Aug 14, 2024 City Council Agenda Meetings

IF EVERYONE IS ABLE, WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR OUR PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG FIRST AND THEN THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

ALRIGHT, WE HAVE GUYS, WE GOT A LOT TO DO TODAY.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHERE YOU JUST GOTTA BEAR WITH ME 'CAUSE WE HAVE EVERY FORM OF PUBLIC MEETING THAT WE EVEN HAVE UNDER OUR CHARTER TODAY.

WE'VE GOT REGULAR MEETINGS, SPECIAL CALL MEETINGS, EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, ALL OF THE, ALL OF THAT.

SO WE GOT ANNOUNCEMENTS, WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING.

SO, UM, BEAR WITH ME.

WE'VE GOT LOTS OF PIECES OF PAPER UP HERE, LOTS OF STUFF TO DO.

I SEE A LOT OF VISITORS IN THE GALLERY DAY.

I SEE MR. MADANO UP THERE.

UM, SO

[Additional Item]

LET'S GET STARTED WITH SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS.

AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES CHAIRWOMAN KARA MENDELSON FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION.

AND, UM, WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD THIS EVENT MANY TIMES THROUGH THE YEARS.

AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT'S MY HONOR TO, UM, SHARE THE PROCLAMATION THAT YOU'VE PUT OUT AND I'D LIKE TO READ IT 'CAUSE IT HAS SOME VERY IMPORTANT STATISTICS FOR THE PUBLIC.

IT SAYS WHERE THE TRIPLE A FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CAR CRASHES REMAIN ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH AMONGST TEENAGERS WHO ARE MORE AT RISK FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS THAN ANY OTHER AGE GROUP.

AND WHEREAS SIX OUT OF 10 TEENAGE CRASHES INVOLVE DISTRACTED DRIVING, MORE THAN HALF OF TEENAGE DRIVERS DON'T WEAR SEAT BELTS.

AND WHEREAS RISKY BEHAVIORS SUCH AS SPEEDING AGGRESSION AND IMPAIRMENT HAVE INCREASED IN RECENT YEARS, WHEREAS TEENAGERS LACK EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE WHEEL, MAKING THEM THREE TIMES AS LIKELY AS ADULTS TO BE INVOLVED IN A DEADLY CRASH.

AND WHEREAS TEENAGERS HAVE A GREATER RISK OF DEATH AND CUL VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS INVOLVING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT LEGALLY OLD ENOUGH TO PURCHASE OR POSSESS ALCOHOL.

AND WHEREAS A MONTH OF AUGUST AS PART OF THE 100 DEADLIEST DAYS, A SUMMERTIME TREND WHERE THE RATE OF TEENAGE VEHICULAR CRASHES INCREASES.

AND WHEREAS THE AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY IN TEXAS, THE CITY OF DALLAS MUNICIPAL COURT JUDICIARY MISSION IS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND SEEK SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT TEENAGE INJURIES AND DEATHS ON THE ROAD, AS WELL AS TO HELP TEENAGERS UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF POOR DRIVING BEHAVIORS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I ERIC JOHNSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, TO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 17TH, 2024, IS TEEN DRIVER SAFETY AWARENESS DAY.

THERE'S A, AN EVENT THAT'S BEEN SCHEDULED

[00:05:01]

AND THE CITY OF DALLAS MUNICIPAL COURTS ACTUALLY COORDINATES THIS, PUTS IT ON.

IT'S REALLY SPECTACULAR.

MY OWN CHILDREN HAVE ATTENDED AND LEARNED, I'VE LEARNED THINGS AT IT.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME.

I THINK JUDGE ROBINSON'S HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS FOR A MOMENT AND I JUST WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO JUDGE JULIE CLANCY, WHO HAS BEEN REALLY THE LEAD IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, ENORMOUS EFFORTS OVER SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE THAT, UM, THAT REALLY HAS GONE INTO IT.

PERHAPS JUDGE IS NOT HERE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME SPEAK, JULIE? SURE.

AND THEN I BELIEVE THAT, UM, SHE'D LIKE FOR US TO HAVE A PHOTO AFTER TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP.

THANK YOU PERSON.

GO AHEAD MA'AM.

PUSH YOUR MICROPHONE BUTTON THERE.

SORRY.

MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL WOMAN, MENDELSSOHN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION.

UH, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A FULL PLATE.

I WASN'T ANTICIPATING SPEAKING, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS, UH, FOR THIS, UH, IMPORTANT, WHAT I FEEL LIKE IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT.

UH, WE ARE IN A POSITION AS YOUR JUDICIARY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, THE YOUNG DRIVERS, THE TEENS, THEIR PARENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFE DRIVING BEHAVIORS AND THE DANGERS OF DRIVE, BAD DRIVING, UH, BAD DRIVING BEHAVIORS, UM, THAT INCLUDE DRINKING, DRIVING, DRUGS, IMPAIRED, ESPECIALLY TEXTING WITH THE YOUNG ONES.

AND SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN A RISE IN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S STREET RACING.

UH, A FAMILY JUST LOST THEIR LIVES A FEW DAYS AGO, UH, BECAUSE OF IT.

SO WE, WE HOPED, UH, OUR MISSION, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, UH, WITH OUR MISSION IN EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY, OUR YOUNG DRIVERS AND THEIR PARENTS.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

CAN WE TAKE A PICTURE? THANK YOU.

YOU CAN COME ON DOWN FOR A PHOTOGRAPH REALLY QUICKLY.

AND WHILE WE'RE DOING THAT, I WANT TO TEE UP, UM, CHAIRMAN ARNOLD, JUST GET READY FOR YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT.

YOU'RE NEXT, BUT WE'RE GONNA DO A, UH, QUICK PHOTOGRAPH.

THERE WE GO.

AS WE MAKE OUR WAY BACK TO OUR SEATS, CHAIR RECOGNIZES CHAIRWOMAN CAROLYN KING ARNOLD FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

AND I KNOW THAT WE, NOW I'LL TRY AGAIN.

WE, UH, I HEARD YOU RECOGNIZE THERE WERE SOME MADE THE, JUST COULD WE GET, I'M JUST, JUST KIND OF DISTRACTING A LITTLE BIT.

IF WE COULD GET, IF WE COULD HAVE ORDER AT THE HORSESHOE ORDER, PLEASE.

THAT'S AS MUCH AS WE CAN DO.

YOU CAN'T STOP 'EM FROM TALKING ALTOGETHER.

WELL, TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC, I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING THIS MORNING TO HEAR THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY.

I ALSO, MAYOR HONORABLE TIFFANY YOUNG, ALSO IS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY AS PART OF THIS, UH, EVENT.

BUT I REALLY WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE, UH, THE, THE NEWS THAT WE ALL RECEIVE.

MAYBE WE ALL RECEIVED SOME SAW IT, SOME DIDN'T.

BUT ONE OF OUR NATIVE DAUGHTERS, ARI RICHARDSON, I WANTED TO GIVE HER A SHOUT OUT FOR HER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AT THE OLYMPICS IN PARIS, SEVERAL GOLD.

SHE'S STILL A GOLD STAR IN, IN OUR EYES, AND I KNOW THAT IN DUE TIME, WE, WE WILL HAVE SOME MORE CELEBRATIONS HERE.

I GOT ONE OF THOSE CALLS ABOUT WHAT ARE Y'ALL GONNA DO? BUT I KNEW WHAT I HAD TO DO BECAUSE BEING A WOMAN AND RUNNING THAT BATTLE AND RUNNING THAT, THAT RACE, IT IS A TOUGH JOB.

AND SO SHE HANDLED UP ON HER BUSINESS.

I CALLED HER THE FASTEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD, AND ALSO THE FASTEST WOMAN IN DALLAS.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING HER AND CONTINUING TO REPRESENT, UH, HER, HER GOALS IN TERMS OF GOING HIGHER.

BUT IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE HER TO PUT US ON THE MAP.

AND SO TO SHAKARA RICHARDSON, SHAKA RICHARDSON, HATS OFF TO THAT FAD BAD

[00:10:01]

SISTER.

AND SO, MAYOR, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HER, UH, EVENTUALLY MAYBE HOOKING UP WITH US IF WE CAN CATCH HER .

SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.

BUT REMEMBER, IT IS ALL ABOUT THAT GOAL OF THE SOUL.

AND SHAKARA RICHARDSON IS OUR GIRL.

NO, ABSOLUTELY.

WE WILL DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE HER IF WE CAN GET HER HERE.

AND I KNOW THAT CHAIRMAN ARVAS HAS, UH, SOMEONE HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE WHO CHIEF NOT TODAY, BUT COMING SOON, A BIG DEAL FROM OUR DALLAS WINGS.

UM, WNBA ALLSTAR.

SO, UM, WE GOT SOME GOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING WITH THAT.

I THINK WE ARE DONE WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MORNING AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY SECRETARY, MADAM SECRETARY.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR.

MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS.

OH, FOR, FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I DID NOT SEE JUST ONE MORE GOLD MEDAL OLYMPIAN, UM, THAT LIVES IN DALLAS.

I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE SINCE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ARNOLD BROUGHT UP GO AHEAD.

UP AS A D 13 RESIDENT IN GOLD MEDAL WINNER IN GOLF, SCOTTY SCHEFFLER.

SO I'M PLEASED TO HEAR THAT WE MAY BE DOING, DOING SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE, BUT I DIDN'T WANNA LET THIS MOMENT GO.

MAYBE WE COULD JUST HAVE A WHOLE OLYMPIC MEDALIST DAY AND GET 'EM ALL HERE.

I LOVE IT.

AND JUST, AND HAVE ALL THE HARDWARE OUT HERE.

ANYBODY ELSE GOT AN OLYMPIAN IN THEIR DISTRICT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE? ALRIGHT, JUST CHECKING.

ALL RIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY, GO

[OPEN MICROPHONE (Part 1 of 2)]

AHEAD.

PLACES HYDROFLUORIC ACID IN OUR WATER AND CALLS IT FLUORIDE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY POISON.

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

I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.

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

ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL IMPERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS, OR WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS.

WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN PERSON FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.

YOU'LL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION.

INDIVIDUALS BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK FOR THOSE IN PERSON SPEAKERS.

YOU'LL NOTICE THE TIME ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.

PLEASE STOP FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.

I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

ALSO, SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME, ADDRESS, YOUR, AND ALSO, PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR JOHNSON, ONLY YOUR FIRST SPEAKER.

LINDA NEWLAND.

GOOD DAY.

HONORABLE MAYOR LINDA NEWLAND FROM DISTRICT SEVEN, THE BUTTERFLY DISTRICT.

ON AUGUST 7TH, I CAME TO DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO HELP SUPPORT SOMEONE, ONLY TO WATCH MY COUNCIL PERSON FROM DISTRICT SEVEN MOVE FROM PERSON TO PERSON TO SPEAK TO THEM.

DISTRICT SEVEN REMINDED ME OF A BUTTERFLY HEADS.

FROM NOW ON, I WILL ADDRESS HIM AS BUTTERFLY DISTRICT SEVEN.

HERE ARE SOMETIMES HE WAS TALKING AND NOT IN HIS SEAT TO THE SPEAKERS.

HERE THEY ARE UP HERE, JUST SOME OF THEM.

HOW IN THE WORLD CAN HE KNOW WHERE THAT SPEAKERS ARE SAYING? WELL, HE CAN'T KNOW.

AND HE IS INDICATING HE HAS NO INTEREST IN THE PUBLIC HE IS SUPPOSED TO SERVE.

BY THE WAY, DISTRICT SEVEN WAS NOT THE ONLY DISTRICT NOT IN THEIR SEAT LISTENING TO THE SPEAKERS.

ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WANTS TO SEE THIS IN DETAIL, SEND AN EMAIL TO DALLAS FOR SAFER WATER@YAHOO.COM.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUE FACTS ABOUT FLUORIDATION, THEN VISIT THESE TWO WEBSITES, FLUORIDE ALERT.ORG DALLAS FOR SAFER WATER.COM.

BUT THIS ONE IS BEST TO USE A HOME PC AS IT HAS LOTS OF INFO TO LOAD.

REMEMBER DALLAS

[00:15:02]

JUST LOOK IT UP.

MAYOR IS THE REASON Y'ALL WANT TO CONTINUE FLUORIDATION.

IT'S BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE GOING WITH HEALTHY PEOPLE.

20, 30 AND HSS AND IT, IT, AND THIS.

SO I TELL Y'ALL THE, IF YOU LISTEN TO THE PRAYER, IT SAYS, DO WHAT'S GOOD, WHAT'S GOOD.

BY GOD, GOD DIDN'T PUT HYDROPHOLIC ACID IN OUR WATER, BUT Y'ALL DO.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO STOP IT.

IT'S BAD FOR OUR BODIES.

IT'S, THAT'S YOUR TIME.

RE REGINA AND SIA.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

I'M REGINA IBERIA FROM THE 14TH DISTRICT, AND IT'S SO NICE TO SEE THAT YOU ALL ARE ACTUALLY SITTING IN YOUR CHAIRS BETTER THAN USUAL.

BUT LINDA IS TOTALLY CORRECT.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU ALL ARE FL AROUND TALKING TO EACH OTHER WHILE WE'RE TALKING.

WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION ON IT.

AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, MAYOR, WHEN, UM, THERE WAS CONVERSATION WHEN, UM, UH, MAYOR ARNOLD WAS TRYING TO SPEAK, AND YOU SAID, WELL, YOU CAN'T STOP HIM FROM TALKING.

YOU REALLY CAN.

AND THAT WOULD BE KIMBERLY TALBERT'S JOB.

SHE'S THE SERGEANT OF ARMS, AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DECORUM.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DECORUM ON THE HORSESHOE.

AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE DECORUM IN THE AUDIENCE.

NOW, I HAVE BEEN REPRIMANDED BEFORE FOR CLAPPING TODAY, VERY OBVIOUSLY WE GOT AWAY WITH CLAPPING.

WHEN I CLAPPED FOR A SPEAKER, YOU WOULD SAY, WE'LL HAVE NO, YOU KNOW, UPRISING IN THE AUDIENCE.

SO THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

YOU GUYS SHOULD APPRECIATE HEARING THE CLAPPING SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE COMRADERY WE HAVE OR THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE IN, IN CONNECTION WITH.

YOU SHOULD APPRECIATE THE CLAPPING.

NOW, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME SORT OF MAJOR, YOU KNOW, HOLDING UP OF THE DEAL, BUT A CLAP IS A, A NECESSARY THING.

AND SO GET BACK TO OUR WHOLE DEAL.

FOR 13 YEARS WE'VE BEEN COMING.

I COULD TELL YOU DETAILS ABOUT FLUORIDE THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR FILES, WHETHER YOU LOOK AT IT OR YOU DON'T.

BUT FLUOROSIS IS THE OUTWARD SIGN OF FLUORIDE TOXICITY IN THE BODY.

IT'S ESTIMATED OVER 70 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE THIS NOW, AND IT'S, IT'S THE ONLY PLACE IT COMES FROM IS FROM FLUORIDE.

NOW, HIGHLAND PARK DOES NOT ADD FLUORIDE TO THEIR WATER.

OKAY? THEY HAVE THE SAME SOURCE WATER THAT DALLAS HAS.

AND DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN LIKES TO SAY, WELL, PLACES THAT DON'T ADD FLUORIDE TO THEIR WATER, MR. BUTTERFLY, UM, UH, THEY, UH, THEY, THEY, THEY NEED TO PUT MORE IN BECAUSE THEIR BASE WATER DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH.

BUT IF HIGHLAND PARK HAS NEVER ADDED FLUORIDE TO THEIR WATER, BUT DALLAS SPENDS A MILLION DOLLARS TO PUT THIS HYDROFLUORIC ACID THAT IS CONTAMINATED WITH ARSENIC LEAD AND OTHER THINGS, BECAUSE IT IS AN INDUSTRY BYPRODUCT AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR NOW 50, 60 YEARS.

WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GIVEN YOU ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

YOU ALL HAVE IT, BUT YOU DO NOT DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC.

IT'S, IT'S REALLY SAD.

IT'S VERY SAD.

AND, UM, I I REALLY THINK THAT MS. TALBERT NEEDS TO WORK ON THE DECORUM ON THE, UH, ON THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THIS IS FOLKS, THIS IS RARE.

THIS IS RARE THAT THEY'RE ALL SITTING HERE AND THIS GUY IS UP ON THE, ON THE THING.

IT'S A RARE OCCURRENCE AND IT SHOULD BE NORMAL.

OKAY? THANK YOU.

UM, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE HOMELESS SOLUTIONS IS ALSO A PIECE OF CRAP.

HAVE A NICE DAY.

THANK YOU ROBERT ELLI.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

UH, WASN'T GONNA TALK ABOUT THE MAYOR, BUT THAT HAS TO BE NEXT MONTH.

'CAUSE UM, I'M GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESS PROBLEM AGAIN.

AGAIN, THEY'RE STARTING TO FORT THE, PUT THOSE TENTS UP RIGHT OUTSIDE CITY HALL, LIKE I SAID, LAST TWO MONTHS AGO.

LOOKS LIKE A PIECE OF CRAP.

I WAS TALKING TO 'EM TODAY.

AND THEY IDENTIFY HOMELESS SOLUTIONS.

[00:20:02]

I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN.

HOMELESS SOLUTIONS IS A PIECE OF CRAP.

BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GONNA GET ANY ACTION TO GET THE HOMELESS HERE TO, TO SPEAK, BUT IT NEVER HAPPENS.

YOU WANT THE, YOU WANT THE PRO, YOU WANT THE ANSWER.

THAT'S THE ANSWER.

YOU GET ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE HERE.

THERE'LL BE SO MUCH MOVEMENT, YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW, HOW BAD IT WILL THAT YOU'LL BE MOVING ABOUT THE SITUATION.

EVERY TIME I SPEAK FOR THE FA PAST 15 YEARS, 10 YEARS, I'M ALWAYS BY MYSELF.

NOW IT'S TIME TO GET THE HOMELESS INVOLVED.

I WAS AT THE PARTNERSHIP MEETING.

THE PARTNER, THE CHAIR LADY SAYS SHE HAS NO CONTROL OVER WHAT ABOUT THE, UH, HOMELESS SITUATION HERE IN DALLAS AS FAR AS THE MOVEMENT OF IT? UM, THIS UP, THIS.

SEE WE GO AGAIN.

UM, BUT THE SITUATION IS IT'S GETTING VERY BAD.

AND, UM, HOW THE HOMELESS GOTTA COME.

BUT WHEN THE HOMELESS DON'T COME, MEANS YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE HOMELESS, HOMELESS SOLUTION.

THE OUTREACH, WHEN YOU SEE THEM, GIVE THE PHONE NUMBER, SIX SEVEN ZERO THREE SEVEN THREE EIGHT SIX SEVEN ZERO THREE SEVEN THREE EIGHT AND HAVE 'EM CALL TO GET ON THE SPEAKER LIST.

PARTNERSHIPS, HOMELESS COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY IT'S GOING TO BE DONE.

I'M ASKING ALL OF YOU TO DO THAT.

IT MIGHT BE BAD PUBLICITY, BUT YOU'LL GET A MOVEMENT.

IT'S BEEN HERE TOO LONG.

ME DOING THIS BY MYSELF.

IT'S GOTTA STOP.

I'M GETTING FED UP DOING THIS BY MYSELF, MAN.

ALSO, IT'S FORT KNOX HERE.

HOW MUCH TIME WE GOT? ONE MINUTE.

I USED TO GO UP THERE AND SEE HOMELESS SOLUTIONS.

UM, MONICA HAR ALL THE PEOPLE.

NOW YOU CAN'T EVEN TALK TO NOBODY.

YOU MEAN YOU CALL THE PHONE NUMBER FOR HOMELESS SOLUTION.

NOBODY EVER ANSWERS A PHONE.

THAT MEANS THEY DON'T WANNA DEAL WITH THE HOMELESS EITHER.

BUT YOU, YOU TELL THE HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, GET THE PEOPLE HERE, SPEAK UP.

YOU'LL GET SOME ACTION BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING TIRED OF SEEING THIS GOING ON AND ON AND ON.

WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT HERE OUTSIDE CITY HALL.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE THIRD WORLD COUNTRY MAYOR.

IT LOOKS REAL BAD.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW.

BUT YOU GOTTA GET INVOLVED.

PEOPLE GET INVOLVED.

I MEAN THAT, I'M GETTING TIRED OF DOING THIS BY MYSELF.

I'LL BE GOING TO PARTNERSHIP MEETING, GONNA BE AT THE DALLAS COUNTY, THE DALLAS COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THIS.

BUT, UM, ALL OF YOU NEED TO SHOW UP AND SHOW SOME EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE HOME AND GET THEM HERE TO SPEAK UP HOMELESS SOLUTIONS.

UH, MY NAME IS WILLIAM HOPKINS.

UH, EVERY THREE, THREE PEOPLE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE, ELLI AND, AND, AND OTHER LADY ABOUT THE, UH, FLOOR RIDE.

UH, 10, 15 YEAR OLDS, MAN.

UH, THEY COME DOWN HERE ASKING FOR HELP FOR THE HOMELESS AND EVERYTHING, MAN, WHILE YOU HAVING SEX WITH SOME WOMAN IN YOUR WIFE HOUSE, MAN, AND, UH, AND YOUR CHILDREN.

WHERE YOUR CHILDREN LIVE, MAN.

POINT OF ORDER.

MAYOR, NO, PERFECT.

AIN'T ANOTHER POINT ON WHO, WHO, WHO, WHO STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER.

WHO, WHAT'S THE POINT OF ORDER? SPEAKERS ARE NOT TO BECOME PERSONAL OR, UM, PROFANE.

HE, UH, THE REASON THIS DON'T CALL YOUR NAME, YOUR POINT BOARD IS WELL TAKEN.

THAT GUY, THAT GUY WAS CALLED A POINT ORDER.

HE, UH, CONTINUED.

HE, UH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR WHAT IT WAS IN THE, IT IT IS COURT RECORDS.

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHY EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO HELP YOU.

EVERY, UH, YOU BLACK AND THEY WHITE, THE WHITE PEOPLE ALWAYS TRYING TO HELP YOU.

'CAUSE YOU, YOU DONE TRADE.

YOU WAS A DEMOCRAT.

NOW YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN.

LOOK HERE, ERIC.

LEMME LEMME GET THIS.

THIS IS A LAWSUIT WHERE THEY WHAT, WHERE THE PEOPLE DIE IN WEST DALLAS.

I, I WANNA SEE IF THIS GUY, UH, GET A POINT ORDER NOW PEOPLE DIE IN WEST DALLAS.

I GAVE HIM THE, THE, THE GUY THAT SAID SOMETHING, HIM A COPY OF THIS REAL, WERE BLACKS DYING.

HE AIN'T SAYING NOTHING ABOUT BLACKS DYING.

Y'ALL STUDY BY, UH, PUTTING BICYCLES EVERYWHERE.

YOU, YOU, YOU, IF YOU DID SOMETHING FOR THE HOMELESS AS YOU DO FOR THE, FOR THE BICYCLES AND THE GAZE, UH, UH, UH, UH, UH, UH, THE HOMELESS WOULD BE, THEY WOULDN'T BE OUTSIDE IN THE FRONT.

IF Y'ALL HELPED THE HOMELESS LIKE Y'ALL DO, THE BICYCLES AND THE GAZE, THE HOMELESS PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE OUT IN THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.

NOW, BACK TO WHAT I WERE TALKING ABOUT.

THIS IS, THIS IS WHY I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU FOR, FOR THE LONG AS YOU'VE BEEN A, A REPUBLICAN, ERIC, UH, UH, THE BLACKS DYING IN WEST DALLAS.

NOBODY HERE.

NO MEDIA.

SEE, SEE HOW THE MEDIA GOT THE CAMERA

[00:25:01]

TURNED THE OPPOSITE WAY.

NO MEDIA, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, ALL OF 'EM IS RACIST, BIGOTED, UH, UH, UH, UH, ENTITIES, UH, LETTING THE PEOPLE DIE.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ERIC DONE DIED.

YOUR MAMA GRADUATED FROM PINKSTON.

THIS IS HOW PITIFUL THIS IS.

HOW PITIFUL THIS HERE.

YOUR MAMA GRADUATED FROM PINKSTON.

YOUR MAMA MIGHT BE SICK FROM, FROM, FROM, FROM LEAD, FROM THE LEAD IN WEST DALLAS.

YOU SO CAUGHT UP IN THE GOING HOME, UH, UH, HAVING SOME WOMAN AT YOUR, AT YOUR WIFE HOUSE, HAVING SEX WITH SOME WOMAN AT YOUR WIFE HOUSE.

YOU SO CAUGHT UP WITH ALL THAT.

YOU CAN'T SEE THAT YOUR MAMA MIGHT BE SICK AND DYING FROM THE LEAD IN WEST DALLAS.

ERIC, YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT, ABOUT, I AIN'T GONNA SAY IT ABOUT WOMEN BECAUSE, UH, Y'ALL WERE CLAPPING TODAY.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE PEOPLE FROM PALESTINE, THEM PEOPLE WAS HEARING ONE OF 'EM CLAPPED.

YOU THREW HIM OUT.

THEY WAS THERE.

WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE PALESTINIANS, THEY WAS HERE.

AND ONE CLAP.

YOU THREW HIM OUT.

THAT WAS RACIST.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO RACIST.

NOW, TODAY THEY CLAP.

YOU DON'T SAY NOTHING.

BUT IF THERE WAS PEOPLE FROM ISRAEL, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THROW THEM OUT LIKE YOU DID THEM PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, UH, UH, THAT WOULDN'T HAVE NEVER HAPPENED 'CAUSE YOU SPOKE OUTTA SOME ISRAEL PLACE.

THE, THE, THE THE JEWS PAID YOU TO SPEAK AT TIME, THEIR PLACE TOO.

ERIC, YOUR TIME.

AND I'LL BE BACK NEXT MONTH WITH THE REST OF IT.

LET SEE IF THEY YOUR NEXT SPEAKER.

INTERRUPT ME AGAIN.

JOE STOKES.

I'LL SEE YOU JOE STOKES, DISTRICT NINE.

LAST SUNDAY, THE DALLAS EXPRESS RAN THIS ARTICLE.

WILL THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY BE FORCED TO BAN FLUORIDE USE IN TAP WATER? KELLEN JONES, AUGUST 11TH, ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH COURT CASES IN AMERICAN HISTORY HAS SAT FOR MONTHS IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT A RULING FROM THE JUDGE.

MICHAEL CONNA, THE PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY CITED NUMEROUS STUDIES, DRAWING LINKS BETWEEN FLUORIDE AND DRINKING WATER AND CHILDREN'S IQS, HYPOTHYROIDISM, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER MALADIES.

CONNET IDENTIFIES FLUOROSIS AS AN UNDISPUTED RISK IN FLUORIDE CONSUMPTION.

FLUOROSIS MOST PROMINENTLY AFFECTS THE TEETH BY CAUSING STRIATIONS OR BLOTCHING.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, ROUGHLY A THIRD OF AMERICANS AGE SIX TO 49 SHOWS SIGNS OF VERY MILD TO SEVERE FLUOROSIS.

IN SOME CASES, FLUOROSIS CAN ALSO OCCUR IN THE SKELETON CAUSING WEAKENING OF THE BONES.

DISTRICT JUDGE EDWARD CHEN HAS BEEN PRESIDING OVER THE CASE SINCE 2017.

PART OF THE DELAY MIGHT BE DUE TO THE COURT WAITING ON THE NATIONAL TOXICOLOGY PROGRAM REPORT ON FLUORIDE.

THE NEARLY 1600 PAGE REPORT TITLED DRAFT MONOGRAPH ON THE STATE OF THE SCIENCE CONCERNING FLUORIDE EXPOSURE AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND COGNITIVE HEALTH EFFECTS.

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN THE PUBLIC AN INDICATION OF WHAT THE FINAL REPORT WILL SAY.

THE DRAFT SUMMARY STATES THERE IS A LARGE BODY OF EVIDENCE ON IQ EFFECTS IN CHILDREN.

THIS REVIEW FINDS WITH MODERATE CONFIDENCE THAT HIGHER FLUORIDE EXPOSURE IS CONSISTENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER IQ IN CHILDREN.

THE FINAL REPORT HAS NEVER BEEN RELEASED.

AND INTERNAL EMAILS REVEAL EFFORTS BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HEALTH, RACHEL LEVINE, TO DELAY ITS PUBLICATION INDEFINITELY.

DX DALLAS EXPRESS, PREVIOUSLY UNSUCCESSFUL, CONTACTED LEVINE FOR A COMMENT OR EXPLANATION.

CHEN COULD RULE AT ANY TIME.

THERE HAS BEEN NO INDICATIONS AS TO WHAT IS BEHIND THE DELAY IN CHEN'S RULING.

SOME LOCALITIES IN TEXAS HAVE TAKEN ACTION WITHOUT THE COURT'S RULING AND STOPPED FLUORIDATION COUNSEL, BE THE VANGUARD OF INFORMED PROACTIVE TEXAS COUNCILS AND STOP POISONING THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING YOURSELVES.

AGENDA ITEM ONE IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE JUNE 26TH, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

THIS CONCLUDES YOUR FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS.

THE REMAINING SPEAKERS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE END OF THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

MR. MAYOR, WE'RE READY TO MOVE TO YOUR VOTING AGENDA.

LET'S MOVE ON TO IT.

[MINUTES]

IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION? I HEARD A MOTION APPROVE AND I HEARD A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

AGENDA, YOU DO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

WE MOVE TO YOUR CONSENT

[00:30:01]

ITEM 42.

YOUR FIRST SPEAKER IS TAMARA HUTCHERSON OR TAMARA HUTCHERSON.

TAMARA HUTCHERSON.

PEOPLE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BRITTANY ENGLISH.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOOD MORNING.

UH, MY NAME IS, I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.

UM, I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THIS AGENDA ITEM TO AUTHORIZE AN ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH HKS INC.

THIS $140 MILLION REGIONAL POLICE COMPOUND WOULD BE LOCATED IN A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY IN OAK CLIFF.

JUST AN EIGHT MINUTE DRIVE FROM WHERE I LIVE.

WHILE THE CURRENT DPD FACILITY IS ALSO IN OAK CLIFF, IT WAS NOT BUILT TO SERVE THE ENTIRE NORTH TEXAS REGION.

THE AMOUNT OF POLICE PRESENCE WILL DRASTICALLY INCREASE AT THIS NEW FACILITY.

ACCORDING TO THE POLICE SCORECARD, WHICH IS THE FIRST NATIONWIDE PUBLIC EVALUATION OF POLICING IN THE US BLACK PEOPLE IN DALLAS ARE AT LEAST 3.6 MORE TI TIMES MORE LIKELY 3.6 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED FOR LOW LEVEL NONVIOLENT OFFENSES THAN A WHITE PERSON.

UM, A GOOD REASON TO SUPPORT THE DALLAS FREEDOM ACT THAT YOU GUYS WILL HEAR ABOUT, UM, LATER.

IT STANDS TO REASON THAT THE PLACEMENT OF THIS FACILITY WILL RESULT IN AN EVEN HIGHER RATE OF SURVEILLANCE, PROFILING AND ARRESTS OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

RECENTLY WE ALL WITNESSED HIGHLY MILITARIZED POLICE AND STATE TROOPERS AND RIOT GEAR INVADE UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES TO BRUTALIZE PEPPER SPRAY AND USE TEAR GAS ON STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR USING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PROTEST AGAINST THEIR UNIVERSITIES PROFITING FROM WAR AND THE GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

LOCATING THIS FACILITY ON UNT DALLAS' CAMPUS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INTIMIDATE STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM USING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PROTEST IN THE FUTURE.

DALLAS'S GENERAL FUND BUDGET ALREADY ALLOCATES OVER A BILLION DOLLARS, 61.2% TO POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

61.2% NEGLECTING MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT DESPERATELY NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

DALLAS COUNTY REPORTS THE FOURTH HIGHEST RATE OF FOOD INSECURE CHILDREN IN THE US.

DALLAS HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST HOUSING DEPRIVED POPULATIONS IN THE US.

HOME OWNERSHIP IS INCREASINGLY OUT OF REACH AND THE CITY IS SHORT.

AN ESTIMATED 33,000, 33,600 RENTAL HOMES THAT LOWER INCOME PEOPLE CAN AFFORD.

ADDRESSING THESE SERIOUS ISSUES IS WHAT WILL MAKE OUR CITY THE SAFEST.

I REJECT THE FEAR MONGERING NARRATIVE THAT WE NEED POLICE TO KEEP US SAFE IN 2020.

THE NEW YORK TIMES REVIEWED NATIONAL DISPATCH DATA AND FOUND THAT JUST 4% OF OFFICERS' TIME IS DEVOTED TO VIOLENT CRIME.

THAT'S LESS THAN TWO HOURS AND A 40 HOUR WORK WEEK.

A RE-IMAGINATION OF COMMUNITY SAFETY IS FAR OVERDUE.

BUT DPD NEEDS A NEW STATE OF THE ART FACILITY.

NO THEY DON'T.

PEOPLE NEED TO EAT.

PEOPLE NEED THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A HOME.

DPD HAS A FACILITY RENOVATE IT AND INVEST THE SURPLUS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

IF THE FUNDING NEEDS TO REMAIN IN PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT SAFETY, YOUR INVEST THE SURPLUS IN THE RIGHT CARE UNIT THAT RESPONDS YOUR TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.

SO THERE ARE MORE THAN THAT'S YOUR TIME MA'AM.

TEAMS SERVING, SERVING THE ENTIRE CITY.

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO YOUR CONSENT AGENDA.

YOUR CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTED OF ITEMS TWO THROUGH 83.

AGENDA ITEM THREE WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSON.

AGENDA ITEM NINE WAS CORRECTED.

AGENDA ITEM 11 WAS PULLED BY COUNT OR IS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE.

AGENDA ITEM 21 IS BEING PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ARNOLD.

AGENDA ITEM 29 IS BEING PULLED BY MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.

AGENDA ITEM 42 WAS CORRECTED.

AGENDA ITEM 43 WAS CORRECTED.

AGENDA ITEM 59 WAS DELETED.

AGENDA ITEM 66 IS BEING PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST AND ARNOLD.

AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT AGENDA ITEM 25 IS BEING CORRECTED.

CLARIFYING THAT THE CONTRACT IS STILL WITH TEXAS MATERIALS GROUP DBA TEXAS BIT.

THEREFORE, YOUR CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF ITEMS TWO FOUR THROUGH 10, 12 THROUGH 20 THANK YOU, 22 THROUGH 28, 30 THROUGH 58, 60 THROUGH 65 AND

[00:35:01]

67 THROUGH 83.

THIS IS YOUR CONSENT AGENDA, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

SECRETARY, IS THERE A MOTION ON CONSENT? I HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE.

TO YOUR FIRST PULLED ITEM.

CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.

WE WILL NOW MOVE

[3. 24-2250 An ordinance amending Sections 2-43, 2-44, and 2-49 of Chapter 2, “Administration”; amending Section 51A-4.303 of Chapter 51A, “Dallas Development Code: Ordinance No. 19455, as amended”; (1) changing the name of the Department of Building Services to Department of Facilities and Real Estate Management; (2) assigning real estate services from the Department of Public Works to the Department of Facilities and Real Estate Management; (3) providing a saving clause; providing a severability clause; and providing an effective date - Financing: No cost consideration to the City]

AGENDA ITEM THREE.

AGENDA ITEM THREE IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 3 2 5 5 4.

PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2023 AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 3 2 6 6 3.

PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2024 AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 3 2 7 2 3.

PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ON MAY 8TH, 2024 AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 3 2 7 5 9.

PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ON JUNE 26TH, 2024, AUTHORIZING ONE CERTAIN TRANSFERS AND APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 23, 24 FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND ACTIVITIES AND TO THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT THOSE ADJUSTMENTS, NOT TO EXCEED $4,108,213,070.

THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSON.

IS THERE A MOTION MOVE TO SEND THIS ITEM TO GPFM FOR REVIEW? I HEARD TWO MOTIONS AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'LL BE EASIER JUST TO DEAL WITH, UM, THE MO LOOK.

WHO'S THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE? DO YOU, DID YOU MAKE A MOTION? I DID NOT.

IT CAME FROM MY VICE CHAIR.

I HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND I'LL DEAL WITH A MOTION TO APPROVE AND WE CAN DISPOSE OF IT THROUGH THE AMENDMENT PROCESS IF NECESSARY.

IT'S BEEN MOVED TO SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? I'LL NORMALLY START THAT OFF WITH THE PERSON WHO PULLED THE ITEM.

SO, CHAIRMAN MENDELSON, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM TWO, THREE.

THIS IS A VERY CONSEQUENTIAL BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT HAS NOT BEEN TO A COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE RECEIVED TWO MEMOS ABOUT IT.

I ACTUALLY ASSUMED IT WOULD GO TO COMMITTEE, UM, SINCE WE STILL HAVE TIME.

AND IT'S AUGUST.

IT COULD BE ON THE AUGUST AGENDA.

AND THEN THIS ITEM COULD BE APPROVED IN SEPTEMBER BEFORE THE END OF OUR FISCAL YEAR.

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW ITEMS ON HERE I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT.

WE CAN GO THROUGH THEM ALL IF WE'D LIKE TODAY.

I THINK WE HAVE A VERY, VERY FULL AGENDA.

UM, BUT IT SEEMS THAT IT WOULD BE IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS FOR THIS BODY TO ACTUALLY HAVE A COMMITTEE REVIEW THE BUDGET.

SO IS THAT A, ARE YOU GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND? SO I MOVE TO AMEND TO SEND THIS TO GPFM IF THE CHAIR WOULD ALLOW FOR, UM, THIS MONTH'S AGENDA.

AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION THAT FURTHER DISCUSSION ON YOUR AMENDMENT, IS THAT AMENDMENT IN ORDER FOR OF ALL METAPHORICALLY? IT IS.

IT'S IN ORDER.

SO YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT CHAIRWOMAN? I I THINK I ALREADY LAID IT OUT.

UM, SHOULD IT FAIL THEN? I THINK WE'LL END UP WITH A VERY LENGTHY CONVERSATION.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON'S? MOTION CHAIRMAN, RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MS. MENDELSON.

UM, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHY THIS CONTRACT AMOUNT IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE BY 25% AFTER WE'VE ALREADY EXECUTED A CONTRACT.

AND IF STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO AT LEAST GIVE A BRIEF EXPLANATION, I'D LIKE TO HEAR IT.

NAME OF FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT AND MOVING THE APPROPRIATIONS FROM BUILDING SERVICES, ZEROING THAT OUT AND PUTTING THAT, THOSE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE NEW DEPARTMENT.

SO WHICH CONTRACT? CONTRACT? UH, THIS IS THE THANK YOU 2024 ANNUAL STREET MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ON.

THIS IS THE BIG BUDGET.

OH, OKAY.

UM, I WITHDRAW MY QUESTION.

RESERVE IT FOR LATER.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MENDELSSOHN.

THIS IS ITEM THREE.

UM, THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND, UM, I WAS ASKED TO COMMENT, UM, BY MY COLLEAGUE AND I'LL HAPPILY COMMENT, I'M FINE IF THIS COMES BACK TO GPFM.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH STAFF ON THIS AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT MOVING FORWARD TODAY PERSONALLY.

UM, IF PEOPLE FEEL THEY NEED THE OPPORTUNITY, I'M NOT GONNA OPPOSE IT.

UM, HOWEVER, I'M ALSO FINE WITH MOVING FORWARD TODAY.

UM, SO I'M JUST, I GUESS I'M NEUTRAL ON THIS.

UM, BUT I, I WOULD JUST ASK STAFF, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR OPINIONS ARE ON IF THEY, IF THIS WOULD HARM THEM IN ANY WAY BY FURTHER DELAYING THIS ITEM.

THAT'S A REQUEST.

JACK, IF YOU COULD COME UP.

GOOD MORNING, JACK IRELAND, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

THIS ITEM, UM, IS, BRINGS FORTH THE BUDGET ORDINANCE THAT WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL LAST SEPTEMBER.

THE ONLY THING THAT IS CHANGING IN THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE AS WE BRING IT FORWARD TODAY IS, UH, CREATING THE

[00:40:01]

NAME OF FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT AND MOVING REAL ESTATE OUTTA PUBLIC WORKS AND MOVING THOSE APPROPRIATIONS INTO THE NEW COMBINED DEPARTMENT OF FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT.

THAT IS THE PRIMARY CHANGE.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CHANGES WITHIN THE TRANSFER SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE, UH, TO CORRECT THE NAMES OF SOME OF THE THING.

NAME CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURRING, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, UH, IN THE ORDINANCE, IF IT'S, UH, GOT AN UNDERLINE OR A STRIKE THROUGH.

THOSE ARE CHANGES.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY CHANGES YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE TODAY.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED.

SO, UH, IT'S OKAY IF IT'S WITH US.

IF YOU APPROVE IT TODAY, IF YOU SEND IT BACK TO COMMITTEE, WE'LL COME TO COMMITTEE, HOWEVER Y'ALL CHOOSE TO PROCEED.

SCHULTZ.

RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THIS IS ON THE AMENDMENT TIP NUMBER.

THIS, UM, THE IDEA OF SENDING EVERY SINGLE STAFF CHANGE BACK TO COMMITTEE, UH, IS A CLEAR OVERSTEP, UH, OF OUR, OF OUR JOB.

AND IT ALSO BEGINS TO WATER DOWN THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED LAST SEPTEMBER.

THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME TO WEIGH IN, PLENTY OF TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS.

IT'S THE WHOLE REAL ESTATE ASPECT HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH GPFM TO START TO MICROMANAGE THE, THE NAMES OF COMMITTEES AND THE FUNCTION.

I MEAN THE OF DEPARTMENTS AND THE FUNCTION OF THEM IS A INCREDIBLE OVERREACH ON OUR PART.

AND I CANNOT SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT WOULD, UH, THAT WOULD DELAY THE PROCESS OF OUR LEADERSHIP BEING ALLOWED TO MOVE THEIR STAFF AS THEY NEED.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

ARVA, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT.

I, I, I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION, BUT, UM, MR. IRELAND MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THIS.

SO, UM, IF, IF I CAN ASK, DID THIS ALREADY GO THROUGH COMMITTEE THE FIRST TIME BEFORE WE APPROVED IT BEFORE? I KNOW THERE'S TECHNICAL CHANGES, BUT NOW, BUT DID THIS GO THROUGH GPFM BEFORE MAYORS BEFORE WE APPROVED IT? THE LAST, IF, IF, IF THE CHAIR CAN ANSWER, I'M, I'M FINE WITH THAT.

I MEAN, THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT DID THE, THE ACTUAL MINUTE CHANGES, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING DID NOT.

BUT WE HAVE ON THE, A LOT OF IT INVOLVES THE REAL ESTATE, UM, CONSOLIDATION AND WE'VE, WE TALK ABOUT THAT EVERY MONTH.

SO THAT'S NOT A SURPRISE.

VERY GOOD.

AND I, I, UH, JUST WANTED, I'M NOT ON THAT COMMITTEE, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, I DIDN'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAD ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT GOING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE BEFOREHAND.

I KNOW THERE'S TECHNICAL CHANGES WITH NAMES OF DEPARTMENTS AND EVERYTHING.

I I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT IF THIS WENT THROUGH COMMITTEE BEFORE, UH, JEANETTE, WE, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, THE NAME CHANGE ITSELF DID NOT GO BEFORE COMMITTEE.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND SO, BUT THAT, THOSE ARE TECHNICAL CHANGES.

SO, UM, I KNOW OUR CITY MANAGER IS CONSOLIDATING IN ORDER TO, UM, TAKE DOWN SILOS AND MAKE SURE WE ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND, UM, WITH THE INCOMING BUDGET.

AND SO SHE'S GOTTA DO SOME OF THESE THINGS NOW SO SHE CAN CONTINUE TO FINISH THE, UM, YEAR.

SO, UM, I I'M GONNA, I'M NOT GONNA, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF SENDING IT BACK, MR. MAYOR, SIMPLY BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IT ALL.

AND, UM, IF PEOPLE NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS, THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND ASK THEM HERE.

AND, UM, IF, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE HERE.

I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE HERE ALL DAY AND NIGHT IF WE HAVE TO BE.

AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT 'CAUSE WE'RE HERE TO DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS.

UM, CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MS. MENDELSSOHN'S AMENDMENT TO ITEM THREE.

THANK YOU, UH, AS A, UH, SITTING ME MEMBER NOW WHO, EXCUSE ME, CONTINUES TO LOOK AT THE VERBIAGE OF, OF SOME OF MANY OF THESE, OF ALL OF THEM ACTUALLY.

AND AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY MANAGER'S POSITION THAT IS ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE CHARTER, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I PUT THIS ON THE RECORD, THE CITY MANAGER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MANAGE DAY TO DAY NUMBER TWO, IF THIS BUSINESS HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IN COMMITTEE THREE, WE SHOULD BE ABOUT TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS TO SUPPORT THE CITY MANAGER WHO HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE CHARTER, THAT POSITION TO MANAGE DAY TO DAY SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF DAY TO DAY.

AND SO I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.

I DO SUPPORT MOVING THIS FORWARD.

CHAIRMAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR POSITION, BUT I KNOW YOU WELL ENOUGH THAT IF YOU SAY THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND YOUR VICE CHAIR IS BEEN DISCUSSED.

AND SO THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO REHASH THIS TODAY.

WE NEED TO MOVE ON.

WE HAVE A TON OF ITEMS THAT NEED TO TAKE, BE TAKEN CARE OF ENOUGH.

A LOT OF CITY BUSINESS THAT HAS TO BE HANDLED.

AND THIS IS PART OF THE BUSINESS.

SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT AND THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUSINESS FOR THE PEOPLE IN

[00:45:01]

THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THANK YOU CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THESE ARE TECHNICAL CHANGES.

UH, WHAT'S THE, WHY IS THIS COMING TO COUNCIL FOR A, UM, A VOTE? SO THE ITEM NUMBER THREE WORKS IN TANDEM WITH ITEM NUMBER TWO.

SO ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A NAME CHANGE, UM, FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING SERVICES.

ITEM NUMBER THREE, UM, REALLOCATES THE FUNDING.

SO IT MOVES THE BUDGET FOR BUILDING SERVICES INTO THE NEW DEPARTMENT NAME.

IT MOVES THE REAL ESTATE FUNCTION OUT OF PUBLIC WORKS INTO THE NEW DEPARTMENT.

SO THERE ARE TWO ITEMS THAT ARE PART OF SORT OF THE REORG OF BUILDING SERVICES IN THE REAL ESTATE DIVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS.

AND SO WHEN WE'RE APPROVING BUDGETS THAT'S REQUIRED FOR A COUNCIL VOTE.

WELL CORRECT.

SO IF YOU'RE APPROVING A NAME CHANGE AND YOU'RE CREATING, UM, THIS NEW DEPARTMENT, THEN YOU WOULD WANT THE BUDGET TO FOLLOW.

AND SO APPROVING ITEM TWO WITHOUT ITEM THREE, UM, IT'S SORT OF, WELL, THE, THE FUNDING IS STILL SITTING IN THE OLD DEPARTMENT.

SO THIS IS THE, THE TWO ITEMS COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER.

THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT.

UM, CITY ATTORNEY, CAN YOU CLARIFY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUDGET? IS THAT THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CITY COUNCIL? THE CHART OF THE CITY MANAGER PRESENTS THE BUDGET AND CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE BUDGET.

UM, HAS THIS ITEM BEEN TO COMMITTEE? SO THE, UH, BUDGET APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENT HAS NOT BEEN TO COMMITTEE.

SO IT HAS NOT BEEN TO COMMITTEE.

AND I CHAIRED THIS COMMITTEE FOR FOUR YEARS.

I DON'T RECALL A SINGLE TIME WE HAD A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT DID NOT COME BEFORE GPFM.

CAN YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG? SO THE JUNE ACTION ITEM THAT, UH, CREATED THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, UM, AND DEVELOPMENT WENT TO COUNCIL THE END OF JUNE AND IT DID NOT GO TO COMMITTEE.

OKAY, SO I'M SORRY.

WHEN, WHEN I WAS CHAIR HAD WE EVER HAD A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT DIDN'T GO TO GPFM? NOT TO MY RECOLLECT RECOLLECTION IF YOU, WHEN YOU WERE THE CHAIR, HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD A BUDGET AMENDMENT GO TO COUNCIL THAT DID NOT GO TO COMMITTEE THIS FISCAL YEAR.

OKAY, FAIR ENOUGH.

UM, AND IS IT POSSIBLE THAT OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE IN THIS, UM, IN THIS ORDINANCE COULD ALSO BE REALLOCATED AT THIS TIME? SO WE HAVE A PROCESS WHERE WE AMEND THE BUDGET TRADITIONALLY AT MIDYEAR AND END OF YEAR YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND THE BUDGET AT END OF YEAR.

THAT ITEM IS SCHEDULED TO GO TO COUNCIL.

THE LAST AGENDA MEETING IN SEPTEMBER, AS WE DISCUSSED BACK IN MAY AT THE MIDYEAR, WE, WE, UM, PRESENTED TO COUNCIL AND WE SAID THAT WE WOULD COME BACK WITH, UM, REALLOCATION ASSOCIATED WITH ARPA ANY END OF YEAR CLEANUP.

SO YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AT END OF YEAR TO REALLOCATE FUNDING AND, AND IT IS GOING TO GPFM.

OKAY, THEN I'LL WITHDRAW MY MOTION.

ALRIGHT, THE MOTION'S BEEN WITHDRAWN.

OBJECTION.

SO WE'RE BACK ON ITEM THREE AS IT WAS WRITTEN TO THE RECORD.

AH, AND IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANYONE? ALRIGHT THEN.

11 IS TO AUTHORIZE ONE ANNUAL LEASE RENTAL RATES AT DALLAS LOVE FIELD OF 85 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT FOR AERONAUTICAL UNIMPROVED LAND B, $1 AND 10 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT FOR AERONAUTICAL IMPROVED LAND C $5 AND 50 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT FOR STORAGE HANGERS.

YOUR NEXT PULLED ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM 11.

AGENDA ITEM

[11. 24-2253 Authorize (1) annual lease rental rates at Dallas Love Field of (a) $0.85 per square foot for aeronautical unimproved land; (b) $1.10 per square foot for aeronautical improved land; (c) $5.50 per square foot for storage hangars; (d) $6.25 per square foot for maintenance hangars; (e) $11.00 per square foot for office space; (f) $11.00 - $12.00 per square foot for cargo and support facilities; (g) $30.00 per square foot for terminal office space; (h) $2.64 to $3.85 per square foot for non-aeronautical commercial and retail use land; (i) $1.38 - $2.10 per square foot for non-aeronautical office use land; (j) $8.00 - $12.00 per square foot for non-aeronautical warehouse and storage use, and (k) $2.64 - $3.85 per square foot for non-aeronautical rental car development land, effective September 1, 2024; and (2) lease rental rates at Dallas Executive Airport of (a) $400.00 per month for T- hangars; (b) $20.00 per square foot annually for terminal office space; (c) $30.00 per day for single-engine aircraft tiedown; (d) $40.00 per day for multi-engine aircraft tiedown; (e) $6.00 per square foot annually for restaurant space; (f) $0.56 per square foot annually for non-aeronautical commercial land along Hampton Road and Challenger Drive; (g) $0.28 per square foot annually for other commercial land and light industrial; (h) $0.45 per square foot annually for aeronautical unimproved land; (i) ($0.55 per square foot annually for aeronautical improved land; and (j) $5.50-$6.50 per square foot annually for storage/maintenance hangars, effective September 1, 2024 - Financing: This action has no cost consideration to the City (see Fiscal Information)]

D $6 AND 25 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT FOR MAINTENANCE HANGERS.

E $11 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR OFFICE SPACE.

F $11 TO $12 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR CARGO AND SUPPORT FACILITIES.

G $30 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR TERMINAL OFFICE SPACE.

H $2 AND 64 CENTS.

TWO $3 AND 85 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT.

FOR NON AERONAUTICAL COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL USE LAND I $1 38 CENTS TO $2 AND 10 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT.

FOR NON AERONAUTICAL OFFICE USE LAND J $8 TO $12 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR NON AERONAUTICAL WAREHOUSE AND STORAGE USE.

[00:50:01]

AND K 2060 4 CENTS TO $3 85 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT FOR NON AERONAUTICAL RENTAL CAR DEVELOPMENT LAND EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2024 AND TWO.

LEASE RENTAL RATES AT DALLAS EXECUTIVE AIRPORT OF $400 PER MONTH FOR T HANGERS.

THE $20 PER SQUARE FOOT ANNUALLY FOR TERMINAL OFFICE SPACE.

C $30 PER DAY FOR SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT.

TIE DOWN D $40 PER DAY FOR MULTI MULTI-ENGINE AIRCRAFT.

TIE DOWN SIX, I'M SORRY, E $6 PER SQUARE FOOT ANNUALLY FOR RESTAURANT SPACE.

F 56 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT ANNUALLY FOR NON AERONAUTICAL COMMERCIAL LAND ALONG HAMPTON ROAD AND CHALLENGER DRIVE.

G 28 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT ANNUALLY FOR OTHER COMMERCIAL LAND AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL H 45 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT ANNUALLY FOR AERONAUTICAL UNIMPROVED LAND I 55 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT ANNUALLY FOR AERONAUTICAL IMPROVED LAND AND J $5 AND 50 CENTS TO $6 AND 50 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT ANNUALLY FOR STORAGE MAINTENANCE HANGERS EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2024.

THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE, IS THERE A MOTION MOVE APPROVAL? SECOND.

MOVE SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION CHAIRMAN GRACIE? YES.

AND I'M NOT GONNA TURN THIS INTO A, JUST AN ENTIRE BRIEFING, UH, ON THAT ONE.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THAT, THAT, UH, KIND OF SLIPPED BY ME.

I SENT SOME QUESTIONS, UH, TO STAFF LAST NIGHT, UH, JUST REGARDING THE, THE VARIOUS RATES.

UM, AND, AND IN PARTICULAR, AND JUST IF YOU CAN JUST EXPLAIN FOR THE PUBLIC, UH, THE, THE ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT CAUGHT MY EYE WAS AERONAUTICAL, UNIMPROVED LAND AND AERONAUTICAL IMPROVED LAND.

AND I SEE AND SOMEWHAT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE IN THE RATES BETWEEN LOVE FIELD AND EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, BUT REALLY WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT RANKS AROUND THE MARKET AND COMPARABLE, UH, EXECUTIVE AIRPORTS PUSH YOUR BUTTON.

INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

MY NAME IS DAWN BLAIR.

UH, THAT INCLUDES DALLAS EXECUTIVE.

UH, THE RATES ARE, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY AVIATION TERMS. SO UNIMPROVED IS JUST DIRT.

IMPROVED CAN BE ANYTHING FROM A RAMP CONCRETE TO INCLUDE AND TO INCLUDE A STRUCTURE.

AND THEN, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS AND I DON'T WANNA MAKE THIS GO INTO AGAIN ANOTHER BRIEFING OR SPEND ANY MORE TIME ON THIS, BUT, UH, IT REFERENCED A REPORT.

IF I COULD GET A COPY OF THAT REPORT AS WELL AS JUST SPEND SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT RATES AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING HOW WE COMPARE TO OTHER AIRPORTS.

AND THEN, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS MENTIONED YESTERDAY ABOUT MARKETING AND I REMEMBER WHEN THIS WAS IN HIS DISTRICT, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT MARKETING.

UH, SO I WANNA BRING THAT CONVERSATION BACK UP AS WELL AND SEE HOW WE CAN BRING SOME DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY OVER INTO THAT AIRPORT.

TO BE CLEAR, IT IS AN APPRAISAL, SO IT'S MARKET DRIVEN.

UH, BOTH APPRAISALS ARE LOOKED AT, UH, IN COMP, IN TO COMP FOR COMPARABLE AIRPORTS, BOTH GA AND COMMERCIAL.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE WILL SHE SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST ITEM 11? SEEING NONE.

YOUR NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM 21.

ITEM

[21. 24-2240 Authorize (1) the quitclaim of 11 properties acquired by the taxing authorities from the Tax Foreclosure Sheriff's Sale that will be sold to the highest qualified bidders; and (2) the execution of release of liens for any non-tax liens that may have been filed by the City and were included in the foreclosure judgment (list attached to the Agenda Information Sheet) - Estimated Revenue: $87,000.00 (see Fiscal Information)]

21 AUTHORIZED ONE.

THE QUIT CLAIM OF 11 PROPERTIES ACQUIRED BY THE TAXING AUTHORITY FROM THE TAX FORECLOSURE SHERIFF'S SALE THAT WILL BE SOLD TO THE HIGHEST QUALIFIED BIDDERS AND TO THE EXECUTION OF RELEASE OF LIENS FOR ANY NON-TAX LIENS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN FILED BY THE CITY AND WERE INCLUDED IN THE FORECLOSURE JUDGMENT.

THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ARNOLD, IS THERE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OR ANY SORT? I'M LISTENING.

ALRIGHT, I HEARD A MOTION FOR APPROVAL AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD? NO, WE'VE GOTTEN IT CLEARED UP.

OKAY, THANK WE JUST CLEARED.

OKAY, THANKS.

WELL, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AGENDA ITEM 29, CONSENT AGENDA.

NEXT ITEM, YOUR NEXT AGENDA ITEMS CONSENT

[29. 24-2184 Authorize (1) an Agreement with NFL Logistics, for contribution of funds towards the warranted traffic signal installation at the intersection of Bonnie View Road and Telephone Road in the City of Dallas; (2) an increase in appropriations in an amount not to exceed $112,500.00 in the Transportation Special Projects Fund; and (3) the receipt and deposit of funds in an amount not to exceed $112,500.00 in the Transportation Special Projects Fund - Not to exceed $112,500.00 - Financing: Transportation Special Projects Fund ]

ITEM 29 IS AUTHORIZED ONE IN AGREEMENT WITH NFL LOGISTICS FOR CONTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TOWARDS THE WARRANTED TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSTALLATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF BONNIE VIEW ROAD AND TELEPHONE ROAD IN THE CITY OF DALLAS TO AN INCREASE IN APPROPRIATIONS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $112,500 IN THE TRANSPORTATION SPECIAL PROJECTS FUNDS FUND.

AND THREE, THE RECEIPT AND DEPOSIT FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $112,500 IN THE TRANSPORTATION SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND.

THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY MAYOR PRO TIMM ATKINS.

IS THERE A MOTION? YES, I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM WITH THE FOLLOWING, CHANGE TO DEVELOP APPROPRIATION SHARE OF THE COST FOR THE INSTALL OF THE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE IS REDUCED TO $85,000.

[00:55:01]

CAN I CALL HAVE FIVE MINUTES? YEAH.

CAN I CALL GUS TO COME BACK TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THIS ITEM? GOOD MORNING.

GUSMAN CARLEY, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

SO THIS IS IN THE INLAND PORT AREA OFF OF BON VIEW AND TELEPHONE ROAD.

WE HAVE SEVERAL, UH, DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA WITH WAREHOUSES AND AT THE CORNER OF, UH, TELEPHONE ROAD AND, UH, BON VIEW.

UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL, UH, DEVELOPMENTS AND WE'VE ALREADY COLLECTED ABOUT 75% OF THE FUNDS TOWARDS A, UH, UH, THE SIGNAL AT THAT LOCATION, WHICH IS A WARRANTED SIGNAL.

THIS IS A VERSION ZERO ITEM.

IT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR, UH, SAFETY.

AND WHAT HAPPENED ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS THAT WE HAD A, UH, AN EXISTING OLD CONTRACT THAT SHOWED THE, UH, AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTION TO BE $85,000.

UM, BUT THE PROJECT WENT DORMANT FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT IS REACTIVATED.

AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE MAKING THAT CORRECTION, THAT WHICH WILL ALLOW US, IF APPROVED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN OF THE NEW SIGNAL AND INSTALLATION OF THAT WARRANTED SIGNAL AT THAT LOCATION.

WITH THAT MAYOR, I SUPPORT IT.

IT'S A TRAFFIC LIGHT.

WE DO HAVE 75% OF THE FUNDS ALREADY AVAILABLE.

THAT THAT IS CORRECT SIR.

WE DO HAVE ABOUT 75% OF THE FUNDS ALREADY IN PLACE.

AND IT ALSO ABOUT, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY ALSO.

THAT IS CORRECT, SIR, ESPECIALLY AT THAT INTERSECTION BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED THAT TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO ELIMINATE THE INTERSECTION.

ANYONE ELSE WE SHOULD BE GONE FOR AGAINST ITEM 29 AS IT WAS READ BY, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM.

A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS IN YOUR AGENDA ORIGINALLY.

YOUR NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM 66.

[66. 24-2204 Authorize an eighteen-month service contract for the distribution of in-home garden kits to provide residents with a recurring supply of fresh grown produce for the Office of Community Care - Bellcam Group, most advantageous proposer of four - Not to exceed $200,000.00 - Financing: ARPA Redevelopment Fund (subject to annual appropriations)]

AGENDA ITEM 66.

AUTHORIZE AN 18 MONTH SERVICE CONTRACT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF IN-HOME GARDEN KITS TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH A RECURRING SUPPLY OF FRESH GROWN PRODUCE FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE BELL CAM GROUP.

MOST ADVANTAGEOUS PROPOSE ARE FOUR NOT TO EXCEED $200,000.

THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS WEST AND ARNOLD, IS THERE A MOTION ON 66? UM, YES.

MOVED TO APPROVE THIS? YES SIR.

I SECOND.

IT WHAT? WELL, I'M GETTING READY TO READ.

YEAH, IT'S DO DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO READ? YES.

OR WAS THAT YOU JUST MADE A MOTION? WAS THAT THE MOTION? YOU WANT US TO APPROVE OR YOU HAVE A CERTAIN NO, LET, MAYOR, LET ME START OVER AGAIN.

I GOT, SO CAN WE, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, WE'LL WITHDRAW THE MOTION IN THE SECOND THAT WAS JUST MADE.

UM, CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION.

SO, UH, TO MAYOR AND COUNSEL, I MOVE TO DEFER THIS ITEM UNTIL OCTOBER 23RD.

2024.

ALRIGHT, THAT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD? YES, SIR.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR MOTION.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

UH, AS CHAIRWOMAN OF THE, UH, WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND EQUITY COMMITTEE, THIS ITEM CAME BEFORE US THROUGH A BRIEFING MEMORANDUM.

AND WE DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROGRAM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SEND TO YOU, UH, SEND A MEMO OUT TO YOU REQUESTING THAT AFTER YOU READ, UH, THE BRIEFING MEMO, THAT YOU SUBMIT ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO STAFF SO THAT WE WILL KNOW, UH, SO THAT YOU CAN GET THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS BEFORE IT COMES BACK TO US.

AND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO REAL, REAL, REALLY, REALLY DEEP DOWN IN THE DIRT TO GET THE ANSWERS THAT WE SO DESIRE.

SO THAT'S WHAT, THAT IS THE MAIN REASON.

UH, WE ARE ASKING FOR HELP, UH, FOR YOU IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING US ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

MAYOR, THANK YOU.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM 66.

AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE.

I KNOW SHE JUST TOOK OVER THE COMMITTEE AND SHE IS, UH, UM, PASSIONATE ABOUT, UH, HEARING ALL THESE ITEMS. I HAD SENT STAFF SOME EMAILS, QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM.

UM, OVER THE WEEKEND AFTER WE GOT THE AGENDA, I DID NOT SEE RESPONSES.

UM, AND SO I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND SEE IF I COULD GET STAFF UP HERE TODAY SO I COULD GET SOME ANSWERS.

UM, JUST, I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT THE DEFERRAL, BUT DEPENDING ON THE ANSWERS, I MIGHT BE MORE INTERESTED IN A DENIAL.

JESSICA GHA, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE.

THE FUNDING SOURCE IS ARPA MONEY, RIGHT? CORRECT.

UM, SO WHICH DEPARTMENT OR ENTITY PROPOSED THIS EXPENDITURE? UM, SO THE ORIGINAL PROJECT WAS A JOINT, UM, PROJECT BETWEEN THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE AND THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

AND IT IS, UM, IT, IT DID HAPPEN A WHILE AGO.

IT WAS, UH, DURING INITIAL DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO OUR P UH, PROJECT PLANNING AND WHERE, UM, SO

[01:00:01]

SO IT'S, THERE'S A LIMITED TIME TO USE IT.

UM, WHICH CITY GOAL OR PLAN DOES THIS OR POLICY? DOES THIS PARTICULAR ITEM SUPPORT? YEAH.

SO, UM, I THINK THAT IT REALLY SUPPORTS A COUPLE OF THE CITY, UM, GOALS.

THE FIRST BEING IN OUR RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.

UM, OUR BIG AUDACIOUS GOAL RELATED TO CREATING THE MOST, UM, UH, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN A LARGE CITY.

UM, AND THEN ALSO, UM, THERE'S SOME ALIGNMENT WITH SOME OF THE GOALS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE URBAN AGRICULTURE PLAN.

UM, AS I MENTIONED, UM, MUCH OF THE DESIGN OF THE SOLICITATION AND THE SPECIFIC, UM, BOXES THAT WERE BEING SOLICITED WERE, UM, SUPPORTED AND INFORMED, UH, BY THE EXPERTISE OF THE URBAN AG TEAM HERE IN THE CITY.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THE PROCUREMENT FIRST WENT OUT FOR THIS ITEM, THERE WERE NO RESPONSES, RIGHT? THERE WERE RESPONSES, BUT IN REVIEWING THEM, UM, WE DID NOT FEEL THAT THEY WERE RESPONSIVE.

SO THEY WERE BOXES, OKAY.

BUT THEY DIDN'T MEET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE ONE CRITICAL REQUIREMENT IS THAT THEY MUST PRODUCE IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY IS SUPPORTIVE AND SUPPLEMENTAL TO THE FOOD NEEDS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY.

SO IT WASN'T REALLY JUST INTENDED TO BE A HOBBY KIT, BUT IT NEEDED TO BE DESIGNED FOR REAL PRODUCTION.

HOW MUCH, UM, HOW MANY FOOD KITS ARE PROPOSED UNDER THIS CURRENT BUDGET? SO THE ENTIRE CONTRACTUAL AMOUNT WOULD ALLOW FOR UP TO A THOUSAND FAMILIES TO BE SERVED.

UM, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE KITS, THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT SIZE OPTIONS, WHICH WOULD DEPEND ON THEIR SPACE AVAILABLE, THE SIZE OF THE FAMILY, UM, AND THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS OR REQUESTS.

UM, SO THERE'S A SMALL, MEDIUM OR LARGE OPTION.

UH, WE DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE DEMAND WOULD BE BECAUSE THE PILOT WAS, UM, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

SO WE ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE DEMAND, BUT WE'RE, OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO DISTRIBUTE AT LEAST 500 HOUSEHOLDS.

WE WOULD EXPECT IT COULD BE UP TO A THOUSAND IF THIS PROJECT IS AUTHORIZED AT THIS AMOUNT.

ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT, THE MAIN CONCERNS I HAD WITH THIS ITEM WAS THAT WHEN I RESEARCHED THE VENDOR, IT APPEARED THAT THEY WERE A REAL ESTATE COMPANY.

AND SO I WAS CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE VENDOR'S BACKGROUND WAS IN PROVIDING FOOD, UM, CLOSING A FOOD GAP AND WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE IS.

SO, UM, I, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, WE, AND PERHAPS THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE IF THEY WANNA ADDRESS THIS MORE DIRECTLY, BUT THROUGH THE PROCESS, WE DO HAVE, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VENDOR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THEIR BACKGROUNDS AND QUALIFICATIONS.

UM, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REVIEW THE DOCUMENT, UM, AND THEY DID PROVIDE, UM, SOME EXTENSIVE, NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF BEING INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY EVENTS IN, UM, URBAN AGRICULTURAL WORK AND GARDEN BOX TYPE WORK.

UM, IN FACT, I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THIS AT THE TIME.

UM, BUT THEY'VE ACTUALLY DONE SOME PARTNERSHIPS EVEN IN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS IN SUPPORT OF SOME OF OUR, UH, GARDEN BOXES AND COMMUNITY GARDENS.

UM, AND THE, UH, PRIMARY RESPONDENT, UM, IS A, IS A, OH GOSH, I'M GONNA GET THIS WRONG.

UH, THE AGRILIFE EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER, I BELIEVE, UH, MY MOM IS ONE OF THOSE, SO I SHOULD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S CALLED.

UH, BUT SHE, UH, THE PRIMARY, UH, AND RESPONDENT IN THIS, UH, GROUP HAS THAT CERTIFICATION.

ADDITIONALLY, THEY HAVE SEVERAL, UM, PARTNERS, PROJECT PARTNERS, AND UM, UH, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE STRUCTURED AS SUB-RECIPIENTS, BUT PROJECT PARTNERS THAT ARE INVOLVED THAT ARE, UH, VERY HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE URBAN AGRICULTURE, UH, AND FOOD ACCESS THROUGH URBAN AGRICULTURE SPACE.

WELL, UM, SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE DONE YOUR, YOUR RESEARCH ON THAT AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AS I HAD REFERENCED BEFORE, UM, WHAT THE KITS LOOK LIKE, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO ENVISION AS I LISTENED TO THE COMMITTEE, I WAS LIKE, HOW IF WE'RE DELIVERING A FOOD KIT, WHAT ACTUAL FOOD CAN YOU GROW IN THERE? IS IT MORE OF AN AN HERB GARDEN THAT WE, PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE, WE'RE PAYING FOR? OR IS IT, CAN YOU ACTUALLY GROW TOMATOES AND LIKE FOOD THAT THEY CAN EAT? YES.

SO, UM, THE KIT ITSELF, UM, I GOT A HOLD OF PHOTOS.

I MEAN, I THINK WE SENT THEM JUST WITHIN THE LAST FEW MINUTES THAT I GOT AHOLD OF THEM.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SEEN YET, BUT WE HAD A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS SIMILAR TO THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE POSING HERE AS WERE MENTIONED BY CHAIR ARNOLD, UM, EARLIER AS WELL.

I THINK THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS.

UM, AND SO WE ARE WORKING ON JUST COMPILING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE WE COMMITTEE'S QUESTIONS.

AND WE CAN CERTAINLY SHARE THAT WITH THE WHOLE AND WITH YOURSELF AS WELL.

COOL.

WELL, I, I THINK I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, BACK WHEN I USED TO HAVE A RESIDENT WHO, UM, WORKED FOR THE NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK, AND WE WOULD, BEFORE YOUR TIME, WE WOULD HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS COMING UP FOR FOOD ACCESS.

AND I WOULD ALWAYS VET THOSE OUT.

LIKE, IS THIS REALLY ABOUT FOOD ACCESS OR IS IT ABOUT EDUCATION? YEAH.

AND IN THIS CASE, IT SEEMS LIKE IF THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL GOAL, I COULD SUPPORT IT.

IF IT'S ABOUT CLOSING THE FOOD GAP, I WOULD BE WAY MORE SKEPTICAL.

'CAUSE I THINK THE, THE FUNDING COULD BE USED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO I'LL JUST WAIT TO HEAR THAT WHEN IT GETS TO COMMITTEE.

UM, AND, UM,

[01:05:01]

YOUR MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON M 66.

UM, I AM, UM, CURIOUS ON THE METRICS BEHIND THIS, AND ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED THESE KITS STILL USING THEM? WE KNOW THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC WE HAD AN INCREASE IN, IN PEOPLE DOING GARDENS IN THEIR HOMES, UH, INDOOR OR OUTDOOR.

UM, AND SO ARE WE FOLLOWING UP WITH RESIDENTS OR HOUSEHOLDS THAT RECEIVED THESE KITS? ARE THEY STILL IN USE? HOW MUCH FOOD WAS PRODUCED? UM, IS THERE ANY FOLLOW UP AFTER HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED THE KITS? SO, UM, WE ARE STILL GATHERING THAT INFORMATION.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LONG TERM FOLLOW UP ON THE INITIAL PILOT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY, AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS ITERATION AND OUR RESPONSE, UM, TO THOSE COMMITTEE QUESTIONS, WHICH WE'VE HEARD THAT A SIMILAR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THE METRICS AND EVALUATION WOULD LOOK LIKE.

UM, SO WE CAN TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND PUT TOGETHER A MUCH MORE, UH, DEFINED, UM, PRO, UH, EVALUATION PLAN FOR HOW WE WOULD DO THAT, INCLUDING FOLLOW UPS BEYOND, UM, KIND OF THAT INITIAL RECEIPT OF AND USE OF, UM, SO INITIALLY WE DID SOME INITIAL RECEIPT AND IT WAS KIND OF DURING WHAT WAS A SIX AND A HALF, SEVEN MONTH-ISH PROCESS, GETTING THEM ALL OUT.

IT WAS 200 AT THE TIME.

UM, AND THE RESPONDENTS THERE, UM, 75% OF THEM WERE USING THEM ACTIVELY AT THAT TIME.

UM, SOME OF THEM HAD ONLY JUST GOTTEN THEM AND MAYBE HADN'T GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT THEY WERE PRODUCING.

AND SOME OF THEM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY THAT IT, IT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY WEREN'T.

UM, BUT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED INDICATED THAT THEY WERE.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT A LONG-TERM.

FOLLOW.

AND HOW DID Y'ALL GATHER THAT, UH, INFORMATION? WE REACHED OUT TO THE RESIDENTS DIRECTLY AND AT THAT POINT IT WAS A 50% RESPONSE RATE.

SO THAT'S PRETTY GOOD IN TERMS OF FOLLOW UP AND SURVEY RESPONSE.

MS. WILLIS, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES? THANK YOU.

UH, SO WE DISCUSSED THIS, UM, BRIEFLY THIS WEEK AT COMMITTEE AND AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS LENGTH OF PROCUREMENT THAT I LOOKED ON BONFIRE ABOUT, I WOULD THINK THAT SOME OF THE ANSWERS THAT WE HAD OR, OR QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD COULD HAVE BEEN ANSWERED A LITTLE MORE SWIFTLY.

SO, UM, THAT JUST GAVE ME PAUSE.

AND THEN ANOTHER THING THAT I BELIEVE I BROUGHT UP YESTERDAY AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP WAS AROUND PROGRAMS THAT WE DO THE RESEARCH ON AND THAT WE SET UP THE SCAFFOLDING FOR, BUT THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS DOES NOT NECESSARILY NEED TO FUND AND IMPLEMENT.

AND I FEEL LIKE THIS MAY BE ONE OF THOSE, AND CERTAINLY WE CARE ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY AND WANT TO SET THAT UP SO THAT OTHERS WHO ARE CLOSER TO HAVING THAT BE THEIR CORE COMPETENCY CAN TAKE THE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY HAS MADE AND THE RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND RUN WITH IT.

WHAT ALSO GAVE ME PAUSE ON THIS WAS THAT THESE REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR ARPA, WHEN I ASKED WHAT ARE SOME OTHER WAYS IT COULD BE USED, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WAS MENTAL HEALTH.

AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS BEING CRIED OUT FOR PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP ADDRESS THAT.

I THINK THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE GETTING IT, FOOD INSECURITY.

WE'VE SPENT SO MUCH TIME ON THIS.

UM, IF WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT AT COMMITTEE, I'LL RESPECT THAT FROM THE BODY.

IT JUST FEELS LIKE THIS IS ONE OF, OF THOSE THAT WE SHOULD BLESS AND RELEASE TO SOMEONE WHO COULD HANDLE IT BETTER THAN US.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE IN THE GARDENING BUSINESS.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED YOU ALL WHO WERE NOT AT COMMITTEE TO HEAR A LITTLE MORE DEPTH AROUND THAT.

THANK YOU CHAIRMAN.

MENDELSON, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I THINK I'LL BE VERY SHORT AND JUST SAY I AM PHILOSOPHICALLY OPPOSED TO GIVING URBAN FARMING KITS TO RESIDENTS.

I THINK THIS IS FAR BEYOND THE SCOPE OF CITY GOVERNMENT AND ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO LEARN TO, UM, GROW VEGETABLES INSIDE YOUR HOME.

I'M JUST GONNA POINT YOU TO TIKTOK OR YOUTUBE.

THERE'S A MILLION DIFFERENT VIDEOS ON THIS.

IT'S VERY EASY TO DO.

I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO IT, BUT I DON'T SEE THE ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT IN THIS.

WE HAVE BILLIONS OF UNFUNDED DEFERRED MAINTENANCE THAT MUST BE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A SOCIAL PROGRAM THAT DOES NOT FIT THE SCOPE OF GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU CHAIRMAN.

RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION AT THE, UH, BRIEFING BEFORE WE THIS WEEK.

UM, BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT AROSE WAS WHETHER THIS WAS THE BEST USE OF THESE ARPA FUNDS AND THERE WAS, UM, UH, WE WE COULD NOT GET INFORMATION FROM STAFF ABOUT ALTERNATIVE USES OF THESE FUNDS, UH, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO DO ADDITIONAL RESEARCH.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS SO WE CAN DETERMINE AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL WHETHER THIS IS THE BEST USE OF THESE FEDERAL ARPA FUNDS.

MR. BASIL DUA, YOU COGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON? IM 66.

[01:10:01]

I, UM, I I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PROGRAM.

UM, IN, IN CONCEPT.

I I DO THINK THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE ANSWERED.

SO FOR THAT, I I I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.

SO I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION.

HOWEVER, I, I I JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT, UM, UH, THE OVERALL GOALS THAT WE HAVE REGARDING CCAP, UM, OR EVEN RACIAL EQUITY AND ADDRESSING, UM, FOOD INSECURITIES.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THE BOX CONCEPT IS GOING TO NECESSARILY BE A SUSTAINABLE OPTION TO, UM, TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES.

AND I, AND I'M CURIOUS TO SEE, SIMILAR TO WHAT MR. RIDLEY SAID, IF WE COULD HAVE OPTIONS OF, OF HOW THESE FUNDS COULD BE USED IN, UH, WITH THE SAME GOAL IN MIND, BUT WITH DIFFERENT CONCEPT.

UM, JUST FOR INSTANCE, I I, I KNOW RESTORATIVE FARMS HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE, UM, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE AN ASSET, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT? UM, AND SO WHAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIPS COULD WE HAVE THAT WOULD MAYBE BE MORE OF A PROGRAM THAT, UM, ENHANCES THE RESOURCES IN COMMUNITY GARDENING THAT ALREADY EXIST AND HELPING TO AMPLIFY THE EFFORTS INSTEAD OF DUPLICATING THEM.

UH, THE REALITY IS, IS WITHOUT THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND EDUCATION, PUTTING A BOX, UM, WITH, UH, ONE TIME GROW OPPORTUNITIES ISN'T NECESSARILY SOMETHING I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE SUSTAINABLE OR EVEN SOMETHING THAT WOULD RESULT IN SOMETHING TANGIBLE FOR THE RESIDENTS TO UTILIZE TO ACTUALLY EAT.

UH, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S HITTING THOSE GOALS THAT I DO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT.

SO, I I, FOR THAT, I DID, I REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION THAT WE, UM, THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS CLEAR IN SUPPORTING THIS MOTION DOES NOT MEAN I DON'T SUPPORT THE CONCEPT AND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE US TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO SEE HOW THESE FUNDS COULD BE, UH, MOST EFFECTIVE IN, UM, ACCOMPLISHING THOSE GOALS.

SO I WILL SUPPORT THIS.

MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM 66.

MAYOR, I, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.

I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTION.

HOW DO WE SUSTAIN THIS PROJECT? I MEAN, ONCE WE DO THIS, HOW ARE WE GONNA SUSTAIN? HOW ARE WE GONNA MAINTAIN IT? IS THIS A ONETIME DEAL OR? YEAH, SO LIKE MANY OF OUR, UM, THE ARPA FUNDED PROJECTS, THE IDEA IS TO DO SOMETHING THAT COULD PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO PEOPLE IN NEED, BUT THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY, UM, A GUARANTEE THAT THAT WOULD BE SUSTAINED.

UM, CONTINUALLY.

HOWEVER, THE PRODUCTS THEMSELVES ARE DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO BE USED WITH, YOU KNOW, REPLACEMENT CARTRIDGES AND BE ABLE TO BE USED CONTINUALLY FOR A LONG TERM.

SO THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ABLE TO, UM, APPLY AND, UM, RECEIVE THOSE WOULD, UM, HAVE A LONG-TERM BENEFIT.

UM, THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL.

AND WHEN YOU SAY LONG TERM, CAN YOU DEFINE LONG TERM? UM, SIX MONTHS, 12 MONTHS BEYOND THAT? I THINK IT REALLY DEPENDS.

I THINK THAT ONE ROUND CAN LAST FOR SIX MONTHS OR MORE.

AND THEN SOME OF THESE ADDITIONAL KIND OF SUPPLEMENTS, WHICH WAS ALSO KIND OF BUILT INTO THE PLAN FOR SOME OF THOSE RECIPIENTS, UH, WOULD EXTEND THAT TIME.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HOW TO MAINTAIN THIS PLAN? YOU KNOW, IT JUST GONNA BE THE SIX MONTHS AFTER THAT IT GO AWAY.

UM, HOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA MAINTAIN IT? I'M JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S A FOLLOW UP? HOW DO WE MAINTAIN IT? SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PLAN TO SUSTAIN, UM, AN ARPA FUNDED PROJECT THAT IS KIND OF INTENDED TO BE A ONETIME OR IN THIS CASE, WE DO EXPECT THAT THERE MIGHT BE A COUPLE TWO TO THREE APPLICATION PERIODS.

UM, BUT IT'S NOT INTENDED TO BECOME A CORE SERVICE CONTINUALLY.

THIS IS TO, UH, SUPPORT RESIDENTS, UM, THROUGH THE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WHILE THEY'RE AVAILABLE, UM, IN THIS WAY.

AND MAY I ADD SIR, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, , THAT THE CITY MANAGER TOLBERT HAS CHALLENGED US TO LOOK TO SEE HOW WE'RE REALIGNING, REASSESSING THE FUNDS THAT WERE INTENDED FOR ONE TIME PURPOSE, LOOKING FOR COLLABORATORS FOR PARTNERS TO BUILD AN ECOSYSTEM OF, OF FOOD EQUITY.

SO CERTAINLY WE APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS, UM, THE ISSUES BROUGHT AND THAT'S WHY WE, WE REQUESTED THAT WE BRING THIS ITEM BACK, UM, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A MORE FULSOME CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE SUSTAINED AND, AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE COUNCIL'S WISH TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

THIS IS COMING FROM OFFER FUNDS IS CORRECT? YES.

REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS THAT WERE UH, I THINK REALLOCATED AS OF MAY.

IS THAT CORRECT? UH, YES.

MM-HMM, .

THE, THE RESIDENT A FUTURE, YOU KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN AFTER THAT MONEY IS GONE AWAY, YOU KNOW, SO YOU, IT'S JUST LIKE PLANTING IN THE FIELD.

MAY, SO IT'S OFFER FUND DOING THIS.

SO THAT'S A ONE TIME INITIATIVE.

SO MY CONCERN, I CHANNEL CITY MANAGER THAT WHEN WE DO USE OFF PHONE, THAT'S A ONE TIME INSERT.

IT'S ONE TIME.

AND, UM, I JUST GOT A A FEELING THAT WHEN WE DO IT ONE TIME, YOU, YOU NOT HELPING

[01:15:01]

YOU PLANTED ONE TIME, YOU ONE HARVEST, BUT YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANOTHER HARVEST 'CAUSE YOU NEED MORE SEEDS.

SO HOW DO WE GET MORE SEEDS TO THAT COMMUNITY IF WE'RE GONNA FIGHT HUNGRY? WE NEED TO HAVE NOT JUST A ONE TIME INSERT, WE GOTTA HAVE SOME KIND OF FOLLOW UP AND, AND I WANNA CHALLENGE THE STAFF AND THE, THE CITY MANAGER.

PLEASE CONSIDER DON'T FEED A PERSON FOR THAT DAY.

YOU GOTTA FEED A PERSON FOR THE NEXT DAY OR THE NEXT DAY, NEXT DAY.

AND, AND, AND THAT'S MY CONCERN.

SO IF WE CAN FIND SOME KINDA WAY TO MAINTAIN, SUSTAIN THIS PROJECT, I DO SUPPORT IT, BUT LET'S FIND A WAY TO NOT SUPPORT IT.

JUST A ONE TIME INSERT.

WE ACCEPT THAT CHALLENGE, SIR.

ALRIGHT, CITY MANAGER, YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR PATAM ATKINSON AND LIZ, UM, UH, , OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SAID IT WELL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS. UM, IF YOU WILL NOTICE THAT IN OUR BUDGET DOCUMENT WE TALK ABOUT LOOKING AT THE WHOLE LIFE STAGES OF CARE.

AND SO I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FIND LONGER TERM SOLUTIONS AND IT WILL REQUIRE FOR US TO, UH, LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS AND HOW WE CAN, UM, CONVENE THE RIGHT, UM, ORGANIZATIONS.

UM, WE CAN THEN PROVIDE SUPPORT, NOT NECESSARILY FINANCIAL SUPPORT, BUT WE CAN GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO THE TABLE AND HOW THEY PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES, BOTH SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM.

SO WE, WE ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE.

UM, WE'RE ALREADY MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION AND I THINK GOING BACK TO THE COMMITTEE WILL ALLOW FOR US TO EVEN REIMAGINE EVEN THIS ITEM.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR FEEDBACK FROM ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, FOR TODAY.

UM, CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THE, THE ITEM IS ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO DEFER THIS, UH, PARTICULAR CONVERS, UH, ITEM UNTIL OCTOBER 23RD SO THAT WE WILL HAVE AMPLE TIME TO DO JUST WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW, IS TO PREPARE THOSE QUESTIONS.

AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE, UH, DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEE, UH, AS I STATED AS A SOMEONE, WE JUST RECEIVED THIS PARTICULAR ITEM ON MONDAY.

IT WAS JUST BRIEFED ON MONDAY.

UH, I WAS JUST APPOINTED TO THE POSITION OF CHAIR AND SO WE JUST HELD OUR FIRST BRIEFING ON MONDAY.

SO WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING THAT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO GET ALL THE QUESTIONS, WE AGREED THAT WE WERE GONNA SHOW YOU THE BOX AND OTHER DETAILS.

WE, WE WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU GET YOUR QUESTIONS TOGETHER SO THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE TO STAFF SO THE STAFF WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE FRUSTRATION.

UH, CITY MANAGERS, SOME HAVE NOT HAD QUESTIONS AS THEY WERE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE.

SO IF YOU ALL WOULD BE, UH, SUPPORTIVE OF US IN OUR ASK THAT WE GET THE, YOU GET THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, WHETHER IT'S OR OUR FUNDS OR LOOKING AT THE BOX OR UNDERSTANDING THE GOALS OF THE CITY AND THE, AND THE RESPONSE THAT WE HAVE AND THE COMMITMENT AND THE OBLIGATION TO THE TAXPAYERS AND THE CITIZENS OF WHICH WE SERVE.

SO THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING THAT YOU GIVE US A SUPPORT TO DEFER THIS ITEM.

SO WE'LL HAVE AMPLE TIME TO DO, TO CONDUCT DISCOVERY AND THANK YOU STAFF AND CITY MANAGER IF YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT.

I WANTED JUST TO REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR YOU AND STAFF AND I'M VERY SURE THAT THIS STAFF CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, GIBSON AND UH, LIZ PEREIRA, STAFF MEMBERS, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS AND DIRECTORS, THEY'RE GONNA HANDLE UP ON THEIR BUSINESS FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 66? SEEING NONE.

CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT MADAM SECRETARY, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO YOUR ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, BEGINNING WITH AGENDA ITEM 84, ITEM ITEM 84,

[84. 24-2169 Consideration of appointments to boards and commissions and the evaluation and duties of board and commission members (List of nominees is available in the City Secretary's Office)]

THIS MORNING, YOU ONLY HAVE INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS, YOUR NOMINEES FOR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT TO THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.

SHELBY BOBOWSKI IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMAN.

MS. BAKI MEETS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION SPECIAL QUALIFICATION AND THE FOLLOWING NOMINEES ARE BEING PRESENTED BY CITY INTERIM CITY MANAGER, TOLBERT, ALL MEMBERS OR NONE.

VOTING MEMBERS TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES TECHNICAL RESOURCE PANEL, AGAIN, INTER INTERIM CITY MANAGER TOLBERT IS PRESENTING.

BIANCA WALKER, PRISCILLA BENTO AND CYNTHIA SUAREZ.

THESE ARE YOUR NOMINEES, MR. MAYOR.

LOOKING FOR A MOTION? ME? I HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES

[01:20:01]

HAVE IT.

BE TAKING A FEW OF YOUR AGENDA ITEMS OUT OF ORDER.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I'LL

[86. 24-2109 Authorize acquisition of a drainage easement from Medrano Properties, LTD., a Texas limited partnership, of approximately 1,797 square feet of land located on Knight Street near its intersection with Sylvester Avenue for the Throckmorton-Reagan Drainage Improvements Project - Not to exceed $77,126.00 ($74,126.00, plus closing costs, and title expenses not to exceed $3,000.00) - Financing: Stormwater Drainage Management Capital Construction Fund (This item was deferred on June 26, 2024)]

WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 86.

AGENDA ITEM 86, AUTHORIZED ACQUISITION OF A DRAINAGE EASEMENT FROM MEDRANO PROPERTIES LTDA TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF APPROXIMATELY 1,797 SQUARE FEET OF LAND LOCATED ON NINTH STREET NEAR ITS INTERSECTION WITH SYLVESTER AVENUE FOR THE THRO MORTON REAGAN DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NOT TO EXCEED $77,126.

THIS ITEM WAS DEFERRED ON JUNE 26TH, 2024.

THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR.

IS THERE A MOTION ITEM? 86.

GUYS, WE'RE TAKING SOME ITEMS OUT OF ORDER.

WE NEED TO ACTUALLY, UM, TAKE CARE OF AS MUCH BUSINESS AS WE CAN BEFORE WE HAVE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING THAT WAS NOT POSTED UNTIL, UH, 1105.

SO WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T GO INTO SPECIAL CALL MEETING UNTIL THEN BY LAW.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA TAKE CARE AS MUCH BUSINESS AS WE CAN UNTIL THEN.

UM, SO DO WE HAVE MOTION ON A SIX? MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? UH, YES, MR. MAYOR, IF I COULD HAVE, YEAH, BEFORE FOR FIVE MINUTES, THANK YOU.

IF I COULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM UH, TWU COME UP.

JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE, UM, INDIVIDUALS SINCE UH, OUR LAST MEETING AND IF YOU WERE ABLE TO COME TO A RESOLUTION.

SARAH STANDARD FOR DIRECTOR OF DALLAS WATER UTILITIES.

UH, YES SIR, WE HAVE MET WITH THE FAMILY OF ALL OF THOSE PROPERTIES THAT WERE DEFERRED, WE ARE ON TRACK TO MOVE FORWARD AND THIS WILL GET US MOVING TOWARDS THE END GAME AND WE MAY BE BACK LATER, BUT WE'RE GOOD TO GO AT THIS POINT.

THAT'S IT.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 86? SEEING NONE.

ITEM 87, AUTHORIZE ACQUISITION OF A DRAINAGE EASEMENT FROM MADANO PROPERTIES LTDA TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF APPROXIMATELY 547 SQUARE FEET OF LAND LOCATED ON NINTH STREET NEAR ITS INTERSECTION WITH SYLVESTER AVENUE FOR THE THRO MORTON REAGAN DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NOT TO EXCEED $24,564.

ANY OPPOSED? NOTE THE OPPOSITION AYES HAVE IT NOTED.

MR. MAYOR, AGENDA

[87. 24-2110 Authorize acquisition of a drainage easement from Medrano Properties, LTD., a Texas limited partnership, of approximately 547 square feet of land located on Knight Street near its intersection with Sylvester Avenue for the Throckmorton-Reagan Drainage Improvements Project - Not to exceed $24,564.00 ($22,564.00, plus closing costs, and title expenses not to exceed $2,000.00) - Financing: Stormwater Drainage Management Capital Construction Fund (This item was deferred on June 26, 2024)]

THIS ITEM WAS DEFERRED ON JUNE 26TH, 2024.

THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR.

I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION ON ITEM 87.

MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

HER MOTION.

AND A SECOND.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN MORENO? ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE HEARING NONE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT NOTE THE OPPOSITION.

NOTED YOUR NEXT ITEM, AGENDA

[88. 24-2111 Authorize acquisition of approximately 1,200 square feet of land for a drainage easement and 1,500 square feet of land for a temporary workspace easement from John D. Garay, located at 2411 Throckmorton Street near its intersection with Sylvester Avenue for the Throckmorton-Reagan Drainage Improvements Project - Not to exceed $157,450.00 ($153,450.00, plus closing costs, and title expenses not to exceed $4,000.00) - Financing: Stormwater Drainage Management Capital Construction Fund (This item was deferred on June 26, 2024)]

ITEM 88.

AUTHORIZED ACQUISITION OF APPROXIMATELY 1200 SQUARE FEET OF LAND FOR A DRAINAGE EASEMENT WITH 1500 SQUARE FEET OF LAND FOR A TEMPORARY WORKSPACE EASEMENT FROM JOHN D GURAY, LOCATED AT 2 4 1 1 THROCKMORTON STREET NEAR ITS INTERSECTION WITH SYLVESTER AVENUE FOR THE THROCKMORTON REAGAN DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NOT TO EXCEED $157,450.

THIS ITEM WAS DEFERRED ON JUNE 26TH, 2024.

THIS IS YOUR ITEM MR. MAYOR.

ITEM 88 FOLKS, IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION FOR APPROVAL? IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION CHAIRMAN MORENO? ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE SEEING NONE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

GONNA MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 93.

OKAY, WE'RE

[93. 24-2451 Authorize the (1) acceptance of a grant upon receipt from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the federal share of the eligible capital improvement project for the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) at Dallas Love Field (Grant No. 3-48-0062-073-2024, CFDA No. 20.106) in a total amount not to exceed $4,273,853.00 for the Runway 13L-31R Runway Safety Area Improvements and Rehabilitate Taxiway A project; (2) establishment of appropriations in an amount not to exceed $4,273,853.00 in the FAA AIG FY24 Grant Fund; (3) receipt and deposit of grant funds in an amount not to exceed $4,273,853.00 in the FAA AIG FY24 Grant Fund; (4) increase appropriations in the amount not to exceed $4,273,853.00 in the Aviation Passenger Facility Charge Fund; and (5) execution of the grant agreement and all terms, conditions, and documents required by the grant agreement - Not to exceed $4,273,853.00 - Financing: FAA AIG FY24 Grant Fund]

AGENDA ITEM 93 AUTHORIZED ONE.

ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT UPON RECEIPT FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.

FAA FOR THE FEDERAL SHARE OF THE ELIGIBLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR THE AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT, A IG AT DALLAS LOVE FIELD IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,273,853 FOR THE RUNWAY.

13 L DASH THREE ONE R RUNWAY SAFETY AREA IMPROVEMENTS AND REHABILITATE TAX UAA PROJECT TWO ESTABLISHMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,273,853 IN THE F-A-A-A-I-G-F-Y 24 GRANT FUND THREE RECEIPT AND DEPOSIT OF GRANTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,273,853 IN THE F-A-A-A-I-G-F-Y 24 GRANT FUND FOR INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,273,853 IN THE AVIATION PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGE FUND.

AND FIVE EXECUTION OF THE GRANT AGREEMENT IN

[01:25:01]

ALL TERMS, CONDITIONS AND DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY THE GRANT AGREEMENT NOT TO EXCEED FOUR 1,000,200 $73,853.

THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR.

WONDERFUL.

I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION ON ITEM 93.

ANYONE SECOND OR A MOTION IN A SECOND? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE SEEING NONE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

YOUR NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM 9 2 3 94.

[94. 24-2424 Authorize (1) rejection of the bids received for the construction services contract for CIZ24-TRN-3093 - Bond Signals-Lancaster Road at Wheatland Road/Plaza Boulevard; and (2) the re-advertisement for new bids - Financing: No cost consideration to the City]

JUNE.

ITEM 94 AUTHORIZED ONE REJECTION OF THE BIDS RECEIVED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES CONTRACT FOR CIZ 24 DASH TRN DASH 3 0 9 3 BOND SIGNALS LANCASTER ROAD AT WHEATLAND ROAD PLAZA BOULEVARD AND TWO THE RE ADVERTISEMENT FOR NEW BIDS.

THIS IS YOUR ITEM MR. MAYOR.

ALRIGHT, I'M LOOKING FOR MOTION ITEM 94.

MOTION SECOND.

HER MOTION IS SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ITEM 94.

ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT MADAM SECRETARY, MR. MAYOR, YOUR REMAINING ITEMS ARE TO BE HELD.

OKAY, WELL YOU GUYS AREN'T TO CUT OUT TO BE STATE LEGISLATOR.

YOU GUYS DIDN'T CHUB THAT CALENDAR ENOUGH AND BUY ENOUGH TIME FOR US.

SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ACTUALLY TAKE A RECESS AND TRUST THAT YOU GUYS WILL COME BACK.

SO LEMME EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO HERE SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS.

UM, SO WE NEED TO RECESS THIS REGULAR AGENDA MEETING UNTIL 1:00 PM AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO NEED YOU GUYS TO COME BACK THOUGH AT 1105 SO WE CAN COMMENCE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING.

I WAS TRYING TO GET US UP TO 1105 SO WE WOULD NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE THE DAAS, BUT AGAIN, YOU GUYS DIDN'T CHUB IT ENOUGH.

YOU GUYS DIDN'T USE YOUR FIVE THROUGH ONE ENOUGH, SO, ALRIGHT, SO THIS REGULAR MEETING IS NOW AT RECESS UNTIL 1:00 PM AND I NEED YOU GUYS TO COME BACK AT, AT 1105.

YOU CAN STAY HERE IF YOU WANT TO, BUT, UM, WE JUST NEED EVERYBODY TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE BACK IN THEIR SHEETS BY 1105 SO WE CAN, WE CAN CALL THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING TO ORDER.

AND NOW I'M GOING TO READ TO YOU SOME STATUTORY LANGUAGE.

ALRIGHT, WE'RE AT RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.

OKAY, THE TIME IS 1:20 PM AND THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL.

THE AGENDA MEETING IS NOW BACK IN SESSION.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

IT IS 1:20 PM ON AUGUST 14TH, 2024.

AND THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 5 51 0.07, ONE OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS DESCRIBED ON TODAY'S AGENDA, SEEKING THE ADVICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER 85 AND 90.

WE WILL NOW GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I ANTICIPATE WILL BE IN THERE UNTIL SAY TWO O'CLOCK.

THAT'S JUST MY GUESS, BUT WE'LL BE BACK WHEN WE'RE BACK.

OKAY, CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING HAS COMPLETED ITS CLOSED SESSION ACTUALLY.

YEAH, WE COMPLETE OUR CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 5 51 0.07, ONE OF THE TEXAS OF MING ACT, AND AT 2:08 PM ON AUGUST 14TH, 2024, WE'VE RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION.

DALLAS HERO INITIATIVE AMENDMENTS.

WE WILL ACTUALLY BEGIN WITH AGENDA ITEM 90 90.

AGENDA ITEM 90 IS AN ORDINANCE GRANT.

AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF DALLAS ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY.

THREE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER SUBMITTED BY DALLAS HERO INITIATIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 9.004 A OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.

NO, NO, NO, WE, IS THAT THE RIGHT ORDER? YEAH, WE'RE DOING ONE SECOND.

[91. 24-2333 An ordinance amending Chapter 8, “Boards and Commissions,” of theDallas City Code by amending Section 8-1.5; (1) moving the limitation ofterms of the employee’s retirement fund board to Chapter 40A; amendingChapter 40A, “Retirement,” of the Dallas City Code, by amendingSections 40A-1, 40A-3, 40A-4, 40A-6, 40A-7, 40A-7.1, 40A-9, and40A-35; (2) adding, revising, and deleting various definitions; (3)providing amended terms and term limits of the board; (4) modifying theretirement fund board’s powers and duties; (5) specifying the date theboard shall adopt the actuarially determined contribution rate, the currenttotal adjusted total obligation rate, the current total obligation rate, andthe pension obligation bond credit rate for each fiscal year; (6) providingamended contribution amounts for the city and employees; (7) providinga contribution maximum for Tier A and Tier B employees; (8) providingthat the city may contribute additional monies to the retirement fund in itssole discretion; (9) amending the modifications of contribution rates; (10)providing guardrails with respect to the calculation of the actuariallydetermined contribution and incorporating the guardrails into actuarialassumptions; (11) amending the procedure to amend Chapter 40A; (12)providing a saving clause; (13) providing a severability clause; and (14)providing an effective date - Financing: This action has no costconsideration to the City (see Fiscal Information)]

APOLOGIES.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH AGENDA ITEM 91.

I'LL READ THAT ITEM INTO THE RECORD.

ITEM 91 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER EIGHT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE BY AMENDING SECTION EIGHT DASH 1.51.

MOVING THE LIMITATION

[01:30:01]

OF TERMS OF THE EMPLOYEE'S RETIREMENT FUND BOARD TO CHAPTER 40, A AMENDING CHAPTER 40 A RETIREMENT OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE BY AMENDING SECTIONS 40 A DASH ONE 40 A DASH THREE 40 A DASH FOUR 40 A DASH SIX 40 A DASH SEVEN 40 A DASH 7.1 40 A DASH NINE, AND 40 A DASH 35 2, ADDING, REVISING AND DELETING VARIOUS DEFINITIONS.

THREE.

PROVIDING AMENDED TERMS AND TERM LIMITS OF THE BOARD.

TOGETHER, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON THIS REQUIRED CHANGE AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.

MODIFYING THE RETIREMENT FUND BOARD'S, POWERS AND DUTIES.

FIVE.

SPECIFYING THE DATE THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT THE ACTUARIAL DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION RATE.

THE CURRENT TOTAL ADJUSTED TOTAL OBLIGATION RATE, THE CURRENT TOTAL OBLIGATION RATE, AND THE PENSION OBLIGATION BOND CREDIT RATE FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR.

SIX.

PROVIDING AMENDED CONTRIBUTIONS AMOUNT, CON CONTRIBUTION AMOUNTS FOR THE CITY AND EMPLOYEES.

SEVEN.

PROVIDING A CONTRIBUTION MAXIMUM FOR TIER A AND TIER B EMPLOYEES.

EIGHT.

PROVIDING THAT THE CITY MAY CON CONTRIBUTE, CONTRIBUTE ADDITIONAL MONIES TO THE RETIREMENT FUND IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION.

NINE.

AMENDING THE MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRIBUTION RATES.

10.

PROVIDING GUARDRAILS WITH RESPECT TO THE CALCULATION OF THE ACTUARIAL ACTUARILY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION AND INCORPORATING THE GUARDRAILS INTO ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS.

11.

AMENDING THE PROCEDURE TO AMEND CHAPTER 48 12, PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE 13, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND 14 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

YOU DO HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, JOE THOMPSON.

MR. THOMPSON, YOU'LL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

YOU MAY BEGIN.

N HELLO? UH, MY NAME IS JOE THOMPSON.

I CURRENTLY LIVE IN RICHARDSON, TEXAS.

FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE DALLAS CITY RETIRED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, KNOWN AS DECREE D-C-R-E-A, AND WE REPRESENT THE CITY OF DALLAS CIVILIAN AND RETIREES.

I WORKED IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS FOR OVER 44 YEARS, THE LAST 22 YEARS FOR RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL.

I WAS THE MANAGER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DALLAS WATER UTILITIES.

I THEN MOVED TO COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND I RETIRED IN 2011 AS A SENIOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER.

THE REASON THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS TO SUPPORT THE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 91, EXCUSE ME, WHICH WILL AFFECT CURRENT RETIREES AND EMPLOYEES.

WE SUPPORT.

IT'S BEING PLACED ON THE NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024 BALLOT, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO MEET THE STATE OF TEXAS PENSION REVIEW BOARD'S DEADLINE OF SEPTEMBER, 2025, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE RISK OF, UM, MOVING FROM A 30 YEAR TO A 25 YEAR AMATEURIZATION REQUIREMENT APPROVING THE FUNDING SOUNDNESS RESTORATION PLAN REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS GUARANTEES THAT THE ERF PENSION ACHIEVES 100% FUNDING OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS, AND IT ALSO IMPROVES THE CITY OF DALLAS CREDIT RATINGS WITH THE BUREAU IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE NEW FUNDING SOUNDNESS RESTORATION PLAN.

GET PLAN GUIDELINES, ERF IS PROPOSING AN INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR TIER A MEMBERS FROM 13.32% TO 14%, AND TIER B MEMBERS TO REMAIN AT 13.32.

THE CITY'S MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION LIMIT OF 36% WOULD BE REMOVED.

ALL OF THIS WILL ALLOW THE RESTORATION PLAN TO SUCCEED IN PROTECTING THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE FUND BY REDUCING LIABILITIES TO ZERO BY 2025.

EXCUSE ME, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

TO ZERO TO 2055.

I THINK I SAID THAT RIGHT.

UH, DECRE STANDS READY TO MOBILIZE MORE THAN 6,000 ACTIVE AND RETIRED VOTERS, PLUS THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO WILL VOTE THIS NOVEMBER.

IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 29

[01:35:01]

THERE ARE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.

MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION? YES.

MAYOR, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THIS MATTER WITH THE FILING CHANGES THERE, PARAGRAPH FOUR OF SECTION 48 DASH 7.1 IS REPLACED WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS HAND OUT TO YOU SECOND C Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE THE HANDOUTS SECOND.

I SECOND IT.

YEAH, THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

THANK YOU THOUGH.

IT'S OKAY.

UH, I WANNA CALL JACKIE OUT ON UP, PLEASE.

I KNOW.

I KNOW Y'ALL JUST GOT HIS HAND OUT.

SO FOR ONE WHO JUST NOT READING, WHICH NOT ON THE COMMITTEE, JACKIE EXPLAINED, UH, 48 DASH 7.1.

PARAGRAPH FOUR.

UH, JACK IRELAND, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE CITY, UH, THE, UM, MOTION THAT WAS MADE, UH, DOES MAKE A CHANGE TO, UH, SECTION OR PARAGRAPH FOUR, UH, AS MR. MAYOR PRO TIMM ATKINS REFERENCED.

UH, THE CHANGE WAS RELATED TO CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR DAYS WITH THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND STAFF AND WITH THE PENSION REVIEW BOARD.

AND SO WE'VE ADDED IN A TWO PARENTHETICAL PHRASES, EXCLUDING THE DECEMBER 31ST, 2024 UNFUNDED ACTUARIAL ACCRUED LIABILITY, WHICH HAS A 30 YEAR AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE.

AND SO IN CONVERSATION WITH THE PRB, THEY WANTED THAT, UH, KIND OF BROKEN OUT OF THE CALCULATION.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS REPRESENTS.

AND THEN WE ALSO INCLUDED, UH, LANGUAGE SO THAT IF AT ANY POINT THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO WAIVE THIS SECTION, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE FULLY FUNDED, UH, THEN WE'RE ABLE TO WAIVE THAT THIS IS A GUARDRAIL THAT'S PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE CITY.

BUT IF AT ANY POINT IN TIME THAT WE FEEL THAT THE GUARDRAIL HAS BEEN TOO RESTRICTIVE AND IS GONNA CREATE A PROBLEM FOR US, THE CITY COUNCIL CAN WAIVE IT.

ACTUARIES DO NOT BELIEVE IT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM, BUT WE WANTED THAT SAFETY CLAUSE, UH, THAT IT COULD BE WAIVED IF NECESSARY.

UM, JACK, I JUST WANNA SAY SOME PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE, UM, SPECIAL COUNCIL BLACKMAN, YOU KNOW, SHE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT GUARD RAIL, AND I THINK SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT GUARD RAIL AND WE NEED MORE GUARD RAIL ON THIS PENSION AND GUARD RAIL KEPT COMING UP.

AND, AND I WANT TO THANK, YOU KNOW, JACK AND THE PENSION AND THE, AND THE EMPLOYEES PENSION AND ATTORNEYS WORKING TOGETHER ALSO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TO, FOR THEM WORKING DAY IN, DAY OUT.

THEY, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE LAST FOUR, FOUR WEEKS YESTERDAY, LAST NIGHT WE STILL WAS STILL NEGOTIATING , UH, UNTIL ABOUT THE LAST, UH, HOUR, ABOUT RIGHT AT EIGHT 30 THIS MORNING.

WE FINALLY GOT AGREEMENT DONE EIGHT 30 THIS MORNING.

SO THEREFORE, I JUST WANNA THANK STAFF AND, AND ALL THE ATTORNEYS AND, AND THE EMPLOYEES, UH, REPRESENTED DAVE ESCHER AND CHERYL, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU COMING TO THE BOARD AND, AND TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO GET DONE.

UH, WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE LEGAL, UH, UH, ASPECT OF THE EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN MOVE FORWARD SO WE CAN GET THE FUNDING SOUND, RESPIRATORY PLAN DONE NOW, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE VOTERS.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL DO THE SUPPORT IS FULLY AND I ALSO WANNA THANK EVERYBODY ON THE COMMITTEE FOR THE SUPPORT, AND IF YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CHIME IN.

UH, UH, THING THAT WE CAN DO, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO DOING RIGHT BY OUR, UH, RETIREES.

MR. BAZEL, DO YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES WE ARE ON ITEM 91? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, I'LL, I'LL BE BRIEF.

I JUST, UH, WANT TO SAY TO OUR RETIREES, UM, THAT WE, WE ARE, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, UM, AND PROMISES WERE MADE AND WE'RE NOT GONNA LET, UH, THOSE GO BY THE WAYSIDE.

AND THAT GOES, UM, FOR POLICE AND FIRE AS WELL.

I, I, I KNOW WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT THESE BECAUSE THEY'RE SEPARATE FUNDS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE, UH, OWN CONVERSATIONS.

BUT, UM, I, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, UH, NOT ONLY IS THIS A PROMISE THAT WAS MADE FROM, UH, THE CITY, UM, IT'S A PROMISE THAT WAS MADE TO, UM, PROPERLY, UM, UH, COMPENSATE FOR, UM, A CAREER THAT HAS BEEN DEVOTED TO OUR CITY.

AND, UM, I KNOW FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE NOW IN THIS ROLE, THE UM, UH, TYPE OF PERSON IT TAKES IN, UH, THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE TALENT IS NOT ANY LESS, BUT WE KNOW THE PAY IS, UM, IT TAKES TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS TO DEVOTE THEIR CAREER, THEIR PASSION, AND THEIR TIME TO, UM, SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS NO MATTER WHAT DEPARTMENT, UH, THAT SERVICE WAS GIVEN TO.

AND SO, I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ALL, UM, WHO HAVE ADVOCATED, UM, EVEN THOSE WE HAVEN'T HEAR OR HAVEN'T HEARD FROM.

UM, AND THAT IT, THIS IS BY FAR, UH, THE MOST IMPORTANT,

[01:40:01]

AND AGAIN, THAT'S FOR BOTH CIVILIAN AND UNIFORMED.

SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE A HEARTFELT THANK YOU.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK, UH, WITH POLICE AND FIRE.

SO WE CAN ALSO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE IT RIGHT BY THEM AS WELL.

CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ITEM 91.

UH, MR. ARLAND, COULD YOU COME BACK TO THE MICROPHONE? MR. ARLAND, UH, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL WHO ARE LISTENING, COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN WHAT THIS PROVISION DOES IN LAYMAN'S TERMS? SO THE, THE ONE PROVISION THAT WAS, UH, MODIFIED IN THE MOTION IS THAT YOUR, WELL, THE, THE, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SECTION 48 DASH 7.14.

SO YES SIR, IT, IT PROVIDES A GUARDRAIL, UH, FOR THE CITY SO THAT, UM, THERE IS NOT A INCREASE IN THE A DC BY MORE THAN 5%.

SO IT CREATES A GUARDRAIL, UH, FOR US TO USE ON THE, UH, NORMAL COST IN THE ADDITIONAL LAYERS.

AND IF WE EXCEED THAT, THEN WE AMORTIZE THAT OVER A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED DECEMBER OF 20.

OH, OKAY.

LET ME STOP YOU THERE.

SORRY, IT'S GETTING TOO COMPLICATED.

THE MEANING IS GETTING LOST IN, IN THE LANGUAGE HERE.

SO AS I READ THIS, IT SEEMS TO SAY THAT IF ANY FUTURE FISCAL YEAR, LET'S SAY 10 YEARS FROM NOW, THE ACTUARILY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION RATE THAT SET EACH YEAR EXCEEDS PLUS OR MINUS 5% OF THE RATE THAT WAS DETERMINED ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2024, THAT IF THERE IS AN EXCESS AMOUNT THAT WILL BE AMORTIZED.

IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT? YOU'VE SAID IT SO MUCH BETTER THAN ME.

NOW MY QUESTION GOES ON ABOUT THE PERIOD OF THAT AMORTIZATION.

IT JUST SAYS IT WILL BE AMORTIZED OVER THE LATER OF A DATE OR 20 YEARS, BUT YOU CAN'T AMORTIZE SOMETHING ON A DATE.

YOU AMORTIZE SOMETHING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

AND I'M UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT THE INTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IS HERE.

IS IT 20 YEARS OR IS IT FROM NOW UNTIL 2054? SO BETWEEN NOW AND, UM, 2034, IT WOULD BE AMORTIZED TO 2054.

BUT ONCE WE GET TO 2034, IT'S AMORTIZED OVER 20 YEARS.

WELL, CAN WE INSERT THE WORD PERIOD IN THERE SOMEWHERE SO THAT IT SAYS, UM, OVER A PERIOD OF 20 YEARS FROM, UH, 2034 OR WHATEVER THE MEANING IS.

I'M NOT CLEAR ON WHAT THE MEANING IS, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THE WORD PERIOD NEEDS TO BE IN THERE.

ARE YOU ASKING ME? WELL, BECAUSE I'M ASKING JACK CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

I'M JACK OR THE CITY ATTORNEY.

WELL, I'M GONNA REFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY .

THANK YOU, JACK.

SO, UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME HELP, UM, AND POSSIBLY MAKING AN AMENDMENT TO MAKE A, A MINOR YES.

CHANGE.

SO BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO DEFINE THE MEANING, THE INTENDED MEANING OF THIS SO THAT WE CAN CRAFT LANGUAGE THAT DOCUMENTS THAT MEANING.

I UNDERSTAND.

SO I'M GONNA STOP YOUR TIME SO THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND, AND RESPOND TO YOU.

I DON'T WANT TO COUNT AGAINST YOUR TIME, BUT, AND, BUT IF, IF NECESSARY, YOU CAN THEN MAKE THAT MOTION.

I CAN ACCEPT .

IF I MIGHT HAVE A FEW MINUTES TO TALK TO MY FOLKS ABOUT THE CLARIFICATION, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL KEEP GOING WITH THIS DISCUSSION.

I KNOW CHAIRMAN SSON WANTS TO CHIME IN WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS AND IF, IF YOU FEEL ONCE YOU'VE HAD A CONSULTATION WITH THEM THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

WE'LL, WE'LL, I'LL ENTERTAIN THAT FOR SURE.

CHAIRMAN SEN YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM 91.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS EVEN ON THE AGENDA AND WHY THE COMMITTEE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS.

UM, WAS THIS ITEM DISCUSSED AT COMMITTEE, THIS ITEM, UM, SPECIFIC TO THE GUARDRAILS, WE HAVE NOT HAD THE EXACT LANGUAGE FOR OUR GUARDRAILS, BUT THROUGH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE THAT WE BRIEFED, WE HAVE REFERRED TO THE GUARDRAILS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, BUT NOT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE FOR THE GUARDRAILS.

SO SOME PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP THAT TOPIC, BUT THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT VOTED, GIVEN DIRECTION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT THAT IS CORRECT.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS ON OUR AGENDA WHEN WE HAVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT SAY WE SEND THESE THINGS TO COMMITTEE.

THIS COMMITTEE'S BEEN MEETING QUITE REGULARLY FOR A LONG TIME NOW WITH A THOROUGH AMOUNT OF WORK ON THE POLICE FIRE SIDE.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR ERF, WHICH I HAVE REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR, INCLUDING INDEPENDENT INFORMATION THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD.

[01:45:01]

SO THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON BOTH PENSION FUNDS SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER.

WE, THERE HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN MORE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING POLICE AND FIRE.

IN ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THOUGH, REGARDING BOTH FUNDS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE CITY'S DESIRE TO INCREASE OUR OVERSIGHT THROUGH GUARDRAILS.

UH, AND SO IT HAS LEFT COMMITTEE, IT HAS COME TO FULL COUNSEL.

UM, LAST WEEK OR ON AUGUST THE SEVENTH, IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO HAVE THE BRIEFING, SEND POLICE AND FIRE BACK TO COMMITTEE.

AND WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE, UH, IN ORDER TO CALL A NOVEMBER ELECTION TODAY IS YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

AND IS IT ESSENTIAL THIS GO TO A NOVEMBER ELECTION OR COULD THIS ACTUALLY BE ON THE MAY BALLOT? IT COULD BE ON THE MAY BALLOT.

I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.

I THINK WE'RE STILL WAITING ON LEGAL FOR YOUR ISSUE, MR. RIDLEY.

ANYONE ELSE, UH, LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 91? OH, HOLD, HOLD ON.

I, I HEARD THE RECORD VOTE REQUEST, UH, MS. WILLIS, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM NINE ONE AND I DID NOTE THE REQUEST FOR A RECORD.

UH, MR. ISLAND, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, OR MAYBE THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THE IMPLICATION IF IT WAS TO MOVE FROM NOVEMBER TO MAY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO THE, UH, PENSION REVIEW BOARD REQUIREMENT FOR ERF IS TO SUBMIT A PLAN THAT ACHIEVES THEIR REQUIREMENT OF BEING FULLY FUNDED IN 30 YEARS BY SEPTEMBER 1ST OF 25.

SO WE HAVE NOT THIS SEPTEMBER, BUT SEPTEMBER 1ST OF NEXT YEAR.

SO IF IT IS, UH, DEFERRED TODAY, IT CANNOT BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

UH, WE WOULD BRING, WE WOULD HAVE TO CALL THE ELECTION BY MID-FEBRUARY FOR A MAY ELECTION.

UH, I'M GOING TO TURN TO, I THOUGHT DAVID ERIDGE WAS HERE, UM, TO, TO ASK THEM, DAVID, IS THERE ANY ISSUE WITH TIMING FOR PROGRAMMING IF IT'S VOTED ON IN MAY? I APOLOGIZE, MS. WILLIS, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU GET A CORRECT ANSWER.

HI, JENNIFER HUGGER, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

UM, WHAT ABOUT IF WE, IF IF YOU MADE A MOTION TO MODIFY THE LANGUAGE TO, UH, AFTER THE COMMA, THE EXCESS AMOUNT WILL BE AMORTIZED OVER A PERIOD OF 20 YEARS OR DECEMBER 34 OR UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, 2054, WHICHEVER IS LATER.

AND ERF IS GOOD WITH THAT AS WELL.

AND SO TO FINISH ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, MS. WILLIS, UM, IF, IF IT IS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT AND IT FAILS, THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO WORK ON IT AND COME BACK IN MAY.

IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN NOVEMBER.

AND OUR ONLY BITE AT THE APPLE, SO TO SPEAK, IS IN MAY.

IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THE PRBS REQUIREMENTS, IN WHICH CASE WE WILL BE SUBJECT TO AMORTIZATION OVER 25 YEARS AS OPPOSED TO 30 YEARS.

IF WE DON'T MEET THE SEPTEMBER 25 DEADLINE, WE WILL BE SUBJECT TO A SHORTER AMORTIZATION PERIOD.

SO ARE THERE ANY OTHER IMPLICATIONS TO THE FUND? NO.

NO MA'AM.

SO WE'RE REALLY JUST TRYING TO GET THE JUMP ON IT TO TAKE THE SATA SECOND TIME IF WE DON'T SCORE AS WELL AS THE FIRST TIME.

SO, UM, OKAY.

WELL THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

ANYONE ELSE WE SHOULD SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST ITEM 91? IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE STILL HAVING A LITTLE LEGAL DISCUSSION BACK THERE.

UM, HOLD ON ONE SECOND, BUT LET'S STAND AT EASE FOR TWO MINUTES WHILE I FIGURE IF WE'RE GONNA GET A, AN AMENDMENT OR NOT.

ALRIGHT, WE ARE GETTING AN AMENDMENT.

SO CHAIR RECOGNIZES CHAIRMAN RIDLEY FOR A MOTION.

I MOVE TO AMEND THIS, UH, ORIGINAL MOTION TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE STARTING IN THE 10TH LINE AFTER THE WORD AMORTIZED OVER, INSERT THE LANGUAGE A PERIOD OF 20 YEARS OR UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, 2054, WHICHEVER IS LATER.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.

UH, CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO EXPLAIN YOUR AMENDMENT IF YOU SO CHOOSE.

HAD A PROBLEM WITH BY, UH, IDENTIFYING SPECIFICALLY THE PERIOD OF AMORTIZATION.

I THINK THIS LANGUAGE AS PROPOSED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, CLARIFIES THE LANGUAGE THAT I

[01:50:01]

ANYONE ELSE? WERE YOU, WERE YOU FINISHED? WELL, ACTUALLY, I, I KEEP GOING.

YOU, YOU HAD ANOTHER ISSUE.

I KNOW WHERE THE CLOCK IS IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE.

UM, IF THE CITY COUNCIL DETERMINES THAT THE FUND IS PROJECTED TO BE FULLY FUNDED IN OVER 30 YEARS, THE CITY COUNCIL MAY WAIVE THIS PARAGRAPH.

SO, UM, JACK, WHAT, HOW, HOW DOES THAT OPERATE IF THE FUND IS PROJECTED TO BE FULLY FUNDED IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS? YES, SIR.

SO, UH, AS I MENTIONED IT, IT IS A GUARDRAIL.

UM, BUT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN THAT WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE MORE BECAUSE OF THE GUARDRAIL, WE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA END UP COSTING US MORE THAN 30 YEARS, WE COULD WAIVE THE GUARDRAIL SO THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND INCREASE OUR DISTRIBUTIONS SO THAT IT WOULD BE AMORTIZED QUICKER.

IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN THAT THE GUARDRAILS CREATES A PROBLEM.

WE HAVE AN OUT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES WHAT, JACK, WE DON'T, WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

WE JUST WANTED TO HAVE SAFETY VALVES IN THERE.

AND WAS THAT A RECOMMENDATION OF THE PENSION REVIEW BOARD THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T CREATE THAT PROBLEM? YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT HELPS, UH, SATISFY THEIR CONCERNS.

WELL, OKAY.

LET'S SAY THAT THE FUND IS FULLY FUNDED IN 29 YEARS AND 11 MONTHS, THEN THIS WOULD SAY TH THIS WOULDN'T APP, WELL THIS WOULD STILL APPLY ON THE 31ST YEAR.

IT WOULD, LET'S ASSUME IT'S STILL FULLY FUNDED.

IT'S BEEN FULLY FUNDED FOR A YEAR AND ONE MONTH.

SO WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO WAIVE THIS PARAGRAPH ANYTIME AFTER IT BECOMES FULLY FUNDED.

Y YES, I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE CORRECT.

WELL, I GUESS, I MEAN, IT'S NOT A STATIC 30 YEARS, SO WE HAVE TO BE FULLY FUNDED WITHIN 30 YEARS.

AND SO I THINK TO YOUR POINT, I THINK THAT, UM, IF WE'RE FULLY FUNDED EARLIER, OUR A DC GOES DOWN, SO THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS INCREASE OF PLUS OR MINUS.

WELL, WOULD IT MEET THE INTENDED PURPOSE IF IT SAID IF WELL, UM, ONCE THE FUND IS PROJECTED TO BE FULLY FUNDED, THE COUNCIL MAY WAIVE THIS PARAGRAPH.

I I JUST WANT THE MEETING TO BE CLEAR.

I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL HAS TO, UM, BE BRIEFED ON IT AND THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT IF IT'S CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER CHAPTER 8 0 2, THEN THEY SHOULD WAIVE IT.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

JUST THAT MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY WITHIN THE 30 YEARS AND THAT THIS GUARDRAIL DOES NOT CREATE A PROBLEM.

AND I THINK THE PRB JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHILE THE, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD FOR BOTH THE FUND AND THE CITY, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF WAIVER PROVISION IF WE DO CREATE OUR OWN PROBLEM.

THAT THAT'S FINE.

MR. MAYOR, I, I STAND ON MY MOTION, UH, TO AMEND DO WHAT TO YOUR MOTION? I, I STAND ON MY ORIGINAL MOTION TO AMEND.

OKAY, SO YOU MEAN YOU'RE NOT GONNA TRY TO AMEND YOUR AMENDMENT, YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE IT? NO.

UH, CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MR. RIDLEY'S AMENDMENT TO ITEM 91.

WELL, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MR. RIDLEY FOR, UM, HIS KEEN EYE ON THE WORDING.

OF COURSE, THE ENTIRE ISSUE THAT WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AT COMMITTEE.

THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING.

WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS.

AND THIS JUST GOES TO THE POINT ON WHY WE, WE ARE SKIPPING OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, HOLDING TO 'EM WHEN IT'S NOT.

AND I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT.

I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE I ASSUME THIS WILL PASS AND I WANT IT TO BE AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE AND I THINK YOU'VE MADE IT BETTER.

THE PROBLEM IS THE COMMITTEE NEVER LOOKED AT THIS AND THE COMMITTEE NEVER AGREED TO THIS.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT DID COME UP IN COMMITTEE.

ANYONE ELSE? WILL SHE SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST MR. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY'S MOTION? I WANNA SPEAK MAYOR PORT FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE RIDLEY AMENDMENT.

I I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE IN PROCESSING PROCEDURE.

WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT GUARDRAIL THE WAY THROUGH MY COMMITTEE IN THAT HOT COMMITTEE, AND I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT GUARD RAIL.

WE TALKING ON BOTH THE EMPLOYEES HERE AND THIS IS KIND OF TWEAKED AND I WANT TO THANK, UM, CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO MAKE THE COMMENTS IN THE PERIOD CORRECTLY ENGLISH WAY.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT AND SO I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOW IF YOU DID MISS IT, UH, THE, THE GUARDRAIL, UM, I APOLOGIZE, BUT, BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH IT FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, SO, SO THEREFORE

[01:55:01]

ANYONE ELSE WISH YOU SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST THE WR AMENDMENT? SAY NONE.

ITEM 91 IS AMENDED AS MR. RIDLEY SUGGESTED.

AND NOW WE ARE BACK ON ITEM 91 AS AMENDED.

ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST ITEM 91 IS AMENDED.

SAY NONE WAS A RECORD VOTE REQUESTED A RECORD VOTE WAS REQUESTED.

SO, MADAM SECRETARY, GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL PLEASE.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS? NO.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM UA AGAINST YOUR OWN MOTION.

MOTION AS AMENDED, I THINK TO ADOPT IT.

THIS, YEAH, THIS IS, WE'RE NOW ON ITEM 91 AS IT WAS AMENDED.

THIS IS YOUR ORIGINAL MOTION NOW? I THINK SO, YES.

IS WHAT I HEARD HIM SAY.

NOTED.

MAYOR JOHNSON KNOW MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS? YES.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BASIL DOA? YES.

WITH 13.

VOTING IN FAVOR TO OPPOSE.

THE ITEM PASSES MR. MAYOR.

ALRIGHT, UH, LET'S MOVE ON TO, UM, ITEM, I GUESS 92 IS NEXT.

92 IS AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF DALLAS ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024.

AGENDA ITEM

[92. 24-2533 An ordinance ordering a special election to be held in the city of Dallas onNovember 5, 2024, on the question of amending Chapter 40A of theDallas City Code, known as the employees' retirement fund of the city ofDallas - Financing: No cost consideration to the City (See FiscalInformation)]

ON THE QUESTION OF AMENDING CHAPTER 40 A OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE, KNOWN AS THE EMPLOYEE'S RETIREMENT FUND OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THIS IS YOUR ITEM.

MR. MAYOR IS THERE.

MAYOR PERAM.

YOU HAVE A MOTION? YOU HAVE MOTION TO APPROVE? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM NUMBER 92 WITH THE, UH, PROPOSAL RENU TWO, PROPOSITION NUMBER ONE.

AND SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION, MAYOR PRO TEM? NO.

ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE? SEEING NONE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AGENDA ITEM 85 IS AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF DALLAS ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024.

WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO AGENDA ITEM 85.

[85. 24-2113 An ordinance ordering a special election to be held in the City of Dallas on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of the City, proposed amendments to the Dallas City Charter - Financing: No cost consideration to the City (This item was deferred on June 26, 2024)]

FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER.

YOU DO HAVE FIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER.

HELLO, I'M MR. DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER.

ADDRESS 25 12 EAST OVERTON ROAD, DALLAS, TEXAS 7 5 2 1 6.

I COME TO REPRESENT THE NEXT GENERATION ACTION NETWORK.

ASKING, UM, DOING THE CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS.

WE SUBMITTED AMENDMENT TO HAVE THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT TO REPORT DIRECTLY TO, UH, THE ACTUAL CITY COUNCIL.

UM, DURING THAT TIME, I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACTUALLY BE AT THE MEETING BECAUSE OF THE DEATH OF MY SON.

UM, SO I BELIEVE WHEN THE STRT VOTE WAS ORIGINALLY VOTED, UM, I WAS PRETTY MUCH, UM, OUTTA MY CAPACITY TEMPORARILY.

UM, BUT WE'RE ASKING THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL RECONSIDER, UM, THIS IMPORTANT ITEM.

UM, IN 2019 WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, IT WAS ALWAYS THE PLAN FOR THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT TO REPORT DIRECTLY TO YOU.

UH, FORMER POLICE, CHIEF CHIEF HALL, UM, NUMBER OF FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS, ADAM MCGOO.

DIFFERENT PEOPLE SUPPORTED THIS.

WE KNEW THAT ORIGINALLY WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE CHARTER PROCESS IN ORDER TO HAVE IT REPORT DIRECTLY TO YOU.

THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION ON WHO COURSE THE CITY MANAGER IS.

THIS IS BIGGER THAN WHO IS THE CURRENT CITY MANAGER, WHOEVER.

THIS IS REALLY, UH, USING FEDERAL GUIDANCE, UM, THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY NA COLE, DOJA NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO HELPED US DURING THE PROCESS IN 2019,

[02:00:01]

UM, TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT.

ALSO, THAT WAS THE EDUCATION.

UM, AND THE THINGS THAT EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT THAT Y'ALL APPOINTED.

AND I BELIEVE, UH, THAT LAST NIGHT, UM, THAT OFFICE, UH, THAT BOARD VOTED TO SUPPORT THIS, THIS PLAN.

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS HAVE APPOINTED PEOPLE, UH, TO INVESTIGATE, TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE, TO BE EDUCATED, UM, AND THEY HAVE ALL BEEN EDUCATED.

AND I ASK THAT YOU, THE COUNCIL SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PUSH FOR TRANSPARENCY AND THE BUREAUCRACY INSIDE OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

UH, THE CITY, UH, THE CITY STAFF CANNOT INVESTIGATE ITSELF.

MANY OF YOU GUYS WENT ON A BREAK TRYING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM CONSTITUENCIES ABOUT HOW $150 MILLION WAS SPENT ON OVERTIME.

YET YOU HAVE AN OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT FOR THAT, RIGHT? YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT ITS POWERS TO DO THAT.

THIS WILL GO THROUGH AN ORDINANCE PROCESS.

IT, IT'S VOTED BY, UH, THE, THE CITIZENS.

AND I ASK THAT YOU GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS TO HAVE A VOICE IN THIS PROCESS.

THANK YOU, JOHNA HIGGINS.

GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL.

UH, MY NAME'S CHONGA HIGGINS.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.

I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER, UM, APPOINTED BY, UH, COUNCIL, UH, MEMBER Z GRACIE OF DISTRICT THREE FOR THE, UH, POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

UM, REALLY QUICKLY, JUST, UM, IN 2019, I WAS A LEAD ORGANIZER IN THE COALITION THAT SECURED A UNANIMOUS VOTE TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT.

AND IT REVISED THE BOARD INTO THE NOW OFFICER, UM, THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND IMPROVING PUBLIC TRUST BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE.

HOWEVER, THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE TO MAKE THIS OFFICE TRULY INDEPENDENT AND EFFECTIVE.

IT WAS NEVER THE INTENTION, UH, FOR THE OCPO TO REPORT TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, WHICH OVERSEES THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS STRUCTURALLY AND PHILOSOPHICALLY CREATES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY, YOU WILL SEE BEST PRACTICES FOR GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE SET UP LIKE OURS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE BOARD THAT IS, OR THE OFFICE THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING THE POLICE, ACTUALLY REPORTING TO THE SAME PERSON THAT THE POLICE REPORT TO.

UM, THIS IS NO, UM, STATEMENT TOWARDS CURRENT CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, UH, AWESOME, I MUST SAY LEADERSHIP IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS WITH THE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

BUT IT IS A THING THAT IS STRUCTURAL AND BIGGER THAN THAT.

UM, AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, UH, THE BOARD I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE CHALLENGES WE FACED.

A NOTABLE EXAMPLE IS THE UNACCEPTABLE TREATMENT AND, UH, INVESTIGATION OF THE DONNELL LANE CASE, WHICH WAS THE VETERAN WHO WAS REFUSED SERVICE TO GO TO SIRIUS P.

SO THAT WAS, BECAME A, A NATIONAL DEBACLE THAT WAS ON OUR CITY, AND IT TOOK ALMOST A YEAR FOR IAD AND DPD TO HANDLE THAT.

UM, ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS WITH THAT IS THE BUREAUCRACY BY WHICH THE BOARD HAS TO FUNCTION.

IT CANNOT JUST ESCALATE THIS TO THIS BODY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME MOVEMENT.

THERE IS NO LEVERAGE, THERE'S NO CHECKS AND BALANCES FOR THE, OFF THE, THE BOARD OR THE OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO ESCALATE ANY OF THIS PAST THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

SO, UM, THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED, IT'S BEEN UNDERSTAFFED.

UM, EVEN THOUGH IT'S DONE AN AWESOME JOB OF CLEARING THOUSANDS OF, UM, COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS, EXCUSE ME.

UM, IT HAS HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH GETTING LEVERAGED WITH THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO DO ITS JOB.

UM, ONE, ONE OTHER QUICK FACT IS THAT IN THE FOUR YEARS THAT THIS BOARD, UM, THE OFFICE HAS EXISTED AND THE BOARD, IT HAS NOT HAD ONE DATA REQUEST FULFILLED BY THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, NOT ONE IN FOUR YEARS.

AND IN THAT TIME, THE CITY MANAGER HASN'T ADVOCATED FOR IT TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S YOUR TIME OR NO ONE.

SO, SO I'M URGING YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT AND PUT IT FORTH SO THAT WE CAN FINISH THE WORK WE STARTED IN 2019.

MARK DAVIDSON, ESTEEMED BOARD.

THANK YOU JOHN.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

MAYOR

[02:05:01]

JOHNSON, IT'S AN HONOR, UH, TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY.

UH, MY NAME IS JOHN MARK DAVIDSON.

I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

AND, UH, TO BE CLEAR, TODAY, I'M NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.

I AM SPEAKING AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, A PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, ALSO A PROUD FATHER OF FOUR KIDS HERE AT DALLAS, ISD, AND A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, UH, THE COMMUNITY BOARD OF POLICE OVERSIGHT, WHO SERVED FOR TWO YEARS AS A REGULAR MEMBER, BUT ALSO SINCE FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR AS THE CHAIR, SOMEONE WHO'S HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WITH BOARD MEMBERS.

AND I STAND HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO APPEAL, UH, FOR YOU, UH, TO RECONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY CHARTER COMMITTEE.

UH, BACK IN MARCH.

THEY VOTED, UH, HAS A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL THAT THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL INSTEAD OF THE CITY MANAGER.

AND MY REQUEST FOR YOU TODAY IS TO RECONSIDER THAT AGAIN, TO, UH, REPEAT WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID.

NOTHING AGAINST THE CURRENT INTERIM CITY MANAGER.

I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HER, NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS.

SHE HAS BEEN SO COMMUNICATIVE, SHE'S WORKED WELL.

I'M VERY, I'M A BIG FAN OF ICM TOLBERT, BUT I DO HAVE, UH, EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH TWO DIFFERENT CITY MANAGERS IN MY TIME.

AND IT'S THE TALE OF TWO CITY MANAGERS.

UH, DURING THE FIRST, UH, TERM THERE WAS LACK OF COMMUNICATION.

THINGS WERE BEING LOST IN BUREAUCRACY.

AND I NOTICED A CHANGE WHENEVER ICM TOLBERT CAME INTO POWER INTO HER POSITION, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THIS OFFICE IS VULNERABLE.

IT'S VULNERABLE TO WHOEVER IS IN THAT SEAT, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THIS IS VERY PERSONNEL DRIVEN.

IT'S NOT PEOPLE CENTRIC.

SO, UH, I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL CAN HEAR THIS AND LISTEN TO THIS.

UH, WHEN I WAS APPOINTED BY MAYOR JOHNSON IN FEBRUARY, I HAD A CHANCE TO SIT WITH HIM IN HIS OFFICE.

UH, AND HE MENTIONED TO ME THAT HERE IN DALLAS, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO OVERSIGHT TO BECOME ONE OF THE PREMIER CITIES IN THIS NATION.

WE, THE, THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR THIS AND WE ARE IN THE RUNNING TO BE ONE OF THE PREMIER CITIES WHEN IT COMES TO OVERSIGHT.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE ARE IN PLACE.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE BOARD, UH, PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE APPOINTED, THAT ARE DEDICATED, THAT ARE EDUCATED, THAT ARE COMMITTED TO OVERSIGHT.

WE HAVE A POLICE CHIEF WHO HAS BEEN ON RECORD TO SAY HE'S IN FAVOR OF OVERSIGHT.

HE ALSO HAS THE ALLEGIANCE OF HIS, UH, HIS COMMAND.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE CITY MANAGER, AND WE ALSO HAVE YOU ALL.

THERE ARE OF COURSE, UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

HOW WOULD ACCOUNTABILITY LOOK LIKE? BUDGET.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IF THIS IS MOVED FORWARD, PUTTING SMART PEOPLE IN THE ROOM CAN FIGURE OUT THESE DETAILS.

UH, BUT I DO BELIEVE THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE FOR US TO BECOME THE PREMIER CITY WHEN IT COMES TO OVERSIGHT.

THERE'S A QUOTE FROM, UH, THE POET, UH, LAUREATE, AMANDA GORMAN, THAT SAYS, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR LIGHT IF WE'RE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SEE IT, AND IF WE'RE BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE IT.

AND I DO WANNA SAY THE OPPORTUNITY IS IN YOUR HANDS NOW.

COUNSEL, ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH TO WALK THIS PATH? THANK YOU.

CRYSTAL ROBERTS.

YOUR FIFTH SPEAKER LISTED FOR THIS ITEM IS, IS ACTUALLY A SPEAKER FOR, UM, AGENDA ITEM 90 AND WILL BE MOVED TO THAT ITEM.

THEREFORE, THERE ARE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.

ALRIGHT, MS. BLACKMAN, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? I DO.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE ORDERING THE SPECIAL ELECTION AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND AMEND TO REFLECT THE STRAW VOTING OF CITY COUNCIL WITH THE PROPOSITIONS RENUMBERED IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER OF FOLLOWING THE PROPOSITION IN ITEM NUMBER 92.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN.

ANY DISCUSSION MS. BLACKMAN? UM, I'M GONNA RESERVE MINE.

YOU'RE GONNA WAIT.

SHE'S GONNA, Y'ALL, SHE'S HOLDING, UH, HER FIVE MINUTE ROUND FOR LATER.

SO ANYONE THAT WANTS TO GO NOW IS GONNA GO FOR FIVE MINUTES.

CHAIRWOMAN MIDDLE.

SO YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM 85, AS IT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD BY MS. BLACKMAN.

WELL TURN YOUR MIC ON IF YOU DON'T MIND.

I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO WAIT.

YOU WANNA RESERVE YOURS TOO? EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO LAST.

THIS IS, UM, POINT OF INFORMATION, MAYOR.

THANK.

SO IF, IF WE HAVE, UM, AMENDMENTS THAT WE WANT TO ADD INTO THE CHARTER BALLOT, THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT.

THERE'S A MOTION TO RECONSIDER, IT'S GONE.

SO THE, THE PARLIAMENTARIAN CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ITEM 85 IS THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT YOU WOULD SEND TO THE VOTERS.

UM, THAT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THAT ORDINANCE OF ANY SORT, THIS IS THE TIME BECAUSE ONCE IT'S BEEN VOTED ON, IT GOES, IT'S GONE.

GOT IT.

UNLESS THERE'S A MOTION TO RECONSIDER, WHICH I HOPE NO ONE, I SHOULDN'T EVEN, WHY DID I EVEN SAY THAT OUT LOUD? WHY DID I SAY THAT OUT LOUD? YOU JINXED IT, MAYOR.

UNLESS

[02:10:01]

SO THIS IS THE TIME TO MODIFY THE, UH, THE ORDINANCE THAT WE'VE HAD, THE ROUNDS OF STRAW VOTING ON AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO ANY AMENDMENTS, FRANKLY, ARE IN ORDER AS LONG AS THEY'RE GERMANE TO THAT ORDINANCE.

UM, TECHNICALLY EVEN THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DEFEATED AND STRAW VOTE, JUST NONE OF THAT MATTERS ANYMORE.

THIS IS, IT'S SHOWTIME IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.

OKAY, SHOWTIME.

SO ONE MORE QUESTION.

WHO WANTS TO GO? WHO ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO GO FOR FOR FIVE MINUTES? I'M SORRY.

SO IN THAT CASE, I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO USE MY TIME.

SO YOU DO WANT TO GO? I REALLY DO.

MR. MAYOR, POINT OF ORDER.

FIRST, STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER.

I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION, BUT PROCEDURALLY, ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT EACH PROPOSED AMENDMENT INDIVIDUALLY OR SHOULD EACH SPEAKER STATE ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS THEY HAVE? NO, NO, NO.

IT'S, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS OR ROBERT'S RULE OF ORDER.

IN MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND IF NO ONE SAID ANYTHING, I WOULD CALL A VOTE.

AND WHAT HAS BEEN STRAW VOTED AS THE WAY WHAT PAUL JUST SAID.

WHAT, WHAT MS. BLACKMAN JUST SAID, I'VE KNOWN HER FOR A LONG TIME, WOULD BE WHAT GOES OUT.

SO IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT IN ANY WAY, IT NEEDS TO BE PROPOSED AS AN AMENDMENT.

AND OUR NORMAL RULE STILL APPLIES THAT WE CAN ONLY HAVE TWO AMENDMENTS PENDING AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

SO WE CAN ONLY HAVE TWO ON THE FLOOR AT A TIME.

SO SOMEONE CAN MAKE AN AMENDMENT AND IF YOU WANT A AMEND THAT AMENDMENT, THAT WOULD BE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF AMENDMENTS WE COULD HAVE ON THE FLOOR AT A TIME.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVEN'T, WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING ABOUT HOW WE NORMALLY DO BUSINESS.

BUT IF ONE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED, CAN OTHER AMENDMENTS BE PROPOSED ON DIFFERENT BALLOT? OH, OF COURSE INITIATIVES.

HOPE YOU WILL DO THAT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

AND POINT OF INFORMATION.

STILL 5, 3, 1.

ARE WE GONNA AMEND THAT AS WELL? 5 3 1 IS STILL ON EFFECT.

TWO.

AND I'M TRYING TO THINK IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO ADDRESS NOW BEFORE WE JUMP IN.

POINT OF INFORMATION.

WHO'S WHERE'D THAT COME FROM RIGHT NOW? OH, THERE YOU GO, MR. CHAIRMAN.

GO AHEAD.

JUST TO GO OFF OF THE 5, 3 1.

IF THERE, IF WE HAVE MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS, IT'S ALL TO BE USED DURING THAT 5, 3 1.

NO, IT'S, I MEAN, IT'S REALLY THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS.

I MEAN, WHATEVER'S ON THE FLOOR, YOU GET THE 5, 3 1 APPLIES TO WHAT'S ON THE FLOOR AT THE TIME.

SO IT'S LIKE WE NORMALLY DO, ONCE YOU, ONCE SOMEONE MAKES AN AMENDMENT, YOU GET 5, 3, 1 ON THE AMENDMENT, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN THE 5 3 1 ON THE UNDERLYING MOTION THAT YOU WERE AMENDING.

SO NOTHING IS CHANGING JUST BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS TO BE OF TREMENDOUS IMPORT TO THE CITY.

IT'S STILL OUR ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS.

THE RULES HAVE NOT BEEN SUSPENDED.

I SHOULDN'T EVEN NEVER INTRODUCE THAT CONCEPT EITHER.

UM, THE RULES STILL APPLY UNLESS THEY WERE SUSPENDED SOME FOR SOME REASON.

UM, TRYING TO THINK IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE.

OH, YEAH.

SO ONCE WE DO ADOPT AN AMENDMENT, IT BECOMES PART OF THE MOTION, PART OF THE MOTION THAT YOU'RE THEN SUBSEQUENTLY DEBATING.

SO I'D HAVE TO PERIODICALLY ASK THE PARLIAMENTARIAN HOW TO HANDLE ANY MOTIONS THAT WOULD UNDO WHAT WAS JUST DONE.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU MADE, IF SOMEONE SUCCESSFULLY GOT ON AMENDMENT THAT DID ONE THING AND THIS ONE SUBSEQUENTLY MOVED TO AMEND IT IN A WAY THAT UNDID THAT THING, I'M NOT SURE WHAT SHE WOULD SAY, BUT SHE WOULD SAY THAT SHE WOULD SAY THAT'S OUT OF ORDER AT IS WHAT I'M BEING TOLD.

SO WHO ACTUALLY WANTS TO GO FOR FIVE MINUTES? FIRST CHAIR MEN.

SO YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THIS IS ITEM 85 FOR THE PUBLIC.

OKAY, WELL LET'S GET GOING.

UM, I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY DELETING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT ADDS A PREAMBLE TO THE CITY CHARTER.

STRAW VOTING EARLIER, UM, I THINK IN MAY THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO APPROVE THE STRAW VOTE ON THE PREAMBLE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT Y'ALL MIGHT SEE THE PREAMBLE AGAIN, BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME TALK AT THE HORSESHOE ABOUT WANTING TO AMEND IT.

WE ARE NOW ON THE AMENDMENT BY MS. MENDELSON.

AND YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES MS. MENDELSON ON YOUR AMENDMENT.

POINT OF ORDER.

MR. MAYOR, STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER.

UM, I DON'T BELIEVE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PREAMBLE.

'CAUSE I THINK WE, WE HELD IT, IT WAS A STRAW VOTED ITEM.

IT WAS, DID IT PASS A STRAW VOTE? NO, WE, WE, WE DELAYED IT.

WE DEFERRED IT.

I THOUGHT IT GOT ON AS A STRAW VOTE THEN, THEN IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE ORDINANCE THAT'S ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW.

LET US DOUBLE CHECK.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS I THE ATTORNEY CONFIRM THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS BECAUSE I, I, I RECALL SAYING THAT ANY CHANGES SUBSTANTIVELY WOULD BE, HAVE TO BE BY A MOTION.

BUT WE NEED TO GO BACK AND DOUBLE CHECK THAT JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THIS POINT.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THE THING THAT WAS TRYING TO BE STRICKEN IS ACTUALLY EVEN IN THERE TO BE STRUCK.

THE, THE PARLIAMENTARY AND I WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT IT HAD GOTTEN ON BECAUSE MS. BLACKMAN'S MOTION WAS TO ADOPT EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN STRAW VOTED UP TO THIS POINT, WHICH I THOUGHT IT HAD.

SO, AND THE PARLIAMENTARIAN THOUGHT THAT AS WELL.

SO WE'LL FIND OUT THE ANSWER TO THAT.

IT'S JUST A TECHNICAL QUESTION, GUYS.

THEY ALWAYS WANNA DO THIS ALL BY THE BOOK BECAUSE THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.

OKAY, SO JUST, WE'LL STAND AT EASE FOR JUST A COUPLE MINUTES.

THE STAFF IS GONNA ANSWER THIS QUESTION AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US, I GUESS, AT FACE VALUE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A, A, A CONGRESSIONAL RECORD TO GO READ THROUGH RIGHT NOW TO SEE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO TELL US PLEASE.

UH, LAURA MORRISON, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UH, DURING

[02:15:01]

AND SO WE MADE IT CLEAR THAT ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE PREAMBLE THAT WAS STRAW VOTED ON AND APPROVED AT THAT TIME WOULD HAVE TO BE A FLOOR AMENDMENT TODAY.

SO THAT IS WHAT STAFF IS SAYING.

AGAIN, WE COULD, WE COULD BOG DOWN THIS MEETING BY ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH AND POURING THROUGH THE, THE RECORDING, BUT I'M GONNA TAKE THEM AT FACE VALUE AND SAY IT'S IN, IS, UM, AS A STRAW VOTED ITEM.

SO THE MOTION THEN IS IN THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE IN ORDER TO STRIKE IT.

SO CHAIRMAN MENDELSSOHN, YOU STILL HAVE THE FLOOR FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT TO STRIKE THE PREAMBLE.

I WAS NOT HERE WHEN THAT WAS STRAW VOTED.

UM, BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE IS TODAY'S OP-ED THAT WAS WRITTEN BY FORMER MAYOR MIKE RAWLINGS, TOM LEPERT, AND RON KIRK.

THE TITLE OF THE OPINION IS TOP DALLAS LEADERS HERE ARE THE CITY CHARTER AMENDMENTS.

WE CAN'T SUPPORT WHEN TALKING ABOUT THIS PREAMBLE.

THEY REALLY JUST GIVE ONE SENTENCE AND I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY ELOQUENT AND SUMS IT ALL UP.

SO I'M GONNA USE MY FIVE MINUTES WITH JUST THE ONE SENTENCE THAT SAYS, IN OUR JUDGMENT, THE PREAMBLE PROPOSED FOR THE CITY CHARTER IS ILL SUITED TO A MUNICIPAL CHARTER IS UNNECESSARILY IDEOLOGICAL, IS SUBJECT TO COMPETING INTERPRETATIONS AND IS POTENTIALLY AND UNDULY DIVISIVE FOR THESE REASONS AND OTHERS.

UM, I REQUEST MY COLLEAGUES TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT A PREAMBLE MIGHT HAVE LOOKED LIKE.

HAD THE FOREFATHERS OF DALLAS PUT ONE FORWARD MORE THAN 150 YEARS AGO, EVEN 10 YEARS AGO OR 20 YEARS AGO.

I THINK THIS, UM, PREAMBLE WOULD NOT, UM, STAND THE TEST OF TIME, NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO, WITH ALL OF ITS INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE.

WHAT'S ABSOLUTELY MISSING WAS ANY KIND OF INCLUSIVE PROCESS WHERE THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES GOT TO SAY WHAT THEY WOULD WANT FOR A PREAMBLE.

SO IF THERE'S TRULY, UH, A DESIRE FOR US TO INCLUDE A PREAMBLE, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO COME BACK IN TWO YEARS.

AND I HOPE THERE WOULD BE EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT CITYWIDE TO TRULY DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT WOULD REFLECT DALLAS.

FACT, I DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM MS. MENDELSON, MR. RIDLEY, UH, MS. STEWART, MR. ATKINS OR MR. MORENO.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, SO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE WE ARE ON THIS.

WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY DEBATE YET ON THE UNDERLYING MOTION.

'CAUSE WE, BECAUSE MS. BLACKMAN WHO MADE THE ORIGINAL MOTION ACTUALLY, UM, YIELDED AND DID NOT ACTUALLY START THE DEBATE.

WE WENT STRAIGHT TO AN AMENDMENT.

SO WE ARE RIGHT NOW ON THE MENDELSSOHN AMENDMENT TO NUMBER 85.

SO ANYBODY IN THIS QUEUE RIGHT NOW, UM, WHO WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MS. MENDELSSOHN'S AMENDMENT SHOULD STAY IN.

AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ORIGINAL MOTION, YOU SHOULD DROP OUT.

UM, MR. BASIL, DO YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MS. MENDELSSOHN'S AMENDMENT? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.

UH, MS. MENDELSSOHN, I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS MOTION.

UM, AND I WANTED TO JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT.

UM, WHEN THIS WAS APPROVED AND DISCUSSED AT, AT LENGTH HERE, UM, WHEN WE TOOK UP, UH, CHARTER AMENDMENTS, THE VERY FIRST TIME WE WERE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT THE PURPOSE, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROCESS.

UM, THE PURPOSE OF THE PREAMBLE WAS TO PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTORY DOCUMENT TO THE CITY OF DALLAS' CHARTER THAT OUTLINES THE IDEALS WE KEEP IN MIND WHEN DRAFTED THE ENFORCEABLE RULES OUTLINED IN THE CHARTER.

UM, I I WILL JUST SAY WE, WE, THIS ISN'T REINVENTING THE WHEEL.

UM, THIS WAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT TO ME FROM CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND ASKED FOR THIS TO BE, UM, UH, PRIORITIZED DURING OUR, UH, CHARTER PROCESS, WHICH IS WHY, UH, I INTRODUCED IT.

UM, NEW YORK CITY AND AUSTIN AND THE CITY OF LAKE MARY, COLUMBUS, OHIO, UM, PHILADELPHIA, PHOENIX, ARIZONA, SAN FRANCISCO AND WASHINGTON DC ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF, UM, CITIES THAT HAVE PREAMBLES.

UM, WHENEVER WE DID OUR RESEARCH, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT, UH, COLLABORATION AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE WAS, UM, ADEQUATE TIME FOR FEEDBACK, WHICH IS WHY THIS WAS PUT FORTH THE VERY FIRST TIME.

UM, IT WAS PUT FORTH WITH, UH, AN ASK, UM, AND APPROVED WITH A CONTINGENCY THAT IT WOULD GO THROUGH, UM, EXTENSIVE TIME FOR FEEDBACK.

UM, WE DID GET FEEDBACK PROVIDED WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, MS. MENDELSON WAS NOT ONE OF THEM.

UM, IN

[02:20:01]

HOWEVER, ALL THOSE THAT I DID NOT MENTION, MR. WEST, MR. GRACIE, MS. ARNOLD, MR. RESENDEZ, MR. NEVAS, MS. BLACKMAN, MS. SCHULTZ, AND MS. WILLIS, WE HEARD BACK FROM AND MADE SURE THAT THIS DOCUMENT WAS REFLECTED, UH, REFLECTING OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AS MUCH AS WE WERE ABLE TO GET, UH, BOUGHT IN.

UM, AND SO I DO BELIEVE THAT, UH, THAT THE END RESULT IS, IS FAR DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY, UM, UH, PUT FORTH IN THAT, MAKING SURE WE HAD THAT COLLABORATION.

UM, I DON'T, I DON'T LOOK AT THIS AND LOOK AT ANYTHING DIVISIVE, SO I I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT CHARACTERIZATION.

UM, SO I, I, I DO THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT.

I THINK, UM, IT PROVIDES HISTORICAL CONTEXT, UH, THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT GENERATIONS BEFORE US DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEIR CITY.

THAT I THINK IS, IS, AGAIN, IMPORTANT.

UM, BUT DIVISIVE, NOT AT ALL THE INTENT.

IT'S REALLY MEANT TO BE A STATEMENT ON, UH, PRINCIPLES FOR OUR CITY.

UM, AND I WAS FULLY OPEN FOR FEEDBACK AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY, UM, THAT I JUST HEARD TODAY ON THE FLOOR.

SO WE COULD HAVE TRIED TO WORK THROUGH I THINK SOME OF THAT, UM, IF WE DIDN'T BRING IT HERE.

BUT WITH THE PROCESS THAT WE HAD, THOSE WERE THE COLLEAGUES THAT I HEARD FROM.

I HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS.

AGAIN, THIS WAS BROUGHT TO ME FROM CONSTITUENTS DURING, UM, THE CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS.

AND I IN NO WAY WANTED IT TO BE DONE UNILATERALLY.

I WANTED TO HEAR FROM, UM, THE BODY, AND I WANTED TO HEAR FROM EVEN THE PUBLIC BECAUSE, UH, IT, IT DEFINITELY WENT OUT INTO THE MEDIA, UM, SINCE THEN.

AND SO WE'VE TAKEN AS MUCH FEEDBACK AS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET, BOTH FROM THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, COLLEAGUES.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE ENDED UP WITH.

SO FOR THAT I WILL NOT SUPPORT, UH, STRIKING IT ALTOGETHER, ESPECIALLY, UM, BECAUSE THIS BODY ALREADY SPOKE AND, UH, MOVED IT FORWARD, UM, IN THE, IN THE WAY THAT WAS INTENDED TO BE PRESENTED WITH NEW LANGUAGE THAT WAS COL IN COLLABORATION, WHICH IS WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US TODAY.

MARINE, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MS. MENDELSON.

UM, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.

I BELIEVE, UH, THAT THIS PREAMBLE IS UNNECESSARY AND IT DOES NOT BELONG IN OUR CITY CHARTER.

WE ACTUALLY ALREADY HAVE GOALS AND MISSION STATEMENTS FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS IN THOSE GOAL LINES PERIODICALLY MOVE TO REFLECT THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR CITY.

I FEEL THAT THIS IS VAGUE AND IT'S NOT BINDING AND WILL ONLY, UH, ADD TO, UH, ADDING, UH, A DIVISIVENESS.

UH, THIS PREAMBLE WAS NOT DRIVEN FROM OUR VERY OWN APPOINTED CITY CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.

AND FINALLY, UH, WE JUST RECEIVED THE UPDATED VERSION LAST NIGHT.

AND DON'T BELIEVE THIS HAS GIVEN OUR CONSTITUENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN.

UM, AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTED OR I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE, UH, MOTION BEFORE US.

MS. BLACKMAN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MS. MENDELSSOHN'S AMENDMENT.

UH, THANK YOU.

AND I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK GONE INTO THIS.

AND MY FEEDBACK WAS IT WAS TOO LONG.

AND IF WE, UH, IF, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT A DEFINITION IS, IT'S A PRELIMINARY STATEMENT, RIGHT? A A, IT'S VERY, UH, IT'S, UM, VERY, IT SHOULD BE VERY SHORT.

AND I THINK MS. ARNOLD, YOU MISS, YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS BEING A HISTORY TEACHER.

AND SO, UM, I WOULD BE WILLING TO BE, TO SUPPORT ANYTHING ABOVE THE, THE, THE ONE PARAGRAPH STRIKING EVERYTHING.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO STRIKE, STARTING FROM THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES ARE THE PILLARS OF PITCH.

OUR CITY STANDS ALL THE WAY TO THE END BY GRANTED TO THIS CHARTER.

AND JUST HAVING THE FIRST PARAGRAPH.

AND IF I HAVE A SECOND THEN, UM, OKAY.

SO HOLD ON.

BEFORE YOU, BEFORE, BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING ELSE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THE MOTION CLEAR.

SO YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD, UM, YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD AMEND HER MOTION TO STRIKE, STRIKE EVERYTHING.

NO, STRIKE EVERYTHING.

TO CHANGE IT TO SOMETHING THAT STRIKES JUST THE FIRST PARAGRAPH.

UM, EVERYTHING AFTER THE FIRST PARAGRAPH.

THAT'S THE MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY.

IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? IT DOESN'T SOUND THAT WAY.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE? UH, GERALD, I HEARD A SECOND, BUT BUT GO AHEAD.

DID YOU, CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON ? KATHY STEWART, CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON? YES.

WELL, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SECOND, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO POINT OF ORDER.

NO, WE DON'T HAVE TO.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO THIS GUYS.

I MEAN, THERE WAS A MOTION POINT OF ORDER AND IT'S A SECOND.

IF THERE'S GONNA BE A SECOND, AND THEN WE CAN DEBATE IT.

OTHERWISE, WE, WE DON'T DEBATE IT.

SO IS THERE A SECOND FOR HER? MOTION? FOR WHAT PURPOSE?

[02:25:01]

I, I, I BELIEVE THE MOTION IS OUT OF ORDER.

UH, AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR, I BELIEVE THAT THAT DISPOSES OF, UH, THE MO THE ORIGINAL MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

SO I WOULD THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE DISPOSED OF BEFORE WE COULD CONSIDER, I'M GONNA LET THE PARLIAMENTARIAN RULE ON THIS, BUT HERE'S WHY I THOUGHT I HEARD, AND IF I'M WRONG ABOUT THIS.

SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, THIS AMENDMENT STRIKES EVERYTHING, AND THIS AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT STRIKES LESS THAN EVERYTHING WHICH MODIFIES HERS.

IT STILL A STRIKING, ISN'T IT? I DON'T KNOW.

I'LL LET THE PARLIAMENTARY RULE ON THIS PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY.

STATE YOUR INQUIRY.

I WITHDRAW MY MOTION AND I'LL MAKE IT AFTER THIS ONE IS DISPOSED OF.

OKAY, THAT, DOES THAT SOUND, IS THERE ANY OBJECT? OBJECTION TO HER WITHDRAWING HER MOTION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

IT'S WITHDRAWN.

SO WE'RE BACK ON THE MENON AMENDMENT WITHOUT.

AND SO, UM, BACK TO MY, I GUESS FOUR MINUTES.

IT'S JUST THAT I DO THINK IT'S TOO LONG.

I DO THINK IT GOES INTO A LOT OF, UM, JUST STUFF AND IT NEEDS TO BE SHORT AND, AND FOCUSED AND, AND SO I'M STILL LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION, BUT, UH, SO I DUNNO IF I'LL BE SUPPORTING OR WHERE I STAND.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE BEFORE I GO TO A SECOND ROUND FOR, UH, THIS MENDELSSOHN AMENDMENT? I DON'T SEE ANYONE.

OH, MS. WILLIS, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE MENDELSOHN AMENDMENT.

YOU KNOW, AS ANYBODY WHO VISITS MUSEUMS OR LANDMARKS AROUND THE COUNTRY OR IN OUR CITY, IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON AS YOU ENTER THESE BUILDINGS, UH, TO HAVE RECOGNITION ABOUT THEIR HISTORY AND MAYBE WHO BUILT THEM.

AND IT'S JUST, IT'S BECOMING, IT'S, IT'S RISING TO THE SURFACE.

PEOPLE ARE BEING EDUCATED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, UM, OUR, OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

AND SO IN THE PREAMBLE, I THINK I RETURNED SOME GRAMMATICAL, , UM, CHANGES NOTHING TO THE SUBSTANCE BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THIS WAS AN, A NEW IDEA FOR DALLAS, THOUGH OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE IT.

AND IT'S NOT THAT I NECESSARILY LEAN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON THIS CONTENT, IT'S THAT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR VOTERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS.

AND MAYBE INSTEAD OF STARTING FROM SCRATCH, THIS BECOMES A LAUNCH PAD.

THEY SAY YES OR NO, AND, UM, WE, WE TAKE IT FROM THERE.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.

ANYONE ELSE WHO HASN'T SPOKEN YET ON THE, UH, AMENDMENT, BY THE WAY, I SEE YOU, MR. ZA.

I, I GOT MY EYE ON YOU IN CASE YOU WANNA GET IN, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR THAT WE'RE STILL ON THE MENDELSSOHN AMENDMENT, NOT THE UNDERLYING DEAL.

UM, BEFORE I GO BACK TO MR. BASAL AND CHAIRMAN MENDELSSOHN FOR A SECOND ROUND, ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, THREE MINUTES FOR YOU.

UM, MR. BASAL DU ON THE AMENDMENT.

BIT MORE SPECIFICITY SO THAT THERE'S, UM, AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE CAN GO FORWARD.

UM, I, I JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT THERE'S FEEDBACK THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHENEVER THERE WAS OPPORTUNITY TO BE GIVEN.

AND I DIDN'T HEAR FROM A COUPLE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY SPOKE TODAY, UM, IN, IN FACT, UM, I, I THINK THAT THERE WAS MAYBE A LACK OF ATTENTION GIVEN TO THIS, UM, IF THERE WAS A THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS JUST GIVEN TO YOU THE NIGHT BEFORE.

'CAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN IN YOUR OFFICE FOR OVER A MONTH.

SO I, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED BY ALL, UM, TO HAVE READ, BUT BEFORE WE CAME TO THE HORSESHOE, UM, LAST MEETING, IT, THIS IS THE EXACT COPY THAT WE GAVE YOU AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO YESTERDAY.

UM, SO I, I AGAIN APOLOGIZE IF IT WASN'T A PRIORITY FOR YOU TO HAVE READ IT THEN, BUT IF YOU WOULD HAVE READ IT IN JUNE, YOU'RE NOT SEEING ANYTHING DIFFERENT, UM, HERE TODAY.

UM, SO WITH THAT SAID, I DO THINK THAT IN THE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE, THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT IT LESS.

I, THE REASON THAT I DIDN'T JUST UNILATERALLY STRIKE THAT WAS BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE PIECE OF FEEDBACK, AND THAT WAS FROM ONE INDIVIDUAL.

NOW, HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AT THE HORSESHOE, I THINK IS, UM, UH, IS, IS, IS IMPORTANT AND WE CAN HEAR, UM, THE BODY WEIGH IN.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO REEMPHASIZE, UH, WHAT WAS SAID BY MS. WILLIS.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT THIS WAS DONE IN, IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY, BUT IT WAS ALSO DONE IN A WAY THAT WAS MEANT TO PRESENT SOMETHING TO THE VOTERS, UM, GIVE THE VOTERS AN OPPORTUNITY.

I, I'LL TELL YOU AGAIN, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IDEOLOGY OR WHERE YOU STAND.

I, I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE USE VERY DESCRIPTIVE WORDS THAT, IN MY OPINION, MISCHARACTERIZES WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

NONE OF WHOM HAVE PROVIDED ANY, UM, EXPLANATION ON HOW THE LANGUAGE THAT EXISTS HERE IS, UH, DIVISIVE.

AND SO JUST TO SAY THE WORD DIVISIVE, THAT CARRIES SO MUCH WEIGHT AND NOT GIVE ANY EXPLANATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE SAME SENTENCE AS CALLING SOMETHING VAGUE TO ME, IS A PRETTY, PRETTY BIG CONTRADICTION.

UM, AND IT DOESN'T, UH, PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY TO THE VOTERS THAT WE ARE SAYING ON RECORD.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DISAGREE WITH.

SO IE ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE STRONG OPINIONS TO MAYBE ARTICULATE IT WITH A LITTLE

[02:30:01]

BUT USING VAGUE LANGUAGE OR TALKING POINTS OR REFERRING TO CONTEXT OF, UH, AN OP-ED, TO ME, IS NOT HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON WHY THIS OR IT IS, OR ISN'T APPROPRIATE FOR OUR CITY.

UM, SO I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO, TO GET A LITTLE CLEARER FEEDBACK THAN THE AMBIGUITY THAT HAS BEEN THROWN OUT, UH, ON RECORD DURING THIS, UH, DISCUSSION.

CHAIRWOMAN, MEN, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT.

UM, I WILL ACTUALLY APPLAUD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BAO, I'M SORRY, DEPUTY MAYOR PERAM APOLOGIZE.

UM, BECAUSE HIS STAFF DID REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE, I'M ASSUMING EVERYBODY ELSE'S.

UM, I WAS THERE WHEN HIS STAFF MEMBER CAME.

MY STAFF ASKED ME, AND I SAID, MY FEEDBACK IS I DO NOT SUPPORT IT.

SO I DID PROVIDE FEEDBACK, SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S NOTED.

UM, THE SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO NOTE IS THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL ALSO SUBMITTED TO US SOME FEEDBACK AND WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THIS PROPOSITION IS, QUOTE, LASTLY, IF THE CITY OF DALLAS OR ITS VOTERS WANT TO ADD A PREAMBLE TO THE CITY'S CHARTER, WE WOULD CRAFT A STATEMENT THAT IS UNIQUE TO DALLAS AND MORE SUCCINCTLY CAPTURES OUR VISION.

ANOTHER STATEMENT, WHICH I AGREE WITH.

AND THEN LASTLY, IF, UM, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WOULD BE WILLING, I WOULD BE, UM, INTERESTED TO HEAR WHO YOU, UM, ARE SAYING HAS WORKED WITH YOU ON THIS, UH, PREAMBLE.

YOU CAN USE MY TIME TO ANSWER THAT IF YOU'D LIKE.

UM, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT? YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

WELL, I ALREADY ANSWERED THAT QUESTION, MR. MAYOR.

FAIR ENOUGH.

ANYONE ELSE WE SHOULD SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE MENDELSSOHN AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85? ALRIGHT.

SEEING NONE ON, YOU KNOW WHAT, UM, HERE, MAY I ASK FOR A RECORD? VOTE FOR ALL, UM, PROCEEDINGS FOR THIS? SURE.

THE, THAT'S NOTED.

THAT'S, THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD, MADAM SECRETARY, THIS IS ON THE AMENDMENT BY MS. MENDELSOHN.

THAT'S CORRECT.

WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR, NO.

IF YOU OPPOSE.

MAYOR PRO, TEM ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE BAULA? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE? NO.

ARNOLD? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER NORVAL? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMAN? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ? NO.

WITH FIVE VOTING IN FAVOR.

10.

OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR.

ALRIGHT, SO TO RESET EVERYBODY, WE ARE STILL ON, UM, ITEM 85, AND WE ARE, UM, IT'S UNAMENDED AT THIS POINT.

SO WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM 85 OR DEPOSE AN AMENDMENT? THOSE ARE YOUR OPTIONS.

WHO THAT JUMPED UP FAST.

DEPUTY MAYOR, PRO TEM.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY REPLACING THE PREAMBLE LANGUAGE WITH THE UPDATED PREAMBLE LANGUAGE DISTRIBUTED.

SO EVERYONE, WE ARE NOW ON AN AMENDMENT.

JUST GIMME ONE SECOND TO MAKE A NOTE OF THIS.

AN AMENDMENT BY, UM, THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, BECAUSE THEN IF IT FAILS AND THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A DISTRI, SOME DISTRIBUTED REPLACEMENT, YOU THINK IT DOES LANGUAGE FOR THIS PREAMBLE.

AND THAT IS THE MOTION THAT IS BEFORE YOU NOW POINT OF INFORMATION, STATE YOUR POINT OF INFORMATION.

UM, IS THIS, WAS THIS ONE GIVEN OUT TO US THIS MORNING? WHERE'S THE LANGUAGE AT? I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M, I'M ACTUALLY, OH, IT'S LOOKING FOR IT MYSELF.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO, UH, NOW HAVE A DISCUSSION, I SUPPOSE, ON THIS NEW PREAMBLE LANGUAGE BECAUSE AT THIS POINT NOTHING'S ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO THE ORDINANCE AS IT WAS MOVED BY MS. BLACKMAN.

SO THERE'S A LOT HERE TO, TO READ.

I'LL TAKE MY TIME AND READ IT.

BUT I WILL, UH, RECOGNIZE IF YOU'D LIKE, UM, DEPUTY MAYOR PROAM YOU FOR FIVE MINUTES TO EXPLAIN.

UM, I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF, UH, OR I'LL GIVE Y'ALL Y'ALL'S TIME TO READ IT, ACTUALLY.

UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS WAS AGAIN, UM, A, A WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

I THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, AS HARD AS IT IS TO, UM, ROUND UP, UM, THOUGHTS FROM 15 INDIVIDUALS, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS, UH, FACT CHECKED AND, UM, AND, AND WAS INCLUDED WITH OUR OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.

AND WE THANK Y'ALL FOR Y'ALL'S WORK

[02:35:01]

WITH IT.

BUT ALSO, UH, OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION, UM, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND SO THIS WAS, UM, THERE, THERE WAS WORK PUT INTO THIS.

IT WASN'T, UH, DONE HAPHAZARD.

I I BELIEVE IT WAS, IT WAS DONE IN A WAY THAT, UM, UH, IS A SOLID DOCUMENT TO GIVE TO THE VOTERS.

UH, AGAIN, JUST AS MS. WILLIS, UH, POINTED OUT, UH, THE VOTERS HAVE THE FINAL SAY.

THIS ISN'T, UM, WANTING TO JUST PUT YOUR THUMB ON THE SCALE.

THIS IS PROVIDING, UH, AN OPTION FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY BELIEVE THIS TO BE, UM, UH, IMPORTANT OR NOT.

I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT CONTEXT AND HISTORY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

I THINK, UM, IT IS THE BASIS FOR HOW WE LOOK AT WHAT THE FUTURE IS.

IT IS THE BASIS FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE.

UM, AND IT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO, UM, A LOT OF WHAT WE SPEAK ABOUT ON A, ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT ARE PRIORITIES FOR OUR CITY.

UM, AGAIN, IN NO WAY IIII STILL HAVE NOT, UM, UNDERSTOOD HOW THIS WOULD BE PERCEIVED DIVISIVE.

I THINK THAT THIS IS FACTUAL, IT IS, UH, CONTEXT FROM THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY, AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING, UH, FROM THE VOTERS ON IF THEY BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE IN OUR CHARTER OR NOT.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR, AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY THE DEAF MAYOR PRO TEM TO ITEM 85? SEE, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT.

I MOVE TO AMEND THIS MOTION TO INCLUDE JUST THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE PROPOSED PREAMBLE AS THE PREAMBLE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS.

I JUST NEED TO CONFIRM WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, CITY SECRETARY.

I'M CITY SECRETARY WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

AND THAT IT'S IN ORDER.

IT IS IN ORDER.

SO YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

I THINK THE, UH, ORIGINAL AMENDMENT IS FOR A PREAMBLE IS MUCH TOO LONG.

UM, AND IT, IT RAMBLES ALL OVER SUBJECT MATTER.

I, I THINK THE TRUE ESSENCE OF WHAT WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE IN A PREAMBLE IS CONTAINED IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH THAT WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, THE STATE OF TEXAS, ESTABLISHED THIS PREAMBLE IN ORDER TO SECURE THE BENEFITS OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT AND SET FORTH THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR OUR CITY.

WE AFFIRM THE VALUES OF OUR CITY AS AN EQUITABLE DEMOCRACY COMPRISED OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT ACT TO MAKE OUR CITY FAIR, EQUITABLE, JUST, AND SAFE FOR ALL THOSE WHO RESIDE WITHIN IT.

I THINK THAT SETS THE TONE FOR THE ENTIRE CHARTER, AND I THINK IT'S SUFFICIENT IN AND OF ITSELF.

DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

I, UM, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS.

I, UM, I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IT'S SOMEWHAT, UM, UH, OF A SLAP IN THE FACE, UH, TO THE COLLEAGUES WHO ACTUALLY DID, UM, CONTRIBUTE TO THIS.

AND FOR ONE UNILATERAL SWOOP ON THE HORSESHOE TO UNDO THE WORK OF THOSE WHO ACTUALLY PUT TIME AND EFFORT INTO, UH, COLLABORATING ON THIS DOCUMENT.

I, I, I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT FEEL GOOD ABOUT VOTING.

UM, AND JUST STRIKING, UH, THE WORK THAT WE ASKED COLLEAGUES TO WEIGH IN ON TO DO.

UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ANY ONE PARTICULAR PARAGRAPH OR PLACE WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO JUST ONE PERSON OR THE OTHER.

SO IT BY, UM, SUPPORTING A MOTION LIKE THIS THAT'S GOING TO, UM, UH, GO THROUGH GRANULARLY AND, UM, SILO OUT DIFFERENT LANGUAGE FROM THE OTHERS TO ME IS NOT PRODUCTIVE.

UM, AND THERE WAS CLEARLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS FEEDBACK.

UM, AND I'M NOW HEARING FROM IT FROM THOSE WHO DID NOT TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO I WOULD LOVE, UH, IF WE WERE, UM, RESPECTED, UH, UM, TO OUR COLLEAGUES' WORK AND CONTRIBUTIONS.

AND IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE VOTERS, WE SHOULDN'T BE CONSTRUCTING IT RIGHT HERE ON THE FLOOR.

WE SHOULD GIVE IT TO THE VOTERS, UM, AS, UH, UPDATED AND SEE WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY SAY, UM, WITH THEIR VOTE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

I I HAVE NO REAL, UH, PROBLEM WITH THE PREAMBLE OF THE CONS OF THE CONSTITUTION OR A CHARTER IN THIS CASE, BUT I BELIEVE I DID SHARE MY, UH, POSITION.

AND I, I JUST SPEAK FROM A, I I'M SPEAKING FROM I GUESS A SPACE WHERE, UH, I HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF E EXPERTISE, BUT I THINK I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BREVITY.

I, I KEEP GOING BACK TO WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION, ESTABLISH JUSTICE, ENSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY, PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, UH, AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTIES FOR OURSELVES AND OUR PARS PROSPERITY DO ORDAIN THIS CONSTITUTION

[02:40:01]

OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND IT WAS VERY SUCCINCT.

I JUST THINK THIS IS TOO LONG AND TOO, UH, IT'S TOO VERBOSE.

AND I THINK OUR PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, AND I COULD WORK WITH YOU FROM THIS STANDPOINT, OR, OR EITHER I COULDN'T OUTTA RESPECT, COULDN'T SUPPORT IT, BECAUSE WHERE I'M COMING FROM IN TERMS OF A, OF BACKGROUND OF EDUCATION.

SO I'M, I CAN LIVE WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE, WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, OF DALLAS AND UNDER THIS CONSTITUTION.

AND YOU DO HAVE GOALS AND VISIONS AS WE HAVE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT YOU'RE SEEKING TO SECURE THE BENEFITS OF A LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT, UH, AFFIRM THE VALUES OF EQUITABLE DEMOCRACY, UH, REPRESENTATION, WHICH IS THAT DEMOCRACY TO MAKE SURE OUR CITY IS FAIR, EQUITABLE, JUST, AND SAFE.

I CAN LIVE WITH THAT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WHEN THE VOTERS GO TO, TO, TO THE POLL, I, I THINK IF THEY WANT TO READ THAT THEY CAN CAPTURE THAT AND FEEL IT ALL THE OTHER, THEY'RE GONNA GO BACK TO THE DAYS OF HISTORY CLASSROOM.

THEY'RE NOT READING ALL THAT.

AND SO, UH, FOR THAT REASON, I JUST BELIEVE THE BREVITY TARGETED VALUES AND VISIONS I CAN LIVE WITH.

OTHERWISE, I CAN'T SUPPORT, UH, THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT, UH, AS IT'S WRITTEN.

THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

UM, I'M SO OLD THAT IN THE OLD DAYS, IF YOU HAD HANDED ME SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT WOULD'VE COME FROM A MIMEOGRAPH MACHINE AND WE'D STILL BE ABLE TO SMELL IT 'CAUSE IT'S JUST SO HOT OFF THE PRESSES.

AND CLEARLY NOBODY'S HAD TIME ENOUGH TO, I MEAN, MAYBE YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO READ IT, BUT YOU CERTAINLY HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO DIGEST IT AND REALLY REFLECT ON WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN.

SO I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT EITHER THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT TO JUST HAVE THE FIRST PARAGRAPH NOR THE ENTIRE ITEM.

UM, A CITY CHARTER IS SUPER SERIOUS HERE.

WE HAVE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KING ARNOLD REPEATING OUR CONSTITUTION, SOMETHING WE'VE ALL LEARNED AND KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S SO FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR NATION.

AND WHEN YOU START TRYING TO EQUATE THE PREAMBLE WITH, WITH THIS, I DON'T THINK WE'RE TALKING APPLES AND APPLES, AND IT CERTAINLY HASN'T HAD THE KIND OF, UM, THOROUGH DISCUSSION THAT IT SHOULD FROM OUR COMMUNITY, FROM OUR VOTERS NOT TO TAKE OR LEAVE SOMETHING, BUT TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT REFLECTS THEIR OWN INTERESTS.

AND AGAIN, IF THERE'S AN INTEREST IN HAVING A PREAMBLE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE MANY YEARS LATER IN DALLAS HAD NOT SEEMED TO BE NECESSARY.

BUT IF THERE IS THAT INTEREST, THEN I REALLY THINK WE NEED A LONG-TERM PLAN, LIKE A FULL YEAR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO TRULY DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT REFLECTS WHO WE ARE.

AND THIS DOES NOT MEET THAT.

SO I CAN NEITHER SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT OR THE ORIGINAL UNDERLYING AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

UM, I TOO CAN SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT IS A SHORTER VERSION AND IT IS TRULY WHAT I WOULD DEFINE AS A PREAMBLE.

IT IS SHORT AND TO THE POINT, AND IT INTRODUCES THE DOCUMENT.

IT REFERENCES WHAT THIS DOCUMENT IS GOING TO BE ABOUT AND, AND KIND OF THE BASIS FOR IT.

UM, I WAS ALSO INSPIRED BY MS. ARNOLD, UM, READING, I THINK FROM MEMORY, GIVING US THE PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION.

UM, AND SO LOOKED UP REAL QUICK.

I THINK THERE ARE 52 WORDS IN THAT PREAMBLE.

AND, UM, AND I, I WAS STRUCK THAT WHEN A MESSAGE IS SHORT AND TO THE POINT, IT IS REALLY MORE POWERFUL THAN WHEN IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

AND I THINK WHEN WE GET INTO THE, THE DETAILS OF THIS, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME THINGS WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STRUGGLE.

BUT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WILL STRUGGLE WITH THIS FIRST PARAGRAPH.

IT'S WELL WRITTEN.

YOU, UH, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU SAID IT WELL, AND IN JUST THREE, TWO OR THREE SENTENCES.

SO I DO SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

UM, CHAIRMAN STEWART, YOU KNOW, THANK FOR, THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

AND I THINK THAT THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, UM, EVERYTHING BELOW THAT WE SHOULD STRIKE OUT AND, AND I SUPPORT THE FIRST PARAGRAPH.

THERE MAY BE SOME ADD TO THAT.

I DON'T KNOW, SOMEONE ELSE GONNA ADD ANYTHING ELSE TO IT, BUT I THINK IT'S SHORT TO THE POINT AND IT TELL THE STORY, TELL EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH.

MS. WILLIS.

RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

SO THIS IS TO JUST GO BY THE FIRST PARAGRAPH

[02:45:01]

OF WHAT WAS PROPOSED.

I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.

UH, SO I THINK THAT, UH, OUR CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION USED AS A RESOURCE DURING THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE OF THEIR, THEIR MEETINGS, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

AND SO I'M WONDERING, MR. ANDERSON, IF YOU HAVE GUIDANCE ON THIS.

YES, THANK YOU.

UH, JAKE ANDERSON, MANAGER IN THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, UM, THE NATIONAL CIVIC LEAGUE, NC, UH, NCL, UM, RATHER THAN NLC, UM, PUTS OUT A MODEL CITY CHARTER, WHICH WAS PROVIDED TO, UM, THE COMMISSIONERS AS THEY WENT ABOUT THEIR WORK AND WAS PRESENTED TO THEM, UM, BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL CIVIC LEAGUE.

UM, IN THAT MODEL, CITY CHARTER, THERE IS A SECTION ON THE PREAMBLE, UM, AND I I I'VE GOT THE LANGUAGE HERE.

IT SAYS, A PREAMBLE TYPICALLY CONSISTS OF THREE ELEMENTS, AN IDENTIFICATION OF THE SOURCE OF AUTHORITY FOR THE CHARTER, A STATEMENT OF ACTION THAT IS TO BE TAKEN, AND A DECLARATION OF THE INTENT OF THE CHARTER.

UM, THEIR, THEIR EXAMPLE SAYS SOMETHING, UH, ALONG THE LINES OF, WE, THE PEOPLE OF, IN THIS CASE, DALLAS, UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, IN ORDER TO SECURE THE BENEFITS OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT AND PROVIDE FOR AN HONEST AND ACCOUNTABLE COUNCIL MANAGER, GOVERNMENT DO HEREBY ADOPT THIS CHARTER AND INCUR CONFER UPON THE CITY THE FOLLOWING, UM, POWERS.

UH, AND IT GOES ON, YOU KNOW, TO SAY, UH, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS AND PRESCRIBED BY THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES OF THE GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE BY THIS ACTION, WE SECURE THE BENEFITS OF HOME RULE, AFFIRM THE VALUES OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, DEMOCRACY, PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT, UH, POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, DIVERSITY, INCLUSIVENESS, AND REGIONAL COOPERATION.

AND THAT'S THE ENTIRETY OF THE, THE, THEIR RECOMMENDED PREAMBLE WITH THOSE THREE ELEMENTS.

SO THIS IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION THAT LOOKS AT CITIES OF ALL SIZES ACROSS THE COUNTRY? I, I BELIEVE SO, YES.

WELL, UM, I, I AM LEANING TOWARD GOING WITH SOMETHING THAT IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT IS IS PRACTICED.

HOWEVER, I DON'T WANNA DIMINISH THE REST OF THIS CONTENT.

IT MAY BE THAT THIS IS NOT THE PLACE THAT IT LIVES APPROPRIATELY.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A WEBSITE FOR OUR CITY, AND I THINK ACKNOWLEDGING THE HISTORY, UH, OF OUR CITY IS IMPORTANT.

SO MAYBE IT DOESN'T LIVE IN A PREAMBLE, IT LIVES SOMEWHERE ELSE.

BUT I DO THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR IT TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY, BECAUSE AS MUCH AS WE MIGHT WANNA SAY IT'S NOT DIVISIVE, IT COULD BE DIVISIVE.

AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHY.

SO, UH, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT TO SHORTEN THE PREAMBLE.

CHAIRMAN, REVA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. MARIN.

UM, I, I, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THIS DEBATE AND HEAR, YOU KNOW, FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW THINGS WORK.

AND SO SOMETIMES, UM, WE GET TO DO IT ALL IN COMMITTEE.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T.

UM, COUNTLESS TIMES I'VE, I'VE SAT HERE, MR. MAYOR WITH YOU, AND WE'VE WATCHED THINGS THAT REALLY SHOULD NOT BE GETTING DISCUSSED HERE, LIKE ACTUAL CONTRACTS AND, UM, THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE CHANGING.

BUT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

UM, AND THAT'S OKAY 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

AND SOMETIMES DEMOCRACY IS A LITTLE MESSY, AND SOMETIMES DEMOCRACY IS REALLY EASY AND CLEAN.

BUT THE REALLY GREATEST PART IS WE, WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY.

AND, UM, I DON'T SEE AN ISSUE WITH HAVING A PREAMBLE TO OUR CHARTER.

IT'S PROBABLY A MISTAKE THAT HAPPENED A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, AND MAYBE THAT WASN'T SOMETHING FOLKS DID BACK THEN, UM, WITH CITY CHARTERS WAS TO HAVE A PREAMBLE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T HAVE ONE OR WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ONE.

AND, UM, I NOW LIKE LISTENING TO EVERYBODY.

YOU, YEAH, I THINK THE FIRST PARAGRAPH IS THE PREAMBLE.

IT'S SHORT, SWEET TO THE POINT AND GETS OUR CHARTER OFF TO A GREAT START.

NOW WHAT IS, WHAT, WHAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HOPE THAT SOMEBODY WILL LOOK AT, WHETHER IT'S IN THE FUTURE OR, UM, I, I'M, I'M, I'M NOT READY TO DO THIS TODAY, BUT IF SOMEBODY ELSE IS, UM, BECAUSE I, I'M NOT INDIGENOUS AND I DON'T WANT TO ANSWER FOR ANY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BECAUSE I'M NOT INDIGENOUS, BUT I HAD THE DISTINCT HONOR OF LEADING AND SUPPORTING OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY TO HAVE THEIR LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT HERE IN OUR CITY AND OUR RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.

AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT, THAT WAS JUST, IT HAS TO HAPPEN.

AND WHEN YOU HEAR IT SAID AT OUR ARTS GROUPS AND CULTURE GROUPS AND THEY SEE IT AT THE BEGINNING, IT SETS THE TONE OF YES, WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE THINGS THAT HAPPENED.

WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE, UH, DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE FIRST, BUT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.

AND, AND THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IS LITERALLY WRITTEN IN HERE.

AND SO I GET IT.

THAT'S NOT A PREAMBLE, BUT IT IS PART OF OUR HISTORY AND, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF AND SO THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT GOES.

UM, THERE'S PROBABLY SOMEBODY ON THIS COUNCIL THAT'S A LOT SMARTER TO THESE ISSUES THAN, THAN I AM.

AND, UM, I WOULD, UM, IF HE HAS SOMETHING THAT HE WANTS TO DO, I WANNA LET HIM LEAD ON THAT.

UM, BECAUSE I WOULD, UM, IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME TO THINK THAT I CAN ANSWER FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF OUR CITY, UM, WHEN I'M NOT INDIGENOUS.

SO I'LL LEAD THEM, I'LL WORK WITH THEM.

UM, BUT I ALSO KNOW WHEN TO FOLLOW AND, UM, I'M SURE WE'RE GONNA BE HEARING FROM SOMEBODY IN A LITTLE BIT.

CHAIRMAN GRACIE, YOU RECOGNIZE

[02:50:01]

FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

UM, I, I DO WANNA MAKE, UH, WHAT DID WE SAY? AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, I GUESS.

UM, CAN'T DO THAT OR WE HAVE TWO AMENDMENTS PENDING RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW.

YOU GOTTA WAIT TILL WE DISPOSE.

ONE OF THEM WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, WE HAVE TO DISPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT FIRST UNDER OUR RULES.

WE CAN'T HAVE AMENDMENTS TO THE AMENDMENT.

TO THE AMENDMENT.

YOU CAN'T IN OFTEN.

FAIR ENOUGH.

CONGRESS, YOU CAN'T DO IT HERE.

TWO, TWO DOWN.

GOT IT.

HANG.

ANYONE ELSE WANNA SPEAK BEFORE I GO TO THE SECOND ROUND ON THIS AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT? ALRIGHT, THEN EVERYONE WHO'S IN THE QIC RIGHT NOW HAS ALREADY SPOKEN ONCE.

SO DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

WERE, WERE YOU NOT TRYING TO GET IN OR WERE YOU WERE, DID YOU SAY I HAD THREE MINUTES? YEAH, I THINK I ONLY HAVE ONE.

OH, 'CAUSE THIS IS A SEPARATE, I'M JUST, YOU'RE ON THE AMENDMENT.

AMENDMENT STARS.

AND TRUST ME, I'M LIKE A STEEL TRAP ON THIS STUFF.

IT'S MY, IT'S MY ONE, IT'S MY ONE GIFT IN LINE.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I CAN KEEP TRACK OF HOW LONG Y'ALL TALKED.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I, I FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S A MARKET FOR THAT AFTER THIS JOB.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS NO, NO POINT OF ORDER.

STATE YOUR POINT OF WHAT, WHOEVER IT WAS.

UH, SO I GUESS I'M TRYING TO TRACK THESE.

I KNOW.

WHAT, WHAT ARE THE TWO? OKAY, THERE'S AN AMENDMENT THAT'S PENDING BY THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM TO HAVE A PREAMBLE AT ALL.

AND THEN THERE'S AN AMENDMENT TO THAT TO SHORTEN IT.

SO THERE ARE TWO AMENDMENTS THAT ARE ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW.

'CAUSE NEITHER ONE OF THEM IS THE MAIN MOTION.

THE MAIN MOTION IS PAUL BLACKMAN'S MOTION ON ITEM 85.

THIS IS MY ONE GIFT.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK NOW ON, ON THE, FOR THREE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT? 'CAUSE YOU ARE IN ORDER TO DO THAT IF YOU'D LIKE.

UM, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I, I DON'T WANT, I, I DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANY DECISION THAT WAS JUST UNILATERALLY CHANGING.

SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A CONSENSUS TO GO WITH A, A SMALLER VERSION.

I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

HOWEVER, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP BY COLLEAGUES THAT THERE IS, UM, UH, AN INTEREST IN THAT BEING INCLUSIVE OF, UM, UH, THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PIECE OF THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU HAVE.

IF YOU LOOK PAST, UM, THE, UH, ROMAN NUMERAL SUB, UM, UH, HEADINGS THAT WHERE IT STARTS, WE, UM, I I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY AND RESPECT THE CULTURE'S LANGUAGE AND PERSPECTIVES OF ALL WHO CALLED DALLAS HOME.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS STANDS ON THE TRADITIONAL LANDS OF VARIOUS INDIGENOUS GROUPS, INCLUDING THE CATO, WICHITA, AND NOMADIC GROUPS SUCH AS THE COMANCHE AND KIOWA, UH, AND ANCESTRAL TRIBES, INCLUDING THE NY AND MANY OTHERS.

UM, I KNOW THAT IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR AS PRESENTED NOW, UM, THAT WOULD ONLY WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT IS TO STRIKE, UH, THE LANGUAGE THAT, UM, COMES AFTER THAT FIRST PARAGRAPH, WHICH MEANS THERE, IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR A MOTION TO BE PUT ON THE FLOOR AFTERWARDS TO JUST INSERT A PORTION THAT HAS BEEN STRUCK AND VOTED ON BY THE BODY.

SO I AM REQUESTING THAT THE BODY, IF THAT IS SOMETHING THEY CAN LIVE WITH, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY TAKE THAT UP.

UM, WHICH WOULD MEAN WE WOULD HAVE TO DISPOSE OF THE AMENDMENT THAT IS ON THE FLOOR.

AND SO I, I ENCOURAGE YOU, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL CAN SUPPORT AND LIVE WITH, WITH HAVING THE PREAMBLE BEING THAT FIRST, UM, PARAGRAPH AND THEN HAVING LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, UM, UH, THAT WOULD BE REFLECTED OF EXACTLY WHAT I JUST MENTIONED.

IF Y'ALL CAN LIVE WITH THAT AND SUPPORT THAT, I WOULD ASK YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE MOTION AS IT'S PRESENTED ON THE FLOOR NOW SO THAT, UH, MR. GRACIE CAN OFFER, UM, UH, HIS AMENDMENT THAT WOULD BE INCLUSIVE OF BOTH.

SO, I'M SORRY, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M FOLLOWING.

SO WHAT, WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IS WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? SO WE CAN TALK THROUGH THE PROCEDURE.

I WAS JUST, UH, I I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UM, DIE.

MM-HMM, SO THAT THE, AT LEAST THE ABILITY, IF THERE WAS MORE LANGUAGE THAT OTHER MEMBERS WANTED TO INCLUDE IN THAT SH UH, CONDENSED VERSION WAS ALLOWED TO, BUT IF IT'S BEEN STRUCK, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO DISPOSE OF IT THROUGH, UH, VOTING IT AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL MOTION AND WE CAN DO DIFFERENT THINGS TO THAT AT THAT POINT, IF THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO DO.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

THIRD FROM BOTTOM PARAGRAPH, I'LL, I'LL SAY IT THAT WAY.

UM, SO BY ONLY USING THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OR THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, AND THE

[02:55:01]

THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, UM, WHAT IS ACCOMPLISHED IS IT IS SHORTER.

SO THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED, BUT IT STILL DOESN'T ACTUALLY GET TO SOME OF THE IMPORTANT ITEMS WITH MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, MEANING THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING AN EFFICIENT OR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT.

THERE'S NO TALK ABOUT THE GROWTH OR VIBRANCY OF OUR CITY.

THERE'S REALLY IMPORTANT ITEMS MISSING, WHICH ARE MISSING BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T TALKED TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO COULD PERHAPS SHARE ITEMS THAT I HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF IN THE LAST FIVE MINUTES.

SO THIS IS JUST NOT THE RIGHT TIME AND PLACE FOR THIS, THIS NEEDS A MUCH MORE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION IF WE WERE GONNA PURSUE IT.

SO, UM, I WILL, UM, ACTUALLY FOLLOW WHAT, UM, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM IS SUGGESTING AND VOTE AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

AT THIS POINT, UH, MAYOR, I THINK I UNDERSTAND YOU, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DEPUTY MAYOR WANTS TO GO BACK TO THE RAW DATA IN THE BEGINNING.

SO WHAT I'M GONNA SPEAK TO IS VERY CLEAR WHEN WE, WHAT I UNDERSTAND A PREAMBLE TO BE IS A VISION STATEMENT.

AND SO I SEE THE WORDS DEMOCRACY, EQUITY AND JUSTICE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO GET INTO.

IF WE GO BEYOND THAT AND BEGIN TO GET INTO THIS HISTORICAL, UH, POSITIONS ABOUT WHO WAS HERE FIRST.

WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE HERE FOR SOME TIME.

AND I KNOW I BELIEVE IN JUST THAT EQUITY STATEMENT AS IS STATED HERE, I CAN'T SUPPORT ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU ADD TO, BECAUSE ONCE WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT, UH, WHO IS WHO, AND I'M HALF OF THIS AND HALF OF THAT IS SOMEONE THAT SAID, UH, WE WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM.

DO YOU COME FROM INDIA, ASIA, AFRICA, AND THEN MOVE TO DALLAS? WHAT IS IT? WE DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THAT.

WE ARE A PEOPLE HERE AT THIS POINT, AS WE BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY, OUR VISION SHOULD BE, AND THIS IS, I'M TRYING TO WORK WITH IT, EQUITY AND EQUITABLE DEMOCRACY, MAKING OUR CITY FAIR JUST AND SAFE FOR ALL WHO RESIDE WITHIN IT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THESE GUIDELINES, THIS CHARTER SHOULD, UH, ENCOMPASS ARE THOSE STANDARDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO EMBRACE AS A CITY AND THE CITY OF DALLAS.

IT'S ALL, AND IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE IT ALL THE WAY BACK AND PUT SOME TYPE OF SPIN ON IT, IT'S ABOUT DAO US.

SO IT'S ABOUT DALLAS AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE SHOULD BE.

AND TO YOU CHAIR, I, UH, DEPUTY MAYOR, I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

I KNOW YOU WORK, YOU'RE VERY COMMITTED TO WORKING, UH, AND, AND, AND PUSHING THROUGH WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN THAT.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT AS I SEE IT, MY VOTE CANNOT MOVE ANY FURTHER THAN THAT FIRST PARAGRAPH.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT I SUBMITTED.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO.

AND I'M GONNA ROLL WITH YOU ALL THE WAY YOU WANNA ROLL WITH IT.

BUT MY POSITION IS STILL THE SAME.

THIS ONE PARAGRAPH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T EVEN SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE WHO OWN LAND.

IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT YOUR HISTORY, IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CLAIM LAND AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

IT'S NOT THERE.

SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND I'M GONNA GO WITH MY SUGGESTION, MY POSITION, BUT I CAN'T MOVE ON ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR, AGAINST THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT THAT MR. RIDLEY'S MADE? SO I JUST WANNA SAY THIS, UM, TO CLARIFY WHAT'S PROCEDURE, BECAUSE IT MAY IMPACT HOW SOME OF Y'ALL VOTE.

THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M GONNA SAY IT.

UM, SO WHATEVER HAPPENS ON THIS VOTE, IT'S GOING TO ROLL UP TO THE AMENDMENT BY THE DEPUTY MAYOR PROTIME.

MEANING IF YOU, IF THIS THING PASSES, IT'S GOING TO AMEND HIS, UH, ORIGINAL MOTION TO SHORTEN IT TO JUST THAT PARAGRAPH.

AND IF YOU VOTED DOWN, THEN WE'RE STILL GOING BACK TO THE A AMENDMENT, UM, THAT WAS MADE BY THE DEPUTY MAYOR PROM, BUT IT'LL BE THE LONGER VERSION.

SO JUST KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ULTIMATELY VOTING YET ON THE PREAMBLE OR NO PREAMBLE, YOU'RE JUST VOTING ON LONG PREAMBLE OR SHORT PREAMBLE RIGHT NOW.

OKAY? SO ANYONE ELSE WANNA SPEAK ON FOUR AGAINST BEFORE I GO TO THE SECRETARY, CITY SECRETARY FOR A ROLL CALL? MR. RESENDEZ, I I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M NOT LEAVING YOU OUT.

YOU GOOD FOR NOW? OKAY.

ALRIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY, GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL.

MR. MAYOR, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

DEPUTY, DEPUTY MAYOR, POPE BASIL, COUNCIL MEMBER WEST? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER NOVAS? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS?

[03:00:05]

OPPOSED? THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR.

SO THE AMENDMENT BY THE DEAF MAYOR PRO TEM HAS BEEN AMENDED BY MR. RIDLEY.

WE'RE NOW BACK ON THE AMENDMENT BY THE DEAF MAYOR PRO TEM AND THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAD SPOKEN ON IT WAS THE MOVER FOR FIVE MINUTES.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT? SEEING NONE.

RECORD VOTE.

THIS IS ON, THIS IS ON THE, UH, AMENDED VERSION OF THE PREAMBLE.

AND I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

IF YOU OPPOSED.

MAYOR JOHNSON? NO.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.

DEPUTY MAYOR PROM.

BASIL DUA? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORENO.

I CAN'T, WE CAN'T TALK THROUGH THE VOTE.

COUNCIL MEMBER NOVAS? YES.

I'M VERY CONFUSED.

COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSON PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY TO REPEAT THE MOTION, PLEASE.

WHOA.

YOU CAN NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE, NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TO REPEAT THE MOTION.

NOT WHILE WE'RE VOTING, I WOULD LIKE TO CONFER WITH A COLLEAGUE, .

BUT YOU WANT TO CALL, YOU WANNA CALL A YOU WANT WAIT, WHAT? IS IT THE LIFELINE YOU WANNA CALL A FRIEND, FRIEND? NO, WE CAN'T, YOU CAN'T DO THIS WHILE WE'RE VOTING GUYS, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO FINISH THE VOTE.

SERIOUSLY.

OKAY, SO I'M GONNA VOTE NO .

WITH 10 VOTING IN FAVOR.

FIVE OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR.

ALRIGHT, SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE, UM, THE SHORTENED VERSION OF THAT PREAMBLE IS NOW PART OF ITEM 85.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE? CHAIRMAN WEST.

I WAS HOPING TO MAKE A MOTION ON THE NEXT ONE.

YOU CAN WE, IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON.

I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY ADDING A PROPOSITION THAT REMOVES THE ELECTION DATE FROM CHAPTER FOUR, SECTION THREE OF THE CHARTER, AND ALLOWS THE CITY COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH AN ELECTION DATE ON A UNIFORM ELECTION DATE BY RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.

THE CHAIRMAN WEST.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT.

WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE OUT ANY REFERENCE TO THE ELECTION DATE OUT OF THE CHARTER.

UM, I WILL NOT, UM, GO INTO THE VIRTUES WITH MY COLLEAGUES OF WHY I BELIEVE THAT, UM, NOVEMBER OUGHT, YOUR ELECTIONS ARE A GOOD THING.

YOU GUYS HEARD ME SAY ALL OF THAT AND YOU'VE PROBABLY READ LETTERS FROM, UM, TONS OF PEOPLE YOU'VE READ.

OP-EDS.

I THINK, UH, MS. MENDELSSOHN REFERENCED EARLIER AN OP-ED BY THREE FORMER MAYORS.

ONE OF THE ITEMS THEY DID NOT COMMENT ON IS A BAD THING, UH, WAS, UM, UH, MOVING OUR ELECTION DATE THAT WAS NOT REFERENCED SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE BROAD SUPPORT ACROSS THE CITY, INCLUDING, UM, THE LEGAL WOMAN VOTERS, UM, OF THE ENTIRE CHARTER.

WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS IN IT TO HELP US OPERATIONALLY.

UM, WE HAVE VERY FEW THINGS IN THE CHARTER THAT ARE GONNA MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE DAILY LIVES OF OUR RESIDENTS.

AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A COUNCIL TO CHANGE OUR ELECTION DATE AND MOVE IT FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER, UM, WOULD, AS WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER CITIES ACROSS TEXAS, MOST LIKELY DOUBLE VOTER TURNOUT, MAKING IT EASIER FOR VOTERS TO VOTE, UM, REDUCING AS WE'VE, WE LEARNED IN PREVIOUS CHARTER DISCUSSIONS.

REDUCING THE COST AND THE FISCAL IMPACT ON THE CITY, SAVING US MONEY, UM, AND SIMPLY GETTING BETTER VOTER ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE THEY, THEY KNOW THEY NEED TO VOTE ONCE A YEAR.

AND THAT'S IN NOVEMBER.

I LITERALLY HAD A COLLEAGUE, UH, ONE OF MY BLOCK WALKERS, UM, UH, WAS WE WERE DROPPING OFF KIDS AT SCHOOL, ASKED ME IF I WAS RUNNING AGAIN IN NOVEMBER.

AND SHE LIKE WALKS FOR ME EVERY TWO YEARS AND SAID, THIS IS HOW CONFUSING IT IS FOR OUR VOTERS AND OUR RESIDENTS TO REMEMBER TO VOTE IN MAY WHEN IT WOULD BE SO EASY FOR THEM TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER.

SO THE ORIGINAL MOTION THAT I, WHEN I WAS, UH, MS. ARNOLD REFERRED TO ME AS THE HANGING CHAD, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T GET A SECOND, UH, BACK IN, IN, UH, JUNE, WAS TO ACTUALLY ENSHRINE IN THE CHARTER A NOVEMBER ELECTION DATE THAT DIDN'T GET SUPPORT.

I DON'T THINK IT HAS SUPPORT TODAY.

SO WHAT THIS MOTION DOES IS IF IT'S APPROVED BY YOU GUYS AND IT'S APPROVED BY THE VOTERS,

[03:05:01]

OUR NEXT STEP, AND I'M, AND I'M GONNA PROBABLY ASK STAFF TO CONFIRM THIS, OUR NEXT STEP WOULD THEN BE, GO TO THE LEGISLATURE, ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO ALLOW US TO MOVE OUR ELECTION DATE.

IF THEY APPROVED THAT, WE WOULD THEN COME BACK, AND I MAY NOT BE HERE, BUT SOME OF YOU GUYS WILL BE, UM, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UM, SET THE ELECTION DATE AS AN ORDINANCE.

SO WE WOULD ONLY HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS ONCE, AND THAT'S TO REMOVE THE ACTUAL, UM, REFERENCE TO MAY ELECTIONS.

UM, SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WOULD GIVE US, UM, MORE FLEXIBILITY AS A COUNCIL, UM, TO DO WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS THE MOST IMPACTFUL THING IN THIS ENTIRE CHARTER, POTENTIALLY FOR VOTERS.

UM, UM, AT LEAST THAT'S, THAT'S COME OUT OF THE, UH, CHARTER DISCUSSIONS, UM, NOT COUNTING THE PETITIONS.

SO, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, JAKE, WAS, WILL YOU JUST CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON, ON THE PROCEDURE ON HOW THIS WOULD WOULD WORK? YES.

UH, I CAN DEFINITELY SPEAK TO THE LEGISLATURE.

UM, WE, WE WOULD NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO OP, OPEN UP THE WINDOW, UM, AGAIN, TO MOVE THE ELECTION DATES TO ALLOW MUNICIPALITY TO MOVE THE ELECTION DATES.

THAT CAN EITHER BE DONE SPECIFICALLY FOR DALLAS OR IT COULD BE OPENED UP STATEWIDE, UM, IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION OR ANY LE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AFTER THAT.

UM, AND ONCE THAT WAS DONE, IT COULD COME BACK HERE AND BE, BE CHANGED BY ORDINANCE.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE STATE, IF, IF LET'S SAY THE VOTERS PASSED THIS IN DALLAS AND UM, WE REMOVE IT FROM THE CHARTER, BUT THEN WE DON'T GET IT DONE AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS NEXT SESSION, WOULD WE BE REQUIRED, WOULD TELL ME WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? I I'M GONNA DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THAT.

UM, IN THAT CASE, OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS WOULD REMAIN IN MAY.

WE WOULD HAVE TO BE REQUIRED TO SET IT AS AN ORDINANCE FOR MAY.

CORRECT? YES.

THAT, THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE DOES NOT ALLOW CITIES TO MOVE THEIR ELECTION DATE.

THAT'S WHAT WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE AT THE LEGISLATURE.

SO, AND I JUST ASKED THAT QUESTION 'CAUSE I HAD A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES DID EXPRESS CONCERNS WITH THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S OUR LEGAL PATH FORWARD? SO I, I'M GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO POINT THAT OUT.

UM, I WILL SAVE MY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FOR THE SECOND ROUND, BUT I WOULD HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WOULD SUPPORT THIS.

I THINK THIS IS A, A LOT OF FOLKS HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRIGGER CLAUSE.

I THINK THIS SOLVES THAT PROBLEM.

IT IS ON US AND OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM TO GO OUT AND ACTUALLY TRY TO GET THIS SOLD AT THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT HAVEN'T YOU CONFIRMED, JAKE, THAT THERE'S ALREADY SOME CITIES THAT ARE PLANNING ON DOING THIS THIS SESSION? THAT'S CORRECT.

UM, THERE'S AT LEAST ONE OTHER CITY MISSION TEXAS, UM, THAT IS PLANNING TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND ASK, ASK FOR THIS, UM, PROVISION TO BE, UM, REOPENED.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT THE GPFM COMMITTEE HAS ADVANCED THIS, UM, FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE AD HOC LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, UM, IN, UH, IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

ALRIGHT, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S UP TO SPEED.

ITEM 85 HAS BEEN AMENDED ONCE TO ADD THAT PREAMBLE, THE SHORTENED VERSION.

NOW WE ARE ON A SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85 BY MR. WEST.

SO ANYBODY'S IN THE KEY RIGHT NOW.

THE CONVERSATION IS ON MR. WEST'S AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED VERSION OF 85.

CHAIRMAN ARE ADVISED YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES FOR THAT PURPOSE.

DISD, RIGHT? SO, AND THE COLLEGE HAS A COUPLE THINGS THEY HAVE TO DO, BUT WE'RE THE ONLY ENTITY THAT HAS TO CHANGE OUR GUIDING DOCUMENT.

AND, UM, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WEST, UM, FOR WORKING WITH ME.

AND YOU KNOW, I HAD A DIFFERENT IDEA OF HOW TO GET THERE AND, BUT THIS IDEA I ACTUALLY LIKED BETTER.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND YOU WORK WITH EACH OTHER 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, BEST IDEA WINS.

AND, UM, BUT THE ONE THING THAT, UM, I, I HOPE THAT WE CAN DO IF THIS, IF THIS PASSES, UM, IS UM, 'CAUSE IT LEAVES IT OPEN FOR WHETHER THE VOTERS WANNA MOVE IT TO NOVEMBER IF THE LEGISLATURE WE KNOW WE HAVE TO GO ASK FOR PERMISSION.

AND THE TRIGGER WAS THE, THE PART THAT, LIKE YOU SAID IT WE DIDN'T LIKE.

UM, BUT, UM, AND I'M SORRY I HAD TO LEAVE YOU AS A HANGING CHAD THAT TIME 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T GET TO WORK.

YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO WORK ON IT, BUT, UM, BUT WE, WE ENDED UP HAVING THE TIME TO DO IT AND UM, I LIKE THAT WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PROPERLY DO, WHICH IS GO TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, GO ASK PERMISSION.

IT'S KIND OF COOL TO HEAR THAT THERE'S OTHER CITIES, UM, THINKING ABOUT THIS SAME THING.

AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MUNICIPALITIES ALL OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS START TO MOVE INTO NOVEMBER.

AND HERE'S THE REASON WHY.

MY OTHER ISSUES WERE, UM, I DIDN'T WANNA LEAVE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OUR COLLEGE, OUR DALLAS COLLEGE, UM, ALONE IN MAY.

AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT MADE ME NERVOUS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL.

AND SO WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND UM, NOW I FOUND OUT FROM SOME OTHER FOLKS THAT THEY'RE ALREADY ORGANIZING AND GETTING A WORKING GROUP TOGETHER.

SO I HOPE THAT WE COULD FORM A WORKING GROUP WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THEY'RE ALL WAITING FOR DALLAS.

MAKES SENSE.

WE'RE THE BIG DOG IN THE ROOM AND THEY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WAITING FOR, TO SEE WHAT WE DO.

AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ALL WAITING FOR DI THE

[03:10:01]

ALL THE REST CAN DO IT JUST BY A REGULAR BOARD VOTE.

AND, UM, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW SUIT.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, IF WE CAN WORK CONGRUENTLY WITH THEM.

SO IF THIS DOES PASS, UM, THEN THAT WORKING GROUP CAN GET TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND UM, YOU KNOW, DALLAS GET, YOU KNOW, WE, THE FIRST THING IS WE GOTTA PASS THIS, THEN GET, UM, THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO UM, SAY YES.

AND THEN FROM THERE, THOSE OTHER ENTITIES CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO, HOW THEY WANT TO DO IT, IF THEY CHOOSE TO, IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO, IT'S ON, IT'S ON THOSE GOVERNING BODIES.

UM, SO THAT WAS THE BIG, BIG THING FOR ME ON THAT ONE, UM, WAS THE SCHOOLS, UM, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE IT WOULD MAKE THEIR ELECTIONS COST MORE IF WE LEAVE.

THEY HAVE TO PAY MORE.

UM, THEN I, I GOT SOME RESEARCH AND SOME DATA THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME AND EXACTLY WHAT MR. WEST SAID.

UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND, AND I GUESS THIS IS WHERE I GOT, YOU KNOW, DOING THE WORKING GROUP, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, THEY'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN US.

'CAUSE ALMOST THE ENTIRE CITY IS IN JUST ONE COUNTY.

I THINK THERE'S JUST A TEENY TINY BIT THAT'S NOT, UM, AND UM, I THINK ALMOST THE ENTIRE COUNTY IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND SO THEY GOT TOGETHER AND GOT ALL THEIR, THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, THEIR COLLEGE, EVERYBODY AND THEY ALL ENDED UP CHANGING AT THE SAME TIME SO THAT THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, MAKE THINGS SMOOTH BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A MAY ELECTION FOR D-I-S-D-R-S-D, YOU KNOW, ALL THE PARTS THAT ARE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, THE DIFFERENT I ISDS AND THEN HAVE THE COLLEGE AND, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THEN IT DOES GET, IT STAYS CONFUSING.

WE, I VOTE IN MAY EVERY YEAR FOR THIS AND I VOTE IN NOVEMBER FOR MY CITY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, AND, AND YOU KNOW, STATE AND FEDERAL.

SO THIS IS A GOOD, A GOOD WAY TO GET EVERYTHING DONE WITHOUT A TRIGGER CLAUSE.

AND, UM, AND WE GET, AND WE JUST ARE ABLE TO DO WHAT I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING, IF YOU GOT YOUR, IF YOU OPEN YOUR EMAILS, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN FAVOR OF MOVING THE ELECTION TO NOVEMBER.

AND, UM, THE TURNOUT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WENT FROM SOMETHING LIKE RIGHT AROUND 10% TO 22%.

AND IT CONTINUES TO STAY THERE AND GET A LITTLE BIT BIGGER AND BIGGER, UM, EACH, EACH ELECTION THAT THEY HAVE.

AND THEY'RE ALSO IN THE OFF YEAR.

SO THE SAME ONE THAT'S PROPOSED HERE.

AND HERE'S THE OTHER REASON THAT I COULD SUPPORT THIS AS WELL, IS HARRIS COUNTY WITH THE TURNOUT THAT THEY'RE HAVING, THEY'RE BASICALLY DECIDING OUR STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

'CAUSE THAT'S THE SAME ELECTION.

AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT YOU KNOW, I, I LOVE HOUSTON AND ALL THAT, BORN AND RAISED THERE, BUT I WANT DALLAS TO HAVE A VOICE AS WELL WHEN WE'RE, WE'RE VOTING ON STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND WE'RE MISSING OUT ON THAT AS WELL.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON SAVINGS.

'CAUSE THE STATE OF TEXAS IS INVOLVED IN THAT ELECTION AS WELL, EVERY, EVERY OFF YEAR, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE DO STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

SO THAT CAN ALSO SAVE US MORE MONEY BECAUSE THE STATE IS REQUIRED TO PAY A PORTION, OR I GUESS IT'S THE COUNTY, BUT THROUGH THE STATE.

AND HERE'S THE OTHER GOOD THING IS WHEN YOU HAVE THAT ELECTION WITH THE STATE, THERE'S WAY MORE POLLING LOCATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE TO HAVE X AMOUNT OF POLLING LOCATIONS THAT WE WOULD BENEFIT FROM BY NOT HAVING TO PAY FOR THOSE, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE PART OF THE STATE'S, UM, PROCESS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, DEPUTY MAYOR, PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MR. WEST AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

MAKING A CHANGE, WHEN WE ACTUALLY OPEN UP OUR GUIDING DOCUMENT, OUR GOVERNING DOCUMENT TO REFLECT US, UM, UH, BEING ABLE TO DO THAT IS, IS A HUGE DEAL.

AND, UM, I WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN WEST FOR YOUR, UM, DEDICATION ON THIS ISSUE.

UM, I I, I THINK THIS WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WAS TOUGH FOR ME TO SAY THAT I DIDN'T SUPPORT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT, IT WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT, UM, ACCURATE IN WHAT ITS GOALS ARE, ARE MEANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

UM, I THINK THAT WHAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE US NOW IS NOT HAVING TO POKE THE BEAR, UM, OF THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I AM WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTIVE OF.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING US, UM, A SOLUTION THAT CAN GET US THE SAME END GOAL WITHOUT, UH, COMPROMISING SOME OF OUR OTHER GOALS, WHICH IS WHAT I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GONNA DO IF WE WERE GOING TO STRONG ARM, UM, A, A BODY THAT WE KNOW DOESN'T WANT TO BE STRONG ARMED .

SO, UM, I I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS.

I THINK THAT IN THE END, IF WE ARE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY, UM, UH, LOBBY AND CHANGE LEGISLATION, UH, TO ALLOW FOR US TO, I LOOK FORWARD TO ALSO SUPPORTING THE NEXT STEP.

AND, AND REALLY THANK YOU FOR, UM, UH, BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND PRIORITIZING IT.

I, I, UM, I THINK THAT IT IS, IT, IT IS REALLY SAD OUR VOTER TURNOUT, UM, IN OUR CITY, BUT ALSO IN OUR STATE.

UH, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, AND IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, NOT DONE WHAT WE CAN AS LAWMAKERS TO MAKE VOTING EASIER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE, UM, BY THE VOTER FATIGUE OF THE MANY DIFFERENT, UH, ELECTIONS THAT EXIST.

UM, WE HAVE PERPETUATED THAT.

SO FROM

[03:15:01]

AND I, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA DO DURING THIS REVIEW PROCESS BECAUSE THE END RESULT SHOULD BE THAT WE HAVE A MUCH, MUCH, UM, MORE, UM, PARTICIPATED IN ELECTION PROCESS, WHICH IS, IT SHOULD BE ALL OF OUR GOALS AS ELECTED OFFICIAL.

UH, SO THANK YOU, UM, UH, MR. MAYOR.

UM, UM, UH, CHAD, THANK YOU MR. WEST FOR YOUR, UH, WORK ON THIS.

I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT.

CHAIRMAN MINSON MENDELSON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MR. WEST AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

UM, I BELIEVE THE OP-ED FROM THE THREE MAYORS, FORMER MAYORS DIDN'T INCLUDE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION DATE BECAUSE THEY DON'T ALL AGREE.

UM, CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME ADVOCATES FOR IT OF THE THREE, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ALL AGREE.

UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH MOVING THE ELECTION TO NOVEMBER, STARTING WITH, WE WOULD HAVE A RUNOFF IN DECEMBER, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO HOST AN EVENT IN DECEMBER, BUT PEOPLE ARE SUPER BUSY.

THEY'RE BUSY WITH HOLIDAY PARTIES, THEY'RE BUSY WITH END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR JOB VACATIONS.

AND THIS IS HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC.

WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE IS A TURNOUT OF JUST THE MOST ARDENT SUPPORTERS OF ANY SPECIFIC CANDIDATE, WHICH REALLY MAY NOT YIELD THE RESULTS THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE.

UM, THE NEXT ITEM I'LL SAY IS, DID THE CHARTER COMMISSION RECOMMEND MOVING TO NOVEMBER? NO, NO, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DID.

WAS THE ITEM BROUGHT TO THE CHARTER COMMISSION? YES, IT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.

SO IT WAS DISCUSSED I THINK QUITE VIGOROUSLY AND OUR APPOINTEES DECIDED THIS WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR THE CITY AT THIS TIME.

THAT IS CORRECT.

UM, THE NEXT THING IS, IT'S INCORRECT TO SAY THAT PEOPLE WOULD ONLY VOTE ONE TIME A YEAR BECAUSE OF COURSE THEY WILL VOTE FOR SCHOOL BOARD, THEY WILL VOTE FOR COLLEGE TRUSTEES AND ANY BOND ELECTIONS THAT HAPPEN IN A MAY ELECTION, THEY'RE STILL GONNA CONTINUE TO, UM, BE ASKED TO VOTE MULTIPLE TIMES.

UM, CARRIE ROGERS, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES.

HOW MANY ISDS HAVE AN ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS, APPROXIMATELY? CARRIE ROGERS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.

WE HAVE 13 SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT EXTEND INTO THE CITY OF DALLAS.

NINE OF THOSE, UM, I BELIEVE HAVE ACTUAL BUILDINGS WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES.

AND THEN HOW MANY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS? I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS THREE.

UH, YES MA'AM.

THE ANSWER IS THREE .

UM, BECAUSE OF COURSE, DENTON COUNTY, COLLIN COUNTY AND DALLAS COUNTY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN COLLEGE DISTRICTS.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THOSE WERE LOOKING TO CHANGE THEIR DATES.

SO AGAIN, RESIDENTS ARE STILL GONNA BE ASKED TO VOTE BOTH IN MAY AND IN NOVEMBER.

WE ARE PUTTING EXTRA COSTS ON THE ISDS AND THE COLLEGES IF WE LEAVE THAT DATE.

AND FOR ALL THE TIMES I'VE HEARD COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THAT THEY SUPPORT EDUCATION, THIS IS A WAY WE CAN ACTUALLY SHOW THAT.

UM, AND LASTLY, IT, IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR THE, UM, DESIRE TO HAVE THE LEGISLATURE MAKE THIS CHANGE FOR US IN TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLE ITEMS, UM, WITH, UH, STATE REPS AND SENATORS.

I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S AN APPETITE TO DO THAT.

AND THE FIRST QUESTION IS, WELL, YOU ALREADY HAD A WINDOW, WHY DIDN'T YOU DO IT THEN? WELL, WE ARE NOT THE SAME BODY.

DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE THERE AND TIMES CHANGE WOULD OF COURSE BE THE ANSWER.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU, THERE IS NO, UM, INTEREST IN HELPING US WITH ELECTIONS IF THAT'S HOW THIS BODY WOULD VIEW IT.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S ATTAINABLE EITHER.

SO, UM, I DON'T SUPPORT THIS ITEM, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT, UM, CHAIRMAN WEST BROUGHT IT FORWARD BECAUSE I KNOW HE BELIEVES IN IT STRONGLY.

AND SO I DO THINK IT'S A PROPER FORM TO HAVE DONE IT, BUT I DON'T SUPPORT IT.

THANK YOU JIM RIDLEY, RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMEND BY MR. WEST ITEM 85.

QUESTION FOR YOU, JAKE.

WHAT IS MEANT BY A UNIFORM ELECTION DATE? I'M GONNA DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEYS ON THE DEFINITION OF UNIFORM.

UH, THE UNIFORM ELECTION DATES ARE OUTLINED IN THE, UM, STATE LAW.

I BELIEVE IT'S THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE, AND IT LISTS A MAY UNIFORM ELECTION DATE AND A NOVEMBER UNIFORM ELECTION DATE FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO IT PROVIDES TWO DATES EACH YEAR.

ONE IN MAY, ONE IN NOVEMBER.

IT'S A DATE, A SPECIFIC DATE OF THE YEAR.

I'M SORRY, WHAT? IT'S A SPECIFIC DATE IN EITHER MAY OR NOVEMBER.

THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY.

[03:20:01]

THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY.

UH, OR THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER.

UM, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY CONFUSION AMONGST PEOPLE WHO ARE ENGAGED WITH CIVIC MATTERS ABOUT WHEN CITY ELECTIONS ARE HELD.

IF YOU'RE AT ALL ENGAGED IN CIVIC MATTERS, YOU ARE OPEN TO THE MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS YOU'LL RECEIVE FROM ALL OF THE MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES AND OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE MAY ELECTIONS.

I, I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T KNOW AFTER BEING BESIEGED WITH ALL OF THAT MEDIA THAT THERE'S AN ELECTION PENDING IN MAY.

UM, I'M ALSO NOT CONVINCED THAT THE TURNOUT WILL INCREASE IF IT IS MOVED TO NOVEMBER.

THE EXAMPLES GIVEN HAVE ONLY HAD A SCANT NUMBER OF ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER, AND SO THEY, UH, HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH EXPERIENCE FOR US TO MAKE AN INFORMED JUDGMENT ON THE BASIS THAT THAT INCREASES THE VOTER TURNOUT.

BUT AT BOTTOM, WHAT THIS MOTION IS, IS JUST A REHASH OF THE ONE THAT WE ALREADY REJECTED DURING STRAW VOTING, WHICH WAS TO MOVE THE ELECTION TO NOVEMBER.

THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS.

IT'S THE SAME PURPOSE FOR THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

I DON'T SEE ANY FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCE.

I WAS OPPOSED TO IT THEN.

I'M OPPOSED TO IT NOW.

MS. BLACKMAN, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MR. WEST AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

UM, THANK YOU.

SO, UM, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ORDINANCE LANGUAGE, DO WE HAVE ANY PARAMETERS IN WHICH WE DEVELOP THAT LANGUAGE? MEANING COULD YOU NOT HAVE, IF THERE'S MORE THAN TWO PEOPLE RUNNING IN AN ELECTION, YOU COULD ACTUALLY HAVE A PRIMARY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CALL IT, IN OCTOBER, UM, BECAUSE THEY DO THIS IN LOUISIANA, THEY HAVE AN OPEN PRIMARY IN OCTOBER, AND THE FINAL TWO GO TO THE NOVEMBER.

SO YOU AVOID A DECEMBER RUNOFF.

IS THAT AN OPTION? UH, THAT IS NOT AN OPTION.

PRIMARIES FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS IN TEXAS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

SO HOW DO WE HAVE A RUNOFF IN JUNE WHEN WE RUN IN MAY? WELL, BECAUSE THE STATE LAW SAYS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR A CANDIDATE TO WIN, YOU HAVE TO GET MORE THAN 50% OF THE VOTE.

SO IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CANDIDATES RUNNING, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT NO ONE GETS 50% OF THE VOTE THAT FORCES A RUNOFF AGAINST THE TOP TWO CANDIDATES.

SO, AND THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION.

OKAY, SO YOU'RE TALKING IT'S A STATE LAW.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO, IF WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING, WE COULD BRACKET IT AND CHANGE THE STATE LAW SAYING THAT WE COULD DO IN OCTOBER IF THERE'S MORE THAN TWO.

IN OTHER WORDS, HOW DO WE AVOID A DECEMBER? BECAUSE I DO THINK A DECEMBER RUNOFF IS NOT OPTIMAL, BUT I DO BELIEVE IN A NOVEMBER ELECTION DATE AND IT MAY BE A PACKAGE THAT WE HAVE TO DO DOWN IN AUSTIN.

YEAH, DEFINITELY THE STATE LAW WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE TO ALLOW FOR THAT.

AND YOU, WE COULD BRACKET IT.

UM, AND HAS OTHERS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT THERE WAS A WINDOW AND I BELIEVE OTHER CITIES LOST HAVE, HAVE IT PASSED AND OTHER CITIES CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE AND ASKED FOR THAT WINDOW TO BE OPENED.

HAVE THEY ALL BEEN GRANTED, OR MOST OF THEM BEEN GRANTED OR NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN GRANTED? UH, WILLOW SANCHEZ FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE ALL BEEN GRANTED, WE'RE ONLY AWARE OF THE ONES THAT WERE GRANTED AND THERE, SO THERE'S SOME THAT HAVE BEEN GRANTED.

SO IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC, SORRY, YOU MISSED THE WINDOW NEXT.

ANYONE ELSE BEFORE I GO TO ROUND TWO WHO HADN'T SPOKEN YET? OH, I'M PUSHING THE CAMERA.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT THE NUMBER OF VOTERS, I MEAN I'VE WORKED MANY ELECTIONS AND I BELIEVE MS. ARNOLD, YOU WERE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT AT ONE TIME, AND YOU CAN TALK ABOUT VOTER TURNOUT.

I MEAN, I THINK IT WAS 22,000 THAT WERE IN YOUR ELECTION THAT YEAR.

I MEAN, IT WAS SUBSTANTIAL AND, UH, IT, IT'S A HUGE, IT'S A DATA POINT.

PEOPLE DO TURN OUT IN NOVEMBER.

NOW GOING TO THE END OF THE BALLOT IS A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION , BECAUSE USUALLY COUNCIL RACES WILL BE AT THE END.

SO I DO BELIEVE THERE IS HIGHER VOTER TURNOUT, AND I DO BELIEVE YOU GET A BETTER DEMOCRACY WHEN PEOPLE'S VOICES ARE HEARD.

AND SO, AND THEY'RE GETTING TO EXPRESS THEM.

AND, AND SO, UM, I'M GOING TO, I DID NOT LIKE THE TRIGGER CLAUSE, SO I APPRECIATE ELIMINATING THAT.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT DECEMBER RUNOFFS, IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT CREATES A PACKAGE, IF NOT, IF NOT, IT'S JUST DECEMBER.

BUT IF YOU COULD DO, IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE COULD HAVE, UM, A, I DON'T YOU DON'T CALL IT A PRIMARY, I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT A, UH, AN ELECT A CONTEST TO DECIDE THE TWO PEOPLE RIGHT.

TO TAKE IT TO NOVEMBER VOTE SO THAT WAY WE AVOID A DECEMBER.

BUT, OR NOT, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, BUT MAYBE WE'LL JUST HAVE A DECEMBER ONE.

SO THANK YOU.

THAT WAS ALL MY QUESTIONS.

[03:25:02]

IT'S ROUND TWO TIME.

OH NO, WE'RE GONNA GO TO, UM, CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MR. WEST.

I WON'T, WON'T BE THAT LONG.

I DON'T THINK.

I THINK I APPRECIATE THE WORK ONCE AGAIN AND I'M, I, I'M PRETTY MUCH GOING TO STAY WITH WHAT WE WOULD CALL THE OLD SCHOOL METHOD.

UH, AND I'M PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE WHO, THE POSTER CHILD FOR JUNE RUNOFFS AS WELL AS DECEMBER RUNOFF AND DECEMBER WAS ALMOST LIKE A DEATH.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME, UH, TO LOOK TOWARD, UH, A A A RUNOFF IN PARTICULAR.

BECAUSE AS STATED, YOU'VE GOT HOLIDAYS AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN AND OTHER ACT FAMILY GATHERINGS AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT AND THE VOTERS HAVE TO VOTE, EVEN IF THEY DIEHARD, THEY'RE GONNA PICK THEIR FAMILY OVER, OVER A COUNCIL RACE.

SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND I ALWAYS CRE APPRECIATE YOUR ENERGY AND CRE CREATIVITY AND THINKING OUTSIDE OF WHAT I CALL THE CIRCLE.

BUT UH, IN THIS CASE I'M JUST GONNA KEEP, I'M GOING TO REMAIN WITH THE OLD SCHOOL, UM, VOTING AND WE ARE DOING GOOD, UH, TO, TO NOW BEGIN TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING THAT THE VOTERS NEED US TO PROVIDE EFFICIENCY, CLARITY, EFFICACY SO THAT THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO GO TO THE POLL AND READ A DISSERTATION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ARE.

I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY ABOUT, ABOUT TO EMBARK ON THAT EVEN WITH THE CHARTER.

BUT TO ADD THAT ELEMENT AND THEN YOU'RE TRYING TO SWITCH UP AND THEY'VE GOTTA REMEMBER WHICH TIME THEY'RE GO.

OLD SCHOOL IS WHERE I'M GOING TO BE AND UH, SO I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR ENERGY.

THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCIL, WE APPRECIATE IT.

OF COURSE.

UH, ANYONE ELSE BEFORE I GO TO ROUND TWO? ALRIGHT, I'M NOT CHAIRMAN WHAT YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES ON YOUR MOTION.

I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE, UM, ITEMS THAT CAME UP WITH A FEW MINUTES AGO ON VOTER TURNOUT.

UM, JAKE, UM, NOW OTHER CITIES HAVE RECENTLY MOVED THEIR ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER OF ODD YEARS AND THAT INCLUDES MESQUITE IN 2019.

UM, ISN'T IT TRUE THAT THEIR VOTER TURNOUT INCREASED FROM 5.6%, UM, UP TO 10.8% AFTER THAT MOVE WAS MADE? YES, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

AND HOUSTON HAS, UM, BOTH CITY COUNCIL AND MAYORAL ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER OF ODD NUMBER OF YEARS, CORRECT? YES.

SO THAT'S OFF CYCLE FROM THE, FROM THE LEGISLATURE? THAT'S CORRECT.

UM, AND ISN'T IT TRUE THAT HOUSTON HAS, UM, THEY'VE HAD THESE ELECTIONS SINCE, UH, 2013 AND THEY AVERAGE 22% VOTER TURNOUT VERSUS OUR 9% VOTER TURNOUT? YES, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

NOW, IN STATE APPROVAL, UM, OTHER CITIES HAVE RECENTLY MOVED THEIR ELECTION DATE FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER AND THE STATE'S GIVEN THEM PERMISSION, RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND IN 2023, UM, THE STATE PERMITTED THREE LOCALITIES TO MOVE THEIR ELECTION DATE FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER.

THAT INCLUDES EL PASO, ISD AND THAT SENATE BILL 1131 FORT STOCKTON, SENATE BILL 26 20, AND THEN VARIOUS CITIES IN MONTAUK COUNTY, UM, SENATE BILL 2258, CORRECT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

TO MOVE THEIR ELECTION FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER, NOT A SINGLE ONE HAS BEEN DENIED.

AND ISN'T IT TRUE THAT THE, UM, THE, THE VOTES THE STATE LAWS PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY 31 TO OH, IN THE SENATE AND 1 38 TO ZERO IN THE HOUSE FOR EL PASO? YES.

31 TO OH, IN THE SENATE AND 1 38 TO FOUR IN THE HOUSE FOR FORT STOCKTON? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

31 TO ZERO IN THE SENATE AND 140 TO ZERO IN THE HOUSE FOR THE VARIOUS CITIES IN MONTAG COUNTY? THAT'S CORRECT.

SO ISN'T IT, CAN WE ASSUME THAT THE STATE PRETTY MUCH, IF THEY SEIZES IT, SEE THAT THE CITY WANTS TO GO THIS ROUTE, THEY'RE GONNA SUPPORT US? UH, I THINK BASED ON THOSE, UM, THEY SEEM TO SUPPORT, YES.

UH, YEAH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT.

JAKE .

THANK YOU MAYOR REVIS RECOGNIZ FOR THREE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MR. WEST.

THANK YOU MR. MARIN.

THANK YOU MR. WEST FOR, UM, WHAT YOU JUST DID BECAUSE I WAS GOING ABOUT TO DO ALL OF THAT EXCEPT FOR THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WAS THE CITY EVER DENIED? THERE'S ONLY ONE CITY, MR. MAYOR, THAT'S BEEN DENIED MOVING THEIR ELECTION.

THEIR ELECTION WAS ALREADY IN NOVEMBER AND THEY WANTED TO GO BACK TO MAY AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE UM, SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT LETTING YOU GO BACK TO ME 'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA SPEND MORE MONEY.

AND THAT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY TIME IT'S EVER BEEN DENIED IS BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GO BACKWARDS.

AND, UM, THE STATE REALIZED THAT, UM, THAT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT WOULD JUST COST THE, THAT CITY MORE MONEY.

SO, UM, SO THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE.

'CAUSE I HEARD SOMEBODY ASK IF ANYBODY'S EVER BEEN DENIED.

NOBODY'S BEEN DENIED.

THAT'S ASKED A CITY, A COLLEGE DISTRICT, A SCHOOL BOARD, IF THEY ASKED

[03:30:01]

IF THEY'RE GOING FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO, WELL, WE'RE IN MAY ALREADY, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA ASK TO GO BACK TO MAY 'CAUSE WE'RE ALREADY IN MAY.

SO, UM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD, UM, I'VE HEARD IT A LOT OVER ON HERE TODAY WHEN SOME FOLKS ARE IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING OR NOT.

UM, THEY'RE LIKE, LET THE VOTERS VOTE, LET THE VOTERS VOTE, LET THE VOTERS VOTE.

THEY'LL DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE GONNA DO THIS OR NOT.

I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF CHARTER REVIEW AMENDMENTS, LET THE VOTERS VOTE.

AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA THAT FOLKS DID BRING UP.

AND THE ONLY REASON I I BELIEVE THAT THE, UM, CHARTER REVIEW DIDN'T PASS THIS WAS 'CAUSE THEY JUST COULDN'T WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND EVERYTHING AND THEY HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND THEY JUST KIND OF WERE LIKE, WE'LL JUST LET THE COUNCIL DECIDE ON THAT.

IT, YOU KNOW, AND THEY DID A LOT OF THAT BECAUSE THEY JUST COULDN'T GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEEDED.

THINGS MOVE TOO QUICK.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE, Y'ALL AREN'T CONTENT EXPERTS ON EVERY SINGLE THING THAT FOLKS ARE ASKING.

AND SO SOMETIMES THEY JUST COULDN'T GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF INFORMATION.

UM, WE'VE HAD MORE TIME AND WE'VE HAD MORE, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAD A, UM, CHARTER REVIEW TOWN HALL, BUT YOU KNOW, OR WENT AND PULLED YOUR, YOUR CONSTITUENTS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

BUT, UM, LEMME, I, I, I CAN SPEAK FOR DISTRICT SIX, THEY OVERWHELMINGLY WANT TO NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

SO, UM, THAT'S WHY I HAD TO GO TO MR. WEST AND TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT HOW TO, HOW CAN I WORK IT OUT, UM, WITH HIM TO NOT, YOU KNOW, AND HE TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING.

AND THIS DOESN'T HURT US IF IT PASSES AND THE LEGISLATURES AND WE'RE THE ONE CITY IN HISTORY THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURES TELL US NO TO.

SO, UM, THAT'S, AND USUALLY, AND YOU KNOW, MR. MAYOR, YOU CAN PROBABLY COMMENT ON THIS.

USUALLY THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS A STATE.

I MEAN, THERE'S A FORMER, UM, UM, STATE REP FOR WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER TODAY WAS THE GREATEST HOUSE DISTRICT IN THE STATE, UM, , IS IT TYPICALLY ON LOCAL, LOCAL ISSUES? THE STATE GOES, THE REST OF THE LEGISLATURE GOES WITH WHAT THOSE LEGISLATORS IN THAT COUNTY WANT, AND THEY RARELY, UM, WOULD GO AGAINST SOMETHING THAT'S LOCAL LIKE THAT.

SO, UM, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THIS.

LET THE VOTERS VOTE AND THE CHIPS WILL FALL WHERE THE CHIPS FALL.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST MR. WEST? AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85? SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR, NO.

IF YOU OPPOSED.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BASEL? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORENA? NO.

ARNOLD? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSSOHN? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY WITH NINE VOTING IN FAVOR.

SIX.

OPPOSED? THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD.

MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M LOOKING FOR MOTIONS.

UH, I HAVE, OKAY, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

I, NOW WE, WE COULD MOVE IT AROUND.

UM, BUT, UM, I SEE, ALL I SEE IS, UM, CHAIRMAN VIS, NOW, SO CHAIRMAN VIS, DO YOU HAVE A, A MOTION? YES, I DO.

GO FOR IT.

I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY ADDING A PROPOSITION, ADDING PROVISIONS, STATING THAT CITY COUNCIL SHALL MAKE THE FINAL DETERMINATIONS REGARDING APPROPRIATIONS OF CITY FUNDS.

AND THAT ANY INSTRUCTIONS IN THE CHARTER REGARDING THE APPROPRIATION OF CITY FUNDS FOR CITY EMPLOYEE WAGES SERVE ONLY AS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION AND THAT THESE PROVISIONS CONTROL OVER OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE CITY CHARTER.

ANY DISCUSSION, CHAIRMAN ARVAS? I, I'M JUST GONNA SAY YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES IF YOU WANT IT.

ALL I WANNA SAY IS, UM, I THOUGHT OF THIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, IT'S A LITTLE, IT, WE NEEDED SOME CLARIFYING LANGUAGE IN OUR CHARTER WHEN IT COMES TO THIS AND, UM, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I NOTICED AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE AND, UM, WANT TO THANK FOLKS FOR, YOU KNOW, THAT HELPED ME OUT AND TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

'CAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU START READING THINGS AND IT'S LIKE, IT WAS AMBIGUOUS.

SO THIS CLEARS.

I THINK THIS WILL CLEAR UP, UM, WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IN THAT, UM, IN THAT, IN THAT CHAPTER.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MR. NOVA'S AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

I'M GONNA REMOVE MYSELF FROM THAT.

I WAS PREPARING FOR A MOTION.

WONDERFUL.

ANYONE ELSE WE SHOULD SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST MR. NOVA'S? AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL.

MS. MAYOR, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

[03:35:01]

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TIMM BASEL DUA? YES.

COUNCILMAN MEMBER MORENO.

COUNCIL MEMBER ARNOLD? UH, YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER NOVAS? YES.

WITH 10 VOTING IN FAVOR? FIVE.

OPPOSED? THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD.

MR. MAYOR, FOR WHAT PURPOSE? MS. WILLIS? I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE AMENDMENT.

IT, IT, IT THAT THIS IS IT.

THIS IS, THIS IS THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY.

SO PLEASE, I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY ADDING A PROPOSITION, CREATING A NEW CHAPTER, ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL IN THE CITY CHARTER WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL BEING APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, EXCLUDING THE THREE QUARTER VOTE REQUIREMENT FOR CITY COUNCIL TO REDUCE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S BUDGET.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. WILLIS? YES.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT.

EVERYONE.

THIS IS AN, UH, AMENDMENT BY MS. WILLIS TO ITEM 85.

COLLEAGUES, WHEN WE CONSIDERED THIS AMENDMENT IN JUNE, THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

AND DURING THE JULY RECESS, COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART AND I WORKED TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND ADD DEPTH AND BREADTH TO WHAT ESTABLISHING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AS AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE WOULD MEAN FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS AND HER RESIDENTS.

YOU EACH RECEIVED A COMPENDIUM OF DATA AND LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM OFFICIALS WHO ARE EITHER, EITHER ARE OR HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH INSPECTOR, UH, WITH INDEPENDENT IGS, AS WELL AS FROM TWO OF OUR LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

THERE ARE SOME NOTEWORTHY LOCAL LEADERS WHO WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN PRESENT TODAY, BUT HAD SCHEDULING CONFLICTS.

SO I'D LIKE TO CALL OUT SOME EXCERPTS FROM THEIR LETTERS THAT WERE SUBMITTED.

THE FIRST IS FROM DALLAS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN AU, WHO WAS A MEMBER OF MAYOR RON KIRK'S ETHICS TASK FORCE.

HE SAID, THE TIME TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS FRAUD AND CORRUPTION IS LONG OVERDUE.

AND THIS RECOMMENDATION IS KEY TO THE PROCESS OF ACCOMPLISHING THIS FOR A GREAT CITY.

I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE AND ADDRESS FRAUD AND CORRUPTION HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE CITY.

AND THAT ADDRESSING THIS REALITY IS NOT JUST EXPECTED, BUT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

A FULLY INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL IS A CLEAR AND TIME-TESTED CHOICE FOR ACCOMPLISHING THIS TASK.

NOW THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TEAM HAS BEEN CREATED AND STAFFED, THE TIME IS RIGHT TO EMPOWER IT AS AN ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

THE FIRST STEP AND THE MATTER BEFORE COUNSEL CURRENTLY IS PROVIDING THE VOTERS WITH A CHANCE TO GIVE THE OFFICE FULL INDEPENDENCE.

FULL INDEPENDENCE IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED, INCLUDING IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, CODE OF ETHICS AS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE PROPER OPERATION OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT AND IS THE HALLMARK OF ANY OVERSIGHT, DIVISION OR DEPARTMENT.

INDEPENDENCE IS BUILT UPON THE REMOVAL OF OBLIGATIONS OF ANY NATURE THAT CONFLICT WITH THE PROPER DISCHARGE OF THE CITY OFFICIALS OR EMPLOYEES' DUTIES IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

I AM EAGER TO SEE THE DAY WHEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TEAM IS NO LONGER DELAYED, BUT EMPOWERED TO JOIN ME IN THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AGAINST FRAUD AND CORRUPTION.

I NEED IT.

OUR CITY NEEDS IT.

THEREFORE, I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO MAKE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TEAM A FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR JOINING MY OFFICE IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST FRAUD AND CORRUPTION.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM FORMER DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSIONER ANGELA HUNT, WHO SAID THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION HAS PROPOSED AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO IS HIRED AND FIRED BY THE CITY COUNCIL RATHER THAN ONE WHO REPORTS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY SO THAT HE OR SHE COULD BE WHOLLY IMPARTIAL AND HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO INVEST, INVESTIGATE ANYONE AT CITY HALL, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

IF NECESSARY, THIS WOULDN'T WHOLLY PREVENT COUNCIL MEMBERS OR CITY EMPLOYEES HER INTENT ON VIOLATING THE LAW FROM DOING SO.

BUT IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS DETERRING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND TOWARDS REASSURING DALLAS SITES THAT THE CITY HAS PROACTIVELY PUT SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO UNCOVER CORRUPTION AND TO HOLD THE OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE.

IT WOULD SHOW THAT DALLAS IS GOING TO POLICE ITS OWN NOT WAIT FOR FB HIGH RAID AND HOPEFULLY EARN BACK A MEASURE OF PUBLIC TRUST.

SO THAT LAST PART IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

SHE REFERENCES NOT ONLY INDEPENDENCE OF THE OFFICE, BUT DETERRING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND REASSURING DALLASITE AND EARNING PUBLIC TRUST.

JUST LAST WEEK WE HAD A COUNCIL WORK SESSION AND PUBLIC TRUST WAS SOMETHING THAT WE BROUGHT UP AND WE DISCUSSED AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THIS BODY.

SO TODAY IS ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AS INDEPENDENT AND ANSWERING TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DIRECTLY.

OTHER HOUSEKEEPING AROUND HOW THE OFFICE IS SET UP, WHETHER IT'S AN INTERIM APPOINTMENT, ET CETERA, WOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THIS BODY AFTER THE VOTERS

[03:40:01]

PASS THE AMENDMENT.

THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN, UH, CONFIRM THIS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I'M ASKING YOU, LET'S STAND TOGETHER AND FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS TO INSTILL TRUST BY CARVING A CLEAR PATH TO ZERO FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE AT CITY HALL.

I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS AMENDMENT.

I JUST WANNA POINT OUT YOU GOT THAT DONE AT FOUR 20, LIKE YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO, UM, EXCEPT IT WAS THE WRONG ONE.

UM, CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU'RE ING US FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE MOTION TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE CITY CHARTER.

I BELIEVE THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS LOOK TO THE CITY COUNCIL, RELY ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ADDRESS AND ELIMINATE FRAUD, CORRUPTION, ABUSE, AND WASTE IN THE CITY.

WE ALL WANT ACCOUNTABILITY FROM EVERYONE WHO WORKS FOR THE CITY.

WE WANT THE RESIDENTS TO TRUST THE CITY THEY LIVE IN.

I BELIEVE ALL OF YOU AGREE WITH THIS.

THE QUESTION IS, WHY DO WE NEED TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IN THE CITY CHARTER AS STATED BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN AU, FULL INDEPENDENCE IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE PROPER OPERATION OF A GOVERNMENT FUNCTION AND IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR AN OFFICE GIVEN THE TASK OF OVERSIGHT.

REMOVING OBLIGATIONS OF ANY NATURE THAT WOULD CONFLICT WITH THE CITY OFFICIALS DUTIES IS NECESSARY FOR SERVING THE PUBLIC TRUST AND INTEREST.

SO INDEPENDENCE IS AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN ANY GOVERNMENT FUNCTION, BUT IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN THAT FUNCTION INCLUDES OVERSIGHT, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE DECIDING TODAY.

DO WE WANT TO GRANT FULL INDEPENDENCE TO THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SO THAT THAT OFFICE CAN PROPERLY CARRY OUT ITS DUTIES? TO, TO BE CLEAR, DO WE WANT TO ASK THE VOTERS IN THIS CITY IF THEY WANT TO GRANT FULL INDEPENDENCE TO THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL? MY HUNCH IS THEY WANT TO MAKE THAT CALL.

I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO REVIEW THE PEER, PEER CITY DATA.

LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN ATLANTA WHEN SOMEONE IN HUMAN RESOURCES CREATE A POSITION FOR HER DAUGHTER OR IN BALTIMORE WHERE A WORKERS' PAYCHECKS WERE DEPOSITED INTO AN UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL'S BANK ACCOUNT.

THESE WERE DECISIONS AND ACTIVITIES THAT PEOPLE, THAT THE PEOPLE INVOLVED HOPED NO ONE WOULD NOTICE.

OR IF THEY DID, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE AN OFFICE LIKE THE IGS WHERE SOMEONE COULD REPORT IT.

SETTING UP AN OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IN THE CITY CHARTER AND ASKING THE VOTERS TO APPROVE THIS SHOWS OUR DALLAS RESIDENTS HOW WE VALUE INDEPENDENCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY.

ONE FINAL VOTE.

THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

WE WILL APPOINT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, WE WILL FIX THE COMPENSATION FOR THIS POSITION, AND WE WILL ASK FOR, UM, A REPORTING SYSTEM.

SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN VOTING FOR THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL BEING APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MS. WILLIS.

AND THANK YOU, UM, MS. WILLIS, UM, AND MS. STEWART, UM, FOR Y'ALL'S WORK ON THIS, PROBABLY THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PRESENTATION I'VE BEEN GIVEN FROM A COLLEAGUE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.

SO I APPRECIATE THE THOROUGHNESS.

UM, AND, UM, I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A THANK YOU TO, UH, DISTRICT ATTORNEY CRUZO BECAUSE I THINK THAT, UM, HI, HIM WEIGHING IN HELPED ME, UH, UNDERSTAND IT MORE.

I I WAS NEVER WANTING TO NOT SUPPORT TRUE OVERSIGHT.

I JUST WAS REALLY CONFUSED ON HOW IT WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY US, UM, UH, BEING OVER, UM, UH, THE IG I I IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND.

SO I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE, UM, I, I BELIEVE THAT MY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

HOWEVER, I'M, I I WOULD LIKE IF SOMEONE COULD WEIGH IN, I GUESS THE CITY ATTORNEY ON, WHAT WOULD THE NEXT STEPS BE, IF NOT ONLY THIS WAS APPROVED TODAY AND THEN APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? THANK YOU.

UM, IF IT IS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, THEN THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER THE, UM, ELECTION WOULD HAVE TO APPOINT AN INSPECTOR GENERAL.

THEY COULD DO THAT EITHER AS AN INTERIM POSITION OR, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S TERMS IN, IN THIS, BUT AS A, UM, AN APPOINTMENT.

[03:45:01]

UM, A A FIRM.

WE, WE COULD DO, UM, AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH AND WE WOULD HAVE THAT AUTONOMY.

BUT I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO THAT ROUTE, THAT YOU, IF YOU WANT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE TO CONTINUE TO RUN THAT YOU HAVE AN INTERIM.

I JUST, I, I, I, I COMPLETELY, YES.

UH, UM, AGREE WITH THAT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL HAVE THAT FULL AUTONOMY.

UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, ESPECIALLY IF THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OFFICE THAT WE INHERIT, UH, SINCE IT'S BEEN FORMED ALREADY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AS, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS TO GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC TO, UM, OUTLINE THE PROCESS IN WHICH, UM, UH, WE, WE MOVE THE OFFICE FORWARD IN, UH, AS FAIR AND, UM, EQUAL, UM, AS, AS POSSIBLE.

AND, AND, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WITH THIS CHANGE, WE DO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO START FROM SCRATCH, UM, IN WHATEVER CAPACITY THAT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE WILL OF THE BODY.

BUT, UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS STATED ON RECORD ON WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE IF THE VOTERS ARE TO APPROVE THIS.

I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.

CHAIRMAN ADVISED YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MS. WILLIS.

UH, FIRST I WANNA START OFF BY THANKING MY COLLEAGUES, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART, UM, FOR, THERE'S A LOT YOU PUT INTO THIS AND, UM, IT'S WELL KNOWN THAT THIS WAS NOT MY EXACT FAVORITE THING THAT WE'VE EVER DONE.

BUT THE WAY THAT WHAT YOU ALL DID TO THIS AND THE EFFORT YOU PUT IN HERE, UM, MADE IS MAKE, HAS MADE ME COMFORTABLE THAT THIS IS NOT GONNA BE POLITICIZED THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE.

AND SO I'M, I'M IMPRESSED BY IT.

UM, ANYTHING Y'ALL DO ANYWAY IS ALWAYS AMAZING, BUT , BUT STILL, IT IS LIKE, TO GET ME COMFORTABLE WITH THIS, AND Y'ALL WORKED WITH ME AND ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS AND MADE SURE THAT, UM, EVERYTHING YOU GOT IN HERE THAT NEEDED TO BE, UM, TO GIVE THAT TRUE INDEPENDENCE AND TRUE ABILITY FOR IT NOT TO BE POLITICIZED BY THIS BODY.

THE ONLY THING, AND I DON'T WANNA ADD ANYTHING TO THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT 'CAUSE I THIS IS FINE, IS, UM, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND WHEN IT'S TIME, UM, TO HIRE, UM, A PERMANENT, UM, CITY, UM, INSPECTOR GENERAL, SORRY, UM, THAT I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT TAKE US OUT OF THAT PROCESS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ACTUAL APPOINTMENT.

AND IF WE COULD GET A BODY OF FOLKS, LIKE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, COUNTY ATTORNEYS, UM, MAYBE OTHER CITY ATTORNEYS THAT ACTUALLY DEAL WITH THESE FOLKS, THAT WAY THE RIGHT QUESTIONS ARE BEING ANSWERED.

THEY, THAT GIVES A REALLY EVEN, UM, HIGHER AMOUNT OF INDEPENDENCE AND THEN THEY SEND US A RECOMMENDATION.

THIS BODY CAN DECIDE ON ITS OWN RIGHT.

THAT, YOU KNOW, TALK TO THAT PERSON.

MAYBE THEY SEND TWO, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THIS BODY THAT'LL DECIDE.

BUT I THINK THAT THAT WOULD REALLY TAKE OUT, UM, ANY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, ANY SCRUTINY THAT COULD COME UPON THIS PERSON THAT COULD MAKE THINGS NOT LOOK SO POSITIVE, UM, AND MAKE PEOPLE MAYBE NOT TRUST.

AND, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SEEING IS HAPPENING.

I'M JUST SAYING I THINK THERE'S JUST AN EXTRA LAYER TO GIVE THAT OFFICE THAT EXTRA BIT OF INDEPENDENCE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO DECIDE, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE, WE ARE ALWAYS THE FINAL VOTE.

BUT I THINK IF WE CAN GET SOME ACTUAL HELP FROM, UM, OTHERS.

'CAUSE THE LAST TIME IT WAS ONE COMMITTEE THAT BROUGHT US, UM, A NOMINEE AND YOU, YEAH, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THAT COMMITTEE MEETING.

I MAYBE I COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, HAD MY VOICE HEARD THERE.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR IT ALL THE TIME, IT'S LIKE THINGS ARE GOING ON.

SO I JUST THINK, THINK IF, IF THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS WILL BE, UM, WHEN IT, YOU KNOW, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, UM, FOR ADMINISTRATIVE.

BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD REALLY HELP TO KEEP, REALLY MAKE SURE THE POLITICS STAYS OUT OF IT, UM, AS WE GO FORWARD.

BUT I WILL SUPPORT THIS.

UM, AND WHEN WE COME TO THAT TIME, IF THE VOTERS PASS THIS, THEN I'LL BRING IT UP AGAIN AND WE CAN SEE WHERE WE CAN GO FROM THERE.

BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR, I KNOW THIS WAS A LOT OF WORK, SO THANK YOU ALL AND UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BOTH, UM, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID WITH THIS.

I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT.

MR. WEST.

RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MS. WILLIS.

UM, I JUST, I COMMEND MY, MY, UH, COLLEAGUES ON THIS, THIS, I SHARE A LOT OF THE CONCERNS.

UH, CHAIR OUR VICE JUST MENTIONED AND, UH, PREVIOUSLY, AND Y'ALL HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS, UM, UH, UH, CHAIR WILLISON AND STEWART.

AND, UM, I THINK, I MEAN, IT'S A HISTORIC MOMENT IF THIS PASSES AND PASSES THE VOTERS.

UM, MY ONE CONCERN THAT I STILL HAVE WITH THIS, UM, IS ON THE, AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T BRING THIS UP BEFORE.

NOW, IS ON THE THREE-FOURTHS VOTE FOR REMOVAL.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT KIND OF STANDARD FOR ANY OTHER DIRECT HIRES.

AND I WOULD JUST BE CURIOUS TO KNOW IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER LOWERING THE THRESHOLD EITHER TO A TWO-THIRDS OR A MAJORITY VOTE INSTEAD OF THREE-FOURTHS.

'CAUSE I, I CAN'T, IMA I I JUST THINK IT'S EXTREMELY HIGH.

I, I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S THERE, BUT I THINK IT'S PRETTY HIGH.

OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE RESERVATIONS MY TIME IF YOU'RE WILLING TO ANSWER THAT.

THE NATURE OF THIS POSITION BEGS TO HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD FOR REMOVAL.

WELL, I THINK

[03:50:01]

HOWEVER, IF THREE QUARTERS IS OF CONCERN, BUT COLLEAGUES ARE WILLING TO LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE TWO THIRDS, I WOULD BE WILLING TO AMEND IT, AMEND IT.

SO I, I GUESS I NEED TO HEAR IF THAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH.

AND I'LL WAIT TILL, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KIND OF HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES.

HOPEFULLY DURING THEIR TIME THEY'LL, THEY'LL SPEAK UP FOR ME.

I WOULD SUPPORT THIS, UM, AT TWO THIRDS, CERTAINLY AT THREE FOURS.

SOME I'M A LITTLE HESITANT, BUT, UM, COULD BE PERSUADED.

BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE REST OF THE COUNCIL CHAIRWOMAN.

ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THIS IS ON THE AMENDMENT BY MS. WILLIS.

THANK YOU LADIES AND COUNCILWOMAN COLLEAGUES, WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

BUT I HEARD THE STATEMENT THAT WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE POLITICIZED.

GUESS WHAT? IT HAS ALREADY BEEN POLITICIZED, RIGHT? WE HAVE GOTTEN LETTERS.

I WAS SURPRISED TO GET IT FROM A DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

WE'VE GOTTEN A LETTER FROM EVERYBODY IN LAIE DOTY.

I WISH I COULD GET THAT SUPPORT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY IN THE CITY.

SO LET ME JUST SAY THIS QUESTION MAYBE TO THE ATTORNEYS.

DOES THIS DE DOES THIS INSPECTOR GENERAL WORK WITH THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE NOW? YES.

THAT, THAT WE HAVE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL DIVISION WITHIN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

SO WHAT IS THAT DAY-TO-DAY RELATIONSHIP? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THIS INVESTIGATIVE ROLE? I MEAN, I, I CAN ASK BART TO COME UP HERE.

HE'S OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL.

I MEAN, I MEAN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, IF YOU'RE ASKING ME WHAT THEY'RE, DID THEY DO ON A REGULAR BASIS UNDER THE, UNDER CHAPTER 12 A, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING, UM, ETHICS VIOLATIONS, FRAUD, WASTE ABUSE, AND THEY ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND THEY ALSO PROVIDE ADVISORY OPINIONS, BOTH ON A PROSPECTIVE BASIS AND FROM A WIDER PERSPECTIVE TO THE, YOU KNOW, TO THE WHOLE CITY OR THE PUBLIC THAT WE WOULD PUBLISH.

THAT'S KIND OF THEIR SURE.

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS NOT HERE TODAY TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

SHE WAS OVER THERE EARLIER.

LET ME GO SEE IF I CAN FIND HIM.

WELL, DON'T DO THAT.

I DON'T, UH, MAYBE HERE HE COMES.

I WAS GONNA SAY DON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT.

SO, UH, WHILE HE'S COMING UP, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT I ASK THESE QUESTIONS TODAY.

WAS THERE A QUESTION FOR THE AUDIENCE? COULD YOU JUST LET 'EM KNOW WHO YOU ARE? THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC? PUBLIC? NO, YOU CAN IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE PUBLIC, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

ONE MORE TIME.

CAN YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF? YES.

BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION.

I'M BART BEAVERS.

I'M AN ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY AND I'M ALSO DESIGNATED AS THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR A POLICE OFFICER? WE DON'T HAVE.

SO IN THE COURSE OF YOUR DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS, AND AND YOU, YOU ARE WORKING WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE, UH, ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CORRECT.

AS YOU INVESTIGATE FRAUD AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

AND JUST SO FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU ALL THAT YOU INVESTIGATE AND WHAT, AND WHEN DO YOU WORK WITH THE, WHY DO YOU NEED TO BE WORKING WITH, UH, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? WHY DO I NEED TO BE WORKING? YES.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE A DIVISION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND AS LONG AS WE'RE A DIVISION, WE CERTAINLY WORK WITH 'EM.

THAT'S REQUIRED.

SO HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? UH, ONE EXAMPLE WOULD BE WHEN WE CONCLUDE AN INVESTIGATION AND WE FINISH OUR REPORT OF INVESTIGATION AND WE COME UP WITH A DRAFT COPY OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FILE WITH THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION.

WE RUN THAT BY EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR BECAUSE WE ARE A DIVISION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

SO WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE CHARGING INSTRUMENT THAT WE REFER TO AS AN INFORMATION AND WE COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON, YEAH, I THINK IT'S GOOD.

WE'LL TWEAK THE LANGUAGE HERE, MAYBE ADD SOME TO IT LANGUAGE, AND THEN WHEN IT'S FILED WITH IT WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, THAT IS A COLLABORATIVE DOCUMENT.

WE WORKED ON IT TOGETHER.

SO WHEN YOU SAY EXECUTIVE, WHO, WHO, WHOM DO YOU RESPOND REPORT TO? I REPORT TO, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY, MS. PALOMINO.

ALRIGHT, SO YOU SAID EXECUTIVE, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT.

SO AT WHAT POINT IN TIME, UH, DO YOUR DUTIES REFLECT THAT OF A, OF A, OF A

[03:55:01]

WOULD YOU CONSIDER, WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF TO HAVING THOSE ROLES OR SIMILAR ROLES? WE, WE DON'T HAVE THE POWERS THAT A DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOES.

UH, WE DO, WE'VE BEEN GIVEN FIVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO INVESTIGATE, BUT ONLY POWER TO DO THREE OF 'EM.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO FRAUD AND CORRUPTION, WHEN WE SEE THAT WE, WE WORK IT UP TO A POINT WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THIS, THIS IS FRAUD OR THIS IS CORRUPTION, AT THAT POINT, WE HAVE TO PASS IT OFF TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO ACTUALLY HAS THE TOOLS TO DO THAT.

SO, UM, THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE SPELLED OUT IN THE CODE FOR US TO DO THAT, BUT WE REALLY CAN'T.

WE NEED TO HAND IT OFF TO SOMEBODY THAT DOES.

SO WHO ARE YOU GONNA, WHO WOULD YOU PASS THOSE CASES OFF TO? WHAT WOULD I PASS? WHO WOULD YOU PASS THAT, THAT PARTICULAR SCENARIO? WHO WOULD YOU PASS THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT? UH, UH, CASE TO.

IT DEPENDS.

WE WORK WITH PEOPLE AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY AND, AND OBVIOUSLY THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, DPD.

SO, ALRIGHT, SO LET ME JUST WALK ME THROUGH SO I CAN DECIDE HOW TO VOTE.

WOULD YOU PASS OFF, YOU, YOU ALREADY GONNA REPORT TO MS. PAM PALOMINO.

IS SHE GONNA GIVE YOU THE CLEAR TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL? SHE'S GONNA CERTAINLY AT SOME POINT GIVE US CLEARANCE TO FILE THE INFORMATION WITH THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON AN, ON AN ADMINISTRATIVE ETHICS CHARGE.

SO WHEN YOU GET ON THE, WHAT WE ARE DESCRIBING NOW, ALL THIS FRAUD AND WASTE, AT WHAT POINT WOULD YOU BE, WOULD YOU WORK OR PASS A CASE OFF TO, TO DALLAS POLICE? OFF TO POLICE CHIEF OR TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR TO THE FBI? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO YOU'RE PASSING THIS OFF TO AND WHEN.

YEAH, WE WORK WITH PARTNERS AT EVERY LEVEL.

SO THERE'S SEVERAL FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT WE WORK WITH.

THERE ARE STATE AGENCIES LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH ARE THE STATE POLICE IN TEXAS.

WE WORK WITH DPD, WE REFER THINGS TO THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT ALL THE TIME.

UH, SOMETIMES IT GOES TO PUBLIC INTEGRITY, SOMETIMES IT GOES TO FINANCIAL CRIMES.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THEIR EXPERTISE IS BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY HAVE POCKETS THAT WOULD DEAL WITH THE TYPES OF FRAUD THAT WE BUMP INTO.

SO YOU'RE BASICALLY TELLING ME YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH LIMITED ANYWAY IN TERMS OF ONCE YOU DO YOUR INVESTIGATION, YOU GET PERMISSION TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

YOU ALL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHO TO PASS IT BY, PASS IT TO, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PASS IT.

YOU'RE NOT THE ALL, YOU'RE NOT THE FINAL SAY.

THE BUCK DOESN'T STOP WITH YOU.

YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE ARE NOT THE FINAL SAY ON A CRIMINAL CASE.

'CAUSE YOU CAN'T FILE ANY CHARGES AGAINST ANYONE.

NO, WE CANNOT.

SO BASICALLY YOU'RE JUST INVESTIGATING AND SHARING DATA THAT'S, THAT'D BE A FAIR ESTIMATION.

IT'S, AND IT'S DIFFERENT.

UH, EVERY FEDERAL PARTNER THAT WE WORK WITH IS DIFFERENT FROM THE STATE AND DIFFERENT FROM THE COUNTY AND DIFFERENT FROM THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL.

SOME FOLKS THAT WHEN YOU HAND THEM SOMETHING THEY'LL SAY, GREAT, WE GOT IT FROM HERE.

OTHERS GOT 1500 QUESTIONS AND THEY'LL CALL YOU THE NEXT DAY AND THEY'LL TALK THE NEXT WEEK.

AND SO IT'S DIFFERENT WITH EVERY PARTNER.

UH, WHEN YOU'RE DEVELOPING A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH AN EXTERNAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, YOU JUST GOTTA PAY ATTENTION TO SEE HOW THEY LIKE TO OPERATE, HOW THEY LIKE TO OPERATE WITH YOU WHEN YOU REFER SOMETHING.

HAVE YOU EVER WORKED WITH THE POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD REGARDING ANY DATA THAT'S COMING OUT OF THAT UH, BODY? I HAVE NEVER WORKED WITH A POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

WOULD THAT, IN YOUR OPINION, SINCE YOU'VE DONE INVESTIGATION, IF THERE WAS SOME CHARGES, SOME ALLEGATIONS MADE, WOULD YOU, FROM THAT BODY, WOULD YOU INVESTIGATE THAT? WITH OUR CURRENT JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY, IF THERE WAS AN ETHICS VIOLATION IN THE CODE OF ETHICS THAT INVOLVED SOMEBODY AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAD JURISDICTION, WE WOULD CERTAINLY LOOK INTO IT.

AND WHO WOULD YOU, SO YOU'RE GONNA LOOK IN THAT, DO YOU, WHOEVER, WOULD YOU GET PERMISSION TO DO THAT? UH, YOU'RE GOING TO THE POLICE OVERSIGHT BEFORE YOU MOVE ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL TO INVESTIGATE POLICE BEHAVIOR.

WHO WOULD YOU GET PERMISSION FROM TO DO THAT? YEAH, WE DON'T TYPICALLY LOOK AT POLICE BEHAVIOR FOR THE MOST PART.

UH, THEY'VE GOT AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION THAT DOES ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS FOR VIOLATIONS AND THEY ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC INTEGRITY SECTION THAT COULD LOOK AT OFFICERS WHENEVER THEY'VE COMMITTED SOME TYPE OF VIOLATION THAT'S CORRUPTIVE.

AND SO, UH, FOR THE MOST PART, IF IT INVOLVES A POLICE OFFICER NINE TIMES OUTTA 10, IT'S ONE OF THOSE TWO AREAS AND WE REFER IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT GOES.

THEY WERE HERE LONG BEFORE WE EXISTED.

UH, NOW IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T FIT, IF IT DOESN'T FIT A CRIMINAL REFERRAL TO PUBLIC INTEGRITY, IF IT DOESN'T FIT AN ADMINISTRATIVE REFERRAL TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND IT IS A ETHICS VIOLATION, WE'D CERTAINLY LOOK INTO IT.

SO YOU WOULD HAVE, YOU WOULD HAVE, YOU'RE SAYING THE ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT THAT MIGHT COME OUT OF OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD THAT DEALS WITH ETHICS, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

SO BASICALLY WHAT I'M FEELING IS I'M GETTING THE FEELING THAT BASICALLY THE INTERNAL, THIS, UH, POSITIONS WOULD STILL FUNCTION UNDER WHERE IT IS BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE, SO YOU ONLY

[04:00:01]

CAN INVESTIGATE.

YOU CAN'T PROSECUTE.

WE CAN PROSECUTE ADMINISTRATIVE VIOLATIONS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MORE OF A HEARING THAN A TRIAL.

UH, SO BURDEN OF PROOF IS DIFFERENT.

THE WAY EVIDENCE AND THE RULES OF EVIDENCE ARE HANDLED ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

SO, SO DURING YOUR TENURE, TENURE HERE, HAVE YOU HAD A CASE THAT WAS REALLY, UH, A, A CASE OF FRAUD AND, AND, UH, WASTE AND WHATEVER THAT WAS SO, UM, MASSIVE THAT YOU HAD TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, OR FBI? WE'VE, WE'VE HAD SCORES OF SITUATIONS THAT WE'VE REFERRED TO EXTERNAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SCORES FIVE SCORE IN 20 YEARS.

WHAT IS IT SPECIFICALLY? HOW MANY CASES DO YOU, CAN YOU GIMME A SPECIFIC, I COULD GET YOU THAT ANSWER PROBABLY WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS.

WELL, THAT MAY BE TOO LATE TODAY FOR THE VOTE, SO THAT'S NOT GONNA HELP ME RIGHT NOW.

I THINK REALLY WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING TO ME, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

I'M PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE COUNCIL MEMBER WITH IT REMAINING HERE IN THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE THE BENEFIT OF RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP YOU FOR THE INVESTIGATION BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

AND THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW I, I'VE STATED THIS FROM THE BEGINNING.

I SUPPORT THAT THIS, THIS PARTICULAR VOTE HAS BEEN POLITICIZED.

THIS CASE HAS BEEN, UH, THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE THAT, AS I SAID, THEY'VE BEEN WRITING FROM EVERYWHERE.

SO WHEN YOU SEE THAT MUCH MOVEMENT, THERE'S A REASON FOR ME TO PAUSE AND REFLECT.

SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

AND I MAY HAVE TO COME BACK, BUT RIGHT NOW, UH, WHETHER I'M IN THE MINORITY OR MAJORITY, I'M, I CANNOT SUPPORT THE ISOLATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE THAT, A BUDGET RIGHT NOW, THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CUT SERVICES THAT WILL IMPACT THE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND I THINK YOU CAN SAY BETTER, AND WE NEED THAT, BUT WE NEED THIS FUNDS THAT MIGHT COME FROM SPONSORING AN INDEPENDENT SAVE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY WILL NEED IT FOR SERVICES THAT THIS CITY OFFERS AND SUPPOSEDLY SHOULD OFFER.

I BELIEVE THAT MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

UH, THIS IS ON THE WILLIS AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

UH, FIRST I WANNA THANK, UH, CHAIRMAN STEWART AND, AND ALSO COUNCILOR WILLIS.

UH, THE INFORMATION YOU GAVE ME AND I THANK Y'ALL HAVE CONVINCED ME WITH ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE.

I KNOW IT WASN'T EASY WITH ALL THE INFORMATION YOU GAVE ME, AND I DID READ EVERY, EVERY PART OF YOUR, YOUR PAMPHLETS.

YOU HERE, I, I I, I GUESS SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK THE WRONG THING AND SOMETIMES IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND RIGHT NOW I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA SUPPORT IT.

SO IT'S NOT TOO MUCH TO SAY, MARY, JUST, JUST GO AHEAD AND VOTE AND MOVE ON.

CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU REC YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

SO, MR. BEAVERS, HAS THE CITY ATTORNEY EVER REJECTED ANY REQUEST BY YOU TO REFER AN INFORMATION TO THE COMMISSION? SOMEBODY WILL BE IN A PRESIDENTIAL, I CAN'T THINK OF A SINGLE SITUATION OF THAT.

IT SHOULD BE RAISED FOR A SUBORDINATE TO THE CITY MANAGER.

UM, MR. MAYOR, IT STRIKES ME THAT THIS AMENDMENT IS UNNECESSARY.

UM, WE HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY IS INTERFERING IN THE SUBSTANTIVE DECISIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

UH, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HIMSELF CANNOT IDENTIFY ANY INSTANCE IN WHICH THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, COUNTERMANDED HIS RECOMMENDATION TO REFER AN ITEM TO THE COMMISSION.

AND IT STRIKES ME THAT THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WELL AND THEREFORE THERE IS NO REASON TO CHANGE IT.

IF WE MOVE IT TO DIRECT OVERSIGHT BY THE CITY COUNCIL, IT WILL DEFINITELY BECOME POLITICIZED.

AND CURRENTLY THE CITY ATTORNEY ACTS IN A POSITION OF A BUFFER BETWEEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL.

SHE APPROVES THEIR BUDGET OR PASSES IT ON TO THE CITY MANAGER, AND SHE OVERSEES THE ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS.

AND BECAUSE SHE IS IN THAT POSITION, IT IS, I THINK, AVOIDING POLITICAL CONTROVERSY THAT OTHERWISE COULD COME UP ON THIS COUNCIL.

UM, I ALSO OPPOSE THE NOTION OF A SUPER MAJORITY OF THIS COUNCIL, UH, VOTING TO DISCHARGE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT HIGH A BURDEN FOR THE CITY MANAGER, OUR HIGHEST STAFF MEMBER.

SO I SEE NO REASON WHY

[04:05:01]

UM, I INTEND TO STAND BY MY ORIGINAL VOTE ON THE STRAW VOTE, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME BECAUSE THIS IS JUST NOT A NECESSARY MOVE AND WILL ONLY SERVE TO POLITICIZE THE OFFICE.

THANK YOU, MS. BLACKMAN, YOUR ED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MR. OH, I'M SORRY.

ON MS. WILLIS' AMENDMENT.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

UH, WHEN, IF PASSED, WHEN DOES IT GO INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY? IF THE VOTERS WERE TO APPROVE THE MEASURE? YES, IT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT AS SOON AS THE VOTES ARE CANVASSED.

AND SO HOW DOES THAT TRANSACTION OR THAT TRANSITION HAPPEN, IN OTHER WORDS, IS ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL NOW IS NOW ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEE? I, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE STEPS IN WHICH A COUNCIL ACQUIRES AN OFFICE AND IF WE ARE EQUIPPED TO DO THAT, IF WE NEED TO PUT A DATE ON IT SO THAT WAY IT GIVES US TIME TO TRANSITION.

WELL, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID, THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO APPOINT AN INTERIM, UM, IN THE MEANTIME UNTIL YOU APPOINTED A FULL-TIME INSPECTOR GENERAL.

SO THAT MEANS AS SOON AS IT PASSES, WE'D PROBABLY HAVE TO POST TO THEN GET, I GUESS I'M TRYING TO, DOES THE WORK STOP WHEN IT, WHEN IT, THE TRANSITION HAPPENS UNTIL WE ENTER INTO, LIKE, DO WE NEED TO GET IT ON THE BOOKS IN CASE WE DO NEED TO HAVE IT OR NOT? YES.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IF IT PASSES THAT WE WOULD PUT THE RESOLUTION ON APPOINTING EITHER AN INTERIM OR, UM, A OR THE, THE IG FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD.

AND SO DOES THAT NEED TO GO TO A FULL COUNSEL FIRST? I MEAN, YEAH, IT WOULD GO TO FULL COUNSEL, SO WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE A BRIEFING ON IT.

I'M, I'M JUST, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE STEPS TO GET THERE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANNA LAG AND YOU WANNA MA, UNLESS WE WANNA MAKE THEIRS A LAG TIME, SO WE GET THAT DONE.

SO WE SAY JANUARY ONE, IT TRANSITIONS.

I MEAN, I SUPPOSE YOU COULD IN THEORY DO THAT, BUT I MEAN, YOU COULD ALSO JUST APPOINT THE, AN, AN INTERIM SO THAT THE WORK CONTINUES WHILE YOU ALL DECIDE, UM, HOW YOU WANNA HANDLE THE SUPERVISION.

SO WE CAN DO THE, WE CAN DO AN INTERIM IMMEDIATELY.

MM-HMM, .

AND THEN, UH, THEN WORK ON HOW THE PERMANENT STRUCTURE OR PERMANENT, UM, SETUP LOOKS LIKE.

ABSOLUTELY.

UH, NEXT THING, WHAT ARE THE TERMS OF OUR DIRECT REPORTS AS FAR AS HIRING AND FIRING OR FIRING? LIKE WHAT ARE THE, UH, TH THRESHOLDS FOR COUNCIL? I CAN ANSWER THAT.

ALL OF THE APPOINTED POSITIONS, I BELIEVE ARE BY SIMPLE MAJORITY EXCEPT THE CITY MANAGER.

AND THAT IS WHAT, TWO THIRDS? UNLESS WHAT? UNLESS IT'S BY CONTRACT WAIVED .

SO IT GOES INTO THE THREE-FOURTHS VOTE.

I WOULD LIKE SOME UNIFORMITY.

SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THAT, UH, THIS ORDINANCE SHOW A TWO-THIRDS, UH, TERMINATION.

UH, LET ME SEE, LET ME WRITE, I'M SORRY.

IT'S NOT, IT'S IN ORDER.

SHE, THE MOTION.

I MEAN, UNLESS YOU WANNA ACCEPT IT AND ATE YOUR MOTION.

SO WHAT'S HAPPENING? YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A MOTION NOW.

GO AHEAD.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THIS, UH, THIS AMENDMENT TO, UH, REFLECT A TWO THIRD, TWO THIRDS VOTE OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR DISCHARGING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

SO EVERYONE, RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY MS. WILLIS.

THIS AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY MS. BLACKMAN STARTS THE CLOCK AT 5 3 1.

FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE CHANGE FROM THREE FOURTHS, THREE FOURTHS TO TWO THIRDS.

YEAH, I DO.

ARE YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT, SIR? I DO BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A HIGHER THRESHOLD, BUT I DO THINK TO KEEP IT UNIFORM, UM, I THINK IT'S JUST FOR CLARITY.

UH, AND I DO THINK THAT A TWO THIRDS, 10 FOLKS, ESSENTIALLY FROM THIS BODY HAS TO AGREE.

WE'VE SEEN IN THESE VOTES, IT'S VERY FAR AND FEW BETWEEN SOMETIMES.

SO I THINK THAT THRESHOLD IS ACTUALLY, UH, TO ME JUST MORE CONSISTENT AND, UH, WOULD BETTER REFLECT, UM, A TRUE, UM, I THINK WHAT, WHAT WHAT CAN BE CARRIED OUT REALISTICALLY.

SO, UM, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL, UH, JOIN ME IN JUST, UH, CREATING THIS NEW THRESHOLD FOR THE TERMINATION OF A, OF OUR DIRECT REPORT.

THANK YOU, LEY.

YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, FOLKS.

I KNOW HE JUST SPOKE, BUT WE'RE ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT NOW IT STARTS OVER.

DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THREE QUARTER VOTE OR TWO THIRDS VOTE.

IT STRIKES ME THAT THE, IF, IF THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE JOB SECURITY FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, HIS GREATEST JOB SECURITY IS IN THE PRESENT SITUATION WHERE THIS COUNCIL CAN'T REMOVE HIM.

ONLY THE CITY ATTORNEY OR THE CITY MANAGER CAN REMOVE HIM.

AND SO I

[04:10:01]

IT'LL BE A POLITICAL VOTE.

AND IT IS, IF WE WANT JOB SECURITY IN THIS POSITION, WE'RE MUCH BETTER OFF WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION.

THANK YOU GENERAL.

AND ARNOLD, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

AND I TOO, I MEAN, IF WE, IF THIS GOES THROUGH, I WOULD MUCH RATHER FOR IT GO THROUGH WITH SOME, SOME CONTINUITY IN TERMS OF THE BASIS OF WHICH, UH, THIS CAN BE REMOVED.

BUT I DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, CONCERNS.

UH, BUT I'LL SPEAK ON THAT.

AND OF COURSE, IT WOULD BE THROUGH THE SEARCH PROCESS AND HAVING A CLEAN, UM, 'CAUSE I'M, I NEED TO BE ON THE RECORD AGAIN.

'CAUSE YOU KNOW HOW THE HEADLINES WOULD BE, OH, THEY, SHE DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE ETHICS AND ALL THAT.

I'M VERY, VERY STRONG BEHIND ETHICS AND INVESTIGATION AND ALL OF THAT.

WHAT I'M CONCERNED RIGHT NOW IS CAN YOU PUT SOMEONE IN AND THEY CAN'T AND THEN YOU CAN'T GET 'EM OUT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE NOT PERFORMING.

AND THAT IS THE CONCERN.

WE ARE TALKING NOW ABOUT ALL THESE PERFORMANCE BASES WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE CHIEF HAVING SOME PERFORMANCE MEASURES, CITY MANAGERS, YOU OUGHT TO HAVE, WE OUGHT TO HAVE SOME PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

THIS IS NOT, UH, A POSITION THAT WE WANT PEOPLE, PERSON TO JUST GET IN THERE TO STAY AND WE CAN'T GET HIM OR HER OUT OF THERE.

BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO BUDGETS AND FINANCE AND WHAT HAVE YOU, CITY MANAGER, AS WE TALK RIGHT NOW ABOUT FUNDING, I GUESS THE QUESTION WOULD BE FOR ME, HOW MUCH IS IT, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST MORE TO PULL THIS, THIS DIVISION OUT AND HAVE IT OPERATE INDIVIDUALLY? CITY MANAGER? UM, I'M GONNA, THE ONLY OKAY, THE ONLY THING I'M GONNA SAY HERE, UM, AND I WANT YOU TO BEAR WITH ME HERE, MADAM CHAIR, THE QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT, AND YOU WERE ON THAT PATH CLEARLY.

AND THEN THIS LAST QUESTION, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF DEVIATION.

IT REALLY NEEDS TO SPEAK TO THE MERITS OF THE THRESHOLD CHANGING FROM THREE FOURTHS TO TWO THIRDS TO TWO THIRDS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, HOW MUCH IT COSTS EFFICIENCY.

ANYTHING ELSE, FRANKLY, ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THAT REALLY SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT BY MS. WILLS, WHICH WE WILL GO BACK TO, WE HAVE TO, OKAY, NO MATTER HOW THIS AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT GETS DISPOSED OF, WE WILL GO BACK TO HER ORIGINAL AMENDMENT.

SO I'LL SPEAK TO JUST THE TWO THIRDS AND THEN THE POLITICIZING, UH, AND THE POLARIZATION.

WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS.

AND IF WE HAVE THAT INPUT ON A PERSON, UH, IN THIS POSITION, I STRONGLY BELIEVE YOU WILL BE, YOU'LL BE, YOU'LL SEE MORE OF POLITICAL FAVORS, THE SAME THING THAT WE'VE HIRED THE PERSON TO, TO, TO, TO FIGHT.

WE'LL SEE MORE OF THAT BECAUSE NOW WE ARE SO CLOSE AND UP AND PERSONAL TO THAT PERSON.

AND YOU NEVER KNOW AROUND THE COUNCIL AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHO KNOWS WHO AND WHO'S CONNECTED TO WHO.

AND I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE RIGHT NOW, UH, WITH US JUST, YOU KNOW, RUSHING TO THIS PARTICULAR MOVE TO MAKE IT INDEPENDENT AND FREE FROM A, A, AN OFFICE OF ATTORNEYS WHERE THAT ATTORNEY OUGHT TO BE COMFORTABLE OPERATING IN AN OFFICE OF ATTORNEYS TO SHARE LIKE INFORMATION SO YOU CAN ATTACK THE PROBLEM.

THANK YOU, MS. WILLIS.

YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MS. BLACKMAN'S AMENDMENT TO YOUR AMENDMENT.

UM, I TOO SUPPORT THE CHANGE TO THE TWO THIRDS VOTE.

WELL, IN LISTENING TO COLLEAGUES, IF THERE IS A COMFORT LEVEL WITH ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS STILL SHOULD REQUIRE A HIGHER LEVEL TO TERMINATE THIS ROLE, UM, BUT, BUT, UH, LOWERING IT FROM THE THREE QUARTERS VOTE, I AM AMENABLE TO THAT AT THAT TWO THIRDS.

THAT SOUNDS FAIR.

I THINK IN LOOKING AT THAT AS JOB SECURITY, IN FACT, THE ISSUE IS IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET TWO THIRDS OF COUNSEL SOMETIMES ALIGNED ON ANYTHING, BUT, UM, AGAINST SOMEONE.

I MEAN, I WOULD HOPE THAT IF THERE IS SOMEONE IN THIS BODY THAT, UH, WAS IN THE HOT SEAT, UM, THAT WOULD BE A VERY SMALL NUMBER IF NOT ONE OR TWO PEOPLE.

AND SO I THINK HAVING THAT TWO THIRDS VOTE IS, IS CRITICAL AND IS IS STILL A HURDLE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE, UM, THAT WOULD BE PRETTY TOUGH TO, TO RALLY UNLESS THERE WAS GOOD REASON FOR IT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TWO THIRDS VOTE AND BEING ABLE TO GET SOMEONE OUT AND NOT HAVE THEM BE IN THIS POSITION PERMANENTLY, WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THAN TO HAVE DIRECT OVERSIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR HIRING AND FIRING.

AND THEN FINALLY, WITH REGARD TO THIS AND INDEPENDENCE, WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET SOMEONE AWAY FROM THE POLITICAL WINDS THAN TO HAVE THEM BE THEIR OWN ENTITY? AND AS LETTER AFTER LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCED IN THIS AREA HAS SHOWN, UM, THIS IS THE WAY TO KEEP THIS ROLE FROM BEING POLITICIZED.

SO, UM, YES, I SUPPORT THE TWO THIRDS, UH, CHANGE TO THIS AMENDMENT.

WERE YOU TRYING TO GET IN CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, OR NO? YES OR NO? YEAH.

YOU, YOU WANT IN FIVE MINUTES, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

[04:15:02]

I THINK THAT, UM, THAT WORKS.

AND I JUST WANT TO, TO REITERATE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS A SYSTEM PUTTING IN PLACE A SYSTEM WITH THE VOTING PERCENTAGES AND ALL OF THAT.

AND WE SHOULD TAKE OUT THE PERSONALITIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO WE LOOK AT RIGHT NOW AND SAY, OH, WELL IT'S WORKING FINE TODAY.

THIS IS A SYSTEM WE WANT TO HAVE IN PLACE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, 10 YEARS FROM NOW, 20 YEARS FROM NOW.

SO WE NEED TO PUT THE RIGHT PIECES OF THE PUZZLE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE TO MAKE IT A STRONG SYSTEM AND ACCOUNTABLE SYSTEM AND ONE THAT IS INDEPENDENT.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT? TO THE AMENDMENT BY MS. BLACKMAN? ALRIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY, WE NEED A RECORD VOTE.

MR. MAYOR, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

MAYOR PRO TIM ATKINS? NO.

DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE UA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY WITH 11.

VOTING IN FAVOR FOR OPPOSED? THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR.

SO EVERYONE, WE ARE NOW ON BACK ON TO, UH, MS. WILLIS' AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85 AS IT'S BEEN AMENDED BY MS. BLACKMAN'S, UH, CHANGE OF THE THRESHOLD TO REMOVE THE OIG.

SO WE'RE BACK TO, UM, THE QUEUE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR, AGAINST MS. WILLIS' AMENDMENT AS AMENDED.

MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE UA? YES.

OH, COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER VALEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY NO.

WITH 13.

VOTING IN FAVOR TO OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT.

MS. FOR IT, MR. MAYOR? ALRIGHT.

I'M STILL LOOKING FOR, OKAY, WE'RE BACK TO, UH, THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TIM, FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY ADDING, ADDING A PROPOSITION THAT ADDS A SECTION TO CHAPTER THREE, STATING THAT NOTHING IN THE CITY CHARTER IS INTENDED TO WAIVE THE CITY'S GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY FROM SUIT LIABILITY OR DAMAGES, OR TO GRANT STANDING TO RESIDENTS TO BRING SUIT AGAINST THE CITY, ITS EMPLOYEES OR OFFICIALS.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN.

DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY PRACTICED AND WE, UM, UH, UH, SHOULD ABSOLUTELY, UM, UH, SUPPORT, UM, A, A PRACTICE THAT ALREADY EXISTS.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM? SAY NONE.

THANK YOU MS. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BASIL DUA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER MORENA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER NOVAS? YES.

MR. MAYOR, FOR WHAT PURPOSE? MS. BLACKMAN TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT.

WITH 13 VOTING IN FAVOR TO OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD.

[04:20:01]

TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT, PLEASE.

MY AMENDMENT IS IN CHAPTER THREE, CITY COUNCIL SECTION A LIMITATION OF TERMS. I MOVE TO STRIKE UNTIL AT LEAST ONE TERM HAS ELAPSED FROM SUBSECTION A AND UNTIL AT LEAST ONE TERM FOR PLACE 15 HAS ELAPSED FROM SUBSECTION B, ELIMINATING THE ABILITY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR TO RETURN IN THESE POSITIONS AFTER SERVING THE LIMIT OF TWO, OR EXCUSE ME, OF FOUR TWO YEAR TERMS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TWO, FOUR YEAR TERMS FOR THE MAYOR, OR IF COUNCIL MEMBER TERMS ARE EXTENDED TO FOUR YEARS AFTER SERVING THE LIMIT OF TWO FOUR YEAR TERMS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AID DISCUSSION.

MS. BLACKMAN? UH, YES.

I YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

I BELIEVE WE HAD THIS AT A, AT A STRAW VOTE IN JUNE AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND UNDER AND KIND OF GOING DIGGING THROUGH IT, I, UH, WOULD LIKE TO NOW SUPPORT THIS.

I THINK I WAS ONE OF THE ONES WHO DID NOT.

I THINK IT MAKES SENSE.

UM, IF WE, WE ARE INCREASING OUR, OUR, UH, SALARIES AND MOVING CHARTER, I MEAN, AND MOVING, UH, TERMS, THEN I BELIEVE THAT, UH, THIS DOES ALLOW MORE PARTICIPATION AND, UM, AND SO I JUST FEEL THAT IT IS NEEDED AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU CHAIRMAN MENON, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MS. BLACKMAN'S AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

UH, WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMAN FOR BRINGING FORWARD MY PRIOR MOTION? UM, THERE ARE MANY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES IN OUR VERY BIG CITY, AND I BELIEVE THIS GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOTS OF QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO SERVE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME AN INCUMBENT'S NAME, RECOGNITION AND ABILITY TO FUNDRAISE, AS WELL AS BRINGING FRESH IDEAS AND PERSPECTIVES TO THIS COUNCIL.

IT ALSO HELPS REDUCE CORRUPTION IN THE DEVELOP OF INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH STAFF.

SO I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IT AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.

CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON MS. BLACKMAN'S AMENDMENT.

UM, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

I AND I GAVE MY REASONS, UH, DURING THIS DRAW POLL, SO THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? WE SHOULD SPEAK.

OH, P PLENTY JUMPED IN THERE.

UM, CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MS. BLACKMAN.

WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE AND THE RIGHT TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHO THEY WANT IN THAT SEAT, IN THIS SEAT, OR ANY SEAT THAT REPRESENTS, UH, THE VOICES AND THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

UH, ONCE AGAIN, I, I, WE ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER THE VOTE WORKS OUT, THE PUBLIC WILL, UM, MAKE THAT DECISION.

BUT I'M ALL, AND, AND BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT WE ARE IN NOW ON THE CLOCK, I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO A WHOLE LOT OF DETAIL, BUT WHAT IT REALLY AMOUNTS TO IS THIS, THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SPEAK, UH, IN TERMS OF THEIR POSITION AND IF THEY WANT TO WANT TO SUPPORT SOMEONE, THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

AND IF THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T WANT TO, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

THEY DON'T CAST A VOTE.

AND SO I DEFINITELY BELIEVE IN, UH, THE DEMOCRATIC, UH, PROCESS.

I BELIEVE THAT, UM, IF IT IS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, THEN THEY WILL MAKE THAT DECISION TO, TO, TO REELECT THE PERSON THAT BEST SERVES THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND I, AND BECAUSE I KNOW THE HISTORY AND I KNOW SOME OF THE UNDERLYING AGENDAS, UH, I BELIEVE THAT IT, IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE THERE'S A, A, A SUBTLE MESSAGE TO, UH, PARTS OF OUR CITY.

AND, AND I'M GONNA SAY, I'M GONNA LOOK AT THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF TIMES WHERE FOLKS WANNA TELL US WHO WE NEED TO SEND TO, UH, AUSTIN, WHO WE NEED TO SEND TO THE CITY.

AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE WHO THEY WILL, UH, SELECT AS OPPOSED TO, UH, OUTSIDE FORCES TELLING US THAT WE SHOULD FOLLOW A PATH, UH, THAT THEY HAVE DECIDED FOR US.

SO I'M, I'M ALL WITH YOU AND I HEAR YOU TALK AB HEAR EVERYONE SAY, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEND IT TO THE PEOPLE IS HOW WE SEND IT TO THE PEOPLE.

AND I DO KNOW THAT IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, IT IS GONNA BE A CHALLENGE ON MANY OF THESE, UH, ITEMS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF REAL EDUCATION AND MARKETING AND CLARITY.

SO I KNOW I'M GONNA DO THE BEST I CAN.

UH, I'M NOT DOING A, A CAMPAIGN MESSAGE AROUND HERE FOR ANY REELECTION.

IT'S JUST SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, IF IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT IN MY MIND, IT'S NOT RIGHT.

SO I'M JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO SAY WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT, THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.

FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT GETTING TO THE PEOPLE AND LETTING THEM MAKE THAT DECISION AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT, UH, WE CAN GIVE MORE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND, AND ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

UM, UH, I THINK THOSE ARE JUST SIDEBARS AND THAT'S MY POSITION.

IT'S MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BELIEVE AND AS I, I DECIDE AND IS, IS WHAT THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE THEIR RIGHT TO DO THAT TOO.

BUT I NEEDED TO, TO SAY THAT SO THAT YOU ALL WOULD KNOW I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO STAND ON THE VOTE THAT I MADE EARLIER IN TERMS OF

[04:25:01]

ALRIGHT, WELL I'M WAITING FOR CHAIRMAN GRACIE TO COME BACK TO HIS, UM, SEAT.

UM, TO BE RECOGNIZED, I WANNA TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A, A QUESTION OF STAFF.

UM, EXPLAIN TO ME IF YOU WOULD, WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES AND EXPLAIN TO ME LIKE I'M EXPLAINING IT TO MY 10-YEAR-OLD KID.

JUST REAL BASIC LANGUAGE, JUST WHAT DOES IT DO? JUST REAL SIMPLE.

NO EDITORIALIZING NEEDED, JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES IT DO? LAURA MORRISON, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RIGHT NOW, THE CHARTER SAYS THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER CAN SERVE FOUR TWO YEAR TERMS AND IF YOU SERVE FOUR CONSECUTIVE TWO YEAR TERMS, YOU ARE TERMED OUT.

YOU CAN SIT OUT FOR ONE TERM AND THEN YOU CAN RUN AGAIN.

WHAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DO IS IF YOU SERVE FOUR, TWO YEAR TERMS TOTAL, WHETHER CONSECUTIVE OR NOT, YOU ARE TERMED OUT FOR GOOD AND YOU CANNOT RUN AGAIN FOR THE SAME SEAT.

YOU COULD RUN FOR MAYOR, BUT NOT FOR COUNCIL AGAIN.

SO I JUST WANNA KNOW IF THIS IS FAIR LANGUAGE.

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A LIFETIME TERM LIMIT FOR SOMEONE WHO SERVED FOR TWO YEAR TERMS? IT'S A LIFETIME BAN ON SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGAIN.

IS IT A LIFETIME BAN ON BEING THE MAYOR ALSO, IF YOU'VE SERVED TWO, FOUR YEAR TERMS OR THAT NOT IN THERE IT IS.

THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW.

YES, CHAIRMAN.

GRACE, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MS. MAYOR.

UM, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, TO ADD AN AMENDMENT TO THIS TO WHERE WE DON'T NECESSARILY, I KNOW , WE GONNA BE HERE.

UH, UH, I WANNA MAKE ADD AN AMENDMENT TO WHERE IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SPECIFY FOUR YEAR TERMS, THREE YEAR TERMS, BECAUSE IF ANYTHING CHANGES BETWEEN NOW AND WHENEVER, HOW DO WE, I WANNA MAKE AN AMENDMENT THAT SAYS JUST THE TERMS, THE, THE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FIRST TERM OR REACH TERM LIMIT.

AFTER YOUR TERM LIMIT REACH.

TERM LIMIT.

I JUST NEED SOME LANGUAGE.

THAT'S WHY I WAS WORKING WITH THEM.

SO I'M SORRY TO DO THIS ON THE FLOOR, BUT I WAS TRYING TO FIND SOME LANGUAGE TO BASICALLY CAUSE ADD AN AMENDMENT THAT SAYS AT THE END OF THEIR TERM LIMIT NOT 4, 2 4 2 YEAR TERMS, NOT THREE, THREE YEARS.

ANY OF THAT JUST AT THE END OF YOUR TERM IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIND SOME LANGUAGE.

I'M JUST GONNA STOP YOUR CLOCK RIGHT NOW TO HELP THE ATTORNEYS WORK WITH YOU WHILE WE GO AFTER WE GO TO CHAIRMAN, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.

SO, AND THIS CAN BE AN ISSUE WITH LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING, IF, IF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS YOU'D LIKE FOR IT TO BE WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY WHERE IT'S JUST YOU'RE LIMITED, YOU'RE LIMITING SOMEONE'S SERVICE TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TERMS, NO MATTER HOW LONG THOSE TERMS MIGHT BE.

I'M NOT SURE THAT'S DEFINITE ENOUGH FOR LEGISLATION.

IT MAY, IT MAY BE IT MAY BE VOID FOR LACK OF DEFINITENESS BECAUSE IT'S, WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY WOULD BE.

UM, AND SO WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE SAYING.

IT COULD BE THAT AS AN ISSUE.

BUT I THINK THAT IT, AM I UNDERSTANDING THE DEPTHS YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY? YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE TERMS WILL BE, BUT HOWEVER MANY OF THEM THERE, HOWEVER LONG THEY ARE, YOU SHOULD ONLY GET TWO OF THEM OR YOU SHOULD ONLY GET FOUR OF THEM.

THAT MAY BE AN ISSUE FOR DEFINITENESS.

IT MAY BE.

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY.

STATE YOUR INQUIRY.

MY INQUIRY IS IF, UM, WHAT HE'S SUGGESTING COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PUTTING IN A YEAR LIMIT, MEANING IF THE TERMS ARE TWO, FOUR YEARS WOULD BE CHANGE THAT WOULD SOLVE THE DEFINITE IN THIS PROBLEM.

IT WOULD BE, AND IF THE TERMS ARE THREE YEARS, IT WOULD BE A MAXIMUM OF NINE YEARS.

THAT WOULD SOLVE THE DEFINITE IN THIS PROBLEM.

BUT I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT TO YOU.

IT'S YOUR MOTION TO MAKE, I'M JUST, IT JUST MADE ME THINK THAT IT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE DONE, BUT THE, THE ATTORNEYS WILL WORK WITH YOU.

CHAIRMAN ADVISE YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, .

AND, UM, I'M NOT GONNA BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ONE.

I I HAVE NOT HEARD ONE SINGLE PERSON IN OUR CITY SAY ANYTHING.

AND I, I GUESS I WANT SOME HISTORY.

HOW MANY FORMERS ELECTED OFFICIALS, COUNCIL MEMBER AND OR MAYORS HAVE ACTUALLY COME BACK AFTER THEY WERE TERM LIMITED OR RUN FOR ELECTION AND GOT ELECTED AND CAME BACK IN OUR HISTORY? I, I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER IN THE HISTORY.

UM, I, I KNOW IT'S HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT, UM, DON'T HAVE THE, THE TOTAL, I, I MEAN I CAN COUNT THREE COUNCIL MEMBER IN MY HEAD.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER NOVAS, WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION.

WE DON'T HAVE IT NOW FOR YOU, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY PUT NO, AND, AND I GET THAT.

I'M JUST LIKE, I THINK THIS IS A, UM, UH, AMENDMENT, BUT THERE'S NO PROBLEM THAT'S LOOKING FOR A SOLU A SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A NON-PROBLEM.

UM, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.

I'M NOT COMING BACK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COME ASKING FOR THIS.

I'M GONNA FINISH MY SERVICE.

AND, UM, AND I, THIS HAS BEEN THE GREATEST HONOR OF MY LIFE.

UM, BUT IT'S TIME FOR SOMEBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, AND I'M ALL FOR THAT.

UM, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE Y'ALL DON'T WANT ELLE TO COME BACK.

I DON'T KNOW.

UM, YOU KNOW WHO IT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ARE SO WORRIED ABOUT THAT'S GONNA COME BACK.

I THINK THAT THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I, OH, MAYBE IT'S THAT Y'ALL DON'T WANT MAYOR JOHNSON TO COME BACK AFTER HE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, TERM LIMITED.

[04:30:01]

UM, OR MAYBE IT'S JUST THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO COME BACK AND THAT'S OKAY.

JUST DON'T COME BACK.

DON'T, DON'T PUT YOUR NAME ON A BALLOT.

YOU DON'T GOTTA GO GET 25 SIGNATURES TO GET ON A PETITION.

I, I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT THAT IS NOT AN ANYTHING I'M INTERESTED IN, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I I GUESS THE NEXT QUESTION IS, UM, YOU KNOW, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MANY, UM, ELECTED POSITIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS HAVE, ARE BANNED FROM COMING BACK ONCE THEY TERM LIMITED OR ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COME BACK TO? I, I KNOW THAT, UH, IT VARIES CITY BY CITY.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AT COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT HAVE NO, NO, I MEANT ALL ELECTED.

LIKE IS CAN THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, UM, LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, GET APPOINTED SOMEWHERE ELSE OR JUST, YOU KNOW, DECIDES NOT TO RUN OR GET TO BEAT? AND CAN THAT, CAN THE GOVERNOR RUN AGAIN AND COME BACK AFTER AT, AT THE STATE LEVEL? I BELIEVE THERE ARE NOT HER.

THERE ARE NONE.

UM, AND, AND YOU DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER EXAMPLES IN THE STATE WHERE THIS HAS BEEN DONE? WELL, I KNOW, SO OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE THIS.

IT DOES VARY CITY BY CITY.

UM, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A LIST.

I, WHEN I SENT UM, A LIST, I BELIEVE BACK IN MAY, UM, I, I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE TEXAS CITIES AND DID NOTE, UH, SEVERAL OF THOSE AND HOW THEY APPROACH THEIR TERMS, UH, BOTH LENGTH LIMIT AND, UM, WHETHER THEY HAD A HARD LIMIT.

I BELIEVE SAN ANTONIO HAS A HARD LIMIT.

UM, I KNOW THAT THERE'S SEVERAL OTHERS, BUT THEN CITIES LIKE FORT WORTH HAVE NO LIMIT.

UM, SO IT JUST VARIES.

I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I I JUST DON'T SEE THIS AS BEING SOMETHING THAT ANYBODY WAS REALLY ASKING FOR.

I DON'T KNOW WHY IT CAME UP.

UM, YOU KNOW, I I JUST THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK OUR VOTE WE NEED TO ADD TO OUR VOTERS.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT FOLKS ARE SO WORRIED ABOUT.

IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I BEAT AN INCUMBENT.

SO THE EXCUSE OF, OH, NAME RECOGNITION, THAT'S NOT, YOU GOTTA GET OUT THERE AND YOU GOTTA WORK.

AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS HORSESHOE GOT OUT THERE AND KNOCKED ON DOORS, TALKED TO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND TRUST ME, THERE'S A FEW INCUMBENT SLAYERS ON THIS COUNCIL AND THAT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE AND IT'S HARD WORK AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S SCARY 'CAUSE INCUMBENTS DON'T LOSE TOO OFTEN IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, BUT I CAN'T THINK OF TOO MANY AFTER SERVING EIGHT YEARS ON THIS BODY BESIDES MR. ATKINS, YOU KNOW, , UM, THAT ACTUALLY WANT TO COME BACK, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AND MS. ARNOLD IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

IT, BUT SHE DIDN'T, SHE DIDN'T TERM LIMIT.

AND SO I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT THIS, UM, IS SEARCHING FOR.

AND I THINK THAT REALLY, UM, NOT, AGAIN, IT'S SO RARE.

I JUST THINK THAT THAT HURTS OUR DEMOCRACY IN THE EVENT THAT SOMEBODY MOVES OR SOMEBODY, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT I, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FOLKS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THAT HAPPENING.

IF IT'S NOT A BIG ISSUE.

I MEAN, I CAN UNDERSTAND IF IT'S OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER THAT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.

SO ANYWAY, THAT'S, THAT'S MY OPINION ON THAT, MR. ME.

AND, UH, I'M NOT GONNA BE SUPPORTING THIS.

THANKS GENTLEMAN.

MENDELSON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BLACK MEN AMENDMENT.

WHAT HAPPENED? OH, SHE'S NOT EVEN HERE.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

UH, THIS WOULD BE I GUESS A LEGAL QUESTION.

IF, SINCE WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A CLEAR LIMITATION OF TERMS, WOULD, WOULD THAT SUFFICE LIMITATION OF TERMS THAT TERMINOLOGY? YES.

THERE, THERE IS A LIMITATION OF TERMS IN THE CHARTER AND IT'S THE, IT IS THE CURRENTLY, YEAH, CURRENTLY, AND IT'S THE FOUR, TWO YEAR TERMS. AND I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS PROCEDURALLY, UM, THERE MIGHT BE SOME AMENDMENTS COMING, UH, THIS EVENING HERE THAT WOULD CHANGE THE TERMS TO THREE OR FOUR YEARS OR KEEPING THEM AT TWO.

AND SO I WONDER IF MAYBE WE SHOULD HOLD THIS ITEM UNTIL WE, UH, LOOK AT THE AMENDMENTS THAT MIGHT CALL FOR TERM LIMITS FIRST SO THAT THEY CAN BE LINED UP SO THAT IT'S JUST CLEAN.

AND SO I GUESS I WOULD BE LOOKING TO THE, UM, PERSON WHO MADE THE MOTION.

IT'S THAT, UH, TO MAKE A MOTION, I SUPPOSE.

UM, I, I MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS TO THE LAST ITEM, OR NO, I MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS AFTER WE DECIDE THE TERM LIMITS.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO TABLING THIS ITEM? TERM? TERM, TERM.

IT'S, AND, AND SHE WANTS TO TABLE IT TO IT.

TURN LENGTH, SORRY, EXCUSE ME.

NOT LIMITS BUT LENGTH.

SHE WANTS TO TABLE THIS MOTION UNTIL WE RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF TERM LENGTH.

IF IT COMES UP, UM, TODAY, AND IF, IF THAT'S IN ORDER AND THEN THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THEN IT'S SO ORDERED.

SO I I'M BEING TOLD IT'S NOTION OUT OF ORDER AND THERE ISN'T A OBJECTION.

SO THE, IT'S TABLED.

OKAY, GUYS, JUST AN UPDATE.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA BREAK FOR DINNER AT SIX.

THANK 6:00 PM WE'LL BREAK FOR DINNER FOR AN HOUR.

DID YOU PUSH CHAIRMAN RIDLEY'S BUTTON FOR HIM? OKAY.

I'M LOOKING FOR MORE MOTIONS.

MOTION IN THE OATH.

CHAIRMAN, RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR A MOTION OR OH, YOU'RE GOING, I KEEP THINKING.

[04:35:01]

OH, THERE YOU GO.

I HAVE TO PUSH IT HARDER.

I MOVE THAT WE DELETE FROM THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS.

THE ITEM EXTENDING THE DEADLINE FOR REFERENDUM PETITION, SIGNATURE COLLECTION FROM 60 DAYS TO ONE 20 DAYS, AND THE SECOND PROPOSITION REDUCING THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED ON A PETITION TO INITIATE A REFERENDUM.

IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? CAN YOU RE I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT MR. YEAH, GO AHEAD.

REPEAT YOUR MOTION.

THAT'S, THAT'S AN OR THAT'S OKAY TO DO.

UH, THESE WERE IDENTIFIED AS PROPOSITION SEVEN AND EIGHT, PREVIOUSLY SEVEN IS EXTENDING THE DEADLINE FOR REFERENDUM PETITION, SIGNATURE COLLECTION FROM 60 DAYS TO 120 DAYS.

AND FORMERLY PROPOSITION NUMBER EIGHT WAS REDUCING THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED ON A PETITION TO INITIATE A REFERENDUM.

JUST TO CLARIFY, YOUR MOTION IS TO REMOVE THOSE PROVISIONS FROM THE ORDINANCE, CORRECT EVERYONE.

SO HE WANTS TO REMOVE THOSE PROVISIONS, WHICH I BELIEVE HAD BEEN STRAW VOTED, WHICH IS WHY THEY'RE IN THERE.

CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR FIVE MINUTES IF YOU WANT TO, TO EXPLAIN.

UH, YES, AND I'D LIKE TO REFER TO THE THREE MAYOR'S OP-ED PIECE.

IN DOING THAT, AS THEIR ANALYSIS WAS VERY SUCCINCT WITH REGARD TO PROPOSITION SEVEN ABOUT EXTENDING THE DEADLINE FROM 6,220 DAYS.

THEY STATED, BY ANY MEASURE, 60 DAYS IS SUFFICIENT TO CAPTURE SIGNATURES FOR CITIZEN REFERENDA.

AND THIS AMENDMENT WOULD UNDULY LENGTHEN THAT PROCESS WITH REGARD TO PROPOSITION EIGHT, WHICH WAS REDUCING THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED.

THEY STATE THIS PROPOSAL WOULD LOWER FROM 10 TO 5% THE NUMBER OF REQUIRED QUALIFIED VOTER SIGNATURES ON A PETITION TO CALL A VOTE ON A PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT.

DALLAS ALREADY FACES WORRISOME EFFORTS TO CHANGE OUR CHARTER BECAUSE INTEREST GROUPS SPEND SIGNIFICANT FUNDS TO GATHER SIGNATURES FOR DUBIOUS CHARTER AMENDMENTS.

SOMETIMES USING MISLEADING LANGUAGE OR INFORMATION TO GATHER SUPPORT LOWERING THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF SIGNATURES WOULD ONLY MEAN MORE SUCH EFFORTS.

AND WE'VE SEEN RECENT EXAMPLES OF REFERENDA THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND VALIDATED UNDER THE CURRENT RULES.

AND SO I JUST SEE NO NEED FOR RELAXING THOSE RULES FURTHER.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE RIDLEY AMENDMENT.

UM, BASED FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND ABOUT, UM, THIS INITIATIVE, WHICH CAME FROM ANGELA HUNT OUT OF THE CHARTER COMMISSION, UM, THIS I DO SUPPORT OR I DON'T SUPPORT THE MOTION TO KILL IT.

UM, I DO WANT TO ASK, UM, STAFF SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS.

FIRST OF ALL, MR. RIDLEY REFERENCED SOME RECENT CHARTER PETITION ITEMS THAT CAME UP THAT HAVE BEEN CONCERNING TO HIM.

AND, UM, WHAT'S, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHARTER, UM, PETITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED, UM, THAT AND THE, AND THE WHAT'S BEING ATTEMPTED TO BE DONE, UM, THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR PETITION ITEM THAT CAME OUT OF THE COMMISSION? EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURAL DIFFERENCES AND HOW ONE IMPACTS THE CHARTER VERSUS ONE IMPACTS THE CODE.

SO THE PROVISIONS IN QUESTION ON THIS MOTION ARE FOR, UM, INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM OF, OF ORDINANCES.

SO THIS WOULD BE THE PETITION PROCESS, NOT TO AMEND THE CHARTER, BUT TO HAVE THE COUNCIL VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE.

OKAY, LET'S STOP THERE FOR A MINUTE.

SO THE, WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR CHARTER PETITIONS, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE FREEDOM ACT AND THE HERO ACT.

GIVE US JUST A MOMENT.

TWO THINGS.

I THINK FOLKS ARE CONFUSED MECHANISMS. 20,000 SIGNATURES OR 5% OF THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED VOTERS, WHICHEVER NUMBER IS LESS.

AND WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF TIME THEY HAVE TO GATHER THOSE SIGNATURES TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE CHARTER OR TO THE VOTERS FOR THE CHARTER? THERE'S NO DEADLINE ON THAT.

SO EVERYBODY PARKED THAT FOR A MINUTE.

NOW LET'S, LET'S, LET ME ASK ABOUT THIS ACTUAL ITEM THAT WE'RE VOTING ON.

UM, WHATEVER WE VOTE HERE WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON THAT, CORRECT? ON THE CHARTER PETITION PROCESS AND THAT THRESHOLD YOU JUST REFERRED TO? CORRECT.

THE CHARTER PETITION PROCESS IS GOVERNED BY STATE LAW.

MOTION THAT WAS JUST MADE BY MR. RIDLEY.

SO I, I REALLY WANT TO HO HAMMER THAT HOME WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT, THAT ANY CONCERNS YOU MIGHT HAVE IF YOU HAVE ANY ON THE PATI VOTER PETITIONS WILL NOT BE IMPACTED BY, UM, THE

[04:40:01]

SO NOW LET'S TURN TO WHAT IS THE INTENT WITH THIS LOWERING OF THE THRESHOLD THAT CAME OUT OF THE CHARTER COMMISSION AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT, JAKE? SO AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD INITIALLY BY COMMISSIONER HUNT.

UM, SHE, SHE BROUGHT IT FORWARD BECAUSE SHE ORGANIZED THE LAST, UM, SUCCESSFUL, UM, PETITION INITIATIVE IN 2007 IN DALLAS.

WHEN WAS THAT? 2007.

SO THAT WAS THE LAST TIME WE HAD ONE THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL? THAT'S CORRECT.

UM, MY AND MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE, UH, COMMISSION DID WANT TO REDUCE THOSE BARRIERS, UM, AND, AND ALLOW, ALLOW FOR MORE OF THOSE TO BE, UM, ACHIEVABLE.

AND SO THEY, THEY VOTED ON ON, UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS FEBRUARY, UH, SIXTH.

FEBRUARY 6TH, YES.

UM, ON TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS, WHICH YOU NOW SEE BEFORE YOU, UM, AND BOTH, BOTH PASSED WITH NO OPPOSITION.

WHAT IS AND WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD FOR THE CURRENTLY EXISTING, UM, REQUIREMENT TO PUT, TO PUT SOMETHING ON ORDINANCE? SO THIS, THIS WOULD EFFECTIVELY, UM, CUT THE NUMBER OF REQUIRED SIGNATURES IN HALF FROM 10% TO 5% AND IT WOULD ALSO, UM, EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR, UM, GETTING THOSE SIGNATURES FROM 60 DAYS TO 120 DAYS.

SO YOU HAVE DOUBLE THE TIME TO GET HALF THE AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES.

ALRIGHT, SO WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S CURRENTLY EXISTS? WHAT IS 10% OF THE THRESHOLD? I I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT 70,000 SIGNATURES.

SO THE REQUIREMENT RIGHT NOW TO GET SOMETHING PUSHED FORWARD AS A CODE CHANGE IS 70,000 SIGNATURES IN HOW MANY DAYS.

I, I CAN DEFER TO THE CITY SECRETARY ON, UH, ON, ON THE, THAT NUMBER, BUT SO IT'S 10% OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS FROM THE LAST MAYORAL GENERAL ELECTION.

SO THAT NUMBER CAN FLUCTUATE.

SO THE LAST ONE ROUGHLY, SO BASED ON THE LAST MAYORAL ELECTION, THE 10% CAME TO A LITTLE OVER AND INCLUDING THE OTHER TWO COUNTIES, A LITTLE OVER 70,000.

SO IT'S 70,000, UM, ROUGHLY BASED ON THE NUMBERS YOU JUST GAVE ME.

AND HOW MANY DAYS DO THEY HAVE TO OBTAIN THAT AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES? 60, 60, 70,000 SIGNATURES IN 60 DAYS VERSUS WHAT THE STATE ALLOWS TO CHANGE THE CHARTER, WHICH IS ARGUABLY A MUCH BIGGER THRESHOLD IS ONLY 20,000 AND THERE'S NO TIME LIMIT.

SO I THINK THAT THE, THE CHALLENGES HERE, COLLEAGUES IS LIKE WE, WE'VE ALREADY GOT, EVERYONE'S GONNA GO TOWARDS CHANGING THE CHARTER IF WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER AVENUE FOR THEM TO TRY TO FORCE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS ON THE COUNCIL.

AND, UM, I THINK THE INTENT OUT OF THE CHARTER COMMISSION, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, YOU WON'T HURT MY FEELINGS STAFF IS TO, FOR, FOR ITEMS THAT WOULD THAT REALLY BELONG IN CODE VERSUS IN THE CHARTER.

UM, WE WOULD RATHER AS A CITY SEE THEM COME THAT WAY, BUT IT'S, IT'S SUCH A HUGE BURDEN FOR THEM TO FORCE THINGS ON A CODE.

LIKE I PERSONALLY THINK THE MARIJUANA ITEMS SHOULD BE COMING TO CODE INSTEAD OF THE CHARTER, BUT THE, BUT THERE'S THE AVENUE IS JUST SO BIG OF A BURDEN FOR THEM TO DO THAT, THAT THEY'RE GONNA ALWAYS GO TO THE CHARTER.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE INTENT HERE.

LIKE I'M NOT PERSONALLY MARRIED TO DOING THIS, LIKE, UM, BUT I THINK IT'S, IT'S A GOOD, IT'S A GOOD ITEM WITH GOOD INTENT BEHIND IT.

UM, AM I MISSING ANYTHING GUYS THAT CAME OUT OF THE CHARTER COMMISSION ON THIS? NO, I, I THINK IT'S A FAIR CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CHARTER'S DISCUSS CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION'S DISCUSSION, UM, TO SAY THAT THE, THE BURDEN WAS, WAS DEEMED TOO HIGH, UM, ESPECIALLY IN COMPARISON TO OTHER TEXAS CITIES.

AND, UH, THEY WANTED TO MAKE THAT, UH, MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR, FOR RESIDENTS AND, AND VOTERS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

FROM A MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, AND THIS IS, UH, EITHER CITY MANAGEMENT OR I'D SAY, UM, CITY ATTORNEY WHEN WE HAVE A, UH, A SOMETHING PUSHED INTO THE CHARTER VERSUS AN ITEM PUSHED INTO THE CODE, HOW ARE WE BETTER ABLE TO BE FLEXIBLE AND WORK WITH IT? AND IS IT MORE FLEXIBLE WHEN THINGS ARE WRITTEN IN THE CODE OR FLEXIBLE WHEN THINGS ARE WRITTEN IN THE CHARTER? WELL, ANY CHANGE TO THE CHARTER HAS TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND, UH, WE CAN ONLY CHANGE THE CHARTER ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.

UM, AT MOST, UM, HOWEVER, THE DALLAS CITY CODE CAN BE CHANGED, UM, BY A VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN THEY PASS AN ORDINANCE, AND THAT CAN BE DONE AT ANY TIME.

MR. BASIL DUA, UH, DEPUTY MAYOR PROAM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

DURING THE CHARTER, UM, REVIEW PROCESS WITH THE COMMISSION, AND I REMEMBER COMMISSIONER HUNT BRING, UM, THIS ITEM UP AND I REMEMBERED HEARING THE DISCUSSION AND I THINK THAT THIS, IT WE'RE DOING A DISSERVICE TO THE INTENT OF WHAT THIS WAS MEANT TO BE.

I, UM, WILL NOT, UM, BE SUPPORTING THIS.

I, UH, I'M, I WANT TO THANK YOU MR. WEST FOR BEATING ME TO THE PUNCH, UH, ON THE DIFFERENTIATION OF, UM, THE HOW TO INITIATE THESE.

UM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK, I I WATCHED EXTENSIVELY

[04:45:01]

UM, BY CONFLATING THAT WITH THE BALLOT MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN BR BROUGHT FORWARD, NOT ONLY THROUGH THE MECHANISM OF THE STATE STATUTE, BUT ALSO, UM, BY INTEREST GROUPS JUST AS MENTIONED IN THE OP-ED THAT MR. RIDLEY READ THE WHAT WAS ABSENT FROM THAT OP-ED WAS THE STRUGGLE THAT A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION WOULD HAVE THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME MEANS.

AND SO IF WE ARE GOING TO SPEAK TO, UM, ALLOWING FOR VOTERS TO INITIATE CHANGES IN CODE, UH, THEN WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY FEASIBLE.

UM, TO ME THIS IS, THIS IS SMOKE AND MIRRORS.

THIS IS SAYING THAT WE, UM, SUPPORT TRUE DEMOCRACY, TRUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VOTERS TO WEIGH IN, IN THEIR GOVERNMENTAL PROCESS.

UM, BUT BY SAYING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN, UM, ON THESE, UH, UM, ON, ON THE SIGNATURES THAT ARE REQUIRED, UM, AND OR THE THE TIME LIMIT THAT IS NEEDED WHEN THOSE SEEM TO BE WHAT PROHIBIT THESE FROM BEING SUCCESSFUL.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS SAYING ACTUALLY THE TOOL THAT WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE FOR YOU IN OUR CHARTER IS ONLY FOR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY.

AND, AND THAT TO ME IS THE MESSAGE THAT THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT SENDS TO THE PUBLIC.

I I KNOW THE SPIRIT IN WHICH IT WAS INTRODUCED BY COMMISSIONER HUNT.

I HEARD THE DISCUSSION AROUND THAT COMMISSION.

I KNOW THAT EVEN FROM WHAT WE'VE LEARNED WITH THE BALLOT MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT ON, UM, UH, FROM STATE STATUTE, THAT THERE ARE TWO, THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT WHEN WE HAVE A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER WHO COULD SINGLE-HANDEDLY, UH, BE THANKED FOR THE REASON THAT WE DON'T HAVE A TOLL ROAD, UH, THROUGH OUR, UM, TRINITY RIVER, I THINK THAT SHE HAS FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF THE STRUGGLE THAT SHE WENT THROUGH IN ORDER TO GET THE NECESSARY PUBLIC SUPPORT SO THAT THEY WERE HEARD.

BECAUSE THE REASON WE DON'T HAVE A HIGHWAY THROUGH OUR TRINITY RIVER IS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS WERE HEARD.

IN FACT, IT WAS SO HARD, SHE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE GOT IT THROUGH HAD SHE HADN'T HA HAD A, A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAYOR THAT SAID THAT WE HEARD FROM ENOUGH OF THE RESIDENTS AND WE NEED TO AT LEAST LET THE VOTERS WEIGH IN ON THIS.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT OF WHERE THIS CAME FROM.

IT'S COMING FROM SOMEONE WITH FIRSTHAND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF COLLECTING THESE SIGNATURES FIRSTHAND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF BEING SUCCESSFUL AND ACTUALLY DRAWING CHANGE, CHANGE IN A DIRECTION THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM WHERE THIS GOVERNING BODY AT THE TIME WAS GOING.

THIS IS DEMOCRACY.

THIS IS EMPOWERING OUR RESIDENTS TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.

BY NOT SUPPORTING THIS, YOU'RE NOT SUPPORTING, MAKING IT EASIER FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR, AGAINST MR. RIDLEY'S AMENDMENT REGARDING THE, THE PETITION PROCESS? I DON'T SEE ANYONE.

MADAME SECRETARY.

MR. MAYOR, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR, NO IF YOU OPPOSED.

MAYOR PROTE ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TIMM BASEL DUA? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO? NO.

GRACIE? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMAN.

OPPOSED? THIS AMENDMENT FAILS.

WITH THREE VOTING IN FAVOR.

12.

ALL RIGHTY.

WAIT, WE'RE READY FOR ANOTHER, UM, AMENDMENT.

UM, CHAIRMAN WEST, DO YOU HAVE ONE? YES.

I MOVED TO COMBINE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT EXTENDING THE DEADLINE FOR REFERENDUM PETITION, SIGNATURE COLLECTION AND THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REDUCING THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED ON A PETITION TO INITIATE A REFERENDUM INTO ONE PROPOSITION.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN.

CHAIRMAN, ONCE YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

TIME, UH, AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THEM TO, TO, TO GATHER THEM AND PUTTING THOSE TWO BALLOT PROVISIONS INTO ONE CHARTER PROVISION.

THIS IS, UM, EXACTLY THE, UM, ITEM, THE TWO ITEMS WE JUST DISCUSSED.

UM, AND WHICH ARE LOWERING THE THRESHOLD OF PETITION SIGNATURES AND, UM, EXTENDING THE NUMBER OF

[04:50:01]

AND MY ORIGINAL INTENT WAS THIS, WITH THIS WAS TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF ITEMS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE SENDING TO THE VOTERS TO MAKE IT MORE SIMPLE.

I THINK WE'RE ADDING A LOT TODAY, , SO I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE A VERY SIMPLE, UH, CHARTER BALLOT.

BUT, UM, I THINK THIS, THE INTENT WAS FOR THIS TO ALWAYS BE ONE ITEM.

UM, JUST ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO CONFIRM THAT THEY HAVE REVIEWED THIS AND, AND THAT THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO COMBINE THIS INTO ONE ITEM.

YEAH, THE COMMISSION CONSIDERED THIS AS TWO ITEMS, SO THAT'S WHY IT WAS IN THE COMMISSION'S REPORT AS TWO AND NOW IT'S ON THE OR IN THE ORDINANCE AS TWO, BUT WE'VE DETERMINED THAT THEY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY ENOUGH RELATED THAT THEY CAN BE ONE PROPOSITION.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MR. WEST? SEE NONE.

THANK YOU MS. MAYOR, WHEN I, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ALUA? YES.

WITH ALL 15 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL VOTING IN FAVOR, THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD.

ASSUMING BOTH, UM, GENTLEMEN, UM, BASIL AND MARINA BOTH WANNA MAKE AN AMENDMENT, I'M GONNA GO TO MR. 'CAUSE HE HASN'T MADE ONE YET.

IF THAT, IF THAT'S UM, WHAT YOU BOTH ARE CHIMING IN FOR.

YOU BOTH LOOKING TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE BOTH DOING? ALRIGHT.

YOU HAVEN'T PUT FORTH ONE AT ALL YET, HAVE YOU? AND YOU HAVE CORRECT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS TO GO FOR, YOU KNOW, DO ONE BEFORE WE CAN START DOUBLING UP TOO MUCH.

SO I HAVE DONE AN AMENDMENT.

HAVE YOU? ALRIGHT THEN I'M GOING BACK TO YOU THEN.

'CAUSE YOU WERE, YOU WERE ACTUALLY AT FIRST IN THE QUEUE MAY, UM, DEPUTY MAYOR PROAM, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR A MOTION.

UH, MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY ADDING A PROPOSITION THAT WOULD ADD A CHAPTER TO THE CITY CHARTER REQUIRING THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BE APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

UM, DEPUTY MAYOR PROAM, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES I'D LIKE TO WAIT TO HEAR OTHERS.

ANYONE ELSE? CHAIRMAN, GRACE, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES? YEAH.

UM, I WILL BE SUPPORTING, UM, THIS, THIS, UH, MOTION, UH, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON.

UM, THEN DONNELL LANE, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I SAY THAT NAME.

HE IS NOT ONLY A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE, BUT HE ACTUALLY LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.

AND THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE, UH, WHERE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE COULD HAVE HANDLED.

UH, BUT BUREAUCRACY GOT IN THE WAY AND IT EXTENDED IT.

UH, AND, AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS A HUMILIATING EXPERIENCE FOR MY NEIGHBOR, UH, AND ALL OF THESE THINGS.

AND IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE UNFORTUNATE THINGS THAT REALLY COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED, UH, PROPERLY.

IT WASN'T A MAJOR CRIME, IT WASN'T ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT BUREAUCRACY EXTENDED THAT WAY LONGER THAN IT NEEDED TO BE.

IN FACT, UH, WHEN IT WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS, THEY REJECTED, UH, TO INVESTIGATE OR DECLINED TO INVESTIGATE UNTIL OVERSIGHT GOT INVOLVED AND THEN THEY STEPPED IN AND DELAY AND DREW IT OUT.

UH, AND THAT WAS JUST DISAPPOINTING.

FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT THEY DID THAT, THAT WAS JUST VERY DISAPPOINTING.

UH, FROM THERE.

AND THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO TO SHOW, UH, SOME REAL ACCOUNTABILITY ON SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO'S NOT ONLY A RESIDENT OF DALLAS BUT A VETERAN WHO SERVED THIS COUNTRY AND ALL THOSE THINGS AND JUST WASN'T CONSISTENT.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I WILL BE SUPPORTING, UH, THIS, UM, AMENDMENT.

MEAN THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SOLUTION.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR, AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY THE DEAF MAYOR PRO TEM REGARDING THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD? CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.

UM, BECAUSE ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT ONE CASE SHOULDN'T BE THE BASIS FOR CHANGING HOW WE'RE STRUCTURED.

BUT IF WE ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT IT, WHAT YOU DON'T WANNA HAVE IS, UM, THE OVERSIGHT BOARD BE POLITICIZED.

AND THE VERY REASON THAT PEOPLE ADVOCATE FOR HAVING A CITY MANAGER FORM A GOVERNMENT IS TO TAKE THE POLITICS OUT IN THE END.

THAT PARTICULAR CASE WAS PRETTY BAD, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT WAS HUMILIATING AND UNNECESSARY, BUT IT ALSO GOT THE ATTENTION IT NEEDED AND IS BEING ADDRESSED NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE GONE.

BUT IT REALLY ISN'T.

I DON'T SEE HOW IF THAT POSITION REPORTED TO US, IT WOULD HAVE GONE BETTER.

I DON'T SEE, JUST BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM DOESN'T

[04:55:01]

THE SOLUTION IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EFFECTIVE STAFF IN THERE THAT ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WE ARE NOT REALLY KNOWN FOR THAT.

I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY METRICS WE HAVE FOR ANYBODY THAT REPORTS TO US, BUT I BELIEVE THE CITY MANAGER HAS THAT FOR HER EMPLOYEES AND SHOULD AT LEAST, RIGHT? SO THAT IS THE ROLE.

PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT, NOT POLITICAL MANAGEMENT.

SO I DON'T SUPPORT IT, BUT NOT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND NOT BECAUSE I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU THAT IMPROVEMENT WAS NEEDED, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT ADDING IT RESPONSIBLE TO A POLITICAL BODY WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE, UH, AMENDMENT BY THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TIMM.

UM, I APPRECIATE THE INTENT AND THE EXPLANATION FROM MY COLLEAGUE.

UM, I I AM A LITTLE WORRIED, I'M NOT SAYING I'M NOT SUPPORTING IT.

UM, BUT I, WHAT I WANT UNDERSTAND FROM THE CITY MANAGER IS THE, WHAT WE WOULD BE TAKING ON AS A COUNCIL OR FUTURE COUNCILS WOULD BE TAKING ON HERE.

LIKE THIS IS, WE'VE ALREADY GOT ONE DEPARTMENT NOW WHERE THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE ARE GONNA BE REPORTING TO COUNCIL.

I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE IN THAT WE DON'T HAVE METRICS FOR OUR DIRECT REPORTS AND I THINK IT'S A PROBLEM ANY OF THEM.

AND WE NEED TO, I THINK WE NEED THOSE.

UM, SO I WAS GONNA CITY MANAGER, LIKE WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IS SPENT WORKING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THAT DEPARTMENT.

WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IF WE TAKE THIS ON AS A COUNCIL? THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER WEST.

UH, LET ME JUST START BY SAYING THAT, UM, I, I THINK YOU HAVE TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE THAT THIS IS A NEW, UM, BOARD AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF, I WOULD SAY ADDITIONAL GOVERNANCE TYPES OF, UM, ISSUES THAT I THINK HAVE SURFACED.

I THINK THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE SOMEONE PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT TO WHOEVER THE DIRECTOR OF THAT OFFICE IS.

AND IN THAT CASE IT WOULD BE THIS BODY IF THAT CHARTER, UM, AMENDMENT WENT FORWARD.

UM, AND SO IT IS REALLY ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE PUT IN PLACE.

AND SO I SEE THIS AS, EVEN IF IT'S A THE WILL OF THIS BODY TO SEND THIS FORWARD, THERE WILL STILL NEED TO BE THE WORKFLOW DEFINED AND HOW THAT POSITION STILL HAS TO, UM, ENGAGE, UH, WITH THE MANAGER, ENGAGE OFTEN WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY.

AND SO THERE WOULD NEED TO BE SOME STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES PUT IN PLACE.

AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THAT HAD NOT BEEN DONE.

UH, AND IT DID NOT GIVE THE BOARD, UH, IN MY OPINION, KIND OF THE DAY-TO-DAY GOVERNANCE BECAUSE THAT IS LACKING.

SO THAT WOULD BE A LIFT THAT THIS BODY WOULD NEED TO TAKE ON.

UH, AND ESTABLISHING WHAT THOSE OPERATING PROCEDURES ARE.

UM, I THINK IT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE TRAINING OF THE BOARD.

'CAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED.

SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE STARTING OVER IN MY OPINION, ONLY BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE BEGINNING OF HOW THAT BOARD WAS SET UP AND EVEN THE OFFICE AND THAT OVERSIGHT, UM, I BELIEVE HAS LED TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY STARTING, IN MY OPINION, IT WOULD BE A KIND OF STARTING FROM SCRATCH AND JUST KINDA RESETTING THE ENTIRE, UM, UM, OPERATIONS OF THE OFFICE, UM, WORKING TO REALLY DEFINE, UM, THE ROLE AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES, INCLUDING LOOKING AT ALL OF THE CURRENT GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS THAT NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE.

UM, AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO BE NEEDED GOING FORWARD.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE IN THE IMMEDIACY IN ORDER FOR THAT OFFICE AS WELL AS THAT BOARD TO BE EFFECTIVE.

AND THAT WOULD, IF WE TOOK IT ON THROUGH A CHARTER AMENDMENT, THAT WOULD FALL ON COUNCIL TO ABSOLUTELY OVERSEE ALL OF THAT.

TO SET THAT UP ABSOLUTELY.

TO TRAIN THE BOARD, ALL OF THAT.

OR HAVE SOMEONE THAT WOULD BE DESIGNATED TO DO IT.

I JUST SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST CHANGE THE REPORTING STRUCTURE, BUT TO ENSURE THAT THE VERY THINGS THAT HAVE CAUSED, I THINK SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS, UM, THAT THE BOARD HAS ACTUALLY LIFTED UP.

THOSE THINGS WOULD HAVE TO BE RESOLVED.

AND REALLY DEALT WITH IN ORDER FOR, I THINK EVEN FOR THIS BOARD, NO MATTER WHO THE DIRECTOR REPORTS TO, THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

WELL, LIKE I TOLD MY COLLEAGUES, I'M OPEN TO HEARING IT.

I WANT TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN DO THIS AND, AND THAT, THAT THERE'S CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN, WE CAN TAKE THIS ON.

THANKS, DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE.

UM, SO I THINK THAT TRUE POLICE

[05:00:01]

OVERSIGHT IS IMPORTANT.

UM, I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE NOW, UM, IS LACKING A LITTLE BIT OF TEETH AND I THINK THAT OUR COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD HAS DONE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN.

BUT I ALSO LOOK AT POTENTIAL CONFLICTS GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.

AND WITH OUR CURRENT DIRECT REPORT, UM, HAVING THE CHIEF AS HER DIRECT REPORT, UM, I'M PERPLEXED ON POTENTIAL CONFLICT THAT THAT ARISES WITH OUR CITY MANAGER TO TRULY PROVIDE NECESSARY OVERSIGHT.

I THINK THAT WE AS A BODY ARE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE QUITE A BIT THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LEARN.

UM, AS, AS YOU MENTIONED, I AM FULLY PREPARED FOR THAT TASK.

I THINK THAT IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE IF WE CAN ELIMINATE, UM, POTENTIAL CONFLICTS AND PROVIDE AS A PURE FORM OF OVERSIGHT AS POSSIBLE.

THIS IS NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL.

AND IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE CREATION OF, UH, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

WHEN IT WAS, UM, BEING INCEPTED.

IT WAS NOT DURING A CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS.

THERE WASN'T THE LUXURY OF MAKING SURE THAT THERE WAS A DIRECT REPORT TO THE COUNCIL.

BUT THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE PREVENTED US FROM STANDING UP THE OFFICE.

THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE PREVENTED US FROM PRIORITIZING THERE TO BE, UM, UH, AVENUES FOR OUR, UH, COMMUNITY, OUR RESIDENTS TO HOLD OUR POLICE ACCOUNTABLE.

UM, I THINK THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.

WE HAVE A CHIEF THAT WILL STAND RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF THE, THIS BODY AND SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUE OVERSIGHT.

UM, SO I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED BY YOU, MR. WEST.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE SOME PROCESSES THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PUT IN PLACE, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE, UM, WITH OUR ADMINISTRATIVE AD HOC COMMITTEE.

WE ALREADY HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE FOR US TO WORK AS A BODY SO THAT THOSE PROCESSES ARE PUT IN PLACE IN THAT MANNER.

I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A MORE THAN CAPABLE CITY MANAGER ONCE WE HAVE GOTTEN PROPOSED BUDGETS, ET CETERA, AND HAVE STOOD UP THIS OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES.

I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED, THIS HELPS US BE CLOSER TO MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY AN EFFECTIVE DEPARTMENT.

AND THAT'S A DEGREE OF SEPARATION THAT WE HAVE ALL HAD SINCE WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE ORDINANCE TO WHERE THE ACTUAL JOB OF OVERSIGHT HAS NOT BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE PRIORITIZED.

THAT'S THE REALITY.

WHAT WE DID WAS WE TOOK A VOTE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND THEN WE WASHED OUR HANDS AND WE EXPECTED IT TO BE HANDLED BY A DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S NOT TRUE OVERSIGHT.

THAT'S NOT BEING AS CLOSE TO THE PROBLEM AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT IS ONE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR BODY BE MUCH MORE IN TUNE TO THAT PROCESS, MUCH MORE ENGAGED IN THE CASES THAT ARE BROUGHT BEFORE THE BODY, MUCH MORE, UM, PROACTIVE IN WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR BOARD MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE TASKED WITH HOLDING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE.

AND I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.

IF WE DO THIS.

WE CAN EASILY SAY WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE PATH, PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE SOME WORK FOR US, OR WE CAN TRULY BE AS COMMITTED AS WE WERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN WE PASSED THE ORDINANCE FOR COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT.

AND WITH THIS BEING THE TIME THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CODIFY THAT, UM, WITHIN OUR GOVERNING DOCUMENT AND PROVIDE ANOTHER LAYER OF OVERSIGHT THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE, IT WOULD BE A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO, UM, UH, FINISH THIS CHARTER REVIEW, REVIEW PROCESS WITHOUT THAT BEING DONE.

SO I HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL SUPPORT THIS AND BE WILLING TO GET TO THE TABLE TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE HARDSHIPS, SOME OF THOSE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS OFFICE IS AS EFFECTIVE AS CAN BE AND IS PROVIDING, UM, THE BEST LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MS. SCHULTZ, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE DEAF MAYOR PRO TEMS AMENDMENT.

I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS, UM, AMENDMENT BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR, UH, CITY MANAGER, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY FIX THE CHALLENGES WITHIN THE, UH, OVERSIGHT PROCESS AS IT IS.

UM, AND THEN IN, AND THEY CAN ALWAYS COME BACK.

IN ADDITION, WE CURRENTLY HAVE SIX, YOU KNOW, IF THE IG PASSES, WE WILL HAVE SIX DIRECT REPORTS THAT WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE THE STRUCTURE TO MANAGE OURSELVES.

AND SO ADDING ANOTHER ONE IS ANOTHER BURDEN THAT I DON'T THINK WE AS A COUNCIL ARE

[05:05:01]

PREPARED TO DO.

AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS OR STRUCTURE TO DO.

IN ADDITION, IT WOULD BE THE ONLY, UH, DIRECT REPORT THAT HAS A COMMISSION.

SO UNLESS WE'RE GONNA DISSOLVE THAT COMMISSION OR FIGURE OUT, THERE'S NO NAVIGATION PROCESS.

I DON'T THINK THIS HAS BEEN THOUGHT OUT PROCEDURALLY YET ENOUGH TO TAKE TO THE VOTERS.

SO I AM NOT PREPARED TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.

CHAIRMAN, GRACE, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MAYOR PRO TEM.

MY SECOND, SORRY.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

UH, CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THERE'S SOME STRUCTURAL ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT, UH, STRUCTURE THAT, THAT WE HAVE WITH THE POLICE OVERSIGHT.

EARLIER TODAY.

WE HEARD FROM A MEMBER OF THAT COMMISSION.

DO WE, DO WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT HERE TODAY? AND DO THEY HAVE A SUMMARY OF WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKED LIKE? NO, I KNOW I, I'LL, I'M TRYING TO STAND UP.

I'M TRYING, I'LL I'LL START WITH THAT.

WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD AN INTERIM IN THAT POSITION.

WE JUST COMPLETED THE INTERVIEWS FOR THE DIRECTOR LAST WEEK, AND WE ARE JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY FROM MAKING A DECISION ON THE PERMANENT REPLACEMENT AND PERMANENT PLACEMENT.

SO RIGHT NOW THAT INTERIM DIRECTOR HAS BEEN SERVING IN THAT ROLE.

AND DO WE FEEL CITY MANAGER, THAT WITH A NEW DIRECTOR COMING IN , THAT THEY WOULD STRUCTURALLY CHANGE SOME OF THE INEFFICIENCIES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, UH, PREVIOUSLY? YES.

THAT WOULD BE THE EXPECTATION OF THE, UM, THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THAT OFFICE, UH, WOULD BE TO LOOK AT THE CURRENT CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, UH, NOT ONLY BY MYSELF, BUT BY, BY THE BOARD, AND BEGIN TO LAY OUT A PLAN THAT WAS PART OF HOW WE HANDLED EVEN THE, THE PROCESS OF NARROWING DOWN THE CANDIDATES, TRULY IDENTIFYING, UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE WORKED IN THIS SPACE AND WHO TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT OVERSIGHT LOOKS LIKE, AND THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED PERFORMANCE DOING IT.

AND SO THE EXPECTATION WOULD BE THAT THAT DIRECTOR WOULD COME IN, UH, AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE PROCESSES, ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE, AND THE CURRENT CHALLENGES, AND BE ABLE TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH THE BOARD TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.

AND SO THAT ABSOLUTELY WOULD BE THE CHARGE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS THE INDIVIDUAL CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, THE, UH, THAT DIRECTOR.

AND DO WE FEEL THAT THAT DIRECTOR CURRENTLY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES? IN OTHER WORDS, DO THEY HAVE WHAT'S NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT, UH, SOME, SOME NEW CHANGES WHERE THEY'RE GONNA HAVE, ARE WE GONNA HAVE TO COME BACK TO THIS BODY TO GIVE THEM NEW AUTHORITY? I BELIEVE THAT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP TO COME IN WITH VERY CLEAR LENS AND BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES THAT THAT OFFICE CAN BE, UH, MORE EFFECTIVE.

AND THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE THAT INDIVIDUAL WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE BOARD AND THEN BEING ABLE TO COME, IF IT'S STILL IN MY PURVIEW, COMING DIRECTLY AND IDENTIFYING WHERE, UH, THERE MIGHT BE GAPS, UH, WHETHER THERE'S GAPS IN RESOURCES, UH, WHETHER THERE'S GAPS IN PROCESSES, WHETHER THERE ARE GAPS IN CURRENT STAFFING.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

THAT'S, THAT NEEDS TO BE A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.

SO THE BOARD HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND WORK WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL, AND THEN THAT INDIVIDUAL KNOWING THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COME AND BRING WHATEVER THOSE ITEMS ARE, UM, AND, AND THEN BE ABLE TO WORK TO GET THOSE RESOLVED.

SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT THIS IS, THAT'S PART OF THE RESTART THAT I TALKED ABOUT.

I THINK WE, UH, WE'VE MISSED SOME OPPORTUNITIES AND THIS IS, UM, UM, UM, UM, A DIRECTION THAT I BELIEVE THAT IF WE TRULY WANT THIS TO WORK, THAT WE HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT.

AND THAT WOULD START WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT OFFICE.

THAT'S GOOD.

MS. WILL IS YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WHEN I LOOK AT THEIR MISSION, UM, IT'S TO ENSURE THAT CIVILIAN COMPLAINTS ARE REVIEWED IMPARTIALLY TO ENHANCE THE TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST BETWEEN THE CITY OF DALLAS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE COMMUNITY.

UM, WE KNOW THAT DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A LEADER IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'VE GOT LOWER CRIME RATES YEAR OVER YEAR.

UM, I FEEL LIKE I'VE SEEN WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN TRANSGRESSIONS, PRETTY SWIFT ACTION IN MOST CASES, CHIEF GARCIA HAS INSTITUTED A CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING UNIT.

SO I THINK OUR TRAJECTORY IS STRONG, UH, BUT IT'S NOT PERFECT.

AND SO THERE IS A NEED FOR THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT.

HOWEVER,

[05:10:01]

SO THIS IS TO BE A TRUST BUILDING, UM, GROUP.

SO ONE DISTINCTION SINCE WE'VE CALLED OUT OUR OTHER COUNCIL DIRECT REPORTS, ONE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THOSE REPORTS, AND THIS SHOULD IT GO THROUGH, IS THAT THESE OTHER, UH, DIRECT REPORTS DON'T HAVE A, A COUNCIL APPOINTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

THEY DON'T HAVE A VOLUNTEER BOARD THAT IS HELPING TO DICTATE, UH, WHAT THEIR ACTIONS ARE.

AND SO THAT GIVES ME PAUSE.

UH, I ALSO REALLY BELIEVE IN THIS, THE, THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE.

WE'VE GOT A CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

SHE, UH, OUR CITY MANAGER IS THE CEO, AND WE ARE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

AND SO I THINK THE IDEA OF HAVING YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THIS OFFICE UNDER ONE LEADER HELPS SOLIDIFY THE COMMUNICATION.

I THINK IT'S LIKE A CHECK AND A BALANCE VERSUS, UM, THINK MAKING IT POLITICAL.

AND SO I THINK IT'S A STRONG WAY TO RUN THIS.

UH, ALSO GIVEN WHERE WE ARE, WE'VE HAD TURNOVER.

UM, AND SO I THINK IT NEEDS THE STRUCTURE THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT UNDER A CITY MANAGER.

ALSO, WHEN I THINK ABOUT TRAINING BOARDS, COUNCIL APPOINTED VOLUNTEER BOARDS, AND HAVING THAT FALL UNDER US, WE DON'T NEED THAT SORT OF THING TO FALL UNDER US.

AND SO, UM, I, I DON'T SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT FOR ALL OF THE REASONS I JUST GAVE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR, AGAINST THE AMENDMENT FROM THE DEPUTY MAYOR PORT? I SEE.

UM, CHAIRMAN GRACIE, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES THIS TIME.

AND, AND I APOLOGIZE, COLLEAGUES.

I STARTED OUT WITH THE, WITH THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF IT, UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT IS MY NEIGHBOR, UH, FROM THERE.

BUT THE, THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF THIS IS, IS BY CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE POLICE OVERSIGHT TO REPORT OUT TO US.

I KNOW PERCEPTION IS PERCEPTION, BUT I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY FURTHER ENHANCE THE, THE POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP.

UH, UH, CHIEF TALKS ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

UM, THERE'S SOME BUMPS AND BRUISES OUT THERE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, DALLAS REALLY DOES SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

SO I WANNA BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY AN ATTACK ON POLICE OFFICERS OR ANY OF THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE MORE, UH, RELATIONSHIPS.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WITH SO MUCH LACK OF TRUST IN GOVERNMENT, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOW, UH, THAT WE'RE LISTENING AND WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION.

THIS IS NOT JUST THE CITIZENS THAT ARE TALK MAKING THESE REQUESTS.

THESE ARE THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE ALSO MAKING THIS REQUEST, UH, SO THAT WE COULD, UM, JUST ENSURE A, A, A HIGHER LEVEL OF OPERATION, HIGHER LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, FROM THERE.

AND AGAIN, ULTIMATELY IMPROVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS FURTHER, IMPROVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS.

THEY'RE NOT BAD, BUT I THINK THIS GIVES THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST HAVE SOME RELIEF AND FEEL LIKE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, TO BE HEARD.

NOT THAT THERE ISN'T NOW, BUT THERE'S A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD BY US, UH, IF ITEMS COME.

SO, UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

WE NOW YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES, CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD.

I'M GETTING AN UNDERSTANDING HERE.

IF THIS IS QUICKLY AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE BOARD, UH, DIRECTOR THAT'S TO BE APPOINTED OR HIRED WILL STILL REPORT, WILL REPORT TO YOU CITY MANAGER, BERT.

IS THAT WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW? UNDER THE CURRENT STRUCTURE? UNDER THE CURRENT STRUCTURE, THE DIRECTOR REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER.

YES, MA'AM.

AND SO I, IN, IN LISTENING TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS, I DO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT, THAT THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

UH, I, I, I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH HOLDING THE CITY CA CITY MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE, UH, PERFORMANCE, UH, AND, UH, OF THE, OF THE O OVERSIGHT, UH, BOARD.

I REALLY DO.

I, NOW I'M HEARING THESE COMMENTS ABOUT IT.

EVERYTHING WE DO PROBABLY IS GONNA BE POLITICAL.

SOME, SOME, SOME MORE POLITICAL THAN THAN OTHERS IN TERMS OF THE ENERGY THAT WE GIVE.

BUT I, MY MY CONCERN IS THAT IF WE, IF WE PUT IT INTO, UM, A CHARTER, WHICH IS, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO? UH, IF I COULD ASK THIS QUESTION, UH, MAYOR TO, UH, DEPUTY MAYOR, IS THAT, IS THAT THE INTENT? DEPUTY MAYOR PRO? YOU CAN ANSWER IF YOU'D LIKE, IS THAT SHE'S ASKING ABOUT WHAT INTENT, WHAT YOUR INTENT OF YOUR, IS THAT THE PARTICULAR ITEM IS TO PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, CORRECT.

YES, MA'AM.

TIMEFRAME THAT WILL GIVE THE TRUE VALUE OF HOLDING, UH, HOLDING THEM, HOLDING, UH, THE PROCESS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

AND THE PROBLEM THAT, THE CHALLENGE, I THINK WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THAT YOU HAVE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THIS CONSTANT TURNOVER PROBABLY MORE OFTEN THAN YOU WILL A CITY MANAGER.

AND SO I FEEL BETTER BY PUTTING THE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE CITY MANAGER SO WE CAN HOLD THEM MORE ACCOUNTABLE.

BECAUSE WHETHER WE DO THE, THE CONVERSATION AROUND, UH, IF WE ARE HERE EVERY TWO YEARS, EVERY THREE YEARS, YOU, I, I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THAT

[05:15:01]

NOW, WE ALL DO PUT BOARD MEMBERS ON THE BOARD, TRUE ENOUGH.

AND I, IT IS GREAT TO HAVE THAT FEEDBACK, BUT I JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CONFIDENCE IN WHERE WE ARE NOW IN HOLDING, UH, THE BOARD, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF GIVING THEM THE TRAINING AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH CITY MANAGER BEING THE GO-TO PERSON AND US HOLDING THE CITY MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE.

BECAUSE WHEN I KEEP HEARING, IF I KEEP HEARING ACCUSATIONS OR RECEIVING INFORMATION OF DISCONNECT, THEN MY JOB IS TO GO TO THAT CITY MANAGER.

THAT IS THE WAY I SEE IT.

AND SO I, I KIND OF FEEL LIKE IT'S MORE STABILITY IN THE CITY MANAGER AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND THEN WE ALSO CAN ASK CITY MANAGER, IF I COULD ASK YOU, WOULD, WE WOULD, AS A COUNCIL, WE COULD VERY MUCH ASK YOU TO GIVE US YOUR, YOUR 30, 60, 90 DAY PLAN FOR OVERSIGHT.

COULD WE NOT DO THAT? YES.

AND YOU COULD REPORT TO US AND WE COULD AGREE OR DISAGREE IF THAT'S THE DESIRE OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND WE COULD OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT WE HAVE AT THAT TIME AS WELL.

JUST AS WE DO ON OTHER ITEMS WHEN WE ASK YOU TO GIVE US YOUR, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'VE GIVEN US YOUR 100 DAY PLAN.

FOLKS HAVE ASKED YOU FOR THAT, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.

ON SOME ITEMS. SO I, I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH PUTTING IT BACK IN THE HANDS OF THE CITY MANAGER OF WHOM WE HIRED, UH, ACCORDING TO THE CHARTER AS IT STANDS NOW, MANAGER'S DAY TO DAY.

AND I BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE BETTER FIT UNDER THE CITY MANAGER.

SO FOR THAT, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT PUTTING ON THE, ON THE CHARTER BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE BEAST AND US GOING IN AND OUT AND IN AND OUT AND OUR, AND OUR VISION AND OUR FOCUS, WE MAY NOT BE KEEPING OUR EYES ON THE PRIZE.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE, WE CAN DO WITH THE CITY MANAGER, IS IT REQUIRE THEM TO KEEP THE EYES ON THE PRIZE WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, THESE CONCERNS THAT THIS BOARD HAS.

SO I'M GONNA LEAVE IT LIKE THAT AND PUT MY FAITH IN THE SYSTEM UNDER AS THE CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PROTI, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.

IS A BASIS FOR US NEEDING MORE OVERSIGHT.

I JUST, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT AND PERSPECTIVE.

AND ONE OF THE, UM, EXAMPLES I COULD GIVE TO YOU, MS. WILLIS, SPECIFICALLY WITH YOUR EXAMPLE IS WE DO HAVE A VOLUNTEER BOARD THAT IS ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, THE OVERSIGHT COMPLETELY OF A DIRECTOR OF THE SECOND LARGEST, UH, BUDGET IN OUR, IN OUR CITY.

UM, IF WE FEEL THAT THERE, UH, SHOULD BE THE AUTONOMY THAT IS AFFORDED TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WITH THE DIRECTOR ANSWERING TO A VOLUNTEER BOARD, UM, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULDN'T LOOK AT A DEPARTMENT THAT TAKES OVER THE LION'S SHARE OF OUR BUDGET THAT IS PROVIDING A LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE POLI OF THE, UH, PARKS BOARD.

BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PARKS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HOLD SO SACRED.

AND EVERY ONE OF US IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO IMPROVE.

SO I THINK THAT A PERSPECTIVE COULD BE ADDED TO WHERE YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AGAIN, WE COULD TAKE PATH OF LEASE RESISTANCE, AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT I VIEW THIS TO BE.

IF WE WERE TO JUST SAY THAT WE WANT TO PUT IT UNDER THE CITY MANAGER, OR WE CAN PUT IN A LITTLE BIT EXTRA WORK AND SHOW HOW MUCH OF A PRIORITY TRUE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT IS, THAT TO ME WOULD BE GIVEN IF WE HAD MECHANISMS IN PLACE FOR OVERSIGHT OF A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS MORE THAN 60% OF OUR BUDGET.

WE CLEARLY THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR THE SECOND LARGEST BUDGET, UH, DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET IN OUR, WITHIN OUR CITY'S BUDGET.

AND THAT'S RELINQUISHING OUR OWN AUTONOMY WITH THE OVERSIGHT OF THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT SAYING THAT WE, IF, IF WE'RE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION, WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT CONVERSATION AND SAY THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY MANAGER HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THERE'S A DEGREE OF SEPARATION WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE VOTERS WHO VOTED US IN.

AND SO IF WE WANT TO START COMPARING THE TWO, IT'S, IT, IT, I THINK THAT THAT'S A BETTER COMPARISON THAN THE DIRECT REPORTS.

AND, AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR BEING A DIRECT REPORT TO US OR EVEN BEING A DIRECT REPORT TO THE CITY MANAGER.

AND SO KNOWING THAT THOSE WERE DISCUSSIONS, I THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD DISCUSSION TO HAVE.

AND I THINK THAT THERE

[05:20:01]

I, I, IN, IN THAT CASE, WOULD EVEN LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN OVER THERE.

UM, THE REALITY IS, IS THE VOTERS PUT US HERE TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND I THINK THAT THIS WOULD ACCOMPLISH THAT.

AND THANK YOU MADAM SECRETARY, DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE, YOU, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES FOR REAL.

MUST BE TIME TO HAVE A BREAK AT 6 0 1.

IT IS.

YOU'RE PAST OUR DINNER TIME.

UM, QUESTION TO, TO STAFF.

WHEN WAS THE COMMUNAL OVERSIGHT FORUM? WHEN DO ANYBODY KNOW? 2019 AND, AND IT WAS FORMED.

AND WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE? THE POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD WAS FORMED IN ITS CURRENT STRUCTURE IN 2019 IN RESPONSE TO, I THINK, FEEDBACK THAT THEY WERE RECEIVING FROM THE COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE TIME ABOUT HOW, UM, COMPLAINTS WERE PROCESSED AND THE INPUT FOR PUBLIC, UM, OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

IF I COULD JUST ALSO ADD TO THAT.

ON THEIR COMMUNITY, ON SITE BOARD SAY, HEY, YOU ARE THE COUNCIL.

CARE.

UH, THANK YOU.

UH, MS. ROGERS, UM, THERE'S ALSO A, UM, I WOULD SAY WE ARE BEHIND DALLAS AS IT RELATES TO WHERE WE ARE IN OVERSIGHT.

THIS IS A, UM, AN OFFICE OR THE TYPE OF OFFICE STRUCTURED SOME PLACES DIFFERENTLY THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR YEARS.

AND SO WE'RE A LITTLE LATE TO THE PARTY.

AND, UM, IT'S REALLY ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND I THINK YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF THOSE COMMENTS AROUND THE HORSESHOE, UM, ALREADY ABOUT HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT THE, UM, THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS A, UM, A, A, UM, A WAY AND A PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO RAISE ISSUES OF CONCERNS WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, WHO'S, UM, WATCHING AND PAYING ATTENTION TO ISSUES THAT RESOLVE AROUND POLICING OVERALL.

AND SO, UM, THIS OFFICE WAS CREATED, UH, THROUGH AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2019.

UM, AND I WILL SAY SINCE THAT TIME, UM, TRYING TO BRING THE OFFICE AND BRING THE BOARD UP TOGETHER HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

AND I THINK YOU'VE HEARD THOSE COMMENTS TODAY FROM THE SPEAKERS, UH, THAT CAME FORWARD ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THE ORIGINAL INTENT WERE.

UH, SOME OF THE ORIGINAL INTENT FOR THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I THINK IT WENT THROUGH SEVERAL ROUNDS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

UM, I THINK THE FORMER POLICE CHIEF PARTICIPATED IN A LOT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ALONG WITH, UH, THE COMMUNITY.

UM, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID THERE ARE TWO THINGS.

WHEN IT WAS FORMED IN TWO, 2019, I WAS HERE AND IT HAD EVOLVED INTO DIFFERENT ISSUES, BUT IT'S STILL THE BASIC, THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNCIL.

AND THOSE ARE THE TWO WORDS THAT YOU HEAR THAT SAID.

AND ALSO ROGERS THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNCIL, AND TO MAKE SURE WE HAD DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESIDENT AND THE CITIZEN.

WE ARE THE COUNCIL.

WE HAD DIRECT RELATIONSHIP TO THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, I, I, YOU CAN SAY ADMINISTRATION, YOU CAN SAY THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S MORE COMMUNITY IN THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THAT'S WHO WE'VE TALKED TO.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHO YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH.

THE, THE POLICE AND NO, NOT AGAINST, AGAINST POLICE, BUT THEY COME TO THE COUNCIL, THEY COME TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED TO BE MORE INVOLVED THAT I THINK THAT IN 2019 THEY STARTED, WE GET TO HAVE SOME BUMPING ROADS.

IT'S KIND OF REVOLVED GOING BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH.

BUT I, I BELIEVE THAT HERE IS SITTING HERE AS A COUNCIL THAT I BELIEVE IT SHOULD REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

I I THINK THAT YOU GOT COMMITTEES HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE SMART ENOUGH, UH, UH, IS IS A CITY MANAGER WANT TO PUT UP THE ADMINISTRATION TO PUT UP THE, THE, THE, THE TRAINING, WHATEVER.

BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE TRUST IN OUR COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT BOARD.

WE GOTTA HAVE TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WHO GO TO THAT BOARD.

AND THOSE PEOPLE STILL ON THE BOARD HAVE COME TO US.

THEY DO NOT COME TO STAFF.

THEY COME TO THE COUNCIL AND SAY, HERE IS AN ISSUE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I HAD MANY PEOPLE ON THE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT BOARD HAD CAME TO ME AND SAID, HEY, I DON'T WANNA DEAL WITH ADMINISTRATION.

THEY NOT LISTENING TO ME.

AND THAT'S NOT BAD, BAD MOUTH, THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT ONLY SITTING, HEARING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT THOSE ON THE BOARD,

[05:25:01]

WHY CAN'T WE TALK TO YOU? WHY CAN'T WE LET YOU KNOW HOW THE COMMUNITY FEEL? WHY WE GOTTA GO THROUGH ADMINISTRATION? BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ADMINISTRATIVE.

BECAUSE THEY ARE POINTEE, THEY NOT EMPLOYEES.

THEY ARE NOT WORKING FOR THE CITY.

THEY ARE VOLUNTEERS.

AND, AND, AND WOULD MEAN THAT I I JUST SAYING SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.

SOMETIMES CHANGE IS GOOD, SOMETIMES CHANGE IS BAD.

BUT I'M JUST LISTENING TO SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WHEN WE STARTED IN 2019, FAST FORWARD TODAY, THAT THE ONE WHO HAS SPOKEN TO ME AND THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS SPOKEN TO ME, THEY SAID THEY NEED SOME CHANGE.

AND I'M JUST SPEAKING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND SOME OF THOSE BOARD MEMBERS SAID, HEY, WE NEED SOME CHANGE.

SO, BELIEVE ME OR NOT, BUT, UH, THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.

AND, AND I GOTTA TAKE THAT DATA THAT WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY, WHAT I WANT TO DO TODAY IS 'CAUSE THE COMMUNITY TALK TO ME AND THE OVERSIGHT BOARD SAY, IT IS THE COMMUNITY.

HERE'S THE COUNCIL WHO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY, NOT THE ADMINISTRATION.

WE ARE THE COUNCIL, REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THE OVERSIGHT BOARD AND SAY, HEY, WE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO THE COUNCIL OR TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY.

WITH THAT, THANK YOU MAYOR, CHAIRMAN OF VICE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. BARON.

UM, I ALSO WAS HERE WHEN WE PASSED THIS, UM, ORDINANCE FOR US TO GET THE POLICE OVERSIGHT REVIEW BOARD.

WE, WE ALREADY HAD A REVIEW BOARD, BUT IT HAD NO TEETH WHATSOEVER.

AND, UM, I'M NOT SURE HOW WE ENDED UP WHERE WE ENDED UP, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPROMISE AND A LOT OF WORKING AND A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WERE VERY ADAMANT FOR THIS.

AND THEN THERE WAS FOLKS THAT WERE ABSOLUTELY NOT ADAMANT FOR THIS, NOT IN FAVOR.

UM, AND THE EXPERIMENT HAS BEEN, UM, NOT THE BEST.

UM, I WOULD SAY THAT IT DEFINITELY NEEDS SOME, WE, WE NEED TO RE-LOOK AT IT AND SEE HOW DO WE GET THE RIGHT THINGS IN THERE THAT I THINK THE RESIDENTS WE'RE EXPECTING AS WELL AS THE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER.

UM, THE, THE HARDEST PART ON THIS ONE IS 'CAUSE I WANT TO SUPPORT IT, BUT THE REASON THAT I CAN'T IS BECAUSE OUR JOB IS NOT ADMINISTRATIVE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND AS THE MAYOR, WE DON'T, WE DON'T DO DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.

WE, AND WE WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER.

WE WORK WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, OUR CITY AUDITOR, AND OUR CITY SECRETARY, AND THEY HANDLE THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY.

UM, THESE ARE, THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS. IS, UM, LIKE THAT I HAVE THE QUESTIONS I GUESS I HAVE IS IF, IF IT CAME OVER TO US, WHO MANAGES THEM? DOES THE CITY MANAGER STILL MANAGE THE, THE DIRECTORY? NO, IT'S US.

WHERE DO THEY OFFICE? UM, WHO, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THAT PERSON? UM, IF THEY NEED TO BE DISCIPLINED OR THEY NEED TO BE, IT'S NOT JUST THE THING OF WHERE YOU HIRE AND FIRE THIS PERSON, IT'S, YOU HAVE TO ALSO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THEM AND THEIR TEAM.

AND I GUESS THAT'S WHERE I'M GETTING AT IS LIKE, I DON'T WANNA SAY NO TO THIS.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THIS BELONGS IN THE CHARTER.

I THINK WE PASSED IT WITH AN ORDINANCE IN 2019, IS DO WE NEED TO UPDATE THE ORDINANCE AND REALLY LOOK AT IT AND, YOU KNOW, LET'S HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR, OUR FOLKS THAT ARE APPOINTED AS WELL AS RESIDENTS AND, YOU KNOW, FORMER WORKING GROUP.

'CAUSE I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT, FIVE, SIX YEARS NOW.

AND, UM, AND IF YOU'VE WATCHED ME AT COUNCIL AND YOU KNOW ME, IT'S LIKE I LOVE TO FORM A WORKING GROUP AND I LOVE ON ORDINANCES TO HAVE A REVIEW PERIOD, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S TWO YEARS, FOUR YEARS, WHATEVER IT IS, FIVE YEARS.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REVIEW THIS AND GET REAL INFORMATION.

UM, AND THEN, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE GOOD DECISIONS, GOOD POLICY.

WE DID MAKE A GOOD POLICY IN 2019.

IT WAS COMPROMISE.

BUT I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S TIME TO RE-LOOK AT IT BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT WORKING ON ONE SIDE.

I'M NOT, I DON'T, I CAN'T SAY IT A LOT.

I JUST KNOW THAT IT'S NOT WORKING.

WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR RESIDENTS AND THAT'S OUR JOB IS TO FIX POLICY.

UM, AND, BUT OUR JOB ISN'T DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.

BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND LIKE, HOW DO YOU KEEP CONFLICT FROM HAPPENING? 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU HAVE A CITY MANAGER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES, ONE THAT DOES OVERSIGHT AND ONE THAT POLICES THE CITY.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A CITY ATTORNEY WHO BY LAW HAS TO DEFEND THE POLICE IN WHAT, IN ALMOST ANY SITUATION WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WORKING WITH THIS OVERSIGHT BOARD.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CONFLICT HERE, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT'S DONE THIS.

AM I RIGHT? I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE SOME TYPE OF AN OVERSIGHT REVIEW BOARD ARE ARE ANY JUST ABSOLUTELY INDEPENDENT FROM US, FROM THE CITY OR, YOU KNOW, FROM THE COUNCIL OR, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY DO REVIEW BOARDS.

I MEAN, I'M NOT ASKING Y'ALL TO ANSWER THIS NOW 'CAUSE THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING I EXPECT YOU TO BE EXPERTS ON

[05:30:01]

ALREADY, BUT THESE ARE JUST QUESTIONS I HAVE.

UM, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET IT, YOU KNOW, OR I GUESS, UM, CITY MANAGER, WHAT COULD WE DO TO WORK ON THIS? UM, WHAT WOULD BE, WHAT NECESSARY FOR US TO MAKE CHANGES THAT YOU I DON'T, I'M JUST TRYING TO, I I, I DON'T WANNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.

I JUST, I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE, ASK, UM, , WHAT, WHAT DO WE DO? BECAUSE THERE, THERE, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY ISSUES.

WHAT DO, WELL, I MEAN, I, YOU KNOW, I GOTTA RELY ON YOU ON THIS RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE IT'S LIKE YOU'RE THE CON YOU'RE AS CLOSE TO THE CONTENT EXPRESS I CAN GET.

UM, BUT IT'S LIKE WE'RE ASKING FOR A CHARTER REVIEW AMENDMENT, UM, AND IF THE VOTER PASS IT, WE CAN'T GO BACK IF IT DOESN'T WORK.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA THEN UNTER IT.

SO, SO THAT'S NOT A GOOD WORD, ISN'T IT? IF I CAN UNDERSTAND.

SO CAN YOU JUST, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? SO, SO THE QUESTION, SO YEAH, I WAS KIND OF GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO, UM, WHAT I WOULD SAY, I THINK WE'RE ALL GETTING A LITTLE TIRED.

SO, AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, UM, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A GROUP OF RESIDENTS, AND SOME OF THEM ARE, ARE COMMISSIONERS, RIGHT? THEY'RE, THEY'RE ON THE OVERSIGHT REVIEW BOARD BOARD MEMBERS.

AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT ARE, HAVE COME UP.

WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN IN AND OUT OF A, A PERMANENT DIRECTOR.

UM, WE'RE KIND OF DON'T REALLY GET INVOLVED IN THAT AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, RIGHT? IT'S NOT OUR PLACE.

UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S LIKE THEY NEED CHANGES.

WHAT, WHAT DO WE DO IS, IS HOW DO WE REVIEW THIS AND WHAT, WHERE DO WE GO THROUGH TO REVIEW IT IF WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES? AND THERE'LL HAVE TO BE IT FOR THIS ROUND, BUT YOU HAVE TO, OH, I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T, I WASN'T, I I WAS JUST RAMBLING.

I'M SORRY, MR. MAYOR, YOU HAVE TWO SECONDS.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT STARTS WITH LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS WHAT I SHARED A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN SOME OF THE PAIN POINTS.

UM, AND HOW WE CAN BEGIN TO STAND UP, UM, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NOT ONLY THE DIRECTOR, BUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOARD AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THOSE PAIN POINTS ARE.

I, I KNOW OF SOME OF THEM, BUT I THINK THIS IS A RESET OPPORTUNITY.

UM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'M DEFINITELY NOT TELLING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHAT TO DO IN THIS REGARD AND WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT WHICHEVER DECISION YOU ALL MAKE.

UM, BUT I THINK IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE, AND I WILL SAY THIS, I ACKNOWLEDGE PUBLICLY THAT THIS, UM, HAS TO, UM, BE A, UH, A COLLABORATIVE, A COLLABORATION WHERE THE BOARD, UM, WHO HAS EXPRESSED SOME FRUSTRATION AROUND A LOT OF THINGS THAT I'M AWARE OF.

UM, BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO RESTART AND REALLY BEGAN TO LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISSED? I'M NOT SAYING THAT ANYBODY'S DONE ANYTHING WRONG, BUT I THINK THAT IS A PROCESS THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH.

UM, AND SO WHATEVER DECISION THE COUNCIL MAKES TODAY, THAT PROCESS STILL NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

AND I THINK THAT'S HOW YOU, UH, WOULD BEGIN TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS THAT HAVE LINGERED.

UM, I WILL TELL YOU, I'M 65 DAYS IN MM-HMM.

ABOUT.

AND I KNOW THAT, UM, SPENDING THE TIME THAT I HAVE SPENT WITH THE BOARD, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO, TO GET IT RIGHT.

UM, I THINK THEY DESERVE THAT.

I THINK THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO FEEL THAT THIS OVERSIGHT BOARD IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ANY OTHER COMMISSION THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S PARAMOUNT.

AND SO WHATEVER DECISION IS MADE, THOSE THINGS STILL NEED TO BE DONE.

AND WE DEFINITELY NEED TO STILL, IN MY OPINION, MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, APPOINTING A DIRECTOR, A PERMANENT DIRECTOR FOR THAT OFFICE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MANN.

THANK YOU, MADAM CITY, UM, MANAGER.

UM, THAT GAVE ME A LOT OF CLARITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT ALL OF US ARE LOOKING FOR, UM, IS, IS JUST THAT THERE WILL BE SOME TYPE OF, UM, SYSTEM THAT KIND OF GOES BACK TO SOME OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE.

CHAIRMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR, LET'S SEE, LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR TIME.

HOW, HOW ABOUT JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES, FIVE MINUTES, .

AND JUST TO MAKE THIS VERY QUICK, UH, MY THOUGHTS WERE VERY MUCH ALONG, UH, CHAIR NOVAS.

I, I STARTED TRYING TO THINK ABOUT THE, WHAT ACTIONS WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

I MEAN, I KNOW WE WOULD GO TO THE BOARD POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD FIRST.

LET'S SAY THERE'S AN OFFICER WHERE THERE WERE SOME ACTIONS THAT WERE EGREGIOUS AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

UM, THEN DOES THAT THEN COME TO US AND WE MAKE SOME TYPE OF A DECISION? OR ARE THOSE THINGS JUST HAPPENING OVER HERE AND WE ARE JUST SORT OF, UM, SUPERVISORY, WE GET REPORTS MADE TO US SO WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE SEEING JUST NOT EXACTLY A MATCH TO WHAT THIS BODY TYPICALLY DOES WITH MAYBE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

AND, AND I, I THINK, UM, MS. HOLBERT, YOU'VE ADDRESSED THAT MULTIPLE TIMES, I THINK IN THE LAST SEVERAL MINUTES, THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO, TO DIG INTO THAT AND TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THOSE ACTIONS THAT, UM, ARE EGREGIOUS THAT, THAT DO NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, WILL BE ADDRESSED.

[05:35:01]

IT'S INDEPENDENT, IT'S RELIABLE.

UM, WE KNOW WE, WE TRUST THAT SYSTEM AND I THINK IT'S THE TRUST FACTOR THAT SEEMS MAYBE TO BE A LITTLE OUT OF BALANCE AT THE MOMENT.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

I'M GONNA GO BACK TO, SINCE THIS WILL BE THREE ROUNDS FOR YOU.

UM, CHAIRMAN GRACE, I'M GONNA GO TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THREE MINUTES.

UM, IN A S IN OCTOBER, WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT IN 2019 WHEN WE STARTED THAT AND, AND WE DONE HAVE SOME, SOME HEAT CUTS IN, IN THIS, UM, OVERSIGHT BOARD, HAVE YOU REVIEWED THIS OVERSIGHT BOARD IN, IN AND ADMINISTRATION? WE GONNA HIRE ANOTHER DIRECTOR.

HAVE YOU PERSONALLY SAID, HEY, WHAT IS THE ISSUE? UH, HOW CAN I RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? HOW DO, DO, DO WE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT? UH, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS GOING AROUND, AND SO IT'S JUST NOT COMING EARLY.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S A CHARTER TO GET SOMETHING DONE IF IT'S A CHARTER TO GET SOMETHING DONE, BUT WE CAN'T GO BACK.

ONCE YOU DO SOME OF THE CHARTER, IT GONNA BE VERY DIFFICULT TO, TO GET SOME, UH, OVERTURNED.

SO WHAT THOUGHTS HAVE YOU HAD THAT, THAT HAVE YOU HEARD, YOU KNOW, FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM THE BOARD, OR HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE BOARD OF THE COMMISSION THERE, UH, WITH ADMINISTRATION SAY, HEY, THERE'S SOME CHANGE THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

BECAUSE I DO HEAR THAT THERE IS SOME CHANGE THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

UH, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION, MAYOR POT, TIM.

AND SO WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT I GIVE CREDIT TO THE BOARD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ALSO BEGAN TO WORK ON THINGS THAT THEY BELIEVE NEED TO BE CHANGED IN THE ORDINANCE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DONE.

'CAUSE I THINK THAT THIS IS BACK TO, UH, IT'S NOT JUST ONE THING.

IT'S MUL MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

UH, WHAT WE HAVE WORKED ON TOGETHER FOR THE LAST, UM, FEW WEEKS OR SO THAT I HAVE BEEN IN THIS CURRENT ROLE, HAS REALLY BEEN AROUND LET'S GET A PROCESS.

UH, LET'S BE TRANSPARENT.

UH, LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON A, UM, A JOB DESCRIPTION AND LET'S REALLY GET THE RIGHT PERSON IN THE DIRECTOR ROLE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE WORKED ON TOGETHER OVER THE LAST, UM, FEW WEEKS.

UM, UM, I, I CAME INTO THIS PROCESS DURING THE LANE, UH, SITUATION.

AND SO WE HAD SOME BACK AND FORTH CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT.

SO AS FAR AS HAVE WE ALREADY LISTED OUT EVERY SINGLE THING THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, THAT WOULD BE A PART OF WHAT I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO ALSO HAVE THAT NEW DIRECTOR BE ABLE TO HELP THE BOARD DO.

'CAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, FOR SOMEONE WHO, UM, HOPEFULLY WILL BE BRINGING THAT EXPERTISE INTO THE ORGANIZATION.

UM, AND WHO HAS WORKED IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHERE THEY'VE DONE THIS WORK TO COME IN WITH SOME FRESH IDEAS AND LOOK AT SOME APPROACHES THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE.

SO I THINK, AGAIN, THAT'S THAT BACK TO THE COLLABORATION THAT I MENTIONED.

BUT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON, UM, WORKING TOGETHER TO GET A RECRUITMENT FIRM.

THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET INDIVIDUALLY WITH THE RECRUITER, UH, TO GIVE THEIR INPUT ON THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP NEEDED FOR THE OFFICE.

I WANTED THEM TO BE ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN, AND I STATED EARLIER THAT LAST WEEK, UM, THEY WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE BASED ON THE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE BOARD THAT THEY SELECTED, UH, TO ACTUALLY INTERVIEW ALL OF THE CANDIDATES FOR, UH, THE POSITION.

AND THEN WE HAD A CONVERSATION, UM, THIS WEEK, I BELIEVE ON MONDAY.

UM, I'M LOSING TRACK OF MY DAYS HERE ON MONDAY, UH, FOR THEM TO GIVE ME INPUT ON WHO THEIR TOP TWO CANDIDATES WERE.

SO WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER, BUT AGAIN, I DON'T WANT, AGAIN, I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE THAT I'M TELLING THE COUNCIL WHAT TO DO.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT, UM, I BELIEVE THAT HAVING THAT POSITION VACANT FOR LONG AS IT HAS BEEN VACANT, HAS ALSO LED TO A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT HAD NECESSARILY THE PERSON THAT BROUGHT THAT EXPERTISE TO THE TABLE, WE FILLED A WHOLE.

AND SO, UM, I WANT TO THANK THE PERSON WHO'S BEEN DOING THE JOB FOR IN AN INTERIM BASIS, BUT I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING LEADERSHIP THAT I BELIEVE CAN BEGIN TO REALLY, REALLY WORK WITH THIS BOARD AND BE ABLE TO HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS.

SO THAT'S MY ANSWER.

AND, UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS BACK TO THE WILL OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

IMPLEMENT THAT IN YOUR 25 DAYS PLAN TO, TO MAKE SURE, SINCE YOU CATCH YOU ON THE RECORD? SO CAN WE ADD THAT TO YOUR, UH, AGENDA , IF, IF THAT IS THE WILL OF THIS CITY COUNCIL? WE DEFINITELY WILL BE APPOINTING, UM, UH, THE DIRECTOR, UH, WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THAT'S A GOOD ANSWER.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A, AN ANSWER THAT, THAT YOU SEND, THERE'S SOME HOLES, UH, IN THE PROCESS, UH, DURING THAT QUESTION THAT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE A 90 DAY PLAN, UH, IN THAT 90 DAY PLAN.

SO YOU GOT 25 DAYS LEFT IN YOUR 90 DAY PLAN.

CAN YOU

[05:40:01]

AND, UH, THE BOARD IS AWARE OF THAT.

I MADE THAT, UM, UM, UH, KNOWN TO THEM ON, ON MONDAY THAT MY GOAL WOULD BE TO HAVE THAT PERSON APPOINTED, UH, AND ANNOUNCED BY, UH, NEXT FRIDAY.

SO WE'RE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

WELL, WITH THAT, UM, INNER CITY MANITOBA, THAT, YOU KNOW, I I WILL BE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW, YOU JUST, YOU HEAR IT RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE THE INNER CITY MANAGER.

YOU, YOU DO HAVE A 90 DAY PLAN.

YOU GOT 25 MORE DAYS TO DO IT.

BUT I FEEL RIGHT NOW, IF WE DO A CHARTER REVIEW, IT GONNA TAKE SOMETHING AND THE VOTER PASSED.

IT GONNA TAKE A LONG TIME TO CHANGE SOMETHING, UM, UH, IN 2019 THAT YOU ARE SAYING THAT THERE IS SOME DIFFERENT ISSUES GOING ON HERE.

AND, AND I BELIEVE THAT AS ADMINISTRATION ACTION, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T ADMINISTRATE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, BUT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IF, UH, WE AS THE COUNCIL, WE AS A COMMISSION AND, AND, AND, AND OUR PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, UM, WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COMMUNITY, I'M SPEAKING OF THE COMMUNITY, TO HAVE TRUST IN THE CITY MANAGER AND THE COMMUNITY, THAT YOU WILL BE TRUTHFUL AND HONEST WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THAT YOU GONNA DO ALL YOUR BEST TO LISTEN TO THOSE BOARDS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THIS OVERSIGHT.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I FEEL REAL HARD AGAINST IT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M SAYING WHAT I'M SAYING HERE TODAY IS THAT WE NEED TO DO A CHANGE THERE.

WE NEED FOR YOU TO PUT YOUR ATTENTION THERE BECAUSE THERE'S A ISSUE THERE.

WE NEED YOUR ATTENTION THERE.

AND, AND IF YOU CAN PROMISE US YOUR ATTENTION'S GONNA BE THERE, THEN I WOULD SUPPORT HER.

BUT YOUR ATTENTION HAD TO BE THERE.

SHE'S NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

I KNEW.

I'M JUST KIDDING.

THAT'S, I, NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.

SHE HEARD EVERY WORD, CHAIRMAN, GRACE, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR ONE MINUTE.

UM, JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

I THINK WHEN THIS WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED, THE INTENT WAS FOR IT TO ACTUALLY REPORT TO THE COUNCIL.

IS THAT A TRUE STATEMENT? YES.

IS THAT CORRECT? THE GALLERY SAYS YES, BUT, UM, OH, I'M SORRY.

WE, BUT WE NEED STAFF TO ACTUALLY ANSWER.

WE HEARD YOU, WE, WE HEARD YOU GUYS.

SO, AND I, I'LL JUST CONTINUE.

I, I, THAT IS A RHETORICAL QUESTION.

I BELIEVE IT IS TO BE TRUE.

THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT THE, THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS FOR THIS, UH, THIS, UH, POSITION TO ACTUALLY REPORT TO COUNCIL.

AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE WE KIND OF DRIFTED.

AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE WHERE I WANT TO JUST BRING THAT REALLY GOOD TO OUR ATTENTION THAT WE KIND OF DRIFTED AWAY FROM THAT.

SO THIS IS NOT ANYTHING NEW.

THIS IS NOT ANYTHING I'M TRYING TO RECREATE.

IT'S JUST TRYING TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT WE SAID WE WERE GONNA DO.

BECAUSE DOING THAT IS WHAT WE CELEBRATED DOING.

THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE CELEBRATED.

SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, I WANTED TO DO THAT.

THE OTHER QUESTION IS, IF WE CAN'T GET THERE, IF YOU ALL CAN'T, CAN'T CAN'T GET TO THAT POINT.

CITY ATTORNEY, CAN THE, CAN THE OFFICE REPORT TO THE, UH, TWO QUESTIONS? CAN THEY REPORT TO THE IGS OFFICE? AND THEN TWO, UH, COULD THERE BE SOME FORM OF ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE? AND THAT'S MY TIME.

I MEAN, WE COULD EXPLORE THE IG, BUT I DON'T THINK IT FITS IN AN INVESTIGATIVE KIND OF ROLE.

VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF ROLES.

BUT SOME WE COULD ALSO EXPLORE DURING THE, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, SOME ACCOUNTABILITY, MAYBE SOME QUARTERLY REPORTING TO THE, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE OR WHATEVER COMMITTEE YOU WISHED.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE GONE FOR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEMP RELATED TO THE COMMITTEE POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD? YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE.

IMMEDIATELY START WORKING THE ORDINANCE TO GIVE THE, UM, OFFICE MORE TEETH.

I, UM, UH, THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT DISCUSSION.

I THINK AT THE VERY LEAST, IT'S, UM, SHED LIGHT ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A FLAWED, UM, OVERSIGHT DEPARTMENT, UH, AND THAT IS ENLARGED BY US NOT PRIORITIZING IT.

SO, UM, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS VOTE, I, UM, WANT THAT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A CHARGE TO OUR, UM, CITY MANAGER THAT, UM, UH, I, I'M NOT SAYING THAT I AM, THAT I KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING , BUT I FEEL LIKE I KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING.

AND WITH THAT SAID, UM, I THINK THAT YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN A CLEAR, UM, UH, DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL THAT IF IT STAYS UNDER YOU, THAT WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A 90 DAY, UM, STRATEGIC PLAN GOING FORWARD.

AND I WOULD ALSO, LIKE IF MR. WEST WOULD, UM, UH, RESPOND ON, IF HE'S WILLING TO PUT THIS ON GPFM SO THAT WE CAN

[05:45:01]

DOESN'T HAVE ANY TIME TO RESPOND.

HE'D HAVE TO CHIME, BUT HE CAN, HE CAN DIAL IN IF HE WANTS.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

YOU CAN SHAKE YOUR HEAD.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES, MR. WEST.

VERY HAPPY TO DO THAT.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR, AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM RELATED TO THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD? THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85 FOR THE PUBLIC.

SEEING NONE, MA'AM.

SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR, NO.

IF YOU OPPOSE.

NOPE.

MAYOR PRO, TEM ATKINS.

DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE BAA.

YEP.

UH, NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER MORENA.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY WITH FOUR VOTING IN FAVOR.

11.

OPPOSED? THIS AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR.

IT'S 6 27.

SO WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO RECESS UNTIL 7:00 PM AND I'LL SEE YOU ALL BACK HERE AT THE HORSESHOE.

7:00 PM SHARP PLEASE.

SO WE CAN PICK UP.

ALRIGHT, IT'S 7:04 PM AND WE'RE BACK IN REGULAR SESSION.

THANK Y'ALL MEMBERS FOR BEING SO PROMPT AND WE'LL PICK UP WITH, UH, CHAIRMAN MORENO.

YOU HAVE A, AN AMENDMENT? YES, MAYOR.

JUST FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, WE ARE STILL ON ITEM NUMBER 85 AND WE'RE LOOKING AT AMENDMENTS FROM MEMBERS NOW.

I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY DELETING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT REQUIRE CITY COUNCIL TO CONFIRM THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS TO REASSIGNMENTS OF AND REMOVAL FROM STANDING CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN A SECOND.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN MORENO? UH, YES, MAYOR? YEAH.

UH, WHEN THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS CAST THEIR VOTE FOR MAYOR, THEY DO SO UNDERSTANDING THE MAYOR'S CURRENT AND LONGSTANDING ABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

THIS CHANGE IS SIMPLY NOT NEEDED AND WE SHOULD KEEP THE MOTIONS AND POLITICS OUT OF IT.

AND, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS ROUND, MR. MAYOR, AND I'LL COME BACK ON THE SECOND ROUND.

COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE AGAIN, WHAT OUR THREE FORMER MAYORS SAID SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS ITEM, WHICH IS REQUIRING THE CITY CHARTER TO CONFIRM THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS TO REASSIGNMENT OF AND REMOVAL OF STANDING CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES.

UNDER THE CHARTER, THE MAYOR POSSESSES FEW POWERS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES AND SETTING OF STANDARD, I'M SORRY, STANDING COMMITTEES ARE AMONG THE MAYOR'S FEW LEVERS.

REMOVING THIS MAYORAL PREROGATIVE WOULD WEAKEN THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR EVEN FURTHER.

IT'S IMPERATIVE.

WE VIEW THE PRUDENCE OF THESE RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS, NOT THROUGH THE LENS OF CURRENT POLITICAL DYNAMICS ON THE COUNCIL, BUT THROUGH A LENS OF GOOD GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY, REGARDLESS OF WHO HOLDS OFFICE.

SO I THINK THEY SAID IT VERY ELOQUENTLY.

I THINK THEY HIT THE HEART OF THE MATTER THERE.

TREK HAD THIS TO SAY, COUNCIL COMMITTEES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN VETTING NEW POLICIES, CITY CONTRACTS, AND OTHER COUNCIL DECISIONS, REQUIRING THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONFIRM THE MAYORALS APPOINTMENTS.

THE COMMITTEES COULD INADVERTENTLY GRIND THE OPERATIONS OF CITY HALL TO A HALT OVER EVERY ELECTION.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO A VOTE OF THE STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL, AND THEY SHOULD REMAIN IN THE PURVIEW OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF CITY COUNCIL.

WHILE THE COMMISSION REVIEWED SEVERAL AMENDMENTS PERTAINING TO COMMITTEE STRUCTURE, THIS WAS NOT VETTED OR REVIEWED AND SHOULD NOT BE ADDED TO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT AT THIS TIME.

I THINK THAT SUMS IT UP AND, UM, I'M IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER RENO'S MOTION.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO DEPUTY MAYOR PROAM BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WORK THAT WE'VE ALREADY WORKED THROUGH.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND, UM, THE BODY THAT THIS WAS ONE THAT IS, IS, UM, HAS MADE IT WITH, UH, STRAW VOTES, UM, THE BODY.

WE, WE DID DISCUSS THIS EXTENSIVELY.

AND, UM, I, I FOR ONE, DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS FLOOR PROCESS NEEDS TO BE REHASHING

[05:50:01]

UM, I THINK THAT THAT SPEAKS TO INEFFICIENT USE OF OUR TIME AND ALSO INEFFICIENT GOVERNMENT GOVERNING.

UM, I RESPECT WHERE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE, UH, UM, MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THERE'S A CONSENSUS ON THIS BODY.

I, FOR ONE, AM NOT BRINGING UP, UH, THINGS THAT I MAY HAVE EVEN BEEN ON THE, UH, LOSING SIDE OF, UH, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE HAD.

UM, AND THIS BODY HAS SPOKEN.

UM, I HAVE RESPECT FOR THE WORK THAT WE'VE PUT IN TO THIS PLATE, TO THIS POINT.

UM, TO THAT NOTE, I, I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE SEEN WHERE THERE'S SOME, UH, SPACE FOR INEFFICIENCY SPECIFICALLY WITH WHAT THIS ADDRESSES.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT, UH, MORE STREAMLINED SO THERE'S SOME CONTINUITY SO THAT WE DON'T END UP WITH A TIME THAT THERE ARE NOT, UM, UH, UH, STANDING COMMITTEES.

AND IT GIVES US THAT CAPABILITY, UM, BY WHAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THROUGH STRAW VOTES.

SO, UM, I, I AM HOPING, I KNOW THIS IS JUST ONE, BUT I'M HOPING WE'RE NOT ABOUT TO GO DOWN A RABBIT HOLE TO WHERE WE'RE JUST GONNA REHASH ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT'S WHY WE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THESE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY CHAIRMAN MORENO TO ITEM 85? SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY.

MR. MAYOR, AM I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES.

IF YOU IN FAVOR? NO IF FEW OPPOSE.

MAYOR JOHNSON? YES.

MAYOR PRO.

TEM ATKINS.

MAYOR DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

BASIL DUA? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER WEST? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER ARNOLD, HOLD A MINUTE.

MORNING.

UH, A MINUTE.

I'M A MINUTE.

I'M SORRY FOR, FOR THE DELAY.

THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A YES.

STOP AND READ THIS.

COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMAN.

WOULD NINE VOTING IN FAVOR? SIX.

OPPOSED? THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD.

OKAY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE AMENDMENTS FROM MEMBERS ON ITEM CHAIRMAN.

MIDDLEN.

YOU RECOGNIZE FOUR MOTION.

OH, IT JUST DID SOMETHING VERY ODD.

IT, IT SWITCHED FROM.

IT HAS TWO TWOS NEXT TO, ALRIGHT.

THAT'S WEIRD.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

CHAIR ONE.

MENDELSSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION.

I SAW YOUR NAME WAS UP FIRST.

THE SYSTEM IS CLEARLY TIRED.

SO, UH, I MOVE TO STRIKE THE PROPOSITION THAT INCREASES THE SALARIES FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECONDARY DISCUSSION.

TIER ONE MENDELSON.

YEAH, I THINK THIS ONE IS PARTICULARLY STRAIGHTFORWARD, THAT DISCUSSION.

THAT THAT COUNTS AS DISCUSSION.

DO YOU HAVE ANY, ANYTHING ELSE ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST WHICH ONE? AMENDMENT BY MS. MENDELSSOHN.

SHE WANTS TO STRIKE CAPTAIN.

SHE WANTS TO, OKAY.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE SAY YES.

MAYOR PROTE ATKINS? NO.

MAYOR PROM ATKINS? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE THOUGHT.

WANTED COUNCIL MEMBER ARNOLD? UH, NO.

NO, NO.

SNOW COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ? NO.

NORVAL? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ? YEAH.

I GOT YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY.

OPPOSED? THIS AMENDMENT FAILS.

WITH FOUR VOTING IN FAVOR.

11.

MS. WILLIS, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? I DO.

I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY ADDING A PROPOSITION THAT ADDS A PROVISION THAT STATES THAT THE APPOINTMENT REMOVAL AND COMPENSATION LANGUAGE IN CHAPTER SIX, SECTION ONE OF THE CITY CHARTER CONTROLS OVER ANY OTHER CONFLICTING PROVISION OF THE CITY CHARTER.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AID DISCUSSION.

UM, MS. WILLIS, I'LL HOLD IT.

ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE SEEING NONE? MADAM SECRETARY.

MR. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES.

[05:55:01]

MAYOR PROTE ATKINS? NO.

EXCUSE ANSWER FOR CLARITY.

EXCUSE.

COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER VALEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY.

WITH THE 11 VOTING IN FAVOR FOR OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD.

MR. MAYOR, CHAIRMAN, GRACE, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE.

AMEND.

I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY ADDING A PROPOSITION AMENDING CHAPTER 24, MISCELLANEOUS, UH, PROVISIONS TO ADD A NEW SECTION THAT READS, IN ADDITION TO THE PUBLICATION OF NOTICES ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, AND IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE CITY, AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, THE CITY OF DALLAS WILL ENGAGE DIVERSE PRINT AND DIGITAL MEDIA OUTLETS WHEN PUBLISHING NOTICE OF CITY BUSINESSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY'S COMMUNICATION PLAN AND LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICY TO EQUITABLY REACH COMMUNITIES REFLECTING THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC MAKEUP OF THE CITY.

SECOND, MOVED.

DISCUSSION, CHAIRMAN GRACIE.

UM, GENTLEMAN, ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MR. GRACIE.

I WAS GONNA SECOND THAT AND, AND, AND HOPE THAT THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED IT, BUT FOR SOME LEGAL REASONS WE HAD TO COME BACK TODAY.

SO I WANNA FOLLOW THE LEGALITY OF THE SYSTEM, BUT WE ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EQUITY ACROSS PLATFORMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

IN ALL, IN ALL COMMUNICATIVE, COMMUNICATIVE, UM, ARENAS.

THANK YOU GENTLEMAN.

MENDELSON, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES I'M NOT GONNA BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.

AND IT'S REALLY BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WHERE IT BELONGS.

IT DOESN'T, IT SHOULD NOT BE A CHARTER AMENDMENT ABOUT WHERE WE POST NOTICES.

THIS IS REALLY AN OPERATIONAL DECISION AND CERTAINLY THIS BODY HAS, UM, AFFIRMED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, UM, AN EQUITY FOCUS.

AND IF EQUITY IS NEEDED FOR POSTINGS, I THINK THAT IT WOULDN'T BE HARD TO DO THAT WITH A SIMPLE VOTE, FRANKLY, UM, DIRECTING THE MANAGER TO DO SO.

BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE VOICED AN ISSUE OF NOT OVERBURDENING PEOPLE WITH MANY, MANY PROPOSITIONS, THAT WOULD BE ONE CASE FOR NOT HAVING IT.

BUT JUST AS A SENSE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, THIS DOESN'T BELONG AS A CHARTER ITEM.

IT'S CLEARLY EITHER AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION OR JUST DIRECTION TO A CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU JIM RIDLEY RE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MR. GRACIE.

CONTINUE TO STILL PROVIDE NEWSPAPER NOTIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW BECAUSE IT'S IN THE STATE LAW THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WE HAVE TO PUBLISH NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER.

QUESTION FOR STAFF.

WHAT WOULD THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF THIS BE? UH, I, I'M GONNA HAVE TO DEFER THAT.

I THINK, UM, I I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

WHO CAN? WELL, THE, SO LAURA MORRISON, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE PRACTICAL, THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF, UM, THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO ENGAGE DIFFERENT, UH, DIVERSE, UM, PRINT MEDIA.

WE, THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD, IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE PRO THE CHARTER PROVISION, WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO ESTABLISH SOME KIND OF COMMUNICATIONS PLAN FOR PUBLIC NOTICE.

AND COULD WE DO THAT JUST AS EASILY THROUGH AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION? YES.

WELL, I, I SHARE MY COLLEAGUE'S CONCERN ABOUT HAVING TOO MANY CHARTER AMENDMENTS.

WE'RE UP TO OVER 20 NOW, I THINK.

UM, AND ADDING ONE THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE IN THE CHARTER, THAT WOULD LOCK US IN FOR PROBABLY THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

UM, WHEN THIS CAN BE DONE JUST AS EASILY WITH AN ORDINANCE OR A RESOLUTION, UM, I, I, I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT THIS.

MS. SCHULTZ, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, CAN WE JUST CLARIFY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S ALREADY LANGUAGE IN THE CHARTER REGARDING HOW WE PUBLICIZE AND NOTICE.

SO COULD YOU ADDRESS THAT AND EX 'CAUSE THIS AMENDMENT, I THINK, IS TO HELP BRING THAT UP TO DATE.

ONE OF THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS, UH, THAT RIGHT NOW IS IN THE ORDINANCE TO GO TO THE VOTERS IS TO REMOVE ANY MENTION OF NEWSPAPER NOTIFICATION.

WE HAVE THAT IN SEVERAL PLACES IN THE CHARTER CURRENTLY.

UM, BUT WE WOULD CONTIN, WE WOULD REMOVE THAT FROM THE CHARTER IF THE VOTERS APPROVE THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS, BUT

[06:00:01]

SO LET ME SAY THIS BACK TO YOU.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE VOTER RIGHT NOW, IN THE, IN THE, RIGHT NOW, IN OUR CHARTER, IT SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT BY NEWSPAPER.

RIGHT? AND THEN IF THE VOTERS APPROVE THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS, IT WON'T SAY THAT.

BUT WE STILL HAVE TO DO IT BY THE NEWSPAPER, BY STATE LAW.

AND SO WHAT THIS AMENDMENT WILL DO IS SORT OF A BELT AND SUSPENDER.

IN ADDITION, IF THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENT FAILS, RIGHT, WHERE IT'S ONLY NEWSPAPER, DO WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE TO ADD ADDITIONAL, LIKE THROUGH ORDINANCE OR ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EQUITY COMPONENT AND THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY MODERNIZED OUR COMMUNICATION METHODS TO PEOPLE BEYOND, YOU KNOW, OUR SINGLE NEWSPAPER? YES, THE COUNCIL CAN DO THAT AT ANY TIME.

THROUGH ORDINANCE.

THROUGH ORDINANCE, YES.

AND THAT'LL STILL MEET THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS? YES.

SO IF THE VOTERS FAIL TO APPROVE THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENT, WE CAN STILL MAKE THAT CORRECTION THROUGH OUR OWN ORDINANCE.

THE CITY CAN ALWAYS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE STATE LAW REQUIRES WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC NOTICE.

AND COULD YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, THE CHARTER COMMISSIONS DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC, PLEASE? SURE.

I'LL, I'LL, I'LL NOTE THAT IT WASN'T, UM, EXACTLY THIS TOPIC.

UM, THERE WAS SIMILAR CONVERSATION AROUND PUBLIC NOTICES, UM, THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY SEVERAL, UM, UH, SUBMITTERS, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS COMMISSIONERS.

UM, THE, THE GENERAL FEELING WAS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, NOTIFICATIONS WERE NOT GETTING TO PEOPLE, UM, WHO DID NOT READ THE ONE NEWSPAPER IN WHICH THE NOTE NOTICES WERE GOING OUT.

UM, AND THAT THE WAY THAT WE RECEIVE INFORMATION HAS CHANGED FUNDAMENTALLY, UM, IN THE WORLD.

AND SO THERE WAS SOME, SOME EMPHASIS ON THE DIGITAL OUTREACH, THE LANGUAGE OUTREACH, UM, AND THE, THE VARIOUS, UM, FORMS OF PRINT AND, AND, UM, PUBLICATIONS.

UH, ULTIMATELY THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY RECOMMENDED IN THE, THE COMMISSION'S, UM, RECOMMENDATION IS, IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THIS IS, I BELIEVE.

UM, BUT IT, IT CAME FROM A CONVERSATION WITH, UM, SOME STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT CLINIC AT SMU, UM, AS WELL AS COMMISSIONERS AND SOME OTHER, OTHER, UM, STAFF AND CITY ATTORNEYS.

SO THE, THE ULTIMATE GOAL WAS JUST TO EXPAND THAT AND ALLOW FOR MORE PEOPLE TO RECEIVE THE NOTICES IN THE PLACES THAT THEY MOST FREQUENTLY ARE RECEIVING NEWS.

AND WE KNOW FROM CHAIR ARNOLD'S RELENTLESS, YOU KNOW, EFFORTS ON THIS, IN THIS AREA THAT WE ALREADY HAVE EXPANDED TO WHICH NEWSPAPERS.

WE HAD IT MORE LIMITED CERTAINLY BEFORE I CAME ON BOARD AND HER WORK BECAUSE OF HER WORK.

BUT THE WOULD IS THIS, DO YOU SEE THIS AS A, UM, AGAIN, AS SORT OF A BELT AND SUSPENDERS? OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT WOULD FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE HOW WE DO THINGS? I I'M GONNA DEFER THAT QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK I'M THE PERSON TO ANSWER IT.

SO I'LL ASK FROM AN ATTORNEY'S PERSPECTIVE, GIVEN IF, ASSUMING THERE'S NOT AN ORDINANCE YET, GIVEN HOW WE ARE, OR I GUESS IT'S TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, HOW WE'RE DOING THINGS NOW IN TERMS OF PUBLICATION, IS THIS A BELT AND SUSPENDERS EFFORT WITH THIS AMENDMENT? OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT? WELL, IT CONFIRMS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE FOLLOWING STATE LAW BY POSTING PUBLICATION NOTICES ON THE WEBSITE.

AND, UM, WE HAVE TO USE THE NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION.

BUT AGAIN, IT DOES SAY THAT WE'RE GONNA ENGAGE IN OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO ALSO PUBLISH NOTIFICATIONS.

SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IN ADDITION TO, IN ADDITION TO THE ADDITIONAL EFFORTS, WHAT IT'S DOING IS ALREADY JUST COMPLYING WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO DO ANYWAY.

THANK YOU ALL.

CHAIRMAN GRACIE? YES.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT.

YOU, YOU AIN'T GONE YET ON YOUR OWN AMENDMENT, HAVE YOU? NO.

A WEBSITE, ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ONLINE MEDIA, UH, NEWSLETTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, SO AGAIN, THIS IS, THIS DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE.

STATE LAW REQUIRES US TO DO ADVERTISEMENTS.

AND AGAIN, GIVE YOU JUST A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE.

UH, WHERE THIS CAME UP, UH, QUITE OFTEN IS FROM A PROCUREMENT PERSPECTIVE, FROM AN INFORMATION PERSPECTIVE.

AND AGAIN, AS WE GO THROUGH STATE LAW REQUIRES US TO ACTUALLY, WE HAVE TO POST, I THINK THERE'S A TIMEFRAME, 14 DAYS BEFORE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THERE'S ALREADY LAW THAT REQUIRES US TO USE THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY CIRCULATION, UH, IN DALLAS THAT'S THERE.

THIS, ALL THIS DOES IS EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITY AS TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED, AS THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, THROUGH

[06:05:01]

THIS JUST GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE USING ADDITIONAL WAYS TO REACH THE COMMUNITY, UH, THROUGH THOSE DIFFERENT PUBLICATIONS.

BUT THE PRIMARY PUBLICATION STATE LAW SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

THAT CHANGES NOTHING.

THIS JUST OPENS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

AND AS TECHNOLOGY, UH, EVOLVES, WE HAVE LANGUAGE IN PLACE THAT DOESN'T RESTRICT US TO JUST USING A NEWSPAPER MOVING FORWARD.

UM, YOU KNOW, GIVEN HOW TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO CHANGE, SO THAT, I JUST WANT CLARITY ON THIS DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING WE'RE DOING OTHER THAN, UH, GIVING US MORE OPTIONS TO UTILIZE SOME OF OUR, UH, UH, MINORITY PUBLICATIONS AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE WE'RE MAXIMIZING OUR OUTREACH AND OUR OUTREACH, UH, FROM A TRANSPARENCY PUBLICATION COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITY PERSPECTIVE.

IT JUST GIVES US MORE OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

THERE'S NO TRICKS THERE INVOLVED IN THIS ONE.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU TRUMAN.

ARNOLD, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.

I THINK WHAT THIS PLAN DOES FOR YEARS, WE'VE, I'VE HAD THE FEEDBACK FROM MANY, UH, OF THE, OF THE BLACK PUBLISHERS THAT THEY FEEL LEFT OUT THROUGH THE CITY IN TERMS OF INCLUSION AND ENGAGEMENT, SO THAT WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.

RIGHT NOW, THE POLITICS BEHIND DALLAS MORNING NEWS, I MEAN, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS.

UH, IT IS THE SOLE, THE LARGEST PAPER.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS WHEN IT COMES TO NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY THE AFRICAN AMERICAN, I THINK WHAT DALLAS MORNING NEWS TRIED TO, WAS DALLAS MORNING NEWS PICKED UP AL DEAL A FEW YEARS AGO TO TRY TO MAKE THINGS LOOK LIKE THEY WERE OKAY.

BUT THERE WAS NEVER A PARTNERSHIP WITH ANY AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS.

BY AND LARGE, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY DOES NOT SUPPORT.

HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE NOT, WE KIND OF DISCONNECTED FROM THE, FROM THE DALLAS WARN NEWS BECAUSE OF THEIR, UH, UH, PRACTICES AND OVERTONES OF SEGREGATION AND, AND, AND EXCLUSION.

AND SO, BY AND LARGE, YOU'LL FIND THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T.

WE JUST DON'T.

AND IT'S A LONG HISTORY THERE.

YOU NEED TO GOOGLE IT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE A FEW STEPS BY, I THINK THEY HIRED MRS. HARDY TO GIVE US A SIGNAL THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

BUT WHAT WE ARE SIMPLY SAYING IS THIS, AND YOU ALL GONNA DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE I TALK ABOUT THE MOON WALKING.

WE ALL KUMBAYA, WE UNDERSTAND EQUITY.

BUT IF WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A STAND AS A COUNCIL AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

WE'RE GONNA STAND ON THIS.

SHOULD WE PUT IT IN WRITING? SHOULD WE LOCK IT DOWN FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS? I THINK ABSOLUTELY DALLAS HAS HAD A HISTORY THAT WE, SOME OF US ARE NOT PROUD TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT WHEN I SEE A COUNCIL THAT TAKES A STAND AND SAYS, LOOK, THIS IS WHAT WE WANNA BE ALL ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT EQUITY, IT'S ABOUT ENGAGEMENT, IT'S ABOUT INCLUSION.

AND WE DON'T EVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SAYING, WELL, WE PUT, WE APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR 20, UH, 24, AND WE GAVE THEM A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PUBLISH THE, THE, THE TAX RATE INFORMATION.

WE NEED TO PUT THAT PRESSURE ON THIS CITY.

NO MATTER WHO'S HERE, NO MATTER WHO'S SITTING THE MAYOR'S, UH, UH, SEAT, THEY, THAT SHOULD BE A, A CHARGE THAT WE, THAT WE TAKE.

IT'S ABOUT EQUITY AND IT'S A NEW DAY IN DALLAS.

SO I'M GOING TO, WHATEVER IT IS, HOWEVER Y'ALL FLIP IT, FLOP IT, HIT IT WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANNA TURN IT.

WHAT IT MEANS TO ME IS THAT YOU'RE NOT WILLING TODAY TO LOOK THIS SIN, THIS BEAST IN THE FACE THAT WE'VE CALLED SEGREGATION, EXCLUSION, OMISSION, AND SAY, MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE IT'S IN WRITING THAT WE ARE GONNA DO THE RIGHT THING BY THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR.

AND IF I HAVE TO COME BACK, I'LL DO THAT.

BUT I'M VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.

THIS HERE WE ARE NOT GONNA FALL OUT.

BUT WHAT WE WANT, WHAT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO SEE IS WHO'S WILLING TO STAND IN THE NAME OF EQUITY TODAY.

THANK YOU, BILL.

YOU HAVE ONE MORE ROUND.

I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA COME BACK TO ME.

THANK IT'S A MINUTE.

UM, MS. WILLIS, YOU COGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

AND THERE ARE MEDIA BUYING EXPERTS WHO PUT A PLAN TOGETHER THAT WILL DELIVER ON THOSE GOALS.

AND I KNOW I'VE SPOKEN ON THIS BEFORE.

THIS IS ABOUT SETTING WHAT OUR COMMUNICATION GOALS ARE, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, DEMOGRAPHICS, SOCIOECONOMIC, UH, GRAPHICS, UM, LANGUAGE THAT COULD BE A BARRIER TO SOME.

AND IT'S THOSE COMMUNICATION GOALS AND HOW THEY'RE DELIVERED UPON THAT.

THIS IS REALLY ABOUT.

AND SO WHEN I HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE FEELING LEFT OUT OR, OR WHATEVER, OR OUR MAINSTREAM MEDIA NOT RESPONDING TO SOME, WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS EDITORIAL OUT, UM, INROADS MADE LATELY.

UM, IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT THAT.

UH, IT IS HOW WE DELIVER ON OUR COMMUNICATIONS GOALS.

[06:10:01]

IT MIGHT BE PARTIALLY, WELL, IT HAS TO BE PARTIALLY NEWSPAPER, BUT IT HAS, IT COULD BE DIGITAL, IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY, UM, NUMBER OF THINGS TO COME TOGETHER TO REACH THAT NUMBER OF IMPRESSIONS.

SO I FEEL LIKE WE KEEP DEFAULTING TO CERTAIN MEDIA OUTLETS WHEN REALLY IT IS ABOUT THE GOALS WE SET.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE FEEL LIKE WE WANNA REACH BEFORE A BUDGET? TOWN HALL OR WHAT? OR A CONTRACT OR A, A PROCUREMENT.

IT MAY BE 60% WITH THIS PERCENTAGE ONLY SPEAKING SPANISH AND THIS PERCENTAGE ONLY SPEAKING VIETNAMESE.

AND SO THAT IS THE DIRECTION THAT'S GIVEN.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A MEDIA EXPERT WHO DELIVERS ON THIS FOR YOU.

AND WE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE CAUGHT UP IN WHAT THOSE TITLES ARE OR WHAT THEY, YOU KNOW, WHO IT IS OR WHAT FORM IT'S IN.

IT'S ABOUT DELIVERING ON THE AUDIENCE THAT IS AGREED TO, WHO NEEDS TO GET WHATEVER MESSAGE IT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DELIVER.

SO, UM, I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT IT WITH SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT IT'S GOT IN IT NOW BECAUSE, UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S REALLY HONORING THAT COMMUNICATION GOAL, THE MEDIA BUYING SCIENCE, ET CETERA.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

AND, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PASSION MY COLLEAGUE HAS FOR THIS TOPIC.

UM, I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR US TO BRING UP IN COMMITTEE AND TO LOOK AT ADDRESSING OUR ORDINANCES, UM, TO MAKE SURE OUR PUBLICATIONS ARE MORE DIVERSE.

UM, I'M GONNA STAY AS FROM HERE ON OUT TO, WITH WHAT MR. BASIL DO HAS SAID ON THE LAST ONE, A PURIST TO EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE ALREADY HAMMERED OUT, UM, THROUGH THE VERY LENGTHY CHARTER DISCUSSIONS WE'VE ALREADY HAD.

IF WE STRAW VOTED IT AND IT WAS VOTED DOWN LIKE THIS ONE, LIKE THE LAST ONE, I'M GONNA STICK WITH THAT.

AND, UM, AND, AND VOTE NO IF THINGS ARE REINTRODUCED WITH NO CHANGES.

'CAUSE I THINK OTHERWISE WE'RE GONNA BE HERE ALL NIGHT.

RE-LITIGATING WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

UM, INTERIM CITY MANAGER, TOLBERT.

IS THERE ANY REASON WE CAN'T PUBLISH EVERY NOTICE ON OUR WEBSITE? NO, THERE'S NOT.

IS THERE ANY REASON WE CAN'T TODAY BE PLACING ANY OF THESE NOTICES IN A MINORITY PUBLICATION, WHETHER THAT'S ONLINE OR PRINT? WE DO SOME PLACEMENT NOW.

YOU ALREADY DO SOME.

EXACTLY.

SO ARE THERE STANDARDS CURRENTLY ABOUT THE CIRCULATION LEVEL? I MEAN, ARE YOU TRYING TO HIT THE HIGHEST CIRCULATION? ARE YOU TRYING TO HIT A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC AND THEN PERHAPS WITHIN THAT DEMOGRAPHIC, THE HIGHEST CIRCULATION? HOW ARE YOU DETERMINING THAT? IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE PUBLISHING.

IF IT'S THE OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS, WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING FOR WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO REACH A, A BIGGER NUMBER.

BUT WE ALSO DO A LOT OF, UH, SPECIFIC OUTREACH THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET INTO CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE MASTER AGREEMENTS CURRENTLY WITH A LOT OF OUR MINORITY PUBLICATIONS AS WELL.

SO WE DO BOTH.

IN THE CHARTER HOLDS US TO ACTUALLY HAVING A COMMUNICATION PLAN, ACTUALLY HAVING A LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICY AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT I DON'T KNOW EXISTS.

WELL, I'M JUST GONNA SAY I TRULY BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE.

IF WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE A PUBLIC NOTICES SECTION ON OUR WEBSITE, I THINK WE SHOULD PUT THAT IN THERE.

I WOULD HOPE THAT GPFM WILL UNDERTAKE THAT.

UM, SORRY, I KNOW YOU'RE LAUGHING AT ME.

UM, BUT I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THIS BELONGS AS A CHARTER AMENDMENT AND SOMETHING THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE IN CHARTER WHEN ACTUALLY NEW TECHNOLOGIES MAY COME BEFORE THE CHARTER'S EVER RECONSIDERED.

AND YOU KNOW, WE MAY DECIDE THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS AN ELEMENT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ADVERTISING ON YOUTUBE.

MAYBE WE NEED TO BE THERE FOR, YOU KNOW, TOWN HALLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I WOULDN'T WANNA GET SO SPECIFIC.

AND I THINK EVERY NEW COUNCIL COMING IN SHOULD BE ABLE TO EVALUATE CURRENT POLICY.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CURRENT POLICY, BUT PERHAPS WE NEED ONE.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER ARNOLD MAKES A VERY GOOD POINT ABOUT BEING ABLE TO REACH POPULATIONS.

AND YOU KNOW, TO BE FAIR, THE MORNING NEWS HAS A VERY DWINDLING CIRCULATION.

AND IF THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE WE PUT SOMETHING, THE REST OF THE CITY MIGHT ALSO NEED TO KNOW.

SO I THINK OUR WEBSITE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE EVERY NOTIFICATION, WHETHER THAT'S A TOWN HALL, WHETHER THAT'S, YOU KNOW, DRIVE THROUGH HOLIDAY EVENT OR IT'S A PROCUREMENT SO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN FIND THE INFORMATION YOU NEED ON THE CITY OF DALLAS WEBSITE.

HOWEVER, I DON'T WANNA GET LOCKED IN ON, UM, A CHARTER AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN GRACIE, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT, COOL.

UM, AND AGAIN, I THINK A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IN THIS LANGUAGE IS THAT IT REFERENCES A COMMUNICATION PLAN TOO.

THAT AND, AND CORRECT ME, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT EXISTS YET.

UH, SO ONE PART OF THIS IS, AND AGAIN, , I SPENT ABOUT THREE YEARS TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER WHEN I WAS ON STAFF, UH, DOING THIS IN THESE COMMUNICATION PLANS.

AND PART OF ME WANTING THIS

[06:15:01]

SO IN ADDITION TO, YES, STATE LAW SAYS THIS, I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED AS TO WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO EXTEND OUR COMMUNICATION AND OUR OUTREACH.

I TRULY AM BAFFLED AT WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, REACH MORE PEOPLE.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE INTENT IS.

BUT TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION PLAN.

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THE QUESTION.

WE ARE ACTUALLY DEVELOPING THE FINAL, UM, PIECES OF A NEW COMMS PLAN THAT WAS A PART OF THE 100 DAY, UH, PLAN.

I KNOW THAT I SEE ELIZABETH STANDING HERE.

SO THAT IS A PRIORITY.

UH, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AND IT'S GOING TO ALLOW FOR US TO NOT ONLY EXPAND, BUT GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN LEVERAGE.

I KNOW COUNCILMAN MIDDLESTON TALKED ABOUT THE TOOLS AND OTHER PLATFORMS. AND SO PART OF THAT PLAN WILL ALLOW FOR US TO NOT ONLY EXPAND IT, BUT USE DIFFERENT WAYS OF COMMUNICATING.

SO THE EQUITABLE ENGAGEMENT PIECE IS A, IS A CRITICAL PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AND HOW THAT PLAN IS GOING TO, UH, TO HELP INFORM THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY BE DELIVERING THAT PLAN BEFORE THE 100 DAYS IS UP AND IT WILL BE TAKEN TO THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR PT, WE RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

UM, MR. GRACIE, I, I THINK THAT IN IT, THE SPIRIT OF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, SUPPORT.

I, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA ACCOMPLISH IT.

UM, AND SO I'M, I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED.

I, I ASKED OUR ATTORNEYS ABOUT THE DUPLICATIVE NATURE OF THE STATE STATUTE, UH, THAT THIS IS, IS MEANING TO ESSENTIALLY ALIGN WITH.

I I THINK THAT THERE'S STILL SOME, SOME SUBJECTIVENESS TO SOME OF THE TERMS THAT ARE USED IN HOW THAT COULD ACTUALLY BE EXECUTED.

I I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THIS, OR MY INTERPRETATION OF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IN BLACK AND WHITE, IN WHAT'S BEING OFFERED WOULD ADHERE A FUTURE COUNSEL TO IT WITH TOTALLY DIFFERENT IDEOLOGY.

UM, AND SO I, I AM MORE CONCERNED AND I THINK THAT EVEN IF WE DID THIS, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO COME IN COUPLED WITH AN ORDINANCE THAT IS GOING TO GIVE IT MORE SPECIFIC.

AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT OUR CITY MANAGER, WHEN YOU DO BRING A COMMS PLAN, IF YOU CAN SHOW SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH RACIAL AND ETHNIC MAKEUP OF THE CITY.

I, I, I THINK THAT THAT ALONE IS A LITTLE AMBIGUOUS.

UH, AND I THINK IT'S ALSO SUBJECTIVE.

I THINK THAT ONE OF THE, UM, KEY TERMS IN, IN THE WAY THAT THIS IS WRITTEN IS WE'LL ENGAGE DIVERSE PRINT AND DIGITAL INSTEAD OF JUST PRINT AND DIGITAL MEDIA.

DIVERSE COULD MEAN A LOT.

UH, AND I MEAN, IN, IN FACT, I THINK THAT YOU MAY EVEN BE ABLE TO PULL THE DEMOGRAPHICS BECAUSE OF THE MAKEUP OF OUR CITY AND SAY THAT THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, UH, MEETS THAT CRITERIA.

SO IS THE DIVERSITY TO BRING IN SOME OF THE RAG PUBLICATIONS THAT WE'VE STARTED TO SEE IS, IS THAT GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ANSWER? I JUST, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US HAVE MUCH MORE SPECIFICITY TO, UM, HOW TO ACCOMPLISH EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING.

'CAUSE THAT PART I I I SUPPORT.

I JUST AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT IF WE WERE TO PUT THIS LANGUAGE IN THAT THAT'S THE RESULT WE'LL GET FOR FUTURE COUNCILS.

BECAUSE I, I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT THAT IT HONES IN ENOUGH ON THAT.

SO, DID YOU WANNA WEIGH IN? NO, I WAS, I WAS GONNA SAY THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE COMES PLAN NEEDS TO BE FLUID AND IT NEEDS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, CREATE THE FLEXIBILITY THAT'S NEEDED AS THINGS CHANGE, TECHNOLOGIES CHANGE.

AND I THINK I HEARD THAT A FEW MINUTES AGO.

SO IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US FOR THE FIRST TIME TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE DEMOGRAPHIC MAKEUP OF THE CITY.

UM, ALTHOUGH WE'VE HAD PRICE AGREEMENTS AND WE'VE DONE, I WOULD SAY LIMITED, UM, AS COUNCIL, UH, MEMBER GRACIE MENTIONED, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST WAY OF HOW WE COMMUNICATE.

AND IT'S BACK TO THE EQUITABLE ENGAGEMENT FRAMEWORK THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

SO I, I I, I FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

UH, IT'S GOING TO STRETCH US BECAUSE A COMMS PLAN MEANS THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO CONNECT TO THE MESSAGING OF WHAT IS BEING PUT OUT THERE.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK AND SHARING MORE ABOUT THE WAY WE'VE DEVELOPED THAT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

IS THERE ANY, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST, UH, CHAIRMAN GRACIE'S AMENDMENT? UH, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD ON.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, AND, AND, AND, AND I'M, I'M FINE WITH WHERE WE ARE.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

AND

[06:20:01]

IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR THE, THE, THE, THE CONVERSATION AROUND WHERE WE'RE, WHERE, WHERE YOU THINK THIS SHOULD BE.

AND I THINK WE COME FROM DIFFERENT SPACES AND PLACES AND, AND IDEOLOGY AND, AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

AND SO SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT FOR FOR US TO SHARE OUR EXPERIENCES, UH, WITH YOU.

UH, AND, AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARD FOR US TO SEE, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU TO SEE AND SHARE AND UNDERSTAND AND REFLECT.

AND SO I THINK WHERE I'M TRYING TO TAKE YOU ALL, UH, I THINK YOU ARE JUST PROBABLY NOT THERE YET.

AND SO WHEN YOU SAY, LET'S PUT IT IN SOME OTHER PLACE OTHER THAN THE CHARTER, THAT THAT'S COOL WITH ME.

I THINK OVERALL, I THINK WHAT I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH IS THIS.

WE NEED AN ORDINANCE, WE NEED ALL THOSE THINGS.

BUT REMEMBER, THE HANDS OF THE TIME OF THE CLOCK WILL TURN BACK WHILE YOU STILL WATCHING.

LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE STATE NOW AS THE GOVERNOR'S TRYING TO TAKE US BACK AND KILL DIVERSITY.

AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE ACTIONS AGAINST HUMANITY, THAT'S, HE'S ALIVE AND KICKING.

HE'S TRYING TO BRING JIM CROW BACK.

AND IF WE DON'T STAY WOKE ON THIS THING, YOU CAN THINK EVERYBODY COMING FORTH WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.

BUT IF YOU DON'T HOLD THEIR HANDS AND FEED TO THE FIRE, WE'LL BE BACK IN THE DAY WHERE WE HAVE TO SIT IN THE BACK OF THE BUS.

I'M TOLD THAT'S YOUR TIME, BUT I DON'T SEE IT.

AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH.

IT, IT DISAPPEARED.

BUT THAT IS YOUR TIME.

YOU MEAN SHE TOOK SOME TIME FROM ME? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? MARY? UM, YOUR TIME WENT AWAY AND I, MY AND MY LAPTOP IS DYING, SO WORRY CAN GIVE THIS TO SOMEBODY FROM IT WE KILLED IT.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN BEFORE.

CHARGE OF ALL THAT TRANSLATION.

ANYONE ELSE? UM, NVA AS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MARIN.

UM, I, I DEFINITELY DO AGREE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THIS AMENDMENT.

MAKE IT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY DON'T NEED TO TIE AND BIND THE CITY MANAGER TO SOMETHING THAT'S SO SPECIFIC THAT'S IN HERE OR VAGUENESS.

AND WE'RE GONNA GET A LOT BETTER, UM, POLICY IF WE ALLOW STAFF TO PUT SOMETHING THAT'S VERY ROBUST AND WE CAN GET EVERYTHING IN THERE.

UM, THE BIG, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, UM, AS FAR AS ALL OF THIS GOES IS YES, WE NEED TO BE, UM, REACHING OUT TO AS MANY COMMUNITIES AS WE CAN.

WE HAVE A LOT OF HARD TO REACH COMMUNITIES.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE, WE LEARNED THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MANY HARD TO REACH COMMUNITIES WE HAD UNTIL WE COULDN'T REACH THEM.

AND, UM, AND THIS WAS A STRUGGLE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND I TRY TO ALWAYS FIND THE POSITIVE IN THINGS WHEN I CAN.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PANDEMIC WAS AWFUL.

WE LOST A LOT OF LIVES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T MAKE IT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SOME OF THE SILVER LININGS WERE FOR ME IS THAT IT WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH TO GET ANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING IN ESPANOL.

LIKE EVEN THROUGH THIS, THE CITY HALL, NOBODY WOULD DO IT.

IT WAS LIKE, JUST NO.

AND WE STARTED ADVANCING IT AND ADVANCING IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A POPULATION IN THIS CITY THAT IS SPANISH MONOLINGUAL.

AND THAT'S, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS.

THE NUMBER ONE NEWS STATIONS IN, IN THIS METRO AREA, MUNDO AND UNI NUMBER ONE BY FAR KICKS ALL THE ENGLISH CHANNELS, NEWS CHANNELS IN THE TAIL.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT.

AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THOSE CONNECTIONS AND THAT'S WHY IT'S A SILVER LINING BECAUSE WE WERE JUST STARTING AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS GONNA BE LIKE A FIVE, SIX YEAR PLAN.

ALL RIGHT? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT ON THAT.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS LIKE, NO, WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IT NOW.

AND THANK YOU.

NOW, INTERIM CITY MANAGER, TOLBERT.

'CAUSE YOU, YOU UNDERSTOOD IT AND YOU JUMPED AND YOU HELPED, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT WE COULD DO AT THAT TIME.

AND NOW WE DO EVERYTHING.

AND THEN, UM, WE GOT, WE GOT A BLACK EYE FROM, UM, WAS, WAS IT THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN? BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PRINT IT IN SPANISH THE FIRST TIME, AND THAT WAS OUR BLACK EYE.

AND WE, WE GOT THAT FIXED THOUGH.

WE'VE LEARNED LESSONS, BUT WE'RE GETTING TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

AND THAT'S A SILVER LINING FROM THIS.

AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, BECAUSE THIS IS BEING, YOU KNOW, SENT FROM MY BLACK SISTERS AND BROTHERS ON THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR DECADES FOR THE CITY TO IGNORE THEM.

AND IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL AS, AS SPANISH SPEAKERS OR LATINOS OR WHATEVER, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE NEXT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO BE HERE.

AND WE HAVE TO SAY THESE THINGS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO SAID IT, MR. MAYOR, BUT EVERYBODY ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, SAYS THIS LINE ABOUT IF YOU'RE NOT AT THE TABLE, YOU'RE ON THE MENU, YOU KNOW? AND SOME OF US GOT SICK OF BEING ON THE MENU 'CAUSE BITES HURT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANNA, WE JUST WANT TO HAVE WHAT'S FAIR.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE A HUGE ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY, A RE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE, UM, VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE, KOREAN LANGUAGE.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SO MANY LANGUAGES HERE.

IT'S VERY DIVERSE.

WE'RE NOT GONNA GET 'EM ALL.

BUT, BUT THE PLAN HAS STARTED.

AND WE, I THINK WE DO THE TOP THREE AND SOMETIMES FIVE.

AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, I'M NOT SURE WHO WAS IN

[06:25:01]

UM, BUT WHOEVER DID IT, WHEN WE STARTED GETTING ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, THE MEMES AND THE, THE INFOGRAPHICS, I, I WAS JUST SO THRILLED BECAUSE I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO READ WHAT WAS ON THERE.

I KNEW WHAT IT MEANT BECAUSE I, I HAD THE ENGLISH AND THE SPANISH VERSION.

BUT I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOMEBODY IN OUR CITY WHO NEEDED THAT INFORMATION AND THEY WERE ABLE TO, THEY WERE ABLE TO ACCESS IT.

WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY THERE YET, BUT LET'S GIVE OUR, LET'S GIVE OUR, OUR, UM, CITY MANAGER AND THE STAFF THE ABILITY TO GIVE US THE MOST DIVERSE, ROBUST, UM, OR, UM, ORDINANCE POLICY THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.

AND, UM, NOT DO THIS THROUGH THE CHARTER BECAUSE THINGS DO CHANGE AND CHANGE.

THE CHARTERS A HARD THING.

LET, I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE CHARTER AMENDMENTS SINCE ONE 30 THIS AFTERNOON, AND WE AIN'T EVEN CLOSE TO BEING DONE YET.

AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT HOW MANY WEEKS IN A ROW? THEN THAT'S JUST US.

AND THEN YOU HAVE COM, THE COMMISSION AND ALL OF THAT.

SO THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THE CHARTER IS.

THAT'S WHY IT'S DESIGNED TO NOT BE JUST CHANGED LIKE THAT BECAUSE THIS IS OUR GUIDING DOCUMENT.

THIS IS OUR CITY'S CONSTITUTION.

AND WE, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH IT.

UM, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN DO ADMINISTRATIVELY.

UM, I LOVE YOU MS. ARNOLD.

'CAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THIS FOREVER, BUT, UM, I, I'M, I'M GONNA BE THERE ON THIS ORDINANCE AND I'M NOT GONNA, I'M GONNA BACK YOU UP ON THAT.

I'M GONNA STAY WOKE LIKE YOU TELL US TO ME, UM, ON THIS, UM, 'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE HEARING WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND WE'VE GOTTA PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER.

WE GOTTA MESH IT ALL TOGETHER AND GET IT RIGHT.

AND I HAVE FAITH IN OUR STAFF AND I HAVE, UM, AND I BELIEVE IN OUR CITY MANAGER THAT WE WILL GET THIS DONE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST, UH, CHAIRMAN GRACIE'S AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

SEEING NONE, MADAME SECRETARY, IT'S TIME TO VOTE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, WHEN I, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BAA.

COUNCIL MEMBER WEST? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMAN? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY? NO.

WOULD FIVE.

VOTING IN FAVOR? 10.

OPPOSE.

THIS AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR.

NEXT AMENDMENT OR MOTION.

CHAIRMAN MIDDLETON, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR A MOTION.

I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY STRIKING THE PROPOSITION THAT DELETES THE REQUIREMENT THAT MEMBERS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS CREATED BY THE CHARTER BE REGISTERED TO VOTE QUALIFIED VOTERS OR QUALIFIED TAX PAYING CITIZENS.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN? YES.

AND SECOND AID DISCUSSION.

YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT.

I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND READ WHAT WAS WRITTEN BY OUR THREE FORMER MAYORS.

ELIMINATING THE REQUIREMENT THAT MEMBERS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS CREATED BY CHARTER BE REGISTERED TO VOTE, BE QUALIFIED VOTERS, OR BE QUALIFIED TAX PAYING CITIZENS.

THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT REFLECTS A MISGUIDED NOTION THAT WOULD FURTHER DIMINISH THE IMPORTANCE OF ENCOURAGING VOTER PARTICIPATION AND ENSURING MEMBERS HAVE VESTED INTERESTS IN THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

WE CANNOT CONCEIVE HOW THE WORK OF THESE IMPORTANT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS COULD BE SERVED BY ELIMINATING THESE MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS FROM TREK ON THE SAME ITEM.

BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTEES IMPACT OUR INDUSTRY BY INFLUENCING WHO REPRESENTS US.

AND BY MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON ZONING, LAND USE, PARKING MINIMUMS AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS.

SERVING AS AN APPOINTEE ON A BOARD OR COMMISSION IS A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY.

AND THE CITY SHOULD MANDATE QUAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE.

AND BEING A REGISTERED VOTER IS ONE OF THE MOST BASIC QUALIFICATIONS.

I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY, DIDN'T WE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS ASK VOTERS ABOUT THIS ITEM? I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YES.

I BELIEVE IT WAS WHILE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE.

DO NOT WANT PEOPLE WHO CANNOT VOTE TO BE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

AND DO YOU RECALL THE OUTCOME OF THAT VOTE? I CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.

I DON'T HAVE IT, SO I'LL JUST TELL YOU BY OVER 80%.

THE VOTER SAID THEY

[06:30:01]

WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM THEM.

WHY WOULD WE ASK THEM? AGAIN? THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLAN AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR RECONSIDERATION SO THAT WE REMOVE THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

WE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MS. MENDELSON TO ITEM 85.

I DON'T SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.

UM, BEING CONSISTENT WITH OUR STRAW VOTES I THINK ARE IMPORTANT ON THIS ONE.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE GONNA BE RE-LITIGATING THINGS WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON AS A COUNCIL.

SO I WILL, I'LL BE A NO THANK YOU.

I POINT OUT THAT TECHNICALLY WE HAVE NOT VOTED.

WE STRAW VOTED.

JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE DID NOT ON BRIEFING DAYS AND THE COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE, WE DID NOT TAKE VOTES FOR THE RECORD.

ANYONE ELSE WANTING TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST BEFORE I GO TO A SECOND ROUND? I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT WE DID NOT TECHNICALLY VOTE ON THESE.

UH, CHAIRMAN MIN, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.

WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YOU'RE ACTUALLY MAKING MY POINT.

AS I SAID AT OUR LAST MEETING, THAT WAS AN AGENDA MEETING THAT I WOULD BE BRINGING UP MANY OF THESE ITEMS ALL OVER AGAIN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO VOTING, THERE WAS STRAW POLLING.

AND THE STRAW POLLING DOES NOT COMPEL ANYBODY TO VOTE WHERE WE ARE REQUIRED TO VOTE IN AN AGENDA MEETING.

SO THEREFORE, VERY DIFFERENT RESULTS CAN OCCUR.

IF ONE WANTS TO SAY THAT THE REASON IS THAT WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED IT, THAT'S THEIR CHOICE.

BUT THE REALITY IS THAT WE ARE COMPELLED TO VOTE IF IT IS BROUGHT FORWARD ACCORDING TO OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WHERE THAT WAS NOT THE CASE PREVIOUSLY.

SO I MOST CERTAINLY INTEND TO BRING UP SEVERAL OTHER MOTIONS TONIGHT, AND THAT WAS THE CONSEQUENCE OF DEFERRING THIS FROM JUNE.

THANK YOU MS. WILLIS.

MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK MR. MANN, WHENEVER, WHENEVER YOU CAN GO.

HEY, YOU'VE BEEN PATIENTLY WAITING OUT THERE .

YOU YOU CAN GO RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS ON THE, OKAY.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON THE MENDELSSOHN AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. MAYOR.

AND I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS, UM, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE CITY CODE HAS ALREADY, UH, WE'VE ALREADY MADE THIS CHANGE IN THE CITY CODE.

SO IF THIS CHANGE IS MADE ON IN THE CITY CHARTER, IT WOULD BE BRINGING, UM, THE CHARTER IN LINE WITH THE CODE.

AND I KNOW THAT THE, THE OP-ED WAS MENTIONED WITH, UM, FORMER MAYORS, RAWLINGS, LEOPARD AND KIRK, UM, AND THEIR OPPOSITION TO THIS.

BUT I THINK IT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY TELLING THAT AT THE END OF, OF THAT OP-ED, IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH, IT SAYS, DALLAS'S COMMITMENT TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS IS ANCHORED IN THE BEST POSSIBLE GOVERNANCE.

THAT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT MANY DALLAS RESIDENTS ARE NOT CITIZENS.

MANY DALLAS RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS PAY TAXES.

THEIR CHILDREN USE OUR PARKS, THEY USE ALL THE AMENITIES, UM, PROVIDED BY OUR, BY OUR CITY.

UM, AND OBVIOUSLY FOR ME, IT IT, IT'S A PERSONAL THING GIVEN THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS ARE IMMIGRANTS.

THEY WEREN'T CITIZENS FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I GREW UP IN PLEASANT GROVE IN SOUTHEAST DALLAS, AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN LONG NEGLECTED.

AND IF MY PARENTS, EITHER ONE OF THEM WANTED TO SERVE ON A, ON A BORDER COMMISSION THAT'S GOVERNED BY THE CHARTER, INCLUDING THE PARK BOARD, THEY WOULDN'T BE, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

UM, I GREW UP IN A, IN A, IN A PARKS DESERT THAT STILL HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED TO THIS DAY, BUT NOW SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL, WE'RE WORKING TO ADDRESS THAT THE CITY IS ACQUIRING PROP PROPERTY THAT'S CADDY CORNER TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I GREW UP.

SO WE CAN CREATE A PARK THERE, BUT IF MY PARENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THESE, UM, EITHER BOARD OR COMMISSIONS, UM, THEY COULD EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS AND, AND, AND, AND LET, LET PEOPLE KNOW THE EXPERIENCES OF THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL.

UM, SO, UH, I I I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT THIS, THIS MOTION.

MS. WILLIS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THE TIME, HAVING TO SIGN A DOCUMENT SO THEIR SON COULD GO PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE FOR OUR COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M FORTUNATE THAT IN DISTRICT 13 I HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WHO MEET ALL THIS CRITERIA AND MORE.

UM, HOWEVER, IN LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES, THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE IN FINDING REPRESENTATION FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

UM, SOME OF WHICH, WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ JUST POINTED OUT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AND WHAT REALLY STRUCK ME IS THE TWO STORIES I HEARD AROUND THIS THAT BOTH TIE TO THE MILITARY AND TO SERVING OUR COUNTRY.

I KNEW COUNCIL MEMBER ZEN'S STORY ABOUT HIS PARENTS WHO WERE NOT LEGAL CITIZENS AT

[06:35:01]

AND THEN I HEARD ANOTHER STORY ABOUT THIS FROM OUR VERY OWN CHARTER REVIEW, UH, CHAIR ALAN VAUGHT, WHO SERVED I BELIEVE IN AFGHANISTAN.

AND THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE THAT WERE HELPING HIM SERVE OUR COUNTRY WHO NOW HAVE COME TO THIS COUNTRY.

THEY ARE ON A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP, BUT THEY ARE NOT YET CITIZENS.

AND HE SAT RIGHT HERE AND SAID, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD SAY THEY COULD NOT SERVE ON A BOARD OR COMMISSION.

AND SO, UM, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S, CHANCES ARE GREAT BECAUSE OF THE VERY THING THAT WAS POINTED OUT.

THIS DIDN'T WIN AT THE POLLS LAST TIME.

HOWEVER, IT'S ANOTHER CASE OF LETTING OUR VOTERS MAKE UP THEIR MINDS ON THIS.

AND I FEEL LIKE I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR THEM TO HEAR THE TWO PERSPECTIVES OF OUR MILITARY VETERANS AND WHAT THIS MEANS TO THEM AND THE CASE THAT THEY HAVE MADE, AND THEN LET THE VOTERS DECIDE ON THIS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY, AS I DID IN THE STRAW POLL, I, UH, WILL NOT SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.

MS. SCHULTZ, YOU RE HANDS FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ANYONE WHO IS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AMENDMENT AND I'D BE HAPPY TO YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT MAKES PEOPLE WHO ARE NON-CITIZENS BE.

WHAT IS THE NEGATIVE OF HAVING PEOPLE WHO ARE NON-CITIZENS BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THESE CAPACITIES? AND I'M HAPPY TO YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

WELL, THAT'S A VERY, UM, NOVEL DEBATE TECHNIQUE AND I LIKE IT.

BUT I GOTTA YOU APPLY SOME ORDER TO IT.

SO DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN MIND YOU'D LIKE TO ASK TO? THEY WANNA TAKE YOUR TIME.

ANYONE YOU WANNA DIRECT THAT TO? 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW.

NO, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HEAR A RATIONALE FOR THIS.

I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT.

DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TAKE HER TIME? ? THIS IS, THIS IS, SO, THERE IS NO RATIONALE FOR IT.

I'M FINISHED.

UM, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I THINK, UH, MS. SCHULTZ JUST MADE THE BEST POINT THAT COULD BE MADE IN THIS DISCUSSION.

CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SPOKEN TO.

UH, WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ON THE PATH TO CITIZENSHIP, THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY, UM, AND UNDERSTANDING THE GENERAL POPULATION OF OUR CITY OF DALLAS AND ITS DIVERSITY AND ITS RICHNESS.

UM, I THINK IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE INPUT FROM ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

BEHIND AN OP-ED THAT THREE FORMER MAYORS WROTE THAT YOU WANNA BAN FROM EVER BEING ABLE TO SERVE AGAIN IS JUST RIDICULOUS TO ME.

CHAIRMAN, I ADVISED YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU MR. MARIN.

UH, FIRST I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE JA EZ, WHO'S COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, VIRTUALLY WITH US TODAY.

UM, HE SHARE, HE SHARES THIS STORY ALL THE TIME AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

'CAUSE HE IS UNAPOLOGETICALLY UNASHAMED OF SHARING HIS FAMILY'S STORY.

AND YOU KNOW, HE, HE SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND HE WAS WILLING TO GIVE HIS LIFE FOR THIS COUNTRY.

AND THERE'S SO MANY, SO MANY JUST LIKE HIM OUT THERE, NOT JUST IN THE MILITARY, BUT SOME OF THEM GO TO COLLEGE AND THEY, AND THEN THEY COULDN'T GET A JOB.

OR THEY, THEY CAN'T, I DON'T, I HAVE A PRIVILEGE THAT I'M A CITIZEN OF THIS, OF THIS NATION.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, BUT NOT EVERYBODY IS.

AND WE SOMETIMES FORGET THAT HOW THIS COUNTRY STARTED WAS FROM A BUNCH OF IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME OVER HERE.

AND LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING, I'M DONE PRETENDING THAT THIS IS OKAY.

BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WERE HERE WHERE WE'RE SITTING RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE'RE STANDING WAS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WERE HERE FIRST, AND MEXICANS WERE HERE FIRST.

WE WERE HERE BEFORE THE SPANISH.

WE WERE HERE BEFORE THAT ITALIAN THAT ALLEGEDLY FOUND OUR COUNTRY.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

AND WE HAVE TO SIT THERE AND TELL PEOPLE THAT THE BORDER CROSSED US.

I DIDN'T CROSS ANY BORDER, MR. MAYOR.

MY FAMILY DID NOT CROSS ANY BORDER.

WE WERE HERE FIRST, BUT WE GET TOLD, DON'T SPEAK THIS LANGUAGE.

YOU CAN'T SERVE THIS.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

AND THEN GO BACK HOME.

I AM HOME, MR. MAYOR.

AND TO TELL US THAT WE CAN'T SERVE AFTER SO MANY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HAVE THE ABILITY SO MANY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND TO HIDE

[06:40:01]

SAY THE TRUTH.

IF YOU HATE US, TELL US.

THAT'S FOR ANYBODY WHO CANNOT TELL THE TRUTH.

BECAUSE THIS IS FOR REAL.

YES, THIS WILL PROBABLY GO DOWN AND IT'LL PROBABLY NOT PASS, BUT YOU GOTTA GIVE US A CHANCE.

'CAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR THE MAJORITY TO VOTE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY.

THAT IS JUST HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

BUT THIS ISN'T THE CHARTER AND WE'RE DOWN TO, I THINK IT'S THREE.

WE'LL EVENTUALLY GET 'EM, WE WILL EVENTUALLY GET 'EM INSTRUMENT 'CAUSE WE'RE GROWING AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TURNING 18 AT A RECORD NUMBER AND THEY'RE VOTING.

AND ONE DAY IT WILL PASS.

SO YOU CAN HAVE YOUR LITTLE VICTORIES THIS YEAR, THIS ELECTION, BUT THE CHANGE IS COMING AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIKE IT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T FORGET THE WAY THEY WERE TREATED.

SO PLEASE BE REAL.

THERE'S A SAYING THAT MAYA ANGELOU SAID IS WHEN THEY SHOW YOU WHO THEY ARE, BELIEVE THEM.

I'VE SEEN IT.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS, I'VE SEEN IT AND I BELIEVE IT, BUT I'M NOT GONNA QUIT FIGHTING.

EDISON IS A COUNCIL MEMBER FROM PLEASANT GROVE IS ONE OF THE MOST VALIANT SCRAPPERS OUT THERE.

I MEAN, HE'S, HE'S A BULLDOG OUT THERE FOR HIS COMMUNITY.

I'M GONNA STAND WITH JAIME 'CAUSE HE STOOD FOR US.

CHAIRMAN , YOU RECOGNIZE FOR ONE MINUTE.

THE RATIONALE'S ALREADY BEEN GIVEN AND I WILL SAY I PERSONALLY COME FROM AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY LESS THAN A HUNDRED YEARS IN AMERICA.

I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER NVAS THAT PEOPLE WILL INDEED REMEMBER HOW THEY'VE BEEN TREATED, INCLUDING ME.

BUT I WANNA CORRECT THE RECORD, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT WHEN WE HAD THAT LAST ELECTION, IT WAS ACTUALLY 65% AGAINST AND 35% FOR.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON TO ITEM 85? SEEING NONE, MADAME SECRETARY.

THANK YOU MS. SAM.

MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR, SORRY, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR, NO.

IF YOU OPPOSE.

MAYOR PRO, TEM ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BASEL DUA.

COUNCIL MEMBER ARNOLD? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER NOVAS? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMAN? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY? NO.

THIS AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR.

LOOKING FOR AMENDMENTS.

MS. BLACKMAN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION.

UM, I MOVE TO STRIKE PROPOSITION NUMBER THREE, EXTENDING CITY TERM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TERMS FROM TWO YEARS TO FOUR YEARS, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

MS. BLACKMAN, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

UM, WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, I BELIEVE, UH, UH, IN MANY FORMS. UH, I THINK EVERYBODY WAS TRYING TO MAKE A THREE YEAR TERM WORK, BUT I, I JUST THINK THAT A FOUR YEAR TERM IS WAY TOO LONG.

UH, AND, AND WHILE TWO YEARS IS KIND OF SHORT, WE CAN'T MAKE THE THREE YEAR WORK.

SO I WANNA GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL TWO YEAR OR HAVE THE DISCUSSION AGAIN.

SORRY MR. WEST.

BUT, UH, I THINK HOPEFULLY THE JULY BREAK MADE YOU RETHINK THAT.

MAYBE YOU JUST WANNA COME FOR TWO YEARS.

THEY BE GONE.

THAT'S GREAT.

AND SO, UH, BUT UH, I JUST FEEL THAT FOUR YEARS IS JUST WAY TOO LONG FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER SEAT.

AND, UH, WE CAN'T MAKE THE THREE WORK.

SO, UH, I WANTED TO REVISIT GOING BACK TO TWO.

THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN LY RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE BLACKMAN AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE ELECTED FOLKS HAVE MADE A CHANGE AND THEY'VE DECIDED THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER IS NOT THE PERSON TO CONTINUE.

I COMPLETELY AGREE.

I THINK WHEN WE JUST LOOK OVER OUR SHOULDER AND SEE THAT OUR STATE REPS RUN EVERY TWO YEARS, OUR CONGRESSMEN RUN EVERY TWO YEARS.

THIS IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S THAT WAY FOR A REASON.

IT HOLDS PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WAY THEY VOTE, THE WAY THEY ACT.

I THINK WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY

[06:45:01]

AND SOMETIMES THAT FORCES ACTION.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO ELECT SOMEBODY THAT DOES REPRESENT THEIR VIEWS.

SO I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS AND I THANK COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMAN FOR BRINGING FORWARD.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MS. BLACKMAN TO ITEM 85? THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE COUNCIL TERMS. SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY.

MR. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BASA? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE? NO.

ARNOLD, I GET YOUR ATTENTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY.

WITH 13.

VOTING IN FAVOR TO OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD.

MR. MAYOR GENERAL MENON, FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I MOVE TO AMEND.

I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY DELETING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT ALLOWS THE MAYOR, PRO TEM, DEPUTY MAYOR, PRO TEM, OR CITY SECRETARY TO CALL A CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER WHEN THE MAYOR IS ABSENT FROM THE MEETING LOCATION.

MS. UDIN SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION CHAIR ONE MENDELSON? YES.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

GOING BACK TO MY FAVORITE DOCUMENT OF THE DAY, OUR THREE FORMER MAYORS HAD THIS TO SAY ON THIS ITEM, THIS PROP PROPOSED AMENDMENT UNNECESSARILY REMOVES A MAYOR'S PREROGATIVE TO PRESIDE OVER COUNCIL MEETINGS AND LENDS ITSELF TO THE POTENTIAL FOR MISCHIEF IN AGENDA SETTING.

IN THE EVENT THE MAYOR'S ABSENT.

I WILL JUST GO FURTHER TO SAY, I THINK THIS IS INCREDIBLY PETTY.

IF WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH STARTING MEETINGS ON TIMES, WE NEED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND WORK IT OUT.

THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR A CHARTER AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU MS. SCHULTZ.

YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE MEN WILL SEND AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

JUST CHECKING THE ORDER.

SO THI THIS WOULD BE, IF I WANTED TO AMEND THIS, IT'S THE SECOND ONE SO I CAN'T DO IT.

IS THAT CORRECT? I CAN, I'M SORRY.

MAKE SURE, I WANNA MAKE SURE I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

I LIKE TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT.

YEAH, NO, THIS IS, THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE NOW.

I'D LIKE TO AMEND THIS AMENDMENT THAT SAYS THE MAYOR PROM SHALL PERFORM AND BE VESTED WITH ALL THE POWERS TO PERFORM ANY DUTY OF THE MAYOR.

THAT THE MAYOR IS UNABLE TO DISCHARGE OR IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY ORDINANCE OR THE CITY COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE.

AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR PROM SHALL PERFORM AND BE VESTED WITH ALL THE POWERS TO PERFORM ANY SPECIFIC DUTY THAT THE MAYOR OR MAYOR PRO TEM OR UNABLE TO DISCHARGE OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY THE CITY ORDINANCE OR BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

RULES OF PROCEDURE.

IS IT OUT OF ORDER? NO.

I HAVE TO GET A SECOND, BUT I'M, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT IT DID, BUT LET'S SEE IF WE GET A SECOND.

FIRST.

IT MAY BE OUT OF ORDER.

AM I OUT OF ORDER? I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT I WANNA DO IS MAKE SURE, HERE'S WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE OF.

SHALL I DO IT FOR A SECOND? GIMME ONE SECOND.

PAUL? UH, PAUL, MS. BLACKMAN SAVED JUNE.

SECONDED IT.

SO NOW WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IT, BUT BEFORE WE DO, JUST GIMME ONE SECOND.

DO HAVE A PRELIMINARY INQUIRY.

I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO HOLD THAT FOR JUST ONE SECOND.

UM, DID YOU HEAR THE MOTION? DO WE NEED HER TO RESTATE IT? I MAY BE ABLE TO WITHDRAW IT IS WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION.

I THINK I HEARD IT.

MY CONCERN IS, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

YEP.

SHE HAD STRIKE YOUR MOTION.

CUT IT BACK.

IT ACTUALLY SUPER.

OH GOOD.

I THINK YOU'RE OUTTA ORDER BY ACCIDENT.

INTENT BECAUSE THEIR INTENT WAS TO A, B AND C, A, B, C AND D IS ALL THERE IS.

IF YOU JUST GIVE US ONE SECOND AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

SO YOU'LL KNOW.

UM, I'M GONNA GIVE THE PARLIAMENTARIAN A CHANCE TO, TO, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ISSUE'S COME UP AND IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY INTERESTING PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION.

IF SOMEONE HAS A MOTION THAT WOULD COMPLETELY STRIKE SOMETHING.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT AN AMENDMENT THAT WILL RESTORE PART OF IT IS ACTUALLY IN ORDER.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE WANTS TO STRIKE A LIST THAT SAYS A, B, C, AND D.

AND THEN SOMEONE SAYS, I'D LIKE TO STRIKE A, B, AND C.

IS THAT AN AMENDMENT OR IS THAT ACTUALLY THWARTING THEIR

[06:50:01]

SO THEIR INTENT IS ACTUALLY TO GET RID OF THIS THING.

AND YOU'RE SAYING, WELL, LET'S GET RID OF EVERYTHING BUT THIS.

SO IT'S KIND OF UNCLEAR WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S REALLY AN AMENDMENT OR IF THAT'S REALLY UNDERMINING THE, THE PURPOSE OF THE MOTION.

SO WE'RE GONNA GET A RULING ON THAT.

MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

BUT MAY I SPEAK TO THE MOTION? SURE.

JUST SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER OR IT'S AN ORDER, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA DEBATE IT, UM, YET.

'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF, WE DON'T, IF RECOGNIZED, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN ORDER YET.

NO, NOT MY MOTION.

HER MOTION.

AM I ABLE TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR MY PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY? YOU CAN NOW.

UM, MY QUESTION, WHICH I THINK YOU STATED ONE ISSUE IS THAT THE, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ACCEPTING PORTIONS OF WHAT I SAID.

IT WAS ACTUALLY ADDING NEW LANGUAGE IN WHICH IS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE FOR AN AMENDMENT TO A MAIN, TO A MAIN, WELL A SUBARY MOTION.

BUT THANK YOU.

THAT IS WHAT THE, UM, PARLIAMENTARIAN IS LOOKING INTO RIGHT NOW.

WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS THE, UH, A NET EFFECT OF HERS IS TO NOT ONLY THWART THE WHEEL BY ADDING LANGUAGE, BUT ACTUALLY, I MEAN BY RESTORING LANGUAGE IF YOU WANT STRIKE BUT CHANGING IT TOO.

SO WE'LL GET A RULING ON THAT SO WE CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

'CAUSE IT'S GONNA COME UP MAYBE AGAIN.

CAN I SPEAK TO THE SURE, WHY NOT? WHILE WE'RE WAITING, WE'RE NOT HAVING, WE'RE NOT DEBATING UNDERLYING, JUST CALL IT A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY THAT YOU CAN KEEP TALKING PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY.

AND THAT IS THAT IF THE, IF THE INITIAL AMENDMENT PASSES, THEN UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT, THAT THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE RULE, OUR CITY RULES AND THE OTHER WAYS OF HAVING THAT CHALLENGE FACED.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? SORT OF.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT THE PARLIAMENTARY, I THINK IS COMING TO THE CONCLUSION THAT YOUR AMENDMENT IS OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE IT, IT, IT THWARTS THE, THE INTENT OF THE MAIN MOTION THERE.

THE CHANGES EXHIBIT ENTIRELY.

I'LL LET YOU, WHY, WHY DON'T YOU EXPLAIN YOUR RULING AND THEN, UH, THEN WE CAN PROCEED.

SO WHEN IT IS MOVED TO STRIKE OUT AN ENTIRE PARAGRAPH, THAT PARAGRAPH THAT WOULD BE, UM, STRUCK OUT IS OPEN FOR IMPROVEMENT, BUT NOT A COMPLETE CHANGE.

FOR INSTANCE, YOU COULD HAVE ADDED A LITTLE BACK OR, UM, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT YOU CAN'T COMPLETELY BRING IT ALL BACK AND THEN TRY TO CHANGE IT.

IT IT JUST HAS THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.

I DON'T KNOW IF I EXPLAIN MYSELF BASICALLY BECAUSE HER, THE, I'M SUPPOSED TO BE INFORMED BY HER AND MAKE THE RULING.

THE RULING IS BECAUSE HER INTENT IS TO ACTUALLY STRIKE IT.

YOUR MOTION, WHICH WOULD REINSTATE IT AND CHANGE THE LANGUAGE IS JUST TOO MUCH.

IT'S JUST A BRIDGE TOO FAR TO SAY.

IT'S NOT DESTRUCTIVE TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

SO IT'S OVER, IT'S RULED OUT OF ORDER.

SO STRIKE THE AMENDMENT BY SALT, WHICH WAS MOVED AND SECONDED FROM YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS.

I I SHOULD HAVE, UH, SOUGHT THE RULING FIRST.

SO WE'RE BACK ON THE AMENDMENT BY MENDELSSOHN.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT? CHAIRMAN RAIN YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MS. MENDELSON.

THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE ATTORNEYS.

WHEN IS THE MAYOR CONSIDERED ABSENT? WHAT'S THE DEFINIT DEFINITION OF ABSENT? WELL, THE, THE CHARTER DOESN'T REALLY SPEAK TO THE MAYOR'S ABSENCE.

IT SPEAKS TO WHEN THE MAYOR IS UNABLE TO DISCHARGE A SPECIFIC DUTY.

UM, IT'S REAL SIMPLE FOR, FOR ME IS WE, WE'VE SEEN WHEN WE HAVE A MAJORITY OF OUR COUNCIL AT THIS HORSESHOE THAT OUR MEETINGS START, UH, THEREAFTER.

AND SO THEREFORE I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.

JUST EVERYBODY KNOWS.

OKAY, SO WE ARE NOW ON, WE'RE THERE IS NO AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY MS. SCHULTZ.

THIS TO UNWIND THIS.

THERE IS, THERE ISN'T ONE.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW IS AN AMENDMENT BY CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON THAT WOULD STRIKE WHAT WAS IN THIS ORDINANCE WHEN WE, UM, WHEN PAULA BLACKMAN MADE HER MOTION, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE, UH, MEETING STARTING WHEN THERE'S A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL ON NO, NO, NO, NO.

SHE, THE ORIGINAL MOTION OF 85 HAD THIS IN IT.

THE 85 HAS EVERYTHING IN IT THAT YOU STRAW VOTED EXCEPT ANYTHING THAT GETS PULLED OUT TODAY.

SO MS. BLACKMAN'S MOTION ACTUALLY DOES HAVE IN IT THE PROVISION THAT ORIGINALLY EMANATED HERE.

I BELIEVE THAT TAKES THE MEETING START TIME TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM OR THE DEAF MAYOR PRO TEM IF THERE'S A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL PRESENT AND THE MAYOR'S NOT PRESENT.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW IS THE AMENDMENT BY MENDELSSOHN TO STRIKE THAT.

TO STRIKE THAT.

AND THE ONLY PERSON WHO'S SPOKEN ON IT

[06:55:01]

IS CHAIRMAN MORENOS.

SO CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE MENDELSSOHN AMENDMENT, WHICH WOULD STRIKE THAT PROVISION.

THIS IS MY QUESTION TO THE ATTORNEYS.

UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES IF THE MEETING, NO, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M WANNA SAY THAT.

NOT WHEN THE, IF THE MEETING IS STARTED WITH ONE OF THOSE TWO OFFICERS IN CHARGE AND THE MAYOR COMES TO THE MEETING, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT OPTIONS DOES THE HA POSITION CAN THAT MAYOR TAKE IN TERMS OF EITHER CONTINUING WITH THE CONVERSATION OR STOPPING THE CONVERSATION? SHALL WE GIVE IT A TRY TOGETHER? LAURA? SO THE MAYOR'S THE PRESIDING OFFICER.

IF HE, IF SOMEBODY, IF ONE OF THE OTHER OFFICERS, UM, STARTED THE MEETING AND HE ARRIVED, HE WOULD BE THE PRESIDING OFFICER.

NOW I'M GOING DOWN MEMORY LANE JUST A MINUTE.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS HERE, BUT I THINK WE HAD A SCENARIO, THIS IS WHY I'M GIVING IT A PAUSE, BECAUSE WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE A COUNCIL MEMBER CALLED WHATEVER RULES THEY FOLLOWED AT THAT USE THAT TIME TO GET THE MEETING STARTED.

BUT WHEN THE MAYOR CAME, UH, HE SHUT THAT DOWN.

DOES ANYONE IN HERE REMEMBER THAT? OH, I REMEMBER.

UH, I DON'T WANNA CALL ANY COUNCIL MEMBER'S NAME, BUT THEY CALLED MS. PAM.

YOU DON'T REMEMBER THAT TO BE EXACTLY WITH ME WRONG? NO, I DO NOT.

OH YEAH, WE MIGHT WANT, HE DIDN'T PUT THAT IN THE OP-ED.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF I CALLED HIM NOW AND TOLD 'EM I BE, HE SHUT THAT MEETING DOWN.

SO THE QUESTION WOULD BE THE, WOULD THE MAYOR HAVE THE POWER TO GO AHEAD AND SHUT THE MEETING DOWN AND START OVER, DISMISS AND START THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER? THAT'S ALL I WANT TO KNOW.

'CAUSE I KNOW I LIVE THAT THE MAYOR COULD ARRIVE AND THEN THE MAYOR WOULD ACT AS PRESIDING OFFICER.

THE MAYOR COULD RECESS THE MEETING.

BUT IF THE MEETING ADJOURNED, IT COULD NOT BE RECONVENED.

IT COULD WHAT NOW WHAT? IT COULD NOT BE RECONVENED AFTER ADJOURNMENT.

SO, NO, HE COULDN'T SHUT THE MEETING DOWN AND THEN RESTART IT.

HE COULD RECESS IT SO THAT WE COULD START IT ON HIS TERMS. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? WELL, HE COULD, WE'RE GONNA SIT DOWN IN THE CHAIR, THE MAYOR'S GONNA CALL FOR A RECESS AND THEN HE'S GONNA START OR SHE WILL START THE MEETING AGAIN.

CAN THEY DO THAT? YES.

BUT THE THE BODY CAN RECESS AT ANY TIME AND THEN RECONVENE.

I, I'M TRYING TO GET TO, IF I HADN'T LIVED IT, I I WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

SO ALL I'M ASKING IS CAN THE MAYOR COME IN AND, AND RECESS THE MEETING AND MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE WILL RECONVENE IN FIVE MINUTES? CAN HE LOOK UNDER THE CHARTER? CAN HE OR SHE DO THAT? YES.

HE CAN RECESS THE MEETING AND BRING IT BACK TO ORDER, BUT HE COULDN'T ADJOURN THE MEETING AND THEN HAVE A NEW START TIME FOR THE, BUT HE COULD RECESS.

I, I'M NOT, WE DIDN'T DO THAT.

WE DIDN'T DO, WE TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS.

I'M JUST TRYING TO ESTABLISH THE POWER OF THAT POSITION.

AND YOU, I THINK YOU ANSWERED IT.

THEY COULD RE CALL FOR A RECESS AND THEN RECONVENE CHAIR.

COULD I POINT OUT YES, MA'AM.

THAT IN THE COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE THAT THE MAYOR CAN CALL A 10 MINUTE RECESS EVERY HOUR.

AND SO, YES, THEY CAN.

I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND, IS THE PASTOR SAYS, I'M TRYING TO MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING.

IF WE GO THROUGH THIS, IS IT GONNA GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO GO? THAT'S ALL.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU CHAIRMAN.

RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE MENDEL AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85.

SO I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH SUCH A PROVISION COULD BE EMPLOYED.

QUESTION FOR STAFF.

WHAT HAPPENS UNDER THE CURRENT CHARTER? IF THE MAYOR IS, LET'S SAY IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT, UM, INCURS A MEDICAL DISABILITY IS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANYONE, AND IT'S THE DAY OF A COUNCIL MEETING, DOES THAT MEAN WE CAN'T MEET? NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT MEANS.

UM, IN THE CASE OF A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT, WHEN THE MAYOR IS OUT OF COMMISSION, HE'D PROBABLY BE DEEMED AS UNABLE TO DISCHARGE THE DUTY OF CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER.

SO THEN THE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM WOULD HAVE THE POWER.

BUT WHAT IF NO ONE KNOWS HE'S BEEN IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AND HE CAN'T COMMUNICATE ON HIS CELL PHONE? SO WE TRY TO CALL HIM AND THERE'S NO RESPONSE.

DOESN'T THIS SITUATION PREVENT US FROM CONVENING A MEETING CHAIR? I DON'T, I I, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO PUT US IN THAT SITUATION WHERE WE'RE CALLING HYPOTHETICALS.

I THINK REALLY THE, THE CHARTER SAYS THAT IF HE'S UN THE MAYOR'S UNABLE TO DISCHARGE DUTIES AND WE TAKE THAT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, THEN THOSE DUTIES FALL TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM THEN DEPUTY MAYOR PRO

[07:00:01]

TEM.

THE, THE COUNCIL RULES NOW SAY THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF THE MAYOR, THEN THE MAYOR PROAM OR THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, I GUESS THE QUESTION THEN BECOMES WHAT DOES THAT YEAH.

WHAT, WHAT IS AN ABSENCE? HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO WAIT TO HEAR? WELL, I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO MAKE THAT DECISION THROUGH YOUR RULES INSTEAD OF, I MEAN, IT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS.

AND IN PRACTICE, I SUPPOSE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY KNOWS THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE IN, THEY'RE GONNA TELL THE MAYOR PRO TAMRA, THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO.

WELL, OBVIOUSLY I, I'M TALKING ABOUT A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR.

DOES THAT PREVENT US FROM MEETING IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES? HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO WAIT WITHOUT PLANNING TO DO TO ME PAUL ? WELL, I JUST HAVE THIS IMAGE OF ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WRITHING IN PAIN IN A POOL OF MY OWN BLOOD.

CAN'T CALL ANYBODY WORRIED.

NO, I, I I HEAR YOU.

THAT I WOULD EXPECT THAT IF THE MAYOR IS GOING TO BE ABSENT, THEY WOULD INFORM THE MAYOR PROAM OR THE DEPUTY MAYOR PROAM.

WELL, YOU EXPECT THAT HE WOULD IF HE KNOWS HE IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.

BUT WHAT IF HE HAS AN ACCIDENT AND CAN'T COMMUNICATE? HOW LONG DO WE WAIT? I THINK THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE BODY.

WELL, I, I'D LIKE THAT IMMORTALIZED SOMEWHERE THAT IN YOUR RULES OR WHEREVER ELSE YOU DEEM IT NECESSARY.

SO IS IT YOUR OPINION THAT THE CURRENT CHARTER ABOUT SUCCESSION OF DEPUTY TO THE MAYOR, IF THE MAYOR'S UNABLE TO PERFORM AS DUTIES, ADDRESSES THIS SITUATION WHERE WE DON'T HEAR FROM THE MAYOR AND WE NEED TO START A MEETING? SECTION THREE, CHAPTER 11 SAYS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL ELECT ONE OF ITS MEMBERS AS MAYOR PROAM, ONE AS DEPUTY MAYOR PROAM, WHO SHALL PERFORM A SPECIFIC DUTY OF THE MAYOR.

IF THE MAYOR IS UNABLE TO DISCHARGE THAT SPECIFIC DUTY, THAT IS MORE EXPANSIVE THAN JUST STARTING A MEETING.

AND THEN THE COUNCIL RULES REALLY FOCUS ON STARTING THE MEETING.

IS THERE A CURRENT COUNCIL RULE THAT SAYS IF A QUORUM IS PRESENT AND THE MAYOR IS NOT, WE CAN START THE, THE DEPUTY CAN START THE MEETING WITHIN A CERTAIN WAIT TIME? NO, IT SAYS IN THE ABSENCE.

SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE EXPLORED THROUGH THE RULES.

I'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW THAT MY SECURITY DETAIL IS FEVERISHLY SCRIBBLING NOTES OUT NOW ABOUT YOU , UM, LTZ, DO YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES? YEAH.

OR AS WE SAY IN MY CULTURE, TRUE, TRUE.

NO, IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN EVER.

BUT I THINK NO, TWO, TWO, UH, CHAIR TO CHAIR RIDLEY'S POINT AND WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO, BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M NOT A GREAT, UH, PARLIAMENTARIAN .

UM, AND THAT IS THAT THE WE WHAT I AM ASKING FOR THIS, AND I HOPE THAT ON ALL THE ONES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THESE, THESE, UH, ISSUES THAT ARE SOMEWHAT AMBIGUOUS, THAT WE DO HAVE A RULES COMMITTEE, UH, THAT ADDRESSES THESE KINDS OF ISSUES AND THAT WE ASK THAT OUR RULES COMMITTEE DOES, UH, ADDRESS ALL OF THESE.

SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO BY IT.

SO THANK YOU.

I HOPE THAT CLARIFIES IT, MR. RIDLEY, THAT WE'LL TAKE THIS HOPEFULLY TO THE RULES COMMITTEE, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE MEN, THE MIDDLETON AMENDMENT TO NUMBER 85.

CONSIDER, UM, AND IF, IF POSSIBLE BEFORE WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION SO THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR, UM, UNDERSTANDING, UH, I'D, I'D LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUE TO READ THAT INTO THE RECORD IF SHE WILL ANSWER.

AND, UM, THANK YOU, MR. RIDLEY.

UM, I, I, I, THAT'S, I THINK THE ULTIMATE UNDERLYING GOAL.

UM, JUST AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, I THINK THERE'S A LEVEL OF AMBIGUITY TO, UH, THE LANGUAGE THAT EXISTS AND IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT, UH, I KNOW I'VE ASKED, THERE HASN'T BEEN A CLEAR, UH, ANSWER.

UM, AND SO HOWEVER, THIS IS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.

UH, I'M, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THAT.

I, I, UM, WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I, I THINK THAT THE STRIKING IT ALL THE WAY, UH, RIGHT AS OF NOW IS, IN MY OPINION, NOT THE BEST, UM, APPROACH.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS OFFERED, UM, TO AMEND, BECAUSE IF THE, IF, IF, IF, IF THERE IS A WAY TO ACCOMPLISH IT, UM, DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE ALREADY STROLL, UH, STRAW, HOLD ON.

THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE END RESULT IS THAT THERE BE NO AMBIGUITY, THAT THERE BE CLEAR, UH, ANSWER FOR US.

AND SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND WOULD LIKE TO, UH, HEAR, UH, MS. SCHULTZ'S LANGUAGE FOR US TO, UM, UH, UH,

[07:05:01]

UM, THAT'S AN INTERESTING ONE.

YOU JUST, YOU JUST WANT TO HEAR, I JUST WANNA HEAR THE LANGUAGE.

LEMME STOP HERE.

LEMME, WILL YOU STOP THIS TIME REAL QUICK? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT WE'RE EVEN TALKING ABOUT HERE.

UM, SO YOU MEAN THE MOTION THAT WAS DEEMED OUT OF ORDER AT THIS TIME TO MAKE THE MOTION? YOU JUST WANNA HEAR WHAT THE LANGUAGE OF IT WOULD BE IF CORRECT.

IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE THE WORD MOVE IN IT.

SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN TAKE HIS TIME TO READ WHAT THE MOTION WOULD SAY.

IT SAYS THE MAYOR PRO TEM SHALL PERFORM AND BE VESTED WITH ALL THE POWERS TO PERFORM ANY DUTY OF THE MAYOR.

THAT THE MAYOR IS UNABLE TO DISCHARGE OR IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY ORDINANCE OR THE CITY COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE.

AND THE SAME GOES FOR THE DEPUTY MAYOR PROM.

I, I THINK THAT THAT LANGUAGE IS NOT NECESSARILY, UM, AS TAILORED TO JUST THE SCENARIO THAT WE ARE, ARE, UM, UH, DISCUSSING SPECIFIC TO THE, THE TIME.

I THINK THAT THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO THEN, UM, VET THIS AND WORK IT A LOT MORE ROBUST THROUGH THE COMMITTEE WORK AND MAKE SURE THAT THE, UM, COUNCIL RULES THAT WE END UP ADOPTING WILL, WILL THEN BE, UH, HONORED BY REFLECTING, UM, THE CHARTER LANGUAGE THAT SHE'S OFFERED.

SO I, I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS AS ON THE, ON THE TABLE.

AND I HOPE TO SUPPORT, UH, ANOTHER VERSION OF IT, UM, IF THIS ONE WERE TO FAIL.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE BEFORE I GO BACK TO, UH, CHAIRMAN RIDLEY? CHAIRMAN RIDLEY RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

TAMMY, DIDN'T YOU JUST READ A CHARTER PROVISION THAT IS IN SUBSTANCE THE SAME AS THE IDEA THAT CHAIR SCHULTZ JUST, UH, READ BACK TO US? I THINK WHAT SHE'S ADDING IS, UM, OR AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY ORDINANCE OR THE CITY COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE.

SHE'S JUST ADDING THAT.

SO THE SUBSTANCE OF IT UP TO THAT POINT IS THE SAME YES.

AS THE CURRENT CHARTER.

BUT THEY'RE ADDING THE, BUT SHE WOULD BE PROPO IF, IF IT WERE A MOTION SHE WOULD BE ADDING OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY ORDINANCE OR CHARTER.

WELL, BUT ISN'T THAT IMPLIED? UM, SUCH THAT WE HAVE COUNSEL RULES OF PROCEDURE THAT ARE, UH, RULES THAT GOVERN OUR CONDUCTIVE MEETINGS.

AND SO UNDER THE EXISTING CHARTER PROVISION, OUR RULES COMMITTEE, THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE COULD ADOPT SPECIFIC RULES ABOUT WHEN THE DEPUTY, UH, CAN ASSUME THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR.

ISN'T THAT RIGHT? YES.

AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH THE CHARTER.

SO WE DON'T NEED A SPECIFIC PROVISION IN THE CHARTER ENABLING A RULES COMMITTEE TO ADOPT A RULE, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

SO, UM, I WOULD, UM, ASK THAT THE CHAIR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE TAKE UP THIS ISSUE AT THEIR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING OR WHEN APPROPRIATE TO ADDRESS, UM, THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE DEPUTY, UH, MAYOR PROAM, UH, OR THE, THE MAYOR PROAM, CAN ASSUME THE DUTIES OF THE MAYOR IN TERMS OF TIMEFRAME OR CIRCUMSTANCES OR WHATEVER, SO THAT WE HAVE CLEAR RULE ON THAT AND THAT THAT DOESN'T NEED TO ARISE TO THE DIGNITY OF A CHARTER AMENDMENT.

SHE NO PROBLEM.

I WAS, UH, UH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE I WAS HAVING A SIDEBAR.

WE'RE GOOD.

NOTHING'S HAPPENING.

IS THERE? OKAY.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MS. MENDELSON? OKAY.

MR. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

DEPUTY MAYOR PROAM BASEL.

DOA UA? NO THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER WEST IS ABSENT WHEN VOTE TAKEN.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WEST YOUR VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT? COUNCIL MEMBER MEN.

I'LL TAKE THE ABSENT.

I DIDN'T HEAR IT.

SO YOU'RE IN THE ROOM.

YOU HAVE TO VOTE IF YOU DON'T VOTE.

IT'S AN AUTOMATIC.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN CONSULT.

CAN YOU COME BACK TO ME? I WILL.

[07:10:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ? NO, I'M SORRY.

CITY SECRETARY.

I NEED TO CHANGE MINE TOO.

WOULD 14 MEMBERS VOTING IN FAVOR? ONE OPPOSED? THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD.

UH, MS. MENDELSSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION.

I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY DELETING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT REQUIRES THE MAYOR TO ASSIGN STANDING CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF INAUGURATION.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON? SURE.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

WELL, GOING BACK TO OUR THREE FORMER MAYORS, HERE'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

SHALL CHAPTER THREE, SECTION 13 B OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THE MAYOR TO ASSIGN STANDING CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF INAUGURATION? AND IF THE MAYOR, OH, I'M SORRY, I'M READING THE WRONG THING.

I APOLOGIZE.

IT'S GETTING LATE.

THIS AMENDMENT REPRESENTS A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST.

APPOINTMENTS WITHIN 60 DAYS HAVE NOT PROVED PROBLEMATIC HISTORICALLY.

ADDING ON WHAT THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, WE SHOULD NOT REWRITE ALL THE COMMITTEE PROCESS TO ADDRESS CURRENT TENSIONS OR DISAGREEMENTS.

THE CHARTER IS A DOCUMENT THAT WILL LAST BEYOND THE CURRENT COUNCIL'S TENURE, AND WE SHOULD HESITATE TO BE OVER PRESCRIPTIVE WHEN NOT NECESSARY.

I THINK THIS IS WELL SPOKEN, WELL SAID BY, UH, BY THOUGHTFUL PEOPLE, AND I COMPLETELY AGREE.

CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES, THIS IS THE MENDELSSOHN AMENDMENT TO, UH, ITEM 85.

EVERYONE.

AGAIN.

UH, NOT REALLY SURE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A, AN ISSUE.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THOUGHTFUL DECISIONS THAT OUR MAYOR'S OFFICE IS TASKED WITH.

THIS TAKES TIME TO MEET WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BEST MATCH WITH THEIR, FOR THOSE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES.

UH, AGAIN, I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS TO BE AN ISSUE AND, UH, DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE TAKING IT UP.

ANYONE ELSE WISHES BE ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MS. SN? UH, DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE, BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE MENDELSSOHN AMENDMENT.

UM, I, UH, WILL SUPPORT THIS AS WELL.

I WOULD, I JUST, UM, ASK ON RECORD THAT THIS BE SENT BACK TO THE RULES COMMITTEE AND ALSO WORK THROUGH THE WAY THAT WE, UM, HAVE DISCUSSED THE LAST TWO.

IF, IF SOMEBODY COULD CONFIRM THAT, THAT WOULD, WOULD, WOULD.

OH, I MEAN, I'M, UH, I I'M NOT SURE WHAT WHAT THERE'S TO ACT ON, BUT I I HEARD IT.

UM, YEAH.

DO I JUST NEED TO HEAR ME SAY THAT I'D BE WILLING TO DO IT? YEAH.

SO WHAT YOU WANT, I, I'M HAPPY TO, TO, TO DISCUSS THINGS AT THAT.

YOU MEAN, AND YOU MEAN THE A THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON AFFAIRS.

ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS.

I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.

BUT YOU ARE, UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO SAY WHATEVER YOU WANNA SAY DURING YOUR TIME, SO I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT YOU.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

THAT, BUT YOU WERE ASKING ME A QUESTION.

I'M HAPPY TO RESPOND.

YOU'RE ASKING ME IF I, THAT'S ALL I WAS ASKING.

UH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STILL LOOKED AT AN AVENUE, UM, FOR US TO ADDRESS, UM, THE ISSUE.

I THINK THAT SOME GREAT POINTS HAVE BEEN MADE AND THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH.

UM, I, AGAIN, WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD, UM, SOME EFFICIENCY OR INEFFICIENCIES ADDRESSED WITH THIS.

AND, UH, I THINK THAT THAT'S ACCOMPLISHABLE THROUGH, UM, OUR AD HOC COMMITTEE.

SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST, UM, THIS AMENDMENT BY MS. MENDELSON TO ITEM 85? I DON'T SEE ANY, SO, UH, MADAM SECRETARY.

PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

MAYOR PRO, TEM ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PROTON BASEL DUA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER SCHULTZ?

[07:15:01]

WITH ALL 15 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL VOTING IN FAVOR, THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD.

MR. MAYOR, CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY DELETING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT REQUIRES CITY COUNCIL TO CONFIRM THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT.

TWO REASSIGNMENTS OF AND REMOVAL FROM STANDING CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES.

WE, WE'VE, I'M SO CONFUSED.

I FEEL LIKE I'M HEARING THE SAME WE PASSED.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S TRUE OR NOT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE DID THAT ONE.

HAVE WE NOT, OR HAVE WE I GOT ANOTHER .

WELL THEN I'M GONNA GO TO SOMEONE ELSE THEN.

UM, 'CAUSE I WANNA TRY TO SPREAD THIS AROUND, BUT SURE.

I, BUT I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANT TO BE, UM, PREJUDICIAL TO ANYONE.

IT, THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 'CAUSE I'M JUST LOSING MY MIND.

COUNCIL, WE DID IT.

SO MS. BLACKMAN, YOU RE UM, FOR MOTION, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP THE MOTION THAT WAS TABLED ABOUT TERM LIMITS.

WE DID, UH, WE WONDERFUL.

WE DID DECIDE THAT WE WERE GOING BACK TO TWO YEARS VERSUS FOUR.

SO I THINK NOW WE CAN MOVE ON WITH THAT.

IS, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO US GOING BACK TO, UM, THE TABLED MOTION? I MEAN, 'CAUSE WHAT, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? AND MY CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

I, I FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING LEGISLATIVE FLASHBACKS.

WE, WE PICK UP THE DEBATE WHERE IT LEFT OFF ON THE TABLE, ON THE TABLE ITEM.

SO WE'LL GO RIGHT BACK TO WHERE WE WERE IN THE QUEUE AND WHO'S SPOKEN AND WHY NOT, WE'RE NOT STARTING IT OVER AGAIN.

SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION AND I DON'T HEAR ANY, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO MS. BLACKMAN'S AMENDMENT REGARDING, UM, LIFETIME TERM LIMITS OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL 'EM.

UM, AND HERE'S WHAT I HAD.

FIVE MINUTE ROUNDS.

9, 2, 4, 3, 6, AND 12.

THOSE ARE THE DISTRICTS THAT HAD SPOKEN ON THIS ALREADY FOR FIVE MINUTES.

SO IF YOU REPRESENT DISTRICT 9, 2, 4, 3, 6, OR 12, YOU SHOULD STAND DOWN FOR JUST A MINUTE TO LET SOMEONE ELSE, IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

AND THEN WE'LL GO TO YOU GUYS FOR THREE MINUTES.

SO ANYONE WHO DOES REPRESENT 9, 2, 4, 3, 6, OR 12, WANNA SAY ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT THEN.

UM, I SEE WILLIS, MS. WILLIS, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WELL, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE WERE THOSE WHO DIDN'T THINK THAT WE WOULD ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING OVER THE JULY RECESS BY TAKING THE TIME TO REFLECT ON SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE.

BUT LET ME STAND AND SAY THAT I DID REFLECT ON THIS AND I NOW SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT THE FOUR TWO YEAR TERMS WOULD BE ENOUGH AND THAT I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST GIVE THE VOTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THIS.

AND, UM, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS WHERE I AM NOW.

ANYONE ELSE BEFORE I GO TO CHAIRMAN MORENO FOR THREE MINUTES? CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.

UM, THIS IS, I THINK MAYBE MORE OF A, UH, PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY IS EARLIER WE VOTED DOWN THE FOUR YEAR PROPOSITION OR THE FOUR YEAR TERM LIMITS.

WOULD THAT BE STRICKEN ALTOGETHER FROM THE, UH, WHAT'S GONNA SHOW UP ON THE BALLOT SINCE WE, I GUESS I'LL LET THOSE DEPARTMENT OR THE, I'LL LET THE CITY, UM, ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHOEVER SHE WANTS, ANSWER TO HOW THAT WOULD BE AN ACCOMPLISHED.

UM, YES, THAT PROPOSITION WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ORDINANCE AND WILL NOT APPEAR ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR, AGAINST MS. BLACKMAN'S? AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85 REGARDING TERM LIMITS? MAYOR, COULD YOU REPEAT POINT OF ORDER? CAN SHE PLEASE STATE THE STATE YOUR MOTION? YEAH.

YOU WANNA RESTATE YOUR MOTION? SURE, PLEASE.

IN CHAPTER THREE, CITY COUNCIL SECTION THREE, A LIMITATION OF TERMS. I MOVE TO STRIKE UNTIL AT LEAST ONE TERM HAS ELAPSED FROM SUBSECTION A AND UNTIL AT LEAST ONE TERM FOR PLACE 15 HAS ELAPSED FROM SUBSECTION B, ELIMINATING THE ABILITY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR TO RETURN IN THOSE POSITIONS AFTER SERVING THE LIMIT OF, AND THIS IS WHERE IT'S GONNA BE TWO, FOUR YEAR TERMS FOR MAYOR OR, UM, OR FOUR TWO YEAR TERMS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THAT'S YOUR MOTION.

DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST KNOW ON, ON COMMON PRACTICE, 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT Y'ALL GAVE US SOME EXAMPLES AGAIN, IN, IN STATE OF TEXAS, IT DOES VARY.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A, A WHILE SINCE WE HAD THE MATERIALS THAT Y'ALL PRESENTED, UM, ON THE OTHER, THE, THE OTHER CITIES THAT, UH, THE OTHER CITIES.

UM, I, I'M, I'M CURIOUS.

WELL, I, I'M CURIOUS ON THE, I GUESS I, I GUESS Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY VETTED THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF IT.

UM, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S PRETTY OUT OF PRACTICE FOR DEFINITIVE.

UM,

[07:20:01]

I, I, WE KNOW THAT, HANG ON, I'M PULLING UP THE INFORMATION.

UM, WE, WE KNOW THAT, I MEAN, JUST AS MS. MENDELSON MENTIONED WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TERMS AND NOT THE TERM LIMITS, UH, ALL OF THE EXAMPLES THAT SHE GAVE, NONE OF NONE OF THEM HAVE, UH, DEFINITIVE TERM LIMITS.

SO, I MEAN, WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, WE'RE LOOKING AT CONGRESS, WE'RE LOOKING, AND SO I I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT, WHAT PRECEDENTS, UH, HAVE, HAVE BEEN SET YES.

AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

UM, OBVIOUSLY BESIDES THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT, I DON'T KNOW OF ONE THAT HAS HARD TERM LIMITS, UM, WHAT SUPREME COURT, UM, AND THAT THEN AT THE CITY LEVEL, IT, IT VARIES WIDELY, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THE, THE PRECEDENT AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL IS GENERALLY TO NOT HAVE HARD TERM LIMITS.

AND THEN WITH THE OTHER LIKE PEER CITIES THAT YOU USUALLY GIVE US COMPARATIVE DATA FROM.

LEMME SEE IF I CAN FIND THAT.

HAVE A GOOD TIME.

JUST COME AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

FOR REAL.

I'M WAITING FOR HIM.

PLEASE GIMME AN ANSWER.

WOW.

DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU WANNA ASK WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING? I MEAN, ARE THERE, I I GUESS THE ASSIGNMENT IS TO JUST FIND PEER CITIES IF THEY HAVE ANY DATA TO SEE.

THEY ALREADY DO HAVE IT.

I THINK THAT THEY'RE JUST LOCATED JUST LOOKING FOR DO YOU, I JUST WANNA KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT WHILE WE'RE NO, I WANNA HEAR THOSE ANSWERS FIRST.

MAYOR PAM, BE RECOGNIZED.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT I ONLY HAVE ONE MORE AMENDMENT.

ONE MORE THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

LOOK AT.

I WAS ABLE TO FIND IT.

SO THIS, THIS COMES FROM THE PRESENTATION I GAVE TO THE COMMISSION, UM, BACK IN FEBRUARY.

UM, WE, WE WERE LOOKING AT TERM LENGTHS, LIMITS, NUMBER OF TERMS SERVED.

UM, AND SO, UH, OTHER CITIES, LARGE CITIES IN TEXAS TEND TO IMPLEMENT SOME VERSION OF EIGHT TOTAL YEAR LIMITS.

UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY HARD TERM LIMITS.

THE EXCEPTIONS ARE EL PASO, WHICH ACTUALLY SAYS INSTEAD OF SETTING A TERM LIMIT, THEY SAY NO WOMAN MAY SERVE AS THE MAYOR OR MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR MORE THAN A CUMULATIVE OF 10 YEARS.

UM, SO THAT, THAT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING, UH, CHANGE THAT THEY HAVE.

UM, SAN ANTONIO DOES, SAN ANTONIO HAS HARD TERM LIMITS AND THEN FORT WORTH HAS NO TERM LIMITS AT ALL.

SO YOU CAN JUST KEEP GOING, UH, STRAIGHT THROUGH.

BUT, UM, EVERY, EVERY OTHER ONE HAS LANGUAGE THAT, UM, THAT RELATES TO THE EIGHT, EIGHT TOTAL YEARS SERVED IN A ROW.

UM, AND I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT HARD TERM LIMITS.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN TOTAL TERMS? OKAY.

OH, OKAY.

SO ARE ARLINGTON, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS ALLOWS YOU TO SERVE THREE TOTAL TWO YEAR TERMS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND THREE TOTAL TWO YEAR TERMS AS A MAYOR.

SO 12, 12 YEARS MAXIMUM.

UM, LAREDO ALLOWS EIGHT YEARS AS COUNCIL MEMBER AND EIGHT YEARS AS MAYOR.

UM, HOUSTON IS, IS EIGHT YEARS FOR EACH OFFICE AS WELL AS A SAN ANTONIO.

AND THEN, LIKE I MENTIONED, EL PASO IS, IS 10 YEARS TOTAL.

UM, SO SOME OF THE LARGER CITIES, IT LOOKS LIKE, UM, HAS TERM LIMITS, BUT IT'S NOT, IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S MUTE ON SITTING OUT THE THOSE, SO THOSE WOULD BE THE HARD TERM LIMITS.

OH, THOSE WERE HARD.

I BELIEVE EL PASO TERMS ARE TWO, TWO YEARS LONG FOR COUNCIL.

THEY CAN ONLY SERVE THAT AMOUNT OF TIME TOTAL.

AND THEN EL PASO WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT JUST HAD A, A, THEY LISTED A TOTAL, TOTAL NUMBER OF YEARS AND ARBITRARY, I BELIEVE EL PASO,

[07:25:01]

I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE OURS WHERE IT'S TWO YEARS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FOUR YEARS FOR MAYOR.

AND SO THAT ACTUALLY MEANS THAT YOU CAN ONLY SERVE THREE YEARS OR THREE TERMS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND THEN ONE TERM IS THE MAYOR TO FIT INTO THE 10 YEAR INTERESTING MARK.

SO IT'S A VERY, IT'S A VERY INTERESTING SETUP THAT THEY HAVE.

UM, AND I GUESS I, I WOULD JUST, I'M JUST CURIOUS ON THE, UH, WHAT, WHAT THIS WOULD ACCOMPLISH.

AND I ONLY ASKED THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE WAS, I KNOW, I REMEMBER THE, THE BULK OF THE DISCUSSION LAST TIME WAS REALLY ABOUT, UM, THOSE WHO WANTED THIS, UM, AND SAID, LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.

AND I WOULD JUST, I'M JUST CURIOUS IF, UM, ISN'T THAT LETTING THE VOTERS DECIDE, ALLOWING FOR THEM TO COME BACK TO THE BALLOT? AND IF NOT, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO BE DIFFERENT? I, I JUST, I'M TRYING TO GET SOME UNDERSTANDING, UH, BECAUSE JUST AS MS UH, WILLIS MENTIONED, I MEAN, I DEFINITELY WAS ABLE TO REFLECT AND, AND COME BACK WITH DIFFERENT MINDSET ON SEVERAL ISSUES.

AND SO I'M NOT, I'M, I'M NOT ADVOCATING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON THIS ONE.

I, I, I TRULY WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, UM, HOW WE CAN, HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS, YOU KNOW, UH, DI DIPLOMATIC YEAH.

DEMOCRACY ARE YOU, UM, IF SOMEONE ARE, YOU YIELD THE FLOOR BECAUSE KATHY STEWART WOULD LIKE TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND.

LOOK LIKE KATHY WAS GONNA ANSWER.

KATHY WANTS TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND.

I LOVE THAT.

BUT I MEAN, BUT, BUT AS A TECHNICALITY, ARE YOU IT'S GONNA BE MY TIME.

ARE YOU ENDING YOUR TIME OR YOU IT WILL BE.

IT'S LETTING HER TAKE OVER OR YOU JUST LETTING HER I'M NOT LETTING HER TAKE OVER.

I'M LETTING HER ANSWER .

GO AHEAD, .

IT'S LATE AND I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT I SAID UNDERSTAND 60 DAYS OR 45 DAYS AGO.

UM, BUT IT WAS ALONG THE LINES OF ALLOWING FOR FRESH IDEAS, FRESH ENERGY, NEW PEOPLE TO, TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THIS HORSESHOE AND SERVE AND TO BRING THEIR PERSPECTIVES.

AND MAYBE THAT'S YOUNGER PEOPLE AS WELL, ESPECIALLY MAYBE NOW THAT, UM, WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY ANYWAY THAT THE COMPENSATION WILL BE A LITTLE BIT, UM, CLOSER TO OUR COST OF LIVING.

SO I THINK I SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND I SEE, I THINK THE QUESTION FOR ME WAS WHY NOT LET THE VOTERS IN THIS ELECTION MAKE THAT DECISION? THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT TERM LIMITS OUT THERE.

I THINK THERE'S SOME, UM, ENERGY BEHIND WANTING TERM LIMITS AT BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME VERY OLD PEOPLE SERVING AND I MEAN, WAY OLDER THAN ME, .

SO, UM, SO I THINK IT'S A, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED AND DEBATED AND THOUGHT ABOUT.

AND, UM, AND I SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EMBRACE THAT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT, EIGHT YEARS IS ENOUGH TIME TO, TO GET OUR PROJECTS DONE AND INFLUENCE THE DECISIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, LEAD THE CITY AND, AND WE'RE WILLING TO, TO CALL IT EIGHT.

I I DO, I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, I'M, I'M A, A STRONG SUPPORTER OF, OF TERM LIMITS.

UM, AND I WISH THAT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, UH, AT A FEDERAL LEVEL, UM, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE NEW THOUGHT, UH, IN THE, UM, CONVERSATION IN THE PROCESS.

SO, UM, FOR THAT, I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY, I, I CAN JUST SAY THAT I ALSO THINK IF YOU ALLOW ME TO WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE AT HOME.

YOU ACT LIKE Y'ALL ARE SOMEBODY'S LIVING ROOM.

I, I, I'LL JUST, I JUST LIKE TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT.

NO, WE DON'T REMEMBER.

WE'RE STILL AT THE CITY COUNCIL.

DO YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE HER SOME TIME OF YOURS? OR YOU, WERE YOU GONNA SAY SOMETHING ON YOUR TIME? ? UM, IF THERE'S NO ONE, ALL I WILL SAY IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT I, I, I'M CONVINCED AT THIS POINT, I THINK THAT, UM, UH, THAT IF THE VOTERS WERE TO SAY, UM, NO, UH, THEN I GUESS THE STATUS QUO WOULD BE THAT THEY STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO USE THEIR VOTE TO CHANGE THAT.

UH, BUT I JUST WAS CURIOUS ON THE PRECEDENCE.

AND, UM, AND I DO AGREE WITH YOU.

I THINK THAT THAT'S A HUGE CONVERSATION WITH EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, AND THERE'S A GREAT NEED FOR IT.

SO WHY NOT START AT HOME? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

NO PROBLEM.

I'M, I'M SORRY, I I HAVE TO STICK TO THESE RULES, GUYS, SO, UH, I APOLOGIZE.

UH, CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE, UM, ACTUALLY FIVE MINUTES ON THIS, AND THEN, OH, THERE'S SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO JUMPED IN.

SO IT'LL BE A LITTLE MINUTE.

I, I WILL YIELD WHATEVER TIME I HAVE BACK.

I'M DONE.

NO, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

I OKAY.

YOU, YOU'VE GOT WHAT? I, AND SO WE'RE BACK.

SO FOR THE, THE TWO PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE, WE HAVE THREE MINUTE ROUNDS FOR YOU, MS. BLACKMAN.

APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, IF WE DO RAISE OUR SALARIES, THEN MORE PEOPLE CAN COME AND BE A PARTICIPANT AROUND HERE.

WE GOT THREE MINUTES.

AND TO ANSWER, I'LL USE MY TIME TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

UH, MR. BEZEL DO IT, BUT IT, SOMETIMES THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CONFIGURED, UH, HAVE A LITTLE HELP SO THAT WAY WE DO GET MORE, MORE FRESH VOICES ABLE TO COME TO THE BODY AND, AND MAKE DECISIONS.

AND I THINK IF WE ARE RAISING AND THE VOTERS

[07:30:01]

AND I DO THINK YOUNG VOICES ARE GOOD TO HAVE.

AND SO MAYBE THAT, THAT'S WHY I FEEL THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEED SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES THE SYSTEM DOES NEED TO BE, UM, CODDLED JUST A BIT IN ORDER TO GET THE RESULTS YOU WANT.

AND I THINK THIS IS A, A WAY TO DO IT.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

SAN ANTONIO DOES IT, AND IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE KNOW THE RULES YOU SERVE AND YOU LEAVE.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I BELIEVE.

AND YES, I'M WITH MS. WILLIS, UH, A MONTH OF JUST THINKING IT OVER AND YOU CAN KIND OF GET THROUGH SOME STUFF AND IT'S LATE.

AND I'M TIRED.

MS. OKAY.

CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

JUST QUICKLY, I MEAN, TO, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I, I'M ONE OF THOSE, I BELIEVE IN, UH, THE, YOU TALK ABOUT THE FRESHNESS OF, OF HAVING NEW VOICES AND ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

I THINK EVERYTHING IS RELEVANT TO, UH, THAT INDIVIDUAL.

YOUNG DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN THAT YOU ARE, UH, RIGHT, AND WILL BE MATURE ENOUGH TO MAKE DECISIONS.

AND SO AN OLD DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE TOO OLD TO THINK.

AND THAT ALSO, YOU MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OLDER, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE NOTION IS THAT I'M NOT READY TO SEE A JOHN BECKWITH, THAT'S GOLDEN GATE FUNERAL HOME, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW.

SO YOU MAY BE OLDER, AND I MAY BE OLDER, BUT I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF DEAD, AND I DON'T, I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE OR ANYONE AGE WISE, SO I'M GONNA MOVE REAL FAST.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE ARE, WHAT, HOW WE ARE CHARACTERIZING INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE.

IT'S CALLED AGEISM.

IT'S A PREJUDICE.

AND SO WE WANNA BE CAREFUL AROUND THIS HORSESHOE.

UH, WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT THAT, I, YOU, YOU'RE TAKING ME, WE CANALWAY ALREADY GO BACK TO JUDGING A PERSON BY THEIR COLOR AND, AND THEIR I IQ SAYING IQ, UH, BEING AN INDICATOR OF WHO THEY ARE.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU, YOU CAN BE OFFENSIVE AND, AND I'M HAVING TO, I AM LIKE, LEMME CHECK Y'ALL OUT A LITTLE BIT RIGHT QUICK, BECAUSE YOU GOTTA BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT AGEISM.

SO I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN I'M DOING MY STUDIES HERE REAL FAST, I THINK MOST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE RETURNED TO THE OFFICE HAVE BEEN FROM THE SOUTHERN SECTOR FOR THE MOST PART.

I REMEMBER SANDY GRAYSON AND YOURS RETURNED, BUT I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, UH, WHO HAVE RETURNED BECAUSE THO THE COMMUNITY WANTED THEM AND THEY VOTED THEM BACK IN.

AND IF THEY DIDN'T WANT 'EM IN, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE VOTED THEM BACK IN.

SO THAT'S WHY I AM DEFINITELY NOT SUPPORTING THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IF Y'ALL WANT, I HEAR YOU EVERY NOW AND THEN, LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.

LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO BE THE ADULT IN THE ROOM.

I GOT YOU ON THAT.

BUT I BELIEVE IN MY HEART, AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I'M TRYING TO DO.

UH, I'M NOT PUTTING A FEATHER IN MY CAP AND TRYING TO PAVE A WAY TO COME BACK.

I'M JUST SPEAKING OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN A DEMOCRATIC, UH, ENVIRONMENT.

WE IN DEMO DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT PROCESS TO WORK.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR, AGAINST MS. BLACKMAN'S? AMENDMENT TO ITEM 85 RELATED TO TERM LIMITS? SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BASIL DUA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ARNOLD? NO, THAT'S CORRECT.

WITH 10 VOTING IN FAVOR.

FIVE OPPOSED THIS AMENDMENT.

MOVE FORWARD, MR. MAYOR.

GENERAL WEST, YOU HAVE A MOTION? I DO.

I, I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY DELETING THE PROPOSITION CLARIFYING THAT MUNICIPAL JUDGES AND ASSOCIATE MUNICIPAL JUDGES SERVE TERMS EQUAL TO THE TERMS OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, CHAIRMAN WEST, DO YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? YES.

FIVE MINUTES, SIR.

UH, IT'S A CLEANUP AMENDMENT.

UH, WE HAD ADDED THIS ORIGINALLY WHEN WE WERE, UM, PUSHING FORWARD FOUR YEAR TERMS. UM, THEY'RE ALREADY ON TWO YEAR TERMS FOLLOWING US, SO THIS IS A SUPERFLUOUS, WE DON'T NEED IT ANYMORE.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MR. WEST? ITEM 85.

[07:35:02]

PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR, NO.

DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE BASA? YES.

WITH ALL 15 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL VOTING IN FAVOR, THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR A MOTION? THANK YOU.

I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY ONE, DELETING THE SENTENCE, REFERENCING BENEFITS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND TWO, CHANGING THE WORD SALARY.

BACK TO COMPENSATION IN CHAPTER THREE, SECTION FOUR.

THIS WOULD BE THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENT ITEM.

IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND? OOH, IT'S THE HANGING.

CHAD.

I DON'T HEAR ONE GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.

THERE IS NO SECOND FAILS FOR WANT OF A SECOND.

I'M LOOKING FOR AMENDMENTS.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE.

HEY GUYS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY CHARTER.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU GUYS GOT IT ALL OUT THERE.

UM, ALRIGHT, WELL, THERE BEING NO MORE AMENDMENTS THEN WE THEN ARE ON TO ITEM 85 AS AMENDED BY ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT MADE IT, AND NOW THE ONES WHO DIDN'T.

AND WE NOW NEED TO HAVE A RECORD VOTE ON 85 AS AMENDED.

THE, THE ORIGINAL MOTION BY MS. BLACKMAN HAS AMENDED IN ALL OF THESE VARIOUS FORMS. THIS IS THE FINAL VOTE ON ITEM 85.

SO MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

MAYOR PRO, HIM ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE BASIL? YES.

NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM 89.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY WITH 11.

VOTING IN FAVOR FOR OPPOSE.

THE ITEM PASSES.

MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MEMBERS FOR YOUR PATIENCE ON THAT.

GREAT JOB.

YOUR NEXT.

OKAY, YOUR

[89. 24-2531 An ordinance ordering a special election to be held in the City of Dallas on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of the City a proposed amendment to the Dallas City Charter, submitted by Ground Game Texas in accordance with Section 9.004(a) of the Texas Local Government Code (Dallas Freedom Act) - Financing: No cost consideration to the City (See Fiscal Information)]

AGENDA ITEM 89 IS AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF DALLAS ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY, A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER SUBMITTED BY, SUBMITTED BY GROUND GAME, TEXAS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 9.004 A OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, DALLAS FREEDOM ACT.

YOU DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK SPEAKERS WILL BE GIVEN.

SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, CC AND CARONE.

SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAME.

CC AND CARONE.

MY NAME IS JESSICA RAMIREZ AND I COME OUT OF A DISTRICT EIGHT.

ZA OREX IS CAM TOLD IT'S NOT PRESENT.

JULIANA BRADLEY UNE IS NOT PRESENT.

JESSICA RAMIREZ.

[07:40:09]

ONE SECOND.

SORRY GUYS.

OKAY, SO FIRST LET'S ADDRESS THE PRESSING ISSUE.

I SEE MANY BLUE SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF MORE COPS, SOME PAID ACTORS, AND SOME BEHIND, UM, ENFORCING COP CITY.

I'M FROM SOUTHEAST DALLAS WHERE POLICE RESPONSE IS ZERO TO NONE.

SO I UNDERSTAND OUR POLICE FORCES MAJORLY UNDER-RESOURCED LEADING TO LONGER RESPONSE TIMES AND SAFETY CONCERNS.

I JUST ASK THAT THESE ACTORS BE CAREFUL FOR WHAT THEY ASK FOR.

THE DALLAS FREEDOM ACT OFFERS A CHANCE TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY BY DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA, ALLOWING OUR POLICE TO FOCUS ON SERIOUS CRIMES, SPECIFICALLY THE FENTANYL CRISIS.

AMID THE CRISIS, DALLAS POLICE CHIEF EDDIE GARCIA HAS EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT THE INITIATIVE COULD JEOPARDIZE PUBLIC SAFETY, CITING THAT MARIJUANA IS LINKED TO A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF CRIME.

HOWEVER, CRITICS ARGUE THAT THIS VIEW IS MISGUIDED.

STATISTICS SHOW CITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY DECRIMINALIZED MARIJUANA HAVE NOT LED TO INCREASED CRIME, ASSERTING THAT GARCIA'S STANCE REFLECTS OUTDATED ATTITUDES RATHER THAN CURRENT DATA.

AS THE DEBATE CONTINUES, MANY BELIEVE THIS INITIATIVE REPRESENTS A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS MORE RATIONAL DRUG POLICIES AND REFORM.

THE DALLAS FREEDOM ACT, A PROPOSAL TO DECRIMINALIZE SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA HAS BEEN BACKED BY DALLAS VOTERS.

THIS INITIATIVE BACKED BY OVER 50,000 SIGNATURES OF SUPPORT AIMS TO DIRECT PO POLICE FOCUS TO MORE SERIOUS CRIMES BY STOPPING ARRESTS AND CITATIONS OF LESS THAN FOUR OUNCES OF MARIJUANA.

TODAY WE STAND AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR ALL DISTRICTS.

OUR ICONIC CITY DESERVES ATTENTION AND ACTION TO ENSURE ITS GREATNESS AS WE SEEN IN THESE CHAMBERS BY THE GENOMIC ENERGY AND CULTURAL RICHNESS.

THAT'S, THAT IS DALLAS.

OUR CITY'S VIBRANT SPIRIT MUST BE ADDRESSED DURING THESE CURRENT ISSUES.

LET'S NOT FORGET THE INFLUENTIAL FIGURES THAT WHO SYMBOLIZE DALLAS DIVERSE SPIRIT LIKE ERIKA BADU, SHAKAR RICHARDSON, AND WILLIE NELSON.

ALL THESE MARIJUANA ENTHUSIASTS EMBODY THE UNIQUE CHARACTER THAT NEIGHBORING CITIES COULD ONLY DREAM OF.

THE DALLAS FREEDOM ACT PRESENTS A CRUCIAL OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES.

ITS PURPOSE IS TO ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING AND A GOAL THAT FOR FAR OUTWEIGHS PURPOSE OVER PROFITS.

IN CONCLUSION, WE NEED EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE BECAUSE A NEW WAVE OF VOTERS IS COMING OUT, SUPPORT THE DALLAS FREEDOM ACT, ENCOURAGE EVERY ELIG ELIGIBLE VOTER TO HAVE A SAY.

OUR CITY'S POTENTIAL IS BOUNDLESS.

BUT ON TOP OF THIS, THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER WILL ENSURE DALLAS REMAINS A BEACON OF PROGRESS AND EXCELLENCE.

CHRISTINE WEISINGER IS NOT PRESENT.

JUST TAMARA O'NEAL.

TAMARA O'NEAL IS NOT PRESENT.

JEANETTE MCKENZIE.

JEANETTE MCKENZIE WILL BE VIRTUAL.

MS. MCKENZIE, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY, MS. MCKENZIE? CAN YOU I'LL TRY A COUPLE MORE TIMES.

MS. MCKENZIE, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY, LET'S COME BACK TO, LET'S TRY TO COME BACK TO HER.

IN THE CITY OF DALLAS HAVE ALSO ENDORSED THIS CAMPAIGN CO AND OUR COALITION PARTNERS.

NATALIE MARQUEZ.

MARK.

GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS NATALIE MARQUEZ.

I AM A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 14, RIGHT HERE IN OLD EAST DALLAS.

AND I AM THE FIELD DIRECTOR FOR GROUND GAME AND THE DALLAS FREEDOM ACT.

UM, FIRST OFF I WANNA THANK, UM, THERESA OREX, WHO HAS ALSO BEEN WAITING TO SPEAK FOR THE PAST 12 HOURS AND IS ON VIDEO CONFERENCE.

UM, AND I ALSO WANNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PUBLICLY ENDORSED THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT.

IN JUNE, OUR TEAM SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTED 50,000 SIGNATURES TO THE CITY SECRETARY, ADVOCATING FOR THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA, POSSESSION OF FOUR OUNCES OR LESS WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

OVER THE COURSE OF NEARLY A HUNDRED DAY AND 80 DAYS, OUR TEAM CANVASSED EVERY DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

WE ENGAGED WITH RESIDENTS, WE PARTNERED WITH OVER 60 BUSINESSES TO ALSO HELP US COLLECT THESE SIGNATURES.

THE LABOR UNIONS

[07:45:01]

AND WE DISCUSS HOW THIS CHANGE COULD POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR CITY.

WHILE THE DALLAS POLICE CHIEF EDDIE GARCIA HAS CLAIMED THAT THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO BE PROSPERING FROM THIS, OUR DRUG DEALERS AND DRUG HOUSES, WE KNOW THAT THIS POLICY WILL KEEP OVER 2000 PEOPLE OUTTA JAIL EVERY YEAR, SAVE THE CITY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND PROTECT BLACK AND BROWN INDIVIDUALS FROM RACIAL TARGETING BY POLICE.

I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO IGNORE THE FEAR MONGERING AND ENDORSE THIS COMMON SENSE POLICY.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT PEOPLE DO NOT BUY DIME BAGS ANYMORE.

IT IS 2024.

THE DALLAS FREEDOM ACT IS MORE THAN JUST ABOUT MARIJUANA.

IT'S A STEP TOWARDS BROADER SOCIAL JUSTICE, SMARTER USE OF OUR PUBLIC RESOURCES AND PROTECTING CIVIL LIBERTIES IN DALLAS.

THIS CAMPAIGN IS AN HONOR OF GRANDMOTHERS IN OAK CLIFF WHO SIGNED THIS PETITION TO PROTECT THEIR GRANDCHILDREN FROM FEAR OF POLICE AND TARGETING.

OUR CAMPAIGN IS DEDICATED TO VETERANS WHO WANNA COMBAT, COMBAT THEIR PT, PTSD, WITH CANNABIS BUT CAN'T BECAUSE OF THE, THE SCARCITY, THE BEING SCARED OF LEGAL REPERCUSSION.

THIS CAMPAIGN WILL NOT ONLY HELP KEEP PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE BY NOT SENDING THEM TO JAIL FOR MISDEMEANOR POSSESSION, IT'LL MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO FAIR HOUSING AND KEEP THEM IN THEIR JOBS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO STILL PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

AND THIS CAMPAIGN IS ALSO DEDICATED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST YEARS OF THEIR LIVES BY BEING LOCKED UP IN THE JAIL OVER A JOINT.

SO PLEASE ENDORSE OUR CAMPAIGN.

THIS IS A COMMON SENSE CAMPAIGN AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING THIS IN NOVEMBER.

CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES, YOU MAY CONTINUE.

WE CAN ALSO SEE YOU.

YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT THE WAR ON DRUGS WAS REALLY ABOUT.

THE NIXON CAMPAIGN IN 1968 AND THE NIXON WHITE HOUSE AFTER THAT HAD TWO ENEMIES, THE ANTI-WAR LEFT AND BLACK PEOPLE.

WE KNEW WE COULDN'T MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO BE EITHER AGAINST THE WAR OR BLACK, BUT BY GETTING THE PUBLIC TO ASSOCIATE HIPPIES WITH MARIJUANA AND BLACKS WITH HEROIN AND THEN CRIMINALIZING BOTH HEAVILY, WE COULD DISRUPT THOSE COMMUNITIES.

WE COULD ARREST THEIR LEADERS, RAID THEIR HOMES, BREAK UP THEIR MEETINGS, AND VILIFY THEM NIGHT AFTER NIGHT ON THE EVENING NEWS.

DID WE KNOW WE WERE LYING ABOUT THE DRUGS? OF COURSE WE DID.

THOSE ARE THE WORDS OF JOHN EHRLICHMAN, UH, NIXON'S ASSISTANT FOR DOMESTIC AFFAIRS.

AND, UH, THEY OBVIOUSLY REFLECT HIS PERSPECTIVE.

MR. WEINGER, I'M SORRY TO OH, TO SURE, SURE.

TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT I NEEDED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS 89 AND AND 90.

UM, OUR RULES STATE THAT YOU MUST SPEAK, USE YOUR THREE MINUTES FOR BOTH ITEMS. SO YOU NEED TO SPEAK ON BOTH ITEM 89 AND 90 AT THIS TIME.

CERTAINLY.

LOCK ME UP, AND POTENTIALLY GIVE ME A RECORD THAT WOULD FOLLOW ME THE REST OF MY LIFE.

NO, I, NO, I UNDERSTAND.

UM, THE FACT, AS MOST OF US KNOW, IS THAT LAWS AGAINST MARIJUANA ARE DRAMATICALLY DISPROPORTIONATELY USED AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE.

EVEN THOUGH WHITES USE AT COMPARABLE LEVELS.

BLACKS ARE 3.73 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED IN SOME STATES, ALMOST 10 TIMES MORE LIKELY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER INTENT IS IRREFUTABLE.

THE IMPACT ON BLACK CITIZENS AND ITS UTILITY FOR RACIST POLITICIANS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE OBVIOUS.

IN 1970, AS ONE OF THE FIRST VOLLEYS IN THE WAR ON DRUGS, MARIJUANA WAS CLASSIFIED AS A SCHEDULE ONE SUBSTANCE, IGNORING SUBSTANTIAL MEDICAL POTENTIAL AND DRAMATICALLY OVERSTATING ITS RISKS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

WITHIN TWO YEARS, A COMMISSION THAT NIXON HIMSELF APPOINTED, RECOMMENDED THAT MARIJUANA BE DECRIMINALIZED.

HE, OF COURSE, IGNORED THAT RECOMMENDATION.

I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT THE WAR ON DRUGS FAILED IN MANY WAYS.

IT DID, BUT IT SUCCEEDED IN WHAT IS ARGUABLY ONE OF ITS PRIMARY PURPOSES AND CERTAINLY A KNOWN IMPACT TO CONTROL, CONTAIN AND INCARCERATE BLACK PEOPLE.

THE DEA ITSELF HAS RECOMMENDED THAT MARIJUANA BE RECLASSIFIED, ACKNOWLEDGING LOW RATES OF ADDICTION AND MINIMAL POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE.

HHS AND THE SURGEON GENERAL BOTH AGREE, 24 STATES HAVE ALREADY DECRIMINALIZED.

THE MAIN REASON IT HASN'T HAPPENED NATIONALLY IS THE DO NOTHING CAUCUS IN CONGRESS.

ALCOHOL IS FAR MORE DANGEROUS.

TOBACCO IS FAR MORE TOXIC.

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP IS ARGUABLY FAR MORE ADDICTIVE.

I CAN EASILY OBTAIN LARGE QUANTITIES OF ALL THREE.

I COULD, IF I WANTED TO DRINK MYSELF UNCONSCIOUS, AND AS LONG AS I DIDN'T END UP ON THE STREET LOOKING LIKE I'M HOMELESS, I'D NEED FAIR ARREST.

BUT IF I HAPPENED TO CARRY EVEN A LITTLE WEED, EVEN MORE FORTUNATELY, IF I HAPPENED TO BE BLACK CARRYING THAT WEED, THE POLICE WOULD HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE TO SEARCH AND HARASS ME,

[07:50:01]

IN DALLAS, AS IN MOST LARGE CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY, THEY COULD PUT A BULLET IN MY HEAD AND PROBABLY GET AWAY WITH IT.

THE CRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA MAKES NO SENSE.

IT IGNORES MEDICAL SCIENCE.

WHAT IT DOES, IT IS GIVE RACIST AND TRIGGER HAPPY COMPS.

ANOTHER REASON TO SURVEIL BLACK BODIES, ANOTHER TOOL TO ABUSE CUFF INCARCERATE AND KILL THEM.

DALLAS, THAT'S YOUR TIME.

ANITA NUNEZ HAS CANCELED, THEREFORE, MR. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.

ALRIGHT, I NEED A MOTION.

UM, DEPUTY MAYOR PURIM, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM 89? I DO.

I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 89 WITH THE PROPOSITION NU RENUMBERED IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER FOLLOWING THE PROPOSITIONS IN ITEM NUMBER 85.

IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DEPUTY MAYOR PROAM? YES.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES AND WE ARE ON ITEM 89.

EVERYONE.

UM, THIS, UH, WAS A BALLOT MEASURE THAT WAS PUT ON, UM, FROM GROUND GAME TEXAS.

AND, UM, THIS IS ONE THAT ALLOWS, UM, FOR THE DECRIMINALIZATION, UM, UH, IN THEORY OF LOW POSSESSION MARIJUANA.

UH, WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN OUR CHIEF IMPLEMENT GENERAL ORDERS, UM, THAT REFLECTS WHAT THIS WOULD ACCOMPLISH EXCEPT WITH A DIFFERENT AMOUNT.

UM, IT, IT IS STILL WITHIN MISDEMEANORS AND I THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE, UM, HIGHLIGHTED.

AND I'M, I'M ACTUALLY REALLY, UM, EAGER TO SEE HOW THE VOTERS, UH, VOTE FOR THIS.

THIS WAS, UM, THE FIFTH CITY, I BELIEVE IN OUR STATE THAT THE VOTERS HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO, UM, US FOR.

AND, UM, THIS WAS ALSO, UH, DONE THROUGH A STATE STATUTE THAT, UM, ESSENTIALLY, UH, GIVES US THE TASK, UH, BECAUSE ALL OF THE BOXES WERE CHECKED.

I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY SECRETARY, UM, AND, AND YOUR STAFF.

I KNOW SEVERAL OF Y'ALL ARE STILL HERE, BUT THANK Y'ALL FOR THE HARD WORK THAT Y'ALL PUT IN TO GET, UM, THIS DONE.

I KNOW THAT IT WAS A, UM, A FEAT, UM, IN ITSELF, ESPECIALLY WITH A DEADLINE THAT WAS APPROACHING VERY, VERY FAST.

SO THANK YOU TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE FOR, UM, LISTENING TO OUR, OUR VOTERS, UH, UM, AND, AND ADHERING TO THE PROCESS THAT THEY WORKED HARD FOR.

AND, UM, THIS IS MORE, I THINK, ADMINISTER ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATIVE THAN ANYTHING, UH, FOR US TO SEND TO THE VOTERS, UM, BECAUSE ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, UH, PER YOUR OFFICE.

SO, UH, WITH THAT, UH, UH, I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY WILL JUST GET THIS THROUGH TO THE VOTERS.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

I WANNA THANK NATALIE AND GROUND GAME TEXAS AND THE SPEAKERS ONLINE IN HERE WHO'VE WAITED HERE, UM, 12 HOURS TODAY TO, FOR THIS MOMENT.

UM, I MEAN 50,000 SIGNATURES, UH, VALID SIGNATURES.

THAT'S AMAZING.

AND IT JUST SHOWS THAT THERE IS AN APPETITE IN THIS CITY, JUST LIKE THERE IS STATEWIDE FOR MARIJUANA REFORM.

YOU KNOW, ESTABLISHED DATA SHOWS THAT OUR CURRENT ANTIQUATED PROHIBITION ERA MARIJUANA LAWS HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON BRACK BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

IT'S A DRAIN ON OUR POLICE RESOURCES.

IT'S A DRAIN ON OUR ECONOMY.

UM, AND WE KNOW IT'S GETTING USED ANYWAY.

YOU KNOW, I COULD LOAD UP THIS ENTIRE ROOM WITH ALCOHOL BOTTLES OF BOOZE, TAKE IT AROUND, GIVE IT AWAY TO PEOPLE, AND, UM, AND IT, IT WOULD, AND THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO CRIME WITH THAT.

BUT YOU HAVE A LITTLE BAGGY OF MARIJUANA AND YOU'RE GONNA GO TO JAIL.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

UM, WHAT WE SHOULD DO AS A CITY IS AS, AS A STATE, LEGALIZE IT, REGULATE IT, TAX IT, AND THEN USE THOSE TAX RESOURCES TO PAY FOR ALL THE STUFF IN OUR STATE AND IN OUR CITY.

WE NEED TO DO, NEED TO DO.

SO I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THIS.

THEY'RE NOT UP THERE ANYMORE.

SO I'M LOOKING AT TAMMY.

UM, IF WE, UH, IF, IF WE, IF SOMEONE VOTES NO ON THIS, LET'S SAY THE COUNCIL DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS.

WHAT IS THE LEGAL IMPLICATION FOR THE COUNCIL? AREN'T WE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO PUT THIS ON THE CHARTER? THIS IS A MINISTERIAL DUTY OF THE COUNCIL.

THE, UM, STATE LAW, THE ELECTION CODE SAYS THAT, I'M SORRY, NOT THE ELECTION CODE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SAYS THAT IF THE, UM, IF THE SIGNATURES ARE CERTIFIED, THAT THE CITY SHALL SEND THE BALLOT TO THE VOTERS.

MEMBERS DID THAT, UM, WE WOULD LITERALLY BE IN VIOLATION OF OUR OWN GOVERNMENT CODE, CORRECT? I MEAN, NO, I LOOK.

SO IF THIS COUNCIL, IF, IF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GOING TO TAKE A POSITION OF VOTING NO ON THIS AND ENOUGH COUNCIL

[07:55:01]

DO YOU MIND IF I INTERJECT JUST FOR A SECOND AND HOLD YOUR TIME? OKAY.

IN ALL FAIRNESS, I, I'LL BE, UH, VERY HONESTLY, I WAS GOING TO CONCLUDE THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION WITH THIS, A VERSION OF THIS VERY QUESTION, SO THAT'S GREAT.

I'LL SAVE YOUR TIME BY SORT OF, AND IF I, IF I DON'T ASK YOUR QUESTION, I'LL LET YOU ASK IT AGAIN.

IT'S TRUE THAT WE HAVE A DUTY TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT.

DOES AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER HAVE A DUTY TO VOTE FOR IT? IT SAYS THAT THE CITY SHALL DOES A DUTY, DOES A INDIVIDUAL MEMBER HAVE A DUTY TO VOTE FOR IT? UNDER, UNDER FOR IT? NO.

I MEAN, DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? STILL HAVE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE? I I, YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE.

YES, WE DO.

FOR THAT CHOICE.

THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN MENEN, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES? IT WELL, THANK YOU FOR CLEARING UP, UM, THE ABILITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER TO VOTE NO.

IF THAT'S THEIR CONSCIENCE.

I WILL SAY THIS IS NOT A SMALL AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA.

THIS IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA.

AND I'M SO THANKFUL THAT CHIEF GARCIA BROUGHT THE VISUAL SO THAT WE COULD SEE THIS WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE A BENEFIT TO DRUG DEALERS AND DRUG HOUSES.

BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND, THIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN WAS FUNDED BY THE MARIJUANA GROWERS.

THIS IS AN ENTERPRISE AND THE IMPACT TO OUR CITY NOT ONLY WILL BE NEGATIVE AS OUR POLICE CHIEF OUTLINED, BUT IT'LL BE NEGATIVE TO PEOPLE'S CONSEQUENCES IN LIFE.

SOCIAL JUSTICE IS NOT DRUG ADDICTION.

AND THE GRANDMAS KNOW, THE GRANDMAS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE DEAL IS.

THEY HAVE SEEN IN LIFE.

WHO HAS PROSPERED, WHO HAS NOT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'LL BE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE GONNA VOTE FOR IT.

I BELIEVE IT'LL BE THE MAJORITY SO THAT I WILL BE VERY COMFORTABLE IN VOTING.

UM, BUT I HOPE THAT THE WISDOM OF OUR VOTERS IS SUCH TO OPPOSE SOMETHING THAT WOULD ALLOW FOUR OUNCES.

AND WHILE I DO BELIEVE THERE PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE BETTER CLARITY ON HOW MARIJUANA COULD BE USED, THIS IS NOT IT BY FAR.

SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME HAVE THAT TIME TO SAY THAT GERMAN GRACIE, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

UM, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS, UH, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT, BUT ONE, I, I DID HAVE A QUESTION, UM, DID I, UH, DO I REMEMBER THERE BEING A COST ASSOCIATED WITH, WITH THESE KITS THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS CARRY THAT TESTS WHETHER OR NOT IT'S, IT'S IT'S MARIJUANA VERSUS C-D-B-C-B-D AND ALL OF THOSE KIND OF THINGS THAT, SO THERE'S AN ASSOCIATED COST WITH THIS FOR, THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY I CAN KIND OF SUPPORT THIS 'CAUSE IT REDUCES THOSE COSTS OF THOSE KITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT BEYOND THAT, I GREW UP, MANY OF US GREW UP IN THE CRACK ERA, AND I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL IT WHAT IT IS.

I'VE HAD FRIENDS WHO HAD PROMISING FUTURES GET REDIRECTED BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS.

AND IT'S A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE AROUND FENTANYL AND ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE WONDERFUL.

AND IT SAVES PEOPLE, IT SAVES FAMILIES, SAVES COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HISTORICALLY I MENTIONED, WE, WE'VE BEEN UNNECESSARILY STOPPED, UNNECESSARILY HARASSED, UNNECESSARY, UNNECESSARY, UNNECESSARY, UNNECESSARY.

THIS IS A NECESSARY CHANGE TO CREATE.

UM, THIS IS JUST A NECESSARY CHANGE AND I'LL STOP THERE, BUT THIS IS ONE THAT HAS HISTORIC TIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

PEOPLE STILL SITTING IN PRISONS STILL OVER THIS, OVER THE WAR ON DRUGS, RIGHT? SO I JUST, Y'ALL KNOW ME, THE, THE INCONSISTENCIES OF HISTORY DRIVES ALL OF US SHOULD DRIVE ALL OF US CRAZY.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE WE'RE MAKING EFFORTS IN THAT FENTANYL BECAUSE THAT IS AN EPIDEMIC AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

BUT THIS HAS QUIETLY BEEN A PROBLEM.

NOT TOO MANY, BUT A LOT OF US, THIS HAS BEEN A QUIET PROBLEM THAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH.

SO AGAIN, I WILL BE SUPPORTING US FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT MOSTLY, UH, BECAUSE IT JUST, UH, CREATES A, UH, IT, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO I'LL STOP.

CHAIRMAN , RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

UM, COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, UM, ALL THEIR, ON THEIR DIFFERENT VIEWS.

AND I APPRECIATE MY,

[08:00:01]

UM, ONE THING THAT I'LL SAY IS, UM, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WAS, I WAS RAISED TO BE COMPLETELY AGAINST DRUGS AND THAT THEY'RE BAD AND EVERYTHING EVIL ABOUT THEM.

UM, BUT THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MARIJUANA IS ONE, IT'S NOT ADDICTIVE.

AND THAT'S A BIG, BIG, BIG, UM, MISNOMER THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO SAY MARIJUANA IS NOT ADDICTIVE.

UM, DO PEOPLE LIKE TO DO IT? SURE.

BUT THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO REHAB TO GET OFF OF IT.

NUMBER TWO, ANOTHER MYTH IS THAT, UM, FENTANYL IS PART OF WEED.

THAT'S MY DUTY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO YOU ALL.

PEOPLE THAT ARE SPREADING FENTANYL, WHICH IS A HORRIFIC THING, THEY'RE NOT PUTTING IT IN WEED BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T WORK.

UM, AND IT 'CAUSE WEED IS NOT ADDICTIVE.

NUMBER THREE IS, UM, THANK YOU MR. GRACIE FOR WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU, UM, PASTORED, UM, AT THE, AT THE JAILS, THE PRISONS TO HELP PEOPLE THAT MAINLY LOOK LIKE YOU AND I, UM, THAT MAYBE HAD A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA IN THEIR POCKET.

UM, 'CAUSE THEY WERE JUST SMOKING A, YOU KNOW, JOINT OR WHATEVER.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY, MY, MY VIEWS HAVE CHANGED A LOT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I'VE HAD FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS WHO HAVE, UM, EITHER HAD HIV AIDS, THEY'VE HAD CANCER, THEY'VE, UM, HAD ALL KINDS OF, YOU KNOW, ISSUES THAT THE WEED WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD GET THEM TO EAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT COULD KEEP THEM CALM DOWN.

THEY LITERALLY, I JUST LITERALLY SAW A DOCUMENTARY THE OTHER DAY ABOUT PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND THIS POOR MAN WAS JUST SHAKING SO UNCONTROLLABLY AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE, IT'S AN EXPERIMENT AND THEY'RE TESTING AND THEY GAVE HIM A JOINT, HE SMOKED IT AND WITHIN 15 MINUTES THE UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING WAS GONE.

NOW IT'S LIKE THEY'RE STILL TESTING NOBODY.

LISTEN, I'M NOT A DOCTOR, SO DON'T BE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO SAY THAT I, YOU KNOW, TOLD YOU TO GO DO THAT.

'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

BUT IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE ON, HEAR ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS INDUSTRIAL PRISON COMPLEX IN OUR SOCIETY AND OUR CITY AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT SAVING MONEY AND BEING ABLE TO DO THIS AND THAT.

AND THE OTHER, I'M, I'M, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT AMOUNT IS, , BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT OUR OWN DA HAS SAID THAT HE'S NOT GONNA PROSECUTE FOUR OUNCES OR LESS.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

CAN'T FORCE THE DA TO PROSECUTE, YOU KNOW? RIGHT.

IT'S LIKE, BECAUSE WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

EXACTLY.

LIKE WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THIS, UM, UM, UM, PROPOSED AMENDMENT FOR THE CHARTER.

WE, WE HAVE TO PUT IT FORWARD.

UM, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I'VE ASKED ON SOME OTHER ONES, WHAT IF I VOTE NO? AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, WHAT IF I START THE TREND AND EVERYBODY STARTS TO VOTE NO.

WELL, THEN WE OPEN UP THE CITY TO A LAWSUIT, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING WHAT STATE LAW MANDATES THAT WE DO.

I DON'T LIKE IT ON SOME OF THE THINGS.

BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS ON THIS ONE, UM, I THINK TO THE WEST OF US IS THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO LEGALIZED WEED FOR PERSONAL USE TO THE NORTH OF US IS A STATE CALLED OKLAHOMA LEGALIZED WEED FOR RECREATIONAL USE.

UM, I THINK, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT ARKANSAS, AND I'M PRETTY SURE LOUISIANA'S NOT THERE YET.

UM, BUT IT'S JUST AMAZING WHEN YOU START TO SEE THE COUNTRY.

IT'S REALLY JUST KIND OF, THE CULTURE HAS CHANGED ON WEED BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST DON'T SEE IT THE WAY THEY USED TO.

UM, AND EVEN THERE'S SOME STATES NOW THAT I JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT, MR. MAYOR IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO, THAT SOME STATES IN MEXICO HAVE DECRIMINALIZED WEED.

YOU CAN'T LEGALLY SELL IT, BUT IT'S DECRIMINALIZED.

IT'S A LITTLE WEIRD.

'CAUSE I, ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS LIKE, OH, YEAH, YOU KNOW, KNOW THEY'RE SHOWING WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN MEXICO AND ON THEIR, YOU KNOW, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA AND STUFF.

AND I WAS JUST LIKE, WEED'S LEGAL DOWN THERE.

WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? UM, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO GO LOOK IT UP BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S CHANGING ACROSS OUR GLOBE.

UM, IF YOU HAVE A MORAL ISSUE WITH THIS, I GET IT.

I UNDERSTAND IT.

BUT SOCIETY'S CHANGING.

AND WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT YOUNGER PEOPLE AND HAVING MORE PEOPLE MAYBE THAT WERE YOUNGER TO, TO BE SITTING AT THIS DAIS AND, YOU KNOW, DOING, DOING THE, THE, THE WORK.

UM, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST TOO OLD OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU BETTER GET USED TO IT.

'CAUSE A LOT OF THESE YOUNGER PEOPLE, THEY JUST GET IT.

THEY UNDERSTAND IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN SOME OF THIS, LIKE THIS OLDER GUY, IT TOOK ME A LITTLE WHILE TO GET, TO GET CAUGHT UP AND UNDERSTAND IT, UM, BECAUSE OF THE MYTHS AND THE, UM, MISNOMERS THAT WERE, UM, TOLD OUT THERE.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT, Y'ALL DID ALL THE WORK TO GET STUFF DONE.

GOTTA PUT IT FORWARD.

UM, GOOD LUCK TO Y'ALL.

'CAUSE YOU KNOW, PROBABLY A LAWSUIT, YOU KNOW, BUT I'M SURE Y'ALL ARE READY FOR ALL OF THAT.

'CAUSE I'M SURE OUR, OUR OUR, UM, UH, WHAT DO YOU CALL 'EM? THE, THE STATE OF TEXAS IS PROBABLY READY FOR IT TO FILE SOMETHING THE MINUTE THAT IT, YOU KNOW, PASSES OR DOESN'T, WHATEVER.

UM, BUT IT'S MY DUTY BY STATE LAW TO PUT ON THE BALLOT.

UM, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE FOLKS, THESE, THESE, Y'ALL GOT THE PETITIONS, Y'ALL GOT THE BALLOTS, Y'ALL, YOU KNOW THE NUMBERS AND THAT'S PART OF YOUR RIGHT.

IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND I WILL VOTE YES, UM, TO PUT ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE THAT'S MY,

[08:05:01]

AND THANK Y'ALL FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO.

WE KEEP, WE KEEP FIGHTING FOR IT.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 89? SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, IT'S TIME TO VOTE.

MR. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR.

MAY I APPROACH HIM? ATKINS? MAY I APPROACH HIM? ATKINS? YES.

ARNOLD? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER NVA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY WITH 11.

VOTING IN FAVOR.

IT THAT WE DON'T GET TO HAVE A SAY ON THE PERFORMANCE ASPECT OF THAT SIMPLE THING? IT'S A ROAD.

OPPOSED? THIS ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR.

OKAY, NEXT ITEM.

YOUR NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA

[90. 24-2532 An ordinance ordering a special election to be held in the City of Dallas on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of the City three proposed amendments to the Dallas City Charter, submitted by Dallas HERO Initiative in accordance with Section 9.004(a) of the Texas Local Government Code (Dallas HERO Initiative amendments) - Financing: No cost consideration to the City (See Fiscal Information)]

ITEM 90.

AGENDA ITEM 90 IS AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF DALLAS ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY.

THREE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER, SUBMITTED BY DALLAS HERO INITIATIVE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 9.004 A OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, DALLAS HERO INITIATIVE AMENDMENTS.

YOU DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

YOUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JOHN HOLLIS.

GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

UM, I CAME HERE LAST WEEK AND SPOKE IN FAVOR OF ONE OF THE INITIATIVES, UH, THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO DISCUSS.

UH, PRIMARILY, UH, HAVING A SURVEY FOR VOTERS TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW WE FEEL.

OUR ONE OF OUR ELECTED, OR ONE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES IS, IS DOING, UH, NOT NECESSARILY ELECTED.

UM, AND I WAS SAYING THAT THIS IS A, A VERY SIMPLE WAY FOR US TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.

UM, WHAT'S BEEN INTERESTING IS THE RHETORIC THAT HAS COME OUT OF THIS CHAMBER SINCE THIS HAS ALL BEEN PROPOSED.

UM, WHAT'S MOST INTERESTING IS THE FACT THAT THE INITIATIVE ITSELF IS REALLY JUST A SMALL SURVEY THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY AFFECT THE SALARY OF THE CITY MANAGER.

AS YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE INITIATIVE, IT ACTUALLY SAYS THAT THIS IS PERFORMANCE PAY THAT IS SEPARATE FROM THE SALARY ENTIRELY, AND THAT IT CAN BE UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE SALARY, BUT IT IS PERFORMANCE PAY AND NOT THE ACTUAL SALARY.

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THIS IDEA THAT GETTING 1200 SURVEYS, OR A HUNDRED OR 1400 SURVEYS, MY APOLOGIES, OR A HUNDRED EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT, IS SOMEHOW DIFFICULT OR SOMEHOW GOES AGAINST ALL OF YOU IN SOME WAY.

BUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS HAD TO GET AT LEAST 900 VOTES TO GET ELECTED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A COUPLE THAT WE'RE WITHIN ABOUT 30 OR 40 VOTES OF THAT.

SO HOW IS IT ABSURD TO ASK THAT WE GET AROUND 900 PEOPLE IN THIS CITY TO SAY THAT? YES, IN FACT, OUR CITY MANAGER DOES A GOOD JOB.

AND IT DOESN'T EVEN SAY A GOOD JOB.

IT JUST SAYS NOT A BAD JOB.

THAT'S THE IRONY HERE.

SO ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL POSITIONS IN ALL OF CITY GOVERNMENT, WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE A VOTE ON, PERIOD.

WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING FOR A SAY.

THAT'S IT.

AND I'M SURE WITH THE WAY POLITICS WORKS, THE SALARY ISSUES WILL BE WORKED OUT AND THE PERFORMANCE ISSUES WILL BE WORKED OUT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE GIVING US THE ABILITY TO SAY, YES, WE APPROVE OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

AND NO, WE DON'T.

FOR EXAMPLE, RIVERFRONT BOULEVARD DOWN BY THE BRIDGE, HOW LONG HAS THAT ROAD BEEN TORN UP AND WHY IS

[08:10:01]

IT'S WHAT THE CITIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE PRIMARY SOLE RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR.

AND YET IT'S BEEN YEARS.

AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING IS JUST A SIMPLE SAY.

AND THE RHETORIC OF IT BEING DRACONIAN IS A LITTLE BELOW THE PALE FOR ALL OF YOU.

MELISSA KATZ.

MELISSA KATZ IS NOT PRESENT.

NO, I'M HERE.

I JUST HAD TO, UM, LEAVE AND I'M CALLING IN FROM HOME.

YOU NEED TO TURN ON YOUR VIDEO, MS. KATZ.

LET ME SEE.

IT'S, I THOUGHT I HAD IT ON.

NO, IT'S STILL NOT DISPLAYING.

LET'S SEE.

UM, LET'S SEE.

UM, CAN YOU SEE IT? NO.

MS. KATZ? UM, I, HOLD ON.

I, LET'S SEE.

WE CAN COME BACK WHILE YOU WORK ON THAT.

UM, MY NAME IS MELISSA KATZ.

I'M A DALLAS RESIDENT.

I'VE LIVED HERE 58 YEARS, GREW UP, UM, WENT TO SCHOOL HERE, WENT TO COLLEGE HERE, AND HAD A PROFESSIONAL CAREER HERE AND RAISED MY TWO SONS HERE, HUSBAND AND I, AND I WANNA DISCUSS, UM, ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE PROPOSED FOR THE CHARTER.

AND THAT'S REGARDING ADDING A THOUSAND MORE POLICEMEN AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IN OUR CITY.

AND WE'VE ALL SEEN CRIME, UM, GO UP.

AND AS I SAID, I'M A NATIVE DALLAS SITE.

I GREW UP IN OAK CLIFF.

I WENT TO KIMBALL HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN I WORKED MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE AND WENT TO SMU.

AND SO I'M INVESTED IN THE CITY.

I'VE ALWAYS RESPECTED THE DALLAS POLICE.

AND I THINK OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THERE'S BEEN, THE POLICE HAVE RECEIVED SOME BAD, LIKE CRAP.

I, I BELIEVE, AND SAYING THAT THEY ATTACK CITIZENS, ET CETERA.

ALL CITIZENS, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN DALLAS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE SAFETY.

THAT'S PART OF, YOU KNOW, AMERICA.

WE'RE A NATION OF LAW AND ORDER, AND WE HAVE NOT HAD LAW AND ORDER.

AND I REMEMBER THAT SUMMER OF JULY IN 2016, WHEN FIVE POLICE OFFICERS WERE GUNNED DOWN, THAT WAS TRAGIC.

AND IT WAS HEARD NOT ONLY THROUGH THE UNITED STATES, BUT AROUND THE WORLD.

THAT'S NOT DALLAS.

AND WE WANNA ATTRACT PEOPLE TO COME HERE.

AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS NEED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT AND THEY NEED MORE PEOPLE.

THEY'RE SHORT.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PROPER RATIO.

SO ALSO WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS WITH THIS GREAT GROUP DALLAS HERO INITIATIVE, THEY'VE WORKED HARD TO ON THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY PUT IN FOR THE CHARTER.

AND WE NEED TO KEEP IT EXACTLY AS IT'S STATED BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR, IT'S CONCISE AND VOTERS CAN UNDERSTAND.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE, UM, OUR VOTERS CONFIDENCE IN WHAT THEY'RE VOTING FOR AND UNDERSTANDING.

AND IT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, IT, I BELIEVE EVERYONE WOULD UNDERSTAND IT THE WAY IT'S, SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.

LIKE I SAID, I LOVE THIS CITY.

I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, RAISED MY SONS HERE.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR DALLAS POLICE AND THEY NEED TO HAVE MORE POLICEMEN TO PROTECT ALL OF US THROUGHOUT DALLAS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU.

THOMAS GLEASON.

AND TOLD THOMAS GLEASON IS NOT ONLINE.

IS THAT FOR YEARS THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT THERE ARE, THAT THERE IS ANY ACCOUNTABILITY AND THAT THEY AREN'T BEING LISTENED TO.

DAMIEN LEVEQUE.

HELLO.

UM, MR. MAYOR, IT'S A HONOR TO BE ADDRESSING YOU TODAY.

MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY.

MY NAME IS DAMIEN LEVEK.

I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF DISTRICT 11.

AND I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN HOLDING OUR CITY LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE IN ALL AREAS.

AND AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS, I WOULD THINK THAT YOU'D WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

I SAY THIS WITHOUT MAKING ANY ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE COUNTS, THE COUNCIL'S INTEGRITY.

UM, BUT I'M THINK THAT ACCOUNTABILITY KEEPS US HONEST.

AND THE REASON YOU'RE SEEING PETITIONS TO AMEND THE CHARTER

[08:15:01]

IF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO WORK PROPERLY, PETITIONS WOULDN'T BE NECESSARY.

WHETHER IT'S TIME THE CITY MANAGER'S PAY TO PERFORMANCE OR ALLOWING THE CITIZENS TO FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS OFFICIALS, ACCOUNTABILITY IS SORELY NEEDED.

FURTHER, I'M DISAPPOINTED IN YOUR MOTIONS TO GIVE YOURSELVES FINAL SAY OVER SALARIES AND TO PROTECT YOURSELVES FROM LITIGATION.

OUR CITY DESERVES LEADERS WHO WILL FIGHT FOR THEIR RESIDENTS AND NOT FOR THEMSELVES.

BEFORE DALLAS CAN RISE FROM THE ASHES OF MISMANAGEMENT, THE PEOPLE RUNNING THE CITY NEED TO BE HELD UNDER A MAGNIFYING GLASS SO THAT THE VOTERS CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THEIR FU THEIR FUTURES.

TRANSPARENCY IS KEY.

ACCOUNTABILITY IS ESSENTIAL.

JOHN ROUSE.

JOHN ROUSE IS NOT PRESENT.

PETE MOROCCO.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR JOHNSON.

MY NAME IS PETE MOROCCO AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DALLAS HERO.

FIRST, I WANNA EXPRESS OUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR DALLAS POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR LEADERS, UH, THAT ARE THE INSPIRATION FOR OUR NAME.

THEY ARE THE HEROES.

AND OUR CAMPAIGN IS NOT ABOUT POLITICIANS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT A PARTY, IT'S ABOUT DALLAS.

THE REASON WE'RE HERE TODAY ON A CHARTER AMENDMENT FOR MINIMUM LEVEL OF POLICE IS BECAUSE DALLAS HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE MANY TIMES.

SO WHY ARE WE DOING THIS THROUGH A CHARTER AMENDMENT AND NOT LOBBYING YOU TO BE VERY CONCISE ABOUT IT.

AS A COUNCIL YEAR AFTER YEAR, YOU HAVE FAILED.

HOW CAN WE EXPECT TO RECRUIT WHEN THE STARTING SALARY PLUS PTO IS THE LOWEST IN THE METROPLEX OF 8 MILLION PEOPLE YEAR AFTER YEAR OF ATTRITION AND LOSING OFFICERS? THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE THIS IN THE PACKETS THAT I GAVE YOU, YOU ALL ARE CITING NUMBERS LIKE 250 INCREASE A YEAR.

IT IS NOT TRUE.

IT'S RIGHT HERE.

YOU MIGHT INCREASE IN A YEAR OF TWO 50 AND LOSE 400.

YOU CAN SEE THE SALARIES RIGHT HERE.

OFFICERS THAT FAITH, FACE, DEATH AND VIOLENCE EVERY NIGHT ARE PAID $12,000 LOWER THAN OFFICERS THAT ARE GIVING OUT TRAFFIC TICKETS IN PLANO.

I WAS APPALLED TO LISTEN TO THE COUNCIL LAST WEEK, MAKE TROUBLING MISSTATEMENTS OF THE HERO AMENDMENTS THEIR PLAIN LANGUAGE AND THEIR BUDGET IMPACT.

NUMEROUS COUNCIL MEMBERS CITED STATISTICS AND CLAIMS THAT SIMPLY WERE NOT TRUE, LIKE HIRING 900 POLICE OFFICERS OVERNIGHT OR THAT THESE AMENDMENTS WOULD FREEZE THE ENTIRE BUDGET.

NEITHER IS TRUE.

NO, THE AMENDMENTS WILL NOT TOUCH EVERY DEPARTMENT.

THESE AMENDMENTS WILL NOT EVEN LOCK UP ALL NEW REVENUE.

AND WE FULLY SUPPORT CHIEF GARCIA'S RECOMMENDATION TO RESPONSIBLY INCREASE THE POLICE FORCE.

250 TO 300 OFFICERS A YEAR MINDFUL OF RESOURCES, CAPACITY, AND STANDARDS, WHICH COULD LIKELY TAKE THREE YEARS.

ONE OF YOU HAD THE AUDACITY TO CLAIM IT WOULD FREEZE THE ENTIRE BUDGET.

YOU'VE SPENT NEARLY A BILLION DOLLARS ON ART AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND YOU HAVE A FOOD DESERT IN SOUTH DALLAS.

YOU'RE PASSING OUT URBAN FARMING KITS WITH NO PLAN AS FAR AS INCREASING POLICE LEVELS.

LET'S TALK FACTS.

NO, YOU HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.

DALLAS IS NOT INCREASING 250 TO 300 POLICE OFFICERS A YEAR.

NO, YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN FOR HOW TO DO THIS.

THOSE FIGURES DO NOT INCLUDE THE LARGER ATTRITION EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

YOU ARE LOSING, LOSING, LOSING.

SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL SINCE 2015 WHEN WE HAD 3,600 POLICE OFFICERS AND YOU HAD A GOAL TO GET TO 4,000 OFFICERS, THREE TO A THOUSAND RESIDENTS.

WHY DIDN'T THIS HAPPEN? THIS IS WHY WE NEED THE CHARTER AMENDMENT.

SOME MISLEADING COMMENTS, UH, IN THEM.

ART MARTINEZ, DERA.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

UH, MY NAME IS ART MARTINEZ DVA.

I'M NOT A RESIDENT OF DALLAS.

I LIVE IN V ARMY, TEXAS, BUT I'M, UH, AN ATTORNEY FOR A DALLAS, UH, HERO.

I HAD PREPARED, UH, UH, REMARKS REGARDING THE BALLOT LANGUAGE.

UH, WE HAD FELT THAT THERE WERE SOME DEFICIENCIES, SOME OMISSIONS,

[08:20:01]

UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE 'CAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WORKING, UH, WITH US THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO COME TO SOME LANGUAGE THAT IS SATISFACTORY TO BOTH PARTIES.

UH, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WOULD BE PROPOSED.

ANITA NUNEZ HAS CANCELED CAROLINE WILDER.

THAT WAS THE INDIVIDUAL THAT SIGNED UP ON A PREVIOUS ITEM.

MS. WILDER IS NOT PRESENT.

THEREFORE, MR. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR SPEAKERS FOR ITEM AGENDA.

ITEM 90.

OKAY, I'LL ENTERTAIN THE MOTION ON ITEM 90.

MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 90, USING THE FOLLOWING REVISED PROPOSITION LANGUAGE AGREED TO BY THE CITY IN THE DALLAS HERO INITIATIVE.

FIRST PROPOSITION, SHALL THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED BY ADDING A NEW CHAPTER THAT GRANTS STANDING TO ANY RESIDENT OF DALLAS TO BRING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY TO REQUIRE THE CITY TO COMPLY WITH PROVISIONS OF THE CITY, CHARTER CITY ORDINANCES AND STATE LAW ENTITLES CLAIMANTS TO SEEK DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AGAINST THE CITY AND RECOVER COSTS AND REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND WAIVES THE CITY'S GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY FROM SUIT AND LIABILITY AND CLAIMS BROUGHT UNDER THIS AMENDMENT.

SECOND PROPOSITION SHALL CHAPTER, UM, SIX OF THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED BY ADDING A NEW SECTION COMPELLING THE CITY TO CONDUCT THE CITY COMMISSIONED COMMUNITY SURVEY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO BE COMPLETED BY A MINIMUM OF 1400 DALLAS RESIDENTS ON THEIR SATISFACTION ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, THE RESULTS OF WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE CITY MANAGER EARNING ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE COMPENSATION BETWEEN 0% PERCENT AND A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE CITY MAN MANAGER'S ANNUAL BASE SALARY OR THE TERMINATION OF THE CITY MANAGER.

THIRD PROPOSITION SHALL CHAPTER 11 OF THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED BY ADDING A NEW SECTION COMPELLING CITY COUNCIL TO APPROPRIATE NO LESS THAN 50% OF ANNUAL REVENUE THAT EXCEEDS THE TOTAL ANNUAL REVENUE OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO FUND THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION WITH ANY MONIES REMAINING OF THAT 50% TO BE APPROPRIATED TO INCREASING THE STARTING COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS OF THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS TO A MINIMUM OF 4,000 AND TO MAINTAIN THAT RATIO OF OFFICERS TO THE CITY OF DALLAS POPULATION AS OF THE PASSAGE OF THIS AMENDMENT WITH THE PROPOSITIONS RENUMBERED IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER FOLLOWING THE PROPOSITION IN ITEM NUMBER 89.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN, SECONDED.

AND BEFORE I RECOGNIZE, UM, THE MOVER, UM, FOR ANY DISCUSSION, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF WHAT, UM, MS. BLACKMAN READ SINCE THIS IS BALLOT LANGUAGE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH SHE DID NOT READ THIS WORD FOR WORD, IS WHAT IS IN THIS PAPER THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY, UM, BE PUT FORWARD BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BALLOT LANGUAGE.

THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF DEVIATIONS FROM THE ACTUAL TEXT, BUT HER MOTION IS SUBSTANTIALLY WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS PIECE OF PAPER.

BUT THIS IS THE PIECE OF PAPER.

ALRIGHT, MS. BLACKMAN, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES IF YOU WANT IT.

YEAH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

UM, SO THIS PRO, THIS, UM, THAT WE HAVE BEFORE IT, THIS PROPOSITION IS THE SAME ONE THAT WE HAD LAST, LAST TIME.

IT WAS A, A PETITION DRIVE THAT LAW.

WE ARE, WE SHOULD PUT THIS ON A BALLOT, CORRECT? THESE, THESE THREE, CORRECT.

IT'S STATE LAW.

UM, AND SINCE WE'VE BEEN QUOTING, YOU KNOW, KNOW TWO OF MY FORMER BOSSES AND A GOOD FRIEND FROM A, UH, ARTICLE, I MIGHT AS WELL GO AHEAD AND QUOTE THE REST OF IT.

UM, THERE ARE FOUR CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSITIONS THAT AROSE FROM VOTER PETITION SLATED FOR THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

WE DO NOT SUPPORT ANY OF THESE AMENDMENTS, BOTH FOR LEGAL AND POLICY REASONS.

WE FURTHER BELIEVE THAT THESE VOTER LED AMENDMENTS DO NOT REFLECT THE WAY DALLAS SHOULD OPERATE OR MAKE POLICY FOR ITS CITIZENS.

SO THAT, AND THERE'S, IT GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE MARIJUANA, BUT THE ONES THAT WE'RE TALKING HERE, OTHERS WOULD UNDERMINE THE CITY'S BUDGETARY MANAGEMENT OF ITS POLICE FORCE AND UNDULY INTERFERE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL'S OVERSIGHT

[08:25:01]

OF CITY MANAGEMENT.

AND WHILE, YES, IT IS THREE MAYORS, BUT IT'S ALSO DRAFTED IN SUPPORT WITH DALLAS BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS, OUR CELIA ACOSTA, COLUM CLARK, FRANK OPOLIS, JOHN GATES, BRENT RYAN, RON STEINHARDT, KEVIN WALKER, AND ROB WALTERS.

SO WE, WE ARE SEEING HERE AS A, A COAL A A GROUP OF, OF PROPOSITIONS THAT ARE GOING TO THE VOTERS THAT WE MUST PUT TO THE BALLOT.

AND, UM, AND SO I FEEL THAT YES, I MAY NOT AGREE WITH ALL OF 'EM.

IT COULD BE WORD IN NUANCED, BUT IT IS MY DUTY AND I THINK IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO PUT THEM.

OH, AND YOU'RE NOT MOVING MY TIME.

UM, IT IS NOT, UM, IT IS TO OUR DUTY TO PUT THESE FORTH.

AND, UM, SO, UM, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THEM.

I, AS A VOTE, I I DO THINK THEY CAN CAUSE HARM TO OUR CITY, BUT I WILL PUT IT FORTH TO THE VOTERS AND LET THEM DECIDE AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

BUT I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT IF WE'RE GONNA BE QUOTING A DOCUMENT, WE SHOULD QUOTE THE DOCUMENT EVEN FOR THESE, AND ALSO TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER AND HAVE SAID, GUYS, THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR OUR CITY.

WE MAY NEED TO RETHINK IT.

SO, UH, WITH THAT, UM, YOU GOT THREE MINUTES OF MY TIME.

THANKS.

AND THANKS FOR BEING HONEST ABOUT YOUR TIME.

I WAS, I WAS SO MESMERIZED BY YOUR REMARKS.

I WASN'T EVEN LOOKING.

CHAIRMAN NOVAS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MARIN.

UM, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE, UM, FROM DISTRICT NINE FOR, UM, READING UP THE, UM, MOTION.

UM, MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY, THE, THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS JUST PASSED OUT TO US, UM, EVEN THOUGH THE MAYOR STATED, YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT BE A WORD HERE AND THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS MS. RED OR WHO KNOWS WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE READING THAT MANY WORDS, IT'S EASY TO SKIP SOMETHING.

BUT ARE, ARE THESE THE SAME WORDS THAT THE, UM, THE HERO ATTORNEY WORKED WITH YOU ALL TO SAY THAT THIS WAS ACCEPTABLE? YES.

VERY GOOD.

SO, UM, UM, I DON'T, I, YOU KNOW, I, I DO WANT TO ASK YOU IF, IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT SAME QUESTION, UH, MR. ATTORNEY, UM, JUST 'CAUSE I WANNA, I WANNA KNOW THAT Y'ALL DID WORK TOGETHER AND, UM, THAT'S THE FULL TRANSPARENCY FROM EVERYBODY.

UH, I, I DON'T HAVE A COPY OF WHAT'S WRITTEN IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT WHAT WAS READ ALOUD WAS, WAS, UH, SUBSTANTIALLY VERY GOOD.

WE AGREED TO THANK YOU.

THAT'S WHY I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I KNOW THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TOLD THAT Y'ALL WORKED TOGETHER, BUT I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I HEARD FROM YOU ALL THAT Y'ALL SHARED, EXCHANGED EMAILS.

WE DID, WE EXCHANGED, WE EXCHANGED EMAILS AND WE DID.

NOW YOU HAVE A COPY.

AND IF IT'S, UH, YEAH, I MEAN, YOU CAN SIT DOWN AND, YOU KNOW, IF, IF SOMETHING'S WAY OUTTA WHACK OR SOMETHING, PLEASE WALK BACK UP AND MAYBE THE MAYOR WILL LET YOU TELL US.

IT'S LIKE, OH, IT'S COMPLETELY WRONG OR SOMETHING.

BUT, UM, I I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IT'S THE SAME, UM, LANGUAGE THAT Y'ALL AGREED ONTO.

UM, YOU, I, THIS WE'RE IN THE SAME BOAT AND I, I, Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE SAW ME TALK TO THE TWO YOUNG LADIES THAT WERE HERE ON THE OTHER ONE.

AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU ALL AS WELL, UM, I FORGOT TO SAY IT EARLIER, BUT THANK Y'ALL FOR SITTING HERE FOR 12 HOURS.

UM, I THINK WE'RE AT 13 NOW.

UM, WHETHER WE AGREE OR WE DISAGREE ON THIS, UM, YOU, YOU STILL CAME DOWN TO CITY HALL AND YOU SAT HERE FOR 13 HOURS AND YOU DID A LOT OF WORK, WHETHER I AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT.

UM, THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE PART OF OUR, UM, CIVIC PROCESS.

UM, THE, THE HARD PART, YOU, YOU HEARD FROM THOSE, THAT ARTICLE THAT WE HEARD MANY, MANY TIMES EARLIER TODAY, UM, FULLY READ, UM, ON DIFFERENT AMENDMENTS.

AND YOU HEARD, UM, MY, MY COLLEAGUE JUST READ IT, UM, FROM OUR THREE FORMER MAYORS, UM, YOU KNOW, PREDECESSORS OF, OF YOURS, UM, MAYOR.

AND THEY'RE ALL OPPOSED TO THIS BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS.

AND, AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT, OH, WE'RE, WE WERE DISINGENUOUS OR WE DIDN'T SAY THINGS PROPERLY LAST TIME.

THAT COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH BASED ON WHAT WE RECEIVED, UM, THAT WAS TURNED IN.

THERE'S BEEN SOME THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED, BUT IT STILL, IT STILL WOULD BE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US AS A CITY, IN MY OPINION, AS A DULY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER THAT REPRESENTS CITIZENS THAT LIVE HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

UM, THAT I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THINGS AND I WILL TELL THEM WHAT I THINK IS CORRECT, ACCURATE OR INCORRECT AND NOT ACCURATE.

UM, THE HARD PART IS, IS THE, THE, THE, WHAT WE RECEIVED DIDN'T SAY HOW MANY COPS.

IT JUST SAID WE HAD TO GET TO 4,000.

IT DIDN'T GIVE A TIME, IT DIDN'T GIVE A THING.

SO IMMEDIATELY WE HAVE TO THINK THE EXTREME.

AND THERE'S NO WAY, EVEN CHIEF GARCIA, HE SAT HERE AND SAID, AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, BECAUSE IT WAS ALSO MISSTATED THAT WE SAID WE'RE GAINING 250 COPS.

WE CAN HIRE UP TO 250 COPS.

THAT'S WHAT FITS IN OUR ACADEMY OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR.

WE DO HAVE ATTRITION.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE OTHER DAY, MR. MAYOR, THAT WE LOST 190, WE GAINED 2 24.

SO WHATEVER THAT MATH IS, I THINK IT'S 34.

WE NETTED 34.

IF WE COULD HIRE MORE AND TRAIN THEM, WE WOULD, MR. MAYOR.

AND FOR PEOPLE TO SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO FUND AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET NEW POLICE OFFICERS.

WE SEND OUR RECRUITERS ALL OVER THESE UNITED STATES AND THE, AND THE STATE OF PUERTO, I MEAN THE COUNTRY OF PUERTO RICO TO, TO

[08:30:01]

RECRUIT.

AND WE HIRE MORE OFFICERS AND GET MORE OFFICERS IN TRAINING THAN JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER CITY IN THIS NATION.

THE HARD PART IS, IT'S HARD TO FIND THEM.

IT'S, IT'S A HARD JOB.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, IT, WE WISH WE COULD PAY THEM MORE.

WE, WE HAVE SO MANY OFFICERS, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL 'CAUSE FISCALLY WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ON IT.

OUR TAX RATE, WE HAVE TO BRING IT DOWN AS WELL.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CITY SERVICES.

THIS ALL IS COMBINED TOGETHER.

I REALLY WISH THAT WE COULD HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION BEFORE ALL OF THIS PRICE, A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF MONEY, AND WE COULD EDUCATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE CITY MANAGER WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, THAT, UM, SURVEY.

THE, THE REASON THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA GIVE THE EXAMPLE THAT WAS USED EARLIER.

'CAUSE I REPRESENT RIVERFRONT, SO I KNOW ALL ABOUT IT.

IT'S PAVED, IT'S BEEN REPAID TWICE NOW FROM THE RAILROAD TRACKS ALL THE WAY NORTH.

THE REASON IT DIDN'T GET PAVED SOUTHWARD IS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD AND YOU CAN'T FORCE THEM TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE RIGHTS THAN THE CITY ITSELF BECAUSE THEY WERE HERE BEFORE US.

AND SO IT'S NOT NO FAULT OF ANYBODY.

AND WE HAVE THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, WE HAVE EVERY SINGLE ENTITY TRYING TO HELP US TO WHERE WE JUST GAVE UP AND WE'RE STARTING THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT.

WE'RE JUST NOT GONNA DO UNDER THE BRIDGE BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET U UP P TO APPROVE IT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE BLAMED ON THE CITY MANAGER.

THAT'S UNION PACIFIC'S FAULT.

BUT THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT IF WE COULD HAVE CONVERSATIONS MORE OFTEN, UM, WE'D BE ABLE TO, UM, I'M GONNA MAKE SURE, TELL MY VOTERS NOT TO VOTE FOR THESE, UM, JUST LIKE THOSE THREE FORMER MAYORS SAID.

UM, AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR SENDING IT IN TO YOUR RIGHT.

AND I WILL VOTE FOR IT JUST LIKE I DID THE OTHER ONE BECAUSE IT'S MY MINISTERIAL DUTY.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM 90.

UM, AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK OUR PEOPLE, FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN DOWN HERE ALL DAY AND, AND THE ONES ONLINE WHO HAVE, UH, TAKEN THE TIME TO BE HERE JUST LIKE OUR, UH, OUR LAST GROUP.

UM, AND ALSO TO GATHER THE SIGNATURES.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF PASSION IN THE CITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

UM, IT IS ROUTINELY EITHER THE FIRST OR SECOND MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR MY RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT ONE NORTH OAK CLIFF.

AND I THINK THAT'S REFLECTED ACROSS THE CITY.

SO I'M, I'M VERY, UH, UM, IT'S, IT'S ON MY PULSE TOO, JUST LIKE IT IS YOURS.

UM, I DO AGREE WITH OUR THREE MAYORS THAT IT IS, UH, PRIOR MAYORS THAT THIS IS, THESE ARE A LITTLE HEAVY HANDED AND IT PUTS US AT RISK FISCALLY.

AND, AND SO I, IT, I WORRY FROM THAT STANDPOINT, I AGREE WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF THAT WE'VE GOTTA FOCUS ON OUR RETENTION EFFORTS AND REALLY, UH, KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING TO SHORE UP THE PENSION.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

WE'VE GOT A POLICE CHIEF WHO'S BROUGHT US, UM, GREAT MORALE IN THE POLICE FORCE.

AND, UM, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE AS A COUNCIL, I KNOW WE HAVE DONE PROVIDE EVERY TIME THEY'VE ASKED FOR A BUDGET INCREASE, WE HAVE MET IT.

AND, UM, AND I THINK WE'VE GOTTA KEEP SUPPORTING THOSE EFFORTS.

SO FOR ME, I PLAN TO VOTE NO IN NOVEMBER AS A DALLAS VOTER, BUT I MUST VOTE YES AS A DALLAS COUNCIL MEMBER TONIGHT.

'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S A RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.

THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM 90.

THE PRESENT CONTRACT WAS PASSED IN 2022 BY 98% OF THE MEMBERSHIP AND UNANIMOUSLY BY THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL.

UM, I'LL ALSO SAY THANK Y'ALL FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL PUT IN TO GET THESE ON.

UM, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE THERE.

I, UH, WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE WAS, UH, I THINK ONE STARK DIFFERENCE IN MY, UH, UM, SEAT FROM YOU ALL'S BALLOT INITIATIVES, UM, VERSUS THAT OF THE ONE THAT WE JUST APPROVED.

AND THAT WAS THAT NO, NO ONE HERE EVER HEARD FROM Y'ALL.

UM, AND SO THERE WAS NEVER, UH, ANY, UH, LEADING INTO IT.

WE, WE DID, WE DID ONCE IT WAS BAKED, UH, WHICH DIDN'T REALLY HELP US.

UM, BUT THE FACT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WASN'T CONSULTED THROUGH THIS, THE FACT THAT, UH, I MEAN, WELL, UH, THE CHIEF WHO LEADS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, SAID ON RECORD THAT HE WASN'T.

AND, UH, AND, AND NEITHER WAS, UH, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IN FACT, I, I WANNA READ A STATEMENT FROM OUR, UM, LOCAL FIRE ASSOCIATION, DFFA LOCAL 58 TAKE ON DALLAS HERO INITIATIVE, CHARTER PROPOSITION ON THE UPCOMING DALLAS CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT ELECTION.

A ROGUE GROUP FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS BROUGHT FORTH A PROPOSAL THAT ON THE SURFACE APPEARS TO BE HELPFUL, BUT THE REALITY IS THE DOMINO EFFECT IT WOULD CAUSE WOULD CREST IRREPARABLE HARM.

WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE ATTEMPT TO INCREASE THE STARTING PAY OF POLICE OFFICERS, THIS GROUP DID NOT CONSIDER THE FACT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE THAT POSITIVELY IMPACTS BOTH POLICE OFFICER AND FIREFIGHTER PAY ACROSS THE BOARD.

IN 2010, THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A MEET AND CONFER LAW THAT ENABLES THE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATIONS TO WORK COLLECTIVELY WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS TO ADDRESS OUR PAY STRUCTURE.

WE ARE NOW ENTERING THE LAST YEAR OF OUR FIFTH CONTRACT.

[08:35:01]

THE CONTRACT CONTINUED TO BUILD ON THE MARKET BASED PAY SYSTEM.

WE CONSTRUCTED, WHICH LOOKS AT 17 COMPARABLE CITIES TO DETERMINE NOT ONLY THE STARTING PAY, BUT OUR TOPPED OUT PAY.

ALSO, THE AMENDMENT FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO ADD FUNDING TO THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM, BUT FAILS TO CONSIDER WHAT EFFECTS THESE UNFUNDED MANDATES WOULD HAVE ON THE CITY OF DALLAS BUDGET.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM COLLECTIVELY ON SOLVING THE FUNDING OF OUR PENSION IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MANDATES SET FORTH BY THE TEXAS PENSION REVIEW BOARD.

AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS AS WE MOVE TOWARD THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I THINK THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SPEAKS TO THE LACK OF COLLABORATION THAT THIS HAD.

IT SPEAKS TO THE FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY THAT THESE MEASURES HAVE.

IT ABSOLUTELY MISLEADS THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING A PROBLEM THAT NOT NECESSARILY EXISTS IN THE WAY THAT YOU'RE PRESENTING IT.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY.

I KNOW CHAIR ATKINS WITH THE PENSION COMMITTEE, UM, HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY.

I KNOW THAT MYSELF AND SEVERAL OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH THE ASSOCIATIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN, UM, UH, UH, PRESENTED WITH PLANS.

WE HAVE DECIDED ON WHERE WE ARE GOING TO GO.

WE ARE NOT IGNORING OUR DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION.

AND IF THAT'S YOUR TAKE, I AM SORRY.

BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY REPRESENTING THE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN AT THE TABLE AND HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORTH.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THAT TO BE HIGHLIGHTED.

AND THAT'S WHY I READ IT STRAIGHT FROM LEADERSHIP OF THE FIRE ASSOCIATION BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT MAKING DECISIONS LIKE THIS WITHOUT COL CONSIDERING THE COLLABORATION THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEING PUT IN, DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

AND ULTIMATELY, ANYTHING THAT IS THIS FISCALLY OUTRAGEOUS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T UNDO.

BUT INSTEAD OF $175 MILLION, JUST TO GO TO A RATE OF, OF, UH, A POLICE FORCE THAT OUR CHIEF SAID HE DOESN'T EVEN NEED, IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GIVE RAISES GOING FORWARD AND TAKE CARE OF OUR OFFICERS, OFFICERS IN WAYS THAT WE WILL NEED THOSE FUNDS TO DO GOING FORWARD.

YOU HAVE TWO MORE ROUNDS IF YOU NEED THEM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM 90.

THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR, AND ONCE AGAIN TO THE PUBLIC.

WE APPRECIATE YOU WATCHING THIS PROCESS AND TO WATCH US IN ACTION.

AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP QUICKLY ON ALL OF THIS, THERE IS A METHOD TO THIS MADNESS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

UH, SOMETIMES I HEAR THE STATEMENT AND MAYBE THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.

SOMETIMES WE MAKE THINGS SEEM TOO EASY.

THIS IS AN ARDUOUS PROCESS.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE SITTING AT THE COUNCIL, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT SOME BEAUTY CONTEST.

WE JUST SITTING AROUND TO SEE HOW WE LOOK.

SO YOU CAN LOOK, WE ARE, WE ARE WORKING, WE'RE EXPERIENCING, IT'S A PROCESS.

AND SO WHEN PEOPLE TELL US HOW I'M FROM ON THE OUTSIDE, HOW IT WORKS ON THE INSIDE, AND YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ON THE INSIDE, THAT'S A, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

IT'S A, IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW FOLKS ARE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH AND, BUT THROUGH EDUCATION.

AND I BELIEVE IN THAT, IN COMMUNICATION, I THINK WE CAN WORK THIS THING OUT.

RIGHT NOW, I'M DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE ATTORNEYS HAVE ADVISED US TO DO IN TERMS OF OUR DUTIES.

I CANNOT SUPPORT ANY OF THOSE, UH, PROPOSALS.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MISLEADING OUR COMMUNITY, PUSHING AWAY POTENTIAL TALENT.

EVEN AS WE TALK ABOUT SURVEYS AND POPULARITY CONTEST AROUND A, A CITY MANAGER, NO CREDIBLE, EXPERIENCED, KNOWLEDGEABLE, EDUCATED CANDIDATE WOULD COME TO THIS CITY, BRING UPROOT HIS FAMILY TO BE JUDGED ON A SURVEY WITH INFORMATION THAT'S NOT CREDIBLE.

INFORMATION THAT SOMEBODY TOLD SOMEBODY, THAT SOMEBODY TOLD SOMEBODY.

AND SO I, I CAN'T

[08:40:01]

PUT OUR PEOPLE IN THAT POSITION.

MY COMMUNITY NEEDS US.

THEY NEED ME, AND WE NEED, AND I NEED THEM, BUT WE NEED EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND NOTHING AROUND THIS HORSESHOE HAPPENS WITHOUT EIGHT VOTES.

YOU HAVE FOLKS WALKING AROUND HERE THINKING, I CAN WRITE A CHECK TO REPAIR STREETS AND ROADS AND ALLEYS.

SERIOUSLY.

THAT'S NOT HOW THIS SYSTEM WORKS.

SO FOR ME, I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO DO WHAT I CAN DO.

I DON'T HAVE ANY HOOKUPS, I DON'T HAVE ANY SUGAR DADDIES WITH DEEP POCKETS TO HELP FUND A CAMPAIGN.

BUT I'M GONNA DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO EDUCATE MY COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS ME TO BRING A CREDIBLE MESSAGE TO THEM.

MR. ATKINS, WHAT DO YOU SAY? PROCESS AND PROCEDURES.

IT'S A REASON FOR THAT.

SO WE CAN PROTECT THE TAX DOLLARS.

WE CAN'T GROW A POLICE OFFICER.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

THE CHIEF HAS TOLD US WHAT WE CAN SUSTAIN.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

I AM A 100% SUPPORTER OF POLICE AND FIRE.

WHAT WOULD DALLAS BE WITH WITHOUT POLICE AND FIRE? WE COULDN'T HAVE A CITY WITHOUT THOSE COMPONENTS.

BUT THERE'S A PROCESS AND PROCEDURE TO GET THE QUALITY THAT WE WANT.

AND SO AT THIS POINT, I AM BECAUSE OF TIME, BUT I AM COMMITTED.

AND IF WE HAVE TO STAY LONGER, I'M GONNA, I'M JUST GONNA BE HERE BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THE JOB.

DO THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE AND THE MESSAGE.

AND I'M VERY CONCERNED WHEN I CONTINUE TO SEE THESE GROUPS JUMPING UP, IF I'M ON MY TELEPHONE, SHE MUST BE TEXTING SOME, SOMETIMES PEOPLE, WE ARE TRYING TO GET INFORMATION SO WE CAN GIVE A BETTER DELIVERY OF THE MESSAGE AND GET INFORMATION.

DON'T LET ME STAND UP.

OH, SHE WALKED OUT HER SEAT.

THERE ARE REASONS FOR WHAT WE DO, BUT WHEN WE LOOK ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE SEE THESE TYPE OF ASININE COMMENTS AND POSTINGS, IT'S TROUBLING BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HELP MOVE US FORWARD AS THE DALLAS THAT WE ARE HERE FOR.

I AM NOT HERE FOR THE PAYCHECK THAT SOME FOLKS ARE SAYING WE ARE HERE FOR.

SO PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH ME TONIGHT WHEN I SAY IT, THERE IS A METHOD TO THIS MADNESS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IS ABOUT SERVICE FOR ME.

NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO GOING TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK HIGHLY OF DALLAS THE NINTH LARGEST.

I'M PROUD TO BE HERE.

I'M HONORED TO SERVE, BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MISLEADING OUR POPULATION, THE CONSTITUENTS WHO DEPEND ON US.

BUT IF WE COULD GET YOU AND WE CAN MEET AFTER THE MEETING, IF I COULD GET YOU ALL TO SIGN A PETITION, GET ALL OF THOSE FOLKS TO SIGN A PETITION.

LET'S GET OUT AND FIND SOME OF THESE FOLKS IN BUSINESS.

FOLKS WHO CAN INVEST IN DISTRICT FOUR.

BRING US SOME RESTAURANTS AND SOME GROCERY STORES TO THE FOOD DESERT AND THE RESTAURANT DESERT AND DISTRICT FOUR.

IF YOU WANNA MEET ME, SIR, I'LL MEET YOU.

'CAUSE IF YOU COULD HELP ME GET THOSE, I'D LOVE TO HAVE IT HERE.

AND I LOVE YOUR ENERGY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

THANK TIME.

WE HAVE TWO MORE ROUNDS.

MS. WILLIS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM.

AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOTE NO AS WELL.

UM, I, I THINK IF YOU TRULY, AUTHENTICALLY HAVE UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR POLICE AND FIRE, THAT WOULD START WITH RESPECTING THEM.

AND WHEN WE'VE GOT THEM TELLING US THAT THEY'VE GOT A MECHANISM IN PLACE FOR A POSITIVE OUTCOME WHEN IT COMES TO SALARY, I MEAN COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS AND THAT 98% OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP SUPPORTS THAT, I THINK GOING AGAINST THAT IS NOT SHOWING RESPECT TO THOSE THAT PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND, AND THAT'S VERY SAD.

UM, YOU KNOW, MOST RESIDENTS, MOST, UH, LEGISLATORS, UH, DON'T LIKE UNFUNDED MANDATES.

NOBODY LIKES THAT.

SOMEONE TELLING YOU, YOU'VE GOTTA DO THIS, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA PAY FOR IT.

AND ESSENTIALLY THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

UM, I THINK BY GOING FORTH WITH THIS, IT WILL ESSENTIALLY KILL A MEANINGFUL CITY MANAGER SEARCH.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

UM, BUT WE HAVE A MINISTERIAL DUTY HERE AND I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL, MOST OF US GRAPPLING WITH THAT.

UM, SO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WE'RE GONNA BE COMPELLED TO PUT THIS ON A BALLOT, WHETHER IT'S IN NOVEMBER OR WHETHER THINGS PLAY OUT.

AND, UH, WE GET FORCED TO DO IT SOMEHOW IN THE FUTURE ON ANOTHER BALLOT.

THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S GONNA END UP.

SO WE, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE, I'VE GOTTA STICK TO THE MINISTERIAL DUTY THAT WE HAVE NOT COST THE TAXPAYERS ANY MORE MONEY.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER WEST, YES, I'LL, I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS AND I'LL BE EDUCATING MY NEIGHBORS ON THE HARM THAT THIS COULD DO

[08:45:01]

I THINK THAT WHEN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE HARM, IT'LL BE EASY TO FIGURE OUT.

BUT, UM, I DO NOT LIKE THE MINISTERIAL DUTY, BUT I'M GOING TO RESPECT THAT THAT IS THE PROCESS AND THAT IS WHERE I AM.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO, UM, SAY ANYTHING OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT HASN'T BEFORE I GO TO A SECOND ROUND? I SEE THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO.

TIM IS THE ONLY PERSON I SEE IN THE QUEUE RIGHT NOW, AND HE'S ALREADY SPOKEN.

AND I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION FOR LEGAL THAT, BUT I'LL SAVE IT FOR AFTER THE FIRST ROUND SO EVERYONE CAN GET THEIR, UM, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS IN.

I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANYONE, SO I'LL ASK THIS.

SO, UM, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY OR WHOEVER ON YOUR STAFF IS, UH, AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THIS.

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT, THIS IS ACTUALLY RELEVANT TO ALL OF THE, THE THINGS THAT WE, IT'S, IT'S RELEVANT TO THIS ITEM.

IT'S ALSO HAPPENS TO BE RELEVANT TO ALL THE VOTER, UM, PROFFERED CHARTER AMENDMENTS AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER PROFFERED CHARTER AMENDMENTS AS WELL.

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY ABOUT HOW OFTEN WE CAN AMEND OUR CITY CHARTER? NOT EARLIER THAN EVERY TWO YEARS, NOT EARLIER THAN EVERY TWO YEARS.

WE CAN AMEND THE CITY CHARTER.

NOW, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE LEGALLY BETWEEN AMENDING YOUR CITY CHARTER AND ATTEMPTING TO AMEND YOUR CITY CHARTER? YES.

UM, IF A, IF A MEASURE OR THE THE ENTIRE MEASURE FAILS OR ALL THE MEASURES FAIL, THEN IT'S NOT AMENDING YOUR CITY CHARTER.

SO I'M GONNA MAKE SURE I SAY THAT ON THE, I GET THIS ON THE RECORD AND UNDERSTAND THIS, IF NOTHING THAT WE DID THAT'S COUNCIL LED, OR, AND, AND THANK YOU AND NOTHING THAT'S VOTER LED ACTUALLY PASSES.

HAVE YOU TRIGGERED THE TWO YEAR TOLLING PERIOD? NO, IT'S RE THE MEASURES HAVE TO PASS.

LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION TO REFINE WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

MEASURES OR MEASURE SINGULAR MEANING IF EVEN A SINGLE ONE PASSES, YOU'VE AMENDED YOUR CHARTER.

IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.

THAT IS CORRECT.

BUT WHAT IF ZERO PASS, THEN YOU HAVE NOT, THEN YOU'VE NOT AMENDED YOUR CHARTER.

GOOD TO KNOW.

DEPUTY MAYOR PROTE, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.

UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT CLARIFICATION TOO.

I, UM, WANTED TO JUST SAY THAT I, UH, AM ALSO OBLIGATED, UM, DIDN'T GET TO SAY IT AT THE END OF MY, UM, UH, FIRST ROUND, BUT I WILL, UM, BE VOTING FOR THIS TO GET IT TO THE VOTERS, BUT I WILL ALSO BE VOTING FOR VOTING NO ON THESE AS A VOTER.

UM, I'LL BE WORKING WITH THE POLICE AND FIRE ASSOCIATIONS AND EDUCATING OUR PUBLIC TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPLICATIONS, UM, FOR, UH, THIS, THESE TWO PATHS.

SO, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

JUST QUICKLY FOLLOWING UP, MAYOR ON THE QUESTION SINCE YOU STARTED ME, THE QUESTION WOULD BE TO THE, TO THE ATTORNEYS, AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

WOULD, UM, IF, IF, IF WE, SINCE WE HAVE TO, TO PUT THIS ON FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, IF THEY, IF FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS TOOK OUT AN AD WITH THEIR NAMES ON IT THAT'S NOT TAKEN FROM THE FUNDS OR NOT FROM THE CITY TO TAKE A POSITION PUBLICLY OUTSIDE OF THIS, THESE CHAMBERS AGAINST THESE ARTICLES, WOULD WE BE IN ORDER? I'M NOT SURE THAT'S, UM, THAT'S, I'M, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A, A PROPER LINE OF INQUIRY FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PUT IT ON, BUT WHERE WE'RE SAYING NO, WE DON'T VOTE FOR, WE DON'T SUPPORT IT PUBLIC, WE DON'T SUPPORT IT, BUT WE ARE DOING OUR DUTIES, THEN THAT MEANS WE ARE TAKING A POSITION AGAINST IT.

THE BASIC LAW IS THAT YOU CANNOT USE PUBLIC FUNDS CORRECT.

TO ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST A MEASURE.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT USING PUBLIC FUNDS, AND THAT INCLUDES THE DEFINITION, PUBLIC FUNDS INCLUDES FACILITIES AND ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THE GOVERNMENT, EMAIL, UM, COMPUTERS, ALL OF THAT.

THAT THE, THAT THE MESSAGE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT MY VOTERS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING TODAY BECAUSE IT CAN, IF YOU HAVE THE MEDIA PICKING UP PARTS OF IT, AND THEY MAY BE WATCHING US ONLINE AND THEY GET BITS AND PIECES.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU, UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND THAT NOW I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE

[08:50:01]

I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR, AWARE OF WHERE I STAND ON THIS, UH, CONVERSATION.

ANYONE ELSE WISH YOU SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST ITEM 90? SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR, NO.

DEPUTY MAYOR PO UA? YES.

ARNOLD, LOOK AT THIS TRADE.

I'M DOING MY DUTY TO SAY EDITORIALIZING AM WE CAN'T HAVE, WE CAN'T HAVE, WHAT AM I SAYING? I HAVE TO SAY THE WORD.

YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY YES OR NO.

THAT'S ALL.

YOU CAN SAY Y YAY OR NAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER EZ? YES.

WITH 13 VOTING AND, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, I MEAN, MAYOR, ATTORNEY.

CAN I REDRAW MY, MY VOTE SINCE I'M WITHIN THAT 30 SECONDS? OF WHAT? YEAH, YOU CAN CLARIFY IT IF IT WAS, IF WE DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT.

WHAT WAS IT? IT, YES, IT'S GONNA PASS.

I NO, NO.

YOU SEE NO.

CAN I CHANGE? YEAH, YEAH.

YES YOU CAN.

BEFORE WE FINISH THE VOTE? YES YOU CAN.

SO I THOUGHT YOU WERERE NO, IT IS A NO THEN YES.

IT'S A NO, IT'S A YES, IT'S A NO.

IT IS, YES, IT IS A NO.

WITH 12 VOTING IN FAVOR.

THREE OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR.

SECRETARY, WHAT'S NEXT? MR. MAYOR? YOUR ZONING AGENDA.

NOW, BY THE WAY, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT ME BEING A A STICKLER, THAT'S THE, THE, YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY MORE DEBATE DURING THE COURSE OF THE VOTE AND MOVE VOTES DURING THE VOTING.

I MEAN, I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I MEAN, TRY TO, TRY TO MOVE VOTES DURING THE VOTING PROCESS.

UM, MADAM

[ZONING CASES - CONSENT]

ALRIGHT, WHAT'S NEXT? ZONING FOLKS? OKAY, YOUR ZONING CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTED OF ITEM Z ONE THROUGH Z 10.

ITEM Z ONE HAS BEEN PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO.

THEREFORE, YOUR CONSENT, YOUR ZONING CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF ITEM Z TWO THROUGH Z 10.

I'LL READ THOSE ITEMS INTO THE RECORD.

ITEM Z TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN AMENDMENT TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 3 1 5 ON THE SOUTH LINE OF FOREST LANE BETWEEN CROMWELL DRIVE AND MARSH LANE.

ITEM Z THREE IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION ON PROPERTY ON THE EAST LINE OF SOUTHEAST 14TH STREET, SOUTH OF SKYLINE ROAD.

ITEM Z FOUR IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN AMENDMENT TO SPECIFIC USE PERMIT NUMBER 2 3 5 9 FOR THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN CONJUNCTION WITH A GENERAL MERCHANDISE OR FOOD STORE.

3,500 SQUARE FEET OR LESS ON PROPERTY ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SOUTH BUCKNER BOULEVARD, BOULEVARD AND FORNEY ROAD.

ITEM Z FIVE IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN AMENDMENT TO TRACK SIX A WITHIN PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 1 7 0 ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF PRESTON ROAD IN LAW LLOYD DRIVE.

ITEM Z SIX IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN AMENDMENT TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 1 0 9 8 ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF EAST NINTH STREET AND LANSING STREET.

ITEM Z SEVEN IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A BODY PIERCING STUDIO AND A TATTOO STUDIO ON PROPERTY ON THE NORTHWEST LINE OF ELM STREET BETWEEN NORTH MALCOLM X BOULEVARD AND NORTH CROWDED STREET.

ITEM Z EIGHT IS A PUBLIC HEARING IN AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN AMENDMENT TO SPECIFIC USE PERMIT NUMBER 2 1 5 0 FOR A BAR, LOUNGE, OR TAVERN, AND AN INSIDE COMMERCIAL AMUSEMENT LIMITED TO A LIVE MUSIC VENUE ON PROPERTY ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF ELM STREET AND NORTH GOOD LATIMER EXPRESSWAY.

ITEM Z NINE IS A PUBLIC HEARING IN AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A BAR, LOUNGE, OR TAVERN ON PROPERTY ON THE SOUTH LINE OF ELM STREET, SOUTHWEST OF NORTH CROWDER STREET.

AND ITEM Z 10 IS A PUBLIC HEARING IN AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ESTABLISHMENT, LIMITED TO A BAR, LOUNGE OR TAVERN ON PROPERTY ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF WEST DAVIS STREET AND NORTH BISHOP AVENUE.

YOU

[08:55:01]

DO NOT HAVE ANY REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM, HOWEVER, ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY OF THE ZONING CONSENT ITEMS THAT WERE READ INTO THE RECORD? NO SPEAKERS MR. MAYOR.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S BEEN MO IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ZONING CONSENT AGENDA? MEMBERS? SEEING NONE.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEM Z ONE.

NEXT ITEM SCOPE.

YOUR NEXT ITEM IS ZONING

[Z1. 24-2255 A public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for and an ordinance granting a Specific Use Permit for a multiple-family use on property zoned an I-2 Industrial Subdistrict within Planned Development District No. 193, the Oak Lawn Special Purpose District, on the northwest line of Wolf Street, between Harry Hines Boulevard and North Harwood Street]

I'LL READ THAT RECORD ITEM INTO THE RECORD.

ITEM Z ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A MULTIPLE FAMILY USE ON PROPERTY ON THE NORTHWEST LINE OF WOLF STREET BETWEEN HARRY HEES BOULEVARD AND NORTH CARWOOD STREET.

MR. MAYOR, WE SEND 98 NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE AREA OF REQUEST.

WE RECEIVED ONE REPLY IN FAVOR AND ZERO REPLIES IN OPPOSITION.

YOU DO HAVE ONE REGISTERED SPEAKER FOR THIS ITEM, AFTER, WHICH WILL BE OPEN TO ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WILL LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE ITEM.

ADAM MURPHY.

ADAM MURPHY HAS CANCELED.

ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS? I SEE AN INDIVIDUAL COMING FORWARD.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU MAY BEGIN.

TOMMY MANN 500 WINSTEAD BUILDING REPRESENTING, UH, KAIZEN IN THIS REQUEST.

WHAT'S BEFORE YOU IS ONLY AN SUP FOR THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT OF A VERY LARGE PROJECT.

THIS IS KER A'S SITE.

IT'S ACTUALLY ULTIMATELY GONNA CONTAIN THREE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS, A NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR KERA NEAR THE KATY TRAIL, AN OFFICE BUILDING AS WELL AS A HOTEL WITH CONDOMINIUMS. FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RECORD, I WANTED TO MENTION SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY ON AND ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO WORK ON THROUGH THIS EXCITING PROJECT.

STARTING ON THE NORTH END AT THE TRAIL, KRA WILL BE ESTABLISHING A NEW PUBLIC ACCESS POINT AND WORKING TO PRESERVE AS MANY OF THE MATURE TREES THAT ARE THERE TODAY AND ENHANCE THAT EXPERIENCE FOR THE PUBLIC.

ON HARWOOD STREET TODAY, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF ON-STREET PARKING OCCURRING AND THE TRAFFIC BACKS UP.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS OF BLUE SEAL TO PROHIBIT THAT ON STREET PARKING AND HELP THE TRAFFIC FLOW ON HARWOOD.

AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO OUR NEIGHBORS OF BLUE SEAL IS ESTABLISHING AN ENTRANCE INTO OUR PARKING STRUCTURE ON THE HARRY HIND SIDE OF THE PROJECT, RIGHT WHERE THE TOLLWAY ENDS BECAUSE THE, THE OFFICE COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT WILL BE THE HIGHEST TRAFFIC GENERATOR AND IF WE CAN KEEP THAT TRAFFIC COMING IN THERE, IT WILL BENEFIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD GREATLY.

WE'RE ALIGNED WITH THEM IN THAT DESIRE.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO PURSUE IT WITH COUNCILMAN MORENO AND THE CITY'S ENGINEERS AND THE NTTA AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT.

DERRICK EVERS IS THE PRINCIPAL OF KAIZEN IS HERE AS WELL.

IF YOU JUST, DEREK EVERS, KAIZEN DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS.

UH, 26 0 1 OLIVE STREET.

UH, I WANT TO BOTH THANK YOU FOR YOUR STAMINA AS WELL AS, UH, UM, ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR SERVICE.

SO, UH, SPECIFICALLY COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO, UM, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, YOU QUESTIONS.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? ITEM Z ONE.

NO FURTHER SPEAKERS.

MR. MAYOR? CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE A MOTION? MOTION FOR APPROVAL? IS THERE A SECOND? I HEARD A MOTION A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION CHAIRMAN? YES SIR.

I'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

I'LL BE SHORT.

UH, TOMMY IN THE APPLICANT DID, DID A GREAT JOB OF SUMMARIZING SOME OF MY CONCERNS.

UH, THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING PROJECT THAT WILL BRING, UH, HOTELS, CONDOS, A NEW OFFICE TO A SPACE THAT'S REALLY UNIQUE IN, UH, IN SHAPE.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY THAT'S GOING INTO THIS, UH, PROJECT AND APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORS AT HARWOOD AND BLUE SEAL TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CONCERNS THERE.

UH, APPRECIATE Y'ALL DOING THE ACCESS TRAIL TO THE KATY TRAIL AND PRESERVING AS MANY TREES AS POSSIBLE.

UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A PROJECT THAT'S CONDUCIVE TO THE EXISTING NEIGHBORS, UM, AND FUTURE, UH, RESIDENTS AND, UM, OFFICE WORKERS AS WELL.

AND SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT ME ON THIS PROJECT.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ZONING? ITEM Z ONE.

WE SENT 12 NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE AREA OF REQUEST.

NEXT ITEM,

[Z11. 24-2265 A public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for an MF-2(A) Multifamily District on property zoned an R-7.5(A) Single Family District, on the southeast corner of West Kiest Boulevard and Guadalupe Avenue with consideration for and an ordinance granting a TH-3(A) Townhouse District Recommendation of Staff: Approval of an MF-2(A) Multifamily District Recommendation of CPC: Approval of a TH-3(A) Townhouse District Z223-217(MP)]

AGENDA ITEM Z 11.

WE'RE NOW ON YOUR ZONING INDIVIDUAL CASES.

ITEM 11 Z 11 IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING AN APPLICATION FOR AN MF DASH TWO, A MULTIFAMILY DISTRICT ON PROPERTY ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF WEST KEYS BOULEVARD IN GUADALUPE AVENUE WITH CONSIDERATION FOR AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A TH DASH THREE, A TOWNHOUSE DISTRICT.

MR. MAYOR,

[09:00:01]

WE RECEIVED ZERO REPLIES IN FAVOR AND ZERO REPLIES IN OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.

THERE ARE NO REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.

ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? ITEM C 11, NO SPEAKERS.

MR. MAYOR, CHAIRMAN GRACIE, YOU HAVE A MOTION? YES.

MOVE APPROVAL? DO I HAVE TO READ IT ALL THE WAY OUT? IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN GRACIE? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE SEEING NONE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY NAYS? THE AYES HAVE IT.

ITEM Z 12 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR MU DASH ONE MIXED USE DISTRICT USES AND STANDARDS AND, AND A CONTRACTOR'S MAINTENANCE YARD USE WITH CONSIDERATION FOR A CS COMMERCIAL SERVICE DISTRICT ON PROPERTY ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF GRETNA STREET AND BURGESS BOULEVARD.

[Z12. 24-2266 A public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for and an ordinance granting a Planned Development District for MU-1 Mixed Use District uses and standards and a contractor's maintenance yard use with consideration for a CS Commercial Service District on property zoned an IR Industrial Research District, on the northeast corner of Gretna Street and Burgess Boulevard Recommendation of Staff: Approval of a CS Commercial Service District, in lieu of a Planned Development District Recommendation of CPC: Approval of a Planned Development District, subject to a development plan and conditions Z223-225(MP)]

MR. MAYOR, WE SENT 79 NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 500 FEET OF THE AREA OF REQUEST.

WE RECEIVED SEVEN REPLIES IN FAVOR AND ONE REPLY IN OPPOSITION.

WE'RE ON ITEM Z 12.

YOU DO HAVE ONE REGISTERED SPEAKER.

ROBERT REEVES, YOUR MICROPHONE.

THERE'S THE BUTTON AT THE BASE OF THE, THE MICROPHONE.

I THINK I GOT IT THIS TIME.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ROBERT REEVES.

MY ADDRESS IS 38 0 7 VINE CREST DRIVE, DALLAS, 7 5 2 2 9.

AND I'M REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT IN THIS CASE.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR A MIXED USE ONE DISTRICT AND STANDARDS FOR A CONTRACTOR'S MAINTENANCE YARD ON PROPERTY THAT'S CURRENTLY ZONED INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH DISTRICT.

MY CLIENT BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY ON FEBRUARY THE 19TH, 2014 TO ESTABLISH A LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR'S BUSINESS WHICH FOCUSES ON RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPING.

I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH CITY PLAN COMMISSION MEMBER DEBORAH CARPENTER TO ENSURE THAT THE PD CONDITIONS FOR THIS CONTRACTOR'S MAINTENANCE YARD ARE COMPATIBLE WITH A MIXED USE REDEVELOPMENT THAT INCORPORATES RESIDENTIAL USES.

FOR EXAMPLE, A CONTRACTOR'S MAINTENANCE YARD MEANS THE FACILITY FOR THE STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE OF CONTRACTOR SUPPLIES, OPERATIONAL EQUIPMENT OUTSIDE STORAGE OFFICE, GREENHOUSE AND WAREHOUSE USES ASSOCIATED WITH THE LANDSCAPE BUSINESS.

THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT IS PROHIBITED, SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO EXCAVATORS, BULLDOZERS, GRADERS, DUMP TRUCKS, COMPACTOR ROLLERS, LARGE FRONT END LOADERS, MOBILE CRANES, CONCRETE MIXERS, AND NON-ELECTRIC FORK LIFTS AND THE BACK HOLES, BACK HOLE LOADERS, OUTSIDE STORAGE OF PILES OF UNWRAPPED, COMPOST MULCH, SOIL, GRAVEL AND SAND ARE PROHIBITED.

RETAIL SALES ARE PROHIBITED.

A 15 FOOT LANDSCAPE BUFFER IS PROPOSED ALONG GRETNA STREET AND BURGESS BOULEVARD, WHICH ARE THE TWO MAIN STREETS ADJACENT TO THE SITE.

A DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND THE LANDSCAPE PLAN ARE INCORPORATED IN THE PD CONDITIONS.

WE'VE PROVIDED A, WE WILL PROVIDE AN EIGHT FOOT HIGH, UH, SECURITY FENCE AROUND THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS MADE OF ORNAMENTAL IRON AND OUTSIDE STORAGE WILL BE SCREENED.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THERE IS NO, UH, OPPOSITION AT THE CITY PLAN COMMISSION.

IN CONCLUSION, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF THE CITY PLAN COMMISSION.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? ITEM Z 12.

NO FURTHER SPEAKERS.

MR. MAYOR? CHAIRMAN VIS, YOU HAVE A MOTION? YES.

I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SORRY, MOVE APPROVAL.

SORRY IT'S BEEN MOVED TO SAY.

ANY DISCUSSION MR. CHAIRMAN? ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE

[09:05:01]

HEARING NONE.

ITEM Z 13 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN AN MU DASH THREE MIXED USE DISTRICT ON PROPERTY ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF EAST JEFFERSON BOULEVARD IN SOUTH MARCELLUS AVENUE.

ITEM

[Z13. 24-2267 A public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for and an ordinance granting an MU-3 Mixed Use District on property zoned an RR Regional Retail District with H/90 Oak Cliff United Methodist Church Historic District Overlay, on the northwest corner of East Jefferson Boulevard and South Marsalis Avenue Recommendation of Staff: Approval Recommendation of CPC: Approval Z223-315(LC)]

MR. MAYOR, WE SENT 78 NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNER WITHIN 500 FEET OF THE AREA OF REQUEST.

WE RECEIVED TWO REPLIES IN FAVOR AND 13 REPLIES IN OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.

THERE ARE NO REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.

ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? ITEM Z 13.

NO SPEAKERS.

MR. MAYOR? OKAY, MR. WEST, YOU HAVE A MOTION? YES, MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ZONING CHANGE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY PLAN COMMISSION.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AID DISCUSSION, CHAIRMAN WEST.

SURE, OF COURSE YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES, .

THANKS, MAYOR.

UM, YEAH, I WANTED TO POINT THIS OUT.

THIS IS A, UM, THIS IS A REAL WIN FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

THIS IS A, UH, HISTORIC OAK CLIFF UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, UM, ALONG JEFFERSON BOULEVARD.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE EVER BEEN TO THE PERMIT OFFICE, IT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM THAT, UM, ON JEFFERSON BOULEVARD.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL OLD BUILDING THAT DIANE SHERMAN, OUR QUEEN OF PRESERVATION IN OAK CLIFF AND DAVID POSI APPROACHED ME ABOUT A FEW MONTHS INTO MY FIRST TERM, WORRIED ABOUT THIS PROPERTY GOING INTO DISREPAIR.

AND WE HAVE A NEW OWNER WHO'S COME IN AND IS GONNA SAVE IT.

IT'S GONNA BE SUBJECT ANY RENOVATION SUBJECT TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OVERLAY AND ANY, UH, RENOVATION SUBJECT TO LANDMARK COMMISSION APPROVAL.

UM, NOT WANTING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES, BUT I DO WANT TO PAR POINT OUT THE ANTIQUATED PARKING CODE AND HOW THAT APPLIES TO THIS MU THREE ZONING.

UM, THERE ARE 78 PARKING SPOTS AVAILABLE.

THE OWNER'S GONNA PUT IN 40 LIVABLE UNITS PLUS GROUND FLOOR RETAIL BASE PAR BASE CODE FOR PARKING REQUIRES ONE SPACE PER BEDROOM FOR THESE UNITS, UM, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL ONE FOURTH SPACE PER UNIT.

SO, UM, TO MAKE THIS WORK, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE OVER AN ACRE OF A PARKING LOT THAT'S GONNA STAY A PARKING LOT, WHICH COULD BE USED FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE CREATIVE LIKE GREEN SPACE.

AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING OUR PARKING CODE REVISION CITY STAFF SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY CHANGE THAT CITYWIDE IN THE FUTURE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO PICK ON FOR AGAINST ZONING ITEM Z 13? HEARING NONE.

CHAIRMAN MIDDLETON, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON Z 13.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

IF THE, UM, TENANTS ARE GONNA HAVE TO SIGN SOMETHING SAYING THEY DON'T OWN A CAR, WHO'S THAT DIRECTED TOWARD? I, I DON'T KNOW.

AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THAT ON.

I WHY DO WE KNOW WHY THEY WOULD NEED TO? BECAUSE THERE'S ONE PARKING SPACE PER BEDROOM PLUS AN EXTRA FOURTH OF A SPACE.

THE WAY THIS IS, IS WRITTEN, I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME LIKE I HAVE, I DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWER FOR YOU.

I'M TRYING TO DECIDE IF I WANNA SAY SOMETHING.

'CAUSE IT IS 10 26 AND I HAVE TO BE AT LOVE FIELD AT 5:00 AM SO I THINK I'LL SAVE THIS FOR ANOTHER DAY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY THE RESIDENTS ARE GONNA BE PARKING ON THE STREET THAT ALL THE TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY TO PAVE AND MAINTAIN BECAUSE WE'RE LETTING THE DEVELOPER NOT BUILD ENOUGH PARKING.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST ZONING ITEM Z 13.

TRY TO KEEP THIS PRETTY SHORT, BUT AS THE APPLICANT AND AS A RESIDENT CITY, I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS CASE.

THANK YOU MS. MAYOR.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE A LITTLE AHEAD.

YOUR NEXT, UH,

[Z15. 24-2112 A public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for and an ordinance granting an MU-2 Mixed Use District on property zoned an RR Regional Retail District, on the west line of Upton Street, between East Clarendon Drive and Viola Street Recommendation of Staff: Approval Recommendation of CPC: Approval Z223-299(LC) Note: This item was deferred by the City Council at public hearings on April 10, 2024, May 22, 2024 and June 26, 2024 and is scheduled for consideration on August 14, 2024.]

ITEM WILL BE ITEM Z 15.

ITEM Z 15 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AND MU DASH TWO MIXED USE DISTRICT ON PROPERTY ON THE WEST LINE OF UPTON UPTON STREET BETWEEN EAST CLARENDON STREET AND VIOLA STREET.

WE, MR. MAYOR, WE SENT 22 NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE AREA OF REQUESTS.

WE RECEIVED FIVE REPLIES IN FAVOR AND ZERO REPLIES IN OPPOSITION.

YOU DO HAVE TWO REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.

YOUR FIRST SPEAKER IS PAUL CARDIN.

GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

UH, MY NAME IS PAUL CARIN AND RESIDE AT 2007 HARLANDALE AVENUE.

UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE SO LATE TO, UH, HEAR ALL OF THESE CASES.

UM, AGAIN, UH, THIS ONE I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT AS A MANAGING PARTNER, IF NOT FOR, FOR THE, UH, FOR THE ENTITY.

UH,

[09:10:01]

UM, THIS DEVELOPMENT, LIKE ALL OF MY DEVELOPMENTS, FOCUSES ON ADDING HIGH QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE, AMENITY AND ACCESSIBILITY, UH, NEAR TRANSIT FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, UH, TO ENJOY.

UM, AND THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL PROVIDE SIX FOOT SIDEWALKS WHERE BARE DIRT PATH EXISTS TODAY.

TREELINE STREETS AND EYES ON THE STREET WERE NEARBY.

RESIDENTS TODAY ARE CURRENTLY APO EXPOSED TO SUN AND VACANCY AND HIGH QUALITY HOUSING.

SO THAT OF THOSE MILLION VISITORS TO OUR LOCAL DALLAS ZOO, 26 OF THEM, UH, MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AND GROW IN DISTRICT FOUR.

UH, AND TO ASSURE CURRENT RESIDENTS, WE ARE VOLUNTEERING DEED RESTRICTIONS, RESTRICTING LIMITING BUILDING HEIGHT TO 50 FEET.

UH, I DO UNDERSTAND, OF COURSE, THAT WE, WE WANNA FIND A SILVER BULLET, UH, TO THE ISSUES THAT PLAY OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I ASK THAT THIS COUNCIL SEES THIS AS A SMALL BUT MEANINGFUL STEP, UH, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS IMPROVING THE ALLEY FROM ITS 2017 BOND PACKAGE.

AND WITH THIS PROJECT, UH, HANDLING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE REST OF THE BLOCK, UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE BEST PRODUCT WE CAN DELIVER TODAY FOR THE CITY, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WE ASK AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

NEXT SPEAKER, STEPHANIE BERRY.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE BEARING.

I'M THE ARCHITECT ON THIS PROJECT, 10 40.

I LIVE AT 10 44 BURLINGTON BOULEVARD IN DALLAS.

UM, I DISTRIBUTED WHEN I REGISTERED TO SPEAK THE SITE PLAN, SO YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.

SO, UM, I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? ITEM Z 15.

NO FURTHER SPEAKERS.

MR. MAYOR, DO WE HAVE NO MOTION FOR APPROVAL? VOTE MAKE MOTION.

I WAS GONNA MOVE.

I I NEED TO MOVE TO APPROVE.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO HERE? WELL, I NEEDED TO BE A, THE RIGHT STATEMENT HERE QUICKLY.

YEAH, BECAUSE WE NEED TO LEAVE MOST, I APPRECIATE.

WELL, I KNOW YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO LEAVE, SO LET ME KIND OF CALM DOWN HERE.

UH, WANTED TO JUST QUICKLY COMMENT ON THIS.

I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN NAVIGATING WITH ME ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.

PLEASE BE MINDFUL, AND I WANNA SAY THIS, FOR THIS PARTICULAR, UH, UH, APPLICANT AND THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING, IT IS ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE HAD A NUMBER OF THINGS IMPACTING THIS DECISION AT THAT TIME WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED.

YOU ALL REMEMBER WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE DISCUSSION AROUND HISTORICAL LEGACY OF 10TH STREET AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

AND SO WE NEEDED TO FIGURE OUT JUST WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT AND HOW IT WOULD AFFECT THIS PARTICULAR, UH, LOCATION.

UH, WE DID HAVE SOME INPUT FROM A NEIGHBOR ON 10TH STREET, BUT THAT PERSON ONLY HAS PROPERTY THERE AND NO HOUSE.

UH, NORMALLY WHAT I NEED YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND WHEN I HAVE A CASE AND MY STAFF AND I, WE DO THE BEST WE CAN, UH, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW NO STAFF IS LIMITED.

AND MS. LOU, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND ANDREA HAS AS WELL.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET OUT AND LOOK AT THE SITES THAT WE ARE VOTING ON BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW.

I KNOW MAYBE STAFF JUST GOOGLES IT UP AND YOU LOOK AT IT AND THEN YOU MAKE A DECISION.

I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY HIRED ME TO DO THAT JOB, AND I TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND SO, UH, WE SPENT TIME GOING OUT TO THIS PARTICULAR SITE.

I COULDN'T IMAGINE HOW THEY'RE GETTING READY TO PUT A THREE STORY BUILDING ON THAT CORNER.

AND THEN FINALLY STAFF SHOWED ME WHETHER THEY FACED THIS DIRECTION, THEY MAY HAVE SOME SUCCESS.

UH, WE DID SPEAK TO A COUPLE MORE, UH, OWNERS, AN OWNER WHO I WAS HAPPY WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE ON THE SITE, DID NOT RESPOND TO HIS CARD.

AND I TOLD HIM, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

WHEN WE SEND THOSE CARDS TO YOU, GIVE US FEEDBACK.

UH, I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE O UH, UH, ANOTHER BUSINESS OWNER THERE WHO SHARED WITH ME A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ALLEY THAT IS SEPARATES HIM.

AND THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, THERE'S A HOTEL IN THAT AREA.

IT'S WHAT? IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THOSE SERIOUS HOTELS AND IT CREATES PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES IN THE ALLEY AT NIGHT WHERE YOU HAVE WOMEN AND MEN OF THE NIGHT WHO ARE LINGERING IN THE ALLEYS AND MAKING DEALS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

I HAD TO PULL ALL OF THAT OUT SO THAT I COULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING OUR JOB.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT THE SUPPORT THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN ME IN TERMS OF PATIENCE.

AND I NEED YOU NOT TO FIGURE, THINK THAT, OH, SHE'S TRYING TO HOLD THIS BACK WHEN I'M HOLDING BACK.

IT'S ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, UM, CAN BE BUILT.

I'M NOT EXTREMELY WILD ABOUT IT, BUT WE HAVE TO GO WITH THE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

[09:15:01]

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

SO I DID WANNA MAKE SURE I PUT THAT IN.

I DON'T MIND TALKING TO ANY OF YOU PRIVATELY.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE RETREAT LAST WEEK, AND THAT'S WHY I APPRECIATE WHEN MS. JAMIE SCHULTZ AND COUNCILWOMAN SCHULTZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS SAYS, OKAY, TELL ME WHAT'S KIND OF, WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S BETTER FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND WE CAN GET SUPPORT THAT WAY.

AND I APPRECIATE THOSE QUESTIONS.

SO WITH CLOSING, UH, I THINK I MAY HAVE, ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME I HAVE TO SAY SOME SPECIFIC LANGUAGE? YES, MA'AM.

SO LET ME GET AN ORDER.

DECENT IN AN ORDER PROCESS AND PROCEDURES.

UH, SO YOU'VE HEARD MY STATEMENT.

NOW, BACK TO THE MOTION.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ZONING CHANGE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY PLAN COMMISSION WITH THE VOLUNTEERED DEED RESTRICTIONS AS PRESENTED TODAY AT THE PODIUM.

SECOND, ARE YOU CLARIFYING THE MOTION? WE HAD MOTION.

WE HAD THE MOTION.

ARE YOU CLEAR? BUT I HAD TO CLARIFY BECAUSE HE WAS HERE IN PERSON AT THE PODIUM.

DECENT IN AN ORDER.

SO THIS IS MY MOTION.

SECOND? SECOND.

ARE YOU THROUGH? I AM DONE AT THIS TIME.

I JUST HAD TO CLEAR THE MINDS OF THOSE WHO ARE HERE AT THE HORSESHOE SO THAT THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND THERE'S NO DIABOLICAL PLAN.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME GROUND INFORMATION TRYING TO INFER THAT I WAS HOLDING UP FOR A REASON, SO I HAVE TO CLEAR MY REPUTATION.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WE READY FOR THE VOTE? SINCE THERE NOT ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS, SO IN FAVOR AND OPPOSED, I ASK CARRIE.

SECRETARY, YOUR NEXT ITEM WILL BE P MS. MAY, UM, I MOVE TO HOLD THE FOLLOWING ITEMS UNDER ADVISEMENT UNTIL AUGUST 28TH.

MADAM

[Items Z14. , PH1. , & PH4.]

Z 14 PH ONE AND PH FOUR.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AND OPPOSED? I ASK HEARING BY THE SECRETARY.

YEAH, IT, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE.

YOU STILL HAVE TO CALL THE SPEAKER.

MADAM SECRETARY, WE'RE GONNA CALL THE SPEAKERS.

WE STILL HAVE TWO AND THREE.

WE'VE GOT TWO AND THREE.

WE STILL GOT TWO AND THREE.

WE'RE GONNA DO, OKAY, WE GOT PH 2, 3, 3.

YOU HAVE SPEAKERS ON PH ONE? YEAH.

SO YOU HAVE TO HEAR THOSE.

I'LL CALL THAT.

YOU GOTTA CALL THE SPEAKER.

ME.

LET ME CALL YOUR, YOU GOTTA LET ME CALL THE SPEAKERS.

ONE SECOND.

YOU GOTTA CALL THE SPEAKER.

MADAM SECRETARY FOR PH ONE PHILIP KINGSTON.

PH FOUR.

ONE SECOND.

PHILIP KINGSTON DELIVER HERE.

UH, I GUESS I APPRECIATE THE TIME.

UM, WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE VERY LITTLE OF COUNSEL'S TIME.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

THAT'S, UH, MAYBE NOT THE CASE.

UM, THIS IS 7 0 1 COMMERCE.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A, AN ADVERTISING SIGN ON THE EAST WALL.

IT'S BEEN VETTED BY LANDMARK, BY THE SPECIAL SIGN DISTRICT COMMITTEE AND BY TDOT, UH, HAS RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM ALL OF THOSE GROUPS, UH, AND WILL HELP THIS HISTORIC BUILDING, THE OLD HEADQUARTERS OF THE MKT RAILROAD TO HAVE AN ADAPTIVE REUSE BECAUSE IT HAS ZERO PARKING.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO LEASE.

AND, UH, WE WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

WE HAVE ASKED THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR A MILD INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF TEXT THAT CAN BE PUT INTO AN ADVERTISEMENT, AND ALSO TO REDUCE THE RESTRICTION ON SINGLE LOGO ADVERTISEMENTS SO A SINGLE NIKE SWOOSH WOULD BE ALLOWED FOR, FOR EXAMPLE.

UH, AND I, I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR PATIENCE THIS EVENING.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN AT IT A LONG TIME AND WE WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE APPROVAL THIS EVENING.

YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, CLAUDIA FOWLER, IS NOT PRESENT.

NICK BOWENS.

NICK BOWENS IS NOT PRESENT.

THAT CONCLUDES TO REGISTER SPEAKERS ON PH ONE, PH FOUR DID NOT HAVE ANY REGISTERED SPEAKERS.

ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON EITHER PH ONE OR PH FOUR? JUST STATE THE ITEM AND YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

BUSINESS OWNER AND I'M CLOSE TO THE CHURCH, BUT THE CHURCH IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET AND I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET.

MY NAME IS REYNA ROSANO, AND, UM, I'M A PH FOUR.

UM, I'M, I WANNA SEE IF I CAN CHANGE THE, UM, ALCOHOLIC VARIANCE.

I'M CLOSE TO A CHURCH.

I'M A SMALL

[09:20:01]

SO OUR, OUR DOORS ARE NOT FACING EACH OTHER, BUT I AM 240 FEET AWAY FROM THE CHURCH AND I SUPPOSED TO BE 300 AWAY FROM THE CHURCH.

SO I, I'M SHORT OF, UM, VARIANCE.

I'M TRYING TO SEE IF Y'ALL CAN HELP ME.

I'VE BE WAITING TWO YEARS TO OPEN MY BUSINESS AND I CAN'T.

SO, AND I, I AM A POLICE OFFICER, UM, SUPPORTER.

I HAVE ALL THE DEGREES THAT THEY KEEP ME EVERY YEAR.

UM, NOT THE DEGREES THAT DIPLOMA, I MEAN, CERTIFICATES THEY GAVE ME.

I I, I GIVE A HUNDRED DOLLARS EVERY YEAR SINCE 19, UM, 18, 2018.

SO I'M A SUPPORTER IN ALL THESE YEARS AND I HAVE ALL IN MY, I OWN A BARBER SHOP AND THIS IS THE SECOND BUSINESS I WANNA OPEN NEXT TO MY BARBER SHOP.

SO I NEED Y'ALL SUPPORT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ITEMS PH ONE OR PH FOUR? NO FURTHER SPEAKERS.

MR. MAYOR, MAY I WITHDRAW THE MOTION? OKAY, SO, SO DAR YOU WITHDRAW THE MOTION.

SO THEREFORE, MADAM SECRETARY, WE GOT PH ONE.

SO I NEED TO DO, HAVE A, A MOTION FULL APPROVAL.

MR. MAYOR I IN THE MATTER OF, UH, PH ONE, I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVE THE CREATION OF THE NEW SUBDISTRICT WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES.

ONE.

UNDER SUBSECTION C TITLED VISUAL DISPLAY AND COVERAGE AT TWO A, THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF NONT TEXTUAL GRAPHIC DISPLAY IS REDUCED TO 70% AND THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TEXTUAL DISPLAY IS INCREASED TO 30%.

TWO.

UNDER SUBSECTION C TITLED VISUAL DISPLAY AND COVERAGE AT TWO B SUB FOUR, THE PARAGRAPH IS DELETED.

DO I HAVE A SECOND RIGHT IN DISCUSSION? NO.

ALL IN FAVOR, SIR? AYE.

AND OPPOSED? NONE OPPOSED.

NEXT ITEM, MADAM SECRETARY

[PH2. 24-2270 A public hearing to receive comments and to approve a resolution granting a request to consider the Ceremonial Street Name request for “Pastor G. T. Britt” as a street topper on Navaro Street between Morris Street and Dennison Street - NC234-003(CM) - Financing: This action has no cost consideration to the City (see Fiscal Information)]

ITEM PH TWO.

ITEM PH TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS AND TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION GRANTING A REQUEST TO CONSIDER THE CEREMONIAL STREET NAME REQUEST FOR PASTOR GT BRITT AS A STREET TOPPER ON NAVARRO STREET BETWEEN MORRIS STREET AND DENISON STREET.

YOU DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

ELLA BOYD.

THEY'RE ALL GONE.

NO, IT'S NOT PRESENT.

ELE JACKSON IS NOT PRESENT.

JOYCE BRIT JACKSON IS NOT PRESENT.

ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? ITEM PH TWO, NO SPEAKERS.

MR. MAYOR, DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? YES.

MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE APPROVAL FOR THE SIGNED TOPPER FOR PASTOR GT BRIGG IN WEST DALLAS.

OKAY, ANY COMMENT WITH THAT? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AND OPPOSED A ASK CARRIE.

NEXT ITEM

[PH3. 24-2271 A public hearing to receive comments and to approve a resolution granting a request to consider the Ceremonial Street Name request for “Dr. W.J. Shackelford” as a street topper on Gallagher Street between Puget Street and Harston Street - NC234-004(CM) - Financing: No cost consideration to the City (see Fiscal information)]

MATTER.

SECRETARY ITEM PH THREE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS AND TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION GRANTING A REQUEST TO CONSIDER THE CEREMONIAL CEREMONIAL STREET NAME REQUEST FOR DR.

WJ SHACKLEFORD AS A STREET TOPPER ON GALLAGHER STREET BETWEEN ETTE STREET AND HAIRSTON STREET.

YOU DO HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

SYLVIA SHACKLEFORD IS NOT PRESENT.

ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? ITEM PH THREE.

NO SPEAKERS.

MR. MAYOR, DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? YES, MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE APPROVAL FOR THE HONORARY SIGNED TOPPER, UM, ON GALLAGHER STREET FOR THE REVEREND DR.

WJ SHACKLEFORD.

I WAS SECOND.

ANY COMMENT? JUST REALLY QUICKLY, I JUST WANNA SAY I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T READ ALL THIS STUFF BECAUSE THE, THE RESIDENTS AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK REALLY HARD ON THIS, UM, THEY LEFT EARLIER AND, BUT I PROMISED THEM WE WORK ON THIS TONIGHT.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME HAVE THIS, AND I WILL PA I WILL EMAIL YOU ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE TWO AMAZING GENTLEMEN.

JUST LIKE WHAT WE HEARD ABOUT, UM, SM WRIGHT EARLIER, PASTOR ESM WRIGHT.

UM, THESE TWO PASTORS ARE KIND OF RIGHT THERE, UM, ON THE WEST DALLAS AREA.

AND OPPOSED? AYE.

CARRIED.

NEXT ITEM SECRETARY ITEM PH

[PH4. 24-2273 A public hearing on an application for and a resolution granting a variance to the alcohol spacing requirements from a church [Steven Temple Church], as required by Section 6-4 of the Dallas City Code to allow a mixed beverage permit, pursuant to Chapter 28 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, for a restaurant without drive-in or drive-through service with a food and beverage certificate [La Reyna Rental Properties, LLC - DBA La Reyna’s Micheladas], on the southeast corner of Alabama Avenue and East Saner Avenue - AV234-003 - Financing: No cost consideration to the City]

FOUR AND A RESOLUTION GRANTING A VARIANT TO THE ALCOHOL SPACING REQUIREMENTS FROM, FOR, FROM A CHURCH STEPHEN TEMPLE CHURCH AS REQUIRED BY SECTION SIX DASH FOUR OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE TO ALLOW A MIXED BEVERAGE PERMIT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 28 OF THE TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CODE FOR A RESTAURANT WITHOUT DRIVE IN OR DRIVE THROUGH SERVICE FOR WITH A FOOD AND BEVERAGE CERTIFICATE, LORENA RENTAL PROPERTIES L-L-C-D-B-A, LOREN LORENA, LORENA HILTA ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF ALABAMA AVENUE AND EAST SANER AVENUE.

IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING ON AN APPLICATION

[09:25:01]

THERE ARE NO REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.

SHE, MS. RAIN ALREADY SPOKE.

THAT WAS MS. REYNA.

THANK YOU MS. REYNA.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER YES, AND I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM.

IT WILL REQUIRE, THERE ARE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, MR. MAYOR, BUT FOR THIS ITEM IT WILL REQUIRE TWO SECONDS, A MOTION AND TWO SECONDS FOR APPROVAL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? TWO SECONDS.

WE DO.

MAYOR, I MOVE TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2024.

WE WE'RE GONNA NEED A TWO SECOND.

YOU DEFER, DEFER.

YOU NEED ONE.

ANY OTHER COMMENT, SIR? I WOULD LIKE THIS IS AS, AS MS. REYNA SPOKE, SHE IS, UH, NEXT DOOR TO THE CHURCH AND YOU WOULD, YOU'RE ABOUT 40 FEET AWAY FROM THE CHURCH.

SO, AND WHEN I WENT OUT TO VISIT, I KNOW SHE TOLD ME SHE HADN'T SPOKEN TO THE CHURCH, TO THE PASTOR.

SO I NEED TO GO AND FINISH DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE, UH, REGARDING THE OPERATION OF THIS FACILITY, UH, AS IT REQUIRES A VARIANCE.

AND I'D APPRECIATE IF Y'ALL GIMME THAT PATIENCE, AT LEAST TRY TO WORK THROUGH THIS DISTANCE, OKAY.

WITH CHALLENGE.

WITH THAT ALL IN FAVOR, SIGN.

MAYOR, BECAUSE THE MOTION WAS WITHDRAWN, THE PREVIOUS MOTION FROM COUNCIL DEPUTY MAYOR TIM ALDO WAS WITHDRAWN.

AND OPPOSED NO, NOT JUST ONE.

DEFER.

NEXT ITEM, MR.

[Z14. 24-2268 A public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for an NS(A) Neighborhood Service District on property zoned an R-5(A) Single Family District, on the northeast corner of Bernal Drive and Shadrack Drive]

WE NEED TO GO BACK TO ITEM Z 14.

I'LL READ THAT ITEM INTO THE RECORD.

ITEM Z 14 IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING AN APPLICATION FOR A, FOR AN NSA NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE DISTRICT ON PROPERTY ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF BERNAL DRIVE AND SHADROCK DRIVE.

MR. MAYOR, WE SENT 31 NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE AREA OF REQUEST.

WE RECEIVED THREE REPLIES IN FAVOR AND TWO REPLIES IN OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST.

DUE TO THE CITY PLAN COMMISSION VOTE FOR DENIAL OF THIS ITEM REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY TO PASS.

THERE ARE NO REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM OR THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? ITEM C 14, NO SPEAKERS.

MR. MAYOR, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? UH, NO.

UM, I MOVE TO DENY THIS ITEM.

MR. MAYOR, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND REALLY QUICKLY, COLLEAGUES, THE REASON I'M HAVING TO DENY THIS IS BECAUSE THIS WAS FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, UM, IN THE MIDDLE OF A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, THE, THE APPLICANT DID GO AND SPEAK WITH THE, UM, NEIGHBORS RIGHT THERE.

IT'S BY VOICE OF HOPE.

AND, UM, THE NEIGHBORS WERE LIKE, WE DON'T WANT THIS HERE.

UM, SHE TRIED TO WORK OUT A DEAL WITH THEM, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT, AND SHE AGREED TO MOVE ON AND SHE WASN'T GOING TO TRY TO APPEAL.

THAT'S WHY SHE'S NOT HERE.

UM, SO THE APPLICANT ALSO ASKED TO GO AHEAD AND DENY IT AND WE'LL, WE'LL TRY TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, OUT WITH HER LATER.

SO PLEASE, UM, DO WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

DO NEED TO GO BACK TO OUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AND OPPOSED? AYES CARRIED.

NEXT ITEM, MR. MAYOR.

THIS INCLUDES YOUR ITEMS FOR THIS AGENDA.

HOWEVER, WE

[OPEN MICROPHONE (Part 2 of 2)]

I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.

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

ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL AND PERTINENT PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESS ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM.

INDIVIDUALS ARE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE STOP.

YOU'LL NOTICE THE TIMER, THE TIME ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM.

ALSO DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME.

ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR ATKINS, ONLY LASHAWN PATTERSON.

JEANETTE JESSOP'S NOT PRESENT.

UH, MY NAME IS ANTHONY LASON

[09:30:01]

CONDE.

I AM THE, UH, FOUNDER OF, UH, AN ALL VOLUNTEER GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED DALLAS FOR CHANGE, AS WELL AS A CORE MEMBER OF A NEWLY FORMED AND LAUNCHED A NONPROFIT CALLED, UM, HUMAN RIGHTS STATUS.

I, I HAD WORKED ON, ON A SPEECH, UM, OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.

THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK ON.

UM, BUT ALL OF THAT WAS WASHED AWAY WHEN I SHOWED UP THIS MORNING AT 9:00 AM AND THEN I CROSSED THE STREET TO, TO FIND A, A FRIEND OF MINE WHOSE, WHOSE TENT, UH, WAS ATTACKED AT TWO O'CLOCK THIS MORNING.

SOMEBODY HAD LIT A FIRECRACKER AND HAD THROWN IT INTO THEIR TENT.

THE TENT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH HIM SLEEPING INSIDE OF HIS TENT.

FORTUNATELY, HE WOKE UP, PUT OUT THE FIRE, HE RECEIVED BURNS ON HIS LEG.

AND FORTUNATELY, FORTUNATELY, HE IS HERE WITH US TODAY.

I WANNA SPEAK AND BRING AN EMPHASIS ON THE HATEFUL, DEHUMANIZING RHETORIC THAT CONTINUES TO BE SPEWED OUT BY ORGANIZATIONS, BY CERTAIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

REGARDING THE UNHOUSED FOLKS THAT LIVE RIGHT OUT HERE IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS WITH TRAUMAS WITH DISABILITIES, AND THEY NEED HELP.

WE WANNA ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

ABSOLUTELY.

HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE DO IT THROUGH FOOD.

WE DO IT THROUGH ADVOCACY.

WE DO IT THROUGH EDUCATION.

WE'RE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER SPENDING THIS MONEY ON GARDEN BEDS IS APPROPRIATE ENOUGH WHEN IT CREATES A VEHICLE, AN AVENUE FOR THESE PEOPLE.

WE WERE FORTUNATE HERE IN DALLAS A FEW YEARS AGO TO HAVE AN ORGANIZATION LIKE FARM FARMERS ASSISTING RETURNING MILITARY.

WHAT DID THEY EMPHASIZE ON SOIL THERAPY? BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THAT BY PROVIDING THIS EDUCATION TO MILITARY SERVICEMEN OR SERVICE PEOPLE WITH PTSD, IT EASED SOME OF THESE BURDENS THAT THEY CARRY ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO WE NEED TO START THINKING OF THESE HOLISTIC APPROACHES.

THAT'S YOUR TIME TO ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AND STOP THIS DEHUMANIZING RHETORIC WHEN IT COMES TO OUR IN THE HOUSE.

NEIGHBORS.

O'NEIL HESSON IS NOT PRESENT.

RICHARD JIMENEZ III IS NOT PRESENT.

KEY WEST, NOT PRESENT.

UH, I KNOW Y'ALL WANT OUR CAMERAS TO BE ON.

I'M SORRY, MS. WEST, YOUR VIDEO IS NOT DISPLAYING.

UM, I ONE MOMENT.

IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL, YOUR VIDEO MUST BE DISPLAYED MS. WEST.

OKAY, WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS.

CAN YOU? YES.

CAN YOU SEE ME NOW? YOU MAY.

WE CAN SEE YOU AND HEAR YOU.

YOU MAY CONTINUE.

WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ESTABLISHING ANY MORE LAWS THAT TAKE AWAY OUR AUTONOMY.

SO ON THIS OPEN MIC, LET'S DISCUSS SOME THINGS.

FRED HAMPTON TOLD YOU, YOU CAN KILL A REVOLUTION, WASN'T HE? RIGHT? NUMBER ONE, IF WE CHANGE THE COUNCIL MEMBER TERM AGREEMENTS, WE ARE ISOLATING KEY INDIVIDUALS.

YES, IT CAN BE GREAT FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS, LIKE SOME MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD THAT LIKE TO SWITCH SIDES.

HOWEVER, THIS CAN ELIMINATE GREAT ACTIVIST MEMBERS WHO TRULY ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN AS OF NOW IN OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, POLITICS AREN'T A HOT TOPIC FOR US TO ACTIVELY DO OR EVEN FINANCIALLY YOUR FEAR OF THE CHANGE.

SO YOU CHOOSE TO KEEP IMPLEMENTING AND LEGISLATING SYSTEMATIC RACISM TO PREVENT THIS SHIFT.

NO MORE WE

[09:35:01]

THANK YOU FOR THE ONES WHO MANY OF YOUR VIEWS NEED TO NOT TO SAY YOU ARE EVEN WILLING TO WORK ME OR THE COMMUNITY.

IF IT RESONATES, THEN IT'S FOR YOU.

SOME OF YOU MAKE A CHOICE NOT TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHEN WE TELL YOU WHAT WE WANT ADULTS THAT GIVE OUR MONEY TO THIS SYSTEM MORE THAN WE KEEP IT.

WE TELL YOU.

WE WANT YOU TO STOP BUILDING COP CITIES KNOWING WHY WATCHING US DIE.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO 0.2 AND THREE.

WE NEED MORE MONEY AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT.

THAT'S THEIR HR STOP TAKING FROM US.

THE CLAIM THAT DELAYED TIME IS DUE TO SHORT STAFFING.

I FEEL IT'S DUE TO A LACK OF CARE.

THE ATTENTION OF EVERY POLICE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED WAS AIMED AT OPPRESSING AND CONTROLLING, NOT HELPING ACCORDING TO HISTORY.

THAT'S THE DATA.

THEY NEVER HAD A GOOD RAP SHEET.

I NEED YOU TO REMEMBER HOW OUR GOVERNMENT HAS LIED AND KEEP LYING TO US ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS WE KEEP UNCOVERING.

THE POLICING OF A WEED KILLED MARVIN SCOTT THE THIRD IN HIS LIFE.

A CAMERA FROM A RETAIL STORE CALLED THE POLICE OVER LESS THAN A G GRAM AND A BLUNT.

WE CALLED HER DUTY AND HE DIED THAT NIGHT AT THE HANDS OF POLICE FALL IN JAIL, IN WHICH COLIN COW AND COPS SERVED.

NO TIME FOR Y'ALL.

IT'S A PROBLEM.

WE MUST STOP CRIMINALIZING IT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE ONES WHO ARE MOVING IN THAT FAVOR.

BUT FOR THE OTHER ONES, KEEP IGNORING US.

THIS WILL NOT BE IN ANYONE'S BEST INTEREST.

THE PEOPLE ARE HERE.

YOU CANNOT KILL A REVOLUTION.

YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, CARLA BREWER.

MY NAME IS LARRY WAYNE JOHNSON.

LARRY JOHNSON? YES.

I'M NOT THE BASKETBALL PLAYER.

I AM THE LARRY WAYNE JOHNSON.

UH, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN MY MAYOR.

I'VE CAMPAIGNED FOR HIM.

I'VE VOTED FOR HIM.

I NEED TO TALK TO HIM.

THEY KEEP CLOSING THE DOOR.

THEY KEEP GIVING ME PAPER.

NOW THE, ALL THE CITY COUNCILS IS GONE.

I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED.

I'VE BEEN HERE 13 HOURS.

I'M 68 YEARS OLD.

I GOT BURNED THIS MORNING AND I'M STILL HERE TO TALK TO EVERYBODY.

AND LOOK WHAT I GET.

THIS IS NOT DALLAS, THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, BUT I COME TO ASK FOR THE, THE MAYOR AND EVERYBODY TO GO TO MARTIN LUTHER KING.

WALK THROUGH.

IF YOU DON'T WALK WITH ME PERSONALLY, WALK WITH ME IN SPIRIT.

YOU BUILD BEAUTIFUL HOUSES.

YOU'RE UPGRADING THE BUSINESS, BUT WE HAVE NO RESOURCES.

AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, AS A SENIOR CITIZEN, I HAVE TO DRIVE TO GARLAND TO RENEW MY LICENSE OR MY ID.

WHY CAN'T YOU PUT RIGHT THERE FOR US? WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO TO CLIFF? WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY? MARTIN LUTHER KING IS HALF EMPTY.

WE NEED TO LIKE THE FIRE AGAIN.

PLEASE.

I ASK Y'ALL GIVE US SOME RESOURCES LIKE IT USED TO BE FOR OUR NEW YOUNG PEOPLE AND FOR THE SENIOR CITIZEN.

WE DON'T KNOW THE INTERNET.

PLEASE HELP US SO WE CAN HELP OURSELVES.

I'VE GOTTEN BURNED THIS MORNING.

I'VE GOTTEN BLOWED UP.

I'M STILL HERE.

I NEED TO TALK TO THE MAYOR.

THEY KEEP PUSHING ME AWAY.

I BULLET FOR HIM.

I CAMPAIGN FOR HIM IN THE SUN AND I CANNOT TALK TO HIM.

AND I THINK IT'S WRONG.

AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN EVERYBODY THAT LEFT YOU MADE ME LAST.

AND I APPLAUD THE ONES THAT STAYED.

[09:40:01]

I WANT TO SPEAK PLEASE.

THANK VERY THANK YOU MAYOR.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR, FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US.

UH, I APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

I DO HAVE CHRISTINE BACK HERE WITH THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS.

UM, AND WE'RE GONNA GO UP THERE AND SPEAK WITH YOU, BUT ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT THAT'S NEEDED, THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM, FROM FIRE THAT'S AVAILABLE, UH, TO ASSIST.

CHAIRMAN, ADVISE.

THANK, THANK YOU MR. MORENO.

THAT'S, I WAS GONNA SAY THE SAME THING.

I WASN'T, I DIDN'T SEE HIS LIGHT ON.

I AND SIR, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND I ALSO WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR, UM, THE WAY YOU FEEL THAT YOU'VE BEEN DISRESPECTED OR TREATED.

BUT WE'RE GONNA GET YOU SOME, UM, HELP AND SOME FOLKS ARE GONNA COME OVER TO TALK TO YOU SO WE CAN SEE HOW WE CAN ASSIST YOU IMMEDIATELY.

JOSEPH PORTER IS NOT PRESENT.

JOSEPH PORTER CANCELED.

WE CAN SEE YOU AND YOU MAY CONTINUE.

UM, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, FOR YOUR DILIGENCE IN STAYING ALL DAY.

UH, MY NAME IS WAN HILLARD.

I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DFW ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS.

I AM HERE WITH FULL RESPECT TO YOUR PROCESSES AND YOUR PROCEDURES.

UH, TO REQUEST THE REALLOCATION OF THE PRIVILEGE USE OF SEVEN 11 ST.

PAUL STREET IN DALLAS FOR OUR TAMAR REENTRY PROGRAM.

WE ARE REQUESTING A RECONSIDERATION OF THE SALE OF THIS PROPERTY.

I'M APPEALING TO THE HEARTS OF YOU AS REGULAR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF YOUR TITLES, OUTSIDE OF, UM, YOUR POSITION.

BUT HUMANS WHO, UH, ARE TIRED HUMANS, BUT HAVE THE LUXURY OF GOING HOME TO A BED.

I'M APPEALING TO YOU AS REPRESENTATIVES AND THE HEAD OF THE CITY OF DALLAS AND EXECUTIVES TO REQUEST THIS, UM, UH, OPPORTUNITY IN LINE WITH YOUR CORE VALUES OF EMPATHY AND EQUITY.

OUR PRO PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING TO AND REENTRY SERVICES TO JUSTICE INVOLVED WOMEN WHO ARE A MARGINALIZED POPULATION.

EVERY WEEK WE ARE TRAVELING BEHIND PRISON WALLS TO OFFER THESE SERVICES TO THESE WOMEN WHO WILL RETURN BACK TO THE CITY OF DALLAS WITH FEW RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS.

OUR AGENCY IS PLEADING WITH YOU COUNSEL TO CONSIDER ALLOWING THIS PROPERTY TO REMAIN A SOCIAL SERVICE ASSET, LOYAL TO THE HISTORICAL USE OF PROVIDING HOUSING.

AND WE TARGET WOMEN.

WE ARE REQUESTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEASE THIS PROPERTY AND ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY TO REHAB IT, TO BRING IT TO CODE.

WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN A TOUR AND ASSESSED THE DAMAGES WHILE IT WAS OCCUPIED BY THOSE UNLAWFUL TENANTS.

I NOTIFIED ASHLEY EUBANKS WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS, OF, UH, THE TENANTS BEING THERE, AS WELL AS OUR DESIRE TO LEASE THAT PROPERTY.

AND WE ASSESSED IT AT A RENOVATION RATE OF $300,000, WHICH WE DO HAVE.

WE'VE ALSO PROACTIVELY REACHED OUT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SAMANTHA TAYLOR.

AND THIS PROJECT FALLS IN LINE, UH, TO RECEIVE FUNDING AND WE HAVE 75% OF THAT FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT.

I SUBMIT TO YOU A FORWARD PROJECTION OF FOUR TO SIX MONTHS TO REHAB IT, HIRE STAFF, AND IMPLEMENT A PHASED OUT APPROACH TO LAUNCH.

OUR AGENCY IS IN FINAL NEGOTIATION OF PROUD FUNDING THROUGH WORKFORCE DALLAS FROM THE DOJ.

AND WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO 75 JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS.

THIS PROPERTY WILL HELP US FULFILL OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS CONTRACT AND WE WILL REALIZE THAT SECURITY IS AN ISSUE, SEEING THAT YOU HAVE DEEMED THIS PROPERTY TO BE A NUISANCE.

SO I'VE PROACTIVELY SPOKEN WITH LIEUTENANT ALL AT, UH, THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT THIS MORNING, AND WE'LL BE MEETING WITH THE FOCUS DETERRENCE FOR THE ALLOTMENT OF THREE POLICE CARS TO, UM, BE STATIONED AROUND THIS AREA AS A DETERRENT, THE BENEFIT OF THIS PROVISION.