[2. 25-2646A 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 HAVE INDIVIDUAL FULL COUNCIL AND AN OFFICER APPOINTMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE YOUR OFFICER APPOINTMENTS OR YOUR CHAIR APPOINTMENTS, AND THAT THOSE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE PRESENTED BY A SEPARATE VOTE TO ALLOW THE MAYOR TO ABSTAIN.

YOUR NOMINEES FOR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS. TO THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.

BONNIE MATHIAS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER RESENDEZ.

MISS MATHIAS MEETS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SPECIAL QUALIFICATION.

ALSO TO THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION. JENNIFER BENNETT IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER BAZALDUA.

MISS BENNETT MEETS THE CITY OR COUNTY OFFICIAL SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

LINDA A GARNER IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO, AND JACK COX IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER ROTH TO THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD. JONATHAN MAPLES IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO TO THE LANDMARK COMMISSION.

EVELYN MONTGOMERY IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO.

MISS MONTGOMERY MEETS THE SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD.

KATHRYN. A UNMUTE IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO AND ALSO TO THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD.

PATRICK O'BRIEN IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER BLACKMON TO THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD.

FANIA MANDEL IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO.

MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO. I'M SORRY IF I SAID DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO TO THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION.

SERGIO ORTEGA IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER BAZALDUA MR..

[00:50:03]

ORTEGA MEETS THE PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE US MILITARY.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS. ALSO TO THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION, RAY A SMITH IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS MR. SMITH MEETS THE PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE US MILITARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATION.

MATTHEW BELL IS ALSO BEING NOMINATED TO THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, AND ALSO MEETS THE CURRENTLY SERVED IN THE US MILITARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO YOUR FULL COUNCIL NOMINEE TO THE TRINITY RIVER CORRIDOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, CHRIS J. BOTTI IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON.

THESE ARE YOUR INDIVIDUAL AND FULL COUNCIL NOMINEES.

ALL RIGHT. A MOTION TO APPROVE. AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT.

THE NOMINEES ARE APPROVED. CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT ITEM, MADAM SECRETARY, YOUR CHAIR. APPOINTMENTS? YEP.

CATHERINE IS BEING NOMINATED CHAIR OF THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD BY MAYOR JOHNSON.

AND CHARLES M AYERS IS BEING NOMINATED CHAIR OF THE VETERAN AFFAIRS BOARD.

BY COUNCIL, BY MAYOR JOHNSON. THESE ARE YOUR CHAIR APPOINTMENTS.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. PLEASE NOTE MY ABSTENTION. NOTED, MISTER MAYOR.

[3. 25-2701A Casting of lots to identify the recommended vendor resulting from tie bids between CreaA.tive L.ove T-shirt and Vinyl Supply Shop, No Ego, Inc., and Tyndale Enterprises, Inc. on Group 1, Line 7; CreaA.tive L.ove T-shirt and Vinyl Supply Shop and No Ego, Inc. on Group 1, Lines 8 and 29; and No Ego, Inc. and Tyndale Enterprises, Inc. on Group 1, Lines 33 an 41 in response to bid BV25-00027987 for a three-year master agreement for the purchase of Employee Uniforms and Safety Shoes]

AGENDA ITEM THREE IS CASTING OF LOTS TO IDENTIFY THE RECOMMENDED VENDOR RESULTING FROM TIE BIDS BETWEEN CREATIVE LOVE T SHIRT AND VINYL SUPPLY SHOP NO EGO INC. AND TYNDALE ENTERPRISES, INC.

ON GROUP ONE, LINE SEVEN CREATIVE LOVE T-SHIRT AND VINYL SUPPLY SHOP AND NO EGO INC ON GROUP ON GROUP ONE, LINES EIGHT AND 29 AND NO EGO INC AND TYNDALE ENTERPRISES INC ON GROUP ONE, LINES 33 AND 41.

IN RESPONSE TO BID BV 25 00027987 FOR A THREE YEAR MASTER AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF EMPLOYEE UNIFORMS AND SAFETY SHOES, THIS ITEM REQUIRES NO ACTION.

NO MOTION OR SECOND. MR. MAYOR, BY ORDINANCE, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BREAK THE TIE.

THESE VENDORS AGAIN BE. IT'S TIED ON FIVE LINES IN GROUP ONE.

MY STAFF BEHIND YOU HAS ENVELOPES. WITH THOSE VENDORS, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU WHEN THE ENVELOPE IS HANDED TO YOU, MR. MAYOR, TO STATE THE GROUP AND THE LINE NUMBER IN THE ENVELOPE AND ANNOUNCE THE WINNING.

THE WINNER OF THAT ON THAT FOR THAT LINE.

GROUP ONE, LINE SEVEN, GROUP ONE, LINE SEVEN.

AND YOU NEED TO OPEN THE SEAL AND ANNOUNCE WHO THE WINNER OF THAT LINE IS.

TYNDALE ENTERPRISES, INC.. GROUP ONE, LINE SEVEN.

THANK YOU. GROUP ONE, LINE SEVEN, TYNDALE DALE ENTERPRISES.

THERE ARE FIVE LINES. MR. MAYOR STAFF. BETWEEN THESE.

OKAY. GROUP ONE. LINE EIGHT. GROUP ONE. LINE EIGHT AND NO EGO, INC.. OKAY. GROUP.

GROUP ONE. LINE EIGHT. NO EGO GROUP ONE. LINE EIGHT.

NO. EGO, INC..

GROUP ONE. LINE 29. GROUP ONE. LINE 29. NO.

EGO, INC. GROUP ONE 129. NO. EGO, INC..

BETWEEN THESE TWO. GROUP ONE. LINE 33. GROUP ONE.

LINE 33. NO. EGO, INC.. GROUP ONE. LINE 33. GROUP ONE.

LINE 33. NO. NO. EGO, INC..

[00:55:02]

GROUP ONE. LINE 41. GROUP ONE. LINE 41.

TYNDALE ENTERPRISES, INC.. GROUP ONE, LINE 41.

GROUP ONE, LINE 41, TYNDALE ENTERPRISES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AS PREVIOUSLY PREVIOUSLY STATED, IT REQUIRES NO FURTHER ACTION.

HOWEVER, THOSE AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL AT A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING.

AGENDA ITEM FOUR IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS ON A

[4. 25-2304A A public hearing to receive comments on a $0.7022 per $100 assessed valuation property tax rate for the 2025-26 fiscal year as discussed on August 27, 2025; City Council will vote to adopt a tax rate on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Dallas City Hall, City Council Chambers - Financing: No cost consideration to the City]

0.702 $0.02 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR THE 20 2526 FISCAL YEAR.

AS DISCUSSED ON AUGUST 27TH, 2025, CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE TO ADOPT A TAX RATE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2025 AT DALLAS CITY HALL. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS YOU DO HAVE FOUR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. AFTER THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SPOKEN, IT WILL BE OPEN TO FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE.

YOUR FIRST SPEAKER. NORA SOTO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME? NORA SOTO IS VIRTUAL. WILL BE VIRTUAL.

WE CAN SEE YOU. HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN SEE AND HEAR YOU.

YOU CAN GO AHEAD, MISS SOTO. OKAY. MY NAME IS NORA SOTO.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR. I HAVE ORGANIZED AROUND THE DALLAS CITY BUDGET FOR SIX YEARS NOW.

I THOUGHT THE BUDGET SITUATION COULD NEVER AGAIN BE AS HOPELESS AS THE 2020 CYCLE.

BUT I WAS WRONG. THE PROPOSED BUDGET THIS YEAR IS SO WROUGHT WITH ISSUES AND DEVASTATING CUTS TO EVERY DEPARTMENT EXCEPT THE POLICE.

PROP AS YOU HAVE PUT THE CITY IN A PREDICAMENT, A PREDICAMENT THEY COULD HAVE AVOIDED BY CAMPAIGNING AGAINST THE PREPOSITIONS.

YES, THERE IS NOW A LARGE DEFICIT CAUSED BY THE POLICE PENSION DEBT, AN ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH BETTER MANAGEMENT.

YES, THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS EXPERIENCING AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, BUT THESE THINGS DO NOT MEAN THAT THE CITY GETS TO IGNORE THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS.

IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT CITY COUNCIL GETS TO VOTE OUR MONEY AWAY TO FUND THE POLICE AND NOTHING ELSE.

IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT RESIDENTS HAVE TO STRUGGLE UNDER WORSE CONDITIONS AND POOR QUALITY OF LIFE, OR BE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES. I HAVE HEARD RESIDENTS SPEAK UP AT THESE MEETINGS AND BE CONTINUOUSLY IGNORED.

I'VE SEEN PEOPLE POUR THEIR HEART OUT OVER THE IMPORTANCE OF LIBRARIES TO THE COMMUNITY, THE IMPORTANCE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND REC CENTERS.

I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT HOW HAVING MORE HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS IS WHAT MAKES THEM FEEL SAFE.

GETTING STRAY DOGS OFF THE STREETS IS WHAT MAKES THEM FEEL SAFE.

HOW PROPER LIGHTING AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS WHAT MAKES THEM FEEL SAFE.

THE ONLY THING THAT THIS NARROW MINDED COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR SEEM TO BELIEVE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE WHEN WE HAVE MORE COPS.

THE SAME COPS THAT KILL UNARMED RESIDENTS, THAT OVERPOLICED BROWN AND BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE POINT OF FILLING UP THE JAILS PAST THEIR CAPACITY.

THE SAME COPS THAT TURNED PEACEFUL PROTEST INTO BLOODY RIOTS.

THE SAME COPS THAT WILL COLLABORATE WITH ICE THUGS TO KIDNAP OUR PEOPLE.

COUNCIL HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP US SAFE.

EVERYONE IN DALLAS DESERVES TO HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET.

IN ORDER FOR THE CITY TO THRIVE. YOU NEED TO STRUCTURE THIS BUDGET WITH THAT IN MIND.

THE CITY BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT, AND WE CAN SEE EVERY YEAR WHERE THIS COUNCIL STANDS.

THE FIGHT DOES NOT END HERE. WE WILL KEEP SHOWING UP UNTIL WE HAVE THE DALLAS THAT WE DESERVE.

THANK YOU, SAM WILLIAMS. HELLO.

MY NAME IS SAM WILLIAMS AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.

I'M HERE ADVOCATING FOR DALLAS TO HOLD ON TO A FEW CENTS ON EACH DOLLAR IN THIS AGENDA ITEM SO THAT WE CAN EFFICIENTLY INVEST IN LONG TERM SAFETY METHODS, RATHER THAN A VARIABLE POLICE HEADCOUNT. THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET CYCLE, SAFETY HAS BEEN A PRIMARY TOPIC, BUT IT REALLY FEELS, AS A RESIDENT THAT DALLAS ONLY UNDERSTANDS SAFETY THROUGH ONE VECTOR, WHICH IS ITS POLICE FORCE. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO RELY ON OTHER MEANS TO ENSURE EVERYONE WHO LIVES IN DALLAS IS SAFE.

SOME OF THOSE MEANS PUT FORTH BY INFORMED INTEREST GROUPS, SOME HERE TODAY, HAVE BEEN UNDER DIRECT OR INDIRECT THREATS.

TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY WITH VISION ZERO AND BIKE PLANS.

COMMUNITY SAFETY WITH LIBRARIES, ANIMAL SHELTERS AND POOLS.

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION. THESE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES SEEM TO BE FIGHTING FOR SCRAPS AND THEIR LIVES,

[01:00:04]

IN SOME CASES, WHEN THEY ARE EXACTLY THE TYPES OF IDEAS THAT ANALYSIS SHOWS ACTUALLY REDUCES PHYSICAL HARM TO RESIDENTS.

TRULY EFFICIENT INVESTMENTS IN OUR CITY WOULD REFLECT MORE OF THE ABOVE, NOT LESS.

AND ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS NEED MORE DEDICATED CITY STAFF, NOT MASS LAYOFFS, TO IMPROVE SERVICE EXPERIENCES.

POLICE OVERFUNDING IS NOT JUST LIMITED TO THE BAD FAITH PROPERTY ORDINANCE.

PLANNED SPENDING FOR THE NEW POLICE TRAINING FACILITY IN SOUTH DALLAS IS ALREADY MORE THAN $100 MILLION OVER BUDGET.

THAT IS NOT EFFICIENT OR COST EFFECTIVE WHEN RESIDENTS ARE ATTENDING THESE COUNCIL MEETINGS TO ADDRESS POOR POLICING INTEGRITY LIKE TODAY.

A CHANGE IS NEEDED IF WE WANT TO COMPARE OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE TO OTHER LARGE TEXAS CITIES, WE NEED TO BE DOING SO. UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT FUNDING MODELS BETWEEN EACH OTHER.

IF WE WANT TO RUN THE CITY LIKE A BUSINESS, WHAT BUSINESS IN TODAY'S WORLD IS ACTIVELY CUTTING THEIR REVENUE? VOTE YES AND AT LEAST KEEP SOME SEMBLANCE OF STABILITY.

THANK YOU. CAITLIN DOLD.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'VE SPENT THE LAST YEAR LISTENING TO YOU GUYS EVERY WEDNESDAY, SOMETIMES MOSTLY ONLINE, SOMETIMES IN PERSON.

AND THAT EXPERIENCE HAS GIVEN ME A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRESSURES THAT THIS HORSESHOE FACES FROM THE STATE, FROM RESIDENTS, AND FROM THE CHALLENGES OF BALANCING THIS BUDGET.

IT HAS GIVEN ME IMMENSE RESPECT FOR HOW DIFFICULT THESE CHOICES ARE, AND I UNDERSTAND THE FOCUS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT I'D LIKE TO CHALLENGE WHAT THOSE WORDS MEAN.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS YES, ABOUT CUTTING COSTS, BUT ALSO ABOUT GENERATING REVENUE GENERATING INCOME.

IF WE'RE OPERATING THROUGH THE LENS OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, INCREASING THE TAX RATE GENERATES REVENUE.

CLOSING SKILLMAN SOUTHWESTERN BRANCH SAVES EACH TAXPAYER LESS THAN TWO HUNDREDTHS OF $0.01.

THAT IS NOT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. THAT IS PERFORMATIVE.

BY CONTRAST, YOUR PERSONAL SECURITY DETAIL COSTS TAXPAYERS $2.1 MILLION, WHICH IS MORE THAN FIVE TIMES THE COST OF MY LIBRARY.

IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT CUTTING NONESSENTIAL SPENDING, THAT MIGHT BE A PLACE TO START.

BUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS ABOUT REDUCING WASTE AND INVESTING IN SERVICES THAT PREVENT BIGGER COSTS DOWN THE LINE.

LIBRARIES DO EXACTLY THAT. PEER REVIEW STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT LIBRARIES REDUCE CRIME IN THEIR SURROUNDING AREAS.

CRIMES LIKE BURGLARIES. VANDALISM. THEM ROBBERIES, FRAUD, AND ASSAULTS.

A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT BUILT ONLY ON POLICE, ON PATROL CARS, BUT ON OPPORTUNITY, EDUCATION AND TRUST.

CLOSING LIBRARIES MAKES DALLAS LESS SAFE AND LESS SECURE.

I READ YOUR MEMORANDUM, AND IT SAYS IN YOUR OWN WORDS THAT WE MUST REIMAGINE OUR CITY BUDGET FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY.

BUT I STRUGGLE TO FIND HOW CITY HOW LIBRARY LEADERSHIP CAN DO THAT IF WE TAKE AWAY THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO REIMAGINE.

THE SAME MEMO CALLS FOR CUTTING NONESSENTIAL SPENDING.

BUT LIBRARIES ARE ESSENTIAL. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE DO AT THE CITY.

HOW CAN WE PROVIDE COST EFFECTIVE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS THAT WE HAVE IF WE'RE TRYING TO CUT THEM? LIBRARIES SERVE SENIORS WITHOUT BROADBAND. THEY SERVE CHILDREN AFTER SCHOOL.

THEY SERVE JOB SEEKERS. PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THE INTERNET.

PEOPLE CAN SEEK SHELTER FROM THE HEAT. TO PRETEND OTHERWISE THAT THAT THAT THOSE SERVICES ARE NOT ESSENTIAL IS TO DENY REALITY.

AND THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY ARE NOT ABOUT SAVING RESIDENTS MONEY.

THE TYPICAL TAXPAYER IS SAVING $12 ON THESE ON THE LOWER PROPERTY TAX RATE, BUT THEY PAY MORE EACH YEAR.

LIBRARIES ARE NOT LIFELINES. THESE ARE SO IMPORTANT.

I CHOSE TO LIVE WHERE I LIVE BECAUSE MY WINDOW LOOKS OUT ON MY LIBRARY.

THIS IS MY LIFELINE TO MY COMMUNITY AND TO THE CITY OF DALLAS.

SKILLMAN SOUTHWESTERN IS MY HOME. PLEASE DO NOT CUT IT.

I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD DAY FOR US TODAY, BUT PLEASE DO NOT CUT MY LIBRARY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JOHN. JONATHAN HARPER.

GOOD MORNING, I'M JONATHAN HARPER. I LIVE AT 6625 SANTA ANITA DRIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.

I HAVE HERE A COPY OF HANK THE COWDOG. IT'S MY FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK.

IT'S A SERIES ABOUT MY FAVORITE FOUR LEGGED FURRY DETECTIVE THAT I GREW UP READING, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM AT THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY.

[01:05:03]

LIBRARIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE OF WONDER AND AMAZEMENT FOR ME.

IT REALLY INSPIRED IN ME A LOVE OF LEARNING AND READING AND LED TO MY CAREER TODAY AS AN ATTORNEY.

WHICH MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY. AND TO BE HONEST, I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE TODAY TALKING TO YOU WEARING THIS DORKY T SHIRT.

BUT I KNOW LIBRARY FUNDING IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, AND SO I HAVE TO BE HERE.

THE BUDGET IS UP, MY PROPERTY TAX BILL IS UP.

AND YET MY LIBRARY MIGHT BE CLOSED AT SKILLMAN SOUTHWESTERN.

AND EVEN MORE THAN I CARE ABOUT THAT BRANCH I CARE ABOUT.

THE FACT THAT OVERALL FUNDING IS BEING CUT. MEANWHILE WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THESE BIG SHINY ITEMS THAT THAT ARE RUN IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN THE $500,000 FOR SKILLMAN SOUTHWESTERN.

THE DALLAS POLICE ACADEMY IS 40 YEARS LATE AND $135 MILLION OVER BUDGET.

AND WE HAVEN'T BROKEN GROUND YET. I AGREE WE NEED THE POLICE ACADEMY, BUT IT HURTS A BIT THAT WE HAVE THESE BIG SHINY ITEMS LIKE THAT AND A $4 BILLION CONVENTION CENTER. AND YET WE'RE LOOKING TO CUT LIBRARIES TO THE BONE.

I'M AN ATTORNEY. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF RULES AROUND THE SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDING.

BUT IT HURTS TO SEE THESE BIG PROJECTS NOT BE TALKED ABOUT.

AND MEANWHILE, WE'RE CUTTING LIBRARIES, POOLS AND OTHER BASIC SERVICES THAT RESIDENTS RELY ON.

I THINK WE CAN'T LET THE HERO AMENDMENT'S HAMSTRING OUR CITY FOREVER.

AND WE HAVE TO THINK LONG TERM IF WE NEED TO REPEAL THEM.

VOTERS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO SAY YES IF WE SAY WE NEED MORE POLICE, OR WE WANT MORE ROAD MAINTENANCE, OR WE WANT A CONVENTION CENTER. VOTERS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO SAY YES ON AN INDIVIDUAL ISSUE.

BUT THEY'RE NOT PRESENTED THE TRADE OFF OF SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A $4 BILLION CONVENTION CENTER, BUT WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE FIVE LIBRARIES. THAT WAS NEVER PRESENTED TO THE VOTERS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO STOP ACTING LIKE IT WAS.

SO IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE YOU TO PLEASE FULLY FUND OUR LIBRARIES SO THAT MORE KIDS CAN DISCOVER BOOKS LIKE HANK THE COWDOG AND FALL IN LOVE WITH READING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THOSE ARE YOUR REGISTERED SPEAKERS.

ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. YOU MAY COME. WELL, ONE SECOND, SIR. I SEE THREE INDIVIDUALS.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. THE LIBRARY? SURE. THAT'S RIGHT.

OKAY. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU MAY BEGIN.

GREETINGS. HASANI BURTON, 3839 MCKINNEY AVENUE 75204.

MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL AS A PROPERTY OWNER AND A RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ASSETS IN DALLAS.

I APPLAUD THE ONGOING EFFORTS TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES.

THE CUT PROPOSED BY CITY MANAGER. THE CITY MANAGER WILL TAKE US FROM THE HIGHEST PROPERTY TAX RATE OF THE US TEN MOST POPULATED CITIES TO THE NINTH HIGHEST, JUST BEHIND CHICAGO. SO THERE IS STILL WORK TO DO.

TAX CUTS SHOULD BE INCREMENTAL OVER TIME SO THAT WE CAN DO THE MOST GOOD FOR THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.

TAX CUTS ARE GOOD FOR FIRST TIME HOME OWNERS WHO NEED ECONOMIC RELIEF WHEREVER THEY CAN FIND IT.

TAX CUTS ARE GOOD FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WHO WANT TO MINIMIZE OVERHEAD COSTS.

TAX CUTS ARE GOOD FOR BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESSES ON WHICH OUR GLOBAL ECONOMIC PROMINENCE IS DEPENDENT.

AS WE GROW ECONOMIC SECTORS OF DALLAS LIKE THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, WEST DALLAS, NORTH OAK CLIFF, EAST DALLAS AND. EVENTUALLY, I'M HOPING ONE DAY MY VERY BELOVED SOUTH DALLAS PROPER WHILE INCREASING THE POPULATION DENSITY, STARTING IN OUR DALLAS URBAN CORE AND EXPANDING OUT.

IT SHOULD BE THE GOAL OF THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO LOWER TAXES AS THE TAX REVENUE BASE INCREASES, SO THAT ONE DAY DALLAS CAN OVERTAKE SAN DIEGO AS THE LOWEST PROPERTY TAXES OF THE TOP TEN MOST POPULATED CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOU DO, AND THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU MAY BEGIN. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TERESITA DELGADO, 2434 SEARCY DRIVE, 75211 DISTRICT ONE. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK REGARDING OUR POOL AT THE MARTIN REESE PARK,

[01:10:06]

WHICH HAS THE NUMBERS AND SHOWS US ALL THE ATTENDANCE RATE.

ALSO, TO TELL YOU A SHORT STORY. MY MOM, AT THE AGE OF 60, JOINED WATER AEROBICS AND LIVED TO BE 97 ONLY BECAUSE OF WATER AEROBICS.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE. I DON'T CARE WHAT ANY WOMAN SAYS, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE.

NOW, MEN, IT'S A DIFFERENT MATTER. THEY DO EXERCISE.

GOOD FOR THEM. BUT PLEASE REMEMBER TO. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE SENIORS TO GO TO WATER AEROBICS.

I HAVE BEEN GOING AND I'M A LITTLE BIT OF A KLUTZ, SO IT'S HELPED A LITTLE BIT.

BUT EVERY DAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR BALANCE AND TO EXERCISE.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE FOR MARTIN LOUISE PARK TO STAY OPEN.

I KNOW MAYOR JOHNSON HAS HIS HEART WITH THE PARKS, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU ALL WILL JOIN IN THAT EFFORT TO KEEP MARTIN WEISS OPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.

GOOD MORNING, STEVE. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MARY LOU PEREZ AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE 2703 KINGSTON DALLAS AND 5211 AS A COMMUNITY LEADER AND A SENIOR CITIZEN. MEMBER OF THE CITY OF DALLAS AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ASAP PROGRAM ACTIVE SENIOR ADULT PROGRAM.

I COME HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE KEEP MARTIN WEISE COMMUNITY POOL IN YOUR BUDGET TO ALLOW IT TO REMAIN OPEN.

MARTIN WEISE POOL HAD THE HIGHEST USAGE OF ALL COMMUNITY NINE COMMUNITY POOLS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

I THINK THOSE THAT ALONE SPEAKS VOLUMES THAT THAT IS A HIGHLY USED COMMUNITY POOL.

MARTIN WEISE POOL IS LOCATED IN A HEAVILY DENSE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AREA IN OAK CLIFF THAT SERVES, SERVES AS AN ANCHOR AND A HUB FOR OUR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIRD'S EYE PICTURE OF WHAT IS AROUND MARTIN WEISE PARK, WE HAVE FIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.

WE HAVE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND TWO TO HIGH SCHOOLS, ALL IN THE VICINITY OF THE RADIUS OF MARTIN WEST PARK.

THE. THE KIDS WILL BE DEPRIVED OF WATER ACTIVITIES AND TO LEARN LIFE SAVING SKILLS, TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM AND TO BE ABLE TO DO SO WITHIN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. NUMBER THREE HIGH NUMBER OF SENIOR CITIZENS.

MAJORITY ARE MAJORITY IN THE ASAP PROGRAM. USE THIS POOL OF WATER AEROBICS IN THE SUMMER.

WHAT WILL THEY DO? AND THAT'S INCLUDING ME AND OUR SENIORS IN THE WATER AEROBICS.

WE LOOKED FORWARD TO OUR DAYS, OUR DESIGNATED DATES AT KIDD SPRINGS AND ONE DAY AT MARTIN WEISE.

WE STILL. WE MISS IT. SO, PLEASE, I PLEAD WITH YOU TO LOOK.

AND WITHIN YOU FIND THE MONEY TO HELP FUND AND KEEP MARTIN WEST PARK OPEN.

LOCATED IN THE WEST OAK CLIFF AREA. WE'RE NOT KESSLER PARK.

I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS BECAUSE WE'RE OAK OAKCLIFF.

WE'RE NOT KESSLER PARK, WE'RE NOT WINNETKA HEIGHTS. WE ARE WEST OAK CLIFF, SOUTHWEST OF OAK.

THIS IS A HEAVILY POPULATED COMMUNITY. WE ARE NOT THE HAVES.

WE ARE THE HAVE NOTS. THIS COMMUNITY IN WEST OAK CLIFF DOESN'T HAVE.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A SPLASH PAD. SO WE WILL BE LEFT OUT WITH NOTHING.

IT WOULD BE A TRAVESTY TO CLOSE THIS POOL. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A TOUGH DECISION, BUT THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH HUMANS.

THE HUMAN INPUT ON THAT IT WOULD BENEFIT GENERATIONS TO COME.

AND YOU WILL BE. IT WOULD BE PART OF YOUR LEGACY TO KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE.

YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT FOR OUR FUTURE, OUR CHILDREN, THAT COULD ONE DAY SAVE OUR LIVES IF THEY LEARN HOW TO SWIM AND TO KEEP OUR SENIORS LIVING HEALTHY AND IN PLACE IN THEIR HOMES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT THEY LOVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.

HI. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ARIEL GEORGE AND I LIVE AT 5880 BURNELL DRIVE, DALLAS, TEXAS.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

LIBRARIES HARBOR MUCH NEEDED RESOURCES AND ARE A BEACON OF LIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

[01:15:02]

LIBRARIES FOSTER A LIFETIME LEARNING AND AFTER CONSCIOUS LEE STATES, EDUCATION IS ELEVATION.

IN ADDITION, LIBRARIES CONNECT PEOPLE TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS, 54% OF US ADULTS READ BELOW THE EQUIVALENT OF LIKE A SIXTH GRADE LEVEL.

LIBRARIES ENCOURAGE LITERACY WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE DUE TO THE CORRELATION BETWEEN LITERACY RATES AND CRIME.

THE MAJORITY OF YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN SENT TO JUVENILE COURT ARE ILLITERATE.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY UNITED WAY LITERACY STATISTICS.

PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE STRONG READING COMPREHENSION ARE MORE LIKELY TO UNINTENTIONALLY MISINTERPRET LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAWS. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY PLAIN ENGLISH INCLUDE LOW LITERACY RATES AND CRIME.

THESE MISUNDERSTANDINGS CAN LEAD TO CRIMINAL CHARGES THAT CAN PERMANENTLY ALTER THEIR FUTURES AND THUS IMPACT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS LOCAL LIBRARIES WILL AID IN IMPROVING LITERACY RATES, THUS LEADING TO A DECREASE IN CRIME. LOCAL LIBRARIES SERVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THEY SPONSOR EVENTS SUCH AS TODDLER STORYTIME AND PROVIDE FREE BOOKS THROUGH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS ONCE UPON A MONTH, AND HAVE FREE AFTER SCHOOL SNACKS FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN.

MOREOVER, THEY OFFER CITIZENSHIP CLASSES. TECHNOLOGY SKILL CLASSES HELP ADULTS EARN THEIR GEDS AND ENGLISH LEARNING LANGUAGE CLASSES.

IN ADDITION, LIBRARIES PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGICAL.

EXCUSE ME? ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS COMPUTERS, PRINTERS, AND FREE INTERNET.

IN CONCLUSION, BY PRESERVING THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS THE LIBRARY WE INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FUTURE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE? I SEE ONE INDIVIDUAL. GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS KEN BENSON. I AM THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR OF THE FRIENDS OF DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY.

I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE MY FULL THREE MINUTES. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT CAITLIN AND JONATHAN AND THE LAST SPEAKER JUST SAID ABOUT LIBRARIES.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE VOTING TODAY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, TO CLOSE THE SKILLMAN SOUTHWESTERN BRANCH.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO BE VOTING FOR A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS GOING TO CLOSE FOUR MORE BRANCH LIBRARIES.

SO TODAY YOU'RE VOTING ON TO CLOSE ONE BRANCH LIBRARY IN ONE DISTRICT NEXT YEAR.

FOR MORE OF YOU AROUND THIS HORSESHOE ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO CLOSE LIBRARIES IN YOUR DISTRICTS.

I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER WHAT IT MEANS TO THE CITY OF DALLAS THAT YOU, AS A CITY COUNCIL, IS GOING TO BE VOTING TO CLOSE ALMOST 20% OF OUR BRANCH LIBRARIES OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO FIT A BUDGET MODEL. THE LIBRARY SYSTEM THAT'S GOING ON IN LIBRARY SYSTEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE CHANGING.

IT NEEDS TO CHANGE, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. WE CAN DELIVER MORE SERVICES IN A MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAY.

PERHAPS, BUT IT NEEDS A DISCUSSION. IT NEEDS A DISCUSSION ON WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY, WHAT'S BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS, WHY WE HAVE OUR 30 LIBRARY BRANCHES IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHAT IT MEANS TO CUT A LIBRARY BRANCH IN A DISTRICT.

WHAT IT MEANS TO GO TO A REGIONAL MODEL. YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE FACTS, AND YET YOU'RE PROPOSING IN TODAY'S VOTE TO CLOSE WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE TODAY TO CLOSE ONE BRANCH LIBRARY, AND THEN NEXT YEAR IN YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET TO CLOSE FOUR MORE.

I URGE YOU TO STEP BACK AND THINK OF WHAT IT MEANS.

SAY THAT YOU'RE CLOSING ALMOST 20% OF THE BRANCH LIBRARIES IN DALLAS TO MEET A BUDGET NEED IN A CITY THAT HAS A BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLAR BUDGET.

CAN'T YOU FIND $5 MILLION TO KEEP IN THE BUDGET SO WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION OF WHAT OUR LIBRARY SYSTEMS SHOULD BE? THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING. YOU'RE YOU'RE GOING TO BE VOTING TODAY TO VOTE.

ALMOST 17% IS THE NUMBER. ALMOST 20% OF OUR LIBRARIES.

WE ASK YOUR CONSIDERATION TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER? I SEE ONE MORE COMING. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JOHNSON. MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO AND HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS AMBER SLAYTON, AND I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT THE DALLAS ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDEN.

I'M JOINED TODAY BY OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO, SABINA CARR, AND OUR NONPROFIT IS THE STEWARD OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL AND GLORIOUS PROPERTY THAT THE ARBORETUM SITS ON. I'M HERE TODAY. FIRST TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

I KNOW THE BUDGET PROCESS IS ARDUOUS. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE WORKING TO SQUEEZE EVERY CENT OUT TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY, AND KEEP YOUR SERVICE LEVELS HIGH, WHILE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CUT TAXES.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S A DIFFICULT JOB. SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE ARBORETUM.

WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO PROTECT THE ARBORETUM STIPEND FROM ADDITIONAL CUTS IN THIS TAX YEAR.

[01:20:07]

WHILE YOU WORK VERY HARD, WE ALSO WORK VERY HARD.

WE WORK VERY HARD TO INCREASE OUR REVENUES AT THE GATES.

WE WORK VERY HARD TO FUNDRAISE TO SUPPORT THIS BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY.

BUT THE MONEY THAT YOU INVEST IN THE ANNUAL STIPEND IS A STRONG INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY.

FIRST, IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THIS PROPERTY. 66 BEAUTIFUL ACRES WITH A LARGEST CHILDREN'S GARDEN IN THE UNITED STATES ON IT.

BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS. A HISTORIC HOME THAT IS BOTH ON THE LOCAL OR NOT BOTH.

ALL THREE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTRIES.

LIKE THE CITY, WE HAVE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. THE PROPERTY IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT IS EXPENSIVE TO KEEP UP, AND THE STIPEND GOES DIRECTLY BACK INTO AN INVESTMENT IN CITY OWNED PROPERTY.

THE SECOND IS THAT THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE ARBORETUM ENJOYED MORE THAN A MILLION VISITORS LAST YEAR, AND WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH THE LAUNCH OF OUR NEW PROGRAM IN 2025 CALLED MUSEUMS FOR ALL, WHERE WE OFFER $3 ADMISSION TO THOSE WHO ARE ON FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT HERE IN THE FIRST YEAR, AND WE'RE NOT EVEN FINISHED WITH THE YEAR.

SO WE ARE REALLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. FINALLY, IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE ECONOMY.

THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT HERE IS HUGE. THE LAST STUDY SHOWED THAT THE DALLAS ARBORETUM ALONE CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN $170 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE REGION. SO PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE OUR MISSION AS A NONPROFIT AND HELP US CONTINUE OPERATING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY, YOUR BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. I WAS GOING TO SPEAK IN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, BUT I CAN MOVE IT TO THIS ONE IF THAT'S OKAY.

MY NAME IS ROSA ALVAREZ, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN DALLAS.

AND DALLAS IS SPENDING 1.3 BILLION, 65% OF THE GENERAL FUND ON SAFE, BECAUSE SAFE IS ALMOST ENTIRE, BUT SAFE IS ALMOST ENTIRELY POLICE AND FIRE.

AND NOW, BECAUSE OF PROP YOU HERO IS THREATENING TO SUE UNLESS WE HIT 4000 OFFICERS.

EVEN THOUGH DALLAS HAS JUST OVER 3100 TODAY. BUT LET'S BE HONEST.

YOU CANNOT POLICE YOUR WAY INTO FASTER RESPONSE TIMES IN A CITY THIS HUGE.

DALLAS IS 340MI². RESPONSE TIMES WILL ALWAYS BE LONG.

HERO LAWSUITS WILL NOT CHANGE THAT. WHAT THEY DO CHANGE IS OUR PRIORITIES.

EVERY DOLLAR FORCED INTO PROP YOU IS A DOLLAR STOLEN FROM PREVENTION.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOSING. HOUSING. WHEN FAMILIES LOSE THEIR HOMES, THEY GET DESPERATE.

SOME RESORT TO SURVIVAL CRIMES. OTHERS END UP IN SHELTERS OR JAILS.

AND THAT COST THE CITY FAR MORE THAN WHAT KEEPS THEM HOUSE TRANSPORTATION.

DALLAS LEADS THE NATION IN TRAFFIC DEATHS. MORE PATROL CARS DOES NOT PREVENT CRASHES.

SIDEWALKS, BIKE LANES AND SAFE BUS STOPS DO. YET THIS BUDGET ONLY FUNDS FOUR NEW MILES OF BIKE LANES.

CLIMATE. SUMMERS ARE HOTTER. THE STORMS ARE GOING TO HIT HARDER.

TREES. SOLAR FLOOD PROTECTION HELPS. BUT THAT'S NOT GETTING FUNDED.

IT'S BARELY FUNDED. LIBRARIES. WE ALREADY HEARD FROM THAT TODAY.

I DON'T NEED TO SPEAK MORE ON THAT. I THINK YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE EDUCATED THAN I AM, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK ON THAT. BUT LET ME ASK YOU THIS. AM I GOING TO CALL THE POLICE TO FIX MY POTHOLE ON THE STREET, TO PLANT THAT TREE THAT COOLS MY BLOCK, TO OPEN THE LIBRARY AFTER SCHOOL, OR TO PICK UP THE TRASH IN MY ALLEY? AM I GOING TO CALL THE POLICE? OF COURSE NOT.

BUT THAT'S WHERE NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF WHERE THIS BUDGET IS GOING, WHILE THE SERVICES THAT EVERYONE HERE RELIES ON GETS CUT.

AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, MOST YOUNG ADULTS DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.

THEY COULDN'T EVEN BE HERE THIS MORNING. SOME PEOPLE ARE TAKING MEETING CALLS IN UP THERE.

BUT EVERYONE HERE WANTS TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR DALLAS.

BUT WE AREN'T AFRAID OF PROPER YOU AND DALLAS HERO.

AND WE LOOK UP TO YOU AND WE RESPECT YOUR CHOICES.

BUT PLEASE REMEMBER WHO YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR IN THIS CITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ITEM FOUR? NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, MR. MAYOR. LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO CLOSE THIS HEARING, I SUPPOSE.

[01:25:07]

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

CARING. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION NEEDED ON THAT.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.

PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. NEXT ITEM, MADAM SECRETARY.

THANK YOU ALL. MR. MAYOR, YOU'RE BRIEFING A IS NEXT.

[A. 25-2648A FY 2025-26 Budget Discussion and potential amendments *For budget purposes, the City Council will be sitting as a Committee of the Whole. -Required Posting per H.B. 1522: The proposed budget is posted online at FY 2025-26 Proposed Budget and accessible directly from the city’s main page - http://www.dallascityhall.com -Required Posting per H.B. 1522: The Taxpayer Impact Statement for the median-valued homestead in the City of Dallas is posted online at Taxpayer Impact Statement (Median Value) (Part 1 of 2)]

OKAY, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER.

BEFORE WE PROCEED INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

IF THERE'S A MOTION TO DO SO. ALL RIGHT, MADAM CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING AGAIN TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

AFTER MONTHS OF WORK, WE HAVE MADE IT TO THE FINAL DAY IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL PROCESS.

I WANT TO START BY THANKING EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN LONG AND IT'S BEEN HARD.

I WANT TO ALSO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMUNITY SURVEY TO HELP US UNDERSTAND PRIORITIES, AS WELL AS THOSE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ENGAGED WITH US THROUGHOUT THE NUMEROUS COMMUNITY MEETINGS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

AND LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY STAFF, MANY OF WHOM YOU SEE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

THIS IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS. STAFF FROM ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WORK TOGETHER TO BRING THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET TO THE POINT THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU.

I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE AND WHAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU ON AUGUST THE 12TH.

IT DELIVERS ON KEY PRIORITIES, INCLUDING INVESTMENTS IN STREET INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

BEYOND THAT, WE DELIVERED A BUDGET THAT BALANCED THOSE PRIORITIES OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ALSO INCLUDED A TAX RATE DECREASE OF 0.0 $0.05 PER $100 VALUATION, MAKING THIS THE 10TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR WITH A TAX RATE REDUCTION.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES TO RIGHTSIZE OPERATIONS, OPTIMIZE SERVICES, CONSOLIDATE DUPLICATE SERVICES, AND REIMAGINE THE WAY THAT WE DO BUSINESS AS A CITY.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE WORK AHEAD OF US IN THE FUTURE.

TODAY, WE KNOW THAT COUNCIL WILL MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS, AND WE KNOW THAT THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE ONGOING LONG TERM SUCCESS OF THIS CITY.

AND SO FOR TODAY, YOU HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

FIRST IS THIS BRIEFING ITEM NUMBER A, THERE ARE 25 BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO YOU LAST NIGHT THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED AND SUBMITTED FOR YOUR AND HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR WILL HAVE THE COUNCIL SIT AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

SHORTLY AFTER COMPLETING THE AMENDMENT DISCUSSION PROCESS.

THE BUDGET STAFF MAY NEED TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK FOR ANY RECALCULATION OF THE SEVERAL ACTIONS THAT YOU WILL TAKE HERE THIS MORNING THAT WILL ALLOW FOR US TO COME BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT THE AMENDMENT PROCESS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE BALANCED BUDGET.

WE WILL THEN ASK FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE AGENDA ITEMS FIVE THROUGH 11, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE BUDGET ORDINANCE, THE TAX RATE ORDINANCE, AND OTHER BUDGET RELATED ITEMS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IF YOU APPROVE THE BUDGET, BUT THEN YOU THEN THE CHANGE THE THE TAX RATE CHANGES OR YOU DO NOT APPROVE THE FEE ORDINANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCIL WILL NEED TO GO BACK AND WE WILL HAVE TO REBALANCE THE BUDGET AGAIN.

ITEMS SUCH AS THE TAX RATE FEE ORDINANCE MUST BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE APPROVED BUDGET, OR WE ARE OUT OF BALANCE.

DEFINITELY. WE ARE HERE TO ASSIST YOU THROUGH TODAY'S PROCESS.

SO, MAYOR, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU TO BEGIN THE BUDGET AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CITY MANAGER. AT THIS TIME, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

MAYOR, I MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GO INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO CONSIDER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 20 2526 BUDGET.

IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED. WE'RE NOW OPERATING AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE VOTES ON AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, 2026 BUDGET ARE NOT FINAL ACTIONS, BUT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL BE FINALLY VOTED ON LATER.

MOTIONS ALLOWED IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ARE AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING REMOVING OR STRIKING SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS.

POINT OF ORDER. APPEALS AND INQUIRIES. ROLL CALL VOTES AND BALLOT VOTES ARE NOT HAPPENING TODAY.

WE WILL BE USING CITY SEALS TO SIGNAL SUPPORT FOR AN AMENDMENT.

ALTHOUGH A FORMAL VOTE WILL NOT BE TAKEN TODAY, THE CITY SECRETARY WILL RECORD THE NAMES OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOWING THEIR CITY SEALS IN FAVOR OF A MOTION, AND WE WILL FOLLOW OUR USUAL 531 FORMAT FOR DEBATE.

AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE RECEIVING ONE OF THESE HERE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE ALREADY. ALRIGHT, LET ME GET MY.

MY COMPUTER'S CRASHED SO I CAN'T SEE ANY ANYBODY UP THERE.

BUT HERE'S HOW WE WILL PROCEED TODAY TO TRY TO.

I'M GIVING YOU GUYS A AT THE FROM THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS OFFICE AND THE FOLKS DOWN ON THE PANEL DOWN

[01:30:04]

THERE. SOME NOTICE SO YOU CAN BE PREPARED. TO TRY TO MAINTAIN ORDER TODAY AND TO DO THIS.

AND I THINK IN THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS AND EFFICIENT WAY, WE WILL DEAL WITH ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT PROPOSE TO AMEND THE BUDGET TO MODIFY OR REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OR FEES FIRST.

AND SO BASED ON WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT, THAT WOULD BE AMENDMENTS 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 36, 38, AND 39.

SO ALL THE ONES THAT PROPOSE TO CHANGE THE RATE WILL BE DISPOSED OF FIRST, AND THEN WE WILL IN ORDER, AND THEN WE'LL GO IN ORDER WITH ONES THAT DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THAT.

IT'LL BE UP TO EACH MEMBER TO MOVE THEIR AMENDMENTS IF THEY HAVE THEM.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE AN AMENDMENT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO. BUT THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE RELATED TO THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OR FEES THAT WE WILL DEAL WITH FIRST.

AND SO WITH THAT, I THINK WE'RE READY TO GO INTO THE AMENDMENTS.

I JUST NEED TO GET MY. BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE WHO TO RECOGNIZE HERE.

SO WE'LL JUST STAND AT EASE FOR JUST A MINUTE UNTIL WE GET THIS TECHNOLOGY ADDRESSED.

JUST ONE MINUTE.

CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TEM FOR A MOTION. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. ON AMENDMENT NUMBER 16, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT 16 WITH THE SOURCE OF FUNDS BEING ELIMINATE FUNDING FOR THE STATE LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION SERVICES BY 339,000, AND THE USE OF FUNDS BEING REDUCED TO PROPERTY TAX RATE BY 0.5 CENTS FROM 69.9 $0.07 TO 69.9 $0.05. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, AND I SUBMITTED THIS AMENDMENT. SO I WILL COMMENCE THE DISCUSSION ON THIS.

I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR INTRODUCING IT ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER.

SO I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT I WILL STICK TO THE FIVE, THREE ONE.

SO, MADAM SECRETARY, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND START MY TIME.

AGAIN, WE'RE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER 16 FOR THE PUBLIC IN THE PACKET THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD ALL HAVE OF AMENDMENTS.

THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER SAYS BUDGET WORKSHOP AMENDMENTS 9.3.25, FINAL APPROVED.

SO WE'RE ALL WORKING FROM THE SAME FROM THE SAME DOCUMENT.

OKAY. SO LET ME SAY THIS BEFORE I JUMP ON TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE AMENDMENT, WHICH IS AND THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT THAT I HAVEN'T SAID ALREADY ON THE RECORD.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED, AS WITH THIS VERY BODY WAS MEETING A WEEK AGO.

AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW? I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE A DECISION TODAY AS A BODY, AS THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, THAT WE WILL NOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO GET SUCKED INTO, NO MATTER HOW PASSIONATE WE MIGHT FEEL ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR TOPIC, ANYTHING PERSONAL OR ALLOW OUR EMOTIONS TO, TO TAKE OVER BECAUSE WE ARE ALL HERE, I BELIEVE WITH THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST AT HEART.

I, I JUST, I TAKE AT FACE VALUE THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL WHO WAS DULY ELECTED IN A DEMOCRATIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT, IS HERE TO DO A JOB. AND I RESPECT YOU ALL. I ACTUALLY LIKE ALL OF YOU AND THINK THAT EACH ONE OF YOU BRING SOMETHING UNIQUE TO THIS PROCESS.

AND I WANT YOU TO ACQUIT YOURSELVES WELL ON BEHALF OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

BUT WE SHOULD BE AN EXAMPLE TO THIS COUNTRY OF HOW TO DO THAT RESPECTFULLY.

AND IN A WAY THAT I THINK HELPS LOWER THE TEMPERATURE IN THIS SOCIETY THAT WE LIVE IN.

WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD ALSO ASK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE OBSERVING THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

WE DON'T ALLOW OUTBURSTS AS A MATTER OF COURSE, BUT WE CERTAINLY WOULD ASK THAT YOU DO YOUR PART AND ACQUIT YOURSELVES.

WELL, AS RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS AND AS INTERESTED PARTIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACQUIT OURSELVES IN A WAY THAT THE COUNTRY CAN SEE THAT HERE IN DALLAS, TEXAS, WE KNOW HOW TO WE KNOW HOW TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.

AND WE KNOW HOW TO TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT AND HOW TO BEHAVE IN A CIVIL MANNER AT ALL TIMES.

[01:35:05]

SO I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY DRAMA. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT IN A BUDGET CONVERSATION THINGS CAN BE SAID THAT COULD THAT CAN MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO BE SOMEWHAT EMOTIONAL.

I HEARD A COMMENT TODAY DURING THE, THE, THE PUBLIC REMARKS ABOUT THE TAX RATE THAT MADE ME A LITTLE BIT EMOTIONAL, BUT I'M GOING TO FOLLOW MY OWN ADVICE AND STICK TO THE MERITS OF THE, THE, THE POINTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE AND NOT ALLOW THINGS TO BE PERSONAL.

SO ON AMENDMENT 16, THIS IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MECHANICS, IN AN EFFORT TO ALSO KEEP THIS AS PROFESSIONAL AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE A VERY CAPABLE TEAM DOWN THERE ON THAT PANEL, AND OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CAN WALK YOU THROUGH THE MECHANICS OF ANY OF THESE AMENDMENTS, AND I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. SO WHAT I AM PROPOSING, AN AMENDMENT 16 IS THAT WE ELIMINATE THE FUNDING FOR OUR STATE LOBBYING AND APPLY THAT TO REDUCING OUR CITY'S TAX RATE. THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS AS IT'S LISTED IN AMENDMENT 16.

YOU CAN SEE IT THERE. I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO THIS WITHOUT ACTUALLY NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OUR EFFECTIVENESS IN LOBBYING IN AUSTIN, BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN RELY AND WE ALREADY ARE, TO BE FRANK WITH YOU.

BUT WE CAN RELY MORE HEAVILY ON THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THIS BODY, THE PROFESSIONAL WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, INCLUDING THE CITY MANAGER, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, NOT TO MENTION THE ENTIRE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON PAYROLL, RECEIVE A SALARY AND RECEIVE BENEFITS, WHO SHOULD HONESTLY BE ABLE TO GO DOWN TO AUSTIN FOR FIVE MONTHS IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION BETWEEN ALL THOSE FOLKS, INCLUDING US, AND REPRESENT OURSELVES AT LEAST AS WELL AS THESE FOLKS WHO WE'VE RETAINED TO DO THIS.

SO I'M PROPOSING THAT THIS BE DONE FOR TAX RATE SAVINGS, AND I WILL I'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS FOR ME.

BUT THAT IS PRETTY MUCH IT ON THAT AMENDMENT.

IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. SO I STILL SEE THE MAYOR PRO TEM IN THE QUEUE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD COMMENTS. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT BEFORE US.

FIRST, I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY MANAGER FOR BRINGING FORWARD A PROPOSAL TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.

THIS WILL MARK THE 10TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS LOWERED THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.

IT'S A MILESTONE WORTH CELEBRATING. EARLIER THIS MORNING, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS PUBLISHED AN EDITORIAL ON THIS VERY TOPIC, AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE A LINE THAT STOOD OUT TO ME.

WE NEED A MINDSET THAT EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS. NOT THAT EVERY DOLLAR MUST BE SPENT.

AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, THIS RESONATES WITH ME.

WE NEED A LOBBYIST TEAM THAT'S EFFECTIVE AND THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF DALLAS.

AS CHAIR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR CHAIR.

EXCUSE ME. AS THE CHAIR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CHAIR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS TO REWORK THIS LOBBYING.

WITH THAT, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO NOT ONLY SUPPORT LOWERING THE TAX RATE, BUT TO CONSIDER GOING EVEN FURTHER BEYOND THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED 0.5 CENTS REDUCTION. THANK YOU. MAYOR. CHAIRWOMAN.

MENDELSOHN. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. AND ACTUALLY, THANK YOU TWICE. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING OUT YOUR MEMO AND CHALLENGING US TO JOIN YOU IN LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL TAX SAVINGS.

I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP WE NEED TO HAVE.

AND I LOVE SEEING SO MANY AMENDMENTS BY MY COLLEAGUES.

I THINK I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EFFORT AND A REALLY GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO THANK YOU. AS CHAIR OF LEGISLATIVE, OBVIOUSLY THIS HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR MY LIFE PERSONALLY.

I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AND I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SOLVE AN ISSUE.

AND ONE WAY WE HAVE ADVANCED OUR LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS BY HIRING LOBBYISTS, REGARDLESS OF, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY'S CRITIQUE OF THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.

THE TRUTH IS, THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO DO THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A FEELING I'LL BE IN AUSTIN A LOT IN 2027.

AND I'LL BE ASKING YOU, MY COLLEAGUES, TO JOIN ME ON VARIOUS TOPICS AND BE THAT LEADER.

AND THAT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED WELL THIS SESSION.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE MADE THAT SHIFT, SO WE ARE DESPERATE TO REDUCE OUR TAX RATE.

[01:40:02]

AND REALLY, THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY DEPENDS ON IT.

WE ARE NOT COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER NORTH TEXAS CITIES OR EVEN WITHIN THE STATE.

AND THIS IS A RISK TO US FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

IT'S A RISK TO US FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHO CAN EASILY HOP ACROSS A BORDER AND HAVE A MUCH LOWER RATE, SOMETIMES WITH EVEN BETTER SERVICES. NOW THEY'RE NOT DALLAS AND THERE'S SO MANY REASONS TO CHOOSE DALLAS.

DALLAS IS A FANTASTIC, AMAZING CITY, AND I WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE IF I DIDN'T TRULY BELIEVE IT.

BUT I'M ALSO SITTING HERE TO EXPRESS THE DESIRE OF THE RESIDENTS, NOT THE ONES THAT SAY IT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK ME TO DRIVE ONE MORE MILE FOR MY LIBRARY. THE ONES THAT SAY I AM GOING TO BE FORCED OUT OF MY HOME BECAUSE I CAN'T CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF INCREASE IN MY TAXES.

NOW, THE RATES GOING DOWN, AND EVERY YEAR WE TAKE THIS GIANT BOW BECAUSE OUR RATE HAS GONE DOWN EVERY YEAR I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.

THAT'S TRUE. THAT'S WONDERFUL. BUT THE REALITY IS THE TAXES ARE GOING UP BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY VALUE IS EXCEEDING THE RATE DECREASE AND OUR RESIDENTS CANNOT CONTINUE TO AFFORD IT.

AND WE'RE ALL IN. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE MUST DO IT.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS LOWERING THE TAX RATE.

MORE THAN HALF OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS. THERE'S NO HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

THE MODEL NUMBERS THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN ARE ALL WITH HOMESTEAD.

THE RENTERS AREN'T GETTING A HOMESTEAD BECAUSE THAT PROPERTY OWNER IS PAYING FULL PRICE.

THE RENTER OF A HOME IS PAYING FULL PRICE. ALL THESE ARE PASSED ON.

AND IF YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, STOP GIVING A 75 YEAR TAX ABATEMENT AND START FOCUSING ON THE TAX RATE.

SO FOR THAT, NOT ONLY WILL I BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS, I WILL ALSO BE SUPPORTING THE NEXT AMENDMENT THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT FORWARD.

MAYOR. AND THERE'S SO FAR VERY FEW THINGS THAT I WOULD SAY NO TO THAT ARE RELATED TO TAX RATE.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 16? IN YOUR PACKET TODAY? MR.. RESENDEZ, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW IF ANYONE ON STAFF CAN PROVIDE ANY EXAMPLES WHERE THE LOBBYISTS MADE A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE VERSUS RELYING ON OUR INTERNAL GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS TEAM? I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ. I'D LIKE TO BRING OUT OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, JAKE ANDERSON. I THINK HE'S COMING THIS DIRECTION.

THANK YOU, JAKE, AND HE'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE SOME DATA WITH YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. I'M SORRY, JAKE AND I DIDN'T SEE OUR LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR.

CLIFFORD IS HERE AS WELL. SO. CLIFFORD, PLEASE COME ON OUT. I WAS GOING TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. AND I'M SORRY. CAN YOU PLEASE RESTATE THE QUESTION? YEAH. I'M WONDERING IF YOU OR ANYONE ELSE COULD PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF MEASURABLE DIFFERENCES THAT THE LOBBYISTS HAVE MADE VERSUS THE CITY, US RELYING SOLELY ON OUR INTERNAL GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS TEAM.

AS FAR AS MEASURABLE DIFFERENCES, IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S I'D HAVE TO ANSWER IT LIKE THIS.

AND I'M CLIFFORD SPARKS, LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR AT THE CITY OF DALLAS, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD TO GO THAT ROUTE.

I MEAN, FOR THE PAST 30 SOME ODD YEARS, WE'VE USED A LOBBY TEAM.

I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A BIFURCATED MODEL ON WHAT, YOU KNOW, ONE SIDE WAS ABLE TO DO VERSUS THE OTHER, BECAUSE WE'VE ONLY BEEN RUNNING WITH ONE MODEL THIS WHOLE TIME.

SO THAT'S REALLY THE BEST WAY I COULD ANSWER THAT.

SO THEN WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF MEASURABLE DIFFERENCES THAT THE LOBBYING TEAM HAS MADE? WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE WINS OR SUCCESSES OF THE LOBBY TEAM OVER THE YEARS, OVER THE PAST 20 PLUS YEARS, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT OVER $213 MILLION THAT THEY BROUGHT BACK TO THE CITY IN THAT TIME AND COUNTLESS PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR. NOW, TO BE FAIR, WAS IT A TEAM EFFORT? DID MEMBERS HAVE TO COME DOWN AND GET INVOLVED? OF COURSE. I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT LOBBYING IS ALL ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT OPENING DOORS SO THAT WE CAN WALK THROUGH THEM.

SO IF I HAD TO ANSWER IT AGAIN, I'D ANSWER IT LIKE THAT.

OKAY. THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. BLACKMON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I BELIEVE TWO WEEKS AGO, WE APPROVED SOMETHING.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT WE APPROVED AND HOW THIS AMENDMENT WOULD AFFECT THAT APPROVAL?

[01:45:02]

YES, MA'AM. SO TWO WEEKS AGO, WE APPROVED THE RENEWAL OF THE LOBBYING CONTRACTS FOR A TWO YEAR CYCLE.

AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE WAY THAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DO IT WOULD CUT OUT THE FIRST YEAR OF THAT FUNDING.

SO IN EFFECT, IT WOULD IT WOULD NULL THAT CONTRACT FOR A YEAR.

IN OTHER WORDS, IS THERE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS FOR I CAN HELP ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

SO EVERY CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE, WHETHER IT'S TEN YEARS OR TWO YEARS IS SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATION.

SO IT DOESN'T NULLIFY THE CONTRACT, BUT IT DOES NOT FUND THE WORK FOR THE 2026 CALENDAR YEAR.

OKAY. 20 2526 BUDGET YEAR. WE WOULD NOT HAVE LOBBYISTS FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR.

CORRECT. BUT THEN THE NEXT YEAR WHEN WE GO INTO A SESSION, COULD BE WHEN WE WOULD BRING IT BACK, SUBJECT TO THE SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATIONS, BUT IT COULD GO THROUGH THE SAME THING.

YES. AND SO FOR THE SECOND YEAR, THIS AMENDMENT DOESN'T ADDRESS ADDING FUNDING BACK.

IT REDUCES THE TAX RATE, WHICH IS AN ONGOING REDUCTION.

SO IT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THE CITY MANAGER ALONG WITH THIS BODY, TO CONSIDER WHAT TO FUND IN FUTURE YEARS.

IT WOULD BE ELIMINATED UNTIL RESTORED THROUGH THE PROCESS.

GOT IT. OKAY. SO THAT THAT MEANS IT BASICALLY ELIMINATES IT UNTIL AN ACTION IS DONE.

SO WE WOULD NOT BE COMING TO APPROPRIATE. WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE COMING TO BUDGET IT AND THEN APPROPRIATE IT. EXACTLY.

WE WOULD BE TAKING THAT DIRECTION IF GOING INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IF THE COUNCIL WANTED US TO PURSUE A DIFFERENT PROCESS TO MAYBE EVEN ENGAGE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN AUSTIN, WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK TO THE BODY, WORK THROUGH THE THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, AND THEN THE COUNCIL COULD THEN MAKE THAT DECISION SO WE WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING IN 2026.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STAFF OR EVEN THE CHAIR COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT IS OUR LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY.

I MEAN, USUALLY YOU CHANGE THE WAY YOU APPROACH THINGS, GIVEN A NEW STRATEGIC LOOK OR APPROACH TO SOMETHING.

SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, ARE WE DO WE ARE WE CHANGING THE STRATEGY OR DO WE HAVE ONE? LIKE, WHAT IS THE LIKE? WHERE IF WE GET RID OF THIS, WHAT IS OUR PATH MOVING FORWARD? BECAUSE THE EXPOSURE, I THINK PROBABLY WOULD DO US MORE HARM, GIVEN WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT THE MONEY THAT IT BRINGS IN VERSUS DOING WHAT? DOING THE WORK THAT WE NEED. BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE'RE ALSO CUTTING THE DWU YOU WATER? OR IS THAT NOT HAPPENING TOO? SO I GUESS THERE'S TWO QUESTIONS TO THIS.

THE ANSWER TO ONE OF THOSE IS THIS CUTS THE ONES THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

IT DOES NOT CUT THE THE FOURTH ONE, THE BIRKELAND CONSULTING, BECAUSE IT IS FUNDED BY THE WATER UTILITY AND COULDN'T RESULT IN A TAX RATE REDUCTION.

OKAY. AS FAR AS OUR STRATEGY GOING FORWARD, I'LL SPEAK.

AND IF JAKE WANTS TO ADD TO IT I WOULD PLAN THAT OR THE ASSUMPTION WOULD BE THAT THE SAME AS YOU DO PRIOR TO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, THE BODY WOULD WORK TO COME UP WITH THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAT JAKE AND HIS TEAM WOULD WORK ON WITH CLIFFORD OR CHANGING ANYTHING.

I MEAN, OUR APPROACH WOULD JUST GOING TO LOBBYIST IN AUSTIN TO HELP FURTHER THAT AGENDA.

THE WAY THEY MAY BE DOING NOW WOULD BE LEFT UP TO CITY STAFF TO FURTHER THE AGENDA AT THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

JAKE, DO YOU WANT TO THANK THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU TO OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THAT.

SO BASED ON THIS ACTION, THE ONLY THING THAT I'M BASED ON WHAT WE'RE READING HERE IS THAT WE WOULD JUST NOT BE LEVERAGING THE SUPPORT OF THOSE EXTERNAL LOBBYISTS. WE WOULD STILL WORK THROUGH THE STANDARD PROCESS THAT WE DO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, DETERMINING WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THEN WORKING WITH THE CHAIR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THEN DECIDE WHO'S GOING TO BE HELPING MOVE CERTAIN ITEMS FORWARD. STAFF THEN TAKES OUR GAME PLAN, AND IT'S WRAPPED AROUND WHAT THE COUNCIL WANTS FROM A PRIORITY STANDPOINT.

BUT AGAIN, IF COUNCIL DECIDES THAT GOING INTO THE NEXT SESSION FOR 2027, AS WE'RE DEVELOPING THE BUDGET, THAT YOU WANT A DIFFERENT APPROACH OR YOU WANT TO EVEN LOOK AT MAYBE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IN OTHERS, MAYBE THROUGH ANOTHER PROCESS, WE WOULD COME BACK AND WORK WITH THE COUNCIL TO DO THAT. SO FROM OUR FROM STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE, NOTHING ABOUT WHAT WE DO CHANGES WITH THIS ITEM.

IT WILL BE REALLY DICTATED BY WHAT WE DO GOING FORWARD IN PREPARATION FOR 2027.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? ALL GOOD. OKAY. SO WHAT I MEAN, WELL, JAKE, THAT YOU'RE HERE, BUT IF YOU'RE NOW HAVING TO ORGANIZE THIS ALL WITH CLIFFORD AND YOU'RE DOWN PEOPLE TO GET INFORMATION, THIS IS INFORMATION GATHERING.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO FULFILL THAT NEED? I MEAN, ARE YOU ALL PREPARED TO BE I MEAN, WORK? I MEAN, HOW? I GUESS I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

IF THIS IS ELIMINATED, THEN HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD IN PREPARING? AND BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN YOU CULTIVATE THE SOIL AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON AND WORKING THOSE.

[01:50:02]

SO HOW WOULD THAT APPROACH LOOK? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS DONE THAT.

WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR AVAILABLE RESOURCES THAT WE WOULD HAVE LEFT TO BE ABLE TO CULTIVATE THE SOIL, AS YOU PUT IT, BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, AUSTIN IS A VERY VAST AND DIVERSE PLACE.

AND SO I KNOW WE ALREADY HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON COUNCIL WITH DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT WE CAN UTILIZE TO OUR BENEFIT.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT, IS JUST EMPLOYING THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN-HOUSE OR MAYBE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, HIRING. I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, WOULD YOU HAVE TO HIRE A BRING MORE PEOPLE ON? THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, TALK WITH CITY MANAGEMENT AND CITY ATTORNEY STAFF ABOUT.

OKAY. AND THAT'S IT FOR NOW. THANK YOU. IF YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THANK YOU TO OUR LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORS. I THINK, AGAIN, A LOT OF IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE GOING INTO THE NEXT SESSION. WE WOULD DEFINITELY COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

IF WE FEEL THAT THERE IS A GAP WITHIN EITHER OUR INTERNAL RESOURCES OR ANYTHING, THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE MIGHT BE MAKING A PRIORITY, THAT THE SKILL SET THAT WE NEED IS NOT THERE.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT WE'LL NEED TO WORK THROUGH THE THE PROCESS, WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF HOW THINGS ARE SHAPING UP AS WE BEGIN TO PREPARE FOR THAT NEXT SESSION IN 2027.

BUT IT WILL DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE A TEAM. THIS IS GOING TO BE A TEAM SPORT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. SPARKS, I WAS LISTENING TO COUNCILMAN RESENDEZ QUESTION.

I'M A I'M A FRAME IT A DIFFERENT WAY. I THINK HE'S SAYING THE SAME THING.

YOU CAN ASSIST ME IF YOU CAN. YOU NEED TO. COUNCILMAN.

RESENDEZ. BUT I HEARD A DIFFERENT WAY. THE QUESTION THAT I'M.

I WANT TO DIRECT ANSWER BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GIVE A DIRECT ANSWER.

ARE THEY EFFECTIVE? THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING.

THAT'S WHAT I HEARD HIM ASKING. IS THE LOBBYIST TEAM EFFECTIVE? AND YOU KIND OF DANCED AROUND IT. BUT I NEED A DIRECT ANSWER.

ARE THEY EFFECTIVE? I WOULD SAY THAT THEY ARE EFFECTIVE.

THEY HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE FOR US. BUT THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION.

BUT IN WHAT I'VE SEEN THEM DO COMPARED TO OTHER TEAMS, I THINK THEY'RE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 16? MR. BAZALDUA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES? THANK YOU. MAYOR. JAKE OR CLIFFORD, I, I WAS WANTING TO KIND OF EXPAND ON COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON'S POINT.

I'M GLAD THAT HE ASKED FOR THE DIRECT ANSWER.

I GUESS I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ON THIS. I ESSENTIALLY BEING FRAMED AS IF THEY AREN'T AN EFFECTIVE I MEAN, THEY ARE INEFFECTIVE. I REMEMBER THE LEGISLATIVE AD HOC MEETING AND WITHOUT GOING INTO GIVING US A BRIEFING HERE, AS Y'ALL DID, I BELIEVE THESE CONTRACTS WERE SENT TO US TO CONSIDER WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THAT COMMITTEE.

IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT IS ACCURATE. DURING THAT BRIEFING, I BELIEVE IT NOT ONLY FROM STAFF SIDE, BUT ALSO FROM OUR LEGISLATIVE CHAIR.

THERE SEEMED TO BE A SENTIMENT THAT THERE WAS PRIDE IN THE EFFECTIVENESS THAT WE EXUDE THIS PAST SESSION.

SO CAN YOU QUANTIFY HOW MANY PRIORITIES WE HAD LAID OUT AND I GUESS SUCCESS RATE, IF YOU WILL, ON GETTING THOSE PRIORITIES THROUGH OR WHERE OUR INFLUENCE WAS ON BILLS THAT WE, THAT WERE GOING TO BE MOST IMPACTFUL FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

SO I'LL ADDRESS THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION.

AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, EFFECTIVENESS ON THE PRIORITIES WE HAD ABOUT SEVEN ITEMS AND FIVE OF THOSE ITEMS GOT COMPLETED.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM A MATH EQUATION, THAT'S A PASSING GRADE.

WE ALSO HAD ABOUT 50 OR SO OTHER ITEMS. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW MANY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET ACCOMPLISHED ON THAT, I THINK WE STILL HAD A PASSING GRADE ON THAT.

I CAN'T RECALL THE EXACT NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

JAKE, IF YOU WANT TO. USE IT. MAYBE I SHOULD SIT DOWN, BECAUSE I CAN'T. ALL RIGHT. APOLOGIES. JAKE ANDERSON, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.

[01:55:04]

COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA. AS CLIFFORD JUST ALLUDED TO, OUR PROGRAM WAS WAS VAST.

WE HAD DOZENS OF ITEMS ON THERE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE GRADED OURSELVES ON WAS THE PURSUE CATEGORY.

THERE WERE ABOUT TEN ITEMS ON THAT PURSUE CATEGORY.

ONE OF THEM WAS OUR MAINTAIN LOCAL CONTROL ITEMS. SO THAT WAS REALLY MORE OF A PHILOSOPHY. HOWEVER, OF THE OTHER NINE ITEMS, I BELIEVE SIX SIX WERE SUCCESSFUL.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT CLIFFORD WAS ALLUDING TO. AS FAR AS OUR, OUR TOP PRIORITIES.

BUT THEN THERE WERE A MYRIAD OF OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE HAD SOME SUCCESS ON, AS WELL AS SOME, SOME ITEMS IN THE BUDGET LIKE THE, THE POLICE ACADEMY THAT THAT WE HAD SUCCESS ON AS WELL.

AND WITH THOSE SUCCESSES DO YOU HAVE ANY TABULATION OF TOUCH POINTS THAT WERE MADE WITH REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS SPECIFICALLY TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF CARDS DROPPED ETCETERA ON BEHALF OF, OF OUR CITY.

ALL RIGHT. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT AS FAR AS TOUCH POINTS WITH WITH WITH THE DELEGATION AND FOLKS OUTSIDE OF OUR DELEGATION, I MEAN, WE TESTIFIED ON OVER 60 SOME ODD BILLS DROPPED OVER, YOU KNOW, CLOSER TO ABOUT 100 PLUS CARDS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER IT COMES TO IT'S MORE THAN JUST DROPPING THOSE CARDS.

IT'S ALSO HAVING THOSE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, MEETINGS OUT IN THE HALLWAY, MEETINGS EVEN SOMETIMES OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITOL.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU LOOK AT TOUCH POINTS, I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN EXACT NUMBER, BUT IT WAS IT WAS MORE THAN QUITE A FEW.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT OF THAT, QUITE A FEW. WHAT PERCENTAGE WERE WE HANDLING IN-HOUSE? SOLELY WITHOUT THE, ASSISTANCE IN LEVERAGING OUR CONTRACTED LOBBYISTS.

WHEN IT COMES TO SETTING UP THOSE MEETINGS, WE RELY HEAVILY.

SO I WOULD SAY OVER 80% OF THE TIME ON ON THE LOBBY TEAM JUST SETTING THOSE UP BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH GOING ON.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE FOG OF WAR DOWN IN AUSTIN, BECAUSE IT'S GOING SO FAST FOR THOSE 140 DAYS.

SO A LOT OF THOSE MEETINGS, THEY ARE SETTING THEM UP. AND THEN WE WE AS STAFF COME BEHIND THEM AND KNOCK THEM DOWN, SO TO SPEAK. SO IT'D BE IT'D BE SAFE TO SAY THAT IT'D BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME EFFECTIVENESS WITHOUT FIGURING OUT AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION THAT WOULD INCLUDE SOME SORT OF MANPOWER TO COMPENSATE FOR US.

GETTING RID OF THESE CONTRACTS. IS THAT IS THAT AN ACCURATE, SAFE ASSUMPTION? NO, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE. AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN SESSION IN 2026.

AND AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, IF THIS AMENDMENT PASSES, OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR JOBS, WE'RE GOING TO GET TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER, AS WE ALWAYS DO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST RESOURCES UP HERE AND DOWN IN AUSTIN AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO 2027. THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION.

I'M ASKING THE EXAMPLE THAT WAS JUST REFERENCED FROM THE PAST SESSION.

IF WE WERE TO GO DOWN WITHOUT THEM CONTRACTED ON, WOULD IT BE SAFE TO ASSUME THAT WE WOULD NEED MORE MANPOWER TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME EFFECT? IT WAS JUST ARTICULATED THAT 80% OF THE MEETINGS THAT WERE SET UP AND TOUCH POINTS WITHIN THE MEMBERS DOWN IN AUSTIN WERE FACILITATED BY OUR CONTRACTED LOBBYISTS.

IT WAS I MEAN, IF IF YOU'RE IF THE ANSWER IS THAT YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IT WOULD REQUIRE MORE MANPOWER, I'D LIKE TO KNOW, BECAUSE THIS SEEMS KIND OF LIKE A POLICY DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVEN'T YET HAD.

WHAT WOULD BE THE INTENT AND PLAN TO FILL THAT VOID? WELL, TO ANSWER THE LAST PART, BECAUSE THIS IS STILL RELATIVELY NEW AND WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IT WITH THE COUNCIL, AS YOU SAID, WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT TYPE OF STRATEGY MEETING YET.

THEN I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING THAT THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T KICKED THE TIRES ON ON ANY OPTIONS GOING FORWARD.

SO I KNOW THAT IN THE INTERIM, WE HAVE CHARGES THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH USUALLY OUTSIDE OF SESSIONS. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT SESSION ISN'T GOING ON.

ARE WE PREPARED? AND DO WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN MOVING INTO WHERE WE WILL WE'LL HAVE CHARGES TO WATCH AND MONITOR.

[02:00:01]

IN THE INTERIM. THE PLAN. THE PLAN IS ALWAYS TO HAVE CITY STAFF MONITOR WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN IN AUSTIN.

THE LOBBY TEAM IS ALWAYS DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THOSE DOORS OPEN.

SO IT WOULD JUST BE US HAVING TO TAKE THE STEPS THAT THE LOBBY TEAM IS IN EFFECT DOING OR WON'T BE DOING MOVING FORWARD IF THIS PASSES. SO IT WOULD JUST BE A LOT MORE ACTIVITY FROM FOLKS HERE IN DALLAS AND ME.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND DOWN IN AUSTIN. IT WOULD LOOK DIFFERENT.

IT DEFINITELY WOULD LOOK DIFFERENT. IF I COULD JUMP IN FOR JUST A SECOND AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA FOR THE QUESTIONS.

I THINK WHAT WHAT STAFF WOULD DEFINITELY BE LOOKING FOR IF COUNCIL MOVES THIS FORWARD AS WE BEGIN TO PLAN FOR 2027.

AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY, WE WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE EXPECTATIONS ARE.

I THINK WE START OUT EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH SOME GOALS IN MIND OF WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE.

I THINK YOU WOULD NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT STAFF HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND SHARE.

IF WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND WHAT THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, AND HOW, WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BRING THAT TO THE BODY FOR CONVERSATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STARTING IN A, IN A POSITION OF STRENGTH AND NOT IN A POSITION OF WEAKNESS.

SO I THINK WE PROBABLY WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THIS MOVES FORWARD, THAT OVER THIS UPCOMING YEAR, THAT WE'VE GOT TO BEGIN TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT STRATEGIES WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE IF THESE RESOURCES ARE NOT IN PLACE THE WAYS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LEVERAGING THE BODY AND WAYS THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO LEVERAGE SOME OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

BUT WE WOULD NEED TO, I BELIEVE, HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION AND NOT ASSUME THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO JUST ROLL THROUGH THIS AND NOT COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT NEED TO CHANGE, WHETHER IT'S STAFFING AND OTHER RELATED RESOURCES.

SO I THINK THAT IT PROBABLY WILL NEED TO BE A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE EVEN BEYOND TODAY.

AND THAT'S JUST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, LOOKING AT THE WAYS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO LEVERAGE OUR EXISTING TEAM MEMBERS WHO I DO KNOW ARE ARE CAPABLE, BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN WE'D HAVE TO TALK THROUGH THIS EVEN FURTHER.

SO TODAY WOULD NOT BE THE ONLY TIME WE COULD HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I'LL WRAP THIS UP. MR. MAYOR, I WILL NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE, QUITE FRANKLY, WITH WITH NO CONCRETE PLAN OR STRATEGY, ESPECIALLY MOVING INTO COMMITTEE'S MEETING YEAR ROUND. FOR THIS TO BE SOLELY HELD IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNCIL, I KNOW THAT WE'VE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN DURING SESSIONS SPECIFICALLY A STRUGGLE TO GET ENGAGEMENT NEEDED DOWN THERE TO TESTIFY.

SOMETIMES IT'S A SCRAMBLE. LAST MINUTE. I DEFINITELY DO NOT THINK THAT THERE'S ONE PERSON AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT HAS AS MANY BUILT IN NETWORK RELATIONSHIPS AS OUR CURRENT LOBBY TEAM. I THINK THAT IF OUR INTENT WAS TO GO THIS DIRECTION, IT SHOULD BE DONE SO MORE THOUGHTFULLY AND VETTED IN COMMITTEE.

IN FACT, THESE CONTRACTS WERE VETTED IN COMMITTEE AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AND SENT TO US AS A BODY TO TO APPROVE.

SO I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, AND I THINK THE JUICE IS NOT WORTH THE SQUEEZE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT MONETARILY THIS TEAM HAS CONTRIBUTED TO BRINGING BACK AND IF WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASING OUR REVENUE STREAMS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME HARD BUDGET CYCLES AHEAD OF US I DON'T BELIEVE THIS TO BE A PRUDENT MEASURE, SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT 16.

YEAH. THANK YOU. MAYOR. SO I DON'T LIKE THIS.

I THINK IT'S OUT OF ORDER AND NOT STRATEGIC. AND IT IS IT IS, HOWEVER, FORCING A HAND ON SOMETHING THAT I THINK NEEDED TO BE EVALUATED IN A GREATER WAY. I APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE'S WORK.

WE PICKED UP THE SAME CONTRACTS. WE BROUGHT THEM BACK.

I DO THINK IT NEEDS EXAMINATION. SO I REALLY DON'T LIKE THE WAY THAT THIS FORCES THAT HAND, BUT I AM INCLINED TO SUPPORT IT. BUT THAT PUTS A HEAVY CHARGE ON THE LEGISLATIVE CHAIR AND ON THIS BODY, ON ALL OF US, ON STAFF, ON YOU. MR. SPARKS. I APPRECIATED THE APPROACH THIS LAST YEAR OF DIVIDING THINGS MORE AND BRINGING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE ALL BRING OUR STRENGTHS. WE'VE GOT RELATIONSHIPS, WE'VE GOT EXPERTISE IN AREAS.

SO I APPRECIATED BEING ABLE TO EXPAND THAT TO MORE OF CITY COUNCIL.

AND THE CITY FINISHED STRONG IN THE CATEGORIES THAT I HAD BEEN ASSIGNED.

I MEAN, FORTUNATELY, I MEAN, I WAS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ENJOYED YOU KNOW, BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. SO IT WASN'T THAT DIFFICULT.

BUT DISTRICT 13 OVERLAPS ALMOST COMPLETELY WITH THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, WITH WHOM I HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP, AND I WAS NOT UTILIZED THERE UNLESS I WENT DOWN ON MY OWN DISTRICT OFFICE'S TIME.

[02:05:06]

AND SO I WANT TO SEE THAT CHANGE, TOO. AND FOR THAT REASON, I THINK THAT WHILE THIS COMMITTEE CAN COME UP WITH A STRATEGY, THIS BODY AS A WHOLE NEEDS TO BUY INTO THAT STRATEGY AND MAKE SURE IT'S IMPLEMENTED WHERE IT DOES USE US IN ALL OF OUR STRENGTHS AND ALL THE CONTACTS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS HIGHLY CHARGED TIME. WE HAVE TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT IT.

AND WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, NOT POLITICIZE THE POLITICAL TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN.

AND SO I WOULD I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT FOR THAT REASON.

BUT I'M LAYING DOWN A CHARGE THAT THINGS NEED TO CHANGE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TO MOVE SO EXPEDITIOUSLY ON THIS BECAUSE COMMITTEES ARE MEETING, WE COULD LOSE SOME GROUND HERE.

WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE GROUND. SO I SAY, YOU KNOW, PUT THE THROTTLE DOWN AND LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT A GOOD NEW STRATEGY WOULD BE.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

YOU KNOW, TWO WEEKS AGO, LAST WEEK. I DON'T RECALL WHAT IT IS.

YOU DROPPED SOME TRUTH BOMBS ABOUT THE LOBBYISTS.

AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, CLIFFORD, I HAD ONE MEETING THAT THE LOBBYISTS GOT US IN FOR ONE, THE ENTIRE SESSION. EVERY OTHER MEETING, I WAS ABLE TO PERSONALLY CALL AND GET THAT BECAUSE I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS, SOME THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE CITY'S HAD PREVIOUSLY.

YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT GREATLY, THAT WE HAVE HAD ACCESS THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

WOULD YOU AGREE? THAT'S TRUE? YES. THAT'S CORRECT.

WE HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO SCRAMBLE TO TESTIFY BECAUSE COMMITTEES DON'T POST THEIR HEARINGS UNTIL FRIDAY AFTERNOON, AND MANY OF THE HEARINGS ARE ON MONDAY MORNING.

THAT'S JUST A FACT OF LIFE. LOBBYISTS CONTRACT.

NO LOBBYIST CONTRACT. THE CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER SINCE BEFORE I WAS ELECTED.

YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THAT RELATIONSHIP. I BELIEVE THAT OUR MAYOR HAS A VERY CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT PERSON.

THERE IS NO NEED FOR ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS ON THAT.

CARDS DROPPED WERE NOT JUST DONE BY LOBBYISTS, THEY'RE ALSO DONE BY STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

THE POLICE ACADEMY EFFORT TOOK MANY STAFF MEMBERS, MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THE LOBBYISTS GOT US THE POLICE ACADEMY.

MOST OF THE WORK THAT HAPPENS ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A FORMAL MEETING.

AND THAT'S JUST A FACT. AND THE THING THAT THE MAYOR SAID THAT YOU JUST CAN'T REFUTE IS THAT OUR LOBBYISTS ARE VERY ASSOCIATED WITH ONE PARTIZAN SIDE THAT IS THE MINORITY IN AUSTIN.

AND MANY THINGS GET PASSED THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL DON'T LIKE.

BUT THE FACT IS, THERE IS A OVERWHELMING MAJORITY IN AUSTIN THAT WILL PASS WHATEVER THEY WANT.

WE ARE SOMETIMES NOW INVITED TO A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEVER HAVE BEEN INVITED TO BEFORE, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF LOBBYISTS.

SO. I RECOGNIZE, AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, THAT I MIGHT BE SPENDING A LOT MORE TIME IN AUSTIN, AS WILL MAYBE YOU, IF YOU WISH TO DO SO. MANY TIMES, COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ASKED TO TESTIFY, HAD COMMITTED TO OWNING A TOPIC, AND THEN SUDDENLY WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

THAT WAS UNFORTUNATE. SOMETIMES WE WROTE A LETTER, SOMETIMES WE DROPPED A CARD.

SOMETIMES WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION. SOMETIMES SOMEBODY ELSE IS ABLE TO GO EITHER WAY.

THIS IS WORKABLE IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, INCLUDING WE MIGHT END UP WITH ANOTHER CONTRACT NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION OF MY COLLEAGUE, LISTENING TO DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM AND LISTENING TO COUNCILMAN BAZALDUA ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS IS IMPORTANT.

AND IT SEEMED LIKE WE DON'T HAVE THAT. WE HAVE THE LOBBYISTS.

AND I HEARD YOU SAY THEY'VE HAD SOME SUCCESS, BUT I'M HEARING MORE THAT OUR COUNCIL HAS ACTUALLY HAD TO GET INVOLVED AND DO THIS WORK.

I UNDERSTAND TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK, IF I CAN SAY IT LIKE THAT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS THAT I'M HEARING.

ALSO AGAIN, THE FIRST TIME COUNCILMAN RESENDEZ ASKED THE QUESTION.

IT WAS NOT GIVEN DIRECTLY AND MY OPINION IS IF SOMETHING IS EFFECTIVE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ASKED 2 OR 3 TIMES TO GIVE THAT ANSWER.

IT'S AUTOMATICALLY YES AND WITH DATA TO SUPPORT THAT.

[02:10:02]

SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT AS THE CHAIR OF THE GOVERNANCE EFFICIENCY, BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THESE DOLLARS. AND WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF EFFECTIVENESS.

SO THEREFORE I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 16? SEEING NONE, INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD.

SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. ROTH.

CADENA STEWART. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS, MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO.

MAYOR JOHNSON COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ WEST MENDELSOHN AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR MR. MAYOR WITH MAJORITY CHORUS RAISED IN FAVOR.

THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD THE NEXT AMENDMENT? YES, MAYOR. WHEN IT COMES TO AMENDMENT 17, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENT 17 WITH THE SOURCE OF FUNDING BEING REDUCED FUNDING IN THE LIBRARY THAT WAS ADDED ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2025 BY $386,612 AND THE USE OF FUNDS BEING USED ONE TIME ARPA FUNDS TO REPLACE PARK AND RECREATION GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR AQUATIC PROGRAMS IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR AND REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BY 0.01 $0.07 FROM 69.9 $0.05 TO 69.9 $0.04.

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

AND IT WAS MY AMENDMENT. AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOU LAYING IT OUT FOR ME. MAYOR PRO TEM SO IF YOU WOULD START THE CLOCK FOR FIVE MINUTES, I'LL I'LL START THE DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE. LOOK, I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE AS BRIEF AS I CAN AND NOT RELITIGATE WHAT ALREADY HAS BEEN LITIGATED. ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WISHFUL THINKING. SOME FOLKS WILL PROBABLY WANT TO REPEAT.

SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE FOR AND AGAINST THIS, BUT I HAVE NOT REALLY WEIGHED IN ON THIS BEFORE, SO I'LL WEIGH IN ON IT NOW. BRIEFLY AGAIN, AND THEN I'LL ASK THE IF IF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER'S OFFICE CAN EXPLAIN THE THE MECHANICS OF THIS AMENDMENT, HOW IT WOULD ACTUALLY WORK.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO RELY ON THEM. SO YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S EDITORIALIZING ON MY PART OR ANYBODY ELSE'S PART ABOUT HOW THESE AMENDMENTS ACTUALLY WORK BECAUSE THESE ARE BUDGET AMENDMENTS. THESE ARE THIS IS THESE ARE SOURCES AND USES AND THESE ARE DOLLARS AND THEY'RE MOVING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

BALANCED BUDGET REQUIREMENT NECESSITATES THAT.

SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING FROM AND TO AND AND IN THIS CASE IT'S KIND OF A THREE STEP WAY WE GET THERE.

SO I'LL LET THEM EXPLAIN THAT. BUT I THINK THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT IS THAT IT'S REALLY EASY TO CHARACTERIZE ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO DO IN A, IN A BUDGET CONTEXT AS BEING WHOLLY AGAINST THE UNDERLYING SUBJECT MATTER. AND I JUST I'M TRYING NOT TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY THAT THAT THE SECURITY DETAIL THAT PROTECTS MY CHILDREN WAS PLACED IN OPPOSITION TO THIS FUNDING.

I CAN'T SEE HOW ANYBODY WOULD DO THAT IN THEIR MIND, BUT I GUESS ALL'S FAIR WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE POLICY WISE.

EQUALLY INAPPROPRIATE WOULD BE, I THINK, TO CHARACTERIZE OPPOSITION TO OR SUPPORT FOR THIS AMENDMENT, TO BE TO OPPOSITION TO LIBRARIES OR OPPOSITION TO COMMUNITY OR SUPPORT.

THIS IS ABOUT THE FACT THAT. IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO US BASED ON DATA.

A DATA DRIVEN CITY MAKING DATA DRIVEN POLICY DECISIONS, THAT THIS LIBRARY IS NOT OPERATING AT ANY BY ANY STANDARD OF THE USAGE OF THE WORD EFFICIENCY.

THE UTILIZATION ISN'T THERE. THE LOCATION IS DUPLICATIVE IN SOME WAYS.

AND IF WE CANNOT MAKE A DECISION LIKE THIS. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ANY PROSPECT THAT THIS CITY HAS OF EVER COMPETING, TRULY COMPETING ON THE BASIS OF TAX RATE, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE TO COMPETE ON FOR THE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS THAT WE CELEBRATE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WHEN THEY HAPPEN.

BUT PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A CRITICAL INGREDIENT IN THE CAKE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BAKE FOR

[02:15:05]

PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHERE TO LIVE AND WHERE TO RELOCATE A COMPANY, OR WHERE TO START A BUSINESS. THE TAX PORTION OF THIS IS A HUGE PORTION OF IT.

THE TAX RATE YOU PAY IS A HUGE PORTION OF IT, ALONG WITH SHOCKINGLY, YOU.

SOUNDS REALLY FAMILIAR COMING FROM ME. PUBLIC SAFETY.

RIGHT. AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BRING FAMILIES WITH THEM.

EVERYTHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT AROUND HERE IS IS AIMED AT THAT.

EVERYTHING I SHOULD SAY THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, AND HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR OVER SIX YEARS NOW, HAS BEEN AIMED AT THAT. WE DON'T CONTROL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, YOU WERE OVER THERE.

DISD. I APPLAUD THE EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE OVER THERE, BUT IF WE COULD CONTROL THAT, WE LITERALLY WOULD CONTROL EVERY LEVER THAT INVESTORS FAMILIES MAKE WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO DECIDE WHERE TO WHERE TO PUT DOWN A BUSINESS OR BRING A FAMILY.

THAT'S THE OTHER MISSING PIECE IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE DON'T CONTROL THAT ONE. SO THAT'S WHY I LEAN IN SO HEAVILY ON THE ONES THAT WE DO, AND WHY I'M SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE ONE THAT WE DON'T, BUT THIS IS A PART OF IT.

AND FOR THOSE WHO WOULD SAY, WELL, IT'S SUCH A LITTLE CUT, IT'S A LITTLE CUT IN ISOLATION THAT WHEN AGGREGATED WITH OTHER CUTS OF WASTEFUL SPENDING OR INEFFICIENT SPENDING, WILL YIELD ACTUAL TAX RELIEF THAT OUR RESIDENTS WILL FEEL.

AND THAT SIGNALS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT THIS IS OUR POSTURE.

THIS IS OUR APPROACH TO THEIR TAX DOLLARS. RATHER THAN SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT OUR APPROACH IS WE WANT TO SPEND EVERY DOLLAR WE CAN GET OUR HANDS ON.

WE'RE SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO TAX YOU AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE AND STILL DELIVER THE ESSENTIAL CORE SERVICES.

LIBRARIES ARE SUPER IMPORTANT. I WAS PRACTICALLY RAISED IN THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY.

THAT'S WHERE I WENT AFTER SCHOOL ALL THE TIME TO STUDY. AND HAMPTON, ILLINOIS, WHEN THAT WAS A LIBRARY BRANCH.

IT IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT INTELLIGENTLY AND EFFICIENTLY IN OUR CITY MANAGER HAS SUGGESTED THAT THIS ONE IS NOT OPERATING AT THAT LEVEL. AND THAT'S WHY I SUGGEST THAT WE MOVE IT THAT WE CLOSE IT.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MISS BLAIR FOR FIVE MINUTES.

YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I HAVE QUESTIONS. SO FOR DWU MISS STANDIFORD AVAILABLE, I JUST WANT TO, I WANT TO. THIS IS THE OPERA MONEY THAT WENT WENT TO FROM DISTRICT EIGHT AND I.

AND THE QUESTION HAS COME TO ME WHETHER OR NOT I DID THE RIGHT THING BY ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN.

AND I MY, MY GOAL HERE IS TO SHOW THAT THE MONEY THAT WAS TAKEN FROM OUR SEPTIC TANK IS STILL PROTECTED. THE RESIDENTS ARE STILL PROTECTED.

SO WHERE THAT MONEY WENT IS NOT GERMANE TO WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

SO I, I HAD A MEETING WITH DWU AND MISS STANFORD.

CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE THAT IN OUR FIVE MILE AREA THAT WE STILL HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE, OR WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF PROVIDING THE WATER LINE, THE SEWER LINES, THE WASTEWATER LINES TO THAT AREA THAT'S BEING UNDERSERVED RIGHT NOW. YES, MA'AM.

SARAH STANDIFER, DALLAS WATER UTILITIES. AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AREAS THAT ARE STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF FISCAL YEARS, THOSE AREAS WILL COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PUBLIC LINE.

AS WE REACH THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT IS WHEN THESE FUNDS THAT ARE REMAINING ON THE TABLE POST THE STRAW VOTE AND THEN THESE CONVERSATIONS AND THERE ARE FUNDS AVAILABLE THAT WE WOULD DO THAT UNDER A POLICY DIRECTION, AS YOU ALL HAVE INDICATED TO THE CITY MANAGER TO CONNECT THOSE RESIDENTIAL HOMES, THERE'S STILL ABOUT 200 HOMES THAT HAVE NOT YET HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONNECTED, AND THOSE WOULD BE THE HOMES THAT WE WOULD REACH OUT TO AS WE GO THROUGH THE REMAINING PROJECTS FOR OPENING THOSE SYSTEMS. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL SUPPORT THIS EFFORT BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS THAT WE HAD THOUGHT THAT MY RESIDENTS WHO HAD THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE NEGLECTED THE FIRST TIME AROUND, MISS STANFORD, JUST EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN.

AND THIS NOW THE MOVING THE MONEY TO SUPPORT THE AQUATIC CENTER AND TO REDUCE THE BUDGET.

THE TAX RATE IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN GRACEY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WE'RE ON AMENDMENT 17, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, MR.

[02:20:01]

MAYOR. YEAH, I TOO WILL SUPPORT THIS. I DID PUT AN AMENDMENT OUT THERE TO PUT IT BACK BECAUSE I WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT.

WE TALK ABOUT AND SAY THAT THESE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE AND THEY WILL BE.

BUT SOMETIMES WE FORGET THESE CONVERSATIONS. AND THAT GAVE ME SOME CONCERN.

SO IN A IN A BUDGET SEASON LIKE WE'RE IN NOW.

I'D RATHER MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IS THERE IF WE NEED IT THAN OTHERWISE.

HOWEVER, AFTER HAVING THOSE SAME CONVERSATIONS WITH WATER, A MAJORITY OF OF OF MY DISTRICT, I THINK HAVE UTILIZED THAT THE ONES THAT HAVEN'T DID NOT WANT IT.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS. AND I GUESS I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO WITHDRAW, BUT WE'LL DO THAT AT THE RIGHT TIME.

WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT IN THE IN THE ORDINARY COURSE. GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU, MISTER MAYOR. AND I WANTED TO ALSO COME BACK TO COUNCILWOMAN BLAIR.

AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER GRACEY, BOTH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, I THINK THAT THIS BODY HAS ALREADY MADE THIS A PRIORITY, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO DO. I THINK WHAT STAFF DISCUSSED BEFORE AND TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS A PRIORITY, THAT THE FUNDING THAT WOULD BE NEEDED, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT AS WE PROGRESS WITH THE WATER MAIN LINES THAT NEED TO GO IN, BECAUSE GOING INTO 2026, WE KNOW WHAT AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO.

AND AS WE CONTINUE TO. I THINK THE COUNCIL EVEN CHALLENGED US TO ENGAGE AT A GREATER LEVEL.

GET MORE OF THE RESIDENTS EDUCATED ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.

SO AT ANY POINT IN THE YEAR OR EVEN GOING INTO 2027 THAT WE ARE GETTING THAT ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD THIS FROM THE BODY AND THE PERSON THAT YOU NEED TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT IS ME AS YOUR CITY MANAGER. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

BUT WE DO HEAR YOU AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THIS BODY.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN WEST. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANT TO JUST AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON YOU KNOW, THANKING YOU FOR THE YOU KNOW, TRYING TO SAVE OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY WHEN WE CAN.

I DO BELIEVE, LIKE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, THAT THE AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PUZZLE IS A COMPLICATED ONE, AND KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES IS ONE MAJOR PIECE OF THAT TAX RELIEF CERTAINLY IS A WAY TO GET THERE AS WELL.

I GOT A I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.

ALSO WE'LL NEED PARKS UP HERE, BUT THE WAY THE USE OF FUNDS IS STRUCTURED AT LEAST THE WAY I READ IT, IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME ON HOW MUCH WILL BE GOING TO THE AQUATICS PROGRAMS AND THEN HOW MUCH WILL BE GOING TO THE TAX RATE REDUCTION.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. JACK IRELAND, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

SO THE STRUCTURE OF AMENDMENT ITEM NUMBER 17.

I'M GOING TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND THEN EXPLAIN FORWARD.

BUT AT YOUR SEPTEMBER THE 3RD MEETING, AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE TOOK ONE TIME FUNDS THAT WE REFER TO AS ARPA REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS. AND IT PUT THOSE FUNDS INTO THE LIBRARY TO, TO MAINTAIN THAT LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR.

SO THIS AMENDMENT TAKES THOSE SAME ONE TIME FUNDS THAT WERE BEING USED TO KEEP THE LIBRARY OPEN AND SENDS THOSE ONE TIME FUNDS INTO THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO BE USED BY PARK AND RECREATION IN FISCAL YEAR 26, $386,000 FOR AQUATICS PROGRAMS IN 26, AND THEN REDUCING THE PARK DEPARTMENT'S GENERAL FUND ALLOCATION BY $386,000.

WE COULD NOT REDUCE THE TAX RATE USING ONE TIME FUNDS.

SO AS THE MAYOR SAID EARLIER, IT WAS KIND OF AA3 STEP PROCESS TO GET US THERE, MOVE THE ARPA FUNDS OR THE ONE TIME FUNDS INTO PARK AND RECREATION, SUBSTITUTING OR REPLACING GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT ARE THEN BEING REDUCED.

SO THE REDUCTION IS $396,000, OR ABOUT 0.01 $0.07 ON THE TAX RATE.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. THAT'S THE PIECE I MISSED.

AND THEN FROM PARKS DEPARTMENT, HOW WOULD YOU INTEND ON USING THE $1,612.

HOW WOULD YOU DIVIDE THAT UP AMONGST THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES? AND WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE SOUTHERN SECTOR? HERE WE GO. ALRIGHT. GOOD MORNING. JOHN JENKINS, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.

I'M A LITTLE HOARSE TODAY, SO BECAUSE THESE ARE ARPA FUNDS, I ONLY HAVE THESE WOULD BE USED. YOUR QUESTION WAS ON. WHERE WOULD I USE THEM? HOW WOULD I USE THE FUNDS? SO BECAUSE AS MENTIONED, THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

SO ANYTHING THAT'S PRETTY MUCH SOUTH OF 30 WOULD BE WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER USING IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

SO THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 5 OR 6 OTHER COMMUNITY POOLS IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE THESE ARE ARPA FUNDS, I WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO USE THEM ON LIKE CAPITAL TYPE REPAIRS.

[02:25:06]

SO I COULDN'T USE IT FOR O&M. SO I ONLY HAVE WHAT THESE COMMUNITY POOLS ONLY HAVE ABOUT 100 150 K IN TRUE CAPITAL REPAIRS, BECAUSE WE DO MOST OF THE HOUSE, I MEAN MOST OF THE WORK IN HOUSE TO KEEP THESE POOLS FUNCTIONAL.

BUT YEAH, LIKE IF I HAVE A PUMP GO OUT THEN YES, I CAN USE THAT MONEY.

THE ARPA FUNDS. BUT I'M ONLY GOING TO HAVE ABOUT 100, MAYBE 100, $150,000 A YEAR BECAUSE THE REST OF THE WORK IS DONE IN-HOUSE.

AS FAR AS REPAIRING THE LEAKS WHEN THESE STRUCTURES FAIL.

COULD YOU USE THEM ALSO FOR ENHANCEMENTS OF OF THE POOL FACILITIES, NOT JUST O&M AND REPAIRS? WELL, IF I MAY ALSO ADD TO IT. AND MR. JENKINS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THIS, BUT IT IS REPLACING THE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR THE ONE YEAR.

SO ANYTHING THAT HE WAS GOING TO SPEND FOR THE AQUATICS PROGRAM IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, HE WAS GOING TO SPEND GENERAL FUND DOLLARS ON IT IN FISCAL YEAR 26. HE IS ABLE TO USE THE ARPA ONE TIME DOLLARS TO USE FOR IT.

THE ISSUE WILL BE THEY WILL NOT BE REPEATING IN 27, AND WE WILL EITHER CLOSE THOSE POOLS THEREFORE IN 27, OR WE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BODY AND FUND THOSE IN 27.

BUT IT'S A ONE TIME INFUSION OF CASH SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE TAX RATE AND USE IN ANY WAY NECESSARY FOR THE OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, UPKEEP THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO ON AQUATICS PROGRAMS, WHICH IS A LITTLE MORE EXPANDED THAN HE DESCRIBED.

BUT IT'S ELIGIBLE FOR ALL OF THAT. AND THAT'S NEW NEWS TO ME.

OKAY, SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, YES. THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH CLOSING THE POOLS AFTER ONE YEAR BECAUSE I WILL HAVE NO OPERATING DOLLARS.

I GET THE INTENT AND I UNDERSTAND IT NOW. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T GET WITH YOU GUYS EARLIER ON THIS, BUT THANK YOU. THAT TOOK ME A MINUTE. IS ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT? MY COMPUTER DIED AGAIN, SO I APOLOGIZE. OH, MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT 17.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.

I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE SOUTHERN SECTOR GOING TO BAT FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THESE DOLLARS WERE TRULY INTENDED TO SERVE A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.

AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE PARK DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THESE DOLLARS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I APOLOGIZE THAT MY COMPUTER IS DOWN. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR THIS AMENDMENT.

ONCE AGAIN LOOKING OUT FOR THE SOUTHERN SECTOR AND DALLAS 75216752417520375224. IT'S MY AREA. AND WHERE I DO A LOT OF THE WORK IN, IN MY COMMUNITY. AND TO SEE THIS HAPPENING AND THINKING ABOUT THOSE KIDDOS IN OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

SO I WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU. WE, I DO SUPPORT LIBRARIES.

IT'S IMPORTANT AGAIN, AS A FORM OF TRUSTEE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DEFINITELY WORKED ON TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING STATE OF THE ART LIBRARIES TO OUR COMMUNITY AND INSIDE OUR SCHOOLS. I'M ALSO AWARE THAT A BRAND NEW LIBRARY WAS BUILT ONE MILE FROM OR, I GUESS LESS THAN A MILE OR A MILE AWAY FROM THE OLDER ONE.

SO THE COMMUNITY STILL STILL HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY AND STILL HAS A, AGAIN, A BRAND NEW STATE OF THE ART LIBRARY, WHICH I'M PRETTY SURE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WILL BE BE ABLE TO USE THAT FACILITY.

AND SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT. AND ONCE AGAIN, MISTER MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS AMENDMENT LOOKING OUT FOR THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, AS ALWAYS. THANK YOU. MISTER RESENDEZ. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT 17.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I JUST FEEL OBLIGATED TO KIND OF POINT OUT WHAT I FIND TROUBLING ABOUT THE PROPOSAL.

I THINK THAT IT PITS SOUTHERN DALLAS AGAINST NORTHERN DALLAS.

AND I THINK I THINK IT FORCES COMMUNITIES INTO COMPETITION WITH ONE ANOTHER WHEN BOTH DESERVE SUPPORT.

I THINK THAT THIS IS A FALSE CHOICE. AND I THINK WHAT MAKES IT WORSE IS THAT WE'RE TAKING ONE TIME ARPA FUNDS TO REPLACE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME REDUCING THE TAX RATE.

I DON'T THINK THAT THIS DOES ANYTHING TO PROVIDE LONG TERM, SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR SOUTHERN DALLAS.

AND WHEN THE ARPA FUNDS RUN OUT, THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE AT RISK AGAIN.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS OF TEMPORARY FIXES.

WE NEED STABLE, RECURRING INVESTMENTS IN BOTH OUR LIBRARIES AND OUR AQUATICS PROGRAMS, BECAUSE BOTH ARE VITAL FOR OPPORTUNITY AND COMMUNITY SAFETY IN EVERY PART OF DALLAS. AND IF WE WANT TO DO THESE TYPES OF THINGS, I DON'T THINK THAT A LAST MINUTE LAST DAY AMENDMENT IS HELPFUL WHEN WE HAVE THE CITY

[02:30:09]

MANAGER'S EAR ALL YEAR TO ENSURE THAT WE GET THE SUPPORT THAT WE WANT FOR SOUTHERN DALLAS AND OUR NORTHERN DALLAS LIBRARY.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 17? SEEING NONE, PLEASE DISPLAY YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD.

SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCILMEMBERS. ROTH. BLAIR.

CADENAS. STEWART. MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO. THE MAYOR.

MAYOR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MENDELSOHN, GRACEY AND JOHNSON WITH MAJORITIES RAISED IN FAVOR OF THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. IS ANYONE WILLING TO PUT FORWARD AMENDMENT 20? YES. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION. MAYOR PRO TEM.

CITY ATTORNEYS. I DON'T SEE MY MOTION. I ONLY HAVE 21.

I KNOW, OKAY. I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENT 20 AS WRITTEN. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MAYOR PRO TEM? YES, MAYOR. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WE'RE ON AMENDMENT 20. IN YOUR PACKET. THANK YOU.

CUTTING NON-ESSENTIAL FUNDING FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS IS ESSENTIAL, ESPECIALLY DURING A TIME WHEN FUNDING IS TIGHT.

THE CITY IS CURRENTLY MEMBERS TO A FEW ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH IN RECENT YEARS HAVE PROVEN INEFFECTIVE OR COUNTERPRODUCTIVE OR COUNTERINTUITIVE.

AMONG THOSE ARE METROPLEX MAYORS, THE IFPA, THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, TEXAS 21, AND FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS AREA TRANSIT.

THESE MEMBERSHIPS, WHILE USEFUL FOR THE TIME WE HAD THEM, NO LONGER SERVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THEY WERE ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

I SUPPORT REMOVING THESE CITIES. OF THESE, I SUPPORT REMOVING THE CITY FROM THESE MEMBERSHIPS AND FUNDING A A DEEPENING OF OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE CUT WITH THOSE FUNDS. THANK YOU MAYOR. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

AMENDMENT 20. THANK YOU. I'M SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

FIRST, AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM OUTLINED, THESE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY WE DON'T NEED TO BE A MEMBER OF ANY LONGER.

THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AT ONE TIME, ALMOST ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WENT TO THAT CONFERENCE.

IN RECENT YEARS, IT'S JUST BEEN A COUPLE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO ATTEND THEIR SESSIONS.

YOU JUST PAY A SLIGHTLY HIGHER AMOUNT. CLIFFORD, ARE YOU STILL HERE? ONE OF THE THINGS WE ENCOUNTERED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS ACTUALLY THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE LOBBYING AGAINST US.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT'S HAPPENED? YES. CLIFFORD SPARKS, LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR AT THE CITY OF DALLAS.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YEAH, THERE WAS A PARTICULAR INSTANCE WHERE WE SAW THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY ON OPPOSITE SIDES FROM TML CONCERNING A CONVENTION CENTER PROJECTS, I BELIEVE IT WAS HOUSE BILL.

SENATE BILL 1287, I BELIEVE THAT WE WERE AGAIN ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FENCE WITH THEM ON.

YES, MA'AM. AND WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE LOBBYING THAT TML DOES? MOSTLY RELATED TO ADVOCATING THE POSITION OF MORE RURAL AND SMALLER POPULATION CITIES? YEAH. I MEAN, NATURALLY, THERE ARE MORE SMALLER AND RURAL CITIES THAN ARE BIG CITIES.

I MEAN, THERE'S ONLY FIVE BIG CITIES IN THE STATE.

SO NATURALLY YOU COULD SEE WHERE THAT MIGHT TILT THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS OF THEIR ORGANIZATION.

SO I'VE ATTENDED, I BELIEVE, TWO DIFFERENT SESSIONS THAT THEY'VE HELD AS THEY WERE DEVELOPING THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.

MANY OF THEM ARE VERY GENERIC AND WE'RE SUPPORTIVE.

OTHERS ARE REALLY NOT OUR THEY DON'T HAVE A BIG OVERLAP WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND TML FOR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IT'S A VERY GOOD WAY TO GET AN ORIENTATION TO VARIOUS POLICY POSITIONS, EVERYTHING FROM SHORT TERM RENTALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

HOWEVER, SPENDING $65,000 IS REALLY UNNECESSARY.

THE NEXT ITEM. FRIENDS OF DALLAS AREA TRANSIT.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE THAT WE'RE INVOLVED IN THAT.

[02:35:03]

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT'S DOING. METROPLEX MAYORS I HAVE BEEN THE DESIGNATED MEMBER TO ATTEND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND WHILE THERE ARE VERY OFTEN INTERESTING SPEAKERS, THESE SAME SPEAKERS ARE ON A CIRCUIT.

SO THE MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP ARE FREQUENTLY AT THE DALLAS REGIONAL MOBILITY COALITION MEETING.

THEY'RE FREQUENTLY AT RTC OR THE NTC MEETINGS.

SO I'M SORRY, THE THE COG MEETING. SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY ALREADY TO HAVE THESE RELATIONSHIPS.

MOST OF THE MAYORS THAT ATTEND THIS WE ARE ALREADY VERY WELL IN TOUCH WITH AND COORDINATING WITH WHERE POSSIBLE. SO WHETHER IT'S ADDISON, CARROLLTON PLANO RICHARDSON WHERE WE'RE COORDINATING ON HOMELESSNESS EFFORTS, WHETHER IT'S GARLAND MCKINNEY, OTHERS WHERE WE'RE ADDRESSING TRANSIT ISSUES AND TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES.

THESE ARE THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE ALREADY THERE AND HAPPENING.

THE NEXT ONE, TEXT 21 I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S A SINGLE ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT'S ATTENDED A SINGLE MEETING THIS YEAR.

SO WHILE WE HAVE OUR TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR WHO HAS BEEN ATTENDING, AGAIN, $25,000, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A WORTHY GROUP. THEY'RE MOSTLY NOT DEALING WITH ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR CITY.

AND THEN THE INTERNATIONAL PERSONNEL ASSESSMENT COUNCIL.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS. SO THESE ARE PLACES WHERE ALL THROUGHOUT CITY HALL, THERE'S FAT EMBEDDED, AND WE HAVE TO START. THE AMOUNTS ARE SMALL. I MEAN, ALTOGETHER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNDER $100,000, BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK AND FIGHTING FOR THAT.

SO I'M DEFINITELY SUPPORTING IT AND I THANK YOU.

MAYOR PRO TEM, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT 20.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR COME FORWARD FOR QUESTIONS.

SO GOOD MORNING, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, DOCTOR KEN CURLEY.

COULD YOU ADDRESS YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN TEX 21 AND WHAT BENEFITS YOU SEE IN THAT ORGANIZATION FOR DALLAS AS A MEMBER CITY? YES, SIR. SO I HAVE BEEN ATTENDING ALL THESE MEETINGS WITH TEX 21.

IT'S AN ADVOCACY GROUP AND NOT A LOBBY GROUP.

AND WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BUILD COALITION ON SEVERAL ITEMS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR DALLAS.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE ARE SUMMARIZED IN THREE MAIN AREAS.

NUMBER ONE IS VISION ZERO. THEY HAVE ADOPTED.

THE GROUP HAS ADOPTED THE VISION ZERO FOR THE CITY THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS, AND THEY ARE PART OF THE ADVOCACY GROUP THAT IS HELPING WITH THE LEGISLATIVE BODIES TO TRY TO HELP US WITH THE PASSAGE, OR BEING IN FAVOR OF PASSING SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR, SUCH AS LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT IN THE IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM 30 TO 25MPH WITHOUT NEEDING A TRAFFIC STUDY. THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PUSH FOR IS THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY, IF YOU WILL, TO CONTROL SPEEDING. SO THAT'S ON THE SAFETY SIDE.

ON THE FREIGHT SIDE. THERE HAVE BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR US TO HAVE THE I-20 CORRIDOR, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO GET TXDOT TO BEGIN THE STUDY OF THE INTERCHANGE AT 635 I-20 175, IN SOUTHERN IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

WE'RE LOOKING ALSO TO WHICH IS BASICALLY ACTUALLY IT'S IMPACTING THE AREA IN THE KLEBERG RILEY AREA THAT WE HAVE BEEN CURRENTLY HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT. THE OTHER ITEM IS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CROSSING AT JJ LEMON AND I-20 AND THE AREA TO AMAZON DISTRIBUTION AND OTHER DISTRIBUTION CENTERS AS WE CONTINUE GOING WESTBOUND ALONG THAT AREA, THE FREIGHT MOVEMENT, THE INTERSECTIONS AT POLK AND I-20, WESTMORELAND, I-20, HAMPTON, AND I-20, AND THEN CERTAINLY THE INTERCHANGE AT 408 AND I-20 IN THE IN THE SOUTHWEST AREA.

AND LASTLY IN THE THIRD KEY AREA IS THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WE HAVE BEEN COORDINATING WITH COLLEGES, WHETHER IT BE IN DALLAS COLLEGE OR UNT AND OTHERS.

BASICALLY FOR OUR AREA HERE TO TO HAVE GOOD SUPPLY, IF YOU WILL, OF WORKFORCE.

SO ALL TO SAY IS WE HAVE SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE HAVE DONE SOME GOOD WORK.

[02:40:04]

AND AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL FOLLOW THIS BODY'S DECISION, BUT THAT'S WHAT BUT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE AND THE IMPACT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS. SO, DOCTOR, CAN CARL, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CITY'S MEMBERSHIP IN TEXAS 21 IS A VALUABLE ASSET FOR THE CITY? FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, AGAIN, BEING INVOLVED IN IT AND BEING AN ACTIVE MEMBER THESE ARE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THEY ARE DOCUMENTED.

AND THEREFORE I WOULD THINK THAT CONTINUING THIS MEMBERSHIP IS COULD BE VALUABLE FOR THE CITY.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR KENT. CALI. AT THIS POINT, I MOVE TO AMEND AMENDMENT 20 TO DELETE THE MEMBERSHIP IN TEXT 21 FROM THE SCOPE OF THIS AMENDMENT. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

SO NOW WE ARE ON AN AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT 20 BY CHAIRMAN RIDLEY.

AND YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT, CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, IF YOU'D LIKE IT. YES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I THINK BASED ON THE VERY CLEAR TESTIMONY OF DOCTOR CALI THAT THE MEMBERSHIP IN TEXT 21 IS WORTH THE $25,000 MEMBERSHIP FEE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY FOR A TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR TO EXCHANGE IDEAS, PHILOSOPHIES, AND POLICIES WITH OTHER TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS IN OTHER CITIES AROUND THE STATE. BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE ON A STATEWIDE SCALE FOR WHAT WE FIND TO BE IMPORTANT FOR PURPOSES OF LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES.

I'M PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE ENDORSED THE VISION ZERO EFFORT AND WILL BE FURTHERING THAT IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE OTHER ITEMS THAT DOCTOR KING HAS MENTIONED, IT'S A MINIMAL AMOUNT, AND YET IT PROVIDES US FORUM IN AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE OUR VOICE WITH THE VOICES OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE STATE.

MISS BLAIR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY CHAIRMAN RIDLEY TO AMENDMENT NUMBER 20.

SO WE'RE ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT THAT STRIKES THE 25,000 FOR TEXAS 21.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION OR TWO ON THIS 25,000.

IS IT MEMBERSHIP FOR JUST ONE PERSON OR IS IT MEMBERSHIP FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS? IT'S THE CITY OF DALLAS. SO ARE YOU. SO CAN OTHER MEMBERS, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO, WITH THAT, 25,000 ATTEND THE MEETINGS? ABSOLUTELY. I'M SORRY.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE MEETINGS AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS TO FURTHER THE AS AS STAFF MEMBER. I'M SORRY.

AS A STAFF MEMBER. AS A STAFF MEMBER. CORRECT.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE COULD HAVE SOMEONE MORE THAN A STAFF MEMBER? CORRECT. YOU CAN HAVE ELECTED OFFICIAL. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS IN THE BYLAWS.

I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME, BUT IT IS IN THE BYLAW THAT ELECTED OFFICIAL ALSO TO BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, FOR BRINGING SOME OF THIS TO THE TO OUR ATTENTION. I'M SORRY. I DID NOT KNOW HOW THESE COMMITTEES WORK.

THANK YOU. I CAN'T I WILL BE SUPPORTING YOUR AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

MISS BLACKMON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. SO ON ALL OF THESE WE'RE JUST DOING 2020.

WAIT, WHAT? OH ON ALL THESE, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE PAY AS FAR AS RELATED TO OTHER CITIES? IN OTHER WORDS, ARE WE PRETTY MUCH FUNDING THEIR ORGANIZATION? I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION READILY. SO I'LL HAVE TO COME BACK WITH YOU ON THAT.

DOES ANYBODY. I MEAN, I HAVE THE MEMO THAT MR. ISLAND SENT FROM NOVEMBER 8TH, 24. I GUESS A YEAR AGO.

THAT KIND OF OUTLINES IT ALL. BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

ARE WE THE TOP BILLER, IF YOU WILL? IS IT DONE BY POPULATION? ESPECIALLY TECH'S 21 AGAIN. I MEAN, I CAN GET YOU THE ANSWER, BUT I MEAN, I JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO CONTACT THEM.

[02:45:07]

BECAUSE. YEAH, WE'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON IT. SO THEN ON SO MOVING FORWARD, THESE WILL BE TAKEN BASICALLY OUT OF THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE REDUCED. SO IF WE DECIDE TO COME BACK THEN IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE LOOKING THIS THESE THIS MONEY GOES AWAY.

YES MA'AM. THAT'S CORRECT. ONCE WE REDUCE THE TAX RATE, WE'RE KEEPING IT REDUCED, AND IT WOULD BE UP TO A FUTURE BUDGET CONVERSATION IF IT NEEDED TO BE ADDED BACK. CITY ATTORNEY IS AN AMENDMENT OUT OF LINE AT THIS POINT.

WE HAVE ONE ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW. WHAT WE'RE CALLING AN AMENDMENT IS REALLY THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

SO TECHNICALLY WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER AMENDMENT.

I BELIEVE IT'S NOT. I MEAN, I MEAN, YEAH, WE ONLY GOT ONE AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION IS THE POINT.

SO YOU COULD STILL YOU COULD. YES YOU COULD. I WOULD LIKE TO SUBSTITUTE THE USE OF FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS AND ADD FOR SPEED HUMPS, SPEED TABLES, PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND CROSSWALKS.

AS AN AMENDMENT TO MR. RIDLEY'S AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION 20.

YES. NUMBER 20. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. LET ME CONFIRM.

THAT'S ACTUALLY IN ORDER. OH, NO, THEY DIDN'T COME.

HERE. SO WHAT I'M BEING TOLD IS THAT YOUR AMENDMENT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE ONCE THE AMENDMENT TO STRIKE TEXAS 21 WAS RESOLVED, BUT NOT AT THIS TIME.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TOLD. OKAY. THAT WAS WHAT I WAS WONDERING. OKAY. THANK YOU. BECAUSE MY WHAT I'M SCARED HERE ABOUT IS THAT 90, ABOUT $100,000 COULD REALLY BE GONE AWAY. SO FUTURE COUNCILS AREN'T ABLE TO USE THAT MONEY.

AND WE'RE HEARING FROM VARIOUS ENTITIES, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY THAT WE WANT THIS AND THAT.

AND SO MY SITUATION OF PUTTING IT TO THE TAX RATE IS, IS I WOULD MUCH RATHER FUND SOMETHING FOR $100,000 THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE USING, BECAUSE ONCE THAT TAX RATE GOES AWAY, WE CAN'T RECLAIM IT.

AND WE KNOW WHEN THIS PAST SPECIAL SESSION, THEY WERE COMING AFTER IT AGAIN.

THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP. AND I JUST FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT THAT WE SHOULD PUT IT TO SOMETHING THAT WE COULD BE USING AS A CITYWIDE AND PUT ALL OF THESE AND JUST NOT PAY THE MEMBERSHIP FEE.

BUT LOOK AT ALL OF OUR MEMBERSHIP FEES, BECAUSE, I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME I MEAN, HOW DO WE KEEP PAYING NORTH TEXAS COMMISSION EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN ARTS? AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, YEAH, I'M KIND OF GETTING I GET IT.

WELL, YOUR YOUR DISCUSSION IS TOTALLY RELEVANT TO THE MAIN MOTION, BUT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT THE STRIKING OF 25,000 FOR TEXAS 21 OR NOT.

SO WHEN I WOULD I THINK THEN DODGE COULD LOOK AT TEXAS 21 AND ITS EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS, BUT NOT STRIKE IT COMPLETELY AND GO AGAINST THE TAX RATE THAT IS.

THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS. BUT I GUESS I'LL BE BACK. OKAY, CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

AGAIN, WE ARE ON AN AMENDMENT BY MR. RIDLEY THAT IS ABOUT THE 25,000 FROM TEXAS, 21, NOT THE UNDERLYING MOTION ABOUT ALL OF THE MEMBERSHIPS GOING TOWARDS TAX RATE REDUCTION YET. THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT EVENTUALLY THOUGH. GOTCHA. OKAY.

I JUST WANT TO PUT IN A QUICK WORD OF SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

I THINK THE WORK OF TEXT 21 LOOKS SPOT ON IN TERMS OF THE CONCERNS AND THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT AROUND THE HORSESHOE AND OUR RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

SO I WOULD I AM IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MR. RIDLEY.

SO I HAVE ATTENDED TEXT 21 WELL, WELL OVER A DOZEN TIMES IN THE SIX YEARS.

MAYBE IT'S EVEN MORE THAN THAT. I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER MCGOUGH WAS HERE, HE WAS ON THE BOARD.

HE ATTENDED EVERY SINGLE MONTH. I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, IT'S WONDERFUL TO HEAR SO MANY PEOPLE SUPPORTIVE OF TEXT 21 BUT I BET YOU'VE NEVER GONE TO A MEETING, HAVE YOU? MAY I ASK THE BODY THAT QUESTION? HAS ANYBODY ACTUALLY ATTENDED THIS MEETING? NO, YOU MAY NOT.

OKAY. WELL, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO NOD THEIR HEADS, I SAW A COUPLE PEOPLE NOD THEIR HEADS THAT THEY HAVEN'T ATTENDED.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY I LOVE DAVID DEAN. I THINK HE'S AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEING.

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION. IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR DALLAS TO BE A MEMBER.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS BACK TO THAT SAME CONVERSATION OF, DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CUT SOMETHING, EVEN IF SOMEBODY WE LIKE IS THE PERSON RUNNING IT? AND THAT IS WHY OUR BUDGET IS BLOATED BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO HURT DAVID DEAN.

AND I LOVE DAVID DEAN, AND NOBODY WANTS TO MAKE THE LIBRARY PEOPLE UNHAPPY, AND NOBODY WANTS TO FILL IN THE BLANKS.

[02:50:08]

AND IF YOU AREN'T WILLING TO PUT ASIDE THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? WE REALLY OUGHT TO BE CUTTING NORTH TEXAS COMMISSION AS COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON SAID, I DON'T CARE THAT IT COMES FROM AN ENTERPRISE FUND.

AND THAT NOTE AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE TILL WE GET BACK TO THE MAIN AMENDMENT.

AND I'LL ADD THAT ON BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S ANOTHER 55,000 OR SOMETHING CLOSE.

65,000. WELL, LET'S DO IT. BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE TO PUT ASIDE THE FACT THAT WE LIKE SOMEBODY AND RESPECT SOMEBODY FOR WHAT IS IT ACTUALLY DO FOR OUR TAXPAYERS. AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S NOT BRINGING REVENUE TO US.

IT'S NOT BRINGING NEW POLICY INFORMATION. GUS HAS A FANTASTIC VISION ZERO PROGRAM.

IT'S BEEN ADOPTED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT'S REPLICATED ALL OVER THE STATE.

DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE A MEMBER OF EVERY SINGLE ORGANIZATION THAT'S ADOPTED IT.

AND THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO TRY TO GET LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT FOR MORE FUNDING IS NOT DEPENDENT ON TEX 21.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT GUS AND CARLY COULD DO IN OUR CITY WITH A WHOLE NOTHER DAY THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING. AND I KNOW I HAVE THINGS I BET EVERY ONE OF US DO THAT WE WOULD LOVE HIM TO BE WORKING ON.

SO THIS IS WHERE ACTUALLY, WE'RE PROBABLY GETTING MORE THAN OUR MONEY'S WORTH BY PUTTING THIS MONEY BACK, LETTING GUS GO BACK TO WORK. BECAUSE REALLY, WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN ATTENDING THIS MEETING.

THANK YOU. SO I DON'T FORGET, I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU GUYS THE ORDER IS GOING TO BE MR. ROTH, MAYOR PRO TEM MR. BAZALDUA, THAT'S THE ORDER I'VE GOT, SO I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO FORGET YOU, MR. BAZALDUA. SO I'M SAYING IT OUT LOUD SO SOMEONE WILL REMIND ME. OKAY.

MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. JUST A CLARIFICATION, JACK, IS DOES THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ONE IN PARTICULAR, COME OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET? YES, SIR. THESE ARE INCLUDED IN.

I'M SORRY. THEY'RE INCLUDED IN A NON-DEPARTMENTAL DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET, WHERE THEY'RE PAID AS A CITY WIDE EXPENSE RATHER THAN IN THE SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, SOME MEMBERSHIPS ARE FUNDED IN INDIVIDUAL, SOME MEMBERSHIPS ARE FUNDED IN INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS.

THESE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE PART OF THE NON-DEPARTMENTAL CITYWIDE.

SO JUST TO CLARIFY THIS, THIS IS NOT IN THE TRANSPORTATION.

3340 LINE ITEM. THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS NOT. NO, SIR.

OKAY. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

JUST GOING OFF. COUNCIL MEMBER ROSS POINTING OUT THAT THIS ISN'T COMING FROM THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET.

SO TEXT 21 FOCUSES ON STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY.

GUS, CAN YOU TELL US HOW OFTEN DOES TEXT 21 MEET ANNUALLY? SO THEY MEET ONCE A MONTH? VIRTUALLY AND QUARTERLY IN-PERSON, THOSE IN-PERSON MEETINGS, ARE THEY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OR JUST HERE IN DALLAS THROUGHOUT THE STATE? OKAY.

SO HOW MUCH COST TRAVEL IS ACCOUNTED FOR THAT? HARDLY ANY. I'M SORRY. I MEAN, VERY LITTLE. OKAY.

AND SO WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT TEXT 21 HAS FOCUSED ON VISION ZERO BEING ONE THAT YOU BROUGHT YOU DISCUSSED. AND SO IS THIS THE ONLY GROUP THAT HAS ADOPTED THOSE POLICIES? AND WHERE DID VISION ZERO ORIGINATE? I CAN SPEAK ONLY FOR THE GROUP BECAUSE I'M VERY ACTIVE IN IT IS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE THE GROUP THAT HAVE ADOPTED THE CITY OF DALLAS VISION ZERO.

OTHER CITIES MAY HAVE THEIR OWN VERSIONS OF VISION ZERO, BUT THIS GROUP HAS ADOPTED THE CITY OF DALLAS ONE.

SO THE GROUP BEHIND TEXAS 21. THEY'RE GREAT. THEY'RE GREAT FRIENDS.

THEY CONTRIBUTE TO A LOT OF OUR CAMPAIGNS AND SUPPORT US.

AND IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DIG DEEPER IN AND SEE IF WE'RE GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE NOT SEEING THIS BODY PARTICIPATE IN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OPEN TO US.

SO THANK YOU. MAYOR. MR. BAZALDUA. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WE'RE ON THE AMENDMENT BY MR. RIDLEY TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, I DIDN'T WANT TO LET AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS US UP TO HIGHLIGHT BEING ON THE SAME SIDE AS MISS MENDELSOHN

[02:55:02]

WITH THIS ARGUMENT, AND WANTED TO COMMEND HER FOR HER COMMENTS.

BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOT CHERRY PICK AND AND CREATE SACRED COWS.

QUITE FRANKLY, IF THE ARGUMENT IS THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR US TO MAKE CUTS AND THAT IT'S ALL GOING TO BE FELT, I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO CHERRY PICK, ESPECIALLY KNOWING PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH MR. DEAN, AS HAS BEEN REFERENCED SEVERAL TIMES IN THIS DISCUSSION.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS ANYTHING PERSONAL TO THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE, BUT I THINK THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH A DISCUSSION AND TOOK ACTION THAT ACTUALLY ELIMINATED FUNDING FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE FULL TIME DOWN IN AUSTIN WORKING ON OUR BEHALF.

IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE HEADED, I.

AND WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE MEMBERSHIP OF LONG STANDING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY SHORT SIGHTED OF US TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT BY MR. RIDLEY AND JUST CHERRY PICK ONE ORGANIZATION OUT OF THIS.

SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT TO EXCLUDE IT FROM USE OF FUNDS OR SOURCE OF FUNDS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MR. RIDLEY? OR THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL MOTION. SO WE NEED TO JUST DO A VOICE VOTE ON THIS.

ALL IN FAVOR OF MR. RIDLEY'S AMENDMENT? SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? IT'S TOO CLOSE. WE NEED TO DO A RECORD SO I CAN GET US JUST.

JUST SO I CAN NO, I THINK THAT'S. YEAH, ACTUALLY A RECORD ROLL CALL.

VOTE? YEAH. ROLL CALL. YES. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER.

GRACEY. YES. COUNCILMEMBER. JOHNSON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER.

RESENDEZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CADENA. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BAZALDUA. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

I'M SORRY. NO. YEAH. HE HIS VOTE IS NO. CORRECT, MR..

BAZALDUA. CORRECT. OKAY. CORRECT. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BLAIR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER.

STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. ROTH. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER.

MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

WILLIS. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO. NO. MAYOR.

JOHNSON. NO. AND I WILL ASK COUNCILMEMBER BAZALDUA TO CLEARLY STATE HIS VOTE AGAIN.

NO THANK YOU. WITH SEVEN VOTING IN FAVOR, AYE.

OPPOSED THAT AMENDMENT FAILS. MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, JUST TO HELP ME GET THE COUNT EXACTLY RIGHT. IT'S NOT AGAIN, NO RECORD VOTES ARE BEING TAKEN.

WE'RE IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. SO THE AMENDMENT BY MR. RIDLEY FAILS. WE'RE BACK ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

AND SO DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION? BECAUSE THE ONLY PERSON WHO'S IN THE QUEUE RIGHT NOW IS SOMEONE WHO'S SPOKEN ALREADY. SO FAR, WE HAVE DISTRICTS TWO, 12 AND 14 WHO HAVE SPOKEN ON THE MAIN MOTION.

SO YOU RECOGNIZE MISS BLACKMON FOR FIVE MINUTES, BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION TO YOU TO CHANGE THE USE OF FUNDS TO TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, ADDING FOR SPEED HUMPS, SPEED TABLES, PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND CROSSWALKS.

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

SO YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR.

WE'RE ON A NEW AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION ON 20 THAT CHANGES THE USES AS SHE DESCRIBES YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. AND AGAIN I THINK I EXPLAINED THAT I DON'T WANT TO PUT 100,000 TO THE TAX RATE REDUCTION.

I GET A BIGGER ONE. BUT RIGHT HERE WE HEAR EVERY DAY OR I DO ABOUT CROSSWALKS TO SCHOOLS, CROSSWALKS TO THE PARKS LINES ON THE STREETS BECAUSE IT HELPS WITH CARS DETECTING THE SPACE.

AND I CALL GUS. AND GUS EITHER SAYS THE PAVEMENT IS TOO COLD OR HOT, OR MY FUNDS ARE LOW.

AND SO THERE'S ONE THING THAT WE CAN CONTROL HERE IS THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT GOES INTO THIS.

I KNOW THAT WITH FIFA, AND Y'ALL MAY NEED TO HELP ME.

WE DO HAVE SOME MONEY GOING TOWARDS THE FEE FOR TO GET READY FOR CROSSWALKS AND SUCH MOVING INTO FIFA, IS THAT CORRECT? I'LL ANSWER THAT. YES. OKAY.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO THE REST OF THE CITY? BECAUSE, I MEAN, I THINK I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE IN THE REST OF THE CITY.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEEDS ARE BEING MET WHILE WE'RE PREPARING FOR THIS BIG INTERNATIONAL,

[03:00:03]

AND I'M HOPING THAT 100,000 WILL GET US GET US THERE.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I DO SEE MR. CARLEY ON THE SIDE.

SO LAST YEAR, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SET OUT TO DO WAS TO BEGIN TO MORE PROACTIVELY LOOK AT WAYS TO ENHANCE THE ESTHETICS OF OUR ROADWAYS.

WE HEARD THAT FROM THE COUNCIL. WE PUT IN INVESTMENT IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE'RE STARTING FROM A POSITION OF BEING BEHIND.

SO ANY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT WILL ALLOW FOR US TO DO SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU MENTIONED, WHETHER IT'S SPEED HUMPS, CROSSWALKS, IT JUST ADDS TO WHAT WE'RE ALREADY BUDGETING FOR.

AND IT JUST GIVES MR. CARLEY THOSE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

WE DO KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED FIFA. WE KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY TIME IN OUR CITY.

AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO DO.

WE'RE GOING TO BE ON THE WORLD STAGE, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE KIND OF A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM IN PLACE ABOUT HOW WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.

AND SO WHETHER IT'S THE CROSSWALKS, THE SPEED HUMPS, THE SPEED TABLES, WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE STILL CATCHING UP.

AND I KNOW THAT MR. CROWLEY WILL USE EVERY DIME THAT WE GIVE HIM.

MR. CARNEY, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? ADDITIONALLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION, BECAUSE THAT'S MY QUESTION IS, WILL THIS MONEY BE ABLE TO BE DEPLOYED? ABSOLUTELY. WELL, WE WILL DEPLOY ALL THAT YOU GIVE TO US WHEN IT COMES TO STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS, BASED ON OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. I THINK YOU ANSWERED IT CORRECTLY AND ACCURATELY.

SO I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO TO ADD TO THE TO THE ANSWER.

AND SO, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE PROPERTY TAX RATE WOULD BE REDUCED BY A PENNY.

SPEAKING OF THE $97,000, IT IS A REDUCTION OF 0.00 $0.04.

SO IS THAT A PENNY? KENNY. OKAY? I'M JUST MAKING.

I'M JUST. THAT'S WHAT I'M READING TO. I'M JUST A FRACTION OF OPINION, OKAY? IT'S NOT A PENNY. SO THAT. SO WOULD WOULD WOULD OUR TAXPAYER SEE A REDUCTION IN THEIR BILL? NOT BASED ON THIS ONE AMENDMENT BY ITSELF, BUT DEPENDING UPON WHAT HAPPENS AS THE ACCUMULATION OF THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT.

I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING HERE IS I KNOW WE ALL GET SERVICE REQUESTS FOR PAVE MARKINGS.

I THINK WE'VE GONE TO A FERGUSON ROAD AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEY WANT THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR CROSSWALK AND HELP US REDUCE TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE'VE GOT TO PUT RESOURCES INTO THAT POT TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY. I KNOW WE WANT TO GO TO THE ACCUMULATION OF, OF, YOU KNOW, HALF A HALF A CENT, WHICH IS I BELIEVE 7 MILLION IS WHAT WE NEED TO GET TO FOR A HALF A CENT.

IS THAT CORRECT? THE THE POINT $0.05 IS $5.5 MILLION, I BELIEVE.

YES. OKAY. FIVE AND A HALF. OKAY. AND SO I JUST I JUST FEEL THAT THE NEED IS, IS GREATER.

I HEAR IT IN MY DISTRICT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MEET THAT THAT NEED ON A CITYWIDE BASIS.

I APOLOGIZE IF I MAY CORRECT MYSELF. THE POINT FIVE WAS THE TOTAL TAX RATE REDUCTION THAT THE CITY MANAGER PROPOSED GENERAL FUND AND DEBT SERVICE FOR A TOTAL OF $11 MILLION.

SO 0.25 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS ABOUT 5.5 MILLION AS PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S, I APOLOGIZE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MISS BLACKMON TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION. THANK YOU. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.

THE REDIRECTION OF THE USE OF FUNDS AWAY FROM TAX DEDUCTION IS ACTUALLY OPPOSITE TO THE POINT OF THIS ENTIRE EXERCISE.

THE WAY WE GET A BIG TAX REDUCTION ACTION IS AN ACCUMULATION OF SMALL TAX REDUCTIONS.

AND THIS IS A SMALL CUT. IT'S JUST UNDER $100,000.

BUT WHEN WE START ADDING THEM TOGETHER, THAT'S EXACTLY THE POINT THE MAYOR MADE IN HIS MEMO.

SO I SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, FOR BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR CHALLENGING US. WE ARE FINALLY DOING THE THING THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES HAVE ASKED US TO DO YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND LET'S DO THAT WORK AND MAKE THE TAX CUTS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO HAVE A THRIVING CITY.

THANK YOU, MR. BAZALDUA. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MISS BLACKMON.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I KNEW IT WASN'T GOING TO LAST LONG.

I AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS AND WANTED TO JUST SAY YOU KNOW, AND EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS THIS IS A USE AND, AND IT'S BEEN REFERENCED THAT YOU MAYOR HAVE GIVEN A CHALLENGE AND SPECIFIC HOPE FOR TAX RATE REDUCTION. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM YOU IN THE STATE OF THE CITY AND IN OTHER INSTANCES WHERE YOU HAVE CHALLENGED US TO GET BACK TO THE BASICS AND TO

[03:05:03]

PRIORITIZE. AND SO I THINK ONE THING THAT IS BEING MISSED IN THE REFERENCING TO YOUR CHALLENGE TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE IS THAT YOU SAID TO FOCUS ON WASTEFUL SPENDING UTILIZING THIS FOR CORE SERVICES AND FOR WHAT WE HEAR ABOUT MOST FREQUENTLY FROM OUR RESIDENTS FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.

SO WE CAN'T POSSIBLY HAVE TOO MUCH IN REPAIRING OUR STREETS TO GET US TO A BETTER PLACE WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS CITY.

IT'S QUITE FRANKLY, EMBARRASSING FOR US TO BE THE NINTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY AND FOR SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO LOOK THE WAY THAT IT DOES.

AND THAT IS JUST DOWN TO BEING AS BASIC AS, NOT JUST CROSSWALKS AS A WHOLE, BUT HAVING THEM AROUND OUR SCHOOLS. PRIORITIZING THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, JUST LIKE YOU MENTIONED.

MR. MAYOR, ABOUT YOUR DETAIL. I WANT ALL OF THE CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF DALLAS TO HAVE SAFETY AND LITTLE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY, LIKE PROVIDING THEM WITH ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE, CROSSWALK MARKINGS IS IS A HUGE PRIORITY AND SHOULD BE OF THIS COUNCIL. SO I DON'T WANT US TO CONTINUE TO FRAME THAT.

YOU HAVE GIVEN US A CHALLENGE, A SPECIFIC USE OF FUNDS WHICH IS A TAX RATE REDUCTION AND MISS THE FACT THAT YOU'VE ALSO CHALLENGED US TO GET BACK TO THE BASICS AND INVEST MORE INTO THE CORE PRIORITIES OF CITY FUNCTIONS. AND I BELIEVE THIS AMENDMENT ACCOMPLISHES JUST THAT.

WANT US TO BE PRUDENT? I WANT US TO BE HAVE THE FORESIGHT TO SEE THAT IF WE GO, IF WE GO TOO FAR, QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD COME BACK AND BITE US.

AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A PLACE WHERE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM NOW BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION THAT IS PROPOSED AND PASSED POTENTIAL BALLOT MEASURES, AS WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IN THE PAST THAT WOULD HAMSTRING US.

WE I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON PUTTING AS MUCH DOLLARS TO OUR CORE SERVICES TO IMPROVE OUR CITY AS POSSIBLE, AND I THINK THAT WE CAN DO THAT AND DO WHAT YOU'VE ASKED FOR, WHICH IS FOCUSING ON WHAT CAN BE CUT AND WASTEFUL SPENDING.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS DOING. IF WE ARE LOOKING AT US NOT GETTING THE ADEQUATE RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT FROM THESE MEMBERSHIPS SPECIFICALLY A BETTER USE FOR THIS, IN MY OPINION VERSUS NOT EVEN SAVING A PENNY OVER ANNUALLY, AND I GET ACCUMULATION.

I THINK THAT THAT THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT IF YOU ADD ONE PLUS ONE, IT'S GOING TO BE TWO.

BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE STILL HAVE A NEED AND WE HAVE A CAPACITY TO TO INHERIT THESE FUNDS AND PRODUCE SOME SORT OF RESULT FOR THE RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.

THE INTENT OF MY AMENDMENT WAS TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.

WITH THAT, IF I COULD HAVE SOMEONE WITH TRANSPORTATION.

PLEASE COME UP.

AND, JACK, I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH YOU FIRST.

BUT THE SOURCE OF FUNDING IS NOT COMING FROM THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. THAT'S COMING FROM NON-DEPARTMENTAL LINE ITEM.

THANK YOU. MR. CALI, DOCTOR CALI, HOW WOULD YOU USE THESE FUNDS? AND WOULD YOU HAVE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THESE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SPEAKING OF? WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ABSORB THOSE WITH NO ISSUES WITH THE RESOURCE RESTRICTIONS OR CONSTRAINTS.

WHAT OTHER SOURCES HAVE WE RECEIVED FOR PAVEMENT MARKINGS OR FOR CROSSWALKS? SO CURRENTLY, WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET IS ABOUT $3.5 MILLION IN THE BUDGET FOR PAVEMENT MARKINGS, WHICH INCLUDES AN ALLOCATION OR PROVISION FOR ABOUT 300 K FOR FIFA RELATED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PAVEMENT MARKINGS IN THE MAINLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, IN ADDITION TO THE LEFTOVER OF ARPA FUNDS AND THE AND THE DART PAVEMENT EXCESS SALES TAX FOR PAVEMENT MARKINGS IN ADDITION TO THE BASE OF 1.2 MILLION.

ALL ALL OF THESE ACCOUNT FOR $3.5 MILLION. OKAY.

AND WERE YOU ABLE TO FULFILL ALL THOSE PAVEMENT MARKINGS? NOT BECAUSE OF A MONETARY ISSUE, BUT MORE OF BECAUSE OF A TIME LAPSE.

[03:10:06]

I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO DO PAVEMENT MARKINGS, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE A SHORT WINDOW TO BE ABLE TO, TO DO THAT. AND SO WITH THESE DOLLARS BE ABLE TO BE EXPENSED IN SUCH A SHORT TIME PERIOD, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE SO MANY OTHER PROJECTS IN THE WORK. SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED ABOUT 100 K OR SO.

SO YES, WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF ABSORBING THOSE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. MR. ROTH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MISS BLACKMON.

THANK YOU. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.

I WANTED TO COMPLIMENT BOTH THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND SOME OF THE OTHER COMMENTS.

THIS THIS SENDS A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.

I THINK THAT WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS US TO ASK THEM TO REALLOCATE FUNDS WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENTS FOR, FOR IMPORTANT PRIORITIES. AND THEY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT BY TAKING THIS MONEY AND REDUCING OUR TAX RATE, I THINK WE'RE SENDING A MESSAGE TO OUR CITIZENS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE COST EFFECTIVE IN THEIR IN THEIR REAL ESTATE TAX OBLIGATIONS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE SENDING A, A NICE MESSAGE TO OUR DEPARTMENTS TO SAY, LOOK, IF THIS IF THESE ITEMS BECOME PRIORITIES, WE NEED YOU ALL TO TO REALLOCATE YOUR FUNDS WITHIN YOUR BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE THINGS GET HANDLED.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A REAL INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY TO TO CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION.

AND I THINK IT GOES EXACTLY WITH THE THE SPIRIT OF THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT.

SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MISS BLACKMON.

YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.

I THINK IF I WAS TO SPEAK TO RESIDENTS AND SAY FOR A HALF PENNY YOU KNOW, WE CAN LOWER YOUR, YOUR TAX RATE OR WE CAN SHOW SOMETHING TANGIBLE WITH REGARD TO SAFETY.

I MEAN, WHAT I HEAR ABOUT ALL DAY LONG IS SPEEDING, TRAFFIC CALMING, ALL OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO WHETHER THEY'RE LOCATED IN THE DISTRICT OR IF THEY ARE IN THE CITY, WE ALL KNOW THAT PEOPLE DRIVE ALL OVER THIS CITY EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND SAFETY IN ONE PLACE IS SAFETY REALLY, THAT CAN TOUCH ALL OF US.

I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE AGENDA ITEMS OR AMENDMENTS THAT DO REDUCE THE TAX RATE AND THOSE MAKE SENSE.

IT MAY BE ABOUT MEMBERSHIPS ETC., BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M IN OFFICE SPACE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE GOING OUT AND WE'RE GRABBING THE LITTLE FRACTIONS OF PENNIES TO SEE WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO. BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN BE HALF PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH, AND NOT TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD TO SOMETHING THAT IS SO VISIBLE AND TANGIBLE TO RESIDENTS. WITH REGARD TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, FRANKLY, POPPED UP ON THE RESIDENT SATISFACTION SURVEY ACROSS MANY DISTRICTS, WHICH WAS AROUND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO HEAR OUR RESIDENTS ON THIS ONE.

THANK YOU. MISS CADENA, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MISS BLACKMON.

YES, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENTS AS CHIEF OF STAFF OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.

I THINK ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINTS THAT I HEARD FROM RESIDENTS WAS SPEED, SPEED, REDUCING A NEED FOR CROSSWALKS AND SAFETY, ESPECIALLY AROUND OUR SCHOOLS. AND SO I WOULD DEFINITELY BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS BLACKMON, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. ANYONE ELSE? BEFORE I GO TO BACK TO CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN FOR THREE MINUTES, CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

I REALLY HAVE JUST A PARLIAMENTARY REQUEST. IF WE COULD HAVE SOMEBODY RECITE WHAT THE ACTUAL MOTION IS BEFORE WE VOTE ON ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS ACTUALLY GOING FORWARD. IF THERE'S AMENDMENTS, MEANING, I THINK SOMETIMES WE'RE CONFUSED.

ARE WE VOTING ON THE MAIN AMENDMENT OR ON THE MAIN MOTION OR THE AMENDMENT? AND SO IF WE COULD JUST CLARIFY THAT BEFORE WE VOTE EACH TIME, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. JUST MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR. CLARIFICATION. BEFORE WE DO ANY STRAW VOTING, LIKE GET A CLARIFICATION ON WHAT THE FINAL AMENDED AMENDMENT, WHAT THE ACTUAL ITEM IS THAT WE'RE VOTING ON EACH TIME IF THERE'S BEEN AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNDERLYING MOTION. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. OKAY. IS ANYONE OKAY? MR. RESENDEZ. YOU'RE ASKED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT AS WELL, FOR THE SAME REASONS THAT OUR DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS MENTIONED.

I HEAR MORE ABOUT THE THE NEEDS IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE OR STREETS AND ALL THAT.

MORE MORE SO THAN I DO THE TAX RATE, HONESTLY.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THIS DISCUSSION IS, IS CENTERED AROUND THE TAX RATE.

AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US LIKE TO SOME OF US LIKE TO COMPARE OUR TAX RATE TO THE SUBURBS AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT DALLAS TAX RATE MAY BE HIGHER THAN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE SUBURBS,

[03:15:03]

BUT IN MANY CASES, CASES, THE FAMILIES IN PLACES LIKE MCKINNEY, FRISCO OR PLANO, THEY ACTUALLY PAY MORE IN REAL DOLLARS BECAUSE THEIR HOME VALUES ARE MUCH HIGHER. AND DALLAS ISN'T A SUBURB. WE MAINTAIN AGING ROADS, BRIDGES AND WATER SYSTEMS. WE FUND ONE OF THE LARGEST POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE.

WE SUPPORT PARKS, LIBRARIES AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS THAT SERVE THE ENTIRE REGION.

WE ALSO HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST CHILD POVERTY RATES IN THE NATION AND REMAIN ONE OF THE MOST SOCIO ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

THE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS COST MONEY, AND THEY DON'T GO AWAY BY SIMPLY CUTTING THE TAX RATE.

DALLAS STILL ATTRACTS LARGE US CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS BECAUSE BUSINESSES LOOK AT WORKFORCE, PUBLIC SAFETY, QUALITY OF LIFE, INFRASTRUCTURE, AIRPORTS AND CULTURE, NOT JUST THE TAX RATE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES IF WE WANT TO BE A CITY THAT INVESTS IN SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR PEOPLE, OR DO WE WANT TO RACE TO THE BOTTOM WITH CUTS THAT HURT OUR FUTURE? THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MISS BLACKMON? MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. AGAIN, THE INTENT OF MY. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT AGAIN.

THE INTENT WAS TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY HOPE THAT MEMBERS OF THIS BODY, IF THEY HAD CHOSEN A PRIORITY TO INVEST TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IN THEIR OWN AMENDMENTS FOR THAT REASON.

THANK YOU. MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES AS WELL.

THANK YOU. I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE I WAS CLARIFYING.

THIS IS NOT A REFERENDUM ON WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD BE SAFE FOR OUR KIDS AND NOT HAVE CROSSWALKS.

THE BUDGET IN THESE IN THIS DEPARTMENT HAS AMPLE MONEY FOR THAT.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO REALLOCATE MONEY FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M SUGGESTING THAT THE THE TAX RATE REDUCTION IS APPROPRIATE.

AND WE ARE NOT ELIMINATING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRIORITIZE A SERVICE WITHIN A DEPARTMENT IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADVOCATE.

SO I WOULD I WOULD AGAIN OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT.

AND I'D SUGGEST THAT THAT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS, AND IT DOES NOT ADVERSELY IMPACT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR KIDS.

MISS BLACKMON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.

AND FOR CLARITY, I DID PROPOSE THIS IN 18, BUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING AT THE TAX RATE, IT WASN'T CONSIDERED FIRST.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO BE EFFICIENT. DISPOSE OF TWO THINGS AT ONCE.

SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. I WASN'T GOING TO USE ANYONE ELSE'S TIME TO SAY IT, BUT THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE. WE THAT'S 100% TRUE.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST MISS BLACKMAN'S AMENDMENT TO ITEM 20? THEN. SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? SAY NAY. NAY. WE'RE GOING TO NEED.

WE NEED TO DO THE RECORD. THE THE ROLL CALL. OKAY.

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

NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY.

YES. COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BLACKMON. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER.

ROTH. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER.

RIDLEY. NO. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. WILLIS. YES.

MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO. NO. MAYOR. JOHNSON. NO.

WITH NINE VOTING IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSED. THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, SO NOW EVERYONE, AMENDMENT 20 IS NOW THE ORIGINAL SOURCES, BUT A DIFFERENT USE.

THE USE HAS CHANGED AS THE MOST RECENT AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED DESCRIBED.

SO NOW WE ARE ON AMENDMENT. WE'RE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER 20 AS AMENDED BY MISS BLACKMON.

AND THE FOLKS WHO HAVE SPOKEN ON THE AMENDMENT ARE DISTRICT 14, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, 12, 11, TWO AND SEVEN. SO ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST IT? CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN YOU RECOGNIZE NOW FOR THREE MINUTES.

I MOVE TO AMEND THE MOTION TO INCLUDE THE NORTH TEXAS COMMISSION.

JACK, IF YOU CAN VERIFY THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THAT, I THINK WE HAD ALREADY LOOKED THAT UP PREVIOUSLY.

YES, MA'AM. THE NORTH TEXAS COMMISSION IS FUNDED THROUGH THE CONVENTION CENTER ENTERPRISE FUND FOR $60,000.

THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE. AND THE USE OF FUNDS WOULD BE TO PAY DOWN DEBT FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.

[03:20:05]

YES. YES. THE FUNDING SOURCE IS CONVENTION CENTER, SO YOU CAN'T MOVE IT OVER AND USE IT FOR TAX RATE.

BUT I THINK COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSOHN HAS JUST RECOMMENDED A USE WHICH I THINK IS APPROPRIATE.

OKAY. SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE NOW ON AN AMENDMENT BY MISS MENDELSOHN, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN TO ITEM 20 THAT MAINTAINS THE SAME SOURCE THAT WE HAD NOW, BUT IS AMENDING THE USE TO NOW BE JUST THAT PORTION. ADDING THAT ITEM OF MEMBERSHIPS INCLUDE THE NORTH TEXAS COMMISSION AND KEEP THE AMENDED USE, WHICH IS NOW FOR STREET REPAIR ALLEYS EVERY WHATEVER ELSE WAS IN THERE.

BUT ALSO HAVE AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF THE NORTH TEXAS COMMISSION GO TO DEBT RELIEF FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE I WAS TRYING TO FOLLOW YOUR SUGGESTION THAT WE CLARIFY WHAT EVERYBODY IS VOTING ON NOW. SO THAT'S WHAT THE MENDELSOHN AMENDMENT DOES.

AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED. SO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR FIVE MINUTES IF YOU'D LIKE IT TO EXPLAIN YOUR AMENDMENT.

THE NORTH TEXAS COMMISSION IS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT'S BEEN UNDERUTILIZED BY OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.

THEY MOSTLY LOBBY DOWN IN AUSTIN FOR REGIONAL PRIORITIES.

THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY WAS EDUCATION. COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON, CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, YOU PROBABLY APPRECIATE THAT GREATLY, BUT IN THIS BUILDING WE DON'T DO EDUCATION. THEY DID WORK ON OTHER ITEMS LIKE WATER, WHICH IS OF COURSE IMPORTANT.

BUT THEY DON'T TAKE OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. THEY DEVELOP THEIR OWN LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

AND FRANKLY, I THINK IT IS NOT MATCHING UP WITH OURS.

I THINK WE ARE NOT PARTICIPATING. AND FOR THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE, I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER PLACE THAT WE CAN HAVE BOTH EFFICIENCY AND NOT UTILIZE THAT RELATIONSHIP AS A MEMBER. AND I PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO REMIND YOU HOW MUCH DEBT WE STILL HAVE LEFT ON THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT PERHAPS JACK WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.

I'D RATHER NOT. I'LL HAVE TO LOOK IT UP. I'M SORRY, I APOLOGIZE.

I'LL JUST CHARACTERIZE IT AS 200 MILLION AS THE CORPUS THAT WE STILL HAVE LEFT, OF WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TEARING DOWN THE BUILDING AND WE STILL HAVE ALL THAT DEBT. SO $60,000 OR 65,000, WHATEVER THIS IS, IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING REALLY FOR THAT.

BUT IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE TO PAY DOWN OUR DEBTS.

AND YES, YOU WERE CORRECT. 193 MILLION. THANK YOU.

SO THAT'S WHAT THE MOTION IS. THANK YOU. OKAY.

AND I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING I MISSTATED EARLIER.

I STATED THE FOLKS WHO HAD SPOKEN ALREADY ON THE MAIN MOTION, THAT WAS ACTUALLY MR. RIDLEY'S AMENDMENT. THE ONLY PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ON THE MAIN MOTION WERE DISTRICTS TWO, 12 AND 14. SO WE'RE NOT ON THE MAIN MOTION YET, BUT WE WILL GET BACK TO IT EVENTUALLY. SO ANYONE WISHES ON FOR OR AGAINST MISS MENDELSOHN'S AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH WAS AMENDMENT 20 BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. I DON'T SEE ANYONE, SO ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.

SO NOW WE'RE ON ITEM 20 AS AMENDED BY BOTH MISS BLACKMON AND CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN.

SO WE'RE BACK ON THE MAIN MOTION ON 20 AND AGAIN DISTRICTS TWO, 12 AND 14.

HAVE SPOKEN. CAN SOMEONE CLARIFY REALLY QUICKLY WHAT THIS AMENDMENT NOW DOES? SOURCES AND USES WISE. AND THEN I'LL OPEN UP THE DEBATE AGAIN.

I SAY AGAIN, I MEAN JUST REOPEN, NOT START IT OVER.

YEAH. THE AMENDMENT IS UNDERSTANDING IS THE MEMBERSHIP SAYS LISTED A SOURCE OF FUNDS TOTALING 97,000 TO USE AS MISS BLACKMON PROPOSED FOR TRANSPORTATION, STREET HUMPS, SIDEWALK CROSSINGS.

ET CETERA. AND ALSO, AS AMENDED BY MISS MENDELSOHN, TAKING THE NORTH TEXAS COMMISSION 60,000 AND PUTTING IT TOWARDS CONVENTION CENTER DEBT.

OKAY. THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT IT DOES. EVERYONE. ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THAT? SEEING NONE, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD.

SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS ROTH, BLAIR CADENA STEWART BLACKMON.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS, MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO COUNCIL MEMBERS RESENDEZ WEST MENDELSOHN GRACEY AND JOHNSON.

WITH MAJORITY OF THE SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY, WE'RE AT A GOOD POINT FOR FOR LUNCH, I THINK.

AND I THINK WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION BUSINESS TO HANDLE, TOO.

[03:25:03]

SO LET ME CONFIRM THAT THE. YES, SIR. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I JUST WANTED TO. I JUST WANTED TO ALSO JUST.

I'VE BEEN SHOWING MY PLACARD. OH, YES. YES YES YES.

LOOK AT THAT. I'M SORRY. IT'S NOTED. I'M SORRY.

WELL DONE. SORRY. WELL, VERY, VERY WELL DONE.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND, MEMBERS. AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU WITH A ACCURATE EXECUTIVE SESSION SCRIPT.

[CLOSED SESSION]

OKAY. IT IS 12:54 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2025.

THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 551 .071 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS DESCRIBED ON TODAY'S AGENDA ITEM NUMBERS 1112 AND I'M SORRY, ITEMS NUMBER 12, 13 AND 14 AND UNDER SECTION 551 .074 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER DESCRIBED IN TODAY'S AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 12. WITH THAT, WE STAND AT RECESS UNTIL 2 P.M.

2 P.M.. ALL RIGHT. THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS COMPLETE.

IT'S CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTIONS FIVE, 51.071 AND 551 .074 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

AND AT 5:38 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2025, WE'VE RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION.

ALRIGHT MADAM CITY MANAGER, IT'S STILL YOUR SHOW.

TECHNICALLY, WE'RE ON A BRIEFING, SO WANT TO LET US KNOW THAT WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

YOUR PANEL. GOOD TO GO. YES, SIR. WE ARE PREPARED AND READY TO GO.

I BELIEVE WE'RE STARTING ON AMENDMENT NUMBER 21.

OKAY, SO IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO LAY OUT AMENDMENT 21? YES, MAYOR. PLEASE. I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENT 21 WITH THE SOURCE OF FUNDING BEING REDUCED, FUNDING IN THE HUMAN RESOURCE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY MINIATURES BY 10%, AND THE AMOUNT OF 427,873, AND THE USE OF FUNDS BEING REDUCED TO PROPERTY TAX RATE BY 0.01 $0.09 PER 100 VALUATION.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? MAYOR PRO TEM? YES. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. EVERYONE, WE ARE BACK ON OUR BRIEFING AGENDA.

ITEM A AND THIS IS AMENDMENT NUMBER 21. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. AFTER HAVING SOME TIME TO CONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT, I BELIEVE IT IS APPROPRIATE AS THE CITY FINDS CREATIVE WAYS TO AUTOMATE AND STREAMLINE CITY SERVICES. I THINK A 10% CUT TO HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IS APPROPRIATE.

I'M CONCERNED WITH THE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT YET BEEN AS EFFECTIVE AS I WOULD LIKE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS CUT WILL REINFORCE CONVERSATIONS AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT AND TO WHERE TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES.

I ALSO DO NOT WANT TO CUT FROM FRONT FACING DEPARTMENTS, AS THEY PROVIDE SERVICES FOR IMMEDIATE BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC.

I HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT THIS IMPACT OF 10% WILL BE MINIMAL, AND THIS CUT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEEPENING OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE CUT.

WHEN WE HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD TO MAKE HAPPEN. THIS CUT AMOUNT, THIS CUT AMOUNTS TO $427,873 AND WILL CUT FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S TOTAL BUDGET, ALLOWING THE DIRECTOR TO EXERCISE DISCRETION IN WHERE THOSE CUTS ARE MOST NECESSARY.

I APPRECIATE STAFF'S WORK IN COMPILING THIS INFORMATION TO HELP ME MAKE THIS INFORMED DECISION.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. OKAY, I HAVE A NEW INTERFACE ON MY COMPUTER, SO I'M TRYING TO GET USED TO HOW THIS LOOKS.

MR. BAZALDUA. OKAY.

OKAY, I GET IT. WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO CONFUSE THE MAYOR.

NOW I GET IT, OKAY? ALL RIGHT, MISS CADENA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT 21.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. JACK, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT TO HR WITH THE 10% CUT.

HOW DOES OUR OUR HR STAFFING COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES OF OUR SIZE? THANK YOU AGAIN. JACK IRELAND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

AND SO IF I MAY START WITH JUST TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE HR DEPARTMENT DOES INCLUDING TALENT ACQUISITION, RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS AND COMPLIANCE WITH EEOC, FMLA, ADA FILING OF GRIEVANCES AND DEALING WITH EMPLOYEES IN THAT MANNER, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING THROUGHOUT THE CITY, EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.

WORKDAY ADMINISTRATION COMPENSATION ANALYSIS AND EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION.

AND SO OUR HR DEPARTMENT IN COMPARED TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN PEER CITIES, IS FUNDED AT A MUCH LOWER AMOUNT.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE DALLAS BUDGET IS RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROACHING $9 MILLION, WHEREAS THE BUDGET IN HOUSTON IS NEAR 27 MILLION.

[03:30:06]

AUSTIN 26.5 MILLION. AND SOME OF OUR OTHER PEERS $35 MILLION IN PHOENIX.

ET CETERA. SO WE ARE BEHIND IN OUR SPENDING IN OUR HR DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE BEHIND OUR PEERS AS FAR AS STAFFING. AND I KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE HR DEPARTMENT IS NOT A RESIDENT FACING.

BUT DO REALIZE AND REMEMBER THAT EVERY SINGLE FORWARD FACING EMPLOYEE THAT THE THAT THE CITY HAS INTERACTS WITH HR.

SO HR SUPPORTS AND HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL 15,000 POSITIONS OR EMPLOYEES.

AND SO I DON'T CONSIDER IT A JUST A BACK OFFICE, BUT IT'S AN EXTENSION OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.

BUT COMPARED TO OUR PEERS, WE ARE A, A LOWER STAFFED AND A LOWER FUNDED DEPARTMENT.

YEAH. AS A FORMER EMPLOYEE, I DO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT HR IS.

I WAS ABLE TO INTERACT WITH SO MANY OF OUR HR EMPLOYEES AND KNOW THAT THEY HANDLE SO MANY DIFFERENT TASKS TO HELP US BE BETTER EMPLOYEES AND HELP OUR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS. HOW MUCH DID THE TEAM SAVE THE CITY IN THE CURRENT BUDGET? WOULD YOU EXPECT? SO FOR THE FY 26 BUDGET THAT THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDED AS WE WENT THROUGH ALL DEPARTMENTS AND LOOK FOR EFFICIENCIES THERE WAS $190,000 OF REDUCTIONS WITHIN THE HR DEPARTMENT FROM THE REDUCTION OF TWO POSITIONS AND THEN WITHIN THE HR DEPARTMENT, AS I MENTIONED, ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT IS EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION, WHERE THE NEW CONTRACTS AND THE PLAN DESIGN CHANGES, ETC.

RESULTS IN A $12 MILLION COST AVOIDANCE FOR THE CITY FOR OUR EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S ALL, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

AMENDMENT 21. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO THIS AMENDMENT LOOKS SUPER FAMILIAR TO ME.

I SEE THAT YOU'RE REDUCING EXPENDITURES BY 10%, BUT ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MATH THAT UNDERLIES THAT, ISN'T THAT REALLY AN EFFECTIVE 5% REDUCTION? YES, MA'AM.

AS WE DID TWO WEEKS AGO WITH THE BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT YOU PROPOSED, THAT THAT USED THE SAME SOURCE OF FUNDS, IT IS A REDUCTION BASED ON SACRED CODES. IT'S A REDUCTION BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY MANAGER.

WE DID GO AHEAD AND SUBTRACT THAT AMENDMENT NUMBER TEN, FURTHER REDUCE THE DEPARTMENT IN THE TRAINING LINE ITEM TO GET TO THE $427,000, WHICH WOULD BE EFFECTIVELY 5%. SO THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT THE MANAGER HERSELF ALREADY REDUCED, HR, IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN HERE. SO THE 10% IS INCLUSIVE OF HERS, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. AND ALL THE OTHER EXPENSES, ACTUALLY, THEY WOULD BE SORT OF OVERSUBSCRIBED FOR PAYING THEIR PORTION OF IT AND ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS THAT ARE CHARGED BACK. CORRECT.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO YOU WERE JUST MENTIONING THAT ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF HR IS BENEFITS.

DO WE HAVE A BENEFITS CONSULTANT? WE DO. WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE US AS HAVING OUR BENEFITS OUTSOURCED? THERE ARE COMPONENTS OF THE HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN.

OF COURSE. WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR.

WE HAVE A CONSULTANT, BUT WE HAVE STAFF THAT ARE ALSO ASSIGNED THAT.

WORK ON THAT WITH THE CONSULTANTS. YES, MA'AM.

SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF A IN CITY STAFF AS WELL AS CONSULTANTS THAT THAT WORK ON THE BENEFITS PLAN.

SO YOU JOKE THAT SOMETIMES I ASK YOU QUESTIONS THAT YOU NEED TO LOOK UP.

SO I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ONE OF THOSE. AND THEN WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING IT UP, OR MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE IS LOOKING IT UP, I CAN ASK YOU SOME OTHER QUESTIONS, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT. SO THE QUESTION I'D LIKE TO HAVE ASKED IS HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DO THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW VERSUS HOW MANY DO THEY HAVE SEVEN YEARS AGO. I'LL LET JEANETTE LOOK THAT UP. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE GO TO OTHER QUESTIONS. RIGHT NOW, EVERY DEPARTMENT SEEMS TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE EMBEDDED THAT ARE DOING HR WORK. CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT KIND OF WORK THAT IS THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL? SO WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DPD THAT HAS ITS OWN RECRUITING, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUBMITTING TIME SHEETS, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF EMPLOYEE REVIEW WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ON THEIR OWN TERMINATIONS THAT THEY'RE MOSTLY DOING ON THEY WALK THROUGH THE THINGS THAT A DEPARTMENT DOES VERSUS WHAT HR IS DOING.

OKAY. AND I SEE NINA ON THE SIDE. I'M GOING TO ASK HER TO COME HELP ME WITH THIS.

BUT TO START WITH SOME DEPARTMENTS DO HAVE POSITIONS THAT THEY HAVE ASSIGNED TO DO DIFFERENT TYPES OF HR RELATED FUNCTIONS.

[03:35:05]

AND SO AS YOU MENTIONED, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE STAFF THAT ARE INVOLVED IN RECRUITMENT.

ALL MANAGERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS, BUT THAT IS DONE UNDER THE SUPERVISION AND OVERSIGHT OF STAFF WITHIN THE HR DEPARTMENT.

DEPARTMENTS MAY HAVE STAFF WHO HELP THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS OF OF HIRING, BUT THEY DON'T DEAL WITH THINGS WITH EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, WITH COMPLIANCE WITH EEOC, WITH FMLA, WITH CITY WIDE TRAINING, WITH WORKDAY ADMINISTRATION, WITH COMPENSATION ANALYSIS. SO THERE'S THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORK THAT'S DONE.

I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THAT THE WORK THAT'S DONE IN THE HR DEPARTMENT IS, IS THE HIGHER LEVEL LEVEL FUNCTION WORK AND MAYBE MORE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES AND ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS.

SO YOU JUST RATTLED OFF A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.

SPECIFICALLY YOU MENTIONED FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT ADMINISTRATION. DON'T WE OUTSOURCE THAT? WE OUTSOURCED NINA ARIAS DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

WE DO OUTSOURCE THE ELIGIBILITY FOR FMLA, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION IS DONE INTERNALLY.

IN OTHER WORDS, OUR VENDOR REVIEWS THE DOCUMENTATION THAT DOCTORS SUBMIT OR PROVIDE IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST FOR FMLA.

SO THAT PORTION IS DONE BY A VENDOR. HOWEVER THE ADMINISTRATION IN TERMS OF POLICY, IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING TRENDS IN TERMS OF EDUCATION IS ALL DONE BY H.R STAFF.

SO WE HAVEN'T CHANGE FMLA POLICY BECAUSE IT'S A LAW.

IT'S A FEDERAL LAW AND WE JUST FOLLOW THE LAW.

SO HOPEFULLY NOBODY'S SPENDING TIME ON THAT. IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN FOR JUST A SECOND ON THE FMLA PIECE WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT ADMINISTRATION, SHE'S REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE PIECE.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A CONSULTANT WHO PROVIDES THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT, WE'RE STILL DOING THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICE THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING TO THE CITY IS WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR.

SO THERE'S A COMPLIANCE PIECE THAT'S STILL DONE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. I DIDN'T MEAN TO JUMP IN, BUT I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR. THANK YOU. AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE THAT ARE WORKING ON FMLA? ONE.

AND HOW MUCH TIME IN A IN A DAY OR A WEEK OR A MONTH, ARE THEY SPENDING ON CONTRACT MONITORING? THIS IS A FUNCTION OF OUR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS TEAM.

SO WE HAVE A PERSON THAT OVERSEES THAT WORK. BUT SHE ALSO OVERSEES EOC.

ADA AND AND AND OTHER ABLE TO QUANTIFY THAT NUMBER OUT OF A MONTH.

HOW MANY DAYS OR HOURS IS A PERSON SPENDING TO MONITOR A CONTRACT FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT ARE VERY EXPENSIVE, THAT WE APPROVED ON THAT CONTRACT? HOW ABOUT 10% OF HER TIME? I'M SORRY, ABOUT 10% OF HER TIME. YES, 10% OF AN FTE ON FMLA SPECIFICALLY.

SO. WOW, THAT'S QUITE A BIT FOR MONITORING A CONTRACT.

WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH US? OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM I'M GOING TO ASK ABOUT IS COMPENSATION ANALYSIS.

DO WE NOT OUTSOURCE THAT OR ARE YOU GUYS DOING YOUR OWN COMPENSATION SURVEYS.

WE DO COMPENSATION SURVEYS TO NOT ONLY THE WE DO AN ANNUAL REVIEW THAT IS INTERNAL, AND WE DO HAVE A COMPENSATION VENDOR THAT TO ASSIST WITH.

I WOULD SAY, FOR INSTANCE, A MEET AND CONFER.

HOWEVER, THE BRUNT OF THE COMPENSATION ANALYSIS IS DONE INTERNALLY.

IN PARTICULAR, WHEN SOMEONE NEEDS TO GO FROM ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER OR A NEW PERSON COMES IN THE ORGANIZATION LOOKING AT THEIR COMPENSATION IN RELATION TO ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS EQUITY AND THAT WE ARE REWARDING EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, CONSISTENTLY.

SO THEY'RE NOT DOING COMPENSATION SURVEYS OR SALARY SURVEYS.

THEY'RE GIVING GUIDANCE TO MANAGERS. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? NO. THEY ARE COMPLETING COMPENSATION SURVEYS, INDIVIDUAL COMPENSATION SURVEYS FOR DEPARTMENTS SO THAT WE, WE GET REQUESTS ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS, I WOULD SAY THOUSANDS OF TRANSACTIONS RELATED TO EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION.

IT EITHER BE THAT SOMEONE IS BEING PROMOTED AND ALL THAT WORK IS DONE INTERNALLY.

SO I'M SORRY, ARE YOU SAYING THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY CALLING AROUND AND PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR OWN SALARY SURVEY? THERE ARE CERTAIN TOOLS THAT ARE USED. FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE ERP, SO WE HAVE SOME SOFTWARE THAT IS UTILIZED.

BUT IN ADDITION TO JUST LOOKING EXTERNALLY AT THE MARKET, WE ARE LOOKING INTERNALLY AT JUST JUST INTERNAL

[03:40:06]

EQUITY. AND SO IF YOU BRING IN SOMEONE THAT IS NEW TO THE ORGANIZATION, AND WE HAVE 20 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME POSITION, THEN WHAT WILL BE THE APPROPRIATE SALARY FOR THAT PERSON COMING IN IN COMPARISON TO EVERYBODY ELSE THAT IS ALREADY HERE? SO THAT IS THE TYPE OF WORK THAT THEY DO ON A DAILY BASIS.

OKAY. SO THEY'RE NOT PUTTING TOGETHER A SALARY SURVEY FOR THE OVERARCHING POSITIONS.

YOU'RE SAYING THEY'RE DOING INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS FOR A NEW HIRE.

THEY'RE DOING BOTH. SO SOME OF THE TRANSACTIONS ARE INDIVIDUAL FOR INDIVIDUAL HIRES.

SOME OF THE TRANSACTIONS ARE FOR SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION.

LIKE FOR INSTANCE, WE DID QUITE A BIT OF WORK FOR 911.

AND WE DID QUITE A BIT OF WORK RELATED TO HOW 911 SALARIES INTERNALLY COMPARED TO THE MARKET AND THE CREATION OF CAREER LADDERS.

AND ALL THAT WORK IS DONE BY OUR COMPENSATION TEAM.

AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING THERE? THE COMPENSATION TEAM HAS ABOUT I THINK IT'S SIX PEOPLE TOTAL.

WERE WE ABLE TO GET THE STAFFING NUMBERS? YES.

AGENDA? NOT JUST YET. WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE INTERNS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES ON THAT.

SO I NEED ONE MORE MINUTE. WELL, MAYOR, THAT'S THE END OF MY QUESTIONS, SO I'M HAPPY TO GIVE UP MY TIME.

IF THEY COULD JUST ANSWER THAT ONE. THEY HAVE THE INFORMATION. IS THAT POSSIBLE? OF COURSE, OF COURSE, ABSOLUTELY. YOU HAD A MINUTE AND A HALF IF WE NEEDED TO COME BACK FOR THAT ANYWAY. OKAY. MISS CADENA, ARE YOU WANTING TO GET BACK IN FOR THREE MINUTES? YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. NINA I WANT TO KNOW, WHAT NEW PROGRAMS HAS HR BROUGHT FORWARD TO SUPPORT THE CITY? NEW PROGRAMS? OVER THE LAST YEAR WE BROUGHT IN WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BENEFITS, FOR INSTANCE, WE BROUGHT IN THE HSA WAS IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE A VARIETY IN THE I WOULD SAY THE TYPES OF BENEFITS THAT WERE OFFERED TO EMPLOYEES AND WITHIN OUR BENEFITS OFFERING THEIR, THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR PROGRAMS ARE VERY SPECIFIC TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS LIKE DIABETES, LIKE HEART CONDITIONS, OBESITY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF WORK THAT WAS DONE IN THAT, IN THAT AREA.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WORK ON THE WELLNESS PROGRAM, JUST MAKING PEOPLE AWARE OF HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR HEALTH BETTER SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE COST OF BENEFITS FOR THEM AND EVERYBODY ELSE AT THE CITY.

AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMPENSATION THE CAREER LADDERS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE THAT WE IMPLEMENTED AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IN, DURING THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. MORE, MORE WITH THE NEXT ONE, THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL AUDITS, AND AS A RESULT OF THE AUDITS THERE WAS AN IDENTIFIED NEED FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO FOCUS ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. SO WE HAVE BEEN DOING QUITE A BIT OF WORK JUST TO ENSURE THAT THE DATA THAT IS PRODUCED FROM OUR SYSTEM AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKDAY, WHICH WAS A NEW PROGRAM ALSO THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IS UTILIZED SO THAT DEPARTMENTS AND DIRECTORS CAN BETTER PLAN THEIR STAFFING. THE PEO IS ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WE BROUGHT UP MOST RECENTLY SO THAT THAT HIRING MANAGERS HAVE ANOTHER TOOL TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THEIR WORKFORCE. WE ARE WE HAVE BEEN WE IMPLEMENTED WORKDAY, IN PARTICULAR, THE PERFORMANCE MODULE THAT ALLOWS MANAGERS TO MANAGE GOALS AND MANAGE PERFORMANCE.

WE'RE CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTING SUCCESSION PLANNING.

WE IMPLEMENTED RECRUITMENT IN WORKDAY. THE CAREER SERIES CATAPULT TASK PAY, UPSKILLING, PARENTAL LEAVE. THE NEW TALENT CENTRAL THAT IS UNDERWAY IS SOME OF THE PROJECTS IS KIND OF LIKE A LOT COME TO MIND. I'M THINKING I GUESS THAT'S THAT'S ENOUGH.

I KNOW IN THE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE OVER THE EIGHT YEARS, YOU ALL HAVE CONTINUED TO EXPAND THE PROGRAMS. I REMEMBER WHEN PAID PARENTAL LEAVE WAS BROUGHT, AND THEN Y'ALL HAVE ALSO DONE STUDIES TO MAKE SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS MORE EFFICIENT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU.

IF I COULD JUMP IN. MR. MAYOR, THERE ARE TWO KEY PROGRAMS THAT I DO WANT TO MENTION, AND I WANT TO MAYBE ADD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS TO THIS.

[03:45:04]

AND I DO APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS AS WELL AS THE COMMENTS FROM OUR MAYOR PRO TEM AS CITY MANAGER RECRUITING AND RETAINING TOP TALENT IS CENTRAL IF WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER SERVICES. I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT OVER 70% OF OUR BUDGET IS IS OUR PEOPLE.

THE HR DEPARTMENT IS THE ONE DEPARTMENT THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS OUR TEAM.

AND I'VE, I'VE SAID IN THE SEAT WHEN I WAS ON THAT SIDE ANSWERING THESE EXACT SAME QUESTIONS.

MANY OF WHAT I HEAR TODAY, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PROGRAMS THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IN PARTICULAR THAT HAVE REALLY CREATED A LOT OF GREAT MORALE BOOSTING FOR OUR STAFF. NUMBER ONE. WE LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH OUR EMPLOYEES JUST FROM A WELLNESS STANDPOINT.

AND WE SAW A LOT OF CHALLENGES WHEN IT CAME TO THE HEALTH OF OUR EMPLOYEES DURING THAT CRITICAL TIME THROUGH THE TEAM WE STARTED.

AND HOPEFULLY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT THROUGH THE CATAPULT SCREENING THAT REALLY ALLOWS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE, THEY CAN DO A HEALTH SCREENING FROM HOME.

THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE WIN. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD NEVER DONE IN THE CITY BEFORE.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF THE PREVENTATIVE CONCERNS THAT WE DEFINITELY ARE CHALLENGED WITH, WITH THE HEALTH OF OUR EMPLOYEES. I DO WANT TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE THAT WASN'T MENTIONED. SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S IN THIS BUDGET THAT REALLY CAME FROM OUR HR TEAM THAT I REMEMBER TALKING TO COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT OVER THE SUMMER.

WE KNOW THAT IN ADDITION TO THE MINIMUM WAGE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR A TASK PAY PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS FOR US TO LOOK AT OUR HARD TO FILL POSITIONS AND BE ABLE TO REWARD EVEN MORE THOSE POSITIONS THAT WE KNOW HAVE CONTINUED, THAT WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH. AND THOSE ARE A LOT OF OUR MISSION CORE POSITIONS STREET MAINTENANCE WORKERS, OUR AVIATION WORKERS THAT MAINTAIN THE AIRFIELD, OUR WORKERS THAT ARE FILLING POTHOLES AND EXTREME HEAT.

THAT NEW TASK PAY PROGRAM, WHICH IS IN THE BUDGET, IS SOMETHING THAT ALSO CAME FOR THIS TEAM.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE WAY THAT DOES SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE BOARD.

I THINK THEY'RE BEING A LITTLE KIND IN SHARING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE ORGANIZATION.

BUT THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE THOSE THINGS, MR. MAYOR. MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT 21.

THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST CLARIFICATIONS FOR ME.

ON THE IN YOUR GENERAL BUDGET IS YOU'VE GOT A LINE ITEM FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, I THINK IT'S 33, 64. I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT.

AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE I WALKED, I WALKED IN, AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION WAS ON MISCELLANEOUS SPECIAL SERVICES, AND I THINK THAT'S LINE ITEM 3099. COULD YOU, COULD YOU GIVE ME SOME BACKGROUND ON WHAT THOSE TWO LINE ITEMS REPRESENT? THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. DO YOU MIND REPEATING THE.

YES, IT WAS 30, 99 AND AND 3364. OKAY.

AND THE REASON I'M HIGHLIGHTING THOSE, THEY SEEM TO BE PRETTY BIG JUMPS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.

WE IMPLEMENTED A NEW PROGRAM THIS YEAR. THIS WAS APPROVED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

I'M SORRY. WHAT WAS THAT? YES. WE IMPLEMENTED A THIS THIS ONE IS RELATED TO MISCELLANEOUS SPECIAL SERVICES.

SO WE IMPLEMENTED A NEW PROGRAM A FEW YEARS RELATED TO PAY EQUITY.

SO THIS INCLUDES THE SOFTWARE TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT.

YOU KNOW, THAT PROGRAM THE SOFTWARE WILL ALLOW US TO IDENTIFY IF THERE ARE ISSUES WITH OUR EQUITY.

THERE'S PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT BE PAID APPROPRIATELY.

AND TO MAKE IT MORE NIMBLE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE IT'S A VERY MANUAL PROCESS, AND ANY TIME THAT WE ARE BRINGING IN A NEW EMPLOYEE, IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF TIME FOR US TO DO THAT ANALYSIS.

SO THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO BE MORE NIMBLE AND THAT IS WHAT IS INCLUDED THERE.

THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. AND 3364 IS PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT.

THE HR DEPARTMENT HAS ABOUT $114,000 IN THAT LINE ITEM, AND THAT IS A LINE ITEM, UNLIKE SOME OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT DO HAVE PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT EMBEDDED WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT, THE HR USES THAT LINE FOR CITY WIDE MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND THINGS THAT MISS TOLBERT WOULD BRING IN FOR SUPERVISORY TYPES OF TRAINING, MANAGER DEVELOPMENT AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

[03:50:02]

SO THAT NUMBER WAS REDUCED BY, I BELIEVE, 10% IN AMENDMENT NUMBER TEN.

THAT WAS APPROVED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. BUT YES, IT'S FOR CITY WIDE TRAINING, NOT JUST HR TRAINING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, ARE YOU READY? YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELL, HOW OUR CITY PERFORMS FOR HER PEOPLE TIES BACK TO OUR OWN MOST VALUABLE ASSETS.

AND THAT'S NOT OUR FLEET. THAT'S NOT OUR REAL ESTATE. THAT IS OUR PEOPLE, THAT IS OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND SO I THINK IN HIRING CFO IRELAND, SHARE THE PEER CITIES AND KIND OF LAY IT OUT.

THANK YOU. MISS CADENA, FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, IF WE STRUGGLE WITH SOME PERFORMANCE, I THINK THAT COULD BE SOMETHING TO POINT TO.

WE CONTINUALLY EACH YEAR RATCHET THAT NUMBER DOWN.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU CAME TO THE TABLE THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS AND REDUCED THIS NUMBER BY $190,000.

I KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING NEW TECHNOLOGY, ON WORKFLOW AND ON CAREER PATH DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS CRITICAL BECAUSE ONCE WE WORK SO HARD TO GET SOMEONE IN THE DOOR, WE WANT TO BE SURE WE ARE DEVELOPING THEM AND KEEPING THEM BECAUSE IT COSTS SO MUCH TO GET OTHERS BACK IN THE DOOR. THERE WERE POINTS MADE BY THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED THAT, AGAIN, HELP WITH RETENTION. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOOKING AT MANAGEMENT TRAINING, WE KNOW WE NEED THAT SO DESPERATELY.

I MEAN, WE WE RUN INTO ISSUES ALL THE TIME THAT WE KNOW THAT TRAINING MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP RESOLVE THINGS DIFFERENTLY OR GIVE OUR, OUR RESIDENTS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE OR GIVE US A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

AND SO I'M JUST HESITANT TO MAKE ANY FURTHER CUTS IN THE HR CATEGORY BECAUSE OF THAT.

I THINK THIS DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN HIT, AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT GO ANY FARTHER, SO I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR MR. BAZALDUA YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT 21, SIR.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION.

I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THE STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING THIS DEPARTMENT TO ITS FULLEST WHEN THEY'RE ALREADY AT A A PRETTY LOW FUNDED AMOUNT.

SO I WANTED TO ASK JACK OR OR KIM. WHOEVER COULD ANSWER, I, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ARPA DOLLARS THAT ARE LEFT FOR OUR, I GUESS, DISCRETIONARY SOME A LOT OF WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ENCUMBERED SPECIFICALLY DISTRICT BY DISTRICT.

WE HAVE, I BELIEVE, $7.8 MILLION THAT WE LAST WAS WAS GIVEN AS A UPDATE.

WOULD THIS BE AN ELIGIBLE USE? SOURCE I SHOULD SAY COUNCIL MEMBER. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. WOULD THE LEFT OVER UNENCUMBERED OPERA DOLLARS BE USED FOR TAX RATE REDUCTION? IS THAT THE QUESTION? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HEARING IT CORRECTLY. YES, MA'AM.

SO ARPA DOLLARS ARE STILL CONSIDERED ONE TIME RESOURCES, AND WE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND REDUCING THE TAX RATE DIRECTLY BY USING ARPA DOLLARS.

AS THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENT DID EARLIER, THERE WAS KIND OF A SWITCH OUT SENDING THE ARPA DOLLARS TO THE PARK DEPARTMENT FOR AQUATICS BECAUSE WE HAVE A PLAN GOING FORWARD THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE REDUCTIONS IN AQUATICS OVER TIME.

AND SO IT ALLOWS US TO SWITCH THOSE DOLLARS OUT AND THEN REDUCE THE TAX RATE.

IT WAS KIND OF A THREE STEP AMENDMENT TO GET THERE.

BUT KNOWING THAT AQUATICS IS GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME CHANGES, IT SEEMED APPROPRIATE IN THAT CASE, BUT NOT IN JUST A NORMAL CASE, TO TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE DIRECTLY FROM A ONE TIME SOURCE OF FUNDS.

OKAY. WELL, I I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS. I THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF BELTS ALREADY BEEN BEEN TIGHTENED. THEY WERE ASKED SPECIFICALLY TO TO MAKE CHANGES BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE. I WOULD ASK, WHAT ABOUT THE FUNDS ON THE LIBRARY LINE ITEM FROM CITY MANAGER. IN THE ANY ANY AVAILABILITY THAT THERE IS. IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET WE HAD THE ONE LIBRARY THAT I KNOW HAS BEEN DISCUSSED ALREADY

[03:55:04]

FOR FOR FOR US TO DECOMMISSION THAT LIBRARY. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT IN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, A REGIONAL MODEL GOING FORWARD. AND I DO KNOW THAT I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME AMENDMENTS THAT MIGHT COME UP THAT DISCUSS THE LIBRARY PIECE. SO THOSE DOLLARS WOULD DEFINITELY DEPEND ON WHAT HAPPENS AROUND THE HORSESHOE WHEN IT COMES TO ANY AMENDMENTS AROUND LIBRARIES.

I DO BELIEVE THAT OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR HAS KIND OF A PER UNIT COST FOR WHAT WE MIGHT END UP WITH.

JACK, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. I THINK WE HAVE A PROPOSED NUMBER OF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE FOR 27 IF WE WERE TO CLOSE FOUR ADDITIONAL LIBRARIES GOING FORWARD.

BUT I'D HAVE TO DEFER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THAT NUMBER IN FRONT OF THEM.

OR WE CAN GET THAT NUMBER FOR YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BAZALDUA. SO THE, THE REGIONALIZATION MODEL AND THE CLOSURE OF FOUR BRANCH LIBRARIES IN 27 HAD A SAVINGS OF ABOUT $2.6 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 27. OKAY.

OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT FOR ATTEMPTING TO FIND USE OF FUNDS.

I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SMART USE OF FUNDS OR OR WELL THOUGHT OUT.

BY ANY MEANS. I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT WE TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WITH SOMETHING THAT MAKES MORE SENSE.

THAT IS NOT DIRECTLY GOING TO IMPACT THE PERSONNEL SPECIFICALLY.

SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS AND HOPE THAT THROUGH THIS DISCUSSION, WE CAN MAYBE FIND ANOTHER SOURCE OF FUNDS.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

ACTUALLY, I WAS NOT HOPING TO BE RECOGNIZED. I THINK JACK WAS TRYING TO GET ATTENTION TO GIVE THE ANSWER TO MY PRIOR QUESTION.

OKAY, GO AHEAD. AND THEN I'LL GO TO MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. REGARDING YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE STAFFING WITHIN THE HR DEPARTMENT IN 2019.

EXCLUDING THE INTERN POSITIONS, WHICH ARE WORK IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THERE WERE 58 POSITIONS.

SAME THING BACKING OUT THE INTERNS FOR 2679, SO 58 TO 79, AN INCREASE OF 21 POSITIONS OVER THE SIX YEARS. STILL BELOW OUR PEERS ON A HR PROFESSIONAL TO CITY EMPLOYEE RATIO.

BEHIND THE PEERS IN THAT CASE. MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU MAYOR. SO, CITY MANAGER, YOU'VE HEARD THIS BODY'S CONCERNS WITH ONBOARDING AND TALENT ACQUISITION ON HOW LONG OF A PROCESS IT TAKES. YOU'VE, OVER TIME, HAVE MENTIONED SOME IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE HR DEPARTMENT.

SO IF YOU DON'T MIND GOING OVER THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.

AND THEN ALSO WHERE THE DEPARTMENT, WHERE DO YOU BELIEVE THE DEPARTMENT'S WEAKNESSES ARE, AND HOW IS THE DEPARTMENT PLANNING TO RESOLVE THOSE OUTSIDE OF STAFFING REQUESTS.

AND DO YOU BELIEVE THAT OUR OUR STAFF AND MANAGERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THE DEPARTMENT STRIVES FOR? YOU HAVE TO GIVE THOSE TO ME ONE AT A TIME. IT'S A LITTLE LATE.

MY BRAIN HAS SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT. SO I'LL GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER.

WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE I THINK I SAID THIS AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE CITY IN 2017, A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE WERE ENCOUNTERING THROUGH THE HR FUNCTION WAS BECAUSE HR HAD NOT BEEN STAFFED APPROPRIATELY.

WHAT HR HAD TURNED INTO WAS A DEPARTMENT THAT SIGNED PAPERS AND PUSHED THEM FORWARD.

IT WAS NOT A STRATEGIC PARTNER TO THE DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE THE STAFFING LEVEL AND THE CAPABILITIES IN THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT EXIST.

AND I SAID THAT ON OUR IN OUR LAST BUDGET CONVERSATION.

AND SO THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY LOOK AT A MODEL THAT COULD TRULY BECOME A PARTNER TO OUR OPERATING DEPARTMENTS, TO WHERE THE OPERATING DEPARTMENTS ARE GETTING BETTER VALUE.

WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED OVER THE YEARS I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE AUDIT THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH RECENTLY, THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH, AND I'LL JUST GO ON AND TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE WAYS THAT WE HAVE STRENGTHENED THE DEPARTMENT, AND THAT WORK IS CONTINUOUSLY HAPPENING AS IT IS IN ALL OF THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY.

NUMBER ONE, THE FIRST THING THAT WE STARTED WITH, BECAUSE WE HEARD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM OUR EMPLOYEES THAT THAT THEY DID NOT FEEL THAT OUR BENEFIT STRUCTURE, AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT THAT THEY GOT THROUGH THE BENEFITS TEAM, WAS EFFECTIVE.

AND SO WE CAME IN AND WE BEGAN TO TACKLE, NUMBER ONE, HOW DO WE CREATE A MORE REALISTIC, MORE COMPETITIVE BENEFITS PROGRAM THAT TRULY ALLOWS FOR US TO NOT ONLY ATTRACT BUT ALSO RETAIN HELP? AND YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT. WE WENT FROM A POINT IN TIME WHERE OUR EMPLOYEES PAID A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OUT FOR THEIR DEDUCTIBLES.

[04:00:03]

WE WE DID PHARMACY ALLOCATION. WE BROUGHT IN A WELLNESS PROGRAM.

I TALKED ABOUT THE VIRTUAL SCREENING THAT HAS BEEN A TRUE, TRUE HIT TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND HOW THOSE NUMBERS HAVE CONTINUED TO CLIMB.

THAT'S ONE OF THE EXAMPLES. THE SECOND THING THAT WE DID, WE HAD SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT CAME AS A RESULT OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A BEST PLACE TO WORK? AND SO WE BEGAN TO LOOK AT HOW WE COULD IMPROVE THOSE THINGS BY IMPLEMENTING THOSE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT.

ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE NEW PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ENHANCE SERVICES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE EMPLOYEES MULTIPLE THEM, WHERE BOTH THE HUSBAND AND THE WIFE BOTH WORK FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

SO THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE OFF.

THIS HAS ALL BEEN CREATED AND GATHERED AND HAS BEEN ADMINISTERED BY THE NEW DEPARTMENT.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE WORKED ON WAS INCREASING OUR LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS.

WE'VE HEARD THE WORD UPSKILLING. THAT WAS NOT ANYTHING THAT WE HAD IN PLACE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE PROGRAMS SET UP TO BE ABLE TO HELP GROW THE TALENT SO WE CAN RETAIN GOOD EMPLOYEES HERE AT THE CITY.

THE UPSKILL PROGRAM UPSKILLING PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.

WE'VE UTILIZED IT IN THE DALLAS WATER UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION, AND WE'RE REALLY SEEING THE BENEFITS WHERE EMPLOYEES ARE NOW ABLE TO NOT ONLY STRENGTHEN THEIR SKILL SET, BUT ALSO INCREASE THEIR PAY BECAUSE THEY'RE LEARNING AND THEY'RE GROWING.

THAT PROGRAM WAS ACTUALLY DEVELOPED BY THIS TEAM.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE CAREER SERIES, BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT WE REALIZE BY WORKING WITH HR THAT WE HAD A LOT OF POSITIONS WHERE THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE THAT MIGHT WANT TO MOVE UP AND BECOME A MANAGER OR SUPERVISOR, BUT THEY WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GROW WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT.

WE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE HR DEPARTMENT A CAREER SERIES FOR OUR 911 OPERATORS, WHICH HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY GOOD BENEFIT BECAUSE WE CREATED ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THAT 911 CALL TAKER POSITION FOR THEM TO GROW WITHIN THAT CLASSIFICATION.

WE'VE ALSO DONE THAT WITH OUR EQUIPMENT AND OUR FLEET DEPARTMENT.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT HR HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP STAND UP AND BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENTS.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO TRULY WHICH, WHICH, WHICH AGAIN, I THINK IS A IS A GREAT BENEFIT.

SINCE WE'VE COME THROUGH THE AUDIT, WHICH ALSO INCORPORATED WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUR CIVIL SERVICE PROCESS AS WELL AS THE HR PROCESS.

WHAT WE'VE NOW INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IS NOW TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS TALENT CENTRAL, WHICH WILL CREATE THE ONE FRONT DOOR FOR HOW WE ONBOARD AND HOW WE ATTRACT TALENT.

WE'VE HEARD THE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL ABOUT THE CONFUSION.

IS IT AN HR FUNCTION? IS IT A CIVIL SERVICE FUNCTION? AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT MODEL OVER THIS YEAR AND WE'RE READY TO MOVE AND IMPLEMENT THAT GOING FORWARD.

THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW FOR US TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THE ONBOARDING CHALLENGES, THE NATURAL HANDOFFS, AND THEN BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENTS.

WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED AN ONBOARDING TOOLKIT TO WHERE WE COULD GIVE MORE SUPPORT TO MANAGERS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE HIRING PROCESS WHEN THEY'RE PREPARING OFFER LETTERS.

HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THERE'S CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE DEPARTMENTS TO WHERE WE'RE NOT MISSING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT PAY EQUITY AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS SO THAT THE ACTUAL ONBOARDING TOOLKIT HAS HAS BEEN A HIT.

SO I, I'M RATTLING IT OFF OF MY HEAD BECAUSE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAD GOTTEN EARLIER, BUT I'M JUST GOING THROUGH THE THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT HAVE COME UP THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT HAS REALLY IMPROVED THE SERVICE DELIVERY FROM THE DEPARTMENT AND WAYS THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD AND GROW OUR TALENT. WE ACTUALLY REUNITED, I'LL SAY WE INSTITUTED THE MAYOR'S INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

THAT ENTIRE PROGRAM IS MANAGED AND RUN OUT OF THE HR DEPARTMENT.

AND SO GIVE ME QUESTION NUMBER TWO. THAT WAS A LOT FOR NUMBER ONE, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER NUMBER TWO.

YOU'RE GOOD. THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. JACK, YOU MENTIONED THE POSITIONS WITHIN HR.

AND SO I'M GOING TO JUST USE THE BENCHMARK OF SEVEN YEARS.

WHAT WAS THIS TOTAL STAFF NUMBER IN THE CITY OF DALLAS SEVEN YEARS AGO.

AND WHAT IS IT TODAY? THAT'S ONE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK UP REAL QUICK.

OKAY. WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING THAT UP, IF YOU COULD ALSO INCLUDE THE BUDGET FOR THE HR DEPARTMENT SEVEN YEARS AGO AND THEN COMPARE IT TO TODAY. OKAY. LET LET US PULL THOSE NUMBERS FROM OKAY.

AND DO WE KNOW WHAT THE IN THE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET HOW MUCH WAS UNSPENT WITHIN THE HR DEPARTMENT.

I APOLOGIZE. THAT'S GOING TO TAKE US A MINUTE TO.

[04:05:01]

YOU'RE ASKING REALLY DETAILED. YEAH. WE'RE SORRY, SIR, WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL.

IN ADVANCE. THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT TO GO? OKAY.

WE CAN. ALL RIGHT, SO I'M GOING TO GO TO MR. ROTH THEN FOR THREE MINUTES WHILE WE WAIT.

THANK YOU. I HAD A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS I FORGOT TO ASK EARLIER ON.

LINE ITEM 1511. IT'S TEMPORARY. HELP. REGULAR.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A PLUG NUMBER IN THERE FOR ALL THE YEARS OF $280,000.

IS THAT? AND THEN MAYBE SOMEBODY ALREADY ASKED THIS WHEN I STEPPED OUT, BUT IS THAT SORT OF A IS THAT A REGULAR WHAT WHAT KIND OF TEMPORARY HELP DO YOU ALL ENGAGE THERE? YES, WE DO HAVE TEMPORARY STAFF TO HELP WITH PERIODS OF HIGH VOLUME.

LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN WE NEED TO HIRE STAFF FOR PARKS AND RAMP UP FOR THE SUMMER, WE MAY BRING IN STAFF.

WE ALSO HAVE TEMPORARY STAFF DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT TO HELP WITH THAT VOLUME.

AND WHAT THAT DOES IS ALLOW US TO NOT HAVE A PERMANENT STAFF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHEN THEY'RE ONLY NEEDED FOR CERTAIN MONTHS OF THE THE YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE STAFF USE THOSE MONIES WHEN THERE'S SOMEONE THAT IS ON LEAVE OR MAYBE ON FMLA THAT, THAT TEMPORARY STAFF FUNDS COVER THAT. IT LOOKED LIKE IN THE NARRATIVE THAT LAST YEAR OR THIS YEAR, BASICALLY, WE'RE AT 60, 60 PEOPLE AND WE'RE PROJECTING BASED ON THIS BUDGET, 74 PEOPLE TYPICALLY, IF I UNDERSTAND THE PERSONNEL REQUIREMENT AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR BUDGET, YOUR OVERALL GROSS DOLLARS ARE ABOUT THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, YOU HAD 8.9. THIS YEAR YOU'VE GOT 8.8 50, SORRY, ABOUT 50,000 LESS THAN LAST YEAR.

SO YOUR OVERALL GROSS BUDGET IS ABOUT THE SAME.

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS CORRECT. AND IF I MAY EXPLAIN THE FDS, WE DID SOME TRUING UP OF THOSE FDS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REFLECTED THAT OUR STAFF IS TYPICALLY YEAR ROUND.

WE DON'T HAVE PERIODS OF TIMES IN WHICH THERE ARE VACANCIES.

SO THAT'S WHY THE FTE NUMBER APPEARS BIGGER, BECAUSE WE'RE JUST THROWING THAT UP ALSO, FOR INSTANCE, THAT FTE INCLUDES THE INTERNS THAT DO NOT WORK DIRECTLY FOR HR BUT THAT ARE IN THE HR BUDGET, SO THE FTE DOESN'T REFLECT THE NUMBER OF STAFF WE ACTUALLY ARE, THE NUMBER OF STAFF, THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE PERSONS, THE INDIVIDUALS IS GOING DOWN, NOT UP. SO IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE SAME AS WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR.

THAT IS CORRECT. LISTEN, THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION ON YOUR DEPARTMENT.

IT'S ON THE EMPLOYEES GENERALLY THROUGHOUT THE THE CITY'S OFFICES IN OUR BUSINESS.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO SEE IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY HERE.

AND I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

I DON'T THINK I WAS I USED MY LAST ONE. I WAS JUST POINTING OUT.

I'M SORRY. GIVE ME THE NUMBER. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. SO THE NUMBERS YOU GAVE IN 2019, YOU SAID THERE WERE 58 EMPLOYEES AND THERE ARE CURRENTLY 79.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. SO A 36% INCREASE.

IT'S 21 POSITIONS. YEP. 36% INCREASE. IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR THE TALK ABOUT THE BENEFIT STRUCTURE, BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE THING I HEAR ABOUT BENEFITS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS IS THEY SURE WISH WE WOULD PAY MORE OF THEIR HEALTH CARE.

SO MAYBE A LITTLE LESS BENEFIT STAFF, A LITTLE MORE HEALTH CARE SUBSIDY FOR THE EMPLOYEES IN TERMS OF THIS DEPARTMENT BEING IMPORTANT FOR RECRUITING AND RETENTION, WHICH IS WHAT WAS SAID TWICE.

MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEE TURNOVER RATE.

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE IT? IT'S ACTUALLY BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, AND WE'RE DOING EXTREMELY WELL IN TERMS OF TURNOVER IN GENERAL, WE KEEP TRACK OF THAT METRIC IN RELATION TO JOLTS, THE JOB OPENING AND TURNOVER REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

AND I WILL SAY THAT IS DEFINITELY BELOW. THERE IS A BIG, I WOULD SAY, VARIANCE BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE EVERY INDUSTRY IS DIFFERENT.

BUT IN GENERAL, OVERALL OUR TURNOVER IS VERY GOOD.

[04:10:03]

WHAT IS THE TURNOVER RATE? AND I, WE DO HAVE OUR TURNOVER RATE WAS 18% AT THE LAST NUMBER THAT I REMEMBER. BUT I DO HAVE SOME MORE RECENT DATA THAT I'LL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE. AND I'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE JOLTS REPORT AS WELL.

SO YOU CAN LOOK AT HOW IT TRACKS TO THAT NATIONAL AVERAGE.

AND THAT NATIONAL AVERAGE IS COMPARING TO WHAT, BECAUSE 18% IS A VERY HIGH TURNOVER RATE.

THE JOLTS REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DOES A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THE TURNOVER IS NATIONALLY FROM A PUBLIC SECTOR PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS PRIVATE. SO THE DATA THAT NINA IS PRESENTING TO YOU IS HOW WE COMPARE.

AND WE LOOK AT THAT PUBLIC SECTOR NUMBER AND THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT SHE'S GIVEN.

SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO SHARE WHAT THE NATIONAL TURNOVER NUMBER IS.

LET ME ALSO POINT OUT THAT OUR TURNOVER NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHAT DEPARTMENTS WE MIGHT BE SPEAKING OF.

SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET TURNOVER DATA BASED ON INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS, SHE'S GIVING YOU THE OVERALL AVERAGE FOR THE CITY.

BUT IF YOU WANT A BREAKOUT OF TURNOVER DATA BY DEPARTMENT, YOU'D HAVE TO GIVE US A MINUTE TO PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.

AGAIN, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT QUESTION IN ADVANCE.

THANK YOU. WELL THAT'S OKAY. I ACTUALLY DON'T THINK THIS IS A PLACE FOR THAT.

TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. I THINK WHETHER THAT'S GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY OR THAT IS AD HOC, PROBABLY IT NEEDS TO BE DELVED INTO. BUT I THINK I THINK THE POINT IS SIMPLY THAT.

THERE IS ROOM IN THIS DEPARTMENT FOR A REDUCTION THAT WILL NOT IMPACT OUR RESIDENTS.

AND WHEN WE HAD 36% LESS STAFF, THE RESIDENTS DIDN'T FEEL THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

AND IF WE REDUCE IT AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SEE A PROBLEM.

THERE'S NO CHANGE IN THE CITY, IN THE IN THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF OUR HR DEPARTMENT OR OUR HIRING COMPARED TO NOW.

AND SO. THIS IS ONLY $427,000. IT SADLY WOULD BE THE LARGEST SO FAR BUDGET AMENDMENT TO REDUCE OUR TAX RATE.

SO EITHER WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT ADDRESSING OUR OUR COMPETITIVE NATURE WITH OTHER CITIES, MAKING OUR CITY AFFORDABLE OR NOT, THIS SHOULD BE THE EASIEST THING GOING. AND SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOTION, AND I HOPE OTHER PEOPLE WILL PUT ON THEIR FISCAL HAT AND RECOGNIZE THAT THIS MIGHT FORCE SOME EFFICIENCIES AND SOME DESIGNS OF PROGRAMS THAT WOULD BE BETTER SERVED FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. MISS, I HOPE I HAVE THIS RIGHT.

ONE MINUTE. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO HONEST.

JACK, I HAD A QUESTION. SO DID YOU SAY THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A REDUCTION IN THE LINE ITEM FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS DEPARTMENT? YES, MA'AM. AMENDMENT NUMBER TEN FROM TWO WEEKS AGO DID REDUCE THAT LINE ITEM BY 10%.

AND ABOUT WHAT WAS WHAT WAS THAT AMOUNT? IT WAS ABOUT $14,000.

SO THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET CUT $190,000 FROM THE DEPARTMENT AND AMENDMENT PASSED BY THE COUNCIL TWO WEEKS AGO REDUCED ANOTHER 14,000. OKAY. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

I BELIEVE OUR EMPLOYEES, AS COUNCILMEMBER WILLIS SAID ARE OUR MOST GREATEST ASSET IN THE EIGHT YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

WHEN I WORKED FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, I COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE.

SO THOSE 21 POSITIONS IN THE HR DEPARTMENT I KNOW MADE MY WORK TIME HERE A GREAT TIME AND A PLACE WHERE I WANTED TO CONTINUE WORKING AND SERVING.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MISS BLAIR. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES, I BELIEVE.

YEAH. ON AMENDMENT 21, FIVE MINUTES. CAN I MR. IRELAND IN THE HR DEPARTMENT? HOW MANY HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO WE HAVE? COMPLETELY. AND I GUESS I SHOULD ASK OUR HEAD OF HR, WHAT'S THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WE HAVE IN HR AND BY REDUCING IT BY 10%. HOW MUCH EFFICIENCY? OR WILL THERE BE A LACK OF ANY EFFICIENCY BY REDUCING YOUR YOUR HEADCOUNT BY THAT 10%? SO I'LL, I'LL START AND THEN ALLOW NINA TO ADD AS WELL.

SO TOTAL NUMBER OF POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT IS 79.

AND THESE 79 HR PROFESSIONALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 15,000 EMPLOYEES OR POSITIONS IN THE ORGANIZATION AND HAVING INTERACTIONS

[04:15:05]

WITH THEM. AND SO WHILE THIS DEPARTMENT DOESN'T DIRECTLY WORK WITH RESIDENTS, WE IMPACT THE ABILITY FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT DO WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS. AND SO HAVING AN HR DEPARTMENT THAT IS WELL STAFFED AND WORKING EFFECTIVELY, AND THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO THE CURRENT EFFECTIVENESS, I DON'T THINK CUTTING POSITIONS WHICH THIS REDUCTION WOULD PROBABLY RESULT IN ABOUT FIVE POSITIONS BEING REDUCED, AND REDUCING ANOTHER FIVE POSITIONS IS NOT GOING TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT REDUCING IT BY 10% WILL NOT NOT I'M SORRY.

SAY THAT AGAIN. I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. YES, MA'AM.

SO THE THE DEPARTMENT HAS 79 POSITIONS. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD RESULT IN PROBABLY FIVE POSITIONS BEING REDUCED.

REDUCING FIVE POSITIONS OUT OF HR IS NOT GOING TO RESULT IF THE GOAL IS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

THIS AMENDMENT, I DO NOT BELIEVE, ACCOMPLISHES THAT.

SO IF YOU IF IT'S YOUR BELIEF THAT THIS 10% REDUCTION WON'T ACCOMPLISH THE EFFICIENCY, AND THESE SAME 79 EMPLOYEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE NEW PROGRAMS AND AND I'M ASKING QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, BASIC FOR ME BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW. SO IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT ALL OF THE NEW PROGRAMS THAT HR HAS PUT IN FROM WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA HAS JUST SAID. HOW MUCH MORE CAN HOW MUCH MORE CAN THEY DO WITH BEFORE THEY START STUMBLING AND FALLING? YEAH, THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. AND AND IF I MAY TALK ALSO ABOUT SOME OF THAT HEADCOUNT IS ARE RESOURCES THAT OUR CITY RESOURCES, NOT ONLY THE MAYOR'S INTERNS BUT ALSO INTERNS THAT SERVE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY.

SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY THE ACTUAL HEADCOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DEDICATED TO HR IS 68.

SO WHAT IF WE REDUCE IT BY 5%, WHAT WE WILL DO IS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN OUR EFFICIENCY.

SO IF IT WOULD TAKE LONGER TO RECRUIT, IT WILL TAKE LONGER TO ONBOARD.

IT WILL TAKE LONGER FOR US DIRECTORS TO GET ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR PROJECTS.

WE DO QUITE A BIT OF WORK ASSISTING DIRECTORS WITH US WHEN THEY ARE THERE, REORGANIZING A DEPARTMENT OR WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW POSITION THAT THEY NEED IN THE MARKET.

SO ALL THOSE PROCESSES ARE GOING TO TAKE LONGER.

IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS A COMPLAINT. THE INVESTIGATION IS GOING TO TAKE LONGER.

IF WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE EEOC. THAT'S GOING TO TAKE LONGER.

SO IT WILL BE THE IDEA WILL BE TO REDUCE FROM ALL OF THOSE AREAS ONE PERSON.

AND THEREFORE EACH ONE OF THE AREAS WILL SUFFER.

IT'S MOST LIKELY IT'S GOING TO BE THE APPROACH BECAUSE EVERY EVERY AREA IS STAFF REALLY MINIMALLY, AS YOU CAN SEE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER HR DEPARTMENTS.

AND WE ARE IN A LOT OF IN THE MIDST OF TRANSITION.

SO WE ARE IMPLEMENTING NEW PROGRAMS, WE'RE IMPLEMENTING NEW SYSTEMS. SO OUR ABILITY TO BE RESPONSIVE IS GOING TO BE DIMINISHED SIGNIFICANTLY.

SO THE WORK THAT WE DO WE DON'T DO FOR HR STAFF, WE DO FOR THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.

SO THE YOU KNOW, WHO'S GOING TO FEEL THE PAIN IS REALLY EVERY EMPLOYEE THAT MAY NEED HR SERVICES, EVERY SUPERVISOR, EVERY DIRECTOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME. I CAN'T SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO CUT OUR EFFICIENCIES.

I THINK WE ARE WE NEED WE NEED BETTER EFFICIENCIES, NOT LESS EFFICIENCIES.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I WANTED TO JUMP BACK IN IF I COULD, FOR JUST A SECOND, BECAUSE I THINK IT CAME UP EARLIER.

AND IF I JUST TALK ABOUT AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN AREA THAT I'VE HAD A LOT OF TIME IN, AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO. AND THE REASON WHY I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION THE WAY THAT I DID MAYOR PRO TEM, ABOUT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO NOT ONLY REIMAGINE OUR SERVICE DELIVERY, BUT HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES FROM TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS KIND OF WHAT NINA JUST SHARED.

BUT IT'S ALSO WE WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THE RIGHT SKILL SET.

AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE SKILL SET WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT WHAT WE NEEDED.

[04:20:09]

AND SO WE HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE HAVE WORKED WHETHER IT'S AT THE MANAGER LEVEL, THE HR PARTNER LEVEL, WE HAVE REALLY WORKED TO GET TRUE HR PROFESSIONALS AND BECAUSE OF MY HISTORY WITH THE CITY, THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS WHERE YOU GOT SENT TO WHEN YOU WERE NOT PERFORMING WELL IN ANOTHER PART OF THE CITY.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAD WITHIN THIS DEPARTMENT. AND SO I DON'T WANT BECAUSE I KNOW MY HR TEAM IS LISTENING.

I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A A A DAMAGING CONVERSATION BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE RECRUITED BECAUSE WE SEE THE VALUE IN THEM.

BUT WE HEAR THE COMMENTS, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE CONTINUED TO EVOLVE AND FIND WAYS TO CREATE MORE STREAMLINED HR SERVICES.

IS THERE MORE WORK FOR US TO DO? ABSOLUTELY. AND I TAKE NO BACK SEAT TO WHAT THAT WORK LOOKS LIKE.

BUT IT'S WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO ACROSS ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AS WE CHALLENGE OURSELVES.

I USE THE WORDS HIGH PERFORMING ALL THE TIME, BECAUSE I REALLY DO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT, EVEN A DEPARTMENT THAT DOES NOT HAVE THAT FRONT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT IN THE FRONT SEAT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUT WE EXPECT FOR THEM TO SERVE OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ALSO BEING TAKEN CARE OF. SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE THE COMPARISON.

WHEN I LOOK AT OTHER CITIES THAT ARE SMALLER THAN THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHETHER I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT HAS LESS EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE 15,003 HUNDRED AND THEY HAVE 13,000. THE HR BUDGET IS $32 MILLION, AND WE HAVE AN $8.9 MILLION BUDGET THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. THEY'RE SPENDING $2,400 PER EMPLOYEE ON AN HR FUNCTION, AND WE'RE SPENDING 600.

AND SO THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING IS THAT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN UNDER INVESTED.

AND SO EVEN WHEN YOU SEE THE INCREASES ON THE STAFFING SIDE, WE ARE STILL NOT STAFFING THE DEPARTMENT AT A LEVEL TO BE ABLE TO DEAL AND HANDLE THAT VOLUME OF EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS WHY YOU'VE HEARD THE COMPLAINTS THAT YOU'VE SHARED WITH ME.

AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS ABOUT.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT PERSONAL, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR US, AS WE'RE DOING ACROSS ALL OF OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND HOW WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO BETTER. AND THAT WORK IS WORK THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING.

BUT ANY FURTHER REDUCTION WILL NOT MAKE THAT WORK BETTER.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR ME TO DELIVER AS YOUR CITY MANAGER.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO JUMP BACK IN AND MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T LEAVE YOU WITH THE OTHER ANSWER WITHOUT PREFACE IT AROUND THE VIEWPOINT AND HOW THIS DEPARTMENT IS BEING TRANSFORMED. UNDER MR. IRELAND'S WATCH, WE PURPOSELY PUT THIS DEPARTMENT IN OUR FINANCIAL FISCALLY SOUND PORTFOLIO BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT A BIG VOLUME OF OUR BUDGET IS OUR PEOPLE.

AND SO WE ARE CHALLENGING OURSELVES ALSO TO DO BETTER IN HOW WE PROTECT, SUPPORT AND SERVE THE VERY PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE? YES, SIR. CITY MANAGER, YOU JUST RATTLED OFF SOME NUMBERS ABOUT SAN ANTONIO HAVING 13,000 EMPLOYEES, IS THAT RIGHT? YES. I MENTIONED THEY HAVE A $32 MILLION HR BUDGET.

AND WHAT'S THE POPULATION OF SAN ANTONIO? IS IT LARGER THAN DALLAS? I DO BELIEVE IT IS. IF YOU INCLUDE THEIR THEIR AREAS, THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED LIKE THE SUBURBS.

BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

WE CAN GET YOU THE POPULATION IF YOU NEED THAT INFORMATION.

WELL, IT IS BIGGER THAN DALLAS. AND NOTICE THAT THEY HAVE 13,000 EMPLOYEES.

JACK, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO WE HAVE IN DALLAS? APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

WELL, RIGHT THERE IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS RIGHT THERE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EFFICIENCY, THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

AND SO WHEN YOU START BENCHMARKING, WHY DOES IT TAKE US 2000 MORE EMPLOYEES THAN A CITY THAT'S LARGER THAN US.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM. AND HERE WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT AN ADDITIONAL 21 EMPLOYEES OVER SIX YEARS.

21 EMPLOYEES WERE ADDED TO THIS DEPARTMENT. WE SPENT ALMOST $5 MILLION TO GET WORKDAY TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT.

AND HOW WE CAN SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO BEING US, BEING TOLD WE NEED TO HAVE 21 MORE EMPLOYEES TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THAT IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

SO LIKE USE YOUR RATIONAL THINKING BECAUSE 2000 MORE EMPLOYEES IN SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO YOU CAN YOU CAN COMMENT.

CAN YOU RESPOND TO THAT? BUT I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO NOT ENGAGE.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HAVE A DEBATE. ABSOLUTELY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE POPULATION IS HIGHER.

[04:25:02]

I DIDN'T I WASN'T TRYING TO IGNORE THAT. I JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT SAN ANTONIO IS A LARGER CITY THAN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

MY POINT WAS THAT THE STILL THE RATIO OF THE HR FUNCTION COMPARED TO A CITY THAT HAS THAT LEVEL OF EMPLOYEES, NOT POPULATION. AND OVER THESE LAST TWO YEARS, I KNOW SINCE I'VE SAT IN THIS SEAT, I HAVE BROUGHT TWO YEARS IN A ROW REDUCTIONS IN STAFF AND HOW WE'RE OPTIMIZING SERVICE DELIVERY, AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN SHY IN DOING THAT.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M SHARING WITH YOU HOW I'VE APPROACHED BOTH YEARS OF THE BUDGET WITH STAFFING.

THANK YOU. OH, MR. BAZALDUA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, I THINK IT'S THREE. SORRY.

THREE MINUTES. YEAH. I I WANTED TO JUST ASK BACK ON THOSE SAME QUESTIONS.

DID YOU DID YOU GIVE A NUMBER ON THE POPULATION IN SAN ANTONIO? DO Y'ALL HAVE THAT? WE'LL WE'LL GET IT FOR YOU RIGHT NOW, SIR.

OKAY. I MEAN, I JUST I KNOW THAT IT'S BIGGER TO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, BUT I JUST, YOU KNOW, TO THE THE POINT THAT WAS BEING MADE ON WHY I GUESS APPLES TO APPLES.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CITY THAT DOES HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAN US, BUT ALSO HAS A POLICE FORCE OF 2500.

THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT INCREASING THEIR POLICE FORCE.

AND THEY'RE NOT CHASING AN ARBITRARY NUMBER OF 4000 WITH LESS PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT MY COLLEAGUE WHO WANTED TO COMPARE THE TWO CITIES HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE COMPARING THINGS IN A VERY EVEN LIGHT.

AND IT'S NOT EVEN WE'RE TWO DIFFERENT CITIES.

AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S A FAIR COMPARISON.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS, AND I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE SOURCE OF FUNDS ON THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT TO COME FROM THE LIBRARY LINE ITEM OF $2.6 MILLION, THE SAME AMOUNT THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON HERE, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING TO USE MCC UNSPENT ARPA DOLLARS TO MAKE THAT LIBRARY LINE ITEM BACK WHOLE, SO THAT IT'S SIMILAR TO THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENT.

THAT WILL BE A THREE STEP, IF YOU WILL, AND UTILIZING THE ONE TIME FUNDS FOR THE PHASE OUT, THAT WOULD ONLY BE FOR ONE TIME INSTEAD OF FOR THE TAX REDUCTION.

JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION BEFORE WE GET A SECOND. SO WHOEVER SECONDS IT, IF THERE IS A SECOND KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE SECONDING. CAN YOU SAY AGAIN THE THE SOURCE IS NOW GOING TO BE FOR AMENDMENT 21 FROM THE PHASE OUT OF THE LIBRARY. BUT WHILE ALSO MOVING TO BRING UNSPENT MCC ARPA DOLLARS TO BACK TO THAT LIBRARY PHASE OUT LINE ITEM SO THAT IT IS MADE WHOLE BY UTILIZING THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ONE TIME USE LIKE ARPA.

IF I YEAH GO AHEAD. YEAH. SO I BELIEVE THE AMENDMENT IS TO USE UNSPENT ARPA DOLLARS THAT I'M HEARING FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL LINE ITEM OF ARPA IN THE AMOUNT OF 427 873 TO SEND THAT TO THE LIBRARY TO REPLACE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, AND THEN REDUCE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS BY WAY OF A TAX RATE OF 427 873.

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

SO NOW WE ARE ON EVERYONE. AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA TO AMENDMENT NUMBER 21.

THAT DOES WHAT JACK JUST SAID. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. YOUR AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. AGAIN, I CAN APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT I CAN'T SUPPORT I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH OR THINK THAT THERE IS A NEED TO CUT THE TAX RATE ANY FURTHER. BUT IF THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING, I THINK THAT THERE ARE WAYS THAT COULD BE DONE WITHOUT SACRIFICING ACTUAL PERSONNEL AND BODIES. IN OUR CITY AS IT'S BEEN MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES, THAT THOSE ARE THE BIGGEST ASSETS IN OUR CITY, AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT SOME STONES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TURNED.

WE HAVE $7.8 MILLION BETWEEN ALL 15 COUNCIL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN USED AND JUST BEEN SITTING THERE AND IS ON A TIME CLOCK FOR ONE TIME USE FUNDS. WE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CREATIVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS THAT ARE JUST SITTING THERE INSTEAD OF THEM BEING SLUSH FUNDS FOR INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT EFFICIENCY AND WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

[04:30:08]

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT OUR OWN MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.

THIS IS AN AMENDMENT THAT I HOPE THAT WE CAN STILL ACCOMPLISH THE SAME PROPERTY TAX RATE REDUCTION THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN THIS AMENDMENT.

BUT WHILE NOT SACRIFICING OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AT THAT EXPENSE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR.. I SAW YOU BEFORE. ARE YOU STILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS THIS AMENDMENT.

I'M SORRY, NOT ON THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. GOTCHA. OKAY.

I JUST WANT TO MISS MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA TO YOUR ORIGINAL AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. SO I DO HAVE SOME CONCERN WITH THE USE OF FUNDS.

AGAIN, LOOKING AT DISTRICTS WHERE THESE DOLLARS WERE INTENDED FOR, WHETHER THAT BE THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OR THE NORTHERN SECTOR.

AND THOSE DOLLARS WERE THERE'S PROJECTS WORKING IN THOSE AREAS.

AND FOR THOSE REASON, AT THIS TIME I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA. WELL, I ACTUALLY THINK THE MAYOR PRO TEM ARTICULATED IT VERY WELL, WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.

I KNOW SOME OF US, INCLUDING ME, ALLOCATED DOLLARS AND THE CITY STAFF CAME BACK AND WERE UNABLE TO CONTRACT FOR THE SPECIFIC USE AND HAVE NOW WORKED TO SUBMIT A NEW PLAN FOR THAT. IT'S INTERESTING THAT ONE WANTS TO SPEND OTHER PEOPLE'S DOLLARS INSTEAD OF THEIR OWN DESIGNATED DOLLARS. I GUESS WE COULD PROBABLY GET AN ACCOUNTING OF HOW MUCH IS LEFT IN EVERYBODY SO WE CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE INTENT OF THIS MEMO IS. BUT THIS IS A NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT IDEA, AND CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING I'M GOING TO SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. MR. ROTH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA. THANK YOU. I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.

THE I THINK THAT WE'RE REALLY LOSING OUR FOCUS HERE, THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, SAVE SOME MONEY, HELP OUR OUR TAXPAYERS HAVE A LITTLE BIT A LOWER TAX RATE AND REALLY BECOME MORE EFFICIENT WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENTS.

THE IF IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE DEPARTMENT BUDGETS ARE GROSS NUMBERS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE LINE ITEMS. AND SO THE, THE THE ISSUE IS IF WE REDUCE THE GROSS DOLLARS WITHIN A DEPARTMENT, THAT IT'S UP TO THOSE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO REALLOCATE THEIR MONEY TO GET THEIR JOB DONE. AND SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S FORCES THE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, IT FORCES THE, THE DEPARTMENTS TO BECOME MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE INTERNALLY AND HOW THEY ALLOCATE IT IS GOING TO BE UP TO THEM, BUT IT'S GOING TO SAVE US ALL SOME MONEY AND IT'S GOING TO SAVE OUR TAXPAYERS SOME MONEY.

SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MR. BAZALDUA? WELL, BEFORE WE HAVE THE SHOW OF SUPPORT OR NOT, I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION.

MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. SO DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH IS IN? I MEAN, THIS IS THIS WAS THESE THESE ARE THESE ARPA FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED ON A DISTRICT BY DISTRICT BASIS.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAD SOME, I THINK, TO I JUST WANT TO I JUST WANT TO KNOW KIND OF WHAT WHAT THE AMENDMENT ACTUALLY AFFECT WOULD BE FOR PEOPLE BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION ABOUT IT. SO YOU CAN PUT IT ON MY TIME, I GUESS.

SURE. IT'S MY QUESTION. I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHERE THE BALANCES ARE.

YES. AND I'LL JUST START AND I'LL LET THE BUDGET TEAM JUMP IN.

SO THE ORIGINAL ALLOCATION, I THINK, WAS A TOTAL OF 16 MILLION.

AND IT WAS SPREAD ACROSS ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS.

I THINK EACH DISTRICT RECEIVED A MILLION AND DISTRICT 15, WHICH IS WHAT WE CALL YOUR DISTRICT.

MR. MAYOR, I THINK YOU RECEIVED 2 MILLION. AND SO THE STAFF ACTUALLY HAS WHAT THE REMAINING BALANCES ARE BY EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL DISTRICT.

SO IF YOU WANT THEM TO JUST TO ROLL THROUGH IT. YEAH, I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION. SO I'LL LET THE STAFF ROLL THROUGH IT. I WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR WHAT THEY'RE WHAT THEY HAVE. YES. SO THEY CAN GIVE YOU THE BALANCE.

THEY CAN GIVE YOU THE BALANCE BY EACH DISTRICT.

AND THIS WOULD BE WHAT'S CURRENTLY NOT ENCUMBERED.

OKAY. THANK YOU. CITY MANAGER JANETTE WEEDEN BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES. SO THE REMAINING BALANCE OF THE 16 MILLION IS 7 MILLION THERE ARE 07,843,505 DISTRICT BY DISTRICT. THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING. WELL, DISTRICT ONE HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 487,665.

[04:35:05]

DISTRICT TWO HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 699,386.

DISTRICT THREE HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 653,750.

DISTRICT FOUR HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 658,457.

DISTRICT FIVE HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF $50.

DISTRICT SIX HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 497,623.

DISTRICT SEVEN HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 270,000.

DISTRICT EIGHT HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 195,696.

DISTRICT NINE HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 70 $76,074.

DISTRICT TEN HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 122,622.

DISTRICT 11 HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 863,821.

DISTRICT 12 HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 900,000.

DISTRICT 13 HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 620,000 TO 71.

DISTRICT 14 HAS A REMAINING BALANCE OF 450,167.

AND MR.. MAYOR. YOU HAVE A REMAINING BALANCE OF 1,347,920.

AND SO IF WE WERE TO ALLOCATE THE AMOUNT OF THIS AMENDMENT 427,873 OVER 14 DISTRICTS, NOT INCLUDING DISTRICT FIVE, BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY $50 LEFT IN THAT DISTRICT, IT WOULD BE $30,562 PER DISTRICT.

PER DISTRICT. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE. I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD.

I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE WHAT THE BALANCES WERE ON ALL THE DISTRICTS.

MR. ROTH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

JUST TO CLARIFY, THOSE FUNDS THAT ARE IN OUR ARP FUNDS MAY NOT BE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WHAT YOU CALL ENCUMBERED OR NOT, BUT THE FUNDS THAT I HAVE IN OUR DISTRICT ARE PROJECTED TO BE ALLOCATED TO ANOTHER PROJECT. SO THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT NECESSARILY FREE FUNDS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR FOR OTHER THINGS.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER COUNCIL FOLKS BALANCES ARE EITHER.

THERE'S ALSO $60 MILLION OF ARPA FUNDS THAT ARE GENERALLY AVAILABLE, TO WHICH I KNOW SOME OF THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR FOR CERTAIN THINGS. SO I WOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT PLAYING WITH OUR ARPA FUNDS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE ONE TIME FUNDS.

THOSE ARE THOSE ARE GOOD RESERVE FUNDS. THOSE ARE EMERGENCY FUNDS THAT CAN BE USED IN CASES OF SIGNIFICANT NEEDS.

AND SO I WOULD AGAIN, I WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND THAT WE DO NOT ALLOCATE THOSE KIND OF FUNDS TOWARDS THIS KIND OF A PURPOSE.

THANK YOU. AND I WOULD JUST POINT OUT I THINK THIS IS CORRECT.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE AS OF I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DATE IS, BUT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT REFLECT, LIKE YOU SAID, PROJECTS THAT ARE ENCUMBERED ALREADY. I KNOW MINE IS ACTUALLY A MILLION LESS THAN WHAT IT WHAT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD, BECAUSE I DID IT FOR HALPERN PARK WITH $1 MILLION.

SO JUST TO KEEP EVERYBODY'S WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE WHAT THEY'RE PLAYING WITH BEFORE THEY DECIDE.

AND FOR CLARIFICATION, IF I MAY THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT ARE NOT ENCUMBERED, MEANING THEY HAVEN'T EITHER BEEN SPENT OR THEY ARE NOT UNDER CONTRACT.

YOU HAVE PROBABLY ALL ALLOCATED THEM TO A SPECIFIC PROJECT.

THEY ARE JUST NOT UNDER CONTRACT. THAT'S A GOOD DISTINCTION.

THANK. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY, GOOD. CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

YES. CHIEF IRELAND KIND OF CLEARED THAT UP JUST NOW, BUT I CONCUR WITH COUNCILMAN ROTH.

THESE ARE NOT FREE DOLLARS. I'M. I'M WORKING RIGHT NOW IN DISTRICT FOUR TO USE SOME OF THEIR MONEY AND TO GO TOWARDS CERTAIN AREAS IN MY COMMUNITY WHERE WE DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS AND KIDS WALKING IN THE STREET AS THEY'RE GOING TO AND FRO TO AND FRO SCHOOL.

SO I'M WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN ROSS. THESE ARE NOT FREE DOLLARS.

THESE HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN WORKING AND BEING WORKING WITH MY LIAISON AND AND THE CITY MANAGER TO TRY TO GET THIS THING DONE, THESE THINGS DONE IN MY DISTRICT. SO I WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY MISTER BAZALDUA? SEEING NONE, INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR.

MR. MAYOR, THERE ARE NO SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR OF THIS AMENDMENT.

I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I KEEP FORGETTING TO LOOK AT THE MONITOR WITH ONE SEAL RAISED IN FAVOR, MR. MAYOR. THE AMENDMENT FAILS. OKAY, SO THE AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT 21 BY MR.

[04:40:01]

BAZALDUA IS HAS FAILED. SO WE'RE BACK ON AMENDMENT 21, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY MOVED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ON THAT. SO AND I HAVE A RECORD OF IT.

SO ANYONE ELSE WHO HASN'T SPOKEN ON IT YET WANT TO.

MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'M JUST WAITING TO SEE IF STAFF HAS A RESPONSE.

SURE. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. SO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, WHAT WAS THE REMAINING BALANCE FROM FISCAL YEAR 24? SO HUMAN RESOURCES ENDED FISCAL YEAR 24 WITH $52,026 IN SAVINGS.

THINGS. YOUR SECOND QUESTION COMPARING AND WE'LL JUST COMPARE FISCAL YEAR 29 SINCE WE'VE BEEN USING THAT AS OUR NUMBER.

SO THE TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET OR OPERATING FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 29.

SO THAT INCLUDES THE I'M SORRY. YEAH. 2019 INCLUDES ALL THE GENERAL FUND AND ALL OPERATING FUNDS.

SO THAT NUMBER IS 2,491,000,000. AND THEN IN FISCAL YEAR 2026, FOR ALL OPERATING FUNDS, THE GENERAL FUND, OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THIS NUMBER DOES NOT INCLUDE DEBT SERVICE, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

IT ONLY INCLUDES THE OPERATING FUNDS THAT HAVE POSITIONS.

THE 2026 NUMBER IS 3,495,000,000. AND SO THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 40% ON THE STAFFING SIDE.

SO IN 2019, WE HAD 15,331 POSITIONS 2026, 15,595.

SO THAT'S AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 2% OR 264 POSITIONS.

THANK YOU. DO WE KNOW HOW MANY POSITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT WENT UNFILLED YEAR OVER YEAR IN THE LAST THREE YEARS? COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TEM, WE MAY NOT HAVE THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL, BUT WE CAN WORK TO GET IT FOR YOU.

THAT'S FINE. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

REGARDING POPULATION, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS YOURS, MAYOR PRO TEM, BUT SAN ANTONIO, 1.4 MILLION.

DALLAS 1.3 MILLION. A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT 100,000.

MR. RESENDEZ. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT EITHER.

AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO JUST EXPRESS MY FRUSTRATION THAT INSTEAD OF MAKING IT EASIER FOR OUR STAFF TO DO THEIR JOBS, WE'RE CONSIDERING CUTS THAT WOULD ONLY MAKE THEIR WORK HARDER AND LESS EFFECTIVE.

I WON'T GO OVER ALL THOSE REASONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT I, I MENTIONED AND VOICED MY OPPOSITION TO THIS.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT NUMBER 21.

SEEING NONE, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD SEALS OR HANDS RAISED IN FAVOR OR COUNCIL MEMBERS ROSS MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO MAYOR JOHNSON COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY WITH MINORITY.

WITH THE MINORITY OF SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THIS AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, SO AMENDMENT 21 DOES NOT PASS. IS THERE ANYONE INTERESTED IN PUTTING FORWARD AMENDMENT 23? GOING ONCE. YES. WAIT, WAIT. OH, OKAY. NOPE. 22 DOES NOT LOWER THE TAX RATE OR FEES.

WE'RE DOING ALL WE'RE RESOLVING TAX RATE ONCE FIRST.

THANK YOU. I MOVE TO REDUCE THE STIPEND FOR THE DALLAS ZOO BY THE AMOUNT WHICH IS 14,000 $889,353 BY THE AMOUNT OF THE DEBT PAYMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE 30 MILLION 2024 BONDS.

IS THERE A SECOND? AND USE THAT FOR A PROPERTY TAX RATE REDUCTION? YES. IT'S AS WRITTEN, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED.

WAS IT SECONDED AND SECONDED. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.

WE CURRENTLY GIVE A STIPEND TO THE ZOO OF 14 MILLION.

THEY HAVE A $40 MILLION BUDGET. THIS IS THE MOST WE FUND ANY ORGANIZATION IN DALLAS THAT I HAVE SEEN IN OUR BUDGET.

THIS IS NET NEUTRAL, MEANING WE'LL STILL BE FUNDING THE ZOO $14 MILLION.

IT'S JUST WHAT WE WON'T BE DOING IS ADDING THIS ADDITIONAL $2.2 MILLION TO THE STIPEND TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE OF THE BOND. SO WE WOULD CONTINUE TO ALLOCATE $14 MILLION.

IT'S JUST THAT 11.6 OF IT WOULD GO TO THEIR OPERATING AND THE OTHER WOULD BE THEIR DEBT PAYMENT.

THEY HAVE VOLUNTARILY DECIDED TO PURSUE A VERY LARGE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN OF THAT.

[04:45:04]

A PORTION OF THAT IS BEING PAID OUT OF THE DALLAS BOND.

WE VOTED TO DO THAT, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY THEN INCREASE HOW MUCH OUR BUDGET GOES TO THE ZOO.

THEY HAVE A VERY ROBUST CAMPAIGN GOING. I THINK THE CHAIR TOLD ME THEY HAVE RAISED, I BELIEVE IT WAS 70 MILLION.

CAN'T VERIFY THAT FOR SURE, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS 70.

AND THIS IS WHAT OUR NONPROFITS ARE EXPECTED TO DO RAISE MONEY FOR THEIR PROJECTS.

IF THEY DON'T FEEL THEY'RE CAPABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY, THEY NEED TO SCALE BACK THEIR PROJECT.

PART OF THE PROJECT, I BELIEVE, INCLUDES A PARKING GARAGE WHERE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GENERATE REVENUE.

IT'S POSSIBLE BECAUSE A DIFFERENT BOARD MEMBER SAID THEY ACTUALLY THINK THE PARKING GARAGE IS A DIFFERENT PROJECT, THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING. BUT THEY ARE GOING TO GET MORE REVENUE FROM THE PARKING GARAGE, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE FUNDING OR NOT. AND THAT REVENUE THEY KEEP.

SO THAT'S WHAT THE AMENDMENT IS. $2.2 MILLION IS MORE THAN ALL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS WE'VE HAD SO FAR TO REDUCE THE TAXES.

IT'S A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY. AND SO AS WE HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION REPEATEDLY ABOUT HOW MUCH WOULD THIS MATTER? THIS ONE MATTERS. AND AGAIN, I LOVE THE ZOO. WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNGER, WE WENT EVERY SINGLE WEEK TO THE ZOO.

BEFORE IT WAS AS NICE AS IT IS TODAY. I'LL SAY THAT.

IT'S A WONDERFUL CITY AMENITY. I HOPE THAT THEY WILL BE VERY PROSPEROUS.

I HOPE PEOPLE WILL SUPPORT IT. THEY'LL ATTEND, THEY'LL DONATE.

BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH AS A CITY WE SHOULD BE FUNDING THIS NONPROFIT.

AND 14 MILLION SEEMS TO BE A VERY ROBUST PERCENTAGE OF THEIR BUDGET.

THANK YOU, MR. WEST. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES AGAIN FOR THE PUBLIC.

WE ARE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER 23 TODAY BY CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. WHAT DOES IT SAY IN THE CHARTER ABOUT THE DALLAS ZOO? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION AND THAT WE ACTUALLY OWN THE DALLAS ZOO.

IS ANY ANY ANYBODY AWARE OF THAT? AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT PREPPING YOU WITH THAT QUESTION.

LET'S SEE WHO'S GOING TO ANSWER IT. IS THAT A CITY ATTORNEY QUESTION? COME ON DOWN WHILE YOU'RE COMING DOWN.

PARKS DEPARTMENT. I'D I'VE JUST LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT AS WELL FOR CUTTING $2.2 MILLION FROM THE ZOO AT THIS POINT. SO AGAIN, MY QUESTIONS ARE IF THE CHARTER APPLIES TO OUR RESPONSIBILITIES, WHO OWNS THE ZOO, AND WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THE $2.2 MILLION? ALL RIGHT. SO WE OWN THE ZOO. THE CITY OWNS THE ZOO.

TO. YEAH, THERE'S I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CHARTER BEFORE ME, BUT THERE IS WHERE THE THE CITY OR THE PARK DEPARTMENT IN THE CHARTER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING THE ZOO. AND THIRD, WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT? IT WILL BE A HUGE IMPACT. I MEAN, FOR THEM TRYING TO FIND $2.2 MILLION BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE TO PAY A A DEBT SERVICE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE IMPACT. THERE WILL BE SOME SOME CUTS THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE AT THE ZOO.

THEY WILL HAVE TO PROBABLY HAVE TO LAY OFF STAFF.

THEY WILL HAVE TO REDUCE PROGRAMING. IT'S IT WILL BE.

IT WILL BE AN IMPACT. WE CERTAINLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHO FACILITATE THE PROPERTIES THAT WE OWN. WE DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO FUNDRAISE AND DO CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS.

RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. CAN THE ZOO SUSTAIN ITSELF WITH CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS ALONE AT THIS POINT? HAVE THEY SHOWN THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT OR DO THEY NEED OUR HELP? WELL, I MEAN, THEY HAVE. THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE THEIR OPERATING BUDGET.

AND THEY, ALONG WITH ALSO BEING ABLE TO TAKE ON CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE FIRST PRIVATIZED, I MEAN, ENTERED INTO THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

ONE OF THE AGREEMENT WAS, I WANT TO SAY THAT WAS 2010, BUT THE BUDGET WAS ABOUT $14 MILLION.

WHAT THEY AGREED TO TAKE ON THE ZOO BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THE CITY WAS IN WELL, HAD A HUGE FINANCIAL SHORTFALL.

THEY AGREED TO STEP UP AND SAY, WE WILL OPERATE IT FOR THE FIRST YEAR, WHICH I THINK THAT BUDGET WENT DOWN TO ABOUT $10 MILLION, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WOULD GET THE BUDGET BACK UP TO THEIR 14 OR $15 MILLION, WHICH THEY ACHIEVED. BUT NOW THEY HAVE TAKEN THE BUDGET FROM $14 MILLION WHEN WE OPERATED IT TO A $40 MILLION BUDGET TODAY. AND SO BUT THE OPERATING EXPENSES CONTINUE TO GO UP.

[04:50:08]

SO THIS WOULD BE AN IMPACT. THE 2.2 MILLION, THEIR OPERATING EXPENSES GO UP, BUT ALSO THEIR REVENUE HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

THEY'VE ADDED MORE FEATURES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, AND SOME OF WHICH, AT OUR REQUEST. OH, CORRECT. YEAH. I MEAN, THEY HAVE ADDED THEY HAVE ADDED A LOT MORE AMENITIES AND FEATURES THAT HAVE TURNED US INTO A RECOGNIZABLE NATIONAL ZOO.

ALL RIGHT. I MAY HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. CHAIR JOHNSON.

THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT AT ALL.

THIS IS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ZOO. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ECONOMIC ENGINE IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR IN DISTRICT FOUR.

AND I WENT OVER THERE WHEN I FIRST BECAME THE COUNCIL MEMBER, DISTRICT FOUR, AND SAT WITH THAT TEAM AND ASKED QUESTIONS AND GOT INFORMATION ON THE ZOO. AND SINCE GOING INTO A PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP IN 2009, THE ZOO HAS SAVED THE CITY AND TAXPAYERS $249 MILLION. THEY ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN SOUTHERN DALLAS.

THEY HAVE REDUCED THEIR MANAGEMENT FEES EVERY YEAR SINCE 2021 BY REMOVING THE CPI ADJUSTMENT.

THEY REDUCED THEIR THEIR FEE LAST YEAR BY ANOTHER 3% TO BE GOOD PARTNERS.

THEY ARE INVESTING IN A CITY OWNED FACILITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL OF DALLAS.

OVER 100 MILLION GUESTS ATTEND A YEAR, OVER 600 EMPLOYEES, OVER 130,000 SCHOOL KIDS.

THIS IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE AND DISTRICT FOUR THAT PARTNERS WITH THE ENTIRE CITY THAT MYSELF AND COUNCILMAN WEST ARE DOING SOME PHENOMENAL THINGS CONNECTING TO HYPERION PARK.

SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY DISTRICT FOUR, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE ENTIRE CITY OF DALLAS.

THANK YOU. CHAIR STEWART. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

OKAY. WHERE TO START? AS CHAIR OF PARKS, TRAILS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, I'M LIKE, OH MY GOODNESS.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ASSET AND A VERY STRONG PARTNERSHIP.

WITH WE HAVE THE ZOO HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS PARTNERSHIP.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I LISTEN TO CHAIR MENDELSOHN AND.

YES OUR FAMILY ALSO WERE AT THE ZOO YOU KNOW, VERY, VERY REGULARLY.

AND WE CAN ALL APPRECIATE AND SEE THE TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.

I THINK THE ISSUE I HAVE HERE IS HOW WE ARE ENGAGING WITH THIS PARTNER.

WE'VE COME TO THIS PARTNER AT THE LAST MINUTE AND ASKED FOR A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION.

AND I THINK TO BE VERY HONEST, THAT FEELS VERY DISRESPECTFUL.

IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT KIND OF A CHANGE, THAT KIND OF A REDUCTION, THEN I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU YOU BEGIN TALKING ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. MAYBE YOU BEGIN TODAY TALKING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO I THINK THE THE LAST MINUTE NATURE OF IT I FIND OBJECTIONABLE.

AND I ALSO AM HEARING AND I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHERE I'VE HEARD THIS, BUT, JOHN, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME.

I THINK THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE ZOO TAKING OVER THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE BONDS THAT WERE ISSUED FOR THE PARKING GARAGE.

SO I DO THINK THAT THEY ARE STEPPING UP ON THAT OBLIGATION AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A SHARE IN THAT. IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, THAT'S CORRECT FROM THE STANDPOINT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH THE ZOO ABOUT THAT THEY NEED TO BE LESS RELIABLE ON THE GENERAL FUND. AND SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THEM ON HOW THERE MAY BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IN SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUES AT THE ZOO. SIMILAR SAME CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE ABOUT FAIR PARK WE'RE LOOKING AT.

ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUES THROUGH SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT THE ZOO THAT WOULD LESSEN THEIR BURDEN ON THE GENERAL FUND GOING FORWARD? SO WE'RE IN THIS PROCESS.

WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF RECOGNIZING THAT WE NEED TO MOVE THIS DIRECTION.

THAT'S CORRECT. AND THIS WOULD JUST BE SKIPPING AHEAD FORWARD A LITTLE TOO QUICKLY, NOT GIVING OUR PARTNER THE TIME TO ADJUST AND TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE SO THAT THEY CAN HELP THE CITY REDUCE THEIR RELIANCE ON THE GENERAL FUND.

[04:55:01]

THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCILWOMAN.

BLACKMON. THANK YOU. AND JUST MR. WEST. IT IS IN THE CHARTER, IT SAYS, TO PROVIDE FOR AN ANIMAL ZOO AND TO EXERCISE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL THEREOF. SO IT DOESN'T. IT DOESN'T SPECIFY HOW JUST TO HAVE A ZOO.

WHICH, JOHN, WHEN DID WE TRANSITION FROM A SOLELY OWNED AND OPERATED ZOO TO THIS PARTNERSHIP? YEAH, IT WAS BECAUSE THEY GAVE ME THE FIGURES.

THAT WAS IN FISCAL YEAR 090 TEN. AT THAT TIME WHEN THEY OPERATED, THE BUDGET WAS 16 MILLION.

AND THEN WHEN WE PRIVATIZED WITH THEM, WELL, THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THEY WENT DOWN TO $11 MILLION.

AND SO WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT, RIGHT? A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

YES. AND WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE STIPEND WITHIN THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT? YES. WELL, THE THE CONTRACT BASICALLY SAID THAT WE AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THEY DID AGREE.

ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO TO REDUCE THEIR CPI, BUT IT ALLOWED THEIR BUDGET TO INCREASE EVERY YEAR WITH CPI.

WHEN THEY WENT DOWN 11 MILLION. BUT THEY AGREED BECAUSE WE DID HAVE WE WENT TO THEM ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING SOME FINANCIAL I WOULDN'T SAY A CLAUSE THAT SAYS THAT THERE'S A FINANCIAL BURDEN. THEN YOU CAN STOP THE STIPEND TO WRITE.

WELL, THEY AGREE TO LEAVE IT FLAT. THAT'S CORRECT.

IN ORDER TO HELP US MEET OUR BUDGET TWO YEARS AGO.

SO WE DO HAVE A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO HOW WE PAY WHAT WE PAY THEM EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S CORRECT. AND SO IF WE WERE TO GO BACK ON THAT, WHAT'S THE LIABILITY? DO WE HAVE ONE? I MEAN, I ASSUME ANY SUBJECT.

YES. SUBJECT TO A. YEAH. AND IT'S SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATIONS IN THE CONTRACT.

I MEAN, IT'S SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION IF WE DON'T APPROPRIATE FOR THAT YEAR, WE DON'T GET THE SERVICES.

OKAY. YEAH. SO WE'RE OH, WE WE WON'T WILL BE DEFAULT OF OUR CONTRACT OR IS IT.

IT GIVES THEM THE IT GIVES THEM THE OPTION. IF WE DON'T APPROPRIATE IT GIVES THEM THE OPTION.

IF THEY DECIDE THEY WANT TO GIVE THE KEYS BACK TO THE CITY AND I DON'T I DON'T HAVE $40 MILLION TO OPERATE A ZOO.

AND SO OR THE EXPERTISE I THE I DO THINK THAT A REVIEW OF ALL THESE NEED TO PROBABLY HAPPEN PERIODICALLY, AND I'M HOPING THAT'S MAYBE WHAT WE'LL BE DOING THROUGH OUR COMMITTEES, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE TIME OR PLACE TO DO IT.

BECAUSE THERE IS PREDICTABILITY AND PLANNING THAT OUR PARTNERS WANT.

AND IF ALL OF A SUDDEN WE CAN NOW SAY IT'S BUDGET DAY AND WE NEED IT AND NOT HAVE THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE THERE ARE A PARTNER, THEN IT COULD BE WE PROBABLY WON'T HAVE MANY PARTNERS MOVING FORWARD.

AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS PARTNERSHIPS. BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN THE CITY HAD IT, I WAS WORKING IN THIS BUILDING AND IT WAS LITERALLY CAGES WITH ANIMALS IN IT. AND SO THE ZOO AND ALL OF THEIR, ALL OF THEIR SUPPORTERS NEED TO BE THANKED AND COMMENDED FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

IT IS A BIG ATTRACTION IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR CITY.

SO I'M THE SPIRIT OF IT IS, YOU KNOW, LET'S WE SHOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE ALWAYS LOOK AT IT.

BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS REALLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. CHAIRWOMAN WILSON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. SO, JACK, YOU'VE BEEN AT THE CITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

HOW LONG HAS THE CONVERSATION ABOUT REDUCING THE STIPEND TO THE ZOO BEEN GOING ON? STIPENDS DO COME UP FREQUENTLY IN THE BUDGET CONVERSATION EACH YEAR.

AS WE ARE WORKING WITH THE PARK DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE REDUCTIONS.

AND SO IT'S BEEN OUTSOURCED OR PARTNERSHIP, I THINK YOU SAID SINCE 2010.

SO YEAH, IT'S A PRETTY REGULAR CONVERSATION. AND PARK DIRECTOR JENKINS, I WAS GOING TO ADD IT'S A REGULAR CONVERSATION WITH STAFF. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN A CONVERSATION WITH THE ZOO OR NOT.

THAT WOULD BE JOHN'S POINT. WELL, I WAS GOING TO GO DIRECTLY TO PARK BOARD BECAUSE I THINK THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME THERE.

WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SHARE HOW LONG THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING? WELL, I WOULD SAY IT'S PROBABLY WHEN WE HIT THE CONVERSATION TWO YEARS AGO WHERE WE CAME FORWARD AND THE ZOO AGREED TO REDUCE THEIR STIPEND WHEN WE WERE HAVING A SERIOUS CONVERSATION FROM THE BOARD ABOUT.

AND THE COUNCIL HAS EXPRESSED IN THE PAST ABOUT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE STIPENDS FOR ALL OUR PARTNERS GOING FORWARD.

SO EVEN BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL, I KNOW I'VE WATCHED A PARK BOARD MEETING WHERE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING THE ZOO STIPEND.

[05:00:06]

WELL, THAT WAS PART OF BUDGET REDUCTIONS BACK THEN.

OKAY. SO DID THE ZOO REDUCE THE STIPEND? YES THEY DID.

THEY REDUCED IT BY OVER A LITTLE OVER $500,000.

TWO YEARS AGO, 5500. 500,000? YES. SO IT WAS 14.5, AND NOW IT'S 14 MILLION.

IT WAS I BELIEVE THE CURRENT FOR 26 IS 14 889, 353, 14.9 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 26. SORRY, I HAD BEEN ROUNDING. THANK YOU.

ARE YOU AWARE THAT WE'RE FUNDING ABOUT 35% OF THEIR BUDGET WITH A STIPEND? THAT'S CORRECT. YES. DO WE FUND A 35% OF THE ARBORETUM? NO. DO WE DO IT FOR ANY OTHER ENTITY? NO. THAT WE OWN? NO. IN THE CONTRACT, THERE IS NO CONTRACT ISSUE, RIGHT? IT SAYS THAT IF WE DON'T FUND IT, THERE'S NO LEGAL OBLIGATION FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

EVERY CONTRACT IS SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATIONS ANNUALLY.

AND SO THE COMMENT YOU MADE, JOHN, ABOUT, OH, THEY COULD GIVE US BACK THE KEYS AND YOU WOULD RUN A $40 MILLION, AND YOU WERE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE EXPENSE OF 40 MILLION, BUT NOT ANY OF THE REVENUE.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S THAT'S CORRECT. IT WOULD BE THE EXPENSE OF $40 MILLION.

AND HOW MUCH REVENUE WOULD THERE BE? I DON'T HAVE THAT BEFORE ME, BUT BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THEY DO BRING IN $40 MILLION WORTH OF REVENUES TO PAY FOR THEIR EXPENSES. BUT I DON'T HAVE THOSE FIGURES IN FRONT OF ME.

SO ARE YOU SAYING THEY'RE RUNNING IN THE RED? THEY DON'T HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET? NO, I'M SAYING THEY DO HAVE A I'M PRETTY SURE THEY BRING IN ENOUGH REVENUES TO COVER THEIR EXPENSES.

OKAY, SO YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY IF THAT HAPPENED.

I WOULD JUST SAY I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE. AND I WILL SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE, AND THERE'S NO WAY I WOULD THINK WE WOULD BRING IN $40 MILLION.

OKAY. WHAT'S THE COST FOR ADMISSION TO THE ZOO RIGHT NOW? DO YOU KNOW? I DON'T HAVE IT BEFORE ME. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE FROM THE ZOO? I THOUGHT THEY WERE EARLIER. I MEAN, THEY SEEM PRETTY.

ARE Y'ALL FROM THE ZOO? YES. IF YOU'RE WILLING TO, PLEASE COME DOWN.

I THINK THESE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR IN YOUR POSITION WITH THE ZOO.

AND ALSO FOR OUR RECORD. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I'M MARIANNE DEYOUNG, I'M THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT THE DALLAS ZOO. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE COST FOR ADMISSION IS FOR AN ADULT? WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A DYNAMIC PRICING MODEL THIS YEAR WITH PERMISSION FROM THE CITY.

PRICING RUNS AROUND BETWEEN. IT CAN GO AS LOW AS $15, WHICH WE IMPLEMENTED THIS SUMMER AND AS HIGH AS PROBABLY 26.

AND IT DEPENDS ON THE DAY. IT RUNS KIND OF LIKE A AIRLINE TICKET WHEN YOU GO IN AND YOU GO TO BUY YOUR TICKET, THE PRICE COULD BE DIFFERENT EACH DAY. OKAY. SO THE CAPITAL PROJECT THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON IS IS IT $120 MILLION? IT'S CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. I BELIEVE THE ACTUAL CURRENT NUMBER IS 119 MILLION, BUT YES, VERY CLOSE TO THAT NUMBER. OKAY. AND WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE IF YOU NEEDED TO, TO SCALE THAT BACK SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN SO YOU COULD COVER THIS PAYMENT. THE FUNDS RAISED FOR THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN ARE SPECIFIC TO CAPITAL PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF OUR REGULAR OPERATING BUDGET.

THOSE ARE TO BUILD TO IMPLEMENT INTO THE INTO THE CITY, INTO THE DALLAS ZOO FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS WITHIN THE ZOO.

THOSE ARE TO HELP OUR ATTENDANCE AND OUR REVENUES GOING FORWARD.

SO THERE IS A HOPE THAT THAT WILL HELP US HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUES TO HAVE THOSE PROJECTS COMPLETED.

BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT SET OF FUNDS FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET.

AND IN THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR. DID YOU RUN IN THE RED? WE ARE CURRENTLY WRAPPING UP OUR FISCAL YEAR JUST AS YOU ARE.

SEPTEMBER 30TH IS OUR YEAR END, WHEN OUR BUDGET LAST YEAR WAS BEING APPROVED.

WE AT THE LAST MINUTE HAD A 3% REDUCTION TO OUR MANAGEMENT FEES, WHICH WAS ABOUT 400,000 OR $470,000.

SO OUR BUDGETED MARGIN FOR THIS YEAR WAS $51,000, WHICH ON A $40 MILLION BUDGET IS A VERY SMALL MARGIN.

THIS YEAR COMING FORWARD, WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR THE SAME STIPEND OR THE SAME MANAGEMENT FEES OF 14.9 MILLION,

[05:05:03]

WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, 500 LESS THAN OUR CONTRACTED AMOUNT.

AND THROUGH HARD WORK, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BALANCE THE COMING YEAR'S BUDGET TO A MARGIN OF $200,000.

SO IF THIS AMENDMENT WENT THROUGH, WE WOULD HAVE A DEFICIT OF $2 MILLION IN OUR BUDGET, FOR WHICH WILL BEGIN IN TWO WEEKS.

OKAY. SO WE KEEP HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT REDUCING THE STIPEND, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO ADD IN A DEBT PAYMENT. AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S ACTUALLY TAKEN THIS SERIOUS BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS WE SAY HOW MUCH WE LOVE THE ZOO.

AND I LOVE THE ZOO. OF COURSE, I ALSO REMEMBER WHEN I PAID $1 TO GET INTO THE ZOO.

I WOULD NOT PAY $26 TO GO TO THE ZOO. I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU, I THINK THAT'S THAT'S UNAFFORDABLE FOR MOST OF OUR CITY.

AND MAYBE WE NEED TO STOP DOING GOLD PLATED ZOO SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY A ZOO.

THIS THIS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN YOU'RE WORKING ON IS TO MAKE IT THE PREMIER AND THE ENTIRE NATION.

AND WE'VE GOT TO GET AWAY FROM TRYING TO BE THE BEST IN THE ENTIRE NATION, WHERE THEN BECOMES UNATTAINABLE FOR OUR PEOPLE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE HERE.

I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM, HAVE YOU SPOKEN AT ALL? SINCE I'M IN THE CHAIR, I ASSUME NOT. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. MAYOR, THIS ONE'S NOT EASY, BUT WE'RE HERE TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS. AND I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS NEWS TO THE DALLAS ZOO.

SINCE MY TIME ON THE DALLAS PARK BOARD, WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS, BUT THEY'VE NEVER REALLY ADVANCED.

THE ZOO IS A GREAT PARTNER, AND WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST ZOOS IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THE MOTTO WITH THE PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AT THE TIME.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AT THE VERY LEAST, IS FOR THIS TO BE WORKED THROUGH THE PTA COMMITTEE AND THROUGH PARK BOARD TO COME UP WITH A REAL CALCULATION ON WHAT THE STIPEND SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

YOU LOOK AT ZOOS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YOU LOOK AT AT HOUSTON, THEIR STIPEND IS ABOUT 10 TO 13% WHAT THE CITY IS PUTTING IN. SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE A STEP DOWN FROM THE STIPEND THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M HERE TO WITH THE MISSION TO CONTINUE REDUCING OUR TAX RATE.

SO I DO WANT TO THANK CHAIR MENDELSOHN FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD TODAY.

AGAIN, THIS IS BY NO MEANS GOING TO BE AN EASY DECISION, BUT ONE THAT I DO THINK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SEEING COMING FOR A LONG TIME.

AND IF PEOPLE HAVE NOT SEEN IT COMING, SHAME, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ASKED DIRECTOR JENKINS, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ZOO AND THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WE DO HAVE A STEP DOWN ON THE CURRENT STIPEND.

HOW ARE. I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED A 500,000 REDUCTION.

BEYOND THAT, HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? AND WHAT HAS BEEN THE APPETITE? YEAH. I MEAN, THE ZOO IS DEFINITELY OPEN TO, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, HOW CAN WE THEY CREATE ADDITIONAL REVENUES ONE NOT ONLY BENEFIT THEIR OPERATIONS, BUT IS THERE OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE, AND I'VE SAID THIS PUBLICLY BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED A NEW PARKING GARAGE. WHY CAN'T WE LOOK AT WHEN WE BUILD THAT NEW PARKING GARAGE THAT WE ADD RETAIL ON TOP OF THAT PARKING GARAGE? WE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD A HOTEL ON TOP OF THAT PARKING GARAGE.

SO I THINK THERE'S WAYS WE CAN GET THERE. AND WE'RE AND WE ARE GOING TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE SERIOUS TALKS ABOUT HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ZOO. AND I WANT TO REASSURE THE THE BOARD AND COUNCIL.

I MEAN, IT'S A LEGITIMATE I MEAN, THE COUNCIL, IT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION.

I THINK THE TIMING IS WHAT'S THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO FOUND $2.2 MILLION WITHOUT HAVING A HUGE IMPACT TO THEIR SERVICE RIGHT NOW.

CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WILL I AGREE WITH YOU, JOHN.

I THINK THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN CONVERSATION AROUND THIS FOR A LONG TIME, AND THERE IS AWARENESS,

[05:10:05]

BUT I THINK THE TIMING OF IT AND THE AMOUNT OF THE CUT IS, IS CATCHING PEOPLE OFF GUARD.

SO WHAT I CAN DO IS CHAIR OF PARKS, TRAILS AND THE ENVIRONMENT IS TO PLEDGE THAT WE WILL, AS A COMMITTEE, TAKE A HARD LOOK, A SPECIFIC LOOK. WE WILL PARTNER WITH STAFF AND WITH THE PARK BOARD.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LARGE AMOUNT. IT IS LARGER THAN OUR OTHER OUR OTHER STIPENDS.

IT DOES CATCH PEOPLE'S EYE. I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT I THINK DOING THIS AT THE LAST MINUTE AND NOT GIVING THEM THE ABILITY TO PLAN FOR THIS IS IS TOO CHALLENGING IS IS REALLY NOT FAIR.

AND SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS WE TAKE THE CONCERN.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN OUT THERE FOR A WHILE.

YOU'RE TELLING ME IT'S NOT NEW? I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT I THINK THE URGENCY OF DOING IT RIGHT IN THIS ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS LAST MINUTE DECISION DOES FEEL UNFAIR.

SO LET'S LOOK AT IT TOGETHER WITH THE ZOO AND LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.

AND CHAIR MENDELSOHN, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE I DON'T REMEMBER IF YOU'RE ON PARKS.

I'M NOT SURE YOU ARE, BUT PLEASE COME. YOU AND I CAN WORK ON THIS TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE SOME GOOD THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT. YOU'RE GOOD WITH NUMBERS.

SO LET'S LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OF COURSE. CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, WE'RE ON THE HONOR SYSTEM.

WHAT ROUND IS THIS FOR? YOU TWO? IS THIS YOUR SECOND ROUND? YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WE WAS TALKING. I HEARD THE THE NEW PARKING GARAGE THAT MR. JENKINS HAS BROUGHT MY INFORMATION WHEN I WENT THERE AND KIND OF GOT SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE THE NEW PARKING GARAGE.

THE NEW PARKING GARAGE WAS PART OF THE COG. IS THAT CORRECT? AND OLD BOND MONEY. AND THROUGH DART TO HELP DART AND THE HEFFERAN PARK AS WELL.

SO THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH DART ZOO AND HEFFERAN PARK CONCERNING PARKING FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING OVER IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA IN DISTRICT FOUR, AND I BELIEVE, AS WELL AS DISTRICT ONE WITH COUNCILMAN WEST, IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH. I MEAN, THERE'S A PARKING GARAGE IS BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW.

YES. THERE'S A IN THE MASTER PLAN. IT CALLS FOR A SECOND PARKING GARAGE WITH WHICH NEEDS TO BE CLOSER TO THE HEPARIN PARK AND THE ZOO, WHICH CREATES A GREAT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

ABSOLUTELY. AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MISS RAYLAN HERE.

MAYOR JOHNSON, CAN SHE COME DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY? YES SHE CAN. SHE JUST NEEDS TO IDENTIFY HERSELF FOR THE RECORD.

AND SHE CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT SHE'D LIKE.

HAPPY TO. I'M RAY LYNN CARTER. I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT FOR THE DALLAS ZOO.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY WITH TO CONCERN THE ZOO FOR ME, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY. HAPPY TO. MAINTAINING AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF PRICE INCREASES, AS WE'RE SEEING WITH ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

SO WE DO $2 DAYS EVERY SUMMER. SO COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

YOU CAN STILL COME TO THE ZOO TWO DAYS A YEAR FOR $1.

WE HAD $15 PRICING ALL SUMMER THIS YEAR. AND WE OFFER DEEPLY SUBSIDIZED TICKETS FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOL FIELD TRIP VISITORS, WITH A FURTHER COST REDUCTION FOR TITLE ONE SCHOOLS HERE IN TOWN.

AND SO WHAT THAT COMES TO, SORT OF ALL TOLD, IS I AM ALSO NOT AS SHARP AS I WAS EARLIER, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT 50% OF OUR VISITORS. COME IN AT SOMETHING AROUND 10 TO $13 A YEAR OR LESS.

AND THEN WE ARE LOOKING AT ROLLING OUT A ZOO FOR ALL MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM THIS FALL, TOO, WHICH WILL OFFER EXTREMELY LOW COST MEMBERSHIP FOR REPEAT VISITATION FOR ANY OF OUR FAMILIES ON ANY KIND OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. WITH EVERYTHING AGAIN THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE HEFFRON PARK, THE ZOO AND WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN WEST, WHO I WAS EXCITED TO WORK WITH ON THIS PRIOR TO BECOMING A COUNCIL MEMBER AND AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED ABOUT THE WHOLE PROGRAM OVER WHAT WE CALL THE DECK PART.

I WILL NOT AGAIN BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

THIS THIS THE ZOO BRINGS SO MUCH AFFORDABILITY.

ACCESSIBILITY IS HELPING CREATE JOBS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT IS RIGHT IN DISTRICT FOUR AND DISTRICT ONE AND IN THE CITY OF DALLAS AS A WHOLE. I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS THIS AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

[05:15:02]

THANK YOU. WITH MY ONE MINUTE, I'M GOING TO SAY TWO THINGS.

ONE IS, IF WE WAIT A YEAR, ALL OF THE INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THE ZOO WILL SHUT THIS DOWN, JUST AS THEY HAVE YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHICH IS WHY IT NEVER ACTUALLY COMES TO A VOTE HERE.

AND THAT'S A FACT. NUMBER TWO, I WATCHED A VERY, VERY HEART FELT PARK BOARD MEETING WHERE ONE OF YOUR PARK BOARD MEMBERS, JOHN, TALKED ABOUT HOW HE WAS GOING TO HAWK HIS WATCH SO HE COULD AFFORD TO TAKE HIS OWN PEOPLE, HIS OWN FAMILY TO THE ZOO. AND THEY WERE APPROVING THE INCREASE IN THE COST FOR THE ZOO.

AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT LITERALLY HAVING TO HAWK HIS WATCH TO DO IT, TO TAKE HIS FAMILY.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT'S AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, LET ME TELL YOU, $26 FOR AN ADULT TO GET IN IS NOT AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, AND WE'RE MAKING IT OUT OF REACH. THAT IS A COST FOR THE TICKET, BUT IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE ALLOWING THESE GIANT INITIATIVES TO HAPPEN, AND THEN THEY MUST RELY ON THE SUBSIDY.

35% IS TOO MUCH. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A AN AMENDMENT. LET'S HEAR IT.

THE SAME SOURCE OF FUNDS, BUT IN THE AMOUNT OF $750,000 AND THE SAME USE OF FUNDS.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. WE'RE NOW ON AN AMENDMENT TO ITEM 23.

THAT SIMPLY CHANGES THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THE AMENDMENT.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON YOUR AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I DO AGREE THAT THE AMOUNT OF THAT WAS PROPOSED, 2.2 MILLION $200,000 WITHOUT HAVING TOO MUCH ADVANCE NOTICE CAN BE DIFFICULT TO FILL.

BUT I DO FEEL THAT THE AMOUNT OF 750 THAT THE ZOO CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO THAT.

AND IT SHOWS GOOD FAITH MOVING FORWARD, THAT THERE'S A COMMITMENT BY THIS BODY AND THE ZOO TO GET INTO SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN WEST RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO AMENDMENT 23.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I DON'T SUPPORT EITHER ONE OF THESE, BUT ESPECIALLY NOT THIS ONE, BECAUSE THE NUMBERS JUST RANDOM AND PULLED OUT OF THE AIR AND IT HAS NO BASIS. AND SO I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO BE STRATEGIC AND BE CUTTING OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS, WE NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT, GIVE THEM NOTICE, AND ACTUALLY HAVE SOME TYPE OF METRIC WE'RE USING INSTEAD OF JUST PULLING A NUMBER OUT OF THE AIR. THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I ALSO WOULD NOT SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. AGAIN, MY FOCUS HERE IS PARTNERSHIP.

THIS IS A PARTNER. THIS IS SOMEONE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AND WANT TO WORK WITH IN THE FUTURE.

US DECIDING WHAT THAT NUMBER IS IS NOT A CONVERSATION.

WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM. WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP.

WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP. SO WE SIT DOWN AND WORK IT THROUGH TOGETHER.

THIS IS NOT WHERE WE JUST PICK A NUMBER AND SAY, THIS IS IT.

NOW, IF SOMETHING GOES WONKY AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMEDAY.

OKAY. I CAN'T SAY I WOULDN'T NEVER DO THAT, BUT WE ARE NOT IN THAT PLACE TODAY.

WE ARE IN A PLACE TODAY WHERE WE HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS NEW MANAGEMENT GROUP, AND I DO NOT WANT TO DISRUPT THAT. THANK YOU.

CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT BY MAYOR PRO TEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE NUMBERS CAME FROM, BUT I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING IT AT ALL.

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

THANK YOU. SO WITH THIS AMENDMENT OF A. AND, JACK, I'M GOING TO NEED YOU.

WITH THIS AMENDMENT THAT I'M SORRY TO THE MOTION THAT MAYOR PRO TEM HAS MADE FOR THE 750,000 REDUCTION INSTEAD OF THE 2.2 MILLION, WOULD WE NOT STILL BE SPENDING 1.45 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR FOR THE ZOO? YES, MA'AM. THAT WE WOULD STILL HAVE OUR DEBT SERVICE COST ASSOCIATED WITH, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN WE WOULD HAVE HAD OTHERWISE.

SO AGAIN, BY ONLY GOING TO 750,000, WE'RE STILL GOING TO END UP SPENDING 1.45 MILLION MORE THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR THAN WHAT WE SPENT THIS YEAR.

WHEN YOU INCLUDE DEBT SERVICE WITH THE SIPHON, NOT CUTTING THIS, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT'S NEVER GOING TO END UP BEING CUT.

IT WILL NOT. AND IT IS NOT A CUT. IT'S NET NEUTRAL ORIGINALLY.

NOW IT'S STILL AN ADDITIONAL 1.45 MILLION. THIS ISN'T ABOUT PARTNERSHIP.

[05:20:02]

IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP OR A BAD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ZOO.

I'D LIKE TO THINK WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OUR NONPROFITS.

IT'S ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. AND WE DON'T PAY 35% OF THE ARBORETUM'S BUDGET.

DO WE KNOW? NO, NO, WE DON'T PAY 35% OF ANYBODY'S BUDGET.

IT IS NOT A SURPRISE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ZOO IN THIS BUDGET.

I THINK IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. SO. IF WE CAN'T MUSTER IT, I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHY WE WOULD HAVE THIS IN THE COMMITTEE, BECAUSE IT WON'T EVER HAPPEN.

AND YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THE INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THIS CITY WILL SHUT THIS CONVERSATION DOWN, AND THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES. I ASSURE YOU OF THAT.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I'M MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN THAT. I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE MOVEMENT.

MY CHIEF HESITATION ON THIS AND WHY I WON'T SUPPORT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE TIMING.

WE GOT OUR BUDGETS ON, WHAT, AUGUST 12TH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT IS PERENNIAL. IT COMES UP EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

IT IS TIME FOR THE PARK BOARD AND OUR PARTNERS TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

AND I'M LOOKING AT YOU FROM THE ZOO THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS NEXT YEAR.

I HAD HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER WHERE SHE SAID DISCUSSIONS HAD ALREADY BEEN GOING ON, AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A PLAN FOR SOME KIND OF REVISION OR EXIT ON THIS OR SOMETHING BY 2027.

SO THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

I WISH IT WOULD HAVE COME SOONER, BUT MY CHIEF OBJECTION IS TO TAKING A PARTNER AND THROWING, WHETHER IT'S A $750,000 DEAL WITH THEM OR ROCK IN THIS CASE, OR A $2.2 MILLION ONE.

I MEAN, I AGREE WITH THAT ON ON THE OFFSET, BUT IT'S JUST DOING THIS AT THIS TIME IS JUST THOUGHTLESS.

AND I'M SORRY THAT IT WASN'T BROUGHT UP SOONER, AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, BUT I'M NOT SUPPORTING IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT I MEAN, THIS IS THE YEAR. I MEAN, I HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION.

I THINK NEXT YEAR I DON'T EVEN REALLY WANT TO SEE THAT BIG NUMBER COME TO US IN THE FORM OF STIPEND.

NOT FOR THIS ONE OR NOT FOR OTHERS. IT'S JUST TIME TO MAKE SOME CHANGES AND LET SOME GROUPS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO RAISE MORE MONEY OR HAVE ACREAGE RENT FREE OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE TO DO SOME OF THAT LIFT.

I MEAN, WE'RE HERE AT 730 AT NIGHT BECAUSE WE ARE GOING OVER ALL OF THESE PENNIES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SERIOUS BUSINESS. SO IT'S TIME TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR, OUR PARTNERSHIP STIPENDS.

THANK YOU, MR. RESENDEZ. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHY SO MANY OF THESE LAST MINUTE AMENDMENTS TO CUT THE TAX RATE ARE NOT WELL THOUGHT THROUGH. THE ZOO IS ONE OF OUR CITY'S MOST VISITED ATTRACTIONS, AND A DRIVER OF TOURISM AND EDUCATION, AND A POINT OF PRIDE FOR SOUTHERN DALLAS SLASHING ITS FUNDING TO CHASE A SHORT TERM TAX RATE THAT DOESN'T SOLVE OUR LONG TERM BUDGET NEEDS.

IT JUST WEAKENS ONE OF THE INSTITUTIONS THAT MAKES DALLAS A GREAT CITY IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

WE NEED PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES, NOT DRACONIAN CUTS THAT CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY SOLVE.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO SAY CHAIR MENDELSOHN, WHEN YOU SAY THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN, YOU'VE JUST MOTIVATED ME, AND I KNOW, I KNOW, I CAN.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, I TAKE THE CHALLENGE, AND YOU CAN COME TO ME THIS TIME NEXT YEAR AND SAY, CHEER STEWART. WHERE IS IT? I WILL I, I DO PLEDGE I WILL WORK ON THIS.

JOHN. I'M GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP. AND RYAN AND EVERYBODY ELSE. IT MAY BE AN UPHILL BATTLE, BUT IT'S ONE I'M READY FOR, SO THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE, BUT I WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS ONE, BECAUSE I THINK I NEED TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF POINTS, POINTS OF THE IN THE DEBATE THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO RAISE.

I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN A WAY FOR THE TIMING OF THIS BECAUSE I'M THE ONE WHO ISSUED THE CHALLENGE, AND I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD STAND UP AND SAY, I APPRECIATE THE MEMBERS WHO RESPONDED TO THE CHALLENGE AND CAME UP WITH IDEAS FOR HOW WE COULD GET THE TAX RATE FOR OUR RESIDENTS LOWER. SO I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FACT THAT THIS WASN'T DONE EARLIER.

BUT THIS IS THIS IS THE BUDGET SEASON. THIS IS KIND OF HOW THAT FLOWS.

AND WE I NEEDED TO SEE WHAT CAME OUT OF THE, THE, THE FIRST ROUND OF AMENDMENTS BEFORE I KNEW WHAT WAS NEEDED TO BE DONE.

SO I DON'T WANT TO LET ANYBODY TAKE A, YOU KNOW, TAKE A HIT FOR ME.

SO THE FOLKS WHO CAME UP WITH CUTS THANK YOU.

PROPOSED CUTS, I APPRECIATE IT. I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S INTENT WAS TO TO AMBUSH ANYBODY.

I THINK THEY WERE RESPONDING TO A CHALLENGE I THINK OUR RESIDENTS ACTUALLY APPRECIATE.

[05:25:02]

I THINK THE OUR DAILY NEWSPAPER APPRECIATES IT.

I THINK I THINK IT'S A IT'S A THIS IS A GOOD EXERCISE FOR US TO GO THROUGH, WHICH IS, I THINK, WHY IT'S WORTH BEING HERE AT 730 AT NIGHT, WHY I DON'T PLAN ON GOING ANYWHERE UNTIL WE GET THROUGH ALL THESE.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY AROUND THE HORSESHOE THAT PROBABLY USES THE ZOO MORE THAN I DO.

AND MY KIDS DO. I LOVE THE ZOO. I'LL LOOK YOU GUYS RIGHT IN THE EYE AND TELL YOU I LOVE I LOVE IT.

AND WHERE I DO DISAGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE IS THAT I ACTUALLY THINK THE ZOO SHOULD ASPIRE TO BE THE BEST IN THE NATION.

I THINK IT OUGHT TO TRY TO BE THE. I LOVE THINKING BIG AND I LOVE DALLAS HAVING THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD JUST HAVE A SERVICEABLE ZOO.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD JUST HAVE A GOOD ZOO. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A GREAT ZOO AND THE BEST ZOO WE POSSIBLY CAN. THAT BEING SAID, I ISSUED THIS CHALLENGE KNOWING THAT THIS IS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.

WHETHER WE DO THIS TODAY, WHETHER WE DO THIS IN A YEAR, WHETHER WE DO THIS, IT IS NEVER GOING TO BE A FUN EXERCISE TO TIGHTEN THE BELT.

IT'S NOT FUN WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT AT HOME. IT'S NOT FUN WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN A COMPANY.

IT'S NOT FUN WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT HERE. THE DIFFERENCE IS, THOUGH, IS THAT I'M DOING IT ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO SENT ME.

I'M DOING IT ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.

AND SO I HAVE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT FUN. AND IN THIS CASE, IT MEANS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A GOOD PARTNER.

LET'S JUST GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY. LET'S NOT. THIS IS NOT TO.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DUMP ON YOU. AND WE'RE AND AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE BAD PARTNERS.

BUT THIS IS A PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO ACCEPT IS GOING TO BE HARD WHENEVER WE UNDERGO IT.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS FIGURE OUT, AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS IS A BROADER PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION THAT IS GOING TO OUTLAST ME FOR SURE AND PROBABLY OUTLAST EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL.

BUT SOME OF YOU MAY STILL BE AROUND CHAIRMAN JOHNSON AND BILL ROTH.

MAYBE YOU GUYS WILL STILL BE AROUND TO HAVE IT.

BUT THERE ARE ASPECTS OF WHAT WE DO AS A CITY THAT ARE MORE AMENABLE TO SHIFTING TO THE NONPROFIT SECTOR OR TO OTHER ENTITIES THAN OTHERS. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE JUST CANNOT SHIFT AND CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE CAN.

AND I WOULD ARGUE AS MUCH AS I LOVE AND I MEAN, I DO LOVE THE ARTS AND I LOVE THE ZOO AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THOSE ARE AREAS THAT ARE MORE EASILY SHIFTED ONTO PRIVATE PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS THAN POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE AND WATER SERVICE AND EVEN OPERATION OF OUR PARKS.

AND WE TRY. WE ACTUALLY DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF EVEN FINDING PARTNERS TO TAKE THAT OFF OF OUR PLATE.

BUT THAT'S THAT'S SQUARELY IN THE WHEELHOUSE OF A CITY, YOU KNOW, A SYMPHONY HALL, A ZOO.

THOSE ARE WONDERFUL THINGS. BUT THERE ARE PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE THEY RELY MUCH MORE HEAVILY ON, FRANKLY, THE DEEP POCKETED, WEALTHY RESIDENTS OF THEIR CITY TO SUBSIDIZE THROUGH THEIR TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS WHETHER IT BE FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OR FOR OPERATIONS. IT'S JUST A FACT.

AND SO THIS IS A TOUGH ONE FOR ME BECAUSE I LOVE THE ZOO.

MY KIDS LOVE IT, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF IT IN ANY WAY.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT CUTTING SPENDING IN A DEPARTMENT OR FOR A PROGRAM NECESSARILY MEANS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HATE THE FOLKS OR YOU THINK THEY'RE DOING A TERRIBLE JOB.

IT JUST MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF IF NOT HERE, WHERE I MEAN, WE'RE WE'RE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR TODAY.

WE I DON'T THINK WE'VE HIT $1 MILLION YET. I MEAN, WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO FIND PLACES WHERE WE CAN TRIM THIS BUDGET SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE SOME RELIEF AND SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE COMPETITIVE.

AND PEOPLE SAY THEY AGREE WITH THAT, BUT EVERY TIME WE SHOW THEM A CUT THEY SAY NOT THAT IT'S EITHER TOO SMALL OR IT'S TOO BIG.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL JUST SAY I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE MEASURE BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD SEALS OR HANDS RAISED IN FAVOR. MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO MAYOR JOHNSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN. WITH ONLY THREE SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, SO THAT WAS THE AMENDMENT BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO AMEND THE ORIGINAL MOTION BY CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN.

SO WE'RE BACK ON THE CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN ORIGINAL MOTION.

IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THAT, PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT AMENDMENT BY RAISING YOUR PLACARD WITH SEALS OR HANDS RAISED IN FAVOR. MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO, MAYOR JOHNSON, AND COUNCILMEMBER MENDELSOHN.

WITH ONLY THREE SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, ANYONE WILLING TO PUT FORWARD AMENDMENT 24? YES. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION. WELL, THIS MOTION I MOVE TO REDUCE THE STIPENDS BY 10% FOR THE DALLAS ARBORETUM.

[05:30:04]

THE AMOUNT OF $411,611. TRINITY RIVER AUDUBON CENTER, 371,149.

AND CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE 121,638. WITH A COMMENSURATE.

THOSE ARE I'M SORRY. THOSE ARE THE THE TOTAL AMOUNTS.

AND SO TOGETHER, THEIR BUDGETS ARE 904,398. THE 10% AMOUNT WOULD BE $90,000 AND 440.

AND IT IS FOR PROPERTY TAX RATE REDUCTION. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRWOMAN I THINK THIS IS PRETTY SELF-EVIDENT.

WELL, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT OR. NO. NO.

OKAY. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 24? SEEING NONE, INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD WITH SALES OR HANDS RAISED IN FAVOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH, MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO MAYOR JOHNSON COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN WITH ONLY FOUR SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR.

THE AMENDMENT FAILS. MR. MAYOR ANYONE WILLING TO PUT FORWARD AMENDMENT 25.

YES, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION MOVE TO REDUCE THE GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS FOR THE OBJECT CODE OF FURNITURE.

THIS WOULD REDUCE $110,935 TO A PROPERTY TAX RATE REDUCTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN WELL, I THINK WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT WE SPEND OVER 1000 A YES, YES, OKAY.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. I THINK WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT WE SPEND ONE $1,109,346 JUST OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, AND ANOTHER 1,314,708 FROM THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, THAT THAT'S A LOT OF FURNITURE. I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT OF FURNITURE EVERY YEAR.

AND WE COULD PROBABLY USE A 10% REDUCTION WITHOUT EVEN NOTICING IT.

WHAT GENERALLY HAPPENS IS WE HAVE A MID-YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENT, OR THESE DOLLARS ARE MOVED OVER FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

ONE YEAR, I HAD A SPIRITED CONVERSATION WITH OUR THEN CITY MANAGER WHERE I CALLED IT A SLUSH FUND.

HE DIDN'T LIKE THAT. I'M STILL GOING TO CALL IT A SLUSH FUND.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO REDUCE IT 10%. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT NUMBER 25? I REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE INDICATE YOUR.

YOU HAVE SOMETHING. YES. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I'M INCLINED TO ACTUALLY SUPPORT THIS ONE. BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF STAFF HAS A RESPONSE TO THIS, IF IT'S GOING TO IMPACT US OR. I MEAN, IS THE 100,000 WHAT'S IT GOING TO MEAN FOR THE FOR THE CITY? YOU WILL NOT GET NEW CHAIRS IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

NO. WE CONTINUOUSLY, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE WE'VE HAD CHANGES IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE'VE HAD TO MAKE.

AND I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHERE A FURNITURE PURCHASE WAS IMPORTANT.

IN OUR 911 CALL CENTER, WE ACTUALLY WENT IN DUE TO THE NATURE OF WHERE THEY SIT, THE NATURE OF THE JOB.

AND WE DID NEED TO UPGRADE THE CENTER TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THEM DIFFERENT TYPES OF DESKS AND CHAIRS AND SO FORTH.

SO WE WOULD FIGURE THIS OUT, AS WE DO WITH ANY OTHER DECISIONS THAT THIS BODY MAKES.

BUT I DO WANT TO BRING THAT UP AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'VE HAD TO GO IN AND DO A COMPLETE FURNITURE UPGRADE TO TAKE CARE OF SUCH A CRITICAL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN A HIGH STRESS ENVIRONMENT. AND THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD WE WOULD WORK THROUGH IT AGAIN AS WE DO EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU. OKAY. CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

OH, MANAGER, I'M SO HAPPY TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT THE 911 CALL CENTER NEEDING CHAIRS BECAUSE THEY DESPERATELY NEED IT, WHICH IS WHY THERE IS OVER $900,000 LEFT IN THAT FURNITURE BUDGET, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HIGHER PERCENTAGE.

SO I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY LEFT. IN FACT, WHEN YOU ADD THESE NUMBERS TOGETHER, IT'S WELL OVER $2 MILLION OF FURNITURE.

NOT TO MENTION IN STORAGE SOMEWHERE, IT MIGHT STILL BE AT THE STEMMONS BUILDING.

WE HAD A VERY LARGE DONATION OF FURNITURE THAT WAS MEANT FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED.

I'LL JUST LEAVE THAT ALONE BECAUSE I'VE SEEN HOW MUCH FURNITURE IT IS.

I THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF MONEY HERE. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. MAYOR, POINT OF INFORMATION.

WHERE IS THAT MONEY? OH, YEAH. MISS BLACKMON. I'M JUST WONDERING, WHERE ARE WE ON THE TAX RATE DISCUSSION? WE HAVE IT ACCUMULATED BECAUSE IT WILL. NO. NOT YET.

I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING ON, BUT, I MEAN, JUST GOING INTO THIS. WE REACHING A PENNY YET? I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE IT MAY.

OKAY. NO. MR.. MR. MAYOR, FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I DON'T HAVE MY SCREEN IS NOT WORKING.

OH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES, THEN? THANK YOU. I WOULD I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.

[05:35:05]

I THINK THAT THIS IS AN EASY ONE FOR US ALL TO AGREE TO.

AND I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF FURNITURE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF MONEY THERE THAT WE COULD USE A 10% REDUCTION WITHOUT ANYBODY LOSING THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DECENT OFFICE. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 25? SEEING NONE. INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD WITH SEALS OR HANDS RAISED IN FAVOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS. MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO MAYOR JOHNSON COUNCIL MEMBERS WEST MENDELSOHN RIDLEY, GRACEY AND JOHNSON. WITH THE MAJORITY OF SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. IS ANYONE WILLING TO PUT FORWARD AMENDMENT 26? YES, PLEASE. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION. THANK YOU.

I MOVED TO REDUCE THE OBJECT CODE IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR FOOD BY 10% WITH AN OFFSETTING PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION.

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

DISCUSSION. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. THIS IS SIMILAR IN THAT IT'S A REDUCTION BASED ON OBJECT CODE.

AND THE IDEA OF THIS IS THAT MANY TIMES THE FOOD IS A LUXURY NOT ESSENTIAL. AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING IS $61,000, 354.

IF YOU'VE SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE WORKED WITH.

TENNELL ATKINS. HE WOULD JOKE THAT THE BUDGET OF A SEVERAL BILLION DOLLAR CITY WOULD GET DOWN TO A FIGHT OVER $50,000.

WELL, HERE'S YOUR $61,000 ONE. AND AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS JUST ACTUALLY BEING MINDFUL OF DOLLARS WOULD WOULD SOLVE THIS ISSUE. SO THERE IT IS, $61,000, FOLKS.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 26? SEEING NONE. INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARDS WITH SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS ROTH, STEWART BLACKMON. DEPUTY MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS, MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO.

MAYOR JOHNSON COUNCIL MEMBERS MENDELSOHN RIDLEY AND GRACEY.

WITH THE MAJORITY OF CARDS RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD, MR. MAYOR. DOES ANYONE WANT TO PUT FORWARD AMENDMENT 27? YES, PLEASE. OKAY. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION.

I MOVE TO REDUCE THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BY ELIMINATING IN THE GENERAL FUND, THE GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR $20,144 WITH A COMMENSURATE TAX RATE REDUCTION.

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

ANY DISCUSSION, CHAIRWOMAN? MENDELSOHN? YES. FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WHAT'S SO FUN ABOUT THIS ONE IS THAT ALMOST NOBODY AT THE CITY KNEW WHAT IT WAS, AND THAT'S PERHAPS BECAUSE IT WAS A PROGRAM THAT WAS DEVELOPED, I THINK, IN 2017 OR 19. THERE'S ONE PERSON THAT ADMINISTERS IT.

IT'S 20% OF THEIR JOB. AND OVER THE COURSE OF THESE NUMBER OF YEARS, I'M SORRY.

IT WAS 2017. NOVEMBER 2017. SINCE NOVEMBER 2017, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED? THE ANSWER IS 23. SINCE 2017, 23 BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED, AND SOMEBODY DOES THIS AS 20% OF THEIR JOB. SO EITHER I JUST OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM.

AND WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT DOING PRIORITY BUDGETING NEXT YEAR, THIS IS PRIORITY BUDGETING.

THIS IS TAKING A PROGRAM EVALUATING IF IT'S EFFECTIVE, DECIDING THIS IS NOT EFFECTIVE.

THIS IS NOT MAKING A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE. AND WE WANT TO DEFUND IT SO THAT WE CAN PUT RESOURCES SOMEWHERE ELSE.

IN THIS CASE, THE FULL $20,000 AND 144, I'M SORRY, $20,144 WOULD GO TO PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION.

THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN STEWART. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

I REACHED OUT TO DIRECTOR WHITE, AND I BELIEVE HE'S AVAILABLE TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IF YOU WANT TO COME UP, MAYBE DESCRIBE WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS ABOUT AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE TO SHARE.

I THINK A LOT OF US ARE NOT AWARE. SURE. FIRST, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I'M IN INTERIM DIRECTOR PAUL WHITE WITH THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

[05:40:05]

AND FIRST, I JUST WANT TO SAY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM WE WE RECENTLY RELAUNCHED THE PROGRAM.

IT WAS UNDER A DIFFERENT UMBRELLA IN A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT. SO WE WE RELAUNCHED THE PROGRAM WITH SUPPORT FROM ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS FIFA AND THE NORTH TEXAS HOTEL ASSOCIATION. FIFA EVEN HOSTED OUR RECENT LAUNCH EVENT FOR OUR PROGRAM, WHICH IS UNDERSCORING HOW IMPORTANT SUSTAINABILITY IS TO THE FUTURE OF DALLAS.

ROUGHLY 80 BUSINESSES ATTENDED OR SIGNED UP AND ARE INTERESTED IN SHOWING INTEREST IN THE PROGRAM.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE JUST HAD FOUR BUSINESSES AND ONCE AGAIN WE JUST RELAUNCHED.

SO WE HAD FOUR LARGE BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE PROGRAM.

AND MORE THAN EVER, VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE ARE DRAWN TO CITIES THAT PRIORITIZE CLEAN AIR AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THIS ACHIEVING OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS REQUIRES MORE THAN FOCUSING SOLELY ON CITY OPERATIONS.

IT DEMANDS THAT WE CLOSE COLLABORATIONS, THAT WE HAVE CLOSE COLLABORATIONS WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

THE GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ENHANCES THAT ENGAGEMENT BY PROVIDING BUSINESSES WITH A CLEAR PATHWAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SHARED GOALS.

THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS A LOW COST AND EFFECTIVE PROGRAM.

IT PROMOTES RESOURCE EFFICIENCY THROUGH WATER CONSERVATION, WASTE REDUCTION, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, TRANSPORTATION, AND LOWERING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, WHICH ARE ALL KEY COMPONENTS OF THE C CAP.

SO IT ALSO SUPPORTS SUPPORTS DALLAS LONG TERM ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WHITE. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW IT SUPPORTS C CAP.

WOULD IT IF A COMPANY WENT OUT AND TOOK SOME OF THEIR GREEN SPACE AND PLANTED SOME ADDITIONAL TREES TO WORK ON OUR URBAN HEAT ISLANDS WITH. WOULD THAT HELP QUALIFY THEM FOR THIS DESIGNATION? YES, IT WOULD, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT'S A PLANTING.

TREES, OF COURSE, HELPS REDUCE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

IT ALSO CREATES MORE PERMEABLE SURFACE. SO THAT'S BETTER FOR STORMWATER STORMWATER DRAINAGE AS WELL, WHICH REDUCES OUR FLOOD RISK. AND THAT'S THAT'S ONE OF THE I'D SAY WAYS YOU CAN GAIN POINTS THROUGH THE GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT JUST NEEDED A REFRESHING.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING. AND AS I AS I STATED, WE'RE ALSO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE NORTH TEXAS HOTEL ASSOCIATION AS WE PREPARE FOR FIFA TO COME TO TOWN. AND SO JUST ONE ONE MORE CLARIFICATION.

YOU'RE SAYING THAT BECAUSE FIFA IS COMING TO TOWN, THIS IS INCREASED IN IMPORTANCE, THAT FIFA WAS LOOKING TO US TO HELP US RELAUNCH THIS AND THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIFA THAT WE HAVE OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY WORKING ON GREEN INITIATIVES LIKE THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND.

YES. OKAY. THAT'S ALL OF MY QUESTIONS, BUT YOU MIGHT JUST STAY THERE IN CASE SOMEBODY ELSE HAS A QUESTION.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. DIRECTOR WHITE, WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT TO BECOME A GREEN BUSINESS? UNDER THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM? WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL REQUIREMENTS.

IT ALIGNS WITH OUR CAP GOALS AND INITIATIVES.

SO THERE'S LIKE, EIGHT DIFFERENT REQUIREMENT GOALS, JUST LIKE WE HAVE IN THE CAP.

FOR INSTANCE, YOU HAVE THE, THE BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENT, WHERE YOU LOOK AT THE THE HVAC AND YOU LOOK AT THE INSULATION, THE WEATHERIZATION, AND THEN YOU HAVE A RENEWABLE ENERGY.

IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT, BUT YOU CAN GAIN POINTS IF YOU HAVE RENEWABLE ENERGY SUCH AS SOLAR, BECAUSE THAT MAKES US A MORE RESILIENT CITY IN CASE THERE IS SOME TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, EXTREME WEATHER EVENT OF SORTS.

THEN THERE'S ALSO A TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENT BECAUSE WE LOOK FORWARD TO INCREASE OUR EV INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THESE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE, SAY, EV CHARGING STATIONS, THERE'S POINTS FOR THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

SO THERE'S REQUIREMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD. THERE'S THERE'S WATER CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS.

FOR INSTANCE IF YOU HAVE A LOW FLOW TOILET OR A HAND FREE WASHING SINKS, THAT SAVES AND CONSERVES WATER.

THAT'S ALSO A REQUIREMENT. WE ALSO HAVE REQUIREMENTS, LIKE WE MENTIONED EARLIER, TO REDUCE URBAN HEAT, ISLAND EFFECT TREES PERMEABLE, PERMEABLE SURFACES, THOSE TYPE OF REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.

SO DON'T BUSINESSES GENERALLY HAVE A FINANCIAL MOTIVATION IN REDUCING THEIR ENERGY EXPENDITURES THROUGH INSULATION, THROUGH ENERGY CONSERVATION? IN OTHER WORDS, THE THINGS THAT THIS PROGRAM GIVES CREDIT FOR.

DON'T BUSINESSES HAVE A NATURAL INCENTIVE FINANCIALLY TO DO THE SAME THINGS? THEY HAVE A NATURAL INCENTIVE FOR IT, BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND AND ARE UNEDUCATED ABOUT THAT NATURAL,

[05:45:01]

THAT INCENTIVE TO DO SO. SO THAT'S PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

PART OF THE PROGRAM IS EDUCATING THESE BUSINESSES ON THESE INCENTIVES, INCENTIVES.

SO HOW MANY BUSINESSES QUALIFIED FOR THIS CERTIFICATION IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR? WE JUST RELAUNCHED IT IN JUNE. SO WE'VE HAD AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE 80 BUSINESSES ON OUR LIST FROM OUR OPENING RELAUNCH THAT WE ACTUALLY HELD OR FIFA HELD, AND WE'VE ALSO DONE SEVERAL.

NO, I'M ASKING FOR HOW MANY WERE CERTIFIED. NOT HOW MANY.

HOW MANY ARE CERTIFIED? CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 23 CERTIFIED IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR WE'VE CERTIFIED.

I WANT TO SAY WE RECENTLY CERTIFIED 2 OR 3 OUT OF THE FOUR.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, WE JUST RELAUNCHED. WE JUST RELAUNCHED THE PROGRAM.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY RELAUNCHED? HASN'T IT BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR SIX YEARS? IT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE, BUT THE THING IS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ALIGN IT MORE WITH THE C-CAP.

AND BEFORE BEFOREHAND, IT WAS ALIGNED MORE WITH WITH, WITH ZERO WASTE.

SO THERE WERE MORE POINTS ASSOCIATED WITH ZERO WASTE THAN THERE WAS WITH THESE OTHER COMPONENTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT THIS MOMENT THAT ARE IN LINE WITH THE C-CAP. WELL, I THINK WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING MORE TIME THAN THE $20,000 CUT IS WORTH ON DEBATING IT, BUT I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS. MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I'M I'M I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS AMENDMENT.

IN FACT, I WOULD EVEN. I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT, BUT I WOULD EVEN SUGGEST THAT WE MAKE THIS A LARGER TAKEAWAY.

MORE MONEY THAN THE 20,000. BUT I'M GOING TO HONOR THE SUGGESTED AMOUNT.

I THINK THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF MONEY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND, AND JUSTICE COORDINATOR POSITION AND AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT GENERALLY.

THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION ON ANYBODY'S COMMITMENT TO BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND OR TRYING TO TO CREATE A GREEN DIRECTED CITY. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT TO US, BUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS A AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THIS DEPARTMENT THAT THEY NEED TO BE COST EFFECTIVE IN LOOKING AT THE ALLOCATION OF THEIR RESOURCES TO TRY TO CREATE REASONABLE REDUCTIONS IN THEIR IN THEIR OPERATIONS WITHOUT TRYING TO SIGNIFICANTLY DETRIMENT, CREATE DETRIMENT TO THEIR, THEIR MISSION.

SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT. MR. WEST, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS, THIS INITIATIVE IS IN SUPPORT OF CAP, RIGHT? YES, SIR. SO THIS IS WITHIN SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE GUISE AND THE PILLARS OF CAP.

YES, SIR. STATED IN CAP MULTIPLE TIMES TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM.

OKAY. WELL, THEN I THINK, YOU KNOW, I IT'S SOME CONCERNING STATS THAT MY COLLEAGUE BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM AND I.

AND THAT RAISES CONCERNS FOR ME AND I APPRECIATE THAT BEING BROUGHT UP, BUT I DON'T THINK CUTTING IT, JUST STOPPING IT IS THE ANSWER. I THINK WE NEED TO LIKE IT'S A PERFORMANCE ISSUE, AND SO THE EMPLOYEE OR THE DEPARTMENT JUST NEEDS TO BE THEY NEED TO BE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE.

AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, THAT'S PART OF THE RELAUNCH.

THE RELAUNCH IS TO MAKE IT A MORE EFFICIENT, HIGHER PERFORMING PROGRAM.

AND HONESTLY, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

EVEN BEFORE FIFA, FIFA BECAME INVOLVED, I WAS READY TO RELAUNCH THIS PROGRAM.

SO YES, FIFA SUPPORTS IT BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE CITY BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, IF WE DON'T ENHANCE OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WE CANNOT REACH OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS JUST BASED OFF OF CITY OPERATIONS.

AND I RECOGNIZE THAT. SO TO ME, THIS THIS PROGRAM IN THE RELAUNCH IS BECAUSE PERSONALLY, I FEEL IN OUR, IN OUR DEPARTMENT FEELS THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK AND BE MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE EFFECTIVE, AND I THINK WE'RE ALREADY HEADED TO THAT DIRECTION.

GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. WELL, I WILL NOT SUPPORT THE CUT.

AND IF THIS ENDS UP STAYING AS PART OF OUR CAP MISSION, I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY HAVING THIS AT ONE OF THE COMMITTEES, EITHER GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE OR ENVIRONMENTAL, TO SEE THAT THERE IS PROGRESS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MISS. KADENA YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I'M DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT OF THE CAP.

BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COORDINATOR DO BESIDES THE GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM? SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COORDINATOR IS NO LONGER A POSITION IN THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

[05:50:04]

THAT WAS A TYPO. THE NAME OF THE POSITION IS SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE COORDINATOR.

IT'S NOT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. AND THAT PERSON COLLABORATES ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS TO SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENT INITIATIVES OUTLINED IN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE 2024 BOND RESOLUTION FOR DALLAS AND OTHER SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES LIKE AND INCLUDING THE VAPING VAPING ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTATION. SO THIS POSITION IS NOT JUST ONLY A FRACTION OF TIME IS SPENT ON THE GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.

THIS POSITION WORKS ACROSS MANY PROGRAMS. WOULD THIS REDUCTION AFFECT THAT POSITION? WOULD IT MOVE FROM A FULL TIME TO PART TIME, OR HOW THAT HOW WOULD THAT WORK? IT COULD POSSIBLY IMPACT THAT POSITION. OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 27? SEEING NONE, INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR COUNCIL MEMBERS ROTH, MAYOR JOHNSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MENDELSOHN, RIDLEY AND GRACEY.

WITH ONLY FIVE SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT FAILS. MR. MAYOR. ANYONE. AMENDMENT 28.

YES. RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION. THANK YOU. I BROUGHT THIS MOTION TWO WEEKS AGO.

WE JUST NEED THE MOTION. WE NEED THE MOTION. THE MOTION IS TO ELIMINATE ONE POSITION THAT WAS PROPOSED TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR A PROPERTY TAX RATE REDUCTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? YES. I BROUGHT THIS AMENDMENT TO FIVE MINUTES WITH A DIFFERENT USE OF FUNDS.

SO IT WASN'T FOR A TAX RATE REDUCTION. I BELIEVE IT WAS FOR STREET REPAIR.

AND THE SAME DISCUSSION HOLDS, WHICH IS THAT HAVING WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, I ACTUALLY THINK THEY'RE ALREADY OVERSTAFFED.

AND THE IDEA OF ADDING ANOTHER PERSON SEEMS COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS.

WHILE I UNDERSTAND WE JUST CUT OUR LOBBYING CONTRACTS, ONE MIGHT SAY, WELL THEN DOESN'T THAT GIVE YOU PAUSE FOR THIS? BUT IT DOESN'T, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ARE NOT WORKING IN THE STATE HOUSE.

THEY ARE NOT THE ONES WHO ARE MAKING THE APPOINTMENTS. THEY'RE NOT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS. THEY REALLY DO NOT SUBSTITUTE THAT. WHAT THEY DO IS MOSTLY TRACK INFORMATION, TRACK BILLS AND WRITE TESTIMONY.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE FUNCTION IS. WHEN WE'RE NOT IN SESSION, THERE'S NOT AS MUCH HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL SIDE THAT CONTINUES ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

BUT THE. THE SKILLS THAT WE NEED ON THE TEXAS SIDE IS NOT BEING REPLACED IN OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FROM THE LOBBYIST CONTRACTS THAT WE CANCELED.

THESE ARE NOT EQUIVALENT TYPES. SO I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT PART, SINCE WE DID TAKE A PRETTY BOLD STEP WITH THOSE LOBBYING CONTRACTS.

BUT THIS IS NOT A POSITION THAT I BELIEVE IS NEEDED IN THAT AREA.

THANK YOU. IS THERE NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 28? CHAIRMAN WEST RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE STAFF A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT. I'M NOT ON THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

I DON'T I MEAN, I'M HEARING WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAYING.

I WE DID TAKE A DRASTIC STEP WITH RELEASING OUR LOBBYISTS FROM HIS CONTRACT.

SO DO YOU NEED THE PEOPLE OR NOT? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

JAKE ANDERSON, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, CHAIR WEST, YES THIS POSITION WOULD ACTUALLY BE FOCUSED ON THE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS PIECE OF OUR OFFICE.

WE ACTUALLY SPEND ABOUT 70% OF OUR TIME ON ON THAT ASPECT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO WE'RE WE'RE ASKING THIS FOR THIS POSITION IN ORDER TO CONTINUE BUILDING REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS.

SUPPORT YOUR ENGAGEMENT AS COUNCIL MEMBERS IN REGIONAL POLICY MAKING, AND THEN PROMOTE THE CITY'S INTERESTS WITH TARGETED COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, WHETHER THOSE BE, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS, BUSINESS LEADERS, ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

IN MOVING THIS POSITION FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, WE'RE TRYING TO ALIGN OUR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS STRATEGY A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THIS IS JUST GOING TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSISTENT REPRESENTATION AT A VARIETY.

THOSE THOSE MEETINGS AND THOSE WITH ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS OR BOARD MEETINGS WITH OUR CHAMBERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO TO EXPAND THAT WORK, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTIVE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR OUR PARTNER AGENCIES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE AVOIDING DUPLICATION HERE AT THE CITY AND BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH, WITH THOSE KIND OF ORGANIZATIONS.

IF THIS POSITION IS ELIMINATED, WHAT DO YOU HAVE ANY FEARS OR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE A RESULT OF THAT?

[05:55:03]

SO WE I WOULD SAY THAT CURRENTLY WE ARE AT CAPACITY WITH OUR WITH OUR CURRENT STAFF.

WE'RE HAVING TO REIMAGINE A LITTLE BIT THE MANAGER POSITION, BECAUSE THEY'LL BE TAKING ON SOME MORE ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THEY'VE NOT HAD UP UNTIL THIS FISCAL YEAR. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT, THAT, THAT COME THROUGH THAT WE ARE WORKING ON. AND SO I DO THINK THAT THIS POSITION IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO ALL OF THOSE THOSE CHANGES.

THANK YOU. IF I COULD ADD, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR HIS RESPONSE.

I ALSO WANTED TO ADD TWO ADDITIONAL PIECES OF THAT THAT WERE NOT MENTIONED.

WE ALSO HAVE THIS POSITION SLATED TO SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR THE NEW EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE THAT WAS JUST SET UP BY.

MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE ALSO ARE UTILIZING THIS POSITION.

I MENTIONED THIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SO I JUST WANTED TO RESTATE IT AS WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO CREATE NEW REVENUE STREAMS. WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HAVING THIS POSITION BE THE ONE THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT EVEN IN THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, STILL WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH ME AND OUR TEAM AROUND HOW WE CREATE SPONSORSHIPS AND ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS.

SO THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL WORK IN ADDITION TO WHAT MR. ANDERSON MENTIONED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR PRO TEM RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS ONE.

SO THIS ONE IS A TRANSFER FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.

MADAM CITY MANAGER, WHAT KIND OF VACANCY BECOMES IN YOUR OFFICE? LIKE ARE YOU STILL ABLE TO OPERATE YOUR YOUR OFFICE WITHIN THAT REDUCTION? THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND SO AS WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, I ALSO MADE SURE THAT WITHIN MY OWN OFFICE THAT WE LOOKED AT WAYS TO OPTIMIZE OUR STAFFING. SO THIS WAS BECAUSE I KNEW WHERE THE VOID OR WHERE THE GAP WAS.

IN GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING A RESOURCE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND INSTEAD OF ADDING A NEW POSITION OR HAVING TO DEFINED AN ADDITIONAL POSITION, WE'RE MAKING THAT POSITION AVAILABLE TO GO AND SUPPORT THAT DEPARTMENT.

SO THIS IS AGAIN ABOUT HOW WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

AND SO WE'LL BE TAKING ON ADDITIONAL WORK THAT THAT POSITION WAS DOING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY MANAGER, BUT MAKING SURE, AGAIN, THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF SOME ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND HOW WE GROW THE PARTNERSHIPS AND BEING ABLE TO DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE WORK AROUND HOW DO WE GET OUT THERE AND GET ON THE GROUND TOWARDS CREATING SOME SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO CREATE NEW REVENUE.

THANK YOU SIR. MISS CADENA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

YES, JAKE, I KNOW THAT THE CENSUS IS COMING UP.

AND IN THE PAST, WHEN I WAS PREVIOUSLY HERE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER NARVAEZ I KNOW THAT THAT WORK STARTED VERY EARLY.

AND SO I'M WONDERING, WAS THIS POSITION GOING TO ASSIST WITH THAT? BECAUSE I THINK TYPICALLY YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS HELPED WITH THAT. YES.

SO IN THE PAST WE MY UNDERSTANDING IS OGA HAD TWO FULL TIME CENSUS HIS EMPLOYEES FOR THE 2020 CENSUS, WE WILL LIKELY BE LEADING THE CENSUS AS WELL.

AND THIS THIS POSITION WOULD WORK ON THE CENSUS.

I JUST HAD MY FIRST MEETING ABOUT THE CENSUS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND SO WE'RE STILL GEARING UP FOR THAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMMINENT IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO START WORKING ON IN THIS POSITION WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO. YEAH, I KNOW THAT THAT'S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WERE SO UNDERCOUNTED LAST TIME. AND THAT IMPACTS THE DOLLARS THAT OUR CITY WOULD RECEIVE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS? WE HAVE SIX PEOPLE CURRENTLY. £0.07 MS. SO BECAUSE I CURRENTLY AM SERVING AS THE INTERIM DIRECTOR, SO THERE'S A MANAGER AND DIRECTOR PM THAT I KIND OF KIND OF SPLIT AND SPLIT BETWEEN AND THEN WE HAVE FOUR EMPLOYEES AND AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT.

SO THERE ARE SEVEN POSITIONS FOR THE FOR OGA.

EXCUSE ME. FIVE EMPLOYEES, AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND MYSELF.

SO SIX PEOPLE, CURRENTLY SEVEN POSITIONS. YES.

OKAY, SO SEVEN POSITIONS. AND THIS WOULD ADD AN EIGHTH.

YES. OKAY. AND YOU HAVE OUTLINED FOR ME WHAT YOU EXPECT THIS NEW PERSON WOULD DO.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THAT. YES. SO I MEAN, THE MAIN MAJOR FOCUS OF THIS POSITION IS THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT.

I THINK THAT IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD THAT SPLIT AMONGST YOU KNOW, THE MANAGER POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IS ENGAGE MORE WITH OUR ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS, COMMUNITY, STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. AND SO THIS POSITION WOULD BE A MORE CONSISTENT IN GOING TO THOSE MEETINGS, BEING THE FACE OF THE CITY THERE AND THEN REPORTING BACK TO COUNCIL.

[06:00:04]

I THINK THAT'S THE OTHER PIECE IS WE WANT TO BE MORE CONSISTENT. REPORTING BACK TO COUNCIL. I HOPE YOU'VE SEEN THAT IN RECENT MONTHS, BUT WE WANT TO CONTINUE EXPANDING THAT AS WELL, WHETHER IT'S THINGS LIKE RTC, DRMC, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT WE WANT TO BE THE VOICE BACK TO YOU, ALL OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

AND SO WITH THE SEVEN POSITIONS YOU HAVE, YOU CAN'T GO TO THE RTC MEETING AND DRMC AND DISD.

AND I THINK YOU MENTIONED YOU WANTED TO ADD IN DALLAS COUNTY, PERHAPS START MEETINGS.

YOU'RE SAYING SEVEN PEOPLE CAN'T ALREADY DO THAT.

SO WE WE DO STRUGGLE COVERING EVERYTHING. YES.

WE'VE GOT TWO TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND WHICH IS BUSY WORK.

AND THEN WE HAVE TWO TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE DEDICATED TO THE POLICY SIDE, AND THEY ARE WHO ARE COVERING THESE THINGS CURRENTLY.

BUT WE ARE STILL MISSING MEETINGS BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S REALLY THREE OF US THAT ARE TRYING, TRYING TO DO THAT BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE TWO OF THEM AND ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS.

IS IT TO GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE MEETINGS OR IS IT TO HAVE.

I THINK YOU SAID THE FACE OF THE CITY THERE. WELL, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

WE WANT TO REPRESENT THE CITY AND THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL AT THESE MEETINGS.

I THINK SOME OF THE BENEFIT THAT WE'VE SEEN IS MEETING WITH, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEES, FOR EXAMPLE, OF OUR, OUR CHAMBERS AND BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT THE POLICY WILL OF THIS COUNCIL.

AND THEN RECEIVING THE INFORMATION FROM THINGS LIKE RTC AND DRMC AND MAKING SURE THAT COUNCIL'S AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AT THOSE REGIONAL MEETINGS AND MAKING SURE OUR STAFF IS AWARE AS WELL. SO I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THIS IS NOT THE JOB OF THE OGA.

I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT IT'S UNNECESSARY FOR YOU TO ATTEND RTC WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE SIX ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE DESIGNATED TO ATTEND.

I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT IT'S UNNECESSARY FOR YOU TO ATTEND DRMC WHERE THERE ARE THREE DESIGNATED PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE THE MAYOR. YOU APPOINT SOMEBODY TO BE THE LIAISON WITH THE CHAMBER, IS THAT CORRECT? NOT SURE ON THAT ONE YET. YOU DON'T. OKAY. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE'S 14 COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE THE FACE OF THE CITY.

NOT NOT AN EMPLOYEE FOR $92,484. WE'RE THE POLICY MAKERS.

WE SHOULD BE MAKING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. WE SHOULD BE WEIGHING IN ON POLICY, NOT STAFF.

THIS IS NOT A NEEDED POSITION. I BELIEVE YOU IF YOU NEED THE INFORMATION.

NOT ABLE TO ATTEND. THAT'S GREAT. ALMOST EVERYTHING IS ON VIDEO.

YOU CAN WATCH IT THERE. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. ONE AMENDMENT 28, EVERYONE. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING SOME BACKGROUND ON THAT.

AND I AM CONCERNED, SINCE WE HAVE OPTED TO OPT OUT OF THE CONTRACTS WITH THE LOBBYISTS.

AND I KNOW THAT DOESN'T HAVE A DIRECT TIE, BUT I DO THINK THIS OFFICE IS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE.

AND I LOOK AT AS WE SIT HERE TALKING ABOUT MONEY.

WE HAVE THOSE WHO ARE ADJACENT TO US AND ALL AROUND THIS REGION WHO SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT ISSUES BUT DON'T ALWAYS SHARE DOLLARS AROUND ISSUES.

AND SO DALLAS DOES A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING IN THE COUNTY, IN THE REGION.

AND I THINK THAT WE COULD BE A LOT STRONGER IN HOW WE BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO THE MEETING AND HEARING THE PRESENTATION AND JUST HAVING A CUP OF COFFEE WITH SOMEONE.

I MEAN, THIS IS I WOULD EXPECT THAT THERE WOULD BE FOLLOW UP AND THAT THERE WOULD BE LINKAGE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND AROUND ISSUES AND WITH STAFF, ETC.. SO I WOULD WANT TO SEE THIS MAXIMIZED TO WHERE WE CAN BUILD NOT ONLY JUST THE HEY, I RECOGNIZE YOU KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH MAYORS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ALL AROUND, BUT TURN THAT INTO SOME DOLLARS TO HELP WITH COMMON SOCIETAL ISSUES THAT WE ARE FACING BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN LACKING THERE AND WE NEED IT DESPERATELY.

AND SO I WOULD BE WILLING TO INVEST IN THIS AREA TO GET A RETURN ON THAT.

THANK YOU. MISS KENNEDY RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

SO I SEE A NEED TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS AND WORK, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR PARTNERS AT A HIGHER LEVEL.

AND YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS IS GOING TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE.

SO WILL THIS PERSON BE HELPING WITH THE AGENDAS PREP? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS I GUESS, TO ASSIST WITH THAT? SO THIS THIS PERSON WILL BE THERE TO PERFORM ANY SORT OF POLICY RESEARCH OR THAT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE COMMITTEE.

IT YOU KNOW, IT WILL NOT BE THE LEAD ON THE COMMITTEE, BUT WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO SUPPORT THE CHAIR AND TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE AS FAR AS LOOKING INTO OTHER OPTIONS OR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAYBE, MAYBE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILWOMAN, I JUST WANT TO ADD AHMAD, CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE CITY MANAGER.

WITH THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION, THIS PERSON WILL SPECIFICALLY BE DOING RESEARCH FOR THAT COMMITTEE STAFFING THAT COMMITTEE AND ADDRESSING ANY CONCERNS THAT COMMITTEE

[06:05:06]

HAS AS IT RELATES TO THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS.

MR. ROTH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF POSSIBLY THE FUNCTIONS OF THIS PARTICULAR PERSON MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE PERFORMED BY MAYBE SOME OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT MIGHT BE RELATED AND HAVE RELATED ISSUES.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF IT WOULD BE INCUMBENT UPON YOU ALL TO TRY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH SOME OF THE OTHER RELATED BUSINESS BUSINESS ENTITIES WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER IT BE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR, OR YOU KNOW. PARTICULAR ISSUES THAT MAYBE YOU COULD COPE WITH THEM.

SO I WOULD I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR HAVING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.

BUT I THINK IT'S IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS TO SEE IF WE CAN SORT OF MANAGE OUR RESOURCES WITHIN THOSE DEPARTMENTS A LITTLE BIT MORE FISCALLY, RESPONSIBLY. MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. SO I LIKE WHEN I HEAR THAT A FTE CAN BE SELF-SUSTAINED OR IT CAN BRING IN THEIR OWN REVENUE.

PRETTY MUCH. HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW THIS POSITION WOULD RECOUP SOME OF THOSE INVESTMENTS.

WELL, I THINK THAT AS WE'RE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, I MEAN, WE'RE REALLY THE FRONT DOOR FOR SOME OF THESE INQUIRIES AND SOME OF THE THE MEETINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN TO BRING IN MONEY. YOU KNOW, WE SEE IT.

WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH EDC ALREADY. WHEN WHEN THEY'RE MEETING REQUESTS THAT COME THROUGH THE CITY.

AND SO I THINK THAT THIS IS, THIS IS A SUPPORT ROLE THAT IS CRUCIAL TO MAKING SURE THAT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT AND THAT THOSE REQUESTS CAN BE MADE, AND ULTIMATELY, THOSE DEALS CAN BE STRUCK. I THIS THIS IS NOT A GRANT, YOU KNOW, GRANT MAKING OR GRANT RECEIVING POSITION.

SO IT IS IT'S NOT GOING TO BRING IN THE DOLLARS DIRECTLY, BUT IT WILL SUPPORT THE WORK THAT ULTIMATELY BRINGS IN THE DOLLARS.

SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW THIS ROLE IS COMMON IN OTHER OGA OFFICES ACROSS OUR PEER CITIES.

I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. BUT I CAN I CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND GET THAT TO YOU.

OKAY. AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO THE CENSUS, WHAT'S THE ROLE OF THE CITY VERSUS THE COUNTY AND HOW MUCH WORK IS THE COUNTY PUTTING IN? SO AS I MENTIONED, I JUST HAD MY FIRST MEETING ON THE CENSUS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

I'M STILL STILL LEARNING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

BUT I KNOW THAT HISTORICALLY, THE, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS, IS WHO LEADS THE CENSUS.

AND SO OUR CITY DID DID TAKE THE LEAD LAST TIME IN 2020.

AND THAT THAT CAME THROUGH THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. AND WHILE THE FUNDING COMES DOWN THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT WE ARE TASKED WITH WITH LEADING THAT WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION. SO I DON'T KNOW THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.

YOU KNOW, WE PLAN TO WORK WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS TO, TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY AND, YOU KNOW, ACT EFFICIENTLY. BUT I'LL HAVE TO, TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIFICS, BUT WE WILL BE PART OF THE LEAD FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

SO DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDE GRANTS OR RESOURCES TO COVER THE CITY'S PORTION WHEN IT COMES TO OPERATING THE CENSUS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES ALLOCATE RESOURCES FOR THE CENSUS.

I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST, WE'VE SEEN THAT THOSE RESOURCES DON'T ALWAYS MAKE IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THAT WAS PART OF THE CHALLENGE IN 2020.

BUT IT GOES FROM THE STATE OR, EXCUSE ME, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE STATE AND THEN TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

THANK YOU. MISS BLAIR. RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE BEING UNDERCOUNTED IN OUR LAST CENSUS.

CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW BADLY WE WERE UNDERCOUNTED? OR IF YOU KNOW. AND HOW DOES HOW DID WHAT IS THE PROCESS THAT IS USED THAT WOULD BETTER SERVE OUR COUNTING PROCESS? SO, MISS BLAIR, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.

I DON'T HAVE SPECIFICS ON ON THE CENSUS DATA FROM FROM DALLAS OR HOW BADLY IT WAS UNDERCOUNTED.

I KNOW THAT ACROSS TEXAS THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH UNDERCOUNTING, AGAIN, RELATED TO THE FUNDING THAT WAS PROVIDED.

TO, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN SAID TO BE INSUFFICIENT IN SOME CASES.

AND SO I WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK WITH TO YOU WITH SOME OF THAT SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT DALLAS AND HOW THAT MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED US.

THIS IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE JUST STARTING TO LOOK AT FOR 2030.

BUT THAT BUT AS PART OF THAT, I MEAN, THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALREADY STARTING IN 2025, I THINK SAYS A LOT.

[06:10:01]

WE KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING AT THE FUNDING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PASS DOWN. AND SO WE WILL KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO AS FAR AS WHAT FUNDING WE CAN EXPECT AND WHAT FUNDING WE CAN'T AND HOW THAT MIGHT AFFECT US. SO IF WE KNOW THAT WE WERE UNDERCOUNTED AND AND I KNOW WE KNOW THAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO LOOK AT THIS EARLY AS OPPOSED TO WAITING TILL 2029.

WHAT IS THE GOAL, IN THE HOPES THAT BY HAVING ANOTHER BODY TO ANSWER HOW WE CAN NOT HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE OUR OUR CITIZENS THIS YEAR, THIS TIME AROUND. SO THE US TALKING ABOUT THE US CENSUS IN RELATION TO THIS POSITION.

I MEAN, WE WILL HAVE TO DEDICATE MANPOWER TO THE US CENSUS ONCE IT COMES AROUND.

I DON'T THINK THAT, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE THIS FISCAL YEAR.

THAT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT COME THROUGH OUR OFFICE AND WILL BE COMING THROUGH OUR OFFICE IN THE FUTURE.

BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAD WE HAD TWO FULL TIME STAFF MEMBERS DEDICATED TO THE CENSUS LAST TIME.

WE WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE WAS THERE WAS A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH THE CENSUS.

AND SO YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT MANPOWER IS GOING TO BE CRUCIAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES, OR WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR SOME OF THE SHORTFALLS THAT THAT CAME ABOUT LAST TIME OR MAY COME ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.

BUT I DON'T HAVE DETAILS YET ON THE CENSUS JUST BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE JUST STARTING TO LOOK AT.

AND I WAS NOT HERE LAST TIME. OKAY, SO WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO RTC, I'VE BEEN TO TWO RTC MEETINGS AND IN WHICH CASE WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT BILLS, BILLS, YOU KNOW, STATE BILLS THAT HAVE PASSED.

SO HOW HOW IS YOUR ATTENDANCE TO THAT IN SUPPORT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OR THE OR THE SHARING OF INFORMATION FOR THOSE BILLS THAT WERE COVERED AT RTC? I'M SORRY.

CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? I CAN, I'M HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE HEARING. I ATTENDED TWO RTC MEETINGS AND IN THE FIRST RTC MEETING I REALLY HEAVILY HEARD ABOUT SOME BILLS AND HOW AND WHAT THE RTC WAS DOING WITH THOSE BILLS.

SOME OF THOSE BILLS WERE SAME BILLS THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES.

CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND YOUR ATTENDANCE TO RTC WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE THOSE LEGISLATIVE BILLS AND AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT US. SURE. I MEAN, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WHAT OUR REGION AND OUR PARTNERS ARE LOOKING AT AND WORKING ON DOWN IN AUSTIN AND WHAT IMPACT THAT WILL HAVE ON THEM, WHETHER THAT'S A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE CITY OF DALLAS OR AN INDIRECT IMPACT ON THE CITY OF DALLAS.

BUT IF IN ADVOCATING FOR FOR ANY POLICY, IF WE ARE ALL ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND ROWING, ROWING THE BOAT IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS OUR PARTNERS, WE'RE GOING TO BE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SUCCESS. AND SO PART OF OUR JOB IS COORDINATING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHO OUR PARTNERS HERE IN DALLAS ARE AND WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, AND HOW THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP IN TIMES OF OF HIGH NEED OR HIGH LEVERAGE MOMENTS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO WE WORK TO WE WORK TO DO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED WITH OUR TEAM DOWN IN AUSTIN.

AND FROM, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE THE INTERIM, WHEN WE'RE NOT IN STATE SESSION, THERE'S STILL WORK BEING DONE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND THERE'S STILL AN ABILITY FOR US TO REPORT BACK TO YOU ALL.

WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT? THE PULSE IS HERE IN NORTH TEXAS.

SO WITH THIS, THIS BODY, THAT. EXCUSE ME, THAT'S BEING TRANSFERRED FROM CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO YOUR OFFICE THERE. IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S A LUXURY.

ARE YOU SAYING YOU'RE SAYING THAT RIGHT NOW? IT IS A NEED.

THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. THE RTC IS ONCE A MONTH. IT'S TWO HOURS.

IT'S AVAILABLE ON LIVE STREAM. THERE'S NO BILL THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AT RTC THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN TRACKING AT THE STATE.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE LEARNED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS AT ALL.

THE CENSUS. YOU JUST WENT TO A MEETING. WHEN IS THE NEXT MEETING? WE HAVE IT SCHEDULED THAT YET? I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, THIS, THIS IS THAT WAS AN EXAMPLE THAT I USED, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS UPCOMING. AND AGAIN, WILL BE SOMETHING WE'RE, WE'RE FOCUSING ON MORE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS RATHER THAN JUST THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SO PROBABLY AT LEAST ANOTHER QUARTER AWAY BEFORE THE NEXT ONE.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY FAIR. OKAY. AGAIN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROBABLY A TWO HOUR MEETING.

THE NEXT MEETING. SURE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STAFFING FOR GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY,

[06:15:08]

I WILL ACTUALLY SAY TO THE CITY MANAGER OUR VERY WELL STAFFED DATA ANALYTICS DEPARTMENT MIGHT BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT AND IMPRESSIVE FOR GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY. BUT WHAT WE'RE LOSING SIGHT OF IS WHAT THE TASK IS, WHAT THE CHARGE IS, THE CHARGES TAX REDUCTION.

WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT CUTTING THE DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT ADDING TO THE DEPARTMENT.

SO THANK YOU. MISS CADENA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

SO I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE CENSUS THE LAST TIME AROUND.

AND THE HONORABLE PAULINE MEDRANO ALSO TAUGHT ME BECAUSE SHE, SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CENSUS A LOT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

BUT I RECALL THAT THE WORK DID HAVE TO START SOON, AND THERE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WAS KIND OF THE LIAISON WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WERE ALL WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THE WORD OUT, BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

I MEAN, IT IT WAS YEARS IN THE MAKING AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN PLACE IN ORDER TO GET THE COUNT.

AND EVEN AT THAT WE WERE STILL SOMEWHAT BEHIND.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK, WOULD THIS BE CRUCIAL FOR THAT TYPE OF WORK? YES. I MEAN, I DO THINK THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTS OF THE CENSUS IS THE OUTREACH PIECE, ESPECIALLY TO COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE US IN THE CENSUS.

AND SO, YES, THIS POSITION'S GOAL IS TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERS AGAIN, WHETHER THEY'RE COMMUNITY LEADERS, WHETHER THEY'RE BUSINESS LEADERS OR ANY OF OUR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS OR AGENCY PARTNERS.

THIS POSITION WILL BE DOING SOME OF THAT OUTREACH. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 20? MR. BAZALDUA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I THINK THAT MAJORITY OF THE POINTS HAVE BEEN MADE.

AND I WANTED TO JUST ADD THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CENSUS SPECIFICALLY TO ME HAS BEEN ARTICULATED AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THE MANPOWER IN THIS OFFICE IS CRITICAL.

I THINK THAT IT'S KIND OF STEPPING INTO MORE OF A MICRO-MANAGING ROLE THAN LOOKING JUST TO FIND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. IF WE ARE ABLE TO POKE HOLES IN THEY'RE REALLY NOT BEING A NEED FOR A POSITION OR A VACANT FTE. YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.

BUT WHEN WE ARE HEARING FROM THE DIRECTOR OF A DEPARTMENT, WHEN WE ARE HEARING FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE I THINK THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN EXPLANATION THAT THERE'S A REASON THAT THIS EXISTS.

AND I WOULDN'T CONSIDER THIS TO BE WHAT YOUR CHARGE WAS, WHICH WAS TO FOCUS ON WASTEFUL SPENDING.

I THINK THAT THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF THE OTHER AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY PASSED.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 28? SEEING NONE. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ROTH, MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO MAYOR JOHNSON COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY.

WITH ONLY FIVE SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. IS THERE ONE ANYONE WILLING TO PUT FORWARD AMENDMENT 29? YES. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION. I MOVE TO REDUCE ONE STAFF POSITION IN EACH OF THE 14 CITY COUNCIL OFFICES, OFFSET WITH A REDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAX RATE.

IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN? YES. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. WE'RE ON AMENDMENT 29.

SO TWO WEEKS AGO WE HAD THE SAME DISCUSSION. I BELIEVE THE USE WAS STREET REPAIR.

COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA, I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK ON, BECAUSE MAYBE YOU'LL AGREE WITH ME ON THIS ONE.

SINCE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SHARED SACRIFICE, THIS WOULD BE FOR EACH COUNCIL MEMBER TO REDUCE THEIR STAFF TO HAVE TWO TO SUPPORT PEOPLE. AS COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON NOTED THAT WHEN WE ACTUALLY STARTED, I BELIEVE THERE'S SIX OF US.

WE HAD ONE AND A HALF PEOPLE. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY MOVED TO TWO, I BELIEVE, WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE, AND WE NOW HAVE THREE, BUT WE HAVE NO CHANGE IN OUR DUTIES.

NONE. WE DO THE SAME THING WE DID, AND THE PEOPLE BEFORE US WHO HAD ONE AND A HALF DID THE SAME THING WE DO.

EXCEPT, BY THE WAY, WE HAVE AI NOW, SO YOU SHOULD PROBABLY BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFICIENTLY.

SO WITH THAT, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO REDUCE $1,190,000.

[06:20:03]

AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A CONSERVATIVE NUMBER. BECAUSE WE, WE UNDERESTIMATED THE ACTUAL COST FOR THE EMPLOYEE.

SO THIS WOULD BE A VERY MEANINGFUL WAY TO ADD TO A TAX REDUCTION.

RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE MAYOR WE'RE AT $897,901 THAT WE'VE CUT, SO LESS THAN $1 MILLION.

THIS WOULD PUT US, I BELIEVE, AT 2 MILLION. THANK YOU.

MISS BLACKMON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT WAS WHEN I STARTED IN 2007.

NOT THE NOT THE BODY, BUT WHEN I STARTED IN 2007, IT WAS AT ONE AND A HALF PER OFFICE.

SO JUST TO CLARIFY. ARE YOU MR.. MR.. MR.. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

AGAIN, I THINK THAT THIS THE AMENDMENT BEING OFFERED IS IS SENDS THE RIGHT MESSAGE THAT WE ALL NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OURSELVES ALSO WITH REGARD TO OUR INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS AS TO BEING AND DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP BY SAYING WE CAN DO THE JOB A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFICIENTLY. IF IT REQUIRES US TO WORK A LITTLE BIT HARDER, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT.

AND AND I THINK THIS SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENTS, TO OUR CITIZENS THAT WE'RE MAKING A PERSONAL EFFORT TO, TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION RATHER THAN PART OF THE PROBLEM.

SO I WOULD BE SUPPORTING THIS. MAYOR PRO TEM RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU MAYOR. SO I DIDN'T SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT LAST GO AROUND.

I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT IT THIS GO AROUND AS SEEING AS OTHER EFFORTS HAVE GONE.

TO NO AVAIL. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOW THAT AGAIN, EVERY DEPARTMENT, EVERY USE DESERVES TO BE LOOKED AT. AND SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW.

MAYOR. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 29? SEEING NONE, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD WITH SEAL'S RAISED IN FAVOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS. ROTH, MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO MAYOR JOHNSON COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN, AND COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY.

WITH ONLY FIVE SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT FAILS.

MR. MAYOR. IS ANYONE WILLING TO PUT FORWARD AMENDMENT 30? YES. YOU RECOGNIZE FOR A MOTION. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGIONAL LIBRARY MODEL BY THREE MONTHS FROM OCTOBER 1ST 26 TO 7 126, INCLUDING THE CLOSURE OF THE FOUR BRANCH LIBRARY LOCATIONS.

THIS WOULD BE OFFSET BY A PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION, RESULTING IN A SAVINGS OF 650,000.

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

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES, IF YOU'D LIKE. THANK YOU. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THIS IS COMING.

IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LOT. BUT YOU KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT EVEN MORE IF WE DON'T PASS THIS OUR NEXT BUDGET.

EVERY SINGLE CHAIR IS GOING TO HAVE ALL SORTS OF LIBRARY PEOPLE HERE, AND THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT A SPECIFIC LIBRARY, A SPECIFIC LOCATION, AND HOW IT WILL PERSONALLY IMPACT THEM, AS OPPOSED TO A POLICY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO A REGIONAL CONCEPT.

THIS IS GOING TO BE TAKING THE BAND-AID OFF, FOLKS.

IT MEANS THAT WHEN WE GET THE DRAFT BUDGET, IT'LL ALREADY BE REMOVED.

WE'LL BE DONE WITH THIS CONVERSATION FOR THE BUDGET, NOT FOR THE POLICY AND HOW THAT GETS IMPLEMENTED.

I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, AFTER SITTING HERE FOR SIX YEARS, I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WITHOUT TAKING CARE OF IT.

IT WILL BE VERY DAMAGING POLITICALLY. IT WILL GET VERY PERSONAL FOR PEOPLE WHEN REALLY WE'RE MAKING A POLICY DECISION.

AND REALLY THE BUDGET IS A POLICY. IT TELLS US WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO US? WE HAVE TOO MANY LIBRARIES. I'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE NUMBERS OF OUR RATIO PER POPULATION COMPARED TO OTHER BIG CITIES.

OUR RIGHT SIZED NUMBER IS BETWEEN 24 AND 26, WHICH COINCIDENTALLY IS EXACTLY THE NUMBER YOU HAPPEN TO BE ASKING TO REDUCE BY.

THE OPERATING COSTS ARE TOO HIGH, AND THE ASK OF OUR PEOPLE IS SMALL.

WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY SKILLMAN SOUTHWEST, WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO UP TO A MILE AWAY.

THAT IS INSANE TO NOT ASK THAT OF PEOPLE. WE DON'T HAVE EVERY SERVICE ONE MILE AWAY.

SO THIS IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND SAVE $650,000.

[06:25:05]

THAT'S THE MOTION. AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO END UP DOING.

WING. YOU CAN EITHER DO IT THE PAINFUL WAY NEXT YEAR, HAVING WASTED ANOTHER $650,000, OR DO IT NOW WHEN YOU KNOW THIS IS WHAT'S COMING ANYHOW, AND YOU'LL SAVE THE MONEY. YOU'LL REDUCE THE TAX RATE.

IT'S A WIN WIN. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN WEST. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WE'RE ON AMENDMENT 30. THANK YOU. MAYOR DEFINITELY ALSO APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT OF THIS AMENDMENT.

AND I ALSO AM TEMPTED BY THE THOUGHT OF NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS DURING BUDGET SEASON.

BUT PHILOSOPHICALLY, I JUST DISAGREE WITH THIS CUT.

AND JUST LIKE I DISAGREE WITH LIBRARIES BEING CUT IN GENERAL THAT HAVE THAT SERVE AS A FOUNDATION FOR A LOT OF COMMUNITIES AND A CENTRAL HUB FOR, FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.

FOR ME, I THINK WHEN WE GET INTO THE DISCUSSION OF THE REGIONAL VERSUS THE LOCAL MODEL, I.

IT'S PROBABLY MORE APPROPRIATE THAN NOW, BUT I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS NOW. I THINK OUR LIBRARIES NEED TO BE REWORKED AND RETHOUGHT, YOU KNOW? BUT I GREW UP IN A TOWN WITH 6500 PEOPLE, AND WE HAD A LIBRARY THERE.

AND SO TO NOT HAVE A LIBRARY IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S 50,000 RESIDENTS JUST RUBS ME THE WRONG WAY.

I JUST THINK WE NEED WE NEED MODERNIZATION. WE NEED TO BE USING THEM DIFFERENTLY.

WE NEED TO BE PUTTING CITY SERVICES IN THERE, POSSIBLY TO USE THE FACILITIES BETTER.

AND MAYBE I CAN BE CONVINCED OTHERWISE. WHEN WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT GOING TO THE REGIONAL MODEL AS A COUNCIL.

BUT UNTIL THEN, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING TO THREE MONTHS CUTTING OUT THESE SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS, THREE MONTHS SHORTER. I'D RATHER TAKE ON THE PAIN WHEN WE HAVE THE BUDGET SEASON TO KEEP OUR LIBRARIES OPEN FOR THREE MORE MONTHS.

THANK YOU. MISS BLAIR, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WELL, I'M HAVING A CHALLENGE SAYING REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LIBRARIES BY FOUR WHEN I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE, WHICH OF THOSE FOUR LIBRARIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE BY.

AND IT'S AND IN MY OPINION, IT'S ASKING ME TO BLINDLY ACCEPT THAT I DON'T, I DON'T GET THE RIGHT TO SOCIALIZE, THAT MAYBE A LIBRARY IN MY DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE CLOSED WITHOUT GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSED AND MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR THAT EVENTUALITY.

MY JOB THAT I SEE IS TO REPRESENT MY DISTRICT, AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT EIGHT THAT VOTED ME HERE, I CANNOT ASK THEM TO GO TO TO LOSE A SERVICE THAT THEY DEPEND ON. I GOT THREE LIBRARIES IN MY 53MI².

I'VE GOT ONE OF THE WIDEST DISTRICTS THERE ARE, AND THERE'S ONE AREA KLEBERG RILEY ONLY HAS ONE FOR KLEBERG RILEY.

AND THEY ONLY HAVE ONE. EACH ONE OF MY LIBRARIES ARE VERY HEAVILY USED, BUT NOT TO CHECK OUT A BOOK.

IT'S THE WAY WE USE THE LIBRARIES IN MY AREA IS SAFETY FOR OUR CHILDREN.

WHEN PARENTS GET OFF OF WORK AT FIVE AT 5:00 AND KIDS GET OUT OF SCHOOL AT THREE, THEY CAN GO TO THE LIBRARY AND DO THEIR HOMEWORK.

THERE'S SUPPORT THERE FOR THEIR HOMEWORK TO GET THEIR HOMEWORK DONE.

THEY PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET.

THEY GO TO A LIBRARY AND THEY CAN HAVE AND THEY DON'T HAVE A COMPUTER.

THEY GO TO THE LIBRARY, THEY HAVE A COMPUTER, THEY HAVE THE INTERNET.

THEY CAN DO RESUMES. THEY HAVE PEOPLE TO HELP THEM DO THEIR RESUMES.

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF SERVICES OTHER THAN CHECKING OUT A BOOK THAT HAPPENS IN THE MOST SOUTHERN AREA OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, AND TO NOT KNOW THAT ONE OF ONE OF THOSE THREE LIBRARIES ARE GOING TO BE CLOSED.

YOU'RE ASKING ME TO BLINDLY ACCEPT THAT THEY'RE NOT I, I, I GUESS I'M NOT THAT TRUSTEE.

CHAIRMAN GRACEY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

I'M. I'M TORN WITH THIS ONE. I KNOW, BUT I AT LEAST WANT TO GIVE ONE.

I WANT TO GIVE THE NEW DIRECTOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO.

I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING, BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND EXECUTE A STRATEGY OR PLAN.

[06:30:07]

I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AT SOME POINT AND AND PERHAPS DOWN THE ROAD WE WILL.

THIS WOULD BE THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THAT. SO I DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH THE AMENDMENT.

I JUST THINK I WANT TO GIVE IT SOME TIME. SO FOR THAT REASON I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT.

AND WE'LL SIT AND TALK ABOUT IT LATER. MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I'M LOOKING AT THIS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

LIBRARIES ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO THE CITY.

IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY VITAL CORE SERVICE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT CUTTING LIBRARIES. THIS IS ABOUT STIMULATING THE RE THE REPOSITIONING, THE REVITALIZING, THE REIMAGINING HOW THE NEW LIBRARY OF SYSTEMS SHOULD FUNCTION IN A MODERN WORLD IN OUR CURRENT SITUATION.

THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO JUMPSTART THIS PROCESS AND FORCE THE ISSUE WITHIN OUR CITY, AND FORCE THE ISSUE WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT TO GO AHEAD AND GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD.

WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THIS. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE MOST CRITICAL IMPORTANT COMMUNITY SERVICE LIBRARY SYSTEM AS A VITAL, VITAL PART OF IT. AND THIS ISN'T JUST POLITICAL.

THIS IS REALLY A VITAL SERVICE. BUT THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS NOT CORRECT.

IT'S NOT MODERN. IT'S NOT PROPER. IT'S NOT EFFICIENT FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE IN AND THE TIMES THAT WE'RE IN.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A SLAM ON THE LIBRARY, FOLKS.

THIS IS NOT A SLAM ON ON NOT WANTING TO PROVIDE SERVICES.

IT'S LET'S JUMP START THIS ISSUE. GIVE THESE FOLKS IN THE DEPARTMENT THE THE MANDATE TO GET THIS PROJECT GOING AND GET IT SOLVED, AND SO THAT WE CAN REALLY BE ABLE TO BENEFIT THIS, THIS GROUP, THIS DEPARTMENT IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE WE'LL THEN HAVE RUNWAY TO SAY, AS THEY'RE MAKING PROGRESS TO FUND IT DIFFERENTLY, HELP THEM DIFFERENTLY.

GIVE THEM THE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. RIGHT NOW WE'RE STAGNANT.

WE'RE STOPPED. WE'RE NOT PROGRESSING. THIS IS NOT ABOUT TAKING AWAY SOMETHING FROM PEOPLE.

THIS IS ABOUT GIVING OUR CITIZENS A BETTER SYSTEM, A BETTER FOCUS, A BETTER QUALITY OF OF OF RESOURCES AND AMENITY THAT THEY DESERVE.

AND SO THAT'S THE REASON I'M, I'M IN FAVOR OF GETTING THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD.

AND I KNOW IT'S IT'S IT'S A DIFFICULT DECISION, BUT I THINK IT'S ONE THAT REALLY IS ULTIMATELY VERY POSITIVE FOR US.

THANK YOU. MR. BAZALDUA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

AMENDMENT 30. I JUST WANT TO BRING UP FORMER COLLEAGUES DAVID BLEWETT'S, RULE NUMBER ONE.

AND WHEN YOU'RE EXPLAINING, YOU'RE LOSING. AND I THINK THAT WHAT MR. ROTH JUST SAID MAKES A LOT OF SENSE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY LENGTHY EXPLANATION.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A TYPE OF CHANGE THAT WE NEED TO GET IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO MITIGATE THE, I GUESS, FEAR MONGERING THAT WAS FRAMED, THAT WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND RUSH THIS THROUGH SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE COMING. WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM PEOPLE WEARING THEIR T SHIRTS, SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT, SHOWING THEIR DESIRE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR LIBRARY SYSTEMS. THAT'S ALREADY WE KNOW THAT EXISTS. SO THAT MEANS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE A CONSTITUENCY THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL ON HOW WE EDUCATE.

WHAT THIS TRANSITION LOOKS LIKE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANYONE AT THIS POINT IS FIGHTING AGAINST THE PLAN FOR US TO HAVE THIS TRANSITION THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY THE CITY MANAGER.

BUT BY DOING IT RIGHT NOW AND SHOVING IT DOWN THEIR THROAT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT IS GOOD LEADERSHIP.

WE NEED TO GET OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS AS SOFT OF AN IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE GOING TO NEED IT MOST.

AND AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MAKING THAT DECISION NOW AND EXPEDITING THIS PROCESS WITHOUT ACTUALLY GETTING TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS IS A VERY SMART THING TO DO. SO FOR THAT I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS THIS BLACKMON YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. AND I GUESS I'M THE ONE THAT CAN SAY THAT I HAVE A LIBRARY THAT'S CLOSED.

IT WILL CLOSE AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT LAST YEAR.

I THINK SOMEBODY REMINDED ME ABOUT THAT. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT PREPARED THE COMMUNITY, THEY KNEW IT WAS COMING.

[06:35:06]

THEY STILL CAME IN AND GAVE IT THE GOOD FIGHT, GAVE IT THE GOOD CHALLENGE.

BUT THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS COMING. AND WHAT THEY'RE NOW SAYING IS, OKAY, NOW, HOW DO WE REIMAGINE HOW WE BRING THOSE SERVICES BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS, THIS THOUGHTFUL PROCESS THAT MAY BE A PARTNERSHIP.

IT MAY BE AT THE VILLAGE, IT MAY BE AT A REC CENTER, BUT THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

ALL I CAN SAY IS PEOPLE DEPEND ON WHAT WE GIVE THEM, AND IF ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM ANYMORE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PISSED OFF. AND SO THAT'S JUST BEING FRANK.

BUT TO PREPARE FOR IT, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVERSATION AND THEN HAVE A PART IN THAT DECISION MAKING, WE WE WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THAT. NOW, I DID NOT WIN TODAY.

YOU KNOW I DIDN'T. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I HAVE TO GIVE UP.

WHAT IT MEANS IS I NOW CHANGE MY FOCUS TO SOMETHING ELSE AND WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE I'VE RALLIED THE TROOPS AND SAID, LET'S COME BACK WHEN WE HAVE THIS NEW DISCUSSION ON WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

BRING YOUR THINKING CAPS. LET'S BRING OUR CONNECTIONS. LET'S WORK AND FIGURE OUT WHAT A NEW LIBRARY LOOKS LIKE IN THIS AREA.

AND SO I FEEL WE OWE IT TO OUR COMMUNITIES TO DO THAT.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU START CUTTING LIBRARIES AND THEIR ARTS AND THEIR REC CENTERS AND THEIR POOLS, THEY'RE GOING TO GET REALLY UPSET BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY GOT, SOME IN SOME COMMUNITIES.

SO I JUST THINK A THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE PROCEED.

WE OWE IT TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MISS SHAW, FOR FOR BEING HERE.

AND I THINK THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHEN WE HAD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SKILLMAN LIBRARY IN THE LAST GO ROUND.

YOU KNOW, LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE REGIONAL PROGRAM. AND I THINK THE THOUGHT WAS THAT YOU HAVE JUST GOTTEN HERE AND HAVE SOME GOOD IDEAS, BUT NEED TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE. AND THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME WITH PRESTON ROYAL FRIENDS.

THEY'RE VERY DEDICATED, AS YOU COULD TELL. AND AND AND TAKING THOSE STEPS IS A CRITICAL PART OF GETTING TO GET PEOPLE ON BOARD WITH SOMETHING THAT, LET'S FACE IT, IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY DISRUPTIVE. I MEAN, WE'VE HEARD THE PASSION THAT PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THEIR LIBRARIES, BUT WHAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HERE IS WHEN I ASK YOU ABOUT THIS, ABOUT WHAT THIS DOES TO THE TIMING, BECAUSE WE KNOW PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS GOING TO BE SO CRITICAL HERE, AND I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT WHEN THAT WOULD FALL.

CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT FOR MY COLLEAGUES? ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. SURE. LIBRARY DIRECTOR, THIS WOULD PUSH THE TIMELINE OBVIOUSLY, BY THREE MONTHS PUBLICLY. BUT WHAT IT DOES INTERNALLY IS IF WE LOSE THE FUNDS ON JULY 1ST, THAT MEANS WE LOSE THE POSITIONS BECAUSE THE POSITIONS IS REALLY WHERE THE SAVINGS IS, AND WE NEED THOSE POSITIONS TO DRAW DOWN AND CLOSE THE LIBRARY.

SO WE WOULD REALLY NEED TO CLOSE THOSE FOUR LIBRARIES IN EARLY TO MID MAY, NOT JULY 1ST.

THIS IS A LITTLE BACK OF THE NAPKIN, BUT THIS IS SORT OF WHAT I ESTIMATE, WHICH BACKS US UP INTO DOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE SORT OF THE END OF THIS YEAR OVER THE HOLIDAYS OR THE BEGINNING OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.

I'M VERY HESITANT TO EVER DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ANYTIME AFTER MID-NOVEMBER THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF OF THE YEAR.

WE JUST DON'T GET THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR, AND I THINK THAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE WE ARE TRYING TO PUSH SOMETHING THROUGH WITHOUT PEOPLE, WITHOUT REALLY GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FEEDBACK.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE TIME, AND THAT'S MY GOAL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE OBSERVED IN THE THREE MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE AND HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE REGIONAL MODEL, IS THAT WHEN I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN IT TO SOMEONE AND TO TALK IT THROUGH, THEY THEY SEE THE VALUE IN IT.

NOBODY WANTS TO CLOSE LIBRARIES, LET ALONE YOUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR.

BUT THEY DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOT FUNDED FOR 30 LOCATIONS AND THAT IF WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS, WE COULD REALLY LEAN INTO A FEW OF THEM AND JUST OFFER THESE VIBRANT SPACES ACROSS THE CITY.

I'VE SAID TO STAFF THAT IF I COULD JUST SIT DOWN AND TALK TO 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE, I THINK WE COULD GET THEM THERE.

OBVIOUSLY I CAN'T DO THAT, BUT THE MORE TIME I'M GIVEN, THE MORE I BELIEVE THAT I CAN TURN PEOPLE AROUND AND REDUCE THE RESISTANCE TO TO THIS PLAN. SO LET ME ASK YOU IN THE TIMELINE.

IF IT WAS NOT TO CHANGE TO THIS THREE MONTH YOU KNOW, ACCELERATION SOMEWHERE IN THERE IN THAT ZONE, IT'S GOING TO START TO EMERGE AS TO WHICH ONES WOULD BE CLOSING.

SO THAT COULD STILL INFORM THE FACT THAT WE KNOW GOING INTO THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE WHICH ONES WOULD NOT BE FUNDED.

[06:40:04]

SO I THINK THERE'S A GOAL HERE THAT WILL STILL KNOW COMING INTO THIS, IF WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POLITICALLY OR WHATEVER ELSE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TIME TO UNDERSTAND, NOT LIKE RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF WHEN THE BUDGET COMES OUT, BUT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND AND MAYBE BE PART OF A PROCESS WHERE THEY THEY REALLY GET AND HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN WHY THINGS MAY BE MOVING A CERTAIN DIRECTION AND HOW IT WILL MAKE CERTAIN LOCATIONS STRONGER, AND HOW THEIR LIBRARY, WHAT THEY'VE COME TO KNOW IN BRICK AND MORTAR, MAY MORPH INTO SOMETHING MORE LIKE YOU HAVE NEXT TO TARGET OR WHATEVER.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, I APPRECIATE THAT. MORE TIME MEANS MORE ENGAGEMENT.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DO. I'M NOT SITTING HERE KNOWING THE FOUR LOCATIONS AND NOT TELLING YOU.

WE REALLY DO NOT KNOW BECAUSE WE ARE DEVELOPING THE FORMULA RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THE REGIONS AS DEFINED FOR THE REGIONAL MODEL.

THERE IS A LOT TO DO AND WE ARE DOING IT INTERNALLY AT THE LIBRARY.

WE WE ARE NOT BRINGING IN CONSULTANTS OR ASKING OUTSIDE EXPERTS.

WE ARE PUTTING PEN TO PAPER AND FIGURING THIS OUT, AND THIS WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO REALLY DO IT RIGHT, SO THAT WE DON'T JUST LOOK AT LIBRARIES WITH HIGH CHECKOUTS.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT LIBRARIES WHERE PEOPLE USE THEM DIFFERENTLY FOR THINGS LIKE COMPUTER USE AND SAFETY.

IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M GOING TO LET YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT ON ANOTHER DAY. MY APOLOGIES. YES.

OF COURSE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE EFFICIENCY.

AND YOU KNOW, DOING THIS IN-HOUSE. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY MANAGER.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I THINK WE'VE COVERED IT WELL.

BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENGAGEMENT IS ALSO INVOLVING YOU AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND DEVELOP THE CRITERIA AND BE ABLE TO GET YOUR SUPPORT AROUND IT, I THINK IS ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE LIFE A LOT EASIER FOR THE STAFF AS WELL, BECAUSE WE'LL BE DOING THIS TOGETHER VERSUS IT'S STAFF VERSUS THE COUNCIL VERSUS THE COMMUNITY. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT NICE LONG RESPONSE.

CHAIR JOHNSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I UNDERSTAND THE AMENDMENT.

I UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE DOING IT TO LOWER TAXES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE EMPHASIS OF THESE DECISIONS.

I SAID ALL THE TIME, INVOLVEMENT BRINGS INVESTMENT.

AND WHEN WE INVOLVE OUR COMMUNITY, THEY GET INVESTED IN THE PROCESS AND THEY'RE PROUD WHEN WE BRING THIS STUFF TO THEM AGAIN IN THE EMBASSY OF THESE PROJECTS AND THESE DECISIONS. SO WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE AMENDMENT, I UNDERSTAND THE HEARTBEAT OF MY COMMUNITY.

WHEN WE SAY THAT WE'RE IN OUR CAMPAIGN, WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THE COMMUNITY WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT GOING TO EXILE THEM OUT AND PUSH THEM AWAY AND THEN MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT THEM KNOWING. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE THEY'RE INVOLVED.

NOW, THEY MAY NOT AGREE WITH EVERY DECISION, BUT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW WHAT AND OUR WHY IN IN DISTRICT FOUR.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE COMMITTED TO. THAT WAS THE PROMISE THAT I MADE MY COMMIT MY COMMUNITY.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO BACK ON THAT PROMISE, ALTHOUGH I DO UNDERSTAND. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WANT TO BE SURE THAT THEY'RE AT THE TABLE WHEN WE'RE MAKING THESE TOUGH DECISIONS.

I JUST GOT HERE, AND SO I UNDERSTAND. THIS IS MY SECOND BUDGET THIS YEAR.

ONE WITH DALLAS ISD NOW, THE ONE WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE. AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR SENIOR CITIZENS LISTENING TO THE VOICE OF OUR EDUCATORS, LISTENING TO THE VOICE OF OUR CHILDREN.

A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF OUR CHILDREN, AND OUR CHILDREN HAVE A VOICE.

AND SO WHEN IN IN MY IN DISTRICT FOUR WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING THESE TOUGH DISCUSSIONS AND THE FACT THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE I THINK COUNCILWOMAN BLAIR BROUGHT THIS UP.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE. ANYTHING. YOU JUST SAID IT WHERE THESE CUTS ARE GOING TO THESE FOUR LIBRARIES ARE GOING TO COME FROM.

AND SO WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING, WE I DON'T THINK IT'S I DON'T THINK IT'S WISE TO JUST MAKE THIS DECISION TONIGHT.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS. LET LET OUR COMMUNITY KNOW KNOW THIS IS COMING AND GET GET THEM INVOLVED.

WHY? IMMA SAY IT ONE MORE TIME. BECAUSE INVOLVEMENT BRINGS INVESTMENT.

WHETHER IT'S A TOUGH DECISION OR NOT. IF WE HAVE THEM AT THE TABLE IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS.

AND THE EMPHASIS OF THIS PROCESS IS THEY WILL HELP US WITH THESE TOUGH DECISIONS.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT REASON, UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT UNDERSTANDING THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR COMMUNITY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. CHAIR MIDDLETON FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU DECIDE, LET ME JUST SAY THIS BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION WENT OFF THE RAILS.

THIS AMENDMENT ACTUALLY JUST BRINGS CERTAINTY THAT THE LIBRARIES WILL CLOSE CERTAINTY, BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT,

[06:45:05]

YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. WELL, WHAT IF WE JUST DO TWO THIS YEAR? WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK TO THE POOLS CONVERSATION, WHERE I DON'T KNOW IF JOHN JENKINS STILL HERE, BUT HE DID SAY LAST YEAR, I DID CONFIRM WITH HIM CLOSE ALL OF THE POOLS OF WHICH WE CLOSED, NONE BECAUSE OF POLITICAL PRESSURE. THIS PROVIDES CERTAINTY THE LIBRARIES WILL CLOSE.

IT DOES NOT IMPACT ANY AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

IT STARTS THE CONVERSATION WHERE WE SAY, HEY, COMMUNITY FOR LIBRARIES ARE CLOSING.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. BUT HERE'S WHAT THE PLAN IS.

HERE'S WHAT THE PHILOSOPHY IS. WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF IT.

ENGAGEMENT BEGINS, BUT AGAIN, IT STARTS WITH THE CERTAINTY.

IT LETS THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS COMING. IT'S NOT BROADSIDING.

IT'S SAYING THIS IS THE POLICY WE'RE ADOPTING.

WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE FOR. THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT DATA.

THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY STILL HAS ACCESS.

AND BY THE WAY, WE'RE GOING TO STAY OPEN LATER AT NIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE OPEN ON SUNDAYS. WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE BETTER SITUATIONS IN OUR LIBRARIES.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A VERY REAL FINANCIAL ASPECT.

JUST THREE MONTHS EARLY CLOSURE MEANS, WHAT, $650,000 AGAIN SO FAR TONIGHT, TODAY AND TONIGHT WE HAVE REDUCED THE TAX RATE 897,901. THIS IS $650,000.

WOULD YOU BELIEVE THIS IS ACTUALLY A BIG ITEM FOR US? SO, ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT FINANCE? ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO BE CLOSING THEM? LET'S ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY. NOW, IS THAT YOUR PLAN? EITHER WAY, NO MATTER HOW THIS AMENDMENT GOES, IS YOUR NEXT PLAN TO START ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY? AFTER WE DEVELOP THE THE FORMULAS? YES. AND WHEN WOULD THAT BE? SO IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN FOR JUST A MINUTE AS WE GO INTO IF THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD OR NOT, THE CRITERIA AND THE ACTUAL WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS JUST OBJECTIVELY, BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY HEARD PEOPLE SAY, PLEASE MAKE SURE MINE IS NOT THE ONE CLOSING.

WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT. SO THAT WILL TAKE SOME TIME.

AND I WOULD COMMIT TO HOPEFULLY COMING BACK MAYBE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR IF WE CAN.

WE KNOW THAT COMMITTEES ARE, I THINK ARE SLATED TO MAYBE START NEXT MONTH AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT THE FIRST TIME OUT IT WILL BE ACCEPTED.

WE MAY HAVE TO DO SOME TWEAKING, BUT HOPEFULLY BY THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WE COULD AT LEAST HAVE SOME CRITERIA THAT WE WANT TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT, WHICH LIBRARIES TAKE IN SOME OF THE DATA, AND ALSO TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT WHAT A REGIONAL MODEL COULD ENTAIL.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OURS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BETTER PROGRAMING, BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE AGAIN THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO COUNCIL.

AND SO WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT ROBUST DISCUSSION YET.

SO I WOULD SAY BY THE FIRST PART OF THE YEAR, WE SHOULD HAVE CRITERIA.

WE OUGHT TO HAVE FEEDBACK ON AT LEAST KIND OF THE PERSPECTIVE AROUND A REGIONAL MODEL.

THERE'S SOME BEST PRACTICES OUT THERE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME OTHER CITIES WHO ARE STARTING THIS SAME PROCESS.

SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THOSE BEST PRACTICES. SO BY EARLY SPRING, MAYBE EVEN SOONER, WE COULD GET OUT AND BEGIN TO DO THE ROBUST ENGAGEMENT.

IF NOTHING ELSE, I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW DO WE DO THE OUTREACH AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WHO WILL WANT TO WEIGH IN. I THINK WE ALSO HAVE A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DO EVEN SOME PARTNERSHIPS, WHETHER WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER TYPES OF SERVICES WITHIN THE LIBRARY.

WE'VE HEARD THAT. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT RIGHT, WE'LL DO WHICHEVER WAY COUNCIL GOES ON THIS AMENDMENT TONIGHT, WE'LL MAKE IT WORK. BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING WE'RE GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE AN EFFECTIVE MODEL, AND IT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL BE PROUD OF. AND THE COMMUNITY WILL EMBRACE IT BECAUSE IT WAS DONE THE RIGHT WAY.

SO I WOULD HOPE BY EARLY SPRING THAT A LOT OF THAT ENGAGEMENT WOULD BE HEAVILY UNDER WAY.

A COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSOHN MANAGER, YOU FIRST SAID THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THIS TO US BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND THEN LATER IN YOUR COMMENTS, YOU SAID THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

COULD YOU CLARIFY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS? SO CRITERIA IS REALLY ABOUT THE CLOSURE PIECE.

SO WHICH LIBRARIES. AND WE NEED TO BE OF COURSE STRATEGIC.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING AROUND POOLS.

BUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE CRITERIA IS OBJECTIVE.

AND IT'S NOT BASED ON CHERRY PICKING. IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE CRITERIA THAT WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE USED FOR THE CLOSURE.

AND THEN I TALKED ABOUT THEN THE REGIONAL MODEL.

SO IT'S REALLY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. IT'S THE CRITERIA FOR WHAT ACTUALLY GETS CLOSED.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN PARTICULAR PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE SOMETHING ELSE MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY OTHER AMENITIES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE OR THEY'RE READING DESERTS.

[06:50:05]

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A LOT OF THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION.

SO THE SECOND PART OF THAT WOULD THEN BE WHAT IS THE REGIONAL MODEL? YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME EXAMPLES OUT THERE. THERE MIGHT BE SOME THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO. WE MAY WANT TO LOOK AT CREATING A MODEL THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

BUT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT EFFECTIVELY.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE BOTH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNCIL.

SO I WOULD SAY CRITERIA AROUND CLOSURE. HOPEFULLY WE COULD HAVE THAT DONE VETTED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

WE CAN SIMULTANEOUSLY START WORKING ON THE REGIONAL MODEL, BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT THE MODEL ITSELF WOULD BE DONE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, LIKE DECEMBER. WE WOULD BEGIN TO HOPEFULLY GET THAT DONE AND HAVE THAT OUT OF THE WAY BY THE EARLY PART OF 2026.

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T START TALKING ABOUT A MODEL THAT YOU DON'T HAVE. WE DON'T HAVE THE REGIONAL MODEL YET. I'M REALLY A LITTLE BIT SPEECHLESS.

YOU HAVE A TAGLINE. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE FIRST TWO WORDS ARE, BUT THERE'S LIKE TWO WORDS AND THEN PERIOD.

NOW. AND WHEN I HEAR THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE THREE MONTHS TO COME UP WITH CRITERIA, AND THEN ANOTHER COUPLE MONTHS TO COME UP WITH A REGIONAL MODEL, WHICH I'VE ALREADY HEARD EXPRESSED IN DETAIL AT LEAST TWICE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NOW PART OF THIS TAGLINE, BECAUSE THAT'S WAY TOO LONG.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS ALL TAKING SO LONG.

WELL, I'M NOT TRYING TO DEBATE IT, BUT AS I MENTIONED, WHICHEVER DECISION, THE WHICHEVER, THAT IS WHAT WE SAY. WHICHEVER. BUT SERVICE FIRST ALSO COMES WITH EFFECTIVENESS.

IF COUNCIL MAKES THE DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AMENDMENT, ALL I'M SHARING WITH YOU IS THAT WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.

IT IS NOT BAKED. IT HAS NOT BEEN VETTED. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS BUT IT HAS NOT COME TO ME TO SAY THAT WE'RE READY TO SEND ANYTHING TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE OR MAKE ANYTHING FINAL THAT WE WOULD WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU.

SERVICE FIRST MEANS THAT WE WORK STILL EFFECTIVELY, AND WE WANT TO BE EFFICIENT, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE RESPONSIVE.

SO WHICHEVER WAY COUNCIL WANTS TO GO, WE WILL DO BASED ON COUNCIL'S DECISION.

I'M SHARING WITH YOU WHAT AN IDEAL TIMELINE WOULD BE, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE GOING ON AND WE WANT TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE OUTCOME. WELL THANK YOU. I'M EVEN MORE CERTAIN ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT AND THE NEED FOR EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, AND WOULD HATE TO SEE THE THE TAGLINE REVISED WITHOUT THE WORD NOW AND CHANGE TO SEVERAL MONTHS FROM NOW.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH. THANK YOU AGAIN.

I WANT TO I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THIS, IN THIS HORSESHOE IS HAS ANY COMPUNCTION THAT LIBRARIES ARE NOT ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY? NO, NONE OF OUR DISTRICTS, NONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE WITHOUT A LIBRARY AND WITHOUT THE SERVICES THAT THEY THAT THEY REPRESENT AND WHICH OUR CITIZENS DEMAND.

AND WHAT MY, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS WAS THAT THESE LIBRARIES WOULD NOT BE CLOSED IMMEDIATELY, BUT THAT THAT PROCESS WOULD BE STARTED. AND THAT'S WHY I WAS SUGGESTING THAT THIS WAS A GOOD AMENDMENT.

IF THE IF THE STAFF, IF THE MANAGEMENT, IF THE CITY MANAGER AND THE DEPARTMENT HEAD SAYS THAT THIS IS NOT AN ACHIEVABLE, PRACTICAL AND THOUGHTFUL PROCESS I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO THEN PROCEED.

I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY DOES NEED TO BE INVOLVED.

THEY NEED TO BE ENGAGED. BUT I BUT I'M BUT I THINK AGAIN, WE'RE WE'RE NOT TAKING THE HARD DECISIONS AND AND I COMPLIMENT COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN FOR, FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO THE FOREFRONT.

THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE, AND IT'S A HARD ISSUE, AND IT'S NOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY OF OUR CITIZENS.

IT'S NOT TO DISPARAGE OR TO TO MINIMIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ANY OF OUR CORE SERVICES, WHICH LIBRARIES ARE PART OF.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO START TAKING A SERIOUS POSITION AND GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD.

AND YOU'RE THE NEW PERSON ON THE ON THE ON IN THE CHAIR.

I THINK YOU'RE HEARING FROM ALL OF US THAT THIS PARTY NEEDS TO START, AND YOU GOT TO START GETTING US THE INFORMATION AND GET IT HANDLED.

AND TO THE TO THE COMFORT OF THE PEOPLE IN, IN OUR, OUR CITIZENRY WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO LIBRARIES.

I THINK WE NEED TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE NOT HERE TO TAKE AWAY SERVICES.

WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES, THE BEST SERVICES AND THE MOST MODERN SERVICES THAT WE CAN.

SO ANYWAY, THAT'S THAT'S THE POSITION I WOULD TAKE AT THIS TIME.

[06:55:06]

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT SHOW YOUR ARTICLES.

SALES RACED IN FAVOR MAYOR JOHNSON COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

WITH ONLY TWO SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT FAILS.

MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. WHICH NUMBER WAS THAT? 31. ARE WE ON 31. IS THERE A MOTION? 30. WAS THERE A MOTION TO PUT FORWARD? 31 IS YES. THERE IS. ARE YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THAT? THANK YOU. I MOVE TO ELIMINATE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO HOUSING FORWARD FOR THEIR HMIS SYSTEM, AND INSTEAD REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BY 280,767.

IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? YES. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

THE HMIS SYSTEM IS MOSTLY FUNDED BY HUD. THERE'S A LOCAL MATCH, AND ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT INCLUDES DALLAS AND COLLIN COUNTIES, ALL OF THE CITIES IN DALLAS AND COLLIN COUNTIES.

I THINK WE'RE THE ONLY CITY THAT PAYS FOR THE SYSTEM, AND WE'RE PROVIDING THAT MANY YEARS AGO, WHEN HOUSING FORWARD WAS CALLED METRO DALLAS HOMELESS ALLIANCE, THEY HAD MADE A PLEDGE NOT TO FUNDRAISE.

HOWEVER, THEY QUICKLY CHANGED THEIR MIND AND STARTED FUNDRAISING.

AND YOU MAY GET THESE FUNDRAISING EMAILS. I THINK WITH NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY, MANY OF YOU HAVE AND THEY NEED TO BE FUNDRAISING TO PAY THE LOCAL MATCH FOR THE FOR MISS. IT DOES NOT NEED TO COME FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THEY ALSO PREVIOUSLY I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL DO THAT CHARGE THE AGENCIES FOR ACCESS TO MISS.

AGAIN, THAT COULD BE USED AS PART OF THEIR LOCAL MATCH.

SO THIS IS NOT NECESSARY. MANY OTHER CITIES DO NOT PAY.

IN FACT, ALL THE OTHER CITIES IN OUR CONTINUUM DO NOT PAY.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS THE NATION, MOST CITIES ARE NOT DOING A MATCH FOR THEIR HMIS SYSTEM.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN WEST RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'VE GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

I KNOW MISS KHAN HAS BEEN HERE ALL DAY, AND IF I COULD HAVE HER COME DOWN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SARAH, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN THE IMPROVED RESULTS IN OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, WHICH HAS BEEN LED BY HOUSING FORWARD, IS THE COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION OF OUR OF OUR HUNDREDS OF HOMELESSNESS PROVIDERS.

IS THAT RIGHT? AND CAN YOU MAKE SURE? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. YEAH. CAN YOU SHARE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HMAS SYSTEM? FOR YOUR COORDINATION OF EFFORTS? SURE. THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM IS REALLY IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THE DATA THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING ON RESOLVING HOMELESSNESS IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETE.

AND SO WE ARE MANDATED TO USE THAT SYSTEM AND TO ENSURE THAT ALL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE USING THE SAME HMAS.

AND WE USE THAT INFORMATION FOR A VARIETY OF IMPORTANT YOU KNOW, IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

ONE IS TO MEASURE PROGRESS, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WAY ALSO TO PRODUCE MANDATORY REPORTING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND OBVIOUSLY JUST TO COORDINATE CARE SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MOVE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND INTO HOUSING.

SO IF WE PASS THE COST OF THE SYSTEM ONTO YOU, AND THEN THAT, I ASSUME WOULD BE PASSED ON TO ITS USERS.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT ATTRITION? LOSS OF SOME OF OUR HOMELESSNESS SERVICE PROVIDERS? YEAH. SO HISTORICALLY WHEN WE'VE HAD USER FEES, THAT HAS BEEN A BARRIER TO PARTICIPATION, PARTICULARLY GIVEN JUST THE OVERALL COSTS, THE OVERALL COST OF OPERATING THE MRS, YOU KNOW, OVER $675,000. AND SO IF WE DID NOT HAVE THIS CONTRIBUTION, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO PASS SOME OF THOSE FEES ON TO THE AGENCIES.

THE REASON THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS IS PAYING, BUT OTHER CITIES AREN'T, IS LARGELY BECAUSE THE CITY OF DALLAS IS THE ONLY CITY THAT HAS ON DEMAND REPORTING AND MONTHLY REPORTS FOR THE USERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS AND PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

[07:00:05]

SO WE HAVE A CONTRACT TO ESSENTIALLY THAT'S BASED ON A COST ALLOCATION BASED ON NUMBER OF USERS, NUMBER OF PROJECTS, NUMBER OF SERVICE PROVIDERS WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

AND THEN WE ARE CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC REPORTING ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND A QUARTERLY BASIS.

AND WHO'S THE CONTRACT BETWEEN EXACTLY TO PROVIDE THE MONTHLY AND PERIODIC REPORTING.

SO THAT'S HOUSING FORWARD IN THE CITY. SO THIS WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH YOU FOR THAT REPORTING, WHICH IS WHY WE WE INCUR THIS ADDITIONAL COST VERSUS OTHER CITIES DO NOT HAVE THAT TYPE OF CONTRACT WITH YOU.

YEAH. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A MATCH SO WE CAN USE THAT COST AGAINST THE REQUIRED MATCH.

THANK YOU SARAH. SO OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM IS WORKING.

THIS IS A KEY PIECE OF IT AND CUTTING IT FROM THE BUDGET AT THIS TIME, WITHOUT DISCUSSION ON COMMITTEE OR SORT OF A A LANDING STRIP TO HAVE A DISCUSSION IS JUST NOT APPROPRIATE.

THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, CHAIR WEST. I'LL PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF.

I MEAN, I WAS ON HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE LAST TERM AND THIS TERM.

AND SO WHEN I'M HEARING SOME OF THESE THINGS BEING THROWN OUT ABOUT OTHERS, YOU KNOW, NOT PAYING, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A IT MAY BE A BARRIER.

IS THERE SOME OTHER PRICE POINT OR IS THERE SOME OTHER WAY.

WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT IF HOUSING FORWARD TOOK THAT BACK ON FUNDING WISE? I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. HEY, WE'RE RIPPING THIS OUT FROM UNDER YOU WITHOUT HAVING THAT DISCUSSION.

IF IT HAD BEEN INITIATED, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GOT OUR BUDGET AND HAD SOME OF THESE PRELIMINARY, THE FIRST BUDGET WORKSHOP, MAYBE WE'D BE HAVING A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION. BUT SINCE WE'RE HERE ON SEPTEMBER 17TH.

I FEEL A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. HOW MANY PEOPLE USE THAT SYSTEM? SO WE HAVE NOW 550 USERS AND ABOUT 90% ARE CITY OF DALLAS EITHER SERVICE PROVIDERS, PROJECTS AND USERS.

OKAY. SO THAT'S THAT'S A PRETTY BIG NUMBER. YEAH.

POPULATING THE SYSTEM TO YOU KNOW, AND THIS ALLOWS, I GUESS, SOMEBODY TO GET ON AND ACCESS SO THAT IF WE'RE TRACKING WHERE SOMEONE GOES AND WHAT KIND OF SERVICES THEY'RE RECEIVING JUST TO I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT IT TAKES MULTIPLE TOUCH POINTS TO HELP GET SOMEONE BACK IN THE, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE ABILITY TO EVEN HAVE TRUST AND GET ON WITH BEING HEALTHY, HAPPY AND INDEPENDENT.

HOPEFULLY. SO. LOSING THOSE TOUCH POINTS AND WE MAY NOT LOSE IT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ALL WOULD DO. AND GOING BACK TO THE DISCUSSION WE HAD AROUND THE ZOO, I THINK IT IS A LITTLE THOUGHTLESS TO TO DO THIS, ESPECIALLY ON SOMETHING THAT WAS THE OUR RESIDENTS NUMBER ONE PERCEPTION ISSUE IN OUR RESIDENT SATISFACTION SURVEY.

AND IN THIS CASE, I THINK PERCEPTION IS REALITY BECAUSE I THINK THEY PERCEIVE THAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEING THIS ISSUE EVERY SINGLE DAY AT INTERSECTIONS AND UNDERPASSES AND THAT SORT OF THING. SO I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT I NOTED WHEN I SAW THIS WAS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST TERM HOW THE CITY COULD BETTER USE THIS INFORMATION.

SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU DO ON DEMAND REPORTING AND MONTHLY REPORTING.

BUT I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE COMMITTEE COULD ACTUALLY GET THAT DATA AND HAVE A REPORT ON THAT DATA AS WELL.

AND I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, BECAUSE THAT, TO ME, SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT IS NOT SO ETHEREAL. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE SHOWING US WHAT THE DATA IS AND WHERE PROGRESS IS BEING MADE, ETC.. SO I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS TOOL, EXPLORE SOME OTHER WAYS WHERE YOU COULD TAKE THIS OFF OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, SO THAT AS WE MOVE TOWARD NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET DISCUSSION, THAT THIS MAY BE SOMETHING THAT GOES AWAY, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH YOUR OWN FUNDRAISING, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH FEES OR SOME OTHER SOURCE.

BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT I BELIEVE IN RIPPING THIS RUG OUT FROM UNDER YOU WHEN WE ARE WHEN IT'S A KEY TO THE MATCH FOR THE REST OF THE HUD FUNDS.

AND IT'S ON AN ISSUE THAT OUR OWN RESIDENTS HAVE IDENTIFIED AS THEIR NUMBER ONE PERCEPTION ISSUE.

THANK YOU. MR. BAZALDUA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. SARAH THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.

AND THANK YOU ALSO FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. I THINK THAT WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT SUCCESSES THAT OFTEN GET OVERSHADOWED FOR THE INEVITABLE WORK THAT CONTINUES AHEAD OF US.

I APPRECIATE YOU REACHING OUT AND GIVING SOME DETAIL ON HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT YOU, BUT I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT PROCESS, AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON THEME HERE TODAY.

AND CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT THIS WOULD BE TAKEN FROM YOU? OR WAS BEING PROPOSED TO BE TAKEN FROM YOU? AND YOU ALSO, CAN YOU ALSO TELL ME WHEN AND WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO ABSORB

[07:05:09]

THIS? IF IT WERE TO GO IN, WHAT WOULD WHAT WOULD THIS HOW WOULD THIS IMPACT YOUR BUDGET? I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS WE'RE IN A CONTRACT WITH HUD FOR THIS GRANT.

AND SO WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, BUT WE'RE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF A GRANT TERM WITH A COMMITTED MATCH OBLIGATION.

AND SO WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE UPCOMING GRANT, JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD QUICKLY IDENTIFY WHAT WOULD BE A SOURCE THAT COULD REPLACE THAT MATCH. BUT WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW, IF THE CITY OF DALLAS WANTED TO CONTINUE GETTING CITY OF DALLAS SPECIFIC REPORTING, WHICH IS MONTHLY REPORTING, WHICH IS QUARTERLY REPORTING, WHICH IS INCLEMENT WEATHER.

SHELTER REPORTING. DATA INTAKE, DATA ENTRY, DATA TRACKING.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF REPORTS THAT ARE VERY SPECIFIC TO CITY OF DALLAS USERS THAT COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF DALLAS SORT OF REQUIRE FROM US MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, AND THEN AD HOC OR ON DEMAND BASIS, THINGS LIKE INCLEMENT WEATHER.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WHAT TYPES OF REPORTING WE COULD CONTINUE AND HOW WE'D BE ABLE TO COVER THE COST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCURATE AND COMPLETE DATA FOR THE DECISION MAKING THAT WE'RE DOING ON ENDING HOMELESSNESS.

SO THE MAYOR SENT A MEMO OUT LAST WEEK AND CHARGED THE COUNCIL WITH FINDING WASTEFUL SPENDING.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED TO CUT FROM YOUR BUDGET? FROM FROM OUR SIDE WASTEFUL SPENDING? OR WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS EFFECTIVE IN YOUR WORK? I WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER IT SOMETHING EFFECTIVE. I MEAN, THIS DATA HELPS US VERY STRATEGICALLY ALLOCATE RESOURCES VERY EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, WHICH ULTIMATELY ALSO IMPACTS TAXPAYERS. SO I THINK THE OTHER REASON THAT THIS, YOU KNOW, HUD REQUIREMENT IS IN PLACE IS TO MAXIMIZE THE DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS ISSUE AND TO STRETCH THOSE DOLLARS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I SEE THIS AS A VERY SMART INVESTMENT.

I WOULD AGREE, AND I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AMENDMENT.

I THINK THAT IT IS NOT ONLY SOMETHING THAT I WOULDN'T SUPPORT EVEN IF WE HAD A LONGER LEAD TIME, QUITE FRANKLY. BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT TO BE EFFECTIVE.

I THINK THAT THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. AGAIN, IT'S A THEME FOR TODAY.

IT SEEMS THAT THESE ARE JUST ON A WHIM, AND I HATE TO HEAR FROM PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR CITY'S MOST CRITICAL NEEDS, TO BE SURPRISED WITH A 24 HOUR NOTICE BEFORE HAVING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND CHANGES.

THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TRULY EMBRACE PARTNERSHIP WITH, AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN A PARTNER THROUGH SEVERAL YEARS NOW, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PROPOSED TO BE PHASED OUT, THAT IT WAS DONE SO AS A POLICY DECISION TAKEN UP THROUGH COMMITTEE AND BEING VETTED, BUT ALSO HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT TRANSITION WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD MITIGATE THE IMPACT ON THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND CONTINUE DOING THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE MEANTIME. SO I'M DEFINITELY NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. I THINK THAT THIS IS AGAIN, AN EXAMPLE OF NOT ONLY THINGS THAT WERE DONE VERY FAST AND WITHOUT THOUGHT AND VETTING, BUT IT WAS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE THAT WAS IN AN INCONSIDERATE MANNER TO OUR PARTNERS. AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD BE DOING BUSINESS.

SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE MISS SYSTEM THROUGH THE CONTINUUM OF CARE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I'M UNFAMILIAR WITH.

HAVEN'T USED IT IN A NUMBER OF YEARS AT THIS POINT.

WHAT OTHER OPTIONS WOULD YOU HAVE FOR FUNDING IF THE CITY SAID WE ABSOLUTELY WILL FUND $0 OF THIS? WHAT ARE OTHER SOURCES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE THE LOCAL MATCH? WELL, I MEAN, WE HAVE NO FUNDING TODAY IDENTIFIED.

NO, NO, I'M JUST SAYING IN GENERAL, YOU COULD ASK DONORS FOR MONEY.

CORRECT? CORRECT. YOU COULD USE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM HOUSING FORWARD BANK ACCOUNT TO BE THE LOCAL MATCH.

CORRECT? YOU COULD ASK OTHER CITIES TO CHIP IN A PROPORTIONAL AMOUNT.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS THE REASON WHY THE CITY OF DALLAS IS CHIPPING IN GOES WAY BEYOND JUST THE FACT THAT THERE'S A MATCH.

IT'S VERY SPECIFIC REPORTING THAT WE'VE HAD TO BUILD OUT CAPACITY, TEAM CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO FULFILL ITS REPORTING ON BED UTILIZATION,

[07:10:04]

ITS REPORTING ON SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE METRICS, ITS CUSTOMIZED REPORTING ON SERVICE PROVIDERS WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

SO IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE CANNED REPORTING THAT WE DO FOR HUD.

SO IT REQUIRES VERY SPECIFIC STAFF THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, AND THE SYSTEMS TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE THOSE REPORTS.

SO I THINK IT'S SO ONCE THEY'RE PROGRAMED IN YOU PRESS A BUTTON AND IT RUNS.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THE REASON WHY I THINK THE CITY OF DALLAS PROVIDES THIS MATCH IS, NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE THE MOST HOMELESS BECAUSE WE ARE ACTUALLY SHOULDERING THAT BURDEN FOR THE ENTIRE REGION.

EVERYBODY TAKES THEM, BRINGS THEM TO DALLAS. AND SO HERE WE ARE ALREADY EXPENDING THE MOST DOLLARS IN HOMELESSNESS.

AND THEN WE ARE ALSO BEING ASKED TO TO SHOULDER THIS EXPENSE NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO IS WE'RE KIND OF AN EASY MARK. EVERY SINGLE THING THAT YOU ALL HAVE ASKED US FOR, WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE AND THEN SOME. AND SO THIS IS JUST AN ONGOING BANK OF DALLAS ISSUE.

WE HAVE VERY REAL INVESTMENTS IN HOMELESSNESS, AS WE SHOULD.

AND FRANKLY, WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE, BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE FUNDING THIS.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING, FRANKLY, YOU SHOULD BE FUNDRAISING FOR.

IN MY OPINION, THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LEAD AGENCY.

IN MY OPINION, IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY OF DALLAS ALONE.

THERE ARE MANY, MANY CITIES. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? MAYBE THIS IS HOW SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES CAN CONTRIBUTE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE RETHOUGHT.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE SHOULDERING, IN MY OPINION.

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

THANK YOU MAYOR. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.

AND I DO AGREE THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE SINGLED OUT HOMELESSNESS AS ONE OF THEIR TOP PRIORITIES.

HOWEVER, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN AS SUCCESSFUL AS WE ALL WISH IT COULD BE.

THERE'S BEEN GREAT STRIDES IN. A LOT OF GREAT WORK HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

BUT AS MENTIONED, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES THAT ARE PART OF DALLAS AND ELLIS COUNTY, AND WE'RE NOT SEEING THOSE ORGANIZATIONS OR CITIES STEPPING UP.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER AREA THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR PARTNERS COME TO THE TABLE.

AND SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT BY CHAIR MENDELSOHN MR. ROTH, RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT THE BUDGET THAT THIS THAT YOU ALL HAVE IS SUFFICIENT IS TREMENDOUS.

IT'S $22 MILLION BUDGET. I KNOW IT INCLUDES A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONSOLIDATIONS, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S GOT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THAT BUDGET TO REALLOCATE RESOURCES TO THE EXTENT THAT THESE AMOUNTS NEED TO BE FUNDED IN OTHER SOURCES.

I THINK YOU'VE GOT I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE NOT TO DENY OR TO LIMIT YOUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO, BUT I THINK IT AGAIN, IT IMPOSES UPON OUR DEPARTMENTS A NEED TO CONSERVE, TO BE CONCERTEDLY POSITIONED, TO TRY TO REALLOCATE OUR RESOURCES.

AND THERE'S PLENTY OF OF RESOURCES WITHIN THESE BUDGETS THAT I THINK COULD BE REALLOCATED.

AND I FOR THAT REASON, I WOULD ENCOURAGE AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS IS AN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COULD BE DELETED FROM THE BUDGET AND WITHOUT REDUCING OR LIMITING THE THE SERVICES THAT YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE.

I THINK WE'RE BACK TO A CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN FOR ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. I PURPOSELY WANTED TO SEPARATE OUT THESE COMMENTS FROM MY PRIOR COMMENTS, WHICH IS TO SAY, A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING OUR DISCUSSIONS, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT LIKE, WOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS SO LAST MINUTE, BUT LET'S JUST REALIZE THIS IS ONLY OUR SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

THE OTHER ONE WAS JUST TWO WEEKS AGO. SO THE TIMING OF OUR BUDGET IS PROBLEMATIC.

WE GET OUR BUDGET WAY TOO LATE. MANY OTHER CITIES HAVE ALREADY SET THEIR TAX RATE BY THE TIME WE EVEN GET OUR FIRST DRAFT BUDGET.

NOW I KNOW I'M GOING TO GET QUOTED THE CHARTER ON WHEN IT'S REQUIRED FOR THE MANAGER TO GIVE US THE BUDGET, BUT WE SHOULD ASK AS A MAJORITY, THAT THAT BUDGET BE GIVEN TO US BEFORE WE GO ON SUMMER BREAK, ALONG WITH MOST OTHER CITIES WHO GET IT THAT SOONER.

THERE MAY BE SOME CHEWING UP OF THE TAX RATE OF THE TAX PROPERTY VALUATION.

THAT'S TRUE. BUT IF WE HAD THIS SOONER, WE WOULD HAVE A MUCH MORE THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION AND PROBABLY BETTER AMENDMENTS.

[07:15:05]

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. YEAH, BUT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS IS MORE OF A PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSION.

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT THIS LINE ITEM. THIS IS SAYING THAT WE'VE GOT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.

WE'VE GOT THIS AGENCY THAT WE'RE SAYING WE DON'T NEED TO PAY FOR THIS PHILOSOPHICALLY.

WE WANT THEM TO PAY FOR IT AND FUNDRAISE AND ALL THAT.

AND I MEAN HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED THIS PAST SPRING. THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THE DATE OF THE BUDGET THAT THIS IS ABOUT. I MEAN, WE HAD AMPLE TIME TO SORT THIS OUT, AND I HOPE THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THIS NEXT YEAR, WE WILL DO JUST THAT.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 31? SEEING NONE. IF YOU WILL INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD.

SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR COUNCIL MEMBERS ROTH. MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO MAYOR JOHNSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN. WITH ONLY FOR SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR.

THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE WILLING TO PUT FORWARD AMENDMENT 3333? DO IT. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. MOVED TO USE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS.

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE 311.

REDUCE INCREASED FUNDING TO SUPPORT OUTSOURCED MARKETING SERVICES BASED ON MARKET RATE ESTIMATES FROM 750,000 TO 250,000.

USE OF FUNDS. PROPERTY TAX RATE REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BY 0.02 $0.03 PER $100 VALUATION.

IS THERE A SECOND? MR. RIDLEY? IS THERE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES, IF YOU'D LIKE IT, MR. WEST. THANK YOU. MAYOR. SO I'LL JUST SAY GENERALLY MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WITH NOT COUNTING PRESENT COMPANY, BECAUSE I'VE HAD REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH AHMED AND WITH DAISY, BUT PRIOR TO THAT, IT HAS BEEN IT HASN'T BEEN GOOD.

AND EVERY YEAR WE'VE FUNDED THEM. MY, IT'S IT'S TO THE EXTENT THAT MY OFFICE DOES OUR OWN PRESS RELEASES NOW.

SO I, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A REVAMP OF THE COMMS DEPARTMENT AND HAVE A, A PLACE WE CAN GO AND ACTUALLY GET A PRESS RELEASE AND UNDER LIKE 48 HOURS, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU CAN GET SOMETHING MORE QUICKLY.

AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. BUT THE THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS THAT I JUST HAVE A PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUE WITH CITIES PAYING FOR ITS OWN PR THROUGH AN OUTSOURCED AGENCY.

AND THAT'S JUST THAT'S JUST MY ISSUE. I THINK IT'S MUNICIPALITIES.

I THINK WE SHOULD JUST BE OUR OWN COMMUNICATORS WITH THE PRESS, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE USING PRIVATE PR AGENCIES TO SPIN FACTS AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS. I UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF THIS BUDGET IS USED FOR POTENTIALLY FOR RECRUITMENT PURPOSES.

SO I FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T CUT ALL OF IT.

BUT FOR ME, THIS IS KIND OF A PHILOSOPHICAL CUT.

AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND A LOT OF FOLKS WHO'VE TALKED TO ME DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT. I DO THINK, MR. RIDLEY, FOR JOINING ON TO THIS AMENDMENT, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT.

THANK YOU. MISS CADENA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WE'RE ON AMENDMENT 33, EVERYONE. YES, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

SO I HAVE ACTUALLY A PUBLIC RELATIONS BACKGROUND.

AND SO I WANTED TO KNOW, HAVE WE ALREADY OPTIMIZED, OPTIMIZED SERVICE DELIVERY FOR THE DEPARTMENT? I SEE THE STAFF COMING OUT, BUT I WILL JUMP IN.

AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBER WEST.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS BUDGET IS DOING. WE HAVE REIMAGINED THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS ALONG WITH 311.

AND ACTUALLY WE STARTED LAST YEAR WHEN WE MADE THE DECISION TO TAKE THE THE STANDALONE COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING OUTREACH DEPARTMENT, AND WE HAD THE STANDALONE 311 DEPARTMENT IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.

WE TOOK THE TWO AND WE PUT THEM TOGETHER BECAUSE WE WANTED TO CREATE A ONE FRONT DOOR TO THE CITY.

WHEN IT CAME TO OUR OUTREACH AND OUR OVERALL COMMUNICATIONS.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED THIS YEAR IS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO EVEN FURTHER.

WE CONTINUOUSLY HEAR FROM COUNSEL ABOUT WAYS TO NOT ONLY ELEVATE US INFORMATION ABOUT CITY SERVICES, ELEVATE OPPORTUNITIES TO TELL OUR STORY, BUT ALSO CREATE CITYWIDE CAMPAIGNS THAT TRULY, TRULY LIFT UP SERVICES.

BECAUSE WE HEAR ALL THE TIME WHEN WE'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WHEN PEOPLE TELL US ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES. WE HAVE WE'RE IN YEAR TWO AND A HALF ON VISION ZERO, AND EVERY TOWN HALL MEETING THAT I WENT TO, WHAT WE CONTINUED TO HEAR FROM OUR RESIDENTS IS WE WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW WE CAN BETTER TELL THE STORY,

[07:20:04]

BUT WE NEED INFORMATION FROM YOU. SO WHAT I CAN TELL YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER WEST, JUST BACK TO YOUR COMMENTS.

OUR TRADITIONAL WAY OF WAITING FOR A PRESS RELEASE, AND THAT'S ALL WE SEND OUT, IS NOT REACHING OUR ENTIRE CITY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT PAY ATTENTION TO PRESS RELEASES ARE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT.

AND SO WE REALIZE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOW LEVERAGE OTHER TYPES OF CHANNELS, WHETHER THAT'S WAYS THAT WE CAN BETTER PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

WE HAVE TRIED TO TURN A COMMUNICATIONS TEAM THAT ARE THAT HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY PIO STAFF MEMBERS, AND WE'VE TRIED TO TURN THEM INTO OUTREACH MARKETING.

WE WANT THEM TO BE PR EXPERTS, AND THAT'S NOT THE SKILL SET THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE DEPARTMENT.

SO THIS IS THE WAY WE WANT TO REIMAGINE THE DEPARTMENT AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER, AND I'M SO THANKFUL TO HAVE DAISY FOSS, WHO'S NOW LEADING THAT NEW CONSOLIDATED DEPARTMENT, WHERE YEAR IN, AND OUR NEW CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE CITY MANAGER, MARK GEARY, PROVIDES EXECUTIVE OVERSIGHT.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO BOTH OF THEM. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER.

ABSOLUTELY. THE FY 26 PROPOSED BUDGET AS PRESENTED BY THE CITY MANAGER INVEST IN THIRD PARTY EXPERTISE.

AND SO THE INTENT OF OUTSOURCING THE SOURCING THE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS IS SO THAT WE CAN REACH TARGETED OUR TARGET, A TARGETED AUDIENCE, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE CITY, JUST DEPENDING ON WHAT THE CAMPAIGN IS.

AND SO KEY CAMPAIGNS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR FY 26 INCLUDE VISION ZERO, OUR RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN TO CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY THAT WATER CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN. SO WE HAVE VERY AND ALSO A SHOP DALLAS CAMPAIGN TO TRY AND INCREASE OUR SALES TAX REVENUE.

AND SO WE HAVE SOME KEY INITIATIVES THAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

AND LIKE THE CITY MANAGER SAID, THAT IS IS A SKILL SET THAT WE DON'T HAVE IN-HOUSE.

AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE OUR BUSINESS MODEL RIGHT NOW AND INVEST IN THIRD PARTY EXPERTISE IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE STRATEGICALLY.

SO IT'S PRETTY COMMON FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENTS TO OUTSOURCE YOU KNOW, THESE SERVICES.

WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT ON SERVICES FOR CITY WIDE MARKETING OUTREACH? IF THIS FUNDING IS REMOVED? LESS CAMPAIGNS WILL LEAD TO LESS AWARENESS.

AND SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE TRIED TO DO THIS IN-HOUSE I'VE REIMAGINED, REIMAGINED, REIMAGINED AND REPURPOSED 14 POSITIONS IN ORDER TO DO THIS. AND SO I'M, I HAVE VERY LIMITED BANDWIDTH IN HOUSE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN. JUST TO ADD WE SENT A MEMO A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT OUTLINED SOME OF OUR CITYWIDE CAMPAIGNS THAT WE'RE DOING SPECIFICALLY THAT DAISY MENTIONED VISION ZERO WHICH IS GEARED TOWARDS GETTING INFORMATION OUT TO REDUCE OUR TRAFFIC FATALITIES. SO THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN.

SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ASKED FOR COLLATERAL FOR THAT. SO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THAT CAMPAIGN AS WELL AS OTHERS.

WE'RE LOOKING TO DO A MAJOR CAMPAIGN THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE OUR TAX RATE REVENUE, WHICH IS OUR SHOP DALLAS CAMPAIGN.

AND THIS WILL BE IMPACTED IF THIS THESE FUNDS ARE TAKEN AWAY.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE Y'ALL ARE REALLY USING THESE RESOURCES TO EDUCATE OUR CONSTITUENTS ON CITY SERVICES AND HOW TO ACCESS THEM, CORRECT. AT A LARGE SCALE AND REPRESENTING WHAT DALLAS IS IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I CO-SPONSORED THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE IN MY EXPERIENCE, COMMUNICATIONS HAS BEEN OF LITTLE USE TO MY OFFICE AND WHERE I HAVE REQUESTED THEIR SERVICES SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

THEIR RESPONSE WAS TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. IT JUST STRIKES ME THAT WE GET LIMITED RETURN ON AN ALLOCATION OF OF $750,000 IN THE BUDGET. SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED A COUPLE OF MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, VISION ZERO THINGS THAT WE COULD BE COMMUNICATING THROUGH OUR WATER BILL INSERTS AND OTHER INEXPENSIVE MEANS OF COMMUNICATING OUR MARKETING INFORMATION.

BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT WE'RE UTILIZING THIS FUNDING IN HIRING AN OUTSIDE VENDOR AND PAYING THEIR OVERHEAD IN RECOGNITION THAT WE APPARENTLY DON'T HAVE THE TALENT IN-HOUSE TO DO THIS FUNCTION. AND I JUST RESIST THE IDEA OF PAYING A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS AND THEIR OVERHEAD

[07:25:07]

TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS A VERY LIMITED VALUE IN RELATION TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY ALLOCATED.

CERTAINLY SOME OF THAT IS NEEDED, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS 750,000.

AND I THINK THIS IS A REASONABLE REDUCTION IN THAT AMOUNT.

MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

YOU MENTIONED YOU SENT OUT A MEMO ABOUT 4 OR 5 CAMPAIGNS.

ONE OF THOSE CAMPAIGNS IS THE SANITATION CURB.

ALI CURB PROMOTION, ISN'T IT? THAT THAT CAMPAIGN WAS INCLUDED IN THE MEMO IN ORDER TO PROVIDE CITY COUNCIL AN UPDATE? THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT IS THE LEAD. I'VE ATTENDED AND AM COLLABORATING WITH SANITATION AND THE VENDOR THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH.

HOWEVER, THAT FUNDING IS COMING FROM THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT.

DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW MUCH THAT IS? I DON'T KNOW, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

I'M SORRY. WHAT? I'M. WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS IS TO.

IS THAT I'M NOT CLEAR AS TO HOW THESE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS FOR THE CITY ARE REALLY BEING GIVEN IF THEY'RE POLICY ISSUES ON CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS THAT WE HAVE DISSENSION AMONG OURSELVES AND AMONG THE, THE COMMUNITY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE SHOULD BE SPENDING CITY DOLLARS IN MARKETING A POLICY THAT IS NOT CLEARLY DEFINED BY THIS BODY OR BY OTHER PEOPLE. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF, OF A, AN ALLOCATION OF FUNDS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY MISAPPROPRIATED BUT MAY BE APPROPRIATED IN WITHOUT A BETTER PLAN AND A BETTER, BETTER THOUGHTFULNESS.

AND AND AND IT'S NOT A GOOD USE OF OUR MONEY, OUR CITIZENS MONEY TO BE PROMOTING POLICIES THAT WE NOT WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENCES ON. SO I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT AND I'D STRONGLY BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT.

AND I THINK THIS AMOUNT SHOULD BE REDUCED. CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. SO SORRY, I'M GETTING A LITTLE TIRED OVER HERE.

MY BRAIN'S MOVING SLOWLY. I THINK MY MY QUESTION IS THIS.

AND IT'S EITHER FOR FOR DAISY OR FOR THE CITY MANAGER.

IS IT COMMON FOR. I THINK IT IS COMMON FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO HIRE FIRMS TO DO THEIR MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, I BELIEVE, I THINK, I THINK IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION TO TRY TO BRING THAT IN-HOUSE.

WOULD YOU SAY IT IS? AND WHAT HAPPENED YEARS AGO WHEN THIS BECAME A VERY CRITICAL CONVERSATION AROUND THIS HORSESHOE? I WON'T I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD FORCED. BUT WE TRIED TO BRING IT INTO A KIND OF A, AN IN-HOUSE ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO PAY A LOT MORE TO BE ABLE TO RETAIN THOSE LEVEL OF INDIVIDUALS, THE SKILL SET THAT WOULD BE NEEDED. AND SO WE'VE KIND OF MAKE SHIFT OUR WAY THROUGH IT.

WE TRIED TO TAKE POSITIONS THAT WE HAD THAT WERE PUBLIC INFORMATION PEOPLE, AND WE TRIED TO MAKE THEM BECOME MARKETING PEOPLE.

AND SO IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE AND WE'VE BEEN LIMPING ALONG.

AND I ALSO WANT TO REMIND COUNCIL THAT IN 2223 AND 2324, THE FUNDING IN THIS DEPARTMENT WAS CUT BY CLOSE TO 20%. SO WE HAVE BEEN LIMPING ALONG, AND YOUR EXPERIENCES ARE EXACTLY WHAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE EXPERIENCED.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO SAY THAT THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

AND WE'RE BRINGING YOU SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL BE BETTER. YOU WILL BE.

YOU'LL SEE THE RETURN. WE'LL HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENT OUT THERE THAT IS ACTUALLY DONE AT A LEVEL THAT I THINK OUR CITY DESERVES, A CITY OF OUR SIZE. AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE IT'S BACK TO US CATCHING UP.

AND WE'VE WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND TRYING TO DO HAS NOT WORKED, WHICH IS WHY DAISY HAS GONE THROUGH THIS LAST YEAR OF SAYING, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE STILL NOT WORKING. AND IN THIS BUDGET, WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED A WHOLE 311 MODERNIZATION PROJECT WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING READY TO REDO EVEN HOW WE COMMUNICATE THROUGH THE APP.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, BUT WE HAVE NOT DONE IT.

AND NOW WE'RE SAYING THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT, TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS OUR TWO, THREE YEARS AGO.

WE'RE TRYING NOT TO GO BACK TO THAT, BUT WE CANNOT DELIVER WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US FOR IF WE CONTINUE WITH THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

[07:30:01]

BUT THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. OKAY. AND ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION.

I'M ASSUMING WE HAVE A WAY TO EVALUATE HOW THIS GOES.

LIKE THE GOAL IS TO GET A MESSAGE, A BODY OF INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

AND SO WILL WE HAVE WAYS OF MEASURING OUR SUCCESS IN THAT AREA.

ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S A GREAT THING ABOUT BEING ABLE TO OUTSOURCE THIS FUNCTION, IS BECAUSE THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THESE MARKETING AGENCIES, THESE EXPERTS, THEY HAVE THOSE BENCHMARKING TOOLS AND THE DATA AND THE SOFTWARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THOSE KPIS AND THOSE METRICS TO US, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN-HOUSE. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TEM O DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. SO OUT THAT WINDOW IS AT GLOBAL INTERGALACTIC HEADQUARTERS, AND THEY ARE A $213 BILLION COMPANY.

AND WE ARE BIGGER. OUR PROPERTY VALUE IS $230 BILLION.

I CAN'T IMAGINE NOT HAVING SOME SORT OF MARKETING FUNCTION IN THE CITY OF DALLAS WHERE JUST TOO BIG AND WHEN.

IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING. I THINK WHEN WE SEE OUR RESIDENT SATISFACTION SURVEY AND WE SEE SOME LOW NUMBERS ON SOME THINGS AND WE JUST THINK, I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT EVERY YEAR, WELL, WE'RE DOING THAT.

THE CITY IS DOING THAT. WE HAVE PROGRAMS AROUND VISION ZERO, WE HAVE PROGRAMS AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

SO IT DOESN'T SHOW UP. SO IT'S NOT FOR EVERYTHING.

BUT THERE ARE DEFINITELY SOME THINGS THAT SHOW UP WHERE THERE'S A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE MONEY INVESTED IN THE PERSONNEL AND THE PROGRAMING AND ALL OF THAT, AND THERE'S JUST NOT THE AWARENESS, SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING IT, AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

I THINK WE WILL SEE THAT SHOW UP. I MEAN, THAT WILL BE ONE PLACE THAT WE WOULD SEE IT SHOW UP.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IT'S GREAT THAT THE CITY MANAGER RECOGNIZED THAT BY HAVING THIS IN HOUSE AND YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, YOU WERE TRYING TO TAKE SOME PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW, SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE.

SO IN THIS INSTANCE, BEING ABLE TO GO AND SAY, WE DON'T DO THIS VERY WELL AND OFFICES, WE CAN ALL DO OUR OWN PR AND OUR OWN RELEASES, IT'S FASTER THAT WAY. WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO SAY, BUT FOR SOME BIGGER PROJECTS, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING HERE.

AND $250,000 IS LAUGHABLE. I MEAN, EVEN $750,000 FOR THIS MARKETING BUDGET IS JUST SO BARE BONES.

SO I THINK WE NEED THIS PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION.

AND YOU KNOW, I REALLY I DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO GET INTO A BUREAUCRATIC MINDSET.

I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT OURSELVES AS THIS CORPORATION THAT SERVES THE PUBLIC, AND WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES TO HELP EDUCATE FOLKS ON THEIR TAX DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SPENDING, THAT THEY MAY NOT KNOW, THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN SOMETHING THAT WOULD MEAN A LOT TO THEM AND REALLY HELP THEM IN THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

SO I FEEL LIKE WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT TAKE FUNDS AWAY FROM THIS.

IT'S ALREADY SO LEAN. SO I WOULD ASK, I'M NOT SUPPORTING IT AND I WOULD ASK COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE INVEST IN THIS BECAUSE IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR PUBLIC.

THANKS. I'M GOING TO YOU, MR. BAZALDUA, BEFORE I FORGET, I SEE YOU THERE.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. DAISY. WHAT? CAN YOU CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THIS WOULD HELP US WITH HARD TO REACH COMMUNITIES? WHAT WHAT UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS WOULD YOU THINK? A CONTRACT LIKE THIS WOULD HELP IN GETTING MARKETING MESSAGING TO COMMUNITIES WHO DON'T NECESSARILY GET THE TRADITIONAL FORMS OF COMMUNICATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. I BELIEVE THAT BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE THESE EXPERTS WILL ASSIST US IN MAKING MORE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS. THE EXPECTATION WOULD BE THAT THEY PROVIDE US WITH THE STRATEGIC WAY TO REACH CERTAIN COMMUNITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY. WHETHER THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BOOTS ON THE GROUND OUTREACH, SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, RADIO ADS, WE WILL RELY VERY HEAVILY ON THE THIRD PARTY AND THE STRATEGIES THAT THEY DEVELOP.

SO I WANT TO I KNOW THAT MISTER WEST PUT THIS AMENDMENT OUT, AND I KNOW THAT ONE OF HIS FRUSTRATIONS IS THE, I GUESS BURDEN THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ASSUMED BY HIS STAFF.

I'VE ALWAYS MY STAFF HAS ALWAYS DONE OUR OWN PRESS RELEASES, SO I DON'T NECESSARILY CONSIDER THAT A BURDEN.

BUT THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THIS IS WOULD WOULD.

I I'M KIND OF CONFUSED ON DRAWING THE CORRELATION HERE.

WOULD THIS AT ALL HELP? OUR ABILITY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COMMUNICATE SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR OWN PR AND MESSAGING. OR IS THAT THAT'S NOT IN THE SAME REALM, IS IT?

[07:35:04]

SO THE INTENT OF THE OF THE THIRD PARTY THE WAY THAT WE DEVELOP THE, THE SCOPE OF WORK IS WE DID INCLUDE SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE FOR THE ABILITY FOR CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS OR PUBLIC RELATIONS IF THE NEED AROSE.

AND SO THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THE VENDORS IN THAT CAPACITY.

HOWEVER, THE INTENT SPECIFICALLY, IS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE BUDGET ALLOCATION AND FOCUS MORE ON COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGNS, AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, NOT NECESSARILY A PRESS RELEASE.

WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AND THEN A COUPLE OF PIOS THAT WILL REMAIN IN THE DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST IN THAT CAPACITY. THIS IS FOCUSED MORE ON AWARENESS, COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS.

IF I COULD JUMP IN, I WANT TO DO YES. IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN JUST TO JUST TO BACK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT DAISY MENTIONED.

THE GOAL WOULD BE THE MATERIALS THAT ARE LEVERAGED FROM THE EXPERTISE.

WHAT COULD ALSO BE SENT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO SEND THOSE THROUGH THE DIFFERENT CHANNELS THAT YOU ALSO COMMUNICATE, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WHAT WE'RE SENDING YOU IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER IN HOUSE.

AND OFTENTIMES BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE NEWSLETTERS, YOU ALSO HAVE OTHER AVENUES THAT YOU'RE DOING OUTREACH.

IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THAT INFORMATION IS TAILORED, AND IT'S ALSO BEING PRESENTED TO YOU TO ALSO HELP PUSH OUT.

AND SO IT'S REALLY TO CREATE YOU KNOW, IT'S BACK TO THE ONE VOICE.

IT'S BACK TO THE ONE, THE ONE LOOK, IT'S BACK TO MAKING SURE THAT THE NARRATIVE IS BEING TOLD AND IT'S CONSISTENT.

AND ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES, WHETHER IT'S YOUR, YOU KNOW, PRESS RELEASES AND OTHER THINGS THAT I KNOW MANY OF YOU DO YOURSELVES.

WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S WORK THAT WE CANNOT DO.

BUT FROM PRODUCTION AROUND CREATIVE CREATING CAMPAIGNS THAT TRULY SPEAK TO CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF OUR POPULATION, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR SPANISH SPEAKING POPULATION, WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB.

AND SO EVEN WHEN YOU ASKED US FOR INFORMATION, WE'RE GIVING YOU A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN THEN PUSH OUT.

SO THIS IS REALLY TO CREATE A MORE ROBUST STRATEGY THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR YOU TO ALSO BETTER COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE RESIDENTS WITHIN YOUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS.

BUT FOR US TO ALSO DO IT CITYWIDE USING USING MARKETING EXPERTISE.

THANK YOU. I WANTED TO DRAW THAT DISTINCTION AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENTIATION OF WHAT IT IS THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY MEANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

IN FACT, I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY TOUCHING ON SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY IS SOMETHING I HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS SOMETIMES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, WE GET A GROUP OF DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER, ETC.

AND JUST BY THE END OF THE MEETING, THERE WAS ENOUGH COMMUNICATED TO THEM THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA OF EFFORTS THAT WE ARE DOING, AND IT PROBABLY COULD HAVE PREVENTED HAVING TO HAVE THE MEETING, QUITE FRANKLY, BECAUSE THEY ALMOST LOOK AND SAY, WELL, I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW OFTEN DURING THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL I WHEN WHEN I'M HAVING ONE ON ONES WITH CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, AND THAT'S A SENTIMENT THAT I HEAR QUITE OFTEN.

I WASN'T AWARE THAT YOU ALL HAD THAT PROGRAM, WASN'T AWARE THAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE THAT PROGRESS.

I DIDN'T I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU HAD THAT MUCH INVESTED IN X, Y, OR Z.

AND I KNOW THAT NOT ONLY IS IT HAS IT BEEN SOMETHING THAT I HEAR A LOT IN THE DISTRICT, IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE, AS A COUNCIL HAS HAVE HAVE ASKED TO BE PRIORITIZED FOR YEARS.

I WANT TO JUST REMIND THE BODY THAT DURING THE ENTIRE FORMING OF OUR EDC.

WE SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED HOW WE DO HAVE A COMMS DEPARTMENT, AND THE COMMS DEPARTMENT IS IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT REALM THAN WHAT THIS IS MEANT TO ACCOMPLISH. WE NEED AN ACTUAL MARKETING ARM THAT TELLS THE STORY OF THE GOOD WORK THAT EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING.

EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE INVESTING DOLLARS IN, IT IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE FOR US TO THROW LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNTS TO CORE SERVICES AND, AND MANY TIMES INNOVATIVE SERVICES OR PROGRAMS THAT I WANT OUR CONSTITUENTS TO UTILIZE. I WANT THEM TO KNOW WHEN WE'RE DOING GREASE SWEEPS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THAT SOMETIMES THE WORD DOES NOT GET OUT IN THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD, AND WHERE IT COULD REALLY BE IMPACTFUL TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO I BELIEVE THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I THINK IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WORKS HAND IN HAND WITH SO MANY OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE INVESTING HIGH DOLLARS IN. AND IF WE REALLY WANT TO GET THE VALUE AND WHAT WE ARE INVESTING IN, OTHERWISE WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MARKETING AND GETTING THE EDUCATION OUT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. SO I THINK CUTTING THIS DOWN TO $250,000, AS MISS WILLIS MENTIONED, IS, IS IS LAUGHABLE.

[07:40:05]

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL IN A BIDDING PROCESS WITH THAT LOW OF AN AMOUNT.

AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ON THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AS A CITY.

SO I HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL JOIN IN IN NOT SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MISS BLACKMON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. SO WHEN YOU SAY MARKETING SERVICES, IS IT PRETTY MUCH SOUP TO NUTS? THEY'RE GOING TO DO STRATEGY, GIVE YOU DATA, CONTENT TELL YOU WHEN TO POST.

I MEAN IT'S LIKE A PLUG AND PLAY CORRECT TURNKEY SOLUTION IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR FOR SURE.

AND HOW MANY CAMPAIGNS ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO DO THIS FIRST YEAR? SO WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE ONES THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THE VISION ZERO, THE RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN, AND THERE'S A WATER CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN AND THEN SHAUN DALLAS.

OKAY. SO FOUR CAMPAIGNS. AND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PRESS RELEASES ARE DIFFERENT THAN A MARKETING CAMPAIGN, CORRECT. AND AND PRESS RELEASES, I MEAN, IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S THEY'RE, THEY'RE EASIER TO DO THAN A MARKETING CAMPAIGN.

BUT I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE WE IN EAST DALLAS SOME OF I MEAN, WE HAVE HIGH SPEEDING.

AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT VISION ZERO, WE SAW THAT IT CAME ACROSS AND WE WERE TALKING INTERNALLY IN MY OFFICE ABOUT DOING A SLOWDOWN EAST DALLAS CAMPAIGN OR WHATEVER.

BUT WHEN WE SAW THAT IT WAS COMING THAT Y'ALL WERE GOING TO TAKE IT OVER, THEN IT WAS LIKE, OKAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT YOU'RE SEEING SOMETHING THAT NEEDS A PROACTIVE APPROACH AND YOU'RE GETTING OUT IN FRONT OF IT.

AND SO THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE TO CREATE SEGMENTED CAMPAIGNS.

IT'S MORE OF A GLOBAL CITY CAMPAIGN THAT WE CAN ALL PUT LIKE LITTLE YARD SIGNS OR PUT OUT PSA OR POST IN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR WHATEVER. IS THAT WHAT Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO GO FOR IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO CREATE THE CONTENT THAT YOU DO ON THESE BIG GLOBAL ITEMS. ABSOLUTELY. AND TO ECHO WHAT CITY MANAGER TOLBERT SAID, WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF SHARING THOSE ASSETS.

AND SO AS THEY'RE DEVELOPED, WHETHER THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, A FLIER OR ANYTHING IN-HOUSE OR ANYTHING DEVELOPED BY THE THIRD PARTY, WE WILL WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DISSEMINATING THAT SO THAT YOU ALL CAN SHARE IT EITHER IN YOUR NEWSLETTER, YOUR WEBSITE, AND THEN WHATEVER ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS YOU PARTAKE IN NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

I WOULD SAY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YARD SIGNS ON STRATEGICALLY PLACED CORNERS WHERE PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING, LOOKING AT WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING, YOU KNOW, THEIR TICKETS, STUFF LIKE THAT I THINK WERE LIKE MORE VISUALS, NOT JUST ALWAYS, ESPECIALLY ON THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST ARE YOU SEEING IT ON YOUR PHONE OR GETTING IN YOUR WATER BILL OR READING ABOUT IN THE PAPER? SO I GUESS THAT'S I'M HOPING THAT WHEN YOU DO THESE CAMPAIGNS, IT'S NOT JUST THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER THAT YOU REALLY KIND OF WORK THROUGH DIFFERENT APPROACHES. ABSOLUTELY. AND THE GREAT THING IS THE CITY OF DALLAS IS GOING TO OWN ALL THE ASSETS, ALL THE RAW FILES. AND SO EVEN I'M GOING TO HAVE A VERY SMALL AND MIGHTY TEAM, BUT WE WILL HAVE A TEAM TO BE ABLE TO EDIT AND MAKE MODIFICATIONS, WHETHER IT'S LIKE, OH, I LOVE THIS GRAPHIC, BUT I WANT TO MAKE A POSTER BOARD OR I WANT A YARD SIGN, WE'LL BE ABLE TO. AND SO ARE YOU GOING TO PUT THEM LIKE IN A LIBRARY SO WE CAN PULL IT ALL DOWN AND HAVE ACCESS TO IT? OKAY. BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE BETTER, A BETTER COMMS APPROACH THAT'S MORE ROBUST AND RUNS THE WHOLE GAMUT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE RUN FRAGMENTED.

FRAGMENTED. COMMS PRESS RELEASES ARE NOT MARKETING.

IT'S NOT MARKETING. IT'S JUST IT'S A PART OF IT.

BUT IT'S NOT MARKETING. AND SO I'M INCLINED TO NOT SUPPORT THIS.

BUT I WILL SAY NEXT YEAR BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE IT NEXT YEAR FOR 500,000, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD BRING SOME GOOD DATA SHOWING WHERE YOU'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

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

THANK YOU. I'LL BE QUICK SINCE IT'S FIVE MINUTES TO TEN AND JUST SAY I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THIS CONTRACT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I APPRECIATE CHAIRMAN WEST BRINGING IT FORWARD, AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT.

THANK YOU. YOU CAN'T GET ALL IN A HURRY NOW THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN THROUGH ALL YOUR AMENDMENTS.

NOW YOU'RE. NOW YOU'RE READY TO GO HOME. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY NOT RIGHT.

MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. MAYOR I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY MANAGER FOR HEARING THE CALL.

THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS, AGAIN, WHERE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD EXPRESSED PERHAPS A WEAKNESS IN AN AREA.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS IS DOING A LOT OF AMAZING THINGS.

THE AWARENESS IS AN ISSUE, MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT.

I DO BELIEVE SOME OF THE IDEAS WILL OPTIMIZE AND MODERNIZE THE THE APPROACH THAT WE LOOK AT THINGS.

[07:45:01]

BUT I ALSO LOOK AT THE USE OF FUNDS AND, AND WANTED TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BROUGHT THESE AMENDMENTS FORWARD.

I DON'T BELIEVE THESE ARE LAST MINUTE AMENDMENTS. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE NOT THOUGHTFUL AMENDMENTS. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.

MISS KENNEDY, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES? YES.

WHEN I CAME TO CITY HALL ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, WE DID HAVE A COMMUNICATIONS PERSON THAT WAS ACTUALLY LOCATED IN THE MCC DEPARTMENT.

SHE DID OUR PRESS RELEASES, HELPED US WITH FLIERS.

AND THE COUNCIL MOVED TO CUT THAT POSITION. AND THEN WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP SHARING A PERSON IN THE COMMS WITH THE REST OF THE CITY OFFICES.

AND THEN I THINK THAT'S WHEN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE COUNCIL OFFICES ENDED UP HIRING PEOPLE WITH PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMS BACKGROUNDS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE FOUND A WAY AROUND SOME OF THAT, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT IS MARKETING AND IT'S REACHING THIS WOULD ACTUALLY HELP, I KNOW WOULD HELP MY, MY OFFICE DISSEMINATE SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO GET OUT.

WE HAVE TO TRANSLATE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE DOCUMENTS INTO SPANISH.

AND SO IF REACHING, YOU KNOW, OUR SPANISH SPEAKERS OR EVEN KOREAN LANGUAGE CONSTITUENTS THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE HELPFUL.

I KNOW, FOR, MY CONSTITUENTS IN GETTING OUT MESSAGING QUICKLY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THE TRANSLATION SERVICES STILL RESIDES IN CALM.

THAT FUNCTION IS STILL GOING TO EXIST. SO WE STILL HAVE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO TRANSLATE MATERIAL INTO SPANISH AND ANY OTHER LANGUAGE OUTSIDE OF SPANISH.

WE ENGAGE OUR VENDOR THROUGH OUR MASTER AGREEMENT, AND SO THAT SERVICE WILL REMAIN.

YEAH. WELL, SOME OF THE THIS MARKETING INCLUDE OTHER LANGUAGES AS WELL.

ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. THANK YOU. MISTER ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. JUST A QUESTION. I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED.

DO YOU ALL SUPERVISE ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS MARKETING AND ADVERTISING ACTIVITIES? IS. OR ARE YOU ALL INDEPENDENT? WHAT WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP TO TO TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE DOING MARKETING AND ADVERTISING? OR ARE YOU ALL INDEPENDENT? WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS STRENGTHENING THAT INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND HOW THAT WORKS.

BY DESIGNATING DESIGNATED LEAD COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS FOR EACH PILLAR SO THAT EACH RESPECTIVE EXECUTIVE AND THEIR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS CAN FUNNEL ANY KIND OF NEWS STORIES, MARKETING NEEDS AND EVERYTHING THROUGH COMMS. HOWEVER, LIKE THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHERE A NEED ARISES FOR SOME KIND OF COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN.

I HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND SO I AM INCLUDED AND I AM INVOLVED.

BUT SO WE COLLABORATE WHEN NECESSARY. BUT WE ARE THE LEAD FOR THE CITY.

WE ARE THE LEAD COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT. SO MY MY MY POINT THAT I'M MAKING IS THAT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY MARKETING VEHICLE IN OUR CITY. EVERY EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS A LINE ITEM FOR ADVERTISING AND MARKETING, AND IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. AND ALL OF THESE DEPARTMENTS, THIS IS JUST ONE PORTION OF IT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FUNDS THAT ARE BEING SPENT ON MARKETING, BUT IT'S NOT BEING COORDINATED.

AND I THINK THAT'S A FAILURE. AND I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT WE'RE WE'RE SILOED ON THIS STUFF ISN'T MAKING IT NOT EFFICIENT FOR US.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE TO CUT THIS, THIS OUT.

I THINK THAT THIS IS A MESSAGE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO MARKETING FOR THIS, FOR THIS CITY, IT NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED, IT NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED, IT NEEDS TO BE IN ONE PLACE AND IT NEEDS TO BE COORDINATED.

THIS IS REAL BIG MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND IT'S AND AND WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YARD SIGNS AND AND LITTLE.

NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG POSITIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS MARKETING OF OUR CITY, OF OUR OF OUR COMMUNITY, OF OUR OF OUR PUBLIC POLICIES.

AND WE'RE NOT DOING THAT RIGHT. AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS THIS IS THIS IS NOT THE CORRECT PLACE TO PUT THIS KIND OF MONEY.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE IT OUT. THE FACT, THE FACT THAT SOME OF US, A LOT OF US EXPRESSED IT ACTUALLY, THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT WE HAD THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THIS TYPE OF A SERVICE IS A DISTRESSING THING FOR

[07:50:08]

ME, THAT IF YOU HAVE A MARKETING DEPARTMENT AND A COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT THAT CAN'T EVEN TELL US WHAT WE HAVE, I THINK WE'RE WE'RE HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

SO I AND I WOULD I WOULD SAY THAT I WOULD SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, AND I WOULD USE THIS AS A AS A INDICATION THAT WE'VE GOT TO FOCUS OUR ENERGIES ON ON CREATING A UNIFIED MARKETING PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND IF THIS GROUP IS THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF US, THEN LET'S REARRANGE THAT BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.

BUT BUT I THINK THIS STARTS RIGHT HERE. WE TAKE OFF THIS 500,000.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST? AMENDMENT 33 SEEING NONE.

INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD.

SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH. MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCILMEMBER BLAIR.

MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO. MAYOR JOHNSON COUNCIL MEMBER WEST COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

I DO COUNT EIGHT IN FAVOR, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. THAT'S FOR THAT'S FOR THIS AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD OKAY.

YEAH. IS THERE ANYONE WILLING TO PUT FORWARD AMENDMENT 35, AMENDMENT 35? YES, MAYOR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, I MOVE TO ACCELERATE THE CLOSURE OF COMMUNITY POOLS BY CLOSING FOUR POOLS IN FISCAL YEAR 26, AS COMPARED TO ONLY TWO CLOSURES IN THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

THIS WILL ACHIEVE A SAVINGS OF 200,000 IN THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AS A USE.

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

ANY DISCUSSION, CHAIRMAN RIDLEY? YES, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY CONFIRMED THEIR PLAN TO CLOSE ALL NINE COMMUNITY POOLS, BUT OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, THIS WOULD SIMPLY ACCELERATE THAT INEVITABLE PROCESS TO CLOSE FOUR INSTEAD OF TWO IN THE FIRST YEAR, AND THEN FIVE IN THE NEXT YEAR TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN TWO YEARS INSTEAD OF THE PROPOSED THREE YEARS.

SO IT ENDS UP IN THE SAME PLACE, BUT BY CLOSING SEVERAL OF THE POOLS EARLIER, WE WOULD SAVE $200,000, WHICH WE CAN REBATE TO OUR TAXPAYERS. CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR I'M SORRY, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN.

FIRST, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. MISS JOHN JENKINS HERE.

JOHN, I WANT TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE AT A CONFERENCE AND YOU REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE LAST MINUTE BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT HAPPEN.

THAT'S THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. THERE IS A DISCUSSION TWO WEEKS AGO AND YOU WERE NOT HERE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAID WAS THAT YOU STOOD BEFORE US LAST YEAR AND YOU ASKED US TO CLOSE NINE POOLS AND IT WAS REFUTED.

CAN YOU REMIND US? DID YOU DO THAT? YES, I DID COME BEFORE THIS BODY LAST YEAR, AND I RECOMMENDED CLOSING ALL NINE OTHER COMMUNITY POOLS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LIVED THEIR SERVICE LIFE.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OF THESE POOLS THAT WAS SLATED TO STAY OPEN UNDER THIS AMENDMENT BREAK SOMETHING BREAKS THERE.

THEN WHAT HAPPENS? YEAH. SO WE WOULD IT DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF FAILURE.

SO BECAUSE WE'RE OUT OF PARTS, BECAUSE WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH SALVAGED OR BANDAID OR TAPED WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, TO KEEP THESE, THESE NINE POOLS PLUGGING ALONG.

IF THEY CLOSE, I MEAN, THEY WERE CLOSED JUST LIKE LAST YEAR.

I HAD THREE POOLS THAT WERE OUT OF SERVICE FOR PRETTY MUCH FOR, FOR, FOR ALMOST LIKE SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THESE LEAKS WERE COMING FROM.

WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD THAT IF THEY SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE IN HALF, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE AND HALF ARE GOING TO STAY OPEN? WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE ONES THAT ARE OPEN, SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN AND THEY WON'T BE OPEN? YEAH. SO WE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE PARK BOARD THAT WE DO FEEL LIKE THAT SOME OF THESE POOLS WILL WHAT WE CALL SELF-SELECT.

THEY'RE GOING TO CLOSE ON THEIR OWN. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THAT? THE MONEY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. THEN WE'LL GO BACK.

FOR ME, I MEAN, I DO OVERRUN MY BUDGET ON THE POOLS BECAUSE OF ALL THE REPAIRS.

[07:55:01]

SO WE WILL UTILIZE THAT MONEY TO GO BACK TO SOME OF THE OTHER POOLS IF THEY REMAIN OPEN.

AND I BELIEVE RYAN ACTUALLY SAID THIS TWO WEEKS AGO.

BUT WHAT'S THE USEFUL LIFE OF A POOL? YEAH. SO I DID HEAR THEM SAY THAT LAST USEFUL LIFE IS GOING TO BE ABOUT 30, ABOUT 30, 35 YEARS FOR A POOL. AND BUT WE'RE APPROACHING.

OUR YOUNGEST POOL IS 75 YEARS OLD. SO A COMMUNITY POOLS.

I WANT TO CLEAR THAT UP BECAUSE I'M GLAD THAT THE MEDIA CLEARED IT UP.

WE HAVE NINE NEW AQUATICS FACILITIES WITH LAZY RIVERS, WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES YOU WANT.

AND THEN WE HAVE THESE NINE COMMUNITY POOLS THAT THE YOUNGEST ONE IS 75 YEARS YOUNG.

SO IN THE 2015 AQUATICS MASTER PLAN WAS THE INTENTION TO REPLACE COMMUNITY POOLS WITH AQUATIC CENTERS.

THAT IS CORRECT. WE SPENT THERE WAS A LONG PROCESS ON APPROVING THAT AQUATICS MASTER PLAN.

A LOT OF THOUGHT WAS PUT INTO IT STRATEGICALLY AND THE DECISION WAS MADE.

WE WILL BETWEEN THE SALE OF LGB ROBINSON, WHICH I WANT TO SAY ABOUT 34, $35 MILLION, AND THEN THE NEXT TWO BOND PROGRAMS THE DECISION WAS MADE, WE WOULD INVEST.

WE HAVE INVESTED $75 MILLION INTO THESE NEW POOLS.

AND THE UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT WE WOULD DECOMMISSION AND CLOSE ALL THE THE COMMUNITY POOLS IN EXCHANGE FOR INVESTING $75 MILLION TO BRING OUR AQUATICS SYSTEM INTO MODERN TIMES.

AND DID WE PAY CASH? DID YOU DO IT OUT OF A GENERAL FUND DOLLAR FOR THE AQUATICS CENTER, OR DID WE TAKE ON DEBT? THE NEW ONES. YEAH. HALF OF WAS CASH BECAUSE WE WE SOLD THE LGB B ROBERTSON PROPERTY, AND THEN THE REMAINDER CAME FROM BOND PROGRAMS. AND DO WE STILL HAVE THOSE BONDS NOW? NO, WE WE HAVE ALREADY OPENED ALL OF THE NINE COMMUNITY POOLS.

THE NEW ONES. BUT WE'RE STILL PAYING ON THE BOND.

I'M DEFER TO OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. YES, WE I MEAN, I'M SORRY.

ASSISTANTS. NO. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THAT'S RIGHT.

WE ISSUE 20 YEAR DEBT, SO WE'RE STILL PAYING ON THE DEBT.

YEAH. SO WOULDN'T IT HAVE MADE SENSE THAT WHEN WE BUILT THE NEW AQUATICS CENTER THAT WE WOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY CLOSE THE NEARBY COMMUNITY POOL? THAT WAS THE PLAN. SO HOW DID THAT STEP NOT HAPPEN? IT JUST WAS, I THINK I CAN'T SPEAK, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR AN ELECTED BODY.

IT'S POLITICS. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR AN ELECTED BODY.

I WILL SAY THE PLAN WAS AGREED UPON THAT ONCE WE BUILT THE NEW NINE MODERN NEW AQUATICS FACILITIES. IN EXCHANGE, WE WOULD AGREE TO CLOSE THE OUTDATED COMMUNITY POOLS.

OKAY, WELL, I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S POLITICS, AND WE MUST HAVE THE POLITICAL COURAGE TO DO THE THING THAT WAS AGREED ON BY A COUNCIL THAT PREDATED US.

AND IT IS NOW TIME FOR US TO WRITE THAT FINANCIAL WRONG, WHICH IS ONE SHOULD HAVE CLOSED WHILE THE OTHER ONE WAS OPENING, AND WE JUST DIDN'T DO THE HARD PART OF CLOSING.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THEM ALL. ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE'RE DONE. THAT WAS NOT THE WILL OF THE BODY TWO WEEKS AGO.

I THINK WE'VE GOT TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE. I AGAIN. EXCUSE ME AGAIN.

WOULD PREFER TO JUST DO THE WHOLE THING, BUT I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THEIR AMENDMENT FOR THE HOPE THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY PASS. THANK YOU.

CHAIRMAN. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND ASK MR. JENKINS TO STAY UP HERE FOR A BIT, PLEASE. I JUST WANT TO FRAME THIS TO REMIND FOLKS WHAT THIS IS.

THIS IS A $200,000 SAVINGS. 0.009. AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT DOES IS IT CLOSES THAT LITTLE AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL PREVENT FOUR NEIGHBORHOODS FROM HAVING POOLS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS PLUS AN ADDITIONAL EARLY CLOSURE OF ANOTHER POOL. SO IT IS IT IS A MINIMAL SAVINGS FOR CUTTING OUT COMMUNITY POOLS EARLIER THAN WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED. SO THAT'S MY JUST MY THE OVERALL PICTURE THAT I SEE HERE AS PART MR. JENKINS, AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY POOL CLOSURE PLAN YOU DO HAVE.

[08:00:05]

IS THERE A PLAN FOR THESE AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE AQUATIC CENTERS NEARBY TO REPLACE THOSE COMMUNITY POOLS? YEAH, THE ONES THAT DO NOT KNOW. WE'RE WAITING ON THE FINAL.

WE'RE UPDATING THE AQUATICS MASTER PLAN, THE 20, THE 2015 AQUATICS MASTER PLAN, AND IT'S GOING TO TELL US WHAT WE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO WITH THE THE POOLS THAT CLOSED. SO WE'RE CLOSING THE COMMUNITY POOLS WITH NO PLAN FOR REPLACEMENT.

THAT WOULD BE CORRECT. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FUNDING THAT I HAVE RECEIVED FROM A COUPLE COUNCIL DISTRICTS.

ALL RIGHT. SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM. BONNIE VIEW POOL. WHAT WHAT POOL IS THAT CLOSE TO? YEAH. SO BONNIE VIEW POOL. THE CLOSEST ONE WOULD BE KIDD SPRINGS REC CENTER.

OKAY. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE BONNIE VIEW POOL IS.

KIDD SPRINGS REC CENTER IS IN MY DISTRICT. THAT'S CORRECT.

SO IT IT IT'S GOT TO BE PRETTY FAR FROM FROM KIDD SPRINGS REC CENTER, 12 MILES.

HOW MANY? 12. 12 MILES. OKAY. NEXT EVERGLADE POOL.

WHERE IS THAT? EVERGLADE IS IN. IS IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

THE CLOSEST POOL WILL BE THE COVE AT SAMUEL GRANT, WHICH IS SEVEN MILES.

THAT TO ME, THAT IS. I MEAN, THAT IS AN UNACCEPTABLE DISTANCE TO NOT HAVE A POOL FOR AREAS THAT DESPERATELY NEED POOLS.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM ALL, BUT I'LL I'LL JUMP DOWN TO MARTIN WEISS POOL, WHICH IS THE ONE IN MY DISTRICT.

IT IS SEVERAL MILES FROM KIDD SPRINGS. THE DAILY I HAVE THE AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE, WHICH YOUR STAFF PUT OUT OF 189 PEOPLE IN 2025, COMPARED TO LAKE HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY AQUATIC CENTER 172.

AGAIN, WE'RE AT 189 COMPARED TO EXLINE NEIGHBORHOOD AQUATIC CENTER.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE ANY OF THESE ARE AT, SO I'M NOT PICKING ON ANY DISTRICT 40 PEOPLE AVERAGE DAILY COMPARED TO HARRY STONE 100.

AQUATIC CENTER 117. SO THIS COMMUNITY POOL AND I'M JUST PICKING ON MINE BECAUSE IT'S IN MY DISTRICT, HAD MORE ATTENDANCE THAN THREE AQUATIC CENTERS SHOWING.

AND NOW THAT SHOWS IS THERE IS A NEED FOR THESE COMMUNITY POOLS IN THESE AREAS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH, AS MR. RESENDEZ SAID. SO, WELL LAST TIME, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE PRIVATE POOLS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THIS IS WHERE YOU GO TO SWIM. AND AS YOU HEARD FROM THE MARTIN WEISS LADIES EARLIER TODAY, THIS IS A COMMUNITY POOL USED BY SENIORS, USED BY BY KIDS.

I REALIZE THERE IS A PLAN TO CLOSE THEM, BUT FOR $200,000 TO GET US AN EXTRA YEAR, YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF FOR THESE POOLS, I THINK IT'S WORTH IT. THANK YOU. YEAH, I HAVE TO.

CORRECTION. I WAS GIVING YOU THE I'M GIVING YOU THE MINUTES AND NOT THE MOUSE.

SO I JUST WANT TO CORRECT FOR THE RECORD, EVERGLADE WOULD HAVE BEEN 3.8 MILES TO THE NEXT POOL AND BONNIE WOULD HAVE BEEN 3.9.

CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK CHAIR. MENDELSOHN.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY ARGUMENT. REALLY, ABOUT THE POOLS.

I THINK YOU WALKED US THROUGH THE PROCESS. THIS WAS A DECISION BY PARK BOARD TEN YEARS AGO TO PHASE OUT COMMUNITY POOLS AND MOVE TOWARDS THE AQUATIC CENTERS.

MR. JENKINS, I THINK YOU'VE ALSO MADE YOUR ARGUMENT THAT THESE POOLS ARE REALLY OLD OLDER THAN ME, WHICH I JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M FEELING PRETTY OLD AT THE MOMENT.

SO I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME TYPE OF PHASING OUT PROGRAM.

I LIKED THIS ONE. IT WAS. RATHER THAN DOING THEM ALL IN ONE FELL SWOOP, WE WE WERE DOING IT OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS.

BUT I DO THINK I, YOU KNOW CHAIR WEST HAS POINTED OUT THERE ARE SOME PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT PROBABLY STILL NEED SOME TYPE OF AQUATICS FEATURE POOL, WHATEVER.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE BOTH PARK STAFF AND PARK BOARD TO LOOK AT THAT AND FIND THOSE DESERT AREAS THAT THAT LITERALLY NEED A WATER FEATURE OF SOME KIND, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT KIDS DO IN DALLAS IN THE SUMMER, RIGHT? THEY NEED THEY NEED SOME KIND OF RESPITE FROM THE HEAT.

SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

I WON'T NEED THREE MINUTES. AS THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT DOESN'T HAVE A POOL, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU FOR THE DENTON COUNTY PEOPLE IN DALLAS TO GET TO A POOL.

YOU DON'T HAVE A POOL AS WELL. OKAY? WITH REDISTRICTING, YOU LOST YOUR POOL.

IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY, SO WE'VE NEVER HAD A POOL IN DISTRICT 12.

THE DENTON COUNTY FOLKS HAVE TO TRAVEL MORE THAN FOUR MILES.

SO I THINK YOU ARE USING YOUR MOST EXTREME EXAMPLES, MR. JENKINS, WITH THREE POINT SOMETHING MILES FOR OTHERS.

[08:05:04]

I THINK IT'S FOUR AND A HALF MILES PLUS TO GET TO FRETS FOR THE DENTON COUNTY FOLKS.

SO I REJECT THAT ARGUMENT. AND THE POOLS ARE ONLY OPEN FOR HOW LONG? HOW MANY WEEKS OF THE SUMMER? THE COMMUNITY POOLS ARE OPEN EIGHT WEEKS.

AND THEN THE THE. OKAY, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY POOLS.

EIGHT WEEKS, EIGHT WEEKS, EIGHT WEEKS. THAT'S ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THE AQUATIC CENTERS ARE OPEN LONGER, HAVE A LOT MORE AMENITIES, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THAT MODEL ANYHOW.

SO I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL AGAIN PUT ON THEIR FISCAL HAT AND DO THE THING THAT WE WERE SENT HERE TO DO.

THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. SO I'LL MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT WAS MADE.

THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND THIS WAS ABOUT THE THE POOL, MY POOL, WALNUT HILL REC BEING CLOSED LAST SUMMER FOR REPAIRS. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD YOU COULDN'T ATTEND THE POOL.

AND THEN THIS YEAR, OPENING WITH BIZARRE HOURS AND IT KIND OF HAS HAD BIZARRE HOURS.

AND SO I HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE MURDERED THAT POOL.

BUT I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN THIS CAME UP AND WE THOUGHT THERE WERE GOING TO BE TWO POOLS CLOSED.

IT WASN'T IN THAT TOP TWO TO WORK WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS POOL? AND THEY LOVED THE IDEA OF USING IT, BUT THEY JUST SAID, I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S OPEN.

I WOULD LOVE TO USE IT. AND SO WHAT I FOUND IS THREE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, LARGE ONES AROUND IT, KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT HAVING THIS BE A COMMUNITY FOCAL POINT.

AND SO THEY'RE THEY'RE READY TO SURVEY. AND I'VE TOLD THEM, YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.

WELL, THEN I WILL OFFER IT UP. BUT THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF EXCITEMENT, AND I THINK WE WILL FIND THAT THERE'S EXCITEMENT.

WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE TO HELP OFFSET THIS.

AND SO I JUST FEEL LIKE IN THIS CASE YOU KNOW, I DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SIMPLE ACCELERATION.

I THINK THIS WOULD BE TO COUNCIL MEMBER WEST POINT, YOU KNOW, TAKING $200,000 AND AFFECTING SWATHS OF OUR CITY, WHO COULD USE THIS AS A CONNECTION POINT, AS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO BRING THEM TOGETHER AND HAVE RECREATION AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WANT OUT OF OUR PARK AND RECREATION CENTER.

SO I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M FOR THE PLAN. BUT I THINK THE OTHER BIGGER ISSUE WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WAS THAT THERE'S AN AQUATICS MASTER PLAN COMING.

CORRECT. AND SO TO TAKE SOMETHING AWAY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO OFFER THAT WHAT THAT PLAN IS, IT'S THE SAME CASE FOR LIBRARIES. YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING IT AWAY AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, BUT WE PROMISE HEY, STICK WITH US. IT'S COMING.

I MEAN, I THINK WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES AND OUR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PLAN.

SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THIS TO A SPRAYGROUND OR WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT A PICKLEBALL COURT OR SOMETHING, NOT JUST WE'RE GOING TO JUST TAKE THIS AWAY. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT MAKES US LOOK GREAT. AND I'M SORRY IT'S BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE PLAN IS IMMINENT WITH THIS MASTER PLAN.

AND SO YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT SOME FOLKS PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, AND I WANT TO SEE HOW IT CAN BE REVITALIZED WITH ATTENDANCE.

AND SO I WOULD I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.

MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WILL AGAIN BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING ON THE DALLAS PARK BOARD BACK IN 2015 WHEN THIS MASTER PLAN FOR THE AQUATICS WAS APPROVED.

IT WAS A VERY THOUGHT OUT PLAN. WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT EVERY SINGLE PARK THAT HAS AN AQUATIC FACILITY.

WE WENT AROUND THE METROPLEX TO LOOK AT THOSE BEST PRACTICES AND LEARNED THAT OUR COMMUNITY TRADITIONAL POOLS WERE JUST NOT MODERNIZED ENOUGH PEOPLE WERE SPENDING 30 MINUTES AT THESE POOLS.

OUR NEW REGIONAL POOLS. YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE SPENDING 4 OR 5 HOURS THERE MAKING IT AN ALL DAY ACTIVITY.

IT WAS ALREADY MENTIONED EARLIER THAT A LOT OF THESE POOLS ARE HAVE SERVED THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.

A LOT OF THESE POOLS CLOSED BECAUSE WE JUST SIMPLY CAN'T GO INTO A POOL STORE AND PULL OUT A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

IT HAS TO BE MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE OLDER POOLS, AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME.

YOU LOOK AT BACHMAN AQUATIC CENTER, WHICH IS USED HEAVILY, BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OPEN THAT FACILITY UP DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT TAKES TIME TO GET THOSE PARTS PREPARED. I ALSO TOOK IT UPON MYSELF WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR POOL COMMUNITY POOL WOULD BE CLOSING.

SO WE INVESTED OUR BOND DOLLARS TO PUT IN A SPLASH PARK AT WALLER PARK, BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THE DAY WAS COMING, THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE THAT FACILITY. SO UNFORTUNATELY NOT EVERYONE DECIDED TO PUT THEIR RESOURCES AND FUNDING INTO PARKS.

[08:10:02]

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SOME HOLES TODAY. BUT THIS PLAN OF 2015 DID LOOK AND EVALUATE ALL THE AQUATICS THROUGHOUT DALLAS, AND THEREFORE, I AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS LONG OVERDUE PLAN THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE 2015. IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MODERNIZING THE REST OF THE AQUATIC SYSTEM.

AND SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT BEFORE US.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. IT'S APPARENT THAT THE PARK BOARD DID A THOROUGH ANALYSIS WHEN THEY DID THEIR AQUATIC MASTER PLAN TEN YEARS AGO, AND DECIDED THAT THESE NINE POOLS NEEDED TO CLOSE.

AND I'M SURE A BIG FACTOR IN THAT DECISION WAS THEIR AGE AND DIFFICULTY OF REPAIRING THEM.

WE'RE NOW TEN YEARS LATER. THESE POOLS ARE TEN YEARS OLDER.

THEY'RE LIVING ON LIFE SUPPORT. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO REPAIR THEM OR THEY JUST CAN'T PRACTICALLY BE REPAIRED.

SO, MR. JENKINS, ISN'T IT LIKELY THAT IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, SOME OF THESE FOUR POOLS ARE GOING TO FAIL ON THEIR OWN? YEAH. BASED ON PAST HISTORY? YES. THE ANSWER IS YES.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, ARE YOU GOING TO USE HERCULEAN EFFORTS TO TRY TO REHABILITATE THEM AND GET THEM BACK ONLINE, MANUFACTURING NEW PARTS IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES? OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO LET THEM DIE. THE NATURAL DEATH? NO, BECAUSE THE PARK BOARD DID AGREE THAT WE'RE CLOSING THEM NOW.

NO, I WILL NOT KEEP THE POOLS ON LIFE SUPPORT.

OKAY. WELL, IN LIGHT OF THAT, IT JUST SEEMS A NO BRAINER TO GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE THE BUDGET SAVINGS FROM CLOSING TWO ADDITIONAL POOLS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. IT'S LIKELY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NOT SURVIVE THE FISCAL YEAR ANYWAY, SO WE MIGHT AS WELL JUST RECOGNIZE REALITY AND MAKE THIS DECISION NOW.

CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. MR. JENKINS, WHERE ARE THE POOLS LOCATED? WE'RE CLOSE. I'M SORRY. I HEARD COUNCILMAN WEST CALLS THEM OUT.

WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? YEAH. SO? SO YOU HAVE POOL, WHICH IS LOCATED IN NORTHWEST.

YOU HAVE GLENDALE POOL, WHICH IS LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST, YOU HAVE JC ZARAGOZA, WHICH IS LOCATED IN NORTHWEST.

I MEAN, I'M SORRY, SOUTHWEST YOU HAVE WALNUT HILL, WHICH IS LOCATED NORTH WEST.

YOU HAVE EVERGLADE POOL, WHICH IS LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST, OR YOU CAN SAY MID SOUTH.

YOU HAVE BONNEY VIEW POOL, WHICH IS LOCATED SOUTHERN SECTOR.

I MEAN, LET ME ASK YOU THIS. HOW MANY POOLS ARE IN DISTRICT FOUR? DISTRICT FOUR. YOU HAVE TWO POOLS IN DISTRICT FOUR.

WHAT'S THE NAME? GLENDALE POOL AND BONNYVIEW.

SO WE HAVE ALREADY BONNYVIEW BONNYVIEW POOL. WHERE'S THAT LOCATED? LOCATED RIGHT BY CEDAR CREST. SO. OKAY. BIG L.

YES. OKAY. WHAT ARE WE DOING IN GLENDALE? WE HAVE MONEY GOING TOWARD GLENDALE POOL.

CORRECT? YES. YOU HAVE REALLOCATED BOND DOLLARS TO GO TOWARDS BUILDING A SMALL AQUATICS FACILITY AT GLENDALE.

BECAUSE MY PHONE IS BLOWING UP ABOUT THEIR CONCERN ABOUT GLENDALE AND OTHER BIG L, I KNOW Y'ALL, Y'ALL CALL IT BONNYVIEW IN THE COMMUNITY, WE CALL IT BIG L. YES.

AND THIS. AND YOU'RE SAYING THIS HAS BEEN ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK FOR HOW LONG? SINCE 20. WELL, AS EACH OF THE NEW POOLS CAME ONLINE.

SO. YEAH, FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN A PLAN TO CLOSE THESE POOLS.

SO THE KIDS OVER IN CEDAR CREST, WHERE WOULD THEY GO TO SWIM? SO FOR FOR BONNYVIEW, THE CLOSEST LOCATION IS GOING TO BE KID SPRINGS.

KID SPRINGS, WHICH IS 3.9 MILES AWAY, WHICH IS ABOUT A 12 MINUTE DRIVE, 15 MINUTES, 15 MINUTE DRIVE, PRETTY MUCH 15, 20 MINUTES FOR THEM. OKAY. I UNDERSTAND THE PLAN.

AGAIN, I WASN'T HERE THEN WHEN WE MADE THE. WHEN THE COUNCIL MADE THAT PLAN.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT OUR KIDS IN CEDAR CREST.

I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THESE POOLS ARE BEYOND LIFE EXPECTANCY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOUR TEAM AS WELL TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO TAKE CARE OF CEDAR CREST COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHERE I GREW UP IN.

AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO POOLS.

[08:15:03]

I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME DON'T AGREE WITH THE POOLS AND MAY SUPPORT IT, BUT I DO IN MY COMMUNITY DOES.

AND THEY'RE ASKING ME TO SAVE POOLS BECAUSE IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I'LL BE WORKING WITH YOU TO TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE OUR POOL.

SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS. THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. JOHN, I HAVE THIS QUESTION. DNR DO NOT RESUSCITATE.

SO IF A POOL BREAKS, ARE YOU GOING TO FIX IT? NO. I MEAN, THIS IS WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'RE CLOSING.

KNOW WHAT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY PARTS ANYMORE WHERE WE CLOSE SOME OF THE OLDER COMMUNITY POOLS WHEN WE USED TO HAVE, LIKE, ABOUT 40 OF THESE ACROSS THE CITY.

WE'VE BEEN LIVING OFF THOSE OLD PARTS. OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE PARTS.

AND IF I GET A STRUCTURAL FAILURE, WHICH IS LIKELY, THAT MEANS THE GROUND IS GOING TO SHIFT.

THAT MEANS THE POOL DECK WILL NOT BE USABLE WITHOUT US SPENDING.

PROBABLY ABOUT 70 OR $80,000 TO GET THOSE POOLS FUNCTIONAL.

SO WE'RE THEY'RE GOING TO SELF-SELECT. I DON'T WANT TO FOOL ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM.

THE POOLS ARE GOING TO SELF-SELECT AND THEY ARE GOING TO CLOSE ON THEIR OWN EVENTUALLY.

OKAY. SO I RECOGNIZE THAT IF THERE IS A POOL CLOSING IN MY DISTRICT, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT.

I MEAN, I REALLY DO. NOW OF COURSE I DON'T HAVE A POOL, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT EVEN FEELS LIKE, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO ALLOW THE NARRATIVE CONTINUING THAT THERE'S NO OTHER ACTIVITIES BECAUSE MANY OF THESE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE POOLS ALSO HAVE A GOLF COURSE. BY THE WAY, NO GOLF COURSE IN DISTRICT 12.

THEY HAVE MAYBE A HORSE PARK. THEY MIGHT HAVE A LAKE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK AROUND AND ENJOY.

AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT ONE. THEY MIGHT HAVE A CULTURAL CENTER, THEY MIGHT HAVE TENNIS CENTERS.

AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, EVERY ONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE NOT FOUND IN DISTRICT 12.

WE HAVE NONE OF THOSE THINGS, AND WE HAVE A PRETTY NICE QUALITY OF LIFE.

ALL RACES, ALL INCOMES. IT'S ALL THERE. SO ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT IT IS NOT THE ONLY AMENITY.

THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER THINGS AND THEY'RE GOING TO CLOSE ANYHOW.

SO LET'S LET'S DO WHAT WE NEED TO. THANK YOU.

IS YOUR TIME. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 35? 35. SEEING NONE, I'LL INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD.

SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS ROTH, STEWART MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO MAYOR JOHNSON.

COUNCIL MEMBERS MENDELSOHN AND RIDLEY. WITH ONLY SIX SEALS BEING RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S SEE. I HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE WE BRING UP 36. IS IT IS IT THE CASE THAT 36 ONLY DEALS WITH FISCAL YEAR 27, NOT 26? BUT STILL PERMISSIBLE. NOT PERMISSIBLE. NOT PERMISSIBLE, NOT PERMISSIBLE.

OKAY. THE AUTHORS OF AMENDMENT 36, CHAIR, STEWARD AND CHAIR.

RIDLEY ARE YOU DO YOU WANT TO HAVE THE A DEBATE ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF IT, OR ARE YOU WILLING TO WITHDRAW IT IF IT'S ONLY APPLYING TO FISCAL YEAR 2027? I'LL DEFER TO COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, BUT I THINK IT'S LATE.

COUNCILMAN. WELL, THE REASON I BROUGHT THIS WAS AS A COUNTERPART TO 35, BECAUSE THIS WAS A THREE YEAR POOL PHASE OUT PLAN IN THE BUDGET THAT I WAS SIMPLY ACCELERATING THAT THREE YEARS DOWN TO TWO YEARS, WHICH MEANT ADDRESSING IT IN FISCAL YEAR 26 AND 27.

IF THE CITY ATTORNEY BELIEVES THAT'S PREMATURE, THEN THAT'S WHAT SHE THAT'S WHAT SHE'S INDICATING.

BRING IT UP NEXT YEAR. OKAY, THEN LET'S LET'S BRING THAT ONE UP NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE ALL FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE HERE. OKAY. SO 36 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

AND THEN I HAD I'M GOING TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT 39 CHAIRMAN RIDLEY THAT THAT ONE DEALS WITH FEES EXCLUSIVELY.

RIGHT. 39 NOT NOT THE NOT THE TAX RATE. IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, IT DOES RELATE TO FEES, RIGHT? BUT NOT THE TAX RATE.

RIGHT, RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE WHAT I WANT TO TRY TO DO IS GIVE THE CFO AND HIS STAFF A HEAD START ON BEING ABLE TO GET THE ORDINANCE DRAFTED BY DEALING WITH ALL THE ONES THAT AFFECT THE TAX RATE PER SE.

[08:20:03]

SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP 38 IF IF THERE IS SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT FORWARD AND IF THERE'S ANY OTHERS I'VE OVERLOOKED THAT DEAL WITH THE TAX RATE.

I WANT TO TAKE THOSE UP SO THEY CAN START WORKING ON THE ORDINANCE.

DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M WHAT I DID THERE I'M TRYING TO HELP THEM.

YEAH, BECAUSE THE OTHER ONES DON'T AFFECT THE TAX RATE.

SO THEY DON'T NEED THEM NECESSARILY TO GO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

SO I'M JUST CONFIRMING I'M NOT SURE. BUT MY QUESTION RIGHT NOW IS THAT DOES IT DEAL WITH TAX RATE AT ALL 30.

SEVEN. IS IT. IT'S IT'S 38. STEWART. IT'S 2027 OR 2026.

NO. WHICH FISCAL YEAR DOES IT AFFECT? THE FIRST PARAGRAPH 27.

SO I'M GONNA LET YOU LOOK AT YOUR OWN AMENDMENT AND JUST GIVE ME A QUICK ASSESSMENT.

WHAT ARE YOU CONFUSED BY THAT? I THOUGHT THAT THAT SHOULD BE 20 FY 26.

YES. IT'S. EXCUSE ME. JACK GARLAND, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER IT USES THE REMAINING ARPA REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR THE SEPTIC PROGRAM, WHICH IS 548,000 TO SIMILARLY, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE, TO REPLACE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS IN PARKS AND RECREATION.

WHICH FISCAL YEAR DOES IT DO IT IN? IN 26. OKAY.

SO IT'S JUST A TYPO OR IS IT JUST. NO. AND THEN AND THEN THERE WOULD BE ONGOING EXPENSE REDUCTIONS IN THE PARK DEPARTMENT IN 27 BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING A PERMANENT TAX RATE REDUCTION. OKAY. SO IS THAT THAT'S PERMISSIBLE.

YEAH. IT'S REDUCING THE TAX RATE IN 26. OKAY.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO LAY IT OUT YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT EMOTION ON 38.

ALRIGHT. THEN I MOVE TO ELIMINATE REMAINING ARPA FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THE SEPTIC PROGRAM AND USE THEM FOR C USE THE ONE TIME ARPA FUNDS TO REPLACE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS AND REDUCE ONGOING PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT EXPENSES IN FY 27.

THAT REDUCES THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BY 0.02 $0.05.

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

CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AMENDMENT 38.

THANK YOU. ALONG WITH THIS I WOULD DIRECT OUR CITY MANAGER TO ENSURE THAT THE WATER LINES THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED EARLIER IN THE DAY WOULD BE PLACED WHERE THEY NEED TO BE PLACED, AND THAT YOU HAD WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND I THINK YOU HAD THOUGHT WE COULD IDENTIFY FUNDS FOR OFFERING THE CONNECTIONS TO THE FAMILIES.

WE HAD, AGAIN, TALKED ABOUT EARLIER TODAY THAT THEY WOULD STILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT, THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT THIS CHANGE THAT REMOVED FUNDING FROM THE HOMES THAT NEEDED THE CONNECTION AND THE WATER LINES.

IS THAT CORRECT? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

SO IF IT'S DO WE HAVE ANY CURRENT HOMES THAT WE WOULD NEED TO HOOK UP RIGHT NOW, THE ANSWER IS NO.

WE HAD TALKED ABOUT CONTINUING WITH ELEVATING OUR OUTREACH.

I WILL NOT USE THE WORD MARKETING. THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A JOKE.

BUT WE WILL. DEFINITELY WE WILL. WE WILL WORK TO ELEVATE THE OUTREACH.

AND AS WE GET THOSE LINES ACTUALLY COMPLETED, THEN WHATEVER HOLMES WOULD WANT TO HOOK UP, I THINK YOUR AMENDMENT IS ASKING ME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE AVAILABLE FUNDING OR FIND THE FUNDING TO DO IT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, AS PART OF PART OF THE AMENDMENT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DISRUPTING.

I BELIEVE WHEN WE TALKED EARLIER TODAY, THERE WERE MAYBE POTENTIALLY 200 HOMES THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE OUTREACH, BUT WE WOULD BE WORKING TO COMPLETE THE WORK.

AND THEN OUT OF THAT 200, TO SEE HOW MANY WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO MOVE INTO THE CONNECTION TO THE CITY'S WATER.

CORRECT? CORRECT. SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S NOT ANY DIFFERENCE IN THIS AMENDMENT AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT THERE WAS WITH THE AMENDMENT EARLIER IN THE DAY THAT WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT, I THINK THIS AMENDMENT IS ACTUALLY USING THERE WAS A BALANCE THAT WAS STILL LEFT IN THE THE SEPTIC PROGRAM AND THIS. 548. 457 IS ACTUALLY USED IN THE REMAINING BALANCE.

THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER. I'LL LET OTHER QUESTIONS COME OUT.

I'M SORRY. WHAT'S GOING ON? WERE YOU FINISHED? YES, MR. MAYOR. I'M FINISHED. I JUST WANT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU GUYS WORK OUT BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU. WELL, SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE HAD A QUESTION, SO I WAS WAITING FOR HER TO. OH, OKAY. START ASKING QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT, WELL, MISS BLAIR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. IF YOU'D LIKE TO TALK INTO YOUR OWN MICROPHONE. IT'S TOO LATE, YOU GUYS. SO LET

[08:25:03]

ME MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR. THERE ARE. AS WE SPOKE EARLIER TODAY, I HAD RESIDENTS TEXT ME THAT THEY THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HAD NO CONNECTIONS TO SEPTIC TANKS. SO BEFORE I'M ABLE TO SAY, YEAH, GET RID OF ALL THE REST OF THE OPERA DOLLARS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT SEPTIC TANKS, I FIRST NEED TO IDENTIFY WHO THEY ARE AND HOW MANY MORE OF THEM I'VE GOT. I FOUND OUT JUST TODAY THAT THERE ARE SECTIONS OF DISTRICT EIGHT THAT STILL DOESN'T HAVE LINES IN ORDER TO GET OFF SEPTIC TANKS.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WHAT WHAT THAT NUMBER LOOKS LIKE.

SO I WOULD THINK THAT BEFORE I CAN SAY YES TO MAKING TO TAKING ANOTHER DIME AWAY FROM THE SEPTIC TANK PROGRAM, I NEED TO IDENTIFY HOW MANY I HAVE, WHERE THEY ARE AND THE THE TOTAL COST IN ORDER TO MANAGE MODERNIZING EVERYONE'S SEPTIC TANK, SEWER LINE CONNECTIONS. SO I THINK IT'S RIGHT FOR ME. IT'S I CAN'T I CAN'T SUPPORT WHAT I DON'T KNOW.

DO WHAT? I WANTED TO JUST JUMP IN BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE A HOUSE COUNT TODAY.

THE NOTICES ON THE WORK STARTING JUST HAPPENED.

SO UNTIL THE WORK IS COMPLETED AND ANY OF THE HOUSES THAT MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE COME BACK TO SAY YES AND CONFIRM WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY GIVE A NUMBER.

SO I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE 20 HOUSES NOW IN THE PIPELINE WAITING, BECAUSE THEY'VE JUST RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THE WORK IS GOING TO START IN 26. SO WHAT IS THAT ANSWER? I KNOW IT'S NOT GIVING YOU A NUMBER.

NO. AND I GOT BEAT UP LAST TIME. I GOT BEAT UP REAL BAD BY MY RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT I TOOK AWAY THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO MODERNIZE THEIR, THEIR, THEIR WASTEWATER LINES.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO. I'M TRYING TO I'M TRYING TO MANAGE THE NEEDS OF THE CITY TO THE BEST OF OUR OF OUR ABILITY, YET NOT KEEP MY, MY, MY, MY RESIDENTS IN A STATE OF YESTERYEAR. SO UNTIL I CAN CAN SAY AND I'M NOT TRYING TO TO SAY NO TO NOBODY, BUT UNTIL I CAN SAY WHAT I'M SAYING NO OR YES TO, I HAVE TO STAY NEUTRAL AND I, CANNOT COMMIT TO REMOVING ANYONE'S OPPORTUNITY TO MODERNIZE THEIR SYSTEMS IN THEIR WAY.

THEIR THEIR WASTEWATER CONNECTIONS. UNTIL YOU CAN TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW MANY I HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE THINK THAT'S 200, BUT MAYBE IT'S FIVE. MAYBE.

MAYBE IT'S ONLY FIVE AND AND NOT THE 200. BUT UNTIL WE CAN SAY THAT, I THINK THIS IS JUST A LITTLE PREMATURE.

AND WHAT'S IT IF IF SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE WE CAN WE CAN REEVALUATE THIS MID-YEAR AND, AND I WOULD ASSUME AND AND ONCE WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE NUMBERS AND AND WHERE THEY ARE IS THAT NOT CORRECT? WELL, WE WOULD NOT MODIFY THE TAX RATE MID-YEAR.

IT'S BACK TO HOW THIS PROGRAM HAS EVOLVED. IT'S A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM, AS WE'VE SHARED AND WE'VE HAD A VERY SLOW START. AND SO THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT IT, WHAT WE SHARED WAS THAT WE GIVE THE NOTICES AND THE NOTICES PROVIDE WORK IS GOING TO START. HERE'S WHAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BE DOING, AND WE'LL SHARE THE INFORMATION AROUND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY HAVE.

BUT RIGHT NOW, TODAY, WE DO NOT HAVE A LIST OF HOUSES THAT HAVE CONFIRMED FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR THAT THEY'RE READY TO HOOK UP. WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING IS FINISHING THE WORK.

AND THEN BECAUSE THEY'VE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THE WORK IS GOING TO START, WE WOULD THEN SEE HOW MANY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.

AND AT THAT POINT, THAT WOULD BE THEN WHAT WE WOULD SHARE.

SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. WE DON'T HAVE ALTHOUGH THE NOTICES HAVE GONE OUT, I THINK IT'S BEEN ABOUT 200 NOTICES, BUT UNTIL THE WORK IS COMPLETED, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO EVEN HOOK UP TO THE SYSTEM ANYWAY.

[08:30:03]

AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT COMPLICATED, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FINISH THE WORK BEFORE THEY CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THE CONNECTION.

SO THE CONNECTIONS WOULD NOT START UNTIL WE'RE DONE.

SO THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING A DEFINITE.

WELL, HOW MANY WILL ACTUALLY SAY YES TO TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW MUCH MONEY WE WOULD NEED? SO WHAT WE HAD IN THE ARPA BUDGET WAS ABOUT 935,000.

THAT'S WHAT HAD BEEN SITTING THERE. AND WE USED SOME AT THE VERY BEGINNING TRICKLED IN, I THINK IT WAS A TOTAL OF ABOUT 20 HOUSES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. AND IT'S MISS STANFORD HERE.

SHE SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE IF SHE'S NOT SLEEP. OH, THERE SHE IS.

THANK YOU.

I KNOW WE HATE TALKING ABOUT THIS, DON'T WE? THIS WEEK I HAD AN UPDATE ON THE NUMBER OF OF WASTEWATER LINES THAT ARE YET TO BE CONNECTED IN MY DISTRICT.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH THIS BODY? WHEN IS THE DATE? WHEN IS THE DUE DATE FOR BRINGING IN THOSE WASTEWATER LINES, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS LIKE FIVE MILE FLORAL FARMS? YES, MA'AM. SARAH STANDIFER DALLAS WATER UTILITIES.

AS PART OF OUR MONTHLY INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES, WE DO TALK ABOUT THESE LINES WITH EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHOSE DISTRICTS HAVE SOME IMPACTED AREAS. YOU HAVE SEVERAL AREAS THAT A COUPLE WILL COME ON IN FALL OF 2025 THROUGH SPRING OF 2026, WITH THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE BEING COMPLETED, WHICH WOULD THEN ALLOW US TO BEGIN TO MAKE CONNECTIONS.

ADDITIONAL ONES WILL COME ON THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM.

IN THE SUMMER OF 26, FALL OF 27 AND SPRING OF 27.

SO WE'RE ON THE BACK END OF THE PUSH, WHICH IS, I THINK, SOME OF WHERE WE'VE DISCUSSED THE POLICY COMPONENT OF IT AND THE DIRECTION THAT THE CITY MANAGERS RECEIVED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO FIND A WAY.

BUT RIGHT NOW, NOT ALL OF THOSE REMAINING 200 HOMES THAT ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT, THEY'RE JUST NOT READY TO CONNECT YET. BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT IN THE FINAL DAYS IT WILL BE 27 WHEN THE THE THE WASTEWATER LINES WILL BE BROUGHT UP, UP, UP.

WELL BROUGHT UP BEFORE PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE OPTION TO CONNECT OR NOT TO CONNECT THE LAST OF THE SEGMENTS.

SO THESE ARE DONE IN SEGMENTS. AND SO THE LAST OF THE SEGMENTS WRAP UP IN KIND OF FY 27.

WE'LL JUST BE BRINGING DIFFERENT COMPONENTS ON LIKE WE'VE DONE ALL ALONG.

SO AS WE COMPLETE. SO AS WE COMPLETE SEGMENTS AND AND WE HAVE THE MAP.

RIGHT. SO AS YOU COMPLETE A SEGMENT, THAT'S WHEN THOSE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO THAT LINE.

SO I THINK YOU'VE GOT 8 OR 9 MORE SEGMENTS LEFT WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT THAT WILL COME ON OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, AS WITH SOME OF THE OTHER REMAINING DISTRICTS.

SO WE HAVE TWO YEARS BEFORE EVERYTHING IS COMPLETE FOR ALL OF THE COMPONENTS ARE COMPLETED.

YES, MA'AM. AND AND DURING THE TWO YEARS, WE'LL GO THROUGH PHASES WHERE PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO CHOOSE TO ELECT WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO STAY ON SEPTIC TANKS OR MOVE OR HAVE THE ASSISTANCE TO MOVE OVER TO THE THE WASTEWATER LINES. CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.

AND THEN THE COMPLETION WILL BE IN IN THE TWO YEAR PERIOD.

CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. I, I CAN'T SUPPORT UNTIL I HAVE EVERYBODY ON. I CAN'T TAKE I JUST CAN'T DO.

I JUST CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE FUNDING AWAY THAT I MAY SEE THAT WE MAY NEED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY I WOULD LOVE TO DO WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE DONE.

BUT I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.

CHAIRMAN GRACEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

I'LL MAKE IT REAL QUICK. I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT. I SUPPORTED THE ORIGINAL ONE.

I WAS EVEN HESITANT TO DO IT LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

WHEN WE DID IT, I WAS HESITANT, BUT THEN I WAS ABLE TO GET A REPORT THAT SHOWED AT LEAST IN DISTRICT THREE, I KNOW DISTRICT THREE AND DISTRICT EIGHT WAS WHERE THERE WAS A HIGH NEED IN DISTRICT THREE. MAJORITY OF THOSE LINES HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONNECTED. THERE WAS ONE AREA THAT THEY JUST ABSOLUTELY REFUSED. SO I WAS OKAY WITH GIVING UP THAT 300 OR SO THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THAT, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T NECESSARILY A NEED. HOWEVER, I KNEW THAT THERE WAS A HIGH NEED IN DISTRICT EIGHT, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS STILL SOME LEFT. AND I KNOW WE KEEP SAYING HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE AND I COMPLETELY RESPECT THAT AND I SURE WILL AS THOSE COME UP.

[08:35:01]

BUT WHILE WE HAVE THESE FUNDS HERE AND KNOWING WE HAVE SOME PROJECTS PENDING I CANNOT SUPPORT IT AT THIS TIME, KNOWING THAT THOSE PROJECTS ARE GETTING READY TO COME ONLINE, WHETHER IT'S 1 OR 2. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE SOME FUNDS THERE TO TAKE CARE OF. SOUTHERN DALLAS. THANK YOU. MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RETAIN THOSE ARPA FUNDS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE OF THE SEPTIC SYSTEM.

AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME IF THERE'S A NEED TO REALLOCATE ANY REMAINING FUNDS, THAT DECISION COULD BE MADE IN THE FUTURE.

BUT I THINK AS A MATTER OF CAUTION AND ALSO WITH RESPECT TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BENEFITING FROM THIS.

PROJECT. I THINK IT'S INAPPROPRIATE TO REALLOCATE THESE FUNDS AT THIS TIME.

SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT. CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS.

I DON'T BELIEVE I SUPPORTED IT THE LAST TIME WE VOTED FOR IT.

I HEAR A COUNCILWOMAN BLARE. I HEAR MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL COUNCILMAN GRACEY.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE FAMILIES IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.

SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS AS WELL. MAYOR PRO TEM RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I'M SORRY I WENT TO THE WRONG PERSON. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN FOR FIVE MINUTES, AND THEN MAYOR PRO TEM, I THOUGHT PERHAPS YOU WANTED TO DEFER TO HIM SINCE HE'S MAYOR PRO TEM, AND I WAS GOING TO BE.

NOT AT ALL. OKAY SO TWO WEEKS AGO, WHEN WE HAD THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT ABOUT THE SEPTIC TANKS, I HONESTLY WAS A LITTLE BIT OUTRAGED THAT MONEY WOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF THE SEPTIC TANKS AFTER I HAD LIVED THROUGH SO MANY IMPASSIONED SPEECHES, AND THIS WAS SUCH A PRIORITY. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING, BECAUSE I REALLY, REALLY WANT A TAX RATE REDUCTION.

BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON THE SEPTIC TANK THING, LIKE, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WHERE I'M GOING TO DRAW A LINE.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION SO I CAN VOTE ACCORDINGLY.

ARE YOU CITY MANAGER ALLEGING THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT WILL NOW TAKE THIS IDEA THAT IF SOMEBODY IS ON A SEPTIC TANK AND THEY WANT TO NOW CONNECT TO THE CITY SYSTEM, THAT THE WATER SYSTEM WILL PAY FOR IT NO MATTER WHAT, THAT'S THE PROGRAM.

NOW, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, IS THAT IF THE COUNCIL WANTS US TO CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM AND THE FUNDING IS USED FOR THIS ITEM.

THEN WE SHOULD BE DIRECTING ME THAT ONCE WE COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION IN THOSE AREAS.

AND WE DO HAVE HOMES WHO WANT TO CONNECT, THAT WE SHOULD COME BACK AND SHARE WITH YOU HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND IT AND BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CONNECTIONS HAPPEN.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING IF COUNCIL MOVES IN THIS DIRECTION.

SO THAT'S KIND OF AN INDEFINITE ANSWER, WHICH MAKES ME WANT TO VOTE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE THERE.

I MEAN, I'VE LOOKED THROUGH THE BUDGET. I'M NOT SURE WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT, BUT THERE IS A PLACE THAT YOU COULD GET IT BECAUSE OUR WATER SYSTEM IS AN ENTERPRISE, AND THE WATER SYSTEM CAN DEVELOP THIS AS A PROGRAM THAT WOULD THEN BE SUPPORTED BY THE BY THE WATER FEES THAT WE CHARGE EVERY MONTH, BECAUSE THIS WILL BE AN ELIGIBLE PROGRAM. SO IF YOU'RE TELLING ME IT'S GOING TO BE AN ELIGIBLE PROGRAM, THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS THAT HAVE A SEPTIC THAT WANT TO CONNECT.

THE WATER SYSTEM WILL PAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THE TAX RATE BECAUSE THEN I KNOW THERE'S A DEDICATED SOURCE.

WE HAVE AN ONGOING REVENUE THAT WILL PAY FOR WHATEVER THAT IS.

WE COULD ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT IT IS IN YEAR ONE AND YEAR TWO.

WE COULD PAY FOR IT BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE COLLECTED THAT FUNDS. BUT IF YOU TELL ME, WELL, I'M GOING TO BRING IT BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT, AND MAYBE YOU'LL DIRECT ME AND MAYBE I'LL FIND FUNDS, I CAN'T I CAN'T DO THAT. WHAT MY COMMENT WAS IF COUNCIL IF COUNCIL IF IF THIS ITEM MOVES FORWARD AND COUNCIL SAYS WE WANT THIS TO BE A PROGRAM THAT WE FUND, NOT NECESSARILY WITH THIS ARPA MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SITTING HERE.

MY ANSWER TO YOU IS THAT WE WILL FIND THE FUNDING TO MOVE THE PROGRAM FORWARD, IF THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL CHOOSES TO DO.

BUT YOU HAVEN'T GIVEN A POLICY DIRECTION ON THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, WHICH IS WHY I'M SAYING SHARE WITH THE MANAGER WHAT YOU WANT, AND THEN THAT'LL BE MY CHARGE TO DELIVER THAT.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE ASKED FOR. OKAY, WELL, PERHAPS THE COUNCILWOMAN WOULD TAKE A AMENDMENT, BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE YOU'RE NOT SPECIFYING WHERE YOU WOULD FIND THOSE FUNDS.

SO IF YOU WERE GOING TO COME BACK AND SAY, WELL, YOU DIRECTED ME TO FIND FUNDS FOR THIS PROGRAM,

[08:40:03]

BUT NOW I'M GOING TO CLOSE TEN MORE LIBRARIES.

THIS WOULD NOT BE OKAY. SO THE QUESTION HAS TO BE, WHERE WOULD THOSE FUNDS COME FROM? AND IF THE ANSWER IS IT'LL COME FROM DWU REVENUE.

I'M GOOD WITH THAT. AND IF THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER AND YOU'RE NOT SURE WHERE IT'D COME FROM, THEN I CAN'T SUPPORT A TAX DECREASE TO TAKE IT FROM THIS USE.

WOULD YOU WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SAY IT'S COMING FROM DWU? IF COUNCIL IS TAKING A POLICY POSITION THAT YOU WANT THIS PROGRAM TO CONTINUE BEYOND ANY FUNDING THAT IS REMOVED.

AND YOU'RE DIRECTING ME TO FIND A WAY TO FUND THE PROGRAM.

THE MOST LOGICAL PLACE IS FOR IT TO COME FROM THE UTILITY, BECAUSE THE UTILITY IS ACTUALLY WHO'S PUTTING IN THE WATER LINES.

OKAY. WELL, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT I'D BE VERY HAPPY TO SIGN A FIVE SIGNATURE MEMO THAT PUTS IT ON AN AGENDA FOR A COMMITTEE TO DIRECT THE MANAGER, TO INITIATE A PROGRAM TO FUND SEPTIC TANKS THAT WANT TO CONNECT TO DWR.

AND I THINK THAT'S A LOGICAL PLACE FOR IT. I THINK THAT DISTRIBUTES THE COSTS IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE.

IT DOESN'T TIE UP THIS MONEY, WHICH REALLY OUGHT TO BE RETURNED TO TAXPAYERS.

SO I'M AGAIN WILLING TO SIGN THAT YOU WOULD HAVE MORE THAN FIVE, IT LOOKS LIKE, THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THAT.

BUT GIVEN THAT WILLINGNESS TO MOVE THAT TO A DWR PROGRAM, IF SO, DIRECTED.

I'M IN FAVOR OF THE TAX RATE CHANGE. NOT HAVING HEARD THAT, I WOULD NOT BE.

AND I HOPE THAT CLEARS UP WHERE IT'S AT AND WHY IT IS OKAY TO VOTE FOR THE TAX RATE DECREASE, BECAUSE WE WILL GET THIS AS A DWU SEPTIC TANK PROGRAM THAT WILL BE ONGOING.

IT WON'T HAVE A DEADLINE. IT WILL BE A STANDARD PROGRAM.

SO EVEN IF SOMEBODY SELLS THEIR HOUSE AND SOMEBODY ELSE MOVES IN AND THEY GO, OH, WELL, I'D RATHER NOT PAY FOR A SEPTIC TRUCK TO COME.

AND BY THE WAY, IT'S SUPER GROSS. AND I'D LIKE TO BE ON DWU.

THEN THEY CAN GET IT, BECAUSE IT'LL BE AN EVERGREEN PROGRAM.

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

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. IT'S BEEN GREAT TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES WHO WOULD BE IMPACTED BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEPTIC TANKS IN THEIR AREAS THAT THEY REPRESENT. I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY MANAGER FOR HER FOR HER WORDS.

I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF FIVE SIGNATURE MEMOS, BUT WOULD BE WILLING TO GO ON IF THAT WOULD BE THE DIRECTION OF THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED BUT NEED A LITTLE MORE GUIDANCE FROM THEM BEFORE I WEIGH IN ON A DECISION BEFORE THE END OF TODAY. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE ON ROUND TWOS NOW FOR EVERYONE.

SO, CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE BROUGHT THIS AMENDMENT WITHOUT THE ASSURANCE FROM THE CITY MANAGER THAT WE COULD FIND FUNDING, THAT WE WOULD ESTABLISH FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM.

I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT. OR I MAYBE I SHOULD SAY, I HEAR YOUR DEEP CONCERN FOR THIS PROGRAM AND WANTING IT TO MOVE FORWARD. AND I THINK I SEE IN YOUR EYES A SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY AND PERHAPS DISTRUST THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. AND YOU WANT TO YOU WANT TO SEE THIS MONEY SPENT FOR THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT WHERE WE TOOK SOME OF THIS MONEY AND SET IT ASIDE TO GO WITH. THEN WHATEVER GETS DONE WITH THE FIVE SIGNATURE MEMO AND USE BOTH OF THOSE SOURCES ON A GOING FORWARD BASIS, IF THAT WOULD GIVE YOU SOME REASSURANCE. IT IT IS A CHUNK OF FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR QUITE A WHILE.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING ENDING. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN THE MAYOR CHALLENGED US TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING, THIS SEEMED TO QUALIFY BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN SPENT.

AND IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S JUST BEEN KIND OF SITTING ON THE SHELF.

AND THAT'S NOT A PRODUCTIVE USE FOR FUNDS. IT'S JUST NOT.

BUT I THIS IS A SENSITIVE POINT. IT'S NOT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S NOT IN MY DISTRICT. SO I WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT IS

[08:45:05]

CERTAINLY. COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR, YOUR YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THIS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MISS BLAIR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

WELL, YOU GUYS KNOW HOW TO WAKE A GIRL UP WHO WAS REALLY SLEEK, RIGHT? THIS IS THIS IS VERY, VERY. YOU'RE RIGHT. THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION, BECAUSE WHERE I DO SEE, WE HAVE MONEY THAT'S JUST SITTING ON THE SHELF, AS YOU SAY.

THAT CAN BE REUTILIZED IN ORDER TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY.

I ALSO KNOW THAT I HAVE A MAJOR PORTION. WELL, IF NOT PROBABLY THE ONLY PORTION OF THE CITY THAT IS GREATLY IMPACTED BY CONTINUING THE CONTINUANCE OF SEPTIC TANKS.

I'M SORRY. I KNOW I CAN'T DO IT AS MUCH AS I WANT TO.

I JUST I JUST CAN'T. I CAN'T MAKE THE DECISION TO.

TAKE THE FUNDS AND REALLOCATE THEM. AND FOR FOR SOMETHING UNCERTAIN.

I CAN'T DO IT. I'M SORRY. CHAIRMAN GRACEY RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

I WAS JUST FLIPPING THROUGH THE BOOK, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THIS MONEY WAS GOING TO COME. I'M SORRY I COULDN'T HOLD IT. I'M SORRY.

I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT. FOR ME, I THINK THIS IS MONEY THAT IS HERE.

AND AGAIN, SHE JUST SAID WE HAD SEVERAL, SEVERAL PENDING PROJECTS THAT ARE THAT ARE ABOUT TO COME ONLINE.

AND AS I, WE PROBABLY COULD, IT IS VERY MUCH SO.

LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION. SARAH, ARE YOU OVER THERE? PROBABLY. SO I WANT TO GO TO LET ME ASK THIS, THOUGH.

WHEN YOU SAY WE CAN FIND THE MONEY. IS THIS SOMETHING? WHERE? WHERE? I DON'T KNOW IF IT LOOKS LIKE AN AMENDMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT PERHAPS A PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE, SO THAT I CAN GUARANTEE I NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT SOMEWHERE.

AND CAN I SAY AN AMENDMENT OF A PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE THAT WILL GO TOWARDS A $0.01 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WILL GO INTO A SEPTIC TANK FUND SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A COMMITTED DOLLAR AMOUNT THERE, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S I JUST WE'VE BEEN AROUND THIS.

YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW IT IS EXACTLY AS MUCH AS YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO WHEN SOMETHING COMES AND SOMETHING CONFLICTS WITH IT, THEN WE'LL BE AROUND THE HORSESHOE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AGAIN, SO THAT MONEY BEING THERE GIVES THE PEOPLE SECURITY.

AND IF I COULD SEE IT OR KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME KIND OF FINANCIAL COMMITMENT OTHER THAN EXACTLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND SO WHAT I WAS TRYING NOT TO DO IS TO MAKE THE POLICY DECISION FOR THE COUNCIL.

I WAS TRYING TO GET YOU ALL TO TELL US THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT US TO DO, THAT YOU WANT THIS TO BE A PROGRAM THAT EXISTS.

THIS PROGRAM WAS SET UP WITH A CERTAIN FUNDING SOURCE, WHICH WAS ONE TIME ARPA MONEY.

AND SO ONCE THAT MONEY WAS GONE, IT WAS GOING TO BE GONE.

IT WAS GOING TO BE GONE. THE PROGRAM WOULD ACTUALLY NOT EXIST.

SO WHAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GIVE US IS YOUR POLICY DIRECTION, BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY SET UP TO BE KIND OF A ONE TIME THING, RIGHT? AND SO IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT I KNOW THAT WE'RE HEARING BECAUSE OF THE TIMING FROM DOING THE CONSTRUCTION, WAITING TO THEN GET PEOPLE CONNECTED, THERE IS A GAP THERE.

SURE. WHICH IS WHAT MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR US TO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 50 HOMES READY IN 2026.

WE DON'T KNOW. AND THAT'S WHAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

HOWEVER, IF COUNCIL IS SAYING WITHOUT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO DIRECT YOU GUYS, WELL IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DIRECTING, THEN YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WE WANT TO FUND.

AND AS HOMES COME ONLINE OR WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE, DO IT THEN.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD BE ASKING US TO DO. AND IT NEEDS TO BE BUILT INTO THE BUDGET. AND WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SOME ESTIMATES BASED ON OKAY, WELL, WE KNOW WE'VE GIVEN OUT 200 NOTICES WHAT WOULD BE THE PERCENTAGE, BUT IT WOULD BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS THAT WE WOULD BE UNDERTAKING.

BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY MAY SAVE IF YOU GO THIS WAY THAT'S DOING THAT AND THAT MONEY, I GET THAT.

SO DO I NEED TO MAKE THAT AMENDMENT RIGHT NOW AND PUT THAT INTO THIS, INTO THIS? I THINK WE'VE I THINK WE'VE TAX RATE STUFF, MR. MAYOR. YES. I THINK WHAT WE'RE HEARING NOW, JUST FROM SOME OF THE COMMENTS IS THAT THERE IS A AN ONGOING FOCUS THAT YOU WANT US TO HAVE EVEN BEYOND BECAUSE

[08:50:01]

IF WE USE UP THIS 548 AND WE STILL HAD MORE HOMES TO CONNECT, YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP.

YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO CONNECT, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE PEOPLE OFF OF SEPTIC PROGRAMS. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HEARING, BUT I NEED FOR YOU GUYS TO GIVE THAT POLICY DIRECTION.

SO THEN WE CAN SAY GOING FORWARD, THERE WILL BE A PROGRAM AND THE FUNDING SOURCE WOULD BE LIKE I DO EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE WOULD COME BACK AND SAY, THIS IS HOW WE'RE DOING IT.

AND NO, I WOULDN'T USE LIBRARY FUNDS TO CUT TO DO IT.

WE WOULD BE WE WOULD BE CHALLENGING OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE HOW IT GOES.

IT COULD BE STREETS, IT COULD BE WATER. WE WOULD BE COMING BACK AND TELLING YOU HOW WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

BUT YOU WOULD BE SETTING THE POLICY DIRECTION.

IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO COME BACK AND SHARE WITH YOU THE FUNDING SOURCE TO DELIVER ON YOUR POLICY DIRECTION.

AND WHEN DOES THAT THERE'S AN EXPIRATION ON THOSE ARPA DOLLARS, CORRECT? YES THERE IS. WHICH IS WHY IF IT'S STILL SITTING IN KIND OF AN ARPA LINE ITEM, AND WE'RE STILL WAITING TO GET THE LINES ALL COMPLETED AND THAT'S NOT DONE.

I THINK SARAH EVEN TALKED ABOUT THERE COULD BE MORE CONNECTIONS IN 26 AND 27.

LET ME ASK IT ANOTHER WAY. THIS MONEY IS IN ARPA FUND, BUT TECHNICALLY DEDICATED TO THE SEPTIC AND SEPTIC PROBABLY SPENT IN ITS CURRENT STATE. IS THAT A TRUE STATEMENT? SO THERE HAS TO ACTUALLY BE BECAUSE IT'S ALLOCATED TO A PROGRAM OR IT'S IN A LINE ITEM THAT'S IDENT.

SO WHEN WE DID THE ARPA ALLOCATIONS, IT'S ACTUALLY IN A LINE ITEM CURRENTLY THAT SAYS SEPTIC PROGRAM.

AND IT HAS ITS OWN CODE. WELL WELL, WELL IT, WELL IT'S IT'S NOT ENCUMBERED BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN SPENT.

SO THE ONLY THING THAT WE'VE TAKEN OUT NOW THERE WAS I THINK 935 AND I'M DOING IT FROM MEMORY IS THE AMENDMENT THAT HAS MOVED FORWARD, I THINK, WHICH WAS THE 386. SO THIS 548, 457 IS WHAT'S LEFT.

AND IT HAS NOT BEEN ENCUMBERED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THOSE HOMES READY TO HOOK UP.

OKAY. SO UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, WE WOULDN'T ACTUALLY EXPEND THE FUNDS I GOT IT OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. AND SO WE'VE GOT I THINK AGAIN WE'VE GOT ABOUT 200 NOTICES OUT ROUGHLY.

IS THAT CORRECT? SARAH. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. SO WHEN THE PROGRAM HAS STARTED TO DATE, 200 HOMES HAVE BEEN CONTACTED THROUGH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, SO WE WERE PUTTING THEM OUT AS WE STARTED CONSTRUCTION AS WE TO LET THEM KNOW TO CONTACT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

THIS WILL SHIFT OVER TO US IN 26. THE REMAINING 200 HOMES, THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY HAVE A PUBLIC LINE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE WHEN IT STARTED THAT THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET HAD A TOUCHPOINT TO SAY WE'RE WITHIN WEEKS OF COMPLETING.

ARE YOU INTERESTED? SO THAT'S PART OF THAT TRANSITION THAT WE'LL MAKE AND WORK TO HELP EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THE THE PROGRAM AND GET THEM ONLINE.

AND YOU COULD ASK US TO EVEN COME BACK AS WE CONTINUE WITH THE WORK AS WELL AS THE ENGAGEMENT, AND WE CAN EVEN COME BACK AND SAY, OKAY, WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS MANY READY, AND HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT. I THINK WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF COUNCIL WANTED THIS TO MOVE FORWARD IN THIS DIRECTION, THEN YOU'RE STILL GIVING THAT POLICY DIRECTION ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE BEYOND THIS AMENDMENT. AND THAT'S YOUR CALL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

MR. ROTH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I WOULD CONTINUE TO BE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS AMENDMENT.

I THINK THE UNCERTAINTY OF OF THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS IN THE FUTURE IS, IS REAL.

I THINK THAT THE DEDICATION TO THESE FUNDS BEING IN PLACE PROVIDES THE SECURITY AND THE COMFORT LEVEL TO THE TO THE NOT ONLY THE DISTRICTS THAT ARE INVOLVED, BUT ALSO TO THE RESIDENTS THAT MIGHT BE POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS.

AND I THINK THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME THAT WE CAN REVISIT THIS ISSUE ONCE THE SEWER LINE IS PUT IN, ONCE THE MARKETING HAS BEEN DONE TO THESE FOLKS TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO CONNECT.

AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE IF THERE'S ANY EXCESS FUNDS AVAILABLE AT A AT A FUTURE TIME.

AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A FUTURE TIME TEN YEARS FROM NOW.

I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN THESE THINGS ARE COMPLETED.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE GUIDED BY THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT AND BY THE NEEDS OF THE, OF THE OF THE CITIZENS IN THAT DISTRICT AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF, OF THEIR NEED OF THAT CONNECTION.

SO I WOULD WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE JUST VOTE DOWN THIS AND, AND RETAIN THE SEPTIC COMMITMENT IN THESE ARPA FUNDS.

[08:55:08]

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM. WE NO LONGER ALLOW HOMES TO BE BUILT WITH SEPTIC TANKS.

SO I WOULD HAVE TO GET CLARIFICATION FROM THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL.

THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF TOWN THAT DO NOT HAVE LIFT STATIONS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ON EXISTING, AND SO SOME OF SOME OF THEM MAY NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY UNLESS A DEVELOPMENT COMES AND PUTS IN NEW LINES.

BUT WE COULD GET CLARIFICATION ON THE BUILDING OFFICIAL AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS ALLOWED ANYWHERE IN DALLAS AT THIS POINT.

WHILE WE'RE WAITING, CAN I JUST CONFIRM THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE SEPTIC TANKS WE HAVE WERE THOSE FROM ANNEXATION OF LAND, OR WERE THEY MADE BY EXCEPTION? THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WE HAVE ARE IN AREAS OF TOWN THAT WE ANNEXED.

AND THEN THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE PUT THEM IN A COUPLE DECADES AGO, DUE TO SOME CONSTRAINTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT.

WAITING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE TO CONFIRM THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWING HOMES TO BE BUILT WITH SEPTIC TANKS AS A PRACTICE, AND ONLY BY EXCEPTION IF THERE'S NO LIFT STATION.

KATHERINE LEE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT. NO, IT IS NOT ALLOWED ANYMORE.

THANK YOU. I GUESS SHE REALLY WORKS HERE.

WHEN IT'S 11:00, WE NEVER KNOW. OKAY. WERE YOU DONE? I MEAN, OKAY, MISS BLAIR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE REAL QUICK.

I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO. ARE WE LISTENING? I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO BE A POLICY CHANGE SO THAT AS MY RESIDENTS OR ANY OTHER RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS WHO ARE ON SEPTIC TANK TODAY, IRREGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT OR WHEN WE THEY COME ONLINE TO HAVE A WASTEWATER HOOKUPS, I WANT THEM TO BE ANYONE TO WHO COMES IN AFTER THEM TO BE ABLE. I WANT THIS TO BE A POLICY CHANGE THAT ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO'S ON SEPTIC TANK CAN HAVE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO COME OFF A SEPTIC TANK, NO MATTER WHEN IT OCCURS. WE HEARD IT. ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR AGAINST AMENDMENT 38 BY CHAIRWOMAN STEWART? OKAY. SO I GUESS I'M MAKING AN AMENDMENT. NO, I DON'T HAVE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT.

ARE WE JUST MAKING A POLICY CHANGE TO. NO. THE ONLY THING WE'RE DOING TODAY IS A BUDGET.

OKAY. NO POLICY MAKING TODAY. BUT YOUR YOUR COMMENTS WERE NOTED BY THE CITY MANAGER THROUGH HER NODDING OF HER HEAD.

AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO INDICATE SUPPORT FOR THIS AMENDMENT BY RAISING PLACARDS.

KATHY STEWART, WE'RE RAISING PLACARDS ON YOUR AMENDMENT.

IF YOU ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR PLACARD.

SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. YEAH. GO AHEAD. COUNCIL MEMBERS.

YES. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE. NO, YOU'VE ALREADY DIRECTED YOUR POLICY. WHO ARE YOU POINTING AT? OH. I'M LIKE, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.

YES, I GOT IT.

NO NO NO NO. WELL, IT'S NOT A REAL VOTE. SO IF YOU HAVE A IF YOU HAVE ANY CONFUSION.

THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT. SEALS REST IN FAVOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS BLAIR STEWART MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO MAYOR JOHNSON, COUNCIL MEMBER WEST, COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

WITH NINE SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. THE AMENDMENT PASSES MR. MAYOR. OKAY, WE HAVE ONE MORE THAT OUR FINANCIAL STAFF NEEDS BEFORE THEY CAN GO DO THEIR CALCULATION.

AND IF IT'S GOING TO BE INTRODUCED AND THAT'S 39.

IS THERE ANYONE INTERESTED IN. YES. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION.

[09:00:01]

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I MOVE THAT WE REDUCE FUNDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF AI CAMERAS ON THE SANITATION FLEET, AS PROPOSED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, AND PHASED THE IMPLEMENTATION WITH 25 TRUCKS IN FISCAL YEAR 26.

IN THE REMAINING 25. IN THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN. RIDLEY? YES. YES. FIVE MINUTES. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS PROPOSED BY CODE, BUT FUNDED BY SANITATION. AND AS A RESULT, IT'S COMING FROM ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

AS A RESULT, WE CANNOT EQUATE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS TO A TAX REDUCTION.

IT HAS TO BE A REDUCTION IN THE SANITATION RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION FEE OF $0.13 PER MONTH, BUT THAT STILL PUTS MONEY INTO OUR RESIDENTS POCKETS.

JUST LIKE A TAX REDUCTION WOULD DO, BECAUSE THEIR SANITATION FEE WILL BE REDUCED BY THAT AMOUNT PER MONTH.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS BEST DONE AS A TRIAL PROGRAM.

ANYWAY, SINCE WE DON'T DO THIS CURRENTLY TO SEE HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS, WHETHER IT REALLY IS A MORE EFFICIENT MEANS OF DETECTING CODE VIOLATIONS AND WHETHER THE EQUIPMENT WORKS AS EXPECTED.

CHAIRMAN WEST RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE MR. RIDLEY BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT.

I SUPPORT IT. MY CONCERN REALLY IS THE YOU KNOW, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN AI.

I THINK A LOT OF US ARE, BUT NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE EXTENT TO WHICH THESE CAMERAS ARE GOING TO BE POINTING INTO OUR BACKYARDS AND INVADING THE PRIVACY THAT WE HAVE AS HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS.

AND SO I THINK BEFORE WE JUST UNLEASH THEM ON THE ENTIRE CITY WE DO A LITTLE BIT MORE, AS MR. RIDLEY MENTIONED, A TEST BASIS. SEE HOW THEY WORK MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT OVER EXTENSIVELY INVADING OUR PRIVACY AND THEN COME BACK AND REASSESS. SO I'M SUPPORTING IT. THANK YOU. MR. BAZALDUA, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

MAYOR CITY MANAGER, HOW ARE YOU? OR CLIFF, IF IF HE'S STILL THERE, HOW ARE YOU ALLOCATING OR DESIGNATING WHAT AREAS THESE TRUCKS WILL WOULD THAT THE CAMERAS WOULD BE PUT ON THE TRUCKS. GOOD EVENING. MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CLIFF GILLESPIE, DIRECTOR, SANITATION I APOLOGIZE, I CAN'T BE THERE THIS EVENING IN PERSON. IF CHRIS CHRISTIAN IS THERE YOU MAY BE BEST SUITED TO, TO ANSWER IN TERMS OF HOW THOSE TRUCKS WILL BE OR HOW THE CAMERAS WOULD BE DEPLOYED ACROSS THE CITY.

CHRIS CHRISTIAN, DIRECTOR OF CODE COMPLIANCE. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER. WHEN WE ORIGINALLY GOT A PROPOSAL FOR THESE CAMERAS, WE PILOTED THE CAMERAS AND WE GOT 30 CAMERAS QUOTED.

THE PRICE FOR THOSE 30 CAMERAS WAS $670,000, AND OUR 2425 ADOPTED BUDGET AND OUR PLANNED BUDGET FOR 2526, WE HAD $670,000 APPROVED FOR THE AI CAMERAS.

THAT WAS 30 CAMERAS MEMORIES AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THE VENDOR AND CLIFF, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM.

WE FOUND IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE EFFICIENT TO PUT THE CAMERAS ON OUR SANITATION TRUCKS TO BE ABLE TO COVER OUR ENTIRE CITY, ALL 14 COUNCIL DISTRICTS. WE TALKED ABOUT ENHANCING THE PURCHASE TO 100 CAMERAS TO GO ON 50 SANITATION TRUCKS FOR THAT FULL CITY COVERAGE, FULL COUNCIL DISTRICT COVERAGE. TO ADD THOSE 70 CAMERAS, THE VENDOR QUOTED US ONLY AN ADDITIONAL $182,000 BECAUSE THEY WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AND LAUNCHING THIS PROGRAM HERE.

AND SO, AGAIN, THE AMENDMENT THAT'S ON THE FLOOR WOULD REDUCE THE ALLOCATION BY 50%, LEAVING US WITH 426 OR 427,000 THAT DID NOT. THAT THAT WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL FOR 30 CAMERAS.

AND SO WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE FUNDING. WE DON'T HAVE A QUOTE FOR 50 CAMERAS.

AT THIS TIME, WE NEVER RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FOR 50 CAMERAS.

IT WAS ONLY THE 30 CAMERAS FOR $670,000, OR THE 100 CAMERAS FOR A FULL IMPLEMENTATION FOR $852,000,

[09:05:06]

WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL FOR FOR THIS PROGRAM.

TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE DETECTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER SAYS THE DETECTIONS THAT THESE CAMERAS MAKE ARE FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

NO DIFFERENT THAN OUR CODE OFFICERS WITH AN IPAD.

WHEN THEY PULL UP TO A PROPERTY AND THEY GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO SNAP A PHOTO OF THE VIOLATIONS WITH THEIR IPAD OR WITH THEIR MOBILE DEVICE.

THOSE PHOTOS ARE TAKEN FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT AWAY.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE THESE CAMERAS TAKE DETECTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

AND SO THERE IS NO INVASION OF BACKYARD PRIVACY.

THERE IS NO TRESPASSING. ALL OF THE DETECTIONS ARE OCCURRING ON THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, AS WOULD OURS FROM CODE OFFICERS OFFERS MANUALLY. THANK YOU. I I'M NOT CONCERNED WITH THE PRIVACY ASPECT.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS ANYWHERE CLOSE TO AS INVASIVE AS THE FLOCK CAMERAS THAT WE HAVE, OR FACE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN OUR CITY.

I DO THOUGH, SEE THIS BEING A WAY TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY FOR EFFICIENCY.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, AND CITY MANAGER WAS AT MY VERY WELL ATTENDED BUDGET TOWN HALL IN SOUTH DALLAS, AND THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT STUCK OUT TO MANY CONSTITUENTS WHO CAME.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU REPRESENT A COMMUNITY THAT HAS FREQUENT DUMPING AND VIOLATIONS THAT IMPEDE ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE IT IS IT IS IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT MOST MONTHS OUR DISTRICT HAS MORE SERVICE REQUESTS THAN ANY OTHER DISTRICT. WE STILL CAN'T KEEP UP, WITH THE DEMAND, AND THAT MEANS THE DEMAND WITH THAT MANY SERVICE REQUESTS BASICALLY EQUATES TO OUR CODE OFFICERS. IN, IN GOING CALL TO CALL, NOT MUCH PROACTIVE ENFORCEMENT. I THINK THAT THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR THINGS FOR THERE TO BE EXTRA EYES AND EARS ON THE GROUND, IF YOU WILL UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY AND HELPING ALLEVIATE A LITTLE BIT OF THE BURDEN THAT IS INEVITABLY LARGE ON CONSTITUENTS IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR THAT ARE PLAGUED BY ILLEGAL DUMPING, SPECIFICALLY AND OTHER NUISANCE CODE VIOLATIONS THAT ARE AN ISSUE. I THINK THAT THE, THE PLAN ON ROLLING THESE OUT WITH THE HUMAN COMPONENT TO FOLLOW UP AFTERWARDS IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

AND THIS IS THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES OF HOW TECHNOLOGY SHOULD EQUATE TO US HAVING TO SPEND LESS IN, IN HUMAN RESOURCES. AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

IT'S A MINIMAL COST. WHENEVER YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE ESSENTIALLY A PACKAGE DEAL WITH, WITH HOW YOU'VE LAID THAT OUT.

SO UNDER $1 MILLION, WE'RE ABLE TO EQUIP ALL OF OUR TRUCKS ACROSS THE CITY.

SO IT'S NOT JUST A, A SOUTHERN SECTOR ISSUE. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED THAT IF WE WERE TO DROP THIS DOWN, THAT WE WOULD HAVE INEQUITY IN HOW THESE ARE DEPLOYED AND THEN WHO'S COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE MOST IMPACTED BY THAT? IT'S GOING TO BE THOSE THAT WOULD BE BENEFITING FROM THIS TECHNOLOGY.

MOST IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO I THINK THAT THIS IS A PRETTY FAR REACH FOR SAVING EVERYONE A DOLLAR IN A YEAR.

AND I THINK THAT THAT DOLLAR WOULD BE GLADLY ACCEPTED TO STAY ON THEIR SANITATION BILL FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, WHO ARE ACTUALLY VERY EXCITED AND EAGER TO SEE THIS TECHNOLOGY GET TO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL CONSIDER, ESPECIALLY MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, WHO ALSO DEALS WITH THE SAME ISSUES AND CODE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE I THINK AI NEEDS TO BE DEPLOYED.

I MEAN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PLACES WHERE WE HAVE TO PILOT IT OR WHERE IT'S APPROPRIATE OR HOW WE CAN USE IT, I WAS SO EXCITED TO READ ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THIS IDEA, GOING FROM PUTTING IT ON CODE VEHICLES TO THE CURRENT, YOU KNOW, DAWNING ON EVERYONE THAT, HEY, SANITATION IS IN AND OUT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ALL THE TIME AND THAT THAT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF MISS FAST IS HERE.

I THINK SHE WAS JUST RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

OH, THERE SHE IS. SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE 311 REPORTS FOR THE DISTRICT AND OTHER PEOPLE'S DISTRICTS I FEEL LIKE I SEE A LOT OF 311 CALLS RELATED TO CODE.

CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF THE VOLUME AROUND THAT?

[09:10:01]

ABSOLUTELY. GOOD. GOOD EVENING. DAISY FAST, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AT 311.

SO THE CODE CONCERN ESSER HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE SERVICE REQUEST THAT IS HANDLED BY 311 AGENTS OR OUR SYSTEMS FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AT A MINIMUM, APPROXIMATELY EVERY YEAR.

I BELIEVE IT'S OVER 220,000 IS THAT I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME.

BUT AT THE AT THE END OF LAST MONTH, WE HAD RECEIVED 161,000 CODE CONCERNS FOR CODE COMPLIANCE THIS YEAR, YEAR TO DATE. AND WITH THE MONTH STILL TO GO 93% OF THOSE BEING CLOSED ON TIME.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST MONUMENTAL THINGS I THINK WE MAY HEAR TODAY, AND THAT IS THAT WE'VE GOT THIS TREMENDOUS VOLUME OF CALLS COMING IN TO REPORT TO 311 ABOUT CODE ISSUES. AND NOW WE CAN TOTALLY SHIFT THAT TO WHERE WE LIGHTEN THAT BURDEN ON OUR RESIDENTS HAVING TO REPORT SOMETHING.

THE OTHER THING I OFTEN HEAR IS THAT PEOPLE WILL TELL ME THAT THEY'LL SEE A CODE TRUCK GO BY, OR A CODE CAR GO BY, AND THEY'RE LIKE, BUT THEY DROVE PAST THIS VIOLATION OR THIS INFRACTION OR WHATEVER.

AND THEY DIDN'T STOP. AND IT'S USUALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT ANSWERING THOSE 311 CALLS, AND THEY AREN'T ABLE TO BE AS PROACTIVE AS THEY'D WANT TO BE.

SO I JUST SEE THIS AS AN AMAZING COMING TOGETHER OF THE TECHNOLOGY OF A WAY TO REDUCE THIS 311 THE CALLS THAT WE GET AND I'M, I'M REALLY ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE IMPACT OF THIS COULD BE.

AND THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I THINK WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT CAMERAS IN NEIGHBORHOODS, WE TEND TO THINK, YOU KNOW, BIG BROTHER, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU DEFINING THAT.

THIS IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. ANYWAY, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS CAN BE SHIFT US INTO MORE OF A, A PROACTIVE ROLE AND THAT OUR EMPLOYEES CAN DO MORE OF WHAT THE HIGH TOUCH ASPECT OF THIS IS, BECAUSE WHAT I FIND IN WORKING WITH CODE, IT'S THAT THEY'RE SO OFTEN ISSUES WHERE A RESIDENT NEEDS TO BE WORKED WITH TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE, OR IT'S JUST NOT ALWAYS AS EASY TO TELL WHAT CODE MAY BE IN VIOLATION.

I MEAN, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN SHARE ABOUT WHY THIS? WE DON'T WANT TO BE PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH? YEAH.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS, COUNCILWOMAN WILLIS.

THOSE ARE OUR SENTIMENTS EXACTLY. AND WHILE WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS TOOL AS WE REIMAGINED OUR BUDGET AND OUR STAFFING, WE MADE SOME DECISIONS IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS TOOL COMING ONLINE AND BEING ABLE TO HELP US WITH SOME PROACTIVITY, SOME EFFICIENCY AND STREAMLINING, STREAMLINING SOME OF OUR PROCESSES.

AND SO WITH THE PROACTIVITY OF THESE DETECTIONS FROM THESE AI CAMERAS, OUR CODE OFFICERS CAN FOCUS ON THE EDUCATION COMPONENT, THE OUTREACH COMPONENT, THE PROVIDING OF RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR OUR SENIORS AND FOR OUR DISABLED VETERANS, AND FOR FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE BUT NEED OUR HELP ALSO TO HELP US STRATEGICALLY DEPLOY OUR RESOURCES MAKING DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS, WHICH FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS I'VE SAID ON THIS SIDE OF THIS BODY AND HEARD YOU SAY, YOU WANT EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT, YOU WANT PROACTIVITY, YOU WANT DATA DRIVEN STRATEGIC DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES AND TOOLS.

AND SO THIS TECHNOLOGY CHECKS ALL THE BOXES. I FEEL LIKE IT CHECKS ALL THE BOXES.

AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BRING THIS, THIS, THIS TOOL TO TO BEAR.

WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I THINK IN THIS INSTANCE WE WOULD BETTER SERVE OUR RESIDENTS BY NOT BRINGING THE TAX RATE DOWN SLIGHTLY.

WE WOULD BE BETTER SERVING THEM ON THIS THE SOURCE OF FUNDS SIDE TO ANSWER THEIR CALL, LITERALLY THEIR CALLS TO 311, WITH THE VOLUME BASED ON THEM GETTING IN TOUCH WITH US, AND THAT THAT'S WHERE THEY WOULD WANT TO SEE THIS THEIR, THEIR TAX DOLLARS SPENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

ALL OF THAT BACKGROUND. THANK YOU. MR. ROTH. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS. ARE ARE YOU THIS IS IN A SUPPLEMENT TO.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE CAMERAS ALSO ON CODE COMPLIANCE.

ON CODE COMPLIANCE VEHICLES ALSO. NO, SIR. OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS TO PUT THEM ON CODE COMPLIANCE VEHICLES.

BUT AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VENDOR WHAT THEY HAD SEEN IN OTHER CITIES WHERE THIS HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED ALREADY WERE USING THE WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE VEHICLES, WAS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO CAPTURE ALL THE DATA OF THE CITY, JUST BASED ON THE ROUTES AND THE COVERAGE AND THE CONSISTENCY OF HOW THEY TRAVEL THROUGH OUR CITY, OUR CODE OFFICER VEHICLE MOVEMENTS ARE MORE SPORADIC.

THEY'RE RESPONDING TO 311 CASES WHEN THEY LEAVE THE OFFICE EVERY DAY.

THEY'RE TAKING DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THEY'RE TRAVERSING DIFFERENT PATHS TO ARRIVE AT THEIR DESIRED LOCATIONS.

SANITATION TRUCKS ARE MORE ROUTINE, AND THEY COVER THE ENTIRE CITY.

THE SANITATION TRAFFIC PATTERNS WOULD SEEM TO ME TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN CODE COMPLIANCE TRAFFIC.

THIS IS JUST ANECDOTAL. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S A DIFFERENT TIME.

[09:15:03]

IT'S A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. IT'S A DIFFERENT PATTERN OF OF OF TRAFFIC.

ALSO, IS THIS SORT OF THIS IS A NEW, A NEW TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S A NEW VISION. IS THIS IS ALL THESE 50 TRUCKS, THE TOTAL VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE, 50 BULK AND BRUSH TRUCKS WAS, WHICH IS THE TRUCKS WE DECIDED TO GO WITH BECAUSE JUST THE BULK AND THIS IS JUST THE BULK AND BRUSH STROKES BECAUSE WE WE SPECIFICALLY CHOSE THOSE TRUCKS STRATEGICALLY BECAUSE THEY GO IN THE FRONT OF PROPERTIES AND IT'S 50 TRUCKS.

SO IT'LL BE A CAMERA ON EACH SIDE. AND SO WHICH EACH PASS OF THE STREET, THERE'S A CAMERA ON EACH SIDE OF THE TRUCK DETECTING THE VIOLATIONS ON BOTH SIDES WITH ONE PASS. AND SO THESE TRUCKS ARE COLLECTING BULK AND BRUSH MONTHLY THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY IN FRONT OF PROPERTIES.

AND THE CAMERAS WILL ALSO DETECT VIOLATIONS ALONG THE RIGHT OF WAY.

SO ON RAMPS, OFF RAMPS MAJOR THOROUGHFARE THOROUGHFARES, PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS, STREET CONDITIONS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF USES AND BENEFITS TO THE TECHNOLOGY OUTSIDE OF JUST THE CODE VIOLATIONS THAT WE'LL BE WORKING.

AND THOSE ARE SORT OF ONCE A MONTH, 30 EVERY 30 DAYS.

WE WILL ASSESS THE ENTIRE CITY EVERY 30 DAYS OVER.

YES. SO AGAIN I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR.

I MEAN SUPPORT THE MOTION. NOT BECAUSE I'M NOT AGAINST AI, BUT I THINK THIS IS NEW TECHNOLOGY.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TESTED ON A SMALLER BASIS.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO TRY IT OUT, I THINK THAT SETTING IT ALL UP AT FIRST WITH, WITH THIS KIND OF A SYSTEM IS, IS NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD USE OF THE FUNDS.

AND I THINK THESE FUNDS COULD BE BETTER SERVED TO BE PUT BACK INTO THE SANITATION BUDGET.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE LOOKED INTO, BUT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS BRAND NEW.

I THINK THAT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE PROVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE TO US.

AND, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE AND I'M, I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST GOING UP.

I THINK AS TECHNOLOGY BECOMES MORE PROFICIENT, IT PROBABLY MIGHT BE LESS.

SO AGAIN, I WOULD I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE THE BENEFIT.

I LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE'RE HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION.

I THINK WE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT TOO EARLY ON THIS AND WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE POSTPONE THIS UNTIL A DIFFERENT MAYBE A DIFFERENT BUDGET CYCLE.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE NOT YET APPROVED THIS CONTRACT. CORRECT.

DO YOU HAVE THE DATE WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME TO US ON THE FORECAST? PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THIS PROCESS, THE CONTRACT IS NEXT TO COME BACK TO YOU ALL ON A CONSENT AGENDA IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

SO OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, POTENTIALLY OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.

AND THEN ONCE WE APPROVE IT. BUT SO THIS AMENDMENT WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT FOR THIS PRICING.

LIKE I SAID OUR PROPOSAL WAS 30 CAMERAS FOR 670,000.

AND SO IF THIS AMENDMENT IS APPROVED AND WE'RE LEFT WITH 427,000 OR 26,000 WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE VENDOR AND GET A NEW PROPOSAL. AND SO WE'D HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THOSE CONFINES.

RIGHT. SO I GUESS MY POINT IS, SO IF IT GOES ON IN NOVEMBER, AGENDA FOR WHATEVER AMOUNT RIGHT TO TO APPROVE A CONTRACT HOW LONG WOULD IT THEN TAKE TO OUTFIT THE TRUCKS? SO OUR CURRENT PLAN UNDER OUR EXISTING CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TO BE READY TO GO LIVE EARLY NEXT YEAR.

JANUARY. THAT'S CONTRACT BACK TO YOU GUYS. APPROVED VENDOR HERE.

HARDWARE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLES. READY FOR FULL DEPLOYMENT BY JANUARY OF 2026.

AND SO THE NEW TIMELINE COULD BE A COUPLE MONTHS BEYOND THAT.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW NEGOTIATIONS GO WITH THE VENDOR.

WHAT NEW AGREEMENT WE'RE ABLE TO ARRANGE. BRING THAT BACK TO YOU ALL, GET YOUR APPROVAL.

AND YOU KNOW, THE TIMELINE WOULD JUST HAVE TO GO BY HOW THOSE THINGS TAKE PLACE.

I APPRECIATE THAT. AND CAN YOU REMIND ME FOR WHEN THE CAMERAS WHEN THE AI SPOTS A CODE VIOLATION.

IS IT CONNECTING THE ADDRESS THEN AND MERGING THAT LETTER FOR YOU? AND THEN IS A PERSON REVIEWING THE LETTER OR IS IT READY TO GO? TOTALLY AUTOMATED. YES, MA'AM. SO IT'S GIS PINPOINTING THE ADDRESS AND LOCATION OF THE DETECTIONS.

AND IT'S CREATING A REPORT FOR US AND OUR ONLINE DASHBOARD FOR US TO GO IN.

AND A HUMAN REVIEWS IT THERE. A CODE OFFICER CAN REVIEW IT.

THEIR ADMIN STAFF CAN REVIEW IT THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DETECTION THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED IS INDEED A CODE VIOLATION.

THE ADDRESS AND THE AND THE HOME PHOTO IS ACCURATE AND AT OVER A 95% RATE, THAT'S THE CASE.

[09:20:04]

IT TAKES ABOUT 10 OR 15 SECONDS TO REVIEW IF THE DETECTION IS INDEED AN ACTUAL CODE VIOLATION OR NOT.

AND SO WITH THIS SOFTWARE, ARE YOU ANTICIPATING A REDUCTION IN STAFF? NOT IMMEDIATELY. BUT WE THINK THAT IN THE COMING 18 TO 24 MONTHS, WE COULD SEE SOME IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES AND COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT SOME REDUCTIONS IN STAFFING.

AND I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR BUDGET BOOK FOR THIS YEAR CODE COMPLIANCE OFFERED 32 POSITIONS.

WE TOOK THE PRIORITY BASED BUDGETING INITIATIVE SERIOUSLY.

WE VOLUNTARILY OFFERED UNDERSPENT CONTRACTS UNDERUTILIZED DOLLARS IN OUR OBJECT CODES AND 32 OFFICER POSITIONS. AND IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS TOOL COMING ONLINE FOR US AND THOSE 32 OFFICERS, WELL, NOT 32 OFFICERS, 32 VARIOUS POSITION TYPES THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATION.

OKAY. SO THE 32 POSITIONS, THOUGH, THOSE ARE ALL UNFILLED, WEREN'T THEY? NO, MA'AM. WE HAD ABOUT 19 POSITIONS THAT WERE THAT WERE FILLED.

OKAY. SO I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE AI AND I THINK AI OUGHT TO BE DOING A LOT MORE AT CITY HALL.

AND I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL WAY FOR US TO GET US A NUMBER OF DATA POINTS THAT WILL HELP US BE MORE EFFICIENT.

BUT I ALSO KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES TO DO THINGS.

FOR INSTANCE, WE CAN'T CLOSE A LIBRARY. WE CAN'T CLOSE OUR LIBRARIES EVEN BY JULY 1ST OF NEXT YEAR.

AND I DOUBT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THESE CONTRACTS IN A TIMELY BASIS AND GET THESE CAMERAS MOUNTED AND GET THEM OUT ROLLING AND GET THE SYSTEM UP BEFORE YOU EVEN HAVE ENOUGH DATA FOR US TO EVALUATE FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. DON'T.

DON'T DOUBT ME. COUNCIL MEMBER I'LL GET YOU DO GET STUFF DONE AND I WILL GIVE YOU THAT.

BUT I REALLY AM SUSPECT FOR HOW MUCH INFORMATION WE'RE GOING TO GET BY THAT TIME.

SO WHAT I THINK IS A REASONABLE SUGGESTION IS TO HAVE IT AS A PILOT.

LET US SEE HOW. HOW EFFICIENT IS IT? HOW? I MEAN, MAYBE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBERS THAT COULD BE LEVERAGED IN THIS.

AND AS YOU HAVE, ATTRITION ARE NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE LITERALLY AI WILL BE TAKING PEOPLE'S JOBS.

AND WE NEED TO GET WITH THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WILL MAKE CITY HALL MORE EFFICIENT AND FRANKLY, BETTER SERVICES. SO 311 STAFF MIGHT GO SMALLER BECAUSE WHAT IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO? WHAT IF EVERY ANSWER THAT WE HAD WASN'T CALL 311.

SO I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. NOT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS IMPORTANT IN THE FOREFRONT.

I THINK YOU ARE LEADING THE CITY IN THIS KIND OF A SOLUTION.

I SUPPORT IT, BUT I ALSO KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET IT DONE.

AND IF YOU WENT BACK AND EVEN IF YOU HAD 20 CAMERAS AND SAID, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT RIGHT, AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND SHOW THE COUNCIL HOW GREAT IT IS.

WE'RE GOING TO INVEST NEXT YEAR, BIG TIME. AND WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER I THINK JUST TO COUNCILWOMAN WILLIS'S POINT, IT PUTS US IN A TOUGH POSITION TO START WITH LOWER CAMERAS, BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT WHICH COUNCIL DISTRICTS GET TO BENEFIT FROM THIS TOOL AND USE THIS RESOURCE.

AND WHERE DO WE DEPLOY THESE CAMERAS? BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE THE CAMERAS TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRE CITY.

AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE WE DEPLOY THEM.

I HEAR YOU. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION OFFLINE, BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT THE AREAS THAT YOU HAVE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF CODE VIOLATIONS, WHICH I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IS NOT DISTRICT 12, IS PROBABLY WHERE THEY SHOULD GO.

AND LET'S GET THAT UNDER CONTROL. SO I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT DISTRICT THAT IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT AREAS IT IS. AND IT MIGHT BE POCKETS, YOU KNOW, FIVE DIFFERENT POCKETS OVER DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT YOU SHOULD PUT THEM WHERE THEY'RE MOST NEEDED, IS WHAT I WOULD SAY JUST AS ONE COUNCIL MEMBER.

BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW VERY IMPORTANT I THINK THE PILOT IS.

I TOTALLY SUPPORT IT, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT A PILOT IS GENERALLY HOW WE DO THINGS IN THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THERE AREN'T, WHETHER IT'S PRIVACY ISSUES OR OTHER GLITCHES THAT MIGHT INHIBIT A CITY WIDE ROLLOUT.

WE HAVE HAD SOME UNFORTUNATE SANITATION ROLLOUTS.

THANK YOU. UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES, MR. BLAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW THAT I'M AWAKE DIRECTOR CHRISTIAN. YES, MA'AM. NOT THAT AWAKE. WHEN YOU WHEN WE'RE YOU'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING THESE AI CAMERAS ON 25 TRUCKS AND 26 AND 25 TRUCKS AND

[09:25:01]

27. NO, MA'AM, THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT.

I WAS LOOKING AT PUTTING THOSE CAMERAS ON 50 TRUCKS IN 2025 AND IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM IN 2026.

IN 2025. IN ORDER TO. THE AMENDMENT IS PROPOSING THAT WE PUT THE CAMERAS ON 25 TRUCKS AND 20, 25 AND 25 TRUCKS NEXT YEAR. AND THE TRUCKS ARE THE NOT THE SANITATION TRUCKS, BUT THE BULK TRASH TRUCKS.

THAT'S CORRECT. AND THOSE BULK TRASH TRUCKS ARE HIGHER.

AND THEY CAN. AND THE PLACEMENT, DEPENDING UPON THE PLACEMENT, THEY STILL SEE MORE.

CORRECT. YES, MA'AM. THE VENDOR'S BEEN OUT. WE'VE ALREADY MET WITH VINCENT.

VINCENT'S HERE. WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT THE TRUCKS.

WE'VE LOOKED AT WHERE WE WOULD MOUNT THE TRUCKS.

THE SANITATION TEAM, THE FLEET TEAM, MY TEAM.

WE'VE ALL SIMULTANEOUSLY BEEN WORKING ON WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE, DEPLOYED IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS DECISION, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO EXECUTE THIS FAST.

WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE ANY DELAYS AFTER A VOTE, AFTER APPROVAL OR NOT.

WE WANT IT TO BE READY TO BRING A CONTRACT FOR IT TO GET THE HARDWARE INSTALLED AND BE READY TO GO.

SO WITH THE AMENDMENT FOR 25 AND 25, 25, ONE YEAR, 25 ANOTHER YEAR, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR INITIAL PLANS TO ROLL THIS OUT? IT HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND RESTRUCTURE THE DEAL.

LIKE I SAID, WE NEVER WE NEVER GOT A PROPOSAL FOR 50 CAMERAS.

AND SO WE DON'T HAVE A WE DON'T HAVE A QUOTE FOR THAT. WE DON'T HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR THAT. WE DON'T WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL COST US.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS THE $670,000 THAT WAS ALLOCATED IN CODES 2526 PLAN BUDGET FOR AI CAMERAS WAS FOR 30 CAMERAS. AND SO BECAUSE WE WERE RAISING OUR QUANTITY TO 100 CAMERAS, WE WERE GIVEN A BULK PRICING DISCOUNT.

AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT RETAIL OR WHOLESALE, WHEN YOU BUY IN BULK OR YOU BUY IN QUANTITY, YOU GET A LOWER PRICE. AND SO WE WERE GIVEN A 70 CAMERA EDITION FOR AN ADDITIONAL $182,000.

THIS AMENDMENT LEAVES US $426,000. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CAMERAS THAT WILL BUY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TRUCKS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO GO ON.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT DISTRICTS WE WOULD DEPLOY THOSE IN.

THOSE WILL ALL BE CONVERSATIONS WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND HAVE WITH THE WITH THE VENDOR AND DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW CONTRACT TO BRING BACK TO YOU GUYS.

AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THE PRICE IS PROBABLY GOING TO GO UP BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET A WHOLESALE PRICE FOR A QUANTITY OF 100 AND THEN SAY, I'M GOING TO CUT THE QUANTITY BY 50% AND THEN THINK THE THE PRICE STAYS THE SAME.

IT WILL NOT IT WILL GO UP. AND SO WE MAY COME BACK WITH THE 50 CAMERA PRICE.

AND IT MIGHT BE THE SAME COST OR CLOSE TO THE PRICE OF THE 100 CAMERAS.

AND THEN YOU SAY, WELL WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD DEAL. AND SO THAT THAT'S KIND OF THE POSITION WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL OF THAT WILL LOOK LIKE. YOU MIGHT FIND THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO PURSUE IF THE NUMBERS DON'T LOOK AS GOOD AS THEY LOOK RIGHT NOW.

BUT UNDERSTAND THE NUMBERS WERE BECAUSE OF THE QUANTITY AND THE ACTIONS THAT WE WERE TAKING.

I APPRECIATE YOUR DETAILED. HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, BUT I THINK MY QUESTION IS FOR CHAIR RIDLEY.

IS IT POSSIBLE IF HE WOULD ANSWER. IS IT OKAY? SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS, THIS AMENDMENT TO THIS $426,500 IS THIS IS BASED OFF OF YOUR NUMBERS OR BASED OFF OF WHAT HE PROJECTED HIS NUMBERS TO BE? IT'S BASED OFF OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET, WHICH IS 852 OR 53,000.

SO THIS IS 50% OF THAT. SO MR. CHRISTIAN, SO OF THAT BUDGETED AMOUNT AND THIS 50%, ARE YOU SAYING TO US THAT WHAT IS WHAT WAS BUDGETED IN THIS AMOUNT MAY NOT ACTUALLY PAN OUT BECAUSE IT WAS BASED OFF OF A. A SPECIFIC NUMBER? I COULD SAY THE WORD A SPECIFIC QUANTITY AT A SPECIFIC PRICE. THAT IS CORRECT. AND BASED ON CHANGING THAT, THE WAY THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS ARE BEING REQUESTED COULD ACTUALLY CHANGE THAT 800 AND SOME ODD THOUSAND DOLLARS.

WELL, SO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR IS TO CUT THE ALLOCATED FUNDING BY 50%.

THE COUNCIL MEMBER IS PROJECTING THAT BY CUTTING THE ALLOCATED FUNDING BY 50%, WE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE 50 CAMERAS.

[09:30:08]

WHAT I'M TELLING YOU TODAY IS IF WE CUT THE QUANTITY BY 50%, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD 50 CAMERAS BECAUSE THE INITIAL PROPOSAL WAS 30 CAMERAS FOR $670,000. I GOT IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. CHRISTIAN. I KEEP HEARING ABOUT PILOTING.

SO HOW DID YOU. WHEN THIS TECHNOLOGY BECAME AVAILABLE, HOW DID YOU ALL DECIDE YOU WOULD TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND SEE HOW OTHERS MIGHT HAVE USED IT OR. YEAH. SO SO WE PILOTED IT. WE WE HAD THE VENDOR COME OUT WITH THE HARDWARE.

WE ACTUALLY PUT IT ON A COUPLE OF ROAD VEHICLES.

WE HAD THEM DRIVE AROUND TOWN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, AND THEN WE HAD THE VENDORS COME BACK TO OUR OFFICE, PULL UP THE ONLINE DASHBOARD, THE TECHNOLOGY.

SHOW US ALL THE DETECTIONS IN OUR CITY THAT THE CAMERAS HAD IDENTIFIED.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE DALLAS HAS HAD A PILOT, SO WE DON'T NEED TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT DOING A PILOT.

WE'VE HAD A PILOT. WE WE HAVE INDEED HAD A PILOT.

OKAY. GREAT MOVE. AND THEN THIS BULK PURCHASE, I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AT THIS INCREDIBLE INCREMENT THAT IS SO MUCH LOWER, WE CANNOT REPEAT THAT NEXT YEAR. WE WOULD NOT GET THAT AGAIN.

PROBABLY. IT'S UNLIKELY. COUNCILWOMAN. YEAH. I MEAN, I'M JUST I'M FINDING THIS DELAYING TECHNOLOGY AND EFFICIENCY, BUT GOING THROTTLE DOWN ON REGIONAL LIBRARY PLANS, YOU KNOW, THAT AREN'T EVEN JELLED YET.

SO I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO HEAR THIS AND THINK IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A GREAT PRICING.

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT DEAL. IT HAS BEEN PILOTED.

WE KNOW WE HAVE THIS ISSUE. I DON'T THINK IT'S IN JUST CERTAIN POCKETS OF THE CITY. I MEAN, I'VE GOT FOLKS WHO LIVE IN HIGH DOLLAR HOMES, AND SOME ONE NEIGHBOR CALLS IN THAT THEY LEAVE THEIR SPORTING EQUIPMENT OUT, YOU KNOW, SOCCER GOALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THAT'S A VIOLATION. AND SO THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT I'M ASSUMING THAT THE TRUCK WOULD BE PROGRAMED OR THE CAMERAS WOULD BE PROGRAMED ABSOLUTELY OVER OVER 100 CODE VIOLATION TYPES. SO IT'S NOT ALL, YOU KNOW, CARS ON BLOCKS IN THE FRONT YARD.

I MEAN, IT SPANS THE WHOLE STRATA OF THE THE DALLAS ECONOMIC SPECTRUM.

LITTER, LITTER, HIGH WEEDS, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR TOP VIOLATIONS.

MONTH OVER MONTH. ALL OVER. ABANDONED VEHICLES, JUNK MOTOR VEHICLES, ILLEGAL DUMPING.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL YOU SAID SOMETHING LIKE 160 SOMETHING THOUSAND SO FAR THIS YEAR.

YES, MA'AM. SO I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY LET'S DEPLOY OUR EMPLOYEES TO DO THE PEOPLE TO PEOPLE ASPECT, BECAUSE AI IS ABOUT EFFICIENCY. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETIMES IT MAY MEAN WE CUT A WORKFORCE, BUT IT ALSO IT MOSTLY MEANS THAT WE ARE MORE EFFICIENT.

SO WE USE PEOPLE MORE EFFECTIVELY. SO OKAY, WELL I'M STILL NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DOING EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN ASKING CITY STAFF TO DO AS FAR AS EFFICIENCY AND TESTING AND USING TECHNOLOGY.

SO I WANT TO SEE I WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

OUT OF THE 130 OR 150 CODE VIOLATIONS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE ARE CALLED IN RATHER THAN IDENTIFIED BY OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT FOLKS? 161,000 CODE VIOLATIONS END OF LAST MONTH.

AND WE WE TYPICALLY TREND AROUND 38% PROACTIVE.

THOSE ARE VIOLATIONS THAT OUR OFFICERS DO CREATE THEMSELVES WHILE THEY'RE IN ROUTE TO ANOTHER CASE OR ANOTHER LOCATION, OR WHAT WE ENCOURAGE OUR TEAM TO DO IS TO DOCUMENT THINGS THAT THEY SEE.

AND WHEN THEY GET BACK TO THE OFFICE OR WHEN THEY'RE DOING THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, GO AHEAD AND PUT THOSE CASES IN FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU SAW WHEN YOU WERE OUT IN THE FIELD. WE ENCOURAGE THAT. WE TRAIN OUR STAFF TO DO THAT.

WE CAN'T FORCE THAT. WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, ENSURE THAT THEY DO THAT.

THESE CAMERAS WILL DO THAT EVERY DAY. EVERY TIME THEY'RE TURNED ON, EVERY TIME THEY'RE ON THE MOVE, THEY'RE WORKING AND THEY'RE DETECTING. AND SO WE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE CONDITION OF OUR CITY CITYWIDE, EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT AND WHERE OUR WHERE OUR PROBLEMS ARE, WHAT TYPE OF PROBLEMS ARE THERE, WHAT RESOURCES DO WE NEED TO DEPLOY THERE? WHAT'S NEEDED THERE? WHAT TYPE OF EDUCATION IS NEEDED THERE? WHAT TYPE OF OUTREACH IS NEEDED THERE? AND WE HAVE PROACTIVE ILLEGAL DUMPING TEAMS THAT THIS BODY HAS APPROVED ALREADY.

HOW HOW COOL WOULD IT BE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO SEND THOSE TRUCKS EVERY DAY? AND THE SYSTEM ROUTE OPTIMIZES THOSE ILLEGAL DUMPING PICKUPS.

AND SO WE CAN FILTER THE SYSTEM BY SPECIFIC VIOLATION TYPES.

AND THE PEAK SEASON, HOW WEED SEASON. WE CAN FILTER THE INFORMATION, SHOW US ALL THE HIGH WEEDS AND WHERE THEY ARE, SHOW US ALL THE ILLEGAL DUMPING AND WHERE IT IS, AND THEN GIVE US ROUTE OPTIMIZATION OF WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GO OUT AND GET IT ALL THE FASTEST, THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY. THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT THE TECHNOLOGY DOES.

AND SO JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. SO ABOUT TWO THIRDS, ABOUT 60% GIVE OR TAKE IS STUFF THAT PEOPLE ARE

[09:35:04]

CALLING IN SAYING MY NEIGHBOR'S GOT PROBLEMS OR WHATEVER IT IS, ABOUT 62, 64% ARE REACTIVE.

CALLING COMPLAINTS IS WHAT YOU CALL THAT'S WHAT. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO BETWEEN 3036 AND 38 ARE PROACTIVE.

I, I THINK THAT THE AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS WHAT'S THE LEVEL OF ADDITIONAL HOW DO I WANT TO SAY IT? ANOTHER LAYER OF, OF FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HANDLING REVIEWING THESE THINGS, LOOKING AT THESE THINGS, PUTTING THEM INTO A COMPUTER OR REVIEWING THE COMPUTER REPORT, IS THERE ANOTHER LAYER OF ADMINISTRATION THAT'S GOING TO BE IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF THIS TECHNOLOGY, AND I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO SAVE SOME MONEY ON ONE SIDE, BUT THEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT SORT OF PROCESS OF EVALUATING THE INFORMATION ON THE OTHER SIDE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, SIR. AND WE PLAN TO MANAGE THAT INTERNALLY WITH OUR EXISTING CODE OFFICERS, OUR EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. WE PLAN TO MANAGE THE INTAKE OF THIS DATA, HOW WE USE THIS DATA AND WHAT WE DO FROM THAT POINT THAT THAT WILL ALL BE MANAGED INTERNALLY. AND WE'RE NOT SEEKING ANY ADDITIONAL STAFFING OR RESOURCES TO MANAGE THAT PROCESS.

AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION, IF YOU END UP WITH ALL THESE NEW CODE VIOLATIONS THAT YOU FIGURED OUT BY GETTING ALL THESE TRUCKS RUNNING AROUND, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE A LOT MORE PEOPLE, I GUESS. SOUNDS LIKE TO ME.

NO, I THINK AND SO AND SO THE DETECTIONS ARE NOT CODE VIOLATIONS.

IT DOESN'T MERGE INTO OUR SYSTEM AND CREATE CODE VIOLATIONS FOR US.

WE STILL WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT. AND SO WITH THE DATA WHERE IT'S ASSOCIATED A BLIGHT SCORE.

AND SO WE KNOW THE THINGS THAT ARE CRITICAL THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO GET OUT AND PUT EYES ON AND ADDRESS.

AND THEN WE WE KNOW THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT AS CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE MORE TIME TO RESOLVE.

WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE. AND BEING ABLE TO ASSESS THE CITY EVERY 30 DAYS WILL SEND EDUCATIONAL NOTICES TO EVERYBODY.

AND SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS WE HAVE A VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE RATE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS OF ABOUT 70%.

AND SO WITH THE DETECTIONS THAT THESE CAMERAS ARE MAKING, WHEN WE SEND THOSE NOTICES OUT, WE ANTICIPATE A 70% VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE RATE.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS KEEPING OUR CITY CLEANER.

WE'RE KEEPING IT SAFER, WE'RE KEEPING IT MORE ESTHETICALLY PLEASING PROACTIVELY.

AND THAT BRINGS ABOUT ECONOMIC GROWTH, THAT BRINGS ABOUT DESIRE FOR INVESTMENT, AND THAT BRINGS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, BECAUSE COMPLIANCE IS A HUGE CONTRIBUTOR TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

IT'S OUR PRIMARY ROLE. AND SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL.

IT'S A VERY USEFUL TOOL. AND IT WILL BE A VERY BENEFICIAL TOOL FOR THIS CITY.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. OKAY. MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

MAYOR DIRECTOR CHRISTIAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

I LOVE HOW WE'RE BEING INNOVATIVE AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, SETTING THE STAGE.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS FIRST. HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NUMBER OF CAMERAS AFTER THE PILOT PROJECT? SO WHAT WAS THE WHAT WAS THE REASONING BEHIND THE.

WAS IT 50 CAMERAS THAT YOU'RE ORIGINALLY IT WAS 30, SIR.

OKAY. AND THEY WERE GOING TO GO ON ROAD VEHICLES.

AND SO THAT WAS IN THE VERY INFANT STAGES OF OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND AND ITS FULL POTENTIAL AND ITS CAPABILITIES.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL WE BROUGHT THE VENDOR IN TO THE TABLE TO HAVE HIM DISCUSS WITH US WHAT THEY WERE SEEING IN OTHER CITIES AND ROLLOUTS, AND THEN WE GOT CLIFF TO THE TABLE WITH US TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT HIS TRUCKS DID IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT ROUTES THEY TOOK. EVERY DAY THAT WE DETERMINED THE SANITATION, THE WASTE COLLECTION TRUCK ROUTE WOULD BE THE BEST ROUTE.

IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WE DETERMINED THAT CLIFF UTILIZED 50 TRUCKS TO DO HIS BULK TRASH PICKUPS ON A MONTHLY BASIS THAT COVER THE ENTIRE CITY. AND SO FROM THOSE 50 TRUCKS, A CAMERA ON EACH SIDE TO ASSESS THE ENTIRE CITY EVERY 30 DAYS.

THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE 100 CAMERAS. IT WAS VERY STRATEGIC.

IT WAS A IT WAS A WELL THOUGHT OUT AND VERY STRATEGIC APPROACH DECISION.

YOU'RE RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING THE QUESTION, BECAUSE I DO THINK YOU PUT SOME THOUGHT BEHIND THE NUMBER OF CAMERAS.

US. AND IF I MAY ADD TO WHAT CHRIS IS SAYING THERE, WHEN HE WAS ABLE TO GO BACK AND INSTEAD OF 30 CAMERAS FOR $670,000, HE WAS ABLE TO COME BACK WITH A DEAL FOR 100 CAMERAS FOR $852,000.

SO INSTEAD OF $22,000 PER CAMERA, IT'S ABOUT $8,500 PER CAMERA.

[09:40:02]

IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY LESS BY GETTING IN THE BULK.

IT'S 62% LESS PER CAMERA. RIGHT. AND SO THE SOURCE OF THESE FUNDS ARE NOT GENERAL DOLLARS.

THEY'RE COMING FROM SANITATION. THAT'S AN ENTERPRISE.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. ENTERPRISE FUND SANITATION SERVICES.

AND THOSE FUNDS HAVE TO BE USED WITHIN THE SANITATION SPECTRUM.

YES, SIR. AND SO THAT'S THE PARTNERSHIP, THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN CODE COMPLIANCE AND SANITATION BOTH BEING ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE DATA THAT'S PULLED FROM THE ROUTES THAT THEY WOULD BE ON. SO WHAT DATA IS BEING USED FOR THE SANITATION SIDE? BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SOURCE OF FUNDS WITH SANITATION, WE CAN ACTUALLY BE USING WITHIN CODE.

MAYOR PRO TEM, THIS IS CLIFF GILLESPIE AGAIN, DIRECTOR SANITATION.

THANK YOU FOR FOR BRINGING THAT UP. CODE IS IS GETTING THE HEADLINE HERE.

BUT WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT TO YOU, BROUGHT TO US, WE QUICKLY REALIZED THE BENEFIT THAT THAT THERE WAS FOR SANITATION IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO TO REALLY PUT SOME HARD NUMBERS BETWEEN PARTICIPATION WITH OUR BRUSH AND BULKY ITEM PROGRAM PARTICIPATION BY HOUSEHOLD VERSUS BY TONNAGE, WHICH IS WHAT WE GENERALLY ONLY SEE BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT TYPES OF MATERIALS ARE BEING PLACED OUT WHICH WILL BE HELPFUL FOR FUTURE WASTE DIVERSION PROGRAMS. REALLY, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF EFFICIENCIES WE'VE SEEN WITH OUR BRUSH AND BULKY ITEM COLLECTION PROGRAM OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH SOME STRATEGIC FLEET BUY DECISIONS. AND THIS IS ONE MORE THING THAT WE THINK CAN CAN REALLY GO A LONG WAY TO HELPING CREATE SOME ADDITIONAL EFFICIENCIES IN THAT PROGRAM, AS WELL AS GIVING US SOME DATA TO MAKE FUTURE DECISIONS RELATED TO WASTE DIVERSION IN THE FUTURE.

OKAY, SO THE CURRENT CAMERAS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR SANITATION TRUCKS, WHAT ARE WHAT ARE THEY IDENTIFYING TODAY THAT IS NOT HAPPENING WITH THE NEW CAMERAS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED.

SO THE CAMERAS THAT ARE ON THE TRUCKS TODAY ARE, ARE REALLY MONITORING FOR DRIVER SAFETY.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE TRUCK. SO THEY ARE THEY ARE FACING THREE 60, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST DESIGNED TO TO DETECT, AGAIN, THOSE SAFETY ISSUES AND TO DETERMINE COLLECTION VERIFICATION.

SO WAS THE CART SERVICED ON TIME? WAS THE BRUSH PICKED UP? WAS IT BLOCKED BY A PARKED CAR? THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

IT DOESN'T HAVE THE TYPE OF AI THAT THAT THESE CAMERAS ARE DESIGNED TO DO.

OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

SO, MR. CHRISTIAN, THE PILOT PROGRAM THAT YOU DESCRIBED EARLIER WAS PUTTING CAMERAS ON EACH SIDE OF BRUSH TRUCKS AND DRIVING THEM AROUND THE CITY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THEY WEREN'T BRUSH TRUCKS THERE.

THEY WERE CODE OFFICER VEHICLES. AND THE CAMERAS WERE ONLY ON ONE, ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS A PILOT.

WE ONLY HAD A COUPLE OF CAMERAS HERE, AND SO WE PUT ONE ON A COUPLE OF CARS ON ONE SIDE, AND WE WENT ABOUT OUR REGULAR CODE COMPLIANCE DAY.

SO THE PILOT PROGRAM WASN'T A TRUE TEST OF ATTACHING THEM TO BRUSH TRUCKS, IT WAS TO PASSENGER VEHICLES.

THAT IS CORRECT. AND I'VE SEEN THE BRUSH PICKUP TRUCKS.

THEY UNDERGO A LOT OF ABUSE BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A CLAMSHELL BUCKET CRANE THAT PICKS UP THE BRUSH FROM THE STREET CURB AND DUMPS IT IN THE TRUCK.

AND SO I'M CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T HAVE A TRUE TEST OF THE RELIABILITY OR THE DURABILITY OF THESE CAMERAS UNDER THAT KIND OF EVERYDAY HEAVY DUTY USE. AND SO I STILL THINK IT WOULD BE VALUABLE TO HAVE A TRUE PILOT TEST WITH THEM ATTACHED TO BRUSH TRUCKS. WOULD YOU NOT AGREE WITH THAT? THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER REALLY, WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THE VENDOR THEY HAVE ROLLED OUT IN SEVERAL CITIES ALREADY, THEY USE THE WASTE COLLECTION TRUCKS. THEY HAVE MADE THESE CAMERAS VIRTUALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE.

THERE'S WARRANTIES ON THE SYSTEM. THEY ARE THEY ARE BUILT AND DESIGNED TO TO TAKE THE ABUSE YOU SPEAK OF RIGHT NOW IS WHAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCE AND THAT PROCESS.

THEY HAVE MADE UPGRADES TO THE SHELL OF THE CAMERAS.

THEY ARE VERY SAFE AND USE COMPONENTS THAT KEEP THEM PROTECTED FROM FRACTURE OR BREAK, BUT ALSO JUST WHERE YOU PLACE THE CAMERAS ON THE VEHICLES. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS CAREFULLY, CAREFULLY AND STRATEGICALLY TALKED ABOUT WITH VINCENT.

WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT PLACEMENT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE ALREADY DONE IN CALIFORNIA, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA AND OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

[09:45:02]

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE VENDOR IS EQUIPPED TO HANDLE.

AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HERE IN DALLAS.

AND A QUESTION ABOUT THE COST OF THESE, AS MR. ISLAND HAS JUST MENTIONED, THESE WILL COST $17,000 PER TRUCK.

THAT SEEMS AN AWFUL LOT FOR JUST TWO CAMERAS.

IS THIS A SITUATION WHERE BECAUSE THERE ARE NEW TECHNOLOGY.

THEY'RE EXPENSIVE NOW, EVEN AT THE VOLUME OF 100.

AND DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT THAT COST WILL GO DOWN IN THE NEXT YEAR OR MORE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, I WOULD LIKE TO TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT THE COST INCLUDES INSTALLATION, THE CAMERA SYSTEM WARRANTY, THE AI MODEL TECHNOLOGY THAT'S IN THE CAMERA, THAT'S SOLE SOURCE, PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY THE DATA STORAGE, DEPARTMENTAL LICENSING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND INTEGRATION SUPPORT AND ONGOING SUPPORT.

AND SO THE COST OF THE CAMERA IS NOT JUST THE CAMERA ITSELF.

IT'S A FULL SERVICE, END TO END TECHNOLOGY SUITE THAT COMES ALONG WITH THE CAMERA AND WHAT IT'S ABLE TO DO, AND THEN THE DATA AND THE EXPORT AND THE INTEGRATION THAT IT'S ABLE TO OFFER US WITH OUR CURRENT TECHNOLOGY.

SO THESE CAMERAS SEND THE IMAGES THAT THEY RECORD DIRECTLY TO A BASE STATION? OR DO THEY HAVE TO BE DOWNLOADED INDIVIDUALLY SO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DOWNLOADED? THERE'S A CLOUD DATABASE THAT THE DATA IS STORED IN IS NOT VIDEO.

IT'S ACTUALLY TAKING PICTURES AND IT'S TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS AND COLLECTING THOSE STILLS, DETECTING THE VIOLATIONS, THE AI'S ANALYZING THOSE STILLS. AND THEN IT'S STORED IN THE IN A DASHBOARD FOR US TO REVIEW.

SO MR. MAYOR PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY, PLEASE STATE YOUR INQUIRY.

I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THE SOURCE OF FUNDS AS BEING THE REDUCED FUNDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF AI CAMERAS ON THE SANITATION FLEET WITHOUT SPECIFYING A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF TRUCKS TO GIVE CODE AND SANITATION THE FLEXIBILITY TO TAILOR THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS TO THE NUMBER OF TRUCKS THAT THEY CAN COVER.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE INQUIRY IS. IS THAT PERMISSIBLE TO JUST DO AS A AS A SUBSTITUTE WITHOUT A, AN ACTION OF THE BODY? SO RIGHT NOW IT'S TIED TO THE 25 TRUCKS.

AND YOU'RE SAYING YOU WANT TO LET THAT BE DETERMINED BY TO ACHIEVE THAT TO, IS THERE A DOLLAR AMOUNT OF SAVINGS THAT YOU WANT TO STILL ACHIEVE THE SAME? YES, I WOULD REMAIN THE SAME. THAT WOULD REMAIN THE SAME.

WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET 25 TRUCKS WITH THE REDUCED DOLLAR AMOUNT, BECAUSE WE'LL NO LONGER GET THE PRICE.

WE'LL PROBABLY ONLY BE ABLE TO GET 20 CAMERAS FOR TEN TRUCKS IF WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THAT HIGHER PRICE.

SO WHAT WHAT WHAT CHAIRMAN RIDLEY IS ASKING. AND I'LL JUST DO IT AND ASK IF THERE'S ANY OBJECTION TO IT.

HE WANTS THE SAME USE. HE WANTS THE SAME SOURCE, BUT HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE TIED DOWN TO THE NUMBER OF TRUCKS TO ACHIEVE THE 426,500, AS HE SAID, AT 25 IN THE IN THE AMENDMENT.

BUT HE'S GOING TO LET SANITATION DETERMINE THE NUMBER, BUT HE STILL WANTS IT AT 426 500.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO HIM JUST MODIFYING THE LANGUAGE OF HIS MOTION? OKAY. THEN IT'S SO ORDERED AND YOUR MOTION'S APPROVED AND YOUR AMENDMENTS MODIFIED.

WE'RE NOT STARTING ANYTHING OVER. WERE YOU DONE? OH, THAT'S ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW? YEAH. WE'RE NOT. NO, WE DIDN'T NEED TO START ANYTHING OVER WITH. SO THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGED THERE IS THERE'S NO REFERENCE TO A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF TRUCKS.

OKAY. MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I JUST WANT SOME REASSURANCE THAT.

THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDS BEING AN ENTERPRISE CAN ACTUALLY BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

WHEN TO ME IT SEEMS THAT CODE IS THE THE DRIVER WHO'S GOING TO BE USING THE THE CAMERAS EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ON SANITATION TRUCKS.

THE PURPOSE TO ME IS FOR CODE VIOLATIONS. JACK GARLAND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER YES, SIR. I BELIEVE THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN SANITATION AND CODE IS AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE WITHIN SANITATION.

I'LL ALLOW MR. GILLESPIE, WHO'S ALSO ON TO SPEAK ABOUT HIS ENTERPRISE FUND.

THANK YOU, SIR. YES, ABSOLUTELY. AGAIN, SEEING THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR BRUSH AND BULKY ITEM COLLECTION PROGRAM,

[09:50:09]

AND THIS BEING ANOTHER TOOL THAT WE, WE SEE AS BEING ABLE TO USE TO BETTER PROGRAM OUR RESOURCES AND POTENTIALLY REDUCE OUR CONTRACTOR EXPENSES AS WELL THAT ASSIST US WITH SUPPLEMENTAL COLLECTIONS.

THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND TOWARDS THIS MAY RESULT.

THE HOPE IS THAT IT RESULTS AT LEAST, OR CERTAINLY IN PART IN, IN SAVINGS, IN WHAT WE SPEND TO, TO DO THE COLLECTION, BUT ALSO THE BENEFIT TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND TO THE CITY IN TERMS OF GATHERING THAT DATA NECESSARY FOR FUTURE WASTE DIVERSION EFFORTS, IN TERMS OF THE DATA WE COLLECT WITH, WITH WHERE BRUSH IS BEING SET OUT VERSUS BULKY ITEMS AND BEING ABLE TO COLLECT THAT BRUSH SEPARATELY IN THE FUTURE SO THAT IT CAN BE REPROGRAMED FOR, FOR COMPOSTING VERSUS LANDFILL DISPOSAL.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 39? SEEING NONE. PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT BY SHOWING YOUR PLACARD.

SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH, MAYOR JOHNSON, COUNCIL MEMBER WEST, COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY AND COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

WITH ONLY SEVEN SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT FAILS.

MR. MAYOR. OKAY, NOW I BELIEVE, MADAM CITY MANAGER, THAT IS ALL OF YOUR AMENDMENTS THAT I HAD ON THIS LIST THAT DEAL WITH PROPERTY TAX RATE OR FEE REDUCTION.

SO I THINK YOUR FOLKS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO START WORKING ON THAT ORDINANCE.

BUT THEN WE STILL HAVE THE OTHERS, AND SO WE WILL JUST GO THROUGH IN ORDER.

AND IF YOU WOULD STILL LIKE TO WORK YOUR AMENDMENT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO IF YOU'D LIKE TO WITHDRAW IT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO THAT AS WELL. SO AMENDMENT FOUR WAS BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR.

YOU STILL WANT. COUNCILWOMAN BLAIR YOU STILL WANT YOUR AMENDMENT LAID OUT OR DO YOU WANT TO WITHDRAW IT? OH, NO, WE WON'T DO THAT. THAT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO.

OH, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY. I'M LOOKING THE WRONG ONE. I'M LOOKING THE WRONG PAGE. WE ARE ON.

LET'S SEE. THE FIRST ONE THAT WE DID NOT DEAL WITH TODAY. 22.

IS THAT THE FIRST NUMBER THAT COMES UP? NUMBER NINE.

THAT THE FIRST ONE YOU GUYS HAVE THAT WAS WITHDRAWN BY COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY PRIOR TO SENDING IT OUT? OKAY, SO NUMBER NINE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS THEIR CHANCE TO LAY OUT THERE AND THEN IF THEY'D LIKE TO.

SO NINE WAS WITHDRAWN. AND THEN WE HAD 16 AND 17 WE DEALT WITH IS 18.

THE NEXT ONE. DEALT WITH OKAY.

19. WITHDRAWN. 20 AND 21 WERE DONE.

22. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR? YES.

ALL RIGHT. YOU RECOGNIZE FOR A MOTION. OKAY. WELL.

THANK YOU. I MOVE TO USE A VARIETY OF SOURCES OF FUNDS, WHICH I WILL SOON LIST TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR STAFFING, THE SOURCE OF FUNDS.

TWO OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN USED IN OTHER AMENDMENTS, SO THEY'RE REMOVED.

THE FIRST ONE IS THE 2.2 MILLION FOR THE ZOO STIPEND.

THE SECOND ONE IS STIPENDS FOR THE OTHER ITEMS FOR 90,440.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE PRINTED AMENDMENT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE 110,000 FOR THE FURNITURE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

THE FOOD HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN SINCE WE PASSED THEM ALREADY.

THE NEXT ITEM FOR THE GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATION FOR 20,144.

THE NEXT ITEM FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. REMOVING THE ADDITIONAL POSITION FOR 92,484.

THE $1.19 MILLION REMOVING THE THIRD ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION FOR EACH COUNCIL OFFICE.

THE 650,000 TO ACCELERATE THE LIBRARY CLOSURES THAT WE ALL KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO, AND THE 280,767 FOR THE HMI SYSTEM, WHICH I BELIEVE TOTALS 4.523835 MILLION.

THAT'S RIGHT. GOOD. OKAY. SO THAT'S THE AMENDMENT.

[09:55:05]

FOR THAT. OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? ALRIGHT.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND IN SECOND. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES IF YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT. WELL, LUCKILY, WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE SOURCES.

SO REALLY, WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE USE OF FUNDS.

AND AS YOU KNOW, I PUT OUT A MEMO EXPLAINING THAT I DON'T THINK THAT THE SALARY SURVEY THAT WE WERE SHOWN, WHICH WAS A PUBLISHED DATE, I BELIEVE, OF MARCH 14TH, MEANING THE DATA IS VERY OLD, GIVEN AN EVER CHANGING LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARY MARKET, ESPECIALLY IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA.

SO THE NEED FOR US TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN NORTH TEXAS IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR RECRUITING AND RETENTION OF OFFICERS.

25% OF OUR OFFICERS ARE PENSION ELIGIBLE TODAY.

THAT'S 30 YEAR OFFICERS. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE 20 YEAR OFFICER THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE OTHERS THAT MAY LEAVE FOR A MUCH HIGHER SALARY. WFAA JUST DID A STORY SAYING THAT A LOT OF 20 YEAR OFFICERS ARE LOOKING TO LEAVE CONTACTING THE PENSION FUND.

IF WE DON'T IMPROVE OUR SALARY, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE OUR OFFICERS AND IF WE LOSE OUR OFFICERS, OUR CITY IS AT RISK. WE ALREADY KNOW THERE'S BUSINESSES THAT ARE SAYING WE'RE CONCERNED.

SOME ARE MAKING CHANGES. RESIDENTS SAME THING.

IT IS URGENT THAT WE FUND THIS NOW. CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN TO ME LATER ON? I BELIEVE IT'S UNDER TEN. AGENDA ITEM TEN. WE ARE TO APPROVE SALARY SCHEDULES FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE.

AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN BE DONE FOR THEM.

WHEN MEET AND CONFER IS NOT COMPLETE. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING REGARDING POLICE AND FIRE PAY WHILE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF MEETING. CONFER NEGOTIATIONS. CHAPTER 147 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AUTHORIZES AND GOVERNS THE MEETING FOR A PROCESS FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

SECTION 147 .003 PROVIDES FOR A MEETING FOR A TEAM CONSISTING OF MEMBERS OF THE FIREFIGHTER EMPLOYEE GROUPS AND THE POLICE OFFICER EMPLOYEE GROUPS IN THE MUNICIPALITY.

A MAJORITY OF ALL ELIGIBLE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS SIGNED A PETITION FOR RECOGNITION OF THE MEETING. CONFER TEAM. THE TEAM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AND THEY ARE THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE BARGAINING AGENCY WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING ABOUT POLICE AND FIRE PAY.

SO THE ITEM THAT IS BEFORE YOU AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET IS ON THE SAME SALARY SCHEDULE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE UNTIL WE REACH A MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT.

SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN IF YOUR MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT INCREASES THE PAY BEYOND WHAT'S ON THESE SCHEDULES, WHERE WOULD THAT FUNDING COME FROM? WE WOULD COME BACK WITH AN AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET.

AND WHAT WOULD THE SOURCE OF FUNDS BE? THAT WOULD BE DETERMINED ONCE WE REACH AN AGREEMENT? WELL, THIS IS OUR PROPERTY TAX LEVY. AND SO THAT TELLS ME OUR ONLY OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO USE RESERVE FUNDS.

WOULD THAT BE CORRECT, JACK? SO THE BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED MAKES CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS OF WHAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS RECOMMENDED FOR STARTING PAY.

IF THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT RESULTS IN A AN AMOUNT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.

AS MISS TOLBERT MENTIONED, WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU.

BUT AGAIN, SINCE MEET AND CONFER IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL A STAFF WORKING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITHIN WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET.

AND THE EXPIRATION OF MEET AND CONFER IS THIS MONTH.

IS THAT CORRECT? IT IS WITH I BELIEVE THERE'S A THERE'S A SIX MONTH EXTENSION.

THANK YOU MA'AM. SO WE COULD BE LOOKING AT VERY SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS IF THERE'S NO AGREEMENT IN A MANNER THAT FITS WHAT IS ALLOCATED. THIS IS A PART OF THE ANNUAL PROCESS AS IT RELATES TO MEET AND CONFER THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK UNTIL WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT. WE WOULD NOT BE DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

SO YOU JUST SAID ANNUAL, BUT ACTUALLY THIS IS EVERY THREE YEARS THAT WE NEGOTIATE IT.

AND THE ANNUAL PROCESS ACTUALLY HAS ALREADY BUILT IN ASSUMPTIONS THAT AREN'T GOING TO CHANGE.

IS THAT CORRECT? THE MARKET PAY ANALYSIS THAT WE PERFORM AS IT RELATES TO MEETING CONFER IS DONE ANNUALLY.

[10:00:01]

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M REFERRING TO. BUT IF WE LOOK BACK JUST LAST YEAR, IT WAS CERTAIN WHAT THAT NUMBER WOULD BE BECAUSE WE HAD A MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT.

BUT NOW WE'RE SOON TO NOT HAVE ONE. AND SO THE REASON FOR THE URGENCY OF THIS AMENDMENT IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE DOLLARS AVAILABLE WITHOUT TAKING THEM OUT OF OUR RESERVES.

AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THE DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING ALLOCATED ARE NOT GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR WHERE WE'RE GOING TO END UP, BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLEAR WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND, WE ARE NOT GOING TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.

IF WE'RE DOING A STARTING SALARY OF 81,000 PLUS, THAT'S THAT'S JUST NOT A COMPETITIVE NUMBER IN THIS MARKET.

COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSOHN, AS I WILL REMIND YOU AGAIN, WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF MEETING CONFIRMED NEGOTIATIONS.

WE HAVE NOT REACHED AN AGREEMENT, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE ARE NOT CONTINUATION OF COMMENTS THAT WOULD KEEP US AND MAKE IT COUNTERPRODUCTIVE FOR US TO REACH AN AGREEMENT AT THIS TIME. WELL, I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING I HAVEN'T ALREADY PUT IN A MEMO OR ISN'T EASILY FOUND ON DATA POINTS FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC, LET ALONE EMPLOYED IN THIS AREA.

MY CHARGE AS AS PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR HAS BEEN TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS TO RETAIN MORE OFFICERS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED.

I THINK WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. WE'RE ON TRACK NOW WITH THE ACADEMY.

I THINK WE'VE MET OUR HIRING GOALS NOW TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

THAT'S TWO OUT OF THE SIX YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RETENTION PIECE.

WE'RE OKAY SO FAR, BUT WE'RE MAKING POLICY DECISIONS WITH THE BUDGET, AND THE POLICY DECISION WE'RE MAKING ON THIS AMENDMENT IS IF YOU WANT TO RETAIN POLICE OFFICERS. AND THAT'S REALLY AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

AND THIS IS, I THINK, URGENT TO OUR CITY. AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REQUEST A RECORD VOTE.

THANK YOU. YEAH. WE'RE IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE STILL.

BUT MR. BASIL, DO YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR ANYONE WHO CAN ANSWER ON STAFFING WITH DPD.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE'RE AT THE HIGHEST STAFFING LEVEL NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN AT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.

IS THAT ACCURATE TO SAY? I DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION.

WHAT CURRENT STAFFING LEVEL FOR DPD. HE'S COMING.

WHAT'S THE CURRENT STAFFING LEVEL? DID YOU GET THE QUESTION? COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION, PLEASE? ARE WE CURRENTLY AT THE HIGHEST STAFFING LEVEL IN THE DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST SIX YEARS OR SO? ASSISTANT CHIEF ISRAEL HERRERA. OVER HIRING, RECRUITING AND TRAINING.

SO OUR ACTUAL NUMBER TODAY IS 3209 COMPARED TO LAST YEAR OF 3064.

SO THAT THE ANSWER IS YES. CORRECT. OKAY. AND IT WAS JUST MENTIONED THAT THAT THAT'S BEEN THE CASE FOR TWO YEARS, AND BEFORE THAT IT WASN'T, IT'S ALSO A SAFE STATEMENT TO MAKE THAT THAT'S IN THAT'S ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL TREND THAT WAS NOT UNIQUE TO OUR CITY. IS THAT THAT'S ACCURATE? I'M SORRY, I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? IS IT ACCURATE TO SAY THAT THAT IS ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL TREND? I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE NATIONAL TREND. I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE HAVE SEEN OUR NUMBERS CONSTANTLY INCREASE.

OKAY, SO CAN SOMEONE FROM DPD THAT HAS GIVEN PRESENTATIONS IN THE PAST THAT HAS ARTICULATED TO US THAT IT HAS BEEN A NATIONAL TREND.

SAY THAT. HELLO, THIS IS MARTIN RIOJAS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER THE FINANCIAL BUREAU.

IN THE PAST, I'VE GIVEN PRESENTATIONS ABOUT POLICE SALARIES AND OVERTIME AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I'VE I'VE NOT SPOKEN ABOUT A NATIONAL TREND.

I DON'T WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING. I DON'T HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT NATIONAL TRENDS.

[10:05:02]

I ONLY KNOW ABOUT OUR FORMER CHIEF HAS SAID IT SEVERAL TIMES.

HE CAME ON RIGHT AFTER COVID AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HE EXPERIENCED IN CALIFORNIA, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS A NATIONAL TREND.

HE SPOKE TO IT ABOUT RECRUITMENT ON UPDATES THAT YOU ALL GAVE.

I'M NOT SURE WHY THE VAGUE ANSWERS RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M JUST ASKING FOR A LITTLE TRANSPARENCY.

SHOULDN'T BE DIFFICULT. AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE THE PAY LEVELS CAN WE ASK WHAT WHAT IS THIS BUDGET PROPOSE FOR RAISES FOR UNIFORMED OFFICERS? OKAY. THIS BUDGET HAS A PROPOSED INCREASE OF 5% FOR STARTING PAY.

IT IS STARTING PAY INCREASE WOULD BE FOR THE STARTING PAY WOULD BE 5% INCREASE.

OKAY. CITY MANAGER, WHAT WHAT INCREASE IN SALARIES DID YOU GIVE ON AVERAGE TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS? IN THE BUDGET, IT'S A IT'S A 3% MERIT EXCUSE.

MY VOICE IS GETTING TIRED. IT'S A 3% MERIT IN THE BUDGET FOR OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.

SO IS YOU HAVE NOT ONLY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE HIRING GOAL WITH THIS BUDGET, YOU'VE ALSO SUBSTANTIALLY GIVEN ALMOST DOUBLE OF ARRAYS TO UNIFORMED OFFICERS VERSUS THAT OF ALL OF OUR CIVILIANS IN THE ORGANIZATION.

IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT WOULD BE CORRECT. OKAY.

NOW LET'S LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT THE ROLES THAT WE PLAY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WHAT OUR CHARTER SAYS, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY SUPPOSED TO BE DIRECTING YOU TO OUR TO YOUR SUBORDINATES.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO MEET AND CONFER, ISN'T THAT A PROCESS THAT IS MEANT TO BE ESSENTIALLY A NEGOTIATION THAT IS SPEARHEADED BY THE CITY MANAGER? YES, IT'S UNDER THE CHAPTER 147, AS WELL AS CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS PASSED IN 2010 AS WELL AS IN 2018.

SO I'M PRETTY SURE WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS IN THE PAST THAT WE HAVE HAD DIRECT ADVICE, IF YOU WILL, OR I THINK THAT THERE'S A SAYING THAT I HEAR QUITE OFTEN AT CITY HALL THAT WE DON'T NEGOTIATE AGAINST OURSELVES. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE? YES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATE.

THIS FALLS WAY OUTSIDE OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT, QUITE FRANKLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAS A LAID OUT PROCESS. WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS EQUIPPING OUR CITY MANAGER WITH EVERYTHING THAT SHE NEEDS TO SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON WITH OUR UNIFORMED PERSONNEL.

THIS DOES NOT BELONG IN OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION.

THIS IS PERFORMATIVE AT BEST. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE THE COUNCIL WOULD DO WHAT YOU CAN TO NOT UNDERMINE OUR CITY'S EXECUTIVE WHO IS DOING HER JOB THAT WE'VE CHARGED HER TO DO THROUGH ORDINANCE, THROUGH MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT PROCESS THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE ELECTED BODY GETTING INVOLVED IN.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS YEAR WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, SOME SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNING AND AND THIS AND THAT.

I THINK I'VE GOTTEN SOME INAPPROPRIATE TEXT MESSAGES FROM POLICE ASSOCIATIONS THAT SHOULD NOT BE DIRECTLY COMMUNICATING WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL.

I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS IS ANY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER MEET AND CONFER PROCESS, BUT IT'S REALLY INAPPROPRIATE.

AND AND IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE AS WELL, BECAUSE ALL IT DOES IS SEND MIXED MESSAGES TO THE PUBLIC AS IF OUR CITY MANAGER IS NOT DOING EVERYTHING THAT SHE CAN WHICH SHE HAS PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN SINCE BEING IN THIS ROLE.

SO I QUITE FRANKLY, APOLOGIZE TO YOU MADAM CITY MANAGER, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATE.

I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING IT, AND I HOPE EVERYONE ELSE WILL NOT EITHER. AND, MAYOR, IF I MAY CORRECT THE RECORD.

SURE. THANK YOU. JACK. GO AHEAD. YES, SIR. SO, JUST TO CORRECT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED A FEW MOMENTS AGO, THE STARTING, THE CURRENT STARTING PAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS IS SALARY ONLY OF $75,397.

AND LOOKING AT THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT USING THE OLD METHODOLOGY WOULD HAVE BEEN A 4.68% INCREASE TO 78,009

[10:10:08]

24. MR. TORBERT'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATION IS TO INCREASE STARTING PAY BY 7.7% TO 81,232.

I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED ABOUT 5%. IT'S ACTUALLY STARTING PAY 7.7% INCREASE IN STARTING PAY ONLY.

AND I JUST WANTED TO CORRECT THE RECORD FOR THE CLARIFICATION. I KNEW THAT IT SOUNDED A LITTLE BIT UNDER, AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHY IT WAS HARD TO GET TRANSPARENT ANSWERS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

UNLESS I'M MISSING SOMEONE. THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING THE THE COMMENT HAS ACTUALLY COME UP IN A COUPLE DIFFERENT PLACES ABOUT WHY WOULD ANYONE SUPPORT EVEN MORE THAN WHAT'S PROPOSED IN THIS BUDGET FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE WHEN IT IS MORE THAN THE OTHER CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES FOR THE CITY? AND THE ANSWER IS SO SIMPLE, IT'S THAT THE PROFESSION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEIR SALARY, THAT PROFESSION, HAS ACCELERATED MUCH MORE THAN OTHER PROFESSIONS.

IT HAS. IT'S A FACT. IN THIS CASE, WE'RE HAVING TURNOVER BECAUSE OF A LACK OF PAY, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AT THE MARKET RATE. I THINK THE ONLY OTHER POSITION THAT I'M AWARE OF IN THE CITY THAT'S HAVING THAT PROBLEM IS OUR ENGINEERS.

BUT IF WE DON'T PAY THE PEOPLE, WHAT IS MARKET? WHAT IS COMPETITIVE? THEY'LL LEAVE. OTHER PROFESSIONS HAVEN'T HAD THE SAME GROWTH.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO MEET THE THE NEED WHERE IT IS.

MY INTEREST NUMBER ONE IS PUBLIC SAFETY. FRANKLY, I WOULD GIVE UP ALL OF OUR TAX REDUCTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICE AND FIRE ARE PAID PROPERLY, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR CITY.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MEET AND CONFER. I'M NOT PART OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH IT, BUT WHAT I KNOW IS THAT WHEN I SEE 81 AS A STARTING SALARY, IT'S TOO LOW. AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT. AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY CITY.

AND MY RESIDENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR OFFICERS STAY AND THEY'RE HAPPY.

AND THAT'S MY GOAL. AND THAT'S THE REASON FOR THIS AMENDMENT.

AND IT'S WHY I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN THE CITY WOULD WANT YOU TO BE PUTTING TAX DOLLARS TO MAKING SURE WE CAN RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR VERY PROFESSIONAL POLICE FORCE. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 22? WE WENT BACK IN THE PACKET TO PICK UP THE ONES THAT DON'T DEAL DIRECTLY WITH PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

SEEING NONE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT BY RAISING YOUR PLACARD.

SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH, MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO MAYOR JOHNSON, AND COUNCILMEMBER MENDELSOHN.

WITH ONLY FOR SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR, THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MISTER MAYOR.

OKAY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH THIS PACKET, AND YOU GUYS CAN HELP ME OUT HERE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T OVERLOOK ANYONE'S.

BUT I THINK THE NEXT ONE I SEE IS 32. IS THAT RIGHT? IT'S 32. THE NEXT ONE THAT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN UP.

ANYONE WANT TO LAY OUT 32? I WILL MAYOR YOU RECOGNIZE FOR A MOTION, CHAIRMAN WEST.

THANK YOU. MOTION TO UTILIZE SOURCE OF FUNDS.

CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DIDN'T DISCONTINUE SPENDING FUNDS ON LITIGATION IN ALL COURTROOM LAWSUITS, AND TO USE THE FUNDS TO KEEP THEM IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SPEND RESOURCES ON OTHER LITIGATION OR MATTERS NOT RELATED TO COURTROOM LAWSUITS.

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

AND, CHAIRMAN WELLS, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES, IF YOU'D LIKE.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. WELL, I'M LIMITED ON WHAT I CAN SAY, AS YOU KNOW, AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW.

BUT I WILL JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THE COURTROOM LITIGATION HAS COST US OVER $600,000.

IT HAS CAUSED US, AS A CITY, TO SUE OUR OWN BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND TO BE COUNTERSUED.

WE'RE IN LITIGATION WITH OURSELVES. WE ARE ATTACKING A SMALL BUSINESS THAT'S TRYING TO OPERATE, THAT PROVIDES JOBS IN A CITY THAT SAYS WE ARE FRIENDLY TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

WE'RE PAYING MONEY INSTEAD OF MAKING MONEY. AND JUST AS MISS MENDELSOHN HAS A JOB TO BE THE, YOU KNOW, WORK FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ADVOCATE FOR THAT.

AS CHAIR OF FINANCE, THE MAYOR HAS TASKED ME WITH FINDING MORE REVENUE, AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO FIND MORE REVENUE AND CUT EXPENSES BY CLEANING UP THIS MESS THAT WE CREATED. SO MY AMENDMENT, ESSENTIALLY, IF YOU SUPPORT IT.

[10:15:04]

WILL INSTRUCT THE CITY TO NOT SUE OUR OWN BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AGAIN FOR COURTROOM DECISIONS.

DISMISS THE SHUFFLE 214 LAWSUIT AND PURSUE NO APPEALS IN THAT CASE OR AGAINST TEXAS CARD HOUSE AND ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE CBK-FM AND 52 SOCIAL MATTERS BY INSTRUCTING THE BUILDING OFFICIALS TO ISSUE THE CEOS.

THAT'S THE AMENDMENT. CHAIRMAN WEST. I'M NOT SURE THAT THE LAST FEW THINGS YOU SAID ARE ACTUALLY PERMISSIBLE PARTS OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT. IT SOUNDED LIKE POLICY MAKING A BIT IS WHAT I'M.

YEAH, I DON'T I'M NOT I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO.

I THINK YOU CAN YOU CAN YOU CAN MAKE A ALLOCATION OF FUNDS OR REALLOCATE FUNDS.

BUT I'M NOT SURE THE, THE LAST FEW THINGS YOU SAID SOUNDED LIKE DIRECTIVES TO THE CITY ATTORNEYS.

FAIR ENOUGH. I'M NOT SURE THAT'S OKAY. I AND SINCE SHE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO TELL ME WHAT THE RULING WOULD BE, I'M THINK I KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE, BUT I MEAN, GO AHEAD TAMMY.

YEAH. I DO THINK IT WOULD BE OUT OF ORDER TO INSTRUCT ME.

BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE SOURCE OF FUNDS AND THE USE OF FUNDS.

BUT ALSO, I THINK THAT THERE'S NO LIST OF SOURCE OF FUNDS.

ANY MONEY THAT WAS USED WAS NOT OUT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S BUDGET.

AND ALL THOSE MONIES HAVE BEEN EXPENDED ALREADY.

AND SO THERE'S THERE'S NO EXCHANGE OF FUNDS. AND SO IN ADDITION CHAPTER TWO ALLOWS ME TO SPEND MONEY UP TO $100,000.

SO INSTRUCTING ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I'M ALLOWED TO DO UNDER BOTH CHAPTER TWO AND THE CHARTER IS PROBLEMATIC IN THE WAY THAT THE AMENDMENT IS PHRASED. SO DO YOU WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER STAB AT THIS, OR DO YOU THINK THIS IS JUST SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO MY INTENT HERE AND WITH TAKE ALL THE OTHER STUFF AT THE END OUT IS TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE DON'T SUPPORT THIS LITIGATION AND WE HAVE THE VOTES OR WE DON'T.

AND SO THAT THAT CITY TAXPAYER FUNDS SHOULD NOT BE USED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS LITIGATION.

SO YES, STAFF HAS DISCRETION TO SPEND AS THEY CAN.

I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU GO AHEAD. BUT BUT I MEAN, I MEAN, I'M JUST I THINK I'VE SAID IT.

I'M. YEAH, I THINK I THINK I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING HER SAY IS THAT THERE IS NO A PROPOSED APPROPRIATION FOR THIS LITIGATION THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO THAT IT DOESN'T EXIST TO BE MOVED IT ALL THAT THERE IS THAT YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS A POLICY DIRECTIVE, WHICH IS DON'T PURSUE THIS LITIGATION ANYMORE, AND IT JUST CAN'T BE DONE IN THIS WAY, IS WHAT I'M HEARING. IT CAN'T BE DONE THROUGH A BUDGET AMENDMENT, BECAUSE THAT ALL WE CAN DO HERE IS MOVE MONEY AROUND FROM LINE ITEMS IN A BUDGET.

AND THERE IS NO THERE'S NOTHING BUDGETED FOR.

THIS IS WHAT I'M HEARING HER SAY TO MOVE, PER SE.

IT'S JUST POLICY THAT YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THROUGH THE BUDGET.

ALL RIGHT. THEN WHAT'S THE PROCEDURAL? I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A WAY.

UNLESS UNLESS THE PARLIAMENTARIAN TELLS YOU THERE IS A WAY THAT YOU CAN.

I'M NOT SURE THAT IT CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE BUDGET AND.

WELL, NO, I'M ASKING LIKE, HOW DO WE DISPOSE? I'M NOT INTERESTED IN WITHDRAWING THIS. SO YOU CAN IT CAN BE OVERRULED OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

BUT I'M NOT WITHDRAWING MY, MY. WELL, I THINK IT'S BEEN.

I THINK I'M RULING IT OUT OF ORDER IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

THAT'S FINE. BUT THERE'S I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS IN A, AN ACTUAL AGENDA MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL THROUGH GETTING AN AGENDA ITEM ON THERE. SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU. AMENDMENT 32 IS EITHER WITHDRAWN OR YOU'RE GOING TO SAY I RULED IT OUT OF ORDER.

WHICH ONE WOULD YOU RATHER THE RECORD REFLECT? OUT OF ORDER, PLEASE. OKAY, I. I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON WHAT THAT'S ABOUT, BUT THANK YOU.

OKAY. IT'S BEEN RULED OUT OF ORDER BY THE CHAIR.

ALL RIGHT. I'M LOOKING THROUGH THE LIST, AND THE NEXT ONE I SEE IS 34, WHICH I BELIEVE IS HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

I'M WITHDRAWING IT. MAY I MAKE A QUICK COMMENT? ON JUST THE INTENT. I MEAN, IS IT WITHDRAWN OR NOT? IT'S WITHDRAWN. MAYOR. IT'S FINE. I'M GOING TO BRING IT TO COMMITTEE. OKAY.

YOU GOT IT IN THERE. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT'S EITHER IT'S EITHER ON THE FLOOR.

[10:20:01]

IT'S NOT SO. OKAY. AND WHAT ABOUT 37? YOU RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION? DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU. I MOVE THAT WE AMEND THE BUDGET WITH A SOURCE OF FUNDS TO REDUCE THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF MISCELLANEOUS SPECIAL SERVICES.

THAT'S OBJECT CODE 3099 BY 0.5978%, AND THE USE OF FUNDS WOULD MOVE TO THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE TO INCREASE THE BUDGET BY $200,000. TO FUND PENSION INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES FOR BOTH THE DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND AND THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, SURE YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THIS IS AMENDMENT 37, EVERYONE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, THIS AMENDMENT RESTORES INDEPENDENT PENSION INVESTMENT OVERSIGHT THAT THE CITY HAS GONE WITHOUT SINCE LAST OCTOBER.

IN THAT TIME, WE MISSED ASSET ALLOCATION SEASON, MEANING OUR INFLUENCE OVER OR POTENTIAL INFLUENCE OVER INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES WERE LEFT ON THE TABLE. AND NINE MONTHS OF WORKING WITH BOTH FUNDS AND WHAT WILL TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO STRENGTHEN AND FUTURE YEARS TO MONITOR.

SO, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE CITY WILL CONTRIBUTE $320 MILLION TO THESE FUNDS THIS YEAR.

THE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT FUND BOARD, MADE MOSTLY UP MOSTLY OF CITY EMPLOYEES, IS FILLED WITH DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS, BUT THEY ARE NOT PENSION EXPERTS. SOME BOARD MEMBERS HAVE VALUED THIS INDEPENDENT CONSULTATION AND WITHOUT IT, WE ARE ASKING THEM TO MAKE BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT DECISIONS WITHOUT OBJECTIVE, PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE FROM THE CITY.

AT THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND, THERE'S BEEN PROGRESS MADE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR APPOINTING SOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS.

BUT LET'S REMEMBER THAT THEIR FIDUCIARY DUTY IS TO THE FUND, NOT TO THE CITY, AND NOT TO DALLAS TAXPAYERS.

SO THIS IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT OF THIS YEAR'S $320 MILLION CONTRIBUTION FOR THE TAXPAYER.

IT'S AN OBJECTIVE THIRD PARTY ADVISER WHO WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO CITY COUNCIL AND THEREFORE TO THE TAXPAYERS.

THIS MODEST AMENDMENT ENSURES BOTH OF OUR PENSION SYSTEMS ARE MANAGED WITH THE IMPARTIAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE OUR ACTIVE AND RETIRED EMPLOYEES, POLICE AND FIRE AND RESIDENTS DESERVE. SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY AND WEST AND BLACKMON FOR JOINING ON THIS AMENDMENT.

AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS SO WE CAN GET BACK TO HAVING THIS KIND OF OVERSIGHT.

I BELIEVE MISS KOWALSKI, THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US, SO NO WORRIES.

GOOD MORNING. THERE ARE SOME. WHAT DID YOU SAY? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. YOU'RE RIGHT. SO THERE ARE THERE ARE SOME OTHER FUNDS THAT THE CITY CONTRIBUTES TO THAT HAVE PROFESSIONAL OVERSIGHT LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT'S CODIFIED, AND WE HAVE TO DO IT.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS FUND OR SOMETHING? YES, I CAN I CAN EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU.

YES. THE CITY AUDIT. THE AUDIT, THE EXTERNAL AUDIT FIRM IS REQUIRED BY THE CHARTER OR BY THE CODE.

SECTION THREE CHAPTER THREE CODE SECTION 19, THE DELOITTE CONTRACT. THE ACTUARIAL FIRM IS REQUIRED BY EVERY FIVE YEARS BY STATE LAW, AND THEN ALSO BY A RECENT ORDINANCE THAT YOU WILL PASS IN 2024. FOR US TO CALCULATE THE ADC.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO BIG CONTRACTS AND THE $1.4 MILLION IN THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE BUDGET, 800,000 FOR EXTERNAL AUDIT, 250 FOR DELOITTE.

AND SO WHAT THIS REVEALS IS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE A POLICY DECISION AROUND THIS MASSIVE INVESTMENT THAT WE MAKE EVERY YEAR, AND LACK OF OVERSIGHT IS WHAT GOT US INTO THIS SITUATION MANY YEARS AGO.

AND SO I DEFINITELY WOULD ASK OUR AD HOC PENSION CHAIR TO BRING THIS FORTH TO US TO CONSIDER POLICY THAT WOULD LOCK IN THIS KIND OF OVERSIGHT.

BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT SO WE CAN HELP OUR FUNDS GET STRONGER AND ALSO GIVE US AN OBJECTIVE VIEW POINT.

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

THANK YOU. BEFORE THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

HAVE WE EVER HAD THIS KIND OF SERVICE? NO, MA'AM, WE HAVE NOT.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS TAKEN ON DURING THE TIME THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH THE PENSION AD HOC COMMITTEE REVIEWING, TRYING TO COME UP WITH FUNDING SOUNDNESS PLANS.

WE DID START LOOKING AT THE WAY THE FUNDS WERE INVESTED BY BOTH OF THE TWO PENSION SYSTEMS. AND SO WE GOT A SHORT TERM CONTRACT FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THAT CONTRACT HAS SINCE EXPIRED. I DO BELIEVE THAT THINGS WE WERE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THINGS WITHIN DALLAS POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM BECAUSE SOME OF THEIR OLD LEGACY INVESTMENTS WERE UNDERPERFORMING.

I THINK THE CHANGES IN THE BOARD MAKEUP WITH THE MAYOR'S RECENT APPOINTMENTS IS GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THAT OVERSIGHT.

[10:25:08]

SO NO, MA'AM, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, WE DID NOT PREVIOUSLY HAVE THIS.

AND SO THIS IS FOR INVESTMENT ADVISORY. BUT IS THAT A FUNCTION OF THE COUNCIL TO HAVE ANY KIND OF INPUT ON INVESTMENTS.

THE BOTH FUNDS HAVE PROFESSIONAL STAFF AS WELL AS BOARDS.

AND THEY DO HAVE INVESTMENT ADVISORS. ANYTHING THAT WE DID DURING THAT TIME YEAR AND A HALF AGO, ANYTHING WE DO GOING FORWARD ABOUT INVESTMENT ADVISEMENT WOULD BE THINGS THAT WE COULD OFFER TO THEM, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TO DO.

WE DON'T HAVE A SAY IN HOW THEY MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS.

SO ARE YOU SAYING YOU WOULD SUPPOSE THAT WE WOULD HIRE SOMEBODY WHO COULD HAVE ANY KIND OF AN OPINION, AND WE WOULD THEN OFFER ADVICE TO OUR PENSIONS ON HOW TO DO INVESTMENTS IF, IF THAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF RECOMMENDATIONS IT WOULD BE RECOMMENDATIONS OVER TO A POINT OF ORDER.

MAYOR. STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER. IT'S REALLY A LEGAL INQUIRY.

I'M CURIOUS IF THIS IS APPROPRIATE FROM A MEMBER THAT IS CONFLICTED OUT OF OUR PENSION DISCUSSIONS.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT. YEAH. GO AHEAD. IF I CAN CLARIFY I HAVE DESIGNATED MYSELF TO HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE LAWSUIT THAT THE POLICE FIRE PENSION FUND HAS WITH THE CITY BECAUSE MY BROTHER WORKS FOR THE POLICE FIRE PENSION FUND.

I HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED TO ACTUALLY HAVE A CONFLICT BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

IT'S THAT THERE IS AN APPEARANCE BECAUSE LITERALLY, MY BROTHER IS SUING.

UNDERSTOOD? IT'S OVERRULED. THE POINT OF ORDER IS OVERRULED.

BUT, WELL, SPECIFICALLY FOR POLICY. I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS A CONFLICT.

UNDERSTOOD. IF I'VE OVERRULED THE POINT OF ORDER.

THANK YOU. SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF WE WERE TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO GIVE US INVESTMENT ADVICE, WHAT THAT ROLE WOULD, WHAT THAT INFORMATION WOULD DO FOR US WHEN OUR BODY DOES NOT GIVE INVESTMENT ADVICE THAT THE PENSION BOARDS, BOTH URF AND POLICE, FIRE. THAT'S THEIR CHARGE.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. WELL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS MOTION.

THIS MOTION? AND TAKE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS, AND INSTEAD OF USING IT FOR THIS PURPOSE, INSTEAD PUT IT INTO CONTINGENCY.

THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. I'M CONFUSED. DID YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE SOURCE? I'M SORRY. NO. THE USE OF FUNDS, I APOLOGIZE.

SO THE AMENDMENT IS TO CHANGE THE USE. THIS IS OKAY, EVERYONE.

WE'RE ON AMENDMENT 37, AND YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE USE TO WHAT? TO PUT IT IN CONTINGENCY. AND THEREFORE, IF WE NEED SERVICES.

THANK YOU. OKAY. YES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET A SECOND FIRST BEFORE YOU GO INTO ANY. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED NOW. SO NOW WE'RE ON AN AMENDMENT BY CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN TO AMENDMENT 37, AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO EXPLAIN IT.

THANK YOU. I DON'T NEED FIVE MINUTES. IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL SERVICES NEEDED ONCE THE PENSION AD HOC GETS GOING AND THERE'S ADDITIONAL CONSULTING THAT'S NEEDED, THE MONEY WILL BE SITTING IN THE CONTINGENCY FUND AVAILABLE FOR THAT SERVICE.

BUT IT IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE USE OF OUR FUNDS TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO GIVE INVESTMENT ADVICE TO A BODY THAT DOESN'T DO INVESTMENTS.

LIKE, THAT'S LITERALLY NOT WHAT WE DO. AND, YOU KNOW, NO OFFENSE, IF ANYONE'S LOOKED AT OUR FINANCIALS, I THINK IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA FOR US TO GIVE INVESTMENT ADVICE TO ANY PENSION FUND.

SO THAT IS NOT WHAT WE DO. WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN THE DUTIES OF COUNCIL MEMBER, IT'S NOT TO ADVISE PENSION FUNDS ON HOW TO DO INVESTMENTS.

AND THIS, THIS IS A VERY BAD IDEA. SO PUT IT INTO CONSULTING.

PUT IT INTO CONTINGENCY. IF WE NEED TO HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR ANY KIND OF SPECIFIC CONSULTING, IT'LL BE THERE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AN EXTERNAL AUDIT.

THIS IS URGENTLY NEEDED. IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON WE HIRE IN THE ENTIRE CITY TO DO SOMETHING FOR US SERVICE, BECAUSE IT GIVES THE TAXPAYER ASSURANCE THAT ALL OF OUR DOLLARS ARE USED.

AS WE HAVE VOTED AND SAID THERE'S NO NO, NO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY HAPPENING.

AN EXTERNAL AUDIT IS STANDARD. I MEAN, THE SMALLEST OF NON-PROFITS WILL DO AN EXTERNAL AUDIT TO HIRE AN ACTUARY TO GUIDE US SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND AND PLAN FOR WHAT OUR PENSION CONTRIBUTION WILL BE.

[10:30:04]

ESPECIALLY SWITCHING TO AN ACTUARIAL DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION IS AGAIN ESSENTIAL FOR BUDGETING AND FOR OUR FINANCIAL PLANNING.

THESE MAKE TOTAL SENSE. THEY'RE WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF WHAT WE DO.

BUT INVESTMENT ADVICE IS NOT. AND SO I WOULD NOT WANT TO WASTE $200,000.

I WOULD HAVE PUT IT TO TAX. TAX REDUCTION. BUT I KNOW YOU'VE DONE ALL THE, THE NUMBERS FOR ALL THE ADDITIONAL ITEMS, BUT PUTTING IN CONTINGENCY DOES ALLOW OUR AD HOC CHAIR TO BE ABLE TO TO SAY, LOOK, WE WANT TO GET ADVICE ON SOMETHING PRETTY NARROW.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN GRACEY, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WE'RE ON THE AMENDMENT BY CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN TO ITEM 37.

SURE. SHERRY, I WAS JUST TRYING TO DO WE. WE HAVE AN INVESTMENT ADVISOR NOW, RIGHT? FOR THE FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS. YES, SIR. WE HAVE WITHIN THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.

WE HAVE A TREASURY FUNCTION, AND WE DO HAVE FINANCIAL ADVISORS.

OKAY. AND INVESTMENT ADVISORS. OKAY. AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS WOULD BE.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GET SOME CLARITY ON THIS. THIS WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY AN INVESTMENT ADVISOR.

KIND OF MAKES SURE LOOK OUT FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE CITY, I GUESS.

IS THAT BAD? WHO'S THE DIFFERENCE, I THINK. OUR INVESTMENT ADVISOR ADVISES THE CITY OF DALLAS ON HOW WE INVEST OUR FUNDS, THAT IN OUR CHECKING ACCOUNT, ETC.. RIGHT. AND THE FUNCTION OF THIS ROLE WOULD BE TO GO INTO THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION SYSTEM AND LOOK AT THE WAY THEY INVEST THEIR MONEY, GO INTO URF AND LOOK AT THE WAY THEY INVEST THEIR MONEY AND GIVE THIS BODY RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND IT'S REALLY MEANT TO TO ENSURE WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE WE AT LEAST PUT US IN A POSITION TO BE PREEMPTIVE AND BE AWARE AT LEAST.

RIGHT. IT WOULD SHED LIGHT, GIVE YOU INFORMATION BASED ON THEIR ANALYSIS OF THE INVESTMENTS OF THOSE TWO FUNDS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE.

IF I GO BACK TO CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

THE FINANCIAL ADVISORS WE HAVE HAVE TO OPERATE UNDER OUR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. AND IS THAT FAIRLY LIMITING ON WHAT WE ARE EVEN ALLOWED TO INVEST IN? YES, WE HAVE RESTRICTIONS PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND ACT, STATE LAW.

SO IT'S A PRETTY NARROW RANGE. YES. WOULD YOU AGREE? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO CHAIRMAN GRACEY JUST MENTIONED AND YOUR RESPONSE TO HIM WAS THAT THEY WOULD THEN GIVE US RECOMMENDATIONS, RIGHT? THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE TWO PENSIONS AND THEY'D GIVE US RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THEIR INVESTMENTS.

THAT'S THAT'S THE PHRASE. YES, MA'AM. SO IF IF WE'RE HIRING A CONSULTANT TO GO AND LOOK AT THOSE TWO FUNDS AND THE WAY THEY'RE INVESTING THEIR MONEY THEN I ASSUME THIS BODY WANTS A REPORT BACK AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THAT.

THEY THINK IT'S THE INVESTMENTS ARE GOOD INVESTMENTS OR THE INVESTMENTS ARE BAD INVESTMENTS.

AND THEN THIS BODY WOULD, I GUESS, TAKE ACTION WITH THAT.

WELL, SEE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE I'M GOING. WHAT WOULD WE THEN DO WITH THAT INFORMATION SINCE WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER THAT? YES, MA'AM. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SEND NOTIFICATION TO THEM, ADVISE THEM BUT WE DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE THEIR INVESTMENTS. AND IS THE IS THEIR INVESTMENT MIX? IS THAT PUBLIC INFORMATION? YES. AND LIKE, YOU COULD GO ON THEIR WEBSITE RIGHT THIS MINUTE AND LOOK AT WHAT THEIR INVESTMENTS ARE.

YES. I'M NOT SURE AT WHAT LEVEL OF DETAIL, BUT THERE IS INFORMATION.

YES. AND IF YOU WENT TO ANY OF THEIR BOARD MEETINGS.

YOU COULD GET VERY DETAILED INFORMATION AS THEY REPORT OUT.

IS THAT CORRECT? THEY DO REPORT OUT. YES. SO I MEAN, ARE WE JUST LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO TRANSLATE HERE THAT AND PUT IT IN MORE SIMPLISTIC TERMS THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND.

I MEAN, THE INFORMATION IS ALREADY AVAILABLE.

I MAY NOT BE THE BEST PERSON TO. I'M GOING TO ALLOW YOU CAN'T MAKE HER SAY ANYTHING UNLESS SHE WANTS TO.

I'M NOT ACTUALLY POSING THE QUESTION TO HER. EXACTLY.

I KNOW I WASN'T SAYING YOU WERE. I WAS SAYING, YEAH, YOU DON'T GET TO DO ANYTHING.

JACK, YOU CAN. YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S FINE. THERE YOU GO. I DON'T KNOW. OKAY.

WELL, AGAIN, THIS SEEMS LIKE AN UNNECESSARY CONSULTING CONTRACT.

I THINK WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT UNNECESSARY CONSULTING CONTRACTS.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION, I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT BOTH PENSION FUNDS WOULD SIT DOWN WITH ANYONE TO WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEIR INVESTMENTS ARE, WHY THEY'RE THAT WAY? BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT OUR ROLE TO TELL THEM HOW TO DO INVESTMENTS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON

[10:35:10]

FOR OR AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BY CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN TO AMENDMENT 37? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT. BY RAISING A PLACARD.

SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH, MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO MAYOR JOHNSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

WITH ONLY FOR SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. THE AMENDMENT FAILS, MR. MAYOR. SO WE'RE BACK ON THE AMENDMENT 37 AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

AND WE HAVE DISTRICTS 13 AND 12 WHO HAVE SPOKEN ON THAT.

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 37 AS PROPOSED? SEEING NONE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT.

OH I DIDN'T. OH, THERE YOU GO. NOW, THERE WE GO.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK. I JUST WANTED TO ASSURE MY COLLEAGUE THAT.

YES, WE WILL TAKE THIS UP IN THE PENSION, THE AD HOC PENSIONS COMMITTEE, AND GIVE IT A FULL VETTING AND GET EVERYBODY'S, EVERYBODY'S THOUGHTS. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT BY RAISING YOUR PLACARD. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON.

DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. WILLIS. COUNCIL MEMBER.

WEST, RIDLEY AND GRACEY. WITH ONLY SEVEN SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT.

OH, BILLY, I'M SO SORRY. WITH COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA.

THAT MAKES NINE. SEALS RAISED IN FAVOR. MR.. MAYOR.

AMENDMENT MOVES FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT WAS 37.

WE ARE AT 40, I BELIEVE NOW, WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE LAST ONE IN THE PACKET.

ANYONE WILLING TO PUT THAT ONE FORWARD? A QUICK EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION NOTES IN A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $12 MILLION, WITH THE USE OF FUNDS BEING THE FUNDING OF ONE ELECTRIC SANITATION TRUCK AND REQUIRED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THAT TRUCK. THE AMOUNTS ARE TO BE DETERMINED BY STAFF.

EVERYONE'S CONFUSED OVER HERE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS ACTUALLY NECESSARY AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT.

SO. WELL, ITS PURPOSE IS TO DEDICATE A PORTION OF THE $12 MILLION IN THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET FOR THE PURCHASE OF SANITATION FLEET EQUIPMENT TO AT LEAST ONE ELECTRIC SANITATION VEHICLE. OKAY, I'M GOING TO LET THE CITY MANAGER SPEAK.

IT'S IT'S NOT IT'S NOT BEEN MOVED. IT'S ON THE FLOOR AS AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT IT CAN BE MADE INTO ONE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DO SOMETHING, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE BUMPED UP AGAINST A COUPLE OF TIMES TODAY.

SO, MADAM CITY MANAGER, WOULD YOU SAY WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? AND THEN I'LL, I'LL HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ABOUT WHETHER THAT'S AN ORDER. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY. SO IN THE BUDGET, WE HAVE $12 MILLION THAT'S ALREADY INCLUDED TO SUPPORT THE PURCHASE OF NEW SANITATION FLEET.

AND SO I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS TO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS FOR FLEET PURCHASES GOING INTO THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR IS TO ALLOCATE FOR ONE ELECTRIC VEHICLE. WE CAN DO EXACTLY THAT, AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY NEEDED TO BE DONE DURING AMENDMENT.

I THINK IT FURTHERS THE COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO OUR CAP GOALS AND THE WHOLE ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM THAT THIS BODY HAS ASKED US TO DO.

SO REALLY, YOU JUST NEED TO DIRECT ME TO DO THAT.

UNLESS UNLESS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING CAN BE REDUCED TO LIKE A SPREADSHEET ENTRY WHERE YOU HAVE A PLUS ON ONE SIDE AND A DOLLAR AMOUNT AND A MINUS ON THE OTHER SIDE I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE MADE INTO A BUDGET AMENDMENT.

CAN IT BE MADE INTO A PLUS AND MINUS? WELL, UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE COST FIGURES.

I DON'T THINK STAFF HAS COST FIGURES FOR THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

IF THE CITY MANAGER IS COMMITTING TO PURCHASE OF AT LEAST ONE ELECTRIC SANITATION TRUCK OUT OF THIS BUDGET.

I'LL BE SATISFIED WITH THAT. YES, SIR. EXACTLY.

SHE CAN DO THAT. YES, BUT THAT'S NOT OUTSIDE THE BUDGET PROCESS.

OKAY, WELL, I WITHDRAW THE AMENDMENT. OKAY, SO IT'S WITHDRAWN.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GET OVERRULED. YOU DON'T WANT TO. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW OFF FOR ANYBODY AND SAY YOU GOT YOU FOUGHT HARD FOR IT.

[10:40:04]

IN THE MEAN. MAYOR OVERRULED YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT.

IT'S BEEN WITHDRAWN, EVERYONE. ALRIGHT. SO MEMBERS.

I MISS ANYBODY'S AMENDMENT. I DON'T I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT TO ANYONE, EVEN BY ACCIDENT.

FOR WHAT PURPOSE? GO AHEAD. CHAIRWOMAN. POINT OF INQUIRY.

SURE. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO MY NUMBER 38 AMENDMENT.

IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO IT BEING BROUGHT BACK UP.

YOU'D HAVE. IT'D HAVE TO BE BROUGHT BACK UP, I SUPPOSE.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO TO GOING BACK TO 38 FOR, FOR THE PURPOSE OF LETTING THE THE AUTHOR MEANT IT WAS WAS IT ADOPTED? IT WAS. YES, SIR. I'M AWARE OF THE TIME IT WAS APPROVED.

YEAH. THAT'S A THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT'S THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE.

BECAUSE THE BODY ADOPTED IT AND THERE WAS A I UNDERSTAND IT'S A FLOOR AMENDMENT.

IS THAT CORRECT. IT COULD BE A FLOOR AMENDMENT.

I SHOULD I MEAN IT'S TOO LATE TO CHANGE. LET ME HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE THIS HARD.

YEAH.

I WONDER WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO TO CHANGE IT. YEAH, I THINK I WOULD TOO, BUT I DON'T REALLY WANT HER TO MAKE THE MOTION.

ALRIGHT. I'M JUST GOING TO. I FEEL LIKE THE MOST DEMOCRATIC WAY TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT ODD. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ALLOWING GENERAL STEWART TO BRING BACK THIS AMENDMENT OF HERS TO CHANGE THE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SOURCE PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY? STATE YOUR INQUIRY. IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE BEFORE WE AGREE TO ALLOW IT? I MEAN, IF IT WAS SOMETHING OBJECTIONABLE, I WOULD SAY I DO OBJECT, BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING NOT OBJECTIONABLE, I'M FINE. BUT WE DID A PROPERTY TAX DECREASE OF 548,457.

IF WE'RE GOING TO UNDO THAT, I DON'T WANT TO BRING THE AMENDMENT UP. AND SO MY ACQUIESCENCE IS DEPENDENT ON THE SUBJECT.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO ASK MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHAT SHE SAID WAS THAT SHE WANTS TO JUST CHANGE THE SOURCE, BUT POTENTIALLY IT UNDOES THE AMENDMENT. I MEAN, IN TERMS OF IF THERE'S NO SUPPORT FOR IT, THEN, WELL, THEN I OBJECT. YEAH. OKAY. SO SINCE SHE'S TALKING.

NO, I HAVE A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY. YEAH. STATE YOUR INQUIRY.

YES. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FOR AMENDMENTS BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE OF THE BUDGET ARE ALLOWED.

AND SO I WOULD. I WOULD ASSUME THAT ANY MEMBER WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT IN A FRESH NEW AMENDMENT, EVEN IF IT WAS TO TAKE BACK FROM HER USE AND TO GIVE BACK TO THE SOURCE AND OR AMEND.

IN THAT WAY, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE TO GO BACK AS A RECONSIDERATION FOR A MOTION THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DISPOSED OF.

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY. WE HAVE ONE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE NOT ADDRESSED YET.

THAT'S PENDING RIGHT NOW. SO I WANT TO I WANT TO LET THE PARLIAMENTARIAN SPEAK TO WHAT SHE THINKS THE SITUATION IS,

[10:45:02]

BECAUSE THIS IS SORT OF AKIN TO A MOTION TO RECONSIDER BECAUSE IT'S IT WAS IT'S BEEN ADOPTED.

IT'S IN ESSENCE, BUT. SO THIS WOULD BE LIKE BRINGING IT BACK AND WE ALREADY HAVE AN OBJECTION TO IT.

SO I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE PARLIAMENTARIAN SAYS IN HER MIND THIS IS LIKE AND HOW WE SHOULD DEAL WITH IT.

IT'S VERY ODD. THANK YOU. MAYOR. SO WE'RE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RIGHT NOW.

AND SO THERE'S ONLY A FEW MOTIONS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO BE MADE.

AND ONE IS TO AMEND. AND THEN YOU HAVE POINTS OF ORDER AND THEN APPEALS AND THEN DIVISION OF THE ASSEMBLY.

SO THERE IS NO CONTEMPLATION UNDER COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO RECONSIDER AN ITEM.

HOWEVER. ONCE WE GET TO THE MAIN ITEM, I THINK IT WOULD BE IN ORDER FOR HER TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT, OR MY UNDERSTANDING IS AT LEAST THAT IT WOULD CHANGE FROM IT WOULD NOT BE A RENEWAL, IT WOULD BE A CHANGE TO THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE.

IT'S A IT'S AN ODD SITUATION PARLIAMENTARY WISE.

THE MAIN ITEMS ARE FOR VOTING AND THAT'S WHEN IT'S FINAL.

I THINK THIS IS I'M GOING TO JUST MAKE THE CALL THAT YOU CAN MAKE THAT THAT MOTION WOULD BE IN ORDER AT THE POINT OF VOTING ON THE, THE, THE COMPILED ORDINANCE OR WHATEVER. YOU CAN MAKE AN AMENDMENT AT THAT POINT.

YOU CAN YOU CAN IF IT'S SECONDED. WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ON YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT AT THAT POINT.

BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT UNDER A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SITUATION THAT THAT'S A AN ACTION THAT WE CAN TAKE.

THAT'S A VERY WEIRD ANYWAY. OKAY. I'M I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT, CHAIRWOMAN STEWART.

THAT'S THAT'S VERY WEIRD. OKAY, SO IF WE'VE DISPOSED OF THE 40 AMENDMENTS, THEN I THINK WE ARE READY TO TO LET YOU CONCLUDE YOUR BRIEFING SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE VOTING.

SO LET ME LOOK AT THE TEAM BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

OKAY. OKAY. WE NEED JUST A FEW MINUTES, MR. MAYOR.

OKAY. WE'LL STAND AT EASE THEN FOR. A COUPLE OF MINUTES WHILE YOU GET IT TOGETHER.

ALRIGHT. WE'RE WE'RE BACK IN. WE'RE WE'RE BACK IN.

AND IN OUR BRIEFING MEETING. I GUESS THE BRIEFING IS OVER WITH AND WE'RE NOW ON OUR ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

[5. 25-2337A Final reading and adoption of the appropriation ordinance appropriating funds for the FY 2025-26 City of Dallas Operating, Capital, and Grant & Trust Budgets - Not to exceed $5,510,422,946 - Financing: General Fund ($1,965,019,000), General Obligation Debt Service Fund ($491,015,332), Capital Funds ($952,657,537), Enterprise/Other Funds ($1,530,942,519), Internal Service and Other Funds ($299,422,205), Grants, Trusts, and Other Funds ($264,014,138), and Employee Retirement Fund ($7,352,215)]

MADAM SECRETARY, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, MR. MAYOR. WE'RE NO LONGER IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, MR. CITY ATTORNEY. OKAY, EVERYBODY. SO THE THE RULES ARE YOUR NORMAL RULES.

WE'RE BACK IN IN A VOTING POSTURE NOW. SO WILL YOU PROCEED WITH THE NEXT ITEM, PLEASE? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YOUR NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM FIVE.

ITEM FIVE IS THE FINAL READING AND ADOPTION OF THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE FY 20 2526 CITY OF DALLAS OPERATING CAPITAL AND GRANT AND TRUST BUDGETS NOT TO EXCEED 5,510,422,000 AND $946.

YOU DID HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.

ZAHRA SALMAN IS NOT ONLINE. COME ON. NOT IN THE OFFICE OR IN THE AUDIENCE NOT PRESENT.

AND AZIEL ALVAREZ IS NOT PRESENT. MR. MAYOR, THIS IS YOUR ITEM.

LOOKING FOR A MOTION. I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM WITH THE CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY CITY COUNCIL IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,509,411,657. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN WEST, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. RECORD VOTE IS REQUIRED BY LAW.

SO, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU, MR.

[10:50:01]

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

NO. IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY.

YES. COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CADENA. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BAZALDUA. DOER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BLAIR. IS ABSENT WHEN VOTE TAKEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

STEWART. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. ROTH. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. RIDLEY. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

WILLIS. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO.

NO. MAYOR. JOHNSON. NO. WITH 11 VOTING IN FAVOR, THREE OPPOSED. ONE ABSENT VOTE TAKEN. THE ITEM PASSES, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM. AGENDA ITEM SIX.

[6. 25-2338A An ordinance setting the tax rate at $0.6997 per $100 assessed valuation, which includes $0.5084 for the General Fund and $0.1913 for the Debt Service Fund, and levying ad valorem taxes for the City of Dallas, Texas, for FY 2025-26 - Estimated Levy: $1,584,513,566 (see Fiscal Information)]

IS AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE TAX RATE AT 0.699 $0.07 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION, WHICH INCLUDES 0.508 $0.04 FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND 0.1913 FOR THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, AND LEVYING VALOREM TAXES FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026. THIS ITEM WILL REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE AS WELL.

MR. MAYOR, IS THERE A MOTION? YES, I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.698 $0.08 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 3.80% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. ALL RIGHT. IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MAYOR. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES NOW, EVEN THOUGH THE STATUTORY LANGUAGE REQUIRES US TO NOTE, NOTE THIS AS A TAX INCREASE. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE OUR CFO A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN WHY THAT REQUIREMENT ISN'T EXACTLY THE BEST PICTURE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. YES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER WEST.

STATE LAW DOES DICTATE THE EXACT LANGUAGE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE MOTION FOR PASSING THE TAX RATE.

AS STATED, YOU ARE APPROVING A TAX RATE OF 69.8 $0.08 PER $100 OF VALUATION, WHICH IS A REDUCTION FROM THE CURRENT YEAR TAX RATE OF 70.4 $0.07.

BUT STATE LAW REQUIRES THE LANGUAGE BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S AN EFFECTIVE INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE TAX VALUES. IS THAT ALL YOU WANTED? WAS THAT EXPLANATION OKAY? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK? CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. SO WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE IT IN THIS WAY THAT THEY REQUIRE YOU, US, TO SAY IT IS A TAX INCREASE? BECAUSE ACTUALLY, THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS RECEIVING IN REVENUE.

YES, MA'AM. BECAUSE WE'RE GENERATING MORE REVENUE.

THAT IS THE CASE. AND IF YOU'RE GENERATING MORE REVENUE AND IT'S ALL COMING FROM PROPERTY TAXES, WON'T PEOPLE BE WRITING A LARGER CHECK? SOME INDIVIDUALS WILL.

IT WILL BE BASED ON EACH INDIVIDUAL'S PROPERTY VALUES AND HOW THEY CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DOLLARS THAT ARE NEW REVENUE.

CAN YOU SHARE WHAT THAT IS? THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS 66,328,005 69.

IT'S ITEM NUMBER SEVEN ON THE AGENDA. OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY SPECIFIC.

I'M SORRY. SPECIFIC AND PRESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S NOT INCORRECT.

IT IS CORRECT TO SAY THERE'S A TAX INCREASE BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL WRITE A BIGGER CHECK.

AND WE ARE GETTING MORE THAN $66 MILLION MORE REVENUE.

AND SO I KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T FEEL AS GREAT BECAUSE THE TAX RATE IS LOWER THAN IT WAS FOR THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR.

BUT IT IS ACCURATE TO SAY THAT IT'S A TAX INCREASE.

SO I JUST I MEAN, I THINK WE GO THROUGH THIS EVERY YEAR.

I KNOW THAT I WILL BE WRITING A BIGGER CHECK.

I KNOW MOST OF MY RESIDENTS WILL WRITE A BIGGER CHECK.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ITEM SIX?

[10:55:07]

RECORD VOTE REQUIRED ON THIS ONE OR JACK, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU NEEDED? YES. RECORD VOTES REQUIRED AND IT REQUIRES 60% VOTE.

SO NINE TO PASS. IF IT DOESN'T PASS, THEN WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND DO THE BUDGET AGAIN.

YOU HEARD IT, EVERYBODY. IT IS WHAT IT IS. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR. NO. IF YOU'RE OPPOSED. COUNCILMEMBER WEST. YES.

COUNCILMEMBER GRACEY. YES. COUNCILMEMBER. JOHNSON.

YES. COUNCILMEMBER. RESENDEZ. YES. COUNCILMEMBER.

CADENA. YES. COUNCILMEMBER BAZALDUA. YES. COUNCILMEMBER BLAIR IS ABSENT WHEN VOTE TAKEN.

COUNCILMEMBER BLACKMON. YES. COUNCILMEMBER STEWART.

YES. COUNCILMEMBER. ROTH. YES. COUNCILMEMBER.

MENDELSOHN. NO. COUNCILMEMBER. RIDLEY. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

WILLIS. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO. YES. MAYOR.

JOHNSON. NO. WITH 12 VOTING IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED.

ONE VOTE TAKEN. THE ITEM PASSES. MR.. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

[7. 25-2344A A resolution ratifying the increase in total property tax revenues reflected in the FY 2025-26 budget - Estimated Revenue: $68,366,675 (100 percent collection rate)]

NEXT ITEM. AGENDA ITEM SEVEN. IS A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE INCREASE IN TOTAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES REFLECTED IN THE FY 20 2526 BUDGET.

THIS ITEM WILL REQUIRE A RECORDED VOTE. MR. MAYOR, IS THERE A MOTION? YES. I MOVED TO APPROVE THIS ITEM RATIFYING THE INCREASE IN TOTAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES OF $66,328,569.

IS THERE A SECOND SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN WEST, ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE SEEING NONE.

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

NO, IF YOU OPPOSE COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

GRACEY. YES. COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON. YES. COUNCILMEMBER.

RESENDEZ. YES. COUNCILMEMBER. CADENA. YES. COUNCILMEMBER BAZALDUA.

YES. COUNCILMEMBER BLAIR IS ABSENT WHEN VOTE TAKEN.

COUNCILMEMBER BLACKMON. YES. COUNCILMEMBER STEWART.

YES. COUNCILMEMBER. ROTH. YES. COUNCILMEMBER MENDELSOHN.

NO. COUNCILMEMBER. RIDLEY. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM.

WILLIS. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO. MAYOR. JOHNSON.

NO. WITH 12 VOTING IN FAVOR TO OPPOSE. ONE ABSENT VOTE TAKEN, THE ITEM PASSES.

MR.. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, NEXT ITEM. AGENDA ITEM EIGHT IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING

[8. 25-2339A An ordinance amending Chapters 2, 6A, 9A, 14, 15D, 17, 18, 19, 27, 41A, 47A, 48A, 48C, and 49 of the Dallas City Code (1) amending fees, charges, and rates relating to stormwater drainage; (2) amending fees for amusement centers, billiard halls, and dance halls; (3) amending the fees for sanitation services, including a new safety vest fee; (4) amending ambulance company and driver’s permit fees; (5) amending wrecker fees; (6) amending food protection inspection and permit fees; (7) amending liquid waste transporter fees; (8) amending housing and property standards registration, nuisance abatement, and habitual criminal property fees; (9) amending sexually oriented business license and survey fees; (10) amending transportation for hire permit fees; (11) amending vehicle tow service fees (12) amending vehicle immobilization service fees; (13) adjusting rates and charges for treated water service, wastewater service, wholesale water and wastewater service, water treatment, untreated water service, meter and backflow inspection and testing fees, security deposits for residential service accounts, fire hydrant usage, evaluated cost tables for oversize, side, or off-site facilities, industrial surcharge formulas, liquid waste disposal fees, and compliance sampling fees; (14) providing a penalty not to exceed $2,000; (15) providing a saving clause; (16) providing a severability clause; and (17) providing an effective date- Estimated Revenue: General Fund ($1,682,578), Dallas Water Utilities Fund ($48,592,051), Stormwater Drainage Management Fund ($4,721,866), Sanitation Operation Fund ($2,558,371), Transportation Regulation Fund ($202,634)]

CHAPTERS TWO, SIX, EIGHT, NINE, EIGHT, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 27, 41, A, 47, A, 48, A, 48, C, AND 49 OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE.

ONE AMENDING FEES, CHARGES AND RATES RELATING TO STORMWATER DRAINAGE.

TWO. AMENDING FEES FOR AMUSEMENT CENTERS, BILLIARD HALLS AND DANCE HALLS THREE.

AMENDING THE FEES FOR SANITATION SERVICES, INCLUDING A NEW SAFETY VEST FEE.

FOUR AMENDING AMBULANCE COMPANY AND DRIVER'S PERMIT FEES FOR AMENDING RECORD FEES SIX.

AMENDING FOOD PROTECTION, INSPECTION AND PERMIT FEES SEVEN.

AMENDING LIQUID WASTE TRANSPORTER FEES EIGHT.

AMENDING HOUSING AND PROPERTY STANDARDS REGISTRATION, NEW NUISANCE ABATEMENT AND HABITUAL CRIMINAL PROPERTY FEES NINE.

AMENDING SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS LICENSE AND SURVEY FEES.

TEN. AMENDING TRANSPORTATION FOR HIRE PERMIT FEES.

11. AMENDING VEHICLE TOW SERVICE FEES. 12 AMENDING VEHICLE IMMOBILIZATION SERVICE FEES.

13 ADJUSTING RATES AND CHARGES FOR TREATED WATER SERVICE.

WASTEWATER SERVICE. WHOLESALE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE, WATER TREATMENT, UNTREATED WATER SERVICE METER AND BACKFLOW INSPECTION AND TESTING FEES.

SECURITY DEPOSITS FOR RESIDENTIAL SERVICE ACCOUNTS.

FIRE HYDRANT USAGE. EVALUATED COST TABLES FOR OVERSIZE FEES AND COMPLIANCE SAMPLING FEES 14 PROVIDING A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $2,000.15. PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE.

16 PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND 17 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS ITEM DOES NOT REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE, MR. MAYOR. IS THERE A MOTION? YES, I MOVE. I MOVED TO APPROVE THIS ITEM WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGE IN SECTIONS

[11:00:03]

15, DASH 57, A3 AND 48 A DASH. 43 A3. THE MAXIMUM TOW AMOUNT IS CHANGED FROM $550 TO $978. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO EXPLAIN.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. AND THE THE ADJUSTMENT? THERE WAS A REQUEST BY STAFF, JUST FYI.

THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. SO IN LOOKING AT THE FEE SCHEDULE, IT LOOKS LIKE QUITE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE FOR WATER.

IS IT CORRECT TO SAY IT'S NEARLY $5 A MONTH INCREASE? I'M GONNA ASK MISS STANDIFER IF SHE CAN COME OUT.

CHEERS.

GOOD MORNING, SARAH STANFORD DALLAS WATER UTILITIES.

I LIKE THAT YOU SAID GOOD MORNING. SO THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WILL SEE ABOUT A 6% INCREASE IN THEIR WATER WASTEWATER BILL.

IT PUTS IT AT ABOUT 72 TO $73 FOR THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER.

SO IT IS CONSUMPTION BASED, BUT YOU'LL SEE KIND OF THAT RANGE.

OKAY. SO MORE THAN $5 A MONTH IN SOME CASES SOME WILL SEE THAT.

YES MA'AM. SO IN ADDITION TO SOMEBODY PAYING MORE FOR THEIR PROPERTY TAX, THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY TO ASK PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING. I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT THAT'S A VERY LARGE INCREASE IN THAT TOW.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF YOU'RE TOWING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH OR NORTH TO SOUTH, ALMOST $1,000 FOR A TOW SEEMS KIND OF OUTRAGEOUS. BUT THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST ITEM EIGHT? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM NOTED. MR. MAYOR, AGENDA ITEM NINE IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS TWO,

[9. 25-2343A An ordinance amending Sections 2-142, 2-143, 2-152.4, 2-175, 2-176, and 2-177 of Chapter 2, “Administration”; amending Sections 13-7, 13-9, 13-10, and 13-11 of Chapter 13, “Courts, Fines, and Imprisonments”; amending Sections 20A-24 and 20A-31 of Chapter 20A, “Fair Housing and Mixed Income Housing”; amending Section 51-4.217 of Chapter 51, “Dallas Development Code: Ordinance No. 10962, as amended”; amending Sections 51A-4.217, 51A-4.908, 51A-4.909, 51A-4.1002, and 51A-4.110 of Chapter 51A, “Dallas Development Code: Ordinance No. 19455, as amended”; (1) changing the name of the Department of Housing and Community Development to the Department of Housing and Community Empowerment; (2) changing the name of the Department of Dallas Municipal Court to the Department of Municipal Court and Detention Services; (3) transferring the Office of the City Marshal to the Department of Municipal Court and Detention Services; (4) providing a penalty not to exceed $2,000; (5) providing a saving clause; (6) providing a severability clause; and (7) providing an effective date. - Financing: No cost consideration to the City]

DASH 1422, DASH 143215, 2.42, DASH 175, 2176 AND 2-177 OF CHAPTER TWO ADMINISTRATION AMENDING SECTIONS 13, OH SEVEN, 13, DASH NINE, 13, DASH TEN AND 13 DASH 11 OF CHAPTER 13 COURT FINES AND IMPRISONMENTS AMENDING SECTIONS 28, DASH 24 AND 28 DASH 31 OF CHAPTER 28 FAIR HOUSING AND MIXED INCOME HOUSING, AMENDING SECTION 50 1-4.217 OF CHAPTER 51 DALLAS DEVELOPMENT CODE.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 10962, AS AMENDED. AMENDING SECTIONS 51, A-4.217 51, A-4.908 51, A-4.909 51, A-4.1002 AND 51, A-4.110 OF CHAPTER 51 A DALLAS DEVELOPMENT CODE.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 19455, AS AMENDED ONE CHANGING THE NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO THE OFFICE AS A CORRECTION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.

TO CHANGING THE NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DALLAS MUNICIPAL COURTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL COURT AND DETENTION SERVICES THREE.

TRANSFERRING THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MARSHAL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL COURT AND DETENTION SERVICES FOR PROVIDING A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $2,000.

FIVE PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE. SIX PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND SEVEN PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS ITEM DOES NOT REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE. HOWEVER, IT DOES REQUIRE A THREE FOURTHS VOTE FOR APPROVAL.

MR. MAYOR, IS THERE A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE? SECOND. MOVED AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION.

ANYONE SEEING. NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM. AGENDA ITEM TEN.

[10. 25-2760A Authorize (1) position changes; (2) approval of Civilian and Uniform salary schedules for fiscal year 2025-26; (3) merit pay increases for civilian staff effective January 7, 2026 the first civilian pay period of the calendar year; (4) increase the minimum civilian hiring rate to $21.50 effective January 7, 2026 the first civilian pay period of the calendar year; and (5) adding pay schedules for uniformed Fire and Police effective October 1, 2025, payable the first uniform pay period of the fiscal year; (6) adding pay schedules f or uniformed Fire and Police Executives effective October 1, 2025, payable the first uniform pay period of the fiscal year; (7) adding new pay schedule for Miscellaneous effective October 1, 2025, the first civilian pay period of the 2025-26 fiscal year; and (8) adding a new pay schedule for Miscellaneous, effective January 7, 2026, the first civilian pay period of the calendar year - Financing: This action has no cost consideration; any budget impact is budgeted in the FY 2025-26 City Budget]

AUTHORIZE ONE POSITION. CHANGES TO APPROVAL OF CIVILIAN AND UNIFORMED SALARY SCHEDULES FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 2526.

THREE. MERIT PAY INCREASES FOR CIVILIAN STAFF EFFECTIVE JANUARY 7TH, 2026.

THE FIRST CIVILIAN PAY PERIOD OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.

FOUR. INCREASE THE MINIMUM CIVILIAN HIRING RATE TO $21.50, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 7TH, 2026.

[11:05:01]

THE FIRST CIVILIAN PAY PERIOD OF THE CALENDAR YEAR AND FIVE ADDING PAY SCHEDULES FOR UNIFORMED POLICE AND FIRE.

EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2025. PAYABLE. THE FIRST UNIFORMED PAY PERIOD OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

SIX. ADDING PAY SCHEDULES FOR UNIFORMED FIRE AND POLICE EXECUTIVE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2025.

PAYABLE. THE FIRST UNIFORMED PAY PERIOD OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

SEVEN. ADDING A NEW PAY SCHEDULE FOR MISCELLANEOUS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2025.

THE FIRST CIVILIAN PAY PERIOD OF THE 20 2526 FISCAL YEAR, AND SEVEN ADDING A NEW PAY SCHEDULE FOR MISCELLANEOUS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 7TH, 2026. THE FIRST CIVILIAN PAY PERIOD OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.

THIS ITEM DOES NOT REQUIRE WORK OR VOTE. MR. MAYOR.

LOOKING FOR A MOTION. MOVE TO APPROVE A SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN. SECOND DISCUSSION. CHAIRMAN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WELL, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM BECAUSE I OBJECT TO THE SALARY CHARTS THAT ARE INCLUDED.

AND I THINK WE'VE ALREADY COVERED THAT. AND IT'S 130.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST NUMBER TEN? ITEM TEN. SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. NOTED. AGENDA ITEM 11.

[11. 25-2761A Authorize (1) approval of the proposed plan design effective January 1, 2026; and (2) approval of the proposed health coverage plans and premium rates increase of 5% for PCP and HSA plans, 15% for the Copay plan, and 5% for all Pre-65 Retiree plans for all of the separate health benefit plans for employees, retirees, and their families – Financing: Employee Benefits Fund ($146,104,603); Revenue: City Employee/Retiree Contributions ($87,125,403) (see Fiscal Information)]

AUTHORIZED. WON APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED PLAN.

DESIGN EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2026, AND TWO APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED HEALTH COVERAGE PLANS AND PREMIUM RATES INCREASE OF 5% FOR PCP AND PLANS, 15% FOR THE COPAY PLAN AND 5% FOR ALL PRE 65 RETIREE PLANS FOR ALL OF THE SEPARATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS FOR EMPLOYEES, RETIREES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THIS ITEM ALSO DOES NOT REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE.

MR. MAYOR, IS THERE A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE? SECOND. ALRIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN. ANY DISCUSSION? ANYBODY? SEEING. NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. MADAM SECRETARY. MR. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR ITEMS FOR YOUR AGENDA.

HOWEVER, YOU DO HAVE TWO REMAINING OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.

I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE NOT PRESENT, BUT I DO NEED TO CALL THEIR NAMES FOR THE RECORD, RICKY ANDERSON NOT PRESENT AND ANN MASON NOT PRESENT.

MR. MAYOR, THESE ARE YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS AND YOUR AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL.

THE TIME IS NOW 1:35 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 18TH IN THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Sep 17, 2025 Council Briefing

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