[Special Called Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee on June 25, 2024.]
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FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL OF MAY 20TH, 2024.
QUALITY OF LIFE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES.
MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE'LL GO A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP BRIEFING ITEM B FIRST.
I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER NARVAEZ ONLINE AND WAS GOING TO TURN IT TO HIM TO JUST GIVE A BRIEF LAYOUT.
WE HAVE SOME DOCUMENTS BEING PASSED RIGHT NOW FROM CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THEN THEY'RE AVAILABLE IF ANY MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS MOVING FORWARD.
COLLEAGUES, I THINK FIRST, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR LETTING ME PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMITTEE AS I'M NOT A MEMBER ANYMORE OF THIS COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A RULE CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED IN ORDER TO MAKE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS THE SAME AS REGULAR FOLKS WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THE COUNCIL THAT SERVE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
IT LEAVES THE ONE YEAR IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT A BAN FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS ONCE THEY LEAVE.
BUT WHAT IT DOES AND THE RULES IT UNFORTUNATELY IT GIVES IT CONTINUES THAT ONE YEAR BAN FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO COME BACK TO SERVE ON OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCOVERED AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS DID MENTION THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE UPDATED ANYWAY.
AND SO I BROUGHT IT TO MR. BAZALDUA, CHAIRMAN BAZALDUA, IN ORDER TO GET THIS GOING SO THAT WE COULD FIX JUST A LITTLE ODD THING OUT THERE, WHICH IS CONTINUOUS BANS ON FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS EVEN IF THEY CHOOSE TO SERVE.
SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'M SURE THE ATTORNEYS WILL ANSWER.
OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY MUCH MORE TO SAY.
OH WOW. THANK YOU, MR. NARVAEZ. WE WILL TAKE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MR. BURGESS ARE YOU AVAILABLE? YEAH. SO EXACTLY WHAT DOES THIS DO? IT SEEMS TO ME YOU'RE JUST RELOCATING THE REGULATION OF CITY OFFICIALS FROM SUB POINT A TO A NEW SUB POINT B.
SO, LAURA MORRISON, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
SO WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS ELIMINATE THE ONE YEAR WAITING PERIOD FOR BOARD, FORMER BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS OR FORMER BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS AND FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO GO FROM REPRESENTING ANY PERSON, GROUP OR ENTITY OTHER THAN THEMSELVES BEFORE THEIR OWN BOARD OR COMMISSION, BEFORE STAFF HAVING RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON THEIR BEHALF.
SUBSECTION B, ON THE DRAFTS YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU WOULD NOT APPLY TO ANY FORMER BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS WHO WERE CITY OFFICIALS JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE APPOINTED TO A BOARD OR COMMISSION.
SO IT KEEPS IN PLACE THE ONE YEAR PROHIBITION ON FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
BUT LIFTS THAT FOR BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
IS THAT THE BOTTOM LINE? IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THIS BODY WANTS TO DO.
WELL, BUT WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY IN THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS.
OH, I PREPARED TWO BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY THE COMMITTEE WOULD WANT TO GO.
I'LL JUST NOTE, SIR, THAT WE HAVE TWO PASSED OUT AND ONE IN THE PACKET.
YES. OKAY, SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO VERSIONS? ONE VERSION WOULD ELIMINATE THE ONE YEAR WAITING PERIOD FOR FORMER BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS ONLY.
THE OTHER VERSION WOULD ELIMINATE IT ALSO FOR FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
OKAY, SO I WISH THESE HAD BEEN WEIGHTED IDENTIFIED OPTION A AND OPTION B, BUT I SEE THE ONE THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS IN THE PACKET.
CORRECT. THAT'S THE ONE THAT WAS JUST PASSED OUT.
SO THAT ELIMINATES THE ONE YEAR LIMITATION.
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WELL, IT WOULD STILL STAY IN PLACE UNDER SUB POINT.WHAT IS SUB POINT B FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, RIGHT? CORRECT. BUT NOT FOR.
SO HOW ARE THESE TWO DIFFERENT? SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING.
WELL, A CALLS OUT REPRESENTATION BEFORE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AND BODIES OF THE CITY WHETHER YOU'RE BEING COMPENSATED OR NOT. AND THEN B CALLS OUT REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE CITY IN GENERAL FOR COMPENSATION.
OKAY. SO THE ISSUE IS JUST WHETHER THEY'RE RECEIVING COMPENSATION.
CHAIR NARVAEZ, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS IN DOING THIS? I THINK THAT THE BENEFIT IS, IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE NO LONGER A COUNCIL MEMBER WE HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT CANNOT SERVE OR ARE UNABLE TO SERVE BECAUSE THE ONE YEAR BAN TRIGGERS AGAIN FOR THEM AFTER THEY'VE SERVED.
SO IT BASICALLY BRINGS FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS AFTER THEIR ONE YEAR TO THE SAME THE EXACT SAMENESS AS FOLKS WHO HAVE NEVER SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE.
SO MY QUESTION FOR THAT IS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN EXTREME ADVANTAGE OVER ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE'VE BUILT DURING OUR TIME IN SERVICE, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH WHETHER IT'S BEING ON A COMMISSION OR WHETHER AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
AND SO DOES THAT NOT SKEW THE OUTCOMES OF, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE WOULD BE APPROACHING COUNCIL FOR BY DUE TO THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT RELATIONSHIP AS OPPOSED TO WAITING OUT WHERE YOU THEN REALLY DO SORT OF WATER DOWN THAT IMPACT THAT YOU COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE NEXT DAY AFTER YOU FINISHED YOUR SERVICE.
RIGHT. I THINK THAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE ONE OF THE OPTIONS STILL LEAVES THE ONE YEAR BAN.
MEANING YOU IT WOULD STILL LIKE.
I'M ABOUT TO ROLL OFF IN A YEAR, SO I WOULD STILL HAVE TO WAIT ONE FULL YEAR BEFORE I COULD DO ANY BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OR IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL OR COMMITTEES.
AND THAT'S THE ODDNESS OF THE RULE.
AS WRITTEN IN A A FORMER BOARD OR COMMISSION MEMBER COULD NOT REPRESENT ANY INTERESTS OF ANOTHER PERSON, GROUP OR ENTITY. AND, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE PARTIES LISTED IN 1 OR 2 UNDER SUBSECTION A, BUT FOR COMPENSATION, THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM REPRESENTING PERSON, GROUP OR ENTITY BEFORE THE CITY.
I JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE VERY MUCH ABOUT THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE NOW, THAT INCLUDES TERM LIMITS AND SOME OF THE OTHER CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT OTHER LEGISLATIVE BODIES DO NOT HAVE IS OUR VERY HIGH LEVEL OF ETHICS AND OUR ETHICS CODE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, WHETHER IT'S A COMMISSIONER OR A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT OTHER RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE BECAUSE OF THOSE DEEP RELATIONSHIPS, IN TERMS OF BUILDING UP THE LOBBYING NATURE OF OUR CITY.
WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW SORT OF A BIT OF A PROTECTIVE BUBBLE AROUND US BECAUSE OF THAT YEAR.
MR. NARVAEZ. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I THINK CHAIR SCHULTZ.
WHAT IT STILL LEAVES THAT ONE YEAR BAN FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
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SO, LIKE, I WOULD STILL HAVE A ONE YEAR BAN.AND THAT'S THE ISSUE THAT SOME OF OUR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHETHER THEY'VE BEEN GONE A YEAR OR TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS, FIVE YEARS OR EVEN LONGER I DON'T THINK THEY ALL REALIZE AND KNOW THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO BUSINESS IN FRONT OF THE CITY AGAIN WHEN THEY'RE DONE WITH THEIR NEW SERVICE ON A BOARD OR A COMMISSION.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS WOULD BE WRITING, WOULD BE TO LET THEM BECOME JUST LIKE ANY OTHER RESIDENT AFTER THEIR ONE YEAR BAN.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SERVED ON THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION OR THEY SERVED ON THE BOND TASK FORCE AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU ALSO HAVE, LIKE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ANGELA HUNT, WHO IS ON THE DFW AIRPORT BOARD, AND SHE COULD END UP WITH ANOTHER ONE YEAR BAN AS WELL AS OTHER FORMERS.
SO WHETHER IT'S AS LONG AS IT'S AFTER THAT ONE YEAR.
I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO THOSE FOLKS THAT DECIDE THAT THEY STILL WANT TO CONTINUE SERVICE, OR WE GO TO THEM AND ASK THEM TO CONTINUE SERVICE IN SOME OTHER CAPACITY WHETHER IT'S DURING THEIR ONE YEAR OR AFTER, BUT DURING THEIR ONE YEAR IS DIFFERENT VERSUS AFTER THEIR ONE YEAR.
MR. RESENDEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY, MISS WILLIS.
I JUST IN LOOKING AT THIS YOU KNOW, I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO READING IT AND DID READ IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF OTHERS FEEL LIKE MAYBE THIS NEEDS A LITTLE MORE EXPLORATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE IMPLICATIONS.
AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO LOOK THROUGH THAT LENS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND.
SO I'M I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD TAKE SOME TIME TO CONSIDER THIS A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED TO MOVE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
OH I WOULD MOVE THAT WE DEFER THIS ITEM.
DO I NEED TO SET A DATE TO THE AUGUST QUALITY OF LIFE MEETING? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MISS BLACKMON.
I DO THINK THAT THE EXTRA TIME WILL GIVE US SOME OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, BECAUSE I'M, NOT UNDERSTANDING IT. AND SO I THINK A COUPLE OF, MONTHS WILL ALLOW THAT BECAUSE I'M OPEN TO THIS, BUT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF US CHANGING IT, LIKE, WHY IS IT DO WE HAVE A LINE OF PEOPLE GOING, IF WE CHANGE THIS, THEN THIS WILL HAPPEN.
AND SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ME NOW BECAUSE THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO DEFER IT.
BUT THAT WILL BE SOMETHING LIKE IS THERE A MOVEMENT TO CHANGE THIS OR IS IT FOR 1 OR 2 OFF PEOPLE? THAT IS JUST MY I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BLACKMON.
MR. RIDLEY, I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION TO DEFER.
ALTHOUGH IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THERE'S NO PARTICULAR BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF DALLAS, THERE'S A BENEFIT TO FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THAT IT LIBERALIZES THEIR ABILITY TO LOBBY, NOT FOR COMPENSATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING OFFICE, WHEREAS NOW THERE'S A PROHIBITION ABSOLUTE, WHETHER FOR COMPENSATION OR NOT, FOR ONE YEAR.
SO IT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO REPRESENT NONPROFITS NOT FOR COMPENSATION OR WHOMEVER BEFORE THIS BODY.
BUT IT WOULDN'T CHANGE THE RULES THAT I SEE FOR BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
BUT I THINK TIME TO CONSIDER THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS IS WORTHWHILE.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO GET A CLARIFICATION.
SO WE DO HAVE TWO IN FRONT OF US.
AND HOLDING THIS ITEM WOULD STILL BRING BACK BOTH OPTIONS.
AND THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE ARE, IN FACT, TO TAKE CARE OF EITHER OPTION A BOTH COUNCIL MEMBER OR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FORMER BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEMBER S. OPTION B IS FORMER BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
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AND THE BAN OR SUNSET, IF YOU WILL, STILL APPLIES TO THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS.CORRECT. OPTION C, WHICH WAS NONE OF THE ABOVE.
EXACTLY. OR OPTION C, WHICH WOULD BE NOT ENTERTAINING, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE JUST ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT THIS IT WAS ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT WE DO HAVE OPTIONS IN FRONT OF US THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY NOT AFFECT COUNCIL MEMBERS AT ALL AND ONLY ADDRESS BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
THANK YOU. I WILL ALSO SUPPORT THE MOTION TO DEFER TO AUGUST.
I LIKE WHAT YOU'VE GIVEN US WITH OTHER CITIES, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR THERE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE, I GUESS, LAYOUT OF IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, IF YOU WILL, OF EXACTLY WHAT THIS WOULD DO AND SOME MAYBE PAST EXPERIENCES OF WHAT THAT WOULD BE AVOIDING.
AND I'LL ALSO INVITE MR. NARVAEZ, PLEASE BE PRESENT IF YOU CAN TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THIS UP IN AUGUST.
IF ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE.
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, AND WE'LL DEFER THIS ITEM TO OUR AUGUST QUALITY OF LIFE AGENDA.
MOVING ON TO BRIEFING ITEM A URBAN AGRICULTURE IN CHAPTER 251 OF THE TEXAS AGRICULTURAL CODE.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM CASEY BURGESS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
CASEY BURGESS WITH WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WE'RE GOING IF WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A REALLY FULL AGENDA TODAY, SO GOING TO TRY TO MOVE THROUGH THIS QUICKLY.
BUT DO YOU WANT TO GIVE A REAL QUICK OVERVIEW TO CHANGES THAT OCCUR TO CHAPTER 251 DURING THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION? AND TALK ABOUT SOME POTENTIAL CHANGES WE MAY NEED TO MAKE TO THE CITY CODE.
ALSO GOING TO GIVE JUST A REALLY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE URBAN AGRICULTURE PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL LAST YEAR, AND THEN SEEK GUIDANCE FROM THE COMMITTEE ON HOW YOU WOULD LIKE US TO MOVE FORWARD.
IF WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO THERE WERE ACTUALLY FOUR BILLS WE CAN MOVE ON THAT WERE PASSED DURING THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT AMENDED CHAPTER 251 OF THE AGRICULTURE CODE. AND THESE REALLY EXPANDED BOTH THE DEFINITION OF AN AGRICULTURAL OPERATION AND PUT SOME LIMITATIONS ON WHAT CITIES CAN DO IN REGARDS TO REGULATION OF AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS.
WE'LL GO OVER A FEW OF THOSE THAT WE PROBABLY WANT TO LOOK AT, AND THEN GO OVER A FEW STEPS WE CAN TAKE TO BRING ENFORCEMENT INTO COMPLIANCE, SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. AS I MENTIONED, THERE WERE FOUR BILLS THAT EXPANDED THE DEFINITION OF AN AGRICULTURAL OPERATION.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT THOSE BILLS DID THERE ON THE SLIDE IF WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
NOW UNDER CHAPTER 251, THAT DEFINITION IS VERY, VERY BROAD.
BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES THINGS LIKE GROWING GRAPES, GROWING FLOWERS, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT COMMERCIAL SALE OF ANIMALS, FISH FARMING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IF YOU MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE AND REALLY THE BIGGEST BILL THAT AFFECTED CITIES WAS HB 1750.
SO UNDER THE PREVIOUS VERSION OF CHAPTER 251, IT SAID THAT CITY GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS DIDN'T APPLY TO AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS. HB 1750 REALLY TURNED THAT ON ITS HEAD, AND IT SAID THAT A GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENT DOESN'T APPLY TO AN AGRICULTURAL OPERATION WITHIN CITY LIMITS UNLESS THE CITY GOES THROUGH CERTAIN STEPS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN SECTION 251.0055, WHICH WE'LL GO OVER HERE IN A MINUTE. IN CHAPTER 251 DEFINES THE GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENT.
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CITY. SO PRETTY MUCH ANY ANYTHING A CITY COULD DO WOULD BE POTENTIALLY UNENFORCEABLE AGAINST AN AGRICULTURAL OPERATION.WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SECTION 251.0055 SAYS THAT IT CAN CITY CAN CONTINUE ENFORCING ITS GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS IF THERE IS CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THE GOALS OF THE REQUIREMENT CANNOT BE ADDRESSED THROUGH A LESS RESTRICTIVE, MEANS, AND IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY FROM IMMINENT DANGER.
CITY COUNCIL ALSO HIRES A CONSULTANT TO PRODUCE A REPORT THAT'S INCORPORATED INTO FINDINGS THAT ARE ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION THAT EXPLAINS HOW THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND THE REPORT WOULD NEED TO INCLUDE AN EXPLANATION OF WHY THE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD RESTRICT REGULATION IN A MANNER CONTRARY TO THOSE GENERALLY ACCEPTED AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE BILL 1750 LISTS OUT SOME OF THE IMMINENT DANGERS THAT CAN BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
AND THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE REALLY PRETTY BAD OR THINGS LIKE EXPLOSION, FLOODING, SPREAD OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASE, VERMIN INFESTATION THINGS THAT WE LIKELY WOULD NOT WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN WITHIN THE CITY.
SO THE MANUAL TEXAS A&M MANUAL CAME OUT OVER THE SPRING.
THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS IN CHAPTER SEVEN.
THAT SEEMS TO BE A PARTICULAR CONCERN FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY TEND TO BE NOISY, BUT THEY'RE ALSO THINGS THAT COULD BE EFFECTIVE, LIKE TRAPPING ANIMALS AND TRANSPORTING ANIMALS IN THE OPEN BED OF A VEHICLE.
IF WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT WOULD BE WEED AND GRASS HEIGHT UNDER CHAPTER 18.
AND THE TEXAS A&M MANUAL ACTUALLY SAYS THAT COMPOSTING ANIMAL CARCASSES IN CERTAIN INSTANCES IS A GENERALLY ACCEPTED AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE. SO I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY ONE THAT WE WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT GOING FORWARD.
I'M MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO THIS COULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE LAND USE RESTRICTIONS LOT SIZE SETBACKS BUT ALSO POTENTIALLY THINGS LIKE TREE CONSERVATION PRIVATE STABLE REGULATIONS AND THEN MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
IT COULD ALSO AFFECT THINGS LIKE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, REQUIREMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, AND POTENTIALLY PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURES. IF WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
ALL THAT SAID THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY, I GUESS, ALL BAD.
THE CITY DID ADOPT AN URBAN AGRICULTURAL PLAN LAST YEAR.
IF WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND THAT FOCUSED ON FIVE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT INCLUDED REDUCING REGULATORY BARRIERS, SUPPORTING LAND ACCESS PROVIDING URBAN AGRICULTURE EDUCATION RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO DALLAS RESIDENTS, FACILITATING COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH URBAN AGRICULTURAL STAKEHOLDERS, AND BUILDING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES.
SO IF WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SOME STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE IF WE WANT TO TRY TO CONTINUE ENFORCING OUR REGULATIONS ON AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, IS THAT WE CAN HIRE A CONSULTANT TO PRODUCE A REPORT THAT WOULD IDENTIFY EVIDENCE OF HEALTH HAZARDS RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, THAT WOULD DETERMINE THE NECESSITY OF THE REGULATIONS, HOW THEY SHOULD BE REGULATED, STATE WHETHER THE
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REGULATION RESTRICTS OR PROHIBITS A GENERALLY ACCEPTED PRACTICE AS OUTLINED BY TEXAS A&M AND, IF APPLICABLE, EXPLAIN WHY THE REGULATION WOULD BE RESTRICTED.AND AFTER WE DO THAT, WE CAN MAKE ANY NECESSARY CODE AMENDMENTS TO COMPLY WITH CHAPTER 251, AS WELL AS OUR URBAN AGRICULTURE PLAN. SO THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
DO YOU MIND CLARIFYING ON THE NEXT STEPS WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE ASKING FROM US? RIGHT. WOULD YOU LIKE US TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, GO HIRE A CONSULTANT, GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO SEE IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENFORCE THOSE PROVISIONS OF OUR CODE.
OR WOULD YOU LIKE US TO START CODE AMENDMENT PROCESSES? MAYBE TO NOT REGULATE AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS OR HOW WOULD YOU LIKE US TO MOVE FORWARD? DO YOU MIND GIVING A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHAT LEGAL GROUND A CONSULTANT'S FINDINGS WOULD DO TO US TO DEFEND IF WE, AS POLICYMAKERS WANT TO MAKE A DECISION TO CONTINUE ENFORCEMENT WITH OR WITHOUT A CONSULTANT'S FINDINGS.
WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US IN DEFENSE OF A COURT.
SO CHAPTER 251, IT SAYS THAT WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO ENFORCE CERTAIN OF OUR REGULATIONS AGAINST AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IF WE GO THROUGH THAT EXERCISE.
AND THOSE ARE THE STEPS YOU HAVE LAID OUT THERE ON THAT SLIDE.
YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT ANY POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO REGULATE HOW THEY, HOW THOSE REGULATIONS ARE NECESSARY TO PRODUCE TO PRESERVE PUBLIC HEALTH STATING WHETHER OR NOT THESE REGULATIONS WOULD RESTRICT A GENERALLY ACCEPTED AGRICULTURAL PRINCIPLE AND EXPLAIN WHY WE WOULD BE DOING THAT RESTRICTION.
SO THEN THAT WOULD GO THAT WOULD GO TO CITY COUNCIL.
YOU GUYS WOULD ADOPT THAT AS A RESOLUTION.
AND IF WE MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS, 251.0055 WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT ENFORCEMENT.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, CHAPTER 251 SAYS CITIES HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT EXERCISE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND PLEASE CLARIFY, CASEY, MR. BURGESS, THAT IN TERMS OF ALL OF THE IMPACT OF 1750 AND THE AMENDMENTS FOR 251, THAT IT'S REALLY URBAN AGRICULTURE, FIRST OF ALL, ARE WE FOCUSING ENTIRELY ON URBAN AGRICULTURE FOR THIS? IS THAT YOUR BIGGEST CONCERN? BECAUSE YOU ALSO MENTIONED SOME THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANIMALS AND SOME OTHERS.
YEAH. SO THE DEFINITION OF AGRICULTURE IS NOW VERY, VERY BROAD.
SO IT COULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE YOU WOULD TRADITIONALLY THINK OF AS URBAN AGRICULTURE.
BUT IT COULD ALSO INCLUDE THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, ANIMAL CELLS GROWING FLOWERS RAISING FISH.
SO THEN LET ME ASK MISS SIEBERT, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING TO THE TABLE.
AND IT'S SOMETHING FOR US TO APPLAUD YOU FOR.
SO THANK YOU. SO THROUGH THAT LENS, COULD YOU SHARE FROM YOUR MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF 1750 ON YOUR WORK? SO 1750 TO BE CANDID, ACTUALLY ACCELERATES SOME OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN.
AS MENTIONED IN RECOMMENDATION ONE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF REGULATORY BARRIERS THAT WE WANT TO REDUCE.
AND IN SOME WAYS 1750 ACHIEVES THAT FOR US.
AS WELL AS WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO WORK OUT A MORE FLUENT CO PROCESS FOR OUR AGRICULTURE STAKEHOLDERS. I WILL NOTE THAT 1750 ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR A CO TO BE AN AGRICULTURAL OPERATOR.
HOWEVER, YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE A CO IN ORDER TO GET A WATER METER PERMIT.
BUT WITH THAT, AND HAVING SAT ON MANY MEETINGS WITH MR. BURGESS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THE 1750, IN FACT ACTS AS MORE OF LIKE A SLEDGEHAMMER VERSUS THE COOP IS GOING IN WITH LIKE, TWEEZERS AND KIND OF FIXING
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THINGS. SO, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ITEM WOULD BE LIKE TRIANGLES OF VISIBILITY.THAT'S LIKE A VERY MILD EXAMPLE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET TOO SPICY TODAY.
BUT THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE WE SEE THAT THE HOUSE BILL REALLY ELIMINATES CERTAIN LARGER ASPECTS OF THE CITY'S REGULATORY VERSUS THE COOP.
AND I, IN SOME WAYS WOULD BE REALLY GRATEFUL.
AND SO IF WE DO BRING ON A CONSULTANT TO WORK WITH THAT, WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH ALL OF OUR IMPACTED ITEMS WITHIN THE CITY THAT WE AREN'T TAKING, YOU KNOW, TWO STEPS BACK, LIKE, HEY, THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION WE HAVE IN THE COOP.
IF WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, TEXAS A&M AS OUR CONSULTANT ON IT BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSIDERED THE INDUSTRY STANDARD, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T GOING AND LIKE SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT ON THIS PLAN THAT COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED LAST YEAR.
NO, THIS IS HELPFUL BECAUSE I KNOW I'M, YOU KNOW, IN THE WEEDS WITH COOP.
SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, BUT I ALSO IF IT'S GOING TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD.
SO REALLY I HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS, IF I MAY.
SO FIRST OF ALL DO YOU KNOW, AND THIS MAY BE A QUESTION, I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND FORTH.
BUT CARRIE , DO YOU, DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANY CHANCE AT ALL OF HB 1750 BEING AMENDED AT ALL? I'VE HEARD QUITE A BIT IN OTHER FORA THAT I'M INVOLVED WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF OTHER CITIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, AND I KNOW THAT IT WASN'T NECESSARILY THE INTENTION OF THE WRITER TO IMPACT CITIES THE WAY THEY DID.
THEY WERE REALLY TRYING TO HELP MORE THE RURAL ASPECTS OF TEXAS.
SO IF IT'S GOING TO BE AMENDED, MAYBE WE DON'T NEED TO GO TO ANY KIND OF EXPENSES ON THIS.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS.
YOU KNOW, AND IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT CARRIE THE REALLY THE.
THANK YOU. SO THIS IS A QUESTION THAT WE COULD ASK OUR STATE ADVISOR, BUT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER NOW IF YOU DON'T KNOW OFFHAND, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS 1750 AND THE RIDER OF IT IS THAT IT WAS REALLY INTENDED FOR TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THAT THIS IS AN A LOT OF THE IMPACT ON CITIES WAS A UNEXPECTED IMPACT.
AND SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S EFFORTS TO TRY TO AMEND 1750 MOVING FORWARD TO HELP CITIES, OR ARE THERE ANY CHANCES OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COULD REALLY IMPACT OUR WORK BEING AMENDED? CARRIE ROGERS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS I'M NOT IMMEDIATELY AWARE OF EFFORTS TO CHANGE THAT, BUT I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER WITH OUR PEER CITIES WHO MAY HAVE SIMILAR IMPACTS, TO THEN APPROACH THE BILL AUTHOR FROM THE PRIOR SESSION TO SAY, HEY, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO VISIT WITH THEM TO SEE PERHAPS THAT THERE COULD BE SOME TIDYING UP DONE OF THE LEGISLATION, BUT IT WOULD BE DONE WORKING WITH THE BILL AUTHOR.
SO I THINK THAT THAT MAY BE OUR NEXT STEP.
MR. CHAIR, MAYBE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE COULD REALLY WORK WITH RABEKHA AND HER TEAM ON WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD PREFER NOT BE IN THAT BILL AND SEE IF THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AMENDMENTS, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE WORKING ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA? SO THAT WOULD BE ONE THING.
MY OTHER QUESTION, REALLY, AND THIS IS FOR YOU, CASEY, DO YOU KNOW IF THIS WILL IMPACT OUR PROPERTY TAX OPPORTUNITIES? I KNOW OVER THE YEARS I WAS ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW, IN SOME RURAL AREA THAT I OWNED SOME EXEMPTIONS FOR AGRICULTURE.
SO DOES IT REMAIN WHAT IS IT? FIVE ACRES, I THINK IS THE MINIMUM RIGHT NOW.
DO YOU. YEAH. I'M NOT AWARE OF THIS.
NOT AWARE OF THIS BILL AFFECTING TAX EXEMPTIONS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
OKAY. AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION IS WHO? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A HEALTH OFFICER.
WHAT IS A HEALTH OFFICER? IS THAT OUR DOCTOR THAT WE USE FOR ALL OF OUR, LIKE, PANDEMIC AND STUFF? YEAH. AND I'M NOT YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, I'M NOT SURE IF WE EVEN REALLY HAVE A HEALTH OFFICER.
OKAY, GOOD. OKAY. I WAS ABOUT WOW.
WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS IN CODE.
OKAY. WHO DO LIKE FOOD AND HEALTH, SAFETY, ETC., THAT SORT OF THING.
SO THERE MAY BE SOME ADJACENCY THERE.
SO THIS WOULD HAVE HAD THIS BEEN IN PLACE, THAT WOULD HAVE SUPERSEDED OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT APPEARS THAT IT WOULD.
[00:35:01]
CHAIRMAN, MAY I ALSO ADD, I KNOW YOU'RE TAKING UP LEGISLATIVE LATER, BUT WE DID TALK IN A COMMITTEE MEETING YESTERDAY ABOUT SOME CLEANUP ITEMS, BILLS THAT PASSED LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND SORT OF A CATCHALL PROVISION FOR YOUR PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR NEXT SESSION AND COULD ROLL THAT INTO IT.SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT UNDER THE LEGISLATIVE ITEM.
THANK YOU CARRIE, I ALSO WROTE A NOTE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADD THAT WHENEVER WE TAKE UP THAT ITEM.
SO WE'LL MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR.
AND THERE'S NO THERE'S NO AMBIGUITY TO IT.
YES. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE ON THIS.
SO WHEN I GET TO PAGE 17 AND IT'S TALKING ABOUT HIRING A CONSULTANT, THAT CONCERNS ME, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE NEED CONSULTANTS AND OTHER TIMES WHERE, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT'S PREMATURE.
AND I DON'T KNOW, I OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO BE AWARE OF ANY PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARDS, BUT HOW MUCH OF THIS DO WE REALLY FEEL LIKE IS GOING ON? I MEAN, ARE WE IS THIS KIND OF OVERKILL OR SHOULD WE SEE WHAT REGISTERS ON THE RADAR WITH REGARD TO REPORTS OF INCIDENTS BEFORE WE SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS BIG ENOUGH THAT WE DO NEED TO GO ON AND HIRE SOMEONE TO TAKE THIS ON.
I DON'T KNOW, DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY HERE FROM MAYBE CODE THAT COULD MAYBE ADDRESS THAT? I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW ISSUES THAT HAVE POPPED UP.
CHAIR. COMMITTEE. JEREMY REED, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CODE COMPLIANCE.
WOULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? WAS IT HOW OFTEN WE ARE FINDING THESE ISSUES? WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S TALKING ABOUT HEALTH HAZARDS AND ALL OF THESE NEW REGULATIONS AND HOW IT AFFECTS OPERATIONS AND ALL OF THAT.
BUT I'M JUST WONDERING HOW BIG OF A THING IS THIS? GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU. SO SINCE OCTOBER, WE'VE HAD CERTAINLY OVER A DOZEN.
IT'S NOT ON A WEEKLY BASIS YET, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY EVERY COUPLE WEEKS WE RUN INTO A NEW SITUATION WHERE WE BELIEVE THAT THE IMPACTS OF CHAPTER 251 OF THE AG CODE WILL AFFECT WHAT WE CAN DO THERE. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CASES THAT HAVE BEEN BIG ENOUGH TO WHERE WE'VE NEEDED TO PUT IN SOME SPECIFIC CASE SCENARIOS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO GET ADVICE.
WHAT EXACTLY CAN OR CAN WE NOT ENFORCE HERE? AND THEN THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE MORE CLEAR, LIKE NOT NEEDING A CO FOR A FARM IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
CAN YOU GIVE ME ANOTHER ONE THAT WOULD CAUSE GREAT CONSTERNATION IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A CONSULTANT TO WOULD GO IN AND LOOK AT ALL OF THIS? SURE. SO, SOME OF THE OTHER ONES ON THE TOP OF MY MIND THAT WE'VE RUN INTO ARE SOMEBODY HAD IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, SOMEONE HAD BASICALLY CONVERTED THEIR ENTIRE FRONT YARD.
IT IS A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE, AND THE ENTIRE FRONT YARD WAS CONVERTED INTO A FRUIT FARM.
THEY HAD FRUIT TREES ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SIDEWALK AND BEYOND THE SIDEWALK.
I KNOW THAT TRAFFIC VISIBILITY WAS MENTIONED BEFORE.
WE DO HAVE YOU KNOW, REGULATIONS FOR A TRIANGLE OF VISIBILITY.
BUT EVERYTHING WITHIN THE PROPERTY LINE, WE COULD NOT.
AND SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS WERE UPSET ABOUT THAT.
AND SO SOME OF THOSE CASES ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT.
WHAT ALL IN THESE PARTICULAR SITUATIONS CAN WE ENFORCE? THANK YOU FOR GIVING THE EXAMPLES.
I JUST I'M NOT FEELING LIKE I MEAN, A DOZEN CALLS MERITS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PRICE TAG IS ON THIS, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THIS MAY BE EARLY TO I MEAN, IF THIS BECAME IF THIS GAINED CRITICAL MASS, I WOULD SAY MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
BUT THIS IS STRIKING ME AS NOT A STEP THAT WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU, MISS WILLIS, MR. RIDLEY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO CASEY, YOU CITE ON PAGE 12 THAT CHAPTER 18 WOULD BE AN AFFECTED CODE PROVISION. SO DOES THIS MEAN THAT IF SOMEONE ALLOWS THEIR LAWN TO GROW OVER A FOOT HIGH, WE CAN'T CITE THEM FOR A CODE VIOLATION? POTENTIALLY DEPENDING ON, I GUESS, HOW BIG OF A LINE IT IS.
SO THE NEW BILL DOES SAY THAT YOU CAN'T REGULATE VEGETATION HEIGHT PAST A CERTAIN POINT.
I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS, BUT IF YOU HAD SOMEBODY THAT HAD A SAY, A VERY LARGE PIECE OF PROPERTY ONCE THEY GOT BACK PAST THAT POINT WE PROBABLY COULD NOT CITE THEM FOR HIGH WEEDS AT THAT POINT.
WELL, WHAT DOES AN A&MS GAP SAY ABOUT LAWN MAINTENANCE? CERTAINLY THEY MUST ADDRESS IT.
SO ACTUALLY I DON'T BELIEVE THAT LAWN MAINTENANCE IS ADDRESSED IN THERE.
[00:40:04]
HOUSE IT'S REALLY NOT ADDRESSED WELL.AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT'S NOT AGRICULTURE IN THE COMMON SENSE, CORRECT INTERPRETATION OF THAT WORD.
NOR IS REGULATING OF PET STORES AGRICULTURE.
SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO NEED TO REGULATE IS EXCESSIVE WEED GROWTH.
WHAT IS THE REGULATION THERE THAT'S ENDANGERED? SO CURRENTLY UNDER OUR CITY CODE WE SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO REMOVE AN ANIMAL CARCASS WITHIN SIX HOURS.
UNDER THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED PRACTICES THAT WERE PUT FORWARD BY A TEXAS A&M.
OKAY. SO IF IT'S IN THE GAP, THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO REGULATE THAT.
IS THAT ACCURATE? WE CAN DEFINITELY TRY.
THE LAND USE RESTRICTIONS ALSO CONCERNS ME.
WHAT IS LOT SIZE HAVE TO DO WITH AGRICULTURE? SO THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
SO RIGHT NOW WE DO HAVE YOU KNOW, CERTAIN MINIMUM LOT SIZES.
SAY, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU'RE WANTING TO DO A FARM OR RANCH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT THE BILL DOES SAY THAT YOU CAN'T APPLY ZONING REGULATIONS TO AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS.
SO YOU COULD HAVE AN ARGUMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOING A FARM OR RANCH ON A SMALL PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND IT COULD BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE THOSE LOT SIZE PROVISIONS AGAINST THAT PERSON.
SO DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE REGULATIONS ON MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR IN THE AGRICULTURAL ZONE? I BELIEVE IT'S TWO ACRES.
OKAY, SO WE WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THAT, BUT POTENTIALLY WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO.
DOES THE GAP ADDRESS THAT LOT SIZE? I'M SORRY, WHAT WERE YOU REFERRING TO THE GAP? GENERALLY ACCEPTED AGRICULTURAL.
WE HAVE A NEW GAP NOW, RIGHT? YEAH, I WAS THINKING GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.
OKAY, YEAH, BUT IT'S THE SAME ACRONYM.
[LAUGHTER] NO, IT DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS LOT SIZE.
SO IF THERE ISN'T A GENERALLY ACCEPTED PROCEDURE IN THE GAP FOR SOMETHING LIKE LOT SIZE, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US? YOU KNOW, I THINK I THINK IT DOES LEAVE US VULNERABLE BECAUSE THE BILL DOES SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT YOU CAN'T ENFORCE A GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENT AGAINST AN AGRICULTURAL OPERATION.
THAT DEFINITION IS VERY BROAD.
SO IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT INCLUDES ZONING.
SO IF WE HAD SOMETHING SAY LIKE A, YOU KNOW, MINIMUM LOT SIZE OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IF IT'S NOT CONTAINED IN THE GAP, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US? IF A&M DOESN'T THINK THERE'S AN ISSUE THERE, DOES THAT PREVENT US FROM EVEN HIRING A CONSULTANT TO SAY GAP SHOULDN'T APPLY HERE? SINCE THERE IS NO GAP? NO, THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONSULTANT TO COME IN AND DO THAT ANALYSIS AND SAY WHETHER IT SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT APPLY.
SAME THING WITH SETBACKS AND TREE CONSERVATION.
WHAT ABOUT ALL OF OUR REGULATIONS ABOUT TREE MITIGATION? YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS OF CONCERN.
WELL, WHEN DOES A TREE BECOME A FOREST? GREAT QUESTION.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW. [LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT. WELL, I THINK IT'S THE BREADTH OF THIS 1750 IS JUST RIDICULOUS.
IF IT'S GOING TO REGULATE PEOPLE'S LAWNS UNDER THE RUBRIC OF AGRICULTURE I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SEE A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF ON THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS THAT WOULD HAVE
[00:45:01]
SERIOUS EFFECT ON ISSUES THAT WE CARE ABOUT.I SUSPECT THERE ARE SOME THAT WE DON'T THAT THAT AREN'T THAT IMPACTFUL, BUT OTHERS THAT ARE, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME CREATIVE THINKING TO WADE THROUGH 1750 AND THE GAP AND OUR REGULATIONS COMPARE ALL OF THEM TO COME UP WITH SOME ISSUES THAT WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS.
AND I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT TODAY.
[LAUGHTER] ARE YOU DONE? YOU'RE DONE.
THANK YOU, MR. RIDLEY. MISS BLACKMON.
YOU WANT TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T ENFORCE OF THE BILL? WELL, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT I WANT TO DO THAT, BUT THAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING.
WELL, THE BILL DOES SAY THAT THAT THOSE ARE STEPS THAT THE CITY CAN GO THROUGH.
IT CAN GO THROUGH. CAN GO THROUGH.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO GET Y'ALL'S FEEDBACK TO SEE HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPROACH THIS.
WELL, WHY CAN'T THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DO IT? BECAUSE YOU'RE TECHNICALLY THE ADVISOR ON LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING, WHY DO WE NEED TO SPEND THE MONEY ON THIS? BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THE ANALYSIS.
WE WANT TO MAKE CHANGES PROBABLY.
SO WHY DO WE NEED A CONSULTANT AND HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST? SO THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO.
YEAH. I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS.
AND DOES IT SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO OR IS IT A YOU CAN HIRE.
SO YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T WE WON'T BE PENALIZED IF WE DO IT IN HOUSE.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS IN THE CHARTER THAT YOU ADVISE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES, COME TO THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THANK YOU. AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT LEGISLATIVE HERE IN A BIT.
SO THANKS. THANK YOU, MISS BLACKMON.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOR MR. SPARKS AND HIS WORK IN OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, THAT REBECCA'S TEAM HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH 1750 AND SAY, THIS IS WHERE IT WILL DAMAGE OUR EFFORTS IN URBAN AGRICULTURE.
AND THEN WHETHER IT'S CODE OR ANIMAL SERVICES, AND WE REALLY NEED THE SPECIFICS OF 1750 AS IT RELATES TO OUR CURRENT CODE, AND SEE HOW MAYBE MR. SPARKS EFFORTS COULD GET SOME OF THAT AMENDMENT WITH OTHER CITIES AROUND THE STATE WHO I'M SURE ARE FACING THE SAME CHALLENGES.
THAT, TO ME, SEEMS LIKE THE NEXT STEP BEFORE WE HIRE ANYBODY ELSE IS OUR INTERNAL POTENTIAL DAMAGE.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AMENDMENTS, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE TOUGH, BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS TO ACTUALLY MAKE ANY CHANGES BECAUSE IT WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
SO YOU'RE SAYING 1750 WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
IT HAD A COMPANION BILL THAT WAS IT WAS CALLED HJR 2126.
THAT WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WAS VOTED ON THIS PAST ELECTION CYCLE IN NOVEMBER.
CORRECT? CORRECT. IT MIRRORED IT.
IT JUST PLACED IT INTO THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION TO ENSHRINE IT.
ALL RIGHT. SO THEN I THINK, AGAIN, REGARDLESS THEN, OF OUR OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE ANYTHING, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT BEFORE WE DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT TO HIRE SOMEBODY OR EVEN DO IT INTERNALLY, EVEN AN INTERNAL HEALTH OFFICER TO LOOK, WE NEED TO HAVE OUR DEPARTMENTS REALLY GET SPECIFIC WITH THE BILL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACT IS ON THEIR WORK.
AND THAT, TO ME, SEEMS LIKE THE REPORT THAT WE NEED TO GET NEXT BEFORE WE MAKE ANY KIND OF DECISION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS SCHULTZ.
SO IS THERE ANY VARYING LANGUAGE IN THE CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT THAT WENT TO THE VOTERS VERSUS THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED OUT OF THE SESSION? NO, THE LANGUAGE MIRRORED HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 126 MIRRORED HB 17...
SO IT LEFT NO FLEXIBILITY FOR SIZE OF MUNICIPALITY, CARVE OUTS, ETC.
[00:50:07]
FOR US TO GO IN AND HAVE ANY FLEXIBILITY, ANY TYPE OF CHANGES AT ALL IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS GOING TO REQUIRE A COMPANION CHANGE TO THE VOTERS? NONE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SHARED ALREADY.I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SUGGEST IF YOU COULD PLEASE.
I'D LIKE TO VOLUNTOLD MISS SCHULTZ TO WORK WITH YOU AND TO MAYBE GET A MEETING SET UP WITH THE BILL AUTHOR AND START A CONVERSATION THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE ROBUST TOWARDS WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO ACCOMPLISH.
BUT THAT, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO BE PREMATURE UNLESS WE GET WHAT WE'VE REQUESTED FROM YOU ALL TODAY.
MORE ROBUST, ROBUST FINDINGS ON HOW THAT WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT SO THAT WE HAVE TANGIBLE EXAMPLES OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT ALSO WITH SOME RECOMMENDED AMENDING LANGUAGE THAT COULD BE SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR GOING INTO THIS NEXT SESSION.
I'D LIKE TO DO IT PRETTY CLEAN.
I KNOW THAT WE CAN ALSO ADD THAT TO THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, BUT AS FAR AS A PRIORITY FROM THIS COMMITTEE, I'D LIKE FOR THAT TO BE MADE A PRIORITY SO THAT MAYBE BY SEPTEMBER WE COULD HAVE NOT ONLY THE FINDINGS THAT WE'VE ASKED FROM YOU GUYS INTERNALLY, BUT ALSO A CONVERSATION ALREADY STARTED WITH THE BILL AUTHOR TO SEE WHAT POTENTIAL WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A COUPLE OF MOVING PARTS.
SO LET'S SEE WHAT TYPE OF APPETITE THERE IS TO MEET THOSE EXTERNAL REQUIREMENTS.
AND THAT WOULD GIVE US A BETTER INDICATION OF WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WILL LOOK LIKE FOR OUR CITY.
ACTUALLY I'M SORRY. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP.
BEFORE I GET TO DIRECTOR LOU, I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS.
SURE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT COLLEAGUES, I KNOW AT FACE VALUE, WHEN YOU SEE THE WORD UNIVERSITY PARK AND READ ABOUT THIS, IT MAY NOT APPEAR BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY OF DALLAS, BUT THIS REALLY HAS TREMENDOUS UPSIDE FOR THE CITY AND FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.
AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR IF I DIDN'T THINK SO.
GOOD MORNING, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I THINK WE CAN TAKE IT TO THE THIRD SLIDE.
I'M ANDREA GILLES WITH PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN.
I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THIS.
I WILL CONFIRM THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS VERY DEEPLY.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY AN APPLICATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED IN 2000 OR 22, JULY OF 22.
SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH A LOT OF VERY DETAILED DISCUSSION.
SO WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS WE DID HAVE AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO US.
SO THIS WAS A REQUEST BY APPLICATION, WHICH DOES REQUIRE US TO BRING THIS FORWARD TO COMMITTEE AND THEN THEREFORE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION IF IT SHOULD MOVE ON TO CITY COUNCIL TO INITIATE NEGOTIATIONS.
SO THIS PRESENTATION THIS MORNING IS JUST CONSIDERATION OF INITIATING THE NEGOTIATION.
THIS ISN'T ANY DECISION MAKING.
WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THE PROCESS.
IT WAS JUST THAT IN CLARIFYING THAT AN APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED.
AND WHAT DO WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT FOR THE NEXT STEPS.
SO IN THE BACKGROUND, THE AREA THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING IS JUST BY WAY OF ORIENTATION.
IT'S SOUTH OF NORTHWEST HIGHWAY.
WE HAVE DURHAM STREET ON THE EAST.
THE SOUTH AREA IS WENTWOOD DRIVE, AND THEN AIRLINE ROAD IS TO THE WEST.
ORIGINALLY WHEN THE APPLICATION CAME IN, IT WAS JUST FOR BOONE ELEMENTARY, BUT PER STATE LAW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS CONTIGUOUS WITH THE REQUESTING BODY.
[00:55:01]
CONTIGUOUS WITH UNIVERSITY PARK.SO THE REQUEST IS TO TAKE IN THE PORTION THAT YOU SEE OUTLINED IN RED THOSE TWO PROPERTIES INTO UNIVERSITY PARK, WHICH IS TO THE WEST OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES.
AND THIS JUST GOES OVER SOME OF THE ZONING.
IT'S LARGELY SINGLE FAMILY R75 IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
THE CURRENT PROPERTIES ARE ALSO ZONED R75.
BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL USES ON THEM RIGHT NOW.
BUT THE UNDERLYING ZONING IS R75.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. I THINK I MENTIONED.
THAT'S JUST WITH THE TWO PROPERTIES.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO I JUST WANT TO BE AGAIN, SORT OF THIS PROCESS.
AT THIS POINT, STAFF DOES NOT MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS.
THERE WAS THE SOME ANALYSIS OF THE AREA.
IT DID SHOW SOME LONGER YOU KNOW, DELIVERY TIMES FROM EITHER FIRE OR POLICE.
SO THEY WERE SLIGHTLY INCREASED.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE CONSIDERED.
IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ALSO LOOKED AT AS IF THE PROPERTY WERE TO BE REDEVELOPED.
WHAT COULD THE TAXABLE INCOME BE ON THAT? I WILL SAY THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH THE UNIVERSITY PARK, AND THE COUNCILWOMAN MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS.
BUT AGAIN, NONE OF US CAN SEE THE FUTURE.
SO BUT THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT THE OPENNESS.
UNIVERSITY PARK HAS TALKED ABOUT THE OPENNESS OF COMING TO SOME AGREEMENT ABOUT FUTURE REVENUE SHARING, AS WELL AS SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR STREET IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AREA, WHICH I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT STORMWATER AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT AREA.
SO ALL OF THAT, THOUGH, WOULD GET NEGOTIATED AT THE POINT OF WHEN CITY COUNCIL, THE FULL BODY WOULD DETERMINE THAT THEY'RE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO INITIATE THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR WHAT THE FUTURE AGREEMENT COULD BE.
SO THIS JUST GOES INTO SOME OF THE STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS.
AND WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY SORT OF IS.
THE PROCESS IS WE GET THE PAID APPLICATION.
IT HAS TO COME TO A COMMITTEE TO START THE PROCESS.
AND THEN THE IT MOVES ON TO CITY COUNCIL TO START THE NEGOTIATION.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO WHAT WE HAVE IS IF THIS COMMITTEE DOES RECOMMEND THAT IT MOVE FORWARD, THAT'S WHEN THE DETAILED DISCUSSION WILL HAPPEN.
IT WE'RE YOU'RE NOT BOUND BY ANY RECOMMENDATION HERE TODAY.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THE CITY WE'D LIKE TO MOVE IT FORWARD SO THAT CITY COUNCIL CAN CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO START THE DISCUSSIONS FOR NEGOTIATING THIS.
AND THERE IS NO BINDING REQUIREMENT THAT ANY OF THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE APPROVED.
SO IF IT'S DETERMINED THAT WE CAN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT'S BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS WE COULD DECIDE OR CITY COUNCIL COULD DECIDE THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ADJUSTMENT.
SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ANY CONCERNS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
BEFORE I GET STARTED, JUST ON THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE WERE GIVEN OPTIONS.
I KNOW THAT IT WAS LAID OUT AS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.
HOWEVER, IT SEEMS WITH WHAT YOU'VE LAID OUT THAT WE HAVE OTHER AVENUES AFFORDED TO US, LIKE AN MOU OR AN ILA THAT COULD TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED AS WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND WHY THIS IS EVEN BEING SOUGHT.
AND IT DOESN'T RELINQUISH ANY OF OUR RIGHT AS A CITY TO THE PROPERTY.
[01:00:09]
LOOK LIKE INCORPORATED INTO YOUR NEXT STEP SLIDE? SO I THINK ALL OF THOSE ARE ON THE TABLE ONCE THE COMMITTEE, IF THE COMMITTEE WERE TO MOVE THIS ON TO CITY COUNCIL, CITY COUNCIL SAYS, YES, WE WANT TO START THE NEGOTIATIONS.ALL OF THAT CAN BE NEGOTIATED AT THAT TIME.
YOU CAN COME BACK. SO WE WOULD COME.
THE NEGOTIATION HAPPENS, HOWEVER IT PLAYS OUT.
THEN YOU COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL AND WE EITHER SAY, YES, WE'RE GOING WITH THE BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.
WE WERE OR WE WORKED IT OUT THROUGH THESE MEANS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAME TO THE SAME END THROUGH THE SAME, YOU KNOW, THROUGH DIFFERENT MEANS.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.
BUT ALL OF THAT NEGOTIATION HAPPENS ONCE CITY COUNCIL SAYS START.
WHY WOULD THAT NOT HAPPEN AT A COMMITTEE LEVEL AND THEN SEND ACTUAL RECOMMENDATION TO BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A REQUEST AND AN APPLICATION FOR A BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.
SO WE HAVE TO SEE THAT THROUGH OKAY.
SURE. SO I JUST WANTED TO COME BACK AROUND AND THINK ABOUT THE REALITY IS THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PROPERTIES IN THE CITY THAT WE DON'T COLLECT ANY TAX REVENUE OFF OF, BUT WE STILL PAY FOR STORMWATER AND STREETS, ETC..
AND ANOTHER ENTITY WOULD PICK UP THAT TAB.
SO ONE OF THE BIG STICKING POINTS WHY THIS HAS TAKEN ALMOST TWO YEARS IS THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IF THIS WOULD EVER REVERT BACK TO A TAXABLE USE, THAT THAT WOULD NOT MAKE US HAPPY IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A WAY TO RECEIVE ANY TAX REVENUE FOR IT.
AND SO THE REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENT COULD BE MADE.
YOU KNOW, UP IS HIGHLY MOTIVATED.
AND SO I THINK THAT ANY REVENUE SHARING WOULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL.
HOWEVER TO THE POINT THAT YOU MADE AN MOU, ILA ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN BE OPENED FOR NEGOTIATION WITH ROBBIE CORDER, WHO'S THE CITY MANAGER OF UNIVERSITY PARK, AND KIM TOLBERT.
SO THIS IS JUST SAYING WE'VE KICKED IT AROUND AND WORKED THROUGH SOME KINKS AT THE LEVEL WHERE WE ARE NOW AND ASKING THAT WE MOVE THIS FORWARD SO THAT THE CITY MANAGERS CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION.
AND IF THEY DON'T LIKE, IF WE DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY PRODUCE, WELL, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT IT.
BUT IT'S JUST SAYING, LET'S MOVE TO THAT NEXT LEVEL OF NEGOTIATION.
SO I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT.
IS IT APPROPRIATE TO MAKE? OKAY, SO I KNOW WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION, BUT I WOULD MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE MOVING THE DIALOG FORWARD BETWEEN THE TWO CITY MANAGERS TO WORK ON A NEGOTIATION FOR THIS.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO MOVE THIS TO COUNCIL.
SPEAKING ON THE MOTION GO TO MR. RIDLEY. A POINT OF ORDER FOR COUNCIL.
THIS MOTION DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WITHIN OUR AUTHORITY.
SO THIS WAS AN APPLICATION FROM THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK.
SO IT WILL BE MOVING FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL EITHER WAY.
WELL, IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESCRIBED TO US BY STAFF AS AN ISSUE THAT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.
I DIDN'T HEAR THE OPTION THAT WE COULD MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THIS.
AND THERE'S A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
TO CLARIFY, I BELIEVE THE MOTION STATED THAT RECOMMENDED THE CITY MANAGERS GO INTO NEGOTIATION.
THERE WASN'T A CLEAR RECOMMENDATION OF WHAT THAT NEGOTIATION WOULD ENTAIL.
I BELIEVE THE MOTION WAS IN ORDER.
RIGHT. WELL, I'D LIKE CLARIFICATION.
MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD THE MOTION.
COULD YOU RESTATE IT? YES, I WANTED TO.
WELL, OKAY, I'LL REGISTER MY OPPOSITION TO IT AS RESTATED.
[01:05:03]
I THINK THIS MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE FULL COUNCIL TO CONSIDER.BUT I'M NOT GOING TO BUY INTO MAKING A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE IMMEDIATELY START NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY MANAGERS UNTIL WE HAVE EVALUATED TAKING FROM THE CHAIRMAN'S LEAD ON THIS ISSUE, THE OPTIONS TO GIVING UP PROPERTY IN THE CITY.
I THINK I SEE VERY LITTLE ADVANTAGE TO DALLAS IN DOING THIS.
STAFF HASN'T REALLY PRESENTED US WITH ANY ADVANTAGE TO THE CITY WHY WE WOULD DO THIS.
AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE WANT TO ACCOMMODATE SOME WISHES OF OUR NEIGHBOR, THAT I THINK WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER AN ILA OR AN MOU THAT COULD ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY'RE DESIRING WITHOUT GIVING UP PERMANENTLY PART OF DALLAS.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A BAD PRECEDENT TO GIVE UP LAND OF THE CITY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK COULD HAVE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL FUTURE TAX REVENUE. AND I JUST DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE'RE ABANDONING SOME OF OUR PROPERTY TO AN ADJACENT CITY THAT THINKS THEY CAN SERVICE IT BETTER THAN WE CAN.
SO I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION.
THANK YOU, MR. RIDLEY. MISS GILLES, DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND? YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR THE PROCESS.
SO IT STILL HAS TO GO TO FULL COUNCIL.
SO THIS BODY, THE COMMITTEE DOESN'T APPROVE PER SE, THE INITIATION OF THE NEGOTIATIONS TO WITH THE CITY OR FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THE CITY MANAGER WILL START THE NEGOTIATIONS.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL GET LAID OUT AND WHATEVER THOSE NEGOTIATIONS MAY RESULT IN, THEN IT COMES BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR FULL CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL. SO EVEN IF THE CITY MANAGER STARTS THE NEGOTIATIONS AND PLEASE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT EVEN IF THE CITY MANAGER GETS DOWN TO THE END OF THE LINE, THE NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENT HAS COME UP WITH THAT STILL NEEDS TO GET APPROVED ULTIMATELY BY CITY COUNCIL.
SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE LAYERS IN THIS.
AND AT THAT POINT WE'RE JUST INITIATING THE NEGOTIATION.
THANK YOU. WE ARE HAVING A SIMILAR REQUEST FROM ANOTHER ADJACENT CITY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING TO MR. RIDLEY'S POINT. I HAVE MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S AN AGING POPULATION.
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE CHURCH LIKE? IS THIS IMMINENT, THAT IT COULD BE REDEVELOPED, ETC..
WHAT'S THAT GOING TO SAVE US? BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING THEY STILL PAY A WATER BILL TO US.
SO THAT'S THE STORM WATER PIECE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ROADS THAT ARE SLATED THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S ACTUALLY THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATION TO THE CITY.
AND THE OTHER PIECE THAT I'M EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IS ANY KIND OF PERMANENT ARRANGEMENT, WHETHER IT'S THE LAND TRANSFER OR EVEN IF THERE'S A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT THAT IF THERE IS A REDEVELOPMENT, THERE'S MONEY, YOU KNOW, SENT BACK TO THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHATEVER IT IS.
HOW DOES THAT WORK IN PERPETUITY? BECAUSE A FUTURE COUNCIL, THAT CITY MANAGER, BOTH CITY MANAGERS COULD BE GONE AND THEN THE WHOLE DEAL FALLS APART.
SO I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THIS FROM A LITTLE A MORE, A DEEPER LEVEL.
AND WHETHER THAT'S AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL OR HERE, I THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THAT UNDERSTANDING BEFORE IT'S HANDED TO US AS A BUTTONED UP DEAL BETWEEN THE TWO CITY MANAGERS.
SO THAT'S THAT PRE-STEP THAT I THINK WE'RE MISSING SOMEWHERE.
AND I AGREE THAT THAT WOULD ALL BE LAID OUT AT THE TIME BEFORE ANY FINAL DECISION WOULD BE MADE.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS WOULD BE LAID OUT AND HAVE ANSWERS TO.
[01:10:06]
I'D LIKE TO HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THAT CHURCH AND ITS POPULATION.I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE COST TO OUR CITY.
I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE BENEFIT.
SO THOSE ARE DEFINITELY THE CONSIDERATIONS.
SO WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM? THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE AT THE MOMENT.
THANK YOU, MISS SCHULTZ. MR. GRACEY. YEAH. CONTINUING ALONG THOSE SAME LINES OF QUESTIONS I THINK THE WHY IS IMPORTANT TOO, BUT AND MAYBE YOU SAID AND I APOLOGIZE, IS THAT IS THAT CHURCH IS IT STILL ACTIVE? TO MY UNDERSTANDING. YES.
AND SURVIVE COVID AND ALL OF THOSE.
ALL RIGHT. AND THEN ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, I GUESS, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL SAYING THE SAME THING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BLACKMON.
BECAUSE I THINK WE DID THIS IN YOUR MR. GRACEY IN YOUR AREA BY HENSLEY FIELD.
SO IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF A PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WHERE AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY BEFORE ANYTHING CAN EVEN BEGIN DISCUSSED. AND IS IT BY LAW THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS, WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON IT? CORRECT. IT'S A PAID APPLICATION THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON.
THIS IS STEP ONE IN AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE AND WHAT THE FACTS ARE. OKAY.
THANK YOU. MISS WILLIS? SURE. THANK YOU. SO I WANTED TO FOLLOW ON TO THE COMMENTS, MADE SOME OF THE VERY ITEMS OF CONCERN THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED, AND I UNDERSTAND THEM BECAUSE I HAVE PLUMBED MANY OF THOSE MYSELF.
ARE THE THINGS THAT THIS PROCESS WILL NOW ALLOW.
SO I HAVE ASKED TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS AND STORMWATER, ANYONE WHO COULD POSSIBLY BE TOUCHED BY THIS, TO LOOK AT WHAT THE VALUE WOULD BE TO THE CITY OF DALLAS AND WHAT OUR NEEDS WOULD BE.
YOU KNOW, PROJECTING THAT IN PERPETUITY.
I'M SURE WE CAN ONLY TAKE IT SO FAR.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT THE AGREEMENT MIGHT INCLUDE, OR COULD INCLUDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING OR AN ILA IS CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY. HOWEVER, TO THE POINT MISS GILLES MADE, THEY FILED FOR THIS APPLICATION.
SO WE HAVE TO. THAT IS OUR STARTING POINT.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE CHURCH MY SON WENT TO DAY SCHOOL THERE.
IT'S GOT A VERY ROBUST CONGREGATION AND A THRIVING SCHOOL.
SO, YOU KNOW, FOR WHAT THAT'S WORTH.
BUT THIS IS JUST TO ASK THAT WE MOVE INTO THE NEGOTIATION STEP SO WE CAN START TO GEL WHAT SOME OF THESE NUMBERS WOULD BE, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THAT POINT YET. AND IS IT POSSIBLE, WOULD THIS COME TO US JUST AS A DRAFT SO THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, THEN HAVE INPUT INTO THAT? TO THE COMMITTEE OR TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
I MEAN, I'M WILLING TO LISTEN TO WHAT COLLEAGUES ARE INTERESTED IN.
SO IF IT GETS, I'M ASSUMING AND AGAIN, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
ONCE THE NEGOTIATIONS, I GUESS WE COULD CALENDAR A COMMITTEE MEETING TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT.
LIKE AN INTERIM STEP, JUST TO SAY, WHERE IS IT? SURE. WHERE IS EVERYONE ARRIVING AT AN AGREEMENT.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE COULDN'T DO THAT, THAT SOME OF THESE CONCERNS BE BROUGHT UP THEN.
AND I'D LIKE LEGAL TO WEIGH IN.
[01:15:01]
CORRECT. YEAH. COUNCIL DESIRED COUNCIL COULD SEND THE ITEM BACK TO COMMITTEE FOR ADDITIONAL BRIEFINGS.BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE A SIMPLE MAJORITY AT THE FULL BODY TO SEND IT BACK.
AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE IN THE JURISDICTION OF THE FULL BODY.
SO THIS IS REALLY JUST TO ALLOW THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED HERE, SOME OF THE CONCERNS RAISED HERE TO BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, SO THAT SOMETHING COULD ULTIMATELY COME BACK TO US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE AND ALLOW THE BODY TO WEIGH IN.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THAT WE AT LEAST MOVE TO A NEGOTIATION POINT.
IF THIS MOTION WERE TO FAIL AND THE APPLICATION IS THEN CLOSED AND DENIED, AS IT SAYS IN THIS SLIDE, DO WE STILL THEN HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS AND SEE WHAT OUR FULL OPTION MENU IS WITHOUT THIS HAVING TO BE THE STARTING POINT AS WAS ARTICULATED? TO ME, THAT WOULD INDICATE CLOSURE OF THE DISCUSSIONS.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT WOULD INDICATE MORE CLOSURE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS THAN MOVING THIS FORWARD TO DISCUSS ALL OF THE RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT COULD OCCUR IN THIS AREA.
AND HEARING THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHER INSTANCES IN BOTH DISTRICT THREE AND CLOSE TO DISTRICT 11.
I BELIEVE WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, SIMILAR SITUATIONS, WITH US HAVING THE CAPABILITY OF HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITHOUT A PENDING APPLICATION THAT WAS BINDING US TO A SPECIFIC COURSE OF ACTION.
I GUESS EXPLAIN TO ME WHY YOU BELIEVE THIS WOULD PUT US IN ANY DIFFERENT OF A SITUATION THAN IT HAS PUT US IN WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT WE'VE HAD? IT SEEMS LIKE MORE LATITUDE IN THE PROCESS.
I MEAN, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THOSE PROCESSES IN THE PAST BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN PART OF THEM.
I THINK THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSIONS AND TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.
YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY COUNCIL CAN DENY IT IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT IS NEGOTIATED.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
AND IF THERE'S JUST NOT AN APPETITE FOR THIS AND IT CAN BE DENIED, BUT I THINK THAT IT ALLOWS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE ALL OF THESE OPTIONS. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME CONCERN AND NEED AND ISSUES RAISED IN THAT AREA TO EXPLORE.
SO I THINK THIS PROVIDES THE AVENUE TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU. I WILL JUST SAY ON YOUR MOTION THAT I WILL SUPPORT IT.
I THINK THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR THERE TO BE MORE CONVERSATION.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE OTHER AVENUES, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD GIVE US A BETTER POSITION TO BE IN WHEN IT COMES TO NEGOTIATION WITH ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY THAN KILLING THE APPLICATION AT THIS POINT, AND THEN CREATING A CONTENTIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE THAT WE'RE ULTIMATELY WANTING TO HAVE THE END SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS. SO FOR THAT, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION AND I SEE NO OTHER.
MR. RIDLEY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MISS GILLES, IS THERE ANY TIME FRAME UNDER STATE STATUTES FOR US TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS APPLICATION? I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
OKAY, IN LIGHT OF THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS MATTER UNTIL OUR AUGUST MEETING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE TIME FOR THE STAFF TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT MISS SCHULTZ AND OTHERS HAVE RAISED ABOUT THE CONSIDERATION OF THE PROS AND CONS OF THIS.
I BELIEVE THAT'S OUT OF ORDER WITH A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
WOULDN'T THAT SUPERSEDE ANY DEFERRAL MOTION? ROBERTS RULES. CORRECT.
[01:20:04]
SO WE WOULD NEED TO DISPOSE OF THIS ONE BEFORE WE COULD TAKE UP ANY MOTION.SO A MOTION TO DEFER DOES NOT TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER A MOTION TO TAKE ACTION.
IF THIS MOTION DOES NOT PASS OR IF IT DOES.
NO. I'M SORRY. MAY I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? THANK YOU. SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AT THE MOMENT, I'M, I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
THEN WHERE DOES IT GO AFTER THEY HAVE THEIRS? DOES IT COME BACK TO US OR DOES IT GO STRAIGHT TO COUNCIL? I BELIEVE IT GOES STRAIGHT TO COUNCIL, BUT IT COULD GO THROUGH COMMITTEE FIRST.
AS WE WENT. AND WITH THAT CLARIFICATION, THE ITEM ITSELF WOULD COME TO A BRIEFING AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AGENDIZED AS ACTIONABLE, WHICH WOULD GIVE US THE ABILITY TO THEN DISCHARGE IT BACK TO COMMITTEE INSTEAD OF MOVING IT TO FULL COUNCIL FOR ACTION.
IN THAT CASE, I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE.
SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO SEND? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. WE HAVE ONE NAY.
FOR THE RECORD. THE MOTION PASSES.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR BUDGET REVIEWS.
I'M GOING TO ASK FOR ALL DIRECTORS TO COME TO THE HOT SEATS AND MEMBERS, IF YOU ALL WILL HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS FOR ALL FOUR OF THEM.
WITH THAT, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START WITH MISS SCHULTZ.
THANK YOU. MY FIRST I'M GOING TO START WITH ITEM C, THIS 311.
THANK YOU MISS FAST. YOU ARE DOING A TERRIFIC JOB.
THAT SAID HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
ONE IS COULD YOU EXPLAIN PLEASE WHAT ALL WE DO CONTRACT OUT.
SURE. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY OUTSOURCING THAT WE DO IS WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ENVISION, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT AGENCY THAT PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND LEGALLY BLIND.
CURRENTLY, THEY HANDLE THE MAJORITY OF OUR COURT, MUNICIPAL COURT CALLS.
SO THAT'S THE $2 MILLION IS TO ENVISION.
NO. ARE YOU TALKING ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE 3000, THE CONTRACTUAL OTHER SERVICES? ACTUALLY THAT 1.5 MILLION OF THAT 2 MILLION IS RELATED TO IT CHARGEBACKS.
OH, SO WHEN YOU OKAY, SO THE CONTRACTUAL IS INTERNAL, IS THAT WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THAT.
YES MA'AM IS GOING TO CONTRACTUAL OTHER SERVICES IS INTERNAL IT THAT CATEGORY INCLUDES THE ITS CHARGEBACKS BUT OUR CONTRACTS ARE ALSO IN THERE.
OUR CONTRACTS ARE ONLY ABOUT $300,000.
OKAY. SO NOW YOU'RE AT $1,000,008, BUT YOU'RE ASKING FOR TWO.
SO I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONTRACTS ARE.
SURE. SO THE MAJORITY, 1.5 MILLION IS GOING TO BE ITS CHARGEBACKS, THE RISK CHARGEBACKS ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THERE.
WE HAVE ABOUT I CAN PROVIDE THE BREAKDOWN.
OKAY. SO BUT BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS ALL BUT ABOUT $400,000 IS INTERNAL.
AND THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHAT CAN YOU SHARE.
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
WHAT WHY THOSE CALLS ONLY AT 45 OR NOW 19%.
BUT YOU'RE HOPING FOR A BIG JUMP.
SURE. WE'VE ALWAYS WE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH HANDLING THE WATER VOLUME.
AND IT'S RELATED TO SEVERAL THINGS.
JUST HEADCOUNT, THE NUMBER OF AGENTS THAT WE HAVE ABLE TO RETAIN FOR WATER.
MOST RECENTLY WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DISCONNECTIONS.
AND SO I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN DISCONNECTING 200 RESIDENTS PER DAY.
THE DALLAS GO IMPLEMENTATION DIDN'T GO THAT WELL FOR THE FIRST MONTH OR TWO.
AND SO WE'VE JUST KIND OF STRUGGLED WITH HANDLING THAT CALL VOLUME.
[01:25:07]
OKAY. ALSO, I HAVE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.THE REIMBURSEMENTS WHAT ARE THE REIMBURSEMENTS THAT YOU'VE GOT HERE THAT REIMBURSEMENT IS FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO MANAGE THE WATER, THEIR WATER CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER.
OKAY. AND THEN FINALLY, HOW DOES THE 311 DEPARTMENT ENSURE THE SECURITY AND THE PRIVACY OF THE RESIDENT DATA? HOW DO YOU DO IT? I KNOW WITH THE I KNOW THE WATER GO.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. SO I DON'T NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE APP.
YES. AND THEN WE ALSO FOLLOW, YOU KNOW, OPEN RECORDS PROCESSES THAT YOU KNOW, WE REDACT INFORMATION AND NONE OF NO IDENTIFYING INFORMATION IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
DO YOU WANT ME TO MOVE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR DO WE.
YES. OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO I'LL RUN THROUGH THESE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HOG.
BUT I DO HAVE QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS.
ON ANIMAL SERVICES TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THE KPI AND THE KPI IMPROVEMENTS WOULD THAT BE FOR PERFORMANCE MEASURES? GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE.
YES. OUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ARE MOSTLY RELEGATED TO THE SERVICES RELATED TO ANIMALS, ONE BEING THE YEAR OVER YEAR RETURN TO OWNER HOME HOME RATE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY THROUGH FIELD OPERATIONS.
WELL, LET ME ASK IT A DIFFERENT WAY.
AND SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS WHAT'S CHANGED? WHAT'S CHANGING SO THAT AS YOU ASK FOR A FURTHER INVESTMENT IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, WHAT'S GOING ON THAT THINGS ARE JUST SO MUCH BETTER.
WHAT'S HAPPENING? PEOPLE BETTER LIKE TRAINING AND THINGS LIKE.
AND THEN FINALLY, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION IN THE LOST PET REUNIFICATION PROGRAM? WE DO THAT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIAS AND OUTREACH PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S 100 DAY PLAN IS TO STAND UP AN OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT TEAM, SIMILAR TO CODES.
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH CODES NEIGHBORHOOD CODE STAFF, WE'RE LOOKING INTERNALLY TO PILOT SOME OF OUR STAFF TO MIRROR THAT SAME PROCESS IN GETTING OUT AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ON SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
BUT WE'RE DOING A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA BLASTS AND NEWS RELEASES.
HAVE WE GOTTEN A REPORT THAT COMPARES DALLAS AND OWNERSHIP, YOU KNOW, IN EVERYTHING? DO WE HAVE ANY KIND OF COMPARATIVE REPORT OF HOW WE'RE DOING ON REVENUE? GOOD MORNING. MARTINE PHILIPPE.
GOOD MORNING. THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
COMPARING OUR CITY TO OTHER CITIES.
AND CAN YOU TALK? YOU MENTIONED THE CECAP INITIATIVES.
COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR EFFORTS IN THAT AREA? SURE. SO OUR CECAP INITIATIVES WERE INITIALLY TIED TO THE ARPA FUNDING WE RECEIVED FOR ARTIST RESIDENCIES.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE THAT MANY OF THOSE RESIDENCIES HAVE TAKEN PLACE AT PARKS, REC CENTERS ARTS PROGRAMING FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABLE ARTS INITIATIVES TEACHING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOW TO BE RESOURCEFUL AND STILL INTEGRATING ARTS WORK.
SO BUT NOW THAT'S GOING TO GO AWAY WITH THE ARPA MONEY.
SO WHAT IS IS THERE A PLAN TO CONTINUE THAT KIND OF EFFORT? WELL, YES. AND WE HAVE ONE PLAN IS TO LOOK AT THE WAY WE ARE DOING OUR CULTURAL VALUE PROGRAMING AND SEEING IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO WRAP AROUND THE C-CAP GOALS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE FULFILLING OUR DUTY.
WE HAVE ONE INITIATIVE THAT'S FOCUSED ON ZERO WASTE, AS NOTED IN THE MEMO.
YEAH, I THINK ESPECIALLY IF THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO MOVE TOWARD A COMPOSTING PILOT, THERE'S GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK, FROM THE ARTISTIC WORLD IN TERMS OF THAT. COULD YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT YOUR CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS FOR GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOT MUCH IN THE SENSE OF THINGS HAPPENING.
CERTAINLY IN THE NORTH OF DALLAS THERE'S VERY LITTLE.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMING TAKING PLACE AROUND THE CITY.
YEAH. SO THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT RACIAL DIVERSITY AND EQUITY.
BUT IN THE AREA OF JUST LIKE PARKS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE OPPOSITE PROBLEM.
[01:30:06]
RIGHT. AND SO OUR ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE NORTH IT'S A BIT OF A DESERT.AND SO I'D LIKE YOU TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AND HOW THAT AND IT MAY NOT BE IN YOUR PLAN, BUT I OBVIOUSLY I'M SENDING A MESSAGE HERE THAT IT SHOULD BE IN YOUR PLAN AND HOW WE WILL ADDRESS THAT INEQUITY IN OUR ARTS AND CULTURE INVESTMENT IN THE NORTH.
SO THAT GIVES US A WAY TO EXTEND INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PHYSICAL PRESENCE LIKE.
WE DON'T HAVE OUR FOUR MAIN CULTURAL ARTS FACILITIES LOCATED IN THOSE AREAS.
WE USE OUR COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM TO REACH THOSE CORNERS OF THE CITY.
AND BY CURATING THOSE, YOU KNOW, ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL SERVICES, WE'RE ABLE TO REACH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, AS YOU'VE NOTED, AND WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS WHO SERVE THE COMMUNITIES IN NORTH DALLAS SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES TO EITHER HAVE PROGRAMING AND NONTRADITIONAL FACILITIES COMMERCIAL SPACES, IF YOU WILL, PLAZAS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
PARTNERING WITH NEW CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE PRESENT IN THOSE NORTH DALLAS NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THAT WAS A NEW INITIATIVE AND PROGRAM FOR OUR OFFICE TO SUPPORT AND TO HAVE PRESENCE AT AND GIVE OUR ARTISTS, OBVIOUSLY, AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THOSE FOLKS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT INNOVATIVE WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE FOLKS HERE IN THE CITY THAT'S AFFORDING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO BE PRESENT WHERE WE HAVEN'T IN THE PAST.
IT'S ALWAYS A FOCUS OF OUR OFFICE TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN THAT AREA.
SO I WOULD MAY I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION MOVING FORWARD IS THAT YOU HAVE DISTRICT PLANS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE COMMISSIONERS AND THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS, SO THAT EVERY DISTRICT CAN HAVE AN ARTS AND CULTURE MINI PLAN FOR THEIR AREA, OR CERTAINLY IN THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR SO LONG.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO SANITATION.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE DECISION TO MOVE TO THE FEE INCREASE? GOOD MORNING, CLIFF GILLESPIE, DIRECTOR OF SANITATION.
SO THE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL FEE INCREASE IN THE FY 25 PLANNED BUDGET.
CLIFF, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC PLEASE? YES SIR? THANK YOU. AND I'M JUST LOOKING FOR THAT EXACT NUMBER.
WE'RE CURRENTLY AT $37.98 A MONTH, AND THE PLANNED BUDGET INCLUDES AN INCREASE TO $39.38 A MONTH.
AND THE DRIVERS OF THAT RATE INCREASE ARE REALLY TO DO WITH JUST OUR FIXED COSTS.
PERSONNEL COSTS FUEL, EQUIPMENT COSTS CONTRACTUAL COSTS NOTHING NEW AS BEING PROPOSED TO BE ADDED TO OUR SERVICES FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
DO YOU OBTAIN REVENUE FROM CODE VIOLATION FINES FROM DUMPING? NO, MA'AM. IS THAT AN INTERNAL DECISION IN TERMS OF THE WAY MONEY IS BUDGETED? BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF YOU'RE HAVING TO DO SOME OF THE WORK ON THIS AND WE GET FINES, WE BRING IN INCOME THAT THAT SHOULD.
SO THERE THERE MAY BE A NUANCE TO THE ANSWER.
SO REGARDING ILLEGAL DUMPING THAT'S A MATTER THAT'S HANDLED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CODE COMPLIANCE.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ON VACANT PROPERTIES OR OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE SEPARATE FROM THE BRUSH AND BULKY ITEMS, SET OUTS THAT ARE SOMETIMES SET OUT IN A NON-COMPLIANT WAY.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BRUSH AND BULKY ITEM SET OUT THAT'S NOT CONTAINERIZED OR CONTAINS PROHIBITED ITEMS, OR IS OVERSIZE, WE DO MEASURE AND DOCUMENT THOSE SET OUTS AND ASSESS A FEE TO THE CUSTOMERS WATER OR CITY UTILITY ACCOUNT.
IN THOSE CASES, SANITATION DOES RETAIN THAT REVENUE.
BUT FOR ANY CITATIONS THAT MAY BE ISSUED BY CODE COMPLIANCE, THAT'S GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
WELL, OKAY. AND I GUESS I'M JUST LEADING INTO MY LAST QUESTION, WHICH IS I'M LOOKING AT YOUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES WHERE YOU'VE GOT THE HIGHEST BULK AND THAT THOSE VIOLATIONS WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT A TARGETED REDUCTION.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? CORRECT. SO THIS IS REFERRING TO THOSE BRUSH AND BULKY SET OUTS THAT MAY BE SET OUT EARLY SET OUTS, OVERSIZE OR AGAIN, CONTAINING
[01:35:05]
THOSE NON-COMPLIANT MATERIALS.THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE THAT AFFECTS NEIGHBORHOODS MORE THAN OTHERS.
WE'VE TARGETED OUR OUTREACH TEAMS TO FOCUS AT LEAST 50% OF THEIR TOTAL OUTREACH EFFORTS ON THOSE TARGET AREAS. AND THAT IS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE A REDUCTION IN THOSE VIOLATIONS.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE GOAL IS A REDUCTION.
OKAY. SO IN THAT THEN THAT ALSO TIES TO OUR THE RECYCLING.
AND I THINK THAT MAYBE IT'S A LATER BRIEFING.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP ANY MORE TIME TODAY MR. CHAIR, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD GET A BRIEFING IN THE FALL SOMETIME.
THAT WOULD TALK ABOUT ALL OF OUR SORT OF CECAP EFFORTS THROUGH THE LENS OF SANITATION.
DULY NOTED. WE'LL GET THAT HERE MR. RIDLEY, AND THEN I'LL GO TO MR. GRACEY AND WORK OUR WAY AROUND.
STARTING BACK WITH 311, I NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE METRICS THAT YOU LIST ON PAGE 48 RELATE TO PHONE CALL ANSWERING TIMES AND SPEED OF ANSWERING CALLS.
NONE OF THEM RELATE TO WHAT I THINK IS THE FUTURE OF 311 RESPONSIVENESS, WHICH IS THE APP.
AND I HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY FIND IT MUCH MORE CONVENIENT RATHER THAN HOLDING ON A PHONE CALL TO USE THE APP. AND SO I'D LIKE YOUR EXPLANATION OF HOW OR WHAT METRICS YOU HAVE TO MEASURE THE PENETRATION OF THE 311 APP IN THE UNIVERSE OF 311 CONTACTS, AND HOW WE CAN INCENTIVIZE THAT BY MAKING THAT EVEN MORE EFFICIENT, RATHER THAN HAVING A LOT OF PEOPLE SITTING AROUND IN A BIG ROOM ANSWERING PHONE CALLS. GREAT.
THANK YOU. THAT'S EXCELLENT QUESTION.
AND GOOD POINT. YES. WE DON'T HAVE THAT AS A PERFORMANCE MEASURE THAT WE PUBLISH IN THE BUDGET BOOK.
HOWEVER, INTERNALLY WE DO TRACK THE NUMBER OF DOWNLOADS THAT WE HAVE.
OUR CITY HALL ON THE GO TEAM, WHICH IS 100% OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
MOST RECENTLY WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW BILINGUAL MOBILE APP AND THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN WE DID START TAKING A LOOK AT, WELL, WHAT IMPACT DID THAT CAMPAIGN HAVE ON OUR DOWNLOADS? AND SO WE HAVE NOTICED THAT WE'RE GETTING ABOUT 50 MORE DOWNLOADS PER DAY SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THAT CAMPAIGN.
AND SO THE NUMBER 50 OR 50%? THE NUMBER 50.
OKAY. BUT THOSE ARE JUST DOWNLOADS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE USING THE APP.
DO YOU HAVE ANY STATS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THE APP? SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT A 60, 40 PERCENT SPLIT.
60% OF SERVICE REQUESTS ARE STILL SUBMITTED VIA A PHONE CALL, AND I DO HAVE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE OTHER TWO IF I CAN FIND MY CHART. THE MAJORITY AND THEN RELATED TO THE REMAINING 40%.
AND SO THE REMAINING PERCENTAGE.
LET'S SEE. SO ONLINE WE HAVE AND MY APOLOGIES.
LET ME JUST DO THIS CALCULATION REAL QUICK.
WE HAVE ABOUT 23% THAT WILL UTILIZE THE ONLINE PORTAL USING THEIR PHONE OR A DESKTOP.
AND THEN WE HAVE ABOUT 57 EIGHT.
AND SO THE REMAINING 21% ARE USING THE MOBILE APP.
AND SO WE DO MEASURE THAT PER FISCAL YEAR AS WELL AND SEE IF WE'RE SHIFTING.
SO WHAT IS THE TREND OVER TIME.
ARE MORE PEOPLE GOING DIGITAL THAN HISTORICALLY USED THE PHONE? I HAVE NOTICED A SLIGHT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SERVICE REQUESTS THAT ARE SUBMITTED VIA PHONE CALLS WHICH INDICATES THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE STARTING TO USE THE ONLINE PORTAL.
OR THEY HAVE FEWER COMPLAINTS ABOUT CITY SERVICES.
WELL, WHAT ABOUT YOUR STAFFING? I SEE YOUR MAINTAINING STAFFING AUTHORIZATION THE SAME AS THE LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS, BUT WHAT IS YOUR ACTUAL
[01:40:09]
COMPLEMENT? ARE YOU UP TO 135 FILLED POSITIONS? NO. SO WE'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB ADDRESSING EMPLOYEE MORALE AND ACTUALLY REDUCING THE ATTRITION.HOWEVER, WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING WITH KIND OF THAT FINE BALANCING ACT OF OUR ONBOARDING AND TRAINING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AGENTS ARE READY TO START TAKING PHONE CALLS.
SO IT'S JUST WE'RE JUST STILL WORKING ON THE ONBOARDING AND HIRING PROCESS AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH INDIVIDUALS TRAINED AND READY TO GO AT THE RIGHT TIMES.
AND SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, I HAVE 36 VACANCIES.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE 24 NEW AGENTS THAT HAVE ACCEPTED AN OFFER IN OUR ONBOARDING FOR JULY THE 8TH.
AND I'M WONDERING WHERE WHAT'S THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN RESPONSIBILITY OF YOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE LINE DEPARTMENT FOR THAT SERVICE REQUEST? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
BUT I CAN SPEAK ON SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT 311 IS UNDERTAKEN IN ORDER TO TRY AND ADDRESS THAT.
SO IN A PHASED IN PROCESS, WE'VE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH THE VENDOR TO EXPAND THE TEXT DISPLAY CAPABILITIES THAT WILL BE VISIBLE ONLINE VIA THE MOBILE APP AND THE ONLINE PORTAL.
AND SO IN JUST A FEW WEEKS, RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE MORE DETAILED, CONTEXTUALIZED INFORMATION.
THE CAVEAT, THOUGH, RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE FIRST PHASE ONLY INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SIGNED IN.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR USERS ARE GUEST USERS.
AND SO PHASE TWO INCLUDES ACTUALLY ASKING THE VENDOR TO OPEN THAT FUNCTIONALITY UP SO THAT ANYBODY VIEWING THE MOBILE APP OR THE ONLINE PORTAL AS A GUEST USER WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT DETAILED INFORMATION.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
YES, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ARTS AND CULTURE.
MARTINE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENT WORK.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT WAS THE TRANSITION OF WRR TO KERA MANAGEMENT.
HOW HAS THAT PROGRESSED? WHAT IMPACT IS THAT HAVING ON THE BUDGET? WELL, IT'S PROGRESSED VERY WELL.
WE MAINTAIN OUR ONE FULL TIME EMPLOYEE THERE.
AND SHE IS DOING A GREAT JOB BALANCING, YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WORKING FOR THE OFFICE AND ALSO SERVING KERA IN HER POSITION CAN HAVE ITS CHALLENGES, BUT IT'S BEEN A SMOOTH TRANSITION.
AND AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET IMPLICATION, IT'S WE ARE MAINTAINING A REALLY STANDARD APPROACH.
ROUGHLY $656,000 ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT OUR WRR WORK INCLUSIVE OF HER SALARY.
AND DO YOU HAVE ANY STATS ON LISTENERSHIP? YOU KNOW, HAS THIS CHANGE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT LISTEN TO WRR? HAS IT INCREASED? IT STAYED NEUTRAL.
SO KERA AND WRR ARE MAKING SOME SIGNIFICANT SHIFTS IN THEIR APPROACH TO THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO REACH LISTENERS MAKING NOTABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN REACHING THOSE LISTENERS.
AND WE'LL BE FINALIZING A REPORT FOR THE BODY'S REVIEW TO THAT END.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE THAT BEFORE OUR AUGUST MEETING.
THEY'RE NOT JUST ALL CENTERED IN THE ARTS DISTRICT, ARE THEY? CAN YOU REPEAT? I'M SO SORRY I MISSED THE LAST PART OF IT.
YES. YOUR SERVICES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ARE NOT JUST CONCENTRATED IN THE ARTS DISTRICT, ARE THEY? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THEY INCLUDE THE OAK CLIFF CULTURAL CENTER, THE BATH HOUSE CULTURAL CENTER, THE SOUTH DALLAS CULTURAL CENTER, THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER, THE JUANITA CRAFT CIVIL RIGHTS HOUSE AND MUSEUM, THE MAJESTIC THEATER.
SO YOU'RE REALLY ALL OVER THE CITY NOW, AREN'T YOU?
[01:45:02]
ABSOLUTELY. AND YOU MISSED SOME OF THE AND YOU ALSO SPONSOR COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMING.CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? SURE. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMING WE REFERENCED AS OUR POP UP CULTURAL CENTER AS THEY ARE ABLE TO SERVE NEIGHBORHOODS ALL ACROSS THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I WANT TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT OUR BLACK BOX PRESENCE AT LIBRARIES, BECAUSE THAT GIVES US ANOTHER EXTENSION INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T HAVE REGULAR OR EASY ACCESS TO OUR CULTURAL CENTER LOCATIONS.
SO THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM, WE ARE ABLE TO SEND ARTISTS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO REACH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WHERE THEY ARE REDUCING THAT BARRIER OF, YOU KNOW, FOLKS HAVING TO COMMUTE TO REACH US AT A BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATION.
AND THE CAP PROGRAM MAKES THOSE ARTISTS AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, DOESN'T IT? YES, SIR. THANK YOU.
SO I NOTED THE 3.7% PROPOSED INCREASE ON PAGE 67.
IN ADDITION TO A RATE INCREASE AT THE GATE OF THE LANDFILL.
AND I'M CURIOUS IF YOU FACTORED INTO THAT YOUR PLAN FOR THE TRANSITION FROM ALLEY SERVICE PICKUP TO CURBSIDE.
DOES THAT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT PLAN? NO, SIR, IT DOES NOT.
SO THESE NUMBERS ARE THE FY 25 PLANNED BUDGET, WHICH WERE DEVELOPED LAST YEAR.
SO THEY DON'T THEY'RE NOT REFLECTIVE OF WHAT WILL BE THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE A RATE ADJUSTMENT BASED ON THE DISCUSSION THAT I HAD WITH THE COUNCIL LAST WEEK, AS THAT PLAN IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED AND THAT TIMELINE IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED.
IT WOULD NOT IMPACT FISCAL YEAR 25.
OKAY, SO ARE YOU SAYING IT WOULD HAVE A FUTURE IMPACT, JUST NOT IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR? THAT IS CORRECT. JUST TO SAY IT SIMPLY.
AND HOW HAS THE COLLECTION OF ALL OF THE STORM DAMAGED REFUSE GOING TO IMPACT YOUR BUDGET? TO BE DETERMINED, BUT I WILL SAY WE ARE FOLLOWING FEMA GUIDELINES WITH OUR COLLECTION PROCESS.
IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY LARGE EXPENSE IN SANITATION'S BUDGET.
WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY WILL MEET THAT THRESHOLD FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
BUT IF WE DON'T, WE WILL HAVE TO EVALUATE INTO JULY WHAT POTENTIAL IMPACTS THERE WOULD BE TO THE RATE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT FEMA COULD REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR SOME OF THAT COLLECTION EXPENSE.
WE ARE ALL NOT ARE TRYING TO NOT GET OVERLY OPTIMISTIC CONSIDERING HOW THE STORMS IN 2019 WENT.
BUT WE ARE TRYING TO DOT OUR I'S AND CROSS OUR T'S.
IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO MEET THAT OR THE POSSIBILITY OF MEETING THAT THRESHOLD EXISTS THIS TIME AROUND, BUT YOU'RE KEEPING RECORDS SO THAT IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT THE EXPENSE.
THANK YOU, MR. RIDLEY. MR. GRACEY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'LL MAKE THIS REALLY QUICK.
IN THE BUDGET, I SEE ALL OF THIS, BUT CAN YOU JUST REALLY SPEAK SPECIFICALLY? I THINK YOU'VE TOUCHED ON IT, SO I DON'T WANT TO BE REDUNDANT, BUT JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT KIND OF HOW YOUR OFFICE IS TELLING THE STORY OF TRACKING THESE 311 AND ANY EFFORTS DOLLARS GOING INTO TELLING THAT BETTER STORY IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT THOSE COMPLAINTS AND, YOU KNOW, THEY COME TO Y'ALL, Y'ALL FARM THEM OUT.
SO I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS, ARE THERE ANY EFFORTS IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET TO KIND OF TRUE UP? OR WHERE CAN I SEE THAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING THAT CONSISTENT ISSUE? AND REALLY, I GUESS GOES BACK TO KIND OF COMMUNICATION IN THE DASHBOARD.
YES. SO THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND SO IN ADDITION TO WHAT I WAS MENTIONING EARLIER REGARDING WORKING WITH THE VENDOR TO REALLY EXPAND WHAT'S VISIBLE TO THE CUSTOMER VIA THE APP OR THE ONLINE PORTAL WE'RE WORKING ON REVISING THE EMAIL TEMPLATES.
[01:50:03]
FROM, YOU KNOW, THE NINTH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION.[LAUGHTER] AND SO THOSE TYPE OF EFFORTS ARE DEFINITELY CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH THE VENDOR TO TRY AND HOLD THEM MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND KIND OF TO MEET WHAT I FEEL SHOULD REPRESENT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I PUT IN A 311 REQUEST AND GOT A RESPONSE TO SAY, OKAY, I'M JOKING, I'M JOKING, I'M JOKING.
[LAUGHTER] I WAS TRYING TO HOLD IT.
I WAS TRYING TO HOLD IT. OKAY, WELL, JUST THAT I THINK FOR FOR ALL OF US.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE, BUT JUST, I THINK THAT EFFORT IN TERMS OF CONTINUING TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNICATION TO OUR RESIDENTS AS THEY PUT IN THESE REQUESTS, BECAUSE I THINK YOU ARE SEEING AN INCREASE.
I BELIEVE IN THE USAGE OF THE APP AS WELL AS THE ONLINE EXPERIENCE FROM THERE.
I KNOW THIS UPCOMING BUDGETS WILL BE TIGHT.
IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT THOSE ARE KIND OF SOME SIMPLE THINGS THAT WE CAN BE DOING TO MAKE SURE.
SO THAT'S WHERE I'LL LEAVE IT.
THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD THERE, I SAW THIS AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS LOOKING AT THIS CORRECTLY.
ON THE PERFORMANCE MEASURE DECREASE IN YEAR OVER YEAR.
LOOKS LIKE IT WAS AT 10.8%, -10.8% LAST YEAR AND FORECASTED TO BE 26%.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER.
THE TARGET IS TO BE 2% LOWER FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
HOWEVER, THIS YEAR WE ARE AT 26.1% IN DOG BITES.
HOWEVER, LOOSE AND LOOSE OWNED DOGS, NUMBERS ARE DOWN.
SO THE TWO DO NOT SEEM TO OFFSET EACH OTHER.
THE DOG BITES ARE GOING UP, BUT THE LOOSE AND LOOSE OWNED DOGS ARE GOING DOWN.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT ON OUR LEASH ONE ON ONE PROJECT TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE EFFECTS THAT ARE CAUSED BY SOME OF THESE REMAINING DOGS THAT ARE LOOSE, THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS INCREASE IN LOOSE AND LOOSE OWNED DOG BITES.
PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WITH THE STANDING UP OF THE ENGAGEMENT TEAM IS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY FOLKS ARE NOT HAVING THEIR DOGS ON A LEASH UNDER SOME TYPE OF CONTROL IN A PERIMETER, BEHIND A FENCE SOMEWHERE.
BUT SOME OF THESE ARE ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN ON THE PROPERTY TO THE OWNER AS WELL.
SO THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE LOOSE TO BE CONTRIBUTED TO A DOG BITE.
OKAY. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT GENTLE CLARITY.
I APPRECIATE THAT I FORGOT DOG BITES.
I DIDN'T SEE THAT PART ON THERE. SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. ARTS AND CULTURES AGAIN NOT MUCH THERE.
JUST AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING THERE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT THAT MY ARTS COMMISSIONER, CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER AND YOU ALL ARE DOING LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT MEETING IN TERMS OF TRYING TO FIND SOME POP UP EVENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
SO THANK YOU. DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THERE.
SANITATION. I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND I BROUGHT THIS UP A COUPLE OF TIMES, TOO, IN TERMS OF JUST THE FEES AND THE FINES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IN SOME CASES, I HAD A CONSTITUENT WHERE THEY JUST CONFLICT, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WE'VE MET ABOUT THIS, WHERE SOMETIMES THE FOR BULK TRASH IN A CASE LIKE THAT THE BULK TRASH HE DID PICK UP FOR HIS NEIGHBORS AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER IN HIS PROPERTY WELL THEY FINED HIM FOR IT. AND BECAUSE HE WAS IN DISPUTE OF THAT FINE, I GUESS THERE ARE REGULATIONS THAT SAY THEY CAN CUT OFF YOUR WATER IF YOU HAVE OUTSTANDING FEES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO HE GOT HIS WATER CUT OFF, AND IT WAS A RENTAL PROPERTY THERE.
SO THERE'S THESE DIFFERENT CONFLICTING ISSUES THAT I JUST AS WE MOVE INTO THIS BUDGET, I'M GOING TO KEEP SAYING THIS TO EVERY DEPARTMENT, LET'S LOOK AT THESE FEES AND THESE FINES AND SEE HOW THEY'RE CONFLICTING AND MAKING IT MORE CONFUSING AND IMPACTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD NEED TO TALK TO JACK AND MAKE THIS A COLLECTIVE THING OR WHAT, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WANT US TO TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT THIS YEAR AS WE TRY TO IDENTIFY DIFFERENT REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT UNINTENTIONALLY HURTING OUR RESIDENTS THERE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. GRACEY. I THINK THAT WE COULD ALSO ASK OUR AUDITOR TO GET INTO THAT.
I'M GOING TO GO REALLY FAST AND STICK TO JUST BUDGET ITEMS. DAISY, YOU HAVE 135 POSITIONS ALLOCATED FOR FUNDING, BUT YOU HAVE 35 OPEN.
[01:55:02]
IS THAT CORRECT? AS OF TODAY? YES.OKAY. ON ANIMAL SERVICES, YOU HAVE 175 POSITIONS.
HOW MANY ARE OPEN AS OF TODAY? I BELIEVE WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 15.
AND ARE THOSE 15? ARE THE THREE PROFESSIONAL AND THE 40 TEMP ARE THEY IN COURT AND THEY'RE NOT PART OF YOUR FTE COUNT THERE? THEY'RE JUST IN ANOTHER LINE ITEM.
OKAY. ON ARTS AND CULTURE OF YOUR 115 POSITIONS, 64 OF THEM ARE FULL TIME.
HOW MANY ARE THOSE OPEN? SIX. SIX ARE OPEN.
AND OF YOUR PART TIME ONES? BUT, WELL, SOME OF THOSE ARE ROLLING OPEN USHER POSITIONS.
CLIFTON. YOU HAVE, I GUESS, 628 NOW, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE UP TO 634.
OKAY. AND THEN OF YOUR 220 TEMP, THOSE ARE A DIFFERENT LINE ITEM.
OKAY. SO MY NEXT QUESTION, IF WE WERE TO ASK YOU TO CUT 10% OF YOUR BUDGETS, COULD YOU STILL DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT YOU HAVE? WE'LL START DOWN HERE AT THE ANIMAL SERVICES.
WE WILL ALWAYS MANAGE WITH WHAT WE HAVE, BUT IT WOULD IMPACT OUR SERVICES.
OKAY. I WOULD SAY THAT WE COULD CONTINUE OUR SERVICES.
HOWEVER, THE EXPERIENCE WOULD YOU KNOW, HOLD TIMES WOULD SKYROCKET.
IF I HAD TO, I WOULD CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, PUSH THE ONLINE PORTAL AND THE MOBILE APP.
MAYBE IMPLEMENT A STRATEGY SIMILAR TO WHAT DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT DID.
SO BASICALLY ANIMAL SERVICES GO AFTER GRANTS.
THE BUILDING NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.
THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY THAT LOVE ANIMALS FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE GAP.
I MEAN NOT, ARTS AND SCIENCES. ARTS AND CULTURE.
I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT HOT MONEY COMING IN, AND I KNOW WE NEED TO USE THAT A CERTAIN WAY, BUT HOW DO YOU OFFSET THAT HOT MONEY IN YOUR BUDGET? BECAUSE.
AND HOW DO YOU CREATE REVENUE FROM YOUR DO YOU HAVE SPONSORSHIPS, THAT SORT OF STUFF? ADVERTISING? CLIFTON ON THE SIDE OF YOUR TRUCKS, YOU GOT A BIG WRAP THERE.
SELL IT AND DAISY SELL ADVERTISING.
IF WE GET A APP GOING, SELL ADVERTISING.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A BIG BILL COMING UP.
AND I THINK WE FTES, AS I KNOW AS WE ALL KNOW, IT'S GROWN EXPONENTIALLY.
AND THE THING ABOUT IT IS YOU MAY HAVE TO DO MORE WITH LESS AND IT'S GOING TO BE ON YOUR FTE NUMBERS AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO CREATE REVENUE STREAMS. I MEAN, WE GOT TO THE REVENUE STREAMS WE DON'T MAXIMIZE PARKS.
WE DON'T MAXIMIZE OUR BIG BUILDINGS THAT HAVE A SIDE.
CITY GOVERNMENT HAS TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS.
AND JUST TAXING IS NOT THE ANSWER ANYMORE.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT REVENUE STREAMS, SO BE CREATIVE, IS WHAT I'M ASKING.
THINK ABOUT THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
DON'T JUST COME IN AND SAY THE EXPERIENCE WILL BE DIFFERENT.
WELL, IT MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT WE CAN DO THIS TO AUGMENT IT.
THAT'S MY THOUGHTS. THANK YOU.
MISS WILLIS? SURE, I CAN BE FAST ON THIS, TOO.
I LOVE THAT YOU'RE TALKING NUMBERS ABOUT INCREASING THE SIGNUPS FOR THE APP FROM 50 TO 100 PER DAY.
DO YOU TIE ANY OF THOSE BACK TO THE MOBILE UNIT APPEARANCES, OR IS THIS JUST SORT OF THE COLLECTION OF ACROSS ALL SOCIAL MEDIA, ETC.? YES. IT IS DIFFICULT TO YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE DOWNLOADS THE APP, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO TIE IN.
WELL, HOW MANY ACTUALLY, HOW MANY SERVICE REQUESTS ARE ACTUALLY BEING CREATED BY THAT INDIVIDUAL DOWNLOAD? BUT I AM WORKING ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE IS A WAY TO CORRELATE THAT INFORMATION.
WELL, THESE I MEAN, THESE NUMBERS ARE GETTING THERE.
THEN OUR COMMUNICATION WITH THEM IS LIKE A SLAP ACROSS THE FACE.
[02:00:01]
SO WE HAVE TO IMPROVE THAT.MR. RAMONE, ON ANIMAL SERVICES, THERE'S A COMPENSATION STUDY ADJUSTMENT.
HOW MUCH WAS NEEDED? IT WAS THAT A BIG JUMP THAT THE COMPENSATION STUDY REVEALED THAT WE HAVE TO ANSWER? I DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFICS FOR THAT, BUT I KNOW IT WAS A LARGE PORTION OF OUR STAFF THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THAT COMPENSATION STUDY.
HOWEVER, WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AND TAKE TIME OFF WORK TO ACCESS THESE SERVICES IS THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE GETTING TO LOCATIONS AND THE TIME INVOLVED.
IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE OBSTACLES TO THESE GOOD PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO HELP US WITH THIS ISSUE? WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR CONTRACT SERVICES FOR OTHERS TO BE A PART OF THAT CONTRACTUAL POOL.
SO WE'RE SLOWLY, INCREMENTALLY INCREASING THAT.
AND WE LOOK TO IMPROVE AND INCREASE THAT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
AND TO THAT END, I'LL GO TO OUR ARTS AND CULTURE AND ALSO SAY THERE'S REALLY NO GREATER AREA THAN THE CITY OF DALLAS EXPECTS PRIVATE DONORS TO CARRY A LOAD ON THAN ON YOU KNOW, ON HELPING US WITH ARTS AND CULTURE.
HOW ARE YOU WORKING WITH PRIVATE DONORS OR MEETING WITH THEM TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE CITY'S NEEDS AND PRIORITIES? WHAT'S THAT PROGRAM LIKE? SO I CAN USE [INAUDIBLE] AS AN EXAMPLE.
WILL YOU PULL THAT CLOSER? JUST KIND OF SOFT SPOKEN. IS THAT BETTER? MUCH. I'M GOING TO FIRST START BY USING OUR PARTNERS AT [INAUDIBLE] AS AN EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE VISITED THE THOUGHT THAT THERE ARE LINES OF WORK THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT SOME OF OUR PRIVATE PARTNERS ARE BETTER SUITED TO DO.
SO WHETHER THAT HAS TO DO WITH ASSISTING WITH MAINTENANCE COSTS OR CAPACITY BUILDING COSTS TO SUPPORT ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THERE'S A WILLINGNESS THERE FOR OUR PARTNERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR FUNDS.
OR OTHER BIG CORPORATE SPONSORS LIKE TI THAT HAVE SHOWN DECADES OF DEDICATION.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A LINK THERE SO THAT THEY'RE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE ARTS, BUT WE'RE THANKFUL AND WANT TO HELP GUIDE THEM TOWARD WHAT WE NEED.
AND WE'RE ALWAYS IN REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH TI AS WELL.
OKAY, GREAT. ON LAST YEAR AROUND BUDGET TIME, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT YOUR OFFICES.
WHERE ARE YOU OFFICING NOW? SO THE MAJESTIC IS STILL WHERE IT IS NOW.
OKAY. AND THEN GOING TO THE PAGE.
EXCUSE ME. MARTINE, CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK UP, THOUGH? IT'S WE'RE REALLY, REALLY STRUGGLING TO HEAR YOU, BUT I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ON VIRTUALLY ARE PROBABLY STRUGGLING WORSE.
NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU. SO THE LAST ITEM FOR ARTS AND CULTURE IS ON PAGE 60.
IT TALKS ABOUT OUR PARTNER MANAGED FACILITIES.
SO HOW DO WE MOVE UP THEIR ABILITY TO CARE FOR THEIR FACILITIES IN A BASELINE WAY, SO THAT WHAT THE CITY IS DOING MAYBE ISN'T AS FUNDAMENTAL AS THAT? WELL, I FIRST SAY THAT EACH OF OUR PARTNER MANAGED FACILITIES OPERATE UNDER THEIR OWN UNIQUE CONTRACTS, SO THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE THEY MAY HAVE TO CALL THE CITY TO ASSIST WITH MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.
AND THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE THAT DOES NOT TAKE PLACE.
[02:05:05]
CITY, WITH THOSE PARTNERS WHO ARE MANAGING THE FACILITY AND OUR RELATIONSHIP TO TAKE CARE OR RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR THOSE FACILITIES.OKAY, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, AN ENTRY POINT, TO GO IN AND JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE NEED TO PUT A LITTLE MORE OF THAT BASELINE MAINTENANCE ON THOSE FACILITIES. OKAY. I'M GOING TO JUMP NOW.
MR. GILLESPIE SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COMPOSTING FACILITY, AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT RECYCLING.
WE ALSO CAPTURE GASES AND THAT SORT OF THING.
I MEAN, WHERE ARE THE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES BESIDES A FEE THAT, WE'RE CAPTURING AND WITH THIS COMPOSTING ULTIMATELY LEAD TO SOME SORT OF REVENUE OPPORTUNITY.
SO WE ARE STILL A LITTLE WAYS AWAY FROM, THAT BEING AN OPERATIONAL REALITY.
SO THAT WILL MOST LIKELY INVOLVE SOME SORT OF INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY.
BUT THEN ONCE THAT'S UP, UP AND OPERATIONAL WE ARE AWARE THAT A NUMBER OF THESE OPERATIONS IN DIFFERENT AREAS CAN BE PROFITABLE IN DIFFERENT FORMS OR FASHIONS.
SO WE'LL WORK WITH THE CONSULTANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE DRAFTING OUR PROCUREMENT RELATED TO THIS IN A WAY THAT MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE TO THE CITY AND HOPEFULLY GENERATES REVENUE IN ADDITION TO BEING GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS.
OKAY. ON THE CHART ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
SO I'M LOOKING AT PERCENTAGE OF ON TIME BULK AND BULK TRASH COLLECTION.
AND IT SAYS 100% ON THE ACTUAL.
OKAY. SO THOSE NUMBERS ARE BASED ON OUR ABILITY TO COLLECT BRUSH AND BULKY ITEMS DURING THE PRESCRIBED COLLECTION WEEK MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
DURING THE WEEK. SO IT'S UP UNTIL THE STORM.
WE THESE NUMBERS WERE ACCURATE.
I THINK SOME PEOPLE LOOK AT A MORE NARROW ZONE THAN THAT.
SO IF THE TIME PARAMETER IS A WEEK, I GET IT.
BUT SINCE CHAIR BAZALDUA SAID, I'VE GOT A SHOT CLOCK.
LET ME GET TO THE LAST QUESTION, WHICH IS ABOUT OPERATING EXPENSES AND REVENUE.
AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T TRAIN AND CONTROL THEIR BEHAVIOR.
AND WHERE THEY PUT BINS BACK LIKE YOU COULD A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE.
HOWEVER, WITH A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE, THERE'S TREMENDOUS COST.
YOU HAVE TO HIRE MORE OF THEM.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE VARIANCE IS BETWEEN WHAT YOU'VE GOT FOR OUR PERSONNEL AS IT STANDS AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN IF WE WERE TO HIRE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES? I MEAN. I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER.
OUR DAILY REQUIREMENTS DEPARTMENT WIDE ARE 220 TEMPORARY LABORERS.
THAT IS THE NUMBER OF TEMPORARY LABORS THAT WE NEED ON SITE EVERY DAY.
SO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE POSITIONS TO FILL, ACCOUNTING FOR REGULAR VACANCIES VACATION, SICK LEAVE, ETC., WE WOULD NEED A MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAN, THAN 220.
WE'VE SHIFTED THAT BURDEN OVER TO THE TEMPORARY LABOR AGENCY IN THE PRESENT MODEL THAT WE USE.
AND ALL THE BENEFITS AND ALL OF THAT THAT WOULD COME WITH THEM.
AND YOU'VE MENTIONED TO ME BEFORE, LIKE VACATION, SICK TIME, YOU HAVE TO ALWAYS HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES.
EXACTLY. SO THIS IS A COST SAVING MEASURE TO HELP KEEP THIS RATE DOWN AS WE'RE ABLE.
CORRECT. AND IT IS IT IS A COMMON, MECHANISM FOR THIS LINE OF WORK TO USE TEMPORARY LABOR.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING UNIQUE TO DALLAS.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. CHAIR. THANK YOU, MISS WILLIS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S BUDGET PRESENTATIONS.
BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PREPARATION AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BUDGET SEASON COMING UP.
REAL QUICK, WE'LL IS ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS FOR BRIEFING MEMO H.
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES ADDRESSING FINES AND FEES EQUITABLY.
YEAH. IT IS OKAY, I SEE NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
LAST ITEM IS BRIEFING MEMO I FOR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON.
[02:10:03]
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.YES. I SUPPORT ALL THE ONES THAT WERE LISTED IN YOUR JANUARY 8TH MEMO.
WHAT CAN WE BROADEN IT? BECAUSE I THINK TRYING TO SEE, LIKE, WE HAVE STREAMLINED INTAKE PROCESS FOR, YOU KNOW, MEDICALLY ASSISTED TREATMENT FACILITIES CREATING THAT WE'VE NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A NEW STATEWIDE OPIOID ADDICTION PROGRAM AND HOW TO BUILD THAT UP.
SO IS THERE WHILE WE HAVE SPECIFIC ONES LISTED, CAN WE BECOME BROAD? I GUESS THAT'S THE QUESTION.
WHERES CLIFTON. I MEAN [INAUDIBLE].
OKAY. CARRIE ROGERS, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR.
SURE. STAFF WILL TAKE WHATEVER DIRECTION YOU'D LIKE.
I KNOW WE HAVE THE CARRYOVER FROM LAST SESSION, THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS.
AND THEN WE HAD RECEIVED FROM AN EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDER, ONE OF OUR LEGISLATORS, A RECOMMENDATION ON THE REDUCED BARRIERS TO SOBER AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT. SO WE PUT THAT IN THERE FOR CONSIDERATION.
I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE JANUARY 8TH MEMO THAT YOU SENT TO US, SIR, THEN.
BUT I GUESS BECAUSE WE DID HAVE OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR STATEWIDE OPIOID THAT WE'VE NOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAD WITH TEXCO AND PUTTING THAT INFORMATION IN THERE SO WE GET BETTER ACCESS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND WE MAY NEED SOME LIFTS ON THAT.
SO I GUESS I DON'T WANT TO PIGEONHOLE US.
I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION, IS WILL THESE THINGS EVOLVE? YEAH. SO YOU'RE REFERRING TO SORT OF THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE OD MAPPING LEGISLATION ALONG THOSE LINES? YES. SO WE CAN WORK SOMETHING ELSE IN THERE THAT'S BROAD ENOUGH TO CAPTURE THAT, BUT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY DEPENDING ON WHAT COMES UP IN AUSTIN.
AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SARAH STANDIFER AT DWU IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MECHANISMS IN WHICH TO LIMIT THOSE SPILLAGES, BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A DREDGING AND NOT SO SPECIFIC AS TO DREDGING.
SO I KNOW THAT IN TRANSPORTATION, SHE PUT IN WORK WITH REGIONAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ADDRESS PROGRAMS AND FUNDING STRATEGIES FOR THE MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND RENEWAL OF WATER, WASTEWATER AND STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. SO I WANT TO REITERATE THAT COULD TAKE IN THE DREDGING AS WELL AS ANYTHING WITH THE NORTH TEXAS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT IN WHICH TO CREATE BETTER PROGRAMS. SO WE LIMIT SPILLAGES THAT COME FROM OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH OF RAW SEWAGE.
OKAY. SO WOULD YOU LIKE US TO MIRROR WHAT WE HAVE ON THE FEDERAL SIDE? WHAT YOU JUST READ OUT LOUD, IS THAT IT? IN THE STATE LANGUAGE? THAT. YES. AND THEN ALSO TOO I HAVE THREE STATE HIGHWAYS THAT COME THROUGH D9 FERGUSON ROAD, NOT FERGUSON ROAD, EVERYTHING BUT FERGUSON ROAD, GARLAND ROAD, NORTHWEST HIGHWAY AND BUCKNER AND ANY WAY THAT WE COULD HAVE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG STATE HIGHWAYS IN WORKING A BETTER COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
BECAUSE WE PROBABLY NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP AS WE GET THE GARLAND ROAD GOING.
AND THEN FINALLY WE DO HAVE A RAILROAD THAT COMES THROUGH THE EASTERN PART OF OUR OF DISTRICT NINE.
WE HAVE, AND I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY HAVE IT.
I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S COMING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH WHEN IT COMES TO TRAIN.
AND SO JUST MAKING SURE THAT AND THEN FINALLY WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR UTILITY PARTNERS AND COMMUNICATION ENHANCEMENT, WE JUST HAD A HUGE STORM A MONTH AGO.
AND I GUESS SHARING INFORMATION IS NOT REALLY ALLOWED, AND IT MAY NEED SOME TO MUNICIPALITIES AND WE MAY NEED TO TALK WITH THEM. AND I HAVE A MEETING HERE AT 11:30 TO FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY TO SHARE INFORMATION WHEN THERE IS A STORM AND THERE'S DOWNED POWER.
BUT I'LL, I CAN GET WITH YOU OFFLINE TO TELL YOU ON THAT ONE AS WELL.
I'M NOT ON THAT AND THAT COMMITTEE.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I JUST BROUGHT HIM HERE.
WE'LL SHARE THOSE AND COPY YOUR OFFICE, MA'AM.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BLACKMON.
AND I'M. WHILE WE'RE ON THAT NOTE, I'D LIKE TO DO THAT AS WELL.
[02:15:01]
I TOO HAVE GOT MY MEETING WITH ONCOR AND COMMUNICATION WAS CRITICAL.IT'S JUST SUCH A LIFELINE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS.
SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO ENHANCE THAT COMMUNICATION OR THAT THEY CAN DO TO ENHANCE THAT COMMUNICATION, AND MAYBE A REGULAR BATTLE RHYTHM OF WHEN PEOPLE CAN EXPECT TO BE HEARD FROM. ON STATE HIGHWAYS, I WOULD GO BACK AND I DO SEE THIS AS A BIT OF A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE BECAUSE I MEAN, I WOULD SAY THAT IF WE COULD GET TO BEAUTIFICATION, THAT WOULD BE LOVELY, BUT I WOULD JUST BE SATISFIED WITH LITTER PICKUP AT THIS POINT.
AND SO I SEE THINGS THAT SIT THERE FOR MONTHS ON END.
AND IT'S NOT IT'S NOT OURS TO DO.
SO I SEE THERE ARE SOME OTHER ITEMS ON HERE THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL, BUT THAT I'M FINE WITH MOVING FROM THIS COMMITTEE UP TO COUNCIL. THANK YOU.
OKAY. SO ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS ON THE ITEM? EXCUSE ME? CAN I'D BE RECOGNIZED, PLEASE.
I JUST JUMPED ON REALLY ONLY TO TALK ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION, NOT THE CONTENT OF THIS MEMO OR THE PRIORITIES TO BE SENT FORWARD, WHICH IS THE THIRD ITEM, WHICH IS GAMBLING.
THE AD HOC ASKS FOR THAT ITEM TO BE CONSIDERED FOR GPFM, WHICH YESTERDAY INCLUDES AN ITEM FOR THAT THAT IS MOVING FORWARD TO FULL COUNCIL.
AND SO WE JUST ASKED FOR IT TO BE REMOVED FROM QUALITY OF LIFE, SINCE IT IS BEING CONSIDERED AND BROUGHT FORWARD BY ANOTHER COMMITTEE, JUST SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE SORT OF COMPETING ITEMS WITH THE SAME CONTENT.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S COMPETING.
IN FACT, I BELIEVE ENFORCEMENT WOULD COME FROM 311 AND CODE, WHICH FALLS UNDER QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO I BELIEVE, JUST AS WE'VE SAID IN THE PAST, WHEN TAKING UP LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEMS, THAT IT ONLY STRENGTHENS OUR CASE TO PRIORITIZE IF WE HAVE IT LISTED IN MULTIPLE COMMITTEES. SO.
OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANY MEMBERS? THE TIME IS NOW 11:21 AND THE MEETING OF QUALITY OF LIFE, ARTS AND CULTURE IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.