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THE TIME IS 9:09 A.M., AND THE COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY HAS BEEN CALLED TO ORDER.
[Council Committee on Government Efficiency on December 8, 2025.]
WE HAVE NO NO MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LAST MEETING. THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR FIRST MEETING. SO AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO BRING OUR CFO, IRELAND'S REVIEW COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY DIRECTION FOR MAYOR.AND TODAY IS DECEMBER THE 8TH, 2025. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN JOHNSON. I'M JACK IRELAND, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
AND THIS IS EXCITING TO BE AT THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, A NEW COMMITTEE THAT THE CITY MAYOR HAS ESTABLISHED.
AND SO OUR FIRST PRESENTATION THIS MORNING IS REALLY JUST TO LOOK AT THE DIRECTION FROM THE MAYOR AND REALLY TO GET FEEDBACK FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM THIS COMMITTEE.
SO JUST QUICKLY TURNING TO SLIDE THREE. WHAT I DID IS FROM THE MAYOR'S AUGUST 29TH, 2025 MEMORANDUM FOR EACH COMMITTEE HE IDENTIFIED A POLICY PRIORITY.
AND SO THE POLICY PRIORITY FROM MAYOR JOHNSON IS LISTED ON SLIDE THREE.
AND FOR THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST, I'M JUST GOING TO READ THIS, DRIVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE CITY BUDGET BY IDENTIFYING OPERATIONAL AND MISSION OVERLAP WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS SUCH AS DALLAS COUNTY, DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, DALLAS COLLEGE, AND LEVERAGING THE SERVICES THESE PARTNERS PROVIDE, AND ELIMINATING DUPLICATION OF EFFORT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TAXPAYERS OF DALLAS.
SO JUST WANTED TO RESTATE WHAT THE MAYOR'S DIRECTION WAS FOR THE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS REALLY JUST TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ELIMINATE THAT OVERLAP AND HELP THE CITY RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY. AND AGAIN, HE TIES IT BACK TO THE BENEFIT OF THE TAXPAYERS.
SLIDE FOUR JUST LISTED OUT FOR YOU. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE COMMITTEE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON AS CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN AS VICE CHAIR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS BAZALDUA, BLACKMON, RESENDEZ, RIDLEY AND ROTH, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING ON THE FIRST COMMITTEE.
I ALSO LISTED OUT ON SLIDE FIVE THE MEETINGS THAT ARE IN YOUR COUNCILAPPROVED CITY CALENDAR FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026. YOUR MEETINGS ARE NORMALLY THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 9 A.M.
THEY ARE NOTED. I'M SORRY. THE SECOND MONDAY OF EACH MONTH.
SLIDE SIX. JUST THINKING AHEAD. THIS WAS MISS TOLBERT AND I THINKING ABOUT THE COMMITTEE AND THE DIRECTION THE COMMITTEE MAY WANT TO GO AGAIN TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO DRIVE THAT OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, REDUCING THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE BUDGET.
AND HERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT OF BEYOND WHAT THE MAYOR HAD PUT IN HIS DIRECTIVE.
BUT AGAIN, FROM THE MAYOR LOOKING AT CITY PROGRAMS THAT OVERLAP WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.
BUT MISS TOLBERT AND I ALSO THOUGHT THAT THE COMMITTEE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER PARTNERSHIPS WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHERE THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE PROVIDING SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. AND THEY MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES OUTSIDE OF CITY FUNDS.
WE ALSO WANTED TO LOOK AT THOSE PROGRAMS INTERNAL THAT MAY BE OVERLAPPING OR DUPLICATIVE.
AND MISS TOLBERT HAS DONE THIS FOR THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES.
WE HAVE REDUCED DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE FELT WERE DUPLICATIVE, OR WE'VE DONE SOME CONSOLIDATIONS, BUT THERE STILL MAY BE SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU, AS COMMITTEE MEMBERS, HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER FOR THAT PURPOSE. AND AS KIM AND I CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH BUDGETS WHERE WE SEE THOSE, WE WOULD BRING THOSE FORWARD.
AND THEN ALSO THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATION ABOUT DIFFERENT EFFICIENCY STUDIES THAT WE MAY HAVE HAD DONE, LOOKING AT THOSE WHAT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED, WHAT HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED, IS THERE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY? SO THAT WAS JUST, MISS TOLBERT AND I KIND OF THINKING ABOUT THE TYPES OF THINGS WE WOULD BRING FORTH TO THIS COMMITTEE.
WE DID LIST OUT THE NEXT THREE MEETINGS AND JUST OUR THINKING AND THIS IS NOT SET IN STONE.
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THIS IS JUST OUR THINKING AHEAD THAT IN JANUARY WE HAVE HEARD CONVERSATION ABOUT WANTING TO SEE THE WIC PROGRAM.WE HAVE HEARD CONVERSATION ABOUT WANTING AN UPDATE ON THE FLEET OPTIMIZATION STUDY.
SO THOSE MAY BE STIPENDS OFFERED BY THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT OR BY THE OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, OR IF THERE'S STIPENDS THAT ARE OFFERED THROUGH HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, WE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AND PREPARE AN INVENTORY OF ANY PARTNERSHIPS AND STIPENDS LIKE THAT THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND BRING THOSE TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION AND CONVERSATION IN FEBRUARY.
AND THEN LAST WEEK, YOU WERE BRIEFED ON THE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY, AND WE KIND OF HEARD SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS. AND SO WE WOULD WANT TO BRING TO YOU AT SOME POINT, WHETHER IT'S IN MARCH OR A DIFFERENT MEETING, BUT FOR YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THOSE DRIVERS OF OPPORTUNITY AND THE THINGS THAT WE AS A CITY PROVIDE FUNDING FOR.
THANK YOU CHIEF. I WILL START FROM MY LEFT TO MY RIGHT.
COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU. BLACKMON. THANKS, JACK.
WOULD YOU SAY THAT EMPLOYEES ARE OUR LARGEST BUCKET OF MONEY THAT GOES OUT THE DOOR, SO TO SPEAK? SO FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET. YES, THE COST OF STAFF IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 73% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET, AND THE OTHER 27% IS FOR SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
AND I SPECIFY THAT ABOUT THE OPERATING BUDGET, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE CAPITAL BUDGET, THOSE ARE ALL LARGEST COST, INCLUDING SALARIES, BENEFITS, HEALTH INSURANCE, PENSION COSTS.
RIGHT. ETC. ADD UP. SO, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS WHERE DO WE PLAN TO ANALYZE THAT? IF THAT IS OUR BIGGEST BUCKET OF OUTLAYS AND WE'VE SEEN THE STAFFING NUMBERS GROW WHEN WE I THINK THAT THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE WE SHOULD LOOK AS WELL. I MEAN, I KNOW THESE PROGRAMS ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND NOT DOING DUPLICATE WORK INSIDE AS WELL WITH STAFF MEMBERS AND LOOKING AT WHERE THOSE EFFICIENCIES AND REDUCTIONS CAN COME DOWN WITH A, YOU KNOW, A REDUCED WORKFORCE, IF THAT IS OUR BIGGEST BUCKET OF MONEY THAT GOES OUT THE DOOR.
I THINK THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY. ALSO. AND I, IF I MAY, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT IS THE BIGGEST BUCKET WE WERE REALLY THINKING OF LOOKING, STARTING WITH THOSE THINGS WHERE WE ARE FUNDING, WHERE WE OVERLAP ET-CETERA THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO LOOK AT STAFFING THAT, BUT NOT JUST A TOTAL, BUT I'M LISTING OUT AND I THANK YOU FOR THE FEEDBACK.
AND I THINK, I MEAN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO NEXT MONTH, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S A PROCESS.
AND SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING AS A LONG TERM LIKE BRINGING BACK IN SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DIG IN AND LOOK AT WHERE WE HAVE OPEN EMPLOYEE OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE THOSE AND MAYBE TIGHTEN UP AROUND WHERE JOB DESCRIPTIONS ARE, YOU KNOW, WORK PRODUCT AND THAT SORT OF STUFF. BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT IS, IS TO GET OUR WORKFORCE BACK RIGHT SIZED. THE SECOND THING IS, I KNOW WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OVERTIME ON VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
OKAY. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. I WANTED TO TAG TEAM ON WHAT PAUL HAS BEEN SAYING, TOO.
I THINK THE FOCUS ON PARTICULAR PROGRAMS IS CERTAINLY INTERESTING, BUT I THINK THAT TO LOOK AT THE LARGER PICTURE WOULD BE, I THINK, MORE INSTRUCTIVE AND MORE VALUABLE FOR ME IN TERMS OF LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BE MORE EFFICIENT, BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND ALSO TO BE MORE VERIFIABLE ON, ON WHAT
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WE'RE, OUR EMPLOYEE BASE IS WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? I THINK THAT IN CONNECTION WITH THAT, CERTAINLY I THINK THE WORD RIGHTSIZING IS A CORRECT IS A CORRECT TERM.I WANT TO I DON'T I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND AND THAT I'M ABLE TO CONVEY TO, TO MY CONSTITUENTS THAT WE'RE OPERATING AT A LEVEL THAT'S EFFICIENT AND IS PRODUCTIVE, BUT IS NOT DUPLICATIVE. AND, AND THAT THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY BUILT INTO OUR SYSTEMS THAT JUSTIFIES THE LEVEL OF SERVICES AND LEVEL OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE NEED AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
THAT'S OUR BIG BUCKET. TO REALLY LOOK INTO. AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT MY, MY ISSUE IS NOT TO, TO REDUCE OR TO EXPAND. MY ISSUE IS TO VERIFY WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND IF IT CAN'T BE VERIFIED, THEN IT HAS TO BE ADJUSTED.
THE SECOND, THE OTHER THREE LARGER BUCKETS THAT I THINK WE, THAT PERSONALLY I'VE GOT SOME CONCERN ABOUT, AND IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY IS THE AMOUNTS OF MONIES THAT WE'RE SPENDING IN TECHNOLOGY.
AND WITH CONSULTING SERVICES. AND AGAIN, THESE ARE, THESE ARE AREAS THAT PERSONALLY I THINK WE HAVE LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE SOME REAL STRONG GUIDANCE BECAUSE THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SPENDING IN THESE PARTICULAR PROGRAMS ARE HUGE.
AND CERTAINLY IF THEY'RE JUSTIFIED, THEY NEED TO BE EXPLAINED.
THEY NEED TO BE IDENTIFIABLE. AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE BUYING AND WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR.
THE LAST THING WHICH I KNOW THERE'S BEEN AN INITIATIVE TO FOCUS ON IS OUR REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO, AND CERTAINLY GETTING A HANDLE ON A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THAT AND UNDERSTANDING THE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE AND THE INTRINSIC VALUE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO MONETIZE THESE, THESE ASSETS AND TO MAKE THEM EFFICIENT, I THINK IS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR THE CITY.
BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT MAY BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP FUND OR HELP YOU KNOW, MITIGATE SOME OF THE FINANCIAL INSECURITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO THAT WE MAY NEED TO IDENTIFY THIS NEXT YEAR.
SO I WOULD LOOK AT BIGGER, BIGGER, NOT SO MUCH PROGRAMS AS MUCH AS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD CALL IT DEPARTMENTS OR AREAS OF SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES RATHER THAN SMALLER POTS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN ROTH. COUNCILMAN RIDLEY.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, JACK.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO PRIORITIZE EXPENDITURES BY THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROGRAMS. SO I AM LOOKING TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE BUDGET OFFICE TO, GO IN FULL TILT ON PROGRAM BASED BUDGETING SO THAT WE CAN REALLY HAVE A LOOK AT THE PRIORITIES THAT WE WANT TO ASSIGN TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAMS. ANOTHER ONE IS CONSULTANTS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I RAISED IN AUGUST, WHEN WE WERE HAVING SOME PRIORITY DISCUSSIONS, AND THE CITY MANAGER SOLICITED OUR INPUT AS TO HOW SHE COULD SAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET.
ACTUALLY, I THINK IT WAS BEFORE AUGUST. IT WAS BEFORE THE BUDGET ACTUALLY CAME OUT.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS, NUMBER ONE, A TOTAL FIGURE THAT WE SPEND EVERY YEAR ON CONSULTANTS.
DO YOU, JACK? NO, NOT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IN THAT CONNECTION IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROTOCOL THAT WE WOULD UTILIZE.
ALL DEPARTMENTS WOULD UTILIZE BEFORE THEY'RE AUTHORIZED TO HIRE A CONSULTANT.
IN OTHER WORDS, UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS DO YOU NEED TO GO OUTSIDE CITY EXPERTISE TO HIRE CONSULTANTS, AS OPPOSED TO USING OUR EMPLOYEES AND HOPEFULLY PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON UTILIZING EMPLOYEE SKILLS
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THAT SUCH THAT WE DON'T NEED TO GO OUTSIDE AND PAY FOR THE OVERHEAD AND THE PROFIT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO HIRE CONSULTANTS.SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD THINK THAT YOU WOULD BE QUITE CAPABLE OF DEVELOPING THAT KIND OF PROTOCOL FOR CONSIDERATION BY THIS COMMITTEE. AND THEN, THIRD, SO MUCH OF OUR LABOR EXPENSE IS FOR FIRE AND POLICE OVERTIME.
NOW THAT WE'RE HIRING MORE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIRE FULL TIME, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD REDUCE THE NEED FOR THIS EXPENSIVE TIME AND A HALF OVERTIME. AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE AN ANALYSIS OF HOW MUCH WE CAN REDUCE OUR OVERTIME EXPENDITURE AS WE RAMP UP FULL TIME HIRING, PERMANENT HIRING IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. BEFORE WE DISCUSS REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE CITY BUDGET, CAN STAFF REMIND THE COUNCIL WHAT THE CURRENT TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT IS FOR THE CITY'S DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND UNMET INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ. I REALLY NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT OUR BRIEFINGS ON THE BOND PROGRAM, THAT TOTAL, ALL THAT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FACILITIES, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STREETS, SIDEWALKS, ALLEYS, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND NEEDS, WE CAN GET YOU AN ANSWER FOR WHAT ALL THAT ADDS UP TO.
IT WAS IN THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. BUT I WOULD I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THAT FOR YOU.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT PULLING IT UP. I LOOKED AT IT MYSELF.
THAT'S WHEN WE THINK ABOUT STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION.
PARKS AND RECREATION. PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES.
DOES STAFF BELIEVE THAT REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE CITY BUDGET IS COMPATIBLE WITH ADDRESSING OUR EXISTING NEEDS, INVENTORY AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE BACKLOG. I THINK THE BETTER ANSWER AS OPPOSED TO REDUCING THE SIZE, IT'S MORE ABOUT PRIORITIZING. IT'S WHERE DOES THE CITY SPEND THE FUNDS? AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AS YOU VERY WELL POINTED OUT, THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
AND WE HAVE NEEDS THAT ARE PROBABLY GOING UNMET.
AND WE JUST NEED TO IDENTIFY. AND BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY'S POINT ABOUT THE PRIORITY BASED BUDGETING, REALLY BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND ARTICULATE THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND THE PRIORITIES AND MAKING PRIORITY DECISIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT WHAT THE STATED POLICY PRIORITY OF THE NEW COMMITTEE IS, THOUGH, AND THAT IS TO DRIVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE CITY BUDGET BY IDENTIFYING OPERATIONAL AND MISSION OVERLAP WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS SUCH AS DALLAS COUNTY, DALLAS, ISD AND DALLAS COLLEGE.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT TAXPAYERS DESERVE EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT.
BUT EFFICIENCY AND DOWNSIZING ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
EFFICIENCY MEANS DOING THINGS WELL. DOWNSIZING MEANS DOING LESS.
AND IN A CITY WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND OUR STREETS, OUR PARKS, OUR FACILITIES, OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUR RESIDENTS RELY ON EVERY DAY, WE CANNOT AFFORD A GOVERNING PHILOSOPHY CENTERED ON DOING LESS.
I KNOW THAT SOME ARGUE THAT DALLAS HAS A SPENDING PROBLEM, BUT WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE DOCUMENTED ACROSS EVERY MAJOR DEPARTMENT IS AN INVESTMENT PROBLEM. WHEN STREETS ARE FAILING, RECREATION CENTERS AND SWIMMING POOLS ARE AGING, DRAINAGE SYSTEMS ARE INADEQUATE, AND FACILITIES REQUIRE RENOVATIONS OR REPLACEMENT.
THE ISSUE ISN'T THAT WE'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH.
THE ISSUE IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN SPENDING, IS THAT WE'VE BEEN SPENDING TOO LITTLE FOR TOO LONG. I'M SURE SOME WOULD SAY THAT WE'VE SPENT TOO MUCH ON THE WRONG THINGS FOR TOO LONG, BUT THAT CALLS FOR BETTER PRIORITIZATION. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU JUST TOUCHED ON.
SO BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT REDUCING THE SIZE OR SCOPE OF THE CITY BUDGET, WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE'RE STARTING. AND DALLAS IS ALREADY UNDERFUNDING CORE SERVICES.
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IT'S ASKING US TO PRETEND THAT DOING LESS WILL SOMEHOW FIX MORE.I WELCOME ANY GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO IDENTIFY GENUINE OVERLAP OR UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION.
IF THERE ARE PLACES WHERE COORDINATION WITH DALLAS COUNTY, DISD, OR DALLAS COLLEGE CAN IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF EXPLORING THAT. BUT THE PURPOSE OF EFFICIENCY SHOULD BE TO STRENGTHEN GOVERNMENT, NOT DIMINISH THE CITY'S CAPACITY TO MEET RESIDENTS NEEDS.
IF THIS COMMITTEE BRINGS FORWARD PROPOSALS THAT TRULY MAKE SERVICES FASTER, CLEARER, MORE ACCESSIBLE AND MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR RESIDENTS, I WILL SUPPORT THEM. BUT IF THE OUTCOME IS MERELY REDUCING THE CITY'S ROLE WITHOUT ENSURING THAT SERVICES REMAIN RELIABLE, RESPONSIVE AND ADEQUATELY FUNDED, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I CANNOT ENDORSE.
LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT DEFICIT EVERY DAY.
BUT IT ALSO REQUIRES HONESTY ABOUT THE SCALE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
EFFICIENCY IS IMPORTANT, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, DALLAS NEEDS EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT.
EFFICIENCY CANNOT BECOME AN EXCUSE TO REDUCE OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.
COUNCILMAN BAZALDUA. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, JACK.
I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD ARTICULATE IT AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUE JUST DID.
SO I'M GOING TO SAY A BIG DITTO TO COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.
I WOULD ABSOLUTELY INVITE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EVALUATE THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR SPENDING IN A WAY THAT WILL RESULT IN BETTER SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
HOWEVER, I DON'T COSIGN, IF YOU WILL, ON THAT EXERCISE BEING EXHAUSTED BY US LOOKING TO PASS THE BUCK. IN WE HAVE THE SIMILAR CONVERSATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE COUNTY, FOR INSTANCE EVERY SINGLE BUDGET CYCLE. AND JUST AS AS COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ JUST MENTIONED, I WOULD SAY THAT THERE COULD EASILY BE AN ARGUMENT ON THE ROLE, FOR INSTANCE, THAT THE CITY PLAYS IN CORE CITY SERVICES AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR DENTAL FOR OUR ELDERS, FOR INSTANCE, THAT ALWAYS COMES UP.
HOWEVER, THAT BEING THE EXAMPLE IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FUND THOSE RESOURCES THEN I'M NOT OKAY WITH THE ANSWER, JUST BEING THAT IT SHOULD FALL IN THE JURISDICTION OF ANOTHER ENTITY.
SO AS LONG AS WE CAN FIND SOLUTIONS THAT HELP MAINTAIN CRITICAL SERVICES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM MOST, IN THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE PUT FORTH AS A CITY.
THEN THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING THAT THE, THE EXERCISES IN THIS COMMITTEE, WILL PROMOTE.
IF IT'S MEANT TO JUST BE A PLATFORM FOR POLITICAL POSTURING AND GRANDSTANDING ABOUT POINTING THE FINGER TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS, WHICH I DO BELIEVE IS A GOAL THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY WRITTEN ON THE MEMO.
THEN THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF.
AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS TO BE AS EFFICIENT OF AN EXERCISE AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR MENDELSOHN.
THANK YOU. WELL, I THINK YOU ASKED A VERY SPECIFIC QUESTION IN THE BRIEFING AND IN YOUR PRESENTATION, WHICH IS. WELL, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING TO HAVE A BRIEFING ON? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING TO INVESTIGATE? AND SO I'VE MADE A PRETTY BIG LIST WHICH WOULD PROBABLY NOT SURPRISE YOU.
BUT I DID IT KIND OF BY DEPARTMENT AND THEN OVERALL.
AND SO STARTING WITH HUMAN RESOURCES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BENCHMARKING OF STAFFING AND THE NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS WE HAVE COMPARED TO CITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE BY DEPARTMENT. I THINK AS I'VE INVESTIGATED THAT THERE'S QUITE A FEW DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE ARE WAY OVERSUBSCRIBED COMPARED TO OUR PEERS, AS WELL AS TURNOVER RATES WITHIN THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
I'M INTERESTED IN THE AMOUNT OF STAFFING WE HAVE IN GENERAL, AS I'VE PUT IN SEVERAL MEMOS, OUR BUDGET, WE HAVEN'T JUST SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO LIMIT THE GROWTH.
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SO I THINK WE HAVE DEPARTMENTS THAT AGAIN, HAVE WAY TOO MANY STAFF MEMBERS IN THERE.I'D LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY INVESTIGATE SPAN OF CONTROL, MEANING HOW MANY EMPLOYEES EACH SUPERVISOR AND MANAGER HAS AUTHORITY OVER AND I THINK YOU CAN SEE THROUGH SOME ORG CHARTS AND FROM TALKING TO PEOPLE.
SO THAT'S IN THE HR SIDE. IN PROCUREMENT, I'D LIKE TO SEE A REPORTING OF CONTRACTS THAT AUTO RENEW AND BOTH THE VENDOR AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. I'D LIKE TO SEE A PRINTED TIMELINESS OF EVERY ITEM THAT COMES TO CITY COUNCIL THROUGH A PROCUREMENT, JUST AS WE'VE BEEN ASKING, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THE ZONING.
WHEN DID THEY INITIALLY APPLY? WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? SINCE WE'VE BEEN TRACKING IT, THOSE NUMBERS HAVE GONE WAY DOWN.
AND IF WE STARTED TRACKING, WHEN DID A PROCUREMENT BEGIN COMPARED TO WHEN DID IT ACTUALLY GET TO US? I THINK WE WOULD SEE IMPROVEMENT THERE AS WELL, WHICH IS MOST DEFINITELY AN EFFICIENCY ISSUE.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A FORMAL VENDOR EVALUATION EVERY SINGLE TIME WE HAVE A CONTRACT EXECUTED.
AND WHAT I HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR YEARS, A NAUGHTY LIST FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT COMPLETING THE WORK WITH HIGH QUALITY ON TIME AND WITHOUT CHANGE ORDERS TO INCREASE THAT VALUE. WE KNOW THERE MUST BE VENDORS WHO ARE GAMING THE SYSTEM OF BIDDING LOWER AND THEN CONTINUOUSLY PUTTING IN CHANGE ORDERS. AND THAT IS BOTH UNFAIR AND COSTING OUR TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY.
I'D LIKE TO SEE AN ANNUAL REPORT OF THOSE CHANGE ORDERS BY.
AN ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHANGE ORDERS FOR ANY DEPARTMENT WITH THE VENDOR NAME AND THE AMOUNT, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE CHANGE, AND MAYBE A SEMIANNUAL REPORT OF ANY SOLE SOURCE OR ANY CONTRACTS SIGNED BY THE MANAGER THAT DIDN'T COME TO COUNCIL. IN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS. THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT'S ALREADY WORKING ON THIS.
SO CHAIR RIDLEY, THANK YOU. BUT THE STREET CUTS AND PAVEMENT REQUIRING COORDINATION WITH OUR UTILITIES AND A REQUIREMENT TO REPLACE THE WHOLE PANEL WHEN THE PAVEMENT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND A TIMELINE FOR METAL PLATES.
FOR FLEET, YOU'VE ALREADY MENTIONED AND IDENTIFIED THAT IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE EVALUATE THE UTILIZATION AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC VEHICLES MOVING THEM INTO A POOL, AS NOTED IN PRIOR AUDITS.
AND AS WE WERE HAVING OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION, I THINK PEOPLE COULD SEE WE HAVE A LOT OF VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT BEING UTILIZED, AND THIS IS AGAIN DOCUMENTED IN AN AUDIT AND HAS NOT BEEN ACTED ON.
SO THAT IS A VERY QUICK WAY WE CAN REDUCE COSTS.
NO EMPLOYEES IMPACTED AND HAVE A MORE EFFICIENT CITY GOVERNMENT.
FOR IT, WHEN BILL ZELENSKY WAS OUR DIRECTOR, HE MAPPED OUT ALL OF THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMS WE HAVE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THAT MAP. IT EXTENDED AT LEAST 100FT ON A ON A HUGE ROLL OF PAPER WITH VERY TINY PRINT.
SO THERE'S SO MANY COMPUTER SYSTEMS. AND I THINK THAT MR. ROTH, YOU'VE IDENTIFIED THAT. BUT WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IS THAT CONSOLIDATION.
SO THE EASIEST AND MOST ACCESSIBLE EXAMPLE ARE THE PAYMENT PROCESSING SYSTEMS WHEN WE'RE ALIGNED AND HAVE PAYPAL, BUT WE'RE ALSO ALIGNED AND WE HAVE ZELLE, AND WE'RE ALSO ALIGNED WITH MULTIPLE OTHER PLATFORMS. YOU'RE ASKING AN IT DEPARTMENT TO CONSTANTLY UPDATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE SECURE AND TRAINED ON THEM.
AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT EFFICIENT OR A GOOD PRACTICE.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE A REPORT THAT SHOWS THE NUMBER OF VIEWS ON EACH OF OUR WEBSITE PAGES.
ARE PEOPLE GOING THERE? ARE THEY NOT? WHAT'S USEFUL?
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WHAT MIGHT NEED TO BE MOVED SO THAT IT'S EASILY ACCESSIBLE? RISK MANAGEMENT IS ANOTHER DEPARTMENT THAT I WOULD WONDER IF THE BULK OF THOSE FUNCTIONS COULDN'T BE OUTSOURCED FOR A MUCH BETTER OUTCOME IN TERMS OF THOSE RESULTS AND ALLOWING THE CITY TO JUST FLAT OUT GET A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO RECOVER. I THINK WE NEED AND I HAVE PREVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT THIS AND AT BUDGET TIME AND MADE AMENDMENTS TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE EFFICIENCY AUDIT LIKE HOUSTON DID. HOUSTON EVALUATED ALL 22 DEPARTMENTS.THEY MADE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SUGGESTIONS.
IT REDUCED A $300 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL THAT THEY HAD.
AND BY THE WAY, THEY DIDN'T LAY OFF ANY PEOPLE TO DO IT.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE WORK FROM HOME POLICY THAT THE CITY HAS.
WHO'S WORKING FROM HOME? WHAT CRITERIA ARE BEING USED? ARE WE ACTUALLY SEEING THE SAME LEVEL OF PRODUCTIVITY? SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS. WE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY STANDARD ON WHAT IS SET FOR SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS.
AND IF THERE'S A LEVEL OF ONE STUDENT NEEDS TO GET ACROSS THE STREET, OR IF IT'S 100 STUDENTS.
I MEAN, WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD THAT REQUIRES US TO HIRE A SCHOOL GUARD, AND HOW IS THAT VERIFIED? CIVIL SERVICE EVALUATING IF THAT COULD BE COMBINED WITH HR.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT COULD PDS BE REORGANIZED INTO WHAT I CALL A CHINESE MENU WHERE YOU PICK ONE FROM COLUMN A, ONE FROM COLUMN B, AND PERHAPS THERE'S TEN STANDARD FORMATS OF PD THAT THEY COULD ALL BE LUMPED INTO.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE UNIFORMITY, MORE PREDICTABILITY.
AND THIS WILL HELP CREATE MORE DEVELOPMENT BUT STILL PROTECT THE NEIGHBORS.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THINGS LIKE WIRE TRANSFERS, INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CHARGES, ACQUISITIONS.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT DALLAS HAVING 800, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY.
AND WITH THE 800, I JUST. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS.
WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT, BUT WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT, IS THIS NORMAL? IT SEEMS NOT NORMAL TO ME TO HAVE 800 CITY FACILITIES, NOT INCLUDING THE AIRPORTS AND SANITATION, I BELIEVE. AND THEN FOR THE BUDGET, I APPRECIATE THAT.
MR. RIDLEY BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE PROGRAM BASED BUDGETS.
WE WENT THROUGH THIS LAST YEAR, AND WE WAITED AND WE WAITED.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE A SCHEDULE WHERE PERHAPS STARTING IN JANUARY, YOU START BRINGING THE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU HAVE, AND FROM JANUARY THROUGH MARCH, WHERE YOU GET VERY SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR BUDGET AND DEVELOPING THAT DRAFT.
LET'S SEE ALL OF THAT. SO TAKE ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, DIVIDE THEM OVER THOSE THREE MONTHS AND LET'S SEE ALL THE PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT. SO THAT FIRST OF ALL, WE KNOW THAT THE WORK IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING, WHICH AT THIS POINT I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
AND SECOND, SO THAT WE CAN START INTERNALIZING, WELL, WHAT ARE ALL THOSE PROGRAMS. AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S HAPPENING. SO THOSE ARE MY LIST.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE THAT IT WAS MENTIONING THE OTHER DAY AND DEFINE WHAT SUPPORT REALLY LOOKS LIKE. SO BECAUSE ONE THING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO BE DOING, WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO BE OVERLAPPING. AND SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SAID WAS NOT GIVEN A CLEAR DIRECTION AND SUPPORT
[00:35:07]
IS REALLY AMBIGUOUS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT.SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT REALLY MEAN DOWN TO DETAIL.
AND THAT WAS NOT PROVIDED. WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, THIS ONE.
MAYOR'S TOP PRIORITIES BESIDES PUBLIC SAFETY, GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY.
AND SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO LESS. I KNOW THAT WAS STATED, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BE EFFICIENT AND PRUDENT IN WHAT WE'RE DOING WHILE SUPPORTING NOT ONLY THE CITY, BUT, AGAIN, OUR PARTNERS. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING OUR BEST TO WORK WITH OUR STAFF AND ALSO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ONCE AGAIN BEING EFFICIENT AND BRINGING PROGRAMS AND MAKING SURE THAT PROGRAMS THAT ARE HERE ARE WORKING PROPERLY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, ARE THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? IF NOT, THANK YOU, CHIEF IRELAND. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO OVERVIEW OF FUNCTIONS OF TEXAS HOME RULE.
YOU MAY BEGIN. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS KIND OF SUMMARIZES WHAT I'M GOING TO GO OVER THIS MORNING.
IT'S GOING TO BE WHERE WE GET THE AUTHORITY TO BECOME A HOME RULE CITY.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTION OF A HOME RULE CITY CHARTER.
THE AUTHORITY EMPOWERS US TO GOVERN OURSELVES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A SLIDE THAT GIVES YOU A CHART THAT SHOWS THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A GENERAL LAW CITY IN TEXAS AND A HOME RULE CITY, AND THEN WE'LL GO OVER SOME LIMITS AND OVERSIGHT AND HOW WE ARE AFFECTED BY THE TEXAS REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACT.
NEXT SLIDE. DALLAS IS A HOME RULE MUNICIPALITY BECAUSE WE OPERATE UNDER OUR CHARTER THAT WAS ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.
THIS GIVES US THE FULL POWER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
A MUNICIPAL CHARTER IS THE BASIC DOCUMENT THAT DEFINES OUR ORGANIZATION.
THE POWERS, THE FUNCTIONS, THE ESSENTIAL PROCEDURES OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
IT ACTS, PRETTY MUCH I LIKE TO SUMMARIZE IT AS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CITY.
THE CHARTER CANNOT BE AMENDED ANY MORE THAN EVERY TWO YEARS.
AND THAT'S OUTLINED IN THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.
AND THIS MOST RECENTLY HAPPENED IN 2023-2024.
IN 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTED A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, AND THE COMMISSION TOOK A LOOK AT THE ENTIRE CHARTER TO SEE HOW IT WOULD BEST BE AMENDED AT THAT TIME. AND THEN IN 2024, THE CITY COUNCILREVIEWED THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND VOTED ON WHAT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO SEND TO DALLAS VOTERS FOR THAT ELECTION THAT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER 2024.
SO IT'LL BE ANOTHER SEVERAL YEARS OR SO BEFORE WE START THAT PROCESS AGAIN.
NEXT SLIDE. NOT EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN TEXAS IS ABLE TO BECOME A HOME RULE CITY.
ADOPTION OF A CHARTER REQUIRES VOTER APPROVAL AND IS GOVERNED BY PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN THE STATE LAW THERE, IN THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.
[00:40:04]
NEXT SLIDE. THE GENERAL RULE IS THAT HOME RULE CITIES MAY DO ANYTHING AUTHORIZED BY THEIR CHARTER THAT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED OR PREEMPTED BY THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION OR FEDERAL OR STATE LAW.AND THIS INCLUDES THE TEXAS REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACT THAT I'LL GO OVER.
I HAVE A FEW SLIDES ON THAT THIS MORNING. THE AUTHORITY INCLUDES LOCAL MATTERS SUCH AS ANNEXATION, TAXATION, AND THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE ENABLING CITIES TO TAILOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS LOCAL NEEDS. HOME RULE CITIES ALSO USUALLY GRANT THEIR RESIDENTS CERTAIN TOOLS, SUCH AS REFERENDUM AND RECALL EMPOWERING VOTERS TO PROPOSE, AMEND OR REPEAL ORDINANCES, REMOVE PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS IN GENERAL LAW CITIES.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS A CHART I'VE PROVIDED THAT SHOWS SOME OF THE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A GENERAL LAW CITY AND A HOME RULE CITY. A GENERAL LAW CITY BEING THOSE TEXAS TOWNS THAT DON'T HAVE A CITY CHARTER AND THAT ARE TYPICALLY UNDER 5000 RESIDENTS. NEXT SLIDE. HOME RULE CITIES ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITS AND OVERSIGHT, WHILE HOME RULE AUTHORITY GRANTS BROAD LOCAL POWERS TO CITIES, WE ARE STILL SUBJECT TO CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, A HOME RULE CITIES ACTIONS CANNOT CONFLICT WITH HIGHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
NEXT SLIDE. THE LONG STANDING LEGAL STANDARD IS THAT HOME RULE CITIES CANNOT ADOPT LAWS THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION OR THE GENERAL LAWS OF THE STATE. THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT HAS WEIGHED IN MORE SPECIFICALLY BY RULING THAT THE STATE MUST SHOW UNMISTAKABLE CLARITY TO PREEMPT ANY CITY REGULATION, WITH THE TRADITIONAL TEST BEING THAT THE STATE MUST SHOW DIRECT AND IRRECONCILABLE CONFLICT BETWEEN A HOME RULE, CITIES, LOCAL REGULATION, AND THE STATE LAW.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS BRINGS US TO THE TEXAS REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS HB2127. MANY CITIES ACROSS TEXAS OPPOSED THIS BILL WHILE IT WAS PENDING IN THE 88TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
IN FACT, THE CITY SENT ME DOWN TO AUSTIN TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL IN FRONT OF BOTH SENATE COMMITTEE AND HOUSE COMMITTEE, THOUGH IT WAS APPROVED BY BOTH CHAMBERS, AND THEN GOVERNOR ABBOTT SIGNED IT INTO LAW IN JUNE OF 2023, WITH IT BECOMING EFFECTIVE IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR.
AND THIS LIMITS HOME RULE AUTHORITY UNLESS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW.
NEXT SLIDE. THE ACT PROHIBITS CITIES AND COUNTIES FROM REGULATING WITHIN FIELDS GOVERNED BY SPECIFIC STATE STATUTES. THIS MEANS THAT LOCAL ORDINANCES CANNOT CONFLICT WITH STATE LAWS COVERED BY THE ACT, AND IT SHIFTS THE BURDEN TO CITIES TO SHOW CONSISTENCY WITH STATE LAW.
NEXT SLIDE. AND THIS IS A LIST OF THE STATE STATUTES THAT FALL UNDER THE ACT.
SO IT'S NOT EVERY STATE STATUTE BUT IT'S THE ONE SPECIFICALLY LISTED HERE.
NEXT SLIDE. AND I'LL WRAP UP BY JUST SAYING THAT TEXAS HOME RULE CITIES HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRIVILEGE OF BROAD LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT, SUBJECT TO FEDERAL AND STATE PREEMPTION, INCLUDING THE 2023 TEXAS REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACT.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, ATTORNEY MORRISON.
I'M GONNA START WITH MY RIGHT AND GO TO BACK TO MY LEFT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCILMAN RESENDEZ? COUNCILMAN RIDLEY? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, LAURA.
[00:45:03]
I'M INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THE TENSION BETWEEN THE REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACT, PASSED IN 2023 AND THE SUPREME COURT'S PRIOR INTERPRETATIONS OF ARTICLE XI OF THE CONSTITUTION WITH REGARD TO THE AUTHORITIES OF HOME RULE CITIES.IT SEEMS LIKE THAT TENSION ARISES FROM SHIFTING THE BURDEN FROM THE STATE TO DEMONSTRATE, WITH UNMISTAKABLE CLARITY, A DIRECT AND IRRECONCILABLE CONFLICT BETWEEN STATE LAW AND LOCAL ORDINANCE.
IS ANYONE CHALLENGING THAT ACT? MANY CITIES ACROSS TEXAS ARE.
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF DALLAS'S LITIGATION ON THAT ISSUE? I'M NOT PREPARED TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE LITIGATION, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO BE BRIEFED ON OR RECEIVE A BRIEFING MEMO ON. SO I'LL GET WITH MISS PALOMINO ON THAT TO GET Y'ALL THE STATUS OF THAT LITIGATION.
WELL, I THINK THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT ACT ARE FAR REACHING.
AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BROAD BASED EFFORT TO REDUCE LOCAL AUTHORITY UNDER CHARTERS. AND SO I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN THAT SORT OF BRIEFING.
IF IT NEEDS TO BE IN CLOSED SESSION, SO BE IT.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS COMMITTEE BE CONVERSANT IN WHAT THE CITY IS DOING AND PERHAPS OTHER CITIES TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THAT ACT, BECAUSE IT IS ALREADY, I THINK, HAMSTRUNG MANY INITIATIVES ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.
SO I THINK THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH. THANK YOU. JUST A FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT COUNCILMAN RIDLEY WAS TALKING ABOUT. NOT ONLY AM I CONCERNED ABOUT THE OVERALL CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THAT STATUTE, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT THERE'S INDIVIDUAL ORDINANCES, STATUTES THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE STATE THAT INDIVIDUALLY, OR AS HE, AS HE WAS MENTIONING, ARE SLOWLY ERODING SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITIES TO MANAGE.
IN PARTICULAR SORT OF THE MOST OBVIOUS ONES ARE IN THE ZONING AND PERMITTING AND, AND A LAND USE ENTITLEMENT AREAS. BUT THERE'S ALSO IN OCCUPATIONAL SUPERVISION, THERE'S THAT'S, THAT'S VERY, VERY PREDOMINANT NOW IN OUR ABILITY TO REGULATE CERTAIN TYPES OF BUSINESSES AND USES. AND I THINK THAT I WOULD ALSO ECHO A STRONG REQUEST THAT WE LOOK AT TRYING TO INVESTIGATE THE LEGITIMACY, THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF ALL OF THESE SORT OF IDENTIFIABLE LARGE POWER TAKINGS THAT THAT WE'RE BEING FORCED TO ENDURE WITH SOME OF THESE STATUTORY CHANGES FROM THE STATE. I ALSO WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE US TO COOPERATE AND TO ENGAGE WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT MAY HAVE SIMILAR CONCERNS AND DO THAT SOONER THAN LATER, ESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT AT THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE JUST ENDED, ONE WILL BE HERE SOONER THAN LATER.
SO I'M REAL CONCERNED ABOUT OUR PERSONAL AS A CITY, OUR PERSONAL LACK OF ABILITY TO STOP THE POWER GRAB THAT IS AFFECTING IS AFFECTING OUR ABILITY TO MANAGE AND REGULATE OUR OWN OUR OWN CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON. VICE CHAIR MENDELSOHN.
I JUST HAVE ONE ITEM, WHICH IS CAN YOU TELL US WHEN THE CHARTER IS NEXT AVAILABLE FOR UPDATE? IT'LL BE TWO YEARS AFTER THIS LAST ELECTION. AND I HAVE LOOKED AT THE CALENDAR BECAUSE THERE IS SOME GUIDANCE OUT THERE. I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS A CASE OR AN AG OPINION THAT SAYS IT HAS TO BE A FULL TWO YEARS, NOT TWO YEARS MINUS A DAY. SO I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE THE MAY ELECTION OF 2027.
[00:50:08]
THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, THE NEXT TIME WE WOULD BE ABLE TO AMEND THE CHARTER.WOULD YOU ANTICIPATE WE WOULD BE USING THAT MAY ELECTION DATE IN THE FUTURE? IT WOULD BE UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL. WE COULD CERTAINLY HAVE A CHARTER ELECTION EITHER IN MAY OR IN NOVEMBER.
OKAY. I WOULD HOPE THAT WHEN THAT WAS THE NARRATIVE FOR THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE, THAT WE THEN WOULDN'T GO FOR AN ELECTION THAT INCREASED COSTS AND WOULD HAVE A REDUCED TURNOUT.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR MENDELSOHN.
I HAVE NO QUESTIONS, SO THANK YOU, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY MORRISON.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE OVER OVERVIEW OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, INCLUDING FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, GOVERNMENT, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND DALLAS RAPID TRANSIT.
TRANSIT. JAKE ANDERSON, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.
I THINK WE HAVE THE CHIEF OF STAFF COMING. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. AHMAD GOREE, CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE CITY MANAGER.
JAKE IS OUT TODAY, SO I'M SITTING IN FOR HIM.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
SO JUST A BASIC BACKGROUND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO COVER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS THE UNITED STATES, STATE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS THE STATE OF TEXAS, COUNTY GOVERNMENT, DALLAS COUNTY, OUR SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN THE REGION, ISDS, DALLAS COLLEGE, PARKLAND HOSPITAL, AND REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITIES WHICH IS DART AS WELL AS THE NEXT STEPS.
SO THERE ARE FIVE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN THE US POLITICAL SYSTEM.
FIRST BEING THE FEDERAL WHICH COVERS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO YOU HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH EXECUTIVE AND THE JUDICIAL.
THEN WE GO DOWN TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHICH CONSISTS OF THE COUNTY, TEXAS HAS 254 COUNTIES, THE MOST OF ANY STATE IN THE US. THEN WE BREAK DOWN TO OUR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS OUR LOCAL CITIES.
THEN WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL DISTRICTS. TEXAS HAS OVER 3250 SPECIAL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING HOSPITAL DISTRICTS, UTILITY DISTRICTS, REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITIES, ETC.
THEN YOU HAVE FEDERAL LAWS AND TREATIES ENACTED BY CONGRESS AND BINDING ALL STATES.
STATE LAWS APPLY TO COUNTIES, CITIES, ISDS, AND DISTRICTS.
AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY, WHICH CONSISTS OF COUNTIES, CITIES, SPECIAL DISTRICTS, AND MUST FOLLOW STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.
NEXT SLIDE. SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING NATIONAL SYSTEMS THAT AFFECT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, ESTABLISHING LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT APPLY ACROSS ALL STATES, AND ENSURING CONSISTENT NATIONAL STANDARDS.
IT OVERSEES LARGE SCALE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS NATIONAL DEFENSE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, IMMIGRATION, INTERSTATE COMMERCE, FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, MONETARY POLICY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRANSPORTATION REGULATIONS.
MAJOR SOCIAL PROGRAMS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE.
NEXT SLIDE. AND THEN STATE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
THE STATE OF TEXAS PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN MANAGING SYSTEMS THAT AFFECT ALL TEXANS.
IT OVERSEES LARGE SCALE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS PUBLIC EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
[00:55:05]
BOTH AS GENERAL PURPOSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND AS ADMINISTRATIVE ARM OF THE STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY'S PRIMARY, EXISTS TO ENFORCE STATE LAW AND OPERATE WITHIN AUTHORITY GRANTED BY THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, IT OVERSEES LARGE SCALE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS COUNTY BUDGET AND IN TAXATION.
JUSTICE IN COURTS. DETENTION AND JAIL OPERATIONS.
ELECTIONS. ADMINISTRATION AND VITAL RECORDS AND LICENSING.
NEXT SLIDE. AND THEN YOUR BODY, THE CITY GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
IT OVERSEES LARGE SCALE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS PUBLIC SAFETY, DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, DALLAS FIRE RESCUE, WATER, WASTEWATER AND SANITATION SERVICES, ZONING, LAND USE AND BUILDING PERMITTING, STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, PARKS, LIBRARIES AND RECREATION PROGRAMS, HOUSING, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND LOCAL CODE COMPLIANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND PLANNING. THEN THERE'S SPECIAL DISTRICTS.
SO WE HAVE SEVERAL SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN THE REGION.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS PROVIDE SPECIFIC PUBLIC SERVICES THAT ARE NOT HANDLED BY CITIES OR COUNTIES.
IT OVERSEES LARGE SCALE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS PUBLIC EDUCATION, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FOR INSTANCE, COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS, HEALTHCARE SERVICES, PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICTS, FOR INSTANCE DALLAS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, PARKLAND HEALTH, MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, TRANSPORTATION AND ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE. ROAD DISTRICTS, WATER, WASTEWATER AND RIVER AUTHORITIES.
THE TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY, FOR INSTANCE, AND EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS.
DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT SO DART IS A REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY CREATED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THAT EXTEND BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF A SINGLE CITY. IT IS DESIGNED TO PLAN, FINANCE AND OPERATE MOBILITY SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH, REDUCE CONGESTION, AND CONNECT RESIDENTS ACROSS MULTIPLE DISTRICTS.
IT OVERSEES LARGE SCALE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS BUS, LIGHT RAIL, RAPID TRANSIT AND PARATRANSIT SERVICES, REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND CAPITAL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, MOBILITY INNOVATION, GOLINK ON DEMAND SERVICE, TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE, AND LONG-TERM SYSTEM EXPANSION.
PARTNERSHIPS WITH CITIES FOR TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE ALIGNMENT.
AND WITH THAT, I THINK THAT IS IT. AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO BACK TO YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, CHIEF STAFF.
I'M GOING TO START WITH MY LEFT. COUNCILMAN BAZALDUA.
COUNCILWOMAN BLACKMON. COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH. I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
BUT I REALLY DO THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO INVESTIGATE OVERLAPS AND WHERE WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT AND WHERE WE CAN PARTNER UP WITH OTHER ENTITIES, OTHER INSTITUTIONS, OTHER BOTH GOVERNMENTAL INDEPENDENT GROUPS TO SHARE AND UTILIZE OUR LIMITED RESOURCES MORE EFFICIENTLY.
AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO INVESTIGATE OVER THE OVER THIS COMING YEAR SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR BUDGETING IN ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND ALSO IN SOME OF OUR SERVICES, INFRASTRUCTURE, SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES, WHERE WE'RE, WHERE WE REALLY DO HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH, WITH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
[01:00:04]
ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY. COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ.VICE CHAIR MENDELSOHN. YES. FOR THE MMDS. HOW MANY ARE THERE IN DALLAS THAT AREN'T EPID? ARE THERE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF? I DON'T. I WILL REFER. WE DON'T KNOW. WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU THE NUMBER OF MMDS.
AND THEN FOR TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY, I WAS ON AN ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR THAT AT SOME POINT.
I DON'T THINK I STILL AM. BUT HOW IS THAT BOARD APPOINTED? HOW ARE THEY? HOW DO THEY BECOME A MEMBER OF THAT? DO YOU KNOW? I DON'T KNOW, OFF THE TOP OF. WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GET THE INFORMATION AS WELL.
THANK YOU. AND FOR THE EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT THAT YOU HAVE ON THAT SLIDE NINE.
I MEAN, IS THIS THE FEMA EMERGENCY RESPONSE OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE? I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT. LET ME GET CHIEF ARTIS TO GET WITH YOU ON THAT.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE. AND THEN AS FAR AS OVERLAP, I'M WONDERING IF YOU IF YOU COULD.
OKAY. I SEE KEVIN ODOM HERE. THAT COULD PROBABLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS I HEARD FEMA MENTIONED, BUT NO MORE CONTEXT THAN THAT.
OKAY. SO ON SLIDE NINE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND ONE OF THE BULLETS, IN FACT, THE LAST BULLET SAYS EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS.
AND SO THE ONLY EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT I'M AWARE OF IS THE FEMA EMERGENCY RESPONSE, WHICH, BY THE WAY, WAS HIGHLIGHTED TODAY ON KERA AS I WAS DRIVING IN TO CITY HALL.
ARE THERE OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS, AND IF SO, CAN YOU TELL US? SO I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT ON THAT.
TYPICALLY EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS IS KIND OF RELATES TO FIRE SERVICE.
I KNOW IT'S VERY COMMON IN THE HOUSTON AREA. THERE'S A NUMBER OF EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS HERE.
WE DON'T, I COULD GET YOU IF WE HAVE ANY UP HERE.
OKAY. BUT IN DALLAS, WE'RE NOT PART OF ONE, IS THAT CORRECT? NO, MA'AM. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY ESDS HERE IN THE DALLAS AREA.
OKAY. THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE OVERLAP WITH THESE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO DURING THE BUDGETING PROCESS YOU, AS A COUNCIL, APPROVED FOR A POSITION TO MOVE FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY WORK WITH THIS COMMITTEE TO IDENTIFY THOSE OVERLAPPING.
I GUESS OPPORTUNITIES. THAT PERSON WILL BE DOING VARIOUS RESEARCH.
THEY WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE GOING ON THAT MAY IN SYNC WITH THE CITY AND SEE IF THERE ARE WAYS TO EITHER PARTNER OR IF THERE'S RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS COMMITTEE TO EXPLORE WHERE THERE'S EFFICIENCIES THAT MAY NOT BE NEEDED HERE WITHIN THE CITY.
FOR EXAMPLE THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH DALLAS COUNTY, THEY MAY PROVIDE A PARTICULAR SERVICE OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT ON THE HIGHWAYS. AND SO THERE'S A DISTINCTION OF WHAT THAT SERVICE IS.
BUT A LOT OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THINGS THAT WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH ANOTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY TO DO ON OUR BEHALF, OR WE DO ON THEIR BEHALF, BUT JUST TRY TO GO THROUGH AN INVENTORY OF THOSE FOR YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO, FOR INSTANCE I THINK WHEN WE ACTUALLY START GETTING THE PROGRAM INFORMATION FOR THE BUDGET, IT'S GOING TO BECOME MORE APPARENT. BUT I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA MENTIONED THE DENTAL PROGRAM, WHICH I THINK FOR FIVE BUDGET YEARS, I SPOKE ABOUT SINCE DALLAS COUNTY HAS OUR HEALTH AUTHORITY, THAT THEY WOULD BE THE RIGHT ONES TO ADMINISTER THE SENIOR DENTAL GRANT.
ALTHOUGH WE WROTE THE GRANT, I UNDERSTAND. BUT FOR INSTANCE, DALLAS COUNTY HAS A HOME WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM, AND WE HAVE A HOME WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. AND THE DALLAS AREA AGENCY ON AGING HAS A WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM,
[01:05:09]
AND PERHAPS ALL THREE OF US DON'T NEED TO HAVE THAT.I THINK IT MOVED TO ENVIRONMENTAL. BUT THAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE WHERE WE PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO BE DOING THAT OR THEY DON'T NEED TO. AND EITHER WAY, THAT'S A WIN FOR OUR TAXPAYERS TO NOT HAVE TWO SETS OF STAFF ADMINISTERING THE SAME PROGRAM.
PLUS THE AREA AGENCY ALSO DOING THE SAME THING.
SO AGAIN, MAYBE IT NEEDS TO ALL MOVE TO AREA AGENCY, WHICH SERVES ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR REGION.
BUT THOSE ARE EXAMPLES. AND THAT GROUP ISN'T LISTED ON HERE.
THE DALLAS AREA AGENCY ON AGING, WHICH IS QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL PARTIALLY NONPROFIT.
SO PERHAPS WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE LIST. THE OTHER THING I WOULD JUST NOTE IS ON SLIDE TWO, WHERE YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EACH GOVERNMENT ENTITY.
THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE AND ACTUALLY THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT SLIDE.
YOU, YOU LIST AN ENTIRE GROUP. LET ME SEE IF I HAVE IT.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS POINT THAT ALL OF THESE OTHER BOARDS, SCHOOL BOARD, PARKLAND BOARD, THOSE ARE NOT ONES THAT WE CONTROL. THESE ARE EITHER ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THEY'RE APPOINTED BY SOMEBODY ELSE.
THE ONLY ONE WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE INPUT ON IS THE DART BOARD OF, OF THE LIST.
AND I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHICH PAGE IT WAS. I DON'T THINK IT WAS THAT PAGE EITHER.
MAYBE MAYBE IT WAS JUST THAT I WAS LOOKING AT TWO AND I WAS LOOKING DOWN.
I'M LIKE, WELL, ISD COLLEGE, PARKLAND, THE COUNTY.
IT'S REALLY ONLY DART THAT I THINK WE HAVE A SAY ON.
PERHAPS WE HAVE A SAY ON THE TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY.
SO WHEREVER THAT PAGE WAS THAT HAD THAT, IS THAT THE ONE? OKAY. SO IT MIGHT BE NINE. THANK YOU. ARE THERE OTHER ONES THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT WE ARE APPOINTING PEOPLE OR THE MAYOR'S APPOINTING PEOPLE? I'M SORRY.
I WAS LOOKING AT A NOTE FROM MY STAFF MEMBER.
WELL, I'LL JUST THROW OUT A COUPLE FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, DCAD OR THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICTS OR DFW.
I MEAN, SO THERE ARE DFW, THE MAYOR OR THE COUNCIL DOES APPOINT BOARD REPRESENTATION TO.
SO LOOKING AT THOSE AS WELL AS THE ONES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF YOUR JURISDICTION.
SO TRYING TO JUST INVENTORY ALL OF THOSE, WE HAVE A BIG TASK AHEAD OF US TO DO THAT, OF COURSE, BUT I WANT TO GO THROUGH AND REALLY INVENTORY ALL OF THOSE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AS WE'RE LOOKING AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO AS VICE CHAIR MENDELSOHN SAID, IDENTIFY THOSE OVERLAPPING ENTITIES THAT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DOING THE SAME JOB.
SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. ALSO I KNOW YOU SAID THAT WE WOULD TACKLE SOME OF THESE THINGS DURING, I GUESS, THE NEXT BUDGET PROCESS. WHEN DOES THAT START? AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THESE THINGS BE TACKLED BEFORE THE NEXT BUDGETING PROCESS, SO WHEN WE'RE GOING INTO NEXT BUDGETING PROCESS, WE'LL HAVE A SENSE OF DIRECTION OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE, WHAT'S OVERLAPPING AND WHAT'S NOT OVERLAPPING.
SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO WHEN DOES THAT PROCESS ACTUALLY START? YEAH, IF I MAY. JACK IRELAND, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SO WE'VE ACTUALLY STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT WILL RESULT IN A BUDGET BEING PRESENTED TO YOU AS CITY COUNCIL NEXT AUGUST.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS DOING A BETTER JOB OF IDENTIFYING ALL OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS BREAKING THOSE DOWN TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL THAN WE DID IN THE CURRENT YEAR AND BEING MORE GRANULAR IN THAT THE FIRST PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 1ST.
WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL BRIEFING DATE ON YOUR CITY CALENDAR SO THAT WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL APRIL 1ST, MAY 7TH, AND JUNE 16TH, I THINK. ANYWAY, APRIL, MAY AND JUNE, WE HAVE BRIEFINGS BEFORE THE FULL CITY COUNCIL, SO WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THIS COMMITTEE IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH BEFORE WE START CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FULL CITY COUNCIL.
[01:10:08]
SO WE WILL TRY TO GET YOU THINGS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS AND THEN FOUR MONTHS OUT.WE ARE GOING TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU.
AND ON THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION MISTER CHAIRMAN, SO, YES THAT STAFF MEMBER THAT I IDENTIFIED EARLIER IN THE CONVERSATION WILL SPECIFICALLY BE ASSIGNED TO THIS COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT OUR NOT JUST THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER WHERE WE'RE APPOINTING OFFICIALS, BUT THOSE THAT WE PARTNERSHIP AS WELL TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OVERLAPPING SERVICES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE TIME IS WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR COMING.
BEING PART OF OUR FIRST GOVERNMENT. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL MEETING.
THE TIME IS 1020, AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.