[00:00:01]
YOU'RE WATCHING THE MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR ERIC L JOHNSON, MAYOR PRO TEM TENNELL ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CAROLYN KING ARNOLD, COUNCIL MEMBERS CHAD WEST, JESSE MORENO, ZARIN GRACEY, JAIME RESENDEZ, OMAR NARVAEZ, ADAM BAZALDUA, PAULA BLACKMON, KATHY STEWART, JAYNIE SCHULTZ, CARA MENDELSOHN, GAY DONELL WILLIS, PAUL RIDLEY AND CITY MANAGER T.C.
BROADNAX. CITY SECRETARY BILLY RAY JOHNSON, AND CITY ATTORNEY TAMMY PALOMINO.
[Call to Order]
WE CALLED A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING COMMITTEE TO ORDER.I MOVE THAT THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS BE DISCHARGED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS DISCUSSION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF INTERIM CITY MANAGER AND THE TIMELINE FOR NAMING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR AND HIRING OF A CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER, OR ANY ITEM INVOLVING PRACTICALLY THE SAME SUBJECTS.
I HAVE A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY.
PARLIAMENTARY. MISS TAMMY, PLEASE.
MY INQUIRY IS IF A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DISCHARGE CHARGES THAT WERE GIVEN BY THE MAYOR TO A COMMITTEE.
SO THE ITEM DID GO TO COMMITTEE ON MONDAY, BUT THE IT IS THE ASSEMBLY OR THE BODY THAT MAKES THE DECISION TO PULL THE ITEM FROM A COMMITTEE SO THE ASSEMBLY CAN MAKE THAT DECISION TO DISCHARGE THE THOSE TWO ITEMS FROM THE COMMITTEE.
NOW, IT DOESN'T PREVENT THE ASSEMBLY FROM RECOMMITTING THE ITEM EITHER.
THANK YOU. DO I HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? DISCUSSION, PLEASE.
YEAH, I JUST BRIEFLY SAY THAT.
CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN. THANK YOU CHAIR.
ACTUALLY, WE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE TODAY.
THIS MEETING WAS CALLED BY ONLY THREE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING WERE ACTUALLY DELEGATED TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
AND THEY ALLOW A NORMAL CITY PROCESS TO PLAY OUT.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT A RUSH TO NAME AN INTERIM WHEN WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING ALL POSSIBILITIES SYSTEMATICALLY, INSTEAD OF A CAMPAIGN THAT IS LACKING IN TRANSPARENCY. THERE ARE OTHER INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CANDIDATES THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN CONSIDERED.
I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE IRREGULAR WAY THAT THIS IS BEING HANDLED.
I WOULD ACTUALLY MOVE TO TABLE THE THREE ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA TODAY.
THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S OUT OF ORDER.
YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT TO THE CHAIRMAN, THAT MOTION?SHOULD GET A SECOND.
SO YES, I WILL EXPLAIN THAT THE REASON FOR THE DISCHARGE OF COMMITTEE IS BECAUSE SO LONG AS THE QUESTION IS STILL IN THE HANDS OF A COMMITTEE, THE ASSEMBLY CANNOT CONSIDER ANOTHER MOTION OR BUSINESS INVOLVING PRACTICALLY THE SAME QUESTION.
EXCUSE ME, WOULD MY MOTION OVERRIDE THAT? NO, BECAUSE YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING INTO THE BUSINESS OF THE ASSEMBLY AND YOU HAVE TO DISCHARGE THE COMMITTEE FIRST.
THANK YOU. POINT OF POINT OF INFORMATION.
[00:05:05]
IS THAT WHAT THAT IS? CHAIRMAN SCHULTZ.THANK YOU. SO TO BE CLEAR, NOBODY THIS IS NOT ELIMINATING THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.
ALL IT'S DOING THERE, CERTAINLY IT CERTAINLY WILL CONTINUE.
IT'S JUST THE PROCEDURAL EFFORT IN ORDER FOR US TO MEET TODAY.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
IT CAN'T THERE'S NO UNDERMINING THERE'S NO THAT'S RIGHT AGENDA HERE.
AND THERE'S OPPORTUNITY, IF THIS PASSES, TO RECOMMIT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, SECOND ROUND.
I'M RISING THAT I WILL SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE THIS MOTION IS JUST PROCEDURAL.
IN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATIONS.
THERE IS NO RULE THAT SAYS THAT A COMMITTEE SUPERSEDES THE BODY.
THIS IS THE BODY OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, WHERE 15 PEOPLE WERE DULY ELECTED TO DO A JOB.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY.
THE COMMENTS ABOUT THREE PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO CALL A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING THAT'S IN THE CHARTER, THAT IS A POWER THAT THE CHARTER GIVES TO THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, THAT THREE MEMBERS CAN DO THAT.
THIS IS JUST PROCEDURAL AS FAR AS I'VE HEARD FROM THE EXPLANATION, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING TAKING FROM THE COMMITTEE THAT'S GOING TO BE WORKING AND CONTINUE TO WORK, IT JUST DISCHARGES IN ORDER TO BE PROCEDURALLY CORRECT AND ACCURATE.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCILWOMAN BLACKMON.
AND SO IN ORDER FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE, WE NEED NINE OF US HERE.
AND IT'S NOT A COMMITTEE OF FIVE WHERE COMMITTEE QUORUMS CAN BE BROKEN AND WORK CAN STOP.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT'LL TAKE LESS THAN NINE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE NEED ALL OF US TO SIT AT THE TABLE.
THIS IS NOT A QUESTION. ALL OF US TO SIT AT THE TABLE TO GET THIS WORK DONE.
AND SO AND TO DO THAT, I THINK IT DOES NEED TO COME TO THIS LEVEL.
AND IF WE NEED TO BRING THE COMMITTEE BACK IN, WE WILL DO SO.
BUT TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO DO THE HARD WORK OR SIT THROUGH IT IS NOT AN OPTION.
AND I THINK ALL 15 OF US SHOULD BE AT THE TABLE.
DEFINITELY WILL SUPPORT THE PROCEDURAL MOTION.
WE'RE NOT. I BELIEVE IN THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE.
IT'S THERE FOR A REASON, TO WORK THROUGH COMPLICATED ITEMS. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT ON THE TABLE IN FRONT OF YOU, WE ALL NEED TO BE THERE, WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE UNITED BODY, GETTING IT DONE.
SO I'M VERY, VERY MUCH WANT TO SUPPORT THIS AND MOVE FORWARD AND GET TO WORK.
MENDELSOHN. OKAY, JUST REALLY BRIEFLY, MR. CHAIR. PARDON? GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE ONCE AGAIN.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE. DO WE HAVE A VOTE? VOTE PLEASE. RECORD VOTE.
THANK YOU. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS MENDELSOHN'S MOTION.
OKAY. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE SAY YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.
MAYOR JOHNSON IS ABSENT WHEN VOTE TAKEN.
YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD.
[00:10:02]
YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.NO. WITH 12 VOTING IN FAVOR TO OPPOSE ONE ABSENT, ONE VOTE TAKEN.
THERE ARE NO OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING.
[A. 24-720 Discussion of the resignation of City Manager, T.C. Broadnax, and a resolution appointing Kimberly Tolbert as Interim City Manager for the City of Dallas, effective at the close of business on June 3, 2024, to serve until the City Council selects and appoints the city manager (Part 1 of 3) ]
BRIEFING A, DISCUSSION OF THE RESIGNATION OF CITY MANAGER.A SECOND. WHAT ARE THESE? OKAY. BRIEFING A OR ITEM A, DISCUSSION OF THE RESIGNATION OF CITY MANAGER T.C.
BROADNAX AND A RESOLUTION APPOINTING KIMBERLY TOLBERT AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, EFFECTIVE AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON JUNE 3RD, 2024, TO SERVE UNTIL THE CITY COUNCIL SELECTS AND APPOINTS THE CITY MANAGER.
YOU DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
SPEAKERS BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES.
YOLANDA WILLIAMS IS YOUR FIRST SPEAKER.
OKAY, WE CAN SEE YOU, MISS WILLIAMS. HOWEVER, WE CANNOT HEAR YOU.
MISS WILLIAMS, YOUR AUDIO WE CANNOT HEAR.
OKAY. I'LL COME BACK TO MISS WILLIAMS. IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE HAVING SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES.
DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER HAS CANCELED.
THANK YOU SIR. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL, ACTING MAYOR PRO TEM.
SOCIAL CHANGE AND FAITH LEADERS, INCLUDING THE REGIONAL HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, THE REGIONAL BLACK CONTRACTORS, THE NAACP, DALLAS BRANCH, NGAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN PASTORS COALITION, THE INNER MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE, THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK FAITH COALITION, AND THE GREATER DALLAS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE DIDN'T CALL FOR THIS PROCESS.
WE DID NOT CALL FOR THIS VOTE.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH OUR TOP STAFF.
AND WE ARE ALSO HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL.
WE WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN TERMS OF THE SELECTION FOR OUR PERMANENT CITY MANAGER.
BUT RIGHT NOW, AS WE TRANSITION, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP OUR CITY IN STEADY HANDS.
AND KIM TOLBERT HAS REPRESENTED THAT.
SHE DIDN'T WANT US TO BE HERE.
BUT WHEN YOU RIDE WITH US LIKE THAT, WE'RE GOING TO STAND FOR YOU WHETHER YOU ASK FOR IT OR NOT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AMY ROBBINS.
THANK YOU ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HOLDING THIS SPECIAL CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I'M THE CEO OF ALEXO ATHLETICA.
I ALSO HELP RUN THE METROPLEX CIVIC AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE MCBA.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN.
WE URGE EACH OF YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY VERY SERIOUSLY, AND NOT RUSH TO FILL THE SPOT UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE A THOROUGH SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT QUALIFIED CANDIDATE. IT IS NO SECRET THAT MANY DALLAS RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN DISSATISFIED WITH THE DIRECTION THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN GOING OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE FORMER CITY MANAGER AND HIS TEAM.
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PRESIDED OVER SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE I.T.AND CYBER MISHAPS TO INCLUDE A 20 TERABYTE DATA LOSS OF DPD RECORDS AND A HIGH PROFILE ATTACK THAT PUT AT RISK THE PERSONAL INFORMATION OF MORE THAN 30,000 DALLAS RESIDENTS IN 2023. HIS HANDLING OF THE MAJOR PERMANENT BACKLOGS DID DRAW CRITICISM FROM NUMEROUS QUARTERS, AND, AS SUGGESTED BY RECENT POLLS FROM THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, STATES THAT DALLAS RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION IN POLICE SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT WHAT OUR MCBA MEMBERS WANT TO SEE IS NOT A RUSH TO FILL AN EMPTY SPOT, BUT RATHER A CLEAN BREAK FROM THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION AND BUREAUCRACY AND CONDUCT A THOROUGH SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT QUALIFIED CANDIDATE THAT WILL PUT CORE SERVICES AT THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
WE'LL NOW GO BACK TO YOLANDA WILLIAMS. MISS WILLIAMS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOUR AUDIO IS STILL NOT WORKING, MISS WILLIAMS. MISS WILLIAMS. OKAY. SHE'S DROPPED.
WE'LL GIVE IT A ABOUT A MINUTE, MR. MAYOR, TO. OKAY.
MISS WILLIAMS, IS YOUR AUDIO WORKING? OKAY. MISS WILLIAMS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. YOUR AUDIO IS STILL NOT WORKING.
OH, WELL, I GUESS THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR ME.
WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW, MISS WILLIAMS. HOWEVER, WE CANNOT SEE YOU.
OKAY. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
YOU KNOW I SERVED ON A PARK BOARD FOR FIVE YEARS, AND HONESTLY, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY OF THESE.
THIS THESE ARE PERSONNEL ISSUES.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN CLOSED DOORS, BEHIND AND CLOSED SESSION.
I UNDERSTAND WHY Y'ALL SUSPENDED THE AD HOC COMMITTEE SO WE CAN GET OUT SO WE CAN SPEAK ON THESE THINGS, BUT JUST BE MINDFUL THAT WE JUST RECENTLY I THINK Y'ALL JUST REACHED THAT THREE PANEL AD HOC COMMITTEE JUST APPOINTED, WHICH I LOVE, MISS TAMMY PALOMINO.
IT WAS A THREE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
SO WHAT I DON'T WHAT WE DON'T WANT COUNCIL TO DO IS PLEASE DON'T START PLAYING POLITICS.
EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO THROW THEIR NAME IN THERE.
IF Y'ALL HAVE A CANDIDATE, WHETHER THEY'RE BLACK, WHITE, HISPANIC OR WHOEVER, EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT.
AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED.
IT'S THE PROCESS AND WHAT PEOPLE THINK IS TAKING PLACE.
JUST LIKE THE LADY SPOKE BEFORE ME, SHE HAS SOME VALID POINTS, JUST LIKE MR. BLAIR SPOKE. HE HAS SOME VALID POINTS.
BUT THIS JOB THAT I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR MISS TOLBERT.
BUT THIS JOB AND COUNCIL, YOUR JOB IS TO GIVE GREAT GOVERNANCE AND FOLLOW AND GET THE BEST CANDIDATE THAT'S QUALIFIED WITH GOOD, YOU KNOW, INTEGRITY AND MERITS.
ALL THIS OTHER STUFF IN THE NEWSPAPER.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF CHARTER REVIEW.
I MEAN, WE GOT THE FIRE PENSION CRISIS.
IT IS TOO MUCH GOING ON AT CITY HALL FOR US TO BE AT THIS POINT.
AND LASTLY, COUNCIL, IF MR. BROADNAX APPLIED FOR THAT JOB IN AUSTIN, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS DO NOT PAY HIM, BECAUSE IF HE DID THAT AND DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT TO COUNCIL, THAT IS NOT FAIR.
SO WE ASK THAT Y'ALL WORK IT OUT, GET TOGETHER, DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
DON'T RUSH SO ALL VOICES CAN BE HEARD.
THIS IS A DIVERSE CITY COUNCIL.
WHETHER YOU WANT A WHITE, WHETHER YOU WANT A HISPANIC, WHETHER YOU WANT THE BLACK.
EVERYONE HAVE A VOICE AND YOU ALL ARE REPRESENTING US.
THANK YOU ALL AND WE'RE WATCHING.
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HAVE A GREAT DAY.THIS CONCLUDES YOUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM MR. MAYOR. I'LL TAKE THE TIME AND READ ITEM C.
I UNDERSTAND A AND C WILL BE CONSIDERED SHORTLY.
[C. 24-722 Discussion regarding process and schedule for performance evaluations for City Attorney, Tammy L. Palomino, City Secretary, Bilierae Johnson, and City Auditor, Mark Swann (Part 1 of 3) ]
BILLY RAY JOHNSON, AND CITY AUDITOR MARK SWANN.THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR COMING TO THIS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE THING CLEAR.
I BELIEVE IN PROCESS AND PROCEDURE.
AND THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN DOING PRACTICE FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.
AND THIS IS A PROCESS AND PROCEDURE THAT WE AS A COUNCIL ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURE BY SAYING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A LUNCH BREAK, YOU MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LONGER, BUT IT IS NOW 1:35.
[Items A (Part 2 of 3) and C (Part 2 of 3) ]
ON FEBRUARY 27TH, 2024.THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 551074 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER DESCRIBED ON TODAY'S AGENDA ITEM A AND C UNDER SECTION 551071 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT.
ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER DESCRIBED ON TODAY'S AGENDA ITEM A.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAD COMPLETED ITS CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION FIVE, 551.074, 551.071 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT AT 3:38 ON FEBRUARY 27TH, 2024.
WE HAVE RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION.
[A. 24-720 Discussion of the resignation of City Manager, T.C. Broadnax, and a resolution appointing Kimberly Tolbert as Interim City Manager for the City of Dallas, effective at the close of business on June 3, 2024, to serve until the City Council selects and appoints the city manager (Part 3 of 3) ]
MADAM SECRETARY.MR. MAYOR, I BELIEVE YOU'RE ON AN ITEM A.
I MOVE TO APPOINT KIMBERLY TOLBERT AS THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER, EFFECTIVE AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON JUNE 3RD, 2024, TO SERVE UNTIL THE CITY COUNCIL SELECTS AND APPOINTS THE CITY MANAGER.
AND DURING THIS INTERIM APPOINTMENT PERIOD, KIMBERLY TOLBERT SHALL BE PAID AN ANNUAL BASE SALARY OF $367,683 WHILE SERVING IN THIS CAPACITY.
SECOND. WOULD YOU CARE TO COMMENT? YES I DO. THANK YOU MAYOR.
SO I THINK THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PROCESS.
I THINK THAT WE ARE REALLY BLESSED IN A CITY WITH THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE AT OUR PICKING, IF YOU WILL. WE HAVE SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL IN MY EYES.
I BELIEVE IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT AN INTERIM SHOULD BE THAT OUR FOCUS AS A CITY NEEDS TO BE PROVIDING AS MUCH CONSISTENCY AND SECURITY FOR WHERE WE ARE, INSTABILITY FOR WHERE WE ARE GOING.
AND I BELIEVE THAT KIM KIMBERLY IS THE BEST CHOICE FOR THAT.
THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS CITY AND THE INNER WORKINGS OF THIS CITY AS AN ORGANIZATION TO ME IS SECOND TO NONE.
AND I'M THRILLED TO WELCOME HER AND HOPE THAT THIS BODY WILL COME TOGETHER IN A UNIFIED FRONT WITH THE AS MANY OF US AS POSSIBLE TO, TO GET THIS VOTE THROUGH.
SO WITH THAT I DO HOPE THAT WE REALIZE THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO SEE THEIR GOVERNING BODY WORKING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS.
I HAVE HEARD MANY CONVERSATIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS BEING SOMETHING THAT IS RUSHED. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S RUSHED AT ALL.
IN FACT, THERE'S NEVER A GOOD TIME TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS.
BUT WHAT WE ARE DEALT WITH RIGHT NOW IS VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
AND THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO CONTINUE PROVIDING A QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
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AND I BELIEVE WITH THIS ACTION, THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DELIVER.SO HOPE EVERYONE WILL SUPPORT THAT.
THANK YOU MAYOR. CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ.
I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION THAT WAS MADE.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ANOTHER ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I WERE RUSHING TO BE THE SECOND.
I SUPPORT KIMBERLY TOLBERT FOR THIS INTERIM POSITION.
SHE STARTED WITH THIS CITY AS AN INTERN 30 YEARS AGO, AND SHE'S WORKED ACROSS THIS ENTIRE CITY ONLY GIVING HER HEART AND HER MIND AND HER SOUL IN THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE.
NOW, THIS IS NOT A RUSH TO PERMANENCY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT INTERIM MEANS INTERIM.
THERE WILL BE A WHOLE PROCESS THAT WILL BE WORKED OUT AND LAID OUT AS WE GO FORWARD.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF, OUR CITY, OUR RESIDENTS, AND EVEN THIS BODY KNOWS THAT THERE WILL BE STABILITY IN THE SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO SEARCH FOR THE NEXT CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF DALLAS WILL TAKE TIME.
AND I BELIEVE THAT KIMBERLY TOLBERT IS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THAT JOB AT THIS TIME TO GET US THERE.
AND I HAVE WORKED WITH HER FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW, ALMOST SEVEN YEARS, AND I CANNOT THINK OF A TIME THAT SHE DID NOT SERVE IN THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE IN ORDER TO TRY TO COME TO THE RIGHT SOLUTION BASED ON WHAT THIS BODY HAS REQUESTED.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO DECIPHER WHAT THIS BODY WANTS, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE HAVE 15 DIFFERENT OPINIONS, AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO NAVIGATE THAT SOMETIMES FOR STAFF. BUT THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO SHOW EVERYONE THAT WE ARE RESETTING.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE, WHY WE'RE HERE, DON'T STOP, DON'T SLOW DOWN THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING WORKED ON.
WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THESE SIX MONTHS AND NEXT TO THE YEAR THAT'S COMING.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE TRYING TO CHANGE HOW WE DO THINGS.
SO LET'S GET THIS DONE AND THEN WE'LL LET THE WORK HAPPEN SO WE CAN SET UP A PROCESS FOR THAT NEXT STEP THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING AS WE KEEP GOING FORWARD.
SO WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING KIMBERLY TOLBERT.
MS. WILLIAM, COUNCILMAN WILLIS.
SO DALLAS IS ON A PATH TO NEW LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE IN TRANSITION AND WE NEED STABILITY.
WE'RE GOING TO UNDERTAKE A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS TO GET US TO THAT NEW LEADERSHIP.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU OVER THE LAST WEEK WHEN I'VE BEEN OUT IN THE FIELD, OUT IN THE CITY, WHEN I'VE COME TO CITY HALL, WHAT I SEE IS THE SAME PEOPLE, THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF DALLAS. THEY'RE WORKING, THEY'RE COLLABORATING, THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOBS, THEY'RE SERVING THE PUBLIC.
WE NEED TO MOVE TO A SUCCESSFUL BOND OUTCOME.
WE HAVE KICKED OFF THE BUDGETING PROCESS FOR 24-25.
AND SO THAT STABILITY IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GIVE THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS AND THE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT COME TO WORK HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND SERVE THE PUBLIC. AND SO I SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, AND I SUPPORT MISS TOLBERT IN THE INTERIM ROLE.
AS WE MOVE TOWARD A NEW DAY IN LEADERSHIP FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ROLE.
IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE SUPPORTING THIS ROLE FOR THEIR I THINK DURING THIS TIME AND THIS TRANSITION, I THINK KIM IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST CHOICE TO KEEP BOTH THE CITY AND THE ORGANIZATION STABILIZED.
SO I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS VOTE TODAY.
MAYOR PRO TEM TRYING TO GET IN.
[00:30:04]
THIS TASK THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF TODAY.I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CITY THAT WE CALL DALLAS, AND I SUPPORT THE GOALS OF ENSURING THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE RANKED NINTH, AND WE SHOULD DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE GOOD, WE'RE STRONG, WE'RE STABLE, AND WE'RE SOME OF THE BIG DOGS, AND WE HAVE SOME BIG ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.
I SUPPORT MISS KIMBERLY TOLBERT IN THIS POSITION AS CITY MANAGER INTERIM.
I SUPPORTED AND I ALSO THANK MR. BROADNAX FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, AND MOST FOLKS KNOW THAT I DO THAT.
BUT WHAT I'M ALSO UNDERSCORING TODAY, AS MY COMMUNITY WAITS FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, WE HAVE A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR PORTFOLIO THAT ALL OF US, ALL 15 OF US, AS AND AS WELL AS STAFF.
WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT BUSINESS.
AT THE END OF ALL OF THIS, WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SIMPLY WANTS IS TO MAKE SURE THE WATER IS RUNNING, THE POLICE ARE WORKING, THEIR FIRES CAN GET PUT OUT, THE DOORS CAN GET PUT UP, THE HOMELESS CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF.
NOW THAT'S JUST A FEW THINGS, BUT I KNOW FOR SURE THAT MISS KIMBERLY TOLBERT, WITH HER LEADERSHIP, STAFF IS NOW IN A POSITION WHERE THEY FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE IN KNOWING THAT WE CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THEM TO GIVE THE SIGNAL THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY. IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE US TO WORK HARDER TOGETHER FOR DALLAS.
AND SO I AM VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE 15.
I CALL THEM THE DREAM MACHINE.
SOMETIMES WE CAN BECOME A NIGHTMARE, BUT WE ARE A DREAM MACHINE, AND I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A CHARTER THAT WE MUST TAKE CARE OF WITH THIS BUSINESS, ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH THE FACT THAT THE CITY MANAGER MANAGES DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THIS CITY.
IT'S NOT THE MAYOR, IT'S THE CITY MANAGER.
YOU CAN CHECK YOUR CHARTER IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
SO, MISS KIMBERLY TOLBERT, I BELIEVE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE CHARTER.
I BELIEVE YOU UNDERSTAND THE DUTIES.
YOU WILL WELCOME THE PRESSURE.
YOU WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US AROUND THIS COUNCIL.
BUT JUST KNOW THAT THE CONSTITUENTS OF THIS CITY DEPEND ON US TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THOSE ITEMS THAT I JUST SHARED WITH YOU, AND THEY DON'T CARE HOW WE GOT THERE, BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE DONE.
AND FOR SURE, ON THURSDAY, MY CONSTITUENTS WILL KNOW THAT THEIR TRASH IS GOING TO GET PICKED UP.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE OUT HERE TODAY TO WATCH US AS WE MANAGE THIS CONVERSATION.
IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT I DON'T WAVER AT ALL ON MY VOTE AND MY CONFIDENCE IN MISS KIMBERLY TOLBERT, CITY MANAGER INTERIM KIMBERLY TOLBERT, YOU'VE HEARD THE SONG SAY MY NAME, SAY MY NAME, KIMBERLY TOLBERT.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE WILL DO WHAT THIS PARTICULAR AT THIS MOMENT, WHAT IS CALLING US TO DO TO STAND UP SO THAT WE'LL HAVE THE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS AND DECISIONS, THE BOND DECISIONS, THE CHARTER DECISIONS, THE PENSION DECISIONS, ALL OF THOSE ARE ON OUR SHOULDERS.
AND SO I STAND HERE TODAY PROUD TO SERVE.
BUT MISS KIMBERLY TOLBERT JUST KNOW I HAVE YOUR BACK.
STAFF KNOW THAT I HAVE YOUR BACK, STAFF KNOW THAT ALL OF US HAVE YOUR BACK.
BUT IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE 15, BUT WE MUST BE HERE FOR THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS TO DO WHAT WE WERE SWORN IN TO DO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AND PUT ALL THE OTHER PETTY THINGS ASIDE.
BUT, SISTER, I KNOW YOU CAN HANDLE THAT.
SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO LET'S I WANT ALL OF YOU TO KNOW IF I'M THE ONLY THING STANDING IN BETWEEN YOU AND THIS VOTE, AS MARVIN GAYE WOULD SAY LET'S GET IT ON.
THANK YOU. WELL, CHAIRMAN SHULTZ, I DON'T WANT TO STAND IN BETWEEN US AND THE VOTE.
SO LET ME JUST SAY THAT I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID.
AND I ALSO WANT TO REALLY THANK OUR, MAYOR PRO TEM FOR STEPPING IN AND LEADING US THROUGH THIS VERY CHALLENGING TIME.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE PUT THE LIKE THROUGH A LOT BECAUSE SO MUCH OF OUR WORK IS PUBLIC, WHEREAS IN OTHER ENTITIES IT CAN BE DONE MUCH MORE PRIVATELY.
[00:35:06]
AND ALL OF OUR VOTES HAVE BEEN THAT WE COME TOGETHER, EVEN THERE MAY BE 1 OR 2 DISSENT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE ALL COME TOGETHER AND WE'VE WORKED THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FROM THE BOND THROUGH THIS.AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A NEW START.
AND ALL OF US STEPPING IN WHEN WE NEED TO AND WE'RE HERE.
SO THANK YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND OF COURSE, WITH MISS TOLBERT.
I RELUCTANTLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TO PROCESS THIS VERY IMPORTANT POSITION AS IT'S BEEN MENTIONED BY OTHERS. THIS NEEDED TO BE A VERY DELIBERATIVE PROCESS.
WE NEEDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER ALL POTENTIAL CANDIDATES.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD THE TIME TO DO THAT.
AS A RESULT, I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS MOTION.
YES. MADAM SECRETARY IN THE MOTION HERE AND I KNOW WE'RE DISCUSSING, AND TAMMY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE HAD B AND C, SO CAN WE DO THOSE TOGETHER? I'D LIKE TO REQUEST A RECORD VOTE.
OKAY. BEFORE I GO TO THE NEXT ITEM.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
NUMBER ONE FOR YOUR DUTIES, THAT FOR YESTERDAY, COMING TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AS ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL SHOWED UP THAT SHOWED THAT YOU DO CARE ABOUT THIS CITY.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND.
WE MIGHT NOT GET ALONG ALL THE TIME, BUT WE WORK TOGETHER.
AND THIS HAD BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME FOR US TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER.
IN THE LAST 4 OR 5 DAYS WE HAD TALKED TO EACH OTHER CONSTANTLY.
MINUTES, HOURS AND DAYS TO SAY WHAT IS BEST FOR THIS CITY OF DALLAS.
Y'ALL ELECT US TO BE HERE TO REPRESENT YOU.
WE DID NOT PUT OURSELVES IN THIS SEAT.
AND SO IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO OUR PUBLIC SERVICE, TO DO WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT AND WHAT WE EXPECT YOU TO DO, BUT ALSO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WE REPRESENT YOU ALSO, AND WE DO THINGS WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU, WE ARE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND AS ONE OF MY COUNCILMAN SAID THAT WE DO HAVE LOTS OF WORK TO BE DONE.
WE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE BUDGET.
NOT JUST A UNIFORM, BUT AN EMPLOYEE PENSION TO STABILIZE THESE PENSIONS.
AND I SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE PENSION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH.
BUT WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO AND UNDERSTAND THIS RIGHT HERE.
WE MIGHT AGREE OR DISAGREE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE.
BUT WE ARE HUMAN. WE ARE GOING TO AGREE AND DISAGREE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ON ACCORD ALL THE TIME.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A 15-0 OR A 14-0.
BUT WE HAVE WORKED BEHIND THE SCENE.
I WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND, WE AS A COMMITTEE, WE HAVE BUSTED OUR TAIL OFF THIS WHOLE WEEK TO TRY TO PULL US AS A COMMITTEE TOGETHER, AS A COUNCIL, BUT ALSO PULL THE CITY TOGETHER AS A CITIZEN TO FOR Y'ALL TO RESPECT US BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS. AND WE HAD OPTION TO ELECT THE NEW INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
AND WE ARE DOING WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT.
IT'S NOT NO BACK DOOR POLITICS.
[00:40:02]
TAKE IT OUT OF THE NIGHT WENT ON BACK DOOR POLITICS BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS THERE.EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HAD OPPORTUNITY TO TALK.
EVEN MY AD HOC COMMITTEE, THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO SAY THEIR MIND.
SO ANYBODY THINK IT'S A BACKDOOR DEAL? IT WASN'T NO BACKDOOR DEAL BECAUSE EVERY COUNCILMAN HAD SOMETHING TO SAY.
BUT WE ARE THE WE ARE THE POLICY MAKER AND WE VOTE.
IT'S OUR VOTE COUNT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU.
BUT WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO AGREE.
BUT I PROMISE YOU, WE ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE ARE A COALITION AND WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU AS A PUBLIC WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
AND THIS WITH THIS VOTE, OUR HOPE IS GOING TO BE A GREAT VOTE.
AND I AIN'T GOING TO PREDICT ANYTHING.
WITH THAT, I THINK WE OUGHT TO RECORD VOTE.
THANK YOU. VOTING HASN'T STARTED.
I DON'T BELIEVE. I THINK SO, DID IT.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.
NO. IF YOU'RE A.. PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THE MOTION, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS APPOINTMENT? I BELIEVE ADAM BAZALDUA WROTE IT.
READ IT. IT WAS JUNE 3RD, 2024.
THANK YOU. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.
MAYOR JOHNSON IS ABSENT WHEN VOTE TAKEN.
YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD.
YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.
NO. WITH 12 VOTING IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED, ONE ABSENT.
THE ITEM PASSES. THE MOTION PASSES.
NEXT ITEM. MR. MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO, I'VE ALREADY READ ITEM C INTO THE RECORD.
THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY, SO ITEM C HAS BEEN READ INTO THE RECORD ALREADY.
B&C. OKAY, I'LL READ ITEM B INTO THE RECORD.
[Items B and C (Part 3 of 3) ]
ITEM B IS CONSIDERATION OF CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR AND HIRING OF A CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER. THAT'S YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? YES, MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A MOTION.ANY COMMENTS? COLLEAGUES, THIS IS WHAT WE DID AT THE BEGINNING.
SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE MOVING THIS CITY FORWARD.
MADAM SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY MORE BUSINESS? WE NEED A VOTE. RECORD VOTE.
THANK YOU. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.
NO IF YOU'RE OPPOSED. AND THIS IS FOR BOTH ITEMS B AND C.
YEAH. MAYOR JOHNSON IS ABSENT.
YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD.
YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.
[00:45:02]
YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY.VOTE TAKEN. BOTH ITEMS PASSED MR. MAYOR. ANYTHING ELSE? THERE ARE NO FURTHER ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA.
WE CALL THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO THE END.
THANK KIMBERLY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.