Sep 18, 2024 Council Briefing

[00:00:03]

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A QUORUM, I'M TOLD.

[Call to Order]

TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024.

THE TIME IS 9:10 A.M., AND I NOW CALL THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.

THERE HE IS. I WAS GOING TO SAY I'M NOT SURE WHO'S GOING TO DO OUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING, BUT WE HAVE WITH US OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN ZARIN GRACEY FROM DISTRICT THREE, WHO'S ALSO THE EXECUTIVE PASTOR AT CONCORD CHURCH, WHO'S GOING TO PROVIDE OUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING.

SO, PASTOR GRACEY, PLEASE TAKE IT FROM HERE.

THANK YOU.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AS WE GATHER FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING IN DALLAS, SEEKING YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE.

WE THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ITS PEOPLE.

AS WE EMBARK ON THIS, ON THE DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS AHEAD, WE HOLD FAST TO THE TRUTH FOUND IN PROVERBS 21 AND FIVE, WHICH REMINDS US THE PLANS OF THE DILIGENT LEAD TO PROFIT AS SURELY AS HASTE LEADS TO POVERTY.

LORD, WE PRAY THAT YOU INSTILL IN US THE SPIRIT OF DILIGENCE.

MAY WE BE THOUGHTFUL AND DELIBERATE IN OUR PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING, ENSURING THAT EVERY STEP WE TAKE IS GROUNDED IN CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND PURPOSE.

HELP US TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENCE AND THE NEED TO WEIGH OUR OPTIONS THOROUGHLY.

FOR WE KNOW THAT THE HASTE CAN LEAD TO REGRET.

GRANT COUNCIL MEMBERS.

CLARITY. UNITY AS WE DELIBERATE.

MAY OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS BE ALIGNED WITH THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, PRIORITIZING THE WELFARE OF EVERY CITIZEN IN DALLAS.

LET OUR DISCUSSIONS TODAY BE MARKED BY RESPECT, COOPERATION, AND SHARED COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR OUR CITY.

LORD, WE ALSO LIFT UP THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

HELP US TO LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF THOSE WE SERVE, ENSURING THAT THEIR NEEDS AND CONCERNS GUIDE OUR ACTIONS AS WE MAKE PLANS FOR DALLAS, WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS TO TURN OUR DILIGENT PREPARATION INTO TANGIBLE BENEFITS FOR ALL, FOSTERING A CITY WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE.

WE PLACE OUR TRUST IN YOUR DIVINE WISDOM, KNOWING THAT IT LEADS US TO GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND SUCCESS.

MAY WE LEARN.

MAY WE LEAVE THIS MEETING WITH RENEWED ENERGY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE PLANS WE CREATED TODAY, CONFIDENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT OUR EFFORTS WILL BEAR FRUIT.

IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY.

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

THANK YOU, EVERYONE. YOU MAY.

AND WITH THAT I THINK WE HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MORNING.

[Special Presentations]

THAT'S IRON SKILLET WEEK IN DALLAS.

IT'S BEEN OFFICIALLY DECLARED THIS SATURDAY.

OUR SMU MUSTANGS ARE GOING TO BE TAKING ON THOSE DREADED HORNED FROGS OF TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY IN THEIR ANNUAL BATTLE, APPARENTLY.

OKAY, GUYS.

THE TCU HAS CHICKENED OUT OF THIS RIVALRY.

OKAY, I'M SAYING IT ON THE RECORD.

SO THIS IS ONLY THE THIS IS THE PENULTIMATE MEETING BETWEEN SMU AND TCU, AS WE ANTICIPATE, BECAUSE TCU HAS DECIDED THAT THEY CAN'T HANDLE THE HEAT OF THE IRON SKILLET.

AND THEY'VE JUMPED OUT OF THE OF THE FRYING PAN, SO TO SPEAK.

SO THIS IS THE LAST ONE AT SMU.

NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE LAST ONE PERIOD AT TCU.

AND SO THIS IS A BIG GAME.

SO IF YOU CAN IF YOU CAN GET BY GERALD FORD STADIUM YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO BY THERE AND SEE THIS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE THE LAST, THE SECOND TO LAST EDITION OF THIS RIVALRY THAT'S BEEN PLAYED FOR OVER 100 YEARS.

I MEAN, THIS IS A LONG STANDING RIVALRY, BUT TCU JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

SO THEY'VE DECIDED TO TO QUIT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR TCU AND OUR EXCITEMENT BY YOU KNOW DECLARING THIS WEEK.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN DECLARED IRON SKILLET WEEK.

AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL WIN THE GAME THIS WEEKEND.

I ALSO HAVE A WAGER, OF COURSE, WITH THE MAYOR OF FORT WORTH.

AND WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING WHAT THE TERMS OF THAT ARE SOON.

BUT THOSE ARE ALWAYS INTENSE NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE TO LOSE THESE BETS, BUT, YOU KNOW, ANYWAY NOW WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILWOMAN JAYNIE SCHULTZ FOR ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT.

HOPEFULLY SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS AND IMPORTANT.

WELL, DEFINITELY MORE SERIOUS AND ARGUABLY IMPORTANT FOR SURE.

THIS PAST MONDAY MARKS TWO YEARS SINCE THE HEARTBREAKING AND SENSELESS DEATH OF MAHSA AMINI IN IRAN, AT THE HANDS OF THE SO-CALLED MORALITY POLICE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD.

[00:05:01]

HER DEATH SPARKED ONE OF THE LARGEST UPRISINGS IN IRAN SINCE THE REVOLUTION IN 1979.

BUT THIS MOVEMENT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THE TRAGIC LOSS OF MAHSA AMINI.

IT WAS LED BY THE YOUTH OF IRAN, BY MANY OF WHOM WERE BRAVE WOMEN DEMANDING CHANGE NOT JUST FOR THEIR OWN RIGHTS, BUT FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN OPPRESSED AND MARGINALIZED BY AN EVIL, AUTHORITARIAN REGIME FOR 45 YEARS.

THIS WAS A MOVEMENT FOR WOMEN, LIFE AND FREEDOM.

THEY ROSE TO FIGHT FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, FOR AN END TO OBSCURE LEVELS OF CORRUPTION, FOR AN END TO THEIR GOVERNMENT'S RELENTLESS SUPPORT OF TERROR GROUPS AND PROXIES, AND SPONSORING A PROXY WARS FOR FREEDOM FROM OPPRESSION AND FEAR, AND ULTIMATELY FOR THE DREAM OF A FREE AND DEMOCRATIC IRAN.

SADLY, DESPITE THE IMMENSE COURAGE OF THE PROTESTERS, WHICH HAD NEARLY SINCE THEN, NEARLY 20,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, MANY THAT COULD LEAD TO DEATH SENTENCES AND MORE THAN 500 PROTESTERS WERE BRUTALLY KILLED.

DESPITE THE IMMENSE COURAGE OF THE PROTESTERS, THE REGIME CRUSHED THE UPRISING, SILENCING THE CRIES FOR CHANGE WITH VIOLENCE.

YET EVEN THOUGH THE STREETS HAVE FALLEN SILENT, THE SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE OF THIS MOVEMENT FOR WOMEN, LIFE AND FREEDOM CONTINUES TO LIVE ON IN THE HEARTS OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE, WHOM A MAJORITY WISH FOR AN END TO THIS OPPRESSION.

WE MUST ALSO REMEMBER THESE STRUGGLES ARE NOT UNIQUE TO IRAN.

AROUND THE WORLD, PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING FOR THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS WE OFTEN TAKE FOR GRANTED.

HERE IN DALLAS IN THE UNITED STATES, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY WHERE PEACEFUL ENGAGEMENT AND DIALOG CAN LEAD TO CHANGE.

TODAY, AS WE HONOR MAHSA AMINI AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR FREEDOM, LET US ALSO BE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE WITHOUT FEAR. HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE OFTEN FORGET THAT THE PRIVILEGE WE HAVE TO LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY WHERE, DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES, WE CAN ENGAGE IN DIALOG, TO VOTE, TO CHALLENGE OUR GOVERNMENT WITHOUT FEAR OF VIOLENT RETRIBUTION.

THIS IS NOT THE REALITY FOR MANY AROUND THE WORLD.

I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IRANIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HERE IN DALLAS AND ACROSS THE DFW AREA, WHICH IS HOME TO OVER 30,000 IRANIAN AMERICANS WHO CONTRIBUTE SO MUCH TO THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF OUR CITY AND REGION.

THE YOUNG WOMEN OF IRAN AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES, REMIND US OF THE COURAGE IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE FREEDOM IN THE FACE OF SUCH OVERWHELMING ODDS.

AS WE HONOR THEIR MEMORY TODAY, LET US REFLECT ON HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE CHANGE CAN HAPPEN THROUGH ENGAGEMENT.

LET MAHSA AMINIS NAME BE A SYMBOL OF HOPE, THE RESILIENCE OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, AND A REMINDER THAT THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, FOR EQUALITY AND FOR JUSTICE IS A STRUGGLE THAT BELONGS TO ALL OF US.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY MORE THIS MORNING.

SO ONCE THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE IS READY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.

[Open Microphone Speakers (Part 1 of 3)]

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

I WILL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.

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

ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL, IMPERTINENT, PROFANE, OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS, OR WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL, WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM.

FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN PERSON.

FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION.

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

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

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

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

ONLY YOUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE HELD UNTIL AGENDA ITEM FOUR.

THEREFORE, ROBERT CHICCARELLI WILL BE YOUR FIRST OPEN MIC SPEAKER.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

MR. MORENO WROTE AN ARTICLE IN SUNDAY PAPER THAT SAYS HERE.

DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SAYS CITY APPROACH IS FAILING AND CALLS FOR A BETTER BALANCE OF TOUGH ENFORCEMENT AND COMPASSIONATE AID.

I ALREADY SAID ABOUT THIS IN JANUARY DURING THE HOPE COMMITTEE, WHEN THEY DID THEIR STUDY, THEIR REPORTS AND GAVE ME A SECOND HERE.

[00:10:10]

CECCARELLI. THIS IS ABOUT COMPASSION AND GETTING THE PEOPLE OUT OF OUT OF THE OUT OF THE STREETS TO GET TO SEEK SHELTER.

CECCARELLI SUGGESTS THAT IN ORDER TO BUILD TRUST AND ENCOURAGE THE HOMELESS TO SEEK HELP AND SHELTER, CITY OFFICIALS SHOULD GO OUT AND ENGAGE WITH THE HOMELESS.

I REPEAT, GO OUT AND ENGAGE WITH THE HOMELESS.

LET THEM KNOW THAT THE CITY CARES ABOUT THEM AND THAT THEIR OPINIONS ARE WELCOME AND COULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARD GAINING USEFUL INFORMATION AND ENCOURAGING THEIR COOPERATION.

THE HOMELESS DO NOT LIKE YOU.

YOU GOT TO GO AND ENGAGE WITH THEM BECAUSE THAT WAY THEY'RE GIVING CONFIDENCE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MAYOR.

IF YOU DO THAT, MAYOR, RIGHT OUTSIDE HERE, THIS PLACE WILL BE FLOODED.

OH, REALLY? AND WE NEED THAT RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE WHAT REPORTS ARE, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE PARKING LOT? I GOT REALLY MAD ABOUT.

YOU CAN DO IT.

GO TO THE SHELTERS.

GO TO THE BRIDGE.

LET THEM KNOW WE WELCOME YOU TO SPEAK, AND THEY WILL COME.

ESPECIALLY THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN DO THIS.

IF NOT, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS.

IT DID HAPPEN SEVERAL YEARS AGO ABOUT VOUCHERS.

200 PEOPLE CAME HERE.

HOMELESS PEOPLE CAME HERE AND IT SPARKED A LOT OF INTEREST AND ABOUT 7 OR 8 YEARS AGO.

SO PLEASE, THAT'S THE FIRST HINT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THIS.

NOW, ALSO WITH THE PROBLEMS WITH THE HOMELESS.

YOU NEED TO GO OUT ALSO TO THE SHELTERS AND LET THEM KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THE STUFF THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE PARKING LOT.

OKAY, NOW THAT WILL BE INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU LET THEM KNOW WHAT THEY CAN AND WHAT THEY CAN'T DO, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE HANDS ON.

I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS SO MANY TIMES.

I GO TO THE HOMELESS COMMISSION MEETINGS.

THERE'S NO ONE, NOT ONE HOMELESS PERSON.

I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS AT THE MEETINGS WHEN THEY STARTED THE PARTNERSHIP.

THERE WERE 75 PEOPLE SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

NOW THEY HAVE NONE.

MAYOR, YOU'RE A BIG KEY ON THIS.

THEY RECOGNIZE YOU AND WHATEVER YOU SAY, THEY WILL BELIEVE AND TRUST YOU.

BUT YOU GOT TO DO THAT.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A LOOK LIKE A, YOU KNOW, A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY HERE.

IT'S UP TO YOU ALL JUST TO MEET THEM.

BUT WHAT ARE YOU SCARED OF? I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOUR INTEREST IN HOMELESS BECAUSE OF THE 1%.

I SEE MANY, MANY TIMES IN BOND MONEY, 1% AND 75% OF THE PEOPLE SAID HOMELESS IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.

YOU CAN DO IT, BUT IT TAKES HANDS ON AND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO SHOW YOUR INTEREST.

SO THAT WAY THEY WILL SEEK SHELTER.

IF YOU HAVE INTEREST TO LET THEM KNOW, WE WILL FIND HOUSING.

THANK YOU MAYOR. IT'S UP TO YOU.

I'M LOOKING. THANK YOU.

IT'S UP TO YOU, MAYOR. OKAY.

LAMAR JACKSON HAS CANCELED LINDA BATES.

GOOD. MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LINDA BATES.

I'M A CONTAMINATED RESIDENT OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

I HAVE BEEN GOING TO SEVERAL MEETINGS OVER IN OAK CLIFF.

DIFFERENT MEETINGS WITH THE EPA.

WHO'S THE LIES ABOUT EVERYTHING? BUT ANYWAY, PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM THE CONTAMINANTS.

I'M SICK. FAMILY SICK.

BEEN TO SEVERAL FUNERALS.

COUNCIL IS KILLING US.

IT'S RIDICULOUS HOW WE SIT AROUND AMONGST EACH OTHER, KNOWING THAT THESE PEOPLE, I AND MY FAMILY AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND MY FRIENDS, THEY MOM AND DAD, DIE FROM CANCER ONLY BECAUSE WE LIVED IN WEST DALLAS BY THE ESSER.

NOW, THIS YEAR, THE MEETING IS ABOUT LANE PLATING.

THE PEOPLE FOUND FOSS AND DIFFERENT CHEMICALS IN THEIR AREA.

PEOPLE ARE SICK NOT KNOWING THAT WAS GOING TO COME ABOUT IN YEARS.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

MISS JANE SAGINAW, WHO SIT ON THE EPA BOARD YEARS AGO SAID I'D BE DEAD BY THE TIME MY 30, BUT SHE WASN'T.

GOD. I'M 60 NOW, AND I HAVE A BUNCH OF GRANDKIDS WHO ARE SICK.

I GOT A LOT OF KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN SICK.

SO I'M ASKING, WHEN ARE Y'ALL GOING TO STOP LETTING THE PEOPLE THAT'S CONTAMINATED IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND IN YOUR DISTRICTS AND ALL THAT DIE? CAN Y'ALL GET THEM SOME KIND OF HEALTH EVALUATION OR SOMETHING TO HELP THEM? WE DON'T HAVE A LIFE TO LIVE.

WE'VE BEEN CONTAMINATED ALL OUR LIVES.

OUR COUNCIL ALL KIND OF STUFF.

[00:15:03]

MOST OF MOST OF THE KIDS THAT'S IN THE JUVENILE FACILITY LIVED IN WEST ALLIS, OR PARENTS OR GRANDMAMMA CAME FROM WEST DALLAS BY A CHEMICAL COMPANY. MAYBE LAYNE PAYTON, MAYBE JOPPY.

THESE KIDS DON'T KNOW WHY THEY THE WAY THEY IS, BUT I DO.

BECAUSE THEY LIVED IN CHEMICAL CONTAMINATED RESIDUES SUCH AS DALLAS HOUSING.

I LIVE LIVED THERE.

I SMOKED EVERY DAY IN SCHOOL, OUT OF SCHOOL, AND NOW I GOT WHAT THEY CALL COPD.

SO I JUST THANK GOD I'M STILL HERE.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, CAN SOMEONE DRIVE DOWN INTO OAK CLIFF AND FIX OUR STREETS? OUR STREETS ARE RAGGEDY.

MY MUFFLER.

EVERY TIME I GET IT FIXED, I HIT A HUMP.

TOP IT UP. MY.

THE ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

WE NEED OUR STREETS FIXED.

WE DON'T NEED TO SIT THERE TWO YEARS RUNNING ACROSS THE SAME HUMPS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

I JUST WANT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO KNOW WE'RE DYING AND WE NEED YOUR HELP.

THANK YOU.

DEVIN ALLEN.

DEVIN ALLEN IS NOT PRESENT.

ERICA ADU.

ERICA AIDOO.

OKAY, WE CAN SEE YOU.

YOU. YES.

I I'M GOING TO READ THIS EMAIL.

I HAVE A NEIGHBOR WHO HAVE AGGRESSIVE DOGS THAT ARE NEVER LEASHED WHEN OUTSIDE.

THE OWNER NEVER SCOOPS THEIR POOP.

THEIR BACKYARD IS NOT PROPERLY FENCED.

THE FRONT FENCE GATE HAS A HOLE IN IT, AND THE BACKYARD IS TOTALLY OPEN AT THE BACK.

THE DOGS HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THEIR BACKYARD, MY NEIGHBOR'S BACKYARD, AND CAME INTO MY BACKYARD.

I REPORTED THIS TO 311 WITH PHOTOS INCLUDED.

THEY USED TO COME OUT AND TRY TO CONTACT THE OWNER NOW THEY WILL NOT COME OUT.

THE LAST TWO TIMES THAT I HAVE REPORTED THEM, I WAS GIVEN A SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER, BUT IT NEVER SHOWED UP IN THE SYSTEM.

I RECEIVED NO UPDATES VIA TEXT MESSAGE OR EMAIL AS I HAD RECEIVED IN THE PAST.

THE LAST TIME I CALLED 311, WHICH WAS ON 910.

THE REPRESENTATIVE OVER THE PHONE TOLD ME THAT IF SOMEONE ELSE CALLS AND REPORT THIS NEIGHBOR, THEN THEY WILL COME OUT AND INVESTIGATE.

AND I WAS ALSO TOLD BY DALLAS POLICE OFFICER TO REPORT THE FENCE ISSUE TO CODE COMPLIANCE.

I DID AND THE OWNER WAS SENT A VIOLATION FOR THE HOLE IN THE FENCE BY THIS CODE INSPECTOR.

AFTER A FEW WEEKS HAVE PASSED, SHE CAME BACK AND SAID THAT THE THE CASE WAS CLOSED BECAUSE THE FENCE WAS FIXED, WHICH IT WAS NOT.

SO I HAD TO CALL HER AGAIN TO TELL HER ABOUT THAT AND SHE UPDATED THE COMPLAINT.

BUT SHE INCLUDED MY NAMES IN THE COMMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW.

I ASKED HER TO REMOVE IT.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM HER.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO HEAR FROM THE SUPERVISOR.

I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM THEM.

THE PROBLEM IS THE ANIMAL CONTROL AND THE CODE COMPLIANCE NEEDS TO DO THEIR JOBS WITH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY.

WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THESE LOOSE DOGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO WHERE IT'S NOT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

BUT IF YOU HAVE DOGS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FENCE TO ENCLOSE THEM IN IF THEY'RE NOT ON A LEASH.

AND THESE DOGS ARE NEVER ON A LEASH.

SO THAT'S MY CONCERN WITH THE ANIMAL CONTROL AND THE CODE COMPLIANCE EMPLOYEES NOT DOING THEIR JOB.

THANK YOU.

EDWARD GARDELLA.

GOOD MORNING.

WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE SERIOUS CRIME CHALLENGES THAT OUR CITY FACES, FROM VIOLENT OFFENSES TO PROPERTY CRIMES.

UNFORTUNATELY, THESE CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS ON THE FORCE.

OUR COMMUNITY CAN'T BE EXPECTED TO FEEL SAFE WHEN WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED, LEAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT STRETCHED THIN AND UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE DALLAS

[00:20:02]

VIOLENT CRIME RATES CORRELATE DIRECTLY WITH THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS PATROLLING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND WHILE RECENT EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ADDRESS THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CRISIS, WHICH I FOR CERTAIN DEFINITELY APPRECIATE, WE ARE STILL FAR FROM MEETING THE DEMANDS OF OUR RAPIDLY GROWING CITY.

THIS IS WHERE I BELIEVE DALLAS YEAR.

COMES INTO PLAY IN NOVEMBER.

VOTERS WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO SUPPORT CHARTER AMENDMENTS AIMED AT STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SAFETY AND IMPROVING GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.

THESE MEASURES SEEK TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY LEADERSHIP ADDRESS THE ROOT ISSUES, LIKE STAFFING SHORTAGES, THAT COMPROMISE OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT RESIDENTS AND BUILD A SAFER DALLAS. BY SUPPORTING THESE AMENDMENTS, WE CAN STAFF.

WE CAN START WORKING TOWARD SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING MORE RESOURCES FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHILE HOLDING OUR OUR CITY ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAINTAINING A STRONG PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE.

I BELIEVE OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

STACEY. ROCKLEDGE.

WIN. STACEY.

ROCKLEDGE WIN IS NOT PRESENT.

DANIEL G. DANIEL G IS NOT PRESENT.

MARION MCELROY.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JOHNSON.

I WAS HERE AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN YOU VOTED ON THE AMENDMENT FOR THE LIBRARY.

AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE RIGOROUS DISCUSSION, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE IT IS A CHALLENGE TO THE CITY. BUT IT BECAME VERY APPARENT AS I WAS SITTING HERE THAT THERE ARE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WILL BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

ONE OF YOU MADE A COMMENT ABOUT EQUITY, AND EQUITY IS IMPORTANT.

MY MOTHER GREW UP IN OAK CLIFF AT A TIME OF INTENSE JIM CROW.

AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS ONLY ONE HIGH SCHOOL.

BOOKER T WASHINGTON.

SHE HAD TO TRAVEL BY STREETCAR TO BOOKER T.

LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL WAS NOT BUILT AT THAT TIME, AND SHE COULD ONLY GO TO SCHOOL HALF A DAY.

SO THERE IS HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THAT NEED RESOURCES.

BUT TWO THINGS CAN BE RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.

I USE SKILLMAN LIBRARY.

MY MOTHER, DOCTOR JOE MCELROY, WHO PASSED RECENTLY, DID A LOT OF HER RESEARCH IN THAT LIBRARY.

AND BEFORE SHE DIED, SHE WROTE HER LAST PLAY.

AND I'M DOING A LOT OF THE EDITING AT SKILLMAN AND THAT LIBRARY, EVEN THOUGH THE CENSUS TRACK SHOWS THAT DISTRICT IS MORE AFFLUENT, IT'S A VERY DISTRICTS ARE VERY POOR.

SO THERE ARE A GREAT DEAL OF DIVERSITY IN THAT LIBRARY.

PEOPLE ACROSS FAULT LINES.

THERE'S THE UNHOUSED, THERE'S THE HOUSE, THERE'S BLACK, THERE'S WHITE HISPANIC PEOPLE WHO COME TO USE THE INTERNET.

AND THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL LIBRARY FOR PEOPLE NOT ONLY IN THAT DISTRICT, BUT BECAUSE IT'S ACCESSIBLE BY BUS, WHICH IS A PROBLEM.

MY MOTHER, WHO TAUGHT AT SMU, DID A LOT OF PROGRAMS AT THE DIFFERENT LIBRARIES, THANKS TO THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, WHICH I NEED TO REALLY THANK.

AND WE SAW THE ATTENDANCE AS FAR AS I COULD SEE, THE ATTENDANCE AT SKILLMAN IS JUST AS HIGH AS OTHER LIBRARIES.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT SERVICE.

SO I THANK YOU FOR VOTING ON THAT AMENDMENT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING MY MOTHER'S LEGACY AND WORK AT THAT LIBRARY.

AND FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT LIBRARY TO CONTINUE TO OBTAIN SERVICES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THIS CONCLUDES YOUR FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING.

THE REMAINING MAYOR.

YES. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ALLOW THE ADDITIONAL MORNING SPEAKERS TO GO NOW.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? I OBJECT.

OKAY, THERE'S AN OBJECTION.

SO WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE A VOTE OF A SUFFICIENT PERCENTAGE TO SUSPEND THE RULES.

WHAT IS IT? TWO THIRDS. OKAY THEN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND, WE'LL DO A RECORD SO THAT WE CAN DO THE CALCULATION.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, VOTE YES.

IF YOU ARE OPPOSED TO SUSPENDING THE RULES, VOTE NO.

MADAM SECRETARY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE.

YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU'RE OPPOSED, MAYOR JOHNSON.

YES. MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.

[00:25:04]

NO. COUNCIL MEMBER WEST.

NO. COUNCIL MEMBER.

MORENO. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACIE.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

ARNOLD. YES, I'M FINE WITH THAT.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER.

RESENDEZ. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER NARVAEZ IS ABSENT WHEN VOTE TAKEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

STEWART. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. SCHULTZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN IS ABSENT WHEN VOTE TAKEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIS.

COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIS.

YES. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY.

THANK YOU. WITH 11 VOTING IN FAVOR TO OPPOSE.

I'M SORRY. LET ME RESTATE THAT.

WITH 11 VOTING IN FAVOR TO OPPOSE, TWO ABSENT, ONE VOTE TAKEN, THE MOTION PASSES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, SO THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, AND WE WILL HEAR THE REMAINING OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS NOW.

THANK YOU. MEMBERS. THANK YOU.

YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, PAUL MASCOLO.

PAUL MASCOLO IS NOT PRESENT.

LET ME GO BACK. I'M SORRY.

DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER AND JAIME CASTRO WILL BE HELD UNTIL AGENDA ITEM FOUR.

LEE ROBERTS.

GOOD MORNING.

I WANT TO PREFACE THIS BY SAYING TREES ARE A WEAPON.

I DO BELIEVE THAT TREES ARE HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT OUT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT COUNTING OF TREES IS MORE CRITICAL THAN ENDING THE HOMELESS CHRONIC PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY. I'VE BEEN IN THE TRENCHES WITH THE HOMELESS FOR OVER 30 YEARS IN THIS CITY DATING BACK TO THE TENURESHIP OF A MAYOR.

ANNETTE STRAUSS.

IN YOUR HANDOUT ARE YOUR EMAIL IS WHAT WE DO IN THE TRENCHES, HELPING THE DAILY LIVING AND THE VITALITY OF THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS, WHICH IS WHY WE BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE SPENDING OF THE TAX DOLLARS ON THIS TREE COUNTING CONTRACT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC ABOUT PORTIONS OF THIS CONTRACT.

WHAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW IS THAT THE 1.3 MILLION TREES IS A GUESSTIMATION AND NOT A FULL ESTIMATION.

THE WINNING PROPOSAL BY THE DAVID DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP IS PRETTY MUCH AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN AS FAR AS THE COMPANY THAT WOULD HANDLE THE TREE COUNTING.

THAT ORGANIZATION IS ALSO THE DEVELOPER OF THE TREE KEEPER SOFTWARE THAT THE CITY WAS ALREADY USING.

SO THAT PRETTY MUCH GAVE THE DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP SOMEWHAT OF A LITTLE EDGE IN THE CONTRACT.

FURTHER, THE 8 TO 10 PERSON DEPARTMENT HAD ALLIANCE WHO WROTE THE SPECS FOR THE PROPOSAL.

IF THEY DID NOT USE WORDS SPECIFIC TO THE THE TO THE RESPONDENTS OF THE PROPOSAL, IF THEY NEVER SAID WORDS LIKE WE ARE CURRENTLY USING THE TREE KEEPER SOFTWARE, WE ARE THE DAVEY RESOURCE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP.

THEY ARE ALSO A COMPETITOR IN THIS PROPOSAL.

IF THAT WAS NEVER SAID, THAT IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND LORD KNOWS WE DO NOT HAVE TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN ONE JUSTICE WAY TO THE CORRUPTION THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF PROPOSALS.

I FOUND HIS NAME IS DOCTOR COMPTON TUCKER.

THEY HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.

THEY WENT TO AFRICA AND THEY COUNTED 8.1 BILLION TREES.

YOU SEE HIS INFORMATION THERE, HIS EMAIL.

YOU ALSO SEE THE RECEIPT OF WHERE I TOOK HIS PHONE CALL, WHO SAID THAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO COME TO DALLAS TO HELP US.

SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS ALLIANCE THAT HAPPENED, THAT THAT JUST HAPPENED TO BE A PART OF THIS BIG HISTORICAL RESEARCH THAT HAPPENED, NEVER STEPPED OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

HE IS A SENIOR SCIENTIST WITH NASA.

OKAY, MA'AM, I KNOW MY MINUTES ARE UP.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

CARA JACKSON.

CARA JACKSON IS NOT PRESENT.

CHESTER COX.

CHESTER COX IS NOT PRESENT.

[00:30:01]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

I LOVE DALLAS.

I WISH I LIVED HERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING SUCH GREAT CARE OF MY FAVORITE CITY.

THE CARE OF THIS CITY IS WHAT BRINGS ME HERE TODAY.

THERE IS A BIBLE COLLEGE IN OAK CLIFF CALLED CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS.

IT'S LOCATED WHERE INTERSTATE 35 AND HIGHWAY 67 SPLIT.

THERE IS A TEN STORY BUILDING YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ROAD THAT SAYS CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS AT THE TOP.

THAT BUILDING IS THE MAIN DORMITORY, AND IT HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN BECAUSE IT IS IN SUCH DIRE NEED OF RENOVATIONS.

THIS HAS REDUCED THE STUDENT BODY, NORMALLY 1000 STRONG TO HALF CAPACITY, BECAUSE THE COLLEGE'S INCOME HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY REDUCED BY THIS.

THEY DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY NEEDED FOR RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS.

ALSO, THEY JUST HAD TO LAY OFF 30 PEOPLE.

MY CONCERN IS IF THIS CONTINUES, I'LL HAVE TO SHUT THEIR DOORS FOREVER.

CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS HAS TRAINED APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MINISTERS AND MISSIONARIES SINCE THE 70S AND SENT THEM OUT ALL OVER THE ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THE STAFF, STUDENTS, AND ALUMNI HAVE PLANTED OVER 12,000 CHURCHES IN EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

TO LOSE THIS COLLEGE WOULD BE A TRAGIC LOSS, NOT ONLY FOR DALLAS, BUT ALSO FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD.

I ATTENDED THIS COLLEGE MYSELF 20 YEARS AGO AND I CAN VOUCH FOR THEM WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.

CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS INSTITUTE IS AS REAL AS IT GETS.

WE ARE ASKING FOR $3 MILLION TO RENOVATE THE MAIN DORMITORY SO THAT WE CAN BRING THE STUDENT BODY BACK TO CAPACITY.

IF ANYONE CAN HELP WITH THIS, IT WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 8 A.M., THERE IS A PRAISE AND WORSHIP SERVICE WITH BEAUTIFUL MUSIC AND IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

VISITORS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO COME.

I AM UNDER THE WHOLEHEARTED BELIEF THAT CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS IS THE BEST BIBLE COLLEGE IN THE WORLD, AND IT'S RIGHT HERE IN DALLAS, TEXAS.

LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

IF ANYONE WANTS TO GIVE, THEIR WEBSITE IS CFNY.ORG STANDS FOR CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS INSTITUTE.

YOU CAN GIVE DIRECTLY ON THEIR WEBSITE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME MAYOR IT DID WE WE WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO MEET WITH OUR STAFF REAL QUICK.

I'M SORRY I MISSED WHAT YOU SAID.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT CHRIST FOR THE NATION IS IN DISTRICT FOUR.

SO I WANTED TO SPEAK. SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND. MAYBE COMING TO THE SIDE.

THE COUNCILWOMAN REPRESENTS THE AREA.

WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THE SIDE OF THE OF THE CHAMBER OR HER STAFF WOULD.

SO THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

CAROLINE WILDER.

GOOD MORNING.

I RECENTLY MOVED BACK TO DALLAS AFTER SPENDING A COUPLE OF YEARS IN TENNESSEE, AND HONESTLY, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MUCH THE CITY HAD CHANGED IN JUST A COUPLE OF SHORT YEARS. DALLAS HAS SEEN CONCERNING INCREASES IN VIOLENT CRIME, PARTICULARLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH HIGH POVERTY RATES. DESPITE EFFORTS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR COMMUNITY REMAINS VULNERABLE.

VULNERABLE AND CITIZENS DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE WALKING THE STREETS OF THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE CURRENT LEVEL OF CRIME IMPACTS THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.

IT DISCOURAGES NEW BUSINESSES FROM INVESTING IN DALLAS, AND IT PREVENTS CURRENT RESIDENTS FROM FEELING SAFE IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

WE REALLY WANT TO SEE OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY THRIVE AND GROW.

WHILE I SUPPORT OUR POLICE FORCE I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO INVEST NOT ONLY IN MORE OFFICERS, BUT IN COMMUNITY BASED CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE SUCH AS POVERTY AND LACK OF OPPORTUNITY, PARTICULARLY WHERE HOMELESSNESS.

HOMELESSNESS IS CONCERNED.

HOMELESSNESS IS NOT JUST A HOUSING ISSUE, AND VIEWING IT THAT WAY PREVENTS US FROM ADOPTING MEANINGFUL AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS.

HOMELESSNESS IS A SYMPTOM OF MUCH LARGER PROBLEMS. UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS, ADDICTION, UNEMPLOYMENT AND BROKEN SOCIAL SYSTEMS. WE NEED TO TACKLE THESE UNDERLYING CAUSES HEAD ON.

MANY PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM HOMELESSNESS SUFFER FROM UNTREATED MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS OR ADDICTION, INCLUDING SOMEONE THAT I LOVE DEARLY.

OUR CITY MUST EXPAND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS AND PROVIDE CONSISTENT SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN NEED.

[00:35:06]

AND YOU CANNOT I CANNOT FIND ADEQUATE HELP OR SUPPORT FOR THEM.

WE NEED STRONGER PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO WORK.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUPLED WITH SUPPORT SERVICES LIKE JOB PLACEMENT, LIKE JOB PLACEMENT, CAN HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY AND BREAK THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS.

I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL RECONSIDER OUR APPROACH IN THE CITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ALEC PUENTE.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ALEX PUENTE, AND I WORK AS GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, WHICH HAS ITS HEADQUARTERS IN DALLAS, TEXAS.

I'M HERE TO VOICE THE HEART ASSOCIATION'S STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, UPDATING ITS DEFINITION OF SMOKING IN ITS ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES, OR ISDS, TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY FROM DANGEROUS EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND AEROSOL.

DALLAS FIRST PASSED A STRONG SMOKE FREE ORDINANCE IN 2003, WHEN E-CIGARETTES HAD NOT YET ENTERED THE MARKET.

WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME UPDATES SINCE THEN, THESE DEVICES HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE POPULAR, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THEIR ABILITY TO EXPLOIT LOOPHOLES AND LAWS THAT WERE PASSED BEFORE THEIR WIDESPREAD USAGE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT E-CIGARETTE AEROSOLS ARE NOT WATER VAPOR.

THE AEROSOL IS A MIXTURE OF MANY SUBSTANCES, INCLUDING NICOTINE, ULTRAFINE PARTICLES, VOLATILE COMPOUNDS, AND TOXINS KNOWN TO CAUSE LUNG DISEASE AND CANCER.

THIS IS WHY IT'S NOT SAFE TO USE THESE PRODUCTS IN SMOKE FREE SPACES LIKE WORKPLACES.

NO WORKER IN DALLAS SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO SECONDHAND AEROSOL AND PUT THEIR HEALTH AT RISK TO EARN A PAYCHECK.

NONSMOKERS EXPOSED TO CONVENTIONAL CIGARETTES AND ESD AEROSOLS ABSORB SIMILAR LEVELS OF NICOTINE.

ESD EXPOSURE DAMAGES LUNG TISSUES, AND EXPOSURE TO ULTRAFINE PARTICLES MAY EXACERBATE RESPIRATORY AILMENTS LIKE ASTHMA AND CONSTRICT ARTERIES, WHICH CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A HEART ATTACK. SIMPLY PUT, ESD AEROSOL IS A NEW SOURCE OF AIR POLLUTION AND TOXINS THAT SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED IN SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENTS.

OVER 90 TEXAS CITIES HAVE SMOKE FREE ORDINANCES THAT INCLUDE E-CIGARETTES, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OTHERS LIKE SAN ANTONIO AND CORPUS CHRISTI TO ENACT SIMILAR UPDATES. WE HOPE DALLAS WILL BE THE NEXT TEXAS CITY TO ADD ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND VAPING PRODUCTS TO ITS SMOKING ORDINANCE, TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY FROM EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND AEROSOL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LEADERSHIP TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN DALLAS.

THANK YOU.

IT'S MR. CASTRO IN THE AUDIENCE.

IF NOT JAIME CASTRO.

IF NOT, THEN THIS CONCLUDES YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING, MR. MAYOR. WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR VOTING AGENDA.

[1. Approval of Minutes of the September 4, 2024 City Council Meeting]

IS THERE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR MOMENTUM GOING HERE SOON.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.

NEXT ITEM. YOUR NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDERATION.

[2. 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 ONE INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT.

YOUR NOMINEE FOR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT.

JASMINE RAMIREZ IS BEING NOMINATED TO THE YOUTH COMMISSION BY COUNCIL MEMBER NARVAEZ.

THIS IS YOUR NOMINEE, MR. MAYOR. IS THERE A MOTION? CAN WE GET A VOTE? ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND THAT I FELL FOR THAT LAST WEEK WITH CHAIRMAN WEST.

HE DID THAT TO ME. HE SECONDED BEFORE ANYBODY MOVED IT.

OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN. SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS NOMINEE HEARING? NONE. SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. THE NOMINEE IS APPOINTED.

CONGRATULATIONS, MISTER.

NEXT ITEM. OH, YES.

MAY I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW FOR MR.

[Open Microphone Speakers (Part 2 of 3)]

ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

MEMBERS, THE MOTION IS TO SUSPEND THE RULES.

TO TAKE UP ONE OF THE OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS WHO WAS NOT HERE AT THE TIME.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

I THINK I CAN DO THIS ONE BY VOICE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

MAYOR OAKES? YES.

SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE ITEM.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE MOVED TO THE ITEM THAT HE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON.

[00:40:04]

THIS IS A THIS IS KIND OF A WEIRD SCENARIO WHERE SOME FOLKS WHO ARE INCLUDED ON THE OPEN MICROPHONE LIST ACTUALLY WERE SPEAKING ON SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE AGENDA LATER.

AND SO I'LL LET HER EXPLAIN HOW WE'RE HANDLING IT.

BUT HE COULD ACTUALLY SPEAK ON THE AGENDA ITEM.

BUT THAT'S A LITTLE LATER IN THE MEETING.

SO WE'LL SEE. GO AHEAD, MR. MAYOR. MR. CASTRO DID SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS ON THE LEGISLATIVE PURPOSES.

HOWEVER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE OTHERS THAT WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.

AND BECAUSE THERE IS A BRIEFING AND OUR OFFICE DOES NOT WELL, THE RULES DOES NOT ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO BE SIGNED UP ON BRIEFING ITEMS. HOWEVER, AGENDA ITEM FOUR IS THE BUDGET ITEM FOR FY 25 BUDGET ITEM THAT HAS A LINE ITEM FOR LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.

SO THAT'S THE WEIRD PART.

THE MAYOR WAS SPEAKING ABOUT WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL AT THIS TIME COULD BE MOVED, SO I ACTUALLY MOVED THE INDIVIDUAL WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE OTHERS BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

SO I MOVED ALL OF THE ONES THAT HAD LEGISLATIVE.

THAT WAS MY DECISION.

BUT MR. CASTRO DID SIGN UP TO SPEAK DURING OPEN MICROPHONE, AND IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THIS MOTION TO SUSPEND.

AND SO TECHNICALLY YOU'RE STILL ON.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO TALK.

IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AND MISS BLACKMON, YOU SAY YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON IT.

THIS IS ON THE MOTION TO SUSPEND.

I CAN HEAR YOU. GO AHEAD. YEAH, YEAH.

SO CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON? SO WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE OTHER TWO SPEAKERS? THE OTHER TWO INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN MOVED TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR.

SO WHEN THAT ITEM IS BROUGHT BEFORE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION, I WILL CALL THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM.

AND WE DON'T HAVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES ON THAT ONE.

NO. OKAY. JUST MAKING SURE BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, WHY JUST DO IT HERE TOO ANYWAY? YEAH, OKAY. I WAS TRYING TO CLEAR UP THE SAME THING.

IT'S CORRECT. I'M I'M ADDRESSING THAT AS THAT'S MY ERA AS EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO SPEAK WHEN THEY NEED EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO CLARIFY TO.

AND SO YEAH. SO WE CAN DO MR. CASTRO NOW AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE OTHERS THAT WILL SIGN UP AS OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.

THEY CAN SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM FOUR WHEN IT COMES UP.

SO WITH THAT ALL IN FAVOR OF SUSPENDING THE RULES, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.

THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED.

AND WE WILL HAVE MR. CASTRO COME ON DOWN.

WE'LL NOW GO BACK TO OUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.

JAIME CASTRO.

SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS NO WAY I CAN WAIT TO BEFORE THE THE ITEM.

I DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION. I'M BAD.

WHAT HAPPENED? NO.

YOU CAN EITHER SPEAK NOW UNDER OPEN MICROPHONE.

IT'S WHAT I'M TOLD IS WHERE YOU ORIGINALLY SIGNED UP.

SO YOU WILL IF THAT'S WHERE YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK DURING OPEN MICROPHONE.

I THOUGHT I MADE IT CLEAR THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK RIGHT BEFORE THE THE AGENDA ITEM.

THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING.

OKAY. YOU CAN, YOU CAN.

YEAH. I MEAN, WE JUST HAD A WE HAD WE JUST HAD OUR RULES SUSPENDED AND ALL TO ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK NOW SINCE YOU WERE HERE.

SO YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO SPEAK NOW IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT.

OKAY. NO. I'LL WAIT.

YOU'LL WAIT. OKAY. I'LL WAIT.

ALL RIGHT THEN. OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR MOMENTUM GOING.

I CAN FEEL IT. WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO HIT OUR GROOVE ANY MINUTE NOW.

ALL RIGHT. MADAM SECRETARY, WE WILL PRETEND LIKE WE'VE HAD A CITY COUNCIL MEETING BEFORE.

AND THIS. COME ON, LET'S GO.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

AGENDA ITEM THREE WILL BE CONSIDERED BEFORE BRIEFING A.

[3. A public hearing to receive comments on a $0.7047 per $100 assessed valuation property tax rate for the 2024-25 fiscal year as discussed on August 28, 2024; City Council will vote to adopt a tax rate on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at Dallas City Hall, City Council Chambers - Financing: No cost consideration to the City]

AGENDA ITEM THREE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS ON A 17.4 $0.07 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR THE 20 2425 FISCAL YEAR AS DISCUSSED ON AUGUST 28TH, 2024.

CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE TO ADOPT A TAX RATE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024 AT DALLAS CITY HALL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

YOU DO NOT BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.

IT WILL BE OPEN TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT THERE ARE NO REGISTERED SPEAKERS.

ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING ITEM? NO SPEAKERS, MR. MAYOR.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU HAVE A MOTION.

YES, MAYOR. I MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GO INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO TO CONSIDER RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 20 2425 BUDGET.

SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I GUESS QUESTION.

MAYOR. POINT OF INFORMATION AT THIS POINT.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS IT IS PROPER FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND DO AMENDMENTS ONCE, ONCE WE ONCE IT'S BEEN VOTED AND.

OH THAT'S RIGHT, I'M SORRY.

YEAH. AND WE ACTUALLY GO INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S PROCEDURALLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO RIGHT THIS SECOND.

SO THIS MEETING IS OFF TO A VERY INTERESTING START.

[00:45:02]

IT GETS A LITTLE COMPLICATED BECAUSE THE STATE LAW ENDS UP SORT OF INTERJECTING INTO OUR NORMAL COURSE.

SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT HERE.

SO ANYWAY, AT THIS POINT THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND TO GO INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WANT TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME.

SO I'M TOLD THAT PROCEDURALLY THAT MOTION, WHILE PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE, THE TIMING OF IT, IS SUCH THAT WE WOULD NEED TO ACTUALLY HAVE AGENDA ITEM THREE.

I HAVE A DIFFERENT MOTION CONSIDERED BEFORE BRIEFING.

ITEM A CAN BE HEARD SO THAT YOUR MOTION, IF IT'S IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO IT, WE'LL WITHDRAW IT.

I'M WITHDRAWING IT. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE.

IT'S SO ORDERED AND THAT MOTION IS WITHDRAWN.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A DIFFERENT MOTION? THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATELY TIMED? YES, MAYOR, I WOULD LOVE TO.

I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE EYES HAVE IT.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

NOW, MR. WEST, YOU'RE ACTUALLY.

DO YOU NEED TO READ ANYTHING INTO THE RECORD BEFORE YOU.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, CHAIRMAN WEST.

LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN.

NOW WE'RE ON ITEM EIGHT AND HOLD FOR JUST A MOMENT.

I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE THE BRIEFING AND THEN AFTER THE BRIEFING.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER.

AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO GO GET SOME COFFEE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S AN ORDER. EVERYONE DO IT.

DO IT. GOOD.

GOOD MORNING TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

[A. FY 2024-25 Budget Discussion and potential amendments (Part 1 of 2)]

BRIEFING ITEM NUMBER A IS YOUR FIRST BRIEFING FOR TODAY IS THE FINAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FY 25 BUDGET.

PRIOR TO YOUR APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCE LATER THIS MORNING, I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU TO TO THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR MANY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ENGAGED WITH US AND THANK YOU TO OUR TEAM.

THEY HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS BUDGET THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

WHILE TODAY IS AN EXCITING DAY.

TO ACHIEVE FINAL APPROVAL OF THIS BUDGET, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT FUTURE BUDGETS WILL BE CHALLENGING AS WELL, DUE TO OUR ONGOING REVENUE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE STATE AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THE FIVE YEAR STEP UP IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTH THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND. I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF REIMAGINING THE WAYS THAT WE DO BUSINESS AND IDENTIFY MORE EFFICIENCIES AND SAVINGS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, SO THAT WORK DOES NOT STOP WITH TODAY'S APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET.

WE DO HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

PLUS, THERE IS ONE ADJUSTMENT, ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENT THAT WE WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO CONSIDER DEPENDING ON YOUR DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR AMENDMENTS FOR TODAY.

STAFF MAY NEED TO PAUSE FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES IF THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE SOME RECALCULATIONS BEFORE WE HAVE THE CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

AND SO WITH THAT MAYOR, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU TO WORK THROUGH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL ACTIONS THAT WILL FOLLOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'VE GOT COFFEE ON THE WAY. I HOPE YOU ALL DO, TOO.

AND NOW I'M LOOKING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

I MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GO INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO CONSIDER RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 20 2425 BUDGET.

SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. WE ARE NOW ACTING AS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, AS THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE VOTES ON THE AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 20 2425 BUDGET ARE NOT FINAL ACTIONS, BUT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL BE FINALLY VOTED ON LATER IN THE MEETING TODAY.

MOTIONS ALLOWED IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, YOU'LL RECALL, ARE AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING REMOVING OR STRIKING SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS.

POINT OF ORDER, APPEALS AND INQUIRIES.

ROLL CALL VOTES AND BALLOT VOTES ARE NOT ALLOWED.

WE'LL USE THESE TO SIGNAL SUPPORT OF AN AMENDMENT, ALTHOUGH A FORMAL VOTE WILL NOT BE TAKEN.

THE CITY SECRETARY WILL RECORD THE NAMES OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOWING ONE OF THESE IN FAVOR OF A MOTION, AND WE'LL FOLLOW OUR USUAL 531 FORMAT FOR DEBATE.

AND WITH THAT, I SEE, MISS BLACKMON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WELL, I NEED TO HAVE A MOTION, SIR.

YEAH, SORRY.

I HAVE A MOTION. OH.

GO AHEAD. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION.

THANK YOU. I MOVE TO REMOVE FUNDING FROM THE SKILLMAN SOUTHWESTERN LIBRARY FOR 53 HOURS A WEEK, 53 HOURS PER WEEK, SIX DAYS A WEEK TO MOVE, REMOVE, TO MOVE IT BACK TO THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

[00:50:05]

SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED BEFORE YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WE JUST IS THAT IS THAT AMENDMENT NUMBER THAT I CAN FOLLOW? LOOKS LIKE FOUR. IT'S FOUR.

FOR. OKAY. YES.

YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

WE ARE ON BUDGET AMENDMENTS AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR.

THAT'S HOW IT APPEARS ON YOUR SCREEN.

NO COMMENTS, SIR, AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ITEM AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR? OH. ALL RIGHT, REMEMBER, WE ARE IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

WE ARE NOT FORMAL VOTES.

WE JUST SHOW PLACARDS.

SO, MADAM SECRETARY, MISS ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR.

THIS IS WHAT I WILL DO, SINCE YOU SAID WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THIS PART, I WILL I WILL HOLD MY COMMENTS UNTIL THE NEXT.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I SHOULDN'T USE THE TERM TECHNICALLY VOTING.

IT'S A IT'S JUST AN INDICATION OF SUPPORT.

BUT MY INDICATION OF SUPPORT STATEMENT.

OKAY. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

I WASN'T HERE WITH THE LAST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THIS LIBRARY WAS KEPT OPEN WHEN THE VICKERY MEADOW LIBRARY WAS REMODELED AND EXPANDED? THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN JACK CAROLYN, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A PLAN TO CLOSE THIS LIBRARY WHEN VICKERY WAS OPEN.

IT WAS THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION IN THE BUDGET THAT WE MADE IN AUGUST TO CLOSE THIS.

BUT THE AMENDMENT LAST WEEK RESTORED THE FUNDING.

SO I'LL ALLOW JOE TO TALK ABOUT THE DECISIONS RELATED TO WHY WE KEPT IT OPEN.

EXACTLY WHAT JACK SAID THERE.

IT WASN'T A CONSIDERATION AT THAT TIME, WAS THERE? I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP AND YOU REALIZE IT'S 1.1 MILE AWAY, SO THERE WAS NEVER A THOUGHT THAT, WOW, WE'RE REALLY MAKING THIS VICKERY MEADOW LIBRARY FANTASTIC.

WHICH IT IS.

AND MAYBE WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER LIBRARY ONE MILE AWAY.

WE WERE WORKING UNDER A 2000 MASTER PLAN FOR FACILITIES FOR THE LIBRARY THAT HAD NOT BEEN UPDATED, AND WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF OUR FACILITIES STUDY AND UPDATE AT THAT TIME.

SO WE WERE WORKING UNDER A PLAN THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN 2000, AND THE SITE WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE TWO 2017 BOND. ARE THERE OTHER PLACES IN THE CITY WHERE THERE'S A LIBRARY JUST A MILE AWAY? NO, MA'AM.

AND PROXIMITY PLAYED INTO THE FACTORS THAT THE CITY MANAGER CONSIDERED RELATED TO HER RECOMMENDATION IN AUGUST FOR MOTHBALLING OR CLOSING THIS FACILITY.

THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS, A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS WHO'VE TALKED ABOUT THE BUS LINE BEING VERY ACCESSIBLE AT SKILLMAN, AND I'M WONDERING HOW MANY OF THE LIBRARIES HAVE A BUS LINE.

ALL OF THEM. ALL OF THEM WITHIN A BLOCK.

MOST OF THEM HAVE A BUS STOP, EITHER IN FRONT OR ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY.

WELL, I'LL JUST SAY WE HAVE VERY FEW BUSSES IN DISTRICT 12, BUT WE DO HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF BOTH THE LIBRARIES.

WE DO. OKAY.

THANK YOU. AND ARE YOU AWARE ACROSS THE COUNTRY? I MEAN, IS IT A GOOD PRACTICE TO HAVE A LIBRARY ONE MILE FROM ANOTHER LIBRARY? I HAVE NOT LOOKED INTO OTHER CITIES, SO ANECDOTALLY, PROBABLY NOT, BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU FOR FACTUAL.

OKAY. FAIR ENOUGH.

SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS ACTUALLY A FISCAL ONE, WHICH IS THROUGH THE YEARS, I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE VARIOUS BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD I CANNOT MAKE BECAUSE THEY ARE STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND, MEANING I'M USING ONE TIME FUNDS TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS AN ONGOING EXPENSE.

AND IN THIS CASE THERE'S ONE TIME FUNDS BEING CONSIDERED BOTH FOR THIS MOTION AND THIS AMENDMENT, AS WELL AS THE NEXT ONE, AND THEN IT'S TO PAY FOR ONGOING EXPENSES.

SO WE'VE GOT SALARY, WE'VE GOT OPERATION OF THE BUILDING, ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

HOW IS IT THAT THIS TIME IT'S ALLOWED TO GO FORWARD AND IT NEVER HAS BEFORE? AND I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY A JACK QUESTION.

YEAH. THANK THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER. SO WE HAVE INDICATED BOTH TIMES LAST WEEK WHEN THE AMENDMENT WAS CONSIDERED.

AND AGAIN TODAY YOU WILL NOTICE WITH AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE, AND I'M SORRY TO GET AHEAD, BUT INDICATED THAT THE USE OF FUNDS IS ONE TIME WE REALIZE THAT THIS IS A ONE TIME SOURCE OF FUNDS BEING USED FOR.

WHAT WE ARE MAKING CLEAR IS A ONE TIME USE OF FUNDS TO MAINTAIN THIS FACILITY FOR ONE YEAR AND REVISIT.

[00:55:06]

WE'RE ONLY FUNDING IT WITH THESE ONE TIME FUNDS FOR 112 MONTH PERIOD.

SO THE BASIC IDEA, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE'RE GOING TO SPEND HALF $1 MILLION TO JUST DELAY A DECISION THAT WILL HAPPEN ANYHOW AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TIME TO GO AND DETERMINE IF, IF WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT RECOMMENDATION GOING FORWARD INTO 26 OR NOT.

BUT YES, IT'S POTENTIALLY DELAYING THE CONVERSATION, AND WE WILL REVISIT IT THROUGH NEXT SUMMER AND BRING A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL AT THAT TIME.

BUT IT IS NOT A GIVEN THAT IT WILL BE FUNDED IN 26.

AND WOULD YOU SAY THERE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT UNFUNDED KNOWN MAINTENANCE NEEDS IN OUR CITY, INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE DELAYED THAT HALF $1 MILLION COULD BE APPLIED TO? SO. YES, MA'AM.

THERE ARE UNFUNDED MAINTENANCE NEEDS.

THERE ARE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND SO WHEN WE TOOK THE $485,486 AS PART OF MISS TOLBERT'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET, WE REDEPLOYED THAT $485,000 INTO BALANCING THE REST OF THE BUDGET.

SO WE ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR IT IN THE BUDGET.

THAT'S WHY IT'S NECESSARY IF WE'RE GOING TO RESTORE FOR ONE YEAR THAT A FUNDING SOURCE NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED, BECAUSE WE ALREADY ALLOCATED THAT 485 FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE. WELL, I WOULD BET THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THIS COUNCIL, WHILE WE MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME LIST, COULD PROBABLY COME UP WITH 50 ITEMS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEND HALF $1 MILLION ON THAT WOULD BE LASTING.

MEANING IT WOULD FIX A ROAD, IT WOULD BE LASTING, IT WOULD PAY DOWN DEBT, IT WOULD BE LASTING.

IT WOULD I MEAN, THAT'S ACTUALLY JUST ONE TRAFFIC SIGNAL, BUT THAT WOULD BE ONE MORE TRAFFIC SIGNAL THAT WOULDN'T BE SO OLD.

THAT IS CAUSING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS.

I MEAN, I WOULD THINK THAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT WANT BIKE LANES OR TO REDO STREETS.

I CAN I MEAN, WE CAN JUST GO DOWN THIS LIST OF OF INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRIORITIES.

MAYBE IT'S PARKS, MAYBE IT'S HOMELESS, MAYBE IT'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY WISE, VERY IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A WISE IDEA FOR US TO ALLOCATE ANY DOLLARS TO A LIBRARY THAT IS ONE MILE AWAY FROM ANOTHER LIBRARY WHEN IT'S A DECISION THAT, I MEAN, IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO NEED TO BE MADE AT SOME POINT.

SO I JUST I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHY WE'RE STILL DISCUSSING THIS.

I CAN'T SUPPORT, I WILL SUPPORT WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM AT ALL THIS LIBRARY NEEDS TO BE CLOSED.

I HOPE THIS PROPERTY WILL BE ADDED TO OUR LIST OF PROPERTIES THAT WE CONSIDER WHAT WE WILL DO WITH.

IT'S AN ASSET THAT WE PROBABLY DON'T NEED.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR? SEEING NONE INDICATES YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD CASTLEREAGH'S IN FAVOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART RIDLEY ARNOLD, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BAZALDUA MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS COUNCIL MEMBERS WEST, BLACKMON SCHULTZ, GRACIE AND MORENO THE ITEM.

THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. WONDERFUL.

MISS BLACKMON NOTED.

COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ VOTED IN FAVOR.

THANK YOU. MISS BLACKMON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION.

THANK YOU. I MOVE TO USE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS.

THE ARPA FUNDS FOR D9 RELATING TO FENTANYL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE AND HOME REPAIRS IN THE AMOUNT OF $456,750 TO A ONE TIME FUNDING OF KEEPING OPEN THE SKILLMAN SOUTHWESTERN LIBRARY FIVE DAYS A WEEK, 39 39 HOURS A DAY FOR EIGHT POSITIONS IN THIS FY 2024 2025 BUDGET.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? MISS BLACKMON? YES. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

SO I BELIEVE IT'S A ACTUALLY A ONE AND A HALF MILES IS THE NEXT LIBRARY THAT GOES OVER NORTHWEST HIGHWAY.

AND ANYBODY WHO'S DRIVEN ON NORTHWEST HIGHWAY KNOWS THAT YOU DON'T WALK IT AND YOU TAKE EVEN A CHANCE IN A CAR.

SECONDLY THIS WAS A LIBRARY THAT ACTUALLY DOES FAIRLY WELL.

WE HAVE THE FIFTH HIGHEST CIRCULATION.

AND AND WHILE WE ONLY HAVE 54 PROGRAMS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ATTENDANCE, IT'S AT 12.5% OR 12.5 PEOPLE WHAT

[01:00:07]

WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY SEEING IS A LIBRARY USED FOR A LIBRARY.

THEY COME AND CHECK OUT BOOKS EVERY TEN DAYS.

ONE OF THOSE CARD MEMBERS IS GRABBING A BOOK.

IT IS IN THE HEART OF THE VILLAGE, WHICH IS A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE, HEY, GET OUT OF YOUR CARS, BUT GO AHEAD AND DRIVE A MILE AND A HALF ACROSS THE STATE HIGHWAY THAT I GET CALLS ABOUT EVERY DAY.

SO WHAT I'VE DONE IS I'VE TAKEN MY ARPA FUNDS AND THIS IS WHAT I'VE HEARD D9 IS WANTING.

WE'VE LOOKED AT THEM.

THEY WANT THEIR LIBRARY OPEN.

WE HAVE LEFT SOME IN HOME REPAIR.

BUT THE MENTAL AWARENESS, THE MENTAL HEALTH AND FENTANYL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IS BEING DONE OUT OF OUR FENTANYL SETTLEMENT FUNDS AND WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY. SO THOSE ACTUAL FUNDS ARE NOT NEEDED.

YES, IT IS A ONE TIME, BUT AS WE'VE SEEN IN REPORTS, WE HAVE A HARD TIME CLOSING A BUILDING.

SO MAYBE THIS GIVES US A YEAR TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER PARTS IN THIS.

SO YES, I'VE BOUGHT A YEAR AND THEY KNOW IT.

BUT WHAT I'M HOPING IS THE REST OF OUR BUDGET, WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE MONEY WE HAVE OVER TIME COMING DOWN.

WE HAVE OTHER FREE MONEY CONTRACTS, I BELIEVE, THAT ARE BEING REEVALUATED THAT WE CAN PUT TO KEEPING ALL OF OUR SERVICES ACROSS THE CITY AVAILABLE TO ALL OUR RESIDENTS.

WE DON'T WANT TO.

IT'S ABOUT GROWING THE PIE.

IT'S NOT TAKING A SLICE OF SOMEBODY ELSE'S AND GIVING IT TO THEM.

AND SO I HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR COMMITMENT AND INVESTING IN OUR SOUTHERN PART OF OUR CITY, AND WHICH IS WHY I WENT BACK AND WORKED WITH STAFF AND FOUND THIS.

THAT IS D NINE MONEY.

I BELIEVE THAT I WAS THERE ON MONDAY.

I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS A UTILIZED.

AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE DATA, HERE IT IS.

THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE NOT AS PERFORMING, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT TAKING FROM ONE TO GIVE TO ANOTHER.

IT IS REALLY ABOUT MAKING SURE WE ALL CAN KEEP WHAT WE HAVE AND GROW IT AND BECOME.

I MEAN, THESE ARE, I THINK, A CORE FUNCTION, A LIBRARY, A PARK IS A CORE FUNCTION OF A CITY.

AND THIS IS THE FROG IN THE POT.

OKAY. EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE A LIBRARY OR A REC CENTER ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

GIVEN THIS BUDGET EVERY FROM GOING FORWARD.

SO MY THING IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL HAVE OUR SERVICES FIRST.

AND THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM PUBLIC SAFETY TO QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT INTO AN INVESTMENT FUND.

AND SO WE WE GET CREATIVE.

AND THIS IS THE DOLLARS THAT WAS FOUND FOR THAT.

AND SO I DO HOPE THAT YOU WILL YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS.

IT'S A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THAT REALLY CAME OUT, AND I APPLAUD ALL OF THE YOUNG FOLKS.

AND IT WAS AN INTERESTING, DIVERSE GROUP THAT WE HAD ON MONDAY, WE HAD A NEWLY GRADUATE FROM A COLLEGE TO THE YOUNG TO THE YOUNG WOMEN UP THERE. AND IT WAS THEY WERE ALL SAYING, WE LIKE OUR LIBRARY, WE LOVE OUR BOOKS.

AND AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY? WHAT HOW CAN WE WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO KEEP THIS OPEN AND ATTRACTIVE? AND I APPLAUD A COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AND SAYING, WE WE WANT THIS.

AND SO I JUST HOPE THAT NOBODY ELSE ON THIS HORSESHOE HAS TO GO THROUGH A POTENTIAL CLOSING.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD THAT, AND IT'S NOT FUN WHEN IT'S THE BUILDING AND YOU HAVE TO GO IN AND AND KEEP IT, YOU KNOW, THE COPPER FROM BEING STRIPPED OUT AND THE TOILETS FROM BEING CLOGGED UP. SO YES, IT'S A YEAR.

AND AS JACK SAID IN JUNE, HOPEFULLY WE'LL KNOW.

AND IF IT IS GOING TO BE SHUT DOWN, THEN WE HAVE A PLAN OF THAT HAPPENING.

AND IT'S NOT JUST A BUILDING WITH A FENCE AND WE'LL HAVE A SECURITY GUARD DRIVE BY EVERY OTHER HOUR.

SO THANK YOU AND I HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.

OKAY, EVERYONE, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE ARE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE ON THIS ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024, DOCUMENT AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE.

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

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION.

I WANT TO APPLAUD OUR COLLEAGUE FOR HEARING OUR COLLEAGUES CONCERNS.

I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WAS REALLY A CONCERN OF THE USE OF FUNDS, BUT MORE THE SOURCE.

AND THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED.

AND IT'S BEEN ADDRESSED IN A WAY THAT ULTIMATELY JUST IMPACTS DISTRICT NINE.

AND SO I JUST APPLAUD YOU FOR FINDING A SOLUTION.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE RESIDENTS.

YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN TALK HERE ON THE HORSESHOE OF WHAT OUR PRIORITIES SHOULD BE TO MEET THE NEED FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

[01:05:01]

SO TO ME, THIS IS A NO BRAINER.

I THINK IT ALSO OPENS A DIALOG THAT IS IMPORTANT.

WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND THINK THAT IT CAN BE DESCRIBED WITH ARBITRARY LINES.

WE KNOW THAT OUR CITY IS EXTREMELY SEGREGATED FROM SYSTEMIC PRACTICES OF OUR PAST, BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE HAVE POCKETS OF LOWER SOCIOECONOMICS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.

WE HAVE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY THAT DO LOOK TO CITY SERVICES AS THAT LIFELINE.

AND SO JUST TO BE ABLE TO PULL A HOUSEHOLD INCOME STUDY IN THE SURROUNDING AREA DOESN'T NECESSARILY PAINT THE PICTURE FOR THE STORIES THAT WE'VE HEARD OF, HOW VITAL THIS CAN BE OF SHOWING UP AND THIS BEING WHAT CONTINUES THEIR EDUCATION, WHAT CONTINUES TO BE A MENTORSHIP FOR A VOID THAT'S BEING FILLED FROM HOME? THAT'S WHAT I SEE OUR RECREATION CENTERS AND OUR LIBRARY SYSTEMS SERVING.

AND NO MATTER WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD THEY ARE SITUATED IN, THE POPULATION THAT THEY'RE SERVING IS ALMOST ALL VERY SIMILAR.

AND IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO TO REALIZE THAT AND TALK THAT YOU CAN'T JUST SAY EQUITY IN A VACUUM.

THIS IS THIS IS EQUITABLE RESOURCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THEM WHERE THEIR NEED IS.

I WANT TO REITERATE THAT I HEARD FROM DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENTS SPECIFICALLY THAT BECAUSE OF THEIR MASS TRANSIT NEEDS AND THE ROUTES THAT THEY GO TO AND FROM HOME, THAT THIS IS THEIR LIBRARY.

SO IT MAY NOT BE ONE OF THE DISTRICT SEVEN LIBRARIES, BUT WHEN I HEAR THAT, IT REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO DIG FURTHER INTO WHO IS USING THE LIBRARY.

AND I JUST AGAIN WANT TO APPLAUD YOU.

THANK YOU FOR FINDING A SOLUTION.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE HARD DECISIONS, BUT ALSO FOR PROVIDING US WITH DATA TO TO HELP US MAKE A BETTER DECISION HERE TODAY.

SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE.

THANK YOU. I REALLY WANTED TO I AM SPEAKING TODAY ON THIS AMENDMENT.

I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC THAT WAS LISTENING AND EVEN THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE NOW TO BRING YOU UP TO SPEED ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

MY CONCERN, AND I WAS NOT ON THE PREVAILING END.

IN OTHER WORDS, I SPOKE AGAINST THIS INITIALLY BECAUSE THE FUNDS WERE BEING TAKEN FROM THE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE FUND THAT WAS IDENTIFIED FOR TARGETED AREAS IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

AND SO IT IN THOSE WHO DID NOT, THOSE WHO DID NOT UNDERSTAND AT THE TIME WEIGHED, IN MY OPINION, I'M SPEAKING NOW THAT THEY HEARD THE VOICES OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT THE LIBRARY CLOSED, AND I GOT YOU ON THAT.

I TOLD SOME, I THINK I TOLD YOU ALSO THAT PART OF MY HISTORY IS CONNECTED TO LIBRARY.

I'M VERY CONCERNED AND AND COMMITTED TO EXTENDING OUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

BUT WHEN WE VOTED ON FUNDS FOR TARGETED AREAS, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE LEFT IT THERE AND NOT TOUCHED IT.

BECAUSE AS WE STATE AND I SAY IT ALL THE TIME, WE ALL AROUND, I BELIEVE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE SIGNED AN EQUITY RESOLUTION.

BUT SOMETIMES WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO IT, WE MOONWALK.

NOW, I APPRECIATE ALL INDIVIDUALS, AND I THINK I TOLD THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE HERE COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON WAS DOING WHAT SHE NEEDED TO DO FOR HER CONSTITUENTS. I'M I HAVE TO DO WHAT MY CONSTITUENTS ARE TELLING ME, AND THEY'RE TELLING ME TO FIGHT FOR EQUITY AND HOLD OUR FEET TO THE FIRE.

NOW, WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME IS THIS IN THE TARGETED AREAS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR HOME REPAIR, SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE, STREETS, ROADS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. SO I'M DOING WHAT I NEED TO DO.

SO IT'S NO, YOU KNOW, AS THEY SAY, I AIN'T MAD AT YOU, BUT I GOT TO DO WHAT I GOT TO DO AS WELL.

SO I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT MY COLLEAGUE MADE TODAY ON BEHALF OF HER RESPONSIBILITY TO BE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO HER COMMUNITY.

BUT I BELIEVE WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE BECOMING MORE THAN HYPOCRITICAL IF WE VOTED ON TO SUPPORT FUNDS FOR TARGETED AREAS.

PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR LIBRARY.

THE ONLY LIBRARY THAT WE HAVE IN DISTRICT FOUR IS IN A TARGETED AREA.

THE CLOSEST LIBRARY WOULD PROBABLY BE CAMP WISDOM IN POLK.

OR MAYBE MAYBE A LIBRARY IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

BUT I PROMISE YOU, YOU CAN'T WALK TO ONE.

SO FOR THAT, I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE THAT I'M NOT TRYING TO GET AN ADDITIONAL LIBRARY, BUT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC WHO ARE HERE AND THE PUBLIC WHO'S LISTENING, BECAUSE I KNOW

[01:10:07]

AND THAT IS MY POSITION AND I'M STICKING TO IT.

WE'RE GOING TO PREPARE TO MOVE ON, BUT I NEED EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM WHEN IT COMES TO ADVOCACY.

I CAN READ BECAUSE OF A LIBRARY AND PARENTS WHO MADE SURE I WAS IN THE LIBRARY, AND I READ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FUND, SOUTHERN SECTOR, I PULLED THE RESOLUTION.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL Y'ALL ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND WE ARE HERE WHERE WE ARE TODAY, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL NOT REVISIT THIS CONVERSATION AROUND DEPRIVING THE SOUTHERN SECTOR THAT HAS BEEN TARGETED FOR EQUITY INVESTMENT.

HOPEFULLY WE WILL NOT HAVE TO GO TOO DEEP INTO THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN.

IT'S PAINFUL DURING THE BUDGET SEASON.

WE KNOW THAT AND WE HAVE TO MAKE PRIORITIES.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN KING ARNOLD FOR DISTRICT FOUR, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE AND ESPECIALLY ALONG THE LINES OF EQUITY CITY MANOR MANAGER, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I'M GOING TO KEEP PUSHING.

I'M GOING TO BE EAGLE EYED, FOCUSED ON FUNDS THAT ARE TAKEN FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I LET YOU KNOW THAT.

AND ANYONE ELSE HERE AROUND THE HORSESHOE AND THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING, THAT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT SYSTEMICALLY THAT HAS CAUSED US TO BE WHERE WE ARE NOW IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, LACKING FRESH FOOD.

SOMEONE SPOKE ABOUT THE ROADS, BUT PUBLIC WORKS, YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB WITH DISTRICT FOUR.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THEY ARE MOVING AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE.

SO I'LL HOLD ALL OTHER COMMENTS.

BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE I WAS ON THE RECORD THIS MORNING WITH THAT.

SO I JUST WANT ALL OF YOU TO KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO THAT TARGETED MONEY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

WE NEED TO STAY WOKE.

THANK YOU, MISS SCHULTZ.

YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT FIVE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I THINK THIS EXPERIENCE THAT WE'VE HAD IN BOTH IN THE INITIAL CONVERSATION ABOUT IT AND THEN TODAY REALLY EXEMPLIFIES WHEN OUR COUNCIL IS FUNCTIONING AT ITS BEST BECAUSE WHAT WE HAD WAS A PARTICULAR DISTRICT WHO SAW SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T THINK WAS RIGHT IN, IN, IN THEIR DISTRICT IN THE BUDGET.

AND SO THEY PRESENTED SOMETHING TO US.

THEY HEARD US, WE SUPPORTED IT, BUT THEY ALSO REALLY LISTENED, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SO HARD AS A COUNCIL.

THEY LISTENED. THIS COUNCIL MEMBER LISTENED TO TO US AND OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDS.

AND THEN THEY DID.

THEY WERE CONCERNED ALSO ABOUT PLANNING FOR A POTENTIAL CLOSURE AND BUYING OUR CITY ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST. THEY DID RESEARCH IN TERMS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ORIGINAL ALLOCATION OF THOSE ARPA FUNDS, AND I KNOW FOR ALL OF US WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOCATE THE DISTRICT SPECIFIC FUNDS, IT WAS A CHALLENGE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, AND THERE WERE LOTS OF CREATIVE SOURCES.

AND THERE MAY BE EVEN OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SAY, OH, ON SECOND THOUGHT, I WISH I COULD USE IT TOWARD A DIFFERENT PROJECT AS TIME EVOLVED.

AND THEN FINALLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS SHE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME TALKING TO EACH OTHER, AND THOSE OF US WHO APPROACHED HER WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE INITIAL THE INITIAL AMENDMENT.

SHE LISTENED. SHE LISTENED TO US, AND SHE FIGURED OUT OTHER WAYS TO DO IT THAT DIDN'T IMPACT ANY OTHER DISTRICT AND HELPED US TALK TO EACH OTHER. SO I THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY AN EXEMPLAR OF WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE GOING AND WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING WITH OUR UNIQUE DISTRICT ISSUES IS TALKING TO EACH OTHER, LISTENING TO EACH OTHER, COMING UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.

AND NOW, AS SHE IS RELIANT ON US TO HELP EACH OTHER MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE.

SO I WILL DEFINITELY BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT FIVE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO SECOND EVERYTHING THAT COUNCILWOMAN SCHULTZ SAID.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF US WHEN WE'RE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AS A COUNCIL, WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK THROUGH AN ISSUE LIKE THIS.

IT'S NOT IT'S NOT WITH HARD FEELINGS.

IT'S JUST IT'S JUST A IT'S ECONOMICS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HERE.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

I HEARD MY MY COLLEAGUE FROM OAK CLIFF'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FUND, AND I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE PASSION FOR SOUTH DALLAS AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WE'RE GETTING THE SAME BENEFITS AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE NORTH'S GETTING.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THIS PARTICULAR FUNDING SOURCE IS IT'S NOT JUST RESERVED FOR THE SOUTH.

IT CAN BE FOR ANYWHERE IN THE CITY WHERE THERE IS A DESIGNATED NEED.

[01:15:03]

ASSUMING I'M RIGHT.

GOOD MORNING. ROBIN BENTLEY FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, COUNCIL MEMBER WEST.

YOU ARE CORRECT.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FUND CAN BE SPENT WITH THE MAJORITY VOTE OF COUNCIL IN ANY CENSUS BLOCK GROUP, WITH A POVERTY RATE OF 20% OR HIGHER.

THOSE CENSUS BLOCK GROUPS EXIST IN EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL DISTRICT ACROSS THE CITY.

THEY'RE PRIMARILY IN SOUTHERN DALLAS, BUT THEY DO EXIST ACROSS THE CITY WITH A THREE QUARTER VOTE OF THE COUNCIL.

THE FUNDS CAN BE SPENT ANYWHERE IN THE CITY, AND SO THERE IS A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, SOUTHERN DALLAS LIKE WE DID IN OUR OH SIX AND 12 BONDS.

THOSE ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THE WAY THEY WERE STRUCTURED.

THANK YOU. MISS WILLIS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT FIVE.

THANK YOU. WELL, TO SHOW HOW WE FUNCTION SO WELL TOGETHER, WE CAN RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.

AND I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER OPTION FOR FUNDING BEING EXPLORED.

HOWEVER, I GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DATA WHICH PAINTED A PICTURE OF WHY THIS LIBRARY WAS SELECTED.

BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ARPA FUNDS, SOME OF WHICH ARE ATTRIBUTED TO MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE AND SOME OF WHICH ARE ATTRIBUTED TO HOME REPAIRS.

I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE JUST FOCUSED ON A DISTRICT.

I DO THINK THEY HAVE A CITYWIDE IMPLICATION.

WE JUST HAD AN INCIDENT IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, WHERE A WOMAN WAS BROUGHT TO THE GROUND BY SOMEONE HITTING HER.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT PERSON WENT BACK TO AND WHO CLEARLY HAS SOME, SOME ISSUES.

AND SO I THINK ANY DOLLARS WE CAN PUT TOWARD THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

AND WHILE I DO BELIEVE IN OUR DISCRETION AND OUR DISTRICTS I JUST, I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT AFFECT THE WHOLE CITY AND THAT WE NEED.

AND SO I FEEL LIKE THIS WILL PROBABLY PASS, BUT I JUST WANT TO SHOW THAT WE CAN RAISE ISSUES OF CONCERN AND DEAL WITH IT RESPECTFULLY.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT FIVE.

I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE TARGETED AREAS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.

SO CAN YOU GO THROUGH WHAT THE GOAL OF THAT FUND IS? POINT OF ORDER. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO.

I WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE I HEARD IT CORRECTLY.

SO AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE DOESN'T DEAL WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND AT ALL.

IT ONLY DEALS WITH HER DISCRETIONARY FUNDS AND THE LIBRARY COSTS.

SO IS THERE ARE YOU IS THAT GOING TO BECOME A RELEVANT QUESTION QUICKLY OR IS IT NOT TRULY GERMANE? PROBABLY NOT GERMANE.

OKAY. BUT I WILL POINT OUT THAT MY COLLEAGUE ALSO ASKED, I GUESS, A QUESTION THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN GERMANE, BUT OCCASIONALLY ONE SLIPS PAST ME.

BUT, BUT, BUT I WANT TO.

I WANT TO TRY TO ENFORCE THESE.

WE GOT GUESTS HERE TODAY.

WE GOT FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET TO GET TO.

SO I WANT TO TRY TO BE AS EFFICIENT AS WE CAN.

SO IF YOU COULD MAKE IT A GERMANE QUESTION, FINE.

IF YOU CAN'T, WE GOT TO MOVE ON.

SO HAVING GONE BACK AND WATCHED THE MEETING WHERE THIS WAS DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, THERE SEEMED TO BE A BIG DISCUSSION ABOUT EQUITY.

AND I'D JUST LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE CENSUS TRACT HERE HAS VERY LOW POVERTY.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES. I'M LOOKING AT JOE.

I BELIEVE IT WAS 5%, 5.5% POVERTY RATE.

OKAY. AND WOULD YOU SAY THAT.

WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE THAT ALONE.

I THINK I'VE ALREADY SAID THAT PART.

WE HAD A COUNCIL RETREAT, AND THERE WAS A VERY STRONG OPINION THAT WE NEEDED TO OPERATE IN A MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.

AND I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW HAVING LIBRARIES SO CLOSE TOGETHER IS EITHER OF THOSE THINGS.

AND I APPLAUD INTERIM CITY MANAGER FOR OFFERING A VERY DIFFICULT I MEAN, NOBODY WANTS TO CLOSE A LIBRARY.

I THINK EVERYBODY HERE SUPPORTS LIBRARIES AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE COMMENTS LATER WHERE I'M GOING TO APPLAUD YOU FOR HAVING LOOKED AT THIS BUDGET IN A WAY THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE.

YOU REALLY DID GO THROUGH IT LOOKING FOR PLACES THAT HOW CAN WE BE MORE EFFICIENT? AND I DON'T THINK THIS WAS MEANT TO HARM ANY DISTRICT, ANY NEIGHBORHOOD, ANY COMMUNITY.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, THIS DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE.

AND IF WE HAVE A TRANSIT PROBLEM, IF WE HAVE A BUS SYSTEM THAT'S NOT GETTING PEOPLE TO THE OTHER 29 LIBRARIES EFFECTIVELY, I THINK WE NEED TO

[01:20:01]

BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN WE NEED TO SPEND HALF $1 MILLION A YEAR TO OPERATE A LIBRARY THAT'S FRANKLY REDUNDANT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSED YEARS AGO, SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSED WITH THE OPENING OF THE REMODELED VICKERY MEADOW.

WE HAVE A LIBRARY JUST ACROSS THE STREET.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY WHO CAN'T GET DOWNTOWN AT SOME POINT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE TO KEEP IT OPEN.

I DO APPRECIATE THAT IF I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND THERE'S A LIBRARY IN MY DISTRICT, EVERY ONE OF US WOULD HAVE SAID, WAIT, WAIT, I'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE THAT USE THAT LIBRARY.

OF COURSE WE ALL DO.

BUT AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT IS EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT.

AND IT'S ONE THING TO SIT IN A HOTEL AND SAY, WE BELIEVE IN THAT, AND IT'S ANOTHER THING TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

WHEN WE'RE ALL SITTING HERE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER AND HAVING TO CAST A DIFFICULT VOTE.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU'LL REMEMBER WHY WE'RE HERE.

AND ONE OF OUR LARGEST TASKS IS ACTUALLY THIS BUDGET.

AND YOU'RE NOT HERE TO MAKE FRIENDS.

YOU'RE HERE TO DO THE PEOPLE'S WORK, AND THE PEOPLE'S WORK IS TO SPEND THEIR MONEY WISELY.

AND I BET IF YOU ASK THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS.

HEY, DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE KEEPING OPEN A LIBRARY? THAT'S 1.2 MILES.

AND I DID GO ON GOOGLE EARTH TO LOOK OPEN FROM ANOTHER LIBRARY.

AND EVERY LIBRARY IN OUR SYSTEM HAS A BUS STOP.

I'M GOING TO THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, PLEASE DO OTHER THINGS WITH IT.

AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY TELLS US THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR, EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

BUT FOR SOME REASON, WE SIT AROUND HERE AS IF WE KNOW BETTER THAN WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE ASKING US TO DO.

AND THEN WE WONDER WHY WE GET THESE VOTER PROPOSITIONS THAT DON'T EVEN THAT THAT ARE EXACTLY PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

SO THANK YOU.

CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD WILL BACK TO YOU FOR THREE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. MAYOR, I BELIEVE THE DOOR WAS OPEN WHEN WHEN? MRS. BENTLEY MENTIONED THE CLARIFICATION STATEMENT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER WEST.

MRS. BENTLEY IS DISTRICT FOUR IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR? YES, MA'AM. YOUR DISTRICT WAS THE SOUTHERN SECTOR USED IN THE RESOLUTION AS A TARGET? AS IN THE PREAMBLE.

POINT OF ORDER, MR. MAYOR.

STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER.

THE GERMANE TO THE AGENDA ITEM.

I'M STILL WAITING FOR HER TO SAY SOMETHING.

RIGHT. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING, SHE DIDN'T REALLY SAID ANYTHING YET.

THANK YOU. BUT.

WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER ADDRESSED THE STATEMENT FOR CLARIFICATION.

YOU SPOKE. MAYOR.

SHE SPOKE ABOUT IN RESPONSE TO TO THE CHAIRMAN THAT THIS NEEDED TO GET CLARIFICATION.

I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE CLARIFICATION.

WAS THE WORD SOUTHERN USED IN THIS RESOLUTION AS A TARGET? I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE RESOLUTION.

WE'RE PULLING IT IS CITY MANAGER.

MAYOR, IF I COULD ASK THE CITY MANAGER.

DO YOU HAVE THAT? MR. MAYOR, STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER.

THIS RESOLUTION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SAY IT REALLY? LOOK, THIS. OKAY, GUYS, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW, FOR WHATEVER REASON FOLKS GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED, IT SEEMED, ABOUT WHICH OF THESE TWO AMENDMENTS DID THE MOVING THE MONEY OUT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND THAT WAS ADDRESSED IN AMENDMENT FOUR.

THIS THIS AMENDMENT IS LITERALLY ABOUT THE D NINE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS BEING USED TO KEEP THE LIBRARY OPEN FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR NOT.

THAT'S IT. AND SO ANYTHING THAT'S NOT ABOUT THOSE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS, IT'S ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S REALLY, TRULY NOT IN ORDER.

AND I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT.

I'M TRYING TO BE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LAX ABOUT IT, BUT I CAN'T BE TOO LAX ABOUT IT.

RIGHT. I SHOULD HAVE OBJECTED WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER WEST MADE THE STATEMENT.

SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, SIR, IS THAT HERE WITH THIS PARTICULAR, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON WITH HER EFFORTS.

BUT WHAT I'M NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN TODAY IS TO HIDE THE FACTS AND THE FACTS IS THAT WE HAVE A WRITTEN DOCUMENT AND IT SPOKE ON SOUTHERN AND OTHER AREAS.

SO LET'S NOT TRY TO EVADE AND PLAY GAMES WITH THE WORDS.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND.

AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, BECAUSE I KNOW THE RESOLUTION SPOKE IN TERMS OF SOUTHERN AND NOT SOUTH.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.

SO, MAYOR, IF I'M GONE TOO FAR, I JUST DON'T WANT US TO SIT HERE AND PARTICIPATE IN A CONVERSATION THAT IS DECEPTIVE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE WORK WAS AND WHAT WE VOTED ON.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, MISS BLACKMON, FOR MAKING YOUR DECISION TO USE YOUR MONEY.

BUT I HAVE TO SPEAK, MAYOR, BECAUSE SYSTEMICALLY WE DO WE HAVE DONE WHAT YOU SEE US DOING TODAY, TRYING TO SUGARCOAT SOMETHING.

[01:25:05]

I'M DONE. OKAY.

YOU ARE A HOPE ON THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.

NOW, IF IT'S RELEVANT TO ANOTHER ONE, I'M FINE WITH IT.

BUT I GOT TO TRY TO ENFORCE THE RULES HERE ON GERMANENESS.

CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WE'RE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE ITEM.

BUT I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS BECAUSE I DO THINK WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN THIS SCENARIO IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER IT COMES TO AQUATICS, RECREATION CENTERS OR LIBRARIES. SO, MADAM CITY MANAGER AND DIRECTOR, JOE, WHAT DO WE LOOK AT WHEN WE'RE EVALUATING AND USING METRICS TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL CLOSURE OF A FACILITY? WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT.

SO WE DID LOOK AT THE GEOGRAPHY.

WE LOOKED FIRST AT THE EQUITY INDICATORS FOR THE THE WHOLE CITY.

AND WE TARGETED IN THE ON THE INDICATOR ONES, WHICH ARE LOWER POVERTY AREAS.

THEN WE EXPANDED THE SEARCH OUT TO LOOK AT PROXIMITY, WHICH WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LOT.

AND THEN FROM THERE WE REALLY WE LOOKED AT HOW THE BUILDING WAS USED AND ANY OTHER FACTORS THAT WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

THAT'S BASICALLY WHERE WE MADE OUR DECISION.

OKAY. MADAM CITY MANAGER.

AGAIN, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THIS SITUATION DOWN THE ROAD.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE ON DETERMINING HOW SOMETHING IS GOING TO WHY SOMETHING WOULD BE CLOSED AND THEN AND THEN FROM BUILDING SERVICES, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SECURE THAT BUILDING AND HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO BE LEFT POTENTIALLY VACANT? IN ORDER TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SECURE AND ARE THERE GOING TO BE ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS COST ASSOCIATED WITH SECURITY, FENCING, ETC.

TO KEEP THAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOMETHING PUT IN PLACE SO THAT THERE IS A SEAMLESS TRANSACTION.

YES, SIR. WE'RE DEFINITELY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO, AS WE WORK THROUGH NOT ONLY THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE, BUT MANY OTHER CITY FACILITIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS PART OF THE MODERNIZATION OF ASSETS LIST.

WE WILL BE WORKING THROUGH THAT WITH THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

I THINK WE'VE HEARD WE'VE HEARD VERY LOUD AND CLEAR ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE AND HOW WE THEN DETERMINE HOW DO WE LOOK AT MAINTAINING THOSE, THOSE STRUCTURES OR ASSETS UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY SOLD.

SO WE DEFINITELY WILL BE WORKING THROUGH THAT AND BRINGING THAT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU.

THE SOURCE AGAIN, JUST PIGGYBACK OFF COUNCILMEMBER WILLIS.

THE INCIDENTS THAT WE'VE HAD DOWNTOWN.

IN REGARDS TO MENTAL HEALTH HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING.

I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY AS WELL TO OFFSET SOME COST.

IF THE, IF THE SKILLMAN LIBRARY STARTS PRODUCING AND MEETING THOSE METRICS.

AND WE'RE SPENDING UP TO HALF $1 MILLION ON SECURITY AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND DOLLARS ON POWER WASHING ON BROKEN WINDOWS.

AND SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I BELIEVE WE CAN TIGHTEN UP AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY AND ADDRESSING SOME OF THE SITUATIONS GOING ON RIGHT IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY POINT OF ORDER, MAYOR.

STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER. CAN WE PLEASE STAY GERMANE TO THE TOPIC? SO I'M DOING AROUND MENTAL HEALTH IS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY AND THAT THAT I BELIEVE THAT'S PART OF THE. BUT THE FUNDS ARE DENIED DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.

AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IS.

I THINK WE SAID WE HAVE BUS LINES THAT GO THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY AND PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS DISTRICTS.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU GUYS TO WORK WITH ME ON THIS, BECAUSE I'M REALLY TRYING NOT TO BE TOO HARSH ON BUDGET DAY ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING THEIR POINTS OUT THERE, BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO AROUND HERE.

BUT REALLY, THE AGENDA ITEM I'M THE AMENDMENT IS PRETTY SPECIFIC.

I MEAN, IT REALLY, IT'S PRETTY NARROWLY TAILORED, NOT ASKED YOU TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO WHAT'S IN THE AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE LINE ITEMS. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT.

CHAIRMAN ARNOLD IS ABSENT.

ABSENT WHEN? VOTE TAKEN.

ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? MR. MAYOR, WHO IS THAT? CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ, I SEE YOU THERE.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND I MIGHT BE BELABORING THIS POINT, BUT THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE.

[01:30:05]

I KNOW IT WAS WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID.

IT WAS A LITTLE. IT WAS.

THAT WAS THE HARD PART. LAST TIME WE LOOKED AT THIS, I DID SUPPORT THE LIBRARY.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON, FOR LOOKING AT DISTRICT SPECIFIC SOURCE FUNDS.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE SOME ON THIS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE GOTTEN CONFUSED AND LOST IS THAT THESE ARE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.

DISTRICT NINE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.

AND YOU DON'T JUST GET TO GO IN AND TELL DISTRICT NINE AND THEIR RESIDENTS THAT HAVE COME TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAVE CHANGED WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THE DISCRETIONARY DOLLARS FOR THEIR DISTRICT THAT NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH YOUR DOLLARS.

AND SO I'M GOING TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT NINE WHO WENT TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER AND SAID, LET'S USE THESE DISCRETIONARY DOLLARS INSTEAD.

WE KNOW IT BUYS US A YEAR, BUT WE WANT TO DO THIS.

WE WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE OUR LIBRARY AND TO FIGURE IT OUT AND SEE IF WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT WITH YOU OVER THIS NEXT YEAR.

SO I APPLAUD THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT NINE FOR COMING UP WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SOLUTION AND FOR PUTTING BACK THE MONEY AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO TOUCH MONEY THAT COULD TOUCH ANOTHER PART OF THE CITY.

WE WANT TO DO IT OURSELVES.

AND SO THANK YOU, DISTRICT NINE RESIDENTS, FOR STEPPING UP, SPEAKING OUT, SHOWING UP.

AND THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON FOR LISTENING TO HIM AND DOING WHAT ALL OF US WOULD HAVE DONE IF IT WAS IN OUR AREA.

OTHER THAN THAT, MAYOR, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANYONE ELSE REMOTE BEFORE I GO BACK TO CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD? CHAIRMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RIGHT ON TIME.

YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE.

THANK YOU. I'M ALWAYS ON TIME.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I HAVE TO BE ON TIME WITH THE MATTER.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND ONCE AGAIN, TO THE PUBLIC, YOU'RE SEEING HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE.

I AM VERY, VERY SENSITIVE TO INFORMATION, SO THAT IS COMING PUBLIC.

ALL OF US HAVE TO BE ADVOCATES.

I'M SEEKING MAYOR.

THE CONVERSATION THAT WE STARTED ON ABOUT EQUITY IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR AND TARGETS.

BUT I'M GOING TO USE THAT AT A CERTAIN TIME.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO SAY FROM A DISCRETIONARY STANDPOINT, THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING HER, BECAUSE IT IS HER DISCRETIONARY MONEY.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE, MAYOR, AS WE TALK AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, WE ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO OUR TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. BUT I'M GOING TO ALWAYS SPEAK ON DATA AS IT RELATES TO TARGETS AND BUDGETS.

AND SO HER DISCRETIONARY MONEY IS HER DISCRETIONARY MONEY, AND MY MONEY IS MY MONEY AND NOT MY MONEY.

IT'S THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

BUT I HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.

SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TELLING THE TRUTH TODAY ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, MA'AM.

THANK YOU. AND THAT IS YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE BEFORE YOU SHOW YOUR PLACARDS, IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR.

OKAY. NO ONE ELSE.

SO WITH THAT, MADAM SECRETARY, ARE YOU READY TO COUNT PLACARDS? PLEASE SHOW YOUR PLACARD IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE.

THANK YOU CARDS OR HANDS RAISED IN FAVOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART ARNOLD RIDLEY, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BAZALDUA.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS COUNCIL MEMBERS WEST BLACKMON SCHULTZ.

GRACIE SEE MORENO.

RESENDEZ AND NARVAEZ.

THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. WONDERFUL.

ANY MORE AMENDMENTS WHILE WE'RE IN THIS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

YES, MA'AM. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU HAVE A MOTION.

AM I ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE I MAKE A MOTION? NO. I MEAN, YOU CAN ASK A POINT OF INFORMATION OR A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY AT ANY TIME.

BUT THOSE ARE ALL GOVERNANCE RELATED, NOT SUBJECT RELATED, PROCESS RELATED QUESTIONS NOT RELATED TO THE SUBSTANCE OF ANY MOTION.

THERE ISN'T ONE ON THE FLOOR YET.

OKAY. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW? I WOULD. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT.

I MOVE.

OH, I MOVE TO.

ARE WE ON THE ENTIRE BUDGET? WELL, WE'RE STILL IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANYBODY WHO ANYBODY HAS THE RIGHT AT THIS POINT TO PUT FORWARD AN AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET THAT WOULD THEN BE BAKED INTO THE BUDGET ORDINANCE THAT WE'D BE VOTING ON, ON ITEM FOUR.

[01:35:01]

THAT ITEM IS SECTION 18, DASH 9.1.

THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP FEE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN ON YOUR AMENDMENT? YES. DOES IT HAVE A NUMBER? IS IT IN THE PACKET ANYWHERE? NO. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT THEN.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN POINT OF INFORMATION.

SO BY THE EFFECT OF STRIKING IT WOULD JUST MEAN THE THE BUDGETED BUDGETED AMOUNT WOULD GO BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS.

THAT'S A SUBSTANTIVE SUBSTANTIVE.

I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE AMENDMENT STILL.

BUT YEAH. NO, I THINK WE'RE ABOUT TO GET SOME EXPLANATION OF IT DURING HER FIVE MINUTES.

AND THEN YOU HAVE AS MANY ROUNDS OF FIVE, THREE, ONE TO GET THE CLARIFICATION YOU NEED FROM STAFF.

POINT OF INFORMATION. STATE.

STATE YOUR POINT OF INFORMATION.

AMENDMENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETE WITH A SOURCE OF FUNDS AND A USE OF FUNDS.

SO COULD WE SEE WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS ACTUALLY MEANT TO DO THAN JUST STRIKE LANGUAGE? WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CLARIFY THAT? THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

YES, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHERE WE ARE IN THIS, THE PROCEDURE.

WE'RE STILL JUST IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

AND ANYTHING THAT GETS PROPOSED NOW IS, IS A STRAW VOTE TO GET BAKED INTO THE FINAL AMENDMENT, INTO THE FINAL ORDINANCE.

SO IF YOU CAN PUT IT IN A FORM THAT WE CAN SEE WHERE THE SOURCES AND USES ARE, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

BUT YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO EXPLAIN IT.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE SOURCE OF FUNDS IS JUST ACTUALLY THE ORDINANCE.

I'M SORRY, STATE YOUR POINT. ONE SECOND, STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER OR A POINT OF INFORMATION, WHICHEVER INFORMATION POINT OF INFORMATION THE THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS WAS GIVEN DIDN'T DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN THERE.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT WOULD REALLY BE NECESSARY IN THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT'S BEING DONE BY VOICE AND NOT BY TURNING IT INTO THE STATED RULES FOR US TO USE.

BUT WE ANYBODY CAN PUT PUT A FLOOR AMENDMENT.

THAT'S FINE. BUT I THINK IN THE VOICE AMENDMENT YOU SHOULD HAVE TO SAY THE, THE USE OF FUNDS, NOT JUST STRIKE.

I THINK THAT'S TECHNICALLY RIGHT.

AND, AND I THINK THAT IF WE'LL IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE BODY, WE'LL ALLOW HER TO WITHDRAW HER ORIGINAL MOTION AND MAKE IT AGAIN WITH A SOURCE.

AND YOU STATED FROM THE OUTSET, AS OPPOSED TO JUST EXPLAINING IT DURING THE DISCUSSION.

SO IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO WITHDRAWING THE MOTION AND RESTATING IT WITH THE USE INCLUDED, WITH THE SOURCE INCLUDED? I DON'T HEAR ANY OBJECTION.

SO IT'S SO ORDERED. SO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR TO MAKE A MOTION MOVE TO AMEND THE BUDGET ORDINANCE TO STRIKE SECTION 18 DASH 9.1, WHICH IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP FEE.

THE SOURCE OF FUNDS IS A NEW FEE, AND BY STRIKING THIS, THAT GOES AWAY.

THE USE OF FUNDS WAS PROPOSED FOR A VARIETY OF ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED IN THAT SECTION, AND THOSE ITEMS WOULD THEN BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE EXISTING BUDGET OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? POINT OF INFORMATION.

OH. IT'S BEEN SECONDED.

SO NOW I'LL RECOGNIZE YOUR POINT OF INFORMATION.

SO IF WE DO A CASCADE LIKE THAT OF IMPACT WITHOUT ANYTHING IN FRONT OF US, DO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEN IF ALL THOSE SOURCES OF FUNDS THEN GO BECAUSE THAT SOURCE OF FUNDS GOES AWAY, THEN THE IMPACT ON ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOW IN THE BUDGET THAT ARE RELIANT ON THAT SOURCE, THEN WE HAVE A CASCADE OF IMPACT THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN, STUDIED, UNDERSTOOD, NOR HAS STAFF.

SO HOW DOES THAT WORK? FIRST, WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, RIGHT? FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON THE USE OF THE WORD CASCADE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL WORD, AND IT HASN'T BEEN USED IN MY RECOLLECTION IN THE PAST SIX YEARS AROUND HERE.

SO KUDOS FOR THAT. THAT'S GREAT.

I'LL LET I'LL LET THE CITY MANAGER ADDRESS THE THE IMPACT OF THE AMENDMENT AS IT'S BEEN PUT FORWARD ON ON THE ON THE BUDGET.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

AND SO LET ME START BY SAYING IS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE AMENDMENT BEFORE.

IT WAS JUST INTRODUCED.

THAT ENVIRONMENTAL FEE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET.

I THINK IT'S ROUGHLY $10 MILLION.

I'LL HAVE STAFF TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

SO WE DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT HOW THAT WOULD BE ABSORBED IN.

AND I THINK THE MENTION OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THIS WAS A FEE THAT WE WERE RECOMMENDING THAT HAS BEEN UTILIZED BY OTHER CITIES, NOT ONLY WITHIN OUR AREA, BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY, TO HELP DEAL WITH OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP.

WE LOOKED AT THIS.

WE SPENT THE TIME.

IT'S A REALLY COST RECOVERY AND GIVES US ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT OVERALL CLEANUP OF THE CITY.

WE TALKED ABOUT DEAD ANIMAL REMOVAL, HOMELESS ISSUES.

WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL CLEANUP THAT'S NEEDED ON OUR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, AND THIS WOULD GIVE US THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE TASKS.

[01:40:07]

THANK YOU. YES, MR. TOLBERT, I'LL ADD TO THAT, IF I MAY.

IT'S A TOTAL OF $10.5 MILLION THAT WE ANTICIPATED TO BE GENERATED FROM THAT $3 PER MONTH FEE TO BE ALLOCATED $3.5 MILLION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION, $1 MILLION TO THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, $6 MILLION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.

SO ELIMINATING THE FEE AND THE REVENUE.

MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO ELIMINATE THE SERVICES WHICH THE FEE WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED, AND SO THE SOURCE OF FUNDS WOULD BE ELIMINATING.

$10.5 MILLION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN UP TYPES OF ACTIVITY LIKE ILLEGAL DUMPING, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP.

DEAD ANIMAL PICKUP.

STORM. SEVERE STORM RESERVE.

ELIMINATE THOSE ACTIVITIES FROM THE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT I MENTIONED.

THEREFORE, YOU COULD USE THE FUNDS TO ELIMINATE THE FEE.

OKAY, SO I NEED TO JUMP IN HERE.

AT THIS POINT, I THINK AND SAY BECAUSE WE HAD AN AMENDMENT BY MISS MENDELSOHN AND IT WAS SECONDED BY CHAIRMAN MORENO.

I THINK I'LL ACCEPT THAT QUESTION AS A POINT OF INFORMATION.

AND THAT WAS CLARIFYING AT THIS POINT.

CAN WE GET THIS? WHAT JACK JUST SAID? MR. IRELAND JUST SAID INTO A FORM THAT MEMBERS CAN SEE OF SOURCES AND USES SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE, THE, THE, THE APPROPRIATE DISCUSSION ON YOUR AMENDMENT.

BECAUSE I DO THINK YOUR AMENDMENT IS IN ORDER.

IT JUST NEEDS TO BE PUT IN THE FORM THAT PEOPLE CAN CAN SEE.

I THINK WE ALMOST HAVE IT RIGHT.

YOU ALMOST GOT IT READY, ALMOST READY TO PULL UP.

I'M SORRY. WE'RE A LITTLE SLOW. OKAY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SORT OF START THE DISCUSSION ON IT WHILE IT'S BEING GENERATED INTO THIS FORMAT? YES. I BELIEVE ACTUALLY, IF THAT SECTION WAS JUST PASSED OUT, IT WOULD BE EVIDENT, BUT OKAY, SO YOU WERE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. SO BEFORE EVERYONE AT CITY HALL TAKES A BOW ON THE BUDGET, LET'S JUST REVIEW THE FACTS.

THE BUDGET INCLUDES AN INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET OF 15.8 MILLION FROM EXISTING PROPERTY OWNERS, AND 35.6 MILLION FROM NEW PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT.

THE CITY IS INCREASING FEES BY $57.6 MILLION.

THE BUDGET WILL APPROVE INCREASES IN FEES TO RESIDENTS FOR SANITARY SERVICES, FOR SANITATION SERVICES, DRINKING WATER, STORMWATER AND SANITARY SEWER. THE REDUCTION IN THE PROPERTY TAX RATE DOESN'T DO ENOUGH TO COUNTERACT THE 8.5% INCREASE IN APPRAISALS, MEANING WE CAN TALK ALL DAY ABOUT A HISTORIC TAX DECREASE.

BUT NEARLY EVERY HOMEOWNER IN THIS CITY WILL BE WRITING A BIGGER CHECK THAN LAST YEAR, AND EVERY RENTER WILL FEEL THE IMPACT OF ANOTHER RENT INCREASE AS THEIR PROPERTY OWNER PAYS MORE IN TAXES, AND THE BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO PAY MORE IN DALLAS THAN IN ANY OF OUR NEARBY COMPETING CITIES.

ONE ACKNOWLEDGED STAFF FOR THE EFFORT THEY PUT INTO FINDING EFFICIENCIES THIS YEAR.

I CAN SEE YOU MADE THAT EFFORT AND I COMMEND THAT, BUT IT JUST DIDN'T GO QUITE FAR ENOUGH.

THERE MUST BE CONTINUED ACTION TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, ELIMINATE DUPLICATION AND MODERNIZE PROCESSES IN EVERY DEPARTMENT AS THEY WILL NOT JUST PROVIDE A TAX SAVINGS, IT COULD GREATLY IMPROVE THE SATISFACTION OF OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND EVEN THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE SAME OLD WAYS.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE AT CITY HALL.

THE FACT IS, ANY CONGRATULATIONS ABOUT OUR LOWER TAX RATE IN DALLAS IS FAKE, AS THE CITY HAS GONE TO THE MAXIMUM LEGALLY ALLOWED RATE WITHOUT GOING TO THE VOTERS TO ASK FOR AN EVEN GREATER TAX INCREASE.

THE BUDGET IS LIMITED ONLY BECAUSE THE STATE OF TEXAS SENATE BILL TWO LIMITED US ON PROPERTY TAX REVENUE GROWTH IN THIS BUDGET.

WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 250 POLICE OFFICERS TO BE OFFICERS TO BE HIRED.

BUT THE REALITY IS, WE'VE LEARNED ONLY 60% OF THOSE WILL EVER COMPLETE TO THE POINT THAT THEY CAN OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE'LL HAVE APPROXIMATELY 150 NEW OFFICERS, BUT WE WILL LOSE APPROXIMATELY 190.

SO WHILE WE ARE INVESTING MORE IN PUBLIC SAFETY, WE WILL BE LOSING POLICE OFFICERS.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET NOT ONLY GOES TO THE MAXIMUM FOR PROPERTY REAPPRAISAL, REVENUE INCREASES.

IT THEN DOES SOMETHING NEW.

IT SHIFTS SERVICES PREVIOUSLY FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND INTO A BRAND NEW TAX DISGUISED AS A NEW FEE CALLED THE ENVIRONMENTAL

[01:45:07]

HOMEOWNERS AND ANYBODY WITH A WATER METER WILL PAY AN ADDITIONAL $3 A MONTH FOR SERVICES IN TOTAL, THIS NEW FEE WILL RAISE $10.5 MILLION IN REVENUE FOR SERVICES AGAIN.

PREVIOUSLY PART OF THE GENERAL FUND PAID FOR THROUGH MOST RESIDENTS SALES AND PROPERTY TAX.

THIS FEELS LIKE AN END RUN AROUND THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT TO KEEP TAX BILLS PREDICTABLE AND REASONABLE FOR TAXPAYERS.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE SERVICES WERE NOT FUNDED IN THE OTHER PARTS OF THE BUDGET, MEANING LITTER PICKUP WASN'T INCLUDED.

HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.

THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED.

DEAD ANIMAL REMOVAL NOT INCLUDED.

AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT IT WOULD BE EXPECTED THAT THE CITY STAFF WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THOSE BUDGETS TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR ALL OF THOSE ITEMS. THAT'S AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT THE BUDGET AMENDMENT IS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY PEOPLE SPEAKING ON IT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE MENDELSOHN AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

CITY. MADAM CITY MANAGER, ISN'T IT CORRECT THAT DURING THE LAST YEAR'S CITY BUDGET.

THIS COUNCIL ASKED YOU OR ASKED THE LAST CITY MANAGER TO BRIEF ALL THE COMMITTEES ABOUT THE BUDGET SO THAT QUESTIONS LIKE THIS COULD BE VETTED OUT DURING THE COMMITTEE PROCESS.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION, CHAIRMAN WEST.

WE DEFINITELY WORKED WITH EVERY SINGLE COMMITTEE CHAIR BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND MAY TO COME AND TALK ABOUT EXISTING BUDGETS, GET INPUT ON EXISTING SERVICES AND HOW WE WERE ALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS, AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING GOING INTO THIS NEW BUDGET YEAR.

SO THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS YES.

AND THIS THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD BE SUBSUMED WITHIN THIS AMENDMENT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS DURING THAT PROCESS. CORRECT.

THROUGHOUT BOTH THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND MAY.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

AND COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD ALSO ASK THESE BUDGET QUESTIONS DURING AND MAKE THESE BUDGET COMMENTS DURING ANY OF THE PREVIOUS BRIEFINGS WE'VE HAD ON THE BUDGET.

CORRECT? YES, SIR.

THAT IS CORRECT. AND OF COURSE THEY CAN ALSO WAIT UNTIL TODAY TO DO IT.

THAT'S THEIR RIGHT. BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE RESPECTFUL TO THE BODY, IT HELPS TO BRING IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILE AMENDMENTS BEFORE TODAY.

ISN'T THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. THAT IS CORRECT.

AND WE DEFINITELY FOLLOWED UP WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ENSURE THAT WE WOULD BE PREPARED ABOUT ANY POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD EVEN BE PUT ON THE FLOOR TODAY.

SO. YES, SIR. AND IS THERE AN AMENDMENT IN FRONT OF YOU YET? HAVE YOU SEEN THE AMENDMENT? I THINK WHAT I SEE NOW IS WHAT JUST POPPED UP ON THE SCREEN.

OKAY. WE HAVE THE AMENDMENT NOW.

GREAT. I MEAN, THIS IS THIS IS LAST MINUTE.

I SEE THIS AS GRANDSTANDING AT THIS POINT.

WE HAVE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO, TO DO THIS.

I THINK THAT THERE THE THE GUYS IN THE THE INTEREST OF BEING FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IS I SUPPORT BEING RESPONSIBLE CERTAINLY, BUT DOING IT IN THIS MANNER, I THINK, IS DISRESPECTFUL TO THE CITY MANAGER, TO THE WHOLE STAFF, TO THE TO OUR COLLEAGUES AND TO EVERYBODY WHO'S WATCHING AND IN THE HORSESHOE. AND I JUST THINK WE'VE WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THIS BUDGET IS THE MOST RESPONSIVE THAT I'VE SEEN IN MY FIVE YEARS OF BEING HERE.

FROM THE CITY MANAGER.

AND, AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE SEEN, AT LEAST UNTIL TODAY, ALMOST NO AMENDMENTS, VERY FEW AMENDMENTS.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE HERE UNTIL ONE, TWO IN THE MORNING DURING COVID, BECAUSE THERE WERE 80 AMENDMENTS FILED.

WE HAVE WE'VE HAD LESS THAN A DOZEN AMENDMENTS UNTIL NOW, AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S ABOUT TO HIT BECAUSE NO ONE HAS PROVIDED US WITH ANY PRELIMINARY COPIES.

SO IT IS A HUGE WASTE OF TIME.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED IN A MORE PROFESSIONAL MANNER EARLIER THAN TODAY.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, IF I MAY CLARIFY WHAT'S ON THE SCREEN NOW, PLEASE DO SO.

WHAT'S ON YOUR SCREEN IS AMENDMENT NUMBER EIGHT AND THE SOURCE OF FUNDS IDENTIFIED $10,490,000.

IT'S COMING FROM THREE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER.

WE INDICATED REDUCED FUNDING, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THAT MEANS REDUCE THE FUNDING THAT WAS GOING TO BE PROVIDED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE.

SO THE SERVICE IS WHAT'S GOING AWAY.

THE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS IS THE SERVICE WILL NOT HAPPEN, SO THAT THE USE OF FUNDS CAN BE TO NOT CHARGE THE FEE.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT IT'S NOT JUST REDUCING THE FUNDING, BUT IT'S REDUCING THE SERVICES THAT THE FUNDING WOULD HAVE PAID FOR.

[01:50:02]

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT WHAT IS NOW FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND MY COLLEAGUES.

AMENDMENT NUMBER EIGHT IS THE NUMBER WE'RE GIVING IT.

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY.

STATE YOUR INQUIRY.

THIS ACTUALLY DOESN'T REFLECT MY MOTION BECAUSE I'M STILL INTENDING FOR THOSE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED.

IT'S JUST THAT I'M INTENDING FOR THE STAFF TO GO BACK AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT WITH THE DOLLARS THEY ALREADY HAVE WITHOUT THIS FEE.

OKAY, LET'S TAKE A LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS TO GET SOME CLARITY ON ON THIS AND TO WORK OUT SOME SCHEDULING ISSUES WITH REGARD TO SOME SPEAKERS WE HAVE ON AGENDA ITEMS WHO HAVE WORK TO DO.

THAT'S IMPORTANT IN THE CITY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GET BACK TO DO IT.

SO I WANT TO FIGURE OUT SCHEDULING ON THAT TOO.

SO LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS TO 1105.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE BACK ON THE RECORD, EVERYONE.

AND I JUST WANT TO HELP US GET ORGANIZED HERE.

JUST A JUST A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE WE ARE GOING I'M GOING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION AFTER WE DEAL WITH THE THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR TO SUSPEND THE RULES SO WE CAN TAKE UP OUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE, SO WE CAN GET THOSE FOLKS BACK TO WORK.

SO THAT'S COMING, BUT WE ARE STILL ON THE AMENDMENT BY MISS MENDELSOHN AMENDMENT NUMBER EIGHT.

SO WE'LL NEED TO DISPOSE OF THAT FIRST AND HAVE THE DISCUSSION ON THAT.

BUT BEFORE WE DO, I DO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE OF THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, CHAD WEST, AND THE AND THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT ONE WHO PROVIDED ME WITH THIS WONDERFUL SHIRT THAT MAKES CLEAR OUR POSITION ON THE IRON SKILLET.

IT WAS DESIGNED BY A GENTLEMAN NAMED MICHAEL CHIPPER HAYNES, WHO'S A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT, AND HE MAKES THESE, ALONG WITH A DALLAS BASED SMALL BUSINESS KNOWN AS TEJAS DESIGNS.

SO THANK YOU, TEJAS DESIGNS AND CHIPPER HAYNES FOR OUTFITTING THE MAYOR WITH THIS AWESOME SHIRT.

AND I HOPE MAYOR PARKER OVER IN FORT WORTH SEES THIS AND AND Y'ALL CAN STOP BEING SO CHICKEN AND AND PLAY THE GAME AFTER THE NEXT YEAR.

SO WITH THAT, WE ARE BACK ON AMENDMENT NUMBER EIGHT.

AND WE WERE I THINK TO THE WHO ARE WE ON? SO I HAD MADE A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY ABOUT THE WAY THIS ABOUT WRITTEN.

DID WE GET THAT WORKED OUT AS DOES THE AMENDMENT NOW REFLECT YOUR INTENTION? THE CLARIFICATION I GOT WAS ACTUALLY THAT ALL OF THOSE SERVICES ARE IN ADDITION TO WHAT HAD BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY, IS THE WAY INTERIM CITY MANAGER IS EXPLAINING IT.

AND SO THEN IT'S ACCURATE THE WAY JACK DESCRIBED IT, TO SAY THAT THOSE WOULD BE ELIMINATED.

THANK YOU. SO YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT HOW IT'S REFLECTED NOW ON THIS.

THAT'S AN ACCURATE REFLECTION BASED ON WHAT HE TOLD YOU.

SO WE CAN HAVE THE PARLIAMENTARY I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT BECAUSE I ACTUALLY AM JUST STRIKING A SECTION OF AN ORDINANCE, BUT IF PEOPLE NEED TO SEE IT IN THIS FORMAT, THAT'S FINE.

BUT THAT'S REALLY ALL THE MOTIONS IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY JUST STRIKE THAT ITEM.

AND THAT WAS MY INTENT.

THANK YOU. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS EXACTLY, BUT OKAY.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT NUMBER EIGHT.

AND I HOPE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE DOING OR NOT DOING.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE QUESTION.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR? ACTUALLY, THERE'S NO THERE'S NO DEBATE ON THE MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION.

SO ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.

AND SO THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE NOW PUT TO WE'RE NOT REMEMBER WE'RE STILL IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

SO TECHNICALLY YOU'RE NOT VOTING.

YOU'RE DOING THIS.

SO, MADAM SECRETARY, ARE YOU READY TO COUNT PLACARDS? YES. PLEASE RAISE YOUR CARDS OR HANDS RAISED IN FAVOR.

YEAH. IF YOU IF YOU IF YOU SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, YOU NEED TO SHOW YOUR PLACARD CARDS RAISED IN FAVOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN AND COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO.

THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MISTER MAYOR.

OKAY, SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES.

[Open Microphone Speakers (Part 3 of 3)]

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT? SO THAT. ANY OBJECTION? IT'S SO ORDERED. WHICH MEANS WE ARE NOW BACK ON THE OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKER PORTION OF THE AGENDA TO TAKE UP THE REMAINING OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS WHO ARE PRESENT.

[01:55:02]

MADAM SECRETARY, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

YOUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE JOHN CREUZOT.

JOHN CREUZOT.

COME ON DOWN.

I'LL STAND HERE ANYWHERE YOU'D LIKE.

REALLY? ANY OF THESE MICROPHONES WORK? WHICHEVER ONE YOU'RE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH.

AND TECHNICALLY, YOUR COMMENTS ARE ADDRESSED TO ME BECAUSE YOU'RE UNDER THE OPEN MICROPHONE PORTION OF OUR MEETING.

SO YOU ARE TECHNICALLY JUST TALKING TO ME FOR THREE MINUTES.

OKAY. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR HAVING US. I'M JOHN CREUZOT, DALLAS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

CAN I GET THIS TO SOMEBODY TO PASS OUT? ABSOLUTELY. WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE COME GET THAT FROM YOU RIGHT AWAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND ALLOWING ME THREE MINUTES TO TALK.

AND I WILL NOT ABUSE THAT.

SO THE REASON I'M HERE IS THERE IS AN ISSUE BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AMONGST OUR POLICE CHIEFS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND THAT IS AND I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HAS TAKEN THIS UP ON AXON AND TASER.

AND YOUR POLICE CHIEF, CHIEF EDDIE GARCIA AND I ARE IN PERFECT AGREEMENT THAT TASERS SHOULD NOT BE DESIGNATED UNDER LAW AS A FIREARM AND THEREFORE A DEADLY WEAPON.

WHEN THE STATE OF TEXAS DEFINED FIREARMS AND DEADLY WEAPONS AND THEY HAD FIREARMS AND MINE, IT WAS ABOUT PISTOLS, SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES.

THIS IS A DEVICE THAT, THOUGH THE WAY IT PROPELS THE BARB OUT, IS TECHNICALLY MAKING IT A FIREARM, BUT ITS PURPOSE IS TO DISABLE AN INDIVIDUAL, NOT TO SHOOT, INJURE, KILL.

AND AS SUCH, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AND I THINK THE POLICE CHIEF AGREES WITH ME.

IN FACT, I'M PRETTY CERTAIN HE DOES IS THAT THIS DEVICE WILL ALLOW US TO SAVE LIVES.

IT IS A DEVICE THAT HAS TEN DIFFERENT BARBS IN IT, AS OPPOSED TO THE CURRENT DEVICE THAT HAS TWO.

SO IF YOU PULL THE TRIGGER ONCE ON THE CURRENT DEVICE, IF BOTH BARBS DON'T HIT, YOU ARE INEFFECTIVE.

ON THE TASER TEN YOU HAVE TEN.

AND SO YOU HAVE TEN OPPORTUNITIES TO PULL THE TRIGGER TO GET TWO TO CONNECT.

AND THAT IN MY MIND, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH THE MENTALLY ILL AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT FOLLOWING COMMANDS OF OF LEGITIMATE COMMANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS.

I THINK THAT THIS WILL SAVE LIVES.

I THINK THAT ALL OF THE POLICE CHIEFS, IN ADDITION TO YOUR POLICE CHIEF AND I AGREE ON THIS, BUT SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

BUT I'VE GIVEN YOU A HANDOUT.

AND THE REASON I'VE GIVEN YOU THIS HANDOUT IS BECAUSE LESS LETHAL THE WEAPONS ARE IN THE HANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS LEGITIMATELY.

I THINK THAT THE ENTITIES THAT MAKE THESE DEVICES DETERMINE TO CALL THEM LESS LETHAL, TO MAKE THEM PERHAPS MORE MARKETABLE.

THAT'S A GUESS OF MINE.

HOWEVER, THEY CAN BE LETHAL.

AND WHAT I'VE GIVEN YOU IS A HANDOUT CREATED BY MY OFFICE, BY US LOOKING AT NOT ONLY CASES HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE CITY OF DALLAS FROM 2020, BUT ALSO FROM AROUND THE UNITED STATES IN 2020, AND THE TYPE OF INJURIES AND DAMAGES THESE CAN CAUSE.

AND THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION IS BECAUSE I THINK THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS MADE IN THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO DELETE THESE ITEMS FROM BEING A FIREARM OR DEADLY WEAPON, AND MAYBE EVEN TO GO RETROACTIVE TO TRY TO UNDO, PERHAPS CONVICTIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU IF THAT COMES UP.

IT CAME UP IN A RECENT LEGISLATIVE HEARING AND TALKING TO ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THIS AREA.

SHE REALLY DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS BEING SAID BECAUSE NOBODY REALLY EXPLAINED IT, ESPECIALLY IN PICTURES AND WHAT THE STATUTE IS, ETC.

SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION, TO PUT IT IN FRONT OF YOU.

NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON IT, BUT THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF IT.

THANK YOU.

DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER IS NOT PRESENT.

YOUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAIME CASTRO.

YES, YES. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS JAIME CASTRO, PRESIDENT OF THE DALLAS POLICE ASSOCIATION.

THE CITY OF DALLAS PROVIDES DART WITH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SALES TAX REVENUE EACH YEAR.

[02:00:02]

IN FACT, IT'S GONE DOWN.

WE MUST QUESTION DART'S ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFICIENCY.

IS THIS TRULY THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE FOR THESE TAXPAYER FUNDS? WE KNOW DART SERVICES ARE NECESSARY, BUT IS THE CURRENT FUNDING MODEL THE RIGHT ONE? ON BEHALF OF THE ON BEHALF OF THOUSANDS OF CURRENT AND RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST A PORTION OF THOSE FUNDS BE PUT TO BETTER USE WITH THE REALLOCATION OF A QUARTER PENNY FROM DART SALES TAX CONTRIBUTION.

THE CITY OF DALLAS COULD SEE MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN JUST ONE YEAR.

THAT IS MONEY THAT WE COULD USE TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN A STIPEND WITH A PUBLIC SAFETY FUND THAT COULD SET UP OUR CITY WITH FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. A PUBLIC SAFETY FUND WOULD CREATE A LEVEL OF UNPRECEDENTED SECURITY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR RESIDENTS OF DALLAS.

THIS FUND WOULD FORTIFY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR CITY.

IT WILL ONCE AGAIN MAKE DPD THE PLACE TO BE AND WORK THE BEST OF THE BEST.

WE CAN LEARN FROM FORT WORTH OF YEARS AGO ON THE MODEL THAT THEY TOOK ON.

LASTLY, THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS THE MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT THE CITY ON THE DART BOARD.

THAT DART BOARD DECIDES WHERE TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO ALLOW THE BOARD AND OTHERS TO SEND FALSE, DECEPTIVE MESSAGES ABOUT THE SOUTH.

THE HEADLINE IS FLAT OUT WRONG, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S OFFENSIVE.

QUIT LETTING THEM USE THE SOUTHERN SECTOR AS A SHIELD TO SAVE THEIR MILLIONS OF UNCHECKED SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND TAXPAYERS DESERVE THE TRUTH.

AND THE TRUTH IS, IF THE SOUTH IS AFFECTED, IT'S BECAUSE THEY CHOSE IT TO BE AFFECTED.

AGAIN, THEY HAVE FULL CONTROL OF WHERE TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES.

YOU MUST HOLD YOUR APPOINTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DECISIONS.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS, AND ALL I'VE HEARD IS EVERYONE HAVING TO MAKE CUTS EXCEPT FOR THEM.

PLEASE RECONSIDER WHAT WE CAN GAIN BY RESTRUCTURING HOW DART IS FUNDED, AND RECAPTURING A QUARTER PENNY OF OUR CONTRIBUTION TO SAVE YOUR DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THIS CONCLUDES YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING.

ALL RIGHT. DID ANYBODY HAVE.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ANYONE OF THE MICROPHONE SPEAKERS THAT WE JUST SPOKE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, I APPRECIATE IT.

WE'LL NOW GO BACK TO OUR OUR COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WHERE WE WERE TAKING UP ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS FOR

[A. FY 2024-25 Budget Discussion and potential amendments (Part 2 of 2)]

AND WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORWARD REALLY QUICKLY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY MANAGER.

AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX.

SO MOVE. YES.

SO MISS SCHULZ HAS PUT FORWARD AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MISS SCHULZ? NO, I CAN READ IT IF IT'S NEEDED.

OTHERWISE, IT'S ON PAPER IN FRONT OF ALL OF US.

WOULD YOU JUST FOR THE RECORD, SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR WHAT IT IS.

READ IT, READ IT. ABSOLUTELY.

SO I MOVE THAT WE AMEND THE BUDGET USING THE SOURCE OF FUNDS BEING DALLAS COUNTY BY INCREASING FROM DALLAS COUNTY TO THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR THE BRIDGE FROM $1 MILLION TO 1,000,003.

CONTINGENT UPON DALLAS COUNTY APPROVAL ON SEPTEMBER 24, AND THEN THE USE OF FUNDS WOULD BE THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT WITH THE BRIDGE BY $300,000.

SO THAT WAS ALREADY MOVED AND SECONDED.

BUT THANK YOU FOR READING THAT TO THE RECORD.

SO PEOPLE OUT THERE LISTENING AND IN THE AUDIENCE CAN KNOW WHAT IT DOES.

IT SHOULD BE ON YOUR SCREEN AS AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX.

DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE, MISS SCHULTZ? THEN IF YOU'LL TURN OFF YOUR MIC OR MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL GET HER OFF THE QUEUE.

OKAY. IS THIS THE QUEUE NOW FOR THIS ITEM? CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES, OR ARE YOU STILL ON THE QUEUE FROM THE LAST? WELL, I WAS IN THE QUEUE FOR THE LAST, BUT I MIGHT AS WELL USE IT.

RIGHT? YOU CAN.

OKAY, SO YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES, THEN WE'RE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS PREVIOUSLY.

CAN WE CONFIRM THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT VOTED ON THIS YESTERDAY? YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED 1.3 MILLION FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE BRIDGE.

WELL I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THEM FOR RECONSIDERING THIS ITEM FOR THEIR BUDGET, AND I WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONTINUE INCREASING THAT

[02:05:02]

BUT I'M VERY THANKFUL AND I'M GLAD TO SEE IT.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

I KNOW YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR COMMISSIONERS COURT AND FOR FOR REALLY RISING TO THE OCCASION.

I THINK THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED OFTEN WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHAT LANES WE STAY IN.

AND OFTEN TIMES WE GET COMPLACENT IN WORKING IN THE SILOS THAT WE DO.

BUT THERE WAS AN UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY TO INCREASE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THAT DOES MEAN FOR THE FUTURE.

BUT IN THE INTERIM, I KNOW THAT WE, AS A DIRECT PARTNER WITH THE BRIDGE, ARE LOOKING TO CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

I WANT TO THANK THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS AND OUR CITY MANAGER FOR PRIORITIZING OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION.

WE'VE SEEN GREAT SUCCESSES AND OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE, AND ALL PARTNERS INVOLVED HAVE DONE WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ROLES.

I KNOW THAT WE STILL HAVE A NEED.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A NEED.

I WILL SAY THAT IS WHY I PUT MY DISCRETIONARY BOND DOLLARS TOWARDS HOMELESSNESS.

SPECIFICALLY. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE INCREASE IN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE BRIDGE'S OPERATIONS TO ASSIST IN US BEING ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF BEDS AT THE BRIDGE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE SPECIFIC EARMARKS THAT I ASKED FOR WITH MY DISCRETIONARY.

AND I KNOW THAT AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY AND OUR PARTNERS IS GOING TO JUST MAKE THAT MORE FEASIBLE IN THE FUTURE.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO Y'ALL FOR WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.

THANK YOU TO DOCTOR WOODY FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM AT THE BRIDGE AS WELL.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

MISS WILLIS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT SIX.

THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ANSWERING THE CALL ON THIS THAT WE RAISED VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BECAUSE THE STAFF MEAL COST OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS HAVE INCREASED, STAFF COSTS HAVE INCREASED.

AND HONESTLY, IT'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT THE CITY HAS PUT ON THEM BECAUSE WE AS THEIR CONTRACTED PARTNER WITH THE CITY, THEY HAVE TO RISE TO THE HOURLY WAGE THAT WE REQUIRE.

AND SO TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS AND TO HELP FUND THAT, I THINK IS ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNTY HELPING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.

THE REALITY IS THAT THIS NUMBER HAS BEEN HELD FLAT FOR 15 YEARS, AND THE BRIDGE IS DOING GREAT WORK.

AND I TOO APPLAUD DOCTOR WOODY AND HIS AMAZING STAFF.

BUT IF THIS HAD REALLY ANSWERED THE INFLATIONARY CALL OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, IT WOULD BE AT OVER $1.4 MILLION.

SO I WOULD ASK, ASK OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO LOOK AT THIS GOING INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND TO HELP NOT ONLY MEET WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE PRICE INDEX WOULD DICTATE, BUT ALSO ANSWERING THE CALL ON WHAT THIS CITY AND THIS COUNTY NEEDS.

THEY HAVE EIGHT YEARS AGO THEY HAD EIGHT APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

THEY WORKED, THEY WERE WORKING WITH TO HELP HOUSE PEOPLE.

NOW THEY HAVE OVER 50.

IT TAKES PEOPLE TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND TO MAINTAIN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LANDLORDS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HOUSE PEOPLE.

THEY'VE GOT CAREER ASSISTANCE AND ADDICTION RECOVERY DIRECTION.

SO THEY'RE DOING REALLY GREAT WORK.

AND THE MORE THAT WE CAN HELP THEM, THE MORE IT HELPS PEOPLE ON OUR STREETS AND OUR RESIDENTS FEEL SAFER.

AND SO IT'S DEFINITELY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I JUST HOPE THIS IS ONE STEP FOR DALLAS IN 20 2425.

AND THEN WE HAVE A GIANT STEP IN 2526 FROM THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY.

YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT SIX.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER.

WILL THIS INCREASE IN ALLOCATION FROM THE COUNTY DISPLACE A SIMILAR AMOUNT FROM CITY PROVIDED FUNDING, OR WILL THIS ACTUALLY INCREASE THE SERVICES THAT THE BRIDGE CAN OFFER OR INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN SERVE? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER RIDLEY.

AND SO IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ACTUALLY NEEDED THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO TAKE TO TAKE CARE OF JUST THE COST AND PROVIDING EVEN THE EXISTING SERVICES.

SO THIS WOULD REALLY BE PROVIDING THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE BRIDGE.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT OUR PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE PAY TO STAY PROGRAM.

WHEN WE STARTED WORKING WITH THE BRIDGE, THAT PROGRAM WAS ABOUT $12 A NIGHT PER BED.

THAT NUMBER OVER THE YEARS, BECAUSE JUST THE OVERALL COST OF SERVICES HAS GONE TO ABOUT $62, I BELIEVE.

SO IN ADDITION TO THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE BRIDGE WITH THAT SPECIFIC PROGRAM.

SO THIS WILL ALLOW FOR THEM TO CONTINUE SERVICES AND BE ABLE TO ABSORB SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL COSTS OVER THE YEARS THAT THEY'RE HAVING THAT THEY'VE HAD TO CONTINUE TO FIND

[02:10:09]

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT SIX.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD OUR COMMISSIONERS FOR FOR APPROVING THIS, BUT I REALLY WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO OUR CITY MANAGER FOR FOR NOT GIVING UP AND GOING BACK AND FORTH AND NEGOTIATING WITH THEM.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENT WORK.

AND THIS WAS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT YOU, SO THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX? ALL RIGHT, THEN WE NEED TO SEE PLACARDS IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR.

MADAM SECRETARY, ARE YOU READY TO COUNT PLACARDS? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CARDS IN FAVOR? COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART WILLIS MENDELSOHN RIDLEY.

COUNCIL DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BAZALDUA.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.

COUNCIL MEMBERS WEST BLACKMON SCHULTZ, GRACIE, MORENO RESENDEZ AND NARVAEZ.

THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. WONDERFUL.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU HAVE A MOTION.

I DO, I DO. MAYOR.

THANK YOU. THIS IS AMENDMENT SEVEN.

I MOVED TO USE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS.

NON-DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL FUND RESERVE.

REDUCED FUNDING, REVENUE AND EXPENSES SET ASIDE IN GENERAL.

FUND RESERVE FOR BURLINGTON BURLINGTON TRUCK AND PEDESTRIAN TERMINAL BY 191,243.

THE REMAINING REVENUE AND EXPENSES PENDING FURTHER ACTION AT A LATER DATE.

AND MOVE THAT TO USE OF FUNDS, FACILITIES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT.

ADD FUNDING REVENUE EXPENSES SET ASIDE IN GENERAL FUND TO ENSURE OPERATIONS ON OCTOBER 1ST.

SECOND. MOVED TO SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON.

WHAT IS AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN? RIGHT. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

AND THIS IS THE THANKSGIVING SQUARE TUNNELS THAT WE WE LITIGATED PRETTY HEAVILY LAST TIME, ALONG WITH THE BULLINGTON TRUCK TERMINAL, WHICH I STILL HAVE YET TO FIND.

I WENT WENT LOOKING YESTERDAY TO ACTUALLY GO WALK THE TUNNELS AND LOOK FOR THE TERMINAL.

I FOUND THE TUNNELS.

I WALKED THE TUNNELS ALONG WITH MY D ONE STAFF, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE ACTUAL TRUCK TERMINAL.

SO I WOULD LOVE IF MR. GIBSON AND YOUR TEAM MIGHT WANT TO GIVE US A TOUR.

YOU KNOW, ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WANT TO GO DOWN THERE AND SEE WHAT WHAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS? WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES AND JACK CAN TELL YOU THE DRAMATICS OF IF WE STOP FUNDING ON OCTOBER 1ST, I THINK HE SAID THE LIGHTS WILL GO OFF, THE TRASH PICKUP WILL STOP, AND THERE WILL BE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS DOWN THERE, AND IT WILL BE COMING YET ANOTHER BUILDING SITUATION FOR US.

SO THIS PUTS FUNDING BACK IN FOR SIX MONTHS WHILE WE CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS AT GFM ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO BETTER LEVERAGE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE THANKS-GIVING SQUARE FOUNDATION SO THAT WE SEE SOME TAXPAYER BENEFITS BEYOND WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY DOING.

SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, BUT IF THERE THERE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME TO GFM AND JOIN US FOR THESE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN? CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

A QUESTION, IF I MAY, FOR THE MOVEMENT.

IS THIS INTENDED TO REVERSE THE STRAW VOTE THAT WE TOOK LAST TIME ON THIS SAME SUBJECT.

YES, YES AND NO.

IT PUTS HALF OF THE MONEY BACK.

OR WE WANT TO CLARIFY HOW MUCH IT PUTS IN MONEY FOR SIX MONTHS OF OPERATIONS AND THEN HOLDS THE REST IN RESERVES FOR, FOR LATER DISCUSSION. AND JACK CAN ADDRESS THE, THE RAMIFICATIONS IF WE DON'T FUND IT, WHICH IS WHY I WAS CONVINCED TO DO THIS AMENDMENT.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. THIS DOES PARTIALLY REVERSE WHAT WAS A STRAW VOTED BEFORE SO THAT THERE WOULD BE FUNDS TO CONTINUE THE OPERATIONS WHILE THE OTHER ISSUES, SUCH AS THE THANKS-GIVING SQUARE LEASE, ARE DEALT WITH.

WE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE OPERATION TO THOSE BUILDINGS IN THE IN THE MEANTIME, BUT WE WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL BEFORE ANY OTHER MOVEMENT IS MADE.

OKAY, WELL, I SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.

I ALSO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF GFM TO LOOK AT WAYS TO REDUCE THIS ALLOCATION.

IT SEEMS TO ME IF WE'RE JUST PROVIDING SERVICES TO PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, WHY CAN'T THEY TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY ON THEMSELVES? AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE RENEGOTIATION OF OUR DEAL WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF THE TUNNELS.

WE'RE THROUGH THIS ESCALATION CLAUSE.

WE'RE PAYING EXORBITANT AMOUNT TO LEASE SPACE THAT WE CAN'T SUBLEASE FOR ANYWHERE NEAR THAT AMOUNT.

[02:15:06]

WE NEED TO RECTIFY THAT.

THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

AMENDMENT SEVEN. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD.

I, UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO LEAVE BEFORE THIS VOTE WAS TAKEN WHEN WE WERE THERE.

BUT WHAT I WHAT I REMEMBER AND HEARING THE DISCUSSION IN MY CAR WAS THAT IT WASN'T IT? IT WASN'T A UNANIMOUS DECISION BY ANY MEANS.

I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO THE EXAMPLE THAT I WAS GIVING WITH MISS BLACKMON IN HOW THESE PROCESSES ARE PUT IN PLACE FOR US TO WORK EFFICIENTLY TOGETHER.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS DISCUSSION, VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION.

THERE WAS DIFFERING OPINIONS FROM THIS BODY.

I THINK THAT IT WAS ALL WEIGHED OUT AND THE IMPLICATIONS WERE CONSIDERED.

AND THIS IS A COMPROMISE.

AND THIS IS A VERY GOOD COMPROMISE, BECAUSE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS, IS HEAR THE CONCERNS BUT CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR DOING IT IN A MANNER THAT THAT IS PROFESSIONAL AND IS NOT BLINDSIDING TO US AND ALLOWS FOR US TO CONTINUE EFFICIENTLY GOVERNING THE CITY.

SO I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

THE ONE THING THAT I DID NOT WANT TO SEE IS CAFE MOMENTUM SPECIFICALLY BE IMPACTED.

CAFE MOMENTUM IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

BUT IT'S ALSO AN ORGANIZATION THAT EXEMPLIFIES A LOT OF WHAT WE AS A COUNCIL INVEST AND SAY.

WE PRIORITIZE IN GIVING OPPORTUNITY TO OUR CITY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE INTERFAITH COALITION THAT EXISTS WITHIN THE THANKS-GIVING SQUARE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO ONE THAT IS INVALUABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS IS WE NEED MORE PEACEMAKERS.

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT OUR LIKELIHOODS VERSUS OUR DIFFERENCES.

AND I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT COMING OUT OF THANKS-GIVING SQUARE.

AND SO THIS ALLOWS US TO PUMP THE BRAKES, FIGURE OUT A BETTER SCENARIO GOING FORWARD, BUT IT DOESN'T PULL OUT THE RUG FROM UNDERNEATH SOME VERY VALUED PARTNERS OF OUR CITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO GET THIS DONE RIGHT AND FOR THERE NOT TO BE ANY SURPRISES IN THE END.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

CHAIRMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT SEVEN.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS.

I AM TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE MY HAT A HATS OFF TO COUNCIL MEMBER CHAIR WEST FOR HIS WORK ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. I REALIZE IT'S NOT IN YOUR DISTRICT, BUT THAT MEANS YOU HAVE HAWK EYES ON ALL OF THE CITY, AND THAT'S GREAT.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, AND I.

AND IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE DOWN HERE, AND THAT'S GREAT.

BUT JUST AS YOU ARE COMMITTED TO FOCUSING ON MEASURES TO SAVE AND MAYBE REDIRECT AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE SURE OUR GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIVE TO PEOPLE THAT IS ALSO MY COMMITMENT AS WELL.

SO I WANT TO TO WORK THROUGH THIS AND SEE WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE PARTNERS.

I'VE HEARD THAT I'M NOT REALLY FAMILIAR, DON'T HAVE A CLOSE UP PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AS I DO IN DISTRICT FOUR, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW IN TERMS OF JUST HAVING EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT.

AND ONCE AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT STAYING FOCUSED IN YOUR TARGETED.

JUST AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BE TARGETED IN MY CONCERNS, AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE SOUTHERN SECTOR EARLIER AND MAKING SURE THAT WE RECEIVE DUE DILIGENCE.

AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR THOSE DOCUMENTATIONS TO COME IN SO I CAN MAKE SURE, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE TRUTH IS TOLD.

AND THEN THE TRUTH IS BEING TOLD HERE THAT WE WILL COME BACK TO FURTHER DISCUSS THIS ITEM.

I HAD TO TIE THOSE TWO THINGS IN THERE, BECAUSE I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR ON MY MISSION TODAY.

THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN BY CHAIRMAN WEST? SEEING NONE, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT AMENDMENT BY DISPLAYING YOUR PLACARD.

MADAM SECRETARY, ARE YOU READY TO COUNT? THANK YOU. CARDS RAISED IN FAVOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART.

WILLIS. RIDLEY.

ARNOLD. MAYOR, DEPUTY MAYOR.

PRO TEM BAZALDUA. MAYOR.

PRO TEM ATKINS COUNCIL.

MEMBERS. WEST BLACKMON.

SCHULTZ, GRACIE.

MORENO NARVAEZ AND RESENDEZ.

THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

MORE AMENDMENTS.

ANY MORE AMENDMENTS? SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER.

HOLD YOUR PEACE ON.

AMENDMENTS. WONDERFUL.

OKAY, SO LET ME JUST HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

[02:20:34]

AND SO WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO BACK INTO OUR FULL COUNSEL, AND OUR BRIEFING AGENDA IS MOVING TO

[4. 24-2621 Final reading and adoption of the appropriation ordinance appropriating funds for the FY 2024-25 City of Dallas Operating, Capital, and Grant & Trust Budgets - Not to exceed $5,263,461,468 - Financing: General Fund ($1,902,654,000), General Obligation Debt Service Fund ($485,754,134), Capital Funds ($912,273,932), Enterprise/Other Funds ($1,482,754,855), Internal Service and Other Funds ($284,005,397), Grants, Trusts, and Other Funds ($188,972,948), and Employee Retirement Fund ($7,046,202)]

SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY SECRETARY NOW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT AGENDA ITEMS FOUR, THREE, 11 ARE FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025 BUDGET ITEMS. AGENDA ITEM FOUR IS THE FINAL READING AND ADOPTION OF THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE.

APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE FY 20 2425 CITY OF DALLAS OPERATING CAPITAL AND GRANT AND TRUST BUDGETS NOT TO EXCEED BILLION $263,461,468.

THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR. I WILL LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS ITEM WILL REQUIRE REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE.

OKAY. CHAIRMAN WEST, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM? MAYOR. STAFF HAVE JUST GOT IT TO ME.

I MOVED TO APPROVE THIS ITEM WITH THE ADJUSTMENTS RECOMMENDED AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

WITH THE BUDGET NOT TO EXCEED 5,264,218,000 AND $218.

IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, CHAIRMAN WEST? YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

ON ITEM FOUR ON OUR ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. AND I DIDN'T PREPARE A SPEECH FOR THIS, BUT I WILL.

I DO WANT TO JUST SAY KUDOS AND THANK YOU TO SEVERAL FOLKS.

FIRST OF ALL FIRST, BUT NOT LEAST, BUT PROBABLY THE MOST THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER FOR.

I'LL REPEAT WHAT I SAID EARLIER, LISTENING TO US THROUGHOUT MY FIVE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE AND THEN ESPECIALLY MOST RECENTLY AND REALLY HITTING ALL THOSE MAJOR CONCERNS THAT ALL OF US HAVE BROUGHT YOU.

YOU KNOW, I REFERENCED THE MARATHON MEETING WE HAD DURING COVID, WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER KLEINMAN AT THE TIME SUBMITTED 80 AMENDMENTS.

AND WE WERE WE WERE 90 WHERE WE WERE HERE UNTIL LIKE TWO IN THE MORNING YELLING AT EACH OTHER ON ZOOM.

AND, AND THIS IS SUCH A BETTER EXPERIENCE THAN THAT TIME BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF LISTEN TO US AND GIVE US EVERYTHING THEY COULD, THEY DID IT WITH THE BUDGET SHORTFALLS WE WERE FACING.

BECAUSE OF THE STATE AND ALSO BECAUSE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR, OUR, OUR FIRST RESPONDER HEROES IN THE CITY AND ALSO TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES TO STILL COME OUT WITH A BUDGET THAT GETS US 99.9% OF THE WAY THERE WITHOUT AMENDMENTS.

I'M VERY PROUD OF STAFF'S WORK ON THIS.

JACK, JEANETTE AND THE WHOLE TEAM AND YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.

AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, PARTICULARLY THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS, WHO TOOK IN THE VARIOUS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD TO HAVE LONGER MEETINGS AND ALL OF YOUR YOUR COMMITTEES BECAUSE YOU TOOK IN BUDGET BRIEFINGS EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

YOU DIDN'T WAIT UNTIL THE VERY END TO GET ALL YOUR QUESTIONS OUT.

YOU ADDRESSED THEM HAVING LONGER MEETINGS THAN NORMAL WHEN YOUR COMMITTEES MET, SO YOU COULD REALLY COMB THROUGH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENT BUDGETS SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT UP HERE AS WHAT WE ALWAYS LOVINGLY CALL THE HUNGER GAMES.

WE DID THAT IN THE COMMITTEES.

I THINK THAT'S IT. I MEAN, I'M JUST VERY, VERY HAPPY WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

WE HAVE A HUGE BUDGET CHALLENGES MOVING FORWARD.

BUT THIS IS A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, YOU'VE ALWAYS CALLED FOR US BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

THIS WAS, I REMEMBER, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND MORE RECENTLY AS WELL.

AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO DOING THAT.

OF COURSE WE CAN DO BETTER, YOU KNOW THAT WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WITH THANKS-GIVING SQUARE AND THE TRUCK TERMINAL, WE JUST DISCOVERED, THAT IS CERTAINLY ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT.

BUT OVERALL, WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, AND WE'RE A CITY THAT THAT PUTS OUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS RIGHT UP THERE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM FOUR.

[02:25:01]

AND THROUGH THE YEARS, I THINK MANY OF US HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE BUDGET.

ONE OF THE PROFOUND THINGS I THINK I'VE LEARNED IS REALLY HOW FLAWED AND PROBLEMATIC THE BUDGET IS, BECAUSE WHILE WE ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR A MUNICIPALITY, THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY TRAGIC HAPPENING IN NOT ACCRUING FOR FUTURE NECESSARY MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT OF ASSETS WHEN THEY'VE SERVED THEIR USEFUL LIFE.

INSTEAD, WE RELY ON ONE BUILDING DEPARTMENT WITH AN INADEQUATE BUDGET TO DO A LOT OF MAINTENANCE WORK, AND OUR ASSETS FALL INTO EVER WORSE CONDITION UNTIL THEY'RE IN A CATASTROPHIC CONDITION AND WE REPLACE THEM USING DEBT, USUALLY THROUGH A BOND PROGRAM.

AND THIS IS HOW WE GET INTO $7.5 BILLION WORTH OF DEBT, WITH 17 BILLION IN KNOWN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PLUS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON ASSETS THAT WE'VE NEVER EVEN ASSESSED OR EVALUATED FOR THEIR CONDITION.

WE ACTUALLY NEED A RADICAL CHANGE IN HOW OUR ENTIRE CITY BUDGET IS PUT TOGETHER AND OUR BUDGET PHILOSOPHY.

WITH THAT, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY ONE MORE THING ABOUT THE AMENDMENT PROCESS.

TODAY WAS THE THIRD OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BRING FORWARD AMENDMENTS.

MY FIRST YEAR, I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT FORWARD AMENDMENTS LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM, LITTLE TINY THINGS.

AND IN FACT, THE MEETING THAT WAS REFERENCED EARLIER, I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER KLEINMAN HAD BROUGHT FORWARD 40 SOMETHING AMENDMENTS, AND I THINK I HAD MAYBE 20.

BUT WHAT YOU LEARN IS THAT IF YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT BUDGET PHILOSOPHY THAN THE BODY, THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT A GOOD WAY TO DO IT.

AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS A POLITICAL PROCESS.

AND SO EVERYBODY HAS TO CHOOSE HOW THEY WILL.

STRATEGIZE HOW THEY'LL BRING SOMETHING FORWARD.

AND IF IT'S KNOWN THAT YOUR ITEM WILL NOT PASS GIVEN THE WILL OF THE BODY, THEN AT THE VERY LEAST YOU CAN DO IS SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, WHAT THE PHILOSOPHY IS, WHAT MIGHT BE LACKING, WHAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE ADDED TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS.

WHAT'S NOT IMPROVING THE PROCESS IS NAME CALLING.

WHAT'S NOT IMPROVING THE PROCESS IS NOT PUTTING FORWARD A RULE THAT IF YOU FIND IT OBJECTIONABLE TO ACTUALLY HAVE AMENDMENTS ON THIS FINAL DAY, YOU CAN CHANGE THAT PROCESS.

YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE HAS.

THE NEXT THING IS THAT WHILE WE DID HAVE THE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT EACH INDIVIDUAL BUDGET FROM THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, THERE WERE QUESTIONS THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO BE ANSWERED, ONE OF WHICH WAS A LISTING OF EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM THAT THAT DEPARTMENT WAS ADMINISTERING, AND I WOULD CHALLENGE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE THAT TO US.

IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN OUR BUDGET BOOK, ALTHOUGH IT EXCEEDS 800 PAGES.

AND I THINK IF WE WERE ABLE TO SEE ALL OF THOSE PROGRAM NAMES AND ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP US FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT FOR THIS YEAR, IF IT WAS POSSIBLE.

I CAN'T IMAGINE IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ANY DEPARTMENT TO NOT QUICKLY BE ABLE TO TELL US WHAT PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE, AND IF SO, THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROBLEM.

THE NEXT THING IS TO SAY THAT IN MY CASE, THIS IS NOT A COMPLETELY NEW ISSUE OF WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT REMOVING THE FEE FROM THE VERY FIRST MEETINGS THAT ALL OF US HAD, WHERE WE GOT A BUDGET PREVIEW BEFORE WE EVER HAD THE BOOK.

I IMMEDIATELY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT ADDING A NEW TAX FEE.

THIS ENVIRONMENTAL $3.

THERE WAS NEVER A MENTION IN THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS TALKING ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT BUDGETS OR EVEN BUDGET PLANNING THAT THERE WOULD BE A NEW FEE ADDED.

SO ACTUALLY, THERE WASN'T A PRIOR OPPORTUNITY BEFORE AUGUST WHEN WE RECEIVED THIS BOOK TO DO SO.

AND LASTLY, I'LL JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO WILL CHAMPION DIFFERENT IDEAS, AND IT'S PERFECTLY FINE IF THEY GET VOTED DOWN.

BUT TO MAKE IT A PERSONAL ATTACK IS COMPLETELY COUNTER TO THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES THAT WE SHOULD BE ABIDING BY.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM FOUR.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

JACK, COULD YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF THIS MOTION VERSUS WHAT WAS PRESENTED IN THE AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET FOR ITEM NUMBER

[02:30:06]

I'M GOING TO LET JEANETTE EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

SO THERE'S TWO INCREASES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU APPROVED.

THE ONE TIME USE OF ARPA FUNDING TO RESTORE THE LIBRARY HOURS COMES FROM A REVENUE SOURCE THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE GENERAL FUND.

SO WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE GENERAL FUND BY THAT AMOUNT.

THE SECOND AMENDMENT, WHICH IS THE ADDITIONAL 300,000 FOR THE BRIDGE, ALSO INCREASES THE GENERAL FUND BY 300,000.

SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WAS POSTED AND WHAT WAS READ INTO THE AMENDMENT REFLECTS THOSE TWO AMENDMENTS THAT WERE APPROVED BY YOU ALL TODAY.

OKAY. SO THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO CHANGES THAT ACCOUNT FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN AMOUNT.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM FOUR.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WILL FIRST START WITH ADDRESSING CHAIRMAN WEST.

YOU MENTIONED THAT WE DID CHANGE THE PROCESS.

I'LL TELL YOU, AS IRRITATED AS I WAS TO BRING THEM ON TO MY AGENDA.

QUALITY OF LIFE. I NOW SEE THAT THERE WAS A METHOD TO THE MADNESS.

AND I DO APPRECIATE BRINGING JUST SOME DIFFERENCE INTO OUR PROCESS.

WITH THAT SAID, I WILL SAY THAT WHAT WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED AND HAVE WORKED THROUGH THIS BUDGET SEASON IS, AS MENTIONED COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, IN FACT, DIFFERENT ENOUGH FOR ME TO CALL TC AND GIVE HIM SOME CRAP BECAUSE I ASKED HIM IF KIM COULD DO THIS.

WHY DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO HER BEFORE? AND SO THE AMOUNT OF OR THE THE LACK OF AMENDMENTS, NOT EVEN THE AMOUNT OF THE LACK OF AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE HAD SHOWS THAT THERE WAS A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS BY YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO REALLY INCORPORATE THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES THROUGH THIS BUDGET.

SO THE DOCUMENT ITSELF, TO ME, IS A DOCUMENT THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF ALL OF OUR PRIORITIES, BUT ALSO WITH A VERY HARD TIME THAT WE'RE IN.

WE HAD SOME HARD DECISIONS THAT HAD TO GET MADE, AND WE HAD SOME COMMITMENTS THAT WE HAD TO ADHERE TO.

AND SO I WANT TO SAY WE HAVE OUR PRESIDENT HERE, JAIME CASTRO, WHO WE HEARD FROM FOR LEGISLATIVE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DESPITE AN 8% ACROSS THE BOARD CUT.

WE STILL ARE INCREASING, YOU KNOW, POLICE AND FIRE AND TAKING CARE OF THEM, JUST AS WE PROMISED WITH OUR MEETING FOR MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT, IN ADDITION TO FIGURING OUT OUR PENSION SYSTEM, THAT WAS FIRST AND FOREMOST OUR PRIORITY AND ALSO THE RESIDENTS PRIORITY.

AND IT WAS ONE THAT WAS DONE.

SO WITHOUT A HUGE HIT TO TWO SERVICES.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR RESIDENTS ON THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX.

THIS IS THE LARGEST PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.

THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE OUR DECREASE, NOT INCREASE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE OUR PROPERTY VALUES INCREASE.

THAT'S WHERE IT WAS IN MY HEAD.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE PROPERTY VALUES INCREASE, WHICH WE KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALWAYS BE ABLE TO OFFSET BY THE RATE ALONE.

BUT IT SHOWS THAT WE HEAR THE CONCERN OF THE RESIDENTS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS AS THOUGHTFUL AS POSSIBLE.

THE REALITY IS, IS THAT THE BUDGET WILL CONTINUE TO GROW YEAR OVER YEAR IN, IN JUST BASIC COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE HAVE FOR ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, OR JUST TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE HAVE STARTED AS AN EXPECTATION TO OUR RESIDENTS.

THE BUDGET ITSELF WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE RATE INCREASE, I MEAN, THE RATE DECREASE DOES HAVE TO MEET THE VALUE INCREASE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF A GROWING CITY.

WE ALSO HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF OUR ABILITY TO GROW OUR TAX BASE, AND THAT WE HAVE OTHER IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING ON THAT'S GOING TO HELP US GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED AS WELL.

WE WANT TO LIGHTEN THE BURDEN ON OUR RESIDENTS, BUT WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE.

SO WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE CONVERSATIONS ELSEWHERE THAT WE'RE HAVING AND LOOK AT THE DIRECT IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE ON THE NEXT BUDGET.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT BRINGING IN MORE DENSITY IN OUR CITY, THAT'S REALITY.

IN REALITY, THE BEST AND FASTEST WAY, MOST EFFECTIVE, THAT WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE OUR TAX BASE.

WE CAN LOOK AT COMPARATIVE DATA THAT OUR STAFF HAS GIVEN US SPECIFICALLY ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT ALONE PROVIDES AND THE PERCENTAGE THAT IT PLAYS IN OUR TAX BASE VERSUS THAT OF MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS.

[02:35:09]

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO WIN, BECAUSE THE RATE INCREASE THAT WE CAN CONTROL HERE IS NEVER GOING TO MEET THE NEED THAT WE HAVE WITH THE VALUE INCREASE OF PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES.

SO I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU CITY MANAGER, APPLAUD YOU TO THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR YOUR PATIENCE MORE THAN ANYTHING.

AND ALL STAFF WHO HAS MADE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE AROUND THE CLOCK FOR US, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S WORK TO GET THIS BUDGET PASSED.

LOOKING FORWARD TO PASSING THIS.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST CONGENIAL PROCESS THAT WE'VE HAD, AT LEAST IN THE FIVE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YOU JUST JINXED IT.

ALL RIGHT. PERFECT.

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

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR, FOR YOUR REMARKS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME, AND AND I LOOK AT THIS BUDGET AS A WHOLE.

IS THIS THE BEST BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS? I SAID NOT COULD IT BE BETTER? YES. MY MAIN CONCERN IS, NUMBER ONE, THAT WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE.

LOOK AT A TALE OF TWO CITIES, THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH.

AND WE STILL LOOK AT 18% OF PROPERTY VALUE IS IN THE SOUTH.

AND AND, YOU KNOW, 83%, 84%, 84% IS IN THE NORTH.

AND IS THAT A BALANCE? NO, IT'S NOT A BALANCE. BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE, WE ALWAYS GO TO OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR CITIZENS THAT SAID, HEY, THIS IS NOT ABOUT DISTRICT, IT'S ABOUT THE CITY.

AND I WISH SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THE BUDGET AS 14 DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

THERE IS 14 DIFFERENT DISTRICTS BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT ON A PIECE OF THE PIE.

AND I CANNOT CHALLENGE MYSELF CONSTANTLY WHEN WE HAVE A TOWN HALL MEETING AND SAID, HEY, HERE'S THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BUDGET.

IT'S A CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION.

BUT WE AS A COUNCIL, WE WANT TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.

AND WHEN WE GO OUT AND TALK TO EACH PART OF THE CITY AND EACH PART OF THE RESIDENT IS SAY, WHAT DO I GET IN MY RESIDENT? WHAT DO I GET? AND WHEN WE EXPLAIN TO THEM, NO, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR RESIDENT, IT'S ABOUT THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

AND TO ME, IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN THAT TO MY RESIDENT AS A CITY AS A WHOLE.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT PEOPLE IN CLEVELAND, RILEY WHO STILL OWN SEPARATE CHAINS, WHO STILL LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE, WHO NEED MORE INVESTMENT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY CANNOT GET IT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO GO BY.

AND SO I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT BECAUSE 16 YEARS OF DOING THIS BUDGET, IT'S THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER, BECAUSE OUR RESIDENTS GET HURT, BECAUSE THEY SAY IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR RESIDENT, IT'S ABOUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

AND WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT 14 DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

AND HOW CAN THEY BE BALANCED EQUALLY? BECAUSE I GOT 52MI², SOMEONE ELSE GOT 20MI².

I MIGHT GET $25 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEY GET $25 MILLION OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

I GOT 1000 LANE MILES.

THEY GOT, YOU KNOW, 500 LANE MILES.

BUT I DON'T GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND I CANNOT GROW MY RESIDENTS.

I CANNOT GROW MY DISTRICT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH REVENUE, ENOUGH INCOME TO JUSTIFY IT.

SO IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE GOT TO INVEST MORE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE DALLAS WE GOT TO INVEST MORE IN THE SOUTH BECAUSE THAT IS THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE THE LAND, WE GOT THE POPULATION THERE, WE HAVE ALL THE TOOLS THERE, BUT WE GOT TO INCREASE THE PROFIT VALUE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS.

AND I KEEP SAYING THE TALE OF TWO CITIES.

YES, WE ARE STILL A TALE OF TWO CITIES, BUT UNTIL WE CHANGE THAT VALUE OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS, WE CAN'T BE AT 18%.

WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, WE WERE AT 15%.

WE'RE STILL AT 18.

WE DON'T GROW THREE DECIMAL POINTS, JUST THREE IN LAST 16 YEARS.

JUST THREE. AND WE GOT A MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS.

AND I JUST CANNOT STAND HERE.

AND FOR MY 16 YEARS DURING THE BUDGET TO HOW DO WE GROW THE PROPERTY VALUE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS? LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE GOT TO PUT MORE IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

LACK OF TRANSPORTATION.

AND WE STILL ON SEPARATE TANK IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

IMAGINE WE ARE STILL ON SEPARATE TANK.

WE STILL HAVE RULES NEED TO BE FIXED.

WE STILL GOT BAR DISHES.

I GOT PEOPLE IN CLEVELAND RALLY.

EVERY TIME I GO OUT IN CLEVELAND.

RALLY STAFF JUST SAY, HEY, YOU CANNOT STAND IT BECAUSE THEY DESERVE BEST.

WE STILL GOT BAR DITCHES, NO SIDEWALKS TO GO TO SCHOOL.

WE STILL HAVE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS IN MY DISTRICT.

[02:40:03]

OUR OFFICE BUILDING BUILT IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS IN MANY YEARS.

AND WE CAN SIT HERE AND WE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE A WORLD CLASS CITY, TO BE A WORLD CLASS CITY.

BOTH SIDES OF THE CITY GOT TO BE BALANCED.

PROPERTY VALUES GOT TO BE BALANCED.

YOU KNOW, WE GOT SO MANY THINGS IN AND SO SHORT TERM FORWARD DALLAS SOMETHING THAT GOT TO BE DONE. ARE WE GOING TO BE A WORLD CLASS CITY? WE GOT TO INVEST MORE SOUTH OF 30.

WE GOT TO IT.

WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE WORLD CLASS CITY.

AND WITH THAT I MIGHT HAVE ROUND TWO OR ROUND THREE, BUT I GOT TO GET THE POINT ACROSS 16 YEARS.

SAME THING OVER AND OVER.

IT'S ENOUGH. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM FOUR.

SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE YOU BEFORE.

OH. THANK YOU. ALL GOOD.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO VOICE I'M GOING TO START WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL HEARD ME SAY, A QUOTE I'VE USED MANY, MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS.

AND IT WAS DONE.

IT WAS SAID BY VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS THAT IT TAKES A WHOLE LOT OF ENERGY TO BUILD SOMETHING, AND VERY LITTLE TO TEAR IT DOWN.

THIS YEAR.

IN THE 2024 BUDGET PROCESS, OUR CITY MANAGER ENDED THE ANNUAL BUDGET HUNGER GAMES.

I MISS IT A BIT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE SPARRING AND THE DEBATE IS ALWAYS FUN BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF GOVERNMENT.

BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT I REALLY ENJOYED BEING ABLE TO PUT MY ENERGY INTO OTHER ITEMS, INSTEAD OF JUST THE BUDGET AND GOING FULL FORCE AS A GLADIATOR IN THE BUDGET.

SO I COMMEND YOU, CITY MANAGER AND TOLBERT, FOR DOING WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND YOUR STAFF AND YOUR TEAM, JACK ISLAND, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO OUR MCC STAFF MEMBERS WHO, YOU KNOW, DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH IT EXCEPT FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE AMENDMENTS GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GET TO.

AND THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN GREAT WITH STAFF AND FINDING OUT WHERE THINGS NEED TO BE AND THINGS NEED TO GO.

THIS IS MY LAST BUDGET AS WELL.

SO NOT HAVING TO DO THAT PART HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT PROCESS.

CAN WE GET BETTER? ABSOLUTELY.

WILL IT GET BETTER? ABSOLUTELY.

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THE NEXT COUNCIL TO GET THERE.

WHAT? IT'S WHAT WHAT THE BUDGET IS IS OUR DOCUMENT RIGHT FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY, WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I CAN TELL YOU, I'VE HEARD VERY LITTLE BACK FROM RESIDENTS ON THINGS THAT THEY REALLY DIDN'T LIKE OR DID OR THEY WANTED MORE OF.

OF COURSE WE ALL WISH WE COULD HAVE MORE MONEY TO SPEND SO THAT WE COULD GET EVERYTHING DONE.

I APPLAUD YOU FOR THE MONIES THAT CAME IN AT THE LAST SECOND, FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE, WHICH WAS STREET REPAIR, STREET MAINTENANCE, SIDEWALKS, ALLEYS.

IT WASN'T A LOT, BUT IT WAS AN EXTRA $5 MILLION THAT WE WERE NOT EXPECTING.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM.

COUNCIL MEMBER TO OUR CHAIRMAN, MR. WEST. I WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST VOCAL THAT DID NOT WANT TO DO THE BUDGET STUFF IN COMMITTEE, AND I WILL ALWAYS BE THE PERSON, WHEN I WAS WRONG TO STAND UP AND SAY I WAS WRONG. I WAS WRONG ABOUT THAT.

AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU STUCK TO YOUR GUNS.

AND SO DID THE REST OF THE FOLKS THAT SAID, WE NEED TO DO THIS, AND I'M GLAD WE DID IT, BECAUSE IT DID REALLY ELIMINATE A LOT OF THE ISSUES FOR A LOT OF US ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT IDEA, WHICH MADE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT AND AT THE SAME TIME WAS BETTER AT EDUCATING NOT JUST US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT ALSO THINGS, BUT ALSO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

MR. MAYOR, YOU TALKED TO US MANY TIMES ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER, GETTING ALONG, MAKING SURE THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND I AND THIS BUDGET, I FEEL IT, I FELT IT, I EXPERIENCED IT, AND I WAS PART OF IT.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE DIDN'T ALL GET EVERYTHING WE WANT, AND THAT'S PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT I THINK THAT WE GOT TO THE BEST PLACE POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE LARGEST TAX RATE DECREASE IN THE HISTORY OF DALLAS, AT THE SAME TIME KEEPING EVERYTHING, THE SERVICES, FUNDING, THE PENSION. I MEAN, WE THIS THIS WAS A DOOZY OF A BUDGET.

WE KNEW WE WERE COMING IN WITH A $38 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ALL DID IT.

CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, WHAT MAGIC POTION YOU MADE OR SAUCE OR WHATEVER IT IS?

[02:45:05]

KEEP MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

BECAUSE THAT'S THIS IS DALLAS.

AND WE DID CHANGE.

WE DID GET BETTER.

WE ARE MORE EFFICIENT.

AND YOU KNOCKED DOWN THE SILOS THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING AND TALKING ABOUT FOR SEVEN YEARS.

AND I GET TO SEE IT.

I'M GOING TO GET TO EXPERIENCE IT ONCE.

HOPEFULLY THIS BUDGET PASSES AND WE'LL GET TO SEE IT GOING FORWARD.

SO WE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY INTO BUILDING SOMETHING THIS YEAR.

LET'S NOT USE VERY LITTLE TO TEAR IT DOWN.

THANK YOU AGAIN, CITY MANAGER.

YOUR ENTIRE TEAM.

AND TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS BUDGET.

I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

MISS BLACKMON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. AND I THINK WE'RE NOW GOING TO CALL IT BUDGET JENGA VERSUS THE HUNGER GAMES, BECAUSE IT TRULY IS A VERY INTRICATE TOWER OF THINGS.

AND SO I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU GUYS.

I KNOW YOUR JULY WAS NOT FILLED WITH SUN AND FUN.

AND SO I KNOW YOU ALL WERE MEETING AROUND THE CLOCK AND THANK YOU, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANY HUGE JOCKEYING FOR FOR STUFF. SO I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE WENT AND WE WENT FOR BREAK.

WE HAD A $38 MILLION SHORTFALL.

RIGHT. AND I KNOW THAT Y'ALL CREATED SOME INTERESTING WAYS TO HELP REDUCE THAT SPENDING TO CREATE THE SHORT TO MAKE UP FOR THE SHORTFALL.

CAN YOU SHARE WHAT Y'ALL DID EXACTLY TO DO THAT.

SO THAT WAY THE CUT WOULDN'T WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY IS MAKING CUTS, AND THEN IT BECOMES THE HUNGER GAMES AND, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT WAS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK? WHAT WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN NEXT YEAR? BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

YEAH WE GOT THROUGH THIS YEAR.

BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US NEXT YEAR? JACK GARLAND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND COUNCIL MEMBER THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

IT WAS A LONG, DIFFICULT PROCESS, AND I REALLY THINK JEANETTE AND HER TEAM, THE BUDGET OFFICE, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DID.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT GOING INTO THE SUMMER WAS, OF COURSE, THAT WE HAD THE $40 MILLION SHORTFALL.

WE HAD MEET AND CONFER, WHICH IS A 7.23% INCREASE FOR PAY FOR POLICE AND FIRE.

WE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE FUNDING NEEDS OF BOTH PENSION FUNDS, PRIMARILY DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM.

SO THERE WAS AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, OF COURSE, WAS THE CAP FROM THE STATE ON OUR REVENUE GROWTH, ON REAPPRAISAL.

SO THERE WAS A LOT THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH.

AND EVEN AS WE CAME THROUGH AND RECOMMENDED A BALANCED BUDGET TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THE GENERAL FUND GREW BY $65 MILLION.

BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS $78.6 MILLION WAS THE GROWTH IN POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

SO WE HAD TO MAKE DECISIONS AND REDUCTIONS IN THE NON POLICE AND FIRE AREAS IN ORDER TO BALANCE THAT, BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY, THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT AND THE PENSION WERE REALLY THE COST DRIVERS.

SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL SEE AND YOU HAVE SEEN, BUT JUST AS A REMINDER, WE HAD ABOUT $7 MILLION IN SAVINGS FROM REALIGNMENTS AND CONSOLIDATIONS.

AND SO MISS TOLBERT REALLY JUST TOOK A NEW, FRESH LOOK AT THE SERVICE MODELS THAT THAT THE CITY HAD LOOKED FOR, DUPLICATIONS LOOKED FOR WHERE IT MADE MORE SENSE TO CONSOLIDATE SOME DEPARTMENTS.

AND SO FROM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE TO TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, TO COMMUNICATION AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, JUST THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE CONSOLIDATION EFFORTS RESULTED IN OVER $7 MILLION OF SAVINGS.

WE LOOKED AT CONTRACTS.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE JAIL CONTRACT HAD $700,000 SAVINGS IN THAT ONE CONTRACT.

AND SO NOT JUST BUDGETING THE SAME NUMBER FOR CONTRACTS YEAR OVER YEAR, BUT LOOKING AT WHERE THERE WERE REDUCTIONS THAT WE COULD TAKE ON THOSE CONTRACTS.

WE WE DID LOOK AT VACANCIES AND POSITIONS, AND THAT WAS AN AREA THAT WE WERE REALLY CHALLENGED WITH LAST YEAR.

AND I DO THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN FOR FOR PUSHING US ON THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S A PRACTICE THAT WE WILL FOLLOW IN FUTURE YEARS, IS LOOKING AT THOSE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT LONGER THAN 12 MONTHS AND REDUCING THOSE.

SO WE DID TAKE THAT LOOK.

WHILE IT WAS NOT A POPULAR THING, BUT THE FEE INCREASE, AND WE TOLD YOU IN JUNE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES, WHERE IT MADE SENSE, WHERE WE HAD COSTS THAT WE COULD RECOVER FROM SOME USER, WHETHER IT WAS BUSINESSES THROUGH THE

[02:50:01]

SO IT WAS A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND I REALLY OF COURSE, MISS TALBOT REALLY JUST PUSHED US TO TO KEEP LOOKING.

THERE WERE MULTIPLE TIMES THAT DEPARTMENTS WOULD COME IN WITH PROPOSALS, AND MISS TALBOT WOULD SEND THEM BACK TO LOOK AT THAT AGAIN.

AND SO JUST THROUGH THAT ITERATIVE PROCESS, WE GOT TO A PLACE WITH A BALANCED BUDGET, AND IT IS GOING TO BE HARDER GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THE REVENUE CAP IS IN PLACE, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE.

AND WE'VE AGREED TO A FIVE YEAR STEP UP ON OUR PENSION.

AND SO FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, YOU WILL SEE LARGER INCREASES IN OUR PENSION INCREASES AS WE STEP UP TO THAT ACTUARIALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION RATE.

SO THERE IS MUCH MORE HARD WORK AHEAD OF US, AND IT WILL TAKE US LOOKING AT DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES AND THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE AND MAKING SOME TOUGH DECISIONS.

AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS YEAR TALKING ABOUT THE LIBRARY FOR $495,000.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE OF THAT COMING IN THE FUTURE, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS, AND WE WILL BRING THEM FORWARD WITHOUT THE POLITICAL LENS THAT YOU ALL THEN HAVE TO LOOK AT IT WITH AND REALLY MAKE THE HARD DECISION.

AND WHAT WE CAN DO IS BRING YOU RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN WORK WITH YOU TO GET YOU TO A PLACE THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.

SO THANK YOU, AND I HOPE THAT IT GOT TO YOUR QUESTION.

IT DOES. AND AS I SAID, I THINK THE LIBRARY IS THE FROG IN THE POT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU KILL A FROG? YOU KNOW, BOIL IT SLOWLY.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

IT'S EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE ITEMS COMING BEFORE THIS BODY.

AND SO IF WE HAD A HUGE $200 MILLION HOLE THAT WE NEEDED TO FILL, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD DO IT.

DO YOU DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? YOU KNOW, I'M ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DEAL WITH I GUESS YOU COULD RAISE TAXES.

YOU COULD RAISE TAXES.

SO TO GENERATE $200 MILLION, IT'S ABOUT 9.4 CENTS ON THE TAX RATE.

TO RAISE THE TAXES THAT LEVEL WOULD OBVIOUSLY REQUIRE A VOTE OR APPROVAL, BECAUSE THAT WOULD GO ABOVE THE LEVEL THAT'S ALLOWED BY THE STATE.

AND AGAIN, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE WE STRUGGLED WITH CUTTING 500,000 FOR A LIBRARY.

HOW DO WE CUT 200 MILLION.

AND SO IS THAT A WHOLE DEPARTMENT? I MEAN, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE THE WHOLE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT.

OH, THAT'S THE LIBRARIES.

I'M GUESSING HERE 30 MILLION.

I MEAN, SO PARKS WOULD HAVE TO I MEAN, THERE'S A TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT.

THE PARK DEPARTMENT'S 100 MILLION PLUS BY ITSELF.

AND THAT IS PROBABLY THE THIRD IN THE GENERAL FUND.

YOU GOT POLICE, YOU HAVE FIRE, YOU HAVE PARKS AS THE THREE LARGEST DEPARTMENTS, AND PARKS IS OVER A MILLION, $100 MILLION BY ITSELF.

AND SO WE ARE WORKING IN TO INCREASE OUR PRESENCE AT DPD.

I MEAN, WE ARE RECRUITING.

WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING TO REACH OUR TARGETS, BUT CAN YOU TELL US HOW THAT IS GOING? AND IF NOT, MAYBE EVEN PUT IT IN A MEMO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD LOOK AT WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS THE COST OF MAINTAINING A 4000 POLICE OFFICER ALONE.

RIGHT. THERE IS COST TO THAT.

AND HOW DO WE MANAGE THAT? SO I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THAT ONE'S GOING TO TAKE ME A MEMO TO GET TO YOU, BECAUSE I NEED I REALLY NEED TO COLLABORATE WITH CHIEF ARTISTS AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO COME UP WITH A WELL THOUGHT THROUGH ANSWER, BECAUSE, AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT ELSE CAN BE CUT GOING FORWARD IF, IF, IF NEXT YEAR IS A DIFFERENT YEAR. AND AS YOU SAID, WE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATION AROUND A $490,000 LIBRARY.

AND, AND THAT'S AND THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEPARTMENTS, NOT NECESSARILY LIBRARIES.

AND I'LL ADD, IF I MAY, TO THAT 63.5% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND SO THAT ONLY LEAVES YOU THEN WITH 37% OF THE BUDGET, WHERE WE WOULD REALLY BE TARGETING REDUCTIONS, ASSUMING THAT WE'RE NOT, WE'RE LEAVING PUBLIC SAFETY FAIRLY CONSTANT.

AND AGAIN, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE ALL DONE.

I KNOW EVEN THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY WITH THE CITY MANAGER, TAMMY, IN YOUR GROUP AND MARK SWANN AND BILLY RAY.

YOU ALL CAME WITH THE MINDSET OF WE CAN DO BETTER WITH LESS, RIGHT.

AND AND WE'RE GOING TO AND WE WILL TAKE THE CUTS WHERE WE NEED TO.

SO I DO APPLAUD EVERYBODY FOR THEIR WORK.

[02:55:01]

NOT ONLY DO YOU SIT UP THERE FOR FOUR HOURS AT A TIME.

YOU ARE ACTUALLY TAKING OUR CALLS AS WELL, AND OUR EMAILS AND GOING, WE WANT THIS INFORMATION NOW.

NOT YESTERDAY, BUT NOW AND NOT TOMORROW.

SO I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

IT WAS NOT EASY, I THINK, WHEN WE WERE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, ESPECIALLY ON MY END.

BUT I ALWAYS TRIED TO BE NICE AND NOT AND SAY PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

AND SO I'M PUBLICLY SAYING THANK YOU BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT EASY BEING A CITY EMPLOYEE SOME DAYS.

SO WITH THAT, YOU GOT A MINUTE AND 25 LEFT.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. MAYOR, THIS QUESTION COULD GO TO THE CITY MANAGER, AND SHE CAN REDIRECT IT IF SHE NEEDS TO.

FIRST QUESTION IS, IS THIS A DATA DRIVEN CITY? YES. AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO IMPROVE OUR DATA SO WE CAN DRIVE BETTER DECISIONS.

DID YOU OR YOUR STAFF USE DATA IN THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET? YES, MA'AM. WE DID.

WAS PART OF THAT DATA REFLECTION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE POLICY.

YES, MA'AM. THAT POLICY HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, AND IT'S A PART OF THE BUDGET.

DOES THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY PLAY A ROLE IN THE DEFINING OR FOCUSING ON BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TARGETED AREAS IN THE BUDGET? WE INCLUDED A PROPOSED ALLOCATION OF AN ADDITIONAL $6 MILLION FOR THE OVERALL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FUND.

HOW MANY INVESTMENT FUNDS TARGETED AREAS DO WE HAVE THAT MAY BE IMPACTED BY THAT BUDGET? I GOT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

YOU SAID HOW MANY? WELL, SO SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MAP THAT HIGHLIGHTS ALL OF THE TARGET AREAS ACROSS THE CITY.

AND THAT MAP IS REFLECTED ON THE ACTUAL STATE DESIGNATION OF ENTERPRISE ZONES PRICE-OWENS.

AND AS MISS BENTLEY, WHO I SEE COMING TO THE TO THE MIKE NEAL DOES REFLECT THE MOST RECENT CENSUS COUNT WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT TARGET AREAS WHERE THERE'S A 20% FROM A POVERTY LEVEL.

SO THE TARGET AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED ARE PART OF THAT, THAT PROCESS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A MAP THAT WE'VE PROVIDED THAT ACTUALLY SHOWS THOSE TARGET AREAS.

AND WE DO KNOW WE DO KNOW THAT 78% OF THOSE TARGET AREAS ARE WITHIN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF THE CITY.

CORRECT. THE DIRECTOR, MISS ROBIN BENTLEY, HOW MANY TARGETED AREAS ARE WE FOCUSED ON? I GUESS DEPENDING ON THIS MAP, HOW MANY TARGET AREAS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? THERE IS ONE DESIGNATED TARGET AREA MAP.

IT'S A I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CENSUS BLOCK GROUPS THAT INCLUDES ACROSS THE CITY.

I'M NOT SURE. I SAW A MAP WHERE I THINK THERE WERE THREE THAT I'M LOOKING AT.

YES, THAT'S THE HOUSING. HOUSING.

SO HOW COULD HOUSING GO TOGETHER IN TERMS OF FOCUS? IS THAT CORRECT? THE TWO DEPARTMENTS DO COMPARABLE WORK, BUT THEIR TARGET AREA DEVELOPMENT WAS BASED ON DIFFERENT DATA.

SO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TARGET AREAS USE THE STATE'S ECONOMIC DISTRESS CRITERIA.

AND THOSE ARE THE ENTERPRISE ZONE DESIGNATIONS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THESE TARGET AREAS ARE BASED ON.

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT USED A DIFFERENT SET OF DATA.

WE'RE ACTUALLY DRAFTING A FRIDAY MEMO WE'LL SEND OUT THIS WEEK TO WALK THROUGH THE CRITERIA TO SHOW THE MAPS.

ALL OF THAT BECAUSE IT IS CONFUSING.

EXCUSE ME. SO THE QUESTION I HAVE IS DISTRICT FOUR.

IN A TARGETED AREA, MUCH OF DISTRICT FOUR IS LOCATED IN AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TARGET AREA, AND I BELIEVE THE HOUSING TARGET AREA IS ALSO RUN THROUGH DISTRICT FOUR. THAT'S CORRECT.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE POLICY THAT YOU ALL ARE INTEGRATING INTO THIS BUDGET? YES. DO ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE STATEMENT THAT SAYS INVESTMENT POINT NUMBER THREE, INVESTMENT IN SOUTHERN DALLAS AND OTHER IS AS A CONJUNCTION, THEIR INVESTMENT IN SOUTHERN DALLAS AND OTHER DISTRESSED OR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME AREAS.

ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT STATEMENT? YES. ALL RIGHT.

THAT STATEMENT MEANS THAT THE FIRST FOCUS IS SOUTHERN DALLAS.

AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GO BACK AND VISIT THAT, BECAUSE THIS MORNING THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO TO KIND OF SANITIZE THAT.

SO WE DIDN'T ACCEPT THE FACT THAT I WAS IN MY RIGHT MIND.

SOUTHERN DALLAS IS WHAT IS HERE.

SO NOW BACK TO THE QUESTIONS OF THE BUDGET, IF YOU COULD.

CITY MANAGER, WHOEVER YOUR DESIGNEE IS, IF WE USE THE DATA AND WE'RE DATA DRIVEN, THE QUESTION BECOMES ALSO, ARE WE USING EQUITY IN THE ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDS FOR THESE TARGETED AREAS IN THE BUDGET PROPOSED SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION? WE ACTUALLY APPROACH THE ENTIRE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WITH AN EQUITY LENS.

[03:00:04]

THAT'S A PART OF HOW OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THEIR BUDGETS, THEIR RECOMMENDED BUDGETS FORWARD.

SO THAT IS A PART OF OUR PROCESS, AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE DEPENDING ON WHO'S IN THE SEAT.

BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A PART OF THE CULTURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING ACROSS THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

ALL RIGHT. SO IS IT FAIR TO SAY, CITY MANAGER, THAT WE WILL NOT JUST PIN INFORMATION ON PAPER AND IGNORE IT AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET AND THOSE STATEMENTS THAT YOU MADE ON EQUITY? YES, MA'AM. AND ALSO, I JUST WANT TO TO ALSO ADD THAT IF YOU GO INTO THE BUDGET DOCUMENT, THERE ARE THERE'S AN ACTUAL ICON OR A SYMBOL, IF YOU WILL, THAT ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY, WHERE THE EQUITY ITEMS ARE AND WHAT WE'RE INVESTING IN IN THE BUDGET AS IT RELATES TO EQUITY.

THANK YOU. SO THAT MEANS OUR COMMITMENT WILL BE NOT TO GO BACK INTENTIONALLY, AS WE'VE DONE WITH ONE OF THE PROPOSALS TO GO INTO THAT FUND AND PULL IT OUT FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT CONNECTED TO THE FOCUS OF THIS POLICY, IN THIS CASE, THE DEVELOPMENT POLICY.

IF INDEED WE ARE FOCUSED ON EQUITY AND EQUITY IN THIS, IN THIS BUDGET.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I'M GOING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THIS WAY.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE FUND ITSELF AND THE INTENDED PURPOSES OF THAT FUND.

AND AS MISS BENTLEY STATED EARLIER, WE HAVE TARGET AREAS THAT ARE ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY, ACROSS EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL DISTRICT.

AND WE ARE AWARE AND WE ARE FULLY FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT 78% OF THOSE TARGET AREAS ARE IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

THANK YOU. I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CARE TO LOOK AT IT, THERE IS A DOCUMENT THAT SPEAKS TO ALL OF THOSE ALL THIS, ALL THESE DATA POINTS THAT I'M MENTIONING DISCUSSING WITH THE CITY MANAGER. SO AS WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET SHOULD REFLECT SOME FOCUS ON EQUITY AND DIVERSITY, BUT ALSO THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITMENT. SO CITY MANAGER.

ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS I HAVE WHAT YOU SAID, 78% IS IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF ALL OF THE TARGET AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN OUR TARGET AREA MAP.

AND DEFINITELY CAN PASS THAT MAP BACK AROUND TO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, BUT WE KNOW THAT 78% OF THOSE AREAS ARE IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT DISTRICT FOUR IS IN ONE OF THOSE HIGH DATA DRIVEN DISTRICTS? I MEAN, THE DATA IS THERE TO SHOW THAT THAT IS A, A DISTRICT THAT IS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH DATA, A NEED FOR EQUITY.

YES, MA'AM. I KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.

YES. SO FOR THE PUBLIC, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT EQUITY WOULD LOOK LIKE FROM A MANAGERIAL STANDPOINT IN THIS BUDGET? WHAT DOES EQUITY MEAN AS YOU CRAFTED THIS BUDGET FOR THOSE UNDERSERVED AREAS THAT ARE LISTED IN THIS DOCUMENT.

SO, AS WE'VE STATED PREVIOUSLY, WE APPROACH THE ENTIRE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WITH AN EQUITY LENS.

THIS IS A PROCESS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS THROUGHOUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND WE CONTINUED THAT WORK GOING INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS BUDGET.

WE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE.

AS WE LISTEN TO OUR RESIDENTS AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY SURVEY, WE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT PRIORITIES ACROSS EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT.

AND THEN WE PROVIDED FOR EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL DISTRICT A PRIORITY DOCUMENT THAT SHOWED YOU HOW WE WERE GOING TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD LISTENED TO THOSE CONCERNS. SO EQUITY IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.

AND WE HAVE INTENTIONALLY CONTINUED OUR FOCUS ON HOW WE DEVELOP OUR BUDGET USING THAT, AND DEFINITELY WANT TO ENSURE THAT THAT CONTINUES INTO THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.

SO YOU'RE SAYING, TOO, THAT AS A PART OF THIS BUDGET, THE CITY ACKNOWLEDGES YOU USE THIS PHILOSOPHY.

THE CITY WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT THAT HAS SHAPED THIS SHAPED DALLAS.

AND THEREFORE, THROUGH YOUR BUDGET, YOU'RE SEEKING TO PRIORITIZE EQUITABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN UNDERSERVED AREAS, AS POSTED ON THE MAP.

WOULD THAT BE A FAIR STATEMENT? CORRECT. ALL RIGHT.

AT THIS TIME, I HAVE I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE I READ THAT IN WHAT WE CALL THE RECORD.

WE KNOW IT'S THE RECORD, BUT THE OFFICIAL RECORD FOR FOLKS TO HEAR ALSO THAT ARE IN THE PUBLIC.

THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE AND UNDERSTAND HOW WE WHERE WE GET TO THIS POINT, AS I SAID, WHERE THE SAUSAGE IS MADE.

WE HAVE TO ADVOCATE.

I KNOW I DO. WE LIVE IN DALLAS AND NONE OF DALLAS DALLAS CANNOT BE WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE UNLESS ALL OF US ARE FOCUSED IN PULLING EACH ONE OF US UP TOGETHER.

[03:05:03]

AND I WILL COME BACK BECAUSE I DID GET STARTED THIS MORNING ON, ON, ON A LITTLE ROLL WHEN THERE WERE THOSE WHO TRIED TO CHALLENGE THE FACT THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON AN AREA, TARGET AREAS, AND ONE OF WHICH IS STATED IN THE DOCUMENT, SOUTHERN DALLAS, SOUTHERN DALLAS AND INVESTMENT IN SOUTHERN DALLAS. AND WHAT A CONJUNCTION OTHER DISTRESS OR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME AREAS AND MAYOR, THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS BUDGET, AS WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT, WILL NOT BE JUST SOMETHING WRITTEN ON PAPER THAT WE WILL ALL RALLY BEHIND AND SUPPORT IT, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF DATA THAT'S PROVIDED.

AND WE NOT IGNORE THAT.

THAT'S FOCUSED ON AND INCLUSIVE OF EQUITY.

AND THAT IS MY POSITION TODAY.

IT WILL BE MY POSITION TOMORROW, AND IT IS GOING TO BE MY POSITION AS WE MOVE TOWARD SUPPORTING OR NOT SUPPORTING THIS BUDGET.

THANK YOU. MISS WILLIS, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM FOUR.

THANK YOU. SO IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, I HAVE NEVER VOTED FOR A CITY OF DALLAS BUDGET BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH ABOUT DUPLICATION OF SERVICES AND JOBS AND PROCESSES.

THE STREAMLINING AND EFFICIENCY I JUST DIDN'T THINK WERE THERE AND BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

AND AS A RESULT, YOU CAN'T REALLY LOWER THE TAX RATE BECAUSE YOU'RE HAVING TO PAY FOR THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

AND SO THERE WASN'T REALLY A PUSH FOR THAT SORT OF THING TO HAPPEN.

AND I FEEL LIKE NOW, MISS TOLBERT, AND WITH THE BUDGET TEAM AND STAFF, THAT HAS CHANGED.

SO NOW WE HAVE THIS BUDGET THAT IS $65 MILLION HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR.

AS WAS POINTED OUT, 28% OF THAT INCREASE IS GOING TO THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND OUT OF THIS $65 MILLION OVER LAST YEAR, WE'RE FINDING 78 MILLION FOR POLICE AND FIRE.

AND THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S WHAT OUR CITIZENS WANT.

THAT'S WHAT OUR RESIDENTS WANT.

THAT'S WHAT HELPS US KEEP A SAFE CITY.

AND BECAUSE OF THIS, THOUGH, OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAD TO LOOK AT PLACES TO CUT.

AND SOME OF THAT WAS IN LOOKING AT PROCESSES AND PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES, AND THAT WAS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THE WHOLE TIME.

THERE HAVE BEEN DEPARTMENT REALIGNMENTS.

AGAIN, I'M FEELING HEARD ON THIS AND THAT SOME THINKING HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN STREAMLINING.

AND HOW DO WE DELIVER OUR SERVICES BETTER, AND HOW DO WE INCREASE THE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS INTO SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T FIND FRICTION WITH, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY FEELING GOOD ABOUT THEIR CITY? SO OUR RESIDENTS DEMAND CORE SERVICES AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE THE MOST, LIKE LITTER AND ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP AND RAPID STORM RESPONSE.

THEY HAVE NEEDS GREATER THIS YEAR.

AND HONESTLY, I THINK IN THE PAST RECENT YEARS THAT REQUIRES MORE THAN OUR PREVIOUS BUDGETS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE.

AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PRIORITIES AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY AND REALLY INCREASING OUR OUR SPEND IN THAT I LIKE RESIDENTS BEING ABLE TO SEE MOVEMENT IN THE AREAS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.

AND SO I THINK ADDRESSING THE ENCAMPMENT CLEANUPS AND THE LITTER AND THAT SORT OF THING IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO START TO SEE OVER THE NEXT YEAR, AND IT'S GOING TO BE MEANINGFUL TO TO THEM.

AND SO I APPRECIATE BEING HEARD ON THAT AND FINDING A WAY THAT WE COULD WE CAN ADDRESS THAT FOR THEM.

AND SO ALL OF THIS IS TO SAY I AM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, AND I WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR NOT ONLY THIS BUDGET, BUT FOR WHAT IT SIGNIFIES.

IT FEELS LIKE IT'S A NEW DAY AS FAR AS HOW WE'RE GOING ABOUT CREATING A BUDGET.

AND WHILE I DON'T THINK IT'S TOTALLY THERE, I FEEL LIKE THIS YEAR IS A IS A YEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE HOW THESE NEW REALIGNMENTS AND PROCESSES AND EFFICIENCY ARE GOING TO BEAR FRUIT FOR US.

SO THE DISCUSSION HOPEFULLY WILL BE AMICABLE AS NEXT YEAR AS IT HAS BEEN THIS YEAR.

HOWEVER, I LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT THIS IS GOING.

AND SO AND I APPRECIATE BEING HEARD AND ALL THE WORK THAT THE STAFF HAS PUT INTO IT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE'RE TAKING STEPS IN THIS BUDGET TO GET US TO CREATING A CITY WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, WORK, LEARN AND PLAY.

AND SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

BUT I'M STILL GOING TO BE HAVING THAT FOOT ON THE GAS AS FAR AS CONTINUING WHAT I'VE BEEN SEEING OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, MISS TOLBERT.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO OUR VOTE.

I'M JUST CHECKING IN ON YOU, MR. RESENDEZ, TO SEE IF YOU WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE I GO TO ROUND.

I'M ABOUT TO GO TO ROUND TWO FOR THREE MINUTES FOR EVERYONE.

SO DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING FOR FIVE MINUTE ROUND? I DO. REALLY QUICKLY.

GO AHEAD. NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE REALLY QUICK.

YOU GOT A FIVE MINUTES, BROTHER.

FIVE MINUTES. I APPRECIATE IT.

[03:10:01]

AND I ALSO WANT TO STATE THAT DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS, WHILE CERTAIN CUTS WERE NECESSARY, I DON'T BELIEVE IN CUTTING ITEMS SIMPLY FOR THE SAKE OF IT.

WE MUST CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE REAL IMPACT THAT THESE DECISIONS HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT COMPROMISING ESSENTIAL SERVICES OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

WHEN I LEARNED THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR DID NOT INCLUDE FUNDING FOR THE HOT SPOT PROGRAM AND OUR DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARIES, I BECAME QUITE CONCERNED.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME FIGURING OUT HOW TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

I'M SURE MANY OF YOU RECALL THE STORIES ABOUT STUDENTS UNABLE TO COMPLETE HOMEWORK DUE TO A LACK OF INTERNET ACCESS, AS WELL AS RESIDENTS WHO COULDN'T WORK REMOTELY DUE DUE TO A LACK OF CONNECTIVITY.

AND AS A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE AND FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE AND LAW SCHOOL GRADUATE, I'M DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO CLOSE DISPARITIES AND ENSURE THAT ALL OUR RESIDENTS CAN THRIVE.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M SEEKING ASSURANCE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE ADVANCING CRUCIAL EQUITY INITIATIVES LIKE OUR DIGITAL EQUITY STRATEGY.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH INTERIM CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, WHO ASSURED ME THAT WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO ADVANCING EQUITY BY CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND DIGITAL RESOURCES. AND I'M CALLING ON HER HCM CITY OF PEREIRA AND THEIR TEAM TO MAINTAIN FOCUS ON THE GOAL OF CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WII COMMITTEE RECEIVING RECEIVING A BRIEFING ON THE CITY'S BROADER DIGITAL EQUITY STRATEGY, POTENTIAL ARPA REPROGRAMING, AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS, AS WELL AS SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO FILL THE UNMET GAPS IN PROVIDING CONNECTIVITY.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE CANNOT SHOULDER ALONE, AND WE MUST CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS ON THOSE WITH THE GREATEST NEEDS.

I'M PLEASED TO LEARN THAT WE ALREADY ARE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCOUNTED FUNDING FOR LIBRARIES THROUGH THE FCC'S RECENT RULE CHANGE TO SUPPORT WI-FI HOTSPOTS VIA THE E-RATE PROGRAM.

I ALSO APPLAUD STAFF'S EFFORTS TO APPLY FOR THE DIGITAL EQUITY COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM THROUGH THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION, WHICH COULD HELP REDUCE INTERNET COSTS FOR HOMES AND SUPPORT THE HOTSPOT LENDING PROGRAM.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS AS WE WORK TO EXPLORE EVERY AVENUE FOR REDUCING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN DALLAS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUDGET PROCESS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, WE'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO THREE MINUTE ROUNDS, SO I WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY A HEADS UP, BECAUSE AS SOON AS I FIND OUT HOW THE AGENDA IS GOING TO UNFOLD, AFTER TALKING TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, CITY SECRETARY, CITY MANAGER, I LIKE TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP ITEMS FOUR, FIVE AND SIX AND THEN RECESS FOR LUNCH BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES ON THE THINGS THAT REQUIRE RECORD VOTE BY LAW.

THE RISK OF LOSING A QUORUM OR NOT GETTING THE NINE VOTES THAT ARE NEEDED ON ITEM FIVE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO FOUR, FIVE AND SIX THEN TO HAVE OUR LUNCH BREAK AFTER THAT AND THEN TAKE UP THE REST WHEN WE COME BACK.

AND WE ALSO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION DURING LUNCH TODAY.

ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT ROUND TWO.

MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. JACK, I GUESS IN THE BUDGET, DO WE HAVE A LINE ITEM ANYWHERE THAT REFERS TO MARKETING THE CITY AS A WHOLE? COUNCIL MEMBER.

WE DO HAVE THE COMMUNICATIONS AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE EFFICIENCIES.

OFFICE THAT DOES HAVE STAFF THAT ARE INVOLVED IN MARKETING THE COMMUNITY, AND SO I WILL ALLOW MISS TOLBERT TO EXPAND MORE ON THAT OR MISS SAAB.

THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.

AND SO OUR FOCUS ON HOW WE CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE THE CURRENT FUNDING THAT WE HAVE IN ORDER TO DO A BETTER JOB IN MARKETING WILL BE ONGOING. WE'RE ALSO TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, OF LOOKING AT A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN.

WE BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL ALLOW FOR US TO ALSO ENHANCE JUST ENGAGEMENT OVERALL AND HOW WE CAN THEN BEGIN TO TEAM AND PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND MAKING SURE THAT DALLAS IS BEING PRESENTED.

AND WE'RE DOING SO IN A WAY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE.

ELIZABETH, PLEASE JUMP IN AND ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL OR HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT I MAY NOT HAVE COVERED.

YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MADAM INTERIM CITY MANAGER MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER, TOLBERT SUGGESTED THE CITY IS UNDERGOING A FULL BRAND REFRESH.

WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT THAT STRATEGY TOMORROW TO OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND ON MONDAY TO THE GFM COMMITTEE, AND IT DOES INCLUDE BRINGING ALL OF OUR BRANDING AND MESSAGING UNDER ONE OVERALL UMBRELLA, AND THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO REALLY

[03:15:03]

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE THAT WE HAVE FOUND OVER THE LAST 90 DAYS OR SO THAT WE'VE RESEARCHED AND PUT THIS PLAN TOGETHER, IS THAT WE, AS AN ORGANIZATION, HAVE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE COHESIVE IN HOW WE TALK TO TALK WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

AND WE'VE LEARNED THROUGH OUR RESEARCH THAT MANY PEOPLE DO FEEL THAT THE MESSAGING IS FRAGMENTED.

AND SO IN SUPPORT OF THE DIRECTIVE TO CREATE AN OVERALL CITY WIDE COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY, IT IS ACTUALLY REORGANIZING THE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE DEDICATED ROLES THAT WILL BE MORE CLEARLY DEFINED, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE DEDICATED TO HOW WE ROLL THAT MESSAGE OUT VERSUS JUST RESPONDING TO REPORTER INQUIRIES.

I WAS REFERRING TO, I UNDERSTAND, THE RESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT ABOUT THE CITY? I'M SORRY ABOUT THE CITY.

I DO UNDERSTAND THE RESIDENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

SO THE CITY. YES, SIR.

THAT THAT ACTUALLY IS PART OF THE OVERALL BRANDING.

WE AS AN ORGANIZATION HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MESSAGES THAT ARE GOING OUT THROUGH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, THROUGH OUR STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS, THROUGH OUR ELECTEDS. AND SO AS A CITY OF DALLAS AS A WHOLE, WE ARE BRINGING IT ALL UNDER ONE UMBRELLA.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT A BRAND, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S WELL KNOWN, EITHER A, YOU KNOW, AN OVER A BIG BRAND THAT YOU WOULD THINK OF THAT HAS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SUBBRANDS UNDERNEATH IT.

THAT'S HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CITY OF DALLAS.

IT'S BEST PRACTICES IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES THAT ARE OF OUR SIZE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THEY HAVE ONE BRAND AND THEY THAT IS HOW THEY MESSAGE.

AND SO THEIR DEPARTMENTS WORK WITH THE CITY OF NEW YORK TO TAILOR THEIR MESSAGING AS NEEDED TO WHAT THEIR FUNCTIONS ARE.

AND SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE NEW BRAND GUIDELINES.

ET CETERA. THAT WE AS AN ORGANIZATION WILL BE TAILORING OUR MESSAGING TO.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE DO HAVE CITY WIDE INITIATIVES LIKE THE INCORPORATING THE TAX AMOUNT THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE CITYWIDE CLEANUP FEE.

THAT WILL BE ONE MESSAGE THAT WE WOULD BE PUTTING OUT THERE VERSUS EVERY DEPARTMENT INTERPRETING HOW THEY SEE THAT STRATEGY, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. YES.

IN A WAY, YOU KNOW, CAN I HAVE ROBIN BENTLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COME FORWARD, PLEASE? I HAVE A QUESTION. MY QUESTION IS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, WE DO NOT MARKET THE CITY OUTSIDE THE CITY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD A REGIONAL CHAMBER WHO MARCHED THE CITY.

MY QUESTION FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS, WE DON'T HAVE A MARKETING DEPARTMENT THAT REALLY SELLS DALLAS.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? IS MARKETING TRYING TO SELL THE CITY OF DALLAS TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE SUBURBS? YES, SIR. AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT LENSES TO LOOK THROUGH FOR THAT QUESTION.

I THINK VISITDALLAS DOES A FABULOUS JOB OF MARKETING THE AREA FROM A TOURISM PERSPECTIVE.

I THINK YOU'RE IN MY PERSPECTIVE IS PROBABLY MORE OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE.

AND SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE FORMED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS TO START DOING THAT WORK.

AND SO NOW THAT LINDA MCMAHON IS ON BOARD AND SHE'S HIRED STAFF, THAT WILL BE THEIR CHARGE TO MARKET THE CITY OF DALLAS, NOT THE REGION, THE CITY OF DALLAS WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON SOUTHERN DALLAS.

RIGHT. AND THE REASON WHY I KEEP BRINGING THIS UP.

IF WE'RE GOING TO GROW THE CITY OF DALLAS, WE CAN GROW THE TAX BASE.

WE GOT TO MARKET THE CITY OF DALLAS AS A WHOLE WITH A WORLD CLASS CITY, A CAN DO CITY.

BUT WE DO A POOR JOB OF MARKETING OUR ASSETS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS.

DENSITY DEVELOPMENT, HIGH RISE, WHATEVER YOU'RE GOING TO DO, IF WE GOT A BUDGET IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA RAISE NOT LOWER TAX VALUE, LOWER THE TAX PROPERTY, BUT ALSO CREATE AN INCOME STREAM TO PAY THE BILLS.

I KEEP SAYING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

PAY THE BILLS.

WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YOU CANNOT PAY THE BILLS AROUND HERE.

NO ONE BE ABLE TO WORK TO GET PAID.

WE GOT TO DEVELOP A STRONG MARKETING OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.

WE ARE COMPETING AGAINST THE SUBURBS.

WE ARE A COMPETITOR AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE COMPETING AGAINST THE SUBURBS.

IF WE DON'T MARKET OUR CITY AND MAKE SURE WE INVEST IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DALLAS AND MAKE SURE DENSITY, WHATEVER WE NEED TO TAKE, WE GOT TO SELL THE CITY OF DALLAS BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT SELLING THE PRODUCT.

AND WE GOT ONE OF THE BEST PRODUCTS.

IT IS THE CITY OF DALLAS.

[03:20:02]

YES, SIR. I'M SORRY.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND IT ALL STARTS WITH AN ACTUAL BRAND IDENTITY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD FOUND IN THE RESEARCH THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AS IT RELATES TO WHETHER IT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OR JUST OUR RESIDENTS IN GENERAL NEEDING TO GET INFORMATION, THERE IS NO ONE BRAND IDENTITY.

SO PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT IS THE CITY OF DALLAS AND WHAT'S COMING OUT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.

AND ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE OF CREATING A CITYWIDE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN IS ACTUALLY CREATING THAT BRAND IDENTITY.

SO WHEN ROBIN WORKS WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO MARKET THE ACTUAL SOUTHERN DALLAS TO GROW OUR TAX BASE. NOW WHAT SHE WILL, SHE AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL BE ARMED WITH IS AN ACTUAL BRAND IDENTITY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE FOUND AS ONE OF THE BARRIERS FOR US TO ACTUALLY NOT ONLY MARKET THE CITY, BUT REACH PEOPLE, TO REALLY HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHY DALLAS IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.

WHY OUR ORGANIZATION, AS THE CITY OF DALLAS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO WORK, AND WHY WE AS AN AS AN AS A REGION, ACTUALLY NOT A REGION, BUT AS IT'S A CITY SPECIFICALLY IN SOUTHERN DALLAS IS A GREAT PLACE TO INVEST.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED ABOUT THE BRAND IDENTITY ITSELF, IT CREATES ENORMOUS BARRIERS TO ACTUALLY MARKETING THE CITY, TO HELP THEM WANT TO BE INVESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MIGHT BE IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

AND SO THE GREAT NEWS ABOUT ALL OF THIS IS THAT WE HAVE UNDERGONE THIS AMAZING BRAND REFRESH WITH THE SUPPORT OF INTERIM CITY MANAGER TOLBERT.

WE ARE NOW GOING TO BRING ONE BRAND IDENTITY.

SO NOW WE CAN SAY TO ROBIN, HEY, WE'VE GOT A BRAND IDENTITY NOW.

SO NOW IT'S UP TO THE EDC TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MARKET THAT BRAND IDENTITY.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE CAN REALLY PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT INTERNALLY.

SO NOW WE'VE GOT AN ASSET THAT WE CAN GIVE TO HER TO SAY WE KNOW WHO WE ARE.

WE KNOW WHAT OUR BRAND IS.

AND NOW YOU GO TAKE THAT BRAND AND TAILOR IT TO WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS TASKED TO DO.

THANK YOU. SO.

SO WE'RE SAYING IN THIS $5 BILLION BUDGET, WHAT IS THE BUDGET FOR THE MARKETING? SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE A BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE 311 DEPARTMENT.

AND SO AS IT RELATES TO SPECIFICALLY MARKETING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE EDC IS CHARGED WITH DOING.

WHAT WE'VE USED WITH OUR RESOURCES IS TO LEVERAGE THE BRAND REFRESH AND ESSENTIALLY REBUILD OUR TEAM.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IN OUR CITY WHAT MARKETING LOOKS LIKE, THAT'S ACTUALLY THE TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT WILL DEVELOP OUR VIDEO CONTENT. FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW WE SEND OUT SO MANY NEWSLETTERS ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE CITY AND WHAT WE WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO SEE STORIES, THEY DON'T WANT TO READ THEM.

AND SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO PRODUCE VIDEOS AND TELL OUR STORY ABOUT DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY AND DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS THAT WE HAVE AT THE CITY, AND SHARE THOSE RESOURCES WITH OUR VARIOUS OUTLETS THAT ARE WANTING TO USE THOSE RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, TO, QUOTE, MARKET THE CITY OR OUR H.R.

TEAM THAT'S WORKING ON RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

AND WE'VE ALSO ALLOCATED NOT IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME DOLLARS LEFT THAT WE HAD UTILIZED TO UNDERGO THIS BRAND REFRESH.

I GUESS I'M CONFUSED. YOU SAID ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION VERSUS CITY OF DALLAS.

THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES.

MY CONCERN IS, NUMBER ONE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE THE ANSWER TODAY, I WOULD LOVE TO FIND WHAT IS THE LINE ITEM TO MARKET THE CITY OF DALLAS.

I NEED THAT NUMBER RIGHT THERE, BECAUSE I'M PROBABLY GONNA PUT AN AMENDMENT IN.

DON'T LET EVERYBODY KNOW, BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, WE'RE DOING A POOR JOB OF MARKETING THE CITY OF DALLAS.

AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS THAT NUMBER? YEAH, IF I MAY.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T NEED IT TODAY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO PUT AMENDMENT I'M GOING TO LET YOU KNOW AHEAD OF TIME.

SO TO CLARIFY, THERE IS NO FUNDING IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

THERE IS NO MONEY, RIGHT, FOR THE CORPORATION BECAUSE WE PRE-FUNDED $7 MILLION OF SEED FUNDING THAT THEY ARE STILL WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH.

AND SO THAT TASK HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THEM.

THEY'VE BEEN FUNDED TO DO THAT TASK.

WHEN THEY NEED MORE FUNDING, THEY'LL FIGURE THAT OUT, COME TALK TO US, FUNDRAISE, WHATEVER THEIR PLAN IS.

BUT AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NO NEW FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

[03:25:01]

IF YOU'RE ASKING US FOR A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM THAT SAYS THE WORD MARKETING, EVERY SINGLE CITY DEPARTMENT.

AS ELIZABETH HAS MENTIONED, THE WAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS IS THAT EACH DEPARTMENT HAD THEIR OWN SEPARATE INDIVIDUAL LINE ITEMS FOR ADVERTISEMENT ACROSS WHATEVER DIFFERENT PLATFORMS AND DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY COMMUNICATE THEIR INFORMATION.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, AS WE'VE SAID THIS PREVIOUSLY, IS THAT WE BELIEVE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST HAVE A LINE ITEM FOR MARKETING, BUT WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT AN OVERALL COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AND HOW THAT STRATEGY GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOW PARTNER WITH A LOT OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WHO THIS COUNCIL HAS CHARGED WITH MARKETING THE CITY OF DALLAS.

HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT THERE IS ALIGNMENT, THAT THERE'S MESSAGING THAT IS CONSISTENT, AND IT'S GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO THEN LEVERAGE THOSE ASSETS OUTSIDE THE CITY TO HELP US DO THAT JOB, SO WE CAN COME BACK AND PROVIDE YOU WITH A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM.

BUT WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE CITY COUNCIL EARLIER IN THE YEAR WAS WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO LOOK AT WHAT WE DO WELL, AND IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO PARTNER AND FIND WAYS TO USE OUR FUNDING TO ELEVATE IT AND TO LEVERAGE IT, THAT WAS WHAT OUR CHARGE WAS.

SO IN THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE, WHAT ELIZABETH IS, IS, IS REALLY COMMUNICATING IS THAT WE SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO BE MORE UNIFIED OVERALL WITH OUR MESSAGING, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BEGIN TO MARKET AND PUT ANYTHING OUT THERE IF WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE OF WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO PROMOTE FROM AN ASSET STANDPOINT. SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD AND AS WE LOOK AT WAYS TO THEN LEVERAGE OUR EXISTING RESOURCES AND WHAT WE HAVE, AND BEING ABLE TO USE THOSE RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT MAKES US MORE EFFECTIVE IN HOW WE COMMUNICATE OVERALL, THEN I THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW WE POSITION THE CITY AND HOW WE CAN REALLY BEGIN TO PUSH FORWARD AND HOW WE ELEVATE DALLAS AND ALL OF THE ATTRIBUTES THAT WE OFFER FROM A MARKETING STANDPOINT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

YEAH. AND THANK YOU FOR THE ANSWER FOR THAT.

BUT TO POSITION THE CITY, I STILL SAY WE DO A BAD JOB AND WE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB AND SOONER OR LATER.

BUT WE GOT TO DO IT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE A SHORTFALL.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY ON FOCUS, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN MARKETING.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES ON ITEM FOUR.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, I WANT TO PICK UP WHERE CHAIR ATKINS LEFT OFF ON THE OR.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS ON THE INCOME STREAM.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON IN THE FUTURE.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.

WE'VE GOT BUDGET SHORTFALLS IN THE FUTURE.

WE KNOW THAT'S COMING.

INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON CUTTING EVERY LIBRARY IN THE CITY AND IN OUR PARKS AND STRUGGLING IN OUR COUCH CUSHIONS FOR FOR MAKING CUTS, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON DEVELOPING OUR INCOME STREAM. I THINK THERE'S THREE WAYS TO GET THERE.

ONE IS TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NO CAPS ON THE TAX RATE OF NEW DEVELOPMENT.

WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON NEW DEVELOPMENT.

AND AS CITY MANAGER SAID, WORKING WITH THE EDC AND ACTIVATING WHAT WE CAN AND WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FROM THE CITY'S 50,000 ACRES OF REAL ESTATE.

NOW, OF COURSE, FAIR PARK.

OUR PARKS ARE IN THERE. WE'RE NOT YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TOUCHING ANY OF THAT.

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF LAND WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON THAT WE OWN.

AND WE NEED A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE OUR REAL ESTATE.

AND IF THE EDC IS GOING TO DO THAT, I'M FINE WITH THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE, BUT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THIS 50 000 ACRES OF REAL ESTATE.

SECOND WHEN THE EDC OR COUNCIL OR WHOEVER BRINGS IN NEW CORPORATIONS TO DEVELOP IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, THEY NEED TO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE AT THE PERMIT OFFICE.

WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE THE MOST.

I FEEL LIKE A BROKEN RECORD ON THIS.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE MOST EFFICIENT PERMIT OFFICE IN THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S NO REASON WE CAN'T DO THAT HERE.

WE'RE MUCH BETTER THAN WE WERE.

WE'VE GOT GOOD LEADERSHIP IN THE DEPARTMENT.

I FEEL LIKE THE CITY MANAGER HAS BEEN HEARING ME FOR FIVE YEARS ON THIS.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.

IT'S GOT TO BE THE MAJOR LEAGUES OF THE CITY OF DALLAS IN TERMS OF DEPARTMENTS.

AND THEN THIRD.

WHEN YOU WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT DENSITY IS ALWAYS A HOT TOPIC UP HERE, IT'S ALWAYS A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC UP HERE.

BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT YOU PUT THREE THINGS ON THE TABLE AND YOU CAN PICK TWO OF THEM.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO PICK? YOU ALL OF US WANT GREAT SERVICES.

WE WANT POLICE.

WE WANT FIRE.

WE WANT PARKS, WE WANT LIBRARIES.

ALL OF US WANT LOW TAXES.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT LOW DENSITY.

IF YOU CAN ONLY PICK TWO OF THOSE, WHICH TWO ARE YOU GOING TO PICK? DENSITY BRINGS US MORE TAXES.

DENSITY BRINGS US THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR POLICE.

[03:30:04]

DENSITY HELPS WITH THAT TAX RATE.

NOW IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE EVERYWHERE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD TOWERS ALL OVER DISTRICT EIGHT, ALTHOUGH THERE MIGHT BE SOME APPROPRIATE PLACES TO DO THAT.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE WILLING TO HAVE THAT HARD CONVERSATION.

AND WHEN WE HAVE THESE ZONING CASES, THESE LAND USE CASES COME BEFORE US.

WE NEED TO DO WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAN'T.

WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMICS OF IT AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE CITY.

PLANNING COMMISSION IS NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT.

BUT WE CAN DO THAT HERE AND WE NEED TO START DOING THAT.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN MORENO, I THINK YOU SPOKE AND YOU GET FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

CITY MANAGER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS BUDGET.

YOU WERE TASKED WITH JUMPING STRAIGHT INTO THIS FROM DAY ONE.

MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE SAME CONCERN THAT I HAD AT THE BEGINNING OF THESE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS.

AND THAT'S I APPLAUD THE TAX RATE GOING DOWN.

HOWEVER, I'M NOT EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW PROPOSED FEES OF $57.6 MILLION THAT OUR RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO PAY THIS YEAR.

I'M EXCITED AGAIN ABOUT THE CUTTING OF THE VACANCIES.

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PENSION, INCREASING PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMITMENT TO OUR CORE SERVICES, DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.

WILL OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS AND ANY OTHER POPULATIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE CURRENTLY HAVE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS BE REQUIRED TO PAY THESE NEW FEES? SO COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO THE FEES THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASES IN WATER, STORM WATER, SANITATION AND THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP FEE.

THEY DO NOT PROVIDE AN EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS.

SO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS PAY THOSE FEES DEPENDING ON THEIR USE AND WHAT CLASS THAT THEY'RE IN BASED ON THE FEE, HOW THE FEE IS DETERMINED.

OKAY, SO I'M JUST NOT SURE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT AN INCREASE OF ANY KIND FOR OUR SENIORS WHO HAVE FIXED INCOMES WHEN THEY'VE ALREADY COME TO EXPECT THOSE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS.

AND SO I'M STILL STRUGGLING OVER A POTENTIAL INCREASE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN.

SO IF I IF I MAY JUST MAKE A CORRECTION.

SO THE FEES THAT I'M REFERRING TO ARE THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE COST OF SERVICE.

SO WATER STORM WATER SANITATION, THEIR COST OF SERVICE FEES, THE EXEMPTION THAT'S PROVIDED TO OUR OVER 65 DISABLED POPULATION.

CITY COUNCIL HAS IN FACT INCREASED THAT FEE BACK OR THAT EXEMPTION BACK IN JUNE.

SO THERE IS NO CHANGE OR DECREASE IN THE EXEMPTION PROVIDED THERE'S ACTUALLY AN INCREASE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION.

SANWONG MENDELSOHN.

THANK YOU FOR OUR TOTAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 COMPARED TO THIS FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET.

CAN YOU TELL US THE TOTAL BUDGET AMOUNT AND CHARACTERIZE THAT INCREASE OR DECREASE? FEEL FREE TO ROUND THE NUMBERS.

SO THE FISCAL YEAR 24 ADOPTED BUDGET AND THAT INCLUDES ALL FUNDING SOURCES THE GENERAL FUND, AVIATION CONVENTION CENTER DALLAS WATER UTILITIES DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, SANITATION, OUR DEBT SERVICE, OUR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WHICH COME FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AND OUR CAPITAL.

SO FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, THAT BUDGET WAS SIX $2 BILLION.

AND SO FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL THAT'S READ INTO THE RECORD IS ACTUALLY THE FIVE POINT.

3 BILLION. THANK YOU.

5.3 BILLION.

AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THAT MATH FOR US ON THE DIFFERENCE OF HOW MUCH THE BUDGET IS INCREASING THIS YEAR.

SURE. ONE SECOND.

AND THE 5.3 THAT'S TAKING OUT THE DUPLICATION FOR THE FOR THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL FUND.

RIGHT. SO THE THE 5.3 INCLUDES THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT, EXCLUDING THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, IT'S ROUGHLY AN INCREASE OF $340 MILLION, OR

[03:35:07]

AND SO THAT 340 MILLION THAT I MENTIONED AND THE 7.4% WAS BASED ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET, BUT YOU ONLY CHANGED THE BUDGET BY, YOU KNOW, $700,000. SO I'M PRETTY CLOSE.

YEAH. OKAY.

SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND WELL, I GUESS I'M GOING TO GO TO THIS, THAT MY RESIDENTS WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT FEELING ABOUT THE APPROVAL OF THIS BUDGET.

AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY IS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN MORE MONEY FOR EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS ON THE FORCE.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HAD A LOWER TAX RATE THAT'S COMPETITIVE WITH OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES AND NOT HAVE ADDED FEES.

I THINK THAT WITH THIS KIND OF BUDGET, HAD IT EXPANDED, THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS AND THE POLICE FORCE, THERE MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT FEELING.

BUT CERTAINLY THIS NEW ADDED TAX IN THE FORM OF A FEE IS GOING TO BE UNACCEPTABLE.

SO THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS ACTUALLY ON PAGE FIVE, FIVE FOUR OF THE BUDGET.

AND IT'S ABOUT THE THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA.

SO WE HAVE FIVE OF THEM, I'M SORRY, FOUR OF THEM THAT ARE DESIGNATED AS NOT BEING IN COMPLIANCE.

SO TEN 1125 AND 35.

AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD JUST GO THROUGH EACH OF THOSE AND TELL US WHY WE'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR OWN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA, CRITERIA.

SO FMPC NUMBER TEN, THIS IS FACILITY REPLACEMENT VERSUS MAINTENANCE ANALYSIS.

AND SO THIS IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE AS STATED, BECAUSE OPERATING EXPENDITURES.

I MEAN, I CAN READ IT, I GUESS, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG.

OPERATING EXPENDITURES WILL BE PROGRAMED TO INCLUDE CURRENT COST OF FULLY MAINTAINING CITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING PARKS, STREETS, LEVEES, VEHICLES, BUILDINGS, AND EQUIPMENT.

A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS WILL BE PERFORMED ON REPLACEMENT COSTS VERSUS PROJECTED REQUIRED MAINTENANCE COSTS TO TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL AT WHICH CITY FACILITIES SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. THE ANALYSIS WILL BE DETERMINED OR WILL ALSO DETERMINE THE LONG TERM COST OR ANY POTENTIAL DEFERRED MAINTENANCE COSTS.

NORMAL MAINTENANCE WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE OPERATING BUDGET.

AND SO THIS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS NOT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FUNDING THAT WE ALLOCATE TO CITY FACILITIES AND THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS DURING THE OUR PROPOSAL FOR THE 2024 BOND PROGRAM.

AND SO THERE WERE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE TO ADDRESS FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND LONG TERM NEEDS.

AND SO THIS PARTICULAR FMPC HAS BEEN DISCUSSED EXTENSIVELY.

SO THIS IS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT FUNDING MAINTENANCE FOR OUR ASSETS AS REQUIRED BY OUR FMPC.

THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. SO NUMBER 11.

SO NUMBER 11 SAME THING EXCEPT IT DEALS WITH EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE.

SO IF YOU ALL RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO, WE HIRED A CONSULTANT TO COME IN, PERFORM AN ANALYSIS OF OUR FLEET AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS AND REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL'S EFFORTS BECAUSE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY ALLOCATING FUNDS TO FLEET AND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT.

WE HAVE ADDRESSED BOTH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS REGARDING APPARATUS AND OUR OUR EMTS.

AND SO I THINK WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

WE ARE STILL NOT IN COMPLIANCE.

WE HOPE OVER THE NEXT YEAR TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE UPDATES AS TO WHERE WE ARE, BUT I THINK FROM A COMPLIANCE PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE PROBABLY CLOSER TO COMPLIANCE ON NUMBER 11 THAN WE ARE ON NUMBER TEN.

WHAT WAS THE 25? 25. LET'S SEE.

COMPETITIVE PAY.

SO THIS IS A LONG ONE.

THE CITY NEED TO ACTUALLY READ IT.

OKAY. THE QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE NOT? WHAT WHAT IS CAUSING US TO NOT BE.

SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.

SO WE HAVE A MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT THAT REQUIRES THAT WE DO A MARKET ANALYSIS OF OUR COMPETITIVENESS COMPARED TO CITIES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED.

AND SO THIS FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET PROVIDES A 7.3% INCREASE IN MARKET PAY FOR OUR UNIFORMED PERSONNEL.

HOWEVER, THE BUDGET ALSO PROVIDES A MERIT INCREASE FOR OUR NON UNIFORMED PERSONNEL, BUT IT IS NOT 7.23%.

[03:40:05]

OKAY. THE LAST ONE WAS 35.

35 CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

SO THIS ONE STATES THAT OUR CADET AND I REALLY NEED TO READ THIS ONE BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED.

CADET, WHICH IS OUR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, INCLUDING THAT FOR RISK MANAGEMENT FUNDED FUNDING SUPPORTED BY AN AD VALOREM TAX PLEDGE, WHICH IS OUR PROPERTY TAX SHOULD NOT EXCEED 15% OF TOTAL AUTHORIZED AND ISSUED DEBT.

SO THIS ONE COMPARES OUR CO DEBT TO OUR G.O.

DEBT. AND SO REALLY THE MAJOR DRIVER OF THIS NONCOMPLIANCE.

SO WE DO ISSUE CEOS ON BEHALF OF OUR STORM DRAINAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

THEY DO PAY FOR THE DEBT SERVICE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

THIS YEAR WE ALSO ISSUED CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATIONS FOR FAIR PARK.

AND SO THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF AND THEY'VE DISCUSSED THIS IN COMMITTEE OF ALLOCATING A SURCHARGE FOR TICKET SALES TO PAY THIS.

AND SO REALLY THOSE ARE THE DRIVERS OF THIS BEING IN NONCOMPLIANCE.

YOU KNOW, ARE ISSUING DEBT, ISSUING COSTS IN ADDITION TO ISSUING GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.

AND YOUR PHILOSOPHY IS THAT BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE HAVE REVENUE PLEDGED TO THEM.

CORRECT. YOU FEEL THAT HAVING DOUBLE THE FMPC IS OKAY FOR THESE FOR THIS PARTICULAR FMPC BECAUSE THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUANCES HAVE DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCES.

THERE'S NO IMPACT TO THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.

IN FACT, THIS THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET REDUCES THE DEBT SERVICE RATE.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THIS IS CALCULATED WE DO LOOK AT IT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY THE FOOTNOTE IS THERE TO EXPLAIN WHY IT'S NOT IN COMPLIANCE.

AND IN LOOKING AT OUR DEBT.

PAGE 565 OUTLINES THAT WE HAVE $7.5 BILLION IN DEBT.

IS THAT CORRECT? SO THE DEBT SERVICE OVERVIEW THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO SHOWS TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH.

I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE 7.5 BILLION IS CORRECT.

IT'S THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL BALANCE.

HOWEVER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEBT SERVICE THERE'S THERE'S DEBT PAID BY THE PROPERTY TAXES, AND THERE'S DEBT PAID BY REVENUE BONDS.

AND SO DEBT PAID FROM PROPERTY TAXES IS 3.7 BILLION OF THAT 7.5.

BUT AGAIN, THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET DOES INCLUDE A REDUCTION IN THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE.

SO WHILE OUR OVERALL TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT HAS INCREASED, THE TAX RATE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT DEBT CONTINUES TO DECREASE AND IT HAS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

SO I'LL JUST SAY THAT, I MEAN, LIKE 270 MILLION IS CONVENTION CENTER, BUT SHOULD THE CONVENTION CENTER NOT GENERATE THE REVENUE TO PAY DEBT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS? THE GENERAL FUND IS ON THE HOOK FOR THAT.

RIGHT? SO I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DEBT COVENANTS BEFORE I SAY YES TO THAT.

OKAY. SO ON PAGE FIVE 969 WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALSO DEBT SERVICE.

THE FIRST TWO ITEMS LISTED ARE GO PENSION BONDS.

THESE ARE BOTH FOR THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND ISSUED IN 2005.

CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. MY TIME WASN'T STOPPED.

THAT IS CORRECT. AND HAVE WE EVER ISSUED PENSION BONDS FOR DALLAS POLICE FIRE PENSION FUND? WE HAVE NOT ISSUED PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND.

HOWEVER, AS STATED A YEAR AGO AND IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS, WE HAVE SET ASIDE IN OUR FORECAST TWO ISSUE PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS IF THE MARKET IS FAVORABLE.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUTSTANDING DEBT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE REDUCTION IN THE TAX RATE OUR ASSUMPTIONS ASSUME THAT WE'VE LEFT CAPACITY TO DO SO IF THE MARKET CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE.

SO. BUT THAT WOULD ADDITIONALLY JEANETTE, IF I MAY ADD, OF COURSE THAT WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL OF COUNCIL AND APPROVAL OF VOTERS.

YES. AND WHEN IT WAS ISSUED IN 2005 FOR BOTH THOSE SERIES, WHAT WAS THE FACE VALUE? I BELIEVE WE ISSUED A TOTAL OF 500 MILLION.

[03:45:04]

I MAY HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER.

NO, THIS IS ONE OF THEM THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

OKAY. SO ON PAGE 570 WHEN YOU LOOK AT DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS.

SO THE 427 MILLION.

CAN YOU CHARACTERIZE WHAT THAT IS? THE 427 MILLION THAT'S PROJECTED TO BE PAID IN FISCAL YEAR 25 REFLECTS ALL OF THE PAYMENTS, OR IT'S IT'S THE FISCAL YEAR 25 PAYMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH ALL OF THE ITEMS ON PAGE 569.

SO THAT'S THE THE PENSION BONDS THAT PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.

I'M SORRY. SO IT'S IT'S THE PENSION BONDS THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT.

BUT THEN BONDS DATING BACK TO 2010.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL HAS HAD A BOND ELECTION 2020 2017 BOND ELECTION.

PRIOR TO THAT, 2012, 2006, 2003.

AND SO THE DEBT THAT'S LISTED HERE IS JUST A REFLECTION OF, OF OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE APPROVAL BY THE VOTERS.

AND ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT NUMBER, THAT IS ABOUT THE SAME AS OUR ANNUAL SALES TAX REVENUE.

CORRECT. IT'S CLOSE TO IT.

IT'S SLIGHTLY LESS OR EVEN ABOUT THE SAME COST AS OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SO I'LL JUST SAY THAT THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BUDGET ALLOCATION IS ALSO MISSING THE FACT THAT TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS OUR NUMBER ONE DEPARTMENT WITH ALL FUNDS CONSIDERED.

THANK YOU. I'M OUT OF TIME.

YOU HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF A MINUTE, I BELIEVE.

CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. JUST. THIS IS TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.

WHAT IMPACT DOES A HIGHER PROPERTY TAX HAVE ON CRAFTING A BUDGET IN TERMS OF REVENUE? LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

SO IF THE TAX RATE IS HIGHER IN THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE, WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE.

BUT AS WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT CAP OF THE THREE AND A HALF, 3.5%.

I JUST WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH THAT.

YES. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE MORE MONEY? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE REVENUE AND EVENTUALLY SERVICE? SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME.

COUNCILWOMAN ARNOLD, WHEN YOU CRAFT A BUDGET BASED ON A HIGHER PROPERTY TAX, HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR REVENUE AND THE TERMS OF SERVICE OPTIONS? WELL, WHEN YOU HAVE LESS MONEY, YOU DEFINITELY HAVE TO LOOK AT WAYS TO FUND ONGOING NEEDS THAT MIGHT HAVE NATURAL INCREASES IN COST OVERALL.

BUT ON A IF YOU GET A HIGHER PROPERTY TAX RATE, ARE YOU INDEED COLLECTING MORE FUNDS FOR YOUR BUDGET? YES. IF YOU THE HIGHER THE TAX RATE, THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT YOU GET.

MY POINT WAS, IS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TAX.

WE HAVE A CAP THAT WE'RE UNDER.

ALL RIGHT. SO THE HIGHER THE TAX THE MORE FUNDS YOU REVENUE.

AND THEN YOU CAN PROVIDE MORE SERVICES, WHETHER IT BE A FAIR STATEMENT.

IF YOU HAVE MORE MONEY, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO IF SERVICES IN CERTAIN AREAS NEED TO BE INCREASED AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING, YOU WOULD HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT IF IT'S NEEDED. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LOWER THE PROPERTY TAX VALUE AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CRAFT A BUDGET IN TERMS OF REVENUE AND SERVICE.

THERE ARE THERE'S AN IMPACT ON REVENUE OVERALL, AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN NOT ONLY STREAMLINE, BUT FIND WAYS TO TIGHTEN OUR BUDGETS ACROSS THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH WITH THIS BUDGET.

WOULD IT BE A FAIR STATEMENT IF WE REDUCTION REDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAX WOULD GENERATE FEWER DOLLARS FOR YOUR REVENUE TO CRAFT YOUR BUDGET? I'M NOT A YOU UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE LESS MONEY.

IS THAT IS THAT WHAT THAT MEANS? IF YOU HAVE LESS MONEY, THEN IT DEFINITELY DOES IMPACT YOUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

YES, MA'AM. SO WHAT DECISION THEN DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE IN TERMS OF PRIORITY OF SERVICES? WELL, I THINK IT'S BACK TO WHAT WE DESCRIBED.

IT IS A IT'S A CUMBERSOME AND A COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS, BUT IT IS A PROCESS THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STREAMLINING.

WE'RE BEING MORE EFFICIENT, WE'RE BEING MORE EFFECTIVE.

AND THAT SHOULD NOT, IN MY OPINION, BE DONE JUST AS PART OF THE BUDGET.

IT NEEDS TO BE AN ONGOING WAY THAT WE LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATION, WE KNOW THAT.

AND I STATED THIS EARLIER THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OTHER DIFFICULT BUDGET YEARS COMING.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THIS BUDGET AND THE WORK WITH THE ADOPTION OF THIS BUDGET, THAT THAT ONGOING WORK HAS TO CONTINUE TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN HOW WE DELIVER SERVICES AND HOW WE SPEND OUR FUNDS OR THE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

SO FOR THE CONSTITUENTS, THE TAXPAYERS OF A DELIVERY OF SERVICE, WHAT DECISIONS ARE YOU HAVING TO MAKE IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES WITH WITH THE BUDGET AS YOU HAVE LESS TIME? WHAT TYPE OF WHAT TYPE OF SERVICES ARE WE TALKING EXACTLY?

[03:50:02]

SO THE COMMUNITY SURVEY INFORMED A LOT OF THE WAYS THAT WE HAD TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE NEEDED TO FOCUS ON.

WE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT PRIORITIES.

ALL OF THAT WENT INTO CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE HAD TO MAKE AND DECISIONS AROUND THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO EITHER REIMAGINE ON HOW WE DELIVER AND REALLY FOCUS IN ON CORE SERVICES.

SO IT DEFINITELY IMPACTS THE ENTIRE PROCESS THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH.

SO WHAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF THOSE CORE SERVICES SO THEY CAN HEAR? I THINK PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THEM.

AND WE HEARD VERY LOUD AND CLEAR THROUGH BOTH THE COMMUNITY SURVEY AND IN CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS WELL AS WHAT WE HEARD AT ALL THE BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS, THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL AREAS.

WE ALSO HEARD THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT WAS VERY LOUD AND CLEAR AS WELL.

WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN ENHANCE OUR OVERALL MAINTENANCE AS WELL OF THE CITY.

SO THOSE WERE PRIMARY AREAS THAT WE FOCUSED ON THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

SO WOULD IT BE FAIR ALSO TO IDENTIFY SERVICES SUCH AS CODE ENFORCEMENT, SANITATION SERVICES, LIBRARY SERVICES, SENIOR HOME REPAIR? WOULD THOSE BE A PART OF THE REVENUE THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS AS YOU CRAFT YOUR BUDGET WITH THE WITH THE REDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAXES REDUCTION OR INCREASE.

WE HAD TO LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE SERVICE ACROSS EVERY SINGLE CITY DEPARTMENT.

YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. WOULD IT ALSO BE A FAIR STATEMENT, JUST SO THE PUBLIC WOULD KNOW IF I, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, VOTE AGAINST THIS BUDGET, DOES THAT MEAN DISTRICT FOUR WILL NOT RECEIVE THE SERVICES? I'M JUST ASKING THE QUESTION.

WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? WHEN A COUNCIL MEMBER VOTES NO ON THE BUDGET, WILL THERE SERVE? WILL THEIR COMMUNITY BE DENIED SERVICE? WE DO NOT DEVELOP THE BUDGET BASED ON JUST INDIVIDUAL CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL SEE AROUND OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

HOWEVER, WE DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND IF COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS TO VOTE AGAINST THE BUDGET, BUT WE STILL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE CORE SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

ALL RIGHT. SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.

CITIZENS NEED NOT FEAR IF WE DON'T.

IF A COUNCIL MEMBER DOESN'T VOTE FOR A BUDGET FOR THIS BUDGET AND IT PASSES, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO GET SERVICE.

THERE IS NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN DISTRICTS.

YOU STILL HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SERVICE ALL THE ALL OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT.

YES, MA'AM. THAT IS CORRECT.

ALL RIGHT. SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.

I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO START FREAKING OUT.

IF WE'RE SAYING, WELL, WE MAY NOT SUPPORT THE BUDGET, WE HAVE ONE.

WE'RE ONE OF A DREAM TEAM OF 15.

SO IF WE VOTE AGAINST THE BUDGET, IT AND IT PASSES, NO COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE DENIED ANY SERVICES.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I PUT THAT OUT THERE JUST FOR CLARITY, BECAUSE I'M FINDING OUT MORE PEOPLE ARE LISTENING AND THEY ARE CONFUSED SOMETIMES.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE ANY TIME A STATEMENT IS CONNECTED TO THIS DISTRICT AND THIS SEAT AND THIS PERSON, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S IS ACCURATE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL HAVING TO PROVE UP TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY THAT WE REALLY HEAR THEM.

WE'RE HERE FOR THEM, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO THEM AS A PART OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THANK YOU, MISS SCHULTZ.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR, I BELIEVE, FIVE MINUTES.

YEAH. NOTHING THAT I HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET.

YOUR PRESENCE JUST FELT LIKE IT HAD BEEN SHOCKING.

IT HAD BEEN FELT ALREADY.

THANK YOU. FIVE MINUTES. I JUST WANT I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR ANY OF THIS.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE IS ON THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE.

IF I READ IT, IF I HEARD YOU RIGHT AND FOLLOWED THE CONVERSATION CORRECTLY, THERE'S 68 CRITERIA OF WHICH FOUR WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, ALL OF WHICH HAD, YOU KNOW, VALID.

VALID. VALID REASON AS TO WHY NOT? IS THAT CORRECT? ARE THERE ANY THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT MOVING FORWARD.

SO THAT IS CORRECT.

AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST OVER THE LIFE OF MY LIFE, MY LIFETIME IN THE BUDGET OFFICE ABOUT THE TWO NUMBER TEN AND 11.

AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN NOT IN NONCOMPLIANCE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

SO I JUST WANT TO USE THAT QUESTION AS A LEAD TO COMPLIMENT YOU ALL ON THE INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE FINANCIALLY.

AND ALSO, MADAM CHAIR, INTERIM CITY MANAGER I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE FACT THAT YOU WALKED INTO THIS, I THINK, LIKE WHEN

[03:55:01]

SO I WANT TO REALLY CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK IN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.

AS MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, IT'S A JENGA.

AND SO IF WE START DISMANTLING THIS WITH $3 A MONTH, FEES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN OUR PUBLIC, THAT WE AS LEADERS ARE ABLE TO GUIDE $5 BILLION.

SO I HOPE WE WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINING THAT AGAIN.

THE SECOND THING THAT I WANT TO ADD IS YOUR COMMENT, MADAM CITY MANAGER, ABOUT WHY YOU MADE THE DECISION TO INVEST FURTHER IN AREAS THAT WE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY.

AND IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY, IT'S BECAUSE THESE ARE THINGS THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED FOR AND IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT'S USING THE DATA FROM THE COMMUNITY SURVEY.

SO WHEN WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO ARE CRYING FOR EXTRA SERVICES, PARTICULARLY IN THINGS THAT ENHANCE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

THEY DON'T SEE TRASH.

THEY KNOW WE'RE DEALING WITH OUR RESIDENTS THAT MAY BE HOMELESS AND OTHER THINGS, THINGS, SERVICES THAT MAKE THE CITY SAFER AND CLEANER THAN IT WOULD BE. VERY POOR LEADERSHIP ON OUR PART TO STARVE THE BUDGET IN THOSE AREAS.

AND SO WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO EVER DO IS ARGUE THAT WE SHOULD ADD SERVICES WITHOUT FUNDING THOSE SERVICES.

IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, IN MY OPINION.

IT WOULD SUGGEST OTHER KINDS OF AGENDAS THAT MAY BE HAPPENING THERE.

SO WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE END RESULT THEN WILL BE INCREASED VALUES.

INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES IN A CITY REFLECT CONFIDENCE IN THAT CITY.

AND IF WE WATCH VALUES GO DOWN, THEN WE'VE GOT A REAL PROBLEM.

WE DO NOT WANT OUR VALUES TO GO DOWN.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN OTHER CITIES SUFFER THROUGH.

AND SO THOUGH WE HAVE MANY RESIDENTS WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY TAX INCREASES, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO REDUCE THOSE RATES.

BUT THE FACT THAT WHAT THEY OWN IS WORTH MORE SHOULD BE A GIFT THAT EVERYONE IS CELEBRATING.

AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IN TERMS OF HELPING PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THAT, THOSE INCREASES BECAUSE OF THOSE VALUES, THAT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO ADDRESS.

BUT TO SAY CITYWIDE THAT WE DO NOT WANT GROWTH, WE DO WANT DO NOT WANT PROPERTY TAX VALUES TO INCREASE, WOULD AGAIN BE VERY POOR LEADERSHIP ON OUR SIDE.

AND SO I COMMEND YOU FOR HAVING A BUDGET THAT HELPS US INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN OUR CITY AND STILL CONFIDENCE IN INVESTMENTS IN OUR CITY, AND THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH WITH PRIDE IN THIS BUDGET.

SO I HOPE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, IT WOULD BE AMAZING TO HAVE A UNANIMOUS BUDGET.

IT WOULD BE A GREAT VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR INVESTORS AND OUR CITY TO KNOW THAT WE, AS THE LEADERS, SUPPORT THE EXPENDITURES THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR ONE MINUTE.

SO I GUESS MY FINAL COMMENT, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS CITY HAS TO GROW OR WE ARE GOING TO FACE A VERY SEVERE FINANCIAL CRISIS.

AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR A MASTER PLAN FOR SOUTHERN DALLAS THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE CERTAINTY TO DEVELOPERS, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

JUST ADDING INFRASTRUCTURE ISN'T ISN'T CERTAINTY.

IT ISN'T GOING TO BRING THE KIND OF INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL FOR THE COUNCIL TO RECEIVE AN ANALYSIS OF THE POPULATION DENSITY PER SQUARE MILE FOR EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ACTUALLY REALIZE THE MOST DENSE DISTRICT IS DISTRICT 14.

THE SECOND MOST DENSE DISTRICT IS DISTRICT 12.

AND SO WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE FIGHTING BACK ABOUT, WE DON'T WANT MORE DENSITY HERE, BUT YET YOU GO TO THESE OTHER DISTRICTS WITH LOTS OF OPEN LOTS.

THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

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

THANK YOU. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT CHAIRMAN WEST BRING A BRIEFING SPECIFIC TO THE TAX BASE IMPACT OF OUR

[04:00:05]

SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK THAT THEY DIRECTLY ARE CORRELATED WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ABILITY TO GROW OUR TAX BASE. I KNOW THAT OUR DATA ANALYTICS DEPARTMENT HAS DONE GREAT WORK TO SHOW WHAT THE VACANT PROPERTIES WOULD DO FOR US IN GROWING THE TAX BASE, AND I CAN GIVE YOU THE EXAMPLE THAT I KNOW SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT SEVEN, AND THAT IS THAT IF THE VACANT PROPERTIES CURRENTLY WERE UTILIZED IN ONLY SINGLE FAMILY FORM, THIS IS VACANT PROPERTIES.

THIS IS NOT INFILL OF EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT WOULD BE AROUND $8 MILLION OF A VALUE.

YOU LOOK AT MIXED USE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE SAME VACANT LAND, AND IT'S ALMOST $90 MILLION.

SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO SAY WHAT IT IS THAT WE NEED AS A CITY AND THEN CONTINUE TO TAKE ACTION THAT CONTRADICTS IT.

OR WE CAN DAYLIGHT THIS CONVERSATION TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE AND TRAJECTORY OF WHERE OUR CITY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE NECESSARY SERVICES AND TO MAINTAIN RESOURCES AS WE DO IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET THAT WE'RE GOING TO PASS.

THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO LOOK AT WHAT THE DIFFERENCE OF THE GROWTH OF OUR CITY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

AND SO WHEN WE STOKE FEAR IN OUR RESIDENTS AND CONTINUE TO MISLEAD WITH MISINFORMATION WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REALLY PAINT THE PICTURE TO OUR CURRENT RESIDENTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AN ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR MORE, AND THAT HAS TO BE DONE SO BY LOOKING VERY THOUGHTFULLY AT WHERE WE CAN GROW OUR CITY, BUT ALSO VERY DELIBERATELY, BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR THE MISINFORMATION AND THE FEAR TO DRIVE US IN A DIRECTION THAT'S GOING TO KEEP US IN THE SAME PLACE.

THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS SOMETHING I DON'T HAVE TO GIVE YOU GUYS ON RECORD, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS RIGHT IN LINE WITH IT.

SO, MR. CHAIR, IF YOU COULD PLEASE BRING SOMETHING TO YOUR COMMITTEE THAT WOULD HELP US EVALUATE THIS MORE DEEP.

IT WOULD BE GREAT. MAY I RESPOND? YES. ON YOUR TIME? YES. AND I WOULD SUGGEST THIS AS A JOINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LIKE A JOINT COMMITTEE, BECAUSE I THINK IT TOUCHES BIG TIME ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON TODAY'S ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

SEEING NONE. A RECORD VOTE IS REQUIRED.

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

NO, IF YOU'RE OPPOSED.

MAYOR JOHNSON.

YES. MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.

YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BAZALDUA.

YES. COUNCILMEMBER WEST.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

GRACIE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

ARNOLD. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. RESENDEZ.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

NARVAEZ. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

STEWARD. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. SCHULTZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN.

I'M GOING TO VOTE. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIS.

COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY.

YES. UNANIMOUS.

WITH ALL 15 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL VOTING IN FAVOR, THE ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. NO OUTBURSTS, PEOPLE.

JUST. JUST KIDDING.

THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

ALL RIGHT.

MADAM SECRETARY, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.

[5. 24-2728 An ordinance setting the tax rate at $0.7047 per $100 assessed valuation, which includes $0.5109 for the General Fund and $0.1938 for the Debt Service Fund, and levying ad valorem taxes for the City of Dallas, Texas, for FY 2024-25 - Estimated Levy: $1,516,146,891 (see Fiscal Information)]

ITEM FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE TAX RATE AT 70.4 $0.07 PER $100 $100 ASSESSED VALUATION, WHICH INCLUDES 51.0 $0.09 FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND 19.3 $0.08 FOR THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, AND LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS, FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 2425.

THIS ITEM WILL REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE AND ALSO NINE MEMBERS, AT LEAST NINE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL VOTING IN FAVOR FOR ADOPTION, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

I'M READY FOR A MOTION.

CHAIRMAN WEST. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE DECREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.704 $0.07 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MR.

[04:05:01]

SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. I'M SORRY.

RECORD REQUIRED.

RECORD VOTE IS REQUIRED.

THANK YOU. SO WE CAN CALCULATE.

WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE.

YES, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO.

IF YOU'RE OPPOSED, MAYOR JOHNSON.

YES. MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BAZALDUA.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

WEST. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

MORENO. COUNCIL MEMBER.

GRACIE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

ARNOLD. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. RESENDEZ.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

NARVAEZ. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

STEWART. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. SCHULTZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN.

COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIS.

COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY.

WITH ALL 15 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL VOTING IN FAVOR, THIS ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

[6. 24-2729 A resolution ratifying the increase in total property tax revenues reflected in the FY 2024-25 budget - Estimated Revenue: $57,459,121 (100 percent collection rate)]

AGENDA ITEM SIX IS A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE INCREASE IN TOTAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES, REFLECTED IN THE FY 20 2425 BUDGET.

THIS ITEM WILL ALSO REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE.

MR. MAYOR, CHAIRMAN, WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A MOTION? YES, MAYOR. I MOVED TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MR. CHAIRMAN, ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE SEEING NONE RECORD VOTE IS REQUIRED.

THANK YOU. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES.

IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR, KNOW IF YOU OPPOSE.

MAYOR JOHNSON.

YES. MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BAZALDUA.

COUNCIL MEMBER. WEST.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

MORENO. COUNCIL MEMBER.

GRACIE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

ARNOLD. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. RESENDEZ.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

NARVAEZ. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

STEWART. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. SCHULTZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN.

COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS.

COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY.

WITH ALL 15 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL VOTING IN FAVOR, THIS ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY.

ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, I HAVE TO READ YOU SOME STATUTORY LANGUAGE.

IT IS 1:26 P.M.

[CLOSED SESSION]

THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL NOW GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 551 .071 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS DESCRIBED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

SEEKING THE ADVICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING ITEMS NINE, ITEMS 12 AND 13 AND UNDER SECTION 551 .072 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER DESCRIBED ON TODAY'S AGENDA, ITEM 13 WILL STAND AT RECESS UNTIL 2 P.M..

THANK YOU ALL SMU SUPPORTERS.

PLEASE JOIN ME AT THE FRONT OF THE HORSESHOE WITH THE HELMET AND WE'LL TAKE OUR PICTURE.

ALRIGHT. LET'S GO.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M TOLD THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM.

I DIDN'T CONFIRM THAT MYSELF, BUT I TRUST THE CITY SECRETARY.

AND SO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HAS COMPLETED ITS CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTIONS FIVE, 51.071 AND 551 .072 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

AND AT 3:22 P.M.

ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024, WE HAVE RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION.

MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL JUST REMIND THE MEMBERS WHERE WE ARE ON THE VOTING AGENDA WILL FINISH THOSE ITEMS AND THEN WE'LL GET TO OUR OUR BRIEFINGS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THE COUNCIL IS CURRENTLY ON AGENDA ITEM SEVEN.

[7. 24-2730 An ordinance amending Chapters 2, 18, 24, 28, 43, 49, 51A, and 52 of the Dallas City Code and Ordinance No. 19860, as amended, passed by the city council on February 10, 1988 (1) amending the application fee and processing fees for abandonments of public rights-of-ways; (2) amending the stormwater drainage fee structure; (3) amending the fees for sanitation collection services; (4) providing an environmental cleanup fee; (5) amending the solid waste collection franchise fee; (6) amending the library processing and mail reference fees; (7) amending the no parking sign fee; (8) amending parking meter hood and temporary removal fees; (9) amending the residential parking only application and sign fees; (10) amending the license application fee for valet parking; (11) amending the dockless vehicle permit application fee; (12) adjusting rates and charges for treated water service, wastewater service, wholesale water, and wastewater service to governmental entities, additional water meters, untreated water service, service connections, security deposits for residential service accounts, fire hydrant usage, and industrial surcharge rate formula for excessive concentrations; (13) amending the thoroughfare plan amendment fee; (14) amending the barricade application fee; (15) providing for a fee for the production and installation of ceremonial street signs; (16) providing for monument verification fees; (17) amending the rates for 911 landline fees for business and trunk customers; (18) providing a penalty not to exceed $2,000; (19) providing a saving clause; (20) providing a severability clause; and (21) providing an effective date - Estimated Revenue: General Fund ($2,824,827), Dallas Water Utilities Fund ($25,730,825), Stormwater Drainage Management Fund ($5,758,142), Sanitation Operation Fund ($10,401,652), Environmental Clean-up Special Revenue Fund ($10,500,000), and 9-1-1 Systems Operations Fund ($2,389,498)]

IF YOU'LL READ THAT ITEM, WE CAN GET STARTED.

THANK YOU. I'LL READ THAT ITEM INTO THE RECORD.

AGENDA ITEM SEVEN IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS TWO, 18, 24, 28, 43, 49, 51, A AND 52 OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE, AND ORDINANCE NUMBER 19860, AS AMENDED, PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 1988.

ONE AMENDING THE APPLICATION FEE AND PROCESSING FEES FOR ABANDONMENTS OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY.

TWO AMENDING THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE FEE STRUCTURE.

THREE AMENDING THE FEES FOR SANITATION COLLECTION SERVICES.

FOUR PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP FEE.

FIVE AMENDING THE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION FRANCHISE FEE.

SIX AMENDING THE LIBRARY PROCESSING AND MAIL REFERENCE FEES.

SEVEN AMENDING THE NO PARKING SIGN FEE.

EIGHT AMENDING PARKING METER, PARKING METER, HOOD AND TEMPORARY REMOVAL FEES.

NINE AMENDING THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING ONLY APPLICATION AND SIGNS FEE.

TEN AMENDING THE LICENSE APPLICATION FEE FOR VALET PARKING.

11 AMENDING THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE PERMIT APPLICATION FEE.

12 ADJUSTING RATES AND CHARGES FOR A TREATED WATER SERVICE.

WASTEWATER SERVICE.

WHOLESALE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES TO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.

ADDITIONAL WATER METERS.

UNTREATED WATER SERVICE.

SERVICE CONNECTIONS.

SECURITY DEPOSITS FOR RESIDENTIAL SERVICE ACCOUNTS.

[04:10:03]

USAGE AND INDUSTRIAL SURCHARGE RATE.

FORMULA FOR EXCESSIVE CONCENTRATIONS.

13. AMENDING THE THOROUGHFARE AMENDMENT FEE.

14. AMENDING THE BARRICADE APPLICATION FEE.

15. PROVIDING FOR A FEE FOR THE PRODUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF CEREMONIAL STREET SIGNS.

16. PROVIDING FOR MONUMENT VERIFICATION FEES.

17. AMENDING THE RATES FOR 911.

LANDLINE FEES FOR BUSINESS AND TRUNK CUSTOMERS.

18. PROVIDING A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $2,000.

19. PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE.

20. PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND 21.

PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS. THIS ITEM JUST REQUIRES A MAJORITY VOTE.

MR. MAYOR. WONDERFUL.

IS THERE A MOTION, CHAIRMAN WEST? ON ITEM SEVEN.

YES, MAYOR. I MOVED TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.

SECOND. IT'S A GREAT MOTION, AND IT'S A GREAT SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN WEST? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE.

SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? SAY NAY.

THE AYES HAVE IT.

NEXT ITEM PLEASE.

AGENDA ITEM EIGHT.

[8. 24-2818 An ordinance amending Sections 2-48, 2-49, 2-139.1, 2-139.2, 2-142, and 2-143 of Chapter 2, “Administration”; amending Section 5-21 of Chapter 5, “Aircraft and Airports”; amending Section 14B-5 of Chapter 14B, “Emergency Management”; amending Section 20A-24 of Chapter 20A, “Fair Housing and Mixed Income Housing”; amending Section 27-17 of Chapter 27, “Minimum Property Standards”; amending Sections 28-19, 28-24, 28-29, 28-103, 28-130, 28-130.2, 28-130.5, 28-130.12, 28-194, and 28-201 of Chapter 28, “Motor Vehicles and Traffic”; amending Section 30-2 of Chapter 30, “Noise”; amending Section 36-45 of Chapter 36, “Poles and Wires”; amending Section 39-4 of Chapter 39, “Railroads”; amending Sections 42A-6, 42A-28.2, 42A-28.8, 42A-28.9, and 42A-40 of Chapter 42A, “Special Events; Neighborhood Markets; Dallas Farmers Market Farmers Market; Streetlight Pole Banners”; amending Sections 43-63, 43-121, 43-126.5, 43-126.16, and 43-135 of Chapter 43, “Streets and Sidewalks”; amending Section 45-7 of Chapter 45, “Temporary Inclement Weather Shelter Program”; amending Section 49-27 of Chapter 49, “Water and Wastewater”; amending Sections 51-2.102, 51-4.206, 51-4.217, and 51-4.803 of Chapter 51, “Dallas Development Code: Ordinance No. 10962, as amended”; amending Sections 51A-2.102, 51A-4.217, 51A-4.502, 51A-4.908, 51A-4.909, 51A-4.1002, 51A-4.1103, 51A-4.1105, 51A-4.1107, 51A-5.209, 51A-6.108, 51A-7.212, 51A-7.1608, 51A-7.1720, 51A-8.201, 51A-8.507, 51A-8.508, 51A-8.601, 51A-8.607, 51A-8.608, 51A-8.615, 51A-8.620, 51A-9.305, 51A-9.507, 51A-10.140, 51A-12.201, 51A-12.203, 51A-12.204, 51A-12.305, 51A-13.502, and 51A-13.503 of Chapter 51A, “Dallas Development Code: Ordinance No. 19455, as amended”; amending Sections 301.4.5.1.2, 303.5.3, 605.1, and 608.2 of Chapter 52, “Administrative Procedures for Construction Codes”; (1) consolidating the Department of Public Works and the Department of Transportation into one department to be known as the Department of Transportation and Public Works; (2) changing the name of the Department of Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization to the Department of Housing and Community Development; (3) consolidating the Office of Emergency Management and the Office of Integrated Public Safety Solutions into one office to be known as the Office of Emergency Management and Crisis Response; (4) changing the name of the Department of Aviation - Transportation Regulation to the Department of Transportation and Public Works - Transportation Regulation; (5) providing a penalty not to exceed $2,000; (6) providing a saving clause; (7) providing a severability clause; and (8) providing an effective date - Financing: No cost consideration to the City]

DASH 48 2492.

DASH 139 .12.

DASH 139 .22.

DASH 142 AND 2-1 43 OF CHAPTER TWO ADMINISTRATION AMENDING SECTION 5-21 OF CHAPTER FIVE AIRCRAFT AND AIRPORTS.

AMENDING SECTION 14 B-5 OF CHAPTER 14 B EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

AMENDING SECTION 28 DASH 24 OF CHAPTER 28 FAIR HOUSING AND MIXED INCOME HOUSING AMENDING SECTION 27.

17 OF CHAPTER 27 MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS.

AMENDING SECTIONS 28 1920.

28, 2428 2928 DASH 103.

20 8-1 30.

20 8-1 30.2.

20 8-1 30.5.

20 8-1.

30.12. 20 8-1.

94 AND 28 DASH 201 OF CHAPTER 28 MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC.

AMENDING SECTION 32 OF CHAPTER 30 NOISE.

AMENDING SECTION 36 DASH 45 OF CHAPTER 36 POLES AND WIRES.

AMENDING SECTION 39.

DASH FOUR OF CHAPTER 39.

RAILROADS. AMENDING SECTIONS 40 2A-6 42 A DASH 28.2.

42 A DASH 28.8.

42 A DASH 28.9 AND 42.

A DASH 40 OF CHAPTER 42.

A SPECIAL EVENTS.

NEIGHBORHOOD MARKETS.

DALLAS FARMERS MARKET.

FARMERS MARKET.

STREET. STREET LIGHT POLE.

BANNERS. AMENDING SECTIONS 43, 63, 43.

DASH ONE 2143.

DASH 120 6.5, 43.

DASH ONE, 26.16 AND 43.

DASH 135 OF CHAPTER 43.

STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.

AMENDING SECTION 45.

DASH SEVEN OF FOUR OF CHAPTER 45.

TEMPORARY INCLEMENT WEATHER SHELTER PROGRAM.

AMENDING SECTION 49 DASH 27 OF CHAPTER 49 WATER AND WASTEWATER.

AMENDING SECTION 51.

DASH 2.102 51.

DASH 4.206 51.

DASH 4.217 AND 51.

DASH 4.803 OF CHAPTER 51.

DALLAS DEVELOPMENT CODE ORDINANCE NUMBER 10962, AS AMENDED.

AMENDING SECTION 50 2.102 51 A.

4.217 51 A.

4.502 51 A.

4.908 51 A.

4.909 51 A.

4.1002 51 A.

4.1103 51 A.

4.1105 51 A.

4.1107 51 A.

5.209 51 A.

6.108 51 A.

7.212 51 A.

7.1608 51 A.

7.1720 51 A.

8.201 51 A.

8.507 51 A.

8.508 51 A.

8.601 51 A.

8.607 51 A.

8.608 EIGHT.

51. EIGHT. 8.61.

FIVE. 51. EIGHT.

8.62. ZERO.

51. EIGHT. 9.30.

FIVE. 51.

EIGHT. 9.50.

SEVEN. 51. EIGHT.

10.14. ZERO.

51. EIGHT. 12.20.

ONE. 51.

EIGHT. 12.20.

THREE. 51. EIGHT.

12.20. FOUR.

51. EIGHT. 12.30.

[04:15:02]

EIGHT. ONE. 13.50.

TWO AND 51.

EIGHT. 13.50.

THREE OF CHAPTER 51.

A DALLAS DEVELOPMENT CODE.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 19455, AS AMENDED.

AMENDING SECTIONS 3010.40.50.10.23030.50.36050.1 AND 6080.2 OF CHAPTER 52, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR CONSTRUCTION CODES.

ONE CONSOLIDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION INTO ONE DEPARTMENT TO BE KNOWN AS THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS. TWO.

CHANGING THE NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

THREE. CONSOLIDATING THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE OFFICE OF INTEGRATED PUBLIC SAFETY SOLUTIONS INTO ONE OFFICE, TO BE KNOWN AS THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE.

FOUR CHANGING THE NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION TRANSPORTATION REGULATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.

TRANSPORTATION REGULATION FIVE PROVIDING A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $2,000.

SIX PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE.

SEVEN PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.

AND EIGHT PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS ITEM REQUIRES A THREE FOURTHS VOTE FOR APPROVAL.

MR. MAYOR, CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ONE.

YES, I DO, MAYOR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.

AWESOME. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN WEST, BEFORE I GO TO CHAIRMAN RIDLEY.

CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM EIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

QUESTION FOR STAFF WITH REGARD TO ITEM TWO OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, CHANGING THE NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, WHAT WAS THE THINKING BEHIND THAT? SO ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET MOVES, THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THAT WAS WITHIN MANAGEMENT SERVICES INTO HOUSING.

AND SO BY CONSOLIDATING THOSE FUNCTIONS, CHANGING THE NAME NOW CLEARLY REFLECTS WHAT THE OFFICES WILL BE DOING.

SO THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A NAME CHANGE.

IT'S A CONSOLIDATION.

CORRECT. OKAY.

AND WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, CHANGING THE NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION TRANSPORTATION REGULATION, WHAT'S FUNCTIONALLY HAPPENING THERE. SO THE DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION REGULATION, SO MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS REGULATING THE RIDE SHARES, MOVES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.

OKAY. SO ONCE AGAIN YOU'RE JUST MOVING ONE DIVISION FROM ONE DEPARTMENT TO ANOTHER.

CORRECT. AND THE PURPOSE OF DOING THAT.

SO I'LL ASK SOMEONE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS TO COME UP, BUT I THINK IT'S MORE ALIGNMENT OF THE FUNCTIONS AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF SORT OF TRANSPORTATION FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.

SO REALLY STREAMLINING OPERATIONS AND PROVIDING MORE EFFICIENT SERVICES.

AND I'LL ADD TO THAT, IF I MAY.

ORIGINALLY IT WAS IN TRANSPORTATION.

THE DIVISION WAS, IT WAS MOVED TO AVIATION, FOCUSING MORE ON RIDESHARE CAB SERVICES THAT HAD THEIR NEXUS WITH THE AIRPORT.

AND THE SCOPE OF THAT IS REALLY MUCH LARGER THAN JUST THE AIRPORT.

AND SO IT MADE MORE SENSE, INCLUDING HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES OR DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WAS OFF OF AIRPORT PROPERTY.

AND SO PLACING THAT BACK IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MADE MORE SENSE FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST ITEM EIGHT? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, ACTUALLY, DO WE HAVE TO DO ANYTHING SPECIAL ON THIS? NO RECORD VOTE IS REQUIRED.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. ALL RIGHT.

THEN ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NAY.

THE AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM PLEASE.

AGENDA ITEM NINE.

[9. 24-2883 Authorize (1) position changes; (2) approval of Civilian and Uniform salary schedules for fiscal year 2024-25; (3) merit pay increases for civilian staff effective January 1, 2025, payable the first civilian pay period of the calendar year; (4) increase the minimum civilian hiring rate to $19.25 effective January 1, 2025, payable the first civilian pay period of the calendar year; (5) adding new pay schedules for uniformed Fire and Police effective January 1, 2025, payable the first uniform pay period of the calendar year; and (6) adding new pay schedules for uniformed Fire and Police Executives effective January 1, 2025, payable the first uniform pay period of the calendar year - Financing: This action has no cost consideration to the City; any budget impact is contained in the FY 2024-25 City Budget (see Fiscal Information)]

CHANGES TO APPROVAL OF CIVILIAN AND UNIFORM SALARY SCHEDULES FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 2425.

THREE MERIT PAY INCREASES FOR CIVILIAN STAFF EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2025, PAYABLE THE FIRST CIVILIAN PAY PERIOD OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.

FOUR INCREASE THE MINIMUM CIVILIAN HIRING HIRING RATE AT $219.25 EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2025, PAYABLE THE FIRST CIVILIAN PAY PERIOD OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.

FIVE ADDING NEW PAY SCHEDULES FOR UNIFORM, FIRE AND POLICE.

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2025, PAYABLE THE FIRST UNIFORM PAY PERIOD OF THE CALENDAR YEAR AND SIX ADDING NEW PAY SCHEDULES FOR

[04:20:10]

PAYABLE. THE FIRST UNIFORM PAY PERIOD OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.

THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR. LOOKING FOR A MOTION.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN WEST AND CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM NINE.

YES. THANK YOU. I WANT TO GET CLARITY IN SUPPORTING THIS ON UNIFORM.

IT SAYS CIVILIAN AND UNIFORM SALARY SCHEDULES.

COULD I GET CLARIFICATION ON WHO'S UNIFORM THEY'RE SPEAKING OF? DOES IT INCLUDE THE UNIFORMS THAT ARE HERE IN THIS BUILDING WITH SECURITY UNIFORM? PAY SCHEDULE APPLIES TO POLICE AND FIRE UNIFORM EMPLOYEES ONLY CIVILIAN OR NON UNIFORM WOULD INCLUDE THE SECURITY OFFICERS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.

GO BACK FOR A MINUTE. JUST A MINUTE I'M LOOKING AT ITEM NUMBER.

IT SAYS NUMBER ONE AUTHORIZED NUMBER ONE POSITION CHANGES TO APPROVAL OF CIVILIAN AND UNIFORM SALARY SCHEDULES.

IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO POLICE HERE.

SO IS THAT THE INFERENCE? YES, MA'AM. SO THERE'S TWO SCHEDULES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE CIVILIAN PAY SCHEDULE.

AND THEN THERE'S THE UNIFORM PAY SCHEDULE AND THE UNIFORM PAY SCHEDULE APPLIES TO POLICE UNIFORM EMPLOYEES AND FIRE UNIFORM EMPLOYEES.

SO WHERE ARE THE YOU KNOW,? WHAT ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THESE SECURITY IN HERE HAVE DO THEY HAVE A UNIFORM? THEY'RE CONSIDERED CIVILIAN OR NON-UNIFORMED EMPLOYEES.

THEY'RE THEY'RE CONSIDERED CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.

CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT? AND THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE A RECORD VOTE, MAYOR, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD WITH THIS.

HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO GET SOME CLARITY AROUND POSITION CHANGES, APPROVAL TO CIVILIAN AND UNIFORM SALARY SCHEDULES.

SO YOU'RE CALLING THE SECURITY IN THIS BUILDING THE SECURITY THAT HAS GUNS AND A UNIFORM ON NON UNIFORM.

SO THE WAY THEY'RE CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED COUNCILWOMAN ARNOLD AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

POLICE AND FIRE IS WHAT WE REFER TO WHEN WE SAY UNIFORM SALARY SCHEDULE, WHICH IS WHAT MR. IRELAND JUST STATED.

OUR SECURITY OFFICERS ARE NOT ON THAT SALARY SCHEDULE, SO THEY'RE IN THE CIVILIAN SALARY SCHEDULE.

RESCHEDULE EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE A UNIFORM.

WE HAVE OTHER OFF. WE HAVE OTHER CITY STAFF LIKE OUR CODE OFFICERS WHO ACTUALLY WEAR A UNIFORM, BUT THEY'RE PART OF THE CIVILIAN PAY SCHEDULE AND NOT THE UNIFORM SCHEDULE, WHICH ONLY INCLUDES POLICE AND FIRE.

BUT SO I CAN AND BECAUSE I AM ON WORKFORCE AND EQUITY, I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M SPEAKING TO WORKFORCE MAYOR AS IT ALSO INCLUDES WORKFORCE IN THIS BUILDING. BECAUSE I THE QUESTION AROUND SECURITY KEEPS COMING UP AND I WANT TO BE SECURE IN THIS BUILDING.

BUT IF INDEED THESE OFFICERS ARE IN A UNIFORM WHEN I LOOK AT THEM AND DO THEY CARRY WEAPONS IN THIS BUILDING, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A LEVEL THREE, WHICH ARE THE SECURITY OFFICERS WHO ARE LICENSED TO ACTUALLY CARRY A FIREARM, BUT THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SECURITY OFFICERS, SO THAT WILL HELP ME.

BUT HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THIS, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M BEING SAFE.

I THINK THEIR SECURITY THOUGH, THE WEAPONS THAT THEY HAVE THAT THEY'RE CARRYING, ARE THEY LICENSED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS TO PUT BULLETS OR AMMUNITION? I'LL SAY THAT IN THE GUNS SO THAT WE HAVE TO IF THEY NEED TO USE IT HERE, THEY CAN USE IT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON WHO'S WHAT.

I DON'T WANT ANY OTIS'S.

WE DON'T NEED OTIS IN HERE.

OTIS DON'T HAVE NONE OF THAT.

ALL RIGHT, TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO IF YOU ARE A LEVEL THREE SECURITY OFFICER AND THERE'S ALSO A LEVEL FOUR THAT'S MORE ABOUT DIGNITARY PROTECTION.

BUT IF YOU'RE A LEVEL THREE, YOU ACTUALLY CAN CARRY A FIREARM.

YOUR LICENSE COMES THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS.

ALL RIGHT. SO THESE OFFICERS IN THIS BUILDING, DO THEY TELL ME AGAIN, ARE THEY LEVEL THREE OR A DIFFERENT LEVEL BECAUSE YOU CALL THEM NON-UNIFORM? I'M ALMOST POSITIVE.

AND I WOULD HAVE TO ASK CHIEF PUGHES TO COME OUT, BUT I'M ALMOST POSITIVE THAT THEY'RE LEVEL THREES.

BUT I WOULD HAVE TO CONFIRM THAT.

BUT THEY DO HAVE THEY ARE ARMED.

BUT THERE ARE OFFICERS THAT WE USE IN OTHER FACILITIES THAT MAY NOT BE, BUT THE LICENSES COME THROUGH.

THEY HAVE A COMMISSION LICENSE THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS.

COULD I JUST HAVE THE CHIEF OF.

WHERE'S THE CHIEF? CHIEF? TELL US. TELL ME WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH IN THE BUILDING.

THESE FOLKS ARE STANDING HERE HOLDING UP THE WALL.

CHIEF ARTIST IS COMING. OKAY.

YES, MA'AM.

WE'LL NEED OTIS.

CHIEF ARTIST. CHIEF OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

ALL RIGHT, SO, CHIEF, AFTER WHAT WE'VE SEEN HERE IN THE LAST YEAR, SECURITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME FOR SURE.

[04:25:08]

AND PERHAPS THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL NEED TO TAKE UP IN COMMITTEE WITH WORKFORCE, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE DISTINGUISHING WHO HAS A UNIFORM ON AND WHO DOESN'T. BUT BUT THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION.

BUT I DID WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD.

SO THESE OFFICERS THAT APPEAR TO HAVE ON A UNIFORM TO ME, ARE THEY LEVEL THREE WITH THE GUN, WITH THE AMMUNITION.

I WANT TO BE SAFE WITH THAT.

THAT WORKS. RIGHT? I WOULD BEFORE I COME IN ON THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST MAKE SURE AND TALK WITH CHIEF HUGHES AND THE TEAM BEFORE I COMMENT AND SAY THEY ARE LEVEL THREE. I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE TO THAT IS THAT OF COURSE, WE TAKE SAFETY VERY SERIOUSLY.

WE WANT TO LOOK AT THAT FROM THE ASPECT OF KEEPING EVERYBODY SAFE.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, AS FAR AS I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST 30 YEARS, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, A UNIFORM HAS ALWAYS BEEN POLICE AND FIRE.

AS WE JOURNEY FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE, OF COURSE, I THINK IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT AT ALL OUR PROCESSES, AND WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT.

BUT BEFORE I COMMENT ON WHICH LEVEL THEY ARE, I THINK I NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION FIRST WITH YOU.

SO IS IT POSSIBLE THAT AND I WOULD LIKE TO CITY MANAGER TO WEIGH IN ON THIS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND MAYBE REVISITING THE TERM CIVILIAN AS IT RELATES TO THESE OFFICERS WITH A UNIFORM ON BECAUSE I THINK HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE WILL ALSO REFLECT IN THEIR WORK NOT TO SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT WORKING, BUT AFTER WHAT WE SAW IN THIS AUDIENCE, WITHOUT THAT FOLKS COMING DOWN AND THREATENING AND CALLING ALL KIND OF NAMES RUNNING THROUGH THE BUILDING, THAT WAS A SECURITY PIECE.

THAT WAS A OUR LIVES WERE IN DANGER AS FOLKS CAME THROUGH THE GARAGE.

THAT YEAR WE IN HERE AT THE BUDGET MEETING TALKING.

THOSE ARE DANGEROUS MOMENTS.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHO'S HERE SO THAT BECAUSE WE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE I DON'T WANT TO CARRY ANYTHING HERE.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS HOW WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES.

SO I WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, CITY MANAGER, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME BUDGETARY DECISIONS.

SECURITY IS ONE OF THOSE. AND I THINK SECURITY AS WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH THE CITY, NUMBER ONE.

BUT I THINK IN THIS BUILDING THAT WE WORK IN AND THAT WHERE OUR CONSTITUENTS COME IN SHOULD BE A SAFE BUILDING, AND I THINK THE RESPECT THAT WE SHOULD THAT WE'RE GIVING TO OUR UNIFORMED OFFICERS WITH DPD AND FIRE, WE SHOULD DO THE SAME WHEN IT COMES TO THESE INDIVIDUALS, BECAUSE I'M HAPPY WHEN I SEE THEM IN THIS BUILDING.

IF THEY'RE NOT HERE, I'M MY STAFF CAN'T BE LICENSED TO CARRY, NOT IN THIS BUILDING.

SO I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.

I'M TRYING TO MAKE I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE LIGHT OF IT, BUT THIS IS VERY SERIOUS TO ME.

SO I RESPECT THESE OFFICERS.

AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE IN A UNIFORM.

BUT IF IF THE TRICK IS THEY'RE NOT, I THINK WE NEED TO GET THEM TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEY'RE IN A UNIFORM, THREE TO LEVEL THREE TO CARRY AND PROTECT US. AND WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M ON THE RECORD WITH THIS.

I SEE CHIEF KNIGHT.

I THINK HE'S JUST WALKED IN.

HE'LL BE ABLE TO SHED A LITTLE MORE.

CHIEF, YOU WANT TO COME UP AND SHARE A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT? GOOD EVENING. GOOD AFTERNOON.

YES, MA'AM. I'M CHIEF JOSEPH CHARLES, THE SECURITY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, OUR UNIFORMED OFFICERS, WE WEAR A UNIFORM.

WE ARE LEVEL THREE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE ARE LICENSED.

WE CARRY A A FUNCTIONING WEAPON, AND WE HAVE A WARRANT THAT WE UTILIZE FOR CITY OF DALLAS PROPERTY.

WE ARE IF NECESSARY, WE CAN USE DEADLY FORCE.

WE HAVE POWERS OF OF ARREST ATTAINMENT AND THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT IT'S ALL OUR AUSPICES IS THE CITY IS CITY OF DALLAS PROPERTIES, WHEREAS, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THE CITY OF DALLAS AS ITS PURVIEW, BUT OURS, THE CITY OF DALLAS PROPERTIES.

WELL, YOUR FUNCTION IS IN THIS BUILDING, OUR CITY FACILITIES PROPER.

IS THAT IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF TO BE IN A UNIFORM? I'M JUST ASKING. WELL, I MEAN, I WEAR A UNIFORM.

YES, MA'AM. I WEAR A UNIFORM.

BUT THE WAY, YOU KNOW, THE WAY IT'S IT'S LISTED.

THERE'S UNIFORM. MEANING POLICE AND FIRE.

SO WHO DOES? OUR CITY MANAGER. WHO DEVELOPED THAT? THE TERMINOLOGY FOR UNIFORM AND CIVILIAN.

IS IT BACK IN OUR CORNER, OR CAN THEY BE CONSIDERED TO BE UNIFORM OFFICERS WITH A DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATION? I'M JUST ASKING.

I THINK THAT QUESTION IS GOING TO REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER AT THIS MOMENT, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WHAT THE OFFICER HAS DESCRIBED

[04:30:08]

THEY ARE NOT IN THE SAME SALARY SCHEDULE WITH WHAT WE REFER TO AS UNIFORM.

WE COULD DEFINITELY WORK THROUGH THAT AND BRING THAT BACK.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU NOW THAT THAT'S HOW IT'S BEEN, AND THAT IS IF THERE'S A CIVIL SERVICE COMPONENT TO THAT.

AND SO THAT WOULD REQUIRE A DEEPER CONVERSATION THAN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER HERE ON THE SPOT FOR YOU.

MAYBE WE CAN DO THAT THROUGH COMMITTEE, BECAUSE I THINK WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING NOW WITH SECURITY, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO TO DO BUSINESS AS WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE, AS IF THEY ARE A SAFETY PATROLS, AS WE USED TO CALL THEM.

SO I APPRECIATE THOSE ANSWERS AND WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

CITY MANAGER AND I DO SUPPORT THIS ITEM, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GOT CLARIFICATION ON WHAT A UNIFORM AND A CIVILIAN SALARY WOULD GO, WHO TO WHOM IT WOULD BELONG.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ALL THE SECURITY MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS BUILDING WHO PROTECT US DAY IN AND DAY OUT AS WE COME IN TO 1500, MARILLA.

THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE FOR ASKING THESE QUESTIONS.

I THINK THEY'RE GOOD QUESTIONS, AND THEY'RE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR SECURITY SERVICES HERE AT CITY HALL AND OUR OTHER FACILITIES WHERE YOU WORK ARE VERY IMPORTANT. I'LL SAY I WAS TAUGHT THAT THE WAY TO DIFFERENTIATE THEM WAS REALLY ABOUT THE PENSION THAT THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLICE FIRE PENSION ARE UNIFORMED AND THOSE WHO DON'T ARE CIVILIAN.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S A CORRECT CHARACTERIZATION? YES, MA'AM. THAT'S A CORRECT CHARACTERIZATION.

OKAY, SO JUST THIS MORNING, I TOLD JACK I WASN'T GOING TO PUT FORWARD A BUDGET AMENDMENT ABOUT THE SECURITY SERVICES.

I HAD PULLED THE SALARIES OF ALL OF OUR SECURITY OFFICERS.

I PULLED THE SALARY SURVEY THAT YOU ALL HAD DONE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS COMPETITIVE, AS WELL AS THE HISTORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THOSE SALARIES.

AND THEN I CALLED TEN DIFFERENT AGENCIES ABOUT HIRING SECURITY OFFICERS.

PLUS I LOOKED ON GLASSDOOR, AND I WILL SAY IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE SALARIES ARE WITHIN THAT RANGE.

AND SO I LET IT GO.

BUT I'M VERY HAPPY IF YOU HAVE THIS AT QUALITY OF LIFE TO JOIN YOU.

I WOULD LOVE TO SIT IN ON THAT.

I TRY NOT TO ATTEND QUALITY OF LIFE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THAT.

OKAY. WELL, IF HE DECIDES TO HAVE THAT ITEM, IF YOU WOULD PREFER I HAVE IT AT PUBLIC SAFETY.

I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.

BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT, OUR SECURITY FORCE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT JOB.

AND I THINK MORE THAN WHAT THEY USED TO.

BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, WE'VE HAD SOME VERY UNRULY EVENTS HERE AT CITY HALL AND SUPER APPRECIATIVE OF YOU.

AND SO I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE BEING PAID APPROPRIATELY.

BUT CERTAINLY YOU HAVE OUR APPRECIATION IF IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SECURITY FORCES OUGHT TO BECOME PART OF THE UNIFORM SIDE, HOW WOULD THAT TRANSITION WORK WITH MOVING FROM URF TO THE POLICE FIRE PENSION? AGAIN, COUNCILWOMAN, I THINK THAT THAT IS A BROADER CONVERSATION THAT WE JUST CANNOT.

I THINK WE WOULD BE MAKING UP THE ANSWERS AS WE GO.

I THINK IF THIS IS IF THIS IS A FOCUSED CONVERSATION THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT OR COME BACK, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TO DO THE PROPER DUE DILIGENCE AND BE ABLE TO BRING YOU BACK SOME GOOD ANSWERS WITHOUT US JUST MAKING IT UP ON THE SPOT.

SO THANK YOU. ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY EMPLOYEE GROUPS, ANY CLASS THAT HAS MOVED FROM ONE PENSION TO ANOTHER? NOT AT THIS TIME.

OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM THAT YOU PROVIDED ME, WHICH PERHAPS YOU WOULD JUST LIKE TO SHARE WITH EVERYBODY, OR PERHAPS JUST THE COUNCILWOMAN IS WHAT THE QUALIFICATIONS WERE FOR SECURITY, WHICH ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY DIFFERENT THAN FOR POLICE AS WELL.

AS YOU KNOW, THE CERTIFICATION IS A DIFFERENT METHOD ALL THE SAME IF WE NEED THEM TO ACT.

I DON'T REALLY CARE HOW THEY GOT THEIR GUN, I DON'T CARE HOW THEY GOT THEIR TRAINING.

I JUST NEED THEM TO BE FULLY TRAINED AND ABLE TO GO.

SO AGAIN, DEEP RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR YOU.

BUT IT'S WHY I DIDN'T BRING THAT ITEM, WHICH EVEN YESTERDAY I WAS GOING TO DO.

SO THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND WE UNDERSTAND THE SENTIMENT.

WE DO VALUE NOT ONLY OUR SECURITY STAFF AND OUR CITY MARSHALS, AND WE'LL DEFINITELY JUST COME BACK WITH A MORE FOCUSED CONVERSATION WHERE WE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS CORRECTLY.

THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I GUESS JACK, BACK IN THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAD NEGOTIATING CONTRACT WITH POLICE AND FIRE, AND WE START A INITIATIVE MEETING AND CONFER.

[04:35:02]

IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THOSE THAT ARE CONSIDERED MAYBE BAD TERM, BUT NON-UNIFORM SECURITY OFFICERS AND MARSHALS WHO ARE PART OF THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE ON THE DIFFERENT PAY SCHEDULE.

SO MEET AND CONFER APPLIES ONLY TO POLICE AND FIRE OFFICERS AND A CITY MANAGER BY JACK SAYING THAT.

AND WHEN YOU MEET WITH A UNIFORMED OFFICER, YOU MEET WITH THE PEOPLE WHO YOU NEGOTIATE WITH, MEET ME TO CONFER WHICH THEY CONSIDER AS UNIFORM ONLY. RIGHT? YES, SIR. THAT IS CORRECT.

AND SO? SO THEREFORE, COLLEAGUES, I THINK THAT WHEN WE DID MEET AND CONFER, WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED, WE DID REFER TO THEM AS UNIFORMED OFFICERS.

SO THAT'S WHEN THE I THINK THE DEFINITION CAME OUT, YOU KNOW, WITH SECURITY.

SO I BELIEVE YOU.

CHAIRMAN ARNOLD, I FEEL LIKE THAT ANYBODY WHO WEAR A UNIFORM AND CARRY A GUN SHOULD BE PAID ACCORDING TO A MARKET RATE OR WHATEVER.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK BACK INTO.

SO WE NEED TO CHANGE.

I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

SO I DO AGREE WHAT YOU SAID.

WHAT YOU JUST SAID THAT ANYONE CARRY A GUN IN THIS OFFICE HERE IN THIS BUILDING, THAT WE SHOULD BE SAFE.

SO THEREFORE WE SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT.

WHY IS THAT TERM UNIFORM IS DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE PEOPLE WHO DEAL WITH, MEET WITH, MEET AND CONFER WITH, WHO DO NOT MEET WITH MEETING.

CONFER IS CONSIDERED A UNIFORM, AND THEY'RE NOT CONSIDERED A UNIFORM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PART OF MEETING AND CONFER.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK INTO.

SO I'D LIKE TO JUST SPEAK TO THAT IF I COULD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT COMMENT.

MAYOR PRO TEM ATKINS.

SO AS PART OF THE ONGOING COMPENSATION ANALYSIS THAT WE DO WE STARTED THIS IN 2019, 2020 TO BRING IN A THIRD PARTY TO HELP US LOOK AT EVERY YEAR WHERE WE ARE COMPARED TO THE MARKET ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY WITH ALL OF OUR POSITIONS.

AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THAT HAS GIVEN US THE DATA TO HELP US MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REMAINING COMPETITIVE.

AND SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WITH BOTH OUR SECURITY OFFICERS AS WELL AS WITH OUR MARSHAL'S OFFICE.

AND SO WHAT I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW, BASED ON THAT DATA THAT WE REFRESHED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, THAT OUR DEPUTY CITY MARSHALS ARE APPROXIMATELY 8.666% AHEAD OF THE MARKET.

OUR SENIOR DEPUTY MARSHALS ARE 9.96% AHEAD OF MARKET.

OUR SECURITY OFFICERS ARE POINT 3% ABOVE THE MARKET, AND OUR SENIOR SECURITY OFFICERS ARE 10.05% OF THE MARKET. SO WE ARE USING THAT DATA EVERY YEAR TO HELP US NOT ONLY LOOK AT THESE POSITIONS, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PAY EQUITY AND WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH THE MARKET ONGOING. SO THAT WILL BE A PART OF OUR ONGOING REVIEW, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT INFORMATION CONTINUOUSLY BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ITEM NINE? I DON'T SEE ANYONE, SO.

OKAY. CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES ON ITEM NINE.

THANK YOU. I DO APPRECIATE THIS ROBUST CONVERSATION, AND I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO GET CLARITY ON THAT.

AND I ASK FOR A RECORD VOTE BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE GET THE VOTING, START THE VOTING, AND THEN WE THEN IT COMES BACK AND BITE US IN THE NECK AFTER WHEN WHEN YOU COME, WHEN THE STAFF COMES BACK AND SAY, BUT WE TOLD YOU THAT.

SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TODAY I GOT AN UNDERSTANDING ON THIS UNIFORM PIECE, BUT I'M I HAVE THE SAME FEELING THAT COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSOHN JUST STATED WHEN IT COMES TO SECURITY IN THIS BUILDING AND WHEN I'M DRIVING IN THE GARAGE, I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE LEVEL FOUR OR 5 OR 1.

IF YOU HAVE ON THAT UNIFORM AND YOU HAVE ON, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT THAT APPROPRIATE? WHAT DID YOU SAY? IT SOUNDED REAL GOOD.

APPROPRIATE FIREARM.

APPROPRIATE FIREARMS. YES, MA'AM. I WANT THEM TO DO THEIR JOB.

AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY THAT IS.

SO I KNOW THAT IT IS GOOD FOR WHETHER WE BRING IT UP IN PUBLIC SAFETY, WHETHER WE BRING IT IN WORKFORCE.

BUT I THINK WE MUST ADVOCATE THESE TIMES ARE CHANGING RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES AND THE DANGERS THAT WE INCUR AS PUBLIC SERVANTS.

AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF CRAZY STUFF GOING ON IN THIS BUILDING.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT I SUPPORT YOU ALL, AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

MAYOR, AT ONE POINT, I HAD A BLACK BELT.

I DON'T HAVE THAT EXPERTISE ANYMORE.

SO I'M GOING TO DEPEND ON THEM TO DO WHAT I CAN'T DO FOR MYSELF RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO.

WELL, YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY AROUND HERE.

[04:40:01]

MR. MAYOR. RECORD ROWE VOTE.

WHOA! WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED? OH, SHE WANTED A RECORD VOTE.

OKAY. YOU GOT IT.

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

NO. IF YOU'RE OPPOSED, MAYOR JOHNSON.

YES. DEPUTY MAYOR, PRO MAYOR.

PRO TEM ATKINS.

YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BAZALDUA.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

WEST. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. MORENO.

COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACIE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. ARNOLD.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

RESENDEZ. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. NARVAEZ.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BLACKMON. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

STEWART. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. SCHULTZ.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

MENDELSOHN. COUNCIL MEMBER.

WILLIS. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY.

YES. THANK YOU.

WITH ALL 15 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL VOTING IN FAVOR, THIS ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE UP THE NEXT ITEM.

AGENDA ITEM TEN IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 34 PERSONNEL RULES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CODE BY AMENDING SECTION

[10. 24-2886 An ordinance amending Chapter 34, “Personnel Rules” of the City Council Code by amending Sec. 34-9 and 34-25; removing holiday pay for temporary employees - Financing: No cost consideration to the City (see Fiscal Information)]

THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR.

MISS BLACKMON, DO YOU HAVE A.

OH. I'M BACK.

I MOVED TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.

SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN WEST.

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

IF YOU TURN YOUR MICROPHONE ON, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT THE BACKGROUND WITH SECTION 34.

30 4-9 3425.

THAT WHEN WE DID PUT THIS PERSONNEL RULE IN PLACE, WHEN DID WE AMEND THIS? SO WE WE BELIEVE THAT WE MADE THIS CHANGE TWO YEARS AGO WHERE WE BEGAN AS A PILOT, IF YOU WILL, PROVIDING HOLIDAY PAY FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.

AND I WOULD ASK NINA ARIAS TO COME OUT AND TALK FURTHER ABOUT THE CHANGE.

BUT THIS ROLLS THAT BACK AND AND TAKES THAT BACK OFF THE BOOKS.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

NINA ARIAS, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

YES. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH WE COULD INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYEES, AND WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE WAY IN WHICH WE COULD REWARD OR INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE TEMPS WITHIN OUR WORKFORCE. AS SOMETIMES THEY, THEY ACTUALLY MOVE FROM A TEMP POSITION TO A REGULAR POSITION.

AT THAT TIME WHEN WE DID THAT, WE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WERE BEING AHEAD OF MANY OTHER EMPLOYERS, SINCE THIS IS NOT A COMMON PRACTICE.

AND WE DID IT, AS MR. IRELAND SAID, AS A PILOT TWO YEARS LATER AND LOOKING AT THE COST OF DOING THIS GOING FORWARD AND LOOKING AT EVERY EFFICIENCY POSSIBLE, WE IDENTIFY THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO OR THAT IS YOU KNOW, ALIGNED WITH OTHER EMPLOYERS.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT ROLLING IT BACK.

AND WHAT IS THE COST? SO THE COST HAS BEEN APPROXIMATELY $380,000, I BELIEVE, PER YEAR.

WE DID NOT WHEN WE PUT THIS IN PLACE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE DID NOT CHANGE THE BUDGET.

WE DID NOT INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR IT.

DEPARTMENTS WERE REQUIRED TO ABSORB THE CHANGE.

AND SO WE LOOKED AS WE LOOKED AT IT THIS SUMMER AND MADE THE RECOMMENDATION TO BACK THAT OUT OF WE THE SAME.

WE DID NOT MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT GOING DOWN BECAUSE WE DIDN'T INCREASE ANYONE'S BUDGET FOR IT.

SO WE ARE SAYING THAT THAT IS A COST OF ABOUT $380,000 A YEAR FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES FOR REMOVING THE HOLIDAY PAY. WHEN WE GOT TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND WHEN THE HOLIDAYS PASS, THAT INCENTIVE IS THAT WE WILL KEEP SOME TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES WHO HAD THE THEY SPURNS TO TO WORK AT THE CITY OF DALLAS.

YOU KNOW, I'M JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES, SOMETIMES IT COSTS YOU MORE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE WITH THAT, ANY TYPE OF INCENTIVE. SO I THINK WE PUT THIS IN TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE INCENTIVE FOR THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES TO HAVE A HOLIDAY PAY.

IS THAT IS A FAIR STATEMENT?

[04:45:02]

AND SO THEREFORE WE WE FEEL LIKE WE DO NOT NEED AN INCENTIVE FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES ANYMORE.

IT IS DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN THROUGH THE BUDGET.

SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN THIS IS A BENEFIT THAT IS NOT A REQUIRED BENEFIT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT ROLLING IT BACK.

YOU KNOW, IF WE IF WE WERE IN A SITUATION IN WHICH WE COULD OFFER ALL AVAILABLE BENEFITS TO ALL EMPLOYEES, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE OUR PREFERENCE, BUT THAT IS NOT OUR SITUATION CURRENTLY.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE LOOK AT WHAT ARE BEST PRACTICES, WHAT AREAS ARE WE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT MAY NOT BE ALIGNED WITH BEST PRACTICES.

AND THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THOSE AREAS.

AND WHEN YOU SAID SUSTAINED TO THE BUDGET.

SO THEREFORE YOU FEEL LIKE REMOVING THE HOLIDAY PAY FROM TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES WOULD SAVE US MONEY IN THE BUDGET, IS THAT CORRECT? IT WILL NOT. THE THE MONEY IS NOT BUDGETED.

IT WAS ASSUMED THAT THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WERE GOING TO ABSORB THIS COST.

AND WITH THE MOVE TO EFFICIENCIES, DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT FINDING THEMSELVES IN A POSITION THAT THEY CAN EASILY DO THAT.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE REMOVING A REQUIREMENT THAT DEPARTMENTS ABSORB A COST THAT IS NOT BUDGETED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I KNOW IT WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT, BUT WE PUT IT THERE FOR A REASON.

SO WHAT WAS THE REASON WHY WE PUT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT? BUT WE FEEL LIKE THERE WAS, SAY A PLUS FOR US TO TO GIVE THOSE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES ON HOLIDAY PAY IN ORDER TO, TO DO WORK.

I MEAN, IT WAS THE REASON WHY WE DID IT.

YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND A REASON WHY WE WERE GOING TO REMOVE IT.

I KNOW BECAUSE OF BUDGET, BUT IT'S $380,000.

I THINK THAT, IN MY OPINION, I DON'T KNOW.

NO ONE HAD BRIEFED ME ABOUT THIS TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE HOLIDAY PAY.

BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT WHEN DOING A HOLIDAYS, YOU NEED TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES, SO YOU GIVE THEM SOME KIND OF INCENTIVE THERE DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

SO I'M JUST KIND OF CONFUSED RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT.

SO I'LL JUMP IN FOR JUST A SECOND AND THEN I'LL HAVE STAFF TO BACK ME UP IF, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

SO LET ME START WITH THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO LOOK AT FROM A PILOT.

WE WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL POSSIBLE WAYS WHEN IT CAME TO OPPORTUNITIES TO AUGMENT OUR STAFF.

BUT WHAT WE WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT IT WOULD BE A BETTER PATH FORWARD.

IF THERE IS AN INCENTIVE FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES TO MOVE INTO MANY OF THE VACANT FULL TIME POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE CITY.

AND WE HEARD THAT AROUND THE HORSESHOE WHEN WE ASKED FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS PILOT.

AND SO NOW THAT WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON WHAT WE'VE DONE AND HOW IT HAS WORKED, AND LOOKING AT OTHER BEST PRACTICES AND NOW TAKING THE DATA INTO CONSIDERATION, WHAT WE'VE DETERMINED IS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL STILL THEY STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BENEFITS.

BUT AS IT RELATES TO TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES RECEIVING PAY FOR A HOLIDAY WHEN THEY'RE NOT WORKING, THAT THAT IS NOT A BEST PRACTICE.

AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WILL THEN INCENTIVIZE THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD THEN WE WOULD HOPE TO MOVE INTO PERMANENT POSITIONS TO DO SO.

SO THIS AGAIN, IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME BACK AND GIVE YOU OUR FEEDBACK ON WHAT WE FOUND THROUGH THIS PILOT PERIOD.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

OKAY. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THIS PILOT PERIOD THAT WE PUT IT WAS A PILOT.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES. WHEN WE CAME TO THE COUNCIL BEFORE, THIS WAS A VERY SENSITIVE AND DELICATE CONVERSATION.

I REMEMBER IT, AND WHAT WE SAID WAS, IS THAT WE WOULD WE WOULD START AND WE WOULD LOOK AT THIS AND THAT WE WOULD COME BACK.

AND IF THEY IF WE DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE, THERE WAS A DIFFERENT WAY TO LOOK AT THIS AND WE NEEDED TO RESET OUR THINKING ON IT, THAT WE WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THIS ITEM TODAY.

OKAY. DID THIS ITEM GO TO ANY COMMITTEE OR DID ANYONE FROM THE COUNCIL HAD ANY INPUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM OR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION ITEM? NO, IT'S IT'S ACTUALLY IT'S IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BUDGET.

DID IT GO TO THE THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT? THE ANYONE COUNCILMAN COMMITTEE.

NO, SIR. IT DID NOT GO TO A COMMITTEE.

IT HAS BEEN PART OF THE BUDGET THAT WE PRESENTED.

IT WAS NOT HIGHLIGHTED IN THE BUDGET BRIEFING ON AUGUST THE 13TH.

BUT IT IS. IT WAS PART OF OUR BUDGET RECOMMENDATION ALL ALONG.

IT WAS JUST A CITY MANAGER BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, RIGHT? YES, SIR. OKAY. CITY MANAGER BUDGET.

AND I THINK WE STILL ARE POLICY MAKERS.

I THINK WE MAKE A DECISION WHAT WE DECIDE TO BUDGET, WHAT WE'RE NOT.

AND I THINK WE STILL HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.

SO I JUST BROUGHT IT UP AND I BROUGHT IT UP.

I SAW IT, AND I REMEMBER THAT WE PUT IT FOR THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES TO HAVE HOLIDAY PAY, BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THERE WAS INCENTIVE TO KEEP TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES HERE BECAUSE WE WERE SHORT HANDED.

[04:50:02]

THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM TEN.

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

I'LL ECHO SOME SENTIMENTS THAT WERE JUST SHARED.

I SEE THIS AS A POLICY DECISION THAT WE HAD POLICY DISCUSSION ON.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE BUDGET IMPLICATIONS, LIKE THERE ARE IN MOST POLICY DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE IN THIS BODY.

THIS WAS A CHANGE THAT I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD DIFFERENTIATOR OF OUR CITY VERSUS OTHERS.

THIS ISN'T ONE THAT I WAS LOOKING TO SEE WHAT BEST PRACTICES WERE IN NEIGHBORING CITIES.

IF WE WANT TO ATTRACT AND WE WANT TO INCREASE QUALITY OF LIFE, THESE ARE GREAT INCENTIVES FOR THAT.

CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR AND LIST SOME OF EXAMPLES OF THESE TEMPORARY POSITIONS? YES. THE MAJORITY OF THE POSITIONS ARE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

WE ALSO HAVE AN OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS POSITIONS.

AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE BRUNT OF.

SO WE ALSO HAVE INTERNS.

SO LET ME TELL YOU, BECAUSE I THINK YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF POSITIONS, NOT JUST THE DEPARTMENT.

SO WE HAVE THE SEASONAL LIFEGUARDS THAT ONLY WORK DURING A CERTAIN PART OF OF THE YEAR.

WE HAVE THE EMPLOYEES OF THOSE LIFEGUARDS.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE USUALLY FILLING THOSE POSITIONS? I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT WE COULD GET THAT FOR YOU.

WE COULD ASK THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.

ALWAYS. TEENAGERS OR COLLEGE STUDENTS.

AND SO THE SO THE POSITIONS THAT INCLUDE A LOT OF THE SEASONAL LABOR THAT ARE WORKING DURING A DEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.

ANYWAY IN IN ADDITION TO THAT, SHE MENTIONED THE OFFICE OF CULTURAL ARTS, CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND ARTS.

THOSE ARE TYPICALLY THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK ON SPECIAL EVENTS.

THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DOING GREETINGS AT PERFORMANCES.

LIKE THE USHERS THAT ACTUALLY COME IN TO DO CERTAIN WORK.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THOSE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.

THEY COME IN DURING SEASONAL ACTIVITIES.

FORGIVE ME IF YOU GAVE THE ACTUAL DOLLAR AMOUNT ALREADY, BUT CAN YOU GIVE ME WHAT IT WOULD COST THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY WORKED OUT OF THE BUDGET, BUT TO HELP MAINTAIN.

SO THE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT DEPARTMENTS ABSORBED INTO THEIR OPERATING BUDGET WAS APPROXIMATELY $380,000 A YEAR.

AGAIN, IT WAS NOT A NUMBER THAT WE ADDED INTO THE BUDGET TWO YEARS AGO, AND WE DIDN'T REDUCE BUDGETS ACCORDING TO THAT.

IT WAS DEPARTMENTS WERE ASKED TO ABSORB IT TWO YEARS AGO, AND WITH US TIGHTENING UP THE BUDGETS, DEPARTMENTS HAVE LESS FLEXIBILITY TO TO ABSORB THOSE TYPES OF COSTS. MEANWHILE, HOW MANY VACANCIES DO WE HAVE? NOT IN THE TEMPORARY POSITIONS OVERALL.

OVERALL OUR VACANCY RATE IS AROUND 15%.

CURRENTLY THE VACANCIES.

BUT THAT'S CITYWIDE.

YES I UNDERSTAND.

I'M JUST SAYING THIS.

THIS IS AGAIN A POLICY DECISION AND THAT IF WE DESIRED AS THE POLICY BODY TO MAINTAIN THIS, I THINK THAT THERE ARE AN ARRAY OF VACANCIES THAT COULD HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN USED TO TO COMPENSATE.

SO IF WE'RE LOOKING IF WE'RE SAYING WE'RE LOOKING FOR MONIES, TO ME, JUST BECAUSE WE'VE PASSED THE BUDGET DOESN'T MEAN THAT THIS POLICY CANNOT STILL BE PRIORITIZED BY THE COUNCIL. I, FOR ONE, WILL SAY THAT I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST WITH JUST ABOUT EVERY DEPARTMENT IS THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO INCENTIVIZE AND MAKE WORKING AT THE CITY OF DALLAS DESIRABLE, AS DESIRABLE AS WE CAN.

WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE MARKET.

AND IN A LOT OF TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED THESE ARE HIGH DEMAND AND A SHORT PERIOD.

BUT WE NEED THESE POSITIONS IN ORDER FOR SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN TO CONTINUE TO RUN AS SMOOTH AS THEY CAN.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY NICKEL AND DIMING SOME OF THE FRONTLINE WORKERS THAT WE HAVE, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WOULD BE THE REASON THAT THIS COUNCIL SHOULD, SHOULD GO WITHOUT THE DISCUSSION, WITHOUT SEEING THIS VETTED AT A COMMITTEE, WITHOUT US BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF OF WHAT COULD AFFORD US TO KEEP THIS GOING.

I CANNOT CONFIDENTLY SUPPORT THIS NOW.

SO SO I WILL JUST LEAVE THAT THERE AND SAY THAT I SHARE THE SENTIMENT SHARED BY MAYOR PRO TEM CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM TEN.

[04:55:01]

AND IT WAS TOLD TO US THAT IT WOULD BE A PILOT PROGRAM.

AND NOW WE'VE GOT DEPARTMENT HEADS SAYING THIS ISN'T ACTUALLY ADDING THE VALUE THAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD.

I DON'T NEED IT.

AND YOU'RE GIVING US THE EFFICIENCY THAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO GIVE.

SO I'M GOING TO JUST RACK ANOTHER ONE UP FOR SUPPORTING INTERIM CITY MANAGER TODAY.

SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE ASKED YOU TO DO.

TRY THINGS. IF IT WORKS, LET'S CONTINUE IT.

AND IF IT DOESN'T, LET'S LET'S REWORK IT AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WE CAN OR SHOULD DO.

OF COURSE WE NEED OUR TEMPORARIES.

OF COURSE WE VALUE THEM AS EMPLOYEES, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE OUR EMPLOYEES SHOULD HAVE BENEFITS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO TEMPORARIES.

THERE'S A DISTINCTION ON ON BEING PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

AND SO ALL OF THAT TO SAY I WAS ACTUALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT.

OKAY, WE TRIED SOMETHING AND SOMETIMES IT WILL WORK AND IT WILL BE A GREAT IDEA.

AND SOMETIMES MAYBE IT DOESN'T HIT THE WAY WE HOPED IT WOULD.

SO I COMMEND YOU FOR AGAIN LOOKING THROUGH THE BUDGET, TRYING TO FIND THOSE EFFICIENCIES AND THAT DUPLICATION.

AND THAT IS WHY I VOTED YES, BECAUSE YOU DID MAKE THAT EFFORT.

SO THANK YOU.

CHAIRWOMAN ARNOLD, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM TEN.

THANK YOU. I HEAR THOSE SENTIMENTS IN TERMS OF HOW WE TREAT TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.

AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE DID ASK OUR.

AND IT WAS ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED AS A WAY OF POSSIBLY TO YOU IDENTIFY SOMETHING.

AND WE'RE GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

AND THAT IS THE SAME POSITION THAT I HAVE WITH THE UNIFORM NON UNIFORM OFFICERS THAT ARE IN THIS BUILDING THAT WE LOOK AT WAYS TO JUST AS WE DID WITH THESE TEMPORARY WORKERS TO ADDRESS THE SHORTFALL OF THEIR INCOME IN SUCH A WAY WHERE WE CAN AT LEAST SEE IF, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN GIVE US A SUCCESS, WE NEED JUST AS YOU JUST AS WE'VE DONE WITH THIS PROGRAM, CITY MANAGERS, IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

SO WILL SUPPORT THIS.

BUT JUST SAYING.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE SAME EFFORT IN IN TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO MAINTAIN A WORKFORCE THAT'S IN THIS BUILDING THAT PROVIDES SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR ALL OF US.

WE JUST HAVE TO IMAGINE A DAY COMING TO WORK WITHOUT ANY SECURITY IN THE BUILDING AND SEE WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.

THANK YOU. AND YOU CAN'T GET TEMPORARY WORKERS FOR THEM.

MISS SCHULTZ, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM TEN.

THANK YOU. IT MUST BE THE FULL MOON.

BECAUSE IF COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN IS IS AGREEING WITH MISS TOLBERT, AND I'M AGREEING WITH MISS MENDELSOHN, IT MUST BE A FULL MOON.

SO I, I ACTUALLY ALSO AGREE, AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK YOU'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN ASSESSING WHAT OUR WHAT WE NEED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN.

AND IF IT COMES BACK AND SAYS WE NEED TO GO BACK AND OFFER THIS AS A BENEFIT, WE CAN.

BUT IF IT'S SHOWING NOW THAT WE DON'T, THEN THERE'S NO REASON TO SPEND MONEY THAT WE DON'T NEED TO BE.

SO. THANK YOU.

IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE, I'M GOING BACK TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

OH, OKAY. CHAIRMAN NARVAEZ RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. AND I'M GOING TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF MY COLLEAGUE, MISS SCHULTZ.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT A DOUBLE FULL MOON IS OR WHATEVER IT IS, BUT I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH THIS ONE AS WELL.

WE DID TRY A PILOT, AND IT'S ALWAYS SAID THAT A PILOT NEVER ENDS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE WE CAN PROVE THAT THEY DO.

AND JUST AS MISS SCHULTZ SAID, IF WE SEE THAT TAKING AWAY THIS INCENTIVE ALL OF A SUDDEN CAUSES US TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES, WE CAN ALWAYS PUT IT BACK IN.

SO WE TRIED IT.

IT DIDN'T REALLY WORK THE WAY WE THOUGHT IT DID.

AND WE HAD TO WE HAD TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS IN PLACES.

AND, I MEAN, I HATE DOING THIS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S ONE OF THOSE SPOTS WHERE WE HAVE TO BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO GET TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AS THE YEARS GO ON.

AND SO I'M GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF THEM ENDING THIS PILOT.

AND LET'S RELOOK AT IT AND MAYBE SEE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF INCENTIVE THAT MAY WORK BETTER.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK FOR FIRST ROUND, I'M GOING TO THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THREE MINUTES.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU.

MAYOR I DON'T DISAGREE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED.

I JUST THINK THIS IS NOT HOW WE NORMALLY DO POLICY WORK.

IN FACT, I THINK IT ACTUALLY CONTRADICTS WHAT SEVERAL COMMENTS WE'VE HEARD.

THIS DID NOT GET VETTED AT A COMMITTEE LEVEL, AND WE DIDN'T HEAR ANY INPUT FROM THE POLICY MAKERS.

IN FACT, WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING HERE AT THE PODIUM IS ACTUALLY CONTRADICTING TO WHAT I WAS TOLD WHY YOU WERE DOING IT.

SO THERE'S THERE'S NOT MUCH CLARITY BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ABOUT BEST PRACTICES AND THAT THERE HAD TO BE A WAY FOR YOU ALL TO MAKE CUTS,

[05:00:07]

I THINK THE EXAMPLE THAT WE GAVE FOR THE POSITIONS IS PROBABLY NOT THE ONE THAT YOU WOULD WANT FOR FROM A HOLIDAY PERSPECTIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE 4TH OF JULY.

WE ARE CLOSED AS A CITY.

SO GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE THEN.

SO GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.

AND SO THIS COULD BE THIS COULD BE A TEMPORARY WORKING IN SAY HUMAN RESOURCES.

AND WE'RE CLOSED FOR MEMORIAL DAY.

IF THE CITY IS CLOSED, UNLESS THAT EMPLOYEE IS BEING ASKED TO WORK, THEN THEY WOULD NOT GET PAID FOR THAT HOLIDAY, BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT WE'RE NOT WORKING AS A CITY.

ANYWAY, SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE REQUESTED TO ACTUALLY WORK ON THAT HOLIDAY IN ORDER TO EVEN RECEIVE THE PAY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO. SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I DON'T DISAGREE WITH WHAT THE ARGUMENTS ARE ON NEEDING IT TO GO, BUT I WOULD THINK THAT JUST AS ANY PILOT, WE'VE NEVER HAD A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WE'VE ASKED THAT THE RESULT AFTER THE PILOT PROGRAM IS THAT STAFF DECIDES WHAT WE'RE DOING.

THAT'S WHAT THIS AGENDA ITEM IS.

SO IF I COULD, IF I COULD JUST AND I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.

BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS, IS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT THIS, AND THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT IT AS AN ACTUAL ITEM.

THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE ITEM.

IT'S NOT EMBEDDED INTO THE ACTUAL PERSONNEL CHANGES.

IT'S ACTUALLY AN IDENTIFIED ITEM.

SO WE COULD HAVE TRANSPARENCY AROUND IT AND WE COULD HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS INPUT.

BUT BUT IT WAS BUILT INTO THE BUDGET.

AND SO I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT HAVING A BRIEFING JUST ON THE TEMPORARY PIECE.

THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS THAT I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE ALSO PUT INTO THIS PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WE DID BRING AS AN INDIVIDUAL ITEM, BUT IT'S BAKED INTO THE BUDGET.

SO I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT AND APPRECIATE THE CONCERN.

BUT THIS IS A PUBLIC POLICY DISCUSSION THAT DID HAVE A REALLY ROBUST CONVERSATION AND BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, DECIPHER.

YOU DID GIVE AN EXAMPLE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT LIFEGUARDS.

YOU. I KNOW YOU'RE OFF ON 4TH OF JULY, BUT THE POOLS ARE NOT.

AND SO YOU GAVE AN EXAMPLE WHERE WE HAVE EMPLOYEES FROM MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY WITH THREE NATIONAL HOLIDAYS WITHIN.

WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THEM IF WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE THIS WITH OUR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES? AND IF THAT HAS NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE VETTED AND DISCUSSED, I'M ASKING WHY THIS WAS NOT BROUGHT TO GFM OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER.

PARKS AND TRAILS, BUT FOR US TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY WORK THROUGH SOME OF THESE CONCERNS, MORE SO ON A PRECEDENT THAT IF WE ASKED TO HAVE A PILOT, THAT ALMOST ALWAYS RESULTS IN THE SAME REQUEST FOR IT TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO US SO WE COULD EVALUATE IF IT WAS OR WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WAS FEASIBLE.

INSTEAD, THIS IS NOW BEING BROUGHT BACK, AND IT SOUNDS MORE TO ME LIKE THIS WAS A BUDGET CUT.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

THAT'S GREAT. IF THAT'S WHAT IT WAS, THEN I'D LIKE FOR THAT TO BE THE REASON THAT THAT WAS WHAT IT WAS.

BUT IF IF IT WAS THAT STAFF HAS ASSUMED THE ROLE AS POLICY MAKERS, THAT'S THE WAY THAT THIS IS BEING PRESENTED TODAY.

AND I WOULD LIKE CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND SO I WILL LET ME, LET ME, LET ME RESET THE, THE COMMENTS.

AS WE LOOKED ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION AND WE LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT AND EVERY SINGLE SERVICE THAT'S HOW WE BEGAN OUR DISCUSSION AROUND ALL OF THE BUDGET CONCERNS AND ISSUES AND THINGS WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS.

THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NOT HAVE BECAUSE OF THE THE, THE TIGHTENING OF OUR BELT THAT WE'RE DOING ACROSS EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT, THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS STICKING OUT BECAUSE WE NEVER PROVIDED THE FUNDING TO THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE FIRST PLACE TO BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE OR ABSORB THOSE COSTS.

SO FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE, YES, IT WAS A PART OF OUR OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IT GOT PRESENTED AS PART OF THE BUDGET.

WHAT I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDED IN THAT WAS WE IN MANY OTHER SITUATIONS, WE LOOKED AT, WELL, IS THIS A BEST PRACTICE? AND IS IT SOMETHING THAT IF, IF WE, YOU KNOW, WOULD MAKE THE CITY NOT BE LOOKING AT WHAT THE MARKET AND WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS DOING? AND SO WHAT WE DETERMINED IS THAT NOT ONLY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, IF TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES ARE BEING UTILIZED, NO MATTER WHAT DEPARTMENT.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING WHERE THEY'RE GETTING PAID WHEN THEY'RE OFF OF WORK.

THAT IS TYPICALLY FOR A FULL TIME, PERMANENT POSITION, NO MATTER IF IT'S PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.

SO YES, IT WAS PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS AND ALLOWED FOR US TO REALLY TRUE UP ACROSS EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT THAT MIGHT UTILIZE TEMPORARY

[05:05:10]

THESE ARE NOT OUR TEMP AGENCIES AND THE CONTRACTUAL PIECES THAT SUPPORT SANITATION AND THOSE EFFORTS.

SO THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

BUT THANK YOU. AND I AND AGAIN I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THAT IT DID NOT COME AS A DEDICATED SEPARATE ITEM FOR A COUNCIL COMMITTEE DISCUSSION BEFORE TODAY.

I THINK THERE'S THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT IN JUST ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS.

AND I DON'T SEE THIS AS ONE.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD, WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, JUST AS I SAID EARLIER WITH MISS MENDELSOHN'S AMENDMENT, I DON'T THINK THAT MAKING SAUSAGE ON THE FLOOR IS THE WAY THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING POLICY WORK HERE AT DALLAS CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST ITEM TEN? SEEING NONE. NO ONE REQUESTED A RECORD ON THIS ONE, DID THEY? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.

AGENDA ITEM 11.

[11. 24-2921 Authorize (1) approval of the proposed plan design effective January 1, 2025; and (2) approval of the proposed health coverage plans and 5% premium rates increase for all of the separate health benefit plans for employee, retirees, and their families - Financing: Employee Benefits Fund ($142,134,754); Revenue: City Employee/Retiree Contributions ($74,110,124) (see Fiscal Information)]

THIS IS YOUR ITEM, MR. MAYOR. IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM 11? I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. SECOND.

ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN. SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, CHAIRMAN WEST? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE SEEING.

NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.

NEXT ITEM, MR. MAYOR, YOUR CONTINUED BRIEFINGS, YOUR BRIEFINGS CONTINUE ITS COFFEE BREAK TIME AGAIN, EVERYONE.

[D. 24-2840 CECAP: Update on Vaping Ordinance Amendment]

WE'RE NOW GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER FOR OUR BRIEFINGS, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING SOME ITEMS IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ORDER THAN THEY WERE ORIGINALLY PRINTED ON THE AGENDA.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WE'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER D, WHICH IS OUR PROPOSED UPDATE ON THE VAPING ORDINANCE.

THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY IS PRESENTING THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN UPDATE ON THE VAPING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.

THIS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT CLOSES THE REGULATORY GAP TO PROHIBIT VAPING WHERE YOU CANNOT SMOKE TOBACCO AND OTHER PRODUCTS.

THIS UPDATE COMES AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE, WHICH INCLUDES LEADING PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS WHO HAVE EVALUATED THE DIRECT AND THE SECONDHAND IMPACT OF VAPING, PARTICULARLY ON TEENAGERS WHO TEENAGERS WHO FAVOR THESE DEVICES.

THE RECOMMENDATION IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY A NUMBER OF HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE DALLAS COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, WHO IS HELPING US TODAY WITH THIS EFFORT, AMENDING THE SMOKING ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE CITY OF DALLAS COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF OUR RESIDENTS AND IMPROVING OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

SO WE'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK DALLAS COUNTY, OUR PARKS AND TRAILS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, AND ALL OF THE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE ASSISTED OUR DEPARTMENT IN WORKING TO DEVELOP THIS ORDINANCE.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR DIRECTOR OF PARKS, DIRECTOR CARLOS EVANS.

THANK YOU. CARLOS. THANK YOU.

CITY MANAGER. CITY MANAGER.

TOLBERT. MAYOR. COUNCIL.

CARLOS EVANS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

I'M JOINED BY WELL, ACTUALLY IS DOCTOR PHILIP HUANG ON OKAY.

HE MAY NOT HE WAS HERE EARLIER.

HE HAD A PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT.

SO WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF DOCTOR PHILIP HUANG, DIRECTOR AND HEALTH AUTHORITY FROM THE DALLAS COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WITH ME.

WE HAVE DOCTOR ZAID AFOLABI, PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGIST.

SHE'S THE CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE REGISTERED NURSE RENEE ROBERSON, DISTRICT EIGHT COMMISSIONER, AND WE HAVE NATALIE RESENDEZ, US ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COORDINATOR, AS STATED BY CITY MANAGER TOLBERT.

WE'RE HERE TO BRIEF YOU ON RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CLOSE THE REGULATORY GAP TO PROHIBIT VAPING WHERE YOU CANNOT CURRENTLY SMOKE.

OH, AND WE DO HAVE A SLIDE DECK.

WE'RE HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.

WE'RE WAITING ON THE SLIDES.

WE ALL HAVE HARD COPIES, I HOPE.

OKAY. YOU WANT TO JUST.

I HOPE WE CAN ROLL THROUGH IF YOU WANT.

DO YOU ALL HAVE A HARD COPY? OKAY. OKAY. PERFECT.

[05:10:02]

I'LL JUST BRIEFLY PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW.

WE'LL SUMMARIZE THE RECOMMENDATION, THE RECOMMENDATION ITSELF, AND IDENTIFY KEY STAKEHOLDERS THAT SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF RECOMMENDATION.

WE'LL DISCUSS HOW THE RECOMMENDATION SUPPORTS THE CAP.

WILL THEN PROVIDE A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE TOPIC.

WILL THEN REMIND OURSELVES OF THE VAPING BASICS, DISCUSS THE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH VAPING, AND DISCUSS VAPING TREND DATA, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO TEENAGERS. WE'LL REFERENCE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY CLOSED THIS REGULATORY GAP.

WE'LL DISCUSS THE BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING THIS RECOMMENDATION.

AND FINALLY WE'LL DISCUSS NEXT STEPS.

SO MOVING TO SLIDE THREE.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS CODE AMENDMENT AGAIN? THE PURPOSE IS TO CLOSE THE REGULATORY GAP TO PREVENT VAPING WHERE SMOKING SMOKING IS CURRENTLY PROHIBITED.

YOU'LL RECALL THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLACES A PERSON CAN NOT SMOKE, INCLUDING AN INDOOR OR ENCLOSED AREAS WITHIN 15FT OF AN ENTRANCE TO AN INDOOR OR ENCLOSED AREA OR A PARK PROPERTY.

WHAT ARE WE AMENDING? SO THE RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDATION IS TO UPDATE THE DEFINITION OF SMOKING TO INCLUDE THE USE OF ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE OR VAPING, AND ADD A DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE.

AND BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WITH WITHIN THE TT, WE'RE RECOMMENDING A SIGNAGE CHANGE TO CLARIFY THE PROHIBITION AGAINST VAPING BY REQUIRING NEW SIGNS THAT STATE NO SMOKING OR USE OF AN ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE, OR USING A SYMBOL THAT SHOWS THAT VAPING IS PROHIBITED.

THIS AMENDMENT WOULD NOT CHANGE WHERE A PERSON CAN OR CANNOT SMOKE.

BASED ON THE TT DISCUSSIONS, COUNCIL MEMBERS DID NOT WANT TO HOLD UP THIS AMENDMENT TO REEVALUATE WHERE A PERSON CAN OR CANNOT SMOKE.

GOING TO SLIDE FOR A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS WARN THAT ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES HAVE HEALTH RISKS, INCLUDING THE DALLAS COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. AGAIN, DOCTOR HUANG WAS INTENDING TO PRESENT HERE TODAY THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, AND I THINK YOU'VE HEARD FROM ALEC PUENTE EARLIER TODAY DURING PUBLIC SPEAKING, DURING THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, AND THE US SURGEON GENERAL.

AND THIS RECOMMENDATION ALSO ADVANCES THE CAP AND THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN BY HELPING TO IMPROVE OUR AIR QUALITY AND PROTECT OUR ECOSYSTEMS, WHICH WILL BENEFIT EVERYONE, INCLUDING OUR HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

SO WE'RE MOVING TO SLIDE FIVE.

AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS PLACED RESTRICTIONS ON SMOKING FOR A WHILE NOW IN 2016, COUNCIL ELIMINATED SMOKING IN PARKS.

IN 2019, COUNCIL RAISED THE SMOKING AGE FROM 18 TO 21.

BUT THE CITY HAS NOT ADDRESSED VAPING, WHICH IS A RELATIVELY MODERN ACTIVITY.

IN 2023, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, LED BY ITS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE AND DOCTOR AFOLABI AND REGISTERED NURSE ROBERSON, RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY PROHIBIT VAPING ANYWHERE.

SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN 2023 AND 2024.

THE EVC AND OIOS BRIEFED THE TT COMMITTEE AND NOW WE'RE HERE.

IN SLIDE SIX I'LL PASS IT TO DOCTOR AFOLABI.

HI. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME VAPES AND E-CIGARETTES.

AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS THAT SOME OF THESE DEVICES HAVE MORE NICOTINE THAN 200 CIGARETTES.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ADVERTISE ABOUT.

AND SO PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY USING THESE DEVICES.

KIND OF KIND OF CONTINUOUSLY WHEN THEY ARE USING THEM IN THESE ENCLOSED SPACES.

AND IF WE MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE CAN SEE SMOKING HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE A SECONDHAND AEROSOL THAT ACTUALLY CAN IMPACT OTHER FOLKS, ESPECIALLY IN INDOOR AREAS, ESPECIALLY KIND OF IN THAT ONE AREA THAT THEY'RE IN.

THEY CAN HAVE A CONDITION CALLED POPCORN LUNG.

SO THOSE FOLKS THAT MADE POPCORN, THE BUTTERED POPCORN ENDED UP WITH A SPECIAL TYPE OF PNEUMONIA CALLED POPCORN LUNG.

THEY'VE SEEN THAT SIMILAR PICTURE THAT THAT THAT SAME PATHOLOGY IN THOSE WHO HAVE VAPED BECAUSE THEY HAVE THESE VOLATILE CHEMICALS, INCLUDING THESE FLAVORED CHEMICALS THAT YOU'RE INHALING.

AND YOU THINK THAT IT'S SAFER SOMETIMES BECAUSE IT'S FLAVORED, YOU KNOW, VERY NICELY AND VERY PLEASANTLY, BUT YOU'RE INHALING THAT INTO YOUR LUNGS AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE INHALING SOME VERY VOLATILE COMPOUNDS.

WE'VE HAD A SPATE HERE IN DALLAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WITH SEVERE, SEVERE LUNG DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH VAPING.

AND WE HAD CHILDREN SPECIFICALLY AND ADULTS WHO ENDED UP ON HEART LUNG BYPASS.

THEY WERE SO SICK.

AND THERE'S BEEN REPORTS OF FATALITIES WITH THIS LUNG DISEASE AS WELL, ALL ASSOCIATED WITH VAPING.

[05:15:01]

WITH VAPING.

YOU CAN HAVE ASTHMA, YOU CAN HAVE WORSENING ASTHMA, YOU CAN HAVE ASTHMA TYPE SYMPTOMS. AND OF COURSE WE MENTIONED DEATH THE NICOTINE, WHICH IS A MORE ADDICTIVE NICOTINE NOT NECESSARILY A STRONGER ONE BUT A MORE ADDICTIVE NICOTINE BECAUSE IT'S A NICOTINE SALT.

IT HITS YOUR SYSTEM FASTER AND PEOPLE LIKE IT A LOT BETTER.

CAN INCREASE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, YOUR HEART RATE, AND CAUSE NARROWING AND HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES, SIMILAR TO THE CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF SMOKING CIGARETTES. AND THEN I'M A PEDIATRICIAN.

I'M A PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGIST YOU, THE YOUTH WHO USE THESE PRODUCTS THAT IMPACTS THEIR BRAINS AND IMPACTS THEIR MOOD. AND WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE MOOD OF SOME TEENAGERS IS LIKE, AND IT CAN MAKE IT SIGNIFICANT.

BUT ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS REALLY AN IMPRESSIVE SLIDE THAT ACTUALLY SHOWS THAT AS THE RATE OF CIGARETTE SMOKING HAS GONE DOWN, THE RATE OF TOBACCO OF E-CIGARETTE USE HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND SO THIS IS FROM THE NATIONAL YOUTH TOBACCO SURVEY.

AND THIS LOOKS AT 12TH GRADERS AND THEIR USE OF E-CIGARETTES AND THEIR USE IN THE PAST 30 DAYS.

SO RECENT USE.

AND THEIR, THEIR LEVELS HAVE GONE UP.

NOW, THERE'S BEEN A DOWNTICK.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT DOWNTICK IS IN 2019.

AND THAT WAS IN THE PRESS RECENTLY.

A LOT OF EXPERTS HAVE REALLY TRIED TO DISCUSS WHAT THAT DOWNTICK IS DUE TO.

WE DON'T THINK IT'S DUE TO ADVERTISING.

WE DON'T THINK IT'S DUE TO LESS ACCESS.

WE THINK IT'S ACTUALLY DUE TO PEOPLE TRANSITIONING TO OTHER TYPES OF SMOKING DEVICES OR VAPING DEVICES, BECAUSE IT'S NOT REGULATED VERY WELL.

IN THE NEXT SLIDE, IS THAT ME OR YOU? OH, THAT'S STILL ME.

SO FINDINGS ON YOUTH USE FOR E-CIGARETTES.

THE NATIONAL YOUTH TOBACCO SURVEY IN 2024 FOUND THAT MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION YOUTH CURRENTLY USE E-CIGARETTES, AND AMONG YOUTH WHO REPORTED CURRENT USE OF E-CIGARETTES, MORE THAN 1 IN 4 USE IT DAILY.

AND THEN THE MOST POPULAR BRANDS YOU CAN SEE THERE AND ALMOST 8 IN 10 ARE FLAVORED.

AND SO THIS IS REALLY WHILE THIS WAS INITIALLY MARKETED AS SOMETHING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF COMBUSTIBLE CIGARETTES OR REGULAR CIGARETTES.

AND THOSE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO SMOKING, WHO WANT TO REDUCE THEIR RISK OF LUNG CANCER.

THIS IS NOT WHAT'S HAPPENED.

THEY HAVE VERY WELL MARKETED THIS TO YOUTH AND YOUTH ARE USING THIS VERY, VERY FREQUENTLY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT MOST A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T.

THEY HAVEN'T STOPPED SMOKING.

THEY'RE JUST USING VAPING AND SMOKING TOGETHER.

BUT WE REALLY WANT TO ELIMINATE THIS WITHIN ENCLOSED SPACES BECAUSE THERE ARE THERE ARE SECOND AND THIRD HAND EFFECTS, JUST AS WITH CIGARETTE SMOKE, WITH WITH VAPING EXPOSURE.

AND SO ESPECIALLY IN THOSE PUBLIC SPACES, WE REALLY WANT TO REDUCE THE EXPOSURE OF FOLKS TO, TO THESE TO THESE VOLATILE COMPOUNDS, YOU KNOW, AND ME, ESPECIALLY AS A PEDIATRICIAN, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT TO REDUCE THIS EXPOSURE IN YOUNG CHILDREN.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EFFECTS OF THE YOUNG LUNG ARE, RIGHT.

IT'S ONLY BEEN OUT SINCE 2008 OR SO.

AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE'LL PASS IT TO NATALIE.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

SO THIS SLIDE DEMONSTRATES THAT A NUMBER OF LOCAL CITIES ALREADY PROHIBIT THE USE OF E-CIGARETTES AND ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES.

THE ONE SPECIAL NOTE IS CITY OF MESQUITE, WHICH IS JUST MORE SPECIFIC, SUCH AS CERTAIN PARK AREAS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

NOW I'M DOING THE NEXT SLIDE TOO I'M SORRY.

SO THE BENEFITS OF CLOSING THIS REGULATORY GAP, IT PROTECTS THE PUBLIC PARTICULARLY THOSE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FROM THE RISK OF SECONDHAND SMOKE.

IT PROTECTS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY SIGNIFICANTLY.

IT REDUCES E-WASTE AND CIGARETTE WASTE AS LITTER FROM OUR ENVIRONMENTS.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE SLIDE, IT SUPPORTS OUR EFFORTS TO OBTAIN CITY HEALTH SMOKE FREE GOLD STATUS.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE CURRENTLY BRONZE.

IT ADVANCES OUR REGIONAL EFFORTS IN DALLAS COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, NORTH TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE OUR OUR EXPOSURE TO SMOKING, SMOKE AND SMOKE PRODUCTS AND VAPING PRODUCTS AS WELL.

NEXT SLIDE.

ALL RIGHT. SO SO NEXT STEPS.

SO OF COURSE WE'LL INCORPORATE CITY COUNCIL FEEDBACK.

WE'LL NEED A GRACE PERIOD FOR DEPARTMENTS AND BUSINESSES TO TRAIN STAFF AND CHANGE OUT SIGNS AND STICKERS.

WE'RE WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY THE LENGTH OF THE GRACE PERIOD.

WE'LL ALSO NEED TO DEVELOP AN OUTREACH STRATEGY CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S COMMUNICATION STRATEGY.

[05:20:05]

AT LEAST ONE OF OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS HAS SAID THAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO FUND SOME OF THIS ROLLOUT, AND THEN WE'LL SEEK COUNCIL ADOPTION IN OCTOBER, IN THE OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER TIME FRAME.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KATHY STEWART.

WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU GET US STARTED.

FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, WE TOOK THESE ITEMS OUT OF ORDER TODAY.

WE'RE ON BRIEFING ITEM D AND YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

CHAIRWOMAN STEWART.

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR EVANS, DOCTOR AFOLABI AND MISS ROBERTSON.

AND NATALIE, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WORK ON YOUR LAST NAME.

YOU ALL HAVE PREVIOUSLY PREVENTED PRESENTED THIS INFORMATION TO THE TT COMMITTEE WITH BRIEFINGS AND MEMOS.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ADVOCATING FOR THIS CHANGE TO OUR SMOKING ORDINANCE.

I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO OUR SMOKING ORDINANCE FOR THREE BASIC REASONS.

YOU GUYS HAVE COVERED THIS, SO I'LL JUST BE VERY BRIEF.

THERE'S GROWING EVIDENCE THAT VAPING IS HARMFUL TO THE HEALTH OF THOSE WHO USE E-CIGARETTES.

THERE ARE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOXIC ADDITIVES THAT POSE SIGNIFICANT RISK ARE THERE.

AND AND THE RISKS THEY POSE CAN BE TO BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, WHICH I FOUND PARTICULARLY CONCERNING.

AND THE SECOND REASON IS THE AEROSOLS FROM THE E-CIGARETTES.

E-CIGARETTES. I KNOW, DOCTOR AFALAVA, YOU SPOKE ABOUT THAT QUITE A BIT.

AND THEY ARE CREATING CONCERNS OF SECONDHAND SMOKE OR VAPE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE CALL IT SMOKE SINCE IT'S A VAPE, BUT.

SO AS WITH THE TRADITIONAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS, WE ARE PUTTING THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT RISK WITH BREATHING THIS AEROSOL.

CHILDREN WITH HEALTHY LUNGS WHO ARE EXPOSED TO THE SECONDHAND VAPE ARE THEN AT RISK FOR ASTHMA AND OTHER LUNG CONDITIONS.

AND THEN THE THIRD THING, WHICH IS THOSE THOSE ARE VERY DISTRESSING.

BUT THE EVIDENCE THAT SINCE 2006, WHEN E-CIGARETTES WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE US MARKET, THERE HAS BEEN A RENORMALIZATION OF TOBACCO USE, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR YOUTH.

I A RENORMALIZATION THAT I JUST FOUND THAT PROFOUNDLY HEARTBREAKING.

WE HAD MADE AND HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN EDUCATING THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE RISK OF SMOKING, AND THEN TO HAVE THIS RENORMALIZATION OF TOBACCO USE. IT'S VERY DISTRESSING.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE ON THIS, TO PRESENT THIS TO THE COMMITTEE AND TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN GRACEY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. ON THE SLIDE THAT YOU LISTED THE DIFFERENT CITIES.

I THINK YOU MENTIONED MESQUITE HAD SOMEWHAT OF AN EXCEPTION.

WHAT WAS THAT EXCEPTION? DO YOU KNOW, OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, WAS IT FOR OUTDOOR? YES, SIR. SO FOR SOME OF THE AREAS, IT'S LIMITED TO CERTAIN PARK FACILITIES.

THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC ON WHAT AREAS.

BUT I THINK THE POINT OF THAT WAS STILL TO SHOW THAT THEY DID PRIORITIZE VAPING AS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THEY WANTED TO ADDRESS WITHIN THEIR CITY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS? CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THE COMMISSION.

I KNOW MY APPOINTEE, DOCTOR BLACKMON, ALSO A PEDIATRICIAN, FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT THIS, AND IT'S ACTUALLY THE FIRST THING WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE I APPOINTED HIM.

MY MOTHER DIED OF LUNG CANCER.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN SO THAT KIDS DON'T EVEN GET INTO WHETHER IT'S VAPING OR SMOKING, BECAUSE ONCE YOU'RE ADDICTED TO IT, IT'S JUST VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT.

I THINK THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY.

GLAD YOU DIDN'T WAIT.

AND I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU TO DOCTOR LACHMAN AS WELL.

HE'S BEEN ONE OF THE KEY FIGURES WITH THESE TWO GREAT FOLKS, DOCTORS AND REGISTERED NURSES.

SO THANK YOU, DOCTOR LACHMAN.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS ITEM? I DON'T SEE ANYONE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. VERY INFORMATIVE.

AND WE'LL NOW MOVE BACK OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO TEE UP THE NEXT BRIEFING.

DEV RASTOGI.

GO AHEAD. YOU'RE FIRST.

I PUSH THAT BUTTON. YOU GOT TO PUSH THAT.

PUSH IT AGAIN NOW. YEAH.

YOU'RE HOT NOW. THAT LOOKS HOT.

WELL, I THINK WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

[B. 24-2835 Consideration of Legislative Priorities for the 119th Congress]

IT'S PERFECTLY FINE WITH ME.

DEV. YEAH.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM.

[05:25:09]

I AM PLEASED TO SERVE AS YOUR DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.

WITH ME TODAY IS JAKE ANDERSON, OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER.

WE DO HAVE OUR FEDERAL RELATIONS MANAGER, ALEX RENTERIA, WITH US, WHO HAS CLASS SHORTLY.

AND SO WE ARE GOING TO FILL IN FOR HER TODAY BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE HERE MOMENTARILY.

WE'RE GETTING THE SLIDES UP NOW.

THERE WE GO. WE'RE GOOD.

OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MAYOR.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER RASTOGI.

WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER TODAY THE CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 119TH CONGRESS.

NEXT SLIDE.

WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS AN OVERVIEW OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION.

AND I WANT TO NOTE FOR YOU ON THE FRONT END THAT WE ARE GOING TO REVIEW OR INCLUDE IN THE PRESENTATION THE LIST OF SUBMITTED LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED OVER THE LAST YEAR AND THEN MOVED TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND SO IF AT ANY POINT MAYOR OR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, IF YOU WANT TO TRUNCATE TODAY'S PRESENTATION, WE CAN SKIP THROUGH THOSE SLIDES MORE QUICKLY. THIS IS WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.

YOU'LL SEE WE'VE HAD VARIOUS STEPS OVER THE LAST YEAR BRINGING US TO CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING TODAY.

NEXT SLIDE. DEPARTMENTS WITH WHOM WE'VE WORKED AND SO ON.

NEXT SLIDE.

STAKEHOLDERS. WHAT I WANT TO MENTION HERE.

AND YOU CAN CLICK THROUGH THESE QUICKLY, BUT THROUGH THESE PARTICULAR BRIEFINGS, HERE ARE THE VARIOUS TOUCH POINTS THAT WE HAD WITH BRIEFINGS TO CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES.

MEMORANDUMS AND SO ON.

AND WHAT I WANT TO NOTE HERE IS EACH TIME THAT WE DID A BRIEFING TO A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE, WE ALSO PUSHED OUT A COMMUNICATION TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNEW WHAT WE WERE WORKING ON, AND THAT THERE WERE LEGISLATIVE ITEMS COMING FORWARD FOR DISCUSSION.

NEXT SLIDE.

THIS IS A LIST OF SOME OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, IF NOT ALL, WITH WHOM WE'VE REACHED OUT TO OVER THE PAST YEAR.

AND THEN WE'VE DONE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, COMMUNICATION TO VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS.

WE DID DO IN THE FALL.

UPON OCCASION OF OUR ORIGINAL OUTREACH FOR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES CALL, WE DID BILINGUAL COMMUNICATION AND HAVE DONE YEAR ROUND OUTREACH WITH THOSE STAKEHOLDERS. FOLLOWING ADOPTION OF THE PROGRAM, WE WANTED TO NOTE THAT WE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH AND WILL DISSEMINATE THE PROGRAM ACCORDINGLY. DETERMINING OUR FEDERAL PRIORITIES.

AND YOU'LL HEAR THIS LATER AS WELL IN OUR STATE PROGRAM.

BUT THE PROCESS INCLUDED CONSIDERING, OF COURSE, THE COMMITTEES COMMITTEE'S LOOKING AT AND ADVANCING POTENTIAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THOSE TO THEN COME FORWARD TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL TODAY.

BUT A FEW THINGS THAT WE WANT TO NOTE ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM IS THAT, OF COURSE, IT SHOULD BE ADAPTABLE.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION OVER THE LAST MANY COMMITTEE MEETINGS ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAMS HAVE COME TOGETHER, WHAT IS OUR DELEGATION SPECIFIC LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. AND WITHIN THOSE, WHAT DO WHAT DO YOU, AS A CITY COUNCIL WANT TO SUPPORT? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO OPPOSE, MONITOR, PURSUE? YOU ALSO WANT TO BALANCE YOUR ASK.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO PURSUE, BUT THIS MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT.

SPEAKING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PURSUING ARE POLITICALLY COMPATIBLE IN THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE'RE WORKING.

AND THEN OF COURSE, UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO WHAT I WANT TO DO OVER THESE NEXT SLIDES.

MAYOR, IF YOU WISH, WE CAN GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE SLIDES INDIVIDUALLY.

WE CAN GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE SLIDES INDIVIDUALLY, OR WE CAN ADVANCE FORWARD TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICHEVER YOUR PREFERENCE IS.

SO WE'LL JUST START THROUGH THAT AND THEN GIVE US FEEDBACK IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO, TO CLICK THROUGH TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE APPROXIMATELY 200 PRIORITIES THAT WE RECEIVED FROM OUR VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, THERE WERE THEMES THAT JUMPED OUT.

AND SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS HIGHLIGHT HERE.

THESE ARE GENERAL THEMES IN REVIEWING THOSE PARTICULAR PRIORITIES ALWAYS, WHETHER IT'S AT THE FEDERAL OR STATE LEVEL.

WHEREVER WE ARE, WE WANT TO MAINTAIN LOCAL CONTROL AND PRESERVE OUR EXISTING TOOLS AND AUTHORITIES.

WE WANT TO PROMOTE A BUSINESS FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.

[05:30:02]

AND WE WANT TO PURSUE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES AND LASTLY SUPPORT OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

SO MOVING THROUGH EACH OF THE COMMITTEE PORTFOLIOS WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE AND WE HAVE THESE NUMBERED FOR EASE OF REFERENCE WHEN YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THEM.

BUT FIRST UP IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO THESE WERE ITEMS THAT WERE SUBMITTED AND CAME THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

THERE ARE A FEW ITEMS AND STARTING HERE.

IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT THERE ARE A FEW ITEMS THAT ACTUALLY APPEARED IN MULTIPLE COMMITTEES, ONE OF THEM BEING PENSIONS, ANOTHER ONE BEING LANGUAGE RELATED TO GAMBLING. AND SO WE DO NOTE THOSE HERE, IF THEY HAVE IF THEY'RE REPEATED IN MULTIPLE PROGRAMS KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.

A COUPLE OF THESE ITEMS WERE IN THE PROGRAM LAST YEAR.

A NEW ONE I WANT TO NOTE IS CONSIDERATION OF REGULATION AND USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INITIATIVES.

NEXT SLIDE.

HOUSING AND HOMELESS SOLUTIONS.

WE RECEIVED A COUPLE OF REQUESTS RELATED TO EXPANDING THE TECH PROGRAM.

A NEW ONE THIS YEAR WAS LOOKING AT THE POINT IN TIME COUNT PROCESS REMOVING BARRIERS TO GROWING THE HOUSING STOCK AND FUNDING FOR CDBG AND HOME.

AND THAT'S A AN EVERGREEN ITEM IN OUR PROGRAM.

NEXT SLIDE.

FUNDING. WE DID RECEIVE THIS FUNDING FOR HOMELESSNESS SERVICES AND SEEKING COST RECOVERY FOR FOR THOSE UNSHELTERED SERVICES PROVIDED BY MUNICIPALITIES AS A REGIONAL SERVICE.

YOU'LL SEE THIS IN OUR STATE PROGRAM THAT THAT IS LISTED THERE AS WELL.

NEXT SLIDE.

PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR RESOURCES RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT WAS IN THE PROGRAM LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS REENTRY SERVICES. I WANT TO NOTE HERE THE REQUEST FOR INCREASED FUNDING IN UAC.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INQUIRIES ABOUT THIS YEAR AS IT RELATES TO FUNDING SUPPORT FOR BIG SCALE EVENTS.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE CITY OF DALLAS AND OUR REGION ARE HOSTING SEVERAL FIFA GAMES AND A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THAT UAC SUPPORT WILL BE KEY IN PROVIDING SECURITY FUNDING FOR THAT PARTICULAR EVENT.

THE NEXT ITEM IS AND ALSO ON THE STATE PROGRAM REDEFINING THE LESS THAN LETHAL DEVICES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT STATUTE.

NEXT SLIDE.

FUNDING FOR PARKS AND TRAILS AND OPEN SPACES.

I WANT TO NOTE, IN GENERAL, UNDER PARKS AND TRAILS AND ENVIRONMENT, ALL OF THEIR ITEMS OR MOST OF THEIR ITEMS WERE RELATED TO SUPPORT FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, WEATHERIZATION, ALTERNATIVE FUEL FUELED VEHICLES, AND THERE'S A SLIGHT VARIATION ON STATE THAT WE'LL GET TO LATER.

NEXT SLIDE.

HERE WE TALK ABOUT AGAIN, WEATHERIZATION, ENERGY EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGY AND THEN INCREASING COLLABORATION BETWEEN US AND THEN OUR GOVERNMENT PARTNERS IN TERMS OF PERMITTING CERTAIN BUSINESSES IN OUR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

NEXT SLIDE.

QUALITY OF LIFE.

THIS WAS A SIMILAR ITEM WAS ON OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM LAST YEAR RELATED TO HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES TO COMBAT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.