* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [State of the Address on December 5, 2024.] [00:00:03] GOOD MORNING, PLEASE BE SEATED. GOOD MORNING. GREAT. THURSDAY MORNING. MY NAME IS ARUN AGARAL. I HAVE HONORED AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF DALLAS PARKS AND RECREATIONS BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO CITY HALL FOR THIS SIXTH OFFICIAL STATE OF CITY ADDRESS DELIVERED BY DALLAS MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH MAYOR JOHNSON AND TO BE PART OF HIS TWO PEACE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND PARKS AND BEEN REALLY PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH HIM ON THE PARK SIDE. HE HAS MADE PARKS A TOP PRIORITY OF HIS ADMINISTRATION AND WE SEE THAT IN, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED IT AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE PARKS AND IN THE GREEN SPACE IN THE CITY AND, AND PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH HIM. AND WHILE WORKING WITH HIM, I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE AND HE'S BECOME A GOOD FRIEND. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS REMARKS TODAY. NOW TO GET UH, STARTED, I WOULD INTRODUCE OUR INVOCATION SPEAKER FOR TODAY, EXECUTIVE PASTOR FOR CONCORD CHURCH AND DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT THREE ZIN GRACIE. SO LET'S WELCOME UH, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS. ZIN GRACIE. THANK YOU ARUN. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. LET US PRAY ALMIGHTY GOD, AS WE GATHER TODAY TO REFLECT ON THE STATE OF OUR BELOVED DALLAS. WE ARE REMINDED OF YOUR WORDS IN JEREMIAH 29. ALSO DO GOOD THINGS FOR THE CITY I SENT YOU TO NOW THE VERSION. SEEK THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF THE CITY. PRAY TO THE LORD FOR THE CITY YOU WERE LIVING IN BECAUSE IF IT PROSPERS, YOU TWO WILL PROSPER. LORD, WE FIRST LIFT UP OUR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. GRANT US WISDOM AS WE GUIDE THIS CITY. YOU HAVE SENT US TO STRENGTHEN US WITH DISCERNMENT, COURAGE, AND COMPASSION IN OUR DECISION MAKING. WATCH OVER OUR DEDICATED CITY STAFF FROM OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAMS, CODE OFFICERS AND SANITATION WORKERS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE PRAY FOR EVERY RESIDENT OF DALLAS LORD FOR FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES, FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITHOUT SHELTER. FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, MAY YOUR GRACE TOUCH EACH LIFE. GUIDE US IN CREATING PATHWAYS TO DIGNITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. BLESS OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, FATHER FOR THE ENTREPRENEUR, FROM THE ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCHING THEIR DREAM TO OUR LARGEST EMPLOYERS. GRANT THEM SUCCESS THAT CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT DON'T YET KNOW DALLAS IS THEIR HOME. HELP THEM BUILD PROSPERITY THAT LIFTS ALL OF DALLAS. FINALLY, LORD, WE PRAY FOR YOUR, OUR UNIT FOR UNITY IN OUR CITY AND OUR DIVERSITY LIES OUR STRENGTH, BUT IN OUR UNITY LIES OUR POWER. BRIDGE THE DIVISIONS IN US IN THIS TOWN OF LORD, HELP US SEE EACH OTHER AS NEIGHBORS, AS FAMILY, AS ONE DALLAS, MAY YOUR PRESENCE BE FELT IN EVERY STREET, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND EVERY HEART IN OUR CITY. LET DALLAS BE KNOWN AS A CITY OF COMPASSION, JUSTICE, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL IN THE AUDIENCE, INCLUDING THE MEMBERS OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL. AS A CITY SECRETARY, IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE 60TH MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, THE HONORABLE ERIC L. JOHNSON, MADAM SECRETARY, INTERIM CITY MANAGER TOLBERT CITY ATTORNEY PALOMINO CITY AUDITOR, SWAN COUNCIL MEMBERS, OTHER DISTINGUISHED ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ALL OF OUR BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS, OUR CITY STAFF, AND OF COURSE MY FELLOW DALLAS SITES. THANK [00:05:01] YOU FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING. AS YOUR MAYOR, IT IS MY DUTY AS LAID OUT IN THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER TO REPORT TO YOU ONCE A YEAR ON AND I QUOTE THE STATE OF THE CITY, ITS FINANCIAL CONDITION, ITS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ITS PLANS AND NEEDS FOR THE FUTURE. IT'S MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO DO SO HERE TODAY. THROUGHOUT THE LAST FIVE AND A HALF YEARS, I HAVE CONSISTENTLY SHARED MY VISION TO BUILD ON DALLAS'S STRONG MOMENTUM BY FOCUSING ON WHAT I HAVE CALLED THE FOUR PS, PUBLIC SAFETY PARKS, POTHOLES, AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. THESE FOUR PILLARS ARE ESSENTIAL TO DALLAS REMAINING A CITY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE. GROWING UP IN DALLAS, MY FAMILY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH, BUT WE HAD EACH OTHER, WE HAD OUR NEIGHBORS, AND WE HAD THIS INCREDIBLE CITY, A CITY THAT YEARS LATER BLESSED ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS ITS MAYOR. TODAY WE ARE WORKING OVERTIME TO KEEP THAT SAME SPIRIT OF OPPORTUNITY ALIVE AND WELL, ENSURING THAT DALLAS CONTINUES TO ATTRACT THOSE EAGER TO EMBRACE OUR WAY OF LIFE AND REMAINS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE THEIR DREAMS. THAT MY FRIENDS REQUIRES REAL INVESTMENT IN THE FOUR PS AND THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS. RESOUNDINGLY AGREE. THIS YEAR VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THE CITY'S 2024 BOND PROGRAM MARKING AN HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN OUR STREETS, PARKS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY ALL WITHOUT RAISING YOUR TAXES THIS MORNING, I AM THRILLED TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU THAT THE STATE OF OUR CITY IS STRONGER THAN EVER. DALLAS IS EXCELLING ON ALL FOUR PS FOR A CITY TO THRIVE. ALL FOUR OF THOSE PS HAVE TO WORK IN TANDEM. HOWEVER, THE FOUNDATION OF ALL OF THEM IS PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THEY'RE SAFE. IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE SIMPLE. IF DALLAS ISN'T SAFE, PEOPLE WON'T WANT TO LIVE, WORK, OR EVEN VISIT HERE. NO MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL OUR PARKS OR HOW SMOOTH OUR STREETS. IN ORDER TO BE A CITY OF GENUINE OPPORTUNITY, DALLAS MUST BE SAFE FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THANKS TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, DALLAS IS SAFE. IN FACT, DALLAS STANDS PROUDLY AS ONE OF THE SAFEST MAJOR CITIES IN AMERICA. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE MAINTAINED AN INCREDIBLE STREAK IN PUBLIC SAFETY WITH VIOLENT CRIME FALLING FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW. MURDERS ARE DOWN NEARLY 30% FROM LAST YEAR, AND SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PLAN NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO, VIOLENT CRIME INCIDENTS ARE DOWN 20%. THESE STATISTICS ARE MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS ON A PAGE. EACH FIGURE REPRESENTS A LIFE SAVED, A FAMILY KEPT WHOLE. A NEIGHBOR WHO FEELS SAFE WALKING DOWN HIS OR HER STREET. EVERY PERCENTAGE DROP MEANS FEWER PEOPLE FACING THE TRAUMA OF ASSAULT, ROBBERY, AND OTHER CRIMES. TOO OFTEN [00:10:01] ASSOCIATED WITH BIG CITIES, WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE THAT GOES BEYOND THE DATA AND TRULY MAKING DALLAS A SAFER CITY FOR EVERYONE. DALLAS CONTINUES TO DEFY THE TRENDS THAT WE SEE IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES THANKS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DATA DRIVEN PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGIES IN OUR VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PLAN. BUT THESE STRATEGIES ONLY WORK BECAUSE OF THE DAILY DEDICATION OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO KEEP THE REST OF US SAFE. THIS YEAR, ON AUGUST THE 29TH, DALLAS LOST A HERO OFFICER DARREN BURKES, WHO WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY WHILE LIVING OUT HIS OATH TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE CITY. I PRAY THAT DALLAS NEVER FORGETS HIS SACRIFICE, THAT WE ALWAYS REMEMBER HIS NAME AND THAT WE ARE FOREVER INSPIRED BY HIS EXAMPLE. DALLAS STANDS FIRMLY BEHIND OUR POLICE OFFICERS, AND THIS YEAR, THIS CITY COUNCIL PASSED A FUNDING PLAN FOR THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS CAN RETIRE WITH THE SECURITY THEY DESERVE. IN ADDITION TO LOOKING OUT FOR OUR RETIREES, WE'RE ALSO INVESTING IN OUR UP AND COMING CADETS. JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, WE OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF THE DESIGN PHASE OF OUR NEW REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS AT DALLAS. THIS CENTER WILL TRAIN HUNDREDS OF NEW CADETS AND STRENGTHEN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RECRUITING EFFORTS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO RECRUITING NEW OFFICERS AND TO EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TRAINING AND PREPARATION NEEDED TO KEEP DALLAS AND THEMSELVES SAFE. FUNDED THROUGH OUR CITY'S 2024 BOND PROGRAM AND AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART CENTER WILL BE EMBLEMATIC OF DALLAS'S DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THOSE WHO PROTECT OUR CITY. WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WE'RE GUIDED BY THE CORE BELIEF THAT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE TO BE SAFE, AND FOR THAT WE NEED MORE DEDICATED, WELL-TRAINED POLICE OFFICERS. IN ADDITION TO OUR BOND PROGRAM, WHICH COMMITTED OVER $90 MILLION TO PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES, THIS CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A BUDGET THIS YEAR THAT PUTS PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST AND FUNDS THE HIRING OF 250 MORE POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH WE'VE NOW DONE FOR FOUR YEARS IN A ROW. FINALLY, PROGRAMS LIKE THE ANNUAL MAYOR'S SUMMER OF SAFETY KEEP OUR DALLAS YOUTH SAFE AND ENGAGED WITH THEIR COMMUNITY, WHICH IN TURN CONTRIBUTES TO LOWER CRIME RATES IN THE SUMMER MONTHS, SOMETHING THAT RARELY HAPPENS IN BIG CITIES. ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES ARE DIRECTED TOWARD OUR ULTIMATE GOAL FOR DALLAS TO BE THE UNDISPUTED, SAFEST BIG CITY IN AMERICA. BUT OUR SUCCESSES DON'T STOP THERE. THIS YEAR, DALLAS DOUBLED DOWN ON ITS COMMITMENT TO OUR PARKS WITH A HISTORIC $345 MILLION INVESTMENT THROUGH OUR CITY'S 2024 BOND PROGRAM. THESE FUNDS WILL BRING NEW PARKS TO NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY, ENSURING THAT EVERY DALLAS RESIDENT HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY GREEN SPACES WHILE LEVERAGING FURTHER INVESTMENT IN OUR PARK SYSTEM. WHEN I BECAME MAYOR, I RECOMMITTED DALLAS TO THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND'S 10 MINUTE WALK CAMPAIGN, A PLEDGE THAT EVERY [00:15:01] FAMILY IN DALLAS WOULD BE JUST A SHORT STROLL AWAY FROM A PARKER TRAIL. WE'RE LIVING UP TO THAT PLEDGE BY ADDING PARKS, TRAILS, AND GREEN SPACES AT A RECORD PACE. TODAY, THREE QUARTERS OF DALLAS RESIDENTS LIVE WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK OF A PARK, AND THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND HAS RANKED DALLAS AS HAVING THE BEST PARK SYSTEM OF ANY MAJOR CITY IN TEXAS. IN THE PAST YEAR ALONE, WE'VE TAKEN GREAT STEPS TOWARD BUILDING INNOVATIVE NEW PARKS THAT WILL SERVE THIS CITY. FOR GENERATIONS IN SOUTHERN DALLAS, WE'RE BUILDING HALPERIN PARK, A VISIONARY NEW DECK PARK OVER INTERSTATE 35 NEXT TO THE DALLAS ZOO NAMED AFTER THE HALPERIN FAMILY. IN RECOGNITION OF THE LARGEST PRIVATE DONATION IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY'S PARK SYSTEM, HALPERIN PARK WILL BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN COMMUNITIES LONG DIVIDED BY THAT INTERSTATE WHILE PROVIDING SOUTHERN DALLAS WITH THE BEAUTY, UTILITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AFFORDED BY MODERN PARK. RECENTLY, WE ALSO LAUNCHED THE CONSTRUCTION OF HAROLD SIMMONS PARK, A TRANSFORMATIVE NATURE PARK ALONG THE TRINITY RIVER. THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE LARGEST PARKS IN ALL OF NORTH TEXAS THIS YEAR. WE ALSO BEGAN RENOVATIONS ON THE HISTORIC COTTON BOWL AT FAIR PARK, INVESTING IN AN ASSET THAT DRAWS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO DALLAS EVERY YEAR. WE KNOW THAT PARKS AND GREEN SPACES ARE TREMENDOUS FOR OUR RESIDENTS. EVERYONE LOVES PARKS, BUT OUR CITY CHOOSES TO INVEST IN THEM BECAUSE PARKS HOLD REAL POWER. PARKS CAN REVITALIZE THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THEM AND BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO COMMUNITIES. AS POWERFUL ECONOMIC DRIVERS, PARKS OFFER SOME OF THE BEST RETURNS ON YOUR TAX DOLLARS. YOU SEE, WHEN THE CITY CHOOSES TO INVEST IN ITS PARK SYSTEM, IT ATTRACTS BUSINESSES AND SPURS PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, PARKS HELP US ATTRACT AND KEEP FAMILIES IN DALLAS, MAKING OUR CITY A MORE WELCOMING AND VIBRANT PLACE FOR EVERYONE. PARKS ARE ALSO A GREAT EQUALIZER. STEP INTO A DALLAS PARK AND YOU'LL SEE A CROSS SECTION OF OUR CITY, PEOPLE OF EVERY AGE, BACKGROUND, AND INCOME LEVEL, ALL ENJOYING THESE SPACES TOGETHER. PARKS UNITE US, OFFERING A PLACE TO GATHER, RECHARGE, AND EXPERIENCE THE VERY BEST OF DALLAS SIDE BY SIDE. I SPEND MORE TIME WITH MY KIDS WITH BACHMAN LAKE PARK AT KEITH PARK, PRESTON HOLLOW PARK AND OUR CITY'S GOLF COURSES THAN ANY OTHER PLACE ON EARTH. BESIDES POSSIBLY OUR LIVING ROOM SOFA, OUR WORK IS FAR FROM OVER. WHILE WE MAY HAVE THE BEST PARK SYSTEM OF TEXAS'S BIG CITIES, OUR VISION DOESN'T STOP THERE. OUR SITES ARE SET EVEN HIGHER. WE WANT TO HAVE THE GREATEST PARKS OF ANY MAJOR CITY IN AMERICA. IN ADDITION TO OUR INCREDIBLE SUCCESSES IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND PARKS, WE'RE ALSO FILLING POTHOLES AND IMPROVING STREETS ALL ACROSS OUR CITY. LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PARKS, WELL KEPT STREETS ARE ESSENTIAL TO A FLOURISHING CITY. SMOOTH STREETS MAKE OUR CITY BETTER CONNECTED AND PROVIDE IMPROVED ACCESS TO BUSINESSES AND CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS. IN A WORLD CLASS CITY LIKE DALLAS, NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BLOWING A TIRE IN A POTHOLE ON THEIR WAY TO WORK. RESIDENTS HAVE TOLD US TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT DALLAS NEEDS BETTER STREETS, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE ANSWERING THEIR CALL IN THE CITY'S 2024 BOND PROGRAM. WE ARE INVESTING $520 MILLION IN STREET IMPROVEMENTS AGAIN WITHOUT RAISING YOUR TAXES [00:20:04] AND AND SPEAKING OF TAXES, WE'RE MAKING HISTORIC STRIDES AND LESSENING YOUR PROPERTY TAX BURDEN. JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, THIS CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A BUDGET THAT INCLUDES THE LARGEST SINGLE YEAR PROPERTY TAX RATE REDUCTION IN DALLAS HISTORY. THE DALLAS ECONOMY IS BOOMING. THIS YEAR WE ACHIEVED RECOGNITION AS THE NUMBER TWO FINANCIAL CAPITAL IN AMERICA. AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME, YOU KNOW THAT NUMBER ONE, BETTER LOOK OUT WITH THE TEXAS STOCK EXCHANGE ESTABLISHING ITS HEADQUARTERS HERE DALLAS IS WELL POSITIONED TO BECOME A POWERHOUSE FOR FINANCE AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE ALL ACROSS NORTH TEXAS. ECONOMIC GROWTH IS EVIDENT, BUT DALLAS REMAINS THE HEART OF THIS REGION AND THE ANCHOR THAT KEEPS NORTH TEXAS THRIVING AND AS A TRULY INTERNATIONAL CITY, DALLAS SERVES AS TEXAS'S GATEWAY TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. OUR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE EXPANDING AND THIS YEAR WE OPENED AN OFFICIAL TRADE OFFICE WITH TANZANIA, OUR THIRD TRADE OFFICE TO OPEN IN THE LAST TWO YEARS IN OUR INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, DALLAS IS ALSO DOMINATING IN SPORTS. RIGHT NOW, NORTH TEXAS IS PREPARING TO HOST NINE GAMES OF THE 2026 PEOPLE WORLD CUP MORE THAN ANY OTHER AREA. THIS IS GOING TO BRING DALLAS INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION AND GENERATE INCREDIBLE REVENUE FOR OUR CITY, BENEFITING OUR LOCAL HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT RELATED BUSINESSES. BECAUSE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ARE A ROBUST AND LUCRATIVE INDUSTRY, ONE OF MY KEY INITIATIVES HAS BEEN TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IN OUR CITY AND THAT FOCUS IS BEARING FRUIT. RIGHT NOW, DAS IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS. IN PARTICULAR. THIS YEAR MARKED THE LAUNCH OF DALLAS TRINITY FC, OUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM NOW PLAYING AT THE COTTON BOWL AND AN EXCITING NEW PARTNERSHIP. THE W NBA'S DALLAS WINGS WILL SOON COME HOME TO DALLAS AND WILL BE PLAYING DOWNTOWN AT THE K BAILEY HUTCHINSON CONVENTION CENTER. ESSENTIAL TO SECURING THE WINGS DEAL WAS THE $3.7 BILLION REDEVELOPMENT OF OUR CITY'S CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH WE OFFICIALLY BROKE GROUND ON THIS SUMMER. THIS INCREDIBLE INVESTMENT WAS ALSO ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE ON DALLAS RESIDENTS. THANKS TO PROP A, WHICH I CHAMPIONED TWO YEARS AGO, THE EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER IS GOING TO TRANSFORM DOWNTOWN DALLAS AND DRIVE UNPRECEDENTED ECONOMIC GROWTH WITH OVER $1.5 BILLION IN EVENTS ALREADY BOOKED AT THE NEW FACILITY UPON ITS OPENING. ADDITIONALLY, OUR CITY IS TACKLING THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS WITH RENEWED VIGOR. THIS YEAR, DALLAS RECORDED ITS LOWEST HOMELESSNESS COUNT SINCE 2015, MARKING A 19% DECREASE IN OVERALL HOMELESSNESS, AND A 24% REDUCTION IN UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS SINCE 2021. WE'VE ALSO ACHIEVED THE AMBITIOUS GOAL OF EFFECTIVELY ENDING VETERANS HOMELESSNESS. THIS YEAR ALSO MARKED ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR DALLAS, SOMETHING WE DO ONLY ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS. WE REVIEWED AND UPDATED OUR CITY'S CHARTER. THIS PROCESS BEGAN OVER A YEAR AGO WITH THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION CHAIRED BY LONGTIME PUBLIC SERVANT ALAN BT AND CULMINATED IN LAST MONTH'S ELECTION. THROUGH THIS ELECTION, DALLAS VOTERS SENT A RESOUNDING MESSAGE TO CITY HALL. OUR RESIDENTS TOLD US LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THEY WANT MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THEIR STREETS AND A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT IS MORE RESPONSIVE, MORE ACCOUNTABLE, AND MORE TRANSPARENT. VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED A MEASURE [00:25:01] TO ENSHRINE IN OUR CITY'S CHARTER, THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. AS A PERMANENT INDEPENDENT OFFICE. NEARLY THREE YEARS AGO I PROPOSED THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY AMONG CITY OFFICIALS. AND NOW DALLAS VOTERS HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY RATIFIED THIS TANGIBLE EMBODIMENT OF OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO OPEN AND HONEST GOVERNMENT. THESE CALLS FROM OUR RESIDENTS FOR GREATER PUBLIC SAFETY AND STRONGER GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY COULD NOT BE MORE CLEAR AND CITY HALL MUST LISTEN. I ASSURE YOU THAT AS YOUR MAYOR, I HEAR YOU AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU, AND I PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO CHAMPION ACCOUNTABILITY AND TO PUT PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST. TO THAT END, I'M GOING TO INITIATE A PROCESS IN THE COMING MONTHS TO DEVELOP DALLAS'S FIRST EVER COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY POLICY, WHICH WILL GUIDE OUR NEXT DECADE OF DECISION MAKING WITH RESPECT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS PROCESS IS GONNA BE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KAREN MENDELSON, WHO'S THE CHAIR OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF, WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY FINAL POINT FOR TODAY. IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS YEAR FOR DALLAS, BUT MAINTAINING ALL THIS MOMENTUM I'VE DESCRIBED TODAY, CALLS FOR THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP. WE'RE ACTIVELY SEARCHING FOR BOTH A NEW POLICE CHIEF AND A NEW CITY MANAGER WHO WILL ALIGN WITH THE PRIORITIES I'VE OUTLINED THIS MORNING. PRIORITIES THAT DALLAS IS EXCELLING AT TODAY. FINDING THE RIGHT POLICE CHIEF AND FORMER DOWS POLICE CHIEF EDDIE GARCIA, WAS CRITICAL TO THE RECORD BREAKING PUBLIC SAFETY ACHIEVEMENTS DAOS MADE OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND FINDING THE RIGHT SUCCESSOR TO PICK UP THE MANTLE AND LEAD OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT GOING FORWARD IS NO LESS CRITICAL. THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS DESERVE A POLICE CHIEF WHO IS TRULY DEDICATED TO KEEPING THEM SAFE AND WHO HAS THE EXPERTISE TO DO SO IMMEDIATELY. LIKEWISE, APPOINTING A CITY MANAGER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS A DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MAKES. WHILE WE, YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS DETERMINE PUBLIC POLICY, IT'S THE CITY MANAGER WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING THAT POLICY AND OVERSEEING THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE CITY, INCLUDING EVERYTHING FROM ISSUING BUILDING PERMITS TO HIRING A POLICE CHIEF. FOR THIS REASON IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT DALLAS HIRES A CITY MANAGER WHO PUTS PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST, PRIORITIZES PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, SPENDS YOUR TAX DOLLARS WISELY AND DELIVERS CITY SERVICES EFFICIENTLY. WE NEED SOMEONE WHO'S CAPABLE, ACCOUNTABLE, AND COMMITTED TO SERVING THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS. I WANNA THANK MAYOR PRO TEM TO NOW ATKINS FOR HIS STRONG LEADERSHIP OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS, WHICH IS HANDLING OUR NATIONAL SEARCH FOR A CITY MANAGER WHO'S RIGHT FOR DALLAS. BUILDING ON OUR SUCCESSES IN PUBLIC SAFETY PARKS, FILLING POTHOLES, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND AND SO MUCH MORE. IT'S NOW TIME FOR US TO GET BACK TO WORK SERVING YOU THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS, AND ENSURING THAT DALLAS REMAINS A CITY OF GENUINE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS THE GREAT CITY OF DALLAS. THANK YOU. WOW, THAT WAS INSPIRING AND WITH THIS VISION OF PARKS, WE BETTER, I BETTER GET BACK TO WORK WITH THIS. WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S, UH, EVENT. SO THANKS, UH, [00:30:01] ALL OF YOU FOR COMING. SO. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.