YOU'RE WATCHING THE MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR ERIC L JOHNSON.
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MAYOR PRO TEM TENNELL ATKINS.DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ADAM BAZALDUA, COUNCIL NEMBERS CHAD WEST, JESSE MORENO.
OMAR NARVAEZ PAULA BLACKMON KATHY STEWART.
PAUL E RIDLEY, INTERIM CITY MANAGER KIMBERLY BIZOR TOLBERT.
CITY SECRETARY BILIERAE JOHNSON AND CITY ATTORNEY TAMMY PALOMINO.
[Call to Order ]
IT IS 9 A.M..WE CALL THIS COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER.
OKAY. WE GOT A SPEAKER FIRST IN THAT 10:36 A.M..
WHO'S ON THE VACATION? I DON'T KNOW WHO DOING THE VACATION.
SHARON. GRAYSON, YOU WANT TO DO IT? PAULA BLACKBURN WE DO.
THANK YOU. PAULA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PAULA. LET'S GO. LET THE LORD HEAR.
STEP RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. AND GIVEN MY GOOD CATHOLIC UPBRINGING, WE WILL BE DOING THE HAIL MARY.
HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE. THE LORD IS WITH THEE.
BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN, AND BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF THY WOMB, JESUS.
HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, PRAY FOR US SINNERS NOW AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH.
AMEN. FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT.
AMEN. OKAY, LET'S DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MADAM SECRETARY, NOW WE HAVE THE SPEAKERS.
[Open Microphone Speakers (Part 1 of 2) ]
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING.THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW HEAR ITS FIRST BY REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN PERSON.
FOR THOSE SPEAKERS WHO ARE VIRTUAL, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION.
INDIVIDUALS WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE STOP.
YOU'LL NOTICE THE TIMER ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM.
I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR ATKINS ONLY YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, REGINA IMBURGIA.
THERE'S A BUTTON AT THE BASE OF THE MICROPHONE.
I THINK I HUNG IT UP BY ACCIDENT.
DA DA DA. LINDA, DOES THE POSTERS USUALLY.
AND THERE'S AN EVENT ON SUNDAY THE 23RD AT 5:00 AT THE ANGELIKA THEATER OF 152 COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND THEN YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN INVITED BECAUSE 23 CITIES GET DALLAS WATER.
AND SO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO COME TO THIS EVENT AT 5:00 AT THE ANGELIKA THEATER, AND THE PUBLIC CAN COME AND IT'S IT'S AT MOCKINGBIRD STATION AT MOCKINGBIRD AND 75.
ONE THING THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT FLUORIDATION OF THE DALLAS WATER STARTED LIKE 75 YEARS AGO, WHEN THE COUNCIL WOULD SMOKE ON THE, ON THE ON THE HORSESHOE.
THERE WERE NINE IN THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME AND IT WAS NOT UNANIMOUS.
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ACID, TO PUT IT IN THE WATER, TO RAISE THE FLUORIDE, BECAUSE YOU CAN GET FLUORIDE FROM OTHER PLACES.THERE'S THERE'S ALREADY FLUORIDE IN THE WATER.
AND WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN IS ACTUALLY A POISON.
SO THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE'S A TRIAL OF SEVEN YEARS AGO, THE PUBLIC PETITIONED THE EPA AND SAID, THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
BUT THEY IGNORED US BECAUSE THEY IGNORED US.
TOSCA TOSCA IS A WAY THAT YOU CAN SUE THESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
SO MICHAEL CONNETT TOOK THIS UP, AND HE IS GOING TO BE AT THE EVENT ON SUNDAY BECAUSE THE TRIAL CONCLUDED IN FEBRUARY 20TH, IT'S NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE JUDGE TO MAKE THE DECISION.
AND THE JUDGE HAS HEARD ALL THE DEPOSITIONS AND HIS YOU KNOW, HE HE KNOWS THE TRUTH.
AND EVEN UNDER THE DEPOSITIONS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WILL BE SHOWN IN THIS FILM IS THE THE THE DEPOSITIONS OF THE CDC AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT HAVE UNDER OATH THEY TELL THE TRUTH, BUT THEY LOBBY AND THEY COME TO CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE AND SAY IT'S SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR EVERYONE WHEN IT'S NOT.
BUT YOU GUYS ARE SOLD THE STORY AND THEN YOU DON'T WANT IT.
YOU NEED EIGHT OF YOU ALL TO VOTE TO STOP FLUORIDATION.
AND YOU CAN DO IT AND YOU SHOULD DO IT.
SO MY MINUTES ARE GOING, BUT IT IS.
AND YOU CAN ASK HIM QUESTIONS IF YOU THINK THAT WHAT WE COME IN AND SAY ISN'T VALID AND YOU CAN BE THERE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND TELL THE CROWD WHY YOU THINK THAT FLUORIDATION SHOULD CONTINUE.
BUT THE LAST QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING HAD JUST A BUNCH OF FLUORIDE SHILLS.
THERE. THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
BEFORE I CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
[Special Presentations]
SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS AS THE MAYOR HAS A FEW.THESE STUDENTS HAD TRAVELED NEAR AND FAR TO SPEND THEIR SUMMER MONTHS LENDING THEIR TALENT TO THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHILE DEVELOPING A SKILL THAT WILL SHAPE THEIR FUTURE IN PROFESSIONALISM AND LEADERSHIP.
WE'D LIKE TO GIVE OUR INTERN A WARM WELCOME.
WOULD OUR SUMMER INTERN PLEASE STAND AT THIS TIME? THE. I WANT TO COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE.
NOW, ANOTHER SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT THE WHAT WORKS CITIES CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, LAUNCHED IN 2017 BY BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPY AND THE LEAD BY RESULT FOR AMERICA AND THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD OF DATA EXCELLENCE IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
THE WHAT WORKS CITIES CERTIFICATION RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL USE OF DATA TO TO INFORM POLICY DECISIONS, ADVOCATE FUND IMPROVEMENT SERVICE EVALUATING PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS, AND ENGAGE RESIDENTS.
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DURING THE 275 CITIES HAVE HAD HAVE THEIR DATA PRACTICES EVALUATED.EVALUATION AGAINST THESE CRITERIA BY COMPLETING A WORK WITH WHAT WORK CITY ASSEMBLY AS OF THIS JUNE 20TH 2483 SAID THEY HAVE ACHIEVED CERTIFICATION. TODAY I ANNOUNCE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT DALLAS NOW JOINS THE PROCEDURE GROUP, A CITY WITH A CIVIL CERTIFICATION, AS PART OF THE WHAT WORKS CITIES CERTIFICATION COMMUNITY.
DALLAS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW ITS DATA PRACTICES SHALL INVOCATION AND IN IDEALS INSPIRED COMMUNITY.
SO WHAT IS OUR CITY? HERE THEY COME. YEAH, THEY GOT A BIG AWARD TO NICK.
YEAH. WHAT'S GOING ON, SIR, IF I MAY, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE STAFF.
THE DATA ANALYTICS OFFICE IT'S PURCHASING, AND IT'S JUST BEEN AN EFFORT OF THE, ALL THE STAFF TO COME TOGETHER FOR THE SILVER CERTIFICATION AND BEING RECOGNIZED IN THIS WAY AS A DATA DRIVEN ORGANIZATION.
ANOTHER PICTURE. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
NO PROBLEM. IF I'M RIGHT, WHAT'S GOING TO GET HIM BACK? THE TALL TIMBER PALOMINO.
TAMMY PALOMINO. I KNOW SHE HAD ONE.
THANK YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LIKE YOU PROBABLY HAVE A MILLION PICTURES.
DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU HAVE A SPECIAL REP.
WE ALWAYS ATTEMPT TO HONOR THOSE AND RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO GIVE SERVICE.
I REMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS IN THE CLASSROOM FORMER COUNCILWOMAN PAULINE MEDRANO SENT ME RECOGNIZED THE STUDENTS THAT I BROUGHT DOWN HERE AND SENT ME A LETTER TO THAT EFFECT ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT THEY WERE HERE.
AND I THINK IT JUST PUTS SO MUCH VALUE ON THEM BEING HERE.
SO I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE I HAVE TWO STUDENTS WHO WILL BE INTERNING WITH US FOR TWO WEDNESDAYS.
MR. JULIAN ROMERO, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? HE'S FROM THE SOLAR PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR BOYS.
HE'S IN THE SEVENTH GRADE DISTRICT FOUR.
SO WE ARE PUTTING THEM TO WORK.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD SOME INTEREST FROM YOUR DISTRICT, MR. MAYOR. FROM UNT, THEY WILL BE HERE AROUND 11:00 AND, AND OUR, OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CARRIE ROGERS WILL BE IN CHARGE OF THAT GROUP.
THEY WANT A TOUR TO SEE WHAT WE DO WITH TAX DOLLARS HERE AT 1500 MORELOS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE.
AND THANK YOU, MISS ROGERS, FOR CARRYING THAT LOAD FOR US TODAY.
BUT WE ARE PROUD OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GOVERNMENT.
ALSO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE JUST A QUICK STATEMENT THAT WE DID HAVE A NEW DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS ALAN BAZALDUA ON THE LINE? YES, ALAN. CONGRATULATIONS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THE NEW DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.
WE'LL NOW GO BACK TO OUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.
[Open Microphone Speakers (Part 1 of 2) ]
JOE STOKES.COULD I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE, EVERYONE? AFTER THE PREMEDITATED SABOTAGE OF THE FLUORIDE BRIEFING BY THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, IT IS TIME FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH CONSCIENCE AND INTEGRITY TO REVISIT AND RECONSIDER FLUORIDATION OF DALLAS WATER.
WHAT BEGAN AS A PETITION SUBMITTED UNDER THE TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT HAS NOW SPANNED SEVEN YEARS, WITH CLOSING ARGUMENTS DELIVERED THIS PAST FEBRUARY, AND THE HONORABLE JUDGE EDWARD CHAN'S RULING IS IMMINENT ANY DAY.
THIS DOCUMENTARY EXPOSES THE LONG HISTORY OF GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY SUPPRESSION OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, REVEALING THE TOXIC EFFECTS OF FLUORIDE, PARTICULARLY ON CHILDREN.
DOCUMENTS PRODUCED DURING THE TRIAL SHOW THAT A LANDMARK FEDERAL REVIEW OF FLUORIDE HAZARDS TO THE BRAIN HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, SHOCKING SEVERAL SHOCKING INTERVIEWS OF FEDERAL HEALTH EXPERTS DEPOSED IN THE CASE, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE CENTER OF DISEASE
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CONTROL, THE CDC AND THE EPA.ON THE DANGERS OF FLUORIDE AND THE US GOVERNMENT'S NEFARIOUS ATTEMPT TO CONCEAL THE TRUTH.
IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN CLOSELY FOLLOWING THIS DISTURBING SAGA, OR HAVE DEPENDED ON ACCURATE REPORTING BY MAINSTREAM MEDIA, BE PREPARED FOR A SHOCK. FLUORIDE ON TRIAL THE CENSORED SCIENCE OF FLUORIDE AND YOUR HEALTH.
THIS NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 23RD, 5 P.M., ANGELIKA FILM CENTER.
BUT TO GET A TICKET YOU WOULD GO TO MINISTRY OF TRUTH FILM FEST.COM.
WHEN? BUT OUR BEST 65, 70 YEARS AGO WHEN INITIALLY FLUORIDE WAS VOTED IN BY THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, START ADDING THIS TOXIC CHEMICAL, THIS TOXIC WASTE, THIS NEUROTOXIN TO OUR WATER PEOPLE.
AT THE TIME MOST PEOPLE KNEW THAT, HEY, THAT'S ROACH POISON.
WELL, NOW PEOPLE CAN DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH.
YOU NEED TO GET UP TO SPEED ON WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ROBERT CECCARELLI.
I'M JUST. I'VE BEEN CRYING ALL MORNING.
I SAW THE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE PARKING LOT.
LOOKED LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I SAW.
IT JUST REITERATES WHAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT.
THE CITY COUNCIL, ABOUT THE HOMELESS.
I'VE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE HERE.
OTHER WORKERS. THEY SAID THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.
OKAY, NOW I'M JUST SAYING TO YOU IS YOU GO OUT THERE AND TALK TO THEM.
EVERYBODY. IF YOU'RE SCARED, BRING UP A COUPLE OF POLICE OFFICERS AND GET THEIR PEOPLE HOPE.
WHAT TO DO? SOUTH OAK CLIFF HIGH SCHOOL I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
THEY SPOKE ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL SEVERAL TIMES AT SCHOOL BOARD.
OKAY. THAT WAS CRAZY OUT THERE.
WHAT I JUST SAW, THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY ASININE.
5 OR 10 TENT CITIES RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR PLACE.
WHY, MAN, I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
ALL OF YOU DO WHAT SOUTH OAK CLIFF DID.
INVITE THEM TO THE PARTNERSHIP MEETING.
INVITE THEM TO HOMELESS COMMISSION MEETING.
INVITE THEM SO THAT WAY THEY CAN BE HEARD AND GET THE THINGS DONE.
BUT YOU'RE SCARED BECAUSE THE CONSTITUENTS DON'T LIKE IT AND YOU'LL LOSE A VOTE.
BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I'M PISSED RIGHT NOW.
I I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
I NEVER SAW ANYTHING CRAZY LIKE THAT I SAW IN MY LIFE.
AND WHAT I SAW IS THE DIRTIEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
YOU HAVE NO PRIDE IN YOURSELF OF WHAT YOUR CITY LOOKS LIKE IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY.
WHAT CAN BE DONE? GET THE HOMELESS HERE.
SPEAK UP. I DON'T CARE IF YOU GET 100 OF THEM.
I FORGOT THE GUY'S NAME SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
150 UP THERE AND IT GOT A LOT OF PUBLICITY.
DON'T BE SCARED OF CONSTITUENTS NOT GOING TO BE SCARED OF YOU.
WHAT I SAW, I MEAN, THAT WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE VOUCHERS BECAUSE I CRIED.
I'M GOING TO CRY LATER ON TODAY.
WHAT I SAW, THAT WAS RIDICULOUS.
MR. MAYOR, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND HEAR THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS.
MANY OF THEM ARE TALKING ABOUT ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BRIEFED ON LATER TODAY.
[00:20:02]
OKAY. GO AHEAD, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER ARNOLD WOULD LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED.YES. MR. MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE JUST IF I COULD BE RECOGNIZED TO STATE THIS IF YOU WOULD IN YOUR POSITION HERE, REMIND THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE RULES OF PROPRIETY, DECORUM AND GOOD CONDUCT, CONDUCT THAT WE ALSO LIKE TO SEE HERE WHEN THEY COME TO SPEAK.
YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, RONNIE MESTAS.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RONNIE MESTAS.
3215 WEST WEST DALLAS STREET IN WEST DALLAS, TEXAS.
BEFORE I START, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR ALLOWING ME TO ESCORT OR GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESCORT THE UKRAINIAN VETERAN COMBAT VETERANS OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.
IT WAS A SHORT NOTICE. IT WAS MY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, BUT IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD ONE.
IT WAS JUST UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.
SO THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR THAT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE HOUSING ISSUE.
BUT IN WEST DALLAS, THERE'S STILL THERE'S WHATEVER POLICY IS GOING TO COME OUT.
THERE'S NOTHING GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE IN WEST DALLAS.
IT'S ALREADY OUR COMMUNITY IS DEAD.
YOU KNOW, WE CREATED WITH THE HELP OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WE CREATED GENERATIONAL WEALTH THERE BY WORKING WITH THE LAND, THE LANDOWNERS, THE PROPERTY OWNERS, THEIR HOMES THAT WERE BUILT, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR HOMEOWNERS, YOU KNOW, THE HOMES THAT WERE SOLD FOR THAT GENERATIONAL WEALTH WERE NOT EXACTLY THE BEST, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING TO START WITH, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE THOSE FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, TO MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND WHAT WE'RE GOING, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE GOING IS NOT A VERY PRETTY OR A PRETTY PICTURE FOR US IN WEST DALLAS.
I'VE ALWAYS HAVE AND I ALWAYS WILL BE.
BUT I DO HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND GREAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN US IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
SO I ACCRUED THOSE TWO WHATEVER'S GOING TO THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
BUT DON'T FORGET ABOUT US IN WEST DALLAS.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE WEST UPTOWN OR WEST WEST, WEST END.
BUT WE NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT THAT TRANSITION.
YOLANDA WILLIAMS. GOOD MORNING. LET ME GET OFF TOPIC.
JUST LIKE YOU ALL WANT RESPECT AND DECORUM AND I BELIEVE IN THAT.
RESPECT OUR TIME AND START THESE MEETINGS ON TIME AT 9:00 AND NOT 938.
THE RECORD I WANT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT POLICE.
YOU ALL KNOW THE LOVE I HAVE FOR POLICE.
MY SISTER WAS BLESSED TO RETIRE 32 YEARS IN FEBRUARY, BUT I'VE BEEN GONE FOR TWO YEARS.
I NEEDED A BREAK FROM CITY HALL.
AND WHEN I CALLED OUR MPO OFFICERS, JUST TRYING TO GET ON SCHEDULE, TRYING TO CATCH UP AND SEE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT, THEY HAVE TO CHECK BECAUSE THEIR OVERTIME IS BEING DECREASED.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN UNDER PATROL AND PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR YEARS.
SO THEY'RE UNDER COMMUNITY SERVICE.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT CAME IN, THEY HAD TO GUARD THE PRESIDENT.
NOW WE'RE ALL FOR YOU ALL FINDING THE MONEY, THE RETENTION BONUS FOR OUR CHIEF.
WE'RE ALREADY SHORT. FIVE MPO OFFICERS.
WE HAD A VIP MEETING FOR NORTH DALLAS.
I WENT TO A TEN BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE WHAT ARE THEY DOING DIFFERENT THAT WE'RE NOT DOING.
[00:25:03]
AND IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE OUT THERE.THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT THEIR POLICE OFFICER.
OUR MPO OFFICERS ARE LEAVING AND GETTING PROMOTED.
BUT WE EXPECT FOR YOU ALL TO SIT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE TO DO RIGHT AND WE ARE NOT.
AND THIS IS WHAT COUNCIL I KNOW Y'ALL DON'T HIRE THE CHIEF.
WE DON'T WANT HIM TO FEEL LIKE HE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF POLITICS BECAUSE HIS BOSSES ARE AROUND.
BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LET THE MPO BUDGET BE DECREASED.
WE ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING IN SOUTHEAST, PLEASANT GROVE, OLD CLIFF, EAST DALLAS.
I KNOW IT'S NOT ON THIS TOPIC.
INSTEAD OF TRYING TO KILL SOMEBODY'S HORSE CARRIAGE, TRYING TO FIGHT TO GET DO AWAY WITH HORSES, I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS STEPPED OUTSIDE WORK, THIS MAN WAS RIDING THE HORSE THIS TIME, AND I TOOK HIM.
WHAT? I'D BE ON YOU BACK ON JUNE THE 26TH TO DEAL WITH THAT HORSE.
TIMOTHY DICKEY IS NOT PRESENT.
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. HOW Y'ALL DOING THIS MORNING? MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS. I RESIDE IN DISTRICT EIGHT, 2839 TRUSTEE DRIVE.
WHILE WE'RE BUILDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO. PRIOR TO WE HAVEN'T HAD TO HAVE A SIDEWALK WAIVER.
NOW WE HAVE TO HAVE A SIDEWALK WAIVER THAT COSTS $223 TO TO TO GET IN.
THE WAIVER BASICALLY SAYS, HEY, YOU GOT TO PAY US $223.
SO YOU WE CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU DON'T YOU CAN'T BUILD A SIDEWALK.
I JUST THINK THAT'S KIND OF THEN IF YOU BUILD, IF YOU TAKE THE IF YOU TAKE THE SIDEWALKS OFF YOUR BUILDING PLANS, THEN FIT THE LOCATION, THEN YOU WON'T PASS YOUR PLANS BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL NOT TO HAVE THE SIDEWALK.
SO IF I'M BUILDING TEN HOUSES, WHICH I AM IN A CERTAIN COMMUNITY IN FIVE MILE, AND IT COST ME $223 PER HOME, THEN FOR THEM TO SEND OUT THE ENGINEER TO SAY, HEY, YOU CAN'T BUILD ON ROAD, SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A WAIVER TO SAY YOU CAN'T BUILD A SIDEWALK.
AND THE GUY AT THE CITY IS LIKE, JUST PAY THE FINE AND SHUT UP.
BUT I'M LIKE, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
THEN ALSO, I GOT A SUGGESTION FOR THE PARKLAND FEE.
I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE THAT'S BUILDING IN YOUR PROGRAM FOR THE LAND THE LAND TRANSFER, THE LAND BANK PROGRAM, SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT PARKLAND FEE WAIVED BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S A FEE FOR A LAND IMPROVEMENT DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE ALREADY DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY ON THESE HOUSES BECAUSE IT'S GOT AN ARMY BASE TAX.
SO WE JUST TRYING TO BUILD I'M NOT TRYING TO CAUSE NO CONFUSION.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS PARKLAND I MEAN THE PARKLAND FEE.
OKAY, I UNDERSTAND, BUT THERE'S SIDEWALK WAIVER FEE I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
AND NO ONE IN THE PERMITS CAN EXPLAIN TO ME WHY I GOT TO PAY $223.
SO YOU CAN TELL ME THAT I DON'T NEED A I CAN'T HAVE A SIDEWALK.
I'M LIKE, I KNOW I HAVE GOOGLE MAPS, SO YOU DON'T HAVE A SIDEWALK.
AND I THINK IT'S ALMOST LIKE A DISTORTION.
THAT'S JUST MY DEAL. SO THE POLICY, I THINK YOU GUYS CAN GO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BECAUSE LITERALLY I'M BUILDING TEN HOMES STARTING THIS WEEK, AND I GOT TO GO PAY $223 FOR A SIDEWALK SITUATION THAT I DON'T HAVE ABILITY TO PAY.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO PUT SIDEWALKS IN OUR HOMES.
THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE? POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, MAYOR, ON THIS SPEAKER MAKES SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS ON OUR THE FEES THAT WE'RE CHARGING AND ALSO THE PROCEDURES THAT WE GO THROUGH WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO ENABLE OUR AFFORDABLE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOMES.
AND AS WE REVIEW OUR FEES FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET WE TAKE A SPECIAL LOOK AT THE SIDEWALK WAIVER FEE.
[00:30:02]
IT'S RIDICULOUS TO PAY $223 IN THE LANDS ALREADY VACANT.IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THE PICTURE SHOULD SUFFICE FOR A DEVELOPER TO JUST SEND TO STAFF AND THEN TO THE PARKLAND FEE, I DON'T I, I SEE WHERE HE'S COMING FROM WITH WHEN WHEN WE'RE APPLYING THAT TO THE LAND TRANSFER PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS REMEMBERING HBCUS IN THE DIVINE NINE MATTER, AND FOR REACHING OUT.
REGARDING THE ISSUES I SPOKE OF LAST TIME I WAS HERE ON MONDAY, JUNE 3RD.
IT WAS NOT KNOWN IF THE WEAPON WAS REAL AT THAT TIME.
THE INDIVIDUAL RETURNED THE NEXT TWO DAYS TERRORIZING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
APPARENTLY, HE HAD BEEN SLEEPING IN THE PARK ON A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE PAST MONTH THAT WHEN IT WAS CHOSEN FOR THE PARK, I WARNED THE PARK BOARD MEMBER THAT WOULD BE UTILIZED FOR THE HOMELESS TO SLEEP IN.
APPARENTLY THE MARSHALS WERE NOT PATROLLING AS THEY INDICATED THEY DID.
I WAS THE ONE THAT NOTICED THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL HAD A GUN.
AGAIN, IT WAS NOT DETERMINED IF IT WAS FAKE OR REAL.
THE REC CENTER STAFF THAT FACES POTENTIALLY ARMED INDIVIDUAL SUFFERED SEVERE TRAUMA.
THIS JUST BEGS THE QUESTIONS OF WHY DPD ASKED FOR MORE MONEY THROUGH PROPOSITION F IN THIS LAST BOND PACKAGE FOR A TRAINING FACILITY, BECAUSE HOW DO YOU TRAIN WHAT YOU CANNOT EFFECTIVELY RECRUIT AND RETAIN? THAT MAKES NO SENSE.
A FEW YEARS AGO, MICHAEL MOORE PUT A FILM OUT CALLED BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE.
RIGHT NOW IN SOUTH DALLAS, WE'RE BOWLING FOR UVALDE.
I WILL NOT ENTERTAIN AN EMAIL ADDRESSING THIS.
IF ONE DOES NOT THINK ENOUGH OF DIXON TO ATTEND A MEETING OR CALL, THEN WE HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.
YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
YOU GET TIRED OF US SAYING BLACK AND BROWN LIVES MATTER.
BUT WHEN YOUR OPERATIONS INDICATE OTHERWISE, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO SAY? I'M JUST ASKING THAT IT BE REMEMBERED.
SEND THE HELP WHEN WE CALL FOR IT.
AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE AND BEG FOR MY PEOPLE.
Y'ALL HAVE THE DAY YOU DESERVE.
WILL YOU PLEASE GO AND START? EXCUSE ME, MISS GRAYSON, BECAUSE SERGEANT BARNES WOULD TALK TO YOU RIGHT HERE.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. KARLA BREWER.
PATRICE MALLEN IS NOT PRESENT.
HI. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, GREAT TO SEE YOU.
I'M STEPHANIE CARTER. I'M THE HONORARY CHAIR OF DALLAS HERO.
THANK YOU. MIKE. IS YOUR MIC ON? IT IS ON. OKAY, I'LL LOOK CLOSER.
HI, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M STEPHANIE CARTER, HONORARY CHAIR OF DALLAS HERO.
MY ADDRESS IS 1408 NORTH RIVERFRONT BOULEVARD.
TODAY, AND A FEW MINUTES AFTER I SPEAK, WE WILL PROUDLY BE DELIVERING TO OUR CITY SECRETARY FAR MORE THAN THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF REQUIRED PETITION SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF THREE CITIZEN DRIVEN INITIATIVES THAT WILL AMEND THE CITY CHARTER.
[00:35:03]
ALL SIGNATURES WERE PRE VERIFIED BY EACH SIGNERS VOTER IDENTIFICATION RECORD IN THE COMING WEEKS.WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CERTIFICATION OF OUR SUCCESSFUL SUBMISSION BY THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
ONE OF OUR AMENDMENTS ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM.
WE ALL BELIEVE IN A BETTER, SAFER AND MORE PROSPEROUS CITY.
EACH AMENDMENT RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES WITHOUT A PR OR AD CAMPAIGN.
THESE SIGNATURES TRULY REFLECT THE DESIRES AND VOICES OF DALLAS RESIDENTS.
WE ENCOURAGE ALL DALLAS RESIDENTS TO LET THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THAT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE ON THE PETITIONS THAT THEY SIGNED SHOULD BE REPRESENTED WITHOUT CHANGE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
RESIDENTS DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE CHANGES TO THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER, AND WE HOPE THEY'LL VOTE YES TO JOIN OUR MOVEMENT AND BECOME A DALLAS HERO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LYNN CHAFFIN OR LYNN CHAFFIN.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I WAS AN EMPLOYEE HERE AT THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR A LITTLE OVER TEN YEARS, AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL TIME WHEN I CAME TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I CAME HERE WAS BECAUSE I WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY, TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, AND I WANTED TO ENGAGE IN THE PENSION PLAN.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE PENSION PLAN, AND FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY ONE OF YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE A HARD, HARD JOB.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE HERE FOR THE CITIZENS, FOR THE STAFF AND FOR DALLAS AS A WHOLE.
AS A PART OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS, YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND IN TERMS OF THE THINGS THAT WILL HELP TO MAKE THE FUND CONTINUE TO BE VIBRANT AND CONTINUE TO BE FULLY FUNDED.
AND THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING AND AND GOING FORWARD WITH ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND, INCLUDING THE ELECTION, WHICH WILL REMOVE THE CAP, THE 36% CAP ON CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO ALSO ENGAGE AND VOTE FOR THAT WHEN IT COMES TO A VOTE.
I CURRENTLY LIVE IN RICHARDSON, TEXAS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I AM THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE DALLAS CITY RETIRED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, AND WE REPRESENT THE CITY OF DALLAS CIVILIAN RETIREES. I WORKED IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS FOR 44 YEARS.
THE LAST 22 YEARS WERE HERE AT THE AT THE CITY OF DALLAS, MOSTLY HERE AT CITY HALL.
I WAS MANAGER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN DALLAS WATER UTILITIES, PRIMARILY WORKING WITH THE CUSTOMER INFORMATION ACCOUNTING AND BILLING SYSTEM, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS KBS.
[00:40:09]
SYSTEM. I THEN MOVED TO THE COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SIS, AND WAS A SENIOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER UP UNTIL I RETIRED IN 2011.FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I WORKED PART TIME IN FINANCIAL SERVICES AND WAS BOTH SECURITIES AND LIFE INSURANCE LICENSED, WHICH GAVE ME SOME KNOWLEDGE OF INVESTING. I ALSO I DECIDED TO THROW THIS IN.
I ALSO RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IN 1972.
OH, THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS THAT WE'RE AWARE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MAKING CHANGES TO THE CIVILIAN PENSION PLAN, WHICH COULD AFFECT CURRENT RETIREES AND EMPLOYEES.
I AM SURE YOU ALREADY ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 6000 RETIRED AND ACTIVE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE DALLAS RESIDENTS, AND EVEN MORE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE FUTURE OF CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO ACCEPT ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ERF BOARD, INCLUDING THE PART OF SAID NO CHANGE TO BENEFIT STRUCTURE FOR TIERS A AND B.
AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
THESE ARE YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.
WE GOT BRIEFLY. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER.
[1. 24-1739 Approval of Minutes of the June 5, 2024 City Council Meeting ]
SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY HI.I'M SORRY. WE WE HAVE ONE MORE VOTING ITEM.
ONE MORE. OKAY. AGENDA ITEM TWO IS CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
[2. 24-1740 Consideration of appointments to boards and commissions and the evaluation and duties of board and commission members (List of nominees is available in the City Secretary's Office) ]
THIS MORNING. YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL AND FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.YOUR NOMINEES FOR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
TODD HOWARD IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON TO THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
SEAN ALLEN IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST TO THE JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION.
LAUREN BLACK IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST TO THE LANDMARK COMMISSION.
LOUIS RENARD IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON MR..
SHANNON MCCOURT IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
STEWART. THIS IS YOUR THESE ARE YOUR NOMINEES.
MR. MAYOR, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? ALL IN FAVOR AND OPPOSED.
AYES CARRIED. MR. MAYOR, YOUR BRIEFINGS CONTINUE.
[A. 24-1741 Discussion of the Mayor and City Councilmember Salaries Amendment in the 2024 Charter Review Commission’s Final Report and Submitted Councilmember-Proposed Charter Amendments ]
OKAY. WE HAVE A BRIEFING ITEM.A TURN OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.
THERE ARE SIX OUTSTANDING ITEMS OF WHICH YOU MAY STRAW VOTE TODAY.
IF YOU WISH TO MAKE ANY AMENDMENTS OUTSIDE OF THOSE SIX, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO ON THE FLOOR AND MAKE AMENDMENTS ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE THE 26TH, WHEN THE ORDINANCE CALLING THE ELECTION IS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED.
AND AT THIS TIME, MR. MAYOR, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU TO BEGIN TODAY'S DISCUSSION.
I MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GO INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO CONSIDER THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SALARIES AMENDMENT IN THE 2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION FINAL REPORT AND SUBMITTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER. PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS.
[00:45:02]
SECOND. SECOND.MOTION CARRIED. SO THE FIRST ITEM.
CONSTRUCTION. WE ARE NOW ACTING AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, AS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE VOTING ON AMENDMENT TWO, THE 2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION FINAL REPORT, COUNCIL MEMBER PROPOSED A CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED ARE NOT FINAL ACTION, BUT RECOMMENDATION THAT WOULD BE FOUND TO VOTE ON AT A LATER DATE.
VOTE AND BALLOT VOTE ARE NOT ALLOWED.
WE WILL USE NOT THE GREEN CARD.
WE WILL USE WILL NOT USE GREEN CARD SUPPORT AMENDMENT.
ALTHOUGH THE FINAL VOTE WILL NOT BE TAKEN, THE CITY SECRETARY WILL RECORD THE NAME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER SHOWING THEIR THIS CARD RIGHT HERE IN THE FAVOR OF THE MOTION, WE WILL FOLLOW OUR USE OF 531 FORMAT FOR DEBATE.
WE WILL START WITH POLICY AMENDMENT REGARDING THE CITY SERVER ON WHICH THE COUNCIL BEGAN DISCUSSION ON JUNE 5TH, THEN MOVED TO THE FIVE REMAINING COUNCIL MEMBER PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT. MR. MAYOR. YES.
FOR US TO BRING SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT DONE ON THE FLOOR.
YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PUSHED TO WIN.
YOU HAD TO BE DISCUSSED ON THE FLOOR, IS WHAT I SAID.
I THINK HAD TO BE DISCUSSED ON THE FLOOR AND 26 ON THE 26.
WE'RE DOING A BRIEFING THANKS FOR THE EXCITING WORK.
THREE. I'M HELPING MELISSA WITH THE NEXT.
I THINK IT'S THREE ON MY POINT OF ORDER.
YES! I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BRIEFING DURING AN AGENDA MEETING? NO. I THINK HE WANT TO SEND IT TO THE 26 TO BE ON THE FLOOR.
IS THAT CORRECT? MATTERS OF ATTORNEY.
THAT IS WHAT I HEARD THAT THAT HE WAS WORKING WITH.
WOULD WANT TO WORK WITH KATHY STEWART ON.
I GUESS THE MOTION THAT WOULD HAPPEN ON THE 26TH, THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING OF.
SO ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THIS BRIEFING? I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS. IT WAS NOT A BRIEFING.
SO THERE'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS FOR THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US.
IT'S NOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
WELL, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT THIS DISCUSSION IS.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW? NO, THERE'S NO NO, IT'S NOT OKAY.
IT'S A BRIEFING. IT'S NOT A MOTION I READ INTO THE RECORD.
WHAT'S THE NEXT ONE? NUMBER THREE.
NUMBER THREE. MRS MENDELSOHN, CHAIRMAN.
CAN I STILL. I'M BACK TO MY PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION.
SO ARE WE NOT ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED ABOUT CITY COUNCIL SALARIES? THERE WAS NOT A MOTION.
TO DO WHAT? I'M SORRY, I'M NOT.
THERE IS NOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
WE'RE NOT HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO TO VOTE ON ANY ITEM.
WHAT? HE WANTED TO REPORT THIS ON THE 26TH AS A FULL COUNCIL.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S TRYING TO CONVEY.
THANK YOU. POINT OF INFORMATION, MR.
[00:50:01]
MAYOR. YES.WHAT'S YOUR POINT OF INFORMATION? YOU ARE FROZE. CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ.
THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DOESN'T BELONG TO THE BODY.
THEREFORE, WHEN MR. BAZALDUA REQUESTED FOR IT TO BE MOVED TO THE 26TH, IT STILL BELONGS TO HIM, JUST THE SAME WAY THAT WE DID WHEN THE CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATIVE AD HOC COMMITTEE REQUESTED THAT IN THEIR ABSENCE, THAT ALL OF THEIR ITEMS BE MOVED TO TODAY'S AGENDA.
THEREFORE, IT'S THE SAME THING.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, SO SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN, NUMBER THREE, YOUR YOUR ITEM, PLEASE.
SO I BELIEVE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS SENDING OUT THE MOTION.
SO THE ITEM IS DO YOU WANT ME TO READ IT AS THE AMENDMENT? YES. CORRECT.
OKAY. IN CHAPTER THREE, CITY COUNCIL, SECTION 11 ELECTION AND DUTIES OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, I MOVE TO AMEND THE LANGUAGE TO ALLOW THE MAYOR TO SELECT THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, INSTEAD OF THOSE POSITIONS BEING ELECTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
BUT DO WE DO WE NEED A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE DO HAVE A SECOND.
WE HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. I DO GO AHEAD.
JUST RECENTLY, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT A SEAT NEEDING TO BE OF A CERTAIN ETHNICITY.
WE HAVE RACIAL DISCUSSIONS FREQUENTLY ABOUT COMBINING THE MAYOR, DEPUTY MAYOR, AND MAYOR PRO TEM POSITIONS SO THAT THEY'RE REPRESENTING VARIOUS RACES.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO SELECT.
SO ALLOWING A MAYOR TO SELECT THOSE OFFICE POSITIONS WOULD ALLOW FOR TRUST AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THOSE MEMBERS, LEADING TO A DELEGATION OF INITIATIVES AND PUBLIC APPEARANCE DUTIES, AS WELL AS POLICY AND CONSENSUS BUILDING AMONGST COUNCIL MEMBERS.
OKAY. YOU MISSED YOUR BANGLASIA.
WITH A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE.
THIS WOULD ALLOW A MAYOR TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I'M GOING TO USE THE WORD POWER.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD, BUT ABILITY TO MANEUVER ON THE COUNCIL.
I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY FOR THIS TO START AFTER THIS MAYOR IS DONE.
AND I SAY THAT SO THAT IT'S NOT POLITICAL, BUT THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS ELECT THE MAYOR, AND THEY HAVE AT LEAST THE EXPECTATION THAT THE MAYOR CAN HELP PUSH THROUGH POLICY.
AND AS THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS ACTUALLY ELECTED BY ALL OF THE PEOPLE, I THINK THAT THEY OUGHT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE POWER TO TRY TO PUSH AGENDAS THAT ACTUALLY REFLECT ALL OF THE PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF SPECIFIC INITIATIVES OF SPECIFIC EITHER AREAS OR PEOPLE.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, BY THE WAY.
ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT MOTION? I'M TOLD THESE ARE OUR NEW.
MISS ARNOLD. ARE YOU GOOD? ARE YOU GOOD WITH THESE? OKAY. I JUST WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN.
THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN.
IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE, IS IT THE APPROPRIATE TIME NOW TO SHOW CARDS? IF YOU ARE IN SUPPORT, SHOW CARDS.
IF YOU ARE IN SUPPORT OF CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN'S.
PROPOSAL CARDS RAISED IN FAVOR COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.
WITH ONLY ONE BEING RAISED IN FAVOR.
THIS AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, LET'S KEEP IT MOVING.
CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU HAVE MORE? YES, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
[00:55:08]
UNTIL QUOTE UNTIL AT LEAST ONE TERM FOR PLACE 15 HAS ELAPSED AND QUOTE FROM THE SUBSECTION B, ELIMINATING THE ABILITY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR TO RETURN IN THOSE POSITIONS AFTER HAVING SERVED THE LIMIT OF FOUR TWO YEAR TERMS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TWO FOUR YEAR TERMS FOR THE MAYOR, OR IF COUNCIL MEMBER TERMS ARE EXTENDED TO FOUR YEARS AFTER SERVING THE LIMIT OF TWO FOUR YEAR TERMS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? SECOND. GOOD.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN FOR FIVE MINUTES, IF YOU'D LIKE.
INCUMBENTS RECEIVE A SIGNIFICANT ELECTION ADVANTAGE IN NAME RECOGNITION.
SOME OF US COULD RUN INDEFINITELY JUST BECAUSE WE BECOME WELL KNOWN IN OUR AREA.
SERVING A MAXIMUM OF FOUR TERMS ALLOWS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CITY.
FINAL TERM LIMITS MEANING WITHOUT AN ABILITY TO RETURN TO THE SAME OFFICE, PREVENT A CONCENTRATION OF POWER, ALLOW FOR FRESH PERSPECTIVES, MINIMIZES THE RISK OF CORRUPTION, AND FOSTERS A MORE RESPONSIVE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ON A.
WE ARE ON THE NUMBER FOUR IN THE LARGE PACKET.
CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I WILL SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE JUST FINISHED FINISHING.
EXCUSE ME. MY FIRST YEAR, AND I ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR PRIOR COUNCIL MEMBER, AND I CAN SEE THE THE BENEFITS OF A NEW PERSPECTIVE OF A FRESH PERSPECTIVE.
EXCUSE ME. I CAN ALSO SEE THE BENEFITS OF DIFFERENT APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS.
I HAVE A DIFFERENT CONNECTION WITH MY DISTRICT THAN THE PRIOR COUNCIL MEMBER DID.
AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING SOME PEOPLE, I BELIEVE, TO THE TABLE WHO WERE NOT PARTICULARLY CONNECTED TO THE PRIOR COUNCIL MEMBER AND DID NOT GET THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A REPRESENTATION AND WORK AT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO I THINK NEW PEOPLE BRING A LOT OF BENEFIT.
SARAH AND I MIGHT AGREE WITH THAT.
WE HAVE A JUST A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
WE'RE A LITTLE MAYBE A FRESH PERSPECTIVE.
AND I THINK FRESH CAN BE BENEFICIAL.
I THINK WE GET A LITTLE BIT ENTRENCHED IN SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE LOOK AT THINGS.
AND I THINK HAVING FRESH EYES AND FRESH VOICES IS A GOOD THING.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHY WE EVEN ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT REPRESENTATION.
SO I'D ASK YOU TO CONSIDER SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER.
I THINK IT COULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE FUTURE OF THIS BODY.
YOU KNOW, IN THEORY, I THINK THIS IS VERY INTERESTING, BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS I WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS SERVES THE CONCEPT OF DEMOCRACY IN THE SENSE OF HAVING SOMEONE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO RUN FOR AN OFFICE.
AND ALSO WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS, IF SOMEONE I UNDERSTAND STEPPING OUT AND HEARING THOSE NEW VOICES, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE AND AND I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT POLITICS TO KNOW WHAT THE THREAT OF SOMEONE WHO HAD ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES FOR MANY, MANY YEARS CAN BE TO SOMEONE WHO'S JUST GETTING STARTED IN THEIR WORK.
IN TERMS OF OPPOSITION, I UNDERSTAND BOTH OF THOSE, BUT THE DISCUSSION THAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND HEAR YOUR INSIGHT ON IS THAT PIECE ABOUT SORT OF THE RIGHT TO RUN AND THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO WANT TO HAVE SOMEONE IN OFFICE WHO THEY CHOOSE IF SOMEONE AGAIN CHOOSES TO RUN.
SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS WE HAVE IT NOW AS IF COUNCIL MEMBER TERMS ARE EXTENDED TO FOUR YEARS, AND IF WE END UP GOING WITH A DIFFERENT NUMBER OF YEARS, WHETHER IT'S THREE YEARS OR WHATEVER, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THIS PASSES, THAT IT'S LIKE, LET'S SAY IT PASSES AND THEN WE GO TO THREE YEARS. DOES THIS MAKE THIS MOOT? WHAT HAPPENS? BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE IS SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO TWO YEARS AND FOUR YEAR TERMS. SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.
[01:00:03]
THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.THANK YOU. YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK ALL OF US KNOW THAT THERE'S PEOPLE POSSIBLY IN OUR OWN DISTRICTS, BUT CERTAINLY IN OTHER DISTRICTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, I'D REALLY LIKE TO RUN FOR COUNCIL.
I'M GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THAT PERSON IS TERMED OUT.
SOME OF YOU WAITED UNTIL SOMEBODY ELSE WAS TERMED OUT FOR YOU TO RUN.
AND SO WHY DID YOU DO THAT? WHY DIDN'T YOU RUN WHEN IT WAS THAT LAST TERM? BECAUSE IT'S TOO HARD AND YOU REALLY ARE ACTUALLY STOPPING DEMOCRACY IN THAT WAY BECAUSE THE ADVANTAGE IS TOO HIGH.
IT'S TOO EASY FOR US TO FUNDRAISE WHEN THEY GO, WOW, FOR SURE MENDELSOHN IS GOING TO WIN.
SHE'S GOING TO GET DOLLARS JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BET ON THE WINNER.
NUMBER TWO, THIS IS NOT THE FAIRVIEW TOWN COUNCIL.
THERE'S 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE IN DALLAS.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE QUALIFIED TO DO THIS JOB.
YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE THAT SPECIAL TO BE A DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
YOU JUST HAVE TO BE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR AREA.
YOU'RE NOT INFUSED WITH SOME DIVINE INFORMATION.
IF SOMEBODY HAS ENJOYED SERVING AND THIS IS THEIR CALLING, THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER WAYS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, BOTH AS ELECTED OFFICIALS OR IN NON ELECTED POSITIONS. I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
I'M HONORED TO HAVE DONE IT SO FAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE, INCLUDING IN DISTRICT 12, TO GET INVOLVED AND AND BE IN THIS SEAT, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE A SEAT THAT IS OWNED BY A PERSON BECAUSE THEY'VE ESTABLISHED A NAME REPUTATION.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S HARD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING IN THE SEAT TO WANT TO GIVE UP THEIR OWN POWER, TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK IN THEIR OWN NAME RECOGNITION. BUT I DO THINK THIS IS WHAT'S BEST FOR DALLAS, AND THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT FORWARD.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON NUMBER FOUR IN THE BIG PACKET.
AND SO I WAS WAITING TO HEAR DISCUSSION FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
I AND AND I'M STILL KIND OF WEIGHING WHERE I'M AT.
I'M GOING TO ASK STAFF IF THIS IS ALSO NOT ONE I WATCHED AT THE COMMISSION AND DID THE COMMISSION.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THERE ON THAT? THEY DID LOOK AT THIS, I ASSUME, AND AND WERE THERE I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME EXPERTS THAT WEIGHED IN ON LIKE BEST PRACTICES NATIONALLY.
WAS THIS ONE OF THOSE THAT WE HAD SOME RECOMMENDATIONS? YES. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
JAKE ANDERSON, OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.
THIS DISCUSSION DID TAKE PLACE AT COUNCIL.
THE DISCUSSION DID TAKE PLACE AROUND THE THE VALUE OF HAVING A LARGE DISTRICT AND ALLOWING, YOU KNOW, MORE PEOPLE TO RUN, INCENTIVIZING MORE PEOPLE TO RUN VERSUS THE, THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT MIGHT COME FROM A PERSON WHO HAS HELD THE OFFICE FOR A LONG TIME.
I THINK THAT IN THAT DISCUSSION, THERE WAS SOME, SOME WORRY THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE PEOPLE ALWAYS RUNNING IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, THAT SOME DISTRICTS MAY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO RUN, BUT OTHERS MAY MAY NOT HAVE THAT, THAT SAME NUMBER.
AND THEN THEY LOOKED ACROSS AT SOME OTHER OTHER CITIES AS WELL.
OUR NEIGHBORS IN FORT WORTH, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE UNLIMITED TERMS. BUT THIS THIS IS A RELATIVELY UNIQUE THING TO DALLAS.
WHAT ABOUT WITH WAS THERE ANY KIND OF EXPERT TESTIMONY THAT WAS UTILIZED ON, LIKE, BEST PRACTICES NATIONWIDE? NOT JUST WHAT CITIES DO, BUT LIKE WHAT IS CONSIDERED A BETTER MODEL? WE IF THE ANSWER IS NO, THAT'S FINE.
WELL, THEY DIDN'T FOCUS ON, ON THIS.
THEY, THEY DID RECOMMEND FOUR YEAR TERMS WITH TWO TERM LIMITS.
ALTHOUGH I DON'T RECALL ANYTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT WHETHER THEY RECOMMEND BEING ABLE TO COME BACK AFTER THOSE EIGHT YEARS HAVE BEEN SERVED IN ANOTHER YOU KNOW, TERM OFF, AN OFF CYCLE. MISS ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
[01:05:01]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.REALLY, I WANTED TO NOT REALLY GO INTO ALL OF THIS.
I HEARD CHAIRWOMAN SCHULTZ, WHO ALLUDED TO WHAT I STRONGLY BELIEVE IS A DEMOCRACY.
IN EACH DISTRICT, CONSTITUENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IT UP OR VOTED DOWN.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IS THE VOICE.
IF COMMUNITIES MAKE A DECISION TO CAST A VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE, THAT'S THEIR CHOICE.
I THINK WHEN WE COME HERE, WHAT I HAVE SEEN.
THE BENEFIT OF EVEN THE STRAIGHT EIGHT YEARS IS THEY COULD BE AND IT SOMETIMES IT DEPENDS ON THE CALIBER OF THAT PERSON, A SERVICE TO THOSE CONSTITUENTS.
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE HAS ITS VALUES.
AND I DON'T SAY THAT FROM A STANDPOINT OF TRYING TO BE A DICTATOR IN THAT POSITION, A MONARCH.
I'M TELLING YOU WHAT I HAVE COME TO KNOW.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EVEN DURING REDISTRICTING ABOUT THE VALUE OF KNOWING YOUR DISTRICT.
STAFF HAS CHANGED, SO WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE.
I'M GOING TO DO WHAT THE VOTERS VOTE ON.
I'M SIMPLY SAYING FOR FOR ME THIS SPEAKS TO DEMOCRACY.
THERE ARE SOME AND IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AROUND THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
SHOULD THE FORMER PRESIDENT BE ALLOWED TO RUN AGAIN? THAT'S A QUESTION.
AND HOW DO WE ANSWER THAT ON THAT DAY? IT'S GOING TO BE WITH A VOTE.
AND SO CONSTITUENTS WILL DECIDE IF THEY WANT WHO THEY WANT TO BE IN THAT SEAT.
AND SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, I THINK WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT UP IN WITHOUT ALL OF THE KNOWLEDGE.
AND I THINK MANY OF US HERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE SALARY TODAY, WE PEOPLE WE'RE NOT WE'RE MOST WE'RE NOT UP HERE MAKING BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND MORE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HERE.
THAT WAS MY SAME THING WITH TEACHING.
I'M NOT. I WASN'T THERE FOR THE MONEY.
THIS IS A SERVICE ORIENTED COMMITMENT.
AND ANYONE WHO IS IN THIS SEAT SHOULD DO THAT.
BUT I'M. BUT. SO I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO DEMOCRACY.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO STAND ON DEMOCRACY.
THAT WAS A THREAT TO THIS WHOLE NATION ON JANUARY THE 6TH.
SIX. WAS IT 2022 OR 2020? WELL, I'LL PUT IT LIKE THIS.
IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT IT WAS A THREAT TO GOVERNMENT.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY.
WE MUST STAND ON DEMOCRACY, WHETHER IT'S ON A NATIONAL LEVEL OR A CITY LEVEL.
SO YOU WILL DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN TERMS OF YOUR VOTE.
BUT JUST KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY AND WHEN THE DAY ENDS, THE PEOPLE WILL HAVE MADE A DECISION AND THEY MAY CHOOSE NOT TO GO BACK. BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITIES.
I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT I COULD COME BACK AND WORK WITH STAFF TO CONNECT THE DOTS, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE HAVE A FEW A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO FOCUSES A INSTEAD OF B, AND I REMEMBER SO VIVIDLY NOW WHEN YOU COME IN, THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE IF IT'S SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE.
YOU HEAR NOW THIS COUNCILWOMAN IS STREETS, ALLEYS.
JENNIFER MR. JENNIFER GATES TERMED OUT, BUT IT'S ABOUT CONTINUITY IN TERMS OF THAT AGENDA.
SHE COULD HAVE COME IN COUNCILWOMAN.
WILLIS COULD HAVE COME IN AND JUST WENT TOTALLY IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
THANK GOD YOU DIDN'T IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S A VALUE THERE.
BUT I'M SIMPLY SAYING WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THAT.
WE DIDN'T GET THAT IN DISTRICT FOUR.
SO MY GOAL HERE WAS TO COMMIT TO THE PEOPLE.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GO AHEAD.
AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT YOUR MONEY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BET, BET ON DEMOCRACY.
THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, BEFORE I GO TO YOU, I ACTUALLY WAS TOLD THAT MR. NARVAEZ, I DIDN'T SEE HIS VIDEO, SO I DIDN'T SEE THAT HE WAS TRYING TO GET IN.
CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ, I NEED YOUR VIDEO ON AND I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR FIVE MINUTES.
CAN YOU SEE HIM? NO, WE CAN'T SEE YOU.
THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T SEE YOU BEFORE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I'LL TRY TO.
OKAY. GIVE ME A I'M GOING TO GO TO.
RESENDEZ. THEN WHILE YOU WORK THAT OUT.
MR. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
[01:10:01]
I, I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM.AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE I VIEW THIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A VOTER.
AND IF THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBER IS THE BEST QUALIFIED PERSON THAT IS WILLING TO RUN, WHY WOULD WHY WOULD WE TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY FROM THE VOTERS TO CHOOSE? IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
THANK YOU. I SEE YOU NOW, CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I SWITCH FROM WI-FI TO 5G, SO I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
WELL BUT I'M I'M DEFINITELY RISING IN OPPOSITION TO THIS.
THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE IN ORDER TO, TO USE IT IS THAT PEOPLE.
WAIT I CAN TELL YOU FOR A FACT, I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT.
AND THREE YEAR, THREE ELECTIONS LATER, I STILL HAD FOUR AND FIVE PEOPLE CHALLENGED ME, INCLUDING THE INCUMBENT FOUR YEARS IN A ROW AND OR FOUR ELECTIONS IN A ROW, AND I STILL WON.
IT WASN'T NAME RECOGNITION BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE IT BACK THEN.
YES, I HAVE SOME NAME RECOGNITION NOW, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT GETS ME THROUGH.
WHAT GETS SOMEBODY THROUGH ISN'T JUST NAME RECOGNITION.
IT'S THE IT'S THE WAY YOU WORK AND IT'S WHAT YOU DO.
AND IN FACT, THERE'S AT LEAST 3 OR 4 OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING MEMBERS THAT WERE DULY ELECTED MR. MAYOR OF THIS COUNCIL, OF THIS ACTUAL BODY IS SEATED RIGHT NOW THAT ALL CHALLENGED INCUMBENTS AND ONE.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE HAVE SITTING SITTING A SITTING CITY COUNCIL MEMBER RIGHT NOW WHO WHO USED THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH TO DONATE TO A SHADOWY SUPER PAC THAT SENT OUT A RIGHT WING, SHADOWY SUPER PAC THAT SENT OUT FLIERS AGAINST ME DURING THE LAST ELECTION.
AND THEY CHOSE TO DO THAT WITH THEIR DOLLARS.
I DON'T CARE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHY? BECAUSE I WON AND I BEAT.
I'M ABLE TO GO OVER WHATEVER I NEED TO DO BECAUSE IT'S LIKE JUST MISS ARNOLD SAID A FEW SECONDS AGO.
IT'S ABOUT THE WORK AND IT'S ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
THAT SHOULD BE NEITHER HERE NOR THERE.
THE PEOPLE IN A DISTRICT ELECT WHO THEY WANT, AND THEY ELECT THEM OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
IT'S VERY RARE THAT PAST COUNCIL MEMBERS COME BACK ANYWAY.
AND I THINK IT'S A WASTE OF THE PEOPLE'S TIME AND THE PEOPLE'S DOLLARS TO EVEN BE DISCUSSING THIS BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT RARELY EVER HAPPENS, I THINK MAYBE 2 OR 3 TIMES IN OUR HISTORY, IN THE MODERN ERA.
AND I JUST DON'T SEE WHY WE'RE DISCUSSING IT.
I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THIS.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I SEE YOU GUYS REMOTELY.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND FORTH LIVE REMOTE.
SO MISS WILLIS IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.
I THINK WE DO HAVE TERM LIMITS.
AND SO THE WAY I LOOK AT THIS, WHILE IT DOES GIVE YOU PAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND SOME OTHER OFFICES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SERVING FOR A SUCCESSION OF YEARS, REALLY LONG TIME, I STILL COME AWAY WITH THE ULTIMATE DECISION LIES WITH OUR VOTERS.
BUT SOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND SOME DISTRICTS REALLY LIKE THE CONTINUITY AND THE VALUE THAT'S ADDED AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT MIGHT BE BUILT WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, WITH CITY STAFF WITH NONPROFITS AND OTHERS WHO SERVE THEIR DISTRICT.
[01:15:02]
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T THINK YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS DOING A GOOD JOB, THEN YOU DON'T REELECT THEM.CHAIR MORENO. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT BEFORE US, I BELIEVE.
FIRST, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CLARITY.
I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE HARD TERM LIMITS WHERE WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY YEARS A INDIVIDUAL IS GOING TO BE THERE TO SERVE AT THE END OF THE DAY. THIS WILL IF THIS GETS APPROVED, IT WILL GO TO THE VOTERS AND IT WILL ALLOW THEM TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD CONTINUE WITH THE CURRENT TERM LIMITS OR IF WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.
THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION.
JUST TO NOT BELABOR, BUT REEMPHASIZE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID.
I WAS ALSO SOMEONE WHO SUCCESSFULLY UNSAT AN INCUMBENT.
IN FACT, I ENDED UP WITH A RUNOFF WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS ALSO IN THIS SEAT PREVIOUSLY.
SO THERE WAS A LOT MORE NAME RECOGNITION GOING AGAINST ME.
I'VE HAD CIRCUMSTANCES WITH A DOZEN CHALLENGERS.
I'VE EVEN HAD OUR SITTING MAYOR CAMPAIGNING AGAINST ME.
SO I BELIEVE THE VOTERS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND PICK THE REPRESENTATION THAT THEY BELIEVE IS MOST ADEQUATE FOR THEIR DISTRICT. AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROCESS SHOULD BE USED TO MANIPULATE DEMOCRACY.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE USED TO MAKE OUR GOVERNMENT RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THIS ACCOMPLISHES THAT.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I WILL BE VOTING, NOT VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR VOTERS, AND YOU ALL HAVE MENTIONED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THE CHOICE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO TO VOTE AND INCUMBENT BACK IN. BUT WHY DON'T WE GIVE THEM THE CHOICE AT THIS POINT TO TO CHAIR MORENO'S POINT? WHY DON'T WE GIVE THE VOTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS DECISION? THEY MAY HANDS DOWN SAY, YEP, WE WANT THE ABILITY FOR SOMEONE TO COME BACK AFTER TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS OR FOUR YEARS, BUT WHY NOT LET THEM MAKE THAT CHOICE? IF THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT THE VOTERS, LET'S GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THROW IT OUT THERE, SEE WHAT THEY SAY.
AND IF I'M, YOU KNOW, IF WE TRUST THAT, THEY WILL PUT IT THROUGH A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS, WHICH I DO TRUST THAT THEN THEN THEY WILL HAVE MADE THAT DECISION THAT GIVES THEM INPUT ON THIS.
THANK YOU. I THOUGHT WE HAD SOMEONE ELSE BEFORE I WENT TO CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN FOR HER LAST ROUND.
SO, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE? THANK YOU. I THINK COUNCILMEMBER STEWART MADE AN EXCELLENT POINT.
AND THE POINT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT DEMOCRACY.
BUT YET DEMOCRACY IS PUTTING THIS IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS AND LETTING THEM DECIDE IT IS ACTUALLY THEIR DECISION AND THIS IS THEIR OPPORTUNITY. BUT FOR THIS COUNCIL NOT APPROVING IT.
SO REALLY, IF YOU BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY, YOU WOULD ALLOW THE VOTERS TO VOTE THIS UP OR DOWN.
AND I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO SO.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE SIGNIFY YOUR SUPPORT FOR IT BY SHOWING YOUR YOUR CITY OF DALLAS YOUR SEAL.
SEALS ARE HANDS RAISED IN FAVOR.
MORENO. MR. MAYOR, THIS AMENDMENT FAILS WITH ONLY SEVEN BEING RAISED IN FAVOR.
NEXT ITEM. MISS MENDELSOHN, I THINK YOU'RE.
DO YOU HAVE THE NEXT ONE? I DO, NUMBER FIVE, IN CHAPTER 11, THE BUDGET AND FINANCIAL PROCEDURE RELATING THERETO.
SECTION ONE QUOTE ANNUAL BUDGET ESTIMATE.
I MOVE TO ADD LANGUAGE REQUIRING THE CITY MANAGER'S ESTIMATED BUDGET TO INCLUDE THE FULL COST OF THE ACTUALLY DETERMINED PENSION CONTRIBUTION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, OR IF IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST.
[01:20:04]
A SECOND. SECOND.ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU. THIS WAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN BEFORE WE HAD PROGRESSED IN THE PENSION COMMITTEE TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A CONSENSUS ON THE ACTUARIALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS.
SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE THAT THIS IS NECESSARY.
THE POINT OF IT REALLY WAS THAT THERE ISN'T TRANSPARENCY TODAY IN OUR BUDGET BOOKS THAT SAYS, HEY, WE'RE NOT FULLY FUNDING THE COST OF SOMETHING WE'RE PROVIDING THIS YEAR, AND I DO BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY GET THERE.
SO I'D LIKE TO WITHDRAW THIS MOTION.
ALL RIGHT. IS THAT ACCEPTABLE? EVERYONE. ANY OBJECTION? ALL RIGHT. SO ORDERED THE THAT ONE IS WITHDRAWN.
MAKE A NOTE OF THAT. HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
OKAY. THE NEXT ONE I SEE IS AMENDMENT TEN.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PUT THAT ONE FORWARD? MISS MENDELSOHN? YES.
OKAY, SO YOU JUST PULL MY ITEM.
I AM MISSING THE DOCUMENT, SO I'M GOING TO JUST READ IT THIS WAY.
I MOVE TO CHANGE OUR CITY GOVERNMENT TO A STRONG MAYOR SYSTEM? IS THERE A SECOND? BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR FIVE MINUTES.
CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN. THANK YOU.
THIS IS NUMBER TEN IN THE BIG PACKET.
IN FACT, THERE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION AT THE COMMISSION.
AND THE TRUTH IS, THIS IS A CONCEPT THAT'S WORTHY OF DISCUSSION FOR OUR CITY AND DEBATE.
AS ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN AMERICA THAT STILL HAS A CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS TO NOT HAVE AT LEAST FULLY EXPLORED THIS TOPIC.
THERE'S AN ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON THERE'S A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON FOR THE CITY IS NOT ACTUALLY ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE, THEY'RE NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE VOTERS.
THE VOTERS SHOULD BE CHOOSING THEIR LEADER.
THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF A CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS LOST THROUGHOUT AN ORGANIZATION THROUGH BUREAUCRATIC LAYERS THAT OBSCURE PROBLEMS AND INEFFECTIVENESS.
AND CLEARLY, WE HAVE SEEN THIS THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE HERE.
AND I DECIDED NOT TO LIST OFF ITEMS BECAUSE I'M NOT INTENDING TO CRITICIZE ANYBODY WHO'S HELD THAT ROLE CURRENTLY HOLDS THAT ROLE. ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT IMPROVING THE CITY.
THE THIRD ITEM IS THE SPEED OF RESPONSE, WHICH WE'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND.
IF YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING HOUSTON AND THEIR ABILITY FOR THAT MAYOR TO JUMP IN THERE, SOLVE ANY ISSUE THEY WANT, WHETHER IT'S TO TRY TO MAKE AN ENTICING OFFER TO ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, WHETHER IT'S LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION, STRUCTURING A BUDGET, THINGS THAT ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO HAPPEN AROUND THIS HORSESHOE.
THE SYSTEM UNDER A CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS ACTUALLY MEANT TO NEUTRALIZE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND, FRANKLY, IS SET UP STRUCTURALLY WITH CONFLICT. WHAT I'D LOVE TO ASK.
THE MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW, IS FOR AN INDEPENDENT GROUP, NOT APPOINTEES OF THESE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE POLITICIZED, BUT AN INDEPENDENT GROUP TO ACTUALLY EVALUATE, STUDY THIS IDEA AND HOPEFULLY BRING IT BACK IN TWO YEARS TO THE COUNCIL FOR A FULLER DISCUSSION.
WITH THAT, I'LL WITHDRAW THE MOTION.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE.
THE NEXT ONE I SEE IS NUMBER 16 BY CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PUTTING THIS ONE FORWARD? CHAIRMAN. CHAIRMAN ADVISORY THERE, BUDDY.
CAN YOU HEAR ME TO GET THERE? I CAN HEAR YOU. YEP, I CAN HEAR YOU.
DO YOU WANT TO PUT FORWARD NUMBER 16? MR. MAYOR MR. MAYOR, I I DECIDED TO WITHDRAW THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? OKAY, SO IT'S WITHDRAWN.
[01:25:01]
THANK YOU. YOU CAN COME INSIDE.YOU'RE STANDING OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.
YOU'RE STAYING UP FRONT. JUST COME ON IN.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT HAS A.
JUST SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE STILL ON WE'RE STILL ON BRIEFING ITEM A, AND WE'RE ON THE SECOND PART OF IT, WHICH ARE THE COUNCIL MEMBER PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE OF THOSE? NO, SIR. OKAY, MADAM.
SHE MEANT IT POLITELY, THOUGH.
[B. 24-1742 Dallas Police and Fire Pension System (DPFPS) and Employee Retirement Fund (ERF): Funding Soundness Restoration Plan Update and Consideration of Recommendations ]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR.AND SO WE'RE READY FOR ITEM NUMBER B ON OUR AGENDA FOR THIS MORNING.
I WANT TO START OUT BY, FIRST OF ALL, THANKING MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS FOR THE WORK AND THE ONGOING ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
I WANT TO ALSO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR TEAM AND THEIR TIME AND DEDICATION AND HOW THEY HAVE BEEN PREPARING MULTIPLE PRESENTATIONS AND AND WORKING TO GET ALL OF THE ANSWERS TO ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON BOTH THE DALLAS FIRE PENSION SYSTEM AND FIRE AND POLICE PENSION SYSTEM, AS WELL AS OUR EMPLOYER RETIREMENT FUND FOR QUITE SOME TIME TO IDENTIFY SOUND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE SATISFACTORY TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING OUR OBLIGATION THAT THE STATE MANDATED TO US IN 2017 TO BRING FORTH A PLAN IN THE FALL OF 2024 THAT WILL FUND THE PENSION WITHIN 30 YEARS.
OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, ALONG WITH OUR DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE DISCUSSIONS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE BELIEVE SUPPORT US IN HONORING THAT MANDATE TODAY.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY FINAL DECISIONS.
AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION THE CFO WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH OUR TIMELINE AND OUR NEXT STEPS.
AND BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A FEW THINGS.
WE HAVE BEEN RESPONDING TO THOSE IN THE SPEED AS WE CAN COMPLETE THEM.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A SET OF RESPONSES ON LAST NIGHT.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ONGOING COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE TO BOTH OUR ACTIVE AND OUR RETIREES WE KNOW THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE MADE THE COMMITMENTS TO DEDICATE THEIR TIME AND THEIR SERVICE TO OUR CITY, AND FOR THAT, WE ARE GRATEFUL.
THEY HAVE WORKED HARD AND THEY'RE ENTITLED TO THEIR RETIREMENT.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CITY'S COMMITMENT IN THAT REGARD.
WE KNOW THAT WHAT'S BEEN AT THE HEART OF MANY OF THESE DISCUSSIONS IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A PLAN ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ENSURING THE FISCAL SOUNDNESS OF OUR CITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN PAY OUR BILLS.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, YOU'LL NOW HEAR THE PRESENTATION THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED.
THANK YOU, MISS TOLBERT, AND GOOD MORNING.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
AS MISS TOLBERT MENTIONED THE NEXT BRIEFING IS IN REGARDS TO BOTH OF THE PENSION SYSTEMS. SO STARTING ON SLIDE TWO, WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME TO REVIEW THE PENSION FUNDING REQUIREMENTS OF THE TEXAS PENSION REVIEW BOARD.
[01:30:06]
WE ALSO WANTED TO UPDATE THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE CURRENT FUNDING STATUS OF BOTH OF THE PENSION SYSTEMS AND DISCUSS OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND SHOW THE NEXT STEPS.SO I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THIS BODY WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
SO ON SLIDE THREE, JUST STARTING WITH THE BACKGROUND WE DO HAVE TWO PRIMARY EMPLOYER DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLANS THAT PROVIDE FOR RETIREMENT, DISABILITY AND DEATH BENEFITS FOR PERMANENT CITY EMPLOYEES, THE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT FUND FOR OUR CIVILIAN OR NON UNIFORM EMPLOYEES.
SO I'LL REFER TO THAT AS URF AS WE GO THROUGH IT.
BUT WE DO HAVE THE TWO PENSION SYSTEMS AT THE CITY, THE TEXAS PENSION REVIEW BOARD IS MANDATED TO OVERSEE ALL TEXAS PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEMS. AND SO THEY DO HAVE OVERSIGHT OF BOTH OF OUR TWO PLANS.
THE PRB GUIDELINES ARE THAT THE FUNDS ARE FULLY FUNDED IN 30 YEARS.
AND SO AS WE GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, YOU'LL HEAR ME REFERENCING 30 YEARS A LOT.
THAT IS THE PRBS REQUIREMENT THAT THE PENSION SYSTEMS ARE FULLY FUNDED IN 30 YEARS.
SO OBVIOUSLY BOTH OF THOSE EXCEED THE 30 YEAR REQUIREMENT OF THE PRB.
AND THESE PLANS ARE DUE TO THE PRB IN SEPTEMBER OF 25, NOT 24, BUT NEXT YEAR, HOWEVER OR IN ADDITION THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM IS REQUIRED AS A RESULT OF HOUSE BILL 31, 58 AND 2017 TO SUBMIT A PLAN ACHIEVING THE 30 YEAR AMORTIZATION THIS NOVEMBER.
SO AS KIM MENTIONED, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FOLKS WORKING ON THIS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE MAYOR APPOINTED THE AD HOC COMMITTEE LAST SEPTEMBER.
THE AD HOC COMMITTEE HAS BEEN CHAIRED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OR MAYOR PRO TEM.
EXCUSE ME, MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.
AND, SIR, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
YOU'VE REALLY LED THE TEAM, AND YOU'VE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH ON THIS.
AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY WORK SO HARD, TO BE HONEST.
SO THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
AND THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WELL.
THE MAYOR ALSO APPOINTED A STUDY GROUP THAT PREDATED THIS.
IT WAS BACK, I BELIEVE, IN 21 PERHAPS THAT HAD SOME INSIGHTS.
THESE WERE SOME FINANCIAL AND PENSION INDUSTRY EXPERTS.
I MET WITH THEM 14 DIFFERENT TIMES.
SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO THE CITY AS WELL.
WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH POLICE AND FIRE ACTIVE ASSOCIATIONS.
WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE RETIREE ASSOCIATIONS, OF COURSE, THE PENSION FUND STAFF CHIRON, AN INDEPENDENT ACTUARY THAT WAS SELECTED BY THE PRB AND IS UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM, ERF STAFF AND BOARD THEIR STAFF FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED. WE ALSO HAVE THE CITY'S ACTUARY, WE HAVE THE CITY'S FINANCIAL ADVISORS.
AND WE DID HIRE A INVESTMENT CONSULTANT THAT WE'VE MET WITH A FEW TIMES AS WELL.
SO AS WE GO ON THROUGH THIS THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
WE'VE DONE A LOT, BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT TO DO.
SO THE PRESENTATION WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND AND GOING TO PAGE SEVEN.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND BEFORE WE GET TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ERF.
THE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN 40 1944.
IT'S GOVERNED BY YOU DON'T HAVE.
IT WAS GOVERNED BY DALLAS CITY CODE, CHAPTER 48.
THERE ARE ABOUT 8000 ACTIVE CITY EMPLOYEES.
THERE'S ABOUT 8000 RETIREES AND BENEFICIARIES IN URF.
[01:35:02]
SO GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE ON SLIDE EIGHT.AGAIN, I'VE MENTIONED ALREADY A COUPLE OF TIMES THIS REQUIREMENT TO BE 30 YEAR FUNDING HERE FOR URF.
YOU CAN SEE THE HISTORICAL FUNDING.
WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 51 YEARS PROJECTED BEFORE WE WILL BE FULLY FUNDED.
SO WE NEED TO BRING THAT DOWN TO 30 YEARS TO MEET THE PRB REQUIREMENT.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE REALLY HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 25 ON URF.
HOWEVER, WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY THAN THAT.
SOME ADDITIONAL HISTORY ON URF.
THIS CHART SHOWS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THE BAR CHARTS, SHOWS IN GREEN THE ACTUARIAL VALUE OF ASSETS, AND IN YELLOW THE ACTUARIAL ACCRUED LIABILITY. SO LOOKING AT THE ASSETS COMPARED TO THE LIABILITIES ON THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE GREEN BAR FOR THE ASSETS IS $3.8 BILLION.
THE YELLOW BAR FOR THE LIABILITIES IS 5.5 BILLION.
SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO IS $1.6 BILLION, WHICH IS THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY.
AND THEN THE BLACK BAR OR LINE GOING ACROSS THE PAGE HAS BEEN THE FUNDING PERCENTAGE.
SO CURRENTLY WE ARE FUNDED AT 70.1% FOR URF.
WE NEED TO BE FULLY FUNDED IN 30 YEARS.
YOU CAN SEE SOME PERIOD THERE BETWEEN 2008 AND 2012 WHERE THERE WAS MORE DECLINE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT ON THE NEXT PAGE.
AND SO GOING TO SLIDE TEN, WHAT CAUSED THE FUNDING CHALLENGE? WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS.
PRIMARILY THE URF IS CAPPED ACCORDING TO CHAPTER 40 A THAT CONTRIBUTIONS WILL NOT EXCEED 36%.
AND SO THAT'S THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BOTH THE CITY AND THE EMPLOYEES.
THE CITY PAYS 63% AND THE EMPLOYEES PAY 37%, BUT WE'RE CAPPED AT 36%.
THERE HAS BEEN ACTUAL EXPERIENCE THAT DID NOT MEET THE ASSUMPTIONS BACK WHEN THERE WERE CHANGES MADE TO THE PLAN AND PREVIOUS TIMES, THERE WERE CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS THAT WERE MADE.
WHEN WE DID NOT MEET THOSE ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS, WE GOT OFF TRACK.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN THAT BOTTOM LEFT CHART WHERE THE HEADCOUNT DROPPED BY WE'RE STILL DOWN 907 EMPLOYEES COMPARED TO WHERE WE WERE PRIOR TO 2008. AND BY THE HEADCOUNT COMING DOWN, THE CONTRIBUTIONS WERE LESS GOING INTO THE FUND, AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO RAISE THE OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAKE UP FOR IT BECAUSE OF THE CAP ON SLIDE 11 THE BOARD HAS RECOMMENDED A COUPLE OF CHANGES TO BRING THE FUNDING INTO SOUNDNESS AND MEET THE 30 YEAR REQUIREMENT.
THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS TO REMOVE THE 36% CONTRIBUTION CAP THAT'S CURRENTLY IN CHAPTER 40 A, THIS WOULD REQUIRE A VOTE THROUGH THE GENERAL ELECTION BECAUSE CHANGES TO 48 CURRENTLY REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL.
SO AS I MENTIONED, WHEN EXPERIENCE DOESN'T MEET THE ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS, YOU EITHER STAY OFF COURSE OR THROUGH THE ADC, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COURSE CORRECT AND INCREASE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND NOT BE CAPPED.
WE'RE PROPOSING A FIVE YEAR STEP UP AS WE TRANSITION TO THE FULL ADC.
THE BOARD IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE MAINTAIN THE CONTRIBUTION RATE FOR THE TIER B EMPLOYEES AT THE CURRENT 13.32%, BUT THAT WE INCREASE THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE FOR THE TIER A EMPLOYEES BY 0.68, WHICH WOULD RAISE THEM UP TO 14%.
AND THE REASON IS THE TIER A EMPLOYEES RETAIN THEIR BENEFIT STRUCTURE PRIOR TO 2017, AND EMPLOYEES HIRED AFTER THAT POINT HAVE A DIFFERENT BENEFIT STRUCTURE.
AND SO IT IS A COST DIFFERENCE HERE THAT COULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS.
THE TIER A EMPLOYEES WOULD CONTRIBUTE ADDITIONAL.
OF COURSE, IT'S A PERCENT OF PAY, SO EVERYBODY'S DIFFERENT.
515 IS JUST THE AVERAGE AND THEN THERE'S NO RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THE BENEFIT STRUCTURE.
[01:40:05]
BENEFITS ARE LISTED ON TABLES IN THE APPENDIX.SO ON SLIDE 12 JUST A SUMMARY OF THE COST RELATED TO URF.
THE CITY'S TOTAL COST OVER THE 30 YEAR PERIOD TO GET TO FULLY FUNDED IS $7.9 BILLION, AND THIS COST IS ALLOCATED TO CITY OPERATING FUNDS THAT INCLUDE THE GENERAL FUND, ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS.
AND SO IN ADDITION TO THE CONTRIBUTION THAT WE MAKE, ALONG WITH PAYROLL, WE ALSO GET A CREDIT FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS THAT WERE ISSUED BACK IN 2005.
AND SO THE TOTAL CITY CONTRIBUTION IS THE FIRST TWO CIRCLES ON THE PAGE, 14.46, WHICH IS WE PAY WITH PAYROLL AND 8.2 IS THE CREDIT WE GET FOR THE PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.
AND THEN WE ADD THE 13.32 EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION FOR A TOTAL 36% GOING INTO THE FUND.
AND SO THAT WILL CHANGE IF THE CAP IS LIFTED IN THE TABLE ON THE RIGHT.
TRIED TO SHOW THE CITY'S EXPENSE.
THE FIRST COLUMN IS OUR CITY CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WE MAKE WITH PAYROLL.
THE SECOND COLUMN IS THAT YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT STEPPING UP OVER THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD BEFORE IT MORE FLATTENS OUT.
IN ADDITION TO THE THE CITY CONTRIBUTION THAT GOES WITH PAYROLL, THERE IS THE PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS, AND THAT DEBT SERVICE IS SHOWN IN THE THIRD COLUMN.
THAT STRUCTURE IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
THAT SCHEDULE IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S HAPPENING THAT'S CHANGING THAT SCHEDULE.
AND SO THE FULL AMOUNT FROM THE CITY WOULD BE BEING DEPOSITED INTO THE URF FUND, ALONG WITH PAYROLL.
AGAIN, JUST A REMINDER, THE CITY COST IS SPLIT BETWEEN THE VARIOUS FUNDS.
ABOUT 50% IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR URF.
SO MOVING PAST URF, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM.
THIS FUND HAS A LONGER HISTORY.
IT'S NOW GOVERNED BY TEXAS CIVIL STATUTE ARTICLE 6243.
AND WHEN WE REFER TO HOUSE BILL 3158 THAT AMENDED THE STATUTE THAT GOVERNS DPFP THERE ARE ABOUT 5100 ACTIVE EMPLOYEES IN THE FUND, AND THERE'S ABOUT 5300 RETIREES AND BENEFICIARIES IN THE FUND.
SO ON SLIDE 15, SAME AS WE SHOWED YOU FOR URF, HERE'S A CHART SHOWING THE HISTORY OF THE PROJECTION OF HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO BE FULLY FUNDED.
SO SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION INCREASES ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED.
WE DO NEED TO SUBMIT A PLAN BY NOVEMBER TO THE PENSION REVIEW BOARD.
AND SO WE WOULD NEED COUNCIL APPROVAL NO LATER THAN OCTOBER.
OUR TIMELINE WILL SHOW A DATE SOONER THAN THAT, THOUGH.
ON SLIDE 16, THE SAME IS FOR URF.
HERE'S A CHART THAT SHOWS SOME HISTORY.
THE YELLOW BARS AGAIN IN THE IN THE CHART ARE THE LIABILITIES.
THERE'S ABOUT 5.25 BILLION IN LIABILITIES.
THERE'S ABOUT $2 BILLION IN ASSETS.
SO THERE'S AN UNFUNDED LIABILITY OF $3.2 BILLION.
BUT WHEN YOU EXPRESS THAT AS A PERCENT IN THE LINE CHART RUNNING ACROSS THE PAGE IT'S 39.1%.
AND SO THIS FUND WAS DOING MUCH BETTER PRIOR TO ABOUT 2015.
THE LINE CHART SHOWS THAT WE WERE UP NORTH OF THE 70% FUNDING LEVEL.
BUT IN 2015 WE STARTED DROPPING.
AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE WILL TALK ABOUT KIND OF WHAT WHAT HAPPENED.
AND SO MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHAT CAUSED THE FUNDING CHALLENGE? WELL, THERE WERE SOME THINGS AND THIS IS REPORTED THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE BEFORE IT WAS PRESENTED BY THE STUDY GROUP THAT THE MAYOR DID APPOINT AND. THE WORK THAT THEY DID.
THEY IDENTIFIED POOR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS.
[01:45:02]
THEIR DROP BALANCES.SO THEY MADE ABOUT $600 MILLION WORTH OF WITHDRAWALS.
AND SO THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER STARTED CAUSING THE ASSETS TO BE WRITTEN DOWN, THE ASSETS BEING PULLED OUT FROM THE RUN ON THE BANK CREATED THE PROBLEM IN THE FUNDING STATUS.
SO IN 2017, IN RESPONSE TO THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES BEING FACED, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE DID PASS HOUSE BILL 3158 TO PROVIDE NEAR-TERM INTERVENTIONS AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE A BRIDGE TO A LONG TERM SOLUTION BY 2025.
AND THEY REQUIRE THAT THAT PERMANENT FIX BE IN PLACE BY 2025.
SO WE HAVE TO SUBMIT OUR PLAN BY NOVEMBER 1ST 24, TO THE PENSION REVIEW BOARD.
SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE DONE BY HOUSE BILL 3158 WAS A CHANGE OF GOVERNANCE.
SO PRIOR TO THAT, THE BOARD WAS DOMINATED BY POLICE AND FIRE AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ONLY TWO OF THOSE CAN BE ACTIVE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS.
AND SO THE CHANGE IN GOVERNANCE OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL.
THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE INVESTMENT PRACTICES.
IT'S MADE CHANGES AND AND IS SETTING THE FUND ON THE RIGHT COURSE.
THERE WERE SOME OTHER CHANGES IMPLEMENTED AS A RESULT OF HOUSE BILL 31.
58 CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE AND TO THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION RATE.
SO THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE PRIOR TO 2017 HAD AVERAGED 6.5%, AND IT WAS INCREASED TO 13.5% AS A RESULT OF THE STATE INTERVENTION. AND THEN THE CITY CONTRIBUTION RATE WENT UP FROM ABOUT 31% TO 34.5%.
SO INCREASE THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE EMPLOYEES AND FROM THE CITY IN 2017.
AND THEN ON SLIDE 19, THEY ALSO TOOK ACTION THROUGH HOUSE BILL 3158, REDUCING BENEFITS.
THERE IS A TABLE IN THE APPENDIX THAT SHOWS THEIR BENEFIT STRUCTURE.
PRIOR TO 2017, THERE WERE DROP ACCOUNTS THAT HAD A FLOOR OF 8% ON INTEREST.
PRIOR TO 2017, THERE WAS COLAS EVERY YEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF 4% THAT WAS CHANGED.
AND THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT'S GIVEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE RETIREES, BECAUSE IN 2017, THE COLAS WERE SUSPENDED.
PRIOR TO 2017, THERE WAS THAT 4% COLA.
EVERY YEAR AFTER 2017, THE STATE REQUIRED THAT THE FUNDING BE IMPROVED TO 70% BEFORE THE SUSPENSION COULD BE LIFTED ON THE COLAS.
IT WAS KNOWN AT THE TIME THAT THE FUNDING RATIO WOULD DECLINE BEFORE IT GOT BETTER.
BUT AT THAT TIME, IT DID IMPROVE IT TO 49%, I BELIEVE, ON SLIDE 20.
AGAIN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE HOUSE BILL 3158 REQUIRED WAS THAT PRIOR TO NOVEMBER OF 24, THAT THERE BE AN INDEPENDENT ACTUARY THAT'S SELECTED AND HIRED THE PRB SELECTED THE INDEPENDENT ACTUARY.
THEY MADE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE LISTED HERE.
FIRST, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE GO AWAY FROM THE FIXED RATE CONTRIBUTION AND TRANSITION TO THAT ACTUARIAL DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION RATE, AGAIN, BECAUSE IT ADJUSTS ANNUALLY GOING FORWARD.
SO WHEN YOU DON'T MEET THE ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS, YOU CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND STAY ON COURSE AND NOT GET OFF COURSE AND END UP IN A PROBLEM LIKE THIS AGAIN.
NUMBER TWO, THEY RECOMMENDED REDUCING THE UNIFORM EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE AS FUNDING IMPROVES.
SO IN SLIDE 21, JUST AGAIN POINTING OUT ABOUT THE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEIR FIRST RECOMMENDATION DOES ACHIEVE WHAT'S REQUIRED TO BE FULLY FUNDED IN 30 YEARS.
WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT THE ACTUARIAL DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION METHODOLOGY GOING FORWARD.
[01:50:05]
WE'RE ON BOARD WITH THAT.AND WE AGREE WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION.
THE OTHER TWO RECOMMENDATIONS, THE SECOND AND THIRD RECOMMENDATION ARE NOT REQUIRED BY THE PRB.
THEY ACTUALLY MAKE IT HARDER TO ACHIEVE THAT FUND FULL FUNDING IN 30 YEARS.
BUT IF THE CITY CHOOSES TO ADDRESS EITHER OF THOSE TWO, IT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT'S REQUIRED.
THEY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL.
NUMBER TWO, THAT WE SHOULD GO TO THE ACTUARIAL DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION RATE.
AND THEY REALLY FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING WAYS TO IMPROVE FUNDING IN THE FUTURE THROUGH MONETIZATION OF ASSETS OR IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAMS. BUT THEIR FIRST AND PRIMARY FOCUS WOULD BE TO GET TO FULLY FUNDED IN 30 YEARS AND HAVE THAT PLAN IN PLACE BEFORE CONSIDERING ANY OTHER CHANGES.
SO ON SLIDE 23 SUMMARIZED STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON MAY 23RD AND THEN REITERATED ON JUNE THE 6TH.
IT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT WE IMPLEMENT THE ADC METHODOLOGY WITH THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP.
IT DOES MEET THE HOUSE BILL 3158 REQUIREMENTS.
CHIRON DID LAY OUT MULTIPLE SCENARIOS.
BUT WE'RE IN AGREEMENT THAT THE ADC IS THE APPROPRIATE PATH FORWARD.
CITY STAFF DID NOT RECOMMEND ANY CHANGES TO THE POLICE OR FIRE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATES.
OUR STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT WE DON'T CHANGE THE COLA AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT THAT WE STILL REQUIRE THE FUND TO BE 70% FUNDED BEFORE THE COLA GOES INTO EFFECT.
HOWEVER, WE DO SUGGEST THAT WE MODIFY THE COLA FROM BEING BASED ON INVESTMENT RETURNS TO BEING BASED ON CPI. AND THEN LAST BULLET ON THAT PAGE IS WE WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE OR ENHANCE THE COLA IN THE FUTURE FROM A 1.5% MAXIMUM UP TO A 3% MAXIMUM.
BUT THAT WOULD BE CONTINGENT UPON BEING ABLE TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO DO THAT.
THEN IN THE NEXT SLIDE IS THE LAST SLIDE OF THE CITY STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
SINCE WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING A CHANGE TO THE COLA OR BRINGING IT SOONER, WE SUGGEST SOME SUPPLEMENTAL PAY TO BRIDGE THE PERIOD UNTIL THE FUND REACHES 70% FUNDING.
AND HOW WE PROPOSE TO DO THAT IS TWOFOLD ONE, ADDING 1% TO THE RETIREE BASE IN 25 AND THEN FOR 26 THROUGH 2045, ADDING A 1% STIPEND EACH YEAR, THAT DOESN'T ADD TO THE BASE.
IT IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY MODEST AMOUNT, 1%.
THE ONLY CONTINGENCY WOULD BE THAT THEY HAVE POSITIVE RETURN IN THAT YEAR.
AS LONG AS THEY DON'T HAVE NEGATIVE RETURN, THE 1% STIPEND WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
WE DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S OVERSIGHT.
AGAIN, WE'VE MENTIONED INITIATING SOME EFFORTS TO REALIZE THE LUMP SUM CONTRIBUTION OR ONGOING REVENUE STREAMS. AND THE DPFP BOARD DID NOT TAKE ACTION LAST WEEK.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE ACTION LAST WEEK.
SLIDE 25 IS A COMPARISON TO THE CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATION, TO THE RECOMMENDATION FROM DPFP STAFF.
AND SO JUST GOING DOWN THAT FIRST ROW IN THE MIDDLE, AGAIN, CITY STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS THE ACTUARIAL DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION RATE WITH A FIVE YEAR STEP UP, WHEREAS THEY RECOMMEND THE THREE YEAR STEP UP.
WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE THAT COLA IN THE FUTURE.
THEY'RE RECOMMENDING TO MODIFY THE CURRENT COLA TO BE 1.5% AUTOMATIC, AND THEN ADDING A NEW COLA THAT'S BASED ON A 70% PURCHASING POWER. THEIR COST AROUND THEIR CHANGES TO THE COLA WOULD ADD $400 MILLION TO THE COST TO THE CITY.
[01:55:08]
AND THEN REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL PAY OR TO A BRIDGE UNTIL WE GET TO 70% FUNDED AGAIN, WE RECOMMENDED 1% INCREASE AND THAT COST $136 MILLION MORE.OVER THE 30 YEARS IN THE GREEN ON THE CHART THE CITY'S TOTAL COST WOULD BE $11.2 BILLION.
THAT INCLUDES THE FIVE YEAR RAMP UP BEING FULLY FUNDED IN 30 YEARS.
AND THE BRIDGE UNTIL WE GET TO 70% FUNDED THEIR RECOMMENDATION COST $11.6 BILLION OVER THE 30 YEARS, INCLUDING THEIR THREE YEAR STEP UP, THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO COLA, AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE BRIDGE.
THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS IS $420,000,419 MILLION.
SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS ALSO LOOKING AT THE BUDGET IMPACT.
AND SO THIS LOOKS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SAW AT YOUR BUDGET WORKSHOP ON MAY THE 15TH.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO DETAIL THE TWO PENSION LINES SEPARATELY.
SO YOU SEE THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION WOULD BE 202.5 MILLION NEXT YEAR, GROWING TO 221 THE NEXT YEAR TO 240 TO 261 AND CONTINUES TO GROW OVER TIME.
THE ERF EXPENSE FOR THE GENERAL FUND ONLY IS WOULD BE $48 MILLION, INCREASING TO 53 TO 50 8 TO 63.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGES OVER TIME.
AGAIN, I WANT TO POINT OUT AND WE PUT A BULLET HERE OR A FOOTNOTE THAT THE GENERAL THE ERF THIS IS JUST THE GENERAL FUND, ONLY THIS NOT BECAUSE I'M SHOWING YOU THE GENERAL FUND SHORTFALL.
THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE WHAT WE WOULD PAY FOR ERF FROM THE OTHER FUNDS.
SO THE SHORTFALL FOR NEXT YEAR IS $40 MILLION, $38 MILLION FOR 26.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER YEARS THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU SAW ON MAY THE 15TH.
THE SHORTFALL THAT WE SHOWED YOU ON MAY 15TH FOR NEXT YEAR WAS $38 MILLION.
IT'S NOW SHOWN HERE IS $40 MILLION.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGES AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE THOSE FINAL PENSION NUMBERS THERE.
ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT I MENTIONED I THOUGHT IS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WE GO FORWARD.
WHEN YOU GO TO AN ADC MODEL, IT'S NOT JUST A FLAT AMOUNT THAT WE PAY.
AND SO WE HAVE SUGGESTED THAT WE ADD ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT ON THE PART OF THE CITY.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRST SUB BULLET, IN ADDITION TO HAVING THE BOARD APPROVE THINGS, HAVE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR ITEMS THAT SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE CITY'S LIABILITY.
IF THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTION CHANGES THAT CHANGE SUCH AS THE DISCOUNT RATE, OR IF THEY WERE TO SETTLE LAWSUITS OR ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THE COST TO THE CITY, IT SHOULD NOT BE JUST TO THE BOARD TO UNILATERALLY APPROVE THAT.
BUT THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE THAT AS WELL.
WE ALSO SUGGESTED SOME GUARDRAILS, IF YOU WILL FOR THE NORMAL COST AS THE NORMAL COST CHANGES WE WOULD PUT IN A PLUS OR -5% GUARDRAIL SO THAT WE COULD MANAGE THOSE COSTS IF EVER THE COST WERE TO GO UP BY MORE THAN 5%.
THERE'S A METHODOLOGY FOR HOW YOU SMOOTH THAT OVER FUTURE YEARS.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE SUGGESTED SOME TYPE OF RECONCILIATION PROCESS SO THAT I JUST DON'T ACCEPT A CALCULATION BY SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AND I SEND A CHECK, BUT RATHER WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT WE.
WE MAKE SURE THE CALCULATIONS THAT WE AGREE WITH THE CALCULATIONS, AND THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR HOW WE RECONCILE THAT IF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE A LOT OF MONEY AND I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO, TO CHECK THE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AGREE WITH THE WORK BEFORE WE MAKE PAYMENTS.
[02:00:05]
SO IN SLIDE 32 JUST A SUMMARY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.URF SIDE BY SIDE WITH DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION.
AGAIN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT I COVERED AS I WENT THROUGH THE, THE DECK HERE.
SO I WON'T RESTATE THOSE, BUT THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY PAGE OF THE CHANGES.
AND THEN SLIDE 33, THE THE LAST SLIDE THAT I'LL GO THROUGH ARE THE NEXT STEPS.
WELL THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S COME TO THE FULL BODY.
SO WE WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO DO THAT.
FIRST, OF COURSE, HEARING YOUR FEEDBACK TODAY, BUT THEN WORK THROUGH JULY, COME ON AUGUST THE 7TH, WHICH IS THE FIRST WEDNESDAY IN AUGUST WITH THE FINAL PRESENTATION, WITH FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS. ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL ON AUGUST THE 14TH, ALSO ON AUGUST THE 14TH.
IF THERE'S CHANGES THAT REQUIRE A VOTER APPROVAL, SUCH AS ANY CHANGES TO CHAPTER 40 A, THAT IS THE LAST DATE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY APPROVE OR CALL AN ELECTION FOR NOVEMBER IF WE WANT TO HAVE A NOVEMBER ELECTION.
SO AUGUST 14TH WOULD BE THE DATE FOR THAT.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL STOP TALKING, MAYOR, AND GIVE IT TO YOU, SIR.
ZACH, THAT WAS WONDERFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M GOING TO START WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES FOR THE PUBLIC.
WE ARE ON ITEM B OF TODAY'S BRIEFINGS.
FIRST JACK, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE STAFF AND ALSO THANK YOU AND THE CITY MANAGER, COPELAND, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO GET YOURSELF TOGETHER. JACK.
QUESTION NUMBER ONE, AS RIGHT NOW ON THE DP, THE POLICE FIRE PENSION, IF IF WE WANT TO SUBMIT A PLAN TODAY, WOULD WE BE FULLY FUNDED IN 30 YEARS? SO THE REQUIREMENT TO BE FULLY FUNDED IN 30 YEARS WILL REQUIRE INCREASED CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CITY.
AND SO THE ADC MODEL COULD BE SUBMITTED.
AND YES, IT WOULD SATISFY THE PRBS REQUIREMENTS.
WE'RE A LITTLE BIT OFF ON THREE YEARS VERSUS FIVE YEARS.
IS THAT CORRECT? MADAM CITY MANAGER WITH THE BUDGET? YES, SIR. OKAY.
SO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ABOUT A RETIREES.
IS THAT A QUESTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK? RIGHT NOW, THE RETIREES, WE HAD ROUGHLY ABOUT 5000 RETIREES HAVE NOT RECEIVED A COST OF LIVING SINCE 2016.
SO THEREFORE, THE RETIREES WOULD NOT GET A COST OF LIVING UNTIL THEY GET 70% FUNDING.
WHEN WOULD THAT BE? IT'S PROJECTED THAT THAT WOULD BE 2046 BEFORE THE FUND IS AT 70% FUNDED.
SO, SO THEREFORE ANYTHING WE DO TRYING TO GET SOME TO RETIREES, IT WOULD COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
IT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION.
SO THE WHAT THE CITY HAS PROPOSED, THE 1% THAT ADDS TO THE BASE AND THEN THE 1% STIPENDS INCREASE THE CITY'S COST BY $136 MILLION OVER THE 30 YEARS.
RIGHT. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MONETIZING ASSET YOU KNOW, FUTURE BOND PACKAGE, WHATEVER, IF WE PUT A FOOTNOTE AND WE CANNOT OBLIGATE THE FUTURE OF THE COUNCIL AND THE PLAN.
SO IF YOU HAVE AN INFLUX OF SURPLUS OF MONEY AND WE GO TO PAGE, I THINK 26.
SO WE LOOK AT $419 MILLION THAT IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM A COST OF LIVING BEFORE 30 YEARS.
RIGHT. SO THE $419 MILLION INCLUDES BOTH OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION BOARD, WHICH IS A MORE GENEROUS BRIDGE BETWEEN NOW AND REACHING 70% FUNDED.
AND IT DOES CHANGE AND MAKE MORE GENEROUS THE COLA AFTER BEING 70% FUNDED.
[02:05:03]
SAID, NEXT YEAR YOU SELL SOMETHING, YOU GOT MAYBE $50 MILLION AND YOU CAN SET IN THIS CHART.YOU TAKE $50 MILLION FOR 19 AND YOU APPLY THAT TO THE RETIREES.
THAT'S THE MONEY. THEY COULD GET A LITTLE MORE COST OF LIVING, IS THAT CORRECT? SO IF WE THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION ABOUT HOW WE WOULD DEAL WITH RECEIVING ONE TIME FUNDS, WHAT WE WOULD DO WITH IT.
THE INITIAL PLAN IS THAT YOU REDUCE THE 30 YEAR AMORTIZATION, SO IT REDUCES THE OVERALL COST SPREAD OVER THE 30 YEARS, WHICH GIVES US A LITTLE SAVINGS EACH YEAR THAT YOU COULD THEN TURN AROUND AND CHOOSE TO DO SOMETHING ADDITIONAL WITH BUY MORE BENEFITS.
WHAT? THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE HAD TO DO.
SO THE ONE APPROACH MAY BE FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE BASIC PLAN, THE BASIC PLAN TO SATISFY HOUSE BILL 3158, THE BASIC PLAN TO BE FULLY FUNDED IN 30 YEARS, WHICH IS GOING TO AN ADC OR AN ACTUAL DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION MODEL, AND THAT SATISFIES THAT.
AND THEN LATER YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IF IF WE MONETIZE THE ASSET, IF WE MAKE THE DECISION TO ISSUE PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS, YOU CAN REVISIT AND YOU CAN IMPROVE THE BENEFITS AT A DATE THAT AFTER WE GET ON THE RIGHT COURSE, IF YOU WILL.
OKAY. SO BY SAYING THAT SO THEREFORE COLLEAGUES THAT WE WE CAN DO A PLAN TODAY IF WE WANT TO GIVE MORE COST OF LIVING FOR BENEFIT TO THE RETIREES THAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BANK TODAY, SIMPLY TURNING TO THE BANK TODAY, IN THE FUTURE, HOW DO WE WOULD IT BE A FOOTNOTE OR TRY TO STRUCTURE IT OUT? IF WE'RE GOING TO MONETIZE AN ASSET, IF WE WANT TO PUT SOME TO FOR COST OF LIVING FOR THE RETIREES, HOW HOW CAN IT BE STRUCTURED FOR THE FUTURE COUNCIL MEMBERS? YEAH. EXCUSE ME.
SO THE PLAN THAT WE SUBMIT HAS TO RELY UPON AN IDENTIFIED SOURCE OF FUNDS, AND WE CAN TELL THE PRB THAT WE HAVE OTHER PLANS, BUT THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT A PLAN THAT'S LIKE, YEAH, WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE WE MIGHT SELL SOMETHING LATER.
AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO FIX IT.
WE HAVE TO BE MORE SPECIFIC IN OUR PLAN.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE APPROACH THIS.
WHAT CAN WE AFFORD WITHIN OUR CURRENT OPERATING BUDGET, WITHIN OUR CURRENT REVENUES? AND EVEN WITH THAT, WE'RE LOOKING AT A $40 MILLION SHORTFALL THAT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX OVER THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, TWO MONTHS OR SIX WEEKS.
BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO WITH OUR WITHIN.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO DO WITHIN OUR EXISTING REVENUE STREAMS. AND THE PRB WILL ACCEPT THAT.
WE CAN FOOTNOTE AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO DO ADDITIONAL THINGS.
OKAY. SO SO THEREFORE WHEN WE DO OUR BUDGET, WE DO DO A TWO YEAR BUDGET PLAN.
YOU KNOW, WE BUDGET OUT FOR TWO YEARS.
SO THE NEXT YEAR THAT WHEN WE DO THE BUDGET, WE CAN SAY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MONETIZE THE ASSET.
AND ALSO THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN WEST, TO TRY AND GET ALL THIS REAL ESTATE TOGETHER.
SO THEREFORE WE SAID, HEY, WE HAVE A REAL ESTATE WE'RE GOING TO SELL FOR $20 MILLION.
CAN YOU OBLIGATE THAT MONEY TO COME TO THIS PARTICULAR PLAN TO, TO GIVE THE RETIREES A COST OF LIVING? CAN THEY BE DEDICATED OR HOW COULD THAT WORK? YES, I BELIEVE IF IF WE WERE TO IDENTIFY A, A ONE TIME SOURCE OF FUNDS OR IF WE WERE TO IDENTIFY AN ONGOING REVENUE STREAM, THE CITY MANAGER COULD COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON DEDICATING CERTAIN MONIES FOR THE PENSION.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I.
A PROS AND CONS WITH THE RETIREES AS A PAST TRUSTEE, THEY'RE BACK IN 2013, 2015, I SAW THE THE TRAIN WRECK COMING FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, WE DID HIRE DELOITTE.
THERE WAS A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY AS A TRUSTEE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR FOR THAT.
BUT THE ONE WHO DID TAKE THEIR MONEY OUT AND HAD A RUN ON THE BANK AND LEFT OTHER PEOPLE HANGING.
BUT I ALSO FEEL SORRY FOR THEM.
SO THEREFORE WE NEVER CAUSED A PROBLEM.
IT'S STILL THE CITY OF DALLAS RESPONSIBILITY THAT.
[02:10:10]
TAX IN, BUT ALSO BEING A BETTER STEWARD, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL IS RESPONSIBLE AND ALSO TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE WITH THESE DIFFERENT PENSION PLAN AND IS IS OUR OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE GOVERNMENT THERE TO PROTECT THAT.SO WE HAD 183 MILLION TO THIS BUDGET THAT WE DID NOT HAVE TO ADD TO THE BUDGET.
DUDE. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM B.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REALIZE WHAT WE HAVE TO DO VERSUS WHAT WE MAY CHOOSE TO DO.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS TO SUBMIT A PLAN TO THE PRB BY NOVEMBER THE 1ST OF THIS YEAR, SHOWING EXACTLY HOW WE ARE GOING TO REACH 100% FUNDING IN THE PENSION FUND WITHIN 30 YEARS.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS PERFECTLY SAID.
YES, SIR. AND WHAT WE MAY CHOOSE TO DO IS SUPPLEMENTING THAT FUNDING WITH ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS TO ACHIEVE SOME SUBSTITUTE FOR A COLA THROUGH SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS. AND THAT'S THE OTHER ISSUE THAT'S BEEN EXPLORED BY THE COMMITTEE AND STAFF.
SO I THINK OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE ON WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS WE HAVE A DEADLINE.
WE HAVE THE STATE BREATHING DOWN OUR NECKS, REQUIRING US TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS FINANCIAL SOUNDNESS, ACTUARIAL SOUNDNESS IN THE PENSION FUND.
AND I THINK THAT THE PROPOSED PHASE IN OF FIVE YEARS IS A REASONABLE AND RATIONAL IDEA. WE'RE STARTING WITH A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION, INCREASED CONTRIBUTION OF $40 MILLION.
IF WE WENT TO THE THREE YEARS THAT THE PENSION BOARD IS REQUESTING, HOW WOULD THAT INCREASE OUR NEXT THREE YEARS CONTRIBUTIONS, I.E.
BUDGET HOLE IN THE GENERAL FUND? SO THE DIFFERENCE I CALCULATED IT OVER THE FIVE YEARS.
OKAY. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR THREE YEAR VERSUS OUR FIVE YEARS.
NEEDS NEEDS AN EXTRA $6,058 MILLION.
NOW, IN ANALYZING WHICH OF THOSE OPTIONS TO CHOOSE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT RETIREES ARE BEING PAID 100% OF THEIR PENSIONS CURRENTLY.
CORRECT. WE'RE NOT THERE'S NO SHORTFALL IN WHAT WE'RE PAYING THEM.
THEY'RE RECEIVING THEIR BASE BENEFIT.
YES, SIR. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO REDUCTIONS.
AND THAT'S NOT REALLY IN QUESTION.
THEY WILL ALWAYS PARTICULARLY IF WE ADOPT THIS 30 YEAR PLAN, THEY WILL NEVER RECEIVE A SHORTFALL IN WHAT THEIR PENSION BASE PAY IS.
OKAY. AND SO IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER TO THE IT SHOULDN'T MATTER TO THE RETIREES WHETHER WE HAVE A THREE YEAR PHASE IN OR A FIVE YEAR PHASE IN THEIR BENEFITS WILL BE PAID 100% REGARDLESS.
SO WHAT THIS DOES IS IT MAKES IT EASIER ON OUR BUDGET IN TERMS OF CUTTING OTHER SERVICES, CUTTING STAFF TO PHASE IN OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS RATHER THAN THREE YEARS, WHICH MAKES AN EVEN BIGGER CHALLENGE
[02:15:02]
FOR OUR CITY MANAGER TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.WITH REGARD TO THE CURRENT RETIREES THEY GOT BEFORE 2017 A GUARANTEED 8% RETURN ON THE FUND UNDER THE DROP PLAN.
AND THAT WAS SUSPENDED BY THE HOUSE BILL 3158 AND 2017.
AND THOSE RETIREES ARE CURRENT RETIREES ALSO GOT THE BENEFIT OF THIS.
WHAT'S BEEN TERMED THE RUN ON THE BANK OF $600 MILLION BY THEIR EARLY WITHDRAWALS.
IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. THOSE WHO HAD THE ACCOUNTS WERE ABLE AT THAT POINT WERE ABLE TO ACCESS IT.
BUT BEFORE 2017 THEY GOT THIS.
SOME MIGHT CALL IT A WINDFALL OF $600 MILLION THAT WAS STOPPED BY THIS STATE LEGISLATION.
OKAY. SO WITH REGARD TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL PAY, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TAKE UP AFTER WE SEE THAT THIS PLAN IS HOPEFULLY A JOINT PLAN WITH THE PENSION BOARD'S CONCURRENCE IS APPROVED BY THE PRB.
AND WE SEE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND PAY THE ADDITIONAL $40 MILLION INTO THE PENSION FUND BEFORE WE TAKE UP THIS PROSPECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL PAY, WHICH IS REALLY A EUPHEMISM FOR COLA, AND THAT WE GEAR THAT WHEN WE APPROACH THAT SUBJECT TO THE RETURNS ON THE INVESTMENTS. I AM VERY UNHAPPY TO SEE TIME, BUT GO AHEAD.
YOU CAN BRING IT TO A CONCLUSION.
THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE, YOU'LL GET TO GO FOR THREE MINUTES RIGHT AWAY.
OKAY. CHAIRWOMAN SCHULTZ, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS TREMENDOUS.
AND NOT BEING ON THE COMMITTEE AND TRYING TO FOLLOW IT.
SO THANK YOU. IF WE CONTINUE IN A DECLINE OF EMPLOYEES, HAVE WE PUT THAT FACTOR INTO ALL OF THE NUMBERS. YEAH.
IN TERMS OF THE PAYROLL, THEREFORE THEIR CONTRIBUTION, BUT ALSO OURS, HOW DOES THAT WORK.
SO THERE IS INCLUDED IN THE ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTION GROWTH IN PAYROLL.
AND THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN GROWTH IN EMPLOYEES.
IT JUST MEANS GROWTH IN PAYROLL.
IT COMES FROM TWO THINGS, RIGHT.
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE AND HOW MUCH PAY THOSE EMPLOYEES.
AND SO THERE ARE ASSUMPTIONS RELATED TO PAYROLL GROWTH.
I BELIEVE THEY'VE BOTH USED 2.5% GROWTH.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE GIVE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS 7% PAY INCREASES, THEN THAT'S MORE THEY WILL BE CONTRIBUTING MORE BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING MORE, BUT THEN THEY ALSO INCREASE THE LIABILITY BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET MORE IN THE FUTURE.
SO ALL THAT GOES INTO THE ACTUARIAL ANALYSIS.
YES, MA'AM. AND SO DOES THE SAME THING APPLY IF THERE ARE FEWER EMPLOYEES? YES, MA'AM. SO AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF THOSE ARE IN THE NUMBERS.
THAT'S REALLY SO THE QUESTION IS THERE IS ASSUMPTIONS ON GROWTH AND PAYROLL.
SO IF WE LOSE EMPLOYEES, IF WE WERE TO LAY OFF, I'M SORRY THAT MAYBE THAT'S A BAD ANALOGY, BUT BACK IN 2008, WELL, LET'S JUST SAY IT THIS WAY. IF WE DON'T FILL POSITIONS AND WE ELIMINATE THOSE POSITIONS, I WAS THINKING OF IT MORE FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
OR I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO 2008.
NOW, IS THAT GOING TO GET US OFF TRACK WITH EITHER ONE OF THESE? SO IT WILL, IT WILL YOUR YOUR ACTUAL EXPERIENCE WILL DIFFER FROM YOUR ASSUMPTIONS.
THE ADC GETS RECALCULATED AND PUTS YOU BACK ON COURSE.
OKAY. YOU'RE ALWAYS RECALIBRATING OKAY.
OKAY. THANK YOU. MY SECOND QUESTION IS ON SLIDE 28 WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE BUDGET.
DOES THAT INCLUDE THE PENSION BOND FOR THE URF? SO THE PENSION BOND FOR URF IS PAID OUT OF THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, NOT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
AND SO THIS IS JUST THE GENERAL FUND, OKAY.
[02:20:05]
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE PAY OFF THE BONDS AND WE QUIT MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM WATER INTO THE DEBT SERVICE FUND AS AN EXAMPLE.SO IT'S IN OUR DEBT SERVICE MODEL ALREADY.
IS THAT CORRECT? WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? I'M LOOKING I'M COMPARING SLIDE 28 AND SLIDE 12 SO THAT I CAN SEE WHAT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IMPACT IS FROM THOSE TWO EXPENSES.
YOU'RE COMPARING 12 TO 28? YES, SIR. IN OTHER WORDS, I'M TRYING TO GET THE 24 NUMBERS.
WHERE? WHAT ARE WE PAYING NOW? IF WE'RE PAYING, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING 2 TO 22 MILLION.
WHAT DID WE PAY IN 24? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO. OKAY.
THE CURRENT YEAR PAYMENT INTO DPFP IS ABOUT 184 MILLION, AND IT'S GOING UP TO 202.5.
RIGHT. BASED ON THIS ERF FOR THE TOTAL IS ON PAGE 12.
BUT BUT IT'S NOT THE DEBT SERVICE.
SO IS IT JUST THE 80? IT'S THE 80.
OKAY. AND THE 80 WILL GO UP TO THE 89.
YEAH. SORRY. SO IT'S A SO IT'S CLOSE TO WHAT WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING FOR 25.
WHEREAS IT'S THE OTHER ONE IS THE ONE THAT'S GOING UP SIGNIFICANTLY.
BUT MY QUESTION IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK THEIR MONEY OUT, DO THEY STILL HAVE MONEY IN AT ALL? AND LET ME ASK THAT FIRST.
THROUGH DRAW. I'M NOT SURE HOW TO ANSWER THAT.
AND SO. SO THEY WOULD POTENTIALLY THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO TOOK MONEY OUT REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT, BUT THEY COULD STILL POTENTIALLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A COST OF FOR SOME KIND OF COST OF LIVING.
YES. SO THERE WAS SOME I'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION WITH STAFF AT THE PENSION FUND ABOUT IF WE DO A COLA OR IF WE DO A STIPEND, CAN WE EXCLUDE CERTAIN PEOPLE AND ONES WHO HAD DROP ACCOUNTS AND NOT OTHERS.
AND I THINK THERE'S LEGAL ISSUES AROUND THAT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED AND FIGURED OUT.
WELL THANK YOU. AND YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE VERY, VERY SOUND AND MUCH APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WHO HASN'T ASKED A QUESTION BEFORE I GO BACK TO CHAIRMAN RIDLEY FOR A SECOND ROUND.
I SEE YOU ALL THERE, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS.
OKAY. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
SO I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE ON THE SUBJECT OF THE INVESTMENTS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND.
FIRST OF ALL, I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF INCREASING THE CITY'S OVERSIGHT.
THAT I THINK IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE REALLY POOR PERFORMANCE OF THIS FUND.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW PROFESSIONAL FUND MANAGERS COULD EARN SO LITTLE ON SUCH A LARGE FUND.
WE ALSO HAD A SERIOUS SHORTFALL BECAUSE OF THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THIS FUND BY PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT THAT LOST UNTOLD HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, IF NOT $1 BILLION ON BAD INVESTMENTS.
THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE CANNOT CORRECT AT THIS LATE DATE, BUT I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR DURING THE BRIEFING BY COMMERCE STREET INVESTMENTS THAT WERE STILL RECOVERING FROM THOSE POOR INVESTMENTS, AS THOUGH WE STILL HAVE SOME OF THEM.
CAN YOU TELL US WHETHER WE HAVE WRITTEN DOWN AND SOLD OFF THOSE BAD ASSETS SO THAT WE COULD REINVEST THOSE FUNDS IN MORE PRODUCTIVE ASSETS? IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY STILL RETAIN, I BELIEVE, THREE OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT THEY HAVE NOT.
[02:25:01]
I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THEM TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER.
I CAN I'LL GET YOU AN ANSWER AND PROVIDE IN WRITING.
WELL, I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN THAT.
I THINK WE NEED TO FIRE WHOEVER IS MANAGING THIS INVESTMENT FUND AND GET SOMEBODY IN WHO CAN ACTUALLY MEET OUR ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTION IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO EARN 6.5% IN THIS FUND, AND WE'RE ONLY EARNING 2%.
THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS IF WE KEEP THE STATUS QUO INVESTMENT POLICIES.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO REACH OUR GOALS AND MAKE THIS FUND SOLVENT, WE NEED TO THINK NOT JUST ABOUT THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THAT MONEY IS BEING WISELY INVESTED GOING FORWARD.
AND I DON'T SEE FROM THIS TRACK RECORD THAT IT IS.
SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT COMMERCE STREET INVESTMENT INVESTMENTS CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS AS TO WHY WE'RE UNDERPERFORMING HOUSTON AND OTHER CITIES AND HOW THAT WILL BE RECTIFIED.
SIR, IF I MAY NEED TO CORRECT AN ANSWER THAT WAS GIVEN A WHILE AGO ON HOW MUCH WE'VE REDUCED FROM OUR BUDGET OR HOW MUCH WE'VE ADDED TO OUR BUDGET OVER THE LAST YEARS, JEANETTE SAID.
SHE SAW IT WRONG IN HER HEAD, 108 VERSUS 180.
THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION ON THAT, I APPRECIATE IT.
I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE WILL RECESS UNTIL 1:00 AND WE'LL COME BACK AND TAKE UP ITEM C.
AND SO AT THIS POINT, THIS MEETING STANDS AT RECESS.
WE'RE BACK IN REGULAR SESSION.
MADAM CITY MANAGER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOUR NEXT BRIEFING IS ON SANITATION, WASTE AND RECYCLE COLLECTION ROUTE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY.
[C. 24-1743 Sanitation Refuse & Recycle Collection Route Safety & Efficiency ]
DIRECTOR OF SANITATION CLIFF GILLESPIE WILL SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOU ABOUT SANITATION, CURRENT COLLECTION PROCEDURES FOR GARBAGE AND RECYCLING, THE HAZARDS THAT THE SANITATION WORKERS ENCOUNTER DAILY, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE EXPLORED TO IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY OF THEIR SERVICE DELIVERY, WHILE BEING BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS AND MANAGING OVERALL COST MORE EFFICIENTLY.AT THIS TIME. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR GILLESPIE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS TOLBERT, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M CLIFF GILLESPIE, DIRECTOR OF SANITATION.
TODAY I'LL SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOU ABOUT SANITATION, REFUSE AND RECYCLE COLLECTION PROCEDURES, AND HOW WE CAN ENHANCE THE RELIABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THESE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES, WHILE MANAGING COST EFFECTIVELY AND UPHOLDING OUR COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.
CAN WE ADVANCE DIRECTLY TO SLIDE FOUR, PLEASE? EACH WEEK, THE DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION UNDERTAKES THE VITAL TASK OF GARBAGE AND RECYCLE COLLECTION FROM APPROXIMATELY 258,000 CUSTOMER LOCATIONS.
ALLEYS OFTEN RANGE BETWEEN 8 TO 10FT IN SURFACE WIDTH.
MOST SANITATION TRUCKS, INCLUDING THE SMALLEST IN OUR FLEET, ARE A LITTLE OVER NINE FEET WIDE.
THE VARIED CONDITIONS OF ALLEYWAYS, INCLUDING SURFACE AND RIGHT OF WAY WIDTH, CURBS AND EMBANKMENTS, STRUCTURAL ENCROACHMENTS, UTILITY POLES AND OVERHEAD LINES AND GAS METERS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT OUR COLLECTION METHODS AND THE WEAR AND TEAR ON OUR EQUIPMENT.
THE RIGHT OF WAY AND PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, ROUTES AND EQUIPMENT WERE OPTIMIZED IN DECEMBER OF 2022 TO BALANCE SERVICE DEMANDS WITH OUR RESOURCE CAPABILITIES, AIMING FOR THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE EFFICIENCY IN OUR COLLECTION OPERATIONS.
THIS SLIDE AND THE NEXT SLIDE ILLUSTRATES SANITATION'S COLLECTION POINTS BY ALLEYWAY OR CURBSIDE.
PINK BEING ALLEY COLLECTION AND BLUE BEING CURBSIDE COLLECTION.
[02:30:06]
NEXT SLIDE. HERE YOU'LL SEE THE SPECIFICS ON ALLEY AND CURB COLLECTION POINTS BY SANITATION DISTRICT AND BY COUNCIL DISTRICT.THE ORANGE AREAS ARE CALL OUTS OF THE ALLEY COLLECTION POINTS BY PAVEMENT WIDTH.
NEXT SLIDE. FOCUSING ON THE CURBSIDE COLLECTION PROCESS.
THIS IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE FOR APPROXIMATELY 160,000 LOCATIONS IN DALLAS.
ON AVERAGE, A DRIVER CAN SERVICE UP TO 233 LOCATIONS PER HOUR, DEPENDING ON THE DENSITY OF THE ROUTE, MAKING THIS METHOD NOT ONLY EFFICIENT BUT ALSO COST EFFECTIVE. ADDITIONALLY, SERVICE VIA AUTOMATED TRUCKS TENDS TO BE MORE RELIABLE AND PUNCTUAL.
NEXT SLIDE. NEXT, WE EXAMINE THE COMPLEXITIES OF ALLEYWAY COLLECTIONS, WHICH IS PROVIDED TO APPROXIMATELY 98,000 CUSTOMER LOCATIONS. MOST ALLEYWAYS IN DALLAS WERE CONSTRUCTED BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS RELATED TO SOLID WASTE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO DALLAS OPENING MCCOMAS BLUFF LANDFILL IN 1980, OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT THERE WERE EIGHT ACTIVE LANDFILL SITES IN DALLAS USED BY SANITATION FOR DISPOSAL. OUR ALLEYWAY SERVICES PRIMARILY HANDLED BY REAR LOAD TRUCKS, REQUIRING THE EFFORT OF THREE PERSON TEAMS. THIS APPROACH. THIS APPROACH, WHILE ONCE STANDARD, NOW FALLS SHORT OF THE EFFICIENCY SEEN IN MODERN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, AVERAGING ONLY ABOUT 125 COLLECTIONS PER HOUR DESPITE THREE TIMES THE PEOPLE PER TRUCK COMPARED TO AUTOMATED COLLECTIONS.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES IN OUR ALLEYS, NARROW PASSAGES, INADEQUATE SPACE FOR CARTS AND A MYRIAD OF HAZARDS ARE REFLECTIVE OF 20TH CENTURY STANDARDS NOT DESIGNED FOR TODAY'S SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT NEEDS.
CREWS FACE DAILY RISKS FROM EXTREME WEATHER, OVERHEAD UTILITY LINES, UTILITY POLES, GAS METERS AND UNPREDICTABLE ALLEY CONDITIONS INCLUDING RUTS AND OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS.
AN ALLEYWAY SERVICE CRITERIA GUIDE EXISTS, WHICH PROVIDES DECISION CRITERIA FOR SANITATION STAFF TO TRANSITION SERVICE FROM ALLEYS TO CURBS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS WHEN NECESSARY, AND THE DETAILS OF THESE CRITERIA ARE AVAILABLE IN APPENDIX A FOR YOUR REFERENCE.
NEXT SLIDE. HERE YOU SEE A COMPARISON OF DALLAS TO THE OTHER FIVE LARGEST CITIES OF TEXAS, AS RELATED TO CURBSIDE VERSUS ALLEYWAY COLLECTIONS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE PEER CITIES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER ALLEYWAY COLLECTION POINTS THAN DALLAS.
NEXT SLIDE. NEXT YOU'LL SEE A SHORT TWO MINUTE VIDEO ILLUSTRATING CHALLENGES SANITATION CREWS ROUTINELY ENCOUNTER IN ALLEYWAYS RANGING FROM NUISANCES TO COMMON INJURIES, TO DAMAGES TO NEAR MISSES FOR SEVERE INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE, WHILE BRIEF SOME MOMENTS IN THE SECOND MINUTE.
IN THE SECOND MINUTE MAY BE HARD TO WATCH.
[02:35:37]
OH.CUT IT OUT. WHAT? WHAT? FIVE. FIVE.
OKAY IF WE CAN ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
FINISHING UP WITH OUR CURRENT COLLECTION PROCEDURES.
THIS ENSURES THAT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY RECEIVE OUR SERVICES.
SANITATION DRIVERS RETRIEVE THE CUSTOMER'S ROLL CART FROM A PREDETERMINED LOCATION, GENERALLY AT THE SIDE OF THE HOME, TAKE IT TO THE TRUCK, EMPTY IT, AND RETURN IT TO ITS ORIGINAL POINT. SIMILAR SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL CUSTOMERS, REFERRED TO AS OUR PACK OUT COLLECTION SERVICE, FOR A MONTHLY FEE.
SANITATION UTILIZES 160 TEMPORARY LABORERS DAILY TO STAFF OUR REAR LOAD TRUCKS AND EMPTY ROLL CARTS.
IN FISCAL YEAR 23, TEMPORARY LABOR COSTS FOR COLLECTIONS WAS APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION.
EXCUSE ME THAT THE STAFFING AGENCY CAN CONTINUE TO FILL THESE CRITICAL POSITIONS.
AS I'VE MENTIONED, SOLID WASTE COLLECTION WORK, PARTICULARLY IN ALLEYWAYS, IS HAZARDOUS.
THE STATISTIC UNDERSCORES THE HAZARDS THAT TEMPORARY WORKERS FACE DAILY.
FURTHER HIGHLIGHTING THE UNSUSTAINABLE NATURE OF OUR RELIANCE ON THIS LABOR MODEL.
AUTOMATED TRUCKS CAN SERVE AS MANY MORE COLLECTION POINTS VERSUS REAR LOAD TRUCKS IN A GIVEN PERIOD OF TIME, WITH ONE THIRD ONE THIRD THE STAFF, WHICH OFFSETS THE HIGHER ACQUISITION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS OF THOSE AUTOMATED TRUCKS.
THIS ALSO MEANS THAT FEWER TRUCKS ARE REQUIRED TO DO THE WORK.
THE TOTAL RATE INCREASE OVER THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD IS 32.6%.
IN FY 22, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES TO TRUCK DRIVER PAY IN THE LIVING WAGE FOR TEMPORARY LABOR, WHICH WERE THE PRIMARY DRIVERS FOR THE SIGNIFICANT RATE INCREASE THAT YEAR. NEXT SLIDE.
[02:40:03]
REAR LOAD TRUCKS MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF OF THE FLEET HAVE THREE TIMES THE STAFFING, BUT DO LESS WORK THAN AUTOMATED TRUCKS WHILE COSTING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TO OPERATE, AND THEIR PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO SERVICE JUST 38% OF CUSTOMERS THAT RECEIVE ALLEYWAY COLLECTION.BECAUSE OF THE PREPONDERANCE OF ALLEYWAYS IN THE NORTHERN AREAS OF THE CITY, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TRUCKS OPERATING IN THOSE AREAS COMPARED WITH THE SOUTHERN AREAS OF THE CITY. AND FINALLY, AS HAS BEEN STATED, MANUAL GARBAGE COLLECTION WORK IS OFTEN DANGEROUS.
IT CAN AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A MORE EFFICIENT AND SAFER METHOD.
OPERATING PROCEDURE TO TRANSITION TO CURBSIDE COLLECTION IN THE FOLLOWING PHASES.
12 MONTHS AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF A REVISED ALLEY SERVICE CRITERIA.
TRANSITION AREAS WITH EIGHT FOOT WIDE ALLEY PAVEMENT AT 18 MONTHS.
TRANSITION AREAS WITH NINE FOOT WIDE ALLEY PAVEMENT AND AT 24 MONTHS TRANSITION ALL OTHER AREAS OR ALL OTHER ALLEYS NOT SAFE OR EFFICIENT TO OPERATE IN, WITH SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS BEING MADE FOR LOCATIONS WHERE FRONT OF HOME CURBSIDE COLLECTION IS NOT OPERATIONALLY FEASIBLE, SUCH AS HOMES WITH VERY STEEP FRONT YARDS OR OTHER UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES. AS REAR LOAD TRUCKS AGE OUT OF THE FLEET, THEY WOULD BE REPLACED WITH AUTOMATED COLLECTION TRUCKS.
THE SECONDARY BENEFITS ARE NUMEROUS.
THE EFFICIENCY AND CONSISTENCY OF SERVICE DELIVERY WOULD IMPROVE.
EFFICIENCY WOULD ALSO BE GAINED THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE THE FLEET OVER TIME, REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE FLEET OVER TIME, AND FURTHER STANDARDIZE EQUIPMENT AND THE SKILLS AND PROCESSES TO MAINTAIN THAT EQUIPMENT.
THE SANITATION UTILITY RATE WOULD BE LESS AFFECTED BY THE COST OF LABOR, SLOWING THE GROWTH OF THE RATE, AND THERE WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON THE CITY'S CAP GOAL RELATED TO SOLID WASTE COLLECTION EFFICIENCY, REDUCING MILES DRIVEN AND SUPPORTING IMPROVEMENTS TO AIR QUALITY.
NEXT SLIDE. LOOKING FORWARD AT THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST FOR THE SANITATION UTILITY RATE.
THE MAIN DRIVERS AGAIN BEING PERSONNEL AND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
EACH DOLLAR ON THE MONTHLY SANITATION RATE GENERATES APPROXIMATELY 3 MILLION IN REVENUE.
A BASIC ASSUMPTION WOULD BE THAT IF SANITATION WAS ALL CURBSIDE WITH AUTOMATED TRUCKS TODAY WITH NO TEMPORARY LABOR, THE RATE WOULD BE AT LEAST $3 PER MONTH LOWER. BEFORE CONSIDERING ANY OTHER FACTORS, SUCH AS LESS EQUIPMENT AND MORE STANDARDIZED MAINTENANCE, ETC..
A RATE STUDY IS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS EXAMINING ALL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ALLEY VERSUS CURB COLLECTION TO REVISE OUR FIVE YEAR FORECAST, WITH CONSIDERATION TO A PHASE DOWN FROM ALLEYWAY SERVICE.
THAT RATE STUDY WILL BE COMPLETE THIS FALL.
NEXT SLIDE. OUR IMMEDIATE NEXT STEP IS TO GATHER AND CONSIDER FEEDBACK FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE CONDUCTING ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS OF OUR CURRENT ROUTE CONDITIONS.
THE INSIGHTS FROM THIS ASSESSMENT WILL ALSO FEED INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REVISED ALLEY SERVICE CRITERIA, INCLUDING A PHASED APPROACH TOWARD THE ROUTE EFFICIENCIES I'VE DISCUSSED. AND FINALLY, WE WILL REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL IN THE FALL WITH THE RESULTS OF THE RATE ANALYSIS AND THE DRAFT ALLEY SERVICE CRITERIA.
THIS IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS, BUT CRUCIAL AS WE STRIVE TO IMPROVE CONSISTENT SERVICE DELIVERY FOR ALL SANITATION CUSTOMERS, ENSURING THAT WE ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, EQUITABLE, EFFICIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND.
THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL'S FEEDBACK AND I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. WE'LL START THE QUESTIONS WITH OUR MAYOR PRO TEM.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
OKAY. FIRST IS THIS ENTERPRISE FUND? YES, SIR. IS THIS COST RECOVERY? YES, SIR. OKAY, SO IF COST RECOVERY, IF YOU GO TO PAGE 18 AND YOU SAID 12 MONTHS, 18 MONTHS AND 24 MONTHS ALL OTHER ADDED NOT SAFE FOR EFFICIENCY TO OPERATE.
WHAT IS THAT SPECIAL SPECIFIC WHAT DETERMINE THAT IS NOT DESCRIBED IN THIS PRESENTATION.
OKAY. BUT BUT IT WOULD ALLOW FOR UNIFORM SERVICE DELIVERY ROUTING AND EQUIPMENT CITYWIDE.
BUT THAT SAID, THERE ARE MANY TEN FOOT WIDE ALLEYS THAT CAN BE SERVICED WITH AUTOMATED TRUCKS.
[02:45:03]
15FT TOTAL RIGHT OF WAY WHICH EXISTS DOES EXIST IN MANY AREAS.BUT THAT MEANS NO OBSTRUCTIONS IN THOSE AREAS.
SO NO UTILITY POLES NO OTHER ENCROACHMENTS LIKE FENCES OR, OR VEGETATION OVER THE OVERHEAD SPACE BEING CLEAR, WE NEED 15FT ABOVE US WITHOUT UTILITY LINES BELOW THERE, BELOW THAT LEVEL.
AND THEN THE OTHER KEY FACTOR IS REAR ENTRY ACCESS DRIVEWAYS WHICH MANY TEN FOOT WIDE ALLEYS HAVE SO THAT THE CARTS CAN BE PLACED IN THE DRIVEWAY SO THAT WHEN THE AUTOMATED COLLECTION ARM EXTENDS TO GRAB THE CART, IT CAN DO SO WITHOUT WITHOUT RISKING HITTING A FENCE.
SO. SO THEREFORE, IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THOSE AUTOMATED TRUCKS OPERATING NOW AND THEY OPERATE IN THOSE ALLEYS NOW, WOULD THEY BE THE FIRST STATEMENT? THEY WILL CONTINUE OPERATING IN THOSE LOCATIONS IF THEY QUALIFIED THAT RIGHT.
SO PART OF THAT DEPENDS ON THE THE SENSE THAT THAT WE GET FROM COUNCIL ON WHICH WAY WE'D LIKE TO GO.
AS I SAID, THE THE IDEAL STATE INVOLVES NO ALLEYS.
BUT THAT SAID, OUR GOAL IS SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY.
AND THAT CAN BE DONE WITH AUTOMATED TRUCKS IN MANY TEN FOOT WIDE ALLEYS.
HAVE YOU STARTED A BLOCK BY BLOCK ASSESSMENT YET? THIS IS SOMETHING JUST WRITING UP.
I MEAN, MY QUESTION IS, NUMBER ONE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 12 MONTHS, 18 MONTHS OR 24 MONTHS, AND I'M LOOKING AT A SENIOR, WHATEVER, WHO DO HAVE A NAME FOR THE 12 FOOT. OUR WE NEED A MARKET AND ADVERTISING AND EDUCATE THOSE PEOPLE OUT HERE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE GOT A BUDGET.
SO THEREFORE WHATEVER THE COST THAT WE WILL BE RECOVERING OUR COST.
SO THEREFORE ARE YOU SAYING WE'RE NOT RECOVERING OUR COSTS? WE ARE CURRENTLY RECOVERING OUR COSTS, BUT THE THE COSTS OF AGAIN, PUTTING THESE LARGE TRUCKS THROUGH THESE NARROW ALLEYS WE'RE CONSISTENTLY CAUSING DAMAGE CAUSING INJURIES OR RISKING INJURIES.
SO THE COSTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY THERE'S A COST BENEFIT ISSUE HERE.
I MEAN, WE GOT HOW MANY HOURS DO WE HAVE? APPROXIMATELY 8000 ALLEY BLOCKS.
ARE WE GOING TO WALK ALL 8000 ALLEYS? WELL, WE WOULD IF THE DECISION OR IF THE DIRECTION WAS TO ATTEMPT TO STAY IN AS MANY TEN FOOT WIDE ALLEYS AS POSSIBLE.
AND NO, WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET BECAUSE THAT IS A.
LARGE INVESTMENT TIME AND RESOURCE INVESTMENT TO DO SO.
AND AGAIN WANTING TO TO GET THE SENSE OF THE, OF THE BODY BEFORE WE UNDERTAKE THAT.
YEAH. IN THIS PRESENTATION, I SEE 12 MONTHS, 18 MONTHS AND 24 MONTHS.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT IT'S COST RECOVERY ENTERPRISE FUND.
SOME TRUCKS CAN DO THAT, SOME OTHERS MIGHT HAVE TRUCKS OR POLES OR LINES THAT CANNOT DO THAT.
AND SOME, YOU KNOW, INCLINE STEEP FRONT YARDS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET YOUR TRASH PICKED UP.
SO TO ME, THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER NEGATIVE.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF COMPLAINTS.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT? HAVE Y'ALL. SO REGARDING THE THE THE QUESTION REGARDING WALKING THE ALLEY BLOCKS OR OBSERVING THE ALLEY BLOCKS, THERE ARE NO 8 OR 9 FOOT WIDE ALLEYS THAT THAT ARE SERVICEABLE WITHOUT CAUSING DAMAGE IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
OUR TRUCKS ARE A LITTLE OVER NINE FEET WIDE, EVEN THE SMALLEST ONES.
OUR TRUCKS AND DRIVERS ARE VERY WELL EXPERIENCED WITH NAVIGATING AROUND PARKED CARS.
NOT ONLY DOES THAT HAPPEN IN DALLAS, IT HAPPENS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD.
[02:50:03]
GARBAGE COLLECT FROM THE STREET AND GARBAGE MEN KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE AROUND PARKED CARS.AND GENERALLY SPEAKING WE'RE ON THE STREETS DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.
ADDITIONALLY, THOSE CURBSIDE AREAS, THE RESIDENTS GENERALLY KNOW HOW TO PLACE THEIR CARTS AND NEIGHBORS RESPECT THAT WHEN THEY'RE PARKING ON THE STREET SO THAT THOSE CARS AREN'T BLOCKED. IT'S NOT A LARGE ISSUE IN THE 62% OF THE CITY WHERE WE'RE ALREADY DOING THIS.
YOU COME TO DISTRICT EIGHT PACESETTERS.
SO THEREFORE YOU DO HAVE ISSUES THERE.
SO THEREFORE, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT PERCENTAGE, YOU KNOW, 1500 ALLEYS OR WHATEVER.
BUT I WANT TO GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING, DO A CLEAR SURVEY, BECAUSE SOME PART OF THE CITY THAT YOU CAN'T GET A FIRE TRUCK DOWN THE STREET, AND WE HAVE PROBLEM WITH FIRE TRUCK GOING DOWN THE STREET. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BE ABLE TO POLICE THAT, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE THE TRASH TRUCK TO GET THERE.
AND WE CANNOT GET A FIRE TRUCK DOWN THE STREET.
AND SO, SO THEREFORE, I FEEL LIKE THAT WE NEED TO ACCEPT ALL STREET, NOT JUST 6 OR 2%, ALL 99% OR 95% OF THE STREET THAT YOU SAID THERE IS NOT TEN FOOT LADDERS, THERE MAY BE SOME TEN FOOT AND MAYBE SOME NINE FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY FALSE STATEMENT YOU JUST MADE.
IF I COULD JUMP IN FOR JUST A SECOND.
MAYOR PRO TEM, FOR THE QUESTIONS.
WHAT STAFF HAS LAID OUT FOR YOU IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS OF MANY OF THE ALLEYS AND THE TYPES OF TRUCKS THAT WE'RE USING CURRENTLY, AND THE AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT WE HAVE TO PUT ON THOSE TRUCKS, THAT ALTHOUGH IT'S FULL COST RECOVERY, WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING TO CHARGE RESIDENTS MORE TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE ISSUES. AND SO WHAT WE'RE LAYING OUT IS NOT A OVERNIGHT.
SLIDE 18, AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS WHERE WE START WITH THE MOST CRITICAL ALLEYS.
WE THAT WOULD TAKE US ABOUT A 12 MONTH PERIOD.
THEN WE GO TO THE ALLEYS THAT ARE AT THE NINE FOOT FROM DIMENSIONS.
AND WE DO THAT OVER AN 18 MONTH PERIOD, AND THEN WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT THOSE ALLEYS THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE COULD THEN CONTINUE TO SERVE. SO THIS IS A PROCESS.
THIS IS NOT OVERNIGHT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGE.
BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT THIS.
WE ALSO REALIZED THAT IF WE LOOK AT THIS HOLISTICALLY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANYWHERE BETWEEN NINE AND ABOUT A $10 MILLION SAVINGS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR US TO THEN REDUCE THE GROWTH OF THE RATE THAT WE'RE HAVING TO CHARGE FOR SANITATION COLLECTIONS.
SO WHAT WE WANTED TO PRESENT TODAY TO THE CITY COUNCIL WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO SET THE GUARDRAILS AROUND HOW WE START, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS.
AND WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS DOWN THE ROAD AND NOT DEAL WITH IT.
THE SAFETY ISSUES ARE CONCERNED.
THAT WAS JUST ONE OF THE VIDEOS THAT WE SHOWED TODAY.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS, BUT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN OVERNIGHT THING.
THIS IS REALLY ABOUT HOW DO WE AS A CITY AND WITH THIS CITY COUNCIL, GET TO A POLICY DECISION THAT WILL ALLOW FOR US TO BEGIN TO MOVE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS? AND LOOKING AT THOSE CRITICAL ALLEYS THAT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SERVICE THOSE ALLEYS EFFICIENTLY.
MY POINT WAS BASED ON THE 5%, THE 10% THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO PAGE TEN, YOU SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN AND PASO GOT 5% THAT WAS ADDED.
THEY CANNOT SERVE. SO THEREFORE I'M LOOKING AT THOSE 5% THAT YOU CANNOT SERVE.
SO THEREFORE YOU STILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PICK TRASH IN THE ROOM.
SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET 100%.
THE OTHER THING IS THE SAVING, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE $10 MILLION SAVING THE ENTERPRISE FUND, WHERE DID THAT MONEY GO TO? IT WOULD BE A SAVINGS TO THE RATEPAYER.
MISS WILLIS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IS EVERYONE OKAY? YES, MA'AM. YEAH.
OKAY. THAT WAS KIND OF ALARMING.
OKAY, SO, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A FRONT DRIVEWAY.
[02:55:10]
EASY. AND WHAT I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE PROPOSING THAT THEY DO? SO FIRST I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE THE INCONVENIENCE THAT THIS WILL BE FOR FOR SOME CUSTOMERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE THAT FRONT DRIVEWAY.I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE EXISTING CUSTOMERS, THAT THIS IS A REALITY FOR THEM ALREADY.
MOST CUSTOMERS THAT RECEIVE CURBSIDE SERVICE KEEP THEIR CARD AT THE SIDE OF THEIR HOME.
AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE A DRIVEWAY TO TO ROLL IT THROUGH, DO WE ROLL IT THROUGH THEIR, THROUGH THEIR YARD? IN TERMS OF WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE PHYSICALLY DISABLED CUSTOMERS, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE THE HELPING HANDS PROGRAM AT NO COST.
AND WE WORK WITH THE CUSTOMER THROUGH THAT ENROLLMENT PROCESS.
WE OFFER THAT SERVICE, THAT SAME SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR A MONTHLY FEE.
AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A PHASED IN APPROACH WHICH WILL GIVE CUSTOMERS THAT TIME TO MAKE POTENTIAL MODIFICATIONS AS THEY MAY FEEL NECESSARY. SO THOSE ARE OUR INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THAT QUESTION.
BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE VOLUME THAT WE WOULD BE SHIFTING OVER AND ALSO COUPLED WITH OUR AGING DEMOGRAPHIC, I MEAN, 60 PLUS IS OUR FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC, THAT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE MIGHT START HAVING MORE AND MORE HELPING HANDS NEEDS, WHICH THAT'S TIME CONSUMING.
SO ARE WE NOT SAVING TIME IN THE ALLEY BUT ADDING TIME AT THE STREET? SURE. WE'RE CLOSELY MONITORING THAT.
AND WE ARE AWARE THAT THOSE NUMBERS MAY GO UP DUE TO THIS.
AGAIN, WHAT WE WOULD LOOK AT IS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE CITY OF THE 62% WERE ALREADY DOING CURBSIDE AND HAVE A HELPING HANDS VERSUS THE 38% AND MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS BASED ON THAT? THERE WOULD BE SOME INCREASED COST WITH THAT.
BUT THERE ARE THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THAT, WHETHER RIGHT NOW IT'S THE IN MANY AREAS, IT'S THE IT'S THE TRUCK THAT'S THAT'S SERVICING THAT ROUTE THAT STOPS AND GETS THE CART. ANOTHER WAY WE CAN PROGRAM THAT IN SOME AREAS THAT IS MORE EFFICIENT IS TO PUT AN OVERLAY TRUCK THAT'S JUST GOING FROM HELPING HAND STOP TO HELPING HAND STOP.
THAT CAN BE MORE COST EFFICIENT.
SO WE'RE WE'RE EXAMINING ALL OF THOSE POTENTIAL OPTIONS OKAY.
AND I'M SURE I'LL GET THIS QUESTION AND OTHERS PROBABLY WILL TOO.
BUT IS THERE ANY WAY TO RETROFIT AN ALLEY.
LIKE IF YOU'VE GOT AN EIGHT FOOT ALLEY AND YOU CAN WORK WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS TO, YOU KNOW, BRING IT UP TO THE STANDARD THAT WE'RE REQUIRING? I MEAN, HAS THERE BEEN THOUGHT AROUND THAT? AND I WILL DEFER TO EITHER PUBLIC WORKS IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE OR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THAT QUESTION FROM FROM A SANITATION PERSPECTIVE, AGAIN, THAT WE'RE IN 8000 ALLEY BLOCKS.
THE ISSUE IS NOT, IN MOST CASES, NOT THE PAVEMENT CONDITION.
IT IS RELATED TO THE NOT JUST THE PAVEMENT WIDTH, BUT THE TOTAL RIGHT OF WAY WIDTH.
SO THERE'S THERE'S MULTIPLE THINGS INVOLVED.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EXTENDING THE ALLEY OR WIDENING THE ALLEY EXPENSES THAT THAT COULD BE INVOLVED.
AND IF, IF ONE BLOCK DECIDES TO DO IT BUT THE NEXT BLOCK DOESN'T OR THE NEXT BLOCK THE OTHER WAY DECIDES NOT TO DO IT, THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE JUST ADDED AN EXTRA BLOCK FOR US TO SERVICE, BECAUSE NOW WE WOULD BE GOING THROUGH THE ALLEY ON ONE TO SERVICE ONE SIDE OF THE BLOCK, BUT STILL HAVE TO GO DOWN THE STREET FOR THOSE FOR THOSE OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE STILL BEING COLLECTED FROM THE CURB.
OKAY. AND THEN FINALLY, YOU MENTIONED THE PACK OUT SERVICE IS THAT AMOUNT ON TOP OF THE NORMAL SANITATION FEE OR IS THAT ALL INCLUSIVE? IT'S ALL INCLUSIVE. IT'S IT'S IN LIEU OF THE NORMAL FEE.
PAUL RILEY. COUNCILMAN RILEY THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT THOROUGH PRESENTATION.
MR. GILLESPIE, BEFORE I ASK YOU SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO CORRECT A MISSTATEMENT IN THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS ARTICLE TODAY ENTITLED ALLEY PICKUP MAY BE TRASHED ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE METRO SECTION, WHICH STATES IN PART.
COULD HELP BRIDGE A PORTION OF THAT GAP.
THAT STATEMENT IS INCORRECT, IS IT NOT? THAT IS CORRECT. SO SANITATION OPERATING IS AN ENTERPRISE.
[03:00:01]
THAT MONEY WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE.RATHER TEN SHOWS US WHAT PORTION OF OUR PICKUP IS CURBSIDE VERSUS ALLEY IN RELATION TO OTHER CITIES.
AND ON SLIDE 20 YOU PROJECT WHAT THE FEES WILL BE FOR THIS SANITATION SERVICE.
IN COMPARISON TO OTHER TEXAS CITIES THAT HAVE ALMOST ALL CURBSIDE PICKUP.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW OUR CURRENT RATES COMPARE WITH, SAY, AUSTIN, EL PASO OR FORT WORTH? THAT PICK UP PRIMARILY ON THE CURB.
YES, SIR. I CAN GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS, BUT DO BE AWARE.
NO TWO CITIES HANDLE SOLID WASTE.
AUSTIN HAS A ORGANICS COLLECTION PROGRAM.
SAN ANTONIO ONLY COLLECTS BRUSH AND BULK TWICE A YEAR VERSUS DALLAS DOING IT MONTHLY.
SO WHEN I SO I CAN TELL YOU THE RATES.
BUT AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE'S MULTIPLE FACTORS THERE.
OUR NUMBERS INDICATE A $55 A MONTH RATE.
WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 37, 98 A MONTH.
AND BEHIND US WOULD BE SAN ANTONIO AT $33.
SAN ANTONIO, SIR. SAN ANTONIO, EL PASO, 3198.
IS FORT WORTH COMPARABLE TO OUR PICK UP PRACTICES? WHY ARE THEY SO MUCH LOWER AGAIN? WELL FORT WORTH DOES NOT DOES NOT DO OR DOES NOT OWN OR OPERATE A LANDFILL, WHICH I'M MENTIONING THAT THE LAND, THE MOST COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE LANDFILL ARE NOT FACTORED INTO THE TO THE TO THE RATE.
ONLY THE DIRECT DISPOSAL COSTS FOR OUR RESIDENTS ARE FACTORED INTO THAT EXPENSE.
FORT WORTH IS PREDOMINANTLY CURBSIDE COLLECTION.
THEIR BRUSH OPERATIONS ARE ARE MY UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT FROM OURS? THEY DO A REGULAR YARD WASTE COLLECTION, BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE DO.
AND FORT WORTH ALSO UTILIZES PRIVATE HAULERS FOR FOR THEIR COLLECTION SERVICES.
SO IF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED, YOU DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY REDUCTION IN SERVICE COSTS TO THE TO THE RESIDENTS, BUT RATHER A SLOWER INCREASE.
DID I GET THAT CORRECT? I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A AN EXTENDED PHASE DOWN AS THE REAR LOAD TRUCKS AGE OUT OF THE FLEET.
SO WE DO HAVE A CONSULTANT PERFORMING A RATE STUDY FOR US RIGHT NOW SOLELY LOOKING AT THE THE QUESTION OF ALLEY VERSUS CURB COLLECTION AND HELPING US REVISE OUR FIVE YEAR FORECAST TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU HOPEFULLY THIS FALL IF THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A RATE REDUCTION GOING FORWARD, IT SHOULD SHOULD WE BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH THIS REVISED COLLECTION METHOD? SO WE SHOULD HAVE THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY THIS FALL.
YES, SIR. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIME FRAME ABOUT WHEN WE.
WELL, LET ME BACK UP A MINUTE.
ARE YOU ASKING FOR CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE TO AMEND ANY ORDINANCE OR DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN JUST PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO YOU? BECAUSE THE ULTIMATE DECISION ABOUT MANAGEMENT OF THIS DEPARTMENT IS UP TO YOU.
THE LATTER, SIR. SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR A SENSE AND DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER.
HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE AN ORDINANCE CHANGE OR ANY SORT OF POLICY ADOPTION.
BUT AT THIS POINT THIS BRIEFING IS JUST TO TO GATHER FEEDBACK AND INTEGRATE IT INTO A REVISED OPERATING PROCEDURE THAT WE WOULD SHOW YOU AGAIN IN THE FALL.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIME FRAME IN MIND FOR WHEN YOU WOULD START THIS TRANSITION TO CURBSIDE PICKUP, PROVIDED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REVISE OUR ALLEY SERVICE CRITERIA BY THE FALL?
[03:05:01]
THE SENSE FROM THE COUNCIL IS POSITIVE TOWARDS THAT.I WOULD LOOK TO TO ADOPT THAT REVISED CRITERIA IN JANUARY OF 25, GIVING STARTING THE CLOCK FOR THE THE EIGHT THE FOR THE 12 MONTHS FOR EIGHT MONTH EIGHT FOOT WIDE ALLEY CUSTOMERS BEING JANUARY OF 2026 AND AND SO ON FROM THERE.
SO YOU WOULD START THE TRANSITION IN JANUARY OF 25 OR JANUARY OF 26.
YEAH. SO AT THAT POINT, THE FIRST PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS WOULD EXPIRE IN JANUARY OF 26.
YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN HSU.
I HAVE QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT FOR AS IN TERMS OF FEEDBACK FOR THIS, I THINK IN ADDITION TO THE IMPACT ON THE RATE WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT IMPACT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TOWN.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE I KNOW FROM JUST OUR RESEARCH IN PREPARING FOR THE BOND THAT A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF THE REQUESTS FOR OUR ALLEY REPAIRS ARE BASED ON THE TRUCKS ON THE THEIR IMPACT ON THE ALLEYS RATHER THAN CARS.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC WORKS ON THE I'LL JUST GIVE THE MASTER LIST AND THEN YOU CAN DECIDE, MISS CITY MANAGER, HOW YOU WANT TO RESPOND EITHER TODAY OR IN A MEMORANDA ABOUT THIS.
BUT I THINK THE STREET, THE ALLEY PIECE AND THE IMPACT OF THE TRUCKS ON THE ALLEY REPAIR IN OUR PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET, WHICH IS SUCH A HUGE PART OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET OUR, OUR OFFICE, OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND HOW MUCH TIME WE SPEND OUR RISK MANAGEMENT, HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ON PEOPLE'S FENCE REPAIRS AND RUT REPAIRS AND ALL THIS STUFF.
WHAT THE IMPACT, IF THERE IS ANY OR IF ALL OF THE FLEET COSTS ARE IN THIS ENTERPRISE FUND.
WHAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENCE OF OUR INSURANCE IF THERE WAS SUCH? AND THEN FINALLY, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE IN TERMS OF HIRING PEOPLE BESIDES THE TEMPORARY ISSUE, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF OUR RECRUITMENT, OTHER THINGS AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE AN EVEN BROADER LIST OF THE GENERAL FUND IMPACTS ON THIS DECISION.
I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD JUST BE ABOUT RATES ON THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION.
AND LOOKING AT THE COLLECTION POINTS AND TO MAYOR, OUR MAYOR'S PRO TEMS STATEMENT ABOUT THE ANALYSIS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO REALLY TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THOSE AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED IMMEDIATELY.
I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER DATA POINTS THAT I'D LIKE TO GET BEFORE.
NOT THAT AGAIN, NOT THAT WE HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE, BUT JUST IN TERMS OF FEEDBACK.
ONE IS I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO KNOW HOW MANY HELPING HANDS AND PACK OUT CUSTOMERS.
AND WHAT DOES THAT COST US? BECAUSE IF THAT ISN'T REFLECTED, THAT MEANS THE IF THERE'S ESPECIALLY A HELPING HANDS, IF IT'S COSTING, IF ALL THE RESIDENTS IF WE'RE AMORTIZING THE COST OF THAT, OF THAT HELPING HANDS ACROSS EVERYONE'S FEES AND WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THAT NUMBER, WHAT'S THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE, AND WILL THAT IMPACT THE RATES.
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW. YOU KNOW, YOU MAY HAVE TAKEN THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
SO YOU'RE PROBABLY I KNOW YOU'RE WAY AHEAD OF ME.
AND THEN ALSO THE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN GET ANY ASSISTANCE OR GUIDANCE FROM OTHER CITIES EXPERIENCE IN MAKING THIS TRANSITION, WHAT DID THEY USE SO THAT THERE WASN'T AN ALL OUT REBELLION, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY MADE THOSE CHANGES? SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS.
IT'S IT'S VERY, VERY CHALLENGING.
SO WITH THAT, THOSE ARE THAT'S ARE MY QUESTIONS I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT ABOUT.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR SHARON STEWART.
SO FIRST OF ALL, CLIFF, YOU'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO MEET WITH ME TO PROVIDE MAPS OF MY DISTRICT WITH THAT ARE COLOR CODED SO I CAN SEE WHERE THE DIFFERENT WIDTHS OF ALLEYS ARE.
THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO ME, JUST TO GET MY HEAD AROUND WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
[03:10:04]
OVER OVERHEAD OR WHATEVER.SO I CAN I MEAN, I THINK I KNOW WHERE THE BIGGEST IMPACT WILL BE IN MY DISTRICT.
SO WHAT I NEED FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT IS TO ALLOW ME INTO THIS PROCESS.
I NEED TO HELP COMMUNICATE THIS TO THE NEIGHBORS AND TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORS.
AND I KNOW SATURDAY MORNING AT 9 OR 10:00, I'LL BE WITH YOU ALL AND ONE OF THOSE ALLEYS, AND WE WILL KICK OFF THIS PROCESS AT I KNOW THIS WILL NOT BE MY FIRST ALLEY MEETING. AND THAT'S OKAY.
THIS IS A BIG CHANGE, AS I THINK EACH OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED IT IS A WEEKLY.
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CITY, RIGHT? IT'S SOMETHING WE DO VERY REGULARLY.
AND AND SO IT REALLY IS GOING TO EXPERIENCE I MEAN, IT IS JUST REALLY GOING TO IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORS.
I KNOW THAT IN THIS PROCESS WITH THE I WON'T NAME THE STREETS THAT WHERE WE WILL MEET ON SATURDAY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE A LETTER WAS SENT OUT AND SOME INFORMATION WAS GIVEN THAT I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAD AN ABILITY TO INFLUENCE OR IMPACT OR HELP COMMUNICATE. I WAS A LITTLE TAKEN OFF OFF GUARD.
I GOT A COPY OF IT ON SUNDAY FROM ONE OF THE RESIDENTS, SO IT WOULD I KNOW I WAS SEIZED ON IT, AND WHEN I GO BACK AND LOOK AT MY FRIDAY EMAILS, THERE IT WAS. BUT I'M LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION WITH BETWEEN MY OFFICE AND AND THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT. I REALLY DO WANT TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON THIS.
I WANT TO DO SOME OF THE MESSAGING, IF POSSIBLE.
SO WE CAN IDENTIFY SOME OF OUR OLDER NEIGHBORS, NEIGHBORS AND I CAN BEGIN TO WORK WITH THEM AS COUNCILMEMBER WILLIS HAS WORKED WITH SOME OF HER RESIDENTS TO GET THE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
SORRY. NO QUESTIONS. JUST REALLY ASKING TO BE YOUR PARTNER.
AND IF I COULD JUST RESPOND, THANK YOU MA'AM.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU THROUGH THIS.
AND FOR YOU AND FOR FOR EVERYONE.
YOU KNOW, WE INTEND TO BE AT ALL OF THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
WE, WE ATTEND COMMUNITY MEETINGS ALMOST DAILY.
AND WE KNOW THAT THAT THIS WILL BE ONE THAT WE WILL CERTAINLY NEED TO BE OUT FRONT ON.
SO WE WELCOME THAT OPPORTUNITY, MYSELF AND MY, MY TEAM, MY LEADERSHIP TEAM.
WE WILL ABSOLUTELY BE AT THOSE.
MY FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU IS, CAN A NEIGHBORHOOD OPT OUT OF HAVING THE CITY OF DALLAS COLLECT ITS SANITATION AND HIRE THEIR OWN CONTRACTOR? NO, MA'AM. SANITATION IS THE EXCLUSIVE SOLID WASTE SERVICE PROVIDER FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND DUPLEXES IN DALLAS.
AND CAN I ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO EVALUATE IF THERE'S SOME WAY FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT? YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT. THANK YOU.
HAS THERE BEEN AN ANALYSIS OF OUTSOURCING ALL SANITATION SERVICES TO A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR OR MULTIPLE PRIVATE CONTRACTORS? NO, MA'AM. THAT HAS NOT COME UP IN IN ANY HISTORY THAT THAT WE THAT WE KNOW OF.
WELL, PERHAPS THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
CAN THERE BE A TWO TIER RATE SYSTEM? MAYBE ONE RATE THAT'S FOR CURB PICKUP AND ONE RATE THAT'S FOR ALLEY PICKUP, SINCE IT CLEARLY IS COSTING MORE FOR ALLEY PICKUP.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED.
THERE ARE SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT COULD BE OVERCOME, BUT THEY COULD CERTAINLY BE OVERCOME.
AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW IT HAS NOT BEEN A FEASIBLE OPTION.
JUST BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ALLEYS AND CURBS TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT WHO SHOULD BE BILLED WHAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE THAT HAS NOT SEEN PRACTICAL TO UNDERTAKE.
[03:15:01]
CHANGE THE COLLECTION METHODS THAT WE CURRENTLY UTILIZE, WE WOULD CERTAINLY NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE WOULD PASS THOSE COSTS ON TO JUST THE ALLEY CUSTOMERS.WELL, I BELIEVE IN COST RECOVERY AND IF IT'S CHEAPER TO DO ALLEY.
THEN THOSE CUSTOMERS SHOULD PAY LESS.
SO YOU WERE CERTAINLY ABLE TO MAKE A STREET BY STREET, ALLEY BY ALLEY MAP FOR ALL OF US.
IT SEEMS THAT IT WOULDN'T BE THAT DIFFICULT TO MATCH THEM UP WITH ACCOUNT NUMBERS.
OKAY. MY NEXT QUESTION IS, IF YOU MOVE TO ALL CURB PICKUP, WHAT WILL THE RESULT BE IN TERMS OF LOWERING THE BILL? YOU'RE SAYING POSSIBLY NOT AT ALL.
I'M JUST SAYING I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU TODAY.
WITH THAT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT TEMPORARY LABOR COSTS $10 MILLION.
LAST YEAR, IT'LL LOOK SIMILAR TO THAT THIS YEAR.
EVERY EVERY DOLLAR ON OUR RATE GENERATES $3 MILLION IN REVENUE.
SO WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING WHAT THE RATE IS, CAN YOU COMMIT THAT THERE WOULD BE A RATE DECREASE OR ARE YOU NOT SURE ABOUT THAT? AND ACTUALLY, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BUY NEW TRUCKS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ACTUALLY THERE MIGHT BE NO CHANGE.
I CAN COMMIT TO A SLOWING IN THE GROWTH OF THE RATE TODAY.
SWITCHING SLOWING OF THE GROWTH RATE MEANS INCREASING.
IT MEANS I CANNOT COMMIT TODAY TO KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT THE RATE WOULD GO DOWN IN FUTURE YEARS.
OKAY. WHAT KIND OF CODE COMPLIANCE RULES AFFECT THE PLACEMENT OF TRASH CANS, WHETHER IT'S IN THE ALLEY OR THE FRONT? LIKE HOW WHAT ARE THOSE RULES THAT A HOMEOWNER WOULD NEED TO KNOW WITH THIS KIND OF A CHANGE? WITH, WITH REGARDS TO PLACEMENT OF THE CART WHERE THEY WOULD PLACE IT ON THE IF THEY WERE TO SWITCH TO CURBSIDE, HOW IS THE QUESTION WHERE WHERE WOULD WHAT? WHERE WOULD THEY LOOK TO THE RULES TO KNOW WHERE TO PLACE THE CART? I'M SORRY. WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE ALLEY PICKUP, YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR CANS ON YOUR DRIVEWAY.
NO PROBLEM. YOU CAN STICK THEM IN YOUR GARAGE.
WELL, IF YOU HAVE NO FRONT DRIVEWAY AND YOU'RE SOMEHOW MANAGING TO GET YOUR CAN AROUND, WHICH I'LL GET TO IN MY LINE OF QUESTIONING IN A MINUTE, THEN WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO THEN? DRAG THEM ALL THE WAY BACK? IS THERE SOME INTERMEDIATE LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THE SIDE OF YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PUT ON THE SIDE OF YOUR HOUSE? PERHAPS MANY PEOPLE HAVE A FENCE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A GATE.
THAT'S REALLY JUST MEANT FOR PRIVACY AND SECURITY.
SO THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GO ALONG THE SIDE OF THEIR HOMES.
OR COULD THEY STACK THEM ALL UP AT THE END OF THE ALLEY? WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO HAVE A SECTION IN THE FRONT AND PUT BUSHES LIKE, I MEAN, HOW EXACTLY DOES THAT WORK? THE CURRENT THAT THIS IS REGULATED BY? CHAPTER 18, ARTICLE ONE.
OKAY. OUR RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, I UNDERSTAND.
SO THOSE REGULATIONS ARE CLEARLY SPELLED OUT ON OUR WEBSITE AT DALLAS.GOV/SANITATION.
BUT IN IN GENERAL THE CART IS JUST REQUIRED TO BE PLACED AT THE SIDE OR REAR OF THE HOME.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE OBSTRUCTED.
FROM OUR OBSTRUCTED FROM VIEW, IT CAN BE VISIBLE FROM THE STREET.
IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE BEHIND A GATE.
RESIDENTS CAN. I CAN LEAVE MY TRASH CANS BY MY FRONT DOOR.
I COULD LEAVE MY TRASH CANS IN MY BUSHES IN THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE, ON MY ON MY WALKWAY UP.
I COULD JUST HAVE THEM SITTING OUT 24 OVER SEVEN.
THAT'S ALLOWED BY CODE AT A POINT AT THE SIDE OR REAR OF THE HOME.
SO AS LONG AS IT'S BEHIND THE FRONT FRONT STRUCTURE LINE IT IS ACCEPTABLE.
OKAY. IS SANITATION CURRENTLY ENFORCING THE ORDINANCE THAT CANS MUST BE THREE FEET AWAY FROM HAZARDS LIKE FENCES AND GAS LINES? OR ARE THEY PICKING IT UP EVEN WHEN IT DOES NOT MEET THAT? GENERALLY, WHERE A CREW IS SAFELY ABLE TO COLLECT THE CART, THEY DO SO MANY TIMES.
AND OUR, OUR REGULATIONS INSTRUCT THE DRIVERS TO PLACE A NOTICE OF VIOLATION, AN ORANGE TAG ON THE CART CHECKING THE BOX THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, THE CART IS NOT PLACED CORRECTLY.
[03:20:02]
THAT'S PARTICULARLY DONE IF, YOU KNOW, IF THE CART IS AGAINST A FENCE OR IN SOME OTHER UNSAFE MANNER.BUT IT IS STILL MOST OFTEN COLLECTED.
OKAY. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SEND A MEMO TO US TELLING US HOW MANY NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS HAVE GONE OUT EVERY WEEK FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING OUT. AND I THINK YOU'RE COLLECTING THEM ANYHOW.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS. I THINK YOU'RE HITTING GAS LINES BECAUSE THOSE CARTS ARE TOO CLOSE TO THEM.
I THINK PEOPLE DON'T DRAG THE CART TO THE MIDDLE OF THEIR DRIVEWAY, BECAUSE THAT MEANS THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO BACK OUT, GO GET THEIR CART, LEAVE IT THERE, AND THEN GET BACK IN THEIR CAR AND DRIVE AWAY. PEOPLE AREN'T DOING THAT, AND IT'S TOO CLOSE TO THEIR FENCE AND IT'S TOO CLOSE TO THEIR GAS LINE.
AND I LITERALLY SAW THAT FOR HOURS ON END.
AND I MEAN, I WILL SAY, LIKE WHEN I WAS IN IT, I WAS, YOU KNOW, RECOILING FROM FROM THOSE BRANCHES.
WE'RE NOT TELLING THE PEOPLE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
AND AS I'VE PUT IT IN THE NEWSLETTERS, THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THIS? AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE TELLING THEM THAT THEY CAN'T.
OH, WE ARE CERTAINLY TELLING THEM THAT THEY CAN'T.
WE WE PUSH OUT THAT MESSAGING IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY WE CAN.
DO WE PUT AN ORANGE TAG ON EVERY CARD EVERY TIME? NO. THE THE VEGETATION CHALLENGE IN ALLEYWAYS IS NEVER ENDING IF WE DO IT ONE TIME, IF CODE COMPLIANCE HELPS US DO IT ONE TIME, IF EVERYBODY HELPS US DO IT ONE TIME, IT WILL STILL BE A EVERY WEEK NONSTOP ISSUE THAT WE MUST FACE.
AND THAT IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE IN THE ALLEYWAYS.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY ISSUES THAT WE FACE IN THE ALLEYWAYS.
BUT IF YOU TELL THEM BUT YOU STILL PICK UP THE TRASH, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS, HAS THE SIZE OF A TRASH COLLECTION TRUCK CHANGED OVER TIME? NOT IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.
MY LAST QUESTION THEN IS AN EIGHT FOOT ALLEY.
OUR SMALLEST TRUCKS ARE A LITTLE OVER NINE FEET WIDE.
AND THAT'S JUST, I DON'T, I DON'T I MEAN, THAT'S HOW GARBAGE TRUCKS ARE MADE.
OKAY, I'LL GET YOU ON THE NEXT ROUND.
YES, MA'AM. GRACEY. THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THIS PRESENTATION.
AND I THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK, AND I TOLD YOU I WAS GOING TO DO THIS, SO NOT NOT A SURPRISE, BUT JUST CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND? AND I THINK CHAIR MENDELSOHN WAS GOING THERE.
I CAN UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS MODEL NEED FOR DOING THIS.
I STRUGGLE WITH THE PRACTICALITY OF IT AND WITH THAT.
SO LET ME JUST START WITH THE AT WHAT POINT.
AND I KNOW YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE A GOOD ESTIMATE, BUT AT WHAT POINT CAN YOU ANTICIPATE RATES GOING EITHER DECREASING AS A RESULT OF THIS CHANGE? AND OR LET ME START HERE IS THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE.
IS IT FOR THE THE RATE TO SAVE KIND OF TO KIND OF RECOVER COSTS, OR IS IT FROM AN EFFICIENCY AND AN OPERATION, DAMAGE TO THE TRUCKS AND THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE? WHICH ONE WOULD YOU? I KNOW THEY'RE BOTH IMPORTANT, BUT WHICH ONE IS THE PRIMARY? IT'S ALL OF THE ABOVE, BUT I HAVE TO PUT SAFETY.
SO AGAIN, THE PEOPLE ON THE BACK OF THESE TRUCKS ARE DOING A JOB THAT'S CONSISTENTLY IN THE TOP TEN.
MOST DANGEROUS, MOST EXCUSE ME, MOST DEADLY JOBS IN THE COUNTRY.
BUT THIS JOB IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
AND YES, WE HAVE SOME HOMES THAT THAT THIS IS A CHALLENGE FOR, BUT WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO TO OPERATE THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN. AND SOMETHING'S GOT TO CHANGE.
SO THE RATE IS, IS JUST ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OR ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT THAT THE, THE, THE EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SLOW THAT, POTENTIALLY REVERSE IT TO SOME EXTENT.
AND THEN SO LET ME ASK YOU, HOW DID YOU COLLECT THE THOSE LITTLE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW I'VE HAD CONSTITUENTS TALK ABOUT THEY LIVE ON THE I FORGET WHAT YOU CALL IT WHERE THEY HAVE THE RETAINING WALL.
[03:25:06]
DO YOU HAVE JUST KIND OF A LIST OF WHAT SOME OF THOSE ARE SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE SOME EXCEPTIONS AND AND I DON'T KNOW IF I APOLOGIZE, DID YOU INCLUDE IT IN THERE LIKE WHAT SOME OF THOSE EXCEPTIONS ARE.YOU WOULD, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD JUST TUMBLE DOWN THE HILL IF THEY TRIED.
SO THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ONE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST THAT WE WILL WORK THROUGH SOME EXCEPTIONS FOR.
THE OTHER IS GOING TO BE HOMES THAT A FRONT OR FACE BUSY THOROUGHFARES WHERE I WOULD, WHILE NOT OPTIMAL, I WOULD RATHER PUT THE TRUCK, SQUEEZE THE TRUCK, OR FIND SOME WAY TO GET THE TRUCK THROUGH THE ALLEY, AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING THAT TRUCK ON THE STREET WITH CARS GOING BY AT 50 MILES AN HOUR OVER A HILL OR WHATEVER THE SCENARIO MAY BE.
THOSE ARE THE ARE THE BIG TWO THAT COME TO MIND IN TERMS OF EXCEPTIONS.
OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION DID I HAVE YOU DID I SEE ANYWHERE? IS THERE SOMEWHERE THAT SHOWS KIND OF WHAT THE COST TO THAT VIDEO.
LET'S JUST USE THAT VIDEO AS AN EXAMPLE.
WAS THERE A COST TO THE DAMAGE? YEAH, AN ADDITIONAL COST TO THE CITY THAT THAT DAMAGE CAUSED.
AND IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE TRACKING AS WELL? IT IS. IT'S A IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO GET TO BECAUSE SO MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS, THE MAJORITY OF THE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED ARE RELATED TO FENCES OR RUTS IN THE ALLEY. AND SO WE HAVE OUR OWN WHAT WE CALL MINOR DAMAGE REPAIR TEAM THAT JUST ESSENTIALLY CHASES OUR TRUCKS REPAIRING FENCES AND RUTS AND OTHER REPLACING SOD AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
THOSE TEAMS WE PUT THE DOLLAR FIGURE FOR THOSE TEAMS AT AROUND 580,000 A YEAR LOOKING AT CLAIMS TO THE CITY BACK TO FISCAL YEAR 22 THERE'S BEEN MORE THAN 250 OR LOOKS LIKE 246 CLAIMS AMOUNTING TO 256,000.
$257,000. SO THOSE ARE THE FIGURES I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME AT THE MOMENT.
I THINK THAT'S IT FOR NOW. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CAN I, MR. MAYOR? GO AHEAD, MADAM SECRETARY.
I MEAN, MADAM CITY MANAGER, I JUST WANTED TO TO ADD.
WHAT? DEFINITELY I THINK WE CAN PROVIDE JUST FROM THE RISK MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AROUND INCIDENTS AND HOW MUCH IT COST, WE ACTUALLY CAN GIVE A BREAKDOWN OF THE PREVENTABLE AND THEN THE NON PREVENTABLE ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.
SO YOU CAN TRULY HAVE THAT DATA AND HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
SO WE'LL PROVIDE THAT IN OUR FOLLOW UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ARNOLD THANK YOU.
REAL QUICKLY YOU KNOW, I TOLD YOU WHEN WE MET, MR. GILLESPIE, YOU NEED TO PUT ON YOUR BODY ARMOR FOR THIS CONVERSATION.
AND AS YOU GO INTO THE COMMUNITY, YOU PROBABLY STILL NEED THAT IN HEAD GEAR AND EVERYTHING, BECAUSE FOLKS ARE VERY POLITICALLY AWARE OF SOME OF THE CONCERNS, AND THEY'RE RUNNING AND GETTING IN FRONT OF THIS CONVERSATION SO QUICKLY.
YOU KNOW, I NEED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.
I'VE SEEN THE ALLEYS, I KNOW THE ALLEYS.
MOST OF THESE ALLEYS THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH SOMETIMES I WONDER, HOW DO THEY GET COME OUT OF THAT ALIVE? SERIOUSLY. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I ALSO BELIEVE AND THESE ARE JUST FEEDBACK.
ONE OF THE CITIES THAT I DO KNOW IS KIND OF A VERY CONSERVATIVE, STRICT, STRICT POLICIES IS AUSTIN.
AND THIS WHOLE BUSINESS ABOUT RECYCLING AND BULK TRASH AND SANITATION, OUR FOLKS HAVE PROBABLY A D MINUS ON IT FOR THE MOST PART, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO OUT, BULK TRASH IS ALL OVER THE TWIGS, BABY BOTTLES.
AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY SOME OF OUR COST TO YOUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
IS THAT IS THAT NOT TRUE? DOES THAT COME OUT OF YOUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL? ABSOLUTELY. YES. ALL RIGHT.
AND SO WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB ON THAT.
THE SANITATION AND STORMWATER COME ON THE SAME BILL.
YES, MA'AM. THAT'S ALL ON THE CITY UTILITY BILL, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE WATER.
SO IF YOU'RE SAVING ON A SANITATION SIDE, DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE GOING TO SAVE ON THE STORMWATER SIDE? NO, MA'AM, I WANTED YOU TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.
SEE, THE TRICK HERE IS THIS SANITATION MAY GO DOWN, BUT STORMWATER GOES CONTINUES TO GO UP.
[03:30:06]
SO THE BILL IS REALLY NOT GOING UP.OKAY. SO I WOULD SAY THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL NEED TO THINK ABOUT.
QUESTION FOR ME ON THE YELLOW, ON THE ORANGE STICKERS ON THE TRASH CAN.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO WE REFER TO IT COMMONLY AS AN ORANGE TAG, BUT IT'S A NOTICE OF VIOLATION WHERE WE'RE INFORMING THE CUSTOMER THAT SOMETHING THEY'VE DONE DOES NOT FOLLOW THE, THE RULES FOR GARBAGE OR RECYCLE COLLECTION, WHETHER IT'S INCORRECT CART PLACEMENT OR THERE'S CONTAMINATION IN THE CART, THERE'S AS IN THERE'S ITEMS THAT WERE NOT ALLOWED TO PICK UP.
IT COULD BE CONTAMINATED RECYCLING CART, NON-RECYCLABLE ITEMS IN THE CART.
WHEN IT COMES TO BRUSH AND BULK, IT COULD BE PLACEMENT OR TIMING IN ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.
WE MIGHT LEAVE AN ORANGE TAG ON THAT CART.
DO YOU PICK THAT TRASH UP? THE INSTRUCTION TO THE DRIVER IS LEAVE THE TAG ON THE CART, BUT COLLECT IT IF IF IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO SO, AS IN, THERE'S THERE'S NOTHING IN THAT CART THAT WOULD BE HAZARDOUS TO COLLECT IF IF THE ISSUE CONTINUES TO OCCUR AT THE LOCATION, TAG THE CART, BUT LEAVE IT SUBSEQUENTLY AFTER THAT.
SO IT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU COULD LEAVE THE TRASH CAN IN THE FRONT AND JUST LEAVE IT THERE BECAUSE THE OWNER MAY NOT, MAY NOT EVEN GO OUT TO SEE WHAT THE TAG IS. THEY THEY'RE WONDERING WHY THE TRASH HASN'T BEEN PICKED UP.
SO WHAT HAPPENS THEN? AT THAT POINT, IF THE CART IS NOT RETURNED TO THE COLLECTION POINT? THE RESIDENT IS SUBJECT TO CITATION.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WILL FOLLOW THEIR PROCESS TO ISSUE A CITATION TO THE TO THE CUSTOMER.
BUT HOW DOES THE CODE OFFICER GET THERE FOR THAT TRASH CAN? HOW DO THEY GET THERE? HOW ARE THEY GOING TO KNOW THAT THAT TRASH CAN IS OUT? CODE COMPLIANCE HAS CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT PATROL PATROL NEIGHBORHOODS REGULARLY.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OCCURS QUITE FREQUENTLY.
THAT SOUNDS GOOD. HE SOUNDS LIKE MR. CHRISTIAN WITH THAT SMILE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IF THE THREE ONE, IF THERE'S NO 311 CALL, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO YOU AND I CAN TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
NOW THE QUESTION WHAT DO YOU HAVE? WHAT HOW DO YOU HANDLE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS THAT HAVE NO SIDEWALK? WHERE DO WE PUT THE TRASH CAN IF IT'S OUT FRONT? SO GENERALLY THOSE CUSTOMERS ARE PLACING THEIR CARTS EITHER JUST BEHIND THE CURB OR WITH THE CART IN THE STREET WITH THE WHEELS UP AGAINST THE CURB. CORRECT. SO STREETS LIKE BROOK VALLEY, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BEAUTIFUL HOMES, NOT A SINGLE SIDEWALK, OVER PROBABLY 60 HOMES.
THAT'S A LONG BLOCK. SO THEN THE STREET.
AND SO THEN YOU HAVE THOSE IN THE STREET, THEN YOU HAVE CARS.
NOW, WE KNOW THEY DON'T VIOLATE LAW POLICIES OVER THERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT PART.
SO ON THE CURB AND NOT ON THE GRASS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME? WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT IT ON THE GRASS? YES, MA'AM. AND I WOULD JUST POINT OUT THERE ARE OTHER AREAS LIKE THAT AS WELL, INCLUDING MANY AREAS OF PRESTON HOLLOW THAT ARE COLLECTED FROM THE CURB WITH NO PRESIDENT.
HOLLAND HIGHLAND PARK, THEY HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE WE DO TOO.
BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE, THAT THERE IS A CONCERN BECAUSE MOST FOLKS WHO HAVE MANICURED, MANICURED LAWNS DON'T WANT YOU STEPPING ON THEIR PROPERTY TO PICK UP A TRASH CAN, NOR DO THEY WANT TO COME HOME AND FIND A TRASH CAN ALL LAYING DOWN ON THEIR SAINT AUGUSTINE GRASS.
WHAT ABOUT THE TRASH COLLECTION WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOUR COLLECTION COMPETES WITH BULK TRASH PICKUP AND SOMETIMES BULK TRASH STAYS THERE FOR ABOUT A WEEK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM TIME TO DO THAT. SO WHEN YOU HAVE TREES THAT ARE DOWN AND ALL THIS OTHER DEBRIS AND TRASH CANS AND CARS, HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THAT? I KNOW YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE.
SURE. WELL, SO GENERALLY WHEN ALL THREE ARE OUT, YOU'RE STILL LOOKING AT LEAST THREE FOOT SPACE BETWEEN EACH CART AND ANY OTHER OBSTRUCTION LIKE BRUSH AND BULK. I WILL POINT OUT, THOUGH, THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF STORM DEBRIS OUT THERE, WE REALIZE THAT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
NOW, ON SOME OF THE STREETS THAT I HAVE, SUCH AS STATE STREETS.
AND THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
COUNCIL AS WE TALK ABOUT PLANNING, AND EVEN NOW WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FORWARD DALLAS AND I KEEP TELLING STAFF, YOU NEED TO GET IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE YOU'RE PROVING WHEN YOU HAVE CARS.
DO YOU KNOW, ARE YOU AWARE OF THE FACT NOW THAT CARS CAN BE PARKED ON THE STREET FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS, AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS PUSH AND PULL TO KEEP FROM BEING IN VIOLATION.
I AM AWARE OF THE 24 HOUR PARKING REGULATIONS.
[03:35:03]
AND LORD KNOWS IF ANYONE ON THE BLOCK NEEDS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THAT IS ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR MANY OF THESE STREETS.SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS I WANTED YOU TO THINK ABOUT.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WHEN TRASH IS LEFT IN THE ALLEY, SOME OF US.
YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR RESENDEZ.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION AND ANSWERING ALL THESE QUESTIONS.
I'M THINKING ABOUT MY PARENTS SITUATION.
THEY LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT FIVE THAT HAS ALLEY PICKUP.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU OR I COULD TELL THEM TO MAKE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT THIS, THIS PROPOSED CHANGE, OR IS IT A TOUGH LUCK TO FIGURE IT OUT TYPE OF THING? NO, I WOULD I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT SAY THAT.
AGAIN, I CERTAINLY EMPATHIZE WITH EVERYBODY WHO IS USED TO THE ALLEY COLLECTION SERVICE.
I POINT OUT, I THINK WHEN PEOPLE REALIZE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALLEY COLLECTION DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY'RE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY'S ALREADY DONE FROM THE CURBSIDE, AND THAT THIS IS A SERVICE THAT'S PROVIDED TO JUST 38% OF THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT THAT HAVE THE ALLEYWAY PICKUP.
AND THIS IS A STEP THAT WE CAN TAKE TO TO HELP CONTROL THAT.
ONE OTHER FACTOR I DIDN'T INCLUDE AND I SHOULD HAVE IS THAT THEY ALSO THEY LIVE IN A CUL DE SAC, AND I CAN JUST IMAGINE A BUNCH OF CANS BLOCKING CARS FROM GETTING OUT AND GETTING IN, AND IT WOULD SEEM LIKE IT'D BE A MESS FOR THEM.
TO HELP GET THE CART IN JUST THE RIGHT PLACE TO COLLECT IT.
SOME OF THOSE AREAS ARE HANDLED BY REAR LOAD TRUCKS WITH THE LABORERS ON THE BACK.
AND IN THOSE AREAS, IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.
BUT OBVIOUSLY IN TERMS OF GOING TO MORE AUTOMATED COLLECTIONS, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THOSE RESIDENTS TO, TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY CAN PLACE THEIR CARTS TO HELP US GET IT DONE EFFICIENTLY.
OKAY. AND SINCE MY PARENTS ARE GETTING OLDER, IT'S IT'S DEFINITELY WOULD IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A TRANSITION, RIGHT? AND WOULD PROBABLY BE SOME GROWING PAINS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THEIR SITUATION.
AND SO THAT MEANS WE'RE PROBABLY EXPECTING MORE PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE HELPING HANDS PROGRAM.
THAT'S CERTAINLY A POTENTIAL WE EXPECT PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY JUST DON'T WANT TO HANDLE THEIR CARTS.
SO DO WE KNOW WHAT TYPE OF CAPACITY THESE PROGRAMS HAVE FOR SIGNIFICANT INCREASED DEMAND? WE WILL ADJUST THEM AS WE AS WE NEED.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE THIS IS A LONG STANDING PROGRAM.
TEN FOOT ALLEYS MAKE UP OVER HALF OF THE ALLEYS THAT WE SERVICE.
SO THE POTENTIAL INCREASE, WHILE NOT INSIGNIFICANT, IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ANTICIPATE BEING A BIG PROBLEM FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE.
AND AND AND THEY'VE HAD SIX MISSED PICKUPS IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
[03:40:01]
BE AWARE OF. YEAH. IF I COULD JUST QUICKLY ADDRESS THERE'S MULTIPLE REASONS WHY I MISSPOKE.I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE, IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING A DIGITAL ROUTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT IDENTIFIES AS THE DRIVER, IS GOING BY EVERY STOP SO THAT NOT ONLY CAN THE DRIVER IDENTIFIED ANY POTENTIAL BLOCKS THAT THEY'VE MISSED, THE SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT IT'S ROLLING OUT IN IN YOUR AREA RIGHT NOW.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THAT FULLY ON BOARD THROUGH THE WHOLE CITY TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM.
AND AS CLIFF JUST MENTIONED, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLAN THAT WE'VE LAID OUT, IS TO REALLY OPTIMIZE THE ABILITY FOR US TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY LIKE EVEN WHAT CLIFFORD CLIFF JUST MENTIONED.
I THINK WE'VE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIES THAT HAVE MOVED IN THIS DIRECTION.
I THINK I HEARD EARLIER ABOUT MAYBE GETTING EXAMPLES OF HOW THOSE CITIES TRANSITIONED TO WHERE 95%, I THINK IS PROBABLY THE HIGHEST NUMBER THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT ACTUALLY HAVE FULL CURB SERVICE.
SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO LEARN.
AND SO FOR THAT 38%, WHERE WE'RE STILL PICKING UP, THERE COULD BE A PERCENTAGE AFTER WE GO THROUGH AND DO THESE IN-DEPTH ASSESSMENTS THAT WE MAY HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO CONTINUE TO BE IN THE ALLEY. AND I THINK WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LEARNING WHERE THOSE AREAS ARE AND DOING SO WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND. MAKING SURE THAT THAT ENGAGEMENT IS ROBUST AND WE START THAT 12 MONTH WINDOW, BUT WE STILL WILL HAVE TIME TO COME BACK, TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ALONG THE WAY. SO THIS IS REALLY IN OUR OPINION, ABOUT REALLY STARTING THOSE CONVERSATIONS NOW.
SO WHEN WE GET TO THE THE CRITICAL ALLIES THAT WE WANT TO START WITH BEGINNING HOPEFULLY IN JANUARY 2025, THAT WE'VE GOT SOME CLEAR COMMUNICATIONS AND STRATEGIES ALREADY UNDERWAY TO BEGIN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO IT WILL BE A CHANGE IF THIS IS THE DIRECTION THAT THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS THAT WE MOVE IN.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK AND THE QUESTIONS.
WELL, I APPRECIATE THE RESPONSES AND I'M STILL ON THE FENCE ABOUT EVERYTHING.
SO YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND BENEFIT OF GOING THIS LATE.
IS THAT MOST OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
AND I HAVE TO CAPTURE IT IN ABOUT 30S AND THEY'RE COMING AT ME MAD.
I CAN SAY STAFF'S POSITION IS THAT THE BENEFITS ARE IN SWITCHING.
THERE'S A POSSIBLE RATE SAVINGS.
IT MIGHT BE MINIMAL, BUT A RATE SAVINGS TO YOU.
AND THEN THERE'S POSSIBLY A MORE EFFICIENT PICKUP SCHEDULE.
IS THAT ACCURATE? ABSOLUTELY. THE SHORTHAND I USE IS IT? IT SUPPORTS THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE SERVICE.
SO SUSTAINABILITY COVERS MULTIPLE THINGS, RIGHT? IN TERMS OF THE GROWTH OF THE RATE, OUR ABILITY TO PERFORM THE SERVICE WITHOUT THE RELIANCE, THE HEAVY RELIANCE ON THE MANUAL LABOR TO DO THE WORK.
YOU KNOW, SUSTAINABILITY IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AS WELL.
AND THEN THE RELIABILITY, THAT'S WHERE THE, YOU KNOW, THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD IN TERMS OF US PROVIDING THAT RELIABLE SERVICE WEEK TO WEEK IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. SO WITH THE RELIABILITY PIECE, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WILL ACTUALLY STICK AND RESONATE WITH PEOPLE.
AND A CITY MANAGER MENTIONED THIS, TOO, THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I HAVE RESIDENTS I'VE NEVER HEARD FROM IN FIVE YEARS COME OUT AND AND BLOW ME UP OVER THIS, AND THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING.
BUT THIS IS THEIR ONE ISSUE AND IT'S NEW PEOPLE.
AND SO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY WE'RE WHY I WOULD SUPPORT THIS.
AND I'M I'M NOT THERE YET EITHER.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY I SHOULD WORK TO GET THERE.
OKAY. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID ON THE WHILE WE'RE GOING OUT AND WE'RE DOING ALL THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND WE'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE AND WE'RE ANALYZING ALL THE ALLEYS AND EVERYTHING, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT ALLEY ABANDONMENT IN THE PAST WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE ALLEYS TO TRAILS CONCEPT.
[03:45:05]
AND IF THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR THIS TO TO COME UP AGAIN WHERE RESIDENTS COULD ACTUALLY TAKE IN THEIR ALLEYS IF WE DON'T USE THEM, I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THAT AND MAYBE BRING THAT BACK.WHEN YOU BRIEF US AGAIN IN FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN IN LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES ON BEST PRACTICES HAVE WE SEEN MORE AUTOMATION LIKE WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TRUCKS? THAT CAN DO WE CAN CUT BACK ON SOME OF THE LABOR, YOU KNOW, ITSELF.
HAVE WE SEEN THAT? YES. SO AUTOMATED COLLECTION IS THE PREDOMINANT COLLECTION METHOD IN ALL THOSE CITIES LISTED THAT THAT HAVE PREDOMINANTLY CURB OR CURBSIDE COLLECTION ON SLIDE TEN.
SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE LIKE TRUCKS, AUTOMATED TRUCKS GOING AND PICKING IT UP.
IF YOU MENTIONED THAT, I GUESS I MISSED THAT.
WELL, THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
SO OKAY, THAT'S THAT NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE AS WE BEGIN TO GO THROUGH THIS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE FULLY, IT'LL TAKE TIME TO RAMP UP AND, AND BE ABLE TO ROLL OFF THOSE TRADITIONAL TRUCKS THAT WE'VE USED HISTORICALLY.
BUT THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE GOING FORWARD.
OKAY. SO I WAS THINKING LIKE PARTIAL, YOU KNOW, TRUCKS THAT CAN ARE FULLY AI CONTROLLED.
I'M VERY CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT.
ANYONE FOR THE VIGIL RIGHT THERE.
DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BAZALDUA, GET YOUR HAND UP.
MAYOR. I JUST MOST OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THE DATA THAT WAS REQUESTED FROM MENDELSOHN SPECIFICALLY ON WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF IT WERE TWO DIFFERENT RATES.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT IT GO THAT ROUTE.
I THINK, FOR EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY THAT THERE'S ALREADY A CLEAR CASE.
HOWEVER, I AM THINKING THAT THAT IS HELPFUL INFORMATION TO KNOW FOR MESSAGING AND FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES WITH US IN OUR CONSTITUENTS, BECAUSE I DEFINITELY HEARD FROM A LOT AS WELL. BUT IF.
INSTEAD OF ASKING IN A WAY FOR WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO PROPOSE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE INSTEAD OF IT THE BREAKDOWN BEING THE PORTION OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE VERSUS AREN'T RECEIVING ALI PICKUP.
AND I GUESS IT'S MORE OF AN ASSUMPTION A CLEAR ASSUMPTION THAT THERE'S SOME SUPPLEMENT HAPPENING FROM THOSE WHO ARE REQUIRING A LOT LESS OVERHEAD. SO IF WE WERE TO SILO OUT THE 38% WITH ALI'S AND KNOWING ALL OF ITS EXPENSES, LIKE 100% COST RECOVERY FEE STRUCTURE WOULD BE IF ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY WERE ONLY SPREAD, SPREAD BETWEEN THOSE WHO EXIST NOW AND AND THEN DO THE EXACT SAME FOR THE RESOURCES THAT ARE DEVOTED TO CURBSIDE PICKUP.
AND WHAT DOES THAT COME OUT TO ON A PER CUSTOMER RATE? AND I ASKED THAT FOR MANY REASONS, BUT MY DISTRICT IS PRETTY SPLIT IN HALF.
THE MAJORITY OF THE SOUTHERN NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT SEVEN ARE ALL GETTING CURB PICKUP.
BUT THEN THE MAJORITY OF THE SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE DISTRICT ARE GETTING ALI. BUT THEN THEY'RE STILL IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, AS WE DISCUSSED.
AND SO TO ME, IT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT IF NEIGHBORS IN BUCKNER TERRACE ARE HAVING INCONSISTENT SERVICE MEANING SOME ARE ABLE TO GO TO THE CURB AND SOME ARE NOT, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME CONSISTENCY THERE, AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH EDUCATING THE CONSTITUENTS ON THAT.
BUT I DO THINK THE COST ANALYSIS IS IS REALLY KEY ON HOW TO FRAME THAT AND MESSAGE IT.
OKAY, WELL, I WILL JUST REITERATE WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN A HOT SEAT WITH THIS ONE.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO MAKE SOME OF THESE DECISIONS.
CITY MANAGER, I AM ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME GROWING PAINS AND SOME THINGS TO WORK THROUGH AS WE TRANSITION.
BUT AS FAR AS JUST AS, AS COUNCILMEMBER SCHULTZ MENTIONED, I MEAN, JUST SEEING IN THE BOND PROCESS, HOW WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND IN BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS OUR, OUR ALLEY INFRASTRUCTURE ALONE, TO ME IS ENOUGH OF A REASON FOR US TO BE EXPLORING THIS TRANSITION.
[03:50:03]
AND THEN I THINK THAT YOU'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THE OTHER REASONS.I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO, TO GET MORE DATA SO THAT WE CAN HELP.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS UPDATE.
CHAIRMAN MORENO IN THE QUESTION.
SECOND ROUND, CHAIRMAN SCHULTZ.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.
THIS IS NOT A DECISION FOR US TO MAKE ITS INPUT.
IS THAT CORRECT? WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY ANY DECISION AT THIS POINT.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE CONTINUING TO TO SEEK FEEDBACK AND GUIDANCE.
THANK YOU. I THINK I IF I DID MY MATH RIGHT, IT'S SOMEWHERE ON OF THE EIGHT AND NINE FOOT ALLEYS.
IT AVERAGES ABOUT 3300 COLLECTION POINTS PER DISTRICT AVERAGES.
RIGHT. SO AND THEN THE TEN FOOT.
COULD YOU CLARIFY SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE AGAIN, BECAUSE I KNOW FOR MINE AND MANY OF THEM, THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF OUR ALLEYS FOR SOME OF US. AND SO COULD YOU PLEASE CLARIFY WHEN A TEN FOOT ALLEY WILL OR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR THEIR BACK PICKUP? BECAUSE IF ONE HOUSE HAS THAT GATE THAT KEEPS IT, DOES THAT MEAN THE WHOLE ALLEY NOW CAN NO LONGER GET ALLEY PICKUP? HOW IS IT GOING TO WORK FOR THE TEN FOOT? SO FIRST AND FOREMOST WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT THAT THAT SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FOR THE TRUCK TO GET THROUGH WITHOUT RISKING YOU KNOW, WITHOUT RISKING HITTING ANYTHING.
SO IT'S A 15 FOOT CLEARANCE, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? SO, SO A UTILITY POLE ABUTTING THE PAVEMENT, RIGHT THERE CAN BE AN ISSUE.
AND SO THAT CART REALLY NEEDS TO BE PLACED IN THE DRIVEWAY OR SOME, SOME AREA WHERE THERE IS NOT A RISK OF HITTING ANYTHING COMMON THINGS WHEN WE DO PUT TEN AUTOMATED TRUCKS THROUGH ALLEYWAYS AND WE DO IT IN SOME CASES.
BUT YOU SAW A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THERE WHERE THE CUSTOMER HAD THEIR CART BY A, A GAS METER.
AND I THINK IN THAT CASE, THE DRIVER DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE CART WAS RIGHT THERE AT THE GAS METER PULLING OUT A CHAIN LINK FENCE, OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR THAT CLEARANCE.
A GATE IN CLOSING THE DRIVEWAY COULD BE A PROBLEM.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU.
SO IF THERE'S ONE HOUSE, THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT ALLEY? THAT MAY BE A DISCUSSION POINT OR SOMETHING, THAT WE COME BACK TO YOU WITH A RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE IT COULD GO ONE OF TWO WAYS.
IT COULD BE THAT ALLEY IS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR FOR CONTINUED SERVICE UNTIL SOMETHING CHANGES THERE OR THE DIRECTION OR WE MAY DECIDE, WELL, THAT HOUSE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TO PROVIDE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION SERVICES.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH TO BE DONE THERE.
MAY I MAKE A SUGGESTION, MADAM CITY MANAGER, WHAT I THINK WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL, BECAUSE MY PHONE'S ALREADY BLOWING UP ON EMAILS ABOUT THIS, AND I'M SURE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE HAVING THE SAME IMPACT.
SO I THINK WE I DON'T WANT TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNICATION, BUT IF FOR THE TEN FOOT WIDE ALLEY PEOPLE, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF THEY HAD A CHECKLIST FOR THEIR ALLEY, YOUR ALLEY IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS ALLEY PICKUP IF YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING.
WHATEVER THE CHECK POINTS ARE THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, THAT'S WHY I CUT YOU OFF.
WHATEVER THOSE CRITERIA ARE, SO THAT THEY CAN AT LEAST BEGIN TO REST ASSURED.
IT'S ABOUT HALF OF THAT 38% POTENTIALLY TO BE ABLE TO STAY I DON'T KNOW.
IF YOUR GOAL DOWN THE ROAD IS TO ELIMINATE ALL ALLEY PICKUP, THEN WE NEED TO JUST SAY THAT AND MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR TO PEOPLE SO THAT EVERYBODY WHO'S FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, WHERE YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH THAT.
SO I THINK THAT THE MESSAGING ALSO THAT THAT BAZALDUA MENTIONED IN TERMS OF REALLY HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE AN ALLEY IS THAN A STREET, WHAT'S THE REAL COST OF AN ALLEY VERSUS STREET SO THAT THE STREET PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND THEY'RE SUBSIDIZING THOSE ALLEYS RIGHT NOW, THAT KIND OF THING.
THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN.
THANK YOU. SANITATION HAS AN INTERSECTION WITH HOUSING.
HAS THERE BEEN A LOOK AT WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS?
[03:55:02]
AND THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE HOUSING STOCK IN THESE DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN? AND NOT NOT NOT AT THIS.WELL, I MEAN, I'LL JUST USE THIS EXAMPLE IN MY DISTRICT.
MOST HOUSES ARE 45 YEARS OR LESS.
MY NEIGHBOR HERE LIVES IN A HOUSE OVER 100 YEARS.
I DON'T HAVE A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WERE BUILT WITH TEN FOOT ALLEYS, REAR ENTRY GARAGES, AND PEOPLE BOUGHT THOSE HOUSES EXPECTING AND RECEIVING SANITATION SERVICE TO THE ALLEY.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EVER IMAGINED THIS PROPOSAL WOULD HAPPEN.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT WOULD HAPPEN? I MEAN, DO YOU THINK PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING? I THINK SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS.
AND WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE AS METHODS EVOLVE AS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE.
SO I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN DIRECTLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
OKAY. THEY'RE NOT EXPECTING THIS.
AND I DON'T MEAN JUST THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD ACTUALLY QUALIFY FOR THE HELPING HANDS.
I MEAN PEOPLE WHO ARE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT AN AGING POPULATION.
WE HAVE A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF DISABILITY IN OUR CITY, MUCH MORE THAN OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER ITEM I WANT TO SAY.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY STOP RECYCLING? SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE TO, I'M GOING TO USE THIS YIDDISH WORD.
IF YOU HAVE TO SCHLEP THIS BIN ALL THE WAY AROUND, YOU'RE ONLY BRINGING ONE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO START BRINGING TWO.
I MEAN, HAVE YOU THOUGHT THAT THAT MIGHT HAPPEN? I WOULD SAY RESIDENTS IN 62% OF THE CITY SCHLEP THEIR BINS TO THE CURB NOW.
WELL, BUT I AM GOING TO DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY, BECAUSE, LIKE, HE HAS A HISTORIC ALLEY.
SO IF HE HAS TO MOVE TO CURB, HE'S ALREADY GOT A FRONT GARAGE.
THAT'S NOT AT ALL THE SITUATION IN MY DISTRICT.
AND THERE'S A I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF TEN-FOOT ALLEYS.
THERE'S NOT AS MANY EIGHT FOOT.
THERE'S A GOOD NUMBER OF NINE.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ASK OF PEOPLE.
SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION STILL TO BE HAD AROUND THOSE TEN FOOT ALLEYS.
SO IN YOUR WORDS, THE EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME, WE DON'T ALLOW SCORING.
WE DON'T HAVE NINE. SO YOU WERE 29.
HE'S NOT ON AND HE HE NEED TO TURN ON.
HE NEED HIS CAMERA ON. IS IT POSSIBLE TO RECESS UNTIL WE CAN ASK HIM TO PUT HIS CAMERA ON WHERE HE LOST IT? CAN HE TURN IT ON? HE NOT.
HE NOT ANNOUNCING. SO WE MIGHT.
NO, YOU CANNOT HAVE ANY DISCUSSION BACK AND FORTH.
YOU CAN HEAR, YOU CAN LISTEN TO THEM.
RIGHT. SO WE'VE WE NOW HAVE LOST A QUORUM.
SO THAT MEANS WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING.
SO THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS RECEIVE INFORMATION.
THAT'S CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT.
THAT'S ALL CORRECT. WE CAN RECEIVE NO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
YES. CHAIRMAN STEWART CHAIRMAN GRAYSON AND COUNSEL ARNOLD.
SO IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN SUBMIT SOMETHING.
BUT CITY MANAGER, YOU CANNOT SPEAK.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SAY IT'S 93, 29.
THIS COUNCIL NOW ADJOURN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.