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[00:00:03]

ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE HAVE A QUORUM. TODAY IS MONDAY, JUNE THE 16TH, 2025.

THE TIME IS 2:44 P.M.. AND I NOW CALL THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.

MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE READ OUR FIRST ITEM INTO THE RECORD?

[1. Election of Officers to the City Council - Mayor Pro Tem - Deputy Mayor Pro Tem]

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AGENDA ITEM ONE ELECTION OF OFFICERS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE FIRST WILL BE MAYOR PRO TEM AND THEN DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

MR. MAYOR, THIS IS YOUR ITEM. WONDERFUL. OKAY, SO.

OKAY.

MEMBERS. I THINK YOU ALL HAVE SEEN ALREADY THE PROCEDURE FOR ACTUALLY PERFORMING THE VOTE. BUT WHAT I NEED TO EXPLAIN TO YOU IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE.

SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO AND, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I SAY SOMETHING INCORRECT HERE.

IT'S NOT MY INTENTION. I'M TRYING TO GET THIS RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE DISTRICTS IN NUMERICAL ORDER, AND EACH MEMBER NEEDS TO SAY ON THE RECORD WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEIR NAME REMOVED FROM CONSIDERATION FOR WHAT IS ON THE FLOOR AT THE MOMENT, WHICH IS MAYOR PRO TEM.

IF YOU DECLINE TO REMOVE YOUR NAME, YOUR NAME WILL REMAIN IN CONTENTION FOR MAYOR PRO TEM.

THAT'S ALL WE'RE GOING TO DO WHEN WE GO THROUGH DISTRICTS ONE THROUGH 14, IS TO SEE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE REMOVED AT THAT POINT.

WHAT WILL THEN BE IN ORDER IS ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE REMAINING CANDIDATES, AND WE WILL I GUESS WE'LL ADHERE TO OUR 531 COUNCIL RULES ON THAT. IF THERE IF THERE'S NEED FOR MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF DISCUSSION.

GOD, I HOPE NOT. BUT IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE ROUNDS THAT WE'LL ADHERE TO, THE 531 AND AT THAT POINT, THEN THE VOTING PROCEDURE. I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE CITY SECRETARY TO ADMINISTER THE PROCEDURE AFTER WE'VE EXHAUSTED ANY DISCUSSION.

SO I'LL TAKE QUESTIONS NOW IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT I JUST SAID.

BUT AT THIS POINT, THE FIRST STEP IS JUST TO GO THROUGH THE DISTRICT LIST AND FIND OUT IF YOU'RE STAYING IN OR YOU'D LIKE TO BE REMOVED.

AND AGAIN, YOU'RE IN UNLESS YOU REMOVE YOURSELF.

MADAM SECRETARY. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

CAN I GO OVER A COUPLE OF MORE RULES? SURE, PLEASE.

QR CODES HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED. OUR VOTING WILL BE THROUGH POLL EVERYWHERE APPLICATION.

I WILL ASK AT THIS TIME, ALTHOUGH THE BALLOT WILL BE LOCKED, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE SCAN THE QR CODE WITH YOUR PHONE AND YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND SELECT UPDATE. ONCE YOU DO THAT, YOU SHOULD SEE A BALLOT WITH THE NAMES ON IT LIKE THE MAYOR MENTIONED.

ONCE YOU DECIDED TO OPT OUT OR REMAIN ON THE BALLOT, IF IT WILL CHANGE BASED ON YOUR RESPONSE MOTIONS AND SECONDS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR A NOMINATION. A COUNCIL MEMBER WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK TO BE REMOVED FROM THE BALLOT.

ONCE THE BALLOT HAS BEEN SET. AS THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED EARLIER.

THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION AFTER DISCUSSION ENDS.

THERE ARE NO MORE, NO MORE DISCUSSION. AND YOU SHOULD BE READY TO VOTE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH THE TOP TWO NOMINATIONS RECEIVED WILL MOVE FORWARD.

WILL BE DULY WELL, I'M SORRY. THE NOMINEE THAT RECEIVES EIGHT VOTES WILL BE DULY APPOINTED.

IF A NOMINEE DOES NOT RECEIVE EIGHT VOTES, THEN THE THE THE NOMINEES WITH THE TWO HIGHEST VOTES WILL MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT BALLOT FOR VOTING. IF THERE'S A TIE, THEN MULTIPLE NOMINEES WILL MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I HAVE A QUESTION MYSELF ABOUT THE QR CODE.

SHOULD YOU SEE YOUR OWN NAME ON THE SCREEN IF YOU'VE ENTERED YOUR NAME CORRECTLY? OR SHOULD YOU SEE EVERYONE'S NAME BUT YOURS? YOU SHOULD SEE THE BALLOT AND THE BALLOT LIST MEMBERS ONE THROUGH 14. OKAY. SO I SHOULDN'T SEE MYSELF BECAUSE I'M NOT A CANDIDATE OR I CAN'T BE A CANDIDATE.

IT'S RIGHT. IT'S ONLY. BUT EVERYONE ELSE CAN SEE THEIR OWN NAME, IF YOU ENTER YOUR NAME, YOU CAN SEE YOUR NAMES.

ANYONE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THAT? OKAY. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, MADAM SECRETARY?

[00:05:01]

NO, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH DISTRICT ONE, MR. WEST. PLEASE REMOVE ME.

YOU SAID. REMOVE. OKAY. MADAM SECRETARY, DID YOU GET THAT? THANK YOU. PLEASE REMOVE COUNCIL MEMBER CHAD WEST FROM THE BALLOT.

DISTRICT TWO, JESSE MORENO. DISTRICT THREE, ZARIN D GRACEY.

PLEASE REMOVE MY NAME. PLEASE REMOVE COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY FROM THE BALLOT.

DISTRICT FOUR MAXEY JOHNSON, PLEASE REMOVE ME.

DISTRICT FIVE JAIME RESENDEZ. I'M STANDING. DISTRICT SIX, LAURA CATENA.

PLEASE REMOVE ME. DISTRICT SEVEN, ADAM BAZALDUA.

PLEASE REMOVE MY NAME. DISTRICT EIGHT, LORI BLAIR.

PLEASE REMOVE MY NAME. DISTRICT NINE, PAULA BLACKMAN.

PLEASE REMOVE MY NAME. DISTRICT TEN, KATHY STEWART.

PLEASE REMOVE MY NAME. DISTRICT 11, BILL ROTH.

DO YOU PREFER BILL OR WILLIAM FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES? BILL. OKAY. CARA MENDELSOHN. DISTRICT 12. PLEASE REMOVE MY NAME.

GAY DONNELL WILLIS. DISTRICT 13. I'LL REMAIN.

PAUL E RIDLEY, DISTRICT 14. REMOVE. OKAY. GIVE US A SECOND TO REFLECT THOSE CHANGES, MR. MAYOR. YEP.

MR. MAYOR, WHO REMAINS ON YOUR BALLOT IS COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS.

I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM WITH THE MEMBERSHIP. IS THAT CORRECT? IS ANYBODY WANTED TO REMAIN IN THAT DIDN'T GET CAPTURED? OKAY. WE'LL NOW RECOGNIZE ANY MEMBERS WHO WANT TO DISCUSS FOR FIVE MINUTES.

ROUND ONE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WE DON'T HAVE A THING.

OH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY BUTTONS TO PUSH. OH. THAT'S INTERESTING.

OKAY. OKAY, WELL, THEN I'LL JUST START AND GO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.

KATHY STEWART. GAY WILLIS. YES. THANK YOU. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. AND WELCOME TO OUR NEW COLLEAGUES ON DALLAS CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE SO MANY WHO ARE INTERESTED TO TAKE ON THIS, THIS MAYOR PRO TEM ROLE.

IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT THIS COUNCIL WORK WELL TOGETHER AS WE FACE MORE INTENSE BUDGET CHALLENGES THAN OUR CITY HAS SEEN IN SEVERAL YEARS.

IT'S AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU ALL. AND IN FOUR YEARS, THOSE WHO I HAVE WORKED WITH KNOW THAT I'VE WORKED TO BECOME A RESPECTED MEMBER OF THIS BODY BY BRINGING BALANCE AND STUDY AND DECORUM WITH ME IN REPRESENTING OUR CITY.

WHEN YOU'VE CALLED OUT MY SUPPORT OF YOU AND YOUR DISTRICTS.

IT'S MEANINGFUL AND I AUTHENTICALLY SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR EVENTS BECAUSE I LOVE THIS CITY AND ALL OF HER RESIDENTS.

I LOVE GOING TO THE ARBORETUM FOR THE QUINCEANERA FASHION SHOW DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

I WENT TO THE CLAYBURGH RILEY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING BECAUSE THEY JUST SENT ME AN INVITATION, AND I WANTED TO GET TO KNOW THAT PART OF THE CITY.

I SUPPORTED TEEN DRIVERS AT OUR CAMPBELL REC CAMPBELL GREEN REC CENTER.

I, I AUTHENTICALLY GO AND SUPPORT YOU ALL, BUT I'M ALSO DOING IT BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW THE RESIDENTS IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR CITY.

ONE KEY SKILL THAT I BRING AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED IS WORKING POSITIVELY AND COLLABORATIVELY.

AND JUST THIS PAST WEEK, WE SPENT TIME SEATING A NEW INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR GENERAL.

LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, THAT PROPOSITION HAD DIED.

BUT I REALLY BELIEVED IN IT, AND I DIDN'T WANT IT TO FAIL.

AND I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE OUR CITY STAND DOWN ON STANDING STRONG ON FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE.

SO I TOOK SOME TIME AND PUT TOGETHER A THOUGHTFUL, RESEARCHED PACKET TO WORK WITH YOU ALL, HEAR YOUR CONCERNS AND BRING THAT BACK TO LIFE.

AND YOU DID. AND NINE VOTES FLIPPED. AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A RELEVANT RECENT EXAMPLE OF HOW I WOULD WORK WITH YOU AND HEAR YOU AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY AND

[00:10:06]

POSITIVELY TO MAKE THIS COUNCIL THE STRONGEST IT COULD BE.

AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU. CARA I HAVE NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

PAUL RIDLEY. NO COMMENT. THANK YOU. JOHNSON. NO COMMENT.

LAURA CADENA NO COMMENT. ADAM BAZALDUA THANK YOU.

MAYOR. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THIS IS PROBABLY THE HARDEST EXERCISE THAT WE HAVE AS A BODY, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO A REALLY GOOD ONE. I THINK IT SHOWS CHARACTER AND IT HIGHLIGHTS CONVERSATION THAT WE DON'T NORMALLY HAVE WITH EACH OTHER ON TRAITS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IN LEADERSHIP WITHIN OUR BODY. I THINK THAT WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR AND WHAT I'M HOPING TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE LEFT THEIR NAME IN, ARE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO HELP BRIDGE THE GAP AND COLLABORATE AS A BODY.

WE HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY IN THE PAST THAT I THINK HAS BEEN MISSED.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN A GREAT EXAMPLE I THINK FROM TENNELL ATKINS AND HIS ROLE AS MAYOR PRO TEM.

THE LAST THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS FOR THESE POSITIONS TO PERPETUATE THE HIGH SCHOOL CLIQUENESS THAT ALREADY EXISTS AT CITY HALL.

AND I'M HOPING THAT THESE ROLES WILL ACT AS A CONDUIT FOR BRIDGING GAPS WHERE WE HAVE WITH DIFFERENT CLIQUES.

THIS SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT EXACERBATES OR PERPETUATES A DIVISIVE NATURE, THAT IT KIND OF ALREADY EXISTS AT CITY HALL.

AND I'M HOPING THAT THAT'S WHERE WE END UP IN A WAY THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER ACROSS THE AISLE, IF YOU WILL. AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING FOR WITH THESE POSITIONS.

AND I DIDN'T WANT TO STAY COMPLETELY SILENT. I WAS HOPING TO PUT MY NAME IN.

BUT I THINK THAT IT WAS MOST IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK AT WHERE WE CAN CAN DRAW CONSENSUS INSTEAD OF THIS BEING A DRAG OUT FIGHT BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN IT GO LEFT FIELD IN YEARS PAST. SO WITH THAT, I WILL BE SUPPORTING GAY WILLIS FOR MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THIS FIRST ROUND.

THANK YOU, LORI BLAIR. NO COMMENT. JAIME. RESENDEZ.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. THIS IS A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE'VE DONE, AND HOW WE CAN BEST SERVE THIS BODY AND THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS.

WHILE IT'S NATURAL TO FOCUS ON OURSELVES IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS, I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT I TRULY BELIEVE EACH OF US AROUND THIS HORSESHOE COULD SERVE EFFECTIVELY AS MAYOR PRO TEM, WE BRING UNIQUE STRENGTHS THAT MAKE THIS COUNCIL STRONGER.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW MY BACKGROUND, I'M A US ARMY COMBAT VETERAN WHO GREW UP IN PLEASANT GROVE, AN AREA THAT HAD BEEN NEGLECTED AND GERRYMANDERED FOR DECADES.

MY PARENTS, LIKE MANY IN OUR CITY, WORKED HARD AND STRUGGLED TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

GROWING UP IN SOUTHEAST DALLAS, I WITNESSED HOW POVERTY AND THE LACK OF OPPORTUNITY LED TO MANY OF MY PEERS INTO GANGS, PRISON, OR WORSE. WITH NO MONEY FOR COLLEGE, I ENLISTED IN THE ARMY.

BEFORE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL. I SERVED FOR EIGHT FOR EIGHT YEARS AS AN ENGINEER, INCLUDING A YEAR LONG TOUR OF DUTY IN BAGHDAD, IRAQ. I WASN'T IN IRAQ HANDING OUT WATER. I WAS ON HUNDREDS OF DANGEROUS CONVOYS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF BAGHDAD, LEADING SOLDIERS AS A 21 YEAR OLD SERGEANT. PEOPLE WERE DYING ON THE SAME STREETS I WAS ON, ON THE SAME DAYS. IT JUST WASN'T ME. THAT EXPERIENCE FOREVER SHAPED MY UNDERSTANDING OF SACRIFICE, LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC SERVICE. I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LACE UP BOOTS, PUT ON A BULLETPROOF VEST, AND NOT KNOW WHETHER I'LL MAKE IT BACK HOME. THAT PERSPECTIVE HAS STAYED WITH ME, AND IT'S WHY I HAVE SUCH PROFOUND RESPECT FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY OUR POLICE OFFICERS CARRY EACH DAY. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I EARNED DEGREES FROM EASTFIELD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UNT DALLAS, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF LAW, WHERE I WAS EXPOSED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO PEOPLE FROM SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PRIVILEGED BACKGROUNDS.

MANY OF MY LAW SCHOOL CLASSMATES WERE THE CHILDREN OF DOCTORS, LAWYERS, ENGINEERS, OR EVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND THEY GREW UP IN AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT EXPERIENCE WAS EYE OPENING.

IT SHOWED ME JUST HOW DEEPLY EARLY ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FROM THE TIME WE WERE IN THE WOMB CAN SHAPE A PERSON'S PATH.

IT STRENGTHENED MY BELIEF THAT WE MUST LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR CHILDREN IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

I'M A PRODUCT OF OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, DISD GRADUATE, DALLAS COLLEGE GRADUATE, UNT DALLAS GRADUATE.

AND I CARRY THAT PERSPECTIVE WITH ME IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO.

IN 2016, I WAS ELECTED TO THE DALLAS ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WHERE I GAINED A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING THAT EDUCATION AND THE SUCCESS OF OUR SCHOOLS IS SHAPED BY HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT DROVE ME TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL. UNTIL I WAS ELECTED IN 2019.

THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A LATINO WHO GREW UP IN SOUTHERN DALLAS TO SERVE ON THIS BODY, LET ALONE AS MAYOR PRO TEM.

I'M THE SON OF IMMIGRANTS AND PROUD TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO CAN COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH OUR SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I'VE BECOME THE GO TO VOICE ON THE COUNCIL FOR SPANISH LANGUAGE MEDIA.

[00:15:03]

AS MAYOR PRO TEM, I BELIEVE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES IS NOT ONLY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY PERSON IN OUR CITY IS REPRESENTED, BUT ALSO TO STAY GROUNDED IN THE REASON WE'RE HERE TO DELIVER RESULTS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

SINCE JOINING THE COUNCIL, I'VE PRIORITIZED IMPACT.

I'VE HELPED UPDATE THE CITY CODE AND CHARTER TO BROADEN CIVIC PARTICIPATION.

I LED EFFORTS THAT BROUGHT MILLIONS IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO SOUTHEAST DALLAS, INCLUDING A $40 MILLION BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AT LAKE JUNE AND 175, AND A $100 MILLION TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AT BUCKNER STATION, THE FIRST MAJOR HOUSING INVESTMENT IN DISTRICT FIVE IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

I ALSO WORKED WITH DPD TO COMBAT DANGEROUS STREET RACING, AND JOINED A RIDE ALONG THAT TURNED INTO A HIGH SPEED CHASE ON BUCKNER BOULEVARD.

I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT TODAY, DISTRICT FIVE IS THE SECOND SAFEST DISTRICT IN DALLAS BASED ON OVERALL CRIME DATA.

MY APPROACH HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSISTENT. DO THE WORK, FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE, AND STAY ABOVE THE DRAMA.

I BELIEVE THE MAYOR PRO TEM SHOULD BE SOMEONE WHO WHO WORKS RESPECTFULLY WITH EVERYONE ON THIS BODY, BUT IS ALSO WILLING TO SPEAK UP AND OFFER A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WHEN NEEDED.

I'M ALSO THE OWNER OF A LAW PRACTICE. A HUSBAND AND A FATHER OF FOUR.

BUT MY RESPONSIBILITY IS OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL.

DON'T DETRACT FROM MY PUBLIC SERVICE. THEY ENHANCE IT.

I REPRESENT JUVENILES AND ADULTS CAUGHT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SO I SEE FIRSTHAND HOW POLICY DECISIONS AFFECT REAL PEOPLE.

I ALSO REPRESENT PERSONAL INJURY CLIENTS IMPACTED BY SERIOUS TRAFFIC COLLISIONS, WHICH IS WHY I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT VISION ZERO AND TRAFFIC SAFETY.

I'VE SEEN THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES WHEN ROAD CONDITIONS AND DRIVER AND DRIVER BEHAVIOR COMBINE IN DANGEROUS WAYS.

AS A FATHER, I'M REMINDED EVERY DAY THAT WHAT WE DO HERE MATTERS.

OUR DECISIONS SHAPE THE FUTURE OUR CHILDREN WILL GROW UP IN.

SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL IS MY PRIORITY, WHICH IS WHY I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN BEING AT THE HORSESHOE AT 9 A.M., READY TO BEGIN EACH MEETING. IF I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING IN THIS ROLE, I'M FULLY COMMITTED TO RESPECTING EVERYONE'S TIME AND CONDUCTING MEETINGS EFFICIENTLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. I KNOW THIS PROCESS CAN CREATE TENSION AMONG US, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ABOUT.

MY FOCUS IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON DOING THE WORK, SERVING WITH INTEGRITY, AND HELPING THIS COUNCIL MOVE DALLAS FORWARD REGARDLESS OF HOW THIS VOTE TURNS OUT. I'D BE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. CHAD WEST. THANK YOU MAYOR. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE SO MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND LEAD TODAY.

WE HAVE A STRONG GROUP OF LEADERS AT THIS HORSESHOE, AND I AGREE WITH WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER.

ANY OF ANY OF US COULD DO THIS ROLE AND DO IT QUITE WELL.

WE ONLY HAVE ONE VOTE TODAY FOR MAYOR PRO TEM AND ONE FOR DEPUTY.

I WAS ORIGINALLY IN THE RACE I PULLED OUT OF IT BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE OUR STRONGEST CANDIDATE TODAY IS GAY WILLIS.

MY FIRST REASON IN SUPPORTING GAY IS, I BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR A STRONG WOMAN TO BE IN THE IN ONE OF OUR LEADERSHIP ROLES.

WE TALK ABOUT GENDER EQUALITY AS A CITY. WE NEED TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS, AND WE'RE DOING THAT WITH WOMEN'S SPORTS.

IT'S TIME TO SHOW THAT WE SUPPORT THAT SAME KIND OF LEADERSHIP AT THE HORSESHOE.

SECOND, MAYOR, THE MAYOR HAS MANY RESPONSIBILITIES TRAVELING.

AND HE'S A VERY ACTIVE MAYOR AND DOING THINGS ALL OVER THE CITY DOING WHAT WE DO ON A MUCH BIGGER SCALE.

AND HE HAS TO MISS MEETINGS OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE OF THAT. GAY HAS SHOWN OVER AND OVER THAT SHE'S ONE OF THE FIRST ONES HERE AT THE HORSESHOE, AND SHE STAYS EVEN AFTER I'VE LEFT. SOMETIMES TO EVEN HEAR THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

SHE'S ALWAYS COMMITTED TO BEING HERE FOR THE ENTIRE MEETING, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN THIS ROLE.

THIRD WE NEED A PERSON WHO'S WILLING TO STEP IN AND TO HELP US AS A COUNCIL WHEN WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER ON A POLICY ISSUE OR A BUDGETARY ISSUE AS PRO TEM. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE WAYS I TRIED TO HELP THE MAYOR OUT WAS BY IN THE CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME WAS BY ELIMINATING SOME OF THE DRAMA AROUND THE BUDGET THAT WE HAD EXPERIENCED IN THE YEAR BEFORE. AND I THINK I DID AN OKAY JOB OF THAT TRYING TO PULL AS MANY, MANY DRAMA AND AMENDMENTS OUT OF THE PROCESS AS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, NEW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET TO EXPERIENCE THAT PRETTY SOON. BUT THE I THINK I'VE SEEN GAYE DO THAT WITH THE IG AND I, HER KNOWLEDGE OF THE BUDGET, I THINK SHE COULD BE VERY USEFUL IN DOING THAT AS WELL.

SO I THINK THE OTHER CANDIDATES THAT ARE IN THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE THEY'RE GREAT PEOPLE.

I THINK WE DO WOULD DO A GREAT JOB AS WELL. I BELIEVE THE STRONGEST PERSON IS GAY AND I'M GOING TO SUPPORT HER.

THANK YOU. PAULA BLACKMON. BILL ROTH. ZARIN GRACEY.

JESSE MORENO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I DO BELIEVE THAT ALL 14 MEMBERS WE HAVE TODAY CAN SERVE EFFECTIVELY ON AS MAYOR PRO TEM, WE HAVE SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL WITH OUTGOING MAYOR PRO TEM TENNELL ATKINS.

WHAT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IS BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, WORKING WELL WITH OUR STAFF AND THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

[00:20:02]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND HAPPY INAUGURATION DAY.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY WANT TO HAVE A ROUND TWO? IF YOU HAD A ROUND ONE OR ROUND ONE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY.

I'M JUST GOING TO LOOK AROUND BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A SCREEN.

OKAY. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL TAKE OVER THE VOTING PROCEDURE AND TELL US WHAT TO DO.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WOULD ASK STAFF TO PLEASE UNLOCK THE BALLOT FOR VOTING.

YOU MAY BEGIN VOTING. SIX HAVE VOTED.

13 HAVE VOTED. 14 HAVE VOTED.

14 HAVE VOTED. 15 ALL HAVE VOTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO RECEIVING.

THANK YOU. WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO RECEIVING TEN VOTES.

COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ RECEIVING TWO AND COUNCILMEMBER WILLIS RECEIVING THREE.

COUNCILMEMBER MORENO HAS BEEN ELECTED MAYOR PRO TEM.

I WILL NOW ASK FOR THE DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BALLOT TO BE DISPLAYED.

PLEASE REMOVE MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO. MR. MAYOR.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO REPEAT THE SAME PROCEDURE WITH DISTRICT ONE GOING FIRST.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO REMAIN? IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE PULLED OUT, LET US KNOW. REMOVE, PLEASE.

DISTRICT THREE. YOU'RE OUT. OKAY. YOU'RE STAYING IN DISTRICT FOUR. REMAIN. DISTRICT FIVE. I'M OUT.

DISTRICT SIX. REMOVE DISTRICT SEVEN. REMOVE. DISTRICT EIGHT.

REMOVE. DISTRICT NINE. REMOVE. DISTRICT TEN. REMOVE.

DO YOU SAY? REMOVE OR REMOVE. REMOVE. OKAY. DISTRICT 11.

REMOVE. DISTRICT 12. PLEASE REMOVE ME. DISTRICT 13.

REMAIN. REMOVE. I'LL REMAIN. REMAIN. DISTRICT 14.

REMOVE. REMOVE. OKAY. I'LL LET YOU RECALCULATE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR YOUR DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BALLOT.

THE NOMINEES ARE COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY AND COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

IS THAT CORRECT? WEST. CAN YOU SAY IT AGAIN? I CAN'T.

FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T SEE, I DON'T THINK. DID YOU SAY WEST? NO. LET ME REPEAT IT AGAIN. I'M SORRY FOR YOUR DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BALLOT, COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY.

GRACEY. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

PLEASE, WILL YOU ALLOW US TO UPDATE THE MAYOR PRO TEM BALLOT TO REFLECT THOSE NOMINEES, MR. MAYOR? OKAY. THANK YOU. THEY'RE REFLECTED, MR. MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM WITH EVERYONE. THAT'S CORRECT.

GRACEY, JOHNSON, WILLIS, THOSE ARE THE THREE.

NO ONE ELSE. OKAY, MADAM SECRETARY, WHAT DO WE DO NOW? DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION? YES, MR. MAYOR. I'LL START THIS SIDE AND GO THIS WAY THIS TIME.

AND JESSE MORENO, ZARIN D GRACEY, BILL ROTH, PAUL BLACKMON, CHAD WEST, JAIME RESENDEZ, LORI BLAIR, ADAM BAZALDUA, LAURA CADENA, MAXEY JOHNSON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

FIRST, I WANT TO THANK MY COMMUNITY, DISTRICT FOUR FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE AND HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY.

77% VOTED FOR ME IN EARLY VOTING, 75% VOTED ON ELECTION DAY.

I'M VERY HUMBLED TO SERVE AS YOUR NEW CITY COUNCIL PERSON, DISTRICT FOUR.

I'VE BEEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR SIX YEARS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

PRIOR TO ME BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I SERVED AND CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A PASTOR IN THIS GREAT CITY OF DALLAS IN MY DISTRICT, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN SERVING AND DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. I CONCUR WITH EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT'S HERE.

THEY CAN DO THIS JOB GREAT. AND YOUR COMMUNITY SENT YOU DOWN HERE BECAUSE YOU DO GREAT WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK WORKING WITH A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE AS A SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE,

[00:25:03]

MY DISTRICT TOUCHED YOUR DISTRICT. I SERVE AS THE I SERVED AS THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT FOR DALLAS ISD FOR FOUR YEARS.

I SERVED AS THE POLICY CHAIR FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR FOUR YEARS.

I SERVED AS A SAFETY AND SECURITY. THE SAFETY AND SECURITY CHAIR, VICE CHAIR FOR DALLAS ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR TWO.

I UNDERSTAND THAT LEADERSHIP IS IMPORTANT. I'M VETTED THE SAME COMMUNITY THAT I'M SERVING AS AS THE CITY COUNCIL SAID IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT FIVE.

MY SCHOOL BOARD SEAT, IT'S THE SAME COMMUNITY. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK TOGETHER.

I'M NOT HERE BY MYSELF. I'M HERE WITH 77% OF OUR COMMUNITY SAYING YES.

LEADERSHIP IS IMPORTANT. I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO BUILD SYNERGY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WORK.

I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER ON THIS DAIS.

I WANT TO THANK MY COMMUNITY ONCE AGAIN FOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY.

I BRING A HOST OF LEADERSHIP. I'M VERY INNOVATIVE, INTENTIONAL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M HUMBLE AND I'M GRATEFUL.

AND I LOOK, I HOPE THAT I CAN HAVE YOUR SUPPORT EVEN THOUGH I'M NEW TO THIS COUNCIL.

I'M NOT NEW TO SERVING AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THIS CITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. PAUL RIDLEY. CARA MENDELSOHN.

GAY WILLIS. THANK YOU. MAYOR. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT I HAD SAID BEFORE, BUT LET YOU KNOW THAT I AM READY TO SERVE AND SUPPORT HUMBLY WITH MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO AND MAYOR JOHNSON AND ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS ROLE.

THANK YOU. KATHY STEWART. IS THERE ANYONE THAT I MISSED? OKAY, MADAM SECRETARY, I'M GIVING IT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'LL ASK STAFF NOW TO UNLOCK THE BALLOT FOR VOTING, AND YOU MAY BEGIN VOTING. EIGHT HAVE VOTED.

NINE HAVE VOTED. NINE HAVE VOTED. 11 HAVE VOTED.

13 HAVE VOTED. 14 HAVE VOTED.

14 HAVE VOTED. 14 HAVE VOTED.

I THOUGHT I DID. I NEVER DID. I THINK I WAS 15 HAVE VOTED.

THANK YOU. WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY RECEIVING ONE VOTE, COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON RECEIVING FIVE AND COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS RECEIVING NINE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS HAS BEEN DULY ELECTED DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

OKAY, WHAT'S OUR NEXT ITEM? AGENDA ITEM TWO IS SEATING AND OFFICE SELECTIONS.

[2. Seating/Office Selection]

WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOUR OFFICE SELECTION. THERE SHOULD BE A DIAGRAM IN FRONT OF YOU.

MR. MAYOR. INDIVIDUALS. HAVE BEEN GROUPED BASED ON THEIR SENIORITY.

WE HAVE EIGHT GROUPS. AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL IDENTIFY WHICH OFFICE.

ONCE THERE, WE GET TO THEIR DISTRICT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE PLACED IN.

WE HAVE EIGHT GROUPS. GROUP ONE. COUNCIL DISTRICTS ONE, FIVE AND 12.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH THAT GROUP. FOR THOSE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE GROUP, WE HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL SELECT FIRST IN GROUP AND GROUP ONE.

THE FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WILL PULL WILL BE COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ WILL SELECT.

I'M SORRY. SELECT. HIS OFFICE WILL BE COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ OFFICE IN AS IN NATHAN COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ HAS SELECTED OFFICE IN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN HAS PULLED PLACE TWO TO SELECT SECOND. I'LL SELECT, EXCUSE ME. I'LL SELECT M AS IN MENDELSOHN.

COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN OFFICE M THANK YOU.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. OFFICE D AS IN DELTA.

COUNCIL MEMBER WEST OFFICE D. GROUP TWO. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BLACKMON OKAY. THAT'S CORRECT. AND GROUP THREE IS COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA.

[00:30:05]

HE'S ALREADY SELECTED OFFICE B, STATE STAYING.

OFFICE B. THANK YOU. GROUP FOUR HAS THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS LISTED.

COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO PULLED FIRST. OFFICE A MORENO COUNCIL MEMBER MORENO OFFICE. MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO OFFICE A. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY OFFICE I.

COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY. OFFICE I MAYOR. AND COUNCIL MEMBER.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. WILLIS. DEPUTY MAYOR. PRO TEM WILLIS.

OFFICE K. GROUP FIVE. COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.

SORRY. I'LL GO WITH JAY. SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART OFFICE.

JAY. THANK YOU. GROUP SIX. COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY.

COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY HAS ELECTED TO STAY IN OFFICE F.

GROUP SEVEN. COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON. OFFICE H. OFFICE H. H.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA. OFFICE L. COUNCIL MEMBER.

CADENA. OFFICE L. COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR.

OFFICE E COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR. OFFICE E. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH.

OFFICE G COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. OFFICE G. THESE ARE YOUR CITY COUNCIL OFFICES FOR 2527 COUNCIL TERM.

WE WILL HAVE COPIES FOLLOWING THE MEETING. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO YOUR.

THAT'S A GOOD SEAT. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO YOUR SEATING SIDE.

THAT'S ALL I CARE ABOUT. YOUR SEATING DIAGRAM WILL STILL BE IN SENIORITY AS WELL.

WITH MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS IDENTIFIED.

WE'LL MOVE AFTER. AND YES, WE WILL MOVE AFTER ALL SEATS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ HAS ELECTED TO REMAIN IN HIS SEAT, AND COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY HAS IDENTIFIED AS REMAINING IN THEIR SEAT. SO NEXT TO PULL.

COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN. I'LL CHOOSE FOUR, PLEASE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. SEAT FOUR. COUNCIL MEMBER.

WEST. FIVE. COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. SEAT FIVE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BLACKMON. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. SEAT SEVEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY.

I'M SO SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER.

BAZALDUA. MY APOLOGIES. SEAT EIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER BAZALDUA.

SEAT EIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER. RIDLEY.

SEAT THREE. SEAT THREE. COUNCILMEMBER RIDLEY.

SIX. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. SEAT NINE PLEASE.

COUNCILMEMBER STEWART. SEAT NINE.

[00:35:06]

COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON. SEAT ONE.

COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON. SEAT ONE. COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA.

SEAT TEN. COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA. SEAT TEN. COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR.

COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR. SEAT 11. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH.

COUNCIL MEMBER. SEAT 12. I WILL ASK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS PLEASE GO AND SIT IN YOUR SELECTED SEATS AT THIS TIME.

MR. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES THE OFFICER SEATING.

IS THAT ALL THE BUSINESS WE HAVE? YES, IT IS MR. MAYOR. WE NEED TO CONDUCT TODAY. ALL RIGHT. MEMBERS. WELL, YOU GOT YOUR FIRST MEETING UNDER YOUR BELT. CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE. AND THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COUNCIL TODAY, THE TIME IS 3:22 P.M.

AND THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.