Jun 03, 2024 Economic Development

[00:00:01]

OKAY. OKAY IT IS NOW 1:03.

[Economic Development on June 3, 2024.]

FRED ASHTON IS THE MINUTES.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? SECOND. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY.

THE FIRST ITEM WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

DID IT? OKAY. HOLD ON. ALL IMPROVED.

THANK YOU. SO, THE MOTION PASSED FOR THE MINUTES.

FIRST ITEM WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PERMIT DASHBOARDS.

LUNCH ON JUNE 3RD.

IT'S 1:04.

NOW IS A DASHBOARD UP TO THE PUBLIC NOW.

OKAY. SO PUBLIC IF YOU LISTEN, THE DASHBOARD IS UP, AND YOU CAN GO TO THE DASHBOARD.

AND COULD YOU JUST BRIEFLY BEFORE YOU START, TELL EVERYONE HOW WHERE THEY GET TO THE DASHBOARD IF THEY WANT TO LOOK AT IT.

THANK YOU. SO.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ANDREW ESPINOZA DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

WITH ME, I HAVE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR VERNON YOUNG.

WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON OUR COMMITMENTS.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD WITH DBI TO GET THIS COMMERCIAL DASHBOARD IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT METRICS TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

AS SUCH, THE DATA WE'VE COLLECTED REVEALS THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS PERFORMING AT A VERY HIGH AND CONSISTENT LEVEL.

FOR EXAMPLE, AS OF MAY 2024 OUT OF 2558 COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PERMITS 2470 OF THOSE ANOTHER IN OTHER WORDS, 97% OF THEM HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH.

THE DASHBOARD DOES ALSO REVEAL SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE ON.

NUMBER ONE, CANCELLATION OF INACTIVE PERMITS SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM OUT OF THE QUEUE.

NUMBER TWO, DEVELOP A PLAN FOR 100% ONLINE SUBMISSION FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PERMITS, AND THEN ALSO IMPLEMENTING CUSTOMER INTERVENTIONS SO THAT WHEN CUSTOMERS KIND OF GET STUCK WE INTERVENE AND MEET WITH CUSTOMERS TO GET THOSE PERMITS OUT OF THE SYSTEM BY FACILITATING PERMIT ISSUANCE.

WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO DR.

BRITA ANDREJCZYK AND HER TEAM TO WALK US THROUGH THE COMMERCIAL PERMITTING DASHBOARD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR ESPINOSA.

THANK YOU. HONORABLE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR PROVIDING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS TOOL TO YOU TODAY.

CHAIR, YOU ASKED ME TO START BY TELLING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHERE THEY CAN FIND THIS PRODUCT IF THEY WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG.

SO, ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, YOU'LL FIND THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WEBSITE.

AND IF YOU SCROLL DOWN, THERE IS A BOX THAT SAYS COMMERCIAL PERMITS.

AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CLICK ON THAT BUTTON IF IT IS LIVE.

NOW, IF YOU WANTED TO MOVE THROUGH WITH US, WE'LL ALSO BE PROVIDING A LIVE DEMO SO THAT YOU CAN SEE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRODUCT.

SO, OUR TEAM, THE OFFICE OF DATA ANALYTICS AND BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE, PARTNERED WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO DEVELOP THIS TOOL.

AS WAS REQUESTED BY THIS COMMITTEE, THE TOOL WAS CREATED TO LOOK VERY VISUALLY SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED TOOL ON RESIDENTIAL PERMITS.

WE HOPE THAT THESE VISUALIZATIONS AND NUMBERS PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND CLARITY INTO THE COMMERCIAL PERMITTING PROCESS.

SO, AS I MENTIONED, IT'S LIVE AS WE SPEAK.

IT CAN BE ACCESSED ON DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WEBSITE.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO PROVIDE A LINK TO WHAT WE CALL A STORY PAGE, WHICH WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, VIDEOS, ETC.

TO HELP WALK A USER THROUGH EXACTLY HOW TO USE IT AND GLEAN INSIGHTS FROM THIS PRODUCT.

SO, I'M GOING TO INVITE THE PERSON WHO WAS THE PRIMARY ARCHITECT OF THIS TOOL, MR. DANIEL DUDEK, TO WALK YOU THROUGH IT, AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DR.

ANDREJCZYK. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TO SHOWCASE THIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DASHBOARD.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO START FROM THE TOP AND DISCUSS THE FILTERS THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD.

SELECT WORK TYPE WILL ALLOW YOU TO TOGGLE BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PERMIT CATEGORIES BASED ON THEIR TYPE OF WORK.

THE SIX OPTIONS WE'VE IDENTIFIED ARE ADDITION, NEW CONSTRUCTION, REMODEL ADDITIONS, NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND REMODEL.

BELOW THAT, YOU CAN SELECT THE SPECIFIC MONTH YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW, AND BELOW THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO SELECT THE YEAR.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE VIEWING NEW CONSTRUCTION BUILDING PERMITS FOR ALL MONTHS IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE DASHBOARD IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS.

THE LARGE SECTION ON THE LEFT, WHICH HAS A WHITE BACKGROUND AND A SMALLER SECTION TO THE RIGHT WHICH HAS A GRAY BACKGROUND.

THIS BACKGROUND DIFFERENCE GENERALLY HIGHLIGHTS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN METRICS, FOCUSING ON PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED OR ISSUED IN THE WHITE, AND THOSE THAT ARE IN QUEUE IN

[00:05:10]

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ANY METRIC RELATED TO TIME OR IN QUEUE TRACKING WILL ONLY PERTAIN TO PERMITS SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY.

THE UPPER LEFTMOST BAND CARD, CALLED CURRENT SELECTED VIEW, AIDS THE USER IN UNDERSTANDING WHICH TYPE OF PERMITS FOR A GIVEN TIME PERIOD IS SELECTED.

TO FILTER THE DASHBOARD IN THE NEXT BAND CARD, WE SEE THE NUMBER OF PERMIT APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED.

IF YOU HOVER OVER THE BOX, A TOOLTIP WILL APPEAR SHOWING A BREAKDOWN OF ISSUED PERMITS BY THEIR SUBMITTED DATE, ALONG WITH THE MEDIAN ISSUED DAYS.

FOLLOWING THAT, WE SHOW THE NUMBER OF PERMITS ISSUED, WHICH CAN INCLUDE PERMITS SUBMITTED PRIOR TO 2024.

THIS TOOLTIP SHOWS THE NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT WERE ISSUED BY THEIR SUBMITTED DATE.

BELOW THESE CARDS IN THE GRAPH TITLED PERMIT APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED AND ISSUED BY MONTH, WE SHOW A MONTHLY BREAKDOWN OF BOTH SUBMITTED AND.

ISSUED PERMITS TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PERMIT VOLUME COMING INTO THE CITY AND HOW MANY PERMITS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS IS ISSUING MONTHLY.

DARKER COLORS REPRESENT PERMITS SUBMITTED, WHILE LIGHTER COLORS REPRESENT PERMITS ISSUED.

ADDITIONALLY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHILE WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT NEW CONSTRUCTION PERMITS, REMODELS COMPRISE THE LARGEST BODY OF WORK IN THE COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, WITH OVER 650 REMODEL PERMITS PROCESSED VERSUS THE MUCH SMALLER AMOUNT SHOWN HERE.

WE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENCE LATER ON IN THIS DEMONSTRATION.

IN THE RIGHTMOST CARD WITHIN THE WHITE SECTION OF THE DASHBOARD, WE HIGHLIGHT THE MEDIAN NUMBER OF DAYS TO ISSUANCE, WITH THE TOOLTIP HIGHLIGHTING THE MEDIAN TIME SPENT WITH STAFF AND FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW THIS METRIC IS CALCULATED.

AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, REMODELS, WHICH ARE THE BULK OF THE COMMERCIAL PERMITTING WORK, TAKE FAR LESS TIME TO PROCESS LESS THAN 20 DAYS COMPARED TO THE TRIPLE DIGIT TIMING FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, AS SEEN HERE BELOW THIS CARD.

IN THE NEXT GRAPH TITLED MEDIAN, ISSUED DAYS BY MONTH, WE SHOW THE MEDIAN DAYS IT TAKES FOR PERMITS TO BE ISSUED THAT ARE ISSUED IN THAT MONTH.

WHEN YOU HOVER OVER EACH BAR IN THE CHART, YOU WILL SEE A BREAKDOWN OF THE PERCENTAGE OF TIME SPENT WITH THE APPLICANT AND STAFF.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HOVER OVER APRIL, WE SEE THAT THE PERMITS ISSUED IN THAT MONTH TOOK A MEDIAN LENGTH OF 300 DAYS, WITH 47% OF THE TIME BEING SPENT WITH THE CITY AND 53% WITH THE APPLICANT.

THESE VALUES AND PERCENTAGES MAY FLUCTUATE THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS, BUT WE GENERALLY SEE ABOUT A 5050 SPLIT BETWEEN APPLICANT AND STAFF FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.

BELOW THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED AND ISSUED BY MONTH CHART, WE CREATE A BUBBLE CHART TITLED PERMITS BY NUMBER OF REVISIONS.

IN THIS IMPORTANT VISUALIZATION, ON THE HORIZONTAL AXIS IS THE MEDIAN DAYS.

ON THE VERTICAL AXIS IS THE NUMBER OF REVISIONS, AND THE SIZE OF THE BUBBLE INDICATES THE NUMBER OF PERMITS.

AS WE CAN SEE, GENERALLY SPEAKING, AS THE NUMBER OF REVISIONS INCREASES, SO DOES THE NUMBER OF MEDIAN DAYS TO BE ISSUED.

IF WE HOVER OVER THE BUBBLES REPRESENTING ONE AND TWO REVISIONS, WE SEE THAT THE NUMBER OF DAYS TO ISSUE ARE AROUND 160 DAYS, COMPARED TO PERMITS THAT HAVE TAKEN SEVEN REVISIONS.

IN THAT CASE, IT TAKES CLOSE TO 600 DAYS TO BE ISSUED.

THIS EMPHASIZES THAT A WELL-PREPARED INITIAL PERMIT APPLICATION SPEEDS UP THE ISSUANCE TIME FOR A FINAL VISUALIZATION.

WITHIN THE WHITE SECTION, WE HAVE CREATED THE BAR CHART TITLED INITIAL REVIEW START MET GOAL, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE MONTHLY PERCENTAGE OF PERMITS THAT HAVE COMPLETED THEIR INITIAL REVIEW MEETING.

DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES GOAL FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, REMODEL AND ADDITIONS.

THE GOAL IS 15 DAYS TO COMPLETE AN INITIAL REVIEW, WHILE FOR Q TEAM THIS IS TEN DAYS IF WE HOVER OVER THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, WHICH HAS A PERCENT MET GOAL OF 29%, A TOOLTIP SHOWS US THE DEFINITION OF MEETING THE GOAL AND THE NUMBER OF PERMITS WHICH MET AND DID NOT MEET THAT GOAL.

OUR LAST BAND CARD, WHICH RESIDES IN THE GRAY OR IN Q SECTION, HIGHLIGHTS THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE PERMITS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN QUEUE.

THESE ARE PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN ISSUED.

IN THE TOOLTIP, WE SHOW A BREAKDOWN OF THESE PERMITS BY WHEN THEY WERE CREATED AND IF THEY ARE CURRENTLY SITTING WITH THE APPLICANT, STAFF OR BOTH.

WE ALSO HIGHLIGHT HOW MANY PERMITS ARE INACTIVE AND NOT INCLUDED IN THIS COUNT, MEANING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SITTING WITH THE APPLICANT FOR 90 DAYS OR MORE WITH NO ACTION.

WE CAN ALSO SEE THAT MORE THAN 50% OF PERMITS BEING SUBMITTED IN 2024 ARE STILL ON PAPER, EMPHASIZING THE NEED TO SWITCH COMPLETELY TO

[00:10:08]

BELOW THIS, WE HIGHLIGHT WITH THE DONUT CHART THE PERMITS IN QUEUE BY STAFF AND APPLICANT, WHERE WE SHOW THE NUMBER OF PERMITS IN QUEUE, SITTING WITH STAFF, APPLICANT OR BOTH, LIGHTER COLORS REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT AND DARKER THE STAFF.

FINALLY, WE ARRIVE AT OUR LAST CHART TITLED PERMITS AND QUEUE BY STAGE.

HERE WE CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF PERMITS SITTING IN EACH WORKFLOW STAGE, THOSE BEING PRESCREENED DEPARTMENT REVIEW AND POST REVIEW, WHERE LIGHTER COLORS REPRESENT PERMITS CURRENTLY WITH THE APPLICANT AND DARKER WITH THE STAFF.

THE TOOLTIP THAT APPEARS WHEN HOVERING OVER THE BARS INFORMS THE USER ABOUT THE MEANING OF EACH STAGE.

WE'VE PROVIDED A HELP ICON TO GIVE USERS KEY INFORMATION, INCLUDING EXPLANATIONS OF WHAT THE MEDIAN IS AND WHY IT IS USED, AND THE THREE STAGES OF PERMIT APPROVAL.

THE SECOND BUTTON THAT RESIDES NEXT TO THE TITLE OF THE DASHBOARD WILL TAKE THE USER TO THE SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DASHBOARD.

BEFORE WE CLOSE, WE AGAIN WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE NUMBER OF REVISIONS IS CRITICAL IN HOW LONG A PERMIT TAKES TO BE ISSUED, AND THAT THE BULK OF THE COMMERCIAL PERMITTING WORK ARE REMODELS, WHICH TAKE FAR, FAR LESS TIME TO PROCESS THAN OTHER WORK TYPES.

THIS IS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED BY THE SUBMITTED ISSUED AND MEDIAN ISSUED DATE BANK CARDS.

WE CAN ALSO SEE WITHIN REMODELS, THERE ARE FAR FEWER PERMITS THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL REVISIONS, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO THE QUICKER TURNAROUND TIME.

IN CONCLUSION, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO COLLABORATE WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO DEVELOP THIS ESSENTIAL TOOL THAT AIMS TO BRING TRANSPARENCY AND EFFICIENCY TO THE COMMERCIAL PERMITTING PROCESS WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THANK YOU, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

I WILL NOW HAND IT BACK TO DR.

ANDRECZYK. THANK YOU, DAN.

WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK THAT YOU HAVE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

COMMITTEE OF THE CAUTION.

ANYONE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT A DASHBOARD? CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS TOOL AND FOR Y'ALL'S COLLABORATION.

I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A TOPIC, OF COURSE, THAT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE COUNCIL FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.

AND AS MUCH TRANSPARENCY AS WE CAN GIVE I THINK PAINTS A BETTER PICTURE A COMPONENT THAT I JUST WANTED TO GET ON THE RECORD OF THIS TOOL TO ME, REALLY DAYLIGHT'S WHERE SOME OF THE ISSUES ARE IN THE PROCESS, I THINK THAT IT PAINTS A MORE GRANULAR STORY THAT WHEN WE HEAR FROM APPLICANTS, WHEN WE HEAR FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS IN THE OUTSIDE AND WE HEAR JUST THESE HIGH LEVEL DATES OR TIME PERIODS, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REALLY DIG IN WITHOUT HINDERING THE PROCESS AND GETTING TOO INVOLVED, BUT BEING ABLE TO REALLY DIG IN AND SEE WHERE THE HOLDUP IS OR WHERE EVEN THE ONUS OR RESPONSIBILITY LIES ON WHERE SOME OF THOSE TIME GAPS START.

AND WHAT THIS HAS DONE FOR ME, TO ME, IS PAINT A CLEARER PICTURE AND GIVES US A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO IT IS TO BLAME.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE FEEDBACKS I GAVE TO YOU ALL WHENEVER WE FIRST MET WAS I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS TOOL SHOULD PROVIDE IS NOT ONLY TRANSPARENCY IN WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT ALSO PAINT A CLEARER PICTURE, BECAUSE IT'S REAL EASY TO HEAR FROM AN APPLICANT WHO SAYS IT'S TAKEN X AMOUNT OF DAYS OR X AMOUNT OF WEEKS, AND THEN WHEN YOU DIG INTO IT AND FIND OUT THAT THEY HAD FAILED TO PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT WAS REQUESTED OR DELIVERABLES THAT CAME IN.

AND SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS TOOL IS SOMETHING EXTREMELY VALUABLE.

I THINK IT INCREASES TRANSPARENCY.

I THINK IT ALSO HELPS OUR STAFF'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE WHAT I BELIEVE IS A PRETTY HIGH-PROFILE TOPIC THAT THAT OFTEN THE CITY IS JUST TO BLAME EVERY SINGLE TIME.

AND SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DISPARITIES BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, FOR INSTANCE, ON HOW WE WERE OUR PRODUCTIVITY LEVELS, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WASN'T MAKING SENSE TO ME. AND I THINK THAT THIS DASHBOARD REALLY HELPS PAINT THAT PICTURE.

I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO TAKE FEEDBACK FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS ON HOW THIS CAN CONTINUE TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO OVERALL SAY THANK YOU. I THINK THAT ANY TIME WE'VE BEEN GIVEN DASHBOARDS FROM Y'ALL'S DEPARTMENT, IT'S BEEN SECOND TO NONE.

IT PROVIDES A LEVEL, A LAYER OF SOPHISTICATION THAT HAS BEEN LACKING IN OUR CITY.

AND I THINK WITH CITY GOVERNMENT, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MODERNIZE AND SOPHISTICATE OUR TOOLS AND RESOURCES.

SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS.

GREAT JOB ON IT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND GREAT JOB DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

I THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO HELP SHOW THE GREAT JOB THAT Y'ALL ARE ALREADY DOING.

[00:15:01]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I WAS GOING TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT MY COLLEAGUE, MR. BAZALDUA JUST SAID.

ESPECIALLY THE PART ABOUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

IT'S USUALLY APPLICANTS, BUT THEN A STORY GETS TOLD, AND THAT'S THE STORY, BECAUSE THE PERCEPTION IS THE REALITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE NETWORKS, THE NEWS, THEY JUMP ON IT, AND IT BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON WITHOUT POINTING OUT ONE APPLICANT. AND WITH THIS DASHBOARD, AT LEAST WE CAN SEE, LIKE, OKAY, MAYBE THE SKY ISN'T FALLING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT WAS AT ONE POINT, BUT MAYBE IT WASN'T.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ALL THE DATA FROM THEN, BUT WE DO HAVE DATA NOW.

AND SO, BY PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, I THINK JUST LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS US.

IT REALLY DOES. BECAUSE NOW I CAN SAY, WELL, THE DASHBOARD SAYS THERE'S SEVEN.

YOU KNOW, I'M MAKING UP NUMBERS RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT USING THE DASHBOARD, BUT THERE'S SEVEN APPLICANTS THAT ARE OUTSTANDING THAT ARE OVER 120 DAYS.

OKAY. NOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE SEVEN? AND TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO POINT ANY FINGERS.

IT'S LIKE TYPICALLY IT'S THE APPLICANT RIGHT.

SOMETHING'S GONE WRONG THERE.

AND I'VE GOT ONE RIGHT NOW THAT'S JUST LIKE IT'S A WHOLE MESS.

BUT IT'S NOT REALLY ON PERMITTING.

IT'S NOT AT ALL.

IT HAS TO DO WITH A SPECIFIC ISSUE THAT THAT APPLICANT IS CHOOSING NOT TO TAKE CARE OF.

SO, IT'S LIKE, WELL, THEN YOU DON'T GET YOUR PERMIT.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T HAVE A POWER TO DO THAT.

AND SO, BUT BY HAVING THIS, IT'S LIKE SHOWS THE REALITY OF WHAT'S GOING ON FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE NEWS MEDIA.

SO, THE NEXT WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK IS IT'S SPECIFIC TO THIS DASHBOARD, BUT ALL DASHBOARDS.

IS THERE A PLACE THAT WE CAN PUT ON THE WEBSITE THAT YOU KNOW, WHERE ALL DASHBOARDS ALSO, YOU KNOW, HANG OUT AND LIVE? BESIDES THEIR JUST REGULAR HOME BECAUSE LET'S SAY SOMEBODY'S GOING THROUGH AND THEY JUST WANT TO I JUST WANT TO SEE DASHBOARDS, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO LOOK AT YOU KNOW, OR LIKE, LIKE US OR STAFF THAT'S LIKE DASHBOARDS ARE IMPORTANT, LIKE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE GO QUICKLY.

BUT EVEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC, LIKE, THEY WANT TO SEE EVERY SINGLE DASHBOARD THAT YOU'VE CREATED.

AND. I DON'T. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD DO IT.

LIKE, IS IT A FOLDER? IS IT A LIBRARY? IS IT A FILE WHERE PEOPLE CAN CLICK AND GO? YOU KNOW, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, VISION ZERO.

I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PERMITS.

I WANT TO LEARN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE BOND I WANT TO LEARN ABOUT, YOU KNOW CHARTER REVIEW.

I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT REDISTRICTING.

IT'S LIKE YOU HAVE ALL THESE REALLY COOL, AMAZING DASHBOARDS THAT COULD REALLY.

IS THAT A PLACE THAT CAN HAPPEN OR SOMETHING YOU CAN DO? YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FOR THE QUESTION.

WE IN ADDITION TO HAVING THESE TOPICAL DASHBOARDS LIVE OUT ON THE SPECIFIC PAGES THAT WE THINK PEOPLE MIGHT GO TO, WE DO HAVE ON OUR PAGE ALMOST ALL OF OUR PUBLIC FACING DASHBOARDS IN ONE PLACE.

FOR THOSE THAT JUST WANT TO CLICK THROUGH AND SEE DATA AND LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT DATA INITIATIVES WHO AREN'T BROUGHT TO A TOOL LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, I NEED TO GOOGLE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND UNDERSTAND PERMITTING TIMES.

SO THAT IS AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE ON OUR DATA ANALYTICS AND BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE PAGE.

THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. AND THAT'S THE THING THAT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN GO TO BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, WE FORGET LIKE THERE'S A DASHBOARD FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE AND IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A DASHBOARD FOR THAT.

RIGHT. SO, THANK YOU AGAIN.

MR. CHAIR AND, AND THE COMMITTEE FOR, YOU KNOW, PUSHING FOR THIS AND MAKING THIS HAPPEN AND GREAT JOB AND LET'S KEEP IT.

KEEP AT IT. BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS REALLY GOING TO HELP YOU GUYS.

COVER YOUR TAIL A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, AS WE GO FORWARD.

SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. CHAIRMAN WEST.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND I SECOND EVERYTHING THAT MY TWO COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.

I'VE HAD THE BENEFIT OF THIS PRE-BRIEFING FROM STAFF, AND I APPRECIATE IT.

I HAD AN ITEM THAT I HAD ASKED YOU GUYS TO ADD IN.

I COULDN'T REMEMBER IF YOU DID OR NOT.

WE CAN. I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AFTER THIS, BUT IT WAS THIS IS GREAT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD FOR THE USERS.

AND I'M FULL SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. I JUST GOT ONE QUESTION ON THIS SLIDE IN THE BOTTOM LEFT-HAND CORNER.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT IN LAYMAN'S TERMS? DO THAT. SHOW THAT WHEN APPLE COME IN HAVING THE TIME HE COME IN HE GOT TO GO BACK.

IT'S CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT.

YES. YES, SIR.

SO, IN THAT BUBBLE CHART IN THE LOWER LEFT-HAND CORNER THESE ARE FOR ALL THE ISSUED PERMITS.

SO, ANY PERMIT THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED, WE CAN TRACK THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THAT.

AND SO, WHEN WE SEE THE NUMBER OF REVISIONS THERE THAT'S CORRECTIONS BEING SENT BACK, AND THEY HAVE TO REVISE THAT AND THEN THOSE ARE THE ISSUED PERMITS.

SO, IF, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WERE HOVERING OVER THAT LARGER BUBBLE, TOO.

SO, SEVEN PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED THROUGH THIS YEAR HAVE TWO REVISIONS.

AND THEN THE MEDIAN DAYS FOR THOSE SEVEN PERMITS WAS 168 MEDIAN DAYS.

AND JUST JUST TO ADD TO THAT, IF YOU DON'T HAVE IF YOU HAVE ONE OR LESS REVISION, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PERMIT IN ABOUT 150 DAYS.

EVERY TIME YOU ADD A ROUND OF REVISIONS, IT'S ADDING ALMOST 100 DAYS TO THE PROCESS.

[00:20:05]

SO, IN VERY SIMPLE TERMS, THAT CHART IS SHOWING THE MORE REVISIONS YOU HAVE, THE LONGER THIS IS GOING TO TAKE.

IF YOUR PERMIT APPLICATION IS READY TO GO DURING THE FIRST SUBMISSION, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR PERMIT IN HAND A LOT FASTER.

AND SO THAT WILL GIVE YOU MORE TRANSPARENCY THAT WILL COME IN.

YOU KNOW, IF HE CAME IN THE SECOND TIME OR THIRD TIME, IT SHOWED THAT HAMILTON HE CAME IN BECAUSE HE MIGHT HAVE HAD ALL HIS INFORMATION.

YES. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ANOTHER QUESTION WITH THAT, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT BRIEFING BY MEMO, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUDGET PRESENTATION.

KEVIN SPATH, KEVIN.

I THINK THIS IS A BRIEFING.

COLLEAGUES AND ANYONE HAVING A QUESTION FOR MR. KEVIN SPATH ON THIS ISSUE.

SEE? YES. OH.

HOLD ON. I'M SORRY. I WAS READING THIS TO SEE YES, I BELIEVE IT WAS SOMETHING I JUST READ HERE ON.

YES, I KNOW, I TELL YOU WHAT.

WE'LL COME BACK THE QUESTION. YEAH, LET'S COME BACK.

BECAUSE I HAD SOMETHING ABOUT ONE OF THESE POSITIONS.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE HAD ANYTHING ABOUT.

SEE, I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS, KEVIN.

YOU'RE NOT. YOU AIN'T GOT AWAY YET.

JUST HOLD ON. JUST HOLD.

HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.

THE DEPUTY MAYOR. WE'RE STILL WAITING.

ANYONE ELSE? CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU HAD ANYTHING? WELL, I'M READY NOW.

OKAY. IT WAS A REFERENCE TO A NEW POSITION HERE I WAS READING ABOUT.

THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO JUST TELL YOU ALL, AND I'M GOING TO LET THE CITY MANAGER KNOW AS WELL.

AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M VERY SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS.

BUT IN THE PRESENTATION, AS WE TALK ABOUT HIRING AND RECONFIGURATION OF THE DEPARTMENT, I THINK WE STILL NEED TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT I CALL HUSTLE AND FLOW.

THERE'S NOTHING ON THIS CHART, NOTHING IN THE PRESENTATION THAT SPEAKS TO PERSONNEL, THAT ACTUALLY WILL MOVE OUT AGGRESSIVELY TO GET OUT AND HUSTLE SO THAT THE FLOW OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMES TO THOSE UNDER SERVED UNDER RESOURCED LOCATIONS.

AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT DISTRICT FOUR PRIMARILY.

BUT I DO KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS, BUT WE ARE ONE OF THOSE MOST AGGRESSIVELY INGRAINED IN CHALLENGES.

AND SO, AS A NEW DIRECTOR, I'M SHARING WITH YOU.

I KNOW MISS BENTLEY HAS HEARD THIS AND I'LL SHARE THIS WITH THE INTERIM.

WELL, CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO APPLAUD ALL OF THESE, QUOTE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE SEE HERE IN CATALYTIC PROJECTS.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED US THE MOST.

AND WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT DATA THAT WE'RE DATA DRIVEN OR DATA, WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

BUT THE DATA DEVELOPMENT IS NOT FOLLOWING THE DATA.

AND SO, I WANT TO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE ON THE RECORD ABOUT THAT CHAIR.

WE APPLAUD, I LOVE ME SOME NEIMAN MARCUS, I LOVE GOLDMAN SACHS.

BUT WE SHOULD BE A CITY THAT CAN SPEAK MORE ABOUT SERVING THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE CARRYING THAT BURDEN.

EVEN IF THEY'RE LIVING IN DEPLORABLE HOUSING CONDITIONS, THEY'RE STILL PAYING TAXES, BUT THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANY ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM PAYING TAXES TO KEEP NEIMAN MARCUS HERE AND, AND, AND GOLDMAN SACHS AND THE OTHERS.

AND SO, SIR, I'M GOING TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

SHARE THAT WITH MISS ROBIN BENTLEY AND KIM TOLBERT CITY MANAGER AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF OURSELVES THAT WE CANNOT BE CHEERLEADERS AND ADVOCATES FOR A TEAM WITHIN THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT GOES OUT AND KNOCKS ON DOORS AND FIND SOME OF THESE FOLKS AND GET SOME OF THE FUNDS AND RESOURCES TO COME TO THOSE AREAS.

AND I'M GOING TO JUST LEAVE IT LIKE THAT, CHAIR.

BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT GOING TO LET IT GO, BECAUSE MY COMMUNITY DOES NOT LET IT GO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN WEST, THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN, AND APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

KEVIN, JUST REALLY ONE QUESTION.

IT INVOLVES THE EDC AND YOUR BUDGET.

AND DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR PROGRAMING OR WORK WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT OR BUDGET BASED ON WHAT THE EDC IS DOING NOW, ANY, ANY WORK SHIFTING OVER TO THEM? NO, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY CHANGES TO OUR BUDGET THIS COMING YEAR AS IT RELATES TO OUR SUPPORT TO THE EDC.

AS THE EDC STARTS TO RAMP UP STAFFING AND STARTS TO TAKE ON MORE WORK THAT'S CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE, BUT NOT FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I'LL SAVE MY QUESTIONS ON SPECIFICS.

SO, WHEN WE GET THE EDC BRIEFING UP HERE, BUT I'M PROBABLY JUST GOING TO ASK YOU GUYS LIKE JUST HOW WE THOUGHT THROUGH CROSSOVER TASKS AND WORK OF STAFF.

SO, THANK YOU.

[00:25:02]

YES. OKAY. CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

ARE WE GOING TO I CAN'T SEEM TO ACCESS THIS ONLINE SO I CAN PUT IT IN MY FILE.

IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN? IT SHOULD BE UP NOW.

IT SHOULD BE UP WHEN I CLICK IT.

PRESENTATION IT SAYS IT'S NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE AGENDA.

I'M SURE WE CAN GET IT FIGURED OUT EVENTUALLY.

I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT IMMEDIATELY.

I LIKE TO KEEP MY FILE.

OKAY. IT SHOULD HAVE GONE UP.

SO, CHRIS SAID TO THE SECRETARY TO MAKE SURE ALL THIS SHOULD HAVE GONE UP ON FRIDAY.

WE SHOULD HAVE GOT IT. IF WE GOT PROBLEM WITH THE COLLEAGUES WHO LIKE GETTING THIS BECAUSE I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE PRESENT, IS GOING TO BE BRIEFING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAD A FULL COPY, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAD A LONG AGENDA TODAY.

SO, I'M KIND OF DISAPPOINTED IT DID NOT SOMEONE HAD A PROBLEM TRYING TO PULL IT UP.

YES. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.

IT WAS POSTED BEFORE WE WALKED IN.

I ACTUALLY LOOKED AT IT RIGHT BEFORE, BUT IF SOMETHING HAS BROKEN IN THE LINK, WE'LL FIX IT AND I'LL EMAIL YOU A COPY TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT.

THANK YOU. WITH THAT, ANDREW [INAUDIBLE] DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET PRESENTATION.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTION ON BRIEFING D AND MY COLLEAGUES ON D? CHAIRWOMAN STEWART I'M HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE GETTING THAT ONE AS WELL.

OKAY. MAYBE IT'S JUST ME TODAY.

ANYONE ELSE? CHRIS, DO YOU CAN YOU PULL IT UP AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM PUTTING THESE UP? WITH THAT, I'LL GO TO COUNCILWOMAN RIDLEY, YOU HAD A QUESTION.

YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON.

DIRECTOR ESPINOSA, I NOTICED THAT YOUR PRESENTATION DID NOT INCLUDE ANY REFERENCE TO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE, THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT'S ON SCHEDULE AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO INTEGRATE WITH THE REST OF YOUR PRESENTATION. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, GREAT QUESTION.

AGAIN, ANDREW ESPINOSA, DIRECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

WITH ME, I HAVE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MINA ESKANDER TO MY RIGHT, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR VERNON YOUNG AND DEPUTY BUILDING OFFICIAL DONALD DIXON.

SO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, OUR DALLAS NOW PROJECT IS ABOUT 11 MONTHS INTO THE TIMELINE.

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH ITS THE VENDOR, GARDNER, WHO IS OUR CONSULTANT, AND WE ARE MEETING OUR MILESTONES AND TURNAROUND TIMES AT THIS POINT. AND WE ARE PROJECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE SUMMER OF 2025.

SO, WE'RE ON COURSE.

GOOD. WILL THERE BE ANY FUNCTIONALITY BEFORE THAT COMPLETION IN SUMMER OF 2025, OR WILL IT ALL BE WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT TILL IT GOES LIVE THEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER THE ROLLOUT IS INTENDED TO GO 100% LIVE THE DAY WE FLIP THE SWITCH.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO PREPARING FOR THAT, LIKE TESTING ACCEPTANCE.

AND SO WE WILL DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, BUT OUR INTENTION IS TO ROLL OUT 100% WHEN WE ROLL OUT.

THANK YOU. YES, SIR.

ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUESTION? QUESTION ON YOU.

7800 STEMMONS BUILDING.

ARE THERE ANY UPDATE ON THAT PARTICULAR.

CHAIR ATKINS, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DOES NOT HAVE AN UPDATE AS IT RELATES TO THE ONGOING REPAIRS AT STEMMONS OR THE ASSOCIATED COST, SO I WOULD DEFER TO EITHER THE BOND OFFICE OR OUR CITY MANAGER'S TEAM.

OKAY. THE BOND OFFICE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JENNY NISWANDER, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.

I HAVE A REAL BRIEF UPDATE.

WE HAVE MET WITH THE THIRD-PARTY EDC, WHO CAME OUT TO THE BUILDING LAST WEEK AND DID A DID A PRELIMINARY INSPECTION, AND WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THEM MOVING FORWARD.

AND WE ARE FINISHING SOME FIRE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE ELEVATOR WORK THAT'S GOING ON AT STEMMONS.

AND THEN OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR THE REPORT THAT EDC PROVIDES AND TO LET US KNOW WHAT THE DIRECTION IS OF STEMMONS AND THE REMAINING REPAIRS THAT WILL BE NEEDED.

WHAT ABOUT THE PAST BOND MONEY THAT WE'RE USING ON 1700 STEMMONS AND HOW MUCH WE'RE USING.

SO, WE USED A TOTAL OF JUST UNDER $2 MILLION IN 2017, BOND DOLLARS THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FACILITIES.

[00:30:05]

RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.

CLEAR. WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU KNOW, WE SPEND SO MUCH MONEY AT 77,800 STEMMONS.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TRANSPARENT THAT WHAT ALL THE MONEY COMING FROM.

SO, THE 2017 BOND MONEY, YOU KNOW, WE USE THAT MONEY FOR 1700 STEMMONS.

AND ALSO, I'M KIND OF DISAPPOINTED THAT IF WE'RE NOT BROUGHT OUT.

SO, I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE COLLEAGUES THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT MONEY IS COMING FROM TO DO 7800 STEMMONS BECAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, TODAY.

AND SO, I WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE NO ONE THE 7800 STEM IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BUILDING, BUT WE ALSO USE THE BOND MONEY TO DO SOMETHING.

BUT ALSO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT A BUILDING DOES NOT DO PERMIT, PEOPLE DO PERMIT.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WHATEVER THEY WORK AT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE OUR PERMITS GO OUT.

SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE, BE ON RECORD THAT OUR RESIDENT IS SAFE.

OUR EMPLOYEES ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN 7800 STEMMONS THEY ON JEFFERSON, WHEREVER THEY ARE, THEY'RE GOING TO DO THEIR WORK.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHAT IS BEST.

BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT ABOUT A PANDEMIC.

WE CAN WORK GOOD AT HOME OR WHATEVER WITH OUR LOAN.

WE ARE TRAINED PROPERLY AND GOT A RIGHT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT, NOT A BUILDING.

SO THEREFORE 7800 STEMMONS IS NOT GOING TO CRAMP OUR MONEY THAT PAY OUR BILLS.

YOU KNOW, THE BUILDING IS NOT GOING TO PUT US BACK.

ARE WE GOING TO GO FORWARD? BECAUSE WITH TECHNOLOGY WE GOT AND WITH AND WITH THE RIGHT STAFF AND WITH THE RIGHT EMPLOYEES AND PAYING THEM A DECENT SALARY AND TO MAKE SURE THEY GET DONE. SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT MONEY ON 1700 STEMMONS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO PUT MONEY INTO AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND ALSO THE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK THERE, WHO MADE SURE THOSE PERMITS COME OUT WITH A DASHBOARD AND GO FORWARD AND SO ON AND SO ON.

SO THEREFORE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S TRANSPARENT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT WE DO WITH OUR MONEY.

SO THEREFORE, IT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND.

AND THE ENTERPRISE FUND, IT'S COST RECOVERY.

AND WE TAKE MONEY FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IN THE BUILDING.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MONEY STAYS IN THE ENTERPRISE FUND.

THAT SAID, THIS IS OUR COST RECOVERY, AND THIS IS WHAT IT COST US TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

WITH THAT. I SEE CHAIRMAN WEST HAS HIS LIGHT ON.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION AND TRANSPARENCY.

CHAIR. I'M CONFUSED THOUGH.

WHY ARE WE USING BOND MONEY INSTEAD OF STRICTLY ENTERPRISE MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS FOR THIS FACILITY, SINCE THIS IS AN ENTERPRISE FUNDED ORGANIZATION. BECAUSE THE SHORT ANSWER IS BECAUSE NOT ALL DEVELOPMENTS OR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WON'T BE UTILIZING THE ENTIRE BUILDING. THERE WILL BE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL BE MOVING IN, AND THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT ENTERPRISE FUND.

WELL, WHAT BOND CATEGORY FROM 2017 IS THIS FUNDING COMING FROM? THAT $2 MILLION CAME FROM THE CITY FACILITIES BOND PROPOSITION.

AND IT WAS INITIALLY EARMARKED FOR THE OAK CLIFF BUILDING FOR OCMC, FOR RENOVATIONS TO THE OAK CLIFF MUNICIPAL CENTER.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN WEST.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNEW WHAT THE MONEY WOULD COME FROM.

OKAY. WITH THAT.

THANK YOU. LET'S GO WITH.

ITEM E, THE UPCOMING AGENDA POWER, LIGHT, MIXED INCOME REDEVELOPMENT AND THAT MR. SPATH AGAIN. IN THE QUESTION ON E.

ANYONE HAVING A QUESTION ON E? OH, COME TO AGENDA ITEM POWER LIGHT MIXED INCOME REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF SOUTH ERVAY STREET BETWEEN RICHARDSON AVENUE AND THE RAILWAY. RIGHT.

NO QUESTION. WITH THAT.

LET'S GO. YES, MR. CHAIR JUST A BRIEF ONE.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

YES, KEVIN, WHERE THE 1.8 MILLION GRANT FUNDING WILL COME FROM? THAT'S 2012 PROPOSITION THREE BOND FUNDS.

PROPOSITION THREE IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING PROPOSITION FROM THE 2012 BOND PROGRAM.

SO, YOU STILL HAVE MONEY LEFT OVER FROM 12 YEARS AGO? YEAH, A LITTLE BIT.

EVEN AFTER THIS COMMITMENT, ASSUMING THE COUNCIL APPROVES IT, THERE'LL BE ABOUT 1,000,005 EVEN UNENCUMBERED BEYOND THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU, DEVIN.

PRO TEM ARNOLD. THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. KEVIN SPATH, COULD YOU FOR ME CLARIFY SOMETHING ON THE 2012 BOND? I WANT TO BE CLEAR.

WAS THERE ANY SPECIFICITY AROUND INVESTMENT IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR WITH THAT BOND, OR WAS IT 2006? I WANT TO BE CLEAR.

2012 REQUIRED BOND FUNDS TO BE SPENT IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OR IN TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AREAS.

[00:35:02]

WOULD YOU SAY THAT IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, HOW MANY YEARS YOU'VE BEEN HERE AT THE CITY IN THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE? I'M SORRY, WHAT'S THE QUESTION? WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE? HOW MANY YEARS? MORE THAN TEN YEARS, MORE THAN A DECADE.

SO, WOULD YOU, IN YOUR DECADE OF SERVICE AND OBSERVATION, KNOW OF THE NEED IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR? WE'RE GOING TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY WHERE I SIT IN DISTRICT FOUR THAT MIGHT HAVE BENEFITED FROM 2012 FUNDING THAT YOU'RE NOW USING DOWNTOWN.

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, MOST OF THE FUNDING FROM THE 2012 PROPOSITION THREE WAS SPENT IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

I THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN 1 OR 2 PROJECTS IN DISTRICT FOUR.

SO, ON THE RECORD, DO YOU KNOW WHICH ONE STANDS OUT WITH THE 2012 FUNDING? DO I KNOW I'M SORRY.

WHERE DO WE SPEND MOST OF THE MONEY? DO YOU REMEMBER FROM THE 20, IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE A MAJOR PROJECT? NO, THERE WAS ABOUT THERE'S PROBABLY MORE THAN 20 PROJECTS FUNDED THROUGH PROPOSITION THREE FROM THE 2012.

SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS CHAIR.

I'M SURE YOU DON'T MIND.

COULD YOU GIVE ME THAT LIST? YOUR OFFICE COULD PROVIDE US WITH THAT LIST TODAY.

I WANT TO SPEAK ON THE EQUITY.

I WANT TO SEE WHERE THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT FROM THE 2012 BOND.

I THINK WE'VE KIND OF HAD A CONVERSATION AROUND THIS BEFORE, SO I NEED TO LOOK AT THE TOTAL BOND PROPOSITION, AND THEN I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THAT MONEY TO JUST LOOK TO SEE WHERE WE WERE IN TERMS OF EQUITY.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS LISTEN WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING.

THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THAT UP.

SO, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GET OVERLOOKED OR IN TERMS OF THE EQUITY IN TERMS OF WHERE THIS MONEY IS ACTUALLY SPENT.

IF WE MADE EFFORT TO INVEST IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, WHERE WE DO HAVE THOSE TODS, I KNOW WE HAVE ONE TOD IN SPECIFICALLY, BUT IF YOU WOULD DO THAT FOR US TODAY, WE'D APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN RIDLEY, FOR ALWAYS BEING EAGLE EYED ON THESE AGENDAS.

THANK YOU. OKAY, MISS RIDLEY, YOU GOT A NEW NAME.

EAGLE EYE. EAGLE EYE.

OKAY. NO OFFENSE.

TODAY MUST BE MONDAY.

ITEM F THE MASTER PLAN.

KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON CONVENTION CENTER.

ROBIN ROSEN FLEMING.

YES, SIR. I'M ON REMOTELY VIRTUALLY TODAY.

I'M TRAVELING. OKAY.

DOES ANYONE HAVE IN THE QUESTION ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE OF THE KAY BAILEY HUTCHINSON CONVENTION CENTER UPDATE? ANYONE? I JUST GOT ONE QUESTION.

I DON'T SEE ANOTHER LIGHT COMING ON MY QUESTION.

ROSA, HOW ARE WE DOING WITH THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY? WITH THE KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON.

I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT. COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT WHERE WE ARE? I'M SURE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED.

WE DID ONE DURING THE MASTER PLAN SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT 3.5-MILE AREA AND THEN A LARGER STUDY AREA AROUND IT.

SO, WE HAVE STILL HAVE MONEY IN OUR EXISTING WSP CONTRACT AND OUR FUNDING CONTRACT, WHICH PROVIDES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSISTENTLY UPDATE IT.

SO, WE ARE PLANNING ANOTHER UPDATE AND PROBABLY ANOTHER TWO MONTHS AFTER WE COMPLETE ENGAGING THE ARCHITECT, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FIRM. AND WE'LL START TO LOOK AGAIN AT WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THE LAST TIME WE DID AN UPDATE.

THANK YOU. I SEE I HAVE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD.

YOU HAD A QUESTION. THANK YOU.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR MISS ROSA.

MISS ROSA, YOU ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE MASTER PLANNING FOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHINSON.

HUTCHINSON CONVENTION CENTER, ARE YOU NOT? YES, MA'AM. AND MUCH OF WHAT WE'RE GETTING.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT I'M GETTING IS THAT THERE ARE CONSTANT CALLS AND QUESTIONS AROUND WHERE ARE WE WITH EQUITY AND INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, EQUITY, WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF THAT QUESTION? AND I THINK WE HAD SOME MONTHS AGO I KNOW COUNCILMAN, AT THAT TIME, COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC IMPACT, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR HIM THIS MORNING ABOUT WHAT HE'S GETTING.

I'M JUST SAYING, FROM WHAT I'M GETTING, I COULDN'T HARDLY READ THIS MAP.

IT WAS BLURRED TO SEE IF THAT IMPACT IS REALLY COMING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT, THAT I SPOKE ABOUT, I KNOW IN PARTICULAR AROUND I-35 BECAUSE I AND THE ZOO AREA IN PARTICULAR.

[00:40:02]

SO ROSA FLEMING, DIRECTOR OF CONVENTION AND EVENT SERVICES.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS SUCH AS REPRESENTATIVE YVONNE DAVIS, COMMISSIONER JOHN WILEY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND ARE PLANNING SOME ADDITIONAL ONES AS PART OF A COMMITTEE THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH THEM TO PUT TOGETHER.

AND SO, AS WE DO THAT, WE'VE INSTRUCTED INSPIRED DALLAS, WHO'S THE PM OR PROJECT MANAGER FOR COMPONENT ONE, WHICH IS THE CONVENTION CENTER COMPONENT, TO START TO DRAFT US ADDITIONAL MAPS THAT SHOWS THE REVERBERATION OF AND CONNECTIVITY TO SOUTH DALLAS AND SOUTHERN DALLAS AS WE START TO WORK ON THE PROJECT.

SO THOSE ARE IN PROCESS.

WHAT I CAN DO IS ASK INSPIRE DALLAS TO PROVIDE ME A DRAFT.

I'LL MARK IT AS DRAFT AND PROVIDE IT FOR THIS COMMITTEE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

OBVIOUSLY, WE TAKE INPUT CONTINUOUSLY AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROJECT.

WE ARE JUST NOW GOING INTO ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN.

SO, AS WE CONTINUE THAT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE CONNECTOR TO THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, WHICH IS A CRITICAL POINT, THE GREEN SPACE.

WE DID RECENTLY WORK WITH TXDOT AND WIDENED THAT CONNECTOR SO THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY BE A PARK SPACE.

AND WE WILL BE PROVIDING DESIGNS AND CONCEPTS FOR THOSE, AND THEN GO INTO DESIGN FOR THOSE AS WE MOVE ALONG.

ALL OF THAT, WE WILL PROVIDE TO THIS COMMITTEE AND TO THE REST OF COUNCIL AS WE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.

SO, MY QUESTION IS YOU MEETING OR JUST CONFERRING WITH THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS? IS IT SEPARATE IF THEY'RE JUST ONE OFFS OR ARE THEY COMING TO ARE THEY SENDING COMMUNICATION TO YOU OR JUST IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT? SURE. ABSOLUTELY. SO, IT'S ALL OF THAT.

THEY ARE SENDING COMMUNICATIONS.

WE'RE HAVING ONE ON ONE MEETINGS.

REPRESENTATIVE YVONNE DAVIS PULLED TOGETHER A TASK FORCE.

THAT MEETING INCLUDED MYSELF INTERIM ACM, ROBIN BENTLEY SOME OF MY STAFF AND OTHERS FROM WITHIN THE CITY, INCLUDING DIRECTOR GUSKIN CALI.

WITH TRANSPORTATION.

WE ANSWERED SEVERAL QUESTIONS, TOOK SEVERAL QUESTIONS, AND ARE WORKING WITH THEM TO COME BACK WITH ADDITIONAL ANSWERS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL SHARE THOSE WITH COUNCIL, WE'LL SHARE THOSE WITH THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES AS WELL, TO MAKE SURE AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE COMMITTED TO WHEN WE STARTED THE PLAN. ALL RIGHT.

SO ARE YOU IN A POSITION NOW AND YOU CAN JUST TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE, WHERE YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ALONG WITH THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, HAVE QUESTIONS THAT I NEED FOR UPDATES.

ARE YOU ALL IN A POSITION NOW WHERE YOU CAN HAVE THAT MEETING? WE'RE NOT YET.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS FINE TUNING A PROCESS TO ASK COUNCIL PEOPLE FOR OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THEIR VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, TO ACTUALLY SIT ON THAT TO HELP US WORK THROUGH IT.

IT WOULD BE NOT NECESSARILY ONE OF THE FORMALIZED TASK FORCES BUT MORE OF AN AD HOC TYPE OF COMMITTEE THAT WILL WORK WITH THE MASTER PLAN.

WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT.

I WOULD SAY GIVE ME TILL AUGUST TO KIND OF REFINE THAT SINCE WE'VE JUST NOW ENTERED THE ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN PHASE.

SO, YOU'RE KIND OF SOUNDING IN A, IN A TUNNEL.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WILL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS? YOU WILL BE ASKING COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPOINT INDIVIDUALS TO THE TASK FORCE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? YES, WE ARE OKAY.

AND THAT WILL BE COMING BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST.

ARE YOU ALREADY UNDERWAY? WELL, WE'VE STARTED THE PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

I'LL NEED TILL AUGUST TO FINISH IT.

WE ARE WORKING ON THE ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN SOLICITATION RELEASES RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A PRETTY INTENSIVE PROCESS.

AND SO, ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE BACK ON TO THAT TO GIVE IT A MORE PRIORITY FOCUS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, COUNCILMAN REILLY.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I NOTICED THAT THIS PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR AED SERVICES IS JUST FOR COMPONENT ONE.

SO, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THAT WOULD NOT INCLUDE THE RENOVATION FOR DALLAS MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM OR TBAAL, IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR. THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

SO THOSE WILL BE ISSUED SEPARATELY.

OUR GOAL IS TO GET THOSE OUT.

[00:45:02]

WE ARE RUNNING THOSE THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS NOW.

THEY ARE DIFFERENT, RIGHT? THEY'RE SMALLER PROJECTS ONE AND TWO.

THERE ARE SOME HISTORICAL COMPONENTS TO THAT AS WELL AS COMPONENTS RELATIVE TO AN ARENA THAT ARE DIFFERENT AND CANNOT AND GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE SMALLER FIRMS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME ARCHITECTURAL, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN WORK FOR THESE PROJECTS.

WE'LL DO THE SAME WHEN WE GET TO PIONEER PLAZA AND PIONEER CEMETERY.

SO, I ASSUME THAT YOU WILL LOOK FOR DIFFERENT QUALIFICATIONS FOR THOSE SMALLER PROJECTS, PARTICULARLY EXPERIENCE WITH RENOVATION PROJECTS, CORRECT RENOVATION, AS WELL AS IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BLACK ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS.

THEY NEED THEATER EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS MOBILITY EXPERIENCE.

BOTH OF THESE FACILITIES, BOTH THE ARENA AND TBAAL ARE NOT ADA COMPLIANT AND NEED TO BE RENOVATED.

THERE ARE ALSO SOME ELEMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW THAT WILL NEED TO LOOK AT ACOUSTICS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM CONVENTION CENTER.

SO YES, WE'RE LOOKING FOR VARIED SKILL SETS.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ROSA, SINCE THAT'S ON THE QUESTION, LET'S DO THE NEXT ONE.

THE UPCOMING AGENDA AMENDMENT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BYLAW COMES BACK.

AND I BELIEVE THAT CHAIRMAN WEST, HAVE A QUESTION.

AND WHAT ARE YOU ASKING? THEY'RE JUST GUESSING.

I SAID, YEAH, I ALREADY ASKED IT.

KEVIN, JUST, YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT IT IS, IT'S BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, THE CROSSOVER BETWEEN YOUR DUTIES AND EDCS AND HOW YOU GUYS HAVE WORKED THROUGH THAT MOVING FORWARD.

IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I'M KEVIN, BY THE WAY.

I HAVEN'T INTRODUCED MYSELF.

I'M KEVIN SPATH, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S SORT OF BEEN, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, IT'S BEEN WE'RE JUST THE SUPPORT IS AS IT'S NEEDED, AND WE DEAL WITH IT.

AT SOME POINT, I FULLY ANTICIPATE THE LOAD ON OUR OFFICE TO SUPPORT THE EDC WILL NEED TO BE DEALT WITH.

BUT RIGHT NOW, AND FOR THE TIME BEING, WE'RE DOING OKAY.

YEAH. I MEAN, I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE IN YOUR BUDGET BRIEFING, SOME OF YOUR CATALYTIC PROJECTS THAT YOU WORKED ON, ONE OF WHICH WAS IN D1, WAS VERY, VERY AWESOME PROJECT I ENVISION WHEN WE AS A COUNCIL STOOD UP THE EDC.

ORIGINALLY, WE ENVISIONED THAT THAT THEY WOULD BE TAKING ON THESE CATALYTIC PROJECTS AND GOING OUT AND GETTING THEM.

AND SO, FOR ME, I JUST ENVISIONED SOME CROSSOVER.

AND I GUESS I MY HOPE IS THAT YOU ALL WILL WORK THROUGH THAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO BE DOING ALL THE EFFORTS MOVING FORWARD AND WHERE YOU GUYS WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT.

I WOULD, IF I MAY JUST REMIND YOU WHAT THE CURRENTLY THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT OUTLINES THE THINGS THAT THE EDC WILL DO ON THE CITY'S BEHALF.

AND THERE'S ONLY TWO THINGS.

ONE IS MARKETING OF THE CITY FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WITH A FOCUS ON THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

AND THE OTHER IS TO ACT AS A PUBLIC DEVELOPER OF CITY OWNED REAL ESTATE ASSETS.

SO THOSE ARE THE CURRENT DUTIES TO THE EDC THROUGH THE ILA.

YEAH, THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

I MEAN, THAT DOES KIND OF BREAK IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR ME AT LEAST.

THANK YOU. KEVIN? WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOP COOPERATION.

HAVE YOUR LAND OR OFFICE YET.

I'M NOT AWARE THAT THEY HAVE THE CEO.

MISS MCMAHON DOESN'T START UNTIL JULY 1ST, I BELIEVE.

OKAY. THE OTHER QUESTION IS THAT I KNOW WHEN WE SET UP THE EDC, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY WAS NOT IN THE SAME BUILDING AS THE CITY OF DALLAS.

WE ALSO WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS TO THE FULLEST, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BYLAWS AND EVERYTHING.

SO, I WANT TO KEEP THAT PUT IT ON THE RECORD.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE SET IT UP TO MAKE SURE THEY MOVE BUSINESS FASTER THAN US.

AND, AND IT'S ASSISTANT MANAGER.

BENTLEY IS STILL THE LIAISON.

ARE YOU THE LIAISON NOW TO EDC? I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE INTERIM CEO UNTIL MISS MCMAHON STARTS.

OKAY, SO COLLEAGUES ON THE RECORD THAT KEVIN IS NOW THE LIAISON.

I WISH WE HAD THAT MEMO EARLIER.

SO, IF THERE ARE ANY KIND OF CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION OF WHO IN CHARGE, WHO WE KNOW TO SPEAK, TO MAKE SURE WE GET A MEMO, MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHO IS THERE, SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO BUG THE ASSISTANT MANAGER ABOUT THE EDC AND ALSO THE BYLAWS THAT WE KNOW WHO TO SPEAK TO DIRECTLY.

[00:50:04]

THANK YOU. I'VE HAD QUESTIONS ON THIS ORGANISM, IF YOU WILL, FOR SOME TIME.

I THINK THE QUESTION I WANT TO ASK YOU; MR. SMITH IS THIS PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION.

WILL THEY BE GUIDED BY ANY TYPE OF MWBE OR EQUITY LENSES? I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WAS THE VALUE WILL BE BENEFITS IN THE VALUE ADDED FOR HAVING THIS TEAM.

I THINK THE WAY THAT IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, I THINK THE WAY THAT WE WOULD ANSWER IT IS THE EDC WILL NOT BE TRANSACTION FREE.

THEY WILL HELP TO DRIVE BUSINESS AND PROJECTS TO THE TO US AT THE STAFF LEVEL.

SO, ALL THE POLICIES THAT CURRENTLY GOVERN THE TRANSACTIONAL PART OF WHAT OUR OFFICE DOES IS STILL GOING TO REMAIN THE SAME AND BE IN PLACE.

AND ALL THE MBWE CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES AND REQUIREMENTS WILL STILL HOLD TO ANYTHING THAT THE EDC ACTUALLY BRINGS TO US.

WHO'S GOING TO BE DRIVING WITH THEM, WHO'S GOING TO BE IN THE CAR? BECAUSE I NEED TO FIND OUT WHO THESE PARTNERS ARE.

I'M CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THE BENEFIT BECAUSE I'M STILL I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY, AND I BELIEVE THE POSITION WAS THAT THEY WILL BE PUT IN PLACE TO HELP US IN TERMS OF OUR ECONOMIC INVESTMENTS.

BUT THE QUESTION I CONTINUE TO HAVE IS IN TERMS OF THEIR LIST OR THEIR FOCUS, THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES, WILL THOSE PRINCIPLES INCLUDE THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE HAVE NOW, THE EQUITY PHILOSOPHY IN TERMS OF GETTING OUT, LOOKING AT BUSINESS ADVENTURES AND ADVENTURES AND DIRECTING THEM ONCE AGAIN TO WHERE THE DATA IS, TELLING THEM IT NEEDS TO GO.

CURRENTLY, THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT DOES, BASED ON MY MEMORY, REFLECT THAT THE EDC IS BEHOLDEN TO THE CITY OF DALLAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY. SO, THEY HAVE THE SAME CHARGE THAT WE DO AS AN OFFICE.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICY.

SO, THEY ARE AN EXTENSION OF THE CITY.

WE TELL THEM WHAT TO DO THROUGH AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, AND WE'VE TOLD THEM THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE POLICIES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ADOPTED, AND THE COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED.

SO, THEY'LL HAVE THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT, YES, THERE IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT GOVERNS.

OKAY. AND THEN DO THEY UNDERSTAND? THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES, HOW DO WE HOW DO WE KNOW? OR WHAT MEASUREMENT ARE YOU GOING TO USE EVALUATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ACTUALLY BENCHMARKING THOSE EQUITY STANDARDS.

ALL RIGHT. SO, THEY DO.

THEY WILL COME BACK ANNUALLY WITH AN ANNUAL REPORT TO REPORT ON THOSE METRICS.

I WILL ALSO ADD THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS, ONCE THE CEO GETS ONBOARDED, THAT THEY WILL CREATE A STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND SO THOSE ARE WE CAN INCORPORATE WE CAN FURTHER INCORPORATE SOME OF THE GOALS AND METRICS RELATED TO EQUITY RELATED TO SOUTHERN DALLAS INTO THAT, SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO, THAT IS THAT WILL THEY BE DO YOU DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW IF THEY'RE WORKING WITH TARGET AREAS OR WHAT DO YOU KNOW THAT.

SO, I MEAN AS KEVIN MENTIONED, YOU KNOW THERE ARE TWO JOBS RIGHT NOW ARE TO SERVE AS A PUBLIC DEVELOPER AND THEN TO WORK AN OUTBOUND MARKETING FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS WITH A FOCUS ON SOUTHERN DALLAS.

WE HAVE NOT SPECIFIED WHAT SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT ANYTHING THAT LIMITS THEM TO ONE SPECIFIC AREA YET.

BUT THAT IS SOMETHING AS WE WORK THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE EDC, THAT WE CAN START INCORPORATING MORE SPECIFICS IN THAT.

ALL RIGHT. SO ARE WE, CHAIRMAN, MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS BETTER.

WHAT RELATIONSHIP THEN WILL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE WITH THIS EDC? ARE YOU THE ANSWER TO THAT OR WILL IT BE MR. SMITH. NO, WE DON'T HAVE RELATIONSHIP COUNCIL MEMBER DO NOT HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH EDC.

THAT IS A SEPARATE ENTITY.

WHEN WE SET IT UP, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY WORK INDEPENDENT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO RIGHT NOW, KEVIN IS THE LIAISON THROUGH THE CITY WITH THE EDC.

SO THAT'S WHEN WE SET IT UP WITH THE BYLAW.

ALL RIGHT. SO, THEN THAT MEANS SINCE I ALREADY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NOT MEETING THOSE HUSTLE AND FLOW STANDARDS, THEN HOW WILL WE GET THAT INFORMATION SO THAT.

WELL, I UNLESS WE JUST START WITH THE CITY MANAGER, AND IT MOVES TO KEVIN SPATH THROUGH THAT CORPORATION IDEALLY.

WOULD THAT BE THE WAY OR SHOULD WE CHECK WITH THE ATTORNEYS.

DO THEY HAVE A WEIGH IN ON WHAT WE'RE DOING? I THINK ASSISTANT MANAGER ROBIN, WHEN WE SET THIS UP, WE GOT A LIAISON, WE GOT A DIRECTOR WHO ENVISIONED ALL OF THAT, THAT REPORT TO THAT DIRECTOR AND THAT DIRECTOR WOULD REPORT BACK TO US ON A MEETING ADJOURNED ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR.

[00:55:01]

THEY JUST SET UP. THEY JUST NOW HIRED SOMEONE TO GET THERE.

THEY'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS TO GO THROUGH THEIR PROCESS AND PROCEDURE.

OKAY. YOU WANT TO SIGN IN? YES. MR. MAYOR PRO TEM, TO YOUR POINT, ROBIN BENTLEY, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

THERE ARE TWO BOARD SEATS THAT ARE NON-VOTING BOARD SEATS.

ONE IS THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ONE IS THE CITY MANAGER.

SO, EVERY SINGLE BOARD MEETING, EVERY EXECUTIVE SESSION, EVERY BOARD ACTION, THOSE TWO PEOPLE ARE PRESENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY'S VOICE IS HEARD.

I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID.

THIS IS A SEPARATE LEGAL ENTITY, BUT THEY CAN ONLY DO WHAT THE COUNCIL TELLS THEM TO DO THROUGH THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

RIGHT NOW, WE'VE ONLY TOLD THEM TO DO THREE THINGS NOW.

WE TOLD THEM TO DO THE MARKETING AND THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN WE JUST ASKED THEM TO TAKE ON THE STEMMONS BUILDING AS A SHORT-TERM PROJECT.

WE MAY COME BACK WITH MORE ADDENDUMS TO THE ILA TO GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL TASKS, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY CAN ONLY DO WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS ASKED THEM TO DO.

AND SO THAT'S YOUR WAY OF KEEPING CONTROL OVER THEM, IS YOU APPROVE THEIR BOARD MEMBERS.

WHEN BOARD VACANCIES COME UP, COUNCIL APPROVES NEW BOARD MEMBERS, AND THEN YOU CONTROL THEIR ACTIONS THROUGH THAT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

SO THAT'S HOW WE KEEP OVERSIGHT.

I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT WE WERE VERY CLEAR INFORMATION THAT THE EDC HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE CITY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS. ALL OF THE INCENTIVES STAY WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

EVERY INCENTIVE DEAL STILL COMES TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

AND LIKE KEVIN SAID, ALL OF OUR POLICIES THAT WE'VE CAREFULLY BAKED IN AND CODIFIED ARE STILL APPLICABLE.

THEY'RE JUST HERE TO SUPPORT US.

WE ARE NOT GOOD AT MARKETING, RIGHT? AS A DEPARTMENT, WE ARE TERRIBLE AT MARKETING THE CITY.

THE DRC IS DOING A GREAT JOB FOR THE REGION, BUT NO ONE'S REALLY OUT THERE HUSTLING TO SHOW OFF THE OPPORTUNITIES, SPECIFICALLY IN SOUTHERN DALLAS, BUT REALLY EVERYWHERE IN DALLAS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED THEM TO BE DOING.

BUT WHEN WE SAY THEM, THERE'S NO THEM YET.

IT'S BEEN HEATHER AND I RIGHT, TRYING TO KEEP THIS THING AFLOAT UNTIL THEY COULD GET THEIR CEO ON BOARD.

AS OF JULY 1ST, WE'LL HAVE LINDA MCMAHON ON BOARD AS THEIR FIRST STAFF MEMBER, AND SHE CAN COME IN AND REPORT ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY.

MANAGER AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR CAN TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE BOARD MEETINGS AS OFTEN AS THIS COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE.

BUT UNTIL THERE'S SOMEONE THERE, IT'S JUST MY OWN STAFF DOING THE WORK OF THIS CORPORATION, TRYING TO KEEP IT GOING WHILE THEY GET UP AND RUNNING.

WELL, THE LAST 1 OR 2 THINGS ON THE LEGAL STANDPOINT, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HOW YOU AND MAYBE THAT WILL COME UP IN THE FORMATION, BUT I NEED TO KNOW WHERE OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FITS IN THE IN THE REALM OF THINGS AS IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR FUNCTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ETHICS AS WELL.

YES. THE CURRENT BYLAWS ACTUALLY PROVIDE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE.

A ROLE WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO ADVISE THE BOARD ITSELF.

THEY ACTUALLY RETAIN OUTSIDE COUNSEL WHEN THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAVE REGARDING INTERPRETATION OF THE BYLAWS OR THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

WE ADVISE CITY STAFF.

SO LET ME.

WE CAN TALK AFTER.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. BECAUSE YOU WERE TALKING ON THE SIDE.

BUT WHAT I WILL CLOSE WITH SAYING IS I'M LISTENING TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB AS A CITY, WHICH WE'RE NOT, BUT I BELIEVE THERE WE CAN GET IT DONE IF WE MAKE UP OUR MIND TO DO THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING THIS ON THE RECORD FOR CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, TO HEAR ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HEAR AND THE PUBLIC TO HEAR, WE CAN DO BETTER IF WE CHOOSE TO DO BETTER. IT'S JUST THAT WE KEEP GOING TO THE SAME OR SITTING AND WAITING FOR THE SAME PEOPLE TO BRING US THESE PROJECTS, AND WE QUICKLY PARTNER UP WITH THEM. BUT THERE IS NO TRAINING.

PERHAPS WE NEED TRAINING SO THAT WE'LL KNOW WHAT THE OTHER PART OF THE CITY LOOKS LIKE.

AND INDEED, IF WE ARE FOLLOWING DATA, THEN THE DATA THAT'S GIVEN SHOULD DRIVE THE CONVERSATIONS.

NOW, I KNOW I'M KIND OF BEATING THIS IN TODAY.

CHAIRMAN, BUT IN COUNCIL MEMBERS.

BUT IF NOT ME, THEN WHO? IT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY TO YOU.

IF INDEED WE ARE DATA DRIVEN AS IT IS TO ME AND MY CONSTITUENTS, AND I WANT TO LEAVE IT LIKE THAT TODAY, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LET UP BECAUSE WE MUST MOVE FORWARD.

ALL GAS, NO BRAKES AS IT RELATES TO EQUITY IN THE UNDERSERVED, UNDER RESOURCED, OVERLOOKED COMMUNITIES THAT I STAND FOR ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND ENDURING, BUT WE STILL WILL KEEP COMING.

THANK YOU. AND JUST ON TO CLOSE ON THAT NOTE I THINK THAT'S WHY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

COOPERATION WAS SET UP.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE DALLAS INVEST IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS HAD OPPORTUNITY, AND OTHERS SAID IT BEAT US OUT BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

[01:00:09]

SO, THIS CORPORATION DO NOT HAVE A EQUITY MONEY IN THERE.

BUT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE BYLAWS, THEY ARE JUST GOT BIRTHED AND WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE THEM DOWN THE RIGHT WAY.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE THINK KEEPING CLOSE ATTENTION ON THE BABY RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THE BABY GREW UP TO DO THE RIGHT THING, ESPECIALLY THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS, BECAUSE THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS AND THE JOB.

AND THAT'S IF WE'RE GOING TO GROW THE TAX BASE AND GROW.

THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IS GOING TO BE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE DALLAS.

THAT'S WHAT OUR MAKES BEST OPPORTUNITY TO GROW IN THE CITY.

WELL, WITH THAT LET'S GO TO MEMORANDUM H THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT PERMIT AND HIRING UPDATE.

ANDREW ESPINOSA DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTION ON PERMIT AND HIRING UPDATE IN THE QUESTIONS.

IT LOOKED LIKE WE MIGHT.

I JUST HAVE ONE I KNOW, I SEE.

COUNCILMAN RIDLEY, YOU HAD A QUESTION.

YES, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.

ANDREW, I NOTE THAT WE STILL HAVE 57 FULL TIME AND 18 PART TIME AND INTERNSHIP POSITIONS VACANT, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE AN INCREASE OVER LAST MONTH.

IS THAT DUE TO ATTRITION? WHAT'S THE STATUS OF RETENTION? COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, THANK YOU FOR THAT INQUIRY.

A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE BEING PROMOTED OR RETIRING OR TRANSITIONING TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND SO, FOR US, IT'S KIND OF A CHALLENGE TO TRY TO RETAIN FOLKS WHEN WE'RE COMPETING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO POTENTIALLY OFFER HYBRID WORK FROM HOME SCHEDULES.

A LOT OF FOLKS WANT TO BE CLOSER TO HOME, HAVE THAT CONVENIENCE.

AND FOR US, SINCE WE'RE 100% IN THE OFFICE, IT DOES MAKE IT A CHALLENGE FOR US TO COMPETE.

WELL, I NOTICED, OR I RECALL FROM PREVIOUS HEARINGS THAT YOU HAD INSTITUTED SOME SORT OF RETENTION BONUS OR INCENTIVE.

IS THAT HELPING TO RETAIN EMPLOYEES? SO, COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, WE WE'VE IMPLEMENTED AND ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON ON THREE INITIATIVES.

ONE IS CERTIFICATION, INCENTIVE PAY.

AND YES, WE HAVE A FEW TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.

THE OTHER TWO THAT ARE STILL FINALIZED, BEING FINALIZED IS THE SIGN ON BONUS AND THEN THE RETENTION INCENTIVE PAY.

AND SO THOSE PROGRAMS ARE IN THEIR FINAL STAGES BEING VETTED BY HR COMPENSATION, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

BUT AS SOON AS WE CAN, WE'RE GOING TO STAND THOSE UP.

AND AND HOPEFULLY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IMPLEMENTED YET.

NOT NOT 100%.

WE'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES.

THE OTHER THING THAT I'M REALLY WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW, WITH OUR TEAM AND OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, IS TO EXPLORE A HYBRID SCHEDULE FOR TEAM MEMBERS WHO POTENTIALLY CAN WORK REMOTELY. WHEN WE WERE AT STEMMONS, ONE THING WE LEARNED IS WE HAD TEAM MEMBERS THAT WERE, IN ESSENCE, WORKING REMOTELY BECAUSE ALL OF OUR OPERATIONS REMAINED AT 320 EAST JEFFERSON. AND SO, I'M LOOKING TO MY ASSISTANT DIRECTORS TO BRING THOSE PLANS TO ME, AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO PRESENT THOSE TO YOU HERE IN THE FUTURE.

WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC INTERFACE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO THE OFFICE AND EXPECT TO TALK TO A REAL PERSON, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF INTRICACIES IN WHAT YOU DO.

AND SOMETIMES I THINK SOMETHING CAN BE LOST IN THE ELECTRONIC CONVERSION.

AND SO, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR RETENTION, AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY MONTHS NOW.

SO, I HOPE THAT WE CAN REVERSE THAT TREND IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.

MY GOAL IS TO INVEST IN OUR TEAM MEMBERS, GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, PROVIDE THEM WITH A GOOD WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND KEEP THEM AS LONG AS WE CAN.

AND SO, WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TO THAT ENDEAVOR.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

JUST A FOLLOW UP.

COUNCILMAN RIDLEY RETENTION OF THE EMPLOYEES IN PYRAMID.

WHAT DO YOU SEE? THE MAIN ISSUE OF RETENTION AND HIRING.

I MEAN, WHAT ARE THE MAIN TWO ISSUES? IF YOU SAY IT'S A MAJOR ONE, WHAT DO YOU PUT IN THERE TO GET THERE? BECAUSE REMEMBER WHEN AT YOUR DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T PAY THE BILLS AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE COMPANIES COME IN AND GET THE PERMIT, HIRE THE PEOPLE TO GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB.

SO, IF YOU HAD TO ASK THIS BODY TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA ASK, I'M GONNA ASK YOU THIS QUESTION OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHAT IS THE TWO MAIN ISSUES THAT WE NEED, THAT YOU NEED

[01:05:08]

THEY LOVE THEIR JOB, AND IT SPEAKS TO THEIR COMMITMENT AND PASSION TO SERVE.

BUT THE WORKLOAD IS DEMANDING.

AND SO, OUR CUSTOMERS' EXPECTATIONS ARE VERY HIGH.

AND SO THAT'S YOU GOT TO LOVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND SO, SOME FOLKS COME IN NOT REALIZING THAT THEY'RE EXPECTED TO WORK IN THAT TYPE OF FAST PACED ENVIRONMENT.

AND THEY OPT OUT OR LOOK FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

THE SECOND THING I WOULD SAY IS PROBABLY SALARIES.

AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING WITH HR AND COMP TO LOOK AT OUR INSPECTOR SALARIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMPETITIVE.

AND SO, WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND REALLY DIG DOWN AND SEE HOW WE CAN TURN THAT AROUND.

THANK YOU.

SEEING ANYONE ELSE.

THE NEXT ITEM IS I THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, FEDERAL LEGISLATOR, MISS ROGERS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR. I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. WE HAD THE FEDERAL LEGISLATOR, I THINK JUST A COUPLE ITEMS THAT WE WERE REFERRING TO, I BELIEVE THE SPRINT AND DALLAS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE AND BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S ON OUR FEDERAL.

IS THAT CORRECT, MISS ROGER? YES, SIR. AND THEN WE DID GO OVER THOSE TWO ITEMS. SO, COLLEAGUES, IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT Y'ALL WANT TO LOOK AT THE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

OKAY. CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

REALLY QUICK QUESTION ON THE BROADBAND PORTION.

THIS IS A VERY BIG PROJECT.

RIGHT. AND SO, I DON'T REMEMBER FROM COMMITTEE WHEN WE MET LAST WEEK, IF WE MENTIONED IT COMING TO ECO DEV, I THINK WE MENTIONED MORE GOING TO STATE. STATE AND TRANSPORTATION BUT WORKING WITH ECO DEV.

SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ECHO DEV AND TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE WORKING TOGETHER ON BROADBAND.

AND SO, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE HYBRIDS BECAUSE WE NEED THE ECHO DEV PORTION OF IT.

RIGHT. AND WE ALSO NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUILD IF WE'RE BUILDING ANYTHING.

WHAT IS IT TO KEEP THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND IF WE'RE NOT BUILDING ANYTHING, WHAT IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF BROADBAND FOR THESE PROJECTS.

SO THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT DECIDED WHAT TO DO YET.

AND SO, WHEN IT COMES FROM [INAUDIBLE], WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL STAYING ON THE SAME CONSTANT LEVEL WITH EACH OTHER SO THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING, BECAUSE THIS HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED YET.

AND I BELIEVE THAT MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO SEND EVERYTHING BACK TO COMMITTEES TO MAKE WE GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING.

I THINK THIS IS A HYBRID.

I THINK IT'S DEALING WITH TRANSPORTATION BUT ALSO DEAL WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO THEREFORE, SINCE YOU'RE THE CHAIRMAN OF TRANSPORTATION, YOU CAN VOTE.

WE CAN WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE WHEN WE LOBBY THAT WE WORK TOGETHER AS ONE.

BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T GET ON INTERNET BROADBAND, IT'S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT'S ALSO TRANSPORTATION TO LOOK AT BOTH SIDES.

SO THEREFORE, THIS IS A HYBRID THAT WE DEFINITELY WORK TOGETHER.

I BELIEVE THAT ALL COMMITTEES IN A WAY GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET STUFF DONE IN THE FEDERAL, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD JUST FOR TRANSPORTATION.

BUT IF WE GOT A GREAT UNDERSTANDING THAT WE STILL COULD BE THE EXPERT IN TESTIMONY OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, IT MIGHT BE SAID, HEY, IT'S NOT ECO TO BE A TESTIMONY MAY BE TRANSPORTATION TO NEW TO BE THE TESTIMONY.

IT MIGHT BE QUALITY OF LIFE TO DO IT.

SO AT LEAST WE HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING BEFORE WE GO FORWARD TO TRY TO DEBATE OR TRY TO LOBBY OR TRY TO LEGISLATE THE PEOPLE IN THE FEDERAL ON THE FEDERAL SIDE THAT WE KNOW WHO WE'RE TALKING TO.

AND THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

SO JUST I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS CLEAR SOMEBODY GOT THEIR SPEAKERS ON.

SO, IT'S LIKE YOU CAN HEAR THE FEEDBACK.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT PART FOR STAFF.

RIGHT, CARRIE? BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, WHERE DO WE PUT IT? WHERE DOES IT STICK? AND THEN WE SOMETIMES WE ALSO GET VERY LIKE, OH, THIS IS MINE.

IT'S LIKE, NO, BECAUSE THIS STARTED IN WI, YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO.

SO, BEFORE IT WAS EVEN WI, RIGHT.

SO, AND NOW LOOK WHERE IT'S AT.

IT'S LIKE, BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A MASSIVE GIANT, WHATEVER IT IS WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT.

SO, AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER, ECO DEV AND TRANSPORTATION, AND WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN CALLING JOINT MEETINGS BECAUSE BASICALLY TRANSPORTATION AND ECO DEV ARE ALMOST THE EXACT SAME COMMITTEE MEMBERS, -1 OR 2.

[01:10:02]

SO, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CLEAR ON THAT SO THAT THE REST OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND STAFF WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON ALL OF THAT.

AND, CHAIRMAN, I WAS GOING TO ADD, FOR THE RECORD, CARRIE ROGERS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ IS CORRECT THAT IT DID START AT SOME POINT IN WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND EQUITY BECAUSE OF THE BELIEF THAT BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY SHOULD BE VIEWED AS A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE UTILITY AND SHOULD BE PROVIDED AND AVAILABLE TO OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

SO THERE CERTAINLY IS SOME OVERLAP ACROSS MULTIPLE COMMITTEES.

I THINK COUNCILMAN RIDLEY HAD HIS LIGHT ON.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

MISS ROGERS, THE SECOND BULLET OF PRIORITIZING BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS IS THAT WORDED BROADLY ENOUGH TO ENCOMPASS THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE ACP PROGRAM.

I BELIEVE SO, YES, SIR.

OKAY. BECAUSE I THINK THAT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE SOMETHING WE ADVOCATE FOR.

IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT IT WASN'T FUNDED OR REAUTHORIZED IN THIS YEAR'S FEDERAL BUDGET, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE US ADVOCATE FOR. YES, SIR.

CHAIRMAN STEWART. OKAY.

SO, I STAY IN A PERPETUAL SPACE OF CONFUSION ON STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

STATE OR FEDERAL, I KNOW, SO I GOT THAT PART.

OKAY, SO I BELIEVE I KNOW, I'M SORRY, BUT I'M ON.

I BELIEVE THAT THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS ASKED EACH COMMITTEE TO WORK ON THEIR STATE LEGISLATIVE. SO, I'M JUST ASKING THE QUESTION, WHEN WILL IT BE PROVIDING OR WORKING ON FROM THE COMMITTEE'S PERSPECTIVE, LIKE WE DID FOR PT THIS MORNING? OKAY, I'LL STAY ON STATE.

IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR MEMO AT 2:50, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT STATE.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS OKAY, WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT PERFECT THAT WHEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPER GOT THIS LIST AND IT SAID IT SAYS FEDERAL BUT, IT SHOULD SAY LEGISLATIVE.

IT SHOULD SAY STATE AND FEDERAL.

SO, WHAT I HAD TO DO AND START TO HAVE ANOTHER SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON ANOTHER DAY, I SAID LET US DO THE STATE.

LET'S FINISH THIS FIRST.

AND AT 2:50 WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BREAK.

WE'RE GOING TO BREAK AND TALK ABOUT STATE.

OH, MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOUR LEAD ON THAT.

THANK YOU. DEVIN, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

OMAR NAVARRO, YOU GAVE ME AN ANSWER, A QUESTION DURING YOUR PRESENTATION, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ON THE JUST THE COMMENT ABOUT STARTING OFF AS WE FOUND THAT THIS MORNING THAT WE WERE BEING IMPACTED BY AN I.

SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STAY WITH WE AND NOT MOVE TO I AS WE FORMULATE THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT A WE AROUND THE COUNCIL.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.

THE WE CANNOT BECOME AN I.

SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS AND UPDATES, CAN YOU JUST HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF OUR LOBBYIST? WELL, HOW DOES OUR LOBBY TEAM LOOK IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY AND BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE WITH DATA THAT, THAT, THAT REQUIRES THE TYPE OF PERSONALITY THAT HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO PUSH BEFORE CONGRESS TO THE CONGRESS, TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL PARTNERS, THE NEED TO SUPPORT SOME OF THESE MEASURES THAT WE'RE PUTTING THROUGH UNDER THE AUSPICES OF EQUITY.

THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN, FOR THE QUESTION.

I ASSUME YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR FEDERAL LOBBY TEAM.

WE HAVE TWO FIRMS. ONE IS A SMALLER BOUTIQUE FIRM.

I WOULD SAY CAPITAL EDGE, WHICH IS SMALL BUSINESS FIRM, PARTIALLY WOMAN OWNED.

AND THE OTHER FIRM IS A LARGER FIRM, THORN RUN, WHICH I REFER TO THAT AS THE FIRM THAT HAS THE DEEPER BENCH FOR SOME OF THOSE MORE COMPLEX ISSUES.

AND BOTH OF THOSE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 20 PLUS YEARS.

SO, COULD YOU GIVE ME THE JUST KIND OF OVERALL, YOU JUST WOULD DESCRIBE THEM AS BEING CULTURALLY DIVERSE IN TERMS OF ETHNICITY, OR ARE WE JUST AN AGE? WHERE ARE WE? I NEED TO KNOW WHO'S REPRESENTING US AS WE PUSH ALL THIS HARD WORK UP TO YOU.

WHO'S GETTING IT? YES, MA'AM. SO THE BOUTIQUE FIRM IS TWO PRINCIPALS, ONE WHITE MALE, ONE BLACK FEMALE.

AND THEN IN THE LARGER FIRM, I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK BECAUSE WHILE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DEDICATED MALES WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO OUR ACCOUNT, THEY HAVE A LARGER FIRM FROM WHICH THEY

[01:15:08]

SO ARE WE.

I REMEMBER ONE SESSION WE HAD TO VOTE.

MAYBE THAT WAS STATE. AND WE'LL BRING THAT UP.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND YOU AND I CAN GET TOGETHER AFTER THIS SO WE CAN SO I CAN LOOK AT THEIR PROFILES.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO KNOW WHO THE MESSENGER IS.

YOU KNOW, WE GIVE THE MESSAGE.

BUT IS THE MESSENGER CARRYING OUT THE MESSAGE AS INTENDED? SO, WE'LL GET TOGETHER ON THAT.

BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE THAT WE'RE IN THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S A TEAM THAT'S STRONG AND UNDERSTAND IN THEIR DIVERSE AND THE DIVERSITY.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I FOCUSED ON THAT.

AND ONCE AGAIN IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT'S A WE AS WE IMPACT THIS LEGISLATION AND NOT [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S IMPACTING AND ALTERING WHAT A COMMITTEE HAS PROPOSED OR SUBMITTED OR WILL BE INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING TO COUNCIL. THANK YOU.

YES, MA'AM. AND I BELIEVE THAT THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD AND EVERYONE THERE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS WE IT'S NOT I.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, SINCE I DO SERVE ON THAT OTHER COMMITTEE THAT WE NEED TO GET CLARITY AND UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE, EVERY COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE A VOICE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE EXPERT ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEE TO LOBBY THE LEGISLATOR OF OUR STATE LEGISLATURE AND OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATOR.

SO, I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE COMING BACK TO ALL COMMITTEES AS A WHOLE TO MAKE SURE THE COMMITTEE MEMBER UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE ARE WE ARE SET UP TO DO AND GOING FORWARD WITH THAT.

I'M SEEING ANOTHER QUESTION.

AND ALSO, CHAIRMAN STEWART, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT STATE LEGISLATOR AT 2:50.

WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT. WE'RE ON TIME.

AND THIS IS AN UPDATE OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY.

DALLAS TO FORT WORTH HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION.

I DON'T THINK DR.

PEREZ IS GOING TO BE HERE TODAY.

IS GOING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS DOING THIS BRIEFING.

GUS, IS GUS DOING THIS BRIEFING? I DON'T. I SEE MOLLY, I DON'T SEE GUS.

ARE YOU THE LONE RANGER, MOLLY? YEAH. EXCUSE ME.

ARE YOU THE LONE RANGER? GUS.

NOT HERE. GUS IS NOT HERE.

MOLLY CAROLYN WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.

OKAY. CHAIRMAN WEST.

OH. OH.

CHAIRMAN. WEST.

I MEAN CHAIRMAN.

WES. CHAIRMAN.

WES. DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I THINK COUNCILMAN.

CHAIRMAN MORENO DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS ITEM J.

YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.

CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST I THINK THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ALIGNMENT.

THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN FEDERALLY APPROVED.

BETWEEN THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE CITY OF FORT WORTH.

I KNOW THAT THERE IS CONCERN ON WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BEING SOMETHING THAT WOULD HINDER OUR ABILITY TO HAVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

AND SO, I WOULD LOVE TO DIRECT STAFF TO GET US OPTIONS TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL ACTION TAKEN FROM THE COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE LEVEL FOR RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS AN ALIGNMENT THAT DOES NOT DISSECT DEVELOPABLE LAND IN OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

AND SO I KNOW THAT WE CANNOT DO THAT NOW THE WAY THAT IT WAS LISTED AS A MEMO.

BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE CONVERSATION WITHOUT FORMALLY HAVING THE CONVERSATION.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S COME UP.

AT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

I UNDERSTAND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT'S BEEN HAD AT RTC.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS IS A CRITICAL PART IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT.

IF WE HAVE BEEN FEDERALLY APPROVED AND WE KNOW THAT AMTRAK HAS BEEN BROUGHT ON BOARD TO OPERATE AN ALIGNMENT THAT IS FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO THE CITY OF DALLAS. THAT IS ONE CONVERSATION.

AND WE NEED TO STOP CONFLATING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE PROPOSAL OF AN EXPANDED ALIGNMENT ON WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN FEDERALLY APPROVED.

NOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN WORK BEAUTIFULLY FOR ALL MUNICIPALITIES INVOLVED FROM ARLINGTON AND WITH FORT WORTH.

BUT IT NEEDS TO WORK BEAUTIFULLY FOR ALL CITIES INVOLVED.

AND RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE ARE IN THAT PROCESS IS WE'RE GETTING, ONCE AGAIN, THE SHORT END OF THE STICK AS A REGIONAL ENTITY COMES IN RIGHT NOW, AS I MENTIONED, WE ALREADY

[01:20:09]

WE ALREADY HAVE AN OPERATING PARTNER.

AND WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, AS WE'VE BEEN EXPECTING FOR DECADES AT THIS POINT, AN ALIGNMENT FROM HOUSTON TO THE CITY OF DALLAS.

WHAT I AM ASKING SPECIFICALLY IS FOR US TO EXPLORE OPTIONS SO THAT WE DON'T END UP BEING AT THE MERCY OF A REGIONAL PROJECT TO WHERE WE HAVE NO SAY IN WHAT THAT ALIGNMENT LOOKS LIKE.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE NO SAY IN MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND I'M GOING TO BE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS GOING FORWARD LIKE THIS.

BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY PUT A WORKING GROUP TOGETHER THROUGH TRANSPORTATION AT THE REQUEST OF MYSELF AND RTC, AS WELL AS OTHER CITIES, THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE CITY OF ARLINGTON AND THE CITY OF FORT WORTH ARE ALREADY WORKING TOGETHER IN ORDER TO BRING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY TO US.

MR. CHAIR THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW PRESENT THAT ARE BACKING THIS OPPOSITION ACTUALLY ASKED US TO DO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, AND THAT'S BEING DONE.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HEARD MISS FLEMING SPEAKING ABOUT EARLIER IN ANOTHER BRIEFING.

AND SO IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT A PARTNERSHIP THAT WAS FORMED THAT WE TRIED TO WORK ON TOGETHER IS NOW BEING CIRCUMVENTED THROUGH POLICY INSTEAD OF US BEING IN THAT WORKING GROUP.

MR. CHAIR. SO, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT'S DISINGENUOUS, WHAT THOSE STAKEHOLDERS HAD MENTIONED AND SAID ALSO THE RTC HAS LOOKED AT, I CAN'T REMEMBER, IT'S LIKE 50 PLUS, LIKE ALMOST 60 DIFFERENT ROUTES AND ALIGNMENTS BASED ON THE LOCATION OF THE TRAIN STATION.

MR. CHAIR, WE CANNOT MOVE THAT TRAIN STATION.

IT'S NOT OUR TRAIN STATION.

IT DOESN'T BELONG TO US.

IT HAS BEEN DONE BY THE PEOPLE WHO OWNED THE AMTRAK, WHATEVER AMTRAK IS NOW, BEFORE PREVIOUSLY THAT TEXAS HIGH SPEED RAIL CORPORATION.

AND IN ORDER IF YOU MOVE THAT TRAIN STATION, MR. CHAIR OR WE DECIDE TO AS A COUNCIL THAT WE WANT TO CHANGE IT, IT'S GOING TO BE $1 BILLION, $1 BILLION TO DO THE ECONOMIC.

I MEAN, THE ENVIRONMENTALS ON THAT AND A SEVEN-YEAR DELAY.

NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO NOT GO ALONG THE LAND.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT ROUTE THAT GOES UP HOUSTON THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, THAT'S THE BEST ROUTE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF IT DOES OR DOESN'T TOUCH ANY OF THEIR PROPERTY AT THIS POINT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

AND THE ONLY REASON WE WENT BACK WAS BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS WITH THOSE FOLKS THAT SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE GOOD PARTNERS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS, AND THAT WE WOULD WORK THIS OUT AND GIVE US TIME TO WORK IT OUT.

BUT INSTEAD, THEY'VE DECIDED TO GO THROUGH A DIFFERENT ENTITY TO BACKDOOR THIS WHICH I THINK IS VERY UNFAIR.

AND SO, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THEN IS I BELIEVE THE WAY THE ALIGNMENT WENT DOESN'T TOUCH ANY OF THE PROPERTY.

IF IT DOES, WELL, THEN WE MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE SOMETHING AROUND SIX INCHES.

AND WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD.

EVERYBODY LISTENED AND TRIED TO NOT BISECT OR TOUCH THAT PROPERTY.

AND THE ASSIGNMENT WAS GIVEN.

I THOUGHT WE HEARD IT.

I THOUGHT WE DID OUR BEST.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THAT THOSE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY DO NOT WANT THIS HIGH-SPEED RAIL TO GO NEAR OR BY THEIR PROPERTY, AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT AT THAT POINT.

BUT I'M, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS IS THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING.

SO, BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY GOING TO IMPACT THE CITY OF DALLAS.

NOT FOR NOW, MR. CHAIR, BUT FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS.

AND I HOPE THAT WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT, AND WE WILL TAKE THE TIME TO GET IT RIGHT.

BUT I WISH WE COULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE HAD DONE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT THE ROUTE THAT THAT THEY DECIDED TO GO.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN RIDLEY.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

SO, WITH REGARD TO THE DALLAS TO FORT WORTH ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, HOW CAN A STUDY OF THAT NATURE BE DONE UNTIL THE ROUTE IS PRETTY WELL DECIDED? WELL, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT COG NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL AND GOVERNMENT STAFF ARE STILL EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR THE ALIGNMENT WHEN THEY WERE HERE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION AND SOME REQUESTS FROM THE COUNCIL TO GO BACK AND REALLY LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS FOR THE ALIGNMENT.

SO, I WOULD NOT, I WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY THAT THE ALIGNMENT IS SET BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT TO BE.

I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

THERE WAS A DISCUSSION IN A BRIEFING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WITH MICHAEL MORRIS ON THIS HIS PREFERRED ROUTE.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT THAT.

[01:25:03]

I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

REALLY? I ASKED, AND IN A MEETING THAT WHILE WE DID NOT DO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, AND WHEN I ASKED THAT QUESTION, I SAID, WHY DO WE WHY WE DID NOT DO ONE AND SAID NO ONE HAD THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

AND SO, THEY IMPLEMENT AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY.

SO, THEY JUST NOW DOING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY AS MY REQUEST.

WELL, THAT'S FINE.

I JUST QUESTION THE TIMING OF IT UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THE ROUTE IS GOING TO BE.

IS IT PRACTICAL BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT THE ROUTE'S GOING TO BE AND WHERE THE LINE WOULD ENTER DALLAS AND THE ROUTE IN DALLAS TO PREDICT ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT? I MY RECOLLECTION FROM THAT CONVERSATION IS THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT ANALYZING THE PROPOSED ROUTE AND ALSO COMPARING THAT TO A ROUTE THAT WOULD REQUIRE A CHANGE IN SEATS.

SO, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT BRINGING IN A DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT THAT WOULD NOT HAVE THAT ONE SEAT RIDE CAPABILITY AND WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, PROS AND CONS OF BOTH OF THOSE OPTIONS ARE A ONE SEAT RIDE VERSUS A TRANSFER.

SO, I BELIEVE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS IS GOING TO LOOK AT THOSE OPTIONS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

JESSE MORENO YOU JESSE, YOU THERE.

YOU GOT TO SHOW YOUR FACE ON CAMERA.

IF NOT, I'LL GO TO CHAIRMAN WEST.

JESSE TRYING TO GET YOU ON CHAIRMAN WEST, PLEASE.

YEAH, I THINK I WAS GOING TO PIGGYBACK OFF MR. RIDLEY'S QUESTION. SO, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ALL DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

SORT OF LIKE ON THE 3:45 DISCUSSION.

LIKE IF WE BOULEVARD IT IF WE KEPT IT HIGHER, WHAT HAVE YOU.

LIKE WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THE CITY ALL THE WAY AROUND? THAT WAS THE GOAL, RIGHT? CHAIRMAN. OKAY.

THAT'S HELPFUL.

TO SO WITHOUT GOING INTO THE FULL HISTORY OF THIS, I GUESS IF WHAT MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT I'M HEARING THAT THINGS HAVE PROGRESSED FORWARD WITH THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE DALLAS TO FORT WORTH CONNECTION FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

AND AT THIS COG IN THE STATE LEVEL.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S CORRECT OR NOT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD.

AND MY CONCERN WOULD BE THEY WOULD GET SO FAR DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE WE AS A COUNCIL YOU KNOW, REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THAT IT BECOMES TOO LATE. CAN YOU GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON WHERE THE DISCUSSIONS ARE IN THE PLANNING FOR THIS AT THE COG LEVEL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL OR BEYOND? I CAN GIVE YOU VERY HIGH LEVEL.

I'M NOT SURE.

I CAN'T GIVE YOU ALL THE SPECIFICS.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AT COG IS LOOKING AT VARIOUS ALIGNMENTS.

THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH AN ALIGNMENT AND HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEARED.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THAT WOULD THEN ALLOW THEM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DETAILED DESIGN, BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS A VERY PRELIMINARY DESIGN TO IDENTIFY AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF A PARTICULAR ALIGNMENT AND HOW THEY AND TRY AND GET THAT ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEARED SO THAT THEY COULD THEN BEGIN DOING DETAILED DESIGN AND TRYING TO SEEK FUNDING TO PAY FOR IT.

WILL THERE BE ANY COST CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE CITY IF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS AND DESIGNS CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AS IS RIGHT NOW? SO IF WE PULL BACK, LET'S SAY IN A YEAR FROM NOW AND SAY, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WE DON'T WANT TO WE DON'T LIKE THIS.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, THIS CONNECTION TO FORT WORTH WILL THERE BE COST IMPLICATIONS FOR US IN OUR TAXPAYERS BY PULLING BACK? MR. WEST. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THAT'S A MICHAEL MORRIS QUESTION.

I CAN'T THINK OF ANY IMPACTS THAT THE CITY, IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR A CLAW BACK OR FOR US TO PAY FOR SOMETHING, I THINK MR. MORRIS WOULD BE BETTER PREPARED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

BUT IT'S NOT MY UNDERSTANDING.

NO. OKAY.

YEAH. I MEAN, IT'S JUST LIKE I THINK FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES LAST TIME WE WERE BRIEFED ON THIS, LIKE THERE WAS NO ISSUES WITH THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON CONNECTION OR THE LOCATION OF THE STATION OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

AT LEAST I DIDN'T HEAR ANY.

BUT THE CONCERN WAS VARIOUS REASONS ON WHY FORT WORTH MIGHT BE A CHALLENGE OR WHY IT MIGHT BE OKAY.

AND I JUST WORRY WE GET SO FAR DOWN THE ROAD A YEAR FROM NOW, PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING PREVIOUSLY? AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK SEVERAL OF US ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW.

[01:30:03]

WE DON'T WANT TO GO FULL STEAM AHEAD.

WE WANT TO BE A LITTLE MORE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT.

SO. OKAY.

THANKS. CHAIRMAN MORENO.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR QUESTIONS AND THEIR COMMENT.

I'M NO MORE CONFIDENT THAN I WAS THE LAST TIME THAT WE WERE BRIEFED ON THIS.

IN FACT, I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS NOW THAN I DID THEN.

AND I AM WORRIED THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO.

STUDY AND PROGRESS THE ABOVE GROUND OPTION.

AND SO, MY QUESTION IS ON THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OR THAT THE COG IS LOOKING AT, ARE THEY CURRENTLY EVALUATING A ALIGNMENT THAT DOES NOT GO ABOVE GROUND? IN THE CBD.

I'M SORRY. ARE THEY EVALUATING AN ALIGNMENT THAT WHAT THE QUESTION IS? I KNOW THAT SEVERAL LINES THAT ARE BEING EVALUATED.

DO ANY OF THOSE ALIGNMENTS INCLUDE A ROUTE THAT GOES UNDERGROUND IN THE CBD, SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ABOVE GROUND IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT? MR. MORENO I MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY HAVE EXPLORED THAT, AND THEY ARE CONTINUING TO EXPLORE THAT FURTHER.

OKAY. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING.

MR. CHAIR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE RECEIVED ANY ALIGNMENT ON THAT.

I BELIEVE THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THOSE THINGS, SHE SAID.

IS STILL WORKING ON IT. OKAY.

MY TURN. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THIS ROUND.

IF WE CAN, IF SOMEONE CAN FORWARD THAT TO US, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ, DO YOU WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH? AND AS A FELLOW MEMBER OF THE RTC THE WHITE PAPER CAME OUT ALREADY.

WHEN WE HAD OUR LAST BRIEFING, I DON'T I GUESS PEOPLE DIDN'T READ IT OR DIDN'T SEE IT, BUT THE WHITE PAPER WAS RELEASED.

THAT WAS WHEN THAT CHAIR MENDELSOHN HAD ASKED FOR TO GO OVER THE UNDERGROUND ALIGNMENT.

WE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED A LOT OF THAT UNDERNEATH.

SO THAT WAS REQUESTED.

AND SO THE COG IS GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT SOMETHING BASED ON WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED.

THE WHITE PAPER LITERALLY PUTS IN THE REASONINGS THAT IT DOESN'T WORK OR CAN'T WORK.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT WON'T HAPPEN OR CAN'T HAPPEN.

IT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE FOR THE WAY PEOPLE TRAVEL TO BE ABLE TO DO THE ABOUT THE ONE LINE.

IT'S A BIG TRANSFER 17 FLOORS BELOW.

AND I KNOW FOR SOME IT'S LIKE, OH, IT'S NOT ANY BIG DEAL TO GET OFF THE TRAIN AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE TWO MINUTES.

NO, WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THE TRAIN STOPS UNDERGROUND 17 FLOORS BELOW THE OTHER STATION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN FEDERALLY APPROVED, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE TO EMPTY THE ENTIRE TRAIN.

WHAT MAKES THE OTHER ONE SLOW DOWN OR WHERE IT'S TWO MINUTES? IT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET INTO THE STATION, YOU STOP THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET OFF THE TRAIN, GET OFF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET ON, GET ON.

BUT THAT, NOT EVERYBODY'S GETTING OFF IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

AND SO, IF YOU'RE COMING FROM FORT WORTH AND YOU STOP IN DALLAS, YOU HAVE THE TRANSFER FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO.

AND THEN THE TRAIN TAKES OFF TO HOUSTON.

OR IF YOU'RE COMING FROM HOUSTON, YOU COME TO DALLAS AND YOU TAKE OFF IN TWO MINUTES.

THOSE FOLKS CAN CHANGE, AND THEY TAKE OFF TO FORT WORTH.

BUT IF YOU STOP, YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO EMPTY THE ENTIRE TRAIN BECAUSE NOBODY'S GOING ANY FURTHER.

IF THEY STOP IN HOUSTON, I MEAN, IN DALLAS, SAME THING WHEN IT ENDS IN HOUSTON.

THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE FOR IT TO GO AT THIS POINT.

EVERYBODY GETS OFF THE TRAIN AND THEN IT COMES BACK THE OTHER WAY.

BUT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE AND WE'RE THE TRANSFER.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THINGS SO DIFFICULT.

SO, IMAGINE EVERYBODY HAVING TO GET OFF OF A TRAIN AND HAVE TO MOVE 17 FLOORS DOWN SOMEHOW, SOME WAY, AND THEN GET UNDERGROUND OR ABOVE GROUND, AND THEN YOU GET ON ANOTHER TRAIN THAT'S 15 TO 20 MINUTES, WHICH BASICALLY DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND HAVING A 2-TO-3-MINUTE TRANSFER TIME FOR IT, BUT THE WHITE PAPER STATED ALL OF THAT.

I KNOW SOME FOLKS ON THIS COUNCIL ALREADY HAD SAID THAT WHY THAT WASN'T TRUE.

IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL.

I'M NOT A HIGH-SPEED RAIL EXPERT.

I'VE JUST BEEN READING A LOT AND LISTENING A LOT AND MAKING SURE THAT I ASK THOSE QUESTIONS OF OUR PARTNERS AT THE RTC BECAUSE THE RTC WILL BE BUILDING IT, NOT THE CITY OF DALLAS. SO THERE IS NO ECONOMIC IMPACT TO US AS FAR AS WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY.

SAME THING WITH THE OTHER LINE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THIS ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, BECAUSE IT CAME FROM AS, AS THE REQUEST OF MR. CHAIRMAN. ATKINS, BUT ALSO THE REQUEST OF OUR PARTNERS, THOSE STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE RIGHT THERE AT THE RIGHT THERE BY THE ENTRANCE, WHO ARE GOING TO BENEFIT THE MOST

[01:35:10]

BUT WE WANT TO DO THIS STUDY TO MAKE SURE IT'S LEGIT AND CORRECT AND RIGHT.

AND SO ALL OF US CAN SEE THAT IT WILL BE A GREAT AND AMAZING THING FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

BECAUSE IF NOT AND IF WE DON'T DO THIS, GUYS.

AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT I'M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS.

LET'S GET IT RIGHT, BECAUSE WE NEED TO.

WE HAVE TIME FOR THAT.

NOTHING IS IN DESIGN AS FAR AS GOING DOWN ANY LINE YET.

WHICH WAS ASKED EARLIER, BECAUSE NCT COG IS STILL LOOKING AT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS CONNECTION HAPPEN.

AND SO, WE HAVE TIME TO PAUSE AND WAIT A LITTLE BIT.

AND THAT'S WHY THAT'S WHY WE WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THAT, BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A MILLION QUESTIONS, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHOSE DISTRICT IS IMPACTED THE MOST BY THIS.

AND I DON'T HAVE A STOP, I DON'T GET ANYTHING THROUGH THE DISTRICT.

BECAUSE IT GOES THROUGH WHEN IT LEAVES DOWNTOWN, IT HITS DISTRICT SIX.

IT'LL GO THROUGH IT'LL LITERALLY GO NEXT TO AND NEXT TO THE WELL OVER.

I GUESS WHEN YOU'RE GOING OVER THE BETWEEN THE LEVIES AND THEN GO OVER AND NEXT TO THE HAROLD SIMMONS PARK, CUT THROUGH PORTIONS OF WEST DALLAS AND THEN GOES DOWN THE 35, I MEAN, 30 UNTIL IT GETS TO FORT WORTH.

WE FIXED THE ALIGNMENT PORTION ALREADY SO THAT NONE OF THE HOMES, THE RESIDENTIAL WOULD BE IMPACTED BECAUSE THERE WERE 2 OR 3 LINES THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD WORK, AND TWO OF THEM WERE GOING OVER SOME OF OUR RESIDENTIAL NEXT TO OUR ELEMENTARY, OUR VANGUARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND WE DIDN'T WANT THAT.

AND COG LISTENED, AND THEY GOT IT TO WHERE IT NEEDED TO GET, AND IT DIDN'T AFFECT ANYTHING DOWNTOWN.

NOW THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS THAT WORK DOWNTOWN, WHICH THEY'VE GONE OVER WITH US SEVERAL TIMES.

THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT WORK OUT OF THE I CAN'T REMEMBER.

IT WAS CLOSE TO 60 DIFFERENT LINES THAT WERE EXAMINED AND TRIED THESE.

THERE ARE THREE THAT COULD WORK THAT DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING GOING TO FORT WORTH OR ARLINGTON.

BUT WE'LL CHANGE WHAT HAPPENS IN DOWNTOWN.

AND ONE OF THEM I DON'T LIKE AT ALL BECAUSE IT DOES BISECT THE PROPERTY THAT'S RIGHT THERE WHERE REUNION USED TO BE.

AND THAT WOULD BE DUMB.

WE DON'T WANT TO BISECT THAT PROPERTY BECAUSE THEN WE CAN'T BUILD AROUND IT.

BUT THERE IS ONE THAT GOES VERY TO, I GUESS YOU CALL IT THE SOUTHWESTERN EDGE OF THE PROPERTY.

THAT WOULD CUT OFF SOME OF THE PROPERTY.

IT'S NOT THE BEST OPTION EITHER.

AND THEN THERE'S THE ONE THAT GOES UP HOUSTON STREET.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE PROPERTY IF IT CUTS OR NOT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO COME BACK TO AND SEE IF ANYTHING GOES OVER IT OR NEXT TO, I KNOW IT GOES ADJACENT TO, BUT ON HOUSTON STREET IT GOES OVER OUR RIGHT OF WAY.

AND SO, IT BECOMES NOW IF WE'RE NOT, THE ASSIGNMENT WAS TRYING TO LEAVE AS MUCH OF THAT PROPERTY ALONE AS POSSIBLE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS ACHIEVED.

AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT TOGETHER A WORKING GROUP WITH ME AND THE CHAIRMAN SO THAT WE COULD WORK TOGETHER IN A PARTNERSHIP.

SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, WHY WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND IF WE GET THIS RIGHT, WE, I HAD AND Y'ALL ALL KNOW I'M THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY, LET'S TAP ON THE BRAKES AND I'M OKAY WITH TAPPING ON THE BRAKES ON THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE QUESTIONS.

AND THIS IS HUGE, THAT THAT WILL IMPACT OUR CITY FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS, JUST LIKE DFW AIRPORT DID.

AND I DID RESEARCH ON THAT TOO, BECAUSE I WASN'T AROUND FOR THAT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY WHEN IT CAME TO DFW AIRPORT AS WELL, SO WE NEED TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MAYBE YOU AND I CAN MEET LATER SO WE CAN TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO A JOINT SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE QUESTIONS, LIKE HOW TO BRING ALL THE QUESTIONS SO THAT WE CAN BRING THE COG BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT WAY THEY'RE PREPARED FOR EITHER A Q&A OR BRIEFING OR WHATEVER IT IS SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS RIGHT SO THAT EVERYBODY'S ON THE RIGHT ON THE CORRECT PAGE.

GUS, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE COMING UP AND YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

YEAH, I WANT TO. I GOT MISS STEWART.

I GOT A HARD STOP.

I'M GOOD, I'M GOOD. OKAY.

CHAIRMAN STEWART IT JUST SOUNDS.

IT'S FASCINATING INFORMATION, IT SEEMS. I'M SORRY. OKAY.

IT SEEMS TO ME WE COULD USE ANOTHER BRIEFING AND WE NEED TO BE BROUGHT UP TO SPEED.

SEE WHAT THESE OPTIONS ARE.

SO, COUNCIL.

WE DO NOT COMMITTEE.

RIGHT. OKAY. RIGHT.

CHAIRMAN. CHAIRMAN.

BAZALDUA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID.

I DON'T THINK THAT ANYTHING THAT CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ SAID PRECLUDES US FROM STILL PUSHING FORWARD AND ASKING OTHER QUESTIONS.

I KNOW THAT THE THAT RTC IS FUNDING THE BUILD OUT, BUT AN INVESTMENT OF OUR RIGHT OF WAY IS ABSOLUTELY AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY, AND WE

[01:40:06]

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ONE TICKET RIDES ALL WE WANT, BUT THE CONCEPT OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL IS ALREADY FLAWED WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE A STOP AND AN ALIGNMENT FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS TO ARLINGTON OR TO FORT WORTH, THAT'S NOT HIGH-SPEED RAIL ANYMORE.

SO, DISCUSSING THE ABILITY FOR SOMEONE TO STAY ON THE TRAIN FOR CONVENIENCE AND FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SELL THE PROJECT AS A CERTAIN TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY IS, IS ABSOLUTELY NOT WHAT OUR CITY NEEDS TO BE WORRIED ABOUT.

WE, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT.

IN FACT, I WANT TO SAY I WAS THE ONE THAT SAID, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THIS CAN BE DONE.

I USED TO LIVE IN HARLEM, IN UPPER MANHATTAN AND WORK IN HOBOKEN.

I USED TO GO EVERY SINGLE DAY TO AND FROM UNDERNEATH THE HUDSON RIVER.

IF THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, I KNOW THAT WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT HERE.

IN ADDITION, SOUTH DALLAS AND SOUTHERN DALLAS AS WE START TO WORK ON THE PROJECT.

SO THOSE ARE IN PROCESS.

WHAT I CAN DO IS ASK INSPIRE DALLAS TO PROVIDE ME A DRAFT.

I'LL MARK IT AS DRAFT AND PROVIDE IT FOR THIS COMMITTEE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

OBVIOUSLY, WE TAKE INPUT CONTINUOUSLY AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROJECT.

WE ARE JUST NOW GOING INTO ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN.

SO, AS WE CONTINUE THAT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE CONNECTOR TO THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, WHICH IS A CRITICAL POINT, THE GREEN SPACE.

WE DID RECENTLY WORK WITH TXDOT AND WIDENED THAT CONNECTOR SO THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY BE A PARK SPACE.

AND WE WILL BE PROVIDING DESIGNS AND CONCEPTS FOR THOSE AND THEN GO INTO DESIGN FOR THOSE AS WE MOVE ALONG.

ALL OF THAT WE WILL PROVIDE TO THIS COMMITTEE AND TO THE REST OF COUNCIL AS WE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.

SO, MY QUESTION IS ARE YOU MEETING OR JUST CONFERRING WITH THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS? IS IT SEPARATELY IF THEY'RE JUST ONE OFFS OR ARE THEY COMING TO ARE THEY SENDING COMMUNICATION TO YOU OR JUST IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT? SURE. ABSOLUTELY. SO, IT'S ALL OF THAT.

THEY ARE SENDING COMMUNICATIONS.

WE'RE HAVING ONE ON ONE MEETINGS.

REPRESENTATIVE YVONNE DAVIS PULLED TOGETHER A TASK FORCE.

THAT MEETING INCLUDED MYSELF INTERIM ACM, ROBIN BENTLEY SOME OF MY STAFF AND OTHERS FROM WITHIN THE CITY, INCLUDING DIRECTOR [INAUDIBLE] WITH TRANSPORTATION, WE ANSWERED SEVERAL QUESTIONS, TOOK SEVERAL QUESTIONS, AND ARE WORKING WITH THEM TO COME BACK WITH ADDITIONAL ANSWERS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL SHARE THOSE WITH COUNCIL, WE'LL SHARE THOSE WITH THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES AS WELL, TO MAKE SURE AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE COMMITTED TO WHEN WE STARTED THE PLAN. ALL RIGHT.

SO ARE YOU IN A POSITION NOW AND YOU CAN JUST TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE, WHERE YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ALONG WITH THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, HAVE QUESTIONS THAT I NEED FOR UPDATES.

ARE YOU ALL IN A POSITION NOW WHERE YOU CAN HAVE THAT MEETING? WE'RE NOT YET.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS FINE TUNING A PROCESS TO ASK COUNCIL PEOPLE FOR OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THEIR VARIOUS COMMUNITIES TO ACTUALLY SIT ON THAT TO HELP US WORK THROUGH IT.

IT WOULD BE NOT NECESSARILY ONE OF THE FORMALIZED TASK FORCE, BUT MORE OF AN AD HOC TYPE COMMITTEE THAT WILL WORK WITH THE MASTER PLAN.

WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT.

I WOULD SAY GIVE ME TILL AUGUST TO KIND OF REFINE THAT SINCE WE'VE JUST NOW ENTERED THE ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN PHASE.

SO, YOU'RE KIND OF SOUNDING IN A, IN A TUNNEL.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WILL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS? YOU WILL BE ASKING COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPOINT INDIVIDUALS TO THE TASK FORCE? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? YES, WE ARE OKAY.

AND THAT WILL BE COMING BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST.

ARE YOU ALREADY UNDERWAY? WELL, WE'VE STARTED THE PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

I'LL NEED TILL AUGUST TO FINISH IT.

WE ARE WORKING ON THE ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN SOLICITATION RELEASES RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A PRETTY INTENSIVE PROCESS.

AND SO, ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE BACK ON TO THAT TO GIVE IT A MORE PRIORITY FOCUS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, COUNCILMAN REILLY.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I NOTICED THAT THIS PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR AED SERVICES IS JUST FOR COMPONENT ONE.

SO, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THAT WOULD NOT INCLUDE THE RENOVATION FOR DALLAS MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM OR TBAAL.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR.

THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. SO THOSE WILL BE ISSUED SEPARATELY.

OUR GOAL IS TO GET THOSE OUT.

[01:45:02]

WE ARE RUNNING THOSE THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS NOW.

THEY ARE DIFFERENT, RIGHT? THEY'RE SMALLER PROJECTS ONE AND TWO.

THERE ARE SOME HISTORICAL COMPONENTS TO THAT AS WELL AS COMPONENTS RELATIVE TO AN ARENA THAT ARE DIFFERENT AND CANNOT AND GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE SMALLER FIRMS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME ARCHITECTURAL, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN WORK FOR THESE PROJECTS.

WE'LL DO THE SAME WHEN WE GET TO PIONEER PLAZA AND PIONEER CEMETERY.

SO, I ASSUME THAT YOU WILL LOOK FOR DIFFERENT QUALIFICATIONS FOR THOSE SMALLER PROJECTS, PARTICULARLY EXPERIENCE WITH RENOVATION PROJECTS, CORRECT RENOVATION, AS WELL AS IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BLACK ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS.

THEY NEED THEATER EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS MOBILITY EXPERIENCE.

BOTH OF THESE FACILITIES, BOTH THE ARENA AND TBAAL ARE NOT ADA COMPLIANT AND NEED TO BE RENOVATED.

THERE'RE ALSO SOME ELEMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW THAT WILL NEED TO LOOK AT ACOUSTICS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM CONVENTION CENTER.

SO YES, WE'RE LOOKING FOR VARIED SKILL SETS.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ROSA, SINCE THAT'S ON THE QUESTION, LET'S DO THE NEXT ONE.

THE UPCOMING AGENDA AMENDMENT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BYLAW COMES BACK.

AND I BELIEVE THAT CHAIRMAN WEST, HAVE A QUESTION.

AND WHAT ARE YOU ASKING? THEY'RE JUST GUESSING.

THAT'S GOOD. YEAH, I ALREADY ASKED IT.

KEVIN, JUST YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT IT IS, IT'S BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, THE CROSSOVER BETWEEN YOUR DUTIES AND EDCS AND HOW YOU GUYS HAVE WORKED THROUGH THAT MOVING FORWARD.

IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I'M KEVIN, BY THE WAY.

I HAVEN'T INTRODUCED MYSELF.

I'M KEVIN SPATH, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S SORT OF BEEN, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, IT'S BEEN WE'RE JUST THE SUPPORT IS AS IT'S NEEDED, AND WE DEAL WITH IT.

AT SOME POINT, I FULLY ANTICIPATE THE LOAD ON OUR OFFICE TO SUPPORT THE EDC WILL NEED TO BE DEALT WITH.

BUT RIGHT NOW, AND FOR THE TIME BEING, WE'RE DOING OKAY.

YEAH. I MEAN, I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE IN YOUR BUDGET BRIEFING, SOME OF YOUR CATALYTIC PROJECTS THAT YOU WORKED ON, ONE OF WHICH WAS IN D1, WAS VERY, VERY AWESOME PROJECT I ENVISION WHEN WE AS A COUNCIL STOOD UP THE EDC.

ORIGINALLY, WE ENVISIONED THAT THAT THEY WOULD BE TAKING ON THESE CATALYTIC PROJECTS AND GOING OUT AND GETTING THEM.

AND SO, FOR ME, I JUST ENVISIONED SOME CROSSOVER.

AND I GUESS I MY HOPE IS THAT YOU ALL WILL WORK THROUGH THAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO BE DOING ALL THE EFFORTS MOVING FORWARD AND WHERE YOU GUYS WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT.

I WOULD, IF I MAY JUST REMIND YOU WHAT THE CURRENTLY THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT OUTLINES THE THINGS THAT THE EDC WILL DO ON THE CITY'S BEHALF.

AND THERE'S ONLY TWO THINGS.

ONE IS MARKETING OF THE CITY FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WITH A FOCUS ON THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

AND THE OTHER IS TO ACT AS A PUBLIC DEVELOPER OF CITY OWNED REAL ESTATE ASSETS.

SO THOSE ARE THE CURRENT DUTIES TO THE EDC THROUGH THE ILA.

YEAH, THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

I MEAN, THAT DOES KIND OF BREAK IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR ME AT LEAST.

THANK YOU. KEVIN? WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOP CORPORATION.

HAVE YOUR LAND OR OFFICE YET.

I'M NOT AWARE THAT THEY HAVE THE CEO.

MISS MCMAHON DOESN'T START UNTIL JULY 1ST, I BELIEVE.

OKAY. THE OTHER QUESTION IS THAT I KNOW WHEN WE SET UP THE EDC, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE TODAY WAS NOT IN THE SAME BUILDING AS THE CITY OF DALLAS.

WE ALSO WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS TO THE FULLEST, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BYLAWS AND EVERYTHING.

SO, I WANT TO KEEP THAT PUT IT ON THE RECORD.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE SET IT UP TO MAKE SURE THEY MOVE BUSINESS FASTER THAN US.

AND, AND IT'S ASSISTANT MANAGER.

BENTLEY IS STILL THE LIAISON.

ARE YOU THE LIAISON NOW TO EDC? I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE INTERIM CEO UNTIL MISS MCMAHON STARTS.

OKAY, SO COLLEAGUES ON THE RECORD THAT KEVIN IS NOW THE LIAISON.

I WISH WE HAD THAT MEMO EARLIER.

SO, IF THERE ARE ANY KIND OF CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION OF WHO IN CHARGE, WHO WE KNOW TO SPEAK, TO MAKE SURE WE GET A MEMO, MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHO IS THERE, SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO BUG THE ASSISTANT MANAGER ABOUT THE EDC AND ALSO THE BYLAWS THAT WE KNOW WHO TO SPEAK TO DIRECTLY.

[01:50:04]

THANK YOU. I'VE HAD QUESTIONS ON THIS ORGANISM, IF YOU WILL, FOR SOME TIME.

I THINK THE QUESTION I WANT TO ASK YOU; MR. SMITH IS THIS PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION.

WILL THEY BE GUIDED BY ANY TYPE OF MWBE OR EQUITY LENSES? I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WAS THE VALUE WILL BE BENEFITS IN THE VALUE ADDED FOR HAVING THIS TEAM.

I THINK THE WAY THAT IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, I THINK THE WAY THAT WE WOULD ANSWER IT IS THE EDC WILL NOT BE TRANSACTION FREE.

THEY WILL HELP TO DRIVE BUSINESS AND PROJECTS TO THE TO US AT THE STAFF LEVEL.

SO, ALL THE POLICIES THAT CURRENTLY GOVERN THE TRANSACTIONAL PART OF WHAT OUR OFFICE DOES IS STILL GOING TO REMAIN THE SAME AND BE IN PLACE.

AND ALL THE MWBE WILL BE CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES AND REQUIREMENTS WILL STILL HOLD TO ANYTHING THAT THE EDC ACTUALLY BRINGS TO US.

WHO'S GOING TO BE DRIVING WITH THEM, WHO'S GOING TO BE IN THE CAR? BECAUSE I NEED TO FIND OUT WHO THESE PARTNERS ARE.

I'M CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THE BENEFIT BECAUSE I'M STILL I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY, AND I BELIEVE THE POSITION WAS THAT THEY WILL BE PUTTING PLACE TO HELP US IN TERMS OF OUR ECONOMIC INVESTMENTS.

BUT THE QUESTION I CONTINUE TO HAVE IS IN TERMS OF THEIR LIST OR THEIR FOCUS, THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES, WILL THOSE PRINCIPLES INCLUDE THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE HAVE NOW, THE EQUITY PHILOSOPHY IN TERMS OF GETTING OUT, LOOKING AT BUSINESS ADVENTURES AND ADVENTURES AND DIRECTING THEM ONCE AGAIN TO WHERE THE DATA IS, TELLING THEM IT NEEDS TO GO.

CURRENTLY, THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT DOES, BASED ON MY MEMORY, REFLECT THAT THE EDC IS BEHOLDEN TO THE CITY OF DALLAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY. SO, THEY HAVE THE SAME CHARGE THAT WE DO AS AN OFFICE.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICY, SO THEY ARE AN EXTENSION OF THE CITY.

WE TELL THEM WHAT TO DO THROUGH AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, AND WE'VE TOLD THEM THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE POLICIES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ADOPTED, AND THE COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED.

SO, THEY'LL HAVE THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT, YES, THERE IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT GOVERNS.

OKAY. AND THEN DO THEY UNDERSTAND? THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES, HOW DO WE HOW DO WE KNOW? OR WHAT MEASUREMENT ARE YOU GOING TO USE EVALUATION TOOL TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ACTUALLY BENCHMARKING THOSE EQUITY STANDARDS.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, THEY DO. THEY WILL COME BACK ANNUALLY WITH AN ANNUAL REPORT TO REPORT ON THOSE METRICS.

I WILL ALSO ADD THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS, ONCE THE CEO GETS ONBOARDED, THAT THEY WILL CREATE A STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND SO THOSE ARE WE CAN INCORPORATE WE CAN FURTHER INCORPORATE SOME OF THE GOALS AND METRICS RELATED TO EQUITY RELATED TO SOUTHERN DALLAS INTO THAT, SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO, THAT IS THAT WILL THEY BE DO YOU DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW IF THEY'RE WORKING WITH TARGET AREAS OR WHAT DO YOU KNOW THAT.

SO, I MEAN AS KEVIN MENTIONED, YOU KNOW THERE ARE TWO JOBS RIGHT NOW ARE TO SERVE AS A PUBLIC DEVELOPER AND THEN TO WORK ON OUTBOUND MARKETING FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, WITH A FOCUS ON SOUTHERN DALLAS.

WE HAVE NOT SPECIFIED WHAT SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT ANYTHING THAT LIMITS THEM TO ONE SPECIFIC AREA YET.

BUT THAT IS SOMETHING AS WE WORK THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE EDC, THAT WE CAN START INCORPORATING MORE SPECIFICS IN THAT.

ALL RIGHT. SO ARE WE, CHAIRMAN, MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS BETTER.

WHAT RELATIONSHIP THEN, WILL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE WITH THIS EDC? ARE YOU THE ANSWER TO THAT OR WILL IT BE MR. SMITH? NO, WE DON'T HAVE RELATIONSHIP COUNCIL MEMBER DO NOT HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH EDC.

THAT IS A SEPARATE ENTITY.

AND WHEN WE SET IT UP, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY WORK INDEPENDENT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO RIGHT NOW, KEVIN MUSCAT IS A LIAISON THROUGH THE CITY WITH THE EDC.

SO THAT'S WHEN WE SET IT UP WITH THE BYLAWS.

ALL RIGHT. SO, THEN THAT MEANS SINCE I ALREADY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NOT MEETING THOSE HUSTLE AND FLOW STANDARDS, THEN HOW WILL WE GET THAT INFORMATION SO THAT.

WELL, UNLESS WE JUST START WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND IT MOVES TO KEVIN SPATH THROUGH THAT CORPORATION, IDEALLY.

WOULD THAT BE THE WAY OR SHOULD WE CHECK WITH THE ATTORNEYS.

DO THEY HAVE A WEIGH IN ON WHAT WE'RE DOING? I THINK ASSISTANT MANAGER ROBIN, WHEN WE SET THIS UP, WE GOT A LIAISON.

WE GOT A DIRECTOR WHO ENVISIONED ALL OF THAT, THAT REPORT TO THAT DIRECTOR, AND THAT DIRECTOR WOULD REPORT BACK TO US ON A MEETING ADJOURNED ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR. IT MIGHT BE QUARTERLY OR WHATEVER.

[01:55:02]

THEY'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS TO GO THROUGH THEIR PROCESS AND PROCEDURE.

OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO SIGN IN? YES. MR. BEVERLY, MAYOR PRO-TEM, TO YOUR POINT, ROBIN BENTLEY, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

THERE ARE TWO BOARD SEATS THAT ARE NON-VOTING BOARD SEATS.

ONE IS THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ONE IS THE CITY MANAGER.

SO, EVERY SINGLE BOARD MEETING, EVERY EXECUTIVE SESSION, EVERY BOARD ACTION, THOSE TWO PEOPLE ARE PRESENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY'S VOICE IS HEARD.

I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID.

THIS IS A SEPARATE LEGAL ENTITY, BUT THEY CAN ONLY DO WHAT THE COUNCIL TELLS THEM TO DO THROUGH THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

RIGHT NOW, WE'VE ONLY TOLD THEM TO DO THREE THINGS NOW.

WE TOLD THEM TO DO THE MARKETING AND THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN WE JUST ASKED THEM TO TAKE ON THE STEMMONS BUILDING AS A SHORT-TERM PROJECT.

WE MAY COME BACK WITH MORE ADDENDUMS TO THE ILA TO GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL TASKS, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY CAN ONLY DO WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS ASKED THEM TO DO.

AND SO THAT'S YOUR WAY OF KEEPING CONTROL OVER THEM IS YOU APPROVE THEIR BOARD MEMBERS.

WHEN BOARD VACANCIES COME UP, COUNCIL APPROVES NEW BOARD MEMBERS, AND THEN YOU CONTROL THEIR ACTIONS THROUGH THAT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

SO THAT'S HOW WE KEEP OVERSIGHT.

I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT WE WERE VERY CLEAR IN FORMATION THAT THE EDC HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE CITY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS. ALL OF THE INCENTIVES STAY WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

EVERY INCENTIVE DEAL STILL COMES TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

AND LIKE KEVIN SAID, ALL OF OUR POLICIES THAT WE'VE CAREFULLY BAKED IN AND CODIFIED ARE STILL APPLICABLE.

THEY'RE JUST HERE TO SUPPORT US.

WE ARE NOT GOOD AT MARKETING, RIGHT? AS A DEPARTMENT, WE ARE TERRIBLE AT MARKETING THE CITY.

THE DRC IS DOING A GREAT JOB FOR THE REGION, BUT NO ONE'S REALLY OUT THERE HUSTLING TO SHOW OFF THE OPPORTUNITIES, SPECIFICALLY IN SOUTHERN DALLAS, BUT REALLY EVERYWHERE IN DALLAS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED THEM TO BE DOING.

BUT WHEN WE SAY THEM, THERE'S NO THEM YET.

IT'S BEEN HEATHER AND I RIGHT, TRYING TO KEEP THIS THING AFLOAT UNTIL THEY COULD GET THEIR CEO ON BOARD.

AS OF JULY 1ST, WE'LL HAVE LINDA MCMAHON ON BOARD AS THEIR FIRST STAFF MEMBER, AND SHE CAN COME IN AND REPORT ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY.

MANAGER AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR CAN TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE BOARD MEETINGS AS OFTEN AS THIS COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE.

BUT UNTIL THERE'S SOMEONE THERE, IT'S JUST MY OWN STAFF DOING THE WORK OF THIS CORPORATION, TRYING TO KEEP IT GOING WHILE THEY GET UP AND RUNNING.

WELL, THE LAST 1 OR 2 THINGS ON THE LEGAL STANDPOINT, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HOW YOU AND MAYBE THAT WILL COME UP IN THE FORMATION, BUT I NEED TO KNOW WHERE OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FITS IN THE IN THE REALM OF THINGS AS IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR FUNCTION, ESPECIALLY AS WE TALK ABOUT ETHICS AS WELL.

THE CURRENT BYLAWS ACTUALLY PROVIDE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE A ROLE WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO ADVISE THE BOARD ITSELF.

THEY ACTUALLY RETAIN OUTSIDE COUNSEL WHEN THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAVE REGARDING INTERPRETATION OF THE BYLAWS OR THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, WE ADVISE CITY STAFF.

SO LET ME.

WE CAN TALK AFTER.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. BECAUSE YOU WERE TALKING ON THE SIDE.

BUT WHAT I WILL CLOSE WITH SAYING IS I'M LISTENING TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB AS A CITY, WHICH WE'RE NOT, BUT I BELIEVE THERE WE CAN GET IT DONE IF WE MAKE UP OUR MIND TO DO THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING THIS ON THE RECORD FOR CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, TO HEAR ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HEAR AND THE PUBLIC TO HEAR, WE CAN DO BETTER IF WE CHOOSE TO DO BETTER. IT'S JUST THAT WE KEEP GOING TO THE SAME OR SITTING AND WAITING FOR THE SAME PEOPLE TO BRING US THESE PROJECTS, AND WE QUICKLY PARTNER UP WITH THEM. BUT THERE IS NO TRAINING.

PERHAPS WE NEED TRAINING SO THAT WE'LL KNOW WHAT THE OTHER PART OF THE CITY LOOKS LIKE.

AND INDEED, IF WE ARE FOLLOWING DATA, THEN THE DATA THAT'S GIVEN SHOULD DRIVE THE CONVERSATIONS.

NOW, I KNOW I'M KIND OF BEATING THIS IN TODAY.

CHAIRMAN, BUT IN COUNCIL MEMBERS.

BUT IF NOT ME, THEN WHO? IT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY TO YOU.

IF INDEED WE ARE DATA DRIVEN AS IT IS TO ME AND MY CONSTITUENTS, AND I WANT TO LEAVE IT LIKE THAT TODAY, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LET UP BECAUSE WE MUST MOVE FORWARD.

ALL GAS, NO BRAKES AS IT RELATES TO EQUITY IN THE UNDERSERVED, UNDER RESOURCED, OVERLOOKED COMMUNITIES THAT I STAND FOR ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND ENDURING, BUT WE STILL WILL KEEP COMING.

THANK YOU. AND JUST ON TO CLOSE ON THAT NOTE I THINK THAT'S WHY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

COOPERATION WAS SET UP.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS INVEST IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS HAD OPPORTUNITY, AND OTHERS SAID IT BEAT US OUT BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION.

[02:00:09]

SO, THIS COOPERATION DOES NOT HAVE AN EQUITY MONEY IN THERE.

BUT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE BYLAWS, THEY ARE JUST GOT BIRTHED AND WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE THEM DOWN THE RIGHT WAY.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE THINK KEEPING CLOSE ATTENTION ON THE BABY RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THE BABY GREW UP TO DO THE RIGHT THING, ESPECIALLY THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS, BECAUSE THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE DELTA AND THE JOB.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GROW THE TAX BASE AND GROW.

THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IS GOING TO BE THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE DOLLAR.

THAT'S WHAT I LAND AT.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES BEST OPPORTUNITY TO GROW IN THE CITY.

WELL, WITH THAT LET'S GO TO MEMORANDUM H DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT PERMIT AND HIRING UPDATE.

ANDREW ESPINOSA DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTION ON PERMIT AND HIRING UPDATE IN THE QUESTIONS.

IT LOOKED LIKE WE MIGHT.

I JUST HAVE ONE I KNOW, I SEE.

COUNCILMAN RIDLEY, YOU HAD A QUESTION.

YES, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.

ANDREW, I NOTE THAT WE STILL HAVE 57 FULL TIME AND 18 PART TIME AND INTERNSHIP POSITIONS VACANT, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE AN INCREASE OVER LAST MONTH.

IS THAT DUE TO ATTRITION? WHAT'S THE STATUS OF RETENTION? COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, THANK YOU FOR THAT INQUIRY.

A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE BEING PROMOTED OR RETIRING OR TRANSITIONING TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND SO FOR US, IT'S A IT'S KIND OF A CHALLENGE TO TRY TO RETAIN FOLKS WHEN WE'RE COMPETING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO POTENTIALLY OFFER HYBRID WORK FROM HOME SCHEDULES.

A LOT OF FOLKS WANT TO BE CLOSER TO HOME, HAVE THAT CONVENIENCE.

AND FOR US, SINCE WE'RE 100% IN THE OFFICE, IT DOES MAKE IT A CHALLENGE FOR US TO COMPETE.

WELL, I NOTICED, OR I RECALL FROM PREVIOUS HEARINGS THAT YOU HAD INSTITUTED SOME SORT OF RETENTION BONUS OR INCENTIVE.

IS THAT HELPING TO RETAIN EMPLOYEES? SO, COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED AND ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON ON THREE INITIATIVES.

ONE IS CERTIFICATION, INCENTIVE PAY.

AND YES, WE HAVE A FEW TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.

THE OTHER TWO THAT ARE STILL FINALIZED, BEING FINALIZED IS THE SIGN ON BONUS AND THEN THE RETENTION INCENTIVE PAY.

AND SO, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE IN THEIR FINAL STAGES BEING VETTED BY HR COMPENSATION, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

BUT AS SOON AS WE CAN, WE'RE GOING TO STAND THOSE UP.

AND AND HOPEFULLY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IMPLEMENTED YET.

NOT NOT 100%.

WE'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES.

THE OTHER THING THAT I'M REALLY WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW, WITH OUR TEAM AND OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, IS TO EXPLORE A HYBRID SCHEDULE FOR TEAM MEMBERS WHO POTENTIALLY CAN WORK REMOTELY.

WHEN WE WERE AT STEMMONS, ONE THING WE LEARNED IS WE HAD TEAM MEMBERS THAT WERE, IN ESSENCE, WORKING REMOTELY BECAUSE ALL OF OUR OPERATIONS REMAINED AT 320 EAST JEFFERSON.

AND SO, I'M LOOKING TO MY ASSISTANT DIRECTORS TO BRING THOSE PLANS TO ME, AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO PRESENT THOSE TO YOU HERE IN THE FUTURE.

WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC INTERFACE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO THE OFFICE AND EXPECT TO TALK TO A REAL PERSON, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF INTRICACIES IN WHAT YOU DO.

AND SOMETIMES I THINK SOMETHING CAN BE LOST IN THE ELECTRONIC CONVERSION.

AND SO, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR RETENTION, AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY MONTHS NOW.

SO, I HOPE THAT WE CAN REVERSE THAT TREND IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.

MY GOAL IS TO INVEST IN OUR TEAM MEMBERS, GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, PROVIDE THEM WITH A GOOD WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND KEEP THEM AS LONG AS WE CAN.

AND SO, WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TO THAT ENDEAVOR.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

JUST A FOLLOW UP.

COUNCILMAN RIDLEY RETENTION OF THE EMPLOYEES AND PERMIT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE? THE MAIN ISSUE OF RETENTION AND HIRING.

I MEAN, WHAT ARE THE MAIN TWO ISSUES? IF YOU SAY IT'S A MAJOR ONE, WHAT DO YOU PUT IN THERE TO GET THERE? BECAUSE REMEMBER WHEN LIKE YOUR DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T PAY THE BILLS AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE COMPANIES COME IN AND GET THEIR PERMIT, HIRE THE PEOPLE TO GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB.

SO, IF YOU HAD TO ASK THIS BODY TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA ASK, I'M GONNA ASK YOU THIS QUESTION OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

[02:05:04]

THEY LOVE THEIR JOB, AND IT SPEAKS TO THEIR COMMITMENT AND PASSION TO SERVE.

BUT THE WORKLOAD IS DEMANDING.

AND SO, OUR CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATIONS ARE VERY HIGH.

AND SO THAT'S YOU GOT TO LOVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND SO, SOME FOLKS COME IN NOT REALIZING THAT THEY'RE EXPECTED TO WORK IN THAT TYPE OF FAST PACED ENVIRONMENT.

AND THEY OPT OUT OR LOOK FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

THE SECOND THING I WOULD SAY IS PROBABLY SALARIES.

AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING WITH HR AND COMP TO LOOK AT OUR INSPECTOR SALARIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMPETITIVE.

AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND REALLY DIG DOWN AND SEE HOW WE CAN TURN THAT AROUND.

THANK YOU.

SEEING ANYONE ELSE.

THE NEXT ITEM IS I THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, FEDERAL LEGISLATOR, MISS ROGERS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR. I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. WE HAD THE FEDERAL LEGISLATOR, I THINK JUST A COUPLE ITEMS THAT WE WERE REFERRING TO, I BELIEVE. THE STRENGTHENING DALLAS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE AND BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S ON OUR FEDERAL.

IS THAT CORRECT, MISS ROGER? YES, SIR. AND THEN WE DID GO OVER THOSE TWO ITEMS. SO, COLLEAGUES, IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT Y'ALL WANT TO LOOK AT? THE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

OKAY. CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

REALLY QUICK QUESTION ON THE BROADBAND PORTION.

THIS IS A VERY BIG PROJECT.

RIGHT. AND SO, I DON'T REMEMBER FROM COMMITTEE WHEN WE MET LAST WEEK, IF WE MENTIONED IT COMING TO ECO DEV, I THINK WE MENTIONED MORE GOING TO STATE, STATE AND TRANSPORTATION BUT WORKING WITH ECO DEV.

SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ECHO DEV AND TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE WORKING TOGETHER ON BROADBAND.

AND SO, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE HYBRIDS BECAUSE WE NEED THE ECHO DEV PORTION OF IT.

RIGHT. AND WE ALSO NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUILD IF WE'RE BUILDING ANYTHING.

WHAT IS IT TO KEEP THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND IF WE'RE NOT BUILDING ANYTHING, WHAT IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF BROADBAND FOR THESE PROJECTS.

SO THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT DECIDED WHAT TO DO YET.

AND SO WHEN IT COMES FROM TR&I, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL STAYING ON THE SAME CONSTANT LEVEL WITH EACH OTHER SO THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING, BECAUSE THIS HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED YET.

AND I BELIEVE THAT MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO SEND EVERYTHING BACK TO COMMITTEES TO MAKE WE GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING.

I THINK THIS IS A HYBRID.

I THINK IT'S DEAL WITH TRANSPORTATION BUT ALSO DEAL WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO THEREFORE, SINCE YOU'RE THE CHAIRMAN, TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPER, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE WHEN WE LOBBY THAT WE WORK TOGETHER AS ONE.

BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T GET ON INTERNET BROADBAND, IT'S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT'S ALSO TRANSPORTATION TO LOOK AT BOTH SIDES.

SO THEREFORE, THIS IS A HYBRID THAT WE DEFINITELY WORK TOGETHER.

I BELIEVE THAT ALL COMMITTEES IN A WAY GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET STUFF DONE IN THE FEDERAL, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD JUST FOR TRANSPORTATION.

GO UP THERE. EAGLE MIGHT BE QUALITY OF LIFE MIGHT BE WHATEVER.

BUT IF WE GOT A GREAT UNDERSTANDING THAT WE STILL COULD BE THE EXPERT IN TESTIMONY OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, IT MIGHT BE SAID, HEY, IT'S NOT ECO TO BE A TESTIMONY MAY BE TRANSPORTATION TO NEW TO BE THE TESTIMONY.

IT MIGHT BE QUITE A LIFE TO DO IT.

SO AT LEAST WE HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING BEFORE WE GO FORWARD TO TRY TO DEBATE OR TRY TO LOBBY OR TRY TO LEGISLATE THE PEOPLE IN THE FEDERAL ON THE FEDERAL SIDE THAT WE KNOW WHO WE'RE TALKING TO.

AND THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

SO JUST I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS CLEAR SOMEBODY GOT THEIR SPEAKERS ON.

SO, IT'S LIKE YOU CAN HEAR THE FEEDBACK.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS THE DIFFICULT PART FOR STAFF.

RIGHT, CARRIE? BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, WHERE DO WE PUT IT? WHERE DOES IT STICK? AND THEN WE SOMETIMES WE ALSO GET VERY LIKE, OH, THIS IS MINE.

IT'S LIKE, NO, IT'S BECAUSE THIS STARTED IN WI, YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO.

SO, BEFORE IT WAS EVEN WI RIGHT.

SO, AND NOW LOOK WHERE IT'S AT.

IT'S LIKE, BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A MASSIVE GIANT, WHATEVER IT IS WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT.

SO, AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER, ECO DEV AND TRANSPORTATION, AND WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN CALLING JOINT MEETINGS BECAUSE BASICALLY TRANSPORTATION AND ECO DEV ARE ALMOST THE EXACT SAME COMMITTEE MEMBERS, -1 OR 2.

[02:10:02]

SO, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CLEAR ON THAT SO THAT THE REST OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND STAFF WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON ALL OF THAT.

AND, CHAIRMAN, I WAS GOING TO ADD, FOR THE RECORD, CARRIE ROGERS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ IS CORRECT THAT IT DID START AT SOME POINT IN WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND EQUITY BECAUSE OF THE BELIEF THAT BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY SHOULD BE VIEWED AS A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE UTILITY AND SHOULD BE PROVIDED AND AVAILABLE TO OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

SO THERE CERTAINLY IS SOME OVERLAP ACROSS MULTIPLE COMMITTEES.

I THINK COUNCILMAN REALLY HAD HIS LIGHT ON.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

MR. ROGERS, THE SECOND BULLET OF PRIORITIZING BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS IS THAT WORDED BROADLY ENOUGH TO ENCOMPASS THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE ACP PROGRAM? I BELIEVE SO, YES, SIR.

OKAY. BECAUSE I THINK THAT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE SOMETHING WE ADVOCATE FOR.

IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT IT WASN'T FUNDED OR REAUTHORIZED IN THIS YEAR'S FEDERAL BUDGET, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE US ADVOCATE FOR. YES, SIR.

CHAIRMAN STEWART. OKAY SO I STAY IN A PERPETUAL SPACE OF CONFUSION ON STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

STATE OR FEDERAL, I KNOW, SO I GOT THAT PART.

OKAY, SO I BELIEVE I KNOW, I'M SORRY, BUT I'M, I BELIEVE THAT THE.

AD HOC COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS ASKED EACH COMMITTEE TO WORK ON THEIR STATE LEGISLATIVE.

SO, I'M JUST ASKING THE QUESTION WHEN WILL IT BE PROVIDING OR WORKING ON FROM THE COMMITTEE'S PERSPECTIVE, LIKE WE DID FOR PT THIS MORNING? OKAY, I'LL STAY ON STATE.

IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR MEMO AT 250, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT STATE.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS OKAY.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT WHEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPER GOT THIS LIST AND IT SAID IT SAYS FEDERAL, BUT IT SHOULD SAY LEGISLATIVE.

IT SHOULD SAY STATE AND FEDERAL.

SO, WHAT I HAD TO DO AND START TO HAVE ANOTHER SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON ANOTHER DAY, I SAID LET US DO THE STATE, LET'S FINISH THIS FIRST.

AND THAT 250, WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BREAK.

WE'RE GOING TO BREAK AND TALK ABOUT STATE ARE MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOUR LEAD ON THAT.

THANK YOU. DEVIN MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

OMAR NAVARRO, YOU GAVE ME AN ANSWER, A QUESTION DURING YOUR PRESENTATION, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ON THE JUST A COMMENT ABOUT STARTING OFF AS WE FOUND THAT THIS MORNING THAT WE WERE BEING IMPACTED BY AN I.

SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STAY WITH WE AND NOT MOVE TO I AS WE FORMULATE THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT A WE AROUND THE COUNCIL.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.

THE WE CANNOT BECOME AN I.

SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS AND UPDATES, CAN YOU JUST HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF OUR LOBBYIST? WELL, HOW DOES OUR LOBBY TEAM LOOK IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY AND BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE WITH DATA THAT, THAT THAT REQUIRES THE TYPE OF PERSONALITY THAT HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO PUSH BEFORE CONGRESS TO THE CONGRESS, TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL PARTNERS, THE NEED TO SUPPORT SOME OF THESE MEASURES THAT WE'RE PUTTING THROUGH UNDER THE AUSPICES OF EQUITY.

THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN, FOR THE QUESTION.

I ASSUME YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR FEDERAL LOBBY TEAM.

WE HAVE TWO FIRMS. ONE IS A SMALLER BOUTIQUE FIRM.

I WOULD SAY CAPITAL EDGE WHICH IS SMALL BUSINESS FIRM, PARTIALLY WOMAN OWNED.

AND THE OTHER FIRM IS A LARGER FIRM, THORN RUN, WHICH I REFER TO THAT AS THE THE FIRM THAT HAS THE DEEPER BENCH FOR SOME OF THOSE MORE COMPLEX ISSUES.

AND BOTH OF THOSE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 20 PLUS YEARS.

SO COULD YOU GIVE ME THE JUST KIND OF OVERALL, WOULD YOU JUST WOULD DESCRIBE THEM AS BEING CULTURALLY DIVERSE IN TERMS OF ETHNICITY OR ARE WE JUST AGE? WHERE ARE WE? I NEED TO KNOW WHO'S REPRESENTING US AS WE PUSH ALL THIS HARD WORK UP TO YOU.

WHO'S GETTING IT? YES, MA'AM. SO THE BOUTIQUE FIRM IS TWO PRINCIPALS, ONE WHITE MALE, ONE BLACK FEMALE.

AND THEN IN THE LARGER FIRM, I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK BECAUSE WHILE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DEDICATED MALES WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO OUR ACCOUNT, THEY HAVE A LARGER FIRM FROM WHICH THEY

[02:15:08]

SO ARE WE.

I REMEMBER ONE SESSION WE HAD TO VOTE.

MAYBE THAT WAS STATE. AND WE'LL BRING THAT UP.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND YOU AND I CAN GET TOGETHER AFTER THIS, OR WE CAN SO I CAN LOOK AT THEIR PROFILES, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO KNOW WHO THE MESSENGER IS. YOU KNOW, WE GIVE THE MESSAGE.

BUT IS THE MESSENGER CARRYING OUT THE MESSAGE AS INTENDED? SO, WE'LL GET TOGETHER ON THAT.

BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE THAT WE'RE IN THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S A TEAM THAT'S STRONG AND UNDERSTAND IN THEIR DIVERSE AND THE DIVERSITY.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I FOCUSED ON THAT.

AND ONCE AGAIN IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT'S A WE AS WE IMPACT THIS LEGISLATION AND NOT AN I THAT'S IMPACTING AND ALTERING WHAT A COMMITTEE HAS PROPOSED OR SUBMITTED OR WILL BE INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING TO COUNCIL. THANK YOU.

YES, MA'AM. AND I BELIEVE THAT THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ARNOLD AND EVERYONE THERE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS WE IT'S NOT I AND I THINK THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, SINCE I DO SERVE ON THAT OTHER COMMITTEE THAT WE NEED TO GET CLARITY AND UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE, EVERY COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE A VOICE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE EXPERT ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEE TO LOBBY TO LEGISLATOR OF OUR STATE LEGISLATURE AND OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS.

SO, I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE COMING BACK TO ALL COMMITTEES AS A WHOLE TO MAKE SURE THE COMMITTEE MEMBER UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE ARE.

THEY ALWAYS SET UP TO DO AND GOING FORWARD WITH THAT.

I'M SEEING ANOTHER QUESTION AND ALSO, CHAIRMAN STEWART, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT STATE LEGISLATOR AT 250.

WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT. WE'RE ON TIME.

AND THIS IS AN UPDATE OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY.

DALLAS FORT WORTH HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION.

I DON'T THINK DOCTOR PEREZ IS GOING TO BE HERE TODAY.

IS GOING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS DOING THIS BRIEFING.

GUS, IS GUS DOING THIS BRIEFING? I DON'T. I SEE MOLLY, I DON'T SEE GUS.

ARE YOU THE LONE RANGER, MOLLY? YEAH. EXCUSE ME.

ARE YOU THE LONE RANGER? GUS? NOT HERE. GUS IS NOT HERE.

MOLLY CAROLYN WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.

OKAY. CHAIRMAN WEST.

OH. OH, CHAIRMAN WEST.

WEST. I MEAN CHAIRMAN WEST.

CHAIRMAN WEST.

DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I THINK COUNCILMAN.

CHAIRMAN MORENO DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS ITEM.

J YEAH, I HAVE A I HAVE A QUESTION.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.

CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST I THINK THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ALIGNMENT.

THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN FEDERALLY APPROVED.

BETWEEN THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE CITY OF FORT WORTH.

I KNOW THAT THERE IS CONCERN ON WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BEING SOMETHING THAT WOULD HINDER OUR ABILITY TO HAVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO DIRECT STAFF TO GET US OPTIONS TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL ACTION TAKEN FROM THE COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE LEVEL FOR RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS AN ALIGNMENT THAT DOES NOT DISSECT DEVELOPABLE LAND IN OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

AND SO I KNOW THAT WE CANNOT DO THAT NOW THE WAY THAT IT WAS LISTED AS A MEMO.

BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE CONVERSATION WITHOUT FORMALLY HAVING THE CONVERSATION.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S COME UP.

AT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

I UNDERSTAND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT'S BEEN HAD AT RTC.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS IS A CRITICAL PART IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT.

IF WE HAVE BEEN FEDERALLY APPROVED AND WE KNOW THAT AMTRAK HAS BEEN BROUGHT ON BOARD TO OPERATE AN ALIGNMENT THAT IS FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO THE CITY OF DALLAS. THAT IS ONE CONVERSATION.

AND WE NEED TO STOP CONFLATING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE PROPOSAL OF AN EXPANDED ALIGNMENT ON WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN FEDERALLY APPROVED.

NOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN WORK BEAUTIFULLY FOR ALL MUNICIPALITIES INVOLVED FROM ARLINGTON AND WITH FORT WORTH.

BUT IT NEEDS TO WORK BEAUTIFULLY FOR ALL CITIES INVOLVED.

AND RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE ARE IN THAT PROCESS IS WE'RE GETTING, ONCE AGAIN, THE SHORT END OF THE STICK AS A REGIONAL ENTITY COMES IN RIGHT NOW.

[02:20:08]

APPROVAL. WE ALREADY HAVE AN OPERATING PARTNER.

AND WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, AS WE'VE BEEN EXPECTING FOR DECADES AT THIS POINT, AN ALIGNMENT FROM HOUSTON TO THE CITY OF DALLAS.

WHAT I AM ASKING SPECIFICALLY IS FOR US TO EXPLORE OPTIONS SO THAT WE DON'T END UP BEING AT THE MERCY OF A REGIONAL PROJECT TO WHERE WE HAVE NO SAY IN WHAT THAT ALIGNMENT LOOKS LIKE.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE NO SAY IN MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND I'M GOING TO BE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS GOING FORWARD LIKE THIS.

BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY PUT A WORKING GROUP TOGETHER THROUGH TRANSPORTATION AT THE REQUEST OF MYSELF AND RTC, AS WELL AS OTHER CITIES, THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE CITY OF ARLINGTON AND THE CITY OF FORT WORTH ARE ALREADY WORKING TOGETHER IN ORDER TO BRING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY TO US.

MR. CHAIR THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW PRESENT THAT ARE BACKING THIS OPPOSITION ACTUALLY ASKED US TO DO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, AND THAT'S BEING DONE.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HEARD MISS FLEMING SPEAKING ABOUT EARLIER IN ANOTHER BRIEFING.

AND SO, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT A PARTNERSHIP THAT WAS FORMED THAT WE TRIED TO WORK ON TOGETHER IS NOW BEING CIRCUMVENTED THROUGH POLICY INSTEAD OF US BEING IN THAT WORKING GROUP.

MR. CHAIR. SO, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT'S DISINGENUOUS, WHAT THOSE STAKEHOLDERS HAD MENTIONED AND SAID ALSO THE RTC HAS LOOKED AT, I CAN'T REMEMBER, IT'S LIKE 50 PLUS, LIKE ALMOST 60 DIFFERENT ROUTES AND ALIGNMENTS BASED ON THE LOCATION OF THE TRAIN STATION.

MR. CHAIR, WE CANNOT MOVE THAT TRAIN STATION.

IT'S NOT OUR TRAIN STATION.

IT DOESN'T BELONG TO US.

IT HAS BEEN DONE BY THE PEOPLE WHO OWNED THE AMTRAK, WHATEVER AMTRAK IS NOW, BEFORE PREVIOUSLY THAT TEXAS HIGH SPEED RAIL CORPORATION.

AND IN ORDER IF YOU MOVE THAT TRAIN STATION, MR. CHAIR OR WE DECIDE TO AS A COUNCIL THAT WE WANT TO CHANGE IT, IT'S GOING TO BE $1 BILLION, $1 BILLION TO DO THE ECONOMIC.

I MEAN, THE ENVIRONMENTALS ON THAT AND A SEVEN-YEAR DELAY.

NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO NOT GO ALONG THE LAND.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT ROUTE THAT GOES UP HOUSTON THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, THAT'S THE BEST ROUTE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF IT DOES OR DOESN'T TOUCH ANY OF THEIR PROPERTY AT THIS POINT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

AND THE ONLY REASON WE WENT BACK WAS BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS WITH THOSE FOLKS THAT SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE GOOD PARTNERS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS, AND THAT WE WOULD WORK THIS OUT AND GIVE US TIME TO WORK IT OUT.

BUT INSTEAD, THEY'VE DECIDED TO GO THROUGH A DIFFERENT ENTITY TO BACKDOOR THIS WHICH I THINK IS VERY UNFAIR.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THEN IS I BELIEVE THE WAY THE ALIGNMENT WENT DOESN'T TOUCH ANY OF THE PROPERTY.

IF IT DOES, WELL, THEN WE MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE SOMETHING AROUND SIX INCHES.

AND WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD.

EVERYBODY LISTENED AND TRIED TO NOT BISECT OR TOUCH THAT PROPERTY.

AND THE ASSIGNMENT WAS GIVEN.

I THOUGHT WE HEARD IT.

I THOUGHT WE DID OUR BEST.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THAT THOSE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY DO NOT WANT THIS HIGH-SPEED RAIL TO GO NEAR OR BY THEIR PROPERTY, AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT AT THAT POINT.

BUT I'M, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS IS THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING.

SO, BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY GOING TO IMPACT THE CITY OF DALLAS.

NOT FOR NOW, MR. CHAIR, BUT FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS.

AND I HOPE THAT WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT, AND WE WILL TAKE THE TIME TO GET IT RIGHT.

BUT I WISH WE COULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE HAD DONE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT THE ROUTE THAT THAT THEY DECIDED TO GO.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN RIDLEY.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

SO, WITH REGARD TO THE DALLAS TO FORT WORTH ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, HOW CAN A STUDY OF THAT NATURE BE DONE UNTIL THE ROUTE IS PRETTY WELL DECIDED? WELL, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT COG NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL AND GOVERNMENT STAFF ARE STILL EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR THE ALIGNMENT WHEN THEY WERE HERE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION AND SOME REQUESTS FROM THE COUNCIL TO GO BACK AND REALLY LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS FOR THE ALIGNMENT.

SO, I WOULD NOT I WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY THAT THE ALIGNMENT IS SET BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT TO BE.

I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

THERE WAS A DISCUSSION IN A BRIEFING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WITH MICHAEL MORRIS ON THIS HIS PREFERRED ROUTE.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT THAT.

[02:25:03]

AND THEN WE CAN ANSWER THAT.

REALLY? I ASK IN A MEETING THAT WHILE WE DID NOT DO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, AND WHEN I ASK THAT QUESTION, I SAID, WHY DO WE WHY WE DID NOT DO ONE AND SAID NO ONE HAD THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

AND SO, THEY IMPLEMENT AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY.

SO, THEY JUST NOW DOING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY AS MY REQUEST.

WELL, THAT'S FINE.

I JUST QUESTION THE TIMING OF IT UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THE ROUTE IS GOING TO BE.

IS IT PRACTICAL BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT THE ROUTE'S GOING TO BE AND WHERE THE LINE WOULD ENTER DALLAS AND THE ROUTE IN DALLAS TO PREDICT ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT? I MY RECOLLECTION FROM THAT CONVERSATION IS THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT ANALYZING THE PROPOSED ROUTE AND ALSO COMPARING THAT TO A ROUTE THAT WOULD REQUIRE A CHANGE IN SEATS.

SO, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT BRINGING IN A DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT THAT WOULD NOT HAVE THAT ONE SEAT RIDE CAPABILITY AND WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, PROS AND CONS OF BOTH OF THOSE OPTIONS ARE A ONE SEAT RIDE VERSUS A TRANSFER.

SO, I BELIEVE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS IS GOING TO LOOK AT THOSE OPTIONS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

JESSE MORENO YOU.

JESSE. YOU THERE? YOU GOTTA SHOW YOUR FACE ON CAMERA.

IF IT'S NOT ON, GO TO CHAIRMAN WEST.

JESSE TRYING TO GET YOU ON CHAIRMAN WEST, PLEASE.

YEAH. I THINK I WAS GOING TO PIGGYBACK OFF MR. RIDLEY'S QUESTION. SO, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ALL DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

SORT OF LIKE ON THE 345 DISCUSSION.

LIKE IF WE BOULEVARD IT IF WE KEPT IT HIGH OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

LIKE WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THE CITY ALL THE WAY AROUND? THAT WAS THE GOAL, RIGHT? CHAIRMAN. OKAY.

THAT'S HELPFUL.

TO SO WITHOUT GOING INTO THE FULL HISTORY OF THIS, I GUESS IF WHAT MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT I'M HEARING THAT THINGS HAVE PROGRESSED FORWARD WITH THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE DALLAS TO FORT WORTH CONNECTION FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

AND AT THIS COG IN THE STATE LEVEL.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S CORRECT OR NOT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD.

AND MY CONCERN WOULD BE THEY WOULD GET SO FAR DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE WE AS A COUNCIL YOU KNOW, REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THAT IT BECOMES TOO LATE. CAN YOU GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON WHERE THE DISCUSSIONS ARE IN THE PLANNING FOR THIS AT THE COG LEVEL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL OR BEYOND? I CAN GIVE YOU VERY HIGH LEVEL.

I'M NOT SURE.

I CAN'T GIVE YOU ALL THE SPECIFICS.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AT COG IS LOOKING AT VARIOUS ALIGNMENTS.

THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH AN ALIGNMENT AND HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEARED.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THAT WOULD THEN ALLOW THEM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DETAILED DESIGN, BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS A VERY PRELIMINARY DESIGN TO IDENTIFY AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF A PARTICULAR ALIGNMENT AND HOW THEY AND TRY AND GET THAT ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEARED SO THAT THEY COULD THEN BEGIN DOING DETAILED DESIGN AND TRYING TO SEEK FUNDING TO PAY FOR IT.

WILL THERE BE ANY COST CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE CITY IF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS AND DESIGNS CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AS IS RIGHT NOW? SO IF WE PULL BACK, LET'S SAY IN A YEAR FROM NOW AND SAY, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WE DON'T WANT TO WE DON'T LIKE THIS.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, THIS CONNECTION TO FORT WORTH WILL THERE BE COST IMPLICATIONS FOR US IN OUR TAXPAYERS BY PULLING BACK? MR. WEST, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THAT'S A MICHAEL MORRIS QUESTION.

I CAN'T THINK OF ANY IMPACTS THAT THE CITY, IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR A CLAWBACK OR FOR US TO PAY FOR SOMETHING, I THINK MR. MORRIS WOULD BE BETTER PREPARED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

BUT IT'S NOT MY UNDERSTANDING.

NO. OKAY.

YEAH. I MEAN, IT'S JUST LIKE I THINK FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES LAST TIME WE WERE BRIEFED ON THIS, LIKE THERE WAS NO ISSUES WITH THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON CONNECTION OR THE LOCATION OF THE STATION OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

AT LEAST I DIDN'T HEAR ANY.

BUT THE CONCERN WAS VARIOUS REASONS ON WHY FORT WORTH MIGHT BE A CHALLENGE OR WHY IT MIGHT BE OKAY.

AND I JUST WORRY. WE GET SO FAR DOWN THE ROAD A YEAR FROM NOW, PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING PREVIOUSLY? AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK SEVERAL OF US ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW.

[02:30:03]

WE DON'T WANT TO GO FULL STEAM AHEAD.

WE WANT TO BE A LITTLE MORE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT.

SO. OKAY.

THANKS. CHAIRMAN MORENO.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR QUESTIONS AND THEIR COMMENT.

I'M NO MORE CONFIDENT THAN I WAS THE LAST TIME THAT WE WERE BRIEFED ON THIS.

IN FACT, I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS NOW THAN I DID THEN.

AND I AM WORRIED THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO STUDY AND PROGRESS THE ABOVE GROUND OPTION.

AND SO, MY QUESTION IS ON THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OR THAT THE COG IS LOOKING AT, ARE THEY CURRENTLY EVALUATING AN ALIGNMENT THAT DOES NOT GO ABOVE GROUND? IN CBD. I'M SORRY.

ARE THEY EVALUATING AN ALIGNMENT THAT WHAT THE QUESTION IS? I KNOW THAT SEVERAL LINES THAT ARE BEING EVALUATED.

DO ANY OF THOSE ALIGNMENTS INCLUDE A ROUTE THAT GOES UNDERGROUND IN THE CBD, SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ABOVE GROUND IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT? MR. MORENO I MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY HAVE EXPLORED THAT, AND THEY ARE CONTINUING TO EXPLORE THAT FURTHER.

OKAY. WELL, I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING.

MR. CHAIR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE RECEIVED ANY ALIGNMENT ON THAT.

I BELIEVE THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THOSE THINGS, SHE SAID.

IS STILL WORKING ON IT. OKAY, SO, THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THIS ROUND. IF WE CAN, IF SOMEONE CAN FORWARD THAT TO US, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ, YOU WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND AS A FELLOW MEMBER OF THE RTC THE WHITE PAPER CAME OUT ALREADY.

WHEN WE HAD OUR LAST BRIEFING, I DON'T I GUESS PEOPLE DIDN'T READ IT OR DIDN'T SEE IT, BUT THE WHITE PAPER WAS RELEASED.

THAT WAS WHEN THAT CHAIR MENDELSOHN HAD ASKED FOR TO GO OVER THE UNDERGROUND ALIGNMENT.

WE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED A LOT OF THAT UNDERNEATH.

SO THAT WAS REQUESTED.

AND SO, THE COG IS GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT SOMETHING BASED ON WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED.

THE WHITE PAPER LITERALLY PUTS IN THE REASONINGS THAT IT DOESN'T WORK OR CAN'T WORK.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT WON'T HAPPEN OR CAN'T HAPPEN.

IT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE FOR THE WAY PEOPLE TRAVEL TO BE ABLE TO DO THE ABOUT THE ONE LINE.

IT'S A BIG TRANSFER 17 FLOORS BELOW.

AND I KNOW FOR SOME IT'S LIKE, OH, IT'S NOT ANY BIG DEAL TO GET OFF THE TRAIN AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE TWO MINUTES.

NO, WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THE TRAIN STOPS UNDERGROUND, 17 FLOORS BELOW THE OTHER STATION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN FEDERALLY APPROVED, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE TO EMPTY THE ENTIRE TRAIN.

WHAT MAKES THE OTHER ONE SLOW DOWN OR WHERE IT'S TWO MINUTES? IT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET INTO THE STATION, YOU STOP THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET OFF THE TRAIN, GET OFF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET ON, GET ON.

BUT THAT NOT EVERYBODY'S GETTING OFF IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

AND SO, IF YOU'RE COMING FROM FORT WORTH AND YOU STOP IN DALLAS, YOU HAVE THE TRANSFER FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO.

AND THEN THE TRAIN TAKES OFF TO HOUSTON.

OR IF YOU'RE COMING FROM HOUSTON, YOU COME TO DALLAS AND YOU TAKE OFF IN TWO MINUTES.

THOSE FOLKS CAN CHANGE, AND THEY TAKE OFF TO FORT WORTH.

BUT IF YOU STOP, YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO EMPTY THE ENTIRE TRAIN BECAUSE NOBODY'S GOING ANY FURTHER.

IF THEY STOP IN HOUSTON, I MEAN, IN DALLAS, SAME THING WHEN IT ENDS IN HOUSTON.

THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE FOR IT TO GO AT THIS POINT.

EVERYBODY GETS OFF THE TRAIN AND THEN IT COMES BACK THE OTHER WAY.

BUT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE AND WE'RE THE TRANSFER.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THINGS SO DIFFICULT.

SO, IMAGINE EVERYBODY HAVING TO GET OFF OF A TRAIN AND HAVE TO MOVE 17 FLOORS DOWN SOMEHOW, SOME WAY, AND THEN GET UNDERGROUND OR ABOVE GROUND, AND THEN YOU GET ON ANOTHER TRAIN THAT'S 15 TO 20 MINUTES, WHICH BASICALLY DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND HAVING A.

A 2 TO 3 TO MINUTE TRANSFER TIME FOR IT, BUT THE WHITE PAPER STATED ALL OF THAT.

I KNOW SOME FOLKS ON THIS COUNCIL ALREADY HAD SAID THAT WHY THAT WASN'T TRUE.

IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL.

I'M NOT A HIGH-SPEED RAIL EXPERT.

I'VE JUST BEEN READING A LOT AND LISTENING A LOT AND MAKING SURE THAT I ASK THOSE QUESTIONS OF OUR PARTNERS AT THE RTC BECAUSE THE RTC WILL BE BUILDING IT, NOT THE CITY OF DALLAS. SO, THERE IS NO ECONOMIC IMPACT TO US AS FAR AS WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY.

SAME THING WITH THE OTHER LINE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THIS ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, BECAUSE IT CAME FROM AS THE REQUEST OF MR. CHAIRMAN. ATKINS, BUT ALSO THE REQUEST OF OUR PARTNERS, THOSE STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE RIGHT THERE AT THE RIGHT THERE BY THE ENTRANCE, WHO ARE GOING TO BENEFIT THE MOST

[02:35:10]

BUT WE WANT TO DO THIS STUDY TO MAKE SURE IT'S LEGIT AND CORRECT AND RIGHT.

AND SO ALL OF US CAN SEE THAT IT WILL BE A GREAT AND AMAZING THING FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

BECAUSE IF NOT AND IF WE DON'T DO THIS, GUYS.

AND WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT I'M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS.

LET'S GET IT RIGHT, BECAUSE WE NEED TO WE HAVE TIME FOR THAT.

NOTHING IS IN DESIGN AS FAR AS GOING DOWN ANY LINE YET.

WHICH WAS ASKED EARLIER, BECAUSE NCTCOG IS STILL LOOKING AT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS CONNECTION HAPPEN.

AND SO, WE HAVE TIME TO PAUSE AND WAIT A LITTLE BIT.

AND THAT'S WHY THAT'S WHY WE WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THAT, BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A MILLION QUESTIONS, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHOSE DISTRICT IS IMPACTED THE MOST BY THIS.

AND I DON'T HAVE A STOP, I DON'T GET ANYTHING THROUGH THE DISTRICT.

BECAUSE IT GOES THROUGH WHEN IT LEAVES DOWNTOWN, IT HITS DISTRICT SIX.

IT'LL GO THROUGH IT'LL LITERALLY GO NEXT TO AND NEXT TO THE WELL OVER.

I GUESS WHEN YOU'RE GOING OVER THE BETWEEN THE LEVIES AND THEN GO OVER AND NEXT TO THE HAROLD SIMMONS PARK, CUT THROUGH PORTIONS OF WEST DALLAS AND THEN GOES DOWN THE 35, I MEAN, 30 UNTIL IT GETS TO FORT WORTH.

WE FIX THE ALIGNMENT PORTION ALREADY SO THAT NONE OF THE HOMES, THE RESIDENTIAL WOULD BE IMPACTED BECAUSE THERE WERE 2 OR 3 LINES THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD WORK, AND TWO OF THEM WERE GOING OVER SOME OF OUR RESIDENTIAL NEXT TO OUR ELEMENTARY, OUR VANGUARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND WE DIDN'T WANT THAT.

AND COG LISTENED, AND THEY GOT IT TO WHERE IT NEEDED TO GET, AND IT DIDN'T AFFECT ANYTHING DOWNTOWN.

NOW THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS THAT WORK DOWNTOWN, WHICH THEY'VE GONE OVER WITH US SEVERAL TIMES.

THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT WORK OUT OF THE I CAN'T REMEMBER.

IT WAS CLOSE TO 60 DIFFERENT LINES THAT WERE EXAMINED AND TRIED THESE.

THERE ARE THREE THAT COULD WORK THAT DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING GOING TO FORT WORTH OR ARLINGTON.

BUT WE'LL CHANGE WHAT HAPPENS IN DOWNTOWN.

AND ONE OF THEM I DON'T LIKE AT ALL BECAUSE IT DOES BISECT THE PROPERTY THAT'S RIGHT THERE WHERE REUNION USED TO BE.

AND THAT WOULD BE DUMB.

WE DON'T WANT TO BISECT THAT PROPERTY BECAUSE THEN WE CAN'T BUILD AROUND IT.

BUT THERE IS ONE THAT GOES VERY TO, I GUESS YOU'D CALL IT THE SOUTHWESTERN EDGE OF THE PROPERTY.

THAT WOULD CUT OFF SOME OF THE PROPERTY.

IT'S NOT THE BEST OPTION EITHER.

AND THEN THERE'S THE ONE THAT GOES UP HOUSTON STREET.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE PROPERTY IF IT CUTS OR NOT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO COME BACK TO AND SEE IF ANYTHING GOES OVER IT OR NEXT TO, I KNOW IT GOES ADJACENT TO, BUT ON HOUSTON STREET IT GOES OVER OUR RIGHT OF WAY.

AND SO, IT BECOMES NOW IF WE'RE NOT, THE ASSIGNMENT WAS TRYING TO LEAVE AS MUCH OF THAT PROPERTY ALONE AS POSSIBLE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS ACHIEVED.

AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT TOGETHER A WORKING GROUP WITH ME AND THE CHAIRMAN SO THAT WE COULD WORK TOGETHER IN A PARTNERSHIP.

SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, WHY WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND IF WE GET THIS RIGHT, WE, I HAD AND Y'ALL ALL KNOW I'M THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY, LET'S TAP ON THE BRAKES AND I'M OKAY WITH TAPPING ON THE BRAKES ON THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE QUESTIONS.

AND THIS IS HUGE, THAT THAT WILL IMPACT OUR CITY FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS, JUST LIKE DFW AIRPORT DID.

AND I DID RESEARCH ON THAT TOO, BECAUSE I WASN'T AROUND FOR THAT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY WHEN IT CAME TO DFW AIRPORT AS WELL, SO WE NEED TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MAYBE YOU AND I CAN MEET LATER SO WE CAN TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO A JOINT SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE QUESTIONS, LIKE HOW TO BRING ALL THE QUESTIONS SO THAT WE CAN BRING THE COG BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT WAY THEY'RE PREPARED FOR EITHER A Q&A OR BRIEFING OR WHATEVER IT IS SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS RIGHT SO THAT EVERYBODY'S ON THE RIGHT ON THE CORRECT PAGE.

GUS, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE COMING UP AND YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

YEAH, I WANT TO. I GOT MISS STEWART.

I GOT A HARD STOP.

I'M GOOD, I'M GOOD. OKAY.

CHAIRMAN STEWART IT JUST SOUNDS.

THIS IS FASCINATING INFORMATION, IT SEEMS. I'M SORRY. OKAY.

IT SEEMS TO ME WE COULD USE ANOTHER BRIEFING AND WE NEED TO BE BROUGHT UP TO SPEED.

SEE WHAT THESE OPTIONS ARE.

SO, COUNCIL, WE DO NOT COMMITTEE.

RIGHT. OKAY. RIGHT. CHAIRMAN.

CHAIRMAN. BAZALDUA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID.

I DON'T THINK THAT ANYTHING THAT CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ SAID PRECLUDES US FROM STILL PUSHING FORWARD AND ASKING OTHER QUESTIONS.

I KNOW THAT THE THAT RTC IS FUNDING THE BUILD OUT, BUT AN INVESTMENT OF OUR RIGHT OF WAY IS ABSOLUTELY AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY, AND WE

[02:40:06]

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ONE TICKET RIDES ALL WE WANT, BUT THE CONCEPT OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL IS ALREADY FLAWED WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE A STOP AND AN ALIGNMENT FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS TO ARLINGTON OR TO FORT WORTH, THAT'S NOT HIGH-SPEED RAIL ANYMORE.

SO, DISCUSSING THE ABILITY FOR SOMEONE TO STAY ON THE TRAIN FOR CONVENIENCE AND FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SELL THE PROJECT AS A CERTAIN TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY IS, IS ABSOLUTELY NOT WHAT OUR CITY NEEDS TO BE WORRIED ABOUT.

WE, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT.

IN FACT, I WANT TO TO SAY I WAS THE ONE THAT SAID, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THIS CAN BE DONE.

I USED TO LIVE IN HARLEM, IN UPPER MANHATTAN AND WORK IN HOBOKEN.

I USED TO GO EVERY SINGLE DAY TO AND FROM UNDERNEATH THE HUDSON RIVER.

IF THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, I KNOW THAT WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT HERE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE SOME OF SOME OF THE NORMAL SUBWAY ALIGNMENTS IN CITIES LIKE NEW YORK OR CHICAGO OR IN LONDON ARE UPWARDS OF 350 TO 400FT BELOW GRADE.

SO THE REALITY IS THIS IS ABOUT COST AND CONVENIENCE.

AND A PROJECT OF THIS SCALE SHOULD NOT BE DETERMINED BY A PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE.

THIS SHOULD BE DETERMINED ON THE BEST AND MOST FEASIBLE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD, OUR REGION FORWARD.

SO IF THAT MEANS THAT THE ALIGNMENT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN APPROVED FOR, WHICH IS DALLAS TO HOUSTON, THEN SO BE IT.

OR IF IT MEANS ENOUGH TO THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS PROJECT, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THOSE ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS.

THE WHITE PAPER ABSOLUTELY LAID OUT THE OPTIONS, BUT IT'S ALSO TALKING AGAIN ABOUT FEASIBILITY.

I DON'T I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PROJECT.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE LONGEVITY AND THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT.

SO IF THAT MEANS THAT SOMEONE'S GOING TO BE GETTING OFF AND TAKING A LONG ESCALATOR OR TAKING A ELEVATOR WITH THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY THAT MAY ADD TWO MINUTES OR A SECOND TICKET TO A TRIP THAT'S ALREADY COMPROMISED, IT'S NO LONGER HIGH SPEED RAIL.

YOU ARE NOT GETTING TO HIGH SPEED ON A HIGH SPEED RAIL, ON AN ALIGNMENT FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS TO THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, OR TO THE CITY OF FORT WORTH.

SO IF WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THOSE BEING AN OPTION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THEN WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS BEING DONE RIGHT.

I WANT EVERYTHING THAT THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE FOR THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

I WANT TO MAKE THAT REALLY CLEAR, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A NARRATIVE THAT WAS PUSHED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS CONVERSATION SAYING, I WANT WHAT FORT WORTH IS GOING TO GET.

I WANT WHAT ARLINGTON'S GOING TO GET.

THAT'S NOT THE STANCE I'M TAKING.

I'M TAKING. I'M SAYING THAT THIS IS A LARGE ENOUGH PROJECT.

WE SHOULD BE MAKING SURE THAT IT IS TO THE UTMOST SUCCESS FOR ALL MUNICIPALITIES INVOLVED.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO COMPROMISE A PIECE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND THAT ARLINGTON HAS BELOW GRADE OR NOT.

WE ALL SHOULD HAVE THAT.

AND SO, I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR STAFF TO GIVE US OPTIONS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAS BEEN VETTED IN ANY OTHER BODIES.

GIVE US, AS A BODY OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, THE ABILITY TO WEIGH IN ON A POTENTIAL RESOLUTION THAT CLEARLY ARTICULATES TO THE RTC THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT AS A CITY AND ABOVE GRADE OPTION.

SO HOW THAT MATTERS, WHAT OPTIONS YOU BRING BACK TO US, THAT'S THEIR JOB.

I'M NOT TRYING TO GET THAT FIGURED OUT.

I'M NOT TELLING YOU ALL TO HAVE THAT ANSWER FIGURED OUT, BUT I AM SAYING THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE GETTING FAR DOWN THE ROAD, COMING BACK AND ASKING FOR APPROVALS FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHEN WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THERE'S A WILL TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THAT BEING THE OPTION.

OKAY. AND I'LL LET YOU GO OVER TIME.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE KIND OF RUNNING SHORT.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK, SO GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU. JUST A QUESTION FOR MAYBE LEGAL.

IF WE WANTED TO HAVE THIS BROUGHT UP IN A WAY THAT COULD BE DISCUSSED AT FULL COUNCIL WITH THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, AND IF WE WANT TO, IF WE NEEDED TO INSTRUCT STAFF TO JUST PUT A PAUSE FOR THE CITY SUPPORT ON PAUSE, IF THAT WAS OUR CHOICE.

I'M NOT SAYING IT IS, BUT IF THAT WAS OUR CHOICE WHAT LEGAL MEANS? HOW WHAT KIND OF NOTICE WOULD YOU NEED IN ORDER FOR THAT DISCUSSION TO HAPPEN WITH AN ACTION ITEM TO BE ACCOMPANYING? IN THAT? WELL, YOU CAN DIRECT STAFF TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTION OR PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN ORDER TO MAKE A DETERMINATION IN ORDER.

OH, YOU CAN DIRECT STAFF TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTION OR TO OBTAIN INFORMATION THAT WOULD HELP THIS BODY TO MAKE A DECISION. RIGHT NOW, THE AGENDA ITEM IS POSTED AS MERELY AN UPDATE.

SO, I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD NEED TO COME BACK AND REPOST IT OR HAVE SOME KIND OF NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME ACTION FOR, FOR THIS COMMITTEE.

NOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS POST IT FOR ACTION AT FULL COUNCIL, TOO.

[02:45:06]

I KNOW WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AS WE TALK ABOUT A WE, IF ARE WE OPERATING UNDER THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IN TERMS OF AIRPORT BRIEFINGS AND EXPLORATIONS AND DIRECTIVES ARE BASED ON WHAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED.

REMEMBER ALL OF OUR COMMITTEES OR RECOMMENDATIONS.

I KNOW THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE INFORMATION ON IT.

IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE A FULL BRIEFING.

WE YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET TO THE FULL BRIEFING.

IT JUST CAME UP AND SOMEBODY WOULD ASK ABOUT THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY.

AND LET ME GET SOME CLARITY SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HIGH SPEED RAIL.

AND I'VE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD.

I'VE BEEN ON MANY HIGH-SPEED RAILS, AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE NEVER HAD A HIGH-SPEED RAIL GO BETWEEN THREE CITIES, YOU KNOW, THREE CITIES WITHIN 30 MILES OF EACH OTHER.

MOST HIGH-SPEED RAIL GO INTO AN AIRPORT IN LONDON, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER YOU CAN GO.

AND IN HONG KONG, I'VE BEEN THERE AND ALL THE THING THAT'S WHERE THEY GENERALLY GO INTO.

SO, THIS IS SOME NEW TERRITORY.

AND SO, WHEN WE DID A ONE SEAT DEAL, WE DID NOT HAVE THE CONVENTION CENTER.

WE DID NOT HAVE ALL THIS STUFF IN THE FUTURE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO.

SO THEREFORE, WE NEED TO GET CLARITY I BELIEVE THAT CHAIRMAN STEWART WAS SAYING, HEY, WE GET A FULL BRIEFING, WE CAN COME BACK.

THIS WAS JUST INFORMATION ONLY.

AND WE CAN HAVE A MEETING BETWEEN TRANSIT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO IRON THIS OUT DOWN THE ROAD.

SO, IT'S JUST WITH INFORMATION AND WITH THAT, I WON'T HAVE TO CLOSE UP BECAUSE I GOT TO GET TO MY STATE LEGISLATOR.

OKAY. WITH THAT IT'S NOW 2:50 AND I CALL THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.