Oct 01, 2025 Council Briefing

[00:00:02]

YOU'RE WATCHING THE MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR ERIC L JOHNSON, MAYOR PRO TEM JESSE MORENO, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM GAY DONNELL WILLIS, COUNCIL MEMBERS CHAD WEST, ZARIN D GRACEY MAXINE JOHNSON, JAIME RESENDEZ, LAURA CADENA, ADAM BAZALDUA, LORI BLAIR, PAULA BLACKMON, KATHY STEWART, WILLIAM ROTH, CARA MENDELSOHN, PAUL E RIDLEY, CITY MANAGER KIMBERLY BIZOR TOLBERT, CITY SECRETARY BILIERAE JOHNSON, AND CITY ATTORNEY TAMMY PALOMINO. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A QUORUM.

[Call to Order]

THE TIME IS 9:24 A.M., AND I NOW CALL THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.

OUR INVOCATION, SPEAKER THIS MORNING IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

OR HE'S HEADED DOWN. HE'S DOING HIS SLOW, SLOW PASTOR WALK.

IT'S OUR COLLEAGUE, CHAIRMAN MAXIE JOHNSON FROM DISTRICT FOUR.

HE'S THE PASTOR AT THE NEW MORNING STAR MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, AND HE'S GOING TO BE DOING OUR INVOCATION TODAY.

THANK YOU. LET US STAND, PLEASE.

FATHER, WE COME TO YOU THIS MORNING FIRST ASKING YOU FOR FORGIVENESS FOR ANYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE THAT MAY NOT BE PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT.

WE THEN THANK YOU, GOD, BECAUSE WE REALIZE SOMEONE LAID DOWN LAST NIGHT THAT DIDN'T RISE THIS MORNING. AND YOU BLESSED US TO BE HERE ANOTHER DAY. SO WE THANK YOU GOD THAT OUR BED WAS NOT COOLING BOARD AND OUR SHEET WAS NOT WRAPPING CLOTH.

WE THANK YOU, GOD, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN BETTER TO US THAN WE'VE BEEN TO OURSELVES.

WE THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING OUR FAMILY, PROTECTING OUR CITY.

WE PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONTINUE TO GUIDE THOSE, CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THOSE AND STRENGTHEN THEIR HEARTS.

WE PRAY FOR OUR MAYOR, HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS FAMILY, CONTINUE TO DIRECT HIM, CONTINUE TO GUIDE HIM, CONTINUE TO COVER HIM WITH YOUR PRECIOUS BLOOD GOD.

WE PRAY FOR OUR ENTIRE COUNCIL. CONTINUE TO DIRECT US GOD AS WE LEAD THIS CITY.

WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT YOU, GOD, THOSE SONGS SAID TO HIM SAID, WE'RE LIKE A SHIP WITHOUT A SAIL.

SO, FATHER, WE CALL ON YOU AND WE SAY, WE STRETCH OUR HANDS TO THEE.

NO OTHER HELP WE KNOW BUT TO CALL ON YOU THIS MORNING.

WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DIRECT US AS WE MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR CITY.

WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO LET YOUR BLOOD COVER US WITH YOUR LOVE.

COVER US WITH YOUR WISDOM, AND COVER US WITH YOUR GUIDANCE.

GOD, WE PRAY FOR RELATIONSHIPS IN THIS CITY. WHEN WE SEE ALL THE HATE THAT'S GOING ON IN OUR WORLD.

GOD, IF THERE'S EVER A TIME WE NEED YOU, LORD, WE NEED YOU RIGHT NOW.

SO, GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS US. WE KNOW THE SCRIPTURE SAYS NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US SHALL PROSPER. AND WE KNOW THESE THINGS DID NOT CATCH YOU BY SURPRISE, BUT YOU'RE STILL IN CONTROL. AND FOR THAT WE SAY THANK YOU.

I TRUST THIS IN YOU, GOD. SO WE GIVE YOU GLORY THIS MORNING.

WE PRAISE YOU AND WE MAGNIFY YOU. IT'S IN YOUR SON'S NAME.

IT'S IN YOUR HOLY NAME. WE PRAY. LET EVERYONE SAY AMEN.

AMEN. EVERYONE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES.

FLAG FIRST AND THEN THE STATE OF TEXAS. FLAG.

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

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

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE.

TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU MAY BE SEATED. ALRIGHT.

AS PASTOR JOHNSON MAKES HIS WAY BACK TO HIS SEAT EVER SO SLOWLY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MORNING.

[Special Presentations]

AND THAT IS THAT. GENESIS WOMEN'S SHELTER IS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

NOW, I THINK WE ALL WISH WE DID NOT HAVE TO HAVE.

WE WEREN'T HAVING TO WEAR PURPLE AND HAVING TO CELEBRATE HAVING THOSE WHO SERVE, THOSE WHO ARE IN A CYCLE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE.

HOWEVER, THE REALITY IS THAT WE DO. AND TO HAVE AN ENTITY THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR THAT LONG HELPING THIS MANY PEOPLE IS SO SIGNIFICANT.

AND SO, JAN, IF YOU WANT TO COME DOWN, I WAS GOING TO READ A SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR GENESIS AND THEN LET YOU SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS IF YOU'D LIKE TO, AND THEN WE'LL DO A PICTURE. ALL RIGHT. WHEREAS GENESIS WOMEN'S SHELTER WAS FOUNDED IN 1985 WITH A MISSION TO PROVIDE SAFETY,

[00:05:02]

FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS, GENESIS HAS SERVED AS A BEACON OF HOPE AND HEALING IN THE DALLAS COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS GENESIS HAS EXPANDED ITS SERVICES TO OFFER SHELTER, HOUSING, ADVOCACY, COUNSELING, AND OUTREACH, ENSURING SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES.

AND WHEREAS GENESIS HAS BEEN A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN DALLAS AND BEYOND, RAISING AWARENESS, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, AND PARTNERING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COURTS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF ABUSE.

WHEREAS GENESIS HAS IMPACTED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN OFFERING REFUGE, SAFETY, LONG TERM SUPPORT THAT FOSTERS INDEPENDENCE, RESILIENCE AND HOPE.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DALLAS PROUDLY RECOGNIZES GENESIS WOMEN'S SHELTER FOR ITS 40 YEARS OF SERVICE AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A SAFER, MORE COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

NOW I, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON, DO HEREBY EXTEND SPECIAL RECOGNITION ON AUGUST.

WELL, THIS WAS FROM A MONTH AGO AT YOUR EVENT, YOUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY.

AUGUST 21ST, 2025 TO GENESIS WOMEN'S SHELTER AND SUPPORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MISTER MAYOR. HI. AND I SAY HELLO TO MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO.

AND OF COURSE, DEPUTY PRO TEM WILLIS, I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION.

IT WAS ACTUALLY A LITTLE OVER 40 YEARS AGO THAT JUST DOWN THE STREET AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE BASEMENT, THERE WAS AN EPISCOPAL PRIEST, FATHER JERRY HILL, WHO WAS SERVING THE HOMELESS, THE UNHOUSED AND THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.

THERE WAS A WOMAN THERE WHO WAS SLEEPING IN HER SUBURBAN BUT FEEDING HER CHILDREN AT THE STEWPOT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO BE AT HOME WHEN FATHER HILL BEGAN TALKING WITH HER AND REALIZED THAT SHE WAS NOT CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.

LOOKING FOR A SHELTER, HE REACHED OUT TO SHELTERS AS CLOSE AS HE COULD FIND HIM.

THE CLOSEST ONE THAT DAY WAS ACTUALLY JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY STEPPED UP JUST LIKE WE ALWAYS DO AND SAID, THAT'S NOT OKAY.

IT'S NOT OKAY TO SLEEP IN YOUR CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE TO BE AT HOME.

AND THE DREAM OF GENESIS WOMEN'S SHELTER CAME ABOUT.

SINCE THAT TIME, THE CITY HAS WALKED BESIDE US IN FINDING OUR LOCATION.

MAYOR STARK TAYLOR ACTUALLY FOUND THE LOCATION OF OUR SHELTER THAT WE STILL OCCUPY TODAY.

WE HAVE A SPECIALIZED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT WITH THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IN 15 YEARS AGO, IN 2010, THE CITY JOINED US AGAIN WITH THE CREATION OF THE DALLAS COUNTY INTIMATE PARTNER FATALITY REVIEW COMMITTEE.

AND YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE REPORT THAT WE HAVE JUST PRINTED FOR THE THE HE HAD ADJUDICATED, ADJUDICATED CASES, I'M SORRY, FROM 2014 TO 2018.

IT SHOWS THAT 58% OF THE HOMICIDES IN DALLAS COUNTY INTIMATE PARTNER HOMICIDES ARE WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

IT SHOWS THAT WOMEN OF COLOR ARE AT HIGHER RISK THAN WHITE WOMEN OF BEING MURDERED IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

IT SHOWS THAT THE NUMBER ONE CHOICE OF WEAPON IN THESE FEMICIDES ARE FIREARMS. AND SO I BRING THIS TO YOU AGAIN, AN INTERIM REPORT.

IN A FEW YEARS, WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT FULL, ROBUST REPORT FOR YOU ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

BUT YOU CAN SEE WHAT THIS COMMITTEE DOES AND ALSO WHO ARE THE CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES, WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

SEVERAL ARE WITH ME TODAY ON BEHALF OF THIS INCREDIBLE STAFF THAT IS WITH HERE WITH ME HERE TODAY.

BUT I ALSO ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE COME TO GENESIS WOMEN'S SHELTER, WHO ARE TO COME TO GENESIS WOMEN'S SHELTER AND SUPPORT.

AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR PARTNERSHIP. YOU BRING HEALING AND YOU BRING HOPE AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MISS WILLIS FOR THIS RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU. AND TODAY MARKS THE START OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

SO THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES STAFF FOR WEARING PURPLE.

EVERYONE LOOKS GREAT. SO LET'S TAKE A PICTURE.

YES. THANK YOU. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU'LL COME ON DOWN INSIDE THIS THIS RAILING HERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO ARRANGE YOURSELVES IF YOU WANT THE PICTURE TO BE BALANCED.

CENTER IS RIGHT HERE. AND YOU CAN FAN OUT FROM THE CENTER.

COME ON. THAT'S THE THAT'S THE RIGHT.

YEAH. THERE YOU GO. YEAH.

THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. YOU GUYS ARE GOOD. FRANK, YOU'RE MESSING THINGS UP.

[00:10:02]

DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE? I KNOW THIS IS OUR EXERCISE FOR THE DAY.

SQUADS. HI, CYNTHIA. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU.

ALL RIGHT. AS THE MEMBERS MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO THEIR SEATS AND WE GET READY TO HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR CITY MANAGER, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, SHERIFF BROWN, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALWAYS A PLEASURE. WE LOVE ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

APPRECIATE YOU, SHERIFF. IS THAT FORMER COUNCILMAN CASEY THOMAS UP THERE? GOOD TO SEE YOU, CASEY. GOOD KAPPA MAN. MEMBERS.

ARE WE READY TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S READY? OKAY, CITY MANAGER, THE FLOOR IS YOURS FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND GOOD MORNING. MISTER MAYOR, AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

I AM THE DAUGHTER OF A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR.

AND IT IS MY HONOR TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK OF THE SUSAN G.

KOMEN FOUNDATION AS WE MARK BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

SINCE 1989, KOMEN HAS INVESTED MORE THAN 1.1 BILLION IN BREAST CANCER RESEARCH, MAKING IT THE LEADING NONPROFIT FUNDER OF BREAST CANCER RESEARCH.

AND IF YOU CONSIDER ANY TYPE OF CONTRIBUTOR. ONLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVESTS MORE.

THIS INVESTMENT HAS DIRECTLY IMPACTED EVERY ONE OF THE 19 BREAST CANCER DRUGS APPROVED BY THE FDA SINCE 2012.

AND HERE IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH METROPLEX, KOMEN CONTINUES TO CHANGE LIVES.

LAST YEAR ALONE, THROUGH THE KOMEN PATIENT CARE CENTER, MORE THAN 1100 PATIENTS AND FAMILIES RECEIVED PERSONALIZED SUPPORT, INCLUDING BREAST HEALTH EDUCATION, EMOTIONAL CARE, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND CONNECTION TO RESPONSIVE NAVIGATORS WHO HELP GUIDE THEM THROUGH CHALLENGES OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENTS. THIS VITAL WORK REMAINS REMINDS US THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER IS NOT ONLY ABOUT SCIENCE, BUT IT IS ALSO ABOUT COMPASSION, OPPORTUNITY AND COMMUNITY.

THE CITY OF DALLAS IS PROUD TO STAND WITH PARTNERS LIKE KOMEN IN SAVING LIVES AND ADVANCING HOPE.

TODAY WE WELCOME, WE WELCOME. AND WE RECOGNIZE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SUSAN G.

KOMEN FOUNDATION, INCLUDING DOCTOR SANDRA HUGHES AND THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH, NATASHA MEGHJI, FOR THEIR UNWAVERING LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT.

SO, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, WE WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP, YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR CITY AND TO THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER BRINGS US CLOSER TO HOW WE MUST WORK TOGETHER.

SO CONGRATULATIONS AND PLEASE JOIN ME, CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL IN CELEBRATING THE SUSAN G.

KOMEN FOUNDATION AND THEIR LASTING IMPACT ON THE CITY OF DALLAS AND BEYOND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CITY MANAGER, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION. KOMEN WAS FOUNDED OVER 40 YEARS AGO IN THIS GREAT, GREAT CITY, AND IT WAS BORN OUT OF A PROMISE BETWEEN TWO SISTERS.

NANCY BRINKER PROMISED HER SISTER, SUSAN G. KOMEN, THAT WE WOULD WORK TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS DISEASE, AND WE WOULD FIND A TIME WHEN BREAST CANCER NO LONGER EXISTS.

AND AND SUSAN G. KOMEN IS STILL IN THAT FIGHT.

SO THE PINK RIBBON THAT I WEAR AND THAT SOME OF YOU ARE WEARING, IT REALLY IS A CLEAR SYMBOL OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS TO BE AWARE THAT THAT DISEASE EXISTS. TODAY, IT HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF EMPOWERMENT AND ALSO ONE OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THOSE FOLKS WE HAVE LOST IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER. 40 YEARS AGO. I JUST WANT TO SET THE STAGE.

NO ONE SPOKE ABOUT BREAST CANCER. PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

WE KNOW THAT THIS PINK RIBBON IS SOMETHING THAT WE SEE ALL THE TIME, BUT BACK THEN, WE COULDN'T EVEN UTTER THE WORD BREAST OUT LOUD.

AND SO SUSAN G. KOMEN FOUNDATION HAS REALLY WORKED TO TO BUILD A VOICE THERE AND WE SAY THAT WORD OUT LOUD.

WE'VE COME SO FAR FROM THAT TIME. COLEMAN TAKES A 360 DEGREE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING BREAST CANCER ON ALL FRONTS, AND THAT INCLUDES DRIVING RESEARCH, WHERE WE'VE INVESTED NEARLY 1.1 BILLION INTO RESEARCH, PROVIDING CARE, WHERE WE HAVE MORE THAN 220,000 FOLKS WHO HAVE RECEIVED FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

[00:15:02]

AND THEN WE TAKE ACTION. WE'VE MOBILIZED OVER 100,000 FOLKS TO ADVOCATE FOR PATIENTS RIGHTS, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR WORK. WE HAVE COME SO FAR, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS STILL MORE TO GO.

WE STILL HAVE NOT FOUND CURES, BUT WHAT WE HAVE FOUND ARE REALLY GREAT ADVANCEMENTS TO HELP PEOPLE LIVE LONGER LIVES WITH THIS DISEASE.

IN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE DOING THIS WORK, WE CAN'T DO THIS IN A SILO.

WE REALLY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. IT TAKES PARTNERSHIP AND COMMITMENT FROM MANY TO GET US TO A PLACE WHERE WE LIVE, IN A WORLD WHERE BREAST CANCER DOESN'T EXIST.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. MAYOR, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THE COUNCIL TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH WITH OUR HONOREES THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO, LIKE THE PREVIOUS GROUP, IF YOU CAN COME INSIDE THIS RAILING AND WE'LL ARRANGE OURSELVES HERE FOR PHOTO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY IS MEMBERS MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO THEIR SEATS.

WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.

[Open Microphone Speakers (Part 1 of 2)]

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

I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES. SPEAKERS WAS OBSERVED THE SAME RULES OF PROPRIETY, DECORUM AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

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

FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN PERSON. FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION.

INDIVIDUALS ARE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

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

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

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

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.

MY NAME IS BRANT JOHNSON, P.O. BOX 763023, DALLAS, TEXAS 75376.

I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE.

I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS, ETHICS, MALFEASANCE, AND DERELICTION OF DUTY.

SCAPEGOAT. A SCAPEGOAT IS A PERSON OR GROUP BLAMED FOR THE WRONGDOING, MISTAKES, OR FAILURES OF OTHERS TO DEFLECT BLAME FROM THEMSELVES OR THE ACTUAL CULPRITS. THERE EXIST IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WHAT MAY BE CALLED AND CATEGORIZED AS UNORTHODOX BUSINESS PRACTICES. FOR A UNIT THAT IS TASKED WITH PLAN REVIEW FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, REMODELS, ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS AND THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

WHY ARE THERE NO WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED PROCEDURES ON STANDARD METHODS TO CONDUCT RESPECTIVE REVIEWS TO OBTAIN UNIFORMITY.

THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE NOTABLE INCIDENTS INVOLVING POKER HOUSES IN DALLAS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MEGAN WYMER WAS THE ASSISTANT BUILDING OFFICIAL OF ZONING, AND WAS THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE INTERPRETIVE CALL AND OVERSIGHT ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING TEXAS CARD HOUSE SHUFFLE 214 SOCIAL CONTENDER, AND CHAMPIONS. ALLOW ME TO MENTION SEVERAL OTHER NAMES OF PROJECTS THAT HAD ZONING IMPLICATIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

YOU MUST CHECK THE DATES TO SEE IF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WYMER HAD ANY OVERSIGHT FOR ZONING WHEN THESE PROJECTS CAME THROUGH.

[00:20:02]

RECENTLY, THERE WAS AN APPEAL OF A REVOCATION OF A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR A RESTAURANT WITHOUT A DRIVE IN SERVICE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 12.

THE HEARING ITSELF CENTERED AROUND GAMBLING AND POKER HOUSES.

THE ISSUANCE OF THAT SEAL WAS BLAMED ON ME, THE SCAPEGOAT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ZONING MEGAN WEIMER STATED IN A RECENT EMAIL, QUOTE, I'M JUST TAKING A MOMENT TO REITERATE THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED WITH HOW WE ARE REVIEWING POKER HOUSES.

I RESPONDED AND ASKED, IS THERE A STANDARD PROCEDURE BY WHICH A POKER HOUSE SHOULD BE REVIEWED? ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WEIMER RETORTED, REFERENCING CHAPTER 47 OF THE TEXAS PENAL CODE, AND PROVIDED A LINK TO CHAPTER 47.

SHE STATED THAT THE CITY'S POSITION THAT POKER HOUSES ARE NOT LEGAL REMAINS UNCHANGED, AFTER WHICH CHIEF PLANNER OF ZONING TANISHA LESTER SUBSEQUENTLY REPLIED AND STATED, UNQUOTE, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FROM LEADERSHIP, POKER IN ANY FORM IS NOT PERMISSIBLE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THERE IS NO SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO BE OFFERED ON THIS SUBJECT MATTER AT THIS TIME.

I SEE THAT MY TIME IS DRAWING SHORT. IT WAS HARD TO GET A LOT OF THIS IN THREE MINUTES, BUT I HAVE A LONGER VERSION OF THIS.

I WILL EMAIL IT TO ALL 18 OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. FELIPE RAMIREZ.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS FELIPE RAMIREZ AND MY ADDRESS IS 6718 BROOKLAWN DRIVE, DISTRICT THREE. AFTER TWO DECADES, THE CITY HAS DECIDED TO APPROVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GABION WALL TO ADDRESS THE SEVERE EROSION PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE EXTENSIVE LOSS TO MY PROPERTY. BUT IT IS INCOMPLETE.

THE PROJECT THAT I WAS PRESENTED IS INSUFFICIENT.

ALL THE PROPERTIES PRIOR TO MINE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL THE WAY FROM GANG WISDOM, HAVE AN INTERRUPTED GABION WALL COVERING THEIR ENTIRE PROPERTY WITH MORE THAN TEN FEET OF STORM SURGE WATER ELEVATION.

THE HEIGHT AND THE WIDTH OF THE APPROVED GABION WALL WILL BARELY COVER A FOURTH OF MY PROPERTY, SUBJECT TO EROSION. TO MAKE EROSION WORSE ON MY SIDE.

A FEW YEARS AGO, CITY SUBCONTRACTORS ASSESSED THE CREEK THROUGH MY PROPERTY WITHOUT MY PERMISSION, CREATING A MAKESHIFT RAMP THAT WAS NOT THERE PRIOR TO THEIR WORK, WHICH MADE THE EROSION MORE PROMINENT AND LEFT CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS GRAVEL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CREEK SO THEY COULD INSTALL GABION WALLS IN THE PROPERTY NEXT TO MINE.

THE APPROVED GABION WALL NEEDS TO COVER MY ENTIRE PROPERTY FACING THE CREEK BECAUSE AS IT STANDS, IT RESEMBLES HOW THE CITY TRIED FOR MANY YEARS TO FIX MY SEWAGE CONNECTION THROUGH THE CREEK, WHICH WAS DONE USING DUCT TAPE. LITERALLY, I NEED A SERIOUS GABION WALL CONSTRUCTION THAT ADDRESSES THE EROSION PROBLEM IN ALL THE PROPERTIES. AFTER WAITING SO MANY YEARS FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED, YOU OUGHT TO DO IT RIGHT.

AND LAST THING I WANTED TO MENTION REGARDING THIS CHAMBER, THE FACT THAT YOU CANNOT BRING WATER TO THE CHAMBER IS RIDICULOUS, BUT NOT ALLOWED TO BRING AN EMPTY WATER CONTAINER IS ABSURD BECAUSE I WAS TOLD NOT TO TO BRING WATER.

SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

BRYCE. MARTIN.

GOOD MORNING. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH GRATITUDE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. I DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY THE WEIGHT OF THE DECISIONS YOU CARRY, THE LONG NIGHTS YOU WORK, AND THE PRESSURE OF BALANCING SO MANY COMPETING VOICES.

IT IS NO SMALL THING TO SIT IN THOSE CHAIRS, AND I HONOR THE SACRIFICE IT REQUIRES.

BUT TODAY I DON'T COME WITH STATISTICS. I COME WITH HEART.

BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A NUMBER. IT IS A PERSON, A FATHER, A SISTER, A SON, SOMEONE WHO ONCE LAUGHED AT A DINNER TABLE, WHO ONCE CARRIED DREAMS IN THEIR HEART, AND WHO NOW FEELS INVISIBLE AND IS INVISIBLE TO MANY.

OUR TOLERANCE FOR THEIR SUFFERING IS NOTHING SHORT OF DISGRACEFUL.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS. HOW MANY CHOICES STAND BETWEEN YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE AND THE STREETS? A LOST JOB, A MEDICAL BILL, A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP, A SINGLE ACCIDENT?

[00:25:02]

THEY ARE US. THEY ARE DALLAS. THEY ARE CHILDREN OF GOD.

HOMELESSNESS IS NOT CARE ABOUT PARTY LINES. IT DOES NOT CARE WHETHER YOU SIT ON THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT.

YET WE HAVE TURNED IT INTO A THEATER OF PRIDE AND POLITICS.

TOO OFTEN THE URGENT WORK BEFORE US HAS LOST IN PETTY SQUABBLES INSTEAD OF FACING THE REAL ISSUES HEAD ON.

WE SEE ENERGY WASTED ON ACCUSATIONS AND POLITICAL THEATER.

MEANWHILE, MEN AND WOMEN ARE STILL SLEEPING ON OUR STREETS.

THAT IS WHERE OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE. YOU, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH SOMETHING RARE THE AUTHORITY TO BRING CHANGE.

THAT IS NOT JUST POLITICAL POWER. IT IS A SACRED GIFT.

NOT JUST TO GOVERN, BUT TO HEAL. BUT TOO OFTEN IT IS SQUANDERED.

NOT BECAUSE YOU DO NOT CARE, BUT BECAUSE POLITICS AND PRIDE DROWN OUT COMPASSION.

THE CITY DOES NOT NEED MORE EXCUSES. IT DOES NOT NEED MORE FINGER POINTING.

IT NEEDS LEADERSHIP. LEADERSHIP THAT RISE ABOVE, THAT RISES ABOVE DIVISION.

LEADERSHIP THAT SAYS DIGNITY IS WORTH MORE THAN POLITICAL POINTS.

THE COURAGE. THAT COURAGE IS WORTH MORE THAN CAUTION.

THAT COMPASSION IS WORTH MORE THAN DELAY. SO I ASK YOU TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR TONIGHT AND ASK YOURSELF, DID I USE MY TIME IN THIS SEAT TO PROTECT THE COMFORTABLE OR TO LIFT UP THE BROKEN? HOW MANY DAYS WILL YOU SIT IN THAT CHAIR AND DO NOTHING FOR THESE LOST SOULS? THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. JOHN HOLLIS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU. I TOO, WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE HOMELESS CRISIS THAT IS GRIPPING OUR CITY AND INDEED VARIOUS PARTS OF OUR NATION.

I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU BEFORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. SOME OF YOU ARE NEW.

WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

BUT I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU IS, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SEEN THIS UP AND CLOSE AND PERSONAL, NOT JUST HERE IN DALLAS, BUT IN OTHER CITIES THAT I'VE LIVED IN, THIS IS THE HARDEST THING THAT YOU WILL EVER DO AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

THERE IS NO IF, ANDS OR BUTS ABOUT IT. WE CAN SIT HERE AND HAVE SPIRITED DEBATE AFTER DEBATE AFTER DEBATE ABOUT ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.

VERY FEW OF THEM WILL AFFECT HUMAN BEINGS THE WAY THIS ISSUE WILL, AND NOT JUST ONES THEY'RE DEALING WITH IT CURRENTLY, BUT ONES THAT WILL DEAL WITH IT IN THE FUTURE, AND ONES WHO ARE FIGHTING NOT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT EVER AGAIN.

NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CONTENTION THESE DAYS AROUND BUDGETS, AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY, AROUND HOW WE ADDRESS THIS PRESSING ISSUE.

AND I JUST ASK YOU TO PUT ASIDE YOUR DIFFERENCES, TO PUT ASIDE THE CONTENTION, TO PUT ASIDE THE POLITICS OF THE MOMENT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR CITIZENS THAT ARE ON THE STREETS SUFFERING DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

HOUSING IS ONE ASPECT OF THIS, BUT I'M SURE AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, 67% OF THOSE DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS ISSUE ARE DEALING WITH SOME SORT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE OR ADDICTION ISSUE.

THAT IS THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF ALL OF THIS. AND UNTIL WE GET SERIOUS ABOUT ADDRESSING THOSE TWO ASPECTS, IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE. I'M ORIGINALLY FROM LOS ANGELES.

YOU ALL KNOW HOW BAD THAT GOT. AND IT WASN'T FOR LACK OF TRYING.

IT WASN'T FOR LACK OF MONEY. IT WASN'T FOR LACK OF COMPASSION.

BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF CORRUPTION ISSUES. THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE PUTTING THEIR OWN INTERESTS AHEAD OF THOSE THAT NEEDED THEM, THAT ELECTED THEM TO REPRESENT THEM.

AND I ASK YOU NOT TO DO THE SAME THING HERE. TEXAS IS DIFFERENT FOR A REASON.

IT'S WHY WE LOVE THIS STATE SO MUCH. IT'S BECAUSE WHEN TEXANS NEED HELP, WE STAND UP.

WE DON'T ASK OTHER PEOPLE TO. WE DO IT OURSELVES.

AND I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO TAKE THIS MORE SERIOUSLY THAN ANYTHING YOU'VE EVER DONE BEFORE.

BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T JUST STRUGGLING, THEY ARE DYING ON OUR STREETS.

AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU.

YOLANDA WILLIAMS. YOLANDA WILLIAMS IS IT'S NOT VIRTUAL AND IT'S NOT PRESENT.

[00:30:05]

GOOD MORNING. DALLAS IS A CITY OF INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, WE ARE FALLING SHORT. DESPITE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED EACH YEAR FROM THE GREATER DFW AREA.

ENCAMPMENTS ARE STILL GROWING, FAMILIES ARE STILL DISPLACED, AND RESIDENTS, BOTH HOUSED AND UNHOUSED, ARE LEFT FRUSTRATED. TOO OFTEN, WE TREAT HOMELESSNESS AS A PROBLEM TO BE MANAGED INSTEAD OF A CRISIS TO BE SOLVED.

TEMPORARY FIXES LIKE SHORT TERM VOUCHERS OR OCCASIONAL CLEANUPS MAY LOOK GOOD ON PAPER, BUT THEY DO NOT BREAK THE CYCLE.

WHAT'S MISSING IS ACCOUNTABILITY. MEASURABLE RESULTS IN A CLEAR PATH THAT ADDRESSES ROOT CAUSES, MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION, WORKFORCE REENTRY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

OTHER CITIES ARE SHOWING THAT FOCUSING ON ONLY HOUSING FIRST WITHOUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES LEAD TO HIGHER RATES OF RECIDIVISM.

DALLAS CANNOT AFFORD TO REPEAT THOSE MISTAKES.

IF WE ARE SERIOUS, AND I HOPE WE ARE, WE NEED TRANSPARENCY IN HOW WE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT.

PARTNERSHIPS WITH NONPROFITS THAT DELIVER REAL OUTCOMES, AND THE COURAGE TO ADMIT WHEN PROGRAMS ARE NOT ACTUALLY WORKING.

THE PEOPLE LIVING ON OUR STREETS ARE NOT JUST STATISTICS.

THEY ARE VETERANS, SINGLE MOTHERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE, ETC..

AND WHILE COMPASSION DEMANDS WE HELP THEM, ACCOUNTABILITY DEMANDS WE DO BETTER.

DALLAS DESERVES SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BOTH COMPASSIONATE AND EFFECTIVE.

UNTIL THEN, BOTH TAXPAYERS AND HOMELESS COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE PAYING THE PRICE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES YOUR FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS.

THE REMAINING SPEAKERS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE CONCLUSION OF ITS CITY BUSINESS.

THESE ARE YOUR SPEAKERS FOR NOW. MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

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

[1. 25-2790A Approval of Minutes of the September 17, 2025 Budget Workshop City Council Meeting]

BUT WE DO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

SAM WILLIAMS. HELLO. MY NAME IS SAM WILLIAMS. DISTRICT NINE. THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THE AMENDMENTS, THERE WAS LOTS OF REFERENCE TO COMMUNITY SURVEYS, PREFERENCE OF THE PUBLIC FOR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

SAFETY WAS A BIG TOPIC IN EVERY TOWN HALL. OBVIOUSLY, IN A LOT OF THE.

DELIBERATIONS ON WHERE BUDGET SHOULD BE SPENT.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SURVEYS THERE WAS THERE WERE A LOT OF OTHER INTERESTS THAT, THAT THE PUBLIC WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ACROSS DISTRICTS.

RIGHT. AND WHEN LOOKING AT SOME OTHER SURVEYS THAT DALLAS IS GOING TO BE REVIEWING, MAYBE EVEN LATER TODAY, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW THESE SURVEYS ARE, ARE BEING USED AND WHAT INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED WHEN WE ARE USING VERY POINTED SURVEYS THAT ARE ONLY ASKING, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT X, Y, Z IN A PRESCRIPTIVE MANNER? WE GET A VERY SMALL OR LIKE UNHELPFUL RESPONSE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE MIGHT BE GETTING BETTER RESPONSES. IS MORE FORWARD THINKING, CREATIVE SOLUTIONS AS SOME PEOPLE HAVE REQUESTED FROM THE PUBLIC.

SOME EXAMPLES YOU MIGHT HEAR ON OPPORTUNITIES OR RESOURCES THAT MIGHT BE MISSING.

GROCERY CHOICES. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. CHILD CARE.

REC CENTER ACCESS. AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ACCESS TO HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

A SUPERMARKET WITH HEALTH FOOD OPTIONS. CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

THESE ARE SOME PHRASES YOU MIGHT BE HEARING LATER TODAY, EVEN IN ANOTHER SURVEY THAT YOU'LL BE REVIEWING.

SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT HOW WE ASK THE PUBLIC AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC FOR INFORMATION MATTERS IN HOW WE ARE HEARD. AND I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE MORE OF THAT TYPE OF ENGAGEMENT TO ALLOW FOR US TO SAY WHAT WE REALLY WANT INSTEAD OF COUNCIL. AND CITY'S PERSPECTIVE OF OF HOW THEY THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE WE NEED TO BE HEARD. ESPECIALLY WHEN ONLY MAYBE 200 PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE GIVEN THE RESPONSES THAT THAT I WAS READING OFTEN.

[00:35:06]

AND THEN WE HAVE SPEAKERS HERE WHO ARE AFFILIATED.

THAT RAISES QUESTIONS. AND I WOULD LOVE FOR OUR COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE AND THE DA IF POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? OH, GREAT. GREAT. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THAT'S GREAT. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED. NEXT ITEM, MADAM SECRETARY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AGENDA ITEM TWO IS CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO

[2. 25-2792A 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)]

YOU HAVE A LIST OF NOMINEES THAT WERE DEFERRED FROM THE SEPTEMBER 24TH AGENDA.

AND YOU HAVE TODAY'S 10TH OCTOBER FIRST NOMINEES.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT EACH LIST WILL BE PRESENTED SEPARATELY.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOUR THOSE DEFERRED ITEMS AGAIN FROM THE SEPTEMBER 24TH AGENDA.

ON THAT LIST YOU HAVE FULL COUNCIL INDIVIDUAL AND AN OFFICER APPOINTMENT.

YOUR NOMINEES FOR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION JUDY J.

NAUSET IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH.

MISS NAUSET MEETS THE VISUAL ARTS SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

JARRETT SLATE IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS TO THE CITIZEN HOMELESSNESS COMMISSION.

MONICA BROWN IS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA, AND ELIZABETH DE GIFFORD IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO.

BOTH MEETS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO YOUR CITY PLAN AND ZONING COMMISSION.

LARRY HALL IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS.

MELISSA KINGSTON IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, AND COLIN JENKINS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON TO YOUR CIVIL SERVICE BOARD. ADJUNCT MEMBERS CASSANDRA JAMES IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON TO YOUR COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.

CANDACE WICKS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY AND MEETS THE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES SPECIAL QUALIFICATION AND SELENA.

SELENA C GLASSCOCK IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST.

MISS GLASSCOCK MEETS THE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY OF DISABLED PERSONS SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

HOMERO GONZALEZ IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA TO THE DALLAS HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

MARCY HELFAND IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH.

RYAN MOORE IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS AND RYAN J.

GARCIA IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

JORDAN CLARK IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST.

MR. CLARK MEETS THE GENERAL PUBLIC SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION.

NATALIE J. LEVESQUE IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH.

MISS LEVESQUE MEETS THE POSSESSES A JURIS DOCTORATE DEGREE.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION.

JANICE S BLUME IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER ROTH WRATH TO THE LANDMARK COMMISSION.

DAVID PREZIOSI IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS.

MR. PREZIOSI MEETS THE HISTORIAN URBAN PLANNER SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD.

NEIL SHETTY IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS TO THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD.

SANDRA S ZUCKER IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON, AND ROBIN KIRK IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER BAZALDUA TO THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD. SALLY P HODGE IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS TO THE PERMIT AND LICENSE APPEAL BOARD.

JENNIFER SHEEHAN IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS TO THE SENIOR AFFAIRS COMMISSION.

LISA A KELLY IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER BLACKMON MRS. KELLY MEETS THE 55 PLUS YEARS OF AGE SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK OPPORTUNITY FUND BOARD.

WILLIAM DAWKINS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART MR. DAWKINS MEETS THE LONE WRITING EXPERIENCE SPECIAL QUALIFICATION ALSO TO THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK OPPORTUNITY FUND BOARD.

ONE SEES THIS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST, MR. SAYS MEETS THE LONE WRITING EXPERIENCE SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION.

[00:40:01]

PRECIADO MEETS THE CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE US MILITARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO YOUR YOUTH COMMISSION.

AVALON WILLBORN IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR JOHNSON AND ROSEMARY PEREZ.

HARTSELLE IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER BLACKMON.

BOTH MEETS THE FULL TIME STUDENT SPECIAL QUALIFICATION.

TO THE REINVESTMENT NOMINEES FOR FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENT TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE EIGHT BOARD.

MAPLE. MOCKINGBIRD JILL BETH HAYES IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE SIX SPORT FARMERS MARKET.

KAREN PIERCE BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE TEN BOARD, SOUTHWEST MEDICAL SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL ANTHONY P ADA IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE BOARD.

GRANT PARK SOUTH. TODD ATKINS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE 12 BOARD.

DEEP ELLUM JONATHAN HETZEL IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO YOUR OFFICER APPOINTMENT.

KELLI DRAKE IS BEING NOMINATED VICE CHAIR OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD BY COUNCIL MEMBERS BLACKMON AND COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.

THESE ARE YOUR NOMINEES. MR. MAYOR. LOOKING FOR A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, I MOVE TO MOVED TO DIVIDE THIS ITEM TO CONSIDER SEPARATELY THE APPOINTMENT OF NATALIE LEVESQUE.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, SO WE ARE NOW ON A MOTION TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION.

IS IT DEBATABLE OR IS IT JUST A VOTE? OKAY. WE'RE JUST IT'S JUST A IT'S A AND THE QUESTION WAS IS IT A RECORDED VOTE PLEASE.

SIMPLE MAJORITY SORRY. RECORD VOTE PLEASE. A RECORD VOTE HAS BEEN REQUESTED TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS.

SIMPLE. MAJORITY IS ALL THAT'S REQUIRED. RECORD VOTE HAS BEEN REQUESTED AND GRANTED. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STATE YES IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.

NO. IF YOU'RE OPPOSED. COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER. GRACEY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. JOHNSON.

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

CADENA. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BLAIR. YES. COUNCILMEMBER. BLACKMON. YES. 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. WITH 11 VOTING IN FAVOR, FOUR OPPOSED.

THAT MOTION PASSES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. SO THE QUESTION HAS BEEN DIVIDED.

AND SO WE WILL TAKE UP THE THE THE BULK OF THE NOMINEES FIRST, THE BIG GROUP FIRST.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IT'S BEEN MOVED. IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND IS THIS THE QUESTIONS HAVE NOW BEEN DIVIDED.

SO IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ON THE BIG GROUP.

SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT AND THOSE NOMINEES ARE APPROVED. CONGRATULATIONS. NOW WE ARE ON TO THE THE PERSON WHO IS.

I'LL. I'LL RESTATE THAT, MR. MAYOR. IT'S IT'S ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION.

NATALIE J. LEVESQUE, WHO WAS NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH.

OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE ON THE QUESTION OF OF NATALIE J.

BACK TO THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION. ANY DISCUSSION MOVE TO DENY THAT'S NOT THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR AT THE TIME.

IT'S A IS THERE A MOTION? I BELIEVE THEY'RE I THINK THEY'RE THERE.

THERE'S A MOTION FOR BOTH. AND THEN WE SEPARATED THEM I BELIEVE.

SO I THINK THERE IS A MOTION TO PUT THIS PERSON FORWARD NOW.

SO WE YOU COULD VOTE AGAINST IT, I SUPPOSE. MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE, MISS LEVESQUE.

THANK YOU. THIS IS A AN APPOINTMENT THAT I'VE BROUGHT FORTH TO REPRESENT AN APPOINTMENT ON THE ETHICS COMMISSION REPRESENTING MY DISTRICT. DISTRICT 11? THIS POSITION, UNDER THIS POSITION, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OK SUBMITS PROPOSED CASES TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION FOR EVALUATION OF ADEQUACY, ADEQUACY OF OF CLAIMS, AND ALSO FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SANCTIONS, IF APPROPRIATE. THE PROCESS REQUIRES PRIVATE DELIBERATIONS.

IT'S CONFIDENTIAL. IT REQUIRES INTEGRITY. IT REQUIRES RECOGNITION OF LEGAL PROCESS, FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY,

[00:45:01]

MY CANDIDATE IS A LICENSED ATTORNEY, IS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF LAW AT SMU, AND A SENIOR COUNSEL AT GOOGLE.

IN THAT CAPACITY, SHE IS SUBJECT TO ADHERENCE OF RULES OF CONFIDENTIALITY.

CODES OF ETHICS AND FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY.

SHE IS AN ACTIVE AND VOCAL PARTICIPANT IN COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND IN LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY ISSUES. HER HUSBAND ALSO IS INVOLVED AND ACTIVE IN ADDRESSING CITY ISSUES AND HAS SOME NOTORIETY.

I AM NOT APPOINTING HER HUSBAND TO THIS POSITION.

MY APPOINTMENT AND ANY OF OUR APPOINTMENTS SHOULD BE BASED ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, NOT ON THE APPLICANTS, SPOUSES, FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK ALL OF YOU ALL TO ADHERE TO MY REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF THIS CANDIDATE TO THIS POSITION.

WHO I FEEL LIKE WOULD BE VERY, VERY QUALIFIED, WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET TO THE PROCESS AND WOULD REPRESENT ME AND MY DISTRICT PROPERLY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THAT POSITION TO BE STAFFED AND AND AND MAINTAINED. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF NATALIE LEVESQUE. CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. ETHICS AT DALLAS CITY HALL HAS BEEN A LONG TIME STRUGGLE, AND WE ARE AT A TIPPING POINT WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THIS BODY IS COMMITTED TO FOCUSING ON HAVING AN INSPECTOR GENERAL AND AND AN ETHICS COMMITTEE THAT WILL TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WE MUST GET THESE APPOINTMENTS RIGHT. I APPRECIATE MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORTING THE MOTION TO SEPARATE THIS NOMINATION FROM THE REST OF THE SLATE THAT WE JUST APPROVED IN MY SIX YEARS OF SITTING ON THIS COUNCIL, I HAVE NEVER MADE A MOTION TO SEPARATE A NOMINEE, AND I CAN ONLY REMEMBER 1 OR 2 TIMES OF THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENING SINCE 2019.

THESE APPROVALS ARE TYPICALLY A MATTER OF COURSE, WHERE WE DEFER TO OUR COLLEAGUES JUDGMENT, EVEN AT TIMES WHERE WE MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH THEM, OR PARTICULARLY LIKE THE CANDIDATE.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION. MRS LEVESQUE IS BEING NOMINATED FOR THE ETHICS COMMISSION.

IF IT HAD IF IT HAD BEEN ANY OTHER BOARD OR COMMISSION, I WOULD HAVE LIKELY DEFERRED TO THE NOMINATING COUNCIL MEMBER.

BUT THE ETHICS COMMISSION, TO ME, CALLS FOR PARTICIPANTS TO BE BEYOND REPROACH, TO BE NEUTRAL ACTORS WHO WILL JOIN WITH IMPARTIALITY AND WITH PURE MOTIVES. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MRS LEVESQUE REPRESENTS EITHER OF THOSE QUALITIES.

I CAN CITE AT LEAST A DOZEN EXAMPLES OF WHY I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS APPOINTMENT, BUT I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON ONE.

HER HUSBAND, DAMIEN LEVESQUE, HAS RECENTLY POSTED VIDEOS UTILIZING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO CREATE VOICES IMITATING POLITICAL CANDIDATES, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MOST RECENTLY, MRS TOLBERT, THE CITY MANAGER.

THE IMITATION OF OUR CITY MANAGER IS IN ONE OF HIS TRASH COLLECTION VIDEOS, AND IT'S PARTICULARLY TROUBLING AS IT SHOWS THAT MR. LEVESQUE WILL STOOP TO ANY MEANS NECESSARY, EVEN CREATING FAKE STATEMENTS THAT SOUND REAL IN ACHIEVING HIS GOALS.

NORMALLY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT SPOUSES AND FAMILY MEMBERS CAN BE STARKLY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

BUT THE LEVESQUE APPEAR TO BE A UNIFIED FORCE, WHETHER IT BE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, ELECTORAL ACTIVITIES, POLITICAL DONATIONS OR SPEAKING AT CITY HALL.

MRS. LEVESQUE CANNOT BE IMMUNE FROM SUCH BEHAVIOR AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE SHE HAS ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS, APPOINTEES AND CITY STAFF. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE ETHICS COMMISSION IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR HER, AND I WILL BE VOTING NO. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE MOTION? CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I THINK WHAT WE SEE HERE IS A CANDIDATE WHO IS EXTREMELY QUALIFIED.

SHE'S A SENIOR ATTORNEY AT GOOGLE, ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST COMPANIES.

SHE'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME. IF THERE WERE ETHICAL ISSUES, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN GONE A LONG TIME AGO.

IF THERE WERE CONFIDENTIALITY ISSUES, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN GONE A LONG TIME AGO.

SHE TEACHES LAW AT OUR PREEMINENT LAW SCHOOL, SMU.

[00:50:04]

THE QUESTION OF IF WE TURN DOWN A RESIDENT WHO'S WILLING TO GIVE THEIR TIME VOLUNTARILY, THAT IS QUALIFIED BECAUSE THEY HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE IS REALLY SHOCKING. I'LL SAY THAT I'VE HAD SOME RETRIBUTION FOR THE SAME SORT OF THING ABOUT MY FAMILY MEMBER, AND EVERY ATTORNEY WOULD BE DISBARRED IF THEY SHARED INFORMATION THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE.

SO I HAVE NO ILLUSION THAT THERE WOULD BE A PROBLEM WITH HER SERVING BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT SHARE IT.

SHE WOULD BE DISBARRED. SO WITH THAT, I HAVE HAD AN OCCASION TO MEET HER.

SHE'S INCREDIBLY BRIGHT, KNOWLEDGEABLE, ETHICAL, AND I THINK SHE WOULD SERVE THE CITY WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING HER FORWARD. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE MOTION? I WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS VERSE TO UNDERSTAND WHY I OPPOSED THE MOTION TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IT'S VERY SIMILAR AND I NEVER EXPLAINED IT AT THE TIME.

IT'S HAPPENED AT LEAST ONCE, I BELIEVE, SINCE THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS JOINED THAT I'VE ALSO VOTED AGAINST A MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION. FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN AROUND HERE A WHILE ALREADY KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT, BUT IT'S THE SAME ISSUE FOR ME. IT'S A PRESIDENTIAL THING.

IT'S ABOUT SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR HOW I THINK WE OUGHT TO CONDUCT BUSINESS AT THE HORSESHOE.

I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE ISSUE OF CALLING THE QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE TO LET EVERYBODY EXHAUST ALL THE TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL AT THE HORSESHOE FOR DEBATE AND CUTTING OFF DEBATE PREMATURELY.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I WAS TAUGHT IN AUSTIN WAS JUST AN EXTRAORDINARY MEASURE.

IT'S THE ONE THING THAT THE VOTERS HAVE GIVEN YOU THE POWER TO COME DOWN HERE AND DO IS TO TALK.

AND WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO JUST SHUT DOWN THE TALKING BECAUSE WE'RE TIRED OF IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY MEASURE THAT I JUST HAVE NEVER I'VE NOT VOTED FOR THAT EVER.

NOT ONE TIME IN NEARLY SEVEN YEARS OF BEING HERE.

SO I JUST HAVE TAKEN THAT POSITION AND STUCK TO IT NO MATTER WHAT THE ISSUE IS THAT IS BEING DEBATED, NO MATTER WHAT SIDE I'M ON THE DEBATE, I JUST DON'T LIKE THAT MOVE.

SIMILARLY, I'VE NEVER TAKEN A POSITION TO BE AGAINST AN INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER'S NOMINEE FOR TO ONE OF THESE BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT ALMOST EVERY WEEK THERE'S PEOPLE IN THERE THAT I KNOW ARE NOT SUPER SUPPORTERS OF MINE OR FANS OF MINE DON'T AGREE WITH ME ON POLICY. I MEAN, FORGET THE PERSON.

I DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT PERSONAL STUFF. I MEAN PEOPLE WHO I THINK WOULD ACTUALLY WORK AGAINST MY AGENDA FOR THE CITY.

I DON'T OPPOSE THEM BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER'S POWER IS TO DO HERE.

SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER. I THINK THIS, BY THE WAY, THE REASON I'M WEIGHING IN IS BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A SUPER IMPORTANT DEBATE.

AND I THINK, CHAIRMAN WEST, I THINK YOUR POINTS ARE EXTREMELY VALID.

ACTUALLY, I DON'T WANT TO EVEN DISMISS THE I THINK IT'S I'M GLAD YOU RAISED THEM.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT I DO TO THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THE ETHICS COMMISSION IS THAT IMPORTANT.

SO I THINK YOUR POINTS ARE ACTUALLY WELL TAKEN.

IN SPITE OF THAT FACT, THOUGH, I STILL AM GOING TO STICK FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE PRECEDENT OF I WANT MEMBERS TO KNOW THAT WHOEVER YOU BRING FORWARD, UNLESS THEY ARE LITERALLY NOT QUALIFIED, I'M GOING TO BE OKAY WITH YOUR APPOINTEES.

I'M NOT GOING TO STAND IN THE WAY OF YOUR APPOINTEES. AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY I THINK THAT THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS OUGHT TO WORK, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WHAT I SEE HAPPENING IS ESSENTIALLY EVERY ONE OF THESE APPOINTEES THAT AN INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER GETS TO MAKE BECOMES SUBJECT TO A FULL BLOWN HORSESHOE DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER WE LIKE THEM OR NOT OR LIKE THEIR POLICY POSITIONS OR NOT.

AND THEN IT BECOMES A LOT MORE DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO GET YOUR PEOPLE ONTO THESE BOARDS.

AND WE HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME JUST FINDING PEOPLE TO SERVE.

THE LAST THING I THINK WE WANT TO ADD TO THAT PROCESS IS, YOU KNOW, VICIOUS DEBATE AT THE HORSESHOE ABOUT THEIR WHATEVER THE ISSUES ARE THAT ARE MAKING PEOPLE HAVE QUALMS ABOUT THEM. I PREFER THIS TO BE A LOT MORE OF A I WON'T CALL IT A I'M NOT SAYING IT SHOULD BE A RUBBER STAMP PROCESS, BUT I'M SAYING UNLESS THERE'S A REAL ISSUE WITH THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO OVERLOOK NOT LIKING THEIR POLITICS OR NOT

[00:55:05]

I THINK THEY'RE EXTREMELY QUALIFIED AND I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT LIKE SOME OF THE POSITIONS THAT THIS PERSON'S SIGNIFICANT OTHER OR SPOUSE OR I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT.

I GUESS THEY'RE HUSBAND AND WIFE. I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE BELIEFS OR POSITIONS OF SOMEONE'S HUSBAND OR WIFE AND HAVE THAT BE PART OF THE DEBATE THAT HAPPENS AT THE HORSESHOE EITHER.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH ME ON ALL THIS.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, MY POSITION ON THIS WOULD BE TO HAVE HAD THEM APPROVED WITH THE SLATE OF CANDIDATES AND NOT EVEN HAVE THIS DIVIDED.

BUT SINCE WE HAVE DIVIDED IT, I NEEDED TO MAKE MY POSITION ON THAT KNOWN.

SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE NOMINEE OF COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH TO THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION.

AND IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE I GO TO CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN FOR THREE MINUTES.

GO AHEAD AND RING IN. OTHERWISE. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. WELL, FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST A RECORD VOTE.

SECOND, I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, WE JUST APPROVED A WHOLE SLATE THAT INCLUDED A NOMINEE WHO HAS A CONTROVERSIAL HUSBAND, WHO HAS A MEDIA OUTLET, WHO DOES DISPARAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS.

IT WASN'T POLLED. IT WASN'T SEPARATED. IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE IN HER OWN RIGHT.

SHE'S CONTROVERSIAL, BUT AGAIN, WASN'T PULLED OUT OF RESPECT.

AND BECAUSE SHE'S QUALIFIED, JUST AS NATALIE IS QUALIFIED.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE MOTION? MR. BAZALDUA. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MR. WEST FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND FOR YOUR VERY WELL ARTICULATED COMMENTS.

I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS IS NOT A NOMINATION FOR OUR LIBRARY BOARD.

THIS IS NOT A NOMINATION FOR THINGS THAT THAT ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

THIS IS A NOMINATION THAT IS MEANT TO BE AS OBJECTIVE AS POSSIBLE AND ONE TO WITHHOLD ETHICS.

AND I HAVE SEEN VERY I'VE SEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM THE NOMINEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIFICALLY THAT TELLS ME THAT THERE'S A CLEAR BIAS GOING INTO THIS ROLE, A BIAS AND AN AGENDA A TARGETED AGENDA AGAINST CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT TO BE THE SPIRIT OF OF AN OBJECTIVE APPOINTEE FOR A BOARD THAT SHOULD BE HELD TO A VERY HIGH STANDARD, ESPECIALLY WITH HOW MUCH ETHICS HAS BEEN EMPHASIZED AS A PRIORITY FOR YOU, MR. MAYOR. I DO ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER HAS THE ABILITY TO NOMINATE APPOINTEES. WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPOINT.

THIS IS NOT US TAKING AWAY A COUNCIL MEMBER'S ABILITY TO BRING FORWARD WHO THEY BELIEVE TO BE THE MOST QUALIFIED, BUT IN IN IN REGARDS TO THAT PROCESS BEING A RUBBER STAMP FROM THIS BODY, I WOULD HOPE THAT IT'S OUR DUTY AS A BODY TO TAKE THESE NOMINEES AND VET THEM ACCORDINGLY.

AND IF WE DO NOT BELIEVE AS A BODY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO REPRESENT WHAT THIS CITY STANDS FOR, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE REPRESENTED FOR FROM OUR CITY, THEN THAT'S WHEN WE GET TO INTERVENE.

WE ARE A BODY FOR THAT REASON. I THINK THAT IF WE WERE PRESCRIBED THE ABILITY TO MAKE UNILATERAL APPOINTMENTS IN OUR INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER CAPACITY THAT THAT WOULD BE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT IS GIVEN TO US IS THE POWER TO NOMINATE, NOT TO APPOINT THESE NOMINEES.

SO FOR THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED HERE TODAY AND FOR THE PRECEDENT TO SET OF ACTUALLY HAVING HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ETHICS AT CITY HALL. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS NOMINEE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST THE MOTION? ALRIGHT. SEEING NONE. THE RECORD VOTE HAS BEEN REQUESTED. SO, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE. POINT OF INFORMATION, MAYOR. SO THE MOTION ON THE TABLE IS TO APPROVE. CORRECT? YES. FOR CLARIFYING THIS. THE THE ORIGINAL MOTION, I BELIEVE, WAS TO APPROVE THE SLATE.

THEN YOU HAD A MOTION TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION.

SO IT WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BIG GROUP. AND NOW THIS IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT SINGLE NOMINEE.

SO THE MOTION IT'S AN AFFIRMATIVE MOTION TO APPROVE.

[01:00:01]

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

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

GRACEY. NO. COUNCILMEMBER. JOHNSON. YES. COUNCILMEMBER.

RESENDEZ. NO. COUNCILMEMBER CADENA. NO. COUNCILMEMBER.

BAZALDUA. NO. COUNCILMEMBER. BLAIR. COUNCILMEMBER BLACKMON.

NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. YES. COUNCILMEMBER.

ROTH. YES. COUNCILMEMBER MENDELSOHN. YES. COUNCILMEMBER.

RIDLEY. NO. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. WILLIS. NO.

MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO. YES. MAYOR. JOHNSON. YES.

WITH SIX VOTING IN FAVOR, NINE OPPOSED. THE MOTION FAILS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

WE WILL NOW MOVE TO YOUR NOMINEES FOR TODAY'S AGENDA.

YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL AND FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.

RACHEL GEARING IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO.

MISS GARIN MEETS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

MICHAEL, A QUINT IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH AND STEWART CAMPBELL IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA TO THE CITIZEN HOMELESSNESS COMMISSION. DIANA EINSTEIN IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WALLACE.

MISS EINSTEIN MEETS THE GENERAL PUBLIC SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

MATTHEW OK IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH TO THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

JULIA A SIMON, IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WALLACE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

CATHERINE L GUERRA IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON.

MISS GUERRA MEETS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION.

ANDRES VILLARREAL IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS.

MR. VILLARREAL MEETS THE POSSESS A JURIS DOCTORATE DEGREE.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE LANDMARK COMMISSION.

LARRY ALFORD IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.

MR. OFTEN MEETS THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SPECIAL QUALIFICATION.

ALSO TO THE LANDMARK COMMISSION, LUIS G. RENARD IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON.

MR. RENARD MEETS THE ARCHITECT HISTORIAN. PRESERVATION.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD.

JESSICA JOLLY IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.

BRIAN G. MCGAHAN IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.

VINNIE HAMMOND IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY.

JOHN A PINKUS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH, AND DANIEL WOOD IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA TO THE PERMIT AND LICENSE APPEAL BOARD. STEPHEN JEFFS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART TO THE SENIOR AFFAIRS COMMISSION.

RENEE KARP IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH, AND TERESITA DELGADO IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST.

BOTH MEETS THE 55 PLUS YEARS OF AGE. SPECIAL QUALIFICATION.

YOUR NOMINEES FOR FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENT TO THE NORTH OAK CLIFF MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

GOLDENSTEIN DAVIS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE 15 BOARD, FORT WORTH AVENUE, ALTA. ELEMENT IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE 17 BOARD.

TODD TRAVIS KLEINERT IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE SIX BOARD.

FARMERS MARKET MARK RUBEL IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO AND TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE 13 BOARD GRANT PARK JASON L BROWN IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA. THESE ARE YOUR NOMINEES, MR. MAYOR. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM. MR. MAYOR, YOUR BRIEFINGS CONTINUE. THAT SOUNDS SO INTERESTING.

I LOVE THAT THE INTRIGUE, THE BRIEFINGS CONTINUE, AND WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THEM TO CONTINUE THE BRIEFINGS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, MADAM CITY MANAGER. ARE YOU READY?

[A. 25-2794A Competitive Bid Threshold Increase and Code Alignment]

THIS IS THE FIRST INCREASE IN NEARLY 20 YEARS.

THIS CHANGE ALSO PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO REVIEW AND UPDATE CURRENT CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION THRESHOLDS FOR PROCUREMENTS.

[01:05:02]

WE WILL REVIEW FY 2024 CITY COUNCIL APPROVED CONTRACT ACTIVITY AND PROVIDE AN ANALYSIS ON HOW ADJUSTING THE CITY COUNCIL'S CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION THRESHOLDS COULD OPTIMIZE PROCUREMENT EFFICIENCY, WHILE ALSO PRESERVING CITY COUNCIL OVERSIGHT.

WE'LL ALSO SHARE INFORMATION ON PEER CITY BENCHMARKS, OUTLINE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND RISK MITIGATIONS, AND PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER TWO OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE CITY COUNCIL THAT IN MARCH AND JUNE OF THIS YEAR, STAFF BRIEF, THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE FULL CITY COUNCIL ON PROACTIVE MEASURES TO STREAMLINE THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

AND TODAY'S DISCUSSION BUILDS ON THAT WORK BY ALIGNING OUR PROCESSES WITH BEST PRACTICES.

WE DEFINITELY CAN SHORTEN PROCUREMENT TIMELINES, REDUCE UNNECESSARY DELAYS, AND STILL MAINTAIN THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY THAT BOTH YOU AND THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS EXPECT AND DESERVE.

ULTIMATELY, THESE CHANGES ARE ABOUT MAKING GOVERNMENT WORK SMARTER AND FASTER, MOVING AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS WHILE KEEPING OVERSIGHT WHERE IT MATTERS THE MOST. THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S BRIEFING IS TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE DATA AND THE CONTEXT TO MAKE INFORMED POLICY DECISIONS.

SO YOUR TIME IS THEN FOCUSED ON HIGH VALUE PROCUREMENTS WITH THE GREATEST FINANCIAL INVESTMENT AND COMMUNITY IMPACT.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES.

DIRECTOR ORTIZ. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DON GIBSON, WHO PROVIDES EXECUTIVE OVERSIGHT OF PROCUREMENT TO WALK YOU THROUGH TODAY'S PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE ARE ALSO JOINED TODAY BY OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, MARISSA SANCHEZ AND KIMBERLY FRANKLIN.

TODAY, WE'LL BE BRIEFING YOU ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO CHAPTER TWO OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE AS IT RELATES TO PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACT THRESHOLDS.

THIS UPDATE IS DRIVEN BY THE NEW LEGISLATION AND THE CITY'S GOAL TO REIMAGINE OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

OUR PURPOSE TODAY IS THREEFOLD. PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO THE PROCUREMENT THRESHOLDS.

REVIEW CURRENT CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION THRESHOLDS WITH AN ANALYSIS OF HOW THAT IMPACTS CONTRACT ACTIVITY, AND THEN PRESENT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER TWO.

NEXT SLIDE. AND NEXT SLIDE. SO SENATE BILL 1173 DOUBLED THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS FOR CITIES AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM 50 TO $100,000.

FORMAL SOLICITATIONS ARE ONLY REQUIRED FOR EXPENDITURES THAT EXCEED $100,000, FOR EXPENDITURES BETWEEN 3000 AND 100,000.

THE CITY WOULD NEED TO OBTAIN THREE QUOTES, AND THAT INCLUDES MEETING THE STATE'S HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS.

THIS IS THE FIRST STATUTORY CHANGE TO THE THRESHOLD SINCE SEPTEMBER 1ST.

I MEAN, SINCE 2007, AND BECAME EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST.

AS A PERMISSIVE CHANGE IN THE STATE LAW, THE CITY WOULD STILL NEED TO APPROVE THOSE CHANGES AND INCORPORATE THOSE INTO OUR CITY CODE IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH UPDATED THRESHOLDS. NEXT SLIDE. THIS THRESHOLD CHANGE COULD STREAMLINE HOW WE OPERATE BY SIMPLIFYING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR EXPENDITURES UNDER $100,000, WE CAN GET GOODS AND SERVICES TO DEPARTMENTS FASTER, WHICH DIRECTLY IMPROVES OUR SERVICE DELIVERY.

AT THE SAME TIME THAT THIS ALLOWS US TO FOCUS OUR TIME ON RESOURCES AND STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT, ENSURING THAT THE CITY RECEIVES THE BEST VALUE.

NEXT SLIDE. LATER TODAY, WE'LL REVIEW OUR BID POLICY REDESIGN PROCESS AND THIS INITIATIVE HELPS ALIGN WITH THOSE CHANGES. THIS CHANGE SUPPORTS OUR FOCUS ON SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES BY OPENING UP MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD CAPACITY WITH THOSE BUSINESSES, AND FOR THEM TO COMPETE FOR CITY CONTRACTS. A STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR THESE PROCUREMENTS MEANS THAT SMALL BUSINESSES CAN COMPETE WITHOUT LONG DELAYS AND FINANCIAL BURDENS OF THE FORMAL BID PROCESS. FASTER AWARDS ALSO HELP US LOCK IN PRICING AND REDUCE EXPOSURE TO MARKET VOLATILITY.

NEXT SLIDE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SB 1173 DID NOT CHANGE REQUIREMENTS FOR CHANGE ORDERS.

CHANGE ORDERS OVER $50,000 FOR GOODS AND SERVICES AND $100,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS WILL STILL COME TO CITY COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

[01:10:03]

THIS IS THIS DETERMINES WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SIGN CONTRACTS WHEN THE ONCE THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS IS COMPLETE.

THE FOLLOWING SLIDES LOOK TO HOW. ADJUSTING AUTHORIZATION THRESHOLDS BALANCE EFFICIENCY WHILE MAINTAINING COUNCIL OVERSIGHT.

NEXT SLIDE. THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER AUTHORIZES THE CITY COUNCIL TO DELEGATE CONTRACT AUTHORITY EVERY TWO YEARS.

THIS AUTHORITY IS DELEGATED THROUGH THE DALLAS CITY CODE.

THE CITY COUNCIL CURRENTLY APPROVES COMPETITIVE BIDS CONTRACT ABOVE $100,000, IN ADDITION TO CHANGE ORDERS, RATIFICATIONS, AND OTHER CONTRACT AMENDMENTS THAT EXCEED THAT AMOUNT.

NEXT SLIDE. CHAPTER TWO OF THE CITY CODE AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE CONTRACTS THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS.

TODAY, THAT THRESHOLD IS 100,000 FOR GOODS AND SERVICES, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

THIS CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION THRESHOLD IS DOUBLE THE CURRENT COMPETITIVE BID THRESHOLD THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED.

THE TABLE SHOWS YOU HOW THRESHOLDS HAVE CHANGED OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS.

NEXT SLIDE. IN ADDITION TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION THRESHOLD FOR GOODS AND SERVICES, THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO HAS APPROVED LIMITED ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY FOR ECONOMIC INCENTIVES IN 2023, 23, SUCH AS TAX ABATEMENTS AND TARGET AREAS OR INCENTIVES VALUED AT UP TO $1 MILLION.

THIS SPEEDS UP PROJECT DELIVERY ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE, WHILE MAINTAINING TRANSPARENCY THROUGH QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. NEXT SLIDE FOR JOB ORDER CONTRACTING TASK ORDERS UNDER $500,000 ARE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY, CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW. THIS ENSURES OVERSIGHT WHILE MAINTAINING EFFICIENCY ON SMALL AND MEDIUM PROJECTS.

NEXT SLIDE. WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED PREVIOUSLY BRIEFED YOU ON OUR PROCUREMENT STRIKE TEAM THAT WE DID IN CONJUNCTION WITH CPO STAFFS WORKING TO IMPLEMENT PROCESSES IMPROVEMENTS TO OPTIMIZE THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, INCLUDING HAZEL AI TECHNOLOGY TO ASSIST US WITH DRAFTING SOLICITATIONS, A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AND AN IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ENTERPRISE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AS PART OF A PROCESS IMPROVEMENT.

THE TEAM ALSO ANALYZED CONTRACT THRESHOLDS. NEXT SLIDE.

THE GOAL IS TO BALANCE EFFICIENCY THROUGH FASTER PROCUREMENT TIMELINES WHILE MAINTAINING OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

NEXT SLIDE. NOW THAT WE'VE REVIEWED OUR CURRENT CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION AND OUR PROCUREMENT THRESHOLDS, LET'S LOOK AT HOW CHANGES TO THOSE THRESHOLDS WOULD HAVE IMPACTED THE CITY COUNCIL'S WORKLOAD AND FY 2024.

IN FY 24, THE CITY COUNCIL AWARDED 363 CONTRACTS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES, AND THIS CHART SHOWS YOU THAT DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE CONTRACT CATEGORIES. THE MAJORITY OF A&E AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS ARE UNDER $500,000, WHILE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES SHOW A HIGHER SHARE OF MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS FOR GOODS AND OTHER SERVICES. A SIGNIFICANT PORTION FALL UNDER THE 500 TO $1 MILLION RANGE.

NEXT SLIDE. FOR GOODS, PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES ACCOUNTED FOR 71% OF CONTRACT ACTIVITY IN FY 24.

WHILE MANY ACTIONS WERE ROUTINE AND UNDER 200,000, COUNCIL ALSO DEVOTED TIME TO SOME MAJOR HIGH IMPACT CONTRACTS.

NEXT SLIDE. AT THE CURRENT $100,000 THRESHOLD, COUNCIL REVIEWS 92% OF ALL CONTRACTS, BUT THOSE REPRESENT ONLY 0.1% OF THE TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE. AS THRESHOLDS INCREASE, THE VOLUME OF CONTRACTS REQUIRING COUNCIL ACTION DROPS SIGNIFICANTLY, WHILE THE PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL DOLLARS UNDER COUNCIL REVIEW STAYS HIGH.

FOR EXAMPLE, AT 300,000, COUNCIL WOULD SEE 66% OF CONTRACTS COVERING NEARLY 99% OF VALUE THRESHOLD.

THRESHOLD ADJUSTMENTS COULD STREAMLINE COUNCIL'S AGENDA WHILE PRESERVING OVERSIGHT ON THE CONTRACTS THAT MATTER THE MOST.

THE ONES WITH THE GREATEST FINANCIAL AND COMMUNITY IMPACT.

NEXT SLIDE. THE $500,000 THRESHOLD WAS IDENTIFIED BY PEOPLE DURING THE PROCUREMENT STRIKE TEAM'S ANALYSIS AS A POSSIBLE BENCHMARK FOR STREAMLINING. AT THIS LEVEL, 53% OF CONTRACTS FALL ABOVE 500,000 AND WOULD CONTINUE TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL, WHILE 47 OF THOSE FALL BELOW AND COULD BE HANDLED ADMINISTRATIVELY.

EVEN THOUGH NEARLY HALF OF THE CONTRACTS ARE UNDER 500,000, THEY REPRESENT ONLY 2% OF THE TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE AWARDED BY COUNCIL IN FY 24.

[01:15:05]

IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL NEEDS, BUT ROUTINE AND OFTEN TIME SENSITIVE PROCUREMENTS.

NEXT SLIDE. THE REMAINING 29% OF CONTRACTS AWARDED BY COUNCIL IN FY 24 FELL UNDER ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION CATEGORY. A LARGE CONCENTRATION OF CONTRACTS WERE AT THE HIGHER END VALUE BETWEEN 2 AND $6 MILLION.

MID-SIZE PROJECTS WERE ALSO COMMON, WITH 16 CONTRACTS IN THE $300,000 TO $400,000 RANGE AND 12 IN THE 400 TO $500,000 RANGE. NEXT SLIDE. AS THRESHOLDS INCREASE, THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRACTS REQUIRING COUNCIL REVIEW DECLINES, BUT THE SHARE OF THE TOTAL VALUE REVIEWED STAYS CONSISTENTLY HIGH, AS IT DOES WITH GOODS AND SERVICES AT 500,000.

COUNCIL WOULD REVIEW 55% OF CONTRACTS IN OVER 98% OF CONTRACT VALUE, AT 1 MILLION.

OVERSIGHT REMAINS AT 50% OF CONTRACTS AND 97% OF THE TOTAL VALUE.

RAISING THRESHOLDS WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MID VALUE CONSTRUCTION ITEMS REQUIRING COUNCIL ACTION, WHILE STILL ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE LARGEST AND MOST IMPACTFUL CAPITAL PROJECTS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE $1 MILLION THRESHOLD IS PRESENTED HERE AS AN EXAMPLE TO ILLUSTRATE HOW A HIGHER THRESHOLD WOULD AFFECT COUNSEL'S WORKLOAD IN AEC CONTRACTS. AT THIS LEVEL, THE VOLUME IS EVENLY SPLIT 5050.

ABOVE $1 MILLION. HOWEVER, IN TERMS OF VALUE, COUNSEL WOULD STILL OVERSEE 97% OF THE TOTAL AWARDED DOLLARS, WITH ONLY 3% BEING HANDLED ADMINISTRATIVELY. THIS MEANS THAT COUNSEL WOULD STILL MAINTAIN OVERSIGHT OF THE LARGEST PROJECTS, SUCH AS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE WORK.

MEANWHILE, ROUTINE PROJECTS LIKE PARK IMPROVEMENTS, UTILITY REPAIRS, SITE PREPARATION AND TRAFFIC LIGHT WORKS UNDER $1 MILLION COULD MOVE MORE QUICKLY THROUGH THE PROCESS. NEXT SLIDE. THE FORMAL SOLICITATION PROCESS IS GOVERNED BY STATE STATUTES AND PROCUREMENT LAWS, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO ENSURE FAIR COMPETITION, TRANSPARENCY AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE.

BECAUSE OF THESE REQUIREMENTS, THE SOLICITATION STAGE IS NOT AN EASY NOT EASILY REDUCED.

AND WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE CITY'S INTERESTS AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

HOWEVER, WE ARE INTRODUCING TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO HELP REDUCE THE TIMELINE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

ONE PLACE WHERE WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IS THE AWARD PHASE.

THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL AGENDA PROCESS LASTS ABOUT 13 WEEKS FOR ROUTING, SCHEDULING, INTERNAL APPROVALS AND FORMAL COUNCIL CONSIDERATION. INCREASING THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION THRESHOLD COULD RESULT IN A NINE WEEK SAVINGS OVERALL.

CUTTING PROCUREMENT TIMELINES BY MORE THAN A THIRD.

BY RAISING ADMINISTRATIVE THRESHOLDS, THE CITY CAN OPERATE AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS WHILE STILL ENSURING EVERY SOLICITATION FOLLOWS A RIGOROUS, FAIR AND LEGAL COMPLIANT PROCESS. NEXT SLIDE.

BY REDUCING ADMINISTRATIVE WORKLOAD TIED TO ROUTING ITEMS THROUGH THE COUNCIL, STAFF CAN FOCUS MORE TIME ON STRATEGIC SOURCING, VENDOR ENGAGEMENT, AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT. THIS SHIFT INCREASES THE VALUE OUT OF THE PROCUREMENT FUNCTION, RATHER THAN SPENDING TIME ON ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS, WILL FOCUS ON STRATEGIC SOURCING QUICKER.

AWARDS ALSO HELP LOCK IN PRICING. AVOID DELAYS THAT CAN EXPOSE THE CITY TO MARKET VOLATILITY OR COST ESCALATIONS, ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN CATEGORIES LIKE CONSTRUCTION, FUEL AND COMMODITIES, WHERE PRICE CAN SHIFT QUICKLY.

STREAMLINED PROCESSES ENCOURAGE MORE VENDORS TO PARTICIPATE, ESPECIALLY SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO WAIT MONTHS FOR AN AWARD. FASTER CYCLES ALSO BUILD TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.

NEXT SLIDE. ANY SHIFT IN CONTRACT THRESHOLD NATURALLY RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT OVERSIGHT, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS, WE'VE EMBEDDED SAFEGUARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES INTO THE PROCESS.

WHILE WE ALREADY POST ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS ON THE CITY'S FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY PAGE, MONTHLY REPORTS TO THE COUNCIL OR COMMITTEE ENSURE FULL VISIBILITY.

SAMPLE AUDITS OF PROCUREMENTS ARE CONDUCTED THROUGH WEAVERS EXTERNAL AUDITS EVERY YEAR, AND INTERNAL AUDIT PROCESSES AS WELL.

THESE PERIODIC INTERNAL AUDITS VALIDATE COMPLIANCE AND STRENGTHEN CONTROLS AND HELP MITIGATE THESE POTENTIAL RISKS.

NEXT SLIDE. SOME LARGE CITIES, LIKE SAN ANTONIO AND WASHINGTON, D.C.

HAVE MUCH HIGHER THRESHOLDS, AS DO SOME MID-RANGE CITIES SUCH AS DENVER, CHARLOTTE, SEATTLE, AND PHOENIX. SEVERAL TEXAS CITIES REMAIN AT OR BELOW OUR CURRENT LEVEL, WHICH INCLUDES FORT WORTH,

[01:20:07]

SO IN TWO IN JANUARY 2025, SAN ANTONIO INCREASED ITS CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORITY TO $1 MILLION FOR SERVICES, $2.5 MILLION FOR GOODS, AND UNLIMITED AUTHORITY ON FLEET PURCHASES THAT HAD BEEN BUDGETED IN THROUGH THEIR BUDGET PROCESS.

THE CITY REPORTED THAT THIS REDUCED THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVALS BY 240 CONTRACTS, WHILE STILL CAPTURING 86% OF TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE.

UNDER COUNCIL OVERSIGHT. NEXT SLIDE. STATE LAW NOW AUTHORIZES US TO RAISE THAT COMPETITIVE BIDDING THRESHOLD FROM 50 TO 100,000.

AND THIS AMENDMENT ALIGNS DALLAS WITH THAT REQUIREMENT.

IN ADDITION, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL REVIEW THE CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORIZATION THRESHOLD ABOVE THE CURRENT $100,000 LEVEL.

THE SPECIFIC AMOUNT FOR GENERAL GOODS AND SERVICES AND FOR A&E AND CONSTRUCTION ARE UP TO THE COUNCIL TO DETERMINE, AS AUTHORIZED BY THE DALLAS CITY CHARTER. THE DATA WE SHARED ILLUSTRATES THE EFFICIENCIES AND IMPACTS OF DIFFERENT THRESHOLD OPTIONS, SO YOU CAN MAKE AN INFORMED POLICY DECISION ON THE THRESHOLD THAT BALANCES OVERSIGHT WITH STREAMLINED PROCESSES.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CONTRACT CATEGORIES AND THE PEOPLE BRIEFING ARE ATTACHED AND AVAILABLE IN THE APPENDIX.

NEXT SLIDE. THE PROPOSED CHAPTER TWO AMENDMENTS WILL SHORTEN PROCUREMENT TIMELINES, DELIVER GOODS AND SERVICES FASTER, AND MAKE DALLAS MORE COMPETITIVE. THEY WILL ALSO ALIGN US WITH STATE LAW AND PEER CITIES, WHILE CREATING A BETTER VENDOR EXPERIENCE THAT ENCOURAGES MORE COMPETITION.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT CITY COUNCIL WILL STILL REVIEW AND APPROVE ALL LARGE, HIGH VISIBILITY ITEMS, INCLUDING CONTRACTS ABOVE THE NEW THRESHOLD AND SIGNIFICANT CHANGE ORDERS AND IDIQ CONTRACTS WHERE THE BUDGET WITH THE AMOUNT AWARDED IS ESTIMATED AND NOT NOT TO EXCEED NUMBER.

NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 8TH.

IF THE NEW THRESHOLDS ARE ADOPTED, WE WILL WORK TO UPDATE OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AS WELL AS TRAINING FOR STAFF CITYWIDE.

WE WILL ALSO IMPLEMENT REPORTING PROCESSES TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION AND WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOUR FEEDBACK.

CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. WE'RE ON AGENDA ITEM A ON TODAY'S BRIEFINGS FOR THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND GREAT JOB TAKING A REALLY COMPLICATED PROPOSAL AND TRYING TO MAKE IT SIMPLIFIED.

I KNOW IT TOOK ME READING IT 2 OR 3 TIMES TO TO UNDERSTAND IT.

WHAT YOU WERE ASKING. I GET IT NOW. I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO PUT UP SLIDE 28 AND JUST KEEP IT UP THERE FOR, FOR AT LEAST WHILE I'M TALKING. AND THEN, COLLEAGUES JAKE FROM MY OFFICE IS HANDING OUT A ONE PAGER THAT IS GOING TO KIND OF SERVE, AT LEAST FROM MY COMMENTS, AS A SCRIPT AND A RECOMMENDATION.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY RECOMMENDATION.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HURT MY FEELINGS IF YOU TEAR IT APART. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE US SOMETHING TO START WITH AS I FELT LIKE AS CHAIR OF FINANCE, I NEEDED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING FOR US TO CHEW ON AND GIVE STAFF SOME GUIDANCE.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT, CITY MANAGER, THIS IS NOT JUST STAFF COMING UP WITH THIS BECAUSE YOU WANT LESS OVERSIGHT, RIGHT? THIS IS THIS IS BECAUSE THIS PROPOSAL IS AN ANSWER TO OUR CALL FOR MORE EFFICIENCIES IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, WHICH I'VE BEEN PERSONALLY ASKING FOR FOR LIKE SIX YEARS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER WEST. AND THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS YES, WHICH IS WHY I REFERENCE BRIEFINGS THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

EVEN THIS YEAR LOOKING AT WAYS TO BETTER STREAMLINE OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT CONCERNS WHEN IT COMES TO DELAYS, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES.

GIVING COUNCIL DATA SO INFORMED DECISIONS CAN BE MADE.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH TODAY'S BRIEFING.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. THANK YOU. AND I MEAN COUNCIL COULD REVIEW EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT THAT COMES THROUGH HERE.

THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME. WE COULD DO THAT.

OR WE COULD BACK OFF A LITTLE BIT AND TRUST OUR STAFF TO TO HANDLE BUSINESS ON SOME OF THE SMALLER CONTRACTS.

THAT'S KIND OF IT'S A GIVE AND TAKE THAT WE'VE GOT TO WE'VE GOT TO WORK THROUGH TODAY.

SO THERE'S TWO BIG BUCKETS HERE THAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO OPINE ON.

ONE IS THE COMPETITIVE BID THRESHOLD WHICH IS ON THE SLIDE AS THE LITTLE THE SECOND BULLET.

[01:25:04]

AND THEN THE SECOND IS TO CONSIDER IF WE WANT TO TAKE UP, ALLOW ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS TO GO UP FROM $100,000, WHICH IT'S BEEN AT SINCE, WHAT, 2007 OR SOMETHING, TO 2020, 2021.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'LL START OFF WITH A FEW QUESTIONS.

ON THE FIRST ONE, COMPETITIVE BID. CAN YOU CLARIFY IF WE ARE REQUIRED, PER THE STATE, TO MOVE FROM 50 TO 100,000, OR IS THAT OPTIONAL? WE ARE NOT. THAT IS OPTIONAL, BUT THE HAS TO BE.

IT CAN'T BE HIGHER THAN 100,000. OKAY. AND I KNOW YOU'VE KIND OF STATED IT ON THE LAST SLIDE, BUT CAN YOU SUMMARIZE WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES OF MAKING THIS CHANGE FROM 50 TO 100? I THINK ESPECIALLY FOR OUR BIDDING COMMUNITY, FOR OUR SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RAISE THE THRESHOLD OVER TIME, SINCE THE THE 50,000 IMPLEMENTATION IN 2007, WE'VE SEEN RISING COST INFLATION COST OF OF SERVICES HAVE INCREASED. IT WOULD BE ROUGHLY ABOUT 78 TO 79,000 IN DOLLARS TODAY.

THIS ALSO IMPACTS CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENTS WITH 52% INCREASE IN COSTS THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED SINCE 2019.

SO 50,000 DOESN'T GO AS FAR AS IT USED TO. AND SO $100,000 GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF BUFFER AND ACCOUNTS FOR INFLATION SINCE 2007. THESE CONTRACTS ARE, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO START BUILDING THE CAPACITY AND START GAINING EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY. THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE FORMAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.

AND IT'S LESS COSTLY FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE.

OKAY. COUNCILMAN WEST, I'D LIKE TO WEIGH IN. JUST, JUST, JUST VERY BRIEFLY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER, MR. ORTIZ. I THINK SHE WAS SPOT ON FOR ME BASED ON MY TENURE HERE WHEN THE THRESHOLD WAS $15,000.

I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU HOW OLD I AM, BUT JUST GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

WHEN I GOT HERE WAS 15,000. THIS IS ABOUT SPEED.

RIGHT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF ACTIVITIES THAT STAFF HAS TO COMPLETE EVERY DAY.

AND THESE ARE THE LITTLE THINGS. THESE ARE THE SMALLER ITEMS THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THAT YOU GUYS, WHEN YOU GO TO BED AT NIGHT, HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA THAT THEY GOT DONE OR WHO WAS DOING THEM RIGHT.

AND THE MORE OF THIS THAT WE CAN PUT ASIDE, THE LARGER, BIGGER PROJECTS, THE THINGS THAT YOU REALLY WANT US TO FOCUS ON AND SPEED UP ON, WE'LL HAVE THE TIME FOR THAT, RIGHT? WE PRODUCE A 60 HOUR A WEEK, WHETHER PEOPLE KNOW THAT OR NOT.

WE'LL DO IT HOWEVER YOU GUYS WANT. 75 HOURS A WEEK.

NOW THAT'S THE CITY MANAGER. MINE IS CLOSER TO 60.

I GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT. BUT MY POINT IN SAYING THIS IS, IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT'S A DOLLAR, THEN THAT'S FINE. IT'S GOING TO REALLY SLOW THINGS DOWN AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE STAFF FOREVER TO GET THINGS DONE.

SO WHEN YOU GUYS COME TO US AND SAY, WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG? WHICH IS THE CURTAIN CALL THAT EVERYBODY HEARS WEEKLY HERE ON WEDNESDAY.

THIS IS THIS IS A FOCAL POINT FOR THAT, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY HOURS IN THE DAY, AND WE'D LIKE TO FOCUS OUR TIME ON THE THINGS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT, THESE ROUTINE ITEMS THAT TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS SOME OF THE MORE COMPLEX ITEMS THAT YOU REALLY WANT US TO FOCUS ON.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S THE BEST USE OF STAFF'S TIME.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO THIS IS A QUESTION THAT APPLIES TO BOTH OF YOUR TWO BUCKETS HERE.

THE THE TWO THINGS YOU'RE ASKING US TO APPROVE AND IS THERE HOW ARE WE AS COUNCIL STILL ABLE TO HOLD STAFF ACCOUNTABLE.

MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING OVERSIGHT. IF WE RAISE THESE THRESHOLDS, WILL THIS BE REVIEWED OR THIS PROPOSAL WILL GO TO COMMITTEE? OR WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? ABSOLUTELY. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION. AND DENZEL IS A LOT OLDER THAN I AM.

I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. SO I THINK WE WE HAVE TO TREAT THIS LIKE WE HAVE DONE WITH OTHER PRIORITIES, WHETHER IT'S THE BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT, WE HAVE A TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT.

WE ARE CURRENTLY POSTING ALL OF THE EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS THROUGH OUR TRANSPARENCY PAGES ON THE WEBSITE.

SO I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO HAVE A PROCUREMENT ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT THAT CAN BE PROVIDED.

IT COULD BE DONE AS A MONTHLY REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, OR IT COULD BE DONE QUARTERLY.

I THINK IT WOULD BE THE PREFERENCE OF THIS BODY.

BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT US JUST SAYING TO TRUST US.

WE ALSO WANT YOU TO TRUST AND VERIFY. SO I THINK IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO BOTH AND HAVE IT THROUGH A TRANSPARENT REPORT THAT CAN BE POSTED FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE, AS WELL AS FOR THE COUNCIL TO EVEN ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT AS PART OF A STANDING ITEM THROUGH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

[01:30:02]

YESTERDAY WE GOT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA POSTING AND WE RECEIVED A QUARTERLY UPDATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES.

SO I ANTICIPATE THIS WOULD BE A SIMILAR REPORTING THAT YOU WOULD BRING TO COMMITTEE.

ABSOLUTELY. AND IT WOULD INCLUDE THE DETAILS AROUND.

AND I'M GLAD THAT MISS ORTIZ CALLED OUT THE OPPORTUNITIES TO EVEN ELEVATE AND INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

THAT REPORT COULD DETAIL EVEN THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOW PARTICIPATING, PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT SHOWS THAT THIS IS A NEW, EMERGING SMALL BUSINESS, OR THIS IS ONE WHO HAS NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE CITY.

SO IT CAN BE AS ROBUST AS THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE, BUT I THINK IT CAN BE A PART OF THAT STANDING COMMITTEE FORECAST THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. AND AT THAT TIME, IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TO FURTHER EXPAND ON STAFF WOULD BE AVAILABLE AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REPORT.

THANK YOU. SO THE OTHER PART OF THE ONE PAGER I HANDED OUT GOES INTO THE CONTRACT THRESHOLD.

I'M NOT NECESSARILY MARRIED TO GOING UP TO 500,000 FROM 100,000 COLLEAGUES, BUT IF WE DID DO THAT, YOU CAN SEE ON THIS ONE PAGER THAT COUNCIL WOULD STILL AND STAFF CORRECT ME IF THIS IS INCORRECT IN ANY WAY, BUT IF WE WENT UP TO THE $500,000 THRESHOLD ON GOODS, PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES AND ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING SERVICES, WE WOULD STILL BE REVIEWING 97.5% OF TOTAL VALUE IN THE GOODS, PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES, 98.1% OF THE TOTAL VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION, ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING SERVICES.

DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? YES. OKAY, GREAT. AND BUT WE WOULD ONLY BE THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRACTS WOULD GO DOWN, WHICH WOULD THEN SAVE TIME FOR PROCUREMENT PURPOSES.

CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY, SO THERE'S AN OBVIOUS YOU KNOW, IF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE GARDEN BOX KITS AND THAT MY FUN DISCUSSION UP HERE WITH STAFF ON THAT, THAT WAS A $200,000 ITEM AND YOU GOT PTSD FOR IT, I DO TOO.

BUT IT'S THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE THE ITEMS WE WOULD NOT HAVE IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO COMMITTEE.

BUT THOSE TYPE OF ITEMS AND I'M NOT TRYING TO RELITIGATE THE GARDEN BOX KITS BUT THOSE TYPES OF ITEMS WE WOULD BE INFORMED OF AND WE COULD LATER BRING STAFF UP AND SAY, WHY DID WE WHY DID WE APPROVE THAT WELL-INTENTIONED BUT NOT FUNCTIONAL ITEM? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. I THINK IT'S TWOFOLD. COUNCILMEMBER WEST, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER PROGRAMS THAT MAY NOT BE TIED TO ROUTINE CONTRACTS OFTEN. WHAT I KNOW THAT DENZEL AND WHAT MISS ORTIZ.

WHAT THEY'RE SPEAKING OF IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CONTRACTS THAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

AND THOSE ARE CONTRACTS THAT JUST ALLOW FOR US TO DO BUSINESS, WHETHER IT'S CONTRACTS TO CONTINUE TO BUY THE CHEMICALS THAT WE NEED FOR WATER, WHETHER IT'S CONTRACTS THAT PROVIDE THE THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, THERE ARE ROUTINE ITEMS THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WE HAVE TO PURCHASE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ITEMS MOVE FORWARD.

AND I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE THE GARDEN KITS.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S BACK TO THE PRIORITIES OF THIS BODY.

THE PRIORITIES ARE CLEAR THEN ALL ITEMS THAT WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE EVEN ELEVATING THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.

YOU WILL NOTICE ON OCTOBER THE 8TH, WE'RE TYING AND ALIGNING AGENDA ITEMS WITH PRIORITIES TO WHERE YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE IF THESE ITEMS ARE IN SUPPORT OF VISION ZERO, SUPPORT OF C CAP. SO YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THAT THIS IS ABOUT MOVING THOSE PLANS AND POLICIES OF THIS BODY FORWARD.

SO I THINK IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THAT LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STILL ASK QUESTIONS, EVEN ON THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE BEING ADMINISTRATIVELY MOVED FORWARD.

THANK YOU. AND AS I'LL CONCLUDE MY 30S HERE BY JUST POINTING OUT, I HAVE PROBABLY SHARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF SOME OF YOU ON GIVING UP A LITTLE BIT OF THE CONTROL, BUT I SEE THE BENEFIT OF THIS ON THE BOTTOM THERE UNDER THE AWARD TIME, GOING FROM 13 WEEKS DOWN TO FOUR WEEKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE THE PAGE UNDER THE YELLOW. BY DOING ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS, I THINK IT COULD HELP WITH OUR EFFICIENCIES, COULD HELP WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR THEIR CONTRACTS APPROVED AND HELP GET MORE THINGS OUT THE DOOR.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO A FUN DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, MR. BAZALDUA. EXCUSE ME. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IT WAS VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER. JUST IN REVIEWING THIS, I THINK THAT IT WAS A GOOD JOB.

[01:35:01]

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. AND I THINK THAT IT'S ALSO THE CASE FOR EFFICIENCY IS MADE VERY WELL HERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME DATA POINTS THOUGH, THAT WEREN'T PROVIDED.

AND ONE IN PARTICULAR IS I SEE THE VALUE, YOU KNOW ARTICULATED OF THE, OF WHAT WE WOULD BE STILL WHAT WE STILL HAVE OVERSIGHT FROM. BUT COULD YOU SEE ON WHAT WE WOULD IF WE WERE TO GO, FOR INSTANCE, TO 500 WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE HISTORICALLY, MAYBE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, JUST TO GIVE US A AN IDEA OF WHAT WOULD HAVE STAYED ON A CONSENT AGENDA WITHIN THAT THRESHOLD.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT A LOT OF THIS ALREADY IS GETTING RUBBER STAMPED, QUITE FRANKLY IN THE CONSENT AGENDA AND BEYOND THE DATA THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT DISCUSSIONS WOULD WE BE FOREGOING THAT WE HAVE TAKEN UP IN THE PAST OF THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS? AND IF IF THERE IS ANY OR IF THERE AREN'T, YOU KNOW I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN DETERMINING WHAT THRESHOLD WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE TO, TO RECOMMEND.

YEAH. AND THIS IS BASED ON FY 2024. SO WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT YOUR FY 2224 COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS AND THEN DID THAT COMPARISON. SO OF YOUR 2024 COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD STILL REVIEW 53% OF THOSE ITEMS. AND SO I GET THAT. SO WE'LL DO THAT FOR 20. WE CAN DO THAT FOR 25.

SO WE CAN GET 23 AS WELL. IT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING ABOUT.

WHAT'S BEEN APPROVED. I WANT TO ACTUALLY LOOK, IF Y'ALL COULD ACTUALLY LOOK TO SEE IN WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE MINUTES AND THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE OR HOWEVER YOU ALL ACCOMPLISH IT, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT WOULD WHAT WHAT HAS BEEN PULLED WITHIN THAT THRESHOLD INSTEAD OF STAYING ON CONSENT AGENDA. AND SO I THINK WE HAVE THAT ANSWER.

I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR, IF I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE JUST SO WE ANSWER THE THE QUESTION CORRECTLY, IF WE LOOK AT CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS THAT FALL AT THAT $500,000 THRESHOLD, HOW MANY OF THOSE ITEMS ARE MOVED FORWARD ON THE CONSENT THAT WERE NOT PULLED AS INDIVIDUAL ITEMS? CORRECT.

IS THAT THE QUESTION THAT YOU'RE ASKING? I THINK THE TEAM HAS THAT DATA.

SO WE LOOKED AT THE AT THE 363 ITEMS THAT WE PRESENTED IN THIS PRESENTATION OF THOSE 13 ITEMS WERE PULLED TO DISCUSS. THAT'S 3.6% OF THE ITEMS. AND OF THOSE TEN ITEMS WERE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY AFTER BEING PULLED TEN.

OKAY. YEAH. SO THREE OF THEM WERE THEY WERE APPROVED, JUST NOT UNANIMOUSLY.

AND THEN WOULD THERE BE AN EXPECTATION AT ALL, I GUESS HOW WOULD HOW WOULD THIS BE COMMUNICATED, THIS CHANGE, ANY OF THE CONTRACTS THAT WOULD FALL INTO AN INCREASED THRESHOLD? WOULD WOULD YOU BE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING REGULAR UPDATES VIA MEMO SPECIFIC TO THESE THAT, THAT HAVE NOW FALLEN INTO THAT SO THAT WE STILL HAVE A MECHANISM FOR DIRECT OVERSIGHT OF THESE ITEMS? ABSOLUTELY. AND AS WE SPOKE EARLIER, THAT WE DO BELIEVE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE A FORMAL REPORT SIMILAR TO THE BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL AS OUR TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT.

THIS WOULD BECOME A PROCUREMENT ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT THAT, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD BE A STANDING REPORT THROUGH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHERE STAFF COULD STILL ANSWER QUESTIONS. YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE CONTRACTS THAT WERE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY, AND YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO EVEN ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE CONTRACTS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A TRANSPARENCY PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE, WHERE EVEN THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS THAT WE DO NOW ARE POSTED FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE, AND WE ALSO PROVIDE THAT REPORT TO THE COUNCIL.

SO IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT AND WE CAN ADD TO IT.

I TALKED ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS PIECE BECAUSE I THINK WE CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM THIS BODY WAYS THAT WE CAN ELEVATE PARTICIPATION OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE A CALL OUT IN THE REPORT THAT ALSO SHOWS THE NUMBER OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WOULD BE RECEIVING OR THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED CONTRACTS WITHIN THAT THRESHOLD OR WHATEVER THE THRESHOLD AMOUNT IS THAT'S APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, MADAM CITY MANAGER, I APPRECIATE THE THE REPORT THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING.

I'M JUST ASKING THOUGH, IF IT IN IN HOWEVER IT'S FORMATTED, JUST AT LEAST FOR THE.

SHORT TERM FUTURE HOWEVER LONG I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONCE WE ACTUALLY MAKE A CHANGE, IF THE COUNCIL DOES BEYOND WHAT THE STATE COMPLIANCE IS, IF IT COULD ACTUALLY BE KIND OF ITEMIZED OR DIFFERENTIATED TO SHOW THE ITEMS THAT HAVE NOW BEEN ADDED TO THAT WILL BE INCLUSIVE OF THAT

[01:40:09]

PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN JOHNSON RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES AGENDA ITEM A.

THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. LET ME GO BACK HERE.

SOMETHING HAPPENED. OKAY, THERE WE GO. OKAY. I WAS LOOKING FOR THIS POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, AND I KNOW WE SPOKE YESTERDAY. WHEN WAS IT ACTUALLY POSTED THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ITSELF? BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING FOR IT AND I DIDN'T SEE IT.

AND I THINK LAST NIGHT SHE TOLD ME IT WAS POSTED YESTERDAY. CORRECT? YES, SIR. I'LL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ONE.

SO IT GOT POSTED ON FRIDAY AND IT STAYED POSTED FROM FRIDAY UNTIL SUNDAY, WHEN WE TOOK IT DOWN BECAUSE WE WANTED TO ADD ADDITIONAL SLIDES THAT PROVIDED REALLY GOOD DATA. WE GOT SOME FEEDBACK FROM HAVING SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND WHAT WE HEARD CONSISTENTLY WAS, CAN YOU BREAK THIS DOWN? CAN WE GET MORE DATA? AND YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE APPENDIX IS PREDOMINANTLY WHAT WE ADDED.

SO IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL POSTING AND THE POSTING THAT CAME OUT MONDAY NIGHT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ADDITIONAL DATA SLIDES THAT WE WORKED THROUGH ON MONDAY TO PUT IN THE APPENDIX TO ALLOW COUNCIL TO HAVE EVEN MORE INFORMATION TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION TODAY, SO I'LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.

I WISH WE WOULD HAVE HAD ALL THAT DATA UP FRONT AND POST IT ON FRIDAY, BUT WE GOT FEEDBACK.

WE SPOKE TO SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT KEPT ASKING ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, AND SO WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEST TO ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

SO IT WAS TAKEN DOWN AND PUT BACK UP SUNDAY. I MEAN, MONDAY EVENING, RIGHT? I LOOKED AT IT AND I DIDN'T SEE IT ON FRIDAY.

AND I ACTUALLY ASKED MY CHIEF OF STAFF, WHAT'S THE PRESENTATION? AND SO WE COULDN'T FIND IT.

WE DIDN'T FIND IT UNTIL ACTUALLY YESTERDAY. AND I READ THIS STUFF.

THAT'S WHAT I DO. I READ SO IT WAS CONCERNING TO ME THAT I DIDN'T.

I DID NOT SEE IT. MY OFFICE DID NOT SEE IT. AND WE JUST GOT IT YESTERDAY.

THAT'S A THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM FOR ME. ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS IT THE VERY NEXT DAY, WHICH IS TODAY. SO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT CITY MANAGER.

ALSO, COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON, IF I COULD JUST WEIGH IN ON THAT.

IF THE PREFERENCE OF THE BODY AS IT RELATES TO POSTINGS, WHICH I KNOW SOMETIMES MIGHT HAPPEN A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE DAY ON FRIDAYS, TYPICALLY WHEN WE'RE STILL PULLING INFORMATION TOGETHER WE TYPICALLY DON'T SEND INDIVIDUAL POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS AND EMAILS BECAUSE OF THE POSTING LINKS. BUT IF IT HELPS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE SEEING THE INFORMATION AND THAT IT'S NOT BEING MISSED THROUGH THE LINKS THAT WE'RE SENDING OUT, WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS EMAILING, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN UPDATED, EMAILING THE ACTUAL PRESENTATION VERSUS THE LINKS.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK ON THAT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

BUT IT WAS NOT INTENTIONALLY. IT WAS REALLY, AS MR. GIBSON MENTIONED, TAKING THE POSTING THAT DID GO OUT ON FRIDAY, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS DIDN'T RECEIVE THE LINK, BUT MAKING SURE THAT IF THERE'S AN EMAIL PREFERENCE OR IF THAT HELPS MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS TO YOUR OFFICE, WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS. PROVIDING THAT. SO YOU HAVE THE DATA THAT YOU NEED FOR DISCUSSION.

BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE.

I JUST WANTED IN IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND I DIDN'T FROM MY OFFICE.

WE DIDN'T GET THAT. MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE GOT IT, BUT WE DIDN'T.

WE DIDN'T GET THAT UNTIL YESTERDAY. THE FULL, I GUESS, THE FULL NEW PRESENTATION OR THE FORMER ONE.

I JUST SAW IT AND I DID LOOK FOR IT AND I SAID I PERSONALLY LOOK FOR IT.

SO I DON'T NEED A SPECIAL LINK SENT TO ME. SAME THING THAT THE COUNCIL GET I WOULD NORMALLY RECEIVE, AND I'M FINE WITH THAT. WHEN WE SPOKE, MR. DONZELL WHEN I WAS ON, I THINK, CHAIR MIDDLETON AND I WAS ON THE CONVERSATION TOGETHER ONE OF THE THINGS I ASKED ABOUT WAS THE SAN ANTONIO. WHAT IS SAN ANTONIO DOING? ARE WE LOOKING TO GO TO 2.5 MILLION? I THINK YOU SAID NO, BUT IT WASN'T DISCUSSED THAT THE BENCHMARK WOULD BE SAN ANTONIO.

SO I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE AFTER WE TALKED ABOUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THAT THE CONVERSATION MENDELSOHN THAT WHEN I ASKED ABOUT BENCHMARKING ANYTHING IN SAN ANTONIO, IT WAS, NO THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING.

AND TO SEE THAT HERE WAS SURPRISING TO, TO ME.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO EXPLAIN SLIDE 26, BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING MAY BE WRONG.

AND SO I NEED YOU TO HELP ME WITH MY UNDERSTANDING. IT SAYS THE CITY ESTIMATES THAT THE THRESHOLD CHANGE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CITY COUNCIL APPROVALS BY

[01:45:03]

THAT FIRST CLAUSE, A CLAUSE OF THAT PARTICULAR PARAGRAPH, THE CITY ESTIMATE, THE THRESHOLD CHANGE, REDUCED THE NUMBER OF CITY COUNCIL APPROVALS BY 93%.

PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT TO ME, BECAUSE IT LOOKS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE WOULD ONLY HAVE 7% OF COUNCIL APPROVALS.

IS THAT CORRECT OR INCORRECT? SO THIS IS REFERRING TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SPECIFICALLY, NOT THE CITY OF DALLAS. OKAY. IT'S OFTENTIMES COUNCILMAN JOHNSON IN THIS PRESENTATION AND OTHER PRESENTATIONS, STAFF WILL PROVIDE A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING FOR BENCHMARKING TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL, WHO OFTEN WILL ASK QUESTIONS, WHAT ARE OTHERS AROUND US DOING, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE LIKE SAN ANTONIO THAT WE OFTEN COMPETE WITH FOR BUSINESS? RIGHT. AND SO WE OFTEN COMPARE OURSELVES TO ONE ANOTHER.

WE BENCHMARK, WE TRY TO FIND WHAT THE BEST PRACTICES ARE.

AND SO ALL THIS SLIDE WAS, WAS A DEPICTION OF A SNAPSHOT OF WHO SAN ANTONIO IS.

AND THAT LAST BULLET THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT THEY REALIZED AS FAR AS APPROVALS ARE CONCERNED ONCE THEY ADOPTED THESE NEW THRESHOLDS.

OKAY. SO THAT'S JUST SAN ANTONIO. YES, SIR. THIS THIS SLIDE IS ONLY REPRESENTS SAN ANTONIO'S EXPERIENCE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS AGAIN I'M STILL SURPRISED BECAUSE WHEN I ASKED WHAT SAN ANTONIO WAS BENCHMARK WHEN I ASKED ABOUT SAN ANTONIO, YOUR STATEMENT WAS WE'RE NOT EVEN LOOKING AT THAT IN THAT IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND TO SEE THEM AS A BENCHMARK, EVEN A PART OF THIS PRESENTATION WAS SURPRISING.

BASED OFF THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU AND I, ALONG WITH CHAIR MIDDLETON, HAD ON THE ON ON OUR TEAM'S MEETING ON SLIDE NUMBER 22.

AND I KNOW I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE. SLIDE NUMBER 22.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? MY I'M JUST KIND OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

I'M LISTENING TO COUNCILMAN CHAIR WEST. CITY COUNCIL AGENDA INTAKE IS THREE WEEKS, SOLICITATION IS NINE WEEKS, AWARD IS 13 WEEKS, ADMINISTRATION IS THREE WEEKS.

SOLICITATION IS NINE WEEKS. AND AWARD WOULD BE FOUR WEEKS.

WHAT MAKES ADMINISTRATION MOVE FASTER THAN COUNCIL? BECAUSE MY MY I HEAR HEARD THE NARRATIVE. THE NARRATIVE IS IT SPEEDS UP PROCESS.

WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION ON ON TEAMS, AND I DON'T BELIEVE GIVING THE MANAGER, THE CITY MANAGER, MORE AUTONOMY OR MORE FINANCIAL AUTONOMY OR LEEWAY OR MORE MONEY WITH SPEED UP, A PROCESS THAT HAS TO DO WITH PROCUREMENT AND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S HOW FAST THEY GET THEIR BUSINESS STRAIGHT AND GET THEIR GET THE PERMITS OUT AND ETCETERA.

SO I DON'T SEE GIVING MORE MONEY HOW THAT WOULD SPEED UP A PROCESS.

BUT EXPLAIN IT TO ME HOW THAT WOULD SPEED UP A PROCESS.

SO IN ORDER TO PREPARE AGENDA ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, THAT PROCESS TAKES MORE TIME THAN IT DOES TO ROUTE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION. SO WE HAVE TO SUBMIT OUR REQUEST FOR CONTRACTS TO ATTORNEYS A MONTH BEFORE THE AGENDA IS POSTED.

WE HAVE TO POST. WE HAVE TO START THE APPROVAL PROCESS A MONTH BEFORE THE AGENDA DATE.

SO WHEN WE ISSUE NOTICES TO AWARD TO A VENDOR, IF WE SAY, HEY, YOU WERE SELECTED AS THE TOP RANKED VENDOR OR YOU'RE THE LOWEST BIDDER, WE TELL THEM IT'S GOING TO BE AT LEAST TWO MONTHS BEFORE YOU GET AN ACTUAL AWARD, A SIGNED CONTRACT.

SO THERE'S APPROVAL PROCESSES. IT ROUTES THROUGH THE BUDGET OFFICE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA ITEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.

IT ROUTES THROUGH THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THE PAYMENT INFORMATION IS CORRECT.

LET ME PAUSE. THAT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, RIGHT? WHAT YOU'RE EXPLAINING. YES. HOW HOW IS GIVING HER MORE MONEY? HOW DOES THAT ELIMINATE THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS TO MAKE IT FASTER? SO THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION PROCESS WORKS FASTER THAN A COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM PROCESS.

SO WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, IT STILL ROUTES FOR APPROVAL THROUGH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

BUT IT'S NOT TIED TO A CALENDAR OR IN SOME CASES, WE HAVE TO BRIEF A COMMITTEE BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL.

SO THERE'S NOT THERE'S SOME MONTHS ONLY HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEETING.

SO IT ADDS TO THE TIMELINE OF THE PROCESS. I UNDERSTAND THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW GIVING MORE MONEY, AUTONOMY TO OUR CITY MANAGER SPEEDS UP THE PROCESS.

YOU HAVE NOT ANSWERED THAT QUESTION FOR ME, SO I'D LIKE TO JUMP IN IF I COULD.

FIRST OF ALL, I WISH I WAS GETTING MORE MONEY.

BUT THIS IS ABOUT A PROCESS, AND THAT'S THE WAY THIS BRIEFING HAS BEEN SET UP.

IT'S ABOUT DATA THAT SHOWS WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING NOW WHEN IT COMES TO APPROVAL AUTHORITY THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION UMBRELLA

[01:50:04]

A LOT OF THINGS ARE BEING DONE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT YOU GUYS DON'T SEE THAT ACTUALLY SHOW UP ON A COUNCIL AGENDA PROCESS.

SO WITH THE TWO PROCESSES THAT THEY'RE YOU'RE DESCRIBING IS THE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO GET IT ON A CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TIME FRAME. IT'S THE IT'S THE FLOW THAT COMES FROM DEPARTMENTS THAT THEN COME TO THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, THAT THEN GO THROUGH THE CONTROLLERS, THAT GO THROUGH THE ATTORNEYS. IT IS MUCH MORE ROBUST.

WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT IT IS INEFFECTIVE. WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, IS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS BETWEEN WHAT COUNCIL SEES AND APPROVES VERSUS WHAT WE CAN DO, WHICH ARE SOME OF THE ROUTINE CONTRACTS THAT SHOW UP ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA THAT WE COULD DO THROUGH AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR US TO GET THOSE CONTRACTS ON THE STREET QUICKER AND SOONER.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.

SO MY QUESTION IS, AGAIN, WHAT THE THRESHOLD THAT YOU HAVE TO APPROVE IS HOW MUCH I WANT 50,000.

THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE THRESHOLD IS IS 100.

IT'S 100,000. YES, SIR. AND HOW MUCH ARE WE ASKING? HOW MUCH IS BEING ASKED OF US IS WHAT I'M ASKING.

THE STAFF IS NOT ASKING FOR ANY PARTICULAR AMOUNT.

WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS WE'RE GIVING DATA, AND WE'RE GIVING YOU THE INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENED AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THAT WOULD CREATE THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS FOR ANYTHING MOVING IT FROM 50,000 TO 100,000.

AND WE'RE PROVIDING DATA FOR THIS BODY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE THRESHOLD TO BE INCREASED.

WE'RE NOT TELLING YOU WHAT THE NUMBER SHOULD BE. WE'RE PROVIDING YOU WITH DATA SO COUNCIL CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING. MORE MONEY. SO WHAT I'M WHAT I'M ASKING CITY MANAGER IS HOW IS THAT GIVING YOU THE MORE MOVING UP THE THRESHOLD.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERMITS AND ALL THAT MOVES FASTER.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET. AND I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THAT ANSWER. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE PERMITTING PROCESS THAT IS GOVERNED THROUGH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT TIME, NOT PERMIT.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE THE PROCUREMENT, THE PROCUREMENTS THAT COME THROUGH THE PROCESS, THAT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SOME THAT WE CAN DO ADMINISTRATIVELY UP TO THAT $100,000 THRESHOLD.

AND WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS THAT AS WE LOOK AT OTHER CONTRACTS THAT ARE MORE ROUTINE, THAT FALL WITHIN A THRESHOLD OF BETWEEN 100,000 AND A HALF A MILLION, HOW WOULD WE BE ABLE TO THEN MOVE THOSE CONTRACTS FORWARD? IT'S NOT ABOUT PERMITS THAT ARE ISSUED THROUGH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

IT'S ABOUT SERVICES THAT WE ARE PROCURING. IT'S ABOUT GOODS.

IT'S ABOUT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IT'S ABOUT CONSTRUCTION SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROCURING IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER ON OUR DAY TO DAY BUSINESS.

THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT, BECAUSE ON THE PHONE WE WAS TALKING ABOUT PROCUREMENT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE PERMITS, WHICH IS MOVING FASTER. SO THAT WAS OUR CONVERSATION ON THE PHONE. GOT IT WHEN WE WERE.

SO THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT THAT QUESTION. AND I'M SURE CHAIR MIDDLETON WILL COME AND SPEAK MORE ABOUT IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS THIS MORNING. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN RIDLEY.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT I SUPPORT THE INCREASE IN THE COMPETITIVE BID THRESHOLD, AS AUTHORIZED BY SB 1173. I THINK THAT'S A MINIMAL INCREASE CONSIDERING THE EFFECT OF INFLATION SINCE IT WAS LAST RAISED IN 2007. I THINK IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT BY INCREASING IT.

WITH REGARD TO THE CONTRACT THRESHOLD AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THESE ARE TWO SEPARATE INITIATIVES SO THAT THE COUNCIL COULD DECIDE TO RAISE THE COMPETITIVE BID THRESHOLD, BUT NOT TO RAISE THE CONTRACT THRESHOLD.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS A DECISION THAT THIS BODY CAN MAKE.

YES, SIR. OKAY. SO WHAT IS THE INTERPLAY THOUGH BETWEEN THESE TWO ITEMS? FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE RAISE THE BID THRESHOLD TO 100,000, THEN IF A CONTRACT CAME THROUGH AT 100,000. IT WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED FOR COMPETITIVE BIDS, BUT IT CURRENTLY WOULD HAVE TO RECEIVE COUNCIL APPROVAL. IF WE RAISE THE CONTRACT THRESHOLD, THAT COMPETITIVE BID AT 100,000 COULD BE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY. IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

SO TODAY, ANY EXPENDITURE OVER $50,000 HAS TO GO THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

SO WHEN WE RECEIVE BIDS FROM A FORMAL SOLICITATION, IF IT COMES IN BETWEEN 50 AND 100,000, WE CAN ROUTE THAT AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION.

AND IT GOES TO THE CITY MANAGER TO AUTHORIZE THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE.

IT'S STILL COMPETITIVELY BID, BUT WHEN YOU GET THE RESULTS BACK, THE STAFF WOULD MAKE THE DECISION ON WHO GETS THE CONTRACT WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL.

[01:55:07]

SO IT GOES THROUGH THE ENTIRE FORMAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS, AND WE AWARD TO WHOEVER THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE DEEMS MOST RESPONSIVE OR TO WHOEVER IS THE LOWEST BIDDER, DEPENDING ON THE PROCUREMENT METHOD.

SO IT'S COMPLETELY UP GOES THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS RIGHT NOW WITH RESPECT TO SLIDE 22, THE TIME THAT IT TAKES FOR AN AWARD THAT REQUIRES CITY COUNCIL AGENDA APPROVAL JUST FOR THE SAKE OF DISCUSSION, HAS STAFF LOOKED AT WAYS OF STREAMLINING THAT OVER THREE MONTH TIME PERIOD SUCH THAT WE COULD REDUCE THAT TIME, BUT STILL HAVE COUNCIL DIRECT OVERSIGHT? COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT, AND I'LL TAKE THAT ONE.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES OF I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD REIMAGINE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A GOOD WORD OR NOT LOOKING AT MY BOSS, BUT WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS SINCE THE DAY I GOT HERE.

WAYS TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE CUT WHAT WE PROVERBIALLY WE CALL RED TAPE.

RIGHT. AND WE'VE DONE THAT, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

RIGHT. AS FAR AS IT GIVING THEM THE LEAD TIME THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONTRACTS ARE WELL LAID OUT, MAKING SURE THERE'S ADEQUATE TIME TO ACTUALLY NEGOTIATE.

RIGHT, AS A WHOLE SERIES OF REVIEWS THAT THAT HAPPEN FROM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANGLES AS IT RELATES TO THIS AGENDA THAT YOU GUYS LOOK AT IS JUST A A SERIES OF 50 OR 60 ITEMS. THERE'S LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF STAFF HOURS THAT ACTUALLY GO IN TO THAT PREPARATION TO ACTUALLY GET TO THIS AGENDA, NOT TO MENTION THE STAFF HOURS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING HERE AND AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE ABOUT IT.

SO THE THE INTENT HERE IS TO IS AND MR. JOHNSON WAS REFERENCING THIS QUESTION, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO ANSWER IT FOR HIM EARLIER.

WAS THAT THAT DIFFERENCE IN TIME. IT'S REALLY LITERALLY HOW MUCH EXTRA TIME THAT IT TAKES TO MOVE FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER BECAUSE OF THE LEVEL OF REVIEW NEEDED FOR CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL. WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, COULD WE CONSIDER ELIMINATING COMMITTEE APPROVAL OR ACTION SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE A MONTH TO GET TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGENDA IF THE ALTERNATIVE IS JUST APPROVING IT ADMINISTRATIVELY WITH NO COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL APPROVAL? I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT'S AN OPTION TO CUT OUT POTENTIALLY FOR WEEKS OF THIS 13 WEEKS BY HAVING THE ITEMS THAT ARE ABOVE THE THRESHOLD GO DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL.

YES. SO THAT THAT IS AN OPTION. BUT I WILL TELL YOU FROM MY HISTORY HERE AND LOOKING AT MY BOSS THAT THAT FENCE SWINGS BOTH WAYS.

WE OFTENTIMES WILL FIND OUT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THEY WERE UNHAPPY THAT IT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO COMMITTEE.

AND SO WE'RE LEFT IN A REALLY BAD SPOT. RELATED TO THAT, WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IS THINGS THAT ARE NEW PROCUREMENTS OR THE NEW SERVICE OR A NEW PROGRAM. WE WILL TYPICALLY TAKE THOSE TO COMMITTEE JUST SO THAT WE CAN LAY OUT THE COUNCIL, BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE A FIRST LOOK VERSUS SOMETHING THAT MAY BE MORE ROUTINE, LIKE BUYING ROAD FLARES.

RIGHT. SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT BRING THE SAME LEVEL OF INTEREST AS A NEW PROGRAM WOULD BE.

AND SO STAFF USUALLY MAKES THAT THAT JUDGMENT CALL JUST AS MUCH AS WE OFTENTIMES WILL, WILL MEET ONE ON ONE TO INTRODUCE ITEMS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE INFORMED, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S DISTRICT SPECIFIC.

WELL, THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, AND I PROFESS TO BE OPEN MINDED ABOUT INCREASING THE CONTRACT THRESHOLD IS THAT WE INCREASE IT, AND ITEMS THAT ARE NEW OR NOVEL COME THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS WITH NO REVIEW BY THE COUNCIL. AS A MATTER OF POLICY, IN SOME CASES UNTIL AFTER THE ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.

AND THEN WE GET A RETROACTIVE REPORT THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS SAID SHE WOULD SUPPLY US, AT WHICH POINT IT'S TOO LATE TO TAKE ANY ACTION ABOUT IT.

AND SO I'M WONDERING IF A CRITERIA COULD BE UTILIZED INSTEAD OF A STRICT DOLLAR FIGURE OF A REPETITIVE PROCUREMENT AS OPPOSED TO A UNIQUE OR ONE OFF OR NEW KIND OF PROCUREMENT? WOULD THAT BE A POSSIBLE DISTINCTION THAT WOULD REDUCE OUR WORKLOAD, EXPEDITE THE TIME PERIOD, BUT ALLOW US OVERSIGHT OF UNIQUE OR NOVEL IDEAS? I'D LIKE TO JUMP IN AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY, FOR THAT TYPE OF QUESTION,

[02:00:06]

SO WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT THAT, WE DO KNOW WHAT THE ROUTINE TYPES OF PROCUREMENTS ARE.

WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE BY DEPARTMENT. THESE ARE THESE ARE CONTRACTS THAT, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, ARE JUST THE DAY TO DAY BUSINESS FUNCTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.

AND THESE FUNCTIONS DON'T CHANGE YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

AND OFTENTIMES YOU'RE APPROVING CONTRACTS THAT ALLOW FOR US JUST TO DO OUR NORMAL DAY TO DAY IF THERE ARE NEW THINGS EVEN IF IT'S BELOW THE THRESHOLD THAT THIS BODY HAS NOT SEEN BEFORE. AND IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NORMAL, BUT IT'S SOMETHING NEW THAT WE'RE EITHER ADDING IT'S BACK TO SOME OF THE INNOVATIVE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING. YOU COULD DEFINITELY HAVE A CRITERIA THAT SAYS, REGARDLESS OF THE THRESHOLD, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE NOT PROCURED BEFORE, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS BODY WOULD STILL WANT TO WEIGH ON AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL OR NOT, OR COME DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL. THAT IS CRITERIA THAT WE WOULD DEFINITELY WELCOME.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN GENERAL THAT THAT MANY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SECOND AND FOURTH WEDNESDAY VOTING AGENDA ARE A LOT OF THOSE ARE ROUTINE ITEMS. AND AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE HAVING TO WAIT COMMITTEE THEN COUNCIL BEFORE ROUTINE ITEMS CAN MOVE FORWARD UNDER THAT HALF $1 MILLION THRESHOLD.

AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WE CAN WE CAN SPEED UP BEING ABLE TO MOVE THAT WORK FORWARD AND BEING ABLE TO DO IT STILL WITH TRANSPARENCY BUILT IN WITH THE REPORTING. BUT IF COUNCIL WANTS CRITERIA AROUND CERTAIN ONES THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO THEN APPLY THAT THAT NEW THRESHOLD AMOUNT TO WHATEVER THAT THRESHOLD IS, WE COULD DEFINITELY COME BACK AND SAY, OKAY, WELL, HERE'S THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRACTS THAT ARE ROUTINE.

HERE ARE THE ONES THAT WERE BRAND NEW. THERE WERE THINGS THAT YOU HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE. WE COULD BREAK DOWN THE DATA FOR YOU EVEN FURTHER IF THAT HELPS YOU MAKE A BETTER DECISION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT OFFER. CITY MANAGER, I THINK THAT IS A PROCEDURE THAT I WOULD SUPPORT SO THAT WE WON'T WASTE TIME ON CONTRACTS TO BUY CHLORINE FOR OUR WATER SUPPLY EVERY MONTH.

THINGS THAT ARE IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS.

BUT SITUATIONS LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE GARDEN BOX THAT CHAIR WEST RAISED, IF WE JUST HAVE THE AFTER THE FACT REPORT FROM YOU, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXECUTED CONTRACT THAT WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THOSE KINDS OF CONTRACTS THAT ARE NEW, A DEPARTURE FROM EXISTING POLICY NOVEL IDEAS.

PLEASE BRING THOSE TO US AND WE WELCOME THAT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S AGAIN, ANOTHER WAY TO CONTINUE TO ELEVATE NOT ONLY TRANSPARENCY, BUT MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD ARE THINGS THAT ARE COMPLETELY ALIGNED TO THE PRIORITIES OF THE BODY, AND THEY'RE SUPPORTING PLANS AND POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THAT WE'RE SHOWING YOU HOW THOSE AGENDA ITEMS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED.

NOW, CITY MANAGER, ANOTHER THOUGHT THAT OCCURRED TO ME IS TO IF WE RAISE THE CONTRACT THRESHOLD, PROVIDE A PRE REPORT INSTEAD OF A POST REPORT OF PARTICULARLY NON ROUTINE KINDS OF PROCUREMENTS. SO THAT IF THEY ARE WITHIN THE NEW RAISED CONTRACT THRESHOLD, WE STILL GET ADVANCE NOTICE OF WHAT THEY ARE SO THAT WE CAN REQUEST THAT THOSE BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE COUNCIL, OR AT LEAST THE COMMITTEE REVIEW PROCESS, WHICH WE COULDN'T DO IF IT'S JUST A POST REPORT.

IN OTHER WORDS, GIVE US A PREVIEW OF THOSE KINDS OF UNIQUE CONTRACTS THAT AGAIN, GREAT, GREAT POINT.

I THINK THAT BECAUSE WE DO PROVIDE A DRAFT AGENDA TO THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE YOU GET YOUR FINAL AGENDA, WE COULD ACTUALLY SHARE IN THE DRAFT IN A SEPARATE SECTION.

THESE WOULD BE ONES THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO MOVE FORWARD ADMINISTRATIVELY.

YOU COULD STILL SEE THOSE, AND THAT WOULD STILL BE TIME IN BETWEEN THE DRAFT AGENDA AND THE FINAL AGENDA.

IF THERE ARE ONES THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD, BUT WE DEFINITELY COULD COME UP WITH A WAY TO DO THAT AND AGAIN, CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE TRANSPARENCY AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS FOR THIS BODY.

BUT WE COULD DO THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. CHAIRMAN GRACEY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, CHAIR RIDLEY, FOR FOR THAT, I THINK I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST AND AS A MATTER OF THIS MONTHLY REPORTING, INCLUDING A FORECAST OF UPCOMING PROCUREMENTS ON THERE THAT WOULDN'T THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT THAT'S THE THING THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND. THAT'D BE GREAT. SO I UNDERSTAND THIS.

THERE'S REALLY FOR ME, I HEARD I'M LISTENING FOR FOUR THINGS.

[02:05:03]

BUT THEN THE OTHER PIECE IS AND THEN I HEARD THE REPORTING PIECE, BUT THE PIECE I'M LOOKING FOR IS THE COMPETITION AND OPPORTUNITY THAT WORKS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW I GOTTA SAY THIS THE RIGHT WAY.

INCREASING THE THRESHOLD CREATES OPPORTUNITY.

RIGHT. BUT THEN MY QUESTION IS WHO'S GOING TO BE MANAGING THAT PROCESS? WILL IT BE THE DEPARTMENTS OR WILL IT BE PROCUREMENT.

BECAUSE THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A STICKLER FOR ME.

SO ONE OF THE ONE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND WE'VE SHARED PREVIOUSLY IS WE'RE WORKING WITH CIVIC MARKETPLACE ON THEIR ON A PORTAL THAT WOULD ONE GIVE US ACCESS TO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE ON TEXT MASKS THROUGH NCT COG.

BUT THE OTHER PORTION THAT THEY'RE DEVELOPING IS A QUOTE PROCESS, SO THAT WE CAN GET INFORMAL QUOTES FROM THE VENDORS THAT ARE REGISTERED.

AND SO THIS IS YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'RE STILL KIND OF TALKING ABOUT LIKE THE THE NEW BID POLICY IS IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, A THRESHOLD OF 100,000 OR MORE YOU CAN KIND OF DRIVE THOSE PROCUREMENTS AND PEOPLE TO REGISTER IN THOSE INFORMAL ONES WITH BASED ON THEIR IF THEY'RE A SMALLER LOCAL BUSINESS.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE OVER 100,000 DURING THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS, I THINK IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR MORE VENDORS TO PARTICIPATE.

IF THEY KNOW THAT THE AWARDS ARE COMING SOONER, THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE WAITING FOR TWO MONTHS TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FRUITS OF THEIR THEIR LABOR, BASICALLY.

COUNCILMAN GRACEY, I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION AND ANSWER IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

SO I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE WAY WE ARE TODAY, IT WOULD BE DECENTRALIZED AND THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE THE PROCUREMENT LEAD, RIGHT? WE PROVIDE TRAINING AND THE STEPS THAT THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THE THINGS THAT THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HOLISTICALLY IN THE CITY.

WHAT WE COULD DO, AND I THINK WHAT I WAS HEARING FROM YOU ON THAT IS THAT IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROCUREMENT TO POTENTIALLY HAVE A ROLE TO ADD ANOTHER LEVEL OF POTENTIAL OVERSIGHT WITHOUT SLOWING THINGS DOWN, ADDING AN UNNECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN? AND COULD WE LOOK AT THAT? AND I THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION ALSO IS YES.

YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S EXACTLY IT.

ON ONE HAND, I DO WANT THIS PROCESS TO TO MOVE MORE EFFICIENTLY.

RIGHT. BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS AND DEPENDING ON WHICH EAR YOU'RE LISTENING FROM, IT COULD BE FROM AN MWBE PERSPECTIVE, OR IT COULD BE FROM JUST A SHEER COMPETITION.

AND WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS, AGAIN, I GO THROUGH ALL THESE AGENDAS TO LOOK TO SEE, ARE WE AWARDING THESE CONTRACTS TO THE SAME VENDORS? SO AGAIN, AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ENGAGING AND TRAINING AND ALL OF THAT, I'M STILL LOOKING TO SEE AS A MEASUREMENT OF PERFORMANCE, ARE WE GETTING NEW BIDDERS, NEW NEW BUSINESSES RESPONDING TO THESE PROCUREMENTS, AND ARE WE MAKING IT MORE COMPETITIVE? BECAUSE THE MORE COMPETITIVE IT IS, THE MORE WE CAN REDUCE OUR COSTS IN THEORY.

SO I'M LOOKING FOR COMPETITION TO RESULT FROM THIS AS WELL.

SO I DON'T KNOW. CITY MANAGER YES, AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

AND I THINK THOSE POINTS ARE WELL TAKEN. AND AS IN THE NEXT BRIEFING, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL WORK COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO ELEVATE, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT OUR VENDOR POOL IS REFLECTIVE OF THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WE KNOW ARE IN OUR CITY AND THOSE THAT ARE READY, WILLING AND ABLE.

I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT I DO BELIEVE THAT AN IMPORTANT SECTION IN THE REPORTING, EVEN IF IT'S A FORECAST IN ADVANCE, AS I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER REALLY HAS MENTIONED, AND EVEN THE FOLLOW UP IS TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO DEMONSTRATE AGAIN, THE WORK THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY NOT ONLY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING AND THEY'RE RECEIVING OPPORTUNITIES TO DO BUSINESS WITH US AND THEN SHOWING YOU WHETHER OR NOT IF IT'S A BRAND NEW SMALL BUSINESS OR IF IT'S ONE THAT'S DONE BUSINESS BEFORE, MAYBE NOW THEY'RE ABLE TO MOVE TO A PRIME CONTRACTING ROLE AND NOT A SUBCONTRACTING ROLE.

SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO AND I'LL USE THE WORD TRANSFORM, NOT REIMAGINE, BUT HOW WE'RE DOING THAT ACROSS THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

OVERALL. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL, BUT THIS IS A BIG PIECE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM.

THERE'S A THERE'S A THERE'S A LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY AND OVERSIGHT THAT I KNOW THAT I AM REQUESTING AND THAT I'M HOLDING MY TEAM ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE OPENING UP THE DOORS TO DO BUSINESS WITH ALL BUSINESSES THAT CAN DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY, AND NOT JUST A FEW. BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, AND WE'RE DEFINITELY MOVING AND TRANSFORMING OUR PROCESSES TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.

[02:10:05]

BUT I'M JUST TALKING COMPETITION ACROSS THE BOARD SO THAT WE CAN LOWER.

WE NEED TO CREATE COMPETITION, PERIOD. THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS.

SO THAT'S THAT SIDE. SO THE COMPETITIVE BID, ARE YOU ASKING FOR A DOLLAR AMOUNT TODAY? IT WOULD BE REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO LOBBY FOR A PARTICULAR DOLLAR AMOUNT.

I THINK WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH THE BENCHMARK DATA IS TO GIVE THE COUNCIL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED, AND ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME TO WHERE YOU CAN MAKE THAT DECISION.

AND SO WE WERE INTENTIONAL ABOUT ME NOT LOBBYING FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

I THINK IT'S BASED ON WHAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD WANT TO PROVIDE AND HOW YOU WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE HOLDING ME ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS. SO WE HAVE NOT REQUESTED A PARTICULAR AMOUNT.

WE'RE GIVING YOU THE INFORMATION TO WHERE IF YOU WANT TO START WITH AN AMOUNT, COME BACK AND EVALUATE THAT AMOUNT IN ANOTHER YEAR, SEE HOW WELL THE PROCESS IS WORKING, THEN RAISE THE AMOUNT EVEN FURTHER.

THAT WOULD REALLY BE A DECISION THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS COUNCIL SHOULD MAKE.

AND THEN WHATEVER THAT DECISION IS, IS WHAT I WOULD IMPLEMENT AND MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU. OKAY. SO. I CAN GET BEHIND CHAIR WEST'S PROPOSAL FOR THIS $500,000 AS THAT THRESHOLD.

MY NEXT QUESTION IS FROM A CONSTRUCTION, ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE.

ARE THERE IS THERE A. BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, EVEN BACK WHEN I WAS ON STAFF, IS BREAKING UP THE CONTRACTS. IS THERE A TEMPERATURE FROM THE DEPARTMENTS TO DO THAT? BECAUSE AGAIN, I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE SOMETHING WE FALSELY CELEBRATE.

WE WE WE WE APPROVE IT AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, GOOD JOB.

WE BOUNCE BACK FROM THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. BUT THEN IF THERE'S NO TEMPERATURE FROM EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS TO ACTUALLY DO THIS, TO CREATE COMPETITION, TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES, THEN IT'S JUST ANOTHER DECISION THAT HAS NO RESULTS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR INSIGHT. AND I THINK I SET THE TEMPERATURE.

YES, MA'AM. WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WORK IS BEING DONE AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S BASED ON PRIORITIES.

IT'S BASED ON WHAT OUTCOMES WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

AND I THINK WHAT WE'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR IS THAT, NUMBER ONE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS, THAT IT'S IN LINE WITH BEST PRACTICES, THAT WE'RE FINDING WAYS TO BE EFFICIENT, WE'RE FINDING WAYS TO CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRUST TO VERIFY THAT WE'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING SURE THAT AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL THAT WE'RE CONSISTENT IN OUR APPROACH.

AND I THINK THAT MY COMMITMENT AND WHAT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED OVER THIS LAST YEAR AND A HALF IS THAT THERE IS NOT ONLY A WILLINGNESS, BUT WE'RE DEMONSTRATING THAT. ARE WE DONE KNOW? DO WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO? YES. BUT THE COMMITMENT IS, IS THAT OUR DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP AND OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM, WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER. THAT'S WHY WE SPEND TIME EVERY SINGLE MONTH IN A ROOM.

WHETHER YOU TALK ABOUT THE STRIKE TEAM THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER FOR PROCUREMENT SERVICES AND ALL THE OTHER STRIKE TEAMS THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THIS LAST YEAR AND A HALF, IT'S REALLY DESIGNED TO MAKE US BETTER AND FOR US TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. YOU KNOW HOW THINGS WORK BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS SIDE.

BUT THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE AND THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE HEADED, IT'S POSITIVE.

AND WE WANT WE WANT THE DUE DILIGENCE, WE WANT THE OVERSIGHT FROM THE COUNCIL.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO BELIEVE WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE OUR WORK AND BE ABLE TO TRULY DELIVER PROCUREMENTS AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH. AND I'LL SAY, I THINK AGAIN, I'LL DOUBLE DOWN ON MY 500,000 AS A THRESHOLD BECAUSE FROM A CONSTRUCTION PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT DOES CREATE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FROM A BONDING PERSPECTIVE AND ALL OF THAT.

SO I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS, AND I'M RECOMMENDING A $500,000 THRESHOLD AND LET ME MAKE SURE I'M DONE.

OH, AND JUST SO I'M CLEAR, THAT WAS IT. 97% OF THE CONTRACTS THAT THAT GO THROUGH CONSENT.

IS THAT WHAT I HEARD ROUGHLY? SOMETHING LIKE THAT 96 POINT SOMETHING.

LET ME PULL IT REAL QUICK. IT WAS 96.4% OF THE ITEMS WERE APPROVED VIA CONSENT AGENDA.

PERFECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I'LL JUST MENTION, I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE PULLED MORE ITEMS OFF OF CONSENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I DO, USUALLY THERE'S A PRETTY ROBUST CONVERSATION.

AND THAT CONVERSATIONS LED TO IMPORTANT POLICY CHANGES.

[02:15:03]

I APPRECIATE THAT ON SLIDE 24, IF YOU WANT TO PUT THAT UP THERE, THAT YOU ACTUALLY OUTLINED THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS ACTUAL IDEA, WHICH IS REDUCED OVERSIGHT, TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS, LACK OF CONTROLS AND POTENTIAL ABUSE, AND ANY EFFICIENCY SAVINGS OF US HAVING LESS ITEMS THAN ITEMS IN A CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH LITERALLY TAKES NO TIME FOR US, ARE COMPLETELY OUTWEIGHED BY THOSE ISSUES. THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR JOB.

THIS IS WHAT WE WERE ELECTED TO DO. SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR PUTTING IT IN THERE.

LET ME START WITH THAT. THERE'S TWO REAL ISSUES IN THIS BRIEFING, AND I WONDER WHY THEY WEREN'T SEPARATED.

I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN HAVE A MANAGEMENT ANSWER ON WHY BID THRESHOLD AND CONTRACT THRESHOLD ARE IN ONE BRIEFING.

I'VE NEVER SEEN US HAVE TWO DIFFERENT, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SUBJECTS REALLY PUT TOGETHER IN ONE.

EFFICIENCY IS WHAT WE WERE AIMING FOR TO GIVE YOU ONE BRIEFING VERSUS TWO DIFFERENT BRIEFINGS.

SO YOU THINK IT'S MORE EFFICIENT THAT YOU ARE PUTTING TWO DIFFERENT TOPICS IN ONE BRIEFING? TODAY'S BRIEFING INCLUDES TWO TOPICS THAT WE DO BELIEVE ALLOW FOR YOU TO HAVE SYNERGY BETWEEN THE TWO, AND THAT'S HOW WE PRESENT IT. TODAY'S PRESENTATION COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSOHN.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELL, I WILL SAY IT WAS MEANT TO CONFLATE THESE TWO ISSUES PURPOSELY TO CONFUSE PEOPLE.

AND I OBJECT TO THAT. I'D LIKE TO GO TO SLIDE NUMBER 22 IF YOU CAN PULL THAT UP.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH EACH OF THESE BOXES? SO YOU'VE GOT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA THREE WEEKS FOR INTAKE, NINE WEEKS FOR SOLICITATION, 13 WEEKS FOR AWARD FOR A TOTAL OF 25 WEEKS.

CAN YOU WALK THROUGH EACH OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN EACH OF THOSE BOXES? AND THEN FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION AGAIN, THREE WEEKS FOR INTAKE, NINE WEEKS SOLICITATION, FOUR WEEKS FOR AWARD. SO WHAT ARE ALL THE ACTIVITIES AND WHO ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TOUCHING IT, THAT IT WOULD TAKE THREE WEEKS FOR AN INTAKE, THAT IT WOULD TAKE NINE WEEKS FOR A SOLICITATION, 13 WEEKS OR FOUR WEEKS FOR AN AWARD LIKE WE'VE HAD SOME GENERAL WORDS SAID.

BUT LIKE SPECIFICALLY, HOW IS THAT WORKING OUT? SO FOR THE FORMAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS, IT STARTS WITH AN INTAKE.

THE DEPARTMENT SUBMITS TO US A SOLICITATION REQUEST THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO THE THREE WEEKS IS IS THAT A PAPER DOCUMENT? NO, IT'S AN ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT. THEY SUBMIT.

YES. AND YOU RECEIVE IT AS AN EMAIL OR SOME SOME ITEM THROUGH SALESFORCE.

YES. OKAY. SO OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OVER PROCUREMENT REVIEWS AND ASSIGNS THOSE SOLICITATIONS TO THE THE STAFF, THE PROCUREMENT SPECIALISTS, HOW LONG DOES THAT TAKE? THAT'S USUALLY DONE WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES. I THINK YOU REVIEW THEM ON A SCHEDULE.

WE ASSIGN WEEKLY, WE ASSIGN PROJECTS WEEKLY, BUT IT COULDN'T BE DONE THAT DAY.

YES, IT COULD BE DONE THAT DAY. OKAY, SO LET'S SAY THAT'S A ONE DAY PROCESS.

OKAY. THEN WHAT? IT'S BEEN ASSIGNED TO SOMEBODY.

YES. SO THEN WE REVIEW THE SPECIFICATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS INCLUDED, YOU KNOW, THE THAT THEY'RE OPEN, THAT THEY'RE TRANSPARENT, THAT THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION INCLUDED.

THEY'RE NOT TOO RESTRICTIVE. THAT WE'VE SELECTED THE RIGHT PROCUREMENT PROCESS, WHETHER THAT'S A BID OR A PROPOSAL.

SO WE REVIEW THAT. AND HOW LONG DOES THAT TAKE? FINALIZING SPECIFICATIONS CAN SOMETIMES TAKE THE WHOLE THREE WEEKS, LIKE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

ONCE WE IDENTIFY DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE IT COULD BE, I GUESS NOT INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE.

SO THERE ARE KICKOFF MEETINGS AND THERE ARE MEETINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT, THE PROJECT MANAGER THAT TAKE PLACE.

SO THERE IS A BACK AND FORTH WITH FINALIZING THE SPECIFICATIONS WHEN THEY'RE RECEIVED.

THERE ARE TIMES THAT THEY ARE SUBMITTED IN A ROUGH DRAFT.

SO MANAGER NO MANAGER HERE. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THAT'S PROBLEMATIC EITHER YOU HAVE NOT TRAINED THE STAFF TO PUT THE REQUEST INTO SALESFORCE PROPERLY, OR THERE'S A PROBLEM IN PROCUREMENT THAT THEY CAN'T RESOLVE SOMETHING IN A MUCH QUICKER WAY THAN THREE WEEKS.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE. LET ME TAKE THIS ONE.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. I THINK IT'S MORE OF AN INTELLECTUAL DEBATE.

[02:20:02]

RIGHT. AND SOMETIMES THAT THAT TAKES DEBATE, THAT TAKES RESEARCH ON THEIR PART.

AND I ACTUALLY APPLAUD THIS TEAM FOR THAT LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING TO ALSO INCLUDE, IS THIS THE BEST PROCUREMENT METHOD? SHOULD WE BID IT OUT? SHOULD WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT DILIGENCE OR RESEARCH HAD YOU DONE WITH THE COOPERATIVE? IF YOU DO BRING A COOPERATIVE TO US, IS THIS SOMETHING WE SHOULD PROBABLY BID OUT? SO THERE'S A LOT OF CONTINGENCIES THAT WEREN'T MENTIONED HERE THAT ARE PART OF THAT PROCESS.

AND IT CAN GO BACK AND FORTH FOR A WHILE, ESPECIALLY DEPENDING ON HOW COMPLEX THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE.

RESPECTFULLY, THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT IT WOULD TAKE THREE WEEKS AND IN A FOR PROFIT ENVIRONMENT THAT WOULD NEVER OR A NONPROFIT THAT WOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.

AND WE DEBATE CONTRACTS FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITH A LOT LESS TIME THAN THAT.

SO COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN IF I, IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN FOR JUST A SECOND.

STAFF HAS A PURPOSEFULLY MAYOR. IF HE SAYS NO, THEN I'LL WAIT.

WELL, THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A POINT HERE.

WELL, MY MY ASSISTANT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ANSWERED A QUESTION THAT I WANTED TO ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT, BUT I WILL WITHHOLD THAT. MR. MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO SAY SHE WAS SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF SAYING SOMETHING, SO I WANTED TO LET HER FINISH. THANK YOU. THERE SEEMS TO BE A FREQUENT DEBATE THAT MANAGEMENT IS HAVING WITH AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, AND I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE DOING AT CITY COUNCIL.

WE ALREADY HAD A BRIEFING TIME. WE ALREADY HAD A TIME FOR STAFF TO GIVE THEIR INPUT.

AND. THAT THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT IT, BUT SEEMS TO BE A VERY FREQUENT OCCURRENCE RIGHT NOW.

WELL, I OKAY, I WILL SAY THIS. I TRIED TO VERY CAREFULLY THIS IS ALSO INSTRUCTIVE FOR THE NEW MEMBERS IS GOOD.

I TRY TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE EXCHANGE TO MAKE SURE IT'S OPERATING IN A QUESTION ANSWER FORMAT.

ALWAYS. QUESTION FROM A MEMBER. ANSWER FROM STAFF.

AND IT CAN BE. AND THE ANSWER CAN COME FROM ANY STAFF PERSON THAT THE CITY MANAGER DESIGNATES.

BUT WHAT I DON'T ALLOW FOR WHEN I AND I DON'T THINK IT'S HAPPENED VERY OFTEN BECAUSE I LISTEN FOR IT IS PROACTIVE.

INTERJECTION. AND THIS WAS ONE BY STAFF WHEN THEY WEREN'T ASKED A DIRECT QUESTION BY A MEMBER.

BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE GET INTO DEBATE. AND I NOT THAT I TRY TO POLICE.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S BEEN A REGULAR OCCURRENCE AROUND HERE BECAUSE I THINK I'VE BEEN PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT. BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE STAFF, EVERYONE WOULD JUST WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE ASKED A QUESTION BEFORE THEY ENGAGE IN ANOTHER SORT OF LINE OF DISCUSSION SO THAT THE MEMBERS CAN GET THE QUESTIONS THEY WANT ANSWERED ANSWERED. SO I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM AROUND HERE, THOUGH, BECAUSE I DEFINITELY TRY TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

SO I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT FOR NOT POLICING THE MEETING BETTER IN THIS ONE INSTANCE.

MR. MAYOR, MAY I ALSO LODGE A POINT OF ORDER REALLY QUICKLY? YOU STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I BELIEVE THAT OUR COLLEAGUE IS GOING BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF THE WAY WE SHOULD QUESTION STAFF. I THINK IT'S ARGUMENTATIVE.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT I POINT THAT OUT, YOU KNOW, STAFF IS NOT HERE TO BE BULLIED BY US.

AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL IN TERMS OF HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH STAFF.

I THINK I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT, AND WITHOUT GETTING INTO A PROLONGING THE DEBATE, I WILL SAY YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN.

I DO, HOWEVER, BELIEVE AND AGAIN, I'M I'M TRYING TO STATE THIS IN THE, IN THE, THE FORMAT OF A RESPONSE TO A, A POINT OF ORDER, NOT PONTIFICATE ABOUT THIS TOPIC, BUT I THINK I HAVE TO GIVE MEMBERS VERY WIDE LATITUDE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ASK OF STAFF, AND IT WOULD BE IT WOULD HAVE TO REALLY CROSS THE LINE INTO SOMETHING PERSONAL OR AD HOMINEM, BEFORE I WOULD SHUT SOMEONE'S QUESTIONING DOWN FOR BEING ARGUMENTATIVE.

BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IF YOU LOOK AT LEGISLATIVE BODIES FROM CONGRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE TO CITY COUNCILS, I THINK HONESTLY WE ARE MUCH KINDER AND MUCH MORE LESS ARGUMENTATIVE WITH OUR STAFF WHEN WE'RE ASKING THE QUESTIONS THAN, THAN ANY STATE LEGISLATIVE HEARING.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN THE COMPTROLLER THEMSELVES OR ANY AGENCY HAD THEMSELVES OR BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, THEY GET ASKED PRETTY SHARP QUESTIONS AND AND THE TONE CAN BE

[02:25:05]

AND SO I'M TRYING TO GIVE YOU ALL THAT SAME LATITUDE FROM WHATEVER SIDE OF AN ISSUE YOU'RE COMING FROM, TO ASK QUESTIONS IN YOUR OWN STYLE, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT QUESTIONING STYLES, TONES OF VOICE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PRETTY OFFENSIVE FOR ME. I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU. IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME. I WOULDN'T OVERRULE YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WEREN'T BEING NICE. THE STAFF, THESE FOLKS ARE PROFESSIONALS.

THEY'RE TRAINED. THEY THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE CONTENT OF THESE QUESTIONS, AND I THINK THEY ARE CAPABLE OF ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS.

AND I HOPEFULLY THEY UNDERSTAND THAT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE HAVE A JOB TO DO, TOO, WHICH IS TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT WE THINK OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT US TO ASK. AND SO THAT'S A VERY LONG RESPONSE.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WANT THE NEW FOLKS TO KNOW I'M NEVER GOING TO TRY TO POLICE YOUR TONE OR YOUR QUESTIONING STYLE AND OR MAKE YOU TALK TO STAFF IN A, YOU KNOW, WITH KID GLOVES.

BUT IF YOU CROSS OVER A LINE, THAT'S HARD TO ASCERTAIN.

IT'S LIKE IN OUR RULES WITH OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS, IT TALKS ABOUT IMPERTINENT REMARKS AND A BUNCH OF SUBJECTIVE WORDS THAT WE DON'T REALLY IT'S IN I GUESS IT'S IN THE PRESIDING OFFICER'S JUDGMENT.

BUT MY THRESHOLD IS GOING TO BE PRETTY HIGH BEFORE I SHUT DOWN A DULY ELECTED MEMBER OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL AND SAY, YOU CAN'T ASK STAFF THAT QUESTION WITH THAT TONE OF VOICE, I'M JUST NOT GOING TO DO IT.

SO EXCEPT FOR IT HAD TO BE PRETTY EXTREME. SO THANK YOU, MR. RESENDEZ, FOR ASKING AND FOR RAISING THAT POINT OF ORDER. I THINK IT'S A IT'S A LEGIT QUESTION, BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU A DIFFERENT PRESIDING OFFICER MIGHT HAVE A LOWER THRESHOLD, BUT I'M GOING TO LET PEOPLE BE PRETTY DIRECT.

AND I THINK OUR CITY MANAGER CAN HANDLE IT. I KNOW SHE CAN.

AND I'M AND I'M. THANK YOU, MISS TOLBERT, FOR WAITING UNTIL SHE FINISHES HER QUESTION AND THE FLOOR IS STILL YOURS.

AND YOU CAN ASK ANY QUESTION YOU LIKE AND OF ANYBODY YOU WANT IN THE CITY MANAGER WILL, I THINK, RESPOND AFTER YOU'RE FINISHED. WELL, SURE. I ACTUALLY HAD ASKED FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO RESPOND TO THESE FOR THE 13 WEEK FOR AWARD.

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN 13 WEEKS? WE ISSUED THE INTENT TO AWARD TO THE VENDOR.

AT THAT POINT, THEY HAVE TIME TO SEND US THEIR CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE.

SO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

FORM 1295, WHICH IS A FORM REQUIRED BY THE STATE TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S NO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BONDS. IF THERE'S BONDS ON THE PROJECT, WE ASK FOR THOSE DOCUMENTS AS WELL.

SO THE RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, HOW LONG DO THEY HAVE TO TURN THOSE IN? SO IT JUST DEPENDS. SOMETIMES THEY DO HAVE A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.

SO I THINK IT'S FIVE, FIVE, FIVE DAYS, 15 BUSINESS DAYS ON THE CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE.

BECAUSE WHEN THEY APPLY, WHEN THEY SUBMIT THEIR BID, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GIVING US A LETTER THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE INSURANCE, BUT THEY'RE NOT SENDING US INSURANCE DOCUMENTATION THAT HAPPENS AFTER CONTRACT NOTIFICATION OF AWARD.

AND THEY WORK WITH THEIR INSURANCE AGENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICY THEY SUBMIT TO US HAS US LISTED AS AN ADDITIONAL INSURED, ETC.. WELL, I WILL SAY, AS SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN THAT CONTRACTOR, IT TAKES EXACTLY ONE HOUR TO GET IT FROM YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY LIKE YOU CALL I NEED AN ACCORD DOCUMENT DONE. IT'S SENT OVER. IT'S SENT TO THE CITY.

I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND YOU LOOK AT LOWERING THAT TIME FRAME 15 DAYS.

IS THAT BUSINESS DAYS OR IS THAT IS THAT BUSINESS DAYS? DAYS 15. SO YOU'RE LETTING PEOPLE HAVE THREE WEEKS TO DO ALL OF THAT? YES. OKAY. AND SO WHAT'S AFTER THAT? SO THEN WE ONCE WE HAVE ALL THE INSURANCE, WE HAVE THE NOTICE TO AWARD.

WE HAVE FORM 1295, THE BONDS WE SUBMIT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, A CONTRACT, A PACKET FOR CONTRACT.

AND THEN THEY HAVE A DEADLINE OF YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IT'S FOUR WEEKS BEFORE THE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS ARE ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM. SO THAT'S FOUR WEEKS. THAT'S REALLY EIGHT WEEKS BEFORE THE COUNCIL DATE.

CITY ATTORNEY, ARE YOU SAYING YOU HAVE EIGHT WEEKS THEN TO WORK ON THAT? NO. WE REQUEST NOTIFICATION THAT IT'S GOING TO BE PROCEEDING TO A, AN AGENDA, AND WE WANT TO HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE CONTRACT DRAFTED AND SIGNED BY THE CONTRACTORS SO THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS STOPS.

[02:30:02]

IT COULD TAKE THREE MONTHS, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE CONTRACTOR WANTS TO RENEGOTIATE EVERY TERM IN THE CONTRACT.

AND SO YOU KNOW, IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF CONTRACT THAT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO LOOK AT.

BUT OUR TURNAROUND TIME ON A BASIC CONTRACT IS TWO WEEKS.

BUT REMEMBER, OUR VOLUME IS ABOUT 5 TO 600 CONTRACTS A MONTH.

AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO DO OUR WORK.

AND SO YES, WE'RE JUST ONE PART OF THE PROCESS I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT ARE YOU USING STANDARD CONTRACT LANGUAGE? YES, OF COURSE WE HAVE A LOT OF STREAMLINED CONTRACTS THAT THE DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE.

AND WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH PROCUREMENT ON SOME OF THESE MORE COMPLEX DEALS WHERE PART OF THE PROCUREMENT IS YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO, AFTER THE FACT, TRY TO RENEGOTIATE THE TERMS. WE'LL TAKE POINTS AWAY IF THEY TRY TO DO THAT, OR WE'LL SAY SOME ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE AS PART OF THE PROCUREMENT.

WE'VE WORKED TO DO THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY WHERE WE GET BOGGED DOWN, IS WHEN SOMEBODY GETS THE AWARD, THEN THEY WANT TO START RENEGOTIATING EVERY SINGLE TERM OF THE CONTRACT AND THAT.

SO WE'VE BUILT IN SOME THINGS TO TRY TO RESOLVE THAT.

BUT IT'S STILL WE CAN'T PREVENT THE THE CONTRACTOR FROM OR THEIR ATTORNEYS FROM TRYING TO RENEGOTIATE.

WELL, CERTAINLY YOU CAN. YOU SAY NO AND YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT VENDOR.

WE DO THAT AS WELL. YES. SO ARE WE USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO HELP WRITE THESE CONTRACTS? ABSOLUTELY NOT. NOT AT THIS POINT. OKAY. WE HAVE STANDARDIZED CONTRACTS THAT WE USE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROCUREMENT ALREADY. AND SO WE JUST PULL FROM THOSE. LIKE I SAID, IT'S IT'S WHETHER OR NOT THE VENDOR THAT'S GOING TO BE AWARDED THE CONTRACT WANTS TO TRY TO RENEGOTIATE THE VERY STANDARD CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE GET BOGGED DOWN. BUT BASIC CONTRACTS ARE TWO WEEKS OR LESS.

SO, DENZEL, YOU SAID THIS IS THIS IS IT. YOU SAID YOU'VE LOOKED AT THIS GRID AND THIS IS THE BEST YOU CAN DO.

JUST FOR CLARITY, I WAS SAYING THAT OVER MY TIME HERE, WE'VE JUST LOOKED AT IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO REFINE IT, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO SO WHENEVER WE FIND AN ECONOMY, WE TAKE IT.

WELL, I WOULD SAY TRANSFORM, REIMAGINE SERVICE FIRST.

NOW THIS IS NOT SERVICE FIRST. NOW THIS IS WHY WE HEAR BUSINESSES OVER AND OVER AGAIN SAYING TO US, THE REASON WHY THEY'RE NOT WORKING IN DALLAS IS THAT WE MAKE IT TOO HARD ON THEM.

I'D LIKE TO GO TO SLIDE NUMBER 25, WHERE YOU HAVE THE VARIOUS CITIES.

I NOTICE THERE'S QUITE A FEW CITIES MISSING THAT SEEM TO BE UNDER 100,000 OR AT 100,000.

CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU SELECTED THESE CITIES? WE SELECTED CITIES THAT WE ARE PEERS WITH, CITIES IN TEXAS AND CITIES THAT ARE SIMILAR SIZE TO US.

WOULD YOU AGREE THAT IT'S NOT EASY TO FIND ANY OTHER CITY IN AMERICA THAT HAS A $1.5 MILLION THRESHOLD? WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT LEVEL OF EXHAUSTIVE RESEARCH TO SAY, THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OR IN THE WORLD.

OKAY, WELL, I'VE LOOKED ALL OVER AI AT THIS, AND THE TWO HIGHEST ONES THAT YOU CAN FIND ON TWO DIFFERENT AI'S ARE SAN ANTONIO AND DC, WHICH OF COURSE ARE INCLUDED. I SEE, I'M OUT OF TIME, MAYOR.

I'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I APPRECIATED THE MEETING THAT WE HAD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO TO GO THROUGH THIS.

AND I DON'T ASSUME ANY MAL MOTIVES ON YOUR PART.

I THINK WE'RE ALL JUST WORKING THROUGH THIS. BUT I DO THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY TO MOVE AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS.

YOU KNOW, WE TEND TO CLOG UP THE FRONT END SOMETIMES WITH LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY, AND SOMETIMES WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT EACH OTHER, AND THAT'S US. SO I THINK IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, WHERE YOU MAY COME BACK BEHIND AND HAVE SPOT CHECKS OR THE POST AUDIT AND JUST CHECK YOUR PROCESSES AND MAKING SURE THAT THINGS ARE RUNNING AS THEY SHOULD ON THE BACK END VERSUS CLOGGING UP THE FRONT END IS A GOOD MOVE.

YOU KNOW, I HATE HEARING FROM FIRMS WHO SAY DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS, IT'S JUST A HEADACHE.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO PARTICIPATE. I CAN'T STAND THAT WHEN I HEAR THAT. THEY JUST DON'T EVEN WANT TO PARTICIPATE. SO I THINK THAT CRUNCHING DOWN SOME OF THIS TIME IS GOING TO HELP WITH THAT. AND MOVING THESE LIMITS IS NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU START COMPARING US TO OTHER CITIES.

AND I KNOW I ASKED YOU ALL TO LOOK AT YOU KNOW, WHO ARE WE COMPETING AGAINST IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REALM? YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE UP AGAINST SCOTIABANK GOING HERE OR CHARLOTTE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN CHARLOTTE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE BUSINESS CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT.

[02:35:03]

SO I APPRECIATE YOU INCLUDING SOME OF THOSE. I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ON PAGES 16 AND 19, WE HAVE 20, 24 THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. BUT ARE THESE INCREMENTS, IS THAT DISTRIBUTION REFLECTIVE OF WHAT YOU WOULD SAY AN AVERAGE OVER THE PAST 2 OR 3 YEARS MIGHT BE? IS THAT A FAIR DISTRIBUTION THAT WE WOULD BASE OUR, OUR SUGGESTIONS OR ON, ON FOR INCREASING THE THRESHOLDS? YES. AT THE TIME THAT WHEN WE STARTED THE ANALYSIS, WE DIDN'T HAVE A COMPLETE FY 25 FISCAL YEAR DONE. SO WE ONLY DID FY 24, BUT WE'VE STARTED THE FY 25 REVIEW, SO WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION. BUT IF YOU WENT BACK TO 2023, WOULD YOU SAY THIS, THIS INCREMENT, THIS DISTRIBUTION IS PROBABLY AROUND THE SAME ZONE.

I THINK THAT WITH INFLATION AND COST OF SERVICES, WE PROBABLY HAD A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF DISTRIBUTION, BUT I CAN'T. SO IT MIGHT ACTUALLY JUMP UP A LITTLE BIT.

YES, I BELIEVE SO. OKAY. WELL I'M ALL FOR PROCESS AND HAVING I THINK CITY MANAGER WAS TALKING ABOUT AN AGENDA PREVIEW. I WAS THINKING WHEN WE MET, WE TALKED ABOUT A MONTHLY, A MONTHLY LIST, WHETHER IT'S A MEMO, MAYBE WE CALL IT THE GARDEN BOX FILTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, JUST SO THAT WE CAN YOU KNOW, SOMETHING MIGHT JUMP OUT AT US IF WE, WE OBJECT TO IT OR THINK IT'S A LITTLE OUT OF THE NORM.

BUT I THINK THAT'S ALSO BEEN ADDRESSED IS THAT IF SOMETHING SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT THE TYPICAL DESIGN OR CONSTRUCT OR WHATEVER.

AND THEN ALSO JUST OUTLINING THIS PROCESS, REALLY DEFINING IT SO WE CAN ALL KNOW WHAT IT IS.

BECAUSE IF WE'RE SHIFTING THIS TO WHERE THE ONUS IS ON US TO BE LOOKING AT THAT UPFRONT LIST OF HERE'S WHAT'S COMING, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT COMING YOUR WAY, BUT WITH THIS NEW DIRECTIVE, WE ARE ABLE TO APPROVE THESE.

BUT IF YOU, YOU KNOW, SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE KIND OF LIST.

SO I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE $500,000 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES ITEM, BUT I HAD BEEN LOOKING AT A SLIGHTLY LOWER NUMBER FOR THE GOODS PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES.

I HAD LOOKED AT 300,000, BUT THAT WAS BASED ON A 20, 20, 24 NUMBERS HERE.

AND MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE ON ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE THROUGH A PROCESS AND THAT'S VERY DEFINED TO ME SOMETIMES ON THE OTHER SIDE, IT JUST FEELS LIKE IT'S A LITTLE LESS DEFINED.

I MEAN, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE PROCURING, IT'S CLEARLY VERY DEFINED BECAUSE SOMEONE'S GOT TO RESPOND TO AN RFP. BUT I WAS JUST LOOKING AT SOMETHING LOWER. I'M WILLING TO LISTEN TO COLLEAGUES ON THIS. I'M NOT JUST TIED TO THAT, BUT IN LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS AND ALSO CONSIDERING THE CATEGORY, I WAS GOING A LITTLE BIT LOWER ON THAT ONE BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND SEE HOW SEE HOW THIS WORKS, SEE HOW OUR POST CHECKUP WORKS, AND IF IT'S IF IT'S WORKING.

AND THEN THEN WE MAY WANT TO ELECT TO TO MOVE THESE NUMBERS UP FURTHER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK, MADAM CITY MANAGER.

GO AHEAD PLEASE. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO JUST JUMP IN COUNCILWOMAN WILLIS AND JUST COMMENT ON YOU TALKED ABOUT PROCESS AND KIND OF THE WORKFLOW THROUGH.

WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVES THAT ARE A PART OF HOW WE GOVERN DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS.

I WOULD CONSIDER THAT THIS WOULD BE A NEW OR REVAMPED ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE.

THAT WOULD BE A PART OF WHAT WE DO AS STAFF, THAT WE WOULD IT WOULD OUTLINE THE PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BEING DONE CONSISTENTLY. I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GRACEY TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTAL DECISIONS, SO THIS WOULD BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT WOULD BE A PART OF OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM AND HOW WE OPERATE.

WELL, THAT'S GREAT, AND I WOULD EXPECT THAT. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THEIR POINT OF ENTRY INTO THE PROCESS, OR WHERE THEIR LAST POINT OF INTERVENTION MIGHT BE OVER.

SOMETHING CONCERNING BEFORE IT MOVES AHEAD. I THINK IT DEFINITELY CAN BE DONE AS A CHECK IN AND A CHECK OUT.

I THINK THE CHECK IN IS SOMETHING THAT WE HEARD EARLIER ABOUT, MAYBE A FORECAST THAT WOULD SHOW WHICH ONES ARE KIND OF IN THAT THRESHOLD BUCKET.

AND THEN WE COULD EVEN COME BACK AND DO THE REPORTING BACK AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO SHOW WHICH ONES ACTUALLY MOVED FORWARD.

SO I THINK YOU COULD ACTUALLY HAVE BOTH.

MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES WE'RE ON AGENDA ITEM A THANK YOU.

A COUPLE QUESTIONS. THERE'S. IT SEEMS IF I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES HERE.

ONE IS FOR COMPETITIVE BIDDING CONTRACT THRESHOLD, AND THEN THERE'S FOR GENERAL THRESHOLD FOR GENERAL REQUESTS FOR CONTRACTS AND CONSULTING CHARGES.

[02:40:02]

AND SO ANYTHING BELOW 100,000 DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO GO THROUGH THAT 13 WEEK FORMAL SOLICITATION PROCESS.

WE NEED TO OBTAIN THREE QUOTES. WE STILL DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PRICES ARE COMPETITIVE.

SO WE REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE QUOTES ON THAT ASPECT OF IT.

THE $500,000 THRESHOLD IS THE CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORIZATION TO SIGN A CONTRACT.

SO ANYTHING FROM 100,000 AND ABOVE WILL STILL GO THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

IT WOULD JUST BE SIGNED BY THE CITY MANAGER AT WHATEVER THRESHOLD THE CITY DECIDES, THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDES TO SET.

OKAY. AND THEN ON THE ON THE ON THE OTHER ISSUE, IF IT WENT ABOVE 100,000 TO 500,000, IT WOULD NOT COME TO THIS BODY AT ALL. FOR FOR VERIFICATION, IT WOULD JUST GO TO CITY MANAGER TO SIGN OFF ON IT, UNLESS THERE WAS SOME POST YOU KNOW, DISCLOSURE OR POST REQUIREMENT. BUT AT THAT POINT THE DEAL IS DONE.

IS THAT IS THAT HOW HOW YOU WOULD CATEGORIZE IT? YES. IF IT'S 100, OVER 100,000, IT'S COMPETITIVELY BID AND IT WOULD BE SIGNED BY THE CITY MANAGER UNDER WHATEVER THRESHOLD YOU SET.

OKAY. IN. AND LOOK, I'M LEARNING ABOUT THIS AS WE'RE AS WE'RE DOING THIS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE SOME A LOT OF THESE CONTRACTS THAT WE'RE REVIEWING, ESPECIALLY CONSULTING CONTRACTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN COMPETITIVELY BID THAT THEY ARE CONSULTING CONTRACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS OR WITH GROUPS THAT HAVE SPECIAL SERVICES OR SPECIAL ABILITIES.

AND A LOT OF THOSE ARE UNDER 500,000 AND THEY'RE SOMETIMES UNDER 200,000.

AND MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WOULD THOSE CONSULTING CONTRACTS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A BIG DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LOBBYISTS.

WE'VE HAD A BIG DISCUSSION ABOUT ACCOUNTANTS.

WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OTHER PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY COMPETITIVELY BID BECAUSE THEY'RE SPECIAL SERVICES.

WOULD THOSE TYPE OF CONTRACTS NOT BE PRESENTED TO US PRIOR TO THEIR EXECUTION IF WE RAISE THE LIMIT TO 500,000. SO THE THE COMPETITIVE BID THRESHOLD FOR GOODS AND SERVICES IS IN ONE CHAPTER OF THE LEGISLATIVE CODE.

CONSULTANT PROFESSIONAL PERSONAL CONTRACTS ARE IN ANOTHER.

SO IT HAS A DIFFERENT CRITERIA. SO THEY MAY NOT GO THROUGH AN RFP OR AN RFP PROCESS.

BUT WE STILL DO A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION AND WE STILL HAVE A PROCESS TO DO THAT.

SO THEY STILL GO THROUGH SOME SORT OF FORMAL SOLICITATION.

BUT AT WHATEVER THRESHOLD THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDES TO SET, THEN THEY WOULD NOT COME TO CITY COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

RIGHT. SO IF IT WOULD BE UNDER 500,000 AND THERE WAS A CONTRACT WITH A GROUP TO DO SOMETHING AT 300,000, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WOULDN'T SEE IT, NOT BEFOREHAND.

YOU WOULD SEE IT AFTER THE FACT IN ONE OF OUR REPORTS? YES. OKAY. UNLESS IT WAS PART OF THE FORECAST THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED, WHICH WILL BE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT THAT WE'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM HERE TODAY, THAT WE WOULD ADD A FORECAST, WHICH YOU WOULD THEN BE IN A POSITION TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE UPCOMING.

OKAY. IS OUR CONSULTING FEES PART OF WHICH ARE THEY PART OF THE GOODS, PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES? YES. OKAY. AND THEN THE ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION SERVICES ARE ARE ALSO THOSE ARE SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL FEES ALSO. TEXTUAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICE CONTRACTS AND THEN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS.

RIGHT. I'M CONCERNED QUITE FRANKLY, ALSO ABOUT THE, THE TIME PERIOD OF PROCESSING, ESPECIALLY SMALLER CONTRACTS. AND IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE DOING IT TO HURT ANYBODY, BUT WE SHOULDN'T.

IT SHOULDN'T REQUIRE THAT LONG OF A TIME TO DO A SMALLER CONTRACT.

THE BIGGER CONTRACTS, FOR SURE, IT SHOULD. THEY SHOULD HAVE REQUIRE A LOT MORE DUE DILIGENCE.

THEY REQUIRE MORE. BUT BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT THERE'S A BIG RISK IN IN OUR PROCESSES IF WE ALLOW THE SMALLER CONTRACTS TO BE WAIVED. FROM OUR PURVIEW, I THINK WE ARE GIVING

[02:45:06]

THEY'RE CONSULTING FEES. THEY'RE ENGINEERING FEES.

WE'RE NOT BUYING HATS AND KOOZIES. THESE ARE A LOT OF THIS STUFF.

I MEAN, WE ARE DOING THAT TOO. BUT A LOT OF THESE ARE FEES FOR SERVICES THAT ARE WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE ABOUT.

WE NEED I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE WE PAYING SOMEBODY FOR? SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS. AND THE REASON IS IT'S NOT JUST A PRODUCT PURCHASE.

IT'S A SERVICE PURCHASE. AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE IN VETTING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES, UNDERSTANDING WHAT SERVICES THEY'RE PROVIDING MAKING SURE THAT THE THE IDENTIFICATION OF A SERVICE THAT'S BEING PROVIDED DOESN'T REFLECT A CHANGE IN POLICY OR A CHANGE IN DIRECTION THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF WITHIN A DEPARTMENT.

I THINK THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PAYING THE LIGHT BILL EVERY MONTH.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, TAKING, YOU KNOW, ASKING PEOPLE TO TO DO THINGS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.

AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT IT. WHEN I LOOK AT NUMBER 16 AND 19, IT LOOKS LIKE THE YOUR THE CONSULTING SERVICES FOR TIME SERVICES. THAT'S YOUR TIME. I'M SORRY. I'LL COME BACK.

MAYOR PRO TEM RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION. I THINK I HEARD THIS.

I JUST WANT SOME CLARITY. SO SENATE BILL 1173 DOES NOT MANDATE THE CITY TO RAISE THE THRESHOLD, BUT IT SIMPLY GIVES US THE ABILITY.

IS THAT. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND SO CITY MANAGER ON NEXT STEPS, WHEN THIS IS PLACED ON THE AGENDA, WILL WE BE RECEIVING WILL IT BE LISTED AS AN ITEM AS.

ITEMS WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A DOLLAR AMOUNT.

SO I THINK IT'S TWO THINGS, AS IT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, IS THAT ON RAISING THE COMPETITIVE BID THRESHOLD FROM 50,000 TO 100,000.

COUNCIL WOULD BE DECIDING IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, ARE NOW NOW PART OF STATE LAW.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT IF YOU JUST CHOOSE NOT TO.

AND THEN BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE WERE HOPING TO GATHER TODAY FROM THIS CONVERSATION IS WHERE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH AN AMOUNT TO PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR FOR THE EIGHTH, IF COUNCIL CHOOSES TO ON THE EIGHTH, DO THE COMPETITIVE BID THRESHOLD AND CONTINUE WITH DISCUSSIONS AND HAVE MORE DATA BROUGHT OR ANSWERING ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, AND THEN DO THE SECOND PART OF THAT ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE THRESHOLD AMOUNT INCREASING, AND DO THAT ON THE OCTOBER 22ND AGENDA. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO IT AS WELL.

TODAY WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE KNOW THAT THE STAFF HAS SPENT TIME MEETING WITH INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS.

BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A FULL DISCUSSION.

AND THAT WAY WE WOULD UNDERSTAND BETTER WHICH DIRECTION TO GO.

WITHOUT US JUST PICKING A NUMBER AND ASSUMING THAT THAT'S THE DIRECTION OF THIS BODY.

THANK YOU. SO ON THE COMPETITIVE BID, I'M OPEN TO STARTING AT THE $100,000.

THRESHOLD THAT THE STATE HAS GIVEN US. I BELIEVE WE DROPPED A CARD IN SUPPORT OF 100,000.

OKAY. AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE INFLATION ON WHAT $50,000 WAS BACK IN 2007 AND WHAT IT IS TODAY.

I'M PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT 100,000 THRESHOLD.

CAN WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RESEARCH AND ANALYZING? WAS THAT DONE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENTS IN FRONT OF US, OR WAS THAT DONE THROUGH SEE, PAL? THERE'S A SEE PAL BRIEF THAT'S ATTACHED THAT THEY DID THEMSELVES, AND THEY SUGGESTED THE $500,000 THRESHOLD.

THE PRESENTATION TODAY, THE DATA THERE, WE DID IT INTERNALLY LOOKING AT THE FY 24 CONTRACTS THAT WERE AWARDED BY COUNCIL.

SO DID WE CONTRACT WITH CPLE OR WHAT? WHAT'S THE RELATION? THAT WAS BEFORE MY TIME. I'M NOT QUITE SURE. SO THANK YOU ON THAT.

I'LL TAKE THAT ONE. YES WE DID. IT WAS A $0 DONATION ON THEIR PART, AND THEY BROUGHT IN A PROCUREMENT CONSULTANT TO LEAD

[02:50:01]

EVERYTHING FROM NEW TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTS WAYS TO CUT RED TAPE.

WAYS TO DOWNSIZE THIS CHART HERE EVEN. THANK YOU.

OKAY, SO DID DID IT GO BEYOND THAT ON A DIRECTIVE? ON WHAT THE OUTCOME THAT THE CITY WAS LOOKING FOR? I'LL LOOK TO MY BOSS FOR SOME OF THIS, BUT I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO.

SO. THANK YOU, MR. GIBSON. SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE FIRST PART OF THAT WE HAVE HAD OVER THIS LAST YEAR SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE A LOT OF OUR PRIVATE SECTOR NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHO HAVE OFFERED AND WHO HAVE COME TO THE TABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT IN LOOKING AT BEST PRACTICES. AND SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY ACTUALLY PAID PEOPLE TO DO.

BUT THROUGH A A RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY HAD IN PLACE, THEY'VE LOOKED AT NOT ONLY KIND OF PROCUREMENT PROCESS, THEY'VE LOOKED AT GRANT ACQUISITION ADMINISTRATION.

SO THERE'S OTHER TOPICS THAT WE HAVE ENGAGED AGE WITH THEM, WHERE THEY'VE BROUGHT IN AN EXPERT TO SUPPORT CITY STAFF.

WE DID NOT GIVE ANY DIRECTIVE AT ALL. AGAIN, IT WAS REALLY ABOUT THERE'S A BODY OF WORK OUT THERE ON WAYS TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF RISING COSTS BEING MORE EFFICIENT AS A GOVERNMENT.

WE KNOW PROCUREMENT IS ONE OF THOSE PROCESSES THAT CAN BE VERY LABOR INTENSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE WORK THAT'S DONE THROUGH PROCUREMENT SERVICES.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, WE CAME TO THE BODY IN MARCH, I MEAN, MAY EXCUSE ME, OF MAY AND JUNE OF THIS YEAR, EVEN TALKING ABOUT OTHER EFFICIENCIES, LOOKING AT THE MARKETPLACE, LOOKING AT THE ROUTINE PURCHASES, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ELEVATING JUST THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO KIND OF CATCH UP WITH A LOT OF THE BEST PRACTICES, WHICH IS WHY THE NEW HAZEL AI TECHNOLOGY IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP US IN ACTUALLY THE WRITING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFICATIONS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS ALL THE WAY AROUND.

MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO TO BE MORE EFFICIENT. AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE OTHER ONES THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PAGE 25. GET SOME BENCHMARKING.

CAN YOU GUYS LET US KNOW WHAT WAS THE CRITERIA THAT OTHER CITIES HAD TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO INCREASE THEIR THRESHOLDS? I MEAN, SO WAS IT JUST COUNCIL ACTION OR ANY OF THEM REQUIRED THROUGH CHARTER? WHAT WERE THE PROCESS TO INCREASE THE THRESHOLDS IN THE MIDST OF OUR WORK? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAD TIME OR OR ACTUALLY LOOKED AT WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, LEGAL STEPS WERE OR WHAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE STEPS WERE TO CHANGE THE THRESHOLD.

SO I DON'T HAVE A RESPONSE FOR THAT. WE CAN WE CAN DIG THAT INFORMATION UP IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE GREAT IN PARTICULAR TO AUSTIN.

NOT SURE THAT $150,000 IS THE CURRENT RATE. I THINK THERE WAS SOME LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THAT PARTICULAR NUMBER IN AUSTIN. SO WE COULD JUST DO SOME A LITTLE BIT MORE DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE THOSE ARE ACCURATE.

AND THEN AS FAR AS THERE WAS A, AN AUDIT THAT CAME OUT THROUGH THE OIG OFFICE THAT FOUND SOME CONCERNS WITH SOME OF THE, THE PROCESS BACK IN FEBRUARY. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THOSE WITH THE WITH THE OPTION TO GO THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVELY OR THROUGH OUR CITY MANAGER, AS OPPOSED THROUGH COUNCIL ACTION? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE AUDIT THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE REFERENCING.

I DON'T HAVE THOSE MATERIALS IN FRONT OF ME. OKAY.

OKAY. AND THEN SO YOU'RE JUST GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE ON WHAT THAT THRESHOLD POTENTIALLY SHOULD BE.

I THINK THAT BASED ON THE CONVERSATION TODAY, WE'VE HEARD OTHER WAYS TO EVEN LOOK AT CRITERIA WAYS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S A FRONT END MECHANISM FOR COUNCIL TO BE AWARE OF WHATEVER THAT THRESHOLD AMOUNT THAT YOU MIGHT DETERMINE.

HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THOSE THAT MIGHT BE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY IN ADVANCE? AND THEN BEING ABLE TO STILL COME BACK AND DO ONGOING REPORTING. SO I THINK WE'VE WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMENTS.

DEFINITELY WANTED AGAIN MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME LEVEL OF CONSENSUS.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ADDING A PARTICULAR THRESHOLD AMOUNT TO THE AGENDA FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

THANK YOU. I CAN DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE EFFICIENCIES AND MOVING AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS AND HOPING TO CATCH SOME NEW BUSINESSES ALONG THE WAY.

[02:55:08]

SO, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING IN NEW PARTNERS.

AND THAT WOULD BE MY HOPE IS THAT WHEN OTHER CITIES DID THESE INCREASES THAT THEY HAD NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH WITH NEW PARTNERS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO ADD MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND I THINK THAT COULD BE A PART OF THE WAY THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO INSERT SOMETHING IN THERE THAT WOULD CREATE A CHECK IN TO BE ABLE TO SHOW IT WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO, YOU KNOW, REFINE IT. YOU MIGHT WANT US TO COME BACK IN A SIX MONTH PERIOD.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT WOULD BE A PART OF WHAT WE'VE WE'RE HEARING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO UNDERSTAND THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOW DOING BUSINESS WITH US, WHO NOW MIGHT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF A THRESHOLD CHANGE.

SO WE COULD DEFINITELY BUILD THAT INTO OUR OUR PROCESS GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN STEWART. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I THINK THE DISCUSSION THIS MORNING HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO ME.

AFTER LOOKING AT THE SLIDE DECK, I HAD A LOT OF THE SAME QUESTIONS AS MY COLLEAGUES.

BUT I'VE COME TO A PLACE AFTER LISTENING TO SPECIFICALLY OUR WILLINGNESS TO DO SOME REFINEMENT ON EVALUATIONS AS WE GO, AS WELL AS FORECASTS. I THINK BOTH OF THOSE THINGS WILL BE VERY VALUABLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO I WILL SUPPORT CHAIR WEST'S PROPOSAL ON THESE TWO ITEMS. I WOULD I DO ALSO LIKE THE IDEA THOUGH POTENTIALLY, OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR GOODS AND SERVICES BEING DIFFERENT THAN THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR CONSTRUCTION, AND I'D LIKE US TO LOOK AT THAT.

BUT I WILL EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS IS EVALUATION.

WE'VE GOT TO WATCH THIS CAREFULLY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVEN'T THAT THIS ISN'T A MISSTEP AND THAT WE AREN'T MISSING THE ABILITY TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT SOME OF THE CONTRACTS THAT REQUIRE THAT.

SO I JUST I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, AND THEN I'LL JUST SHARE A MINUTE.

I'VE BEEN THE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS THAT I WORKED FOR.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, EVEN THOUGH I AM A LAWYER, I WAS NOT GOING TO REPRESENT THE PYD AS THEIR LAWYER.

I KNEW MY HAT AT THAT POINT. MY ROLE WAS TO BE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND NOT THE LAWYER.

SO I HIRED AN ATTORNEY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE A RELATIVELY SMALL BUSINESS, NOT A HIGH VOLUME OF CONTRACTS.

SO WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR ATTORNEY TO GET THAT DOCUMENT TURNED BACK OVER TO US TO GIVE HER COMMENTS.

AND SHE'S A BUSY LADY AND WE HAVE TO WAIT A BIT.

AS A AS A YOU KNOW, THE VENDOR OR THE PERSON WORKING ON THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT, WE WERE AT THE MERCY OF OUR ATTORNEY TO GET THE COMMENTS BACK TO US THAT I COULD THEN GIVE BACK TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. AND THEN THERE WAS THE BACK AND FORTH.

SO THERE JUST IT WASN'T A QUICK PROCESS. AND I THINK PART OF THAT IS JUST THE COMPLEXITY, EVEN IF IT'S A SIMPLE CONTRACT.

AND THE ISSUES IN AND OF THEMSELVES WERE NOT NECESSARILY COMPLEX.

IT WAS A BIT OF A COMPLEX PROCESS BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, I HAD TO GO TO A BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND GET THEIR APPROVAL AS WELL.

SO IT I IT WAS JUST A LOT OF STEPS AND A LOT OF IT COULD BE A LITTLE TEDIOUS AT TIMES, BUT NECESSARY, VERY, VERY NECESSARY. SO THE ORGANIZATION THAT I WAS WORKING FOR WAS GETTING THE BEST DEAL THAT THEY COULD GET.

AND THE CITY OF DALLAS AS WELL WAS GETTING WHAT THEY NEEDED COVERED.

SO IT WAS SIMILARLY WITH THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, I WASN'T ABLE TO GET MY INSURANCE AGENT TO GIVE ME A QUICK RESPONSE.

THEY WANTED TO GO BACK THROUGH. THEY WANTED TO SEE THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.

THEY WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS RESPONSIBILITIES WERE GOING TO BE AND WHAT THEY WERE INSURING.

SO ALL THAT TO SAY IS I WISH THAT PROCESS WAS MORE WAS WOULD MOVE MORE QUICKLY, BUT MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT IT WAS MUCH SLOWER THAN ANY OF US WOULD HOPE, AND PROBABLY NECESSARILY SO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DETAILS WERE COVERED.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HELPFUL TO ANYBODY AS YOU THINK THROUGH THIS, BUT I THOUGHT I DID HAVE AN EXPERIENCE THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL.

SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE TO ROUND TWO.

CHAIRMAN GRACEY RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

[03:00:14]

THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO START WITH THE PEOPLE.

THE SECOND PARAGRAPH SAYS, QUOTE, WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE PROCESSES WERE UNCOVERED THAT STAFF IS ABLE TO PURSUE WITHIN THE EXISTING POLICY ENVIRONMENT.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WERE THEY IDENTIFYING THAT YOU COULD IMPROVE? A FEW THINGS THAT PEOPLE RECOMMENDED WERE INCREASING THE VISIBILITY ON OUR SOLICITATION PROCESS TO THE THE DEPARTMENTS THROUGH OUR REPORTING ON SALESFORCE. SO WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THAT WITH ITS TO HELP DEPARTMENTS THAT KNOW WHERE THEIR PROCESS, WHERE THEIR CONTRACT OR SOLICITATION IS IN THE PROCESS.

THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED US REALIGNING OUR STAFFING TO BE BASED ON EITHER DEPARTMENTS OR PORTFOLIOS.

WE'VE ASSIGNED OUR STAFF BASED ON PORTFOLIOS SO THAT THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE A CONSISTENT POINT OF CONTACT FROM OUR OFFICE FOR THEIR SERVICES AND THEIR PROCUREMENTS. THEY TRYING TO THINK OF ALL THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE'VE DONE, THOSE THOSE WERE THE TWO MAJOR ITEMS. WE'VE LOOKED AT TECHNOLOGY, SO WE'VE IMPLEMENTED OR STARTED TO IMPLEMENT.

HAZEL. WE'VE REDEFINED OUR POLICIES AND OUR PROCEDURES.

I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER, I MEAN, CITY MANAGER TOLBERT MENTIONED THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVES AS PART OF THIS PROCESS.

AND WE DO HAVE A CONSULTANT THAT'S REVIEWING THEM AND COMPARING OUR PROCESS TO OTHER CITIES AND TRYING TO FIND WHERE WE CAN INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE EFFICIENCIES.

AND DID THAT CONSULTANT CONTRACT COME TO COUNCIL? NO, IT DID NOT. NOPE. THE AUDIT THAT MAYOR PRO TEM WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS THE AUDIT OF PROCUREMENT MARKETING PRACTICES IN 2024, AND IT IDENTIFIED A LACK OF CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION, UNCLEAR VENDOR OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY AND VENDOR ENGAGEMENT.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE MANY OF THE SAME THINGS THAT PEOPLE SHARED WITH YOU.

IS THAT CORRECT? I DON'T THINK YOU WERE IN THE DEPARTMENT EVEN AT THE TIME. NO, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT BUT THESE SEEM TO BE SIMILAR ITEMS TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID THAT PEOPLE SAID.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAD MUCH ON THE VENDOR ASPECT OF IT, BUT IT WAS MAINLY ON INTERNAL PROCESS.

AND HOW DO WE CUT DOWN THAT 13, THAT 25 WEEK PROCESS IS WHAT PEOPLE FOCUSED ON.

BUT YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO CUT IT DOWN.

WE DID NOT SAY WE'RE NOT. WE SAID WE'RE DOING THIS IS ONE PORTION OF THE PROCESS THAT WE CAN ADJUST.

WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY PIECE OF IT, AS MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE INTAKE PROCESS, AND THAT'S A THREE WEEK AVERAGE PROCESS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT HAZEL AI TO HELP DEPARTMENTS DRAFT THOSE SOLICITATIONS.

SO THAT SHOULD CUT DOWN THE REVIEW TIME IN THE SOLICITATION PIECE.

THERE'S NOT SO MUCH WIGGLE ROOM BECAUSE THERE ARE STATE MANDATED ADVERTISEMENT REQUIREMENTS.

THERE'S A Q&A PORTION WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING VENDORS ENOUGH INFORMATION TO PROVIDE US WITH THEIR DOCUMENT, AND THERE'S EVALUATION PROCESS, SITE VISITS AND PRE-BID MEETINGS, ETC..

THANK YOU MANAGER FROM THE FOR ALL OF THE MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE AUDIT IMPLEMENTED.

COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSOHN. WHICH EXACT AUDIT ARE YOU REFERRING TO? THE AUDIT OF PROCUREMENT MARKETING PRACTICES IN 2024.

MR. GIBSON, I'D HAVE TO ASK FOR YOU TO CHIME IN ON THE DIRECT AUDIT THAT IS BEING REFERRED TO.

I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, AND SO I'M UNABLE TO ANSWER WHETHER OR NOT IF ALL THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

JUST JUST FOR CLARITY, FOR MY SAKE, WAS THIS THROUGH THE CITY AUDITOR OR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL? OKAY, SO ON THE ONE FOR THE CITY AUDITOR, I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON WHERE WE ARE AS FAR AS EACH ONE OF THE IMPLEMENTATIONS.

I DON'T I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF. WELL, IF WE'RE TRYING TO DO, YOU KNOW, THE SPEED OF BUSINESS, IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE OUR OWN EXPERTS INSIDE THAT HAVE EVALUATED THE DEPARTMENT AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A FIRST PLACE TO START.

[03:05:01]

AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SHARE TODAY IS WHAT ALL THE PAIN POINTS ARE WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT ARE ITEMS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED THEM, WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THEM, AND WE HAVE ACTION PLANS TO WORK ON THEM.

I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL STATUS OF THE AUDIT RESPONSES IN FRONT OF ME, BUT WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT IN A FRIDAY.

I'VE ALREADY READ IT. OKAY. I'M ASKING STAFF TO READ IT AND THE MANAGER HAS ADOPTED IT, HAS AGREED TO THE ITEMS. I'M ASKING IF THEY'VE BEEN IMPLEMENTED. WE WILL IN IF I CAN MR. MAYOR AS MR. GIBSON HAS MENTIONED, COUNCILWOMAN MENDELSOHN WE DON'T HAVE THE AUDIT DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF US.

WE CAN PROVIDE THIS FRIDAY A MEMORANDUM THAT WILL LIST OUT THE MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN AND WHERE THOSE ITEMS ARE CURRENTLY.

WE WILL SEND THAT OUT TO THE FULL BODY THIS FRIDAY.

BUT THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. YEAH. AND IF THERE'S ANY OTHER AUDITS THAT RELATE, IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF THEY WERE ALSO IMPLEMENTED.

GOING BACK TO THE BENCHMARKING OF CITIES HERE, HERE'S WHAT I JUST FOUND ON AI SAN DIEGO.

THEIR COUNCIL APPROVAL THRESHOLD IS 25,000. COLUMBUS, OHIO 50,000, SEATTLE 69,000, PHILADELPHIA 94,000, SAN JOSE 100,000.

AND LOS ANGELES 150,000. I THINK IF YOU HAD ADDED ALL OF THOSE TO THE CHART, YOU'D SEE WE ARE WELL WITHIN THE RIGHT RANGE.

DEFINITELY WILL NOT SUPPORT MOVING TO 500,000.

LET'S SEE, I'VE ONLY GOT 44 SECONDS LEFT. I THINK I CAN SAY IT THIS FAST.

THE PEOPLE ELECTED US TO REPRESENT THEM AND PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND SAFEGUARD TAXPAYER DOLLARS, NOT TO HAND OVER A BLANK CHECK AUTHORITY TO AN UNELECTED CITY MANAGER, AND EXPANDING A CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORITY TO APPROVE CONTRACTS WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL STRIPS AWAY THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THE RESIDENTS DESERVE.

WE WE DON'T ACTUALLY NEED LESS OVERSIGHT. WE NEED MORE OVERSIGHT HERE AND MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND QUITE SIMPLY, WE SHOULD NOT BE GIVING MORE POWER TO A CITY MANAGER.

WE SHOULD BE ACTUALLY DOING THE JOB THAT WAS ASKED OF US WHEN WE WERE ELECTED.

THANK YOU. MISS BLAIR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON AGENDA ITEM, BRIEFING ITEM A.

EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AIR. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO.

THIS IS GOING TO SOUND LIKE I'M ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT HERE WE GO.

DOES THE DOES THIS PROCESS ALSO CHANGE THE TIME IT TAKES US TO PAY OUT A BID? SO ONCE A BID HAS BEEN ONCE A BID, A VENDOR HAS BEEN CHOSEN.

THEY'VE DONE THE WORK. THEY GET PAID. DOES THIS PROCESS CHANGE THE TIME THEY GET PAID AS WELL? NO, IT DOES NOT. SO THE PAYMENT PROCESS IS HANDLED AFTER THE FACT.

SO WE'LL HAVE INVOICING. WHAT IT DOES DO IS IT GETS THE CONTRACT AWARDED QUICKER, WHICH MEANS IT CAN START WORKING QUICKER.

AND WE CAN, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN START INVOICING AND PROVIDING SERVICES AT A FASTER PACE.

SO, SO ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD DURING THE PROCESS AND SOME IN THE YEARS OF CPC. IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET PAID, WHICH IS FOR A VENDOR ESPECIALLY MORE A SMALLER VENDOR, YOU KNOW. NET 60 COULD BE A LOT OF MONEY AND IT COULD BE A LOT OF TIME, AND THEY NEED A NET 15 OR NET 30.

IS THERE A PROCESS? ARE WE LOOKING AT PROCESSES TO ACTUALLY BETTER OUR TIME OF PAYMENT AS WELL.

YEAH. SO WE HAVE A NET 30 IS OUR STANDARD PAYMENT TERMS. BUT THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE HANDLES THE PAYMENT PROCESS.

SO I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO THEM AND AND PROVIDE YOU AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION ON THAT.

OKAY. THEN LET ME GO OVER TO I KNOW THE PROCESS THAT WE USE IS LOWEST BID IN SOME CASES.

SO WE DO HAVE RFP. WE GENERALLY USE THOSE FOR GOODS, GOOD GOODS AND SOME SERVICES.

BUT WE ALSO USE AN RFP PROCESS AND OR RFP PROCESS, WHICH IS A BASICALLY A PROPOSAL.

AND IN THAT CASE, WE AWARD TO THE HIGHEST RANKED VENDOR BASED ON AN EVALUATION COMMITTEE.

SO WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS. SO AND OKAY I'LL LEAVE THAT ONE ALONE BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S I'M GOING DOWN ANOTHER RABBIT HOLE.

[03:10:06]

IS WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING WE COULD HAVE TO DO A DIFFERENT PROCESS TO SAY BECAUSE IT'S CONSTRUCTION, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO BECAUSE IT'S ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING.

THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO AWARD A BID.

THE CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENTS HANDLE THEIR PROCUREMENTS.

AND SO THEY HAVE SOME ALTERNATE METHODS THAT THEY CAN AWARD BASED ON, YOU KNOW, DESIGN, BUILD CONTRACTS AND, AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE ACT. SO THEY HANDLE THEIRS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

IN REGARDS, ARE YOU ASKING IN REGARDS TO THE THRESHOLD OR JUST THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, THE THRESHOLD PROCESS, THE THRESHOLDS THAT WE'RE SO WE HAVE ON YOUR DRAFT TEN ONE AGENDA, THERE'S AN ITEM.

IT'S ITEM IS HAS A TWO SUBJECT PART. SO THE FIRST PART OF THE SUBJECT IS FOR YOU TO APPROVE OR NOT APPROVE THE $100,000 COMPETITIVE BID THRESHOLD. AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS FOR YOU TO APPROVE THE SIGNATURE AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY MANAGER.

IN IN THERE, IT WILL LIST CONTRACTS FOR A AND E AND CONSTRUCTION SEPARATELY AND CONTRACTS FOR GOODS AND SERVICE SEPARATELY.

BUT IT'S WILL BE ADJUSTED BASED ON WHATEVER THE COUNCIL'S RECOMMENDATION IS.

SO YOU CAN CHOOSE TO HAVE ONE THRESHOLD, TWO DIFFERENT THRESHOLDS OR NOT CHANGE THE THRESHOLD.

I GET THAT. WHAT? I'M GOING TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT.

NOW. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, WE ALSO SAID WAS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT CHANGING THESE THINGS AND THEN OR AND TRYING THEM FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN BRINGING IT BACK TO SAY, DOES THIS WORK? DO WE NEED TO MAKE SOME DIFFERENT CHANGES? AND I GUESS THAT QUESTION WOULD BE NOT TO YOU GUYS, BUT TO THE BODY. AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'M BEING LEGAL OR NOT, BUT I'M GOING TO THROW IT OUT THERE.

SO FOR US AS A BODY, WE COULD SAY THAT, OKAY, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO CONSTRUCTION SIGNATURE FOR THE CITY MANAGER AT ONE NUMBER AND FOR ARCHITECT AND ENGINEER, AND THEN HAVE A REQUEST THAT THE IT COMES BACK TO THIS BODY AND LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S WORKING OR NOT.

AND IF IT ISN'T WORKING, WE COULD ALSO MAKE CHANGES AGAIN.

IS THAT CORRECT, MR. MAYOR? THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN BLAIR.

SO, YES IF COUNCIL CHOOSES TO HAVE A DIFFERENT THRESHOLD AMOUNT AS YOU MENTIONED, FOR MAYBE CONSTRUCTION, AND THEN IF YOU WANTED A DIFFERENT THRESHOLD FOR EITHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, FOR ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING GOOD AND GOODS, YOU COULD ACTUALLY DO THAT AS WELL. AND THEN YOU COULD HAVE US COME BACK AT WHATEVER TIME FRAME THIS COUNCIL WOULD, LIKE FOR US TO JUST SHOW WHAT PROGRESS WE'VE MADE.

TALK ABOUT THE WAYS THAT IT HAS LEVELED UP THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, AS WE'VE MENTIONED, THE WAYS THAT WE BELIEVE IT WILL MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT.

AT THE SAME TIME, BEING ABLE TO GET CONTRACTS OUT THE DOOR, BEING ABLE TO ELEVATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, WE COULD COME BACK AND GIVE YOU A STATUS REPORT.

AND AT ANY POINT IN TIME, THE COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THE THRESHOLD UP OR DOWN.

AND SO WE DEFINITELY WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WOULD BE AT YOUR, AT YOUR DIRECTION.

AND DEFINITELY IS YOUR AUTHORITY TO HAVE US COME BACK AT ANY POINT TO PROVIDE HOW WELL THE PROGRAM IS WORKING.

AGAIN, WE SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN GATHER ADDITIONAL DATA THAT WE CAN THEN COME BACK AND PROVIDE FOR COUNCIL TO EVEN MAKE FURTHER DECISIONS AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR QUESTION.

THANK YOU. SO LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I'M THINKING.

I'M THINKING THAT IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT, THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS HAS GREATLY RISEN.

CONSTRUCTION HAS GREATLY CHANGED THE COST TO JUST TO BUY PRODUCTS IN ORDER TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE.

I CAN SEE SEPARATE CONSTRUCTION FROM ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING.

I CAN SEE GIVING A CITY MANAGER SIGNATURE AUTHORITY.

[03:15:01]

WE MAY NEED TO DO SOME INVESTIGATION AS TO HOW WE CAN COMPRESS THOSE TIME.

THAT TIME LIKE I HEARD CHAIR MENDELSOHN SAY THAT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY TAKE THAT LONG TO GET AN INSURANCE QUOTE BACK FROM YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY, SO I CAN SEE THAT WE WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT THAT AT BETTERING OUR, OUR WAY. WE DO BUSINESS AS A CITY.

BY LOOKING AT THOSE 13 WEEKS. I WOULD SAY THAT WE LOOK AT THOSE 13 WEEKS, TAKE IT TO A COMMITTEE AND DO THAT.

BUT I CAN ALSO SEE THAT FOR A SIX MONTH PERIOD OF TIME OR NINE MONTH PERIOD OF TIME, WE GIVE WE CHANGE THE AUTHORITY LEVEL, WE GIVE THE CITY MANAGER SOME MORE AUTHORITY AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO SEE HOW IT IS WORKING AND IS IT BETTERING ANYTHING.

AND IF IT'S NOT, JUST TAKE IT BACK. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE ARE TO, MR. ROTH. I THINK I THINK CHAIRMAN GRACEY SHOWING TWO ROUNDS.

WE ONLY HAD ONE. OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I SAID, BUT IT'S IT'S SHOWING THAT HE'S SPOKEN TWICE.

I THINK IT'S ONLY ONCE YOU CAN'T FIX IT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL JUST REMEMBER THAT, MR. ROTH, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

IN LOOKING AT PAGE 16, IT LOOKS LIKE THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, MAYBE 125 CONTRACTS THAT ARE IF YOU'RE UNDER 500,000, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND $25 MILLION WORTH OF CONTRACTS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 19, YOU'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE 40 CONTRACTS, GIVE OR TAKE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE BETWEEN 5 MILLION AND $15 MILLION.

I DIDN'T I DIDN'T DO THE CALCULATION COMPLETELY.

BUT THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 20 TO $35 MILLION WORTH OF CONTRACTS THAT WE WOULDN'T BE SEEING.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US NOT TO BE MONITORING THAT MUCH MONEY.

AND AND THESE ARE CONTRACTS THAT ARE, ARE CONSULTING PROFESSIONAL FEES, ENGINEERING FEES.

THESE ARE NOT BUYING PRODUCTS NECESSARILY. AND I THINK THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO.

AND I WOULD I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF RAISING THE LIMIT BEYOND THE $100,000.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE ABOUT EFFICIENCY.

THIS IS ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS AS THE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR DISTRICTS TO TO DEMAND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ON BEHALF OF THEM. AND I WOULD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL NUMBERS HERE AND REAL ISSUES.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THEM. AND WE SHOULD NOT BE DEALING WITH THIS AFTER THE FACT.

WE SHOULDN'T BE DEALING WITH THIS IN FORWARD LOOKING ANALYSIS.

WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS IN REAL TIME. AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE INFORMATION.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO SPEND THE TIME AND THE EFFORT TO DO THAT AND NOT DELEGATE IT OR PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON STAFF TO TAKE THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES. I THINK THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND WE SHOULDN'T ABDICATE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.

I ALSO THINK TO TO COUNCILMAN GRACEY POINT, I THINK WE NEED TO BE ENSURING THAT WE'VE GOT LEVEL PLAYING FIELDS HERE FOR THE ALLOCATION OF CONTRACTS. WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE TERMS OF THESE CONTRACTS, THE AMOUNTS OF THESE CONTRACTS AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH WITH HOW THESE CONTRACTS ARE BEING BEING AUTHORIZED AND PROVIDED. AND WE CAN'T DO THAT AFTER THE FACT.

AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD CHECK AND BALANCE THAT WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE OBLIGATION TO HANDLE.

SO I WOULD BE AGAINST RAISING THE THE AMOUNTS FOR EITHER THE CONTRACTUAL OR THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING BEYOND THE $100,000. THANK YOU. CHAIR. GRACEY FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I WAS JUST GOING TO GO BACK AND JUST CLARIFY MY MY RECOMMENDATION IN TERMS OF THE 500,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION AND 300,000 FOR GOODS AND SERVICES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM DANIELLE WILLIS.

SO I DON'T THINK IN THE FIRST TIME THAT I SPOKE, I OFFERED SUPPORT FOR SB 1173.

I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT, I THINK, TO THE POINTS RAISED AROUND THE MARKETPLACE AND COST ET-CETERA, IT'S JUST CRIPPLING TO TO LIMIT OURSELVES THAT WAY.

AND SO IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE THINK WE WERE ELECTED.

I THINK WE WERE ELECTED TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY OPERATES IN A FAIR AND EFFICIENT WAY ON BEHALF OF OUR TAXPAYERS.

AND SO ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND TO ADAPT EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES THAT ARE BUSINESS MODELS THAT

[03:20:09]

WE KNOW OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS. WE'RE NOT ABDICATING ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY.

IN FACT, THAT'S WHY IT'S THE 13 WEEKS IS THAT THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON IN THERE WITH REGARD TO SCOPE AND CRITERIA AND MAKING SURE DOCUMENTS ARE IN ORDER.

SO YOU'RE DOING THAT. I MEAN, WE'RE HERE TO CREATE POLICY.

I MEAN, THAT'S YOUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE ARE BONDS NEEDED OR INSURANCE NEEDED OR WHATEVER THERE MAY BE, THAT'S WHAT YOU DO. AND SO YOU KNOW, IT'S A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

SO THIS IS HAPPENING. I MEAN, THIS IS THE WAY IT HAPPENS IN BUSINESS.

AND SO I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORD SHIFT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S MISLEADING WHEN I HEAR THE SUGGESTION THAT OVERSIGHT IS SOMEHOW BEING JUST CEDED TO STAFF. IT'S NOT I MEAN, WE STILL ULTIMATELY SIT IN THESE SEATS, AND I WOULD EXPECT THAT WHEN THE PERFORMANCE IS EVALUATED AND IF WE MOVE TO MORE OF A MODEL WHERE IT'S NOT CLOGGING UP THE FRONT END, BUT RATHER IT'S COMING IN AND HAPPENING AT THE BACK END SO WE CAN CHECK ON THE PERFORMANCE THAT THAT WOULD BECOME PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT WE GET THAT REPORTING.

IT'S NOT JUST THE FRONT END OF THE PROCESS, IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE COME AROUND AT THE BACK TO SEE, IS THERE A PARTICULAR VENDOR THAT'S CREATING AN ISSUE? IS THERE A CONTRACT LEVEL THAT TURNS OUT MAYBE IT'S TOO HIGH, OR MAYBE IT'S WAY TOO LOW AND IT'S HINDERING US FURTHER.

SO I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT THIS REPORTING WILL ALLOW US TO DO, BUT I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE LETTING THAT FLOAT IN THE AIR THAT WE ARE SOMEHOW CEDING OVERSIGHT OR NOT HAVING OVERSIGHT. IT'S JUST BEING SHIFTED TO A WAY THAT MAKES US MORE RUN MORE IN A MORE AGILE FASHION FOR THE TAXPAYER.

THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CADENA. I JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL OF THEIR INPUT THAT THEY'VE GIVEN.

I THINK AFTER HEARING EVERYTHING I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH ABOUT 500 K FOR CONSTRUCTION AND 300 K ON EVERYTHING ELSE, AND THEN PERHAPS COME BACK IN SIX MONTHS AND SEE HOW WE'RE DOING HAVING BEEN HERE AND SEEING SOME OF THE CONTRACTS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH, I KNOW CONSTRUCTION COSTS CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.

AND SO THAT WOULD PERHAPS HELP SPEED SOME THINGS UP.

BUT IT WOULD ALSO ALSO WITH THE SIX MONTHS, GIVE US SOME TIME TO SEE HOW IT'S WORKING AND IF WE NEED TO GO BACK AND TWEAK IT, THEN WE COULD DEFINITELY DO THAT. SO THANKS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON THANK YOU.

AND I DO BELIEVE WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION AT EPFM BEFORE.

I MEAN, YES, SO I GAVE A LOT OF FEEDBACK. IT WAS LIKE IN MARCH.

YES, I GAVE FEEDBACK THEN AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

BUT JUST TO BE ON THE RECORD, I TOO LIKE MISS THE 500 FOR CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING SERVICES.

AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE LOWER ONE, THE OTHER ONE FOR GOODS, PROFESSIONAL, OTHER SERVICES, BECAUSE WE KIND OF WENT FROM 50 TO 100. IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE DOUBLING IT.

AND SO I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, GOING UP TO AT LEAST 200, MAYBE EVEN 250 FOR THAT IS FINE.

AND AND AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO PUT THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE I THINK I WAS ONE OF THE ONLY ONES.

BUT I GAVE YOU ALL THAT THAT FEEDBACK THEN. BUT ANYTHING TO SHORTEN THAT TIME BUT STILL MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS IS, I THINK, WHAT OUR GOAL IS. AND AS LONG AS WE GET THAT FEEDBACK OF WHAT HAS BEEN SIGNED AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S ON THE TRANSPARENCY PAGE, YOU KNOW THAT AS LONG AS WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED AND WANT.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU MY FEEDBACK ON THAT.

AND I'M ALL FOR AT LEAST DOING 100,000 ON THE, YOU KNOW, RAISING IT PER STATE STATUTE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. MAYOR, CAN I ADD A POINT OF CLARIFICATION? SO AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS, THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS SAID BY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY AS RELATED TO A TEST PERIOD OR A PILOT OR WHAT INTERVAL WE COULD COME BACK, WHICH WE COULD COME BACK AT ANY TIME.

BUT MISS ORTIZ WAS SHARING WITH ME, AND SHE MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE BRIEFING, THAT'S WHY WE WERE KIND OF HAVING A SIDEBAR IS THE THE CHARTER TODAY SAYS THAT YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE IT ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS. SO YOUR YOUR TIME FRAME RELATIVE TO THAT, THAT BOUNDARY WOULD BE THE ANALYSIS OR WHATEVER WE WOULD COME BACK TO WOULD BE OVER THAT TIME, WHICH IS REASONABLE, I THINK, TO SEE WHAT THE EFFECTS OF THAT WOULD BE.

SO JUST WANTED TO JUST SAY THAT SO THAT WHEN IT COMES BACK YOU DON'T SAY, OKAY, SIX MONTHS LATER, LET'S CHANGE IT AGAIN, MEANING TO SAY IN SOME INSTANCES WHEN WE TALK TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY, YOU WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO GIVE CONSTRUCTION A HIGHER DOLLAR AMOUNT IF THERE'S SOME SENTIMENT LATER ON TO DO THAT? I'M NOT SURE. WE'D HAVE TO VERIFY THAT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO THEN MOVE CONSTRUCTION TO A HIGHER AMOUNT,

[03:25:01]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. JOHNSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

EARLIER, I WAS ASKING QUESTIONS BASED OFF OF CONVERSATION THAT YOU AND I HAD ON THE TEAM'S MEETING.

SO I WANT TO ADDRESS ASK THE CITY MANAGER, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD A LOT OF COMMENT CONVERSATION AROUND THE HORSESHOE TODAY.

SO, CITY MANAGER KENT, CAN YOU ASK ME BECAUSE I USED TO WEAR MORE MONEY, HIGHER THRESHOLD.

HOW DOES THIS GIVING YOU THIS AUTONOMY, MORE MONEY, HIGHER THRESHOLD TO APPROVE THINGS? HOW DOES THAT MAKE THE PROCESS FASTER? BECAUSE WE HAVE AND THAT WAS AN ANSWER I'M ASKING AGAIN BECAUSE IT WASN'T ANSWERED.

I THINK CHAIR MIDDLETON SAID THIS, THAT A LOT OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THOSE THAT DO BUSINESS WITH THE DISTRICT, THE CITY, I SAID THE DISTRICT, BUT THE CITY BECAUSE I CAME FROM DISTRICT.

BUT THE CITY HAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO DELAYS AND ETCETERA.

EVEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EXPERIENCED THESE DELAYS.

SO HOW DOES IT MAKE IT THIS PROCESS? MORE EFFICIENT? MORE FASTER. HOWEVER YOU WANT TO SAY IT SO THAT OUR, OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS CAN FEEL THAT THEIR PROJECTS ARE NOT AT A STANDSTILL DUE TO BUREAUCRACY AND ETCETERA. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON, THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL BUSINESS PROCESSES THAT WE UNDERTAKE.

FOR THE CITY, IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW WE NOT ONLY DELIVER THE, THE SERVICES THAT WE THEN NEED IN ORDER TO RUN THE CITY, BUT WE SET OUT ON A JOURNEY LAST YEAR OF LOOKING AT ALL OF THE WAYS THAT WE COULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STREAMLINE, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO ELIMINATE OVERLAP, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY MOVE PROCESSES FORWARD THAT WILL ALLOW FOR US TO DO.

AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. SPEED OF BUSINESS. WHAT WE SEE HERE IS THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SHAVE OFF THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES FOR US TO GET A CONTRACT FROM START TO FINISH. OFTEN WHAT WE DO HEAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT IS WHEN WE HAVE TO HAVE ITEMS THAT WE KNOW REQUIRE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL, THAT THERE'S A WAITING PERIOD. THERE COULD BE WHERE A COMMITTEE MEETING DOESN'T HAPPEN.

AND WE'RE PUSHING ITEMS OFF BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT DISCUSSION AND THEN DEFINITELY HAVING TO WAIT TO GO THROUGH THE AGENDA PROCESS.

WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO TWO THINGS.

WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE REFINEMENT THAT WE HAVE STARTED TO WORK ON IN OUR PROCUREMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

WE CAN FIND WAYS TO BE MORE INNOVATIVE USING TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BUT THIS IS A PROCESS ISSUE.

THIS IS WHERE WE'RE DOING A LOT OF OF EXTRA STEPS THAT WE KNOW ON ITEMS THAT ARE ROUTINE IN NATURE, TOURS THAT COME TO THIS BODY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND 90% OF THE TIME THEY MOVE FORWARD AS CONSENT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WHERE THOSE SWEET SPOTS ARE THAT WE CAN HAVE COUNCIL STILL KNOW ABOUT THOSE ITEMS, HAVE THOSE ITEMS MOVE FORWARD. THAT GIVES US OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING A LOT OF THOSE SMALLER BUSINESSES TO THE TABLE, BECAUSE OFTEN WHAT THEY HEAR OR WHAT THEY'RE WAITING ON IS FOR THOSE CONTRACTS TO BE APPROVED.

IN THE MEANTIME, THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE PAYROLL AND DO ALL THE OTHER BUSINESSES BUSINESS FUNCTIONS THAT THEY DO AS ORGANIZATIONS.

SO WE DO BELIEVE THAT IT GIVES US BOTH AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SPEED UP BUSINESS DELIVERY ON THE PROCUREMENT SIDE, AND AT THE SAME TIME, ALSO STILL PROVIDE COUNCIL WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON THOSE MORE, I WOULD SAY, HIGH IMPACT, HIGH VALUE PROCUREMENTS THAT WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME ON AND DO THE PROPER DUE DILIGENCE.

AND SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO MOVE AWAY FROM ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO LESSEN TRANSPARENCY. WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE A BUSINESS PROCESS FORWARD THAT WE KNOW HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC, AND THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER EFFICIENCIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ON BOTH SIDES.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DELIVERING FOR YOU TODAY WITH THIS PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU.

MAYOR PRO TEM CHAIR WEST THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I'VE BEEN TAKING NOTES THROUGHOUT THE DISCUSSION, AND I THINK I THINK WE'RE KIND OF ALL OVER THE BOARD A LITTLE BIT, BUT I THINK I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A MIDDLE GROUND HERE.

AND I WOULD JUST ASK THE CITY MANAGER IF THIS SEEMS REFLECTIVE FROM WHAT YOU'VE HEARD, THAT THERE'S GENERAL SUPPORT TO TO MAKE SOME MOVES HERE AND THEN COME BACK IN SIX MONTHS AND LET US KNOW HOW, YOU KNOW, LET US REEVALUATE ON THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING GOING FROM 50 TO 100 FOR THAT TO MATCH WHAT THE STATE'S ALLOWING. AND THEN ON THE CONTRACT THRESHOLDS ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND A AND E ONLY TO

[03:30:06]

AND THEN I GUESS BETWEEN THE SIX MONTHS MAYBE COME TO COMMITTEE TO AND IF, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE A MEMO UPDATE IF ANYBODY'S ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THAT, LIKE FEEL FREE TO SPEAK UP. I JUST FEEL LIKE TO GET US TO A POINT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

THIS IS A GOOD TEST NUMBER FOR US. THANK YOU.

CHAIR RIDLEY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND, AT LEAST IN PART, TO WHAT CHAIR WEST HAS JUST PROPOSED, AND THAT IS THAT I WOULD ADD THE FORECAST REPORTS TO THE COUNCIL, COUPLED WITH AN OPPORTUNITY.

IF THERE IS SOMETHING IN THAT FORECAST THAT WE THINK SHOULD BE DISCUSSED AT THE HORSESHOE, THAT THERE IS A PROCEDURE FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH THAT EITHER WITH ONE OR MORE SIGNATURES.

YES, SIR. WE'VE TAKEN THAT POINT AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S THAT'S FOR THE NON ROUTINE KINDS OF EXPENDITURES.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHAIR. MENDELSOHN FOR ONE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. WELL I'M GLAD SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP ABOUT IF IT'S FAIR FOR THE TAXPAYER BECAUSE ACTUALLY THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CONTROL THE COUNCIL HAS.

BUT BY HAVING AN ITEM ON AN AGENDA, IT MEANS THE PUBLIC IS NOTICED.

THEY CAN COME AND SPEAK ABOUT A CONTRACT. WE'VE HAD THAT HAPPEN MANY TIMES AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.

IF WE HAVE THE MANAGEMENT JUST AUTHORIZING CONTRACTS THAT DON'T EVEN COME HERE.

THE PUBLIC IS COMPLETELY SHUT OUT OF THAT PROCESS.

AND THAT IS WHY I'M TALKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS.

WE'RE NOT JUST GIVING UP OVERSIGHT FROM THE COUNCIL.

YOU'RE GIVING UP OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC.

THE ONCE ONCE THIS IS PASSED, IT'S NEVER GOING BACK.

DENZEL, THANK YOU FOR BEING FAIR ENOUGH TO TO TO RECOGNIZE TO THE COUNCIL.

THIS IS A TWO YEAR DECISION. THIS IS NOT A ONE YEAR.

YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO PULL BACK THIS AMOUNT OF AUTHORITY.

SO I MEAN I VOTED NO WHEN OUR LAST MANAGER TRIED TO GO FROM 50 TO 100.

I WILL BE VOTING NO AGAIN. THIS IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY.

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER SPEAKERS? SEEING NONE, I'LL TURN THIS BACK TO CITY MANAGER.

[B. 25-2795A Federal Grant Compliance Task Force Updates and Next Steps]

THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE'RE READY FOR ITEM NUMBER B.

THE SECOND BRIEFING THIS MORNING IS AN UPDATE ON OUR FEDERAL COMPLIANCE EFFORTS AND NEXT STEPS.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, THE CITY HAS BEEN ON A FOCUSED JOURNEY TO ASSESS AND REALIGN OUR WORK NOT ONLY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL DIRECTIVES, BUT ALSO TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN HOW WE INVEST IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES.

AS PART OF THE PART OF THIS EFFORT, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING QUITE EXTENSIVELY WITH OUR PEERS AND OUR INSTITUTIONS COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ALIGNED TOGETHER AND HOW WE ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

TODAY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE PROGRESS THAT THE TEAM HAS MADE IN STRENGTHENING COMPLIANCE AND DEVELOPING NEW FRAMEWORKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. YOU WILL ALSO HEAR TODAY HOW WE HAVE WORKED ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS WORKING WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU HAS BEEN COMPLETELY VETTED.

IN OCTOBER, WE WILL BRING FORTH A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO OUR HUD CONSOLIDATED FIVE YEAR PLAN AND THE OMNIBUS RESOLUTION.

IN ADDITION, YOU WILL BE RECEIVING UPDATES ON TWO KEY INITIATIVES DEVELOPING REGIONAL AND EXCLUSIVE VENDOR ENTERPRISES THAT WE'RE CALLING DRIVE, WHICH IS OUR NEW DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY FRAMEWORK.

AND FOLLOWING YOUR INPUT TODAY, WE WILL MOVE THESE ITEMS TO CITY COUNCIL, THE RESPECTIVE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES.

AND THE GOAL IS TO COME BACK TO THIS BODY FOR ADOPTION OF NEW POLICIES IN DECEMBER.

I WANT TO THANK MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO TODAY'S PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INPUT OVER THE MONTHS, THESE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND RECOMMENDING FOR US TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN ROBUST. WE KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING TIME FOR US AND HOW WE'VE HAD TO LOOK AT EXISTING POLICIES, BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT WE DELIVER GREATER IMPACT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS AT THIS TIME.

[03:35:02]

THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER TOLBERT, AND THANK YOU, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR DIRECTION IN THESE EFFORTS. MY NAME IS LIZ PEREIRA. I SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

I'M HERE JOINED WITH ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DONZELL GIBSON, DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES JUANITA ORTIZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. JESSICA GALLISHAW, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, MISS CHAN WILLIAMS, AND I BELIEVE WE WERE SCHEDULED TO HAVE DAISY AND I DON'T SEE HER HERE, BUT WE WILL PROCEED. DAISY. FAST. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE TODAY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON HOW THE CITY IS RESPONDING TO SOMEWHAT RECENT FEDERAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW WE'RE EVOLVING AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE THAT OPPORTUNITY REMAINS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO IN THE CITY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, SINCE JANUARY, SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WE'VE BEEN TRACKING FEDERAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND AGENCY GUIDANCE.

THESE DIRECTIVES IMPACT HOW WE STRUCTURE OUR PROGRAMS, ALLOCATE RESOURCES, AND EVALUATE CONTRACTS.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED THREE KEY AREAS REQUIRING OUR ATTENTION IN THE AREAS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AS DESCRIBED BY THE ORDERS. IMMIGRATION COMPLIANCE AND MWB CONTRACTING.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS SLIDE ESSENTIALLY PROVIDES A ROADMAP OF THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN TO DATE.

THIS IS A SECOND BRIEFING. AS YOU'LL REMEMBER WE BRIEFED YOU IN IN AUGUST.

AND WE HAVE CONTINUING CONTINUED FINALIZING DEPARTMENT POLICY REVIEWS AND HAVE INITIATED A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN.

NEXT SLIDE. SO FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF THE JUNE 25TH RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER TOLBERT ESTABLISHED THE GRANT COMPLIANCE TASK FORCE TO WORK WITH EACH CITY DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW PROGRAMS AND POLICIES.

NEXT SLIDE. SHE FORMED THIS GRANT COMPLIANCE TASK FORCE.

SHE NAMED THIS TEAM TO RIGOROUSLY, RIGOROUSLY REVIEW OVER 100 POLICIES TOGETHER WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE POLICIES, PROGRAMS, CONTRACTS BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE CITY OF DALLAS.

EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENT REVIEWS ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR APPENDIX.

NEXT SLIDE. EVERY DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED A SELF ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY WHERE CHANGES MIGHT BE NEEDED.

THE PROCESS SERVICE SURFACED MULTIPLE ITEMS THAT REQUIRED FURTHER REVIEW AND OR MODIFICATION.

FROM THERE, OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM CONDUCTED A TECHNICAL REVIEW, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PROVIDED EXTENSIVE LEGAL GUIDANCE TO ENSURE WE ARE IN ALIGNMENT. IT HAS TRULY BEEN A CITY WIDE EFFORT, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR DILIGENCE AND RESPONSIVENESS AS AS A RESULT OF THESE EFFORTS, WE'LL BE BRINGING TO YOU AN OMNIBUS RESOLUTION ON OCTOBER 2ND.

OCTOBER 22ND. AND THAT WILL FORMALIZE THESE UPDATES AND ENSURE AGAIN THAT WE'RE IN REMAINING IN FULL COMPLIANCE ACROSS OUR DEPARTMENTS.

AND YOU'LL FIND A MORE DETAILED, SPECIFIC POLICY PLAN AND PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS BROKEN DOWN AGAIN BY DEPARTMENT IN THE APPENDICES, EACH DEPARTMENT HAVING ITS OWN WHERE RELEVANT.

SO. SO AGAIN, JUST AS A RECAP, WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS IS IS BRINGING BRINGING TO YOU FOUR MAJOR ACTION ITEMS THAT FOR DISCUSSION.

THIS BRIEFING IS GOING TO PROVIDE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON KEY POLICY ITEMS, INCLUDING OUR HUD CONSOLIDATED PLAN BUSINESS INCLUSION DEVELOPMENT POLICY, THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN, AND THE USE OF THE EQUITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT TOOL.

THESE THESE TOOLS, THESE POLICIES HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED, AS WE HAVE COMMUNICATED PREVIOUSLY.

PREVIOUSLY, WE'LL BE SHARING UPDATES ON THE PROCESS TO DEVELOP NEW FRAMEWORKS THAT WILL ENHANCE COMMUNITY IMPACT.

THAT IS OUR INTENTION. SO IN THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF THE NEXT SLIDES.

WE'LL BE PROVIDING A SUMMARY OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AND THE INPUT THAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE'LL BE MOVING INTO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SLIDES.

[03:40:01]

WE TALKED ABOUT OUTREACH, THE IMPORTANCE OF IT, AND THESE NEW FRAMEWORKS THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED, INCLUDING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF WHAT OUR SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE INCLUSION POLICY MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

AND WE DISCUSSED OR INTRODUCED THE DALLAS DRIVERS.

DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'RE HERE THAT YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT FROM JESSICA GALLISHAW MOMENTARILY.

NEXT SLIDE. WE HAD OVER SEVEN SESSIONS. THEY INCLUDED ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR ARTS AND ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RELATED TO CITYWIDE SESSIONS TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM RESIDENTS THAT HAD ON THEIR MINDS WHAT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT RELATED TO THESE TRANSITIONS IN POLICY DIRECTION AND PRIORITIZATION.

AND WE RECEIVED MUCH FEEDBACK FROM THEM. WE HAD A LOT OF LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE, AS WELL AS GREAT EMPHASIS FROM OUR COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY.

WE TALKED OUR PROCUREMENT TEAM, TALKED ABOUT FOCUS SESSIONS ON THE BUSINESS INCLUSION AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY, AND WALKED STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH CHANGES AND LISTENED TO THEIR INPUT.

WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH A NONPROFIT SECTOR TO INTRODUCE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY.

FRAMEWORK. AND WE WORKED ALONGSIDE MANY DIFFERENT RESIDENTS WHO HAD DIFFERENT CONCERNS.

THEY SHARED THEIR CONCERNS, AND WE DID OUR BEST TO LISTEN TO EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAD TO SAY AND SHARE.

NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE. SO NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO DONZELL GIBSON, WHO'S GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BID POLICY STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.

THANK YOU LIZ. THE ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD THUS FAR HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

IT'S KIND OF BEEN THE EDUCATING THE SUPPLIER AND VENDOR COMMUNITY, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN FOSTERING DIRECT INPUT FROM THEM BASED ON THE NEW CITY COUNCIL POLICY THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD SOON. IT'S DEVOTED TO ENHANCING SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND CAPACITY BUILDING.

THE OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES ACTUALLY HAD FIVE SEPARATE ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS, ONE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT'S MORE EDUCATIONAL.

TWO STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK SESSIONS THAT INCLUDED REAL TIME SURVEYS AND AN OPEN DIALOG ON A NEW POLICY FRAMEWORK.

WE ALSO HAD A GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT SESSION OF LOCAL PARTNERS THAT INCLUDED DART, DISD, DALLAS COUNTY PARKLAND HOSPITAL, THE COG, NORTH TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, DFW AIRPORT, AND DALLAS COLLEGE. THE EMPHASIS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT SESSION WAS THE FORMATION OF A WORKING GROUP THAT WERE AFFECTIONATELY CALLING THE DALLAS CAPACITY BUILDING COLLABORATIVE, WHOSE INITIAL GOALS INCLUDE INFORMATION SHARING AND PARTNERING TO DEVELOP UNIFORMITY AND SOLIDARITY IN COLLABORATIVE PURCHASING OPPORTUNITIES AND ALIGNING OUR PRACTICES SO IT'S EASIER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO GET AWARDS ACROSS THE REGION WITHOUT NECESSARILY HAVING A SEPARATE SET OF RULES, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR SUCH WORK.

OUR FIFTH AND MOST RECENT MEETING INCLUDED OUR THREE MAJOR CERTIFICATION AGENCIES, WITH THE FOCUS BEING OF HOPEFULLY GETTING RECIPROCITY SO THAT SMALL BUSINESSES, REGARDLESS OF WHAT ENTITY THEY'RE DEALING WITH, WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE VARIOUS SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS, WHETHER IT'S THE CITY OF DALLAS OR ONE OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS.

THERE ARE ADDITIONAL MEETINGS THAT THAT ARE COMING. WE'RE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH THE CHAMBERS AND OTHER CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION.

ADDITIONAL PRIMES AND SUBS. THIS IS JUST THE START OF THE CUSP OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING NOW.

THAT WILL HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT APPROXIMATELY 60 DAYS BEFORE WE COME BACK WITH THE POLICY FRAMEWORK THAT WE'LL BE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT.

THE THING THAT I THINK WE'VE HEARD THE MOST HAS BEEN, DON'T DON'T SHUT US OUT IN THE NEW PROGRAM.

RIGHT. WE WANT MORE CAPACITY. WE WANT MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN WHATEVER THE NEW FRAMEWORK IS GOING TO BE.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE THE LION'S SHARE OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE ENGAGED THEM IN, INCLUDING HEARING FROM THEM THINGS THAT THEY THOUGHT WERE UNFAVORABLE IN THE PREVIOUS BID MS POLICY, WORKING THROUGH THOSE ISSUES IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE NEW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT LIMIT SOME OF WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE ABUSES IN THE PRIOR POLICY OR FRAMEWORK, ISSUES THAT PITTED THEM AGAINST THE PRIMES THAT THEY WORK DIRECTLY WITH.

THANK YOU. AND I'LL TURN IT OVER BACK TO LIZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO MULTIPLE AS WE STATED, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS THROUGHOUT AUGUST AND

[03:45:09]

WE KNEW. AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE ON AN ACCELERATED TIMELINE.

AND WE RECEIVED RESPONSES BY WAY OF A COMMUNITY SURVEY, ABOUT 210 SURVEY RESPONSES DURING THIS PERIOD, GOOD, REPRESENTING AN 84% RESPONSE RATE FROM THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENTS.

OUTSIDE OF THE SESSIONS, ONLINE ENGAGEMENT WAS ALSO STRONG.

WE HAD ABOUT 700 UNIQUE VISITORS THAT GENERATED MORE THAN 600 1600 PAGE VIEWS ON OUR SOCIAL PINPOINT SITE, AND ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FOR THE DIRECTION WE'RE HEADING.

PEOPLE WANTED TO KNOW WHY WE WERE DOING THIS.

IS IT NECESSARY? WHAT WAS NEXT? AND WE DID OUR BEST TO RESPOND TO THOSE INQUIRIES.

MANY RESIDENTS IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR THINGS SUCH AS OPPORTUNITIES LIKE MORE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND GROCERY STORES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AS WELL AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, RESPONDENTS ALSO ASKED THE CITY TO PRIORITIZE THE ARTS AND COMMUNITY SPACES FOR MAINTAINING AN OPPORTUNITY RICH NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY ALSO EMPHASIZED SUPPORTING RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN THE GREATEST NEEDS. RESPONDENTS WERE ALSO ASKED WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DRIVER OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY? AND IT'S CLEAR THAT MOST RESPONDENTS WANTED THE CITY TO EMPHASIZE PROMOTING WHAT WE'RE CALLING OPPORTUNITY RICH NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE SECOND AREA THAT EMERGED AS A TOP PRIORITY WAS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE'LL NEED TO COLLABORATE AND PARTNER WITH ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS ALONGSIDE THEM.

THE THIRD PRIORITY IDENTIFIED BY RESIDENTS WAS PUBLIC SAFETY, AN AREA THAT WE CAN LEAD AS WE KNOW AND SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS.

DURING OUR NONPROFIT SESSIONS, WE HEARD A STRONG DESIRE TO COLLABORATE MORE CLOSELY WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FIRST RESPONDERS.

THESE GROUPS ARE ALL EAGER TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. RELATIONSHIPS WORK TOGETHER IN SHARED COMMITMENTS TO CREATING SAFE AND CONNECTED COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS JUST A JUST A FLAVOR FOR THE THE KINDS OF COMMENTS WE HEARD FROM THE RESIDENTS WHO ATTENDED THESE SESSIONS.

VERY ENGAGED, GAVE GREAT INSIGHTS AND WANT TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT.

NOW, I'D LIKE TO ASK CHAN WILLIAMS, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, TO PROVIDE AN UPDATED APPROACH TO OUR HUD FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN.

THANK YOU. ACM LIZ THE CITY RECEIVES A NUMBER OF FEDERAL GRANTS, AND THEY PAY FOR A NUMBER OF CRITICAL SERVICES IN THE CITY.

TODAY, I WANT TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT GRANTS THAT THE CITY RECEIVES FROM HUD.

NEXT SLIDE. BECAUSE THE CITY'S HUD CONSOLIDATED PLAN GRANT PROGRAMS ARE INFORMED BY MANY OF THE CITY'S OTHER PLANS AND POLICIES, LIKE THE DRIVERS OF POVERTY AND HOUSING POLICY.

NEXT SLIDE. SO WHAT IS THE CITY'S HUD CONSOLIDATED PLAN? IT'S A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT IDENTIFIES COMMUNITY NEEDS, PRIORITIZES THOSE NEEDS, AND DETAILS HOW THOSE NEEDS WILL BE MET.

THE PLAN INCLUDES FOUR DIFFERENT GRANTS THAT THE CITY RECEIVES EACH YEAR, AND THESE FUNDS ARE USED TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS IN THE UPCOMING YEAR. THESE FOUR GRANTS TOTAL ABOUT $29 MILLION.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CDBG FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR HOUSING, HUMAN AND SOCIAL SERVICES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT.

THE HOME GRANT SUPPORTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT ESG.

THESE FUNDS ARE USED FOR HOMELESS SERVICES. AND THEN OUR FINAL GRANT, THE HOPWA HOUSING OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS.

THESE FUNDS PROVIDE HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS WITH MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS.

NEXT SLIDE. THE CITY USES THESE FUNDS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, ENHANCE ECONOMIC RESILIENCE, PROMOTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AS PART OF THIS REVIEW PROCESS, WE WILL ALSO NEED TO AMEND OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN TO INCORPORATE CHANGES AND REVISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE TO CITY PLANS AND POLICIES, AND TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL DIRECTIONS.

ON AUGUST 6TH, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE NEW CONSOLIDATED PLAN BUDGET THAT STARTS TODAY, OCTOBER 1ST.

THIS WAS NECESSARY SO THAT THE CITY COULD SUBMIT ITS ANNUAL ACTION PLAN TO HUD BY AUGUST 16TH.

[03:50:05]

ON AUGUST THE 27TH CITY COUNCIL APPROVED INITIAL CONSIDERATION OF SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE AND CALLED A PUBLIC HEARING.

THIS ACTION STARTED THE REQUIRED HUD PROCESS.

A PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL ADOPTION OF THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE ON OCTOBER 8TH.

THIS ACTION WILL OFFICIALLY END THE PROCESS THAT IS REQUIRED BY HUD REGULATIONS.

THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED IN THE AMENDMENT, BUT COMPLETING THE HUD'S REQUIRED PROCESS ALLOWS US TO ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S TIMELINE SO THAT AS CHANGES ARE MADE AND CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES, THEY MAY BE INCORPORATED AND IMPLEMENTED INTO THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN AS THEY ARE APPROVED. AND NOW I'LL HAND IT OVER TO JUANITA ORTIZ, DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES, TO CONTINUE WITH THE BUSINESS INCLUSION AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY.

THANK YOU SHANNON. IN OUR NEXT SLIDES, WE WILL GO OVER MORE DETAIL ON THE PROPOSED REDESIGN OF THE BUSINESS INCLUSION AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY TO BUILD UPON THE ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS THAT ACM GIBSON ADDRESSED EARLIER.

WE'VE WORKED WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO BEGIN DESIGNING THE FRAMEWORK AND PATHWAY TO TRANSITION THE 2008 BID POLICY TO THE NEW DRIVE POLICY.

THIS NEW APPROACH FOCUSES ON INCLUSION, CAPACITY BUILDING AND REGIONAL COLLABORATION.

IT'S DESIGNED TO GROW SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THEIR PARTICIPATION AND ECONOMIC IMPACT.

NEXT SLIDE. THE DRIVE FRAMEWORK ADDRESSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL, INCLUSIVE VENDOR ENTERPRISE, CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL MICRO BUSINESSES IN DALLAS DRIVING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WHILE STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

DALLAS COUNTY IS HOME TO MORE THAN 71,000 REGISTERED SMALL BUSINESSES, WITH 68% OF THOSE BEING MICRO-BUSINESSES EMPLOYING LESS THAN TEN PEOPLE.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THAT MAKES WAY FOR BUSINESS GROWTH AND ALLOWS FOR GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.

MENTIONED IN THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY. NEXT SLIDE.

THIS SLIDE SHOWCASES THE PROGRAM COMPONENTS OF THE DRIVE FRAMEWORK.

EACH AREA REPRESENTS A POLICY POLICY DECISION WHERE COUNCIL INPUT AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT WILL SHAPE THE FRAMEWORK.

WE NEED TO DEFINE WHO QUALIFIES AS AN SB SET, ACHIEVABLE AND MEANINGFUL GOALS, AND GO BEYOND PARTICIPATION GOALS AND IDENTIFY CAPACITY BUILDING STRATEGIES. WE ENGAGE OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND EACH ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES, AND WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH MORE FEEDBACK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS ON THE POLICY FRAMEWORK.

NEXT SLIDE. ON JUNE 26TH, THE CITY SUSPENDED THE BID POLICY, AND THE DRIVE POLICY WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE AFTER CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL. THIS CREATES A TRANSITION PERIOD WHERE WE MUST MANAGE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONTRACTS AND SOLICITATIONS.

WE HAVE EXISTING CONTRACTS SOME REPORTING REQUIREMENTS REMAIN IN OUR PROPOSED CHANGES IN ANY SUBCONTRACTORS OR SCOPE MUST STILL RECEIVE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL AS REQUIRED BY THE CONTRACT TERMS. WE'RE WORKING TO IDENTIFY A STRATEGY TO HELP BRIDGE THE EXISTING BID CONTRACT GOALS AND ALIGN THOSE MORE CLOSELY WITH THE CITY'S NEW DRIVE FRAMEWORK. ONCE ADOPTED FOR OUR CURRENT SOLICITATIONS, WE'RE ENCOURAGING PRIME CONTRACTORS TO INCLUDE WORKERS FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE, HELPING TO REFLECT THE TALENT OF DALLAS.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO EVALUATION POINTS OR PARTICIPATION GOALS THAT ARE INCLUDED, AS THERE IS NO POLICY IN PLACE AT THIS TIME. HERE, TOO, OUR GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY A STRATEGY TO INCORPORATE DRIVE POLICIES INTO THE SOLICITATIONS AND CONTRACTS THAT ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY FOR FUTURE SOLICITATIONS.

WE'LL ENGAGE WILL WE WILL INTEGRATE THE DRIVE POLICY GOALS AND CRITERIA TO FOCUS ON SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION.

I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO ACM. LIZ. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ORTIZ.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AS A RECAP, AS COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS, THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN WAS ADOPTED IN AUGUST 2022.

WITH THAT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND AS YOU KNOW, IT WAS A CITYWIDE PLAN INTENDED TO ADDRESS RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES AND OUTCOMES ACROSS OUR CITY. IT INCLUDED SHORT, MID AND LONG TERM GOALS WERE DEEMED BIG AUDACIOUS GOALS ALONGSIDE DEPARTMENT PROGRESS MEASURES.

DEPARTMENT PROGRESS MEASURE AS A REMINDER, ARE SPECIFIC, ACTIONABLE GOALS ESTABLISHED TO DRIVE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS OVER TIME.

[03:55:09]

MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTAL DEPARTMENTS HAVE REVIEWED THEIR DPM'S TO ENSURE ONGOING COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL DIRECTIVES.

NOW, JUST AS A NOTE IN THE APPENDICES, YOU WILL SEE ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT'S GOOD WORK.

PROBABLY OVERSIMPLIFIED IN THIS FORMAT, BUT A REVIEW OF COPIOUS DOCUMENTATION ALONGSIDE LEGAL REVIEW THAT GIVES US THE THE WORDING, THE VERBIAGE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. SO YOU'LL REALLY SEE THE TRANSITION OF THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN IN THE WORK OF THE APPENDICES, WHICH TALKS ABOUT HOW DEPARTMENTS WRIT LARGE ARE GOING TO MAKE THESE TRANSITIONAL CHANGES ALONGSIDE OF NEW EFFORTS THAT WE ARE LEADING, THAT JESSICA GALICIA IS NOW GOING TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT.

THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU. ACM, LIZ. NEXT SLIDE.

OKAY. AND NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU. THE DRIVERS OF POVERTY INITIATIVE OR EFFORT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2017, AND IT HELPED US TO UNDERSTAND ROOT CAUSES AND DISPARITIES AS IT RELATES TO POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT HAS SERVED AS A FOUNDATIONAL APPROACH THAT HAS ANCHORED MANY OF OUR CITY'S CORE HUMAN SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES TO HELP MEET THESE NEEDS.

BUT A KEY TAKEAWAY FROM THIS IS THAT THIS MODEL HAS BEEN STRONG ON IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEMS BUT LESS FOCUSED ON ACTUALLY IDENTIFYING THE SOLUTIONS.

NEXT SLIDE. SO THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY FRAMEWORK THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD BUILDS ON THE DRIVERS OF POVERTY FRAMEWORK, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2016 AND 2017 AND ACTUALLY REALLY BUILDS ON WORK THAT BEGUN EVEN BEFORE THAT.

IN FACT, WE HAD NUMEROUS STAKEHOLDER SESSIONS.

AND IN SOME OF THOSE SESSIONS, WE ACTUALLY HEARD FROM AND CONNECTED WITH RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD BEEN INVOLVED OR AWARE OF THAT WORK MANY YEARS AGO AS WELL, AND WERE EAGER TO SEE US BRINGING IT BACK FORWARD AND TAKING THIS NEW APPROACH TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

NEXT SLIDE. AND SO IN REVISITING THIS WORK, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE THE NEW FRAMEWORK THAT EVOLVES OUR FOCUS FROM WHAT HOLDS COMMUNITIES BACK TO WHAT MOVES COMMUNITIES FORWARD.

THIS FRAMEWORK ALSO SEEKS TO CLARIFY THE CITY'S ROLE AS A CONVENER AND CATALYST FOR SUSTAINED OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S DATA DRIVEN, EVIDENCE BASED AND FOCUSING ON STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT SELF-SUFFICIENCY, EMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL, HOUSEHOLD WEALTH, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE RESIDENTS WITH THE GREATEST NEED.

NEXT SLIDE. AND SO WE ALSO TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FRAMEWORK NEEDS TO CLARIFY THE ROLE TYPES SO THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE IN OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS.

SO WE HAVE OUTLINED THE AREAS THAT WE WOULD BE BELIEVING THAT THE CITY COULD TAKE MORE OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE.

AND THOSE ARE HIGHLIGHTED WITH THE GREEN. THOSE EXAMPLES OF THOSE ARE SAFETY FROM CRIME OR CIVIC PARTICIPATION.

COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE WOULD BE SHARING LEADERSHIP WITH PARTNERS, WORKING VERY CLOSELY.

AREAS LIKE LIVING, WAGE JOBS, NEONATAL HEALTH AND THEN LOOKING AT AREAS WHERE THE CITY SHOULD REALLY PROVIDE SUPPORT OR AMPLIFICATION BUT MIGHT NOT HAVE A DIRECT IMPLEMENTATION ROLE. AND THAT MIGHT BE AREAS LIKE ACCESS TO PRESCHOOL OR ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES.

AND SO IN ALIGNING THESE AND ALIGNING WITH PARTNERS AND ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS WE SEEK TO DRIVE LASTING AND MEASURABLE IMPACT.

NEXT SLIDE. SO HERE YOU'LL SEE THE DRIVERS OF POVERTY BUCKET AREAS.

EXCUSE ME DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY BUCKET AREAS THAT ARE OUTLINED AROUND FIVE KEY DOMAINS AS WELL AS SOME SPECIFIC AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THESE THIS FRAMEWORK IS BUILT ON A FRAMEWORK THAT HAS BEEN CREATED INITIALLY BY RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE URBAN INSTITUTE AROUND UPWARD ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND THEN INFORMED BY THE LOCAL FEEDBACK AND LOCAL CONTEXT HERE IN DALLAS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT REALLY HELPS TO SHOW THE CRITICAL FOCUS AREAS.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE FOR YOU.

BUT AGAIN, THE LARGE SCALE DOMAINS ARE THE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, OPPORTUNITY, RICH NEIGHBORHOODS, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH CARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELL-BEING.

[04:00:02]

AND SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO LIZ.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO AGAIN, WE WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE TODAY BY FIRST THANKING OUR CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP AND ALLOWING US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS INTERIM PERIOD.

AND AGAIN, WORKING ON AN ACCELERATED TIME FRAME TO BRING YOU BACK POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, YOU'LL BE SEEING ITEMS SUCH AS ON OCTOBER 8TH, A PUBLIC HEARING, AND THE FINAL ADOPTION OF A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO OUR HUD FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN LED BY MISS WILLIAMS ON OCTOBER 22ND.

YOU'LL SEE ON THE AGENDA AN OMNIBUS RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTION TO ENSURE ONGOING CITY WIDE COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL DIRECTIVES.

IN NOVEMBER, OUR OUR CITY MANAGERS PLAN IS FOR US TO BRING THE DEVELOPING REGIONAL AND INCLUSIVE VENDOR ENTERPRISE POLICY DRIVE FRAMEWORK TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES. AND SHE ALSO INTENDS FOR US TO BRIEF THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE IN NOVEMBER.

IN DECEMBER, OUR INTENTION IS THEN TO BRING FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION THE ADOPTION OF OF BOTH POLICIES, THE DRIVE AND THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY. AS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT TO RECEIVE MORE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ABOUT OUR EFFORTS MOVING FORWARD.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR INPUT TODAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AGAIN, AND WE LOOK FORWARD NOW TO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHAIRMAN GRACEY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WE ARE ON BRIEFING ITEM B. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO I KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN AN EASY TRANSITION BOTH FROM Y'ALL'S PERSPECTIVE AND THE COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A DEEPER DISCUSSION AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

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

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK ON THIS THAT WE HAVE TO DO ON PAGE 21, I'VE GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THE WORD REGIONAL.

WHAT DOES THAT WORD MEAN IN THIS? REGIONAL AND INCLUSIVE VENDOR ENTERPRISES.

I THINK THAT WAS OUR WAY OF DESCRIBING THE INTENT FOR US TO BE COLLECTIVE WITH THE PARTNERS, THAT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DRIVING THESE POLICIES WITH.

AS MUCH AS WE'RE WORKING ON THE FRAMEWORK HERE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON THE REGION.

WHEN I SAY REGION, I USE THE TERM DART ISD OUR OTHER LOCAL PARTNERS.

OKAY. I JUST IF WE'RE ON THE CUSP OF SHOP DALLAS AND WORKING WITH DTI AND ALL OF THAT, I WANT TO SHOP DALLAS AND I WANT TO FOCUS ON DALLAS.

BUT I CAN ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT YOU'RE. I'M SO I'M SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.

YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU AND I, WE MET AND WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THIS.

KEEP IN MIND, AS MUCH AS WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS THAT ARE IN THIS AREA OR IN DALLAS PROPER, WE WANT THEM TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET CONTRACTS AND GROW THEIR BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF WHAT JUST OUR CONTRACTING POWER IS.

THAT'S WHERE THE CAPACITY BUILDING REALLY GROWS.

WE WANT DALLAS BUSINESSES TO GET BUSINESS EVEN OUTSIDE OF DALLAS OR OUTSIDE OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO ON PAGE 23, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED.

I'M LOOKING AT EVALUATION CRITERIA. SO WE'VE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET WHAT THAT WILL BE.

AND SO SHOULD WE OFFER BID DISCOUNTS OR EVALUATION POINTS.

IF YES HOW DO WE APPLY THEM. YES. SO WHAT WE DID IS WE BROUGHT TOGETHER A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS INTO THE CONVERSATION.

SO WE HAVE PRIMES AND SUBCONTRACTORS. WE HAVE CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATIONS, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, OUR CERTIFICATION AGENCIES, OUR OUTREACH AGENCIES.

AND WE'VE KIND OF ASKED THEM THESE SAME QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING OURSELVES.

SO WHEN WE DEVELOP THIS POLICY, WE'RE ASKING THEM, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED WITH KIND OF THE GENERAL, WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OR WITH THE CITY? WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU? AND THEN WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THESE EIGHT CATEGORIES AND TALKED ABOUT EACH ONE.

OUR CONSULTANT IS HELPING US LOOK AT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING FOR THESE AREAS, AND SOME THINGS WE CAN DO, SOME THINGS WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BECAUSE WE HAVE EXAMPLES FROM OTHER STATES THAT HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS.

[04:05:06]

AND WHEN WE COME BACK TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, WE'LL HAVE OPTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER IN THE NEW POLICY.

WELL, I ASK BECAUSE HART HOUSE SERVES THE KIDS IN VICKERY MEADOW.

THEY CELEBRATED THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY, AND THERE'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNER OF THEIRS, AUSTIN BRIDGE AND ROAD, THAT OVER THEIR HISTORY HAS GIVEN THEM $1.2 MILLION AS WELL AS OTHER SERVICES AND VOLUNTEER HOURS.

AND SO IT JUST MADE ME START THINKING ABOUT PROCUREMENT AND IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITY AND I KNOW THIS MAY, YOU KNOW, BE A COMPLEXITY, BUT THEY'VE INFUSED MONEY AND TIME INTO A PART OF THE CITY THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS TO CARE FOR A POPULATION.

AND SO I JUST WONDERED IF THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A POINT OR SOMETHING.

IF YOU QUANTIFY OR CERTIFY THAT YOU ARE GIVING TO THE COMMUNITY IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILL IS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE IS DOING THAT, BUT I JUST COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT AS I WAS SITTING THERE LISTENING TO HOW THIS GREAT PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNER WAS HELPING THE CITY SOLVE SOME ISSUES.

SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU LOOK INTO THAT A BIT AND SEE IF THAT'S DONE, AND IF WE COULD INCLUDE THAT.

YEAH, WE CAN WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT. ONE THING THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT IS AN INCLUSION SCORE.

SO RIGHT NOW WITH OUR BID POLICY, WE LOOK AT PAST PARTICIPATION AS PART OF THE 15 POINTS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE AWARDED. SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW CAN WE TIE VENDORS PERFORMANCE TO THEIR PAST PARTICIPATION.

SO WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT WHAT THEY'RE REPORTING WHEN THEY BID, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT HAS THEIR PARTICIPATION BEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OR WITH OTHER ENTITIES.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING, YOU KNOW, A LIVING KIND OF INCLUSION SCORE FOR THESE VENDORS THAT WOULD DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY COULD GET POINTS OR ADVANTAGES.

RIGHT. AND FOR, FOR LIKE A NONPROFIT. JUST TO ECHO WHAT SHE'S SAYING, THERE MAY BE A COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT WOULD BE A PART OF THAT INCLUSION SCORE, BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE IN THE SAME BUCKET AS SOME OF THE OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO WE'D HAVE A DIFFERENT REFLECTION POINT FOR NONPROFITS, POTENTIALLY.

ABSOLUTELY. WHAT I'M GETTING AT. SO IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE TIED TO WHAT THEY DO. IT'S JUST THAT THEY ARE THEY'RE HELPING US HELP OUR RESIDENTS.

YES, MA'AM. SO AND THE LAST ONE WAS ON THE LAST BOX.

GOOD FAITH EFFORT. HOW DO WE DEFINE AND ENFORCE GOOD FAITH EFFORT? I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, GOOD FAITH EFFORT WAS TO HELP MAKE SURE WE HAD MORE PARTICIPATION.

I MEAN, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN HERE NOW, IS IT JUST TO MAKE SURE SMALLER BUSINESSES HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THAT WAS SORT OF NOW OUT THE WINDOW.

DO SO HELP DEFINE THAT FOR ME? YEAH. SO THE GOOD FAITH EFFORT WILL COME INTO PLAY WHEN COMPANIES OR, YOU KNOW, PROPOSERS ARE NOT MEETING THE GOALS SET FOR SMALL BUSINESS, LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

SO WE HAVE A GOAL. AND THOSE GOALS CAN BE, YOU KNOW, CATEGORY BASED.

THEY COULD BE SET, YOU KNOW, CONTRACT BY CONTRACT, SPECIFICALLY ASPIRATIONAL GOALS OR CATEGORY GOALS.

HOW WE HAVE NOW WITH THE BID. SO IF THE VENDORS ARE NOT MEETING THAT PARTICIPATION, THEY HAVE TO SHOW US THAT THEY'VE MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO INCLUDE SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES. AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE NOT THEY HAVEN'T MET THEIR GOAL, BUT THEY TRIED.

AND WE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. SO WE'RE JUST CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF WHAT THAT WOULD BE USED TOWARD.

RIGHT. SOUNDS LIKE OKAY. THANK YOU. CAN I ADD, MR. MAYOR? COUNCILWOMAN WILLIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION, BECAUSE I THINK GOOD FAITH OVER THE YEARS WAS KIND OF WATERED DOWN.

AND I THINK WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE GOOD FAITH ALSO INCLUDES WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR LOCAL MARKET WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS WE'RE WORKING WITH VARIOUS CONTRACTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN OUR MARKET THAT CAN ACTUALLY DELIVER THOSE SERVICES.

SO GOOD FAITH ALSO MEANS THAT THEY NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY HAVE CONNECTED, OR THEY'VE TRIED TO CONTACT OTHER BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT BE IN OUR MARKET, THAT ARE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THAT CERTIFICATION.

BECAUSE THERE IS AN SB CERTIFICATION OUT THERE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT DFW HAS BEEN USING FOR THE LAST 8 OR 9 YEARS.

SO WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY REINVENTING THE WHEEL.

I THINK WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN WHAT OUR GOOD FAITH EFFORT PROCESS IS, AND I THINK THAT'S HOW WE'LL GET TO I THINK EVEN A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, GRACEY AND OTHERS THAT WE'RE DOING THE DUE DILIGENCE AND WE'RE ALSO HOLDING OUR CONTRACTORS ACCOUNTABLE.

SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN THOSE EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT GOOD FAITH IS NOT JUST A CHECK IN THE BOX, BUT IT'S REALLY A DEMONSTRATED SET OF CRITERIA THAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE UTILIZING AND BRINGING SMALL BUSINESSES TO THE TABLE TO PARTNER WITH THEM, GROW THEM, MENTOR THEM, AND HELP STRENGTHEN THEIR CAPACITY.

IS THAT WAS THAT ALL? OKAY, MR. RESENDEZ, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY'S GOAL IS TO COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL MANDATES,

[04:10:04]

IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS DON'T LOSE TRUST IN US, AND THAT WE DON'T UNDERMINE YEARS OF PROGRESS TOWARD FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY.

DALLAS STILL FACES SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES IN HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND OPPORTUNITY OVERALL.

MY CONCERN IS THAT THESE NEW RESTRICTIONS WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR US TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS, AND HARDER FOR US TO SERVE THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED US MOST.

BASED ON THE PRESENTATION, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY FRAMEWORK WILL HELP THE CITY ADDRESS EXISTING DISPARITIES.

AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? YES, SIR. THAT'S CORRECT.

NOW, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ELABORATE? PLEASE DO.

YES. SO YOU HIT ON A VERY IMPORTANT CORE VALUE OF OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN LEANING ON AS WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS WORK.

THAT'S TRUST, THAT'S ENGAGEMENT, THAT'S CONTINUED ACCOUNTABILITY.

THOSE ARE SORT OF THE WORDS THAT OUR COMMUNITY RESONATED WITH WHEN WE PRESENTED THIS NEW BODY OF WORK WITH THEM IS, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE TO HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE TO CLOSING DISPARITIES WITHIN OUR CITY? BECAUSE YOU HAD MADE SOME PROGRESS UP TO DATE.

AND, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THEM AND TO THIS COUNCIL IS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE DATA DRIVEN.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE DRIVEN BY WHERE WE FIND THAT THERE'S GREATEST SOCIO ECONOMIC NEEDS, AND WE PLAN TO MEASURE THAT.

AND SO AS, AS DIRECTOR, DEPUTY DIRECTOR. GALILEO HAS POINTED OUT WE ARE GOING TO USE INDICES LIKE THE COMMUNITY IMPACT TOOL SO THAT WE CAN MEASURE THE WORK AND HOPEFULLY BRING THAT WORK TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE SO THAT WE CAN SHARE IT WITH YOU AND SEEK CONTINUED GUIDANCE THERE. OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT RESPONSE. I'M ALSO WONDERING, LIKE BEYOND THE FRAMEWORK, HOW HOW WILL WE ENSURE THAT ACTUAL RESOURCES AND FUNDING ARE BEING DIRECTED TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTS WHO NEED THEM MOST? IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN FOR JUST A SECOND AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, LIZ, AND TO THE TEAM FOR YOUR RESPONSIVENESS TO THIS BODY OF WORK THAT WE'RE FACED WITH.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ, FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. I THINK IT'S BACK TO US LOOKING AT THE, THE PARTS OF OUR CITY. AND WE KNOW THAT FROM A SOCIOECONOMIC STANDPOINT, WE KNOW WHERE THE GAPS ARE.

IT'S REALLY TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET THIS WORK SHOW AND DEMONSTRATE THE OUTCOMES THAT WE WANT.

IT'S REALLY THOSE OUTCOME MEASURES, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE TO WHERE WE START WITH, HERE'S OUR BENCHMARK DATA, HERE'S WHERE WE KNOW THAT WE ARE IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS, IN CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER IT'S ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND FOOD SECURITY, ALL THOSE THINGS, WE NEED TO BEGIN TO MEASURE IT. SO AS WE MOVE THE NEEDLE AND AS WE SHOW PROGRESS AND AS WE DRIVE OPPORTUNITY, THEN YOU WILL SEE WHAT THOSE OUTCOMES ARE LOOKING LIKE. SO PART OF WHAT WE BELIEVE IN THIS POLICY GOING FORWARD IS TO HAVE THOSE OUTCOME MEASURES COMPLETELY LAID OUT. THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD BE ADOPTING, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD WANT STAFF TO COME BACK AND BE ABLE TO REPORT TO YOU ON SO YOU CAN TRULY MEASURE PROGRESS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE WORDS, BUT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT IN THE WAY WE LOOK AT THESE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY, WHICH IS WHY WE STARTED WITH THE DRIVERS OF POVERTY, IS THAT WE DO BELIEVE THAT THE DRIVERS OF POVERTY PROVIDE THE BASELINE.

BUT SO MUCH IN THIS WORLD HAS CHANGED SINCE HIS 2017.

AND SO THIS HAS GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THAT WORK AND LEVEL UP THAT WORK, TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THOSE GREATER ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY.

I APPRECIATE THAT. THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS, IS THAT WE'VE WORKED HARD TO BUILD TRUST WITH, WITH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY FEEL SAFE USING THE CITY SERVICES THAT THEY HELP FUND THROUGH THEIR TAXES, SUCH AS LIBRARIES, PARKS, AND RECREATION CENTERS.

THESE MANDATES RISK ERODING THAT TRUST BY FORCING THE CITY INTO ROLES THAT DON'T REFLECT OUR VALUES OR PRIORITIES.

SO MY MY SECOND OR THIRD QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE PLAN TO MAINTAIN TRUST BETWEEN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND CITY GOVERNMENT WHILE STILL COMPLYING WITH THESE FEDERAL DIRECTIVES? THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RESENDEZ. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND AND AS YOU KNOW, A LARGE PORTION OF OUR OUR COMMUNITY ARE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, ABOUT 1 IN 4.

AND SO AND WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD THROUGH VARIOUS EFFORTS, INCLUDING WELCOMING DALLAS TO ENSURE THAT WE CONNECT WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A CITY ADOPTED POLICY FROM 2018 THAT WE HAVE HAD TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO.

BUT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE IT FORWARD, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A THRIVING PART OF THE WORK THAT THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT CARRIES FORWARD.

WE'VE BEEN CAREFUL NOT TO OVERCORRECT FOR OURSELVES TO ENSURE THAT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT IT, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO COMPLY AND REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE,

[04:15:05]

SO TO ME, COMPLIANCE SHOULD NOT MEAN GOING BACKWARDS.

I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE FINDING LAWFUL WAYS TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD AS A CITY EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY, PROTECTING TRUST, AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT FEELS LIKE DALLAS IS WORKING FOR THEM.

SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S WORK AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MR. ROFF, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO JUST SORT OF HOOK ON TO WHAT COUNCILMAN RESENDEZ WAS, WAS ASKING.

I ALSO AM CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T LOSE GROUND IN THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR IN OUR DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVING THOSE SECTIONS OF THE CITY AND THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE PROPERLY ENCOURAGED AND ALLOWED AND, AND AND WE PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE THERE.

WILL THIS HAVE YOU ALL SORT OF INVESTIGATED THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THESE CHANGES? IS DO WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT A FUTURE, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, FUTURE ADDITIONAL COSTS? HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT OUR OUR OUR THOUGHT THOUGHTFULNESS IN IN ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR THE FUTURE IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THIS.

ARE WE LOOKING AT HIGHER AND MORE EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS THAT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR? THAT'S ABOVE OUR GRADE RANGE, BUT WE'LL PASS IT TO OUR BOSS.

THE CITY MANAGER TOLD HER TO TAKE THAT ONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER ROTH, FOR YOUR FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

AND I JUST WANT TO FIRST OF ALL WE THAT'S WHY WE BELIEVE THAT THIS POLICY DIRECTION IS SO CRITICAL.

IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT AS COUNCIL SETS POLICY, AS WE DEVELOP, WHETHER IT'S PROGRAMS, WHETHER IT'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS THAT THEY WILL ALLOW FOR YOU TO DELIVER ON THOSE POLICIES.

AND SO THIS IS ONE THAT IS IT'S GOT TO BE APPROACHED WITH THAT ROBUST PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT WILL DRIVE OPPORTUNITY ARE NOT ALL THINGS THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT, WE THINK ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS.

I KNOW THAT THROUGH THE NEW GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE THAT THE MAYOR HAS ESTABLISHED THAT IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR THOSE WAYS THAT THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WITH SOME OF THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP DELIVER ON THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THIS IS THIS IS BEING PRESENTED IN THE WAY THAT IT HAS.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE CITY CONTROLS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ARE INCLUDED IN HOW WE DEVELOP OUR BUDGET, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL BE TELLING US THAT THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, THOSE OTHER THINGS, WE WILL DEFINITELY WORK TO ACHIEVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AT THE TABLE, WE'RE CONVENING, WE ARE COLLABORATING. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THOSE RESOURCES MAY COME FROM SOME OTHER PLACE.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IT'S A ROBUST, MORE OF A CONSOLIDATED APPROACH WHERE WE'RE TRULY SAYING THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO EFFECT ON OVERALL.

THIS IS THE LANE THAT THE CITY IS AND THAT WE CAN LEAD.

AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER LANES THAT OTHERS WILL NEED TO LEAD, BUT IT WILL BE COMPREHENSIVE, AND IT WILL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND BE ABLE TO KIND OF SEE WHICH DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING AND IF WHAT WE'VE LAID OUT IS WORKING.

THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED THE OUTCOME MEASURES IN THE CONVERSATION WITH, I MEAN, IN THE RESPONSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ BECAUSE THIS IS BIGGER THAN THE WORDS ON THE PAGE. IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW THIS BODY OF WORK WILL SHOW UP AND WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT AND WHAT WILL OUR WHAT WILL OUR COMMUNITY ACTUALLY SEE, AND WILL THEY HAVE NOW GREATER ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION? WILL THEY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO CITY SERVICES? SO THIS IS A ROBUST, CONSOLIDATED APPROACH. MANY FACTORS, MANY PLAYERS AT THE TABLE.

AND WE BELIEVE IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP US MOVE THE CITY FORWARD SO THE RESOURCES WILL COME THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ALL OF US TO, TO HAVE SOME, SOME INDICATION OF THE, OF THE MAYBE COSTS, THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, THE ADDITIONAL STAFFING THAT THAT MIGHT BE CREATED AND BEING IMPOSED UPON US BY THE BY THE COMPLIANCE WITH THESE FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

AND I THINK THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE COULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE 22ND, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF IT'S IF IT'S IF IT'S POSSIBLE AND FEASIBLE. BUT I THINK REGARDLESS IF WE SHOULD BE, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR FINANCIAL IMPACT IS, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT.

[04:20:02]

THANK YOU. AND, COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. IF I COULD JUST I DON'T THINK I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION FULLY.

SO IN THE CURRENT BUDGET THAT THIS BODY HAS ADOPTED ANY RESOURCES THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO MOVE THIS POLICY DIRECTION TO EXECUTION WOULD BE DONE WITH OUR EXISTING RESOURCES AND WITH OUR EXISTING STAFF.

ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE NEEDED. FURTHER, WE WOULD BRING THAT IF IF IT'S REQUIRED AS PART OF THE UPCOMING BUDGET DISCUSSION.

BUT WE WILL BE UTILIZING THE FUNDING, THE STAFFING IN THE CURRENT BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS NEW POLICY DIRECTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL, IF APPROVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR THIS THOROUGH PRESENTATION.

WHENEVER I SEE A PRESENTATION LIKE THIS, I ALWAYS KEY IN ON THE LAST PAGE, WHICH IS THE NEXT STEPS.

AND HERE WE'RE TOLD THAT ON OCTOBER THE 8TH, WE WILL BE ASKED TO ADOPT SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS TO HUD'S FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN.

BUT NOWHERE IN THE PRESENTATION ARE THOSE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS IDENTIFIED.

CAN YOU PLEASE IDENTIFY THOSE? DOES THAT CONSIST OF THE MODIFICATIONS IN APPENDIX ONE OR SOMETHING MORE GENERAL? I'M GOING TO ASK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER CHAD WILLIAMS TO TAKE THAT.

THANK YOU. SHE JUST GOT PROMOTED. YES. YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SHAWN WILLIAMS. SORRY ABOUT THE AMENDMENT. WAS. IT INCLUDE IT IS A SEPARATE ITEM ON THE OCTOBER THE 8TH. IT INCLUDES THE CHANGES THAT WERE APPROVED WITH THE MERGING OF THE FOUR DEPARTMENTS.

SO THE HUD CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOLLOWS THE CITY'S POLICIES AND PROGRAMS. INITIALLY, WHEN WE PRESENTED THE BUDGET, IT HAD THE FOUR DEPARTMENTS TO HUD WHEN WE INITIALLY SUBMITTED IT TO HUD.

WE STARTED THE PROCESS. THEN DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, THOSE FOUR DEPARTMENTS WERE MERGED.

WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES IN THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN.

WE ARE ALSO IN THIS PROCESS, AS THE CITY GOES THROUGH AND REVIEWS ALL OF ITS EXISTING POLICIES AND PLANS.

WHATEVER THOSE PROCESSES ARE, THEY NEED TO ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE IN THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT.

THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS IN THAT PLAN.

IT JUST BASICALLY REQUIRE HUD REQUIRES THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES, WE HAVE TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC.

SO ON AUGUST, AUGUST THE 6TH, WE APPROVED THE BUDGET AS WE HAD INITIALLY PRESENTED IT TO THE PUBLIC.

ON THE 27TH, WE CAME BACK WITH ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM, NEWSPAPER ADS, COMMUNICATION TO OUR COMMISSION THAT, HEY, THESE CHANGES HAPPEN FOR DEPARTMENTS MERGED BECAUSE ALL OF THESE FOUR DEPARTMENTS ARE GRANT FUNDED.

WE RAN THE ADS. WE TALKED WITH THE COMMISSION AND FORMED THEM.

THIS IS HAPPENING. SO HUD SAYS THE COMMUNICATION, THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THAT NOTIFICATION MUST BE NO LESS THAN 30 DAYS. SO IN ORDER FOR US TO ALIGN WITH WHATEVER THE CHANGES ARE HAPPENING AT THE CITY, WE OFFICIALLY STARTED ON AUGUST THE 27TH, INFORMING THE PUBLIC, THIS IS THESE ARE THE CHANGES.

THESE ARE WHY INFORMING OUR COMMISSION. THE AUGUST THE OCTOBER 8TH ITEM OFFICIALLY ENDS THE 30 DAY PROCESS THAT WE WERE REQUIRED FOR HUD. BUT WE ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE AND GO ANY TIME PAST THAT.

BUT WE NEEDED TO HAVE A START AND A STOP TO DOCUMENT AND EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE BEEN INFORMING THE PUBLIC.

WE COMMUNICATED TO THEM THAT THESE CHANGES WERE HAPPENING, SO NOTHING HAS DONE UNTIL THIS BODY VOTES ON WHATEVER IS CHANGING WITH THE WITH THE WITH THE CITY'S PLANS AND POLICIES. ONCE THOSE ARE DONE, WE THEN GO BACK AND WE RUN ANOTHER AD AND WE TALK TO OUR COMMISSION.

BUT WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT WE STARTED AUGUST THE 27TH INFORMING THE PUBLIC THAT THESE WERE HAPPENING.

AND THAT JUST OFFICIALLY ENDS THE HUD PROCESS.

BUT IT DOESN'T IMPACT OR MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS AT ALL.

SO ARE THESE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE HUD FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN? THAT WILL BE WE WILL VOTE ON NEXT WEDNESDAY CONSISTS SIMPLY OF THE RECOGNITION THAT FOR GRANT RECEIVING DEPARTMENTS ARE NOW CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE. OR ARE THERE MORE DETAILED AMENDMENTS TO THE HUD PLAN AND AND WHAT FORM WILL THOSE BE SUBMITTED TO US FOR VOTING?

[04:25:04]

DRIVERS OF POVERTY DOCUMENT. SO WHEN THE COUNCIL CHANGES OR WE'VE TRANSITIONED TO THE NEW DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY, WE GO BACK TO THE PLAN AND SAY TO THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NOW DECIDED THAT OUR FRAMEWORK WILL BE THIS DRIVERS OF POVERTY.

THAT'S IT. WE JUST POINT AND REFERENCE THE EXISTING PLANS.

SO THERE ARE NO CHANGES FROM WHATEVER THE CITY DOES.

WE JUST SAY THIS IS THE CITY'S DIRECTION. SO OUR PLAN, OUR SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT JUST TELLS THE PUBLIC THAT WHATEVER THE CITY DOES TO ITS EXISTING POLICIES AND PLANS THAT INFORM OUR DOCUMENT, THOSE CHANGES WILL BE MADE HERE AS WELL.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? RIDLEY, IF YOU CAN, IF YOU CAN.

LOOK, IF YOU IF YOU LOOK AT SLIDE 19, THERE IS SOME SOME LANGUAGE THERE.

IT SAYS SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT WILL ENSURE ALIGNMENT AND COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL DIRECTIVES AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE PROGRAM AND POLICY CHANGES PER THE COUNCIL'S AUTHORIZATIONS. BUT UNTIL WE GET COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION, THAT LANGUAGE WILL BE BROAD.

CHAN HAD TO MOVE QUICKLY IN ORDER TO TO COMPLY WITH HUD CALENDARING REQUIREMENTS.

SO IF IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT OUT OF PLACE, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE HUD CALENDAR AND US NEEDING TO ADOPT THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN BUDGET BACK IN AUGUST.

WELL, I SAW THAT NOTE ON SLIDE 19, AND IT JUST SAYS WHAT THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT WILL DO IN TERMS OF ENSURING ALIGNMENT WITH FEDERAL DIRECTIVES, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY WHAT THE CHANGES ARE.

RIGHT. AND THEN YOU'LL SEE SOME MORE LANGUAGE ON 37, WHICH IS IN THE APPENDIX, WHICH IS SOME DISCLAIMER LANGUAGE ABOUT THAT'S RELATED TO THE BUDGET, BUT IT INCLUDES REFERENCES TO THE HUD CONSOLIDATED PLAN, INCORPORATING WHATEVER IT IS THAT THE COUNCIL THIS BODY ULTIMATELY ADOPTS. WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING IS WHAT ARE YOU ASKING THIS BODY TO ADOPT? WE WILL ASK YOU TO ADOPT THE NEW DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY FRAMEWORK IN DECEMBER.

BUT WE ARE ASKING YOU NOW TO ALLOW THIS PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THE THE HUD TIMELINE.

RIGHT. IT'S NOT RIGHT NOW. IT'S SUSPENDED. NOW.

NOW, THE DRIVER, SHE'S USING SORT OF REFERENCES TO THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN IN HER HER FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN.

WE'RE USING REFERENCES TO THE THE EXISTING DRIVERS OF POVERTY.

BUT WHAT WE'LL BE ASKING ULTIMATELY IS FOR THE ADOPTION OF A OF A REVISED FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY.

AND UNTIL WE HAVE THAT, WE'RE WE'RE MAINTAINING BROAD LANGUAGE.

SO DO WE HAVE SOME DEADLINE WE'RE OPERATING UNDER TO AMEND THE HUD FIVE YEAR PLAN.

DO WE HAVE A DEADLINE ON THAT? WE WE DO NOT. WE WE WE WE'RE THE REGULATION SAYS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC NO LESS THAN 30 DAYS.

SO NOW THAT WE'VE STARTED, WE CAN GO AS FAR AS THE CITY REQUIRES.

THE CITY NEEDS ON THE BACK END. SO WHY DON'T WE WAIT UNTIL WE'VE ACTUALLY ADOPTED THE DRIVE POLICY IN DECEMBER? WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS IN OCTOBER BEFORE WE'VE HAD THESE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND FINAL COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF THE DRIVE POLICY? ARE WE ABSOLUTELY CAN THE WHAT IT HAS US ON THE OCTOBER 8TH AGENDA IS WE STARTED THE PROCESS ON AUGUST THE 27TH WITH AN UNKNOWN WE HAD. THERE WERE PLANS AND TIMES HAVE CHANGED AS WE MOVED ON, SO WE ABSOLUTELY CAN MOVE IT OUT. WE JUST. AND BECAUSE ON THE AUGUST 27TH AGENDA ITEM, WE CALLED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER 8TH, WE ARE REQUIRED TO GO BACK AT LEAST ON THE OCTOBER 8TH AND EITHER, BUT WE ARE WELCOME TO MOVE IT OUT AS FAR AS WE NEED IT.

WE JUST NEEDED AN OFFICIAL START. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

RIDLEY, IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN FOR JUST A SECOND. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE TEAM FOR THE RESPONSES TO YOUR QUESTIONS.

SO WE CAN, IN DECEMBER, DO THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS FOR THE HUD CONSOLIDATED PLAN AS COUNCIL TAKES ACTION ON THE NEW DRIVE POLICY. THAT IS GOING TO BE GOING TO COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AROUND THE CRITERIA THAT WAS LAID OUT TODAY AS WELL AS THE DRIVERS OF POVERTY FRAMEWORK.

[04:30:05]

WE DID NOT HAVE THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE IN AUGUST WHEN THAT ORIGINAL TIMELINE WAS BUILT.

NOW THAT WE HAVE THE COMMITTEES, THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO SLOW DOWN, TAKE THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AND THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, AND GO BACK AND HAVE THOSE ROBUST COMMITTEE CONVERSATIONS AND THEN COME TO THE COUNCIL IN DECEMBER BEFORE YOU ADOPT A POLICY.

AT THAT TIME, WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR IF YOU WANT TO MOVE THAT OUT, WE CAN.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS NEXT WEDNESDAY.

WE DO NOT. WE DO NOT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK AND THE INSIGHT.

MR. BAZALDUA. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM B ON OUR BRIEFINGS TODAY.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S PRESENTATION.

AND THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SOME, SOME GOOD DISCUSSION I REALLY APPRECIATED.

COUNCIL MEMBER. RESENDEZ QUESTIONING. I. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START, TO BE HONEST.

ONE THING THAT I THINK I'D LIKE TO SEE, I GUESS QUANTIFIED IS.

IT'S BEING SOLD. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT Y'ALL ARE SELLING ME USED USED CAR, BUT IT'S BEING SOLD, I THINK. I THINK AS POSITIVELY AS YOU CAN, THAT THESE CHANGES WON'T RESULT IN US NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE SAME OUTCOMES WITH SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO SOME OF THE POLICIES, SPECIFICALLY THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN AND, AND HAVE YOU ALL DONE AN EXERCISE THAT GIVES, I THINK, A HYPOTHETICAL, IF YOU WILL, OF PROPOSED CHANGES, IF THEY HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED WITH SOME HISTORIC DATA AND PLUGGED IN TO SEE WHAT THE OUTCOMES OF THAT WE TOUT AS METRICS FOR WINS, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE WITH PROPOSED CHANGES IMPLEMENTED.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? CAN YOU REPHRASE THAT? SO I'M NOT SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

SO. HAD YOU ALL COME TO US TWO YEARS AGO NOT PROMPTED BY ANYTHING AND, AND WE WERE TO MAKE I MEAN, I THINK A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE THIS IS STILL VERY HIGH LEVEL.

BUT HAVE YOU ALL BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT PROPOSED CHANGES THAT WOULD, IN FACT, HAVE US FREE AND CLEAR AND COMPLIANT. AND IF THE SAME OUTCOMES THAT WE HAVE SEEN THAT YOU ALL ARE CONFIDENT WE CAN MAINTAIN WITH THESE SMALL CHANGES HOW THOSE WOULD DIFFER. COUNCIL MEMBER IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN IF THE QUESTION IS ABOUT AS PART OF THOSE PLANS, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE THE BID POLICY OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN, THERE WERE DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENTAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT WERE ESTABLISHED IN OUR REVIEW THAT WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN OVER THESE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT ABSENCE ABSENT THE, THE, THE FOCUS AROUND SOME OF THE SPECIFIC CRITERIA AROUND RACE.

ARE THOSE PERFORMANCE MEASURES STILL RELEVANT TO US BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS THAT I KNOW THAT THE DRIVERS OF POVERTY WAS KIND OF THE FOUNDATIONAL PIECE. AND WHAT WE'VE DETERMINED IS THAT A LOT OF THOSE DEPARTMENTAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES ARE STILL RELEVANT AND WOULD NOT TAKE US OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS. I THINK WHAT WE MIGHT WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO, AND I'M LOOKING AT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SEDILLO IS MAYBE SHARE WITH YOU WHAT THOSE DEPARTMENTAL MEASURES WERE, BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE AND BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU HOW MANY OF THOSE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD GIVE YOU SOME INDICATION OF HOW EVEN TAKING THIS DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY FRAMEWORK WILL STILL GET TO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE EITHER AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION, WORKING NOT ONLY WITH THE CITY RESOURCES, BUT HOW WE LEVERAGE THESE OTHER PARTNERSHIPS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. SO I THINK YOU'LL I THINK IT'LL BE AN EYE OPENER TO BE ABLE TO SEE HOW MANY OF THOSE MEASURES ARE STILL ABLE TO MOVE AND ALLOW FOR US TO DELIVER THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GET TO THOSE OUTCOMES THAT I KNOW THAT THIS BODY HAS CHAMPIONED

[04:35:05]

SO I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DEFINITELY SHARE. IT'S NOT SPELLED OUT IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY.

BUT AS WE MOVE INTO THE THE DEEPER CONVERSATION AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, I THINK THAT THAT'S DEFINITELY INFORMATION THAT I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STAFF SHARES WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD HELP ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

OKAY. YEAH, I DEFINITELY THINK THAT A NEXT STEP WANTING US TO TAKE ACTION NEXT WEEK IS IS PREMATURE.

I ALSO DON'T LOVE THE PROPOSAL FOR US TO TAKE ACTION ON SOMETHING WITH BROAD LANGUAGE, AND AN ANTICIPATION FOR THAT TO BE TIGHTENED UP AFTER A VOTE. I'D LIKE FOR US TO BE VOTING ON SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.

AND AFTER WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THE VETTING IN COMMITTEE ONE THING I ASKED ABOUT WHEN WE HAD OUR PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS WAS SPECIFIC TO THE LGBT LIAISON WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I DID NOT HEAR THAT IN ANY OF THE PRESENTATION.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE GUIDANCE THAT YOU WILL NOT SEE HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BAZALDUA IS THE WORK THAT OUR PROGRAMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADOPTED BY, BY COUNCIL.

SO WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD TO COUNCIL THOSE PROGRAMS, POLICIES AND PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY COUNCIL ACTION.

AND SO OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, WE ARE DISCUSSING THEM WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE PERSPECTIVE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENTS, AND WHERE THERE'S A NEED TO POTENTIALLY MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO ADVANCE THE WORK. AS AS WE FEEL LIKE IT IS IN COMPLETE COMPLIANCE WITH THESE FEDERAL DIRECTIVES, BUT ALSO PROMOTING OUR CULTURE AND PROMOTING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE, WHO MAKE UP OUR CITY AND PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP OUR, OUR WORKFORCE. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS, IS MICROMANAGE THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS BODY TO WEIGH IN ON SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES, EVEN IF IT WASN'T ADOPTED FROM THIS BODY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME INSTITUTIONAL IMPLEMENTATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN NORMAL PRACTICE FOR DECADES. THREE DECADES.

SPECIFICALLY TO THAT POSITION. THE LAST THING I WANT IS SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE TO BE IMPORTANT, LIKE THAT POSITION TO BE UNILATERALLY CHANGED BY CITY MANAGER AND STAFF WITHOUT US HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A SUBSTANTIAL POLICY DECISION FOR THAT TO BE CHANGED.

SO WHAT WE DEFINITELY WHICH IS WHY WE WANTED TO NOT TODAY HAVE ANY TYPE OF FINAL DIRECTION.

I THINK WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE MORE DETAILS AROUND PROGRAMS THAT, THROUGH THIS PROCESS OR PROGRAMS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE ONES THAT MOVE FORWARD, THAT KEEP US IN COMPLIANCE.

AND ANYTHING THAT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, LOOKING AT IT AND WORKING ON IT WITH WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD WANT TO WEIGH IN AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IF THAT'S SOMETHING, IF WE'RE SAYING THAT IT TAKES US OUT OF COMPLIANCE AND THIS BODY WANTS IT TO CONTINUE.

WE DO REALIZE THAT THAT IS A DECISION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS WHY I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE, DEEPER DETAILS AROUND THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, AS YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. DEFINITELY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONVERSATIONS AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL GAVE YOU THE LEVEL OF DETAIL AND THE ABILITY FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO CHIME IN, BECAUSE I THINK I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ALSO INCLUSIVE.

WE AS WHAT WAS JUST ARTICULATED, BECAUSE THERE ARE DEFINITELY THINGS THAT ARE NOT COMING IN FRONT OF US BECAUSE WE DID NOT PASS THEM.

BUT THOSE THINGS SHOULD STILL COME BEFORE THIS BODY AS A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

YES. AND WE'RE NOT DISAGREEING. I THINK WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT TODAY, THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU GET INTO THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION, WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A LIST OF PROGRAMS. IF THERE ARE ANY TYPES OF INITIATIVES THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT WE BELIEVE DEFINITELY WANT TO GET INPUT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.

I DON'T I'M NOT SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO POSITIONS, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE COUNCIL WEIGH IN ON ALL OF THESE THINGS, BECAUSE THE POLICY ITSELF WILL BE WHAT YOU'LL BE GIVING US DIRECTION ON, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN YOUR INPUT.

[04:40:02]

AND TODAY THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL IS NOT WHAT'S IN YOUR BRIEFING.

AND WE'LL DO THAT AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL. THANK YOU. ALSO ON THE THE OUTCOMES AND THE METRICS THAT ARE PROVIDED WITH OUR RACIAL EQUITY PLAN SPECIFICALLY ON ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES FOR. I UNDERSTAND THE FRAMING THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE THE WORK.

HOW DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO MEASURE OUTCOMES.

I'LL START AND THEN I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO CHIME IN IN THE CITY MANAGER, OF COURSE.

BUT AS CITY MANAGER TOLBERT NOTED, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT PROGRESS MEASURES THAT MAKE UP THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.

ALL THE DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATED IN IT TO THE REPORT TO CITY MANAGER, AND THERE WERE THREE, FIVE AND SEVEN YEAR MEASURES AND MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

THIS THIS ORGANIZATION HAS MOVED QUICKLY TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THAT PLAN, AND SOME OF THEM ARE ONGOING, AND SOME OF THEM DON'T YET HAVE HAVE NOT REACHED EITHER THE FIVE YEAR OR THE SEVEN YEAR MARK.

AS SHE ALLUDED TO, WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE BEFORE YOU GO ON.

CAN I JUST ASK SPECIFIC TO THAT ARE IF THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED TASKS, FOR INSTANCE.

AND SO THERE'S NOW, ONGOING PRACTICE IN SAID DEPARTMENT BASED ON THE FOUNDATIONAL WORK OF THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.

ARE WE CONSIDERED TO BE IN COMPLIANT TO MAINTAIN THOSE CHANGES WITHIN THOSE DEPARTMENTS? AND SINCE WE'VE ALREADY CLOSED IT OUT, LIKE HOW RETROACTIVE ARE ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT THIS? WE HAVE LOOKED AT RETROACTIVITY, BUT I'LL DEFER TO THE CITY CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE THE LEGAL ISSUE THERE AND WHERE WHERE WE STARTED OUR OUR TIMELINE FOR FOR REVIEW. YOU KNOW, WE WHEN WE DEVELOP THE THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN, AS YOU KNOW YOU WERE VERY MUCH A PART OF, OF OF THE OVERSIGHT.

WE DID IT IN TANDEM WITH LEGAL REVIEW. AND IT WAS ADOPTED WITH THAT, WITH THAT LENS.

AND NOW IN THIS NEW, NEW, NEW CHAPTER WE ARE LOOKING AT IT IN TERMS OF WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MODIFY IT? BUT I'M ASKING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE HERE ON THE RETROACTIVITY OF THOSE PROGRESS MEASURES WITHIN THE RFP THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I'M GOING TO ASK WILLOW SANCHEZ FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO COME AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

THANK YOU. HELLO. HELLO. WILLOW SANCHEZ FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND IT WOULD BE A CASE BY CASE DECISION ANALYSIS.

THAT'S THAT'S ALL YOU GOT FOR ME? WELL, GIVE IT TO ME AGAIN.

THE QUESTION. IF YEAH, I GUESS MY MY QUESTION IS THAT WE CAN AGAIN SELL IT AS WE HAVE THESE GOALS AND SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN MET.

BUT DOES THAT MEAN THAT IN ORDER TO BE IN COMPLIANCE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT CURRENTLY LISTED AS A GOAL BECAUSE IT'S MET, AND IN PRACTICE, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO GO AND UNDO WORK THAT WE'VE DONE? AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, I'D LIKE FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO RESPOND TO HOW IS THAT CONSTITUTED AS CONTINUING THE WORK? IF A PART OF THIS SOLUTION IS UNDOING THE WORK THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE CONTINUING? SO MY UNDERSTANDING FROM YOUR QUESTION HAS A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PARTS, RIGHT.

WHAT'S THE METHODOLOGY THAT WE'RE USING TO ACHIEVE A GOAL? HAS THE GOAL BEEN MET AND IS IT COMPLIANT. AND SO I THINK THAT REALLY IS A BIG QUESTION AND DOES DEPEND UPON WHICH ONE YOU MIGHT BE DISCUSSING FOR US TO LOOK AT THOSE THREE ELEMENTS.

AND THEN THAT COULD HELP YOU REACH YOUR DECISION AS TO WHETHER IT'S CONTINUING THE WORK.

SO IS THAT GOING TO BE A PART OF THE THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS? BECAUSE THE WAY THAT IT'S LAID OUT IS THAT THERE WILL BE RECOMMENDATIONS.

ARE WE GOING TO GO AS GRANULAR TO KNOW WHAT EACH OF THESE WOULD RESULT IN? IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN WHILE I ASSISTANT WHILE LIZ IS COMING BACK TO THE PODIUM WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA WHEN YOU SAY EACH OF THESE, ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT THE GOALS THAT SHE WAS DEPARTMENTAL MEASURE THE MEASURES AND THE GOALS FROM THREE,

[04:45:01]

AND SO IF A PART OF COMPLIANCE IS TO RETROACTIVELY UNDO WHAT WAS DONE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO MEET SAID GOAL, HOW ARE WE HOW HOW ARE WE JUSTIFYING THAT THE WORK IS STILL BEING DONE? SO THE WAY WE'VE APPROACHED IT, AND I CANNOT ANSWER FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, THE WAY THAT WE'VE APPROACHED IT FROM OUR LENS, IS THAT THERE WERE MEASURES THAT WERE AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL THAT WERE COMPLETED.

IT COULD BE EVERYTHING FROM A CHANGE IN A PROCESS IN A DEPARTMENT.

IT COULD BE IN HOW WE COMMUNICATE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE LEVERAGED OUR LANGUAGE.

WE CREATED A LANGUAGE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS FOR US TO DELIVER COMMUNICATION IN MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. AND SO I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT BASED ON SOME OF THE WAYS THAT I'VE LOOKED AT THE MEASURES THAT WE WOULD AS A, AS A COUNCIL, AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THIS BODY THAT THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE TO LEVERAGE BETTER WAYS TO COMMUNICATE.

THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE THAT YOU WOULD ASK US TO UNDO.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.

WHEN I MENTIONED THE DEPARTMENTAL MEASURES, THEY'RE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHAT THE DEPARTMENT IS.

THE MEASURES IN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DALLAS WATER UTILITIES IS DIFFERENT THAN THE MEASURE THAT MIGHT BE SITTING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION. SO WE'RE LOOKING WE'VE LOOKED AT THE MEASURES THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH A REVIEW TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT, IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN STILL MEASURE, THAT WOULD NOT CREATE US BEING IN, IN OPPOSITION OR OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE THE ORDERS.

BUT DOES IT CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR US TO PROVIDE SERVICES, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY? ARE WE ABLE TO CLOSE DISPARITY GAPS? THAT'S THE LENS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN ABOUT WHAT DO WE UNDO? AND SO AGAIN, I WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC ONE THAT MIGHT BE COMING TO MIND, THAT THE I JUST WOULD. YEAH. BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE LOOKED AT IT.

THAT'S HELPFUL. AND I WOULD I WOULD JUST ARGUE, YOU KNOW, THAT IF THERE'S THAT UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETATION OF WHAT COMPLIANCE IS IN REGARDS TO THESE ORDERS, HOW THAT WOULD DIFFER FROM US CONTINUING THE WORK THAT ISN'T YET COMPLETE WITH THESE SAME MEASURES.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT STILL UP IN THE AIR TIME FOR THIS ROUND.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN JOHNSON RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I RAN ON RACIAL EQUITY WHEN I WAS ON SCHOOL BOARD.

RACIAL EQUITY IS A BIG PART OF MY WORK. AND I WAS LISTENING TO COUNCILMAN BAZALDUA SPEAK, AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE HE'S COMING FROM.

AND SO I WANT TO ASK OR ACTUALLY SAY THIS TO OUR CITY MANAGER.

I SEE FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM CASEY THOMAS THERE, AND I KNOW THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE IN THIS CITY, WORKING WITH THIS COUNCIL WITH RACIAL EQUITY ON THIS FOR A WHILE.

AND IT'S GREAT WORK THAT WAS DONE. AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY DOES NOT REGRESS ON THE PROGRESS THAT IT MAY GOING FORWARD, ADDRESSING THE DISPARITIES IN THE CITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE I WAS HEARING COUNCILMAN BAZALDUA WAS SAYING THAT EVEN WITH THIS NEW WORK, AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE IN AN ATMOSPHERE WORLDWIDE, THAT CERTAIN WORDS OR TRIGGERS TO CERTAIN PEOPLE.

BUT THE WORK ITSELF, WE MUST CONTINUE. AND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT CERTAIN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY DISENFRANCHIZED UNDERFUNDED I DON'T CARE WHAT TRIGGERS YOU.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE HAVE SITUATIONS IN OUR CITY THAT I, AS A PASTOR AND AS A ELECTED OFFICIAL, HAVE SERVED IN THESE COMMUNITIES AND SEEN THESE DISPARITIES AND KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE RESOURCES AND KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU DO HAVE RESOURCES. AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE, CITY MANAGER, THAT ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE PRIOR TO ME GETTING ON THIS COUNCIL AND THE GREAT WORK THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE REMAINS THE SAME.

AND THAT'S WHAT OUR ACTUALLY GROWS. IT DOESN'T REGRESS AND THAT'S WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR, THAT WE DON'T TAKE A STEP BACKWARDS, THAT WE CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD AND THE WORK IS ACTUALLY DONE.

AND THAT'S THE COMMITMENT THAT I WANT FROM YOU.

THAT'S COMMITMENT THAT I WANT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS COUNCIL IS REALLY SAYING. THAT'S WHAT I HEAR COUNCILMAN BAZALDUA SAYING.

THAT'S THE WORK THAT I'VE SEEN. MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBER, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND OTHERS HAVE WORKED TOWARD.

[04:50:05]

WE HAVE A CITY. WE HAVE REAL FAMILIES DEALING WITH REAL ISSUES, FROM OAK CLIFF TO WEST DALLAS, ETCETERA. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WORK CONTINUES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OTHER COMMENTS, COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE COME BACK AND DO THE DEEPER DIVE INTO WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL, THAT THE GUIDANCE THAT WE GET FROM THIS BODY IN A NEW POLICY, THAT IT'S CLEAR, IT'S TRANSPARENT, IT'S NOT UP FOR ME TO QUESTION OR FOR ME TO INTERPRET.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHAT THIS BODY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.

SO WE TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF WHAT COUNCIL WANTS, WHAT COUNCIL DOESN'T.

WE'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR ABOUT THE WAYS THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE PROGRESS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'VE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT A BODY OF WORK THAT WAS DONE IN 2017 AND LOOK AT HOW DO WE BUILD ON THAT WORK, HOW DO WE TAKE THAT WORK, AND MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ALREADY ADDRESSING AS IT RELATES TO THE DRIVERS OF POVERTY, THAT IT CAN BE EXPANDED. BUT BUT IT CAN BE EXPANDED IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS FOR US TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE UNIQUE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD.

THE THINGS THAT I KNOW OVER MY 33 YEARS IN THIS BUSINESS THAT I'VE SEEN AND HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO ADVANCE IT IN A WAY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT WILL ALLOW FOR US TO STILL BE IN COMPLIANCE.

AND SO WE WANT COUNCIL'S WEIGH IN ON EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.

WE DIDN'T FEEL THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO INTO THAT LEVEL OF DEEP DISCUSSION TODAY, WHICH IS WHY WE SLOWED DOWN AND WE BELIEVE WE NEED TO GO BACK AND HAVE THAT MORE ROBUST CONVERSATION AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL AND THEN COME BACK TO COUNCIL IN DECEMBER BEFORE WE'RE ASKING YOU TO ADOPT A POLICY.

BUT I DO UNDERSTAND AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN BAZALDUA FOR HIS COMMENTS.

AND I'LL SAY THIS AND I'LL CLOSE MAYOR JOHNSON, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SEE.

AND I'M GOING TO USE BECAUSE I CAME FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD, SO I'M GOING TO USE EDUCATION. I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SEE A SCHOOL FAIL, GET RESOURCES AND THEN SUCCEED. I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SEE A COMMUNITY FAIL WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT SOUTH OAK CLIFF HIGH SCHOOL AND THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE, LACK OF RESOURCES, AND I SEE IT, IF YOU GIVE US RESOURCES, WE CAN WIN ACADEMICALLY AND ATHLETICALLY AND THE ENTIRE CITY.

SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN KIDS AND COMMUNITY GET RESOURCES.

THEY WON TWO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE PERIOD FOR THE ACADEMICS, AT ONE POINT FOR BEING AN A.

SO THE PRINCIPAL OF SOUTH OAK CLIFF HIGH SCHOOL AND OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE DONE EXTREMELY WELL.

BUT I JUST POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE IT'S IN DISTRICT FOUR WHEN WE PUT RESOURCES WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CITY WILL THRIVE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS WORK.

THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, STARTING WITH CONTRACTS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED WILLOW TO LEAVE, BUT WHEN CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN AWARDED ON THE BASIS OF DIVERSITY POINTS.

ARE THOSE CONTRACTS? DO WE NEED TO RECONSIDER THEM OR THEY'RE ALREADY RATIFIED, SO IT'S NO PROBLEM.

WE'D HAVE TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO COME FORWARD ON THAT, PLEASE. NO, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO RATIFY THEM.

WE SUSPENDED THE PROGRAM. AND SO I BELIEVE. WILLOW, DO YOU WANT TO BACK UP? CAN YOU SPEAK IN DETAIL ABOUT WHAT WE DID WITH THE EXISTING CONTRACTS? YES. WILLOW SANCHEZ, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. SO I THINK JUANITA EXPLAINED THAT WE HAD SEVERAL BUCKETS OF CONTRACTS. ONE OF THEM WAS EXISTING CONTRACTS.

AND IF THE BID POLICY WERE A PART OF THE SOLICITATION AND THE SOLICITATION CLOSED AND THE SOLICITATION WAS AWARDED.

ALL BEFORE THE PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WE HAVE TO START COMPLIANCE.

THOSE HAVE CONTINUED IN EXISTENCE. HOWEVER, CAN WE MOVE TO SLIDE 24, PLEASE? HOWEVER, THE MECHANISMS OF THE BID PROGRAM, WHICH REQUIRED US TO GET WHAT WE CALL ENFORCEMENT TO GET EVIDENCE THAT THEY WERE IN COMPLIANCE, WE NOTIFIED ALL OF THOSE VENDORS THAT WE WERE SUSPENDING THAT.

OKAY. SO SLIDE 60 IF WE COULD GO TO THAT. THIS IS SB STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BIGGEST BARRIERS WHEN COMPETING? THE FIRST ANSWER IS LACK OF NOTICE AND OUTREACH.

[04:55:02]

IS THIS ANYTHING RELATED TO DIVERSITY OR POVERTY? THIS ONE. SO WE ASKED OUR OUR STAKEHOLDERS, LIKE I MENTIONED, IT WAS SUBCONTRACTORS, PRIMES, CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.

THIS WAS THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM THEM ON WHAT THE BIGGEST BARRIER WAS FOR MWB PARTICIPATION IN CONTRACTS.

AND SO PAYMENT DELAYS AND RETAINAGE. SO A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH OUR SUBCONTRACTORS AND THEIR THE WORK THAT'S DONE BETWEEN WE AWARD A CONTRACT.

YOU KNOW WE PAY THE SUB. I MEAN WE PAY THE PRIME CONTRACTOR.

THEY IN TURN HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS TO PAY THEIR SUBCONTRACTORS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRACK IN B TO G. NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONTRACTORS ARE MEETING THEIR GOALS.

SO TODAY WE SUSPENDED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEM TO TELL US THE THE COMPOSITION OF THEIR SUBCONTRACTORS, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO REPORT TO US THAT THEY'VE PAID THEIR CONTRACTORS ON TIME.

THAT'S PART OF THE STATE PROMPT PAYMENT ACT. AND SO WE STILL RECEIVE SUBCONTRACTOR REPORTING ON PAYMENTS, BUT WE DO NOT ASK FOR ANY RACIAL OR GENDER SPECIFIC INFORMATION.

AND ARE THE CONTRACTORS PAYING ON TIME? TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THEY ARE, BUT IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE CONTRACTS THEMSELVES.

WE DON'T HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT AT THIS POINT TO GO TO A, TO A CONTRACTOR AND SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT MEETING THEIR GOAL BECAUSE THERE IS NO GOAL TO SPEND IT AT THIS MOMENT. SO THEY CAN SEND YOU A FALSE REPORT, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

YOU WOULDN'T KNOW? NO. WELL, NO. IN THE SYSTEM, THE PRIME REPORTS THE PAYMENTS, BUT THEN THE SUB HAS TO GO IN AND SAY, YES, I WAS PAID OR NOT. SO THERE IS A MECHANISM FOR THE SUBCONTRACTORS TO CONFIRM THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED PAYMENTS FROM THE CONTRACTOR.

SO JUST TO CONFIRM WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. SO IN YOUR SYSTEM ARE THE PRIMES INDICATING THAT THEY'RE PAYING ON TIME.

CORRECT. SO WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SAID THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING PAID ON TIME? I THINK PART OF IT IS THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET PAID, ESPECIALLY FOR SUBCONTRACTORS.

WE HAVE A 30 DAY PERIOD TO PAY CONTRACTORS. THEY HAVE A 15 DAY PERIOD TO PAY THEIR SUBS SO THAT THAT'S YOU KNOW, A MONTH AND A HALF OF THEM WAITING FOR PAYMENTS.

DO YOU THINK WE COULD PAY THE PRIME FASTER THAN 30 DAYS? IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE REVIEW OF THE PAYMENT APPLICATIONS.

THOSE ARE PRETTY STRICT WITH THE CONTRACT, ESPECIALLY WITH CONSTRUCTION.

WELL, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE SPEED OF BUSINESS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S SERVICE NOW OR WHATEVER IT'S CALLED.

WE ARE THE PROBLEM. WE ARE THE PROBLEM THAT'S INHIBITING SMALL BUSINESSES, MINORITY BUSINESSES.

IT DOESN'T MATTER. ANY BUSINESS IS BEING IMPACTED BY HOW WE ARE CONDUCTING OURSELVES.

AND WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, WHICH IS WE'RE WHAT'S INHIBITING THE SUCCESS OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES.

YES, IT'S VERY HARD FOR SMALL BUSINESS TO WAIT AT LEAST 45 DAYS TO GET PAID.

LOTS OF PEOPLE DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY FOR THIS REASON.

I WAS ONE OF THEM. MY NONPROFIT COULD NOT BE OUT SO MUCH MONEY TO BE PAID, AND THE CONTRACTORS THAT WERE ALREADY ON BOARD SAID, YOU WON'T EVEN GET IT THAT FAST. IT'LL BE MUCH LONGER THAN THAT.

AND SO THIS IS CONTINUING. SIMPLIFIED PROCUREMENT PROCESSES.

THE FIRST ONE ON ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? THAT'S THE FIRST ITEM. YEAH. I MEAN THE FORMAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS HAS CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, REQUIREMENTS FROM THE STATE, FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE ARE CERTAIN FORMS AND THE PROCESS IS LONG, BUT IT'S LONG FOR A REASON.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING PROCUREMENTS THAT MEET THE FINANCIAL CRITERIA THAT ARE OPEN, THAT ARE TRANSPARENT THAT ARE COMPETITIVE AND NOT RESTRICTIVE.

SO THERE ARE CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS IN THE PROCESS THAT HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED.

SO, MISS MENDELSOHN, I'M SORRY. FORGIVE ME. I DON'T HEAR WELL.

SO SOMETIMES I'M VERY LOUD. I'D LIKE TO KIND OF RESPOND TO TO THAT PIECE.

I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE HEARD IN THE MEETINGS, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE THE SUBS AND THE PRIMES AND ALL THE ISSUES THAT ARE RELATED

[05:00:07]

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE FOCUSES OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE NEW PROGRAM THAT THEY SAW AS DEFICIENCIES IN THE PRIOR PROGRAM, SUCH AS CONFIRMATION ON PAYMENTS OR THE ORIGINAL THRESHOLD AMOUNT THAT THEY WERE AWARDED FOR PARTICIPATION.

GOAL IS SOMETHING MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING, RIGHT? AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I THINK THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE SPIRIT OF WHERE YOU'RE FINDING THIS, AS IT TALKED ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE SUBS AND THE PRIMES IS THE THIRD AND THAT LACK OF NOTICE AND OUTREACH, A LOT OF THAT WAS DRIVEN AT PRIMES AND SUBS BEING ABLE TO CONNECT TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHY WE TALKED ABOUT THE MENTOR PROTEGE PROGRAM AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ACTUALLY MAKE THOSE HAPPY MARRIAGES BETWEEN SUBS AND PRIMES TO FIT WITHIN THE PROGRAM.

THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS IS NOT ABOUT THE SUBS AND PRIMES.

CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. IT'S NOT OUR GOAL TO ACTUALLY FACILITATE THAT.

IT'S LOVELY IF WE DO, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF TIMES TRYING TO DO, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF MARRIAGE COUNSELING BETWEEN PRIMES AND SUBS WHEN REALLY YOU COULD DO AN EVALUATION FORM, YOU COULD ASK ALL THE SUBS, YOU COULD REQUIRE ALL THE SUBS TO FILL OUT AN EVALUATION OF THEIR PRIME.

YOU COULD SCORE IT. YOU COULD MAKE A NAUGHTY LIST.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T PAY ON TIME. YOU COULD DO THAT IN A VERY METHODICAL, LOW LEVEL OF STAFF TIME.

BUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS SEEMS ANOTHER LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY, ANOTHER LAYER OF STAFF MEMBERS DOING THINGS THAT ARE WAY BEYOND THE SCOPE OF WHAT IS THE CITY'S ROLE, IN MY OPINION. MENDELSOHN I ATTENDED THESE SESSIONS WHERE THESE FEEDBACK WERE DONE, LIKE REAL TIME. AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE ASKED THEM FOR ADDITIONAL VERBAL FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS ONE HERE IN PARTICULAR.

AND A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH SOME OF THE PRIMES IN PARTICULAR, TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY FELT IT WAS LABORIOUS.

SOME OF THE WORK THAT WAS REQUIRED FOR REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ON THE BACK END POST AWARD, MOST OF IT WASN'T OMG, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BID RIGHT.

IT HAD MORE TO DO WITH YOU KNOW WHAT? CAN YOU GUYS MAKE REFINEMENTS TO THE B TO G SYSTEM THAT WE USE? SOMEBODY EVEN MENTIONED WE ACTUALLY HAD TO HIRE TWO PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THESE THINGS ON THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ON A LARGE CONTRACT THAT THEY HAD.

SO WE WERE LISTENING FOR THAT, AND WE HAD TALKED TO THEM ABOUT WAYS TO STREAMLINE THE BACK END.

I KNOW IT SAYS PROCUREMENT PROCESS, BUT WHEN WE ASKED FOR MORE DETAIL ABOUT ACTUALLY, WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY THAT IT HAD MORE TO DO WITH THE BACK END POST AWARD? ON PAGE 61, YOU'VE GOT, WHAT OUR SB STAKEHOLDERS SAID.

AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE VERY THE THE POINTS AND CRITERIA, YOU MIGHT AFFORD A BUSINESS.

THE ONLY ONE THAT MAKES ANY SENSE TO ME IS YOUR LOCATED IN DALLAS.

LIKE WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING OUR DALLAS BUSINESSES, BUT BEYOND THAT I DON'T KNOW WHY.

IF YOU HAVE MORE OR LESS EMPLOYEES, YOU WOULD GET MORE OR LESS POINTS.

THE AMOUNT OF YOUR REVENUE MORE OR LESS. I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S ACTUALLY EVEN RELEVANT.

YOUR CATEGORY? SAME. SO THIS THIS SEEMS LIKE A WAY TO INFLUENCE OUTCOMES BY HAVING THAT MANY CATEGORIES THAT ARE VERY SUBJECTIVE.

AND SO YOU WANT TO SAY YOU'RE IN DALLAS, YOU GET AN EXTRA FIVE POINTS.

FINE. YOU'RE NOT IN DALLAS, YOU DON'T WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS.

I'M NOT ADVOCATING A NUMBER. BUT BEYOND THAT, LET'S LOOK AT THE QUALITY AND PROFESSIONALISM OF WHAT'S BEING OFFERED.

AND LET'S ENGAGE COMPANIES THAT ARE DOING GOOD WORK.

PERIOD. ABSOLUTELY. PERIOD. I'D LIKE TO GO TO NUMBER SLIDE 30.

THIS IS THE DALLAS DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY. BACK WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE DISCUSSION ABOUT EQUITY.

WE HAD A COUNCIL RETREAT AND I OBJECTED TO THE ENTIRE THING.

AND I SAID WE SHOULDN'T BE FOCUSED ON EQUITY.

WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON POVERTY. AND YOU CAN GO BACK AND WATCH THAT IF YOU WANT.

I SEE I'M OUT OF TIME, BUT WHEN I COME BACK MY NEXT ROUND, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU.

BE ON SLIDE 30. THANK YOU, MR. ROTH. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. JUST HAD A NOTE HERE ON THE APPENDIX.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DEPARTMENT POLICIES, PLAN AND PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS.

IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING IS WE'RE CREATING THE POLICY THROUGH THE ORDINANCE AND THE AND THE, THE GENERAL BIG PICTURE SITUATION, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING BACK AND SORT OF TRYING TO MANAGE THE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT NEW ORDINANCE.

[05:05:09]

WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CONTRACTS A LOT OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BE $100,000 CONTRACTS, LITTLE CONTRACTS. WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE BEING THAT THEY'RE BEING ALLOWED, THAT WE'RE SEEING THEY'RE THEY'RE BEING ACTIVE THAT WE WANT.

THIS IS A GOOD WAY FOR US TO KEEP TRACK OF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AS AN OVERSIGHT BOARD.

AND IT ALSO ALLOWS THE STAFF TO, TO TO NOT HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FIGURING OUT IF THEY'RE MANAGING THIS PROCESS DIRECTLY AND PROPERLY. I THINK THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY BE IN THE CHAIR, TO BE VIGILANT, TO BE ACTIVE, IN TRYING TO HELP THOSE FOLKS THAT WE NEED TO.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CHANGES HERE. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF MONEY BEING SPENT. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO PROMOTE DIFFERENT SUCCESS PLANS HERE.

BUT WE NEED TO BE WATCHING AND SEEING HOW THAT STUFF IS COMING, NOT JUST FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, BUT FROM A A MEANS TEST OF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ACTUALLY SUCCEEDING IN HELPING NEW COMPANIES, NEW FOLKS DRIVE THEIR, THEIR, THEIR OPPORTUNITIES RATHER THAN JUST NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO, TO REALLY FOCUS ON HOW DO WE, AS A BODY MONITOR THIS STUFF DIRECTLY, MAKE SURE CONTRACTS ARE BEING ALLOCATED PROPERLY, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ENCOURAGING THE RIGHT KIND OF PUBLIC, PRIVATE, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, MAKING SURE THAT OUR RESOURCES ARE BEING UTILIZED AND ARE SUCCESSFUL IN PROMOTING THE THE CURRENT SITUATION AND IMPROVING THAT SITUATION FOR THE BENEFITS OF OUR CITIZENS.

MAYOR PRO TEM, I I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN ON THE SCREEN, BUT I HAVE IT ON MY NOTES THAT YOU HAVE.

I HAVE NOT. IF NOT, HOW DID I GET THAT ONE WRONG? OKAY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. CITY MANAGER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CAREFUL AND THOUGHTFUL APPROACH AND CONSIDERATION TO THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.

TO THE TEAM. THANK YOU FOR SLOWING THIS DOWN.

GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, GETTING FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT STAFF RECEIVES THE GUIDANCE AND THE AND THAT YOU GUYS GET TO INCORPORATE THE FEEDBACK THAT THIS COUNCIL IS PROVIDING TO YOU ALL.

I'M WANT TO REALLY FOCUS IN ON THE TIMELINE, THOUGH.

SO IF YOU CAN PLEASE PROVIDE CLARITY ON THE REVIEW, MODIFICATION AND POSSIBLE LOOKING INTO COMPLIANCE, IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THIS COUNCIL, WHAT IS OUR TIMELINE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES? AND IF THERE IS ANY TIMELINE. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM.

AND MAY I ASK, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SPECIFIC PROGRAM, THE SPECIFIC POLICY RELATED TO, TO DRIVE AND TO THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY? I'LL LET ACM GIBSON AND DIRECTOR ORTIZ SPEAK TO TO THE DRIVE POLICY.

WE ARE JUST BUT JUST LARGELY SPEAKING, WE HAVE BEEN ON AN ACCELERATED TIME FRAME, AS WE PREVIOUSLY HAVE STATED, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT REAL PEOPLE, REAL BUSINESSES OUR COMMUNITIES ARE IMPACTED BY A SUSPENSION PERIOD.

SO, SO ALL OF WHAT WE'RE DOING FROM THE TIME THAT WE HAD COUNCIL GUIDANCE IN LATE JUNE UNTIL THIS MOMENT HAS BEEN ACCELERATED WITH THAT IN MIND.

AND SO I'LL ASK THEM TO SPEAK IN ABOUT WHEN IS THEIR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

THANK YOU. ACM LIZ. SO WHEN WE HAD OUR LAST STAKEHOLDER MEETING, WE LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WERE COMING TO CITY COUNCIL TO GET FEEDBACK AND THAT THAT FEEDBACK WOULD INFORM THE NEXT STAKEHOLDER SESSION, WHICH IS ALREADY PRE-SCHEDULED.

IT'S OCTOBER THE 21ST, RIGHT? WE HAVE SOME OTHER TANGIBLE MEETINGS SCHEDULED WITH SMALLER GROUPS, CHAMBERS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BUT OUR LARGER STAKEHOLDER GROUP, WHICH IS ROUGHLY 70 TO 90 PEOPLE WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING WITH, THAT NEXT MEETING IS OCTOBER 21ST. AFTER OCTOBER 21ST, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT INPUT WHERE WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON, I THINK IT'S SLIDE 2023. YES, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A BUNCH OF TIME FOCUSING ON SLIDE 23

[05:10:10]

AT THE NEXT STAKEHOLDER SESSION. WE HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF WHAT WE'VE ACCUMULATED SO FAR, INCLUDING ON THE 21ST.

CAN YOU GO TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE? SORRY, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

COUNCILMAN AND GO TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

I BELIEVE IT'S ON NOVEMBER THE 3RD WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ENGAGE THE COMMITTEE IN THESE SAME BUCKETS BASED ON THE FEEDBACK.

SO SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT THEY THINK THAT DALLAS IS THE ONLY RELEVANT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING IS, IS THE REGION, OR IS THE AREA OR THE LOCATION OF WHICH BUCKET IS IT? AGAIN, IT'S A LOCAL PREFERENCE. WHAT WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF LOCAL PREFERENCE? WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO TEASE THAT OUT AT COMMUNITY I MEAN AT COMMITTEE.

BUT WE WILL BE USING THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE THEIR PREFERENCES ARE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IN EACH ONE OF THESE BUCKETS.

WE'VE HIRED A CONSULTANT THAT'S GIVEN US A RANGE OF OPTIONS IN EACH ONE OF THESE BUCKETS, IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE A FRAMEWORK AND MAKE INDIVIDUAL CHOICES ABOUT WHAT THAT NEW PROGRAM IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING TO COMMITTEE AND FOR COUNCIL, AND WE'RE HAVING THE COMMUNITY HELP US TEASE THAT OUT AND GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT.

SO NOVEMBER 3RD, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND THEN WHATEVER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR VOTING DECEMBER 12TH, I BELIEVE, WOULD BE THE ACTION DATE FOR THE POLICY.

THANK YOU. SO SO WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IS THAT WE'RE NOT HURTING THE BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING IN AND HELP.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS WE'VE BEEN ON PAUSE OR SUSPENSION MODE NOW SINCE BEFORE SUMMER RECESS.

AND THEN I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T SEE ANY POTENTIAL DELAYS AT COMMITTEE OR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE RUNNING UP TO THE LAST MEETING IN DECEMBER.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR TIMELINE IN PLACE.

SO I'LL NEED SOME SUPPORT FROM MY BOSS ON THIS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE READY WHEN WE GO TO COMMITTEE.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ALL THAT FEEDBACK. WHAT THE COMMITTEE DECIDES OR THEIR DIRECTION.

WE WANT CONTROL THAT THAT PART OF IT. I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THAT TIMELINE IN MIND.

BUT BUT AGAIN, THE COMMITTEE'S REPORTING BACK TO THE FULL BODY. I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT WE GOVERN THAT PART, IF I MAY.

MAYOR PRO TEM. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. GIBSON, FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD WHEN WE CAME IN AUGUST WAS WE WANTED TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD, BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS IN A, IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY TO WHERE WHEN YOU CAME BACK TO MAKE ANY FINAL POLICY DECISIONS THAT THE ENGAGEMENT AND THE INPUT WAS ROBUST.

AND SO IT'S BEEN A, IT'S BEEN COMMUNITY MEETINGS, STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.

IT HAS BEEN WHAT WE KNOW THAT YOU WOULD WANT US TO DO.

SO YOU CAN BE AT LEAST ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE HEARD, HEARD FROM A DIVERSE GROUP OF CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE CITY.

SO THAT HAS BEEN GOOD FOR US. WE LEARNED A LOT.

AND SO WE DO BELIEVE THAT NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK NOW THAT POLICY WITH THE DETAILS.

WE TALKED ABOUT GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION AROUND DEPARTMENTAL MEASURES, LOOKING AT OUTCOME MEASURES, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL NEEDS TO GIVE GUIDANCE.

AS YOU MOVE A POLICY FORWARD AND YOU ADOPT IT, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE WANTING TO ENSURE THAT WE'VE NOT ONLY IMPLEMENTED, BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO MEASURE SUCCESS? AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO JUST SLOW IT DOWN, TAKE THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS, USE THAT FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.

AND ACTUALLY THE NOVEMBER MEETING WILL BE A JOINT MEETING, I BELIEVE, WITH FINANCE AND WITH ICO TOGETHER.

AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK IN DECEMBER WITH THE FINAL POLICY READY FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND ADOPTION.

IT WILL BE FOR BOTH. AND SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL ALLOW FOR US TO START THE NEW CALENDAR YEAR IN JANUARY.

POLICIES ARE IN PLACE AND WE'RE READY TO IMPLEMENT.

SO THAT IS KIND OF WHY YOU SAW US. WE WERE GOING REALLY, REALLY FAST.

WE SLOWED DOWN A MINUTE, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. WE'RE BACK TO YOU.

CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN, FOR ONE MINUTE. THREE MINUTES, ONE MINUTE, THREE MINUTES.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I WAS LIKE, WOW. OKAY. DALLAS DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY ON SLIDE 30.

YOU'VE GOT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT COLORS. IS THERE A REASON? LIKE THAT? MUST HAVE HAD A REASON. YES, MA'AM. THEY ARE COLOR CODED FOR A PURPOSE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT 31 OR 32, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DALLAS DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY.

I'M SORRY. 32. YEAH. RIGHT. AND SO THEY'RE COLOR CODED PER WHAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WE'VE HEARD FROM COUNCIL AS WELL,

[05:15:02]

BUT WE ALL WE ALSO PARTNER WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND MANY DIFFERENT THINGS RELATED TO AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE DIGITAL ACCESS THERE WHERE WE HAD SOME A LOT OF INTERSECTIONS AT ONE POINT THERE OR IN OUR LIBRARIES, WE DO ESL, ETC. BUT WE REALIZE THAT WE AREN'T THE WE DON'T HAVE DIRECT DOMAIN OVER THOSE AREAS, AND SO WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THEM IN GOLD TO TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT WE SEE OURSELVES AS A, A SUPPORTER.

THAT'S WHERE THE MEGAPHONE COMES IN OF OF THOSE EFFORTS WHERE WE HAVE GREEN, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THOSE AREAS AS DIRECT JURISDICTION, I.E. PUBLIC SAFETY ENVIRONMENT, HOUSING CULTURAL AND ARTS ASSETS, ETC..

SO REALLY, OUR CITY MANAGER IS GUIDING THIS WORK AROUND WHERE DO WE FOCUS OUR EFFORTS.

AND THOSE ARE IN THOSE GREEN AREAS AND THE BLUE, OF COURSE A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO SOME OF THE WORK WHERE WE MAY HAVE SOME OVERLAP.

SO YELLOW, NOT OUR LANE BLUE, WE HAVE OVERLAP.

AND GREEN YOU THINK IS OURS. YEAH. WE CALL IT CITY SUPPORT GOLD.

BLUE COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP AND GREEN CITY DRIVEN LEADERSHIP.

AND THAT'S ON 31, I BELIEVE. AND HOW MUCH STAFF TIME ARE WE DEVOTING TO THINGS THAT ARE YELLOW? NOT OUR LANE. OH, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE THE ACCURATE RESPONSE FOR PERCENTAGE OF TIME DEDICATED.

BUT BUT CERTAINLY WE'RE TRYING TO BE IN THE MODE OF EFFICIENCY AND, AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS WHERE WE CAN HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT.

SO YOU'LL SEE US CITY MANAGER ALLUDED TO WORKING WITH ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WANTS TO ELABORATE ON HER LEADERSHIP THERE.

I THINK IT'S PART OF THE GUIDANCE FROM COUNCIL THAT COULD BE PRETTY MUCH DIRECTED ON THINGS THAT MIGHT ALIGN WITH PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SET.

AS WE THINK ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS AND WAYS THAT WE CAN BETTER COLLABORATE, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE KNOW THAT EVEN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AS BEING A A CONCERN ABOUT HOW THEY CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, FUTURE PROOF FOR WORKFORCE. IT COULD BE US JUST MAKING SURE THAT ANY CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT, THAT WE'RE SHARING THAT INPUT AS WE'RE OUT THERE ENGAGING WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WE'RE SHARING THAT WITH OUR OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS.

SO SOME OF IT COULD BE JUST THE WAY WE COLLABORATE.

SOME OF IT IS JUST HOW WE COMMUNICATE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM OUR DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED BROADLY.

SO SOME OF IT IS JUST PART OF THE ONGOING WAY THAT WE'RE OUT THERE ENGAGING.

I PARTICIPATE IN QUARTERLY MEETINGS THAT INCLUDE THE SUPERINTENDENTS.

IT INCLUDES OUR DALLAS COUNTY OFFICIALS. AND SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT US BEING AT THE TABLE AND BEING ABLE TO SHARE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP.

WELL, I WOULD JUST SAY, I THINK EVEN WORKFORCE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE WHERE THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT OUR LANE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR SCHOOLS AND VARIOUS LEVELS SHOULD BE WORKING ON AS WELL AS OUR STATE.

LIKE THAT'S THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO ADD TO THAT.

AND FRANKLY, THE THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR LANE, WE NEED TO BE DOING A BETTER JOB AT.

WE NEED EVERYONE TO BE FOCUSED ON THE THINGS THAT ARE OURS, NOT DISTRACTED BY THINGS THAT ARE NOT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON SCHOOL SOCIOECONOMIC REPRESENTATION.

I DON'T CARE HOW MANY MEETINGS WE ATTEND, WE WILL NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THAT.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON COLLEGE READINESS UNLESS WE'RE GOING TO START PUTTING MONEY TO THAT.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM, BECAUSE I HOPE YOU GOT JUST A HINT OF WHAT'S COMING IN OUR BUDGET, WHICH IS WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR SIX YEARS, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET TOUGHER.

SO WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO FUND THINGS FROM OTHER TAXING ENTITIES.

THEY CAN RAISE THEIR TAXES. THEY CAN FUND IT THEMSELVES.

WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT. THE COUNTY CAN RAISE THEIR TAXES.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN RAISE THEIR TAXES. BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE FOCUSING OUR TIME AND ATTENTION ON THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT OUR LANE.

AND OUR RESIDENTS ARE BEGGING US TO PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE LANE.

I'VE GOT I'VE GOT RESIDENTS SAYING THERE'S 18 INCH WEEDS IN THE MEDIAN.

WE CAN'T GET THEM MOWED. POTHOLES. I MEAN, LIKE, I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE RESPONSE TIMES FOR THE POLICE.

LIKE WE CAN JUST GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE LITANY.

BUT I HOPE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE WORKING TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE.

I HOPE WE'RE GOING TO SUPER FOCUS AND DO AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THE THINGS THAT BELONG TO US.

[05:20:04]

BE A GOOD PARTNER. BUT TO EXPEND ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF TIME AND STAFF ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT OUR LANE IS EXACTLY HOW WE'VE BECOME SO SLOW AND SO BUREAUCRATIC AND SO UNFOCUSED ON THE THINGS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR US TO FOCUS ON.

AND SO THE PRESENTATION IS RIGHT. DRIVERS OF POVERTY IS WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FOCUSED ON.

IT'S 100% WHAT IS IN OUR WHEELHOUSE. BUT EVERY ASPECT OF THAT IS NOT AT CITY HALL.

AND I WOULD JUST ASK FOR US TO BE MORE DISCERNING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS AND HOW WE CAN DO THEM AND DO THEM WELL.

THANK YOU, MR. BAZALDUA. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE TO STAFF AND OUR CITY MANAGER.

I KNOW Y'ALL ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR CONSENSUS, AND IT'S TO ME PRETTY CLEAR WHERE CONSENSUS LIES WITH OUR BODY.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD SOME COMMENTS IN THE MINORITY, BUT THE CONSENSUS I'VE FOUND HAS BEEN THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT WE HAVE STARTED, AND I'M HOPING THAT THE FRAMING AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE THESE EXERCISES AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL ARE GOING TO REFLECT THAT CONSENSUS HERE AND NOT TAKE US IN OTHER DIRECTIONS BASED ON MINORITY OPINIONS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OF OUR PANEL HERE OR OUR CITY MANAGER ON THIS BRIEFING? ITEM B. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T SEE ANYONE. SO, MADAM CITY MANAGER, BACK TO YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND WE WILL DEFINITELY SUMMARIZE BOTH DISCUSSIONS FROM EARLIER BRIEFING ITEM A AND BRIEFING ITEM B, AND LAY OUT THE NEXT STEPS FOR YOU IN A FRIDAY MEMO.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK, MR. MAYOR. THIS CONCLUDES THE ITEMS THAT WE HAD PREPARED FOR TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING.

OKAY, MADAM SECRETARY. YES, MR. MAYOR, WE DO HAVE OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.

[Open Microphone Speakers (Part 2 of 2)]

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

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

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

SPEAKERS. YOU'LL NOTICE THE TIME WILL BE PLACED ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM.

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

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

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS GLORIA CARBAJAL, AND I AM THE CO-FOUNDER OF BAN HORSE CARRIAGES DALLAS.

SINCE MY LAST PUBLIC COMMENT JUST OVER A MONTH AGO SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS HAVE TRANSPIRED, UNDERSCORING THE IMPERATIVE TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM UTILIZING 1,000 POUND HORSES ON CITY STREETS.

NOTABLY, THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY HAS PUBLICLY EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE SUPPORT FOR ENDING THIS ANTIQUATED TRADE.

HE HAS FINALLY COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF PUTTING AN END TO THIS SENSELESS, IRRESPONSIBLE, INHUMANE EXCUSE FOR TOURISM. THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM A RECENT USA TODAY ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS THE EVOLVING STANCE ON HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES. HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDE IN CENTRAL PARK FOR FOR NYC TRIP. MAYORAL CANDIDATES HOPEFULS SAY THANK AGAIN.

ALL MAJOR MAYORAL CANDIDATES IN NEW YORK CITY NOW CONCUR THAT HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES POSE AN ANTIQUATED THREAT IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST VISITED TOURIST DESTINATIONS.

QUOTES INCLUDE INHUMANE AND UNNECESSARY. FREE THE HORSES TO.

[05:25:04]

AS WE APPROACH THE YEAR 2026, THE SITE OF A HORSE CARRIAGE, DRIVERS USING THEIR PHONES WHILE OPERATING HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC AND HAZARDOUS.

IT IS NOT ONLY HAZARDOUS, IT IS INSULTING TO AUTOMOTIVE DRIVERS WHO MUST BREAK AND REDUCE THEIR SPEED TO AVOID COLLISIONS.

I AM HUMBLED BY YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL MATTER, AND I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU BRING A WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU BRING BACK THE AGENDA TO BAN HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NICOLE MIKA WILL BE VIRTUAL.

I'M HERE. YES. OKAY. ARE YOU GUYS CAN HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU. HOWEVER, YOUR VIDEO IS NOT DISPLAYING.

HANG ON ONE SECOND, PLEASE. GIVE ME ONE SECOND.

SORRY. ALL RIGHT. IS THAT BETTER? IT'S OUR VIDEO.

IS IT? HANG ON. IT'S. YES. WE CAN SEE YOU NOW.

YOU MAY CONTINUE. OKAY. YES, I GOT MY NOTES. OKAY.

YEAH. SO HI. ON THREE MINUTES. OKAY. SO ON AUGUST 5TH, 2025, A 15 YEAR OLD CARRIAGE HORSE NAMED LADY COLLAPSED AND DIED ON 11TH AVENUE IN NEW YORK CITY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. IN 2022.

RIDER, A 26 YEAR OLD, COLLAPSED. I'M SORRY. WRITER 26 YEAR OLD COLLAPSED IN TIMES SQUARE, AND AN 18 YEAR OLD HORSE NAMED ICE COLLAPSED AND DIED IN CAPE MAY.

HORSE TYPICALLY LIVE FOR 25 TO 30 YEARS. THEY'RE PRONE TO HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO THE STRESS OF PULLING THE CARRIAGES, AS YOU SEE WITH THE AGES, AS I MENTIONED WITH THE HORSES.

YOU'RE ALSO ADDING ON THE HOT WEATHER, OVEREXERTION AND A LACK OF CARE DESPITE WHAT THE HORSE OWNERS ARE SAYING.

OTHERWISE, THE EVIDENCE IS PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

THIS IS NOT TRUE. THEY ALSO CANNOT BE REGULATED AND WATCHED.

SO HORSES TEND TO WORK LONG HOURS WITHOUT A BREAK OR EVEN WATER POLLUTION.

THE SOLUTION TO THIS IS ELECTRIC CARRIAGES. CARRIAGES.

PHILADELPHIA IS THE FIRST MAJOR US CITY TO HAVE.

ONE IS A LOWER MAINTENANCE COMPARED TO THE EXPENSE OF HAVING A HORSE, SAFER OPERATIONS, AND INCREASE INCOME FOR OPERATORS.

IT HAS SHOWN THAT THE ANIMAL INCOME ACTUALLY INCREASES FROM 40% TO 100%.

I HOPE THESE FACTS CAN SHED SOME LIGHT, CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE NEED TO BE DONE.

PLEASE BAN HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES. SEND THE HORSES TO A SANCTUARY AND SWITCH OVER TO ELECTRIC CARRIAGES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AJ WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JOHNSON. AND YOUR MICROPHONE.

THERE'S A BUTTON AT THE BASE. OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? ALRIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JOHNSON, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER TOLBERT.

I'M ADAM WILLIAMS AT 3906 KENWOOD DRIVE, MCKINNEY, TEXAS.

I'M HERE TO URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE DRIVE PROGRAM.

I AM THE CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER FOR HAMPTONS CONSULTING, A MANAGEMENT CONSULTING FIRM THAT WORKS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS AS WELL AS OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN THE AREA. I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CURRENT BID PROGRAM AND TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE NEW DRIVE PROGRAM, AS RECOMMENDED BY CITY MANAGER TOLBERT AND HER TEAM.

IN FULL DISCLOSURE, I LED AND I WAS PREVIOUSLY THE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT WHEN WE CREATED THE BID PROGRAM BACK IN 2008 WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE FORMER MAYOR, TOM LEPPERT, AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER SUHM AT THE TIME.

NOW, STATISTICS SHOW TODAY THAT 60% OR MORE OF THE SBA'S BELIEVE THE BID PROGRAM HAS HELPED THEIR BUSINESS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THIS EXPLAINS WHY IT HAS LASTED THE LAST 17 YEARS.

NOW WE'RE AT A NEW CROSSROAD. I COMMEND THE CITY MANAGER ON HER APPROACH TO THE TO MANAGE THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO THIS PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE.

[05:30:02]

I BELIEVE THE COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND THE CAPACITY BUILDING FEATURES OF THE PROPOSED DRI PROGRAM WILL ENSURE THE PRESENCE OF A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SMALL AND THE LARGE BUSINESSES FOR THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF DALLAS.

I THEREFORE URGE YOU, WHEN THEY BRING IT BACK TO YOU IN NOVEMBER TO SUPPORT THE DRI PROGRAM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MONIQUE MACHADO WILL BE VIRTUAL.

MONIQUE. HELLO. YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. HOWEVER, YOUR VIDEO IS NOT DISPLAYING.

YES, YOU MAY CONTINUE. OKAY. I'M SORRY. YES. I'M HERE TO RAISE A SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT HORSE CARRIAGES IN DALLAS, TEXAS. HORSES ARE HIGHLY SENSITIVE AND EASILY STARTLED BY SUDDEN NOISES, SIRENS, OR HONKING.

WHEN 1,000 POUND ANIMAL PANICS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, AS YOU KNOW, THE RESULTS ARE DISASTROUS.

JUST LAST YEAR IN DALLAS, A HORSE GOT SPOOKED AND TOOK OFF, RAMMING INTO A LIGHTPOST, INJURING TWO PEOPLE.

THE STREETS ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR HORSES. THEY ARE LOUD, CONGESTED AND FULL OF HAZARDS.

NO SEATBELT OR SAFETY FEATURE CAN PROTECT SOMEONE WHEN A FRIGHTENED HORSE TAKES OFF.

PASSENGERS, PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVERS ARE ALL AT RISK.

CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE RECOGNIZED THESE RISKS AND HAVE BANNED HORSE CARRIAGES.

THE CITY OF DALLAS CAN ALSO PREVENT FUTURE LAWSUITS FROM MUNICIPAL NEGLIGENCE.

ONE ACCIDENT IS ALL IT TAKES TO CHANGE LIVES FOREVER.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE A CITY TOUR, PERHAPS THEY ARE ABLE TO USE AN ELECTRIC TROLLEY INSTEAD.

LET'S KEEP PEOPLE AND HORSES SAFE BY ENDING THE USE OF THESE CARRIAGES.

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

WONDERFUL. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO KNOW? FURTHER BUSINESS. OFFICIAL NATURE. NO, NO FURTHER BUSINESS, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, WELL, WITH THAT, MA'AM, PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. YES, YES, I'M ABOUT TO ATTEND TO THAT.

IF I CAN JUST STOP BEING INTERRUPTED BY THE MEMBERS.

MA'AM, PLEASE. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY, GUYS, WE HAVE ONE MORE BIT OF BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF TODAY, AND THAT IS WE ARE GOING TO WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR CITY MANAGER, WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS THIS FRIDAY.

AND SO IF SHE WILL COME BACK TO THE HORSESHOE AND WE CAN PRESENT THIS CAKE TO HER AND SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HER, AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK LAURA CADENA TO REALLY KICK OFF THE SING.

BECAUSE SHE'S, BECAUSE SHE'S OUR SHE'S OUR MOST MUSICALLY GIFTED MEMBER.

SO, LAURA, KICK US OFF ON THE COUNT OF. ON THE COUNT OF THREE.

ONE, TWO THREE. KICK IT OFF, LAURA. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY. OH, WHAT A SORRY.

FOR THREE HOURS.

SORRY. TECHNICALLY NO TIMES 2:58 P.M.. AND THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED.

258 THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.