May 15, 2024 Council Briefing

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YOU'RE WATCHING THE MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL.

WITH MAYOR ERIC L JOHNSON, MAYOR PRO TEM TENNELL ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CAROLYN KING ARNOLD, COUNCIL MEMBERS CHAD WEST, JESSE MORENO.

ZARIN GRACEY.

JAMIE RESENDEZ.

OMAR NARVAEZ.

ADAM BAZALDUA.

PAULA BLACKMON.

KATHY STEWART.

JAYNIE SCHULTZ.

CARA MENDELSOHN.

GAY DARNELL WILLIS, PAUL E RIDLEY, INTERIM CITY MANAGER KIMBERLY BIZOR TOLBERT, CITY SECRETARY BILIERAE JOHNSON, AND CITY ATTORNEY TAMMY PALOMINO.

[Call to Order ]

WE HAVE A QUORUM. TODAY'S WEDNESDAY, MAY THE 15TH, 2024.

AND THE TIME IS NOW 9:37 A.M..

AND I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.

THIS MORNING'S INVOCATION.

SPEAKER IS NOT QUITE READY TO GO.

OH, HERE HE IS.

IT'S COUNCILMAN ZARIN GRACEY OF DISTRICT THREE.

YES, YES, HE'S HERE TO DO OUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING.

COUNCILMAN, TAKE IT AWAY.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

LET US PRAY. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.

SEEKING YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS WE GATHER TO DISCUSS THE 2025, 25 AND 26 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET.

AS WE NAVIGATE DECISIONS AHEAD, LET US REMEMBER THE WORDS JOHN 15 AND TWO.

HE CUTS OFF EVERY BRANCH IN ME THAT BEARS NO FRUIT, WHILE EVERY BRANCH THAT DOES BEAR FRUIT, HE PRUNES SO THAT IT WILL BE EVEN MORE FRUITFUL.

LORD, HELP US TO DISCERN THE AREAS WHERE OUR RESOURCES CAN BE BEST UTILIZED TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS.

MAY WE BE GOOD STEWARDS OF FUNDS ENTRUSTED TO US, MAKING DECISIONS THAT WILL BEAR FRUIT FOR OUR CITY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

GRANT US CLARITY, UNITY AND COMPASSION AS WE WORK TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

LORD, WE PRAY FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE BUDGET DECISIONS MADE TODAY THAT THEY MAY FEEL SUPPORTED AND CARED FOR.

MAY YOUR PRESENCE BE FELT IN THIS MEETING TODAY, GUIDING OUR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS TOWARD JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND A PROSPERITY AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL.

IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG FIRST, THEN THE TEXAS FLAG.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MORNING.

THE FIRST ONE THAT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT TODAY IS ACTUALLY NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY. AND TODAY IS THE DAY THAT AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE HONOR THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO'VE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THEIR SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEIR DEDICATION TO PROTECTING AND SERVING WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

SO I WANT TO ASK EVERYONE HERE TODAY TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AS WE REMEMBER THE COURAGE AND COMMITMENT THAT THOSE FOLKS WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE MADE TO KEEP ALL OF US SAFE.

SO WE'LL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[Special Presentations ]

SO THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A PROCLAMATION THAT SEVERAL CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE DOING TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES MONTH.

IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE IN LEADERSHIP ROLE WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CHAIR THIS YEAR THE LARGE CITIES COUNCIL AND THE CEO HAS REQUESTED THAT CITIES PUT THIS IN.

SO I'LL READ THIS PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES WAS FOUNDED IN 1924, IN LAWRENCE, KANSAS, AS THE AMERICAN MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION BY STATE MUNICIPAL LEAGUES SEEKING MORE COORDINATION AND

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AND WHEREAS, THE NONPARTISAN NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF MORE THAN 19,000 CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND WHEREAS TODAY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 49 STATE MUNICIPAL LEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL LEADERSHIP, DRIVE INNOVATION AND INFLUENCE THE FEDERAL POLICIES THAT IMPACT LOCAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS.

AND WHEREAS, AS THE VOICE OF CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN WASHINGTON, DC, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES HAS SUCCESSFULLY CHAMPIONED FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT MUNICIPALITIES AND HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS ON THE REALITIES OF LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DALLAS IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND HAS BENEFITED FROM THE ORGANIZATION'S RESEARCH, TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, FEDERAL ADVOCACY, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

AND WHEREAS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE THE BEDROCK OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, PROVIDING 336 MILLION RESIDENTS WITH THE MOST ACCOUNTABLE, RESPONSIVE, INCLUSIVE, ETHICAL AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD.

AND WHEREAS, FROM THE NATION'S SMALLEST VILLAGES TO ITS LARGEST CITIES, AMERICA'S LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL IN TRANSFORMING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INTO THE GREATEST, MOST INFLUENTIAL NATION IN WORLD HISTORY.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF DALLAS WAS INCORPORATED IN 1856 AND IS PROUD PROUDLY SERVED TODAY BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND A MUNICIPAL WORKFORCE OF 15,000 DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ERIC JOHNSON, I, ADAM BAZALDUA, ON BEHALF OF ERIC JOHNSON, THE MAYOR OF CITY OF DALLAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2024 AS THE NATIONAL CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES MONTH IN DALLAS, TEXAS.

TEXAS IN CELEBRATION OF AMERICA'S LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES HISTORIC CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT, AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND OTHERS ON THIS COUNCIL DO AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

YOU REPRESENT US VERY WELL THERE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

READING THAT RESOLUTION ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT.

IT'S NOT REALLY A FORMAL ONE.

IT'S JUST TO POINT OUT THAT OUR DALLAS STARS ARE IN A GAME FIVE CLOSEOUT GAME TONIGHT HERE AT THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER.

SO WE'RE ALL PULLING FOR OUR STARS TO CLOSE THAT SERIES OUT AND MOVE ON TO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS AND HOPEFULLY REPRESENT US IN THE STANLEY CUP FINAL.

SO LET'S GO STARS TONIGHT.

WE NEED TO FINISH FINISH THE JOB.

AND WITH THAT, MADAM SECRETARY, I THINK WE'RE READY FOR OUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.

[Open Microphone Speakers (Part 1 of 2) ]

THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW HEAR ITS FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS.

I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.

SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY, DECORUM AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL, IMPERTINENT, 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 THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

YOU'LL NOTICE FOR THOSE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, YOU'LL NOTICE THE TIME ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.

PLEASE STOP FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

ALSO, SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME.

AND PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR JOHNSON.

ONLY YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, JOE STOKES.

JOE STOKES, DISTRICT NINE.

I'M HERE TO REPORT A CRIME.

THE HYDROFLUOSILICIC ACID THAT YOU CALL FLUORIDE THAT YOU, THE COUNCIL, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDING TO THE WATER IS CLASSIFIED AS A POISON, A NEUROTOXIN, AND A TOXIC WASTE.

IT IS ADDED NOT TO TREAT THE WATER, BUT TO TREAT PEOPLE, MAKING IT A DRUG.

IS ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL LICENSED AND AUTHORIZED TO PRESCRIBE AND ADMINISTER A DRUG TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE? THEN THERE'S THE MATTER OF INFORMED CONSENT.

HAVE YOU INFORMED THE PUBLIC OF THE HARM CAUSED BY ADDING A TOXIC WASTE NEUROTOXIN TO OUR WATER? IT IS PROVEN FACT THAT FLUORIDE ADDED TO OUR WATER IS CAUSING OR CONTRIBUTING TO A MULTITUDE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS AND HANDICAPPING OUR CHILDREN. INFORMED CONSENT IS THE PRINCIPLE IN MEDICAL ETHICS, MEDICAL LAW AND MEDICAL STUDIES.

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PERTINENT INFORMATION MAY INCLUDE RISK AND BENEFITS OF TREATMENTS, ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS, AND PATIENT'S ROLE IN TREATMENT AND THEIR RIGHT TO REFUSE TREATMENT. HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS HAVE A LEGAL AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT A PATIENT'S CONSENT IS INFORMED.

ALL YOU HAVE SAID IS THAT FLUORIDE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

BECAUSE THE PEOPLE INFORMING YOU TOLD YOU TO SAY THAT JAPAN STOPPED FLUORIDATION YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE OF CONSENT. WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS CRIMINAL AND THERE ARE LAWS AGAINST IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

REGINA IMBURGIA.

HI, I'M REGINA IMBURGIA, DISTRICT 14.

YOU KNOW, I CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING JOE SAID, AND I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR A LONG TIME GIVING YOU ALL LOTS OF INFORMATION.

YOU DO NOT HAVE A LACK OF THAT.

AND THAT'S VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTING OF THE RESULTS THAT HAVE COME FROM IT.

NOW, YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A FEDERAL TRIAL.

I KNOW THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT KEEPS YOU ABREAST OF IT.

THE JUDGE HAS NOT MADE HIS RULING YET, BUT HE ANY OF YOU ALL THAT KNOW ABOUT COURT SYSTEMS AND STUFF, IF HE WAS GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PUT OUT RIGHT AWAY.

JUST LIKE HOW THEY LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, CANCEL YOU FROM ANY OF THE OF THE TRIAL.

BUT IT'S SEVEN YEAR TRIAL.

SO Y'ALL THINK ABOUT THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S BEEN HE'S THE FINISHED THE TRIAL WAS FEBRUARY 20TH.

AND HE HASN'T COME UP WITH A RESPONSE YET.

SO HE'S GETTING IT ALL TOGETHER AND IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD.

WELL, ANOTHER THING, I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO USE MY TIME ABOUT SOME OF MY GRIEVANCES I'VE HAD HERE ALONG THE WAY.

MAYOR, I ACTUALLY LIKE YOU.

I DO LIKE YOU.

I DON'T, BUT IT'S GOING TO SOUND LIKE I DON'T THE NEXT FEW WORDS BECAUSE TODAY WE STARTED IT, YOU KNOW.

937 RIGHT.

I THINK YOU'RE YOUR ULTIMATE WAS 938.

OKAY. AND A LOT OF US THAT COME HERE TO SPEAK, WE TAKE OFF WORK, YOU KNOW, AND IF MAYOR PRO TEM DISTRICT FOUR OR THE OTHER ONE, THEY START ON TIME.

SO WE NEED TO BE HERE AT 9:00, BECAUSE IF THEY CALL OUR NAME AND WE DON'T RESPOND, WE HAVE TO WAIT 30 DAYS TO SPEAK AGAIN.

SO WE HAVE TO BE HERE, BUT YOU GUYS AREN'T HERE.

AND THEN YOUR QUORUM.

I KNOW PART OF THE PROBLEM IS, YOU KNOW, THAT YOUR PEOPLE AREN'T HERE BECAUSE HALF THE TIME NOBODY'S IN THEIR CHAIRS.

WE GET HERE AT 9:01.

BILIERAE IS ALWAYS HERE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.

ANOTHER THING, I WAS WATCHING SOMEONE ONE TIME, AND SHE WAS A DIABETIC, AND SHE WANTED TO BRING A BOTTLE OF WATER IN HERE.

NO, NO DRINKS IN THE IN THE COUNCIL.

BUT YOU ALL HAVE YOUR STARBUCKS AND DOUBLE STARBUCKS AND ALL YOUR NIBBLES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

YOU KNOW, THE STANDARD IS NOT FAIR.

ANOTHER REAL BIG ONE IS, WE HAVE TO SAY, DISTRICT SO AND SO.

OH, BECAUSE WE CAN'T CALL YOU ALL BY NAME.

BECAUSE WHY? WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO.

BUT JUST SAY THAT'S PART OF YOUR RULES.

OKAY. LAST ON NOVEMBER, I MEAN MAY 3RD, THERE WAS A VERY NICE GENTLEMAN AND HE CALLED OUT THREE OF YOU GUYS BY NAME.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? DISTRICT 11 DID NOT INTERRUPT AND SAY, OH, HE CAN'T BE USING PEOPLE'S NAMES BECAUSE HE WAS SAYING NICE THINGS ABOUT YOU.

SO THAT'S JUST NOT FAIR.

AGAIN. TWO AND THEN ANOTHER THING THAT'S NOT FAIR.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME KNOW ABOUT ALL THIS IS THE RULE WHERE YOU GUYS CHANGE FROM 3 MINUTES TO 2 MINUTES.

THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A BY A VOTE AND A CONCURRENCE OF THE COUNCIL.

AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR US BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE 3 MINUTES OR 2 MINUTES OR ONE MINUTE, YOU KNOW.

SO I HAVE A LOT OF GRIEVANCES ABOUT ALL THIS.

THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

JULIA PEARCE.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JULIA PEARCE AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE MACBA, THE METROPLEX CIVIC AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.

THIS MORNING I WANTED TO DISCUSS TWO ISSUES THAT WE BELIEVE ARE CRITICAL TO DALLAS AND THE BETTERMENT OF ITS PEOPLE AND ITS BUSINESSES.

CRIME AND HOMELESS.

THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

WHILE OVERALL VIOLENT CRIME HAS SHOWN A DECREASE IN DALLAS, THERE ARE SPECIFIC AREAS LIKE AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS OR CERTAIN PROPERTY CRIMES THAT HAVE INCREASED.

SURVEYS SHOW THAT CRIME REMAINS A TOP CONCERN FOR RESIDENTS, AFFECTING THEIR SENSE OF SAFETY AND THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES.

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ET CETERA. ET CETERA. BUSINESSES SUFFER.

SEVEN OUT OF 34 REPORTING AREAS IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS ACCOUNT FOR ALL MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT, UNDERSCORING THE NEEDED NEED FOR TARGETED INTERVENTIONS.

SO I WAS LISTENING TO THE PRAYER.

Y'ALL WERE IN THE PRAYER.

Y'ALL MENTIONED THE BUDGET.

THIS IS THESE ARE TWO AREAS THAT I THINK COULD USE MORE RESOURCES TARGETED INTERVENTIONS FOR CRIME AND HOMELESS.

REGARDING THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN DALLAS, AS I WAS WALKING INTO DALLAS CITY COUNCIL THIS MORNING, I SAW A DOZEN LANDSCAPERS PLANTING FLOWERS AND MAKING DALLAS LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

AND I THINK THAT'S AMAZING.

BUT THEN I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE ABOUT A DOZEN HOMELESS PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE BENCHES, SLEEPING ON THE GROUND.

WHICH JUST BROKE MY HEART.

RECENT COUNTS INDICATE THAT THERE ARE OVER 4500 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN DALLAS COUNTY ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, WITH A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS AMONG CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHICS, SUCH AS FAMILIES OR VETERANS.

THIS SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE TO PUT VETERANS ON THE STREETS WHILE WE ARE HOUSING ILLEGALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS THIS HAS BECOME A HUGE STRAIN ON LOCAL SERVICES AND SHELTERS, MANY OF WHICH ARE ALREADY OPERATING AT CAPACITY OR ABOVE CAPACITY, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF ONGOING ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND THE AFTERMATH OF COVID.

THE HEALTH RISK ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING POTENTIAL SPIKES IN COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND THE IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, IS A MAJOR CONCERN.

SO THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS.

STUDIES SUGGEST THAT THERE IS BETWEEN.

INCREASED HOMELESSNESS AND RISES IN CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIME, ESPECIALLY PETTY CRIMES AND PUBLIC ORDER OFFENSES.

SO ADDRESSING THE HOMELESSNESS COULD LEAD TO A DECREASE IN THESE CRIME RATES.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS THAT CRIME RELATED HOMELESSNESS AFFECTS LOCAL BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY IN DOWNTOWN AREAS, LEADING TO DECREASED FOOT TRAFFIC AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, WHICH IS BAD FOR DALLAS CITY AND BAD WHEN TRYING TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES OR CONVENTIONS OR PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE.

DALLAS COUNTY SAW A NET DECREASE IN MIGRATION IN 2023, MEANING THAT MORE PEOPLE MOVED OUT OF DALLAS THAN THEY MOVED IN.

THAT'S YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

EDWARD GARDELLA.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS EDWARD GARDELLA.

DISTRICT NINE. SO TODAY I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT THE DECLINING CITIZEN TO OFFICER RATIO IN OUR CITY, A TREND THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ALMOST A DECADE NOW.

ACCORDING TO DATA, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OFFICERS HAS BEEN STEADILY DECREASING.

AND THIS RAISES THE QUESTION WHAT IS THE PLAN TO REVERSE THIS DECLINE? A STUDY BY THE CITY OF DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM 2015 SHOWS THAT THE EFFECTIVE STAFFING LEVELS RANGE FROM ABOUT 2.7 TO 3.1 OFFICERS PER 1000 RESIDENTS.

CURRENTLY, WE'RE NOT CLOSE TO MEETING THE STANDARD.

COMMUNITY SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE CITIZENS.

DALLAS POLLS CONSISTENTLY SHOW THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND THE RESPONSIVENESS OF THE POLICE FORCE.

DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF THE DALLAS PD TO RECRUIT NEW OFFICERS, INCLUDING TRAVELING AS FAR AS PUERTO RICO FOR JOB FAIRS, WE STILL FACE A SIGNIFICANT SHORTFALL.

RECENTLY, THE VOTERS, OR RECENTLY DALLAS, OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED AN INVESTMENT IN A NEW POLICE TRAINING FACILITY.

I THINK THIS DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR SUPPORT FOR OUR POLICE FORCE.

HOWEVER, IT AGAIN BEGS THE QUESTION DOES THE CITY HAVE A CONCRETE PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS NOW THAT WE HAVE SECURED THE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT? WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE HEAD ON AND DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN MORE OFFICERS, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW ISN'T WORKING.

THIS IS ESSENTIAL NOT JUST FOR REDUCING CRIME, BUT FOR MAINTAINING THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE OF A COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION FOR THIS CRITICAL MATTER.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.

AND TO BE HONEST, I'M WILLING TO OFFER AND VOLUNTEER MY SUPPORT IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE FOR THE COUNCIL.

HAPPY TO REACH OUT TO ME IN ANY WAY.

SO I ACTUALLY DO CARE ABOUT THIS.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, JOHN BECKWITH.

HELLO, I'M JOHN BECKWITH, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DALLAS, TEXAS, DISTRICT FOUR.

I'M ALSO THE OWNER OF GOLDEN GATE FUNERAL HOME HERE IN DALLAS, TEXAS.

I JUST STOPPED BY FOR A FEW MINUTES TO REMIND YOU OF THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES THAT

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NOT ONLY SERVED DALLAS, TEXAS CITIZENS, BUT ALSO MY FAMILY, MY FATHER, MY BROTHER.

WAS IN A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE.

FOR THEIR LAST RIDE.

SO MANY CITIZENS WATCH PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY.

TAKEN IN A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE TO THE CEMETERY.

THAT THEY ACTUALLY CAME TO GOLDEN GATE FUNERAL HOME AND PREPAID FOR THEIR LOVED ONES, TO BE CARRIED IN A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE TO THE CEMETERY.

SO I ASKED YOU TO CONSIDER.

NOT BANNING THE USE OF A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE FOR HEARSE PURPOSES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU, MATTHEW FIVE FOUR SAYS THIS.

BLESSED ARE THOSE THAT MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THESE ARE YOUR FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING.

THE REMAINING OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE END OF CITY BUSINESS.

THESE ARE YOUR SPEAKERS, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR VOTING AGENDA.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WE'LL BEGIN WITH AGENDA ITEM ONE APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE MAY 1ST 20, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

[1. 24-1243 Approval of Minutes of the May 1, 2024 City Council Meeting ]

AND IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE EYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM.

AGENDA ITEM TWO IS CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

[2. 24-1381 Consideration of appointments to boards and commissions and the evaluation and duties of board and commission members (List of nominees is available in the City Secretary's Office) ]

YOUR NOMINEES FOR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION.

ADJUNCT MEMBERS VICKI MEEK IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON.

MISS MEEK MEETS THE VISUAL ARTS SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

MELANIE RUBIN IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON TO THE DALLAS AREA PARTNERSHIP TO END AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS.

ROBERT HAYES AND LISA TOWNSEND IS BEING OR BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON.

MR. HAYES MEETS THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL QUALIFICATION AND MISS TOWNSEND MEETS THE US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVE SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, VIPIN NAMBIAR BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO YOUR NOMINEES FOR FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENT TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE 18 BOARD.

MAPLE MOCKINGBIRD GREER CHRISTIAN IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE TEN BOARD.

SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL MICHAEL CALZADA IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON AND TO THE TRINITY RIVER CORRIDOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION. STEPHANIE KNIGHT IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON.

THESE ARE YOUR NOMINEES, MR. MAYOR. IS THERE A MOTION? IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE EYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM.

AGENDA ITEM THREE.

[3. 24-1593 Receive the report of the Ad Hoc City Council Canvassing Committee and adopt a resolution and order accepting the canvassing committee's report declaring the results of the May 4, 2024 special bond election held within the City of Dallas - Financing: No cost consideration to the City ]

THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU HAVE A MOTION.

I DO. THE AD HOC COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF MYSELF, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CAROLYN KING, ISLAND COUNCIL MEMBER UMMER NARVAEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL RIDLEY MET EARLIER TO CANVASS THE RETURNS OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL ELECTION HELD SATURDAY, MAY 4TH, 2024.

ON BEHALF OF THE AD HOC CANVASING COMMITTEE, I MAKE THE FOLLOWING REPORT, A COPY OF WHICH HAS BEEN EMAILED TO EACH OF YOU IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR PROPOSITIONS, THE STATEMENT OF RETURNS ARE AS FOLLOWS.

FOR DALLAS COUNTY PROPOSITION A FOR 35,000 092 AGAINST 5476, PROPOSITION B 33,000 016 AGAINST 7353.

PROPOSITION C FOR 32,707 AGAINST 7647.

PROPOSITION D FOR 32,263 AGAINST 8013.

PROPOSITION E FOR 30,628 AGAINST 9642.

PROPOSITION F FOR 31,429 AGAINST 8830.

PROPOSITION G FOR 28,049 AGAINST 12,000.

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PROPOSITION I, 32,024 AGAINST 8365 AND PROPOSITION J 32,790 AGAINST 7523, IN COLLIN COUNTY.

PROPOSITION A FOR 1594 AGAINST 291.

PROPOSITION B FOR 1414 AGAINST 462.

PROPOSITION C FOR 836 AGAINST 1039.

PROPOSITION D FOR 1187 AGAINST 629.

I'M SORRY 639.

PROPOSITION E FOR 1039 AGAINST 788.

PROPOSITION F FOR 1477 AGAINST 388.

PROPOSITION G FOR 924 AGAINST 893.

PROPOSITION H FOR 707 AGAINST 1163.

PROPOSITION I, 1174 AGAINST 658.

PROPOSITION J FOR 1475 AGAINST 399, IN DENTON COUNTY.

PROPOSITION A FOR 228 AGAINST 79.

PROPOSITION B, 198 FOR AGAINST 106.

PROPOSITION C FOR 187 AGAINST 117.

PROPOSITION D FOR 189 AGAINST 111.

PROPOSITION E FOR 161 AGAINST 139.

PROPOSITION F FOR 195.

AGAINST 108.

PROPOSITION G FOR 153.

AGAINST 149.

PROPOSITION H FOR 164 AGAINST 140.

PROPOSITION I FOR 206 AGAINST 99.

AND FINALLY PROPOSITION J FOR 201 AGAINST 100.

OVERALL PROPOSITIONS A THROUGH J DID RECEIVE SUFFICIENT VOTES TO BE APPROVED BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS PARTICIPATING IN THE ELECTION, AND CAN BE APPLIED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN.

SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THE ONLY DISCUSSION I'D HAVE IS TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE RESIDENTS IN THREE COUNTIES.

I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT TWO OF THOSE COUNTIES, COLLIN AND DENTON, WITH A SMALL PORTION.

ABOUT 15% OF DISTRICT 12 IS IN DALLAS COUNTY.

THE VOTERS ARE.

YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE VERY CLEARLY WHAT HAPPENED IN COLLIN COUNTY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HAPPENED IN DALLAS.

AND I JUST THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING TO NOTE BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.

AND I THINK IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOKED AT PRECINCTS WITHIN DALLAS COUNTY, POINT OF ORDER, STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER.

I JUST THOUGHT THE ITEM WAS TO REPORT RECEIVE THE REPORT.

I THINK IT'S SPEAKING ON THE THE CANVASS REPORTS.

USE THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OPINIONS NOW OF THE BOND PACKAGES.

I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE HER A LITTLE LEEWAY TO EXPLAIN THE CANVASS.

AND SHE'S THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE TWO PROPOSITIONS THAT DID NOT PASS IN COLLIN COUNTY.

AND I THINK THERE WERE JUST FOUR VOTES THAT SEPARATED ANOTHER PROPOSITION IN DENTON COUNTY.

AND IT'S JUST REALLY SOMETHING TO BE AWARE THAT AS YOU SERVE YOUR DISTRICT BUT REPRESENT ALL OF THE CITY, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES, DIFFERENT OPINIONS, AND I JUST THINK THAT NEEDED TO BE HIGHLIGHTED.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE LEEWAY JUST FOR THE PUBLIC.

WE'RE ON ITEM AGENDA ITEM THREE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE LEEWAY.

I WILL JUST SAY THAT I AM EXTREMELY ECSTATIC TO THE VOTERS AND WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR OVERWHELMINGLY PASSING ALL TEN BOND PROPOSITIONS.

I THINK CLEAR OVER 80% SPEAKS VOLUMES.

I THINK WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE CITY, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE PLURALITY THAT WE HAVE SEEN AT AN AT LARGE VOTE, BECAUSE THE MINUTE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE DIFFERENT SILOS AND SEGREGATING OUT DIFFERENT POPULATIONS IS THE MINUTE THAT WE ARE NOT TEAMED.

DALLAS AND DALLAS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED THE PROPOSITIONS THAT THAT WILL BRING ENHANCEMENTS TO QUALITY OF LIFE TO

[00:30:06]

SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND SAY THANK YOU TO THE VOTERS FOR OVERWHELMINGLY PASSING OUR TEN PROPOSITIONS ON THE BOND.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM THREE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND I RISE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE VOTERS AS WELL FOR OVERWHELMINGLY ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY OF DALLAS NOT SILOED WITHIN DIFFERENT COUNTIES OR DIFFERENT PRECINCTS OR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED AND APPROVED ALL TEN PROPOSITIONS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE EXCELLENT AND GREAT.

AND I JUST ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE SENT THESE ITEMS TO THE VOTERS WITH ONLY ONE DISSENTING VOTE.

AND THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AS FAR AS WHEN CAMPAIGNING HAPPENED.

IT WAS 14 THAT WERE ALL IN FAVOR OF PASSING WITH A DIFFERENT DISSENTING VOTE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ENDS UP HURTING DALLAS.

AND SO IT DIDN'T WORK.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND I'M SO PROUD AND HAPPY THAT THE ENTIRE CITY OF DALLAS, EVEN THOUGH ONE WAS AGAINST CERTAIN ONES DIDN'T ACTUALLY LISTEN. THEY ACTUALLY OVERWHELMINGLY SENT WHAT WE ENDED UP GETTING WITH THAT OVERWHELMING RESOLVE.

AND I HOPE THAT THOSE FOLKS THAT DID VOTE AGAINST CERTAIN ONES DO COME BACK AND RELOOK AT IT AND TAKE A CHANCE ON WHAT WE WERE SENDING SO THAT THEY CAN BE PART OF WHAT ACTUALLY IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY ONE DALLAS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO BE MANY YEARS AGO, IS THAT WE ARE ONE DALLAS. AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THESE BOND PROPOSITIONS PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY.

WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION.

WE HAD A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE AN EXCELLENT CHAIR THAT YOU APPOINTED, MR. CHAIR. I MEAN, MR. MAYOR, TO LEAD US ON THE BOND PACKAGES THAT CAME AND WE HEARD FROM SO MANY RESIDENTS FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY OF DALLAS WHO GAVE THEIR VOCAL EITHER SUPPORT OR THEIR NOT IN FAVOR OF THESE ITEMS. AND YOU DID GIVE US SOME LEEWAY ON THIS ONE FOR THE CANVASING COMMITTEE.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT.

DIFFERENT VOICES. AND WE ARE 15 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT VOICES, SO I APPRECIATE THOSE DIFFERENCES.

HOWEVER, WE WERE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL TOTAL VOTE, AND THE TOTAL VOTE IS WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING.

AND DALLAS IS GOING TO SEE BETTER DAYS BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP YOU GAVE FOR THE BOND TASK FORCE, MR. MAYOR, AND WHAT FOLKS DID ON THIS COUNCIL IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THOSE POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENED.

AND I JUST WANTED TO END US ON A POSITIVE NOTE AND HOPE THAT WE DO APPROVE THIS CANVASING REPORT UNANIMOUSLY SO THAT WE CAN GET TO WORK AND GET TO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN HERE AS WE CONTINUE TO BE ONE DALLAS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IT AIN'T OVER YET.

WE GOT ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CANVASING COMMITTEE WHO WANTS TO GET IN THERE.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM THREE.

THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING CANVASING COMMITTEE IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.

SO GO FOR IT. GO FOR IT.

WELL, ACTUALLY, I'M JUST WEIGHING IN BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PARTICULAR BOND.

I KNOW THAT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THOSE GENERAL BONDS FOR THE PROPOSITIONS THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

I KNOW THAT, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE CONSTITUENTS DEPEND ON US TO DELIVER SERVICES.

THAT'S THE BUSINESS THAT WE'RE IN.

AND SO FOR THE DISTRICTS THAT NEED THE STREETS, THEY NEED ALLEYS, THEY NEED THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS, THEY NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT.

THEY NEED DALLAS TO BE A WHOLE DALLAS.

AND THAT'S PART OF MY INTEREST HERE IN PUSHING IS FOR THE RACIAL EQUITY COMPONENT THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT.

AND WE NOW HAVE FUNDING WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY AND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT IN MONIES TO TARGET AREAS THAT WE KNOW NEEDED THIS BOND TO PASS.

SO WHEREAS I DID NOT WAS NOT OUT.

AND LEGALLY WE COULDN'T DO THAT.

I WAS OUT CAMPAIGNING.

I WAS SUPPORTING THROUGH THROUGH DIFFERENT WAYS THE FACT IN HOPES THAT WE WOULD PASS THIS BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE WAITING.

AND I KNOW THAT IN TERMS OF DISTRICT FOUR IN PARTICULAR, BUT I DID WANT TO COMMEND THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING OUT BECAUSE THEY REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO SHOW UP AS THEY DID.

BUT WE NEED NOW TO ROLL OUT THIS FUND, THESE FUNDS, SO THAT WE CAN GET THE SERVICES.

AND I WILL LEAVE YOU THIS MORNING WITH THIS STATEMENT.

AND I HAD TO THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE, BUT I THINK IT WAS PROFOUND.

I LISTEN TO SHA'CARRI RICHARDSON, I THINK THEY WERE INTERVIEW WHERE THEY WERE INTERVIEWING HER, AND SHE SAID SHE WAS SO PROUD TO REPRESENT DALLAS, TEXAS.

SHE SAID IT'S THE ONLY DALLAS, TEXAS IN THE WORLD.

SO I GOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

[00:35:02]

AND SO WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION.

AND THIS PARTICULAR VOTE SHOWS THAT WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND UNDERSTANDING.

I HOPE FOLLOWS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ENACT OUR ADVOCACY AND WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ELEMENTS OF THIS BOND PACKAGE ARE ACTIVATED AND ACTIVATED IN A TIMELY FASHION, SO THAT THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR US UPON THE NEXT BALLOT BOND TO COMPLETE WHAT WE PROMISED THEM IN THIS BOND.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE WILL BE.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, DALLAS, TEXAS, FOR SUPPORTING US IN THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE TO SERVE YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CANVASING COMMITTEE FOR MEETING EARLIER TO HANDLE THIS BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE TO DO UNDER THE LAW TO CERTIFY OUR ELECTION RESULTS.

SO IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE CANVASS.

COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NAY.

THE AYES HAVE IT AND THE REPORT IS ACCEPTED.

THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. MAYOR, YOUR BRIEFINGS CONTINUE.

[A. 24-1539 FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 Biennial Budget Update ]

TURN IT OVER TO OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, KIM BIZOR TOLBERT.

TAKE IT AWAY. KIM. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OUR FIRST BRIEFING OF THE MORNING LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FY 25 AND THE FY 26 BIENNIAL BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT BIENNIAL BUDGET UPDATE COMPARED TO PRIOR YEARS.

STAFF WILL REVIEW THE FY 25 BALANCE PLANNED BUDGET PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL LAST YEAR, AND THEN HIGHLIGHT THE REVENUE AND EXPENSE PRESSURES ON THE UPCOMING BUDGET.

AS A RESULT OF REVENUE LIMITS AND INCREASED EXPENSE PRESSURES.

WE MUST TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND WE ARE PREPARED TO DO THAT.

WE MUST RECONSIDER OUR SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS, OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND OUR SERVICE PRIORITIES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE OPERATING MORE EFFICIENTLY AND RESPONSIBLY. WE RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES AHEAD, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE WORK NECESSARY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A BUDGET RECOMMENDATION IN AUGUST THAT PUTS US ON A SUSTAINABLE PATH FORWARD.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO JACK IRELAND, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MISS TOLBERT.

GOOD MORNING.

I'M JACK IRELAND, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE CITY, AND I'M JOINED HERE WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING JEANETTE WEEDEN, OUR DIRECTOR, IVAN GIL, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND CECILIA HSU, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

AND WE WILL GO THROUGH THE MATERIALS THAT WE HAVE PREPARED AND THEN BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ON SLIDE TWO OF THE PRESENTATION.

JUST AS AN OVERVIEW, WE WILL DISCUSS THE BIENNIAL BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH.

WE WILL REVIEW THE 25 PLANNED BUDGET.

THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER LAST SUMMER FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

IT'S ALREADY BALANCED.

IT'S OUR PLANNED BUDGET.

BUT OF COURSE WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT.

BEFORE WE MAKE A FINAL RECOMMENDATION TO YOU IN AUGUST WE'LL GO THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND OUR FIVE YEAR FORECAST FOR THE GENERAL FUND. WE WILL DISCUSS OUR APPROACH TO DEVELOPING A BALANCED BUDGET TO BRING TO YOU IN AUGUST.

WE WILL REVIEW OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STEPS THAT WE'RE TAKING THIS YEAR AND THEN OUR NEXT STEPS AFTER TODAY'S PRESENTATION ON SLIDE THREE. JUST ONE SLIDE ABOUT OUR PROCESS EACH YEAR.

FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, WE HAVE PRESENTED BIENNIAL BUDGETS RATHER THAN JUST SINGLE YEAR BUDGETS.

AND SO THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BIENNIAL IS ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ADOPTED THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET LAST SEPTEMBER THE 20TH.

WE PRESENT THE SECOND YEAR OF THE BIENNIAL.

WE PRESENT THAT TO YOU, ALONG WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.

IT'S BALANCED.

IT'S OUR PLAN.

IT DOES LAY OUT WHAT WE SEE COMING IN THE WAY OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES, BUT WE DO NOT ASK CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE SECOND YEAR OF THE BIENNIAL, BECAUSE IN STATE OF TEXAS, WE CAN ONLY ADOPT ONE YEAR AT A TIME.

BUT THAT PLAN BUDGET THEN BECOMES THE STARTING POINT FOR OUR NEXT BIENNIAL.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING ALL OF THE INFORMATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 THAT WE HAD PUT IN OUR BUDGET DOCUMENT LAST YEAR AS THE SECOND YEAR OF THE BIENNIAL, THAT BECOMES OUR FIRST YEAR OF THIS NEXT BIENNIAL, AND WE WILL LAYER ON A SECOND YEAR FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.

SO THE 25 RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND THE 26 PLANNED BUDGET WILL COME TO YOU ON AUGUST THE 13TH.

[00:40:03]

YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT STEPS ALONG THE WAY.

DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN APRIL AND JUNE APRIL THROUGH JUNE OF THIS YEAR, WE DID INTRODUCE A NEW PROCESS.

AND THAT'S FOR US TO TAKE EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE TRYING TO DO THAT BEFORE THE JULY RECESS.

THAT IS NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF REALLY GETTING INTO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'LL BRING TO YOU IN AUGUST, BUT IT'S FOR THE PURPOSE OF HELPING REMIND YOU OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE CURRENT YEAR AND WHAT WE HAVE THUS FAR IN THE PLANNED BUDGET.

BUT IT IS NOT OUR RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMITTEES AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

MAY THROUGH JUNE IS A VERY IMPORTANT TIME FOR US AS WE WORK WITH OUR NEW INTERIM CITY MANAGER, MISS TOLBERT.

AND STAFF WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH HER IN OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS, DELIBERATIONS, REVIEWING EACH DEPARTMENTAL EXPENSE REVENUES FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

BEFORE WE BRING TO YOU IN AUGUST.

ON AUGUST THE 13TH AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

I DIDN'T LIST ON THIS SLIDE, BUT THE SAME IS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WE WILL BE HAVING THE ONE ON ONE MEETINGS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS THE WEEK OF AUGUST THE 5TH THROUGH THE NINTH.

JUST TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP OF WHAT'S COMING WHEN WE DO RELEASE THE BUDGET TALKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT HAVE BEEN PUT TOGETHER OVER THE YEAR, JULY RECESS WHEN WE'RE WORKING ON THE BUDGET, WE DO PLAN TO RELEASE THE BUDGET PRIOR TO THE 13TH.

OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO RELEASE IT THE FRIDAY BEFORE YOUR MEETING.

SO THAT WOULD BE ON FRIDAY, AUGUST THE 9TH, AND THEN HAVE THE PRESENTATION WITH YOU IN THIS CHAMBER ON AUGUST THE 13TH.

OF COURSE, ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, THERE WILL BE BUDGET AMENDMENTS, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WILL BE INTERESTED IN MAKING SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

WE ADOPT THE THE BUDGET IN TWO STEPS ON SEPTEMBER THE 4TH, AT FIRST READING AND THEN FINAL ADOPTION ON SEPTEMBER THE 18TH FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT THEN BEGINS ON OCTOBER THE 1ST. SO THERE'S A LONG PROCESS.

THERE'S 11 WEEKS TO GO FROM NOW.

SO WE WILL BE WORKING THROUGH THAT ON SLIDE SIX.

AGAIN, JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE'VE LAID OUT LAST SUMMER AS OUR PLAN FOR 26.

I'M SORRY, FOR 25.

THIS IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION.

IT'S OUR STARTING POINT.

THE TOTAL BUDGET, $4.55 BILLION.

THAT'S BROKEN DOWN ON THIS SLIDE BETWEEN OUR OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH IS THE DAY TO DAY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

AND SPLIT ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE IS OUR.

LONG TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.

I WILL SAY THAT FROM FISCAL YEAR 24, OUR CURRENT YEAR TO FISCAL YEAR 25, OUR PLANNED YEAR, THE BUDGET ACTUALLY GOES DOWN SLIGHTLY BY 1.5%.

BUT LET ME TALK ABOUT THAT FOR ONE SECOND.

THAT'S BECAUSE OUR CAPITAL BUDGET DOES NOT HAVE YET INCLUDED ANY OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE FROM THE 24 BOND PROGRAM.

THAT WAS JUST PASSED, BECAUSE LAST SUMMER WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN REGARDING THE BOND PROGRAM.

SO WHEN WE COME BACK IN AUGUST, OF COURSE IT WILL BE A STEP UP FROM WHAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE NOW, AND THE NUMBERS WILL ALL CHANGE AS WE WORK THROUGH IT.

AGAIN, OUR STARTING POINT ON THE NEXT TWO SLIDES, WE HAVE OUR EIGHT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.

WE ALIGN OUR BUDGET AROUND THESE PRIORITY AREAS, AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE BRINGING THEM TO THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES, BECAUSE WE'VE ALIGNED EACH DEPARTMENT AND SERVICES TO THE EIGHT STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS.

ON SLIDE SEVEN, OF COURSE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS, PARKS, TRAILS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THEN ON SLIDE EIGHT, PUBLIC SAFETY, QUALITY OF LIFE, ARTS AND CULTURE, TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WORKFORCE, EDUCATION AND EQUITY ROUND OUT THE EIGHT STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS.

SO ON SLIDE NINE, WE TOOK THE STARTING POINT THAT PLANNED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

AND WE ALLOCATED THIS AS THE TOTAL BUDGET.

IT INCLUDES THE OPERATING FUNDS, THE CAPITAL FUNDS, THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, AND WE'VE ALLOCATED THEM ACCORDING TO THE EIGHT STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS.

THIS IS WHAT IT TYPICALLY LOOKS LIKE EACH YEAR.

WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL FUNDS TOGETHER A LOT OF TIMES YOU'RE THINKING, WELL, JACK, WHY DOES PUBLIC SAFETY NOT NUMBER ONE? WELL, IT IS WHEN WE GET TO JUST THE GENERAL FUND.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL FUNDS COMBINED TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACTUALLY RECEIVES 32% OF THE TOTAL ALLOCATIONS, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE CAPITAL IS PART OF THAT. PUBLIC SAFETY IS 27% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.

YOU'LL SEE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WHEN WE GET TO JUST THE GENERAL FUND, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY BECOMES NUMBER ONE ON OUR EXPENDITURES IN THE GENERAL FUND ON SLIDE TEN LOOKING AT LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, AND THE PLAN THAT WE'RE STARTING WITH FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR, YOU'LL

[00:45:03]

AGAIN, THIS IS ALL FUNDS, ALL OPERATING FUNDS, CAPITAL FUNDS AND OUR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

SO TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECOND FROM THE RIGHT BEING THE TALLEST OF THE BARS, THAT REPRESENTS 32% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET.

AGAIN, THE BLACK BAR YOU'LL SEE GO UP WHEN WE COME BACK IN AUGUST BECAUSE WE WILL BE ADDING IN THE 24 BOND PROGRAM, THE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE APPROPRIATED IN FISCAL YEAR 25 SECOND IS ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE.

YOU'LL SEE PUBLIC SAFETY, 27% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET AND HOW THAT'S BEEN GROWING JUST A LITTLE BIT YEAR OVER YEAR.

PARKS, TRAILS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ARE SHOWING AS THIRD AT 19%.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN QUALITY OF LIFE, ARTS AND CULTURE, YOU WILL SEE THE BLUE BARS TALL, TALLER.

THAT'S BECAUSE PARKS USED TO BE PART OF THAT STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREA.

NOW FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, THE ORANGE BAR AND 25 THE BLACK BAR PARKS HAS MOVED OVER TO PARKS, TRAILS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANGE THERE THAT MAKES THE THE BARS LOOK A LITTLE FUNNY, BUT IT'S EXPLAINABLE ONCE YOU MOVE PARKS OVER TO THE OTHER STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREA.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN TO JANETTE TO GO THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU, MR. IRELAND.

OVER THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, WE WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF GENERAL FUND REVENUE.

STARTING ON SLIDE 12, YOU SEE THE HISTORICAL ACTUAL COLLECTION BY CATEGORY STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 19.

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE, YOU SEE THE YEAR OVER YEAR GROWTH OF REVENUE AND THE CURRENT ADOPTED BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND AT 1.8 BILLION.

YOU DO SEE THE THE 8% GROWTH IN FISCAL YEAR 21 AND 22, AND THAT'S DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY SALES TAX.

AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A FEW SLIDES.

FURTHER ON SLIDE 13.

WE ARE SHOWING THE ADOPTED BUDGET AGAIN, THE FISCAL YEAR 24 FORECAST AS OF THE FEBRUARY BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT, AND THEN THE PLANNED REVENUE FORECAST THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL LAST SUMMER.

THIS IS THE REVENUE FORECAST WE DEVELOPED LAST SUMMER.

YOU CAN SEE WE'RE SHOWING AVERAGE REVENUE GROWTH BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 25 AND 28 AT 5%.

ON SLIDE 14, WE ARE SHOWING OUR REVENUE SOURCES OVER TIME FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24 ADOPTED BUDGET.

WHICH IS SHOWN ON THE RIGHT.

PROPERTY TAX REVENUES PROVIDE THE LARGEST SOURCE OF FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

PROPERTY TAX REVENUE ACCOUNTS FOR 58% OF TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDE, OUR RELIANCE ON PROPERTY TAX HAS GROWN FROM 53% IN FISCAL YEAR 19 TO THE 58% IN FISCAL YEAR 24. THIS INCREASED RELIANCE ON PROPERTY TAX IS A CHALLENGE AS WE PREPARE THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

ON SLIDE 15, YOU CAN SEE THAT SAME CHART.

IT'S COMPARING FISCAL YEAR 24 THROUGH 28.

OUR PLAN FORECAST FROM LAST SUMMER.

THIS CHART DOES SHOW SALES TAX AS A PERCENT OF REVENUE.

IT DOES INCREASE SLIGHTLY IN FISCAL YEAR 27.

TICKING UP TO 26%.

AND THEN YOU SEE IT AT 26% IN 20 FISCAL YEAR 28 AS WELL.

THIS IS ALSO A CHALLENGE AS WE CONTINUE TO RELY ON SALES TAX.

IT IS OUR MOST VOLATILE REVENUE SOURCE.

MOVING ON TO SLIDE NUMBER 16 ON PROPERTY TAX.

I ALSO ALWAYS LIKE TO REMIND THE LISTENING PUBLIC THAT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS GOVERNED BY STATE LAW.

AND IT IS BASED ON THE VALUE THAT'S DETERMINED BY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS.

EXEMPTIONS ALLOWED BY STATE LAW AND APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE TAX RATE THAT'S APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.

THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS HAVE PROVIDED ESTIMATED ESTIMATED VALUES TO PROPERTY OWNERS.

PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST THEIR VALUES.

YOU HAVE 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE THAT THE NOTICE IS MAILED TO YOU.

SO IF YOU'RE IN DALLAS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, YOU HAVE UNTIL TODAY TO FILE THAT PROTEST.

WE WILL NOT RECEIVE OUR FINAL CERTIFIED VALUES UNTIL JULY 25TH, AND WE WILL USE THOSE NUMBERS TO MAKE FINAL DECISIONS REGARDING THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

ON SLIDE 17.

WE INCLUDE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

ALSO ON THIS SIDE, WE WANTED TO POINT OUT THE EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

THIS IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWED BY STATE LAW.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR OVER 65 DISABLED EXEMPTION.

WE DO HAVE A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA THAT REQUIRES THAT WE LOOK AT THIS EXEMPTION EVERY YEAR.

[00:50:04]

NEW THIS YEAR CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE CHILD CARE FACILITIES EXEMPTION AT 100%.

THAT OCCURRED BACK IN FEBRUARY.

CONTINUE CONTINUING OUR DISCUSSION ON PROPERTY TAX ON SLIDE 18.

YOU SEE OUR CURRENT TAX RATE AS 73.5 $0.07.

WE HAVE LOWERED THE TAX RATE FOR EIGHT CONSECUTIVE YEARS FOR A TOTAL REDUCTION OF 6.1 $0.03, OR 7.69%.

ON THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE IMPACT PER YEAR OF THE TAX RATE REDUCTION FROM A REVENUE PERSPECTIVE.

AND WE'RE SHOWING THAT FROM FISCAL YEAR 17 FORWARD TO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR IN 24.

ON SLIDE 19, WE PROVIDE THE HISTORICAL PROPERTY TAX VALUE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.

YEAR OVER YEAR GROWTH WAS 10.5%.

OUR TEN YEAR AVERAGE HAS BEEN 8.6%, AND OUR 30 YEAR AVERAGE AT 5.5%.

ON SLIDE 17, I TALKED ABOUT THE EXEMPTIONS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL AND THOSE ALLOWED BY STATE LAW.

AND SO THIS CHART REFLECTS THE TAXABLE VALUE OF THOSE EXEMPTIONS.

AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THE VALUE OF THE EXEMPTIONS ON SLIDE 20.

HAVE GROWN OVER TIME, AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE REVENUE FOREGONE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

ON SLIDE 21, WE PROVIDE THE 40 YEAR HISTORY OF TAX RATE CHANGES.

AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE CITY HAS LOWERED THE TAX RATE FOR EIGHT CONSECUTIVE YEARS FOR A TOTAL OF 6.13%.

ON SLIDE 22, IN PRIOR BRIEFINGS, WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE PROPERTY TAX CAP.

JUST A REMINDER, THE TEXAS REFORM AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2019, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS SENATE BILL TWO, IMPLEMENTED A STATE CAP OF 3.5%, AND THIS CAP APPLIES TO THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

THE CAP LIMITS REVENUE GROWTH TO 3.5% FROM PROPERTIES TAXED IN BOTH YEARS.

NEW CONSTRUCTION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CAP, SO THE CITY IS ALLOWED TO CAPTURE REVENUE FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION.

THE CAP DOES NOT APPLY TO DEBT SERVICE.

THE REVENUE THAT WE COLLECT ON THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE IS USED TO PAY OUTSTANDING TAX SUPPORTED DEBT.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE CAP FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

JUST A REMINDER, THE CITY WAS ABLE TO BANK UNUSED INCREMENT IN FISCAL YEAR 21, AND WE HAVE BEEN USING THAT INCREMENT FOR THE LAST THREE FISCAL YEARS.

STATE LAW LIMITS THE USE FOR THREE YEARS.

AND SO NOW WE WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE CAP STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 25.

WE HAVE INCLUDED TWO SLIDES IN THE APPENDIX THAT PROVIDES EXAMPLES OF HOW THE CAP WORKS.

SINCE OUR REVENUE IS CAPPED AS VALUES INCREASE, THE TAX RATE WILL HAVE TO DECREASE.

WE ANTICIPATE PROPERTY VALUE GROWTH BEYOND OUR CURRENT FORECAST.

HOWEVER, WE WILL HAVE TO LOWER THE TAX RATE TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT COLLECT MORE THAN 3.5% IN REVENUE.

ON SLIDE 23, WE MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE IN THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS SALES TAX.

SALES TAX CURRENTLY MAKES UP 25% OF TOTAL GENERAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE.

IT IS OUR MOST VOLATILE SOURCE OF REVENUE.

IF YOU RECALL, COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC IN FISCAL YEAR 21, SALES TAX WAS VERY RESILIENT.

IT EXCEEDED OUR TRADITIONAL FORECAST, OUR HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS.

BUT WE ARE NOW SEEING SALES TAX CORRECT TO HISTORICAL TRENDS.

THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET IS 451.7 MILLION.

THE PLANNED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 IS 476.6 MILLION.

WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR CONTRACT ECONOMISTS TO UPDATE THE FORECAST, AND WE WILL HAVE AN UPDATED FISCAL YEAR 24 YEAR END NUMBER, AS WELL AS UPDATED FIVE YEAR FORECAST NUMBERS.

WE DO ANTICIPATE A SLIGHT DECREASE IN SALES TAX, AND THAT'S REALLY JUST BASED ON OUR CURRENT COLLECTION TRENDS.

ON SLIDE 24, YOU SEE THE HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE OF SALES TAX AND THE PLAN FORECAST THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 28 AND FISCAL YEAR 29.

YOU SEE A CHART AT THE BOTTOM OF THE THE GRAPH THAT SHOWS THE HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE.

THE PRE-COVID TEN YEAR GROWTH WAS 2.97%.

YOU CAN SEE THAT SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN FISCAL YEAR 21 THROUGH 23 AS WE WERE COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND THEN YOU ALSO SEE A RETURN TO SORT OF HISTORICAL TRENDS.

[00:55:07]

AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT UNPRECEDENTED, UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH THAT WE EXPERIENCED BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 21 AND 23.

AND AGAIN, THAT WAS JUST DRIVEN UP BY PENT UP DEMAND DUE TO COVID AND FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDING.

ON SLIDE 26, WE DISCUSS OTHER REVENUES IN THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH REFLECTS THE REMAINING 17% OF TOTAL REVENUE.

WE DO HAVE A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA REQUIREMENT TO REVIEW FEES AT LEAST ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS TO DETERMINE THE FULL COST RECOVERY. WE ARE REVIEWING A SELECT GROUP OF FEES IN THE DEPARTMENTS LISTED ON THIS SLIDE.

THE TABLE ON THE RIGHT COMPARES THE FEES IN THE DEPARTMENTS WE ARE REVIEWING TO THE TOTAL OF OTHER REVENUE.

SO THAT'S 17%.

AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS CHART THAT THOSE DEPARTMENTS MAKE UP A VERY SMALL PERCENT OF OTHER REVENUE.

AND COMPARED TO PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX, AN EVEN SMALLER PERCENT.

NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO IVAN GOYAL TO TALK ABOUT GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS SWEDEN.

IVAN GILL, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, YOU'RE GOING TO.

WE'RE SHOWING YOU A FIVE YEAR LOOK BACK COMPARING THE CITY'S EXPENSE ACTUALS YEAR OVER YEAR FOR SPECIFICALLY JUST THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE IS OF COURSE, THE YEAR OVER YEAR GROWTH HAS TYPICALLY HOVERED BETWEEN 7 AND 9%, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OF FY 20 DUE TO COVID CLOSURES AND OTHER MEASURES THAT THE CITY TOOK TO STABILIZE OUR FINANCES. YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO NOTICE THAT PERSONNEL IS THE LARGEST SORT OF SHARE OF THE ENTIRE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, AND THAT'S THAT TYPICALLY IS ABOUT 70% OF THE GRAND TOTAL IN ANY GIVEN FISCAL YEAR FOR FOR THE CITY.

ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, WE'RE SHOWCASING THE PUBLISHED FIVE YEAR FORECAST WITH ONE NEW INCLUSION.

WE'RE PROVIDING THE LATEST BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT FOR THE FEBRUARY FORECAST, ALONGSIDE THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST.

IN A FEW SLIDES, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDED WITH A REVISED FORECAST.

BUT I DID WANT TO NOTE SOME BASE ASSUMPTIONS IN THE PUBLISHED FORECAST THAT WAS GIVEN LAST LAST SUMMER.

WE DID ASSUME A CONSTANT STAFFING LEVEL WITH MERIT FOR NON-UNIFORM HISTORICAL MEAN CONFIRMED MARKET STEP INCREASES FOR UNIFORM TAX INCREMENT FINANCING GROWTH AT ABOUT 5%, AND THE LATEST HEALTH CARE COSTS ESTIMATES AVAILABLE AT THE TIME AT ABOUT 7%.

ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A THE REVENUE PIE CHART SUPERIMPOSED ON THE GENERAL FUND.

EXPENSE PIE CHART.

WHAT WE DID WANT TO NOTE IS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY DOES REQUIRE 100% OF ALL PROPERTY TAXES AND 18% OF SALES TAXES.

SO THAT'S $1.1 BILLION FROM PROPERTY TAX IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND 80 ABOUT $86 MILLION IN SALES TAX.

THAT GOES TO SUPPORT THAT SPECIFIC STRATEGIC PRIORITY.

AND SO THE REMAINDER GOES FOR ALL OTHER SEVEN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.

THAT'S ABOUT $723 MILLION TO SUPPORT ALL ALL OF THE REST OF THE SERVICES THAT THE CITY DOES PROVIDE.

AND ON THIS SLIDE WE ARE ALSO SHOWING, SIMILAR TO MR. IRELAND SHOWING ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT WERE OPERATING IN CAPITAL.

WE'RE SHOWING THE GENERAL FUND ONLY THE THE SORT OF THE SPLIT BETWEEN THE EIGHT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES IN A DIFFERENT SORT OF VIEWED FROM THE PIE CHART YOU SAW EARLIER.

YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE THAT TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE CHART, THE LARGEST ONE IS PUBLIC SAFETY AS I MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

BUT I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING FOR PARKS AROUND THE ENVIRONMENT, SIMILAR TO TO MR. IRELAND'S COMMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE, ARTS AND CULTURE, THAT IS NOT A CUT FROM QUALITY OF LIFE.

IT WAS A TRANSITION OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT OUT FROM THAT SPECIFIC STRATEGIC PRIORITY TO THE PARKS AROUND THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO THAT DOESN'T CONSTITUTE A CUT.

IT'S JUST A TRANSFER OF THOSE EXPENSES RELATED TO THE SPECIFICALLY THAT DEPARTMENT.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO MISS SWEDEN TO DISCUSS OUR UPDATED ASSUMPTIONS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET.

THANK YOU, MR. GALL.

SO, AS MENTIONED, MR. GALL WALKED THROUGH OUR HISTORICAL EXPENSES IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 25 PLANNED EXPENSE BUDGET DEVELOPED LAST SUMMER.

OUR FIVE YEAR FORECAST OF EXPENDITURES WAS DEVELOPED LAST SUMMER.

WE KEEP MENTIONING THAT STARTING ON SLIDE 32, WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE EXPENSE DRIVERS THAT ARE IMPACTING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

AS YOU KNOW, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS IS WORKING WITH BOTH PENSION PLANS ON DEVELOPING A FUNDING SOUNDNESS RESTORATION PLAN THAT WILL COMPLY WITH OUR PENSION REVIEW BOARD REQUIREMENTS.

YOU WILL SEE WE HAVE INCLUDED IN OUR UPDATED FIVE YEAR FORECAST, UPDATED COSTS FOR BOTH PENSION PLANS FOR THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM.

WE ARE SHOWING THE ADC FIVE YEAR STEP UP MODEL.

THIS MODEL HAS BEEN SHOWN WITH AN INCREASED COST OF 17.4 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 25, WHEN COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 24.

[01:00:04]

ALSO, WE ARE SHOWING THE INCREASED COST OF 1.4 MILLION STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 25 FOR THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND.

AGAIN, THIS INCREASE IS COMPARED TO WHAT WE COMPARING IT TO WHAT WE ASSUMED IN THE PLAN BUDGET.

ADDITIONAL EXPENSE DRIVERS INCLUDED ON THIS SLIDE THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT.

THIS AGREEMENT REQUIRES A MARKET BASED APPROACH REGARDING SALARIES FOR OUR UNIFORM EMPLOYEES, AND THOSE ESTIMATES REFLECT A 7.23% INCREASE.

THE PLAN BUDGET REVIEWED LAST SUMMER ASSUMED A 3% INCREASE.

AND SO WE HAVE IN THE PLAN BUDGET 18.2 MILLION FOR MEET AND CONFER.

THE PRELIMINARY CALCULATION SHOWS A NUMBER OF 43.6 MILLION.

AND SO YOU WILL SEE THAT DIFFERENCE IN THE FORECAST.

IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE PLANNED, THE 18.2 AND OUR PRELIMINARY CALCULATION OF 43.6.

ALSO THE DIFFERENCE ALSO IN THE PLAN BUDGET ASSUMES A 3% INCREASE FOR OUR NON UNIFORM EMPLOYEES.

AND SO HERE ON SLIDE 32, WE ARE SHOWING THAT NUMBER THAT'S ALREADY BUILT INTO THE PLANNED BUDGET.

ON SLIDE 33 YOU SEE THE CURRENT LIVING WAGE.

THE LIVING WAGE WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION IN NOVEMBER 2015 THAT LIVING WAGE IMPACTS BOTH OUR CONTRACTS AND THE MINIMUM WAGE THAT WE PAY STAFF.

CITY COUNCIL HAS HISTORICALLY APPROVED THE MINIMUM WAGE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE LIVING WAGE, AND SO WE ANTICIPATE UPDATED LIVING WAGE NUMBERS FROM MIT IN JUNE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.

WE HAVE SEEN THOSE COSTS INCREASE EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.

THE FISCAL YEAR PLAN BUDGET ASSUMED A CITY CONTRIBUTION INCREASE OF 7.7 MILLION.

HOWEVER, LOOKING AT THE LATEST FEBRUARY BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT, WE ARE TRENDING HIGHER ON EXPENSES.

AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HUMAN RESOURCES AS WELL AS HOLMES MURPHY ON UPDATED BIANNUAL BUDGET NUMBERS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2526, AS WELL AS AN UPDATED FORECAST ON ON HEALTH INSURANCE FOR OUR FLEET AND FUEL ESTIMATE.

WE ARE CURRENTLY TRENDING BELOW THE FISCAL YEAR 25 PLAN RATE, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH EQUIPMENT AND FLEET MANAGEMENT AS WE FINALIZE THE FINAL BUDGET FOR YOU IN AUGUST.

AND WE HAVE ALSO HAD PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BUILDING MAINTENANCE.

WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE BOND PROGRAM AND WE TALKED ABOUT ARPA, THE CURRENT ALLOCATION IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 PLAN BUDGET IS 9.5 MILLION.

AND FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE BUDGETED ANYWHERE BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5 MILLION.

WE KNOW BASED ON HISTORICAL EXPENSES, WE DO NEED TO INCREASE THAT ALLOCATION ON SLIDE 34.

YOU CAN SEE THE AVERAGE SALARY OF BOTH OUR UNIFORM AND NON UNIFORM EMPLOYEES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

AS I MENTIONED, THE MARKET BASED AVERAGE SALARY FOR UNIFORM EMPLOYEES FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET INCREASE BY 7.25%. AND SO YOU CAN SEE THAT BASED ON THAT INCREASE IN THE MARKET AVERAGE, THAT OUR PROJECTED STARTING SALARY FOR OUR UNIFORM EMPLOYEES IS 75,397.

ALSO ON THIS SLIDE, WE ARE SHOWING THE AVERAGE INCREASE IN SALARIES FOR BOTH OUR UNIFORM AND NON UNIFORM EMPLOYEES OVER TIME.

NOW I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO JACK IRELAND TO DISCUSS THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST.

SO CONTINUING ON PAGE 36 OF THE PRESENTATION YOU'LL SEE THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST OF BOTH REVENUES AND EXPENSES.

THIS PAGE REVENUES AND EXPENSES MATCH PAGE 84 FROM OUR BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT YOU WERE PROVIDED LAST SUMMER.

SO WE ARE JUST REPEATING WHAT YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY SEEN AS A FORECAST.

I WANT TO DO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS THAT WERE IN OUR FORECAST THAT ARE ALREADY IN OUR ASSUMPTIONS.

WE HAVE MADE ASSUMPTIONS RELATED TO PROPERTY TAX GROWTH.

BUT AGAIN, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS FROM SENATE BILL TWO.

WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED SALES TAX GROWTH, BUT RETURNING TO MORE THAT HISTORICAL NORMAL, NOT CONTINUING THE UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH THAT WE

[01:05:02]

ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, WE HAVE ALREADY ASSUMED IN THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST UNIFORM MERIT OF 3% OR MARKET ADJUSTMENTS OF 3% FOR UNIFORM CIVILIAN MERIT OF 3%, EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT COSTS GOING UP 7%, SUPPLIES AND CONTRACTS INCREASING BY 3%, AND OUR TIF EXPENSE INCREASING BY 5%.

AND WITH THAT, YOU'LL SEE ON THE BOTTOM ROW ON SLIDE 36, THAT LAST SUMMER, WE LEFT YOU WITH A BALANCE FOR 24, A BALANCED BUDGET FOR 25.

BUT 26, 27 AND 28 SHOW A SHORTFALL OF 18 MILLION TO $25 MILLION.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE LEFT YOU LAST SUMMER.

NOW, I WANT TO MOVE ON TO SLIDE 37 AND TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT WE DO NEED TO CHANGE GOING FORWARD.

SO THE FIRST THREE ROWS ARE THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

YOUR TOTAL REVENUES, YOUR TOTAL EXPENSES AND YOUR SHORTFALL FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE SHOWING FISCAL YEAR 26, 27 AND 28 WITH SHORTFALLS. SO FOR PROPERTY TAX IN GOING BACK THROUGH AND EVALUATING OUR ANALYSIS FROM LAST SUMMER WE DID NOT CARRY FORWARD NEW REVENUE FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION AS WE NEED TO DO GOING FORWARD.

AND SO YOU'LL SEE ADJUSTMENT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE.

PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASES OF 42 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 26, UP TO 87 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 28, WHERE WE'RE ADDING IN THE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND HOW THAT GROWS OVER THOSE YEARS.

WE'VE ALSO INCREASED IN THE ORANGE ROW THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE.

DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION.

FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, WE'VE ADDED $11 MILLION.

WE'VE ADDED ANOTHER $19 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 30 IN FISCAL YEAR 26, AND THEN ADDED ANOTHER 13 FOR A TOTAL OF 43 AND 27, AND THEN ADDED ANOTHER 14 FOR A TOTAL OF 57 IN FISCAL YEAR 28.

SO THESE NUMBERS ARE IN ADDITION TO THE NUMBERS THAT WERE ALREADY BAKED INTO THE PREVIOUS PAGE.

SO LAST SUMMER WE DID MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS OF DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION COSTS GOING UP THROUGH THE FIVE YEAR PLAN.

HOWEVER, NOW IN OUR WORK THROUGH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, MY CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS WITH DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION STAFF, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH CHIRON, WHAT WE'VE INCLUDED HERE IS WHAT THOSE ON THE COMMITTEE WILL KNOW OF AS THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP APPROACH.

AND SO THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT I NEED TO ADD TO WHAT I HAD ALREADY BAKED INTO THE FIVE YEAR PLAN TO MEET THAT FIVE YEAR STEP UP WHICH IS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE FULL FUNDING IN 30 YEARS AND COMPLY WITH THE PENSION REVIEW BOARD.

SIMILAR. YOU'LL SEE SOME INCREASES IN GREEN THE GREEN ROWE.

THAT. CRF PENSION AGAIN.

WE HAD ALREADY ASSUMED CERTAIN NUMBERS IN THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST, BUT WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND, THE NON UNIFORM FUND, TO FULLY FUND THAT WITHIN THE 30 YEAR REQUIREMENT OF THE PRB AS WELL.

AND THEN JUST ABOVE THAT ON THE BLUE ROWE IS MEET AND CONFER.

WE DID BAKE INTO AS MISS WEEDEN MENTIONED, WE DID BUILD INTO OUR FIVE YEAR FORECAST, ASSUMING THAT UNIFORM PAY WOULD GROW AT ABOUT 3% PER YEAR TO KEEP UP WITH MARKET.

BUT AS MISS WEEDEN POINTED OUT, WE ARE SEEING 7.23% GROWTH, SO WE DID NOT PUT ENOUGH INTO OUR FIVE YEAR FORECAST.

THE 25.4 MILLION IS THE AMOUNT THAT WE NEED TO ADD TO WHAT WE ALREADY PUT IN THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST TO ACCOMPLISH THE 7.2% GROWTH FOR MEET AND CONFER.

NOW, WE HAVE NOT ADDED TO THAT 26, 27, AND 28 YET.

WE DO NEED TO DO THAT.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHILE THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WILL EXPIRE BEFORE THIS TIME PERIOD, WE REALIZE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE.

AND FOR FOR LOOKING AT THE THE ANALYSIS, I REALLY NEED TO GO AHEAD AND FACTOR THAT IN.

SO WHEN YOU SEE THIS NEXT TIME, IT WILL HAVE THOSE NUMBERS BUILT INTO IT.

BOTTOM LINE ON THIS PAGE THE SHORTFALL NOW FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE BUILT IN AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE A SHORTFALL OF $38 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, 37.3 FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, 38 FOR 27, AND 36 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 28. I KNOW THAT THERE'S PROBABLY THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT BUILT IN YET.

WE ARE CONTINUING OVER THE NEXT 11 WEEKS TO WORK ON OUR DIFFERENT REVENUE SOURCES, ON ALL OF THE EXPENSES, AND WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE OTHER ADJUSTMENTS.

[01:10:10]

SO WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE IT YET ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT RELATED TO THAT.

SO I KNOW FOR SURE, BETWEEN NOW AND 11 WEEKS FROM NOW, WE WILL BE WORKING TOWARDS ELIMINATING THIS $38 MILLION SHORTFALL. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THIS AS WE WORK THROUGH THE NEXT 11 WEEKS.

SO IN THE NEXT SLIDE, WHAT I WANTED TO DO ON SLIDE 38 IS TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MISS TOLBERT MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION IS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS BUDGET DEVELOPMENT DIFFERENT THAN WE HAVE THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

AND SO FIRST ON THIS SLIDE IS RESTRUCTURING THE ORGANIZATION TO REFLECT THE REVENUE STRUCTURE.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW BY MORE THAN 3.5% IN OUR PROPERTY TAX BECAUSE OF THE EXCEPTION THAT WAS ALLOWED FROM THE UNUSED INCREMENT.

WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT 3.5% GROWTH FROM REAPPRAISAL IS THE REVENUE STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE GOING FORWARD.

AND IT WILL REQUIRE US TO RESET THOSE EXPECTATIONS AND MAKE CHANGES ACCORDINGLY.

WE'RE ASKING DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP TO IDENTIFY NEW SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS.

AND SO WE'VE ASKED ALL THE DEPARTMENTS DO NOT THINK ABOUT CONTINUING SERVICES AS YOU HAVE IN THE PAST.

THINK BEYOND THAT.

AND JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS, THIS IS OUTSIDE OF THE GENERAL FUND.

BUT I KNOW WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS REGARDING SANITATION ABOUT ALLEY SERVICE VERSUS STREET SERVICE, AND IT'S JUST A RETHINKING OF HOW WE APPROACH THE SERVICE DELIVERY.

AND IF WE THINK ABOUT DOING IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, WILL IT YIELD SAVINGS? WILL IT YIELD ADDITIONAL EFFICIENCIES, WILL IT IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE? SO THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES NOT TO KEEP DOING THINGS THE SAME WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT.

BUT LET'S THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT OUR SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS.

WE'VE ALSO LISTED ON THIS SLIDE CONSOLIDATE AND STREAMLINE DUPLICATIVE SERVICES.

WE DO REALIZE THAT SOME DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE VERY SIMILAR SERVICES.

AND SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND IDENTIFY IF THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN STREAMLINE THAT.

IF WE DO CERTAIN CONSOLIDATIONS, WE'RE LOOKING AT LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS FOR NONTRADITIONAL SERVICES.

WE'VE DONE THIS A LOT ALREADY IN OUR HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT, WHERE WE'VE LEVERAGED COUNTY FUNDS, OUR GRANT FUNDS, WHERE WE'VE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND IDENTIFY WAYS THAT THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE DELIVERING TO THE RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THAT WE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE RECENT BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE TO IDENTIFY IF THEY ARE MEETING THE GOALS THAT THEY WERE INTENDED TO ARE THEY STILL A PRIORITY? DO WE NEED TO ROLL SOME OF THOSE ENHANCEMENTS BACK? WE DO PLAN ON REPURPOSING.

POSITIONS THAT HAD BEEN VACANT LONGER THAN 12 MONTHS.

AND WE WANT TO FOCUS MORE ON QUALITY OF POSITIONS, NOT THE QUANTITY OF POSITIONS.

SO WHERE POSSIBLE, WE WILL RECLASSIFY VACANT POSITIONS RATHER THAN ADDING NEW POSITIONS.

AND WE ARE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY BEFORE WE WILL ASK YOU TO APPROVE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.

IN MOST CASES, WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECLASSIFY, REPURPOSE AND POSSIBLY MAKE REDUCTIONS.

WE NEED TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY.

SO WE'RE GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT OUR LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES, BECAUSE WE'VE INVESTED A LOT IN TECHNOLOGY AND WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. AND AN EXAMPLE IS WE ARE CURRENTLY UPGRADING OUR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.

AND WITH THAT, WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE OF OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE IN THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE THROUGH AN AUTOMATED PROCESS RATHER THAN A MANUAL PROCESS, WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY USING OVERTIME AND WE'RE CURRENTLY USING TEMPORARY STAFFING.

AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO WE HAVE IN THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE TO REDUCE SOME OF THOSE EXPENSES? BECAUSE THIS UPGRADE IN THE TECHNOLOGY WILL AUTOMATE A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, WE NEED TO ANALYZE THE DEPARTMENT FEES.

AND I KNOW YEAR TO YEAR WE DO HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FEES THAT ARE IN THE FEE STUDY, MISS WEEDEN POINTED OUT THE FEE STUDY ONLY SCRATCHES THE SURFACE OF THE REVENUES THAT WE REALLY GET FROM FEES BECAUSE FEES MAKE UP SUCH A SMALL PART OF OUR OVERALL REVENUE.

BUT STILL, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE CHOOSE TO SUBSIDIZE AND WHAT WE CHOOSE NOT TO SUBSIDIZE.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE CERTAIN TYPES OF SERVICES THAT WE WE HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE.

I ALWAYS USE THE EXAMPLE OF THE POOLS.

[01:15:02]

SO THAT'S A SERVICE THAT WE NEED TO SUBSIDIZE SO THAT WE WE MEET THAT NEED.

AND THEN LASTLY ON THIS PAGE, ANOTHER APPROACH TO BALANCING THE BUDGET WILL BE REVIEWING THE CONTRACTS FOR, FOR EFFICIENCIES.

AND AGAIN I'M GOING TO USE HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'RE USING CONTRACT SERVICES, CONTRACT LABOR, IF YOU WILL, THROUGH OUR PARTNERS TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT THAT WE HAVE, RATHER THAN DOING THAT INTERNALLY WITH STAFF.

SO THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES ON SLIDE 38.

AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO TO WALK AWAY WITH FROM THIS PAGE IS TO KNOW WE ARE NOT TAKING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THE SAME AS WE HAVE IN PRIOR YEARS.

WE WANT TO APPROACH IT DIFFERENTLY, AND MISS TOLBERT HAS CHALLENGING ALL OF US TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DO THAT.

AND SO WHILE I LEFT YOU WITH A $38 MILLION SHORTFALL ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, WE HAVE 11 WEEKS TO WORK THROUGH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY WAYS THAT WE CAN ELIMINATE THAT SHORTFALL, AND WE ABSOLUTELY CAN DO THAT.

BEFORE WE COME BACK TO YOU ON AUGUST THE 13TH.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT TO CECILIA TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE WAY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU, MR. IRELAND.

I'M CECILIA HSU, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

SO I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT'S CRITICAL TO OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT.

SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE WE PRIMARILY ENGAGE RESIDENTS THROUGH BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT WE HOST IN MARCH AND IN AUGUST.

AND THEN WE ALSO HOST BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THE MONTH OF MARCH, MAY AND AUGUST AS WELL.

AND THEN WE ADMINISTER TWO SURVEYS.

ONE IS THE BUDGET PRIORITY SURVEY AND THEN THE OTHER BEING THE COMMUNITY SURVEY, WHICH IS OUR TRADITIONAL STATISTICALLY VALID CONDUCTED BY MTC INSTITUTE, OUR VENDOR.

SO THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS A TIMELINE OF WHEN ALL OF THOSE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE.

ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO WE HAVE A SUMMARY OF OUR MARCH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.

SO WE HOSTED OUR SPRING LISTENING SESSIONS IN MARCH FROM THE 25TH THROUGH THE 28TH.

THESE ARE LED BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL OFFICES.

WE HAD 17 TOTAL SESSIONS WITH 213 ATTENDEES.

AND THOSE ARE JUST RESIDENTS ONLY.

THE TOPIC THE POINTS OF DISCUSSION INCLUDED PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, SIDEWALKS, STREETS, ALLEYS, ENVIRONMENT AND HOMELESSNESS.

AND AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE DID HAVE A NEW EVENT THAT WE HOSTED THIS YEAR AT FAIR PARK CITY HALL, AT FAIR PARK.

AND WITH THAT, WE HAD A HYBRID TELE TOWN HALL MEETING WHICH TYPICALLY HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THOSE TELEPHONE TOWN HALL MEETINGS.

AT OUR EVENT, WE HAD 30 DEPARTMENTS THAT REPRESENTED OVER 150 WITH 150 PLUS CITY STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS OUR TELE TOWN HALL. RECIPIENTS INCLUDED OVER 8300 RESIDENTS THAT WERE ON THE CALL.

WE ALSO HAD FOUR DOGS AT THE EVENT.

WHICH ONE WAS ADOPTED TO A TO A FOSTER FAMILY AT THE EVENT? ON OUR NEXT SLIDE WE DO ALSO HOST PUBLIC HEARINGS HELD AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

THOSE ARE FOR MARCH 27TH, MAY 22ND AND AUGUST THE 25TH.

AND A LITTLE BIT MORE INFO ABOUT OUR SURVEYS THAT WE ADMINISTER.

SO WE DO ADMINISTER THE COMMUNITY SURVEY.

WE ARE CONDUCTING THE SURVEY FOR RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS.

AND IN PRIOR YEARS, WE DID THOSE EVERY TWO YEARS AND BEGINNING FY 24, WE ARE DOING THOSE EVERY YEAR.

WE ARE CONDUCTING THOSE THROUGH EBTC INSTITUTE.

THROUGH THE MONTH OF APRIL AND MAY.

AND THESE ARE THIS SURVEY IS THE USE OF STATISTICALLY VALID METHODS, WITH THE RESULTS BEING AVAILABLE JUNE 18TH FOR THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.

OUR OTHER SURVEY IS THE ANNUAL BUDGET PRIORITY SURVEY.

AND THIS VERSION IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE MONTHS OF MARCH TO JULY.

THIS IS AN ONLINE SURVEY AVAILABLE IN SPANISH, VIETNAMESE AND MANDARIN.

IN ADDITION TO THOSE ONLINE SURVEYS, WE DO OFFER THE PAPER SURVEYS THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED TO HIGH IMPACT EQUITY AREAS AT OUR PARTNER DEPARTMENTS, AT RECREATION CENTERS AND LIBRARIES.

THE LANGUAGE COMPONENT AND THE PAPER SURVEYS IN OUR EQUITY PRIORITY AREAS ALIGNED TO THE CITY'S RACIAL EQUITY PLAN FOR BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO IN SUPPORT OF THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER'S EFFORTS TO CONNECT, COLLABORATE AND COMMUNICATE WE ARE LOOKING AT BRINGING TOWN

[01:20:08]

CURRENTLY, WE HOST OVER 35 MEETINGS WITH AT LEAST 30 TO 40 DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES AT EACH OF THESE MEETINGS.

SO WE RECOMMEND TO LIMIT THE 14 IN PERSON, 14 REMOTE MEETINGS WHERE WE HAVE HISTORICALLY LOW ATTENDANCE AND HOST SIMILAR EVENTS THAT WE DID IN THE SPRING, THE CITY HALL AT FAIR PARK EVENT IN QUADRANTS OF THE OF THE CITY, UTILIZING OUR MOST ATTENDED EVENTS WITH ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND THAT BEING THE TELE TOWN HALL MEETING OPTION.

SO AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WANT TO INCLUDE EXISTING MEETINGS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS OR OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY MANAGER, THE CFO OR THE BUDGET DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE.

THIS IS TO SUPPORT OUR FOCUS EFFORTS TO BRING TOWN HALL TO RESIDENTS VERSUS HAVING RESIDENTS COME TO US.

THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE VARIOUS THEMES AND TOPICS DISCUSSED IN OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.

SO WE COLLECT ALL OF THAT DATA AND SUMMARIZE IT IN THIS SLIDE.

HERE. ON THE LEFT, WE INCLUDE THE BULLETED ITEMS THAT CAME UP FROM THEMES AND TOPICS, FROM THE PRIORITY MEETINGS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND THOSE ARE LISTED OUT AND THOSE OCCURRED IN JANUARY.

AND THE NEXT SECTION, WE HAVE OUR SUMMARIZED INFORMATION FROM OUR SPRING LISTENING SESSION.

SO THIS IS THE FEEDBACK THAT RESIDENTS HAVE PROVIDED US THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THOSE MARCH LISTENING SESSIONS.

AND THOSE ARE ALSO THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE MAY SORRY, THE MARCH BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING, SORRY MARCH PUBLIC HEARING.

THE NEXT SECTION IS THE 2023 COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS AND THE TOPICS MENTIONED IN THE COMMUNITY SURVEY BRIEFING. AND AGAIN, JUST A REMINDER THAT THE 2024 RESULTS WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE JUNE BUDGET WORKSHOP NEXT MONTH.

AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE OUR BUDGET PRIORITY SURVEY RESULTS.

AND THESE ARE AS OF APRIL 2024, WHERE WE HAVE HAD OVER 400 RESPONSES SO FAR.

AND SO WE PROVIDE THE BULLETED ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED IN THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS THEIR TOPICS OF DISCUSSION.

AND SO PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE HAVE OCCURRED THROUGHOUT EACH OF THE FOUR LITTLE SEGMENTS FOLLOWED BY HOMELESSNESS.

WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT BACK TO MISS WEEDEN FOR NEXT STEPS.

THANK YOU, MISS HSU.

THANK YOU. I'LL CLOSE OUT THE BRIEFING WITH NEXT STEPS.

WE ARE SCHEDULED TO PROVIDE ANOTHER BIENNIAL BUDGET UPDATE ON JUNE 18TH.

WE DO PLAN TO COVER THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS IN THAT BRIEFING.

THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED BIANNUAL BUDGET WILL BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST THE 13TH.

BEFORE WE CLOSE, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX.

WE HAVE INCLUDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PROPERTY TAX CAP.

PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW IT WORKS.

WE ALSO INCLUDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON OUR CURRENT TRENDS RELATED TO SALES TAX.

AND THEN SLIDES 56 THROUGH 72.

WE INCLUDE HISTORICAL INFORMATION BY DEPARTMENT.

SO WE'RE SHOWING ACTUAL EXPENSES AS WELL AS POSITIONS AND FTES.

AND THEN THE VERY LAST SECTION WE INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GROWTH OF THE BUDGET.

BEFORE I CLOSE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT STAFF SEATED HERE AS WELL AS THOSE ON THE FOURTH FLOOR FOR ASSISTING AND GATHERING INFORMATION FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

THIS INCLUDES THIS CONCLUDES OUR PREPARED REMARKS, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'LL START WITH OUR MAYOR PRO TEM FOR FIVE MINUTES.

JEANETTE. THANK YOU FOR THE BUDGET.

I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

NUMBER ONE I WAS GOING THROUGH MY BUDGET LAST NIGHT, AND ON PAGE 37, IT'S A COMPLETE DIFFERENT PAGE THAT WE RECEIVED TODAY.

AND COULD YOU JUST KIND OF EXPLAIN ME, US TO US? WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE PAGE THAT WAS IN THE BUDGET LAST NIGHT ON PAGE 37, THE ONE THAT WE RECEIVED THIS MORNING? SO THE QUESTION, THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST IS THE PAGE IN QUESTION.

AND AS I MENTIONED IN OUR CONVERSATION, THE WRONG BRIEFING WAS POSTED.

SO IT WAS A DRAFT BRIEFING.

AND SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT PARTICULAR SLIDE, AS MR. IRELAND MENTIONED, IT DID NOT INCLUDE THE NEW CONSTRUCTION REVENUE AND THE REAPPRAISAL OF THAT NEW

[01:25:04]

THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST INCLUDED PLANNED ASSUMPTIONS RELATED TO PENSION.

AND SO THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE UPDATES THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE IT TAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE PLANNED AND WHAT WE KNOW NOW RELATED TO PENSION. SAME THING WITH MEET AND CONFER.

WE ASSUMED A 3% INCREASE IN GROWTH IN THE PLANNED BUDGET FOR LAST YEAR.

SO THIS PARTICULAR NUMBER UPDATES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE PLANNED AND WHAT WE KNOW TODAY RELATED TO MEET AND CONFER.

OKAY. AND SO SO THEREFORE ON THE THE FIVE YEAR PLAN, FIVE YEAR STEP UP THE FIVE YEAR STEP DOWN, FIVE YEAR STEP UP THAT YOU SHOWED THAT IT'S EXPENSE OF $11 MILLION IN YEAR 25 AND 30,000,026 AND 43 AND 57 IN YOUR LAST IN THE IN THE BUDGET THAT RECEIVED LAST NIGHT, IT WAS MORE.

SO WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE AND HOW DID A DIFFERENCE ARISE? SO, IF I MAY, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE THAT WE UPDATE UPLOADED THE WRONG VERSION.

AND SO PLEASE JUST FORGIVE US FOR THAT.

WE WE ACCIDENTALLY UPLOADED ON THE WEBSITE A WRONG VERSION OF THE DOCUMENT.

THE ONE THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY IS THE FINAL DOCUMENT THAT WE'VE VETTED THE NUMBERS THOROUGHLY, AND IS OUR RECOMMENDATION.

AND SO YOUR QUESTION REGARDING TO THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND ON ROWE 37, THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO GET TO THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP PLAN.

WE HAVE SOME INCREASES ALREADY BAKED INTO THE FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT WE PRESENTED LAST SUMMER.

JUST BECAUSE WE HAD ANTICIPATED CONTINUED GROWTH IN OUR CONTRIBUTIONS INTO THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND.

NOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS OF CHANGING THE WAY WE APPROACH AND FUND PENSION, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP MODEL, THAT WAS ONE THAT KIERAN PRESENTED, THESE ARE THE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT ARE NEEDED TO TO ADD TO WHAT WAS IN OUR BASE FIVE YEAR PLAN TO GET TO THAT PLAN. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR MISTAKENLY UPLOADING THE WRONG DOCUMENT, BUT YOU GOT THE RIGHT ONE HERE.

OKAY. SO SO THEREFORE YOU SAID THE WRONG DOCUMENT.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THE FIRE YOURSELF UP.

SO THEREFORE THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU.

SHOW LAST NIGHT WHEN YOU CHANGED, BUT ALSO MADE A BIG A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE URF PENSION.

ALSO, THE DOCUMENT LAST NIGHT WAS THE WRONG DOCUMENT.

AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE.

I APOLOGIZE AGAIN THAT WE UPLOADED THE WRONG DOCUMENT.

PLEASE DISREGARD THAT.

THESE THESE ARE THE RIGHT NUMBERS HERE TODAY.

I'M TRYING TO BE SURE, BECAUSE I CALLED HER LAST NIGHT.

AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR CATCHING IT.

WE APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

BACK TO.

PAGE 37.

AND WHAT WE SHOW RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE SAYING RIGHT NOW WE ARE $38 MILLION DEFICIT.

IS THAT CORRECT? AS OF TODAY, YES, SIR.

BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE BUILT INTO THIS FORECAST FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, WE HAVE A $38 MILLION SHORTFALL THAT WE WILL FIX BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST 13TH.

AND SO, THEREFORE, THE FORECAST FOR ALL THE PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX IS ALREADY IN THIS FORECAST TODAY.

BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE KNOW TODAY.

YES, SIR. WHAT WILL HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST THE 13TH IS WE WILL FIND OUT FOR SURE WHAT OUR NEW CONSTRUCTION IS.

I'VE MADE IT. WE'VE MADE ASSUMPTIONS ON WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON NEW CONSTRUCTION ON JULY 25TH.

I WILL FIND OUT FOR SURE WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.

AND SO THE NUMBER WE HAVE BUILT IN FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL BE ADJUSTED TO THE REAL NUMBER, THE ACTUAL NUMBER WE GET FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS.

SIMILARLY, WE HAVE INCLUDED NUMBERS FOR SALES TAX BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR CONTRACT ECONOMIST EACH MONTH AS WE GET NEW INFORMATION, BECAUSE WE GET A SALES TAX CHECK EVERY MONTH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THAT MODEL.

AND IF WE NEED TO MAKE ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS, WE'LL DO THAT.

BUT WHAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE BEST I KNOW FOR TODAY, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE IT AS WE GET NEW INFORMATION OVER THE NEXT 11 WEEKS.

OKAY. SO SO THEREFORE ARE YOU SAYING THAT IN JULY? WHEN WE GET OURSELVES FOUNDED, REPORT OUR SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAX, IT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT, MORE REVENUE.

IT VERY WELL COULD BE.

WE'VE ASSUMED, I BELIEVE, ABOUT $3.8 BILLION OF VALUE FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION.

BUT ONCE WE GET THE THE CERTIFIED VALUES, IT MAY BE MORE THAN THAT OR IT MAY BE LESS THAN THAT.

IF IT'S MORE THAN THAT, THEN THAT GENERATES ADDITIONAL REVENUE.

[01:30:02]

SO WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR IN THAT.

JULY 25TH IS A VERY IMPORTANT DATE FOR ME OF BEING ABLE TO GET THAT FINAL CERTIFIED ROLE AND UPDATING THE NUMBERS ACCORDINGLY.

BUT AGAIN, WE'VE GIVEN OUR BEST FORECAST AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

OKAY. SO SO THEREFORE IF WE.

LOOK AT THE FORECAST FOR JULY ON SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAX.

AND WE DO KNOW RIGHT NOW WE $38 MILLION IN THE SHORTFALL.

SO THEREFORE WE GOT TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT ITEMS. IF WE GO BACK TO PAGE PAGES 3838, 38 I BELIEVE.

YEAH. 38 INDEED SAW THE.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DEVELOP THE BALANCE OF THE BUDGET? BUT BUT ALSO RIGHT NOW.

SO STAFF IS IN A PROCESS SAYING, HOW DO WE FIGURE IN $38 MILLION? IS THAT FIRST STATEMENT? YES, SIR. IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THESE ARE APPROACHES THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT 11 WEEKS, THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THESE TYPES OF THINGS AS MISS TOLBERT AND MISS WEEDEN AND I HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH DEPARTMENTS.

THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT TO FIND WAYS TO ELIMINATE THAT $38 MILLION SHORTFALL.

AND SO AND SO THEREFORE IN THE BUDGET, HOW MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO SCRUB IN ORDER TO SAVE THE $38 MILLION.

SO WE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE LOOKING AT EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S NOT A SINGLE DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT.

OBVIOUSLY, THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE A SEPARATE FUND THAT DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO THE $38 MILLION SO AVIATION CONVENTION CENTER, THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THEY'RE SEPARATE FROM THIS AND WATER.

BUT ALL OF THE GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, FROM POLICE AND FIRE TO CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO BUDGET MANAGEMENT SERVICE, ALL OF THEM.

AND YOU DID SAY POLICE AND FIRE.

YOU DID SAY PUBLIC SAFETY, I DID.

I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO PUT ON A RECORD.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WE WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THIS.

OKAY. SO.

WITH THAT. I DON'T WANT TO THANK YOU, JACK, FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE COLLEAGUES THAT YOU REALIZE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE HAVE A SHORTFALL.

SO I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE THAT TAXPAYERS GOT TO KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SHORTFALL.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME MAJOR CUTS IN THIS BUDGET.

AND THESE ARE THE TAXPAYER MONEY.

AND THE TAXPAYER NEEDS TO KNOW TODAY THAT WE GOT TO SHARPEN OUR OUR PENCILS, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME CUTS AND TOUCH DECISION RIGHT NOW IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. I BELIEVE THAT WE PROBABLY HAVE MORE THAN $38 MILLION.

I WOULD SEE, AND I HOPE YOU ALL CORRECT ME IN JULY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THE SALE OF PROPERTY TAX COMES, I THINK IT'S MORE THAN $38 MILLION THAT WE HAD TO CUT.

I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT CLOSE TO ANYWHERE FROM 38 TO $100 MILLION, BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT AMENITIES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS BUDGET OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. AND, JACK, I ASKED YOU LAST YEAR IF YOU CAN GO BACK AND SAID HAVING A DIFFERENT AMENITIES, HAVE WE ADDED TO THE BUDGET HAD IT BEEN OVER $100 MILLION? SO WHAT? I'LL REFER YOU TO AND NOT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, BUT ON, ON, ON STARTING ON SLIDE 78.

I'M SORRY, 77, 78 AND 79.

IN THE APPENDIX, WHAT WE DID IS WE TRIED TO IDENTIFY SEVERAL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT YOU ASK ABOUT LAST SUMMER.

RIGHT. I REMEMBERED YOU HAD THE QUESTION.

SO WE WENT AHEAD AND LISTED HERE SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF NEW SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED FROM 2016 THROUGH 2023.

AND YES, THE THANK YOU, JEANETTE TOTALED IT HERE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

IT'S ABOUT $108 MILLION OF INCREASES THAT WERE BUILT INTO THE BUDGET THROUGH THESE TYPES OF ENHANCEMENTS, ENHANCEMENT.

AND SO COLLEAGUES, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A, A TOUGH DECISION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

SO I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE, AND I WANT TO WAIT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, AUGUST AND AND TELL THE TAXPAYERS THAT, HEY, WE GOT TO DO SOME CUTS, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET UNLESS WE GATHER ANOTHER CRYSTAL BALL OUT THERE, SOME MONEY DROP DOWN TO THE CITY HALL.

BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE.

IT'LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY THAT WE GOT SOME TOUGH DECISION.

WE GOT TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES, AND WE GOT TO LOOK AT EVERY DEPARTMENT.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO CUT THE BUDGET? HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIGURE? BUT WE ALSO HAVE ONE MAJOR ISSUE IS OUR PENSION FUND.

SO IT SITS ON A CHAIR THAT I'M GOING TO LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE GOT TO GET DONE.

AND I THINK WE CAN GET IT DONE NEXT WEEK.

BUT BUT WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LOOK AT ALL REVENUES AND ALL CUTS THAT MAKE THE CITY.

[01:35:02]

IT'S A RESIDENT MONEY. AND THEY SHOULD KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR AND WHAT WHAT SERVICE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE.

SO AGAIN, IT'S THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

IT'S THE RESIDENT MONEY.

WE NEED TO BE THE STEWARD OF THE MONEY AND LET THEM KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THEIR MONEY GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND IF I MAY JUST CLOSE ON THAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS UNDERSTOOD WHEN WE COME ON AUGUST 13TH, THERE WILL NOT BE A SHORTFALL.

WHEN WE COME TO YOU ON AUGUST 13TH, WE WILL HAVE A RECOMMENDED BALANCED BUDGET.

WE WILL DO THAT WORK FOR YOU THIS SUMMER.

AND THEN IT WILL BE UP TO YOU ALL TO TO TAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION AND MOVE FORWARD.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GREAT QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUE, WHICH I'M GOING TO PIGGYBACK ON IN A SECOND.

BUT I WANT TO FIRST START OFF BY THANKING CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND AND YOUR OFFICE, JACK, FOR DOING HOSTING THE SPRING TOWN HALL MEETINGS.

I KNOW WE ASKED FOR THAT AS A COUNCIL A FEW YEARS AGO.

I THINK IT WAS DURING COVID.

TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY MORE ADVANCED NOTICE AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO ASK QUESTIONS.

AND YOU DID IT.

I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

I THINK YOU GUYS ARE DOING GREAT ON THAT.

THE THE BILINGUAL OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD AND VERY TRANSPARENT IN THE SURVEYS.

I'M ALSO GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU'RE BRINGING, AT OUR REQUEST, THE DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS TO ALL THE COMMITTEES EARLY.

AND I WANT TO THANK THAT MY FELLOW COMMITTEE CHAIRS FOR ALLOWING THAT ONTO YOUR COMMITTEES, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR.

AND LASTLY, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE ECONOMIST IS GOING TO BE UPDATING OUR SALES TAX FORECAST.

I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE ALWAYS SAID WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET IT RIGHT, AND IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE EXTRA.

AND WHERE DOES THE EXTRA MONEY GO? SO I'M GLAD TO SEE WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO START BEING A LITTLE MORE ACCURATE ON THAT.

ALL RIGHT. JUMPING OFF OF WHERE MAYOR PRO TEM WAS AT I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP PLAN.

AND, JACK, I GUESS I MEAN, YOU MADE A REALLY GOOD POINT.

YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE BALANCED BUDGET IN AUGUST AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MEET THE SHORTFALL.

AND YOU'VE GOT 30 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS.

YOU'VE GOT TO CLOSE THE HOLE ON ONE OF THE FIRST THING YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE HOPING TO SEE TO CLOSE THE GAP WAS NEW CONSTRUCTION. AND I THINK THAT JUST REITERATES THE IMPORTANCE OF US HAVING THE BEST PERMIT OFFICE IN THE COUNTRY AND TO FACILITATE.

FASTER CONSTRUCTION OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY TAXES START AT THE GENERATION OF NEW PROPERTIES OUT OF THE PERMIT OFFICE.

SO THAT'S OUT OF YOUR CONTROL, OUT OF YOUR DEPARTMENT'S CONTROL, BUT IT'S WITHIN THE CITY'S CONTROL.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THE PENSION QUESTIONS BECAUSE I THINK THAT CAN BE SAFE TILL LATER.

ALL RIGHT. SECOND QUESTION ON SLIDE 13 AND 14.

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE OTHER REVENUE CATEGORY ON THOSE SLIDES GENERALLY? OTHER REVENUE INCLUDES FRANCHISE FEES, CHARGES FOR SERVICES, FINES, FORFEITURES.

SO EVERYTHING OTHER THAN SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAX.

THE DAY TO DAY COLLECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENTS.

IS IT EASY TO FORECAST GENERALLY OR IS IT FLUCTUATE A LOT? IT REALLY DEPENDS ON ON THE REVENUE.

HISTORICALLY WE LOOK AT A THREE YEAR AVERAGE.

SOME REVENUES TEND TO TREND A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN OTHERS.

IF YOU RECALL FROM OUR GPM BRIEFINGS RELATED TO THE BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT, WE HAVE SEEN OUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE TREND HIGHER. THOSE ARE THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE SURROUNDING DFW AIRPORT.

SO AGAIN, WE WE RELY ON THE DEPARTMENTS.

WE LOOK AT THREE YEAR HISTORICAL TRENDS.

AND SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE IN OTHER.

THAT'S HELPFUL.

THIS IS FOR EITHER CITY MANAGER OR DIRECTOR CROSSLEY.

I SAW THAT ON SLIDES TEN AND 31.

WE'RE SEEING A REDUCTION IN THE RESOURCES THAT ARE GOING TO OES AND HOUSING IN THE NEXT YEAR.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE 16 NEW FTES THAT ARE GOING TOWARDS DECOMMISSIONING ENCAMPMENTS AND PUTTING PEOPLE ON HOUSING.

SO HOW DOES THAT WORK TOGETHER? IF IF I MAY JUST POINT OUT ON THIS INCLUDED ON SLIDE TEN ARE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WOULD BE SUCH AS THE ARPA FUNDS OR CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDS OR OTHER GRANT FUNDS.

AND SO THOSE ARE USED A LOT TO FUND HOUSING AND HOMELESS SOLUTION TYPES OF SERVICES.

AND SO THAT'S MORE THAN LIKELY THE REDUCTION THAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE YEAR OVER YEAR, BECAUSE WE HAD THOSE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC UP UNTIL THE CURRENT YEAR, THOSE ARE FALLING OFF, IF YOU WILL.

[01:40:02]

AND BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR EFFORTS ON DECOMMISSIONING.

YES. CHRISTINE CROSSLEY DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

SO THE FUNDING FOR THE 16 FTES WHICH ARE CONTRACTED OUT TO OUR SYSTEM.

SO THAT'S MORE HOUSING READINESS FOCUSED.

THEY'RE NOT WITH THEY'RE NOT ONES THAT HAVE BEEN HIRED BY THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT, AND THAT'S ALREADY BAKED INTO THE BUDGET.

SO IT'S NOT ADDITIONAL FUNDING THIS YEAR.

IT'S ALREADY FUNDING THAT'S BAKED INTO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN FRONT OF YOU.

OKAY. SO WE'RE COVERED ON THAT.

YES. WE'RE COVERED.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT IS FOR TRANSPORTATION OR THE ACM.

I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT'S AWESOME LOVE, DOCTOR CALI AND HIS WORK.

I HAVE HAD TROUBLE.

AND I KNOW I ASKED FOR A LOT AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS AND TRAFFIC CALMING, AND I NOTICED A BUDGET DECREASE ON SLIDE 63, AND I JUST WONDERED IF ARE WE HOW ARE WE GOING TO CAN ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RAMP THOSE UP, OR ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE.

SOME CHALLENGES WITH DOING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS. IF I MAY BEFORE TRANSPORTATION RESPONDS.

THE DIFFERENCE THE YEAR OVER YEAR DIFFERENCE FOR TRANSPORTATION IS ACTUALLY DUE TO ONE TIME FUNDING.

SO IF YOU RECALL, WE ALLOCATED APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION FOR EQUITY INITIATIVES.

AND SO INCLUDED IN THEIR BUDGET WAS FUNDING TO DO SOME WORK ON LIGHTING UPGRADES ALONG WALTON WALK LOOP 12.

SO THAT'S WHAT THE DIFFERENCE YOU SEE.

THANK YOU. WELL, JUST MOVING FORWARD, WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS I MEAN, GENERALLY.

SORRY. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS SCOTT WALTON.

I'M AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

I FIRST APOLOGIZE.

GUS HAD ANOTHER COMMITMENT.

HE COULDN'T BE HERE THIS MORNING.

AND SO WE.

I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION COUNCIL PERSON, BECAUSE THIS WILL BE A MORE DETAILED DEAL, AND WE CAN PROVIDE IT TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO YOU ALL HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION OF WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S HELPFUL. THANK YOU.

OKAY. LAST QUESTION IS FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND THIS COMES UP EVERY YEAR I KNOW COUNCIL.

MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILWOMAN WILLIS HAS BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE IS OUR STREET DEGRADATION THAT WE'VE SEEN YEAR OVER YEAR AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PHRASE THIS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN CHARTS IN THE PAST, I THINK IT WAS THROUGH THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

OR IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FULL COUNCIL WHERE WE'VE SEEN THE DEGRADATION OF OUR STREETS AND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO ACTUALLY SLOW THAT DOWN OR STOP IT AND GO THE OTHER WAY.

WITH THE COMBINATION OF WHAT YOU JUST GOT IN THE 2024 BOND, PLUS PREVIOUS BONDS PLUS THIS BUDGET ARE WE PREVENTING DEGRADATION? GOOD MORNING.

ALI ZAFAR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER.

THE THING IS THAT WE HAD THE BRIEFING, AS YOU MENTIONED, FOR THE COUNCIL ON THE IMP OR INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PLAN.

WE SHOWED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOMETHING AROUND $270 MILLION, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

FOR ZERO DEGRADATION SCENARIO.

RIGHT. AND WE RAN THE ANALYSIS WITH A BUDGET SCENARIO WITH WHATEVER WE RECEIVE FROM THE GENERAL FUND, PLUS WHATEVER WE RECEIVE FROM THE BOND FUND. AND WE'RE NOT THERE YET AT THE ZERO DEGRADATION REGARDLESS, WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE.

BUT WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR OTHER ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS YOU KNOW PREPARING OR WORKING OR COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTIES TO GET MORE MONIES OR OTHER GRANT THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR TO OFFSET THE COSTS.

BUT REGARDLESS, AS WE PRESENTED BEFORE WE ARE NOT AT ZERO DEGRADATION FUNDING SCENARIO AS OF NOW.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED A FULL BRIEFING.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR THAT. BUT IF THERE COULD BE AN UPDATE BASED ON THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE NOW TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PLAN, SO WE COULD SEE WHAT THAT GAP STILL IS GIVEN THIS BUDGET, THE 2024 AND PREVIOUS BONDS.

ABSOLUTELY. SO I DON'T THINK IF THIS BUDGET HAS BEEN I GUESS IDENTIFIED FOR THE STREET PORTION OF IT, PER SE, IT HAS THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.

ONCE WE GET THE FINAL NUMBER, THEN WE DEFINITELY CIRCLE BACK AND WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE.

YEAH, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF REALLY URGENT PRIORITIES IN THE CITY, AS WE'VE HEARD FROM MAYOR PRO TEM AND OTHERS.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE THOSE ARE AT THE FOREFRONT FOR US.

BUT AS A LONGER TERM GOAL, WE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT AT REVERSING THAT TREND.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

[01:45:02]

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. WELL, I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST CARRYING THAT MANTLE WITH ME BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, TOO.

IS JUST THAT I'M SEEING THAT NUMBER HELD ALMOST FLAT.

AND GOING INTO LAST YEAR, IT WAS WE'RE HOLDING IT FLAT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE BOND COMING.

AND NOW I LOOK AT IT AND IT'S FLAT AND IT'S LIKE, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE BOND PASS.

AND SO BUT TO THE POINT THAT WAS JUST RAISED I MEAN GETTING TO THAT ZERO DEGRADATION IS SO CRITICAL.

AND SO I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE THINKING THAT THROUGH AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, PART OF THIS NUMBER IS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.

WE TALK ABOUT VISION ZERO.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE WE SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO THAT.

WE ALL ACT, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE'VE GOT SHOCK AND AWE OVER THE INJURIES AND DEATHS AND OUR OUR TROUBLING STREETS AND INTERSECTIONS.

AND YET THIS IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WHERE WE'VE REALLY GOT TO SHOW WHAT OUR COMMITMENT IS TO THAT.

BUT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CITY MANAGER TOLBERT.

JUST AND I DON'T NEED.

A LOT OF DEPTH ON THIS, BUT WHEN THE CHARGE WAS GIVEN TO DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WE SPENT A LOT OF ANGST AROUND DUPLICATION, NEED GAP IN THE COMMUNITY AND JUST REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT WHEN WE'RE SPENDING A DOLLAR, IT'S WHERE THE CITY OF DALLAS NEEDS TO BE.

SPENDING A DOLLAR HAS TO BE SPENDING A DOLLAR BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO GET DONE ANY OTHER WAY.

WERE THEY GIVEN A CHARGE TO REALLY LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE MARKETPLACE, TO SEE WHERE THE LOAD CAN BE CARRIED BY OTHERS, OR SHOULD BE CARRIED BY OTHERS THAT WE COULD PURSUE? THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

COUNCILWOMAN WILLIS.

AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE DIRECTION FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AROUND LOOKING AT NOT ONLY FROM A SERVICE STANDPOINT, BUT WHAT BUSINESS THAT SHOULD THE CITY BE IN AND NOT IN.

RIGHT. AND SO I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT PROBABLY DID A BETTER JOB OF THAT LAST YEAR, BUT THIS YEAR WE HAVE NO TOLERANCE FROM WE GOT TO HAVE ALL DEPARTMENTS DOING IT THE SAME WAY.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU HEARD IN OUR APPROACH, IS THAT NO DEPARTMENT WILL BE EXEMPT FROM GOING THROUGH THAT AND TRULY, TRULY UNDERSTANDING THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN AND HOW WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF IDENTIFYING NOT ONLY BETTER FUNDING SOURCES OR IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING AS A CITY, THEN WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THAT BUSINESS.

AND SO I CAN'T SPEAK FOR HOW THE DECISIONS WERE MADE AS IT RELATES TO THE ENTIRE BUDGET.

AND HOW SOME OF THOSE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN DONE THE WAY WE WOULD WANT TO DO THOSE NOW.

BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THERE'S JUST NO TOLERANCE.

WE CAN'T HAVE A TOLERANCE FOR THAT THIS YEAR.

AND THIS BUDGET TEAM CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS IT.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THAT THIS APPROACH IS GOING TO BE PAINFUL, BUT IT'S SERIOUS.

AND OUR DEPARTMENTS WILL BE OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HELPING US GET TO CLOSING THIS GAP.

WE'RE HOPING THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, EVEN ON THE FRONT SIDE OF DEVELOPING THE BUDGET, TO KIND OF STOP SOME OF THE I WOULD SAY MAYBE SOME OF THE INEFFICIENCIES THAT WE MIGHT KNOW OF AND DO THAT PROACTIVELY.

SO JACK MENTIONED THAT IN AUGUST, WE WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME TO YOU WITH A BUDGET THAT HAS A GAP.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS IN ADVANCE AND PRESENT TO YOU A BUDGET NOT ONLY BALANCED FOR 25, BUT ALSO FOR 26.

THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU.

AND I GOT A SLIDE 31.

AND THE ONES THAT SHOW WHEN WHEN OUR RESIDENTS LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, OH, WE'RE SPENDING SO LITTLE FOR HOMELESSNESS.

WELL THE REALITY IS, IS THAT IF WE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE MARKETPLACE, WE KNOW WHAT OUR OTHER PARTNERS ARE FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN SPEAK TO THAT IN OUR TOWN HALLS.

BUT SO WE ALSO KNOW.

SO IN GOING THROUGH THAT EXERCISE, THE END RESULT TO THE TAXPAYER IS, YOU KNOW, BUT THIS IS BEING FILLED BY OTHER BUCKETS OUTSIDE OF US.

AND SO I THINK WE I JUST HAVEN'T SEEN THE LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

AND I THINK THIS IS THE YEAR TO CHANGE THAT.

GETTING INTO WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT PAIN POINTS AND SUBSIDIZING THINGS THAT THE CITY HAS TO SUBSIDIZE.

BUT WHEN YOU REFERENCE A POOL AND THAT WE WANT THOSE TO BE OPEN AND WE WOULDN'T, WE WANT TO SUBSIDIZE THAT, WE'D HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE IT.

WELL, WE ALSO HAVE PROCURED A SPONSORSHIP AGENCY.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT OF THE MINDSET OF WE, THE CITY HAS TO COME IN AND SUBSIDIZE.

I WOULD LIKE TO FIND THESE OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY STRONG ONE, BECAUSE THE AGENCY'S ALREADY IN PLACE.

OUR PARKS AND POOLS AND AQUATICS AND ATHLETIC FIELDS JUST ARE RIFE WITH OPPORTUNITY.

I THOUGHT THE NUMBER THAT WAS PRESENTED, I THINK IT WAS $2 MILLION, WAS REALLY UNDERSHOOTING WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT COULD BE DONE.

AND I'M NOT SURE HOW THE PROCUREMENT WORKED OUT, BUT I KNOW I ASKED WHY STOP AT PARK AND REC? I MEAN, WE'VE GOT SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT GAIN AMAZING NUMBER OF IMPRESSIONS AND EXPOSURE AND POSITIVE HALOS OF CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR CITY AND TO OUR RESIDENTS.

SO I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW WE CAN JUST GET OUT OF THE SUBSIDIZATION SUBSIDIZATION MINDSET AND GET INTO THE REVENUE GENERATING MINDSET IN THIS AREA.

[01:50:07]

IN THE FEE STUDY, WE'VE GOT FOUR AREAS, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS IT GOES ON A ROLLING BASIS.

SO I'M WONDERING IF IT'S TIME TO EXPAND BEYOND FOUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND KIND OF START TO CLOSE THIS GAP SO THAT WE'RE NOT GOING THROUGH THIS SEVEN YEAR ROLLING PERIOD OF FEE STUDIES.

IS THAT CAN WE DO THAT? SO THE WAY THAT THE CALENDAR IS LAID OUT OR THE SCHEDULE, WE LOOK AT FEES EVERY FOUR YEARS.

AND SO WE WE END UP LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT GROUP OF FEES EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT'S EVERY FOUR YEARS.

BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY INCREASE THE ROTATION.

SO INSTEAD OF WAITING EVERY FOUR YEARS, MAYBE LOOK EVERY TWO YEARS.

WELL, AND I WOULD ASK IF WE JUST I'M SURE THERE'S SOME OUT THERE THAT OFF THE TOP OF SOME DEPARTMENT HEADS, HEADS.

THEY COULD, THEY COULD SAY, YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE WE HAVE POTENTIAL.

SO I'M NOT SAYING JUST PICK FROM THE LIST.

I MEAN IT'S LIKE LET'S IDENTIFY SOME THAT COULD HAVE GREATER POTENTIAL TO GENERATE REVENUE.

AND I KNOW THAT PARKS WAS LISTED.

AND I RECALL WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE FEE STUDY ONLY INCLUDED LIKE EVENT SPACE RENTALS AND NOT NECESSARILY LIKE REC CENTER FEES AND OTHER FEES LIKE GOLF OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND SO I HAD ALSO ASKED, AND I THINK THE PARK DEPARTMENT'S LOOKING AT MEDICARE AND THEIR SILVER SNEAKERS PROGRAM THAT WILL REIMBURSE LIKE $30 A MONTH FOR A HEALTH CLUB. AND WE'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, $15 A YEAR.

I KNOW THERE ARE RESIDENTS.

SO THEY SHOULDN'T PAY ANY MORE THAN THAT.

AND THAT'S THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

BUT IF THERE'S MONEY OUT THERE ON THE TABLE THAT COULD GENERATE MILLIONS TO HELP US WITH OUR, OUR PARK NEEDS, I'D LOVE TO FIND THAT JUMPING TO THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS. AND I KNOW THAT I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS TOUCHED ON THIS.

I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT LIST IS, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED THIS MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ROLLING BACK.

I'D LOVE TO, TO JUST SEE WHAT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR OR PREVIOUS COUPLE OF YEARS.

THOSE ENHANCEMENTS ARE AND HOW YOU CATEGORIZE THOSE JUST SO WE CAN GIVE CONSIDERATION TO THEM BEFORE WE GET TO AUGUST, BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE MAY BE MORE OF A STICKING POINT WITH OUR RESIDENTS THAN THAN OTHERS MIGHT BE.

AND I THINK THAT MAY NEED TO SHAPE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION.

AND IF I COULD, I WOULD JUST POINT YOU TO SLIDE 77 THROUGH 79 IN THE APPENDIX.

OH, DID I MISS OUR THE LIST OF SERVICES THAT I REFERENCED WHEN I ANSWERED MAYOR PRO TEM QUESTION? I SEE OKAY, THIS THIS TOTALS OVER $100 MILLION OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED OVER THE LAST FIVE, SIX YEARS.

WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THEM TO DETERMINE IF WE NEED TO CONTINUE THEM, IF THEY'RE MEETING THE INTENDED PURPOSE.

I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING WE'RE GOING TO ROLL SOMETHING BACK, BUT WE GOT TO LOOK AT IT.

SO I JUST WANT TO BE UPFRONT ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE TAKING THAT APPROACH.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

AND IS THIS ALL ALL INCLUSIVE? I MEAN THIS IS EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN.

THAT IS YOUR IT'S ABOUT YOUR TIME.

SO WE COULD GO AHEAD AND COMPLETE YOUR SENTENCE.

AND SO IF STAFF NEEDS TO RESPOND, WE CAN DO THAT BEFORE GOING ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.

IF WE COULD JUST JUMP IN AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CLOSED OUT THAT ON THAT SLIDE, WHAT YOU WILL SEE THESE WOULD BE ENHANCEMENTS THAT WERE EITHER BROUGHT FORWARD BY STAFF OR ENHANCEMENTS THAT WERE COMMUNICATED THAT WE NEEDED TO GO AND LOOK AT WAYS TO DO THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY PUT THEM IN BUCKETS YOU KNOW, ATTACHED TO THE VARIOUS STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.

WE CAN ALSO COME BACK AND UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON WHAT THESE ADDITIONAL THINGS HAVE NETTED US FROM OUR RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT WOULD BE A WHOLESOME EXERCISE.

SO WE DEFINITELY CAN BRING THAT BACK AND GO A LITTLE BIT DEEPER AS IT RELATES TO WHAT YOU SEE ON THOSE SLIDES.

AS FAR AS ENHANCEMENTS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, AS WELL FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZED AT THIS TIME FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

SO YOU INDICATE ON SLIDE 22 THAT OUR REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE CAPPED WITH REGARD TO PREEXISTING PROPERTIES, NOT INCLUDING NEW CONSTRUCTION. SO THAT GIVES US GREATER VISIBILITY INTO WHAT OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUES WILL BE IN ADVANCE OF JULY THE 25TH, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THEY WERE LAST YEAR.

AND WE KNOW IF WE APPLY 3.5% INCREASE, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE CAPPED AT THIS YEAR.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.

YOU'RE CORRECT ON THE REAPPRAISALS THAT BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON REVENUE, IT IT'S 33.

5% GROWTH ON THE REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVE FROM PROPERTIES IN THE PRIOR YEAR.

SO THAT TAKES A LOT OF THAT FORECASTING OUT OF IT.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS IN THE PROPERTY TAX.

THERE'S PROPERTIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN LAWSUITS.

[01:55:01]

THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT GO INTO THE CALCULATION, BUT IT DOES MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE PREDICTIVE THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE $68 MILLION AT CURRENT TAX RATES OVER THE CAP.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT.

CORRECT. SO YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE EXAMPLE ON SLIDE 51.

AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CAP WORKS.

SO THE CAP COMPARES REVENUE IN THE CURRENT YEAR TO REVENUE THAT YOU'LL RECEIVE ON JULY 25TH.

AND SO IN THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE IT'S SHOWING 10% GROWTH.

AND IT'S GIVING YOU AN IDEA OF HOW IF WE GROW 10% OR AN AMOUNT OVER THE 3.5, WE WILL HAVE TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO COLLECT THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT YOU COLLECTED IN THE CURRENT YEAR COMPARED TO THE FUTURE YEAR THAT YOU'RE PLANNING FOR, PLUS 3.5%.

SO THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.

THIS IS AN ACTUAL NUMBERS.

OKAY. WELL, REGARDLESS, WITH REGARD TO SLIDE 37, DOES THAT TABLE OF THE PROJECTED SHORTFALLS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CAP ON PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

YES SIR. IT DOES.

OKAY. NOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED AS AN APPROACH TO DEVELOPING A BALANCED BUDGET IN SLIDE 38 IS TO FOCUS ON QUALITY OF POSITIONS, NOT QUANTITY OF POSITIONS.

AND YET. I NOTE ON SLIDE 70, YOU'RE PROJECTING 116 NEW EMPLOYEE COUNT OVER THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THAT INCREASE IN EMPLOYEE COUNT? SO SO THE INCREASE THAT'S SHOWN ON THE EMPLOYEE COUNT THAT'S IN THE APPENDIX IS RELATED.

THE WORK THAT WAS DONE LAST SUMMER AND AND MADE A PART OF THE PLANNED BUDGET.

BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS SUMMER, WE ARE REASSESSING EVERY SINGLE ENHANCEMENT THAT WAS PLANNED AND DETERMINE IF THAT'S STILL GOING TO GO FORWARD OR NOT, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO APPROACH IT DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO I AM NOT GOING TO ASSUME JUST BECAUSE WE PUT IT IN THE PLAN LAST SUMMER THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT IN OUR RECOMMENDATION.

SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL THE POSITIONS AND ALL OF THE ENHANCEMENTS AND ALL OF THE INCREASES THAT WE THOUGHT WERE APPROPRIATE LAST SUMMER, AND REASSESS WHETHER WE BRING THEM IN THE RECOMMENDATION OR NOT.

OKAY. WELL, I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF BRINGING US INTO LINE WITH OUR REVENUES THIS YEAR, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE ADDING STAFF IS, NOT JUST IN SALARIES, BUT BENEFITS.

SO THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BRIEFING ITEM A, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU.

I GUESS WHEN I SAW THIS PRESENTATION, THE FIRST QUESTION I HAD IS REALLY WHAT IS DIFFERENT? WHAT IS THIS DIFFERENT APPROACH? AND SO I APPRECIATE PAGE 38 WITH THE BULLETED LIST.

BUT WHEN I LOOK THROUGH THAT LIST I FEEL LIKE, WELL, HAVEN'T WE ALREADY BEEN DOING ALL THOSE THINGS? I MEAN, IS THERE ACTUALLY ANYTHING ON HERE THAT IS NEW? AND SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND LIKE WHAT IS THE DIFFERENT APPROACH? ARE YOU STARTING WITH A ZERO BASED BUDGET WHICH YOU'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

ARE YOU TELLING ALL DEPARTMENTS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DECREASE IN THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DECREASE IN YOUR HEADCOUNT? I MEAN, HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING IT DIFFERENTLY? IT'S I BELIEVE, JACK, AND I'M JUST GOING TO FINISH THIS.

AND IT REALLY IS A QUESTION IN A STATEMENT.

BUT IN THE PAST YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

YOU START WITH A BUDGET AND YOU INCREASE AND DECREASE A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THERE.

SO IS THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING OR IS THERE ACTUALLY A REALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH THAT'S HAPPENING THIS YEAR? COUNCIL MEMBER I DO BELIEVE THAT THE APPROACH IS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR, AND I WILL SAY THAT IN THAT AS FAR AS THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD IN THE PAST, THAT WE HAVE PUSHED BACK ON DEPARTMENTS ABOUT EVEN BRINGING FORWARD ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE ARE EXPECTING, THAT ANY ENHANCEMENTS THAT COME FORWARD HAVE ALREADY BEEN VETTED BY THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

THAT IS OVER THAT DEPARTMENT AS WELL, AND TAKE THAT TYPE OF APPROACH.

WE CANNOT BE LOOKING AT JUST ENHANCING.

AND WE'VE ASKED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE REDUCTION SCENARIOS THAT WE TYPICALLY ASK FOR AND PUSHED BACK ON WHAT WE'VE RECEIVED.

THEY CANNOT BE THE SAME TYPE OF REDUCTIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN PRIOR YEARS.

SOMETIMES THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE WE KNOW WE CAN'T BRING FORWARD TO THIS COUNCIL.

AND SO WE, WE ARE ASKING DEPARTMENTS TO THINK DIFFERENTLY AS WE APPROACH OUR REDUCTION OPTIONS.

[02:00:03]

IT IS IT IS TIME.

WE CANNOT GO FORWARD ANY LONGER KNOWING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE THE UNUSED INCREMENT IN OUR PROPERTY TAX, THAT WE ARE LIMITED TO THE 3.5% GROWTH FROM REAPPRAISAL.

AND THAT IS FORCING US TO APPROACH THIS DIFFERENTLY, IF YOU WILL.

SO WHILE SOME OF THESE THINGS MAY SOUND SIMILAR, I THINK THAT THAT YOU WILL SEE AN OUTCOME FROM THIS APPROACH THAT THAT YIELDS DIFFERENT RESULTS.

WELL, FOR FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE SAYING THESE THINGS, AND SO I FEEL A LITTLE BIT VALIDATED THAT WE'RE NOW GOING TO DO IT.

BUT IT SURE IS FRUSTRATING THAT JUST BECAUSE THE MONEY WAS AVAILABLE, WE ADDED IT INTO OUR BUDGET.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO INCENTIVIZE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP TO IDENTIFY CHANGES TO HOW THEY DELIVER SERVICES TO SERVICES THAT ARE EVEN APPROPRIATE? ARE YOU LOOKING AT PROVIDING THEM A BONUS, SOME KIND OF INCENTIVE, SOME SORT OF METRIC ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE REVIEW, LIKE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET THEM TO DO THIS WHEN THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED TO DO THIS BEFORE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

I'LL START BY SAYING THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE'VE GOT TO DO JUST AS AN ORGANIZATION, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT CLIMATE THAT WE'RE IN FROM A COMPETITIVE STANDPOINT TO, TO, TO, TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TOP TALENT AND TALENT THAT IS ACTUALLY DEMONSTRATING PERFORMANCE THAT WE NEED AS AN ORGANIZATION IS THAT WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE.

SO I THINK THAT OVER WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AS WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT HOW TO DO THAT THAT'S NOT TRADITIONALLY HOW GOVERNMENTS HAVE OPERATED WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING BONUSES.

WE USUALLY DON'T SAY THOSE WORDS.

BUT I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE CHANGE AND HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT IF DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP, IF THEY'RE DOING THE THINGS THAT WE NEED, IF THEY TRULY ARE DEMONSTRATING OUTCOMES AND THE PERFORMANCE THAT WE NEED, THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO DO THAT.

AND SO THAT WILL BE A PART OF HOW WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT JUST NOT ONLY A MERIT PROGRAM, BUT HOW DO WE LOOK AT A WAY TO BE ABLE TO REWARD THOSE THAT DO IT RIGHT? JACK MENTIONED THE DIFFERENCES IN THE APPROACH, AND I DON'T WANT TO COMPARE PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE EVEN JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE? WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS AROUND, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WE THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS AND, AND WE DON'T REALLY GET TO, WELL, DO WE REALLY NEED THAT MANY OR DO WE REALLY NEED THIS AMOUNT? AND THOSE ARE GOOD STRONG POSITIONS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW.

AND. AND SO WE'RE WE'RE TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO, TO KIND OF REFRAME OUR THINKING.

IT'S NOT THAT ANYBODY'S DONE ANYTHING WRONG, BUT I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WHAT WE GET WHEN WE'RE HAVING THOSE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS, THAT IT'S A DIFFERENT MINDSET.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING.

THAT PROCESS IS ALREADY STARTED, AND I THINK OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS DIFFERENT.

AND HOPEFULLY WHEN WE COME BACK IN AUGUST, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU HOW WE'VE APPROACHED IT.

AND THEN YOU CAN GRADE OUR PAPER AT THAT TIME.

THANK YOU. IF I CAN ADD MORE TO MISS TOLBERT'S ANSWER.

ADDITIONALLY, IN PRIOR YEARS WHEN DEPARTMENTS HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD AN ENHANCEMENT AND THEY JUSTIFIED THE ENHANCEMENT AS SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED TO DO AS A CITY TO MEET THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE INCORPORATED THAT INTO THE BUDGET.

AND MISS TOLBERT HAS ASKED US, OKAY, BRING FORWARD THE NEED, BUT ALSO, HOW CAN WE DO IT WITH MONEY THAT'S OTHER THAN THE CITY'S MONEY.

SO HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE COUNTY YET? HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE SCHOOL YET? WHAT GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE? WHO CAN WE PARTNER WITH IF THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THE COMMUNITY? WE WANT TO DELIVER THE SERVICE.

WE WANT TO MEET THAT NEED, BUT IS THERE A DIFFERENT WAY TO GET THERE? AND SO I THINK RATHER THAN JUST MAKING THE DECISION TO ENHANCE OUR SERVICE DELIVERY, LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE THINGS.

AND SO MISS TOLBERT HAS REALLY CHALLENGED EVERYONE TO TO THINK DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO I HOPE EVERYONE WILL SUPPORT HER AS WE APPROACH THIS.

THANK YOU. SO I FEEL LIKE I'VE SAID, I FEEL LIKE I'VE SAID THIS IN A MILLION DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT THERE'S INFINITY NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT WE ARE NOT, AS A CITY, ALWAYS THE RIGHT ONE TO DELIVER THEM.

AND SOMETIMES THE ANSWER JUST HAS TO BE, THAT'S NOT US.

GO VISIT THE STATE, GO VISIT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

GO TALK TO THE COUNTY.

BUT IT'S NOT US.

NOT ALWAYS.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ALREADY AROUND THE HORSESHOE ABOUT MAJOR CUTS.

I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU SAID MAJOR CUTS, BUT THE REALITY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS IS IT'S ALMOST $60 MILLION INCREASE IN GENERAL

[02:05:02]

I'LL FLIP TO THE PAGE AND GET THE EXACT NUMBER.

BUT I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON.

SO WHILE WE'RE HAVING ANGST THAT, OH, THERE'S GOING TO BE CUTS, WHICH THERE CERTAINLY WILL BE, LET'S NOT FORGET, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING UP. WHAT'S GOING DOWN IS A DIFFERENT PART OF THE BUDGET THAT IS STILL BEING PAID BY PROPERTY TAX.

SO CAN YOU TELL US WHAT IS THE CURRENT DOLLAR AMOUNT OF REVENUE FOREGONE TO THE GENERAL FUND? THAT'S BECAUSE OF TIFS.

IT'S JEANETTE'S GOING TO LOOK IT UP HERE, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS ROUGHLY $110 MILLION.

JEANETTE. AM I CLOSE? I'M SORRY ABOUT 110, I THINK.

LET'S LET'S VERIFY IT.

I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE WRONG NUMBER ON THIS.

WOW. I WONDER WHAT WE COULD DO WITH $110 MILLION WITH OUR PENSION.

MAYOR PRO TEM, LET'S.

SO, ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE THE TIF PORTION IS ABOUT 90 MILLION.

90 MILLION. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

90 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

SO PROBABLY.

AND THEN 34 MILLION FOR DEBT SERVICE.

YEAH. OKAY.

I THINK I THINK THAT MAKES A POINT.

I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO PROTEST THE APPRAISAL FROM DALLAS COUNTY.

IT'S ALSO THE SAME DAY FOR DENTON COUNTY AND COLLIN COUNTY.

NEXT WEDNESDAY WE HAVE A BUDGET HEARING.

WE USUALLY HAVE ZERO ATTENDANCE FOR OR ZERO SPEAKERS AT OUR MAY BUDGET HEARING.

SO I HOPE THE PUBLIC WILL COME OUT AND SHARE WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE, IF THEY'D LIKE TO DO THAT PUBLICLY.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PENSION ASSUMPTION THAT YOU HAVE BUILT IN CERTAINLY A YEAR AGO WHEN YOU WERE CONSTRUCTING THE PLANNED BUDGET, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE CONSIDERED A FIVE YEAR STEP UP PLAN.

WHAT WAS YOUR ASSUMPTION THEN FOR FOR THE PLANNED BUDGET YOU HAVE? SO THE PLANNED BUDGET FOR PENSION ASSUMED ABOUT 190 MILLION FOR UNIFORM, WHICH IS AN INCREASE FROM ABOUT 184 THAT WE HAVE IN THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET FOR UNIFORM PENSION.

SO YOU HAD PLANNED TO ADD 6 MILLION MORE FOR THE UNIFORM FOR THE POLICE FIRE PENSION OVER WHAT THE PRIOR YEAR HAD BEEN CORRECT, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A RESULT OF A CALCULATION OF 34.5% TIMES THE NEW SALARY GROWTH.

AND WITH THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP, WHAT IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE PLANNING? SO THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS APPROXIMATELY, I BELIEVE 202 MILLION.

IT'S $17 MILLION MORE THAN THE 184.

AND THE COMMITTEE HASN'T AGREED.

TWO FIVE YEAR STEP UP.

AND IN FACT, THE COMMITTEE MAY SAY WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS ADVOCATING FOR, WHICH IS A THREE YEAR STEP UP.

AND IN THAT SCENARIO, HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT FOR THE BUDGET? THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL $8 MILLION ABOVE WHAT I HAVE BUILT IN AT THIS POINT.

SO INSTEAD OF GOING FROM THE CURRENT YEAR CONTRIBUTION OF 185 TO 202, IT WOULD GO FROM 185 TO 210.

SO IF THAT'S THE SCENARIO THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS WE INCREASE THE GAP BY $8 MILLION TO 46.

SO IT'D BE A $25 MILLION ADDITION.

YES, MA'AM. BASED ON.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

25.91 OKAY.

OKAY. THAT ONE WAS ANSWERED.

SO THERE'S ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT REPEATEDLY THAT ARE DUPLICATION.

WE ARE RUNNING A DENTAL PROGRAM, WHICH IS CLEARLY THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNTY.

WE'RE RUNNING A SENIOR RIDES PROGRAM.

CLEARLY, THAT IS A TRANSPORTATION ITEM THAT PROBABLY SHOULD FALL UNDER DART'S PURVIEW, SINCE WE PAY THEM MORE THAN $420 MILLION A YEAR IN SALES TAX. HAVE WE STARTED TO MAYBE NOTIFY THEM THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO HAND THAT OVER TO THEM IF THEY WISH TO CONTINUE IT? THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSOHN. I'VE BEEN VERY LOUD AND VERY CLEAR TO OUR TEAM ABOUT THE APPROACH THAT WE NEED TO TAKE REGARDING JUST NOT JUST ONLY THOSE TWO PROGRAMS, BUT OVERALL THE THINGS THAT MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY TO HAVE THE SERVICE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THAT SERVICE PAID FOR BY THE CITY.

AND SO WE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT NOT ONLY THOSE TWO PROGRAMS, BUT PROGRAMS ACROSS THE BOARD THAT REALLY WE KNOW WE NEED TO LOOK AT DIFFERENTLY AND HOW WE SUPPORT THOSE.

AND SO WE WILL BE DOING THAT.

AND AGAIN, AS WE WORK THROUGH THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS IT WILL BE THOSE TYPES OF DECISIONS THAT WE WILL BE MAKING.

[02:10:02]

IF I CAN JUST SAY THAT IT SHOULD NOT START IN JULY.

WELL, I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO START IN JULY BECAUSE THEY NEED TO PLAN THEIR BUDGET AS WELL.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT IT IN WRITING TO THEM.

HOPEFULLY EVEN BY THE END OF THE MONTH, I CAN SEE THEM AT A TIME.

I DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR ANOTHER ROUND.

MRS BLACKMON. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING AND AND GIVING US THIS.

I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY.

AND SO I DO WANT TO APPRECIATE I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND AND SO IT'S NOT EASY.

AND I DO THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.

AND SO I'M KIND OF GOING TO GO IN A BROAD SENSE OF JUST GOING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND THEN GOING INTO SPECIFIC ON PAGE 36, WE LOOK AT THE DAYS INN RESERVE. AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HAVING DAYS IN THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

AND BY YEAR 28 IT IT DROPS BY 20.

IS THAT CONCERNING? TO YOU GUYS, I MEAN, OR BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO STASH AWAY AS MUCH AS WE CAN, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE START WHITTLING AWAY AT IT.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? SO PAGE 36 AGAIN IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT WE PRESENTED IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT A YEAR AGO.

ONCE WE BALANCE THE BUDGET WE WILL NOT BE SPENDING DOWN RESERVE.

YOU WILL NOT SEE THE DROP IN THE NUMBER OF DAYS.

SO AS WE WORK THROUGH THE SUMMER, AS WE BALANCE THE BUDGET, THEN THEN I THINK THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED.

SO THOSE WILL BE MODIFIED BY AND SO.

BUT CAN YOU GIVE US YOUR GENERAL FEELING ABOUT HAVING DAYS IN RESERVE? BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A, A BENCHMARK THAT THE INDUSTRY SEEKS TO THE CITY HAS A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA THAT REQUIRES THAT WE MAINTAIN BETWEEN 50 AND 70 DAYS IN RESERVE.

AND SO THAT'S THIS BODY'S POLICY ON THAT.

AND WE ARE WELL WITHIN THAT AT THE CURRENT TIME.

AND WHEN WE BALANCE THESE FUTURE YEARS, YOU WILL NOT SEE US SPENDING DOWN THOSE DAYS AS THEY THEY ARE DEMONSTRATED ON THAT.

IT'S NOT DANGER WILL ROBINSON YET.

BUT PLEASE, NO, NO NOS A BUT THIS IS ALL IF NOTHING CHANGES.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO THAT'S JUST ANOTHER FACTOR YOU'RE LOOKING INTO WHEN YOU'RE BUDGETING.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO RECOMMEND TO BALANCE THE BUDGET FROM RESERVE.

OKAY. NOW LOOKING INTO THE NEXT PAGE, WE ARE GOING INTO A $38 MILLION HOLE.

ARE THERE ANY SACRED COWS IN WHICH YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS BUDGET COMING BEFORE US IN AUGUST? I MEAN, ANY THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING TO DO, I KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, BUT IS THERE ANY THAT YOU'RE NOT SAYING WE CAN'T TOUCH THIS? OR IS EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE? WELL, I WANT I'D LIKE TO SAY THERE'S NO SACRED COWS, BUT THERE ARE SACRED COWS.

RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO FUND OUR PENSION.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A SACRED COW.

OUR DEBT SERVICE, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WE ARE LEGALLY BOUND TO DO.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE JEOPARDIZING THE CITY ON THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

BUT AS FAR AS A DEPARTMENT, IS A DEPARTMENT EXEMPT FROM THE REVIEW AND ANALYSIS? NO WE WILL LOOK AT ALL DEPARTMENTS.

OKAY. AND YOU JUST HIT ON SOMETHING ABOUT THE, THE THE PENSION.

SO THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP, WHAT YEAR DOES THAT PAYMENT? I KNOW SOME WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE, BUT I WANT YOU TO.

WHEN DO WE SEE ANOTHER BIG JUMP IN A PAYMENT FROM A 200 MILLION.

AND THEN IT GOES, DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE THAT DATE? BECAUSE THAT'S THE BIG ONE THAT'S LOOMING OUT BEFORE US.

SO I KNOW THAT MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ARE A LITTLE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THIS THAN THOSE THAT ARE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE.

SO I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THE WE NEED TO ACHIEVE 30 YEARS OR FULL FUNDING WITHIN 30 YEARS.

KIERAN, WHO IS AN INDEPENDENT ACTUARY THAT HAS BEEN SELECTED BY THE PENSION REVIEW BOARD, IS UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND.

THEY HAVE LAID OUT SOME DIFFERENT SCENARIOS ON HOW WE DO THAT.

THEY LISTED A RANGE FROM A TRADITIONAL ACTUARIAL DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION TO STEPPING UP OVER THREE YEARS, OR STEPPING UP OVER FIVE YEARS, AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF OTHER SCENARIOS. THEY TOLD THE AD HOC COMMITTEE THAT ALL FIVE OF THE SCENARIOS ARE REASONABLE, AND ALL FIVE OF THE SCENARIOS WOULD MEET THE PRBS REQUIREMENTS TO ACHIEVE FULL FUNDING IN 30 YEARS.

SO WHAT WE HAVE PUT IN THIS IS THE STAFF'S PREFERRED APPROACH, WHICH IS THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP.

AND I REALIZE THAT IS A STAFF'S APPROACH.

THAT IS NOT WHAT THE THE COMMITTEE HAS LANDED ON AT THIS POINT.

BUT JUST TO GET SOME NUMBERS IN HERE, I PUT THAT IN.

[02:15:01]

WE WOULD GO UP TO 202 IN NEXT YEAR UP TO 220, THEN UP TO 238 AND THEN UP TO 258.

SO OVER FIVE YEARS WE WOULD HAVE INCREASES BETWEEN 17 AND $20 MILLION PER YEAR INTO THAT FUND.

ONCE WE GET TO THE SIXTH YEAR, WE WOULD STILL HAVE INCREASES, BUT THEY ARE MORE MODEST IN COMPARISON TO 17 TO $20 MILLION.

SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WHEN WOULD WE SEE IT? IT WOULD BE EVERY YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS ACCORDING TO THIS.

AND THEN IT BECOMES MORE OF A MODEST TYPE OF INCREASE AND.

OKAY. AND SO THAT IS THAT IS A THE ASSUMPTION YOU'VE MADE ON THAT IS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T THROW OUR WHOLE BUDGET OUT OF WHACK.

THAT IS CORRECT.

AND AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED BY OTHERS IF WE WENT TO THE THREE YEAR STEP UP INSTEAD OF PHASING IT UP MORE SLOWLY OVER FIVE YEARS, WE COULD STEP INTO IT OVER THREE YEARS.

BUT THOSE INCREASES, INSTEAD OF BEING 17 TO $20 MILLION, THEY'RE 25 TO $28 MILLION PER YEAR.

IT'S JUST A BIGGER HURDLE TO JUMP.

THE TRADITIONAL MODEL CALLS FOR AN ADDITIONAL $66 MILLION ALL AT ONE TIME.

MUCH BIGGER HURDLE TO TO CLEAR, RIGHT? SO STEPPING UP OVER TIME GETS US THERE.

IT'S REASONABLE. ACCORDING TO THE ACTUARY, IT'S ACCEPTABLE TO THE PRB, ACCORDING TO THE ACTUARY.

AND SO BUT WHAT IF ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WANT THAT WE CAN'T FILL THIS GAP OR SOMETHING COMES DUE AND WE NEED TO I GUESS WHAT I'M GOING TO THIS IS CAN WE DO A RATIFICATION ELECTION? CAN WE GO TO THE VOTERS AND ASK, HAS THAT BEEN DISCUSSED, EMBEDDED AROUND IF HEY GUYS, WE NEED MONEY TO ACTUALLY REALLY FILL THESE HOLES WITH THEIR PENSION AND DO YOU KNOW, GO AND INCREASE IT TO PAY FOR THAT? SO THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP AND THE REASON THAT IT IS A PREFERRED MODEL BY STAFF IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN MANAGE THAT WITHIN THE CITY'S OPERATING BUDGET. IF WE WERE TO MAKE A DECISION THAT WE WANTED TO FUND IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, THAT REQUIRED THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO WITHIN OUR CITY GENERAL FUND REVENUES AS THEY ARE NOW, THEN YOU CAN EXCEED THE 3.5% PROPERTY TAX CAP WITH A VOTE OF THE ELECTORATE.

OKAY. AND SO IF THAT WERE TO AND THAT COULD HAPPEN IN ANY YEAR, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO EXCEED THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE THAT ONLY ALLOWS FOR 3.5% GROWTH.

IF YOU WANTED MORE GROWTH THAN THAT IN ANY YEAR, WE COULD CALL AN ELECTION FOR A FOR A NOVEMBER ELECTION.

HAVE TO CALL IT BY ABOUT MID MID AUGUST.

I THINK THIS YEAR, AUGUST THE 14TH IS THE LAST DAY TO GET A NOVEMBER ELECTION.

SO BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S DISCUSSION ABOUT ADDED BENEFITS, COLA ETC.

NOW THAT WOULD COULD THAT BE COVERED IN THIS BUDGET OR IS THAT GOING TO BE EVEN ON TOP OF THAT.

WELL THAT'S ON TOP OF WHAT I'VE.

THUS FAR I'VE ONLY GOT TRYING TO ACHIEVE THIS IS BASELINE OKAY.

IF YOU WANT MORE THAN MODEL, IF YOU WANT MORE THAN BASELINE, THAT'S MORE OF A SHORTFALL THAT WE ADD TO THIS 38 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND I GUESS WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT IN A IN A WEEK OR SO RIGHT ON THE 23RD.

OKAY. AND SO WITH THE GROWTH OF THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE SEEN, ARE THOSE NUMBERS INCLUDING FTES? IS IT ONLY I MEAN, IS IT THE WHOLE PROGRAM? I GUESS WHAT MAKES UP THAT NUMBER? AND I'M LOOKING AT THE PROGRAM AND AS WELL BY DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE I GUESS IT EVEN HAS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I'M LOOKING AT EVEN OUR DEPARTMENT AND MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CAME IN IT WAS 4.8 AND NOW IT'S AT 7.6.

IS THAT EVERYTHING IS THAT SUPPLIES FTES BENEFITS.

THAT IS THE THAT'S EVERYTHING.

GO AHEAD. JEANETTE. IT'S EVERYTHING.

OKAY. AND SO AND SO WITH THAT, AND YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THESE EXERCISES, AND I GUESS THE DIRECTOR IS COMING IN AND SHOWING WHERE EFFICIENCIES CAN BE MADE AND DONE.

HOW ARE YOU? DOES IT THEN GO TO YOU GUYS TO THEN MAKE THE DECISION, OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO TAKE THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND THEN IMPLEMENT IT? SO THE PROCESS WOULD BE FOR DEPARTMENTS TO BRING FORWARD THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE BUDGET TEAM AND MISS TOLBERT TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.

AND SO IT WILL NOT NECESSARILY JUST BE A DEPARTMENT MAKING A DECISION.

MISS TOLBERT WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.

OKAY. AND AND SO WITH THAT, I MEAN MISS TOLBERT, I MEAN, WE GOT WE HAVE YOUR 100 YEAR PLAN.

IT IS GREAT, I APPRECIATE IT.

I MEAN, I'M SORRY, J.

I HOPE TO GOD WE'RE NOT HERE FOR 100 YEARS.

MY COFFEE HADN'T KICKED IN ANYWAY.

AND SO THE 100 DAY PLAN.

AND I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HAVING A STRATEGIC PLAN AND SHY OF HAVING A STRATEGIC PLAN.

THIS IS GREAT BECAUSE IT'S A ROADMAP FOR 100 DAYS.

SO I AM HOPING THAT YOUR 100 DAY PLAN IS GOING TO BE REFLECTIVE OF SOME THINGS IN THE BUDGET, SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, STEMMONS OPENING UP, THE PENSION BEING ADDRESSED

[02:20:07]

SO IF YOU WANT TO EVEN TALK ABOUT THAT, I'M WELCOME THAT OR WE CAN TALK OFFLINE.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING.

AND NOT JUST TRANSACTIONAL ITEMS BUT ACTUALLY VISIONARY.

AND SO I DO APPRECIATE THIS AS A STARTING POINT.

BUT I GUESS I'M HOPING THAT THIS ISN'T THIS IS GOING TO BE FUNDED IN SOME CASES.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION ON COUNCILWOMAN BLACKMON AND THE COMMENTS AROUND THE 100 DAY PLAN.

WE DEFINITELY WANTED TO USE THAT AS OUR ROADMAP FOR HOW WE WERE GOING TO APPROACH THE TRANSITION AND REALLY LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE PRIORITY ITEMS. MANY OF THOSE PRIORITY ITEMS ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING NOW WITH OUR CURRENT FUNDING, BUT THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET, AND THEY WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET FOR BOTH 25 AND 26.

I DO APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AROUND STRATEGIC PLANNING.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALLY LAY OUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THIS FUTURE, WHICH DIRECTION DO WE WANT TO GO AS A CITY.

AND I DO WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET TO DAY 101.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE COMMENTS IN YEAR ONE.

THERE YOU GO. YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS FOR SITTING UP HERE AND REALLY COMING TO THE COMMUNITY.

I KNOW WE HAD A GOOD, GOOD MEETING TOO IN OUR IN D9.

JEANETTE. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THEM, BUT THIS IS A TIME TO HEAR FROM FOLKS BECAUSE WE ARE IT'S ABOUT TO GET REAL.

AND AND THIS IS REAL, REAL STUFF.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU.

AND THANK YOU.

OKAY. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. COULD YOU GO TO SLIDE? I THINK 42.

WAS IT YOUR SLIDE? 42.

ON THAT SLIDE. I THINK THERE'S A REFERENCE TO IMPACT AREAS.

COULD YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? HOW ARE YOU? WHAT ARE THOSE AREAS.

YES. SO THE EQUITY IMPACT AREAS WE WORK WITH THE CITY RACIAL EQUITY PLAN AND OFFICE OF EQUITY INCLUSION TO IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS.

AND THEN WE MAP OUT THE PARKS OR THE RECREATION CENTERS AND THE LIBRARIES IN THOSE AREAS TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE PAPER SURVEYS.

DO YOU HAVE THAT LIST WITH YOU NOW? WE DO HAVE IT POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE, AND I CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET WE LIST OUT THE FACILITIES THAT WE OFFER THOSE PAPER SURVEYS, AND I CAN PULL IT UP AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. SO IF YOU COULD DO THAT I WANT TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHERE YOU'RE WORKING.

SO FOR THOSE PAPER SURVEYS FOR THE LIBRARY BRANCHES THAT WE OFFER ARCADIA, BLACKMON LAKE DALLAS, WEST BRANCH, HIGHLAND HILLS BRANCH MLK BRANCH DUNBAR, LANCASTER, KEYSTONE PLEASANT GROVE, POLK, WISDOM, PRAIRIE CREEK, SKYLINE BRANCH, VICKERY MEADOWS, AND THEN FOR THE PARK AND REC FACILITIES AT THE RECREATION CENTERS.

ARCADIA. LOUISE.

LONDEE. EXLINE.

FIRESIDE. HARRY. STONE.

HIAWATHA. WILLIAMS. JAYCIE. PHELPS.

JAYNIE C TURNER, MLK JR.

MARTIN. WISE.

SINGING. HILLS, THURGOOD.

MARSHALL, TOMMY. ALLEN AND HUMPHREYS.

ALL RIGHT. ON THAT LINE, PAUL LAWRENCE DUNBAR.

IS THAT PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR.

SLASH. LANCASTER.

YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD THAT CLEAR ON THE COMPONENTS.

I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THIS CONVERSATION, I THINK EVERYONE ELSE HAS WEIGHED INTO IT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY AND I'M GOING TO BRING YOU BACK TO WHERE ANOTHER FAMOUS PERSON MADE A STATEMENT SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THIS.

ABOUT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR TAXPAYERS WANT TO KNOW WHEN THEY'RE IN THESE SESSIONS.

HOW IS THE PROPERTY TAX? NUMBER ONE, WHY IS IT WHY IS IT AT THE LEVEL THAT IT IS? AND I THINK WE NEED TO.

THIS IS THE FEEDBACK I KEEP GETTING.

WE NEED TO MAKE IT PLAIN AND RELEVANT.

THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN ALL THE FLUCTUATIONS AND THE PERCENTAGES AND ALL THEY WANT TO KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN THE DAY ENDS.

BECAUSE IT'S GOT TO, ACCORDING TO THE RAPPER GLORILLA, WHEN IT ENDS, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT WHAT THEY ARE GETTING OUT OF THIS DEAL. AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE EDUCATING WHEN WE GO TO THOSE SESSIONS.

WE NEED TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT JURISDICTION SO THEY WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TAXING ENTITY.

I THINK WE DON'T CLEAR CLARIFY THAT ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND FROM THEIR TAX, PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS WHAT THEY ARE GETTING, WHAT SERVICES ARE WE DELIVERING?

[02:25:03]

THE BEHAVIOR OF APPRAISALS AND HOW THAT AFFECTS OVERALL WHAT WE ARE DELIVERING AS WELL.

NOW, SOME OF THIS MAY BE REDUNDANT, BUT YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP IT SIMPLE.

IT'S IT BACK TO THE KIS SOLUTION.

AND SO ALL I WANT FROM YOU BECAUSE THIS IS WAS TOLD TO ME, PLEASE DO NOT COME HERE TALKING ON THIS HIGH LEVEL.

MAKE IT PLAIN.

THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR MY COMMUNITY IS TO MAKE IT PLAIN YOU'RE PAYING TAXES.

WHY ARE YOU PAYING THE PROPERTY TAXES? WHO'S ALL CHARGING ON THE PROPERTY TAXES? WOULD THEY DO NEED TO KNOW THE DISD RATE IS HIGHER THAN WHERE WE ARE, AND SO PERHAPS SOME OF THE EDUCATION WILL HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR ADVOCACIES NEED TO BE PLACED AND WHO THEY NEED TO CONTACT AS WELL AS US.

BUT WE GET THE WE BEAR THE BRUNT BECAUSE FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND.

SO THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER IN TERMS OF THE VIDEOS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PROCESS AND THE MESSAGES.

LET'S SPEND TIME EDUCATING BECAUSE BE HONEST, NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO PAY TAXES.

BUT IT'S IT'S HERE AND WE HAVE TO COLLECT TAXES.

THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS TO HAVE TAXES, AND IT'S A PURPOSE FOR THAT.

SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WEIGHED IN ON.

KEEP IT SIMPLE, MAKE IT RELEVANT, AND HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO HAVE TAXES.

AND AS THE RAPPER SAYS, MISS GLORIA, GLORY HALLELUJAH.

I WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN THE DAY ENDS, THEY'LL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF WHO WE ARE IN TERMS OF BEING ELECTED TO SERVE THEM.

THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT WE DO HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE THREE BUDGET 101 TYPES OF VIDEOS THAT ARE PRETTY SIMPLE IN THEIR EXPLANATION OF SOME OF THE BUDGET ISSUES AROUND TAXES.

WE CAN SEND YOU THOSE LINKS IF YOU WANT TO SHARE THOSE.

AND THEN WHEN WE COME IN AUGUST TO THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE A ONE PAGER.

THAT'S PRETTY SIMPLE ON TAXES.

AND I ALSO WANT YOU TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME AND THERE ARE SOME SENIORS AND OTHERS WHO DON'T USE THE TECHNOLOGY AS THEY SHOULD.

SO IF WE'RE GOING OUT, WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE EDUCATE THEM ON SITE, BUT ALSO THINKING OUT OF THE BOX, AS WE LIKE TO SAY, AND I'M GOING TO CHANGE THAT AT SOME POINT.

WE HAVE TO USE THESE PARTNERS.

I THINK COUNCILWOMAN WILLIS TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THAT.

ONE OF OUR BIGGEST SOURCES, GREATEST SOURCES AND CHANNELS OF INFORMATION, AND I'LL SPEAK IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF DISTRICT FOUR IS THROUGH OUR CHURCHES.

AND SO WE MAY HAVE TO BEGIN TO THINK IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE EDUCATE THROUGH THAT INSTITUTION, WHICH IS A GREAT AND IT'S A STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED TO TAP INTO SO THAT WE CAN EDUCATE, BECAUSE SO MANY OF THOSE FOLKS NEED IT, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO ON THE WEBSITE TO DOWNLOAD.

SO I KNOW YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT SO THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN THE DAY ENDS, THEY'LL HAVE A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR WHO WE ARE IN TERMS OF SERVANTS. THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN STEWART.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

FOR THE PUBLIC, THIS IS BRIEFING ITEM A AND MEMBERS.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, ONCE WE CONCLUDE THE BRIEFING ITEM A WILL BREAK FOR LUNCH, WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM THAT'S A CITY SECRETARY ITEM.

AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND PICK UP ITEM B.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

CECILIA, QUICK THING.

THE PAPER SURVEYS.

I DON'T HEAR THEM BEING DISTRIBUTED IN DISTRICT TEN, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LIBRARY OR A REC CENTER AT FORREST AND AUDELIA.

AND THAT WOULD BE AN AREA THAT I THINK WE COULD USE SOME HELP WITH GETTING THOSE DISTRIBUTED.

THERE IS A BOXING GYM, AND IT'S POSSIBLE YOU COULD USE THAT.

OR WE CAN WE CAN WORK ON OTHER CREATIVE WAYS TO TRY TO GET THAT.

THOSE SURVEYS DISTRIBUTED AT THE FORREST AND ADELIA INTERSECTION IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU. OKAY, ON SLIDE 77.

EXCUSE ME? THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD PROGRAM.

AND THIS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE I'M NEW AND I JUST NEED A LITTLE UPDATE.

HOW IS IT THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT? IF SOMEBODY COULD JUST CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I THINK I'VE HEARD THERE WAS A SHIFT OR A CHANGE, AND AND THEN IS THAT THE COST OF THE ENTIRE PROGRAM OR IS THAT

[02:30:02]

IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE COST OF THE PROGRAM, BUT CHIEF PEASE IS HERE TO RESPOND TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF PEASE DAVID PUGH, CITY MARSHAL.

SO TO ANSWER THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION, WE'RE ACTUALLY REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO PROVIDE CROSSING GUARD SERVICES IN THE CITY FOR ALL THE DISTRICTS BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION OF OVER 1 MILLION.

SO WE WE CONTRACT THAT OUT, AND WE RECENTLY REDID THE CONTRACT.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S A ONE YEAR COST OF, OF A THREE YEAR CONTRACT THAT'S IN PLACE.

THE 5.9 IS A ONE YEAR COST OF A THREE YEAR CONTRACT.

AND CORRECT OKAY.

AND ARE THERE GRADUATED INCREASES IN THAT THREE YEAR OR IS THAT JUST THE SAME.

IS IT A FLAT AMOUNT.

SO THE TOTAL FISCAL YEAR AMOUNT FOR THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD PROGRAM IS 8.4 MILLION.

AND SO THAT IS THE CONTRACT TERM.

AND I THINK IT IS A 3 OR 3 YEAR CONTRACT.

IT'S THREE WITH POSSIBLE TWO YEAR OPTION.

THIS WERE IN THE SECOND YEAR WE JUST REDID IT.

SO RIGHT NOW IS THE THE VERY FIRST SCHOOL YEAR OF THE NEW CONTRACT.

AND IT CAN IT CAN FLUCTUATE THROUGHOUT THE THE YEARS OF CONTRACT BECAUSE NEW SCHOOLS CAN BE ADDED.

NEW CROSSING.

WE GET NEW REQUESTS FOR CROSSING GUARDS ALL THE TIME.

AND ANALYSIS IS DONE TO DETERMINE IF WE NEED TO ADD CROSSING GUARDS.

SO THERE'S THERE'S AN AMOUNT BUILT IN FOR, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE PROBABLY WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CROSSING GUARDS THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE CONTRACT.

OKAY. SO IT IS REPRESENTATIVE GROWTH IN THE BUDGET, BUT IT'S MANDATED.

IS THAT RIGHT? IT'S STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE PROVIDE THIS CORRECT.

AND AND WHEN WE PUT IT OUT FOR BID IT ALSO WAS AFFECTED BY THE LIVING WAGE.

AND SO THAT CAUSED AN INCREASE IN THE CONTRACTUAL AMOUNT THIS YEAR.

AND THEN IN THE FUTURE YEARS OF THE CONTRACT.

OKAY. THAT'S GOOD INFORMATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN INTERIM CITY MANAGER, MISS TOLBERT.

YES. QUESTION. YES.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ASKING DEPARTMENTS TO REVIEW THEIR BUDGET.

HAVE WE ASKED THEM AND MAYBE THIS HAS BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED AND I MISSED IT.

HAVE WE ASKED THEM TO ACTUALLY MAKE A CUT ACROSS IN EVERY EVERY DEPARTMENT? NOT JUST SOME.

NOT JUST WHERE WE SEE GROWTH, BUT IS EVERY DEPARTMENT REQUIRED TO CUT THEIR BUDGET? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

COUNCILWOMAN. STEWART. YES OUR DEPARTMENTS ALL RECEIVED VERY CLEAR DIRECTION, AND I THINK IT WAS AN OVERALL 6% CUT FOR EVERY SINGLE CITY DEPARTMENT. WE'VE STARTED HAVING OUR I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED HAVING OUR SIT DOWN DISCUSSIONS WITH DEPARTMENTS, AND THERE WERE SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT WE NEEDED TO SEND BACK TO GET TO THE NUMBER THAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO GET TO.

AND SO THAT EXERCISE IS UNDERWAY.

I WANTED TO JUMP BACK REAL QUICKLY, IF I CAN, TO THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD, JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

PRIOR TO, I BELIEVE, 2018 THE CITY WAS NOT NECESSARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THAT.

THAT'S REALLY THE STAFFING MODEL FOR THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD PROGRAM.

IT WAS ACTUALLY DONE UNDER DALLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS.

AND WHEN THAT WHOLE ORGANIZATION OR THAT AGENCY FAILED, THAT COST BECAME SOMETHING THAT THE CITY HAD TO TO ASSUME.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE NUMBER AND THE COST IS ACTUALLY CONTINUING TO GO UP, BECAUSE AS MORE SCHOOLS ARE ADDED, AS CHIEF PUGHES MENTIONED, THEN THERE'S A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS.

AND IT ALSO INCLUDES THE THE ANNUAL INCREASES IN THEIR SALARY.

SO RIGHT NOW THAT IS A COST THAT IS TOTALLY BEEN BORNE BY THE CITY AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CHAIRMAN MORENO YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET TEAM AND THE CITY MANAGER'S TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.

I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS NEW, DIFFERENT APPROACH AND WORKING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS TO LOOK AT CUTS, SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCIES.

I'M EXCITED TO LOOK AT, BUT ALSO A NEW REVENUE SOURCES WHEN IT COMES TO SPONSORSHIPS PARTICULARLY IN THE PARK DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S SOME OF THE EASIER STUFF. BUT BUT LOOKING AT THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.

I WOULD LIKE TO APPROACH EVERY YEAR AS A YEAR THAT WE'RE HAVING A SHORTFALL, WE'RE SEEING A CHALLENGING TIME AND REALLY JUST MAKING SURE THAT EVEN WHEN IT'S YEARS THAT THAT WE'RE DOING GREAT, THAT WE STILL TREAT IT AS A YEAR THAT TIMES ARE DIFFICULT.

MY COLLEAGUE BLACKMON POINTED OUT ON PAGE 36 THE NUMBERS OF THE DAYS AND RESERVES THAT WAS ALARMING TO ME, BUT CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK UP TO THAT 50 TO 70 DAY WINDOW.

[02:35:03]

GIVE US ONE SECOND. THAT.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE IT, WE CAN SEND IT IN A MEMO.

SO IT'S OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO GO IN AND WE'LL HAVE IT LOOKED UP IN JUST ONE SECOND? WHEN WE'RE LOOKING, I REALLY LIKE HOW Y'ALL DID THE BREAKDOWN ON PAGE EIGHT ON THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHEN WE HAVE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ADDRESSING SOME OF THE CONCERNS WITHIN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PARK DEPARTMENT ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS ENCAMPMENTS OR DWOO, ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS ENCAMPMENTS, HOW DO WE DO THAT?

[Closed Session ]

WE WE ALIGN DEPARTMENTS TO SPECIFIC STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS AND AREN'T REALLY ABLE TO BREAK OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A DIFFERENT STRATEGIC AREA.

SO THAT IS A FLAW IN OUR APPROACH ON DOING THAT.

OKAY. ON PAGE 12, IS THERE A WAY TO ADD A PERCENTAGE COLUMN PER CATEGORY? YES, WE HAVE WE HAVE THAT DETAIL.

SO WE CAN SEND THAT WITH A FRIDAY MEMO.

AND THEN TO ANSWER YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION THE DAILY COST, IT'S ABOUT 5,030,000.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

ON PAGE 20.

DO WE HAVE A TOTAL COST OF THE EXEMPTIONS? AND NOT.

I MEAN, I KNOW WE SEE THE COST, BUT THE BRACKETS THAT COME WITHIN THE DIFFERENT EXEMPTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHETHER IT BE OUR OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS THAT RECEIVE AN EXEMPTION OR IF IT'S AN ABATEMENT, DO YOU ALL HAVE A BREAKDOWN WITHIN THE TOTAL EXEMPTION CATEGORY? YES. WHAT'S SHOWN HERE ON THIS SLIDE IS THE FOREGONE REVENUE.

SO THE TOTAL EXEMPTION.

I'M SORRY. WHAT'S SHOWN HERE IS THE THE VALUE OF THE EXEMPTION.

SO THERE'S A TOTAL OF $56.4 BILLION OF VALUE THAT IS EXEMPT.

AND IT'S BROKEN DOWN IN THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS TOTAL $16.1 BILLION OF VALUE THAT WE DO NOT TAX.

IF WE TAXED ALL OF THESE, THEN WE WOULD GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL $415 MILLION IN REVENUE.

SO IF YOU WOULD, IS THERE A WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT DIFFERENTLY MAYBE THAT WE CAN? NO. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION I DID I OVERLOOK THAT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. AND THEN JUST ON PAGE 32 ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAD THAT QUESTION ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS A FIVE YEAR STEP UP, AND WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE TWO OTHER OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED.

AND SO WE'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS.

THAT IS CORRECT. WHAT I'VE PUT INTO THE NUMBERS AT THIS POINT IS THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP.

I HAVE NOT USED ONE OF THE OTHER SCENARIOS, AND I HAVE NOT USED SOME OF THE ADD ONS, SUCH AS COLAS OR ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL PAY.

BUT BUT WE HAVE THAT AND WE CAN WALK THROUGH THAT.

OKAY. AND THEN I'LL JUST CLOSE WITH THIS ONE.

APPRECIATE US LOOKING INTO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR STAFF.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR STAFF AND WE'RE GETTING THEM THE HEALTH BENEFITS THAT THEY DESERVE.

THIS CONVERSATION CAME UP MAYBE A YEAR OR TWO AGO ON REEVALUATING WHAT THOSE BENEFITS LOOK LIKE AND MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING THE BEST PACKAGE FROM THE VARIOUS WHOLESALERS THAT, THAT DO LIFE INSURANCE OR HEALTH INSURANCE AND BENEFITS.

HOW OFTEN ARE WE DOING THAT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BEST DEAL? I'M GOING TO ASK MISS TOLBERT, WHO'S BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE BENEFITS.

COULD YOU WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT? THE HOW FREQUENTLY WOULD THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BENEFITS PACKAGE?

[02:40:03]

AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT DELAY.

SO THROUGH OUR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR CURRENTLY, THAT IS HOLMES MURPHY, WE CONTRACT WITH THEM TO REALLY HELP US MANAGE LOOKING AT OUR ENTIRE HEALTH BENEFITS PORTFOLIO OVERALL.

AND IT REALLY GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHERE WE CAN POTENTIALLY SAVE.

SO THEY'RE CURRENTLY OUT THERE DOING THOSE TYPES OF MODELING FOR US.

WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE IS THAT AS THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE HAS CONTINUED TO RISE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE LOOKED AT WAYS TO EITHER ADD SOME ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING PREVENTATIVE CARE, TYPES OF PROGRAMS TO HELP US BEGIN TO REDUCE SOME OF THOSE BIGGEST DRIVERS OF WHAT WE BELIEVE IS KIND OF CAUSING THOSE INCREASES.

WE WILL BE GOING BACK TO THE MARKET HERE VERY SOON.

TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE BENEFITS PROGRAM.

WE THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOT JUST HAVE A PROGRAM, AND THEN WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND SO WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH A COMPLETE SOLICITATION.

I WILL TELL YOU IN THE 20, I THINK IT WAS 2020 WHEN WE WENT BACK OUT TO THE MARKET, WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE ROUGHLY 28, $29 MILLION.

AND SO I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE PROGRAM.

WE WILL BE DOING THAT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE BETTER OPTIONS AND BETTER CHOICES.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN FIND WAYS TO REDUCE OUR COSTS.

SO WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND COMING BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE APPRECIATE THAT.

REALLY LOOKING TO HOLDING THIS OUR STAFF ACCOUNTABLE WHEN IT COMES TO FOCUSING ON THE QUALITY OF POSITIONS, NOT THE THE QUALITY OF THE POSITIONS AND NOT THE QUANTITY.

AND BY SAYING THAT IS THE FOLKS THAT WE DO HAVE ON OUR STAFF, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE BEST BENEFITS POSSIBLE.

AND SOMETIMES THAT'S A SAVINGS IF WE'RE ABLE TO NOT HAVE THIS HUGE POOL OF STAFFING NEEDS, BUT THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THOSE THAT ARE BEING EFFECTIVE, THOSE THAT ARE HERE DOING THE DAY TO DAY WORK.

AND SO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THEM.

BUT IF WE HAVE SOMETIMES A SMALLER POOL OF, OF STAFFING MEANS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ALL THOSE BENEFITS FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON.

AND SO THANK YOU.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. MISS WILLIS.

I'M SORRY. YES, MISS WILLIS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THOSE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD UNIFORMS MIGHT LOOK GOOD WITH A SPONSOR LOGO.

I'M JUST SAYING WHEN I LOOK AT THAT $5.9 MILLION ON THAT LINE ITEM LET'S GO BACK TO PROPERTY TAX AND THE EXEMPT PROPERTIES WHEN YOU HAVE THE TOTALLY EXEMPT LINE ON PAGE 20.

IS THAT WHAT INCLUDES SCHOOLS, FAITH BASED CITY, COUNTY, STATE, ETC.? DO WE BREAK THAT OUT FURTHER? THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE TOTALLY EXEMPT PROPERTIES.

WE COULD LOOK IN OUR RECORDS TO SEE IF WE CAN PROVIDE A BREAKDOWN.

I THINK IT HELPS FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT KIND OF GRANULAR PICTURE.

AND THEN ON OUR OWN PORTFOLIO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD REALLY HELP INFORM OUR PORTFOLIO DECISIONS AS WE'RE LOOKING AT DIVESTING OF SOME PROPERTY AND MAYBE GET SOME GOOD NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT'S UNCAPPED GOING.

BUT AS WE LOOK AT OUR PENSION, ETC.

AND FUNDING THAT, I'D ALSO BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THAT TOTAL IS ON OUR HFC AND PFC PROPERTIES TOO, SO WE CAN HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OVERALL.

ON THE ACROSS THE BOARD CUT IDEA.

I KNOW THAT'S A PLACE TO START, BUT I THINK WE ALSO SHOULD CONSIDER AND WE PROBABLY ALREADY ARE, THAT THERE ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT NEED THE GROWTH THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED AND OTHERS THAT MAY NEED TO GIVE UP MORE THAT HAVE GROWN A WHOLE LOT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

A NOTE AROUND THE PENSION FUND THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED, WHETHER IT'S 3 OR 5 YEAR ONE THING ABOUT THE ACTUARIAL DEFINED CONTRIBUTION, AND THIS WILL BE COMING TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THAT NUMBER CAN GO DOWN IF THE FUNDS PERFORM.

AND SO IT'S REALLY INCUMBENT ON US TO BE WATCHING THAT.

AND ON THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE WATCHING THIS AS WELL.

BECAUSE IF THOSE FUNDS PERFORM WHAT WE PROJECT YEAR AFTER YEAR COULD, COULD GO BACKWARD.

AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED THOSE, THOSE PENNIES.

ANOTHER QUESTION WAS AROUND FRANCHISE FEES.

SO I THOUGHT WE HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT THEY WERE GOING BACK AND MAYBE NEGOTIATING OR WE HAD AFTER MANY, MANY YEARS OF LOCKING IN AT THE SAME FEE ON SOME OF OUR UTILITIES, I THINK THERE HAD BEEN DISCUSSION AROUND INCREASES IS THAT OBVIOUSLY IS NOT REFLECTED BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN FINALIZED.

RIGHT. THAT IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE PLAN BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.

OUR LAST DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE MOST RECENT FRANCHISE DISCUSSION WAS AROUND ENCORE, AND WE WERE COMMITTED TO DOING A STUDY TO

[02:45:04]

YOU WILL HAVE BEFORE YOU AN ITEM RELATED TO ATMOS.

AND SO WE HAVE A CONTRACT OUT WITH THEM.

AND SO THEIR AGREEMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR RENEWAL THE END OF 2025.

SO WE CAN HAVE CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

OKAY. AND THEN FINALLY, AS I LOOK AT THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE NUMBER, AND I THINK MR. IRELAND, WHAT YOU HAD SAID WAS WE KNOW IT NEEDS TO INCREASE.

BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD DURING BOND AND ABOUT CITY FACILITIES AND ABOUT CITY HALL AND THOSE NUMBERS.

I MEAN, THERE WERE SOME BIG NUMBERS THERE BECAUSE OF YEAR AFTER YEAR AND EVERY BOND PROGRAM THAT GOES BY, THEY'RE JUST LEFT IN THE DUST.

AND I DIDN'T DIG INTO THAT ENOUGH TO KNOW WHETHER THERE WAS WHETHER BUILDING SERVICES HAD DONE A MULTI YEAR PLAN ON WHAT WE NEED.

IF WE HAVE A REALLY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS KIND OF LIKE.

WE HAVE THE IMP ON STREETS.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A ROAD MAP AND SO IF WE'RE NOT FULFILLING IT, WE KNOW I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT WE HAVE ON BUILDING SERVICES, BUT JUST KNOWING THE PAIN POINT THAT WE WENT THROUGH THERE IN THE 11TH HOUR AROUND CITY HALL AND CITY FACILITIES, I'D LOVE FOR US TO LOOK AT THAT AND BE SURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING ON THAT LINE ITEM.

AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT ONE UP, BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IT'S LISTED AS AN EXPENSE DRIVER, BECAUSE WE ARE AWARE THAT WE ARE NOT FUNDING BUILDING MAINTENANCE AT THE LEVEL THAT WE NEED TO.

AND SO IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT CLOSELY THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. JACK, I MAY HAVE JUST MISSED IT IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT CAN YOU TELL US HOW MUCH REVENUE BY DOLLAR IS PLANNED FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR 50 FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

DO YOU? IT'S APPROXIMATELY 20 MILLION.

20 MILLION.

SO THAT'S DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY FROM PRIOR YEARS WHERE IT WAS CLOSER TO 25.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF US, BUT IF WE CAN GO TO OTHER QUESTIONS.

JEANETTE I'LL TRY TO PULL IT UP.

I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME. JUST SO YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ONE OF THOSE, OKAY? BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET YOU THE WHAT WE HAVE USED.

ARE THERE ANY TIFFS OR TAX EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE EXPIRING THIS FISCAL YEAR? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

AND ROBIN'S IN THE CHAMBERS AND SHE HAS DIFFERENT INFORMATION SHE MIGHT WANT TO SHARE, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE SO.

IF WE DID, WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED NEW REVENUE, OR WOULD THAT BE PART OF THE SB2 CALCULATION? I BELIEVE IT IS PART OF THE REAPPRAISAL, BECAUSE WE SEE THAT THE THE TIF DISTRICTS ACTUALLY GROW AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THE NON TIF PARTS OF THE CITY.

AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU ASKED THE QUESTION A WHILE AGO ABOUT HOW MUCH DO WE CONTRIBUTE IN THE TIF.

SO WE ARE INCREASING THAT EACH YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CAPPED AT 3.5 ON THEIR REVENUE.

SO IF THEY GROW BY MORE THAN THAT WE HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN THAT.

SO OH.

HEY ROBIN. GOOD MORNING.

COUNCIL. ROBIN BENTLEY WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

THERE ARE NO TIPS EXPIRING THIS YEAR ON TAX ABATEMENTS.

NONE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. BUT I'LL HAVE THE THE TEAM GO AND CHECK AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY.

THERE'S SPECIFIC AGREEMENTS, SO WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT DATABASE.

BUT THERE ARE NO TIF DISTRICTS EXPIRING THIS YEAR.

OKAY. SO GOING BACK TO PENSION THEN FOR THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP, JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT WE'RE ADDING TO THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

IF WE DID THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? NO, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE INCREASING THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY.

WHICH WHICH IS ROUGHLY, I THINK $3 BILLION, BUT IT IS A SLOWER APPROACH TO PUTTING MONEY INTO THE FUND.

BUT IT'S THE THE AMOUNT THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN MOST REASONABLY ADJUST INTO OUR BUDGET AND MEET THE PRBS REQUIREMENTS.

NONE OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT ON THE THREE YEAR STEP UP OR THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP ARE INCLUSIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, OF MISS GOTTSCHALK'S RECOMMENDATION TO HER BOARD LAST WEEK.

SO THE THREE YEAR STEP UP, GOING UP AT $26 MILLION NEXT YEAR DOESN'T INCLUDE SOME ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS, IF YOU WILL, THAT SHE PROPOSED TO HER BOARD. SO THERE'S EVEN MORE COST.

AND I DON'T HAVE THAT ONE RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THERE WAS ADDITIONAL COST EVEN FOR THAT SCENARIO BASED ON HER RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO ON THAT.

AND THANK THANKS TO THE CHAIRPERSON FOR ALLOWING US SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO DO THAT.

[02:50:04]

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY ONE THING, WHICH IS ABOUT URF, WHICH HASN'T REALLY BEEN DISCUSSED IN DEPTH WITH THE BUDGET AND FRANKLY, HASN'T BEEN REALLY IN DEPTH DISCUSSED AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL.

I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CONSIDERATION FOR PLAN CHANGES ON THAT, THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT REDUCING COLA BENEFITS TO HAVE PARITY WITH THE POLICE FIRE PENSION THAT THERE'S NOT EVEN BEEN A DISCUSSION ABOUT.

IS THIS ACTUALLY THE BENEFIT WE NEED? IS THIS ATTRACTING AND RETAINING OUR STAFF BECAUSE THEY HAVE A VERY HIGH TURNOVER IN THAT PENSION? I THINK IT'S UNDER TEN YEARS AS OPPOSED TO A VERY HIGH RETENTION FOR OUR SWORN OFFICERS IN THE POLICE FIRE.

AND PERHAPS WE NEED TO LOOK AT A BENEFIT THAT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR RECRUITING AND RETENTION, THAT IS MORE PORTABLE, MORE PORTABLE DIFFERENT KIND OF RETIREMENT PLAN.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST WOULD BE THEN TO MAINTAIN THE URF FOR THE EXISTING MEMBERS, BUT LIKE, WE HAVEN'T HIRED AN OUTSIDE ACTUARY TO DO THE KIND OF WORK THAT WE'VE SEEN INFORM US FROM CHIRON.

AND, I MEAN, I THINK I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THEM, FROM THEIR ANALYSIS, AND WE'VE MISSED THAT, I BELIEVE.

SO I WANT TO GO TO PAGE 30.

IF I COULD RESPOND IN PART TO THAT.

ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOT BEEN BRIEFED TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AT THIS POINT, SEVERAL OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED ARE UNDER DISCUSSION, AND THERE WILL BE FUTURE BRIEFINGS TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.

WELL, THEY'D HAVE SIGNIFICANT BUDGET IMPACTS IS REALLY WHY I'M BRINGING IT UP TODAY AS OPPOSED TO THE MEETING.

I'M GOING TO GO TO PAGE 30.

THIS IS A CHART THAT I COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERY YEAR.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHY SHOULD THIS YEAR BE ANY DIFFERENT? AND THIS IS WHERE THE INSIDE IS SHOWING.

AND THERE'S A BOX ON THE TOP RIGHT THAT SAYS PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIRES 100% OF PROPERTY TAXES IN 18% OF SALES TAXES.

BUT OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE ALREADY GOING TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE BUDGET.

SO IT GOES TO 100% OF PROPERTY TAXES IN THE GENERAL FUND.

BUT YOU'VE ALREADY PAID OUT OF THE CAPITAL FUND 100% OF PROPERTY TAXES FOR THOSE ITEMS, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THIS SLIDE IS ONLY SPEAKING TO GENERAL FUND.

BUT YOU'RE CORRECT ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX.

BUT IT'S MEANT TO SHOW THAT, WOW, PUBLIC SAFETY IS JUST EATING AWAY YOUR BUDGET.

AND SO I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR PUTTING IN SLIDE NINE WHERE IT'S SHOWING THAT ACTUALLY PUBLIC SAFETY IS 27% OF OUR BUDGET.

AND WHAT I WOULD SAY THOUGH, IS IF YOU PUT THAT SAME KIND OF CIRCLE OF FUNDING, YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW SOMETHING VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.

AND SO THE LAST WRAP UP OF THIS IS THAT IS YOUR TIME.

OKAY. CHAIRMAN, OUR VICE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

YOU CAN COME BACK FOR A MINUTE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. I WANTED TO START OFF WITH THE TESTS.

AND I HEARD SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST SAID.

YOU SAID THAT GROWTH IN TIFS IS HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE CITY.

IS THAT CORRECT? HISTORICALLY, THAT HAS BEEN CORRECT HISTORICALLY.

AND THAT'S A REASON NOT TO GO AFTER TIFS AND DESTROY THEM OR TRY TO MAKE THEM END, MR. MAYOR, IS BECAUSE THIS IS MOST OF THE TIFFS ARE IN SOUTH DALLAS OR, YOU KNOW, WEST DALLAS OR SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE THE GROWTH WE NEED TO GROW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THOSE, AND THEY TAKE CARE OF THINGS LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT WE JUST CAN'T DEPEND ON DEVELOPERS TO ALWAYS BE HANDLING AND DOING.

AND SO I'LL GIVE A PERFECT EXAMPLE, MR. MAYOR, I NEEDED A BRAND NEW.

YOU FIRE STATION AND CYPRESS WATERS.

I NEEDED ONE DESPERATELY.

IT WAS NEVER GOING TO HIT A BOND.

IT WAS NEVER GOING TO BE ON THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

BUT WE HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE IN SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE A SCHOOL FROM COPPELL ISD THAT'S IN THAT AREA OF DALLAS THAT THAT ENTIRE SCHOOL IS SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN'S, MISTER MAYOR WITH ISSUES THAT ARE VERY MEDICALLY NECESSARY, THAT THEY HAVE MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY RESPONDING.

AND ALL WE HAD WAS PARAMEDICS WHO COULD RUN ACROSS THE STREET.

AND SO BY WORKING THROUGH THE TIFF AND THANKS TO A DEVELOPER, LUCY BILLINGSLEY, IN HER COMPANY, THEY BUILT THAT FOR US.

AND WE'RE PAYING BACK OVER TIME THROUGH THE TIFF.

AND THAT'S THE THINGS THAT I'M TRYING TO POINT OUT THAT YOU CAN DO AND WORK THROUGH IN THOSE TIFFS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THOSE NECESSARY NEEDS.

SO THERE ARE SOME TIPS THAT ARE EXPIRING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS THAT WILL HELP OPEN SOME OF THE CAPACITY.

THOSE TESTS ARE DONE.

THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN DO AND THEY HAVE BROUGHT IN, JUST AS YOU MENTIONED HISTORICALLY, A HIGHER RATE OF REVENUE THAN NON TIF AREAS OF THE DISTRICT.

SO THAT'S AN AREA THAT I WOULD NOT GO AFTER AND WOULD NOT BE SEEING.

[02:55:05]

SURE. DEFINITELY. MAYBE WE DON'T IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS ADD MORE OR CREATE A NEW TIFF OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE WORKING.

RESTRUCTURED DEBT SERVICES.

HAVE WE LOOKED AT THAT ON OUR OLD BONDS OR ANY OTHER AREAS WHERE WE HAVE DEBT SERVICE ABOUT RESTRUCTURING? I DO KNOW THAT THE HONORABLE PAULINE MEDRANO, OUR COUNTY TREASURER, WHO USED TO BE ON THIS COUNCIL, HAS SAVED THE COUNTY TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

I THINK IT'S WELL OVER 100 MILLION OVER HER TIME AT THE COUNTY BY RESTRUCTURING DEBT SERVICES.

SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT DOING OR LOOK AT DOING IN THE POTENTIAL NEXT YEAR? WE DO OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT REFUNDING EXISTING DEBT AS PART OF ONE OF OUR RECENT BOND ISSUANCES, EARLIER THIS CALENDAR YEAR WE HAD SOME REFUNDING THAT WAS INCLUDED THAT YIELDED TEN PLUS MILLION DOLLARS OF SAVINGS IN THAT ONE RESTRUCTURING.

I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL.

AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT BY LOOKING AT THAT, BECAUSE IT'S JUST IT'S NOT MONIES THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE TO THE BANK.

LET'S GET IT TO BACK INTO OUR COFFERS SO THAT WE CAN DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO AS A CITY.

THE NEXT THING WHEN IT COMES TO THIS IS AN AREA WHERE I DO AGREE.

HAVING SERVED ON THE DALLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS BOARD BEFORE THIS LAW CAME INTO PLACE ON SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE SAVING TONS OF MONEY ON. NOW THEY'RE SAVING EVEN MORE MONEY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO GIVE THE CITY ANYTHING BACK IN ORDER TO PAY FOR IT.

AND THIS IS NOT A GOOD THIS IS A BAD LAW THAT WAS CREATED, AND IT ONLY AFFECTS THREE CITIES.

I BELIEVE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THIS IS IN AN AREA WHERE I AGREE THAT ANOTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY SHOULD BE HANDLING AND TAKING CARE OF THIS, AND I HOPE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DID PUT ON FOR TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, BUT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO EITHER ROLL BACK OR REPEAL OR DO SOMETHING IN ORDER TO HELP US GAIN SAVINGS, BECAUSE $5.9 MILLION A YEAR IS THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE COULD BE PUTTING BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.

THE NEXT THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION WAS FOR DCAD.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS WORKS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES DO NOT GET THE SAME TYPE OF LOOK WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR VALUATIONS AS THE, OUR HOMEOWNERS PROPERTIES, WHICH HAPPENS ALMOST ANNUALLY.

HOW DO WE GET DCAD TO START LOOKING AT THAT IN A DIFFERENT WAY? BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF DALLAS OR IN DALLAS COUNTY ARE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE, WHICH THEN HURTS US AS A CITY AND ALL OF OUR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL TAXING AGENCIES.

HOW DO WE GET THAT TO HAPPEN? SO THANK YOU.

DCAD DOES PREPARE A REAPPRAISAL PLAN FOR HOW THEY APPROACH BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.

I BELIEVE THEY SUBMITTED THAT TO GFM EARLIER THIS YEAR.

AND I CAN SHARE THAT WITH THE FULL COUNCIL THAT SHOWS WHAT THEY'RE TARGETING IN THE NUMBER OF PARCELS THAT THEY PLAN TO REAPPRAISE.

WONDERFUL. WELL, I THINK THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

I HOPE GBFM REALLY LOOKED AT THAT.

AND WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN ON REEVALUATING OUR HOMEOWNERS AND OUR HOME, OUR HOME VALUATIONS AND REALLY TAKE A REALLY HARD, DEEP LOOK.

I HOPE THAT THAT BOARD DOES THAT.

WHEN IT COMES TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, HEALTH CARE BENEFITS IS A PLACE WHERE, YES, WE CAN MAKE SAVINGS.

I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LOCAL OUR STAFF GETS THE PROPER HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AND THE BENEFITS THAT THEY NEED AND DESERVE.

AND LOOKING AT SAVINGS.

THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, FOR STATING THAT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY.

WE DON'T WANT TO CUT BENEFITS ON PEOPLE.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE BEST VALUE FOR OUR DOLLAR THAT WE'RE INVESTING, BECAUSE THIS IS AN INVESTMENT NOT JUST INTO OUR STAFF, BUT ALSO INTO OUR COUNTY. BY MAKING SURE THAT OUR FOLKS DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDICAL CARE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TO OUR TEAM, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, DO YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? CAN YOU TELL US THE TOTAL PLANNED REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAX? THE GENERAL FUND.

PLANNED REVENUE. NO, NO, NOT GENERAL FUND.

TOTAL. I'M GOING TO GET THERE.

OKAY. SORRY. THE GENERAL FUND PLAN DOES 1.1 BILLION.

AND THE.

AND THE ONLY REASON IS BECAUSE I HAVE TO TURN TO TWO DIFFERENT PAGES AND.

AND I'M SLOW. I APOLOGIZE.

AND THE DEBT SERVICE IS FOR 23.

[03:00:02]

SO $1.52 BILLION.

ARE YOU EXPECTING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUATIONS TO GO DOWN BASED ON LOW OCCUPANCY.

AND ARE YOU EXPECTING ANY CHANGE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE RECEIVED FROM RESIDENTIAL VERSUS COMMERCIAL? WE ARE NOT FORECASTING A CHANGE IN THE SPLIT.

HISTORICALLY, IT'S BEEN ABOUT A 45 TO 55% SPLIT.

TO YOUR POINT, WE WILL KNOW THE FINAL NUMBER ON JULY 25TH.

AND TO ANSWER YOUR OTHER QUESTION ABOUT NEW CONSTRUCTION, THE FISCAL YEAR 25 PLAN BUDGET NUMBER.

WAS 20.2 MILLION.

HOW IS IT DETERMINED WHERE A CROSSING GUARD IS PLACED? LIKE WE ADDED A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM THIS YEAR.

CHIEF PEWS IS WAKING, MAKING HIS WAY.

DEBBIE PETERS, CITY MARSHAL.

THERE ARE CERTAIN PLACES THAT TRADITIONALLY HAVE HAVE HAD CROSSING GUARDS, AND EVERY YEAR THAT NEED HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED PREVIOUSLY.

AND THEN EVERY YEAR THERE'S REQUESTS FOR NEW CROSSING GUARDS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEBODY PUTS IN A REQUEST FOR A NEW CROSSING GUARD THROUGH 311, OR DIRECTLY THROUGH THE ALL CITIES MANAGEMENT COMPANY? IT PROCEEDS THROUGH TRANSPORTATION, AND THEY DO AN ANALYSIS AND A STUDY OF THE NECESSITY TO HAVE A CROSSING GUARD AT THAT LOCATION BASED ON THEIR FEASIBILITY STUDY.

AND IF, IN FACT, IT SHOWS THAT IT'S NECESSARY.

WE PLACE ANOTHER SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD AT THAT LOCATION.

SO IS THERE A REEVALUATION OF EXISTING ONES THERE? THERE'S NOT A PARTICULAR REEVALUATION IF WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED A NEED, IF THERE'S A SITUATION IN WHICH WE GET COMMENTS FROM EITHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL OR THE PARENTS OF STUDENTS THAT THAT THIS IS NO LONGER A NEEDED CROSSING GUARD AREA. AND THIS IS SO, SO WHAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES IS BASED ON CONFIGURATION OF BUS ENTRIES OR TRAFFIC PATTERNS FOR DROP OFF AND PICK UP OR EVEN THE WAY THAT THE SCHOOL DECIDES TO DO THE ENTRY, IT COULD CHANGE THE DYNAMIC.

AND THEN WE CAN CHANGE WHERE THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD IS NEEDED.

IN MY EXPERIENCE, HAVING DONE THIS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, THAT THERE'S ALWAYS A GREATER NEED FOR CROSSING GUARDS THAN THAN THERE IS PEOPLE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED A CROSSING GUARD AT THIS LOCATION ANYMORE.

THE THE ONES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ARE, ARE ALL NEEDED.

AND THEN WE GET NEW REQUESTS EVERY DAY FOR FOR NEW CROSSING GUARDS AND NEW LOCATIONS OR EXISTING LOCATIONS IN WHICH WE GET A REQUEST TO HAVE TWO CROSSING GUARDS AT THE LOCATION AS OPPOSED TO ONE.

THANK YOU.

THE LAST THING I JUST WANT TO SAY IS THAT THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE ABOUT A VOTER REFERENDUM FOR INCREASING THE THE PROPERTY TAXES BEYOND, OR THE TAX RATE BEYOND WHAT'S ALLOWED.

AND I THINK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION, BUT COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS IDEA AND WOULD 100% REJECT THAT.

AND I BELIEVE THE VOTERS WOULD AS WELL.

A COUPLE YEARS BACK, WHEN I ASKED TC, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS PENSION? THE ANSWER WAS FOR POLICE AND FIRE.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THE CITY WITH OUR OWN DEBT CAPACITY.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU, I THINK THAT'S A TERRIBLE PLAN.

AND IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING, I THINK YOU NEED TO KEEP THINKING THAT'S YOUR TIME.

CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND I'M RISING UP TO TALK ABOUT THE WHERE WE COULD MAKE TAKE A DEEP DIVE AND SUE CITY ATTORNEY.

I'M GOING TO ASK IF YOU'LL MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

I PERSONALLY DO BELIEVE THAT 13 LAWYERS IN THAT DEPARTMENT IS TOO MANY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT NUMBER IS, BUT A YEAR AGO, WHEN WE DECIDED TO INFLATE OVER INFLATE THEIR BUDGET, I DID RALLY AGAINST IT AND SAID I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO FAST, TOO MUCH.

AND NOW WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE WE'RE SHOWING PLACES THAT WE HAD WAY TOO MUCH GROWTH.

WAY TOO FAST, TOO MUCH.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE I THINK WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

SO IF YOU CAN PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

I'D APPRECIATE IT AND SEE IF THERE ARE PLACES THAT WE CAN CUT IN THAT AREA.

BECAUSE IT WAS MENTIONED THAT SOME AREAS MAY NEED TO CUT MORE THAN 6%.

AND I AGREE WITH THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA, WHEN IT COMES TO ASKING OUR VOTERS IF THEY WANT TO INCREASE OR NOT OR DECREASE, THAT'S UP TO US TO SEND TO THEM.

AND IF THEY REJECT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN THEY REJECT IT.

BUT I DON'T I WOULD NEVER SAY THAT.

I THINK THAT THAT'S A HORRIBLE THING TO DO.

[03:05:02]

IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE WITH OUR VOTERS.

WE ARE NOT ALL THE, THE MOST PERFECT INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU KNOW, UP HERE, WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES.

AND SOMETIMES THOSE TOUGH CHOICES WE HAVE TO SEND TO OUR VOTERS, THEY MAY NOT LIKE IT.

I WHEN IT COMES TO THE PENSIONS, ALL OF THEM WE DON'T HAVE ANY DISCRETION OVER THEM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ALLOWING THE MAYOR TO APPOINT THOSE CERTAIN POSITIONS.

MR. MAYOR, I WILL ASK.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WHAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED.

YOU KNOW, I JUST KNOW THAT YOU GET THOSE, WE APPROVE THEM.

AND THAT IN THE FUTURE, IF THESE FOLKS DON'T HAVE ACTUAL EXPERTISE IN PENSION.

IF YOU COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WHEN YOU'RE MAKING THOSE CHOICES.

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF FOLKS AS WELL.

I'M NOT ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, BUT THE FOLKS THAT SAY THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOLKS WHO ARE INVESTORS FOR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS VERSUS PENSION ACCOUNTS.

I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE PENSION IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND. AND ALSO I'D LIKE FOR THAT BOARD IF IT'S IT WAS RECOMMENDED BACK IN 2017 WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE THAT THAT ENTIRE TEAM THAT HANDLES THAT BOARD BE REPLACED AND CHANGED OUT.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS NOT A SINGLE PERSON HAS BEEN REPLACED OR CHANGED OUT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE ARE THE PERSONS THAT ACTUALLY GIVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INVESTMENTS TO THE BOARD OR IF IT'S A DIFFERENT SET OF GROUP.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

I'M JUST SAYING THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE NEED TO LOOK, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SAID THAT IF THE INVESTMENTS GROW AND THEY GET BIGGER AND BETTER AND FASTER, THAT THAT'S LESS FOR US TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH. SO THAT COULD HELP US.

AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS YOU KNOW, JUST GETTING AN EXTRA TEN, 20, 30 MILLION IN PROPER, GREAT, GOOD INVESTMENTS COULD REALLY HELP THIS CITY OUT A LOT FOR FUTURE BUDGETS.

THIS IS MY LAST BUDGET, AND I HATE THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH ONE, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY, LET'S PUT THINGS INTO PLACE TO HELP OUR FUTURE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BECAUSE YOU AND A FEW OTHERS ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE HERE BEYOND MY TIME HERE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON BRIEFING ITEM A BEFORE WE ADJOURN FOR LUNCH SLASH EXECUTIVE SESSION? SEEING NONE, LET ME READ THE STATUTORY LANGUAGE.

IT IS 12:44 P.M.

ON MAY 15TH, 2024.

THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 551 .074 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER DESCRIBED ON TODAY'S AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENT TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SHANEE WISE, SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK OPPORTUNITY FUND BOARD. WE'LL RECONVENE AT 1:30 P.M..

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE, WE'RE BACK ON THE RECORD.

THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS COMPLETED THE CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION FIVE, 51.074, THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

AND AT 2:13 P.M.

ON MAY 15TH, 2024, WE RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION.

MISTER, MISTER MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO TAKE THE REMAINDER OF OUR OPEN MIC SPEAKER SECOND.

[Open Microphone Speakers (Part 2 of 2) ]

SO THE MOTION THAT YOU GUYS ARE HEARD WAS FOR ALL OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS THAT YOU WANT.

OH, AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED.

ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

WE'LL HEAR THEM ALL. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.

SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY, DECORUM AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

ANY ANY PERSON, ANY SPEAKER, MAKING PERSONAL, IMPERTINENT, 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 THE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION.

INDIVIDUALS BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK FOR THOSE IN PERSON.

SPEAKERS. YOU'LL NOTICE THE TIME ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.

PLEASE STOP FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

ALSO, SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME AND TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR JOHNSON ONLY.

WE'LL START BACK WITH THE JASON KILMER HAS CANCELED AND DRUM.

AND DRUM. YOU MAY COME FORWARD.

MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ANNE DRUMM.

I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 14.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING.

SO THE NUMBER ONE REASON TO ADOPT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS TO SAVE MONEY.

I AM A POLL WORKER.

I'M ALSO A HOMEOWNER AND A TAXPAYER.

[03:10:01]

BUT I HATE TO SIT AT THE POLLING PLACE AND BE PAID TO READ A BOOK BECAUSE THERE ARE NO VOTERS AND THERE'S NOTHING TO DO.

RUNOFFS ARE AN ENORMOUS WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY, AND WE WOULD SAVE A LOT OF MONEY BY RESOLVING ALL RACES WITH ONE ELECTION USING RANKED CHOICE VOTING.

BUT THERE ARE SYSTEMIC REASONS TO USE RANKED CHOICE VOTING AS AN ELEMENT OF DEMOCRACY REFORM THAT DALLAS CAN MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY.

RANKED CHOICE VOTING WOULD ADDRESS THE SPOILER PROBLEM AND ENCOURAGE A GREATER VARIETY OF CANDIDATES.

I CAN GO VOTE FOR SOMEONE THAT I KNOW ISN'T GOING TO WIN, BUT IT LETS ME MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THAT PERSON'S POSITION AND GIVE THAT PERSON VISIBILITY.

THAT HELPS THEM BUILD MORE SUPPORT.

AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY THAT MY FIRST CHOICE WILL ACT AS A SPOILER TO THE BENEFIT OF LESSER QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.

I THINK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE MORE VARIETY IN CANDIDATES WITHOUT RISKING THE SPOILER EFFECT WOULD INCREASE ENTHUSIASM AND TURNOUT. THE ORGANIZATION FAIRVOTE SAYS THAT CITIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED RANKED CHOICE VOTING HAVE SEEN HIGHER TURNOUT IN RECENT MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

I ALSO THINK RANKED CHOICE VOTING WILL HELP ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF CANDIDATES RUNNING TO THE EXTREMES, A PROBLEM OF OUR PRIMARY SYSTEM, WHICH IS EXACERBATED BY THE ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF OUTSIDE MONEY SPENT IN PRIMARIES.

AS WE HAVE SEEN THIS YEAR, PRIMARY CANDIDATES RUN TO THE EXTREMES BECAUSE OF BIG MONEY AND LOW TURNOUT.

IF THERE IS A THIRD OR FOURTH CANDIDATE IN A PRIMARY RUNNING TO APPEAL TO A BROADER SET OF VOTERS AND ENGAGE MORE VOTERS IN PRIMARY RACES, THEN THAT CREATES PUSHBACK AGAINST THE EXTREMISM OF THE BIG DONORS, AND IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAMP DOWN THE VITRIOL, BECAUSE THERE ARE CANDIDATES WHO CAN DRAW VOTES AWAY FROM THE EXTREMES.

SO I WANT DALLAS TO BE A NATIONAL MODEL FOR HOW THIS CAN WORK, NOT JUST AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGE ITS USE AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL AS WELL.

SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO TO ADOPT RANKED CHOICE VOTING FOR THIS CITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MYRON YOUNG MYRON YOUNG IS NOT PRESENT.

DIANE TYSON.

THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS DIANE TASHIAN.

I RESIDE AT 3831 TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD.

AREA CODE. ZIP CODE 75219.

DISTRICT 14.

I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DALLAS, WITH THE APPROVAL OF OUR CO-PRESIDENT, SANDY THORNTON.

THE CHARTER COMMISSION IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND THE MANY DIFFICULT DECISIONS NEEDED TO ARRIVE AT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SUPPORTS RANKED CHOICE VOTING FOR SINGLE SEAT ELECTIONS THAT REQUIRE A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES.

RANKED CHOICE VOTING ENSURES A MAJORITY IS ACHIEVED WITHOUT A SECOND SEPARATE RUNOFF ELECTION.

IT GIVES VOTERS MORE VOICE, ENCOURAGES VOTER PARTICIPATION AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT, ENCOURAGES UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE, REDUCES ELECTION COSTS, AND IS VERIFIABLE AND AUDITABLE. SINCE 1976.

WHEN I CAN'T READ MY WRITING.

THE PRIORITY FOR ELECTION LAWS AND VOTING RIGHTS WAS ADOPTED AT THE LEAGUE NATIONAL CONVENTION.

14 STATE LEAGUES HAVE STUDIED THE ISSUES IN DEPTH.

AND GIVE US THE POSITIONS THAT WOULD UPON WHICH I ADVOCATE TODAY.

THIS MORNING WAS ABOUT THE BUDGET.

HOW COMMON ARE RUNOFF ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS? RACES. FROM 2015 TO 2023, THERE WERE 20 RUNOFFS ACROSS THE CITY.

[03:15:07]

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DALLAS URGES YOU TO ADOPT THIS RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CHARTER COMMISSION, AND I THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU.

EDDIE PROPES.

ARE Y'ALL DOING? AND HEY, I'M JUST THRILLED TO TALK AGAIN ABOUT THIS BLACK TREATY BILL THAT I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH WITH TEXAS, OKLAHOMA AND AUSTIN.

AUSTIN TOLD ME I HAD TO GO TO THE CAROLINAS TO CLAIM MY RIGHTS FOR TEXAS.

YOU KNOW, BACK IN 1865, THE TREATY BILL, IT'S NOT A TREATY BILL.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE LITTLE FELLA'S BEEN BAMBOOZLED OUT OF WHICH I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, $400 MILLION.

I TOOK THIS PAPERWORK TO THE MUSEUM.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY TOLD ME? YOU NEED A LAWYER. I SAID I TRY TO FIND A BLACK LAWYER, BUT THE BLACK LAWYERS DON'T DO LANDMARKS.

YOU KNOW, I CALLED THE WHITE LAWYERS.

THE WHITE LAWYERS SAID THEY RETIRED.

WHAT CAN I FIND ME A LAWYER IN DISTRICT FOUR TO HELP ME WITH THIS? BECAUSE CURRENT OWNER, I MEAN, I MEAN, THE LADY AT CONGRESS.

LADY? WHAT'S THE NAME? CONGRESS. LADY DALLAS, I CALL HER.

I TOOK PAPERWORK TO HER AND SHOW HER I HAVE TO GO TO CONGRESS WITH THIS, BECAUSE STATE OF TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA ARE NOT LETTING ME WIN.

SO SHE BACKING OUT.

WHY DO I NEED A LAWYER TO TAKE THIS PAPERWORK AND LOOK AT IT? YOU KNOW, THIS LAND THAT WAS BAMBOOZLED SINCE 1852? AND THE MONEY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE NO BANKS BACK THEN.

WE HAD TO GO THROUGH BROKERS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE BANKS WOULDN'T LET NOBODY BACK, THEN PUT MONEY IN THEIR BANK.

AND IT'S SAD.

SO WE'VE BEEN BAMBOOZLED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA.

I JUST LEFT LANGSTON UNIVERSITY TOWN HALL MEETING LAST THURSDAY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I GOT ALL THE BLACK KIDS IN THE LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LEARNING HOW TO DO LANDMARKS BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW.

AND THE OLD FOLKS JUST SIT BACK AND LOOK STUPID.

AND THE SMALL BLACK TOWN, YOU KNOW? COME ON, Y'ALL. WE ARE NOT TEACHING OUR OLDER GENERATION ABOUT THE TRUTH.

IF YOU GO DIG UP YOUR ANCESTRY, MAKE IT HAPPEN.

I HAD TO I GOT EVERYTHING I GOT OUT OF DALLAS COUNTY.

IT'S CERTIFIED TO TAKE THE COURT.

ALL I GOT TO DO IS FIND ME A LAWYER.

AND THIS WAS THE HOLD UP.

I'VE BEEN TO THE MUSEUM.

I'M. I'M GOING OUT.

IT'S GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO CONGRESS.

WHEN IT'S ALL OVER AND DONE, THEY GIVE ME THREE STATES TO FIGHT IN MY NAME.

THAT'S ALL I WANT TO TELL YOU.

I NEED A LAWYER. THANK YOU.

KATHERINE SAVERS MCGOVERN.

MISS MCGOVERN.

HELLO? MISS MCGOVERN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? AND WE'LL COME BACK TO MISS MCGOVERN.

BRITAIN. WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE CAN HEAR YOU.

MY NAME IS. YES.

I'M SORRY, MISS WILLIAMS. WE LOST YOUR VIDEO.

OH, OKAY.

I'M SORRY. FINE.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS BRITTANY WILLIAMS. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING.

SO I BELIEVE THAT RANKED CHOICE VOTING, ALSO KNOWN AS INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING, IS A GREAT SOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS BECAUSE IT'S NOT A RADICAL CHANGE TO OUR EXISTING ELECTIONS AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL.

HERE IN TEXAS, WE ALREADY HAVE NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS THAT REQUIRE A MAJORITY TO BE DECLARED THE WINNER.

AND LIKE OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE TESTIFIED, OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS OFTEN GO TO RUNOFFS, WHICH LEADS TO COSTLY AND EXTENDED ELECTION CYCLES THAT ARE EXHAUSTING TO VOTERS, TO CANDIDATES, AND TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS WASTEFUL, INEFFICIENT, AND IT DRIVES LOW TURNOUT.

[03:20:03]

THOSE COSTS COULD BE LIMITED BY MOVING TO AN INSTANT RUNOFF.

RANKED CHOICE VOTE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2017, THE GENERAL ELECTION COST $1 MILLION, BUT THE RUNOFF OF 329,000 IN 2019, THE GENERAL COST 625,000, WITH A RUNOFF AT 1.1 MILLION IN 2021, $1 MILLION GENERAL WITH AN $823,000 RUNOFF.

INTERESTINGLY, AS WELL, IN OUR 2021 CITY ELECTIONS, SIX RACES WENT TO A TO A RUNOFF.

AND OF THOSE SIX RACES, HALF OF THEM THREE ENDED UP WITH WINNERS THAT RECEIVED FEWER VOTES IN THE RUNOFF THAN THEY HAD RECEIVED IN THE FIRST ROUND.

THIS INDICATES THAT VOTERS ARE TIRED, THEY DON'T BOTHER SHOWING UP, AND IT'S NOT A STRONG MANDATE FOR LEADERSHIP FROM THE VOTERS WHEN THEY RECEIVE FEWER VOTES IN A SECOND ROUND.

AGAIN, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT RANKED CHOICE VOTING BECAUSE IT IS A GOOD GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLE THAT IS NOT A RADICAL CHANGE, BUT WILL LEAD TO BETTER AND FAIRER CITY ELECTIONS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ALEXANDER CLARK.

YES. HELLO. I'M HERE.

OKAY. WE CAN HEAR YOU AND SEE YOU.

YOU MAY CONTINUE.

BUT MY NAME IS ALEXANDER CLARK.

I'M FROM DISTRICT 14.

I'M A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.

MY BROTHER IS A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AND SERVED FOR SO LONG, HE WAS ACTUALLY IN THE ARMY WHEN HE JOINED BECAUSE THE AIR FORCE DIDN'T EXIST YET.

AND I START WITH ALL THAT TO SAY THAT ALL THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING SO FAR, SAVING MONEY, ARE ALL WELL TAKEN.

BUT IF IT MADE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY WORSE OR SOMEHOW CHEAPENED IT, I WOULDN'T BE FOR IT BECAUSE OF HOW IMPORTANT.

THE OATH TO SERVE, TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION IS.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

RANKED CHOICE VOTING IMPROVES DEMOCRACY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WILL TURN DOWN POLARIZATION IN THIS COUNTRY AND ALLOW US TO BE SEEING EACH OTHER AS FELLOW CITIZENS AND LESS AS RIVALS AND COMPETITORS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF US ARE SEEING EACH OTHER AS ENEMIES, WHICH IS A PROBLEM ESPECIALLY FOR MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY WHO ARE TRYING TO VOTE.

THERE'S A BIG CHALLENGE WITH PRINTING, MAILING, FILLING OUT, RETURNING, RECEIVING BALLOTS, COUNTING THEM UP, AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME BETWEEN THE FIRST ELECTION AND A RUNOFF ELECTION.

THAT'S AN ISSUE.

SO I WANT TO HIT YOU WITH THREE FACTS USING THE NUMBER 50 THAT I WANT YOU TO KEEP IN MIND.

VERSUS 50%.

THAT'S THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF VETERANS WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES INDEPENDENT OR UNAFFILIATED, AND ARE OFTEN FEELING LIKE THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO BE WHEN THERE ARE PRIMARY ELECTIONS, WHICH ARE THE NUMBER ONE DETERMINANT OF WHO ACTUALLY TAKES OFFICE.

ESPECIALLY HERE IN TEXAS.

AND LIKE THE.

SPEAKER BEFORE ME MENTIONED THIS IS NOT A RADICAL CHANGE.

ANOTHER FACT THE 5050 JURISDICTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ALREADY HAVE ADOPTED RANKED CHOICE VOTING, INCLUDING THE RED STATE OF ALASKA AND THE BLUE STATE OF MAINE, WHICH USE IT FOR ALL OF THEIR ELECTIONS.

LAST FACT BASED ON 50.

50% PLUS ONE SHOULD BE THE BARE MINIMUM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE ELECT ANYONE TO ANYTHING.

THE IDEA THAT WE CAN ELECT SOMEONE WITHOUT MAJORITY SUPPORT IS UNDEMOCRATIC, AND FLIES IN THE FACE OF WHAT MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY ARE FIGHTING FOR BY REQUIRING MAJORITY SUPPORT AND ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN WITHOUT A RUNOFF.

WE CAN DRIVE UP TURNOUT, WHICH IN DALLAS HAS BEEN UNDER 10% FOR THE LAST THREE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, AND WE CAN ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE REPRESENTATIVE OUTCOMES AND DISCOURAGE NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING.

THIS CAN MAKE OUR COUNTRY STRONGER.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT STRUCTURAL CHANGE WHOSE TIME HAS COME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

MARVIN CRENSHAW HAS CANCELED.

PRECIOUS SOULS HAS CANCELED.

EVA MASON.

IVA MASON.

HELLO. MY NAME IS EVA ATHENA MASON.

I'M IN DISTRICT TWO.

I'M SPEAKING AS THE POLITICAL OUTREACH COORDINATOR FOR THE PEOPLE'S PARTY OF TEXAS.

I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT MODERNIZED VOTING METHODS IN FUTURE ELECTIONS.

DALLAS NEEDS A NEW VOTING METHOD.

[03:25:04]

RUNOFF ELECTIONS INCUR ADDITIONAL COSTS, AS EVERYONE HAS SAID, BOTH GOVERNMENTS AND CANDIDATES AND MANY OF THESE METHODS.

THE VOTES ARE COLLECTED FOR AN INSTANT RUNOFF, WITH ONLY ONE TRIP TO THE POLLS.

SAVING MONEY WOULD THAT WOULD COST IN A RUNOFF ELECTION.

NONPARTISAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ARE IDEAL FOR THESE TYPE OF METHODS.

LOCAL ELECTIONS OFTEN INCLUDE SEVERAL CANDIDATES, AND IF NO CANDIDATE GETS THE MAJORITY, THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE THE SEPARATE RUNOFF.

TRADITIONAL CHOOSE ONE ELECTIONS WORK FINE IF THERE ARE ONLY TWO CANDIDATES, BUT WHEN ELECTIONS ARE ACTUALLY COMPETITIVE, THEY DON'T CUT IT.

WE WANT ROBUST, FAIR AND ACCURATE ELECTIONS THAT ALLOW GOOD CANDIDATES TO STEP UP AND RUN ISSUE ORIENTED CAMPAIGNS.

WE ALSO WANT TO EMPOWER VOTERS TO VOTE THEIR CONSCIENCE WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER THEIR FAVORITE IS ELECTABLE, OR WHETHER THEY SHOULD CONSIDER VOTING FOR THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS.

LONG STORY SHORT, WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER.

STAR VOTING WAS INVENTED IN 2014 BY THE EQUAL VOTE CONFERENCE ON VOTING REFORM.

THE GOAL WAS TO FIND A PROPOSAL THAT COULD FURTHER DELIVER ON THE TALKING POINTS OF RANKING CHOICE, RANKED CHOICE, WHILE ADDRESSING THE ISSUES KNOWN WITH SUCH OLDER SYSTEMS, AND IT QUICKLY TOPPED EVERY STUDY THAT IT WAS PARTICIPATED IN.

I URGE YOU TO LOOK AT STAR VOTING US FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO KIND OF SEE FOR YOURSELF.

TRY TO DO THE VOTING METHOD AND SEE HOW YOU FEEL WITH THE INSTANT RUNOFF AND HOW YOU FEEL WITH BEING ABLE TO SCORE THE CANDIDATES.

IT ONLY SIMPLIFIES THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND CAN SAVE CANDIDATES AND TAXPAYER MONEY IN THE PROCESS.

IT'S MUCH LIKE A PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION ALL IN ONE, SO YOU CAN SKIP THE PRIMARY, AND ONLY ONE ELECTION IS NEEDED TO BE ADOPTED FOR ELECTIONS, WITH OR WITHOUT A PRIMARY.

YOU CAN ALSO SKIP THE LOW TURNOUT, AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, JUST VOTING ONCE, ELIMINATING VOTE SPLITTING AND THE SPOILER EFFECT.

SKIPPING THE PRIMARY WOULD SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY, SAVE VOTERS TIME, AND SHORTEN THE CAMPAIGN SEASON, WHICH MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO GRASSROOTS CANDIDATES.

FOR SITUATIONS WHERE A PRIMARY IS NEEDED.

PARTIZAN PRIMARIES. PRESIDENTIAL STAR VOTING CAN BE USED FOR BOTH OR EITHER.

IT CAN BE USED FOR SINGLE WINNER MULTI-MEMBER PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

MULTIPLE FORMS OF ELECTION.

EVERY PLACE IS DIFFERENT, POPULATION IS DIFFERENT, BUT STAR VOTING IS ADAPTABLE.

A SIMPLE SOFTWARE UPGRADE AND RECERTIFICATION ARE THE ONLY HARD COSTS TO BUDGET FOR.

BALLOTS DON'T REQUIRE CENTRALIZED TABULATION.

THEY CAN BE TALLIED AS THEY COME IN DURING CURRENT PROTOCOLS.

IN CONTRAST TO RANKED CHOICE IT REQUIRES, WHICH REQUIRES CENTRALIZED TABULATION.

THIS MAKES STAR VOTING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE COST EFFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY IN LARGER SCALE ELECTIONS.

THAT, YOU KNOW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

LIZ. WALLY! LIZ.

WALLY IS NOT PRESENT.

DOLORES PHILLIPS HAS CANCELED SOPHIA ROLLINS.

SOPHIA ROLLINS IS NOT PRESENT.

ASHLEY WASHINGTON.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

ASHLEY WASHINGTON.

AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION TO IMPLEMENT RANKED CHOICE VOTING.

I APPLAUD THE COMMISSION'S TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO REVIEW THE CHARTER AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN THE COLLECTIVE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

WE ALL BENEFIT FROM THEIR DELIBERATIONS, NOT JUST FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT WE GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF DIFFERENT IDEAS TO ENHANCE OUR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, BECAUSE HOW WE ELECT OUR REPRESENTATIVES IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHO WE ELECT.

NOW. IN DALLAS, WE ELECT OUR REPRESENTATIVES.

A CANDIDATE HAS TO RECEIVE A MAJORITY VOTE, WHICH IS BETTER THAN A PLURALITY ELECTION.

BUT A WEAKNESS IN THE CURRENT MAJORITY SYSTEM IS THE NEED FOR THE SECOND ELECTIONS IN THE DELAYED RUNOFF.

VOTERS HAVE TO COME TO THE POLLS TWICE TO FULLY EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS.

AND FROM 2015 TO 2023, THERE WERE 20 RUNOFFS ACROSS THE CITY, AND WE'RE AVERAGING FOUR RUNOFFS EVERY ELECTION CYCLE.

AND WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING, VOTERS CAN EXPRESS THEIR PREFERENCES FOR UP TO FIVE CANDIDATES AND ONE ELECTION.

AND I THINK THIS IS A PREFERABLE MODEL WHEN VOTERS CAN BETTER REPRESENT THEMSELVES BASED ON THEIR OWN CHOICES IN ONE ELECTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

KATHERINE SAVERS MCGOVERN IS NO LONGER ONLINE.

MR. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING.

OKAY. I'LL TURN BACK OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO TEE UP THE NEXT BRIEFING AGENDA ITEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR SOME TIME WITH CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO BRING THESE ITEMS BEFORE YOU TODAY.

[B. Discussion of Recommended Amendments to the 2024 Charter Review Commission’s Final Report 24-1541 ]

[03:30:07]

THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I HAVE A MOTION. I THINK IT'S JUST.

JUST GIVE ME ONE SECOND THAT WE'RE GOING TO.

WE'RE GOING TO HOLD ON FOR JUST.

WE'RE ABOUT TO DO THAT.

ALL RIGHT. WE WE GOT EVERYBODY AT THE DAIS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.

OKAY, GREAT.

ALL RIGHT. SO COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY 1ST YOU'LL RECALL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WAS BRIEFED BY THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, ALAN VAUGHT, ON THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION'S FINAL REPORT, WHICH INCLUDED 30 RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER.

AS PART OF THAT BRIEFING, STAFF LAID OUT A PROPOSED PROCESS TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION.

TODAY, WE WILL TAKE THE FIRST STEP OF THAT PROCESS AND ENTER INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

I'LL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO GO INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CHAIRMAN.

BAZALDUA YOU RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GO INTO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO CONSIDER RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE 2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION FINAL REPORT.

IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, AND WE ARE NOW THEREFORE ACTING AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE VOTES ON AMENDMENTS TO THE 2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION'S FINAL REPORT ARE NOT FINAL ACTIONS, BUT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL BE FINALLY VOTED ON AT A LATER DATE. MOTIONS THAT ARE IN ORDER IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ARE AS FOLLOWS.

AMENDMENTS INCLUDING REMOVING OR STRIKING SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS, POINTS OF ORDER, APPEALS AND INQUIRIES.

SO. WAS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO US GOING INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

I DIDN'T HEAR ANY. OKAY.

THERE IS A THERE IS AN OBJECTION TO GOING TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL HAVE ONE OBJECTION IN ALL OF MY DISCUSSION HERE IS REALLY JUST TEEING THIS DISCUSSION UP.

SO ARE WE. HELP REDUCE MY INFECTION.

GO FOR IT. OKAY, SO I'M JUST EXPLAINING WHAT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE IS AND HOW IT OPERATES.

BUT IF YOU OBJECT TO IT AND YOU WANT THAT ON THE RECORD, I THINK NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT.

OKAY. OKAY.

SO THE.

PROP THE EMOTIONS THAT ARE ALLOWED.

THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.

SO IF WE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS, WE NEED TO TAKE THEM UP WITH OUR PARLIAMENTARIAN.

THE ONLY MOTIONS THAT ARE IN ORDER ARE AMENDMENTS.

INCLUDING REMOVING OR STRIKING SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS, POINTS OF ORDER, APPEALS AND INQUIRIES.

ROLL CALL VOTES AND RECORD VOTES, OR BALLOT VOTES, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, ARE NOT ALLOWED TODAY.

INSTEAD, WE WILL BE USING GREEN CARDS TO SIGNAL SUPPORT FOR AN AMENDMENT.

AND ALTHOUGH A FORMAL VOTE WILL NOT BE TAKEN TODAY, THE CITY SECRETARY WILL RECORD THE NAMES OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOWING A GREEN CARD IN FAVOR OF A MOTION, AND WE WILL FOLLOW OUR USUAL 531 FORMAT FOR DEBATE.

BEFORE I GO ON, I THINK I WANT TO SPEAK TO I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION TO KIND OF CLARIFY SOMETHING I JUST SAID.

IT'S I THINK IT'S SOMEWHAT RELATED TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ MAY HAVE ABOUT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE PROCESS.

NORMALLY OUR RULES COMPEL VOTING IF YOU'RE AT THE HORSESHOE.

DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ABSTENTION.

THAT IS NOT TRUE IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FORMAT, IS IT NOT? YOU CAN'T COMPEL HIM TO PARTICIPATE, CAN YOU? I CANNOT COMPEL HIM TO RAISE HIS CARD.

OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT.

SO YOU CAN.

PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATE AND HEAR IT ALL.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOW A CARD.

IT'S NOT LIKE WHEN WE ARE IN A VOTING AGENDA MEETING, THE RULES SAY YOU MUST VOTE IF YOU'RE PRESIDENT.

OKAY. BEFORE WE BEGIN, I ALSO WANT TO FRAME THE DISCUSSION JUST A BIT FURTHER AND POINT OUT THAT THE COMMISSION HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK TO GET US TO THIS POINT A GREAT AMOUNT OF WORK, AND THAT IN DOING OUR WORK, WE AS A COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION.

GIVEN THE VERY REALISTIC POSSIBILITY OF VOTER FATIGUE, IS THE CHARTER AMENDMENT BEING CONSIDERED IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO WANT TO PLACE BEFORE THE VOTERS

[03:35:08]

AS YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSION'S REPORT HAS THREE CATEGORIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS TECHNICAL, OPERATIONAL AND POLICY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO START OUR DISCUSSION TODAY WITH THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

THERE ARE 13 RECOMMENDED TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER.

IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR REPORT UNDER TAB TWO, THE TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ITALICIZED.

ONCE WE GET THROUGH THOSE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NINE OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE UNDERLINED.

AND THEN FINALLY WE WILL CONSIDER THE EIGHT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH ARE BOLDED.

AND IF WE DON'T FINISH TODAY, WE WILL CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION AGAIN ON THE JUNE 5TH BRIEFING AGENDA.

THAT IS WHAT I'VE BEEN ASKED TO INFORM YOU ALL OF.

I THINK NOW, IF THERE ISN'T ANY OBJECTION TO GOING INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DO YOU OR DO YOU NOT? I DO NOT HAVE AN OBJECTION.

I DO HAVE A POINT OF INFORMATION.

OKAY. IT'S THE APPROPRIATE MOMENT.

SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO GOING TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, WE ARE NOW IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

AND WE WILL COMMENCE THE DISCUSSION.

AND THE FIVE, THREE, ONE.

AFTER. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ANY? PRESENTATION OR JUST GO RIGHT INTO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT STAFF HAS ANY PLANS TO GO TO FOR ANY DISCUSSION.

SO I THINK THE WAY TO PROCEED WOULD BE TO LOOK AT ALL THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

IF YOU HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO ANY OF THOSE OR NONE OF THOSE, WE CAN MOVE ON.

BUT WE WOULD NEED A MOTION FOR DISCUSSION.

DID YOU WANT TO STATE YOUR POINT OF INFORMATION NOW, MR. CHAIRMAN? NARVAEZ. GO AHEAD.

YES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

MY POINT OF INFORMATION IS YOU STATED THAT THE CITY SECRETARY WILL DOCUMENT AND WRITE DOWN THE NAMES OF THE MEMBERS WHO DO RAISE A GREEN CARD, BUT DID NOT STATE THAT THE CITY SECRETARY WOULD WRITE THE NAMES OF THOSE MEMBERS WHO DID NOT RAISE A CARD.

BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE NOT VOTING, WE'RE JUST RAISING A GREEN CARD.

SO THERE IS NO RED CARD LIKE WE DO IN BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

SO I, I'M ASKING IF THOSE NAMES OF THOSE FOLKS THAT DO NOT RAISE A CARD WOULD ALSO BE LISTED WITH THEY DID NOT RAISE CARD, AND IF NOT, CAN THAT BE DONE? I'LL ASK THE PARLIAMENTARIAN TO ADDRESS IT.

BUT WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT WE ARE ONLY WE WERE ONLY RECORDING TO SEE IF THERE'S SUFFICIENT SUPPORT FOR SOMETHING TO MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I'LL LET HER RESPOND.

THAT'S CORRECT. NORMALLY WHEN WE DO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, WE DON'T RECORD THOSE VOTES.

BUT BASED ON COMMENTARY FROM THE LAST MEETING, WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO AT LEAST RECORD THOSE WHO SAY WHO HOLD UP A GREEN CARD SO THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD KNOW THAT.

AND I AND I'M GOING TO ASSUME I KNOW THAT'S A BAD WORD, THAT PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU DIDN'T HOLD IT UP, THAT MEANS YOU DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT.

POINT OF INFORMATION, MR. MAYOR, PLEASE. IS IT APPROPRIATE OR IS IT IS IT OKAY TO DO ANY KIND OF A MOTION IN ORDER TO ASK THAT THE THE NON VOTING MEMBERS BE RECORDED BY THE CITY SECRETARY? I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY MENTIONED.

I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT.

BUT AS FAR AS THE RESPONSE TO MY ORIGINAL POINT OF INFORMATION, I'M JUST ASKING FOR THE NO VOTES TO BE RECORDED AS WELL.

IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE MOTIONED OR SOMETHING THAT CAN JUST BE DONE WITHOUT HAVING TO DO A MOTION, WONDERFUL.

SO HERE'S WHAT I'LL, I'LL, I'LL POSE THIS AND THE QUESTION TO THE PARLIAMENTARIAN AND SEE WHAT THE THOUGHTS ARE.

MY. MY THOUGHT WOULD BE THAT ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO PUT INTO A FORM OF A MOTION THAT WAS SECONDED AND APPROVED BY THE BODY WOULD BE COULD BE HOW WE PROCEED.

I WOULD ONLY POINT OUT THAT ONE COULD INFER FROM THE MATH OF THE HORSESHOE, IF WE'RE RECORDING ALL THE GREEN CARDS, THEN EVERYONE WHO'S NOT LISTED ON THAT LIST, IF THEY ARE PRESENT, DIDN'T HOLD UP A GREEN CARD.

AND SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S A FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WRITING THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T RAISE ONE.

BUT I THINK IT'S KIND OF ABLE TO BE INFERRED.

BUT IF THAT'S THE MOTION YOU WANT TO MAKE, AND IF SHE SAYS IT'S IN ORDER, THEN I THINK YOU CAN MAKE IT.

IF THE BODY HAS NO OBJECTION, WE CAN PROCEED THAT WAY.

AND THEN I MOVE THAT. WE RECORD ALL NON-VOTING MEMBERS AT.

WE'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR YES, BUT ALSO RECORD NON-VOTING MEMBERS AS WELL AS THOSE IN ABSENTIA, BECAUSE WE DO HAPPEN TO HAVE A ABSENT, ABSENT PERSON HERE TODAY THAT THEY ALL BE LISTED AS VOTING IN FAVOR TO MOVE FORWARD, NON VOTING AND THEN ABSENT WHEN POLL

[03:40:06]

SO MEMBERS IF I WE'LL SEE IF WE HAVE A SECOND FOR IT.

AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANY OBJECTION.

AND WE CAN DO IT BY ACCLAMATION.

IF THERE'S OBJECTION WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE DEBATE OR WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE ON IT.

BUT I THINK WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THE MOTION IS TO LIST BY NAME BOTH PEOPLE WHO RAISED THE GREEN CARD, PEOPLE WHO DID NOT RAISE A GREEN CARD, AND PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT PRESENT FOR EVERY VOTE THAT IS TAKEN TODAY.

IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION? SECOND. IT'S BEEN SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE. IT'S SO ORDERED.

SO, MADAM SECRETARY, WE'RE GOING TO LET THE LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THE VOTE WAS DONE BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT AND THAT WE WILL RECORD TODAY.

GREEN CARDS, NO CAR.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HOLD UP A CARD, WHO ARE PRESENT AND EVERYONE WHO'S ABSENT.

AND IT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR FOR EACH VOTE THAT IS TAKEN OR STRAW VOTE THAT IS TAKEN TODAY.

IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. SO WE'VE DISPOSED OF THAT.

ANY OTHER PARLIAMENTARY TYPE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO THE DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN WEST, I MEAN, YOU HAD YOU WERE IN GABE FOR BUT DID YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE MEAT OF IT DO YOU NOT.

NOTHING PARLIAMENTARY.

OKAY. GO AHEAD.

YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. MINE'S A POINT OF INFORMATION AS WELL.

AND IT'S ON THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

SO IF WE DECIDED AS A COUNCIL TO ADOPT COLLECTIVELY THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS, COULD THOSE.

ALL MY UNDERSTANDING IS THOSE COULD ALL BE UNDER ONE CHARTER AMENDMENT.

AND IF THAT'S CORRECT, YOU NEED US TO SPECIFICALLY MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT YOU TO DO THAT.

OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? SO TODAY WE'RE TREATING THE THE CRC FINAL REPORT LIKE WE WOULD A CPC RECOMMENDATION.

SO IF YOU DON'T MAKE CHANGES TO THE TECHNICAL PARTS TODAY, WE WILL INCORPORATE THOSE INTO OUR DRAFT ORDINANCE.

AND YOU'LL STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES GOING FORWARD TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

BUT YES, WE DON'T NEED A MOTION IF THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS OR OR STRIKETHROUGHS TODAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PUT IT IN.

SO TODAY IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE MOVE FORWARD IN THOSE GROUPINGS AND YOU'RE TAKING THEM.

I THINK THE MAYOR SAID WE'RE STARTING WITH TECHNICAL.

YES. OKAY, GREAT.

THAT'S THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

ANY OTHER POINTS OF INFORMATION OR PARLIAMENTARY TYPE OF INQUIRIES BEFORE WE GET INTO THE DISCUSSION.

ARE YOU STILL WANTING TO GET IN CHAIRMAN WEST? YOU SEE, I SEE YOUR NAME IN THE QUEUE.

STILL. WHERE YOU AT? I MEAN, IF I MAY, MAYOR.

YEAH, I'M JUST GOING TO JUST SAY ON THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS, I SUPPORT THEM AS, AS IS AND WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD.

OKAY. SO LET ME MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING ELSE PARLIAMENTARY FIRST AND THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FIRST SINCE I SEE.

WELL, NOW YOU'RE GONE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S I WANT TO DO THIS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BY THE BOOK AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.

OKAY? SO I DON'T SEE ANYONE HAVING ANYTHING PARLIAMENTARY.

SO GAY WILLS, I REMEMBER YOU WERE FIRST IN THE QUEUE.

AND SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU FIRST FOR DISCUSSION.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THERE IS ONE TECHNICAL EMOTION, EMOTIONS IN ORDER DURING THE DISCUSSION AS NORMAL.

THIS IS JUST LIKE NORMAL NOW.

OKAY, THEN IN CHAPTER 16, CIVIL SERVICE AND PERSONNEL SECTION SEVEN BOARD TO ESTABLISH RULES GOVERNING CONDUCT, I MOVE TO RETITLE THE SECTION TO READ HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO RECOMMEND RULES GOVERNING CONDUCT AND AMEND THE SECTION TO READ.

IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO RECOMMEND PERSONNEL RULES TO BE ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL THAT GOVERN EVALUATION OF CONDUCT AND PERFORMANCE, AND REQUIRE REMEDIES FOR NONPERFORMANCE FOR POSITIONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THEIR SECOND FOR THAT.

ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION ON THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT BY MISS WILLIS.

SO YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES IF YOU LIKE TO, TO EXPLAIN YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

SO EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC WE'RE ON ITEM B OF OUR BRIEFING AGENDA.

AND NOW MISS WILLIS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR MOTION.

RIGHT. AND THIS IS CHAPTER 16, SECTION SEVEN.

AND MISS MENDOLA, IF YOU CAN LET EVERYONE KNOW WHY THIS IS A NECESSARY AMENDMENT.

YES. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.

ESSENTIALLY, THE INITIAL AMENDMENT WAS PROPOSED IN ORDER TO STATE THAT HUMAN RESOURCES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECOMMENDING CHANGES TO THE RULES GOVERNING CONDUCT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE THAT'S THE CURRENT PRACTICE.

HUMAN RESOURCES, NOT THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD, RECOMMENDS A CHANGES TO THE PERSONNEL RULES, WHICH ARE THEN ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL.

UNFORTUNATELY, INADVERTENTLY, THE CITY COUNCIL REVIEW OF THE PERSONNEL RULES AND ADOPTION OF THOSE RULES WAS LEFT OFF THE SUBMISSION TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND SO COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS'S AMENDMENT WOULD CORRECT THAT DEFICIENCY SO THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD RATIFY AND

[03:45:07]

SO THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHANGE.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER UNLESS I ASK QUESTIONS.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU ASK FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MISS WILLIS'S MOTION? NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT ITEM.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST MISS WILLIS? MOTION? ALL RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE FIRST STRAW VOTE OF THE DAY.

IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF MISS WILLIS'S MOTION GOING FORWARD.

SHOW YOUR CARDS.

CARDS RAISED IN FAVOR.

STEWART. WILLIS.

MENDELSOHN. RIDLEY, NARVAEZ, ATKINS WEST, BLACKMON GRACIE AND MORENO MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. WONDERFUL.

ALL RIGHT.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION AND PERHAPS OFFER A STRIKE THROUGH AMENDMENT.

OKAY, SO YOUR QUESTION IS OF YOU MEAN OF OUR EXPERTS? YES. GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. SO THIS IS FOR FOR CHAPTER 11, SECTION ONE FOR THE ANNUAL BUDGET ESTIMATE. CAN YOU TELL ME WHY AUGUST 15TH IS THE DATE THAT WAS SELECTED? I THINK YOU'RE JUST CHANGING THE BY TO AN ON OR AN ON TO A BY.

EXCUSE ME. RIGHT. CURRENTLY.

SORRY. LAURA MORRISON, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

CURRENTLY, THE CHARTER SAYS THAT THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET WILL BE SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL ON THAT DATE.

SO THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION IS TO SAY BY BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL GENERALLY RECEIVE THAT BEFORE THE 15TH, BUT THE DATE OF AUGUST 15TH IS CURRENTLY IN THE CHARTER. WAS THERE A CONSIDERATION OF CHANGING THAT DATE? NO, NO ONE PROPOSED THAT CHANGE.

SO I'D LIKE TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE DATE FROM THE 15TH TO THE 10TH SO THAT IT WOULD BE BY AUGUST 10TH, AND ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INTRODUCTION OF SB TWO.

SO THAT'S THE AMENDMENT.

I'M SORRY. THAT'S THE THAT'S THE STRIKETHROUGH THAT I'M OFFERING.

I MEAN, YOU GET A SECOND FOR IT BEFORE WE CAN DISCUSS IT.

IS THERE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

SO YOUR THE POINT MADE WAS THAT OUR PRACTICE IS TO GET IT EARLIER.

AND THAT'S TRUE.

ALTHOUGH I DO RECALL OUR FORMER CITY MANAGER TELLING ME THAT HE WOULD NOT GIVE IT TO US.

HE DID.

I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE AN OPTION.

THE FINAL NUMBERS FROM ALL THE COUNTY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS ARE IN BY THE END OF JULY.

THE CITY IS READY TO PLUG IT IN AND PRINT AND GO.

AND BECAUSE WE NOW FALL UNDER SB TWO, THERE'S VERY LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM BY THE TIME WE GET DOWN TO IT.

SO UNLIKE, YOU KNOW, SOME BIG SWING YEARS WHERE MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SOME PRETTY BIG ADJUSTMENTS, THAT'S NO LONGER THE SITUATION.

AND WE NEED AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY AS WE'VE GOT SOME VERY CHALLENGING YEARS AHEAD.

AND I JUST THINK HAVING THAT EXTRA FIVE DAYS AS A NO LATER THAN IS A GREAT IDEA.

SO THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST MISS MIDDLETON'S MOTION? CHAIRMAN OR VICE CHAIRMAN? NARVAEZ RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. SORRY. I WAS LIKE BUTTON WAS GOING IN AND OUT.

SO CAN YOU ALL EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN THE 10TH AND THE 15TH? I MEAN, IT'S ONLY FIVE DAYS, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE NO BIG DEAL, BUT IT COULD BE VERY WELL BE A BIG DEAL BASED ON THE DATES THAT WE HAVE TO GET THINGS BY.

IF YOU COULD JUST EXPLAIN IT TO ME, BECAUSE I WAS.

I GOT CONFUSED IN WHAT WAS BEING SAID EARLIER.

YES, IF I MAY.

JACK IRELAND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SO CURRENTLY, THE CHARTER REQUIRES THAT THE BUDGET BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND IT READS ON AUGUST THE 15TH.

AND SO THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED BECAUSE AUGUST THE 15TH DOES NOT ALWAYS FALL ON A TUESDAY.

RIGHT. IT'S ACCORDING TO THE CALENDAR.

AND SO WE HAVE INTERPRETED THAT TO MEAN THAT WE DO IT ON THE TUESDAY BEFORE AUGUST THE 15TH, WHETHER THAT IS THE THE 15TH OR THE 14TH OR THE 13TH. BUT WHATEVER, TUESDAY FALLS BEFORE AUGUST THE 15TH, WE HAVE AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER BACK, OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO GET IT TO THE COUNCIL ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE TUESDAY MEETING.

SO WHY DON'T WE MOVE IT FORWARD? SO JUST I'LL GIVE YOU SOME DATES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME EVERY YEAR.

SO JULY 25TH IS BY STATE LAW WHEN THE FOUR APPRAISAL DISTRICTS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THEIR CERTIFIED VALUES TO THE CITY.

THEN AFTER WE GET THE CERTIFIED VALUES FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, WE WORK WITH DALLAS COUNTY TAX OFFICE.

WHO DOES THE CALCULATION ON THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.

[03:50:04]

I EXPECT THAT WE WILL HAVE THAT BY AUGUST THE 2ND.

AND SO AFTER WE GET THAT ON AUGUST THE 2ND, WE FINALIZE IT.

THEN WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS AND AND FINISH BALANCING THE BUDGET, PRINT THE BUDGET DOCUMENT AND MOVING IT UP DAYS REDUCES OUR OUR TIME FRAME FOR DOING THAT.

I'M SQUEEZED ON THE FRONT END BY STATE LAW FOR THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS, THE TIME IT TAKES DALLAS COUNTY TAX OFFICE THAT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, AND THEN TO GET IT TO YOU BY THE 15TH, THE 10TH MAKES IT HARDER.

BUT THAT'S WHAT'S Y'ALL'S DECISION AS A POLICY, RIGHT? YEAH. IT WOULD WELL, IT WOULD BE OUR DECISION AS A POLICY TO FORWARD TO THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE CHARTER.

SO, SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, WHAT I THINK I HEARD, AND I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR, IS THAT THE AMENDMENT BEING PROPOSED RIGHT NOW WOULD MAKE IT HARDER AND TOUGHER ON YOU AND YOUR OFFICE IN THE EVENT THAT SOMETHING OUT OF THE OUT OF THE NORM HAPPENS AT ANY OF THE FOUR TAXING ENTITIES, I MEAN, VALUATION ENTITIES THAT SEND YOU INFORMATION, IS THAT OR THAT IS CORRECT? I'M WAITING ON THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS AND I'M WAITING ON THE TAX OFFICE EVERY YEAR.

OKAY. SO THAT'S FOUR DIFFERENT.

SO IT'S THREE COUNTIES AND THE TAX OFFICE THAT YOU'RE WAITING ON.

AND SO BY MOVING IT UP TO THE 10TH GIVES YOU LESS TIME.

COULD PUT STRESS AND NOT GIVE YOU ALL THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU ACTUALLY NEED.

MAYBE. BUT IT ALSO BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE GETTING HIT FROM ONE END AND THEN POSSIBLY FROM THE OTHER, WHICH COULD SQUEEZE US TOGETHER.

AND NOT SAYING MISTAKES ARE EVER MADE, BUT COULD POTENTIALLY, IF THERE'S THAT MUCH TIME ELIMINATED ON A CERTAIN YEAR COULD CAUSE MISTAKES TO HAPPEN IF PEOPLE ARE RUSHING OR THEY'RE HAVING TO DO THINGS OVERNIGHT BECAUSE THIS YEAR WE ONLY HAVE LIKE 24 HOURS TO DO SOMETHING.

AND I'M PROBABLY BEING EXTREME.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT THE EXTREMES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

IF THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SENDING TO THE VOTERS, THE EXTREMES THAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT.

AND ACTUALLY THAT IS NOT AN EXTREME BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY WORKING VERY, VERY LONG HOURS DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

SO OVERNIGHT IS NOT AN EXTREME.

IT'S A NORM. VERY GOOD.

COLLEAGUES, I, I APPRECIATE THE CHANGE.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY MORE STRESS OR OR A TIME CONSTRAINT ON STAFF IF IF THINGS ARE ALREADY HAPPENING TO WORK, BE WORKING.

SO IF THE 15TH SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR OUR STAFF AND THE OFFICES AND THE DIFFERENT BUDGETARY OFFICE THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE OTHER, THE THREE VALUATION ENTITIES AS WELL AS THE TAXING OFFICE.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY PRESSURE ON OUR OUR COLLEAGUE.

I MEAN, OUR, OUR STAFF THAT WORKS DILIGENTLY AND VERY HARD HERE WHEN YOU JUST HEARD THEY'RE ALREADY GOING THROUGH ENOUGH STRESS AND TIME CRUNCH IN ORDER JUST TO GET THROUGH WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY WAITING ON.

SO FOR THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE MENDELSOHN AMENDMENT TO THIS ITEM AND WILL STICK AND WANT TO STICK WITH THE ORIGINAL THAT WAS SENT TO US.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST BEFORE I GO BACK TO MISS MENDELSOHN FOR A SECOND ROUND? CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MISS MENDELSOHN'S MOTION.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, AND I JUST THIS THIS WAS PUT IN BY YOUR OFFICE, JACK.

I BELIEVE IT WAS SUBMITTED BY TERRY LOWRY, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

WELL, SHE DID ASK ME IF THERE WERE ANY TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS, AND I POINTED OUT THE BY VERSUS THE ON HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE CHARTER AS IT CURRENTLY READS.

OKAY. I, I JUST I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ORIGINAL SOURCE WAS ACTUALLY FROM YOUR OFFICE.

I DON'T I MEAN, I KNOW THAT YOU DIDN'T SUBMIT IT, BUT THE YOU WERE CONSULTED.

YES, I WAS CONSULTED ABOUT CHANGING THE ON TO THE BY.

IN THAT IN THAT DISCUSSION, DID YOU ARTICULATE THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE A CHANGE IN THE DATE, OR WAS IT JUST THE SEMANTICS THAT THAT WAS NEVER PART OF THE CONVERSATION? IT WAS JUST CHANGING THE I THINK ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ARE DOING A TECHNICAL I MEAN, THIS WAS THIS WAS EVEN LABELED AS TECHNICAL.

THIS THIS IS NOT FALL IN THE PURVIEW OF POLICY MAKING.

AND I THINK THAT IT BORDERLINES THE MICROMANAGEMENT OF THOSE WHO ARE THE EXPERTS IN THESE FIELDS.

AND I WANT TO ALWAYS LOOK TO YOU ALL ON WHO ARE DOING THE WORK THAT THIS IS THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ALL WERE REQUESTING TO HAVE HAPPEN.

SO IF WE CAN JUST GET THE LANGUAGE CLARIFIED IN A TECHNICALITY, WHICH IS WHAT THIS WAS BEING PROPOSED TO US IN I WOULD WILL SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL INTENT, BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO HASN'T SPOKEN ON FOR AGAINST THIS MOTION? BEFORE I GO BACK TO THE.

TO THE MOVER.

ALL RIGHT, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.

CAN YOU RECALL WHAT DATE OF AUGUST YOU HAVE GIVEN US THE BUDGET AND THE MOST RECENT YEARS?

[03:55:04]

BECAUSE IF IT WE'RE DOING IT ON THE TUESDAY PRIOR TO THE 15TH.

SO SOME YEARS AGAIN, IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE CALENDAR IS.

BUT I, I'M ASSUMING IT COULD BE ANY OF THOSE POSSIBILITIES FROM THE EIGHTH OR THE NINTH UP TO THE 15TH.

SO I JUST DON'T RECALL EVER RECEIVING IT BEYOND A SINGLE DIGIT.

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER GOTTEN IT ON THE 10TH OR LATER.

IF AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER, I RECALL GETTING IT ON A TUESDAY, IF I CAN BE HONEST, I THINK I USUALLY GET IT ON A FRIDAY.

AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER, WE HAVE BRIEFED ON THE TUESDAY BEFORE THE 15TH AND WE PROVIDE IT TO YOU THE FRIDAY BEFORE THAT, WHATEVER THAT DATE IS ON THE CALENDAR, THAT'S THE DATE WE'RE SHOOTING TOWARDS.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WOULD ALWAYS MEET THE 10TH THEN IF YOU KEPT THAT SCENARIO.

NOT IN THAT SCENARIO. BECAUSE THIS YEAR IS AN EXAMPLE.

THE 15TH FALLS ON A THURSDAY, THE TUESDAY PRIOR TO THAT AS THE 13TH.

SO YOU WOULD BE GIVING IT TO US THE FRIDAY BEFORE ON THE 9TH OF AUGUST.

SEW, SEW, SEW THE PRESENTATION HAVE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LIKE I SAY THE THE TUESDAY BEFORE THE 15TH.

DO YOU THINK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS WHERE I'M TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY RECEIVING THE BUDGET, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PRESENTING THE BUDGET? I AM SPEAKING ABOUT PRESENTING THE BUDGET, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY RECEIVING IT.

SO WHEN IT SAYS REQUIRE THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN ESTIMATED BUDGET BY, I'M TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY GIVING IT TO THE COUNCIL.

SO WE'VE INTERPRETED THAT IN THE PAST AS WHEN WE MAKE IT PUBLIC THROUGH THE PRESENTATION PROCESS THAT WE DO.

SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT'S PUTTING IT ON LEGISTAR THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE TUESDAY BRIEFING, THEN.

SO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IT WASN'T ON FRIDAY.

WE FOR WHATEVER THE REASON, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE COULDN'T MEET THAT.

AND WE RELEASED IT ON THE SATURDAY.

WE AGAIN, WE TRY TO RELEASE IT ON THE FRIDAY, BUT WE RELEASED IT.

I KNOW THE YEAR I THINK Y'ALL WENT TO DENISON OR SOMETHING FOR A RETREAT, AND IT TOOK US TO SATURDAY TO GET IT DONE.

I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO OFFER SOME CLARITY THAT I KNOW THAT AT LEAST A FEW YEARS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IT.

I KNOW I'M NOT INSINUATING THAT IT IS A REQUIREMENT, BUT IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US ON THAT FRIDAY AND IT HAS BEEN AN EMBARGOED DOCUMENT.

AND SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT SUBMITTING WOULD BE TO THE PUBLIC.

IT. WE HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED AT THE CHARTER AS TO WHEN WE HAVE THE, THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION FOR, FOR THIS COUNCIL, FOR THE PUBLIC, FOR, FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE THE INFORMATION. OKAY.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE, SO I THINK WE'RE READY FOR THE STRAW VOTE ON CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON'S MOTION.

IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF IT, SHOW A GREEN CARD.

GREEN CARDS RAISED IN FAVOR MENDELSOHN.

THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE ENTERTAINING MOTIONS, FOLKS.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY SOON, I THINK IT'LL BE CHAIRMAN WEST, TIME TO INTRODUCE THE BLANKET MOTION THAT HE WANTED TO INTRODUCE TO APPROVE ALL THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS, PLUS THE ONE THAT GOT ROPED IN FROM MISS WILLIS ALL TOGETHER.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN. YEAH.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT A TECHNICAL ITEM, AND THIS IS FOR CHAPTER 18, SECTION 11.

IT'S THE REMOVE VOTER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE WHO MAKE AN APPLICATION TO THE CITY SECRETARY AND FILE AN INTENTION TO CIRCULATE A PETITION I'LL RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES FOR THIS. THANK YOU.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN? WHY WE WOULD DO THAT.

WILLOW SANCHEZ FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND THIS IS LISTED AS A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT BECAUSE WE ARE CHANGING THE LANGUAGE TO CONFORM WITH GOVERNING LAW.

AND THE US SUPREME COURT HAS SAID THAT THE VOTER REGISTRATION IS AS A QUALIFICATION FOR SOMEONE TO CIRCULATE A PETITION IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

[04:00:05]

I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ON ANOTHER.

ANOTHER AMENDMENT AND IT'S ACTUALLY CITED IN MULTIPLE.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO READ TO YOU WHAT IT SAYS AND YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I'M ASKING.

I BELIEVE CHANGING WORDING IN THE CHARTER TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE, USING RESIDENT OR PEOPLE IN PLACE OF OR IN ADDITION TO CITIZEN IN CERTAIN PROVISIONS.

AND SO MY QUESTION IS IF THAT'S LITERAL, MEANING WE CURRENTLY REQUIRE SOMEONE TO BE A CITIZEN AND THEN WE WILL NO LONGER REQUIRE IT. IS THAT ACTUALLY CONSIDERED TECHNICAL OR IS THAT A POLICY? JAKE ANDERSON, OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.

THIS IS FOR INSTANCES LIKE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DALLAS FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE CURRENTLY IT SAYS WHEN THEY'RE RESPONDING TO SOMETHING, THEY'RE RESPONDING TO CITIZENS.

AND, YOU KNOW, FIRE, FIRE RESCUE OFFICERS DO NOT STOP AND CHECK RESIDENCY STATUS WHEN THEY'RE RESPONDING TO A FIRE.

AND SO IT'S ONLY FOR INSTANCES SUCH AS THAT WHERE YOU'RE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING SUBSTANTIVE IN HOW SOMEBODY IS ACTING.

PERFECT. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANY OTHER MOTIONS? YOU HAVE A YOU WANT TO SAY SORT OF A IS A PARLIAMENTARY, IS IT FOR THEM, IS IT ON AND IS IT ON THE TECHNICAL STUFF.

BECAUSE BECAUSE WE'RE OKAY.

GO AHEAD. YES.

MY QUESTION IS ON THE TECHNICAL.

JUST JUST TAKE MY FIVE MINUTES SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

SO SO WHEN THESE GET PUT ONTO THE BALLOT, IF THESE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS GET FORWARDED, DO THEY ARE THEY LUMPED INTO A GROUP THAT LIKE SAYS THESE ARE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS OR ARE THEY JUST ALL LIKE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN? AND NO, NOBODY REALLY KNOWS.

WE'VE JUST SEPARATED THEM IN ORDER TO MAKE LIFE A LITTLE EASIER FOR US.

OR DOES THE VOTER KNOW THAT THIS IS TECHNICAL OR NOT? IS THE QUESTION I GUESS I'M ASKING.

LAURA MORRISON, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

THEY'RE SEPARATED FOR THE COMMISSION AND FOR THE COUNCIL SO THAT YOU CAN DEBATE THEM SEPARATELY IF YOU WISH, AND SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED. HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS THAT IF, IF IT IF THE VOTERS WERE TO APPROVE THESE, NOTHING WOULD ACTUALLY CHANGE AT THE CITY. SO IN THAT CASE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE ALLOWS US TO LUMP THOSE INTO ONE PROPOSITION THAT WOULD LIST ALL THE SECTIONS AND CHAPTERS THAT ARE RECEIVING A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.

AND THEN THE LANGUAGE WOULD READ SOMETHING LIKE, YOU KNOW SHALL SECTIONS OR CHAPTERS AND SECTIONS AND WE'D LIST THEM OUT OF THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO CONFORM TO STATE LAW, CONFORM TO THE CITY CODE, MATCH ACTUAL PRACTICES, CORRECT TERM'S CLARIFY LANGUAGE AND OTHER TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS. VERY GOOD.

SO THEY'RE ALL LUMPED TOGETHER.

SO THEY'RE THEY'RE WHATEVER NUMBER IT IS, I THINK I HEARD 13, RIGHT.

IT'S THE TOTAL NUMBER.

IT'S 13 EITHER PASSED TOGETHER OR FAIL TOGETHER.

RIGHT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION, MR. MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS LIKE POINT OF INFORMATION OR PARLIAMENTARY OR WHAT, BUT THIS IS REALLY GOOD.

SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ALSO HOW THEY'LL BE VOTING ON THIS, THESE 13 WHICH WILL SAVE A LOT OF READING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AS FAR AS HAVING 13 DIFFERENT ITEMS ON THE BALLOT.

SO THAT'LL ALSO SAVE SOME A LITTLE BIT OF PAPER, I GUESS, WHEN YOU PRINT THE BALLOT OUT AND TURN IT IN.

BUT OVERALL, IT WILL REALLY SAVE A LOT OF TIME FOR VOTERS WHEN THEY GO IN BECAUSE THEY GET TO SEE THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU READ, YOU JUST READ WILL BE AT THE BEGINNING, AND THEN THEY CAN RESEARCH IF THEY WANT THEM ALL TO PASS TOGETHER OR FAIL TOGETHER.

SO THAT WAS MY QUESTION, MR. MAYOR. SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME MY FIVE MINUTES.

AND I'LL I MEAN, I GUESS I COULD KEEP GOING, BUT I'LL SAVE YOU TWO AND TWO MINUTES AND 15 SECONDS, SIR.

SO I'M DONE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. NO PROBLEM. AND THE GUYS? NO ONE'S GOING TO NOT GET TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS TODAY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO IF WE NEED TO KIND OF DO IT PER GROUP.

I'M HAPPY TO DO A NEW FIVE MINUTE DEAL FOR THE OPERATIONAL AND THE NEW ONE FOR THE POLICY, WHATEVER IT TAKES.

BUT ARE THERE ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS OR QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING RELATED TO THE TECHNICAL, THE 13 TECHNICAL PLUS, I GUESS IT'S 13 PLUS ONE NOW IT'S. RIGHT, THEN WE CHANGE.

WE AMENDED ONE OF THE 13.

STILL 13.

OKAY, SO I'M TOLD THAT WE DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING FORMALLY ON THAT.

THEY MOVE FORWARD UNLESS THERE'S AN OBJECTION.

THAT'S RIGHT. ANYTHING THAT WAS NOT AMENDED WILL MOVE FORWARD, AND YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AT THE NEXT MEETING.

IF YOU DO WANT TO RENEW A MOTION OR HAVE OTHER CHANGES.

SO EVERYONE HEARD THAT.

THE POINT OF CLARIFICATION YOU SAID ANYTHING NOT AMENDED WILL MOVE FORWARD.

SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT? THAT WE JUST AMENDED? I'M SORRY. WHAT I MEANT WAS IF IF WHAT WAS AMENDED AND YOU AGREED TO AND WHAT WAS NOT AMENDED.

THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

WASN'T THAT CLEAR, CHAIRMAN? EVERYTHING THAT WAS AMENDED AND EVERYTHING THAT WASN'T AMENDED IS MOVING FORWARD.

[04:05:06]

OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NINE.

I WAS TOLD THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS SORT OF SEQUENTIALLY.

SO NOW WE'RE ON OPERATIONAL, THE NINE OPERATIONAL AMENDMENTS, AND WE'LL ENTERTAIN MOTIONS AND QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE NINE OPERATIONAL AMENDMENTS.

ANYBODY WANT TO JUMP IN AND GET THAT STARTED? YOU HAVE A BOARD PANEL OVER THERE? THEY'RE ALL JUST LIKE, WAITING FOR YOU GUYS TO ASK THEM STUFF OR DO SOMETHING.

ALL RIGHT, MISS BLACKMON, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT.

I'M MAKING A MOTION, SO I MOVE TO STRIKE THE AMENDMENT THAT DELETES THE LANGUAGE IN CHAPTER THREE.

CITY COUNCIL, SECTION 15.

NO INTERFERENCE BY CANCEL WITH BY COUNCIL, WITH APPOINTMENTS OR SUBORDINATES OF CITY MANAGER.

IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE ON THAT NOW.

LET'S DISCUSS IT.

GO AHEAD, MISS BLACKMON. LET'S TAKE FIVE MINUTES.

I THINK I BROUGHT THIS UP IN OUR LAST MEETING.

THAT THIS IS THE WORD INTERFERENCE IS WHAT IS ALARMING.

AND TO ME, IT JUST STRIPS THE SPIRIT OF A CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

AND I WENT AND JUST DELETED THAT WHOLE TO PUT THE WHOLE PARAGRAPH BACK IN THE CITY CHARTER.

I THINK THE FIRST INTENT, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WAS THAT IT STRUCK THE LAST PART OF IT.

AND, AND THEN IT WENT THIS THE WHOLE PARAGRAPH.

SO, I MEAN, I'M OPEN TO JUST THE LAST SENTENCE, BUT I JUST WENT AHEAD AND PUT THE WHOLE THING.

I TOOK IT OFF THE TABLE AND, AND I THINK I TALKED ABOUT IT THE LAST TIME THAT WE WERE HERE.

IT'S JUST THAT I THINK THAT IT GOES AGAINST THE, THE WHAT A CITY COUNCIL FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS.

AND I DON'T FEEL THAT IT I THINK IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE.

SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.

AND I HOPE THAT THAT YOU SEE THAT AS WELL.

THANK YOU. CAN I GIVE YOU FOUR MINUTES BACK? THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ.

DID YOU WANT TO OKAY.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT.

IS THERE A DEFINITION OF INTERFERING? NOT IN THE CHARTER? NO.

AND HOW WOULD ONE KNOW IF THEY WERE INTERFERING OR NOT INTERFERING? I THINK THAT WOULD BE A FACT SPECIFIC QUESTION ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

AND WHO WOULD MAKE THAT DETERMINATION? THE CITY MANAGER OR THE EAC.

IF A COMPLAINT WAS FILED.

BUT THE I WOULD SAY INTERFERING IF THERE'S NO DEFINITION, IT'S THE PLAIN MEANING OF THE WORD IS WHAT YOU WOULD LOOK TO FOR WHAT INTERFERING IS.

AND THAT'S HINDERING. OR WHAT IS THE PLAIN MEANING THEN OF INTERFERING, HINDERING OR IMPEDING SOMEONE FROM DOING SORRY, HINDERING OR IMPEDING? AND SO YOU THINK OTHER ACTIONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY OR MAY NOT TAKE WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED.

INTERFERING. CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ANSWERING IT CORRECTLY.

AND I'M THINKING THAT IF IT'S ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IF THAT DEFINITION THEN WOULD BE AT WHOEVER DECIDES WHAT INTERFERENCE IS BASED ON PERCEPTIONS OR HOW THEY'RE FEELING OR A SENSE OF FEELING, I THINK THAT'S WHAT GETS COMPLICATED BY IT.

SO CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION SO I CAN MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS? WELL, ACTUALLY, JUST YOU ASKING THAT QUESTION MAKES MY EXACT POINT, WHICH IS THAT THE WORD INTERFERING IS TOO SUBJECTIVE AND THAT THERE'S NO DEFINITION.

AND SO, I MEAN, I'LL SAY THAT MY EYEBROWS WENT UP WHEN I FIRST SAW THAT THE CHARTER REVIEW WANTED TO REMOVE IT BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, WELL, GOSH, WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT. BUT REALLY, WITH SOME DISCUSSION, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THERE ISN'T ACTUALLY A DEFINITION, AND THERE ISN'T EVEN A DESIGNATED PERSON WHO GETS TO DETERMINE WHAT INTERFERING IS.

AND SO I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENTIRE PROVISION.

IF YOU WANT TO PUT SOMETHING SPECIFIC IN THERE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN'T DO X, Y OR Z, I WOULD PROBABLY SUPPORT THAT.

BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THE WORD IS SO AMBIGUOUS AND THAT THERE ISN'T AN ACTUAL PROCESS OR DETERMINATION. ON HOW YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THIS COULD GET A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TROUBLE.

AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE THERE IN THAT FORM.

SO THAT'S MY INPUT.

CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT.

I'D LIKE CLARIFICATION FROM FROM STAFF ON THE MEANING OF THIS SECTION.

IT SAYS NEITHER THE COUNCIL NOR ANY OF ITS COMMITTEES OR MEMBERS SHALL DICTATE OR ATTEMPT TO DICTATE ANY PERSON'S

[04:10:02]

SO THIS SECTION ONLY DEALS WITH WHETHER THE PERSON IS APPOINTED OR REMOVED.

IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THE CONDUCT OF THAT INDIVIDUAL IN OFFICE.

IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN FOR JUST A SECOND.

I THINK STAFF IS PROBABLY PREPARING TO RESPOND, BUT I THINK IT SPEAKS MORE TO THAT.

IF YOU READ DOWN FURTHER, IT TALKS ABOUT GIVING ORDERS TO ANY OF THE SUBORDINATES OF THE CITY MANAGER.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE APPOINTMENT PIECE, IT'S ALSO ABOUT GIVING ORDERS DIRECTLY TO STAFF BELOW THE CITY MANAGER.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE SUBJECT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REMAIN THE WAY IT IS.

I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THE AMENDMENT, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD IS, WOULD HAVE TO BE RESTATED BY THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S PROPOSING IT.

BUT IF THE QUESTION IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IF THAT PARTICULAR SECTION DOES MORE THAN APPOINTMENT, IT DOES TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL DIRECTION OR ORDERS BEING GIVEN TO STAFF, WHICH IN MY OPINION IS PROBLEMATIC.

WELL, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE LANGUAGE THAT'S ACTUALLY BEING CHANGED.

IT'S ON PAGE 19 OF THE COMMISSION'S REPORT.

THE COMMISSION MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO TAKE OUT THE SECTION ENTIRELY.

OH, IT REMOVES THE ENTIRE SECTION.

YES. OH, OKAY.

SO THIS WOULD ALSO REMOVE THE PROHIBITION ON COUNCIL MEMBERS DIRECTING STAFF TO DO CERTAIN THINGS OR NOT TO DO THINGS CORRECT.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN BASIL.

DULY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

IS HE HERE? HE JUST TAPPED HIS BUTTON AND LEFT.

WELL, THAT'S NICE OF HIM TO DO.

OKAY, MISS BLACKMON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

JUST TO CLARIFY THE CHART, JUST TO MAKE SURE THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TOOK THIS WHOLE PROVISION OUT.

THIS AMENDMENT PUTS IT BACK IN.

SO IT'S THE DELETE.

IT'S THE STRIKING THE AMENDMENT THAT DELETES IT.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT IT BRINGS IT BACK INTO THE CHARTER.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING OUT.

IT'S ACTUALLY PUTTING IT BACK IN.

AND SO FOR THE REASONS GIVEN BY OUR OWN CITY MANAGER AND FOR THOSE WHO'VE BEEN AROUND CITY HALL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD NOT BE, YOU KNOW, INTERFERING, INTERFERING WITH OUR DIRECT REPORTS FOLKS, SO THAT THAT'S SO THAT'S WHAT IT DOES.

IT PUTS IT BACK IN THE CHARTER.

OKAY, JUST TO CLARIFY.

YEAH. IS THERE ANYBODY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, THOUGH.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? CHAIRMAN RIDLEY RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES THIS TIME.

SO WHAT THIS SAYS THAT'S BEING RESTORED TO THE CHARTER IS THAT EXCEPT FOR THE PURPOSE OF INQUIRY, THE COUNCIL AND ITS MEMBERS SHALL DEAL WITH THAT PART OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE FOR WHICH THE CITY MANAGER IS RESPONSIBLE SOLELY THROUGH SUCH MANAGER.

SO DOESN'T THAT MEAN WE CAN'T EVEN DEAL WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS? WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER ON EVERYTHING.

COME ON. WHO'S THAT DIRECTED TOWARD THE HOUR? YOU WANT TO, I GUESS SOMEONE ON THAT PANEL OR THE CITY ATTORNEY SHOULD SPEAK TO THAT.

WE I CAN I CAN ATTEMPT TO TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

THE WAY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IS THAT THE CITY MANAGER GIVES OR DELEGATES THE AUTHORITY TO CERTAIN STAFF MEMBERS.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE BECAUSE I WAS WORKING ON THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSIONS THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, I AM THE PERSON THAT YOU GO TO ABOUT THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, BUT THIS JUST KEEPS THAT CHAIN OF COMMAND SO THAT THERE'S THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY A COUNCIL MEMBER REACHING OUT TO, YOU KNOW, A MEMBER OF A PUBLIC WORKS CREW AND TELLING THEM TO GO FILL A PARTICULAR POTHOLE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THAT CHAIN OF COMMAND.

SO THE CITY MANAGER DELEGATES THE AUTHORITY TO THEIR DIRECTORS, THEIR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, TO KIND OF COVER THOSE TOPICS WITH YOU.

WELL, DOESN'T THAT SWALLOW THE RULE, THOUGH? BECAUSE WITH THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU GAVE, EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE IS RESPONSIBLE TO THE CITY MANAGER AND IS CARRYING OUT HER DIRECTION. AND SO IT DOESN'T SEEM TO EXCLUDE ANYONE FROM OUR TALKING WITH THEM.

IF I. IF I MAY, I'LL JUST JUMP BACK IN.

SO LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT THE WHOLE COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND THE DESIGN, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS WE CAN GET INTO ALL THE FIDDLE, THE PHILOSOPHICAL WAYS TO THINK THROUGH THIS.

BUT IT'S REALLY BACK TO THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

HAS A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WHO IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THAT INDIVIDUAL THEN

[04:15:03]

AND SO CURRENTLY IN THE CHARTER, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SHARING AND PROVIDING GUIDANCE IS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO THE CITY MANAGER. AND I THINK THE PRACTICE HAS BEEN THAT THE CITY MANAGER CAN DELEGATE TO WHETHER IT'S AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OR A DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, TO ALSO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND THEN PROVIDE FOLLOW UP TO CITY COUNCIL, AND THEN BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT BACK WITH THE CITY MANAGER.

AND SO WHETHER IT'S SUBORDINATES, WHETHER IT'S WHO CAN TALK TO WHO, I THINK THE SPIRIT OF IT AND THE VERY BASIC TENET OF A COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS TO HOLD THAT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RESPONSIBLE, AND THAT IS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITY COUNCIL. AND SO ANYTHING, IN MY OPINION, THAT WOULD DILUTE THAT PURPOSE OR CHANGE IT TO WHERE THE CITY MANAGER IS NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITY AND BE ABLE TO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS GET THE INFORMATION THAT THEY WANT AND IS DONE DIRECTLY AT THE STAFF LEVEL, IN MY OPINION, WILL COMPLETELY BE AGAINST THE SPIRIT AND THE VERY ESSENCE OF A COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

STILL ON YOUR TIME, PAUL? YOU'RE JUST GOING TO NOD THERE? ARE YOU GOING TO TALK? I'M JUST CURIOUS.

I LOVE YOU, THOUGH. I MEANT IT, THOUGH.

SO WHAT SHOULD THE PRACTICE BE AS YOU SEE IT, CITY MANAGER, IF WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT A PARTICULAR IN A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT, ARE WE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE CHARTER TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE MANAGER, TO THE DIRECTOR OF THAT DEPARTMENT, BUT NO ONE ELSE IN THAT DEPARTMENT? IF IF THE CITY MANAGER SO CHOOSES FOR THAT TO BE THE WAY WE WORK IN THE SPIRIT OF THE CHARTER, THEN DEFINITELY.

AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN THE PRACTICE.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT, AGAIN, ENSURING WHO'S GOING TO BE ULTIMATELY HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, IT SHOULD BE THE CITY MANAGER.

AND THE CITY MANAGER CANNOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

IF THE CITY MANAGER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS BEING DIRECTED WITHOUT THERE BEING A PROCESS TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND SO I THINK THE SPIRIT OF THE CHARTER IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE SOME PARAMETERS IN PLACE.

AND I THINK THOSE PARAMETERS ARE WHERE WE KIND OF HOW WE WORK NOW, AND DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES NOT DILUTE THE PURPOSE OF THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND HOW WE HAVE THAT EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION, WHETHER IT'S THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND I CAME INTO THIS ORGANIZATION WHEN YOU COULD ONLY TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER, NO ONE ELSE.

BUT I THINK OVER TIME, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IS TO SHOW THAT IF THE CITY MANAGER DELEGATES CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES, THERE'S STILL A PROCESS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT INFORMATION COMES BACK UP TO THE CITY MANAGER.

SO THAT IS CURRENTLY OUR PRACTICE.

WELL, I AGREE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD NOT BE DIRECTING STAFF.

THAT'S A GIVEN, BUT I'M STILL UNCLEAR AS TO WHO WE CAN TALK TO, BECAUSE WE MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE.

AND SO ARE WE AT RISK IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN YOUR MIND? I BELIEVE THAT IT'S BACK TO WHAT I STATED EARLIER, THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT COME TO THE CITY MANAGER, EVEN IF THE CITY MANAGER DOES NOT HAVE THE ANSWER, IT IS STILL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY MANAGER TO GET THE ANSWERS FOR YOU, WHETHER THAT'S DIRECTLY FROM AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OR FROM A DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.

IT'S STILL PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THAT ROLE.

DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? WELL, I'M STILL UNCLEAR.

CAN WE TALK TO ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, FOR EXAMPLE, OR DO WE HAVE TO GET YOUR PERMISSION BEFORE WE CAN DO THAT? WELL, YOU'RE DEFINITELY NOT GETTING MY PERMISSION NOW, SO I TRUE.

I THINK, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S BACK TO THE WAY WE'VE EVOLVED AS AN ORGANIZATION.

AND I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE WE DO HOLD OUR TEAM ACCOUNTABLE AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS NOT BLINDSIDED.

I THINK EVEN NOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SPEAK DIRECTLY TO NOT ONLY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, BUT DIRECTORS AND I THINK EVEN ASSISTANT DIRECTORS AND MAYBE SOMETIMES BELOW THAT. BUT IT'S STILL BACK TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE AND MAKING SURE THAT THE STAFF CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS IF COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I MEAN, EVEN NOW, IF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE CALLING AND GIVING DIRECTION AND THAT DIRECTION HASN'T BEEN GIVEN OR SHARED OR DISCUSSED WITH THE CITY MANAGER, THEN OFTENTIMES

[04:20:06]

IT'S ABOUT WHAT IS BEING DONE.

IF IT'S ABOUT GETTING AN ANSWER TO A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING WE'VE PRESENTED, SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, SOMETHING WE'VE ASKED FOR STAFF TO FOLLOW UP ON.

BUT WHEN IT'S DIRECTING AND GIVING STAFF ULTIMATUMS TO DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT THIS BODY HAS NOT TALKED ABOUT, NOR IS THE CITY MANAGER AWARE OF, I DO BELIEVE THAT'S PROBLEMATIC. AND I THINK I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD DISAGREE, BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD TO HOLD THE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITY COUNCIL ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HAPPENING BELOW CERTAIN LEVELS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.

WELL, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS WORKING SATISFACTORILY, SO I DON'T SEE A NEED TO CHANGE IT.

OKAY. CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION.

I THINK IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD.

AND I AGREE WITH MR. RIDLEY THAT I THE SYSTEM, AT LEAST FOR ME PERSONALLY, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT.

I FEEL LIKE I CAN TALK TO STAFF WITHOUT ANY REPERCUSSIONS.

BUT FOR THE COMMISSION TO HAVE SUGGESTED THIS, THERE'S GOT TO BE A THERE HAD TO HAVE BEEN A HEFTY DISCUSSION THERE AND SOME CONCERNS.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE COMMISSION'S CONCERN, WHY WHY WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS TODAY.

THE SUBMITTER OF THE AMENDMENT REALLY CITED THE SECOND HALF OF THIS SECTION, WHICH TALKS ABOUT GIVING ORDERS TO STAFF AND JUSTIFIED IT BY SAYING THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS ALREADY DO THIS.

THEY ALREADY COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH STAFF.

THEY ALREADY THERE IS NOT THAT DIVIDING LINE.

AND THEY ALSO STATED THAT ANY SORT OF PROVISIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TALKING POORLY TO STAFF OR ANY SORT OF ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ARE COVERED IN THE CODE OF ETHICS. SO THEY SUGGESTED TO STRIKE THE ENTIRE SECTION, BUT REALLY ONLY CITED THE SECOND PART OF THE SECTION AS TO THE JUSTIFICATION WHY TO STRIKE IT.

OKAY. AND I'M THINKING THEY PROBABLY, I ASSUME, TALKED THROUGH, LIKE, THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS WHERE YOU'VE GOT, LIKE, A COUNCIL CITY MANAGER THAT JUST DOESN'T YOU CAN'T GO THROUGH TO TALK TO ANYONE.

I DON'T KNOW, I'M JUST ASKING.

I DID NOT FOLLOW THIS AMENDMENT AT ALL.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WAS A PARTICULAR LIKE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

THE CONVERSATION. THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WHO HAD NOT SERVED ON COUNCIL.

AND SO THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS AROUND WHAT THE PROTOCOL IS, HOW IT NORMALLY WORKS.

OKAY. AND, YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME, THAT'S WHEN STAFF KIND OF FIRST ISSUED A OPINION FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, BUT ALSO KIND OF EXPLAINED THAT SETUP WHERE IT'S IT'S THE CITY MANAGER'S CURRENTLY SET UP, THE CITY MANAGER'S DELEGATES THAT AUTHORITY.

AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO COME EVERY, EVERY TIME YOU'RE TRYING TO TALK TO SOMEBODY, IT'S MORE ABOUT THE GENERAL PRACTICE THAT THEY'VE INSTITUTED IN THEIR IN THEIR GOVERNMENT. SO THE REASON WHY MAKE SURE I GOT THIS, THE REASON WHY THE COMMISSION DECIDED TO DELETE THE PROVISION, WHICH WE'RE NOW TRYING TO ADD BACK IN, WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS DUPLICATIONS IN THE RULES OF ETHICS ALREADY.

THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS DUPLICATIVE.

AND THEN SECONDLY, THEY FELT LIKE THE PRACTICE ALREADY WAS HAPPENING.

AND IT WAS SORT OF A LOOSER PRACTICE.

AND IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

I THINK IT'S THAT THE SECOND PART OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, SECOND PART.

YES. OKAY. THAT THE PRACTICE WAS ALREADY OCCURRING.

OKAY. YOU CLEARED IT UP FOR ME.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT.

SO IN THE LITERAL READING OF THIS ITEM, HOW DOES THIS WORK WITH THE PARK DIRECTOR? THE PARK DIRECTOR IS NOT AN EXECUTIVE WHO IS ACTUALLY UNDER THE CITY MANAGER.

SO I WOULD HAVE TO ASK.

HOW THAT WORKS CURRENTLY, WHAT THAT PRACTICE IS.

BUT IT'S NOT WHERE COUNCIL MEMBERS COME THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER TO TALK TO THE PARK DIRECTOR.

SO BECAUSE THE PARK DIRECTOR IS NOT A SUBORDINATE OF THE CITY MANAGER, THIS SECTION WOULD NOT APPLY TO THE PARK DIRECTOR.

OKAY. WOULD IT BE WOULD IT BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS TO BE REWORDED TO INCLUDE.

DELEGATES OF THE CITY MANAGER.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT, WELL, THIS IS WHAT THE PRACTICE HAS BEEN AND, WELL, HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.

BUT. WE MAY HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER WHO HAS A DIFFERENT PRACTICE.

AND THEY COULD SAY, WELL, HERE'S WHAT IT SAYS.

AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE THERE OUGHT TO BE SOMETHING IN WRITING THAT ACTUALLY MATCHES OUR PRACTICE, AS OPPOSED TO JUST SAYING, WELL, WE JUST WE HAVE

[04:25:04]

THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE COUNCIL AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE VOTERS.

OKAY. WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED TO OFFER AS AN AMENDMENT, BUT I SURE WOULD LIKE THIS TO COME BACK AFTER SOMEBODY HAS THOUGHT THROUGH HOW IT COULD BETTER REFLECT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS TODAY.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HOW IT'S BEEN WORKING AT ALL.

BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT WHAT'S BEING WRITTEN ISN'T WHAT OUR PRACTICE IS.

SO WHY WOULD WE? WHY WOULD WE KEEP IT? WHY WOULDN'T WE CHANGE IT TO MATCH WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE? SO. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF.

OF KEEPING IT AS IS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REFLECT REALITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

I THINK THAT IT'S BACK TO A COUPLE OF THINGS, BECAUSE WHEN I READ THIS, I READ MORE THAN JUST THE LATTER PART OF THIS, WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE ACTUAL GIVING ORDERS TO SUBORDINATES.

I ALSO SEE THE TOP PART OF THIS, WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE INTERFERENCE AND APPOINTMENTS THAT THE CITY MANAGER CURRENTLY, AS RELATES TO HIRING OF DEPARTMENTAL DIRECTORS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT IF I THINK PUTTING IT BACK KIND OF IGNORES, YOU KNOW, OR TAKING THAT OUT.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT PIECE, WHICH IS ALSO ANOTHER, IN MY OPINION PROBLEMATIC PIECE FOR THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

AND I THINK THAT TRYING TO PUT IT INTO ALL THE THE LANGUAGE POINTS HERE, IT WILL REALLY TAKE AWAY ANY FLEXIBILITY IN MY OPINION.

SO AGAIN, IT'S THE DECISION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT BOTH.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE PART ABOUT GIVING ORDERS, BUT THE PART, THE PART THAT I'M LOOKING AT ABOVE HERE THAT ALSO TALKS ABOUT EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER.

WELL, I GUESS I GUESS MY ANSWER TO THAT IS ONLY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SAW IN REAL TIME.

AN ISSUE THAT CAME UP WITH A FORMER POLICE CHIEF, WHERE THERE WERE MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL WHO WANTED TO MAKE A CHANGE, EXPRESSED IT TO THE CITY MANAGER, SAYING, I'M SEEING THESE PROBLEMS, BUT.

THERE WAS A VERY STRONG LINE BETWEEN BEING ABLE TO SAY, WOW, I THINK YOU NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE HERE.

THIS IS IMPACTING OUR CITY, WHICH WE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SAY AS OPPOSED TO.

HERE'S THINGS THAT I'M IMPACTED BY.

I JUST WANT TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU.

AND SO LIKE YOU END UP DOING VERBAL GYMNASTICS SO THAT YOU DON'T.

INTERFERE. IS, I GUESS, THE RIGHT WORD.

RIGHT? INTERFERE.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S PRODUCTIVE TO CONVERSATION WHEN IT'S NOT.

I'M ORDERING YOU TO GET RID OF THIS PERSON AS OPPOSED TO I'M SEEING THIS PROBLEM, AND I THINK YOU SHOULD CONSIDER A CHANGE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE IDEA THAT WE'RE ORDERING PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T ORDER PEOPLE, I ASK PEOPLE TO DO THINGS.

I MIGHT ASK THEM A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT.

I JUST THINK THERE'S I THINK THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARAGRAPH THAT COULD BE WORKED ON.

WELL, I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBER, I THINK THE COUNCIL TAKES THE LATITUDE TO TO SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY.

SO I DO BELIEVE THAT HAVING FLEXIBILITY AND BEING ABLE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY CURRENT BUT GOING FORWARD, WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS.

AND AGAIN, I'M NOT ARGUING THE POINT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I'M JUST GIVING YOU MY OWN OPINION.

I'M FROM THE SCHOOL OF CITY MANAGERS.

AND SO THE, THE VERY NATURE OF THE INTENT FOR THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND WHO'S ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHETHER IT'S EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS, WHETHER IT'S PERFORMANCE OF THE STAFF AS A WHOLE IS REALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY MANAGER WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CURRENT STRUCTURE. AND SO NOT DEBATING IT AND NOT TELLING YOU HOW TO DO IT, I'M JUST SHARING WITH YOU MY OPINIONS ON IT AND THE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE THERE MAY BE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TOO, THAT MAY NOT TAKE THE SAME APPROACH THAT YOU ALL HAVE NOW IN WORKING WITH STAFF.

WE'RE STILL ON YOUR TIME TO CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, Y'ALL.

YEAH. I'M DONE. THANK YOU.

OKAY. CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT.

[04:30:01]

SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS, DO YOU ALL KNOW WHEN THIS WAS ADOPTED, THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN THERE, HAS IT BEEN THERE? I GUESS MY QUESTION REALLY IS, HAS IT BEEN THERE A WHILE OR WAS THIS MAYBE I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.

IT WAS 1973, IN PROP SEVEN AND THEN AMENDED IN 2005.

SO IT'S BEEN IN THE CHARTER FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.

OKAY. SO IT'S PROBABLY BEEN AN ISSUE FOR IN AND OUT DEPENDING ON WHAT'S HAPPENING.

I HAVE A FEELING THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING WITH THAT.

THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST THAT WE'RE CREATING THE THE THERE PROBABLY HAS BEEN SOME LEVEL OF INTERFERENCE WITH THE CITY MANAGER STAFF.

AND SO SOMEBODY FELT THE NEED ALONG THE WAY TO, TO ADDRESS THAT.

AND SO THE OTHER QUESTION IS, DO WE KNOW IF IT'S EVER BEEN ENFORCED? NOT REALLY SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION WOULD BE, BUT HAVE WE EVER SLAPPED A COUNCIL MEMBER ON THE HAND AND SAID, OH NO, NO, NO, YOU'VE VIOLATED THIS.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY MEMORY OF THAT? AND ONE REASON I ASKED THIS IS THAT AS A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER, IT'S A QUESTION, RIGHT? YOU'RE MEETING WITH STAFF AND YOU THINK TO YOURSELF SOMETIMES, HOW HARD CAN I PUSH ON THIS? HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS TO ME? WHAT WHAT ARE MY BOUNDARIES? WHERE WHERE DO I SAY TO STAFF? I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN ON THIS TRAIL.

AND, AND WHEN YOU JUST HAVE TO BACK OFF AND UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS A A STAFF AND CITY MANAGER DECISION.

AND MAYBE I DIDN'T GET IT EXACTLY.

TO GO THE WAY I HAD HOPED.

SO I THINK I GUESS WHERE I'M HEADED WITH THIS IS I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT IN THE CHARTER.

I KNOW IT'S IN THE ETHICS PROVISIONS, AND PERHAPS THAT'S SUFFICIENT, BUT I THINK IT'S IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO BE HERE.

I DO THINK WE COULD STRAIGHTEN OUT THE LANGUAGE A LITTLE BIT.

WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING WITH IT.

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT AWKWARD.

AND SO I THINK IF ULTIMATELY I THINK WHAT THIS IS SAYING IS THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO SET A POLICY, SHOULD SET UP A POLICY ABOUT HOW YOU WANT US, HOW COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD ENGAGE WITH YOUR STAFF.

AND IF WE WANT TO JUST LEAVE THIS AS IT IS, BUT MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY MANAGER ALWAYS PROVIDES US WITH THAT GUIDANCE, BECAUSE AS A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER, I COULD USE THAT. I THINK THAT COULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS I THINK IT DOES GET AT AN ISSUE.

SO I SUPPORT KEEPING IT IN, BUT I, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE LIKE I SAID, I BELIEVE WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING WITH THIS LANGUAGE AND WITH THIS THOUGHT PROCESS, AND MAYBE WE'RE TOO LATE AND WE CAN'T REALLY STRAIGHTEN IT OUT.

BUT I THINK IF WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, IT COULD BE A VERY USEFUL TIME TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU. CAN I JUST ADD SOME CLARITY UNDER CHAPTER 12 A OUR CODE OF ETHICS? IT DOES SAY THAT CITY OFFICIALS SHALL WORK THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, CITY SECRETARY, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY AUDITOR OR CITY INSPECTOR AND THE APPLICABLE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR OR OBTAIN INFORMATION OR REQUEST ASSISTANCE WITH PROJECTS RATHER THAN CONTACT CITY EMPLOYEES DIRECTLY.

SO THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE CODE OF ETHICS NOW.

AND THAT COULD BE A COMPLAINT THROUGH THE EEOC.

THAT WOULD THEN BE AN ETHICAL COMPLAINT.

SO. THAT MUST BE WHAT THE COMMISSION WAS THINKING.

IT'S JUST BETTER TO HANDLE IT UNDER THE ETHICS REGULATIONS RATHER THAN HERE, BECAUSE YOU CAN.

THEN YOU HAVE AN ACTION THAT YOU CAN TAKE FROM THAT.

I THINK THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SIR.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU.

IF I COULD, MAYOR, IF IT'S NOT GOING TO COUNT AGAINST MY TIME, COULD COUNCILWOMAN BLACKMON STATE AGAIN WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO WITH THIS? CAN YOU JUST CHECK? WHAT? YEAH, YEAH.

GO AHEAD. REREAD THE MOTION.

I MOVE TO STRIKE THE AMENDMENT THAT DELETES THE LANGUAGE IN CHAPTER THREE.

CITY COUNCIL, SECTION 15.

NO INTERFERENCE BY COUNCIL WITH APPOINTMENTS OR SUBORDINATES OF THE CITY MANAGER.

ALL RIGHT, SO YOUR INTENT IS THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO GET CLARIFICATION ON.

YOUR INTENT IS TO MAINTAIN A SENSE OF CIVILITY IN TERMS OF THE OPERATION OF THIS CITY GOVERNMENT.

IS THAT CORRECT? I MEAN, IS THAT OKAY? THE INTENT OF THIS MOTION IS TO PUT IT BACK IN THE CHARTER.

SO CIVILITY IS SUBJECTIVE, SO SUBJECTIVE.

SO BUT THE OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO PUT IT BACK INTO THE CHARTER AND THEN HAVE SOME PARAMETERS AROUND THAT.

ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS WHAT I CAN SUPPORT.

THE WHAT I CALL THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

[04:35:03]

AND SO AS YOU UNDERSTAND THE CHARTER, WHAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF IS WORKING WITH CITY MANAGERS WHO HAVE BASICALLY GIVEN PERMISSION, IF YOU WILL, TO THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS OR STAFF MEMBERS SO THEY CAN ENGAGE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO, BUT IT DOES FACILITATE COMMUNICATION AND OPERATION.

THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WHAT I ALSO AND SO JUST TO KIND OF CLEAR UP, WHY DO WE HAVE IT.

BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER IS ON IS RESPONSIBLE TO US AS A AS A COUNCIL.

IS THAT CORRECT CITY MANAGER YES, MA'AM.

ALL RIGHT. SO WHAT WHAT I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OR THE EXPERIENCE AND I'M SURE COUNCILWOMAN BLACKMON SINCE SHE WAS HERE BEFORE.

AND OF COURSE, THE GODFATHER OF THE COUNCIL, MR. COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS WE KNOW THROUGH HISTORY WHAT HAS HAPPENED THAT IS CAUSING US TO STAND STRONG IN OUR SUPPORT.

MY SUPPORT FOR MAKING SURE THE CITY MANAGER GOVERNANCE IS FOLLOWS THE CHARTER AND WE RESPECT THE CHARTER BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE MUST HAVE A HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO WORK.

WE WANT TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM BEING SUED FOR, FOR CONTRIBUTING TO HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS.

THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AS I LEARNED WHEN I GOT HERE, IT WAS LOCKED FOR A REASON BECAUSE OF THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN TERMS OF THEIR INTENT TO BE ALMIGHTY COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH ALL THIS POWER.

AND I CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT OFFLINE.

AS STATED BEFORE, THERE WERE SOME STAFF MEMBERS WHO WERE TALKED DOWN TO MISTREATED.

VIOLATED. AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WE'RE DEALING WITH HUMAN BEINGS AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

WE KNOW THAT. BUT I BELIEVE WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO FOLLOW WHAT I'M CALLING THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

WE HIRE AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE CITY MANAGER AND NOT THE EMPLOYEES UNDER THAT CITY MANAGER.

SO I SUPPORTED BECAUSE I AM HERE TO REPRESENT AND SERVE.

YES. THERE ARE TIMES THE CONVERSATION AROUND, CAN YOU GET PROJECTS DONE? AND I'M GETTING FRUSTRATED.

I'M LIKE, CAN'T WE DO THIS TOMORROW? AND SO IT DOES GET FRUSTRATING, BUT BY NO MEANS WOULD I WANT TO BE AT THE POINT WHERE I START CURSING PEOPLE OUT.

AND THAT HAS HAPPENED, THREATENING EMPLOYEES AND THAT HAS HAPPENED.

SO I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP.

IT HAS HAPPENED.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND IF WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S HEALTHY, MENTALLY STABLE, CONFIDENT, WHO THEY ARE, THEY WILL SUPPORT THEIR STAFF MEMBERS IN TALKING TO US TO GIVE INFORMATION AND THE FEEDBACK BACK TO CITY MANAGER.

SO THAT IS THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT.

BUT I DO WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME HISTORY WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN SWORN IN TO UPHOLD THE CHARTER OF THIS CITY WHO PRETTY MUCH ARE VIOLATE, HAVE VIOLATED THE ETHICS AND PROBABLY VIOLATED THE LAW.

SO I WANT TO LEAVE IT LIKE THAT AND WE CAN TALK OFFLINE AT THE GREEN DOOR IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

COULD OGA CHIME IN ON THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT.

THE DISCUSSION THAT CAME BEFORE THE COMMISSION.

YES, SIR.

CARRIE ROGERS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.

THE AMENDMENT.

AND MR. ANDERSON CAN CORRECT ME.

THE AMENDMENT WAS SUBMITTED BY A PRIVATE CITIZEN WHO USED TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT LENGTH HERE TODAY, IT WAS, I BELIEVE, INTENDED TO HARMONIZE THE CHARTER LANGUAGE WITH WHAT THE ACTUAL PRACTICE WAS.

I MY EXPERIENCE IS WHENEVER THERE IS SOME LEVEL OF AMBIGUITY WITH LANGUAGE LIKE THIS, LIKE WHAT WE DO IN THE LEGISLATIVE WORLD IS USUALLY READ INTO THE RECORD WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT IS OF WHAT THAT PARTICULAR PROVISION IS.

OR WE WOULD GO TO THE BILL AUTHOR AND HAVE THE BILL AUTHOR GIVE US A MEMO, A MEMO OR A LETTER OF SOME SORT TO TELL US THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT.

[04:40:01]

AND SO I BELIEVE THAT THAT SHOULD HAVE ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.

IF NOT, PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW.

NO, I APPRECIATE THAT. I WILL SUPPORT MISS BLACKMON.

I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRING SOME TANGIBLE EXAMPLES AND OUR CITY HAD TO FOREGO, IF YOU WILL, OR BE HELD RANSOM BY ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORING OR PARTNER ENTITIES IN DART.

WE HAD A LOT OF MONEY HELD OVER OUR HEAD, AND IT HAD TO DO WITH THE DIRECT INTERFERENCE FROM ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND INTERFERING IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS, MICROMANAGING THE ADMINISTRATION PROCESS.

THOSE ARE CROSSING THE PROFESSIONAL LINES THAT WE HAVE.

I THINK THAT THERE'S ABSOLUTE LATITUDE GIVEN TO US WITH THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE BUILD WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.

BUT I THINK REMOVING A PROVISION LIKE THIS REMOVES A TOOL THAT IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE IN OUR CITY MANAGER'S TOOLKIT TO HAVE THEIR EMPLOYEES BACKS.

AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE PUT STAFF IN A VERY TIGHT SPOT SOMETIMES BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT 15 PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PLEASE, THEY'VE GOT 15 DIFFERENT DIRECTORS, IF YOU WILL, OF WHERE WE ARE HEADED.

BUT THE REALITY IS, IS WE CAN'T SIT HERE AND ACT AS IF THE CURRENT SCENARIO HAS NOT RESULTED IN DETRIMENTAL RESULTS FOR OUR CITY. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

SO REMOVING THIS, TO ME, IS GIVEN A GREEN LIGHT FOR THE BEHAVIOR THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN A HINDRANCE ON US MOVING FORWARD AS A CITY AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTNERS LIKE DART SPECIFICALLY.

SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT IS BEING WAVED OVER OUR HEAD AND COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD WE ALLOWED FOR THE CHARTER TO BE WHAT CARRIED OUT, THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS ON THE RECORD.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.

ANOTHER HUGE PART OF DISCUSSION IN THE CHARTER COMMISSION, BECAUSE I WATCHED EVERY SINGLE MEETING, AND I WANTED TO SEE HOW TERRY LOWERY VOTED ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AS A DIRECTOR IN THIS ORGANIZATION AND AS SOMEBODY WHO WAS OVER THE LARGEST BUDGET IN, I SAW THAT SHE WASN'T SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

I KNOW THAT THIS JUST FURTHERS THE TIGHT SPOT THAT STAFF ALREADY FEELS THAT THEY ARE INTO, AND IT'S IMPORTANT IN A CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR DIRECTION OF WHO THE LEADER IS IN THIS ORGANIZATION, AND THAT'S WHO WE HAVE CHARGED WITH THE TASK.

THE REALITY IS, IS US, AS THE BOSSES OF THE CITY MANAGER, NEEDS TO HOLD HIM OR HER ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THAT'S OUR EMPLOYEE.

BUT WHEN WE START GETTING INTO THE WEEDS OF GIVING EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS 13,000 EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION 15 DIFFERENT BOSSES THAT THEY HAVE TO ANSWER TO, IT'S A IT'S A CLUSTER, TO SAY THE LEAST.

AND WHEN THERE ARE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS TO OUR CITY AND THINGS THAT CAN BE POINTED TO, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY, VERY CONSCIOUS, VERY, VERY COGNIZANT OF A HUGE CHANGE IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT LIKE THIS.

JUST STRIKING A LITTLE BIT OF LANGUAGE COULD HAVE A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS ON OUR CITY.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTING PUTTING THIS LANGUAGE BACK.

THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE MISS BLACKMON FOR REALLY THINKING ABOUT THIS AND, YOU KNOW, PUTTING SOME REALLY GOOD THOUGHT INTO WHY IT SHOULD BE PUT BACK INTO THE CHARTER OR NOT REMOVED FROM THE CHARTER AND SENT FORWARD TO THE VOTERS.

A LOT OF WHAT MISTER BAZALDUA JUST MENTIONED IS STUFF THAT AFFECTED MY WORK AS A CHAIR OF TRANSPORTATION.

A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WERE SEEN AND HAD TO GO THROUGH WHEN IT CAME TO INTERFERENCE AND INTERRUPTING, PERMITTING AND, YOU KNOW, MAKING THOSE THINGS HAPPEN OR NOT HAPPEN THAT WE'RE NOT PRIVY TO ANY OF US UNTIL MUCH, MUCH, MUCH LATER.

AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT INTERFERENCE.

AND I GET IT THAT SOME DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD IS.

BUT I THINK OUR CITY MANAGER JUST GAVE US WHAT THE INTERPRETATION IS.

CITY ATTORNEY, CAN YOU GIVE US DO WE DO INTERPRETATIONS OF AND IS THAT HOW WE FOLLOW OUR POLICIES, OUR LAW, YOU KNOW, PRACTICE INTERPRETATION? AND IS THAT HOW WE SOMETIMES HOLD, WHETHER IT HAS THE MUSTER TO BE WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE OR NOT? WE ALWAYS LOOK TO THE PLAIN MEANING OF THE WORDS THAT ARE IN THE DOCUMENT, IF THEY ARE NOT DEFINED.

SO WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY IS WHERE I WOULD GO TO LOOK UP INTERFERENCE, NOT BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY.

VERY GOOD. AND SO THAT'S A PRACTICE, RIGHT? THAT YOU WOULD GO TO WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY AND NOT THE OTHER IN ORDER TO GET YOUR, YOUR DEFINITION.

AND SO THAT'S A PRACTICE AND SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT WE KNOW HAPPENS HERE OFTEN AND A LOT.

[04:45:04]

AND I'VE SEEN MANY A REALLY FANTASTIC MEMBER OF THIS ORGANIZATION LITERALLY LEAVE BECAUSE THAT PRACTICE IS NOT WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING ADHERED TO OR HOLDING PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY IT HOSTAGE AND MEETINGS THAT JUST LAST WAY TOO LONG FOR WHATEVER REASON.

AND SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO HELP AVOID AND MAKE SURE THAT WE, AS A COUNCIL MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING TO LIGHT.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT'S TAKING A CHARTER REVIEW AND FOR US TO SAY SOME OF THESE THINGS, AND IT'S THAT I THINK SOME OF THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON US, RIGHT? WE HAVE A LOT OF PRESSURE TO EITHER MAKE THINGS HAPPEN OR, YOU KNOW, MAKE THINGS NOT HAPPEN.

AND SOMETIMES WE WILL EASILY BE ABLE TO GET A GET AROUND THAT CHARTER OR AROUND THAT POLICY OR WE DIDN'T KNOW THE ORDINANCE.

YOU JUST HEARD, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE BRAND NEW.

I'VE BEEN HERE SEVEN YEARS NOW, Y'ALL.

SO I'VE LEARNED A LOT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY I WAS WHERE I AM NOW, WHERE I WAS WHEN I FIRST WALKED IN THE DOOR.

I KNOW THAT I HAVE GROWN AND I HAVE EVOLVED AND I HAVE CHANGED.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF WORKING WITH A LOT OF GREAT, AMAZING PEOPLE INSIDE OF THIS ORGANIZATION, FROM CITY MANAGER ON DOWN AND NOWHERE.

HAS IT EVER BEEN SAID THAT YOU COULD NOT TALK TO A STAFF MEMBER SPEAKING TO A STAFF MEMBER, WORKING WITH THEM, GETTING INFORMATION FROM THEM IS HOW WE GET A LOT OF OUR WHAT WE DO AND THEN ALSO GOING TO OUR GENERAL PUBLIC AND OUTSIDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTENT EXPERTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ARE THINKING, BECAUSE NOT A SINGLE ONE OF US AT THIS HORSESHOE THAT ARE DULY ELECTED.

MISTER MAYOR IS AN EXPERT ON EVERY SINGLE ISSUE THAT COMES BEFORE US IN THIS HORSESHOE YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST WALKED IN THE DOOR, IT WAS CONFEDERATE STATUES. AND I KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALL OF THAT, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ALL ABOUT ALL OF THAT.

AND IT'S LIKE I KNEW THE SPIRIT, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY EVERYTHING IT ENTAILED.

AND I KNOW YOU, MR. MAYOR, HAVE. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER YOURSELF AN EXPERT.

I KNOW YOU DEALT WITH A LOT OF THAT AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

AND SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT IT'S LIKE WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS COME IN.

AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT ON EVERYTHING AND WE DON'T.

IT'S OKAY TO SAY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND OR I DON'T KNOW OR AND YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME MANY A TIMES, SAY, EXPLAIN IT TO ME LIKE I'M EIGHT YEARS OLD BECAUSE I JUST DON'T GET IT.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS SO THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND IT AND GET IT.

SO I CAN GO TALK TO MY GENERAL PUBLIC, MY CONSTITUENTS, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ELECTED, DULY ELECTED ME TO LEAD ON THIS COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF THEM.

AND SO IN ORDER TO TAKE THIS AWAY, I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE SPIRIT OF THAT FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO GET THINGS MASSAGED AND GET THEM CORRECTLY, BUT TO JUST RIP IT OUT RIGHT NOW AND THEN I THINK IT LEAVING THE OTHER PART IN, I THINK IT, IT, IT CREATES A DIFFERENT CONFLICT WITHIN OUR CHARTER.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL ON COLLEAGUES.

AND SO EVEN THOUGH I LIKE THE SPIRIT OF IT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP US WITH OUR PRACTICES.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M.

AND TO SUPPORT THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT TO PUT TO REINSTATE, REINSTALL IT, REINSTATE IT, WHATEVER IT IS, TO PUT THAT LANGUAGE BACK IN AND NOT STRIKE THAT LANGUAGE AND LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE STATED.

I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.

I JUST CAN SAY ONE THING THAT SERVED UNDER THREE DIFFERENT CITY MANAGERS, THIS QUESTION ALWAYS CAME ABOUT, AND I TRIED TO DEAL WITH PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES.

AND EVERY CITY MANAGER ALWAYS GIVE YOU A LATITUDE TO TALK TO THEIR STAFF.

YOU KNOW, I TRY TO TALK TO THE DIRECTORS WHEN I DO TALK TO THE DIRECTOR, I TRY TO TALK TO THE CITY MANAGERS.

THEY CITY MANAGER I DID SPEAK TO THE DIRECTOR IS ALREADY FAMILIAR TO TALK TO THE PERSON ABOUT THEIR ISSUE.

BUT I DO HOLD THE CITY MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOING ON, BECAUSE THOSE EMPLOYEES WORK DIRECTLY FOR HER.

AND. AND EVEN THOUGH WHEN I LOOK AT MY STAFF ITSELF, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY CITY MANAGER IS A MANAGER.

AND I WAS ON 13,000, 14,000 EMPLOYEES WORK FOR THE CITY MANAGER.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE ATTITUDE SOMETIMES THAT WE DO OVERSTEP OUR LINES.

SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES WE TRY TO TELL A DIRECTOR, TRY TO TELL THE EMPLOYEES WHAT TO DO, AND THEY TAKE A MINUTE.

I REALLY DON'T WORK FOR YOU.

I WORK FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT PROCESS AND PROCEDURE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A PROCESS ALREADY SET IN PLACE.

AND THIS IS A PROCESS.

LET US TRY TO FIND A PROCESS BECAUSE THIS IS CITY MANAGER.

WHAT DO GO WRONG.

WE GOING TO HOLD THE CITY MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

AND THAT'S I THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP.

[04:50:02]

AND SOMETIMES WE GET FRUSTRATED WITH STAFF SOMETIMES.

AND WE DO TRY TO OVERPOWER THE STAFF.

AND THAT'S WRONG. AND THAT'S AND SOMETIMES I DO THE SAME THING.

I TRY TO SAY, STAFF, YOU NEED TO DO THIS, YOU NEED TO DO THAT.

BUT THAT'S NOT MY PURVIEW.

I SHOULD BE DOING THAT. BUT BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR DEAL, I BELIEVE THAT THE VOTE WOULD COMMAND THE FLOOR ON THE CHARTER.

AND THERE ARE SOME CHARTER MEMBERS WHO WERE IN FAVOR OF SOME WERE NOT IN FAVOR, BUT COLLEAGUES AROUND HERE THAT IT IS THE CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

WE ARE IN A CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT, AND SHE IS THE MANAGER.

AND WE DO A WHOLE LOT OF RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING GOING ON.

SO SINCE WE HOLD HER RESPONSIBLE, LET HER HAVE THIS LATITUDE AND HAVE THIS DIRECTION IN THIS LANGUAGE THAT WE CAN HOLD HER RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THIS LANGUAGE IS PUT HERE. IF THE LANGUAGE WERE NOT HERE, WE CANNOT HOLD HER RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ALL THE EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT'S WHY I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. BLACKBURN.

MISS WILLIS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. SO IN LOOKING AT THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER, OVER THE PAST FEW MINUTES, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME.

AND THAT'S THE PART OF THIS THAT SAYS, EXCEPT FOR THE PURPOSE OF INQUIRY.

AND SO BECAUSE I WAS REALLY LEANING TOWARD MAYBE WE NEED TO DO MORE HOMEWORK ON THIS TO MAKE IT MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT WHAT THE CURRENT PRACTICE IS.

BUT IT BASICALLY IS BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE PARTS TO ME, WHICH IS, NUMBER ONE, WE CAN'T TELL YOU WHO TO HIRE AND FIRE.

I MEAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY SUGGEST THAT YOU THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S HOW A BOARD WORKS WITH THEIR CEO ANYWAY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD MODEL.

SO WE CAN'T DICTATE THAT.

AND IT ALSO SAYS WE CAN'T DICTATE ORDERS TO AN EMPLOYEE OR MANAGER THAT WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER OR WHOEVER.

PHILOSOPHICALLY, YOU TELL US WE COULD TALK TO WHETHER IT'S AN ACM OR A DIRECTOR OR WHATEVER, EXCEPT FOR THE PURPOSE OF INQUIRY, WHICH IS WHAT WE DO ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

WE CALL UP PEOPLE AND WE ASK QUESTIONS AND WE SEND EMAILS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE PRACTICE IS.

AND SO AS I LOOK AT IT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS MORE IN ALIGNMENT THAN I WAS BEGINNING TO THINK IT WAS.

SO I'M OKAY WITH IT, WITH IT STAYING IN JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, I WOULD HOPE WE WOULDN'T NEED TO STATE THIS BECAUSE WE WOULD FOLLOW WHAT MISS TOLBERT HAD OUTLINED, WHICH IS THE WAY A CEO AND BOARD PRACTICE SHOULD BE.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, IN A ROOM FULL OF 15 ALPHAS, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NEED TO PUT IT IN WRITING.

AND SO I WOULD SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO HAVE IT GO BACK IN.

I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE, SO I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A SHOW OF CARDS IF YOU SUPPORT THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT.

SO IF YOU SUPPORT THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT, PLEASE SHOW A GREEN CARD.

I SEE GREEN CARDS RAISED IN FAVOR FOR STUART WILLIS, RIDLEY BAZALDUA, ARNOLD, NARVAEZ, ATKINS, RESENDEZ, WEST BLACKMON AND GRACIE AND MARINA.

THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, SO DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE OPERATIONAL.

AMENDMENTS. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

SORRY. THANK YOU.

EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS THE BRIEFING ITEM.

BE OPERATIONAL AMENDMENT RELATIVE TO CHAPTER THREE, SECTION 19.

CHAPTER FOUR, SECTION 13.

WAIT A MINUTE. MAYBE I BETTER NOT READ ALL THIS.

IS THERE SOMETHING I MAKE THIS CLEAR? BECAUSE I'M JUST GOING TO MOVE TO STRIKE IT.

MR. PALOMINO. OH, SORRY.

YOU'RE YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION.

I WON'T COUNT THIS AGAINST YOUR TIME.

THEN. I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST ASKING QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT, HOLD ON ONE MEMBERS.

JUST HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

MR. RIDLEY, DO YOU WANT TO GO IN THE MEANTIME OR ARE YOU READY? CAROLYN. NO. THIS.

TO MAKE IT SIMPLE. THIS IS REGARDING THE NOTIFICATION PROVISION AND SIMPLY SIMPLY MOVING TO STRIKE IT.

SO MAKE THE MOTION. I'LL SEE IF THERE'S A SECOND FOR IT.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION FOR.

MOVE TO STRIKE THE PROVISION BROADENING THE CITY'S NOTIFICATION PROCESS TO INCLUDE OTHER MEDIA OPTIONS IN ADDITION TO NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR FIVE MINUTES.

IF YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MOTION WOULD DO.

ACTUALLY, WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS TO I THINK WE REMOVED AND I REALLY DO NEED THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO HELP ME HERE.

WOULD YOU HELP ME? BECAUSE WE'VE GOT AN EXPLANATION FROM YOUR OFFICE THAT WOULD OFFSET WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO JUST FOR PURPOSE OF TIME, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, WE CAN VOTE IT UP OR VOTE IT DOWN.

AND THE CLARITY.

OH, WILLOW SANCHEZ FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR MOTION TO BE TO REMOVE THE ITEMS THAT THE SECTIONS OF THE CHARTER THAT DISCUSS

[04:55:06]

SIX SECTIONS THAT WERE LISTED ON YOUR MOTION AND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO STRIKE THOSE FROM THE CHARTER.

IS THAT ACCURATE? OH, I'M SORRY TO STRIKE THE BROADENING OF THE NOTIFICATION.

SO RIGHT NOW, THE CHARTER PROVISIONS STATE THAT IN VARIOUS SECTIONS, NOTICE SHALL BE PROVIDED BY PUBLICATION IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION OR THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY.

AND THE AMENDMENT FROM THE COMMISSION WAS TO BROADEN THAT LANGUAGE TO INCLUDE OTHER MEANS OF PUBLICATION.

AND YOUR MOTION TODAY.

IS TO REMOVE THE BROADENING.

IS THAT ACCURATE? CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? SO THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST STEP IN REMOVING IT FROM THE CHARTER ALTOGETHER.

THE NOTIFICATION WHICH WOULD BE TO STRIKE THE BROADENING AND THEN IT WHEN SHE WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION TO JUST STRIKE IT FROM THE ALL OF THOSE NOTIFICATIONS FROM THE CHARTER. THAT WOULD BE A NEW AMENDMENT THAT'S DUE BY THE 17TH.

YES, MA'AM. AND THAT GOES IN LINE WITH THE QUESTION WE HAD.

WHAT THINGS SHOULD DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE CHARTER, AND THE NOTIFICATIONS DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE CHARTER BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL IN STATE LAW.

AND THE I THINK THE INTENT WOULD BE TO REMOVE IT ALL FROM THE CHARTER AND THEN HAVE THE CITY MANAGER CREATE A POLICY AROUND AROUND NOTIFICATION WHILE STILL FOLLOWING STATE LAW.

PERFECTLY CLEAR.

SO I REALLY TO BE SO WE WON'T WE WE ALREADY HAVE THE POLICY ESTABLISHED ACTUALLY.

AND THE MAYOR I KNOW YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT BECAUSE YOU ALL DEALT IN THAT ENVIRONMENT WITH STATE LAW AS IT RELATES TO NOTIFICATION IN THE OFFICIAL PAPER.

AND SO JUST FOR ME, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M CLEAR ON IT.

BUT IF YOU IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, OF COURSE THEY CAN ASK.

BUT THIS IS WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WITH WHAT THE PARLIAMENTARIAN ATTORNEY JUST STATED.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MISS ARNOLD'S AMENDMENT.

YES. THANK YOU. SO MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE WHY THIS WAS EVEN IN THE CHARTER.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE INTENT IS TO REMOVE IT ALTOGETHER AND JUST DEVELOP OUR OWN POLICY, WHICH SEEMS COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE.

SO THAT WOULD BE ALL I HAVE ON THAT ITEM.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN.

OUR VICE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE ARNOLD AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND I'M DEFINITELY I DID SECOND THE MOTION.

BUT JUST TO CLARIFY, SO THAT ONE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM COULD SPEAK AND EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS LOOKING FOR.

AND THANK YOU TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, WHO KIND OF CLEARED IT UP BECAUSE IT GETS CONFUSING.

SOME OF THESE WHEN THEY'RE IN THE CHARTER AND, AND, AND SO THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND IT'S LIKE BY HAVING THIS IN THE CHARTER, WHICH REALLY IS A KIND OF A POLICY ISSUE, NOTHING THAT MANDATED TO US BY LAW, STATE LAW OR FEDERAL LAW, THEN WE CAN CREATE OUR OWN POLICY.

AND WE HAVE THINGS MISSING, BECAUSE WHEN THIS WAS PUT IN, WHO KNOWS WHEN THERE'S PROBABLY ONLY A NEWSPAPER BACK THEN.

RIGHT? SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THIS AMAZING TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE AND LET OUR FOLKS KNOW.

AND SO EVEN THOUGH WE, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY PUT SOMETHING OUT VIA EMAIL OR NEWSLETTER OR SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S LIKE, BUT IF THE, THE, THE CITY CAN DO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, WELL, THEY'RE PROHIBITED BECAUSE OF THE CHARTER.

SO IT'S IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE CHARTER SOMETIMES CAN HURT US IF WE DON'T UPDATE AND AMEND IT.

SO BY STRIKING THIS FOR THE FUTURE, THEN CITY POLICY CAN BE THIS IS IT.

AND THEN FUTURE COUNCILS CAN AMEND AND MASSAGE THAT WITH OUR STAFF.

SO YOU KNOW THAT THOSE THINGS CAN BE DONE CORRECTLY BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT THE NEXT TECHNOLOGY IS THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE USING? I MEAN, WE MIGHT HAVE WRISTBANDS ON OUR WEAR THAT WE WEAR THAT SHOOT THINGS INTO OUR BRAIN.

WHO KNOWS THAT WE CAN HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NEWS AND WHATNOT, OR WE'LL HAVE SUNGLASSES THAT TELL US EVERYTHING.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

AND THAT'S WHY WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE OURSELVES SO STRICT THAT SOMETHING THAT'S NOW BECOME MAYBE ANTIQUATED, WHICH IS THE PRINTED NEWSPAPER FOR A LOT OF FOLKS ISN'T THE ONLY METHOD OF COMMUNICATION THAT WE HAVE.

SO GOOD AMENDMENT FOR THE VOTERS TO LOOK AT, AND I HOPE THAT THEY WILL YOU KNOW, REALLY LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE WHETHER THIS IS CORRECT OR NOT FOR US TO DO.

MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE, SO.

WELL, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO PUSH MY CHAIR OFF ON HIS WAY TO HIS CHAIR TO DO IT.

OH, YOU WANT DID YOU WANT TO TALK? OH, THAT'S WHY YOU WERE HUSTLING OVER THERE.

I WAS LIKE, I'LL WAIT FOR YOU TO VOTE, BRO.

OKAY. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE ARNOLD AMENDMENT.

PARDON ME FOR PUSHING YOUR CHAIR. JUST AS A MATTER OF CLARIFICATION, I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE WAY IT'S BEING PROPOSED

[05:00:05]

THE INTENT IS TO BROADEN OUR ABILITY TO ADVERTISE BEYOND JUST ONE PUBLICATION.

IS THAT THE INTENT THAT I UNDERSTAND? YES, I BELIEVE SO.

THIS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER.

AND THEY ACTUALLY WORKED ON THE LANGUAGE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE LANGUAGE BROAD ENOUGH SO THAT YOU KNOW, CITY POLICY COULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD IN THE FUTURE AND AMENDED BY COUNCIL WITHOUT GOING BACK TO THE CHARTER EVERY TIME.

RIGHT. SO IF WE IF IF WE WERE TO APPROVE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD'S AMENDMENT TODAY, THAT WOULD TAKE ALL OF IT OUT.

IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING? I'M JUST TRYING TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION.

IT WOULD TAKE IT OUT OF THE CHARTER.

YES, BUT THERE WOULD STILL BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT THAT.

WELL TODAY, IT WOULD TAKE OUT THE AMENDMENT THAT THE CRC MADE, WHICH WAS TO BROADEN.

NEXT. WHEN WE GET TO THE NEW AMENDMENTS THERE WOULD THERE WOULD LIKELY BE A MOTION BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM TO REMOVE ALL OF THE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FROM THE CHARTER.

THAT WAY WE CAN PUT IT IN AN ORDINANCE AND WE CAN MOVE WITH THE TIMES.

WHO KNOWS, TEN YEARS FROM NOW OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW WHAT OTHER MEDIA OR MEDIUMS WE WOULD NEED.

SO. OKAY.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

YES. JUST SO THAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CONVERSATION AND COUNCIL MEMBER GRAYSON, I WAS TALKING.

WHAT WHAT I THINK WHAT OUR CONCERN IS WE KNOW THE STATE LAW MANDATES THE OFFICIAL PAPER.

WELL, WE'RE GETTING SOME OF THE COMMUNITY INPUT IS THAT WE STILL THERE IS STILL CONCERN ABOUT THE LACK OF CONNECTION WITH YOUR COMMUNITY, NEWSPAPERS AND COMMUNITY BASED BASED BASE OF COMMUNICATION.

AND SO THAT, I THINK, IS THE QUANDARY THAT WE'RE IN.

AND THAT'S THE CONUNDRUM THAT HE SEES IN TERMS OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I WHAT THIS IS BEING SAID, WHAT'S BEING STATED, EVEN THOUGH WHAT I'M STATING NOW, I REALLY RECEIVED SOME ASSISTANCE ON IT.

SO WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW AND I'LL SPEAK HERE JUST BECAUSE OF OUR CONVERSATION, HOW DO WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE PROTECTING THE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE EXCLUDED FROM GETTING INFORMATION AS THEY SHOULD, AND ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT I JUST READ WITH DALLAS MORNING NEWS CUTTING BACK, I THINK, ON SOME OF THEIR PRINTING LOCATIONS AND THEIR ABILITY AND, YOU KNOW, THE TIMES ARE CHANGING.

AND AS MISS TAMMY PALOMINO STATED, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE CAN'T NOT REALLY DON'T HAVE THIS GLASS WHERE WE CAN FORESEE WHAT THE MEDIUMS WILL BE.

SO THE QUESTION COMES FOR YOU ALL TO GIVE US SOME SUPPORT.

WHILE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE REALLY STILL PAYING ATTENTION, WHAT WILL THIS DO FOR THE COMMUNITY PAPERS? IS THAT WHERE WE ARE? WILL IT BE THROUGH POLICY THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT IT, OR WILL IT BE THE CHARTER UNDER THE EQUITY PRINCIPLE AS WELL? I THINK WHAT WE'RE SAYING, IT'S THROUGH POLICY SO THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN HAVE A HAND IN DEVELOPING THE POLICY AND CHANGING THE POLICY.

DO THAT, OKAY. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST MISS ARNOLD'S MOTION? ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE A GREEN CARD IF YOU SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.

I'M SEEING CARS RAISED IN FAVOR FOR STUART WILLIS.

MENDELSOHN RIDLEY.

BAZALDUA NARVAEZ ARNOLD RESENDEZ WEST BLACKMON.

THE. THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE? CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT AN ITEM OR WE'RE STILL STILL IN OPERATIONAL.

OKAY. GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU. MY QUESTION IS ON CHAPTER 22, SECTION THREE, PUBLIC INSPECTION OF BIDS.

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN TO ME WHY YOU WOULD DELETE THIS.

WHAT THE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES ON THE TOPIC OF OPERATIONAL GENERALLY HERE.

THAT'S KIND OF HOW I'M DOING IT.

WAS THIS AN AMENDMENT FROM PROCUREMENT? YES. CAN YOU SPEAK TO IT, THOUGH? WILLOW, WHY? WE HAVE. WE ARE WHY THEY'RE REQUESTING THE CHANGE.

YES. SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN CONFLICTS WITH SOME OF THE GOVERNING REQUIREMENTS THERE ARE FOR KEEPING THE BIDS CONFIDENTIAL IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS.

AND SO THIS IS TO BETTER REFLECT THE PROCESS.

SO EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDS COUNTERINTUITIVE TO NOT OPEN THEM PUBLICLY, PROCUREMENT SAYS IN ORDER TO FOR THEM TO COMPLY WITH

[05:05:08]

OKAY, I AGREE, IT SOUNDS CONTRARY TO TO WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN, BUT IF THIS IS WHAT THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT IS, I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN GRACIE.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE? JUST TO KIND OF RESPOND TO COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSOHN FIVE MINUTES.

I DID ASK ABOUT THAT AS WELL, AND I THINK IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE IN ADDITION TO WHAT SHE SAID, THE TECHNOLOGY IN TERMS OF HOW PEOPLE AREN'T PHYSICALLY BRINGING BIDS TO THE THEY'RE OPENING THEM ONLINE AND GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS ONLINE IS WHAT I UNDERSTOOD IT TO BE.

SO THEY'RE STILL PHYSICALLY GOING TO OPEN THE BIDS, BUT IT'S ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE HAVE TO BE THERE, PRESENT TO WATCH THE BID OPENING AND ALL OF THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING IT ONLINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK WAS THE EXPLANATION I GOT.

CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WE'RE ON THE TOPIC. JUST GENERAL OPERATIONAL STUFF.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO STRIKE THE AMENDMENT IN CHAPTER THREE, SECTION 15.

DELETING. I'M SORRY, CHAPTER THREE, SECTION SEVEN, REQUIRING THAT SPECIAL MEETINGS SHALL BE CALLED UPON THE WRITTEN REQUEST OF FIVE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL RATHER THAN THREE. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN.

SECOND, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

RON. THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT IN THE OPERATIONAL SECTION.

GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I JUST AS I SPOKE LAST WEEK, WAS REALLY WANT TO BE CONSCIOUS OF SENDING WAY TOO MUCH TO THE VOTERS.

THAT IS UNNECESSARY.

I'D LIKE THE BODY TO TO LOOK BACK AT WHEN THIS THIS POWER, IF YOU WILL THAT IS AFFORDED TO THE BODY HAS BEEN UTILIZED AND I BELIEVE IT TO HAVE BEEN IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN GREAT STRIDES FORWARD FOR US.

ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT I RECALL WAS DIRECTLY AFTER COVID AND WE GOT OUR EVICTION ORDINANCE PASSED BECAUSE OF A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING, MOST RECENTLY, OUR BOND ELECTION THAT WE SENT TO THE VOTERS THAT, AGAIN, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, WAS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED BY THE VOTERS AND IS BRINGING GREAT INVESTMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT WAS ALSO UTILIZED WITH A THREE SIGNATURE MEMO TO GET A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING PERSONNEL MATTERS WITH OUR CITY MANAGER.

TRANSITION WAS ALSO USED.

AND SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE TWO MORE PEOPLE ON A PIECE OF PAPER SIGNING IS GROUNDS FOR ADDING TO THE LOAD.

THAT IS GETTING PUT IN FRONT OF VOTERS.

AND I REALLY WANT US TO WEIGH THAT OUT.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S NECESSARILY A MERIT CONVERSATION ON THIS BEING A TOOL THAT WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE. IT REALLY DOES COME DOWN TO 3 OR 5.

AND THE REALITY IS, IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A QUORUM.

SO IF WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE, WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE NINE PEOPLE SHOW UP TO THE MEETING.

IT'S REQUIRED BY OUR CHARTER ALREADY.

SO I JUST WANT US TO BE CONSCIOUS OF NOT JUST PUTTING THINGS OUT, JUST TO PUT THINGS OUT.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE PROCESS AT THE COMMISSION LEVEL THAT IT WAS ARTICULATED ON WHY THIS WOULD BE NEEDED, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A PRECEDENT SET WITH A FIVE SIGNATURE MEMO. THE PRECEDENT HAS BEEN SET WITH THE FIVE SIGNATURE MEMO.

THAT'S TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA FROM THE MAYOR.

WE'VE ALSO AMENDED OUR COUNCIL RULES THAT REQUIRE THAT TO GO TO A COMMITTEE THAT, TO ME, FALLS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF COUNCIL RULES, WHICH WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME.

WE NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS ABOUT NOT SENDING TOO MUCH TO THE VOTERS SO THAT WE CAN REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE PUTTING IN FRONT OF THEM IS GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE AND MAKE FOR MORE EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS ACCOMPLISHES THAT GOAL.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST? OKAY. CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. I'M HAVING A TABLET ISSUES, I GUESS TODAY.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I'M GOING TO RISE, MR. MAYOR, TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE BAZALDUA MOTION.

AND THE REASON WHY IS THAT IT'S THE ONLY POWER THAT WE, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO CALL A MEETING.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER POWER TO DO THAT.

AND EVERYTHING HE JUST ARTICULATED THREE VERSUS FIVE.

I MEAN, WE CAN MAKE IT SEVEN.

I MEAN, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT IS.

YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING ELSE GO THE SAME.

SO NINE MEMBERS STILL HAVE TO SHOW UP.

AND IF MORE THAN IF NOT NINE SHOW UP, THEN THERE IS NO MEETING.

SO. AND THAT'S THE POWER THAT THE MAJORITY WOULD HAVE IN THE EVENT THAT THE OTHER 12 MEMBERS OF THIS BODY DECIDED THEY DID NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN.

[05:10:02]

IT'S BEEN USED VERY RARELY.

I THINK MAYBE IN MY SEVEN YEARS, MAYBE FOUR TIMES IN THE ENTIRETY OF SEVEN YEARS.

SO AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT'S SO RARE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO UTILIZE FOR WHATEVER MOMENT IT IS.

AND I'M NOT ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.

I'M NOT WILLING TO CEDE POWER THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS VERY LIMITED WHEN IT COMES TO CALLING A MEETING.

JUST LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO THE AGENDA, WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE VERY LIMITED POWER IN ORDER TO GET SOMETHING ONTO THE AGENDA.

AND THIS BODY ITSELF ACTUALLY CHANGED IT AT ONE TIME AND MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT, AND THEN REALIZED THAT THEY MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT AND KIND OF AMENDED IT BACK TO MAKE IT A LITTLE LESS DIFFICULT. BUT IT STILL IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU HAVE TO REALLY THINK THROUGH.

IS THIS REALLY WHAT YOU WANT? IS THIS REALLY WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT? AND I NEVER HEARD ANY RESIDENT, NOT ONE, SHOW UP AND SAY, I HATED THAT Y'ALL CALLED A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING FOR THOSE THREE, FOUR, MAYBE FIVE TIMES THAT IT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

NOT ONCE.

IF ANYTHING, THEY SAID, WE ARE GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE MEETING ON THIS.

IT IS A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE AND IT SHOULD HAPPEN.

AND EVERY SINGLE TIME THIS BODY MET, NINE OR MORE PEOPLE SHOWED UP BECAUSE THEIR COLLEAGUES SAID THEY NEEDED TO HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING. I'VE NEVER SIGNED ONE OF THOSE.

I'VE NEVER FELT THAT I NEEDED IT.

BUT WHEN THOSE OTHER THREE DID, OUT OF RESPECT FOR THOSE THREE COLLEAGUES, I SHOWED UP.

WHY? BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID THAT THEY FELT THEY NEEDED, AND WE ALWAYS WERE ABLE TO GET THE BUSINESS DONE AND GET TO WHAT THE FOLKS WANTED.

SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING MR. BAZALDUA HIS MOTION BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WHEN IT'S NECESSARY, WHEN IT'S TIME WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SHOW UP.

AND IF FOLKS DON'T WANT TO SHOW UP THAT WE'RE DULY ELECTED TO THIS BODY, MISTER MAYOR, AND GET THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE DONE, THEN SO BE IT.

THAT'S THEIR CHOICE.

BUT THE OTHER THREE, IT'S ONLY THREE.

IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.

AND WE'LL HAVE THE MEETING OR WE WON'T HAVE THE MEETING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'M GOING TO ALSO SUPPORT THIS FOR TWO REASONS.

THE FIRST IS BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS JUST SAID, AND THE SECOND IS TO JUST BE CONSCIOUS OF BALLOT MEASURE FATIGUE.

I THINK THE MORE WE CAN ELIMINATE ON HERE THAT ARE NOT AS IMPORTANT TO US OR THAT WE DISAGREE WITH THE BETTER, JUST TO SIMPLIFY IT AND MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR THE VOTERS SO THAT THEY AREN'T FATIGUED AND JUST START VOTING NO.

AND SO I THINK FOR THAT, BOTH OF THOSE REASONS, PRIMARILY THE FIRST ONE, I SUPPORT IT.

CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.

I RUN BUTTONS. SORRY.

OKAY. I DON'T THINK I SUPPORT THIS.

IN MY LESSON OR ABOUT A YEAR OF EXPERIENCE AROUND THE HORSESHOE WE'VE HAD TWO SPECIALLY CALLED MEETINGS, AND SO THAT FEELS VERY FREQUENT TO ME. AND SO I JUST HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT PERCEPTION ON IT.

I ALSO LIKE THINGS TO HAVE ORDER AND PRECEDENT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND THE THE THREE PERSON MEMO WAS BASED ON NINE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO IT WAS ONE THIRD OF THAT BODY.

I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH IT MOVING TO ONE THIRD OF THIS BODY.

I THINK BOTH OF THOSE SPECIAL MEETINGS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

BUT IT GIVES ME A LITTLE MORE COMFORT THAT IT'S NOT JUST THREE OF US, BUT FIVE OF US HAVE SAID IT'S TIME.

WE NEED THE SPECIAL MEETING.

I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT DECISION.

I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT VOTER FATIGUE ON THIS.

I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION ABOUT HOW WE FUNCTION AND WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF US IS REALLY NECESSARY TO MAKE CERTAIN DECISIONS OR TO HAVE CERTAIN THINGS HAPPEN.

AND I THINK FIVE LIKE I SAID, I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN TO FIVE PRETTY EASILY ANYWAY ON THESE LAST TWO MEETINGS.

SO WHY NOT? BE RESPECTFUL OF WHAT THE CHARTER HAD DONE ORIGINALLY, WHICH IS TO GIVE THAT POWER TO THREE AND MOVE IT TO FIVE, BECAUSE THERE ARE 15 OF US.

THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. I WILL SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE OF THE RATIONALE THAT I THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED.

AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND, AND THIS IS REALLY MY OPINION, IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SENSE OF CHECKS AND BALANCES, AND I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC, BY PUTTING CERTAIN THINGS ON THE BALLOT, SOME OF INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO COME AT A HABIT, BUT DO THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S THREE, THREE, FIVE? THE I THINK AS DESCRIBED, IF IT'S THREE PEOPLE AND THE MAJORITY SHOW UP FOR THE MEETING, THAT'S THE REAL DEAL.

[05:15:05]

SO I THINK JUST IN TERMS OF CHECKS AND BALANCES, WE HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO SERVE AND FOR THE FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS.

AND I WE DO ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WITH THIS SYSTEM OF CHARTER REVIEW AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR WORK.

BUT AS SOMEONE POINTED OUT TO ME, YOU HAD A NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS THAT WERE APPOINTED FROM SAME DISTRICT, SO THEIR IDEOLOGY PROBABLY WAS THE SAME, SAME. AND SO THEY'RE GOING BASED ON WHAT PROBABLY WE'RE TELLING THEM.

AND NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN, THE AVERAGE CONSTITUENT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT ALL THEY WANT IS FOR US TO COME DOWN HERE AND TAKE CARE OF THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE CITY'S BUSINESS. AND THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE TO HAVE THAT POWER TO CALL MEETINGS TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS FOR SOME, FOR WHATEVER REASON.

SO IF WE FEAR THAT OUR COMMUNITIES AND THIS CITY WILL NOT BE SERVED, I THINK WE NEED TO ACT.

I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE ALWAYS PERCEIVED, AND I THINK IT SOMETIMES IS AS A DISRESPECT TO MAYBE THE CITY MANAGER OR TO THE MAYOR.

I'M NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN A DISRESPECTFUL, YOU KNOW, ACTION.

THAT IS NOT THAT THAT'S NOT WORTH ME COMING HERE.

IT HAS TO BE ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.

AND I THINK WE WILL DO THE PEOPLE A DISSERVICE TO PUT ON A BALLOT CHANGING 3 TO 5.

LET'S TAKE CARE OF THAT BUSINESS HERE, THAT THAT'S WHAT WE CAN DO.

SO IN HONOR OF THE THE OATH THAT WE'VE TAKEN TO SERVE, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.

AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT THIS WILL DO FOR ME.

AND AT THAT.

SO AT THIS POINT, I CAN SUPPORT THE RATIONALE THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA.

AND OF COURSE THE COMMENTS THAT ARE MADE BY CHAIR, BY COUNCIL MEMBER NEVAREZ AS WELL, JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN HAPPEN. BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS DO EVERY MONTH.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT COME EVERY MONTH.

SO I THINK IT HAS TO BE IT HAS TO RAISE TO THE LEVEL OF A EMERGENCY OR SERIOUS CONCERN THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO HAVE, SO I WILL SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR MOTION. THANK YOU.

AMENDMENT. CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES ON YOUR OWN AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO GET CLARIFICATION.

CAN THE ATTORNEYS ANSWER IF THIS WERE TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND GET VOTED DOWN, WHAT HAPPENS? IF THIS IF THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT WENT TO THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER AND IT DIDN'T PASS THEN THE STATUS QUO WOULD BE KEPT AND IT WOULD REMAIN A THREE SIGNATURE MEMO.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR ON THE RECORD THAT THIS IS NOT MOVING THE NEEDLE.

THIS IS NOT IMPORTANT POLICY DECISION TO CHANGE THE GOVERNANCE STYLE OF OUR CITY.

THE TOOL IS ALREADY THERE FOR THE BODY, CHANGING IT FROM THREE TO TO TO FIVE.

IF THE VOTERS WERE TO APPROVE.

IT IS LITERALLY CHANGING TWO SIGNATURES ON A PAPER.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE SPIRIT OF WHAT THIS IS.

IN FACT, I WOULD HAVE THAT ARGUMENT THAT THIS DOES EQUATE TO FATIGUE IF IT'S NOT, IN FACT AN AMENDMENT THAT MOVES THE NEEDLE OR CHANGES THE EFFICIENCY IN OUR GOVERNMENT.

SO I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT GOING FROM THREE SIGNATURES TO FIVE SIGNATURES MAY BE RESULTED IN SOMEONE'S PERSONAL PREFERENCE, SURE, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE ARTICULATED ON HOW THIS WILL STREAMLINE EFFICIENCY IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO HAVEN'T HEARD FROM TO TO PLEASE SUPPORT STRIKING THIS LANGUAGE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT? SEEING NONE. LET'S SHOW THE CARDS.

IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF.

OH, KATHY, YOU WANT.

YOU WERE TRYING TO GET IN.

I DIDN'T SAY I DON'T SEE YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES THEN.

I MEAN, JUST JUST REALLY QUICK.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFICIENCY AT THIS POINT, BUT REPRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? SORRY YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP IN THE QUEUE.

OKAY, SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT MOVE FORWARD, I NEED TO SEE GREEN CARDS FROM THE FOLKS WHO WANT TO SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD.

GREEN CARDS RAISED IN FAVOR.

WILLIS. RIDLEY.

BAZALDUA NARVAEZ ARNOLD.

RESENDEZ. WEST.

BLACKMON. GRACEY.

THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, SO WE'RE STILL IN THE AREA OF OPERATIONAL.

ANYONE HAVE ANY MORE OPERATIONAL? CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA QUESTIONS GENERALLY OR A MOTION TO DO SOMETHING? THANK YOU. I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LANGUAGE ON AMENDMENT NINE A AND 11,

[05:20:02]

SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

MR.. MR. BAZALDUA. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

IN FACT, I THINK THIS WAS THE MOST DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD IN OUR INITIAL BRIEFING ON THE CHARTER COMMISSION'S FINAL REPORT.

THIS IS TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL IN THE CITY CHARTER, WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL BEING APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS ALSO BEEN ARTICULATED IN HOW IT IS GOING TO BE.

A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING IN ANY ETHICS TO ANSWER TO THE BODY.

I THINK THAT THERE'S A TRUE DISCONNECT.

I BELIEVE THAT IT IS HOUSED UNDER THE CITY ATTORNEY.

AND THAT IT IS A MORE EFFECTIVE PLACE FOR IT TO BE.

AND MORE OBJECTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO ANY POTENTIAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED.

AND I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN THAT MANAGEMENT AND AUTONOMY FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY WHO DOES ANSWER TO OUR BODY.

SO THAT THERE IS A DEGREE OF SEPARATION FOR SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND ETHICS.

THANK YOU, MISTER MAYOR.

CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, MISTER MAYOR. AND YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT AMENDMENTS WERE ON AT THIS POINT? I SECONDED THIS MOTION BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A STEP BACKWARD IN TERMS OF THE ELEVATION OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OVERSIGHT TO DIRECTLY TO THE CITY COUNCIL, I THINK THAT ONLY POLITICIZES THE OFFICE.

INSTEAD, THE CURRENT SYSTEM, WHERE HE IS SUPERVISED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, PROVIDES A MORE DAY TO DAY OPPORTUNITY FOR OVERSIGHT AND A MORE OBJECTIVE OVERSIGHT BECAUSE IT IS SUPERVISED BY NON-POLITICIAN.

I THINK THERE'S ALSO A REASON, WITH RESPECT TO CHAPTER 11, NOT TO GIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IN TERMS OF REQUIRING A THREE QUARTER VOTE OF THE COUNCIL TO TO REDUCE HIS BUDGET, WHY SHOULD HE BE SINGLED OUT AS THE ONLY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR? THAT'S DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF BEING INSULATED FROM THE NORMAL BUDGET PROCESS.

WE'VE JUST HEARD IN THIS MORNING'S BRIEFING HOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE CUTTING BACK THE BUDGET IN NOT ONLY THE COMING FISCAL YEAR, BUT FUTURE FISCAL YEARS.

THIS REDUCES OUR FLEXIBILITY AND THAT OF THE CITY MANAGER TO MANAGE THE BUDGET BY GIVING THIS SPECIAL ELEVATED TREATMENT TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE LATEST BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING MY TWO COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.

I THINK THAT THIS MOVE POLITICIZES THE DEPARTMENT.

IT I LIKE THE ADDITIONAL SEPARATION WE HAVE THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE ADDITIONAL BUDGET OVERSIGHT.

MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT.

I JUST I'M NOT I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS MOVE AT THIS TIME.

I THINK MAYBE IN ANOTHER TEN YEARS I WON'T BE HERE, BUT THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT CONSIDERATION.

BUT AT THIS TIME, I FEEL LIKE IT'S SO NEW.

IT'S A NEWER DEPARTMENT. IT NEEDS TIME TO TO GROW.

AND I FEEL BETTER HAVING THAT OVERSIGHT IN AN AREA WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE LESS POLITICAL.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE LATEST BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND I'M GOING TO RISE IN FAVOR, I MEAN, IN SUPPORT OF THIS MOTION.

AND HERE HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF THEM.

AND EARLIER I MENTIONED ABOUT A BLOATED BUDGET, SOMETHING WE WENT ON TOO FAST, TOO QUICK.

AND WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS I ASKED WAS WHO OVERSEES THE IG? AND IF IT'S US, THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING BECAUSE YOU POLITICIZE THE OFFICE.

THE OFFICE IS ALREADY POLITICIZED.

JUST SIMPLY FROM SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD, SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD, SOME OF THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT THROUGH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED PERSONALLY TO PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THIS BUILDING.

BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL NATURE OF WHAT HAPPENS AT THIS HORSESHOE.

AND THAT IS UNFAIR AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.

AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

MR. MAYOR, THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK FOR ETHICS ISSUES AND FOR WHEN I THINK IT'S MAYBE THREE THINGS HAVE COME THROUGH AND ONE THAT WAS FINANCIAL WHERE WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY PROSECUTING FOR $500, EVEN THOUGH IT'S WAY MORE AND WE ARE SPENDING MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

[05:25:06]

AND THAT'S WHY THERE WAS PAUSE WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED AND WE ADVANCED THIS THE GROWTH OF THIS OFFICE WAY TOO FAST IN THE LAST BUDGET, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT SOME OF US HAD BROUGHT UP.

AND NOW WE'RE FACING A BUDGET THAT IS NEEDS TO BE REDUCED.

AND THEN THIS IG, JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, TOLD US THAT THEY WANTED A THREE QUARTER VOTE TO REDUCE THEIR BUDGET.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY OTHER OFFICE HAS.

AND THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, THE IG, MENTIONED TO THIS BODY THAT THEY WANTED TO EVENTUALLY MAKE THIS OFFICE A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OFFICE.

AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THE SPIRIT OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WAS EVER SUPPOSED TO BE OR GET TO.

AND SO JUST HEARING ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAS SHOWN TO ME, AND I THINK THE VOTERS WOULD NOT WANT US TO BE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND WE NEED TO LEAVE THE OVERSIGHT WHERE IT IS.

I THINK IT'S FINE.

LET THIS OFFICE GROW AND CHANGE HOW IT NEEDS TO, AND HAVE THE CORRECT FOLKS OVERSEEING IT AND MAKING SURE THAT ONCE THEN IT'S READY.

IF AND WHEN IT'S READY TO STAND ALONE, THEN WE CAN LET THAT HAPPEN.

BUT FOR NOW, MR. MAYOR, I DO NOT HAVE THE CONFIDENCE IN LETTING THIS OFFICE STAND ALONE AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID AND THE THINGS THAT I'VE SAID TODAY.

I WILL STAND BY THOSE, BECAUSE IT IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, IN MY OPINION, AND WE DO NOT NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GIVING THEM A GIVING US AS A BODY THAT OVERSIGHT OVER THEM AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE ONE, THEY'RE NOT READY.

AND TWO, THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED AND ASKED FOR BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THREE, THE JUST NON THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT FOR THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE PUT TOWARDS IT.

SO I'M GOING TO DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS AND HOPE YOU ALL WILL.

AND LET'S SEE IF, JUST AS MY COLLEAGUE MR. WEST SAID, MAYBE IN TEN YEARS WE CAN LOOK AT IT AGAIN.

IT MIGHT BE SOONER, BUT THE NEXT TIME IN TEN YEARS, MAYBE IT'S TIME, BUT MAYBE NOT.

WE ALREADY HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT DOES THIS TYPE OF WORK, MR. MAYOR, AND THAT'S CALLED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO RECREATE THAT HERE WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS PURVIEW.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I DO SUPPORT THE MOTION A RECOMMENDATION, A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA.

THE THE THE RATIONALE IS PRETTY MUCH DUPLICATIVE.

NUMBER ONE, JUST FROM THE STANDPOINT OF MR. RIDLEY. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY'S STATEMENT ABOUT BUDGET.

IF YOU READ THROUGH THIS DOCUMENT, YOU WILL SEE SEVERAL DUTIES THAT ARE ALREADY BEING.

STAFFED RESPONSIBILITIES ARE ALREADY BEING STAFFED.

SO AS WE TALK ABOUT CUTTING THE BUDGET AND WE'VE HEARD THAT WE MAY HAVE TO CUT BUDGETS, WE HAVE TO ALSO KEEP IN MIND WE HAVE TO CONTROL OURSELVES IN TERMS OF THE CUTS. AND REMEMBER, OUR CUTS AND DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE WITH THIS BUDGET MUST STILL REFLECT THE EQUITY PRINCIPLE.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IN THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT, THERE'S NOTHING HERE THAT SPEAKS TO EQUITY.

SO I WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO REMEMBER THIS.

IF WE HAVE TO CUT, IT NEEDS TO BE IN PLACES WHERE THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNDERSERVED AREAS, WILL BLEED LESS HERE IF WE ADD ALL OF THIS.

WHERE I SEE IN READING THIS DOCUMENT, FROM THE DESCRIPTIONS, YOU WANT MORE MONEY, YOU WANT TO BE THERE'S A REFLECTION OF, OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY A REFLECTION OF BEING THE CHIEF OF POLICE, A REFLECTION OF BEING THE AUDITOR, A REFLECTION OF BEING CITY MANAGER. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IN SECTION SEVEN, DOING ALL THINGS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS CHAPTER GIVES ME PAUSE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE FROM THIS POSITION YOU COULD WORK IN WHAT WE CALL AN ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS MANNER, AND YOU NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY ANYONE.

AND SO THAT'S VERY SCARY.

AND SO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO IMPLORE YOU, PLEASE DO NOT ADD TO OUR BUDGET.

WE ALREADY HAVE A CITY MANAGER, CHIEF OF POLICE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, CITY AUDITOR, AND WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING DESCRIBED HERE IN THIS DOCUMENT.

WE ALREADY HAVE IT.

AND SO WE'RE MORE I'M MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS PARTICULAR POSITION, BEING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY.

AND NOT CREATING THIS WHOLE NEW.

ECOSYSTEM WHERE YOU ARE ALSO AND I'VE GOTTEN SOME SOME CONCERNS FROM OUTSIDE.

[05:30:01]

WE HAVE A CHIEF OF POLICE.

WE HAPPY WITH THAT? CHIEF OF POLICE.

WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

WE'VE HIRED AN AUDITOR.

SO PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY THIS DOCUMENT.

WE CANNOT SUPPORT THAT.

LET US SUPPORT WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH THE CITY OF ATTORNEY, CITY ATTORNEY.

WE SAVE MONEY AS WELL SO WE CAN PUT MONIES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE REALLY NEED THE SERVICES.

AND I BELIEVE I TRUST THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, MISS TAMMY PALOMINO, AND I SUPPORT THE LEADERSHIP OF CITY MANAGER KIMBERLY TOLBERT.

AND WE WOULD RUN AMOK IF WE ALLOWED THIS NEW STRUCTURE TO EXIST.

AND WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS CONUNDRUM THAT WE WOULD FIND OURSELVES IN.

THANK YOU. MISS WILLIS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

SO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND REALLY BEFORE THAT, WHEN THE THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION STARTED EXPLORING HAVING AN INSPECTOR GENERAL LIKE SO MANY OTHER TOP AMERICAN CITIES HAVE.

THE INTENT WAS ALWAYS TO HAVE THIS SET UP AS AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE.

IT COULDN'T BE AT THE TIME, AND I'M GLAD COUNCIL DECIDED TO GO ON AND MOVE FORWARD AND HOUSE IT UNDER THE CITY ATTORNEY WHO IS A COUNCIL APPOINTED EMPLOYEE.

FOR THE TIME BEING, UNTIL WE COULD GET TO THIS PROCESS AT THE CHARTER, THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION HAS COME BACK TO US TO REITERATE THE NEED FOR THIS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT REPORTING OFFICE TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND WHY? WELL, SOME OF THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, WE'VE GOT A CHIEF OF POLICE, WE'VE GOT A DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WE'VE GOT A CITY ATTORNEY.

WE HAVE ALL THESE THINGS IN PLACE.

YET AFTER ESTABLISHING THIS OFFICE, WE HEARD VERY QUICKLY THAT EVEN BEFORE PUBLICITY WAS GIVEN THAT THE THE COMPLAINTS WERE COMING IN. NOW, SOME MAY BE VEXATIOUS, SOME HAD SOME MERIT AND MEAT TO THEM.

BUT THE POINT IS, THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO HEARD THAT CALL TO HAVE A PLACE TO TAKE A COMPLAINT.

AND THE WHOLE IDEA HERE IS ABOUT NOT JUST OUR 12 A AND ETHICS AND THEN THE, THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE EVEN TO TIGHTEN THAT AND THEN SIGNING AN ETHICS PLEDGE, THIS OFFICE IS CRITICAL TO LOCKING DOWN THAT TRUST THAT WE HAVE WITH THE PUBLIC.

ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE, BUT THEY DIDN'T QUITE GET US THERE.

AND THIS STEP WAS ONE THAT WE TOOK AND INVESTED IN TO HELP GET US THERE IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC, AND TO GIVE THEM A RESOURCE AND TO GIVE US A RESOURCE SO THAT WE KNOW THAT CITY HALL IS OPERATING ON THE UP AND UP ETHICALLY AND TRANSPARENTLY.

IF IF THERE IS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO BE INVESTIGATED, THAT'S DONE BY OUTSIDE COUNSEL, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT LIVES WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

YOU KNOW, CASES WERE BROUGHT TO THE IG.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THIS PERSON IS GOING AND SEEKING CASES, ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT THAT'S THAT'S ABLE TO HAPPEN.

THERE CAN BE PROACTIVE INVESTIGATION.

BUT EVEN WITH THE WAY IT IS NOW, I MEAN, THE DOCKET HAS BEEN FILLED UP WITH PEOPLE BRINGING CASES TO HIM.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WELL, THIS WOULD BE MONEY WELL SPENT.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HELPS BRING ASSURANCE TO ALL THE OTHER MONEY THAT IS SPENT AT CITY HALL.

WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT A MECHANISM THAT CAN BE A MAGNET OR A RESOURCE, IF SOMEBODY FEELS LIKE SOMETHING ISN'T BEING DONE CORRECTLY OR ETHICALLY, AND WHAT BETTER PLACE TO LET OUR PUBLIC GAIN OUR TRUST THAN TO LET THEM HAVE A SAY ON THIS, TO HELP THEM GET EDUCATED ON THE ROLE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, AND TO HELP THEM GO TO THE BALLOT BOX AND SAY, I TOO BELIEVE THIS SHOULD STAND ALONE AND BE INDEPENDENT, SO THAT I KNOW AS A TAXPAYER IN THIS CITY, I HAVE A RESOURCE THAT I CAN GO TO CONFIDENTIALLY TO ENSURE THAT OUR WORK IS BEING CONDUCTED ETHICALLY, TRANSPARENTLY.

I THINK THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO ESTABLISH THAT TRUST THAN BY LETTING THE VOTERS HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND LET US KNOW.

THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN.

BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO GO TO THEM.

AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M NOT SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? BEFORE I GO TO THE SECOND ROUND WITH CHAIRMAN WEST AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM? I DON'T SEE ANYONE. SO, CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES ON THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, I DO APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES SENTIMENTS AND DEFENDING THIS INITIATIVE.

THANK YOU.

MISS WILLIS AND I THINK ALL OF US HERE, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE WHO'S AGAINST THE INTENT OF THE OFFICE EXISTING AND BEING VERY SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK THE CONCERN I WANT TO REITERATE, AGAIN, AT LEAST FOR ME, IS PUTTING IT UNDER COUNCIL RIGHT NOW AND THEN ALSO THE THREE FOURTHS

[05:35:05]

THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT CONCERN ME.

WHY I THINK IT'S IT COULD BECOME EASILY POLITICAL.

AND THEN YOU KNOW, I WASN'T GOING TO SAY THIS, BUT I'LL BRING THIS BACK UP.

BUT THE YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAD WE STARTED HAVING ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS COME BRIEF VARIOUS COMMITTEES, THIS DEPARTMENT CAME AND BRIEFED THE GBFM COMMITTEE, WHICH SEVERAL OF US SIT ON, AND THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WAS NOT PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET THERE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD DELAYED THE COMMITTEE MEETING SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND THEN COMES FORWARD AND ASKS FOR A BUDGET INCREASE, AND THEN GOES TO THE CHARTER COMMISSION AND SAYS, I DON'T WANT YOU TO DECREASE MY BUDGET WITHOUT A THREE FOURTHS VOTE.

I JUST THINK IT'S TOO SOON.

WE NEED MORE TIME TO LET THIS AS CHAIR NARVAEZ SAID, MORE TIME TO LET THIS, THIS OFFICE GROW, DEVELOP AND THEN COME BACK AND BECOME INDEPENDENT LATER.

THANK YOU. YEAH, I'LL GO AHEAD.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT WHEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CAME TO THE GFM, THEY WERE THERE FOR THE QUARTERLY REPORT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GIVE THAT QUARTERLY REPORT TO THAT COMMITTEE EVERY THREE MONTHS.

AND SO HE WAS NOT PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT BUDGET.

AND I WHILE IT'S UNDER MY OFFICE, I WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND I'LL BE BRINGING THAT BUDGET FORWARD AS LONG AS IT'S IN MY OFFICE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AND THAT THE ORIGINAL TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THE IG TO BE APPOINTED, MUCH LIKE OTHER LARGE CITIES NEW YORK CITY, CHICAGO, PHILADELPHIA, ALBUQUERQUE, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE A PROTECTION FOR THE BUDGET.

AND AT THE TIME WE SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE BECAUSE THAT KIND OF THING HAD TO GO THROUGH THE CHARTER.

AND SO THIS IS, I THINK, JUST A GOING BACK TO THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS AND TRYING TO BRING THOSE FORWARD.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

MRS BLACKMON. I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. JUST A QUICK JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

WHERE IS IT THAT IT'S A THREE QUARTERS VOTE TO REDUCE THE BUDGET? I'M MEETING THIS AS A THREE QUARTERS VOTE TO TO DISCHARGE HIM OR HER.

THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE BUDGET CHAPTER.

THAT'S GOING TO BE CHAPTER 11, SECTION TWO, PAGE 37 OF YOUR REPORT.

OKAY. OKAY.

THAT WAS THAT WAS IT. THAT WAS ALL I WAS ASKING BECAUSE I WASN'T READING.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

OKAY, I'M GOING TO THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IN THIS BUDGET SEASON IS TO CREATE ANOTHER DEPARTMENT THAT HAS TO OPERATE ON ANOTHER BUDGET AS WE SPEAK, I BELIEVE.

AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME CITY ATTORNEY, DOES THIS INDIVIDUAL DUTIES OF WHAT? OF THIS PARTICULAR INSPECTOR GENERAL NOW OPERATE WITHIN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? YES. THE DIVISION WAS CREATED WITHIN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THROUGH CHAPTER 12, A CODE OF ETHICS.

SO IT OUTLINES THE POWERS, THE DUTIES AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THE CHIEF INTEGRITY OFFICER, THE IG HAVING INVESTIGATORS AND THE COMPLAINT PROCESS.

SO AS WE STAND NOW, CAN CAN THE CONSTITUENTS NOT CALL UP OR CALL THE HOTLINE AND STILL LAUNCH A CONCERN? THEY CAN. ALL RIGHT.

SO WILL IN YOUR PROFESSION.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT BEING A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT, DO YOU THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT COME IN BECAUSE IT'S A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT? FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT GETTING OUT INTO THE PUBLIC AND OUT INTO AND TALKING TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT'S HOW YOU INCREASE.

ON THE CALLS.

ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT WHAT I'M.

I DON'T HEAR US SAYING ABOLISHED THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT I THINK YOU'RE VOTING ON A FEW YEARS AGO.

IT'S MORE OR LESS BEING OPERATING WITH SOME SENSE IN TERMS OF BUDGET AND SENSE OF COST, OF ADDING MORE EMPLOYEES TO DUPLICATE WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

WE ALREADY HAVE AN AUDITOR.

WE ARE. AND YOU ALREADY HAVE THOSE DUTIES, AS I UNDERSTAND WITH ATTORNEY PALOMINO, EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING ASKED FOR, YOU HAVE A COLLABORATIVE UNIT IN PLACE THAT CAN HELP WITH ALL OF THESE DUTIES.

AND I GUESS I'LL STATE THAT UNTIL QUESTION, IS THAT CORRECT? CITY ATTORNEY? THAT IS CORRECT. THE IG DIVISION IS WITHIN OUR OFFICE AND HAS ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS FILLED.

SO WE WOULD BE DUPLICATING AM I RIGHT? IT WOULD REMOVE IT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND IT WOULD BE ITS OWN OFFICE UNDER THIS CHARTER PROVISION.

[05:40:01]

WOULD THEN THAT INDIVIDUAL HAVE THE RIGHT TO HIRE NEW STAFF TO REFLECT THE INTENTION OR HIS OR HIS OR HER VISION.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO PRESENT THEIR OWN BUDGET TO CITY COUNCIL.

AND TO GBFM.

DOES THAT INCLUDE THE ABILITY TO HIRE THEIR OWN STAFF? YOU WOULD. YES. EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR THE ABILITY TO HIRE THEIR OWN STAFF.

YOU WOULD JUST GIVE THEM THE BUDGET FOR THE STAFF AND THE FTES, THE EMPLOY THE POSITIONS I.

WOULD THIS POSITION BE UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY MANAGER? NOT AS PROPOSED.

NO, IT WOULD BE INDEPENDENT FROM THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY AUDITOR.

IT WOULD BE AN APPOINTED POSITION THAT REPORTS TO CITY COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE REALLY HAVE WHAT I FEEL LIKE WOULD BE A WILD CARD.

AND SO IN ORDER FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VISION OF BEING UNIFIED, ADDRESSING THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, LOOKING AT A BUDGET THAT MUST INCLUDE THE EQUITY FORMULA IN TERMS OF FUNDING SERVICES, THIS IS A DUPLICATION.

IT IS ADDITIONAL EXPENSE EXPENSE THAT WE CAN USE TOWARD OUR HOUSING PROGRAM, SERVICES THAT WE REALLY NEED.

AND SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, HOPEFULLY YOU WILL NOT SUPPORT DUPLICATION OF SERVICES.

WE HIRED ATTORNEY PALOMINO TO DO HER JOB.

WE VOTED.

WE BELIEVED IN HER AND HER LEADERSHIP.

AND SO AT THIS TIME, I'M SIMPLY ASKING THAT WE TAKE A HARD STAND, SUPPORT OUR CHIEF ATTORNEY AND HER LEADERSHIP AS WE ADDRESS CONCERNS, WHETHER THEY ARE FROM THE OUTSIDE, WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE SOME CONCERNS OR BEHAVIORS THAT ARE NOT ETHICAL, THAT HAVE TO BE INVESTIGATED, ARE SIMPLY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE NEED TO GET LEGAL ADVICE AND LEGAL AND LEGAL LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT SHE AND HER TEAM CAN MAKE A DECISION ON.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. CAN YOU CLARIFY? DOES THIS ITEM CREATE ANY CHANGE IN OUR BUDGET? NO, THIS WAS NOT. THIS WAS NOT AN ITEM THAT CREATED ANY CHANGE IN OUR BUDGET.

SO NO CHANGE IN THE BUDGET.

OKAY. AND BY MOVING IT OUT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, DOES THAT CREATE DUPLICATION? NO, BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST SHIFTING WHERE IT IS.

IT'S STILL THE SAME OFFICE DOING THE SAME JOB.

WHEN THE IG DEPARTMENT AND THE IDEA OF HAVING AN IG WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL AND AS WE HAD VARIOUS CITIES SHARE WITH US THEIR EXPERIENCE WAS THERE AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW IT SHOULD BE STRUCTURED WITHIN THE CITY GOVERNMENT? I DON'T THINK YOU WERE HERE, JAKE.

SORRY, LAURA.

YOU WERE THE LEAD HERE? YES. WHEN? WHEN THIS AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 12 A OF THE CITY CODE WAS BEING WRITTEN.

THE AD HOC COMMITTEE YOUR AD HOC COMMITTEE ON GENERAL INVESTIGATION AND ETHICS.

WE HAD MANY MEETINGS AND WE DID DISCUSS HOW AT THE TIME WHEN WE WERE CREATING THIS OFFICE WITH THAT CODE AMENDMENT, WE COULDN'T HAVE THE IG BE APPOINTED BY COUNCIL BECAUSE ALL OF OUR COUNCIL APPOINTEES ARE OUTLINED IN THE CHARTER.

SO WE WROTE IT TO TO BE A SEPARATE DIVISION WITHIN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE TIME BEING UNTIL THE CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS KICKED OFF.

AND THEN WE WERE GOING TO LOOK AT IT THEN.

SO LITERALLY, WE WERE WAITING FOR THIS DAY TO GET THE STRUCTURE TO BE ORGANIZED IN THE MANNER THAT WE EXPECTED FOR IT TO BE, AND ALL THE CITIES THAT CAME TO SHARE WITH US HOW THEY WERE CREATING A HIGH FUNCTIONING DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS HOW THEY WERE STRUCTURED.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT THE CONVERSATION WAS.

SO THE OTHER THING I JUST WANT TO MENTION, BECAUSE THE BUDGET HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP, I'LL JUST SAY INCORRECTLY, SINCE THERE IS NO BUDGET IMPACT, IS THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WEREN'T PART OF THE COMMITTEE OR PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT, IS THAT WE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THE IG OFFICE ACTUALLY BECAME A REVENUE GENERATION BECAUSE THEY WERE RECOUPING SO MUCH FROM MOSTLY VENDORS WHO WERE ACTING INAPPROPRIATELY.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S CORRECT? YEAH, I RECALL THERE WAS DISCUSSION ON THAT.

YES. OKAY.

WELL, I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL COMMEND TIM POWERS, WHO I KNOW PRESENTED THIS TO THE CHARTER COMMISSION AND DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB.

[05:45:05]

I'VE HEARD WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID AS THEIR OPPOSITION.

MOST OF THOSE ITEMS AREN'T EVEN RELEVANT.

IT HAS NO BUDGET IMPACT.

THIS ACTUALLY WILL BECOME A REVENUE GENERATOR, AS THEY'RE ABLE TO UNCOVER SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN DEPARTMENTS AND WITH VENDORS, WHICH IS LARGELY THE THE FOCUS OF THIS DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S MANY OTHER POSITIONS THAT ARE IN THIS EXACT SAME SITUATION.

I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYONE TO SAY THAT THE CITY SECRETARY IS A POLITICAL OFFICE, BUT IT REPORTS CITY SECRETARY REPORTS TO ALL OF US.

CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS TO ALL OF US.

AND. THIS WOULD JUST BE ANOTHER EXAMPLE.

CITY AUDITOR, SAME THING.

SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT I DEFINITELY SUPPORT KEEPING IT AS THE CHARTER COMMISSION RECOMMENDED.

THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

DID YOU WANT TO? WELL, ACTUALLY, I GOTTA WAIT NOW TO GET YOU.

IT WILL BE A THIRD ROUND FOR YOU, SO WE'VE GOT TO HOLD YOU AND GO WITH MISS WILLIS FOR THREE MINUTES.

SURE. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK ON THAT.

AND. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR OUTLINING THAT THIS IS NOT A DUPLICATIVE DEPARTMENT.

IT IS A SHIFTING OF THE DEPARTMENT.

THERE IS AN EXISTING BUDGET.

AND SO IT JUST SHIFTS OVER.

SO THERE'S NOT AN IMPACT IN THAT AREA TO BE FELT.

KEEP IN MIND THAT BECAUSE OUR ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION DID THE RESEARCH AND BROUGHT IT TO THIS BODY AND THAT WE SET IT UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD TO HIRE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL, AND WE DID GET INPUT FROM OTHER CITIES.

AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT OUR NEW INSPECTOR GENERAL WAS HAVING TO SET UP POLICIES, PROCEDURES, PRACTICE AND HIRE STAFF AT THE SAME TIME.

WHAT'S HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY IS THAT ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS STARTED POURING IN.

SO I THINK THAT INSPECTOR GENERAL BEAVERS WOULD REFER TO IT AS BUILDING THE PLANE AS HE WAS, AS HE WAS FLYING IT.

AND SO I RECALL AT ONE MEETING, DO YOU ALL REMEMBER THE MEETING WHERE WE ASKED FOR SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME CATEGORIES OF WHAT THE NATURE OF SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT THAT HE WAS GETTING CAME IN AND IT WAS JAW DROPPING AND IT WAS EMBARRASSING AND THERE WAS A VOLUME OF THEM.

AND SO WHILE THE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE MAY BE NOT NOT BE AN EXAMPLE OF PERFECTION RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT'S VERY NECESSARY.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO LISTEN TO OUR ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH IT, I THINK IF NOTHING ELSE GOES BEFORE THE VOTERS, SOMETHING THAT OUR OWN ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION CAME BEFORE US A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, POINTING US IN THE DIRECTION FOR THIS DAY, IT THIS IS IT.

AND FOR US TO DENY PUTTING THIS ON A BALLOT FOR VOTERS TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT AND TO LET US KNOW HOW THEY FEEL.

BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY, I MEAN, THIS IS A PHONE NUMBER THAT YOU CAN CALL IF YOU'RE THE WEALTHIEST PERSON IN TOWN OR IF YOU BARELY HAVE A DIME, YOU CAN CALL THAT WHISTLEBLOWER HOTLINE, AND YOU CAN LET SOMEONE KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN TREATED POORLY BY A CITY STAFFER, A VENDOR, ETC.

SO TO ME, THAT IS A PRETTY LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, AND I JUST THINK THIS IS SOMETHING, IF NOTHING ELSE GOES BEFORE THE VOTERS, THIS NEEDS TO GO BEFORE OUR VOTERS.

MR. GRACIE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.

IT WON'T TAKE THAT LONG. I UNDERSTAND REALLY BOTH BOTH BOTH SIDES OF THIS.

I THINK WITH THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, THE BIGGEST THING I'M STRUGGLING WITH IS THAT THREE FOURTHS VOTE FOR THE BUDGET.

FROM THERE. SO WITH THAT LANGUAGE IN THERE, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT LIKE THAT.

THAT'S GETS US INTO HOLDING OUR BUDGET HOSTAGE AND WE'RE ALREADY IN A SITUATION, SO I DON'T LIKE THAT AT ALL.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT UNLESS BE WILLING TO TAKE AN AMENDMENT TO REMOVE THAT LANGUAGE.

THE MOTION IS TO STRIKE THE WHOLE THING, INCLUDING THE THREE QUARTER.

MISS BLACKMON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

MY QUESTION IS.

SO IF WE DECIDE NOT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, OR WE CAN BRING IT TO THE VOTERS AGAIN AFTER WE LOOK THROUGH IT, THIS ISN'T THE ONLY TIME WE CAN TAKE SOMETHING BEFORE THE VOTERS, RIGHT? THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME.

STATE LAW DOESN'T ALLOW US TO AMEND THE CHARTER MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.

BUT YOU COULD DO IT TWO YEARS AFTER THIS NOVEMBER.

OKAY. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT THE FULL TEN YEARS UNTIL WE HAVE A CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS AGAIN, OKAY?

[05:50:03]

I'M NOT SO SURE THAT IT IS READY TO STAND ALONE.

IT'S STILL KIND OF WORKING THROUGH IT AND FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

AND BUT I DO THINK THE INTENT WAS SO WE COULD JUST SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S WORK ON IT STILL AND THEN BRING IT BACK IN TWO YEARS TO PUT IT BACK BEFORE THE VOTERS.

AND IF THAT IS THE INTENT AS WELL.

CORRECT. THANK YOU.

CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE, MISS BLACKMON, FOR BRINGING UP WHEN WE COULD BRING THIS BACK UP AGAIN.

AND I SAID IT COULD BE AS LONG AS TEN YEARS BECAUSE MR. WESTON BROUGHT UP. IT COULD BE AS EARLY AS TWO YEARS FROM NOW.

THIS NEEDS WORK.

IT'S NOT READY TO GO.

AND I'VE HEARD I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES ON THIS COUNCIL, THAT WHEN YOU FAST FORWARD POLICY, YOU GET BAD POLICY.

WELL, TO ME, WE'RE FAST FORWARDING A CHARTER AMENDMENT TO THE TO FOR US, FAST FORWARDING A CHARTER AMENDMENT CAN BE DEVASTATING. AND IT'S NOT READY.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S READY.

AND I MEAN, AND WHEN I SAY THAT IT'S BEEN POLITICIZED, I MEAN, I HAVE COMPLETE FACTS ON THIS BECAUSE IN THIS CHAMBER ALONE, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WAS HAVING A RANT AND SCREAMED OUT, GO AHEAD AND REPORT ME TO THE IG BECAUSE THEY WILL NEVER PROSECUTE ME IF THAT DOESN'T SCREAM THE POLITICISM THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE IG'S OFFICE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY, AND I AM.

I'M PUTTING IT OUT THERE BECAUSE IT'S THE IT'S THE TRUTH, MR. MAYOR, AND I'M TIRED OF IT.

I'M TIRED OF HEARING THAT THIS OFFICE WAS NOT GOING TO BE POLITICIZED, THAT IT WOULDN'T BE POLITICIZED.

AND IT HAS BEEN BEYOND POLITICIZED, AND IT IS NOT READY TO GO.

IT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT READY TO GO BEFORE THE VOTERS, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON THERE.

AND IT'S DISINGENUOUS TO SAY THAT THIS DID NOT COST US MONEY, MR. MAYOR, BECAUSE THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN MORE THAN DOUBLED THEIR BUDGET.

AND WE'RE HERE AND NOW, WE'RE NOW THINK PEOPLE THINK WE'RE STUCK WITH IT.

WE'RE NOT STUCK WITH THAT BUDGET.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND MAKE SURE IT'S DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO, BECAUSE IT HAS NOT RECOUPED ANY DOLLARS YET.

AND TO HEAR LIKE, OH, WELL, WE NEED MORE TIME TO FIGURE IT OUT.

THAT'S ALSO DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROFESSIONALS UNDER A PROFESSIONAL IG WHO HAS DONE THIS BEFORE AND HELPED US SET THIS UP.

AND SO I EXPECT TO SEE THINGS HAPPENING QUICKLY OUT OF THIS OFFICE AND NOT, OH, WE NEED MORE TIME.

WE NEED MORE TIME. WE NEED MORE TIME.

AS A AS POLICYMAKERS, IN MY OPINION, MR. MAYOR, TO MAKE SURE IT'S WORKING THE WAY THE SPIRIT THAT WHEN YOU BROUGHT IT TO US THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND THE WAY THAT THE ETHICS COMMISSION DID ADVISE US TO HAVE AND NO, NONE OF US THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THE CHARTER AMENDMENT ARE SAYING DON'T HAVE AN IG.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL, BUT I AM NOT READY TO LET IT BE STAND ALONE AND THAT IT BE UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL AT THIS TIME. YET I'M NOT SAYING THAT MAYBE IN TWO YEARS, FOUR YEARS, SIX YEARS, 8 OR 10 YEARS, THAT IT WON'T BE READY.

I WON'T BE HERE FOR THAT.

BUT I'M STILL GOING TO BE A VOTER IN THIS CITY.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WILL CONSTANTLY AND ALWAYS BE WATCHING THIS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE INSIDE OF THIS CHAMBER, NOT ON THE RECORD, BUT INSIDE OF THIS CHAMBER. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHOULD HAVE INSPECTED AND NEVER DID.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

MR. RIDLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

I DISAGREE WITH THE STATEMENT MADE BY A COLLEAGUE THAT IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE SUBMIT THIS PROPOSITION TO THE VOTERS THIS NOVEMBER AS SOME SORT OF REVIEW OR PLEBISCITE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AN INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE. THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS ABOUT.

IT'S SIMPLY ABOUT TRANSFERRING IT TO ITS OWN INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT, WHERE IT'S ON ITS OWN AND IT'S SUBJECT TO THE POLITICAL WHIMS OF THE COUNCIL. IT IS NOT A VOTE UP OR DOWN ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

EVERYONE IN SUPPORT WHO HAS SPOKEN IN SUPPORT OF THIS MOTION HAS BEEN PRETTY CLEAR.

I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT A VOTE AGAINST THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

IT'S SIMPLY A QUESTION OF WHETHER WE MAINTAIN THE OVERSIGHT OF THE OFFICE UNDER THE CITY ATTORNEY, WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS, OR WHETHER IT SHOULD BE MADE AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY. AND I REITERATE ALL OF THE REASONS WHY I THINK IT'S NOT READY TO BE ON ITS OWN.

AND SUBMITTING THIS TO THE VOTERS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

SUPPORT THE VOTERS, SUPPORT FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OR BE SOME SORT OF PLEBISCITE ON THE VALIDITY OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

[05:55:08]

I GOTTA SAY, MAN, DOUBLING ON THE PLEBISCITE OUTDOES THE DOUBLING ON DISINGENUOUS BY NARVAEZ JUST BY THIS MUCH RIGHT BEFORE 5:00.

THAT'S A THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

VEXATIOUS. AIN'T THAT GREAT? PLEBISCITES? PRETTY GOOD.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. AN ITEM BE.

COULD YOU ALL ADDRESS THIS FOR US? WHERE IT SAYS IF AT ANY TIME.

IF IF AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL RESIDES OUTSIDE THE CITY OF DALLAS, THEN HE OR SHE SHALL MOVE INTO THE CITY WITHIN A TIME PERIOD REQUIRED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. WHO PAYS FOR THAT MOVE? I MEAN, ALL OF THE APPOINTED OFFICIALS HAVE TO MOVE, HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY.

I MOVED HERE FOR FREE.

I MEAN, I DON'T I'M HE.

I GUESS HE WOULD JUST HAVE TO MOVE.

I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT ANOTHER EXPENSE.

SO IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE, WE'RE STILL NOT READY.

WE ARE NOT READY TO PUT THIS IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS.

ONCE AGAIN, LET US USE THE SENSE THAT WE'RE GIVEN AN AUTHORITY BY THE PEOPLE ACT ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE.

THIS IS ANOTHER EXPENSE TO CREATE ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.

THAT IS AN EXPENSE.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS.

EXTRA MONIES THAT WE DO HAVE SHOULD GO TO THOSE EQUITY PRINCIPLES TO HELP OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND TO DELIVER SERVICES THAT WE HAVE BEEN HIRED BY THE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE WE DELIVER.

WE CANNOT AFFORD AN INDIVIDUAL WILD CARD TO TO COME HERE AND COST US MORE MONEY WHEN WE HAVE TAMMY PALOMINO, CITY ATTORNEY, OF WHICH SHE MANAGES ALL OF THESE DUTIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND PLEASE VOTE TO SUPPORT MR. BAZALDUA AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. MISS WILLIS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. I JUST THINK IT GOT A LITTLE BIT MUDDY.

AND I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, AND I AM QUITE CLEAR ON WHAT I WAS ASKING, THAT THE VOTERS GET A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON, AND THAT IS THAT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL IN THE CITY CHARTER, WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL BEING APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO THAT'S IT. THAT'S WHAT I THINK OUR VOTERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE ON, JUST LIKE WE HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY SECRETARY, THE CITY MANAGER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, THE CITY AUDITOR. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO.

IT'S NOT ABOUT WHETHER YOU SUPPORT THIS OFFICE OR NOT.

IT'S ABOUT LETTING THAT OFFICE HAVE THE AUTONOMY THAT OUR OWN ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION CAME TO US WITH AND THAT WE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SUPPORT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND SO THAT IS WHAT I THINK THAT WE CAN DISCUSS IT HERE, BUT THAT I THINK THAT DECISION ABOUT THE AUTONOMY OF IT LIES WITH THE TAXPAYERS AND THE VOTERS IN THIS CITY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK? CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT? THANK YOU. MAYOR. I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME GREAT DISCUSSION.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR I DEFINITELY VOTED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE, AND I THINK THAT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT OFFICE TO HAVE.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED.

I WAS NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE RECOMMENDATION.

IT WAS A RECOMMENDATION.

IN FACT, I'VE SEEN RECOMMENDATIONS COME FROM THE OFFICE, THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION THAT HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUSLY TURNED DOWN.

SO THE FACT THAT WE GOT A RECOMMENDATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE BOUND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S EXTREMELY CLEAR TO SAY, IN FACT.

I HAVEN'T BEEN PLEASED WITH THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

SO FAR. WE'VE HEARD OF A SLEW OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE COME IN, AND I'VE SEEN ALMOST ZERO PRODUCTIVITY.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM THE OFFICE.

AND IN THAT CASE, LET'S JUST SAY IT WAS UNDER OUR PURVIEW.

DO WE AS A POLITICAL BODY, WANT THE HEAT FOR MAKING A FIRE OF THE PERSON WHO IS OVER THE ETHICS? THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A POSITION I THINK, THAT OUR BODY SHOULD BE IN.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A DEGREE OF SEPARATION, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THAT TO BE ARTICULATED OTHERWISE.

AND IT HAS YET TO COME TO ME TO TO REALLY DIG INTO THE FACT THAT THIS IS, IN MY OPINION, I'M PROPOSING THIS BECAUSE I WANT IT TO BE MORE FAIR.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW EMPLOYEES CAN BE PUT IN VERY DIFFICULT PLACES AT TIMES.

JUST IN THE LAST AMENDMENT THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING ABOUT THE SUBORDINATES OF THE CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A DEGREE OF SEPARATION.

AND I'M GOING TO EMPHASIZE THAT STATEMENT.

IT'S A DEGREE OF SEPARATION.

IT'S WANTING THIS TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AND AS AS FAIR OF A PROCESS AS POSSIBLE.

IF WE ARE ABLE TO POLITICIZE, HOLD OUR POWER, KNOW THAT THIS PERSON'S JOB IS DEPENDENT ON KEEPING THIS BODY HAPPY.

[06:00:02]

IT'S JUST HOW IT GETS CARRIED OUT TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

CHAIRMAN GRACEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

OKAY. MR. PALOMINO. WHEN? WHEN THIS WHEN WAS THIS OFFICE CREATED? WAS IT 2021? IS THAT WHAT I SAW? DECEMBER 8TH, 2021, COUNCIL APPROVED THE AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 12 A THAT CREATED THE OFFICE OR THE DIVISION OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, AND IT WAS ADDED UNDER THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. CORRECT? YES. WHAT WAS THE BUDGET IMPACT? OH. I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO MISS PALOMINO.

LET ME GET TO MY NEXT QUESTION.

IT'S REALLY GOING SOMEWHERE WITH IT WHILE YOU LOOK THAT UP.

MY POINT IS IT IN THE PREVIOUS BRIEFING.

THAT SERVICE WAS NOT LISTED AND I CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT ANYWHERE IN TERMS OF NEW SERVICES THAT WERE LISTED IN THE THAT WERE ADDED.

NO, IT'S THE DEPARTMENT OR IT'S A DIVISION WITHIN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

BUT IT'S A SERVICE, THOUGH. YEAH.

I GUESS I JUST SEE IT.

AND MY POINT IS, AS WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS AND IT'S HARD NOT TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS TOGETHER, BUT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THIS, I SAW CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE LISTED AND I'M NOT GOING BACK.

BUT JUST AS WE'RE THIS IS RELEVANT CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS, BUT THIS ONE WASN'T LISTED AND IT WAS A NEW SERVICE THAT WAS ADDED WITHIN THE LAST WITH THE SAME THAT SAME TIME FRAME.

SO I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE BUDGET.

SO I'M JUST MAKING THAT POINT AS WELL.

SO YOU GOT SOMEBODY TALKING ABOUT THREE FOURTHS VOTE AND ALL OF THAT, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.

SO JUST MAKING THAT POINT, THAT'S ALL.

AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IT, I GUESS.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT BEFORE WE SHOW CARDS IN THE STRAW VOTE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE THE CARDS.

IF YOU SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT MOVING FORWARD.

CARDS RAISED IN FAVOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY.

BAZALDUA NARVAEZ ARNOLD.

RESENDEZ WEST BLACKMON.

GRACEY. THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

SO JUST KIND OF GIVE EVERYBODY A LITTLE UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE.

WE'RE STILL IN OPERATIONAL.

AND SO WE'RE ENTERTAINING QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING IN OPERATIONAL OR MOTIONS TO AMEND ANYTHING IN OPERATIONAL.

AND I'M GOING TO PROPOSE SINCE IT IS 5 P.M.

AND THE POLICY SECTION IS PRETTY SERIOUS AND PRETTY ROBUST AND KIND OF IN OUR WHEELHOUSE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT ANYTHING THAT WE IF WE GET THROUGH OPERATIONAL THIS EVENING, WHICH I THINK WE SHOULD WORK THROUGH OPERATIONAL, THAT A GOOD STOPPING POINT WOULD BE AT THE POLICY POINT.

AND TO TAKE THAT UP, I'VE TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER.

SHE'S AGREED THAT WE CAN KEEP THE JUNE 5TH BRIEFING LIMITED TO PRETTY MUCH WE CAN START IN THE MORNING AND GO RIGHT INTO THE POLICY STUFF AND TAKE AS LONG AS WE NEED SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T TIRED AND VOTING WAYS THAT THEY MAY COME TO REGRET ON SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY PROPOSAL, IS THAT WE HOLD POLICY UNTIL JUNE 5TH IF WE CAN GET THROUGH OPERATIONAL.

IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THAT'S HOW WE'LL PROCEED WITH THAT.

CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA, YOU WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR SOMETHING OPERATIONAL? YES, MAYOR. I MOVE TO STRIKE THE AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSION TO ELECT THEIR OWN VICE CHAIRS.

CHAPTER FOUR, SECTION FIVE, SUBSECTION B ONE.

CHAPTER 15.

SECTION THREE.

CHAPTER 17.

SECTION TWO, SUBSECTION B, CHAPTER 24.

SECTION 13, SUBSECTION C.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO EXPLAIN THIS.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

IN THE SPIRIT OF OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT, THERE ARE A FEW POWERS THAT ARE GIVEN TO THE BODY.

THIS, I THINK, IS A COLLABORATIVE POWER THAT IS MEANT FOR US TO HAVE A CONSENSUS ON WHO WE SEE AS THE NUMBER TWO ON THESE BOARDS.

I WATCHED THE PROCESS, AS I MENTIONED, AND THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC THIS AMENDMENT WAS PUT FORTH BY SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL AT HIS OWN BID FOR A VICE CHAIR.

I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR IT TO BE ARTICULATED THAT THERE WAS PERSONAL AGENDA BEHIND THIS.

AND SO WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO SEE WAS THERE BE ADVOCACY FROM OUR NUMBER OF APPOINTEES ACROSS OUR CITY, WHICH NEVER EXISTED.

I REACHED OUT TO MY APPOINTMENTS AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A NEED FOR THIS CHANGE, AND I AND THERE WAS JUST AS MUCH OF A CONCERN WITH THE CHAIR AS THERE WAS WITH THE VICE CHAIRS THERE.

THERE WAS A NEED FOR IF THIS WAS GOING TO BE GIVEN TO THE BODY, WHY WOULD IT JUST BE THE VICE CHAIR?

[06:05:02]

WE CANNOT ALLOW FOR, ESPECIALLY AT EVERY TEN YEAR PROCESS, TO BE DRIVEN BY PERSONAL AGENDAS OR PERSONAL MOTIVES.

THIS INSTANCE WAS ISOLATED AND AS I MENTIONED, AFTER SPEAKING TO MY APPOINTMENTS AND THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, INCLUDING TODAY, THIS HAS BEEN NOTICED TO THE PUBLIC AND THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HEAR FROM OTHER APPOINTMENTS AND OTHER REPRESENTATION IN OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT FELT THE SAME AND THAT HAS NOT COME ACROSS.

PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ANY MEMBERS, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE NEWS TO ME.

BUT I HAVE DONE MY OWN DUE DILIGENCE AND IT HAS RESULTED IN NOTHING THAT SUPPORTS THIS BEING PUT IN FRONT OF US.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AGAIN MOVING ANY NEEDLE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS MAKING US ANY MORE EFFICIENT.

IN FACT, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ONLY TAKING AWAY POWER FROM THE BODY THAT IS ACTUALLY MEANT TO BE AN EXERCISE TO CREATE CONSENSUS.

SO FOR THAT, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT STRIKING THIS LANGUAGE, STICKING WITH THE STATUS QUO OF OUR CHARTER.

AS OF NOW, THAT ALLOWS FOR THE THE CITY COUNCIL AS A BODY TO SELECT THE VICE CHAIRS IN THE RESPECTIVE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT? CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

JAY, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT WAS AT THE COMMISSION AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR IT? YES, SIR.

SO THIS AMENDMENT WAS ACTUALLY SUBMITTED TWICE.

IT WAS INITIALLY SUBMITTED WITH SPECIFICITY TO THE PARK BOARD ALONE.

AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER MEMBER OF THAT SAME BOARD WHO SUBMITTED IT FOR FOR ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

AND SO THE DISCUSSION FIRST WAS REALLY ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR ALL BOARDS.

THEY DIDN'T GET INTO ANY SPECIFIC BOARD, BUT THE PRESENTERS OF THE AMENDMENTS POINTED OUT THAT OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WHO SERVE ON THOSE BOARDS KNOW WHO ELSE ON THEIR BOARD IS AN EFFECTIVE LEADER OR UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND THAT WAS THEIR REASONING FOR, FOR PROPOSING IT.

THERE WAS NOT A TON OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.

I THINK THE COMMISSION HEARD THAT AND AGREED.

ONE THING I WILL NOTE IS THE COMMISSION THEMSELVES VOTED ON THEIR OWN VICE CHAIR.

THEY'RE NOT GOVERNED BY CHAPTER EIGHT.

AND SO BECAUSE THEY DID THAT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE JUSTIFICATIONS THEY ALSO USED.

THEY POINTED TO THE FACT THAT THEIR OWN BODY ELECTS THEIR OWN VICE CHAIR.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THE THE MAIN POINTS OF CONVERSATION WERE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST THE BAZALDUA AMENDMENT? SEEING NONE IF YOU SUPPORT IT MOVING FORWARD.

LET'S SEE A GREEN CARD.

CARTS RAISED IN FAVOR COUNCIL MEMBER STUART WILLIS.

RIDLEY, BAZALDUA, NARVAEZ, ARNOLD RESENDEZ, WEST BLACKMON AND GRACIE.

THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. WONDERFUL.

MORE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON OPERATIONAL OR MOVEMENT OR EMOTIONS, MISS BLACKMON? THANK YOU.

I MOVE TO STRIKE THE AMENDMENT THAT ADDS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT TO BE A DIRECT REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED AND THIRDED.

MRS BLACKMON YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES? I WHILE I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION THAT HAPPENED AT THE CHARTER COMMISSION ABOUT IT COMING TO US, I BELIEVE IT SHOULD STAY STAY UNDER THE CITY MANAGER AS IT DOES IN MOST CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

IT'S IT IS AN OPERATIONS.

AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT IT BACK IN HER OR HER ORG CHART.

CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. I TOO WILL SUPPORT THIS.

I THINK IT JUST SPEAKS TO THE SPIRIT OF ANOTHER CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD ON THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT BRINGING THIS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE COUNCIL ITSELF REALLY SOLVES MUCH OF ANYTHING.

I THINK THE TRUE ISSUE WITH OUR COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD HAS TO DO WITH A PRETTY POORLY WRITTEN ORDINANCE, AND THAT'S THE THE OVERALL GOAL THAT I THINK THAT WE AS A BODY NEED TO BE COMMITTED TO OPENING THIS THIS ORDINANCE BACK UP REALLY EVALUATING THE TEETH THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THIS DEPARTMENT ALLOW FOR IT TO BE AN EFFICIENT DEPARTMENT THAT DOES REPORT TO THE CITY MANAGER AND ALLOW FOR THAT MANAGEMENT TO STAY UNDER THE CITY MANAGER TO, TO STAY STREAMLINED WITH OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE BOARD AS IT STANDS, HAS TO DO WITH THE WAY THAT IT WAS WRITTEN AND PASSED BY THE COUNCIL. SO IN NO WAY DO I WANT TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THIS MOTION, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE.

[06:10:05]

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE MORE PRODUCTIVITY OUT OF THAT DEPARTMENT AND BOARD AS WELL.

BUT THE REALITY IS, IS AGAIN, IT WAS POORLY WRITTEN.

IT WAS IMPLEMENTED.

WE HAVE IT NOW, BUT WE NEED TO AMEND IT TO GIVE IT THE TEETH THAT IT NEEDS AND TO MAKE IT MOVE MORE EFFECTIVELY.

SO FOR THAT, I WILL BE SUPPORTING STRIKING THIS LANGUAGE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE BLACKMON AMENDMENT? SEEING NONE. PLEASE SHOW YOUR CARDS IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD.

CARDS RAISED IN FAVOR COUNCIL MEMBER STUART WILLIS.

BAZALDUA NARVAEZ ARNOLD, RESENDEZ.

WEST AND BLACKMON.

THE ITEM THREE.

MOVE FORWARD, MR. MAYOR.

ANYONE ELSE WITH ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS ON OPERATIONAL OR MOTIONS? I DON'T SEE ANYONE.

I DON'T HEAR ANYONE.

WELL, MADAM. CITY MANAGER.

I THINK I NEED TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU TO JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL GOOD ON YOUR BRIEFING AGENDA BEFORE I CLOSE IT DOWN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

WE ARE DONE WITH OUR BRIEFINGS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE DISCUSSIONS, EVERYONE.

THEN, SINCE WE DIDN'T HEAR ANY OBJECTION, WE ARE GOING TO HOLD ALL THE POLICY AMENDMENTS TO THE JUNE 5TH BRIEFING.

I'VE BEEN AGAIN, I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN ASSURED BY THE CITY MANAGER THAT WE WILL TAKE IT UP IN THE MORNING AND IT WILL BE THE TOP ITEM ON THE AGENDA, SO WE WILL GET EVERYBODY'S ISSUES ADDRESSED THAT ON THAT DAY.

SO WE'RE HOLDING POLICY UNTIL JUNE 5TH, AND THAT'S ALL THE BUSINESS WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY.

SO IT'S 5:17 P.M.

AND THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED.