE DEVELOPMENT SITE.
SO, UH, UPGRADING UTILITIES IS, IS, IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
WHEN OUR DEVELOPERS ARE WORKING IN OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY HAVE TO UPGRADE UTILITIES WITH THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT THEY, THAT THEY PUT ON THE GROUND.
SO OUR BOND FUNDS ARE USED IN THAT, IN THAT CAPACITY.
UM, JACK, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
UM, WELL FIRST I'M JUST GONNA START OFF BY SAYING I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN HERE FOR IT AND WE NEED TO PUT MONEY IN HERE FOR IT, PERIOD.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD PRESENTATION AFTER PRESENTATION ABOUT OUR TECHNICAL DEBT.
JACK, MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS ABOUT THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
WE REGULARLY APPROVE BONDS FOR THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
DO THOSE BONDS WHICH ARE CREATING HOUSING, DO THEY COUNT AGAINST THE CITY'S DEBT CAPACITY? N NO MA'AM.
THE, THE DEBT BEING ISSUED, THERE'S NOT A DEBT OF THE CITY.
UM, IT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST OUR FINANCIAL CAPACITY.
IT IS NOT PAID OUT OF OUR PROPERTY TAX DEBT SERVICE FUND.
[01:45:01]
I'M MAKING IS WE CAN BE ISSUING BONDS THROUGH HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION TO ACCOMPLISH ALL THESE HOUSING GOALS AND NOT USING THE CAPACITY OF THE CITY DEBT, WHICH WE NEED FOR PARKS AND STREETS AND MANY OF THESE OTHER PROJECTS.IS THAT INCORRECT OR IS THAT CORRECT, MA'AM? IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
UM, THERE'S AN ITEM ON HERE ABOUT THE 2 MILLION PER COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISCRETIONARY.
I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD IDEA, EXCEPT I DON'T THINK USING THE WORD DISCRETIONARY IS WHAT I THINK IT REALLY OUGHT TO BE CALLED IS, UM, PROJECT SPECIFIC BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
MEANING WE SHOULD HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT PROJECTS.
SO FOR INSTANCE, IF I HAD $2 MILLION, IT WOULD PROBABLY GO HALF TO STREETS AND HALF TO PARKS.
BUT I SHOULD TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE HIGHER BECAUSE I'VE HEARD EVERY SINGLE PERSON AROUND HERE TALK ABOUT PROJECTS THEY KNOW AS THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR DISTRICT.
VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING HAPPENS AND YOU CAN PICK WHAT THAT IS.
AND IF YOU THINK X, Y, OR Z IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, THEN TAKE THOSE DOLLARS, IDENTIFY THEM AND PUT 'EM ON THERE.
BUT I THINK IT'S VERY OBJECTIONABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO HEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GONNA HAVE DISCRETIONARY MONEY.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE INTENDING.
SO I JUST WANNA SEE IF WE MAYBE COULDN'T REFINE THE LANGUAGE OF THAT.
AND I DO THINK IT SHOULD BE MORE THAN $2 MILLION PER COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE OUR, OUR FOLKS HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON THIS.
AND AGAIN, I THINK ALL OF US HAVE STREETS THAT NEED TO GET DONE THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST.
WE HAVE PARK PROJECTS THAT AS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART IDENTIFIED, THAT ARE, ARE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITIES ARE NOT BEING FUNDED.
SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT NUMBER GO UP AS FAR AS THE INCREASING OF THE BOND.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT YET.
I FEEL LIKE I NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.
AND PERHAPS I CAN ASK JACK THIS QUESTION AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE BONDS THAT ARE EXPIRING, WHICH IS FREEING UP THIS DEBT CAPACITY.
AND SO IF WE DIDN'T INCREASE IT AND WE DON'T END UP USING IT FOR PENSION, WOULDN'T THAT LOWER OUR TAX RATE? YES MA'AM.
UM, THE CITY'S NOT ABLE TO TAX MORE ON THE DEBT SERVICE SIDE OF THE TAX RATE THAN WE HAVE DEBT.
AND SO WE CAN JUST HOLD, BUILD UP SOME SURPLUS AND HOLD IT.
WE WOULD HAVE TO LOWER OUR DEBT, UH, DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE.
SO WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE RESIDENTS WOULD BE PAYING LESS THAN TAXES.
APARTMENT COMPLEX WOULD BE PAYING LESS THAN TAXES BECAUSE THE DEBT PORTION PART OF THEIR TAX BILL WOULD GO DOWN.
SO I THINK THAT IS EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE.
UM, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ON THE TIMING PART.
I GUESS I HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE COMING IN A SECOND, SO I'LL WAIT ON THAT.
UM, THE LAST THING I'M GONNA SAY IS I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT MENTIONED ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES.
UM, THE CITY FACILITIES, I'M SURE, I'M NOT SURE WE'RE FUNDING IT PROPERLY.
I THINK WE MIGHT NEED MORE MONEY 'CAUSE OUR CITY FACILITIES ARE IN TERRIBLE CONDITION.
IF I, IF I COULD JUST, UH, ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT THE IT AND CITY FACILITIES.
SO, UM, CITY FACILITIES IS ONE OF THOSE PROPOSITIONS THAT'S GONNA GET BROKEN OUT AND I JUST GOT THE, UM, THE WORKSHEET THAT I CAN PASS AROUND TO EVERYBODY AND THE IT FACILITY, UM, NEAR JACK EVANS, THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AT A $5 MILLION LEVEL.
SO IF COUNSEL WANTS TO PROCEED WITH THAT, UM, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A STANDALONE PROPOSITION, BUT IT WAS ACCOUNTED FOR IN THAT.
WOULD THAT, UH, CHAIRMAN WEST SECOND ROUND.
CHAIRMAN, UM, STEWART SECOND ROUND.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HOUSING.
UM, SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD ABOUT HOUSING WAS, UM, THERE WERE SOME DISTRICTS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING BEING BUILT, NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING BEING BUILT.
SO MY QUESTION IS, COULD THE HOUSING DOLLARS BE USED TO SPEND TO, UM, TO HELP WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF SAY, A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN A DISTRICT PERHAPS IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR WHO WANTED, UH, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING? YES.
WE HAVE HISTORICALLY USED, UH, BOND FUNDS TO, UM, CREATE SUBDIVISIONS.
QUESTION FOR CHRISTINE CROSSLEY ABOUT HOMELESS ALLOCATION.
THE ORIGINAL STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR HOMELESS WAS 5 MILLION AND IF THAT WERE INCREASED TO 20 MILLION, WHAT WOULD THAT ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION BE USED FOR? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
CHRISTINE CROSLEY, OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS DIRECTOR.
[01:50:01]
THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION THAT WE REQUESTED AND THAT CAME OUT OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEE WAS 35 MILLION.AND THEN THE UM, RECOMMENDATION GIVEN FROM THE, UH, COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE INITIATIVE WAS 10 MILLION.
AND SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT 1.593 OF THAT, UM, IS FOR MAJOR EQUIPMENT, CAPITAL COSTS AT THE BRIDGE, UM, IN TERMS OF HVAC REPAIR, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE REST OF IT IS INTENDED TO BE GAP FINANCING FOR FUTURE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECTS.
SO IT WOULD WORK THROUGH THE EXISTING, UH, CAPITAL MECHANISMS WITHIN HOUSING TO PROVIDE GAP FINANCING.
UM, AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW ADAPTIVE REUSE, IF A BUILDING WERE PURCHASED AND THE UNITS WERE RENTED, IT WOULD BE ABOUT 85,000 PER PER UNIT.
THAT NUMBER IS PULLED FROM THE LATEST ST.
WHEREAS, UH, WITH THE PARK CENTRAL ST.
JUDE, THE CITY, UH, PUT IN 2 MILLION IN ACQUISITION AND 3.3 MILLION IN RENOVATION AND THAT NETTED THE SYSTEM 202 BEDS.
SO WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO, INSTEAD OF ACQUIRING BUILDINGS, WHICH WE KNOW THAT OUR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS COMMITTEE, UM, HAS DIRECTED US TO NOT DO AND WE DO NOT INTEND TO DO, WE'D REALLY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO USE FUNDING TO HELP CLOSE THE GAP ON UPCOMING PROJECTS TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE OUR CITY FUNDING INTO A LARGER IMPACT.
SO WOULD SOME OF THOSE FUNDS BE UTILIZED TO, UM, BRING PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED CITY FACILITIES ONLINE THROUGH RENOVATION EXPENSES? I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THE FIRST PART OF THAT QUESTION? WELL, THE CITY HAS ACQUIRED SOME BUILDINGS FOR PURPOSES OF HOUSING HOMELESS, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BUT HAS NOT USED THOSE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO RENOVATE THEM FOR THAT PURPOSE.
WOULD SOME OF THIS BOND FUNDING BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE? SO IT COULD, BUT WHAT WE HAVE SAID IS THAT THIS BOND MONEY IS FAR ENOUGH OUT THAT ALL OF THE CURRENT PROJECTS WE HAVE.
SO THE FAMILY GATEWAY PROJECT IS OPEN AND RUNNING, UM, THE 1950 FORT WORTH AVENUE KNOWN AS THE MIRAMAR IS IN ITS NOFA PHASE.
UM, THEN WE EXPECT THAT TO COME BACK INTO THE COUNCIL IN MARCH AND THEN IN JUNE AGAIN, AND THEN WE'LL BE DOING THE SAME PROCESS WITH 41 50 HAMPTON IS COMING BACK TO THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS COMMITTEE, UH, FOR THE DECISION ON A PATH FORWARD IN MARCH.
SO WE ARE NOT REALLY ASCRIBING ANY PARTICULAR BOND FUNDS TO ANY OF THOSE BECAUSE I THINK THE ONES THAT WE KNOW CAN MOVE FORWARD ALREADY HAVE FUNDS ASSIGNED FOR SOME, IT'S A BIT PREMATURE.
SO WE'RE REALLY JUST LOOKING AT THIS FUNDING AS HOW CAN WE HELP GAP FINANCE MOVING FORWARD? AND I MISSPOKE THE 1.59 FOR THE BRIDGE EQUIPMENT IS ACTUALLY IN A SEPARATE LINE.
SO, UM, ALL OF THAT 20 MILLION WOULD GO TOWARDS HOUSING.
AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT 20 MILLION FOR LET'S SAY ADAPTIVE REUSE, SO LET'S SAY WE BOUGHT THE BUILDING, DID IT OURSELVES, UM, I, OUR MATH IS VERY SIMILAR TO CYNTHIA.
SO 85,000, UM, PER UNIT, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 134 UNITS I BELIEVE.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, OR EXCUSE ME, 234 UNITS, SORRY.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT UTILIZING THE FULL 20 MILLION FOR GAP FINANCING FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE THE UNDERWRITTEN GAP FINANCING TO ENSURE THAT THEY ACTUALLY GET BUILT AND INCLUDE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF, UM, SUBSIDIZED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS BOND PROPOSITION GOING TO THE VOTERS IN MAY, SIMPLY FOR THE REASON THAT IF WE DEFER IT TO NOVEMBER, THAT DEFERS BY SIX MONTHS THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING, UH, FOR THE BOND PROPOSITION.
AND I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH URGENT PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE FUNDED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THAT IT IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE HAVE THIS DECISION MADE IN MAY RATHER THAN NOVEMBER.
UH, WANTED TO SEE IF I COULD GET HOUSING BACK UP HERE, UH, FOR A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
AND THERE'S A SLIDE THAT I ASKED TO BE, UM, PUT UP FOR DEMONSTRATIVE PURPOSES.
UH, SLIDE 15 ON PRODUCTION FORECAST ON OUR, ON OUR HOUSING STOCK.
IF I COULD GET THAT PUT UP, THAT'D BE VERY HELPFUL.
SO MY QUESTION IS, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES BROUGHT UP THE FACT, UM, THAT THERE'S NO RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM INVESTING IN HOUSING.
UM, IS IS THAT THE CASE THAT THAT'S BEEN DISCOVERED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND CITY STAFF? I THANK YOU.
THOR OAKS AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.
UM, NO, THERE, THERE IS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
UH, WE, WE TYPICALLY SEE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AT SOME PERCENTAGE.
[01:55:01]
REFERENCED, UH, WAS OUR FIRST PRESENTATION TO HOUSING COMMITTEE SHOWING OUR, UH, THEORETICAL APPROACH TO HOW WE COULD BEST LEVERAGE, UH, EVERY DOLLAR AND EVERY FUNDING SOURCE.SO WE, WE LOOKED AT BOND AND FEDERAL FUNDS AND POTENTIAL, UH, FUTURE REVENUE TO LOOK AT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF UNITS THAT WOULD BE PRODUCED OVER TIME.
UM, HOW DOES, OKAY, LET, LET ME STICK ON THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR A MINUTE.
HAVING MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE CITY OF DALLAS IN SOME CAPACITY, IS THERE A RE IS THAT A RETURN ON INVESTMENT? THERE IS, IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT WE INVEST IN ARE TYPICALLY MIXED INCOME.
SO THERE'S SOME UNITS RESERVED FOR A MARKET RATE AND UH, SOME UNITS RESERVED FOR A LOWER INCOME, MODERATE INCOME FOLKS.
SO THAT GENERAL, UH, ABILITY TO SPEND WITHIN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WITHIN THE CITY AS WE RECRUIT MORE FOLKS DEFINITELY ADDS TO THAT.
IS THERE A BENEFIT WE DERIVE FROM NOT HAVING OUR WORKFORCE HAVE TO DRIVE HERE FROM GRAND PRAIRIE AND ARLINGTON AND ALL THESE OTHER CITIES? YES, WE AN IDEAL SITUATION.
PEOPLE WANNA LIVE AS CLOSE AS THEY CAN TO WHERE THEY WORK.
THEY GO TO SCHOOL WHERE THEY ENJOY ENTERTAINMENT.
WHAT'S OUR, UM, UH, AREA OR UH, MEDIAN INCOME RIGHT NOW? OUR A MI CATEGORY FOR 80% TO 100%.
WHAT'S THE INCOME LEVEL FOR THAT? UH, THE INCOME, IT, IT DEPENDS ON HOUSEHOLD SIZE.
UM, I, I DON'T HAVE THE CHART IN FRONT OF ME, I DON'T WANNA MISSPEAK, BUT, BUT GENERALLY IT'S UM, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THAT 50,000 TO 80,000 DEPENDING ON FAMILY SIZE.
SO IT'S, IT'S ACCOUNTED FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
UH, AND THEN, UM, ACCORDING TO THE A HUNDRED PERCENT A MAMI GUIDELINES THAT PUT UP BY HUD EVERY YEAR.
SO IS IT FAIR TO SAY, AND THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR JACK, UM, OUR STAFF, IS IT FAIR TO SAY WITHIN THAT, THOSE CATEGORIES? UM, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY OUR TEACHERS, OUR NURSES, UM, ENTRY LEVEL POLICE FIREFIGHTERS, UM, FALLING IN THE, THAT A MI CATEGORY.
UH, I I CAN CONTINUE TO SPEAK TO THAT JACK.
UM, YEAH, IT'S OUR, IT'S OUR WORKING PROFESSIONALS, IT'S ENTRY LEVEL ARCHITECTS, IT'S OUR NURSES, IT'S UH, OUR SERVICE WORKERS.
IT'S MANY OF OUR CITY STAFF, UM, THAT FALL INTO THOSE, THOSE RANGES.
SO IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WHO WE SEE EVERY DAY THAT FALL INTO THOSE CATEGORIES.
DO WE THINK THERE'S A RETURN ON INVESTMENT TO OUR CITY FOR HAVING THEM BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE? UM, GENERALLY SPEAKING, YES.
SO THAT TO ME ANSWERS THE RETURN ON AN INVESTMENT QUESTION.
THE SLIDE THAT I'VE ASKED STAFF TO PUT UP WAS PRESENTED TO THE, UM, BOND TASK FORCE AND IT'S COMPLICATED.
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF NUMBERS ON THERE.
UM, BUT IT LISTS, UM, SEVERAL COLUMNS WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES REFERENCED BY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AS WHY DON'T WE JUST USE THAT MONEY? WELL, ARE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES, THE HOUSING FINANCE CORP, PRIVATE SUBSIDIES, GRANTS, ARE ALL OF THOSE PART OF A BIGGER PICTURE OF US TRYING TO MEET THE HOUSING GAP THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY? YES.
UH, THIS, THIS SLIDE PRESENTS THE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES THAT, UH, WE, WE ASSUMED WOULD BE CONTINUAL.
SO THE, THE ONE COLUMN SPEAKS TO OUR GENERAL YEARLY BUDGET OF 20 MILLION, THAT'S MOSTLY OUR GRANTS AND SOME OF OUR GENERAL FUND.
UH, AND THEN WE ASSUMED A COUPLE DIFFERENT BOND ELECTIONS WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEAR PERIOD.
UH, AND THEN WE STARTED TO FORECAST REVENUE FROM OUR FEE AND LIE PROGRAM OR REVENUE GENERATED THROUGH THE CORPORATIONS THAT COULD BE DEDICATED TO HOUSING.
SO THE BOND IS IN THE THIRD COLUMN.
I KNOW IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO READ, BUT PART OF YOU'VE, YOU'VE FORECASTED $150 MILLION, UM, O AS A TOTAL RAISE OF $600 MILLION, UM, OVER TIME FOR HOUSING.
AND THEN THE THIRD COLUMN FROM THE RIGHT IS A SUBSIDIZED UNITS COLUMN.
UM, AND AT THE BOTTOM THERE YOU FORECASTED 31,000 UNITS.
IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO AS PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE IN MEETING THE CHILD POVERTY ACTION LAB GAP OF 33,000 UNITS THAT WE'RE SHORT, THIS PLAN THAT HOUSING HAS PUT TOGETHER GETS US PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT.
IS THAT RIGHT? IT IT CAN BY CONTINUING TO INVEST 10 TO 15% PER UNIT.
AND I KNOW THESE NUMBERS ARE FLUID, BUT MY POINT WITH THIS DEMONSTRATION HERE IS THAT THE BOND FUNDING IS A BIG, IS A BIG PIECE OF A BIGGER PUZZLE IN BRIDGING OUR WORKFORCE HOUSING GAP.
WHICH LEADS TO A RETURN ON INVESTMENT TO THE CITY BECAUSE OUR WORKFORCE CAN ACTUALLY LIVE HERE IN THE CITY.
I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION TO, UM, EITHER MR. ERICKSON OR CYNTHIA ABOUT THE, I WANNA CLARIFY SOMETHING ABOUT THE BOND, A MISCONCEPTION THAT WAS PUT OUT ABOUT THE, UH, HOUSING BONDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TO YOU OR TO, IS, IS IT CORRECT THAT THE BONDS ARE, UH, DESIGNATED FOR LITECH HOUSING, NOT FOR JUST ANY KIND OF HOUSING THAT CAN BE USED? THE HOUSING
[02:00:01]
BONDS? DID YOU ASK, IS IT, I'M SORRY, REPEAT YOUR QUESTION.IT WAS SAID THAT THE HOUSING BONDS COULD BE REALLY COVER THIS HOUSING ISSUE AND SO I WANNA CLARIFY THE USE OF THOSE BONDS.
SO THOSE BONDS CAN BE USED AND YOU PARTICULARLY MENTIONED LITECH.
UH, WE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS FOR A GAP OF ANY SORT, WHETHER IT BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, WHICH IS WHAT WE USUALLY DO.
UH, LITECH IS ANOTHER SOURCE AND WE WOULD FILL THOSE GAPS THAT THEY NEED.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSING BONDS, NOT THIS BOND.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSING BONDS THAT MR. IRELAND MENTIONED THAT W WOULDN'T IMPACT THIS BOND.
THE QUESTION WAS REGARDING HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BONDS.
SO THOSE BONDS WOULD, THEY WOULD BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS.
THOSE BONDS WOULD BE USED, UH, FOR, UM, YES.
AS A, AS A FUNDING SOURCE IN PLACE OF, OF ANY OTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE.
HERE'S WHAT I JUST WANNA CLARIFY.
I APOLOGIZE IF, DO YOU UNDERSTAND MY QUESTION? WELL, I I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBLE USES OF THOSE BONDS FROM HOUSING? RIGHT? 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT WE'RE USING THIS BOND MONEY, THE 2024 POTENTIAL BOND MONEY WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE AN UNLIMITED CAPACITY THROUGH ANOTHER SOURCE FOR HOUSING.
SO I WANNA UNDERSTAND HOW THOSE OTHER BONDS ARE RESTRICTED, WHY WE NEED HOUSING BOND MONEY HERE.
THOSE OTHER BONDS ARE RESTRICTED, UH, FOR THOSE PARTICULAR TYPES OF, OF, OF UNITS.
FOR ONE THING, THEY DO HAVE A CAP ON, UH, INCOME ELIGIBILITY AND THEY'RE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION.
AND IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT PART OF THE CHA, SO IT'S NOT JUST FOR ANYTHING FOR HOUSING'S.
I JUST WANNA WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN SECOND, MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO IS PART OF THE REASON THAT WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THAT PARTICULAR, UH, INVESTMENT IS BECAUSE THERE'S STILL TOO MUCH OF A GAP.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE REFERENCING, THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY USE SOME OF THIS MONEY YES.
TO FILL THE GAP NOW BECAUSE OF OUR ECONOMY YES.
THOSE, THOSE BONDS ARE ECONOMY DRIVEN.
SO, UH, THE VALUE OF THEM FOR THOSE CONSTRUCTION LINES OF CREDIT CONSTRUCTION NEEDS IS VERY DEPENDENT ON WHAT THE MARKET DOES.
AND THIS FUND, THESE FUNDS CAN BE USED IN CONJUNCTION TO FILL THOSE GAPS.
SO THEN IF WE AS A CITY WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH HOUSING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INVEST IN HOUSING OURSELVES IF WE WANNA MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND THE REASON THAT WE CAN'T IDENTIFY EVERY SINGLE PROJECT IN ADVANCE IS BECAUSE WE, THE DEVELOPERS CAN'T COME FORWARD WITH PROJECTS FOR US TO FINANCE UNTIL THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S MONEY THERE TO FINANCE.
SO IT'S A BIT OF A CATCH 22 AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PROBLEM WILL SOLVE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, YES.
AND THEN I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE PENSION.
IF WE HAVE THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND AMENDMENTS IN MAY, THEN THAT ALSO WILL, THAT WILL COVER ANY OF THE ADDITIONAL COSTS WE'D HAVE TO HAVE THAT ELECTION ANYWAY IN MAY, WHICH WOULD BE PAID FOR, IS THAT CORRECT? SO THERE MAY NOT BE ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR A MAY ELECTION, IS THAT CORRECT? COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ, TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
IF THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS TO HAVE AN ELECTION IN MAY FOR THE ERF FUND BY ADDING THIS BOND FUND, WOULD IT BE AN ADDITIONAL COST? NO.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND.
SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE MAY ELECTION AND I'M ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF THE, UH, PROPOSITION THAT WAS PUT FORWARD IN THE FOUR SIGNATURE MEMO FOR THIS, WHICH INCLUDES THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
I REALLY QUICKLY WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE, THE, UH, PIPELINE OF HOUSING PROJECTS, CONCERNS THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE RAISED.
UM, I KNOW THAT IN DISTRICT FIVE THERE ARE, THERE IS, THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL PROJECTS IN, IN THE PIPELINE THAT WE CAN, UM, THAT WOULD NEED BOND FUNDING FROM HOUSING AND OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE, UM, UM, INTEGRATED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT NEAR ST.
AUGUSTINE AND ELAM, WE'VE ALREADY PUT THAT OUT FOR RFP.
UH, SO IT'S A MATTER OF, UH, ENSURING THAT THE CITY CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IF WE WANT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS TYPE OF PROJECT.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE CITY, UH, RECENTLY ACQUIRED A PROPERTY NEAR BRUTON AND ST.
AUGUSTINE, WHICH IS ON THE BORDERLINE OF DISTRICT FIVE AND DISTRICT SEVEN, AN AREA THAT, THAT HAS NEEDED SIGNIFICANT ATTENTION IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND QUALITY HOUSING.
UM, SO I, I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS SOME SUPPORT FOR, FOR THOSE FUNDING MECHANISMS. UH, AND AS IT RELATES TO DISCRETIONARY FUNDS, IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH DISCRETIONARY FUNDS, I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING THAT IS
[02:05:01]
AS FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE.YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IN, IN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE MEMO IT MENTIONS DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BUT, BUT I, I, I THINK, UM, IF WE ARE GOING TO GO AFTER DISCRETIONARY FUNDS, IT NEEDS TO, NEEDS TO BE AS FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE.
UM, SOME FOLKS WANT TO FOCUS ON PARKS, STREETS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO, UH, THOSE ARE MY 2 CENTS ON THAT AND I AM AT THIS POINT, SUPPORTIVE OF A MAY ELECTION AS WELL AS INCREASING THE BOND CAPACITY.
UM, I'M JUST GONNA SAY FOR THE HOUSING, THE 33,000 THAT WAS MENTIONED BY CHILD POVERTY ACTION LAB WAS ONLY FOR 50%.
THEY ACTUALLY SAY NOT WORKFORCE HOUSING.
AND, UM, THE CITY'S INTEREST SHOULD NOT BE IN FUNDING MARKET RATE HOUSING, IT SHOULD BE IN FUNDING THE HOUSING THAT'S NOT ATTAINABLE AND NOT AVAILABLE IN OUR CITY, WHICH WOULD BE THE 50% A MI OR LESS.
I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT FOR NOVEMBER MORE VOTERS MEANS IT'S MORE TRANSPARENT, IT'S MORE INCLUSIVE, MORE TIME TO FIND, TUNE, MORE TIME FOR US TO KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH OUR PENSIONS.
AND, UM, TRYING TO DECIDE IF I'M GONNA SAY THE REST OF THIS.
DO I SEE ANYONE ELSE WHO NAVAR? THANK, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR NAVAR.
UM, I DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, YOU, AS WE, AS WE'RE DECIDING THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, UM, EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS POLICE AND FIRE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW, UM, THE BOND, UM, CAPACITY FOR, UM, PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS WORKS.
AND, UM, A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION CAME OUT TODAY.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDS SO THAT, UM, NOBODY THINKS THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET HURT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT POLICE, FIRE AND OUR EMPLOYEES ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
IT'S JUST, IT'S A 30 YEAR, UM, PLAN AND WE HAVEN'T GOT THE PLAN DONE YET.
SO, UM, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.
UM, BUT THAT'S WHY WE WANNA RESERVE THAT SOME OF THOSE FUNDS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHY I WANNA MAKE SURE 250 MILLION STILL, UM, IN RESERVE IS BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THIS COUNCIL, UM, WE DID THE 2017 BOND AND WE LEFT 250 MILLION IN RESERVE.
AND THERE WAS LIKE A OVER, RIGHT AROUND 50-YEAR-OLD LAWSUIT FOR, UM, POLICE, AND I BELIEVE FIRE AS WELL.
AND, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO SETTLE THAT AND USE THOSE DOLLARS FOR THAT.
AND THAT WAS A VERY GOOD THING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO.
IT WAS A LAWSUIT FROM BEFORE I WAS EVEN BORN, BUT WE GOT TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF.
AND, UM, THAT'S WHY I WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE DOLLARS IN RESERVE THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE USING NOW, BUT MAYBE WE NEED THEM IN 2030 AND WE'LL HAVE MORE BY THEN.
UM, THE NEXT THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY IS ON, UM, THE, OH, SORRY.
THE, THAT'S FOR THE MONDAY, I MEAN, UH, MAY OR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
AND THEN, UM, I'M JUST GONNA REITERATE THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE REALLY LOOK AT TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUMP THAT UP.
I THINK WE'VE HEARD IT SEVERAL TIMES.
UM, AND OF COURSE, 6% ON ARTS AND CULTURE.
AND, UM, AND THEN, OH, ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES.
UM, I, I HAVE ANOTHER PROJECT THAT I HAVE TO GET IN THERE, UM, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT'S ALREADY THERE.
AND, UM, I HAVE ANOTHER FIRE STATION THAT I WANNA, UM, GET IN THERE.
SO, AND, UH, IT'S GOT A LOT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND IT'S GOT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SUPPORT AND, UM, THAT WAS SOME OF THE CRITERIA TO, TO BUMP THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN, UM, DEFINITELY LET'S GET SOME MORE INFORMATION FOR EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THE HOUSING, UM, PORTION BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S ASKING REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S VERY COMFORTABLE.
AND I WILL REITERATE WHAT MY COLLEAGUE, UM, MS. WILLIS SAID ABOUT THAT ONE LIBRARY UP, UM, IN FAR NORTH DALLAS, WELL, NOT FAR NORTH, BUT NORTH DALLAS, UM, BECAUSE I USED TO REPRESENT THAT AREA, IT'S SWITCHED IN REDISTRICTING AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR NOT TO SUPPORT IT 'CAUSE I WOULD BE ADVOCATING FOR IT.
UM, SO WE ARE A TEAM ON THAT ONE, UM, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE DEFINITELY, IT IS DEFINITELY USED BY SIX AND 13.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR.
IS ANYONE ELSE? BAER, BAER BASS CHAIRMAN.
I, UH, I, I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR UP A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I THINK THAT WERE SET ON RECORD.
[02:10:01]
WE DO HAVE, UH, A $4.6 BILLION BUDGET, BUT THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF OUR, UH, ENTERPRISE ACCOUNTS, WHICH WE CANNOT TOUCH FOR A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR THE BOND.IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, OUR OPERATIONAL AND OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS TOTAL OF ABOUT 2.2 BILLION, UM, WHERE, UH, 50% OF IS US TAKING CARE OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, SO WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF FLEXIBILITY.
IN FACT, THERE WAS ADVOCACY ON THIS COUNCIL TO SLASH THAT EVEN FURTHER, UH, THAT WOULD MAKE IT EVEN HARDER FOR US TO GET ANY OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SUGGESTED SHOULD BE IN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND THAT WE SHOULD BE CONCENTRATING ON.
SO AS, AS LONG AS WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SLASH THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
AND, UM, THERE'S A THREAT TO A LOT OF THE SERVICES OR, UH, PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE HERE.
WE CAN'T, UH, UM, MAKE IT AS IF, UH, WE HAVE THE OPTION OF DOING BOTH.
UM, UH, THE, THIS IS, UH, A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO INFLUX, UM, A LARGE INVESTMENT INTO MANY THINGS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY TO DO, UM, UH, IN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
IN, IN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET, FOR INSTANCE, HOME HOMELESSNESS IS UNDER 1% EVERY YEAR.
WE'VE ALL HEARD AROUND THE HORSESHOE THAT WE HAVE, UM, A NEED TO ADDRESS OUR HOMELESSNESS.
UM, WE HAVE HAD THE SAME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR PARKS AND OUR CITY'S FACILITIES.
WE'VE HAD THE SAME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ZERO DEGRADATION AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION OF OUR ROADWAYS AND THROW FAIRS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UH, ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED, AND I I, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN PUT ALL OF OUR EGGS INTO ONE BASKET AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS ONE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY, WE WERE ELECTED TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THE ISSUES IN OUR CITY.
AND NOT ONE SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED OVER THE OTHER.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, I AM PERSONALLY IN FAVOR OF THE INCREASE OF CAPACITY AND, UH, MAY ELECTION AS WELL.
UM, I, UH, I SEE MORE PEOPLE HAVE CLICKED ON, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA ENTERTAIN A MOTION OR NOT.
WE GONNA WAIT UNTIL EVERYONE SPEAK, THEN WE'RE GONNA ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
SO WILL YOU LET ME KNOW WHEN I CAN MAKE A MOTION? PLEASE? THANK YOU.
UM, I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE HOUSING, UM, UH, BOND FOR US TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT, UM, WE'RE HEARING THESE ESTIMATES OF THE AMOUNT OF UNITS THAT THIS, UH, WOULD PRODUCE.
WE'RE IGNORING THE FACT THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE USUALLY COUPLED, UH, WITH DEVELOPERS, UM, MONEY THAT IS BRINGING IN MARKET RATE THAT WE WOULDN'T BE CONTRIBUTING TO.
WE'RE, WE'RE IGNORING THE FACT THAT EVERY OTHER CITY, YES, THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT, BUT EVERY OTHER CITY THAT HAVE HAD INNOVATIVE BONDS FOR, UM, HOUSING HAVE LEVERAGED THAT FOR FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE ELIGIBILITY TO IF WE DON'T HAVE MATCHING FUNDS TO DO.
SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO PAINT THE PICTURE.
YOUR TIME, YOUR TIME IS UP VERY TRANSPARENTLY.
SO I THINK AS WE'VE PEELED BACK SOME LAYERS HERE, IT'S BECOME INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT HOUSING AND WHAT WE FUND.
UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF US WERE HERE TILL NINE 15 LAST NIGHT TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE HOPE REPORT AND ABOUT THE KIND OF HOUSING THAT WE NEED.
AND IT'S ABOUT DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I KNOW WE NEED ALL KINDS OF HOUSING, BUT WHAT THAT REALLY REVEALED IS A NEED THAT IS NOT BEING MET IN THE MARKETPLACE FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GET INTO THE FINER POINTS OF HOW HFC COULD BE USED ON A MIXED USE PROJECT LIKE PARK FOREST LIBRARY THAT SERVES DISTRICTS 13 AND SIX.
BUT I WOULD WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE THAT.
AND I THINK TO THE POINT MADE, IT'S MORE THAN 12 PROGRAMS. WE'VE GOT 14 HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT RESIDENTS CAN TAP INTO.
NOT ALL CAN, BECAUSE SOME OF THEM ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY FOCUSED.
UM, BUT WE HAVE 14 PROGRAMS, SO MAYBE WE NEED TO FIND WAYS THAT WE FUND THOSE TO A GREATER EXTENT VERSUS GOING THROUGH A BOND.
THERE MAY BE OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPMENT AROUND HOUSING BESIDES BOND DOLLARS.
UM, AND I'D ALSO WANT US TO LOOK AT OUR OWN GENERAL FUND FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY AND THINGS THAT ARE DUPLICATIVE.
UM, AND I HEARD, UH, CHAIR NVAS TALK ABOUT A, A FIRE STATION THAT HE SHARED WITH ME THAT HE NEEDS, THAT HE NEEDS TWO FIRE STATIONS.
AND SO WHILE I LOOK AT INCREASING THE CAPACITY, UM, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO INCREASING THE CAPACITY.
I'M JUST THINKING THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES THAT DON'T QUITE MAKE IT ON THE LIST.
I MEAN, I SERVED ON THAT, THAT COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE IN 2017, AND IT'S JUST REALLY HEARTBREAKING TO SEE SOME CONDITIONS AND THAT THEY'RE STILL HERE, UM, SEVERAL YEARS LATER.
[02:15:01]
FOR US TO CATCH UP ON THAT.WE KNOW THAT CITY FACILITIES ARE ALWAYS GETTING NEGLECTED, AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S HAPPENING AGAIN.
AND SO MAYBE IF WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THIS CAPACITY, WE NEED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.
UM, BUT THAT SAID, UH, I LEAN TOWARD NOVEMBER BECAUSE OF SOME THINGS.
THE CITY SECRETARY BROUGHT UP MORE VOTERS.
WHAT'S REALLY APPEALING IS MORE LOCATIONS.
SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, EQUITY AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO THE POLLS, I MEAN, AT THE LAST ELECTION, WE WERE BEING ASKED TO REVIEW VOTING LOCATIONS AND GET BACK WITH WHAT WE'D CUT OR WHAT WE'D ADD.
AND WE WERE HAVING TO LIMIT OURSELVES AND IN DOING SO, LIMIT OUR VOTERS, LIMITING OUR RESIDENT'S VOICE.
AND SO I, I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE NEED TIME TO IRON OUT AND BETTER UNDERSTAND TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS ABOUT, UH, HOW TO GO TO MARKET WITH THESE BONDS AND, AND WHERE WE ALLOCATE THEM.
UM, BUT I REALLY LIKE THE APPEAL OF HAVING MORE VOTERS AT THE POLLS AND MORE LOCATIONS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.
AND PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, IT'S NOT JUST GETTING TO THE POLL, VOTE TO THE POLLS, BUT I'VE WORKED MANY ELECTIONS, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR, WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS ONLY WITH THEM.
'CAUSE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION IS GONNA BE VERY NOISY, LOTS OF DOWN BALLOT.
GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GO TO THE END OF THE BALLOT IS HARD.
AND SO IT ALSO GIVES US, IN A MAY ELECTION, AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS ONE-ON-ONE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS PUBLIC MEETINGS TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT IT BENEFITS YOU.
DO YOU LIKE IT? YES OR NO? SO I AM, I WAS A NOVEMBER, UH, BE, BUT BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT DOESN'T COST US ANY MORE ON OUR BORROWING, UH, UH, CAPACITY OR OUR BORROWING, UM, MONEY, I AM OKAY WITH A MAY BECAUSE NOVEMBER IS GONNA BE A, IT'S JUST NOT GONNA BE FUN.
UM, ALSO THE 1.1 TO 1.25, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT AT 1.1 JUST TO, SO THAT WAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF, BUT I THINK I'M PROBABLY OUTNUMBERED HERE.
SO, UM, AND, AND WITH THAT, AS, AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID IS THAT, UM, WE WERE ELECTED TO DO THE WORK AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND WE CAN DO ALL OF IT.
AND IF WE CAN'T DO ALL OF IT, MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE OR HAVE OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF SITTING HERE BECAUSE THIS IS A PART OF THE WHOLE BODY OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
SO WE CAN FIX OUR PENSION, WE CAN FLOAT BONDS, WE CAN FIX, UM, ALL THE, THE FACILITIES THAT ARE NEEDED, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S COLD IN HERE,
AND, UM, AND WE, WE FEEL THAT EVERY WEEK.
AND, UM, THERE'S NO NEED THAT WE CAN'T HAVE FACILITIES THAT WORK AND HAVE ROADS THAT ARE SAFE.
AND SO, UM, I'M INCLINED TO TAKE EACH, TAKE THE EASY THINGS FIRST.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD PICK THE EASY FRUIT AND THEN TAKE THE HARDER FRUIT LATER AND WORK ON IT AND FOCUS ON IT.
SO, UM, I HOPE THAT'S A LITTLE FEEDBACK THAT YOU WERE HOPING TO GET ON MY END, AND WE'LL PROBABLY BE HAVING A MORE DEEPER DISCUSSION AS FAR AS WHERE EVERYBODY IS, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS NUMBERS AND CAPACITY AND, UH, TIMING.
BUT, UM, I DO FEEL THAT IT, WE CAN DO, WE CAN DO ALL OF THIS WORK.
IT TAKES TIME, IT TAKES ENERGY, AND IT TAKES FOCUS, BUT WE ARE ELECTED TO SIT IN THE SEAT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
Y'ALL HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE GAUNTLET, SO I DO WANNA THANK YOU GUYS BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY.
UH, I'VE BEEN SITTING, I'VE BEEN SAT THERE, BUT I'VE, I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.
AND IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK,
BUT I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU BECAUSE, UH, YOU'VE TAKEN OUR MESSAGES OR PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS OR TEXTS.
AND WITHOUT YOU GUYS DOING THE WORK, WE WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE, UH, HAVING THIS DISCUSSION OF HOW OUR CITY LOOKS MOVING INTO THE NEXT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT CENTURY.
IT MAY NOT SOMETIMES COME ACROSS THAT, BUT THANK YOU.
UH, JUST NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYBODY ELSE.
UH, JENNY AND I ARE HERE, BUT IT'S BEEN A WHOLE TEAM EFFORT, UM, FOR EVERYBODY.
POP UP ONE MINUTE, RIGHT? YES.
UH, ALSO JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF, UH, FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK.
UH, BUT I ALSO WANT TO AGAIN, THANK OUR BOND TASK FORCE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE PUT IN ALL THE HOURS, UH, TO GET US THIS FAR.
AND I WANT TO THANK, UM, ALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE WEARING GREEN OUT IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
OKAY, I THINK WE GOT EVERYONE FIRST, I WANNA THANK ALL THE COLLEAGUES FOR COMING HERE TODAY.
UH, BUT ALSO I WANT TO THANK STAFF, UH, FOR DOING IT.
[02:20:01]
THE CITIZEN, THE RESIDENT.UM, THIS IS MY SECOND BUN, UH, ELECTION.
UH, THIS WOULD NOT BE MY LAST ONE, BUT AS, UH, I'D BE LEAVING HERE PRETTY SOON.
SO WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS, NUMBER ONE, IT'S UP TO THE COLLEAGUES.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY INTELLIGENT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ELECT US TO DO A JOB AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO, TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK, GET A GOOD SHOUT OUT TO, UH, CHAIRMAN STEWART.
THANK YOU CHAIRMAN STEWART, BECAUSE WHAT YOU CAME HERE, AND I STILL WANNA SAY THE WORD SHE SAID, SHE SAID ON THE CHAIRMAN FOR PARTS, I'M GONNA ADVOCATE FOR PARTS.
I'M GONNA MAKE SURE MY WORDS GET OUT THERE.
AND IF YOU NOT HERE, YOU CANNOT GET YOUR WORD OUT.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE COUNCILMEN, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING OUT.
I THINK EVERYONE GOT MORE THAN ONE ROUND.
THEY SHOWED THAT WE DO CONCERN.
WE DO CONCERN WHAT YOU ARE THINKING.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE ARE HERE TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE AND WORK FOR THE CITIZEN, AND WE'RE GONNA DO A GREAT JOB TO MAKE SURE WE WORK FOR YOUR BEST ENTRY.
AND WITH THAT, UH, THANK THE CHAIRMAN, UH, BDU, HAVE A, A MOTION.
I, UH, MOVE TO INCREASE OUR 2024 BOND CAPACITY TO, UH, 1.25 FROM 1.1 BILLION A SECOND.
AND SO THIS IS A, A STRAW VOTE IS CORRECT.
UM, WHAT IS IT? INFORMAL STRAW VOTES ARE NOT ALLOWED UNDER ROBERT JEWELS OF ORDER.
SO WHAT THIS BODY DID WAS THEY WENT INTO A COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE, AND THIS IS NOT A BINDING ACTION ON THE, UH, COUNSEL, IT'S, UH, JUST A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL AND TO THE CITY MANAGER.
UM, SO THAT THERE IS, UM, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION AND DIRECTION.
AND SO THIS IS NOT BINDING, UH, WHATSOEVER.
IT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION LIKE ANY OTHER TYPE OF BUDGET ACTION THAT THE COUNCIL TAKES.
WE GOT YOU GOT A CARD? I DON'T HAVE ONE.
WILL YOU IN ORDER FOR ME AND ONLY DON'T DO RED, RED
SO THERE ARE ONLY GREEN CARDS DISTRIBUTED.
IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF, UM, THE MOTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BAJU MADE, WILL YOU PLEASE JUST RAISE YOUR GREEN CARD AND I'LL TAKE A ACCOUNT.
IS THERE COMMENT? HE SAID THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OF DISCUSSION BECAUSE WHEN WE SAID IT, THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION.
HE SAID THAT'S WHY HE WAS GIVING ALL ROUNDS AT THE BEGINNING.
YEAH, I'M USING OUR TECHNOLOGY FOR DISCUSSION.
SO THIS IS TO PROVIDE DIRECTION AND ALLOW THE STAFF TO BRING US SOME SCENARIOS AROUND THESE ALLOCATIONS.
POINT OF CLARIFICATION, MY MOTION DOES NOT ADDRESS ANY ALLOCATIONS.
THIS IS ABOUT THE ENTIRE BOND CAPACITY.
THEY DO ALLOW, THEY STILL, UH, POLLER EXPLAIN.
WELL, I THINK THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT, AT, IF, IF YOU AGREE TO RECOMMEND A HIGHER AMOUNT, THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL ALLOCATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO I THINK, I THINK THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WAS CORRECT, CORRECT? YES.
UH, I GOT JESS AND CHAIRMAN MORENO, GO AHEAD.
UM, I'M IN SUPPORT OF INCREASING THE CAPACITY.
WHAT I'M UNSURE OF IS IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ALLOCATIONS THAT ARE PRESENTED BEFORE US TODAY, THAT THAT IS, IS THAT WHAT STAFF'S GOING TO GO OFF OF OR ARE THEY JUST GOING TO COME UP WITH A NEW SET OF NUMBERS? MS. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU WANT TO ASK THAT? SO I'LL DEFER TO ROBERT.
THE PRESENTATION TODAY IS AT $1.1 BILLION, UH, PERIOD.
SO I THINK IF THE UNDERSTANDING TODAY, WALKING AWAY FROM THIS STRAW VOTING PROCESS WOULD BE THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE THE AMOUNT UP ONE THAT WILL ALLOW US ULTIMATELY, UH, TO GO BACK AND REVIEW AND WHETHER IT'S PRIOR FEEDBACK OR ANY KIND OF CORRESPONDENCE WE MAY RECEIVE BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT TIME WE MEET, TO ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE NEW DOLLARS REFLECTED IN THE WILL OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE WILL MEET WITH AS WELL AS, UH, PREVIOUS GUIDANCE AND THOUGHT AROUND IF THEIR AMOUNT WAS RAISED BY THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE, AND KIND OF BLEND ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER AND BE READY TO ARTICULATE THOSE THINGS ON THE 31ST FOR YOU.
THEN HOPEFULLY THEN AT THAT MEETING, UH, UH, WE'LL
[02:25:01]
BE ABLE TO GET BETTER GUIDANCE FROM YOU ON, OKAY, NOW HOW MUCH IN EACH SPECIFIC PROPOSITION, UH, AND THEN BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD TO DO THAT WORK IN BETWEEN, TO HAVE AN ITEM PREPARED BY FEBRUARY 14TH THAT ALLOWS YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE, UH, I THINK AS WELL.AND I THINK THERE MAY BE A DISCUSSION AROUND GIVING SOME GUIDANCE TO JOHN JENKINS A LITTLE LATER ON IN THIS MEETING TO ALLOW HIM AND THE PARKS BOARD TO HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDINGS OF SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THEM GO WORK ON IN BETWEEN TIME.
THAT ALSO ALLOWS FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD IN A MORE, UH, SPECIFIC WAY.
BUT THAT MOTION RIGHT NOW IS JUST TO GIVE US A NUMBER.
I'M SORRY, THE 31ST, I MEANT THE 14TH OF FEBRUARY, WHICH IS THE END DATE TO CALL AN ELECTION.
COUNCILMAN WILLIS, DO YOU, YOU HAD YOUR, YOUR LIGHT ON.
DID YOU FINISH? OKAY, CHAIRMAN MILLON.
SO COUNCILOR MORENO WAS JUST ASKING ABOUT, I THINK THE MEMO THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
IT'S STATED TODAY THAT HAS WHAT MEMO ALLOCATIONS FOR 1.25 BILLION.
AND SO THE QUESTION IS, IF WE INDICATE OUR AGREEMENT WITH INCREASING THE BOND, IS THIS THE ALLOCATION YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? OR GIVEN THE DISCUSSION? THERE WOULD BE CHANGES TO THIS BECAUSE YOU COULD IMAGINE SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, WOW, I'M NOT OKAY WITH THIS ALLOCATION.
I'M NOT GONNA VOTE TO IMPROVE, INCREASE THE BOND.
BUT IF DOLLARS ARE GOING TO AN AREA THAT MAYBE THAT PERSON DOES SUPPORT, THEY WOULD BE WILLING.
SO I THINK THE, THE CONVERSATION OF WHAT THE ALLOCATION IS IS IMPORTANT FOR DETERMINING IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH INCREASING THE AMOUNT.
SO, SO THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN.
I, AND I THOUGHT THE REFERENCE TO THE PRESENTATION TODAY, UH, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT, IS I THINK WHAT WE HAVE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC AND WHAT THEY'VE SEEN AND WHAT I THINK JENNIFER AND ROBERT SHARED WAS THE $1.1 BILLION ALLOCATION AND THE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THEN WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE STAFF REFINED RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK THE MEMO YOU'RE ALLUDING TO WAS NOT PRESENTED, SO I WASN'T SPEAKING TO THAT.
AND SO FOR ME, UH, NO DIFFERENT, AND I'VE SAID IT QUITE OFTEN, I GET A LOT OF MEMOS, UH, FROM WHETHER ONE PERSON, 2, 3, 4, 5.
BUT REALLY WHAT I LIKE TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF IS THE FULL COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
AND WHILE THAT MEMO MAY HAVE BEEN SENT TO ME BY A COUNCIL MEMBER AND SIGNED BY A FEW OTHERS, I APPRECIATE IT.
I READ IT, UH, AND I WAS UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS.
AND I THINK IF THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE DISCUSSED IN FULL AT THIS TIME BY THE COUNCIL, I THINK I'M MORE COMFORTABLE WITH UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WANT TO RAISE THE AMOUNT AND ANY OTHER COMMUNICATION THAT I HAVE IN BETWEEN TIME THAT THEN ULTIMATELY WILL BE MADE PUBLIC WHEN WE COME BACK AND REFINE BASED ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND A NEW NUMBER, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
SO I DON'T THINK YOU'RE SETTLING ON THE PROJECT BOND ALLOCATION AMOUNTS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK IT WILL BE INFORMED LATER ON, ON THE 31ST WHEN THE FULL COUNCIL MEETS.
AND I'VE HEARD A LOT MORE FROM OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW THAT THEY KNOW THE NUMBER IS RAISED.
THEY MAY HAVE SOME RETHINKING ON HOW THEY WANT TO ALLOCATE OR DISCUSS THE PROPOSITION LEVELS, UH, PARTICULARLY AROUND CULTURAL ARTS LIBRARIES AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I THINK TODAY, I THINK THE QUESTION THAT HE MADE A MOTION FOR WAS REALLY, DO WE WANNA RAISE THE AMOUNT, 150 MILLION? AT LEAST THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
SO YOU'RE NOT MARRIED TO THE MEMO THAT YOU PROVIDED TO US? NO, I'M NOT.
THAT WAS A LETTER TO ME THAT SOMEONE MAY HAVE PASSED OUT THAT CAME TO ME, BUT I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THAT MEMO WAS CIRCULATED TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THE QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
DEPUTY MAYOR CAROLINA, THANK YOU.
I THINK, I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE ON, BUT I, THIS IS WHAT I KEEP FEELING FROM THE, FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I'VE HAD THE, THE HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO WORK ON, UH, A PREVIOUS BOND PACKAGE.
BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, ULTIMATELY IT'S OUR VOTE, UH, AND OUR DECISION WITH THIS BOND NOW WE HAVE INFORMATION AND DATA THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH, BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS OUR CHARGE TO GIVE THE BEST BOND TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN GIVE.
BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS BOND IS GONNA HAVE TO BE PAID FOR IN THE FUTURE.
AND FOLKS WHO ARE GONNA BE PAYING FOR IT IN THE FUTURE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GETTING OUT OF THE DEAL.
[02:30:01]
FREE JOIN ME BECAUSE I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO PUSH AS HARD AS I CAN FOR MY COMMUNITY AND I'M GONNA PLAY WITH THE NUMBERS.AND IF WE CAN TAKE THE EXTRA AND PUT DISCRETIONARY FUNDS, THAT'S MORE MONEY FOR HISTORIC 10TH STREET IN MY EYES.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO I WANT US TO BE FREE AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO OUR JOB AND CITY MANAGER, I APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE IN IT IN TERMS OF BEING THE CITY MANAGER, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE FIRST TIME BOND KNOW THAT KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS AND KEEP WORKING WITH THE NUMBERS.
SO, UH, MAYOR PROTE, WE THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THAT SUPPORT AND MY TIME IS UP, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
UH, UH, CITY MANAGE, WANNA CLARIFY SOMETHING AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN HONOR.
AND AGAIN, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WHEN WE USE THE WORD DISCRETIONARY, I THINK IT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER, WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS ANY MONEY THAT COULD BE DEEMED DISCRETIONARY AS IT RELATES TO COUNCIL, HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY IN THEIR DISTRICTS SIMPLY MEANS THEY WOULD GET TO ELECT AND SELECT WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITH THAT ALLOCATION, AND THEN THOSE WILL BE PLACED IN THE APPROPRIATE PROPOSITION OUTLINED WITHIN THOSE PROJECT PARAMETERS.
I, UH, JUST, I I, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE WERE GONNA GET DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, SO I I DIDN'T CLICK IT, UM, EARLIER, BUT I WILL GIVE SOME CLARITY TO, I THINK WHAT A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN.
AND THIS IS STRICTLY ABOUT THE OVERARCHING RIGHT ARCHING, UM, UH, AMOUNT OF, OF THE BOND.
UM, THE INTENT, UH, COLLEAGUES WOULD BE FOR US TO COME BACK AT THIS NEXT SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON THE 31ST AND HAVE THE ABILITY AS THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO DO THE EXACT SAME EXERCISE, UM, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO EVERY AUGUST, SEPTEMBER.
UM, AND NO ONE, AS FAR AS I KNOW, IS COMPLETELY MARRIED TO ANY ALLOCATIONS THAT YOU'VE SEEN OF ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UH, FLUCTUATE, MAKE CHANGES, AND THAT IS, AS, UM, MS. ARNOLD MENTIONED, THAT'S TO THE WILL OF THIS BODY.
AND AS LONG AS WE ARE ABLE TO GET, UH, SEVEN OF OUR COLLEAGUES SUPPORT IN, IN THAT EXERCISE ON THE 31ST, ALL OF THIS, UH, COULD CHANGE FROM EVERY SINGLE RECOMMENDATION THAT'S BEEN IN FRONT OF US.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE'S MARRYING INTO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE OVERARCHING, UM, UH, UH, BOND PACKAGE, AND WE WILL ALL HAVE OUR ABILITY TO PUT OUR, OUR FINGERS ON THE, UH, PACKAGE AS A WHOLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, WITH THAT, UH, CHAIRMAN NAVAR THE VIRUS.
I WAS JUST GOING TO BASICALLY SAY WHAT MR. BAZEL HAS SAID AND HE SAID IT VERY ELOQUENTLY AND WELL, AND, UM, WHAT, WHAT HE SAID, LISTEN TO HIM.
WELL, EVERYONE I WANT TO SHOW THEY GREEN CARDS OR NO CARDS.
ALL I SEE ALL GREEN ONE 12 HAVE VOTED.
I MEAN, HAVE I, YOU GONNA SEE RAISE THEIR CARD? 12.
HOW MANY PEOPLE, UH, HERE, HERE COME ONE.
HE DIDN'T SEE HIS CARD, SO HE WAS GONNA PICK IT UP NOW.
OKAY, WITH THAT MATTER, SECRETARY, WITH OUR NEXT ITEM.
UM, I MOVE TO, UM, HAVE STAFF PRESENT WITH THE BOND ELECTION IN MAY, UH, VERSUS NOVEMBER.
MR. MAYOR COUNTY, 11 CARDS RAISED.
UH, YOU WANNA DO THIS SECOND, SIR? SO GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR, I, I THINK I ALLUDED EARLIER AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING INTO THE NEXT BRIEFING, BUT I WANTED TO AT LEAST EXPRESS MY DESIRE AND THOUGHT AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WITH THE PARKS BOARD DIRECTOR, AT LEAST TO ENSURE AS I SAID, THAT THERE IS SOME GUIDANCE PROVIDED, UH, BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE MONTH THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BEGIN TO WORK ON WHATEVER KIND OF DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE AND THAT HADN'T BEEN GIVEN OR TALKED ABOUT IN ANY FORMAL MANNER SINCE DECEMBER.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE AT LEAST WE DON'T LOSE THAT OPPORTUNITY SO THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY NO DIFFERENT THAN MY STAFF TO BEGIN TO THINK THROUGH THINGS AROUND THIS NEW BOND ALLOCATION AND WHAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT WANT TO DO WITH IT FROM
[02:35:01]
THE PARKS BOARD PERSPECTIVE AND GIVING THE PARKS DIRECTOR ANY GUIDANCE HE MAY NEED.MR. CITY MANAGER, I JUST WASN'T AWARE OF HOW WE WERE GOING TO GO ABOUT WITH THE DISCUSSION OF, OF THE STRAW VOTE, UM, MOTIONS.
UM, UH, BUT I, I WAS HOPING TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OF SOME CLEAR GUIDANCE ON, UH, RETURNING ON THE 31ST, NOT ONLY FROM YOU BUT ALSO FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS IF FOR, IF WE COULD SEE WITH WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THIS BODY, TO HAVE SCENARIOS FROM, UH, MR. JENKINS FOR THE PARKS, UM, ALLOCATION TO REFLECT 2 75 300, 3 25, 3 50.
IF WE CAN SEE THE SAME THING, UM, UH, FROM YOU NOW REFLECTING THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GIVEN TODAY, IN ADDITION TO, UH, THE, THE REFLECTION OF AN ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO THE BOND AND THAT ON THE 31ST FOR US TO HA EXERCISE STRAW VOTE ACTIVITY, UH, BASED ON THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT YOU ALL WILL PROVIDE US, INCLUDING MR. JENKINS WITH PARKS DEPARTMENT TO CONSIDER GOING INTO, UM, UH, SUBMITTING THE, UH, AMENDMENTS WITH THAT.
IF THIS IS GOING TO MIRROR, UH, THE EXERCISE THAT WE DO WITH THE BUDGET, IF YOU COULD GIVE US THE APPROPRIATE DEADLINES TO SUBMIT, UH, SO THAT WE ALL HAVE COPIES OF WHAT EVERYONE IS, UH, INTENDING TO, UM, PROPOSE TO AMEND SIMILAR, JUST, JUST LIKE IN BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN HAVE, UM, UH, AS MUCH TRANSPARENCY NOT JUST TO US, BUT ALSO TO THE DOCUMENTS POSTED TO THE PUBLIC, UH, PRIOR TO THAT MEETING.
AND, AND I'M SOMEWHAT A STUDENT OF HISTORY, SO I, I BELIEVE IN DECEMBER THERE WAS THE SIMILAR KIND OF COMMENTS MADE ABOUT AMOUNTS AND, AND ALLOCATIONS.
AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A REQUEST FOR SOME GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION, NOT JUST TO ME, BUT I THINK TO MR. JENKINS.
AND I THINK SOME OF THE SENTIMENT I HEARD LAST TIME AROUND THE INFORMALITY OF IT WITHOUT IT BEING KIND OF WHETHER A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE IN GUIDANCE WAS, WELL, THE COUNCIL DIDN'T REALLY SAY ANYTHING, THEY JUST KIND OF TALKED ABOUT IT.
AND SO I BELIEVE JOHN AS WELL AS HIS BOARD DIDN'T FEEL COMPELLED AS IF THAT WAS A REQUEST FOR THEM TO DO ANYTHING.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, KIND OF HOW THAT REQUEST KIND OF GETS MADE IN THIS STRAW VOTING PERSPECTIVE.
AND IT MAY NOT BE A DIRECTIVE MORE OF, AT LEAST MAYBE SHARING THAT DIRECTLY TO SAY THAT'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL THAT YOU'D LIKE STAFF AND OR THE APPROPRIATE PARK STAFF TO TAKE ON THOSE EXERCISES.
UH, I I WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR.
THAT'S THE INTENTION OF THIS BODY, AT LEAST TO HAVE THOSE THINGS READY FOR Y'ALL TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
I JUST, THAT'S WHAT I'LL WALK AWAY WITH, YOU KNOW, I'D LOVE TO MAKE SURE JOHN UNDERSTANDS THAT THAT'S WHAT HE IS EXPECTED TO COME BACK AND DO AND HE'S NODDING HIS HEAD, SO THANK YOU.
YES, MAYOR, I, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT COMMENT IS ON THE RECORD AS WELL.
IT IS A POSSIBLE, YOU COULD GIVE MR. JENKINS A MINUTE TO, TO VERIFY THAT BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS US BEING PITTED AGAINST PARKS AND THAT'S WHAT WAS EXACTLY HAPPENING.
I THINK THIS PARTICULAR, THE PARK NEEDS TO DO THE SAME THING AS THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
THEY NEED TO WORK WITH EVERY LEVEL BECAUSE WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO, THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET WHAT THEY PROPOSED, THE 400 OR UH, UH, 400 OR WHATEVER IT WAS.
I THINK SO CAN IS THAT, IS THAT ALL RIGHT TO ASK MR. MAYOR? WE NEED TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD SO THEY'RE NOT BEATING UP THE CITY MANAGER WHEN, YOU KNOW, I'M TELLING YOU THE SAME THING.
PARKS, YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH THE EXERCISE, OKAY, MR. JENKINS, WOULD YOU COME TO THE TABLE AND, AND, AND I THINK THE CLARIFICATION IS NUMBER ONE, AND, AND I, I THINK THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER FIRST CAME IN WITH LIKE, YOU KNOW, 3 75, WHATEVER, BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK THAT THE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT THAT WE, YOU GONNA LOOK AT MAYBE FROM 2 75 TO 300 TO 3 25 TO THREE 50, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER GONNA BE.
SO WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GONNA WORK IT OUT.
YEAH, I MEAN, UH, AS, UH, MR. NIKS MENTIONED, UH, UH, ONCE THE COUNCIL GIVES THAT DIRECTION TODAY, I WILL TAKE IT BACK TO THE PARK BOARD AND WE WILL WORK THROUGH THE SCENARIOS, OKAY? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[A. 24-156 Dallas Police and Fire Pension System and Employees’ Retirement Fund of the City of Dallas: Funding Soundness Update and Discussion]
BRIEFING, UM, IS A BRIEFING BI MEAN BRIEFING A, UM, BUT FIRST WE NEED TO GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND SEEK THE VITAL OF THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING THE CITY DOLLAR VERSUS EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND.UH, WE PROBABLY GONNA BE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 15 MINUTES, MAYBE LESS.
IT IS NOW 4:57 PM ON JANUARY 19TH, 2024.
THIS THE COUNCIL BRIEFING, WILL, WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SECTION UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0 7, 1 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER DESCRIBED ON TODAY AGENDA SEEKING ADVICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING THE CITY OF DALLAS VERSUS EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND UNDER THE STATE OF DALLAS.
[02:40:07]
THE CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEET MEETING HAD COMPLETE ITS CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0 7, 1 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT AT 5:14 PM ON JANUARY 19TH, 2004.WE HAVE RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE
[Open Microphone Speakers]
THE MIC OF THE OPEN SPEAKERS AS OF NOW, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE YOUR BRIEFING, JACK.I'LL NOW RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY DECOR AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL AND PERTINENT PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN PERSON FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION.
INDIVIDUALS WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
TWO MINUTES WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE STOP FOR THOSE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ALSO, SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL DURING YOUR COMMENTS, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME.
PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR ATKINS, ONLY YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, ROBERT CHIARELLI.
DEVONTE PETERS IS NOT PRESENT.
WAYNE SMITH HAS CANCELED JAMAR, JEFFERSON HAS CANCELED.
I'M THE CEO PRESIDENT OF THE TURTLE CREEK CONSERVANCY.
IT WAS FORMERLY THE LEE PARK IN ARLINGTON HALL CONSERVANCY, FOUNDED IN 1998.
WE, UH, TAKE CARE OF TURTLE CREEK PARK, A 20 ACRE PARK IN THE HEART OF DALLAS, ALONG WITH THE HISTORIC BUILDING ARLINGTON HALL.
TURTLE CREEK PARK IS THE SECOND OLDEST PARK IN DALLAS AND IS FOUNDING PREDATES WHEN THE CITY OF DALLAS PURCHASED THE PARK IN 1909.
TODAY THERE ARE OVER 14,000 DALLAS RESIDENTS LIVING WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK OF TURTLE CREEK PARK.
WE PROVIDE A MUCH NEEDED GREEN SPACE IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
OUR GREATEST HOPE IS THAT WE CAN CREATE A SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR THIS PARK TO EXIST IN THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR ANOTHER A HUNDRED YEARS.
OUR SMALL TEAM OF FOUR IS WORKING HARD TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR DALLAS CITIZENS TO ENJOY FREE PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS IN THIS DALLAS CITY PARK.
WITH RENEWED MISSION STATEMENT AND NEW FOCUS TO OFFER PROGRAMS, WELLNESS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HOST SEVERAL KEY EVENTS EACH YEAR WE BROUGHT BACK EASTERN THE PARK WITH OVER 6,000 GUESTS AND CONTINUE TO HAVE OTHER EVENTS AND THIS WILL BE OUR THIRD ANNUAL FISHING DERBY ON MAY 18TH, WE ARE PLANNING TO ACTIVATE THE SOUTH PARCEL WITH THE FUNDS FROM THE 2024 BOND ELECTION AT A PROPOSED COST OF $6 MILLION, 1.5 MILLION FROM THE CITY BOND ELECTION ALLOCATION AND 4.5 MILLION FROM PRIVATE FUNDRAISING.
WE WILL ADD A BRIDGE FOR PEDESTRIAN SS ABILITY TO THE PARK AND UP TO TWO MILES OF SOFT SURFACE TRAILS SO THAT PARK GUESTS CAN BE IMMERSED IN NATURE.
AN INVESTMENT IN PARK AND TRAILS AND OPEN GREEN SPACES WILL HELP MAKE DALLAS A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER, AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE CITY.
AS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE DALLAS PARKS AND COALITION, WE ARE EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE FULL COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE FUNDING RECOMMENDATION OF 350 MILLION FOR PARKS, TRAILS, AND GREEN SPACES.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST TWO ROWS IN THE CENTER SECTION.
AND MR. ELLI, YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM.
ROB RUDY KARIMI, STEPHANIE BERG,
[02:45:01]
REGINA MONTOYA, MONICA LIRA BRAVO, CHRIS DENNY, DAVID MARQUIS, PETER DOMAN, PHILLIP KINGSTON, STEPHANIE CHAMPION, LISA MARSHALL AND ADAM LAMONT.I WAS GONNA CONTINUE FROM LAST NIGHT WHEN I SPOKE.
UM, I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS FOR YOU TO GO TO THE HOMELESS OUT HERE IN THE FRONT LIBRARY SHELTERS AND INVITE THEM TO COME OVER HERE.
OKAY? NOW IT HAS, IT WILL SHOW THAT YOU SHOW SOME KIND OF INTEREST.
THEY DON'T LIKE YOU, THEY DON'T LIKE YOU AT ALL.
OKAY? IF YOU DO THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MAYOR, JOHN WALLY CLAY JENKINS, YOU WORK TOGETHER, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.
NOW IF YOU DON'T DO IT, IT SHOWS YOU'RE NOT THERE.
YOU'RE NOT HAVING ANY INTEREST IN THIS.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T LIKE THE HOMELESS BECAUSE THE CONSTITUENTS DON'T LIKE 'EM.
THEY DON'T VOTE, THEY DON'T GET ANY MONEY, THEY DON'T WORK.
ALL I'M SAYING TO YOU IS THAT THIS IS A VERY TOUCHY SUBJECT.
I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN ON ME, BUT IT WILL WORK.
YOU'LL GET A LOT OF PUBLICITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY IF YOU WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.
ALL RIGHT? I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME, AND THE WAY I TALKED TO THE HOMELESS, THEY DON'T, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT GOT FROSTBITE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU IN THAT, IN THE FRONT OF THAT CITY HALL, PEOPLE GOT FROSTBITE.
YOU DON'T COME THERE, NO ONE COMES.
WHAT ARE YOU SCARED OF? IF YOU'RE GONNA REPRESENT THE COMMITTEE, YOU NEED TO SHOW THEY YOU HAVE INTEREST.
GET OFF THE STUPID COMMITTEES.
DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT? EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT? BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HOMELESS OFF AND ON 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THE STREETS, BEEN EVERYWHERE.
I USED FAKE NAMES TO TO GET OFF THE STREETS.
BUT YOU GOT TO DO THIS NOW, NEXT MONTH.
IT COULD BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT YOU GOT TO GET INVOLVED FOR THE HOMELESS TO BE SO YOU CAN DO IT.
MY NAME IS RUDY KARIMI, 62 14 GOAD, A PROUD, UH, CITIZEN OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 14.
I AM A CERTIFIED PARK DEFENDER, A RABID PARK LOVER.
I LOVE PARKS SO MUCH THAT I OFTEN GO TO BED WONDERING IF I LOVE THEM TOO MUCH.
LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I SPOKE ABOUT PLAYGROUNDS, REC CENTERS, TRAILS ARE AMAZING PARTNERS.
AND OF COURSE, SKATE PARKS ALONG WITH LIBRARIES AND CULTURAL ARTS.
WE ARE THE MINISTRY OF HAPPINESS, NOT THE MINISTRY OF SADNESS.
WE ARE THE MINISTRY OF HAPPINESS.
WE ARE THE PUBLIC SERVICES THAT GET YOU OFF YOUR PHONE AND OUT OF YOUR HOUSE.
WE EDUCATE, YOU, INSPIRE YOU, UPLIFT, YOU, INVIGORATE YOU MOST COMPELLING.
WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT INTO THESE THINGS, OUR CITY WILL DIE A SLOW DEATH.
THE NEXT GENERATION OF DALLAS SITES WILL HAVE LESS ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT IMPROVE HEALTH, EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.
ALL THE THINGS THAT IMPACT ADVANCEMENTS IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
PUT ANOTHER WAY, WE MIGHT GET GREAT STREETS, BUT WHERE THE HECK WILL WE GO? THE TIME IS NOW TO SHOW THE CITY YOU CARE ABOUT OUR HAPPINESS.
JOIN THE MINISTRY OF HAPPINESS FULLY FUND PARKS UP TO INCLUDING $350 MILLION LIBRARIES AND CULTURAL ARTS.
STEPHANIE BERG IS, YES, I'M HERE.
MY NAME IS STEPHANIE KELLER HEIDELBERG AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALM FOUNDATION.
I WISH TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF BOTH THE
FIRST, I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THIS IMPORTANT PROCESS AND YOUR ATTENTION HERE THROUGH THE END.
I ALSO WANNA THANK CITY STAFF.
AS WE CAN TELL FROM TODAY'S DISCUSSION, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY STILL MUCH WORK AHEAD IN THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS ESPECIALLY.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, WITH ALL OUR STREETS NEEDS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, I ASK THAT YOU DO NOT CUT THESE CRITICAL STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, BUT ADD BACK TO THE STREETS LINE ITEM.
NEARLY ALL OF DEEP ELM'S PRIORITIES ARE ON THAT CHOPPING BLOCK.
DEEP ELLUM IS ONE OF THE FEW URBAN AREAS NEAR DOWNTOWN, NEAR THE DOWNTOWN CORE WITH UNIMPROVED STREETS AND ALLEYS REMAINING.
THE DISTRICT IS INFREQUENT FLOOD AREA AND HAS EXPERIENCED SOME OF THE WORST DAMAGE DURING THE LAST MAJOR STORMS. WE'VE SUBMITTED A NEEDS INVENTORY, UM, ON THESE STREETS, WHICH CONSISTENTLY CAUSE FLOODING ISSUES FOR OUR AREA BUSINESSES AND AS BOND.
WE ALSO REQUESTED A COMPLETE STREET REDESIGN OF HALL STREET, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR MAIN THOROUGHFARE CONNECTING DEBELL TO SOUTH DALLAS AND THE BAYLOR CAMPUS.
[02:50:01]
PROJECTS ARE NOT EVEN POSSIBLE AT THE CURRENT FUNDING LEVELS.MANY OF THEM HALL WILL SERVE AS THE MAIN EXIT WHEN TXDOT VARIES.
I THREE 40, I 30 AND CONNECT DEBELL TO THE CD FAIRPORT LINCOLN DOWNTOWN.
IT'S BECOME INCREASINGLY HEAVILY UTILIZED AND HAS IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS BEARING POWER LINES, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT LIABILITY WITH FREQUENT POWER AVERAGES IMPACTING AREA SERVICES AND INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING BAYLOR IN THE HOSPITAL.
I'M ALSO HERE IN SUPPORTIVE PARKS AND PARTICULARLY TRAILS.
THE DEEP BOND FOUNDATION SUPPORTS OUR NEIGHBORING SANTA FE TRAIL BOND REQUEST AND THE FORTHCOMING DALLAS CULTURAL TRAIL, A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT OF AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE ARTS DISTRICT TO FAIR PARK AND THE OFF PARTS AND CULTURE.
THE DALLAS CULTURAL TRAIL WILL CONNECT THE THREE STATE RECOGNIZED CULTURAL DISTRICTS AND THEIR ASSETS HIGHLIGHTING THE RICHNESS OF OUR LOCAL HISTORY, OUR ART, OUR ARCHITECTURE TO THE PUBLIC.
TO RUDY'S POINT OUR PARKS THROUGH BOTH DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL TRAIL EXPERIENCES, IT WILL ATTRACT AND ENHANCE CULTURAL TOURISM AND SUBSEQUENTLY INCREASE ECONOMIC STIMULATION TO THESE THREE DESIGNATED CULTURAL DISTRICTS AND THE ENTIRE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ADVANCING THE BOND PACKAGE TOGETHER.
I AM THE INCOMING CHAIR OF THE DALLAS ARBORETUM IN BOTANICAL GARDENS.
I'M DELIGHTED THAT WE HAVE OUR CEO AND OUR, UH, SABINA CARR, NEWLY NAMED CCEO AND OUR COO.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU.
SO MANY OF OUR FOLKS HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY WITH OUR, WITH OUR FLOWERS, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.
AND WE ARE SO THRILLED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE BOND FUNDING THAT WILL SUPPORT THE CONSIDERABLE GROWTH OF THE ARBORETUM OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.
TODAY, THE ARBORETUM WELCOMES MORE THAN 1 MILLION VISITORS AND 45,000 MEMBERSHIP HOUSEHOLDS.
52% OF OUR VISITORS IDENTIFY AS NON-WHITE AND HAIL FROM EVERY ZIP CODE IN DALLAS COUNTY.
OUR MISSION CONNECTS PEOPLE TO PLANTS IN NATURE AS WE INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PLANET.
CRITICAL BOND DOLLARS WILL BE USED TO EXPAND AND UPDATE KEY FACILITIES OWNED BY THE CITY AND MANAGED BY THE ARBORETUM IN WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A FABULOUS PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT SERVES THE COMMUNITY.
SPECIFICALLY THE FUNDS WILL HELP US MEET THE, UH, DEMANDS ON OUR WELCOME CENTER STRUCTURES, WHICH HAVE AGED SINCE THEY DEBUTED IN 2003.
THESE INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR LARGEST EDUCATION AND EVENT FACILITY, THE TICKET BOOST AND THE GIFT STORES.
THE DALLAS ARBORETUM HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.
WHEN THE VISITOR EDUCATION PAVILION WAS OPENED, ANNUAL ATTENDANCE HAS INCREASED 224%.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS HAVE INCREASED 229%.
PUBLIC EVENTS HAVE GROWN FROM 500 TO MORE THAN 5,000 EVENTS PER YEAR.
WE SERVE AS A VITAL COMMUNITY GREEN SPACE, AND IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME.
BY INVESTING THESE BOND DOLLARS, WE CAN EX ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY AND ENSURE OUR BEAUTIFUL ARBORETUM IS A SPACE FOR ALL, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND OR IDENTITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCESS AS IT HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE AND WE ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I LIVE IN COUNCIL, UH, DISTRICT 14 AND I ALSO WORK IN THAT DISTRICT.
UM, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT FOR THE TURTLE CREEK CONSERVANCY.
TURTLE CREEK CONSERVANCY IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT MANAGES AND CONSERVES TURTLE CREEK PARK, FORMERLY LEE PARK AND ARLINGTON HALL.
TWO IMPORTANT TREASURES IN THE HEART OF URBAN DALLAS.
TURTLE CREEK PARK IS THE SECOND OLDEST PARK IN DALLAS, UH, AS IT'S FOUND IN, IN 1892.
PREDATES ITS PURCHASE BY THE CITY IN 1909.
UH, TURTLE CREEK ENCOMPASSES 20 ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL SERENE GREEN SPACE, WHICH, UH, IS MADE UP OF THREE PARTIALS OF LAND WHERE NESTLED ALONG TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD AND LEMON AVENUE.
ON ANY GIVEN DAY, YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE OF EVERY AGE, RACE, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ENJOYING THE PARK.
EVEN IN THIS COLD WINTER TIME.
TURTLE CREEK CONSERVANCY IS PART OF THE DALLAS PARKS COALITION.
CALLS ON THE CITY OF DALLAS TO INVEST IN PARKS, TRAILS, AND GREEN SPACES.
DURING THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM, PARKS, TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES DRIVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND PROMOTE A ROBUST COMMUNITY.
PARKS, TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL DALLAS CITIZENS TO ENJOY NATURE.
WE SUPPORT THE $350 MILLION BOND PACKAGE FOR PARKS BECAUSE PARKS, TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES CREATE HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER
[02:55:01]
COMMUNITIES.THROUGH THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM, WE SPECIFICALLY ARE SEEKING $1.5 MILLION TO MATCH AGAINST OUR $4.5 MILLION IN PRIVATE FUNDRAISING TO FUND THE $6 MILLION NEEDED TO ACTIVATE OUR SOUTH PARCEL, WHICH HAS LARGELY BEEN INACTIVATED EXCEPT FOR SOME WONDERFUL TREES THAT THE CITY HELPED US PLANT ON DECEMBER 9TH.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT, UH, THAT HELP.
WE, PART OF THIS ACTIVATION WILL INVOLVE CREATING A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, WHICH THAT'S WILL CROSS THE CREEK FROM THE HALL CEDAR SPRINGS, UH, CORNER THAT'S INTO THE PARK.
AND ALSO, UH, ALLOW FOR, UH, WALKING NA UH, WALKING TRAIL IN NATURE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
DAVID MARQUIS MAR DAVID MARQUIS.
I'M HERE TO RE REPRESENT THE TURTLE CREEK PARK, FORMERLY PARK, FORMERLY KNOWN AS LEE.
UM, I'M VICE CHAIRMAN AND I'M ALSO HERE AS A GRAND SUPPORTER IN LA.
SPENT THE LAST SIX YEARS ON THE ARBORETUM BOARD, BUT I WANT SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT TURTLE CREEK PARK.
WE HAVE A FIVE ACRE TRACT THAT WAS SEATED TO US TO MANAGE AND TAKE CARE OF BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT JUST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO, AND IT'S, IT'S BETWEEN THE KATY TRAIL AND TURTLE CREEK ITSELF AND LEMON AVENUE AND IS INACCESSIBLE FROM THREE SIDES BECAUSE OF THOSE BARRIERS.
AND WE WILL NEED TO BUILD A BRIDGE ACROSS.
THAT'S THE, UH, $6 MILLION THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND.
WE HAVE, WE NEED A MILLION AND A HALF FROM THE SI FROM THIS BOND AND THE REMAINDER WE RAISED PRIVATELY.
THAT'S A GOOD BUY FOR THE TAXPAYERS AND WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
AND WE DO SUPPORT ALL OF THE BOND, UH, ISSUE AND HOPE YOU WILL VOTE FOR IT.
PHILIP KINGSTON IS NOT PRESENT.
STEPHANIE, CHAMPION STEPHANIE CHAMPION.
MS. MS. CHAMPION, CAN YOU OKAY.
HOWEVER YOUR VIDEO IS NOT DISPLAYING.
WILL YOU PLEASE TURN ON YOUR VIDEO? LET'S TRY THAT.
IT'S DOES THAT WORK? THERE WE GO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
YOU CAN HEAR ME AND SEE ME? YES.
MY NAME IS STEPHANIE CHAMPION AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX.
I ALSO SERVE AS THE CHIEF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING POLICY OFFICER OF BUILDERS OF HOPE CDC.
WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION THAT IS ADVOCATING FOR A $200 MILLION ALLOCATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE 2024 BOND ELECTION.
I HAVE ADMITTEDLY NOT BEEN PRESENT FOR AS MANY OF THESE HEARINGS AS I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS DUE TO PERSONAL AND FAMILY OBLIGATIONS.
I WAS HOPING THAT THE STRENGTH AND ADVOCACY OF OUR 180 PLUS MEMBER COALITION WOULD'VE SWAYED THIS BODY BY NOW TO UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF THE HOUSING CRISIS OUR CITY IS FACING AND THE DIRE NEED FOR BOLD INVESTMENT IN HOUSING.
IF WE ARE TO EVEN MAKE A DENT IN THE AFFORDABLE OF, EXCUSE ME, IN THE AFFORDABILITY GAP THAT EXISTS, I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT THE PROPOSED ALLOTMENT FOR HOUSING CURRENTLY STANDS AT LESS THAN HALF OF OUR COALITION'S REQUEST.
AND THAT HOUSING IS ONCE AGAIN BEING DEPRIORITIZED BY THIS BODY, DESPITE CONSISTENTLY PLACING AT THE TOP OF EVERY RESIDENT BOND SURVEY, THERE'S A MISGUIDED ASSUMPTION THAT DEREGULATING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IS ENOUGH TO INCENTIVIZE THE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR THAT ENOUGH FUNDING ALREADY EXISTS THROUGH OTHER EXISTING PROGRAMS. AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF ONE OF THE ONLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS IN THE CITY, LET ME TELL YOU THAT IS FAR FROM THE CASE.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT ANY MEANINGFUL SCALE IS ONLY ACHIEVED WITH DEEP AND BOLD PUBLIC INVESTMENT, WHICH THIS CITY HAS NEVER TRULY MADE.
OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS ARE BLOWING US OUT OF THE WATER WITH THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND ALLOCATIONS.
150 MILLION IN SAN ANTONIO AND 350 MILLION IN AUSTIN.
AS A DALLAS RESIDENT, I'M HONESTLY EMBARRASSED TO SEE HOW LITTLE WE PRIORITIZE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY COMPARED TO OUR SISTER CITIES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT WITH THIS BOND PACKAGE, BUT THE IDEA THAT YOU GET A LARGER RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN
[03:00:01]
OTHER FUNDING CATEGORIES OVER HOUSING IS MISGUIDED AND UNFOUNDED.THE SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT YOU GET WHEN YOU PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH SAFE, STABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SIMPLY UNMATCHED BY ANY OTHER FUNDING CATEGORY IN THIS BOND.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THIS BOND PACKAGE YOUR TO MAKE A VERY REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE CITY.
I RESIDE IN DISTRICT 13 AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE DALLAS HOMELESS COMMISSION AS HOUSING COMMISSION.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT WE'RE REALLY DEALING WITH, WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUT THERE.
SO I RECENTLY, UH, MOVED A FRIEND IN THIS WEEK THAT'S ON A, UH, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING VOUCHER IN THE MEDICAL DISTRICT.
AND SHE HAD TO MOVE INTO A PLACE WITH THE, HER WINDOWS ARE BOARDED UP BECAUSE IT IS SO UNSAFE THERE.
ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN THAT LIVES ON THE SECOND FLOOR HAD TO BUILD A GATE SO THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LAYING ON HIS FRONT PORCH AND WHEN HE COMES OUT IN THE MORNING THAT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE AND THE DRUG DEALERS ARE JUST RAMPANT IN THIS, IN THIS COMPLEX.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THESE ARE THE HOLES IN THE FENCE THAT ARE KEEP, THAT ARE ALLOWING THESE PEOPLE TO COME IN AND OUT.
SO WHEN WE MOVE THIS LADY IN, UH, THE DALLAS POLICE WERE THERE THAT DAY AND I ASKED THEM, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE CONDITIONS LIKE, HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN? THAT WE, WE HAVE PROPERTY THAT WERE MOVING PEOPLE IN ON OUR TAX DOLLARS.
THESE ARE FULLY FUNDED HUD VOUCHERS, AND THESE ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO MOVE PEOPLE IN ON THE, ON THE VOUCHERS.
SO THE, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE IS NONE.
AND THE ONES THAT WE ARE MOVING THEM, IT'S NOT SAFE.
SO NOW YOU'VE GOT RESPONSE PEOPLE, UM, CASE MANAGERS, ADVOCATES, MEALS ON WHEELS, DIFFERENT, UM, SENIOR ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE HAVE TO GO ON THESE PROPERTIES AND JEOPARDIZE OUR LIVES AS WELL.
SO IT'S NOT SAFE AND IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THE RESPONSE TEAM AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND PLEASE CONSIDER THE $200 MILLION THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
LAMONT IS NOT PRESENT FOR THE NEXT GROUP.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST TWO ROSE IN THE CENTER SECTION.
VITA DEPA OR DEPA, JOHN O. CALLAHAN.
MARTIN, NORA SOTO, EVAN SHEETS, NELSON HENRY, SARAH EVANS, MARIE EARLY, SEAN KIRKPATRICK, SUZANNE KEDRON, AND BARBARA COHEN, VITA DEPA OR VITA DEPA.
IF YOU'RE PRESENT, YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A MEMBER OF FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS AND ALSO OF THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION.
UH, AS AN ADVOCATE, UH, WE ARE CLOSE TO WHERE PUBLIC POLICY MEETS THE BONE.
I HEAR A LOT ABOUT PARKS, TREES, LIBRARIES.
I LOVE THEM ALL, BUT I REALLY LOVE PEOPLE.
AND THE, UH, THE POPULATION SET THAT WE CATER TO, I LIKE THE 30 A MI.
THEY'RE JUST SENIOR CITIZENS AND OUR HANDICAPS, UH, THEY ARE PAYING LIKE 90% OF THEIR INCOME ON THEIR RENT.
THAT'S IF WE DO FIND THEM A PLACE, UH, WE ARE RELEGATING THEM TO HOMELESSNESS AS IT STANDS.
WE MAY LOSE SOME OF OUR FRIENDS.
AND HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POTHOLES IN LIBRARIES.
AND, UH, I I, I KNOW WE'RE BIGGER THAN THIS.
I COME FROM A PLACE THAT HAD SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT YOU ALL HAVE.
WHEN I FIRST COME HERE, THE NORTH AND SOUTH DIVIDE HIT ME LIKE A PUNCH IN THE FACE.
AND YOU ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK HARD, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
YOU ALL WORK HARD AND I PRAY THAT YOU MAKE THIS CITY A WORLD CLASS CITY.
[03:05:02]
FOR OUR PEOPLE, FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M ONCE AGAIN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION.
OUR 194 MEMBERS ADVOCATING FOR $200 MILLION FOR HOUSING AND 35 MILLION FOR HOMELESSNESS.
AS A REMINDER, WE'RE NOT ASKING THE CITY TO BECOME A DEVELOPER.
INVESTMENTS MADE INTO HOUSING PROVIDE THE NECESSARY GAP FUNDING FOR DEVELOPERS, UH, 10 OF WHICH SIGNED A LETTER TO YOU ALL READY TO BUILD OVER 4,000 UNITS WITH BOND FUNDING.
THEY MANAGE THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, THOSE OPERATIONS, THE MAINTENANCE, THE CITY REAPS THE BENEFITS.
THEY GET ONE TO NINE, ONE TO $12 RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS BECAUSE OF THE LEVERAGING OF FUNDS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL.
MUCH OF WHAT YOU HEARD ABOUT, UH, TODAY, AND SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN HAVE ALSO REALIZED THROUGH THEIR DATA, YOU NOW HAVE NOT USED A HOUSING BOND PROPOSITION BEFORE, BUT YOU HAVE USED BOND FUNDS FOR HOUSING BEAR STREET IN 2006, PALLADIUM IN 2012, UH, IN 2017 IN THE BOTTOMS. SO WE HAVE NOW A NEW HOUSING POLICY AND THESE TOOLS AND SYSTEMS IN PLACE THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
AND IT'S THE PERFECT TIME TO INVEST, UH, WHETHER THROUGH THE DALLAS HOUSING OPPORTUNITY FUND, WHICH HAS $60 MILLION OF PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE FOR 2000 UNITS OR MORE.
UH, WE HAVE OURSELVES AN INDISPUTABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND WE NEED TO INVEST, UH, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
UH, THAT FORECAST I'M GLAD, WAS SHOWN EARLIER, UM, PROJECTS 15,000 AFFORDABLE UNITS IN OVER 32,000 MARKET RATE UNITS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL INCREASING THE AMOUNT TO $1.25 BILLION TODAY, BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS IF WE'RE NOT INVESTING NOW, WE'LL BE PAYING FOR IT LATER.
THE AVERAGE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS PERSON COSTS THE CITY OF DALLAS, UH, 32 30 $5,000 PER YEAR.
WHETHER IT'S MEDICAL ATTENTION GOING TO PARKLAND, UH, OR IN WORSE CASE SCENARIO INCARCERATED, WE CAN SAVE HALF OF THAT, UH, TAXPAYER DOLLARS, UH, BY PROVIDING HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT.
FOR OUR FOLKS WHO ARE MAKING LESS THAN 50% A MI AND BELOW, YOU CAN TARGET THIS BOND FUND.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE'D LOVE TO MEET WITH YOU.
INVESTING IN HOUSING IS A FINANCIAL QUALITY OF LIFE, PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPERATIVE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS VICKI MARTIN.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FERGUSON ROAD INITIATIVE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
FOR 28 YEARS, RESIDENTS HAVE STRATEGICALLY WORKED TO GET THE WHITE ROCK HILLS RECREATION CENTER BUILT IN FAR EAST DALLAS, YEAR AFTER YEAR BOND ELECTION AFTER BOND ELECTION.
DESPITE A GAP IN RECREATION CENTER SERVICES, OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BYPASSED.
THE WHITE ROCK HILLS RECREATION CENTER WILL SERVE A POPULATION OF 70,000 PEOPLE WITHIN A THREE MILE RADIUS IN COUNCIL DISTRICTS TWO, SEVEN, AND NINE WITHIN A 1.5 MILE AREA.
THIS CENTER WILL SERVE 19 DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND 16 APARTMENTS WHERE MANY DISENFRANCHISED FAMILIES LIVE.
CHILDREN FROM THESE APARTMENTS ATTEND THESE AREA THREE AREA SCHOOLS WITH A POVERTY RATE OF 97%.
THE CENTER IS THE FINAL PHASE OF A COMMUNITY DRIVEN PLAN THAT WILL BRING INTERGENERATIONAL SPORTS, WELLNESS, TECHNOLOGY, AND CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMS TO MEET WELL-DOCUMENTED NEEDS.
LOOK, WE HAVE THE LAND, WE HAVE A PARK.
WE HAVE A STREET THAT CONNECTS TO THE FUTURE RECREATION CENTER.
ALL WE NEED NOW IS THE CENTER.
OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY HAVE RECREATION CENTERS.
WHY HAS THE CITY FORGOTTEN US? PLEASE DO NOT OVERLOOK US AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S OUR TURN.
I AM AN ARTIST AND A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.
I HAD A SPEECH PLAN, BUT HONESTLY, AFTER LISTENING TO SUCH A WEIRD DISCUSSION, UM, I'M GONNA HAVE TO WING IT.
A FEW YEARS AGO, ME AND A GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS, WE FORMED A COLLECTIVE TO DO A LOT OF WORK ON THE CITY BUDGET.
WE CALLED EACH, UH, EACH OTHER OUR CITY, OUR FUTURE.
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WHILE I WAS DOING THIS WORK, I CAME TO REALIZE THAT THE CITY BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.AND NOW STARTING TO GET INTO ALL THIS WORK AGAIN WITH THE BOND PROGRAM HAS MADE ME REALIZE THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
THE RIGHTS DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
ALL THE WORK THAT WE DID DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING, AND WE'RE STILL FIGHTING FOR THE SAME THINGS.
THE BOND PROGRAM IS ALSO A MORAL DOCUMENT.
UH, I CAME HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR ARTS ADVOCATE FOR A CULTURAL CENTER IN MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD OF BACHMAN LAKE, BUT HONESTLY, WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE HOUSING.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS HAVING TO LISTEN TO YOU, PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT RETURN ON INVESTMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE'S LIVES, PEOPLE'S HOUSING, PEOPLE'S BASIC NEEDS.
HONESTLY, IT MAKES ME WANT TO THROW UP.
UM, BUT SINCE THAT'S THE ONLY LANGUAGE THAT YOU PEOPLE SPEAK, AS SOMEONE ALREADY MENTIONED, THERE IS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT WHEN YOU FOCUS ON HOUSING, WHEN YOU FOCUS ON HOUSING PEOPLE INSTEAD OF INCARCERATING PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF LEAVING THEM ON THE STREET TO, UH, BECOME ILL AND HAVE TO GO TO PARKLAND.
I WORKED AT PARKLAND, UH, THE PARKLAND ER FOR MANY YEARS AND I SAW IT FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH SPACE IN THE, UM, HOW MANY RESOURCES IN THE HOSPITAL HAVE TO GO TOWARDS THE UNHOUSED POPULATION.
YOU GUYS NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
MY NAME IS EVAN SHEETS, VICE PRESIDENT OF PLANNING AND POLICY FOR DOWNTOWN DALLAS INC.
TO YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE DALLAS STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS AND REPRESENTING MONTHS OF WORK OF THE DDI PUBLIC POLICY TASK FORCE.
OVER THE COURSE OF MANY MEETINGS AND WORK SESSIONS, THIS TASK FORCE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO IDENTIFY CRITICAL PROJECTS THAT COLLECTIVELY CHAMPION THE GOALS OF THE 360 PLAN.
THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND OUR PARTNERSHIP, DOWNTOWN'S THRIVING NOW WITH HISTORIC GROWTH COMES INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES.
DOWNTOWN IS PLEASED TO SEE THE CURRENT ALLOCATION OF PROPOSALS FOR KEY TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE MANY YEARS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EFFORTS TO REIMAGINE THE CORE OF OUR CITY.
WE STRESS HOWEVER, THE DOWNTOWN'S NEEDS ARE GREAT, AND FOR US TO SEE OUR LIMIT, OUR COLLECTIVE VISION THROUGH WE MUST WORK STRATEGICALLY TO DEPLOY LIMITED FUNDS TO LEVERAGE THE INVESTMENT OF OUR PRIVATE PARTNERS, WE URGE YOU TO CLOSELY REVIEW THE RECOMMENDATIONS PROVIDED BY DDI AND WORK TOWARD FUNDING THESE TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SEE BILLIONS IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
THE KEY PROJECTS INCLUDE FOUR.
THE FIRST OF THOSE IS INFRASTRUCTURE AND REALIGNMENT OF FIELD AND GRIFFIN STREETS UNLOCKING 18 ACRES OF PLANNED DEVELOPMENT AND LINKING KEY CRITICAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
A RE-IMAGINATION OF ROSS AVENUE IS A COMPLETE AND WALKABLE STREET LINKING THE WEST END OF THE ARTS DISTRICT AS A TRULY PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR.
THREE, COMPLETE AND CONNECTED MULTIMODAL CONNECTIONS IN BOTH HARDWOOD AND JACKSON STREETS, REALIZING YEARS OF CITY AND DDI PLANNING.
AND LASTLY, THE MODERNIZATION OF DOWNTOWN SIGNALS AND INTERSECTIONS AT CRITICAL AND KEY CORRIDORS.
DOWNTOWN'S FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS BODY AND WE ASK YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO DOWNTOWN AS AN AMENITY FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
WE ASK YOU TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO THAT PRINCIPLE AS YOU FINALIZE THE 2024 BOND PACKAGE.
AS ALWAYS, WE'RE AVAILABLE TO MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO DISCUSS FURTHER.
HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU AND SEE YOU.
UH, MY NAME IS ROBERT HENRY, DISTRICT 14, AND I'VE BEEN AN EAST DALLAS RESIDENT FOR 14 YEARS NOW.
UH, THESE DAYS I'M A CORPORATE LAWYER AND A HUSBAND AND A FATHER OF TWO, AND I'M SPEAKING WITH YOU TODAY BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY OF DALLAS TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN PARKS, TRAILS, AND GREEN SPACES AS PART OF THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM.
THE DALLAS NETWORK AT PARKS AND TRAILS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, AND A BIG PART OF THE REASON I'M PROUD TO CALL DALLAS HOME.
I WORK FOR AN INTERNATIONAL IP COMPANY.
WELL, MY COLLEAGUES VISIT FROM CITIES LIKE DUBLIN, STOCKHOLM, TOKYO, AND SEOUL.
THEY'RE ALWAYS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WHEN I INTRODUCE THEM TO OUR PEDESTRIAN TRAILS.
AS A UNIQUE, UH, AND UNUSUAL WAY TO EXPLORE OUR CITY, I PERSONALLY LOVE BEING ABLE TO SAFELY COMMUTE ON MY BIKE, TO WORK ALONG THE SANTA FE TRAIL, OR TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO THE ARBORETUM OR ONE OF THE MANY PLAYGROUNDS NEAR WHITE ROCK LAKE WITHOUT THE NEED TO LOAD UP THE CAR.
IT'S A MAJOR REASON MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO REMAIN IN EAST DALLAS AFTER PURCHASING OUR HOME LAST YEAR.
OUR PARKS AND TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES ARE PROVEN ECONOMIC INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY, AND THEY HELP
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CREATE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND THRIVING LOCAL AND INTERCONNECTED COMMUNITIES.EQUITABLE ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IS ESSENTIAL TO DALLAS' FUTURE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL SUPPORT THE FULL ALLOCATION RECOMMENDED BY THE, UH, COMMUNITY BOTTOM TAX FORCE.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I LIVE AT 9 0 5 6 WEST BAR DRIVE IN DISTRICT TWO, FORMERLY DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I'M HERE IN MY CAPACITY AS CO-CHAIR OF THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY TO ADVOCATE FOR BONDS FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
LIBRARIES ARE ONE OF THE ONLY FREE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE THIRD PLACES, A PLACE THAT ISN'T HOME OR WORK THAT IS OPEN TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OR DEMOGRAPHICS.
OUR LIBRARIES ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN BOOKS.
THERE ARE SPACES FOR CONNECTION, LEARNING, PLAY, ESPECIALLY THE NEW FRIENDLY PLAY SPACES IN THE LIBRARY, WHICH AS THE MOM OF A TODDLER, I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR.
UM, AND AN INCREDIBLE HUB OF RESOURCES FOR OUR UNHOUSED POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FROM EVERYONE FROM TODDLERS TO SENIORS.
LIBRARIES ARE ALSO AIR CONDITIONED IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT'S TOO HOT TO GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY WITH YOUR KIDS, AND THEY'RE WARM IN THE WINTER WHEN IT'S TOO COLD TO PLAY OUTSIDE AS WELL.
THEY ALSO SEE OVER 5 MILLION U USERS ANNUALLY.
IN 2022, THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE RELEASED DATA THAT SHOWED THAT CITIES THAT INVESTED IN QUALITY OF LIFE MEASURES.
UM, WHAT MY FRIEND JEFF KITNER LIKES TO CALL THE MINISTRY OF HAPPINESS PARKS ARTS LIBRARIES.
UM, THEY SAW INCREASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVER THOSE THAT INVESTED IN TRADITIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WERE WILLING TO LIVE IN PLACES WHERE THE COST OF LIVING WAS HIGHER, IF THE QUALITY OF LIFE WAS BETTER.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTRACT YOUNG FAMILIES AND WORKERS TO DALLAS.
IF WE INVEST IN THE MINISTRY OF HAPPINESS.
LIBRARIES DESERVE TO BE CELEBRATED AND ADEQUATELY FUNDED.
I ENCOURAGE CITY COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE THE FOLLOWING BOND PRIORITIES, FULLY FUND THE PRESTON ROYAL RENOVATION AND THE NORTH NORTH OAKCLIFF BRANCH REPLACEMENT, AS WELL AS THE PARK FOREST REPLACEMENT.
THIS IS IN D 13, BUT IT DOES SERVE D SIX RESIDENTS.
IF IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ON THIS BOND, WE'RE LOOKING AT 40 YEARS SINCE IT WAS RECOMMENDED, WHICH IS INEXCUSABLE, FRANKLY.
UM, I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND FULLY FUNDING ALL A DA COMPLIANCE, NOT ONLY BATHROOMS, BUT ENTRANCES TO LIBRARIES.
THERE ARE NINE LIBRARIES THAT DO NOT HAVE A DA COMPLIANT ENTRANCES, AND ALL RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS OUR LIBRARIES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND FOR STAYING AND LISTENING.
HI, MY NAME IS MARIE EARLY AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 14, AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF EXILE PARK.
UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FULL FUNDING FOR PARKS AND RECREATION AND SPECIFICALLY THE NEW REC CENTER AT EXILE PARK.
ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY, THREE OUT OF FOUR AMERICANS TODAY REPORT A FEELING OF NON BELONGING TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
BELONGING IS A FUNDAMENTAL NEED IN THE A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEED AND ONE THAT IS LINKED TO MANY OF THE COMPLEX CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME.
RECREATION CENTERS FEEL THE NEED FOR THAT SENSE OF BELONGING.
THEY ARE IMPERATIVE FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE COMMUNITY.
XL PARK HAS THE ONLY REC CENTER IN DISTRICT 14, YET IT LACKS MANY OF THE STANDARD AMENITIES FOUND AT OTHER CENTERS AROUND THE CITY.
WITH FUNDING FROM THE UPCOMING BOND, WE CAN ADD AN INDOOR GYMNASIUM, FOR INSTANCE, GIVING OUR YOUNGER POPULATION A SAFE INDOOR SPACE TO EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS AND BE PART OF A TEAM FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT.
IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE A SENIOR CENTER WHERE OUR AGING POPULATION CAN TAKE CLASSES AND INTERACT WITH OTHER SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS ABOUT CIVIC ISSUES WHILE STAYING ACTIVE AND FIT WITH EXERCISE PROGRAMS AND NUTRITION AND EDUCATION.
LASTLY, NEWLY EXPANDED WORKOUT FACILITIES WOULD MAKE FITNESS AFFORDABLE TO EVERYONE.
THEY SAY TAKES A VILLAGE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
AND WHEN WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS PART OF A COMMUNITY, WE CAN DO THAT.
SO PLEASE SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THE NEW XL PARK REC CENTER AND THE FULL FUNDING FOR THE PARKS AND REC AND THE NOTE AND THE NEXT BOND.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M IN DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I AM HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED POLICE TRAINING CENTER.
UH, THIS HAS RECEIVED VERY LITTLE, UH,
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ATTENTION OR COVERAGE.UH, THERE'S BEEN A REAL LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE, UH, VERY AWARE OF AND TO HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION OF.
UH, THERE IS CURRENTLY 50 MILLION ALLOTTED ON, UH, THIS BOND, UH, TO GO TOWARDS THAT.
UM, THE STATE HAS ALREADY PUT 20 MILLION TOWARDS IT.
UM, SO MY QUESTIONS ARE, UH, HOW WILL THIS FACILITY AFFECT THE SURROUNDING AREAS? UM, LOOKING AT IT FROM WHERE I SEE IT APPEARS TO BE NEAR A PRIMARILY MINORITY NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, THIS IS GONNA REPLACE OUR GREEN SPACES WITH MORE CONCRETE.
UH, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING WILL HAPPEN AT THIS FACILITY.
UH, IS IT GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF URBAN WAR, URBAN WARFARE TRAINING THAT, UH, SIMILAR TO THE CONTROVERSIAL COP CITY IN ATLANTA.
UM, THESE KINDS, THIS KINDS OF TRAINING.
AND, YOU KNOW, MILITARIZED POLICING TECHNIQUES DO, DO NOT MAKE THE PUBLIC SAFER.
THEY RESULT IN OVER POLICING AND BRUTALITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.
UH, SO THE CONSTRUCTION IS SLATED TO BEGIN, UH, NEXT YEAR IN 2025 AND COMPLETED IN 2027.
UM, HOW MUCH WILL THE, THE, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH WILL THE CITY BE BILLED BY 2027? UM, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH ARE THE TAXPAYERS GONNA BE PAYING ON THIS? THERE'S ALSO, UH, TALK OF PRIVATE FUNDING BEING ALLOWED TO GO TOWARDS THIS.
HOW CAN WE ALLOW PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS TO SUPPOSEDLY FUND PUBLIC SAFETY? UM, THIS, THIS SHOULD BE A, A PUBLIC PROJECT WITH PUBLIC INPUT.
UM, AND WE SHOULD INSTEAD BE SUPPORTING THE ROOT CAUSES.
THAT'S YOUR TIME, SAFETY, POVERTY.
THANKS A LOT FOR FIGURING OUT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS BARBARA COHEN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 14.
I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF FRIENDS OF WILLIS WINTERS PARK.
DALLAS SERVES OUR COMMUNITIES.
DALLAS PARKS SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY.
AGAIN, PEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, RACE AND FINANCIAL STATUS, PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE FOR SPORTS ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL GATHERINGS, PICNICS, DOG WALKING, GARDENING, EDUCATION, BIRDWATCHING, ENJOYING NATURE AND MUCH MORE.
PARKS ARE THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
SPENDING TIME IN PARKS AND GREEN SPACE CAN HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, STRESS, AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
STUDIES PROVE FITNESS PLAY IS NEEDED TO FIGHT CHILDHOOD AND ADULT OBESITY.
PLAY STIMULATES THE BRAIN TO MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN NERVE CELLS.
BUILDING HEALTHY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, FITNESS PLAY HELPS CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS CONQUER THEIR FEARS, BUILDING BONDS BETWEEN PEOPLE, MUCH NEEDED SOCIAL TIME AND BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE.
WILLIS WINTERS PARK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1922.
OUR PLAYGROUND WAS INSTALLED IN 2006, MAKING IT ONE OF THE OLDEST PLAYGROUNDS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
HAVING OUTDATED EQUIPMENT INCREASES THE CHANCE OF INJURY AMONG OUR YOUNGEST COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IT IS TIME FOR OUR PLAYGROUND TO MEET THE ADVANCEMENTS IN SAFETY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.
BEFORE I CALL THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER THAT I CALLED EARLIER THAT IS PRESENT.
MY NAME IS VIDA
I CAME TO YOU TODAY, ON, TODAY ON BEHALF OF MY COMMUNITY TO REQUEST THAT HE PARK IS CONSIDERED IN THE 2024 PARK BOND.
WHEN I GO TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, I NOTICE THAT THERE ARE
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NOT MANY PLAYGROUND AND PARKS AND AMENITIES.THE PLAYGROUND OFTEN NEEDS REPAIRS.
THERE IS A LOT OF POISON IVY THAT NEEDS CLEARING AND THE CREEK NEEDS CLEANING.
I COMPARE IT TO THE OTHER PARKS IN OAK CLIFF.
WE LIKE TO GO TO THE KIDS SPRINGS AND LAKE CLIFF BECAUSE OF OUR PLAYGROUND.
MY NEIGHBORS IS ONE OF MANY UNIQUE AREAS IN OAK CLIFF.
I SADLY, THE CURRENT PARK DOESN'T REFLECT THE BEAU BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THE FAMILIES AND PARK ARE MADE.
THE FAMILIES AND FAMILIES AND CHILDREN'S SURROUNDING DEN PARK ARE MADE UP DIFFERENT CULTURES AND BACKGROUNDS, AND WE DESERVE A BETTER PARK.
WE CALL, WE CAN ALL ENJOY IN WALKING DISTANCE.
MY MOM AND I, I SENT OUR SURVEY TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
ASK THAT THEY ASK THAT THEY RENTED, RATED, RATED HOW MUCH THE VISIT THE PARK, HOW THE SAFETY THEY ARE WHILE VISITING, AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS AMENITIES ARE NEEDED.
AND LIKE US, MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RATHER VISIT OTHER PARKS.
INCLUSIVE, INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND DOG PARK.
AND TO REPLACE THE COMMUNITY TENNIS COURT FOR OUR, FOR A COMMUNITY VOLLEYBALL COURT AND SWINGS IN THE SURVEY, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AGREE THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER ALONGSIDE WITH THE CITY TO KEEP THE PARK CLEAN.
ALTHOUGH BY THE TIME THESE UPGRADES ARE COMPLETE, I MAY NOT BE AT THE AGE WHERE I CAN ENJOY THE PLAYGROUND LIKE, LIKE I ONCE DID.
BUT MY LITTLE SISTER, THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
MAYOR, CAN I, CAN I, CAN I ADDRESS THE SPEAKER PLEASE? I'LL BE QUICK.
IS SHE IN YOUR DISTRICT? SHE'S NOT.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T GIVE THAT, UH, PRECURSOR THOUGH.
I JUST, I JUST ASKED TO ADDRESS HER.
VITA, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I, IT'S GREAT TO HEAR FROM OUR YOUTH AND TO GIVE US THE PERSPECTIVE.
ALWAYS USE YOUR VOICE AND, UM, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING BRAVE ENOUGH TO COME AND ADDRESS US.
I, WE NEED TO HEAR MORE PEOPLE OF YOUR GENERATION, SO THANK YOU.
WE, WE LOST THE CORN, SO THEREFORE THERE COULD BE NOT NO MORE DISCUSSION.
WHEN I, YOU CALLED ME SLIPPING
WILL YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST TWO ROWS IN THE CENTER SECTION, SHE AND SHU MARILYN BUTLER, CHRIS HEBA, TONY OCTA IS CANCELED.
TIMOTHY DICKEY TO MEET THE REEL.
PRISCILLA RICE MAR, MARCIA PHILLIPS, ANGEL GONZALEZ, ASHLEY MARSHALL, CHELSEA KNOX, AND ROBERT KENT.
I AM AND I LIVE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE.
I AM SPEAKING TO YOU AS A RESIDENT OF DALLAS AS WELL AS A TEACHER IN DALLAS, ISDI AM HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE $50 MILLION OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT FUNDING CURRENTLY SET APART TO BUILD A NEW POLICE TRAINING CENTER.
OUT OF NEARLY 60 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ABOUT THE 2024 BOND FUNDING.
NOT ONE SKIER PROVIDED AN AGENDA ITEM IN SUPPORT OF PUTTING $50 MILLION MEANT FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT FOR A REGIONAL POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY.
THIS CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVER CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS.
IT IS IMMORAL AND DOES NOT OFFER A RETURN ON INVESTMENT AS OTHER PUBLIC SPEAKERS HAVE VOICED.
RESPECTING THE RIGHT TO SURVIVE IS NOT ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
FUNDING PUBLIC WELLBEING GIVE A HIGH RETURN OF INTEREST, ESPECIALLY WHEN MONEY IS SPENT ON PARKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
AS A TEACHER IN DALLAS, ISDI SEE EVERY DAY HOW MY STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM LOW COST HOUSING PARKS, CULTURAL CENTERS AND NATURE TRAILS AND ART CENTERS, AND HOW THE DIS UH, THE CITY OF DALLAS CAN PUT MONEY TO IMPROVE THESE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
CURRENTLY, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE POLICE TRAINING CENTER IS SET AT A COLLEGE CAMPUS AT THE UNIVERSITY
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OF NORTH TEXAS AT DALLAS, WORK FOR THE DISTRICT OF DALLAS, WORK WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE WHERE THIS POLICE TRAINING CENTER WOULD ON THE CAMPUS OF UNT DALLAS.THERE HAS BEEN NO TRANSPARENCY ON THE TYPE OF TRAINING THAT WILL OCCUR HERE.
HOW WILL THIS POLICE MILITARIZATION AFFECT MY STUDENTS? HAVE THE STUDENTS OF UNT DALLAS, OF WHICH I AM A GRADUATE STUDENT, BEEN MADE OF THIS.
WHO ARE THE
MARILYN BUTLER IS NOT PRESENT.
TONY OC AVI OCTAVE HAS CANCELED.
UM, I SERVED ON THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THE FULL $350 MILLION OF PARK FUNDING.
UM, BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO JUST NOTE THAT AS I SAT ON THE TASK FORCE AND I SAW THE GREAT PROJECTS, NECESSARY PROJECTS THAT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND A FEW ASPIRATIONAL ONES THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT ABOVE THE LINE JUST BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH MONEY, I REALLY BEGAN TO REALIZE AT 1.1 BILLION AND NOW EVEN ONE, ONE AND A QUARTER BILLION ISN'T GONNA MAKE AN ENORMOUS DENT IN OUR NEEDS.
EVERYTHING ON THERE IS GOOD AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AT THE END OF THE PROCESS, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT THAT DIDN'T GET ON THE LIST.
AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND IS THAT YOU CONSIDER A SECOND TRANCHE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE WORTHWHILE AND WANTED AND JUST COULDN'T MAKE IT WITH, WITH NO TAX IN RATE INCREASE AND CONSIDER BRINGING TO US THE VOTERS A SECOND TIER OF THOSE PROJECTS.
IT WOULD HAVE A TAX RATE INCREASE THAT CAN BE CALCULATED AND TO LET US KNOW IF WE WANT TO DO THESE OR NOT.
LET US DECIDE IF WE WANT TO PAY THE EXTRA.
FOR THE ONES THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT, I WOULD VOTE FOR ALL OF THEM.
AND I THINK A LOT OF MY FELLOW DALLASITE WOULD.
I JUST WANT TO SAY TOO, A LITTLE POINT OF FACT THAT A, UM, A 20 YEAR AA BOND AT A 4.6% TAX RATE, BUT BACK AN EXTRA $237 MILLION THAT WOULD BE TO A 1 CENT TAX RATE INCREASE COULD GENERATE 237 MILLION EXTRA DOLLARS FOR A BOND.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS I JUST HOPE YOU MIGHT CONSIDER THE SECOND OPTION.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THE VISIT DALLAS HAS SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON A THINK BIG CAMPAIGN AND IT'S KIND OF SUNK IN AND I'D LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK BIG AND VOTE FOR THAT EXTRA STUFF THAT WE CAN PAY FOR IF WE CHOSE TO.
I'M FROM DISTRICT FIVE, THE PLEASANT GROVE AREA.
GREW UP IN THE B UH, BACHMAN LAKE, GROW WEILER AREA.
UM, I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND ON WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY A LOT OF, UH, TIMES TODAY.
AND I THINK WHAT I'VE LANDED ON IS THIS, I DO SUPPORT THE DOAC, UH, IS FULLY FUNDED FOR CAPACITY.
I MEAN, NOT FOR, SORRY, THE WORD CAPACITY FOR, UM, I'M WRITING GRANTS TOO, UM,
UM, THAT'S JUST GOOD STEWARDSHIP, SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ALSO SUPPORTING THAT.
UM, I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, WE WORKED REALLY HARD.
I WORKED REALLY HARD AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WORKED REALLY HARD ON THE, THE BOND, THE, UH, CREATION OF THE PLAN THAT WAS PRESENTED AND WAS REALLY EXCITED WHEN $20 MILLION WAS RECOMMENDED FOR THE PROJECT, FOR THE ECO DEV PROJECT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND ONE OF THEM WAS AN ICDP THAT INVOLVED DCA AND I, I'M REALLY, I KNOW THAT THAT MONEY GOT CUT, BUT I JUST REALLY, I'M GRATEFUL THAT THERE'S STILL MONEY THERE FOR IT AND THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTING THAT DREAM.
UM, I STILL WOULD LIKE IT TO GO BACK UP BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, AND THE H HOMELESSNESS ISSUE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M A MOM OF A SPECIAL NEEDS ADULT AND, UM, I TOOK MONEY OUTTA MY RETIREMENT THIS MORNING IN ORDER TO PAY OFF BILLS SO THAT I COULD BE IN HIS LIFE MORE.
BUT MY RETIREMENT IS REALLY NOT MY RETIREMENT.
LIKE YOUR RETIREMENT IS, IT'S REALLY HAS TO BE SAVED SO THAT I CAN CARE FOR HIM IN THE FUTURE.
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LANGUAGE AND I DO NOT SEE A LOT OF HOUSING BEING PREPARED FOR FOLKS LIKE MY SON AND FAMILIES LIKE MY SON WHO CARE FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES.PRISCILLA RICE ES GOOD AFTERNOON.
HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL FOR MANY PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN IN MY COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF DALLAS, PARKS ARE A LIFELINE.
RECREATION CENTERS OFFER LOW, LOW COST, OR FREE AFTERSCHOOL CHILDCARE.
THEY OFFER CAMPS DURING SPRING BREAK AND DURING THE SUMMER AND OFFER CHILDREN OF ALL AGES DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO NOT ONLY ALLOW PARENTS TO WORK AND SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, BUT TO OPEN THE DOORS FOR KIDS TO MAKE FRIENDS LEARNED ABOUT A LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, AND PERHAPS DISCOVER NEW TALENTS THAT WILL SET THE FOUNDATION FOR THEM TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE.
NOT TO MENTION THE FREE SERVICES OFFERED TO OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY.
PARKS AND REC IS WHERE COMMUNITY GATHERS IN MY COMMUNITY.
NEW FRIENDS GROUPS ARE BEING CREATED FOR COMMUNITY TO, UH, FOR PARK CLEANUPS AND OTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS.
ELA DE BOSQUE OR FOREST SCHOOL IS A COMMUNITY GROW GROUP LED IN, UH, BY COMMUNITY MEMBER FATIMA RAMIREZ AT GATEWAY PARK IN MY COMMUNITY.
AND SHE HAS CREATED A SPACE FOR HER NEIGHBORHOOD PARK FOR TODDLERS TO LEAD A WALK ALONG THE TRAIL, READ TOGETHER IN SPANISH, AND TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY PARK.
THEY HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A NEW PLAYGROUND AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE GROUPS LIKE FATIMAS A CITYWIDE TO ME, THE HIGHEST RETURN IN OUR INVESTMENT IS OUR YOUTH.
LIKE, LIKE YOU HEARD YOUNG VIDA DEPA, WHO YOU HEARD SPEAK TODAY, INVESTING IN RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND PARKS THAT BRING OUR YOUTH AS MANY OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS POSSIBLE.
BEFORE I MOVE TO YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ETHAN
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY.
MY NAME IS ETHAN AL AND I'M A SOPHOMORE AT JESUIT DALLAS.
TODAY I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU MY EXPERIENCES AND HOW MY PERSPECTIVE HAS BEEN CHANGED BY SERVING WITH THE UNIQUE ORGANIZATION WITH MY SCHOOL OF JESUIT DALLAS, WITH THIS ORGANIZATION, MYSELF AND OTHER JESUIT DALLAS SOPHOMORES TRAVEL TO FAIR PARK ON SUNDAY MORNINGS.
OUR JOURNEYS TO OUR SUNDAY JOURNEYS TO FAIR PARK AREN'T ABOUT THE STATE FAIR OR REMINISCING ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE COTTON BOWL.
IT'S ABOUT PLAYING BINGO, BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS, AND CREATING JOY FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE OF DALLAS.
WHILE SERVING AT AUSTIN STREET CENTER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FAIR PARK, I FIRST HAD WITNESSED THE WAY THAT THE SHELTERS MEMBERS FACES LIGHT UP WHEN THEY WIN AND GAVE A BINGO OR WHEN THERE'S A FALSE ALARM.
AND PEOPLE STILL LAUGH EVEN THOUGH THAT, UH, THAT THE GAME WILL CONTINUE.
HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH BINGO BRINGS OUT REMARKABLE JOY OR UNIQUE STATUS CAN STILL BE FELT THROUGHOUT THE SHELTER, THE ATMOSPHERE HAS AN UNDERLYING CRITICAL ISSUE.
THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DALLAS, A PROBLEM THAT DEMANDS OUR ATTENTION.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE AUSTIN STREET CENTER IS EXTREMELY FULL AND IS FACING IMMENSE SWATS OF PEOPLE WHOM THE CENTER QUITE FRANKLY CANNOT PROVIDE SHELTER FOR.
IN FACT, JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND DURING THE EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS, AUSTIN STREET CENTER HAD TO NEGLECT SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE OF DALLAS DUE TO DUE TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
FURTHERMORE, MANY OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE I'VE MET WHILE PLAYING BINGO ARE EXPERIENCING A UNIQUE FORM OF UNCERTAINTY AND AMBIGUITY.
TO GIVE YOU A MORE PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, MANY OF THE PEOPLE I'VE BEFRIENDED WERE ORIGINALLY PAYING $650 TO $700 A MONTH IN RENT, AND THEN THEY, AND THEN THEIR RENT DOUBLED AND UNABLE TO ATTEND RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR AFFORD THE HIGHER RENT.
WERE ULTIMATELY, UM, WERE ULTIMATELY EVICTED AND ULTIMATELY BECAME HOMELESS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
HOMELESSNESS IS NOT AN ISSUE TO PASSIVELY IGNORE CHALK UP TO A SHIFTING ECONOMY THAT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO NORMAL.
TRAGICALLY, IT IS THE NORM AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
NOW, MYSELF AND THE FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS ORGANIZATION STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WOULD BE AN IRREPLACEABLE BENEFACTOR IN CHISELING AWAY AT THE GRAVITY OF HOMELESSNESS IN DALLAS.
SO IN CONCLUSION, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS AN ADVOCATE AND ADVOCATE ADVOCATING FOR $200 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY, CITY OF DALLAS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY.
YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, MARCIA PHILLIPS.
MARCIA PHILLIPS IS NOT PRESENT.
UM, MY NAME IS ANGEL GONZALEZ AND I AM A RESIDENT OF EXPO PARK IN DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I JUST WANTED TO, UM,
[03:40:01]
STOP BY TODAY, UM, TO JOIN THE GROUP, UM, AND ACTUALLY SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR, UM, THE COMMUNITY AND THE PARKS AND REC, UM, DIVISION.UM, I'M AN AVID USER OF THE SANTA FE TRAIL FAIR PARK GROUNDS AND ITS SURROUNDING PARKS.
I'VE SEEN AND EXPERIENCED A BENEFIT OF PROPER FUNDING OF PARKS AND TRAILS BY THE CITY.
AS I GO ON, RUNS AND WALKS ON THE TRAILS, AMAZING TO SEE ALL THE FAMILIES USE ALL THE SPACES FROM THE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT, UM, FROM FUNDING OF THE PARKS.
UM, ALSO IT'S AMAZING TO SEE HOW THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE TRAIL ALSO CONNECTS THE COMMUNITY WITH THE NORTHERN PART OF THE TRAIL AND, UM, ALL THE BUSINESSES AND ALL THE LOCALS THAT YOU SEE WALKING ACROSS, UM, USING THE SPACES AND THE PARKS.
UM, ALSO, UM, I ENCOURAGE, UM, THE PASSING OF MORE FUNDS IN THE 2024 BONDS.
AND, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY FOR YOU GUYS.
ASHLEY MARSHALL IS NOT PRESENT.
I'M THE COO FOR SERVICES OF HOPE.
I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, STAND HERE AND SAY THAT I'M AN EXPERT IN THE HOUSING CRISIS.
I CAN'T SAY I'M AN EXPERT IN THE ROOT CAUSE OR A FIX FOR EVERYTHING, BUT I CAN SAY I'M AN EXPERT IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CALL OUR OFFICE EVERY DAY, UH, NEEDING HELP, NEEDING SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD AND STAY SAFE.
I'M AN EXPERT IN THE HOMELESS.
I LIVE DOWNTOWN AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THERE AND SO WALKING SOMEWHERE, THEY WANT SOMEBODY TO TALK TO.
SO I CAN SAY I'M AN EXPERT IN SOME OF THEIR STORIES AND DOING BETTER, BUT NOT HAVING A PLACE TO, YOU KNOW, SHOW THAT NOT HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M AN, I'M AN EXPERT IN STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE DOING FINE AND NOW THEY'RE HOMELESS BECAUSE THE RENT GOT TOO HIGH AND THESE STORIES ARE, THE STORIES ARE MORE THAN A FEW PEOPLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT I KNOW THERE'S AT LEAST PART OF A SOLUTION JUST TO INCREASE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THE BOND.
200 MILLION IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I HOPE YOU GUYS TAKE EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS ROBERT KENT AND I'M THE TEXAS, TEXAS STATE DIRECTOR FOR TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND AND ALSO TRUSTEE WITH THE DALLAS PARKS COALITION.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE, UH, ON FAVOR OF THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION FOR $350 MILLION FOR PARKS, TRAILS, AND GREEN SPACES IN THE NEXT BOND PROGRAM.
THE DALLAS PARKS COALITION IS A DIVERSE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING NEARLY 30 NONPROFITS, VOLUNTEER GROUPS AND FRIENDS OF ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH IN TURN REPRESENT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PARK USERS AND MEMBERS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE ARE ALL UNITED BEHIND ONE THING, THE NEED TO PROVIDE THE PARK SYSTEM, THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS, ESPECIALLY IN THE UPCOMING BOND.
WE FULLY SUPPORT THE CBTF RECOMMENDATION OF $350 MILLION ALLOCATED TO PARKS, TRAILS, AND GREEN SPACES IN THE 2024 BOND.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY OF OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS HERE TODAY ABOUT WHY PARKS ARE IMPORTANT AND I WON'T REITERATE THAT.
INSTEAD, I DO WANT TO TELL YOU TODAY THAT DALLAS RESIDENTS AND VOTERS SUPPORT PARKS IN THE BOND.
A RECENT POLL COMMISSIONED BY THE TRUST REPUBLIC LAND AND THE NATURE CONSERVANCY FOUND THAT 64% OF LIKELY DALLAS VOTERS WOULD SUPPORT $398 MILLION FOR PARKS AND TRAILS IN THE NEXT BOND PROGRAM.
AND TODAY I'M DELIVERING A PETITION SIGNED BY 1,219 DALLAS RESIDENTS IN SUPPORT OF $350 MILLION FOR PARKS, PARKS, AND TRAILS BENEFIT OUR CITY IN SO MANY WAYS.
THEY IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT, THEY BENEFIT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, THEY IMPROVE HEALTH AND THEY DRIVE EQUITABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH.
AND THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM IS OUR CHANCE TO MAKE CRITICALLY NEEDED INVESTMENTS IN THIS IMPORTANT CITY SERVICE AND PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY FROM FIVE MILE CREEK AND OAK CLIFF TO THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT IN NORTH DALLAS AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.
THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF, MEMBERS OF THE BOND TASK FORCE FOR YOUR HOURS OF WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, WILL YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE FIRST TWO ROWS OF THE CENTER SECTION FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN PERSON, APRIL ALLEN HAS CANCELED.
PHILLIP HYATT HAGUE, LILY WEISS, SAMUEL MOR MORTIMER, MARIE CAMINO, DAVY DAVID WOODY III, MICHELLE MORGAN, GARRETT BOONE HAS CANCELED.
KAREN SPENCER, THOMAS ZELENSKY,
[03:45:02]
MORGAN DONNELLEY, JOSHUA REESE, SABINA CARR, DANNY ERST, KEN BENSON, JASON REED, SAMSARA NOBLE, MICHAEL DE DEXTER, JOHN JACK, ELIZABETH MARKOWITZ, AND STEVEN BRODER.HAY, IF YOU MAY COME TO THE PODIUM.
PHILLIP HYATT HAGUE WITH THE LU DALLAS AND DALLAS PARKS COALITION TRUSTEE, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE TALKING ABOUT THE BOND PACKAGE, UH, AND SO I'LL KEEP MY REMARKS BRIEF.
UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PARK SPACE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE A NORTH STAR FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, MY FRIEND ROBERT KENT AND TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR FOR MANY YEARS NOW.
UH, THIS IS A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT ALL OF OUR CITY, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN USE TO HELP DETERMINE, UM, WHAT PARKS ARE BEING FUNDED AND HOW WE'RE USING THAT, UH, THIS BOND MONEY, UH, EQUITABLY.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE'VE COME AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
AND, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, SUPPORTING THE BOND.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S EVENING YET, BUT WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
UM, MY NAME'S SAMUEL MORTIMER, 1623 MAIN STREET.
I'M A PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF SAN FE TRAIL.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE CITY OF DALLAS TO INVEST HEAVILY IN PARKS AND TRAILS, UH, AS MENTIONED BY OTHERS.
THESE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS ARE AN IDEAL VEHICLE FOR STIMULATING ECONOMIC GROWTH WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY BUILDING STRONGER AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES FUNCTIONING AS LINEAR PARKS.
OUR TRAILS ARE NO LONGER RESERVED FOR RECREATIONAL ALONE, BUT NEED TO BE PRIORITIZED AND RECOGNIZED AS TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE SANTA FE TRAIL IS ONE OF THESE TRAILS AND IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THREAD THROUGH EAST DALLAS WITH TRAILHEADS IN FORT COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
OUR VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION HAS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO ENGAGE THESE COMMUNITIES BY COLLECTING COMMENTS FROM OVER 500 RESIDENTS IN SUPPORT OF OUR ADOPTED MASTER PLAN.
THAT'S FROM ACROSS 47 DALLAS ZIP CODES.
THE IMPLICATION BEING THAT PEOPLE FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS TRAVEL FROM ALL OVER TO USE THE SANTA FE TRAIL.
UM, THE CHARGE WE WERE GIVEN, UH, IS CLEAR IN PHASE ONE OF OUR MASTER PLAN IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST TECHNICALLY SCORING PROJECTS INVENTORIED BY PARKS AND REC STAFF.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE FULL PARKS RECOMMENDATION BY THE COMMUNITY BOND TASK FORCE TO IDENTIFY FUNDS FOR THE CREATION OF A DALLAS CULTURAL TRAIL, AND IN PARTICULAR SUPPORT FUNDS EARMARKED FOR THE SANTA FE TRAILS PHASE ONE MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
HELLO, MAYOR ATKINS AND COUNCIL.
I'M THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER FOR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY'S TEXAS CHAPTER.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS TODAY.
UM, TMC IS HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE MULTIPLE BENEFITS THAT NATURE PROVIDES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL BOND PROJECTS.
NATURE IN ALL FORMS IS INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROVIDES PUBLIC BENEFITS SUCH AS FLOOD PROTECTION, IMPROVED WATER QUALITY, REDUCED URBAN HEAT AND AIR POLLUTION, INCREASED BIODIVERSITY AND IMPROVED PUBLIC HEALTH.
INTEGRATING NATURE INTO THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT CREATES EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
THESE ARE NOT NEW CONCEPTS TO THE CITY OF DALLAS, BUT WE SEEK TO BRING THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS SUCH AS GREEN STORM, STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE FOREFRONT.
AS BOND DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE, WE REQUEST THAT YOU ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMITMENTS MADE IN THE EXISTING GREEN SPECS ORDINANCE, THE SUSTAINABLE SITES PROGRAM AND ENVISION THE CITY OF DALLAS CAN BE A LEADER IN THE USE OF NATURE-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE BY COMPREHENSIVELY INTEGRATING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS INTO THE DESIGN OF FUTURE PUBLICLY FUNDED PROJECTS AND SET THE EXAMPLE FOR ALL FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE POLLED.
81% OF DALLAS RESIDENTS SAY THAT THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT THE BOND MEASURES IF THEY KNOW THAT ALL PROJECTS FUNDED BY CITY BONDS WOULD BE BUILT IN WAYS THAT WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS THAT NATURE PROVIDES.
UM, WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR PARKS, TRAILS, AND OPEN SPACES IN THE PROPOSED 2024 BOND PROGRAM.
TNC IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE DALLAS PARKS COALITION AND WE SUPPORT FUNDING FOR INVESTMENT IN DALLAS'S GREEN SPACES, WHICH NOT ONLY IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS, BUT PROVIDES OTHER ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, UM, AND ADVANCES THE RESILIENCY OF THE WHOLE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS.
[03:50:01]
IS NOT PRESENT.ELLE MORGAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE DALLAS, I'M SORRY, NOT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AT THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART.
UM, JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY SAY ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR ARTS PARTNERS, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND TRULY THE RECOGNITION, UM, OF WHAT WE PROVIDE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY FROM EDUCATION TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR 6% FOR THE ARTS, UM, INCLUDING THAT BARE BONES TOTAL OF 20 MILLION FOR US AT THE DMA TO ADDRESS OUR MOST URGENT NEEDS, UM, LIKE OUR PARTNERS INTO THE COMMENT THAT COUNCILMAN, UM, NVA HAS MADE EARLIER TODAY.
UM, THIS NUMBER REALLY IS A RESULT OF CUTS, CUTS AND MORE CUTS TO A LONG LIST OF CRITICAL NEEDS AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
UM, AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION.
GARRETT BOONE HAS CANCELED KAREN SPENCER, COUNSELORS AND ANALYST WHO CO-AUTHORED A PEER REVIEWED ARTICLE RELEVANT TO FLUORIDATION IN 2018.
I'M A MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE ON BEHALF OF THE FOOD AND WATER WATCH IN ITS LAWSUIT AGAINST THE EPA REGARDING NEUROTOXICITY.
I'M ALSO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY INJURED BY FLUORIDATION POLICY AS WERE MY CHILDREN.
I WAS PREGNANT WHEN MY CITY BEGAN FLUORIDATION IN 1981 IN 2014, AFTER TWO WEEKS OF USING NO FLUORIDE BOTTLED WATER INSTEAD OF MY FILTERED WATER, MY ARTHRITIS, I BOWEL CHRONIC PARTICLE DISAPPEARED AS DID MY KIDNEY AND LIVER ISSUES.
THEN I USED MY TALENTS AS AN ANALYST TO STUDY THE SILENCE.
AT LEAST 50% OF THE POPULATION IS LIKE ME.
THAT MEANS OVER 1 MILLION OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH ARTHRITIS, COLITIS, ECZEMA, AND PSORIASIS OR BONE SPURS, DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE AND KIDNEY OR THYROID DISEASE ARE SUFFERING FROM CHLORIDE POISONING.
AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT THOSE WHOSE BRAINS WERE SUBTLY ALTERED AS INFANTS RESULTING IN LEARNING DISABILITIES.
MOST FLUORIDATION IS COMMITTED TO THE OLOGY IGNORANT OF THE SCIENCE.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU HOW HIGH AS PROPHETS DENTISTS, IF THE COMMUNITY IS FLUORIDATED, THE DENTIST SAYS, MR. JONES, IT IS WONDERFUL THAT WE ARE FLUORIDATED, BUT FEEL BETTER IF WE GAVE LITTLE ROBBIE A FLUORIDE TREATMENT JUST TO BE SAFE.
AND IF THE COMMUNITY IS NOT FLUORIDATED, THE DENTIST SAYS, MRS. JONES, WE'RE NOT FLUORIDATED HERE.
SO I RECOMMEND FLUORIDE TREATMENT.
IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE LESS COST MORE THAN A MULTIPLE OF DENTIST CAVITIES.
DENTISTS CAN GROSS $400,000 ANNUALLY FROM FLUORIDE TREATMENTS, ABOUT HALF OF WHICH GOES INTO THEIR POCKET.
THOMAS ZELENSKY IS NOT PRESENT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME MR. OH, MS. DONNELLEY, I'M SORRY.
JUST TRY AND WHEREVER WE'RE AT BECAUSE THEY'RE WAITING ON YOUR BELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I'M AN IMMIGRATION PARALEGAL AND AN ANIMAL LOVER.
AS A YOUNG GIRL, I DREAMED OF HAVING A FARM ONE DAY WHERE I WOULD TAKE CARE OF HORSES.
I SKETCHED OUT THE LARGE PASTURES WHERE THE HORSES WOULD SPEND THEIR DAYS FREE FROM HARM.
I KNEW THAT ALTHOUGH THEY CAN'T SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE, HORSES LIKELY WANT THE SAME THING WE DO TO DO THEIR THING AND BE LEFT ALONE.
THE TYPE OF LIFE I ENVISION FOR THESE ANIMALS IS FAR FROM WHAT I SEE NOW IN THE STREETS OF DALLAS.
SOME MIGHT SAY THESE HORSES ARE MEANT TO WORK, BUT IT'S ANTHROPOMORPHIC TO GIVE HORSES A JOB, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVEN'T SIGNED A CONTRACT CARRIAGE BUSINESSES MAY CARE ABOUT THEIR ANIMALS, BUT HORSES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT.
SO THE ENFORCEMENT OF PROTECTIVE REGULATIONS DEFAULTS TO ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICIALS WHO ARE NOT REGULARLY MONITORING OR AUDITING CARRIAGE ACTIVITY.
THE PHYSICAL CHECKUPS ARE FINE, BUT WHAT DOES THAT DO TO PREVENT, PROTECT AGAINST ACCIDENTS? SINCE HORSE CARRIAGES BEGAN OPERATING IN CITIES, THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF ACCIDENTS, MANY INVOLVING FATALITIES.
NO MATTER HOW CAREFUL THE CARRIAGE DRIVERS OR HOW HEALTHY THE ANIMALS ARE,
[03:55:01]
HORSES DON'T BELONG ON THE STREETS.LOUD VEHICLES, RECKLESS DRIVERS, HORNS AND EXHAUST FUMES, NONE OF THESE ARE NATURAL FOR HORSES TO ENDURE FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME, MUCH LESS EIGHT HOURS WHILE STRAPPED TO A HEAVY CARRIAGE.
EACH HORSE IS AN INDIVIDUAL, NOT A MACHINE.
WE CAN'T PREDICT HOW EVEN ONE ANIMAL MAY REACT TO THESE STIMULI FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT.
THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THIS OPERATION MAKES IT IRRESPONSIBLE TO CONTINUE ON TOP OF THE PHYSICAL LABOR, OFTEN IN EXTREME TEMPERATURES, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS IMPOSED ON THESE ANIMALS IS UNNECESSARY.
IT INDUCES SECONDHAND STRESS FOR LOCALS AS WELL AS TOURISTS.
TO SEE THESE ANIMALS IN DANGEROUS LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS, A GROWING CITY HAS NO NEED OR JUSTIFICATION FOR KEEPING HORSES ON THE STREET ENDANGERING LIVES.
PLEASE ENACT A BAN AGAINST HORSE CARRIAGES IN DALLAS AND ENSURE THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE WITH THESE ANIMALS ARE NOT EXPLOITATIVE OR BASED ON PROFIT.
PLEASE SHOW YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND WON'T COMPROMISE THAT FOR SOME DESIRE FOR A RELIC OF THE PAST.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU MAY CONTINUE.
UH, MY NAME IS JOSHUA REESE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
TODAY I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE OUTDATED USE OF HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES, UM, WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UM, I'M A FREQUENT DALLAS TAURUS AND A MEMBER OF I BAND OF HORSE IS DALLAS.
IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, IT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE OBVIOUS THAT THE BLATANT MISHANDLING AND CRUELTY THAT THESE BUSINESSES INSTILL UPON THEIR HORSES, UM, HAS BECOME A PROBLEM THAT WE JUST CAN'T OVERLOOK ANYMORE.
THESE ANIMALS ARE NOT ONLY BEING PUT IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS COMPLETELY UNNATURAL TO 'EM, BUT ALSO ENDURE THE BURDEN OF BEING SUBJECTED TO THE CHAOS OF, UM, CITY TRAFFIC AND FORCED TO WORK IN CONDITIONS THAT SIMPLY ARE NOT SAFE.
INSTEAD OF LIVING A LIFE WHERE THEY'RE FREE TO ROAM AND LIVE OUT THEIR NATURAL INSTINCTS, THE DIGNITY IS STRIPPED AWAY FROM THEM AND THEY'RE PUT IN A SITUATION WHERE PROFIT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR WELLBEING.
UH, THERE ARE COUNTLESS INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE PROPERTY AND THESE ANIMALS ARE PUT AT RISK, AND IT'S CLEAR THAT THESE HORSES DO NOT BELONG IN THE CROWDED CITY STREETS OF DALLAS.
UM, IT DOESN'T TAKE A WHOLE LOT OF IMAGINATION TO BELIEVE THAT IF YOU WERE IN THEIR SHOES, YOU WOULDN'T WANT THIS FOR YOURSELF.
SO WHY WOULD WE BELIEVE THAT THE ANIMALS WANT THAT COUNSEL? I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THESE CONCERNS SERIOUSLY AND CONSIDER BANNING THIS OUTDATED PRACTICE.
UM, THERE'S A NUMBER, THERE'S A GROWING NUMBER OF POPULATION PEOPLE THAT JUST OPPOSE THE USE OF HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES.
AND I HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS A PROGRESSIVE AND MORE COMPASSIONATE FUTURE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE ANIMALS OF DALLAS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M DANNY OBERST AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 14.
I WANT TO JOIN OUR HONORABLE MAYOR IN ADVOCATING FOR THE MAXIMUM FUNDING FOR OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED OUR CURRENT HOME IN LARGE PARK BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A HALF A BLOCK FROM A DALLAS CITY PARK.
I THINK THE PARK DEPARTMENT MORE THAN THE OTHER MUNICIPAL FUNCTIONS, SPEAKS TO THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE CITY, AND IT IS ALSO NECESSARY IN A URBAN LIVING ENVIRONMENT.
OVER THE LAST 35 YEARS OF BEING A HOMEOWNER HERE IN DALLAS, I'VE WATCHED IN DISMAY AS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE FIRST DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE A FINANCIAL HIT WHENEVER THE CITY'S BUDGET IS A LITTLE BIT TIGHT.
WELL, THAT'S NOT THE CASE NOW, AND IT IS TIME TO INVEST IN OUR PARKS SYSTEM.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF FULLY FUNDING THE PARK DEPARTMENT AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE PROPOSED NEW REC CENTER AT EXL PARK.
EXL IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 43 DALLAS REC CENTERS WITH AN INDOOR NASM, THE ONLY ONE.
MY BRIAN PLACE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THIS GOAL FOR OVER TWO DECADES.
AND AT EACH CAPITAL BOND CYCLE, WE ARE TOLD IT WILL COME NEXT TIME.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW REC CENTER AT XL PARK.
[04:00:05]
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.THANKS FOR, UH, STAYING AROUND AND THANKS FOR, UH, LETTING ME, UH, SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO ME.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE THE, UH, CHAIR OF THE FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I LIVE AT 1527 WATERSIDE COURT AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE, UH, SARAH EVANS TOLD YOU, UH, SEVERAL SPEAKERS BACK ABOUT, UH, OUR SUPPORT FOR THE UPCOMING, UH, UH, LIBRARY ITEMS IN THE BOND PACKAGE.
UM, WE, UM, UH, SUPPORT THE, UH, PROPOSALS.
I'LL GET IN THE WEEDS HERE A LITTLE BIT FOR YOU.
WE SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT THE PRESTON ROYAL, UH, ALLOCATION FOR FUNDING.
WE SUPPORT THE A DA UPGRADES THAT ARE IN THE FUNDING AND, UM, UH, WE SUPPORT THE, UH, NORTH, UH, NORTH OAK CLIFF, UH, UH, UH, REPLACEMENT FACILITY, UH, IN THE LIBRARY AS WELL.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE UNDER THE A DA COMPLIANCE, UH, PROVISIONS THE CITY FULLY FUND ALL THE LIBRARIES TO BE FULLY COMPLIANT WITH THE A DA REGULATIONS AS PROPOSED RIGHT NOW, IT'LL FUND SOME OF THE A DA REGULATIONS BUT NOT FUND FULLY ALL OF THE A DA COMPLIANCE REGULATIONS.
SO THAT'S ONE CHANGE WE'D LIKE TO SEE.
AND AS ONE AS WAS REFERENCED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY STAFF RECONSIDER PUTTING IN THE PARK FOREST LIBRARY INTO THE PARK PACKAGE.
UH, IT WAS REFERENCED TODAY THAT THERE WERE THREE PART THREE LIBRARIES, UH, AS PART OF THE LIBRARY'S 2000 MASTER PLAN.
THOSE WERE NORTH OAK CLIFF, AND THOSE WERE PRESTON ROYAL.
UH, THAT WAS NOT INCLUDING THE PLAN.
UH, WE THINK THAT, UH, THE CITY SHOULD COMPLETE THE, UH, OBLIGATIONS IN THE 2000, UH, UH, MASTER PLAN BY INCLUDING THE PARK FOREST LIBRARY IN THE 2024 BOND ELECTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY, UH, MANY TIMES IN THE OPERATING BUDGET AND, UH, YOUR SUPPORT IN THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM AS WELL.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10, A BUSINESS IN DISTRICT NINE AND A BUSINESS IN DISTRICT 11.
UM, I THINK WE VOTED WITH OUR HEARTS.
WE'D SPEND ALL OF OUR MONEY ON SOLVING THE HOUSING AND HOMELESS ISSUES, UH, BUT WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO THAT.
BUT I WILL ADVOCATE ALONG THE SAME LINES.
UH, THE SANTA FE TRAIL, UH, SPECIFICALLY IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR, FOR A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, 11 NEIGHBORHOODS, SPECIFICALLY EIGHT ADJACENT.
UM, IT'S DIRECT ACCESS TO SIX D-I-D-I-S-D SCHOOLS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, FOR OTHER PARKS.
UM, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT A BANG FOR YOUR BUCK, THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO REALLY, UM, PUT YOUR RESOURCES AND SOME INVESTMENT IN.
UM, ANECDOTALLY, UM, I'M A VOLUNTEER AND HAVE BEEN A SERIAL VOLUNTEER FOR, UH, 30 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN DALLAS, UM, AS A MENTOR FOR BIG, UH, BIG BROTHER, LITTLE BIG BROTHER, LITTLE BROTHERS, LITTLE SISTERS, UM, ALL MY LITTLE BROTHERS.
ALL THEY WANTED TO DO WAS GO TO THE PARK, UM, AS A FAMILY LIAISON AND ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR FOR A FS, UH, WHICH IS THE FOREIGN STUDENT, UH, EXCHANGE PROGRAM.
UM, WHEN I WOULD GET TOGETHER AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ACTIVITIES THEY WANTED TO DO, EVERYBODY VOTED TO GO TO THE PARK.
UM, NUMBER ONE WAS ACTUALLY TACO BELL, BUT UM, WE WOULD TAKE 'EM TO THE PARK.
UM, HAVE A GOOD FRIEND WHOSE BROTHER IS, HAS A DOWN SYNDROME.
UH, HE WANTS TO GO TO BREAKFAST AND GO TO THE PARK.
SO WE ALL KNOW THE BENEFITS OF THAT.
BUT FOR SANTA FE TRAIL SPECIFICALLY, I THINK THAT IT, IT REALLY ACCESS, GIVES ACCESS TO A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, A LOT OF PRIVILEGE AND UNDERPRIVILEGED AS WELL.
SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT CREATING SOME MORE EQUITY AND ACCESS, UM, OF COURSE WE NEED A LOT MORE PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT I THINK SANTA FE TRAIL SPECIFICALLY IS A GREAT, GREAT AVENUE FOR US TO REALLY BENEFIT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN ONE FELL SWOOP.
YOUR VIDEO NEEDS TO BE DISPLAYED.
IS IT ON? NO, THE VIDEO IS STILL NOT ON.
UH, AND YOU CAN HEAR ME FINE? YES.
SO, HELLO, MY NAME'S SAMSARA NOBLE.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING, UH, TEXAS ANIMAL FREEDOM FIGHTERS, AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF BAND HORSE CARRIAGES DALLAS.
UM, HERE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL TODAY ON THE TOPIC OF HORSE CARRIAGES AND THEIR OVERALL WELFARE STANDARDS, IT
[04:05:01]
IS ASTONISHING THAT IN 2024 US COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES STILL ALLOW HORSE STRONG CARRIAGES.UH, THIS IS MAINLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT FOLKS WANNA KEEP TRADITIONS ALIVE.
UH, CONTRARILY IT IS NO LONGER A NECESSITY FOR TRAVEL AND THUS HISTORIC RENDERED AS A HISTORICALLY OBSOLETE.
PERHAPS THE CASE COULD HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE 18TH, 19TH, OR EVEN EARLY 20TH CENTURY THAT HORSES WERE IN ESSENTIAL PART OF TRANSPORT AND THAT WE NEEDED THEM.
YET THE FACT REMAINS, WE SIMPLY DON'T LIVE THIS WAY ANYMORE AND PUBLIC STREETS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR THEM ANYWAY.
THANKFULLY, WE HAVE, UH, BECOME A MODERN SOCIETY WHERE VEHICULAR TRANSPORTATION IS THE NEW NORMAL.
HOWEVER, DOES A PRACTICE GET A FREE PASS JUST BECAUSE IT'S NORMALIZED? I DON'T THINK SO.
SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE HORSES? EXACTLY LIKE THE OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT ABUSE AND EXPLOIT ANIMALS.
THE HORSE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY PRIORITIZES PROFITS OVER THE LIVES OF HORSES.
THEY SEE THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES AS OBJECTS TO MANIPULATE MUCH LIKE OTHER ANIMALS.
ANIMALS ARE NOT OBJECTS AND THEY WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE.
I RECALL SEEING A VIDEO WHERE ONE HORSE CARRIAGE DRIVER EXPLICITLY STATED SHE WORKS HARD FOR HER FOOD, QUOTE, END QUOTE, AS THOUGH THAT ILLUSION OF CHOICE AND AGREEMENT WERE TRUE.
WHAT IS TRUE IS THAT NONE OF THESE HORSES CONSENT TO BEING FORCED TO PULL TONS OF WEIGHT FOR MULTIPLE HOURS STRAIGHT.
THEY'RE BASICALLY QUOTE, INDENTURED SERVANTS TO THEIR HUMAN MASTERS.
TO PUT IT MILDLY SOUND FAMILIAR, THESE HORSES HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED TO HAVE DEEP LACERATIONS ON THEIR BODIES FROM REPEATED WHIPPING AND PHYSICAL STRAIN, LEAVING THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO SERIOUS INFECTIONS.
THEY ALSO EXPERIENCED IMMENSE STRESS, HEAT STROKE IN THE SUMMER.
THAT YOUR TIME DEHYDRATION, FATIGUE.
UH, DEPRESSION AND OTHER SYMPTOMS. THANK YOU.
I AM MICHAEL DEXTER, A JESUIT SENIOR AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 13.
I HAD SPOKEN BEFORE BACK ON DECEMBER 6TH WITH FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS ABOUT THE MYRIAD OF ISSUES SURROUNDING THE HOMELESS CRISIS.
WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR $200 MILLION ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THIS MEETING.
I AM HERE TO EXPLAIN A VERY DIRE SITUATION THAT HAS COME UP SINCE I LAST SPOKE.
A CLIENT OF OURS HAS BEEN HOUSED IN A DHA APARTMENT.
HOWEVER, WITH HER PAYING $1,050 A MONTH, SHE'S PAYING OVER 81% OF HER INCOME SOLELY ON RENT ALONE.
DUE TO THIS, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE SHE NEEDS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO SPEND HER REMAINING INCOME ON MEDICAL SERVICES OR FOOD, WHICH SHOULD NOT EVEN BE A CHOICE SHE HAS TO MAKE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WE AT FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HER TO ACCESS SERVICES TO HELP HER STAY HEALTHY USING RESOURCES LIKE SNAP AND MEALS ON WHEELS.
HOWEVER, DUE TO HER HAVING DIABETES AND THE COST NEEDING TO CARE FOR IT, SHE'S BARELY ABLE TO EVEN SURVIVE, IF AT ALL.
AGAIN, WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR $200 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
PLEASE HELP THIS POOR WOMAN OUT.
NO ONE EVER WANTS TO BE IN THE SITUATION THAT SHE'S IN.
GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
TOGETHER WITH MY WIFE, I'VE BEEN OPERATING A CARRIAGE COMPANY IN TEXAS FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
OUR JOURNEY BEGAN WITH DRIVING CARRIAGES IN THE DALLAS WEST END IN THE NINETIES WHERE WE WITNESSED THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THE DALLAS CITY ORDINANCE ON BOTH CARRIAGE OPERATIONS AND ON HORSE WELFARE.
THIS ORDINANCE HAS SERVED AS A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES IN AMERICA AND AS IN EUROPE AS WELL.
CURRENTLY, THE GROUP CHICAGO ALLIANCE FOR ANIMALS IS PROTESTING HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES IN DALLAS, SPREADING MISLEADING INFORMATION ABOUT THE WELFARE OF OUR ANIMALS.
CONTRARY TO THEIR CLAIMS, OUR HORSES ARE WELL CARED FOR, LOVED, AND NEVER NEGLECTED OR MISTREATED.
THE NOTION THAT THESE ANIMALS ARE DISCARDED WHEN NO LONGER NEEDED IS ENTIRELY FALSE.
IN TEXAS, WE WERE TAUGHT FROM A YOUNG AGE TO VALUE AND CARE FOR WHAT WE HAVE.
OUR HORSES LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES AND OPEN PASTURES AT OUR HOME WITH ALL THE GRASS HAY THEY CAN EAT, AND DAILY LOVE AND ATTENTION.
TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUE STATE OF A HORSE WELFARE, IT'S ESSENTIAL TO SPEAK WITH THOSE WHO OWN, RAISE, AND CARE FOR THEM DAILY.
THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVOTED TO THE WELFARE OF OUR ANIMALS IS TRULY A COMMITMENT OF LOVE, NOT GREED.
THE PROTESTORS WHO NEITHER OWN NOR CARE FOR HORSES, ARE USING IMAGES OF HORSE ACCIDENTS, PRACTICES FROM OUTSIDE OF TEXAS AND SOME CASES NOT EVEN FROM THE UNITED STATES TO MISREPRESENT OUR INDUSTRY.
HORSE STRONG CARRIAGES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF DALLAS HISTORY FROM DELIVERING MILK AND MAIL TO BANKING AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
THIS RICH HISTORY CONTRIBUTES TO DALLAS'S STATUS AS AN AMERICAN ICON AND DESTINATION CITY.
BEYOND THEIR CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, CARES REPRESENTS A LIVELIHOOD FOR MANY OPERATORS AND OWNERS.
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ANNUALLY TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, SUPPORTING HUNDREDS OF JOBS, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, EVENTS, AND HISTORIC LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT DALLAS.ELIZABETH MARKOWITZ IS NOT PRESENT.
HEY, CAN YOU WE, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
YOUR VIDEO MUST, MUST BE DISPLAYED.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE YOU ALL, SO HAVING ME AND GIVING US ALL A CHANCE TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU.
MY NAME IS STEVEN BROER AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF DALLAS COUNTY AND I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY DISDAIN FOR THE HORSE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY IN DALLAS.
THIS IS MY SECOND TIME SPEAKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN COLLABORATION WITH DAN HORSE CARRIAGES DALLAS, AND I'M HOPING THERE WILL BE NO FOR A THIRD TO GET TO THE POINT.
EVERY PERSON AMONG US KNOWS THIS INDUSTRY IS CRUEL, OUTDATED, AND IS CAPITALIZED OFF OF THE SUFFERING AND EXPLOITATION OF ANIMALS WHO CANNOT CONSENT TO THE CONDITION THEY'RE SUBJECTED TO.
NOW, WE HAD A PREVIOUS SPEAKER TALK ABOUT HOW THEY HAD GOOD CONDITIONS AT THEIR OWN LAND.
THEY CAN CONSENT FROM ME ON THEIR OWN LAND.
I'M HOPING THAT YOU TAKE THE WORDS OF ALL OF US TO HEART, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OF THE ANIMALS, THAT YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DIRECTLY PROTECT WITH MUCH NEEDED POLICY CHANGE.
BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF THE INTENT OF THE
IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN, WE ARE WILLING TO MEET, EMAIL OR CALL ANY OF YOU TO THE DETAIL NEEDS AS WE HAVE CONNECTIONS AND EXPERIENCES WITH OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE MADE IT A POINT TO STANDING ITS ANIMAL CRUELTY BY BANNING FORCE CARRIAGES, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELP DALLAS BECOME THE NEXT CALL.
THIS CONCLUDES YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING.
THE SPECIAL CALLED ME IS ADJOURNED.