Jan 14, 2026 City Council Agenda Meetings

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ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. WE HAVE A QUORUM. TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14TH, 2026.

[AGENDA CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2026 ORDER OF BUSINESS ]

EVERY TIME WE MEET, WE HAVE AN INVOCATION. AND OUR INVOCATION SPEAKER THIS MORNING IS NONE OTHER THAN OUR COLLEAGUE, CHAIRMAN MAXIE JOHNSON, WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT FOUR.

HE IS ALSO THE SENIOR PASTOR AT NEW MORNING STAR MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN WEST DALLAS.

AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO HIM FOR INVOCATION THIS MORNING BEFORE WE HAVE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG.

SO CHAIRMAN, PASTOR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CAN WE ALL STAND, PLEASE? LET US PRAY. FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE COME SAYING THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SEE ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER YEAR THAT WASN'T PROMISED TO US.

GOD, WE THANK YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW SOMEONE LAID DOWN LAST NIGHT THAT DIDN'T GET UP THIS MORNING. BUT YOU BLESSED US TO STILL BE IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING ONE MORE TIME. SO WE'RE GRATEFUL. FATHER. WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS US, ANOINT US TO DO YOUR WORK, CONTINUE TO GUIDE US.

GOD, WORD OUR MOUTH BECAUSE THIS IS THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED US TO DO.

THIS IS A MINISTRY, A GODLY ASSIGNMENT, AND WE DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS OUR CITY, BLESS THE COUNCIL, BLESS OUR MAYOR, HIS FAMILY, BLESS OUR CITY MANAGER, HER FAMILY. TOUCH HER FATHER IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN HEAL AND WE SPEAK IT NOW IN JESUS NAME.

GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GUIDE US ONCE AGAIN.

CONTINUE TO LORD, LET LOVE BE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

LET LOVE BE IN OUR CITY. LET LOVE BE IN OUR NATION, IN THE IN THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN.

GOD, WE SURE DO NEED YOU NOW. SO, GOD, WE STRETCH OUR HANDS TO YOU BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER HELP THAT WE KNOW.

AND WE CALL ON YOU, GOD. THAT AMAZING GRACE THAT SAVED US, THE AMAZING GRACE THAT FOUND US, THE AMAZING GRACE THAT HEALED US. AND SO, GOD, WE PRAISE YOU.

WE DON'T WAIT TILL THE BATTLE IS OVER. WE THANK YOU NOW BECAUSE YOUR CREDIT IS GOOD WITH US.

YOU NEVER FAILED US. YOU NEVER LET US DOWN. YOU'VE ALWAYS BROUGHT US OUT.

AND AS BIG MAMA SAID, YOU MAY NOT COME WHEN YOU WANT. WHEN WE WANT IT, BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS ON TIME.

SO THIS MORNING, GOD, WE SAY THANK YOU. WE PRAISE YOU FOR YOUR GLORY.

WE PRAISE YOU FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU BLESSED US TO HAVE.

GOD, EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING. YOU BLESSED US TO CONTINUE TO LIVE.

AND SO THIS MORNING WE WORSHIP YOU AND WE HONOR YOU NOW, GOD, AS WE MAKE DECISIONS TODAY, WE ASK THAT YOU JUST WORD OUR MOUTHS, GIVE US THE WISDOM AND THE UNDERSTANDING, AND WE THANK YOU FOR OUR CHILDREN.

WE THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE THANK YOU FOR OUR EDUCATORS AND GOD.

WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO ANOINT US AND GUIDE US.

IT'S IN YOUR SON JESUS HOLY NAME. WE THANK YOU.

IN JESUS NAME, AMEN AND AMEN. AMEN. ALRIGHT. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

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 EVERYONE.

YOU MAY BE SEATED. IT'S OUR FIRST MEETING OF 2026, AND AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, WE HAVE SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND THE LIKE. SO BEAR WITH ME WHILE I TRY TO MAKE SURE I DON'T OVERLOOK ANYONE.

SO THE FIRST ONE THAT I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE IS FROM OUR COLLEAGUE WHO'S MAKING HIS WAY BACK, SLOWLY BUT SURELY TO HIS SEAT CHAIRMAN MAXIE JOHNSON FROM DISTRICT FOUR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT SLASH SPECIAL PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WE HAVE A FEW AWARDS TO GIVE THIS MORNING ON BEHALF OF OUR OF DISTRICT FOUR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M ASKING DOCTOR JOHNSON IF HE CAN STAND. I WANT TO READ THIS.

EXCUSE MY SEAT. AND I COME DOWN IN A FEW SECONDS TO DO EVERYTHING.

THIS IS A SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO DOCTOR WILLIE FRED JOHNSON, PRINCIPAL AT SOUTH OAK CLIFF HIGH SCHOOL.

LEADERSHIP THAT BUILDS CHAMPIONS IN BOTH ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS.

THIS SPECIAL HONOR CELEBRATES YOUR EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT, CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF HIGH EXPECTATION, DISCIPLINE, PRIDE, AND OPPORTUNITY UNDER YOUR VISIONARY LEADERSHIP, SOUTH OAK CLIFF HIGH SCHOOL HAS CONTINUED TO RISE AS A STANDARD OF SCHOLARSHIP, SPORTSMANSHIP, AND COMMUNITY STRENGTH. YOUR INFLUENCE HAS EMPOWERED STUDENTS TO EXCEL IN THE CLASSROOM, COMPETE WITH INTEGRITY ON THE FIELD,

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YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, FORMER PTA PRESIDENT, FORMER SITE DECISION MAKING CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER MAXIE JOHNSON.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT IN THIS PRESENTATION THAT DOCTOR WILLIE JOHNSON TOOK SOUTH OAK CLIFF FROM BEING AN F RATED SCHOOL TO ONE POINT FROM BEING A A. WHEN PEOPLE SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE, SOUTH OAK CLIFF STANDS FOR SUCCESS OVER CIRCUMSTANCE. HE DESERVES A STANDING OVATION.

WILL COME DOWN ALL TOGETHER AND TAKE PICTURES.

COACH TODD. PLEASE STAND. COACH TODD IS COACHED.

ALL MY KIDS. MAN, WHENEVER WE HAD ISSUES IN MY FAMILY, HE'S THE FIRST PERSON, ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT I CALL ON.

SO HE'S JUST NOT A COACH. HE'S A BROTHER TO ME.

SO I WANT TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE HE'S HE'S HAD MY BACK, MAN, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

ENCOURAGE ME AS A PASTOR, AS A FORMER COACH, I COACH WITH HIM.

I COACHED AT THE SCHOOL. I STILL VOLUNTEER AT SOUTH OAK CLIFF HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS MEANINGFUL. SO I'M PRESENTING WITH THIS PLAQUE.

LET HIM SEE IT. IT SAYS A MESSAGE FROM PAPA T.

WINNING IS IN YOUR DNA. JASON TODD, TEXAS U.I.L.

FIRST BLACK COACH THREE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021, 2022 2025.

WHEN PEOPLE SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE, COACH TODD MADE IT HAPPEN WITH THE STAFF AND WE HAVE A SAYING THAT WE THAT HE'S COINED, IT SAYS IT'S ALREADY WRITTEN. SO I WANT TO PRESENT THIS PLAQUE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MAXIE JOHNSON TO COACH JASON TODD.

WE HAVE ONE MORE. THIS IS TO THE FOOTBALL TEAM.

WHY? IT'S COMING OUT. EVERYONE KNOWS THE WORK THAT WE PLACED INTO THIS.

AND THIS IS NOT JUST AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS. WE'VE LOST SOME, BUT WE HAD OUR WE HELD OUR HEAD UP.

WE WON. AND SO THIS TEAM IS BUILT CHARACTER. IT'S BUILT ON CHARACTER, INTEGRITY AND PERSEVERANCE, AND WE BELIEVE IN OURSELVES. SO I WANT TO PRESENT THIS COACH.

TODD, IF YOU COME IN, THE WHOLE COACHING STAFF WILL COME DOWN FOR THE WHOLE TEAM AND WE'LL TAKE PICTURES DOWN HERE.

IF MAYOR ALLOWS US TO. BUT I WANT TO PRESENT THIS TO THE ENTIRE COACHING STAFF AND, AND FOOTBALL TEAM THAT SAYS CONGRATULATIONS, COACH JASON TODD. U-I-L THREE TIMES STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

SOUTH OAK CLIFF HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUR, OAK CLIFF.

WE'VE ALSO GIVEN COATS TO OUR CITY COUNCIL. SO I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT FROM THE ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT FOUR, COUNCILMAN JONES, WE LOVE YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GIVE US FOR OUR COMMUNITY. NOW, I ASSUME I ASSUME THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL THIS BLACK AND GOLD IN HERE TODAY AND NOT GOING TO HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH WITH THE FULL COUNCIL IS THAT? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO? YES, SIR.

IF YOU ALLOW IT. OKAY. OF COURSE. SO, EVERYONE, WHAT WE HOPE YOU WILL DO IF YOU ARE PART OF THE SOUTH OAK CLIFF FAMILY.

COME ON DOWN INTO THIS CENTER AREA RIGHT HERE.

I'M THE CENTER OF THE WORSHIP. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A OFFICIAL PHOTO.

AND AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COORDINATING HAVING THE TEAM AND THE COACH AND THE PRINCIPAL HERE TODAY.

I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY THE SOUTH OAK CLIFF STORY IS A STORY THAT I THINK THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT AND OUGHT TO SEE AND OUGHT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN A COMMUNITY HAS THE SUPPORT THAT IT NEEDS FROM THE ADULTS, WHEN THE STUDENTS HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED FROM FOR NOT JUST THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THE PARENTS AND THE NEIGHBORS AND THE FOLKS SURROUNDING THE SCHOOL.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS THAT SOUTHCLIFFE HAS HAD UNDER PRINCIPAL JOHNSON AND THE ATHLETIC

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THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE A HUGE PART OF THE STORY, BUT THE REAL STORY TO ME IS THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT, IN SOME PEOPLE'S MINDS, WERE COUNTED OUT AND DISCOUNTED AS NOT BEING WORTHY OF MUCH ATTENTION, NOT BEING WORTHY OF MUCH ACCOLADES FROM OUR CITY.

BUT I THINK EVERYBODY NOW SEES WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN OUR CITY, WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN EVERY CORNER OF THE THIS CITY WHEN WE ACTUALLY COME TOGETHER.

SO I'M JUST SO PROUD OF THE JOB THAT HAS BEEN DONE.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE SUPERINTENDENT AT DISD WHO'S NOT HERE AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S BEEN A PART OF THIS SUCCESS STORY.

SO AGAIN, ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR SOUTH OAK CLIFF.

YEAH. OKAY, SO THESE GUYS ARE BIGGER THAN OUR USUAL CROWD.

SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED JUST A MINUTE SO US WE CAN GO DOWN TO WHERE YOU GUYS ARE SO WE CAN BE SEEN IN THE PHOTO.

BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE COVERING US UP PRETTY GOOD HERE.

I SEE WHY Y'ALL WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP. Y'ALL SOME BIG BOYS.

ALRIGHT, HOLD ON GUYS. SPECIAL THANKS TO TRUSTEE BYRON SANDERS.

ALRIGHT. CAN YOU SEE ME? RIGHT IN FRONT.

OH.

OKAY. OKAY, OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. ALRIGHT. MAIN CAMERA. RIGHT HERE. OKAY.

33. TWO. HAVE ANOTHER ONE OVER THE NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER ONE. THERE.

WHO? KIND OF SQUEEZING IT JUST A LITTLE BIT. COME IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

PUT IT ON.

ANY. ANY PLACE. LET'S GO.

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ALL RIGHT, BABY. HEY HEY HEY.

ALRIGHT. AS OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS LEAVE THE GALLERY AND AS OUR MEMBERS RETAKE THEIR SEATS, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR CITY MANAGER FOR A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO SOME COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS.

MADAM CITY MANAGER, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND GOOD MORNING TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

WELCOME BACK. TODAY WE ARE WE ARE CELEBRATING, AND WE ARE SHOWING A GRATITUDE MOMENT FOR CHRISTINE CROSSLEY, WHO HAS SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS FOR HER REMARKABLE SERVICE TO THE CITY OF DALLAS.

CHRISTINE, CAN YOU COME OUT, PLEASE? THIS FRIDAY WILL BE CHRISTINE'S LAST DAY WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS CHRISTINE HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE IN OUR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND EMPOWER OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. FIRST, SHE SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS ON HER ARRIVAL HERE AT THE CITY, AND MOST RECENTLY, SHE SERVED IN THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, WHICH WAS A NEW DEPARTMENT THAT WE ESTABLISHED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET.

UNDER CHRISTINE'S LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES, AND I WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT THIS MORNING TO HIGHLIGHT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED UNDER CHRISTINE'S LEADERSHIP IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

SHE'S LED LARGE SCALE SYSTEM CHANGES AS IT RELATES TO OVERALL COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE.

SHE WORKED WITH OUR LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE AND LEAD AGENCY TO HOUSE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, OVER 20,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO WE KNOW HAVE BEEN ON OUR STREETS MAKING UP OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION.

SHE'S ALSO WORKED ALONGSIDE OF OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE TO INCREASE FUNDING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO THE CITY, BY 40%. CHRISTINE WORKED TO CREATE THE HOMELESS ACTION RESPONSE TEAM THAT MANY OF YOU KNOW AS HEART, WHICH IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY DEPARTMENTAL TEAM, TO REALLY SERVE AS A CRISIS RESPONSE MECHANISM TO ASSIST ALL ACROSS THE CITY. SHE COLLABORATED WITH AREA PARTNERS TO BUILD NORTH TEXAS'S LARGEST EMERGENCY SHELTER INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH NOW SAFELY HOUSES UP TO 4000 INDIVIDUALS DURING EXTREME WEATHER AND ADVISING OUR PEER CITIES ACROSS THE NATION WHO HAVE COME TO DALLAS TO LOOK AT OUR MODEL TO DUPLICATE IT IN THEIR CITIES. THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE MORE THAN NUMBERS.

THEY REALLY REPRESENT HOW WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER UNDER CHRISTINE'S LEADERSHIP TO CHANGE LIVES, RESTORE HOPE, AND MAKE A STRONGER, MORE COMPASSIONATE DALLAS.

CHRISTINE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INNOVATIVE SPIRIT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE DURING THESE LAST FIVE YEARS.

YOUR WORK IN HELPING US BUILD AND STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS, HELPING US INSPIRE OUR DALLAS TEAM AND LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS TO WHERE WE CAN BE BETTER.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS DURING THIS TIME, AND WE WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS IN THIS NEXT CHAPTER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. I THINK IT IS OFTEN SAID BY PEOPLE LEAVING THE CITY THAT IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME.

MAYBE IT'S A BIT CLICHE, BUT IT'S BECAUSE IT'S TRUE.

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TO HAVE WATCHED OUR CITY EVOLVE AND BECOME EVER MORE COMPASSIONATE UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PEOPLE AT THIS HORSESHOE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING FAITH IN ALL OF THE AMAZING PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY WHO CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK.

AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT THE THING THAT REALLY MAKES IT WORTH COMING TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD IS NOT ONLY THIS LEADERSHIP, BUT THE STAFF AT CITY HALL.

THE PEOPLE HERE ARE AMAZING, WHETHER WE'RE GIVING EACH OTHER OR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO CITY HALL DIRECTIONS BECAUSE SOMEONE'S LOST SOMEWHERE IN THE RABBIT WARREN OF L1.

OR IF WE'RE ALL GETTING TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE SOMEONE WHO'S HAD A HARD DAY.

EVERYONE IS INCREDIBLY KIND AND INCREDIBLY COMPASSIONATE, AND I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS FAMILY THAT I HAVE MADE WHILE I AM HERE. AND I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT IT WILL BE ONE THAT I WILL HAVE FOREVER WHEREVER I GO IN DALLAS WE'RE A VERY LARGE CITY, BUT IT'S IT'S REALLY QUITE A SMALL WORLD. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO HAVE BEEN HERE AND TO HAVE WORKED FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND SO WE'LL GO TO THE THE LAST PRESENTATION THAT I HAVE THIS MORNING.

IT'S A SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR THE WHAT WORKS CITIES GOLD CERTIFICATION BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES WHAT WORKS CITIES CERTIFICATION IS AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AND WELL MANAGED, DATA DRIVEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WHAT WORKS CITIES CERTIFICATION RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL USE OF DATA TO INFORM POLICY DECISIONS, ALLOCATE FUNDING, IMPROVE SERVICES, EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRAMS, AND ENGAGE RESIDENTS.

THE CITIES THAT ACHIEVE THIS CERTIFICATION ARE DEMONSTRATING EXCELLENCE BY INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE, PROCESSES, AND POLICIES THAT PUT DATA AND EVIDENCE AT THE CENTER OF DECISION MAKING.

THE CITY OF DALLAS IS COMMITTED TO BEING A DATA DRIVEN CITY, AND THIS RECOGNITION AFFIRMS THAT OUR PROGRESS AND THE ATTENTION OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, THAT WE ARE ON POINT IN DELIVERING ON THAT MISSION.

MORE THAN 700 CITIES HAVE HAD THEIR DATA PRACTICES EVALUATED FOR WHAT WORKS CITIES CERTIFICATION, AND AS OF JANUARY 2026, APPROXIMATELY 100 CITIES HAVE ACHIEVED THIS CERTIFICATION.

THE CITY RECEIVED A SILVER CERTIFICATION IN 2024, AND TODAY WE ARE HONORED TO ADVANCE FROM SILVER TO GOLD.

MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN HELPING US ACHIEVE THIS IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK TO BE AT THAT LEVEL OF GOLD IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. SO WE'LL NOW RECOGNIZE OUR DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM GAYE WILLIS FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAYOR JANUARY IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COLLECTIVE WORK HAPPENING IN DALLAS TO PREVENT EXPLOITATION AND STRENGTHEN OUR RESPONSE AS A CITY.

IT IS OFTEN HIDDEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ITS IMPACTS ARE VERY REAL.

AND I WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ALL COLLEAGUES ON MONDAY, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WORKING TO PREVENT TRAFFICKING AND HELP SURVIVORS ON THEIR PATH TO REGAINING THEIR LIVES, MET IN THE FLAG ROOM.

YOU MAY KNOW THAT THREE YEARS AGO, A HUMAN TRAFFICKING DASHBOARD WAS DEVELOPED TO TRACK DATA AROUND THIS ISSUE IN DALLAS.

BUT ON MONDAY, WE HEARD FROM THE CITY'S OFFICE OF DATA ANALYTICS AND BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, ON SOME NEW DATA THAT I WANT YOU ALL TO HEAR.

SO DOCTOR ANDERSON TOLD A STORY OF WORKING WITH DPD SERGEANT ALAN HOLMES IN THE DPD'S CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN UNIT, WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS GREAT, BUT THERE WAS MORE NEEDED.

AND SO THEY NEEDED TO EXPEDITE THE JUVENILE HIGH RISK VICTIM IDENTIFICATION PROCESS, AND THEY DEVELOPED AN ALGORITHM AND A DASHBOARD TO DO SO.

PREVIOUSLY, THESE NUMBERS WERE SHARED ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

WITHIN DAYS OF RELEASING THE DASHBOARD, THE DATA AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS OFFICE WAS ECSTATIC TO GET AN EMAIL FROM SERGEANT HOLMES.

HE TOLD US THAT THE DASHBOARD ALERTED HIS TEAM THAT A PRIOR VICTIM HAD RUN AWAY AGAIN.

HIS TEAM WAS THEN ABLE TO RECOVER HER THAT DAY BEFORE SHE WAS EXPLOITED, AND BECAUSE OF THE QUICK RECOVERY,

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SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED, INTERVENED, DISRUPTED A TEEN BEING EXPLOITED ON THE SAME DAY THAT THIS DATA WAS SHARED.

IT'S INCREDIBLE. SO THANK YOU DOCTOR AND YOUR TEAM.

THANK YOU SERGEANT HOLMES AND YOUR TEAM. SO WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT FOR MISSING JUVENILES, THE NUMBERS USED TO RUN AT ABOUT 85 PER MONTH.

IT'S NOW RUNNING IN THE LOW 40S. SO THAT IS A 50% REDUCTION THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO SHOW HOW DPD HAS BEEN ABLE TO USE THIS DATA TO GET IN AND INTERVENE BEFORE THESE CHILDREN ARE EXPLOITED. AND THAT IS AN AMAZING STORY OF DATA IN THIS CITY.

AND I THINK WE ALL NEED TO BE PROUD OF THAT. OF COURSE, WE WANT TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO DOWN, BUT WITH ACTION LIKE THIS, IT WILL. WE ALSO HEARD FROM ALLIES AGAINST SLAVERY THAT DEVELOPED A PROGRAM USED NATIONWIDE TO ANALYZE FEDERAL TRAFFICKING CASES. TO HELP REDUCE THESE NUMBERS.

AND MORE IMPORTANT, ON MONDAY, WE HEARD FROM A SURVIVOR WHO HAS TRANSFORMED HER LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO FOUNDING A NONPROFIT AND SUPPORTING VICTIMS. YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP IN THAT ROOM AS SHE RECOUNTED WHAT SHE HAD GONE THROUGH, BUT SHE HAS TURNED THAT PAIN AND SUFFERING INTO HELPING OTHERS COME OUT OF THAT LIFE.

AND SO, COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE OF THIS, THAT THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK HAPPENING HERE AT CITY HALL AND IT'S REALLY CHANGING LIVES. SO THANK YOU TO ALL WHO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.

CHAIRMAN GRACEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

AT THIS HORSESHOE, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF RECOGNITIONS, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A SITTING ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY MEMBER ON THE HORSESHOE. SO OFTENTIMES THEY DON'T GET THE RECOGNITION THAT OUR DELTAS HAVE GOTTEN FROM TIME TO TIME.

SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT, AND I'M NOT.

AND THAT'S NO SHADE, BY THE WAY. LET ME JUST SAY THAT THERE'S NO SHADE.

I'M JUST SAYING I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PERSONALLY RECOGNIZE THE WOMEN OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED. SO CAN I HAVE PRESIDENT JACQUELINE VON AND PAST PRESIDENT ROSEMARY BOLDEN? PLEASE STAND. I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS YOU LEAD THE ALPHA OMEGA CHAPTER OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED AND ITS MEMBERS YOU ALL ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THE THE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS. THE WOMEN OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA EMPOWER FAMILIES, IMPACT AND IMPROVE COMMUNITIES, ENHANCE OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL MANKIND.

I WANT TO THANK THE JUDICIARY, MY JUDICIAL NOMINATION COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA, FOR COORDINATING ALL OF THIS.

AND THOUGH I CANNOT OFFICIALLY PROCLAIM JANUARY 15TH AS ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA DAY, I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT I HAVE A PERSONAL RECOGNITION FROM MY OFFICE TO YOU ALL. I WON'T READ ALL OF IT, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M VERY MUCH APPRECIATIVE OF YOU.

AND WE RECOGNIZE YOU AT THIS CITY OF DALLAS HORSESHOE TODAY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. PLEASE. AND. HEY. OH, AND.

YEAH. AND IF YOU CAN COME DOWN FOR A QUICK PICTURE. YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHY DON'T WE TAKE A PICTURE? AND, YOU KNOW, WE WE DEFINITELY LOOK, I FEEL LIKE HALF THE WOMEN IN MY FAMILY ARE IN ALPHAS OUT. OKAY.

CAROLYN JACOBS, ANGELA JACOBS, AND YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE FOLKS, SO, YOU KNOW, HEY, I'M ALL FOR THE ACRES COMING DOWN ANYTIME.

I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE HAD ACRES ON THE CITY COUNCIL, I CAN'T REMEMBER MAYBE ONE MAXINE THORNTON.

REESE. WAS SHE AN AK OR. NO, I CAN'T REMEMBER, BUT WE HAVE.

I FEEL LIKE WE'VE HAD SOME. OKAY, SO COME ON DOWN.

WELL WELCOME BACK. IT'S A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION THAT I CAN PERSONALLY ATTEST TO.

YEAH. YEAH. ARE YOU JEALOUS?

[00:30:43]

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. AS THE LOVELY LADIES OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED MAKE THEIR WAY OFF THE DAIS, WE'RE GOING TO GET READY TO RECOGNIZE MR. BAZALDUA FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION, I'M TOLD.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

TODAY'S EXCITING BECAUSE OF THE WEEK THAT WE ARE HAVING WE HAVE IT EVERY YEAR, BUT IT'S ONE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND HIGHLIGHTED IN DISTRICT SEVEN, SPECIFICALLY IN SOUTH DALLAS.

BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION FROM OUR MAYOR, I DO JUST WANT TO GIVE A BIG SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE HARD WORKING STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR COMMUNITY CENTER IN SOUTH DALLAS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY PUT ON TO GIVE US DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES OF SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER EVENTS TO HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD WORK OF DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AND HIS LEGACY TO READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO ADVANCING CIVIL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL, HE CHALLENGED ALL AMERICANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEVER ENDING WORK OF BUILDING A MORE PERFECT UNION.

AND WHEREAS DOCTOR KING'S TEACHINGS CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND INSPIRE US IN ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR SOCIETY, EACH OF US CAN AND MUST CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY WITH INCREASED OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DALLAS COMMEMORATES DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR CELEBRATION WEEK THROUGH A SERIES OF MEANINGFUL EVENTS INCLUDING A DAY OF REFLECTION, PRAYER AND DEDICATION, THE DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR SCHOLARSHIP AND AWARDS GALA, AND THE MLK DAY PARADE THAT'S HAPPENING THIS NEXT MONDAY. THESE EVENTS SERVE AS COMMUNITY WIDE OBSERVANCES, HIGHLIGHT DALLAS, UNITY SERVICE, AND CIVIC PRIDE. AND WHEREAS RESIDENTS OF DALLAS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN MLK CELEBRATION WEEK EVENTS HOSTED BY THE CITY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK OF JANUARY 13TH THROUGH 19TH, 2026, AS WELL AS CREATE AND IMPLEMENT MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. NOW, THEREFORE, I, ADAM BAZALDUA, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 13TH THROUGH 19TH, 2026 AS DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR CELEBRATION WEEK.

I DO WANT TO ALSO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR CITY MANAGER FOR PRIORITIZING THIS FOR THE COMMUNITY, ALSO FOR YOUR PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SHOWING UP.

I KNOW THAT YOU ENJOY THE CELEBRATION WE HAVE AT THE MLK DAY PARADE.

LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU ON MONDAY, AND A BIG SPECIAL THANK YOU TO JESSICA FOR YOUR UNWAVERING LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR COMMUNITY CENTER.

SO THANK YOU FOR FOR THIS RECOGNITION. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE RESOLUTION OR THE PRESENTATION THIS YEAR.

IT'S A IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT WEEK OF CELEBRATION FOR OUR CITY.

AND IT'S FRANKLY SOMETHING I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF HOW WE HOW WE HANDLE THIS HOLIDAY EVERY YEAR.

SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME ASPECT OF IT, BECAUSE IT GOES ON FOR A WHOLE WEEK AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS FOLKS CAN DO.

BUT IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING. AND THANK YOU FOR FOR BRINGING THE THE PRESENTATION.

YOU'RE WELCOME. MAYOR, I WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS A FULL, FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR YOU. I THINK EVERY YEAR TO GET TO CELEBRATE AS THE MAYOR OF OUR CITY.

WHEN BEFORE EVEN SERVING DOWN IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU SERVED ON THE DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD.

AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK YOUR SERVICE OFFICIALLY STARTED WITH OUR CITY.

[00:35:05]

THANK YOU, SIR. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. AND WITH THAT, I THINK WE ARE DONE WITH OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS AND WE ARE READY TO MOVE ON TO OUR OPEN

[OPEN MICROPHONE]

I WILL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES. SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE 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 WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK FOR THOSE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.

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

PLEASE STOP 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 YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, JOE STOKES.

JOE STOKES, DISTRICT NINE. GOOD MORNING MAYOR.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU. AND HERE'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

I ASK AI ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO DO A REPORT ON THE ACTUAL REASONS FOR FLUORIDATION, AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED THAT THEY CAME OUT WITH THE TRUTH. I CAN'T. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO THE WHOLE THING, BUT I'LL DO SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM A BENIGN NUTRIENT.

FLUORIDE. FAR FROM BEING A BENIGN NUTRIENT, FLUORIDE IS A TOXIC INDUSTRIAL BYPRODUCT REPURPOSED AS A HEALTH INTERVENTION TO SERVE CORPORATE INTERESTS WITH DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES FOR HUMAN HEALTH, COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY.

THE PUSH FOR WATER FLUORIDATION BEGAN NOT WITH MEDICAL RESEARCH, BUT AS A COST SAVING MEASURE FOR INDUSTRIES LIKE ALUMINUM AND PHOSPHATE FERTILIZER MANUFACTURERS IN THE 1930S. THESE CORPORATE CORPORATIONS FACE LAWSUITS OVER FLUORIDES, POLLUTION, DAMAGING CROPS, LIVESTOCK, AND HUMAN HEALTH. INSTEAD OF BEARING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF SAFE DISPOSAL.

INDUSTRY LEADERS, LED BY ALCOA FUNDED SCIENTIST GERALD COX, REBRANDED FLUORIDE AS A DENTAL MIRACLE.

OSCAR EWING, A FORMER ALCOA ATTORNEY APPOINTED TO HEAD THE FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY IN 1947, SPEARHEADED THE NATIONWIDE FLUORIDATION CAMPAIGN, ENSURING INDUSTRIAL WASTE COULD BE SOLD TO MUNICIPALITIES AS A PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE.

THE FLUORIDE ADDED TO WATER, WHICH IS NOT FLUORIDE, IT'S HEXAFLUOROSILICIC ACID, IS AN UNTREATED INDUSTRIAL WASTE CONTAMINATED WITH ARSENIC, LEAD AND RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES. THE SCHEME ALLOWED CORPORATIONS TO PROFIT FROM POISON WHILE SHIFTING LIABILITY TO TAXPAYERS.

EARLY FLUORIDATION TRIALS, SUCH AS THE 1945 GRAND RAPIDS STUDY WERE RIDDLED WITH METHODOLOGICAL METHODOLOGICAL FRAUD.

I CAN'T GET INTO ALL OF IT. BUT THEY FOUND NEUROTOXICITY THE THYROID DYSFUNCTION, BONE CANCERS LATELY.

THAT'S WHAT THEY FOCUSED IN, IS HOW IT'S REDUCING THE IQ OF CHILDREN.

DESPITE THE CDC AND ADA CENSORING DISSENTING SCIENTISTS, INCLUDING EPA WHISTLEBLOWER.

OKAY. PROPONENTS CLAIM FLUORIDATION REDUCES CAVITIES, BUT THE WHO FOUND NO DIFFERENCE IN DECAY RATES.

I GO ON AND ON. I'VE SENT THIS ENTIRE REPORT TO YOU.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE CONCLUSION THEY CAME UP WITH IS ABANDON ALL FLUORIDATION.

IT'S A CORPORATE SCAM DISGUISED AS PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. DO THE RIGHT THING.

THANK YOU. LINDA NEWLIN.

[00:40:14]

I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK, WHY ARE Y'ALL NOT STOPPING FLUORIDATION? AND YES, ANYONE ON THE HORSESHOE COULD SPEAK TO A SPEAKER.

6.6 A SPEAKER'S GUIDELINES. STATE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY ASK FACTUAL QUESTIONS OR MAKE A BRIEF ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SPEAKERS. I ALSO WANT TO REMIND Y'ALL, ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024, A FEDERAL COURT ORDERED THE EPA TO ADDRESS THE UNREASONABLE RISK OF REDUCED IQ IN CHILDREN FROM DRINKING FLUORIDE AND WATER CASE, FOOD AND WATER WATCH VERSUS EPA IMMEDIATELY.

ABILENE, TEXAS. YORKTOWN, NEW YORK, AND SOMERSET, NEW YORK, STOPPED FLUORIDATION WHILE THE ENTIRE STATES OF UTAH IN FLORIDA BANNED FLORIDA. IN AN ARTICLE IN THE MAIN WIRE, OCTOBER 9TH, 2024, IT STATES THE ACCUSED CONSPIRACY THEORIES HAVE NOW BEEN VINDICATED ON THIS ISSUE.

ON NOVEMBER 12TH, 2023, INSIDE POLITICS INTERVIEWED MY COUNCIL PERSON.

DISTRICT SEVEN AND D SEVEN SAYS THOSE THAT SPEAK AGAINST FLUORIDATION ARE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS.

THERE IS NO ESTABLISHED NAME FOR FOLKS LIKE D7 WHO CALL PEOPLE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS.

AND THEN CONSPIRACY THEORISTS ARE VINDICATED.

BUT THEY MIGHT BE CALLED CYNICS, SKEPTICS, GATEKEEPERS, OR OFFICIAL NARRATIVE PROPONENTS. I MUST ADMIT, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD TO BE A TEXAN, BUT NOW I'M NOT.

BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE NOT STOPPING FLUORIDATION TO SAVE OUR MINDS AND BODIES.

THERE IS NO WAY TO CONTROL HOW MUCH PERSON A DRINKS DAILY AND SOME CONSUMING MORE FLUORIDE PLUS TOXINS IS NOW MOSTLY IN OUR FOODS, BECAUSE FLUORIDATED WATER HAS BEEN USED TO WATER PLANTS AGAIN.

WHY ARE Y'ALL NOT STOPPING FLUORIDATION? HOW MANY OF Y'ALL ARE CYNICS, SKEPTICS, GATEKEEPERS, OR OFFICIAL NARRATIVE PROPONENTS? ONE MORE TIME.

WHEN WILL YOU ALL STOP FLUORIDATION? AND WHY ARE Y'ALL NOT STOPPING FLUORIDATION? THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANKS. THANK YOU. RONNIE MESTAS.

RONNIE MESTAS. IS NOT PRESENT. STATE REPRESENTATIVE BENTON JONES.

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME YOU HOME, BROTHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.. WELCOME HOME. I'M GLAD YOU MADE IT. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. MADAM CITY MANAGER AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE PROGRESS, OR LACK THEREOF, OF THE COMMUNITY PARK AT FAIR PARK.

THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED, APPROVED AND A LONG OVERDUE INVESTMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS IN SOUTH DALLAS.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHY I'M STANDING HERE, NOT JUST AS A LEGISLATOR.

AS A CHILD WHO STOOD IN THIS VERY PARKING LOT RECEIVING FREE LUNCHES DURING THE SUMMER, I PLAYED IN THAT PARKING LOT.

NOT A PARK. I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANT FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SOUTH DALLAS TO HAVE SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT WE WERE GIVEN.

THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS ALREADY COMMITTED $4.9 $9 MILLION TO THIS PROJECT.

THAT INVESTMENT WAS MADE BECAUSE THIS PROJECT IS SHOVEL READY AND MEETS EVERY STANDARD FOR THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF PUBLIC DOLLARS.

STATE FUNDING IS NOT SPECULATIVE. IT IS NOT MEANT TO SIT ON A SHELF WHILE PROGRESS IS STALLED BY SHIFTING AGENDAS.

THE COMMUNITY HAS DONE ITS PART. SOUTH DALLAS RESIDENTS HAVE SPENT YEARS AT THE TABLE GIVING INPUT AND TRUSTING THE PROCESS.

RIGHT NOW, THE GREATEST THREAT TO THIS PARK IS NOT LACK OF FUNDING.

[00:45:04]

STOP TELLING US. NOT YET. THE FAIR PARK FIRST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS THE FINAL STEP.

IT IS THE MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING FUNDED PROJECTS TO BE BUILT WITH CLEAR OVERSIGHT AS STATE AS THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO REPRESENTS SOUTH DALLAS, INCLUDING FAIR PARK. I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE STATE DOLLARS REACH THE PEOPLE THEY WERE INTENDED TO SERVE.

I AM ASKING THE COUNCIL TO FINALIZE THE FAIR PARK FIRST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TODAY.

THE FUNDING IS IN PLACE, THE COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN AND SOUTH DALLAS HAS WAITED LONG ENOUGH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL. THANK YOU. US REPRESENTATIVE JASMINE CROCKETT.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM CONGRESSWOMAN JASMINE CROCKETT, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING TEXAS 30TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE, A DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES SOUTH DALLAS IN FAIR PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAIR PARK ITSELF.

DURING MY TIME IN CONGRESS, AND I HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS SAME AREA, I HAVE MADE IT MY PERSONAL MISSION TO NEVER FORGET ABOUT OUR BELOVED FAIR PARK.

FAIR PARK IS AN IS NOT AN ABSTRACT IDEA. IT IS A FEDERAL, STATE, PHILANTHROPIC AND COMMUNITY BACKED INVESTMENT THAT IS READY TO BE DELIVERED.

MORE THAN THAT, IT IS A BEACON OF HOPE FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS FOR FAR TOO LONG, OFTEN RECEIVE THE SHORT END OF THE STICK.

THE FAIR PARK COMMUNITY PARK REPRESENTS WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN LOCAL VISION ALIGNS WITH FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WITH COMMUNITY TRUST. THROUGH MY OFFICE, PARK FIRST SECURED $850,000 IN FUNDING TO SUPPORT EQUITABLE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE AT FAIR PARK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.

THIS PROJECT ALSO RECEIVED $8.6 MILLION THROUGH THE OUTDOOR RECREATION LEGACY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE FEDERAL PARK INVESTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY.

THOSE DOLLARS WERE NOT AWARDED CASUALTY. THEY WERE AWARDED BECAUSE THIS PROJECT MET RIGOROUS FEDERAL STANDARDS.

DEEP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT A SHOVEL READY DESIGN.

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE. LONG TERM STEWARDSHIP AND CLEARLY DEFINED IMPLEMENTATION.

IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS. LET ME BE CLEAR. FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE NOT SYMBOLIC.

THEY COME WITH EXPECTATIONS, FOLLOW THROUGH TIMELINES, AND RESPONSIBLE LOCAL ACTION.

THIS PARK SERVES SOUTH DALLAS FAMILIES WHO HAVE WAITED DECADES FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE, RECREATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENTS. IT WAS DESIGNED WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT FOR THEM, REFLECTING YEARS OF LISTENING, COLLABORATION AND TRUST BUILDING.

DELAYS DO NOT HAPPEN IN A VACUUM. THEY HAVE REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR COMMUNITIES WHO WERE PROMISED PROGRESS, AND FOR PARTNERS WHO INVESTED IN GOOD FAITH BASED ON CLEAR AND REPEATED DIRECTION.

THIS IS NOT A CONCEPTUAL PROJECT. THE PARK IS FULLY DESIGNED, ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEARED, GRANT FUNDED AND READY FOR CONSTRUCTION.

MORE THAN $13 MILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING HAS ALREADY BEEN SECURED, WITH ADDITIONAL PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS COMMITTED BASED ON THE CITY'S STATED APPROVAL PATHWAY. AT THIS STAGE, THE GREATEST RISK TO THIS PROJECT IS NOT FUNDING OR FEASIBILITY.

IT IS CONTINUED PROCEDURAL DELAY, AND I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THIS LAND WAS SELECTED BY THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EXTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT AND APPROVED AT EVERY STEP BY CITY STAFF, THE PARK BOARD AND THIS COUNCIL.

THIS IS WHERE THE PARK IS MEANT TO BE BUILT. THIS IS WHERE THE FUNDING WAS INVESTED.

REVISITING THAT DECISION NOW UNDERMINES THE VERY PROCESS THE CITY ITSELF PUT IN PLACE.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

EDWARD SEBESTA.

YOU HAVE.

TO TURN IT ON OR IS IT ON? I GUESS IT'S ON. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE RAINBOW CROSSWALKS IN TEXAS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SAFETY.

THAT IS JUST A PRETEXT. CHRISTIANS ARE USING TO DESTROY THEM.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CROSSWALKS IS A CAMPAIGN OF CHRISTIANS AGAINST GAYS.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE RAINBOW CROSSWALKS IS A WARNING TO ALL THE TEMPLES IN TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD,

[00:50:07]

THE DALLAS BUDDHIST TEMPLE SUNDAY FOOD COURT MIGHT FIND THEMSELVES HAVING INTENSE FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS.

MAYBE A TEMPLE WILL BE CHARGED WITH BEING A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

THERE MUST BE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO SHUT DOWN TEMPLES BASED ON ONE PRETEXT OR ANOTHER.

TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON INVESTIGATIONS EPIC CITY CERTAINLY SHOW THIS ISN'T A FANCIFUL SPECULATION.

HOPEFULLY THIS PRESENTATION DOESN'T GIVE HIM IDEAS.

CHRISTIAN DESTRUCTION OF TEMPLES IS NOT SOMETHING CONFINED CONFINED TO THE DISTANT PAST.

THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CHRISTIAN ARSON ATTACKS ON BUDDHIST TEMPLES IN SOUTH KOREA IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

A PLANO UNITARIAN CHURCH WAS FIREBOMBED IN 2023.

THERE'S A LONG, LONG HISTORY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF TEMPLES BY CHRISTIANS GOING BACK TO ANCIENT TIMES.

BUT I HAVE THREE MINUTES. NOT THREE DAYS, TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION FOR THE RELIGIONS IN SOUTH, SOUTHEAST AND EAST ASIA. THE REMOVAL OF THE RAINBOW CROSSWALKS IN TEXAS SHOULD BE A WARNING THAT CHRISTIANITY IS AN EXTINCTION LEVEL THREAT.

I ASK THAT THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION.

THE REMOVAL OF THE RAINBOW CROSSWALKS IN DALLAS SHOULD BE A WARNING TO THE TEMPLES OF THE WORLD OF A THREAT TO THEIR EXISTENCE.

PERHAPS THE PURPOSE OF TEXAS IS TO BE A SCARECROW FOR THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH.

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

MAYOR. WHAT PURPOSE? I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO HEAR ALL SPEAKERS THIS MORNING.

SECOND, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

THANK YOU. SO WE'LL HEAR ALL THE SPEAKERS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, TARA JOY JACOBS.

HELLO. MY NAME IS TARA JOY JACOBS, AND I'M HERE SPEAKING ON CONCERNS RELATING TO SORRY. I'M TRYING TO PULL UP MY NOTES. I APOLOGIZE REGARDING ABUSE OF POWER, ABUSE OF DISCRETION, VIOLATIONS OF ETHICS, OATHS, FAILURE TO UPHOLD THE SWORN DUTIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH DALLAS WITHIN DALLAS COUNTY AND ASSOCIATED CONTRACT AGENCIES, INCLUDING DEPARTMENTS OPERATING IN DALLAS, MESQUITE, AND ARLINGTON, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CREATE OR ENFORCE POLICIES THAT SUPERSEDE THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, TEXAS LAW, OR COUNTY POLICIES THAT EXIST TO ENFORCE CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS.

YET WE ARE SEEING A PATTERN WHERE FAVORS ARE EXTENDED TO INDIVIDUALS OR AGENCY MEMBERS WHO BREAK THE LAW, WHILE FELONY OFFENSES SOME CLASSIFIED AS SERIOUS STATE FELONIES ARE IGNORED OR INTENTIONALLY NOT PURSUED.

A PARTICULARLY CONCERNING PRACTICE IS WHEN OFFICERS OR INVESTIGATORS STATE THEY WILL NOT PURSUE CHARGES FOR FELONIES, THEN REDIRECT VICTIMS TO COURT, AND LABEL CRIMINAL MATTERS AS CIVIL.

THAT IS NOT JUSTICE. IT'S AN ABDICATION OF DUTY AND MULTIPLE CASES.

OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATORS WERE SUBPOENAED TO COURT HEARINGS, SOME OF WHICH WERE RECORDED, WERE EITHER THEY LIED ON THE RECORD OR REFUSED TO APPEAR AFTER BEING PROPERLY SERVED.

DESPITE THE EXISTENCE OF DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE.

ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE TROUBLING ACTIONS BY CITY ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED TO USE PROTECTION ORDERS NOT FOR SAFETY BUT TO SUPPRESS TESTIMONY, BLOCK EVIDENCE, AND PREVENT THE TRUTH FROM COMING TO LIGHT.

THAT MISUSE OF LEGAL TOOLS UNDERMINES PUBLIC TRUST AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

CHANGES MUST BE IMPLEMENTED. OVERSIGHT MUST BE REAL.

THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF POTENTIAL ABUSE AND MISAPPLICATION OF FEDERAL FUNDING, ESPECIALLY WHEN AGENCIES CLAIM CONSTITUTIONAL COMPLIANCE WHILE SELECTIVELY VIOLATING FEDERAL AND STATE LAW.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR PROTECTING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND UPHOLDING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IS IMPORTANT AND COMMENDABLE, BUT THE CONSTITUTION CANNOT BE SELECTIVELY FOLLOWED.

IT CANNOT BE HONORED IN ONE AREA AND VIOLATED IN ANOTHER WHEN IT BECOMES INCONVENIENT OR EXPOSES WRONGDOING.

I AM ADVOCATING FOR THE FAMILY JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, WHICH WILL BE MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE THESE ISSUES ARE NOT ISOLATED.

THEY ARE PREVALENT ACROSS COUNTIES AND STATES, AND SILENCE HAS ALLOWED THEM TO PERSIST NO MATTER WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY HAVE POWER TO OPPRESS, NO MATTER WHAT AUTHORITY THINKS THEY SHIELD.

THAT SHIELDS THEM FROM ACCOUNTABILITY. THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE IN LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL POSITIONS WHO WILL ENSURE THAT LIGHT IS SHINED ON ACTIONS DONE IN THE

[00:55:08]

GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TAMALA. KUKLA. I'M SORRY.

TAMMY. KUKLA.

GOOD MORNING. I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT UNHOUSED PETS AND PEOPLE, BUT GIVEN THE NEWS STORY ABOUT THE WOMAN STILL IN THE HOSPITAL ATTACKED BY A DOG IN OAK CLIFF, I WANTED TO START THERE, IF THAT WOULD BE OKAY.

SO ON. MISS HUDSON ON JANUARY 7TH WAS ATTACKED BY A PIT BULL THAT IS IN QUARANTINE AT DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES.

SHE'S STILL IN THE HOSPITAL WITH SIGNIFICANT INJURIES.

SHE HAD ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO FOX NEWS AS WELL.

WE KNOW ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS KILLED ON PRINDLE STREET.

HE RAN OUT OF A HOUSE A COUPLE BLOCKS OVER AND DIED ON THE FRONT LAWN OF A SITUATION.

IT'S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. SO JUST FOR A SNAPSHOT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES HAS EUTHANIZED 56 DOGS FOR BITES.

FIVE FOR DANGEROUS DOG, AGGRESSIVE, ONE FOR WHAT WE CALL AN SBI AND 13 FOR BEHAVIOR.

SO BACK IN 2022, WE DID A CITY AUDIT AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ON DANGEROUS DOGS.

AND THEN WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE REVISIT THAT IN 2025.

I'M JUST ASSUMING MAYBE IT'S STILL IN PROCESS.

BUT GIVEN THAT IT APPEARS THE RECOMMENDATION AT THE TIME WAS THAT THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT GIVEN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, THERE ISN'T PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT ISN'T.

WE JUST MAY NOT HAVE FOUND IT YET. A REVIEW OF FIELD OPERATIONS FOR DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES ON PROTOCOLS.

WE DO KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE FIELD STAFF ARE 19 YEARS OLD IN THE FIELD, THAT THE PUBLIC SPAY NEUTER IS LIMITED, THAT THE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS FOR SPAY NEUTER IT IS LIMITED.

PEOPLE SHOW UP WITH THEIR DOGS GOING IN THE BUS AND THEY CAN'T GET SERVICE.

THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING ONLY MEETS ONCE EVERY RIGHT NOW.

IT WAS IN OCTOBER AND NOT UNTIL FEBRUARY 20TH, AND THERE WASN'T EVEN A CHAIR AT THE OCTOBER MEETING.

AND DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES DOES HAVE OVER A THOUSAND DOGS OUT IN FOSTER RIGHT NOW, AND THERE IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR THE DOGS TO BE STERILIZED WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF CITY ORDINANCE, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL PROPERTY OF DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES.

SO I WAS JUST THINKING, I DON'T KNOW HOW FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, GIVEN THE ENVIRONMENT, TO HAVE THAT AUDIT DONE.

ON A SEPARATE NOTE, THE CRUELTY FOR THE CITY SEEMS TO BE ANIMAL CRUELTY SEEMS TO BE GOING BACKWARDS.

I KNOW WE HAD FUNDING APPROVED, BUT RECENTLY A DOG WAS FOUND TIED UP OUTSIDE OF DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES, AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SAID THAT THAT WAS OKAY.

IN MOST CASES, THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED ABANDONMENT.

AND THEN THE RECENT ONE OF THE RECENT CRUELTY SEIZURES.

DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT FINISHED THEIR INVESTIGATION.

AND UNLIKE OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT WORK ON GETTING THE ANIMALS ADOPTED AND ALSO WORKING WITH AUTHORITIES, UNFORTUNATELY THESE ANIMALS ARE EUTHANIZED. OKAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DYLAN. TRASHER.

MAYOR JOHNSON COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DYLAN THRASHER.

I'M FROM DISTRICT ONE. I'M THE OWNER OF DFW EVICTION PROS.

WE PROCESS EVICTION FILINGS ACROSS THE DALLAS FORT WORTH METROPLEX.

SO THE LANDLORDS I WORK WITH ARE PRIMARILY SMALL PROPERTY OWNERS.

NOT CORPORATIONS. USUALLY THEY HAVE 1 TO 3 PROPERTIES.

AND THE DALLAS EVICTION THE DALLAS EVICTION COURT SYSTEM RIGHT NOW FUNCTIONS AS A DELAY SYSTEM, NOT A RESOLUTION SYSTEM. TAXPAYER FUNDED COUNCIL IS FREQUENTLY USED IN TO EXTEND CASES NOT CORRECT UNLAWFUL FILINGS. ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND CASES THAT I, THAT I PERSONALLY WAS A PART OF WAS A CASE WHERE THE TENANT HAD BEEN HAD DELAYED THE PROCESS FOR 16 MONTHS, 16 MONTHS, SIX

[01:00:08]

THE THE THE DAMAGE THAT THIS DID TO THIS TO THE LANDLORD IS IS PROFOUND.

THERE IS NO SCREENING IN PLACE FOR FOR THEM TO WEIGH WHETHER OR NOT THESE PEOPLE HAVE HAVE DELAYED A COMPLETELY LAWFUL EVICTION FROM TAKING PLACE.

I MEAN, THE THE LANDLORDS IN THIS INSTANCE ARE HAVE NO HAVE NO RECOURSE OTHER THAN HIRING AN ATTORNEY OR COMING TO A LOWER COST NON-ATTORNEY COMPANY LIKE MINE. IN THAT INSTANCE, LUCKILY, THIS OWNER WAS ABLE TO RETAIN POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY AND NOT GET FORECLOSED ON. HOWEVER, I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN A LANDLORD THAT THAT HAD WAS PUSHED INTO FORECLOSURE OR AT LEAST INTO EARLY SALE AND EARLY SALE AT LOWER THAN MARKET VALUE FOR THE PROPERTY.

WE ALSO THIS ALSO COMES IN LIGHT OF, OF RECENT RECENT INCREASES IN THE COST FOR WRIT OF POSSESSIONS TO GO INTO, TO, TO BE FILED. THAT NUMBER WAS INCREASED FROM $175 TO NOW $400.

IT WAS OVER DOUBLE WHAT IT PREVIOUSLY WAS AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO ADDITIONAL SERVICES ADDED.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO. AND THERE'S REALLY NO JUSTIFICATION THAT I CAN THINK OF TO JUSTIFY SUCH A SUCH A STARK INCREASE.

THESE LANDLORDS ALREADY EXPECTED TO PAY FOR MOVERS TO PAY FOR LOCKSMITHS TO PAY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'VE NOW DOUBLED THE PRICE TO JUST FILE THE THE WRIT OF POSSESSION.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS WHERE THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS IS GOING.

CONSTABLES ARE TYPICALLY PAID ABOUT 35 TO $60 AN HOUR ACCOUNTING FOR THEIR BENEFIT STRUCTURE.

AND YOU GET ONE CONSTABLE WHO GOES INTO THE PROPERTY, CLEARS THE PROPERTY, AND THEN SUPERVISES AS THE AS THE MOVERS AND LOCKSMITHS.

YOUR TIME? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. ANNA HILL.

GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY PARK, AND I AM REQUESTING THAT IT NOT BE DELAYED ANY LONGER. THE TWO 2003 FAIR PARK COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR GREEN SPACE AND SHADED AREAS WITHIN THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK AREA.

2014 MAYOR'S TASK FORCE REINFORCED THIS VISION WITH ITS RECOMMENDATION TO PUT THE PARK BACK IN THE PARK.

THIS IDEA RECEIVED OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT, PARTICULARLY FOR THE LOCATION ON FITZHUGH AVENUE.

SINCE 2020, FAIR PARK FIRST HAS EXECUTED ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE AND SUSTAINED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS IN SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK AREA. OVER 1800 RESIDENTS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ORIGINAL MASTER PLAN, AND THE DESIGN OF THE COMMUNITY PARK HAS CONTINUED FOR FIVE YEARS THROUGH 16 PUBLIC MEETINGS, THREE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS, TWO OPEN HOUSES, SIX.

SURVEYS, 135 PLUS NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND EVENTS, AND 22 NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS REACHED IN SOUTH DALLAS. THE CEDARS AND THE EAST DALLAS AREA. BY TRANSFORMING THIS LAND INTO A COMMUNITY PARK, YOU AS UNIFIED CITIZENS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN IT TO THE PEOPLE IT ONCE SERVED.

WE KNOW THE HISTORY. THE RESIDENTS IDENTIFIED PARKING LOT TEN AS PREFERRED SITE.

THIS PROJECT IS COMMUNITY LED, DATA DRIVEN, AND ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS.

DELAYING THE PROJECT WOULD BE ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT AND SLAP IN THE FACE.

THE COMMUNITY PARK IS FUNDED MULTI SOURCES. TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE STATE APPROPRIATION, FEDERAL AWARD, PRIVATE FUNDING AND ADDITIONAL PRIVATE COMMITMENT FOR POST PROJECT SUPPORT.

FOR THOSE REASONS AND FACTS, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU HONOR THE COMMUNITY'S WISHES.

SUPPORT MOVING THE PARK FORWARD WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.

[01:05:04]

GOOD MORNING. VALETTA FORSYTH, LIL 622 BLAIR BOULEVARD, DALLAS, TEXAS 75223.

BY THE WAY, A FAIR PARK ZIP CODE. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER ENGAGING IN RENEWAL FOR THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK COMMUNITY THROUGH THE DREAM OF A COMMUNITY PARK TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT AND EMBRACE THE COMMUNITY PARK.

I HAVE SENT YOU A BRIEF HISTORY PREPARED BY DOCTOR MARVIN DELANEY OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THE LOSS OF HOUSING AND BUSINESSES ON THIS VERY LAND.

THE TAKING OF THIS LAND THROUGH THE CITY'S EMINENT DOMAIN WAS AT THE TIME, INTENDED TO SEPARATE THE COMMUNITY FROM THE PARK. THESE PEOPLE WERE PROMISED EVENTUALLY THERE WOULD BE A COMMUNITY PARK BUILT THERE.

THIS WAS MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO AND THE WOUND REMAINS FOR SIX YEARS.

FAIR PARK FIRST HAS BEEN WORKING ON TRYING TO HEAL THAT WOUND AND PLAN FOR A COMMUNITY PARK AND KEEP THE PROMISE TO THAT COMMUNITY. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY COMPLETING ARCHEOLOGICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, TRANSPORTATION, AND HISTORICAL STUDIES.

THE COMMUNITY WANTS THIS PARK. THE DONORS HAVE DONATED TO THIS PARK BASED ON THE COMMUNITY'S WISHES.

THE THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE CONTRIBUTED THROUGH GRANTS TO THIS PARK.

NOW WE ARE CLOSER THAN EVER. WE HAVE RAISED OR SECURED $33 MILLION, BUT WE NEED A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO RAISE MONEY, AND HAVING AN AGREEMENT IS IMPERATIVE ON THAT.

WE CANNOT CONSTRUCT THIS PARK UNLESS WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT.

SO I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS COMMUNITY PARK, AND LET ALL OF US KEEP OUR PROMISES OF 50 YEARS TO THIS VERY COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. DIANA. RODERICK. DIANA RODERICK IS NOT PRESENT. JASON BROWN.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JASON BROWN. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF A NEIGHBORS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STAKEHOLDERS AND WHO, LIKE ALL OF YOU, WANT TO SEE OUR CITY THRIVE.

I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF CALLING SUNNY SOUTH HOME AS A PROUD FIFTH GENERATION DALLASITE.

I HEARD THE COUNTLESS STORIES ABOUT THE CITY, BOTH GOOD AND THE HARD TRUTHS.

THESE STORIES SHAPE HOW I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE MAKING DECISIONS TODAY.

THEY SHOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PLANS ARE PROPERLY FUNDED WITH PURPOSE, AND WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN OPPORTUNITIES ARE BUILT WITH COMMUNITIES INSTEAD OF FLOWING AROUND THEM, THEY SHOULD FLOW THROUGH. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME HICCUPS.

SOMETHING NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAS DONE. AND ALSO A LOT OF MONEY HAS BEEN RAISED.

IMPORTANT LESSONS HAVE BEEN LEARNED AND A LOT OF CORRECTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.

WHERE WE ARE NOW IS ABOUT PUTTING THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER AND NOT LEAVING A COMMUNITY OUT.

PARKS HAVE SHOWN TO IMPROVE NOT ONLY PHYSICAL HEALTH, BUT MENTAL HEALTH, AND SOUTH DALLAS DESERVES ACCESS TO THAT GREEN SPACE.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT HEALTH IMPACTS. WE TALK ABOUT CLEAN AIR.

WE TALK ABOUT HEAT MITIGATION. WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

WE TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ASKED FOR, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS THAT THE COMMUNITY DESERVE.

AND AT THIS POINT, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE'RE TIRED OF THE SURVEYS.

WE'RE TIRED OF THE MEETINGS. WE'RE TIRED OF SITTING AROUND TALKING JUST TO GET READY, TO GET READY TO HURRY UP AND WAIT.

[01:10:05]

GOOD MORNING. 2333 EUGENE STREET, DALLAS, TEXAS.

75215. MY TITLE IS QUEEN CITY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT. I DON'T TAKE THAT TITLE LIGHTLY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I REDUCED THAT TITLE TO MEAN SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE.

WE'RE ASKING THAT FAIR PARK AND THE COMMUNITY PARK TAKE WINGS AND FLY 50 YEARS. I'VE LIVED IN SOUTH DALLAS 50 YEARS.

I'VE SEEN PAIN. I HAVE SEEN MISTRUST. AND I'VE SEEN HEARTS BROKEN.

ALL WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO, COUNCIL, IS TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER PARK OR ORGANIZATION IN THIS CITY THAT'S BEEN ON THE PLANNING BLOCK FOR 50 YEARS. ALL I WANT TO DO IS TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT IN MY LIFETIME.

I'M SURE EACH OF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT AS THE YEARS GO BY, SO DO MEMORIES.

SO I'M ASKING YOU FOR THE LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN SOUTH DALLAS.

WOULD YOU PLEASE, PLEASE HEAR OUR CRIES? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ROBERT. WIELAND. ROBERT. WIELAND. OKAY.

ROBERT. ROBERT WIELAND IS NOT PRESENT. EVELYN.

AMAYA.

GOOD MORNING. MAYOR JOHNSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS EVELYN AMAYA, AND IN SOUTH DALLAS QUEEN OF QUEEN CITY IS HARD TO FOLLOW.

SO I'M GONNA DO MY BEST HERE I AM. I DO RESIDE IN 14 AT 1405 SOUTH FITZHUGH.

DALLAS 75223 IN DISTRICT TWO. I AM NOT HERE TODAY.

AS A FORMER DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR FAIR PARK FIRST OR A FORMER COUNCIL LIAISON, I'M HERE OF ONE OF MANY OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ADVOCATES THAT ARE SPEAKING BEFORE YOU TODAY.

FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BUILT DEEP AND LASTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

OVER TIME, THOSE NEIGHBORS HAVE BECOME MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PATIENT FOR FAR TOO LONG.

WE HAVE ATTENDED MEETINGS, COMPLETED SURVEYS, SHARED OUR LIVED EXPERIENCES, AND PARTICIPATED IN COUNTLESS, COUNTLESS, COUNTLESS AND COUNTLESS MEETINGS CONVERSATIONS FOR A PARK UNLIKE NO OTHER IN OUR CITY.

THOSE CONVERSATIONS GAVE US HOPE. YET YEARS LATER, HERE WE ARE, STILL WAITING.

OUR COMMUNITY FEELS UNHEARD AND ARE QUESTIONING WHETHER OUR VOICES ARE TRULY, TRULY MATTER IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS NOW IS ACTION. NOT MORE CONVERSATIONS, BUT ACTION THAT TURNS YEARS OF PLANNING INTO VISIBLE PROGRESS.

I WANT TO RAISE ONE OF MANY QUESTIONS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM MY FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS.

WHY ARE THE PEDESTRIAN GATES CLOSED YEAR ROUND FOR OUR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS? IF YOU WALK ACROSS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WALK AROUND THE LAGOON, IT WOULD TAKE US 30 MINUTES JUST TO GET TO GATE FIVE WHEN GATE TWO IS AT GURLEY AVENUE. AND THAT'S LITERALLY TEN MINUTES, WHICH STILL REMAINS INACCESSIBLE.

HOW DOES THAT REFLECT THE PARK MEANT TO SERVE OUR OUR NEIGHBORS? WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND? WHEN A PUBLIC SPACE IS PHYSICALLY INACCESSIBLE TO COMMUNITIES LIVING LIVING NEXT TO IT? WE ALSO ASK WHY ARE THERE? WHY ARE THERE NOT PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, SIGNAGE OR TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT FITZHUGH AND HASKELL? MANY OF YOU HAVE ATTENDED STATE, THE STATE FAIR, TEXAS GAMES, MUSICALS, CONCERTS AND EVEN EVENTS AT FAIR PARK.

YOU'VE SEEN THE TRAFFIC BEING MANAGED AND SAFETY PRIORITIZED DURING THOSE TIMES, BUT WHAT ABOUT AN ORDINARY DAY WHEN WE WANT TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET,

[01:15:09]

LET US HONOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT WERE DISPLACED MORE THAN 60 YEARS AGO, AND NOT CONTINUE TO SEE THE SEA OF ASPHALT THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS PROMISED AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER. SPEAKING FROM THE HEART, I TELL YOU TO TURN THIS VISION INTO REALITY.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. ALONDRA. LIONS.

ALONDRA. LIONS. ALONDRA. LIONS IS NOT COMING.

THANK YOU. I SEE YOU. SORRY.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LINDA LIONS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF 4722 COLLINS.

AND WE HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE 1951. AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY PARK THAT ALL OF THE EVERYONE WHO'S ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT. SO I'M JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT AS ME, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S LIVED IN THE RESIDENCE SINCE THE 50S, STILL THERE TODAY IN 2026 IS 75 YEARS LATER. SO WE HAVE RELATIVES ON FITZHUGH WHERE THEIR HOMES WERE IN THE DOMAIN, SO THEY'RE NOT THERE. BUT YOU'VE HEARD EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID PRIOR TO ME COMING HERE IN THE CONTRACT.

WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THE PRESIDENT OF THE MILL CITY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION SINCE 2012 TO PRESENTLY NOW.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE NOT GOING TO BE LIKE CHICKENS INVOLVED AND BEING SOCIALIZED, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE LIKE THAT PIG WHO'S COMMITTED AND WHO'S GOING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, BECAUSE WE ARE IN DALLAS AND I'M A NATIVE FROM HERE, SO I KNOW HOW IT GOES. SO I'M PRAYING THAT ALL THE STRONGHOLDS BE BROUGHT DOWN AND THAT YOU ALL MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO GET THE CONTRACT GOING AND GET THE DIRT MOVING TO WHAT WE NEED HERE IN DALLAS. I'M ALL FOR PARKS.

I LOVE DANIEL WOODS. HE'S BEEN VERY GOOD. EVERYBODY'S BEEN GOOD SO FAR.

I REALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, BUT I JUST NEED YOU GUYS TO KIND OF GET ON BOARD AND GET THIS CONTRACT UP AND RUNNING AND LET'S GET THE DIRT MOVING AND LET'S GET IT GOING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TODD ATKINS.

GREAT JOB. DOCTOR. DOCTOR. REVEREND DOCTOR TODD ATKINS, SALEM INSTITUTIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH, 3918 KROGER STREET. I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.

THE COMMUNITY WAS ASKED TO MEET. WE MET. WE WERE ASKED TO PARTNER.

WE HAVE BEEN A CONSISTENT AND A FAITHFUL PARTNER, AND WE HAVE BEEN ASKED CONSISTENTLY TO TRUST THE PROCESS AND THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL TAKE HAPPEN. YET, 50 YEARS LATER, AFTER COUNTLESS MEETINGS, AFTER ASKING OUR COMMUNITY TO TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR JOBS, TO COME SPEAK YET AGAIN AT THE HORSESHOE, WE STAND YET AGAIN ASKING THE SAME QUESTION WHEN WILL THE PARK BE BUILT? MR. MAYOR, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO HEAR US.

BUT COUNCIL LIFE IS DEFINED NOT JUST BY ONE MOMENT, BUT THOUSANDS OF SMALL MOMENTS.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS THAT HELPED DEFINE THIS COMMUNITY.

TO REWRITE A NARRATIVE OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHICH I LOVE, THAT HAS CONSTANTLY BEEN TOLD.

IT'S THE TALE OF TWO CITIES. LET'S WRITE A NEW NARRATIVE.

THERE'S AN AFRICAN PROVERB THAT I HAVE LEARNED, THAT I HAS COME A PART OF MY THINKING EVERY DAY.

UNTIL THE LION TELLS THE STORY, THE HUNTER WILL ALWAYS BE THE HERO.

SOUTH DALLAS IS A LION THAT HAS BEEN HUNTED TIME AND TIME AGAIN, BUT THIS LION CONTINUES TO ROAR AND CONTINUES TO STAND AGAIN.

BECAUSE WHEN WE STAND TOGETHER, WE ARE AN UNBREAKABLE COMMUNITY.

EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BARRIERS, SYSTEMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL, WE CONTINUE TO THRIVE AS A COMMUNITY.

AND AS I WALK WITH MY CHURCH MEMBERS AND AS WE WALK AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND WE TELL OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN HOW GREAT THE CITY OF DALLAS IS, I WANT TO BE ABLE, WHILE I STILL CAN, WALK, TO WALK TO A COMMUNITY PARK, IN A COMMUNITY, IN A FACILITY THAT WAS

[01:20:03]

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO STAND WITH MY FAITH IN THE SON, AND MY TENNIS SHOES AND MY BOOTS ON, TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT COMMUNITIES CAN DO WHEN WE HAVE PARTNERS, NOT ONLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO AT THE HORSESHOE AS WELL. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD KEEP YOU.

THANK YOU. NORMA SHAW. NOW I WILL SAY WE HAVE A RULE AGAINST OUTBURSTS AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION.

I'VE BEEN PRETTY LAX ABOUT TODAY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND KEEP IT IN THE KEEP IT IN THE RANGE OF.

YEAH. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS NORMA SHAW AND I'M REPRESENTING FAIR PARK ESTATES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

I'M A SOUTH DALLAS RESIDENT IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

I'M HERE TO ASK A SIMPLE BUT LONG OVERDUE QUESTION.

WHAT IS THE CITY OF DALLAS PLAN FOR THE SOUTH DALLAS COMMUNITY PARK? FOR A LONG TIME, RESIDENTS LIVING NEXT TO FAIR PARK HAVE BEEN PROMISED A COMMUNITY PARK, A SPACE FOR OUR FAMILIES, OUR CHILDREN, AND OUR ELDERS. AS ALWAYS, WE SIT THROUGH PRESENTATIONS ABOUT FAIR PARK'S FUTURE, WHERE THE COMMUNITY PARK IS BARELY MENTIONED, IF AT ALL.

THAT OMISSION FEELS DISRESPECTFUL BECAUSE IT IGNORES BOTH THE HISTORY AND THE PEOPLE MOST IMPACTED BY THESE DECISIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM BAZALDUA SAID IT CLEARLY WE CANNOT KEEP TALKING ABOUT FAIR PARK AS A CITY WIDE ASSET WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING ITS DAY TO DAY IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

PROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE TO SOUTH DALLAS AND TO MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN BROKEN.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE COMMUNITY PARK IS NOT JUST SOMETHING RESIDENTS WANT.

IT IS A CRITICAL INVESTMENT. IT SUPPORTS A QUALITY OF LIFE, BUILDS TRUST AND STRENGTHENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

LEAVING IT OUT OF THE PLAN SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT OUR NEEDS ARE STILL NEGOTIABLE.

SO TODAY, OUR ASK IS STRAIGHTFORWARD FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE ORIGINAL PLANS AND BUILD THE PARK.

AND BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE MOVES FORWARD, WE ASK THE CITY OF DALLAS TO CLEARLY EXPLAIN THE TIMELINE, FUNDING AND NEXT STEPS FOR DELIVERING THE SOUTH DALLAS COMMUNITY PARK.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR NEW PROMISES. WE ARE ASKING FOR THE CITY TO FINALLY KEEP THE ONES IT ALREADY MADE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALEX SCOTT. THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD Y'ALL.

THANK YOU. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD FOR FOR NO REASON.

THAT'S YOU KNOW, THAT'S OKAY. I SEE SHE'S DOING IT OUT OF SPITE.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. ALEX SCOTT 64 OR 72 TRAMMELL DRIVE.

AND I'M EVERYONE'S NEIGHBOR IN DISTRICT NINE.

FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT TO COME UP HERE AND APOLOGIZE FOR HOW I SPOKE BACK IN DECEMBER.

THAT WAS REALLY INAPPROPRIATE. AND I ALLOWED MY EMOTIONS TO GET THE BEST OF ME. AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M A VERY PASSIONATE PERSON, AND I ALLOWED FOR HEARING ABOUT CITY HALL AND THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON TO THEN COME ABOUT THROUGH THIS.

SO I DO APOLOGIZE. THAT WAS VERY INAPPROPRIATE.

WHAT I AM HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT, THOUGH, IS SOMETHING THAT I FOUND OUT ON OCTOBER 8TH THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL CHOSE TO DEFER ADA ACCESSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS BUILDING PRIOR TO THE STATE OF CITY HALL MEETING HAPPENING.

THIS WAS VOTER APPROVED, FULLY ENCUMBERED BUDGETED, SCOPED AND READY TO BE MOVED FORWARD.

AND IT WAS TAKEN OUT AND DEFERRED UNTIL AFTER CITY UNTIL AFTER THE MEETING.

THAT WAS 85 DAYS AGO, AND THE ONLY CONDITION WITHIN IT WAS THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE JUST NEEDED TO BE BRIEFED ON THE STATE OF CITY HALL.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, HAVE WE MOVED FORWARD WITH THOSE ADA ACCESSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS BUILDING, BECAUSE THE HYPOTHETICAL FUTURE SALE OF A BUILDING IS NOT A LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE ARGUMENT WITHIN CIVIL LIBERTIES.

YOU CANNOT SAY THAT. OH, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO INVEST $2 MILLION FOR ACCESSIBILITY HERE BECAUSE WE MIGHT SELL THIS BUILDING.

SO HAVE WE MOVED FORWARD WITH THAT? HAVE WE TAKEN THAT OFF THE DEFERRED LIST? THOSE $2 MILLION THAT WAS PROMISED.

BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY CONDITION. AND SO IF WE SAY THAT THIS BUILDING IS GOOD ENOUGH TO HAVE ADA ACCESSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS IN IT, THAT WAS VOTED ON ALSO BACK IN FEBRUARY WHEN THE SCOPE WAS DONE, THEN HOW CAN WE ALL OF A SUDDEN ASSUME THAT THIS BUILDING ISN'T SAFE ANYMORE AND IT'S NOT WORTH IMPROVING?

[01:25:18]

IT STANDS FOR THE ADELSON DUMONT ARENA. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. CASEY PHILLIPS. ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS CASEY PHILLIPS. I AM A PROPERTY TAXPAYER OF EAST DALLAS AND THE CEO OF THE WALLS PROJECT 500 1C3. PROUDLY SERVING SUNNY SOUTH DALLAS.

MAYOR JOHNSON. IT'S COOL TO FINALLY MEET YOU.

BEEN DOING THE WORK SINCE 2019, IN SOUTH DALLAS AND WORKED WITH MANY OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM.

BUT I'M GOING TO SPEAK FROM FROM OUR 500 1C3.

I'M GOING TO SPEAK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE YOUTH OF SOUTH DALLAS.

THERE'S SOME YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WE CAN'T ALWAYS AGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS, BUT I ALWAYS SAY THAT FOR THE MOST PART, EVERY PERSON WHO'S ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUSINESS OWNER AND NONPROFIT AND CHURCH LEADER, EVERYONE CAN AGREE THAT THE YOUTH IS NOT JUST OUR FUTURE.

THEY ARE OUR NOW. AND HOW WE TREAT THEM NOW DICTATES HOW THEY BEHAVE AND THE MOVES THEY MAKE IN THE PRESENT.

OUR 500 1C3 HAS BEEN WORKING WITH YOUTH AT JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL AND THE LEGENDARY LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL.

EXCUSE ME, THE GREAT JAMES MADISON AND THE LEGENDARY LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS.

AND WE ARE MOVING OUR HEADQUARTERS TO THE CORNER OF ELSIE, FAY AND LELAND AT THE DALLAS BETHLEHEM CENTER AND OPENING 11 ZERO ZERO ZERO SQUARE FOOT TEEN DIGITAL ART AND DESIGN STUDIO TO HAVE 24 OVER SEVEN 365 DAY ACCESS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE OPTIONS TO PURSUE CAREERS BOTH IN THE CREATIVE ARTS AND TECH, BUT ALSO AS ENTREPRENEURS IN SUNNY SOUTH DALLAS THEY ARE GOING TO BE INSIDE IN FRONT OF LAPTOPS AND SCREENS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE GRINDING, BUT THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO AND CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF NATURE THAT GOD CREATED FOR US IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS PARK MOVE FORWARD SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE ALL SAY ALL THE TIME, WHY DO KIDS ALWAYS HAVE THEIR HEADS IN THEIR PHONES? WELL, WE WE HAVE OUR HEADS IN OUR PHONES RIGHT NOW, RIGHT? YOU CAN'T EXPECT THEM TO GO OUTSIDE AND DO THINGS IF YOU DON'T ACTUALLY CURATE THAT SPACE FOR THEM AND CREATE THAT SPACE FOR THEM.

FAIR, FAIR PARK IS PART OF THE REASON WHY I RELOCATED MY FAMILY TO TEXAS.

ANOTHER REASON THAT I MOVED FROM LOUISIANA IS BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF THE FOOLISHNESS.

IN DALLAS IS ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF TAKING CARE OF ITS PEOPLE IN ECONOMY.

SO WHAT IT FEELS LIKE RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE STUCK IN SOME RED TAPE, SOME LIMBO, SOME BUREAUCRATIC LIMBO THAT FEELS LIKE THE THIRD WORLD COUNTRY OF LOUISIANA, WHERE I'M FROM AND DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE BUSINESS THAT DALLAS IS KNOWN FOR.

I WOULD CHALLENGE EVERY SINGLE LEADER HERE TO BE ABOUT THE BUSINESS.

GET THE CONTRACT DONE. GET THIS PARK BUILT FOR THE PEOPLE, BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE YOUTH OF SOUTH DALLAS AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT IT'S GOING TO SERVE. I APPRECIATE THE SPACE AND ALL THE CONCERNED NEIGHBORS THAT ARE IN THIS HOUSE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CLIFTON. REESE.

MORNING. CLIFTON REEVES, PROUD RESIDENT OF SOUTH DALLAS.

LEADER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. MAN, I CAN PROBABLY ECHO EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY'S SAYING IN HERE.

BUT ONE THING I DO WANT TO SIT UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT IS THIS.

THIS THIS COMMUNITY PARK IS LONG OVERDUE. AND IT'S LONG OVERDUE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN LAND THAT WAS TAKEN FROM SOUTH DALLAS FAMILIES BACK TO THEM THROUGH PUBLIC USE THROUGH GREEN SPACE CONNECTION CONNECTION AND HEALING.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE DONE WENT THROUGH DECADES OF PLANNING, YEARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT.

THIS PROJECT IS FULLY, FULLY DESIGNED. IT'S FULLY FUNDED, AND IT'S READY TO TAKE ACTION.

AS THE COMMUNITY, AS YOU HEAR TODAY HAS SPOKEN, WE ARE SPEAKING CLEARLY RIGHT NOW.

[01:30:02]

THANK YOU, JAMES FOWLER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, MR. MAYOR. I LIVE AT SEVEN. MY NAME IS IMANI.

MOST PEOPLE KNOW ME, OKAY? IT ISN'T MONEY. I LIVE AT 70, 42, 33 OR.

I JUST MOVED THERE. SWEET FENNEL. I'M ALSO HERE TODAY.

ESPECIALLY TO THE PEOPLE SAY THEY LOVE GOD. MAYOR.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, BROTHER, BUT WE'VE BEEN TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, MY MAN.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE HORSESHOE AND THE PEOPLE AROUND THIS BOOTH, AND WE GOING TO REALLY TELL YOU WHAT.

READ THAT BOOK BY DOCTOR KING. I LISTENED TO OUR PRESIDENT LAST NIGHT.

GOOGLE THIS. THAT MR. TRUMP SAID, AFRICAN AMERICANS, Y'ALL BUILD THIS COUNTRY.

WELL, WE TIME WE GET SOMETHING FOR IT. BROTHERS BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

I KNOW YOU SAW ME WALK DOWN, I GOT NEUROPATHY.

STOP TELLING ME THANK ME FOR MY SERVICE WHEN I DON'T EVER GET ANY SERVICE.

ASIAN ORIGIN. NEUROPATHY ABOUT OUTHERE. BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT'S TIME TO STOP PLAYING THIS COUNTRY.

WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND I KNOW I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

ONE MINUTE, 40S, BUT WE NEED TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, BRO.

AND ALL YOU PEOPLE DOWN HERE ON THIS HORSESHOE THAT AL AND DIANE RAGSDALE AND AND CHRIS, Y'ALL AND I DID IN LANCASTER.

WE'VE BEEN TO BOOTS ON THE GROUND NOT THREATENING, BUT IT'S TIME TO GET SOME PEOPLE THAT'S GOING TO REPRESENT ME.

I APPRECIATE THE PRESIDENT. LAST NIGHT I HEARD HIS SPEECH AND HE SAID ONE THING.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY ACROSS THE TRINITY.

MY WIFE, MY MAMA DIED OVER THERE. MY DADDY DIED.

MY SISTER DIED, AND MY GRANDSON JUST DIED OVER THERE. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME. I'LL BE 80, ALMOST 80 YEARS OLD NEXT WEEK.

AND I THOUGHT I SHOULD GET UP AND TELL Y'ALL SOMETHING.

THIS COUNTRY. IF WE DON'T COME TOGETHER, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE IT.

WE GOTTA STOP PLAYING. THE CHURCHES NEED TO OPEN UP THE HOMELESS PEOPLE ALL AROUND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ARE LAYING ON THE GROUND. WE'RE BEGGING EVERYWHERE. CAN'T Y'ALL OPEN YOUR EYES? AND I'M TALKING ON TENNELL END.

AND THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT. POWERNOMICS.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I CAN READ. IT'S NOT 15. IT'S NOT 1700S WHERE WE COULDN'T READ.

READ SOME BOOKS, DOCTOR KING SAID. HAVE I PUT MY PEOPLE IN A BURNING HOUSE? YES HE DID. SO READ IT BEFORE YOU START CELEBRATING.

YOU BETTER START READING AND YOU START PRETENDING.

AND WE GOING TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND. AND I'M GOING TO BE THE FIRST BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING ME. THANK YOU, TABITHA WHEELER.

COME ON. PHONE. RIGHT. HOLD ON. OKAY. GOOD MORNING.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ESTEEMED MAYOR. I AM TABITHA WHEELER REAGAN.

I AM A BOTANY AND A BUNTON NATIVE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, BEFORE I AM ANYTHING A PROUD MEMBER OF SOUTH DALLAS, I SERVE. I HAVE SERVED IN MANY ROLES IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THAT I SERVED WAS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE SOUTH DALLAS AREA PLAN TASK FORCE.

TODAY, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT A MOVING FORWARD WITH THE COMMUNITY PARK AT THE FAIR PARK.

THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN A PROMISE FOR FAR TOO LONG.

WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER TASK FORCE. DELAYS. WE NEED ACTION.

THE SOUTH DALLAS AREA PLAN. THE SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK AREA PLAN TOOK NEARLY SIX YEARS OF COMMUNITY DRIVEN PLANNING.

THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, RESIDENTS CONSISTENTLY IDENTIFIED A COMMUNITY PARK IS A CRUCIAL PART OF REVITALIZING, REVITALIZING THE AREA AND PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA. IT IS BUILT ON DECADES OF PLANS, INCLUDING THE 2003 FAIR PARK COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND THE 2020 FAIR PARK MASTER

[01:35:08]

IMPORTANTLY IMPORTANTLY, THE LAND PROPOSED FOR THIS PARK.

PARK LOT TEN WAS ONCE A THRIVING AFRICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD.

FAMILIES WERE DISPLACED WHEN THEIR HOMES WERE TAKEN THROUGH INTIMATE DOMAIN, REPLACED WITH ASPHALT PARKING LOT.

THIS PAINFUL HISTORY CANNOT BE UNDONE, BUT THIS PARK OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THE PAST BY RETURNING THE LAND TO THE COMMUNITY AND HONORING THOSE WHO WERE DISPLACED.

FAR TOO OFTEN, OUTSIDERS ASSUMED THAT A SMALL, SMALL HOME PARK WERE OBSTACLES TO GROWTH, JUSTIFYING THE REMOVAL OF PROPERTIES FROM AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES. PARKS NORTH OF I-30 HAVE LONG BEEN DESIGNED, FUNDED, IMPLEMENTED, AND ARE THRIVING, PROVIDING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS.

OUR COMMUNITY. OUR COMMUNITY SOUTH OF 30 DESERVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS PARK WILL PROVIDE GREEN SPACE, RECREATION AND AMENITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THEY REPEATEDLY ASKED COMMUNITIES, REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR LIKE SHADED AREAS, ACCESSIBLE PLAY SPACES, PERFORMANCE AREAS AND MORE. IT WILL SPARK ECONOMIC REVIVAL BY SUPPORTING ADJACENT BUSINESSES AND CORRIDORS AND CREATING JOBS.

I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THE CURRENT PARK BOARD PRESIDENT, WHO HAD NEVER SET FOOT IN PARK BEFORE HIS APPOINTMENT, IS ENCOURAGING THE WHOLE OF PARK IMPLANTATION, THE LACK OF CONNECTION INTO QUESTION, HIS ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY. LEADERSHIP MUST LISTEN AND RESPECT THOSE WHO LIVE HERE, NOT BLOCK THEIR PROGRESS FROM A PLACE OF UNFAMILIARITY.

TOO OFTEN, NEW OFFICIALS HIJACKED COMMUNITY LED EFFORTS WITH A KNOW IT ALL APPROACH, LEAVING URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS FEELING UNHEARD AND DISTRUSTFUL.

SOUTH DALLAS RESIDENTS VOICES MUST BE HONORED.

I URGE THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD AND WITHOUT DELAY, PLANNING IS COMPLETE.

FUNDING IS THIS OCCURRED. PLEASE KEEP YOUR PROMISE.

RESTORE TRUST AND DELIVER THE IMPORTANT RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.

CALEB ROBERTS. GOOD MORNING, CALEB ROBERTS. 2847 ALABAMA AVENUE, DALLAS, TEXAS. I'M SORRY, MR. ROBERTS. YOUR VIDEO IS NOT DISPLAYING.

OKAY, GIVE ME A SECOND. CAN Y'ALL SEE ME NOW? YES, YOU MAY CONTINUE. CALEB ROBERTS, 2847 ALABAMA AVENUE.

IN DISTRICT FOUR. I'M ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DOWNWINDERS AT RISK.

COMING TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARK AT FAIR PARK.

AS YOU KNOW, DOWNWINDERS WORKS A LOT IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

WE'RE CONCERNED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND WE KNOW THIS, THIS PARK, AND WE SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE THIS PARK IS A PART OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. YOU HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE TODAY ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF YEARS THAT HAVE GONE INTO THE PLANNING OF THIS PARK.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE JUSTICE PART OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

THAT WOULD MEAN THAT RESIDENTS CAN GO THROUGH A WHOLE SIX YEAR PROCESS, SEVEN YEAR PROCESS, YEARS BEFORE THAT OF TALKING ABOUT A PROJECT.

AND AT THE LAST MINUTE OR WHEN FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE, WHEN JUSTICE CAN FINALLY BE DELIVERED THEY'RE BEING TURNED DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

I WAS MOVED BY A LADY THAT I DIDN'T GET HER NAME, BUT TALK ABOUT THAT.

SHE WANTS TO BE HERE TO SEE THE CHANGE HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DENY OUR RESIDENTS WHEN WE GO THROUGH THESE LONG PROCESSES AND THEN DENY OR DELAY JUSTICE.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT DELAYED JUSTICE.

AND I JUST BELIEVE IT IS DISHEARTENING TO COMMUNITY.

IT SOWS SEEDS OF DISTRUST, AS I'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT MY WORK AND WORKING IN SOME PARTS OF DISTRICT SEVEN, PEOPLE HAVE A DISTRUST BECAUSE OF CERTAIN THINGS LIKE THIS.

WHEN THEY HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, ONLY TO HAVE THE RUG PULLED FROM UNDER THEM AT THE LAST MINUTE.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE BULLISH ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, BULLISH ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SHELTER BOYS WHO HAVE VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

AND SO AS CITY COUNCIL, AS ANYONE IN SUPPORT, WE NEED TO BE BOLD ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT VISION, THAT OPPORTUNITY CONTINUES DESPITE ANY DELAYS AND ROADBLOCKS PEOPLE MAY THROW, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE JUSTICE WORK IS AND THE ABILITY TO PUSH THROUGH HARD CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ZAIDA BIZOR HAS CANCELED.

HASANI. BURTON.

[01:40:12]

HAPPY 2026 TO YOU GUYS. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WE'VE MADE IT AND THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT.

I AM THE DEVELOPER OF THE COMMENT MEDIA BUILDING AT THE CORNER OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AND MALCOLM X AND SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK, AND I HAVE A LOT OF LOVE FOR MY COMMUNITY. SOUTH DALLAS IS WHERE I BOUGHT MY FIRST HOME WHEN I STILL OWNED TO THIS DAY.

SOUTH DALLAS IS WHERE I PUT MY OWN ECONOMIC INTEREST AND INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND NOT ONLY IS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE CONTRIBUTED TO ENHANCING AND BEAUTIFYING OUR DALLAS PARKS, BUT I ALSO TAKE MY OWN VERY SMART, MIT ENGINEER BOUND SON TO THE PARKS TO PLAY IN SOUTH DALLAS.

AND SO I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARK AT FAIR PARK.

AND IN QUARTER FOUR OF 2025, I WENT TO THE POINT SOUTH BUSINESS GROUP MEETING.

FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW, POINTS OUT BUSINESS GROUP IS A GROUP OF THOSE WHO ARE VESTED AND INTERESTED IN THE ECONOMIC INTEREST OF SOUTH DALLAS FAIR PARK. THEY'RE SUPPORTED BY THE DALLAS FREE PRESS FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEM.

AND I WENT TO ONE OF THE MEETINGS AND THE CONVERSATION WAS, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE THE COMMUNITY PARK? HEY, HASANI, DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS? THE PARK.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PARK DOWN THERE? DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING? AND I'M LIKE, OH, I HEAR IT'S SUPPOSED TO BREAK GROUND IN AUGUST 2026, BUT I'M NOT SURE.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE MEMBERS STAFF FROM THE PARK BOARD WHO COME AND VISIT AND HAVE SUPPORTED THAT.

BUT EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THE COMPLETION OF THIS FAIR PARK.

SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE IS MAYBE SOME LOGISTICAL OR RED TAPE THAT IS HOLDING UP BREAKING GROUND ON THIS PARK. AND AS ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE SAID TODAY FROM OUR CONGRESSWOMAN JASMINE CROCKETT, MY CONGRESSWOMAN JASMINE CROCKETT, TO MY STATE REP, BENTON JONES, TO MANY, MANY, MANY OTHER FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY HAVE SAID WE NEED TO EXECUTE THIS. I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS COMMUNITY ON MANY, MANY LEVELS, AND I AM NURTURING MY SON TO CARRY THOSE INTERESTS.

SO I'M ASKING THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, WHATEVER THE HOLD UP IS, YOU ALL HAVE THE POWER CUT THROUGH THE TAPE.

IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT UP YOURSELF, MAKE THAT COMMUNITY PARK LIKE WE DO ALL OUR PARKS AND OTHER PARKS IN DALLAS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES THOSE DALLAS RESIDENTS OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS.

THE REMAINING SPEAKERS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE.

THE MOTION WAS FOR ALL. OH WAS IT. IT WAS FOR.

IT'S FOR ALL OF THEM. THANK YOU. SO GO AHEAD.

YOUR NEXT SPEAKER. AUSTIN PRICE.

HELLO, EVERYBODY. HOW YOU DOING? ALRIGHT, SO THE HUMAN BRAIN IS NATURALLY SCHIZOPHRENIC, AND WHENEVER IDEAS AND BELIEFS ARE CHALLENGED BY EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE THIS TRIGGERS, LIKE A FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE IN THE HUMAN BRAIN.

SO I ASK YOU ALL TO BE SENTIENT AND AWARE OF THIS AS I PROCEED.

BUT I MADE A SCIENTIFICALLY REVOLUTIONARY DISCOVERY A LONG TIME AGO, IN 2018.

AND IT INVOLVES WILL SMITH'S DAUGHTER, AND IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE SOCIETY HAS FAILED ME. ALL THE REPRESENTATIVES OF DALLAS IS POPULAR CULTURE.

ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN POSITIONS, THE NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY, THE BLACK POWER IS SO STRONG IN THIS CITY, BUT WE HAVE NO REPRESENTATION IN OFFICE. SO I JUST TURNED HERE BECAUSE I GOT STRANDED IN LA A LONG TIME AGO.

LOST MY WHOLE LIFE. I LOST I LOST TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE BECAUSE I COMMITTED TO THIS.

INSTEAD OF JUST GOING AND WORKING AT AUTO PAINT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

SO I JUST ASKED THE SYSTEM WOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

I WANT THE SYSTEM TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE THAT THAT WE COME TOGETHER AND PUT PEOPLE LIKE ME IN A POSITION I WANT TO BE INTO CONTACT WITH.

FOX FOUR NEWS, I WANT TO BE IN CONTACT WITH NBC FIVE CBS.

I WANT TO TALK TO JASMINE CROCKETT. I WANT TO TALK TO TO BETO O'ROURKE, TED CRUZ.

[01:45:05]

I LIVE IN A LAUNDROMAT. I'M STAYING IN MY PASTOR'S HOUSE.

MY PASTOR WAS WAS NICE ENOUGH TO TO GO STAY WITH HER DAUGHTER SO THAT THEY I COULD HAVE A SHELTER FOR A WHOLE MONTH.

YOU KNOW, I SPENT THE MAJORITY OF MY 20S IMPOVERISHED.

AND AS FOR WILL SMITH'S DAUGHTER, WHAT IT IS IS THAT I CAN LITERALLY CHANGE THE SHAPES OF THE CLOUDS.

I HAVE EMPIRICAL PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE. SHE HAS EMPIRICAL PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE.

SHE CONSTANTLY WATCHES MY SOCIAL MEDIA. ALL THESE PEOPLE IN THESE POSITIONS, THEY'LL GET INTO AN ARGUMENT OVER ME, BUT THEY THEY'LL GET INTO AN ARGUMENT WITH ME, BUT THEY WON'T COME TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF MANKIND.

AND I WANT TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF OF BLACK POWER, OF OF HISPANIC POWER.

I WANT TO I WANT TO FIX POLICE BRUTALITY. I WANT TO GET CORPORATE LOBBYING.

I FIGURED OUT A SYSTEM TO GET RID OF CORPORATE LOBBYING, GET CORPORATIONS OUT OF THE POCKETS OF POLITICIANS WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD.

BUT IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE EVERYBODY'S PRIORITY IS JUST KEEPING ME DOWN IN BLACKBALLING ME OUT OF SOCIETY AND BLACKBALLING ME OUT OF THE CULTURE.

AND IT'S IT'S IT'S IT'S REPREHENSIBLE. IT'S REPREHENSIBLE.

EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE, BUT I MEAN, IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO TO GET INVOLVED IN THESE COMMUNITIES TO, TO TO CONTACT THE NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY, TO, TO TALK TO JASMINE CROCKETT, BECAUSE IT'S THAT SYSTEM IS A LOT HARDER THAN YOU REALIZE, BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO JUST NETWORK AND JUST REACH OUT.

PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY LIKE THAT.

BUT I COULD BRING A NOBEL TO THE CITY. I COULD BRING I COULD BRING 2 OR 3 NOBELS IN PHYSICS TO THIS CITY, BUT PEOPLE JUST LEAVE ME OUT TO DRY. WELL, I HOPE THIS THIS WAS PRODUCTIVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. GLORIA CARBAJAL.

GREETINGS. COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR JOHNSON. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS GLORIA CARBAJAL. CO-FOUNDER OF BAN HORSE CARRIAGES DALLAS.

TODAY MARKS MY 12TH VISIT BEFORE YOU ADDRESSING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

LAST MONTH, DECEMBER 2025, ON THE 22ND AND THE 23RD, HEADLINES READ.

THE VIRAL VIDEO SHOWS A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE HITTING A TRUCK AND SENDING THE RIDER OFF THE CARRIAGE.

THE SECOND HEADLINE READS A LAKE CHARLES WOMAN HAS BEEN CITED AFTER A BIZARRE HIT AND RUN CRASH INVOLVING A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE. ACCORDING TO POLICE.

WE AGREE THAT IT IS BIZARRE, THAT IT IS BIZARRE THAT IN THIS MODERN SOCIETY THAT WE THAT WE ARE, THAT WE CONTINUE TO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE ABOLISH THIS TRADE.

POST COMMENTS. READ. HORSES OBVIOUSLY DON'T BELONG ON CITY STREETS OR PARKING LOTS, SURROUNDED BY CARS, HONKING HORNS AND CROWDS. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE VALUE NOSTALGIA AND TRADITION OVER COMMON SENSE. LOCALLY, IN HIGHLAND PARK, DECEMBER 26TH, 2024, A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST READS. ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, OBSERVED, OBSERVED HORSE ON THE GROUND WHICH FELL WHILE PULLING A CARRIAGE.

CARRIAGE OPERATOR AND ALL PASSENGERS UNINJURED.

HORSE UPRIGHT AND CARRIAGE BROUGHT TO SAFE LOCATION.

ADVISE THE HORSE SLIPPED ON WET GROUND. IN RECENT PUBLIC COMMENTS I HAVE MENTIONED THE LACK OF OVERSIGHT IN THIS TRADE. WITH THIS TRADE. TODAY WE ASK.

ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR DALLAS TO HAVE ITS OWN HEADLINES, ITS OWN VIRAL VIDEO, OR ARE WE GOING TO BE PROACTIVE IN PREVENTING IT BEFORE IT HAPPENS?

[01:50:10]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. MARISOL RAMIREZ.

MARISOL RAMIREZ.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I AM MADDIE OR HERBIVOROUS MADDIE WITH BAND HORSE CARRIAGE DALLAS AS WELL.

I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY STATING HORSES ARE NOT COMMODITIES.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE SO ACCEPTING OF THEM WORKING OUT THERE IN THESE BUSY, LOUD AND DANGEROUS STREETS OF DALLAS.

MANY CITIES LIKE THE WINDY CITY OF CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, SAN ANTONIO HAVE IMPLEMENTED A BAN ON HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES ALREADY.

AND COUNTRY COUNTRIES LIKE MEXICO HAVE ADOPTED ELECTRIC HORSELESS CARRIAGE RIDES, AND THEY HAVE HAD MUCH SUCCESS WITH THESE.

IT'S TIME TO END THESE. AND THIS NEEDLESS EXPLOITATION.

WHEN I'VE COME INTO CONTACT AND SPOKEN TO BOTH DALLAS RESIDENTS AND NONRESIDENTS, THEY AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT HORSES DON'T BELONG OUT THERE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE THESE EXTREME TEXAS TEMPERATURES REACHING HEAT INDEXES IN TRIPLE DIGITS.

IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THEM OR FOR THE PUBLIC. NOT ONLY IS IT UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT DANGEROUS ALL AROUND FOR EVERYONE SPENDING MANY HOURS IN EITHER THE HEAT OR COLD. ALSO THE EXHAUST FROM CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES AND ENDLESS TRAFFIC.

ALTHOUGH ACCIDENTS DON'T OCCUR OFTEN HERE AND THANK GOODNESS FOR THIS, THE POSSIBILITY IS ALWAYS THERE.

BUT I ASK WHY WAIT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN? LET'S MAKE THIS CITY SAFE FOR ALL, AND AT THE SAME TIME SEND THESE HORSES TO RETIRE TO BIG GREEN PASTURES. I'LL END WITH THIS QUOTE FROM A VETERINARIAN.

THERE IS NO WAY THAT CITIES WITH THEIR EXHAUST FUMES, HARD ROAD SURFACES, AND BUSY TRAFFIC PATTERNS CAN PROVIDE A HUMANE ENVIRONMENT FOR A CARRIAGE HORSE. HOLLY CHEEVER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. DELORES PHILLIPS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

YOU DO HAVE HANDOUTS TODAY. ONE IS CONCERNING CORPORAL COTNER, AND THE OTHER ONE IS ABOUT THE FABRICATED POLICE REPORT.

DP 0273291A CHIEF MR. JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS JR.

I'M CALLING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. AND ALSO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE FAM I LIVED IN SOUTH DALLAS RAISED UP IN SOUTH OAK CLIFF, BORN AS A COUNTRY GIRL.

PRESIDENT TRUMP, CHIEF MR. JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS, JUNIOR, HIGHEST JUSTICE OF AMERICA.

CAN YOU COME SEE WHY IT'S TAKING 50 PLUS YEARS TO BUILD A COMMUNITY PARK IN THE VERY AREA COMMUNITY THAT HAS HAD THEIR HOMES AND LAND TAKEN FOR DECADES. FAST FORWARD TO WHERE WE ARE IN THIS FABRICATED POLICE REPORT.

IT'S A REASON WHY THEY DO WHAT THEY DO AND THEY THINK YEARS IN ADVANCE.

CHIEF MR. JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS, JUNIOR, AND PRESIDENT TRUMP DALLAS PROBATE COURTS HERE IN DALLAS HAVE A RECORD GOING OF TAKING POOR PEOPLE MONEY BEYOND RACE IN THE ESTATE OF RICHARD LEON MINKINS.

I'M CALLING HIS NAME OUT LOUD. PLEASE UNDERSTAND IT'S TIME WE COMING THREE 60 FOR WHAT YOU DO TO PEOPLE. AND YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE IT RIGHT TO REVICTIMIZE PEOPLE.

IT'S METHODICAL. IT DIDN'T START WITH YOU, BUT YOU INHERITED THIS MAYOR JOHNSON, THIS IS HUGE.

LISTEN, CORPORAL COTNER DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE THAT DAY.

OCTOBER 25TH, 2013. THAT MEANT THAT THAT MEETING WAS INSTRUCTED BY MAYOR ROLLINS.

I SPOKE TO MAYOR ROLLINS MANY YEARS CONCERNING THIS COVER UP.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 13 PAGE HANDOUT THAT YOU HAVE, YOU SEE THAT I WAS THERE OCTOBER 25TH, 2013, BECAUSE 911 CALLS WERE ERASED WITHIN A WEEK IN 2009.

THEN THEY TOOK ME TO GREEN OAKS TO START THIS FILE.

TO BUILD THIS FILE. SO THEN WHEN MY MOM'S AND MY DAD'S INHERITANCE CAME.

[01:55:02]

THAT WAS TRANSFERRED FROM PR DASH TWO THREE, DASH 03429.

DASH 2P-23041362. IT'S A RACKET. Y'ALL CONTINUE TO STEAL MY EXHIBITS FROM THE COURT OF LAW.

YOU CONTINUE TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE. YOU HAD ME AND MY GRANDSON IN THE ELEMENTS WHEN YOU TOOK OUR RENT MONIES.

AND YOU PUT US OUT IN THE COLD TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO RESPOND.

I'M FILING A MOTION TO REINSTATE DC DASH 2106299 IN THE NEXT TWO HOURS, AND ASKING FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL IN A SPECIAL MASTER TO TURN CITY OF DALLAS INSIDE OUT. HAVE A GOOD DAY.

BLESSED NEW YEAR 2026. THREE 60. THANK YOU. RICK STEINER.

RICK STEINER RICK STEINER IS NOT PRESENT. MARVIN CRENSHAW.

MARVIN CRENSHAW IS NOT PRESENT. ROBERT HOBSON.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY. I'M ROB HOBSON, 7055.

WHOLESOME WAY. DALLAS, TEXAS. FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, 20 YEARS, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON HOW TO TRANSFORM FLOODPLAINS IN OUR STATE, IN OUR COUNTRY, IN OUR IN OUR CITY. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE, ESPECIALLY NOW.

I HAVE RUN INTO A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, A BIG CHALLENGE.

BUT OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, I'VE FIGURED IT OUT.

AND OVER THE PAST 2 OR 3 I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH, I'VE BEEN NOTIFYING ALL OF YOU.

I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU ABOUT MY EMAILS, THE TRANSFORMATION, HOW YOU CAN TRANSFORM THESE FLOODPLAINS INTO SAFE COMMUNITIES AND BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES.

AND I'M FRUSTRATED BECAUSE NONE OF YOU HAVE EVER RESPONDED TO ALL MY EMAILS.

I HAVE MET WITH I HAVE MET WITH THE DALLAS WATER DEPARTMENT, MET WITH SARAH STANDIFER.

SHE COULD NOT POINT OUT ANYTHING IN THE CITY CODE THAT WOULD DENY WHAT I'M DOING IS MY MY INVENTIONS ARE FLOODPLAIN REGULATORY COMPLIANT. I COULD BUILD SMALL HOUSES, BIG HOUSES OR MODULAR HOUSES.

YOU CAN PUT THEM TOGETHER, STACK THEM. THEY'RE ALL SAFE.

THEY'RE WATERPROOF. THE BUILDINGS ARE WATERPROOF.

CAN'T BE DAMAGED BY FLOOD WATERS. THEY'RE ELEVATED.

YOU CAN PUT THE SWITCH MECHANICALLY. IT'LL GO RIGHT UP FOR THE FLOODWATERS COME.

FLOODWATERS WILL GO UNDER THEM. AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEY'LL FLOAT.

SO THERE'S NO REASON WHY THERE COULD BE WOULDN'T BE APPROVED BY THE FLOODPLAIN REGULATORY.

SO I NOTIFIED YOU ALL. NOBODY'S EVER SAID ANYTHING.

I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN. I'VE MET WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'VE DALLAS WATER DEPARTMENT TWICE, AND ONCE WITH SARAH STANIFER, AND TWO TIMES WITH DAVID FANNER, HEAD ENGINEER. AND MY MEETINGS HAVE BEEN THERE.

JUST DENYING THERE'S ANY POSSIBILITY. BUT WHAT DAVID HAPPENED TO SAY, WELL, YOU NEED TO BUILD ONE OF THESE TO PROVE IT.

AND THAT'S A TYPICAL ENGINEERING STATEMENT. THEY GOT TO SEE IT, TO BELIEVE IT.

SO ANYWAY, I'M FRUSTRATED AND I CAN'T GET ANY RESPONSE FROM YOU.

SO THIS PAST DECEMBER, DECEMBER 30TH, 31ST, I DELIVERED A PROPOSAL TO CITY CITY MANAGER, CITY DALLAS CITY WATER AND THE OEM DEPARTMENT, A PROPOSAL TO BUILD A TRIAL UNIT, A TEMPORARY UNIT ON THE FLOODPLAIN DOWN THERE TO DEMONSTRATE THIS SO THAT YOU COULD SEE HOW THIS WOULD SOLVE OUR AFFORDABILITY HOUSING PROBLEM.

AND OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, I'VE NOT RECEIVED ANY KIND OF INFORMATION BACK FROM THE CITY MAYOR AT ALL, CITY MANAGER AT ALL ABOUT WHETHER THEY EVEN RECEIVED IT OR NOT.

SO ANYWAY. HERE'S THE PROBLEM. THE FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS WERE BUILT BACK IN THE 1940S.

WE HAVE. THAT'S YOUR TIME. THAT'S YOUR TIME. THAT'S OVER ALREADY.

I JUST WANT A CHANCE. THAT'S ALL. I WANT TO PUT ONE DOWN THERE AND SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT.

AND SOLVE YOUR DOUGAN AFFORDABILITY HOUSING PROBLEM.

THANK YOU. MIKE HOOK. MIKE HOOK IS NOT PRESENT ON ON GRANT.

GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

BEFORE I BEGIN TO START ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARK THAT WE'VE ALL HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT AND THE FAIR PARK AREA.

[02:00:06]

AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF YOU HAD TO BREAK THAT PROMISE TO SOMEONE WHO YOU LOVE AND HOW THEY TOOK IT AND HOW THEY LOOKED? I WAS BORN IN SOUTH DALLAS AND ROSE TERRACE PROJECTS.

THAT'S NO LONGER THERE, AND NOW THAT'S BEING REBUILT.

I'VE SEEN SO MUCH TURN DOWN AND SO MUCH REVITALIZING, BUT THIS IS A PART OF SOMETHING THAT WAS TOOK FROM PEOPLE HOMES, AND THERE WAS SAID THAT WOULD COME BACK AS A COMMUNITY PARK THAT WAS SUPPORTING REVITALIZING SOUTH DALLAS.

BUT WE JUST SIT HERE AND WE HEARD EARLIER, MR. MAYOR, YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT PSYCHO CLIFF, AND MY SON WAS A GRADUATE OF SOUTH OAK CLIFF.

HE WON TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH SOUTH OAK CLIFF FROM A FATHER WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE.

YOU HAD STATED THAT THE NATION NEEDS TO KNOW ON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMETHING HAS BEEN REBUILT AND RESTORED, AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE SAY SOMETHING COULDN'T HAPPEN.

AND THEN THE ULTIMATE HAPPENED. CHAMPIONS. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE FACING NOW WITH THIS COMMUNITY PARK.

IT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SHOW WHAT RESILIENCE LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT MEETS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY.

IT BEGINS TO COME ALIVE. IT BEGINS TO SUPPORT BECAUSE A PROMISE IS NOT BROKE, BUT A PROMISE IS FULFILLED.

YOU HAVE THE POWER IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO FULFILL THIS PROMISE TO WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY MEANT TO BE, TO SAID AND DONE WITH THE COMMUNITY, BACKING IT AND SUPPORTING IT AND BEING THERE AND SHOWING UP, WANTING HOPE, WANTING TO SURVIVE. WANTING TO LIVE.

WANTING TO BUILD AND SEE SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO ALWAYS SEEING.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THAT, WHATEVER THAT IT TAKES.

I'M ASKING DO WHAT IT TAKES TO PRESENT THIS COMMUNITY PARK ON THE SITE FOR A PARK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR VOTING AGENDA, THEN.

OH, SORRY. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? WHO'S. I DON'T SEE ANYBODY.

MAYBE IT'S THE TECHNICAL. I DON'T SEE ANYBODY. MAYOR. ARE.

THINGS ARE NOT WORKING? YEAH, YEAH, WE'RE HAVING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS. MR. BOSWELL, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SPEAKERS.

SURE. GO AHEAD. I'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'LL BE QUICK. PURSUANT TO THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE, I'M GIVING NOTICE OF MY INTENT TO MAKE A PROCEDURAL MOTION TO DISCHARGE THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE FUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH FAIR PARK.

FIRST, I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR AND SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY, THE LEADERS THE STAKEHOLDERS OUR CONGRESSWOMAN, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT IN THE YEARS OF TIME THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS I ALSO WANT TO BE CONSIDERATE OF THE PROCESS THAT IS CURRENTLY IN MOTION.

THE CURRENT PROCESS IN MOTION IS WITH A TASK FORCE THAT I BELIEVE HAVE ALL OF THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO GIVE THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO OUR BODY. HOWEVER, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THOSE YET.

I'M HOPING THAT THAT CAN GET CONCLUDED WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, SO THAT AT OUR NEXT MEETING ON THE 28TH, WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE ACTION AS A COUNCIL AND REMAND TO OUR PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, AND ALLOW FOR US TO CONTINUE THE VETTING SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS DONE IN AN APPROPRIATE TIME.

THE TIMELINE IS CURRENTLY FOR US TO BREAK GROUND ON THIS IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, AFTER FIFA VACATES THE PARK GROUNDS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE AT THE VERY MOST THAT WE DO NOT COMPROMISE THAT INTENDED TIMELINE.

AND I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A GOOD COMPROMISE AND HOPE THIS PUTS ADEQUATE NOTICE TO THE PARK BOARD AND THE TASK FORCE TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, AS NECESSARY TO GET IT DONE IN THIS TIMELY MANNER.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ON WHAT JUST TRANSPIRED THERE.

THAT WAS PURSUANT TO OUR RULES. COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO ACKNOWLEDGE SPEAKERS.

AND WE WERE JUST GIVEN NOTICE OF AN INTENT OF A COUNCIL MEMBER.

TAKE A CERTAIN ACTION AND SO THERE'S NO MOTION ON THE FLOOR OR ANYTHING TO BE VOTED ON HERE.

BUT THAT'S WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING THERE.

[02:05:03]

MADAM SECRETARY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO YOUR FIRST VOTING ITEM. AGENDA ITEM ONE IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 10TH,

[MINUTES]

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MR. BAZALDUA LIGHT STILL ON? SO IS THERE ANYONE WHO WANTED TO BE RECOGNIZED ON FOR OR AGAINST? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO YOUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

AGENDA ITEM 11 AND AGENDA ITEM 12 HAVE BEEN PLACED BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

YOUR CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTED OF ITEMS TWO THROUGH 40.

AGENDA ITEM THREE WAS DELETED. AGENDA ITEM SIX HAS BEEN PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

AGENDA ITEM SEVEN HAS BEEN CORRECTED AND ALSO PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

AGENDA ITEM EIGHT HAS BEEN PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

AGENDA ITEM NINE WAS CORRECTED AND HAS BEEN PULLED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

AGENDA ITEM TEN HAS BEEN PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

AGENDA ITEM 13 WAS DELETED. AGENDA ITEM 15 WAS DELETED, AGENDA ITEM 21 WAS DELETED, AGENDA ITEM 25 WAS CORRECTED, AGENDA ITEM 31 WAS CORRECTED, AND AGENDA ITEM 33 WAS DELETED.

THEREFORE, YOUR CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF ITEMS TWO, FOUR, FIVE.

11. 12. 14. 16 THROUGH 22 THROUGH 32 AND 34 THROUGH 40. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION OR A MOTION AND A SECOND? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I AM REALLY EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT AN ITEM THAT IS ON CONSENT.

ITEM NUMBER 16 IS VERY EXCITING, INNOVATIVE PROJECT FOR DISTRICT ONE.

IT IS A USE OF THE OAK CLIFF GATEWAY TIF FUNDING TO ADAPTIVELY TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR AN ADAPTIVE REUSE OF 549 EAST JEFFERSON BOULEVARD. IT'S AN IT'S A LANDMARKED HISTORIC CHURCH AT THE CORNER OF JEFFERSON AND MARSALIS.

AND THE ITEM IS TO PROVIDE FOR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT AND TO REHAB THE BUILDING.

THIS BUILDING WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION LITERALLY LIKE THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK I GOT ON COUNCIL BY OAK CLIFF PRESERVATIONISTS, INCLUDING HERITAGE OAK CLIFF LANDMARK COMMISSIONER DAVID PREZIOSI, FORMER LANDMARK COMMISSIONER DIANE SHERMAN, AND OTHERS BEGGING TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO SAVE THIS BUILDING FROM DESTRUCTION.

WE HAD AT THE TIME, A ABSENTEE OWNER WHO DIDN'T EVEN LIVE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THERE WAS FEAR THAT WE WOULD LOSE THIS HISTORIC CHURCH FOREVER.

FORTUNATELY, IN 2023, A BUILDER WITH PROVEN EXPERIENCE IN ADAPTIVE REUSE PURCHASED THE SITE WITH THE DREAM OF BRINGING THE BUILDING BACK TO LIFE.

THE DEAL TODAY, USING OAK CLIFF GATEWAY TIF FUNDS WILL REHABILITATE THE ENTIRE BUILDING, FIXING UP THE EXTERNAL FACADE, CREATING OVER 14,000FT² OF COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL WORKSPACES TO SUPPORT NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESSES, AND CREATE 45 NEW HOUSING UNITS, OF WHICH AT LEAST 20% ARE GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE.

THIS NEW PROJECT OR THIS DEVELOPMENT IS A SHORT WALK TO THE SOON TO BE OPEN HALPERIN PARK.

AND I AM VERY PROUD THAT WE HAVE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM PRESERVATION DALLAS AND HERITAGE OAK CLIFF, WHICH HAS BEEN EMAILED TO EVERYONE HERE. I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR SPATH AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF FOR THEIR GREAT WORK, AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTING THE PROJECT.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS APPROVED TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT TRANSFORM IN THE MONTHS TO COME.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN JOHNSON. YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON CONSENT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON. I WANT TO SPEAK ON ITEM 31.

COLLEAGUES, THIS IS ABOUT SAVING TAXPAYERS DOLLARS WHILE INVESTING BACK INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AT THE BEVERLY CENTER RECREATION CENTER IN DISTRICT FOUR, WE'RE INSTALLING A ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEM THAT WILL CUT THE BUILDING'S ENERGY USE BY APPROXIMATELY 75% AND SAVE ROUGHLY 23,000 EVERY YEAR ON ELECTRICITY COSTS.

THOSE SAVINGS MEAN MORE RESOURCES FOR PROGRAMS, MAINTENANCE AND SERVICES THAT OUR RESIDENTS USE.

THIS PROJECT IS PAID FOR WITH PREVIOUSLY APPROVED FEDERAL ARPA FUNDS, NOT NEW LOCAL TAXES, AND WAS AWARDED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

[02:10:01]

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WANT TO SPEAK ON ITEM 16.

I THINK IT'S A OVERALL A GREAT PROJECT, A PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO HELP PRESERVE A HISTORIC BUILDING.

BUT I DO HAVE A CONCERN WITH WHEN PROJECTS ON TIPS ARE GOING AT 50% THAT THE CITY IS INPUTTING TO COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS.

SO I'M GLAD THAT STAFF IS GOING TO BE BRINGING FORWARD SOME POLICY CHANGES THAT WILL MAKE EXCEPTIONS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN A PROJECT IS ASKING FOR OVER 50% OF ITS FUNDING FROM A TIF, I HAVE TO QUESTION AND PAUSE A LITTLE BIT AND ASK IF THAT'S A A PROJECT THAT IS ATTAINABLE. AND SO AGAIN, I WILL OBVIOUSLY I'M SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT, BUT MOVING FORWARD I LOOK FORWARD TO SOME OF THOSE POLICY CHANGES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THREE DIFFERENT ITEMS, 1211 AND 22, 11 AND 12 WOULD SIMPLY EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD FOR WHICH EVICTION ASSISTANCE WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE MEETING THE INCOME QUALIFICATIONS.

THESE ARE PROGRAMS FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY ARPA ALLOCATIONS FROM DISTRICT SEVEN AND MY DISTRICT.

AND SO THEY DO NOT AFFECT THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, BUT THEY PROVIDE GREAT ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING HOMELESSNESS BY EVICTION FROM THEIR HOMES. ITEM 22 IS ITEM AUTHORIZING ENGINEERING TO PROVIDE TRAFFIC SIGNAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR FIVE INTERSECTIONS. THE ITEM ADVANCES TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT KEY INTERSECTIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND ALONG THE ABRAMS ROAD CORRIDOR.

THE WORK FOCUSES ON MODERNIZING TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND USING DATA DRIVEN SAFETY ANALYSIS TO REDUCE CRASHES AND CONFLICT POINTS.

THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL MAKE INTERSECTIONS SAFER FOR DRIVERS, PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AND TRANSIT USERS.

THE ABRAMS ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY STUDY WILL HELP IDENTIFY TARGETED SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE CORRIDOR SAFETY AND MOBILITY.

AUTHORIZING THIS CONTRACT ALLOWS THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH TIMELY, COORDINATED SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WHERE THEY ARE MOST NEEDED.

THANK YOU. MAYOR MR. RESENDEZ RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 24. THIS ITEM SUPPORTS THE ELM ROAD SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROJECT, WHICH IMPROVES SAFETY FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS.

WALKING AND BIKING IN DISTRICT FIVE AND DISTRICT EIGHT.

MISS BLAIR THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT ALLOWS REQUIRED MATERIAL TESTING SO SIDEWALKS, CROSSINGS, AND BIKE FACILITIES ARE BUILT TO SAFE STANDARDS.

THESE IMPROVEMENTS CREATE SAFER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN RC BURLESON ELEMENTARY, PEMBERTON HILL PARK, EB COMSTOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS MY OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL, NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE REGIONAL TRAIL SYSTEM.

THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN BE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO TALK ALSO ABOUT ITEM 16.

I WAS CONVINCED NOT TO PULL IT, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT FOR $10 MILLION, WE'RE GOING TO GET LESS THAN 50 UNITS OF HOUSING, OF WHICH 8 OR 9 OF THEM, 8 OR 9 UNITS WILL BE AFFORDABLE.

AND THIS IS A SUPER COOL BUILDING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN IT, BUT IT IS VERY ATTRACTIVE.

I UNDERSTAND WHY IT WHY THERE'S AN INTEREST IN SAVING IT, BUT THE THING IS, IT IS ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM OUR NEW DECK PARK.

THERE'S ALREADY RESTAURANTS, INCLUDING A SUBWAY AND A COUPLE OF MEXICAN RESTAURANTS NEARBY.

IT'S WALKABLE TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF DEAL THAT WOULD HAPPEN WITHOUT US.

THIS IS THE ENTIRE POINT OF HAVING BUILT A DECK PARK THAT WOULD REVITALIZE THIS AREA.

NOT THAT WE THEN ALSO PAY FOR ALL THE REVITALIZATION.

IT'S ALSO THAT THE TIF, AGAIN, $10 MILLION COULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE STREETCAR, WHICH BENEFITS THAT AREA AND TAKES OVER $2 MILLION FROM OUR GENERAL FUND. SO I WAS CONVINCED BY THIS ONE THOUGHT AND THE THOUGHT IS WE DO NEED THIS AREA TO REVITALIZE AND IT IS A COOL BUILDING WORTH SAVING AND I HOPE THAT IT SPURS ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT US.

THANK YOU. MISS BLAIR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.

I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 22. IT GIVES ME THREE SIGNALS.

[02:15:06]

THAT IS A AREA IN KLEBERG THAT NEEDS AS MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE AS THEY CAN POSSIBLY GET.

SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE SECOND ONE IS AT BECKLEY, MEAD AND POLK.

IT HAS A LOT OF TRUCK TRAFFIC THERE, AND THIS SIGNAL WILL HELP QUIET SOME OF THAT TRUCK TRAFFIC.

THE LAST ONE IS AT BUFORD AND CAMP WISDOM. THIS IS GOING TO SLOW ME DOWN.

THIS IS MY HIGHWAY. AND THIS LIGHT HERE WILL SLOW ME DOWN.

SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU. AND I THANK YOU FOR THE SAFETY THAT IT WILL BRING TO THE CAMP WISDOM CORRIDOR AS WE GET NEXT TO OUR UNTD DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF MAKING THAT AREA A WALKABLE AREA.

SO THESE THREE ITEMS, THESE THREE LOCATIONS ARE MUCH NEEDED AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THEM BUILT.

MR. BAZALDUA RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU MAYOR.

QUICKLY, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITEM NUMBER 23.

I WANT TO THANK GUS FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD IN JOPPY.

WE HAVE HAD PROJECTS TAKE LONGER THAN EXPECTED.

BUT WE ARE STILL MOVING FORWARD. AND THIS IS BIG PROGRESS.

THIS ITEM KEEPS THE JOPPY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS MOVING FORWARD AND ENSURES WE DELIVER THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DESPERATELY NEEDS. THIS INVESTMENT DELIVERS REAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE JOPPA COMMUNITY.

BETTER DRAINAGE, SAFER STREETS AND PROTECTION FOR HOMES.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HAS UNFORTUNATELY TAKEN LONGER THAN NEEDED BECAUSE OF A DELAY IN A POTENTIAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROJECT.

BUT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH OR WITHOUT THE PROJECT OF HABITAT.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO GUS AND TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHLIGHT THE THE GOOD STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING FOR JOB.

THANK YOU, MISTER MAYOR. CHAIRWOMAN, FOR THREE MINUTES ON CONSENT.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID.

YOU KNOW, I ENDED IN A MORE CASUAL WAY THAN I SHOULD HAVE.

I SAID, I HOPE THAT THESE PROJECTS WILL HAPPEN WITHOUT US.

AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, WHICH IS TO SAY WE HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR DOLLARS.

THIS IS ALREADY A TIF, WHICH MEANS DOLLARS ARE NOT COMING TO OUR GENERAL FUND AND ARE INSTEAD STAYING IN A COMMUNITY.

AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING FOR HALF OF A PROJECT.

WE JUST CAN'T. WE CANNOT DO THAT FOR EVERY BUILDING IN THE CITY.

AND THERE JUST HAS TO BE A LITTLE MORE DISCERNMENT AND A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERN FOR PRESERVING OUR DOLLARS FOR THE THINGS THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE TOLD US THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING. AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S A COOL BUILDING.

I'M GLAD IT'S GOING TO STAY. I HOPE IT SPURS MORE DEVELOPMENT.

BUT THAT DEVELOPMENT NEEDS TO COME FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THEY THE DEVELOPERS WILL BENEFIT.

BUT IT CAN'T BE THAT WE ARE LAYING OUT ALL THIS MONEY EVERY TIME.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I DON'T MEAN WITHOUT US BECAUSE WE ARE FOR THEM.

WE WANT THEM TO SUCCEED. BUT IT CAN'T BE THAT WE ARE MAKING HALF OF THAT INVESTMENT.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST CONSENT? I DON'T SEE ANYONE. SO ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.

NEXT ITEM PLEASE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO YOUR FIRST ITEM. AGENDA ITEM SIX.

AGENDA ITEM SIX AUTHORIZED ONE THE RATIFICATION OF PAYMENT TO BIG THOUGHT FOR THE UNINTERRUPTED PROVISION OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FROM NOVEMBER 9TH, 2025 THROUGH JANUARY 13TH, 2026 TO PARTIAL AMENDMENT TO SECTION TWO OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 230625.

TO EXTEND THE SERVICE CONTRACT TERM WITH BIG THOUGHT AND THREE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER TWO TO THE SERVICE CONTRACT WITH BIG THOUGHT TO EXTEND THE TERM FROM NOVEMBER 8TH, 2025 TO MAY 31ST, 2026. THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

IS THERE A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

DISCUSSION. CHAIRMAN MENDELSOHN YOU PULLED IT SO YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FOR STAFF THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO BE ANSWERED PUBLICLY.

SORRY. AND GOOD MORNING. JESSICA GALICIA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.

SO I'VE PULLED ITEMS SIX THROUGH TEN. SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE JUST UNIVERSAL FOR ALL OF THEM.

WERE THESE ITEMS BRIEFED TO A COMMITTEE? THESE ITEMS WERE NOT BRIEFED TO A COMMITTEE.

[02:20:05]

ITEM SIX THROUGH EIGHT REFLECT CONTRACT EXTENSIONS.

THOSE ARE SORT ADMINISTRATIVELY THROUGH THE OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES.

BUT WE WERE NOTIFIED IN DECEMBER THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE EXTENSION WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND THAT WE NEEDED TO BRING THE ITEMS TO CITY COUNCIL.

THESE ITEMS DO NOT REFLECT AN INCREASE IN FUNDING AT ALL, BUT IT DOES EXTEND THE TIMELINE FOR THOSE PROGRAMS TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE.

THESE ARE ARPA FUNDED PROGRAMS. ITEM SEVEN AND NINE ARE BEING RECOMMENDED BASED ON CONTINUED AND INCREASED NEED FOR EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMS. THOSE WERE ISSUES THAT WERE RECOGNIZED IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER RELATED TO THE CHANGES TO THE SNAP PROGRAM.

AND ALSO AT THE TIME, THERE WAS A SUSPENSION OF THE BENEFITS AVAILABLE.

AND SO WE MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS USING FUNDING THAT HAD BEEN UNEXPENDED IN OTHER NONPROFIT CONTRACTS, DELIVERING SIMILAR SERVICES TO REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDING TO THESE CONTRACTS SO THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SUPPORT CONTINUED AND INCREASED FOOD PROGRAMING.

ITEM NUMBER TEN REFLECTS I'M SORRY, WE'RE ON ITEM SIX AND I WILL ASK YOU THESE FOR THE OTHERS.

OKAY. IF WE CAN JUST STAY THERE, PLEASE. SO THE ANSWER TO THE FIRST QUESTION WAS THAT YOU NEEDED A CONTRACT EXTENSION.

YES, MA'AM. WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU NEEDED A CONTRACT EXTENSION? I BELIEVE THAT WE RECOGNIZED THAT AROUND SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER.

AND THAT'S WHEN WE WE STARTED THE PROCESS FOR THE EXTENSION IN OCTOBER.

AND THAT PROCESS BEGAN, AND WE WERE NOTIFIED IN DECEMBER THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE EXTENSION WASN'T POSSIBLE AND THAT IT NEEDED TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL FOR AUTHORIZATION.

SO IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER, WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT, WHY WASN'T IT BRIEFED TO COMMITTEE ANY TIME BEFORE NOW? BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO TRUE UP OUR SYSTEMS RELATED TO OUR GRANTS AND IMPROVE THE UTILIZATION OF THOSE.

IN THE PAST, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO SHORT TERM ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT EXTENSIONS, SUCH AS THIS ONE, WHICH IS A SIX MONTH EXTENSION. WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT WHEN THAT WAS IDENTIFIED.

WE DID NOT. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A COMMITTEE MEETING IN DECEMBER WHEN WE RECOGNIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AUTHORIZATION, BUT YET WE DIDN'T GET A MEMO UNTIL, I BELIEVE, JANUARY 9TH AND CORRECT.

WE SUBMITTED A FRIDAY MEMO BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO BRIEF THE COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY.

WHY DIDN'T WE GET A MEMO IN DECEMBER? DID THE I AM I I'M NOT CERTAIN.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT AT THE TIME THAT WE WERE NOTIFIED, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAD TIME TO ACTUALLY BRING A MEMO TO COMMITTEE.

IT WAS BY AROUND THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER TO THE FULL COUNCIL.

WHY WOULDN'T THAT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED IN DECEMBER? I COUNCILWOMAN THORAX AND DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. WE WERE PREPARING ALL THE ITEMS TOGETHER TO SHORE UP ALL OF THE CONTRACTS.

AND SO WE PREPARED A FRIDAY MEMO AHEAD OF THE COUNCIL MEETING TO BRIEF ON ALL THE ITEMS TOGETHER SO THAT THAT TALKS ABOUT OUR TIMING TO ENSURE IT WAS ONE COMMUNICATION OF ALL ITEMS, RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL MEMOS FOR EACH ITEM.

WELL, I WOULD SAY TO YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THINGS HAPPEN.

AND SINCE WE DO HAVE MEMOS EVERY FRIDAY, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET ALL THE MEMOS THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE WEDNESDAY MEETING.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENS, AND ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR MANY MONTHS, THAT THIS ITEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO COUNCIL, FRANKLY, TO THE COMMITTEE.

SO WHEN IT'S POSTED ONLINE, THIS ITEM SAYS THAT IT'S RATIFICATION OF A PAYMENT.

AND THEN YOU JUST SAID THAT THERE IS NO PAYMENT.

IT'S JUST CONTRACT EXTENSION AND CORRECT. WE HAVE NOT MADE A PAYMENT TO THE VENDOR.

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH AN ADMINISTRATIVE EXTENSION THROUGH THE OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES, WHICH WE'VE BEEN ALLOWED TO DO IN THE PAST. WE DID NOT KNOW THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT AT AT THE TIME THIS WAS THE CONTRACTS WERE SCHEDULED TO END ON NOVEMBER THE 8TH. THAT PROCESS WAS ONGOING. WE WERE NOTIFIED AROUND THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT EXTENSION.

THE VENDORS WERE NOT NOTIFIED UNTIL THAT POINT THAT THE EXTENSION WOULD NOT GO THROUGH.

AND SO THEY WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO WORK ON THE ANTICIPATION THAT THEIR CONTRACTS WERE GOING TO BE EXTENDED.

WE HAVE NOT MADE A PAYMENT TO THEM. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE COMPLETED SERVICE DELIVERY AND SO WE SHOULD MAKE A PAYMENT TO THEM OF THE DOLLARS ALREADY ALLOCATED OF THE DOLLARS ALREADY ALLOCATED.

BUT THERE ISN'T ACTUALLY A RATIFICATION OF A PAYMENT.

[02:25:02]

THAT WAS WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DEVELOP AND REFINE THE LANGUAGE AS IT WENT FORWARD INTO THIS AGENDA, BUT THAT IS THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS RECOMMENDED FOR US TO USE FOR THIS, SO THAT WE COULD MAKE AN ADMINISTRATIVE PAYMENT TO THEM ONCE THE EXTENSION WAS MOVING FORWARD. CITY ATTORNEY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY IT SAYS AUTHORIZE ONE THE RATIFICATION OF PAYMENT? I'M GOING TO ASK ONE OF MY ATTORNEYS WHO HELPED WORK OUT THE LANGUAGE.

BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, BECAUSE THEY WERE OUTSIDE OF A CONTRACT, YOU HAVE TO RATIFY THE PAYMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING TO THEM.

AND LISA MATAS IS COMING UP, JUST GOING TO HELP ME OUT WITH THIS ONE.

SO THE IT APPEARS ON THE AGENDA ITEM THAT THE CONTRACT WOULD HAVE ENDED IN NOVEMBER.

YES. AND SO YOU DIDN'T ADVISE THEM UNTIL DECEMBER THAT THAT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE.

IT DIDN'T GO. IT DIDN'T GO TO US. IT WENT TO OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES.

BUT I'LL LET LISA. LISA MATAS WITH THE DALLAS CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

SO THE ITEM WASN'T BROUGHT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE UNTIL DECEMBER.

THE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED DURING A PERIOD WHEN THE CONTRACT TERM HAD ENDED.

SO THEREFORE, WE ADVISE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE VENDOR.

WELL, REALLY, IT'S A GRANTEE FOR SERVICES THAT WERE PROVIDED.

WE OPTED TO USE A RATIFICATION LANGUAGE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. THAT MAKES SENSE. CITY MANAGER I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENED HERE, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE FAILURE THAT WE KNEW MANY MONTHS IN ADVANCE THAT A CONTRACT WAS EXPIRING.

THE CONTRACT DID EXPIRE. DIDN'T EVEN TALK TO THE CITY ATTORNEY UNTIL DECEMBER.

THE VENDOR CONTINUED TO OPERATE. WE WISHED TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT AND EITHER PROCUREMENT OR THE DEPARTMENT.

SOME THINGS HAPPENED HERE THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

AND SO I'M NOT QUESTIONING THE ISSUE OF BIG THOUGHT AND THE AND THE DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO THAT.

WE'VE PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED FOR THAT. I'M QUESTIONING THAT THERE'S CLEARLY WITH ALL OF THESE ITEMS, A PROBLEM THAT'S HAPPENED WITH WITH THE DELIVERY OF THIS SERVICE.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN SHARE ANY INSIGHT ON THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCILMAN. MENDELSOHN. AND I'LL START BY SAYING THAT DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, AS THE COUNCIL KNOWS, THAT WE CREATED A CONSOLIDATION OF THREE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

A LOT OF THIS WORK THAT WAS UNDERWAY, I THINK BRINGING THOSE UNITS TOGETHER, I THINK, IS WHEN THE ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED WE DO NOT LIKE BEING IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL TO TALK ABOUT RATIFICATIONS. I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE I THINK WE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES BETWEEN WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ENGAGING WITH PROCUREMENT UPFRONT AND BEING ABLE TO GET ANY TYPE OF OPINIONS THAT ARE NEEDED FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, DOING THOSE PROMPTLY. SO WE HOPE THAT THROUGH WHAT WE'VE NOW TALKED ABOUT AND THE WAY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SYSTEMS ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND HOW THEY CONNECT THE THE INTERACTION AND THE COLLABORATION, THAT IT IS HAPPENING MORE EFFECTIVELY.

AND SO I THINK WE ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE CONCERNS.

WHAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO DO TODAY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN PROVIDING THESE SERVICES DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE THEM WHOLE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE NEW LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE NEW OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE TYPES OF FAILURES DO NOT HAPPEN GOING FORWARD.

BUT WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WELL THANK YOU.

MY CONCERN CONTINUES TO BE THAT STAFF AND MANAGEMENT KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE HERE MONTHS AGO.

DIDN'T TELL THE COMMITTEE. HASN'T TOLD THE COUNCIL THIS WAS PUT ON CONSENT.

IT WASN'T EVEN INDIVIDUAL. SO YOU COULD EXPLAIN TO US WHAT HAPPENED.

THE MEMO IS NOT CLEAR. I READ IT MULTIPLE TIMES TO SAY, OKAY, WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENED HERE? AND THIS IS A CONTRACT WE SHOULD BE CLOSELY MONITORING.

THERE HASN'T BEEN A CHANGE IN WHO IS OVER THAT.

SO IT'S A KNOWN QUANTITY. PROCUREMENT HASN'T CHANGED.

CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HASN'T CHANGED. BUT THERE IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE COUNCIL.

AND I FIND THAT DISTURBING AS WELL AS OBVIOUSLY SOME OPERATIONAL ISSUES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

SO THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR ITEM SIX. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS. THANK YOU.

AND I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE NEED FOR TIMELY NOTIFICATIONS WHEN A CONTRACT NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED.

[02:30:02]

AND THEN ALSO JUST TO A STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE ABOUT PRESUMING THEY'VE COMPLETED SERVICE DELIVERY.

ACTUALLY, I WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT, BUT MAKING A STATEMENT THAT IT WAS COMPLETED WHEN THERE'S A PROCESS FOR MAKING SURE IT WAS COMPLETED.

THE OTHER ITEM WAS, AND I KNOW WE'RE ON ITEM SIX, BUT A GENERAL STATEMENT WAS MADE AROUND THESE DON'T INCREASE ANY FUNDING, BUT IN FACT, A FUTURE ITEM DOES INCREASE FUNDING.

SO I DIDN'T WANT THAT TO STAND WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

THANK YOU. IF I COULD JUST THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WALLACE, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

AND AS I STATED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS HAPPEN OFTEN.

AS IT RELATES TO THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING, IT IS WITHIN THE SAME ALLOCATED AMOUNT.

THERE ARE SOME VENDORS WHO WERE ABLE TO SPEND OR GET THE MONEY ON THE STREET A LOT SOONER.

THERE WERE SOME WHO HAD SOME SLOWER TURNAROUNDS ON SERVICES, AND SO IT'S REALLY A REALLOCATION, BUT IT'S NOT EXPANDING THE AUTHORITY OF THE BUDGET AMOUNT THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.

IT'S REALLY JUST SHUFFLING IT BETWEEN THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO DO BETTER IN HOW WE BRING THESE FORWARD.

AND WE'LL BE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS EXPRESSED THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

IT'S MOVING AROUND WITHIN A CATEGORY. BUT, YOU KNOW, TO READ THIS, I MEAN, THIS THE PUBLIC WOULD READ IT AS I READ IT, IT TALKS ABOUT INCREASING THE FUNDING. SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CLARIFIED IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.

SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES AGENDA ITEM SEVEN AUTHORIZED ONE.

THE RATIFICATION OF PAYMENT TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF DALLAS, INC.

FOR THE EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION SERVICES THAT WERE NECESSARY TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CITY RESIDENTS PERFORMED DURING THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 24TH, 2025 THROUGH JANUARY 13TH, 2026, AND TWO PARTIAL AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS ONE AND TWO OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 071. ONE TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF DALLAS, INC. FROM $1,126,924 TO $1,351,924, AND EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT FROM NOVEMBER 23RD, 2025 TO MAY 31ST, 2026.

THREE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER TWO TO THE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF DALLAS, INC., APPROVED AS TO FORM BY THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION SERVICES TO A EXTEND THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT FROM NOVEMBER 23RD, 2025 TO MAY 31ST, 2026 AND BE INCREASED FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $225,000, INCREASING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM $1,126,924 TO $1,351,924, NOT TO EXCEED $225,000. THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE. IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER MIDDLETON. THANK YOU.

AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 225,000.

BUT YOU PREVIOUSLY SAID THIS IS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT DOESN'T HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT? NO, MA'AM. ITEM SEVEN AND NINE DO REFLECT INCREASES.

IT WAS ITEM SIX AND EIGHT THAT I WAS REFERENCING THAT DID NOT.

SO ITEM SEVEN IS BEING RECORDED. THAT IS ONE THAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED BASED ON THE NEED FOR FOOD AND PROGRAMING.

BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAME TO LIGHT IN NOVEMBER RELATED TO THE LAPSE IN SNAP BENEFITS AND SOME OF THE CHANGES TO THOSE BENEFITS.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FROM ANOTHER CONTRACT THAT WAS UNEXPENDED FOR NONPROFITS.

AND SO WE HAD RECOMMENDED REALLOCATING SOME OF THAT FUNDING TO THESE PROVIDERS IN ORDER TO PRESERVE AND CONTINUE NUTRITION, FOOD SUPPORT PROGRAMING, PARTICULARLY AS IT WAS THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND TAKING US INTO THE SPRING.

DID CATHOLIC CHARITIES ASK FOR THIS MONEY? AND NO, MA'AM, THEY DID NOT DIRECTLY REQUEST THE MONEY THE CONTRACT WAS ENDING.

THEY INDIRECTLY ASK YOU FOR MONEY. WE HAD COMMUNICATED WITH MULTIPLE SERVICE PROVIDERS AT THE TIME RELATED TO ISSUES WITH FOOD PROGRAMS. BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THAT POINT IN NOVEMBER, YOU ASKED THEM IF THEY NEED MONEY.

WE ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO. INCREASE THEIR SERVICE DELIVERY OR CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE DELIVERY BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED NEED THAT WAS BEING SEEN.

[02:35:07]

THEIR CONTRACT WAS SET TO EXPIRE DIDN'T CHANGE WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

THEY MAINTAINED THE SERVICES THAT THEY WERE THEY WERE PROVIDING AT THAT TIME FOR A LONGER TIME.

SO THIS IS ABOUT THE TWO WEEKS OF SNAP BENEFIT.

WELL, AND ALSO THE CHANGES TO SNAP BENEFITS AND FOOD COSTS THAT HAVE INCREASED FOR RESIDENTS.

OKAY. SO. THIS IS A RATIFICATION. WHAT IS THE EMERGENCY THAT MADE THIS NOT GO THROUGH THE REGULAR PROCESS? WHY WOULDN'T YOU HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO COMMITTEE.

SO THIS WAS SIMILAR TO THE OTHER CONTRACT. IT WAS A MATTER OF THE TIMING.

AND THIS IS ANOTHER CONTRACT WHERE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO ADJUST IT ADMINISTRATIVELY.

AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO BRING IT FOR CONSIDERATION.

AND THIS WAS THE FIRST POSSIBLE COUNCIL MEETING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE FROM THAT NOVEMBER TIME FRAME.

SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY STAFF IS CALLING NONPROFITS TO ASK IF THEY NEED MONEY, INSTEAD OF COMING TO COUNCIL TO SEE HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO DELEGATE THOSE DOLLARS. I AT THE TIME WE WERE FOLLOWING UP AND WE ARE COMING TO COUNCIL TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION NOW, BUT WE WERE FOLLOWING UP ON THIS IS A RATIFICATION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE.

OKAY. SO YOU'RE NOT ASKING US IN THIS CASE CATHOLIC CHARITIES, THEIR 990 ON PROPUBLICA SAYS THEY HAD $67 MILLION OF REVENUE FOR 2025. THEY HAD EXPENSES OF 61 MILLION, MEANING THEY HAD 6.4 NET EXCESS REVENUE. THIS LAST YEAR. THEY HAVE, AGAIN MORE THAN $50 MILLION OF NET ASSETS.

SO IN A YEAR THEY HAD MORE THAN 6 MILLION UNSPENT COMPARED FROM REVENUE TO EXPENSES.

WHY DO THEY NEED ANOTHER $225,025,000? WELL, WE MANAGED CONTRACTS, NOT ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGETS OVERALL.

SO WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON THE PROVISION OF FOOD SERVICES, WHICH WAS AN IDENTIFIED NEED IN NOVEMBER.

AND STILL. I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU, WE HAVE NONPROFITS ALL OVER THE CITY DOING INCREDIBLE WORK, AND THEY ARE TAKING IN AND EXPENDING THEIR BUDGET.

YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT. I SHOULD ADD THAT BECAUSE THESE FUNDING ARE ARPA FUNDING, THERE'S ACTUALLY LIMITATIONS IN HOW WE CAN REALLOCATE ARPA FUNDING.

AT THIS POINT IN THE CONTRACT FOR ARPA, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO A NEW OR ADDITIONAL SOLICITATION OR PROCUREMENT.

AT THIS POINT, WE CAN ONLY MOVE MONEY BETWEEN PROGRAMS OR BETWEEN CONTRACTS THAT ARE EXISTING TO GET TO FULL EXPENDITURE.

WE ARE PASSED THE OBLIGATION DEADLINE IN THAT REGARD.

SO WE WERE FOCUSED ON EXISTING PARTNERS AND NOT IDENTIFYING NEW PARTNERS BECAUSE OF THAT.

WELL, AS IT TURNS OUT, WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOTS OF NON-PROFITS UNDER CONTRACTS.

IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN FOR JUST A SECOND. AND JESSICA, THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT THESE ARPA FUNDING DOES HAVE CERTAIN LIMITATIONS, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE DEADLINES WHEN WE HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN TARGETS.

I THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN BASED ON YOUR COMMENTS, IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE FOR US TO COME AND TALK ABOUT AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, WE HAVE SEVERAL NONPROFITS THAT WE PROVIDE SUPPORT TO, NOT JUST THROUGH ARPA FUNDING, BUT OF COURSE, OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN GENERAL FUNDING EXPENDITURES.

IF THERE IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AROUND POLICY GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THIS DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE WE RELY ON, AND WE UTILIZE NONPROFITS TO HELP US DELIVER SERVICES.

SO IF WE NEED TO COME AND HAVE A BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THAT IS, WHAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE FOR US TO DO, NOT TO DO, WHEN TO COME, WHEN NOT TO COME. I THINK THAT'S A BROADER CONVERSATION THAT I'M WELCOME TO BRING, SO WE CAN GET SOME OVERALL POLICY GUIDANCE FROM THIS BODY.

LOOK, JUST LAST MONTH, WE GAVE $10 MILLION OF ARPA FUNDS WITH NO BRIEFING.

AND LIKE, HOW MUCH ARPA. AND FIRST OF ALL, I THINK ALL THE ARPA FUNDS LEFT HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED WITH FIRE OVERTIME.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME DEADLINE. IS THAT CORRECT? I WOULDN'T HAVE TO. I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I'D HAVE TO HAVE OUR EITHER OUR CFO OR OUR DIRECTOR OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO COME OUT. THANK YOU.

JEANETTE WEEDEN, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WE DID NOT REALLOCATE ALL OF THE GRANT FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE RELATED TO ARPA.

SO THE FUND THAT'S IN QUESTION IS THE ACTUAL GRANT FUND.

AND SO UP TO THIS POINT, ANY REALLOCATION THAT'S DONE, IT HAS TO BE DONE WITH EXISTING VENDORS THAT WE HAVE UNDER CONTRACT BECAUSE THESE ARE GRANT FUNDS. SO THESE ARE NOT THE FUNDING FUNDS THAT WERE REALLOCATED.

[02:40:03]

I THINK THAT WE'RE THE LINE OF QUESTIONING IS GOING FAR BEYOND THE AGENDA ITEM LANGUAGE.

OKAY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE FUNDING SOURCE.

AND SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE FUNDING SOURCE. ASKING FOR MORE BRIEFINGS IS BEYOND ASKING QUESTIONS ON THIS SPECIFIC MENDELSOHN.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS YOUR ANSWER? PROCEED. THANK YOU. SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET A MEMO ABOUT THIS FUNDING SOURCE ABOUT ARPA BROKEN INTO THOSE VARIOUS BUCKETS.

OBVIOUSLY THE ONES THAT ARE DISCRETIONARY. I BELIEVE EVERYBODY HAS IDENTIFIED WHAT THOSE PROJECTS ARE, EVEN IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN EXPENDED. SO JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE THE WE PREPARE A MONTHLY REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.

SO THE LAST REPORT WAS POSTED FOR THE DECEMBER MEETING.

THE NEXT REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE JANUARY 26TH MEETING.

AND IN THAT REPORT, WE ARE ADDING THE DETAIL RELATED TO THE COUNCIL DISCRETIONARY ACCOUNTS.

AND SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE, LIKE YOU DO IN THE PREVIOUS REPORTS, THE REMAINING AMOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR THE GRANT FUND.

EVERYTHING'S ENCUMBERED, SO IT'S JUST REMAINING TO BE SPENT.

AND YOU ALSO WILL SEE THE UNENCUMBERED AMOUNT, SPENT AMOUNT FOR THE ARPA REDEVELOPMENT FUND, AS WELL AS THE DETAIL FOR EACH OF THE CITY COUNCIL DISCRETIONARY ACCOUNTS.

SO SPECIFIC TO THAT REPORT, YOU COULDN'T SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THESE ITEMS. SO I WAS NOT ABLE TO I MEAN, PERHAPS OTHERS COULD.

I WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THERE IS A CONTRACT EXPIRING, THAT THE FUNDS HAVE NOT BEEN EXPENDED IN A TIMELY MANNER.

LIKE IT'S NOT CLEAR ON THAT REPORT THAT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

SO SOMETHING ELSE NEEDS TO BE ADDED, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE INFORMED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING.

AND IT'S A LOT OF MONEY NOTED. WE CAN ADD ADDITIONAL DETAIL IN THE COVER MEMO.

WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, FOR FOR THIS ITEM, I WILL TELL YOU I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FOR THIS.

AND I CAN THINK OF A THOUSAND OTHER PROJECTS WHERE THIS FUNDING COULD HAVE BEEN MEANINGFUL THAT ALREADY HAS CONTRACTS.

NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS GRANT FUNDED, BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS I BELIEVE THAT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED.

SO AGAIN, I'M CONCERNED THAT MANAGEMENT IS MAKING DECISIONS THAT BELONG TO COUNCIL WITHOUT ANY COMMUNICATION TO US.

AND THEN IT GOES ON A CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ROTH THANK YOU. I WANT TO, FIRST OF ALL, COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER MENDELSOHN FOR IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES HERE. THIS IS A THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AS TERMS OF PROCESS, PROCEDURE AND POLICY.

I, FOR ONE, AM REAL CONCERNED THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE A POLICY THAT ESTABLISHES CONTRACT DEADLINE DATES WELL IN ADVANCE AND THAT WE'RE NOT NOTIFIED OF THOSE CONTRACT DEADLINE DATES, WELL, EVENTS, IT PUTS EVERYBODY ON UNDUE FINANCIAL PRESSURE UNDER UNDUE PROCEDURAL PRESSURE TO HELP GET THESE SITUATIONS RESOLVED IN A IN A PROPER MANNER.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, IF WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THESE BOND FINANCE BOND FUNDINGS AND, AND DIFFERENT ARPA ARPA FUNDINGS ARE COMING UP FOR, FOR DEADLINES.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A POLICY THAT WE'RE ADVISED OF THIS AS A POINT OF ORDER.

MAYOR. ANYWAY, LET ME LET ME JUST COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER.

IT'S NOT GERMANE TO THE ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.

I AGREE. AND SO LET'S JUST BRING IT BACK. THANK YOU.

ANYWAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT A POLICY DECISION BE BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE POLICIES ON OUR ON OUR IDENTIFICATION OF EXPIRING CONTRACTS AND EXPIRING THIRD PARTY FUNDING RESOURCES SO WE CAN ADDRESS THIS AS A BODY IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE DISCRETION TO TO FINISH MY MY.

THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ITEM. AGENDA ITEM EIGHT AUTHORIZED ONE.

THE RATIFICATION OF PAYMENT TO HARMONY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, HARMONY CDC FOR THE UNINTERRUPTED PERFORMANCE OF COUNSELING AND MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE PERIOD NOVEMBER 9TH, 2025 THROUGH JANUARY 13TH, 2026.

TO A PARTIAL AMENDMENT TO SECTION TWO OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 0625, PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ON MAY 10TH,

[02:45:01]

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE.

IT'S BEEN MOVED. SECOND. AND SECOND. CHAIR MIDDLETON.

THANK YOU. I'M JUST SAYING THE INTEREST OF TIME.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO BACK THROUGH ALL THE THINGS I'VE SAID, BECAUSE I THINK THEY APPLY TO THIS AS WELL.

BUT I DO WANT TO NOW HIT ON THE ISSUE OF MONITORING.

SO WHEN YOU'RE A NONPROFIT AND YOU RECEIVE MUNICIPAL OR FEDERAL GRANTS, THERE'S A MONITORING SCHEDULE.

I KNOW I HAD, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT WAS QUARTERLY FROM HUD OR IT WAS MORE OFTEN THAN THAT FROM MUNICIPAL GRANTS.

WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE YOU'RE USING TO MONITOR HARMONY, CDC AND OR ANY OF THESE OTHERS? YES, MA'AM. SO WE BEGAN WITH THE CONTRACT DELIVERY MEETING WHERE WE WALK THROUGH THE EXPECTATIONS, THE TARGET ANALYSIS, THE REQUEST FOR PAYMENT FORM.

WE TRAIN THE ORGANIZATIONS DURING THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THE CONTRACT.

WE HAVE MONTHLY MONTHLY RFP OR REQUEST FOR PAYMENT, MONTHLY MONTHLY TARGET ANALYSIS, REPORT FORMS AND MONTHLY DEMOGRAPHIC FORMS THAT WE ACCEPT FROM EACH CONTRACTOR. WE REVIEW THOSE FOR CONSISTENCY AMONGST THEMSELVES AND WE ENSURE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED ALL NECESSARY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, AND WE TYPICALLY REVIEW ALL THE CLIENT FILES IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS TO ENSURE THAT ALL CLIENTS ARE ELIGIBLE.

WE DO A RISK ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF MONITORING THAT EACH CONTRACT REQUIRES, AND WE USE THAT RISK ASSESSMENT TO GUIDE OUR MONITORING FOR THE FUTURE TERM OF THE CONTRACT FOR ALL CONTRACTS. THE STANDARD IS THAT WE HAVE THOSE MONTHLY CHECK INS.

WE MAY OR MAY NOT REVIEW EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE CLIENT FILES, BUT DEPENDING ON THE RISK ASSESSMENT.

BUT WE DO REVIEW EVERY EXPENDITURE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF BOTH THE EXPENDITURE VIA SOME FORM OF INVOICE, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN PAID BY LOOKING AT RECEIPTS OR GENERAL LEDGERS FROM THOSE NONPROFITS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.

WE DO A CHECK IN WITH EVERY ONE OF OUR PROVIDERS TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE AGAINST THEIR METRICS.

I WILL SAY THAT EACH OF THESE PROVIDERS IS ACTUALLY ON TARGET IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE.

IT'S THE EXPENDITURE. THE EXTENSION IS BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE.

THEY WILL DELIVER ADDITIONAL CLIENTS SERVED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.

THIS IS NOT SIMPLY TO GET THEM TO MEET THEIR INITIAL TARGET.

WE DO THOSE CHECK INS QUARTERLY, AND WE DO A ANNUAL MONITORING VISIT FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR CONTRACTS, WHERE OUR STAFF MEMBERS WILL GO OUT TO THE PHYSICAL LOCATION OF THE PROGRAM.

WE DO A DESK AUDIT, WE PULL THE RECORDS, WE HAVE THEM SHOW US WHAT'S ON THEIR RECORDS, IN THEIR SYSTEMS, THE COMPUTER, ETC. WE HAVE A MONITORING CHECKLIST THAT'S COMPLETED AND WE KEEP THOSE ON FILE FOR EACH CONTRACT.

THAT IS OUR TRADITIONAL MONITORING PROCESS. SO YOU'RE DOING THE DESK AUDIT QUARTERLY.

WE DO CHECK INS QUARTERLY. WE DO THE DESK AUDIT ANNUALLY.

AND YOU'RE DOING A RANDOMIZED CLIENT FILE. YES.

WE DO THAT. YES. ESPECIALLY FOR CONTRACTS LIKE ARPA WHERE THERE'S VERY STRICT REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF ELIGIBILITY, ALTHOUGH THAT IS TRUE OF ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR IF YOU'RE ONLY DOING THAT ANNUALLY FOR ARPA AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ARPA THAT LONG, I MEAN, THESE CONTRACTS HAVEN'T BEEN IN PLACE THAT LONG. THAT MEANS YOU'VE, LIKE, DONE IT ONCE.

I THINK PROBABLY TWICE FOR THESE. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR.

AND WHAT YOU'RE FINDING IS THEY'RE SPENDING LESS PER CLIENT THAN WHAT WAS EXPECTED ON THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION.

IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S PROBABLY A FAIR ASSESSMENT FOR THIS CONTRACT.

AND WHAT ABOUT FOR THE OTHERS THAT NEED THE EXTENSION? I MEAN, I THINK THAT THEY'RE MEETING THE CLIENT THRESHOLD, BUT THEY'RE NOT EXPENDING THE FUNDS.

SO WOULD THAT MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT SPENDING THE AMOUNT EXPECTED PER CLIENT? YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT'S TRUE. I BELIEVE THAT THE ONES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING THE SIX THROUGH TEN THAT EACH OF THEM ARE ON TARGET FROM A PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVE. WELL, AGAIN, I WOULD QUESTION IF THAT NEEDS MORE MONITORING.

HAVING DONE THIS ONCE A YEAR IS PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH.

AND I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CLIENT FILES YOU'RE PULLING, LIKE WHAT PERCENTAGE? AND I'M ASSUMING IT'S RANDOMIZED, BUT YEAH. AND COUNCILWOMAN WHAT COMMITTEE IS THIS GOING TO QUALITY OF LIFE? WE WE TYPICALLY BRIEF SERVICE CONTRACTS TO QUALITY OF LIFE. YES.

AND SO WHAT I DID WANT TO ADD THAT IN TERMS OF OUR MONITORING AND STUFF, WE'RE WE'RE THROUGH OUR NEW MERGED DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE WE'RE WORKING ON UPDATING ALL OF OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION FUNDING SOURCES OR TIMING OF EVERYTHING.

AND SO TO ADDRESS THAT, PART OF THAT INITIAL SCAN WAS THE COLLECTION OF ALL OF THESE CONTRACTS TODAY AND BRINGING THEM FORWARD AS A PACKAGE TO THE CITY MANAGER'S POINT,

[02:50:07]

AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO SHOWING HOW THAT'S GOING TO PLAY ITSELF OUT AND PROVIDE SOME CONTRACT UPDATES TO YOU ALL.

OKAY. WELL, I HOPE THE CHAIR OF QUALITY OF LIFE WILL BE LOOKING AT THIS CLOSELY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? EXCUSE ME.

OKAY. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ITEM.

AGENDA ITEM NINE. AUTHORIZE ONE. THE RATIFICATION OF PAYMENT TO SERVICES OF HOPE ENTITIES, INC. FOR THE EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION SERVICES THAT WERE NECESSARY TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CITY RESIDENTS, PERFORMED FROM NOVEMBER 23RD, 2025 THROUGH JANUARY 13TH, 2026.

AND TWO PARTIAL AMENDMENT TO SECTIONS ONE AND TWO OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 0711 TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR SERVICES OF HOPE ENTITIES, INC. FROM $900,000 TO $1,125,000 AND EXTEND TERM OF THE CONTRACT FROM NOVEMBER 23RD, 2025 TO MAY 31ST, 2026, AND THREE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER TWO TO THE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH SERVICES OF HOPE ENTITIES, INC., AS AMENDED AS APPROVED AS TO FORM BY THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION SERVICES TO A EXTEND THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT FROM NOVEMBER 23RD, 2025 TO MAY 31ST, 2026, AND B INCREASE THE FUNDING AMOUNT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $225,000, INCREASING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM $900,000 TO $1,125,000, NOT TO EXCEED $225,000. THIS ITEM WAS CORRECTED AND WAS PULLED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? YES.

I MOVE TO HOLD THIS ITEM UNDER ADVISEMENT UNTIL FEBRUARY 25TH, 2026, TO GIVE STAFF TIME TO CONFIRM THE REIMBURSEMENTS.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. CHAIR. MENDELSOHN.

THANK YOU. I HAVE ALL THE SAME QUESTIONS I DID.

ON THE OTHER, HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THIS ABOUT SERVICES FOR HOPE ENTITIES.

THIS NONPROFIT HAS GROWN VERY FAST. VERY, VERY FAST.

DID YOU ASK THEM? I MEAN, YOU'RE YOU HAVE 225,000 TO THEM AND THE SAME NUMBER TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES.

DID YOU JUST DECIDE, HEY, LET'S SPLIT IT? OR WAS THERE A THOUGHTFUL REASON WHY ONE GOT THE SAME AMOUNT AS THE OTHER WHEN THEY'RE SO VERY DIFFERENT IN SIZE? EXCUSE ME? THE ALLOCATIONS AMOUNT IS ACTUALLY BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND HISTORIC EXPENDITURES AND WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH OVER THE TERM. THE 225 IS THE SIMILAR FOR EACH OF THOSE CONTRACTS, BUT THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR SERVICE DELIVERY, THEIR EXPENDITURES AND MEETING THEIR PERFORMANCE METRICS CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE TERM OF THEIR CONTRACTS.

OKAY, WELL, SERVICES OF HOPE. I'LL SAY THEIR REVENUE AND EXPENSES ARE NEARLY THE SAME, BUT THEY HAVE A NEGATIVE NET ASSETS.

I MEAN, THEY'RE WELL, I HAVE THEIR EXTERNAL AUDIT FROM 2024 AS WELL AS FROM 2023.

I DID NOT MENTION THAT IN THE MONITORING, BUT ANOTHER COMPONENT OF OUR MONITORING IS THAT WE DO CONFIRM THAT EACH OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS DOES COMPLETE THE PROGRAM AUDIT, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT OF TWO CFR 200 WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL GRANTS.

AND SO WE MONITOR THE EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL DOLLARS OF EACH OF THEM.

AND WE DO ENSURE THAT THEY DO ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE EXTERNAL AUDITS.

AND SO WE WE DO HAVE THAT 2025 HAS ONLY JUST ENDED.

SO THEY DO NOT YET HAVE THAT. SO TO THE EXTENT OF OVERSIGHT ORGANIZATIONALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO AN ORGANIZATION'S BUDGET OR FISCAL CAPACITY, WE RELY HEAVILY ON CONFIRMING THE EXISTENCE OF THOSE EXTERNAL AUDITS.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROGRAM ITSELF, WE RELY HEAVILY ON THOSE MONTHLY REVIEWS, THOSE QUARTERLY CHECK INS AND THOSE ANNUAL MONITORING VISITS.

WELL, I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT CAN MATCH REVENUE AND EXPENSES, BUT I ALSO CAN SEE THAT THEY HAVE A 50 TO 100% GROWTH OVER YEAR OVER YEAR FOR MULTIPLE YEARS NOW, WHICH PUTS THE ORGANIZATION AT RISK FOR A LOT OF THINGS LIKE CONTROLS AND HOW THEY'RE HANDLING THINGS.

SO I'M FINE WITH HOLDING IT. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE JUST GOING BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON THIS. AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HOW THE CITY IS FUNCTIONING WITH A CITY COUNCIL WHEN

[02:55:02]

THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WALLACE. YEAH, JUST TO REITERATE THE MOTION, I JUST WANT TO VERIFY INVOICES FOR REIMBURSEMENT PRIOR TO RATIFYING THE CONTRACT. YES, MA'AM. WE WILL DO THAT.

THANK YOU. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM TEN.

AUTHORIZE THE ONE AMENDMENT OF SECTIONS ONE AND TWO OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 1674 TO A INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $104,167.50, INCREASING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM $950,000 TO $1,054,167.50 FOR THE CHOCOLATE MINT FOUNDATION, AND B EXTEND THE CONTRACT TERM FROM JANUARY 31ST, 2026 TO FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026. TWO AMENDMENT OF SECTIONS ONE AND TWO OF RESOLUTION, NUMBERS 24, ONE, SIX, SEVEN, FOUR AND 24 1809 TO C INCREASE THE CONTRACT BY $104,167.50, INCREASING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM $570,000 TO $674,167.50 FOR HARMONY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT TERM FROM JANUARY 31ST, 2026 TO FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026.

THREE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH HARMONY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR HOUSING SUPPORT, INCLUDING FOOD AND CLOTHING, APPROVED AS TO FORM BY THE CITY ATTORNEY TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $104,167.50, INCREASING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM $570,000 TO $674,167.50, AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT TERM FROM JANUARY 31ST, 2026 TO FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026. AND FOUR SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER TWO TO THE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CHOCOLATE MINT FOUNDATION FOR HOUSING SUPPORT, INCLUDING FOOD AND CLOTHING APPROVED AS TO FORM BY THE CITY ATTORNEY TO G INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $104,167.50, INCREASING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM $950,000 TO $1,054,167.50 AND H.

EXTEND THE CONTRACT TERM FROM JANUARY 31ST, 2026 TO FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $208,335. THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MENDELSOHN.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? CHAIR MENDELSOHN. THANK YOU. SO THIS ONE IS FUNDED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY STILL COVID, BUT THROUGH TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE FUND.

THE OTHER ONES, IT'S CLEAR THERE ARE OTHER NONPROFITS THAT COULD HAVE RECEIVED THOSE FUNDS FOR THIS ONE.

WERE THERE OTHER CHOICES. IN THIS CASE, WE WERE RELIANT ON THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD BOTH SCORED THE HIGHEST AND THAT HAD PERFORMED THE HIGHEST.

DURING THE COURSE OF THE CONTRACT, THESE TWO ENTITIES WERE BOTH ABLE TO TAKE ON SOME OF THE LARGER GRANTS THAT WERE AWARDED THROUGH THE TP FUNDING.

THEY WERE BOTH HAVE MET THEIR TARGETS. THEY'VE BEEN ON TARGET BOTH IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE AND EXPENDITURES.

WE HAD ANOTHER CONTRACT TP FUNDED THAT HAD TO REDUCE THEIR CONTRACT AMOUNT AND THEIR AND THEIR CLIENT NUMBER AND THAT CREATED SOME FUNDING THAT NEEDED TO BE REALLOCATED.

AND WITH THIS FUND IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED TIMELINE TO GET THOSE FUNDS EXPENDED.

AND SO THIS URGENCY TO GET IT REALLOCATED, IT'S NOT A RATIFICATION, THIS CONTRACT, THESE CONTRACTS WOULD END IN JANUARY.

AND WITHIN THE TIGHT DEADLINES RELATED TO THOSE PARKS AND WILDLIFE FUNDS, WE REALLY CAN ONLY GIVE THEM ANOTHER MONTH TO PERFORM.

SO WE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS WE WERE RECOMMENDING HAD A HISTORY OF EXPENDITURE THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THOSE AMOUNTS.

SO IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 17 DAYS TO GET THIS DONE.

WELL, WE WOULD BE GIVING THEM ONE ADDITIONAL MONTH, BUT. YES, MA'AM. THAT'S CORRECT.

WELL, THE EXTENSION IS ONE MONTH, BUT THE DEADLINE WOULD HAVE BEEN 17.

YES. TO GET THE TO GET THE AUTHORIZATION EXTENSION AUTHORIZED.

YES, MA'AM. SO AT WHAT POINT DID YOU REALIZE THAT THERE WOULD BE UNEXPENDED FUNDS? SO WE'VE BEEN MONITORING THOSE FUNDS VERY CLOSELY.

THIS IS ALSO A SHORTER CONTRACT TERM. SOME OF THESE CONTRACTS ARE LESS THAN A YEAR.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN MONITORING THEM VERY CLOSELY.

BUT WHEN A LOT OF TIMES THE EXPENDITURE IS A LITTLE BIT SLOWER IN THE FIRST MONTHS OF A CONTRACT.

AND SO WE HAD TO WORK VERY CLOSELY, AND THEN WE HAD TO WORK TO AMEND THE CONTRACT THAT WE IDENTIFIED WAS GOING TO BE UNDER EXPENSE.

[03:00:01]

AND SO WE'VE BEEN MONITORING THESE CONTRACTS FOR EVERY SINGLE MONTH SINCE THEY STARTED ABOUT A YEAR, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. BUT THAT IS THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT.

SO THIS CONTRACT HAD BEEN IN PLACE FOR A YEAR.

AND YOU DISCOVERED AT WHAT POINT THAT THEY WEREN'T EXPENDING DOLLARS AS EXPECTED.

WE HAD DISCOVERED THAT AROUND I THINK WE DISCOVERED THAT OR HAD STARTED HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THAT IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER TIME.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AMENDMENT IN THE SUMMER TO FALL.

I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY WHICH MONTHS. SO THIS IS EXACTLY MY POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, USUALLY THE FIRST MONTHS ARE SLOWER THAN THE BACK END FOR FOR EXPENDING A GRANT, BUT BY SPRING OR SUMMER YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN THEY ARE NOT.

THEY ARE NOT GOING THROUGH THE MONEY AS EXPECTED.

AND STILL WE'RE COMING HERE WITH A RATIFICATION AS OPPOSED TO PROACTIVELY SAYING TO THE COMMITTEE, HEY, WE'VE BEEN MONITORING. WE THINK THIS ONE'S SLOWING DOWN.

WE MIGHT NEED TO MOVE MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE. THE COUNCIL IS NOT IN THE LOOP.

DECISIONS WERE MADE WITHOUT US AND NOW WE'RE DOING A RATIFICATION.

THIS ISN'T A RATIFICATION, MA'AM. SPECIFICALLY, THESE ITEMS ARE NOT AMENDMENT FOR AN EXTRA MONTH FOR THEM.

CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. WAS THE COMMITTEE EVER BRIEFED ON THIS ITEM? NO, MA'AM. AGAIN, SINCE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS, THERE HAS NOT BEEN THE COMMITTEE MEETING. BUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN AUGUST AND DECEMBER, YOU KNEW THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED MORE TIME.

AND WE COULD PROBABLY GIVE THEM AN EXTRA MONTH AND STILL HIT OUR DEADLINES.

I'M. I'M NOT SURE THAT WE HAD IDENTIFIED THAT AT THAT POINT.

I THINK THAT WE WERE IDENTIFYING THAT AROUND THE FALL AND THE PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD.

POINT OF ORDER, MAYOR SAY YOUR POINT OF ORDER.

CAN WE KEEP THE QUESTIONING TO THE MERIT OF THE AGENDA ITEM AND NOT BERATE STAFF'S INTENT, PLEASE? THANK YOU. MADAM CITY MANAGER, I THINK WE'VE HEARD ON ALL OF THESE ITEMS THE GENERAL SENTIMENT THAT HAS BEEN EXPRESSED THIS MORNING. AND I THINK WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS TEAM AND OTHERS ACROSS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE ARE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT NOT ONLY THE WAY WE LOOK AT THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE PIECE, BUT ALSO THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE.

AND SO WE WILL DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO WORK AS WE LOOK AT HOW WE STREAMLINE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE, HOW WE LOOK AT MONITORING, HOW WE LOOK AT THE OVERALL APPROACH THAT WE'RE TAKING IN COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY TO THE COUNCIL THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T PUT YOU IN THIS POSITION GOING FORWARD.

SO WE'VE HEARD THE COMMENTS ON ALL OF THE ITEMS WE HAVE TAKEN, THE NOTES ON THE COMMENTS, AND WE UNDERSTAND THE WAY WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I WANTED TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THIS CONCLUDES YOUR PULLED ITEMS. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO YOUR ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

[ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION]

THIS AFTERNOON. YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL AND FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.

YOUR NOMINEES. I'M SORRY.

YOUR NOMINEES FOR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, AMELIA S PEREZ, IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES STEVEN J.

HUSKA HUSKIES BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS.

MR. HUSKIES MEETS THE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY OF DISABLED PERSONS SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. ZEN BARRIENTOS IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA AND DARIAN I.

WALTON IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ TO THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

TIMOTHY JACKSON IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAZALDUA TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

TRACY G. WALLACE IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ AND WHITNEY BURLEY IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH.

BOTH INDIVIDUALS MEET THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE TO THE JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION.

SCOTT D HARVELL IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA TO THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY BOARD.

DEBBIE D AUSTIN IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR AND MYRIAM HERNANDEZ IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RESENDEZ TO THE PERMIT AND LICENSE APPEAL

[03:05:08]

CARL ENRIQUEZ IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS MR..

ENRIQUEZ MEETS THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION.

GLENN RALPH HUNTER IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKMON MR..

HUNTER MEETS THE INTEREST IN VETERAN AFFAIRS.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATION TO THE YOUTH COMMISSION RYAN C LOPEZ IS BEING NOMINATED BY MAYOR PRO TEM MORENO.

MR. LOPEZ MEETS THE FULL TIME STUDENT. SPECIAL QUALIFICATION.

YOUR NOMINEES FOR FULL COUNCIL APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

ALTERNATE MEMBERS EMANUEL GLOVER'S BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADENA, AND TO THE AND TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE NINE BOARD.

VICKERY. MEADOW. KENNETH A BENDLIN IS BEING NOMINATED BY DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIS.

THESE ARE YOUR NOMINEES, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT MY NOMINATION TO THE YOUTH COMMISSION.

RYAN LOPEZ. RYAN'S A STUDENT AT JESUIT. HE IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK.

WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME MOST ABOUT RYAN WAS THAT HE REACHED OUT ON HIS OWN AND WAS PREPARED.

HE DID THE NECESSARY RESEARCH BRINGING ME A RESUME AND THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS.

AS A FORMER YOUTH COMMISSIONER MYSELF, I SEE VALUE IN RYAN, AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL REPRESENT US WELL AND GIVES ME GREAT FOR OUR FUTURE, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME GREAT LEADERS IN FRONT OF US. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING OUR COMMISSIONERS. WITH THAT WE'LL TAKE A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YOUR NEXT TWO ITEMS, AGENDA ITEM 42 AND 43 ARE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS FROM MR.

[ADDITIONS]

THANK YOU. IT IS 12:37 P.M. ON JANUARY THE 14TH.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE, 1.071 AND 551.072 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS DESCRIBED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

ITEMS NUMBER 42 AND 43. AND BEFORE WE BEFORE WE BREAK, THOUGH I DO WANT TO MADAM CITY MANAGER I'M GOING TO NEED YOU TO LEAD US IN A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH.

IT'S COMING UP. GO AHEAD. I'M GONNA HAVE TO CALL IN THE OTHER SOPRANOS THIS MORNING WITH MY SCRATCHY VOICE. SO Y'ALL READY? EVERYBODY READY? YOU READY? HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR COUNCIL MEMBER ROSS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HAS COMPLETED ITS CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE, 1.071 AND 551.072 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

AND AT 1:38 P.M. ON JANUARY 14TH, WE HAVE RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO YOUR CONSENT.

[ZONING]

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? YES.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. THIS ITEM. I THINK SEVERAL OF YOU ALL HAVE HAD OUTREACH DONE TO YOU BY THE GROUP.

THIS IS A PROPOSED 25 STORY TOWER ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR BOULEVARD.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT I BELIEVE THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE.

WITHOUT THERE JUST BEING A DENIAL. I DON'T SUPPORT GOING TO THAT EXTREME OF A HEIGHT.

IT IS NOT THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COMPATIBLE AT ALL TO THIS PD, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I, I DON'T WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS TO COME AROUND THAT WE ARE NOT WELCOMING INEVITABLE GROWTH THAT'S COMING TO SOUTH DALLAS.

WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE COMPATIBLE TO THE AREA PLAN THAT WAS JUST PASSED, IN ADDITION TO HAVING BUY IN FROM THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS.

SO I BELIEVE THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS WILL AFFORD ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO REALLY DIG IN WITH THE APPLICANT AND THE COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY BRING A BETTER PRODUCT

[03:10:03]

THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO YOUR ZONING CONSENT AGENDA.

YOUR ZONING CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTED OF ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT.

ALL ITEMS STILL REMAIN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

NO, THERE WERE NO ITEMS PULLED. THEREFORE, I READ THOSE ITEMS INTO THE RECORD.

ITEM C1 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN AMENDMENT TO SPECIFIC USE PERMIT NUMBER 2215 FOR THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON PROPERTY ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF EAST RL THORNTON AND NORTH JIM MILLER ROAD. ITEM Z2 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING 7.5, A SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT ON PROPERTY ON THE NORTH LINE OF CANADA DRIVE, NORTHEAST OF DARIEN STREET.

ITEM Z3 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING TH DASH TO A TOWNHOUSE DISTRICT, AND A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DEED RESTRICTIONS VOLUNTEERED BY THE APPLICANT WITH CONSIDERATION FOR MF TWO, A MULTIFAMILY DISTRICT ON PROPERTY ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF FOREST LAND AND STULTS ROAD. ITEM Z4 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A NEW SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A CHILD OR ADULT CARE FACILITY ON PROPERTY ON THE NORTH LINE OF MEXICANA ROAD, WEST OF PLUTO STREET.

ITEM C5 IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN AMENDMENT TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 201 ON THE WEST CORNER OF OAK GROVE AVENUE AND LEMON AVENUE EAST. ITEM D6 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND RESOLUTION ACCEPTING AN AMENDMENT TO DEED RESTRICTIONS ON PROPERTY ON THE SOUTHWEST LINE OF MOHAWK DRIVE SOUTHEAST OF EMPIRE CENTRAL PLACE. ITEM D7 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN AMENDMENT TO SPECIFIC USE PERMIT NUMBER 2400 FOR AN ANIMAL SHELTER OR CLINIC WITH OUTSIDE RUNS ON PROPERTY ON THE NORTHWEST LINE OF LOGAN STREET AND SOUTHWEST LINE OF MALCOLM X BOULEVARD, AND ITEM Z EIGHT IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING AN APPLICATION FOR AN AMENDMENT TO SPECIFIC USE PERMIT NUMBER 1905 FOR A LATE HOURS ESTABLISHMENT LIMITED TO RESTAURANT WITHOUT DRIVING OR DRIVE THROUGH SERVICE.

SERVICE USE ON PROPERTY ON THE WEST LINE OF GREENVILLE AVENUE SOUTH OF SEARS STREET.

YOU DO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM Z THREE, AFTER WHICH YOU WILL BE OPEN TO ANY INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THE ZONING ITEMS THAT WERE JUST READ INTO THE RECORD.

YOUR FIRST SPEAKER ON ITEM Z THREE, VICTOR TOLEDO.

THERE'S A BUTTON AT THE BASE OF THAT MICROPHONE.

GOOD AFTERNOON. THERE YOU GO. SORRY. I JUST WANTED TO BE HERE TO TO RESPOND TO CERTAIN QUESTIONS.

I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS CASE FOR DALLAS COUNTY.

AND I PARTICULARLY COUNCILWOMAN STEWART. WE'VE MET SEVERAL TIMES.

WE MET ON SITE RECENTLY, A WEEK AGO IN THE VERY WHEN IT WAS REALLY COLD.

I WISH WE'D MET LATER. BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE CERTAINLY HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

I THINK MARTIN'S GOING TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. VISIT. AGAIN THIS IS ITEM Z3.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC TODAY.

FIRST I WANT TO START OUT WITH PROCEDURALLY OR PROCEDURAL ISSUES.

ONE BEING THERE HASN'T BEEN A NOTIFICATION SIGN UP ON THE PROPERTY IN AT LEAST LIKE SIX MONTHS.

I SUBMITTED A PHOTO OF THE AREA THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, IF A DECISION IS GOING TO BE MADE, IT SHOULD BE MADE AT A LATER TIME ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE MORE OPPONENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THIS PROJECT IF THEY WERE AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON, PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, FOLKS ALONG FOREST WHO WOULD PASS IT ALONG FOREST LANE, WHICH IS A MAJOR, MAJOR ARTERY IN TOWN, AND ALSO ON STULTS ROAD, WHICH IS MAJOR ENTRY INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SECONDLY I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH THE COUNTY IN DEVELOPING IT.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR THREE YEARS. OUR ISSUES HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR SINCE THREE YEARS, AND THEY NEVER ADDRESSED THEM. THE BIGGEST ONE IS GETTING A FEASIBLE SITE PLAN FROM THE COUNTY ON THE SITE.

WE HAVE RECEIVED SOME SITE PLANS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE TO US.

AND WE HAD SOME PEOPLE DO AN OVERLAY. THE HOUSES BEING BUILT ARE BEING BUILT IN A FLOODWAY EASEMENT.

AND WE MADE WE TOLD THAT TO THE COUNTY BACK IN AUGUST AFTER THE CPC HEARING, AND THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED US WITH ANY FEEDBACK OTHER THAN THEIR DRAWINGS DO WORK. BUT EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE HAS SHOWN THAT THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

[03:15:06]

THAT WOULD INCORPORATE THE TOWN HOUSE TO GETTING 30 HOMES INTO THE AREA, WHICH IS WHAT THE COUNTY IS LOOKING FOR, PLUS WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS LOOKING FOR IN A SPACE LIKE A RIGHT OF WAY OR SOME TYPE OF BUFFER ZONE, MAYBE 15FT LIKE AN ALLEY OR 25FT IF THE IF THE COUNTY DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND MONEY TO IMPROVE AN ALLEY, THAT WOULD GET THE 30 HOMES IN THERE AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAPPY BECAUSE RIGHT NEXT TO IT, THERE ARE TEN, 10,000 SQUARE FOOT LOTS. I'M RIGHT NEXT TO MY LOTS, ACTUALLY QUITE BIGGER BECAUSE IT GOES UP TO THE DART LANE STATION.

WE JUST DON'T WANT TO. WE DON'T THINK IT'S THE BEST PLANNING TO HAVE PROBABLY WHAT IN MY DRAWING SHOWS ABOUT 2400 SQUARE FOOT LOTS BACKING UP DIRECTLY TO 10,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT.

SO I TRY TO CREATE A PLAN TO GET THE COUNTY'S FEEDBACK ON THAT.

BEEN TOLD IT WAS JUST LAUGHED AT BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

WE DON'T THINK IT'S TOO MUCH. WE'RE TRYING TO COMPROMISE. BUT AT THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT IT TODAY A POSTPONEMENT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I THINK WOULD BE FAIR BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN NO, NO NOTIFICATION SIGNS.

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

ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY OF THE ZONING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS THAT WERE READ INTO THE RECORD ITEM Z ONE THROUGH Z EIGHT. NO SPEAKERS, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART. SORRY. I SEEMED CHALLENGED BY TECHNOLOGY AT THE MOMENT.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE I'M SPEAKING ON Z THREE, AND I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND BEING HERE TODAY AND AND SPEAKING UP ABOUT HIS CONCERNS. WHO DOES HAVE CONCERNS? AND I BELIEVE THESE CONCERNS WILL BE ADDRESSED AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND MR. LEVERSIDGE HAS ALSO MET WITH COMMISSIONER SOMERMAN, AS WELL AS MR. TOLEDO AND ME AND SOME OF OUR PLANNING STAFF.

OCCASIONALLY. SO I THINK WE WE ARE AWARE OF WHAT THOSE CONCERNS ARE, AND I BELIEVE WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THEM.

WHAT I ALSO WANT TO DO IS TO THANK COUNTY COMMISSIONER ANDY SOMERMAN FOR PULLING TOGETHER WHAT WILL BE AFFORDABLE FOR SALE HOUSING. THIS IS AT THE CORNER OF STOLTZ AND FOREST, AND IT'S PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE MANY PROJECTS IN THE CITY THAT ARE GOING TO WORK TO BE AFFORDABLE, BUT ARE FOR SALE HOUSING. SO IT'S A GOOD PROJECT.

I THINK IT'S IN A GOOD LOCATION. I DO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS CONCERNS, AND I THINK WE CAN WORK TO TO GIVE THAT BARRIER, THAT SEPARATION A LITTLE BIT BETWEEN THIS PROJECT AND THE HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND ARE A VERY STABLE, VERY SIGNIFICANT PART OF DISTRICT TEN. SO I DON'T WANT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL TO TO THOSE NEIGHBORS AND SPECIFICALLY TO MR. LEVINSON. SO I WANT TO THANK ANDY ZIMMERMAN. I WANT TO THANK HIS CHIEF OF STAFF TOM ERVIN.

THEY'VE BOTH WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS PROJECT AND I THINK HAVE COME UP WITH A VERY CREATIVE USE FOR THIS PROPERTY.

IT WAS A FORMER CHURCH. SO ANYWAY, JUST WANTED TO TO PUT THOSE COMMENTS ON THE RECORD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROTH. THANK YOU FOR FOR THE PRESENTATION FROM BOTH OF THE SPEAKERS.

I'M, I'M A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED AND A LITTLE BIT DISTRAUGHT BY THE FACT THAT THERE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THE, OF THE HEARING DATE AND THAT THE THE NEIGHBORHOOD MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF, OF THE SITUATION.

WITH THIS, I RESPECT AND CERTAINLY SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART'S YOU KNOW, APPROVAL OF AND AND ENDORSEMENT OF THE PROGRAM. BUT I THINK THAT I'M CONCERNED ANY TIME THE PROCESS SEEMS TO FAIL PUBLICLY FOR OUR, OUR BODY TO TO ADDRESS ANYTHING. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPER PROCEDURE WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AREA RESIDENTS ARE, IN FACT, PROPERLY NOTICED ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE AND THAT AND THAT THERE'S THAT MIGHT HELP PERSUADE AND ASSUAGE ANY CONCERNS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PART OF THE PROCESS MORE DIRECTLY.

[03:20:04]

AGAIN, BEING A STRANGER TO THE TO THE ACTUAL CASE ITSELF, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT OUR REQUIREMENTS ARE FOLLOWED. I'M ALSO I'M ALSO I KNOW THAT IN THAT AREA OF TOWN THERE'S A THERE IS A CREEK AND SOME AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE.

ON THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING, MANAGING AND HANDLING THE AREA NEXT TO THE EXPRESSWAY.

THAT'S A FLOODPLAIN ISSUE. AND WHETHER THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY OR THE COUNTY'S.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ASSUMING ANY OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS AS A CITY.

COUNCIL MEMBER. ROTH. AND SO DID YOU WANT STAFF TO PROVIDE YOU INFORMATION ON HOW PUBLIC NOTICES ARE SENT OUT AND REQUIREMENTS FOR SIGNAGE, OR DID YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT OFFLINE? STAFF'S HERE. IF IT'S A QUESTION, IF THEY'RE IF THEY DID, IF THEY HAVE THE INFORMATION ON ON ON ADEQUATELY, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING THAT THEY IN FACT PROVIDED IT.

I'D LOVE TO KNOW THAT. ABSOLUTELY. AND I'M SORRY THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF IT BEFORE.

YES. GOOD AFTERNOON. MEGAN WEIMER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

I BELIEVE THE COMMENT WAS RELATING TO THE SIGN POSTING.

THERE IS A REQUIREMENT TO POST A SIGN. STAFF CHECKS THAT WHEN WE DO THIS.

THE THE SITE VISIT. BUT BEYOND THAT, IT'S UP TO THE APPLICANT OR THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE TO MAKE SURE IT IS MAINTAINED ON THE SITE. STAFF DID SEND NOTICES.

WE MAILED 97 NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 400FT AND RECEIVED A FEW BACK.

SO IT APPEARS THAT IT WAS. WE DID FOLLOW PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFYING VIA MAIL.

WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THE FROM THE NOTICE LETTERS? DID YOU HAVE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE? YEAH. THE NUMBERS.

EXCUSE ME. YEAH. WE SENT 97. WE RECEIVED ZERO IN FAVOR AND FOUR IN OPPOSITION OUT OF 97.

YES. CORRECT. AND IS THERE SOME KIND OF VERIFICATION BY THE APPLICANT THAT THEY'VE, THAT THEY DID POST THE NOTICES AND POST THE THE SIGNAGE AND THAT THEY THAT IT WAS OUT THERE? YEAH. IT LOOKS LIKE THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT.

I CAN TRY TO ANSWER, BUT THAT.

CERTAINLY A LEGITIMATE QUESTION, SIR, IF YOU CAN PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

I'M SORRY. VICTOR TOLEDO 6435. TULIP DALLAS 75230.

THE. WHEN WE POST THE NOTICES, WE TAKE TIMESTAMP PHOTOS AND THEN WE SUBMIT THOSE TO THE CITY.

IN THIS CASE, WHETHER IT'S WHETHER HOMELESS PEOPLE, VANDALISM, WHATEVER SIGNS GOT TAKEN DOWN.

WE PUT UP ANOTHER SET OF SIGNS. IT TAKES THREE SIGNS.

IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH STREET FRONTAGE YOU HAVE. AND SO WE DID THAT AGAIN.

EVERYTHING IS TIME STAMPED. DO WE DRIVE BY THERE EVERY WEEK TO TAKE PHOTOS? NO WE DON'T. I'M NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, SUGGEST OTHERWISE.

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMMUNITY MEETINGS. I MEAN, THIS THIS HEARING TODAY WAS ACTUALLY DELAYED BY, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY. SO JUST TO TO SUGGEST THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WE POST ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THE NORTHWOOD ESTATES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

THEY MEET EVERY AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH AT THE LIBRARY, AND WE'VE MADE THREE OR 4 OR 5 PRESENTATIONS AT THAT GROUP.

I KNOW THAT GROUP, YOU KNOW, DISSEMINATES INFORMATION AS WELL.

IT'S THAT THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION IS A IS A GOOD LOCATION.

I'D LOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING APPROPRIATE IS DEVELOPED THERE.

TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S BEEN NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT AND, AND THAT YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO PROSECUTE THIS IN A, IN A POSITIVE WAY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS, IS APPRECIATED.

AND THAT'S THAT'S MY THOSE WERE MY COMMENTS ON THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. STEWART.

DID YOU HAVE A SECOND ROUND? PRESSING THE WRONG BUTTONS? NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF COUNCIL MEMBER CONCERNS, BUT I THINK HE'S HAD MOST OF HIS QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

GREAT. THANK YOU. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AGENDA ITEM Z10, ITEM Z10 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN AMENDMENT TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 512 ON THE WEST CORNER OF EAST STARK ROAD AND SEAGOVILLE ROAD.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WE SENT 202 NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 500FT OF THE AREA OF REQUEST.

[03:25:05]

THERE ARE NO REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM. ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ITEM Z10.

NO SPEAKERS MR. MAYOR SHAUN STEWART YOU HAVE A MOTION OR YOU'RE STILL.

ARE YOU STILL IN THE QUEUE? SO IS IT MISS BLAIR? DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES.

I MOVE TO APPROVE IT WITH THE REMOVAL. WELL, THAT'S IN BENCHES.

AND BICYCLE RACKS ARE NOT REQUIRED. PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOLS.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? MISS BLAIR, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

WE'RE ON ITEM Z10. THIS IS A MUCH NEEDED SCHOOL REPAIR REBUILD.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE IS THE RESIDENTS WILL GET SIDEWALKS.

SIDEWALKS TO GET TO THEIR THEIR KIDS TO THEIR SCHOOLS AND NOT HAVE TO WALK IN THE STREET, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED AND REQUIRED US TO TO HELP THEM GET.

SO EVERY TIME A SCHOOL IS. REIMAGINED, THEY WILL GET THESE SIDEWALKS, GUTTERS AND CURBS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T NEED IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA ARE PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES, BECAUSE IN THIS AREA, THE PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES AREN'T WHAT ONE WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BE, BUT THEY WOULD LEAVE MORE WORK AND SAFETY HAZARDS BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO USE THESE FACILITIES AFTER HOURS.

SO THE REMOVAL OF THE THE BICYCLE RACKS BIKES AREN'T USED IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE BENCHES WILL PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR THE STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO SIT.

WELL, THEY WON'T BECAUSE IT WON'T HAVE. LET ME CORRECT THAT.

IT WILL PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE THE UNHOUSED CANNOT UTILIZE AND PROVIDE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE CHILDREN WHO WOULD ACTUALLY SIT ON THOSE BENCHES.

SO I ASK THAT YOU AGREE TO THIS, A SLIGHT AMENDMENT TO THIS SCHOOL.

THANKS. CHAIRMAN RIDLEY RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM Z10.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER BLAIR IF SHE'S OPEN TO IT.

WITH RESPECT TO YOUR AMENDMENT AS PERTAINS TO THE BIKE RACKS, I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY YOU WANTED TO DELETE THOSE.

DON'T KIDS STILL RIDE BIKES TO SCHOOL? NOT IN THAT AREA THAT THEY DON'T HAVE.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE FACILITIES TO RIDE IF THEY RIDE BIKES IN THE IN THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THE GUTTER. THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN, IN SOMETIMES FOREFOOT CULVERTS.

SO THERE'S A FOUR FOOT DROP WHICH RIDING A BIKE IN THOSE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA IS EXTREMELY RURAL.

IT'S WONDERFUL FOR HORSES, NOT FOR CHILDREN ON BIKES.

EVEN WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING YOUR CAR IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL.

I'VE BEEN ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND I DON'T WANT TO GO IN A FOUR FOOT CULVERT WITH A SUV, SO ASKING A KID TO RIDE A BIKE WOULD BE VERY MUCH A HAZARD TO THEIR HEALTH AND TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO WHY HAVE THE SCHOOL PUT IN A COST OF A BIKE RACK, IF THEY COULD USE THAT MONEY TO HELP FACILITATE THE EDUCATION OF THE KIDS OPPOSED TO AN EXPENSE THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE USED? THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST Z10.

SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ITEM. ITEM ONE. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS.

[PUBLIC HEARINGS AND RELATED ACTIONS]

DISTRICT NUMBER 1932 PROVIDING A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $2,000 THREE PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE FOR PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY. CLAUSE FIVE PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND AT THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SIX AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 52 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION CODES OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE.

THERE ARE NO REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM. ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ITEM PF ONE?

[03:30:10]

YEAH. THIS IS CAN YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME? THIS IS CALLUM BUTTS WITH UPTOWN DALLAS INC.

MADAM SECRETARY, ARE YOU GOING TO HOLD ON ONE SECOND? OKAY, WELL, LET ME STATE WHAT I'VE JUST BEEN TOLD IS A REMINDER OF WHAT OUR RULES WERE THAT WE ADOPTED DURING THE.

DURING THE PANDEMIC. IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON A PUBLIC HEARING, YOUR OPTIONS ARE TO APPEAR IN PERSON. IF YOU DID NOT REGISTER OR IF YOU REGISTERED, YOU CAN ACTUALLY APPEAR VIRTUALLY IF YOU DON'T REGISTER.

THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN SPEAK IS AS IF YOU ARE HERE IN PERSON IS THE EASIEST WAY TO SAY IT.

AND I'M TOLD THAT THE SPEAKER ONLINE DID NOT REGISTER.

SO UNDER OUR RULES NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM UNLESS THEY ARE ABLE TO GET DOWN HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE MINUTES.

SO UNLESS YOU'RE SOMEWHERE IN THE BUILDING OR YOU CAN GET HERE.

I'M SORRY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I'M NOT. OKAY. MY MY APOLOGIES.

I DIDN'T REALIZE I NEEDED TO REGISTER IN ADVANCE.

MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW THE SPEAKER TO SPEAK.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE SO ORDERED.

SO THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, AND WE'LL ALLOW THE SPEAKER TO GO.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

YES. HELEN. BOOTS. BOOTS. MY HOME ADDRESS IS 3030 MCKINNEY AVENUE, DALLAS, TEXAS 75204.

AND SO I'M WITH I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UPTOWN DALLAS, INC.

AND OF COURSE JUDY IS THE IS THE NONPROFIT REPRESENTING THE PYD HERE IN UPTOWN, WE REPRESENT RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND DEVELOPERS. AND WE WE'VE BEEN VERY MUCH ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PARKING PLAN WITH COUNCILMAN RIDLEY, HIS TEAM, AND THE CITY OF DALLAS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT DEVELOPMENT OF MAJOR PROJECTS IN OUR AREA CAN CAUSE SOME PARKING ISSUES FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN UPTOWN. SO IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO TO ADDRESS.

AND WE MOST CERTAINLY APPLAUD COUNCILMAN RIDLEY, HIS STAFF AND THE CITY FOR WORKING WITH THE WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS PROCESS AND HOW MUCH THEY'VE REALLY LISTENED TO TO ALL SIDES.

AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND IN A PERFECT WORLD YOU KNOW, AGAIN, SINCE I'M REPRESENTING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND DEVELOPERS, IN A PERFECT WORLD, RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WOULD LIKE TO SEE NO PARKING FOR CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREA.

AND OF COURSE, DEVELOPERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE NO RESTRICTIONS FOR FOR THEIR FOR THEIR STAFFERS IN THE AREA.

BUT BASED ON THAT, WE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND FROM WHAT WE'VE SHARED WITH OUR, OUR PEOPLE OUR CONSTITUENTS, THAT IT'S A THIS IS A GOOD START.

AND WE FEEL THAT THIS WILL HELP MINIMIZE THE CONCERNS AROUND PARKING IN THE IN THE AREA IN UPTOWN.

THANK YOU. NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE ON PAGE ONE. IS THERE A MOTION? YES. I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITION. STAFF MUST REPORT BACK TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN TWO YEARS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ORDINANCE. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION, CHAIRMAN RIDLEY? YES. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES ON PAGE ONE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON FOR MOST OF THE PAST YEAR, AND ITS PURPOSE IS TO ADDRESS THE DISLOCATION OF PARKING, THE LIMITED PARKING THAT'S AVAILABLE ON STREETS IN UPTOWN.

AS YOU KNOW, IN PARTICULARLY THIS PD, WHICH OCCUPIES MUCH OF UPTOWN, THERE ARE NARROW STREETS.

AND IF YOU HAVE PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, MANY OF THOSE STREETS ARE IMPASSABLE FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.

BUT TO THE IMMEDIATE CONCERN OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN UPTOWN, IT HAS PRESENTED A SITUATION WHERE NEARBY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT HAS OCCUPIED BOTH SIDES OF AVAILABLE PARKING ON THEIR STREETS, IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES, IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESSES, SO THAT THEY CANNOT HAVE ANY AVAILABLE PARKING FOR GUESTS, FOR VISITORS,

[03:35:03]

AND SO THE PURPOSE BEHIND THIS IS TO REQUIRE DEVELOPERS, WHEN THEY APPLY FOR A BUILDING PERMIT FOR A BUILDING WITHIN THIS PD THAT IS OVER 200,000FT² IN AREA, TO SUBMIT A AN OFF STREET PARKING PLAN, WHICH INDICATES WHERE THEIR WORKERS CAN PARK EITHER ON THE SITE DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS OR OFF SITE, BUT OFF THE STREET THAT WILL CLEAR THE PARKING SLOTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON THE STREET FOR SHORT TERM PARKERS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INSTALLATION OF PARKING METERS TO REGULATE THE DURATION OF THE STAYS SO THAT THEY BECOME AVAILABLE ONCE AGAIN FOR THE NEARBY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.

AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY UPTOWN DALLAS, INC.

ALSO, YOU HAVE HAD DISTRIBUTED TO YOU A FEW MINUTES AGO A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE OAK LAWN COMMITTEE.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE OAK LAWN COMMITTEE, THAT'S THE 40 YEAR OLD PD 193 LOCATED ORGANIZATION OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO REVIEW ZONING REQUESTS IN PD 193 ON AN ONGOING BASIS, AND THEY ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS. THEY ARE CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING THE OAK LAWN PLAN, WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH PD 193. SO THEY ARE KIND OF THE WATCHDOGS OF PD 193, AND THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF IT.

SO I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, WHICH WAS ALSO APPROVED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

MAYOR PRO TEM RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY HAS PUT INTO IT.

BUT I DO WANT TO PROCEED WITH WITH CAUTION AS WE'RE ADDING ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY.

AND I, ON TOP OF THAT, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TOOLS IN PLACE TODAY LIKE PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND OPTIONS TO LIMIT PARKING OR ADD METER PARKING.

BUT I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER RIDLEY HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH HIS COMMUNITY ON THIS.

BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ADDING ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

BUT THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RIDLEY, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND FOR AGREEING TO BRING THIS BACK BEFORE THIS BODY TO ENSURE THAT IT'S NOT BEING A DETRIMENT TO TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT IT'S A SUCCESS.

SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSOHN FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS. AND I'LL JUST TELL YOU ANYBODY WHO'S DRIVEN AROUND UPTOWN IS GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT'S CRAZY.

AS THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER STREETS, YOU CAN'T GET DOWN CERTAIN STREETS.

IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED. I THINK THAT'S OBVIOUS.

THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH IT IS THAT IT'S LIMITED TO THAT ONE PD.

AND SO MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE SAYING, OH, YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE IT FOR THE REST OF THE CITY.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, WE HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM IN DISTRICT 12.

AND WE HAD CARS PARKED LITERALLY ON SIDEWALKS BLOCKING OFF STREETS.

SO MAYBE THERE'S A FACTOR THAT COULD BE FOR THE CITY WHEN YOU REACH A CERTAIN DENSITY.

SO ALTHOUGH IT SURPRISES MOST PEOPLE TO LEARN, DISTRICT 12 IS OUR THIRD MOST DENSE DISTRICT.

THERE AREN'T OTHER PLACES TO GO. EVERYTHING IS BUILT OUT.

AND IT BECAME A VERY, VERY BIG PROBLEM. AND SO WORKERS JUST PARKED ANYWHERE THEY WANTED.

AND THE IDEA OF CALLING PARKING ENFORCEMENT IS LOVELY, EXCEPT INEFFECTIVE, AND THEY DIDN'T GET THERE IN TIME.

AND THE CARS CONTINUED TO PARK THERE FOR MONTHS.

AND SO I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED AND I HOPE CITY MANAGEMENT WILL LOOK AT THAT.

THANK YOU. MISS BLAIR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.

MY SENTIMENTS ARE WITH WITH MAYOR PRO TEM AND WITH MISS MENDELSOHN.

I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT'S MORE IT'S IT'S A LARGER ISSUE THAN JUST THIS ONE.

PD WITH OUR PARKING REFORM, WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THIS.

AND AS WE DEVELOP, AS WE DEVELOP IN MY DISTRICT, I'M GOING TO SEE THIS OCCUR.

I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN THIS A MORE ROBUST AND MORE CITY WIDE.

I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO MANAGE HOW OUR DEVELOPMENT PARKING HAPPENS.

A LOT OF TIMES OUR DEVELOPERS COME IN AND THEY DON'T HAVE LITTLE CARS, THEY HAVE GREAT BIG TRUCKS,

[03:40:08]

AND WE DO NEED TO HAVE THE ABILITY FOR DEVELOPERS TO HAVE PARKING, BUT OUR RESIDENTS THAT THAT ARE IN PLACE NEED TO ALSO BE ABLE TO COEXIST DURING THE DAY. NOT EVERYBODY, NOT EVERYBODY GOES TO THE TRADITIONAL JOB, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL WORK AT HOME AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE TO BOTH.

SO I APPLAUD CHAIR RIDLEY FOR ALL THE HARD WORK HE'S DONE ON THIS.

I JUST THINK HE IS A PEBBLE IN A SEA OF ROCKS, AND WE NEED HIS PEBBLE TO GROW.

THANK YOU. PEBBLE IN A SEA OF ROCKS. CHAIRMAN.

PEBBLE. TAKE IT AWAY FOR THREE MINUTES. I HOPE NO ONE THINKS THAT MEANS THAT I HAVE ROCKS IN MY HEAD BY PROPOSING THIS.

BUT I DO WANT TO RESPOND TO A COUPLE OF THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE HEARD.

AND WE HEARD SOME OF THESE COMMENTS AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, TOO, WHICH WAS, THIS IS A GREAT IDEA, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE IT EXPANDED.

AND MY RESPONSE AT THAT TIME AND TODAY IS THAT I VIEW THIS AS A POTENTIAL PILOT PROJECT.

WE'RE FOCUSED ON ONE PD WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE EXTREME AND IF IT WORKS, IF IT'S EFFECTIVE AND IT'S ACCEPTED, THEN I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE CAN'T CONSIDER IT FOR OTHER AREAS.

SO WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE. AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO START.

AND WE'LL GET REPORTS PERIODICALLY ON HOW IT'S WORKING SO THAT WE CONSIDER IF WE WANT TO EXTEND IT TO OTHER AREAS.

WITH REGARD TO MAYOR PRO TEM COMMENT ABOUT WHETHER THIS WILL ADD ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON OUR DEVELOPERS.

MY FIRST RESPONSE IS THAT UPTOWN IS SUCH A STRONG DEVELOPMENT MARKET THAT THIS MINOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSE IS NOT GOING TO CONVINCE SOMEONE WHO IS BUILDING A 200,000 PLUS SQUARE FOOT BUILDING NOT TO BUILD IN UPTOWN.

IT'S THE GO TO PLACE FOR OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

BUT SECONDLY, WHEN I SPOKE TO SOME DEVELOPERS ABOUT THIS WHO SAID, WELL, GEE, WE DO THIS ALREADY, SO WHY DO YOU HAVE TO REQUIRE IT? AND I SAID, BECAUSE IT WILL CREATE AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR COMPETITORS WHO DON'T DO THIS. AND SO YOU MAY BE RESPONSIBLE AND YOU'RE EATING WHATEVER COSTS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS, BUT YOUR COMPETITORS AREN'T. SO THAT PUTS YOU AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE.

AND WHEN I EXPLAINED IT THAT WAY, THEY WERE ALL FOR THIS.

AND SO I HAVE HAD SUPPORT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND AS WELL AS LOCAL RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

THANK YOU. MAYOR, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON FOR OR AGAINST PAGE ONE? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT, MADAM SECRETARY. MR. MAYOR, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING.

WONDERFUL. AND WE TOOK CARE OF ALL THE OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS. CORRECT? CORRECT, MR. MAYOR. WONDERFUL. WELL, THEN, THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COUNCIL, THE TIME BEING 2:13 P.M., THIS MEETING IS HEREBY ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, ROBIN BENTLEY. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

AND.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.